Since move to rotation, Medlen’s been Maddux-esque
Kris Medlen is 12-2 with a 3.08 ERA in the first 25 starts of his major league career, which is more than impressive enough. But what he’s done this year since a end-of-July move from the bullpen to the starting rotation has simply surpassed all expectations. He’s making it look way easier than it is for any pitcher, much less one with such little experience as a starter.
The Braves have won 18 consecutive games started by Medlen. (Jason Getz photo/AJC)
In 7 starts this season, he’s 6-0 with a 0.54 ERA, .206 opponents’ average, ridiculously low .468 opponents’ OPS, one homer allowed, eye-popping 50 strikeouts with only five walks and 1 HR allowed in 49-2/3 innings. I hate to keep bringing up the name of the greatest right-handed pitcher (non-steroids division) of the past two decades, but Medlen’s numbers through seven starts are absolutely Greg Maddux-like.
Or as Mad Dog’s longtime teammate Chipper Jones put it, Maddux-esque.
Today he was named the NL’s Pitcher of the Month. Not bad for a guy in his first full month of starting since returning from Tommy John surgery.
Medlen has impressed the guys in his dugout as much as he’s impressed those of us watching from the pressbox or stands or on TV. He had his scoreless-innings streak snapped at 34-2/3 on Monday, but he still hasn’t allowed an earned run in his past 37-2/3 innings or a homer in 48-2/3 innings.
“Everybody knew how good he was coming into the beginning of the year,” Braves reliever Jonny Venters said. “But the things he’s done since they put him in the rotation have been unbelievable. Really good. Now every time he goes out there I feel like he’s going to go eight scoreless, or maybe nine scoreless. He’s fun to watch, and I’m excited for him. To get the opportunity and take advantage of it like that is awesome.”
Venters said that Wednesday in San Diego. Medlen’s next start was Monday against Colorado, when he pitched a five-hit complete game with a career-high 12 strikeouts.
“Holy [bleep], are you kidding me? He’s been lights-out,” said reliever Peter Moylan, who got back from his nearly full season on the DL just in time to see Medlen’s latest complete game. “We all knew – I knew – that he could do it, that he had it in him. He’s got four good pitches that he can throw for a strike at any time. And he’s got the [fearlessness]. He gets out there and he just [bows] up and throws it….
“He’s smart, and he’s not afraid to throw a pitch in any count. It’s a testament to him, to go through a stretch as a reliever in the first part of the year and doing a good job with that, going down and getting stretched out, coming back and not getting a starter’s job immediately, and still being able to adjust to a different mindset of going out and starting.”
During his current five-start winning streak, Medlen has an 0.23 ERA and .194 opponents’ average, with 41 strikeouts and two walks in 39-1/3 innings. That just doesn’t happen. But it has happened. It is happening. And for however long it lasts, it’s sure been a treat for the Braves and their fans to watch and marvel at, hasn’t it?
“He puts the ball where he wants,” said catcher David Ross, who was behind the plate for Monday’s gem. “And if you can do that as a pitcher you’re going to have a lot of success. Especially if you’ve got more than one pitch with movement. Today he had two or three breaking balls in play. We didn’t throw nearly as many change-ups as we normally do. He just was spotting his heater, and we seem to score some runs for him. When we do that, he’s going to go out and be aggressive.”
David Ross had a two-run double Monday, then broke his bat in frustration after a late plate appearance. (Jason Getz photo/AJC)
Medlen has two complete games in his past four starts – more than any other Braves pitcher has all season — and in those two games he was charged with 10 hits, no walks and one unearned run while racking up 18 strikeouts in 18 inings.
Moylan’s comments above came a few hours before Monday’s game. Afterward, he was asked about the mound demeanor of Medlen, who at one point was actually observed by Ross doing a little hip-shake to a song playing on the stadium P.A. system when he was warming up between innings. That’s how relaxed he’s been.
“It’s phenomenal,” Moylan said. “Sometimes it seems like he’s bored. It looks like he’s having a stroll in the park. But I know inside he’s got that bulldog mentality and he loves to compete and loves to win. So what’s on the outside that seems like a stroll in the park I know is a lot of fun for him.”
Ross: “Yeah, he’s relaxed and a fun guy, but he’s focused. His head’s not in the clouds. He’s relaxed but he’s focused. He doesn’t take himself or this game too seriously, and he knows himself. If he got all stressed out he probably wouldn’t be as good. He likes to have fun out there [but] he’s a pretty focused. You see him in here on the day he pitches, doing his homework, going over hitters. He’s got a plan and he’s going to execute it and give you a really good chance to win.”
The Braves won Monday for the 18th consecutive time that Medlen has started, extending his franchise record – a record covering more than a century of baseball for the franchise in its various locations. It’s the most consecutive wins by any team in one pitcher’s starts since the 2001 Yankees won 20 consecutive starts by Roger Clemens.
“He’s showing everybody what we kind of thought in our heads as players, how good he could be,” Ross said. “What he’s doing is really impressive. Especially as a catcher, you know how hard that is to do, and he’s making it look easy.”
Medlen is 12-0 in his past 23 starts, dating to May 31, 2009. The Elias Sports Bureau says the only other current major leaguer who ever had a streak of more than 20 consecutive starts without a loss was Jose Contreras (currently on Phillies 60-day DL), who was 17-0 in 24 regular-season starts for the White Sox in a stretch that overlapped 2005 and 2006.
Medlen’s teammates will tell you his current success couldn’t have happened to a better guy.
“Yeah, he’s a total package,” Ross said. “He keeps his mouth shut, doesn’t complain, goes to the bullpen when they ask him, starts, goes down [to the minors], doesn’t complain, tries to get his innings up [build arm strength], then they call him back, put him back in the bullpen… Not one word. But then he gets his chance and he’s just taking advantage of it. You root for guys like that, who aren’t prima donnas, who don’t complain, who try to go out and just want to be part of a winning team. And that’s what we have, a loy of guys who are like that.”
When he was sent to Triple-A for a couple of weeks at midseason to get his arm stretched out for starting, then brought back and initially returned to the bullpen, Medlen didn’t say one negative word, didn’t complain at all about the time seemingly wasted or about being asked to deal with the indecision and fluctuating circumstances.
“You couldn’t handle that situation any better than he handled it,” Venters said. “He did what the team wanted him to do and what was best for the team, and now it’s best for the team for him to start. And he’s taking advantage of that and helping us win a lot – however many starts of his we’ve won in a row. Something ridiculous.”
BRAVES LINEUP
- Bourn cf
- Johnson lf
- Chipper 3b
- Freeman 1b
- Prado 2b
- Heyward rf
- Ross c
- Janish ss
- Hanson p
• Is Bourn worn? Braves leadoff man Michael Bourn is still getting on, stealing bases and playing terrific defense, but has shown some signs of fatigue during the second half. Or perhaps it’s a correction to the norm. Or some combination of the above.
Anyway, after hitting .311 with 30 extra-base hits, 25 stolen bases, a .366 OBP and .451 slugging percentage (.817 OPS) in 85 games before the break, Bourn has hit .233 with 11 extra-base hits, 13 steals, a .329 OBP and .332 slugging percentage (.661 OPS) in 49 games since the break.
In his past 14 games, he’s 9-for-47 (.191) with no extra-base hits, although he has six stolen bases and as many walks (10) as strikeouts (10) for a .350 OBP in that stretch. The Braves are 6-8 in those games.
What he’s continued to do better than most other Braves is hit in key situations. To wit, care to guess who’s got highest slugging percentage among Braves with runners in scoring position? I’ll give you three guesses….
It’s Bourn, at .510. Not Chipper Jones, not Jason Heyward nor Freddie Freeman. Bourn.
With RISP, Bourn also has team-high .350 average (35-for-100), team-high .430 OBP, and team-high .940 OPS.
• Reversal of sorts: The Braves are 30-20 with a National League-leading 3.22 ERA since the All-Star break, while the Nationals are 33-18 with a 3.39 ERA that’s the league’s second-best since the break. The Phillies are 28-20 with a 3.50 ERA that’s the league’s third-best since the break, giving the division the top three ERAs on the senior circuit since the All-Star break.
However, the Reds have a league-best 35-16 record since the break, with a 3.53 ERA that’s the league’s fourth-best. The Giants (31-18) are the only other NL team with a better record than Atlanta since the All-Star break.
Atlanta’s had to rely more heavily on pitching in the second half. The Braves’ .236 batting average ranks just 14th in the NL since the break, while their .387 slugging percentage ranks 11th and their .322 OBP is eighth. Before the break, the Braves were sixth in average (.259), seventh in slugging (.408) and fifth in OBP (.324), while their pitchers were sixth with a 3.91 ERA.
• Tonight’s matchup: It’s Tommy Hanson, trying to get out of a funk, against Drew Pomeranz, who’s struggling mightily.
Hanson has a .331 opponents’ average and .950 OPS in seven starts since All-Star break (2-2, 6.69 ERA). He’s 0-2 with a 7.00 ERA and .357 opponents’ average in his past two starts, and against the Rockies he’s 2-0 despite a 5.50 ERA in three career starts.
Tonight, Tommy Hanson tries to snap out of a recent slump.
But he did hold them to one run and four hits in seven innings of a July 4, 2011 win at Turner Field, the only time he’s faced them outside of Coors Field.
This season, Hanson has fared better on the road. He’s allowed a .296 average and .836 OPS in 11 home starts, compared to 258/.770 in 14 road starts. He’s 4-3 with a 4.81 ERA at home.
In Pomeranz the Braves face yet another lefty, but not a very good one. He has one win in 16 starts this season, and he’s 0-5 with a 7.04 ERA and .297 opponents’ average in his past nine starts, with 46 hits including nine homers allowed in 38-1/3 innings (the innings totals are low because that’s how the Rockies were using their starters in the unusual four-man rotation setup they adopted at midseason.
Lefty batters are hitting just .125 with a .347 OPS and no homers in 56 at-bats against Pomeranz, but righties have torched him at a .294/.878 clip in 228 at-bats, with 11 homers. So look for as many righties as Fredi Gonzalez can get into his lineup.
• Etc.
Martin Prado is 30-for-93 (.323) with 15 extra-base hits (four homers) and 19 RBIs in his past 22 games, with a .360 OBP and .581 slugging (.941 OPS). That includes 10-for-28 (.357) with two doubles and two homers during a current seven-game hitting streak.
By the way, in case you missed it, Prado was recently ranked as third-most underrated player in majors in Sports Illustrated survey of players in both leagues, who couldn’t name any of their own teammates in the survey….
Chipper Jones has played only two games against Colorado this season, but he made them count – he’s 6-for-11 with a double, homer and seven RBIs against the Rockies. He rested in Monday’s series opener after hitting walk-off homer Sunday night against Philly. “His knees were barking at the end of the game,” Gonzalez said before Monday’s game, when he reiterated that the Braves needed to manage Jones’ situation to keep him healthy. He said he might rest him again Thursday. “I know it’s hard, but we’ve got to get him through the season.”
• Let’s get this posted. I’ll close with a tune off the recently released debut album by Divine Fits, which is a sort of indie-rock super group with members of Spoon, Wolf Parade and others. You can hear it by clicking here.
“WOULD THAT NOT BE NICE” by Divine Fits
Alot I’ve wondered how … screamed at
I could’ve be a … wild calls
I’ve got to know it, know it tonight.
Cause if I did, would that not be nice ?
I wish the lowers remain helpless
Like other reasons we lay life back
It should …
I couldn’t think of would that not be nice ?
There’s Cleopatra up on her throne
Come Cleopatra, come come back home
I’ll be here waiting with basmati rice
What can you tell about ?
Would that not be nice?
Just so distructive, … do it
Sometimes I wished it
You emerged in strains from…
That sounds alright
And if you were, would that not be nice ?
– David O’Brien, Braves/MIB blog
1,470 comments Add your comment
Ward
September 4th, 2012
3:13 pm
Good to be on the blog, and will talk later tonight. Let’s keep it going. Braves could use a hot streak down this stretch, and good work always DOB. Peace my friends, and “Go!!!!!Braves!!!!!”
Brian from SC
September 4th, 2012
3:13 pm
Kris Medlen, you’re my hero.
MFin04
September 4th, 2012
3:13 pm
[Lefty Drew Pomeranz] is “0-5 with a 7.04 ERA and .297 opponents’ average in his past nine starts”
NOOOO!
cabravesfan
September 4th, 2012
3:15 pm
That’s my Meds
Bat Masterson
September 4th, 2012
3:15 pm
Shout out to George
********** Repost from the last blog***************
I’m just not buying that he’s hurt. I think the shift has done him in, and just about done it for Mac.
Keep that up, Ward, and it won’t be long before your name is not the only thing to disappear.
Jimmy
September 4th, 2012
3:17 pm
DOB – Is Heap available and just not in there because of the LH Pomeranz?
It was rather painful watching Ross bat yesterday.
vitriol spewer (phil)
September 4th, 2012
3:17 pm
Repost from last blog –
richbrave
September 4th, 2012
3:17 pm
What no comments?
vitriol spewer (phil)
September 4th, 2012
3:18 pm
Thanks for the latest effort, DOB…
vitriol spewer (phil)
September 4th, 2012
3:19 pm
Florida orgy ends in violence, arrests – AJC article
************
And this comes as a surprise? lol
CJ10 saved our season
September 4th, 2012
3:21 pm
“LH Hitters are 7 for 56 off of Rockies LH starter Drew Pomeranz this season in the majors.”
LF Prado
RF Pastornicky
3B Chipper
C Ross
CF Johnson
1B Baker
2B Uggla
SS Janish
Problem solved.
Yikes!
September 4th, 2012
3:21 pm
MFin04
September 4th, 2012
3:13 pm
[Lefty Drew Pomeranz] is “0-5 with a 7.04 ERA and .297 opponents’ average in his past nine starts”
NOOOO!
”
Ditto that!
cricket
September 4th, 2012
3:22 pm
http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/8335741/future-hall-famer-chipper-jones-shares-final-season-10000-twitter-followers-espn-magazine
timthebrave
September 4th, 2012
3:24 pm
I would love to sweep the rockies out of town……It’s time for the bats to come alive…..I’m glad Prado finally getting some props even though it is as the most underrated player. Go Braves!
Brian from SC
September 4th, 2012
3:24 pm
Nice little story there, cricket.
Greg Norton
September 4th, 2012
3:25 pm
Keep the faith Braves fans. Uggla will be important to us later this year. I’m sure of it. Hopefully he’ll get this funk worked out.
By the way, I can still hit!
Jimmy
September 4th, 2012
3:30 pm
One last thing about Medlen’s game yesterday:
The Rockies are 2nd in the NL in batting and 2nd in the NL in runs scored.
So you don’t miss it, Thursday’s game is at 12 noon.
Veer
September 4th, 2012
3:30 pm
With Hanson starting we might need to score 8 runs today.
Prediction on Hanson.
Survives first 3 innings by only giving up 2 runs but 4th inning explodes and leaves the game by allowing 5 runs in total.
Will get ahead of the hitters but will end up walking them
Will give up alot of hits
A lot of hard hit balls but defenders by chance will be at right place right time to bail him out.
Won’t get past the 5th inning
Juan
September 4th, 2012
3:30 pm
MEDLEN Interview in few min in MLB The Rundown
Bat Masterson
September 4th, 2012
3:31 pm
Good stuff, DOB. Thanks
abeeeewright
September 4th, 2012
3:31 pm
“So look for as many righties as Fredi Gonzalez can get into his lineup.” – DOB
So basically, Reed Johnson instead of Constanza.
Jimmy
September 4th, 2012
3:32 pm
Veer – you left out the stolen bases against Big Red.
MFin04
September 4th, 2012
3:33 pm
“Prediction on Hanson”
Imagine Kris Medlen pitching last night. Got it…?
Now imagine the complete opposite of that. Got it…?
There you have tonight’s pitching performance from Hanson.
toast
September 4th, 2012
3:34 pm
With Hanson starting we might need to score 8 runs today.
Prediction on Hanson.
Survives first 3 innings by only giving up 2 runs but 4th inning explodes and leaves the game by allowing 5 runs in total.
Will get ahead of the hitters but will end up walking them
Will give up alot of hits
A lot of hard hit balls but defenders by chance will be at right place right time to bail him out.
Won’t get past the 5th inning
that’s just a fountain of information that needs to be processed. thank you so much for a well thought out post though
any predictions on traffic northbound on 400?
George_George
September 4th, 2012
3:34 pm
Thank you DOB.
abeeeewright
September 4th, 2012
3:35 pm
With the September call-ups, I doubt that Fredi would stick with Hanson for a long time if he starts to struggle.
Hanson will probably go 5-6 while giving up 2-3 runs, at best.
At worst, Hanson is relieved by Delgado in the first inning with the Braves down by 4.
George_George
September 4th, 2012
3:36 pm
Wish HANSON would lose that hitch in his delivery.
vitriol spewer (phil)
September 4th, 2012
3:37 pm
In Pomeranz the Braves face yet another lefty, but not a very good one. He has one win in 16 starts this season, and he’s 0-5 with a 7.04 ERA and .297 opponents’ average in his past nine starts, with 46 hits including nine homers allowed in 38-1/3 innings (the innings totals are low because that’s how the Rockies were using their starters in the unusual four-man rotation setup they adopted at midseason.
***************
Ballgame!! Maybe we’ll reverse the trend of late against these pathetic performing retreads that seem to dominate us far too often…
Bat Masterson
September 4th, 2012
3:37 pm
I’m sick to damn death of Maria Bartiromo. I wish she would shut the hell up and go away.
cricket
September 4th, 2012
3:37 pm
Rockies blog, interesting and enjoyable during the game, especially if braves are winning
http://www.purplerow.com/
chipontheroad
September 4th, 2012
3:37 pm
@ Brava thnx for heads-up on the rundown that was awesome
Medlen is on to somethang
thnx D O’B
bostonbravo
September 4th, 2012
3:39 pm
I think Fredi & Frankie “overlooked” Medlen until recently because: he looks like a kid & he has a quirky sense of humor & never afraid to clown. None of which has anything to do with him being best pitcher on roster. For ex: Uggla has game face, big biceps LOOKS like a great power hitter…OK we’ll stick with him thru 3 months of .152 average…plus Fredi was his pal for 6 yrs. Guess I’m saying ‘top mgt.’ puts a lot of stock in personal opinion over facts.
cricket
September 4th, 2012
3:39 pm
I’m sick to damn death of Maria Bartiromo. I wish she would shut the hell up and go away.
lost the remote again?
crm300
September 4th, 2012
3:39 pm
Been saying all along not to get carried away with Bourn. Had a nice half season for the Braves but those stats do not track with his career stats. He is playing now more like he played for Houston all of those years. Yeah, he can steal a base, but he strikes out too much and his on base percentage is not very good for a lead off guy. Braves do not dare overpay for Bourn and wind up with another Derek Lowe or Dan Uggla contract. If Dale Murphy could play center field, so can Jason Heyward. Find a cheaper alternative for lead off and let Bourn be somebody else’s albatross.
toast
September 4th, 2012
3:40 pm
I’m sick to damn death of Maria Bartiromo. I wish she would shut the hell up and go away.
mute the tv and just look
vitriol spewer (phil)
September 4th, 2012
3:40 pm
“Yeah, he’s a total package,” Ross said. “He keeps his mouth shut, doesn’t complain, goes to the bullpen when they ask him, starts, goes down [to the minors], doesn’t complain, tries to get his innings up [build arm strength], then they call him back, put him back in the bullpen… Not one word. But then he gets his chance and he’s just taking advantage of it. You root for guys like that, who aren’t prima donnas, who don’t complain, who try to go out and just want to be part of a winning team. And that’s what we have, a loy of guys who are like that.”
*************
I don’t suppose he was subtly throwing Hanson and Minor and Uggla under the bus, was he?
And most of us bloggers fit Ross’ description, being non-complainers and all.
ChillyMutt
September 4th, 2012
3:42 pm
Braves are 1 – 0 on Tuesdays following a Monday holiday this year.
Shaun
September 4th, 2012
3:44 pm
I’m certainly one of the people who dislike the Uggla contract and think the Braves should try to trade him in the offseason if they can get anything remotely favorable for themselves, even if it’s a Derek Lowe type move where they’re trying to get whatever salary relief they can.
But I’m not sure how benching Uggla improves the offense all that much. Reed Johnson is basically a league-average offensive leftfielder. He’s quite good against lefties but, if it’s a platoon, it may be Constanza in left or Jeff Baker or Pastornicky playing second against a righty. I just don’t like any of these scenarios that much except maybe Johnson in left and Prado at second against lefties. Part of the reason for that is that Uggla actually has hit righties better than lefties in his career.
Against righties, they should probably just stick with Uggla and hope for the best. I think it’s fine to bet that Uggla isn’t a great player any longer. But I’m not sure the Braves should bet that Uggla is worse than Johnson or Constanza or Baker, at least against righties, over the next month (and hopefully longer).
vitriol spewer (phil)
September 4th, 2012
3:44 pm
Bartiromo does get really old….and I only catch her maybe once a year!
Which is more than Mac or whomever will be catching JJ next season….I made a not very funny, see?
ChillyMutt
September 4th, 2012
3:47 pm
Maria Bartioromo is so 5 Tool.
toast
September 4th, 2012
3:47 pm
dare to rip on the “money honey”, sad day.
MFin04
September 4th, 2012
3:49 pm
“I’m certainly one of the people who dislike the Uggla contract”
The contract for Dan Uggla was great…the production was not.
Same thing as the trade for Nate McLouth, the trade was great
But you can’t really do much when the guy just stops producing.
vitriol spewer (phil)
September 4th, 2012
3:50 pm
I have a nominee for a name change to “spewer of nonsense”….
Rick C
September 4th, 2012
3:51 pm
Jimmy, not to take anything away from Medlen’s performance yesterday, but you should look at the Rockies’ home/away splits on offense. They are first in runs scored in the NL at home, but in away games they are last. Pretty drastic split and it says a lot about Coors field.
Jimmy
September 4th, 2012
3:52 pm
Ask Joey Ramone about Maria.
I think he wanted her in the starting rotation.
Ward
September 4th, 2012
3:52 pm
I’m back for just A few minutes. I’m entitled to talk too, and I said nothing wrong. Mac, had trouble with the shift before he got hurt, and until he figures it out? The shift owns him, and has done him in. That’s not being too harsh. It’s speaking what has happened.
Ward
September 4th, 2012
3:54 pm
Macs’, injury happened after they started the shift.
TennesseePaul
September 4th, 2012
3:54 pm
Thanks for the work DOB.
GO BRAVES!!
Last 9 Starts of the Starting 9
_________AVG__OBP__SLG___OPS_wOBA_L9S9+
Bourn__ .219 .350 .219 0.569 .307 ___63
Reed___ .286 .306 .371 0.677 .298 ___87
Chipper .257 .366 .371 0.737 .364 __106
Freeman .310 .474 .724 1.198 .494 __227
Prado__ .343 .400 .571 0.971 .458 __166
Heyward .184 .205 .421 0.626 .260 ___68
Ross___ .200 .256 .371 0.628 .294 ___72
Janish_ .129 .206 .226 0.432 .226 ___20
Hanson_ .000 .000 .000 0.000 .000 _-100
Jimmy
September 4th, 2012
3:54 pm
Rick C – On point. Didn’t look at the splits.
Shaun
September 4th, 2012
3:56 pm
MFin04, the trade for Uggla was great. The contract was not.
What they can do (in terms of next season) depends on what another team would be willing to give up/take on for Uggla. The only thing they can do this season is bench him when it makes sense. To me, based on the info we have, it seems pretty clear it doesn’t make sense to bench him against righties.
toast
September 4th, 2012
3:56 pm
ole janish hasn’t done much at the plate since his 3 hit game sometime yesteryear. good glove, but need a couple more knocks. hurry back andrelton
Ward
September 4th, 2012
3:56 pm
Bat- Threaten me all you want to. The truth is out there……
richbrave
September 4th, 2012
3:56 pm
We had a LOT of newbies come into the system mid-season and later. Let’s look at a few.
GWINNETT
3B TERRY TIFFEE – A 1999 TWINS draftee, TIFFEE’s knocked around numerous organizations since. 2012 in the ATLANTIC Independent League.
He arrived in LAWRENCEVILLE mid-season, and had a bang-up July [.341 BA - 44 AB], but cooled considerably in August. Overall for his stint in AAA, he had 117 AB – 35 H = .299 BA; .314 OBP; .741 OPS. A switch-hitter who raked lefties to a .364 clip [33 AB]. Righties .274 [84 AB]. Once FRANCISCO went up to stay, he was the insurance policy down on the farm at 3B
2B RUSTY RYAL – A D-Backs 14th pick in 2005. Released 7-3-12 by the Snakes and picked -up by the BRAVES.
BA .287 as a BRAVE with 101 AB – 29 H; .333 OBP; .759 OPS. RH batter, terrible against lefties [.130 -23 AB], strong against righties [.333 BA - 78 AB]. 80 AB’s .325 in August. Prolly worth another look next season.
OF FELIX PIE – A CUB in 2001. Left the O’s at the end of spring training, hooked up with the ATLANTIC league.BRAVES picked him up in mid-May. A good addition to the AAA affiliate.
333 AB – 95 H for the G-men in 2012. .324 [74 AB] against LH, .275 BA [262 AB] against righties. Excellent June and July. Tailed off badly at the plate in August. .338 OBP, .797 OPS for the season.
The A Bomb
September 4th, 2012
3:56 pm
Braves should have saved the clubhouse standing O for Paul Janish — not Alex Gonzalez. Guy’s about to sit down and has been one of the unsung heroes that have kept this club going with his defense.
Kudos. Hope we keep him.
Ward
September 4th, 2012
3:57 pm
Mac, better wake up to, and learn how to hit out of the shift, or his career is over.
Bat Masterson
September 4th, 2012
3:57 pm
lost the remote again? Ha, no.
mute the tv and just look _ If I could she would be fine with me.
MB ” why do stocks keep going up, I don’t get it?”
Because businesses are making tons of money, good grief.
MB ” Why aren’t businesses hiring?”
Why should they. They are squeezing more and more productivity from the workers they have all ready and making nice profits. The last thing a business wants to do is hire people, they want to profit. The only thing that will make them hire people is more demand. Idiot
Jimmy
September 4th, 2012
3:57 pm
Ward – That was Bat that posted that comment. I don’t think he was riding you hard.
McCann is this years Heyward. Major suckage with some injury thrown in.
TennesseePaul
September 4th, 2012
3:58 pm
In 322 PA, since June 16th, the 7 year, $18M man has hit .249/.338/.361/.699. All those holes he plugs make him totally worth the near decade commitment and 20% of the payroll.
Bat Masterson
September 4th, 2012
3:58 pm
Ward_
Its not me you have to worry about. McFann on the other hand, well……………..
tony austin
September 4th, 2012
3:58 pm
I’ve read at least 3 comments so far regarding DOB’s:
In Pomeranz the Braves face yet another lefty, but not a very good one. He has one win in 16 starts this season, and he’s 0-5 with a 7.04 ERA and .297 opponents’ average in his past nine starts…
It’s widely known that, for some unknown reason why, these are the type of pitchers that seem to dominate this lineup. If I were playing the Braves in a one game playoff I’d look for the worst LHP I have on my staff and hand him the ball.
Sam
September 4th, 2012
4:01 pm
My question: What is the winning percentage of the teams Medlen has beat on his current winning streak?
He has beaten the Astros, Marlins, Mets, Nats, Rockies, and twice beaten the Padres. None of these teams (except the Nats) are juggernauts. In fact, they are all at the bottom of the standings in their respective divisons.
When he starts beating teams like the Giants, Dodgers, Cardinals, Pirates, and Natiionals repeatedly, perhaps then I will be ready to compare him to Maddux.
chipontheroad
September 4th, 2012
4:01 pm
beat the shift once last week B Mc bunt did
richbrave
September 4th, 2012
4:01 pm
Is pomerantz a fruit or vegetable? Which?
stizz
September 4th, 2012
4:01 pm
Oh he’s staying A Bomb. We gave him another shot in the majors, so I don’t see why he wouldn’t remain loyal to us unless the offer is completely disrespectful, which I highly doubt it will be.
For better or for worse, I want Tommy yanked after 5 innings. I don’t trust him at all and its almost a given he’ll implode at some point tonight.
cabravesfan
September 4th, 2012
4:02 pm
Ward-
Teams have been shifting on Mac for a long time. He can take the ball to left- I’ve seen him do it a fair amount lately (when he hits). But it’s not just a matter of “learning” to do it- when you naturally pull the ball to right, and teams pitch you to pull the ball to right, it’s not the easiest thing to hit it to left. But the shift has NOTHING to do with his shoulder.
TennesseePaul
September 4th, 2012
4:03 pm
The only thing they can do this season is bench him when it makes sense.
This late into the season… it doesn’t make sense. But, since the are showing a willingness to bench him, they may actually trade him this off-season. I’m still skeptical they will. I’d think any potential trading of Uggla would only occur after next season. But, we’ll see. They won’t gain much financially by trading him if they aim to get another “30 HR type player.”
toast
September 4th, 2012
4:03 pm
janish has been a good pickup. problem is he’s thankfully about to return to obscurity. he’s been horrible at the plate the last two weeks.
SoCalMom
September 4th, 2012
4:03 pm
http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?topic_id=29636982#. follow this link to vote for MEDLEN for Mane Man of the Month against Jeter-Felix Hernandez and Todd Frazier. We have taken him for 8% of the vote to a leading 34% of the vote. Lets get him this FUN title. This is the kind of stuff he lives.
Efrim
September 4th, 2012
4:04 pm
In 322 PA, since June 16th, the 7 year, $18M man has hit .249/.338/.361/.699. All those holes he plugs make him totally worth the near decade commitment and 20% of the payroll.
But he’s incredibly important to the offense for 2013 and beyond, TenneseePaul. Just crucial.
There isn’t a worse move this franchise can make than giving that guy a multi year deal in the $16-18 million dollar a year range.
Ward
September 4th, 2012
4:05 pm
All, have a good! Talk later tonight. Hanson could sure use a good start, so let’s keep the hope going, and Peace my friends, and “Go!!!!!Braves!!!!!”
nolie
September 4th, 2012
4:05 pm
So how many enjoyed Papa Johns Pizza ?
Efrim
September 4th, 2012
4:06 pm
This late into the season… it doesn’t make sense. But, since the are showing a willingness to bench him, they may actually trade him this off-season. I’m still skeptical they will. I’d think any potential trading of Uggla would only occur after next season. But, we’ll see. They won’t gain much financially by trading him if they aim to get another “30 HR type player.”
After the news about them benching him, I thought about our endless convos with AT. Maybe they actually do look hard to move him this winter….
But I’m almost certain it wouldn’t be worth it. They’d likely have to eat near half the contract, and at that point, I really don’t think it makes sense.
Jimmy
September 4th, 2012
4:09 pm
Ward – I’m not going to defend Heap at all, but, as Cab pointed out, when a team puts a shift on you, the pitcher is going to pitch into the shift. Give you pitches that you almost have to pull.
But on the other hand, you know where they are going to pitch you.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
4:09 pm
Drew Pomeranz (1-8, 5.13 ERA) vs Tommy Hanson (12-7, 4.45 ERA). Pomeranz has made 16 starts, compared to Tommy’s 25. The two of them have very similar peripheral stats (WHIP, H/9, etc), with Pomeranz allowing just slightly less H/9 than Tommy, and Tommy has a slightly higher K/9.
Pomeranz has been bad in July and August, though not quite as bad as Tommy. (He’s been hit at just a .251/.317/.451/.768 clip compared to Tommy’s .310/.390/.487/.877)
Whoever, as not 1 Braves player has ever faced him, there are no batter-by-batter stats to report for the Braves.
For the Rockies, they’ve enjoyed seeing Tommy Hanson… in 31 ABs, they have gone 10-31 (1 3B, 2 HR) with 7 RBIs and 4 Ks. A .323/.323/.581/.903 line.
The Rockies who have faced Tommy are: Ramon Hernandez, Dexter Fowler, Tyler Colvin, Carlos Gonzalez, Charlie Blackmon, Jason Giambi, Jhoulys Chacin, Jonathan Herrera
Efrim
September 4th, 2012
4:09 pm
I’m certainly one of the people who dislike the Uggla contract and think the Braves should try to trade him in the offseason if they can get anything remotely favorable for themselves, even if it’s a Derek Lowe type move where they’re trying to get whatever salary relief they can.
