Braves GM Wren did impressive renovation within budget
A starting rotation that was supposed to be a strength for the Braves this season had turned into an injury- and inconsistency-plagued weakness by early summer. And given the team’s payroll constraints, it didn’t look like they had many viable options to fix it without mortgaging the future and getting upper management to approve a budget-busting trade.
So give GM Frank Wren credit for somehow managing to not only plug holes on the cheap, but actually make this rotation as formidable as it was supposed to be.
Maholm fired a three-hit shutout against the Mets on Friday in his second start since being traded to the Braves. (AP photo)
To put it another way, name another team that made midseason moves that look as astute now as Wren’s signing of Ben Sheets off the scrap heap and trading for Cubs lefty Paul Maholm, who threw a three-hit shutout Friday in his second start for the Braves.
Not to mention getting outfielder Reed Johnson in that same trade with the Cubs, for which the Braves gave up promising but thus far injury-plagued pitching prospect Arodys Vizcaino, who’s recovering from Tommy John elbow surgery.
Sure, it’s too soon to know if Sheets’ elbow will hold up or if Maholm can keep pitching anywhere near as well as he has for the past two months with the Cubs and now Braves. But so far, those two pitchers are a combined 5-2 with a 1.50 ERA in seven starts for the Braves – all seven of them quality starts.
And get this: Sheets and Maholm together will make less than $4 million during their time with the Braves this season, which includes more than $1 million in bonuses that Sheets will earn as long as he stays healthy and in the rotation. And that doesn’t include the money that the Cubs sent to the Braves in the trade to help offset the salaries of Maholm and Johnson.
One other thing: Maholm is under contractual control for 2013 through a $6.75 team option that’s starting to look like a stunning bargain. I mean, this is a guy who looks like he’s really figured out something. He’s 10-7 with a 3.50 ERA, including 6-1 with a 1.20 ERA and sub-.200 opponents’ batting average in his past eight starts.
Last night he faced a top Mets prospect, Matt Harvey, who was the seventh overall pick in the 2010 draft. Harvey showed his considerable potential while holding the Braves to two runs and two hits in six innings, though he also issued five walks including one to Michael Bourn to start the game. Jason Heyward homered two batters later.
“You look over there at the guy they threw out there [Harvey], he’s got great stuff,” said David Ross, who handled the catching Friday night while Brian McCann rested a sore shoulder three days after getting a cortisone shot. “The guy’s throwing 96, throwing hard. But he’s got to learn how to pitch. Once he learns how to pitch he’s going to be really good.
“Pauly, when you’re throwing 87 [mph] out there, you’ve got to know how to pitch from the get-go. And he’s gotten nothing but better as he’s gotten older. There’s something to be said about veteran pitchers that know what they want to do to every hitter and know how to read hitters like catchers do and try to get on the same page as catchers. And that’s why you try to bring young pitchers along and try to let those guys work through things and figure it out. Because this isn’t Triple-A, this is the big leagues. So you’ve got to go through some bumps and bruises.”
Ross pointed out how Mike Minor has gone through his share of difficulties and learned from it, and how he’s now begun to come into his own in the Braves rotation. It’s a strong rotation now, with Sheets and Maholm joining Tim Hudson, Minor and Kris Medlen, who makes his third start tonight since moving from the bullpen.
When Tommy Hanson comes back from the DL in a week or so, the Braves may go to a six-man rotation for the remainder of a 20-games-in-20-days stretch that began Friday. But then what? Too soon to know what move they’ll make, and we’ve all seen how these decisions often take care of themselves when someone gets hurt or struggles or whatever.
But again, the Braves are back in a position they thought they were in at the start of the season, having more legit starters than can fit in a five-man rotation. Obviously a good position to be in, as all those teams with inexperienced or just plan bad starters at the back end of their rotation can attest.
And without Wren’s midseason moves, including the decision to finally move Medlen from the ‘pen to the rotation, the Braves would not be on the roll they’re on now, which includes a 23-8 record and 2.90 ERA in their past 31 games, and 13-3 record and 1.76 ERA in their past 16.
We’ve all picked apart and criticized him for trades or signings that fell through or didn’t work out well in the past. But if you can’t see that Wren has done a fine job renovating this team on a budget, well, then you might be looking at the situation from a jaundiced point of view.
• Maholm’s night: Just a couple of notes to follow up on Maholm’s three-hit shutout, which included five strikeouts and no walks. He did it in 95 pitches (64 strikes), the fewest by a Braves pitcher in a shutout since future Hall of Famer Greg Maddux threw back-to-back four-hitters in September 2000, in 90 pitches against Arizona and 89 pitches against Florida.
Hudson and Brandon Beachy each threw a five-hit shutout this season, Beachy with no walks and Hudson with three walks. Randall Delgado and three relievers combined on a two-hitter in 2-1 win against Miami on June 6, the season low for hits by Braves pitchers.
BRAVES LINEUP
- Bourn CF
- Johnson LF
- Heyward RF
- Chipper 3B
- Freeman 1B
- McCann C
- Uggla 2B
- Janish SS
- Medlen P
• Meds vs. Johan: Interesting matchup tonight, with Medlen facing Mets veteran Johan Santana in his first start back from the DL. Santana long dominated the Braves but had terrible luck and run support and didn’t get many wins to show for it.
Now he’s 3-8 with a 2.99 ERA in 15 starts against the Braves, including 0-2 with a 14.21 ERA in his past two of three starts against them this season.
Santana won’t have to face the DL’d Matt Diaz, who is 19-for-37 (.514) with a homer against him. But who’d have imagine, the aforementioned Reed Johnson has been even better against the lefty. The ex-Cub is 16-for-31 (.516) with two homers against Santana.
What to make of Santana? He went 2-0 with a .070 opponents’ average in back-to-back shutouts against San Diego and St. Louis May 26 and June 1, including 134 pitches in the June 1 no-hitter against the Cardinals. That’s 26 pitches more than he’s thrown in any other start, and video of manager Terry Collins during that game suggested the Mets manager was on pins and needles with every mounting pitch in the last couple of innings. Perhaps for good reason.
Since that 134-pitch no-hitter, Santana is 3-5 with a 6.54 ERA and .305 opp average in eight starts, including 0-3 with a 13.50 ERA and .452 OA in his past three (28 hits and six homers in 12-2/3 innings).
He went on the DL with a sprained ankle that occurred when he was covering first base on a grounder by – wait for it – Reed Johnson, who stepped on Santana’s twisted ankle on the play. That was in the first of his three bad starts before the DL assignment, but Mets officials think Santana might’ve developed some shoulder fatigue from compensating for the ankle injury.
I’d expect to see Johnson in the lineup tonight, probably in left field. The question is, would Fredi Gonzalez move Martin Prado to second base in place of Dan Uggla, who is 1-for-21 with 12 strikeouts against Santana? I doubt it, only because it would be the second time in four games that Gonzalez made that move, after he rested Uggla against Cole Hamels, another lefty against whom he’s struggled.
And Prado, who has cooled off lately, also hasn’t done a whole lot in his career against Santana (5-for-24).
Heyward's two-run homer in the first inning Friday was his career-high 19th.
Gonzalez didn’t want to “mess him up” against Hamels when Uggla was finally starting to come out of his epic slump. That strategy seemed to work, because Uggla has continued his his hopeful offensive resurgence, including a two-run homer (and two walks) in Friday’s 4-0 win.
But the two might come to blows if Gonzalez benches him twice in four games. (Kidding about them coming to blows. OK, slightly kidding.)
• Uggla halts the ugh: The second baseman is 11-for-39 (.282) with six extra-base hits, 12 RBIs and an .878 OPS in his past 11 games, after batting .110 with four extra-base hits, nine RBIs and a .361 OPS – not OBP, but OPS – in his previous 42 games. And in his past three games, Uggla is 6-for-10 with two doubles, a homer and five RBIs.
“Who knows, man? It comes and goes so fast,” Uggla said before Friday’s game. “I felt good the last two games, so I’m just going to keep trying to do what I’ve been doing.”
And then he did that, walking twice and hitting a two-run homer in the eighth inning to push the Braves’ lead to 4-0.
“The last two years, man, for whatever reason it just was harder to find,” he said of his timing at the plate. “Who knows? I have no idea, no reason for it at all. But last year, once I found it it clicked and it stayed for the rest of the year….
“I was feeling good early on [this year] for the first two months of the season, and then all of a sudden, I don’t know what happened. Hopefully right now is the turning point. It’s the grind of continuing to stay positive and keep working and trying to go in the right direction.”
For nearly two months this season, we watched Uggla strike out and hit sky-high pop-ups.
“It’s really frustrating when you feel like you’re on a pitch, like you’re on time, and you hit it on the barrel and it just goes straight up,” he said. “It’s not a fun feeling. You’re going to have those games every once in a while, but to have to deal with it day after day … oh, man, enough’s enough. Then you start to think, why is this happening? Why am I popping balls up that I should be hitting on a line or out of the ballpark?
“…. There’s different styles of hitting. My thing is, I’ve got to be on time. I’ve got to be on time with the fastball and be able to recognize off-speed [pitches] and make the adjustment. And if you’re not on time, if you’re late, it creates problems. There’s other guys that get their [front] foot down real early, but if they’re feet are in the wrong position or if they’re too closed or something, then it causes problems. Mine, it’s not so much where my hands are, it’s just being on time.”
• OK, let’s close this and get over to Citi Field. We’ll close with a Dylan tune that, according to many accounts, he was inspired to write after being refused a hotel room due to his unkempt appearance (this was in the early ‘60s). Love this song, which you can hear by clicking here.
“WHEN THE SHIP COMES IN” by Bob Dylan
Oh the time will come up
When the winds will stop
And the breeze will cease to be breathin’
Like the stillness in the wind
’Fore the hurricane begins
The hour when the ship comes in
Oh the seas will split
And the ship will hit
And the sands on the shoreline will be shaking
Then the tide will sound
And the wind will pound
And the morning will be breaking
Oh the fishes will laugh
As they swim out of the path
And the seagulls they’ll be smiling
And the rocks on the sand
Will proudly stand
The hour that the ship comes in
And the words that are used
For to get the ship confused
Will not be understood as they’re spoken
For the chains of the sea
Will have busted in the night
And will be buried at the bottom of the ocean
A song will lift
As the mainsail shifts
And the boat drifts on to the shoreline
And the sun will respect
Every face on the deck
The hour that the ship comes in
Then the sands will roll
Out a carpet of gold
For your weary toes to be a-touchin’
And the ship’s wise men
Will remind you once again
That the whole wide world is watchin’
Oh the foes will rise
With the sleep still in their eyes
And they’ll jerk from their beds and think they’re dreamin’
But they’ll pinch themselves and squeal
And know that it’s for real
The hour when the ship comes in
Then they’ll raise their hands
Sayin’ we’ll meet all your demands
But we’ll shout from the bow your days are numbered
And like Pharoah’s tribe
They’ll be drownded in the tide
And like Goliath, they’ll be conquered
– David O’Brien, Braves/MIB blog
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
1,156 comments Add your comment
ColoradoBravesFan
August 11th, 2012
2:50 pm
First
ColoradoBravesFan
August 11th, 2012
2:51 pm
OK now guess I should actually read the Blog….
Coach (2012 Fredi's Beisbol Fandango)
August 11th, 2012
2:53 pm
Our Bravos are 14-1 when Kris Medlen starts.
Coach (2012 Fredi's Beisbol Fandango)
August 11th, 2012
2:58 pm
Johan Santana is 0-3 with an ERA of 13.50 in the month of August while giving up 13 earned runs in 12.2 innings.
waffleboy
August 11th, 2012
2:58 pm
Moves were great, but they do not foretell any future success. There are tons of questions about this team and it doesn’t look like the Nats are gonna cool off any time soon. Now the Braves face the prospect of playing the Pirates or the Dodgers in a one-game playoff if they do make the playoffs. Considering they may enter the postseason with he second-best record in the NL (and maybe all of baseball), that’s nothing to be excited about.
Yes Way José
August 11th, 2012
3:03 pm
Thanks for being a wet blanket, waffleboy. Geesh.
Coach (2012 Fredi's Beisbol Fandango)
August 11th, 2012
3:05 pm
I’ll admit that while I was deeply disappointed and angry at Frank Wren earlier in the season, the man has seemingly redeemed himself.
Along with Ben Sheets, Paul Maholm and Reed Johnson. The previous additions of Chad Durbin, Paul Janish and Juan Francisco have proven to be invaluable. Wren has done an incredible job of cobbling together and adding to this squad of players on the cheap.
Well done and marvelously achieved!
ChattTownBrian
August 11th, 2012
3:07 pm
DOB, not your best work, but still a pretty solid, mid rotation type blog.
brian
August 11th, 2012
3:10 pm
superb blog by DOB. Who would have thought that this would be our rotation at the start of the year? 2 new people, Hudson, Minor, and Medlen.
Coach (2012 Fredi's Beisbol Fandango)
August 11th, 2012
3:11 pm
Our Bravos have very little control or say in the success of the Washington Nationals. Other than to congratulate our rivals while trying to keep the division race close. So there is no shame in finishing second, should the Nats end up with the best record in baseball.
Mark
August 11th, 2012
3:11 pm
waffleboy is correct. I’ve been saying the same thing because the Nats aren’t gonna falter. One reason why are that there are very few teams capable on beating the Nats or the Braves right now. Think about it. There are the Reds, Cardinals, Dodgers, Giants, Braves and Nats (maybe the DBacks???). The rest are just finishing out the year and those teams have to be swept to call it a good series. Can’t count on them beating the Nats or anyone else.
Of course looking at the whole picture objectively and realistically makes some think you are negative or throwing wet blankets.
ChattTownBrian
August 11th, 2012
3:14 pm
brian, this rotation now actually doesn’t surprise me. Baseball, anything can happen. Our rotation was of question marks to begin the season for me anyways. Only surprise, if you want to call it that, is Beachy’s season ending injury. Other than that we all knew, or should know, that Wren is pretty sneaky and slick with trades and sometimes off the scrap signings. No surprise Sheets and now Maholm are here doing well.
JoshTown
August 11th, 2012
3:14 pm
“…which includes a 23-8 record and 2.90 ERA in their past 31 games, and 13-3 record and 1.76 ERA in their past 16.” I knew we were on a roll, but seeing those kind of numbers really puts it in perspective. Everyone complaining about the Nats needs to chill. Braves can’t really play better than what they have been. Let’s enjoy the ride and the cards fall where they may. Can’t control how Washington and whoever they’re facing are playing, only us. Keep the pressure on the Mets, come home and have a great home stand. Go Braves. Thanks, DOB!
chris watson
August 11th, 2012
3:19 pm
So why was everyone down on Wren in the first place? Have you looked at his track record while always dealing with budget restraints? Oh hold on…I think I know the answer…the people on this blog seem to forget that there are 30+ other teams out there all trying to win and very few of them do as well as the Braves year in and year out. In short most of you know little to nothing about baseball and even less about business.
ChattTownBrian
August 11th, 2012
3:20 pm
See this used to not happen where we’d be coasting along beating up teams, especially in our division, but have another team a step or two ahead of us the whole way. Nats teams didn’t exist for us through the run. Closing, I think, would’ve been the ‘91 Dodgers and ‘93 Phillies. Correct me if I’m wrong.
ncbravesfan90
August 11th, 2012
3:22 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. Kris Medlen (S) P
Kat
August 11th, 2012
3:22 pm
“@Braves: Tonight’s lineup at NYM (7:10, PTV/680AM/BRN): Bourn 8 Johnson 7 Heyward 9 Jones 5 Freeman 3 McCann 2 Uggla 4 Janish 6 Medlen 1″
Venice Jim
August 11th, 2012
3:22 pm
Atlanta Braves @Braves
Tonight’s lineup at NYM (7:10, PTV/680AM/BRN): Bourn 8 Johnson 7 Heyward 9 Jones 5 Freeman 3 McCann 2 Uggla 4 Janish 6 Medlen 1
ChattTownBrian
August 11th, 2012
3:24 pm
Hey what’s tonight’s lineup?
Heisenberg
August 11th, 2012
3:24 pm
I have not seen Uggla behind much. Not sure what he is talking about there. If anything was off with this timing he has been ahead pulling most of his best contact foul down left field line before those pop-ups and strikeouts. But he going good now so we will just roll with it.
McFann :Ô: :Ô: :ô:
August 11th, 2012
3:25 pm
Ooohh…BMac’s in the lineup. Now once the clock hits about 7:15 at the party tonight, I’m gonna be more on-edge than I might already be…
ChattTownBrian
August 11th, 2012
3:27 pm
Have a feeling if Bourn is too expensive that we’ll go hard after Victorino. Don’t think he’ll demand as many $.
Mark
August 11th, 2012
3:28 pm
chris
Don’t know how often you blog but all the praise of last night will turn to throwing complaint bombs if we get about 4 hits and the other team gets 10 and we lose.
Wren appears to be what any GM has to be and thats pretty level headed and sometimes lucky. Mahalom deal was a steal and miracle deal compared to what the Dempster deal was gonna be(Got lucky on that one)
Again, take away a deal or two he has made his successes has certainly outweighed the flops.
brian
August 11th, 2012
3:28 pm
you having a party McFann??
brian
August 11th, 2012
3:28 pm
like that Braves lineup. Insert simmons for Janish and that is a top notch lineup
semiballcoach
August 11th, 2012
3:28 pm
you can pat wren on the back all you want, but it’s the scouts who recommended all those players
who should receive some recognition
DAWG POUND
August 11th, 2012
3:31 pm
“Moves were great, but they do not foretell any future success”
Please tell me what does in anything! When you find that crystal ball share with the rest of the “future”. Personally, I’d give a rats arse about baseball. I want to know the Powerball numbers for the next drawing!… But that’s just me!
SoWeGa Fanatic
August 11th, 2012
3:31 pm
Nats are due to stumble. Even good teams, which they are, hit bad streaks. They haven’t yet, as I recall.
John Leonard
August 11th, 2012
3:31 pm
Wren has done a excellent job this year,but unless they start brain transplants,Fredi is still Fredi.
McFann :Ô: :Ô: :ô:
August 11th, 2012
3:32 pm
brian—
I’m not—it’s at my aunt and uncle’s house (not that they’re my only aunt and uncle…but I digress…). Sort of a “back-to-school” type thing…
Not going over till about five…they may put the game on at the party, ya never know…
Bravefaninok
August 11th, 2012
3:33 pm
Mark Bowman @mlbbowman
Braves lineup: Bourn 8 Johnson 7 Heyward 9 Chipper 5 Freeman 3 McCann 2 Uggla 4 Janish 6 Medlen 1
Denny Lemaster
August 11th, 2012
3:33 pm
Mahom threw a nice game last night. But, the playoffs are rarely won by pitchers who can barely hit 87 MPH. Mahom and Sheets will be no problem for the likes of the AL big boy bats and will struggle to get the Braves out of the first round, IF they get by the one game playoff thing this year. Few soft tossers do well in the post season. Glavine had a few good games and some bad ones also.
Mark
August 11th, 2012
3:33 pm
Scouts are where it starts for sure. They get in there, hash it out, give opinions but then the man that signs the deals has to make a decision and for the most part he has done that well.
nc fan
August 11th, 2012
3:34 pm
what is th line up tonight?
phil
August 11th, 2012
3:35 pm
DOB cursed us well today. Great work but bound to make us lose….sigh
SoWeGa Fanatic
August 11th, 2012
3:36 pm
Around MLB, players shake heads at Strasburg shutdown.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/nl/nationals/story/2012-08-07/stephen-strasburg-innings-limit/56863674/1
David O'Brien
August 11th, 2012
3:37 pm
Braves lineup: Bourn CF, Johnson LF, Heyward RF, Chipper 3B, Freeman 1B, McCann C, Uggla 2B, Janish SS, Medlen P
Coach (2012 Fredi's Beisbol Fandango)
August 11th, 2012
3:37 pm
The Reds Billy Hamilton could be trade material. Especially when looking at their present roster depth. Now don’t misunderstand where I’m coming from because teams are not in the habit of trading top position prospects.It’s just that Hamilton is blocked and the Reds seemingly don’t put much stock in fleet feet as much as they should.
Mark
August 11th, 2012
3:37 pm
SWGF
Again, Nats wont stumble unless you put a hex on those starting pitchers they have and 1 or 2 of them come up lame.
Denny
I agree with you. Power pitchers are where its at in the playoffs.
itsi
August 11th, 2012
3:37 pm
mcfann
wonder how old you are since u have a love affair with mcann
15?
nc fan
August 11th, 2012
3:38 pm
Enter your comments here
nc fan
August 11th, 2012
3:38 pm
i is what it is
phil
August 11th, 2012
3:39 pm
Glavine’s 8 inning masterpiece in game 6 in 95 was awful….pathetic.
Are you nuts, Denny?
nc fan
August 11th, 2012
3:40 pm
since santanna has this era watch him own us tonite
phil
August 11th, 2012
3:43 pm
Itsi – give it a rest with mcfann
Mark
August 11th, 2012
3:44 pm
Itsi
I second phil
McFann :Ô: :Ô: :ô:
August 11th, 2012
3:46 pm
Enter your comments here
McFann :Ô: :Ô: :ô:
August 11th, 2012
3:47 pm
I slipped…
phil give it a rest with mcfann
What—has he said other stuff? I guess it takes all kinds…
brian
August 11th, 2012
3:48 pm
scouts do ge a lot of credit but the buck still stops with Wren.
brian
August 11th, 2012
3:50 pm
there is no medical justification to shut down Stephen Stras. at 180 innings. None whatsoever. They should let him pitch.
As an aside I want to go against the Nats and pass them with their best players there
NYC Guy
August 11th, 2012
3:52 pm
Heading to the game tonight. Looking forward to seeing Chipper and the boys. Hey DOB, if you are here tonight make sure you get a Shake Shack burger. Danny Meyer food is always the best!
TexasBrave
August 11th, 2012
3:52 pm
I realize Dan would be pretty upset if Fredi held him out again. But Santana has owned him and Uggs is just now working his way out of a long funk. Lets not put him in a position where he starts another long slide.
Fredi should have held Uggla out, Dan would get over it.
phil
August 11th, 2012
3:54 pm
Nothing i know of. Just hoping he’ll shut it now while still ahead.
luvthosedawgs68
August 11th, 2012
3:54 pm
Two more notes on Mr. Maholm’s shutout from last night: He is the first Brave pitcher since 1998 to throw a complete game shutout in NY (John Smoltz). He is also the first Brave lefty to throw a complete game shutout against the Mets since 1992 (Tom Glavine). Pretty impressive stuff!
Keith
August 11th, 2012
3:54 pm
DOB,
I brought this up last week. Good stuff!
If Sheets continues to pitch above well or even continue his strong play…and Malholm continues to pitch fairly well, Wren will be up for GM of the year.
phil
August 11th, 2012
3:56 pm
Bench uggla for his own good tonight!
Ted M
August 11th, 2012
3:56 pm
When is Simmons supposed to be back?
phil
August 11th, 2012
3:57 pm
Cy Maholm was stout for sure!
phil
August 11th, 2012
4:00 pm
Chokelson finally birdies….
Coach (2012 Fredi's Beisbol Fandango)
August 11th, 2012
4:00 pm
DOB Wrote:
• Maholm’s night: Just a couple of notes to follow up on Maholm’s three-hit shutout, which included five strikeouts and no walks. He did it in 95 pitches (64 strikes), the fewest by a Braves pitcher in a shutout since future Hall of Famer Greg Maddux threw back-to-back four-hitters in September 2000, in 90 pitches against Arizona and 89 pitches against Florida.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Exactly. What Maholm accomplished last night can’t be understated. Pauly not only went the distance, he in effect gave our entire bullpen a two day break when including the off day on Thursday. Such continuing efforts from our rotation will guarantee our bullpen doesn’t get over worked down the stretch.
lee maye
August 11th, 2012
4:02 pm
Yes, let’s give Wren credit for Johnson, Sheets, and Maholm. Shouldn’t we also give Wren the blame for a 10 mil buyout/payout/loss on Lowe and a 13.3 mil foolish mistake on Uggla? Not to mention Melke and Blanco. Not to mention Resop at Pitt; not to mention failure to trade JJ when he had a chance and now to get nothing. And, Francoeur given away for nothing. Shouldn’t we also mention the failed Livan? Shouldn’t be also mention that Wren could have had Medlen winning all year long and that it took him 3 months to do that? So, let’s not credit him to much. He has done a ton of things wrong. And, hiring Fredi may be his biggest mistake.
Keith
August 11th, 2012
4:02 pm
Wren = GM of the year if Braves make playoffs.
Venice Jim
August 11th, 2012
4:05 pm
Good to see dyspeptic ranting alive and well…
Bat Masterson
August 11th, 2012
4:06 pm
Mahom and Sheets will be no problem for the likes of the AL big boy bats and will struggle to get the Braves out of the first round, IF they get by the one game playoff thing this year. _ Denny Lemaster
Denny, my man, the Braves are a National League team.
Bat Masterson
August 11th, 2012
4:08 pm
McFann has become quite the party animal.
Mark
August 11th, 2012
4:08 pm
IMO it is crazy if freddi considered benching Uggla because he is scared to let him face a pitcher.
Let the guy grow up, compete and battle on the field with his team mates to win an important game against a quality pitcher. I’d be willing to bet that there are pitchers out there that experienced great success against Aaron and Chipper but I never heard of them being held out of a game because of who was standing on the bump! Another thing is they would not stand for it.
Uggla is hitting it ok right now – Let him do his job and give him a chance to be a leader by example. What does it say to the other players to hold him out because he has struggled against a guy while the others are banged up, bruised, tired (Prado, Bourn…)
Let him play!!!!!!!!!!!
MAD
August 11th, 2012
4:13 pm
Not to mention Melke and Blanco
Everyday I awake from a deep sleep and ask why Blanco was let go.
Please, make a little more sense and better effort next time.
arizona brave
August 11th, 2012
4:14 pm
We still need to get some pitching,Minor and Hanson are not going to cut it.
Mountain Braves Fan
August 11th, 2012
4:17 pm
Assuming offers for Bourn begin at 5 years and $75 million and go up from there, Victorino could be a good alternative for the Braves. Victorino is a switch-hitter, which would help make the lineup a little less left handed, good defensive centerfielder, speed and leadoff ability. His career OPS is about 70 points higher than Bourn’s. He is a professional hitter who has struck out about half as frequently (once every 8 or so at bats) in his career as Bourn (once every 4 or 5 at bats). Because Victorino is a couple of years older than Bourn, and he is having a down season statistically, he will likely get a contract that is shorter in duration (3 or 4 years as opposed to 5, 6 or even more years for Bourn) and fewer dollars per year than Bourn. Victorino likes LA and says he would like to stay there, but the Dodgers already have a pretty good centerfielder named Kemp, and they are rumored to be considering going after Josh Hamilton for left field.
Bat Masterson
August 11th, 2012
4:17 pm
Hillbilly
I was googling something last night and ended up on a 2007 blog announcing John Schuerholz’s giving up the GM job. So I was reading the comments and came across one from you that y’all were going to have a baby. A naming contest broke out , journalist jimmy smith was one of the ringleaders and Braveheart was really good, too. Braveheart suggested some old gunslinger names, Bat Masterson was one of them, funny. Old Bravy has good taste, I miss him around here.
TexasBrave
August 11th, 2012
4:17 pm
It would be one thing if Uggla was a rookie but he is not. Santana has owned Uggla to the tune of one hit in 21 at bats with 12 strike outs. Now if Uggs had not been struggling recently then no big deal, but he has and we need him to continue his good hitting.
Bench him!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Couch Tater
August 11th, 2012
4:19 pm
Just watched Joost Luiten make a putt at the PGA.
…Would any MLB player name their son Joost?
The A Bomb
August 11th, 2012
4:19 pm
Like I keep saying Uggla’s the first player ever allowed to be on a major league rehab assignment.
1 2/3 seasons and counting….. 3 1/3 remaining. Oh boy. Get a hug.
1991 braves
August 11th, 2012
4:19 pm
Hope the braves don’t move Maholm to the bull pen when the head case Hanson gets off of D.L. If Maholm continues to have quality starts, put Hanson in bull pen until he gets his head screwed on straight. Hanson’s E.R.A. is now 4.30, which is terrible for a #2 starter. He should be delegated to the #4 spot if he remains in the rotation. He really isn’t one of the braves top 3 pitchers now. Sheets, Medlen, and Maholm are actually pitching the best of the braves starters now. They all continue to have quality starts, and that is something Hanson and even Hudson haven’t done lately. The scary thought is who would the braves start if they get into the playoffs the 1st 3 games?? You can bet brilliant fredi would start Hudson, Hanson, and probably Sheets. Wouldn’t feel too comfortable with that rotation in the playoffs. But thanks to Wren that is what the braves are stuck with. At least you want have to painfully watch Lowe this year.
Mark
August 11th, 2012
4:20 pm
Lee
Francoer regressed and needed a change. Blanco and Melky sucked when they were here. Livan wasn’t a risk and cost nothing and was worth a try. Medlin came off a major injury and was worked back slowly and effectively. JJ was pitching great, went to the All-Star game came back and got injured. GMs can’t predict knee injuries. And Freddi isn’t doing a bad job. Can always second guess a few moves but the players respond well to him. Uggla deal hasn’t been what we hoped for but he doesn’t swing the bat – Uggs does and based on what he had done in Miami the deal was ok.
Wren is ok
phil
August 11th, 2012
4:21 pm
Lee maye = doofus
Bat Masterson
August 11th, 2012
4:21 pm
He did it in 95 pitches (64 strikes), the fewest by a Braves pitcher in a shutout since future Hall of Famer Greg Maddux threw back-to-back four-hitters in September 2000, in 90 pitches against Arizona and 89 pitches against Florida. _DOB
They don’t call what Maholm did last night throwing a Maddux for nothing.
phil
August 11th, 2012
4:24 pm
Mark – well said to Lee…
Think he’ll comprehend?
Mark
August 11th, 2012
4:25 pm
For Hanson to start again this year someone will have to get hurt. He isn’t as good as Huddy, Sheets, Minor, Maholm or Medlin. If anyhting, they may jerk Medlin around and say they need him in the pen but that would be a bad move IMO
njbraves
August 11th, 2012
4:25 pm
‘91 Braves…Why the hell would they move Malholm to the ‘pen?? Makes no sense.
McFann :Ô: :Ô: :ô:
August 11th, 2012
4:25 pm
Bat M. McFann has become quite the party animal.
Ha! Yeah right…
Actually, I think this is the first since Easter…
njbraves
August 11th, 2012
4:28 pm
If you think Hanson is going to come off the DL and not be in the rotation, you’re nuts. Meds will go back to the ‘pen.
The A Bomb
August 11th, 2012
4:29 pm
njbraves — totally agree. We need the back-of-the-pen righty anyways and No. 5 starter not in the postseason rotation anyway.
