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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1,478 comments Add your comment
CHOP SHOP
August 26th, 2012
10:49 pm
Here we go!
Venice Jim
August 26th, 2012
10:49 pm
Good thing Kimmie wasn’t expecting a save situation…
njbraves
August 26th, 2012
10:49 pm
These guys are going to be hitting 3 and 4 for a long time.
TNScott
August 26th, 2012
10:49 pm
SAY J-HEY AND FAB 5 BACK-TO-BACK!!!!!!!
IlliniBrave
August 26th, 2012
10:49 pm
@TOBF: Exactly – Francisco is never going to have a .300+ OBP. And I’m not convince that he will have 25 HRs nd 90 RBIs when he has to face all those righties.
The A Bomb
August 26th, 2012
10:50 pm
Something for everyone tonight….bunts, steals and of course for the addicts…homers.
cabravesfan
August 26th, 2012
10:50 pm
Wow- Freddie was totally pulled in with his arms. Pure muscle on that one
CaptainMudd
August 26th, 2012
10:50 pm
Huey Lewis & The Bravos
Mitchell
August 26th, 2012
10:50 pm
GOT HEEEEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If only it was the playoffs.
Or course it is not.
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 26th, 2012
10:50 pm
Poor Kimmeh… no save again!
Go Braves…. love the offense, but do save some for tomorrow
Trader Jack
August 26th, 2012
10:51 pm
It’ll be a nice ride down to San Diego tonight
GRAPHITE
August 26th, 2012
10:51 pm
looks like slow pitch softball.hr’s everywhere.
CaptainMudd
August 26th, 2012
10:52 pm
@Cabravesfan….hello! How ’bout the boys arriving in SD….Hot?
Veer
August 26th, 2012
10:52 pm
4.5 games out. we actually gained a game by not winning any series in the last 3.
4-6 aganist good teams isn’t that bad
The biggest turning point was vs the Nationals in game 1. If we win that game we would be 2.5 games out now.
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 26th, 2012
10:52 pm
Kevin McAlpin @KevinMcAlpin
It’s the 3rd time this season the #Braves have gone back-to-back…no surprise here that Jason Heyward’s been a part of all 3!
ESPN Stats & Info @ESPNStatsInfo
Did you see the Jason Heyward HR? He’s been hitting HR on pitches to that spot all season. Here’s a look–
Disgusted
August 26th, 2012
10:52 pm
Disgusted — Remember you need to replace a .900 OPS.
A-Bomb — We are not going to replace a .900 OPS cause guys like Chipper come seldom.
All I am looking for is production & Juan is giving it when he is in there.
I don;t know if he can do it for a full season but for the $$$$$$$$ you pay Juan its worth a try.
And who is out there in FA who could do better than Francisco as of late. You can trade, but the Headley chasers, realisticly, that new ownership is building around Headley so he prolly is not available.
We are going to have to develop and find another Chipper — and you can find players in the late first round — Mike Trout for example.
Good luck to the scouting dept.
cabravesfan
August 26th, 2012
10:52 pm
It’ll be a nice ride down to San Diego tonight
A nice happy SHORT flight to San Diego
nolie
August 26th, 2012
10:52 pm
well we dodged a bullet with Isaac, good luck to folks wherever it touches down
Peachstealth
August 26th, 2012
10:52 pm
How many HR’s have the Braves hit in this series and how many have the Giants hit all year?
BF54
August 26th, 2012
10:53 pm
Great game we are on the warpath now!!!
Brava
August 26th, 2012
10:53 pm
Fredi sure does use CMart a lot.
cabravesfan
August 26th, 2012
10:53 pm
CaptainMudd-
I hope so. Would be nice to see 2 wins
ChattTownBrian
August 26th, 2012
10:54 pm
What is it with this team anyways? They can look like zombies on offense for stretches and then look like they can give any pitcher the runs for another stretch. I know they’re guys like Heyward and Freeman who are young and learning still, which explains the inconsistancies, but it it seems like the whole lineup goes up or down together at the same time.
