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883 comments Add your comment
raleighbravefan
August 13th, 2012
10:48 am
ken – I heard that, too. I think that falls under the infamous universal heading of “time will tell”.
phil
August 13th, 2012
10:49 am
Strange place, this blog…
More time spent here trying to bend other people’s opinions and base personalities to fit each others perception of what is the “right” way to think and post than I would’ve ever believed when I first came here.
ncscoots
August 13th, 2012
10:50 am
And you, phil, have never been right-thinking, and I’m just about sick of it.
CrαZy
August 13th, 2012
10:51 am
Strange place, this blog…
Question… Have you ever been on a blog that wasn’t… Not counting those little blogs that have less than 10 contributors.
phil
August 13th, 2012
10:51 am
Homefield advantage at the Ted? I dare say we have quite the losing home playoff record since 97…if we could include the 96 implosion, it would be that much worse.
Brian from SC
August 13th, 2012
10:51 am
The Braves are 4.5 behind the Nats. Wish that was better, but the Braves are also 4.5 games ahead of the Giants/Cardinals for the last playoff spot. So you can say a playoff spot is just as likely for the Braves as a division title is for the Nats.
Random
August 13th, 2012
10:53 am
MFin04 (August 13th, 2012 10:27 am): “As for Janish, he has been great at SS, just doesn’t seem to be able to hit worth a darn, only warning track power and he really has crushed some balls, they just can’t get out. Would be nice to get a little more production out of the 8-spot in the order.”
I suppose you also bitterly complained that Uggla batted 8th in the All Star Game — “Would be nice to get a little more production out of the 8-spot in the order — waah, waah, waah . . .
Juan
August 13th, 2012
10:53 am
“Dead arm” usually refers to a temporary period when the pitcher isn’t getting the velocity he wants
Base on MLB Gameday….Sheet hit 92 on the Bottom of the first on David Wright and in the Six inning….Velocity?…..he hit 91 & 92 in other inning.
phil
August 13th, 2012
10:53 am
Only blog i like is this one. Too busy otherwise and no interest, frankly, other than the ajc ones.
Brian from SC
August 13th, 2012
10:54 am
I dunno, Juan…I was just commenting on what “dead arm” is. Whether Sheets has it or not, I have no idea. Apparently Orel Hershiser thinks he might.
Venice Jim
August 13th, 2012
10:54 am
The Angels had a 20 minute closed door meeting after Weaver lost yesterday…it was their 5th consecutive lost series…
tony austin
August 13th, 2012
10:55 am
Could you imagine the fire in the Pirates team and their fans if they have to play a one game WC against the Braves after what the Braves did them in ‘91 and ‘92.
DAP
August 13th, 2012
10:55 am
sheets’ velocity looks fine. his location didnt. alot of pitches up, especially the change up, if im not mistaken.
phil
August 13th, 2012
10:56 am
I’m left handed, scoots….see?
MFin04
August 13th, 2012
10:56 am
Based on my expert opinion of watching/listening to ESPN Sunday Night baseball…they are all idiots, so I wouldn’t worry about Sheets. They kept showing Strasburgs stats all night long. I kept trying to figure out when he and Harper were traded to the Braves or the Mets and why they weren’t playing last night.
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 13th, 2012
10:56 am
Random Question: Anyone here gonna be playing fantasy football? Never done it before… considering doing it this year.
raleighbravefan
August 13th, 2012
10:56 am
phil – we are 32-26 at home this year. Past years have NO releveance.
Brian from SC
August 13th, 2012
10:57 am
The Pirates still have 12 games left against the Reds and Cardinals, both of whom I think are better than Pittsburgh. They’ll have a winning record this year for the first time in forever, but I’m not so sure about a playoff spot. Also a big four-game series this week with the Dodgers, and a visit by Atlanta to end the year.
phil
August 13th, 2012
10:59 am
Based on last season, i’m not about to think any playoff berth is remotely likely…
I wasn’t comfortable last season with twice the lead, and you can look it up if you have no life.