Would like to see Medlen spot start to give some of these guys an extra day — like Hudson.
Mark
August 11th, 2012
4:32 pm
Probably not. It would be nice to see what Wren and the brain trust could do with deeper pockets.
The A Bomb
August 11th, 2012
4:32 pm
BTW Braves will miss Kershaw when the Dodgers come in next week.
phil
August 11th, 2012
4:36 pm
Hanson goes right back in the rotation, like it or not…
keylargo
August 11th, 2012
4:36 pm
Uggla is hitting again and I thought I post the stats he had last year during his 33 game hitting streak to remind those who wanted to trade or release Uggla what he can produce.
His slash line – .377 .438 .762 1.200
Stats projections for a year:
241 Hits
25 Doubles
74 Home Runs
158 RBI’s
Not saying he going to do it again, but he has hit remarkably consistent during his career.
1991 braves
August 11th, 2012
4:37 pm
Really NJ, are you the expert now on this blog?? Since you are into name calling like most immature people on this blog. If i had a choice of who should be in the pen when Hanson comes back, it would be Hanson. And speaking of NUTS, you would be nuts to keep him in rotation ahead of Medlen or Maholm with his E.R.A. and i’m sure you aren’t aware of the fact that Hanson is the only braves starter that has allowed more hits than innings pitched. NUTS?????
Mark
August 11th, 2012
4:37 pm
I didn’t know we were talking about post season rotations. Right now, Medlin is a better starter than Hanson and to go into a game with the lesser starter on the mound and the better one sitting in the pen especially at this time of the year would not be smart in my opinion.
Oh, and lets refrain from the name calling and just give and take opinions respectfully.
phil
August 11th, 2012
4:39 pm
We have njbraves….no delewarebraves?
Brave New World
August 11th, 2012
4:41 pm
Wren has done a very good job since he took over. The Braves were a team on the skids, and he turned them into winners in a relatively short time within demanding budget constraints. GO WREN! GO BRAVES!
The A Bomb
August 11th, 2012
4:42 pm
Hanson doesn’t fit in the ‘pen — not equipped for late-game situations and no way the robot puts him in the ‘pen. Medlen is THE fit for the ‘pen at this point.
Hanson rarely sees the 7th inning and NEVER sees the 8th inning of any start — doesn’t hold runners and is not a reliever. He’s in the rotation despite any numbers you could pull out. That’s the way the coaching staff works.
Mark
August 11th, 2012
4:47 pm
A Bomb
Maybe they’ll reconsider but we’ll see. Have they said where he would throw before returning. Surely he’ll have a rehab start or two before they just throw him back in there. That’ll probably make the difficult call a little easier or maybe he comes back stronger. I think the funky motion has done him in. No velo = Not much success for him.
The A Bomb
August 11th, 2012
4:49 pm
Funky delivery + years of pitching year-round out here in SoCal travel ball scene = burned out arm.
Got to preserve him and deal him while he still has SOME value. Minnesota would be a good spot for him — maybe some kind of deal for Span or someone like that.
njbraves
August 11th, 2012
4:51 pm
‘91Braves…I didn’t say it was the best move, I said it is what will happen. Not sure why you keep bringing up Malholm, he’s a starter, not a reliever, same as Hanson. I’m well aware of how Hanson has pitched lately, but he’s going back into the rotation whether you cry about it or not.
1991 braves
August 11th, 2012
4:51 pm
i will agree with one thing you said, and that is this coaching staff works differently from most N.L. staffs. Just hope going down the stretch run, the braves don’t have one of their best starters sitting in the pen while another starter continues to struggle and continues to get lit up like a xmas tree.
Mark
August 11th, 2012
4:52 pm
I’m afraid he is only a step or two behind JJ right now unfortunately. You are definately right about him being no fit in the pen. Never would consider that. I’m afraid his fit isn’t with the Braves at all right now.
monty
August 11th, 2012
4:53 pm
I believe if Kris conitinues to pitch well (as he has) he will not lose a starting spot, unless TH comes back off the DL and shows he’s back to his pre-All-Star ways. If Hanson comes back and looks similar(struggling) as he had his past 4 starts, have to be a fool to not go with Medlen. This is a pennant race and nothing should be handed to young starting pitchers. We gave JJ every opportunity and TH will be given opportunity to prove he’s back, but we have to be realistic if he isn’t.
Birdhair
August 11th, 2012
4:56 pm
How can we give Wren credit for spending wisely? KK, Lowe, Struggla, McOut (though McOut was a trade). KK, Lowe, and Uggla were egregious overpays, especially KK and Lowe. Now, if we weren’t on a middle market budget and had money like the yankees then the impact of the poor spending would not be quite as impactful.
Wren is spending $10M on a pitcher who should be serving drinks at the Chop House!!
I just saw KK. He was on buford highway laughing his ass off!!
iTiSi
August 11th, 2012
5:07 pm
All make sure to notice, as I am on here off and on. There is a difference in “iTiSi” and “itsi”. Have just noticed that one today, so don’t confuse those two. Look at them closely, as I am obviously the “smart and clever one” that everybody loves. I pull chains a lot, sometimes intentionally and some not.
J-MAN
August 11th, 2012
5:07 pm
Uhmmmm……Prado is our best hitter against lefties. Why is he on the bench. Heyward or Bourn would be better options to bench or bench Uggla.
Just sayin
Alaska Braves Fan
August 11th, 2012
5:09 pm
Going down the stretch, it seems to me to be important to get Reed Johnson as many at-bats as possible. That fits nicely, too, with the need to give Prado and Bourn, and even, to some extent, Heyward some days off. A regular rotation that allotted just the right number of days off for each outfielder and kept Johnson’s hand in really would pay dividends in several ways. One of the main reasons for the tail-off in the numbers of Prado and Bourn simply is fatigue, in my fan’s opinion. Also, Reed is just too good not to have him on the field a good bit.
ABF
keylargo
August 11th, 2012
5:13 pm
Derek Lowe is a Mariner.
David O'Brien
August 11th, 2012
5:14 pm
Hanson will make a rehab start for Triple-A Gwinnett on Sunday, go 4-5 innings or about 80 pitches max. He wasn’t happy about it, wanted to go directly back into rotation without a start. But after the setbacks he had coming back from DL last year, Braves didn’t want to risk it. Plus, they have five guys pitching well right now, so not urgent.
But Fredi G. said Hanson is only scheduled to make one rehab start before he returns. Also said he’s not sure yet about 6-man rotation, that it’s not as easy to do as it sounds because would leave Braves short-handed in ‘pen or bench, etc. So that’s not decided yet. Sounds to me like he’s leaning toward sticking with 5, but not sure.
Waffle House or Bust
August 11th, 2012
5:14 pm
Not a Wren fan but agree he has done well with additions this year. Now get rid of fat Fredi and I’m a Frank fan!
74bravesjersey
August 11th, 2012
5:15 pm
Hansons delivery makes me cringe; Might be the cause of his back & shoulder problems, grant it, I would like for him to come back strong as ever, & pitch, but his arm position is too much like aiming the ball, & when he releases the pitch, it’s too much in the middle of the plate, which no ball movement, can make hitter’s bust lose on the cheese. His fastball, like colby cheese, his curve like mozzerella, His changeup, well mabey parmesian(?) He’s been on the DL too much to be counted on. I agree w/ you @A Bomb. Grant it, he’s won 12, but many of those starts when he’s been fortunate to win when he’s given up 5 to 6 runs & our offence has been hot in those wins. Sort of like 8 to 7 scores, 7 to 6, etc. He never really adjusted his mechanics in his wind up like he said he would do during the offseason. We can’t afford anymore wasted games of trotten him out there hope’n he be good. He & JJ gotta go.
Waffle House or Bust
August 11th, 2012
5:15 pm
J-MAN – I agree and stand by my prediction that Fredi will screw the season up before it’s all over.
Veer
August 11th, 2012
5:16 pm
Right now our weak spot in the rotation is Mike Minor so if Hanson comes back i would expect Mike Minor to get voted off the Island. Each week someone earns an immunity in our rotation and 2 guys up for the axe.
For this week Malhom has the immunity. Minor is up for eviction. Depending on how Medlen does today the second nominee will be between Hudson and Minor.
Hudson has a history thus he holds the tie breaker over Minor.
VaBravesFan
August 11th, 2012
5:17 pm
Hanson is frustrating that’s for sure.
Alaska Braves Fan
August 11th, 2012
5:19 pm
Fredi is doing fine. Of course he errs occasionally, but there is no perfect manager. Fredi has the experience, knowledge, relationship with players, and skills he needs. The quality of his decisions, considering the personnel with whom he works, has ranked in the upper 15% compared with MLB managers. (That is my guess based upon my own observations. Remember: I’m not a baseball expert, but I pretend to be one on these blogs.)
ABF
David O'Brien
August 11th, 2012
5:20 pm
Top catching prospect Christian Bethancourt fractured his left hand when hit by pitch in 13th inning Thursday — a game that Frank Wren attended, by the way. Bethancourt will see specialist this week.
nolie
August 11th, 2012
5:20 pm
fairly good chance that Vizcaino will never throw a three hit complete game shutout in his MLB career…..
David O'Brien
August 11th, 2012
5:21 pm
Braves Sunday (Aug. 26) game at San Francisco has been moved to 5 p.m. (8 p.m. Eastern) to accomodate ESPN, and to screw with writers who have to change flight plans and two hotel reservations. (Actually, it wasn’t done to mess with writers.)
Veer
August 11th, 2012
5:22 pm
Hanson has shoulder issues He should go and have surgery and come back healthy at the end of next season. He will be a much better pitcher. He needs to have a surgery. The guy can go back to throwing 95-96 as he was instead of 87-88 now. That is 7 mph more and makes big difference.
VaBravesFan
August 11th, 2012
5:22 pm
Veer
There is zero chance of Hudson being “voted off” as you put it for a rotation spot. In my opinion Medlen is at the bottom of the pecking order. Main reason is cause he is valuable in the pen.
nolie
August 11th, 2012
5:23 pm
will be pretty surprised at a 6 man rotation, especially for more than a coupla times through it . you can never say never, but pretty unlikely
UKUGA
August 11th, 2012
5:23 pm
The Sheets signing is also evidence of how the Braves’ winning tradition still helps in negotiations. They are not the Yankees, no. But, there are still plenty of guys – especially southerners – who grew up watching and cheering for the Braves, and respect the organization.
Sheets took less money to pitch for Atlanta. It’s not quite Dwight Howard manipulating a trade to the Lakers, but nonetheless, it is these kinds of moves that allow the Braves to stay in the thick of things years after Ted Turner’s dollars were removed from team coffers.
UKUGA
August 11th, 2012
5:24 pm
Unlucky 13 strikes again.
nolie
August 11th, 2012
5:24 pm
you do not really want a pitcher’s shoulder cut on unless absolutely necessary. way more dangerous than elbows to a career
Veer
August 11th, 2012
5:25 pm
This is a life and death start for Medlen for he knows that if he struggles today then Hanson will replace him. Essentially every Brave is fighting for a rotation spot. I would say only safe bets right now are Hudson and Malholm.
You have Minor who might be the guy to go
Medlen could be the guy
Sheets is the wildcard. He knows he has pitched good but if he gets bombed in his next 2 starts or has pain then he could be the one to go.
nolie
August 11th, 2012
5:25 pm
Bah, his fastball pretty much sukked anyway……
Hmmmm
August 11th, 2012
5:26 pm
“game at San Francisco has been moved to 5 p.m. (8 p.m. Eastern)”
naturally the Giants are off on Monday … at least the Braves only have to travel to San Diego for the next nights game and not the other side of the country
nolie
August 11th, 2012
5:27 pm
Hanson will prolly replace him no matter what
Alaska Braves Fan
August 11th, 2012
5:28 pm
nolie: You’re right. Shoulders are more complicated than elbows, and recuperation is more painful, difficult and chancy. It’s highly unlikely that a pitcher would gain velocity as a result of shoulder surgery. Of course, the never say never comment is correct too.
ABF
74bravesjersey
August 11th, 2012
5:29 pm
Hanson & JJ are Boras clients, to me thats goats cheese, the only Boras client I wouldn’t mind see’n the Braves push to resign is michael, but it seems to already be a given that he’s too expensive for the budget. If that be the case, see if constanza(lil jose) or Durango who’s been one of the minor league leaders in SB’s can hold the position. Simmons has definitely good leadoff speed, so if Bourne goes as much to my shagrin(hope he doesn’t) we may have more help from our young pups in the minors. If things change on the roster, like chipper retire’n, hinske may not be resigned, etc… then some of the young pups or thumpers if hungry enough could fill the void. Also room on payroll to make some or a move or two.
JeanE
August 11th, 2012
5:30 pm
Allright, I guess I am the single Matt Diaz fan left on the planet, what the heck happened with his thumb? Did he have surgery, what??????????? Now that Reed Johnson is here, no one cares about Diaz, such loyal fans we have.
VaBravesFan
August 11th, 2012
5:31 pm
Hanson has averaged less than 6 innings a start this season. 5.7 Innings per start to be exact. Only has pitched 7 innings or more 7 times out of 22 starts.
nolie
August 11th, 2012
5:35 pm
Matt who???………..
VaBravesFan
August 11th, 2012
5:38 pm
Matt Diaz’s day in Atlanta are most likely over. Only chance he has of coming back is if we decide to go with a platoon in LF and he’s willing to accept a salary around 1 mil. Which is a 50% pay cut from this season
nolie
August 11th, 2012
5:45 pm
there is no medical justification to shut down Stephen Stras. at 180 ..brian
a lot of anecdotal evidence that the Verducci Effect prolly does exist and likely should be paid attention if not followed slavishly
Brand-New
August 11th, 2012
5:45 pm
a little off topic, but is Jack Wilson still on the team? Considering Janish’s great play so far, Pastornicky’s good pinch hitting and Simmon’s coming back in a few weeks, don’t really see a need for him anymore.
VaBravesFan
August 11th, 2012
5:46 pm
Trying to resign Reed Johnson around 1-1.5 million for next season would be a smart move with not knowing how our LF/CF openings will be filled. Reed is a true 4th OFer who can play all spot and is a good pinch hitter. He will be 36 years old but as a part time player since 2008 he’s hit 290 with a 762 OPS which is damn good for a backup.
nolie
August 11th, 2012
5:48 pm
huge strides in sports medicine over the last decade but arm setbacks are more than ever. There will nbe a new record for medical losses again this season. however I think there is a good chance that the gNats will back off some on closing him down
nolie
August 11th, 2012
5:49 pm
Jack is still on DL as far as I know
A braves fan
August 11th, 2012
5:50 pm
Let’s finish strong and take care of teams that we should beat!
keylargo
August 11th, 2012
5:51 pm
JeanE – I heard he had surgery on his thumb again from the palm frond that he stuck under his thumb nail.
But it could be creative roster movement too.
TexasBrave
August 11th, 2012
5:51 pm
I understand Fredi’s reluctance in being short handed in the pen moving to a 6 man rotation. However, all of our current rotation are going at least 5 innings strong and more lately. I think with our starters going deeper we can afford being short one in the pen while giving the starters one extra day of rest between starts during this 20 games in 20 day stretch. Need to keep the starters fresh for the stretch run.
ChattTownBrian
August 11th, 2012
5:57 pm
Maholm is better than Hanson. When Jurrjens is actually healthy and spinning 2 seamers at hitters, he is also a better pitcher. Hudson is better, Sheets too. Medlen I don’t know yet in the long run, but would definitely choose him over TH right now. I would put Minor in the same boat as Meds … just don’t know yet.
Tommy’s W/L record proves again that stat is the most overrated in the game by far.
BravesFan24
August 11th, 2012
5:58 pm
Last night’s win was one of the smoothest this season. The Braves hardly even got their uniforms dirty. Paul Maholm’s outing was masterful. All we needed for offense were the timely home runs by Heyward and Uggla. I wish they could all be so easy. Let’s make it happen again tonight. GO BRAVES!!
Lew
August 11th, 2012
5:58 pm
The Verducci Effect certainly doesn’t happen 100% of the time, but it holds true often enough that it’s not a bad idea to pay attention to the effects of too many inings too early in a pitcher’s career and to limit them until after age 25.
Braves Fan for 55 yrs
August 11th, 2012
5:59 pm
Dave Do the Braves have an option on Ben Sheets for next year?
iTiSi
August 11th, 2012
6:01 pm
“JeanE”…… agree with you 100%. Having lived in 3 major cities I’ve found Atlanta fans to be the most “fickle” I have ever seen. A player can be everybody’s “little darling” one minute and their “footstool” the next. Some of the shortest memories ever exist in Braves fans. Not the same in St. Louis. Now that’s a real baseball town for you, and no, I’m not a Cardinals fan. Just appreciate loyalty, and not “what have you done for me lately” mentality.
SNEAKY PETE
August 11th, 2012
6:04 pm
iTiSi keeps getting thrown out of cities it seems. who can blame them though, such a buzz kill attention seeker
David O'Brien
August 11th, 2012
6:05 pm
Hanson set for rehab start Sunday, like it or not
http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2012/08/11/hanson-set-for-rehab-start-sunday-at-gwinnett/
ChattTownBrian
August 11th, 2012
6:06 pm
Joe Simpson acts like Hanson is the next coming of Halladay. Blah blah blah blah blah blah. He’s not real good, he’s lost velocity, his curveball isn’t that consistant and the slider is barely average and rarely is anywhere near dominant. Where’s his changeup and 2 seam they were all talking about? I guess TH thinks his old stuff is plenty good enough he doesn’t need that other stuff.
ChattTownBrian
August 11th, 2012
6:08 pm
“like it or not
Like we do not. Or I don’t.
Lew
August 11th, 2012
6:10 pm
CTB – And you act as if he’s dirt under your feet. Blah, blah, blah, blah. Oh yeah – blah.
BFChris27
August 11th, 2012
6:11 pm
Yankees sign Derek Lowe.
SNEAKY PETE
August 11th, 2012
6:12 pm
Blog always has to have several whipping boys. Hanson is obviously top dog now.
ncbravesfan90
August 11th, 2012
6:12 pm
Per Rotoworld:
Marc Carig of the Newark Star-Ledger reports that the Yankees have acquired Derek Lowe.
It makes a lot of sense for the Bombers, coming on the same day that CC Sabathia was placed on the disabled list. Lowe posted an 8-10 record and 5.52 ERA in 21 starts with the Indians before being released earlier this week. He should make his debut in pinstripes at some point soon.
Related: Yankees
Source: Marc Carig on Twitter Aug 11 – 6:09 PM
David O'Brien
August 11th, 2012
6:13 pm
Chipper said his back felt a little better today after he opted for the couch instead of unfomfortable bed in his hotel room.
nolie
August 11th, 2012
6:14 pm
ok, so now we are contributing to the Yankee steamroller.
Maybe we can get a piece of the WS title that way?
VaBravesFan
August 11th, 2012
6:14 pm
Expectations are to blame.
nolie
August 11th, 2012
6:16 pm
baseball fans should know better, especially about young pitching. TINSTAAPP
phil
August 11th, 2012
6:17 pm
Medlen to the pen, Hanson replaces him.
That’s what happens, like it or not. I have typed.
nolie
August 11th, 2012
6:17 pm
most likely phil, at least to start
Lew
August 11th, 2012
6:18 pm
Yep, Lowe might just help the Yankees if 1. he doesn’t have to pitch his first inning in the game (.341, .388, ..495) 2, The first hitter to face him (.333, .333, .524), 3. with men on base ( .367, .414, .502), or with RISP (.350, .405, .526).
Other than that he’s good to go and should shore up their rotation while CC is out.
nolie
August 11th, 2012
6:19 pm
use him as a reliever after the first out……
brian
August 11th, 2012
6:19 pm
I hope Chipper doesn’t order room service from the hotel since he outed them on Twitter.
phil
August 11th, 2012
6:20 pm
I’m astounded that, in the final season of a hall of fame career, the damn Braves can’t find a decent bed for Chipper in some decent hotel room in New York City…..
I’m truly astounded. Tell me it’s a joke.
brian
August 11th, 2012
6:21 pm
Yankees can have D. Lowe – he is done
David O'Brien
August 11th, 2012
6:21 pm
McCann on whether he might need shoulder surgery at some point: “I don’t think …I’m hoping that won’t be an issue. But we’ll see.”
phil
August 11th, 2012
6:22 pm
Fire the reservations person!!
brian
August 11th, 2012
6:22 pm
what exactly is wrong with Hanson’s shoulder? Labrum?
TexasBrave
August 11th, 2012
6:22 pm
Love how Fredi tried to explain away Hanson’s little temper tantrum. Seeing flashes of Frenchy’s rant when he was sent down. All me, me, me and not the team, team, team.
keylargo
August 11th, 2012
6:23 pm
I found the Derek Lowe to Mariners info on Baseball Reference. It was on his player page but just listed his last team as the Mariners in 2012.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lowede01.shtml
Derek Christopher Lowe
Position: Pitcher
Bats: Right, Throws: Right
Height: 6′ 6″, Weight: 230 lb.
Born: June 1, 1973 in Dearborn, MI (Age 39)
High School: Ford HS (Dearborn, MI)
Drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 8th round of the 1991 amateur draft.
Signed June 7, 1991. (All Transactions)
Debut: April 26, 1997
Teams (by GP): RedSox/Dodgers/Braves/Indians/Mariners 1997-2012
Lew
August 11th, 2012
6:23 pm
nolie – Yeah, that would do it. That way he wouldn’t have to face his first batter he faces or pitch his first inning. Sheesh.
phil
August 11th, 2012
6:24 pm
Do we have any idea what’s actually wrong anatomically in the shoulder? Is it an impingement thing with the acromion? The acromio-clavicular junction area pinching his cuff with certain movement? A tear?
nolie
August 11th, 2012
6:24 pm
must have been quite a row if y’all hear the argument all the way out in Texas
TennesseePaul
August 11th, 2012
6:25 pm
Thanks for the work DOB.
GO BRAVES!!
Last 9 Starts of the Starting 9
_________AVG__OBP__SLG___OPS_wOBA_L9S9+
Bourn__ .222 .364 .333 0.697 .326 ___96
Reed___ .382 .432 .559 0.991 .457 __177
Heyward .229 .289 .457 0.747 .319 __108
Chipper .333 .459 .567 1.026 .406 __187
Freeman .281 .378 .375 0.753 .344 __111
Uggla__ .313 .421 .531 0.952 .415 __166
McCann_ .233 .378 .467 0.845 .378 __136
Janish_ .212 .235 .273 0.508 .226 ___42
Medlen_ .000 .250 .000 0.250 .180 __-28
nolie
August 11th, 2012
6:26 pm
a fat arm.
phil
August 11th, 2012
6:26 pm
Send someone to Target for an air mattress for Chipper!!
phil
August 11th, 2012
6:27 pm
Nolie, that’s gotta be it! Lololol
brian
August 11th, 2012
6:28 pm
reading mlbtraderumors – Sheets says that he is not sure how much longer he will keep pitching just that he wants to go out on his own terms and not simply because of injury. A 1 year extension with a mutual option?
phil
August 11th, 2012
6:29 pm
Can’t Chipper swap rooms with DOB?
Take one for the team, David!!
TexasBrave
August 11th, 2012
6:29 pm
nolie I was trying to take a nap when I heard that ruckus!!!
Mark
August 11th, 2012
6:30 pm
Not a fan of the 6 man rotation idea. I agree with an earlier post that right now I think Minor is 4th behind Huddy, Sheets and Maholm, Looking forward to seeing Maholm a few more times though because honestly the Mets lineup last night was just a notch over the Astros only because Wright was in there.
Worse problems to have than having to figure out who leaves the rotation or better yet hopefully who stays out!
brian
August 11th, 2012
6:30 pm
nobody should rush to shoulder surgery. Much different than the elbow. Recovery is much, much worse and most pitchers aren’t quite the same after major shoulder surgery
phil
August 11th, 2012
6:30 pm
Cut Sheets now then….sissy boy.
nolie
August 11th, 2012
6:34 pm
bye bye Meds
Kat
August 11th, 2012
6:35 pm
Looks like it could be a nice night here at Citi. Nice view tonight.
http://img705.imageshack.us/img705/7084/imag1531.jpg
Venice Jim
August 11th, 2012
6:35 pm
Being a world in which every person is not exactly the same as others, sometimes people are comfortable on different typed of beds – seems to work for the sleep number system people…
Trader Jack
August 11th, 2012
6:35 pm
Lowe might help the Yankees if they can figure a way to close all the bars and clubs when he’s in town
Efrim
August 11th, 2012
6:36 pm
DOB, it’s actually 6.5 million according to Cots.
It’s an affordable 6.5 million dollar option for a starter like Maholm that never hits the DL and seems to have changed the way he has pitched with more use of that cutter. Good stuff last night. Keith Hernandez and Ron Darling even mentioned that he used to be a fastball/change pitcher and is now throwing a ton more cutters.
nolie
August 11th, 2012
6:37 pm
hotels often have soft beds cause many associate that with expensive comfort.
firmer is better though
Mark
August 11th, 2012
6:39 pm
Consider for a moment not what you think the Braves will do but this.
Who would you want to start pitching the last game of the year and if we win we go to the playoffs and we lose we go home. Your only choices are Medlin or Hanson.
nolie
August 11th, 2012
6:41 pm
silly thought cause neither is gonna happen. abd the only thing that really counts is what the Braves are gonna do, not what any of us want
Mark
August 11th, 2012
6:42 pm
Geez nolie.
why any discussion then huh?
The A Bomb
August 11th, 2012
6:43 pm
Hanson needs his jaw wired.
George
August 11th, 2012
6:44 pm
This one game play-in to become WC S**KS. If u are going to have another team in it at least make it 2 out of 3.
nolie
August 11th, 2012
6:44 pm
so we can take out our frustrations on each other?
I was being facetious there Mark.
shorty
August 11th, 2012
6:45 pm
The gnats will slump and harper and strasberg will start crying like the wimps they are..by the end of Sept.they will probably be out of playoff contention
nolie
August 11th, 2012
6:46 pm
it is really not only about who might be the best starter though
Mark
August 11th, 2012
6:46 pm
My bad. I let the “silly thought” part get the better of me.
George
August 11th, 2012
6:47 pm
Hi nolie
If u like western novels try HELL IS EMPTY by CREIG JOHNSON it is the newest of the LONGMIRE series.
The A Bomb
August 11th, 2012
6:49 pm
A 1-game playoff is very exciting. However, unless the field commander can grasp the concept of “throwing the kitchen sink” at another team we will be in trouble. He’s way too concerned with getting guys rest and his inability to grasp urgency cost us in September last season and will put us behind the 8-ball on Oct. 5 — if we get there.
George
August 11th, 2012
6:50 pm
Mark
August 11th, 2012
6:39 pm
MEDLAN for sure.
nolie
August 11th, 2012
6:50 pm
thanx george, i am in the midst of watching that series start to finish right now, an ok show
Mark
August 11th, 2012
6:50 pm
Yeah I know the pen is a question…Just hate to see the better pitchers not get on the field. Remember Smoltz sitting in the pen during his closing days one series and he never got on the field. Realize too comparing Smoltz to either is a stretch but sort of similar possibility.
Mark
August 11th, 2012
6:52 pm
shorty
Now that is thinking positive thoughts!!
George
August 11th, 2012
6:53 pm
I ses FREDI is putting his A TEAM out there tonight.
George
August 11th, 2012
6:57 pm
A TEAM less MARTIN.
George
August 11th, 2012
6:59 pm
Outta here for game. LETS GET A WIN TONIGHT.
MikeInFl
August 11th, 2012
6:59 pm
Wow, so Tommy Hanson has assumed the vital role of blog whipping boy. Things have been going well on the field, so I was concerned the blog might not have any Brave player to hate.
I’ve never been a huge Hanson fan… frustrates the heck out of me watching him pitch. But until July when his shoulder worsened, he was pitching pretty well. A 3.59 ERA through June.
And we’re insulted that he wants to get back to work instead of pitching a rehab game? I guess we should be glad he feels strong, and competitive (fire, heart, grit, you know… you guys talk about it all the time)
Anyway, we’ll see what happens. Personally, I’m fine with him coming back and moving Meds to the ‘pen, where he is very valuable. And if Tommy’s not able to get it done, go back to plan B. Nice to have options.
Anyway, just a (seemingly) lone voice of support for one our own, Tommy Hanson!
Mark
August 11th, 2012
7:05 pm
Mike
Professional ball means the best get the ball. I, like others, hate Hansons velo and command left him. Hopefully, he’ll get it back but for him to pull a Chipper and want to do no rehab start is a little much especially considering how well the others are going right now.
David O'Brien
August 11th, 2012
7:07 pm
McCann and Chipper back in lineup
http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2012/08/11/mccann-chipper-back-in-lineup-saturday/
cricket
August 11th, 2012
7:12 pm
Blog always has to have several whipping boys. Hanson is obviously top dog now
sorry, all brilliant ML managers that opt to comment here instead of assuming their rightful place with a ML team have already anointed Fredi as no. 1 and already retired that number. line starts at 2.
74bravesjersey
August 11th, 2012
7:12 pm
So; When Hanson comes back, gets roughed up the first couple of innings, which I hoped to be wrong, I hope he pitches lights out, but there’s some kinda mound presence you sense w/ these others, the confidence, the fight in them to get after the hitters, that sense of you feelin good about the game because of the mound presence. Knowing how to pitch, kinda maddux/glavine type of surety out there, I see the fight, the Dog in the fight, whenever sheets,maholm,MEDLEN pitch’n, Huddy, if the bone spurs ain’t affecting his release point, but he’s a Bulldog, I hope Hanson mabey can bring the fight w/ him, prove all of us wrong, cause’ medlen gets with it. Minor has shown good movement, working faster gett’n right after the hitter’s as well. But if Tommy keeps the other team off balanced, then mabey he’s back. Right now, still cring’n over that arm slot he’s got. When he’s holding the ball in thatarm slot, the hitter’s can see the grip, & kinda get an idea to what’s com’n.
Mark
August 11th, 2012
7:12 pm
Wish Freddi would put Uggla in between Freddi and Mac just to stay away from back to back lefties since Uggla hasn’t been terrible lately.
Venice Jim
August 11th, 2012
7:14 pm
Good job, REED!!!
VaBravesFan
August 11th, 2012
7:18 pm
Promising start.. Not so much.
Venice Jim
August 11th, 2012
7:18 pm
FREDDIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mark
August 11th, 2012
7:19 pm
Santana is all over the place right now
Efrim
August 11th, 2012
7:20 pm
Freeman! Nice.
VaBravesFan
August 11th, 2012
7:21 pm
Freeman is able to bail out JHey and Chip with some 2 out hittin.