Just stay more level with this good stuff and we’re a serious threat to any team.
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 26th, 2012
10:54 pm
ESPN Stats & Info @ESPNStatsInfo
Did you see the Jason Heyward HR? He’s been hitting HR on pitches to that spot all season. Here’s a look– https://yfrog.com/0h61rjp:iphone
Kevin McAlpin @KevinMcAlpin
Jason Heyward is now hitting .395 (15-for-38) with 6 HR and 12 RBI in 10 career games at AT&T Park. Insane! #Braves
Heyward ain’t a franchise player….
Animus
August 26th, 2012
10:54 pm
Woulda rather seen Bautista in the game here. He got called up for a reason, and CMart has been in a bunch of games lately.
cricket
August 26th, 2012
10:54 pm
Francisco is never going to have a .300+ OBP
really? he has .297 OBP in sporadic ABs. his career OBP in majors is .315
cabravesfan
August 26th, 2012
10:55 pm
How many HR’s have the Braves hit in this series and how many have the Giants hit all year?
The Giants have 20 at home this year. The Braves have hit…6? I think…in this series
JC Brave
August 26th, 2012
10:55 pm
Wow- Freddie was totally pulled in with his arms. Pure muscle on that one
I honestly don’t know how he manages to do that without even pulling the ball…
He looks so goofy you wouldn’t think he has that kinda strength.
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 26th, 2012
10:55 pm
Fredi sure does use CMart a lot.
Too much…
nolie
August 26th, 2012
10:57 pm
if he plays regularly against lefties, he will be pretty unlikely to have a 300 OBP, if he platoons then he might do that
Disgusted
August 26th, 2012
10:57 pm
The only prospective third baseman available in FA that I woud want is David Wright and our coprorate boys are not likely going to choose to afford him.
It would be nice, but …..
Most likely we are going to make do with what we have.
If you do not agree that is fine, I welcome alternatives. I can take disagreement, believe me.
Anyway, a great night and a nice bounce back in this series.
ChattTownBrian
August 26th, 2012
10:57 pm
Orel obviously doesn’t realize that Martinez has been used a ton by his manager, so he’s probably getting tired.
nolie
August 26th, 2012
10:58 pm
Orel my homeboy, fellow alum. youngun though…
MikeInFl
August 26th, 2012
10:59 pm
really? he has .297 OBP in sporadic ABs. his career OBP in majors is .315
And that’s facing almost exclusively RH pitching (292 to 64 PA’s). Check his line against lefties.
Now, I’ll grant you that 64 plate appearances is not enough to pass final judgment. But the early returns aren’t promising.
Disgusted
August 26th, 2012
10:59 pm
Nolie — we will know only if he plays.
You all might be right but I choose to give Juan the benefit of the doubt for now.
The young man seems to have a work ethic so he can get better at taking a W and working on his weaknesses.
CaptainMudd
August 26th, 2012
11:00 pm
I’m personally tipping my sombrero now
Brava
August 26th, 2012
11:00 pm
CMart has to be tited. It’s seems like he pitches every other night.
cricket
August 26th, 2012
11:01 pm
are we really complaining about CMart’s workload? must be a good day at park.
Brava
August 26th, 2012
11:01 pm
Tired.
nolie
August 26th, 2012
11:01 pm
Kimbrel?
Perfect Chop
August 26th, 2012
11:01 pm
kimbrel looks annoyed does nt he?
CaptainMudd
August 26th, 2012
11:02 pm
Juan sees a few more dollar signs in the horizon….he is trying to ‘get there!’
nolie
August 26th, 2012
11:02 pm
he looks fatter tonight than he has recently Disgusted. If so he deserves to be booed…..
T-Dawg
August 26th, 2012
11:02 pm
No reason for Kimbrel yet.