You’d eat 66% of the contract just to move him? Wow. I mena, that’s basically saying that he’s cooked. Well done steak. To pay him $8.8 million a year just to get rid of him would certainly be saying something about how the Braves feel about Dan Uggla.
iowabrave
September 4th, 2012
4:09 pm
Jumping the gun, but just got my tickets for Sept 12 in Milwaukee right behind the Braves dugout for my family’s last chance to see Chip. First TBS, then Skip, then Bobby, now Chipper. It’s like I’m getting old or something.
DOB…so tell Chipper no hamstrings, no obliques, no resting. My 10 year old would be mightly disappointed! We’ll be there all 3 days, but only once behind the dugout and he’s looking forward to it. (Maybe his dad, too)
MFin04
September 4th, 2012
4:11 pm
“Braves should have saved the clubhouse standing O for Paul Janish — not Alex Gonzalez.”
Nah, Paul Janish has yet to hit a home run and do the WWF Razor Ramon throat slash.
http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=11964119&c_id=mlb
nolie
September 4th, 2012
4:11 pm
Janish is a great defender but bad hitter = cheal defense, just like the Bravos love. Most likely the BU SS next season
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
4:12 pm
Oh, and unlike Tommy Hanson, Drew is worth positive WAR (0.9 vs. Hanson’s -0.4)
Efrim
September 4th, 2012
4:12 pm
As a Brave, Dan Uggla has been a league average offensive player – .223/.324/.419, 100 OPS+ and a below average defensive 2nd baseman.
Shaun
September 4th, 2012
4:13 pm
Efrim, I could see some team taking a chance on Uggla and giving up/taking on enough for it to be worth the Braves’ while. I’m not saying it’s likely but I wouldn’t be surprised.
Efrim
September 4th, 2012
4:15 pm
keithlaw @keithlaw
One ATL fan completely lost it too “@backseatfan: remember when people said you were wrong on Heyward and you said “he’s 21″? That was fun”
keithlaw @keithlaw
They’re all in Witless Protection “@intothewall: @keithlaw do Uggla contract defenders send you apologies by Twitter or regular mail?”
nolie
September 4th, 2012
4:15 pm
still think it pretty unlikely that they trade Uggla, and highly unlikely if they need to eat part of the contract
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
4:15 pm
ERA+ of 93 for Pomeranz, it’s 92 for Tommy
Jeff R
September 4th, 2012
4:16 pm
Medlen has been simply remarkable.
Wink
September 4th, 2012
4:16 pm
First congrat to Medlin.
The success he is having is that he is not afraid to pitch. The mentality of a reliever is to put the fire out or contain the damage. This guy has taken that to the mound. Could our closer do this, probably not, he would blow his arm out with only one of two pitches. But a low velocity pitcher, with multiple pitches, confidence, get ball & throw ball and closer mentality equals Medlin. Should he get base runners he just assumes relief pitcher role, attacks & put fire out. So basically he is not surprised or overwhelmed by anything that happens on the mound.
Now for FrediG, he is not comfortable or confident. He takes Constanza out of LF for Johnson. Johnson was brought in to help off the bench for right handed pinch hitter. I believe Constanza was brought for speed and defense in LF. Did he not see the game yesterday the Braves scored 3 runs without the benefit of a hit. Speed caused multiple errors by Rockies defense. Why not try that again. Who cares if they bring out a lefty, speed puts points on the board. Fredi should check back to last year when he put Constanza back on the bench and we blew an 8 game lead….just saying!
vitriol spewer (phil)
September 4th, 2012
4:17 pm
My wife ordered Domino’s…..
An FG-like brain lock.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
4:17 pm
Can’t see Uggla being traded until after the 2014 season…
Efrim, I could see some team taking a chance on Uggla and giving up/taking on enough for it to be worth the Braves’ while. I’m not saying it’s likely but I wouldn’t be surprised.
If you can find someone to do that, let them have Tommy too…
DAP
September 4th, 2012
4:17 pm
getting janish was a great move by wren, who, by the way, has been doing an excellent job this season.
Shaun
September 4th, 2012
4:18 pm
Efrim, I should have specified what I meant by Derek Lowe type deal. I just meant moving him for some salary relief, paying some of his salary and perhaps not getting back a whole lot. I didn’t mean an exact replica of the Lowe trade. My fault. I didn’t make it clear.
And I know I’m being rather vague. I think a lot of what the Braves should require in a Uggla trade depends on their budget situation going in to the offseason (which could depend on how far they make it in the playoffs) and how they want to construct the rest of the roster and what they want to do at other positions.
Efrim
September 4th, 2012
4:18 pm
Efrim, I could see some team taking a chance on Uggla and giving up/taking on enough for it to be worth the Braves’ while. I’m not saying it’s likely but I wouldn’t be surprised.
I guess. He does have 80 walks on the season. And did have a strong April/May. Braves would have to eat half the contract, I imagine.
$6.6 million of savings per year 2013, 2014, and 2015.
Widespread panic
September 4th, 2012
4:20 pm
Some friends at the Chophouse yesterday marvelled at the Braves dominating on a MONDAY. I just replied, “Don’t mess with the Medlen.” The mojo he’s got working is seldom seen in sport. Here’s to riding it deep into the postseason.
MFin04
September 4th, 2012
4:20 pm
“I just meant moving him for some salary relief”
Doesn’t make sense to move him. He is likely to bounce back and with no Chipper at third, Prado really isn’t an option at 2nd.
vitriol spewer (phil)
September 4th, 2012
4:21 pm
Uggla has to go….
I think it happens. Someone will be foolish enough to take the chance.
Rick C
September 4th, 2012
4:22 pm
Wink, speed isn’t that useful when you only have a 250 OBP.
Efrim
September 4th, 2012
4:22 pm
And I know I’m being rather vague. I think a lot of what the Braves should require in a Uggla trade depends on their budget situation going in to the offseason (which could depend on how far they make it in the playoffs) and how they want to construct the rest of the roster and what they want to do at other positions.
This makes more sense. The Uggla trade, if one were to happen, needs to fall in line with how they see the roster shaping up for 2013. Can’t just trade the guy and play Tyler Pastornicky at 2nd base. Needs to make sense and a productive bat needs to replace him. I am not for just trading the guy and paying part of the salary. There is more than a .700 OPS to this guy. Too produictive for too long just to be completely cooked. And I didn’t even like the contract extension, but I understand what they were going for at the time.
Hillbilly
September 4th, 2012
4:22 pm
By my figuring (and assuming Charlie Manuel skips his 5th starter on their off day) the Braves have a stretch of games coming up in mid-September where they will face:
Ross Detwiler, Edwin Jackson, Gio Gonzalez, Josh Johnson, Mark Buehrle, Ricky Nolasco, Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, and Cole Hamels in that order.
vitriol spewer (phil)
September 4th, 2012
4:26 pm
Medlin
Constanzo
Yawnish
Bourne
Fredi Freeman
Freddie gonzalez
Mcann
Kimbril
O’Flaherity
Anyone else whose name gets regularly butchered around here? lol
cricket
September 4th, 2012
4:26 pm
wow
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Family-refuses-to-turn-over-pit-bull-that-bit-5-year-old-boy-168234976.html
Bat Masterson
September 4th, 2012
4:26 pm
I think a lot of what the Braves should require in a Uggla trade depends on
their budget situation going in to the offseason (which could depend on how far they make it in the playoffs) and how they want to construct the rest of the roster and what they want to do at other positions.on how well armed they are. I’ll kick in one colt 45 revolver.
TennesseePaul
September 4th, 2012
4:28 pm
They’re all in Witless Protection @keithlaw do Uggla contract defenders send you apologies by Twitter or regular mail?”
We’re all still awaiting KLaw’s apology which he apparently made while in Witless relocation… it just, really? balsamic vinaigrette references?
Robert
September 4th, 2012
4:30 pm
DOB,
Sportscenter did a story last night that made it sound that Medlin is on an innings limit this year (trying to compare his situation to Strausberg). I’ve not seen any article by you, Carroll, or on website that mentions that. Is there any truth to that? Is that really part of reason he was put in bullpen first?
Nativebird
September 4th, 2012
4:30 pm
Medlin’s brilliance is another clear example of the fact that Fred Gonzales doesn’t know what he’s doing….and is in way over his head. Guy should pave been not only in the rotation…..but at the Top of the rotation long ago….and yes, MANY people were saying so.
Bat Masterson
September 4th, 2012
4:30 pm
Hillbilly @ 4:22
Thanks, man. I feel better all ready.
Heisenberg
September 4th, 2012
4:30 pm
I was saying it 2 starts ago….Medlen should get some CY votes if he continues anything close this through end of year. Now that national media is on board it could come to pass. Just need to get him on a national broadcast for all to see.
tony austin
September 4th, 2012
4:33 pm
It didn’t even dawn on me about yesterday being a Monday. WTG Braves, a rare Monday win!
vitriol spewer (phil)
September 4th, 2012
4:34 pm
If Medlen implodes here before long, then what?
RC
September 4th, 2012
4:35 pm
Medlin’s brilliance is another clear example of the fact that Fred Gonzales doesn’t know what he’s doing….and is in way over his head. Guy should pave been not only in the rotation…..but at the Top of the rotation long ago….and yes, MANY people were saying so.
In which case he would be approaching his innings limit for the season and might need to be shut down, much like Strasburg is being handled.
Venice Jim
September 4th, 2012
4:35 pm
Atlanta Braves @Braves
RHP Kris Medlen has been named NL Pitcher of the Month for August.
ncscoots
September 4th, 2012
4:36 pm
Good grief. The Braves aren’t trading Dan Uggla.
Long time fan
September 4th, 2012
4:36 pm
Hillbilly, your pitching prediction is viable except consider that Miami could change their rotation and go with youth. However, one never knows.
DOB, how is the weather looking? Want to see if Hanson looks bad or does what is needed.
Bat Masterson
September 4th, 2012
4:36 pm
Congrats to the flat-billed kid
Shaun
September 4th, 2012
4:36 pm
Efrim, exactly right @4:22. Let’s say they can work out a trade or a signing for some pretty good outfielders. I wouldn’t be all that opposed to going with Pastornicky and/or someone else at second that might merely provide above-replacement-level value. There are definitely some contingencies to an Uggla trade. They shouldn’t move him just to get rid of him.
TennesseePaul
September 4th, 2012
4:37 pm
I just meant moving him for some salary relief, paying some of his salary and perhaps not getting back a whole lot.
They wouldn’t get that much relief. They would still need to fill the void of a right handed hitter with power. They’d be paying that new player, plus Uggla. It’s why I don’t see them trading him until after next year, when he has two years left and they could send $4M total in a deal and it would potentially work well for both clubs. As it is, 3 years left on his contract, it wouldn’t work well for the Braves. They’d have to send a lot, with him coming off this year. Had he put up another Dunn-esque season, 30+ HR, 60+ XBH, .350 OBP, and a .200 average with 200 K’s, he’d get more attention. Teams would see him as that type of player, and he could have 15 teams that might could use him simply by nature of league. But, this season is selling low on Uggla. He could bounce back.
Lastly, I read all those posts/articles/tweets about the contract and Uggla. Not one of them claimed he would pull an Andruw Jones. Not a single one. This 2012 season was not in the projects. Not even in KLaw Witless Relocation days.
RC
September 4th, 2012
4:37 pm
Sportscenter did a story last night that made it sound that Medlin is on an innings limit this year (trying to compare his situation to Strausberg). I’ve not seen any article by you, Carroll, or on website that mentions that. Is there any truth to that? Is that really part of reason he was put in bullpen first?
Wren has mentioned that a few times during the season, but not much talk came out about it until the past month or so. It makes sense that they wouldn’t send him out for 200 innings the season after TJ surgery, but at the same time I don’t think that his being in the bullpen as long as he was is entirely due to limiting his innings…I think it’s because the Braves management was hesitant to make a move too quickly with Jurrjens.
tony austin
September 4th, 2012
4:37 pm
I’m playing pumpkin ball this evening. For those who may not have heard about it, it’s softball played with a 16″ ball. 46 years old (about 3 weeks away from 47), overweight, bad knees. Not the best combination.
Think they’ll trade me for Uggla?
Just kidding, have a good day everyone and Go Braves!
toast
September 4th, 2012
4:38 pm
I was saying it 2 starts ago….Medlen should get some CY votes
que?
Efrim
September 4th, 2012
4:38 pm
Ross Detwiler, Edwin Jackson, Gio Gonzalez, Josh Johnson, Mark Buehrle, Ricky Nolasco, Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, and Cole Hamels in that order.
5 LHP and a couple of stud RHP’s. Awesome. I’d really rather face good RHP’s than bad LHP at this point.
Good grief. The Braves aren’t trading Dan Uggla.
Most likely right. Just sorta don’t agree with the flat out benching of him. Surprised me, is all.
Abnerish
September 4th, 2012
4:39 pm
Heyward has been raking against lefties, and besides that, him and Freddie need to become everyday players, not platoon players, so of course you leave them in. With Uggs out, that means the Braves will platoon LF. However, if Constanza doesn’t produce, I think the platoon is Uggla at 2B and Prado in LF against RHP and Johnson LF, Prado 2B against LHP.
DAP
September 4th, 2012
4:39 pm
i might trade uggla, but all of his salary would be going with him.
raleighbravefan
September 4th, 2012
4:40 pm
scoots @4:36 – This is a prime example of fantasy team mentality.
RC
September 4th, 2012
4:41 pm
Good grief. The Braves aren’t trading Dan Uggla.
Most likely right. Just sorta don’t agree with the flat out benching of him. Surprised me, is all.
I actually do think that benching him is the right move at this point in time….next year is another story. That said, I’m going to wait until he’s been “benched” for at least a week before I believe that this is necessarily sticking. Remember when Kimbrel and Venters started the season a “co-closers”? FG’s actions don’t always sync up with what he says he’s going to do.
Efrim
September 4th, 2012
4:41 pm
No one saw 100 OPS+ over the course of years 1 and 2 of the 5 year deal. Not even the guys that hated this deal and called it from day one.
RC
September 4th, 2012
4:42 pm
i might trade uggla, but all of his salary would be going with him.
If you can tell me what team would possibly make that deal, I’m sure Frank Wren would be all ears.
TennesseePaul
September 4th, 2012
4:42 pm
Wren has mentioned that a few times during the season, but not much talk came out about it until the past month or so. It makes sense that they wouldn’t send him out for 200 innings the season after TJ surgery
It will be interesting to see how they manage Beachy over the next two years…
Brava
September 4th, 2012
4:43 pm
Congratulations to Kris! Well deserved.
Efrim
September 4th, 2012
4:43 pm
Heyward has been raking against lefties,
He has had some nice hits vs. tough LHP’s in Bumgarner and Hamels over the last 10 games – but “raking against lefties” is a term I wouldn’t use in describing Heyward….
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
4:43 pm
Congrats Med-Dog!
don’t agree with the flat out benching of him.
This. If we’re gonna get far in the post-season, we will have a decent Dan Uggla in the lineup… he needs to play at some point to get on a run. It’s kinda late in the season to bench a starter…
Memphis
September 4th, 2012
4:43 pm
Uggla isnt getting traded.
RC
September 4th, 2012
4:43 pm
However, if Constanza doesn’t produce, I think the platoon is Uggla at 2B and Prado in LF against RHP and Johnson LF, Prado 2B against LHP.
This makes a lot of sense.
vitriol spewer (phil)
September 4th, 2012
4:44 pm
And the Hawks weren’t ever gonna be able to trade Joe Johnson until one day they traded him….
Uggla is killing us. I say he goes bye bye at some point here.
I might be dead wrong, but oh how I hope I’m right.
Efrim
September 4th, 2012
4:44 pm
It will be interesting to see how they manage Beachy over the next two years…
160-180 innings in 2014. Isn’t that the mark now? Like 100 pitches for young guys during a start.
Sigh….ESPN and Strasburg…..hated it.
TennesseePaul
September 4th, 2012
4:45 pm
No one saw 100 OPS+ over the course of years 1 and 2 of the 5 year deal.
Exactly. Just as everyone should be impressed by Medlen’s performance exceeding even the wildest anti-scoots-viewpoint… No one thought Uggla would do this in his first two years.
DAP
September 4th, 2012
4:45 pm
RC If you can tell me what team would possibly make that deal, I’m sure Frank Wren would be all ears.
thats kinda my point.
RC
September 4th, 2012
4:46 pm
This. If we’re gonna get far in the post-season, we will have a decent Dan Uggla in the lineup… he needs to play at some point to get on a run. It’s kinda late in the season to bench a starter…
It’s a tough question, because to even get INTO the postseason your best chance might be by not playing Dan Uggla right now.
ncscoots
September 4th, 2012
4:46 pm
Beachy should have the full 18 months of recovery by ST of 2014, I think. No need to limit his innings in that year.
TennesseePaul
September 4th, 2012
4:47 pm
160-180 innings in 2014. Isn’t that the mark now? Like 100 pitches for young guys during a start.
If it keeps him around and healthy for many years, it’s totally worth it. The team just needs to plan aptly to remain competitive.
I do appreciate how the one guy in the pen getting all the innings, is a vet, salvaged, and on a one year deal. That’s the type of player you ride into the ground.
Brava
September 4th, 2012
4:47 pm
Hanson will probably go 5-6 while giving up 2-3 runs, at best.
That’s quite generous. Have you been watching him pitch lately?
I think tonight will either be a slugfest, or the Braves will, once again, be the victims of a struggling pitcher getting right. Whatever happens, I’ll be surprised if Hanson can make it through 5 innings without giving up four runs. Hopefully, Fredi has a choker leash on him, heck, a shock collar.
RC
September 4th, 2012
4:49 pm
Hanson will probably go 5-6 while giving up 2-3 runs, at best.
That’s quite generous. Have you been watching him pitch lately?
Hanson has been bad, but have you watched the Rockies hit outside of Coors this year? Neither has anyone else, because they DON’T hit outside of Coors.
ncscoots
September 4th, 2012
4:49 pm
Just as everyone should be impressed by Medlen’s performance exceeding even the wildest anti-scoots-viewpoint… No one thought Uggla would do this in his first two years.
The performance of the two players is simply a sign that the poles have reversed, when we weren’t looking. I expect we’ll all be floating off the face of the earth any minute now.
I can’t come up with any other explanation.
Heisenberg
September 4th, 2012
4:51 pm
“Think they’ll trade me for Uggla?”
***********
Yes Tony, and give you a 5 year 62 mil contract.
TennesseePaul
September 4th, 2012
4:51 pm
because to even get INTO the postseason your best chance might be by not playing Dan Uggla right now.
Doubtful. With the way the guy was drawing walks, he was still helpful. We’ve seen some guys come through here and just suck the wind out of an offense… and completely earn “benching” or “part-timing”. I just don’t think the team will see all that much of an improvement or difference with such a short time left. I suspect at best it will be a wash, at worst it will be a missed 27 game hit streak with 13 HR by Uggla….
DAP
September 4th, 2012
4:51 pm
10paul It will be interesting to see how they manage Beachy over the next two years…
doesnt seem like it will be an issue next year, since he wont even be back from surgery until july or something. in 2014 they might need to have an early hook.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
4:53 pm
Rockies don’t hit outside of Coor’s which might help Hanson…. however, with the way he’s been pitching, the LLWS Champs could rock him.
He really needs to pound the zone with his *gulp* 88mph fastball. Don’t nibble please. Hope he does okay, but not feeling it. Much like Jurrjens, he has done nothing lately to convince me to believe that he can consistently get MLB hitters out.
lanier
September 4th, 2012
4:53 pm
DOB, whats the deal with Uggla. Is he too big of a pro to listen to the hitting coaches or is he just a washed up player
RC
September 4th, 2012
4:55 pm
however, with the way he’s been pitching, the LLWS Champs could rock him
Yeah, but the Rockies don’t have any hitters as good as that big kid on the Japanese team
tony austin
September 4th, 2012
4:56 pm
Yes Tony, and give you a 5 year 62 mil contract – Heisenberg
Woo hoo, I’m rich!!
Brava
September 4th, 2012
4:57 pm
Let’s hope they don’t, RC. I just don’t trust Hanson, at all.
MFin04
September 4th, 2012
4:57 pm
“Yeah, but the Rockies don’t have any hitters as good as that big kid on the Japanese team”
3 hrs and a triple, that is one heck of an OPS.
Shaun
September 4th, 2012
4:57 pm
Lastly, I read all those posts/articles/tweets about the contract and Uggla. Not one of them claimed he would pull an Andruw Jones. Not a single one. This 2012 season was not in the projects. Not even in KLaw Witless Relocation days.
TennesseePaul, I would say a 92 OPS+ shouldn’t be all that shocking. What is shocking is that he got there with a fairly respectable OBP and an unimpressive SLG.
This is not an Andruw Jones type season. Andruw’s OPS+ in his final season with the Braves was 87.
As far as trading him, I do agree that it’s contingent on plenty of things whether it’s worth it to the Braves. I don’t know that it’s necessarily contingent upon the Braves getting another right-handed power-hitter, although that would be nice. The right-handed aspect may be important. But as far as whether a hitter’s production comes mostly from power or from getting on base or a little of both, I don’t think that would matter, as long as the player produces.
Most likely right. Just sorta don’t agree with the flat out benching of him. Surprised me, is all.
Efrim, the benching is odd. Again, I can understand it against lefties because Reed Johnson and Jeff Baker can hit lefties. But it’s odd to just make him more or less a bench player.
Of course, we don’t have all the information either. If he’s hurt or something, that changes things. But I view it a lot like the Heyward situation last year. You don’t just bench a player because he’s disappointing. If he’s your best option, disappointing is not a good enough reason to bench him.
CJ10 saved our season
September 4th, 2012
4:59 pm
It goes against all logic, but I wonder if sticking Uggla in the lineup in a run-producing spot would have been better. He might have seen more fastballs and gotten more opportunities to drive in runs. He’s hitting like a bottom of the order guy because that’s where he’s been.
CF Bourn
LF Prado
RF Heyward
3B Chipper
2B Uggla
1B Freeman
C McCann
SS Janish
This Rockies series may have been a good one to try it. He goes 2-16, you bench him. He goes 6-16 with a couple of HRs, you ride it.
tiger297
September 4th, 2012
4:59 pm
David O’Brien@ajcbraves
#Braves will not recall Jair Jurrjens from Triple-A for balance of season
aint that a kick in the head (although not really surprising)
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
5:01 pm
damn… poor JJ….. too classy to cut him though. He just lost it. Injuries are a biatch. Didn’t deserve to come back though.
MFin04
September 4th, 2012
5:01 pm
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
5:03 pm
JJ and Hanson… too guys who had lots of promise, then got hurt. Hope those 2 get healthy again, and pitch well for someone (not the Braves)
Shaun
September 4th, 2012
5:04 pm
No one saw 100 OPS+ over the course of years 1 and 2 of the 5 year deal. Not even the guys that hated this deal and called it from day one.
I don’t think a projection of a 100 OPS+ would have been that far off. He came to the Braves with a 117 OPS+ going in to his age 31 season.
whats the deal with Uggla. Is he too big of a pro to listen to the hitting coaches or is he just a washed up player
Something reasonable close to a league average offensive player at secondbaseman isn’t really washed up. But I think age-related decline and some randomness is the major culprit here.
Long time fan
September 4th, 2012
5:04 pm
Maybe we have JJ go down to instructional league and see if it is worth keeping him in 2013 or to trade him. The answer looks obvious but he could come back and have an awesome season for somebody else. That seems to happen to the Braves all the time.
Brava
September 4th, 2012
5:05 pm
Feel bad for JJ. Maybe he can do something in the off-season to get his pitching in order. I hope so. Have always really liked the guy.
RC
September 4th, 2012
5:05 pm
damn… poor JJ….. too classy to cut him though. He just lost it. Injuries are a biatch. Didn’t deserve to come back though.
No reason to cut him. You are going to be paying him anyway, and if 3 pitchers in your starting rotation all get food poisoning or something, he’s at least a warm body on your 40-man roster who can probably throw 5 innings of respectable major league baseball for you in a pinch.
Bat Masterson
September 4th, 2012
5:05 pm
:tear:
Lew
September 4th, 2012
5:05 pm
Medlen missed all of last year (except for about 5 IP). As of June 30 of this season, he had not pitched more than 3 Innings and only 2-3 IP three times. From May 24 of this year through June 30, he had given up 20 hits and 8 ER in his last 14IP.
Medlen – at least as of June 30, was just not ready to move into the rotation.
Dude’s pitching as well as anyone I’ve seen in 55 years of watching the game, but let’s not 20-20 Hindsight the situation.
Bat Masterson
September 4th, 2012
5:05 pm
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
5:05 pm
:\’(
RC
September 4th, 2012
5:06 pm
JJ and Hanson… too guys who had lots of promise, then got hurt. Hope those 2 get healthy again, and pitch well for someone (not the Braves)
Well, you’ve likely got at least one more season of Hanson with the Braves, so better that he pitch well for them than not.
As for JJ, I think he’s pitched his last game in an Atlanta Braves uniform (at least for the next few years).
MFin04
September 4th, 2012
5:07 pm
David O'Brien
September 4th, 2012
5:08 pm
DOB, how is the weather looking? Want to see if Hanson looks bad or does what is needed — Long time fan
Tarp’s on field, no rain yet but forecast is dicey. But then, it was a lot worse forecast yesterday and it never rained a drop here.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
5:08 pm
he’s at least a warm body on your 40-man roster who can probably throw 5 innings of respectable major league baseball for you in a pinch.
I’d debate it being respectable and him being able to go 5 innings, but I do get your point… I’m sure that someone in AAA who wasn’t on the 40 man could’ve done that though.
(btw, I do not hate JJ, there was confusion about that before!)
RC
September 4th, 2012
5:09 pm
It goes against all logic, but I wonder if sticking Uggla in the lineup in a run-producing spot would have been better. He might have seen more fastballs and gotten more opportunities to drive in runs. He’s hitting like a bottom of the order guy because that’s where he’s been.
That does go against all logic. Uggla spent the first 2 months of the season in a “run-producing spot”, and didn’t do jack with it. He was still in there on a fairly regular basis in the past month due to McCann and Chipper getting days off. He’s hitting like a bottom of the order guy because that’s what his talent level this season has produced.
cricket
September 4th, 2012
5:09 pm
he could come back and have an awesome season for somebody else. That seems to happen to the Braves all the time.
fandom is funny. you will unmistakably find following comment on other teams’ blogs – beware if braves are trading pitching, they always know when a pitcher is about to go south.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
5:09 pm
;_;
MFin04
September 4th, 2012
5:12 pm
“but I wonder if sticking Uggla in the lineup in a run-producing spot would have been better.”
He actually had great numbers recently hitting lower in the order. Even jacked a homer hitting 8th.
.900 OPS in his last week or so I believe.
RC
September 4th, 2012
5:12 pm
I’d debate it being respectable and him being able to go 5 innings, but I do get your point… I’m sure that someone in AAA who wasn’t on the 40 man could’ve done that though.
Oh, no doubt. I’d say that at the worst Delgado and Teheran would be called upon before JJ to spot-start….which is why I said if “three” of your rotation members got food poisoning
Maybe the team shouldn’t allow more than 2 teammates to have dinner together…just in case.
Heisenberg
September 4th, 2012
5:12 pm
Uggla was hitting in a run producing spot and earned his demotion to 8th and has now earned his new demotion. But seeing Bourn’s stats in the blog, maybe Bourn should be in the run producing spot. Then maybe consider Uggla with all those walks for the leadoff role. (sarcasm)
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
5:12 pm
JJ:
Well, you’ve likely got at least one more season of Hanson with the Braves, so better that he pitch well for them than not.
If he’s here (he’d better be in the ‘pen then), I’ll hope that he pitches well… just haven’t seen it for the last year.
bravesfan
September 4th, 2012
5:12 pm
I’d start Medlin in a hypothetical one game wild card game.
CB
September 4th, 2012
5:13 pm
We need to show TOBF the tear emoticon for when Greinke signs with the Dodgers.
RC
September 4th, 2012
5:13 pm
If he’s here (he’d better be in the ‘pen then), I’ll hope that he pitches well… just haven’t seen it for the last year.
I haven’t seen it either. But odds are strongly in favor of him being here, and if he’s here he’ll be in the rotation, at least to start out.
MFin04
September 4th, 2012
5:14 pm
The problem with the short leash theory with Hanson is that when he blows up, he blows up in a hurry. And he usually blows up in the first or in the 5th/6th inning when he nears the 100 pitch mark.
David O'Brien
September 4th, 2012
5:14 pm
DOB – Is Heap available and just not in there because of the LH Pomeranz?
It was rather painful watching Ross bat yesterday — Jimmy
Fredi said he wanted to wait another day for McCann, that he should be in lineup. Don’t know how much the LH pitcher played into decision, but he said it was about the shoulder. Also, I asked about Ross’s side and Fredi said Ross told him it’s doing better and he’s good to go.
Lew
September 4th, 2012
5:14 pm
RC is correct – on several points.
David O'Brien
September 4th, 2012
5:14 pm
Braves have no plans to bring Jurrjens back to majors this year.
Brava
September 4th, 2012
5:14 pm
So true, cricket. I’ve seen comments like that quite often.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
5:14 pm
We need to show TOBF the tear emoticon for when Greinke signs with the Dodgers.
Horner's Corner
September 4th, 2012
5:14 pm
Hey Dave,
When did the Official Scorer finally change Martin’s 1st inning At Bat from an E3 to a hit? I was at yesterday’s game and I thought not giving Prado a single (prior to the errors) was one of the worst scoring decisions I’d ever seen. When I left The Ted, the scoreboard still showed the Braves with 4 hits for the day. Thanks.
David O'Brien
September 4th, 2012
5:15 pm
Also, asked Fredi about Teheran and Delgado, and there are no plans to have them start rest of season. However, either could spot-start a game if needed, or come in to pitch long relief if they lose a starter to a rain delay, etc.
stizz
September 4th, 2012
5:16 pm
No reason to cut him. You are going to be paying him anyway, and if 3 pitchers in your starting rotation all get food poisoning or something, he’s at least a warm body on your 40-man roster who can probably throw 5 innings of respectable major league baseball for you in a pinch.”
Thinking JJ can give you 5 quality innings is like thinking Hanson can give you 5 quality innings. I’m just happy Delgado will be ready to go tonight for the inevitable.
PDOG
September 4th, 2012
5:16 pm
DOB What is going to be Tehrans role for the rest of the year? I would like to see him get a shot as a late innings guy and just concentrate on throwing gas. As for Uggla two weeks ago I said he should be traded and got roasted on here. Bloggers are a weird bunch.
MFin04
September 4th, 2012
5:16 pm
“Only now, in past two weeks, has that been presented”
So much for the theory that DOB doesn’t ask the tough questions or present the truth. You tell ‘em DOB. Glad you aren’t buying the BS. Actually makes me really glad to be part of this blog with a writer who actually isn’t caving to the company line.
cricket
September 4th, 2012
5:17 pm
I’d start Medlin in real wild card game
Brava
September 4th, 2012
5:18 pm
Thank you for your honesty about Medlen, DOB. I’ve been saying the same, that was no plan, but taking some flack about it from a few around here.
Heisenberg
September 4th, 2012
5:19 pm
DOB, should that read “Braves have no plans to bring JJJ back ever” ?
Brava
September 4th, 2012
5:19 pm
there was no plan, sheesh.
Ralph
September 4th, 2012
5:21 pm
Rockies starting pitcher isexactly the type to shut the braves down, 1-8 with an 5.13 era is our poison, maybe with Fruti finally getting the line-up right that won’t happen.
John Leonard
September 4th, 2012
5:21 pm
Yea,meds is pitching great,but a lot of us new he would do well,he K’D three times.If he wants to stay in the rotation,he better pick it up with the lumber.
Jay Dubu
September 4th, 2012
5:21 pm
With the callups to the majors done, it looks like Jair Jurrjens’ Braves career has come to an end.
