Braves slumping 2B Uggla now a part-time player
He stuck with him for three months, but manager Fredi Gonzalez decided he could not wait any longer for Dan Uggla to start hitting.
Gonzalez called the All-Star second baseman into his office Sunday and told him that until further notice, Uggla would not be in the lineup on a daily basis.
Uggla has gone from starting lineup in the July All-Star game to part-time player in September.
“This is new to me, so I’ll just take it step by step and handle it the best way I can handle it,” Uggla said this morning, when he was out of the lineup for the second consecutive game since his meeting with the manager. “He didn’t really explain anything to me. He just kind of said something like, ‘We’ve got to make a change, and I don’t know how much playing time you’re going to get in the next 29 games.’
“And that was about it.”
The reason was clear: Uggla, in the second season of a five-year, $62 million contract, has hit a National League-worst .208 with 17 homers, 150 strikeouts and a .373 slugging percentage that’s the fifth-lowest in the league.
“It’s not a doghouse situation,” Gonzalez said. “It’s a situation where you feel like you need to do something for the team and for the name on the front of the uniform. And it’s hard. It’s not easy, because of the relationship. If it was a guy that I met two months ago, you don’t even think about it.
The only aspect of Uggla’s offensive performance that’s not been significantly below average (or worse) is his walks – he’s drawn a league-high 80, for a decent .340 OBP.
But drawing walks alone – without hitting for average or big-time power – is not what the Braves had in mind when they traded for Uggla and signed him to a long-term extension that made him the highest-paid second baseman (average annual value of his deal is $12.4 million).
And even though his overall numbers slipped in his first season with the Braves in 2011 – career-worsts in average (.233), OBP (.311), slugging percentage (.453) and OPS (.764) — he also went on a tremendous 33-game hitting streak when he carried the offense, and he finished with a career-high 36 homers and 82 RBIs, his fifth consecutive season with more than 30 homers and sixth in a row with more than 80 RBIs.
This season Uggla’s on pace for 20 homers, 77 RBIs and 181 strikeouts, which would obliterate the franchise record of 156 whiffs he set last season.
The Braves could live with the strikeouts, which would not be a problem at all if Uggla was still producing at the level he did during his five seasons with the Marlins, when he averaged more than 30 homers and 93 RBIs while hitting .263 with a .349 OBP and .837 OPS. Gonzalez was his manager for 3-1/2 of those seasons in Florida.
To repeat, Uggla is hitting .208, and his .713 OPS is nearly 100 points lower than his career-worst OPS with the Marlins.
And it’s been worse for the past three months.
After having a two-homer, five-RBI game at Miami on June 5, he’s hit .152 (37-for-243) with nine doubles, seven homers, 27 RBIs and a .580 OPS in his past 74 games. A .580 OPS over a 74-game stretch seems nearly incomprehensible for a 32-year-old who’s had no injuries this season.
So Uggla will sit for now, probably more often than not the rest of the season, with Martin Prado moving to second base and Reed Johnson or someone else in left field. Gonzalez said if Prado isn’t at second base, he wouldn’t play newcomer Jeff Baker or Tyler Pastornicky over Uggla. If Prado isn’t at second base, Uggla will be.
But that’s about it as far as assurances from the manager for the player he’s always praised, and whom he stuck with longer than anyone I can imagine other than perhaps Gonzalez’s mentor, Bobby Cox.
There comes a time, folks, when loyalty has to be put aside. And .152 avereage with a .580 OPS over 74 games is that time, if not past time.
“Obviously it’s uncomfortable,” Gonzalez said. “It’s hard, especially with the relationship I have with him. Six years with him. You want your players to be upset when they’re not in there. And knowing him, going down to September he’s going to have a big at-bat pinch-hitting, or when we put him in a game he’s going to have a big game that’s going to get us to the postseason. That’s the way I feel about it.”
Uggla was upset, and told Gonzalez during their meeting. As Uggla put it, “He knows exactly how I feel.”
Gonzalez benched him against a left-hander, Cole Hamels, on Sunday. And against a righty, Tyler Chatwood on Monday. Uggla’s .203 average vs. righties is the second-lowest in the NL, and he was 8-for-55 with 18 strikeouts (and two homers) against Hamels.
“I know my numbers, Hamels has dominated me throughout the years,” Uggla said. “But I don’t look at that. If somebody struggles, late in the season I’m putting my guys out there. Putting them out there every day and I’m seeing what happens. We’re at this level, we make adjustments. We’ve been there before, we’ve done it. And you never know what’s going to happen.”
With Uggla out of the lineup Sunday, left fielder Reed Johnson had three hits and second baseman Martin Prado had a two-run, two-out hit in the ninth inning before Chipper Jones (above) hit a walk-off three-run homer to cap the Braves' thrilling 8-7 comeback win over the Phillies. (Curtis Compton photo/AJC)
Uggla’s adjustments, whatever they’ve been, have not yielded results. Yes, he had a five-game hitting streak with two homers through Saturday, but with one hit in each of those games, and eight strikeouts (with one walk) in 16 at-bats over the last four of those games.
“It’s kind of funny, I had a go-ahead homer a couple of nights ago,” Uggla said. “We ended up not winning that game, but… I homered a couple of games before that, which turned out to be kind of a big one as well. A few hits here and there. Who knows. Whatever.”
Said Gonzalez: “Going into yesterday he had a four- or five-game hitting streak. But you’re looking at bigger sample size.”
And how about the bigger picture? As in, the future. Uggla’s contract included a $1 million signing bonus and salaries of $9 million in 2011, then $13 million each of the next four seasons from 2012 through 2015.
There hasn’t been any indication yet whether the Braves will try to trade him this winter, or whether they even could without eating a significant part of the contract. Gonzalez was asked Sunday about Uggla’s situation going forward.
“Next year is next year; I might not even be around next year, you know?” Gonzalez said. “I don’t even look that far ahead. We worry about next year next year.”
And what if Uggla helps the Braves get to the postseason and more?
“If we make it to the postseason and we get far and there’s a hoisting of a flag,” Gonzalez said, “there’s going to be some mending of fences and mending of relationships. But that’s what we’ve got to do.”
BRAVES LINEUP
- Bourn cf
- Constanza lf
- Heyward rf
- Freeman 1b
- Prado 2b
- Francisco 3b
- Ross c
- Janish ss
- Medlen
• OK, I’m out of time. Kris Medlen puts his streaks of 28-1/3 scoreless innings and 17 team wins in his starts on the line today against Colorado. Let’s close with one of my favorite cuts from Jamey Johnson’s The Guitar Song album from 2010. His last two albums have been two of the best 10 country albums of the past decade, maybe two of the best five. Seriously, he is that good. Real country. Hear it by clicking here.
“THAT’S HOW I DON’T LOVE YOU” by Jamey Johnson
I used to wake up early
Just so I could watch you as you sleep
That’s how I loved you
Forever was a promise
That wasn’t very hard for me to keep
That’s how I loved you
Four habits and a carnal sin
Has left me in a crooked state of mind
That’s how I loved you
Now I just pour the poison in
And act like it’s my new best friend at night
And I cry
And that’s how I don’t love you anymore
Ain’t no sense in yell’n
Ain’t no use in dwell’n on the past
That’s how I loved you
I’m sit’n here and miss’n you
Is a waste of time and life goes by too fast
That’s how I loved you
Four habits and a carnal sin
Has left me in a crooked state of mind
That’s how I loved you
Four habits and a carnal sin
Has left me in a crooked state of mind
That’s how I loved you
Now I just pour the poison in
And act like it’s my new best friend at night
And I cry
And that’s how I don’t love you
I used to wake up early
Just so I could watch you as you sleep
That’s how I loved you
– David O’Brien, Braves/MIB blog
1,389 comments Add your comment
bravesgrl4life
September 3rd, 2012
1:12 pm
Great song choice, DOB! I love Jamey Johnson’s stuff!
GO BRAVES!!!
Brava
September 3rd, 2012
1:13 pm
Thank you, DOB.
Go Braves!!!
BFChris27
September 3rd, 2012
1:13 pm
Thank you for new blog!!!!!!!!!!
Jerry
September 3rd, 2012
1:14 pm
Glad to see that Fredi finally grew “a pair”. Does this mean that I think Fredi shouldn’t be fired? Not at all. Unlike a lot of posters here, I don’t spend much time at all denigrating Fredi’s ability as manager. I think he sucks at his job, but I think it’s a waste of time beating that dead horse. I spend enough time beating a dead horse with my absolute dislike for Uggla. I would have given him his walking papers long ago and driven the bus to the bus station and asked Fredi to walk him to the gate and then driven off, leaving Fredi with that stupid look on his face. Anyway, what’s done is done. The Braves should be ecstatic that with as bad as they’ve played, the Cards, Pirates, and Dodgers haven’t exactly put their best foot forward yet. Still, even if the Braves win one of the wild cards, they will lose that game if Medlen is not the pitcher.
Tomahawk Mafia
September 3rd, 2012
1:15 pm
Francisco should have turned that into an out.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
1:15 pm
Thank you very much DOB!
David from Athens, AL
September 3rd, 2012
1:16 pm
Wow. Thanks DOB
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
1:17 pm
Not going to argue about Georgie, but it’s hilarious seeing the ones who call everyone else haters ripping on him.
Ha! There’s actually a reason for this though…. he’s a AAAA player, a journeyman minor-leaguer. People that rip on Uggla, Mac, Heyward, etc (all proven Major Leaguers) are idiotic.
Brava
September 3rd, 2012
1:17 pm
Good try.
rich brave
September 3rd, 2012
1:17 pm
CONSTANZA gets a start to shake off some cobwebs.
Sam
September 3rd, 2012
1:18 pm
It took him long enough, but I am proud of Fredi for taking a stand. Enough is enough
Brava
September 3rd, 2012
1:18 pm
WTG. Jason!!!
MIBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
1:18 pm
Nice catch JHey!!!
The A Bomb
September 3rd, 2012
1:18 pm
Like I said last night, this is akin to Uggla finding out he’s adopted. Long overdue.
BFChris27
September 3rd, 2012
1:18 pm
JHey!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Birdhair
September 3rd, 2012
1:19 pm
Uggla=Another significant spending mistake by Wren
Kat
September 3rd, 2012
1:19 pm
Hoping everyone enjoys their Labor Day, and I can thank my union on this day. Back to baseball,.. Meds is gonna bring us another W today… I can feel it, and if I’m wrong clearly that was just a inch I was feeling haha.
Thanks for the new DOB blog David. Jamey Johnson lyrics are really nice, gonna have to listen song.
Harpie
September 3rd, 2012
1:19 pm
Fredi is the one who should be benched ( well, since the manager IS on the bench, maybe he should be “locker -roomed” ); he hasn’t a clue as to how to manage a major league ball team. Atlanta should package him with Larry Drew and send them far, far, away…
Tomahawk Mafia
September 3rd, 2012
1:19 pm
That was an awesome catch by Heyward. His outfield play has improved tremendously this season.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
1:20 pm
Braves might try to trade Uggla, but I can’t see anyone that would take him esp. where it helps us (like where we only pay 1mil of his salary)
“Next year is next year; I might not even be around next year, you know?” Gonzalez said.
Don’t say that Fredi! We all want you back.
And what if Uggla helps the Braves get to the postseason and more?
“If we make it to the postseason and we get far and there’s a hoisting of a flag,” Gonzalez said, “there’s going to be some mending of fences and mending of relationships. But that’s what we’ve got to do.”
Hope Uggla does get to contribute.
Brava
September 3rd, 2012
1:20 pm
Whatever makes you feel righteous, TOBF. I can see it for what it is. Look under H in the dictionary.
rich brave
September 3rd, 2012
1:20 pm
BRAVA
What was up last night? Why all the …. whatever it was? Not trying to stir the pot, just never got a handle on what brought on the contention.
Sopheee
September 3rd, 2012
1:22 pm
Thanks, DOB.
Wow on all the Uggla stuff. Gotta do what you gotta do though.
Jerry
September 3rd, 2012
1:22 pm
“Next year is next year; I might not even be around next year, you know?” Gonzalez said. “I don’t even look that far ahead. We worry about next year next year.”
We can only hope Fredi.
Brava
September 3rd, 2012
1:22 pm
rich, I had a bout of insomnia and
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
1:23 pm
Whatever Birdbrains…. we had just signed a guy coming off of 4 straight 30HR seasons, and just hit a career high .287. It was a great deal at the time, considering that we weren’t paying 20mil for that kind of power.
Tomahawk Mafia
September 3rd, 2012
1:23 pm
Michael Bourn has reached base five times in the past two games. That is a step in the right direction.
Hugo Z Hackenbush
September 3rd, 2012
1:23 pm
Is it time to bunt for a hit?
eddie57
September 3rd, 2012
1:23 pm
To be honest, I never thought Fredi the Freeloader had the guts to sit his baby boy Ugglier. I still think Fredi has to go as it is too late after 11 months as manager to start realizing that he can’t just sit in the dugout with a blank look on his face.
chipontheroad
September 3rd, 2012
1:23 pm
Thnx D O’B I’ll just enjoy Marteeeeeeeeeeeen and hope Uggs can pull it together somehow
rich brave
September 3rd, 2012
1:24 pm
98
Brava
September 3rd, 2012
1:24 pm
Was bored, so I humored a drunk BAS by conversating with him when I usually ignore him.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
1:24 pm
Whatever makes you feel righteous, TOBF. I can see it for what it is. Look under H in the dictionary.
Brava
September 3rd, 2012
1:25 pm
WTG, Georgie!
chipontheroad
September 3rd, 2012
1:25 pm
99.5
FEAR
September 3rd, 2012
1:25 pm
Well at least we didn’t give up much for Uggla. He has been completely worthless
Birdhair
September 3rd, 2012
1:25 pm
Fantastic managing by FG lately. Playing Reed and Ross are the right moves. If Cox was managing this team we’d be far out of the race.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
1:26 pm
I’m doing constructive criticism against Constanza a minor leaguer, not spewing vitriol and hate against Major Leaguers like some others…
Tomahawk Mafia
September 3rd, 2012
1:27 pm
Heyward moved the runner over, but a little more patience and swining at strikes would have been a better strategy.
The A Bomb
September 3rd, 2012
1:27 pm
Birdhair = Mrs. Gonzalez.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
1:28 pm
WTG Georgie… you bunted. Wow.
Jerry
September 3rd, 2012
1:28 pm
After the trade that brought Uggla here, in retrospect it would have been nice to wait til the end of that season to decide whether or not to resign him. We could have saved tons of money doing it that way, but I also understand that it’s a crap shoot. Wren should try something new because his signings don’t work for the most part. Especially those that he shells out loads of cash to.
BFChris27
September 3rd, 2012
1:28 pm
Bourn!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jerry
September 3rd, 2012
1:28 pm
And the Rockies defense nets us an early run.
Brava
September 3rd, 2012
1:28 pm
Yay! Bourney!
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
1:29 pm
MIKEY!
The A Bomb
September 3rd, 2012
1:29 pm
Can’t believe we bunted (LOL) in 3….2……1…….
rich brave
September 3rd, 2012
1:29 pm
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
1:23 pm
“…….Whatever Birdbrains…. we had just signed a guy coming off of 4 straight 30HR seasons, and just hit a career high .287. It was a great deal at the time, considering that we weren’t paying 20mil for that kind of power…….”
Yes, it was….at the time. No one could have divined the tail-spin he’s go into. At least, no one in the BRAVES organization.
chipontheroad
September 3rd, 2012
1:29 pm
mikeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeey!!!
Birdhair
September 3rd, 2012
1:29 pm
The trade for uggla was a decent move, but the signing was horrendous. Get your value in the outfield. Plus struggla is on the wrong side of thirty. We could have gotten much more value for our buck than uggla. Beltran, Willingham, two easy examples.
Tomahawk Mafia
September 3rd, 2012
1:30 pm
Did the Braves score first? That is awesome.
MIBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
1:30 pm
I love the way this game is starting!! Yes!
Brava
September 3rd, 2012
1:30 pm
Wow! The Rockies are really bad!
BFChris27
September 3rd, 2012
1:30 pm
That works!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hugo Z Hackenbush
September 3rd, 2012
1:30 pm
A lot of scoring for so little hitting…
StingerSplash
September 3rd, 2012
1:30 pm
I doubt seriously the Braves could find someone to take all of Uggla’s salary on in the offseason, especially given the numbers of the last two years (particularly average and Ks) and his age. But the Braves could take the savings from shipping Uggla out (maybe a package with Jurrjens?) and put that money toward another starting pitcher.
So I guess he goes from Struggla to Sittla?
The A Bomb
September 3rd, 2012
1:30 pm
Jerry — Spot on.
Trading for him was fine. His relationship with Gonzalez skewed the matter.
And get the oxygen for Freeman.
chipontheroad
September 3rd, 2012
1:31 pm
Freddieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Jerry
September 3rd, 2012
1:31 pm
Well at least we didn’t give up much for Uggla. He has been completely worthless…FEAR
Are you being serious? I don’t consider Infante as not much.
bravofan
September 3rd, 2012
1:31 pm
awesome!!
Sopheee
September 3rd, 2012
1:31 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1D5Sa2Yq-2g
Jerry
September 3rd, 2012
1:31 pm
Wow. The Rockie’s defense is deplorable.
Tomahawk Mafia
September 3rd, 2012
1:32 pm
Two early runs. That feels great.
FEAR
September 3rd, 2012
1:32 pm
Jerry – We didn’t have to give up any prospects. Infante was a free agent after last year and the Braves wouldn’t have resigned him.
rich brave
September 3rd, 2012
1:33 pm
BOURN-a-gen. Is that IRISH, or just the second time?
bravofan
September 3rd, 2012
1:33 pm
the ball was going to roll foul sure am glad he picked it up
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
1:33 pm
Rockies defense looking worse than the Astros…
TNScott
September 3rd, 2012
1:33 pm
Good thing that the Rockies weren’t thinking there. I would’ve hit Martin in the back with the ball. He wasn’t in the running lane. Easy way to get an out.
MIBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
1:33 pm
Okay, so we should just call him “Fast Freddie” from now on!
rich brave
September 3rd, 2012
1:34 pm
Isn’t MIKE DUNN worth anything?
jed
September 3rd, 2012
1:34 pm
cant blame fredi for sitting him. wren should’ve sent uggla to gwinnett 3 weeks ago to try and salvage his season.
Jerry
September 3rd, 2012
1:35 pm
2 runs and no hits. Special.
bravofan
September 3rd, 2012
1:35 pm
Strasburg is projected to make his final two starts on Friday against Miami and on Sept. 12 in New York.
Tomahawk Mafia
September 3rd, 2012
1:36 pm
We have been waiting a long time for the Braves to get some of the breaks they got in the first inning today.
bravesgrl4life
September 3rd, 2012
1:37 pm
Good start to the game.
Astro Joe
September 3rd, 2012
1:37 pm
Gee, I wish I knew the name of the blogger that gave me grief when I suggested that before offering Uggla a long-term deal, the Braves needed to make sure that he wasn’t going to go “Dan Kolb” on us. Oh, how fun it would be to say “I told you so” now. Maybe we can trade him this winter for Omar Infante and a long reliever.
Grandpa gave away his Season Tickets
September 3rd, 2012
1:37 pm
Braves Win!!!!! Braves Win!!!!! NO Uggly in the line up……, Braves have a chance to Win!!!!!
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
1:38 pm
Isn’t MIKE DUNN worth anything?
Not much lately… a wild reliever. In fact, he is worth -0.4 WAR this year. Has a K/BB ratio under 2. Not good for a relief pitcher.
Birdhair
September 3rd, 2012
1:38 pm
Wren does not comprehend the concept of getting most value for your buck and how to manage a budget (especially a middle market team budget)
All of Wren’s big splash moves have been failures. It’s time for Wren to go.
David O'Brien
September 3rd, 2012
1:39 pm
13 of Medlen’s 1st 15 pitches were strikes
Jerry
September 3rd, 2012
1:39 pm
FEAR,
I wouldn’t say we couldn’t have resigned Infante. He wouldn’t have commanded a huge contract.
ChattTownBrian
September 3rd, 2012
1:40 pm
Medlen looks like he can be an ace here for a while. I never thought I’d say that. He looks legit.
MIBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
1:40 pm
Great work, Kris!
Brava
September 3rd, 2012
1:40 pm
Meds rocks!
David O'Brien
September 3rd, 2012
1:41 pm
All of Wren’s big splash moves have been failures. It’s time for Wren to go. –Birdhair
On Aug. 1 plenty of people were saying he should be considered for executive of the year.
Hugo Z Hackenbush
September 3rd, 2012
1:41 pm
Let’s see…Infante currently has an OPS+ of 97, and Dunn is a middle reliever with an ERA of 3.89. How have the Braves managed without that!?
The A Bomb
September 3rd, 2012
1:41 pm
Be prepared — there will be some games when Medlen gets hit but for the most part, his movement and change of speed will make it really difficult for anyone to square him up.
When Beachy gets back in ‘14 (full speed) and Minor and Teheran/Delgado along with possibly Graham this is going to be something. I’m starting to see what is developing here.
Tomahawk Mafia
September 3rd, 2012
1:41 pm
What an outstanding inning. Medlen is incredible.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
1:41 pm
Medlen just pounds the zone… much like Huddy and Greinke. Need to get Maholm and Hanson to do the same. Love watching this kid pitch.
Dum-Bass
September 3rd, 2012
1:41 pm
Anybody know what the name is of this manager that was called up to replace Fredi G? Looks a lot like FG but just couldn’t possibly be.
FEAR
September 3rd, 2012
1:42 pm
Hugo Z Hackenbush – My point exactly.
Tumbledown
September 3rd, 2012
1:43 pm
I know Uggla is a competitor and is upset by his demotion. I just hope that deep down he realizes that he was given more than enough opportunities to break out. He can still contribute so he needs to keep working and take advantage of every chance he gets to play.
ChattTownBrian
September 3rd, 2012
1:43 pm
He has a Maddux 2 seamer. I just don’t want to get ahead of myself though. I know a lot of people say his size won’t hold up through a whole season, but we’ll take what we’re getting now.
Tumbledown
September 3rd, 2012
1:43 pm
I know Uggla is a competitor and is upset by his demotion. I just hope that deep down he realizes that he was given more than enough opportunities to break out. He can still contribute so he needs to keep working and take advantage of every chance he gets to play.
Brian from SC
September 3rd, 2012
1:43 pm
Medlen is like some kind of robot right now.
cafleming
September 3rd, 2012
1:43 pm
Medlen is Maddux-esque!!
cafleming
September 3rd, 2012
1:43 pm
Medlen is Maddux-esque!!
Tumbledown
September 3rd, 2012
1:43 pm
Sorry about he double post
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
1:43 pm
Let’s see…Infante currently has an OPS+ of 97, and Dunn is a middle reliever with an ERA of 3.89. How have the Braves managed without that!?
Very well. And Dan’s OPS+ is 92… not far from Infante. And that’s with the horrible slump.
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
1:45 pm
I’m calling BALLGAME just on that lineup……
Brian from SC
September 3rd, 2012
1:47 pm
That huge mass of rain is starting to break up a little bit. Looks better than it did.
FEAR
September 3rd, 2012
1:47 pm
Man the rockies are bad.
Birdhair
September 3rd, 2012
1:48 pm
DOB, you’re awesome and i love your blog, but those folks are ignorant. The move by maholm was a neutral move. The opportunity cost was removing delgado. Not the best of moves and that wasn’t our most pressing needed. Hell, Reed Johnson might be one of the best moves ever by Wren.
Uggla failure. Nate McOut failure, KK failure, Lowe failure, Alex Gonzalez one of the worst OBP’s in baseball.
The braves could be much stronger and in better shape for a run had Wren made the right moves. Had he spent money wisely, and valued obp….we are winning in spite of Wren aside from a decent season from bourn. Don’t forget that bourn was atrocious last season!
rich brave
September 3rd, 2012
1:48 pm
BRAVA:
Thanx. Just askin’.
Did you see my comment on the VIETNAM [my] WAR. i caught yours. I knew if i wen,t I’d never come back, certainly not sane. But i volunteered. Ready to nuke HANOI and HAIPONG run everybody underground and throw in nerve gas canisters. Gung Ho! Heh! Young and stupid like most folks I knew. Lost some good friends from high school and college in that damned war.
Jerry
September 3rd, 2012
1:48 pm
It’s a tough sell to put someone, or anyone, on a pedestal as being the next Maddux. But damn, Medlen sure does look the part.
get2dchopper
September 3rd, 2012
1:50 pm
Chatwood has a no-hitter going against us.
ChattTownBrian
September 3rd, 2012
1:50 pm
Maddux was a scrawny thing, too. He was a little taller than Medlen is all.
Supes
September 3rd, 2012
1:50 pm
Regarding Uggla being reduced to a part time player – About Daym Time!
Thankfully Fredi displayed having some courage to do the right thing, the thing best for the team…start sitting your “stars” that aren’t producing or haven’t produced…good to see Struggla and McOut on the bench…being good years ago doesn’t “guarantee you” at bats down the stretch in September…this isn’t “show-friends” it’s “show-business” as someone once said
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
1:51 pm
AGon was a great defender, and the move to get him was more of a dump of Escobar since he was hated. We got Pastornicky (a good bat), AGon (who was hitting with power, and played great D for us), and Collins, who we traded for Farnsworth (didn’t like that trade, but whatever).
3:1 for a guy we were dumping, and got 3 good pieces out of it. Good trade. Unfortunately, AGon didn’t keep up his stats offensively, but still brought the D
Hugo Z Hackenbush
September 3rd, 2012
1:51 pm
Uh, I don’t know about that call…
rich brave
September 3rd, 2012
1:52 pm
But Birdhair, FW’s shake-down cruise is over now. He’s a grizzled GM vet and baseball-wise. How can you point out realities like that? Don’t you consider JANISH, PASTORNICKY, FRANCISCO to be good moves?
Hugo Z Hackenbush
September 3rd, 2012
1:52 pm
No, he didn’t get it right Joe. But that’s okay.
Jerry
September 3rd, 2012
1:53 pm
On Aug. 1 plenty of people were saying he should be considered for executive of the year. DOB
It definitely wasn’t me saying that. Still, I really don’t have an issue with his low budget trades or signings, but those big money escapades have been really bad.
Grandpa gave away his Season Tickets
September 3rd, 2012
1:53 pm
Just an observation……, all these old pitchers have become busts. They started good, everybody was so relieved by the maturity we finally had for pitchers to show the young guns the way. But then they ran out of gas and looked like old men in need of Viagra! But I’m wondering, is not the problem with the younger pitcher’s not caused by poor, or over coaching by McDowell. I mean look at JJ and Tommy…., they used to be good, solid pitchers, at least for a while, and now they have become useless. Are our young guns hot because he has not had a chance to screw them up yet. I hate to see him mess up Medlin. I love watching that boy pitch.
I know I lost all respect for McDowell when he threw that tantrum at that family in SF last year… By his actions, he looks and acts like a control freak instead of coach to me…. Just an observation….
rich brave
September 3rd, 2012
1:53 pm
CHATWOOD can hurl a no-hitter at us, and it’s fine if MEDS rules like he did last outing. We’re already up 2 zip.
David O'Brien
September 3rd, 2012
1:54 pm
Medlen has thrown 28 strikes in 33 pitches through 3 innings, his scoreless streak is at 31-1/3
Brian from SC
September 3rd, 2012
1:55 pm
28 strikes, 5 balls? This is getting ridiculous.
Trey
September 3rd, 2012
1:55 pm
Maddux also wore a Mizuno glove out on the field.
Dum-Bass
September 3rd, 2012
1:56 pm
nolie: ….”I’m calling BALLGAME just on that lineup” You do realize a ballgame can go two different directions don’t you? Don’t leave us hanging, be specific. Or should we just try to read your mind?
Brava
September 3rd, 2012
1:56 pm
rich, I did see your comment, sorry it slipped my mind amidst all the Constanza ripping. I agree it was the end of innocence for this country. I’m proud that you volunteered, not many did, but sorry you had to be a part of such a poorly orchestrated military campaign by the idiots in DC. I didn’t lose any friends, was too young, but I served with many who were forever scarred by their experiences over there. God bless all of you Vietnam vets.
Birdhair
September 3rd, 2012
1:57 pm
RichBrave ” Don’t u consider JANISH, PASTORNICKY, FRANCISCO to be good moves?”
Heck no. Those are horrendous moves. we desperately need simmons back so that Janish can ride the pine or make consistent outs at AAA. Juan Francisco is a joke of a player. Terrible OBP. Pastornicky can be a utility guy at AAA. Who cares.
Hugo Z Hackenbush
September 3rd, 2012
1:57 pm
Nolie was satirizing the gloom-n-doomers, dum-bass.
Trey
September 3rd, 2012
1:57 pm
well, that and a Wilson.
David O'Brien
September 3rd, 2012
1:58 pm
Hope everyone’s enjoying a day off. Hopefully we can avoid rain the rest of the day here, though forecast was terrible earlier. So far, not a drop.
Ken Stallings
September 3rd, 2012
1:58 pm
It had to be done and it is right decision. Uggla needs to dedicate himself to revamping his approach at the plate. He has talent, but his swing is totally screwed up and only Uggla can fix it. The homer hit last hit was hit so hard that the bat literally curled around his head. It looks nice on the highlight reels, but who’s swing was better: Uggla’s or the one Chipper put on the ball last night?
Here is the other fact: Chipper’s homer to win yesterday’s game traveled about 430 feet — more than long enough to be a homer anywhere. It was within a few feet of the one Uggla’s “all or nothing” swing produced.
I am firmly convinced that Uggla needs to tone down his swing and think up the middle and opposite field. If he does this, he will get enough mistake pitches to drill. Further, he will center up good pitches and find they will drive out of the ballpark also. Along the way, he will see a batting average over .250 and that will be plenty to see his on base average soar to the healthy .380 level. Uggla might even notice that his slugging percentage gets over the .500 level.
The question becomes whether Uggla is willing to do it, and in my view the answer comes from Greg Walker. As long as the answer remains negative, Uggla sits. When the answer becomes consistently positive, then he starts. He can hit off the bench to provide the answer.
Tumbledown
September 3rd, 2012
1:58 pm
I agree. The Braves would be so much better if all the moves Wren made had worked out perfectly. I really cannot understand why Wren was not so prescient about the ultimate performances as Braves by Lowe, Uggla, KK, Gonzalez., etc. In contrast, I am sure that other general managers throughout baseball have not made such gaffes. Theo Epstein was always on the mark while in Boston. Cashman never made dud moves in New York.
Tomahawk Mafia
September 3rd, 2012
1:59 pm
Another good at bat by Bourn.
Trey
September 3rd, 2012
1:59 pm
Sorry, that was Glavine with Mizuno,
Brian from SC
September 3rd, 2012
1:59 pm
The huge rain mass that has been approaching all morning has now split, with a gap right over I-20. That’s good news.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
1:59 pm
Meds is a beast… it’s like a video game out there.
Ken Stallings
September 3rd, 2012
2:01 pm
The Colorado Rockies TV announcers are raving over Medlen, openly saying he has Greg Maddux type control. I agree. Medlen will find it likely impossible to match Maddux for career results (I mean who can really call that a realistic objective), but his control is on the same level at this time.
Medlen is hitting the catcher’s target nearly every time and with pitches that feature good movement and change of speeds. It is a formula for long term success. It is the same formula that Maddux worked to the Hall of Fame.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
2:01 pm
Birdbrains is really living up to his moniker today.
David O'Brien
September 3rd, 2012
2:01 pm
Kat, if you haven’t heard Jamey Johnson, you really should get either of his last two albums, The Guitar Song (a double album) or That Lonesome Song. Two of the best I’ve bought in the past five years, no doubt. He’s a great singer and songwriter.
Brian from SC
September 3rd, 2012
2:02 pm
It’s not easy to walk Constanza, but Chatwood did just that.
Three Strikes They Are Out
September 3rd, 2012
2:03 pm
Fredi may be no rocket scientist, but at least he’s making some moves. He’s having to deal with something Bobby never had to deal with: The possibility that he will be in the unemployment line if the Braves fold again.
I would love it if Uggla wasn’t so pitiful, but the fact is he is and needs to be sitting. I like the move.
It really doesn’t matter if it’s because of his shoulder, his eyes or his brain, Mac is stinking it up pretty bad. Has Mac been told he’s a platoon player with Ross?
I’m going turd in the punchbowl here because it isn’t the way most of the people who post here feel but……….
For me…. Fredi just got my endorsement to come back next year as long as he will reward players who are producing and sit players who aren’t, no matter what their star status is. I realize he’s alienated some fans and some players, but he’s got my vote. The main reason is because he has learned a few things and it shows. Look at the way he has managed the pen. Not a repeat of last year. He has fresh arms out there that if they fail, it’s not because of overwork.
Chipper said himself that in effect some players have forced Fredi to make some moves they may not be happy with. They are getting paid to hit but ain’t doing their job. Seems Fredi has Chipper’s support.
Come on back Fredi. You got my vote when Mac and Uggla started crying about being on the bench. That shows me the most important thing to you is trying to win games no matter who you tick off in the process.
Tumbledown
September 3rd, 2012
2:03 pm
Could it be that Uggla is just naturally declining? He was never a consistent hitter in Florida. Big, burly, power hitters seem to naturally decline as they get into their thirties.
Tomahawk Mafia
September 3rd, 2012
2:03 pm
A Constanza walk is like a gift from the heavens.
Tumbledown
September 3rd, 2012
2:03 pm
Could it be that Uggla is just naturally declining? He was never a consistent hitter in Florida. Big, burly, power hitters seem to naturally decline as they get into their thirties.
Kat
September 3rd, 2012
2:03 pm
I think I’m a whole half inning behind. I need to get a roku… this blu ray player doesn’t stream mlb.tv too well no matter how I fool around with the settings, reboot, etc.
Couch Tater
September 3rd, 2012
2:03 pm
Great photo of Chipper from last night, DOB.
..and nice picture of the Uggla situation.
Brian from SC
September 3rd, 2012
2:03 pm
That 1-0 pitch should have been in the seats. Don’t know how Hey missed it.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
2:03 pm
Constanza not swinging… that means that the pitches were really bad.
Astro Joe
September 3rd, 2012
2:04 pm
How much will Bourne make next season for another team? And how much will Uggla be making with the Braves? Surely a gold glove center-fielder and very good lead-off hitter is more challenging to find than a sub .225 infielder.
rich brave
September 3rd, 2012
2:05 pm
Dang, Birdhair IS a birdbrain…..he’d rather have ‘Jumpin’ JACK the flash’ back at SS now that he’s recovered from his injury because JANISH is and has been worthless as a BRAVE. WOW! And FRANCISCO is not worthy of being ATLANTA bench-material. It’s WILLINGHAM and HEADLEY huh birdbrain?
Birdhair
September 3rd, 2012
2:06 pm
Gotta get a point across to folks somehow:
List of Wren failures a whole hell of a lot longer than his successes. And Wren’s failures have been significant spending failures which have tied our hands and prevented future spending flexibility.