Mitchell
August 26th, 2012
11:02 pm
Christian, lock it down.
Animus
August 26th, 2012
11:02 pm
Fredi – I’ve liked all your decision tonite except the final one. NO WAY Kimbrel needs to be throwing tonight. At least not yet – six run lead???
BFChris27
August 26th, 2012
11:03 pm
Braves win and is now 4.5 back
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 26th, 2012
11:03 pm
Francisco is never going to have a .300+ OBP
really? he has .297 OBP in sporadic ABs. his career OBP in majors is .315
Facing a lot of righties…. put him in against lefties, and starting daily, it’ll drop. A .235/.265 line wouldn’t be too far out of the realm of possibility
IlliniBrave
August 26th, 2012
11:03 pm
@nolie: that’s what I was trying to say, but I said “righties” when I meant “lefties”. Francisco’s stats are a very inflated because he has been used primarily against righties.
TBbravesfan
August 26th, 2012
11:03 pm
yes
nolie
August 26th, 2012
11:03 pm
showed our sorry asses on ESPN just like so many asserted. too bad…
Bravefaninok
August 26th, 2012
11:03 pm
Nice W on the big stage tonight!!!!!!!!
Tomahawk Mafia
August 26th, 2012
11:03 pm
It is good to have a win on ESPN. First time in quite a while that they have won on there and they were able to avoid looking like crap.
Disgusted
August 26th, 2012
11:03 pm
Mike in FL — All I want to do isgive this guy a chance and its not like our ownership is going to pony up the cash to get a David Wright type.
This Free Agent class is not that great so if you can try to fill in needs from within that is the first option.
There are alot of mediocre players that will be available. Trades are another thing but why trade if you might not have to.
CaptainMudd
August 26th, 2012
11:03 pm
Great finish, and we need more in SD guys!!!
Mitchell
August 26th, 2012
11:03 pm
Atta boy.
Brava
August 26th, 2012
11:03 pm
Whew. Bless your heart, CMart.
Braves win!
Long time Braves fan in San Francsico
August 26th, 2012
11:03 pm
I have to give the Braves props for bouncing back the past two games. After looking lethargic the first two games of the series…we stepped up and stopped the bleeding. Winning these past two games was basically a 4 game swing (instead of the Giants gaining two more games on us…we negated the two games they gained on us during the first 2 games of the series by winning the last 2 games of this 4 game series).
With Washington getting swept by Philly, we need to put some pressure on them by continuing to win. We have an upcoming 3 game series against the Padres that is a must win against a bad Padres team.
Citi F. Jones
August 26th, 2012
11:04 pm
Great Job, Bravos
nolie
August 26th, 2012
11:04 pm
I figgered Illini
CaptainMudd
August 26th, 2012
11:05 pm
@Disgusted…I agree/regarding Juan plight
Animus
August 26th, 2012
11:05 pm
Short flight – high socks and we gotta stop the Padres winning streak against +.500 teams! Looked good tonight.
Maybe Uggla will have a better outlook on his at bats, going to need him to start helping with the offense.
M.V.P.Heyward
August 26th, 2012
11:05 pm
Great work by Huddy & get some timely hit.
Good for the Bravos!!!
IlliniBrave
August 26th, 2012
11:05 pm
@TOBF: I think he’ll have similar production as Uggs – as earlier posters had said. And bloggers will then NOT be happy
richbrave
August 26th, 2012
11:05 pm
Enter your comments here
cricket
August 26th, 2012
11:06 pm
Now, I’ll grant you that 64 plate appearances is not enough to pass final judgment.
i actually agree but to be fair he hasn’t gotten enough chance to prove / improve against lefties at this level. also, he would face mostly righties if he was a regular as most of the pitchers (and people) are righties. i was just pointing out that betting the house that he will never hit .300 OBP is a bet i personally would not make. anyway, let us see what role he ends up with next year.