Hopefully, he will work hard over the winter to get back to where he was, and I’m sure some team will give him a shot.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
5:21 pm
However, either could spot-start a game if needed
Can’t they just let Delgado/Teheran “spot start” Hanson’s last 4?
or come in to pitch long relief if they lose a starter to a rain delay, etc.
etc= Hanson’s sukkage, Hanson’s sukkage, and more Hanson sukkage
Brava
September 4th, 2012
5:22 pm
The problem with the short leash theory with Hanson is that when he blows up, he blows up in a hurry. And he usually blows up in the first or in the 5th/6th inning when he nears the 100 pitch mark.
True, if I were Fredi, I’d have someone warming up from the beginning of the game. He’s got enough arms in there now.
Wait, if I were Fredi, Hanson wouldn’t be pitching tonight.
VaBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
5:22 pm
Trading Uggla would be very hard.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
5:24 pm
Is Hanson in the doghouse? Need to go to a certain fiery place?
Brava
September 4th, 2012
5:25 pm
Also, asked Fredi about Teheran and Delgado, and there are no plans to have them start rest of season. However, either could spot-start a game if needed, or come in to pitch long relief if they lose a starter to a rain delay, etc.
Well, it’s not like he’s going to say, “If Hanson pitches like crap tonight, I’m going to put one of them in the rotation”. Looking at what happened with Uggla, I’d be willing to bet this is Hanson’s last start if he stinks it up tonight.
cricket
September 4th, 2012
5:27 pm
Can’t they just let Delgado/Teheran “spot start” Hanson’s last 4?
or go all Rockies and limit Hanson to 75 pitches (or twice thru a lineup) and buddy him up with Delgado/Teheran..
John Leonard
September 4th, 2012
5:27 pm
I’d try to trade Ugg’s to Det. for Omar,the tigers are in a fight to get into the playoffs and might go for it.They like to play bash baseball.
Kentavo
September 4th, 2012
5:27 pm
A lefty with one W, a .500-plus ERA…be afraid, very afraid.
VaBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
5:27 pm
Hanson struggles to give us 5 innings every start.
Shaun
September 4th, 2012
5:27 pm
Just theorizing here, but perhaps they didn’t want other pitchers looking over their shoulders and didn’t want Medlen to be anxious about when his opportunity will come.
TennesseePaul
September 4th, 2012
5:27 pm
I don’t think a projection of a 100 OPS+ would have been that far off.
This is hindsight Payne. You may not think, looking back, that this is “that far off.”… a reasonable expectation. But the point of the statements was, no one projected even that low. Even if now you think it was reasonable, at the time, it wasn’t. Reasonable was low, but not that low.
Braveone
September 4th, 2012
5:29 pm
From the previous blog which had 1,386 comments, nolie led the way with 83 posts. There were 188 different poster names. Here are the Top 25:
Rank Poster Frequency
1 nolie 83
2 TheOnlyBravesFan 79
3 Brava 56
4 The A Bomb 56
5 MIBravesFan 53
6 Jeff R 52
7 vitriol spewer (phil) 47
8 MFin04 40
9 DS1 32
10 brian 31
11 rich brave 29
12 Bat Masterson 27
13 David O’Brien 27
14 Mark 27
15 ncscoots 27
16 Brian from SC 26
17 Efrim 22
18 CaptainMudd 21
19 Ken Stallings 21
20 the truth… 21
21 Tomahawk Mafia 20
22 Hugo Z Hackenbush 19
23 tiger297 17
24 ACE 16
25 Birdhair 16
cricket
September 4th, 2012
5:29 pm
Achmat Hassiem of South Africa finished ninth in the 100-meter butterfly at the Paralympic Games in Beijing in 2008, and this year in London he was determined to do better. His motivation? He simply imagines that he was being chased by the Great White shark that bit off his leg.
Yep, that’ll work every time. On Saturday Hassiem won the bronze.
It happened in 2006 in Cape Town, South Africa, when Hassiem was participating in a lifeguard training exercise. In distracting a shark that was swimming toward his brother, he was dragged about 50 meters by the shark and had his right leg bitten off below the knee.
“My little secret is obviously that I just try and imagine I’m in the ocean and I’ve got a 4½-meter great white shark at my feet,” Hassiem said. “It’s definitely good motivation to swim fast.”
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
5:29 pm
Hanson hasn’t pitched 7 innings in a game since July 7. He’s gone 7+ innings 7 times this year (in 25 starts)
David O'Brien
September 4th, 2012
5:30 pm
Sportscenter did a story last night that made it sound that Medlin is on an innings limit this year (trying to compare his situation to Strausberg). I’ve not seen any article by you, Carroll, or on website that mentions that. Is there any truth to that? Is that really part of reason he was put in bullpen first? — Robert
Innings limit was never mentioned to beat writers this spring as the reason to put him in bullpen instead of rotation out of spring training. At that time, each time we asked Fredi it was all about how they had so many other starters and how Medlen’s value was great to the bullpen to bridge gap between starters and big three relievers who got so overused last year.
In past couple of weeks the innings limit has been cited as a reason Medlen wasn’t in rotation out of spring training. But as I said, that was the impression I had in spring, that it was the plan all along, when it was never told that way to us in all the times we asked during spring training about the decision to put Medlen in ‘pen and whether they were thinking any differently as he kept out-pitching most other starters during spring.
Just talked to Frank Wren about it, and he said it was told to Medlen in spring that he wouldn’t be used as a starter before the second half and that he’d told several people who asked about the innings limit, basically 150-170 innings. Again, all I can tell you is that when we asked in spring, the reason given was Medlen’s value to ‘pen and abundance of other starters. And honestly, as I said at the time, that reasoning made sense to me given how the relievers tired down the stretch and how the other starters weren’t as versatile as Medlen and couldn’t thrive in either role.
If innings limit was also a big reason, or the primary reason, then it certainly is working out well for the Braves, as Medlen was able to help the relievers get extra rest in first half and is now filling a major spot in rotation during stretch drive.
Bat Masterson
September 4th, 2012
5:31 pm
I think it would be really cool if the blog would moderate the names Greinke & Hanson.
Efrim
September 4th, 2012
5:32 pm
Braves have no plans to bring Jurrjens back to majors this year.
And I imagine they will release him at seasons end.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
5:32 pm
I’m out guys, don’t blame Tommy’s bad start on me!
Think we win, but it’ll take some scoring, something like a 8-5, 9-5 final.
Go Braves! Peace.
cricket
September 4th, 2012
5:34 pm
Just theorizing here, but perhaps they didn’t want other pitchers looking over their shoulders and didn’t want Medlen to be anxious about when his opportunity will come. .. Shaun
balderdash..ML players are humanoids that are immune to pressure and piddly anxiety can not affect their performance at all
Bay Area Steve
September 4th, 2012
5:36 pm
I’ve never looked at Braves Journal, but I noticed several of you post well-wishes for Mac Thomason and his family. I did not see if anyone linked Posnanski’s piece about him. Even if it has been, Posnanski deserves a second. From his new home:
http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/37812808
Brava
September 4th, 2012
5:37 pm
Well, can’t really blame them for making up a story to save face now that Meds is garnering national attention.
cabravesfan
September 4th, 2012
5:38 pm
Just because it wasn’t told to the media doesn’t mean it wasn’t at least part of the reason.
ACE
September 4th, 2012
5:39 pm
Thanks DOB
cricket
September 4th, 2012
5:40 pm
Just because it wasn’t told to the media doesn’t mean it wasn’t at least part of the reason.
come on cab, i really like you but this statement …well, it makes me wish if i was ever judged by a jury, i would wan 12 of you on that panel
David O'Brien
September 4th, 2012
5:41 pm
DOB,
Sportscenter did a story last night that made it sound that Medlin is on an innings limit this year (trying to compare his situation to Strausberg). I’ve not seen any article by you, Carroll, or on website that mentions that. Is there any truth to that? Is that really part of reason he was put in bullpen first?
By the way, Carroll wrote this about Medlen’s innings limit on Aug. 20 when team was in D.C.
Braves avoided Strasburg-like decision with Medlen
7:12 pm August 20, 2012, by Carroll Rogers
Washington – Perhaps a little known fact, given all the publicity surrounding Tuesday’s Nationals starter Stephen Strasburg and the possibility of him being shut down at 160-180 innings, is that the Braves have been keeping similar tabs on Kris Medlen.
The most innings Medlen has thrown in a season is 120 1/3 in Double-A Mississippi in 2008. Coming off “Tommy John” elbow reconstruction surgery, the Braves didn’t want him to throw any more than 150-160 innings this season. That’s part of the reason why he opened the season pitching out of the bullpen.
Medlen is at 80 innings for the season, including 25 2/3 innings now as a starter, so it won’t be a problem. But that’s by design.
“We knew coming out of spring training he probably had 150-160 innings, based on our organizational belief in percentage of increase in innings per year,” said Braves general manager Frank Wren, indicating it’s about 20 percent. “So we preferred to start him off in the bullpen where he could be a bridge for our starters for the first two months and then after that we would evaluate our needs, and it would allow us to have him until the end once we put him in the rotation.”
Wren doesn’t envy Nationals GM Mike Rizzo’s call of having to sit his ace in the heat of a pennant race to protect his arm for the future.
“It’s a very difficult position to be in,” Wren said. “You can see every side of the argument.”
Brava
September 4th, 2012
5:41 pm
DOB is around them every day and says he never heard anything about it. They clearly said they thought Kris was more valuable in the pen than as a starter at the beginning of the season. As several have pointed out, Had Beachy not gotten hurt, JJ been beyond awful and Minor/Delgado struggled, Medlen would still be in the pen. If you believe anything else, you are beyond naive.
Veer
September 4th, 2012
5:41 pm
Someone definately should be warming up in the first inning. I mean uggla is on bench now but yet we see Gonzalez keep giving Hanson chance every 5 day to go out there and pitch. Hanson should be put in pen and Delgado/Martinez should start
cabravesfan
September 4th, 2012
5:41 pm
Besides, if he had been in the rotation from the beginning of the year, there is a very good possibility that he would be worn out by this point and not pitching anywhere near this well. And if anyone says they believed Meds would be doing this from day one (and I don’t mean pitching well. We all know he is capable of pitching well), they are lying. Nobody could have predicted he would be dominating like he is.
Bay Area Steve
September 4th, 2012
5:43 pm
“you are beyond naive.” – Brava
Isn’t this calling ‘OB naive?
“But as I said, that was the impression I had in spring, that it was the plan all along” – ‘OB
MFin04
September 4th, 2012
5:43 pm
If we have Delgado or Teheran warming up to start the game, perhaps we should warm Uggla up and he can sub for Hanson and hit 9th. This is a brilliant plan!
Brava
September 4th, 2012
5:44 pm
I remember reading Carroll’s story. It was the first time an innings limit was mentioned. As I said, you can’t blame them for making up a story, especially in light of the way they jerked Medlen around. The fewer questions asked, the better.
Lew
September 4th, 2012
5:44 pm
Medlen has never pitched more than 120 innings in any year as a professional ballplayer. He was out from the middle of 2010 until this spring (excepting about 5 IP last year).
Seriously – how many innings did y’all really think they were going to let him throw this year? Honestly, I’m a tad surprised they’d let him go 170.
faninva
September 4th, 2012
5:44 pm
DOB – thanks for all the info on the Medlen innings limit topic. very informative.
David O'Brien
September 4th, 2012
5:44 pm
Just because it wasn’t told to the media doesn’t mean it wasn’t at least part of the reason. — cabravesfan
True. I do believe them when they said they planned to evaluate their needs at midseason. But if the five starters had all stayed healthy and pitched well, I also believe Medlen wouldn’t be in the rotation now. If a starter had just gone on DL for 15 days at some point, it wouldn’t have been feasible to plug a reliever into rotation without first getting him stretched out.
Anyway, it worked out for all parties (Medlen and the Braves).
MFin04
September 4th, 2012
5:45 pm
Frank Wren is so full of crap it is coming out his eyes, mouth, and ears.
Brava
September 4th, 2012
5:45 pm
BAS, you are one dense person or perpetually drunk. I never know what you are talking about. Back to ignore, I don’t have time to try and decipher your posts for intent.
DawgDad
September 4th, 2012
5:46 pm
It doesn’t matter what Uggla’s OPS+ is, what matters is he gets paid a LOT of money to bat in the middle of the order and drive in runs. Dan has had ONE good month and a couple of decent weeks earlier this year in his stint in Atlanta. This is NOT randomness we are witnessing, it’s failure, consistent failure.
At this point, if somebody takes him, trade him, otherwise hope he starts hitting next Spring. If he doesn’t hit the Braves will have another KK on their hands, a multi-million dollar minor leaguer.
MFin04
September 4th, 2012
5:47 pm
I’m sure the Braves also planned on getting Maholm and Sheets mid-season, and they also planned on Uggla and McCann going into a season long slump.
Brava
September 4th, 2012
5:47 pm
Yes, the important thing is that it worked out well for all parties.
Shaun
September 4th, 2012
5:47 pm
TennesseePaul, I’m saying that if someone would have come to me and said, on the day the Braves traded for Uggla, that he would have an OPS+ of 100 in his first couple of seasons, I probably would have said, ” okay, I could see that.” I wouldn’t have given a lot of push-back. That’s my point. Not that 100 OPS+ was a definitive projection.
I guess my overriding point was that he wasn’t likely to be the player he was in Florida, mostly because of his age but also his body type and his skill set.
cabravesfan
September 4th, 2012
5:48 pm
I know what they said, and that’s the way I feel also. But that doesn’t mean that was the only reason. Or that wanting to limit innings never entered their minds. There is no reason to call me naive because I don’t think that teams share every detail of how they run their business with the media. So Frank Wren just said they had told Meds he wouldn’t start before the 2nd half and that he’d be on an innings limit. If someone asks Meds if that is true and he says no, the Braves have a mess on their hands that they don’t need. But whatever. I’m just too naive to understand
Bat Masterson
September 4th, 2012
5:48 pm
BAS_
Much obliged, good read. (re: Joe)
cabravesfan
September 4th, 2012
5:50 pm
DOB-
I agree. I was one that felt Meds would stay in the pen (pending health & struggles, of course), because, like you pointed out, he is much better than anyone else at adapting to either roll, and at that point in the season, I just didn’t trust anyone else in the pen except Kimbrel, who was not going to pitch in the 6-8th innings. I love Meds and don’t much care where he pitches, as long as it’s in a Braves uniform
Brava
September 4th, 2012
5:51 pm
You don’t think Meds would go against any story they put out in the media, do you? Heck, the guy is a trooper. He never once complained about being jerked around, so I really can’t see him doing that.
flange1
September 4th, 2012
5:54 pm
BAS,
Thanks for the Pos article.
And I agree with you
Shaun
September 4th, 2012
5:59 pm
DawgDad, Uggla gets paid to create runs, not necessarily drive them in. Driving them in depends a great deal on opportunity more than what Uggla does or doesn’t do. Don’t believe me? Prado has as many RBI as Uggla, and Prado’s been a noticeably better hitter. Prado has gotten fewer opportunities, that’s why.
A 92 OPS+ from a secondbaseman is nothing special but it’s not horrible. It’s not an indication he should be in the minors.
I do believe it’s very possible, if not likely, that there is a little bit of randomness and that he’s not quite this bad.
Brava
September 4th, 2012
5:59 pm
Well, I care where he pitches. In my opinion, he’s much more valuable in the starting rotation than in the pen. By far.
ChipperUpWith2OutsBottom9thGame7of2012WorldSeries
September 4th, 2012
5:59 pm
…..I had this dream last night. No lie.
DawgDad
September 4th, 2012
5:59 pm
“Seriously – how many innings did y’all really think they were going to let him throw this year? Honestly, I’m a tad surprised they’d let him go 170.”
Just me speaking, but I’d let him go until he isn’t getting people out or until he starts breaking down physically. Same for Strasburg. From what I’ve seen, Hanson puts more stress on his arm in one start than Medlen does in a month.
No one really knows how many innings ANY pitcher is capable of throwing this year. I’m kind of hoping Kris gets at least six starts in the post-season.
Of course, I grew up in the era of Sandy Koufax, Juan Marichal, Bob Gibson, Ferguson Jenkins, Steve Carlton, Mickey Lolich, Jim Palmer, and all the other great pitchers of the 60’s. Some of the “handling” of pitchers today is no doubt prudent, but the majority of it is just plain nuts.
ChipperUpWith2OutsBottom9thGame7of2012WorldSeries
September 4th, 2012
5:59 pm
….Had this dream last night. No lie.
cabravesfan
September 4th, 2012
5:59 pm
Medlen has never pitched more than 107.2 innings in the majors, or more than 120.1 in the minors. He missed all but 2.1 innings of last year. Is it really that hard to believe the team wanted to limit his innings? If he had started all year, he would be totally spent by now.
ChipperUpWith2OutsBottom9thGame7of2012WorldSeries
September 4th, 2012
6:00 pm
Enter your comments here
Kat
September 4th, 2012
6:00 pm
Kris Medlen @KrisMedlen54
Wow what an incredible day! So honored to be the NL pitcher of the month! But finding out my unborn child has a wiener was the best part!
Who doesn’t love Kris lol.
Ralph
September 4th, 2012
6:00 pm
DOB – You were right on about Frank and Fred’s excuse for keeping Meds in the pen. If inning count were the case they they would have said so up front and avoided all the criticisum. Now they are using that excuse to cover up their stupitdity. I know you were saying the same think but a little more diplamatically.
ChipperUpWith2OutsBottom9thGame7of2012WorldSeries
September 4th, 2012
6:00 pm
. . . .
Lew
September 4th, 2012
6:01 pm
What makes Medlen “jerked around”? He’s been paid regularly, was paid while rehabbing from his injury, will receieve a nie raise this winter and has pitched all season long (minus a brief stint to stretch him out – where he really didn’t do all that well, anyway). And even when he was pitching from the pen, they claimed his value to the team publically.
Not sure how that’s jerking him around.
ChipperUpWith2OutsBottom9thGame7of2012WorldSeries
September 4th, 2012
6:01 pm
.
.
.
…I had this dream last night. No lie.
Braves Fan In Cali
September 4th, 2012
6:03 pm
Hey just a quick question for those in the comments. I’m heading Philly with my son to catch the Braves play in a couple of weeks and he was hoping to catch a glimpse of some of the players close up. Does anyone know where they typically stay when in Philly?
ChipperUpWith2OutsBottom9thGame7of2012WorldSeries
September 4th, 2012
6:03 pm
.
.
.
Like Julio Jones is with the Falcons – Medlin and/or Simmons are becoming by favorite Bravos.
Brava
September 4th, 2012
6:03 pm
If he had started all year, he would be totally spent by now.
This I agree with and was not upset when he went to the pen out of ST. I got upset when they sent him to be stretched out and then sent him back to the pen when he returned. This tells me, they never had a plan, they were simply operating by the seat of their pants.
Bat Masterson
September 4th, 2012
6:05 pm
Wiener …………. god
ChipperUpWith2OutsBottom9thGame7of2012WorldSeries
September 4th, 2012
6:05 pm
.
.
.
Bravos going to the WS would do a lot for our league-wide image. Guys like Heyward, Freeman, Prado and Meds would benefit greatly from the exposure.
jose wales
September 4th, 2012
6:06 pm
True Ralph, I wouldn’t give Wren and Co credit for being that smart.
Hellbilly
September 4th, 2012
6:06 pm
if it comes down to that sudden death wild card game,would you not ride with meddlin as the starter over huddy? this guy is a true ballplayer i’ve been praising since he came up in 2010..glad to see everybody comin around….go get em’ Bravos
Bayou Brave
September 4th, 2012
6:07 pm
If Medlen has an innings limit of 150-160, he only has about 6 starts left! That basically means he won’t be available for the playoffs!!!
Brava
September 4th, 2012
6:10 pm
I agree, ChipperUp. From reading comments on many baseball sites, I get that the general consensus among fans of other teams (and some of our own) is that the Braves are perpetual chokers who are riding the legacy of a string of victories which ended many years ago. We need to do something about that.
Lew
September 4th, 2012
6:11 pm
Bravesfan in Cali – If you see Jersey Gil posting anytime, he’d be one you could ask. He lives up there, his Wife is a Phillie’s fan and they go to a lot of games.
kevkat
September 4th, 2012
6:11 pm
What will it take for Hanson to be removed from the rotation since bad pitching isn’t apparently a reason to do it? Thank goodness Medlin pitches in front of him..at least we always have a winning streak going before he starts.
Brava
September 4th, 2012
6:14 pm
That’s awesome, Kat. Thanks for sharing it.
Brava
September 4th, 2012
6:15 pm
Yes, I would, Hellbilly. Let’s hope Fredi does.
Lew
September 4th, 2012
6:16 pm
Yeah, good thing they have someone winning games before Hanson starts cause the Braves are only 17-8 in his 25 starts and 6-2 in his last 8.
David O'Brien
September 4th, 2012
6:19 pm
If Medlen has an innings limit of 150-160, he only has about 6 starts left! That basically means he won’t be available for the playoffs!!! — Bayou Brave
He will be. They have no plans to shut him down. He’s only got 104 innings and they’re comfortable going up around 170. I’d expect they might start getting him out after about seven innings, get him through the regular season in under 150.
DiamondbackMac
September 4th, 2012
6:20 pm
Bat
I think it would be really cool if the blog would moderate the names Greinke & Hanson.
Add Uggla to that list.
Widespread panic
September 4th, 2012
6:26 pm
The Braves manager & front office fell ass-backward into Medlen’s brilliance as a starter this season, and they would have continued squandering wins during the second half had injury and ineptitude not befallen the rotation. Medlen may not have said anything, but I was disgusted that the Braves sent him to Gwinnett for several weeks (when he could have been “bridging the gap” for the big club) only to stick him right back into the bullpen so they could confirm once and for all that “yes, JJ is DONE.” The story in the press which contrasted Strasburg’s innings limit with Medlen’s situation is attempting to construct a strategy after the fact, and to suggest such a plan was premeditated rings about as believable as one of Jon Lovitz’ pathological liar routines.
This is precisely the reason that regardless of the outcome this season, the Freddi and Frank show must end. It’s one thing to misjudge on talent acquisition, but when you can’t even effectively deploy your OWN PLAYERS, it’s time focus on your rotisserie league and leave the Braves to pros that have a clue.
Bay Area Steve
September 4th, 2012
6:35 pm
Lew,
Did you catch Jersey’ Gil’s story the other day? His wife had the broom? Awesome.
FEAR
September 4th, 2012
6:37 pm
What is with All Star caliber players being traded to the Braves and then being god awful?!
David O'Brien
September 4th, 2012
6:38 pm
During group interview with us while a go, Medlen demonstrated what he was doing when Ross saw him shimmy on mound between innings. It was more a head movement, Medlen said. And showed us. Watch for it, should be on TV broadcast before or during game. The cameras were rolling during interview.
Bay Area Steve
September 4th, 2012
6:40 pm
“What is with All Star caliber players being traded to the Braves and then being god awful?!”
The Pirates’ shrine to McLouth. Offended the baseball gods. Rule 7.24 (a).
David O'Brien
September 4th, 2012
6:41 pm
Sheer awesomeness from Medlen on Twitter just before 6 p.m.
“Wow what an incredible day! So honored to be the NL pitcher of the month! But finding out my unborn child has a wiener was the best part!”
Lew
September 4th, 2012
6:43 pm
BAS – Yep- He was responding to a question I asked. I’ve talked to both Gil and Mrs. Gil – we stay in touch. Gil’s a double Wurlitzer Winner and a really good Dude.
Braves Fan In Cali
September 4th, 2012
6:46 pm
Lew- Thanks I’ll be sure to look out for his posts. Appreciate it.
Bay Area Steve
September 4th, 2012
6:46 pm
I knew he had one, Lew. Only double winner? ‘OB’s got two, maybe?
I wish Gil was around more often. I thought with retirement we might see him more. Instead, it’s the opposite. But, I’ll take one a year if it’s his wife and that broom. I’m still laughin’.
brian
September 4th, 2012
6:48 pm
congrats Kris on both accounts
nolie
September 4th, 2012
6:48 pm
Uggla spent the first 2 months of the season in a “run-producing spot”, and didn’t do jack with it….RC
how do you figure that? The first two months of this season were just fine, he led second basemen in every stat there is except BA and still led in OBP. He was more than fine until about the 10th of June
John Leonard
September 4th, 2012
6:48 pm
The people that said Meds should stay in the pen, are unreal,next they will be saying,its George Bush’s fault.
FEAR
September 4th, 2012
6:49 pm
Uggla was good for the first two months. The next 3 months were atrocious.
Lew
September 4th, 2012
6:51 pm
BAS -nope. DOB is the One and Only Four Time Official Wurlitzer Winner – plus I pick him up tunes at Record Store Day cause he’s always on the road when they have it.
Lew
September 4th, 2012
6:51 pm
BAS -nope. DOB is the One and Only Four Time Official Wurlitzer Winner – plus I pick him up tunes at Record Store Day cause he’s always on the road when they have it.
Lew
September 4th, 2012
6:52 pm
Well, if anyone’s worthy of a double post, it’s DOB.
Capt.Mudd
September 4th, 2012
6:54 pm
Uggla just interviewed vis-a-vis Pre-game show and what really resonated with me ws the statement, “I’m not going to press Fredi for AB’s….just when I get up there put together a good at-bat.” Wants to do it for his “teamates and the fans.”
Nova Scotia Steve
September 4th, 2012
6:57 pm
*cracks beer*
What’s up Braves fans?
Nova Scotia Steve
September 4th, 2012
6:58 pm
Braves have no plans to bring Jurrjens back to majors this year.
Cue another dizzy spell!
Capt.Mudd
September 4th, 2012
6:58 pm
Medlin….proud to know he is going to be a baby boy’s daddy!
Tip O' the Cap
September 4th, 2012
7:01 pm
Let’s hear it for the weiners!!
Sopheee
September 4th, 2012
7:01 pm
Meds is a trip. What an awesome day, congrats to him.
FEAR
September 4th, 2012
7:01 pm
Jair’s time as a Brave are done.
nolie
September 4th, 2012
7:01 pm
But if the five starters had all stayed healthy and pitched well, I also believe Medlen wouldn’t be in the rotation now..DOB
but under those circumstances, why would they have taken one out.
Mark
September 4th, 2012
7:02 pm
Someone once asked me back before the break to lay off the Uggla bashing. They were right to do so and I quit.
Now, along those same lines, lets all move past the Uggla talk. Its everyday, he is terrible followed up by, he is streaky and had one of the best this or that. Or he dates a porn girl or I come back with he shaves his arms…
He isn’t playing tonight so lets just let him sit on the bench and if he has to pinch hit lets all hope he gets a hit…
Lets all let him RIP for a day or two shall we?
BFChris27
September 4th, 2012
7:02 pm
Medlen is awesome
Capt.Mudd
September 4th, 2012
7:04 pm
Tonight can be guess the ‘hits’ night for the Bravos:
If you want to render a guess just add a “H___” to your blog intentioned comment.
How ’bout it guys and gals?
I’ll go 1st…………H8. Again, this denotes I think Bravos will get 8 hits tonight
Trader Jack
September 4th, 2012
7:05 pm
Braves Fan in Cali
When the Braves are in Philly they usually stay at the Ritz Calrton
nolie
September 4th, 2012
7:05 pm
I have no idea one way or the other, but neither does anybody else.
For the most part it looks like the same folks who are claiming conspiracy are the same folks who regularly rip the team and/or players.
nolie
September 4th, 2012
7:06 pm
Dan has had ONE good month and a couple of decent weeks earlier this year in his stint in Atlanta. ..DawgDad
total fabrication
Bay Area Steve
September 4th, 2012
7:07 pm
Chipper:
http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/37838136/
Trader Jack
September 4th, 2012
7:08 pm
Ritz Carlton – can’t type worth a damn
VaBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
7:10 pm
Uggla doesn’t seem like the type of player that will get it going with less playing time and turn it around. I can understand benching him now, but seriously he will be our starting 2nd baseman in 2013.
George_George
September 4th, 2012
7:11 pm
BELIEVE IN THE MEDS. OPPS BELIEVE IN HANSON?
Sopheee
September 4th, 2012
7:12 pm
Thanks for the link, BAS. Nice article.
Brava
September 4th, 2012
7:13 pm
Nice catch by Jason!
MIBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
7:13 pm
Nice play by JHey! And congratulations to Meds – very well deserved!
Mark
September 4th, 2012
7:14 pm
Someone correct me if I’m wrong but I don’t remember any of this limit crap ever being mentioned until the Nats did it with Stras. Don’t know of a pitcher off the top of my head that came back from TJ that rteinjured himself and it was blamed on too many innings??
For those that think the Braves are going to consider that with Meds I would say they wont for a few reasons.
One, the Nats conjured up this theory with no proof to back it.
Two, Meds may not have been blessed with Stras ability / natural talent but one thing he has a boat load of more than Stras is guts and competitiveness. He wont come out of a game if he gets a little hot or the dirt gets muddy.
Three, I’m willing to bet that if it were to come up Meds would squash that possibility right from the start and demand to be able to pitch for and compete with his team mates.
stizz
September 4th, 2012
7:14 pm
Tommy has always been the beneficiary of good defense.
Nova Scotia Steve
September 4th, 2012
7:15 pm
Hanson knows this is a big start tonight for him personally.
Let see what ya got!
nolie
September 4th, 2012
7:16 pm
One, the Nats conjured up this theory with no proof to back it…Mark
by the time you have actual proof, it is too damn late. That’s the whole idea about it
stizz
September 4th, 2012
7:16 pm
No it wasn’t Chip. He’s missing up and got hit hard twice. Dude’s location is awful right now.
Brava
September 4th, 2012
7:16 pm
Good start for Hanson.
Mark
September 4th, 2012
7:17 pm
Great inning for Hanson. Only two balls hit right on the screws and fortunately Jhey makes a good play and the other one was right at Bourn
Venice Jim
September 4th, 2012
7:18 pm
The Nats shut down Jordan Zimmerman last year, just like Strasburg this year…
nolie
September 4th, 2012
7:18 pm
oops sorry about that Strasburg, but hey at least we have the proof for Mark now.
Gee I wish we had listened to Dr Andrews data, but chin up, what’s another TJ surgery, right?”
Tomahawk Mafia
September 4th, 2012
7:18 pm
Nice start for Hanson. Hopefully he can have similar success for about six innings tonight.
Brava
September 4th, 2012
7:19 pm
WTG, Mikey!
Jerry
September 4th, 2012
7:19 pm
A bunt from Bourn? Damn!
Mark
September 4th, 2012
7:20 pm
The point being they just grabbed a number out of the air with the help of doctors I;m sure but they couldn’t even point to Tommy John himself as an example of a pitch limit.
Meds wont have one
Jerry
September 4th, 2012
7:21 pm
Pomerantz almost pitches like a lefthanded Hanson
Brava
September 4th, 2012
7:22 pm
That worked.
Brava
September 4th, 2012
7:23 pm
Oy.
ncbravesfan90
September 4th, 2012
7:23 pm
And what exactly was that for???
Sopheee
September 4th, 2012
7:23 pm
Whyyyy
Capt.Mudd
September 4th, 2012
7:23 pm
Not really necessary…..sigh
Jerry
September 4th, 2012
7:23 pm
That wasn’t even close Bourn. Are you that friggin stupid?
nolie
September 4th, 2012
7:24 pm
who else would they grab a number from in not the specialists?
and Ton Verducci has demonstrated for years whay happens to many many pitchers who go over a certain limit
It is pretty much established and it likely is not gonna go away, though different teams will obviously place more or less emphasis on it
Brava
September 4th, 2012
7:24 pm
Yay!
MIBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
7:24 pm
Good thing the home plate ump was down there looking at that play!
Animus
September 4th, 2012
7:24 pm
Good ump – doing his job – Braves get a call to go their way.
T-Dawg
September 4th, 2012
7:24 pm
No need for that. Disappointing
Capt.Mudd
September 4th, 2012
7:25 pm
Bravo homeplate Ump…..help your fellow ump a bit and get it right.
Jerry
September 4th, 2012
7:25 pm
Should have runners on the corners with one out.
cricket
September 4th, 2012
7:25 pm
rockies blog
http://www.purplerow.com/2012/9/4/3290427/2012-rockies-game-133-drew-pomeranz-vs-tommy-hanson
ncbravesfan90
September 4th, 2012
7:25 pm
How in the world does the first base umpire miss a call like that? That’s twice this year that a first base umpire has missed a call like that, 2 feet off the bag.