Juan
August 13th, 2012
10:59 am
Brian….Ok i just use your definition of “Dead Arm”…i jusr refere to Orel commnet last night….
Agree 100% DAP
MFin04
August 13th, 2012
11:00 am
“Past years have NO relevance.”
Sure they do. The collapse last year has relevance. Maybe be good or bad for the Braves, but it is relevant. Heck even Chipper said so last night in his interview.
phil
August 13th, 2012
11:02 am
In your opinion, raleighbravesfan….after 15 seasons of home playoff flubs, i don’t agree. But i’m all for finally winning a few at home in the postseason.
raleighbravefan
August 13th, 2012
11:02 am
ESPN list of subject on abaseball, suitable for on-air discussion – Strasburg, Bryce, Trout, and of course, Yanks and Red Sox. Also Phillies, if they were still even slightly relevant.
Brian from SC
August 13th, 2012
11:02 am
Sure they do. The collapse last year has relevance.
Sure, it has some…many of the same players are on the team. But when you’re talking about losses in the playoffs in the 90s, that’s quite a stretch. Many of the Braves players were teenagers or younger when that happened.
kenhotlanta
August 13th, 2012
11:03 am
Brian, thanks for that explanation and lets hope it is temporary.
CrαZy
August 13th, 2012
11:03 am
Tony… I could see the fans having the fire, but the players on both sides wouldn’t have any feelings about 1992.
DAP
August 13th, 2012
11:03 am
i say no to a 5 man rotation, by the way. i want to take the best 5 and have them pitch as much as possible. im not sure when hanson is coming off the DL, but maybe shuffling things for a short time, giving huddy and start off or something while they decide who the top 5 is, would be a good plan.
dilly
August 13th, 2012
11:04 am
At what point is this Sheets experiment going to be over. Medlin needs to be the fifth starter. Send Sheets to the pen or elsewhere. Also, Jason needs to be out of the 3rd spot. He is not consistent in clutch situations. Move Chipper back to 3rd, Freeman clean up, and McCann/Hayward after him. I’m well aware that would be 2 lefties back to back but it works for other teams, why not us.I am also aware that Mac is a lefty. If Uggla ever becomes a consistent hitter again, he could be between Freeman and Hayward/Mac.
CrαZy
August 13th, 2012
11:04 am
Tony as we all know every ball player grows up watching the Braves so there might be more players that have positive feelings about 1992 than ones with negative feelings!!
ncscoots
August 13th, 2012
11:05 am
fire phil!
raleighbravefan
August 13th, 2012
11:05 am
Let’s see…during the playoffs of the 90’s, there was Chipper, and then there was……….HUM.
MFin04
August 13th, 2012
11:05 am
I don’t understand why ESPN showed the AL standings more than the NL standings in a game, and they talked more about Strasburg and the Nationals than the Braves and Mets.
Of course they did say Kimbrel/Chapman should win the Cy Young, crazy and impossible is that is, it would be fun.
CrαZy
August 13th, 2012
11:06 am
TOBF…. If you like playing fantasy Baseball you’ll find fantasy Football much more enjoyable… That is if you’re a big NFL fan? I’m done with fantasy baseball it just takes up way too much time.
phil
August 13th, 2012
11:07 am
That hurts, scoots. I feed my family with this drivel…
raleighbravefan
August 13th, 2012
11:08 am
Let’s definitely go with the best 5…And the best 5 would definitely be….well, that’s the real issue, isn’t it?
CrαZy
August 13th, 2012
11:08 am
Anyone know if the Reds still have future plans to make Chapman a SP?
phil
August 13th, 2012
11:10 am
And until Kimbrel saves a decisive game of some kind, i’ll be concerned about him…
Even though he was but a kid in the 90s.
Random
August 13th, 2012
11:12 am
MFin04 (August 13th, 2012 0:38 am): “I haven’t said anything about Pastornicky. He wasn’t good enough to start defensively, but his offense has been better than the other two options. He has been good off the bench. I don’t see the Braves sending him down. I’m assuming we will keep Simmons and Pastornicky up. Pastornicky has the speed and bat that the other guys don’t. And one inning of defense shouldn’t kill this team.”