MikeInFl
August 26th, 2012
11:06 pm
Well, Disgusted. I’ve got to think there are at least one or two options between “David Wright” and “Juan Francisco,” lol. Hey, sign Scott Rolen for a year, and keep Juan in the same role, filling in for the old guy… then we can revisit this next year at this time.
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 26th, 2012
11:06 pm
Kevin McAlpin @KevinMcAlpin
Tim Hudson has won his last 7 decisions, and the #Braves are 9-1 in his last 10 starts. Huddy’s ERA over that span is 3.19 (22 ER / 62 IP)
Kevin McAlpin @KevinMcAlpin
The #Braves have now won 17 of Tim Hudson’s 22 starts this season. Huddy has now won 6 straight against the Giants (dating to 2006)
BillShanks @BillShanks
Hudson with ATL – Before TJ surgery: 54-38, 3.78 ERA in 120 starts – After TJ surgery: 48-24, 3.40 ERA in 96 starts. Now 194 career wins
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 26th, 2012
11:07 pm
Matt Chernoff @RealMattlanta
Braves win…#Braves win…Braves win. Huddy huge & the offense has a pulse again. Atl won’t see another .500 team til Sept.14th vs the Nats
Let’s get on a tear boys!
cricket
August 26th, 2012
11:07 pm
giants blog – fun place
http://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2012/8/26/3270656/new-thread
Disgusted
August 26th, 2012
11:08 pm
Uggla does not have a bad OBP in spite of his lack of productivity since June.
CaptainMudd
August 26th, 2012
11:09 pm
@Noliee….really weird how those Quasi-Prophets elope when the tide turns!
IlliniBrave
August 26th, 2012
11:09 pm
Boy, what a letdown on ESPN. Going from the Braves to LLWS. Who really cares about this crap?! Only bowling might be less interesting.
McFann :Ô: :Ô: :ô:
August 26th, 2012
11:09 pm
Wow, that was a good game!! Can’t wait to read quotes tomorrow—I bet Timmy will have some good ones!…
Bat M. People have been ripping McCann the whole time I have been on this blog. Surprised me when I first started reading the blog. I’m not sure that they were not ripping him even more then. Heap’ll be fine, guys a player.
Yep. Folks ripping BMac is what got me started on this thing back in Nov. 2007. It’s really odd—but yeah, he’s gonna get outta this and be the Comeback Player of the Year in 2013!!
Ah well—time for bed. Was nice chattin’ with some of y’all again—maybe I won’t be such a stranger this week…:)
Night, all!!! Great night for the Braves, VERY good night for BMac/Timmy!!
addy
August 26th, 2012
11:13 pm
Hi
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 26th, 2012
11:13 pm
Uggla does not have a bad OBP in spite of his lack of productivity since June.
Because he walks…. something Juan doesn’t do…. who knows, looking at him, he might not run either
(sorry, I couldn’t resist!)
he’s (McCann) gonna get outta this and be the Comeback Player of the Year in 2013!!
And get a Gold Glove, and a Silver Slugger, and All-Star, All-Star MVP, MVP of the Year, Batting Title Champ…
Night, McFann
Disgusted
August 26th, 2012
11:14 pm
Mike in FL — Scott Rolen is probably done, he has not done much this yr now Youklis has something left but he will look for more than a yr.
Youk may want to be a CWS anyway, its worked for him there.
Would have liked Scott Rolen — a few yrs ago. LF is not so attractive either.
addy
August 26th, 2012
11:14 pm
ooo la la !!!
cricket
August 26th, 2012
11:15 pm
4.5
The A Bomb
August 26th, 2012
11:15 pm
I absolutely am on board with the “spot picking.”
How about tomorrow vs. Casey Kelly. This is the closest I’ve had to a vacation this year.
Disgusted
August 26th, 2012
11:15 pm
OBP is a nice stat but its not the end all and be all.