Casey Kotchman failure. Stephen Marek failure. Melky Cabrera failure. Jack Wilson joke. Julio Lugo joke. Ruben Gotay joke. Juan Francisco joke. Alex Gonzalez Joke. Rick Ankiel failure. Loaf Anderson professional failure. Joe Mather joke. greg norton! Jesse Chavez, Scott Linebrink, Chris Resop, Kyle Farnsworth, Scott Proctor.
The list of failures far, far exceed Wren successes.
Brian from SC
September 3rd, 2012
2:06 pm
Prado more likely to hit into a DP than Freeman. Let’s see if Martin can elevate one.
Brian from SC
September 3rd, 2012
2:07 pm
Beautiful baseball play there.
Brava
September 3rd, 2012
2:07 pm
Mikey!!!
MIBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
2:07 pm
Yeah, Michael!!!
Hugo Z Hackenbush
September 3rd, 2012
2:07 pm
Speed never slumps!
Ken Stallings
September 3rd, 2012
2:07 pm
Unfortunately, the same Rockies TV announcers brought up another accurate fact. Despite a vastly different record for this season (and over decades) the Rockies attendance leads the Braves attendance by over 400,000! I’m also seeing a number of empty seats on a holiday. My excuse is living in New Mexico. The question I have is where is everyone living in the Atlanta area?
the truth...
September 3rd, 2012
2:07 pm
Sorry but at least half the bloggers here are no better than AA level bloggers themselves……..
Constanza moved Bourn over in the 1st with a decent bunt……..then worked a walk in the in htis inning, so he has already done more in 2 ABs than Uggla…..
I would have played Reed in LF….but Contanza brings something unique to the game as well…
BFChris27
September 3rd, 2012
2:07 pm
Bourn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
David O'Brien
September 3rd, 2012
2:08 pm
Can think of about four guys in majors fast enough to have scored on that Prado fly to shallow CF. Bourn is one, obviously. And did.
Grandpa gave away his Season Tickets
September 3rd, 2012
2:08 pm
On Uggly on the bench……, good move by Freddi……., He is the manager and he has to deal with what the GM gives him. Good move Freddi!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BFChris27
September 3rd, 2012
2:09 pm
Francisco!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MIBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
2:09 pm
Well done, Juan!
Brian from SC
September 3rd, 2012
2:09 pm
Wow…first hit of the day.
rich brave
September 3rd, 2012
2:09 pm
UGGS should play against pitchers against whom he has had success, and at no other time the balance of this season. Maybe UGGLA thinks if he’s run out there for the next 28 games, he’ll hit another 13 HR’s and keep his streak alive rather than thinking about getting ready for the play-offs with players who have the possibility of making the club better.
Dum-Bass
September 3rd, 2012
2:09 pm
That’s the kind of slide CJ should have attempted the other night. What he did could have finished him for the season. It’s not football, it’s baseball. The object of the game is TO SCORE, not run over people.
Ken Stallings
September 3rd, 2012
2:10 pm
Nice to see Hwyward’s opposite field drive (for an out) payoff! I’m really liking Heyward’s approach at the plate. I think Greg Walker’s arrival has paid huge dividends for Jason Heyward this year. Bourn’s speed was needed and also an excellent slide! Juan Francisco tallies another RBI on a “duck snort” (kudo’s Ken Harrellson) to left field.
the truth...
September 3rd, 2012
2:10 pm
Small ball…..4-0 with only one hit……………
Better than a stick in the eye…..I’ll take it….
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
2:10 pm
Juan is looking like a good bench player… wtg
Brava
September 3rd, 2012
2:11 pm
JJuan! I’m having problems with the blog loading. Very slow.
BFChris27
September 3rd, 2012
2:13 pm
Rossy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MIBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
2:13 pm
Way to go, Ross!!
Brava
September 3rd, 2012
2:13 pm
Rossy!!!!!
Brian from SC
September 3rd, 2012
2:13 pm
Some kind of cosmic forces…
rich brave
September 3rd, 2012
2:13 pm
Dum-Bass:
Yeah, that’s SHANE VICTORINO’s philosophy all right.
MIBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
2:14 pm
I’ve seen golf balls do that, but never before seen a baseball do that!
Reality
September 3rd, 2012
2:14 pm
Funny the “true Braves Fans” still defending Uggla. Even Fredi has given up on him but hey, you guys are the smart fans. Only 4 more years of Uggla!!
the truth...
September 3rd, 2012
2:14 pm
@Dum-Bass
Are you kidding? You want a 40 year old with bad legs to slide at the plate? He did the smartest thing…hit him with his shoulders and tried to knock the ball loose.
Bettng that Chipper slides there and it’s 50-50 whether he’s there last night in the 9th…………
Hugo Z Hackenbush
September 3rd, 2012
2:14 pm
Yeah, I don’t know about this lineup today. Bunch of underachieving bozos…
Ken Stallings
September 3rd, 2012
2:14 pm
Holy Moly! I have seen a baseball hook like that! The Rockies centerfield, Dexter Fowler, made the right initial move on the hit, but the ball flat out steered 80 feet left from its initial flight path! I don’t know what David Ross did to hit the ball that way, but whatever it was if he could patent it, he’d be able to retire today!
David O'Brien
September 3rd, 2012
2:15 pm
How ’bout the hook that Ross double had on it? Fowler was totally turned around.
Tomahawk Mafia
September 3rd, 2012
2:15 pm
Maybe Medlen can hold a 6-0 lead.
Three Strikes They Are Out
September 3rd, 2012
2:15 pm
This Birdhair guy isn’t the brightest bulb in the pack is he?
The Braves lost games early this year due to sub-par play at short and a weak glove. Simmons righted that ship and added some offense. Since his injury Janish has been nothing short of STELLER at SS. Any offense you get from him is gravy. The fact is, he has had some big hits since he’s been a Brave. Give me a guy who gets one big hit every three days over a guy who gets a meaningless hit every day. (and yes, there is such a thing as someone who starts gagging when the pressure is on but hits when you’re way ahead or way behind.)
Every move Wren makes isn’t good, but every move he makes isn’t bad either. Heck I didn’t even know who the heck Janish was when the Braves grabbed him! I’m glad now that they did grab him!
A team’s success can many times be determined by the pieces that make up the whole. Janish is a GREAT piece to have!
Brian from SC
September 3rd, 2012
2:15 pm
Finally, all the weird things are happening in the Braves’ favor.
rich brave
September 3rd, 2012
2:16 pm
He shouldn’t be on this team…it should be HEADLEY playing and CHIPPER on the bench. Heh!
Brian from SC
September 3rd, 2012
2:16 pm
Right now I’m just hoping to not get a rain delay. Medlen can wrap this one up in an hour if the Braves’ hitters let him.
The A Bomb
September 3rd, 2012
2:16 pm
DOB — Was that a trivia quiz?
I would say Trout and Bourn for sure. That ball was shallow. Not sure about Reyes — depends what day he wants to play.
TNScott
September 3rd, 2012
2:17 pm
D-Ro with a duck hook fly ball that would have made Bubba Watson proud. It was Mastersesque.
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
2:17 pm
they needed a game like this I think
abeeeewright
September 3rd, 2012
2:17 pm
nolie’s caution that the Braves may come back flat after yesterday’s high adrenalin finish appears to be unwarranted.
Kat
September 3rd, 2012
2:17 pm
DOB @ 2:01 pm….David thanks for the suggestion, I’ll definitely have to grab one of them. I’ve heard a few of his songs in passing as my brother likes him, but I’ve never listened to a whole album.
Grandma Giffin
September 3rd, 2012
2:18 pm
CMR appears to have lost a bit of the bird hair, Birdhair.
Dum-Bass
September 3rd, 2012
2:18 pm
Somebody substituted a wiffle ball for the baseball before Ross hit it.
abeeeewright
September 3rd, 2012
2:19 pm
Medlen’s/Braves’ win streak comes face to face with the Monday funk.
Advantage … Medlen.
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
2:19 pm
List of Wren failures a whole hell of a lot longer than his successes..Bird
bull crap
derek k
September 3rd, 2012
2:19 pm
Said it yesterday with constanza and prado and ross in almost a garunteed win compared to ugg and mccant. still early but we are doin great! playin small ball, walks helped but its nice to see him change and play with the best team on the field!
Jerry
September 3rd, 2012
2:20 pm
Raining pretty good east of Atlanta where I live. Can’t believe the stadium didn’t get this before me because it usually travel east down I-20.
Ekim
September 3rd, 2012
2:21 pm
@Ken Stallings: I agree with your point on attendance. I don’t know why the crowd isn’t standing room only on a holiday. It’s really embarrassing. (My excuse is that I was there last night.)
Brava
September 3rd, 2012
2:22 pm
Nice DP!
MIBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
2:22 pm
Another scoreless inning! Way to go, Kris!
Brian from SC
September 3rd, 2012
2:22 pm
What a perfect pitch…right in on his hands…if he takes it, it’s a K, if he swings, it’s guaranteed to be a ground ball.
Ken Stallings
September 3rd, 2012
2:23 pm
Sharp single on Medlen on a beautiful piece of hitting by the Rockies batter. Took a well located pitch on the low outside corner and drove it opposite field. Medlen showed what he thought of it by getting another ball hit on the ground to short for an inning-ending double play.
Brian from SC
September 3rd, 2012
2:24 pm
Big rain storm has been approaching from the west all morning. Now afternoon showers popping up and travelling north, but right now only east of Atlanta. The metro area is surrounded, but still dry. We’ll see how long it will stay that way.
abeeeewright
September 3rd, 2012
2:24 pm
I didn’t comment last night on Chipper’s homer, at the time, since the pissing contest started before I could compose my thoughts.
There was something almost inevitable about the swing. Like the Baseball Gods had scripted the ending as a punishment for past transgressions by the Phillies.
Chipper = Nemesis.
Dum-Bass
September 3rd, 2012
2:25 pm
When the Braves show some consistency, and not just a big win here and there, the crowds will increase. They are taking a wait and see attitude, to see if the same crap continues. Personally I don’t blame them. Money is hard to come by these days for most folks, and a Braves’ game is not cheap, especially for a family!
Ric Flair to Right
September 3rd, 2012
2:25 pm
Here’s the deal,
Uggla earned leeway from his manager, he was an elite 2 bagger in thus league up to 3 months ago. With that being said all the good will he earned has been cashed in by hitting 150 over a 3 month period. This was the right call, one of the few FG has made this yes.
Secondly, the real question is, if Uggla has used up all his good will, why the hell should B-Mac just come back and be in the linup. He’s fall has been far longer and steeper, im talking a year and a half!!!! At some point the choice has to be made with this guy too!
Brian from SC
September 3rd, 2012
2:26 pm
Storm’s about to render my DirecTV useless here in Columbia.
Tomahawk Mafia
September 3rd, 2012
2:27 pm
Answer to the trivia question is Andres Galarraga with 150 RBI in 1996.
Brian from SC
September 3rd, 2012
2:27 pm
And….it’s gone. Still got internet.
GermanBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
2:28 pm
I guess with all those high salaries nowadays, manager feel obligated to let those guys play. Don’t really want a $15 million investment warm the bench for you…Maybe that’s why it took Fredi so long to finally say “Enough!” and bench Uggla.
TNScott
September 3rd, 2012
2:28 pm
Today’s attendance may have been affected by (1) Most people probably figured that Chipper would not play on a day game which was essentially after a night game and (2) our record this season on Monday’s. No excuse for it though.
Dum-Bass
September 3rd, 2012
2:28 pm
Here’s what my girlfriend says about Medlen. “I love his ‘AW SHUCKS’ attitude”. I thought that summed it up pretty good. She comes up with a good one every now and then.
Brava
September 3rd, 2012
2:32 pm
WOW! Freddie!
MIBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
2:32 pm
Great catch Freddie!!!
Ken Stallings
September 3rd, 2012
2:32 pm
Wow! Freddy’s flashing the “rich Corinthian leather!”
Birdhair
September 3rd, 2012
2:33 pm
Nolie,
How about put together a counter argument? You’ll have a very difficult time outlining Wren successes. Heck, I’ll help you. EOF, Ross, 1 season from Bourn, Infante, Jair before he burned out. Vazquez for 1 season. The Hudson extension was a no-brainer. Maholm a neutral move. Reed Johnson good move. The negative , detrimental moves far outweigh the good. We should be much, much stronger than we are. We are winning because of JS holdovers.
Yeh, the bird nest on CRM certainly is thinning. I think he’s lost focus because of it. I hope he doesn’t cancel practice to go find lose twigs to help re-build the nest.
ray k
September 3rd, 2012
2:34 pm
DOB: “Hope everyone’s enjoying a day off. Hopefully we can avoid rain the rest of the day here, though forecast was terrible earlier. So far, not a drop.”
I thought DOB was going to write, “Hope everyone’s enjoying a day off (except Uggla, of course)…”
That might have been too snarky.
I give Fredi credit for the move. Uggla has been abysmal this year and I can’t help but think this is the beginning of the end of Uggla’s tenure in Atlanta. Before reading this, I figured we had this albatross for at least another year. Now, I think there’s a decent chance they move him in the off season and eat a good chunk of his laughably unjustified contract.
Plus, Uggla wants to wrap a 45 lb. bar around Fredi’s neck.
abeeeewright
September 3rd, 2012
2:35 pm
Official game.
Jeff R
September 3rd, 2012
2:36 pm
Uggla was upset, and told Gonzalez during their meeting. As Uggla put it, “He knows exactly how I feel.”
Whatever Uggla feels, he wasn’t producing. Uggla needs to get past his ego. This is about giving the Braves the best lineup to get to the post season.
If Uggla has issues with that this winter, he should approach the Braves about voiding his contract so that he can test the free agent waters.
Yeah. Right. And Lowe and Hampton will return all the money they made off the Braves!
Tomahawk Mafia
September 3rd, 2012
2:37 pm
Medlen is so much fun to watch. It makes me dread watching Tommy Hanson and his poor command, nibbling, and 100 pitches through four innings tomorrow.
count_schemula
September 3rd, 2012
2:37 pm
Freeman’s not a very good 1b. On my charts and using a 20 sided die to create a hash, I have Freeman at -12.8 for ability to move laterally overcoming inertia and and barometric pressure.
Ken Stallings
September 3rd, 2012
2:37 pm
The Rockies hitters aren’t missing anything Medlen is giving them. A sharp double to right-centerfield, and it was on the first pitch Medlen’s thrown all night that missed the target. The ball was at the knees, but drifted from the target on the outside corner to the middle of the plate. Medlen stranded the runner on a lazy fly to right.
But, Medlen’s performance today isn’t coming courtesy bad hitting by the Rockies. They came to the game with a good plan. They are hitting to opposite field and have earned all three of their hits. Medlen hasn’t walked anyone, so he’s making the Rockies work hard for everything.
Jeff R
September 3rd, 2012
2:39 pm
Wow. The Braves have only two hits going into the bottom of the fifth. Glad they’re winning, though. But not a good sign.
The A Bomb
September 3rd, 2012
2:39 pm
I think Wren and Manno now realize that if you take a clutch Hall of Famer out of this lineup you need to keep/fill with the best available players and that with a limited (but opening) payroll there’s no room for error.
Even eating $8-10 million on Uggla would free up Bourn money.
I hope that is the case.
GermanBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
2:40 pm
@ ray k: why would the Braves eat another salary just to get rid of a player? With their low budget, the Braves cannot afford to do that. D. Lowe at least only had one year left on his contract… Uggla, however, has four years left (or three?)… That would be a lot of money to “eat”!
Jeff R
September 3rd, 2012
2:41 pm
Uggla is signed through 2015.
GermanBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
2:43 pm
@ A Bomb: eat $ 8-10 million of Uggla’s contract? each of the next three years?
Furman Bitcher
September 3rd, 2012
2:43 pm
Whatever you think of Fredi, Bobby Cox would have NEVER sat Uggla he would have rode him all the way to losing the Wild Card. Uggla right now is nothing but a 8th and 9th inning pinch hitter you are begging to get a bomb out of.
Brava
September 3rd, 2012
2:43 pm
Lol, count. You sound like some of the kias on here.
Furman Bitcher
September 3rd, 2012
2:44 pm
Braves bats are sad right now. last night we needed walks and errors just to get Chipper in there
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
2:45 pm
they prolly wish they had started this guy
Ekim
September 3rd, 2012
2:45 pm
@Jeff R: I disagree that it’s a bad sign the Braves don’t have a bunch of hits. There are lots of ways to win ballgames. Scoring five runs off walks with your pitcher throwing a shutout is one of them. (So far.)
Ken Stallings
September 3rd, 2012
2:45 pm
Hey, here’s a blast from the past. Remember shortstop Walt Weiss who played for the Braves for a bit? Well, he played for the Rockies a number of years also and they just had a snippet on him on the Root Network. Walt is the head coach for Jesuit High School’s baseball team — a high school in the Denver area!
Pretty cool!
Jerry
September 3rd, 2012
2:45 pm
As a side note, the TLC show “Here Comes Honey Boo-Boo” doesn’t exactly dispel the stereotype that a lot of people have about people from down south. What an unbelievable dumb show with pure trailer trash for stars.
Disgusted
September 3rd, 2012
2:46 pm
I really want it to work with Uggla even if we have to give it another shot for next year.
Fredi is doing what he has to do & its all understandable.
Uggla has given it 100 pct but it has not worked since June.
No bad guys here, just a decision that is best for the post season run for now.
Eating $$$$$$$$ accomplishes nothing for this team & I am not convinced that Dan;s skills are eroded like Lowe. Lowe was a different thing in that there was only one yr left and we had to make room for other guys. Lowe’s skills have eroded too.
Three Strikes They Are Out
September 3rd, 2012
2:46 pm
Ric Flair to Right has some valid points, but here’s where it gets hairy.
There is this unwritten baseball rule that if you get nailed with a fastball to the ribs, you ain’t supposed to rub it. If you get hurt, you’re supposed to be tough and rub some dirt on it and go on.
In the fantasy world, this is great, but injury does and should matter.
Take Uggla. Is he hurt? Is he gimpy or dealing with physical issues? If not, sit him down!
What about Mac? We know he’s hurting. We know his health is affecting his performance. What should they do? Sit him down no matter how mad he gets! That’s the problem I have with Mac. He gets mad when he doesn’t play but the fact is he IS NOT very valuable right now. He needs to be sitting. The difference between he and Uggla is that if Mac gets some R&R for that shoulder, he may revert back to July numbers. If not, he may whimper on the rest of the season.
So Mac, just shut up and sit down for a few days or a week! You can be more valuable healing up! Get well then rake.
Uggla, just shut up. You ain’t hurt, you’re just pitiful.
Brian from SC
September 3rd, 2012
2:46 pm
Longest Braves’ scoreless innings streaks since 1918:
1. Maddux, 39.2 (2000)
2. Kimbrel, 39 (2011)
3. Medlen, 33.1 (2012)
4. Burdette, 33 (1960)
5. Smoltz, 30 (1992)
Disgusted
September 3rd, 2012
2:47 pm
As a side note, the TLC show “Here Comes Honey Boo-Boo” doesn’t exactly dispel the stereotype that a lot of people have about people from down south. What an unbelievable dumb show with pure trailer trash for stars.
Jerry — That is an unfortunate show. Hope the ratings tank. Mostly for the well being of the kid.
Jeff R
September 3rd, 2012
2:48 pm
@Jeff R: I disagree that it’s a bad sign the Braves don’t have a bunch of hits. There are lots of ways to win ballgames. Scoring five runs off walks with your pitcher throwing a shutout is one of them. (So far.)
Low hit totals usually mean low run totals. Doesn’t translate perfectly, but I believe that’s a general rule, huh?
Moving forward, the Braves need to be generating hits and runs. Can’t always expect Medlen-like performances from the other starting pitchers.
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
2:49 pm
Meds is a real estate pitcher. location,location,location
brian
September 3rd, 2012
2:50 pm
Brian from SC – did the same to me in NC. I would rather watch the Braves than the DirecTV logo bounce around the screen!
The A Bomb
September 3rd, 2012
2:50 pm
It has not worked for Uggla except for a 6-week period.
He no longer projects as that righthanded bomber to separate Heyward and Freeman. He refuses to make adjustments. He has played decent defensively but he SUCKS going up the middle — way too built up to be an athletic middle infielder.
If this was a product you paid a lot of money for and it constantly broke down, you’d be upset — even to the point of wanting your money back. Yeah — good teammate — but he’s assumed that since Gonzalez is the skipper he’d get a pass.
Finally — yesterday — Gonzalez told this guy someone else was his dad.
tony austin
September 3rd, 2012
2:51 pm
Jeff Samardjia pitching is probably the only chance the Cubs have of winning a game vs the Nats these next four games, bu he trails 1-0 in the 6th.
WTFredi???
September 3rd, 2012
2:51 pm
Man, I would not even consider pinch hitting with Uggla in a critical run-producing situation right now. The best thing would be for Uggla to “strain a pectoral” and go on the DL for the rest of the season to keep both Costanza (speed) and Baker (right-handed pinch hitter) up, then try to move him in the offseason by paying 75% of his salary to a stupid AL team like the Royals or Blue Jays.
Brian from SC
September 3rd, 2012
2:51 pm
16 pitches that inning. Really labored.
MIBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
2:52 pm
Another good inning, Kris!
Brava
September 3rd, 2012
2:52 pm
Wow, what can you say about Medlen? Amazing!
The A Bomb
September 3rd, 2012
2:52 pm
Somewhere in Las Vegas, I wonder if a certain legendary hurler is watching….
David O'Brien
September 3rd, 2012
2:53 pm
Medlen at 34-1/3 scoreless innings and counting.
And has thrown 51 strikes in 67 pitches through six innings today.
Hugo Z Hackenbush
September 3rd, 2012
2:53 pm
Yeah, that sounds like a plan…give another team nearly 10 mil a year for the next three just to get rid of Uggla.
Tomahawk Mafia
September 3rd, 2012
2:54 pm
Medlen is dealing. How about 6 more runs just for the fun of it?
Jeff R
September 3rd, 2012
2:54 pm
I can’t imagine the Braves not giving Uggla another go next season unless there’s genuine bad blood developing here between Uggla and management.
The Braves are stuck with Uggla, anyway. Which team would take Uggla off the Braves’ hands without the Braves eating a substantial portion of Uggla’s remaining contract? And forget about what the Braves would get for Uggla – next to nothing, at this point.
So, no big salary dump and likely no quality talent in return for Uggla. The Braves are stuck and have to hope that Uggla rebounds.
brian
September 3rd, 2012
2:54 pm
Chipper’s home run last night obviously was a big momentum builder but the Braves had to cash in on the momentum. How huge is it for the Braves that Medlen is pitching today?
The Braves feed off of Chipper and also seem to feed off of Medlen being on the mound. People can debate on what kind of stuff Medlen has (#2-#4 starter for example) but he has nothing but ace between his ears.There is a lot more to being a #1 starter than simple physical ability and MPH on your fastball. Medlen has that mental aspect.
Braveone
September 3rd, 2012
2:56 pm
From the previous blog which had 1,458 comments, TheOnlyBravesFan led the way with 107 posts. There were 190 different poster names. Here are the Top 25:
Rank Poster Frequency
1 TheOnlyBravesFan 107
2 Brava 99
3 nolie 77
4 CaptainMudd 47
5 vitriol spewer (phil) 45
6 The A Bomb 41
7 Tomahawk Mafia 41
8 George_George 39
9 ACE 37
10 count_schemula 37
11 jeffrey d 34
12 Disgusted 28
13 Mark 28
14 Venice Jim 27
15 David O’Brien 23
16 ChattTownBrian 21
17 Lew 19
18 MIBravesFan 19
19 njbraves 18
20 Lee in S GA 17
21 ray k 17
22 richbrave 17
23 Bay Area Steve 16
24 N8 15
25 VaBravesFan 15
karen
September 3rd, 2012
2:56 pm
Fredi G is the worst manager.. he needs to go back to the Marlins….. He sits on the bench and looks clueless… Wont pull pitchers out early cuz he dont want to use up his bullpen… itsnt that what they are there for… he would rather lose a game and have a fresh bullpen.. He is WORTHLESS~!~! And why did he put “little eyes” Lyle Stefan Overbay into bat sunday night!! just another way that he uses BAD DECISIONS!!!
Trey
September 3rd, 2012
2:56 pm
brian, I think that Medlen can become as good, if not better than Maddux, in the long run. For a youngin’, he has remarkable stuff, that will hopefully get better.
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
2:57 pm
hitters look kinda flat like they often doafter a huge dramatic comeback. Rox have given us a ton of help, good time for a game like this
Ric Flair to Right
September 3rd, 2012
2:57 pm
Im telling you right know this staff has a chance to be really really good with the addition of a bonifide ace. Meds,Huddy,Beach and mohalm are a very good 2345. Hell if you look at the back end you can say that either Hanson,Delgado,terehan will be a fith starter once Huddy is gone. Like it or not anson delgado are the best 5th starter in eaither league
Brian from SC
September 3rd, 2012
2:57 pm
Out of the last 135 hitters Medlen has faced, he has gotten to a 3-ball count on nine of them.
Ekim
September 3rd, 2012
2:57 pm
Braves are fourth in the league in scoring runs, fifth in OBP. You’re not going to hit your way to every win. I stand by my statement that there are lots of ways to win games, and this is one of them.
count_schemula
September 3rd, 2012
2:58 pm
This team is going to need Uggla to do something, should it come down to post-season play.
Just a rough stretch with McCann, Uggla, Janish and the pitcher.
Hopefully with some rest McCann and Uggla can get a little reset even if they just become platoon parts.
The A Bomb
September 3rd, 2012
2:58 pm
Agreed totally nolie — pointed out that 1980 game last night.
Medlen has a ton to do with this.
Jeff R
September 3rd, 2012
2:58 pm
Fredi G is the worst manager.
Who do you recommend the Braves hire, Karen? Just asking.
Disgusted
September 3rd, 2012
2:59 pm
I will not be surprised if Uggla is able to make some adjustments, bounce back in 2013 & be the right handed bomber to separate Heyward and Freeman.
He is not terribly old, has good legs and has been playing good D and taking his walks.
Now, I do agree with Fredi’s decision for now. But any idea of us eating a bunch of the $$$$$$$ right now is not something that is going to produce much value to us. At least not for now or this off season.
Now, if another teams picks up three quarters of the $$$$$$$$ than you can think of it.
If you cannot dump at least 3/4 of the $$$$$$$$$ to someone, than its worthwhile to see if it can work with Uggla for next yr and hopefully to the end of this contract.
We cannot afford to be eating multiple yrs of players’ large $$$$ contract. If there were one yr left you might think of it.
Three Strikes They Are Out
September 3rd, 2012
3:00 pm
There is a school of thought that says sometimes you have to break something or someone down to build them up. I’m sure its not happening now because the emotions are running high, but maybe Uggla will realize that if he is going to be a valid major league player again he is going to have to rebuild his approach at the plate. He’s going to have to realize that he is better off canning that uppercut and learning how to hit line drives. He’s strong enough that he can breathe on a ball and get it out of the park. If he stops worrying about tearing seats out and start worrying about making contact he may be salvageable.
The bottom line is the only one who can fix it is Uggla. That being said he’s going to have to admit that he’s broke and needs to be fixed.
I hate streaky players! Give me the boring, steady, dependable guy.
FSUBrave
September 3rd, 2012
3:00 pm
Nobody could predict that uggla would tank, but Wren has sure signed some serious duds the last 5 years…he’s been a dissapointment as well
Growler
September 3rd, 2012
3:01 pm
I know this is thinking ahead and presuming: But if the Braves make it to the one-game Wild Card playoff, is Medlen or Hudson starting? I realize that answer might also be predicated on how much meaning the Pirates series has…
FSUBrave
September 3rd, 2012
3:01 pm
I actually think Fredi is a decent manager..he’s a winner…
Jeff R
September 3rd, 2012
3:01 pm
Disgusted is right at 2:59 pm.
The A Bomb
September 3rd, 2012
3:03 pm
The value is getting to keep Bourn.
Let’s say the Giants DON’T sign him — and Pagan is not available?
Who then? Upton? Yuck.
Ken Stallings
September 3rd, 2012
3:03 pm
David,
Have not heard, but did Kris Medlen win NL Pitcher of the Month for August? He should have — cannot think of anyone else more deserving.
Would love to see Medlen earn a complete game shutout today!
WTFredi???
September 3rd, 2012
3:03 pm
Hugo, happens all the time in the bigs, just not on the same scale. But if Uggla is going to be a black hole, wouldn’t you rather he a black hole in someone else’s lineup and you could at least put $5 million a year to use on a few productive players?
brian
September 3rd, 2012
3:03 pm
and no Uggla will not be traded unless the Braves take a bad contract in return. Soriano – no thank you. Vernon Wells – absolutely no way. Heath Bell may be the best – can hopefully help the bullpen and only has 2 more years at $9 million/year. Maybe he could regain some form here. Nats could still use a 2B and maybe Uggla regains some form there.
Jeff R
September 3rd, 2012
3:05 pm
The bottom line is the only one who can fix it is Uggla. That being said he’s going to have to admit that he’s broke and needs to be fixed.
You’d hope Uggla would go back to the drawing board this winter. Right now, because Uggla’s ego is bruised, he’s falling back on the “I could start hitting any day” mantra.
CaptainMudd
September 3rd, 2012
3:05 pm
Wil’in “Nelson” Rosario
brian
September 3rd, 2012
3:05 pm
Trey – if Medlen can just become a poor man’s Maddux they have found themselves a top notch pitcher
Tomahawk Mafia
September 3rd, 2012
3:06 pm
That bloop probably should have been caught.
brian
September 3rd, 2012
3:06 pm
about time to lock up Medlen this offseason for 5 years??
Jeff R
September 3rd, 2012
3:06 pm
and no Uggla will not be traded unless the Braves take a bad contract in return.
Possible, but I’m not thinking it’s likely.
brian
September 3rd, 2012
3:06 pm
I will not fault an OF for taking a step back when CGon hits the ball
Ken Stallings
September 3rd, 2012
3:07 pm
Medlen got his first 3-2 count (or any other count of three balls) than threw a nasty hook to record the strikeout!
Hugo Z Hackenbush
September 3rd, 2012
3:07 pm
Uggla’s salary is 13 mil, and the “savings” would be 3.25 mil. Sounds like you’d be shopping at the Family Dollar, not Nordstrom’s, for your players.
Disgusted
September 3rd, 2012
3:07 pm
Uggla for Soriano is something I would give a thought to.
I have to check on this but I think that Soriano’s deal is up at the end of ‘14 (might be wrong, it could be 15).
Bad contract for bad contract???? Soriano has had a decent yr this yr.
Jay Dubu
September 3rd, 2012
3:07 pm
The Braves have not hit well today, but they have been productive. THey have only 2 hits today!
tony austin
September 3rd, 2012
3:08 pm
I’m glad the Braves are winning and I feel tacky for saying this but the bats are still cold. I was hoping last night may have woken the sleeping bats but so far I guess not.
But I digress, bottom line it to win the game no matter how.
Disgusted
September 3rd, 2012
3:09 pm
Brian — The Braves do not need Heath Bell, what we have in the org right now is better than Bell right now.
And Bell does not close for us.
truth5
September 3rd, 2012
3:10 pm
good taste in music DOB, Jamey Johnson is the real deal. New album should be really good as well. As far as Uggla, I hate it for him, but if you don’t perform what do you expect?
CaptainMudd
September 3rd, 2012
3:10 pm
Given his apparent nature, a good teamate and person–Uggla is apt to go back to work on his swing and approach….once he is convinced that emerging as a ‘changed player’ is what he truly desires.
Jeff R
September 3rd, 2012
3:11 pm
Soriano’s signed through 2014 and having a much better season than Uggla. Why would the Cubs make such a deal – Soriano for Uggla?
The Cubs are starting to rebuild, too. They’d want Uggla around for three seasons, perhaps not producing?
Brava
September 3rd, 2012
3:12 pm
Oh no. Janish.
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
3:12 pm
BOOOOO!!!
CaptainMudd
September 3rd, 2012
3:12 pm
Now I thought the circus was closed today
Ken Stallings
September 3rd, 2012
3:12 pm
Cruddy way for Medlen to lose his consecutive innings of shutout baseball — Janish threw the ball away for a two-base error!
J.J.M.
September 3rd, 2012
3:12 pm
freeman is so slow
stizz
September 3rd, 2012
3:12 pm
Pitt losing again. Not good. Out of STL/LA/PIT, I know who I’d want to face in a one off.
T-Dawg
September 3rd, 2012
3:13 pm
Costly error but what can you do? That’s only two. Can’t wait for Simmons to be back.
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
3:13 pm
I was hoping last night may have woken the sleeping bats but so far I guess not…Tony
that kinda game often has the opposite effect
David O'Brien
September 3rd, 2012
3:13 pm
Medlen’s scoreless-innings streak stopped at 34-2/3 innings. only 2nd error for Janish.
The A Bomb
September 3rd, 2012
3:14 pm
That’s the biggest issue. Uggla doesn’t really fit anywhere. Too bad we bit because we already had a 2B — make that two.
Ken Stallings
September 3rd, 2012
3:14 pm
Official scorer called it a base hit and two base error on the advance to third and home. But, in looking at the replay, an accurate throw records the out at second by a good margin. In my view, it should be ruled a three base error.
keyLargo
September 3rd, 2012
3:14 pm
When the Braves show some consistency, and not just a big win here and there, the crowds will increase.
They’ve also got Uggla, Jones and McCann on the bench today. Lots of families come to see their favorite player (the stars) and the players on our team that make big money play about 4 or 5 times a week.
Tomahawk Mafia
September 3rd, 2012
3:14 pm
bummer. It all started with a ball Constanza should have caught.
Jeff R
September 3rd, 2012
3:14 pm
Unfortunate that Medlen’s streak had to end with a rock.
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
3:15 pm
got lucky on that call
Jeff R
September 3rd, 2012
3:16 pm
In fairness to Janish, he’s been close to outstanding defensively in Simmons’ absence.
T-Dawg
September 3rd, 2012
3:16 pm
Dude, Medlen is the man. Of course, I may be cursing him next year.
Brava
September 3rd, 2012
3:16 pm
Yeah. It’s a Constanza’s fault.
Ken Stallings
September 3rd, 2012
3:16 pm
And Kris Medlen just cooly throws the next two outs as if it never happened!
I’m going to say it — the only difference between Medlen and Maddux is 20 years of excellence. Medlen has all the character and control of Maddux. He just has to do it for 19 more seasons!
stizz
September 3rd, 2012
3:16 pm
Once again, I’m with you Disgusted. I’ve been advocating for Uggs all the way up till mid August, as he’s shown he can turn it around before, but right now he needs to swallow his pride and put in the man hours in the batting cage and video room.
Disgusted
September 3rd, 2012
3:16 pm
Timothy Miller is a treasure.
tony austin
September 3rd, 2012
3:17 pm
Cubs have Darwin Barney at 2nd. He should win the gold glove this year and if he doesn’t it’s because he didn’t hit 40HR (offensive numbers are not supposed to be included but…). I don’t think the Cubs would displace him for Uggla.
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
3:17 pm
guy does an awesome job on that song
San Antonio Brave
September 3rd, 2012
3:17 pm
DOB,
Can Overbay play catcher?
bravesgrl4life
September 3rd, 2012
3:17 pm
Chillbumps
Brava
September 3rd, 2012
3:17 pm
WTG Timothy! Such a talent.
MIBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
3:18 pm
I always enjoy hearing him sing
Ken Stallings
September 3rd, 2012
3:18 pm
Man! That dude can flat out sing! Rousing rendition of God Bless America — none finer! Kate Smith herself stood up and gave an ovation!
San Antonio Brave
September 3rd, 2012
3:18 pm
I’m in the military, and that tradition is sooooo lame. Enough already.
Disgusted
September 3rd, 2012
3:19 pm
Stizz — I believe that Uggla will and come back with a bang in 2013.
I would be intrigued at a possibility of Uggs for Soriano is the Cubs would do it. Soriano is maligned and his OPB is so so but the guy still gets you HRS and RBIS & is having a decent yr this yr. And Soriano is only signed untill 2014.
No eating of Uggla’s contract of course.
Birdhair
September 3rd, 2012
3:19 pm
Nolie, I never saw a retort to my comment earlier. It’s probably because you can’t make an argument. You’re too busy making one or two sentence posts so that you can be high up on the frequency chart lol.
WTFredi???
September 3rd, 2012
3:19 pm
Hugo, I never said you would be looking for expensive players, just productive ones who do their job, which is what Uggla is not right now.
And to your point, check out the 40-man roster. Not many guys are over $3.5 mil.
If you take Chipper’s, McCann’s, Hudson’s, Jurrjens (not sure where he is contract-wise), and 3.5 million of Uggla, that is roughly $43 million of the payroll. If Bourn is interested in staying, that’s a lot of money to pay him and find him some friends to play left field and third base next season. I’ll swap McCann for a cheaper defense-oriented catcher. I’m afraid B-Mac’s best days are behind him, his bat is slowing down and the eyesight issues and injuries are not helping.
Couch Tater
September 3rd, 2012
3:20 pm
Today’s attendance may have been affected by
TN Scott – I was going. 70-90% chance of rain kept me on the couch.
Of course, no rain.
The A Bomb
September 3rd, 2012
3:20 pm
This singer Miller ought to become our national anthem singer for big games — sorta like what they do in hockey in Chicago.
Get the crowd all fired up…. He has quite a voice.
Disgusted
September 3rd, 2012
3:21 pm
Yea Tony Austin, you might be right on that one — they have the younger and much cheaper Barney and the Cubbies are a rebuilding team.
It will not be easy to find a trading partner for Uggla.
San Antonio Brave
September 3rd, 2012
3:21 pm
Chip has the best Skip imitation around.
The A Bomb
September 3rd, 2012
3:23 pm
Uggla could become the new Sadaharu Oh, however.
Ken Stallings
September 3rd, 2012
3:23 pm
Folks, two hits but five walks! Good situational hitting yes, but also by moving the runners along who got the walks, it makes the difference we see here.
brian
September 3rd, 2012
3:23 pm
nest thing for Medlen there was striking ou and taking a seat
Trey
September 3rd, 2012
3:23 pm
Brian, absolutely. I was always advocating for him to be a starter, because I always thought of him being in the pen as a waste of talent.
Jeff R
September 3rd, 2012
3:23 pm
I would be intrigued at a possibility of Uggs for Soriano is the Cubs would do it. Soriano is maligned and his OPB is so so but the guy still gets you HRS and RBIS & is having a decent yr this yr. And Soriano is only signed untill 2014.
See tony austin’s post at 3:17 pm. And as I posted earlier, Soriano, hands down, is producing far better than Uggla. The point of the Cubs taking Uggla?
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
3:23 pm
Birdbrain, the subject has been talked to death and i have made my position clear a large number of times. It has also been discussed when you have come in here b4 spewing your Wren hate, why would I waste my time talking about it again with someone who obviously has a huge hard on for Wren?
Say what you will, talking to folks like you about a subject you already are bitching about on a regular basis is like talking to the village idiot, a total waste of time
brian
September 3rd, 2012
3:23 pm
Jeff R – to get rid of Soriano is why they would take Uggla.
Disgusted
September 3rd, 2012
3:24 pm
Whoever posted for Heath Bell, why do you want Heath Bell here when he will not be the closer?
We would be better off re-signing EOF than take on Bell’s contract, the bridge we have to Kimbrell is better than Heath Bell for now.
Its not enough of a cost saving even if you move Uggla. And why would Florida want the second go round with Uggla now?
Mark in ATL
September 3rd, 2012
3:24 pm
Got to trade the guy unless he shows some type of spark late in the season…he’s been an anchor for this team for this entire season….can’t have that type of output from a guy you counted on.
CaptainMudd
September 3rd, 2012
3:25 pm
good stroke Con man
MIBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
3:25 pm
Happy birthday to Brandon Beachy! Look forward to his return next season!
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
3:25 pm
good day for Georgie
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
3:25 pm
trade 1 bad contract for another?
phoenix
September 3rd, 2012
3:25 pm
Constanza and Reed Johnson have accomplished more in 2 games than Uggla did in the last month.
San Antonio Brave
September 3rd, 2012
3:25 pm
Heyward gonna go yard here
brian
September 3rd, 2012
3:25 pm
agree Trey on Medlen. The one thing that keeps the Braves looking good is the Nats inexcusably sitting down Stephen S. No science or data in that decision. Medlen is fresh for the stretch run
Jeff R
September 3rd, 2012
3:27 pm
Jeff R – to get rid of Soriano is why they would take Uggla.
Then the Cubs are stuck with Uggla longer than they’d be stuck with Soriano.
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
3:27 pm
there is a fair amount of data in it, no absolute proof, but it certainly has lots of examples of what can happen
tony austin
September 3rd, 2012
3:27 pm
Oh great, Hanson vs Pomeranz, a LHP who is 1-8. Sounds like a complete game shutout is in the work for the Braves tomorrow.
Brava
September 3rd, 2012
3:27 pm
Wow, Birdhair, nolie is one of the most knowledgeable members of this blog about baseball. I’m sure he could care less about padding his stats.
tony austin
September 3rd, 2012
3:28 pm
Or should I say against the Braves tomorrow.
T-Dawg
September 3rd, 2012
3:28 pm
Only three hits so far but we were do for a game like this.
Jeff R
September 3rd, 2012
3:29 pm
Plus, Darwin Barney is young, cheap and a solid defensive second baseman. Where would the Cubs put Uggla, in the outfield? Uggla thinks of himself as a second baseman. Not a fit, I believe.
phoenix
September 3rd, 2012
3:29 pm
Surely there’s room for Uggla at some barely-major-league outpost like Toronto, KC, Minnesota or Houston. Braves have done a good job dumping Francoeur, Schafer, Escobar and Kelly Johnson. They move on, taking their .225 batting averages Uggla would fit right in, although he’d have to crank it up a few notches to get to .225.
T-Dawg
September 3rd, 2012
3:30 pm
*due. Not do
Hugo Z Hackenbush
September 3rd, 2012
3:30 pm
WTFredi, what event in Braves history has led you to believe there’s a chance that they would eat nearly 30 mil of salary?
Jeff R
September 3rd, 2012
3:31 pm
Surely there’s room for Uggla at some barely-major-league outpost like Toronto, KC, Minnesota or Houston.
Oh, I believe the Braves could dump Uggla – if they’re willing to eat most of his remaining contract. What remains over three seasons? Something like $36 million? Not exactly pocket change.
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
3:32 pm
WTG Meds, 10 Ks
brian
September 3rd, 2012
3:33 pm
there is no magic inning limit nolie on what the elbow can handle after Tommy John.No medica data. THe best you can get is a concensus opinion which you will not have in this case either. No significant different between 2 and 4 starts which would carry him to the end of the season.
If the Nats team doctors wanted to limit Stephen S., they should hav limited him early – either 5 innings per start for the first 2 months, started him in the bullpen, or use Lannan to skip Strasburg 4-5 times through the season so they cold hae him at the end of the season or in the post-season.
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
3:33 pm
Meds has joined Chipper as the Braves stories of the year
David O'Brien
September 3rd, 2012
3:34 pm
Medlen (19 strikeouts and no walks in past 2 starts) gets big standing ovation as he leaves field after 8th.
whatfor
September 3rd, 2012
3:34 pm
I don’t know who that was that sang “God Bless America” at today’s (Monday) Braves game – but he was great – sent chills down my back.
Tomahawk Mafia
September 3rd, 2012
3:35 pm
I would love to see Medlen finish what he started today.
WTFredi???
September 3rd, 2012
3:36 pm
phoenix,
I like you thinking. I believe someone like Houston would take a flyer if the Braves paid a big chunk of the salary. Houston gets a huge reward if Uggla plays like he did for Florida, the Braves free up money, even just a little, to get a bat or two to compliment the new core and/or sign Bourn if possible. And I think Uggla would look like a better hitter playing half his games in that bandbox in Houston and in the more offensively-geared AL.
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
3:36 pm
here is no magic inning limit nolie on what the elbow can handle after Tommy John.No medica data. THe best you can get is a concensus opinion which you will not have in this case either..brian
you never know brian, I agree that continuing on is prolly safe, but especially now that it has been discussed so much, if they play him and something does happen there would be a huge shyt storm
MIBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
3:36 pm
Great job today by Kris!!
southern hope
September 3rd, 2012
3:37 pm
hey, do any of you know how to listen to 680 the fan radio highlights from last night’s game? I’d love to hear the entire 9th inning
stizz
September 3rd, 2012
3:37 pm
I must have watched Chipper’s walkoff thirty times. Although the 3 hits today are worrisome, what #10 did last night is something you can go back and look at if the Braves do indeed go on a tear.
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
3:37 pm
what makes y’all think that the Braves are gonna pay a big chunk of three years worth of contract?
Brava
September 3rd, 2012
3:38 pm
Timothy B. Miller, whatfor.
Brava
September 3rd, 2012
3:39 pm
Marteen!!!
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
3:39 pm
I think we have to be grateful to the Rox today. It is great that we took advantage of course, but without that help we might be struggling to win.
WTG MARTEEN!!!!
MIBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
3:39 pm
Great hustle by Marteeen, as always!!
Couch Tater
September 3rd, 2012
3:39 pm
Meds has joined Chipper as the Braves stories of the year
…Meanwhile, Prado just keeps doing what Prado does.
jeffrey d
September 3rd, 2012
3:40 pm
Holy cow….it’s impressive that the Braves are up 6-1, even more impressive considering they only have three hits
CaptainMudd
September 3rd, 2012
3:40 pm
An da lay Juan
stizz
September 3rd, 2012
3:40 pm
I’d say Heyward is as well Nolie. With Mac and Uggs not performing, we needed Jason to really step it up from last year and he’s done just that. Dude is a five tool player for a club that desperately needs one.
GermanBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
3:40 pm
exactly, nolie… with the Braves’ budget, there is no way they’ll pay for Uggla for three years not to play for them…
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
3:40 pm
how can you swing at a 55′ pitch?
Tomahawk Mafia
September 3rd, 2012
3:41 pm
Nice hustle from Prado.
rfgh
September 3rd, 2012
3:42 pm
Thank goodness FG finally sat Uggla before the season was lost. At least if they dont make playoffs now, FG wont have to answer as to why he let Uggla continue to play everyday and that be one of the reasons for the teams collapse. FG may have saved his own job.
keyLargo
September 3rd, 2012
3:42 pm
All of you talking about trading Uggla are forgetting one thing. Who is going to replace the power? That’s why they traded for him and put Prado in LF. They figured they’d get 30 HR from one of them. Won’t happen if they have to depend on Prado or Johnson for 30.
rfgh
September 3rd, 2012
3:42 pm
Thank goodness FG finally sat Uggla before the season was lost. At least if they dont make playoffs now, FG wont have to answer as to why he let Uggla continue to play everyday and that be one of the reasons for the teams collapse. FG may have saved his own job.
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
3:42 pm
yeah Hey is big to, but I don’t think quite as emotional, at least IMO
WTFredi???
September 3rd, 2012
3:42 pm
Hugo, what event in Braves history has there been a player they paid $15 million per year with the lowest average among everyday position players in the majors? From a guy expected to hit cleanup during his time here.
And currently the Braves are paying $10 million of his $15 million salary to the Indians to let Derek Lowe lose ballgames for them instead of Atlanta. And Lowe was almost as big a dumpster fire last year as Uggla is now.
NO MORE FREDI
September 3rd, 2012
3:43 pm
UGGLA = SELFISH
”Numbers don’t mean anything to me. … I’m part of the team that got us where we are now.”
FREDI = KNOWS THE END IS NEAR
”Next year is next year,” Gonzalez said. ”I might not even be around for next year. I don’t even look that far ahead.
The A Bomb
September 3rd, 2012
3:43 pm
nolie — don’t make fun of our starting 3B next year!
(I can’t do that “wink” deal some of you people into this always do, but consider THIS it.)
The A Bomb
September 3rd, 2012
3:44 pm
BO! JACKSON!
jeffrey d
September 3rd, 2012
3:44 pm
An da lay Juan
Not to be a nerd, but it’d be “Anda te“
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
3:44 pm
And currently the Braves are paying $10 million of his $15 million salary to the Indians to let Derek Lowe lose ballgames for them instead of Atlanta. And Lowe was almost as big a dumpster fire last year as Uggla is now….WTF
that is nothing like paying a ton of money over three years
David O'Brien
September 3rd, 2012
3:45 pm
Medlen in to pitch the 9th inning
Hugo Z Hackenbush
September 3rd, 2012
3:45 pm
This discussion is getting silly. The Braves saved 5 mil and lost one season of a pitcher clearly at the end of his career. Not comparable to Uggla in the least.
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
3:45 pm
wink is semicolon )
Tomahawk Mafia
September 3rd, 2012
3:46 pm
Wow. Ross with the strength to break his bat over his knee.
stizz
September 3rd, 2012
3:46 pm
Don’t like Meds pitching here.
Ken Stallings
September 3rd, 2012
3:46 pm
Excellent! Medlen starts the ninth! Woud be special to see the bullpen get a complete day off — not even warming up!
MIBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
3:46 pm
Good to see Kris getting the chance for the complete game (again).
David O'Brien
September 3rd, 2012
3:47 pm
Medlen has thrown 76 strikes in 98 pitches through 8, will go for the CG
Ken Stallings
September 3rd, 2012
3:48 pm
Now the umpire is squeezing the zone slightly — a few pitches previously called strikes called balls! But, Medlen stays tough and records the out on a liner to centerfield.
archie
September 3rd, 2012
3:48 pm
Difference between Medlen and Hanson. After Janish’s 7th inning error, Medlen just locked in and got out of the inning. Hanson would have pouted, lost his composure, and given up 5 more runs.
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
3:49 pm
yeah let him go for it
MIBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
3:49 pm
This kid is something!!
stizz
September 3rd, 2012
3:50 pm
At this point, you’re lucky if you can get Hanson for 5IP and just 3ER.
joseph gamble
September 3rd, 2012
3:50 pm
Kris Medlen a.k.a Baby Maddux
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
3:50 pm
11 = baby Nolan Ryan
MIBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
3:50 pm
It’s so fun watching him pitch!
keyLargo
September 3rd, 2012
3:50 pm
Ross with the strength to break his bat over his knee.
It’s all in the grain. You turn it 90 degrees and you’re on the DL.
Brava
September 3rd, 2012
3:51 pm
Brilliant, Meds!!
Braves Win!!!!!!
The A Bomb
September 3rd, 2012
3:51 pm
This is something. This is really something.
We go from this to a pot of boiling red oil tomorrow. Better get the bats going.
Couch Tater
September 3rd, 2012
3:51 pm
Winning streak!
Ken Stallings
September 3rd, 2012
3:52 pm
Medlen records the final out with a curveball that froze the hitter! Another absolute gem from the man!
MIBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
3:52 pm
Great game, KRIS!!!!!
CaptainMudd
September 3rd, 2012
3:52 pm
I wanted to be funny about it…@Jeffrey d…..failed ok….the only thing in post-haste was a thought that I was not giving the language it’s due respect—sorry and I stand corrected sir.
Trey
September 3rd, 2012
3:52 pm
Wow, that ball was Maddux-esque.
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
3:52 pm
beautiful pitch to end it.
brian
September 3rd, 2012
3:52 pm
you rock Kris Medlen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Impressive, impressive performance
stizz
September 3rd, 2012
3:52 pm
Absolutely no question who the ace of the staff is.
David O'Brien
September 3rd, 2012
3:52 pm
Medlen gets 2nd complete game in past 4 starts, now leads Braves in that category. Braves win 18th straight start by Medlen, extending franchise record.
And he got 2 K’s in last inning to push career-high total to 12 strikeouts, giving him 21 with no walks in past two starts.
brian
September 3rd, 2012
3:52 pm
extend Medlen!!
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
3:52 pm
Is this Maddux or Medlen? I can’t tell the difference…
htownbravesfan
September 3rd, 2012
3:53 pm
WTFREDI???, Derek Lowe isn’t losing games for the Indians anymore. They did what the Braves should have done and let him go. He latched on with the Yankees, and I’m not sure what he’s doing now. As far as benching Uggla, it was long past due. If I performed at my job the way he’s performed the last five months, I’d be in the unemployment line, not sitting in the break room.
Ken Stallings
September 3rd, 2012
3:53 pm
Medlen with 11 K’s and zero walks! He had only one three ball count all game!
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
3:53 pm
maybe he meant ándale, Jeffrey
Tomahawk Mafia
September 3rd, 2012
3:53 pm
Medlen is outstanding. Two in a row works for me. It is nice to have a two game winning streak heading into a Tommy Hanson start because he will halt any momentum the Braves have.
CaptainMudd
September 3rd, 2012
3:53 pm
Nice job Meds…..you’ve become a great one relatively fast.
George_George
September 3rd, 2012
3:54 pm
Good win. BELIEVE IN THE MEDS.
David O'Brien
September 3rd, 2012
3:54 pm
Flat-bill kid is pitching like a madman. Or poor man’s Mad(dux) man?
Hugo Z Hackenbush
September 3rd, 2012
3:54 pm
I really don’t get it. I’ll occasionally get on the in-game blog and make a few comments, win or lose. It doesn’t matter. But when the Braves get ahead early and go on to win, the whiny bitches vanish like Claude Rains. What kind of fans are they, anyway?
tony austin
September 3rd, 2012
3:55 pm
Chip said it best, “Wow”. Consign.
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
3:55 pm
hey did what the Braves should have done and let him go.htown
why in the world would they let him go and pay the entire 15mil when they could trade him and only pay 10m??
BFChris27
September 3rd, 2012
3:55 pm
Braves WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CaptainMudd
September 3rd, 2012
3:56 pm
@Nolieee…yes…but I saw no point ‘correcting’ when being corrected….thanks for your help.
WTFredi???
September 3rd, 2012
3:56 pm
What has Uggla shown outside of a two month stretch last season that indicates he will be the power hitting, run-producing presence in the cleanup spot over the next three years? Even if the Braves have to eat, say, $10 million, the 3 million that becomes available each year for the next three is significant, especially when Heyward and Medlen hit arbitration. It’s a ton of money, I agree, but $15 million is $15 miilion, and currently it is buying the Braves a .204 pinch-hitter.
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
3:56 pm
the Rox took their Meds, but hated the taste
George_George
September 3rd, 2012
3:57 pm
FREDI let him get his CG. WTG FREDI.
ray k
September 3rd, 2012
3:59 pm
Medlen has officially arrived.
The thing about both he and Beachy is they go after you without hesitation. Beachy seemed to let a walk or bloop hit bother him a bit last year–not so this year. He would plow right on through.
THAT is the difference between these two guys and a guy like Hanson, who starts playing chess inside his head every time there is a hiccup in the 4th or 5th.
If Beachy comes back to form next year, we may then have two top of the rotation starters who, without impressing the radar gun, do nevertheless come after you relentlessly.
Brava
September 3rd, 2012
3:59 pm
Yes, George, Fredi made the right call letting Meds get his CG.
Good game for Georgie, as well today.
Tampa Gator
September 3rd, 2012
4:01 pm
Meds is not only the best starter on the Braves right nbow…..he might be the best starting pitcher in the ML right now……and Gonzalez wanted to keep him in the pen…and even return him to the pen when Hanson returned……thank goodness a starter went down and he had to keep him in the rotation. He should be the starter in the play in wild card game if and when the Braves make it as one of those two teams.
tony austin
September 3rd, 2012
4:01 pm
Bobby probably would have Uggla still in the lineup and the bullpen would’ve pitched the last two or three innings. I’m not saying Fredi is better han Bobby, but its nice to see a different approach.
Ralph
September 3rd, 2012
4:02 pm
DOB – I have a question I would like for you to ask Fredi, if you dare! Question: How does it feel to know that you cost Kris Medlen a certain Cy Young award? Anyone agree?
monty
September 3rd, 2012
4:02 pm
Ho-hum another Braves(Medlen)win. What else is new?
bravesgrl4life
September 3rd, 2012
4:02 pm
Nice win. Glad to see a little luck go our way today.
We got a Monday win
Meds should pitch every Monday game 
ray k
September 3rd, 2012
4:02 pm
WTFredi,
Precisely right. There is no doubt the Braves would have to eat 70% of his contract if not more, but it may be the best course of action to at least recover 10 mil over the next 3 years and put it towards another bat.
N8
September 3rd, 2012
4:02 pm
Still a little dumbfounded why it took so long. But Fredi won some bonus points with me (for whatever that’s worth – but since I’m one most vocal about wanting him gone…..), with this Dan Uggla thing.
Uggla was HIS guy in Florida. He was his guy that had his back in that whole Hanley Ramirez fiasco (also one of the last times that Fredi publicly had a backbone with his players imo).
As for Dan Uggla himself? I hope he figures it out. Either in a Braves uniform or somewhere. Seems like one of the good guys in MLB. I like his hustle and I like that he doesn’t make excuses. Hard to not root for him.
That being said, he had to be taken out of the everyday lineup. He was flat out killing this lineup.
So I want to commend Fredi (or Wren if it came from upstairs)… for NOT compounding Dan’s bad contract, with another bad decision…… continuing to play him BECAUSE of the contract.
The money is guaranteed either way. Might as well play the best players. Especially down the stretch.
Now on to Medlen. I realize he pitched a couple of innings when he “came back” last year. But why is this guy NOT getting any national pub for “comeback player of the year”?
As for how they “handled” him this year. I do honestly believe that had he been in the rotation from the get go, he would have been this good. But I also believe that we’d have a mini-Strasburg situation on our hands. So I’m glad he’s NOW available for the stretch run. Gonna need him.
Best pitcher in baseball right now with the stretch he’s pitching. Period. End of discussion. Command is Maddux like. Greg would be proud.
So to those griping that Medlen should have been in rotation all along…. Be careful. Because he’d likely be done for year real soon had he been.
To those that scoffed that Medlen was better served in the rotation and belonged in the bullpen?
Told yeah. He’s been the better PITCHER (not thrower, but PITCHER) than Hanson since they both started the 2009 season in AAA. Which is why Medlen got called up first.
Only difference is Hanson had all the hype and hasn’t missed a year due to surgery.
Wouldn’t be surprised to see Hanson traded or himself in the bullpen next year.
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
4:03 pm
Kris Medlen a certain Cy Young award? …Ralph
certain huh? hmmmm
N8
September 3rd, 2012
4:03 pm
And like clockwork…. Ralph chimes in. Priceless.
monty
September 3rd, 2012
4:04 pm
Tough way to lose the scoreless iniing streak, he could of challenged Mad Dog next time out.
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
4:04 pm
dream on guys, about them eating Dan’s contract.
Jay Dubu
September 3rd, 2012
4:04 pm
B Mac will deal with his injury in the offseason, and come back in the best shape of his career next year. Nothing like a bad season to put pressure on a player to make some changes / adjustments to their approach.
And Mac will be playing for a contract next year to boot.
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
4:05 pm
the old N8 is back
MikeInFl
September 3rd, 2012
4:05 pm
37 1/3 innings without an Earned run. 0.54 ERA in 7 starts, with 50 K’s and 5 BB. 7 IP or more in 5 straight, with 2 complete games.
About as dominant as a pitcher can be.
ray k
September 3rd, 2012
4:06 pm
I think we all ought to lay off Fredi for a bit.
He made some questionable in game decisions earlier in the year, but, now that his job is officially on the line, his approach has been much more assertive.
He’s awake.
And his quotes about Uggla were not exactly bland and inoffensive. He told it like it is. That cannot be easy for a manager who has a history with a player spanning more than one team.
Trey
September 3rd, 2012
4:06 pm
Nice to win on a Monday, too!
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
4:06 pm
maybe those of us who thought him more valuable in the pen made a booboo…..
WTFredi???
September 3rd, 2012
4:07 pm
Ralph, for once, in fairness to Fredi G., I think he made the right call with Medlen at the start of the season because how much time Medlen missed. But Medlen has certainly earned a spot in the top of the rotation from here on.
2013: Hudson (if the Braves pick up his option), Medlen, Beachy, Minor, Hanson/Tehran/Delgado.
stizz
September 3rd, 2012
4:08 pm
I’d bet we have to borrow Colorado’s “buddy system” by replacing Hanson with Delgado.
N8
September 3rd, 2012
4:08 pm
Nope nolie. Not gonna spar with Ralph. No point. Unless you meant the long-winded part.
I just find it amusing that the exact minute that I’m hitting “submit comment” on a post being thankful Medlen is available NOW (because they didn’t use him in rotation early in year), that somebody wants to gripe about Fredi costing him a Cy Young. Too funny.
Maybe, they just gave him the next 3 Cy Young awards, by not blowing out his elbow one year removed from TJ surgery?
Nobody ever wants to think that way. That’s why the comment was priceless.
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
4:08 pm
don’t count too much on Beachy in ‘13
Semper Fi Braves Fan
September 3rd, 2012
4:09 pm
I have been a vocal supporter of benching Uggla, and even sending him to the minors. With that being said I am not sold that he isn’t a salvageable, right handed hitter with power. Something that oddly enough is hard to find it seems.
While with Florida and even in stretches this year and last we have seen what he is capable of doing. He needs to simply put in the work, fix the holes in his swing, and then earn his way back into the line up.
Outside of all that… Fredi has already started suggesting his job is in jeopardy, and this thought made me smile.
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
4:09 pm
yeah the long winded part
ray k
September 3rd, 2012
4:09 pm
Before Uggla’s demotion and Fredi’s honest appraisal, I would have said there was 0% of Uggla being moved before 2014. Now, I’m not so sure. I still don’t think it’s likely, but someone might think he needs a change of scenery and would be willing to take on some of that $.
war daddy lightfoot
September 3rd, 2012
4:09 pm
Believe my old buddy JoeBrave had it pegged just right…He warned us back when Uggla was traded for,that this would happen and now look at the production from this popeyemutant! What a piece of crap this guy is!
Ken Stallings
September 3rd, 2012
4:09 pm
Medlen’s character shown in the post-game interview that the Rockies broadcast did. Medlen was asked about the error that ended his consecutive scoreless innings streak (with an unearned run) and Medlen answered, “Yeah the guy’s busting his tail to get you the out — you can’t fault him for that!”
That’s Kris Medlen!
Jay Dubu
September 3rd, 2012
4:09 pm
Meds flat getting it done. He’s the only rotation guy that I look forward to seeing pitch.
smallmouth6
September 3rd, 2012
4:10 pm
Congrats to K Medlin. D. Uggla I’m hoping you get your swing back an appreciate your work ethic and team play (don’t listen to blogging fools), and noticed that Constanza was on base all day and had three steals? Play him!
Disgusted
September 3rd, 2012
4:10 pm
What a difference two games make.
The Braves are great — they are not BUMBS anymore. Two 4 da Good Guys.
Braves 4 Life.
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
4:10 pm
not so sure they could send Uggly to the minors, he would need to still have options left
Disgusted
September 3rd, 2012
4:11 pm
Medlen has been a season saver. Where wood we be witout him.
Idiots Abound!
September 3rd, 2012
4:11 pm
So Chip says in the wrap up “Braves continue to pound Rockies pitching today.” HuH? 4 hits?!
Tom Hart on the field to Medlin, ” Did you expect to get 12 Ks today?” To which Meds answered “of course not!”
Tom Hart also says, “it was easy” talking about Meds performance. Medlen said, ” it wasn’t easy.”
We are in the new age of truth with the Braves. Fredi benches Uggla so the broadcast team should start being truthful as well.
Joe Simpson added the final straw saying Hanson hasn’t been hit that hard, just bad luck. Gimme a break!
N8
September 3rd, 2012
4:12 pm
Now I will say this nolie, if our rotation was “solid” and healthy (meaning Hanson and JJJ were the pitchers they were the first half of last year?)…..
then sure. Medlen probably better served in bullpen and letting Delgado and Teheran start in AAA and build innings.
But as far as pure stuff? I just loved how Medlen pitched when he was in the rotation before. No doubt in my mind that he consistently wins 12-15 games a year for rest of his career if healthy. He just knows how to pitch and can execute his game plan.
Hanson is a thrower. And even as he’s tried to “pitch” more to save his shoulder…. his command isn’t good enough to pitch in the upper 80’s and lower 90’s. Hanson needs his 94-96 fastball to pitch with his command.
Thus the reason I think Tommy Hanson is better served in the bullpen. On this team anyhow.
I think he’s better served as a trade chip. But even then. Wouldn’t surprise me if another team traded for him and instantly put him in the pen or tried to make a closer out of him. Hard to say.
Ralph
September 3rd, 2012
4:12 pm
Uggla is not the only one that has been killing this lineup, Blind/Mac shares the blame equally, There is no way they should pick up the option on him unless he agrees to a pay cut .
Brave New World
September 3rd, 2012
4:12 pm
David O’Brien September 3rd, 2012 3:54 pm Flat-bill kid is pitching like a madman. Or poor man’s Mad(dux) man?
DOB: I’d say Maddux was a rich man’s Medlen – and that would be just fine.
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
4:13 pm
keeps pitching like this and Meds will be a rich man too
NORRIS CHUCK
September 3rd, 2012
4:14 pm
I guess the Nats arent gonna lose another game this year after the 5 game losing streak. But i like the Braves chances with the bench being deep. That just might be enough if BMac and Uggla can get it goin.
In other news:
Outrighted To Triple-A: Mark Hamburger
By Zach Links [September 3 at 1:09pm CST]
Today’s outright assignments..
•Astros right-hander Mark Hamburger cleared waivers and has been outrighted to Triple-A Oklahoma City, tweets Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. Houston acquired the 25-year-old after he was waived by the Padres in July. In six minor league seasons, Hamburger owns a 4.03 ERA with 8.0 K/9 and 3.4 BB/9.
When asked about the move, management was qouted as saying, “We had no Beef with him.”
LOL!
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
4:14 pm
Hanson in the pen is pretty scary IMO
Hugo Z Hackenbush
September 3rd, 2012
4:14 pm
The only problem I had with the “Medlen needs to stay in the pen” crowd was the smug and strident way some had of expressing that opinion. Hope they learned something from this experience.
ray k
September 3rd, 2012
4:15 pm
Beachy is progressing nicely so far. And is young.
I think he could very well be a second half contributor next season.
Disgusted
September 3rd, 2012
4:15 pm
Its too early in Kris’ career but to date the Maddux comparisons are not far off. But lets not get too excited just yet.
Remember that John Thompson was supposed to be our poor man’s version of Mad Dog when he left for the Cubs in 04 & he was basically a journeyman pitcher who did have one good yr and one poor yr for us.
I am sure Kris will be better than John Thompson. (I hope).
You know what people forget about Mike Hampton. He actually did have 2 decent yrs for us when he was healthy the first 2 yrs they had him.
Brave New World
September 3rd, 2012
4:15 pm
Fredi’s remark about maybe he might not be around could be very telling. Wonder if Wren didn’t have a similar (and tough) conversation with Fredi about playing to win vs. extreme loyalty to Uggla. I like Uggla, but sitting him is the right decision. Reed Johnson acquisition may be more valuable than we knew at the time. GO BRAVES!
N8
September 3rd, 2012
4:17 pm
“Hanson in the pen is pretty scary IMO”
Not somebody else’s pen nolie. Hopefully a team in the NL East.
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
4:17 pm
perhaps second half to some extent. 18 months is usually thought of as when they get back close to what they were
Ralph
September 3rd, 2012
4:18 pm
If I thought for one minute that Fruti was smart enough to start the season with Medlen in the pen to save his arm I would not have made the comment about the Cy Young, but get real folks, he isn’t that smart.
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
4:19 pm
maybe it wasn’t Fredi’s decision?
Chop Chop
September 3rd, 2012
4:20 pm
Boy, if Chipper and Medlen ever start regressing to the mean, people are going to start jumping off bridges.
jeffrey d
September 3rd, 2012
4:20 pm
Anyone agree?
No.
MIBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
4:20 pm
“nolie
September 3rd, 2012
4:13 pm
keeps pitching like this and Meds will be a rich man too”
And deservedly so
My, my
September 3rd, 2012
4:20 pm
You hit it on the head, Hansonmismamth
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
4:21 pm
Chipper is about at his mean
stizz
September 3rd, 2012
4:22 pm
Hanson in the pen is pretty scary IMO”
He wouldn’t pitch unless we’re taking a team behind the woodshed or if the beating were on us. The Braves might have to make a Barry Zito decision on the guy when it comes to the postseason though.
Hugo Z Hackenbush
September 3rd, 2012
4:22 pm
Leave it to “Chuck” to cover the Hamburger story…
jeffrey d
September 3rd, 2012
4:23 pm
Boy, if Chipper and Medlen ever start regressing to the mean, people are going to start jumping off bridges.
Are you new here? People on here have been jumping off bridges since leadoff baserunners have been invented.
Hugo Z Hackenbush
September 3rd, 2012
4:23 pm
Nolie, your fave, Gearrin is coming back!
My, my
September 3rd, 2012
4:23 pm
IPad spell shocker…sorry.
Hanson is a thrower. Medlen is a pitcher. One gets in a jam and falls apart. One gets in a jam, bears down and gets out of it. One deserves to be in the rotation. One wouldn’t be in the rotation if he weren’t 6′6″ and used to have a 95 mph fastball…….USED TO HAVE.
phoenix
September 3rd, 2012
4:24 pm
Braves are 26-10 in games with Constanza in starting lineup. And there are still people who want to send Uggla out there. Amazing.
Disgusted
September 3rd, 2012
4:24 pm
There are few proffessional athletes who have the mindset composure that Kris Medlen has and that goes for any of the 4 major sports.
The guy is a winner in a nutshell.
Put the mental composure of Kris in an athlete on your team and you have a keeper.
If he were an NFL player he would be a Super Bowl winning QB assuming health and goodpeople around him. He would be a point guard in the NBA or a goalie on a Stanley Cup winning team.
Give him the ball & let him work.
N8
September 3rd, 2012
4:24 pm
I tend to think it was more Wren’s decision Ralph. Either way, whoever’s decision it was, considering Medlen’s low innings total before the surgery… it was the right move.
And I’m one of the guys that ABSOLUTELY believed that Medlen would be one of our better pitchers in the rotation. His coming back late last year, was the main reason I was on my high horse saying “sell high” on Jurrjens.
I’m a fan of Medlen. Big time. And NOT a fan of Fredi…. at all.