Wrong again. When Simmons comes back, he will start, Janish will go to the bench and Pastornicky will go to the bench — roster expansion in September.
Brian from SC
August 13th, 2012
11:12 am
And until Kimbrel saves a decisive game of some kind, i’ll be concerned about him…
There really are more important things to worry about than Craig Kimbrel, who is, in his role, the Braves’ best player.
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 13th, 2012
11:13 am
TOBF…. If you like playing fantasy Baseball you’ll find fantasy Football much more enjoyable… That is if you’re a big NFL fan? I’m done with fantasy baseball it just takes up way too much time.
Define big… I watch the Falcons and Patriots regularly, and keep up with other teams occassionally…. not as into it as I am baseball, but I do follow it.
Fantasy baseball isn’t that time consuming… at least not for me.
tony austin
August 13th, 2012
11:13 am
Anyone know if the Reds still have future plans to make Chapman a SP? – CraZy
That’s what I keep hearing. He’s dominate for one inning, but with his past control issues (41 walks in 50 innings in 2011) I don’t know how good he’d be for 9. I think I’d prefer him at the back end.
jeffrey d
August 13th, 2012
11:13 am
I mean, Kimbrel only leads the Majors in saves since last year. But none of those games were important
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 13th, 2012
11:14 am
Wrong again. When Simmons comes back, he will start, Janish will go to the bench and Pastornicky will go to the bench — roster expansion in September.
That’s true, since Simmons won’t be back until September… but who is the true “bench” guys on the team? Who will make the playoff roster? I think Janish and Rev stay, Hinske goes.
phil
August 13th, 2012
11:14 am
The best 5 changes here more than a baby’s diaper….
Now Sheets is the blog odd man out. Who will be next?
jeffrey d
August 13th, 2012
11:15 am
Now Sheets is the blog odd man out. Who will be next?
The next starter to give up a run
MFin04
August 13th, 2012
11:17 am
Brian McCann is major slumping as of late. This team could be unbelievable if McCann and Uggla would be consistent.
CrαZy
August 13th, 2012
11:18 am
I think Janish and Rev stay, Hinske goes.
I understand this thinking, but I wonder how much Fredi values having a balanced bench. Without Hinske your only LH bat is Francisco. I think there’s a very good chance the “Rev” is the odd man out. W/ Ross, Johnson, Francisco, Hinske and Janish as the playoff bench.
MFin04
August 13th, 2012
11:18 am
“Now Sheets is the blog odd man out. Who will be next?
The next starter to give up a run”
Mike Minor.
phil
August 13th, 2012
11:19 am
You guys be solid in your belief in Kimbrel. I’ve got faith in him too but it’s not w/o concern because he gets so jacked up in big situations and overthrows the ball.
I want to see him NOT do so when it’s all on the line.
McFann :Ô: :Ô: :ô:
August 13th, 2012
11:20 am
Sheets should NOT be the odd man out. I know it won’t happen, but just the same, I’d be very peeved if it did…
McFann :Ô: :Ô: :ô:
August 13th, 2012
11:20 am
MFin04 Brian McCann is major slumping as of late.
Thanks for the news bulletin…
phil
August 13th, 2012
11:21 am
And my apologies to those who get overly concerned that I dare voice concern.
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 13th, 2012
11:23 am
If Rev doesn’t make the post-season roster, and Hinske does, I might have to call for FG and FW heads…. and root for the Nats!
It has to be based on results now… Hinske hasn’t produced, Rev has. Maybe Janish could “go” since he isn’t a strong hitter, but I’d rather have him than Hinse…. Janish is a good defender. Hinske isn’t really.
Lew
August 13th, 2012
11:24 am
Yep, no doubt about it – the comeback is finished – time for Sheets to retire.