Mark
September 4th, 2012
7:25 pm
Thanks VJ
I wasn’t aware they did that with him.
VaBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
7:25 pm
Thats how stolen bases make an impact. Everyone forgets to add in times like these, or when a runner steals a base and is stranded anyways. Stolen bases don’t make a huge impact over a season.
Brava
September 4th, 2012
7:26 pm
Futility.
Animus
September 4th, 2012
7:27 pm
And if Bourn had been safe on the SB attempt, it’d be 1-0 Braves.
Or he would have been in position to score on a Sac Fly.
As it is, no runs through one.
George_George
September 4th, 2012
7:28 pm
Outta here for game. LETS HAVE A GOOD ONE.
Mark
September 4th, 2012
7:28 pm
So many times I sit here and wish for Bourn to run.
That wasn’t one of them though because he’s on 2B with Chipper up????
T-Dawg
September 4th, 2012
7:28 pm
Oh boy. Please don’t let this be assign of things to come.
Tomahawk Mafia
September 4th, 2012
7:28 pm
Michael Bourn has made far too many outs on the bases lately. I believe that is three in the past four or five games.
Brava
September 4th, 2012
7:29 pm
See ya, George.
raleighbravefan
September 4th, 2012
7:30 pm
Brava and others – Who cares what the plan was in April? Teams have to change plans constantly based on injuries and other reasons. Also, why is it mandantory for the FO to reveal those plans, no matter what they are? Lose lips sink ships. Much ado about nothing, IMO.
Jerry
September 4th, 2012
7:30 pm
Hey DOB, I’ve got a request for you sir and since I’ve never requested anything before, I’d appreciate anything you can give me. If you get the opportunity, please ask Fredi if the Braves win the wild card, would Medlen be given consideration to pitch that game? Thank you in advance sir!
Mark
September 4th, 2012
7:31 pm
Scary when Hanson has to start throwing 2-0 FBs at 88.
Capt.Mudd
September 4th, 2012
7:31 pm
I really don’t want to make Bourn seem like a turd–but; It is my supposition that he went (the steal) or himself……this team to me is a bit unsetltled and can’t afford to throw any opps away.
BFChris27
September 4th, 2012
7:33 pm
Rossy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Capt.Mudd
September 4th, 2012
7:33 pm
Guns blazing Rossy
MIBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
7:33 pm
Good job Rossy!
Jerry
September 4th, 2012
7:33 pm
That was all Ross right there. Good job!
Animus
September 4th, 2012
7:33 pm
Ross has a cannon behind the plate – thankfully.
Mark
September 4th, 2012
7:34 pm
Agree Raleigh
Besides I still don’t believe Stras will sit on the side while healthy while the Nats are in the playoffs!
keyLargo
September 4th, 2012
7:34 pm
McCann can never catch with this ump behind the plate. Can you imagine the ump passing Mac going down the first base line?
Tomahawk Mafia
September 4th, 2012
7:35 pm
Thank you, David Ross, for helping Tommy Hanson navigate a potentially troublesome top second.
Jerry
September 4th, 2012
7:37 pm
Capt,
I don’t have a problem with Bourn attempting to steal third, but if you do try, you have to come closer than he did. He was out by plenty. And the announcers aid he didn’t even have a good jump. Just dumb is what it was.
Capt.Mudd
September 4th, 2012
7:38 pm
@Jerry….good request…..Meds has approached each game he has started as though it was a ‘playoff game.’
T-Dawg
September 4th, 2012
7:40 pm
Seriously, if we can’t put up a big number against this guy…
Mark
September 4th, 2012
7:40 pm
Prado is really good. Know that was a F-9 but that was a 2 strike approach hit solidlly. Those are the kind of ABs that produce positive results
Mark
September 4th, 2012
7:40 pm
Prado is really good. Know that was a F-9 but that was a 2 strike approach hit solidlly. Those are the kind of ABs that produce positive results
MIBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
7:40 pm
Nice hustle, JHey!
Animus
September 4th, 2012
7:40 pm
JHey is getting down the line a lot better lately – or maybe I’m just paying closer attention to the hustle.
Mark
September 4th, 2012
7:41 pm
Sorry for the double post guys
Brava
September 4th, 2012
7:41 pm
I don’t care, raleigh. My problem is with the Braves perpetuating a lie to cover for their indecisiveness and incompetence in the handling of Medlen. Hindsight is 20/20, but it probably cost us a few wins.
Capt.Mudd
September 4th, 2012
7:41 pm
@Jerry….Bourno’s Bozo………….Just think how bad it would have looked if he wasn’t as quick as a cat. But I am getting over it….I generally feel stuff like that is just going to happen in MLB.
richbrave
September 4th, 2012
7:42 pm
So has HANSON given up the house yet?
Medlen's Tweet
September 4th, 2012
7:42 pm
Kris Medlen @KrisMedlen54
Wow what an incredible day! So honored to be the NL pitcher of the month! But finding out my unborn child has a wiener was the best part!
DS1
September 4th, 2012
7:43 pm
Plenty of room to stretch out at the game tonight, huh!
Teddy B
September 4th, 2012
7:43 pm
WAY TO GO KRIS MEDLEN! Amazing guy, winning pitcher of the MONTH. Keep your 17 wins in the last 17 starts streak going strong! This guy is something else…almost like a guaranteed win each time he starts, I can’t recall ever seeing something like this in the past 25 years. He should’ve been starting at the beginning of the season then we’d be at least tied with the Nats or even winning the division at this point.
Seems like sometimes Fredi does things just to sink our ship on purpose. Ty Cobb much Fredi? Like tonight- starting Heyward 6th in the order….that is just a BONEHEADED move. J-Hey has been our best EVERYDAY player all season. Reward him by throwing him in the cellar huh Fredi? Fredi makes this team look more like a circus everyday pulling this kinda junk.
This guy gotta go, I wasn’t ever really convinced he’s the man for the job but over the past 2 years he’s proved me right. Maybe if more of the fan base spoke up we could rid ourselves of this tumor named Fat Fredi. Help me out guys. He benches our best guys when they’re hot, hasn’t let Medlen start a game until we absolutely had to, shuffles up the batting order all the time as if it were his personal iPod, let Dan Uggla play all year without earning his spot, and just makes bad decisions constantly.
What is it going to take to get this guy replaced??? He already paved the way for last year’s catastrophic September by running the entire bullpen into the ground all year long. I believe he should take most if not ALL of the blame for last year the way he managed our pitching. Let Fredi walk, he might just lose some weight on his way out of Atlanta.
richbrave
September 4th, 2012
7:43 pm
waiting…..
Brava
September 4th, 2012
7:43 pm
I agreed with DOB that it worked out well for both parties, so I don’t know why you all keep bringing it up. I’m done with it.
richbrave
September 4th, 2012
7:44 pm
waiting……..
Mark
September 4th, 2012
7:45 pm
Thats a classic
richbrave
September 4th, 2012
7:45 pm
BRAVA;
‘Zup with the game/
Teddy B
September 4th, 2012
7:45 pm
Err wait I meant Shoeless Joe Jackson hahaha…just got off work I’m bushed.
nolie
September 4th, 2012
7:45 pm
My problem is with the Braves perpetuating a lie to cover for their indecisiveness and incompetence ..Brava
except that you have absolutely no proof that they are lying
richbrave
September 4th, 2012
7:46 pm
?????
Animus
September 4th, 2012
7:47 pm
@richbrave – 0-0 bottom 2, 2 on one out – Janish up
nolie
September 4th, 2012
7:47 pm
great glove, pathetic bat
Jerry
September 4th, 2012
7:48 pm
Hanson is as automatic an out as anyone who has played the game.
Brava
September 4th, 2012
7:48 pm
There’s more history to suggest it than not, nolie. You believe what you want and I’ll stick with my beliefs. Deal?
T-Dawg
September 4th, 2012
7:49 pm
89MPH down the middle….come on now.
richbrave
September 4th, 2012
7:49 pm
waiting………………
DS1
September 4th, 2012
7:49 pm
Indecisiveness
Yes. They wanted to start him, then they weren’t sure when other pitchers started to improve (Jurrjens and Minor). Very indecisive. But understandably so.
Incompetence
Give me a break!
Just because you are “offended” frequently doesn’t mean everybody else is, including Medlen.
Brava
September 4th, 2012
7:49 pm
Hey, rich. Same old, same old so far.
Jerry
September 4th, 2012
7:50 pm
Maybe Uggla can give him tips on hitting. He sure doesn’t have anything else to do any more.
nolie
September 4th, 2012
7:50 pm
starting out like a lotta other games where we have a lot of chances early, and not cashing then in hurts in the end
Teddy B
September 4th, 2012
7:51 pm
Can’t wait for Simmons to get back here soon, hope he didn’t lose much strength in that hand…I know when my hand was in a cast for 6 weeks because I had a clean break on the same bone Andrelton fractured I lost a good bit of strength in that hand. It took a good few months to get it back, so I’m hoping he can hit decent when he returns or we just might have 2 Paul Janish type players on the team lol
I hope not, I really like Simmons he’s a defensive wizard and reminds me of Ozzie Smith! ATL never had a guy THAT good, hoping he pans out and we’re ok at SS for a good long time. Exciting guy to watch play, thats for sure.
Mark
September 4th, 2012
7:52 pm
Hasn’t been listening to him because he did at least hit it !!
nolie
September 4th, 2012
7:52 pm
but since you have no proof you should not assert it here as if you do
Tomahawk Mafia
September 4th, 2012
7:52 pm
At least the Braves have made Pomeranz work.
richbrave
September 4th, 2012
7:53 pm
A tip of the hat to Animus….thanx. Can’t believe HANSON hasn’t already given the game away. And WTF is up with pomegranate? Has he suddenly become CY fruit-vegetable what0ever because he’s facing BRAVES bats [I'll refrain from referencing them as 'Hitters' just yet].
Come on wastlings pound that bum off the hill.
cabravesfan
September 4th, 2012
7:53 pm
Meds is awesome. Love the spiky hair
T-Dawg
September 4th, 2012
7:54 pm
Pomeranz is the guy we want in there. We HAVE to get to this guy.
cabravesfan
September 4th, 2012
7:55 pm
But OMG he’s making me jumpy. SIT STILL KRIS! (says the girl that fidgets constantly)
Brava
September 4th, 2012
7:56 pm
I’ll assert whatever I want. It’s my opinion and there’s no proof otherwise. Could we please drop it now? I’m seriously done with it.
DS1
September 4th, 2012
7:56 pm
Tommy starting to settle in a bit (before that double). Pomeranz has 47 pitches after 2.
richbrave
September 4th, 2012
7:56 pm
SIMMONS went 1-3 and scored last night in MOBILE
Animus
September 4th, 2012
7:56 pm
And the #8 hitter w/a ground rule double.
Mark
September 4th, 2012
7:58 pm
Teddy
Simmons will hit pretty well and much better than Yawnish for sure because he has more pop and makes contact.
On that note, and a couple disagreed with me on here, but it is my opinion that Yawnish wont be with the big club next year because bench players have to be able to pinch hit which if he has to do that we are in trouble
nolie
September 4th, 2012
7:58 pm
I’ll assert whatever I want..Brava
whatever, but I was under the impression that we were all innocent until proven guilty.
Tomahawk Mafia
September 4th, 2012
7:58 pm
That 1-2 slider got crushed.
richbrave
September 4th, 2012
7:59 pm
BRAVA:
I’ll not bandy words with a drunkard.” Matty Ross
“That’s real smart. You’ve done nothing when you’ve bested a fool” – TRUE GRIT [original]
DS1
September 4th, 2012
7:59 pm
nolie
You’re in a no win situation here…….. Some folks don’t care if they are accurate or not.
(Brava: continue to make unsubstantiated statements and run the risk of being challenged)
ACE
September 4th, 2012
7:59 pm
Last season it didn’t matter that the Nats shut down Zimmerman
David O'Brien
September 4th, 2012
8:00 pm
LaMahieu is as awkward to spell as Coach K’s last name. Or close. At least for a simple scribe on deadline.
San Antonio Brave
September 4th, 2012
8:01 pm
great interview with Kris Medlen…dude is cool
Brava
September 4th, 2012
8:01 pm
I heard, rich. That’s good news. I’ve been worried about his timing being messed up.
Tomahawk Mafia
September 4th, 2012
8:02 pm
The breaking ball seems to be working pretty well for Tommy Hanson tonight.
Jerry
September 4th, 2012
8:02 pm
I’ll give Hanson credit for one thing tonight. He is changing speeds really well.
DS1
September 4th, 2012
8:02 pm
I always thought Saltalamacchia was another good one.
Brava
September 4th, 2012
8:03 pm
Ha! I love that movie, rich.
Mark
September 4th, 2012
8:04 pm
ACE
Right. And again, I don’t think they do it anyway.
Jerry
September 4th, 2012
8:06 pm
Is there ever gonna be a night on the blog when people don’t have to argue? Good Gawd a mighty, we win and people argue, and the we lose and people argue. Bullshyt at it’s best.
Mark
September 4th, 2012
8:06 pm
We have to guess more than any team ever. How does Bourn let a FB go right down the middle with 2 strikes?
TBbravesfan
September 4th, 2012
8:07 pm
well looks like we realy figured out old pomgranate second time around
MIBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
8:07 pm
Nice 2 strike hit for Reed!
richbrave
September 4th, 2012
8:08 pm
BRAVA:
I went back and read the comments. The dissention is between you and nolie. I thought it some scatter-brain on here that’s game amped beyond reason. My apologies to nolie who like us older guys is on occasion contentious, but with whom I generally accord.
In this instance, I would not be surprised if in fact MEDS was used just as the front-office and field management claimed. Then again it could have been a bald-faced lie. Fact is MEDS didn’t start early, and he is now, so…..let’s win some ball-games and see how this all shakes out.
ACE
September 4th, 2012
8:08 pm
Is true that the Medlen situation is working well now. Just wonder how many more wins Medlen and the team might have if he was inthe lineup sooner.
MIBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
8:09 pm
Yeah, Chipper!
Capt.Mudd
September 4th, 2012
8:09 pm
Reed will not steal third
cabravesfan
September 4th, 2012
8:10 pm
Mark-
The Braves won’t need to shut Meds down. I figure he has 5 more regular season starts, and even if he goes 9 innings in all 5 (highly unlikely under any circumstances), he will be at 149 innings for the year- below the 170 (loose) cap for the season (which I doubt would come in to play in the play offs anyways). Had he started from the beginning, I think he would 1) not be pitching this well and 2) probably not be starting due to being worn out.
Bay Area Steve
September 4th, 2012
8:11 pm
“we win and people argue”
I’m sorry, but I enjoy debate. I realize I go too far at times, but really the only time I learn anything here is when people are on opposing sides. If it’s all go Braves, or all Fire Everybody, this place is pointless, at least for me. Now I realize this irritates you, and many, but if I have to read (or scroll) some of you, it only seems right that you grant me the same.
ACE
September 4th, 2012
8:11 pm
The good thing no matter what really happened is that he is fresh and can continue into Oct. we hope.
Mark
September 4th, 2012
8:12 pm
Jerry
It is what it is with some.
Any opinion, or a comment about their favorite poster player that they disagree with, they have to show their disagreement with their claws out scratching at their keyboard with insults rather than trying to explain their position respectfully so we can understand where they are coming from. Its easy to make a list of those however so when their name pops up it shouldn’t be surprising.
vitriol spewer (phil)
September 4th, 2012
8:13 pm
Owned again by another pathetic, won out lefty i see…..sigh.
DS1
September 4th, 2012
8:14 pm
He may not do anything here, but there is no other player on the team I’d rather have up to bat needing a hit than Prado.
Capt.Mudd
September 4th, 2012
8:14 pm
@Ace…..Re:8:08
Was there not medical reasons/restrictions enforced and condoned by Braves’ braintrust regarding Meds’ placement initially for “Pen” duty?
TBbravesfan
September 4th, 2012
8:14 pm
might be waiten for a couple errors to score on
T-Dawg
September 4th, 2012
8:14 pm
How can an entire team be slumping this long? Please Prado…Please.
Tomahawk Mafia
September 4th, 2012
8:16 pm
Freeman and Prado squared a couple balls up pretty well but with nothing to show for their efforts. Prado has some of the worst luck of any player on the Braves team.
Mark
September 4th, 2012
8:16 pm
Tough break there. Freeman and Prado hit it hard just right at them. Can’t control that
David O'Brien
September 4th, 2012
8:16 pm
Back-to-back innings the Braves had two on with one out and failed to score. The RISP woes continue.
Animus
September 4th, 2012
8:16 pm
Hitting bullets, coming up empty. And a new pitcher next inning – hope it’s a righty
Bay Area Steve
September 4th, 2012
8:16 pm
A 23-year-old top-50 prospect is worn out?
Jerry, is this acceptable?
Brava
September 4th, 2012
8:16 pm
Right, rich. It’s not like Wren hasn’t lied before, so I’m not buying this story that popped up two weeks ago when Meds began to receive national attention. It’s not like I’m the only one here who thinks this way. Good grief. It’s my opinion of the matter, right or wrong, there’s no proof either way.
DS1
September 4th, 2012
8:16 pm
Without Prado’s hit on Sunday, we don’t ever get to Chipper’s momentous homer!
nolie
September 4th, 2012
8:16 pm
this is starting to sukk
Kat
September 4th, 2012
8:16 pm
On a non Braves note.. if you want a good laugh ..
Mississippi State players tumble over fog machine in entrance fail
http://larrybrownsports.com/youtubeage/mississippi-state-fog-machine-entrance-fail-video/152717
ACE
September 4th, 2012
8:16 pm
What would be great would be facing the Nats in the playoffs and having Meds start without them being able to counter with strasburg. If they really shut him down.
richbrave
September 4th, 2012
8:17 pm
ACE
September 4th, 2012
8:08 pm
“…..Is true that the Medlen situation is working well now. Just wonder how many more wins Medlen and the team might have if he was inthe lineup sooner…..”
We’ll never know now.
Jerry
September 4th, 2012
8:17 pm
I really don’t want to weigh in on this dumb argument, but on my way home from work I was listening to the Fredi Gonzalez report on 680 TheFan and Fred said that he discussed the Medlen situation with Roger McDowell early in the spring and that they decided to pitch him out of the bullpen early to bring him along slowly. McDowell told Fredi that once Medlen is given a chance to start, he would have trouble removing him from the rotation. Did Fredi tell the truth? I don’t know. Maybe you just have to go on face value. Do I give a red rosy shyt? Of course not. I have better things to concern myself with.
BFChris27
September 4th, 2012
8:18 pm
DS1
Without Reed Johnson getting the first 3 runs in, we don’t get to Prado’s hit which gets to Chippers
Tomahawk Mafia
September 4th, 2012
8:18 pm
Hopefully Hanson can hold off the Rockie for another couple innings before he implodes.
Bay Area Steve
September 4th, 2012
8:19 pm
“Right, rich. It’s not like Wren hasn’t lied before, so I’m not buying this story”
So, if I’m clear, you’re done with it unless someone semi-agrees with you and gives you a chance to state your position? Yet again?
And, if we all agree you’re entitled to say whatever you’d like, might you at least refrain from calling some of us naive because we disagree?
nolie
September 4th, 2012
8:19 pm
McDowell told Fredi that once Medlen is given a chance to start, he would have trouble removing him from the rotation….Jerry
yeah I remember reading that a while ago
ChattTownBrian
September 4th, 2012
8:19 pm
FIRE Hanson!
DS1
September 4th, 2012
8:20 pm
Ouch!
nolie
September 4th, 2012
8:20 pm
there we go. all those possibilities we let slip by
Tomahawk Mafia
September 4th, 2012
8:20 pm
Another 1-2 slider that was destroyed.
Brava
September 4th, 2012
8:20 pm
And here we go.
ACE
September 4th, 2012
8:20 pm
@Captain, I am not sure that Meds was even being thought of as a starter when the season started. If Beachy and JJ haven’t gone down would he have been moved out of the pen?
Mark
September 4th, 2012
8:20 pm
Just a matter of time. We are swinging it well right now. Baseball Gods just aren’t shining on us yet.
Oops
They finally elevated one of those they squared up on Tommy
ncbravesfan90
September 4th, 2012
8:20 pm
Braves hitters have to be able to score off a guy with a 1-8 record with a 5+ ERA, if they capitalize on their chances in the first few innings, that home run right there means nothing.
T-Dawg
September 4th, 2012
8:20 pm
We lead the league in walks but our BA is pretty bad. We might just want to stop swinging.
vitriol spewer (phil)
September 4th, 2012
8:21 pm
Thanks, Hanson….
Ballgame!!!
Animus
September 4th, 2012
8:21 pm
After giving up that LONG shot, I want to see how Hanson reacts – does he get the next two in order? Or does he blow up?
He’s still pitching about 50/50 strikes & balls – not great, but….only behind by 1.
ChattTownBrian
September 4th, 2012
8:21 pm
Sorry, I’ve just been waiting behind the weeds here for Hanson to mess up, and THEN I post.
Jerry
September 4th, 2012
8:21 pm
A 23-year-old top-50 prospect is worn out?
Jerry, is this acceptable? BAS
Sorry Steve, you are losing me. I guess I’m just too tired to figured it out.
richbrave
September 4th, 2012
8:21 pm
ACE:
Oh I think they’ve already bent the 160 rule. More like 170-180 now. You know it’s hard to break that addiction of winning ball-games.
nolie
September 4th, 2012
8:21 pm
humidor changed the homer totals, never really affected the rest of the offense
raleighbravefan
September 4th, 2012
8:21 pm
Bravaa – So, let me get this straight….Wren is a liar, and you don’t want to talk about it…right? OOOOOOKKKKay…
raleighbravefan
September 4th, 2012
8:22 pm
Bravaa = Brava
Brava
September 4th, 2012
8:22 pm
That’s funny, CTB.
nolie
September 4th, 2012
8:23 pm
ith the velocity loss Tommy needs to locate even more, unfortunately command has always been a weak point for him
David O'Brien
September 4th, 2012
8:26 pm
Hanson has struck out six of past eight batters, while other two hit a long double that bounced over right-center fence and a looong homer.
richbrave
September 4th, 2012
8:26 pm
Chatt:
Come outta’ thar, outta’ them thar weeds and be recognized son. That one was for you. I’m surprised it isn’t already 5-0 ROX, but lt’s a might early yet. Let’s wait a bit out here in front of the weeds……umm, yeah! Rockin’ man.
vitriol spewer (phil)
September 4th, 2012
8:26 pm
I don’t believe Wren for a second….i respect those who do.
Why wasn’t this genius plan mentioned before the fact?
Anyway, another frustrating game against a lefty.
Animus
September 4th, 2012
8:26 pm
Hanson’s location isn’t great – but…only two baserunners so far. Unfortunately, one of them scored.
Better outing for him I think. Still – gotta locate the FB – 24 balls & 37 strikes. Going to be a short outing.
Brava
September 4th, 2012
8:26 pm
Yes, he lied about Pastornicky being ready to start and he lied about Heyward having to compete for his position in ST. Guess I pay attention to these things more than some of you.
Jerry
September 4th, 2012
8:26 pm
Normally I would doom and gloom this game because of the chances that we’ve let go so far. But for some reason I can’t get behind the Rockies keeping us off the board. Doesn’t mean it won’t happen, but I really don’t see it happening.
Tomahawk Mafia
September 4th, 2012
8:26 pm
Hanson actually looks pretty good tonight thus far. Gonzalez hit a pretty good pitch on the outer portion of the plate for a bomb, but Hanson has his breaking stuff working for the most part.
DS1
September 4th, 2012
8:27 pm
BAS
You’ve just about got it figgered out I think.
nolie
September 4th, 2012
8:27 pm
If Beachy and JJ haven’t gone down would he have been moved out of the pen?
why would they if the pitching that started the season performed well? They have never said thet would guarantee him a starting job, like DOB said they would look it over mid-season
Two Contributors Already Called It
September 4th, 2012
8:27 pm
MFin04
September 4th, 2012
3:13 pm
[Lefty Drew Pomeranz] is “0-5 with a 7.04 ERA and .297 opponents’ average in his past nine starts”
NOOOO!
Yikes!
September 4th, 2012
3:21 pm
MFin04
September 4th, 2012
3:13 pm
[Lefty Drew Pomeranz] is “0-5 with a 7.04 ERA and .297 opponents’ average in his past nine starts”
NOOOO! ”
Ditto that!
Mark
September 4th, 2012
8:28 pm
No command, 2 pitches( 88 mph FB and a curve), doesn’t seem to have a lot of mental toughness – Not exactly a recipe for success.
kelevra
September 4th, 2012
8:28 pm
we r squaring up everything….just no luck
MIBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
8:28 pm
Nice double, Ross!
TBbravesfan
September 4th, 2012
8:28 pm
stranded again?
Brava
September 4th, 2012
8:29 pm
Yes, he lied about Pastornicky being ready to start and he lied about Heyward having to compete for his position in ST. Guess I pay attention to these things more than some of you. Those are just two off the top of my head. I could probably find more if I went back and read his post-season interview.
Tomahawk Mafia
September 4th, 2012
8:29 pm
The baseball gods must be frowning on the Braves tonight. They have hit three hard liners directly at fielders.
T-Dawg
September 4th, 2012
8:29 pm
Tommy “two homer” Hanson. Let’s just hope the other one is a solo as well.
ChattTownBrian
September 4th, 2012
8:30 pm
I have target practice every Wednesday and on the bulls eye is a picture of Hanson delivering a pitch with that stupid, pointless, dart throwing arm action.
Jerry
September 4th, 2012
8:30 pm
So much for Ross’ double. At least we start at the top of the order in the 5th.
vitriol spewer (phil)
September 4th, 2012
8:30 pm
Great. Hanson.
Mark
September 4th, 2012
8:32 pm
Baseball gods will change if we keep hitting it hard
nolie
September 4th, 2012
8:32 pm
whatever, those are also just your opinion so don’t be surprised when others challenge it
cabravesfan
September 4th, 2012
8:32 pm
Pastornicky won the job in spring training. I guess Wren knew he would struggle and Simmons (who got hurt and missed the last few weeks of camp) would play so well. Jason struggled last year. I guess Wren knew he would bounce back like he has. But I’m just naive, so never mind.
Fredo
September 4th, 2012
8:32 pm
a few of these scoring opportunities have been set up by the wrong part of the order
Tomahawk Mafia
September 4th, 2012
8:34 pm
Another runner in scoring position wasted.
Two Contributors Already Called It
September 4th, 2012
8:34 pm
Thought it was ironic that Joe and Chip were breaking down how funky Pomerantz arm action is while Tommy Hanson is on the mound in the same game.
stizz
September 4th, 2012
8:34 pm
I’d go ahead and get the bullpen ready.
Tomahawk Mafia
September 4th, 2012
8:35 pm
stizz
That does seem like a pretty good idea.
nolie
September 4th, 2012
8:35 pm
My guess is that they thought Tyler would do better than he did. Its not like its an exact science and being wrong is an intentional lie
DS1
September 4th, 2012
8:35 pm
So Brava, please name me a GM that always tells the truth to all questions asked? Pray tell?
In my book, if a GM makes a statement about his players or team, I do not necessarily call that lying. If so, then Bobby Cox lied every night after a loss in his post game interviews.
Personally, I am getting tired of your pompous attitude. Give the “liar” stuff a rest or add another layer of skin, cause your gonna need it!
ncbravesfan90
September 4th, 2012
8:36 pm
Got to trust your stuff…
David O'Brien
September 4th, 2012
8:36 pm
Pacheco home run for Rockies, up 2-0 in 5th. Both homers off Hanson on 2-strike pitches, this one 0-2.
nolie
September 4th, 2012
8:36 pm
oh well we didn’t expect to win with Tommy pitching anyway. NBD
vitriol spewer (phil)
September 4th, 2012
8:36 pm
Tommy Two Homer…..lol
Good one.
This guy is killin us too…..
stizz
September 4th, 2012
8:36 pm
As I said, when it goes downhill for this guy, it really goes.
Jerry
September 4th, 2012
8:36 pm
maybe I should rethink my previous statement. C’mon Ginger!
phoenix
September 4th, 2012
8:37 pm
Uggla, move over. I think Hanson is going to be your new bench-mate for a while. Hope so anyway.
Brava
September 4th, 2012
8:37 pm
No, not my opinion. The lies he told are public record and well recorded.
T-Dawg
September 4th, 2012
8:37 pm
I hate being right. Every game. Two homers. Every game.
Animus
September 4th, 2012
8:37 pm
Hung that one juuuuust a touch – there’s the two homers – W/all the hard hit balls, Braves are going to have to really work now.
It’s just never easy.
raleighbravefan
September 4th, 2012
8:37 pm
Brava – Saying it twice doesn’t make it true.
I believe Pastor DID start the year as our regular SS. How is that a lie? Who was available to compete with Jason? What makes you think Jason didn’t win the job in ST. You may not like Wren, but ….Oh, never mind. Now I don’t want to talk about it any more.
Capt.Mudd
September 4th, 2012
8:37 pm
Allright Rockies teeing off on ole Tommy….nothing new and lately he has looked rather lazy hurling those HR’s.
Tomahawk Mafia
September 4th, 2012
8:38 pm
That 0-2 curveball was demolished. The Braves might have trouble scoring a couple runs now.
MIBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
8:38 pm
Nice catch, Freddie
raleighbravefan
September 4th, 2012
8:38 pm
Sure am glad they let Hanson bat for himself the last inning.
Mark
September 4th, 2012
8:38 pm
I’ll say it again. There are high school teams that can hit pitchers that have only an 88 mph FB and a curve without command of either.
vitriol spewer (phil)
September 4th, 2012
8:38 pm
Hanson’s beer gut grows by the day…..
Sad to see another career going up in flames.
TBbravesfan
September 4th, 2012
8:38 pm
there you go t dawg
David O'Brien
September 4th, 2012
8:39 pm
One more jaw-dropping stat on Medlen: He’s 12-0 in his past 23 starts, dating to May 31, 2009. Elias Sports Bureau says the only other current major league pitcher who ever had a streak of more than 20 consecutive starts without a loss was Jose Contreras (currently on Phillies 60-day DL), who was 17-0 in 24 regular-season starts for the White Sox in a stretch that overlapped 2005 and 2006.
toast
September 4th, 2012
8:39 pm
enough of the overblown praise for our great hands shortstop. he filled a role nicely but ready for it to end. in fact, give pastor a start before simmons gets back. janish since his 3 hit game against the dodgers is 6-52. he’s been simply awful at the plate
nolie
September 4th, 2012
8:39 pm
only one homer in his previous 5 starts, so calling him two-homer obviously jinxed him.
Jerry
September 4th, 2012
8:40 pm
nolie, you sound more and more disenchanted with each passing day, or are you just playing?
Animus
September 4th, 2012
8:41 pm
Well, in Hanson’s defense, he’s only given up 22 HR’s in 26 starts! So, 2 per start is a bit of a stretch
Tomahawk Mafia
September 4th, 2012
8:41 pm
The correct portion of the lineup is due for the Braves to push across a run or two.
Ken Stallings
September 4th, 2012
8:41 pm
The Braves have been teeing off on the ball but have nothing to show for it so far. If Hanson will stop hanging sliders and surrendering solo homers then the Braves can win this game. Fact is, Hanson has better control in this game than over the last two months, but he’s still getting rocked on too many hung in the zone. He’s been about 50-50 on paying the price.
I’d like to know how Sheets is doing. Once his shoulder feels good again, I would slot him in Hanson’s spot immediately.
vitriol spewer (phil)
September 4th, 2012
8:42 pm
Fire someone.
nolie
September 4th, 2012
8:42 pm
mostly playing Jerry, but like everybody I realize their play needs to be better
ncbravesfan90
September 4th, 2012
8:43 pm
Raise your hand if you love this Braves offense….Didn’t think so
Nova Scotia Steve
September 4th, 2012
8:43 pm
If facing Tommy Hanson. How could you not just look for the breaking stuff, wait on it and drive it – it’s not like his FB is overpowering.
He’s such a different pitcher now. How can you even compare previous stats or AB’s from two or three years ago?. He was a different pitcher
Sopheee
September 4th, 2012
8:43 pm
Wake up, bats!
Nova Scotia Steve
September 4th, 2012
8:43 pm
If facing Tommy Hanson. How could you not just look for the breaking stuff, wait on it and drive it – it’s not like his FB is overpowering.