MikeInFl
August 11th, 2012
7:21 pm
I know what you’re saying, 74bravesjersey. Good post. Medlen, Sheets and Maholm have been a breath of fresh air. We’ll see how that plays out… been facing some very weak offensive teams the last couple of weeks. But I’m sure hoping they all continue to pitch well.
Anyway, I have no problem with whichever way the Braves play it with Hanson – I’m not insisting that he be given his spot back ’cause I do understand your point. Just don’t like everyone turning so hard on a guy that came up through the system, has given a lot of value, and is dealing with an injury.
If Tommy is still topping out at 87, or whatever, we probably need to sit him the rest of the year and hope he can recover by next season. But if he’s back to early season form, then it’s a good problem to have.
74bravesjersey
August 11th, 2012
7:22 pm
If Medlen pitches lights out, gets another win, still goes to the pen for Hanson, & if Hanson gets knocked around, how long will this experiment last? Medlens pitches have good movement, in & out, changes speeds well, keeps hitters off balanced, & Hansons too much cheese, why not keep the hot hand in there? Will there be a short leash for Medlen if Hanson struggles? Mabey Hanson will come out gunz-a-blaz’n & be that stud everybody would love to see, but right now, Medlens a stud as far as I’m concerned. Out!
brian
August 11th, 2012
7:22 pm
Great 1st inning offensively for the braves. Now we need a quick bottom half of the 1st
ChattTownBrian
August 11th, 2012
7:23 pm
Freddie our MVP!
Mark
August 11th, 2012
7:27 pm
Looked like strike 3 to me before the groundout
74bravesjersey
August 11th, 2012
7:27 pm
@MikeInFl; Point well taken Mike; & I’m not try’n to down the guy, I hope he comes back & be unbeatable, mabey a new approach has come his way, & he’s become reliable,counted on, I really hope so, but mabey w/ all the others doi’n so well, it causes him to step up his game, hope so.
Venice Jim
August 11th, 2012
7:28 pm
Way to get it started, MEDS!!!
Bravefaninok
August 11th, 2012
7:29 pm
Way to carve em up meds!!!!!!!
Mark
August 11th, 2012
7:29 pm
No hitter still in tact – Good inning Meds – Lots os FBs on the black and 3 curves to Wright.
TNScott
August 11th, 2012
7:29 pm
Good job, Kris!!
Efrim
August 11th, 2012
7:30 pm
If Medlen pitches lights out, gets another win, still goes to the pen for Hanson, & if Hanson gets knocked around, how long will this experiment last?
Why you worried about it? We’ll see how things pan out. Obviously if Hanson is getting hit hard in his first couple starts, Medlen will be placed back in. All depends.
Coach (2012 Fredi's Beisbol Fandango)
August 11th, 2012
7:30 pm
De javu……2-0 Braves to start the game.
BF54
August 11th, 2012
7:30 pm
Medleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeen!!!
ChattTownBrian
August 11th, 2012
7:30 pm
And Tommy “I throw 89 mph straight as an arrow Fastballs and nit pick to death” Hanson will push Medlen back to the pen. It’s going to happen, unfortunately.
brian
August 11th, 2012
7:31 pm
Looking at the rotation at this moment, Hanson is still the weak link. Maholm is in the rotation as is Sheets. Minor has looked strong lately – robbed by the rain in his only short outing. I do not think that Hanson deserves a spot right now over those 3. That in my book leaves Hanson versus Huddy. Could Huddy use a 2 week DL stint to help his ankle? That would get us to September where it is easy to go to a 6 man rotation with extended rosters
brian
August 11th, 2012
7:32 pm
I like Hanson a lot but right now we have better and more reliable options
Efrim
August 11th, 2012
7:32 pm
70 walks for Uggla.
ChattTownBrian
August 11th, 2012
7:33 pm
Uggla is a real good base runner.
Mark
August 11th, 2012
7:34 pm
Even if Uggla goes back into his funk it wont be as frustrating to me since he’s done away with that prepitch dance!
TNScott
August 11th, 2012
7:34 pm
Great base running, guys!!!
Efrim
August 11th, 2012
7:34 pm
I’ve never seen a pitcher with such horrible luck vs. us. Johan never gets a break.
Bravefaninok
August 11th, 2012
7:34 pm
Janish ….Good running Danny!
Mark
August 11th, 2012
7:34 pm
Meds with a hack there
tmc
August 11th, 2012
7:35 pm
Love seeing good hustle like that (Uggla to 3rd, Yanish to 2nd).
more please.
keylargo
August 11th, 2012
7:35 pm
That’s why Uggla should bat in front of McCann. Uggla is not a base stealer but is a very good baserunner. Mac has kept him from taking an extra base a bunch of times this year.
Venice Jim
August 11th, 2012
7:35 pm
MEDS!!!
TNScott
August 11th, 2012
7:36 pm
KRIS!!!!!
Bravefaninok
August 11th, 2012
7:36 pm
Meds!!!!!!!!!!!!
Efrim
August 11th, 2012
7:36 pm
Like I said, Santana has the worst luck ever vs. us. It’s awesome.
Mark
August 11th, 2012
7:36 pm
Santnas off his spots by feet not inches.
He hasn’t been very good since the No-Hitter that really wasn’t!!
BF54
August 11th, 2012
7:37 pm
Medleeeeeeeeeeeeeeen!!!
Birdhair
August 11th, 2012
7:37 pm
FG might be a marble mouth at interviews, he might be a golden corral golden member, and he might be fooled by twitter, but he’s proven to me that he’s worlds better at playing the right players and making out more effective lineups than cox.
Only major issues with FG are playing struggla too much and playing Francisco. Roadrunner should be at AAA w his garbage OBP
Efrim
August 11th, 2012
7:37 pm
Getting ugly for Johan.
Venice Jim
August 11th, 2012
7:38 pm
Just assigned my students an essay so I can listen to the game without interruption for a half hour…had to stop listening for a couple of minutes to go over the math section we just did…
TNScott
August 11th, 2012
7:38 pm
BOURN!!!!
Coach (2012 Fredi's Beisbol Fandango)
August 11th, 2012
7:38 pm
BALLGAME!
Mark
August 11th, 2012
7:38 pm
They need to do Santana a favor and get him out of the game
Bravefaninok
August 11th, 2012
7:38 pm
Bourn…
brian
August 11th, 2012
7:40 pm
Hope the braves don’t let up. Big inning followed by a quick mets half
Hmmmm
August 11th, 2012
7:41 pm
dang, he got a cheap out
Efrim
August 11th, 2012
7:41 pm
Come on, Jason….
Venice Jim
August 11th, 2012
7:42 pm
Well done, Jason!!!
Bravefaninok
August 11th, 2012
7:42 pm
Jey Heyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!
Mixxo
August 11th, 2012
7:42 pm
Looky here, looky here!
David O'Brien
August 11th, 2012
7:42 pm
Santana looks just about D.O.N.E.
Capt.Mudd
August 11th, 2012
7:42 pm
A big———Carry on my Heyward Son……!!!
Mark
August 11th, 2012
7:42 pm
Santana isn’t well. Throwing BP but not very consistent in the zone.
DiamondbackMac
August 11th, 2012
7:43 pm
Do the Mets have anyone up in the pen?
Coach (2012 Fredi's Beisbol Fandango)
August 11th, 2012
7:43 pm
Bye bye Santana, see ya! too the showers……..
BF54
August 11th, 2012
7:44 pm
J Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeey!!!
Venice Jim
August 11th, 2012
7:44 pm
CHIPPERAMA!!!
Lance
August 11th, 2012
7:44 pm
I’m glad to see the prepitch dance of Uggla’s gone too
cricket
August 11th, 2012
7:44 pm
i love this kind of boring one-sided game
Hmmmm
August 11th, 2012
7:45 pm
hope Meds can pitch better than Huddy did when he had a big lead. He’s pitched great since coming to the rotation so hopefully we won’t have to worry about it
keylargo
August 11th, 2012
7:45 pm
Once great but not anymore, the Mets are gonna hurt paying Santana off.
2012 33 New York Mets $24,000,000
2013 34 New York Mets $25,500,000
2014 35 New York Mets *$25,000,000
Capt.Mudd
August 11th, 2012
7:45 pm
Chipper enjoys the Hit one @Citi-Field theme
Mark
August 11th, 2012
7:46 pm
If I were the Mets owner I’d have words with Collins leaving that guy out there like that that long! No excuse to leave a guy like Santana out there to get knocked around. Embarrassing for the coaches!!
LAG
August 11th, 2012
7:46 pm
It’s tough to watch…
– Joe Simpson, on Johan Santana recovering from injury but pitching poorly
I find it quite easy to watch as long as he’s in a Mets uniform.
Mixxo
August 11th, 2012
7:46 pm
Kinda sad for Johan but, I’m sure the Mutts aren’t losing any sleep over us losing Beachy & Simmons.
David O'Brien
August 11th, 2012
7:46 pm
Santana never went fewer than 3 innings in a start before this season, when Braves have twice knocked him out after 1-1/3 innings
mjn99
August 11th, 2012
7:46 pm
same thing as in April, 6 runs in the first two innings against Santana
abeeewright
August 11th, 2012
7:47 pm
So much for Santana’s scoreless streak at Citi Field against the Braves.
Venice Jim
August 11th, 2012
7:48 pm
FF MAMMO!!!
mjn99
August 11th, 2012
7:48 pm
WOW
Mixxo
August 11th, 2012
7:48 pm
Yowsa!
ROCKET shot!
cabravesfan
August 11th, 2012
7:48 pm
FREDDIEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!
Hmmmm
August 11th, 2012
7:48 pm
that was sure was a blast
TNScott
August 11th, 2012
7:48 pm
FREDDIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bravefaninok
August 11th, 2012
7:48 pm
MAMMO!!!!!!!!
BFChris27
August 11th, 2012
7:48 pm
Freeeeeeeeeeeman!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
abeeewright
August 11th, 2012
7:48 pm
Freeman sends that ball over the apple.
brian
August 11th, 2012
7:48 pm
Absolutely crushed
Efrim
August 11th, 2012
7:48 pm
That ball was murdered…..
keylargo
August 11th, 2012
7:48 pm
More hits and runs in this half inning than all last night.
LAG
August 11th, 2012
7:48 pm
Ike Davis, eat your heart out.
cabravesfan
August 11th, 2012
7:48 pm
Freddie has 5 RBI in 1 1/3 inning. Not bad
VaBravesFan
August 11th, 2012
7:49 pm
That’s the ballgame folks, thanks for coming out.
ChattTownBrian
August 11th, 2012
7:49 pm
I will guess that homer was around 460 feet, maybe more.
Lance
August 11th, 2012
7:49 pm
Freeman is a beast!
Capt.Mudd
August 11th, 2012
7:49 pm
Over the Apple and into the BIG APPLE——-WOW that’s got to be 450 footer
abeeewright
August 11th, 2012
7:49 pm
Chipper might need a new phrase for that HR. Beyond Mammo.
BF54
August 11th, 2012
7:49 pm
Feeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeddie!!!
kevkat
August 11th, 2012
7:49 pm
Save some for tomorrow boys
DiamondbackMac
August 11th, 2012
7:49 pm
nolie at 11:09 am
<emI am gonna guess that we will not score 6 runs off of Johan tonight
Bad guess.
Dr.Braves
August 11th, 2012
7:50 pm
I wonder if Fredi G will an itty bitty amount of credit for this. Just like he gets blame when we lose.
Mark
August 11th, 2012
7:50 pm
He hit all the seams on that one!
brian
August 11th, 2012
7:50 pm
Another quick inning here by Meds and get the mets back in the field
Bravefaninok
August 11th, 2012
7:51 pm
450-460 sounds about right.
DiamondbackMac
August 11th, 2012
7:51 pm
What’s the opposite of McFanned? I think I just achieved it.
Jay Dubu
August 11th, 2012
7:51 pm
I thought Mac’s shoulder was the injuried body part…he was running slower than molases flowing uphill on a cold day. Any slower, and he would have been backing up.
Huggy Bear
August 11th, 2012
7:51 pm
Hugs for everyone tonight!!
mjn99
August 11th, 2012
7:52 pm
I don’t like games like this because tomorrow they won’t score a run.
Zing
August 11th, 2012
7:52 pm
Wow — that Freeman homer… dude, that was just CRUSHED.
Mark
August 11th, 2012
7:52 pm
Fan of the Game looked like Prince Fielder
Huggy Bear
August 11th, 2012
7:53 pm
Dig this. A little bird tells me there’s gonna be a trade coming and Hanson is out.
David O'Brien
August 11th, 2012
7:53 pm
Santana line: 1-1/3 innings, 8 hits, 8 runs, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts.
Brave New World
August 11th, 2012
7:53 pm
Yoo-Hoo Santana go bye bye.
Fredi Gonzales
August 11th, 2012
7:54 pm
Can’t I get some credit the same way I get the blame?
Mark
August 11th, 2012
7:54 pm
So much for the No-hitter – Shutout now?
David O'Brien
August 11th, 2012
7:54 pm
Braves notes: Uggla stays in lineup; Bethancourt fractures hand
http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2012/08/11/uggla-stays-in-lineup-bethancourt-fractures-hand/
Coach (2012 Fredi's Beisbol Fandango)
August 11th, 2012
7:54 pm
Not including the 24 million the Mets paid Santana is 2012, they also owe him another 25.5 million in 2013, along with a 5.5 million buyout for 2014.
If my math is correct, that’s 35 million for a pitcher who just got torched for eight runs in less than two innings of work. Yowzers!
ChattTownBrian
August 11th, 2012
7:54 pm
Freeman is HUUUUGE so more homers just like that is what we can expect in the future.
Mixxo
August 11th, 2012
7:54 pm
Dig this. A little bird tells me there’s gonna be a trade coming and Hanson is out.
Hope your little bird is right!
The A Bomb
August 11th, 2012
7:54 pm
Rainbows and lollipops. Still August 10. Outstanding, but will this be here in September?
This team still has manic tendencies. Especially under our incredible field commander.
DiamondbackMac
August 11th, 2012
7:55 pm
I hit the bottom of the last page with this one, so I’ll try it again.
nolie
I am gonna guess that we will not score 6 runs off of Johan tonight
Bad guess.
Mark
August 11th, 2012
7:56 pm
This is a time to rest some guys. Get Mac out and rest that shoulder! Chipper out and rest the back along with everything else for the old guy!
Fredi Gonzales
August 11th, 2012
7:57 pm
Come on! You are a good fanbase right? Give me some love like you do hate when the braves lose.
Aubrey
August 11th, 2012
7:57 pm
What is the distance on Freeman’s blast?
Mixxo
August 11th, 2012
7:58 pm
The Mets want this.
Mark
August 11th, 2012
7:59 pm
Fredi
Get off the blog and manage. Get Chipper and Bmac out of the game.
On second thought just stay on here and do what we tell you to do.
The A Bomb
August 11th, 2012
8:00 pm
Can the Braves keep pouring it on…..or will the offense go into the deep freeze as is usual when they get a lead of 4+ runs?
Efrim
August 11th, 2012
8:02 pm
Nice. Can always count on Josh Thole for a weakly hit ball…
Fredi Gonzales
August 11th, 2012
8:02 pm
Mark,
You had to find something to fuss about didn’t you? Give me credit and sit at home spectator!
Kat
August 11th, 2012
8:02 pm
Very FUN game to be at. Everyone is booing their team. Love it.
keylargo
August 11th, 2012
8:03 pm
This is a time to rest some guys. Get Mac out and rest that shoulder! Chipper out and rest the back along with everything else for the old guy!
Mark, I’d be all for pulling CJ, Mac etc if they would play tomorrow.
Disgusted
August 11th, 2012
8:03 pm
Man, I was wrong on Freddie Freeman a couple yrs ago when he had his off yr in Mississippi in AA when he hit .248 with 8 HR.
I did not expect that kind of power.
Freddie has great hands at first but the range factor will rate him lower than most first basemen.
Still do not get his below 2 WAR rating, that does not make sense. You and I both know that Freddie is more than 2 games better than your typical replacement player.
Capt.Mudd
August 11th, 2012
8:04 pm
The team looks motivated and inspired–a good sign late in the season, and, tellingly a positive sign of effective managerial strategies…….Fredi, I may pound you some; but you’re getting there and you deserve some love too!
Fredi Gonzales
August 11th, 2012
8:04 pm
I wish I was a part of a baseball loving fanbase. St.Louis, NY, Chi, etc..
I’m stuck in Atlanta of all places to deal with backward thinking morons who can’t cheer for there winning manager like real fans do.
Mark
August 11th, 2012
8:04 pm
You gotta admit you give us plenty of ammo to fuss about you.
LAG
August 11th, 2012
8:04 pm
CC Sabathia DL’ed with an elbow problem? And the Yankees sign Derek Lowe to take his place?
Not a good time of the year for baseball in NYC.
Lance
August 11th, 2012
8:04 pm
How many teams can say they have a switching-hitting pitcher?
Disgusted
August 11th, 2012
8:06 pm
And what is this about D. Lowe going to the NYY.
Heard that on the broadcast. I hate the NYY but they do make the best of their dumsta dives like Freddie Garcia and they did get milage out of Bartolo Colon last yr.
Lowe prolly has a couple or three big gaes down the stretch for them. Might even beat the incompently run Boston Dead Sux twice if not more. That is the RS luck.
LAG
August 11th, 2012
8:06 pm
Lance – How many teams can say they have a switching-hitting pitcher?
Off the top of my head, us and the Marlins (Zambrano). Me being me, I’m gonna look for more.
Mark
August 11th, 2012
8:06 pm
Keylargo
Definately. If he were planning on keeping them out they could change plans and get them in now.
The A Bomb
August 11th, 2012
8:06 pm
That’s another million.
Capt.Mudd
August 11th, 2012
8:07 pm
Michael knows how to impress us and the NY press….by…..pressing.
Lance
August 11th, 2012
8:08 pm
Thanks Lag
Mark
August 11th, 2012
8:08 pm
Freddi
NY? You here all those boos. Imagine what they’d be yelling at you
Venice Jim
August 11th, 2012
8:08 pm
Good job, RJ!!!
Disgusted
August 11th, 2012
8:09 pm
Can we at least give credit where credit is due and respect Fredi for the work he has done this yr.
And I am typed out on the FW posts, he is an excellent GM and that is where I stand. His record does not really need defending.
Much more good than bad.
And our scouts and baseball ops people who answer to FW are among the best.
They overcome the parent corporation.
The A Bomb
August 11th, 2012
8:11 pm
MORONS ripping on Heyward in 3…..2……1………..
Mark
August 11th, 2012
8:11 pm
Lag and Lance
Don’t know your age but remember Jaquinn Anduhar with the Astros. His famous quote was “swing hard in case you hit it”. He was a switch hitter but you never new which way he was going to hit. Might go up there righty against a righty!
Capt.Mudd
August 11th, 2012
8:12 pm
I think Jason was staying back on that AB….trying for an opposite field dink—hand were close to the vest….kind of new?
Lance
August 11th, 2012
8:13 pm
I had forgotten about him. And that quote is a classic
LAG
August 11th, 2012
8:14 pm
Lance
ATL – Kris Medlen (of course)
BAL – Troy Patton
HOU – Lucas Harrell
LAD – Kenley Jansen
MIA – Chris Hatcher, Carlos Zambrano
NYM – Manny Acosta (I shoulda remembered him)
OAK – Pat Neshek
PIT – Wandy Rodriguez
TEX – Derek Holland
WAS – Drew Storen
LAG
August 11th, 2012
8:15 pm
Mark – I never saw Andujar play, but I do remember hearing the quote from time to time. It is a good one.
Lance
August 11th, 2012
8:15 pm
Thanks for the list. I had forgotten Zambrano
jeffrey d
August 11th, 2012
8:15 pm
I am gonna guess that we will not score 6 runs off of Johan tonight nolie
Stewpid!
Lance
August 11th, 2012
8:16 pm
We were discussing social media and a baseball game broke out?
abeeewright
August 11th, 2012
8:18 pm
Meldeeeen is getting it done through three.
David O'Brien
August 11th, 2012
8:20 pm
At least Mets fans get to boo Chipper tonight. All is not lost in Flushing.
Lance
August 11th, 2012
8:20 pm
Good point, DOB.
LAG
August 11th, 2012
8:21 pm
Freddie Freeman, that bum…
Chipper's ACL
August 11th, 2012
8:22 pm
By far Wren’s best seasonal moves by far. Not a fan of previous moves but 2012 has been productive. Now let’s see how he addresses all of the off season decisions.
Lance
August 11th, 2012
8:25 pm
If McCann’s shoulder is bothering him, taking him out here might not be a bad idea
Kat
August 11th, 2012
8:26 pm
That second deck foul ball by Freddie came right to me and my friends. One jumped and it went threw his hands, so close hah.
Fuzzzmeister
August 11th, 2012
8:26 pm
Med > Red
DiamondbackMac
August 11th, 2012
8:27 pm
Wright has to shaking his head at that curveball.
Kris
August 11th, 2012
8:27 pm
It will be an interesting off-season for the Braves. They have a lot of $$$ coming off the books, but it will also be their first year without Chipper and potentially without Bourne.
nolie
August 11th, 2012
8:29 pm
Bad guess,,,DMac
great jinx though
Mark
August 11th, 2012
8:29 pm
Games out of hand and the family stole the TV. Watching Family Feud reruns now so I’m blogging blind off you guys.
Survey says?
Kris
August 11th, 2012
8:29 pm
He would you all feel about the Braves pursuing Wright in the off-season 3B next year? It would cost a lot in terms of talent, but it would be a nice offensive addition.
Bravefaninok
August 11th, 2012
8:30 pm
Disgusted
August 11th, 2012
8:03 pm
Man, I was wrong on Freddie Freeman a couple yrs ago when he had his off yr in Mississippi in AA when he hit .248 with 8 HR.
I did not expect that kind of power.
Freddie has great hands at first but the range factor will rate him lower than most first basemen.
Still do not get his below 2 WAR rating, that does not make sense. You and I both know that Freddie is more than 2 games better than your typical replacement player.
If the replacement is the big diesel(Hinske) his war would be 10+
jeffrey d
August 11th, 2012
8:30 pm
Survey says?
Which host?
David O'Brien
August 11th, 2012
8:31 pm
Freeman’s homer over apple beyond CF fence was longest that anyone here in NY pressbox can remember hit to CF at Citi Field.
Lance
August 11th, 2012
8:31 pm
I think it would cost way to much in cash and players to get David Wright.
DiamondbackMac
August 11th, 2012
8:32 pm
nolie
Yep, thanks for the jinx.
Mark
August 11th, 2012
8:33 pm
Whos a free agent 3B coming up?
Bet we put Jhey in CF because he can play it and theres not many good ones available out there. I’d prefer he stay in right just because he is really coming into his own and I’d hate to see that disrupted by changing spots.
jeffrey d
August 11th, 2012
8:33 pm
Bad guess,,,DMac
uhh….someone else pointed it out too
nolie
August 11th, 2012
8:33 pm
hey, I was right, we did not score 6, we scored 8
Lance
August 11th, 2012
8:34 pm
Interesting spin nolie….but I like it!!
brian
August 11th, 2012
8:35 pm
Uggla still out in front
Efrim
August 11th, 2012
8:35 pm
Uggla is on fire.
David O'Brien
August 11th, 2012
8:35 pm
Uggla singles after hitting a loooong foul that sailed left of the pole
Venice Jim
August 11th, 2012
8:35 pm
Good job, Dan…
brian
August 11th, 2012
8:36 pm
Nice hit though
abeeewright
August 11th, 2012
8:36 pm
I know that the ingredients don’t match, but Freeman’s HR could be called “Scrapple!”
brian
August 11th, 2012
8:37 pm
What was the distance of Freeman’s hr?
DiamondbackMac
August 11th, 2012
8:37 pm
nolie
When I posted, it was 6.
nolie
August 11th, 2012
8:39 pm
I was really responding to Jeffrey there Mac
Mark
August 11th, 2012
8:39 pm
Jeffery
Old gray headed dude. Think he played on a soap opera or something one time.
Steve Harvey is a good one!!
Mark
August 11th, 2012
8:41 pm
I’m guessing 470 on Freddis knock
DiamondbackMac
August 11th, 2012
8:42 pm
jeffreyd
uhh….someone else pointed it out too
I pointed it out 26 minutes before you.
Efrim
August 11th, 2012
8:46 pm
7 K’s…..
keylargo
August 11th, 2012
8:47 pm
That damn Fredi G is going to kill the starters. He has not used anyone in the bullpen for 3 days now. I bet we have two or three pitchers on the DL soon the way he is using them.
nolie
August 11th, 2012
8:48 pm
Meds looking good again tonight
usnavyvolfaninva
August 11th, 2012
8:49 pm
Hola, peoples! Great game tonight! Man, Johan got whooped!
usnavyvolfaninva
August 11th, 2012
8:52 pm
Man, I’m sure glad that Dan Uggla doesn’t quit when the going gets rough like some on this blog did.
DiamondbackMac
August 11th, 2012
8:53 pm
LAG
Gameday and the Mets we site says that Manny Acosta bats right, not switch.
Lance
August 11th, 2012
8:54 pm
It’s good to see Bourn and Heyword (and others) hustle down the line to first – playing with intensity and hard.
Disgusted
August 11th, 2012
8:55 pm
“Bet we put Jhey in CF because he can play it and theres not many good ones available out there. I’d prefer he stay in right just because he is really coming into his own and I’d hate to see that disrupted by changing spots.”
They could go for Angel Pagan who should not command a crazy salary but would not want to go more than 2 yrs with that guy.
I do not want Peter Bourjos.
Kris
August 11th, 2012
8:56 pm
Meds definitely deserves a spot in the rotation. I really hope they find a way to keep him in there. I wonder what will happen if Tommy comes back and gets hammered or struggles with control in his first start back from the DL? I would hope Tommy is removed from the rotation, but I have a feeling that unless he approaches the level of atrocity that Jurrjens reached he will be in the rotation and Meda will be backup the ‘pen. That would be really disappointing.
ncbravesfan90
August 11th, 2012
8:56 pm
Jason Marquis holding the Pirates to no hits through 6 innings….
richbrave
August 11th, 2012
8:56 pm
D-BACKS 3 NATS 1 after two complete
richbrave
August 11th, 2012
8:57 pm
ED JACKSON not locating well and being cuffed around a bit.
Efrim
August 11th, 2012
8:58 pm
Tejada is a nice looking player. Wright, Tejada, Davis, Dickey, Niese, Santana, Harvey, Gee, Wheeler…..they just need a bullpen and an outfield is all….
nolie
August 11th, 2012
8:58 pm
Uggla!!
Mixxo
August 11th, 2012
8:58 pm
smooth!
Mark
August 11th, 2012
8:58 pm
Magadan is my guess
nolie
August 11th, 2012
8:58 pm
seems like the better they play the fewer bloggers show up
Tampa Gator
August 11th, 2012
8:59 pm
No able to watch the game tonight. Medlen must be dealing like Maholm did last night. The kid knows how to pitch….just like Maholm does. The Braves almost wasted him in the pen this year. He is not just a starter for the rest of the year….he will be a starter in the playoffs if he continues to pitch this well. But let’s see how he pitches in the 6th and 7th. He still is not used to pitching this many innings. Go Braves.
nolie
August 11th, 2012
8:59 pm
Olerud?
Mark
August 11th, 2012
9:00 pm
Yawnish is yawnish out there for sure. As close to automatic as there is on routine plays
Pace
August 11th, 2012
9:00 pm
Meds has been lights out, really enjoy watching him pitch. Hope he stays in the rotation!!!
nolie
August 11th, 2012
9:01 pm
Lance Johnson? one of the two I bet
Couch Tater
August 11th, 2012
9:01 pm
2013 – Santana and Bay. $41.5 million. yeeoww.
..and let’s not forget Bobby Bonilla. $1.2 million.
Efrim
August 11th, 2012
9:01 pm
Lynchburg SS Nick Ahmed stole his 35th base tonight. Also had two hits.
Danville LHP Carlos Perez with 4 more Ks. He’s back on track once he was sent down to work on his delivery. Rome rotation next year could look real good with Lucas Sims, Mauricio Cabrera, Luis Merejo and Carlos Perez….
Mark
August 11th, 2012
9:02 pm
Olerud good guess too. He was so slow I figured he didn’t get any infield hits.
Oh well.
I’d rather have Magadan and Olerud than that guy
Mixxo
August 11th, 2012
9:02 pm
C’mon Freddy….scorch Manny!
Bravefaninok
August 11th, 2012
9:02 pm
Nolie, you think Freeman will get 25hr and 100rbi this year?
Mixxo
August 11th, 2012
9:03 pm
oh well….
LAG
August 11th, 2012
9:03 pm
DiamondbackMac –
LAG
Gameday and the Mets we site says that Manny Acosta bats right, not switch.
ESPN had him as a switch-hitter, which is where I got the info from.
He must have recently given up the left side, then. I distinctly remember him batting lefty a few times for us (and Baseball Reference shows that he has 4 PAs as a lefty and 3 as a righty).
nolie
August 11th, 2012
9:04 pm
possible, but maybe not 25
Mark
August 11th, 2012
9:04 pm
Maholm threw well last night and Meds tonight.
But here is my dose of reality many of you love me for.
The Mets suck
DiamondbackMac
August 11th, 2012
9:04 pm
Nolie – <emseems like the better they play the fewer bloggers show up
Ain’t it great.
keylargo
August 11th, 2012
9:04 pm
Don’t forget they just got Oliver Perez off the payroll this year. $15M x 3 years
DiamondbackMac
August 11th, 2012
9:05 pm
Don’t have to scroll past so much crap.
richbrave
August 11th, 2012
9:06 pm
“…….Maholm’s night: Just a couple of notes to follow up on Maholm’s three-hit shutout, which included five strikeouts and no walks. He did it in 95 pitches (64 strikes), the fewest by a Braves pitcher in a shutout since future Hall of Famer Greg Maddux threw back-to-back four-hitters in September 2000, in 90 pitches against Arizona and 89 pitches against Florida…….” DAVID O’BRIEN
Did I say last night how much MAHOLM’s work reminded me of GREG MADDUX? Well shut my mouth!
Jimmy
August 11th, 2012
9:06 pm
Efrim – you seem higher on the Braves system than usual. That true, or you just being optimistic?
nolie
August 11th, 2012
9:06 pm
true with many posters, would be nice if some of the good ones who left drifted back
kral
August 11th, 2012
9:07 pm
ole freddie might not have the greatest range at 1b..not sure…that is correct..but in 40 years watching the Braves have not seen anyone smoother on throws to 1b
nolie
August 11th, 2012
9:08 pm
short range, great glove
DiamondbackMac
August 11th, 2012
9:08 pm
Arizona with bases loaded one out, bottom of the third.
Pace
August 11th, 2012
9:09 pm
Braves needed a game like this, Meds pitching fine, offense on track, not much to be down on.