“The team could be unbelievable McCann and Uggla would be consistent.” Well, they’ve already been playing at an unbelievable rate (about .735). If Uggla and McCann were consistent we would probably be other worldly – not that even that level of play would negate the constant criticism.
phil
August 13th, 2012
11:24 am
Mac should be the odd overweight player out…..
Just playin, McFann. Would be nice though if he could find a consistent place and stay there thru oct…
ncscoots
August 13th, 2012
11:24 am
Team couldn’t get a decent pitching performance for weeks, and now they are having problems on deciding which starter to bump. Baseball is a beautiful game.
MFin04
August 13th, 2012
11:25 am
“Ross, Johnson, Francisco, Hinske and Janish as the playoff bench”
I’d lean toward Pastornicky over Janish. Better bat off the bench, weaker defensively, but is a legit stolen base threat. And in no circumstance should him be playing defense at SS anyways.
Juan
August 13th, 2012
11:25 am
When the Sport Media (ESPN, MLB NETW) going to stop talking about Bryce Harper,
Roy….This Kid now is Hitting 249 avg,328 ObP,406 Slg….not good for ROY…look at
Norichika Aoki from the Brewers 290Avg 355 OBP 423 Slg….he’s my candidate of NL ROY and Mike Trout AL ROy
phil
August 13th, 2012
11:27 am
Padres have been winning some games of late….sigh.
That will be our excuse if we lose a few here. Might be a good one actually…
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 13th, 2012
11:27 am
Huddy should be the next man out…. he’s struggled lately and could use the rest. Just trying to find ways to keep Meds in, and still have a 5-man rotation!
MFin04
August 13th, 2012
11:27 am
How about Simmons for Rookie of the Year?
ncscoots
August 13th, 2012
11:28 am
This Kid now is Hitting 249 avg,328 ObP,406 Slg….not good for ROY
Nats will never sit Harper, though. That would be tantamount to an admission that he was brought up too early.
ncscoots
August 13th, 2012
11:30 am
How about Simmons for Rookie of the Year?
If he hadn’t gotten hurt, he probably would not have continued to hit like a maniac, anyway. Thus, probably no shot at ROY.
phil
August 13th, 2012
11:30 am
If Hudson bombs this week, he’ll be DL’d…..
My best guess and hope I’m way wrong.
MFin04
August 13th, 2012
11:31 am
Hanson should be the odd man out…since he is the worst pitcher of the 6, can’t go deep in games, and loves the home run ball.
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 13th, 2012
11:31 am
Would be nice though if he could find a consistent place and stay there thru oct…
He has… it’s called a .200/.300/.340 line over the last 2 weeks…
I’d lean toward Pastornicky over Janish.
As would I, but only after making sure that Hinske isn’t here… I have more confidence in Janish at the plate than I do Hinske…
ncscoots
August 13th, 2012
11:31 am
Padres have been winning some games of late….sigh.
Mostly against the Cubs and Mets. Not exactly a rousing recommendation.
phil
August 13th, 2012
11:31 am
How about we win some playoff games and forget the individual awards?
Lew
August 13th, 2012
11:32 am
Simmons has played a total of 33 games. No way he even gets vague consideration from anyone who votes for the award.
MFin04
August 13th, 2012
11:33 am
tantamount – Equivalent in seriousness to; virtually the same as: “the resignations were tantamount to an admission of guilt”
Yep, totally TANTAMOUNT!
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 13th, 2012
11:34 am
Hanson should be the odd man out…since he is the worst pitcher of the 6, can’t go deep in games, and loves the home run ball
Possibly, but we need to up his trade value for this winter. Have him prove that he can start, do it better than he has so far this year, and stay healthy.
Also, don’t want him to get pizzed and cursing at Fredi because he has to pitch out of the ‘pen.
phil
August 13th, 2012
11:34 am
True scoots but if we lose tonight, what will you say tomorrow?
Let me guess…ML teams can win against anyone, any given nite. Yes?
raleighbravefan
August 13th, 2012
11:36 am
phil AND MFin – OK…we all get it now…you are both concerned about everything. Whatever can go wrong surely will go wrong…right?
raleighbravefan
August 13th, 2012
11:40 am
Man, it’s obvious that if everyone on this team would just do his job every game, we could be winning 120% of all games on our schedule.
phil
August 13th, 2012
11:41 am
Wrong.