I will take extra base hits and production anyday. And I would rather go one for 4 with 2 RBI’s than 3 for 4 and get left on base three times.
MikeInFl
August 26th, 2012
11:15 pm
Rolen’s been pretty strong since he came off the dl in June. But, I’m really not pushing for him (at all). I still want Headley.
The A Bomb
August 26th, 2012
11:17 pm
Wouldn’t mind Pagan either — switch hitter, cheaper. Good alternative.
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 26th, 2012
11:20 pm
BillShanks @BillShanks
RT @stupup74: @BillShanks @wdeeker Huddy will be an interesting Case for HOF if he keeps win % up there and gets to 225-230 wins – I agree
Thoughts?
Disgusted
August 26th, 2012
11:21 pm
I want Headley too, but with the new SD ownership, there has to be energy there & if you can get him fine, but if I am SD I want a ton.
You want to sell high. And why would I really want to move him unless someone blows me away with a stupendous offer.
As for Pagan, I can take him for CF for 2 yrs. Heyward, Pagan and Marteen — I can live with that
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 26th, 2012
11:23 pm
BillShanks @BillShanks
J.R. Graham w/ another solid start in AA for ATL. Now has a 2.90 ERA in AA and a 2.71 ERA overall in 143 IP this season. Very good potential
Yeah! I’m hugging this prospect, don’t let him get away.
The A Bomb
August 26th, 2012
11:23 pm
Hudson? HOF?
When local yokels bring it up, forget it. It’s biased.
Would you hear that guy Shanks (never heard him) promoting say, Cliff Lee?
Animus
August 26th, 2012
11:24 pm
The A Bomb
August 26th, 2012
11:17 pm
Wouldn’t mind Pagan either — switch hitter, cheaper. Good alternative.
He’s a free agent next year and I think he’ll get some looks. He’s a good player with some pretty fair numbers. If the Braves get priced out of Bourn, he’d definitely be a viable alternative. Probably around Prado price. Not a bad idea.
Venice Jim
August 26th, 2012
11:25 pm
Thoughts
If I wanted to follow Bill Shanks I would…
The A Bomb
August 26th, 2012
11:25 pm
Graham. Santa Clara. Stud. 2014.
Mitchell
August 26th, 2012
11:25 pm
17. Doesn’t sound like a lot but if any team can make it seem hopelessly unreachable it’s our Atlanta Braves.
90 wins almost without fail guaranteed a wild card pre-2012. Now it’s probably like 87 or 88.
I’d like to think we can do better than that but I’d hate to win 96 games only to lose to another 90 win Cardinal team.
That said you’d rather play them than anybody given automatic home field advantage and the fact that Barry Zito doesn’t pitch for them.
Then again it’s a playoff like game at Turner Field.
This is what they get for blowing it last year. There’s no backing in to the post-season this time.
A Huffin' and A Puffin'
August 26th, 2012
11:25 pm
Francisco is half again as fat as Mac
Semper Fi Braves fan
August 26th, 2012
11:26 pm
Best thing BMac did today was the bunt single to beat the shift. His RBI single in the 1st was a broken bat weak flare. (Obviously jammed)
Uggla sitting, JHey hitting, Bourn running, and Huddy Dealing… sounds like a winning formula to me!
It’s easy to manage a great ball club when you’re leading by 6.
cricket
August 26th, 2012
11:27 pm
11. The player leading the National League in steals also is the UZR champion.
UZR is Ultimate Zone Rating, one of the two most well-known defensive metrics, along with Defensive Runs Saved (DRS). Neither is particularly renowned for its accuracy, though both tend to agree that Michael Bourn is mighty good in center field for the Atlanta Braves.
In fact, UZR has a Bieber-level crush on the entire Braves outfield. Bourn ranks first in baseball with 17.2 runs saved this season, Jason Heyward is second with 16.8 runs and Martin Prado is 12th with 10.3 runs.