Mark
August 11th, 2012
9:10 pm
Big Cat was the best one I remember even though he was a little older by the time we got him.
The worst defensively is much easier – Crime Dog. He could hit it though
DiamondbackMac
August 11th, 2012
9:10 pm
Sac fly, 4 – 1 AZ.
keylargo
August 11th, 2012
9:12 pm
Freddie is a converted 3B.
TNScott
August 11th, 2012
9:12 pm
Tampa- True that. I said since the beginning of the year Kris should be in the rotation and got hammered by many for it. Kris has the mentality to be a starter. He competes, and he “Ain’t Skeered”
Mark
August 11th, 2012
9:15 pm
Jason Bay is making Uggla look like Babe Ruth during his funk.
keylargo
August 11th, 2012
9:16 pm
Tex, Kotchman and LaRoche all had good gloves.
Efrim
August 11th, 2012
9:16 pm
Jimmy – It’s a deeper system that lacks elite prospects. Still back half, imo.
Mark
August 11th, 2012
9:17 pm
Yeah Laroache was really good
Brave New World
August 11th, 2012
9:18 pm
If a big lead cleanses these blogs of some of the negative contributors, then let’s have more big leads.
Mark
August 11th, 2012
9:19 pm
Let Avilon swing the stick and go another inning. He’s loose and save the others
Tampa Gator
August 11th, 2012
9:19 pm
Not able to watch the game…..why was Medlen removed from the game with one out in the 6th?
ncbravesfan90
August 11th, 2012
9:20 pm
“Not able to watch the game…..why was Medlen removed from the game with one out in the 6th?”
Approaching pitch count limit…he was at 88 pitches.
Mark
August 11th, 2012
9:20 pm
Why is Mac and Chipper still in there. Got 20 plus days in a row without a day off?
David O'Brien
August 11th, 2012
9:21 pm
Medlen with another strong start: 6-1/3 innings, 5 hits, 1 run, 1 walk, 7 strikeouts. 56 strikes in 86 pitches.
abeeewright
August 11th, 2012
9:21 pm
I’ve noticed the declining vitriol of the in game blog. Seems there’s a limit to repetitious idiocy after all.
Efrim
August 11th, 2012
9:22 pm
Avilan has good stuff….
Makes EOF expendable. J/K.
Jaded
August 11th, 2012
9:22 pm
Nothing for anyone to be mad about right now, abeee.
Mark
August 11th, 2012
9:23 pm
That didn’t look like a 500 hitter swing to me. Glad he is going back out there though
TNScott
August 11th, 2012
9:23 pm
Unfortunately, WTP(Warning Track Power) Paul.
keylargo
August 11th, 2012
9:23 pm
Dbacks up 4 – 1 bottom 4th.
nolie
August 11th, 2012
9:23 pm
nah ABW, Braves just winning . as soon as they lose, the repetitious lunacy will reappear
richbrave
August 11th, 2012
9:26 pm
DOWN ON THE FARM
GCL – ORLANDO
JAYS best Mousekateers 10-6.
C CARLOS SANCHEZ [.270 BA] 1-3, 1 2B [4].
1B ROBBY ARNO [.250 BA] 2-3, 1 RBI [7], 1 BB, 1 E [7, throwing].
2B LUIS MADRID [.233 BA] 2-3, 1 R, 2 RBI [8], 1 BB.
SS ERIC GARCIA [.237 BA] 2-4, 1 R, 2 2B [5], 2 RBI [7], 1 E [4, fielding].
RF HECTOR GARCIA [.289 BA] 2-4, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 SO, 1 SB [2].
DH JOEY MENSES [.297 BA] 2-5, 2 R, 1 2B [5], 3 SO.
RHSP ABE ESPINOSA [L 3-6, 4.32 ERA] 3.0 IP, 6 H, 1 HR, 4 R/ER, 2 BB, 1 SO.
Rookie RHRP CHRIS BARCZYKOWSKI [9.58 ERA] 1.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R/ER, 0 BB, 2 SO.
LHRP ERIC CORDIER [0.00 ERA] 1.0 IP, no-hits, 1 BB, 2 SO.
ERIC’s back in rookie-ball re-habbing I guess.
RHRP MAGDIEL AVENDANO [5.40 ERA] 2.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R/ER, 0 BB, 1 SO.
Rookie LHRP BRANDON ROHDE [1.37 ERA] 2.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO.
Bravefaninok
August 11th, 2012
9:28 pm
TNScott
August 11th, 2012
9:12 pm
Tampa- True that. I said since the beginning of the year Kris should be in the rotation and got hammered by many for it. Kris has the mentality to be a starter. He competes, and he “Ain’t Skeered”
If he had started the year in the rotation,We would be having a Strasburg type shut him down in a pennant race arguement.The Braves did the right thing by limiting his innings.(he has never pitched more than 123 innings as a pro)
Capt.Mudd
August 11th, 2012
9:28 pm
Doesn’t look like the crowd is digging this scene with the gangsta lean
keylargo
August 11th, 2012
9:29 pm
I saw Gearrin warming up. Doesn’t Yanish need to brush up on pitching?
abeeewright
August 11th, 2012
9:30 pm
nolie … Winning is the tonic that cures all ills.
Still, Braves are in second. That’s something to whine about.
Also, Meldeeeen didn’t pitch a complete game. Those yahoos haven’t chimed in.
brian
August 11th, 2012
9:30 pm
I don’t see how the Braves can move Medlen out of the rotation at this time
tiger297
August 11th, 2012
9:31 pm
nice to see a nolie type game every once in a while
brian
August 11th, 2012
9:32 pm
Nolie- good point about the relationship between the braves play and blogging. It would be an interesting comparison. Maybe winning will clear out the clowns
MikeInFl
August 11th, 2012
9:33 pm
Maybe winning will clear out the clowns
LOL, they’ll be back first time we get down 3-0 in the 4th.
richbrave
August 11th, 2012
9:34 pm
Old buddy’s TIM GUSTAFSON and CORKY MILLER playing for the LOUISVILLE BATS.
CORKY MILLER???? Dang, he was old when he played here in RICHMOND. Must be 45 by now.
Pace
August 11th, 2012
9:35 pm
The blog does slow to a snails pace when the team is winning. More fun to sit back and read some of the outlandish comments when the team is behind in a game. I prefer a quiet blog
abeeewright
August 11th, 2012
9:37 pm
Last year when the ‘pen was gassed, folks blamed Fredi’s management, when in fact it was the fault of the offense.
The back end of the bullpen has gotten a lot of work lately. 5+ run leads are the best kind of bullpen maintenance.
richbrave
August 11th, 2012
9:38 pm
MikeInFl:
Absolutely. NICK, MITCHELL et. al will be back before you know it. But the PHILLIES PHANATICS may be gone for awhile. I hope tonight’s train-wreck for the METS doesn’t keep ANDERS at bay however. He makes good points on occasion.
nolie
August 11th, 2012
9:38 pm
I miss a lot of the really good poster who used to people the blog but got run off by the crazies
Mark
August 11th, 2012
9:38 pm
Hey gotta give me some credit because I point out things I see wrong even when we are winning.
For instance, we are playing well now but the last few teams we have played suck bad! Marlins, Stros, Phillies, Mets(did I leave one out) all suck. Anyhting less than sweeps are almost a lost series against these guys We gotta keep it going against the good teams.
There you go. Hows that?
abeeewright
August 11th, 2012
9:39 pm
Nats back in front in ‘Zona..
phil
August 11th, 2012
9:40 pm
9-3 is unacceptable.
usnavyvolfaninva
August 11th, 2012
9:40 pm
Darn….Nats just pulled ahead.
keylargo
August 11th, 2012
9:40 pm
Corky Miller caught for the Braves in 2008 but isn’t but 36. He’s just making a paycheck.
Capt.Mudd
August 11th, 2012
9:41 pm
What the heck/he just Mis-Reed one.
ncbravesfan90
August 11th, 2012
9:41 pm
Shouldn’t be a surprise the Nats cameback to take the lead they do it every night….
Venice Jim
August 11th, 2012
9:42 pm
I will not use the phraseology I just used as I looked at the Nats’ Gameday or I would be gome forever…
phil
August 11th, 2012
9:42 pm
Looks like another great night….sweet.
Heyward can fly!
Capt.Mudd
August 11th, 2012
9:42 pm
Chirp and Joe playing ‘patti-cake’ up there—very fly.
Mark
August 11th, 2012
9:42 pm
Jhey makes up for a liner!
Mixxo
August 11th, 2012
9:43 pm
I miss Sopheee.
Venice Jim
August 11th, 2012
9:43 pm
gome = gone
richbrave
August 11th, 2012
9:43 pm
MEJIA slams his 30th double of the season. He’ll have to pick up the pace to get to 40 this year, and 30 HR’s too. Has 83 RBI though. And still at .304 through a five-game downer at the plate. What’s impressive is that even when he’s not raking, he still gets a hit practically every night. Being moved to third in the order with a hot STEF GARTRELL behind him may help him see some better pitches.
nolie
August 11th, 2012
9:43 pm
good hustle Jason
Capt.Mudd
August 11th, 2012
9:44 pm
The Nats have to be concerned–they can’t shake us on their end either
phil
August 11th, 2012
9:45 pm
Already? Nats?
They’ll fold. No worries…
richbrave
August 11th, 2012
9:46 pm
nolie:
Journalist, GIL etc. Even LEW’s been on the lam a bit lately, and raleighbravesfan.
Capt.Mudd
August 11th, 2012
9:46 pm
Hey Mixxo–Me too! Do you know what happened to Sopheee?
keylargo
August 11th, 2012
9:48 pm
Jason Werth is leading off for the gNats tonight.
phil
August 11th, 2012
9:48 pm
Fat Freddie…
Come on mac
Mixxo
August 11th, 2012
9:48 pm
Dunno Capt…..she kinda vanished.
richbrave
August 11th, 2012
9:48 pm
Enter your comments here
abeeewright
August 11th, 2012
9:49 pm
I miss “Loaf on a Blackberry from…”
SteveInFXBG
August 11th, 2012
9:49 pm
Nats have that “team of destiny” thing going on this year.
ncbravesfan90
August 11th, 2012
9:49 pm
A team don’t fold when you have the pitching staff that the Nationals do.
richbrave
August 11th, 2012
9:50 pm
mixxo:
It happens, good bloggers gone quiet. Maybe some of the better ones are still out there…….lurking!
phil
August 11th, 2012
9:50 pm
You see Lew, Gil and raleighbravesfan here most days…
Capt.Mudd
August 11th, 2012
9:50 pm
Thanks Mixxo
tiger297
August 11th, 2012
9:51 pm
I really like heyward socks up…all of them really
TNScott
August 11th, 2012
9:51 pm
BravesFaninOK- My argument all along has been that Kris would be of better use to the Braves in the rotation. What I got grilled on was that many on the blog said that Kris was of better use to the Braves as a reliever, and not the fact that keeping Kris in the bullpen was being done to keep his innings down so he could be a starter later in the season. I still wonder about this, but Kris is pitching well so that’s all that matters.
Capt.Mudd
August 11th, 2012
9:52 pm
Lew posts a lot during late morning hours–just saying
nolie
August 11th, 2012
9:52 pm
not a gearrin fan
tiger297
August 11th, 2012
9:52 pm
she didn’t vanish…I chatted with her couple days ago…gotta be flexible with multiple mediums
richbrave
August 11th, 2012
9:53 pm
phil:
Maybe I’m the one gone missing! Heh!
tiger297
August 11th, 2012
9:53 pm
nolie – man if I had to list the braves nolie doesn’t like it would be a shaunian post
Capt.Mudd
August 11th, 2012
9:53 pm
@tiger297…..Yep….I am a high socker too, Heyward has to appear about 6′7″ like that look
nolie
August 11th, 2012
9:54 pm
bull
Capt.Mudd
August 11th, 2012
9:54 pm
He-Gone
richbrave
August 11th, 2012
9:55 pm
Well that old coot nolie is on station, so all’s right with the world.
abeeewright
August 11th, 2012
9:55 pm
Bay is a three pitch strike out right now.
Capt.Mudd
August 11th, 2012
9:55 pm
He’s too slim in the waist to look bullish
Efrim
August 11th, 2012
9:56 pm
not a gearrin fan
Same. Not a bullpen piece for next year either. I have liked what I’ve seen from Avilan though.
phil
August 11th, 2012
9:56 pm
Gearrin a fine product of mercer university….gotta back the guy even though i don’t think he’s very good.
tony austin
August 11th, 2012
9:56 pm
With Kris pitching well, Janish grabbing just about everything right now, and the Braves playing good ball, do they dare take a chance of messing up the “chemistry” (or whatever) when Hudson and Simmons get activated?
abeeewright
August 11th, 2012
9:57 pm
BARVES WIN! BARVES WIN!
Venice Jim
August 11th, 2012
9:57 pm
SOPH should return in a week or so – lots going on – not hatred of my ranting keeping her away…
keylargo
August 11th, 2012
9:57 pm
I really like heyward socks up…all of them really
You mean you like it when they dress up like real baseball players instead of slobs wearing sweatpants?
Capt.Mudd
August 11th, 2012
9:57 pm
Braves offense gave Meds a ton of runs to work with early–A big GO BRAVOS!!!
Venice Jim
August 11th, 2012
9:58 pm
Ali Bronson @ESPNRadio_Ali
The Mets are great at a few things. Giving hope in the beginning,Losing in epic fashion,Being so bad at the end you don’t even have to watch
phil
August 11th, 2012
9:59 pm
True. Not fat enough.
Mark
August 11th, 2012
10:00 pm
Mercer University = Great Academic Learning Community and Great Baseball Program that only a selective few can attend! Wink Wink
Capt.Mudd
August 11th, 2012
10:00 pm
Freddy interview enlightening and insightful….good job with questions–Joe S.
Mixxo
August 11th, 2012
10:01 pm
Yup, good interview with Freddie.
Capt.Mudd
August 11th, 2012
10:02 pm
The Bears will soo don football attire and hit the gridiron……once again….Coach Bobby Lamb.
MikeInFl
August 11th, 2012
10:02 pm
Braves’ August ERA balloons to 2.12. There’s something to complain about!
richbrave
August 11th, 2012
10:03 pm
..
kelevra
August 11th, 2012
10:03 pm
dbacks have been unimpressive in this game
BravesFan24
August 11th, 2012
10:04 pm
Another easy one against the Mets tonight! I cannot believe the Braves were swept by this team at the start of the season. That seems like ages ago. GO BRAVES!
Capt.Mudd
August 11th, 2012
10:05 pm
@VeniceJim….9:57 post, thanks for info.
phil
August 11th, 2012
10:05 pm
Excellent basketball program at mercer too!
Mark
August 11th, 2012
10:06 pm
Capt.
What field are they gonna play at? Way back when I was there there was old Porter Stadium right behind the baseball field but i think they tore that down and theres a hotel or something there now
Capt.Mudd
August 11th, 2012
10:06 pm
David Wright was a factor as wll as Lucas Duda back then @@@BravesFan24
MikeInFl
August 11th, 2012
10:07 pm
Man, for a team loaded with “aces” the Angels sure can’t get any starting pitching. Haren gives up 6 in 3.1 innings against the punchless Mariners. They’ve given up at least 6 runs in 6 of 10 August games.
phil
August 11th, 2012
10:07 pm
Yep. Fire Roger McDowell!!
MikeInFl
August 11th, 2012
10:08 pm
Mercer invited me to walk on the play basketball coming out of high school. (an indication of what a hot prospect I was — that was the best offer I got. Figured my chances at the NBA were fairly limited, so I passed.)
kelevra
August 11th, 2012
10:09 pm
houston blows another save…sad what that team has become
Mark
August 11th, 2012
10:10 pm
I’ll take the relaxed sweatpants any day over those dadgum sanitary hose and stirrups we used to have to wear!
TNScott
August 11th, 2012
10:10 pm
Congrats, Braves. For the Cory non-supporters. He may not be in Atlanta next year, but he will most likely will be pitching for someone else because there are seven other major league teams interested in him. He may not have the flash of other relievers, but he gets the job done and now has a .96 ERA. How many relievers can say that? I defend him because I know the character this kid has which is why I cheer so hard for him. He has not forgotten where he came from and freely gives back to the community that gave to him. I thought some of you needed to know.
McFann :Ô: :Ô: :ô:
August 11th, 2012
10:13 pm
Nice to be winning all these series…
Capt.Mudd
August 11th, 2012
10:14 pm
Going on WFAN 660 to see if I can come up with some more ‘bull!’
McFann :Ô: :Ô: :ô:
August 11th, 2012
10:14 pm
Oh, dude…even Medlen got a hit and an RBI??…
smallmouth6
August 11th, 2012
10:15 pm
Gearrin is good–he’s young and should have a good prospect. By the way, just about anyone in the Major Leagues is good. Best of the best of the rest.
phil
August 11th, 2012
10:15 pm
Mark, you’re a mercer guy too, eh? New stadium going up a few hundred yards east of old one.
kelevra
August 11th, 2012
10:15 pm
wonder if frank could swing a deal for parra in the offseason to play center if bourn walks…he’s hitting 8th so might be expendable if we offer a pitching prospect… just a thought
Coach (2012 Fredi's Beisbol Fandango)
August 11th, 2012
10:15 pm
It was flushing night is New York, and that’s exactly what our Braves did, they flushed the Mets right down the toilet
Mixxo
August 11th, 2012
10:16 pm
Backs’ Dan Wheeler RBI double….
6-5 Nats bot 6th
Mark
August 11th, 2012
10:18 pm
Yeah. Enjoyed it. Seems like a long tome ago now though. None of the guys I played with got to the bigs though, including me
phil
August 11th, 2012
10:18 pm
What year, mikeinfl?
Mark
August 11th, 2012
10:19 pm
phil
You go there too?
Coach (2012 Fredi's Beisbol Fandango)
August 11th, 2012
10:20 pm
Go Diamondbacks!
Venice Jim
August 11th, 2012
10:24 pm
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Chad Johnson was arrested Saturday night for domestic violence, according to Davie Police Department captain Dale Engle.
kral
August 11th, 2012
10:24 pm
love joe s. ..and the tv broadcast for more than the radio..use to live off radio for baseball..just keep winning Braves ..maybe the Nats will experience SEPT. pressure..they have never been in a pennant race..just hoping
Venice Jim
August 11th, 2012
10:25 pm
Johnson, who started Saturday night’s 20-7 exhibition loss to Tampa Bay, allegedly head-butted his new wife, Evelyn Lozada, during an argument.
phil
August 11th, 2012
10:25 pm
Grad school, mark. Law. Grew up here. Still here.
Mark
August 11th, 2012
10:27 pm
Good deal. I’m an old guy now. 85
phil
August 11th, 2012
10:27 pm
Idiot
George
August 11th, 2012
10:28 pm
chipper TRY SLEEPING ON THE FLOOR TO NIGHT.
What BATTLER.
phil
August 11th, 2012
10:29 pm
Not much older than me….undergrad 89. Ga
MikeInFl
August 11th, 2012
10:29 pm
‘82, phil. I didn’t go to school there, though. Just had a lot of discussion with the coaches, visited the campus, etc. One of the best players in the state played on my team, so we got a lot of college coaches at our games, and sometimes I’d catch the eye of one of the small school guys, on a good night.
But I had other options (not BB related) and decided not to go to school there just so I could ride the bench … regret it a little. Probably would’ve been fun. Nice place.
ACE
August 11th, 2012
10:30 pm
On the new season of Hard knocks, they spent a lot of time talking to and about Chad Johnson.
David O'Brien
August 11th, 2012
10:30 pm
of his mammoth homer to CF, Freddie Freeman said, I gotta say that’s about as hard as I can hit one. He added that if we gave an estimate of 400 feet, he was going to be angry.
(For the record, Mets don’t give estimates but we figured about 445 feet)
phil
August 11th, 2012
10:31 pm
Nite all
ACE
August 11th, 2012
10:32 pm
Showtime and HBO have their sports shows in Miami. Didn’t work out so good for the Marlins.
phil
August 11th, 2012
10:33 pm
Bill bibb was coach, of course. 85 team made NCAAs. Good teams in those days.
Coach (2012 Fredi's Beisbol Fandango)
August 11th, 2012
10:33 pm
Rest assured, the price tag for Micheal Bourn starts at six years and 150 Million. So enjoy watching him play in a Braves uniform because he’s gone.
Mark
August 11th, 2012
10:33 pm
Mike
Basketball was pretty good then. They went to the tournament in 84 I want to say. Sam Mitchell was there and led the nation in scoring that year. Went on to play and then coach in the NBA a few years.
Hmmmm
August 11th, 2012
10:34 pm
Houston might be about to win their first series since June, have the winning run at 2nd with 0 outs
David O'Brien
August 11th, 2012
10:34 pm
Braves have won six consecutive series since splitting a four-gamer with the Nats.
Skeezix
August 11th, 2012
10:35 pm
That is one of my favorite Dylan songs. I’ve heard Baez tell the story about how he came to write this song. She was with him when he had trouble getting a room at the hotel and had to vouch for him before they’d let him stay the night. He spilled out his anger in that song. I saw a documentary where he would sing this song at civil rights events.
David O'Brien
August 11th, 2012
10:36 pm
The Braves are 16-1 in Medlen’s 17 starts this season and in 2010, including 14 consecutive wins.
MikeInFl
August 11th, 2012
10:40 pm
Mark, yeah, I kinda’ forgot about all that. I did follow them in the papers during those years… I met a few guys that played there in ‘81-82 on a visit, but not him. You played baseball there?
Mark
August 11th, 2012
10:40 pm
DOB
Thats reaaly impressive for Meds.
Not sure of what else he could do to solidify a starting spot.
Sometimes versatility can be a detriment to a player rather than a plus because they can work him around other guys weaknesses for the betterment of the team.
Obviously, I wish he would keep starting!
Hmmmm
August 11th, 2012
10:41 pm
and the Astros have beaten the Brewers to secure the series victory, will go for the sweep tomorrow. Watch out for these guys
Mark
August 11th, 2012
10:42 pm
Yeah. Woulda been a little behind you though.
DS1
August 11th, 2012
10:44 pm
After a leadoff double by Hill, Kubel, Goldschmidt and Upton can’t get the runner in…..
DS1
August 11th, 2012
10:45 pm
Medlen is going to make it hard to remove him from the rotation.
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 11th, 2012
10:45 pm
I missed my first game in a long time, and my blog friends…. dang tutoring I did today.
tiger297
August 11th, 2012
10:46 pm
DS1 – isn’t going to be up to him…we need gearin/avilan/martinez/venters to make it difficult to remove medlen from the rotation
David O'Brien
August 11th, 2012
10:46 pm
Fredi G on Medlen: “He’s a valuable piece. It’s going to be one of those things, if everybody is pitching the way we’re pitchng, it’s going to be a tough decision whether we stay with five or go with six, or whatever. Because all these guys are pitching. We’ve rattled off some pretty good starts looking back about three weeks now.”
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 11th, 2012
10:46 pm
Medlen is going to make it hard to remove him from the rotation.
6-man rotation? Or give Huddy some “rest”?
ACE
August 11th, 2012
10:49 pm
chad Johnson was picked up for domestic dispute while in college.
DS1
August 11th, 2012
10:50 pm
tiger
You are dead on. But I can see Fredi staying with the 6 man rotation while the schedule is full and also to get some of the other guys a little more rest.
But a lot will be determined by how well those 4 relievers you mentioned do from here on out. Gearrin doesn’t seem to be fooling anybody, though his ERA seems to have not suffered.
ATLcracker
August 11th, 2012
10:51 pm
Not sure what started the Mercer comments but it is a very good school and getting better fast since it gave up its religious affiliation and got a new board. No one is walking on to the Mercer Basketball team next year. They are L O A D E D ! Incidentally the new football field is in and the goalposts are up. Gets your heart pumping just driving by.
ACE
August 11th, 2012
10:51 pm
Don Sutton said he wasn’t a fan of the six man rotation. He said it meant one less start for your best pitcher.
Mark
August 11th, 2012
10:52 pm
Imagine this for a moment
Meds gets moved to the pen – Hanson starts – gives up some hits, walks, runs, stolen bases and we lose while Meds is sitting down there in the pen.
Hope it doesn’t happen like that but can you imagine the blog after that and we lose another game to the Nats?
Coach (2012 Fredi's Beisbol Fandango)
August 11th, 2012
10:52 pm
Medlen’s a walking good luck charm.
DS1
August 11th, 2012
10:52 pm
We should convince Arizona to go after Boss Man Jr for CF, and then we can deal with them for Parra for CF next year.
And was Coach actually suggesting a 6/150 contract for Bourn??? Really?
Mark
August 11th, 2012
10:54 pm
ACE
Leo said it was stupid to even consider it the other day on radio pre-game.
Coach (2012 Fredi's Beisbol Fandango)
August 11th, 2012
10:55 pm
I already have a feeling as to what Fredi G. will do…….
We have all seen quality start after quality start, after quality start, and if it ain’t broke……don’t try to fix it.
Hmmmm
August 11th, 2012
10:56 pm
only mention the Braves get on baseball tonight is the advertisement for the Sunday game, no highlights of tonight’s game
MikeInFl
August 11th, 2012
10:57 pm
And was Coach actually suggesting a 6/150 contract for Bourn??? Really?
Nah. He said that the bidding starts at 6/150.
Kat
August 11th, 2012
10:58 pm
That was a fun game to be at. One of my favs so far this season.
Coach (2012 Fredi's Beisbol Fandango)
August 11th, 2012
10:58 pm
And was Coach actually suggesting a 6/150 contract for Bourn??? Really?
NO, REALLY and that will the point where Scott Boras’s demands will start.
David O'Brien
August 11th, 2012
10:58 pm
Medlen on taking advantage of his chance to start:
“I take the ball and run with it [laughs]. No, I love competing. I love the chess match of starting. Relieving, if you don’t have your pitches that day you get crushed. It’s two different mindsets, and I like this one.”
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 11th, 2012
10:59 pm
Ace: I can understand that point, but right now, Meds seems to be pitching like our best (or at least one of our best) pitchers…
keylargo
August 11th, 2012
11:00 pm
And was Coach actually suggesting a 6/150 contract for Bourn??? Really?
I think he was talking about Jason Bourne.
usnavyvolfaninva
August 11th, 2012
11:00 pm
This just in…apparently the camera on the Mars Rover picked up Freeman’s ball landing on the surface.
MikeInFl
August 11th, 2012
11:01 pm
Meds gets moved to the pen – Hanson starts – gives up some hits, walks, runs, stolen bases and we lose while Meds is sitting down there in the pen.
Got a feeling that’s how it will go down. Well, not the loss part, necessarily, but that Hanson will take Meds’ place. But, coming off the DL, Fredi can have Hanson on a short leash if he gets into trouble and bring Medlen in if needed.
I don’t like the 6-man rotation either. These guys spend their entire lives training for a 5 day rotation. An extra day off might have unintended consequences. Plus, you do thin the ‘pen, and give your best pitchers (whoever that is, LOL) less starts.
I don’t care too much which way it goes, but I think Fredi’s got to make the tough decision and move one of them to the pen.
DS1
August 11th, 2012
11:01 pm
Coach
Of course he will. That’s why he’s Scott Boras. But he will drag the negotiations out so far that even if FW has a shot, he won’t be comfortable waiting that long to decide.
BravesFan24
August 11th, 2012
11:02 pm
Hmmmm, I have never been thrilled with ESPN’s coverage of the Braves. I have much better luck with MLB Network. I saw Freddie go ‘mammo’ on MLB tonight.
usnavyvolfaninva
August 11th, 2012
11:03 pm
I was watching the replay of Freeman’s HR on mlb.com… For about a half-second there’s a shot of a Braves fan celebrating, and in the background you can see a Mets fan staring at her like she just ran over his dog….EPIC!
Coach (2012 Fredi's Beisbol Fandango)
August 11th, 2012
11:03 pm
How do I know what Boras will do?
Carl Crawford, seven years 142 million and Boras is only gonna up the ante.
usnavyvolfaninva
August 11th, 2012
11:03 pm
BF24,
I only watch MLB Network during the baseball season, unless what i want to see isn’t baseball related.
Mark
August 11th, 2012
11:04 pm
Meds being a little bold and making it known what he likes to do.
Should be a no brainer but you never know…
If you have to have a game won and its between Minor, Hanson, or Meds – I’m giving the nod to Meds. Good command and control. Rarely misses in the middle of the plate. 91 to 92 on the black in and out. 79 to 82 change in spots and tonight a nifty curve used a lot more often.
Yep, I like him right where he is and I bet the other position players do to. He is a lot like Sheets. He gets it, throws it. No messing around out there.
usnavyvolfaninva
August 11th, 2012
11:04 pm
…I love MLB’s in-game coverage. If the NFL Network got their act together, I could effectively boycott ESPN all year long.
Bravefaninok
August 11th, 2012
11:04 pm
I think Minor will be the man yo go to the pen….Medlen stays in the rotation.
kelevra
August 11th, 2012
11:06 pm
wow dbacks…you guys know that you yourselves are in a pennant race…pathetic
Hmmmm
August 11th, 2012
11:06 pm
arizona gets a runner to 2nd with less than 2 outs and fails to score. Still trail by 1 heading to the 9th
Mixxo
August 11th, 2012
11:07 pm
‘Backs blew a great opportunity there.
DS1
August 11th, 2012
11:07 pm
The 6 man rotation actually works when you don’t have days off. Most pitchers are used to going 6 days after their previous start due to the almost weekly day off.
So if Fredi stuck with the 6 man and maybe gave some guys (Hudson and Hanson) some extra rest down the stretch, it might work out.
But we will see. No need to worry too much about it right now. Don’t know about you folks, but Fredi and Frank haven’t called me for my opinion yet.
Have they called you tiger? And heck, they all know you and the missus and little tiger.
BravesFan24
August 11th, 2012
11:08 pm
D-backs just missed a good scoring opportunity in the 8th. Bummer.
Bravefaninok
August 11th, 2012
11:09 pm
From the Hanson story….After meeting with Gonzalez and McDowell, Hanson told reporters, “I’m not in a good mood,” then changed from his workout gear and left the clubhouse to go catch a flight back for the Monday game at Gwinnett.
Monday is Minors day in the rotation……
David O'Brien
August 11th, 2012
11:12 pm
Chipper on Freeman:
“He’s taking the next step toward stardom. I mean, he’s going to drive in 100 runs. That’s something that’s pretty big for guys in the middle fo the lineup, especially young guys. Do it once and get some confidence, know that you can go out there and do it every year. Freddie’s a guy that, if he stays healthy, he can run off a few 100-RBI seasons in a row.”