He’s such a different pitcher now. How can you even compare previous stats or AB’s from two or three years ago?. He was a different pitcher
DS1
September 4th, 2012
8:43 pm
nolie
Lew made a comment earlier that stated how many of Hanson’s starts have turned into W’s for the Braves. I guess he can suck some if we still win the game anyway, huh?
BFChris
Agreed on Reed Johnson’s AB!!!
CTB
Admit it, you don’t like Big Red because he is tall, rich and handsome and playing major league baseball. And you are not (playing baseball, don’t know if you are tall, handsome or rich). And me too!!
Plus he is a Californian! That bugs you, for some reason. Not sure why. I LOVE California. Just spent a wonderful week there and visited w/ my new friends cab, VJ and Kat while there!
Tomahawk Mafia
September 4th, 2012
8:44 pm
Bourn with two more strike outs tonight. That is something that I will not miss if he walks away.
Mark
September 4th, 2012
8:44 pm
They just made a public service announement at the park. “Please, while Hanson is pitching and for your own safety, pay very close attention for fast moving very hard hit baseballs entering the foul ball areas as well as the seats behind the outfield wall. You are responsible for your own safety”!
Teddy B
September 4th, 2012
8:45 pm
Tommy Hanson….the Launch Pad. ANOTHER Home Run? Its almost like Micky D’s slogan: Over 1 Billion Served. Hanson just might get that many if Fumbling Fredi keeps him in there! Fredi is asleep behind the wheel for us. We had quite a few runners in scoring position already today and nobody has been able to come through.
This is a nightmare. Wake me up when Fredi is gone and Hanson learns how to pitch please. If you told me at the beginning of the season that Tommy Hanson would be our worst pitcher down the most vital stretch of the season, I’d have laughed even though I have never personally put much faith in Hanson to begin with. I have always known that he is 99% hype (most of which comes from his mega-super-moneygrubbing agent) and 1% talent.
All Hanson has shown me is that when given a 5-10 run lead he just might win a game here and there, but seriously he sucks unless the offense props him up. I think at this point I’d rather have Jurrgens pitching. No joke. Hanson sucks.
brian
September 4th, 2012
8:45 pm
nice to see the old Tommy Hanon pitching tonight. Too bad the Braves forgot their bats so far tonight
No Flag Since Lemke
September 4th, 2012
8:45 pm
Agree with others – time for Fredi to also show a lack of patience with the automatic out in the eight hole. Nice glove but he kills two rallies a night.
Jerry
September 4th, 2012
8:45 pm
My guess is that they thought Tyler would do better than he did. Its not like its an exact science and being wrong is an intentional lie nolie
maybe “do better than he did” is the wrong way to put it. Maybe they didn’t know he would be that bad defensively.
David O'Brien
September 4th, 2012
8:45 pm
If you get the opportunity, please ask Fredi if the Braves win the wild card, would Medlen be given consideration to pitch that game? Thank you in advance sir! — Jerry
Said before game he hasn’t thought of that yet, has a lot more to worry about first.
Brava
September 4th, 2012
8:45 pm
Frank did a radio interview on Nov 9, i believe it was and stated Pastornicky was not teaxy for the majors according to his scouts and evaluators. It wasn’t too long after, a few weeks, maybe that he announced Pastornicky was ready for the majors and would be the starting SS. I can prove this after thr game when I get back to my computer. I’m sure someone here remembers Frank saying Jason wasn’t guaranteed a starting position and would have to earn it in ST at the end of the season. Many h
TBbravesfan
September 4th, 2012
8:45 pm
I think we have the fastest bat swings of any team.
brian
September 4th, 2012
8:45 pm
2 solo HRs over 5 innings is not a shabby performance.
T-Dawg
September 4th, 2012
8:46 pm
Nolie,
Uggla has a 5 game hitting streak. See…I can use small sample sizes too.
DS1
September 4th, 2012
8:46 pm
Too many warning track balls………..
nolie
September 4th, 2012
8:46 pm
can’t catch a break tonight. lotta atom balls
Fredo
September 4th, 2012
8:47 pm
starting that lefty really got this team off balance
Tomahawk Mafia
September 4th, 2012
8:47 pm
This has the feel of a Braves shut out.
nolie
September 4th, 2012
8:47 pm
it was a joke FCS
Brava
September 4th, 2012
8:47 pm
Sorry about the typos. I’m on a Kindle and it posted befote I could make corrections.
stizz
September 4th, 2012
8:48 pm
Exactly phil,
Medlen pretty much alluded to it by saying he tries to drag Tommy along to go running with him. Dude has got to get himself in better shape.
Nova Scotia Steve
September 4th, 2012
8:49 pm
The “old Tommy Hanson” threw 95MPH.
nolie
September 4th, 2012
8:49 pm
It wasn’t too long after, a few weeks, maybe that he announced Pastornicky was ready for the majors and would be the starting SS..Brava
so what, maybe the scouts changed their minds, conspiracy theory is so boring
cabravesfan
September 4th, 2012
8:49 pm
Brava-
None of that means he lied. Pastornicky earned the spot in spring training- it may have been his to lose, but it was not in any way guaranteed until camp was over. And how is saying Jason had to earn his spot, on November 9th, after the season he had, lying? Players get re-evaluated all the time. Just because someone says something does not mean it is set in stone and they can’t change their minds based on evidence that proves otherwise.
Mark
September 4th, 2012
8:49 pm
5 innings has been about it lately for Hanson – Hope that doesn’t hold true now
T-Dawg
September 4th, 2012
8:51 pm
Fredo
September 4th, 2012
8:47 pm
starting that lefty really got this team off balance
Correction. starting a pitcher with a heartbeat really got this team off balance.
TBbravesfan
September 4th, 2012
8:51 pm
Maybe if we would slow our swing down by about 200 m p h we might get a hit are 2
DS1
September 4th, 2012
8:51 pm
A lie is when you come in after a night of drinking and tell your wife that you were at the library!
Stating in an interview that a guy is not ready and then changing that opinion later is NOT a lie. It’s a statement of facts at the moment.
Words mean things. Calling someone a liar is a serious charge, and you do it so matter of factly.
Get off it please. (see, I asked nicely)
Jerry
September 4th, 2012
8:51 pm
mostly playing Jerry, but like everybody I realize their play needs to be better nolie
Totally agree!
Tomahawk Mafia
September 4th, 2012
8:51 pm
I foresee Hanson running into trouble here with facing the top of the order for the third time.
brian
September 4th, 2012
8:51 pm
I am worried about McCann’s shoulder. Cortisone shots are not going to help the injury much – it is not like you are trying to decrease inflammation (except for maybe arthritis related to the injury). The frayed/partially torn labrum is still torn and the resulting cyst is still pushing on the nerve to the infraspinatus (a muscle of the rotator cuff).
I hope he has had nerve conduction studies – if they are showig an effect on the nerve that cyst has to be drained or he risks permanent damage. He could have a CT or ultrasound guided needle aspiration of the cyst and worry about the labrum later though with the labrum still “frayed” he could still develop anoher cyst. Labrum repairs, depending on the extent of damage and what arm is affected, could keep him out 6 months to up to 2 years
raleighbravefan
September 4th, 2012
8:51 pm
Brava – It’s OK. We all now believe that Wren is a liar, and we are real bummed about it.
Jees, girl, you are starting to sound like Robert and Don. It’s not really that big of a deal.
vitriol spewer (phil)
September 4th, 2012
8:52 pm
The rarest of the rare…..
A 90 mph fastball from TH.
Teddy B
September 4th, 2012
8:53 pm
I’d like to see Julio Teheran, Delgado, or Jurrgens pitch instead of Tommy “Longball” Hanson. We can’t afford to give up every 5th game at this point. There are too many teams aiming at our wild card spot at this point and 1 or 2 of them is bound to get hot down the stretch.
I don’t think Fredi has yet realized that we have to protect this poor man’s Wild Card lead with tooth and nail at this point and not give up an inch. Fredi keeps starting this bum-scrub-already has been pitcher who has been in the majors for 3 years and already forgot how to pitch. Amazing..
Scott Boras and Hanson might as well forget about that huge mega deal that has Tommy daydreaming about dollar signs while he should be paying attention to what kind of junk he’s throwing and not giving up home runs and runs like its going out of style. We can’t mess around in September, as the last year has shown us….or else we’re gonna get burnt. Real bad. Again.
richbrave
September 4th, 2012
8:53 pm
Hillbilly
September 4th, 2012
4:22 pm
“……Ross Detwiler, Edwin Jackson, Gio Gonzalez, Josh Johnson, Mark Buehrle, Ricky Nolasco, Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, and Cole Hamels in that order…….”
The road to victory in 2012 lies through the wilderness of the N.L. East
Brava
September 4th, 2012
8:53 pm
Paztornicky was announced as the starting SS long before ST. Sometime after Frank had gone on tecord saying he wasn’t teady for the majors.
tiger297
September 4th, 2012
8:53 pm
on j-hey who is to say the time spent preseason working with walker wasnt earning his spot?
Brava
September 4th, 2012
8:54 pm
Pastornicky was announced as the starting SS long before ST. Sometime after Frank had gone on record saying he wasn’t ready for the majors.
richbrave
September 4th, 2012
8:54 pm
BRAVA:
Yes, I remember the consternation that stirred up.
TBbravesfan
September 4th, 2012
8:54 pm
well it was not a homer
stizz
September 4th, 2012
8:54 pm
I really hope Fredi doesn’t try to stretch Tommy for another inning.
Capt.Mudd
September 4th, 2012
8:54 pm
Hanson, my God Fredi go get him. Are we in fact in a damn wild card race?
nolie
September 4th, 2012
8:54 pm
bull, he hits 90 fairly regularly, even 91 or 92 once in a while
cabravesfan
September 4th, 2012
8:55 pm
Announcing that he was going to be the starter does not mean he could have lost the job- if Simmons had not gotten hurt, there is a very good possibility that he would have made the club instead. But again, just because someone says something does not mean he cannot change his mind or is a liar.
Jerry
September 4th, 2012
8:55 pm
Said before game he hasn’t thought of that yet, has a lot more to worry about first. DOB
Thanks for the info.
ChattTownBrian
September 4th, 2012
8:55 pm
DS1, Hanson tonight is actually the best I think I’ve seen him in a while. And I’m not tall, just 5′11′, not rich either. The other thing … maybe.
tiger297
September 4th, 2012
8:55 pm
Correction. starting a pitcher with a heartbeat really got this team off balance.
well damn now I’m impressed with the rockies pitcher last night…he pitched damn well for a guy without a heartbeat
nolie
September 4th, 2012
8:55 pm
yup conspiracy abounds
Mark
September 4th, 2012
8:55 pm
Sure was cloudy and rainy today in the south, wasn’t it?
What do you mean you dummy? It was overcast and drizzly and we aren’t in the south, we are in between the east and the west! Don’t you know anyhting?
flange1
September 4th, 2012
8:57 pm
If anyone gets tired of conspiracy theories, there is a great small venue Norah Jones special on Paladia right now
She is quite talented with a top notch band!
cabravesfan
September 4th, 2012
8:57 pm
Also, it’s not like we had many options at SS and Pastornicky was the farthest along developmentally among all the options.
cabravesfan
September 4th, 2012
8:57 pm
Also, it’s not like we had many options at SS and Pastornicky was the farthest along developmentally among all the options.
Brava
September 4th, 2012
8:57 pm
Whatever, you were the one acting like I was making stuff up. The man has a history of lying, so I’m not buying some story that appeared two weeks ago.
ChattTownBrian
September 4th, 2012
8:57 pm
phil, he’s hit 90 mph quite a bit tonight.
richbrave
September 4th, 2012
8:57 pm
Still 2 zip HANSON pitching?
tiger297
September 4th, 2012
8:57 pm
it was hit slowly…would dan have gotten to that one?
keyLargo
September 4th, 2012
8:57 pm
It’s a shame this Carlos Gonzalez guy can’t play anywhere but Colorado?
richbrave
September 4th, 2012
8:58 pm
cabravesfan
September 4th, 2012
8:57 pm
“……Also, it’s not like we had many options at SS and Pastornicky was the farthest along developmentally among all the options……”
That’s true.
cabravesfan
September 4th, 2012
8:58 pm
Brava-
Was that last comment directed at me?
nolie
September 4th, 2012
8:58 pm
he has a history of lying IN YOUR OPINION you mean
DS1
September 4th, 2012
8:58 pm
CTB
And I’m only 6′1″, but as the ladies would say, deceptively handsome!!! (don’t believe me, ask cab!!)
But not rich. Though I was an OK pitcher when I was in Pee Wee league!
Tomahawk Mafia
September 4th, 2012
8:58 pm
Time for Hanson’s night to end.
stizz
September 4th, 2012
8:59 pm
Good job Fredi
Fredo
September 4th, 2012
8:59 pm
can’t go 6
Mark
September 4th, 2012
8:59 pm
The last AB, just for the record unless my TV screen is wrong!
curve, 1-0 FB was 89, 2-0 crve, 3-0 FB 89, curve and ball 4
Brava
September 4th, 2012
8:59 pm
At least Hanson made it past the fifth. I’m surprised.
Animus
September 4th, 2012
9:00 pm
Well, about time for Moylan – bases juiced. 5 2/3 tonight for Tommy. Pitched better tonight, granted it was against the Rockies, but…take positives where you can find them. Speed was pretty good most of the night – constantly 89 – 91.
brian
September 4th, 2012
9:00 pm
this is huge for the bullpen to pick Tommy up here. Pete needs to do better than CMART did 2 nights ago when he came in and faced Hamels
ncbravesfan90
September 4th, 2012
9:00 pm
Folks will blame Hanson tonight, but the blame should be on the offense. 1-8 starter with a 5+ ERA with multiple scoring chances early in the game and couldnt score….not that that’s a surprise or anything…
Brava
September 4th, 2012
9:00 pm
Whatever, nolie. I can prove it.
nolie
September 4th, 2012
9:00 pm
Biggest problem with Hanson is not his velocity, it is his lack of enough command to put it where he wants it, if he had near the command of Meds he would be doing much better.There are plenty of guys who have won with 90MPH FBs and a good curve
Jerry
September 4th, 2012
9:01 pm
And Hanson still can’t get through the 6th inning. Not good at all. Moylan coming in and that concerns me. I know he was the winner pitcher the other night, but I just think this is too soon to put him in a tight situation like this.
Brava
September 4th, 2012
9:01 pm
No, cab.
Animus
September 4th, 2012
9:01 pm
Well – Moylan w/the one pitch inning, Braves score 3 and he’s the vulture again
Tomahawk Mafia
September 4th, 2012
9:01 pm
Hanson retired the first two with ease, but then the trouble mounted like we all thought it would. I said a few days ago that I thought Peter Moylan had no business pitching in high-leverage situations, but here he is.
nolie
September 4th, 2012
9:01 pm
you have not proven a thing except in your mind
Mark
September 4th, 2012
9:02 pm
5 and 2/3rds and we’re only down 2. Would have probably taken that at lunch today if given the opportumity
tiger297
September 4th, 2012
9:02 pm
ohhh thats a jinx right there…
cabravesfan
September 4th, 2012
9:02 pm
If someone says something and then changes their mind, that automatically makes them liars?
nolie
September 4th, 2012
9:02 pm
time to bring in Meds to save the day?
Mldtown
September 4th, 2012
9:02 pm
I was going to write Hanson went six inning, two runs on three hits, and how it was a huge improvement, and that it has got to be good news considering his past performances ….
Then the hits/walks kept coming, one after another.
Come on Moylan!
brian
September 4th, 2012
9:02 pm
great job by Moylan.
Let’s get Pete win #2!!!!!!!!!!!
MIBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
9:03 pm
Well done, Peter!
tiger297
September 4th, 2012
9:03 pm
or not…hell yeah
Animus
September 4th, 2012
9:03 pm
OK – called the one pitch thing – now let’s see if I need to run out and buy some lottery tickets!!!! Need 3 runs offense.
DS1
September 4th, 2012
9:03 pm
Brava
So Bobby Cox is one of the biggest liars in baseball history then, according to your definition.
Give it a rest Sarge! You are better than this.
T-Dawg
September 4th, 2012
9:03 pm
tiger297
September 4th, 2012
8:55 pm
Correction. starting a pitcher with a heartbeat really got this team off balance.
well damn now I’m impressed with the rockies pitcher last night…he pitched damn well for a guy without a heartbeat.
It was a day game but yes, he must have pitched well. I’m sure the lineup appreciated all the walks he gave up. This way we didn’t have to hit.
Tina
September 4th, 2012
9:03 pm
Two on base and one out Janish and Hanson up in 100 chances we would never score a run.Cant wait for the return of Simmons I know D.O.B and chip and Joe say Janish defense didnt matter if he hit or not but hell when you had McCann and Uggla in front of him thats four out in a row.
brian
September 4th, 2012
9:03 pm
maybe Hanson needs to go to the bullpen until he builds up more strength and control??
Venice Jim
September 4th, 2012
9:03 pm
General managers should always be perfectly truthful so that all of the other general managers know exactly what they are planning…
Capt.Mudd
September 4th, 2012
9:04 pm
Ladies and Gentlemen…..there you see Mr. Hanson enjoys his rest and serenity—on the team bench, no the game is not yet over….and, since we can’t talk directly to the players–we, at the least, expect some emotion….hello Tommy?
Jerry
September 4th, 2012
9:04 pm
If anyone gets tired of conspiracy theories, there is a great small venue Norah Jones special on Paladia right now
She is quite talented with a top notch band! flange1
Don’t forget her hotness!
brian
September 4th, 2012
9:04 pm
good point Tina – the bottom 4 were brutal in those situations
Mark
September 4th, 2012
9:05 pm
I’m not referring to other guys there though. Talking about Hanson and Hanson at 89-90 and a curve with no command isn’t one I’d want to “run out there”
Tomahawk Mafia
September 4th, 2012
9:05 pm
That was a fine 1/3 inning by Peter Moylan.
raleighbravefan
September 4th, 2012
9:05 pm
Whatever. I just think it’s a pretty serious thing to call someone a habitual liar, when there is no real evidence of that…except in your mind. That’s all I’m going to say, because I am now out of here.
Capt.Mudd
September 4th, 2012
9:06 pm
@Brava……Are you really a MLB General Manager? Oh, for what team?
ncbravesfan90
September 4th, 2012
9:06 pm
A 3-1 count groundout…alot of those lately it seems like
tiger297
September 4th, 2012
9:06 pm
not sure a lie is the correct term…but when someone says one thing then another again and again and again I tend to not necessarily believe what they tell me
ChattTownBrian
September 4th, 2012
9:06 pm
Freddie is in a funk-a-roo. I think he is, seems like it anyways.
MIBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
9:08 pm
Way to go, Marteen!
Nova Scotia Steve
September 4th, 2012
9:08 pm
Braves need to win this game.
Mark
September 4th, 2012
9:08 pm
TEEEEEN hits it hard
Cmon now, hit it where they aint
Tomahawk Mafia
September 4th, 2012
9:09 pm
There was really no need for Freeman to swing at a 3-1 slider down and away in that situation.
ChattTownBrian
September 4th, 2012
9:09 pm
COme on JHey! All rockin’ in your rockin’s chair.
Brava
September 4th, 2012
9:10 pm
.Enjoy your little clique, guys. Everyone likes to pile on when someone disagrees with one of you, huh? Not unlike a bunch of schoolyard bullies. Thankfully, there are plenty of nice people on here so I can ignore the lot of you.
nolie
September 4th, 2012
9:10 pm
gotta admit I am puzzled and a wee bit irritated with all the Heyward Ks.
tiger297
September 4th, 2012
9:10 pm
yeah we laid off the alider down and away…twice
ChattTownBrian
September 4th, 2012
9:11 pm
RALLY!
flange1
September 4th, 2012
9:11 pm
True that Jerry!
MIBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
9:11 pm
WTG, JHey!
DS1
September 4th, 2012
9:11 pm
tiger
Big difference in you telling Ms Tiger you were at the library when you were out drinking, than FW telling a talk show that Pastornicky was not ready (then telling another he was ready later).
Like VJ states, I think ALL GM’s should be required to divulge everything that is on their minds constantly.
Rally time….
Mark
September 4th, 2012
9:11 pm
Attaboy JHEY
brian
September 4th, 2012
9:11 pm
just a rope hit right there by Heyward. Great at bat by Heyward. Laid off some close pitches then hammered that last one over the plate
Animus
September 4th, 2012
9:11 pm
JHeyyyyyy — good start, setting up the bottom of the order again.
The Braves Blog » Blog Archive » Since move to rotation, Medlen’s been Maddux-esque | Atlanta Braves
September 4th, 2012
9:11 pm
[...] the rest: http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2012/09/04/since-move-to-rotation-medlen-has-been-maddux-es…. [Comments [...]
nolie
September 4th, 2012
9:11 pm
sure the old “clique” defense. ignoring the fact that there is a large neggie nellie clique here
vitriol spewer (phil)
September 4th, 2012
9:12 pm
Double play time….
Sigh.
Nice hit for heyward.
Venice Jim
September 4th, 2012
9:12 pm
You started it! Should we shut up when you go on and on?
brian
September 4th, 2012
9:12 pm
must pick up Prado this inning at the least. Less than 2 outs and runner at 3B
Tomahawk Mafia
September 4th, 2012
9:12 pm
good situation to score occurring here, albeit with the wrong portion of the lineup due.
Animus
September 4th, 2012
9:12 pm
Gotta send JHey – stay out of the DP.
nolie
September 4th, 2012
9:12 pm
we really need a run here at least one
cabravesfan
September 4th, 2012
9:13 pm
Brava-
You called someone a liar. You can’t make a comment like that and expect people to not respond. Nobody is being disrespectful. Nobody is bullying. But people do disagree. And are expressing their opinions.
DS1
September 4th, 2012
9:13 pm
Brava
Cry me a river………..
Bay Area Steve
September 4th, 2012
9:13 pm
“I tend to not necessarily believe what they tell me”
I should hope not. I think anyone who believes what MLB executives (or corporate executives/politicians/etc.) say in the press is naive.
(Did I use naive right? I don’t throw it around often.)
M.V.P.Heyward
September 4th, 2012
9:13 pm
At least, Tommy Hanson has been much better than 2011′ D-Lowe.
And He’s acceptable for No.4 starter.
Dirty Harry
September 4th, 2012
9:13 pm
One thing that never changes on this blog is VJ being a pompous ass.
Mark
September 4th, 2012
9:14 pm
Nice spot to steal there
Jerry
September 4th, 2012
9:14 pm
It’s painful to watch Ross swing.
cabravesfan
September 4th, 2012
9:14 pm
Ok, maybe DS1 is not being very nice…
Dirty Harry
September 4th, 2012
9:15 pm
He claims he has this big baseball background but it would take him too long to list. Give us a break.
Animus
September 4th, 2012
9:15 pm
Aren’t all baseball executives “Spin Doctors” anyway???? Not necessarily liars, but…….
Brava
September 4th, 2012
9:15 pm
Yes, I started it by disagreeing with your girlfriend. How silly of me. I should have known the clique would attack if I dared commit such a crime.
Mark
September 4th, 2012
9:15 pm
Go here again
DS1
September 4th, 2012
9:16 pm
cab
Anybody that disagrees or has the nerve to state a disagreement with Brava is a bully. Very thin skinned.
AND, did you and VJ take the blame for the Wednesday afternoon loss in SD?????
Venice Jim
September 4th, 2012
9:16 pm
Dear Dirty Harry,
I am sorry that your inferiority complex has once again come to the fore. I will use little words henceforth so as to no offend you, my good friend and Braves’ compadre!
Your admirer,
VJ
cabravesfan
September 4th, 2012
9:16 pm
Brava-
Nobody attacked you. Certainly not me.
Capt.Mudd
September 4th, 2012
9:17 pm
Curt Rambiss in the crowd?
Fredo
September 4th, 2012
9:17 pm
meh
ncbravesfan90
September 4th, 2012
9:17 pm
WOW!!! This offense is something else
nolie
September 4th, 2012
9:17 pm
BALLGAME!!!!!!
MIBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
9:17 pm
Dang it!!
vitriol spewer (phil)
September 4th, 2012
9:17 pm
Little league ball there….
tiger297
September 4th, 2012
9:17 pm
DS1 – I understand the difference (its why I said calling it a lie may be a bit harsh) but at the end of the day regardless of if it is dis-information or consistently changing ones mind it ends up with the same result for me – close consideration if the individual is telling me the truth (no different than government-not meant to drag it political)
cabravesfan
September 4th, 2012
9:17 pm
DS1-
Of course not! It was your fault for leaving!
Animus
September 4th, 2012
9:17 pm
Watching another LL game on SportSouth tonight – DAMN – DAMN – DAMN – just ran themselves out of that inning.
njbraves
September 4th, 2012
9:17 pm
Well that was an absolute mess.
brian
September 4th, 2012
9:17 pm
that DP hurt.
T-Dawg
September 4th, 2012
9:17 pm
The ENTIRE team. REALLY?
kelevra
September 4th, 2012
9:18 pm
cant stike out there
ChattTownBrian
September 4th, 2012
9:18 pm
Our catchers are held together with duct tape and bandaids.
stizz
September 4th, 2012
9:18 pm
Good grief.
Mark
September 4th, 2012
9:18 pm
I’ll be dang!
We are down 2 not 1 what the crap was that.
Why steal in the obvious count with Rossy making poor contact right now while hurt?????
Geez! Freddi
tiger297
September 4th, 2012
9:18 pm
BAS with the dose of sanity…
Tomahawk Mafia
September 4th, 2012
9:19 pm
This team sucks. Take a perfectly good scoring opportunity and turn it into a pile of crap.
JipWiz
September 4th, 2012
9:19 pm
Awful
Jerry
September 4th, 2012
9:19 pm
You have to ask yourself, how many more opportunities will we get and still look like a monkey effing a football? This is getting ridiculous.
vitriol spewer (phil)
September 4th, 2012
9:19 pm
Not the dp i envisioned….oh well, same result.
DS1
September 4th, 2012
9:19 pm
cab
If you say so! I will take one for the team.
OUCH, that K hurt!
nolie
September 4th, 2012
9:19 pm
between the game and the argument, this is getting tiring. see y’all later
David O'Brien
September 4th, 2012
9:19 pm
In 5 of 6 innings, Braves have had at least 1 runner in scoring position with less than 2 outs — and failed to score every time
sometimesiwonder
September 4th, 2012
9:20 pm
What in the sweet cream of an ice cream sandwich was that?????? That looked like Dixie Youth base running.
Dirty Harry
September 4th, 2012
9:20 pm
VJ, we are still waitin for you to tell us why we should always be in agreement with you.
ChattTownBrian
September 4th, 2012
9:20 pm
“BALLGAME” nolie
That’s an understatement. It was BALLGAME when Tommy took the hill.
brian
September 4th, 2012
9:20 pm
I would have kept 1st and 3rd then pinch hit for Janish there.
Ross striking out really hurt there. All he had to do was put the ball into play
Brava
September 4th, 2012
9:20 pm
You need to go back and read. cab. And, no you didn’t.
brian
September 4th, 2012
9:20 pm
nice D there by Heyward
TBbravesfan
September 4th, 2012
9:20 pm
thats were we needed one of those long outs
T-Dawg
September 4th, 2012
9:20 pm
Talk about conspiracies. are we trying to lose?
Tomahawk Mafia
September 4th, 2012
9:21 pm
Plain and simple, David needed to make contact in that situation and failed to do so. The fact is this team is performing horribly in run scoring situations right now. No fundamental baseball occurring at all.
Nova Scotia Steve
September 4th, 2012
9:21 pm
I know Ross is hurting and I think he’s doing a fantastic job.
However, the bottom of this line-up is a black hole for offence.
Ken Stallings
September 4th, 2012
9:21 pm
David, you could add that the Braves are now 0-7 with runners in scoring position! A very frustrating type of game so far!
vitriol spewer (phil)
September 4th, 2012
9:21 pm
Meanwhile, the Nats contnue to fade….
As they crush another hapless foe.
keyLargo
September 4th, 2012
9:21 pm
After this inning, Peter Moylan will have as much experience as Medlen did in 2011. Only Medlen’s 2.2 IP were in game 161 and 162.
stizz
September 4th, 2012
9:21 pm
What scares me most is that if we lose this one, as fragile as the team’s psyche is, we could be headed down another losing slope. Hoping they prove me wrong.
njbraves
September 4th, 2012
9:22 pm
Some of you argue over the dumbest crap…it’s like soap opera on here lately.
DS1
September 4th, 2012
9:22 pm
Good to see Peter back in the Braves uni.
Later nolie!
Jerry
September 4th, 2012
9:22 pm
I’ve got a feeling that in the bottom of the 7th we’ll see Uggla batting for Janish and staying in the game and Prado moving over to short. Janish hasn’t done anything in a while offensively.
vitriol spewer (phil)
September 4th, 2012
9:22 pm
Booooooooooo!!
That was for Disgusted in his apparent absence…
Dirty Harry
September 4th, 2012
9:22 pm
Just because you are a teacher does not give you the right to correct everyone.
Mark
September 4th, 2012
9:23 pm
Heres something everyone can agree on, maybe? That Brooklyn Decker is one nice looking lady! Certainly nobody will disagree with that. Certianly. Surely.
Venice Jim
September 4th, 2012
9:24 pm
Dirty Harry – never said any such thing…but it is good that you can invent such notions…
stizz
September 4th, 2012
9:24 pm
Just give them the out Pete
JipWiz
September 4th, 2012
9:24 pm
Loss tonite is not as big as lack of hitting with RISP. 2 years 2(3)’hitting coaches. This is looking like a culture issue. Change the culture, change the manager. Also, love CJ10, but some of his twitter stuff ?? Really?? Wow, clean up the image a bit bud.
Time to FINALLY turn the page, new era, new players = new culture
My .02
vitriol spewer (phil)
September 4th, 2012
9:24 pm
njbraves
September 4th, 2012
9:22 pm
Some of you argue over the dumbest crap…it’s like soap opera on here lately.
*********
never.
RBI
September 4th, 2012
9:25 pm
Hanson is in a permanent funk. He seems to take the rest of the team down with his attitude. Once the home run balls are given up, this team can not ever seem to come back.
Mark
September 4th, 2012
9:25 pm
We have 9 more outs guys
DS1
September 4th, 2012
9:26 pm
Who is this Dirty Harry dipstick???
And njbraves
We are complaining about someone calling FW a liar, because you haven’t come on and said anything stupid for us to comment on in a while!
Dirty Harry
September 4th, 2012
9:26 pm
VJ you don’t have to say it you do it every blog. Just because brava does not agree with you does make her wrong.
JipWiz
September 4th, 2012
9:26 pm
Yeah but do the Rockies
keyLargo
September 4th, 2012
9:27 pm
Peter didn’t make it to Medlen’s level.
richbrave
September 4th, 2012
9:27 pm
cabravesfan
September 4th, 2012
9:02 pm
“…..If someone says something and then changes their mind, that automatically makes them liars?….”
I think BRAVA is referring to a WREN statement that the REV wasn’t ready yet at the end of last season. I believe I remember that, and felt vindicated of my opinion in him at the time.
I feel sure that WREN tried to work a trade or acquire a FA during the off-season that could bridge the gap until he was ready for ML play, or that SIMMONS might be.
Personally i thought the REV a half-season, and SIMMONS one and a half seasons away from ATLANTA at the time.
During the course of the off-season, I remember reading comments by DOB to the effect that WREN was attermpting to secure a solid starter at SS. As the meetings passed and the holidays came and went, it became pretty obvious that we were not able to pull off a deal for a starter at SS.
That’s when I began reading that PASTORNICKY would be given the chance to prove himself in ST. I can’t recall a specific reference by WREN that he was ready to play, but somehow I got that inference, and before ST began.
I remember thinking this might not end well, but thought WREN just ‘putting the lipstick on the pig’ so to speak. Maybe that’s lying I don’t know. I wouldn’t catagorize it as such, but others might.
TBbravesfan
September 4th, 2012
9:27 pm
man trying to give you an out and you walk him. this team.
brian
September 4th, 2012
9:27 pm
inexcusable with the lack of production with RISP.
T-Dawg
September 4th, 2012
9:27 pm
Wow.
stizz
September 4th, 2012
9:27 pm
Well that worked out.