.
.
25. The worst player in baseball is …
We always save the worst for last because sabermetrics isn’t always about celebrating achievements and accomplishments. Numbers give us something tangible with which we can judge a player against his peers, against his predecessors, against Babe Ruth if we truly want. The preferred tool today is Wins Above Replacement. FanGraphs and Baseball-Reference both have proprietary versions; each is marred by its inclusion of defensive metrics but good enough to give a decent idea of what’s what.
And they agree: The worst player in baseball this year is Kansas City outfielder Jeff Francoeur.
FanGraphs says he has been worth -1.7 WAR, which means by using a replacement-level player – some bum from Triple-A – the Royals actually would have won two more games. B-R is even harsher: The site has Francoeur at -3.0 WAR, which ranks as the 11th-worst season for an offensive player since 1901.
With a dreadful August and September, Francoeur could threaten the season both sites agree is the worst ever: Jerry Royster’s 1977 with Atlanta, a -3.7 FanGraphs and -4.1 B-R debacle. The utilityman hit .216/.278/.288 and, the metrics say, played brutal defense. Francoeur isn’t that bad, at .240/.287/.372, with a major league-leading 14 outfield assists, but as Wil Myers sits at Triple-A with a .311/.389/.603 line, 35 home runs and the title of best hitting prospect in the minors, it cannot be anything short of maddening for Royals fans to swallow where part of the cost of their ticket will go.
Kansas City owes Francoeur $6.75 million in 2013.
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/25-things-you-didn-t-know-about-baseball.html
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 26th, 2012
11:28 pm
BillShanks @BillShanks
RT @LeeKillian: @BillShanks Chance Francisco takes over at 3rd next year? Or Prado? – I’d go w/ Francisco & I think it’s very possible
No!!!!!
It Would be on the Scoreboard
August 26th, 2012
11:29 pm
WTG Frenchy, I knew you could excel
Venice Jim
August 26th, 2012
11:29 pm
It is so not worth the brain cells I would have to expend to try to figure out what Mitchell is complaining about this time…
richbrave
August 26th, 2012
11:30 pm
DOWN ON THE FARM
DSL and GCL
Season complete
DANVILLE
D-Rookies are mashed 15-7 by the CARDINALS in a 34 hit slug-fest
Lead-off SS JOSE PERAZA [.284 BA] 1-4, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 SB [14], 1 SO
Soph C NICK DeSANTIAGO [.263 BA] 3-5, 2 R, 2 2B [10], 4 RBI [14], 2 E [4, throwing, missed catch].
Rookie RF BLAKE BROWN [.206 BA] 2-5, 3 RBI [20], 1 CS [4], 1 SO.
Rookie 2B LEVI HYAMS [.253 BA] 3-5, 2 R.
3B SETH MORANDA [.267 BA] 2-5, 1 SO, 1 E [2, fielding, throwing]..
DH CARLOS FRANCO [.274 BA] 1-4, 2 SO.
1B CASEY KALENKOSKY [.231 BA] 1-4, 1 R, 1 SO.
LF ED SANCHEZ [.251 BA] 1-3, 1 BB.
The starting pitching was bad, really bad 2.0 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 2 ER by RHSP WILLIAMS PEREZ [L 4-3, 4.15 ERA]
However, the relief was great. Three innings of four hit shut-out ball by RHRP ZACH JADOFSKY [1.95 ERA].
Three more reliefers all allowed earned runs in their brief stints
Even Crazier
August 26th, 2012
11:31 pm
Shanks is a moron anyway, but if he thinks they are going to cut back on Prado’s at bats to plat Francouer regularly, he is even crazier than I thought
derek k
August 26th, 2012
11:32 pm
Wow McCann actually bunted the ball down the 3b line!! bout time you start doin that!!! great win braves keep mo mo going full steam ahead!!! Jhey and Fre carry us guys, carry us!