Hugo Z Hackenbush
August 11th, 2012
11:12 pm
Well, that’s too effing bad about Hanson and his hurt feelings…
ChattTownBrian
August 11th, 2012
11:12 pm
Stupid DBacks!
Hmmmm
August 11th, 2012
11:18 pm
5 pitch inning from Clippard to close them out …….
kelevra
August 11th, 2012
11:18 pm
4 pitch 9th inning for clippard….
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 11th, 2012
11:18 pm
Bravefaninok: Why would Minor go the ‘pen? He’s been pretty good lately.
ncbravesfan90
August 11th, 2012
11:18 pm
Ho hum, Washington wins again. Any new news?
Jaded
August 11th, 2012
11:18 pm
It seems like the Diamondbacks never give us help. I remember the Mets used to own them.
Venice Jim
August 11th, 2012
11:19 pm
I think Minor will be the man to go to the pen
Because he has been pitching so poorly and he has experience in the bullpen?
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 11th, 2012
11:20 pm
Gonzalez said Hanson uttered an obscenity at him and pitching coach Roger McDowell after they told him the plan.
“Which is good,” said Gonzalez, who laughed upon mentioning the incident to reporters. “He wants to get back in there. That’s why he was grumpy.”
I couldn’t get away with cursing at my coach/manager… and they definitely wouldn’t laugh about it….
MikeInFl
August 11th, 2012
11:20 pm
Doesn’t Chipper know that RBI’s are meaningless? Need to hook him up with Shaun. Maybe they could go boar hunting together or something.
Hanson doesn't belong
August 11th, 2012
11:21 pm
Tommy is delusional. He’s ‘ not In a good mood’? He’s been pedestrian. at best, for his last
several starts and if not for tremendous run support his record would be abysmal. AND, don’t forget
how he holds runners on….or not.
keylargo
August 11th, 2012
11:21 pm
Yep, I like him right where he is and I bet the other position players do to. He is a lot like Sheets. He gets it, throws it. No messing around out there.
Sheets putting the ball in play and playing behind Maholm yesterday is a defensive players dream. 15 infield outs, 5 K’s, 0 BB 29 total AB’s. I can’t think of a more impressive start this year.
Bravefaninok
August 11th, 2012
11:22 pm
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 11th, 2012
11:18 pm
Bravefaninok: Why would Minor go the ‘pen? He’s been pretty good lately
Just going by the day the story says he is pitching.
DS1
August 11th, 2012
11:23 pm
So what is the plan for Hanson? Is he going to Gwinnett for a rehab start or two?
Trey
August 11th, 2012
11:23 pm
I know if I was a Manager, and I had a player utter an obscenity to me, I’d make sure they’d be back in the Minors until they retire.
Mark
August 11th, 2012
11:24 pm
Don’t mean to cast stones but more players seem to be vocalizing their wishes/concerns to the media more than they did when Bobby was hear.
Freddi needs to get a handle on this! They can say what they want during the meeting but to the media during a playoff run??
Jaded
August 11th, 2012
11:27 pm
I almost expect Hanson to be traded this offseason.
MikeInFl
August 11th, 2012
11:27 pm
They can say what they want during the meeting but to the media during a playoff run??
Well, Chipper’s the best/worst about that, depending on your point of view. But I don’t know that Fredi has the juice to bring CJ up on charges.
David O'Brien
August 11th, 2012
11:27 pm
Maximum quotage
http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2012/08/11/braves-quotes-after-saturdays-win-against-mets/
ChattTownBrian
August 11th, 2012
11:30 pm
Just knew Hanson was a the spoiled type. Not really in baseball, just his overall attitude, reminds me of my spoiled rotten cousin.
David O'Brien
August 11th, 2012
11:30 pm
And of course Washington won — 6-5 over ‘Zona.
Yunel's Frosted Tips
August 11th, 2012
11:31 pm
F8ck Hanson……….would suit me if his nibbling ass is traded…………..he would go 3-2 against a dead man at the plate….
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 11th, 2012
11:32 pm
So, now the hating on Hanson begins….. I’m not saying that what he did was right, but to wish the man be traded/sent to the Minors because of it? Geez…
MikeInFl
August 11th, 2012
11:33 pm
reminds me of my spoiled rotten cousin.
yeah, I hate that guy
Really, I’ve got no problem with Hanson being mad about having to go to Gwinnett. He wants to compete. I like that. (and honestly, I’m not a big Hanson fan)
usnavyvolfaninva
August 11th, 2012
11:33 pm
The Nats definitely look like a “destiny team” this year. Hate to say it, but that team’s legit. Kind of makes that decision to shut down Strasburg when he reaches his limit loom even larger.
Venice Jim
August 11th, 2012
11:33 pm
Wayne – check the Hanson story above to the right…
Mark
August 11th, 2012
11:34 pm
From everything I’ve always heard part of the draw to the Braves in the past was the way the organization treated players. It needs to be reciprocal.
Bottom line – Pitch well and you keep pitching – Stumble and others pass you = The pen or Gwinnett
Venice Jim
August 11th, 2012
11:36 pm
Watching True Blood, and reminded of the brilliance that was Larry, Darryl, and Darryl…
Hanson doesn't belong
August 11th, 2012
11:38 pm
I like the idea of Huddy taking a couple weeks to heal his ankle, but if Hanson isn’t back up to first half
stuff, he needs the time off. Medlen is our third best starter, at the very worst, right now.
Hugo Z Hackenbush
August 11th, 2012
11:39 pm
I always suspected that Larry was a supe nazi…
DS1
August 11th, 2012
11:40 pm
Is anybody watching this Olympic diving? Some incredible dives! American looks like he will take the gold.
Hugo Z Hackenbush
August 11th, 2012
11:40 pm
…and I’m embarassed that I know that much about TB…
Jaded
August 11th, 2012
11:42 pm
Cards have creeped up to within 1.5 of the Pirates for the second wild card. We may get a chance to exorcise last year’s demons.
Venice Jim
August 11th, 2012
11:42 pm
If one should be embarrassed for watching True Blood, I must be missing the embarrassment gene…
Bravefaninok
August 11th, 2012
11:43 pm
Venice Jim
August 11th, 2012
11:19 pm
I think Minor will be the man to go to the pen
Because he has been pitching so poorly and he has experience in the bullpen?
VJ,I am not saying that is what I want to happen,I was simply going by the day the Braves have Hanson pitching the rehab.
Waffle House or Bust
August 11th, 2012
11:44 pm
Funny how clueless some of you guys are. Begging for Bourn to be an all star and put up amazing numbers which all leads to him playing for another team next season. Dude is gonna get paid and we all know Braves will pay Mac over Bourn to stay. Personally, I want to see Mac gone because I think he is about to be on the decline plus he is soft like Chipper. Also get rid of Hanson for a LF bat while Hanson has some value.
DS1
August 11th, 2012
11:46 pm
I don’t have a problem with Hanson (or any other player, for that matter) wanting to get back as quickly as possible. So long as he was still respectful towards management. Heck, I’ve been known to utter a bad word or two in my days.
And Hanson hasn’t been as good this year as most of us would have thought, but I really don’t understand the animus towards him by some Braves fans. My guess is that if most of us got to know Tommy Hanson, we’d probably like him as a person. Just my guess.
Venice Jim
August 11th, 2012
11:46 pm
Funny how clueless some of you guys are
Classic example of Mr. Pot, meet Mr. Kettle…cluelessness must be a fun way to go through life…
DS1
August 11th, 2012
11:47 pm
It’s so exciting to see these athletes getting so excited in the games.
Venice Jim
August 11th, 2012
11:48 pm
but I really don’t understand the animus towards him by some Braves fans.
Hey, leave ChartCityGiuseppe out of this!
Hugo Z Hackenbush
August 11th, 2012
11:48 pm
I watch it only for the redhead VJ…
Mark
August 11th, 2012
11:49 pm
Hanson has no value right now. Velo at 88 to 89. Had to sit last year with shoulder soreness. On the shelf currently going to a rehab start. I hate it for him but it is what it is.
Do you guys that want him to be traded think the scouts and GMs don’t know what he is right now? Be lucky to get few dozen balls right now for him and his salary. Would you trade anyhting of valure for him right now?
DS1
August 11th, 2012
11:49 pm
VJ
I must have missed the movie………….. ???
Bravefaninok
August 11th, 2012
11:49 pm
DS1, he has a 12-5 record as well…..Who gives a rats arse if he lets everybody steal a base as long as he wins games. I bet he will win 15 or 16 this year.
MikeInFl
August 11th, 2012
11:51 pm
So long as he was still respectful towards management. Heck, I’ve been known to utter a bad word or two in my days.
Well, don’t know about you, but I’ve had some times in my life when I was really, really pissed at a decision made by my superiors.
But, there were no reporters shoving microphones in my face as I came out of the boss’s office, asking me what I thought of the decision in question. I just went home and took it out on my family and friends, like any good American should do.
DS1
August 11th, 2012
11:52 pm
Mark
The next 6-7 weeks will determine whether Hanson has any real trade value or not. Some seem to be hell bent on dealing him for whatever reasons. I have said I’d trade him too, but I am saying that with an eye towards improving the team at another position.
Like maybe including him as a piece in a deal for somebody like Headley or Willingham.
Our man Uggla seems to be finding his way. I’m not ready to call his slump history yet, but I am hopeful.
DS1
August 11th, 2012
11:54 pm
faninok and Mike
AMEN on both counts. I still like wins. They add up……….
DS1
August 11th, 2012
11:55 pm
Our women’s 4×4 relay just took Gold by over 5 seconds!
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 11th, 2012
11:56 pm
Mac…….is soft like Chipper.
Well, if being soft helps him put up a career .300/.400./500/.900 line with nearly 3k hits, and has him as a top 3 hitter for his position, I’ll take it!
ChattTownBrian
August 11th, 2012
11:57 pm
Got this from a source. Hanson qoute: “I’m 6′6″ and I have the most awkward delivery in the game, which makes me unique. I am special damnit”.
Venice Jim
August 11th, 2012
11:57 pm
DS1 – making humorous commentary on our dear friend from Chattanooga…
David O'Brien
August 11th, 2012
11:59 pm
Updated game story with quotes
http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2012/08/11/braves-rock-santana-roll-mets-9-3/
Mark
August 11th, 2012
11:59 pm
D
He has certainly turned the corner. He exudes more confidence and looks much more relaxed without all that prepitch dance routine. He is being selective and not chasing so many balls low and away. Wish now he’d just let it travel more. He has hit 2 HRs foul this week alone. But hey, much better so we’ll take it huh?
Mark
August 12th, 2012
12:02 am
Chatt
The awkward delivery part I agree with 100%.
The special part, aside from being a major league pitcher, ummmm no
DS1
August 12th, 2012
12:03 am
VJ
AHHHH. Now I get it.
CTB
What exactly is it that you don’t like about Hanson? I have not seen any of this spoiled brat stuff. Is it that you just don’t care for folks that were born and raised in California? I spent a wonderful 15 years in CA. Loved the place, still do! If I were a rich man, I’d live at the beach there (for one of my several homes).
Have you ever been to California? It’s kinda like Don Henley said in a song, call some place paradise, and kiss it goodbye (meaning that everybody goes there then).
As a matter of fact, in a week I will be traveling from one end to the other, visiting family and friends. Really looking forward to everything but the traffic.
You should visit sometime. I bet VJ and cab would put you up for a day or two.
BTW, looking forward to seeing you folks a another 2.5 weeks.
DS1
August 12th, 2012
12:05 am
DOB
Thanks for the quotes and the game story. Gonna jump over now and read.
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 12th, 2012
12:06 am
Been a long day, off to bed. Good night all.
Go Braves. Peace.
Mark
August 12th, 2012
12:10 am
Time to hit the sack. Church in the morning.
Prayers all
MikeInFl
August 12th, 2012
12:14 am
Pretty interesting article at fangraphs about the benefits, or lack thereof, of “going the opposite way.” And it manages to dump on Jeff Francouer too!
Spoiler Alert: when hitters pull the ball, they are basically 2012 Matt Holliday. When they go the other way, they are 2012 Marco Scutaro.
In fairness, the article acknowledges that the approach of trying to hit to all fields may be beneficial; but the result of actually hitting to the opposite field is pretty clearly not good for most hitters.
Ward
August 12th, 2012
12:15 am
Hello everyone! Another great win, and excellent start by Medlen. I think Medlen has earned his spot in the rotation.
Ward
August 12th, 2012
12:17 am
Nats still suck!!!!!!
nolie
August 12th, 2012
12:17 am
six years and 150 Million. ..coach
bullcrap
Waffle House or Bust
August 12th, 2012
12:18 am
TheOnlyBravesFan – Chipper got soft later in his career. Mac is starting early because he sees you can get away with it on the Braves. Injured? I think just fat and out of shape.
Ward
August 12th, 2012
12:18 am
Minor keeps pitching like he is? Hanson will be the one traded.
MikeInFl
August 12th, 2012
12:20 am
Chipper got
softhurt later in his careerWaffle House or Bust
August 12th, 2012
12:20 am
Johnson has those Nats playing with Met’s 80’s swagger. I admire it but hate them at the same time.
Ward
August 12th, 2012
12:20 am
Waffle – fat is an insult to a player, but Mac has been on the DL to many times lately, so that will have to be fixed.
Ward
August 12th, 2012
12:21 am
Chipper, is doing pretty good for an old man……..
Waffle House or Bust
August 12th, 2012
12:22 am
MikeInFl – Yep. Which led to laziness. He started getting the Mike Vick treatment from Braves and took advantage of it.
Ward
August 12th, 2012
12:22 am
Nothing to admire about the Nats, and really I’m trying to think…….
Ward
August 12th, 2012
12:23 am
No, nothing to admire about the Nats……
SNEAKY PETE
August 12th, 2012
12:26 am
I wonder if Waffle House was dropped on his head as a child, maybe several times
Tech 73
August 12th, 2012
12:26 am
Some of you appear to becoming a little fraustrated with the Nats. That’s OK. If they played a 498 game season, some would still be thinking this is all a fluke after 401 games or so. They play withiut starting catcher all season, without Werth, Zimmerman is hobbled and this is all still a little shady to some of you. I didn’t go to Yale or Harvard but I still learned a little about giving validity to similiar prolonged observations. We will get a Wild Card but this thinking Washington is doing this accidentally is rather silly..
Venice Jim
August 12th, 2012
12:31 am
Waffle House or Bust
August 12th, 2012
12:18 am
TheOnlyBravesFan – Chipper got soft later in his career. Mac is starting early because he sees you can get away with it on the Braves. Injured? I think just fat and out of shape.
No, your incompetent head is fat and out of shape – but, you are too incredibly stupid to realize that you are incredibly stupid. In fact, that is probably too much for you addle-pated brain to even comprehend – let me try this – WAFFLE HOUSE VERY DUMBLIKE – let me know if you actually think you have the ability to think, bacause I can come up of even easier ways to let you down from thinking you have any clue about baseball…
Venice Jim
August 12th, 2012
12:33 am
Waffle House or Bust
August 12th, 2012
12:22 am
MikeInFl – Yep. Which led to laziness. He started getting the Mike Vick treatment from Braves and took advantage of it.
Wow – stupid is too kind too describe your amazing descent into the range of -50 IQ territory – I feel sorry for you and the fact that you probably wake up every day and spend 5 hours remembering how to open your eyes…
DS1
August 12th, 2012
12:35 am
VJ
Some folks can’t help it. They were born stupid and never recovered.
Venice Jim
August 12th, 2012
12:37 am
Of course, slander and lying and being a total WaffleHead are right up your alley…
Bravefaninok
August 12th, 2012
12:37 am
Goodnight folks,take care.
Venice Jim
August 12th, 2012
12:38 am
DS1 – I know, but sometimes one of those fish-in-a-barrel nights can be fun…
SNEAKY PETE
August 12th, 2012
12:38 am
you have to feel kind of sorry for folks like WH
Ward
August 12th, 2012
12:39 am
I wonder If Waffles’ waffles got all dried up, as well as his brain?
DS1
August 12th, 2012
12:40 am
Sneaky
I just wish some of these folks mothers wouldn’t let them have the family computer!
Ward
August 12th, 2012
12:40 am
Should the Braves go after Headley next year, and keep Prado at LF?
Ward
August 12th, 2012
12:41 am
DS1 – Funny crap!!!!!!!
DS1
August 12th, 2012
12:45 am
Here’s the deal with the starting pitching: So long as the guys are performing, why should Fredi change anything up? Good to see Reed Johnson have a good night in LF. Prado has been struggling since the break. So has Bourn, but he seemed to get healthy against Santana.
I wouldn’t be overly surprised to see Heyward get a rest tomorrow.
Maybe Mac needs a stint on the DL if his shoulder is bothering too much??
DS1
August 12th, 2012
12:48 am
Ward
I’d love to see the Braves get at least 1 more good bat. We are losing two good bats in Chipper and Bourn.
Headley or Willingham are the first two names that come to mind for me, but there are a lot of good young players out there that are available (meaning that they would be available for the right price)
I wouldn’t mind seeing us make a run at Colby Rasmus for CF. I know nolie doesn’t like him and his attitude much, but I am wondering if Boss Man Junior has grown out of some of that immaturity?
Ward
August 12th, 2012
12:49 am
Reeds a pretty good player. I think Fredi, should put Reed in the 7th inning a lot more, and Fredi should call up Mejia to give Freeman a few days rest too.
DS1
August 12th, 2012
12:51 am
Mejia is a right handed hitter, I think. Not sure we will see him unless he gets a September callup. Not sure Freeman needs much rest the way he is going now. Maybe later though.
Venice Jim
August 12th, 2012
12:52 am
Was supposed to work until 10:30 tonight, but fortunately rescheduled and finished at 6 (after 52 hours last 5 days, and this M-F looking busier)…very happy with a 1 hour work day tomorrow…
Ward
August 12th, 2012
12:52 am
DS1 – Rasmus wouldn’t be bad idea if we lost Bourn, but I hope Bourn is able to sign? Wouldn’t mind Victorino, or B.J. Upton, who is starting to hit? If Bourn signs, we wont have to worry about a thing.
Venice Jim
August 12th, 2012
12:53 am
That being said, time to catch up on sleepage…
Ward
August 12th, 2012
12:55 am
V.J.- Be cool…..
Ward
August 12th, 2012
12:55 am
V.J.- Be cool…..
Venice Jim
August 12th, 2012
12:56 am
Ward – and I expect the same of you!
DS1
August 12th, 2012
12:57 am
Later VJ.
Ward
Only way Bourn signs with Atlanta is if he really, really wants to be in Atlanta and instructs Boras to get a good offer from Atlanta and take it. Otherwise, I think Boras extends the negotiations way into December or even early January. If he does that, then Wren won’t be willing to wait. Other teams will already have made a lot of decisions, and the backup choices will have been watered down.
Just my guess though.
I just don’t see him signing unless he has a change of heart, and wants to stay in Atlanta. That could change if we go deep into the playoffs.
DS1
August 12th, 2012
12:59 am
I love hearing that Star Spangled Banner playing at the Olympics! Gives me chills every time I hear it!
DS1
August 12th, 2012
1:00 am
Nice to see us take a lead over the Chinese in the medal count!
Ward
August 12th, 2012
1:00 am
I wont be sad on losing Bourn if Wren gets us a good center field replacement? If he doesn’t? Then I would be sad.
Ward
August 12th, 2012
1:01 am
Francis Scott Key wrote a great song………
DS1
August 12th, 2012
1:06 am
Ward
I’ll hate to see him go, if that is what happens. But teams change and evolve. I hope we at a minimum get a player with a good glove for CF. Prado can lead off if necessary.
Ward
August 12th, 2012
1:07 am
DS1 – I’m coming to the reality of it…….Prado then Simmons….. That would be a good 1, and 2 punch.
keylargo
August 12th, 2012
1:15 am
Martin Prado is having his annual slump that maybe doesn’t rival Uggla’s but is very real. Since play started back after the All Star Break he is hitting .232 / .287 / .296/ .582/ in 157 PA/ 13 runs/ 33 hits/ 0 HR’s and 14 RBI’s
At the end of May he was playing like an All Star @ .332/ .408// .495/ .903
People love Prado so much they are unwilling to admit he has a bi – polar season that is similar to Uggla’s. I don’t have a solution except the conditioning end of if.
I think back to when I was in high school. Going to school from 8am to 3pm, lettering in 3 sports with some kind of practice 5 days a week and making good grades. Of course we worked our asses off in every sport and as soon as baseball was over in the summer, groups of football players would meet to start running and lifting weights in aticipation of the football season in Sept.
The one thing I have to admit is I can’t tell how to do is to prepare for a 180 game baseball season. But I see a lot of Braves that could not keep up with the conditioning programs we went through.
DS1
August 12th, 2012
1:15 am
I guess we’ll just have to wait and see, huh.
Heading off to bed.
Nite Ward.
Bo Graves!
Ward
August 12th, 2012
1:23 am
Keylargo – I think Prado could be tired a bit, so play Reed Jphnson in the 7th inning a few games, so Prado can rest, and give Prado, a couple of more days off down the stretch. That would keep Prado sharp.
Ward
August 12th, 2012
1:24 am
Reed Johnson could Play the late innings, and that would keep Prado sharp.
Blog Monitor
August 12th, 2012
1:27 am
Ward, so playing Reed, would help keep Prado sharp?
Ward
August 12th, 2012
1:29 am
Blog Monitor – Just an idea, and it could help? Bobby Cox used to do that, and he kept he players in focus, and sharp.
Ward
August 12th, 2012
1:30 am
Bobby, would keep everyone in play, and that kept the players focused down the stretch.
Blog Monitor
August 12th, 2012
1:30 am
Ok, the Discovery channel is showing “Mermaids, The Body Found”, and I have to say I am totally engrossed, very compelling evidence of some type of creature..
DiamondbackMac
August 12th, 2012
1:33 am
Sneaky Pete
I wonder if Waffle House was dropped on his head as a child, maybe several times
Probably got his head slammed in a waffle iron, hence the nickname.
Ward
August 12th, 2012
1:35 am
All, have a good one! Once again great win tonight. Talk tomorrow, and always good talking. Peace my friends, and “Go!!!!!Braves!!!!!”
uga-brave
August 12th, 2012
1:37 am
does little jim mora jr. ever shut his mouth? good luck in LA jimmy.
uga-brave
August 12th, 2012
1:39 am
UCLA has barely been relevant lately and this is how he wants to start his tour.
uga-brave
August 12th, 2012
1:44 am
only thing funnier would be if he brings his dad in as a coach.
the fightin kiffins vs. the moras.
DS1
August 12th, 2012
2:09 am
Would Lowe have been a better choice for the last spot in the pen vs Gearrin? I would think he would be better.
But what do I know, I can’t sleep like normal folks.
David O'Brien
August 12th, 2012
3:38 am
From ESPN Stats & Info: Freddie Freeman’s homer estimated at 455 feet, 10 feet shy of Citi Field record set by Giancarlo Stanton last season.
richbrave
August 12th, 2012
6:45 am
DOWN ON THE FARM
GWINNETT
LHSP SEAN GILMARTIN [W 1-1, 3.54 ERA] 6.2 IP, 7 H, 1 HR, 2 R/ER, 2 BB, 3 SO.
LHRP COLE McCURRY H 3, 4.30 ERA] 1.1 IP, 1 H, zeros, 1 SO.
RHRP ‘AussieANDY’ RUSSELL [1.72 ERA] 1.0 IP, no-hits, 1 BB, 0 SO.
RF FELIX PIE [.293 BA] 1-3, 2 R, 1 2B [22], 1 BB.
1B ERNESTO MEJIA [.304 BA] 1-4, 1 R, 1 2B [30], HAT TRICK!
LF STEFAN GARTRELL [.267 BA] 2-3, 2 R, 1 2B [21], 1 HR [18], 3 RBI [49], 1 BB.
PH/RF JOSH KROEGER [.257 BA] 1-1, 1 R, 1 HR [10], 3 RBI [30].
SS JOSH WILSON [.246 BA] 1-3, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 SO, 1 CS [3].
74bravesjersey
August 12th, 2012
6:58 am
Thanks for the update richbrave, of you’re opinion, who all would they consider for sept. call-ups, & what’s the most that they can call-up? I’ll hang up & listen to you’re answere, oh wait a minute, this ain’t no talk show, well it is a “Blog show”.
richbrave
August 12th, 2012
6:59 am
DOWN ON THE FARM
BARONS over the Bandits 3-2 in a tight one.
CF TODD CUNNINGHAM [.316 BA] 0-1, 1 R, 1 BB, 2 SAC., 1 SB [18].
1B JOE TERDOSLAVICH [.320 BA] 1-3, 1 RBI [38], 1 BB.
C ‘Big Jim’ GATTIS [.268 BA] 1-3, 1 BB.
SS JASON CHRISTIAN [.211 BA] 2-3, 1 R, 1 BB.
LF AL CARRITHERS [.286 BA] 2-4.
2B PHIL GOSSELIN [.243 BA] 1-4, 1 SO.
LHS/RP GARY MORAN [L 5-10, 3.05 ERA] 6.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R/ER, 4 BB, 4 SO.
LHRP CHRIS JONES [3.96 ERA] 2.0 IP, 1 H, zeros, 2 SO.
RHRP CORY RASMUS [3.81 ERA] 1.0 IP, 1 H, zeros, 2 SO.
richbrave
August 12th, 2012
7:26 am
74bravesjersey:
On September 1, the 25-man roster expands to the entire 40-man roster. Thus players such as ERIC CORDIER are eligible to be called-up.
Off that current list, the 15 eligible are.
C JC BOSCAN
SS AL SIMMONS [DL]
SS JACK WILSON [DL]
OF JOSE CONSTANZA
OF MATT DIAZ [DL]
TOMMY HANSON [DL]
JAIR JURRJENS [DL]
ROBERT FISH [DL]
BRANDON BEACHY [DL]
ANTHONY VARVARO
JULIO TEHERAN
ERIC CORDIER
Who might they call up? I suppose any of the DL corps except BEACHY. There’s quite a few. 7 by my count.
I think……
HANSON [DL]
JURRJENS [DL]
FISH [DL] if he can be.
BRAVES probably want to see what they’ve got, but I haven’t seen him working anywhere. Don’t know if he’s on the back-lots with the rookies and other re-habbers or not.
TEHERAN
Probably. Maybe give his psyche a boost.
VARVARO
BOSCAN
if he’s not already up
CONSTANZA
ditto BOSCAN
richbrave
August 12th, 2012
7:30 am
Missed RANDALL DELGADO, sorry
richbrave
August 12th, 2012
7:32 am
There are two slots open.
I think the BRAVES add ERNESTO MEJIA and TODD CUNNINGHAM to the rosters after their respective minor-league season’s are over.
SteveInFXBG
August 12th, 2012
8:24 am
23 one run wins for the Nats is 2nd most in the majors behind the Pirates who have 24. Nats 10 extra inning wins is behind just the Orioles’ 12.
Efrim
August 12th, 2012
8:42 am
The Nationals are 71-43 through 114 games. Insane. They could tank and go .500 the rest of the way and still win 95 games.
Efrim
August 12th, 2012
9:10 am
Braves have a 4.5 game lead on the Cardinals for the wild card. 3 games up on the Pirates.
phil
August 12th, 2012
9:26 am
No wild card please…
Disgusted
August 12th, 2012
9:31 am
Jim Mora Jr and Lane Kiffin — A rivalry of fools.
Both of them are buffons.
Man, we had some real bad head coaches before Coach Smith, the only ones worth a dam were Reeves and Leeman Bennett.
Glanville was the biggest fool of em all. And Petrino did us a favor quitting on us.
Disgusted
August 12th, 2012
9:32 am
Phil — A wild card is better than nothing.
Webster
August 12th, 2012
9:36 am
Just read where Hanson ha some obesenities with FG and RM. If that happened with BC, Hanson would never pitch for Atlanta again.
Side note: How can FW get Chipper to at least be the bench coach next season. The guy is meant to manage.
Disgusted
August 12th, 2012
9:37 am
Hanson could be movable this off season but I hope it would be for proven major league talent.
The options for Hudson and Malholm should be picked up and Minor/Delgado and Medlen should continue to improve. Could use another mid priced SP in FA though there is no tmuch out there I would want to overpay for.
KC needs SP, but the guy I would want (Myers) they probably are not moving.
Lorenzo Cain and a mid tiered prospect would not be enough for Hanson. Would take Cain and Myers, do not want any of their current SP’s
Efrim
August 12th, 2012
9:38 am
So, it’s not considered making the playoffs if we get into the wild card one gamer and lose, right?
Efrim
August 12th, 2012
9:42 am
Would take Cain and Myers, do not want any of their current SP’s
Kansas City isn’t trading Wil Myers. No way.
Disgusted
August 12th, 2012
9:42 am
Hanson for Headley??????????
With new SD ownership they might not be moving all their pieces for prospects only??????
Disgusted
August 12th, 2012
9:45 am
Yea, you are right on that one Efrim. Myers is their Heyward.
What could we get from KC that can be a fit here. Cain is not enough, and no way U want any of their starters, so what else can KC offer?
Most of what they have you really do not want.
Efrim
August 12th, 2012
9:45 am
Gonna have to wait for the next 49 games to play out. Minor and Maholm could tank. I highly doubt it and I’d expect both of them to be in the rotation for 2013. But realistically, we need to wait for the season to end to know what the rotation certainties are for 2013….other than Hudson of course.
Lew
August 12th, 2012
9:46 am
It would be making the playoffs, but would really piss people off – Maybe Playoffs Light. I’m not seeing many people like this format.
Efrim
August 12th, 2012
9:47 am
Cain is not enough, and no way U want any of their starters, so what else can KC offer?
Prospects other than the elite Myers.
Webster
August 12th, 2012
9:48 am
I’d go for Hanson/Headley trade. San Diego may not though. The Angels are not happy with Ervin Santana, so how about Hanson for Burjous?
Efrim
August 12th, 2012
9:50 am
So who really expects the 2013 Gwinnett rotation to open with Julio Teheran, Randall Delgado, Sean Gilmartin and Zeke Spruill? I just can’t see it. Someone is getting traded.
Webster
August 12th, 2012
9:51 am
Hanson + ???? for Cain and Gordon.
brian
August 12th, 2012
10:00 am
I have to agree about the trading of some of our high minor pitching. They will be traded for an OF or position prospects.
brian
August 12th, 2012
10:02 am
With Hanson’s injury history, his value is not going to be as high as many here perceive it to be. To KC for Cain and a prospect not named Myers would be a reasonable proposal. Hanson for Gordon straight up would be another.
brian
August 12th, 2012
10:04 am
Bourjos at LAA will be available this offseason.
The CFs off the top of my head that are possible – Bourjos Span, Cain
Efrim
August 12th, 2012
10:08 am
Shelby Miller is starting to turn the corner in Triple-A. I wish I could say the same for Julio Teheran.