MFin04
August 13th, 2012
11:43 am
We’d be A LOT better team if McCann and Uggla could hit remotely close to their career averages, that is for sure.
Wouldn’t be surprised for the Braves to move on from McCann in the near future. This season has been a major disappointment.
ACE
August 13th, 2012
11:45 am
Fredi is still the manager so last years meltdown is still relevant.
Random
August 13th, 2012
11:45 am
dilly (August 13th, 2012 11:04 am): “At what point is this Sheets experiment going to be over. Medlin needs to be the fifth starter. Send Sheets to the pen or elsewhere.”
Sheets: 6 Starts, 5 Quality Starts, 4-2, 2.13 ERA (best among active Braves starters with at least 5 Starts; Hudson is second at 3.77), 1.24 WHIP (second behind only Hudson’s 1.22 among active Braves starters with at least 5 Starts)
“Experiment”?
ncscoots
August 13th, 2012
11:45 am
True scoots but if we lose tonight, what will you say tomorrow?
“Strap up, and let’s win today.” Same thing I’d say if they win tonight.
Which is kinda the whole point. Baseball isn’t linear: good teams can lose to bad teams for any given game, high-powered offenses (like this one) can get shut down for any given game, good pitchers can throw clunkers for any given game. Unlike most sports, results of a specific game are sometimes not indicative of the expected results over a large number of games.
Now, that’s a fairly important point when it comes to uderstanding and enjoying baseball, in my opinion. That is, if one is a baseball fan, rather than a winning fan. Maybe that’s why some of us take to task the flat-earthers who go crazy at any inning without a run and any pitch that doesn’t result in an out. We’re just trying to help.
MFin04
August 13th, 2012
11:45 am
McCann .237 .311 .438 .748
Uggla .215 .348 .370 .719
Not. Good. Both 100 points below career OPS numbers.
cricket
August 13th, 2012
11:49 am
i’m always late to party and miss all the comments that are later removed, should i feel bad?
BravesFanInMaine
August 13th, 2012
11:51 am
Gotta love espn…. yankees rangers game twice in 3 days…… ESPN is awful!!! GO BRaves
Murph
August 13th, 2012
11:54 am
I guarantee you that Hudson will go to the DL as soon as Hanson is declared ready to pitch again.
Now, what the team will do when Hudson is ready to go again is anybody’s guess, but the Braves have the luxury of being able to sit Hudson for a couple of weeks while they figure it all out.
phil
August 13th, 2012
11:54 am
I enjoy baseball even when I’m throwing my cereal at the tv….
Fire chip carey!!
cricket
August 13th, 2012
11:55 am
half the people are upset that ESPN doesn’t show enough braves games and half (not necessarily different) worry that braves freeze and lose on ESPN games…
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 13th, 2012
11:55 am
Nah cricet, you should feel good that your mind isn’t polluted by those swine
Efrim
August 13th, 2012
11:57 am
Bryce Harper’s last 52 games, 231 plate appearances since June 13th – .208/.281/.300
And the kid is 5 for his last 35 and 1 for his last 18.
cricket
August 13th, 2012
11:58 am
it’s not which cereal you throw at tv, it’s what is holding the cereal as you throw it at the tv that really matters
phil
August 13th, 2012
11:59 am
My thought earlier, Murph….an injured hanson to the DL if he bombs this week.
MFin04
August 13th, 2012
12:00 pm
“Bryce Harper’s last 52 games, 231 plate appearances since June 13th – .208/.281/.300 ”
Sounds like McCann and Uggla. Maybe we could deal those two for Harper.