But if Medlen is in rotation to start year, we’re watching the Braves talk about shutting him down (or being stupid enough to keep throwing him out there) in the middle of a fantastic season.
So whether intentional or not…. the decision (for whatever reason – and by whoever made it) to have him in pen to start the year….. is one of the reasons we are getting to watch him domintate for the pennant race stretch run.
Hard to complain about that from my angle. And I’m known as N8 the Hate around these parts. So good luck if you want to call me a homer or an optimist.
Brava
September 3rd, 2012
4:24 pm
The only problem I had with the “Medlen needs to stay in the pen” crowd was the smug and strident way some had of expressing that opinion. Hope they learned something from this experience.
Co-sign.
Edward Oliver
September 3rd, 2012
4:25 pm
Wait……………… all you Dan U haters. He is having a bad year. Jason Heyward had a bad year last year and all you haters wanted to get rid of him last year. Danny is jut having a bad season and no matter how much you pay a guy he is HUMAN. So he will come around just watch …….. then all you haters will then kissing his feet.
Brava
September 3rd, 2012
4:26 pm
The Rockies have some good hitters on that team and I’m afraid they are going to light Hanson up tomorrow. Hope Fredi has him on a short leash.
N8
September 3rd, 2012
4:26 pm
“Chipper is about at his mean”
I was going to say the same thing. and considering how Hanson, Sheets, Huddy and even Maholm’s last start went? If Medlen regressed to the mean, he’d STILL be our best pitcher.
MFin04
September 3rd, 2012
4:27 pm
I think Medlen might slowly be converting all the haters on the blog. What a freakin’ game that was. Wow.
David O'Brien
September 3rd, 2012
4:27 pm
Braves have recalled Teheran and Gearrin from Triple-A. That’s probably it for call-ups.
Disgusted
September 3rd, 2012
4:27 pm
Reed Johnson is going to be valuable but we need the good Malholm back and he can do it.
If Hudson and PM get it back we will be in the post season. And please guys, get Minor a few runs. He did let that lead get away on Friday.
I hope that Kimbrell is able to shake off that GW HR Friday, he is great from April to August. Hope is is the good Kimbrell in September.
Goober McBrave
September 3rd, 2012
4:27 pm
Gonna have to package Uggla Hanson and Teheran to get rid of that albatross contract of Uggla’s! then I bet Wren does something DUMBER than hell by giing Mac a 72 mill contract! He never fails to be the IDIOT!
N8
September 3rd, 2012
4:28 pm
Let me correct you Edward. Save one 32 game hitting streak (or whatever the hell it was)…. Dan Uggla has had two absolutely horrible seasons in Atlanta. Like close to the worst hitter in the NL “bad”.
it’s not a slump. It’s not a bad season. It’s a massive drop off in ability to be productive.
Heyward had injury issues and is 22 years old. And making the league minimum.
Dan Uggla was traded for and then extened to be the RH power hitting savior in our lineup.
I hope you see the difference.
phoenix
September 3rd, 2012
4:28 pm
Joe Simpson says Hanson hasn’t been hit all that hard. Right. And New Orleans barely got touched by Hurricane Katrina.
jeffrey d
September 3rd, 2012
4:29 pm
He [Wren] never fails to be the IDIOT!
Oh someone hasn’t failed to be the idiot.
Birdhair
September 3rd, 2012
4:30 pm
Nolie, uggly would have to consent to the minors assignment since he has spent at least 5 years in pro ball. Just to clarify the options comment.
MFin04
September 3rd, 2012
4:30 pm
Ironically enough Kris Medlen has saved both the bullpen in the first half of the season and the starters in the 2nd half of the season.
Guy is the major reason Venters, EOF, and Kimbrel have such low inning totals this year and is also the reason the Braves are still in contention for the wild card due to his starting pitching as well.
Hugo Z Hackenbush
September 3rd, 2012
4:32 pm
Considering how little Medlen has started, I’m not sure “the mean” is very…meaningful.
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
4:34 pm
Save one 32 game hitting streak (or whatever the hell it was)……N8
oh baloney, he had three good months last year (955, 1076, 803 OPS-July, Aug,Sept) and two good months to start this season. (784 and 874)
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
4:36 pm
thank you for reminding me of that Birdhair
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
4:36 pm
Kris Medlen has saved both the bullpen in the first half of the season and the starters in the 2nd half of the season….MF04
pretty true
MFin04
September 3rd, 2012
4:38 pm
nolie – Of course, how could I forget, he is still saving the bullpen by pitching (almost) 3 complete games.
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
4:40 pm
yup, he still is ,at least so far
Semper Fi Braves Fan
September 3rd, 2012
4:41 pm
Before this year uggla has been a 30 HR 90+ RBI 260ish BA right handed bat with high K and better than average walk totals. His career OBS is 340’s and is an annual +WAR player.
Benching him this season is the right move, though I would hope the braves don’t send him packing for at least 1 more season. Just to see if he can live up to the contract that the Braves would end up paying a majority of anyways.
Prado will not be there to play 2nd next year, if you believe that Rev or Janish is the answer there, long term, over Uggla. Best case scenario is the infield next year is Prado, Simmons, Uggla and Freeman. Hopefully all having great years.
brian
September 3rd, 2012
4:41 pm
Did I miss Delgado getting called up or is he in someone’s doghouse??
WTFredi???
September 3rd, 2012
4:43 pm
nolie, agreed, Uggla had a good second half last season and started out okay this season. But he has not even come close to giving the production of someone paid 13 million a year and expected to be the #4 or #5 hitter on a contender. I don’t think the guy is ever going to adjust, because his plate approach and attitude suggest he ONLY cares about hitting homers. He’ll be the world’s greatest beer-league softball player when his baseball days are over.
bustersonly
September 3rd, 2012
4:43 pm
Damm I wish they would change that “Boys In The Hall TV Commercial, been running for 2 years now. When a network runs continuous commercials of their own programming it means no one is buying air time.
Hugo Z Hackenbush
September 3rd, 2012
4:44 pm
Braves already called up Delgado.
MikeInFl
September 3rd, 2012
4:45 pm
Let me correct you Edward. Save one 32 game hitting streak (or whatever the hell it was)…. Dan Uggla has had two absolutely horrible seasons in Atlanta. Like close to the worst hitter in the NL “bad”.
N8, if you’re gonna lecture, you really need to get your facts straight. Uggla was solid for pretty close to half a season this year. As late as June 23 (71 games) his OPS was over .800. That’s why he was voted to start the ASG.
Not defending what he’s done since then, but let’s at least give him credit for the success he’s had.
ray k
September 3rd, 2012
4:47 pm
Uggla had a fantastic run last year towards the end, a very small hot streak earlier on, and an auspicious beginning when he left harbor this year, but aside from that, he has been roundly putrid. His slumps aren’t 2 or 3 week slumps–they last months.
You can continue to pencil a guy in when he’s still hitting bombs (See Adam Dunn), but Uggla isn’t even doing that.
It’s actually kinda sad that he was citing certain homers he hit in recent weeks to argue his case to the media.
Nice guy and a good teammate.
But he never seems to adjust.
Chop Chop
September 3rd, 2012
4:47 pm
Chipper ain’t at the mean for his age, I’ll tell you that much. He’s below his career averages, but it’s rare to see a 40-year-old hit better than he has in four years. If his usage wasn’t being maximized for the biggest bang for the buck, an independent observer might think he’s getting some of what the Melkman had delivered.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
4:48 pm
Teheran is up too? Hope he gets into some good situations, he didn’t look good in AAA.
No Gattis? Boo. Fire Wren…
Ralph
September 3rd, 2012
4:48 pm
Yhea, Ug was batting .220 when he was voted to the All Star game.
MIBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
4:48 pm
Jamey Johnson – that’s Country, with a capital C.
Hugo Z Hackenbush
September 3rd, 2012
4:48 pm
Ah, why should someone let the facts get in the way of a good theory?
Mark
September 3rd, 2012
4:50 pm
Freddi makes 2 great decisions although had he pulled the trigger sooner on both we’d be a few games better off.
Medlin to starter and Uggla no longer a starter!
Good for him and management.
Ralph
September 3rd, 2012
4:50 pm
No Meja call up either, could use his bat!
bostonbravo
September 3rd, 2012
4:50 pm
“Semper Fi” to be ‘nitpickish’ in 7 seasons so far, Uggla has only hit above .250 3 seasons. His fielding is less than spectacular. I read here all time that he is a great guy, and that’s nice. I’ve read where Brooks Conrad & Derek Lowe were swell also.
rich brave
September 3rd, 2012
4:50 pm
DOWN ON THE FARM
GWINNETT
TIDES drown G-Men’s last hope for this season 5-1 as GWINNETT goes out for the winter on a whimper.
1B ERNESTO MEJIA [.296 BA] 0-4 today and apparantly happy the season is done. He ends up one percentage point below last year’s mark at AA. He fared well in AAA this year
2012 [AAA] vs. 2011 [AA]
133 G vs.137 G
555 PA vs 573 PA
510 AB vs 499 AB
73 R vs 82 R
152 H vs 148 H
32 2B vs. 37 2B
1 3B vs. 1 3B
24 HR va 26 HR
92 RBI vs 99 RBI
10 SB vs 04 SB
04 CS vs 03 CS
34 BB vs 58 BB
132 SO vs 156 SO
.296 BA vs .298 BA
.350 OBP vs .375 OBP
.506 SLG vs .531 SLG
.855 OPS vs .906 OPS
258 TB vs 265 TB
.991% fielding vs .989 fielding
Not much left to prove, and after eight years in the minors not much time to prove it.
Bronke
September 3rd, 2012
4:52 pm
Hey Dan. Say hello to your new best friend, THE BENCH. May you comfort each other in troubled times. Sit back and watch as Prado and company get it done!
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
4:52 pm
Yhea, Ug was batting .220 when he was voted to the All Star game.
Seriously dude? He was hitting .270 and leading 2B in OBP. HR, RBI etc. when he received many of his votes.
Yeah, surprised no Mejia callup… Thought that with him being a RH power bat they might consider it. Anything to get Hinske of the roster.
MikeInFl
September 3rd, 2012
4:52 pm
Yhea, Ug was batting .220 when he was voted to the All Star game.
I guess you’re assuming that all the votes were cast on the day of the ASG.
Mark
September 3rd, 2012
4:55 pm
Uggla gets a lot of credit for being a great team mate but thats getting hard to swallow if he keeps fussing and moaning about not playing and recalling what he did one AB a month ago. Everyone on the roster wants to play but at some point even a player slumping as badly as he has for as long as he has should take the high road and admit he had ample opportunity to break out of his funk.
I hope he shuts up, keeps working, and takes advantage of opportunities when he gets them.
ray k
September 3rd, 2012
4:55 pm
Mike,
It’s true that on June 23, Uggla’s OPS was solid, and his OBP was higher than Bourn’s, in part because he was drawing walks. But he was hitting .265 on June 12th and was down to .244 by June 23, his slugging % dropping about 60 points.
So he was already plummeting before game 71.
Animus
September 3rd, 2012
4:56 pm
Just a silly question for those calling for Meija/Gattis call ups this September. I was under the impression a player had to be on the 40 man roster for call up?
I don’t see either of these two listed on the roster, so are either eligible???
ncscoots
September 3rd, 2012
4:56 pm
I hope the glee shown here at Uggla’s benching will remain evident through a month of seeing everyday ABs from Johnson, Constanza, and any other bench scrub that happens to strike Fredo’s fancy on a given day. Ought to be fun seeing the various lineups he’ll conjure up. Have mercy.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
4:57 pm
He was plummeting before the ASG, but many of the votes for him were cast long before that, while he was still HOT
monty
September 3rd, 2012
4:58 pm
Only way Kris ended up as a SP is he had to come out and pitch dang near perfect to get any serious consideration. Don’t believe for a second mgmt. had him penciled in to start 2nd half. Took Beachy’s,JJ’s,and TH’s injuries and Delgado not stepping up for him to even crack the lineup or else he would still be a bullpen guy. He was always a last choice guy(strictly based on not fitting some preconceived mold). Good for him that he did his time and said the right things and now the FO are being talked about as if they are genuises.They had it all planned! LOL! Best SP on the team outside of perhaps BB and they had him designated as a 2 inning pullpen guy. Way to go Kris now your life will never be the same!! You’re free!
Mark
September 3rd, 2012
4:59 pm
At least Tehran and Gearrin got the call too.
Because Hanson is up tomorrow isn’t he?
rich brave
September 3rd, 2012
4:59 pm
Brava
September 3rd, 2012
4:24 pm
“……The only problem I had with the “Medlen needs to stay in the pen” crowd was the smug and strident way some had of expressing that opinion. Hope they learned something from this experience.
Co-sign…..”
Agreed, but doubtful.
And you know BRAVA, reflecting upon your thank you for my service to my country almost a hal-century ago, you may be the first person who ever did that. I’m serious, I really don’t ever remember a thank you before today from anyone, not even my family. So, you’re welcome and thank you in kind for yours.
MikeInFl
September 3rd, 2012
4:59 pm
Okay. so he was just very good for a little over 2 months of this year. Still completely disregarded in your original post, which was my point. Really don’t need to exaggerate to make the point that he’s been a disappointment.
MFin04
September 3rd, 2012
5:00 pm
Teheran and Delgado are up and Tommy Hanson still is going to get a start tomorrow? Hmm. That’s odd.
rich brave
September 3rd, 2012
5:03 pm
Animus
September 3rd, 2012
4:56 pm
“…..Just a silly question for those calling for Meija/Gattis call ups this September. I was under the impression a player had to be on the 40 man roster for call up?
I don’t see either of these two listed on the roster, so are either eligible???….”
That was a question I posed here to which i never saw a response either. CUNNINGHAM and MEJIA was my question, about a month ago. I thought they had to be on the forty-man before they could be pulled up, but maybe not, I haven’t checked the 40-man roster lately.
MikeInFl
September 3rd, 2012
5:03 pm
I think you’re right, monty. Medlen was never above about #7 or 8 in the Braves’ rotation plans.
RBI
September 3rd, 2012
5:03 pm
I would be interested to know just how many games Uggla has WON for this team, either with his bart or glove. Seriously.
Mark
September 3rd, 2012
5:04 pm
rich
Would love to see those post regarding Medlins legitimacy as a starter now from a while back as well. I remember a couple of the self-promoted baseball gurus on here trashing Meds and those that called for him to start loudly and often on here. Most of those same ones defended Uggla to the point of threats but so it goes.
Came in late on the service conversation but to anyone who has served this nation a big thank you to all!
MFin04
September 3rd, 2012
5:05 pm
“Medlen was never above about #7 or 8 in the Braves’ rotation plans.”
Exactly. The who saving innings crap was a garbage ploy which no intelligent Braves fan or announcer should’ve bought.
rich brave
September 3rd, 2012
5:08 pm
Oh no, not HANSON again?
OMG, no wonder they wanted the long-reliefers to get some rest, and back-up.
Gosh, I hope they pull him just as soon as he starts going south.
He’s been terrible lately. I’m for moving him out to GWINNETT next season.
Well, he’s not good trade bait, so I’m guessing his arb hearing should go well for the BRAVES with the succky way he’s showed up for work lately.
rich brave
September 3rd, 2012
5:10 pm
Mark:
De nada!
Brava
September 3rd, 2012
5:10 pm
And you know BRAVA, reflecting upon your thank you for my service to my country almost a hal-century ago, you may be the first person who ever did that. I’m serious, I really don’t ever remember a thank you before today from anyone, not even my family. So, you’re welcome and thank you in kind for yours.
Wow, rich, this put me in tears. I’m so sorry to hear no one ever thanked you.
I’ll always cherish one morning, many years ago, when I was in uniform, on my way to work and had stopped to get gas. An elderly gentleman walked across the parking lot to where I was standing, grabbed my hand and shook it, and said, “Young lady, I just wanted to thank you for serving our great country”. That brought me to tears as well and is something I’ve never forgotten because it meant so much to me as I was going through some tough times then.
So, you’re very welcome, rich and thank you again.
WTFredi???
September 3rd, 2012
5:11 pm
To Ugglas credit, he has walked 80 times this year, which has helped his on-base percentage and OPS. But he’s not getting paid to walk, he’s getting paid the drive in runs. He’s also struck out 150 times in 533 plate appearances. So he’s actually putting the ball in play only 6 out of every 10 appearances, roughly. That’s pretty awful for RBI man.
Jay Dubu
September 3rd, 2012
5:13 pm
Did I miss it, or is Delgado not being called up?
MIBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
5:13 pm
RBI – how do you calculate that? For example, his HR would have won the game Friday night without the rare blown save by Craig. Those don’t count, if the BP doesn’t come through?
I don’t disagree with sitting Dan at this point and playing Martin at 2nd on a regular basis. I love what we’ve seen from Reed Johnson and think he can be a big help to the lineup playing LF quite a lot. I also think there is no way on earth the Braves are trading Dan this offseason with the years and money left on his contract, that he is not old enough to be in decline physically (and the way he hustles out ground balls certainly indicates his legs are not going out from under him – that’s not his problem in his hitting), and hope and believe he will come back strong at some point, even if it’s not until 2013.
Brava
September 3rd, 2012
5:13 pm
That was a question I posed here to which i never saw a response either. CUNNINGHAM and MEJIA was my question, about a month ago. I thought they had to be on the forty-man before they could be pulled up, but maybe not, I haven’t checked the 40-man roster lately.
I thought they had to be in the organization. nolie?
Murph
September 3rd, 2012
5:14 pm
Poor Uggla.
Good thing the Braves have a former all-star 2B on the roster to take his place. And Johnson isn’t missing a beat in LF.
brian
September 3rd, 2012
5:14 pm
would love to see Delgado or Teheran pitch tomorrow. My guess is that Tommy has a very short leash tomorrow
MIBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
5:14 pm
Delgado was called up, Jay. Hopefully on standby to rescue the team from Hanson tomorrow if need be.
Brava
September 3rd, 2012
5:15 pm
I agree, with you, MIBravesFan. Dan will be the Braves starting 2B next season. I also think he will come back.
rich brave
September 3rd, 2012
5:16 pm
99.5
rich brave
September 3rd, 2012
5:18 pm
I sure hope you guys are right regarding HANSON.
Brava
September 3rd, 2012
5:18 pm
Let’s hope, brian. Fredi sent Maholm back out after giving up 5 in the first, so I don’t know what to expect. Of course, having Delgado and Teheran at his disposal should make the decision easier.
rich brave
September 3rd, 2012
5:18 pm
How many more times this season are they going to run that booger out there anyway?
Brava
September 3rd, 2012
5:20 pm
I’d have to think tomorrow is Tommy’s last start unless he pitches a gem, rich.
Trey
September 3rd, 2012
5:20 pm
rich brave, thank you for your service. I had no idea.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
5:20 pm
Animus
September 3rd, 2012
4:56 pm
Just a silly question for those calling for Meija/Gattis call ups this September. I was under the impression a player had to be on the 40 man roster for call up?
Couldn’t they add those 2 to the 40-man? We have room…
I hope the glee shown here at Uggla’s benching will remain evident through a month of seeing everyday ABs from Johnson, Constanza, and any other bench scrub that happens to strike Fredo’s fancy on a given day. Ought to be fun seeing the various lineups he’ll conjure up. Have mercy.
This. Gonna be fun seeing Constanza starting every other day… NOT
would love to see Delgado or Teheran pitch tomorrow. My guess is that Tommy has a very short leash tomorrow
Especially seeing how Fredi had guys up in the 1st inning with Maholm pitching. I wish Tommy wouldn’t start, but if he does get that chance, first time that he has runners on base (2+) take him out.
I agree, with you, MIBravesFan. Dan will be the Braves starting 2B next season. I also think he will come back.
Ready to rock and rumble, I hope. .265/.350/.400 would be nice.
rich brave
September 3rd, 2012
5:20 pm
MURPH:
You da’ man. Love your posts. You’re the greatest.
Jeeze, I’ve turned into URIAH HEEP.
MIBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
5:21 pm
Brava – thanks for sharing that story. Bless his heart. And thanks, rich, for your service. I’m sorry it’s so belated.
Mark
September 3rd, 2012
5:22 pm
Bravo and MIBravesFan
I wish I were as confident as you all but I believe Uggs is done. I was calling for his demotion prior to the all=star break. I believed he showed that he refuses to make adjustments and change his approach long ago so I bashed him on here. I did quit but unfortunately I think he is toast. However, if he proves me wrong for an extended period of time and not just a couple of hits right on the left field chaulk, I’ll gladly get on here and admit it unlike some Medlin for the bull pen posters
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
5:22 pm
I’d have to think tomorrow is Tommy’s last start unless he pitches a gem, rich.
I’d have thought that after watching him struggle for months, since last year, Tommy woulda been out of the rotation as soon as he had gotten hurt. That was a great excuse to take him out. Should’ve run with a 5-man rotation since then. Don’t know where to put him though, because he isn’t a great reliever, esp. with that delivery.
Definitely tradeable though…. he might be starting down a non-tender if he keeps this up.
RB
September 3rd, 2012
5:23 pm
Hate that I missed seeing Medlin on my off day. Didn’t know he was pitching today. Watching him is like watching Maddox,Truly enjoyable!!
Jay Dubu
September 3rd, 2012
5:23 pm
Thanks MIBravesFan
Mark
September 3rd, 2012
5:24 pm
Good for Constnaza today – Congrats to him.
1 for 2 with a walk and a stolen base!!!!!
Nice to see a guy who led AAA in hitting most of the year get a shot
vitriol spewer (phil)
September 3rd, 2012
5:24 pm
Keep FG!!
Benching Uggly, at last…. Thank you!
Medlen has been terrific. Way to go!
Perhaps the collapse is stopped in it tracks now?
rich brave
September 3rd, 2012
5:24 pm
TREY:
Thanks. I wasn’t trying to get cudos from everyone, but I really did want BRAVA to know how I felt. Just leave it O.K. I did my duty as all of us should when necessary. That’s all.
King of Carrot Flowers
September 3rd, 2012
5:25 pm
Nolie: “maybe those of us who thought him more valuable in the pen made a booboo…..”
Smartest thing I’ve seen you say on this blog. Credit where credit is due.
Mark
September 3rd, 2012
5:27 pm
No more gems in sight for Hanson at this level.
To quote Gerge Herman Bush and Carvey qouting him “Not gonna happen!”
88 mph FB and only other pitch is a curve ball will get you beat in some high school games these days
Lew
September 3rd, 2012
5:29 pm
Medlen is p[itching as well as any pitcher I’ve ever seen for this stretch (and I’ve seen Gibson, Koufax and all others since then). However, before we start claiming Cy Young Awards had he started since the beginning of the season, maybe we need to go back and actually look at how things REALLY were back in the dawn of prehistory (May 24 – June 30 of this year).
From May 24 -June 30, Medlen gave up 20 hits and 8 ER in 14 IP. There were concerns voiced at the time, which some conveniently forget now in the glow of the Maddux-esque numbers he’s compiled during this current streak. In addition, some seem to forget he only pitched a handful of innings since he was injured midway through 2010 and had not pitched more than three IP in an outing to that point and had only exceeded 2 IP (2.2 – 3) three times.
In short (no pun intended scoots), he was not ready to start as of July 1 and compounding the decision to move him to the rotation was the fact that Venters was not hi usual self, O’Flaherty started slow (but sure has picked it up and is having anothert great season) and the pen in general was an exercise in futility much of the early going.
Let’s all revel in Meds’ command. Let’s thoroughly enjoy his dominance for as long as it continues (and may he make a career of dominanat performances in a Braves’ uni), but let’s not revise history in our zeal to crown him the next coming of greatness (though let’s sincerely hope he is.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
5:30 pm
Hanson has pitched in 10 total months (from 2011)… He’s had 5 good months, 5 bad months.
His good months: April, May, and June 2011 and April and June 2012
His bad months: July and August 2011 and May, July, and August 2012
He’s had more bad months than good ones recently. He’s hurt folks, and not getting better. He pitches the rest of September and he’ll look foolish.
He’s been hit at a .275 clip for the year, and .310 since July 1. Worth -0.4 WAR for the year…. he’s done this year. There’s no room for him in our rotation next year, and I can’t see why any GM would trade for him… he’s been garbage this year. Non-tender is a possibility.
RB
September 3rd, 2012
5:30 pm
The only person who could trade Ugla is Danny Ferry and he is not on staff.
David O'Brien
September 3rd, 2012
5:32 pm
Braves quotage after win against Rockpile
http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2012/09/03/braves-quotes-after-mondays-win-against-rockies/
MIBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
5:33 pm
TOBF – “Non-tender is a possibility.”
Unless something changes – probability.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
5:34 pm
Nice to see a guy who led AAA in hitting most of the year get a shot
MIBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
5:34 pm
Thanks for the quotes, DOB (and the music, as always!)
N8
September 3rd, 2012
5:34 pm
“As late as June 23 (71 games) his OPS was over .800.”
His OPS was/is still good because of his walks. I’m gonna go on a limb and say that Wren didn’t offer him 13 million a year to walk. Just a hunch.
We’ll have to agree to disagree.
I’ve been disappointed with Dan Uggla’s production and consistency over all since he’s become a Brave.
That clarify my stance a little more?
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
5:36 pm
Unless something changes – probability.
True… I was just trying to tone down the tone in which I speak of Tommy…. I was told last week that I was crazy to think that he is untradeable, that someone wants him as a #3-4 pitcher. He has value. HA! His stats say otherwise. It’s not worth 4mil to have him start, go to the ‘pen, or pitch in AAA. Let him go.
Sports Facts » Baseball-Braves bench struggling Uggla, Prado in starter’s role – Chicago Tribune
September 3rd, 2012
5:36 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution [...]
David O'Brien
September 3rd, 2012
5:37 pm
Braves have won franchise-record 18 consecutive starts by Medlen. Last team to win at least that many in a row by one pitcher was 2001 Yankees, who won 20 consecutive starts by Roger Clemens.
TaylorVol
September 3rd, 2012
5:37 pm
DOB, wow, just wow. Must be some serious tension in the clubhouse between Uggla and Gonzalez. It was the right call IMO. I still admire Uggla’s hustle and determination—he’s handled adversity well. Now, let’s see how he handles the ultimate challenge—being benched. Jamey Johnson is my favorite musician—real Country music INDEED!
Mark
September 3rd, 2012
5:38 pm
Players that don’t need to be back:
Hanson – hurt, no velo, done! Sorry but its the way it is.
Uggla – Flailing hacker when he does swing and taker of FBs down the middle when he doesn’t. Just can’t get it done. Plus, and this is childish and I know it is, but when does a pro baseball player that rarely shaves his face have time to shave his arms. I’m just saying that to me thats a little weird but…
Venters – Ruined by over use by the very ones that’ll send him packing – sad!
Hinski – Out of shape and if he can’t deliver hits off the bench occassionally he’s of no use.
Cmart – If he insist on throwing 5 or 6 change ups in a row like he has been doing.
jeffrey d
September 3rd, 2012
5:38 pm
These numbers by Medlen are starting to get ridiculous
Lew
September 3rd, 2012
5:39 pm
This isn’t fantasy baseball folks – They aren’t going to trade Uggla this winter – They aren’t going to eat millions to get rid of him (not this year, anyway) and they aren’t going to non tender Hanson (again – at least not this year).
They just aren’t. Now Jurrjens? He’s toast.
Kat
September 3rd, 2012
5:39 pm
Looking like I’ll get to see Hanson pitch on Sunday.. not sure how excited I am about that
Hoping the Mets honor Chipper on the last game of the series vs. the first.
TaylorVol
September 3rd, 2012
5:42 pm
BTW, just returned from the game. Medlin was absolutely amazing. He reminds me of Maddux with his quick delivery, hitting all the corners, and bulldog mentality. Great game today! BTW, whoever stole my 8 year old daughter’s two souvenir Chipper Jones cups when we went to the restroom should be ashamed of themselves. She was in tears as she loves Chipper. They were both half full of soda. C’mon, people!
Mark
September 3rd, 2012
5:44 pm
TOBF
I’m just saying he has done well where he was when some up here have not. Nice to see hard work and pererverance get rewarded.
Heck he did more today to contribute to a win than some that have been out there all year have done. Not saying he is the answer but its nice he got out there today. Pluis when we need some speed we have some on the bench now!
MIBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
5:45 pm
Now I wish I knew what the 80s song Kris was dancing to was!
What a gem he is! Keep doing what you’re doing, Kris!
David O'Brien
September 3rd, 2012
5:45 pm
Medlen is 5-0 with an 0.23 ERA during his five-start winning streak, with 41 strikeouts and two walks in 39-1/3 innings.
Mark
September 3rd, 2012
5:49 pm
DOB
Way to reinforce the fact that he is by far the best pitcher we have.
Good stats!
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
5:49 pm
Looking like I’ll get to see Hanson pitch on Sunday.. not sure how excited I am about that
I wouldn’t be excited about that… maybe pizzed
Nova Scotia Steve
September 3rd, 2012
5:51 pm
HEARD THIS: Dan Uggla has been Kenshin Kawakami’d
Nova Scotia Steve
September 3rd, 2012
5:52 pm
Well if Fredi is into the mending fences business. He’ll have another one to build from the ground up in Tommy Hanson.
Big start for Hanson coming up. He’s got to be better.
Mark
September 3rd, 2012
5:52 pm
Another big plus for Meds
He gets the ball, toes the rubber, throws the ball. No screwing around out there and defense usually plays well behind him. There is a correlation there that should be noted by some others that do their work off the bump!
Animus
September 3rd, 2012
6:03 pm
TOBF – the 40 man roster is currently at 40. Somebody would have to be dropped in order for anyone to be added and eligible to move up to ATL.
5 of the 40 are on the 15 day DL, one (Fish) on the 60 day DL. Who would you drop?
Brava
September 3rd, 2012
6:03 pm
Good for Constnaza today – Congrats to him.
1 for 2 with a walk and a stolen base!!!!!
Nice to see a guy who led AAA in hitting most of the year get a shot
I feel the same way. Despite all his detractors, the guy has never done anything but come up and give it his all when asked to. He had a good game today.
MIBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
6:04 pm
I have long loved this song – happy to see baseball using it!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFUmmYO0Yro&feature=plcp
Jeff R
September 3rd, 2012
6:07 pm
This isn’t fantasy baseball folks – They aren’t going to trade Uggla this winter – They aren’t going to eat millions to get rid of him (not this year, anyway) and they aren’t going to non tender Hanson (again – at least not this year).
Agreed about Uggla. Think Wren may try to move Hanson, though, via trade.
MIBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
6:07 pm
And this is the full version (I think) –
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWOZotnFhLA&feature=related
Nova Scotia Steve
September 3rd, 2012
6:08 pm
Diaz could be removed from 40 man roster easily.
Jeff R
September 3rd, 2012
6:08 pm
I really don’t think Hanson should get another start. But he is, so that’s that.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
6:09 pm
TOBF – the 40 man roster is currently at 40. Somebody would have to be dropped in order for anyone to be added and eligible to move up to ATL.
5 of the 40 are on the 15 day DL, one (Fish) on the 60 day DL. Who would you drop?
Ah yes, I forgot about Overbay and Baker (doh)…. well, for Mejia, I’d drop Hinske, since he’s basically been replaced by Overbay… For Gattis, we could drop Diaz, but that isn’t as necessary.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
6:11 pm
Though, I counted 41 guys on the 40man… 22 pitchers, 3 catchers, 9 Infielders, 7 outfielders
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
6:13 pm
I really don’t think Hanson should get another start. But he is, so that’s that.
Yeah, drop Hanson! Hanson and Hinske get the boot, bring up Gattis and Mejia.
Nova Scotia Steve
September 3rd, 2012
6:13 pm
I think if Hanson’s struggles in his next start he’s finished getting regular starts.
If Gonzalez will break the news to Uggla – he’ll certainly have to do it with Hanson.
Sheets, Delgado or Teheran could each put together better starts then Hanson has in the second half of this season.
Animus
September 3rd, 2012
6:14 pm
Fish on the 60 DL may not count against the 40 – not sure about the rules. 60 day DL usually means an insurance company is paying him
But I counted 41 also – that’s the only thing I could think of.
Jeff R
September 3rd, 2012
6:15 pm
Sheets, Delgado or Teheran could each put together better starts then Hanson has in the second half of this season.
I think so, too. Certainly Sheets and Delgado.
kyle
September 3rd, 2012
6:18 pm
Uggla is being selfish, to say he does not know why? come on get on board and be a team player for once.
BFChris27
September 3rd, 2012
6:22 pm
R.I.P – Michael Clarke Duncan
Chop Chop
September 3rd, 2012
6:22 pm
Medlen: “So, am I gonna get a chance to start or what?”
Wren: “Well, we’re gonna pitch you out of the bullpen first because we don’t want you to dominate the National League. Then, we’re going to send you down to Gwinnett, where you won’t pitch all that well in a few starts. We will call you up and pitch you out of the bullpen again because that doesn’t really make any sense. Finally, when our fans are groveling on their hands and knees for a pitcher, any pitcher, to be our Messiah, we will put you into the rotation and you will be the best starting pitcher ever. I will explain that we were just trying to keep your innings down. You know, like that Strasburg guy. I’m very smart, am I not?”
Medlen: “Yes. You are the greatest GM in the history of baseball.”
Wren: (smiling)
BFChris27
September 3rd, 2012
6:31 pm
So sad to hear it.
Actor Michael Clarke Duncan, most notably in The Green Mile has passed away today. Had a heart attack in July and didn’t recover from it.
Mark
September 3rd, 2012
6:34 pm
Which one on thr Green Mile was he?
N8
September 3rd, 2012
6:35 pm
Yeah, just read the quote (and i’m paraphrasing), where Uggla said the numbers don’t mean much…. that he’s part of the team that got them this far.
Sure he is. Just like Scott Proctor was part of one of the NL’s best bullpen last year and Derek Lowe helped “anchor” the rotation.
First sign of Uggla not getting it. I get he’s mad. And he should be. I’d be more worried if he wasn’t mad about it. But just keep your doubts to yourself.
One doesn’t need to look any further than how Hanson handled a frickin rehab start, as opposed to Medlen not griping about being in bullpen or going to minors.
Some guys get it. Some don’t. Starting to think Dan doesn’t get it.
N8
September 3rd, 2012
6:35 pm
Yeah, just read the quote (and i’m paraphrasing), where Uggla said the numbers don’t mean much…. that he’s part of the team that got them this far.
Sure he is. Just like Scott Proctor was part of one of the NL’s best bullpen last year and Derek Lowe helped “anchor” the rotation.
First sign of Uggla not getting it. I get he’s mad. And he should be. I’d be more worried if he wasn’t mad about it. But just keep your doubts to yourself.
One doesn’t need to look any further than how Hanson handled a frickin rehab start, as opposed to Medlen not griping about being in bullpen or going to minors.
Some guys get it. Some don’t. Starting to think Dan doesn’t get it.
flange1
September 3rd, 2012
6:36 pm
Mark,
The massive convict with the “power”.
N8
September 3rd, 2012
6:36 pm
Oh neet. It posted twice. What a fine piece of technology this blog is.
N8
September 3rd, 2012
6:36 pm
Or neat. whatever you prefer. LOL
BFChris27
September 3rd, 2012
6:38 pm
Mark
He played John Coffey in The Green Mile.