Damn the Atlanta crowd will cheer for anybody no matter what. I remember a few times when JJ got cheered after absolutely imploding. Sometimes the hospitality needs to go.
Dirty Harry
September 4th, 2012
9:28 pm
DS1 must be a teacher also.
Venice Jim
September 4th, 2012
9:29 pm
Dirty Harry – I never said she was wrong – work on your reading skills…
And stop lying about my record!!!
DS1
September 4th, 2012
9:29 pm
Mark
I still say we win this one. But, like nolie, I am weary of the conversations tonight, so I am going to watch the rest of the game in peace.
(Rockies network is free TV here out west)
Later folks. I’m saying it’s going to be a 4-3 W for the Braves!
Bo Graves!!
Brava
September 4th, 2012
9:29 pm
Uggla sounds like he’s in denial a bit.
Efrim
September 4th, 2012
9:29 pm
Why is Peter Moylan in the game when we are only down two runs?
Tomahawk Mafia
September 4th, 2012
9:29 pm
How in the heck do you walk a relief pitcher? Moylan imploded after that error by Freeman.
Jerry
September 4th, 2012
9:29 pm
Jesus, Uggla just can’t accept that he has stunk up the place this year.
TBbravesfan
September 4th, 2012
9:30 pm
well uggla ain’t the only one not hitting.
njbraves
September 4th, 2012
9:30 pm
DS1….you’re one of the biggest idiots on here. You think you’re better than everyone and can’t wait to point out someone else’s mistake. Get a life…
Tina
September 4th, 2012
9:31 pm
WE cant hit with runners in scoring position and put a guy on third and we all know a Brave is going to strike out.Chip and Joe said lastnight this catcher cant throw out base runners. What the hell are they smoking up there hell he threw Heyward out by a mile. Im sorry Bourn is not worth 10 mil and he will not make Nats better if he goes there.
Tina
September 4th, 2012
9:31 pm
WE cant hit with runners in scoring position and put a guy on third and we all know a Brave is going to strike out.Chip and Joe said lastnight this catcher cant throw out base runners. What the hell are they smoking up there hell he threw Heyward out by a mile. Im sorry Bourn is not worth 10 mil and he will not make Nats better if he goes there.
Tina
September 4th, 2012
9:31 pm
WE cant hit with runners in scoring position and put a guy on third and we all know a Brave is going to strike out.Chip and Joe said lastnight this catcher cant throw out base runners. What the hell are they smoking up there hell he threw Heyward out by a mile. Im sorry Bourn is not worth 10 mil and he will not make Nats better if he goes there.
Tina
September 4th, 2012
9:31 pm
WE cant hit with runners in scoring position and put a guy on third and we all know a Brave is going to strike out.Chip and Joe said lastnight this catcher cant throw out base runners. What the hell are they smoking up there hell he threw Heyward out by a mile. Im sorry Bourn is not worth 10 mil and he will not make Nats better if he goes there.
brian
September 4th, 2012
9:31 pm
is Uggla delusional???
Hitting .182 in the second half of the season and he is blindsided by being on the bench some??? Sounds like Uggla’s relationship is getting strained talking about just being an employee. Uggla did not produce and did not make adjustments so he is on the bench. I guess if things aren’t as bad as they seem to others as Uggla said, no reason to make adjustments.
Tina
September 4th, 2012
9:31 pm
WE cant hit with runners in scoring position and put a guy on third and we all know a Brave is going to strike out.Chip and Joe said lastnight this catcher cant throw out base runners. What the hell are they smoking up there hell he threw Heyward out by a mile. Im sorry Bourn is not worth 10 mil and he will not make Nats better if he goes there.
Tina
September 4th, 2012
9:31 pm
WE cant hit with runners in scoring position and put a guy on third and we all know a Brave is going to strike out.Chip and Joe said lastnight this catcher cant throw out base runners. What the hell are they smoking up there hell he threw Heyward out by a mile. Im sorry Bourn is not worth 10 mil and he will not make Nats better if he goes there.
RBI
September 4th, 2012
9:32 pm
Please, no Uggla.
Dirty Harry
September 4th, 2012
9:32 pm
We don’t know your record VJ. You said it would take too long to list.
Dirty Harry
September 4th, 2012
9:32 pm
We don’t know your record VJ. You said it would take too long to list.
brian
September 4th, 2012
9:32 pm
Uggla’s slugging percentage has struggled this year Joe. It is not like he has been hitting a bunch of homeruns.
He is walking, striking out and hitting an occasional homerun.
ncbravesfan90
September 4th, 2012
9:33 pm
And that’s how an offensive lineup capitalizes and takes control of the game. Take notes Braves
Kat
September 4th, 2012
9:33 pm
Uggla needs to have some humble pie re: that interview they showed.
Nova Scotia Steve
September 4th, 2012
9:33 pm
and that will jussstt about do it
DS1
September 4th, 2012
9:33 pm
njbraves
Didn’t you see my smiley face after that comment??? You trying to hurt my poor little feelings? Now I will have to go away sad………..
brian
September 4th, 2012
9:33 pm
again – we don’t get the hit with RISP and the next half inning our opponent does. Frustrating
Capt.Mudd
September 4th, 2012
9:33 pm
Santa Fe Tilapia…..please I can’t take anymore!
kerryb
September 4th, 2012
9:33 pm
Well, say what you want about Uggla but you won’t hear many high profile players on a team say when he’s benched,” I’m not the manager or the general manager, I’m an employee”.
njbraves
September 4th, 2012
9:33 pm
Wren and McGuirk have lied to us a million times. This whole idea that Meds was in the ‘pen in order to limit his innings is total BS. It’s a convenient way to cover up their mistake. They thought they had enough starting pitching and felt Medlen could help lessen the load on the big three relievers. I agreed with the move at the time, but Meds has proven it was the wrong decision.
Tomahawk Mafia
September 4th, 2012
9:35 pm
This team is beyond frustrating. Looks like the decision to extend Moylan another inning was a disaster decision.
stizz
September 4th, 2012
9:35 pm
I know crazy things happened the other night, but this one’s over. Gotta take advantage of opportunities and find guys who can be somewhat productive in the 7 and 8 holes.
Brava
September 4th, 2012
9:35 pm
Well, as I predicted earlier, this would either be a slugfest or a struggling pitcher would get well on us. Sorry to see it’s the latter.
RBI
September 4th, 2012
9:36 pm
Pretty inexcusable to walk a pitcher.
njbraves
September 4th, 2012
9:36 pm
Wayne..I’m not trying to hurt your fellings at all…I really do believe that your an idiot.
richbrave
September 4th, 2012
9:36 pm
ChattTownBrian
September 4th, 2012
9:20 pm
“…….“BALLGAME” nolie
That’s an understatement. It was BALLGAME when Tommy took the hill……..”
“….. Now that’s more to my liking,” Rooster COGBURN original TRUE GRIT
Jerry
September 4th, 2012
9:36 pm
Well, I originally felt there was no way we were going to get beat by the Rockies, but the Rockies are trying really hard to knock some sense back into my head. I think I will get ready for bed and give this game another thought. Hope they come back, but not counting on it any more. Later peoples!
Mark
September 4th, 2012
9:36 pm
Remember now – No Uggla talk – As bad as he has been he has nothing to do with this score(unless you want to go so far as to say he should be in the lineup hitting and being a presense helping others hit…) well thats all a stretch but you get the idea.
ncbravesfan90
September 4th, 2012
9:37 pm
Can’t catch a break when the offense is as bad as it is…..no breaks your way.
Capt.Mudd
September 4th, 2012
9:37 pm
It is now official….The Circus has started
TBbravesfan
September 4th, 2012
9:37 pm
think i here a boo are two
Dirty Harry
September 4th, 2012
9:37 pm
Vj you should spend time correcting papers and not bloggers.
Mark
September 4th, 2012
9:37 pm
What else this inning?
njbraves
September 4th, 2012
9:37 pm
Not scoring against the awful pitcher the Rox threw out there tonight is ridiculous.
One Big Dummy
September 4th, 2012
9:38 pm
Moylan coming in for a second inning was not the best decision.
Tomahawk Mafia
September 4th, 2012
9:38 pm
It must be a team rule that every relief pitcher who enters with a runner on base has to throw a wild pitch. That happens a lot. Twice this inning.
kelevra
September 4th, 2012
9:38 pm
really glad we brought in avilan….pretty big situation fredi…you bring in 12th man on the staff?
stizz
September 4th, 2012
9:39 pm
Not like we didn’t hit some balls hard, just didn’t get any good luck. The last inning was the dagger though. Had a feeling if we didn’t score there, Colorado would take advantage.
Brava
September 4th, 2012
9:39 pm
I believe that, too, njbraves.
Venice Jim
September 4th, 2012
9:39 pm
Dirty Harry – if you would like to give examples of what I have done to personally offend you, I would be delighted to hear, but you seem to think feigning offense is acceptable, so that is a wonderful thing for you. As usual, our repartee is an enjoyable aspect to what is otherwise a game not going as well as we would like …
RBI
September 4th, 2012
9:39 pm
We sure know how to generate runs for the other team, though, don’t we? Two wild pitches in an inning. Little league.
Dirty Harry
September 4th, 2012
9:40 pm
I don’t know you VJ but just from what you do on this blog I would guess you to be a 60 something man who never played at a high level and now wants to show the rest of us how much you know.
richbrave
September 4th, 2012
9:41 pm
Enter your comments here
Brava
September 4th, 2012
9:41 pm
Mark, I was just commenting on the clip they showed of Uggla being interviewed.
T-Dawg
September 4th, 2012
9:42 pm
Our success in scoring runs begins and ends with drawing walks. Here’s hoping we get 7 in a row here.
stizz
September 4th, 2012
9:43 pm
Cardinals winning. That’s one team I do not want to face in a one off.
JipWiz
September 4th, 2012
9:43 pm
This sux
NorCal Brave
September 4th, 2012
9:43 pm
Exactly, RBI, the little league Braves are running amok again. While the last place Rockies school us on taking advantage of scoring ops.
JipWiz
September 4th, 2012
9:43 pm
Those Chipper bats ore herendous. Look lie should be at a dollar store
cabravesfan
September 4th, 2012
9:44 pm
VJ is not 60.
Mark
September 4th, 2012
9:44 pm
RBI
Little League is a good compariosn tonight. Remeber last inning while we were down 2 we tried the old “get in a run down and steal a run because we have no confidence in the guy at the dish play”
TRIVIA
What show was notorious for saying “the old …….trick”?
Tomahawk Mafia
September 4th, 2012
9:44 pm
Jose Constanza better be lifted for a pinch hitter with the lefty entering the game.
JipWiz
September 4th, 2012
9:45 pm
UGGLA
Mark
September 4th, 2012
9:45 pm
Camera spotters are doing a little better job finding pretty scenery than they were earlier!
Dirty Harry
September 4th, 2012
9:45 pm
Good luck to the braves and anyone who disagrees with VJ. If he should ever release this lengthy list of accomplishments please let me know.
JipWiz
September 4th, 2012
9:45 pm
Uggs on deck
Venice Jim
September 4th, 2012
9:45 pm
Dear Harry – this is where you are hysterically wrong – I rarely post on subjects of any importance, so I am not trying to show how much I know – I merely react to the foolishness I see around me…
But nice job of doing the easy thing and pretending to know what you are talking about, which can make you seem far less intelligent than you obviously are…
Tomahawk Mafia
September 4th, 2012
9:46 pm
Dan Uggla sighting.
stizz
September 4th, 2012
9:46 pm
Goodness, Overbay and Baker can’t even make contact. Some pickups.
TBbravesfan
September 4th, 2012
9:46 pm
baker made a big difference there boys
Dirty Harry
September 4th, 2012
9:46 pm
So at least Cab admits that VJ is not 60 but the rest is true.
Sopheee
September 4th, 2012
9:47 pm
That was nice of the fans.
Mark
September 4th, 2012
9:47 pm
You get one gift you shouldn’t expect another one
Tomahawk Mafia
September 4th, 2012
9:48 pm
Two at bats, two strike outs for Jeff Baker.
Capt.Mudd
September 4th, 2012
9:48 pm
Got to talk about Uggla…he’s up! OK nice try bud, you’ll get ‘em next time….all good Bro!
plow boy
September 4th, 2012
9:49 pm
i guess it’s dan’s fault it’s 4 to 0
Dirty Harry
September 4th, 2012
9:49 pm
Good night folks I have had enough.
cabravesfan
September 4th, 2012
9:49 pm
Dirty Harry-
I did not admit anything was true or untrue other than VJ is not 60.
ncbravesfan90
September 4th, 2012
9:49 pm
Somebody on here will stay make it Uggla’s fault we’re losing…guarantee it.
Kentavo
September 4th, 2012
9:49 pm
Seriously, I would like to hear some logical theories as to why the Braves can knock Halladay out of a game, but can’t touch a lefty a 1-8 record and a plus 5 ERA.
Mark
September 4th, 2012
9:49 pm
Why would we pinch hit Uggs down 4 in the 7th with nobody on base?
May have an rbi chance later where a dinger would be more useful
ncbravesfan90
September 4th, 2012
9:50 pm
*still
RBI
September 4th, 2012
9:50 pm
I thought being benched meant you did not play. Heck, I’d rather see him play 2nd and not hit!
ncbravesfan90
September 4th, 2012
9:51 pm
I wish we had an offense like the Nationals or even close to it:(
Tomahawk Mafia
September 4th, 2012
9:52 pm
Good to see Michael Bourn take a walk.
richbrave
September 4th, 2012
9:52 pm
“…… I agreed with the move at the time, but Meds has proven it was the wrong decision…….”
Wrong decisions happen all the time in baseball, and life in general.
I remember one I made as a life underwriter for a life insurance company as a young man. Heh!
Venice Jim
September 4th, 2012
9:52 pm
Dear Dirty Harry – why don’t you post your resume so we will know about you?
And, since you want to get to know me better, I coached for many years and have won multiple championships, not that has any standing on any of the totally clueless things I have posted here…
Also, please. post your address, and we can carry on a rewarding pen pal relationship, so you can learn even more about me, and I about you…
Fredo
September 4th, 2012
9:52 pm
well at least they didn’t leave a runner in scoring position that inning, there’s a positive
TBbravesfan
September 4th, 2012
9:52 pm
this game is like swimming in molasses
Ryan
September 4th, 2012
9:53 pm
We have first and third one out srikeout doubleplay and then they have same thing and get a strikeout and get a fricken run. Why when the other team hits and runs they get a hit? Braves either foul it off or swing and miss. Glad to see them score off the ugly Moylan who I dont think is worth crap. We have the best bench in baseball. Still cant see this team winning a wildcard. Glad to Uggla on the bench now we have to get rid of worthless Fredi. Oh by the way Nats playing a bunch of losers in the Cubs that 4 easy wins for them. Wish we were playing them oh wait we couldnt beat Cubs there best pitcher Maholm as to tough on us.
richbrave
September 4th, 2012
9:53 pm
One of those gets by WREN should have been my man MIKE MORSE.
Venice Jim
September 4th, 2012
9:53 pm
Anyway, time to prepare dinner, so I am afraid I will be unable to answer any of your additional fan letters until later!
Mark
September 4th, 2012
9:53 pm
You’d think NickB was involved in this spat
Tomahawk Mafia
September 4th, 2012
9:53 pm
How do you get shut out by the Rockies? This sucks.
Nova Scotia Steve
September 4th, 2012
9:54 pm
This is the fourth September in a row the Braves have had trouble scoring runs. Explains why fans are frustrated a speaking out.
kelevra
September 4th, 2012
9:55 pm
seriously any lefty of any skill level just absolutely shuts down this lineup…..it’s unbelievable!
JipWiz
September 4th, 2012
9:55 pm
Wow. FG is all over the place
NorCal Brave
September 4th, 2012
9:55 pm
Just a God-awful effort from a team fighting for post-season.
Fredo
September 4th, 2012
9:56 pm
3 more outs and the Yankees will have lost their 10 game lead they held on Jul 18
JipWiz
September 4th, 2012
9:57 pm
This is a culture issue, FG has lost the team. How would you like your leadership to state. Band I quote…”I don’t know if I will be here next year”… He has lost this team, over!
Mark
September 4th, 2012
9:58 pm
Maybe its their weight program or lack of one. Maybe we get tired at the end of the year for some reason. Maybe I’m just bored and hunting something to occupy time b/c the game is horrindous to watch right now.
Capt.Mudd
September 4th, 2012
9:58 pm
Hey @DirtyHarry….VJ is not perfect, he does what he does and is entitled to his opinion just like you…however, the discourse that is taking place is not a civil one–you are defaming and attacking VJ and, well, give it some thought….Can you no have a bit more patience with others? I really prefer to see te good in many of these bloggers; try that strategy tonight and lay off the guy.
VaBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
9:59 pm
lol the rockies….
Mark
September 4th, 2012
9:59 pm
That a way to give em hell Freddi – That’ll teach em
David O'Brien
September 4th, 2012
10:00 pm
Crowd of 16,686 is fourth-smallest of season at Turner Field, all of them in the 16’s including two against San Diego.
ncbravesfan90
September 4th, 2012
10:01 pm
It don’t matter what the bullpen does, this is offense ain’t scoring tonight. No need to complain about Durbin or anyone from the bullpen tonight.
RBI
September 4th, 2012
10:01 pm
The Hanson hex continues…
Kentavo
September 4th, 2012
10:01 pm
That is ballgame – they are playing like they’ve got on lead cleats.
usnavyvolfaninva
September 4th, 2012
10:01 pm
LMAO….I am so sick of how FG has “lost the team”….”they won’t play for him…” As if the 5-run comeback win over Philly is such a distant memory (it happened freaking SUNDAY, PEOPLE!!!)….or the 9-run comeback against the Nationals in their park… yep, Braves are OBVIOUSLY quitting on FG.
kelevra
September 4th, 2012
10:01 pm
offense disappearing…bullpen struggling….i would love to turn the channel because i know how this movie ends
Tomahawk Mafia
September 4th, 2012
10:01 pm
Chad Durbin is beginning to get knocked around pretty well on a consistent basis.
TN Jeff
September 4th, 2012
10:02 pm
A team doesn’t even need to bring up left handed minor league pitchers. Just put in a lefthanded position player to pitch and our guys will seize up. Mental Midgets. This has been going on a LONG time. Anyone remember the extra inning game that a team ran out of pitchers and brought in a position player who then proceeded to get the win when the Braves couldn’t hit him?
ncbravesfan90
September 4th, 2012
10:02 pm
When did the Astros starting playing on Sports South?
vitriol spewer (phil)
September 4th, 2012
10:03 pm
A comedy routine….
One Big Dummy
September 4th, 2012
10:03 pm
Clown show.
Mark
September 4th, 2012
10:03 pm
All we need now is a tent and a little circus music
Jerry Sandusky
September 4th, 2012
10:03 pm
Making a terrible Rockies bullpen….look like Rolaids Firemen Relief pitchers of The Year candidates.
Other than Kris Medlen and Chipper Jones’ 9th inning homer on Sunday…what have we shown that we arent going to be September chokers once again in 2012?
kelevra
September 4th, 2012
10:03 pm
wow…
VaBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
10:03 pm
lol what a joke
JipWiz
September 4th, 2012
10:03 pm
Usnavy
Care to comment?
That is a lack of effort, lack of direction. This has nothing to do with one comeback win on an error and crazy hit by CJ. Look at bids of work
Kentavo
September 4th, 2012
10:04 pm
Strike up the calliope!
Mark
September 4th, 2012
10:04 pm
2 es on that play.
Plus woul;d have been nice if Freeman had attemted to get off the bag and field the groundball
Peter
September 4th, 2012
10:05 pm
Medlen will have to walk on water if the Braves are to make the post season……..because the rest of the team can sure figure out how to not win.
Hey those Rockies are a great team..against us !
RBI
September 4th, 2012
10:05 pm
I tell you. It is a “give up” type of mentality. Errors like crazy, no focus. And, who do we have good in the bullpen, NOW?
Capt.Mudd
September 4th, 2012
10:05 pm
Mayhem….utter Mayhem….no excuse for this mess tonight. Just think, if Chipper hadn’t stepped up the other night vs. Phils and Meds doing his thing yesterday…..Where would we be? Very sad!
N Nine
September 4th, 2012
10:06 pm
Pathetic
Jerry Sandusky
September 4th, 2012
10:06 pm
What good is it to have a September schedule of sub .500 teams….if we play like a sub .500 team?
TBbravesfan
September 4th, 2012
10:06 pm
little crowds little team little hope.
Tomahawk Mafia
September 4th, 2012
10:07 pm
Durbin and this team sucks right now. They have given up tonight. Really though, this game was within reach in the 7th inning, yet Fredi was content to bring in his weaker relief pitchers and watch what has happened. Bringing in bad relief pitchers into a high-leverage situation is poor strategy. It is September and O’Flaherty and Kimbrel have had plenty of rest, it is time for them to pitch in high-leverage situations even if the Braves are losing.
TN Jeff
September 4th, 2012
10:07 pm
Get a kick out of Braves homer announcers on radio telling listeners that the old bluff to third and then check the runner on first ploy NEVER works. Ummmm, guys it has never worked except for against the Mental Midget Braves. A few years ago with Chipper on 3rd and Escobar on 1st, he got picked off with this little league routine.
vitriol spewer (phil)
September 4th, 2012
10:07 pm
Braves have clearly quit on FG…
RBI
September 4th, 2012
10:08 pm
Who is our starting pitcher tomorrow?
Ryan
September 4th, 2012
10:08 pm
Wow 16,686 fans got to watch a great game tonight . Errors cant hit with runners in scoring position and every move Freddi makes tonight makes him look great. Great game tomorrow night Giants and the Cowboys yes football instead someteam fighting to score runs. GO GIANTS
Fredo
September 4th, 2012
10:09 pm
after the past 2 games hiccups seems things are back to normal in Braves Country with the struggling offence
kelevra
September 4th, 2012
10:09 pm
these guys have no interest in talking about the game
ncbravesfan90
September 4th, 2012
10:10 pm
Time to go pull for the Padres against the Dodgers on ESPN
brian
September 4th, 2012
10:10 pm
TN Jeff – it worked on barry bonds
Dum-Bass
September 4th, 2012
10:10 pm
Braves are being shut out by the last ranked team in pitching in the NL. CO only has 5 shutouts all season. Team ERA is 5.22 . They have given up more HRs than any other NL team, 166 and had 735 runs scored on them. Just does not get any worse than that. They don’t stay inspired for long do they? The problem is one thing, no consistency.
T-Dawg
September 4th, 2012
10:11 pm
No excuses for this effort but there will be.
Mark
September 4th, 2012
10:11 pm
TN
You are corrrect/
Plus it really works every time because it keeps the guy on first a little closer a little longer possibly keeping the DP in play…
NorCal Brave
September 4th, 2012
10:12 pm
I know everyone says it starts with the guy on the mound, but when you demonstrate such consistent ineptitude at bringing home runners, it’s going to affect everything. I think that’s what we’re seeing tonight. Hanson threw a pretty good game, and as usual the offense gave him nothing.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
10:13 pm
Hanson was better today, but as I said with JJ, keep it up for 5-6. 10 starts before I say that you’re “back”.
Shame that our RISP continued…
And more drama on the blog caused by certain person(s)…. Can’t we all just get along?
Tomahawk Mafia
September 4th, 2012
10:13 pm
This team sure is fun to watch.
vitriol spewer (phil)
September 4th, 2012
10:14 pm
I suppose it’s some good news knowing that if we actually make the playoffs, it’ll all be over in one futile game rather than being dragged out, slowly, painfully, day after day after day for a week or so.
usnavyvolfaninva
September 4th, 2012
10:14 pm
Yeah, I mean if you conveniently leave out the two epic comeback wins this year, I can totally see how this team’s quit on FG. And if it weren’t for those 76 wins, this team would be the worst MLB team ever! LMAO.
RBI
September 4th, 2012
10:14 pm
They could have lost it 1-0, 2-0, because of Hanson. Agreed, you cannot win if you cannot score runs, but it sure does not help to have to try to come from behind all the time.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
10:14 pm
Oh, and whoever said that Durbin has sukked recently, you’re wrong… He had 16 appearances in August, pitching 12.2 IP He gave up just 4 runs, for an ERA of 2.84 for the month.
usnavyvolfaninva
September 4th, 2012
10:15 pm
While we’re at it, I dare say that if it weren’t for the 14 consecutive division titles, 5 NL Championships, and a World Series title, this team would have nothing to look back on with any pride whatsoever
monty
September 4th, 2012
10:15 pm
A 5 pitcher shut out?
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
10:15 pm
Never liked Batista… why is he on the roster? Surely we had some young ‘un better than him
vitriol spewer (phil)
September 4th, 2012
10:15 pm
No consistency…exactly.
The death of us.
Jerry Sandusky
September 4th, 2012
10:16 pm
Medlen pitching like Cy Young (literally) has almost saved the season. Not only is he pitching well…he’s pitching deep into ball games (a couple of complete games)..saving the bullpen. No way the Braves counted on or anticipated this. If they did, they wouldnt have waited for 60% of the season to pass…before inserting him into the starting rotation.
Kind of reminds me how Troy Glaus came from nowhere to carry the Braves during the month of May and June in 2010. Those two months basically made our season (we almost choked away the Wild Card spot to the Padres….after choking away an 8 1/2 game division lead to the Phillies).
The Braves are, at best, an average team. We’ve just been lucky when it comes to a couple of superman performances in stretches during the past several years. Being lucky isnt the same as being great. The hillbilly who won The $337 million Powerball in Michigan last week can attest to that.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
10:16 pm
Batista continues to get crushed.
TN Jeff
September 4th, 2012
10:17 pm
Hanson needs required viewing of Medlin games. Tired of watching him max out at 6 innings. I admit he pitched better tonight but still can’t go late into games. As for Braves not scoring for him – that’s not so. He has a high era but impressive won-loss record because the Braves have often bailed him out hitting wise. Ain’t bailing anyone out anymore though.
Tomahawk Mafia
September 4th, 2012
10:17 pm
TheOnlyBravesFan
I know Durbin has been pretty good over a long period of time, but I was mostly referencing his outing in San Diego a few days ago.
vitriol spewer (phil)
September 4th, 2012
10:18 pm
We haven’t really quit on FG….just kidding on this horribly awful and dull night.
At least the ridiculous fight seems to be over.
Good nite all.
usnavyvolfaninva
September 4th, 2012
10:18 pm
Dum-Bass,
Two of their shutout wins were against the Dodgers, and 1 was against the Giants.
Tomahawk Mafia
September 4th, 2012
10:18 pm
Batista has no business being on a Major league roster.
Hugo Z Hackenbush
September 4th, 2012
10:20 pm
Isn’t it great that some dick named “Jerry Sandusky” can come on here and tell us all how things are?
Widespread panic
September 4th, 2012
10:21 pm
Any NL East team lacking 3 LH starters is squandering 15 EASY wins vs. the Braves every year. Sheesh! Can we maybe work on this weakness one offseason or spring training?
ncgary
September 4th, 2012
10:21 pm
no mas
kelevra
September 4th, 2012
10:21 pm
“another very great story….”
chip carry ladies and gentleman
ncgary
September 4th, 2012
10:22 pm
time to bat around
George
September 4th, 2012
10:23 pm
UP-down-UP-down-UP-downnnnnnnnnn.
Rockies – won 56—-lost—78
What more could I say.
Brava
September 4th, 2012
10:23 pm
I’d like to thank the jerks who piled on me tonight for making a bad game even worse. I did not start anything, I was trying to enjoy the game. DS1, I agree with njbraves, you are an idiot. You are also a cowardly bully hiding behind your computer and taking potshots like the little man you are. VJ, I couldn’t disagree with phil the other night. I also think you’re the biggest A-hole on this blog. Raleighbravesfan, I usually don’t have a beef with you, but I guess you do with me. Good to know. nolie, I thought you were my friend, but I guess I was mistaken. That one hurts a bit. cab, I don’t really have a problem with you, guess you were just the catalyst for the attack tonight. BAS, you were already on ignore, so nothing to add there. Anyway, just wanted to let your little clique know how I felt and thank you all for ruining my evening.
Jerry Sandusky
September 4th, 2012
10:25 pm
Isnt it great that the Braves found 16,000 suckers in and around Atlanta to pay to watch this performance tonight?
Coach (2012 Fredi's Beisbol Fandango)
September 4th, 2012
10:25 pm
Win some, lose some….we are still leading the wild card chase toward the post season.
RBI
September 4th, 2012
10:25 pm
I thought this was the Braves blog…
kelevra
September 4th, 2012
10:25 pm
if we score 3 runs against the worst pitching staff in the league, then it’s our three best pitchers pitching the rest of the game and not our three worst…..this game is all on the offense….once we got down fredi put in the scrubs and we started throwing it around like scrubs
Nolie
September 4th, 2012
10:25 pm
Well folks it could be worse. We could be pale hose fans they are getting pummeled by the lowly Twinks 17-4
Capt.Mudd
September 4th, 2012
10:25 pm
What is going thru the mind of one Joe Public who has spent upwards of 40 bucks for a seat to this catastrophy? Then, because it’s so depressing to watch; he spends an additional 20.00 on brews. Did I mention parking? Fuel to and from this game?
Yes ole John deserves better…as do we. But we’ll go on caring and try to do our part supporting this franchise. However, a day will come when enough is enough–when the ‘Circus games’ overshadow the good games—and, well, we’ll start feeling downright cheated. I don’t think any really good fan wants this to ever happen to our Braves.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
10:26 pm
Let’s go Bravos!
RBI
September 4th, 2012
10:26 pm
Well, at least Uggla did not get us where we are in this game! He might have helped make it a little better, though!
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
10:27 pm
there’s a hit!
TBbravesfan
September 4th, 2012
10:28 pm
time for a 7 run rally:)
kelevra
September 4th, 2012
10:28 pm
bro are really using jerry sandusky as your name???? have some respect for the victims of that monster and grow up
usnavyvolfaninva
September 4th, 2012
10:28 pm
Orioles now in a first-place tie with the Yankees, and it’s September….WOW!
Tomahawk Mafia
September 4th, 2012
10:29 pm
I am glad David Ross has picked his spots well for his two base hits. Really could have used a little contact in his biggest at bat of the evening.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
10:29 pm
Venice Jim
September 4th, 2012
10:29 pm
At least the ridiculous fight seems to be over
Glad to know it’s safe to come back…
TBbravesfan
September 4th, 2012
10:30 pm
well maybe not a 7 run rally
RBI
September 4th, 2012
10:30 pm
Overpay is doing real well here.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
10:30 pm
Couldn’t have expected to beat the Rockies in every game this year… 4-1 against them for the year. Let’s get tomorrows game and call it a series.
TN Jeff
September 4th, 2012
10:31 pm
Shut Out – pathetic! Colorado ought to sign Chipper’s mom to pitch tomorrow night.
Hugo Z Hackenbush
September 4th, 2012
10:31 pm
Hmm…who used to frequent this blog and use monikers in questionable taste on a regular basis? Who could it be…?
Tomahawk Mafia
September 4th, 2012
10:31 pm
The Braves get shutout entirely too much.
TBbravesfan
September 4th, 2012
10:32 pm
they didn’t have but 1 more hit than us.
JC Brave
September 4th, 2012
10:32 pm
This level of effort shows this team is bound for October Baseball.
Love it.
TN Jeff
September 4th, 2012
10:32 pm
TheOnlyBravesFan,
It’s a 4 game series. So a win tomorrow would only secure a split. just saying
TN Jeff
September 4th, 2012
10:33 pm
But hey it’s September and the Braves would love to split rather than the full tilt collapse that is likely in progress.
RBI
September 4th, 2012
10:33 pm
So inconsistent it’s unreal.
Hugo Z Hackenbush
September 4th, 2012
10:33 pm
Braves now standing in the shadow of a massive one-game losing streak. Oh, the shame…
DOB Lobs Softball Questions
September 4th, 2012
10:34 pm
Folks…have you noticed that when any of these super, brown nosing homers start waxing poetic about any pitcher or player they a) get hurt, b) start to suck or c) they start to suck more? For example, how many times did we have to hear that homer with Don Sutton on the radio read Tim Hudsons stats on his 4 run lead and how he is 168 and whatever…lol…Folks, thats not a tip of the hat Bobby Cocks style. Thats the biggest anchors in baseball! DOB just cursed Medlen. Watch and see and remember this Ole Cap Tipper!
http://bit.ly/PH7qBk
http://bit.ly/NbCOKS
TN Jeff
September 4th, 2012
10:34 pm
McCan’t is back in the lineup tomorrow … yawn
Mark
September 4th, 2012
10:36 pm
Possibly the worst game of the year to me. Like sitting thru health class!