Webster
August 12th, 2012
10:11 am
Brian– Would Hanson gey us Bourjos?
Lew
August 12th, 2012
10:14 am
brian is right – If Hanson goes, we’ll be selling low.
Webster
August 12th, 2012
10:19 am
Lew- much like the JJ situation, is it better to sell low than not be able to ell at all?
ed
August 12th, 2012
10:22 am
could you imagine what the braves could accomplish with a payroll that is 15 to 20 mil more than 2012 that is where it should be for 2013 but it probably won’t
Mark
August 12th, 2012
10:25 am
Hope we just win today and worry about next year hopefully after we win the World Series which would help in making plans for next year. Everybody wants to play on a winner.
Take care of business today!!! After todays win focus on tomorrow!!
Disgusted
August 12th, 2012
10:30 am
Webster –Hanson for Bourjos is not enough. Bourjos cannot hit and I would rather take y chances with Cain over him, at least Cain can hit some when healthy which is not always.
Cain and Gordon for Hanson would be good,
And with Hanson, I am not conveinced we would be selling that low. You are looking at a mid 20’s SP who has been a consistent double digit winner in spite of injury.
Not selling at peak value, but he had decent value.
Lew
August 12th, 2012
10:34 am
Disgusted – NO, what you’re looking at is a mid 20’s pitcher who missed half a season with shoulder problems and now is spending time on the DL for back problems – two very alarming signs for a pitcher.
Webster – It all depends on what we might receive in return. If not a player we could definitely plug into the lineup, Hansoight be worth more to us as a Brave. If he is traded, I’m thinking that it will take another pitching prospect along with him to garner a reasonable return.
Lew
August 12th, 2012
10:44 am
Hanson is yet another case of not wanting to keep a player because of faults (perceived or real) and expecting that any trading partner will gloss over all of those faults.
Jeff R
August 12th, 2012
10:52 am
Hanson may have decent value this winter, so long as he rebounds from the shoulder and back ailments and produces. Decent – not great.
Webster
August 12th, 2012
10:53 am
Lew– In my opinion Hanson is a major injury waiting to happen. Have thought that for 2 seasons now. I would put him out there and see what bites. If we could a legitimate power hitting LF for him and a prospect, I would pull the triggerin a minute. The hitter, I’m not sure. We all like Willingham. We all like Headley. Hanson at Petco could work out well for them.
One of the young guns are going to be neede to get Bourne’s replacement. Personally I like Wheeler from Colorado. Which of the young starters could land us Wheeler?
Jeff R
August 12th, 2012
10:54 am
I’m really rooting for Hanson to rebound soon. Heck, little something called the post-season is still undecided. That’s the immediate prize.
Lew
August 12th, 2012
10:54 am
I’m also not seeing what all the love for Bourjos is, either. He has not hit in the bigs at all – doesn’t get on base very much and has little power. If all we’re looking for is defense, throw Cpnstanza or Drango out there – maybe even Cunningham.
Disgusted
August 12th, 2012
10:54 am
Of course the injuries are real red flags & yes, other teams will look at that.
There are also some plusses on Tommy who is still a good if not great pitcher when he is right.
It might not be worth trading him, if we were offered something like Cain or Bourjos alone for him than yes, he is worth more to us as a Brave.
Its something to keep an open mind on. I do think (and its only a hunch) that the reason why JJ did not get moved in the off season was cause the offers for him were lowballed.
So FW took the chance that JJ would come back and have a good yr and it did not work, not Frank’s fault, its just the gamble he took.
It only takes one GM to make a good offer. And if we do not get a good offer we hang on to him…and hope for the best.
David O'Brien
August 12th, 2012
10:55 am
Hanson may have decent value this winter, so long as he rebounds from the shoulder and back ailments and produces. Decent – not great. — Jeff R
I tend to agree with that assessment.
Lew
August 12th, 2012
10:55 am
Webster – I’m not opposed to trading Hanson, I’m just not seeing the value for him others seem to see.
DAM
August 12th, 2012
10:56 am
I’ll say once again, Medlen needs to stay in the rotation, and I still think he should have been in it starting in April.
Disgusted
August 12th, 2012
10:57 am
The real faults on Hanson is the injuries though if he comes back from the back issues strong, that can be erased.
The decreased velocity well, there are pitchers who can win throwing in the 89 to 91 range.
He might never get in the mid 90’s again. Maybe he strengthens his shoulder again. How that is done I do not know.
I am not sure than Hanson is a workout warrior either, like Roger Clemens or Nolan Ryan.
Disgusted
August 12th, 2012
10:59 am
@Lew — Bourjos might be a guy people see as a Bourn replacement cause he might come cheap. And since he still is relatively young, maybe he might hit, but that is a big might.
He did have fair power last yr, had 12 HR.
DAM
August 12th, 2012
11:02 am
As it stands right now with the changes in the playoff rules, if we get the wildcard and win, our reward would be the Nationals in the division series.
They should have changed the rules further and said after the one-game wildcard playoff, the teams will be seeded according to record, which would have eliminated that type of scenario.
Lew
August 12th, 2012
11:02 am
Disgusted – Yeah, but he’s barely hitting in the .220’s, OBP under .300 and only 3 HR this year – and this with over 200 MLB games under his belt. Just not seeing the offensive potential. If people think Uggla’s numbers are bad, what would they think of Bourjos’?
Jeff R
August 12th, 2012
11:04 am
Anyone think that the Nats can’t possibly keep up their torrid pace for the next 48 games?
It’s just amazing what that club is doing right now.
Efrim
August 12th, 2012
11:04 am
Hanson is yet another case of not wanting to keep a player because of faults (perceived or real) and expecting that any trading partner will gloss over all of those faults.
Every player that is traded has faults or warts of some sort, Lew. Otherwise they would not be traded. Even Bourn last year from the Astros – 1.5 years of contractual control and they wanted to get some sort of value back.
Disgusted
August 12th, 2012
11:05 am
Efrim — Minor and Malholm could tank ???????
Anything can happen, but Malholm is a veteran who was middle of the pack on bad teams, so my thinking is that he will be a durable lefty for a good long time, might be one of those guys who pitches into his late 30’s as a three or four SP.
As for Minor and Randall, yea they are young and will have their tank moments but they have shown resiliance to adversity & I am believing in Minor more and more. The way he kept them in the game after getting tagged in the first inning his last start is telling me that something has clicked.
So I am on the side of optomisim on those two.
David O'Brien
August 12th, 2012
11:05 am
Braves have fifth-best record in majors (66-47), a half-game behind Texas and 1-1/2 behind Cincy.
Lew
August 12th, 2012
11:05 am
DAM – I’m not so sure of that. If the Braves won the WC playoff game, they would be one of four teams – just like if there was no extra team. They’d still have to play the WC series and we wouldn’t be playing the Nats – jusyt like it’s a;lways been in the WC series – you don’t play the team from your own division.
Jeff R
August 12th, 2012
11:07 am
As it stands right now with the changes in the playoff rules, if we get the wildcard and win, our reward would be the Nationals in the division series.
Both the Nats and the Pirates have given the Braves fits in the last few years. If the Pirates make the post-season, and assuming they square off against the Braves, don’t underestimate them.
DAM
August 12th, 2012
11:07 am
Lew, they changed the rules this year. You can play teams from your own division in the division series.
Lew
August 12th, 2012
11:07 am
Efrim – If Hanson had not been injured and had not lost velocity, people would not ewant him traded from the Braves. His faults are completely the reason he’d be on the trading block – the return is just justification in people’s minds.
JNick
August 12th, 2012
11:08 am
Efrim
August 12th, 2012
9:50 am
So who really expects the 2013 Gwinnett rotation to open with Julio Teheran, Randall Delgado, Sean Gilmartin and Zeke Spruill? I just can’t see it. Someone is getting traded.
If any of them gets traded, it would be Delgado…unfortunately…even though it should be Teheran. I think he’s going to be a flop…
Disgusted
August 12th, 2012
11:08 am
That is correct Lew about Bourjos and with every trade comes a risk.
And Cain could come cheap but his past record of injury is the red flag on him.
Ideal thing is to keep the man we have right now in CF but then there is the business side of the game and it is what it is. I just don;t know who is gonna supposedly give him 16 to 22 mil per, that is out of sight but all it takes is one team to overpay and Boras plays that game and wins more often than not.
DAM
August 12th, 2012
11:09 am
Here’s an article from MLB. Scroll about halfway down and it’s discussed in the article.
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120229&content_id=26927024
usnavyvolfaninva
August 12th, 2012
11:09 am
JeffR,
Thought we couldn’t play a team from the same division in the DS.
Lew
August 12th, 2012
11:10 am
DAM – Might as well just face facts that they will have to go through The Nats to make the series.
JNick
August 12th, 2012
11:11 am
Nats are peaking early. Strasburg and Zimmerman will both be shut down soon…Harper has tanked (.171 since the ASB, back to reality for the kid) as I predicted he would. I just don’t see them keeping up the pace. Too many guys overperforming…and the Braves haven’t peaked yet…just starting to get warm, actually.
Jeff R
August 12th, 2012
11:12 am
usnavyvolfaninva, we would sooner or later. It’s conceivable that the Braves and Nats could square off for the NL pennant.
DAM
August 12th, 2012
11:15 am
Well, sure, Lew, we would almost certainly have to go through the Nats eventually. That’s not my point, though. I’m simply saying that I don’t like the rule change that says that as it stands now, we would get them in the Division Series instead of the NLCS.
abeeeewright
August 12th, 2012
11:15 am
Still a long way to go til playoffs.
I’m sure the Nats are going to win the rest of their games this season.
What are the rules on seeding? Does the play-in winner play the top seed? Or do intra-division match ups wait til the NLCS?
DAM
August 12th, 2012
11:16 am
Jeff R –
As records stand now, there is no way that the Braves and Nats could meet in the NLCS for the pennant. We would meet in the Division Series.
DAM
August 12th, 2012
11:19 am
abeeeewright — The rules changed this year, and the play-in winner gets the top seed, regardless of whether the teams are in the same division.
Waffle House or Bust
August 12th, 2012
11:19 am
Know how you can tell the Nats are serious about winning? Johnson is sitting Harper because the kid is slumping. Braves would never put the TEAM before one player. Tip your cap to that fat Fredi.
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 12th, 2012
11:23 am
Disgusted – Yeah, but he’s barely hitting in the .220’s, OBP under .300 and only 3 HR this year – and this with over 200 MLB games under his belt
Heyward was similiar to this last year… except that he had more HR.
Lew
August 12th, 2012
11:25 am
DAM – I see little difference in when we face off with them. NO one is helping us take them out now and they won’t in the playoffs either. One way or another, we’re going to have to beat the Nats to do anything. 4-4 in our last eight meetings is an improvement, but not nearly enough.
VaBravesFan
August 12th, 2012
11:28 am
Johnny Damon could be a fit for the Braves as they are in need of a lefthanded pinch hitter. Atlanta is looking all around for a part-time lefthanded bat and they are scouting almost every team out of the race. Damon posted a posted a .222/.281/.329 batting line with four home runs in 224 plate appearances for the Tribe this year.
The Braves aren’t optimistic that they can re-sign Michael Bourn when he becomes a free agent, in part because they don’t seem to do well with Scott Boras clients. Given that, it also seems unlikely that they’ll aggressively pursue Jacoby Ellsbury this offseason.
Atlanta will have to replace both Bourn and Chipper Jones, and one Braves official didn’t rule out Kevin Youkilis if the White Sox don’t pick up his $13MM option. Of course, the Braves would be looking to spend considerably less than that to sign him.
Lew
August 12th, 2012
11:31 am
Only Braves – You’re comparing apples and kumquats Dude. Bourjos never was nor ever will be Heyward.
Bourjos minor league numbers were nowhere near as dominant as Jasons. He’s also 25 and Heyward was 21 in his second season and has really done nothing of significane in the bigs in close to 300 games played.
2010 – .204, .237, .381
2011- .271, .327, .438
2012 – .227, .287, .325
Not seeing any progress or anything that recommends him as a future offensive threat.
DAM
August 12th, 2012
11:32 am
Oddly enough, even though I don’t like the rule change that allows two teams from the same division to meet in the Division Series, it could work to our advantage this year (assuming the Nats hold onto first and we win the wildcard playoff). The wildcard playoff winner gets the first two games of the Division Series at home followed by three on the road.
VaBravesFan
August 12th, 2012
11:32 am
Take Bourn and Chipper off this roster and it’s easy to say were alot worse. Also safe to say we won’t see upgrades in those spots and it would be hard to bring in someone of equal value as well. Even with around 45 million coming off the books before ARB raises the Braves have to be smart on how they spend it.
Regardless going forward it will be up to Heyward and Freeman to be main producers in the lineup. They are key.
abeeeewright
August 12th, 2012
11:33 am
If you feel that Braves are a little weaker than Nats, you would rather face them in the DS than the CS, where your odds of pulling an upset are better.
JNick
August 12th, 2012
11:33 am
I just don’t see the Nats spending that kind of money on Bourn – they have so much wrapped up in a handful of players, and will need to earmark $$$ for raises to Gio, Harper, J-Zimmerman, Strasburg, Desmond, Morse in years to come. They have Werth’s albatross contract to worry about – where are you going to put Bourn? Harper, Morse, Werth….? If they go after anyone, I think they’ll go for their hometown boy in Denard Span – whom they’ve tried to get from the Twins multiple times before.
Lew
August 12th, 2012
11:34 am
Now I’ve never really seen Bourjos play. Is he Andruw JOnes’ equal in CF (I’m kind of dounting it)? Unless he is, I’d prefer to target someone else if Bourn is not re-signed.
George
August 12th, 2012
11:34 am
Good morning all
Very good game last night. MEDLAN sure getting it done as starter. JASON continues to surprise me with his play. With JOEY V out FREDDY is by far best 1ST BASEMAN in league, sorry ADAM.
VaBravesFan
August 12th, 2012
11:35 am
JNick
They could choose to let Adam LaRoche go, sign Michael Bourn and put Michael Morse at 1st base. Nationals owners is willing to spend big and Rizzo loves Bourn.
Brave New World
August 12th, 2012
11:37 am
When did the Nats last lose? Still a bunch of games to go, including head-to-head wih Braves. Nats can be taken. GO BRAVES!
Mountain Braves Fan
August 12th, 2012
11:38 am
Seems to me the Braves have two major replacement needs in 2013: someone to replace Chipper’s bat and someone to replace Bourn’s glove. Trading for Chase Headley would give the Braves a legitimate 3/4 hitter who can play both third base and left field, although he has only played third this season. Headley is 28, is a switch hitter who hits well from both sides, and is under team control through the 2014 season.
Playing half his games in cavernous Petco Park, thus far this season Headley has hit 18 home runs, driven in 70 RBIs and stolen 12 bases with a .373 OBP and .836 OPS. His road numbers look even better: 13 home runs, .290 BA, .398 OBP and .931 OPS. His projected 2013 arbitration salary is $6.1 million. Needless to say, he will be one of the most sought-after trade targets in the off-season. The Yankees are rumored to be considering making a run for him to replace Nick Swisher in their outfield (switching Gardner to right and playing Headley in left). There is no guarantee that the Padres will trade him (they may try to sign him long-term), and it will take a major package to get him.
To replace Bourn’s glove, since the Braves would have depleted the farm system in the Headley trade, they should go after free agent Shane Victorino, say 3 years and $36 million. Headley and Victorino could replace Chipper and Bourn both on the field and in the batting order in 2013 for less money than the Braves are paying Chipper and Bourn this season. (Might leave a little money in the budget to upgrade the rotation/bullpen/bench.) Both proven major league players, both switch hitters, both under team control for at least two years, and Headley would be a nice candidate to sign to an extension beyond those two years.
The Braves could take the opposite approach and trade for a centerfielder (Cain, Span and Bourjos are three names that have come up) and try to sign a left fielder/third baseman in free agency (Josh Hamilton, Nick Swisher, etc…) but for the same money I don’t think they could end up with two better players than Headley and Victorino.
Victorino
Prado
Heyward
Headley
Freeman
McCann
Uggla
Simmons
Not a bad lineup 1-8.
VaBravesFan
August 12th, 2012
11:38 am
Bourjos is a sound option in trade for the right price. He makes sense if the Braves choose to go cheap in CF. Bourjos provides some of the best defense in baseball. Has plus speed as well. But nowhere near the bat that Bourn is. If were able to add a good bat for LF it would make some sense.
abeeeewright
August 12th, 2012
11:39 am
Unless a CF retires at the end of the season, someone is going to be available. Look for musical chairs. Some folks will want to over-spend to upgrade. Others will get a more affordable option.
VaBravesFan
August 12th, 2012
11:40 am
I think Victorino is looking at a smaller pay day than that. Just not having a good contract year and is a bit older than the other CF options.
JNick
August 12th, 2012
11:41 am
VABF, will be interesting to see if LaRoche’s mutual option for 2013 is picked up….guess that will be the first sign
Gonna be one expensive OF in DC…
abeeeewright
August 12th, 2012
11:43 am
Brave New World
August 12th, 2012
11:37 am
When did the Nats last lose?
Nine games ago. Nats are on an eight game winning streak. This too shall pass.
VaBravesFan
August 12th, 2012
11:46 am
There is no way possible to upgrade over Bourn in my opinion. Safe to say we’ll be worse in CF in 2013, but we can still have a solid player who makes more sense for our budget in there.
Prado will most likely take over 3rd base. He’s gonna play more games than Chipper and provide better defense but not having Chipper is gonna be a huge change overall for the whole team. Downgrade with the bat too as Chipper at 40 is a better hitter than Prado still in my opinion.
Prado does give us the flexibility to go after a LFer or 3rd baseman so Wren will explore both positions.
Gotta figure next year’s lineup will be worse overall but it mainly depends on the progress of Heyward and Freeman as our middle of the order bats. Gotta hope for a huge McCann contract season and a more consistant Dan Uggla.
Lew
August 12th, 2012
11:47 am
Not sure that Victorino would sign for just three years – bet he’ll be looking for five. He might be willoing to go cheaper for those five, but I’m not certain we would want a 36 year old (not so) Flyin Hawaiian
abeeeewright
August 12th, 2012
11:47 am
MBF … If Braves trade for Hedley, they’re likely giving up something which will be another hole to fill.
Also, they’re a top flight SP short.
Venice Jim
August 12th, 2012
11:49 am
Heard Victorino on the radio this morning saying he’s like to stay out here since he lives in Vegas, and it’s “close” to Hawaii…(obviously not written in stone)…
George
August 12th, 2012
11:51 am
FREDI, 1] What the hell are you thinking? You are leading the game 9-1 and after 5 or 6 inns you DO NOT rest CHIPPER’S 40 year old knees? Are you really trying to get him hurt so he can’t help us catch the NATS? 2] Don’t You DARE even think of replaceing MEDS with TOMMY in rotation. You do NOT know how to use the personell you have. It is a merical the BRAVES have the record they do.
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 12th, 2012
11:53 am
Unless he is, I’d prefer to target someone else if Bourn is not re-signed.
As long as that someone else isn’t Span or Cain…. Maybe Juan can?
If it were me, I’d consider going defense first in CF, get some offense for LF. With our players at the other positions being good hitters, CF and at times 2B will be the only weak-hitting spots. That seems fine to me.
Venice Jim
August 12th, 2012
11:56 am
Quite the merical…
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 12th, 2012
11:57 am
Heard Victorino on the radio this morning saying he’s like to stay out here since he lives in Vegas, and it’s “close” to Hawaii…
Hmm, kinda like Dempster then. I say Shane ends up in the Midwest
VaBravesFan
August 12th, 2012
11:57 am
Good chance Prado is our leadoff batter next season too.
George
August 12th, 2012
11:57 am
WTG USA HOOPSTERS!
Venice Jim
August 12th, 2012
11:57 am
Coach K with a very Mickelsonesque jump…
George
August 12th, 2012
11:59 am
VJ I know I cannot spell well, please don’t hold it aganist me.
Trey
August 12th, 2012
12:05 pm
Considering how well we have been pitching as of late, I’m not looking forward to Hanson coming back.
Oh well, maybe he will pitch better.
JNick
August 12th, 2012
12:05 pm
TOBF, what don’t you like about Span? I don’t really know much about him…but he seems to hit for decent average, and I do recall a few highlight reel defensive plays on SC…
Venice Jim
August 12th, 2012
12:05 pm
It was more chuckling in disagreement at your comment…
.
George
August 12th, 2012
12:06 pm
I dread the thought of FREDI manageing the BRAVES in a one game play-in to become the WC.
McFann :Ô: :Ô: :ô:
August 12th, 2012
12:06 pm
Fredi G. “…everybody got some hits, scored some runs and drove in some runs.”
Thanks a lot, Fredi…
McFann :Ô: :Ô: :ô:
August 12th, 2012
12:08 pm
Ward Mac has been on the DL to many times lately, so that will have to be fixed.
He’s been on the DL exactly 3 times in his career—2006 (sprained ankle after collision at homeplate), 2009 (eye issues), and 2011 (oblique strain).
Not that often.
VaBravesFan
August 12th, 2012
12:09 pm
Padre’s resigned Mark Kotsay for 2013, Braves should do the same with Ross and Reed.
Disgusted
August 12th, 2012
12:10 pm
Va Braves fan — Johnny Damon is done, finished.
Not sure he is even a useful role player anymore. He was terrible in Cleveland.
And I agree that without Chipper and Bourn, we are worse. At least a 5 game turnaround and maybe 6 or 7.
Chipper has done more for us this yr when he has played than some give him credit for.
Now, Uggla can pick some of it up (still think he can hit .260 with a .350 OBP with the same power he had in FLA.) He has been more streaky here.
Heyward and Freeman have even more upside, but it will be a challenge replaceing Chip and Mike.
The way Washington is going who is to say they might be going toward a 100 mil plus payroll. They do have some of their own to take care of before they pursue a Bourn.
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 12th, 2012
12:10 pm
TOBF, what don’t you like about Span?
His horrid home/away splits… Career .315/.392/.438/.829 in Minnesota, career .258/.330/.344/.674 away from Minnesota.
He’s a disappearing act on the road.
VaBravesFan
August 12th, 2012
12:11 pm
I agree about Johnny Damon, was just posting when I see on MLBTR
Disgusted
August 12th, 2012
12:11 pm
I doubt if Victorino is comming here.
I don;t think he will get 5 yrs either he is currenty 32.
Four maximum and that is a stretch.
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 12th, 2012
12:12 pm
Off to do yardwork, I’ll be checking in at times.
VaBravesFan
August 12th, 2012
12:14 pm
Well I planned on watching the Braves game tonight, along with Falling Skies and then Breaking Bad, but my girlfriend’s dad just bought us Def Leppard and Poison tickets for tonight. To be honest I rather stay home and watch the game and shows…lol
George
August 12th, 2012
12:15 pm
Kinda wish we were not on ESPN tonight, seems to me we do not do well on ESPN Sunday night baseball.
JNick
August 12th, 2012
12:20 pm
@George, it also means that they get back to ATL late late late tonight…won’t make prepping for tomorrow’s game much fun either…
VaBravesFan
August 12th, 2012
12:20 pm
Anyways it seems like any game that is actually on TV in my area and I get to watch we lose. I get all the Nationals games here so I get to see them take care of us easily every series.
George
August 12th, 2012
12:21 pm
Outta here for a bit. LETS GET A WIN TONIGHT.
JNick
August 12th, 2012
12:24 pm
@VABF, same here, I’m just north of DC so I get the Nats/Orioles on MASN…meh.
Lee in S GA
August 12th, 2012
12:49 pm
I have no problems with Hanson speaking his mind just like Minor did in preseason. Too many wimps on here. Guess if your boss said kiss his a$$ some of you would be puckering up. Baseball is no different. Yea lets get rid of him because he speaks his mind.
Venice Jim
August 12th, 2012
12:53 pm
Sad that this is the last early Sunday edition of Baseball Tonight with the onset of football approaching…
McFann :Ô: :Ô: :ô:
August 12th, 2012
12:53 pm
Did the Blog break…?
JNick
August 12th, 2012
12:58 pm
Yes.
BF54
August 12th, 2012
1:06 pm
the blog needs a cotisone shot
MiaBchBravesFan
August 12th, 2012
1:06 pm
Truth of the matter is, there are two things to consider. What have the gNats ever done that speaks to September, let alone October success? The history of baseball is written by teams that have withered under the crucible of September playoff baseball. The gNats have proven nothing. because the proof lies in what you do in 162 games, not 135-140.
Jst ask the Braves. There had a WC all but clinched, then fell apart like a Chevy Vega in September. These are two teams with a LOT to prove because there is no recent history that speaks to an ability to surge in September. In the case of the Braves, there is a LOT to prove because two past Septembers of impotent hitting, this team has yet to prove that they can marry their excellent pitching to a 1-8 lineup that will have a LOT to answer for beginning in 19 days.
I am looking forward to what the 2012 Braves will be able to do in September. If they can muster simple consistency next month, I am pretty sure that they will overtake the gNats – especially head-to-head.
The gNats are VERY young. I know the 2003 Marlins. They were not friends of mine. The 2012 gNats are no 2003 Marlins.
brian
August 12th, 2012
1:10 pm
the blog is doing great. Finally can discuss more baseball on here. Seems like a bunch of bloggers who enjoyed coming on here when the Braves were struggling have taken a vacation since the Braves are playing well currently
brian
August 12th, 2012
1:13 pm
should be some great baseball here until the end of the year and a lot to talk about. The Braves will be in the thick of it and are a threat to win it all.
Despite successes this year we could also look very different next year. We will likely need a new CF and LF. We still need a #1 starter. If Hanson comes back this year and looks good the Braves will have to decide whether to move him or invest in him. BMAC issues will also come up this off season – whether to extend, trade, or play out the contract. We have a bunch of high end pitching prospects pushing the majors with not many rotation spots open – Teheran, Delgado, Gilmartin, JR Graham, Spruill, etc
MiaBchBravesFan
August 12th, 2012
1:24 pm
Actually, I was on a literal vacation, catching lobsters and doin’ some fishing in Key Largo the past several days.
September will show if it’s been a good year for Wren, DOB. If that creativity would’ve been in place when he signed Lowe & KK, my opinion of him would be different. Getting Javy Vazquez from the White Sox spoke to that kind of creativity. Striking out three times in short order – with Lowe, KK, & McLouth – has done a LOT to tarnish that opinion. Those three matters even impacted this season, and Wren’s ability to improve hitting, an issue with this team during September baseball.
So, unless the Braves do well in September, the jury is still out on Wren, and his horrible, wreckless moves that have hamstrung this team for several seasons now.
JoeFan
August 12th, 2012
1:25 pm
Believe Francisco will at 3B and Prado will remain in LF with the Braves only having to figure out what to do about CF in 2013. Braves want overspend for CF expecially if they feel Cunningham will be ready in 2013 /14. Think any significant move will involve upgrading the rotation. Otherwise except for adding a bullpen or bench piece, the Braves will likely stand pat.
Veer
August 12th, 2012
1:27 pm
No point in watching games anymore we won’t catch the Nationals and we won’t be caught in the wildcard. Have to just prepare for the 1 game playoff vs the Cardinals. Nationals will win like 120 games this season. A NEW WORLD RECORD
MiaBchBravesFan
August 12th, 2012
1:28 pm
Is it just me, or are the Dodgers screwy for having Matt Kemp in CF and Shane Victorino in LF? Should be the other way around.
MiaBchBravesFan
August 12th, 2012
1:31 pm
Veer, it will be nice to see the gNats collapse in September. It’s gonna be ugly in the DC area. Wheels are gonna fly off that wagon; that’s my “Jeanne Dixon” on that.
George
August 12th, 2012
1:41 pm
Veer
August 12th, 2012
1:27 pm
No point in watching games anymore we won’t catch the Nationals and we won’t be caught in the wildcard. Have to just prepare for the 1 game playoff vs the Cardinals. Nationals will win like 120 games this season. A NEW WORLD RECORD
****************************
Hope you are wrong because with FREDI as MGR we will lose a one game play-in game.
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 12th, 2012
1:51 pm
Very good opinions Veer and George…. I guess that means that we won’t have to see any posts from you two for the rest of the year?
cricket
August 12th, 2012
2:02 pm
Michael Bourn, CF, Braves — The Braves aren’t holding out much hope that they can re-sign Bourn when he becomes a free agent. They don’t seem to do well with Scott Boras clients, which also seems to rule out any bid for Jacoby Ellsbury this offseason. The Braves will have to replace both Bourn and Chipper Jones, and one Atlanta official didn’t rule out Kevin Youkilis if the White Sox don’t pick up his $13 million option — but the Braves wouldn’t spend anywhere close to that.
http://bostonglobe.com/sports/2012/08/11/duquette-hasn-missed-step/YZjyGs3I9peKUJ2bv3oGgK/story.html
cricket
August 12th, 2012
2:06 pm
Very good opinions Veer and George…. I guess that means that we won’t have to see any posts from you two for the rest of the year?
Let me tell you something my friend. Hope is a dangerous thing. Hope can drive a man insane.
- Red
JNick
August 12th, 2012
2:14 pm
Gotta love when people cut/paste stuff from other sources without a citation, eh cricket?
Nice Shawshank quote
Mark
August 12th, 2012
2:15 pm
Shawshank Fan I see!!
I hope the hope you are referring to is not directed toward signing Bourn!
Best Leadoff(though Ks to often)/ speed / good defender in the bigs right now.
Agent is Boras
He is as good as gone to Yankees, Nats…The highest bidder whoever it may be.
The Braves will not factor into it and I’m good with that because they will over pay by a huge amount and he is already at the top of his game and will start slowing soon due to his age.
Don’t get me wrong. Like him now though. Hope he has a great stretch run for us!
Birdhair
August 12th, 2012
2:16 pm
Anyone suggesting that francisco could/should be our 3b next season is smoking something. pass that along….
Wish we had gone for Headley before the deadline. But maybe we could send Delgado and another prospect or two to SDG for Headley in the offseason. He is a big time undervalued player bec his stats are under-inflated by Petco.
Problem is, Wren doesn’t value OBP. Wren will probably play francisco every day at 3b. Just what we need. A low obp garbage out-making inning-ender in the lineup every day
BF54
August 12th, 2012
2:18 pm
I agree with D O’B Wren has done some fine work, going forward I’m shure he will stay in super-focus
phil
August 12th, 2012
2:19 pm
Fire someone!!
Disgusted
August 12th, 2012
2:20 pm
Why would Bourn become a Yankee when they already have Granderson for CF.
Gardner will be back and I do not see them letting Swisher walk.
They might like Bourn but I do not see even them offering Bourn in the 18-22 mm range. Unless its a position of need, do not see them paying 20 mil per for anybody in this FA group.
The Nats, or the Phillies, that is another story. More of a need there.
phil
August 12th, 2012
2:21 pm
Shawshank is a great flick….gotta love the kindly warden!