The A Bomb
September 3rd, 2012
6:39 pm
Most telling quote of the day is Gonzalez saying “who knows — I might not be back.”
Sounds like he wants to keep his job. Sounds like he was backing Uggla and he and Wren made some sort of decree akin to — if he’s not coming around by Sept. 1, we do it MY WAY.
You just don’t throw $13 million on the bench for the next 3 seasons. Should be interesting.
Mark
September 3rd, 2012
6:39 pm
Thanks flange
That was one big man. Did a great job in that “flicker show”
vitriol spewer (phil)
September 3rd, 2012
6:43 pm
flange1
September 3rd, 2012
6:36 pm
Mark,
The massive convict with the “power”.
**********
uggla?
Jim from Roswell
September 3rd, 2012
6:46 pm
At least Fredi finally figured it out regarding Uggla. He never did figure out that Lowe shouldn’t have started a single game after the All Star break last year. As a result the Bravos watched the playoffs. We need a real owner and a real manager.
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
6:46 pm
Also called the expanded roster, the 40-man is composed of all the players in a Major League club’s organization who are signed to a major-league contract. These are the players who are able to be called up to the 25-man roster at any given time. Also on the 40-man are any players on the 15-day disabled list and minor league players who are signed to a major-league contract but are on an “optional assignment” to the minors. (Each player has three “options” to be sent to the minors once on the 40-man before they must be placed on waivers to be sent there.) Players who were on the 40-man but are placed on the 60-day disabled list are taken off the 40-man until the time on the DL is over. The same applies to players who are suspended. Because players on the 60-day DL are taken off the 40-man with no risk of losing the player, MLB teams often transfer injured players from the 15-day DL to the 60-day DL so that they can add another player to the 40-man without having to designate a player for assignment. Designating for assignment is the removal of a player from the 40-man, whereby the team has 10 days to trade, release, or send the player to the minors.
Jim from Roswell
September 3rd, 2012
6:46 pm
At least Fredi finally figured it out regarding Uggla. He never did figure out that Lowe shouldn’t have started a single game after the All Star break last year. As a result the Bravos watched the playoffs. We need a real owner and a real manager.
vitriol spewer (phil)
September 3rd, 2012
6:47 pm
I say Uggly gets traded….just a hunch.
Needs to happen, regardless.
Kat
September 3rd, 2012
6:49 pm
Kyle Tait @kyle_tait
Andrelton Simmons bounces out to second for the first out of the third. Now 1-for-2 with an infield hit
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
6:50 pm
you can never say never, but I doubt they trade hi, I really doubt they trade him if they have to eat much contract at all
Mark
September 3rd, 2012
6:51 pm
Vitriol
Similar for sure but the Green Mile massive guy shaved his head but not his arms!
CaptainMudd
September 3rd, 2012
6:53 pm
I made some comments re: Uggla earlier during the game blog….my reference there was the Uggla I have seen cummulatively going back to last season; his entire Atlanta Braves career.
At game time I went straight to the blog, not reading the D.O.B. story as one should prior to today’s contest. I had no idea how Uggs handledthe ‘news.’ As delivered by Fredi, done for the betterment of the entire organization–and, ultimately overdue in my opinion.
I am saying this now–because for the vast majority of his time here, Uggla has never given me cause to doubt him as a person or a professional ML’er. V.I.P. on field [fan] meetings aside; and this is hard because I really liked Dan–I wished very much his tenure here to be successful;however, if what DOB has reported is the exact truth–Dan’s reaction to that ‘news’ was terrible IMO.
Moreover, to me it is shameful to not recognize the poor stats possessed to date—and fail to publicly address the obvious. C’on Dan….are you being real? This season overall you have been a drain on this club–we all have had to live with your underwhelming performance. It is not my charge to be cruel however; you are making big bucks–big for this market anyway….and all you can insinuate is that the Manager was brief regarding the reason for your big ’sitdown’? It strikes me as Mr. Uggla is protecting the market value of his name by playing it this way….face it Dan, for whatever reasons…in 2012 you have not helped your team enough and, both the GM and Fredi have made a decision–understand, Dan, this is being done because you are underperforming. One would think a guy on this level could grasp that concept very well.
MIBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
6:54 pm
Kat – thanks for the update on Simba
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
6:54 pm
See, so we can move Diaz to 60-day DL that opens a spot for Gattis, and drop Hinske and bring up Gattis.
But, I’m fine with what we’ve got now too… was just hoping to get to see those 2, especially Gattis.
keyLargo
September 3rd, 2012
6:55 pm
Derek Lowe – 9 games for the Yankees. 5.79 ERA and 2.036 WHIP.
I wonder if we got any salary break after he left Cleveland? I could see where it would be unfair to allow Cleveland to dump him and the Braves to continue to pay that $10M.
JoeFan
September 3rd, 2012
6:55 pm
Should of happened sooner with Uggla. Every game is important and you have to play the guys that give you the best chance of winning and that includes moving either sheets or delgado into the rotation ove Hanson.
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
6:55 pm
Duncan was just in THE FINDER, a recent TV show I liked that got cancelled. I had not heard of his heart attack. also was in the WHOLE 9 YARDS with Bruce. RIP.
Mark
September 3rd, 2012
6:55 pm
Agree that Uggs probably doesn’t get traded unless he really just turns into a cancer and I don’t see him going that negative. Doesn’t seam like that kinda guy although I’d never though he’d fussed about being benched while hitting 205 and leading the league in Ks
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
6:57 pm
most established guys would fuss I think Mark
The A Bomb
September 3rd, 2012
6:58 pm
Thought I read Fredi said it wasn’t his decision….am I incorrect?
If not, why is Gonzalez getting all these props?
bostonbravo
September 3rd, 2012
6:58 pm
After 4x on here reading posts, I finally read Dan Uggla’s comments. So here’s my comment to you Danny : “Screw you!”
ray k
September 3rd, 2012
7:00 pm
Kris Medlux
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
7:01 pm
call him Dr. Kris, he makes them take their Meds
CaptainMudd
September 3rd, 2012
7:01 pm
@Nolieee…..you remember The Jefferson Starship group from 60’s, 70’s to present?
Mark
September 3rd, 2012
7:03 pm
Chippers made comments yesterday about we get paid to hit HRs and hit 300. He didn’t call names but it was obvious he wasn’t just talking about himself.
Maybe Chipper helped make the call on Uggla. Regardless of who did it, it was about time someone listened and used some common sense
cowdogit
September 3rd, 2012
7:04 pm
Glad to see Constanza back in the lineup, the first four runs the braves scored they only had one hit. Speed on the bases with Bourn, Heyward, Constanza created stress on the pitcher and allowed the team to score without a homerun. If you want Uggly to improve” put more stress on the pitcher.
Brave New World
September 3rd, 2012
7:05 pm
It’s not so much Uggla not getting it as it is Uggla’s belief that he can turn things around. He is a streaky hitter, and he is used to prolonged slumps followed by prolonged hot hitting. The turnaround did not happen in 2012, and the Braves cannot afford to go into a playoff run with Uggla an easy out and McCann not producing. That essentially reduces their line up to the first 5 hitters who can be pitched around because Uggla, McCann, Janish, and the pitcher are fairly easy to pitch to. Right move shelving Uggla. And, while we’re talking about soft spots, Bourn strikes out way too much for a lead off hitter – he’s a good hitter and very good fielder, but anyone notice the dip in his average during the past 10 – 15 games?
vitriol spewer (phil)
September 3rd, 2012
7:05 pm
Uggly is presently delusional….
He was given every chance and then some.
Enough was enough. Maybe he plays tomorrow?
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
7:05 pm
sure, had a huge crush on Grace who I met several times through the anti-war campaigning
The A Bomb
September 3rd, 2012
7:07 pm
Looking at the free agency list for next season the only team remotely in need of a 2B would be Toronto (Kelly Johnson).
Who knows, Uggla might hit 50 there — but the turf would kill his fielding.
Realistically, we’re stuck with him for 3 more seasons. Hope it’s not like paying Matt Stairs $13 million.
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
7:08 pm
great voice
Baseball-Braves bench struggling Uggla, Prado in starter’s role – Chicago Tribune | Sports News
September 3rd, 2012
7:09 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution [...]
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
7:09 pm
he had 5 good months in a row, just split between 2 seasons, maybe he can put 4 or 5 together in one year
CaptainMudd
September 3rd, 2012
7:10 pm
Their lead guitarist, Mr. Abrahamian….passed after last nights performance backstage [he was talking to fiancee when he experience a fatal heart attack….R.I.P. sir.
Brave New World
September 3rd, 2012
7:10 pm
nolie: Grace Slick was hot back in the 60’s and 70’s.
drew
September 3rd, 2012
7:10 pm
WOW…Ego Uggla cares only about himself. What a complete douche.
ray k
September 3rd, 2012
7:12 pm
Of course Dan wants to be in there and of course he’s miffed about being demoted to part time duty. But for Dan’s tone to even remotely hint that it’s unjustified and that he’s a victim here is pretty incredible and is a bit out of character for him, at least as evidenced by every quote I have ever read of his.
The classy thing would be to say: “I haven’t been very good. And they’re doing what they think is best to win games. I’ll be back when they give me a chance to prove I should be in there every day.”
Mark
September 3rd, 2012
7:12 pm
In an ideal world Uggla sits a while, relaxes, reflects, adjusts and when he gets an opportunity comes around. Do I think it’ll happen? No, but theres always a chance and if he would it would sure make us bette if he could just hit 250 with a homer every 25 or so ABs!
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
7:13 pm
wow, I didn’t hear that Capt. Thank you for passing that on. another RIP today
wins-by-a-link
September 3rd, 2012
7:14 pm
Usually when you make a 62 million dollar mistake you get fired, Lets see what happens to Wren, If Braves fail to make play-offs, Wren and FG may be gone but without new owners it won’t make much difference. All the retreads that Wren has brought in hasn’t helped any, Lets hope Liberty Media will soon get thier tax breaks and sell the Braves to local interest, Then and only then will we see serious efforts to win a championship in Atlanta.
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
7:15 pm
what a bunch a overreaction about Uggla’s comments. These guys are super competitive, of course he is upset. If he didn’t say anything some of y’all would be bitching that he didn’t care.
MIBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
7:16 pm
The Braves have won 2 games in a row, one in an incredibly memorable way and the other with a great pitching performance, and yet a whole lot of the chatter on the blog is about a player who did not play. Fascinating how people still find reasons to get all worked up and p/o’ed.
Birdhair
September 3rd, 2012
7:17 pm
wins-by-a-link, very good post.
Btw KK, Lowe, McOut, and Uggla Wren has wasted $155 million plus. Yes, I subtracted the $5M savings for drunk lowe this year and I included in Mcout’s $1.25m buy-out.
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
7:18 pm
most likely, nothing is gonna happen to Wren if they don’t make the playoffs.
and it is a mistake only in hindsight. Uggla had a great season the year B4 we traded for him
Brave New World
September 3rd, 2012
7:18 pm
Uggla’s biggest problem as a hitter is that he is fairly one dimensional. He does not appear to adjust during an at bat. I believe he gives his all, but so did Jeff Franceour.
David O'Brien
September 3rd, 2012
7:18 pm
Scoreless streak ends, but Medlen’s win streaks continue in 6-1, complete-game gem vs. Rockies
http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2012/09/03/braves-medlen-has-12-strikeouts-in-complete-game-win/
vitriol spewer (phil)
September 3rd, 2012
7:19 pm
Isn’t this the guy who dated a porn actress that we’re talking about?
Say no more…
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
7:19 pm
WTH does that have to do with anything, phil?
MIBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
7:20 pm
I wonder how much money they would have “wasted” with you in charge, bird. Happily, we’ll never know.
Mark
September 3rd, 2012
7:22 pm
He dated a porn star?
Maybe thats why he shaves his arms
vitriol spewer (phil)
September 3rd, 2012
7:22 pm
Mark May and Lou Holtz….
A confederacy of dunces…..
The A Bomb
September 3rd, 2012
7:23 pm
OK Birdhair you take all those players and you point out….
1. When they showed anything before coming to Atlanta that didn’t warrant the deal….
– and –
2. Why they didn’t deserve the deal they got based on the MARKET value in that particular year.
No argument they all pretty much suck(ed), but tell us where they stumbled prior to coming to Atlanta.
You’re reaching — and I’m much more negative than you on any given day.
vitriol spewer (phil)
September 3rd, 2012
7:23 pm
Judgment, nolie….intelligence, sense.
ChattTownBrian
September 3rd, 2012
7:24 pm
I listened to some of the game on the radio and Sutton was imitating a umps voice back when he was playing. His name was Lee Weyer and was 6′8″ and 300 plus pounds, but had a high pitched voice. Sutton imitating was hilarious.
HooRah
September 3rd, 2012
7:24 pm
Happily, we’ll never know @MIBF
MIBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
7:26 pm
I have never changed my name on this blog. Ever.
MIBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
7:27 pm
Can you say the same?
vitriol spewer (phil)
September 3rd, 2012
7:28 pm
Did he imitate Dutch Rennert?
My favorite ump….
HooRah
September 3rd, 2012
7:29 pm
judgment? really? sigh.
and even if true, which I certainly don’t think is anything but bias, what does it have to do with playing baseball successfully? absolutely nothing.
God knows how many HOFers there are who lacked “judgment”
P B Orr
September 3rd, 2012
7:29 pm
Uggla’s a pretty boy. He cared more about his resemblance to Popeye than he did his skill as a ballplayer. That means he’s dumber than a fencepost. This and Hampton and Teixeira are Wren’s worst mistakes and they are adding up.
HooRah
September 3rd, 2012
7:29 pm
I was not talking about you MIBF
vitriol spewer (phil)
September 3rd, 2012
7:31 pm
I changed my name….
The A Bomb
September 3rd, 2012
7:31 pm
Actually, the original “loud” ump was Al Barlick……you could hear him in the upper deck.
Weyer was a monster but pretty quiet.
Great generation of umps — Doug Harvey, Harry Wendelstedt, Al Barlick, Ed Vargo, Shag Crawford etc……
HooRah
September 3rd, 2012
7:31 pm
Every time I come on here I find it hard to believe most of what I see written here.
Two great wins and it is still a sewer
Lemke's Knuckler
September 3rd, 2012
7:31 pm
Kudos to Fredi for making the difficult decision to bench Uggla. I think a platoon of Johnson & Constanza in left will improve overall team defense, team speed and on base percentage. I’m not a huge fan of seeing Janish, Johnson and a pitcher accounting for 1/3 of our lineup come postseason time, but I’m hoping Simmons comes back and continues his good work at the plate. Who knows, maybe something happens and Uggla gets 2 starts and goes 8-9 with 4 homers and then just takes off from there and carries this team. This season, with all the ups and downs and this guy streaking and this guy slumping, I’m not even going to try to guess anymore. Just going to watch and take whatever they give me, rain or shine.
HooRah
September 3rd, 2012
7:33 pm
I wasn’t talking about you either vitriol, I was talking about Birdy
P B Orr
September 3rd, 2012
7:35 pm
MIBravesFan, we paid 60 million for an utter stiff whose failure cost us last season and is costing us this one. He’s bad because he’s both stupid and stubborn, which are the worst things to be as a ball player. That’s why we are talking about him. Our 60 million dollar second baseman is a total zero who cares more about the radius of his biceps than anything else in the world.
ChattTownBrian
September 3rd, 2012
7:35 pm
“Uggla’s a pretty boy”
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
7:35 pm
I’m afraid that I don’t agree that dating a porn star has anything to do with baseball phil.
There are some great porn stars, smart and funny.
MIBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
7:35 pm
“HooRah
September 3rd, 2012
7:29 pm
I was not talking about you MIBF”
“HooRah
September 3rd, 2012
7:24 pm
Happily, we’ll never know @MIBF
yes indeed, just the same old condescending know-it-all under yet another different name. Ignorant blowhard then, ignorant blowhard now”
Really? Then who?
The A Bomb
September 3rd, 2012
7:35 pm
Used to play softball with one, pretty well-known. Great guy.
vitriol spewer (phil)
September 3rd, 2012
7:37 pm
HooRah
September 3rd, 2012
7:29 pm
judgment? really? sigh.
and even if true, which I certainly don’t think is anything but bias, what does it have to do with playing baseball successfully? absolutely nothing.
God knows how many HOFers there are who lacked “judgment”
********
well…..
Uggla is no HOFer, for one thing. He lacks judgment in that he won’t change his approach at the plate. Apppears to lack the sense to just go the other way some, get a few to fall and so forth. He dates a porn star? A total lack of sense right there. Poor judgment in life, poor judgment playing ball.
Lemke's Knuckler
September 3rd, 2012
7:37 pm
Maybe McCann will get some relief from the cortisone shot and pull a Ryan Zimmerman. After Zimmerman’s shot for a shoulder issue on June 23, he put up these numbers…
63 games, .340 avg, .405 obp, 20 doubles, 14 homers, 48 RBI, .990 slg
CaptainMudd
September 3rd, 2012
7:38 pm
@Brave New World……..Yes, I am sure Mr. Uggla believes he can ‘turn it around,’ however, and as many well know….with each K [some at critical juctures] do we not collectively take a step back? He is/was this team’s clean-up hitter.
ChattTownBrian
September 3rd, 2012
7:38 pm
Hampton and Tex was a Schuerholz project.
MIBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
7:40 pm
My bad – overly quick on the draw.
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
7:40 pm
when I was in the video store business as a part owner, they had a convention in Las Vegas every year, prolly still do for that matter. About half or more was driven by the porn industry, the rest by normal video folks many of whom did not carry it, as we did not. always had some movie and tv stars every year, but a ton of porn actors and actresses. lotsa fun and easy to understand why Dan would do that
ChattTownBrian
September 3rd, 2012
7:41 pm
What is the chicks name Uggla is dating?
Mark
September 3rd, 2012
7:42 pm
I think calling a porn participant an actress is a stretch anyway
vitriol spewer (phil)
September 3rd, 2012
7:42 pm
A porn star might not be the cleannest thing around? Maybe I’m wrong.
But some would debate a fence post…lol
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
7:42 pm
whatever Mark
The A Bomb
September 3rd, 2012
7:43 pm
I think a lot less bad can happen from a guy “dating” a porn star than a couple of our pitchers going nightclubbin’ in downtown ATL.
Or for that matter a certain overpaid former Brave hurler drag racing.
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
7:44 pm
at one time that was prolly true, now they are checked very frequently. prolly cleaner than your average bar pick up phil. and I only debate things I think are ….well I won’t specify
vitriol spewer (phil)
September 3rd, 2012
7:45 pm
Agree with Mark….
Not sure if he still is dating her….maybe that’s the problem?
The A Bomb
September 3rd, 2012
7:45 pm
There’s state laws in California mandating constant checks.
MIBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
7:45 pm
For gosh sakes, grow up!
The A Bomb
September 3rd, 2012
7:46 pm
Maybe Uggla needs one of Mark Grace’s famous slumpbusters.
Don
September 3rd, 2012
7:47 pm
Freddi – Applause. The ship nay still sink, but you are going down fighting. Sit McCant & Ugli. Make Hansome next. Ugli – What a POS attitude. Do you really need an explanation? Really?
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
7:47 pm
probably aren’t as low on the food chain as politicians and used car salesmen are
vitriol spewer (phil)
September 3rd, 2012
7:48 pm
I understand, nolie…..in the end, i just don’t think dan has great sense.
Mark
September 3rd, 2012
7:49 pm
Kinda like referring to Nascar Drivers as athletes
The A Bomb
September 3rd, 2012
7:51 pm
On the definition of a “slumpbuster”, after being pressed by host Jim Rome in a now-infamous 2003 interview on the television show “Rome is Burning” to clarify the baseball slang term (this is the “official” word-for-word transcript from the interview)…
“A slumpbuster is if a team’s in a slump, or if you personally are in a slump, you gotta find the fatest, gnarliest, grossest chick and you just gotta lay the wood to her. And when you do that, you’re just gonna have instant success. And it could also be called jumping on a grenade for the team.”
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
7:52 pm
maybe not phil, who knows? BUt I honestly don’t think that has much to do with baseball success. When you have been successful enough doing something your own way to be one of the 1000 or so best in the world and make 13mil per year, you tend to have a tremendous amount of yourself invested in that approach
lee maye
September 3rd, 2012
7:56 pm
Believe Fredi and Wren must be reading my posts. Braves bring up Gearin, Delgado, and Teheran. I also suggested bringing up Varvaro. They didn’t. Varvaro and Gearin are better than the old bum and probably better than Moylan too.
Also, suggested a platoon of Constanza/Johnson in left and uggla to the bench. Hopefully, that will be a permanent move. Now, with more speed and defense and hopefully more ABC baseball, the Braves will roll. If someone can get McCann and Ross hitting, we will really roll. And, Simmons hopefully back in NY.
ACE
September 3rd, 2012
7:57 pm
You can bet Frank told Fredi to make the move with Uggla
Birdhair
September 3rd, 2012
7:58 pm
A-Bomb,
I am sure that you’re capable of doing the same research. Go check baseball reference and look up each of those players’ career OBP’s. I think that’s a great start.
Lowe was 35 years old and on the tail end of his career. Paying $15M per for 4 season was a terrible price point. KK hadnt thrown a pitch in MLB and how many Japanese pitchers have turned out in MLB? Uggla was on the wrong side of thirty, and looking at his previous production it was obvious at the time and obvious now that we overpaid. Look, we’re dealing with a middle market budget and have to be more diligent with our spending and get bang for our buck.
McLouth was the wrong player to acquire. He previous production was only a small sample size. Why not trade for someone more proven with greater production level? I can go on forever, but how is that?
ACE
September 3rd, 2012
7:59 pm
Fredi’s own statment is telling. if it’s someone you only know two months you don’t think about it. So if he didn’t have this relationship with Uggla he makes the move sooner for the good of the team. Just shows what type of manager he is.
MIBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
7:59 pm
A Bomb – I was right in a prior comment of mine in another blog – one did go off in your head. Apart from your ability to recognize Jason’s talent, you are “and idiot.”
Brava
September 3rd, 2012
7:59 pm
Uggla was married when he had his tryst with a porn star. It does speak to his character, but has little to do with how he plays baseball.
CaptainMudd
September 3rd, 2012
7:59 pm
@Phil….I agree with the 7:48….”Vitrol Spew,’ Uggla could possibly allow an uncommon sense to eat him up like a wild, outside fastball…albeit, his gal likely prefers the ‘inside’ variation, Phil.
Mark
September 3rd, 2012
8:00 pm
lee
Several of us called for a constanza / Diaz platoon with Teeeen to 2nd before the break so…
Couch Tater
September 3rd, 2012
8:00 pm
Gotta tip my Bama cap…
Josh Rutledge SS, Rockies – In his first 43 big league games, 344/363/617 7HR 17 XBH. Okay here..
Coors: 327/355/584 5HR 8XBH
Away: 377/377/679 2HR 9XBH
Roll Tide, Josh.
ACE
September 3rd, 2012
8:01 pm
Grossly over paid for Lowe. It wss a knee jerk reaction by Wren.
CaptainMudd
September 3rd, 2012
8:02 pm
@Ace….give me some insight here—Will you be back next season?
Mark
September 3rd, 2012
8:02 pm
If all this is true I’m disliking Uggs even more but not for me to judge.
ACE
September 3rd, 2012
8:03 pm
Fredi should have pulled Uggla much sooner and should have put Meds in the lineup earlier.
The A Bomb
September 3rd, 2012
8:03 pm
I’m not arguing about how bad these guys are/have been.
I’m just saying they got paid what the market dictated.
Kawakami — All Japanese guys are overpaid and it was an experiment.
Lowe — 200+ inning workhorse with 15 win average.
McLouth — All-Star despite the sample size.
Uggla — OPS 800+ with 30-homer streak.
I did check. This is all 20/20 hindsight.
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
8:03 pm
McLouth was the wrong player to acquire. He previous production was only a small sample size,,,Bird
his previous production spanned over 1000 at bats all over 800 OPS. revisionism is such a bore
ACE
September 3rd, 2012
8:04 pm
Hello Captain. Indeed working 8 days a week.
ACE
September 3rd, 2012
8:06 pm
Next season is a option year and I hope DOB will pick it up.
The A Bomb
September 3rd, 2012
8:06 pm
MIBravesFan — personal attack. Nice job.
Don’t know for what but if you want to pick fights on the Internet, do it with someone else.
Mark
September 3rd, 2012
8:10 pm
McOut was possibly worse than Uggs.
Here are the two kickers: Childish as they may be.
As mentioned earlier Uggs is a pro baseball player that shaves his arms to show off his mucles!
McOut highlightr\ed his hair\
Both these guys were worried about that kinda stuff while hitting 210.
Did Murphy, Maddux, Pendleton, Chipper….do either of these things? No
Mark
September 3rd, 2012
8:10 pm
McOut was possibly worse than Uggs.
Here are the two kickers: Childish as they may be.
As mentioned earlier Uggs is a pro baseball player that shaves his arms to show off his mucles!
McOut highlightr\ed his hair\
Both these guys were worried about that kinda stuff while hitting 210.
Did Murphy, Maddux, Pendleton, Chipper….do either of these things? No
MIBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
8:10 pm
Don’t threaten me, A Bomb.
The A Bomb
September 3rd, 2012
8:10 pm
And if IIRC, the alternative to Lowe was Burnett?
Despite his success this season, how’d he work out in New York?
MIBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
8:10 pm
Your comment I was responding to was tacky and stupid.
Birdhair
September 3rd, 2012
8:11 pm
Well, another way to tell that you made mistakes- Wren tried to deal Lowe after 1 season. Found no takers. Go back and read the blogs. KK-enough said. Now fans are urging that we get rid of uggla and nobody will want his contract. All of these notes sound like blunders by our general manager.
We simply can ill-afford to make poor spending mistakes like these. Do you realize how much these overspends have affected our ability to make other moves?
As a middle market team you make moves like $10M per season for 2 years of Beltran. That’s a risk, but a much smaller financial risk, and you’ve got yourself a proven player when health. Or you sign someone like WIllingham for $7M for season for 3 years. Risk involved, but you didn’t guarantee $40M or $52M. These are smarter gambles, look at their proven track records compared to McOut and Uggla.
I also suggested trading Teheran as the centerpiece in a deal for Headley. We really could have used another bat and not a mediocre pitcher in Maholm. Maholm is not bringing much more than Delgado would have
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
8:12 pm
really? That kinda crap matters to you, Mark? They were both known for great hustle and as great teammates. that’s what should matter
Mark
September 3rd, 2012
8:12 pm
Sorry for the double. Obviously based on my last post I’m getting bored.
Nite all
Say your prayers and lets get them tomorrow, even with Hanson on the bump!
MIBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
8:15 pm
And btw, I have always supported you in thinking that Jason is a special baseball talent. So don’t go after me, and knock off the stupid sexist comments!
Mark
September 3rd, 2012
8:15 pm
Really it doesn’t matter though I think a grown man doing either is strange.
Production is what matters and neither did that
The A Bomb
September 3rd, 2012
8:18 pm
Well if it offended you, my apologies, just trying to lend some humor.
Nothing I said to you was a threat.
It was an attempt to lend some humor to the Uggla situation. I’m not a sexist. Far from it. It was a story dealing with Mark Grace from years ago. Quoted from his website.
DS1
September 3rd, 2012
8:20 pm
Been purposely avoiding the blog during my vacation (and the Braves losing skid). But just had to get on and comment about the awesome job Cy Medlen is doing in the starting rotation!
And I was one of the guys saying we needed him in the pen. When I am wrong, I am wrong! I blew it with that call four shore.
Time for a rejuvenation Braves!
Bo Graves!!
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
8:20 pm
no neither did, but there was no real reason to expect b4hand that they would fail like they did. Must be sumthang in the Atlanta water
The A Bomb
September 3rd, 2012
8:21 pm
Wayne — how was San Diego sir?
vitriol spewer (phil)
September 3rd, 2012
8:21 pm
Yeah, uggla did reach the top and pull down big money. But poor judgment, such as he appears to possess, will lead to bankruptcy eventually….probably.
jonathan
September 3rd, 2012
8:22 pm
Uggla, read the writing on the walls.
Mark
September 3rd, 2012
8:24 pm
You may be on to something there!
I’m out
MIBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
8:25 pm
You don’t find any humor in the Uggla situation that is not at his expense. But dark humor is all the rage, so my apologies for overreacting.
You are right about Jason.
Jeff R
September 3rd, 2012
8:25 pm
Uggla, read the writing on the walls.
I’ll settle for Ugs doing a better job just reading the pitchers.
The A Bomb
September 3rd, 2012
8:26 pm
All good.
MIBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
8:27 pm
Yeah, phil, sure – the next “Bad Moon Rison” for sure! . . . .
Jeff R
September 3rd, 2012
8:28 pm
Yeah, uggla did reach the top and pull down big money. But poor judgment, such as he appears to possess, will lead to bankruptcy eventually….probably.
Ugs has, what, another $30-odd million coming from the Braves in the next three years? He’s got plenty of time – and dough – to learn how to manage his moola.
rich brave
September 3rd, 2012
8:28 pm
“…..One would think a guy on this level could grasp that concept very well……” Captain Mudd
How about hitting to the opposite field?
DS1
September 3rd, 2012
8:29 pm
A Bomb
Didn’t get a chance to get out to the Phil’s while there. Our time was fairly short, but we had a good time. Spending lots of time with extended family in Riverside, Escondido and Sun City. Only spent Tuesday night at the game in SD. (Medlen’s previous start)
Got to meet 3 great bloggers: Kat, cabravesfan and Venice Jim. All seem to be first class folks too!
Beautiful city, just wish we’d had more time. But the park ain’t near as nice as ATT park in SF. (but then again, I LOVE SF)
Birdhair
September 3rd, 2012
8:30 pm
The A Bomb,
Any retort to my comment above? Most all of Wren’s acquisitions fall somewhere in the career OBP range of .290 – .330. That’s really pathetic
Jeff R
September 3rd, 2012
8:31 pm
Been purposely avoiding the blog during my vacation (and the Braves losing skid).
DS1, don’t avoid the blog. Wanted: More sanity.
Teddy B
September 3rd, 2012
8:31 pm
Thank Goodness. I didn’t think Fredi had the balls to tell Uggla to sit for more than a game I think he’s physically scared of him lol I know I would be! Popeye arms Uggla. Now deal with McCann’s shoulder and let him get surgery if he needs it. He’d be ready to play the sooner he has it, and then we can see how he bounces back in ‘13 before we evaluate his contract and decide whether to extend or release.
I think we’re going to bounce back in a big way and get a whole bunch of wins the next few weeks. GO BRAVES!
George_George
September 3rd, 2012
8:31 pm
ACE
September 3rd, 2012
8:06 pm
Next season is a option year and I hope DOB will pick it up
**********************************************************
Will he go to a bigger market like PHILLY, NYC, CHI?
DS1
September 3rd, 2012
8:31 pm
Though I could be wrong (I have been wrong 2-3 times this year already), I don’t see this team going far with a Johnson/Constanza platoon in LF.
We need Uggla to get back in the groove.
cowdogit
September 3rd, 2012
8:34 pm
I love it when a team scores runs without any hits, speed puts a lot of pressure on any pitcher. Maddox said the more stress the more mistakes. The braves hitters will improve if Fredi will keep the speed in the lineup.
brian
September 3rd, 2012
8:34 pm
Good one Jeff R at 826
The A Bomb
September 3rd, 2012
8:34 pm
Glad you got to the “good game” Wayne. Petco’s pretty nice.
I’m sure they all are — I want Venice Jim to read this — we had sort of a “discussion” last night. By their comments around here they all seem like nice people.
Next time — I won’t have school commitments and I’ll take you to Phil’s. (Getting hungry).
If you’re ever in L.A. as well. Of course.
AT&T is THE BEST. Of course I haven’t been to Pittsburgh. Bucket list.
brian
September 3rd, 2012
8:34 pm
Good one Jeff R at 826
Jeff R
September 3rd, 2012
8:34 pm
Most all of Wren’s acquisitions fall somewhere in the career OBP range of .290 – .330. That’s really pathetic
Birdhair, meet Shaun. Shaun, meet Birdhair.
Jeff R
September 3rd, 2012
8:35 pm
Thank you, brian.
George_George
September 3rd, 2012
8:36 pm
Good win today, HANSON tomorrow? Not so good. BELIEVE IN THE MEDS.
brian
September 3rd, 2012
8:36 pm
Uggla’s response to his slump reminds me of francoeur’s during his last year here. No noticeable adjustments at all. I wonder if Uggla is making the adjustments that his hitting coaches want him to make or if he is just keeping on keeping on
DS1
September 3rd, 2012
8:37 pm
Jeff R
I do enjoy the company of many on the blog, but the older I get, the less tolerant I am of idiocy.
When the Braves are doing poorly, it just ain’t worth the effort some nights.
DAMN, what a heckuva finish on Sunday afternoon!!! That was storybook stuff. I’m listening on XM and we get to the condo when Bourn is batting. I left the car running and listened, as Ms DS1 wrote them off and went inside. Bourn walked, Prado gets a seeing eye double. And Chipper with the theatrics! It’ll be a finish I will always remember due to the circumstances and where I was at the time!!!
Thanks Hoss!
Rotunda Shaquonda Obama
September 3rd, 2012
8:37 pm
Only about a year late.
Jeff R
September 3rd, 2012
8:39 pm
Will he [DOB] go to a bigger market like PHILLY, NYC, CHI?
Holy gripes, Jorge_Jorge and ACE beating the DOB drum again.
Actually, I think you guys are groupies or something. Maybe if DOB just sends you autographed glossy 8×10s that would do the trick.
The A Bomb
September 3rd, 2012
8:40 pm
Birdhair — IF he gets the ax, so be it. Wouldn’t argue.
But even if you count cards at a blackjack table you COULD lose.
Seems to me he’s made some pretty good moves as well. Michael Bourn?
Has Cashman struck gold with all his signings? Epstein?
Seems to me Ned Colletti traded James McDonald and a top prospect named Andrew Lambo to the Pirates 2 years ago for Octavio Dotel — WHO WAS TRADED a month later to Colorado even though he would be ineligible for the playoffs.
GM is an imperfect science. Sometimes the devil you know is better than the devil you don’t.
Jack Zduriencik bought all sorts of guys in Seattle — Chone Figgins — how’s that worked out but he’s still there. Smoak has done jackola.
How ’bout Mike Hill in Florida — how’s that worked out? LOL.
Jerry Dipoto in Anaheim — Double LOL.
I’m NOT saying Wren is the best GM in baseball. But he is very creative for the payroll he’s given.
DS1
September 3rd, 2012
8:41 pm
It’s a date A Bomb! Might be next year or the year after though………. Most of my so cal relatives are either moving out or dying off.
Jeff R
September 3rd, 2012
8:42 pm
I do enjoy the company of many on the blog, but the older I get, the less tolerant I am of idiocy.
I’m with you, DS1, but what’s the old saying, slightly modified: “For idiocy to triumph, good men must do nothing.” Or somesuch.
The A Bomb
September 3rd, 2012
8:42 pm
Absolutely Wayne.
MIBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
8:44 pm
Wayne – that was a great game to hear/see the end of, wasn’t it? Chipper keeps making great memories for all of us! It would not have been the same to have just DVR’d it or watched it later.