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 13th, 2012
12:00 pm
From MLBTR:
Extension Candidate: Martin Prado
By Mike Axisa [August 13, 2012 at 10:24am CST]
The Braves currently sit atop the NL Wild Card race thanks in large part to the impact and versatility of Martin Prado. The 28-year-old is hitting .295/.357/.416 with 30 doubles and 14 steals (in 16 attempts) while playing left field (88 games), third base (18 games), second base (four games), first base (three games), and shortstop (two games). Quite a bargain for $4.75MM.
Last month we heard that the Braves want to sign Prado to a multiyear contract extension because they believe he is their long-term replacement for Chipper Jones at third base. The two sides have yet to start serious negotiations, however. Prado will be arbitration-eligible for the third and final time this offseason and is due to become a free agent following the 2013 campaign.
Given his unique career, it’s very tough to pin down Prado’s value relative to his peers. The best comparison may be Alex Gordon, who has also spent significant time at third base and in left field. He’s a career .268/.348/.437 hitter with 77 homers in over 2,800 plate appearances, and signed a four-year, $37.5MM extension (with a $12.5MM player option for a fifth year) back in Spring Training. He was due to become a free agent after 2013 as well.
Prado is a .294/.344/.431 career hitter with 47 homers in just over 2,600 career plate appearances, so he matches up well with Gordon in the OBP and SLG departments. Gordon had his big breakout season a year ago while Prado has been a bit more consistent, posting a 108 OPS+ four times in the last five seasons. Gordon has done it three times in his five-year career, but he’s also been demoted to the minors on a few occasions.
Because he’s closer to free agency and has an All-Star Game nomination to his credit, Prado and his representatives at Peter E. Greenberg & Associates should have no problem asking for something north of Gordon’s deal. Perhaps four years and $40-45MM makes sense for both parties, especially the team since it’s easy to see him eclipsing that guarantee on the open market 15-16 months from now.
The Braves have shown a willingness to sign players to extensions in the middle of the season, most notably with Chipper years ago and David Ross back in 2010. Prado’s upcoming arbitration case figures to bump his salary up into the $7-8MM range next year, if not even higher. Given the impending free agency of Michael Bourn, Atlanta may want to act quickly to avoid potentially losing two core offensive pieces in back-to-back winters.
phil
August 13th, 2012
12:02 pm
Plastic bowl….just clean up milk and flakes a few days ltr that way and no glass shards. Cats help too and no tongue cuts.
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 13th, 2012
12:02 pm
Perhaps four years and $40-45MM makes sense for both parties, especially the team since it’s easy to see him eclipsing that guarantee on the open market 15-16 months from now.
Can’t we do 5 for that price? Or 4 yrs with an option?
Efrim
August 13th, 2012
12:03 pm
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/08/extension-candidate-martin-prado.html
Perhaps four years and $40-45MM makes sense for both parties, especially the team since it’s easy to see him eclipsing that guarantee on the open market 15-16 months from now.
I love him, but I’m not paying Martin Prado 11-12 million dollars a year.
Tomahawkin
August 13th, 2012
12:04 pm
phil
“I enjoy baseball even when I’m throwing my cereal at the tv….
Fire chip carey!!”
Ur better than me, At least its not Beer Cans, Remotes and Shoes being thrown at the TV
phil
August 13th, 2012
12:06 pm
Prado isn’t worth 10 million. Spend the dough on heyward, Freeman and Simmons and some arms. Cant keep everyone.
Brian from SC
August 13th, 2012
12:07 pm
Why would Hudson go on the DL? Do you know something we don’t? Last I heard, the ankle was not bothering him.
phil
August 13th, 2012
12:07 pm
But cereal is so messy….sigh
Efrim
August 13th, 2012
12:07 pm
Alex Gordon came off of a 140 OPS+ season and is now hitting 122 for the season. Prado had an 87 last year and is now at 108.
I don’t know, if he’s getting something like 7.5 million in 2013 through arbitration, I’d offer three years and 27-30 million on top of that. Total of four years, 37.5 million. But that’s it for Martin.
MFin04
August 13th, 2012
12:09 pm
You guys might want to consider….
http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/4/2009/12/tvarmor1.jpg
http://www.tv-armor.com/