Mark
August 12th, 2012
2:23 pm
Birdhair
Agree with you about making plans as Francisco going in as an everydat player. Too many Ks and too many Es.
Disgusted
August 12th, 2012
2:24 pm
Birdhair — I would not move either Delgado or Hanson at this point.
Would consider Teheran and Hanson for the right deal.
SP for 13 would be Hudson, Malholm, Medlen, Delgado and Minor. Another low cost depth guy in the org would be nice.
Birdhair
August 12th, 2012
2:24 pm
Should have traded Bourn at peak value 2 months ago. Most critical thinkers realized that his price tag in the offseason would be prohibited. Simply put, a career .335 obp player is not worth $15M plus annually.
Trading him this season would not have been throwing in the towel because we could have gotten a higher OBP player back in return. Not hard to find someone cheaper who would produce an OBP over .345 the rest of the way and potentially produce a consistent seasonal OBP of .335 plus.
JNick
August 12th, 2012
2:24 pm
Francisco has actually done very well lately…you apparently did not see his defensive gems the last few times he’s played. Check out his stats when he’s actually a starter (he’s terrible as a pinch hitter).
.284/.317/.584 (OPS of .901) 7HR 23RBI in 116ABs.
Disgusted
August 12th, 2012
2:25 pm
Francisco looks ike a beter conditioned and defensiv player tan he was earlier.
Guy actually looks 10 pounds trimmer than he was when he first came here and results show it.
Give him credit for improving.
Birdhair
August 12th, 2012
2:28 pm
I said on the blog before the deadline that I would have offered Teheran and a lower level prospect to SDG for headley and gregerson. A batter like headley could help you every single game. I would find a place for headley to play this season and next season he;s my every day 3b.
Can;t look back, but these are the critical moves that we’ve got to make that will be positive short AND long-term solutions.
Wren did ok for 1 decent season from Bourn. Don’t forget that bourn was garbage for us the last 2 months last season. a .345 OBP or so this season from bourn is only mediocre producer. Reed johnson may have been one of the best moves ever by wren lol.
Mark
August 12th, 2012
2:28 pm
The Yankees take players just to keep others from getting them.
They obviously have big bucks and can operate unlike other teams but you have to give them credit for getting the best they can get. Then they play the best guys and deal the others.
They do probably the best job of not letting emotions/feelings interfere with fielding the best players.
BF54
August 12th, 2012
2:29 pm
I like Cisco to get better with more time in the line up
JNick
August 12th, 2012
2:30 pm
Bourn’s defense has probably saved at least 4 or 5 wins for us this year – and I can think of at least 3 wins where he was the ONLY offense we had…
I want to keep him for his defense…he ran down a ball the other night in CF that I don’t think any other CF in the game could have caught…
phil
August 12th, 2012
2:30 pm
Amazing what some physical conditioning can sometimes do for ya….right Mac? Listening?
Mark
August 12th, 2012
2:30 pm
Bird
I would have agreed had we tanked a while back but no way I would have traded him with our chance of playing deep this year. Sometimes you have to ride the horse all the way to the end and that was the case this year IMO
BF54
August 12th, 2012
2:32 pm
Sign Bourn replace Diaz with Gattis
Disgusted
August 12th, 2012
2:32 pm
Braves lineup for 13
1B Freeman
2B Uggla
SS Simmons
3B Francisco
LF Prado
CF Lorenzo Cain (low cost trade from KC)
RF Heyward
C Mc Cann
Reed Johnson, Janish and Ross have a place on the bench. Do not count Hinske completely out.
Bullpen about the same.
Not the most PC lineup for most fans but one that is LM budget friendly.
Hanson might be moved for a couple of non-impact pieces (a deal that we might not like) similar to what we got for Javier Vazquez.
Mark
August 12th, 2012
2:33 pm
All these guys are pro players capable of making great plays but given his limited play I have seen more botched plays than good ones. He would lead the league in Es I’m afraid. May challenge for the lead in Ks too!
Disgusted
August 12th, 2012
2:36 pm
Mark — If the NYY go for a big ticket item this off season they prolly go SP.
That lineup is quite loaded even if there is age on the team. And they are tied to some big $$$$$ deals with yrs left.
They are loaded for sure but how much more they can go, I don;t know. They are still a great team as they are. They will win the division again and they miss the post season about once every 15 yrs from here on end.
JNick
August 12th, 2012
2:37 pm
@Disgusted, that team would come in under $60mil I believe…
Birdhair
August 12th, 2012
2:37 pm
Mark, would you agree that the best case scenario for this team is winning the first round of the playoffs? There’s no way in absolute hell that we go to the world series, much less win it.
We’ve got so many major holes to fill coming up that we have got to use some of our trade bait to bring in long-term affordable big time producers. Chase Headley would have filled a major need.
Yes, we have some $ coming off the books, but go look at the FA list this offseason. Not a whole lot to choose from and the best players are not taking less money to come here.
So, you’ve got to manuever like schuerholz did and make some savvy trades. Wren does not understand selling high and he certainly does not spend well. See KK, Lowe, Struggla as perfect examples.
phil
August 12th, 2012
2:38 pm
I’m far from sold on the Flabster…but i’m impressed that he worked on getting in better physical shape.
SNEAKY PETE
August 12th, 2012
2:40 pm
The gNats are VERY young. I know the 2003 Marlins
Braves are even younger , third youngest in MLB
Disgusted
August 12th, 2012
2:40 pm
J Nick — If it did, the corporate bosses would be happy.
And it would not be a bad team, would still be reasonably competitive assuming that Francisco can be an everyday player. There are signs out there that the guy can do the job.
And there would be room to extend Mc Cann and Marteen.
Mark
August 12th, 2012
2:42 pm
Disgusted
Yeah I’d like to get one of their guys. Sure it would work out better than the last one we got from them. He didn’t do squat for us. Remember Melky?
Disgusted
August 12th, 2012
2:45 pm
Birdhair — Chase Headley is a good ballplayer but he is not the end all and be all.
You can find and develop guys like him out there.
Some around here act like he is the second comming of Albert Pujols, Mike Scmidt or A-Rod in his prime
Francisco may very well be a 25 HR 90 RBI guy. With adequate D, I will gladly have a low cost Juan Francisco for a few yrs.
.
Mark
August 12th, 2012
2:46 pm
BirdHair
I hear you but we were/are close enough this year that had he traded Bourn while we are in it I could see a revolt! But, I understand your thinking.
As for this year, in a series, I think we have a good shot at beating any team in the NL even with the holes we have. Who would you say in the NL we can’t beat in a series right now?
Disgusted
August 12th, 2012
2:47 pm
Mark — Melky got his butt in shape and became a better player after he wasted a lazy underachieving season for us.
I maintain that he was so bad with the Braves cause he was not in shape in 10.
SNEAKY PETE
August 12th, 2012
2:48 pm
at the very best Francisco is a left handed Francoeur and everybody hated him remember
Mark
August 12th, 2012
2:53 pm
Please guys, no Francisco as an every day player. We already have a player or two that Ks way too much.
Also, why all the praise for a guy losing weight and doing what he should have done way back. Whats that say for him as he prepared for the season? I mean heck fire, I lost some weight a while back just because I needed to but if my career or livlihood depended on it I wouldn’t have had to because of the obvious. Tells me the guy isn’t real motivated or success driven. Chipper never showed up fat.
Birdhair
August 12th, 2012
2:53 pm
We can’t beat the nationals. We’d probably lose to San Fran in a short series bec of their pitching. Cincy is scary especially if votto come backs healthy.
We are not good enough for a world series push. Wren walked into a pot of gold even with the Tex trade. We are winning in spite of Wren’s poor overall work.
Folks do not realize how much Wren’s poor spending has tied his own hands. Folks do not realize that he’s brought in numerous low obp players instead of high obp producers. We should be WS contenders and not annual wild card hopefuls with the base of players that JS left.
Mark
August 12th, 2012
2:54 pm
Disgusted
I know that but when he was in a Braves uni – He sucked
BF54
August 12th, 2012
2:57 pm
Horsefeathers
Mark
August 12th, 2012
2:58 pm
Birdhair
I wouldn’t bet the farm but I think we can beat those teams in a series. Lets hope at this point since we do still have Bourn for this year we have a chance and see, huh?
Pace
August 12th, 2012
2:58 pm
Francisco has made progress, however his BA is 60 points lower vs LH pitching. His fielding is abysmal, hovering around .910.
It’s very difficult to ‘get in better shape’ during the season, if he works hard at it (ala Melky) – he has a decent shot at being an everyday player. If he’s in better shape, his fielding may improve (flexibility) – and with enough at bats against LH pitching, that might improve also.
I’d still be looking elsewhere for an everyday 3B though – Prado may be the best bet. Francisco is cheap and serviceable.
Birdhair
August 12th, 2012
3:01 pm
Mark,
If we were better than the nationals wouldnt we be ahead of them right now? What if chipper goes down? We’re done. Bourn is not the key to this team like you seem to think. His OBP is a mediocre .348 or so this season.
Go to the 1 game playoff and you’ve only got a 50% chance of making the first round! I wish I was as blindly hopeful as you are.
SNEAKY PETE
August 12th, 2012
3:01 pm
We are not good enough for a world series push @Birdhair
yeah like the Cards were such a great team last season, get up to date dude, if you get in anything can happen. Been shown over and over the last 15 years or so
Mark
August 12th, 2012
3:03 pm
Pace
That is a good summary and accurate. Only problem is that cheap and serviceable gets you a trip to the house after game 162.
Pace
August 12th, 2012
3:05 pm
Mark,
True, but….if the Braves are going to try and resign Bourn, and pick up Mac’s option, something has to be sacrificed.
Can’t pay for 4star players at every position and keep the budget in line AND keep everyone. Ideally, LM would pony up about another 11M for payroll next year – don’t see it though.
SNEAKY PETE
August 12th, 2012
3:05 pm
other than Francisco just who has such a low OBP that Wren picked up?
Birdhair
August 12th, 2012
3:06 pm
Sneaky Pete,
Hmmm. FG managing in september or larussa? I think that’s a pretty good start. LOL
SNEAKY PETE
August 12th, 2012
3:10 pm
right, I’m sure you picked the Cards last year to go all the way because they had Tony
Mark
August 12th, 2012
3:11 pm
Birdhair
Never said he was the key to the team but if he is in the lineup we are better. Just said I think we have a shot.
Also, I’d rather be hopeful and play the games without being scared of someone getting hurt than being blindly pessimistic and just throwing in the towel when we are close. What, 2nd, 3rd best record in the league right?
Lastly, what if we traded Bourn and Zimmermans arm finally just gave out or Strasburg, Gonzales…blew out their arm and we are sitting there thinking”wish we still had Bour”
Crystal balls are a risky undertaking
Birdhair
August 12th, 2012
3:12 pm
Sneaky Pete,
Loaf Anderson, Melky, Jack Wilson, Nate McOut, Greg Norton, Janish, Alex Grumpyface Gonzalez, Ankiel, Mather, Ruben Gotay, Hinske, Julio Lugo….the list goes on, buddy.
Almost every single one of Wren’s so-called “Short term solutions!”
Wren had to go for the cheap player because all of his dough was going to drunk lowe at the bars, and kK on buford highway.
Almost the absolute worst possible solutions list above.
74bravesjersey
August 12th, 2012
3:13 pm
@richbrave; I apologize, had to be away for a while, thanks for the great info. & the trouble. Man, I know I must be spoiled or someth’n, but I wanted to see a few huge lumber to come up & be able to bring more threat from the bench, not .150 hitters such as Boscan, you know what I’m gett’n at. R-Brave, just want some young thumpers, I notice Mejia, later on, could Gartrell be considered, Gattis(I know too much harpin’ for the big fella). Realiz’n he’s up there age wise(27,28) but dang it, don’t squander the talent he’s got left. He could be a big piece for LF for another 5 to 7 years. What I’ve heard about ‘em, real good plate Discipline, does not K too much. Is hitt’n .320 as a whole. Even though he’s in ‘AA -Miss. can he be considered? (r-brave, I know you gotta be tired of hear’n about ‘em from me) I’m just really pull’n for the guy. Com’n out of spring train’n, chipper,fredi g, wren were all say’n he’s a beast.
Mark
August 12th, 2012
3:15 pm
Stupid question but would like to know.
I get the Lowe and drunk/bar deal.
But does KK live in Buford or am I missing something?? Keep seeing that
SNEAKY PETE
August 12th, 2012
3:18 pm
not your buddy, and some of those you mentioned have perfectly fine OBP is the 330+ range
VaBravesFan
August 12th, 2012
3:18 pm
Braves are going to have around 45 million coming off the books before ARB raises.
Mark
August 12th, 2012
3:18 pm
Pace
Unless Bourn just loves the Braves, the players, the town…I don’t see us even in the conversation for the amount of $ he is going to get thrown at him(and the ambulance chasing Boras)
Birdhair
August 12th, 2012
3:20 pm
Sneaky Pete,
No, that list above is a pitiful collection of absolute garbage players. Where are they now?
SNEAKY PETE
August 12th, 2012
3:22 pm
whatever, some still had higher OBP than you claim,
Pace
August 12th, 2012
3:22 pm
If the Braves pick up the options on Maholm, McCann, Hudson and what they owe Uggla for next year, that’s already $40.7M of an approximate $90M payroll.
Doesn’t leave much room to bring in more talent, and yes I agree that Bourn is more than likely playing his last couple of months for Atlanta.
Add in the UFA’s that the Braves may try to keep (Ross, Johnson, Durbin, Sheets) – and they could be looking at another 10-12M.
Then you have the Arb guys, and finally the players still under control. I don’t see 45 million coming off the books when the Braves still have to fill 25 slots on a roster and some of the Arb’s and probably all the players under control are staying.
Birdhair
August 12th, 2012
3:23 pm
Mark, no on KK. I am just attempting to generate a comical picture in my head of KK eating on Buford highway and laughing at the TV when a picture of Wren comes up. KK doesnt have to work for another day in his life bec of idiot Wren. And nobody wanted him after year 1 of his deal with us.
Nobody wanted Lowe after year 1 with us. Nobody wants Uggla either.
Great signings by Wren.
SNEAKY PETE
August 12th, 2012
3:24 pm
I think there will be enough money to add one good player, unfortunately we are losing two good players
Mark
August 12th, 2012
3:26 pm
Birdhair
I gotcha. I’d seen that before though and wondered about it b/c the guy had to have a team paid translator I think. He’s probably chillin in Tokyo living high on the sushi!
SNEAKY PETE
August 12th, 2012
3:26 pm
ok Lou Birdhair whatever you say
nolie
August 12th, 2012
3:31 pm
no matter how well they do we still can not get rid of ALL the morons
VaBravesFan
August 12th, 2012
3:33 pm
The Breakdown
Money Coming Off
Chipper 13 mil
Lowe 10 mil
Bourn 6.8 mil
Jurrjens 5.5 mil (Expected to be Non-tendered)
Diaz 2 mil
Ross 1.6 mil
Hinske 1.5 mil
McLouth 1.25 mil (2012 Buyout)
Wilson 1 mil
Durbin 900k
Options
McCann 12 mil
Hudson 9 mil
Maholm 6.5 mil
All expected to be picked up.
ARB Players
Prado ARB 3
Jurrjens ARB 3 (Not happening)
EOF ARB 3
Heyward, Hanson, Venters, Medlen, CMart all ARB 1
Birdhair
August 12th, 2012
3:38 pm
Sure, all of our players may not pan out, but let’s take a gamble on a proven player like Willingham or Headley when we have the chance!!
I’d much rather have Willingham in left right now making half of what uggla is making for almost half the number of years, too. Prado would be at second where he brings the most value.
Pace
August 12th, 2012
3:39 pm
VA Braves Fan:
Lowe’s money is not coming off – it’s not included in the 2012 payroll, it came off in 2011, so you can’t count that $.
McClouth’s $ isn’t included in the payroll of 92.5 M either – not sure where/how they paid that, but it’s not in the payroll.
Agree w/all the other #’s, and most of those players listed are going to be be brought back, and some at considerable raises.
I think you’re right about JJ not being tendered , and I think the Braves will try to resign Durbin, Johnson, and Ross. Sheets – he’s a bargain right now, but how much will he command if he finishes as strong as he’s started?
There is not as much $ as everyone thinks available.
nolie
August 12th, 2012
3:39 pm
we could DFA Heyward and Medlen. Save a few bucks…..
Birdhair
August 12th, 2012
3:40 pm
VaBraves fan,
I hope Wren does re-sign Ross. He has arguably been the best move made by Wren during his tenure.
Pace
August 12th, 2012
3:41 pm
nolie trying to help the Braves garner the #1 pick in the 2014 Draft
Birdhair
August 12th, 2012
3:41 pm
Pace,
You’re wrong. we had to count $10M of Lowe’s beer funds against this year’s payroll.
nolie
August 12th, 2012
3:42 pm
Ross is the best move?? Really?? hmmmmmmmmmmmm
VaBravesFan
August 12th, 2012
3:42 pm
Were paying Lowe’s 10 million this season.
Pace
August 12th, 2012
3:43 pm
According to the SEC filing LM released this past week, that 10M was spent in the last quarter of 2011. If you add up the payroll listed for the players that the Braves are responsible for, the total is approximately 92.5M right now. If you add in Lowe’s it’d be 102 or so.
LM isn’t counting it, and it isn’t counting against the 90 Wren had to spend on payroll for 2012.
Mark
August 12th, 2012
3:44 pm
I prefer the field stuff – whos hittin and who aint over the who makes what for how long.
VaBravesFan
August 12th, 2012
3:45 pm
It would explain why we were only able to add a Jack Wilson, Livan Hernandez, and Chad Durbin threw free agency for a whopping total of 2.65 million. Which I believe was the lowest spent by any team in free agency this past offseason.
VaBravesFan
August 12th, 2012
3:46 pm
Baseball-Reference has us at 97.5 million this season.
Pace
August 12th, 2012
3:47 pm
Take a look here: http://www.spotrac.com/mlb/atlanta-braves/yearly/
shows the payroll for this year – adds up to about what has been reported as available for Wren to spend.
I’m sure the $10M had to come from somewhere, and I hope it is off payroll – that’d be great for signing players this off season, but it looks like they had already sent the $ and didn’t use it in final payroll.
Bravefaninok
August 12th, 2012
3:47 pm
nolie
August 12th, 2012
3:39 pm
we could DFA Heyward and Medlen. Save a few bucks…..
Now that’s thinkin with your dipstick…..jimmy!
Birdhair
August 12th, 2012
3:48 pm
VaBraves, totally agree. Well said. Wren getting very poor value for his buck. Complete garbage overspends namely KK, Lowe, and Struggla will incredibly inhibit a middle market team attempting to compete.
nolie
August 12th, 2012
3:48 pm
everybody, including the Braves, lists things differently. I don’t think you can get an accurate amount re the payroll closer than say 90-95
nolie
August 12th, 2012
3:49 pm
who is jimmy?
Pace
August 12th, 2012
3:49 pm
Yep, the overall payroll is now at 97.5, but Chicago is paying some of Maholm/Johnson – I can’t find how much of it.
Have the Braves ever stated that the payroll is ‘capped’ at around $90M or is that just inference based on published contract amounts?
Mark
August 12th, 2012
3:51 pm
I heard the concession workers and field crews were up for a big raise. That pretty big lady that sits behind home plate in the white shirt that runs that VIP section is up also. And what about Freddi G. I heard he wants a raise?
Disgusted
August 12th, 2012
3:51 pm
Braves should seriously think of keeping EOF even as a 3rd yr ARB.
nolie
August 12th, 2012
3:52 pm
the Braves claim that they use a different system and as long as it is consistent it is ok. They have never been exact about amounts or limitations, bnut the numbers they have mentioned usually do not agree with what other sites claim. so who knows for sure?
Bravefaninok
August 12th, 2012
3:52 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mj5ms9PJDNY
VaBravesFan
August 12th, 2012
3:53 pm
I think the 90 million is a rough median that the Braves payroll will float around for a very long time with the current TV contract. Wouldn’t surprise me at all if in 5 years or so we’ll be in the near the bottom in payroll.
nolie
August 12th, 2012
3:54 pm
IIRC we went through this in some detail a few years ago with DOB chipping in too
Bravefaninok
August 12th, 2012
3:54 pm
It is a castrol motor oil commercial nolie…http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mj5ms9PJDNY
VaBravesFan
August 12th, 2012
3:55 pm
I don’t see the Braves paying EOF around 4 million next season. Right now the Braves are paying roughly 6 million total for our whole bullpen. It will be interesting to see how Wren handles that.
nolie
August 12th, 2012
3:55 pm
ok that was funny
nolie
August 12th, 2012
3:56 pm
yeah 4mil is out of their previous comfort zone for non-closers.
Bravefaninok
August 12th, 2012
3:56 pm
VaBravesFan
August 12th, 2012
3:53 pm
I think the 90 million is a rough median that the Braves payroll will float around for a very long time with the current TV contract. Wouldn’t surprise me at all if in 5 years or so we’ll be in the near the bottom in payroll.
I wonder if the Braves can get out of that awful contract by starting their own network like SNY,MASN…
nolie
August 12th, 2012
3:58 pm
that would cost a fortune it would seem to me
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 12th, 2012
3:59 pm
Braves should seriously think of keeping EOF even as a 3rd yr ARB.
Too high for a guy who isn’t a closer…. now if he were to sign a 3/4 yr deal for 10 mil, that’d be great. I just don’t see it happening.
Makes me wonder how long we keep Kimbrel… do we try to lock him up for 3/4/ years after he hits ARB1? Or do we trade him then? He’s gonna get pricey…. Thankfully, that’s a ways away.
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 12th, 2012
4:01 pm
Yeah, like Liberty’s gonna pony up some extra cash to allow us to start our own network… they won’t even give extra payroll now, why’d they let us do that?
VaBravesFan
August 12th, 2012
4:02 pm
I don’t think payroll is everything, but to be handcuffed isn’t a way to build a team. There should be more flexibility for the right moves and not a hard number that can’t be surpassed. Whenever the Braves are mentioned in trade talks or free agency money is ALWAYS brought up.
Mark
August 12th, 2012
4:03 pm
TOBF
Not a GM want to be but I’d be real careful signing relievers, especially closers, long term. Not many of them last very long.
Pace
August 12th, 2012
4:03 pm
The Braves did make a profit for Liberty through the first six months of 2012, hopefully some of that will come back to them for payroll.
The story was on here a few days ago….http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2012/08/09/financial-filing-shows-braves-bottom-line-improves/
Birdhair
August 12th, 2012
4:05 pm
Would you give someone like Wren more money? He spends what has has on drunk lowe, KK, Struggla, McOut, grumpy, loaf, et al
nolie
August 12th, 2012
4:07 pm
I don’t think payroll is everything, ..Va
nor do I, but I think we are in a hard place with it. we keep winning enough to ensure that guys are gonna get decent raises over the years which puts us near the top of what is available most times. Even next season with a lot freeing up, it is already mostly spoken for in one way or the other.
personally I think the fact that we play at the level of more expensive teams year after year after year say a lot od positive things about management
VaBravesFan
August 12th, 2012
4:08 pm
Well I’m outta here, going to see Def Leppard and Poison. Go Braves!
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 12th, 2012
4:09 pm
Not a GM want to be but I’d be real careful signing relievers, especially closers, long term. Not many of them last very long.
True…
Speaking of Manny Machado, who Efrim (?) and I were wondering why the Orioles brought him up… it’s only been 4 games, but he’s already hit 3 HR, with a double and a triple.
.400/.400/1.200/1.600 line so far. Impressive.
nolie
August 12th, 2012
4:09 pm
you mean those guys haven’t died of old age yet???
VaBravesFan
August 12th, 2012
4:10 pm
nolie
Look how well were playing compared to the high dollar teams, just imagine how much 5-10 million more would make a difference for our club.
Ward
August 12th, 2012
4:11 pm
Hello everyone! If we lost Bourn? I would be O.K. with Todd Cunningham in Centerfield. Prado LF, Cunningham, Heyward RF. Not too bad, and Braves got Headley that would be cool.
nolie
August 12th, 2012
4:12 pm
to me one of the greatest advantages of having a lot of money is that if you screw up a signing you can afford to get someone else to plug in. the Braves can not afford that luxury
Ward
August 12th, 2012
4:12 pm
I really like Headley at 3rd if Braves could get him? Go with Cunningham in Centerfield next year.
Ward
August 12th, 2012
4:13 pm
nolie – Braves do have to wise with their money. I agree…..
nolie
August 12th, 2012
4:14 pm
whole lotta questions about Cunningham ward, and even at best he is unlikely to start in the bigs next season
Ward
August 12th, 2012
4:16 pm
Simmons is working out, and Cunningham has been leading off. I have confidence in him.
Birdhair
August 12th, 2012
4:16 pm
VaBraves, I agree again. That’s why as the gm of a middle market team you better team it’s imperative that you get the best bang for your buck.
Lowe was an aging pitcher and we way overpaid. KK hadnt thrown a single pitcher in the majors. McOut was unproven. Two mediocre seasons in low pressure pitt. Struggla was overpaid. Second base is a cheap position and we had Prado.
Left field could have been filled for a proven high obp producer like willingham for $7M for season. I’d take the health gamble on a guy like Willingham who makes half of what uggla makes.
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 12th, 2012
4:17 pm
Atlanta Braves @Braves
Tonight’s lineup at NYM (8:05, ESPN/680AM/BRN): Bourn 8 Prado 7 Heyward 9 Jones 5 Freeman 3 Uggla 4 McCann 2 Janish 6 Sheets
The strugling BMac comes after Uggla…. might not help Dan so much tonight
Disgusted
August 12th, 2012
4:18 pm
I think the 90 million is a rough median that the Braves payroll will float around for a very long time with the current TV contract. Wouldn’t surprise me at all if in 5 years or so we’ll be in the near the bottom in payroll.
@VA Brave — I have been saying the same thing since the TV deal story came out.
That is why we need to capitalize with this nucleus now cause by the 2020’s that is going to be a tough decade assuming all things stay the same.
It will not be cool seeing Jey-Hey and Freeman in Pinstripes or Dodger Blue or wherever they wind up.
As for EOF, the bottom line is that if he goes we will miss him. He has been good for us.
Ward
August 12th, 2012
4:18 pm
Wren does want to keep Bourn. We will have to see how this all plays out.
Disgusted
August 12th, 2012
4:20 pm
Ward — We hope that Cunningham can be ready, but hoping upon hope is not a suitable enough option when you expect to win.
They will need some kind of proven vet who can play every day.
Angel Pagan???????
Ward
August 12th, 2012
4:22 pm
Digusted – Be happy with who ever fills Bourns position, as long as he can hit, and drive in runs, and finds some way to get on base.
Disgusted
August 12th, 2012
4:22 pm
Kimbrell will be playing for a large market team in 5 yrs.
Someone will pay him the big $$$$$$$$$$$.
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 12th, 2012
4:23 pm
McOut was unproven. Two mediocre seasons in low pressure pitt.
not really… he had just been an all-star, won a gold glove, and hit .276/.356/.497/.853 (which is pretty good) along with 46 doubles, 24 HR, and 96 RBI. 65 BB vs 93 SO showed that he had a good eye. 23 stolen bases and was caught just 3 times.
And we got him for spare parts. It was a great trade. Unfortunately, Nate just fell off of a cliff, and couldn’t stay healthy… I think if not for running into Jason in 2010, he might’ve been good last year.
Doing good so far with Baltimore now, in 21 ABs, he’s hitting .333/.391/.476/.867 with 2 BB vs 3 SO.
David O'Brien
August 12th, 2012
4:23 pm
Braves are a National League-best 16-9 in one-run games, and a majors-best 66-1 when leading after six innings.
Disgusted
August 12th, 2012
4:24 pm
Ward — Do you want to put that burden on a rookie??????
I want to see what he can do in AAA & remember the overhyped Jordan “HGH” Schafer.
What a bust he turned out to be (a headcase too).
Disgusted
August 12th, 2012
4:25 pm
Need to get over the Mc Out deal, everyone loved the deal at the time.
We gave up pieces of goodwill prospects and nothings for him, made sense at the time.
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 12th, 2012
4:26 pm
David O’Brien @ajcbraves
#Braves are a National League-best 16-9 in one-run games, and a majors-best 66-1 when leading after six innings.
Good stats both, but that second 1 is amazing. Especially considering that JV hasn’t been JV this year… Medlen is THAT important to the bullpen.
I just can’t remember which game we lost when leading after 6….
Ward
August 12th, 2012
4:26 pm
Cunningham is no Schafer………. Cunningham is better than Schafer by far.
Birdhair
August 12th, 2012
4:27 pm
Maybe we deal someone like EOF for Jon Jay. Jay is a cheap, controllable high OBP producer. He can play CF. Cards might want to go with a bigger name in CF.
I’d still prefer to get Headley. Or may get both.
CF Jay
LF Prado
3B Headley
RF Heyward
1B Freeman
2B Uggla (should be Prado)
C McCann
SS Simmons
ncbravesfan90
August 12th, 2012
4:27 pm
1. Michael Bourn (L) CF
2. Martin Prado (R) LF
3. Jason Heyward (L) RF
4. Chipper Jones (S) 3B
5. Freddie Freeman (L) 1B
6. Dan Uggla (R) 2B
7. Brian McCann (L) C
8. Paul Janish (R) SS
9. Ben Sheets (R) P
Mark
August 12th, 2012
4:29 pm
Disgusted
I hope Kimmy is playing in 5 years. Life of a closer is short!
They need to form their own union. These guys play huge roles for these teams and get abused in the process. Few end up making big bucks as compared to other players because they never reach big contract time healthy.
Not many Mannys, Hoffmans out there. Speaking of those two – near perfect mechanics and specialty pitches. Not 98 mph FB and 87 mph sliders 3 or 4 times a week.
Ward
August 12th, 2012
4:29 pm
Heck, we might see Gattis in Lf too, who knows, but the Braves have a lot of options for next year.
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 12th, 2012
4:30 pm
Kevin McAlpin @KevinMcAlpin
The #Braves have won 11 of their last 15 road games, and are 34-21 overall away from Turner Field.
MikeInFl
August 12th, 2012
4:30 pm
Cunningham’s year at AA looks a lot like Pastornicky’s 2011 year there… obp driven largely by a high batting average (and a very high BABIP), but not much slugging. And a pretty low walk rate. Looks to me like a very similar hitter to Rev, just from the stats.
Disgusted
August 12th, 2012
4:31 pm
Mark — Kimmy looks like one of those special guys like Hoffman and Mo.
Some one will pay him K-Rod $$$$$$$ if he stays at this level and I hope he does.
Mark
August 12th, 2012
4:33 pm
Hope so too. He is awful fun to watch.