ACE
September 3rd, 2012
8:45 pm
Jeff is always wRong. You seem to have an obsession with Me and George.
ACE
September 3rd, 2012
8:45 pm
Jeff is always wRong. You seem to have an obsession with Me and George.
Jeff R
September 3rd, 2012
8:47 pm
ACE, you doubled up on me, fella!
Nah! Jut trying to keep you boys honest… and in touch with reality.
Joe Brave
September 3rd, 2012
8:50 pm
Uggla should be playing AA ball…where he belongs. Terrible trade for a terrible player. Gonna have to eat all those millions. D. Lowe, Mike Hampton, Dan Uggla…Braves have made some sh1tty deals, and, accordingly, haven’t won the division since making those sh1tty deals.
DS1
September 3rd, 2012
8:53 pm
ACE
If Jeff is paying you or George ANY attention, consider that a victory. Most of us don’t.
MI
Yeah, that HR ranks right up there with all the other Chipper career highlights.
What are we going to do with this fragmented pitching staff? Minor, Huddy and Hanson are all inconsistent as all get out. And Maholm is good, but not great. He’s pitched well in all but that game yesterday.
Medlen and pray for 3-4 days of rain?
Birdhair
September 3rd, 2012
8:53 pm
Very creative? Is that a complement? It’s like he’s been shopping at the sunnyvalue retirement home community or walter read hospital with signings.
He’s left himself no room to spend bec it’s all been blown on the guys that i mentioned earlier.
Wren is a bottom half GM. It’s time for change.
vitriol spewer (phil)
September 3rd, 2012
8:56 pm
Until Medlen is sent back to the pen, I can’t see us winning any more games this year….sigh.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
8:58 pm
Joe Brave Whatever, man.
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
8:58 pm
would Perry Mason change his approach cause he lost a few cases?
Jeff R
September 3rd, 2012
8:58 pm
Medlen and pray for 3-4 days of rain?
I hope not. I’m hoping that Hudson and Maholm just hit bumps.
vitriol spewer (phil)
September 3rd, 2012
8:58 pm
Kawakami was simply misunderstood…
CaptainMudd
September 3rd, 2012
8:59 pm
“…….How about hitting to the opposite field?….”
@Rich Brave…per 8:28:
Yes–your question regarding the 26Mil Mr. Uggla is valid….but is it within his apparently limited offensive skillset? If so, he wasn’t interiewed comprehensively….anyone ever scout him and analyze this very important option potentially possessed by Dan?
Sorry, had to leave and help a special female….but@@@Rich Brave,
stew
September 3rd, 2012
8:59 pm
Johnson is a fourth outfielder. Constanza doesn’t belong. Dan the man is .340 OBP, has 17 hrs and is third on team in rbi’s.
Jeff R
September 3rd, 2012
9:00 pm
Kawakami was simply misunderstood…
By whom and where?
vitriol spewer (phil)
September 3rd, 2012
9:00 pm
Perry never lost, did he?
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
9:01 pm
anybody ever scout him? yeah they watched him beat the hell out of them for 5 years.
CaptainMudd
September 3rd, 2012
9:02 pm
@Ace….”I hope DOB picks up my option!”
I hate to be rather pessimistic, but Ace you are slated to be non-tendered or at th least non-teetered my friend.
Jeff R
September 3rd, 2012
9:02 pm
Perry never lost, did he?
Never. And mostly his ratings were high. Same with Ironside.
vitriol spewer (phil)
September 3rd, 2012
9:02 pm
By all of us….alone in a strange land and blasted by us malcontents constantly….and for what reason?
Aside from his putrid ERA and W-L record, of course!
Jeff R
September 3rd, 2012
9:03 pm
I hate to be rather pessimistic, but Ace you are slated to be non-tendered or at th least non-teetered my friend.
Good one, CaptainMudd!
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
9:03 pm
Perry Mason lost The Case of the Terrified Typist” but, of course, in the end he did find the solution to the murder case
He also lost in “The Case of the Deadly Verdict”. That episode begins with Perry Mason trying to find a clue in order to solve the case that he lost. He is sure that something is missing and finally he solves the mystery
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
9:03 pm
one more and he shoulda fired Della….
DS1
September 3rd, 2012
9:03 pm
I don’t have a major issue with Uggla sitting a while. But I will guarantee you one thing, he won’t get his bat going on the bench.
And we need him.
CaptainMudd
September 3rd, 2012
9:04 pm
It was a poor sarcastic offering @Nolieee: I have always assumed they fully knew what they were getting in a Dan Uggla, sir.
ACE
September 3rd, 2012
9:05 pm
DS1, we thank you for your unwavering support.
The A Bomb
September 3rd, 2012
9:05 pm
Birdhair — Now that Wren supposedly has some money I’ll judge him next season.
I have much more of an issue with the on-field strategy.
Admittedly we’ve gone in the right direction the past couple of days.
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
9:06 pm
yeah I think they knew what they were getting Capt, sorry I missed that tongue hiding in your cheek there
ACE
September 3rd, 2012
9:07 pm
I expect Tim Hudson to rule in my favor and pick up my option.
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
9:08 pm
non-tender all of us and be choosier next time
DS1
September 3rd, 2012
9:08 pm
Della was overrated!
Jeff R
September 3rd, 2012
9:08 pm
I don’t have a major issue with Uggla sitting a while. But I will guarantee you one thing, he won’t get his bat going on the bench.
Hard call. Gonzalez has cut Uggla all sorts of slack in hopes that his bat revs up. It hasn’t, and the Braves have stumbled lately. Puts Fredi in a tough position.
I think Fredi’s correct to sit Uggla at this juncture. Reed Johnson , principally, may pick up the slack – and then some. Not saying Uggla shouldn’t be used, but not daily, not now.
Birdhair
September 3rd, 2012
9:10 pm
I am not as critical of FG as I am Wren, obviously. FG has done a commendable job. Gotta give him props for sitting uggla, and mac. Reed needs to keep playing! Need Simmons back asap.
CaptainMudd
September 3rd, 2012
9:11 pm
….And, yes, I think we need to intrepidly use Dan {while not starting} in a pinch hitter role a.s.a.p. & not just get him up to be a decoy….also, he seemed to run the bases well enough for me money…pinch-running too, indeed we need a talent like Uggla now and still.
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
9:13 pm
gotta admit that I am a bit surprised by Fredi’s decision to sit Dan as much as he seems to be thinking about doing
DS1
September 3rd, 2012
9:14 pm
I think for this team to make any sort of a dent in the post season, it’ll need Dan Uggla at second base. But I could be wrong.
But that’s my story, and I’m sticking to it!
TONETONE
September 3rd, 2012
9:15 pm
Whatever you call him. This guy remind me of the pearl harbor. He is
The worst player I have seen since the bombing of earl harbor”. This guy is in a horrible
slump. He has become predictable. He takes a couple of balls. He would foul off a couple of balls.
Then , (You get the point!) He would strike out! This guy should have been benched (two) 2 months
ago. Whenever he comes to the plate and the btaves have the bases loaded, Who do you want to
come to the plate. OH MY GOD. HERE COMES STRUUGLA!
ACE
September 3rd, 2012
9:15 pm
In the end Fredi, after Frank told him to, decided to quit running him out there and quit trusting the back of the bubble gum card.
Fredi has also swore off cap tipping. I am sure a lot of therapy was involved with that.
vitriol spewer (phil)
September 3rd, 2012
9:15 pm
Uggly hasn’t hit a lick in months….he has to sit.
If he plays soon and gets a few hits, ok….
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
9:15 pm
if it was even Fredi’s decision to do so
DS1
September 3rd, 2012
9:17 pm
nolie
Nothing Fredi does will surprise me. He is not very predictable. And in my humble opinion, not very good. When the team is going well, he seems to be OK. When they are not going well, a lot of his decisions to get them back on track seem to be head scratchers.
ACE
September 3rd, 2012
9:17 pm
@DS1, keep Uggla in the lineup now and you won’t have to worry about him playing in the post season.
The A Bomb
September 3rd, 2012
9:19 pm
Strikes me that awhile ago, Wren and Gonzalez had a meeting.
Sept. 1 would be some sort of deadline for Uggla to show something.
He didn’t, thus the “decision.” I think this was a predetermined decree from management.
It would surprise me if Gonzalez still doesn’t have Uggla’s back.
DS1
September 3rd, 2012
9:20 pm
ACE
So you say……… and you could be right. But I’ll be damned if I am going to go down with a Johnson/Constanza platoon!
Maybe Fredi, but I sure wouldn’t do it.
keyLargo
September 3rd, 2012
9:21 pm
Anyone who criticizes acquiring Lowe, Kawakami. etc. simply wasn’t a Braves fan in 2008. Go back and look at the 40 man roster in 08. And this was Wren’s fault. He inherited that roster from John Schuerholtz.
Pitching was so scarce in 09 that we had to go to 4 years @ $15M to get Lowe away from the Mets. They settled for Oliver Perez for 3 years @ $15. Who would you have taken?
Jeff R
September 3rd, 2012
9:22 pm
DS1, might be a move to shake up Uggla. Rattle his cage. Uggla might need the demotion to get him motivated and moving in the right direction. Okay, so I’m reaching…
Braves Fan in Maine
September 3rd, 2012
9:22 pm
GO BRAVES the most important thing is to just keep winning!!!
keyLargo
September 3rd, 2012
9:23 pm
Was not Wren’s fault. He inherited the roster from John Schuerholtz.
Jeff R
September 3rd, 2012
9:23 pm
I understood the Lowe signing, and still think it made sense.
Kawakami was hyped quite a bit… Maddux from the Far East. I never believed it.
ACE
September 3rd, 2012
9:24 pm
DS1
How long do you stay with Uggla? Do you put him in and leave him no matter how bad it gets? I agree we need his bat but that hasn’t been present in some time.
The A Bomb
September 3rd, 2012
9:24 pm
Furthermore, I know believe Wren thinks it is CRUCIAL to re-sign Bourn. No. 1 priority. And if blowing out Uggla saves enough to sign Bourn, so be it EVEN if you have to eat a bunch of dollars.
Horrible thought, but you can’t throw $39 million on the bench the next 3 seasons. This will get very interesting.
We’d be lucky to have a Boston scenario. Don’t see it with Uggla.
DS1
September 3rd, 2012
9:24 pm
Jeff R
That’d be my guess.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
9:24 pm
I hope that this demotion can get Uggla going, but if anything, we wouldn’t likely see the results until next year.
Which begs the question: If/When the Braves make the playoffs, is Uggla on the roster? Does he start?
Jeff R
September 3rd, 2012
9:27 pm
Ugga’s on the roster, TheOnlyBravesFan, unless the Braves are looking for a divorce.
Does he start? Let’s see what happens over the next 20-odd games.
Brave New World
September 3rd, 2012
9:30 pm
If Uggla is just going to sit, might it not be better to send him to the minors for a few games to let him play?
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
9:30 pm
We need Uggla to get on track.. I’d rather have a half-good Uggla and Prado in LF than Prado at 2B and Reed or Lord forbid, Constanza in LF… Especially in the playoffs. Uggs does deserve to be benched, but at some point they gotta let him play.
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
9:30 pm
KK never looked like an MLB pitcher in the clips I saw of him. Lowe was indeed understandable, and became another player who was worse than should have been expected.
vitriol spewer (phil)
September 3rd, 2012
9:30 pm
Uggla has to sit…..worst avg in the NL to go along with inadequate production otherwise….
Why keep playing that?
Besides, maybe after a few days, a week, he comes back and goes nuts.
Playing him wasn’t working so why not bench the guy for now?
DS1
September 3rd, 2012
9:31 pm
ACE
I don’t know the answer to that question, but when our offense was firing on all cylinders, Uggla wasn’t hurting us. And we all know that the 250/340/480 Uggla is in there somewhere. I’m just saying that to give him extended bench time is not going to cure him.
But then again, if our other hitters get it going again, then a Johnson/Constanza/Janish/Baker combo at the bottom of the order wouldn’t hurt as bad. But keeping Johnson in the starting lineup hurts the bench.
I’d sure as heck give him another 2-3 weeks to get it going, then punt near the end of September if necessary.
But that’s just an armchair manager’s opinion.
Either way, I’m a Braves fan!
Bo Graves!
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
9:31 pm
can’t send him unless he agrees, and I kinda doubt that will happen, and the seasons are almost over anyway
DS1
September 3rd, 2012
9:32 pm
phil
I’d be ok w/ him sitting for a week………
vitriol spewer (phil)
September 3rd, 2012
9:32 pm
Lowe was a drunken bumb and a horrible signing!
Laughing out Loud
September 3rd, 2012
9:34 pm
All the birdbrains calling Frank Wren’s “big splash” sigings failures will be calling Frank a failure if he doesn’t sign Michael Bourne to a big contract. Poor Frank and Fredi cannot win with the birdbrain team. They are always chirping failure, failure, failure….What poor abject mirserable people they must be! Go Braves! We love you!
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
9:34 pm
.If Uggla is just going to sit, might it not be better to send him to the minors for a few games to let him play?
Minor league season’s are over, except for the teams that made the playoffs… Don’t know if he has options left, and honestly don’t think it’d be wise to send him down. It’d anger him greatly, kinda like what happened with Frenchy. Also I can’t see playing minor league ball to be of any benefit to Dan/
vitriol spewer (phil)
September 3rd, 2012
9:34 pm
A week suits me fine, then give him a few starts.
If that same swing for Pluto swing is all he’s got, back to the pines…
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
9:34 pm
no doubt, from hindsight
MIBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
9:35 pm
keylargo – good points at 9:21. Wren was essentially trying to rebuild the rotation. He overspent and took chances because he felt he had to, at that time, in the situation he was in. I wonder if A.J. wishes he had come to Atlanta instead of the Yankees? Would that have turned out differently – would he have been good here as opposed to how bad he was in New York? He made his choice, and Wren felt he had to go with Lowe at that point. Both New York teams got bitten badly by their pitching signings that off-season.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
9:36 pm
But keeping Johnson in the starting lineup hurts the bench.
Yes it does… take a .300 hitter from the bench and add a .210 hitter, who’s hit .150 for months now. Yikes!
ACE
September 3rd, 2012
9:36 pm
Who knows how being benched will do to him. Will it fire him up to prove something when he is in the lineup?
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
9:37 pm
since Yankee Stadium is a good homer park and the Ted is not. most likely he would have been even worse.
vitriol spewer (phil)
September 3rd, 2012
9:37 pm
Good nite all…
The A Bomb
September 3rd, 2012
9:37 pm
Oddly, the “swing from Pluto” had to have been approved by the field commander.
This just doesn’t sound like a Gonzalez move. Who knows?
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
9:37 pm
nite phil
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
9:40 pm
I think Frank and Fredi had a come to Jesus session
double
September 3rd, 2012
9:41 pm
Errors & Excuses If Mr.Uggla needed an explanation,why he was being benched,then he is hurting more than just physically.
The A Bomb
September 3rd, 2012
9:42 pm
Yeah nolie that’s what it sounds like and Sept. 1 was some sort of deadline IMO.
MIBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
9:42 pm
I would say “let’s not go overboard” but heck . . . .
BravesFanSince80s
September 3rd, 2012
9:42 pm
Uggla is incapable of helping this team in any way, shape, or form and THAT has been apparent to everybody with at least half their mental capacity for quite some time! We are far better off with Prado at 2B (where he should have been playing every day for the past 2 seasons!) and a platoon of Johnson and Constanza in LF. I hope that HOWEVER this season plays out, that Uggla, Gonzalez, Wren, Hanson, Janish, Wilson, Hinske, and whoever else can’t hold up their end of the CONTRACT they’ve signed is sent packing! That includes Michael Bourn, guy strikes out waaaaaaaay too much for a premier leadoff hitter, will be in his 30’s next year and for a speed guy, that’s not the point at which you shell out the HUGE bucks! Frank Wren, IF you, by some miracle, hold onto your job goint into next season, PLEASE do not outbid the Phillies or Nats for Bourn. PLEASE!!!!!!!
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
9:46 pm
don’t think you are gonna get all your wishes 80, but some are bound to come to pass.
ACE
September 3rd, 2012
9:46 pm
Paying too much for Bourn is just asking for trouble a few years down the road. who knows if he would fall off like Uggla but could happen. I would not get in a bidding war for him.
DS1
September 3rd, 2012
9:48 pm
fan since 80’s
Damned glad your not the GM. Just sayin.
And btw, Wilson was released last Friday.
brian
September 3rd, 2012
9:48 pm
I still think that the Braves best move, if they move Uggla, is to deal Uggla to the Marlins for Heath Bell along with $6 million if we have to to balance the salaries the next 2 years(or take on Logan Morrison as well). The Marlins would then have Uggla 1 more year on their own. It would give each player a fresh start to try and turn around their careers. Marlins could easily move Uggla if he started hitting again.
CaptainMudd
September 3rd, 2012
9:49 pm
Simple answer Ace–”Simple Song,” The Shins….
@ACE
If the first opportunity comes and he Plutos the rock into the upper deck with that tomahawk club {bat}, then the fans will say put him back in.
If Uggs wiffs and it looks like he’s teeing off on the back-nine….boos may even reign…but certainly fans will say: put that Uggla back on the pine.
BravesFanSince80s
September 3rd, 2012
9:50 pm
DS1=D%^& S*%^$er 1
brian
September 3rd, 2012
9:50 pm
I have no idea what Pagan and Victorino will get on the open market but I would expect them to only get a 3 year contract and get 1/2 to 2/3 of the money that Bourn/Boras will command. If that ends up being true I offer Bourn and then take my draft pick while signing one of the above (and being biased after the SF series Pagan would be #1 for me).
alex
September 3rd, 2012
9:51 pm
at amber girl, your optimism is rewarded and we thank you……
double
September 3rd, 2012
9:51 pm
Were it not for Fredi,I doubt Mr Uggla would be a Brave.He needs a good phsical exam.Rule out any health problems.
MIBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
9:52 pm
Why in the world, given the way that Uggla left the Marlins, would they trade for him back? To bust both his chops and the Braves’ by making them pay to give him back? Really?! And you want to do that?!
BravesFanSince80s
September 3rd, 2012
9:52 pm
just sayin…
brian
September 3rd, 2012
9:53 pm
if the Braves do move Uggla, it will allow the Braves to look for a 3B or 2B with Prado taking the other spot. They also still need a LF and a CF.
If we could pry Headley for Delgado and a secondary prospect, we would have some IF with Headley, Simmons, Prado, and Freeman.
Figuring we have Bourn, Pagan, Victorino, or Bourjos in CF, that leaves LF needing a bat (Headley plus Pagan or Victorino gives us switch hitters to help balance the lineup). Any ideas for LF
nolie
September 3rd, 2012
9:54 pm
the Marlins slashed payroll, why would they want Uggla back? They will prolly stay with a kid like Solano
Atlanta Braves: The fall of Tommy Hanson « Joe Sportswriter
September 3rd, 2012
9:55 pm
[...] It’s time for the Braves to make a bold decision and “bench” Tommy Hanson for the rest of 2012, just as they have done with Uggla. [...]
DS1
September 3rd, 2012
9:55 pm
80’s
So, you didn’t like my evaluation?
How would you justify releasing Hanson and Janish, not to mention HOW would you dispense with Uggla without paying him a LOT of money to hit homers for somebody else?
Just sayin that some of your points were a bit out there……….
keyLargo
September 3rd, 2012
9:56 pm
Nolie – is there any chance of the Braves getting some money back from Cleveland since they traded Lowe to NYY? You and I know how it is – a million here, a million there and the first thing you know you’re talking about real money. But if this were prorated it could be about $2.5M coming back to the Braves
DS1
September 3rd, 2012
9:57 pm
Who would we trade Uggla to? I’m looking for suggestions. Without paying 3/4 of his salary for the next 3 years? Pray tell.
Seriously?
September 3rd, 2012
10:00 pm
But keeping Johnson in the starting lineup hurts the bench.
It don’t get much dumber than this.
brian
September 3rd, 2012
10:00 pm
if the Braves are wanting to dump Uggla somewhere they have to find a taker. The only way the BRaves get rid of Uggla is if they take a bad contract in return. There are 2 obvious ones where the current club was unable to find a taker at the trade deadline – Soriano in Chicago and Bell in Miami. If the Cubs would throw in money I would consider Soriano for Uggla but the next 2 years at what $18 million scares me.
Heath Bell had been rock solid in San Diego. Now if he appears done then obviously do not do it though it would save money. If he still seems to have an arm and has just been in a funk, blame Miami and give him a chance if they will take Uggla.
The trade for Uggla was a good one for the Braves as Infante was not a long term option and we obviously do not miss the lefty reliever. The extension though is what is killing the BRaves now.
The A Bomb
September 3rd, 2012
10:00 pm
Wayne — only team that might remotely be looking for a 2B is Toronto with Johnson as an FA.
Actually that might be a good fit for him, given the HRs hit by the Jays. Who knows?
UKUGA
September 3rd, 2012
10:00 pm
Rainout tomorrow?
tiger297
September 3rd, 2012
10:01 pm
whatup folks…DS1 u still around
tiger297
September 3rd, 2012
10:01 pm
note I didn’t say round I said around…
brian
September 3rd, 2012
10:01 pm
that is a good idea A Bomb – he would fit right in in Toronto. As long as they do not make us take Yunel back
MIBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
10:02 pm
Isn’t Toronto the expert in dumping big contracts, as opposed to picking them up?
UKUGA
September 3rd, 2012
10:02 pm
Hanson starts tomorrow. If he struggles (expected?), then the next phase is to see if Sheets comes back and how he looks. If he returns to starts 1-2-3 form, then Hanson could sit.
Why sit Uggla and throw Hanson out there every fifth day? Wouldn’t make much sense to me.
bostonbravo
September 3rd, 2012
10:02 pm
GD it!!! 3 months of not hitting AFTER a year of sub .250 hitting ain’t a SLUMP!!! STOP saying “he’s streaky or in a “slump:…He is TOAST!!!!
Japan would love Uggla…those big bulging, worthless muscles, etc.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
10:03 pm
Who would we trade Uggla to? I’m looking for suggestions. Without paying 3/4 of his salary for the next 3 years? Pray tell.
Dodgers!
But keeping Johnson in the starting lineup hurts the bench.
It don’t get much dumber than this.
Um, okay… do explain.
tiger297
September 3rd, 2012
10:03 pm
kl – once the trade is done its done…if yanks picked him up after he was released they have to pay him pro-rated portion of league minimum but that would go to cleveland not atlanta
brian
September 3rd, 2012
10:04 pm
we would have to chip in a bunch of money to Toronto though.
brian
September 3rd, 2012
10:04 pm
Enter your comments here
bostonbravo
September 3rd, 2012
10:05 pm
Hanson throws like a minor league catcher…always has..his luck has run out….go do “Opie Taylor Homage” flicks or something…
brian
September 3rd, 2012
10:06 pm
maybe we could talk toronto into taking Uggla, making him look good in their park, and then unloading him for more prospects than they gave up to get him???
DS1
September 3rd, 2012
10:06 pm
tiger
Hanging out. Working some serious hard sudoku puzzles and throwing in a comment or two. Stuck in St George in a condo with a broke AC unit. Repair man coming tomorrow. Thank God for ceiling fans!
How ya been?
brian
September 3rd, 2012
10:07 pm
MIBravesfan is correct with Toronto. Look at their roster and salaries. Kelly’s and Yunel’s seem the 2 most painful ones
The A Bomb
September 3rd, 2012
10:07 pm
I expect Hanson’s leash to be very, very short.
Might even cause a bit of a scene at the mound if (WHEN) Gonzalez comes out and pulls him.
Remember the Cox handshake in Houston 3 years ago?
DS1
September 3rd, 2012
10:08 pm
and both, round and around……..
tiger297
September 3rd, 2012
10:09 pm
not bad just work and baseball – between little tiger and braves almost daily which is a good thing
lee maye
September 3rd, 2012
10:10 pm
Can’t send Uggla to minors. No options and the minors are over, except for playoffs.
MIBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
10:11 pm
Playing all 3 of the best versons of “Bridge Over Troubled Water” back to back, just to reconsider which one is the best. (Don’t worry – won’t post!)
The A Bomb
September 3rd, 2012
10:11 pm
Choate hurt in L.A. Lefty specialist.
Had to come out.
We’ll see how bad it is.
tiger297
September 3rd, 2012
10:11 pm
and both –
both of us LOL
DS1
September 3rd, 2012
10:11 pm
How’s the new job going?
I’m having so much fun on vacation, I think I might eventually like retirement!
keyLargo
September 3rd, 2012
10:11 pm
Tiger – did you have your son with you at the game vs. the Phils?
tiger297
September 3rd, 2012
10:14 pm
we were there friday night for the blown save but last night he had practice so we didn’t make the game…but watched it at home
tiger297
September 3rd, 2012
10:16 pm
DS1 – more interesting than the last one although I do miss the technical discussions a bit. We will see if it produces the desire results.
Little tiger told me yesterday I needed to find a job in colorado
DS1
September 3rd, 2012
10:18 pm
Colorado is a great state four shore! But you’d miss those Braves games too much!
BravesFanSince80s
September 3rd, 2012
10:18 pm
if we could get Cleveland to tale Lowe, SOMEBODY will take a chance on Uggla, REGARDLESS of what it costs us in contract. I DO NOT CARE. Janish is a good glove but is a liability at the plate, that’s his MO, it’s well established at this point, why keep him, we have Pastornicky who isn’t quite the glove man Janish is, but he can give you MUCH more quality at-bats than can Janish. Hinske is done, stick a fork in him. Hanson is a liability, cut him loose and let somebody else spend the next couple of years trying to keep him healthy enough to pitch. Out there? Out there? If I’m out there, where are you? The dark side of the moon? At least I’m asking professional athletes to hold up THEIR end of the bargain when they’re being paid more than my entire family will ever see in all or our entire lives! What are your expectations of a professional athlete being paid 12 FREAKING MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR!
BravesFanSince80s
September 3rd, 2012
10:20 pm
take* Lowe, sorry
tiger297
September 3rd, 2012
10:20 pm
DS1 – the question is do I give up 50 days at braves games for 50 days of skiing? 10 years ago the answer was much simpler…
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
10:23 pm
Lowe was a 1yr commitment, Uggla will be 3 years. And we ate 2/3 of Lowe’s salary, which had an impact on what we could do this year. Imagine that with Uggla… having to pay at least 8mil in salary for the next 3 years…. it’d be extremely hard… we’re “stuck” with Uggla.
the truth...
September 3rd, 2012
10:24 pm
DS1……
Didn’t you mention that Wilson was released last week?…..that is what I thought but last night in the swarm at the plate when Chipper scored I could have sworn I saw someone with “WILSON” on the back of his jersey…..
Anyone else see that?
keyLargo
September 3rd, 2012
10:24 pm
And Tiger – the Braves had a contract with the Indians to pay $10M of his salary. The Yankees weren’t mentioned.
If I leased a bulldozer for a year and after 7 months I was through with it and wanted sublease it to a competitor, I certainly would want him to pay for his useage. Unless there was a clause in the contract saying the Braves would play his salary regardless of trades or pay it all at once at the first of the year, I’m having my lawyer send an inquiry.
ncgary
September 3rd, 2012
10:24 pm
6 runs on 5 hits it is better to be lucky than good
DS1
September 3rd, 2012
10:27 pm
Since I am not a skier, that’d be a no brainer for me…….. if I were in your shoes.
Why? Do you have the opportunity to move? How would the missus like that? And you’d be away from junior too, unless you took him w/ ya.
ncgary
September 3rd, 2012
10:28 pm
medlen why did they want to allow him to be a starter
now they might have to pay him
ncgary
September 3rd, 2012
10:28 pm
medlen why did they want to allow him to be a starter
now they might have to pay him
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
10:28 pm
Anyone else see that?
I saw that too… someone on Twitta apparently had an explanation, but I didn’t get to see it… my TL was flooded.
BravesFanSince80s
September 3rd, 2012
10:29 pm
TheOnlyBravesFan: sooooooooo, you’d balance keeping a corrosive player who will inevitably weaken an otherwise pretty good club JUST because the asinine GM signed him to a retarded contract that my pathetic excuse for a brain could have told you would implode BEFORE it happened? Sorry, I love the Braves, and hope they win every game of the season, but I’m not prepared to cut the front office and coaching staff THAT much slack…
ncgary
September 3rd, 2012
10:30 pm
how can you live out west and not be a skier? you should be in brittish columbia every other weekend
ncgary
September 3rd, 2012
10:32 pm
nite all
MIBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
10:33 pm
Kris said that? Really? Seems unlikely he said that. Although certainly true that they will.
tiger297
September 3rd, 2012
10:34 pm
key – the braves had a contract wih lowe – cleveland agreed to take over that contract if the braves paid $10M of the cost of the contract. Anything that happens after cleveland owns the contract belongs to cleveland.
DS1
September 3rd, 2012
10:34 pm
ncgary
Too darned old and brittle…………
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
10:35 pm
my pathetic excuse for a brain could have told you would implode BEFORE it happened?
You knew that he’d follow up his best season with 2 poor ones?
MikeInFl
September 3rd, 2012
10:39 pm
I just don’t think we give up on Uggla so quickly, to the point of dfa’ing him, or paying many millions for him to play for someone else.
I think Fredi will work him into the lineup when he can over the next month, and in the postseason if he responds at all. Even failing that, they’ll work with him in the offseason (maybe) and in spring training and try to get him on track.
There’s just no other practical solution, imo. And we know Uggla’s a hard worker; hopefully he can acknowledge that there is indeed a problem, and work on it. I don’t think it’s so unlikely that he can return to reasonably good production. Given the finances involved, Braves will give it another year, anyway.
BravesFanSince80s
September 3rd, 2012
10:39 pm
TheOnlyBravesFan: if you’d care to take the time to look it up, you’ll find AJC blogs with me ranting from day one that Uggla would be exposed with his ridiculous swing and that he’d never duplicate anything like his FLA numbers in ATL. FACT…
PTBNL
September 3rd, 2012
10:39 pm
I have a question about the scoring on the ball that hit the pitcher (Prado’s at bat). How can it be scored a hit and a double error? If the ball reaches the 1st baseman before the runner, how can it be ruled a hit if they also rule that it should have been caught? If he had caught it Prado would have been out. I realize that they had to show reason for the advancement of runners, but it seems that the way they ruled it is contradictory.
tiger297
September 3rd, 2012
10:40 pm
DS1 – with what I do I can find a job petty much anywhere I want (numbers is numbers)
jr is off at college so I might actually see him more if I were in colorado.
dont think mrs tiger would like it (she said she was willing to give it a try) she has never lived anywhere that was cold for more than 1-2 months so I’m afraid that would be a deal breaker long term
none of these are recent discussion (except with the little one) but something we have considered among many place
ray k
September 3rd, 2012
10:41 pm
I don’t think the comments on Uggla’s quotes were overreactions one iota. His lack of acknowledgement of his recent ineptitude is fairly eyebrow raising.
And no one would complain about his hypothetical not complaining over being benched. That’s just plain wrong. Everyone knows, based on many mentions in DOB’s stories, that Uggla is a tough competitor and wants to play every day. If, on this occasion, he just ignominiously slithered away without comment, people wouldn’t question his moxie. They’d simply assume he was upset with himself. Period.
BravesFanSince80s
September 3rd, 2012
10:42 pm
MikeINFl: do us all a favor and contact the now Miami Marlins and BEG them to take their on handed swinging, lousy fielding, tobacco lump-jawed moron back! PLEASE!
tiger297
September 3rd, 2012
10:42 pm
PTBNL – one error on not catching the ball 2nd error on throw to 3B
BravesFanSince80s
September 3rd, 2012
10:44 pm
one* handed
tiger297
September 3rd, 2012
10:44 pm
PTBNL – never mind I misuderstood your question
MikeInFl
September 3rd, 2012
10:44 pm
If I can package you in the deal, BFS80, I’ll do it. I’ll fly down on my own dime.
BravesFanSince80s
September 3rd, 2012
10:47 pm
yeah up here in NC, we don’t value the opinion of folks who live in FL too much, just sayin’…
tiger297
September 3rd, 2012
10:48 pm
PTBNL – only thing I can think of is prado was going to be safe so it was a hit and 1st error allowed freeman to 3B and 2nd error allowed him to go home
DS1
September 3rd, 2012
10:48 pm
Anybody that thinks there is a snowball’s chance in hell that we deal Uggla this winter, has got to be on some seriously good drugs.
Please share, OK.
tiger
Winters are not that brutal in CO. And when it’s cold, you just ask her to stay inside!
Problem solved!
Anybody catch my Clemson Tigers yesterday? They could be tough when Watkins returns. Hopefully he will be humbled a bit.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
10:50 pm
Mike:
tiger297
September 3rd, 2012
10:50 pm
personally I dont value the opinion of idiots regardless of where they live (not that I’m referencing either of the 2 people engaged here)
BravesFanSince80s
September 3rd, 2012
10:51 pm
DS1: so you basically just admitted that we have the dumbest GM in MLB, thanks!
tiger297
September 3rd, 2012
10:51 pm
ds1 – look she is used to 10-20 days below freezing a year…so the definition of brutal is often a matter of perspective
The A Bomb
September 3rd, 2012
10:52 pm
Beane may have the right idea.
Keep the payroll low, eliminate the need for blogs, write books, have a movie, last a decade and then prove its worth in the postseason.
That’s the ticket.
Couch Tater
September 3rd, 2012
10:52 pm
There’s just no other practical solution, imo
Yep. Any other way would be a huge financial hit.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
10:53 pm
Bravesfansince80s: I went back and looked at as many blogs of the Uggla trade and signing that I could care to look at, couldn’t find you on there… I didn’t read many of the posts, but in most (90%+) of the posts I read, people were glad to have Uggla, calling the trade a steal. Then when we signed him, I saw more happy posters, glad that it wasn’t just a 1 and done thing.
Amazing how just a year later, he’s a
hatedextremely disliked man.BravesFanSince80s
September 3rd, 2012
10:56 pm
yeah, I’ve said from day one that the Dan Uggla signing was a stupid signing, he’s been a hole in our lineup, almost the entire 2 years he’s been here, but my opinion on that makes me an idiot… yeah…
tiger297
September 3rd, 2012
10:56 pm
TOBF – whats the saying to those who much is given much is required
guess that isnt true we sure lambasted the rev as well
PTBNL
September 3rd, 2012
10:56 pm
Tiger… the ball reached 1st before Prado. If he had gotten to the bag at the same time as the ball, the 1st baseman would not have been able to even get to the ball, it would have been an error on the throw, which seems more logical to me anyway. The pitcher threw the ball to the wrong side of the bag. The 1st baseman had to try to catch it the way he did because if he had tried to go to the other side of the bag in order to catch it, or if he had left his arm extended in that direction any longer there would have been a collision. Of course, the scoring of the hit was made after the game was over. I just have not heard an explanation of the ruling.
BravesFanSince80s
September 3rd, 2012
10:58 pm
TheOnlyBravesFan: ask Nolie, he’ll remember, I don’t care if you didn’t see anything in 5 minutes of skimming, which was pretty retarded, in and of itself…
Couch Tater
September 3rd, 2012
10:59 pm
The Tech Schools going to the wire.