Prayers and night all
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
10:37 pm
It’s a 4 game series. So a win tomorrow would only secure a split. just saying
Yeah , and a split of a 4-game series is pretty good. Hard to go 3-1.
so now nolie, rbf, and VJ get added to the hell list with Efrim and I? Oh, and Uggla… Hmmm
RBI
September 4th, 2012
10:38 pm
If the Dodgers win, won;t they be tied with us for the wild card position?
Who is our starter tomorrow?
Ryan
September 4th, 2012
10:39 pm
If we were to make playoffs hate to have the job of setting rosters. When we decide who we dont want on we will be down to 20 players. Great job from Freddi , the offense, the bullpen and the bench it was a total effort . The hell with the POSTGAME COMMENTS.
Jerry Sandusky
September 4th, 2012
10:42 pm
Watching the Democratic National Convention tonight…the audience looks like a reflection of the population of California…..whereas the audience at the Republican National Convention looked like a reflection of the inhabitants of the Appalachia Mountains.
cabravesfan
September 4th, 2012
10:45 pm
Have you ever even been to California??
Mark
September 4th, 2012
10:48 pm
Hey Jerry
I live in the Appalacians and we don’t have to deal with a lot of the crap Californians have to deal with and it has nothing to do with the type of people but everyhting with what the people allow and accept for their society and their communities.
Capt.Mudd
September 4th, 2012
10:48 pm
Holy Cowpens, SC…..What was Ron Gant saying on that last segment? A quality start for Hanson? Please define a quality start? Maybe adequate–but ‘quality?’
cabravesfan
September 4th, 2012
10:49 pm
Sorry- what crap do Californians have to deal with?
Bravofan
September 4th, 2012
10:50 pm
There goes Fredi with tip your cap
Capt.Mudd
September 4th, 2012
10:50 pm
And, by all means…the obligatory ‘tip of your hat’ by our Skipper!
Trey
September 4th, 2012
10:50 pm
Jerry Sandusky, keep politics off this page, son.
Interested Bystander
September 4th, 2012
10:52 pm
This is a shame. The pitcher came in her 1-8 shut down the braves on his -75 pitches.
Interested Bystander
September 4th, 2012
10:52 pm
This is a shame. The pitcher came in her 1-8 shut down the braves on his -75 pitches.
Interested Bystander
September 4th, 2012
10:52 pm
This is a shame. The pitcher came in her 1-8 shut down the braves on his -75 pitches.
Interested Bystander
September 4th, 2012
10:55 pm
OOPS! Sorry about duplicates
Mark
September 4th, 2012
10:56 pm
cabravesfan
Apologies. Let a guy using a name that has caused heart ache to youngsters and an entire University make a comment about where I live get the best of me.
Never been to California. Hope to make it out there one day.
Again sorry
keyLargo
September 4th, 2012
10:56 pm
Jerry S. – post what you want to but find another name to do it under. I don’t want to be reminder of one of the most disgusting events this century by some one who thinks they’re clever or funny. Put a cap on the name dude.
cabravesfan
September 4th, 2012
10:58 pm
Mark-
No problem with the defense of your home. I’m doing the same
No need for the apology, but thanks nonetheless.
John Leonard
September 4th, 2012
10:59 pm
Agree KeyLargo.
Mark
September 4th, 2012
11:02 pm
We should all report the stupid name. Can take most idiotic comment but hate to be reminded of that sicko while trying to relax on the blog
keyLargo
September 4th, 2012
11:02 pm
Thank you Trey and John Leonard for your help.
Venice Jim
September 4th, 2012
11:02 pm
Nationals’ measly 11 runs tonight pales in comparison to the 18 of the phenomenal Twins…(and Orioles’ 12)…admittedly, might look marginally better than 0 for the Braves…
ACE
September 4th, 2012
11:03 pm
Time for another lineup shakeup.
DS1
September 4th, 2012
11:03 pm
Nothing very exciting on TV tonight. Come back to find out that Brava thinks I’m an idiot.
And I guess her claim that she doesn’t attack personally has just gone out the window. Not that I really care.
Feelings are mutual Sarge. Though I do appreciate your service to our country.
Capt.Mudd
September 4th, 2012
11:04 pm
I have heard enough…too many weird ones tonight. I feel some people have had their feelings affected by some unkind monikers and rhetoric….unfortunate indeed. Think better!!!
MVPrado14
September 4th, 2012
11:05 pm
Way to ride the momentum of Chipper’s huge HR Sunday for a whole one game, Braves.
This is exactly why the Bravos will be sitting at home watching the Dodgers play the Cards in that wild card playoff.
Said earlier that they would go 2-5 on the homestand – I’m sticking with that prediction.
Trey
September 4th, 2012
11:06 pm
You’re welcome, KeyLargo.
Venice Jim
September 4th, 2012
11:08 pm
Dang, Wayne – I would make a TV joke here related politically to certain events occurring in Charlotte, but I am trying to avoid my 6th potentially bannable post of the evening…
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
11:10 pm
ESPN Stats & Info @ESPNStatsInfo
The Braves were shut out with at least 9 hits for the 1st time since April 2003 against the Expos.
John Leonard
September 4th, 2012
11:11 pm
You’re welcome,KeyLargo.You said it perfect.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
11:16 pm
Chipper Jones @RealCJ10
Come on Atlanta! The Ted was a morgue tonite. We need you in full force. We feed off you guys. No excuse for the loss! Just sayin…
Venice Jim
September 4th, 2012
11:18 pm
Y’boy Greinke not winning again (at least for now)…
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
11:18 pm
Chipper Jones @RealCJ10
Tommy threw well tonite. 8 punchies in 5 plus. Located his heater better. Swung bats good. 9 hits. Cuda had more. Sometimes they dont fall.
DS1
September 4th, 2012
11:19 pm
I thought you might catch that one VJ!
John Leonard
September 4th, 2012
11:20 pm
Thats like the Chicken or The Egg.Fans then good play or good play then fans.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
11:21 pm
Y’boy Greinke not winning again (at least for now)…
But he ain’t losing either
Pretty nice line he has going.
David O'Brien
September 4th, 2012
11:21 pm
Quotage from the Bravos clubhouse
http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2012/09/04/braves-quotes-after-tuesdays-win-against-rockies/
DS1
September 4th, 2012
11:21 pm
Played a little bit like a Pee Wee league team tonight on D. Some games the balls just don’t fall in.
Tomorrow will be another day. Hard to get too worked up over 1 game (for some of us, that is).
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
11:22 pm
Thanks DOB.
MDBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
11:23 pm
I’m sure people will think that having given up only 2 runs, it was a quality start for Hanson. But when you can go more than 5-6 innings, it’s not in my book. The team plays horribly behind Hanson and yet we keep running him out there. As I said, it would take a miracle to win tonight and alas, the team seems to be running out of them. The diff b/t Braves and Nats – we lose to scrub teams and the Nats pummel them. WC may be too ambitious a goal for this team.
John Leonard
September 4th, 2012
11:27 pm
Here we thought the Braves lost,thanks DOB for setting us straight on the Braves win.
DS1
September 4th, 2012
11:30 pm
John Leonard
Wishful thinking on DOB’s part, I’m guessing. Can’t blame a guy for pulling for the home team.
John Leonard
September 4th, 2012
11:32 pm
I think he’s having some fun.I would have put a smiley face on it if I knew how,have to get the BOSS LADY to show me how.
Robert
September 4th, 2012
11:45 pm
DOB, Thanks for the honest response and thoughts earlier today on Medlin and his innings count….good thoughts. And for sharing the story Carroll had posted earlier.
Jerry Sandusky
September 4th, 2012
11:47 pm
Right now, we are staying on top of the Wild Card race…because Kris Medlen has been pretty much a guarantee to win every time out. Knowing that, the Braves only have to go win 3 out of the other 8 games in a ten game stretch….to play .500 ball overall (meaning that Medlen wins his two starts).
However, if Medlen comes back down to earth…..disaster looms…because it does not look like anyone else in the rotation is ready to step up and take the slack. Hudson has been inconsistent, Minor is very hittable, Maholm is a .500 pitcher at best, Hanson…well, we saw tonight what he’s about.
If Medlen was winning only 80% of the time the past 2 months….we’d be behind the Dodgers and the Cardinals in the Wild Card race. It’s taken Medlen pitching lights out to keep us ahead in the standings.
Is it realistic to expect Medlen to never lose again? Or is it realistic to believe that someone in our rotation is going to step up and pitch like a stud the past 4 weeks of the season?
It is tiring seeing the old “tipping the hat to the other team” mantra that is being drank up like Jim Jones kool-aid. 3 errors tonight, no clutch hitting, making the bullpen look like Firemen of the Year candidates……who cant win when playing against a team like the Braves put on the field tonight? Hell, I think I could pitch a few scoreless innings against this bunch.
Venice Jim
September 4th, 2012
11:47 pm
Time to leave the beautiful people of the blog until tomorrow – stay safe, you crazy kids…
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
11:49 pm
Greinke through 6 scoreless, allowing just 3 hits. 4 Ks vs 1 Walk. 84 pitches, 52 strikes. Nice ratio. Would love to see this guy with a Tomahawk across his chest.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
11:52 pm
next year
David O'Brien
September 4th, 2012
11:52 pm
Braves waste chances early, get sloppy late in 6-0 loss to Rockies
http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2012/09/04/braves-waste-plenty-of-chances-in-6-0-loss-to-rockies/
T-Dawg
September 4th, 2012
11:58 pm
Chipper Jones @RealCJ10
Tommy threw well tonite. 8 punchies in 5 plus. Located his heater better. Swung bats good. 9 hits. Cuda had more. Sometimes they dont fall.
What he should have said instead of blaming it on nature: “We need to be better. Plain and simple. we are going to work on being better I promise. We owe this to the fans, especially after last year.”
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 4th, 2012
11:59 pm
And there it goes… gave up a HR… anyhow, 6.1 IP with 1 ER is still a good line. Get him Frank!
Good night all. Go Braves (and Greinke). Peace.
Trey
September 4th, 2012
11:59 pm
Can we trade Hanson for this kid? He has the same delivery style, but looks more competitive out there.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151153812522451&set=a.186661577450.125421.5768707450&type=1
David O'Brien
September 5th, 2012
12:00 am
Here we thought the Braves lost,thanks DOB for setting us straight on the Braves win. — John Leonard
I have no idea what this is in reference to.
Jerry Sandusky
September 5th, 2012
12:01 am
With 26 games left in the season, if we go 13-13 the rest of the way, we’ll finish the season with the same 89 wins that we ended last season with.
Which is more likely to happen: The Braves playing good enough to end the year with at least 89 wins…or…..89 wins being good enough to win one of the 2 Wild Card spots?
John Leonard
September 5th, 2012
12:05 am
Braves-Quotes-after tuesdays win over Rockies.
Venice Jim
September 5th, 2012
12:07 am
T-Dawg – I’m sure Chipper will let you take over his Twitter, since you are more knowledgeable about baseball than he is…
Trey
September 5th, 2012
12:08 am
DOB, he was talking about your link, from the quotes.
http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2012/09/04/braves-quotes-after-tuesdays-win-against-rockies/
Venice Jim
September 5th, 2012
12:08 am
Good night, TheOnlyGreinkeFan…
Jerry Sandusky
September 5th, 2012
12:10 am
Difference between the Yankees and the Braves.
Yankees manager Joe Girardi says during the post game interview that they need to start hitting…..Derek Jeter says that they need to play better or they arent going to make the playoffs.
Braves manager Fredo Gonzalez does the old “tip your hat to the other team” mantra…says that Tommy Hanson pitched pretty good….says that the Braves hit the ball hard tonight, just at the other team (how many times did Bobby Cox say that?).
Real fans in New York want to hear the truth. Gullible Braves fans want their self esteem to be massaged and told that it wasnt their favorite players fault that we lost tonight.
We sucked tonight. We sucked for 27 innings over the weekend (Chipper bailed us out in the 28th inning to prevent a 3 game sweep). We are depending on a pitcher who wasnt in the rotation until 60% of the season was over with to pitch like Superman. Great game plan!
David O'Brien
September 5th, 2012
12:12 am
Chipper on Twitter tonight after game: Come on Atlanta! The Ted was a morgue tonite. We need you in full force. We feed off you guys. No excuse for the loss! Just sayin…
And: Tommy threw well tonite. 8 punchies in 5 plus. Located his heater better. Swung bats good. 9 hits. Cuda had more. Sometimes they dont fall.
T-Dawg
September 5th, 2012
12:20 am
Wow Chip. Excuses. Its the fans fault? You should be apologizing for getting beat by one of the worst pitchers on one of the worst teams in baseball.
All you’ve given us is a Train-Wreck, Hoss! Why would anyone want to see that….again?
Venice Jim
September 5th, 2012
12:23 am
Derek Jeter says that they need to play better or they arent going to make the playoffs.
Yesterday Jeter whined that no one was panicking – but go ahead and fit the storyline to your anti-Braves viewpoint – that is your prerogative – I fully support all positions equally…
Venice Jim
September 5th, 2012
12:26 am
It is good to know that “Jerry Sandusky” has chosen a name to befit his perverted idol – way to maintain the courage of backing a disgusting human being, as you obviously are…enjoy preying on your innocent victims…
Venice Jim
September 5th, 2012
12:29 am
Dirty Harry – please feel free to defend old Jerry, since you seem to support anyone I find to be slightly below the acceptable line of decorum as a friend of yours…
Venice Jim
September 5th, 2012
12:30 am
Bye, boys and girls…
T-Dawg
September 5th, 2012
12:41 am
Venice Jim
The reason you are a lightning rod on the blog is because you attack people on here and attempt to make them look stupid while boosting your own persona. There are several of you blogger-haters here that really stir up people.
My comment was about Chippers blog yet you lashed out at me. You’re classy man. Very classy.
Dirty Harry
September 5th, 2012
1:03 am
VJ is a sick man. First he brings up Jerry Sandusky and then says bye boys and girls. He should be banned without a doubt.
Dirty Harry
September 5th, 2012
1:05 am
VJ, for you even to suggest that someone would defend Jerry is beyond the pale. I will report this statement and hope appropiate action is taken.
the truth...
September 5th, 2012
1:07 am
Dirty Harry…..
I guess it would be ok with you for a blogger to take on the name Adolf Hitler as if it were a joke?
Just asking…………..?
the truth...
September 5th, 2012
1:19 am
Seriously Dirty Harry…..????????
Brava
September 5th, 2012
1:26 am
Nothing very exciting on TV tonight. Come back to find out that Brava thinks I’m an idiot.
And I guess her claim that she doesn’t attack personally has just gone out the window. Not that I really care.
Oh, please don’t act so innocent, you pathetic coward. You picked at me all evening and I never once addressed you, not once. You called me “dumbsh*t” the other day, and again, I didn’t respond. Or have you forgotten that? You are a blog bully, Wayne in Utah, DS1, Astral, HooRah or whatever you call yourself. You and VJ both are blog bullies, the only difference between you two is he’s intelligent, while you are just a mean buffoon.
nolie
September 5th, 2012
1:37 am
Good to know. nolie, I thought you were my friend, but I guess I was mistaken…Brava
Brava I like you but that doesn’t mean I’m not gonna disagree with you when I think you are wrong, and I really hate seeing accusations slung around with no proof, and I see no proof of what you say.
I would have disagreed with you whether anybody else was or not, what they were doing had nothing to do with the way I feel on the subject
John Leonard
September 5th, 2012
1:48 am
Brava: Thought you’d like to know,that about a million or so people in the Baltimore area,call Wren a liar,including a guy called Cal Ripken.
nolie
September 5th, 2012
1:49 am
If you wanna show me some place where I insulted you or called you names in the heat of argument, please do so and I will apologize immediately.
nolie
September 5th, 2012
1:52 am
I have a lot of relatives in the Baltimore area and most blame that problem on the owner, not Wren. There was no question but that Cal treated that team like a fiefdom and there were hard feelings in the clubhouse because of it.
Brava
September 5th, 2012
1:52 am
We’re done, nolie. I can prove what I said about Wren, I was reading up tonight on the lies he told at the end of the season. They’re there for anyone who wants to read them. What got me was your suggestion that I wasn’t allowed to post my opinion unless I could prove it. That’s absurd. An opinion can be partially based on conjecture. I’m sure an educated person like you knows that. Honestly, it hurt my feelings that you piled on with the otners. It’s not fun trying to respond to five or six people.who are critisizing everything you say. I felt like I was in some weird blog battle zone. But hey, I learned from it and will move on.
nolie
September 5th, 2012
1:55 am
What got me was your suggestion that I wasn’t allowed to post my opinion unless I could prove it..Brava
that was not what I said, I said you should not post it as a fact without proof, a completely different thing. Whatever.
I would think you would have a little thicker skin after 24 years in the military, but if that’s the way you want it, sobeit.
Take care.
Brava
September 5th, 2012
1:55 am
Thanks John Leonard. I’m usually a pretty good judge of character and I don’t trust anything Frank says until it happens.
John Leonard
September 5th, 2012
1:57 am
What does that have to do with Wren telling lies?
John Leonard
September 5th, 2012
1:59 am
No thanks needed Brava,you are right and the pretentious snobs were wrong.
nolie
September 5th, 2012
2:00 am
depends on what you are claiming that he lied about, but none of them think he was lying about anything. I wasn’t there so I don’t know
nolie
September 5th, 2012
2:03 am
I guess I should re-state that, none have ever indicated to me that they thought he was a big liar about anything
John Leonard
September 5th, 2012
2:05 am
I noticed he did’nt sue for gettinmg fired.
Ward
September 5th, 2012
2:07 am
Hello everyone! The mystry of the Braves losing to pitchers with bad ERA’s? To be continued……Tune In, same Bat time, Same Bat channel…….Find out tomorrow what the offenses can do? Maybe BatMan , and Rboin can help the Braves figure it out? Stay tuned………Batman……..Batman…….
nolie
September 5th, 2012
2:09 am
why would he sue?
Millions of folks get fired every year without suing
how many suits have you seen in baseball over a manager or GM getting fired?
I might be forgetting one but it certainly almost never happens, if it ever has
Brava
September 5th, 2012
2:10 am
I like it, Ward. BATman could be just what they need to get them going.
nolie
September 5th, 2012
2:10 am
Hi ward, bad game tonight. Frustrating when you see the same old pattern developing and realize that the outcome is likely not gonna be good
Ward
September 5th, 2012
2:16 am
nolie – You just wonder why the Braves can’t hit crappy pitching. It is frustrating, because it puts presure on the pitching. Hanson gave up 3 runs, but withg no hiitng it makes the pitching look terrible. It’s all on the offense.
nolie
September 5th, 2012
2:16 am
I’m not saying you are wrong John, there very well might be a lot of folks up there who feel that way, but fans often feel things that are not necessarily based on actual facts. Every day we have folks posting things here that a quick look at a record or stat sheets proves to be wrong.
Like I said, I wasn’t there, but anyway I am not calling you a liar or any such
Ward
September 5th, 2012
2:19 am
They better wake up, or some thing could happen? It’s like seeing two different teams, or three teams. The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly. Tonight was the Bad, and The Ugly.
John Leonard
September 5th, 2012
2:20 am
All this talk of Wren being a liar,hides the fact that the in crowd was wrong about meds as a starter,that sticky smelly stuff all over there faces is embarrassing.
nolie
September 5th, 2012
2:25 am
I don’t think all of that crowd thought that way. and anyway if anybody had any idea that he would pitch like this, nobody would have thought. but NOBODY knew,. I thought he was more valuable in the pen considering the fact that we had so many starters. Had nothing to do with claiming that he would be a poor starter.
I have admitted a couple of times that it looks like I was wrong. If you have been following over the years you should know that I have admitted that any time I was really off about something
Ward
September 5th, 2012
2:27 am
It’s so important to spend money on a LF. Then you can move Prado to 3rd, and we will just have to see what Uggla does down the stretch, and next year? Wait until next year on Uggla. Can’t give up just yet on Uggla.
nolie
September 5th, 2012
2:28 am
actually ward it is kinda amazing that their record is as good as it is considering the inconsistent play and the frustration they have caused, but we are still in the hunt
cowdogit
September 5th, 2012
2:28 am
Constanza, Bourn and Heyward in the same lineup puts stress on the pitcher. Braves win nearly ever game when these three are in the lineup. Constanza just won AAA hitting title, no reason not to play him.
nolie
September 5th, 2012
2:29 am
whatever cowdogit
nolie
September 5th, 2012
2:32 am
oops shoulda been a winky there…
whatever cowdogit
Ward
September 5th, 2012
2:32 am
noile, true, and we just have to be patient on Uggs, and Mac , even though I blasted his hitting do to the shift. Just trying to get Mac going. We are lucky to still be in it. How far is the question”?”, and can Simmons be our savior this year?
John Leonard
September 5th, 2012
2:34 am
I have no problem withm that,its just a difference of opinion.I’m a little older then you,and like you i’m up at all hours,and I see people getting jumped on by a certain group,sometimes its justified,but not always.For me to type this much causes great pain,but Brava getting picked tonight was to much,now this is to m,uch typing ,God be with you all,and remember,”The truth is only the truth,perception is reality”
nolie
September 5th, 2012
2:34 am
hard to tell how Simmons will hit when he comes back, but it almost has to be better than .191, doesn’t it?
nolie
September 5th, 2012
2:35 am
you are older than 67? You poor guy
Ward
September 5th, 2012
2:38 am
nolie – Simmons good speed, and the fire that he puts out into the field every game. If only the Braves can play with that high energy every game? Braves need to get thier fire back. Brave lack keeping that fire going every game. One game they have it, and the next game they play with their fire put out.
John Leonard
September 5th, 2012
2:39 am
5-23-42
nolie
September 5th, 2012
2:40 am
hope so ward. I’m off, time for some shut eye.
Ward
September 5th, 2012
2:40 am
Right now the Braves should be playing to win, and they look like they are playing to survive. Big difference, no mojo going….
nolie
September 5th, 2012
2:41 am
8-45. you win
nite
Ward
September 5th, 2012
2:46 am
nolie – Have a good! I’m going all the way with the Braves until the end , and next year will begin another season. Braves will get there. It just waiting……..Keep Hope All……., and Talk tomorow…… Peace my friends, and “Go!!!!!Braves!!!!!”
cowdogit
September 5th, 2012
2:59 am
Nolie is an amateur complainer, Like Obama” to much bitching but no solutions.
Ward
September 5th, 2012
3:11 am
Back for a second – DOB didn’t Medlens’ bad outing in triple AAA hurt him a little bit, and made the Braves think about it too much, because they put him into the bullpen too. Also, wasn’t the Braves despereate to get a starter in after the failed pitching by J.J., and Delgado, and Hanson. Some of it might be true about stetching his arm, but I’m just wondering if the Braves were desperate for a pitcher at tha t time? Glad it worked out though…….Peace Out! “Go!!!!!Braves!!!!!”
Jerry Sandusky
September 5th, 2012
3:50 am
So Chipper Jones is calling out Braves fans to fill Turner Field?
Here’s a novel idea: How about Braves management putting a product on the field that will make fans want to spend their hard earned money on going to the ball park? This Braves team is a frustrating team to watch. What sane fan wants to spend $80 on a decent seat, while spending additional money on food and parking? What rational fan is down for watching out supposedly playoff team get shut out by a team with the worst ERA in the National League…while committing 3 errors.
Hanson pitched great tonight? I guess that laboring through 5 innings is considered “great”? Please.
Bottom line…..play with some passion and a sense of urgency. Show some consistency on the field…quit playing sub .500 ball against sub .500 teams.
However, I seriously doubt that the sportswriters will call out Chipper Jones on calling out Braves fans for not showing up to Turner Field to watch Tuesday night’s debacle.
Ward
September 5th, 2012
3:58 am
As you all know some times I come back on the blog. Braves are at 76 wins. Braves need to win 14, or 15 to get the Wild Card. Braves Have 25 games left. Magice nuber is 14 wins, or 15. Come Braves. Think 14 wins to go……..14 wins to go…….This time I’m done for the night. Let’s go Braves…………..Go!!!!!Braves!!!!!” Yes, and Peace Out!
Tom O'Hawke
September 5th, 2012
4:28 am
David O’Brien
I believe the poster @ 3:50 am, and several earlier, is the permanently banned, Paul Lentz.
Even if I’m wrong (which I seriously doubt), his choice of using the name of a serial child rapist should be more than enough to give his IP the, hasta la vista, a-hole!
Lee in S GA
September 5th, 2012
5:34 am
poor game last night…..really believe the Cards and Dodgers will nail down the 2 w.c. spots,,,,,
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 5th, 2012
5:40 am
A poster with the name “Jerry Sandusky”… sounds like a
real classy individualcomplete idiotrichbrave
September 5th, 2012
6:11 am
“……Hanson (12-8) said he shouldn’t have given Pacheco a pitch to hit, but he said Gonzalez hit a good pitch.
“The 0-2 pitch needed to be buried,” Hanson said.
“The one to Gonzalez, not so much. He got me. He’s a good hitter and … that’s not one of those situations where I’m going to beat myself up over it.”
Hanson allowed two runs and five hits, including the two homers, in 5 2/3 innings. He has lost three straight starts.
Hanson left the game after he walked Tyler Colvin to load the bases with two outs in the sixth. Pacheco popped out to catcher David Ross on Peter Moylan’s first pitch.
Sloppy play by the Braves helped the Rockies add to their lead. The Braves, who began the night leading the NL in fielding, had three errors…..”
This says something to me. At this level the talent is fairly even. The team doesn’t throw three errors at MEDLEN’s effort when he pitches. Something’s going on in the clubhouse I think. The general attitude of the club appears much differennt when HANSON pitches, like people are holding their breath rather than being fired up and ready to play ball.
I don’t know squat of course. I’m just sitting here in the dark.
PETER MOYLAN is not the MOYLAN of four-five seasons ago. Not yet anyway. Not to me.
LUIS AVILAN is someone I never have had faith in since he came out of the DSL. I’m surprised and chagrin to see him with the big club. But, practice makes perfect I suppose.
I like the look of ‘Aussie’ ANDREW RUSSELL in GWINNETT. I don’t think he’s ready for ATLANTA just yet, but less than a season away. The book’s not really out on him just yet in LAWRENCEVILLE. He’s a RH reliefer who seems to be able to adjust as hitters do..
richbrave
September 5th, 2012
6:16 am
And a TOM O’HAWKE sighting.
That brightened my mood instantly.
Yo’ Tom O’. Music is where it’s happenin’ my man.
richbrave
September 5th, 2012
6:35 am
nolie
September 5th, 2012
2:35 am
“…….you are older than 67? You poor guy …..”
Hey, i resemble that remark.
richbrave
September 5th, 2012
6:40 am
I know the BRAVES malaise….they’re all waiting for CHIPPER to do it.
Jeff R
September 5th, 2012
7:04 am
Lost: The Braves’ offense. If found, please return to Turner Field.
Couch Tater
September 5th, 2012
7:12 am
16,686 in attendance, last night.
1st place Nats had 17,648 at home. Dang Cub fans.
..and they can’t even pronounce
SmarzijaSamarjdizaSamarjizaSamardzija.Couch Tater
September 5th, 2012
7:39 am
Ha! Ammo for the SABR members…
An inside look at scout school
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20030211&content_id=199087&fext=.jsp&c_id=null
George
September 5th, 2012
7:54 am
Still to HOT for Hanson.
Hanson & Durbin to Gwinnett.
AWESOME team.
Lew
September 5th, 2012
8:03 am
No, VJ does not make people look stupid – they do it all on their own. Constantly.
Lew
September 5th, 2012
8:05 am
And George – In case you weren’t aware, Hanson DID pitch pretty well last night and certainly much better than in recent outings. Kind of hard to win a game without your offense scoring runs.
But yeah, the pen sucked last night, too.
tiger297
September 5th, 2012
8:07 am
man a lot of idiot bitchin on the blog last night…at least it kept the whining about the team to a minimum
Tomahawkin (Suffering Fan)
September 5th, 2012
8:13 am
What a Trash Game Last Night, Its no wonder why only 11,000 people, if that showed up…
Gotta take the Rubber Match in this “Trap Series”
Tomahawkin (Suffering Fan)
September 5th, 2012
8:13 am
What a Trash Game Last Night, Its no wonder why only 11,000 people, if that showed up…
Gotta take the Rubber Match in this “Trap Series”
Tomahawkin (Suffering Fan)
September 5th, 2012
8:18 am
This offense worries the Holy Hell out of my Narrow Ass…They are reverting to their Sept 2011 form…
Can Someone please step up and Pull a 1999 version of Chipper Jones and carry this team for 2 weeks…
Every game from here on out is Huge!
Its Win or go play Golf
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 5th, 2012
8:22 am
This offense worries the Holy Hell out of my Narrow Ass
Brava
September 5th, 2012
8:38 am
This says something to me. At this level the talent is fairly even. The team doesn’t throw three errors at MEDLEN’s effort when he pitches. Something’s going on in the clubhouse I think. The general attitude of the club appears much differennt when HANSON pitches, like people are holding
their breath rather than being fired up and ready to play ball.
I get that feeling, too, rich. It could be a perception, but you have to wonder how the mindset of a team is affected when they play behind someone as efficient, aggressive and athletic as Medlen versus someone like Hanson who seems to labor through every appearance. It’s no secret he’s awful at holding runners on and fielding the position, so I imagine the guys are on a razor’s edge out there. Still, he gave them a chance to win and they didn’t hold up their end of the bargain.
Brava
September 5th, 2012
8:43 am
This offense worries the Holy Hell out of my Narrow Ass…They are reverting to their Sept 2011 form…
I agree, T. I don’t know what the answer is, but something’s going to have to start clicking offensively or this team is going to repeat what happened last season. I really hope that doesn’t happen.
Lew
September 5th, 2012
8:43 am
Yep – That IS the bottom line – Hanson pitched well enough to win and at the very least gave them a chance to win -which is damned hard to do when you score no runs.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 5th, 2012
8:45 am
Not even Greinke coulda won last night, not with this offense… but hey, we were “gifted” a win on Sunday, we “gave” it back to them last night. The hitters need to get on track, it’s a little concerning. Free Uggla!!! He had a good OPS in the last week of hitting before he got “benched”
Tomahawkin (Suffering Fan)
September 5th, 2012
8:49 am
Damn Brava
You got Killed on the Blog Last Night! OUCH!
Looks Like I need to return to the Ingame Blogging, So I can reclaim the status of the Blogger that everyone loves to btch about for their Ingame rants, lol….
Brava
September 5th, 2012
8:49 am
You know, TOBF, I agree. Put Uggla back out there and see what happens. Benching him obviously isn’t helping. Put the chips out there and let them fall where they fall.
MVPrado14
September 5th, 2012
8:50 am
Can’t see this team going better than 13-13 to finish things out and that will leave them at 89-73 and most likely out of the postseason
Brava
September 5th, 2012
8:51 am
Yeah, I got piled on, T, but what do you expect from that bunch? If you disagree with one, you face the wrath of all of them.
Brava
September 5th, 2012
8:52 am
Please do come back to ingame blogging, I miss your humor (well, at least when they’re winning).
Brava
September 5th, 2012
8:55 am
MVPrado14, that may be optimistic the way they are playing.
Tomahawkin (Suffering Fan)
September 5th, 2012
9:01 am
Alright!
Its about time they play My Old Foreigner on 97.1
That old Foreigner Goes Hard!
MFin04
September 5th, 2012
9:02 am
Well I’m pretty sure we all called that game last night. Guess we just have to get used to losing Tommy Hanson’s starts until the Braves decide to stop pitching him.
Oh well, gotta win the next two and win the series.
Brava
September 5th, 2012
9:03 am
I saw Foreigner two years ago at Chastain, T. Great concert.