Disgusted
August 12th, 2012
4:33 pm
Jon Jay — Would like to do better than that.
More of a stop gap player and OBP guy, nothing really special about him, but you can do worse.
Can he even be a 140-150 game a yr player???
Bigges asset on him is he is cheap and he does get on base.
nolie
August 12th, 2012
4:33 pm
I was thinking the same some Mike. If he can play real good D in CF he might be ok after awhile, but I hear he is nothing special in center though I have not seen him
Ward
August 12th, 2012
4:34 pm
I see Wren only making a couple of moves next year. Mejia being on the bench next year, or maybe Gattis in LF Prado at 3rd.Maybe there wont be any trades at all? Who knows? I only see a trade if Braves lose Bourn?
Ward
August 12th, 2012
4:35 pm
Wren could even stay pat again?
Birdhair
August 12th, 2012
4:35 pm
Go look at the 2013 FA list. There isnt a whole lot to be desired + the fact that most players do not want to come here and make less $ than what they could get elsewhere.
So that’s why it is imperative that we use the trade chips that we have to be long-term competitive. We’ve already lost out on one major trade chip and that was Bourn.
Where are you going to spend all of this $ next season? Another drunk lowe or KK??
It’s also imperative that we draft well. Give kudos to demacio for Simmons and Kimbrel and have gotten good reports on gilmartin and minor has been ok. But Demacio better step up his game so that we draft and develop well.
Demacio’s 5 years drafting in baltimore were a disgrace outside of bedard, hardy, and markakis. and consider the fact that he was almost always drafting atop the board in lowly birdland
Disgusted
August 12th, 2012
4:36 pm
Interesting Mike in FL — convinces me that Cunningham is in no way ready until we at least see what he does in AAA.
And like Rev — no power. Unless you have something exceptional like speed and defense an OF who is a slap hitter has a future as a role player more than likely.
Trey
August 12th, 2012
4:37 pm
These night games really suck.
JNick
August 12th, 2012
4:37 pm
Only game we lost after leading late I believe was the one where Upton cranked a Kimbrel fastball out in AZ….
Disgusted
August 12th, 2012
4:38 pm
Had the Braves moved Bourn before the deadline, how much do you think that other teams would have given for him??????
Seriously, like the Tex to the Angels deal where we got fleeced with Kotchan and Marek, better to take a chance on the draft picks.
Braves did the right thing on holding Bourn to the end of this yr.
Mark
August 12th, 2012
4:41 pm
Birdhair
I take it you have scratched Drunk Lowe and KK off your Christmas Card list?
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 12th, 2012
4:41 pm
Thanks JNick
nolie
August 12th, 2012
4:41 pm
Braves did the right thing on holding Bourn to the end of this yr.,,,Disgusted
of course they did, absolutely right
JNick
August 12th, 2012
4:41 pm
Problem is, it’s a draft pick (not picks like a Type A used to get you).
monty
August 12th, 2012
4:45 pm
Don’t we have like a way losing record on these Sunday night ESPN games? Hope they’re wearing their socks up!
Disgusted
August 12th, 2012
4:45 pm
J Nick — and I will take the draft pick over a Kotchman/Marek return.
Cause the other teams who pick up a pending FA will offer less than that cause they will not even get the draft pick.
The Angels did not exactly bust up their system by trading for Grienke, & he might be a fit over there long term.
Have to hope they make the most out of all the picks they have cause Bourn is not the first player that they won’t sign.
Moving a player in his pending FA yr is thankless.
JNick
August 12th, 2012
4:47 pm
Totally agree with you Disgusted. I’m still at a loss for what we got in return for Tex…just makes me SMH….
nolie
August 12th, 2012
4:48 pm
even without the pick question, there is no way in hell they are gonna trade Bourn when they have one of the best records in the NL
Birdhair
August 12th, 2012
4:49 pm
Mark, haha. They are perfect candidates to make fun of. It’s not their fault that they suck. It’s Wren’s fault for overpaying for them.
Wren is X on my Christmas card list. If I were the owners I would have fired him after the 2010 season.
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 12th, 2012
5:00 pm
Wren is X on my Christmas card list. If I were the owners I would have fired him after the 2010 season.
Yeah, right after he got your team to the postseason for the first time in what, 5 years? And if not for some bad errors by Conrad, your team might have made it to the NLCS?
What and idiot you are Birdhair…
Mark
August 12th, 2012
5:02 pm
Lowe was bad because most new he was close to done. Got him because of innings he’d thrown but geez.
KK was a wierd deal. Supposedly a strike machine in Japan and gets over here and can hardly throw a strike. It was blamed on the different balls or the special mud that gets rubbed on them here. I think it was more that he didn’t want to throw it over the plate because they got ripped!
DS1
August 12th, 2012
5:03 pm
Are folks still lamenting the Tex to Anaheim and the McLouth trades? That’s ancient history folks.
Ward
August 12th, 2012
5:03 pm
If Braves can afford Bourn? I would offer him 6 years 100 million. I bet Bourn would go with that. Peace my friends, and talk after the game tonight. “Go!!!!!Braves!!!!!”
Birdhair
August 12th, 2012
5:05 pm
Wren has made the playoffs 1 out 4 years thus far. we had the 2nd best record in the NL at the ASB in 2010 and Wren ruined the team by trading Escobar and Blanco for low obp garbage. This was the final straw for me with Wren. He’s garbage. And then we collapse in 2011. And in 2012 we are hopeful of a wild card spot.
I dont know about you, but i have much higher expectations than attempting to compete for a wild card. Expectations should have been much higher considering the gold mine that wren walked into even taking into account the tex deal. None of those players had been mainstays on our mlb roster before.
It’s going to get much worse with Wren as gm
DS1
August 12th, 2012
5:06 pm
Kawakami actually pitched pretty well in 2009. Go back and check the numbers, and don’t rely on your biases against him due to his poor W-L record. Only problem with him that year was he didn’t go deep into games often enough, but he pitched as well as Hanson has this year. And better overall than Minor and Delgado have.
DS1
August 12th, 2012
5:07 pm
So Birdhair is the newest blog idiot?
monty
August 12th, 2012
5:07 pm
I say the Braves pursue Roger Bernadina in the off season. He’s literally a 5th OF if the Nats pursue and acquire Born like some on here feel certain they will. They have Werth, Harper and Morse, and someone on here said last night that they might trade Roachy and move Morse to 1B, but I can’t see that happening as Roachy has been perhaps their MVP and his contract is a steal. Bernandina is having his best season at 28, gives you super speed, can bunt, score from 1st, triples,run down practically any fly ball and many linedrives, steal bases. I know teams don’t generally trade within their division, but that’s my 2 cents worth.
DS1
August 12th, 2012
5:08 pm
Is it too early for a lineup?
JNick
August 12th, 2012
5:08 pm
Birdhair, why are you here? Shouldn’t you be on a Nats forum talking about how awesome they are? I just don’t understand what drives someone to troll – especially when the team they’re trolling about is gaining momentum, has the 5th best record in the game, and has a decent shot to do well…are you just angry all the time? Time of the month? Out of pills? Stay at the Grand Hyatt in NYC last night?
Whatever it is, I hope you feel better soon….
JNick
August 12th, 2012
5:10 pm
Monty, that’s not a bad idea – that dude is ridiculously fast – not sure how his OF defense is though…?
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 12th, 2012
5:11 pm
DS1: Atlanta Braves @Braves
Tonight’s lineup at NYM (8:05, ESPN/680AM/BRN): Bourn 8 Prado 7 Heyward 9 Jones 5 Freeman 3 Uggla 4 McCann 2 Janish 6 Sheets
cricket
August 12th, 2012
5:12 pm
So Birdhair is the newest blog idiot?
nope, just a new avatar of one of blog’s golden oldies, i would guess
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 12th, 2012
5:12 pm
I’m going to go for a run, maybe I can run off the idiots as well
One can only hope they’ll wisen up… Later folks.
DS1
August 12th, 2012
5:20 pm
Later folks…….
Venice Jim
August 12th, 2012
5:24 pm
Wonder how long it will take the Nats to overcome the 3 run deficit…
Lew
August 12th, 2012
5:26 pm
cricket – New? I’d say it sounds suspiciously like Lou/Earl/His Name is Legion
Lew
August 12th, 2012
5:27 pm
He’ll melt down later and around 2 this morning will get banned yet again.
ACE
August 12th, 2012
5:31 pm
where is the new blog?
Venice Jim
August 12th, 2012
5:31 pm
Juan Pierre with a walk off single to short beats the Cards – Jimmy Rollins stole 3rd to set it up…
Driver8
August 12th, 2012
5:34 pm
Thank You Phils … that was a nice win for us. Always looking at St. Louis in the WC standings…enough said about that.
Venice Jim
August 12th, 2012
5:36 pm
Detwiler with a 2 hitter so far vs the DBacks, but at 90 pitches at the 4 1/3 inning mark…and the 90th pitch makes it 4-0…
Venice Jim
August 12th, 2012
5:37 pm
Driver8 – I know – still strange to root for them…
Venice Jim
August 12th, 2012
5:38 pm
Detwiler’s quick reflexes just saved his face from a wicked line drive…and he has had enough…
Driver8
August 12th, 2012
5:40 pm
What about ESPN not showing the Braves highlights on Sporcenter late night yesterday … and at the end they apologized to Washington for not showing theirs as well but failed to do the same for us???
I must have a compulsive thing vs. ESPN but is it uncanny that they do strange things regarding the Atlanta Braves? Outside of Linda Kohn who hates us bc she is a Met fan but the ESPN thing is frustrating to me as a Brave fan.
Would have been nice to have the ESPN announcer say apologies to both Washington and Atlanta due to the Olympic coverage we didnt get to your highlights. They were nice enough to address the Nats but the ATL/YNM game??? Nothing. Hmmm..
McFann :Ô: :Ô: :ô:
August 12th, 2012
5:41 pm
Dang…I see BMac got bumped down to #7 again…
[Sigh]…poor BMac…
Driver8
August 12th, 2012
5:42 pm
the MLB Network is so much better than the ESPN boobs regarding baseball IMO.
Venice Jim
August 12th, 2012
5:42 pm
Buster did give Kimbrel lots of love this morning…
Hmmmm
August 12th, 2012
5:42 pm
Dbacks finally getting good hitting AND pitching
Birdhair
August 12th, 2012
5:42 pm
JNick,
I dont drink the Wren cool-aid like you do. I am a critical thinker and not a blind homer like you. It’s obvious that it’s only going to get worse with wren as gm.
Venice Jim
August 12th, 2012
5:43 pm
It used to be dozens of people would complain about the lineup every day – now there’s usually just one…
Venice Jim
August 12th, 2012
5:45 pm
Maybe birdbrain ought to learn to spell kool-aid if he is going to stick to cliche-ridden insults…
McFann :Ô: :Ô: :ô:
August 12th, 2012
5:46 pm
V. Jim—
I was NOT complaining!…
Venice Jim
August 12th, 2012
5:46 pm
Now 6-0 DBacks…make that 7-0…
Hmmmm
August 12th, 2012
5:47 pm
finally “watching” a Nats game is fun!
Venice Jim
August 12th, 2012
5:47 pm
Good to hear Joe Garagiola’s voice…
Driver8
August 12th, 2012
5:48 pm
Venice Jim – I love the blogs and the ESPN website. They do a fine job, however shame on ESPN for not showing the Nats/Dbacks and Braves/Mets hightlights last night.
njbraves
August 12th, 2012
5:48 pm
Bird…the Braves have the 5th best record in MLB right now….there really isn’t that much to complain about.
Venice Jim
August 12th, 2012
5:49 pm
Kevin McAlpin @KevinMcAlpin
#Braves closer Craig Kimbrel and ESPN’s Buster Olney are taping a feature for Sunday Night Baseball
ACE
August 12th, 2012
5:49 pm
Joe Simpson still wants to punch some tickets.
nolie
August 12th, 2012
5:51 pm
should be Birdbrain I’m thinkin’
Driver8
August 12th, 2012
5:52 pm
Lucky for us we are on ESPN Sunday Night Baseball … we should get some good props and love even though the ESPN folks up there in Bristol are biting their tongues and grinding their teeth to do so.
ACE
August 12th, 2012
5:54 pm
At least it’s not Jon Stewart and Joe Morgan.
Venice Jim
August 12th, 2012
5:56 pm
Hey, Jon Stewart went to William and Mary! Oh, Jon Miller, maybe?
Birdhair
August 12th, 2012
5:56 pm
njbraves,
When we don’t make the playoffs or lose first round I’ll be laughing at you. Wren is an idiot and we’re going nowhere with him.
ACE
August 12th, 2012
5:58 pm
Thanks VJ, Jon Miller.
nolie
August 12th, 2012
5:59 pm
sure cause making the playoffs is such a thing to laugh at…if you are a mindboggling imbecilic doofus
David O'Brien
August 12th, 2012
5:59 pm
Hopefully you saw this on our Twitter feed on Braves AJC.com page when I posted earlier, but here’s lineup:
Braves lineup: Bourn cf, Prado lf, Heyward rf, Chipper 3b, Freeman 1b, Uggla 2b, McCann c, Janish ss, Sheets p
Driver8
August 12th, 2012
6:00 pm
Jon Miller yes .. the voice of the SF Giants or was not sure now… Morgan = great 2b for the Reds not so as a color analyst for ESPN.
nolie
August 12th, 2012
6:01 pm
man we are sure to get shut out with that buncha low OBP Wren-crap
nolie
August 12th, 2012
6:01 pm
Fire Joe Morgan, he deserves to be booed
David O'Brien
August 12th, 2012
6:02 pm
Fredi said Braves would meet to discuss pitching plans and make decision in next few days, whether to go with five- or six-man rotation, but if it’s latter it’ll only be six for the duration of this 19-game-in-19-day stretch, which is down to 16 games after tonight.
Said they really don’t know yet who’d get bumped, but that how everyone’s pitching will be a big consideration.
ACE
August 12th, 2012
6:02 pm
Just don’t tweet anything about Joe Simpson.
ACE
August 12th, 2012
6:04 pm
In other words Fredi is waiting for Frank to tell him what is going to happen.
Hmmmm
August 12th, 2012
6:04 pm
“we should get some good props and love even though the ESPN folks up there in Bristol are biting their tongues and grinding their teeth to do so”
we get to thank the Mets for that … and Sheets for pitching tonight
Driver8
August 12th, 2012
6:05 pm
Nolie totally agree … he was better covering that astroturf at old Riverfront Stadium than trying to cover baseball…
David O'Brien
August 12th, 2012
6:06 pm
Those planning to attend Braves’ Sept. 16 Sunday home game vs. Nats, there’s a strong chance that’ll be moved to 8 p.m. ESPN game, too. And Braves’ game a week later at Philly might be moved to Sunday night game.
The Aug. 26 game at San Fran has already been switched to Sunday night.
ACE
August 12th, 2012
6:06 pm
Joe was a great part of the big red machine.
Driver8
August 12th, 2012
6:06 pm
He can take Tim McCarver with him he is horrible as well.
njbraves
August 12th, 2012
6:07 pm
Bird…If they don’t make the playoffs or lose in the first round, why would you laugh at me? Because I said there isn’t much to complain about? Makes no sense. I don’t love every move Wren has made, but the guy is operating with a very strict budget. He has no choice but to take a few chances and hope they pan out. Some do, some don’t. Doesn’t mean the man is bad at his job.
Birdhair
August 12th, 2012
6:07 pm
nolie, with a screename like nolie you’ve probably got power ranger sheets on your bed and spongebob square pants undies.
If I am GM I am not satisfied building a team that is a wild card contender. I build a team to compete for division titles. And that means spending wisely and making sound trades. Wren is a mediocre at best gm. If you’re just happy making the playoffs every once a while and getting bounced first round that’s sad.
Driver8
August 12th, 2012
6:08 pm
Tim McCarver = Brent Musburger = bad coverage IMO
ColoradoBravesFan
August 12th, 2012
6:08 pm
Hanson with 4 shut out innings for G-Braves. Pitching against our old friend Todd Redmon. G- Braves winning 5-0 in top of 5th. Hanson with a single also…
David O'Brien
August 12th, 2012
6:08 pm
Tommy Hanson has allowed 2 hits and 2 walks with 3 strikeouts through four scoreless innings of today’s Triple-A rehab start. Still in game. Was supposed to go max of five innings or about 80 pitches.
richbrave
August 12th, 2012
6:09 pm
DS1
August 12th, 2012
5:07 pm
“…..So Birdhair is the newest blog idiot?…..”
Same person, new blog handle?
ACE
August 12th, 2012
6:10 pm
Wtg Tommy.
nolie
August 12th, 2012
6:12 pm
with a screename like nolie you’ve probably got power ranger sheets on your bed and spongebob square pants undies…Birdbrain
you are gonna hafta explain that one. it makes about as much sense as your baseball comments
nolie
August 12th, 2012
6:13 pm
yeah rich, just a different name. same ol’ idjit
njbraves
August 12th, 2012
6:13 pm
Bird….you’re not very bright, are you? How are the Braves not a contender for the division? 3 or 4 games out in the middle of August isn’t exactly insurmountable.
cricket
August 12th, 2012
6:13 pm
just finished season 4 of Breaking Bad – thank you netflix. now have to catch up on season 5 on DVR. dunno how i missed this fantastic show live for 4 seasons..
ACE
August 12th, 2012
6:13 pm
With a name like Nolie it has to be good.
nolie
August 12th, 2012
6:15 pm
not liker ACE though, that really has to be good…….
ColoradoBravesFan
August 12th, 2012
6:15 pm
Hanson pitching to a blast from the past… Corky miller. 36 yrs old and still plugging away in AAA…
cricket
August 12th, 2012
6:16 pm
Wren seems to have replaced Dan as Lou’s favorite har*on. tho i won’t bet on that lasting too long.
nolie
August 12th, 2012
6:16 pm
Great show no doubt, but depresses the hell outta me cricket. almost as much as reading crap by folks like Birdbrain
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 12th, 2012
6:19 pm
Juan Pierre with a walk off single to short beats the Cards – Jimmy Rollins stole 3rd to set it up…
But you shouldn’t steal bases in a close game…. esp. not 3rd
Hanson looking good, he wants back into the Majors bad… doesn’t want Meds to take his spot
richbrave
August 12th, 2012
6:20 pm
njbraves
August 12th, 2012
6:13 pm
“……Bird….you’re not very bright, are you? How are the Braves not a contender for the division? 3 or 4 games out in the middle of August isn’t exactly insurmountable…….”
Why didn’t you know that according to the ‘Bird’s’ thinking, we’ll have another monumental collapse in Sept. just like last year.
N Nine
August 12th, 2012
6:21 pm
Go Braves!
richbrave
August 12th, 2012
6:21 pm
I thought MILLER was 36 when he came here [RICHMOND] in 2006.
Hugo Z Hackenbush
August 12th, 2012
6:23 pm
Five shutout innings for Hanson…his hissy fit didnt impede his ability to pitch, it seems…
nolie
August 12th, 2012
6:23 pm
steals are different that sac bunts last time I looked….
Birdhair
August 12th, 2012
6:23 pm
Will you call this season a success after a first round exit? I call that failure.
Next season not looking too promising with Chipper about to exit, hole in CF and a struggling second baseman. Major question marks in the rotation.
It will be an absolutely critical offseason for this franchise. Why should we be in the least confident with Wren at the helm. I am scared to death that he has $ to spend. Another drunk lowe signing? KK Signing? McOut trade? Loaf anderson signing?
Go look at the FA list this upcoming offseason. It’s a sad list. It’s not like we have a major talent pool to trade from either….
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 12th, 2012
6:23 pm
Dang…I see BMac got bumped down to #7 again…
[Sigh]…poor BMac…
.188/ .333/.313/.646 over last 10 and .208/.345/.417/.761 over last 16 for BMac. With Dan Uggla getting hot, Mac had to get dropped with those numbers.
nolie
August 12th, 2012
6:25 pm
if a guys goes quietly to the minors the blog says no heart or desire, if he fusses they say he is a selfish spoiled primadonna. caint win
SNEAKY PETE
August 12th, 2012
6:26 pm
somebody call Bird’s mommie and tell her to pay more attention to her little one
Hugo Z Hackenbush
August 12th, 2012
6:29 pm
Sorry, but it’s hard to take comments seriously from a guy wearing Spongebob undies…
abeeeewright
August 12th, 2012
6:29 pm
I’m holding out hope the Braves make the post season. Unlike the past two years, this year looks like they might have a chance to win a little bit.
I wasn’t upset last year when they missed the playoffs the way they were playing. They’d have gotten spanked in three games.
SNEAKY PETE
August 12th, 2012
6:30 pm
Niese owns us!
Where is Fish Bisch lately anyway?
Another MIA?
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 12th, 2012
6:31 pm
Hence it’s hard to take your comments seriously Hugo….
nolie
August 12th, 2012
6:32 pm
not wearing my undies right now….
Hugo Z Hackenbush
August 12th, 2012
6:32 pm
When are the closing ceremonies? Don’t want to miss a performance by the preeminent recording act of the 20th century…the Spice Girls!
Birdhair
August 12th, 2012
6:32 pm
I am sure that yunel escobar cursed at his manager and pitching coach. lol yeah right. We gonna trade hanson now because he’s a so called clubhouse problem now???
Hugo Z Hackenbush
August 12th, 2012
6:32 pm
Yikes! Too much information!
nolie
August 12th, 2012
6:34 pm
it’s ok, I got on my Spice Girls stuff today….
BF54
August 12th, 2012
6:35 pm
?
The Lawyer
August 12th, 2012
6:37 pm
DOB,
Do you think the window to negotiate a more club friendly deal with McCann exists this off-season? We can offer him a chance to make more money now. I’d look at a front-loaded contract that becomes more club friendly at the back-end.
ACE
August 12th, 2012
6:39 pm
The braves reporter said Tommy was a lot better after the game than before. Did he pitch another hissy fit.
David O'Brien
August 12th, 2012
6:40 pm
Hanson allowed 3 hits, 2 walks with 5 strikeouts in five scoreless innings of his Triple-A rehab start, 78 pitches/48 strikes.
ACE
August 12th, 2012
6:41 pm
two becomes one
richbrave
August 12th, 2012
6:43 pm
What’s up?
DOB has a nice article on WREN’s rebuild this season. How are the guys we gave up doing?
REDS
JUAN FRANCISCO – JJ HOOVER
HOOVER is thriving in the REDS org. His 33 innings have netted JJ a 4-0 record; 1.36 ERA; 0.690 WHIP. These are AAA stats only of course.
PAUL JANISH – TODD REDMOND
REDMOND 2-2 record; 23 innings; 2.35 ERA; 1.130 WHIP substantial improvement over GWINNETT’s numbers.
CUBS
PAUL MAHOLM/REED JOHNSON – ARODYS VIZCAINO/JAYE CHAPMAN
VIZCAINO is of course recovering from TOMMY JOHN
CHAPMAN is in IOWA [AAA] where his 5.1 innings of work have netted an 0-2 record; 6.75 ERA; 2.062 WHIP, a much worse record than in GWINNETT.
BEN SHEETS – free agent
CaptainMudd
August 12th, 2012
6:44 pm
Maybe someday baby you and will be one–one
richbrave
August 12th, 2012
6:44 pm
///98///
CaptainMudd
August 12th, 2012
6:45 pm
I will be one==one
Venice Jim
August 12th, 2012
6:45 pm
Now I’m getting old, I don’t wear underwear
I don’t go to church, and somebody stole my hair…
But I can go to movies and see it all there
Just the way that it used to be…
ACE
August 12th, 2012
6:46 pm
Tell me what you want, what you really really want.
Mark
August 12th, 2012
6:46 pm
Grew up a Reds fan because I caught and my favorite player was Bench. Awesome team!!!
Liked Morgan alot asa player. He was the elbow flappping, smooth fielding, base stealing MVP.
Then I saw him and heard him calling games and he turned into the irritating, no it all, argumentative baseball commentator
ACE
August 12th, 2012
6:47 pm
it’s getting scary-spice that is.
Hugo Z Hackenbush
August 12th, 2012
6:48 pm
Mr. Redmond’s ERA has taken a severe upturn in the last hour…
Venice Jim
August 12th, 2012
6:48 pm
Looks like the DBacks are planning on making us nervous…
Hmmmm
August 12th, 2012
6:49 pm
Saito has given up 2 straight 0-2 hits
ACE
August 12th, 2012
6:49 pm
The big red machine was great. Sweeping the Division series and WS in ‘76
Venice Jim
August 12th, 2012
6:50 pm
I’ll trade one out per run at this point…
Hugo Z Hackenbush
August 12th, 2012
6:50 pm
Now I can take someone seriously who has Ginger Spice wrapped around his butt…
Birdhair
August 12th, 2012
6:51 pm
Joe Morgan as an announcer = turn on the radio or find the mute button.
“Now look at youkilis, he uses his hands, see hands, hands hands hands. Let’s look at the replay. Let’s take another look. How about one more look.” Youkilis comes to bat and he strikes out. Morgan, “Well, he didn’t use his hands right there, but normally he uses his hands to hit the ball very far.” The inning ends and they come back on the air, and Morgan says, “Let’s go back to youkilis and talk about how he hits with his hands. Now Big papi, he uses his legs to get power, see right there, legs. “
Venice Jim
August 12th, 2012
6:51 pm
No – I said an out per run!
Hmmmm
August 12th, 2012
6:52 pm
and another 0-2 hit leads to another run
Mark
August 12th, 2012
6:52 pm
DOB
Any way we can get what Hansons velocity was on the FB?
ACE
August 12th, 2012
6:52 pm
what we need is some Sporty-spice
Venice Jim
August 12th, 2012
6:52 pm
I think Rory can close the deal here…
Venice Jim
August 12th, 2012
6:54 pm
Great way to end it, Rory!
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 12th, 2012
6:54 pm
Roch Kubatko @masnRoch
Machado is 6-for-16 with a double, triple, three home runs, seven RBIs and five runs scored in his first four major league games. #orioles
ACE
August 12th, 2012
6:55 pm
I really prefer Baby to old spice.
Venice Jim
August 12th, 2012
6:56 pm
Okay, there’s the out for the last run…one more, por favor…
Venice Jim
August 12th, 2012
6:57 pm
Jason Sobel @JasonSobelGC
If this was a football game, the opposing coach would refuse to shake Rory McIlroy’s hand after he ran up the score.
Hugo Z Hackenbush
August 12th, 2012
6:58 pm
McIlroy wins, girlfriend still in contention to win her tennis tournament tomorrow…wonder how many boyfriend-girlfriend combos have won tournaments in the same weekend…did Evert and Connors ever do it? Win in the same weekend, that is…
Mixxo
August 12th, 2012
6:59 pm
F*** Rory AND Hanson.
Venice Jim
August 12th, 2012
6:59 pm
Tying run to the plate…
ACE
August 12th, 2012
7:00 pm
Baby is 36 now.
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 12th, 2012
7:02 pm
ESPN Stats & Info @ESPNStatsInfo
At 23 years, 3 months Rory McIlroy is the youngest PGA Championship winner since the tournament went to stroke play in 1958
Pace
August 12th, 2012
7:02 pm
8 game streak OVER
Venice Jim
August 12th, 2012
7:02 pm
Thank you, Mr. Putz…
ACE
August 12th, 2012
7:02 pm
Everett and Connors won wimbledon in ‘74
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 12th, 2012
7:03 pm
ESPN Stats & Info @ESPNStatsInfo
Rory is also the ONLY player in golf history to win his 1st 2 major titles by 8+ shots.
Kevin McAlpin @KevinMcAlpin
D-Backs beat the Nationals 7-4. #Braves have a chance, with a win, to move within 3.5 games of first place Washington!
Finally we get a chance to make up some ground.
George
August 12th, 2012
7:03 pm
Venice Jim
August 12th, 2012
6:45 pm
Now I’m getting old, I don’t wear underwear
I don’t go to church, and somebody stole my hair…
But I can go to movies and see it all there
Just the way that it used to be…
*********************************
Good post VJ, I still have my hair. lol
nolie
August 12th, 2012
7:04 pm
there it is! Snakes win
Brave New World
August 12th, 2012
7:04 pm
Pesky Nats finally lose.
nolie
August 12th, 2012
7:05 pm
Jimmy Rules!!!
Hugo Z Hackenbush
August 12th, 2012
7:06 pm
Were you hoping someone wouldn’t resist a cheap joke based on that 7:02, VJ?
ACE
August 12th, 2012
7:06 pm
The joys of scoreboard watching.
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 12th, 2012
7:06 pm
there it is!
You forgot the whoomp… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-FPimCmbX8
CaptainMudd
August 12th, 2012
7:07 pm
Everytime I think of You………..Isn’t it time
Hugo Z Hackenbush
August 12th, 2012
7:08 pm
Thanks, Ace, how could I have forgotten?
ACE
August 12th, 2012
7:08 pm
tag team
David O'Brien
August 12th, 2012
7:09 pm
NEW Sunday night BLOGGAGE
http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2012/08/12/freemans-surge-continues-with-mammo-homer/
George
August 12th, 2012
7:10 pm
BRAVES 15-1 when MEDS starts, and FREDI with his great [wisdom?] is going to replace him with TOMMY. Smart MGR we have. FREDI, are you going to start TOMMY in the play-in game?
David O'Brien
August 12th, 2012
7:11 pm
Nats sure made it interesting, but they lost. They lost. They actually lost.
ACE
August 12th, 2012
7:12 pm
Rory’s GF Caroline Wozniacki is fun to watch win or lose.
ACE
August 12th, 2012
7:13 pm
It’s moving day Morris
DOB Needs To Ask Tough Questions!
August 12th, 2012
7:20 pm
You gotta tip the old cap to the DOB. Who else can drink Kool Aid like O’briny? Atta boy, Davey!
Venice Jim
August 12th, 2012
7:27 pm
Can’t let the last post be from someone so intellectually superior to me…
Couch Tater
August 12th, 2012
7:48 pm
Too bad.
Braveone
August 13th, 2012
5:20 pm
From the previous blog which had 930 comments, TheOnlyBravesFan led the way with 102 posts. There were 132 different poster names. Here are the Top 25:
Rank Poster Frequency
1 TheOnlyBravesFan 102
2 nolie 45
3 phil 41
4 Venice Jim 40
5 Disgusted 34
6 McFann :Ô: :Ô: :ô: 34
7 David O’Brien 29
8 ChattTownBrian 26
9 brian 26
10 Capt.Mudd 22
11 Efrim 22
12 Anders 21
13 Mark 21
14 Pace 21
15 Lew 20
16 keylargo 18
17 Bravefaninok 17
18 George 17
19 Coach (2012 Fredi’s Beisbol Fandango) 16
20 Ward 16
21 Powderfinger 13
22 richbrave 12
23 tiger297 12
24 Hmmmm 10
25 DiamondbackMac 9