CB – Quit pacing.
brian
September 3rd, 2012
11:00 pm
the GT uniforms will take some getting used to. Miss the gold helmets
brian
September 3rd, 2012
11:00 pm
the GT uniforms will take some getting used to. Miss the gold helmets
brian
September 3rd, 2012
11:00 pm
huge 4th down play there
DS1
September 3rd, 2012
11:01 pm
80’s fan
Actually, I thought the Uggla signing was a good one at the time. And I think Frank Wren is a pretty good GM. I don’t think that highly of Fredi though. Or of your opinions either. But opinions are like a part of our anatomy, everybody has one.
But to be clear, any fan that grades all deals his GM makes with hindsight are fairly useless as far as making any meaningful blog comments, in my humble opinion.
But go ahead and live your fantasy life………..Have a nice life. Please try not to hurt yourself, ok.
Couch Tater
September 3rd, 2012
11:01 pm
CB – I’d be pacing, now.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
11:02 pm
I did a search for your name, Bravesfan… unless you were using a different name that you haven’t told me.
I clicked through all the articles, showed all comments, and did a wordsearch for your name… nothing came up. If you want to show me exactly what post, how about you link it for me… I’m not reading through 10,000 comments just to find your post(s).
I don’t care if you didn’t see anything in 5 minutes of skimming, which was pretty retarded, in and of itself…
Couch Tater
September 3rd, 2012
11:04 pm
CB – I’d be saying one of them golf words.
DS1
September 3rd, 2012
11:09 pm
Time to tune in Fox News and catch up on the world. Later folks!
Bo Graves!
BravesFanSince80s
September 3rd, 2012
11:10 pm
I said as soon as it was announced that this deal would go down badly and there are plenty of folks on here during the day that will back me up on that so screw your “hindsight” DS1. FW is a lousy GM, Baltimore hit a low-point under him, and so have we (since the 90’s), so you 2 goobers can ESAD as far as I’m concerned, and once again, I don’t care if you “couldn’t find anything” in the hours you’ve spent searching, I don’t need your approval any more than I need anyone else’s approval to know that Dan Uggla sucks DDD…
Couch Tater
September 3rd, 2012
11:12 pm
CB – Maybe a Toddy?
the truth...
September 3rd, 2012
11:13 pm
tells a lot about Uggla’s tenacity…..
http://www.jockbio.com/Bios/Uggla/Uggla_bio.html
tiger297
September 3rd, 2012
11:14 pm
when its sleepy time down south…
Seriously?
September 3rd, 2012
11:15 pm
Time to tune in Fox News and catch up on the world. Later folks!
Well, that explains the previous really dumb comment. I guess it can get dumber after all.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
11:16 pm
Ah I really appreciate you tone Bravesfan… I haven’t even insulted you. But….
If you want to prove something to me, you need to have the damn proof. I’m not going to spend 5 hours reading all 10k posts to find your 1 comment… you find it for me.
I don’t care if you need my approval. I don’t need your approval either.
The A Bomb
September 3rd, 2012
11:17 pm
TOBF — I did find some of my posts to confirm I did not like the trade and it was mainly because of Uggla’s defense. But there were a ton of people ready to anoint Frank King of Georgia.
DS1
September 3rd, 2012
11:19 pm
Seriously
No problem, I do tolerate folks with opposing views than mine.
Couch Tater
September 3rd, 2012
11:21 pm
CB – Only for medicinal purposes of course.
CaptainMudd
September 3rd, 2012
11:22 pm
GT messed up…now it will probably go to the Hokies and, with that I’m off to my bed. Good night all.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
11:23 pm
Dan’s ability to turn on pitches left over the plate makes him an excellent mistake hitter. The fact that he has become a bona fide slugger playing half his games in a notorious pitcher’s park says a lot. Dan can be a good situational hitter. He understands how to work counts and adjust his approach depending on the variables he encounters…His hands and feet are quick enough to turn double plays, although his best position will always be hanging over home plate.
Sounds good to me!
The A Bomb
September 3rd, 2012
11:30 pm
Again, the issue was not the trade.
The issue was the blind extension. That should never have happened.
Something happens when players change teams. Look how long it took Pujols to get adjusted. Unfortunately, Uggla has set new records for futility for the money he makes.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
11:32 pm
The A Bomb
November 16th, 2010
6:24 pm
GovClintonTyree — I saw Earl Williams hit 33 in 1971….we were 82-80.
Whoop de doo….
c- below average defense
1b – potentially strong defense
2b – horrible defense
ss – extremely overrated defense
3b – “For The Love of the Game” defense
I hope we lead the NL in strikeouts next season because guys like Lowe are going to lead the league in unearned runs allowed. (If he’s here, of course).
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
11:34 pm
Wow, that was weird… I had 3 of his posts…
The A Bomb November 19th, 2010
Wren says Uggla’s defense is “solid”……Just gave away my comedy club tickets for the weekend because I can’t stop laughing….Unearned runs kill playoff runs.
The A Bomb
November 16th, 2010
Nothing like improving our middle infield defense. Ugh-la.
I was able to find some of A Bomb’s posts within 5 mins…. still nothing for you, BFS80s.
The A Bomb
September 3rd, 2012
11:35 pm
Yep — I’m a defense and speed guy. Haven’t changed.
I forgot what I was responding to. I don’t think Uggla has been horrible.
Never an A-Gon fan, don’t like Mac’s defense, Chipper getting up there — yep that’s me.
angelo
September 3rd, 2012
11:35 pm
UGGLA BENCHED!
“That was one small step for Fredi, one giant leap for Atlanta .”
GO BRAVES!!!!!
The A Bomb
September 3rd, 2012
11:36 pm
Pretty good!
Admittedly, he’s been better than that. But he still SUCKS going up the middle.
MIBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
11:40 pm
Angelo, that’s no credit to Neil Armstrong, who frankly deserves better.
MIBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
11:41 pm
And after all the “rifs” on Clint Eastwood lately. But Armstrong deserves a whole lot better.
MiaBchBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
11:44 pm
RE: this blog – it’s about bloody time! If Uggla’s upset, he’s an idiot, because he’s been an absolute ZERO this season.
Now, the next person to get called into Fredi’s office has to be Brian McCann. He is hurt beyond our grasp. All the cortisone in the world with not heal a frayed/torn labrum and a cyst that throbs with pain every single day he swings a bat. He is DONE! He needs to be DL’d and Ross & Boscan need to carry the position the rest of the way. I am sick and tired of ailing or unproductive players who THINK starting is their birthright. And by the way??? A frayed/torn labrum is a permanent condition, not a temporary thing with an easy fix. If Frank Wren exercises the club option for McCann next year, Wren is an even bigger idiot than I could have ever fathomed. Love the guy, but he is damaged goods, and has to go elsewhere.
By the way? Chipper is a god!!! Heyward and Freeman would do well to understand that THAT is what the Braves need from them too the rest of the way. The come-from-behind victory on Sunday was Chipper’s way of saying that it CAN be done, but others must do their part. A new hero every day! Chipper cannot do it alone.
However, with Uggla and McCann locked on the bench, chances will only improve exponentially.
the truth...
September 3rd, 2012
11:45 pm
I’m not a super regular on the blog, just occasional comments now and then……….
For me though I hated the Uggla trade then and still do now. We gave up Infante and Mike Dunn (Left handed pitcher folks) and now we’re straddled with an over muscled under performing possible head case distraction and $65 million 5 year contract………..
Not good…………
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
11:47 pm
G’Night guys… good game today, hope Tommy Hanson can bring us another W tomorrow (though I don’t see it happening). Who knows, maybe Fredi “benches” Hanson and has Teheran/Delgado start? It can only be better.
Later folks. Peace.
Who Me?
September 3rd, 2012
11:49 pm
Uggla sitting may be just the spark this team needs to get the order cranked up. Freddi didn’t just do this because he wanted to, he was told to you can bet on that. It’s amazing the things that happen when the seat starts to warm up late in the season and you see that career dissipation light start blinking….
Brava
September 3rd, 2012
11:51 pm
I have to disagree with anyone who opposes the decision to bench Uggla. As a fan, it’s like a breath of fresh air. I was on the Braves site earlier and an irate fan was saying Bobby would never have done something like this, and I agree. That’s been the problem with the mindset of this organization for quite some time. Possibly hurting the feelings of individual players came before doing what it takes to help the team win. As I said earlier today, I’m proud of Fredi for making this necessary move, although I called for it a couple of weeks ago.
That stuff about starting Reed Johnson hurting the bench was hilarious. How can you hurt the bench? The bench is there to provide replacements. Besides, we have an expanded bench now, so I’m sure Reed Johnson starting isn’t going to kill the team. I want to see Reed Johnson starting more often. The guy can rake.
MiaBchBravesFan
September 3rd, 2012
11:54 pm
nolie (before the game today): “I’m calling BALLGAME just on that lineup…”
nolie, that’s why they play the game.
By the way, Kris Medlen is a WINNER! I know that many were never high on the kid, but he is a Greg Maddux-like clone in the making. Nice mechanics, crafty assortment of pitches, and an absolute BULLDAWG!!! He finishes what he starts, and has become a lockdown, shutdown STOPPER for this team. To think that many of you wanted to package Medlen in a trade throughout THIS season; y’all need to eat a nicely seasoned portion of CROW.
This guy defies the metrics and measurements. You cannot measure heart and a willingness to win. Kris Medlen is a keeper, and he will enjoy a long and fruitful career, all along casting naysayers aside like the hitters he baffles.
ray k
September 3rd, 2012
11:56 pm
Who pitches the one game playoff?
Huddy?
Brava
September 3rd, 2012
11:58 pm
MiaBchBarvesFan,
Yeah, a lot of the blog experts have had to eat crow over Medlen. I’m not one of them. .
Brava
September 3rd, 2012
11:59 pm
Oops, didn’t mean to call you BarvesFan. Typo (must have been thinking about Hanson pitching tomorrow).
David O'Brien
September 4th, 2012
12:00 am
the GT uniforms will take some getting used to. Miss the gold helmets — brian
I think those white helmets with the honeycomb design are alternate helmets, not replacing the gold ones.
Brava
September 4th, 2012
12:02 am
ray k, I would hope Medlen.
MikeInFl
September 4th, 2012
12:03 am
Let’s just hope the Braves have enough cushion that they can rest a guy (be it Hudson, Medlen, or whoever) for a start in the final week, to allow him to pitch the play-in game. And that whoever we’re playing doesn’t have that luxury.
Brava
September 4th, 2012
12:04 am
True, Mike. Hopefully, we aren’t in a final game crunch like the past two seasons.
The A Bomb
September 4th, 2012
12:05 am
I think everyone would be in the ‘pen for the one-gamer — minus the pitcher who throws Wednesday in Pittsburgh.
If we get it clinched Braves could throw anyone in that playoff. Has to be a desperate, short leash.
Brava
September 4th, 2012
12:07 am
Anyone, A Bomb? Hanson? (I cringe at the thought)
the truth...
September 4th, 2012
12:08 am
@MiaBchBravesFan
You made several statements about the shoulder issues Mac has…………and most of it was bogus…..When you say it is a permanent condition you are wrong if you think there is no surgical “fix”…….. The site below details the options for surgery for a labrum tear……
http://www.hopkinsortho.org/labrum_tear.html
And this cool one for the frayed labrum…..check the animated description of the sureger….
http://www.jcl.com/medical-services/orthopedics/shoulder-surgery-video/torn-labrum-shoulder-surgery
And I’m betting that Frank and the Braves will not extend Mac’s contract if the outlook for his shoulder is such to elimnate the possibilty of him playing at a high level.
Teams required that ballplayers have physicals for their contracts when they make trades or new signings……….and of course they know Mac’s ills pretty well…….
The A Bomb
September 4th, 2012
12:10 am
Well Hanson would be in line — maybe 12th in line, but you’d have to consider ANYONE to pitch in a playoff with no tomorrow.
MiaBchBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
12:10 am
I did not expect the Braves to make the playoffs this season. Hey Fredi, here’s an idea. Let’s take this newfound desire to have logic and sense guide your baseball decisions in this unexpected season and take those stones for a spin. In a one-game play-in/playoff game, the answer is logical.
Kris Medlen. The bullpen can take the day off and rest for the NLDS. Finally, a true shutdown pitcher!
the truth...
September 4th, 2012
12:11 am
Course no shoulder surgery for Mac until the off season for sure, but the cortisone can help him calm it down.
Mac’s eyes seem to me to be at least as big if not bigger problem long term
The A Bomb
September 4th, 2012
12:12 am
We have a weekly radio show here in L.A. called Weekend Warriors — host is a renowned orthopedic surgeon at Cedar Sinai Hospital.
He says cortisone shots are the kiss of death — should be avoided at all costs. Mac is hurting his career by doing this.
Brava
September 4th, 2012
12:12 am
If we get to Hanson, all is lost, A Bomb.
MiaBchBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
12:16 am
the truth: a surgical fix for you and me means that a torn/frayed labrum is not something that will adversely affect our quality of life. However, for a baseball player who has to swing and throw for seven months in a bad year, eight in a good campaign, that’s another story. If you are willing to spend $12 million-plus on that gambit, be my guest. The litany of players who have had difficulty recovering from such a malady debunks all the cutesy videos and rose-colored views when it comes to an ELITE MLB player.
MIBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
12:16 am
So Brian is hurting his career by trying to be there for his team. It would be nice if some of the bloggers who rag on him all the time heard that, A Bomb.
The A Bomb
September 4th, 2012
12:20 am
Yes — I’m just relating what this doctor — Dr. Robert Klapper — says about cortisone shots. Not the path to long-term recovery.
The A Bomb
September 4th, 2012
12:23 am
And it’s a shame the Braves are condoning this. He should shut it down.
the truth...
September 4th, 2012
12:25 am
I read a bit about the cortisone shots and one Othopod recommends no more than three….
I know a bit about the head Doc for the Braves; Joe Chandler ( a friend was a VP for the Braves, Hawks, etc from Ted’s early days until he retired a few years ago). Chandler knows his stuff and I’m sure he would not recommend the Braves do these proceedures endlessly. I’d think the shots are a stop gap to get him through the season and then they can do surgery in the off season if needed.
Like I said….the eyes bother me more, especially long term and since hitting is the issue..
the truth...
September 4th, 2012
12:31 am
Yeah I understand about the difference between a professional athlete ordinary guys……..plus I’m over 65 so I can for sure tell you about the aging and deteriorating body.
The “cutesy” video didn’t seem “Cute” to me, but an indepth illustration of the proceedures involved.
The first link is from Johns Hopkins Hospital Orthopedics and specifically discusses these surgeries and athletes…..
Tommy John surgery is a common as a tonsilectomy these days, so I’d defer to the elite medical pros.
the truth...
September 4th, 2012
12:41 am
Any one note the hand doctor that handled Simmons hand? He is Dr. Greg Laurie and is principal in the Hand and Upper Extremity Center….
http://handcenterga.com/?p=lourie
I cut a tendon in my left thumb in 2005 and had to have hand micro surgery to have it repaired. Laurie didn’t do it and I don’t remember which Dr. did….one of the young ones ….if you note the bios you’ll see they all are Harvard School of Medicine trained as well as other schools..
So I think the Braves, Falcons and professional sports teams that pay athletes millions of dollars do their homework when taking care of their “assets” which are the players….
Dr. Laurie and the other principal Dr. Costas are premer doctors in thier field….I’ll bet that the pro teams get their advice from elite doctors like these and not from a “radio doc”
http://handcenterga.com/?p=costas
The A Bomb
September 4th, 2012
12:47 am
Klapper? Cedars Sinai? You know little about SoCal. Believe me, he’s a legit surgeon.
ESPN just hired him to do a 2-hour show on Saturday mornings. This guy works on the Lakers, Dodgers etc….
The A Bomb
September 4th, 2012
12:49 am
But thanks for the info — interesting.
I don’t get the idea that cortisone is a healthy course of treatment for a catcher who’s under joint stress for a living.
the truth...
September 4th, 2012
12:59 am
I lived in the LA area in the 60’s and early 70’s….I am aware of the fine doctors and hospitals there….all I was pointing out is that doctors from Duke and Harvard aren’t exactly chopped liver pal….
If you think the major sports teams have hacks working on their players you are a bit confused.
Of course Mac’s shoulder is a big deal…….but you gotta also consider that his future days in the game if he continues will have to be more of a DH role….and if he goes that route his eyes are going to be his problem, not throwing to 2nd.
Time will tell….personally I would play Ross and Reed Johnson and sit Mac for like 60% of the remainder of the season at least…..sit Uggla 90% and only meaningless pinch hitting here and there………try to rest Mac and keep Uggla away from all of it if he’s going to have an attitude and become a cancer……
the truth...
September 4th, 2012
1:05 am
I did read about Dr. Robert Klapper and he is surely a well known and respected doc………and again the teams out there are going to have their “local” experts as well……Duke, Cedars-Sinai, Harvard Medical, Johns Hopkins…..I’d trust them for sure….
Too bad for Mac, but his longevity behind the plate has been quesionable anyway as he ages as he is not the most physically gifted catcher in MLB. His biggest asset behind the plate is between his ears
(UNLIKE UGGLA’S WHOSE STRONGEST MUSCLES ARE DEFINITELY NOT ABOVE HIS NECK)
For Mac to play many more years he has to see……hit …. and play something other than catcher…..
ChipperisGod
September 4th, 2012
1:07 am
I’d take Omar over Dan any day of the week. I appreciate the way Uggs plays the game in terms of effort and hustle, but this isn’t what we’re paying 62 million for. Despite his hitting streak and his homers he’s hit lately, this is the right move by Fredi.
Chipper= wow. Unbelievable on Sunday. Good win today, and Medlen pitched another masterpiece. Let’s keep big mo going. Tough schedule down the stretch with the Phils surging and the Nats looming after the Rockies and Brewers this week and next.
the truth...
September 4th, 2012
1:08 am
A Bomb
Agreed…the cortisone isn’t a long term fix for Mac….but as lots of those pros will tell you it can do short term “miracles”
Again….seeing him standing at the plate opening and closing his eyes….squinting and straining…. I’m thinking this ain’t going on indefinitely….you can’t see, you can’t hit…………..
the truth...
September 4th, 2012
1:09 am
got to go for tonight gang….
nolie
September 4th, 2012
1:09 am
mot claiming to be a financial expert, but my understanding is that we are stuck with the 10 mil no matter what happens, who he plays for, or if he just sits on his butt the rest of the year.
the truth...
September 4th, 2012
1:10 am
Hey DOB….can you maybe try and find out a bit more on Mac and his squinting,etc when standing there studying the pitcher………..
Just doesn’t look encouraging to me….
the truth...
September 4th, 2012
1:19 am
nolie…..
You have to be correct….remember Hampton when he was here? Colorado was paying a huge amount of his salary and he came to us thru the Marlins I think…
That’s the only way some trades happen is if the “seller” pays huge amount of the contracts…….like Derek Lowe of course..
the truth...
September 4th, 2012
1:19 am
gone
nolie
September 4th, 2012
1:21 am
there is a lot of stuff going around about how everybody who thought Meds was more valuable in the pen hated him and claimed he would be a failure as a starter. That is way off the mark
David O'Brien
September 4th, 2012
1:41 am
Hey DOB….can you maybe try and find out a bit more on Mac and his squinting,etc when standing there studying the pitcher………..
Just doesn’t look encouraging to me…. — the truth
He’s done that as long as I can remember. At least since getting Lasik surgery, and I think before that.
DS1
September 4th, 2012
3:20 am
nolie
Ah, that Medlen hate stuff is Brava just being a blow hard. She pretends to understand and not to attack, though she loves to try to push folks buttons.
Couch Tater
September 4th, 2012
6:25 am
Ah, that Medlen hate stuff
Wait just a huggiefied minute…
“And still I dreamed on, further into the future than I had ever dreamed before, watching Nathan Junior’s progress from afar, taking pride in his accomplishments as if he were our own. Wondering if he ever thought of us and hoping that maybe we’d broadened his horizons a little even if he couldn’t remember just how they got broadened.” – H.I. McDonnough, Maricopa County Maximum Security Correctional Facility for Men State Farm.
Lordy, It’s him! I knew it all along. Something told me! There was too much coinkinkydink. He was born at the right time!!! This lovefest was sent from a diffrent time!
Nathan JR!!!
vitriol spewer (phil)
September 4th, 2012
6:55 am
The dawn of a new day arrives….
And with it, we’re a day closer to Chipper’s farewell and the end of offense in Atlanta as we’ve known it. Sigh…
CB
September 4th, 2012
6:59 am
Couch, you had it right. I was pacing the floor like an expectant father, the only good thing that came out of that game was a win.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
7:05 am
I hated Meds because I thought that he was more valuable in the ‘pen to start the season? Wow… so wrong.
Another game tonight, not feeling good with Tommy going, but we’ll see what happens. He needs to go 6 innings, allowing just 1 run and 3 hits. He’s looked horrible since May. Need all the good starts/performances we can get out of him to help his supposed “tradeability”…
Jimmy Crack
September 4th, 2012
7:08 am
MLB facts of life…
If you get a hit 3 out of every 10 times…You’re a potential Hall of Famer.
If you get a hit 2 out of every 10 times…You’re a Bum.
Grab some chew and some pine, Uggs.
ncgary
September 4th, 2012
7:22 am
jimmy cracked eggs i mean uggs and i don’t care
lol
get well soon uggs and mccann
go braves
and barves too
rich brave
September 4th, 2012
7:37 am
DOWEN ON THE FARM
GWINNETT
Lose 5-1 to the TIDES [end of regular season]
LHSP SEAN GILMARTIN [L 1-2, 4.78 ERA] 4.0 IP, 3 HR, 7 H, 4 R/ER, 1 BB, 5 SO.
Three bombs allowed. Come on rookie, tighten up.
LHRP RYAN BUCHTER [10.13 ERA] 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 1 SO.
LHRP DUSTY HUGHES [3.31 ERA] 2.0 IP, 1 H, zeros, 1 BB, 2 SO.
LHRP COLE McCURRY 4.59 ERA] 1.0 IP, pristine.
Lead-off CF FELIX PIE [.285 BA] 2-4, 1 2B [26], 1 3B [7], 1 RBI [51], 2 SO.
RF STEFEN GARTRELL [.251 BA] 1-4, 2 SO.
SS JOSH WILSON [.241 BA] 1-3, 1 R, 1 SO, 1 E [19, throwing].
2B BRIAN FRIDAY [.213 BA]
1B ERNESTO MEJIA [.296 BA]
DH TERRY TIFFEE [.299 BA]
LF JOSH KROEGER [.266 BA]
3B RUSTY RYAL .287 BA]
C SHAWN McDILL [.143 BA]
all had o’fer days at the plate
TaylorVol
September 4th, 2012
7:41 am
If anyone was watching Fox SportsSouth at 1:04pm EDT yesterday (Labor Day), that was my 8 year old daughter doing the chop with a tomahawk on the camera. She was sitting by the Ty Cobb statue and was the “cut in” coming back from a commercial break. Chip said something like, “now she’s ready to welcome the Colorado Rockies to Turner Field”. Okay, I’m being a proud papa, but that was really cool! She was saying “Go Chipper, Go Braves!” Now, that’s why we chop!
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
7:41 am
Oy, a tough way for the ‘Nole Gilmartin to end his season. See ya in ST next spring kid, might be challenging for that 5th spot.
Nova Scotia Steve
September 4th, 2012
8:08 am
Forgot Felix Pie was in our organization…and having a damn good year. Why wouldn’t he get a call up over Constanza?
Must be a reason behind the move, it can’t be expierence, they’ve both played in MLB.
freddie
September 4th, 2012
8:10 am
wait until the final year of his contract he will hit lights out and expect another big contract….sad part is somebody will give it to him
ncscoots
September 4th, 2012
8:34 am
personally I would play Ross and Reed Johnson and sit Mac for like 60% of the remainder of the season at least…..sit Uggla 90% and only meaningless pinch hitting here and there
Sadly, this is probably pretty close to what Fredo will do. Add in a few games with both Constanza and Francisco in the lineup, when the urge strikes him. Yowsah.
The five hits yesterday will probably be looked upon fondly, some days.
vitriol spewer (phil)
September 4th, 2012
8:58 am
5 hits, 6 runs….
Great to win but anemic offense won’t get us far enough…
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
9:00 am
Mighta won yesterday, but we still have “problems”. We need to start hitting … Constanza isn’t the answer, though.
Brava
September 4th, 2012
9:07 am
Ah, that Medlen hate stuff is Brava just being a blow hard. She pretends to understand and not to attack, though she loves to try to push folks buttons.
Medlen hate stuff? All I said is some of the blog experts have had to eat crow since he became a starter. nolie, for one, has been quite gracious in admitting he was wrong, I guess you don’t have that type of character.
Funny that you would manipulate my comment like this and then accuse me of trying to push folks buttons. You are one of the most notorious on this blog for doing exactly that.
Jeff R
September 4th, 2012
9:08 am
5 hits, 6 runs….
Great to win but anemic offense won’t get us far enough…
It is a concern, indeed. The Braves aren’t going to get Medlen-like performances out of their starters nightly, and higher run production on so few hits is an exception.
Jeff R
September 4th, 2012
9:12 am
The Pirates are doing the Big Fade in the Wild Card race. It’s now the Braves, Cards, and Dodgers chasing those two slots.
Hey, we’ve got to thank the Nats for beating up on the Cards in their recent series.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
9:12 am
MFin04
September 4th, 2012
9:13 am
“5 hits, 6 runs….”
I think the more concerning part was the 3 runs with 0 hits. Of course the RBI hits that ensued that scored runs were of the luck variety.
MFin04
September 4th, 2012
9:15 am
“Hey, we’ve got to thank the Nats for beating up on the Cards in their recent series.”
Looked up the schedules. Cardinals and Dodgers have a 4-game series left, that is really nice for the Braves playoff hopes. Cardinals also play the Nationals 3 times near the end of the year as well.
Jeff R
September 4th, 2012
9:15 am
As someone wrote last night, “Better to be lucky than good.” But when the luck runs out, we need the Braves to be good.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
9:16 am
The Pirates are doing the Big Fade in the Wild Card race.
Hopefully they can put up a winning season… just need 12 more wins.
Hey, we’ve got to thank the Nats for beating up on the Cards in their recent series.
Indeed… just hope that the Dodgers fade too… but I’m feeling even better about our playoff chances now. It’s gonna be so hard to lose that spot.
Brava
September 4th, 2012
9:16 am
TOBF, if that’s directed at me, stuff it, young man. I really don’t care what a 19 year old thinks, to be honest. Been there, done that, and I’m much wiser for it.
ncscoots
September 4th, 2012
9:16 am
I think the more concerning part was the 3 runs with 0 hits.
Tiny ball.
Or maybe microscopic ball. Oughta make some folks here giddy, I guess.
Jeff R
September 4th, 2012
9:17 am
Looked up the schedules. Cardinals and Dodgers have a 4-game series left, that is really nice for the Braves playoff hopes. Cardinals also play the Nationals 3 times near the end of the year as well.
Very nice.
Jeff R
September 4th, 2012
9:19 am
Indeed… just hope that the Dodgers fade too… but I’m feeling even better about our playoff chances now. It’s gonna be so hard to lose that spot.
Imagine if the Dodgers had been able to workout a waiver deal for Cliff Lee? Glad that didn’t happen.
MFin04
September 4th, 2012
9:21 am
“Tiny ball.
Or maybe microscopic ball. Oughta make some folks here giddy, I guess”
I love small ball with the best of them, but you do have to get hits the majority of the time to win games.
To be fair though Constanza’s bunt actually started the whole thing which led to the Braves two runs.
Jeff R
September 4th, 2012
9:21 am
TheOnlyBravesFan, I’m pulling for the Pirates to finish above .500. I like what Neal Huntington is doing there in Pittsburgh.
The Pirates can go 12-16 and finish 82-80. But they might do better than that.
Jimmy
September 4th, 2012
9:22 am
“It’s gonna be so hard to lose that spot.” -TOBF
This kind of language is forbidden on this blog!
You’ll end up in the land of Mixxo.
ncscoots
September 4th, 2012
9:23 am
To be fair though Constanza’s bunt actually started the whole thing which led to the Braves two runs.
And posters here will chew the cud of that one hit for another two weeks, LOL.
vitriol spewer (phil)
September 4th, 2012
9:23 am
We’re in a battle for the right to watch everything ride on one game.
The mere thought just makes my stomach churn, as many times as we’ve seen it come down to single games, only to lose most of them.
Of the Dodgers and Cardinals, assuming for a minute that we make it and one of them does as well, who will start for those two teams? I don’t keep up closely with it. I want to know right now who we have to hit so the blog can give Fredi and the boys some good advice starting now on how to get it done….lol.
MFin04
September 4th, 2012
9:23 am
Not sure how many people actually watch the games, but yesterday was a great example of the things Michael Bourn does and should be paid to do that don’t really show up on the box score.
Guy scored two runs yesterday that no other player in the league scores. Scored on a wild pitch that didn’t get that far away from the pitcher and scored on a sac fly to 2nd base. Guy is amazing.
vitriol spewer (phil)
September 4th, 2012
9:25 am
Constanza……oh boy
MFin04
September 4th, 2012
9:25 am
ncscoots – I’d rather guy make a productive out than go all McCann or Uggla on us and strikeout while not moving the runner over or getting him in.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
9:27 am
To be fair though Constanza’s bunt actually started the whole thing which led to the Braves two runs.
Constanza for MVP!!!!!!! He’s so awesome. Can’t believe that we’re wasting the talent of this 29 yr old in AAA
Jeff R
September 4th, 2012
9:28 am
The mere thought just makes my stomach churn, as many times as we’ve seen it come down to single games, only to lose most of them.
phil, what’s the alternative? Unless the Nats completely implode, the Braves shot at the post season is that one-game square off with either the Cards or Dodgers (unless either or both nosedive).
Or… to avoid the one-game elimination, the Braves should miss the post season?
It is what it is. Hope the Braves make it and we’ll see how they fare.
McFann :Ô: :Ô: :ô:
September 4th, 2012
9:28 am
Anybody heard from cabravesfan lately?…
MFin04
September 4th, 2012
9:28 am
“Constanza for MVP!!!!!!! He’s so awesome. Can’t believe that we’re wasting the talent of this 29 yr old in AAA”
Hey he played better than our All-Stars of McCann and Uggla and the Braves won the game. What more can you ask of the guy?
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
9:29 am
Michael Bourn….should be paid
No more than 10-11 mil/yr for 3 years, with a 4th year option.
vitriol spewer (phil)
September 4th, 2012
9:30 am
A sac fly to second…lol
Not quite, but it was a short fly to center for sure.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
9:30 am
for 1 game MFin… 1 game He was awful when he was called up earlier this year. He couldn’t even win the job from Diaz in ST…. Matt DIAZ!
MFin04
September 4th, 2012
9:31 am
“No more than 10-11 mil/yr for 3 years, with a 4th year option.”
That’s absurd. Then Greinke should get $9-10 million for 2 years with a 3rd year option.
ncscoots
September 4th, 2012
9:31 am
I’d rather guy make a productive out than go all McCann or Uggla on us and strikeout while not moving the runner over or getting him in.
Well, I don’t know about “productive” or not, but I have a feeling that we’ll get to see quite a few outs from some of the lineups we’ll see this month.
Uggla is on my ****-list, but not for the same reason espoused by most of the dolts here. I’m angry at him for giving Fredo the opportunity to make lineup decisions in September. Having callups available is bad enough, but add in an Uggla benching and the lineups are likely to be Twilight Zone material.
vitriol spewer (phil)
September 4th, 2012
9:31 am
She was around some over the weekend….not much but a little.
Jeff R
September 4th, 2012
9:32 am
No more than 10-11 mil/yr for 3 years, with a 4th year option. For Bourn.
Bourn will command more than that, and not likely as a Brave.
MFin04
September 4th, 2012
9:32 am
“for 1 game MFin… 1 game”
Yep and when the standings say that the Braves beat the Cardinals or Dodgers out of a playoff spot by 1-game you can thank Constanza by buying one of his jerseys and bobbleheads.
MFin04
September 4th, 2012
9:34 am
“and the lineups are likely to be Twilight Zone material.”
Well last year we ran the same group out there and it didn’t work, so what do you expect him to do? Gotta try something right? 6-man rotation, different lineups. I mean if Uggla and McCann could see the ball and hit the ball, all this crap wouldn’t happen, but those two suck, what can you do.
ncscoots
September 4th, 2012
9:34 am
and when the standings say that the Braves beat the Cardinals or Dodgers out of a playoff spot by 1-game you can thank Constanza by buying one of his jerseys and bobbleheads.
What if they win it by a game because Constanza managed to go 2-for-September and cost them five games, LOL?
Bat Masterson
September 4th, 2012
9:35 am
So here we are. The summer vacation season is over and it’s raining hard here again. Seems like it has been raining everyday for months, though in reality it has not. Didn’t rain yesterday, sunny and hot as blue blazes. Of course we have a lot of summer left to go here and two months of hurricane season but it’ll be different none the less.
Uggla to the bench. What are you gonna do. I thought they should have taked a different approach with him this year, no more iron man stuff, some regular days off, but no. A few days off earlier in his funk, but who was gonna play, might have helped. Don’t know. Maybe some magic……….
A healthy Heap would go a long way toward making Uggla’s fall much less of a big deal. I like Ross but playing everyday and being dinged up, well that and swinging bunt Biff ………… Oh well
Trader Jack
September 4th, 2012
9:36 am
scoots
Yep – could be Ouija board time
Brian from SC
September 4th, 2012
9:37 am
Kris Medlen threw 85 of his 111 pitches for strikes yesterday. That strike percentage of 76.5% is the highest by a Braves starter (at least 5 IP) since August 10, 2005 (John Smoltz).
Smoltz was also the last Braves pitcher besides Medlen to throw at least 85 strikes in a game, on July 8th, 2006.
It’s usually a pretty good indicator of success. Since 1991, the Braves are 29-4 in games where they have a pitcher throw 85 or more strikes.
MFin04
September 4th, 2012
9:37 am
“What if they win it by a game because Constanza managed to go 2-for-September and cost them five games, LOL?”
Better than letting Dan Uggla or Brian McCann lose you 6-games and go 0-for-September.
ncscoots
September 4th, 2012
9:38 am
Gotta try something right?
You can hope that Heyward and Freeman both win Player Of The Month in September.
MFin04
September 4th, 2012
9:40 am
“Since 1991, the Braves are 29-4 in games where they have a pitcher throw 85 or more strikes.”
I love Kris Medlen think he is an amazing starting pitcher, but even Greg Maddux would’ve laughed at the strike zone yesterday. It looked like a little league strike zone. But props to Medlen for pitching to THAT zone.
Brava
September 4th, 2012
9:40 am
Brian from SC,
I don’t know how you get all the information you share with us here, but I really enjoy reading your posts. Thanks.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
9:42 am
That’s absurd. Then Greinke should get $9-10 million for 2 years with a 3rd year option.
Bourn is a speedster who is gonna be 30 at the start of his deal. He’s already past his prime, and won’t even be close to being worth 15+mil when he’s 34. Also, he’s not a slugger, so to pay him Uggla money + is ridiculous. Greinke is a #2, possibly #1 pitcher who is in the prime for his position. A 4-5 year deal won’t hurt with him.
Bourn will command more than that, and not likely as a Brave.
I’m sure he will command more… hopefully the Braves don’t bite.
you can thank Constanza by buying one of his jerseys and bobbleheads.
Never.
What if they win it by a game because Constanza managed to go 2-for-September and cost them five games, LOL?
raleighbravefan
September 4th, 2012
9:42 am
Fans love a good story…For example, it’s fun to talk about Evian Gattis…to hope for his potential to come true in the biggest way.
Constanza was a fun story for a while last year. That was while he was hitting. Hi’s so fast, and his base running and defense are fun to watch. Good stuff.
Problem is, you can’t steal First Base. You can’t make things happen on the basepath, if you aren’t on base. What’s his OBP? (I’m not motivated to look it up) There’s the rub. He will never be a MLB regular, until he hits consistantly.
Brian from SC
September 4th, 2012
9:42 am
Thanks, Brava. Just creative use of Baseball Reference. It does take a subscription to their Play Index to come up with a lot of the stuff I get.
MFin04
September 4th, 2012
9:43 am
Constanza OPSing .833 for the Braves during this race for the playoffs.
vitriol spewer (phil)
September 4th, 2012
9:45 am
I’ve just about come around to the fact that Mac’s shoulder is behind a lot of his struggles.
The guy has just been awful. It’s essentially pointless for him to even play at this point unless this latest shot somehow helps him.
I certainly don’t want to see him and Uggly up there posting more and more automatic outs ahead of the autos to come from Janish and the pitcher’s spot. Even with Simmons coming back, how much offensive help can we expect from him? Maybe some, but his timing will be for crap I would think.
It’s clear that Mac and Uggly aren’t getting ti done. Since that’s a given, trying something else, anything else, makes more sense than sitting tight and playing those two each day.
MFin04
September 4th, 2012
9:45 am
Of course Dan Uggla is OPSing .919 in the last week… but whatever.
Efrim
September 4th, 2012
9:45 am
I wouldn’t bench Uggla. Give him days off, but to just “bench” the guy? No. I would not of done that. Oh well.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
9:45 am
What’s his OBP? (I’m not motivated to look it up) There’s the rub. He will never be a MLB regular, until he hits consistantly.
This… btw, his career MLB OBP is .316. A career OPS+ of 82 (98 last year, 37 this year).
He’s been worth -0.2 oWAR this year… needs to start alright.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
9:47 am
Constanza OPSing .833 for the Braves during this race for the playoffs.
Hah!!!
vitriol spewer (phil)
September 4th, 2012
9:47 am
Uggla being a black hole for months now, what difference does it make if he’s sitting?
The notion of let him hit his way out of it hasn’t worked. Perhaps if he plays in a few days, the time on his ass will help. At least it’s a different approach.
Efrim
September 4th, 2012
9:48 am
Heyward is 4 for his last 29, and I don’t think he’s seen a stretch like this since May, I believe. 1 walk in his last 52 plate appearances. I was thinking he had a shot at 70 walks for the season – but that ain’t happening.
Still be happy with an .830 OPS, but it would be nice to see that OBP at .350 or more to end the year.
Jeff R
September 4th, 2012
9:48 am
Also, he’s [Bourn's] not a slugger, so to pay him Uggla money + is ridiculous.
I think the Braves will drop out of the Bourn sweepstakes fairly early. But Bourn will command Uggla-like bucks.
As to Bourn not being a slugger, so why pay him slugger dollars… I think there’s growing emphasis on the value of contact hitters, getting on base, and base running. Bourn offers that at lead-off (not to mention a good glove in center), so he seems to be well-positioned for a big payoff.
MFin04
September 4th, 2012
9:49 am
I think giving Uggla a few days off is probably the right move. Probably wouldn’t bench him though. He has enough power to scare people and has got on base at a great rate all year long.
Braves should, however, mix up the lineup against lefties. Gotta play Reed Johnson against lefties, every lefty.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
9:51 am
Constanza hasn’t OPS’ed .833 in the minors! The only time he was close was in 2006 (.820). In the big leagues, he has OPS’ed .724 (last year) and a miserable .506 this year (the “miserable” Dan Uggla is better than him)
Jay
September 4th, 2012
9:51 am
Word is that Uggla is a world class partier. Like almost every night partier. You know this has to be affecting his performance. How this doesn’t come out in the press is beyond me.
MFin04
September 4th, 2012
9:54 am
“Constanza hasn’t OPS’ed .833 in the minors!”
Yes, but he has had stretches of helping the team win, and if he can do that, there is no reason not to play him. He helped the team win yesterday and winning games, at this point, is all that matters.
HUH?????????????
September 4th, 2012
9:56 am
I’d love to get paid millions of dollars to be a part-time employee.
extremus
September 4th, 2012
9:56 am
One of the biggest things that I believe made it take this long to bench Dan Uggla is the sheer size of his contract. Right now if he isn’t the most expensive bench player in MLB, he’s certainly close. And that cost per innings played makes this a very tough pill to swallow for the Braves.
MFin04
September 4th, 2012
9:56 am
In 24 games in August last year Constanza had the line of:
.342 .392 .452 .844 with 7 stolen bases
ncscoots
September 4th, 2012
9:58 am
I’d love to get paid millions of dollars to be a part-time employee.
Maybe if you were one of the 700 people in a population of four billion that could do your job, you’d get the chance.
TennesseePaul
September 4th, 2012
9:58 am
Since June 19th (the healthy days)
_________G__PS_SO_BB__AVG__OBP__SLG__OPS
Heyward 68 294 76 57 .287 .350 .536 .886
Freeman 67 283 44 39 .291 .399 .502 .901
I wouldn’t have benched Uggla either. Not this late in the season. Seems a bit pointless.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
10:00 am
last year…. that was before he got exposed.
TennesseePaul
September 4th, 2012
10:00 am
As of today, Freeman has more walks and fewer strikeouts than Heyward. Never thought that would have happened. Maybe the season will end a little more in line with Heyward having more walks, but I don’t think Freeman will surpass him in K’s this year. Heyward is just piling them up at an amazing rate.
Jeff R
September 4th, 2012
10:02 am
Maybe if you were one of the 700 people in a population of four billion that could do your job, you’d get the chance.
Speaking of which… I always love it when “fans” rag on major league stars for making fabulous paydays and then say it’s unfair because firemen, police officers, and teachers are paid so little by comparison.
First of all, we’re talking about a population (MLB players) that doesn’t even constitute a fraction of a fraction of a percent of the workforce. They are significant anomalies. It’s like getting P.O.ed at lottery winners!
Ryan Dempster's Beard
September 4th, 2012
10:02 am
“If somebody struggles, late in the season I’m putting my guys out there. Putting them out there every day and I’m seeing what happens. We’re at this level, we make adjustments. We’ve been there before, we’ve done it. And you never know what’s going to happen.” -Dan Uggla
Really, Dan? This is the right move, you have been struggling and it ain’t getting any better.
MFin04
September 4th, 2012
10:02 am
“that was before he got exposed.”
And Dan Uggla and Brian McCann aren’t exposed? I mean all you gotta do it put 4 guys on the right side of the infield for McCann and move the RF in 20 steps and you got him covered. Dan Uggla you just throw the ball down the middle and let his out-making magic get exposed.
raleighbravefan
September 4th, 2012
10:04 am
Differences of opinion…That’s what makes the blog go round…although I would prefer a little less vitriol and no personal attacks.
DFA Uggla/Don’t bench Uggla
Fredi just sits ther and does nothing/Fredi is tinkering with the lineup too much
Non-tender MaCann (he’s too fat)/extend McCann (I personally think the shoulder is the problem)
Chipper is hurting the team (really?)/Chipper is our hero
Medliin is our ACE/Medlin is too valuable in the BP (both true)
Wren should be fired/Wren has done an exceptional job
On and on. Healthy debate is always a good thing…makes one think… So is mutual respect. Just saying….
TennesseePaul
September 4th, 2012
10:04 am
Chipper needs four more walks to get to 1500.
and only 2 triples to get to 40. I’m thinking he doesn’t make it on the triples.
Brian from SC
September 4th, 2012
10:05 am
Chipper will be the 18th major league player with 1500 walks.
vitriol spewer (phil)
September 4th, 2012
10:05 am
“that was before he got exposed.”
And Dan Uggla and Brian McCann aren’t exposed? I mean all you gotta do it put 4 guys on the right side of the infield for McCann and move the RF in 20 steps and you got him covered. Dan Uggla you just throw the ball down the middle and let his out-making magic get exposed.
*****************
Sad to say but true…
Jeff R
September 4th, 2012
10:06 am
and only 2 triples to get to 40. I’m thinking he [Chipper] doesn’t make it on the triples.
He just needs to hustle more.
DAP
September 4th, 2012
10:06 am
i hate it when guys lose their jobs. i feel bad for dan and understand why he is upset. i also feel bad that he and fredi are now at odds. i think fredi made the right decision, though. uggla will probably still play more than he will sit, dont you think?
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
10:06 am
And Dan Uggla and Brian McCann aren’t exposed?
McCann’s hurt, and I don’t know what’s wrong with Uggla…However, Constanza is not the answer. Never has been, likely never will be. Reed would be okay in LF, he’s proven.
TennesseePaul
September 4th, 2012
10:07 am
Real bummed Janish jacked up Medlen’s scoreless streak… still has a no-earned run streak going and the 18 straight games of team wins…
CB
September 4th, 2012
10:07 am
I know there seems to be two camps here regarding Uggla, Dan says it was not explained to him why he was benched. I do believe this is kind of ludicrous that Fredi and Dan had a meeting and Dan left not understanding why? Don’t believe it or Fredi needs to take a sensitivity class.
vitriol spewer (phil)
September 4th, 2012
10:07 am
raleighbravefan
September 4th, 2012
10:04 am
Differences of opinion…That’s what makes the blog go round…although I would prefer a little less vitriol and no personal attacks.
DFA Uggla/Don’t bench Uggla
Fredi just sits ther and does nothing/Fredi is tinkering with the lineup too much
Non-tender MaCann (he’s too fat)/extend McCann (I personally think the shoulder is the problem)
Chipper is hurting the team (really?)/Chipper is our hero
Medliin is our ACE/Medlin is too valuable in the BP (both true)
Wren should be fired/Wren has done an exceptional job
On and on. Healthy debate is always a good thing…makes one think… So is mutual respect. Just saying….
*************
What idiot posted this garbage….mutual respect…..phoeeeey!!
ncscoots
September 4th, 2012
10:08 am
He just needs to hustle more.
Yeah, where’s his urgency?
vitriol spewer (phil)
September 4th, 2012
10:08 am
I don’t feel badly for Dan.
I want to win. He’s the bow of the Titanic…
raleighbravefan
September 4th, 2012
10:08 am
MFin – In all fairness, MaCann’s problems are a lot more about his shoulder, than about “exposure”.
Jeff R
September 4th, 2012
10:09 am
DAP, Uggla’s likely not losing his job. He’s being sat for a while. The Braves have too much tied up in Uggla for him to ride the pines indefinitely. And Dan’s still getting that nice paycheck!
Bat Masterson
September 4th, 2012
10:09 am
In 24 games in August last year Constanza had the line of:
.342 .392 .452 .844 with 7 stolen bases
Yeah, if memory serves it was against the Cubs that he twisted his ankle. 2 for 3, swinging bunt between the pitcher and first, swinging bunt to second.
coach13
September 4th, 2012
10:10 am
It’s about time. UGGla can go whine to someone else. He hasn’t produced and he’s been given MORE than a fair shot at getting his crap together.
Brian from SC
September 4th, 2012
10:10 am
To be fair, Bat, not many players can place swinging bunts so precisely.
Efrim
September 4th, 2012
10:11 am
As of today, Freeman has more walks and fewer strikeouts than Heyward. Never thought that would have happened. Maybe the season will end a little more in line with Heyward having more walks, but I don’t think Freeman will surpass him in K’s this year. Heyward is just piling them up at an amazing rate.
I don’t think this is the type of player Heyward will be. I expect a better OBP next season with more overall walks while maintaining the power…..
Star.
TennesseePaul
September 4th, 2012
10:11 am
Medlen has allowed just 4 earned runs in his last 17 games, dating back to July 1st.
ncscoots
September 4th, 2012
10:14 am
What idiot posted this garbage….mutual respect…..phoeeeey!!
For once, phil and I are in agreement.
Once, before this forum became so popular, knowledgeable fans outnumbered the robdawg types by a huge margin. But mainstreaming and mass appeal have made it subject to the 20-80 rule: about 80% of the actual baseball knowledge is displayed by about 20% of the posters. I see no reason that I should have any respect, mutual or otherwise, for the rest.
TennesseePaul
September 4th, 2012
10:14 am
I expect a better OBP next season with more overall walks while maintaining the power
Yes. I expect that as well.
One thing I prognosticated is coming to fruition: Freeman is having a better sophomore season than Heyward had.
CB
September 4th, 2012
10:15 am
When does this sample size on Medlen quit being small? He is definitely in a zone.
vitriol spewer (phil)
September 4th, 2012
10:15 am
Medlen is a reliever….nothing more. Vastly overrated based on a mere 35 consecutive scoreless innings pitched….a bumb in essence.
Heyward better not be regressing to awful status…..surely he won’t collapse on us.
Efrim
September 4th, 2012
10:15 am
Medlen in his last 8 appearances: 52.2 IP, 36 hits, 3 ER, 6 BB’s, 55 K’s, 1 HR allowed, 0.51 ERA, oppo. slash line of .196/.221/.228.
Insane.
Bat Masterson
September 4th, 2012
10:16 am
That’s true, Brian.
You’re a magnanimous soul.
Brian from SC
September 4th, 2012
10:16 am
Once on pace for over 50 saves, Kimbrel has just two since July 28th, in only three opportunities.
DAP
September 4th, 2012
10:16 am
CB Dan says it was not explained to him why he was benched.
like i said, i have sympathy for dan, but something like this should not have to be explained. he has been really bad.
i still think he will play more than 50% of the time, though. dan was already getting a bunch of days off. im not sure that it will be a huge deal, other than hurt feelings and egos.
MFin04
September 4th, 2012
10:16 am
“In all fairness, MaCann’s problems are a lot more about his shoulder, than about “exposure”.”
Exposure, shoulder, what’s the difference? I mean the guy can’t hit and pitchers are pitching him so that he continues to not hit. Not to mention defenses have also figured him out and continue to take away the things he does hit.
Efrim
September 4th, 2012
10:17 am
One thing I prognosticated is coming to fruition: Freeman is having a better sophomore season than Heyward had.
Yes, I wouldn’t of predicted Freeman to injure his shoulder and alter his swing. That’d just be crazy, negative stuff.
ncscoots
September 4th, 2012
10:18 am
When does this sample size on Medlen quit being small? He is definitely in a zone.
Lance Lynn had a 2.40-ish ERA through his first 13 starts. Since then, mushroom cloud. So, who knows on Medlen? I don’t think he’ll have 15 starts total, even through the WS, would he?
Efrim
September 4th, 2012
10:18 am
Heyward better not be regressing to awful status…..surely he won’t collapse on us.
I don’t think so. He’s definitely in a funk right now – but I don’t think he’ll be back to what he was in May just based off of these last 7 games.
Brian from SC
September 4th, 2012
10:18 am
Kimbrel pitched 9 innings in April, 10 in May, 11 in June, 10 in July, and 9 in August.
Last year, he pitched 11.2 in April, 15.1 in May, 14 in June, 12 in July, and 12.2 in August.
Efrim
September 4th, 2012
10:19 am
Lance Lynn had a 2.40-ish ERA through his first 13 starts. Since then, mushroom cloud. So, who knows on Medlen? I don’t think he’ll have 15 starts total, even through the WS, would he?
Excellent point. Lynn’s now out of the rotation.
MFin04
September 4th, 2012
10:19 am
“Kimbrel has just two since July 28th, in only three opportunities.”
Well shouldn’t have blown the chance he had.
Well it helps when your team has thrown 3 complete games since then and your team has scored too many runs for your to get a save.
Efrim
September 4th, 2012
10:20 am
James Shields looking really good lately.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
10:21 am
Insane.
Maddux-esque…. Medlux.
Now we get to see Tommy Hanson and his -0.3 WAR pitch tonight. Oppo. stat line of .275/.351/.449/.799 for the year, and .302/.376/.521/.897 since June 20. It hasn’t been pretty.
Not much faith in him right now… it isn’t too late for Fredi to scratch him, let Delgado start.
Efrim
September 4th, 2012
10:21 am
Who would of thought Kris Medlen would turn into Pedro Martinez?
ncscoots
September 4th, 2012
10:21 am
James Shields looking really good lately.
Beast. Stone, solid beast.
ncscoots
September 4th, 2012
10:22 am
Who would of thought Kris Medlen would turn into Pedro Martinez?
From what I read here, every poster in existence, with the exception of about four.
Bat Masterson
September 4th, 2012
10:22 am
“We’re all men in here,” Uggla said. “One of the things about baseball, people kind of (talk) around subjects and try to tiptoe around certain areas of the game. The only thing we can ask for is if somebody is honest with you and straight up.”
So not much has changed since Ball Four, eh
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
10:23 am
James Shields looking really good lately.
Greinke too… and we can get him prospect free.
CB
September 4th, 2012
10:23 am
Efrim and scoots, when will you guys admit Medlen is the next Med Dog? When he is receiving his Hall of Fame votes you will admit it.
MFin04
September 4th, 2012
10:24 am
“Not much faith in him right now… it isn’t too late for Fredi to scratch him, let Delgado start.”
Wouldn’t be shocked if he got a win tonight, but I’d rather see Teheran or Delgado get a start as well. More than likely he’ll have that one blow up inning in the first and/or in the 5th or 6th that kills his night.
And it should be outlawed that Tommy Hanson can pitch after Kris Medlen. Nothing like watching a guy throw a complete game in 50 pitches and than watching another guy throw 50 pitches in the first inning. It is painfully enough to wanna rip all your hair out.
MFin04
September 4th, 2012
10:25 am
Where are all the Dan Uggla quotes coming from?
monty
September 4th, 2012
10:25 am
Medlen is our Ryan Dempster, only younger and better. The emergence of Medlen and Minor fills 2 spots in the rotation for FW for next year. Medlen, Hudson, Maholm, Minor, then who ? Hanson-Delgado-Teheran or does Frank go get another starter and trade a Teheran or Delgado. He could roll the dice with say Delgado and concentrate on a CF(Roger Bernadina looks good to me) and then find a heavy hitting LF with the money not used on a pitcher. IF Ben Sheets could finish strong then that might solve the pitching altogether if he would sign with us. I don’t think anything short of TH becoming a fitness freak(don’t see that happening) is going to allow him to pitch deep into a season with success with that bum shoulder.
ncscoots
September 4th, 2012
10:26 am
When he is receiving his Hall of Fame votes you will admit it.
Yes. Medlen’s future induction will the thing that keeps me living to a ripe old age, just so I can see it and say I was wrong.
George_George
September 4th, 2012
10:28 am
Jeff R
September 4th, 2012
10:09 am
DAP, Uggla’s likely not losing his job. He’s being sat for a while. The Braves have too much tied up in Uggla for him to ride the pines indefinitely. And Dan’s still getting that nice paycheck!
******************************************************
The question is will he improve to the stats he put up in FLA? In the two years here he has played well only in JULY and most of AUG 2011. I will say he always gives full effort.
David O'Brien
September 4th, 2012
10:28 am
Folks, little midgets who pitch get eaten by big fire breathing dragons come October. — DOB needs to ask tough questions
Here’s a tough one: Did you spend all or any part of your weekend in a Storm Trooper costume at DragonCon?
Efrim
September 4th, 2012
10:29 am
Really hope the Uggla and McCann struggles don’t make Frank Wren make an unwise move this offseason like locking up Michael Bourn.
Bourn since the All Star Break: .233/.329/.332 in 49 games, 224 plate appearances.
Bat Masterson
September 4th, 2012
10:29 am
Not to mention defenses have also figured him out and continue to take away the things he does hit. _ MFin04
This is ridiculous. Heap had stretch where he had his swing flaw fixed, and before the shoulder started to bite too much, where it didn’t make a damn bit of difference where the defense played him.
ncscoots
September 4th, 2012
10:30 am
Of course, re Medlen and the HOF, I might have said the same thing about Jurrjens a couple of years ago (when the blog wanted to extend him for the rest of my natural life) or about Hanson after his rookie year (when the blog wanted to buy out all three years of arb plus two FA years).
CB
September 4th, 2012
10:33 am
Yes, time will tell on Medlen but I can’t help loving watching him pitch. Every pitcher should watch how he grabs the ball and attacks the strike zone.
MFin04
September 4th, 2012
10:34 am
“Heap had stretch where he had his swing flaw fixed”
The only thing that needs fixing, his season numbers:
.228 .300 .402 .702
McFann :Ô: :Ô: :ô:
September 4th, 2012
10:34 am
DOB He’s done that as long as I can remember. At least since getting Lasik surgery, and I think before that.
Yeah. I remember when he first came up, that was one of the first things I noticed…
raleighbravefan
September 4th, 2012
10:34 am
phil and scoots – I agree with you both, and misworded my sentiment about respect. I was trying to call for contributers to EARN respect. Some crap posted here will never gain respect from the majority here. I would like to see the crap eliminated (name calling, disrespect, etc). Unfortunately, I don’t see it happening, as it is indicative opf society in general.
George_George
September 4th, 2012
10:36 am
Bat Masterson
September 4th, 2012
10:09 am
In 24 games in August last year Constanza had the line of:
.342 .392 .452 .844 with 7 stolen bases
Yeah, if memory serves it was against the Cubs that he twisted his ankle. 2 for 3, swinging bunt between the pitcher and first, swinging bunt to second.
****************
GEORGIE’s detractors don’t want to have it pointed out last year when we had no regular CFder, GEORGIE’s starts had the best win -lose record of all players starting in CF, including BOURN.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
10:37 am
Bourn since the All Star Break: .233/.329/.332 in 49 games, 224 plate appearances.
And we’ve done fine without him… let Bourn walk, get a Sp and LF/CF (like Greinke/Shields, and Jay/Pagan) Preferably, Greinke and Jay.
MFin04
September 4th, 2012
10:37 am
McCann OPS by Month:
0.681
0.796
0.574
1.059
0.461
The one month that defenses couldn’t catch the ball off his bat was the one month he hit the ball out of the ballpark.
DS1
September 4th, 2012
10:37 am
When Medlen was being stretched out, I thought he should have stayed in the pen. I was wrong. I admit when I am wrong.
I have always liked Medlen. I have never thought he’d consistently be as good as he has been since rejoining the rotation. I am guessing that his performance might come back down to earth a bit, but I sure hope not.
But damn! Kid is doing great.
And here’s hoping that Uggla will be back in the lineup against Pomeranz tonight. He is not going to solve his issues by sitting too much. A bit of a break would be OK, but Fredi scares me with his player usage sometimes.
MFin04
September 4th, 2012
10:38 am
“Preferably, Greinke and Jay.”
You wouldn’t happen to be from Arkansas or Missouri, would ya?
Jimmy
September 4th, 2012
10:39 am
It’s September 4th and the Orioles are 1 game out behind the Yankees.
Wow.
Medlin is pitching great. Let’s enjoy the moment.
Bat Masterson
September 4th, 2012
10:40 am
or about Hanson after his rookie year (when the blog wanted to buy out all three years of arb plus two FA years).
No need to go so far back. A few weeks ago it was “we need to try and sign Sheets for two years now, it’ll probably take three though”.
MFin04
September 4th, 2012
10:41 am
Pomeranz 1-8 with 5.13 ERA. But of course he is a lefty and Tommy Hanson is pitching so we might need another miracle like Sunday.
Bat Masterson
September 4th, 2012
10:43 am
GEORGIE’s starts had the best win -lose record of all players starting in CF, including BOURN.
I remember those days well, George. A pitcher, a catcher and Biff. Shades of Satchel Paige
David O'Brien
September 4th, 2012
10:44 am
Andrelton Simmons went 1-for-3 with a single and helped turn one double play in his first rehab game Monday for Double-A Mississippi. Could rejoin Braves as soon as this weekend.
Jeff R
September 4th, 2012
10:44 am
George_George, good question at 10:28 am.
Brian from SC
September 4th, 2012
10:44 am
The Braves are 6-3 in their last 9 games when the opposing starter was left-handed.
DS1
September 4th, 2012
10:44 am
Bat
I loved what Sheets did when he first arrived. All the while, I am thinking “when is this going to come crashing down?”
Well, he’s had his setback. Might be a long term one, who knows?
But he could be our ace in the hole if his shoulder comes back.
TOBF
Still dreaming about Greinke, huh?
Don’t think that one’s going to happen buddy. But just my opinion.
And Bourn has definitely regressed to the mean. So how will he finish out the year? Strong, or like he has since the break?
Bat Masterson
September 4th, 2012
10:44 am
The only thing that needs fixing, his season numbers:
.228 .300 .402 .702
Remind me, what was your position on JJ?
MFin04
September 4th, 2012
10:45 am
“Andrelton Simmons went 1-for-3 with a single and helped turn one double play in his first rehab game Monday for Double-A Mississippi.”
Good, because Janish’s defense is slumping.
MFin04
September 4th, 2012
10:46 am
“Still dreaming about Greinke, huh?”
I think it is passed a dream at this point. If they did a “To Catch A Predator” show with Zack Greinke as bait…
DiamondbackMac
September 4th, 2012
10:48 am
Efrim – Who would of thought Kris Medlen would turn into Pedro Martinez?
I certainly didn’t. I thought he would be good, but nowhere near as good as he has been.
monty
September 4th, 2012
10:48 am
Not sure what’s wrong with Lance Lynn, but you don’t just forget how to pitch. Dead arm or nagging minor injury whatever Dr. Jeckyl-Mr. Hyde in pitching means somethings not right. Opponents were .990 OPS in August. I guess it’s always possible for any pitcher who is pitching great to have a rough few games, but you can just about always attribute rough repeated performances to either inexperience and learning how to pitch in the big leagues or for an established player somethings physically wrong with him, or for an aging pitcher losing something on their pitches.
DS1
September 4th, 2012
10:50 am
monty
I don’t know well the Lynn story, but maybe the league figgered him out and he hasn’t made the right corrections.
???
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
10:50 am
You wouldn’t happen to be from Arkansas or Missouri, would ya
Nope… but I really do find those players to be great fits for the Braves.
Still dreaming about Greinke, huh?….Don’t think that one’s going to happen buddy. But just my opinion.
Might not be likely, but you never know what happens… I’d love to get him on the Braves, but I’ll always be a Greinke fan anway.
Murph
September 4th, 2012
10:51 am
I really want to buy a Medlen jersey, but am going to wait until after the winter meetings… I’m worried about him being used as a primary trade chip to fetch a CF or LF.
Bat Masterson
September 4th, 2012
10:51 am
But he could be our ace in the hole if his shoulder comes back.
Hope so, Wayne.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
10:52 am
If they did a “To Catch A Predator” show with Zack Greinke as bait…
To Catch an Ace…
Remind me, what was your position on JJ?
This still makes me laugh.
TennesseePaul
September 4th, 2012
10:53 am
Here’s a tough one:
Ha! Good stuff.
MFin04
September 4th, 2012
10:54 am
“Remind me, what was your position on JJ?”
Yeh, you’d probably see me on the Jurrjens episode. Oh yeh I’d be sitting in the living room eating cookies and drinking Kool-aid, and being like HEY when is Jair getting here?!? You don’t look like Jair’s dad!!!
George_George
September 4th, 2012
10:54 am
S/O Bat
I am reading A DARK MATTER by PETER STRAUB, I would highly recomend it to you.
toast
September 4th, 2012
10:54 am
everybody talks about medlen as if he’s been totally misused all season. so he starts the season as one of 5 starters(wouldn’t have regardless because of coming back from injury) but for the nonsayers say he starts in april. does he win some games for you starting early? yes, how many we don’t know. did he help win games utilized the way he was as a reliever? yes he did. also saved the arms of the big 3 of our bullpen. wasn’t pitching lights out when he was sent down to stretch out arm. 162 game schedule, he’s been used correctly the whole time. although forced to starting role via injuries, whether the brass intentionally or unintentionally planned this, it couldn’t have worked out any better imo.
Bat Masterson
September 4th, 2012
10:54 am
Somehow I doubt anyone expected Meldeen to be setting franchise records.
Greg
September 4th, 2012
10:55 am
Classic DOB- Can’t get enough DragonCon blasts!
TennesseePaul
September 4th, 2012
10:57 am
Lance Lynn had a 2.40-ish ERA through his first 13 starts. Since then, mushroom cloud. So, who knows on Medlen?
Fortunately for Medlen, he’s past 13 starts and his ERA is shrinking and he’s pitching deeper into games…
…
Wait, I keep forgetting, when he pitches, the competition isn’t that good, and when Hanson pitches, it’s against the 27 Yankees. It’s why short people are the devil, they get all these breaks where tall people have to really work to succeed.
TennesseePaul
September 4th, 2012
10:59 am
Yes, I wouldn’t of predicted Freeman to injure his shoulder and alter his swing. That’d just be crazy, negative stuff.
No, I wouldn’t have predicted Freeman to injure his hand and go blind, and still have a more productive season.
Bat Masterson
September 4th, 2012
10:59 am
George_
Noted and thanks.
George_George
September 4th, 2012
10:59 am
On MEDLEN, it annoys me we missed three weeks of his pitching early this season when we needed wins because FRANK sent him the the minors.
COOPER
September 4th, 2012
11:00 am
Finally Gonzalez does something to make you think he is a major league manager. This wouldn’t be the first time the Braves signed someone to a huge long term contract and they flopped. With Simmons coming back and Prodo, Johnson and Simmons all hitting around 300 this decision was a no brainier and was probably a few week late in happening.
Uggla has horrible batting habits. He is all or nothing. Either a strike out or a home run, which would be okay if he can hit at least .270.
I think the braves need to go to spring training with the idea that he will be their second baseman, especially with third base being open but at 13 million he should be hitting close to .300 with at least 30 home runs and 100 RBI’s. If he can’t do this we need someone who can and the the faster Atlanta accepts the reality the better they will be. Get the best deal you can if he doesn’t start earning that big salary by mid-2013.
ncscoots
September 4th, 2012
11:00 am
whether the brass intentionally or unintentionally planned [Medlen's use], it couldn’t have worked out any better imo.
I agree. Serendipity, indeed. The fact that he’s been other-worldly is icing on the cake.
CaptainMudd
September 4th, 2012
11:01 am
@McFann…regarding cabravesfan? Just my supposition: I remember a post by VJ stating she was travelling to a nephew’s party, I believe–and seeing family members, etc., suffice to say she most probably had an action-filled weekend…..:)
ncscoots
September 4th, 2012
11:02 am
It’s why short people are the devil, they get all these breaks where tall people have to really work to succeed.
Goes without saying, really.
BTW, Lance Lynn is six-five. So, his failure is obviously some sort of conspiracy.
Hillbilly
September 4th, 2012
11:02 am
Of course, re Medlen and the HOF, I might have said the same thing about Jurrjens a couple of years ago (when the blog wanted to extend him for the rest of my natural life) or about Hanson after his rookie year (when the blog wanted to buy out all three years of arb plus two FA years).
OK now you’re starting to sound like Anders. Take that foot off the throttle and catch you a few deep breaths. You’re starting to worry me.
the truth...
September 4th, 2012
11:02 am
DOB….
I think the mental midget was the dude that wrote that post………..
rich brave
September 4th, 2012
11:03 am
DOWN ON THE FARM
MISSISSIPPI
Bandits lose a heart-breaker finale to their season 3-2 to the BayBEARS, but don’t blame GATTIS. He bombs one for PEARL RIVER’s only two runs.
C EVAN ‘Big JIM’ GATTIS [.258 BA] 1-4, 1 R, 1 HR [9], 2 RBI [37], 1 SO.
SS AL SIMMONS [.293 BA] 1-3, 1 R.
1B JOE TERDOSLAVICH [.315 BA] 2-4, 1 2B [24], 1 SO, 1 SB [4].
3B JOE LEONARD [.263 BA] 1-4.
RF KEENAN WILEY [.237 BA] 1-3.
CF TODD CUNNINGHAM [.309 BA]
SS JASON CHRISTIAN [.219 BA]
LF TIM SMITH [.279 BA]
2B PHIL GOSSELIN [.242 BA]
PH AL CARRITHERS [.315 BA]
all had o’fer games.
RHSP GARY MORAN [.291 ERA] 6.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R/ER, 1 BB, 4 SO.
What a shame to be no-decisioned with that start.
LHRP MIKE TARSI [H 3, 1.89 ERA] 1.0 IP, 1 H, zeros across the line.
Nice relief effort. TARSI was a come-here mid-season from the Independent ATLANTIC League. Originally a 12th round TWINS pick in 2007. MIKE has been out 14 times for the BRAVES and only touched for earned runs twice. Primarily a one inning guy, he’s done extremely well in his first experience in AA. Fair .214 AvAg, 19 SO’s in 19 IP, seven walks, 15 H, 2 HR. Decent promise.
LHRP CHRIS JONES [BS 2, L 2-5, 3.90 ERA] 1.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R/ER, 0 BB, 1 SO.
Another lefty come-here. BRAVES got him from the INDIANS and promo’d him from A+ at the beginning of this season. He’s struggled with the advancement, but shows some promise. If he doubles down next year, he might get the call to AAA in 2014.
MFin04
September 4th, 2012
11:06 am
“Serendipity -an aptitude for making desirable discoveries by accident”
Exactly, don’t believe the pitch count/inning limit garbage. They’ve always felt like Medlen was the 8th or 9th best pitcher on this team and belonged in the bullpen. And the whole thing ended up turning into magic for the front office and even the announcers are drinking the Kool-aid that his whole thing was on purpose.
ncscoots
September 4th, 2012
11:07 am
Take that foot off the throttle and catch you a few deep breaths.
I’ve decided that, if folks are going to mischaracterize anything I’ve ever said about the guy, I might as well own the role and play it to the hilt, LOL. I can do “hater”.
Brava
September 4th, 2012
11:08 am
Somehow I doubt anyone expected Meldeen to be setting franchise records.
No, I certainly didn’t. I expected him to be a solid addition to the rotation, but nothing like we’ve seen. He’s been simply amazing.
toast
September 4th, 2012
11:10 am
whether you are supportive of uggla or doing cartwheels he’s been reduced to riding the pines, at the end of the day it suxs it’s come down to this. short term probably a better team right now but big picture is this team needs his production if it is to advance throughout the playoffs. there is a reason reed johnson doesn’t get 600 ab’s in the course of the season
Bob Horner
September 4th, 2012
11:12 am
Right move Freddi. Tough call, but it’s the right call.
Now, just figure out a way for Medlen to pitch 5 times a week, and we’re golden!
Venice Jim
September 4th, 2012
11:13 am
Capt – thanks for answering the question to McFann – we were with my family all day yesterday at Disneyland – the Braves winning relatively handily made it easier to not worry about losing my reception on longer rides like Pirates…