MVPrado14
September 5th, 2012
9:04 am
True, Brava, but I broke it down this way
2 vs Col (1-1)
6 vs NYM (4-2)
6 vs FLA (4-2)
3 vs Was (1-2)
3 vs Mil (1-2)
3 vs Pit (1-2)
3 vs Phi (1-2)
brian
September 5th, 2012
9:04 am
last night’s loss is not on Hanson. It is on the offense, or lack of it. No way should the Braves be shut out by those pitchers
McFann :Ô: :Ô: :ô:
September 5th, 2012
9:04 am
nolie Frustrating when you see the same old pattern developing and realize that the outcome is likely not gonna be good
Yeah—might as well have had Chipper’s mother pitching against us!…
Tomahawkin (Suffering Fan)
September 5th, 2012
9:05 am
@Brava
I seriously hope you didn’t waste your time last night and watch the whole game?
I turned it off after the fifth inning and started watching Hardcore Pawn
Why is it that when Big Red pitches a good game, The offense hits like shyt? And when Big Red Sucks, The offense wants to have a coming out party?
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 5th, 2012
9:06 am
Can’t see this team going better than 13-13 to finish things out and that will leave them at 89-73 and most likely out of the postseason
Geez…
Tomahawkin (Suffering Fan)
September 5th, 2012
9:08 am
brian
“last night’s loss is not on Hanson. It is on the offense, or lack of it. No way should the Braves be shut out by those pitchers”
Cosign!
Havent we been Shut out 12 times Now? Thats alarming! The offense is back in Sept 2011 Form…Thats why our pitchers weren’t going deep into games
I’m not a Fredi Basher, The Team especially the so-called leaders need to start taking accountability for this ####
Brava
September 5th, 2012
9:08 am
Yeah, I could see that MVPrado14.
MVPrado14
September 5th, 2012
9:10 am
Wish I could see better, but the Braves have done little to inspire confidence the past few weeks.
Tomahawkin (Suffering Fan)
September 5th, 2012
9:10 am
Michael Bourn has hit like #### the last month, it quickly killed the thoughts of him getting 200 hits
Do Not resign him, Let him Sell out to LA or SF
MFin04
September 5th, 2012
9:12 am
Mine as well start playing Uggla. If the ship is going down, let’s go down swinging for the fences.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 5th, 2012
9:12 am
True, Brava, but I broke it down this way
2 vs Col (1-1)
6 vs NYM (4-2)
6 vs FLA (4-2)
3 vs Was (1-2)
3 vs Mil (1-2)
3 vs Pit (1-2)
3 vs Phi (1-2)
I think we could take the next 2 games, so I have that as 2-0. I’d put a 2-1 vs. the Nats (we’re at home, after all), 2-1 vs the Brewers (they sukk), 2-1 vs the Pirates (they have been falling off the pace), and 2-1 vs the Phillies, though your 1-2 is okay. I’m counting that as being 17-18 wins.
Of course, the offense will need to get it together at some point (Bourn needs to hit, *cough cough*) and we hope that the pitching keeps it up.
Dadgum.......
September 5th, 2012
9:13 am
So, the Braves got shutout by a very pedestrian lefty. Pedestrian is being kind. Oh well not going to beat that to death. I’m sure the late night crowd here took care of that.
I will say Hanson had a better outing, not great, better. Going 5+ innings at almost 100 pitches doesn’t indicate a great turnaround by any stretch but if we are going to constantly bash him we at least have to acknowledge when he shows improvement.
Congrats to Fredi on benching Uggla. Oh, and while I’m on the thought, yes indeed there was a shouting match regarding Uggla. Mentioned that on another post. Ok, last year Fredi would not have benched Uggla. This year is a not so patient Fredi. Uggla is better to come off the bench especially when/if McCann starts. Can’t have them both in the lineup to be certain. Fredi had to make the Uggla move as his job is seriously on the line. He won’t survive a 2nd collapse.
Speaking of collapse, it hasn’t reached Chernobyl proportions yet but the wild card lead is now 2 games over St. Louis. If the Braves don’t win the next two games they will have managed to lose at least two games to six straight opponents with a big road trip awaiting. Shut down the reactors. Quickly!
Rock on…..I’m still thinking the Braves will get the 2nd wild card but not as confident as I was a couple of weeks ago.
Brava
September 5th, 2012
9:13 am
Why is it that when Big Red pitches a good game, The offense hits like shyt? And when Big Red Sucks, The offense wants to have a coming out party?
Ain’t this the truth. Mind-boggling.
Brava
September 5th, 2012
9:17 am
I hope they can re-sign Bourn, myself, T. Yeah, he’s faded in the second half, but he’s a little guy and is probably physically exhausted. I doubt we’d be in contention for one of the WC slots without his contributions this season.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 5th, 2012
9:18 am
Michael Bourn has hit like #### the last month, it quickly killed the thoughts of him getting 200 hits
Do Not resign him
Only because he has struggled lately you don’t want him back? I’d love to have him back, but I believe that his price will be much too high.
Michael Bourn has hit .235/.332/.332/.663 since the ASG (13 SB, 3 CS). 50 Games, 46 Hits, 28 Runs, 5 Doubles, 4 Triples, and 2 HR. 26 BB vs. 57 Ks.
And we’ve been fine without him… we have a better Winning % in the 2nd half of the season than we had in the 1st half. Michael Bourn isn’t as necessary as some would like to believe.
Tomahawkin (Suffering Fan)
September 5th, 2012
9:19 am
MVPrado14
September 5th, 2012
9:10 am
Wish I could see better, but the Braves have done little to inspire confidence the past few weeks.”
Co-Sign
They are lifeless…If they fall behind early tonight, I’m Turning it to the Cowturds Game, So Glad the NFL is back
Tomahawkin (Suffering Fan)
September 5th, 2012
9:21 am
@TOBF
“Only because he has struggled lately you don’t want him back? I’d love to have him back, but I believe that his price will be much too high.”
Agreed, I just don’t want the Albatross of a contract if he gets hurt and turns into Kenny Lofton part 2
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 5th, 2012
9:22 am
I will say Hanson had a better outing, not great, better…..if we are going to constantly bash him we at least have to acknowledge when he shows improvement.
Indeed… he was good last night. First time in a while. Now he needs to repeat that through the end of the year, and the playoffs… convince someone to trade for him, despite how bad he was otherwise. If we can clear him next year and get a decent prospect in return, I’ll be quite happy. And very very surprised.
MFin04
September 5th, 2012
9:22 am
“last night’s loss is not on Hanson. It is on the offense, or lack of it”
Disagree. It is on Hanson. The Braves were bound to struggle against a lefty for 3 innings and the a lefty lineup vs a righty for the next however many innings.
But the way Tommy Hanson pitches and has pitched gives the offense little or no hope that they can win the game. Not to mention he lulls them to sleep with his ridiculously long innings.
Tommy has to find a way to keep the ball in the park. His stupid curveball that gives up at least 2 homers a game is just too easy for some guys to sit on and crush.
MFin04
September 5th, 2012
9:26 am
“Indeed… he was good last night.”
He really wasn’t that good last night. 5 2/3 with 2 earned runs given up. And if he was left in as usual he would have given up at least 4 runs, maybe 5. The guy always falls apart in his last inning pitched. Which then caused the team to have to throw a bunch of crappy reliever for a few innings which put the game out of reach. That is all on Tommy for not being able to go deep into games.
I mean he should be making it into the 8th inning if his only two runs came on solo shots, no reason for huge pitch counts.
Tomahawkin (Suffering Fan)
September 5th, 2012
9:27 am
Brava
“I hope they can re-sign Bourn, myself, T. Yeah, he’s faded in the second half, but he’s a little guy and is probably physically exhausted. I doubt we’d be in contention for one of the WC slots without his contributions this season.”
I Cant use the tired excuse for Bourn, A. Jones Played every inning of every game in 2001 during our last big pennant race to win the Division….
Brava
September 5th, 2012
9:28 am
Agreed, I just don’t want the Albatross of a contract if he gets hurt and turns into Kenny Lofton part 2
That’s always a gamble with multi-year contracts. I doubt they’ll be able to re-sign Bourn, anyway. Boras will get the most he can for him and it won’t be from Atlanta. The only way he stays is if he personally wants to and takes less money than he could get elsewhere.
raleighbravefan
September 5th, 2012
9:28 am
Brava – Sorry if I overreacted last night…not my intention. I often may disagree with you, but certainly have nothing personal against you. I believe in differences of opinion and healthy debate.
As far as getting jumped on by [a certain] crowd…I just think like minded people were disagreeing with you…probably too harshly. But, it’s no different than when the haters react in lockstep. Part of the blog dynamics.
The problem I had, is that I feel it is a pretty serious thing to call someone a liar. I know you are convenced that you are right, and that you have “proof”. From what I could see, however, was that Wren, like all of us, was very ‘irritated” at the collapse, and probably said some pretty harsh things in the heat of the moment. I do believe, upon reflection, that he proceeded as best he could during the Winter and ST, to put the best team on the field. If his actions during ST don’t match his voiced desires right after we missed the playoffs…well, I don’t consider that a lie. Difference of opinion here, and I appologize for any overreaction (heat of the moment, you know). I hope we are good.
Dadgum.......
September 5th, 2012
9:31 am
I remember not too many years ago we all clamored for a true lead off hitter with speed. Now we have one in Bourn who plays a sensational CF and, oh yeah, just happens to lead MLB in stolen bases over the last few years. Say what you want but I think the Braves need to resign him without question. Very possible they will get outbid by the big money markets but saying we don’t need him is just insane.
Brava
September 5th, 2012
9:31 am
Andruw is a bigger guy than Michael, T. Not trying to make excuses, but smaller guys tend to have less stamina in the long term. At least that’s my experience from the Army.
Brava
September 5th, 2012
9:34 am
Apology accepted, raleigh. We can agree to disagree on Frank. We’re good.
monty
September 5th, 2012
9:35 am
Braves barrelled up some balls last nite and everyone of them got hit right at someone. Way it goes sometimes. What I didn’t like was every guy they threw at us shut us down.
At some point we have to figure out how to beat lefties, because we’re sure going to face one in a 1 game playoff. Hanson gave us a quality start but the team seems to not play well when he pitches of late or else it’s my imagination.
brian
September 5th, 2012
9:35 am
if Bourn’s price and length of contract is what people here were thinking $18 million/year for 6-7 years, the BRaves need to look at other options such as Pagan or Victorinno who could likely be signed for 1/2-2/3 the money and 1/2 the duration.
Although no salary cap for MLB, the Braves are on a salary cap and must make the pieces fit. Bourn has reminded the Braves how important it is to have a great defensive CF and speed at the top of the lineup so if the Braves go another way, it has to be a solid option
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 5th, 2012
9:36 am
smaller guys tend to have less stamina in the long term.
Which is exactly why we shouldn’t sign Bourn to a 4-6 yr deal for more than 12mil/yr…… he’ll be toast by year 3-4.
Lew
September 5th, 2012
9:36 am
MFin04 – Sorry Dude, but that 9:22 post is pretty much FOS.
raleighbravefan
September 5th, 2012
9:36 am
I have no idea what moves would actually fit our budget for next year. I suspect We would have more $$$ if we have some home playoff games, and if attendance picks up. Otherwise, you can’t really blame LM for no increases.
Re-sign Bourn? Great. Greinke? Bring him on. Same for Shields. I’m for whatever we can do to improve this team….but not if we burden ourselves with the yoke of a contract that is too long, and too expensive for the payroll constraints. I trust Wren to spend whatever $$$ he does have in a way that, at least on paper, is the best we can do. You cannot ever predict injuries or underperformance.
MFin04
September 5th, 2012
9:37 am
“I remember not too many years ago we all clamored for a true lead off hitter with speed. Now we have one in Bourn who plays a sensational CF and, oh yeah, just happens to lead MLB in stolen bases over the last few years.”
Yep. I think people don’t know what they have until it is gone. Michael Bourn has single-handedly won games for the Braves this year with his speed on the basepaths and in CF.
When singles, doubles, and triples start falling in CF like they did with McLouth and Schafer out there, and the team stops scoring on sac flys to 2nd baseman and we get shutout more often everyone will truly miss Michael Bourn.
raleighbravefan
September 5th, 2012
9:38 am
Thanks, Brava. (We never have to agree, but no reason to be disagreeable. Easy to react when you feel you’ve been attacked).
monty
September 5th, 2012
9:40 am
Only way the game is on Hanson is if you think he should of hit a 2 run HR to tie the game and failed.
Dadgum.......
September 5th, 2012
9:42 am
To be honest with you I would rather pony up and pay Bourn and jettison Uggla and his contract than keep Uggla and lose Bourn. Wren is going to have some tough work this off season and McCann to follow.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 5th, 2012
9:43 am
Bourjos has speed and plays great defense…. Jon Jay can hit and plays good defense as well (not as great as Bourn though). He also has a little speed. Jay’s OBP, SLG, and OPS are all higher than Bourn’s
Jay has been better than Bourn offensively the last 2 years…. be “cheaper” to get (if the Cards will trade him)
Brava
September 5th, 2012
9:43 am
I trust Wren to spend whatever $$$ he does have in a way that, at least on paper, is the best we can do.
I do too. I may doubt his honesty, at times, but not his savvy as a GM. He’s good at getting value for his limited bucks.
monty
September 5th, 2012
9:44 am
Smaller guys can’t hang? Nobody told Willie Mays and Hank Aaron that and both of them would be considered “smaller types” by todays standards. Under 6 feet and less than 190. Medlen is 5′10 and 190 and folks consider him a midget.
MFin04
September 5th, 2012
9:45 am
“Only way the game is on Hanson is if…”
Is that he gave up 2 homers and threw 96 pitches in 5 2/3 innings and left the game without a lead. He should be thanking his lucky stars the bullpen saved his butt from having a 4 or 5 earned run game. Guy was fortunate to escape with the line he did.
As for the offense. What did everyone expect against a lefty with an ERA through the roof? And as soon as the Braves started to make adjustments they switched to a righty. Quite brilliant considering we had a lineup that was strongly suited for a lefty.
Brava
September 5th, 2012
9:45 am
(We never have to agree, but no reason to be disagreeable. Easy to react when you feel you’ve been attacked).
We can certainly agree on this.
MFin04
September 5th, 2012
9:48 am
The biggest problem with this lineup is that are 3 and 4 hitters (or 4 and 5 hitters) for this year are both hitting like 8 and 9 hitters. That is quite unfortunate.
Brava
September 5th, 2012
9:49 am
Smaller guys can’t hang?
No, I wasn’t implying that, at all. It’s just that smaller guys tend to wear down faster than larger ones over prolonged periods of physical stress. Is that an absolute? No, but it’s something I observed frequently with guys in the Army.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 5th, 2012
9:50 am
Jon Jay last 2 years: 251 games .304/.366/.422/.788 118 OPS+, 59 BB 132 K
Bourn last 2 years: 293 games .289/.351/.396/.747 104 OPS+, 112 BB, 271 K
Brava
September 5th, 2012
9:50 am
Actually, guys and gals, the same held true for both.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 5th, 2012
9:52 am
The “Ace” or #1-2 pitcher, Zack Greinke got over his initial struggles… 3 straight wins… Last night, he went 7IP, allowing 4 Hits (1HR), 1 ER, and walking 2, striking out 4. He’s gonna have another good 2nd half (for his career, he has a better 2nd half ERA). Also, September is his best month ERA and peripheral-wise, except for April/March. He’s gonna be good for the Angels. Hopefully we can snag him in the offseason, he’ll be good for us.
Last 3 starts for Greinke: 21.1 IP (avg 7+ a start), 14 Hits, 6 BB, 16 Ks, 4 runs allowed. .179/.235/.333/.569 opponent stat line.
Brava
September 5th, 2012
9:56 am
TOBF, I just don’t see Wren going after a high-priced pitcher like Greinke. Especially, if Meds keeps pitching like he has. Don’t think he’ll see it as a need. I could be wrong.
MFin04
September 5th, 2012
9:57 am
John Jay 111 runs last 2 years
Michael Bourn 182 runs last 2 years
Brava
September 5th, 2012
10:03 am
Well, it looked like it was going to rain this morning, so I thought I was stuck indoors today. The sun has come out now and I have a yard to mow. Later, everyone.
Jimmy
September 5th, 2012
10:07 am
Brava – “tend to wear down faster than larger ones over prolonged periods of physical stress”.
Well, I can tell you I’m wearing down fast following this team. I’ve been under “prolonged periods of physical stress” watching this past week.
I certainly hope I’m wrong, but it seems like I’ve been here before.
I wonder if some of the players feel that way too?
keyLargo
September 5th, 2012
10:09 am
Andruw is a bigger guy than Michael, T. Not trying to make excuses, but smaller guys tend to have less stamina in the long term.
Andruw was a little taller but no bigger than Bourn when he came up. He was 6′ 1″ and 180
Oh, and somebody tell the Kenyans to stop winning any race over 10K.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 5th, 2012
10:14 am
John Jay 111 runs last 2 years
Michael Bourn 182 runs last 2 years
I averaged the numbers by Plate Appearances, since Jay has had fewer PAs in 2 years than Bourn has… I set the number of PAs that both would receive in a year at 650.
If both guys performed at their current rates, Jay would score 81 runs in a year…. Bourn would score 88. 18mil dollars is definitely worth those 7 runs.
raleighbravefan
September 5th, 2012
10:23 am
Larger (stronger) body types tend to be more durable over time. That is a broud statement, with plenty of exceptions. Biggest modifying facter is physical condition. Genitics is a major factor as well. Only thing you can probably say is ALL OTHER THINGS BEING EQUAL (and they never are), the larger guy in good condition will likely be more durable…unless, of course, he is so well conditioned, that he is able to put more stress on his body than a human is designed for.
MFin04
September 5th, 2012
10:24 am
“If both guys performed at their current rates, Jay would score 81 runs in a year…. Bourn would score 88.”
One guy is doing it and the other “could” do it. I don’t buy it. (I’m sure if Chipper played 162 games he could hit a ton of homers too.)
There is a reason Michael Bourn should get paid. It is because he DOES get the plate appearances, he DOES bat leadoff, and he DOES score runs.
And he scores runs that a lot of other guys don’t score.
ncscoots
September 5th, 2012
10:26 am
The Braves were encouraged by the way Teheran finished the season in Gwinnett, allowing two or fewer earned runs in three of his final four starts. Teheran said he made an adjustment holding his glove higher.
Does that mean he’s breaking his hands at a different point, or starting his motion differently, or what? Or is he talking about from the stretch? Did he elaborate on that at all, David?
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 5th, 2012
10:26 am
All numbers are averaged out over 650 PAs a year.
Jay would avg. 175 hits a year, Bourn 169.
Jay would also avg. 43 walks a year vs. 97 Ks Bourn 54 Walks, 131 Ks
Jay would avg. 49 RBIs a year, Bourn 51
Jay 28 doubles Bourn 27
Jay 4 triples Bourn 10
Jay 10 HR/yr Bourn 5
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 5th, 2012
10:28 am
There is a reason Michael Bourn should get paid. It is because he DOES get the plate appearances, he DOES bat leadoff, and he DOES score runs.
And Jay is pretty close to doing so, and is 2 years younger. Comes cheaper too. Won’t need to worry about him falling off a cliff if he loses his legs at age 34 (which Bourn might do)
You don’t give 18mil dollars to a speedster, or a catcher. Let Bourn walk if that’s what he wants.
raleighbravefan
September 5th, 2012
10:29 am
My “ideal” new car would be a Lexus RX. I have owned 3. When I go shopping for my next new car, it will be hard to justify the payments, as I ease into retirement. I probavbly will settle for a Toyota.
“Ideal” would be Bourn, and a very good pitcher (some would say Greinke, for example) Braves will probably have to buy some Toyotas…or a Lexus, and some Yugos.
Lew
September 5th, 2012
10:29 am
Some of y’all act as if at age 35, Michael Bourn will be running the bases in a Hoveround or hobbling with a walker.
Dude’s in great shape and moves better than 99% of players in MLB. I really don’t think it will be a concern. Now the strikeouts, however…….
MFin04
September 5th, 2012
10:30 am
“All numbers are averaged out over 650 PAs a year.”
Just stop. This is the least reliable source of information ever posted.
Show me what both guys actually HAVE done.
ncscoots
September 5th, 2012
10:30 am
I just don’t see Wren going after a high-priced pitcher like Greinke. Especially, if Meds keeps pitching like he has. Don’t think he’ll see it as a need
A scarier notion than even signing Bourn to some monster contract.
If Frank can’t see the need for a front-line pitcher to pair with Hudson (and to lead the staff when Huddy finally goes), his living room will be hip-deep in elephant-bleep this offseason.
raleighbravefan
September 5th, 2012
10:31 am
MFin – Agree 100%…or at lest 95%…about Bourn. He has done it, and is doing it. Biggest questions are, for how long?, and for how much?
Lew
September 5th, 2012
10:31 am
“If he loses his legs at age 34″
Did your psychic predict an auto accident with major injuries?
MFin04
September 5th, 2012
10:33 am
“You don’t give 18mil dollars to a speedster, or a catcher.”
Or a 2nd baseman…or a starting pitcher…or a 3rd baseman…or any position if you are the Braves.
But $18 million for any player that is the best at HIS position is reasonable, just not for the Braves.
Murph
September 5th, 2012
10:35 am
In 2 years people are going to be saying the same thing about a Bourn contract that they are about the Uggla contract. Too much money, too many years, hamstrings the front office, etc etc etc.
I say let ‘em both walk. Make an offer to Bourn to get the draft pick, trade Uggla and some cash for a prospect or two, move Prado to 2B, play Francisco at 3B, and buy/trade for the best LF and CF that the team can afford after all other moves are made.
Francisco at 3B and Prado at 2B can’t be any worse than Prado at 3B and Uggla at 2B. Francisco strikes out a lot, but he’s done pretty darn good this season when starting.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 5th, 2012
10:37 am
If Frank doesn’t get some top pitcher and re-signs Bourn to some ridiculous contract, I might have to join the crazies and call for his head!
Show me what both guys actually HAVE done.
I already did… higher batting avg, obp, slg,ops, and OPS+ than Bourn over the last 2 years… I averaged out the stats for both guys to give an apples to apples comparison. Bourn has played more games than Jay in the last 2 years, so I wanted to get a fair comparison.
Some of y’all act as if at age 35, Michael Bourn will be running the bases in a Hoveround or hobbling with a walker.
Dude’s in great shape and moves better than 99% of players in MLB. I really don’t think it will be a concern. Now the strikeouts, however……
If he’s (possibly) tired now, and that’s the reason he’s hit .230 since the ASB, imagine what’ll happen when he is 35… He won’t be in a hoverround, but he won’t be that fast either… You’ll be paying 18mil for a guy who can steal 20 bases and covers avg. to just above avg. ground in CF. I’ll pass. Get a younger guy who can produce, use the money elsewhere. And, yes the K’s are concerning. Almost at a Dan Uggla level (Bourn w/ 271 Ks last 2 years, Uggla 306)
MFin04
September 5th, 2012
10:38 am
“Make an offer to Bourn to get the draft pick, trade Uggla and some cash for a prospect or two, move Prado to 2B, play Francisco at 3B, and buy/trade for the best LF and CF that the team can afford after all other moves are made.”
No thanks. Sign Bourn. Keep Uggla (no one can suck this bad forever). Francisco can be a bench bat. Prado at third. Sign a LF that can mash to replace Chipper.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 5th, 2012
10:40 am
Did your psychic predict an auto accident with major injuries?
Loses his speed at age 34… better?
Murph
September 5th, 2012
10:42 am
Keep in mind that you’re seeing a career-year from Bourn right now… he isn’t going to produce like this through all 5 or 6 years of his contract.
And yes, Uggla can be this bad forever. The guy has shown zero ability to make adjustments. Unless pitchers start pitching to his strengths again, and why would they, he’s likely to keep on his current path until he can learn to fix what’s wrong.
Don’t see it happening.
Lew
September 5th, 2012
10:42 am
There have been quite a few major signings in the past couple of years and though all are of course different in their own way, one thing seems to remain a constant – In order to get the player you ant, you usually need to go a year or so more than you’d like and each and every one of these players is likely to see their performance decline by the end of the deal.
Of course, we’re usually talking about 6-8 year deals that carry the player way into their (by baseball terms) dotage. Bourn, however, won’t go for 6-8 years and is not likely to cost as much as some of the others. But like MFin04 said – the best player at his position is going to be paid like it.
We’ve been lacking a lead off hitter since Raffy left. We have one now and we CAN afford to pay him a goodlyamount of money. Why keep looking for what you finally found? Sign him and be don with it.
Lew
September 5th, 2012
10:42 am
There have been quite a few major signings in the past couple of years and though all are of course different in their own way, one thing seems to remain a constant – In order to get the player you ant, you usually need to go a year or so more than you’d like and each and every one of these players is likely to see their performance decline by the end of the deal.
Of course, we’re usually talking about 6-8 year deals that carry the player way into their (by baseball terms) dotage. Bourn, however, won’t go for 6-8 years and is not likely to cost as much as some of the others. But like MFin04 said – the best player at his position is going to be paid like it.
We’ve been lacking a lead off hitter since Raffy left. We have one now and we CAN afford to pay him a goodlyamount of money. Why keep looking for what you finally found? Sign him and be don with it.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 5th, 2012
10:44 am
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1321688-6-options-for-the-atlanta-braves-to-replace-dan-uggla-in-the-offseason
The 6 options are…
1. Move Prado to Second, Have Juan Francisco Man Third
No… hell no
2. Move Prado to Second, Sign Kevin Youkilis
Might be okay, if it’s a reasonable price.
3. Move Prado to Second, Sign Scott Rolen to Fill the Gap
I’d rather get a 3B that isn’t injured often.
4. Sign Kelly Johnson at Second
Another low average guy… Yikes. The writer attributes Kelly’s low average to playing in the AL East.
5. Re-Acquire Omar Infante
Can’t see it happening… A good Uggla is still better
6. Trade for Jose Altuve
Would be nice, but if I’m the Astros, he’s one the guys I’m building around.
Lew
September 5th, 2012
10:45 am
Well, I don’t know that it needed to be said twice, but…..
And Uggla is not going to be traded and they aren’t going to eat tens of millions of dollars to trade him for a prospect or two, no matter how much the Fantasy Baseballers think it should happen.
Maybe if he struggles again next year, they’ll explore other contingencies, but certainly not after two years of a five year deal with almost $40 mil owing. They just won’t.
CB
September 5th, 2012
10:47 am
I would rather build the team with trades like Shields, Haren or those type who are not going to cost us a fortune. Bourn will be way out of our price range, need to save our big bucks to lock up some of our young talent( Prado,Freeman,Heyward) who still are young enough to have a future. Trade for Willingham or his type of player and settle for a Pagan or trade for a Cain or Fowler CF and play ball next season.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 5th, 2012
10:48 am
Bourn, however, won’t go for 6-8 years and is not likely to cost as much as some of the others.
Hah… Bourn will get a 6yr offer from someone… and someone will give him 15+ a year, maybe even 20.
We’ve been lacking a lead off hitter since Raffy left.
Prado? He can leadoff…. not as big a SB threat as Bourn, but he gets on base. And even on the stolen bases, Bourn has been tame this year with the stolen bases… not as big a factor.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 5th, 2012
10:50 am
No thanks. Sign Bourn. Keep Uggla (no one can suck this bad forever). Francisco can be a bench bat. Prado at third. Sign a LF that can mash to replace Chipper.
Replace the sign Bourn with trade for Jay/similar CF…
MFin04
September 5th, 2012
10:53 am
2011 John Jay played in 159 games and scored 56 runs
2012 John Jay played in 92 games and scored 55 runs (projected to score 66 runs)
2011 Michael Bourn played in 158 games and scored 94 runs
2012 Michael Bourn played in 135 games and scored 88 runs (projected to score 105 runs)
Seems to me one guy is consistent the other guy is a huge question mark to score the runs or to play in all the games.
Lew
September 5th, 2012
10:53 am
Bourn the past four seasons -
09 – .285, .354, .384
10 – .265, .341, .346
11 – .294, .349, .386
12 – .284, .354, .409
Not sure where that career year we keep hearing about is. Seems to me that he’s put up quite similar numbers for four seasons now. But h, an extra 6 HR from a non HR hitter IS a career best. Not sure I’d hang a career year tag on this year based on 6 HR, though when all other numbers are pretty much identical.
ncscoots
September 5th, 2012
10:54 am
Don’t see [Uggla back to from] happening.
Everybody knows that players simply can’t recover from a bad year. Right. You bet.
The Braves aren’t going to lose Chipper to retirement, Bourn to FA (probably), PLUS open up another offensive hole by trading away their only RH sock. Got to get a grip, here. They spent years trying to find RH power, and folks think they’ll turn around and trade the guy? Why do you think they signed him so quickly, in the first place? Because they didn’t want to return to the same need.
People who think Dan Uggla is cooked, well, it’s certainly your right to think that. But you’ll just have to suffer, in that case, because I doubt the FO shares the opinion.
Lew
September 5th, 2012
10:55 am
Better? Maybe, but it’s still pretty ridiculous.
Arkansas Transplant
September 5th, 2012
10:56 am
I don’t think Bourn will be worth the amount given him, whether it be from the Braves or someone else. I just don’t see it.
raleighbravefan
September 5th, 2012
10:57 am
Bourn will probably get $18M or so, 6-7 years…Greinke will probably get $20M or more, 7-8 years. Even if those estimates are a little high, hard to fit them into the Braves payroll, unless LM makes some adjustments. It’s up to Wren (and Scheurholz, and Bobby Cox, and McGuirk) to figure it out. By the way, Wren doesn’t make these decisions without input, just like Fredi doesn’t make major moves (ie bench Uggla) without input.
Lew
September 5th, 2012
10:58 am
And yes, I realize that Prado can do anything – it’s why he’s my new favorite player with Chipper leaving. Hell – he can play all nine positions ance and bat everywhere in the lineup. Why do we even need anyone else?
ncscoots
September 5th, 2012
11:00 am
CB has the right of it at 10:47. CF is the least of the priorities, and you don’t spend all your bank on the thing you need least.
RH OF power, a front-line pitcher, and see what’s left for CF. I guess they could always try to find a CF with thump, but I don’t think those are growing on trees.
Arkansas Transplant
September 5th, 2012
11:01 am
Maybe if he struggles again next year, they’ll explore other contingencies
And this is why I say now would be the best time, for this reason alone. As it’s be stated over and over on this blog, everyone has a down year but what happens if that down year becomes 2yrs? He’s got more value right now than he would if he follows up this year with another one just like it or even worse. Not to mention, he didn’t exactly set the world on fire for much of last season.
DAP
September 5th, 2012
11:01 am
murph Francisco at 3B and Prado at 2B can’t be any worse than Prado at 3B and Uggla at 2B.
yeah it could.
MFin04
September 5th, 2012
11:02 am
“I don’t think Bourn will be worth the amount given him, whether it be from the Braves or someone else. I just don’t see it.”
It will be worth it for a team that can afford him. Not every team plays on an level playing field or has the same budget. That is like saying a Ferrari isn’t worth it for Bill Gates or isn’t worth it for your everyday blogger. Sure we can’t afford it, but if Bill Gates can it is worth it to have a freakin’ Ferrari.
Lew
September 5th, 2012
11:02 am
When you have a system that rewards past performance at a younger age by giving out escalating long term contracts that see higher salaries the older a player gets, you will almost ALWAYS see a deficit between pay and ability at the end of said contract. It’s the nature of the beast – in order to get those great formances early on in th contract, overpayment is usually going to occur.
But hey – we could just keep going like we have for years and keep bringing in a succession of Loafs and Melkys and Mathers cause that has worked so well all these years.
Lew
September 5th, 2012
11:04 am
Or better yet, lets just give Constanza or Durango the job and save lots of money.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 5th, 2012
11:04 am
Not sure where that career year we keep hearing about is.
His avg/obp/slg/ops and OPS+are all above his career norms, with his OPS and OPS+ being well above his avg. His WAR is at 5.7 and will likely be over 6 at years’ end… he’s never been this high before. He had a WAR of 4.7 in ‘09, 5.3 in ‘10 and 3.0 last year.
WAR of 6 vs. WAR of 4…. that’s called above avg/career year
MFin04
September 5th, 2012
11:04 am
“Loafs and Melkys and Mathers”
Nate McLouth, Rick Ankiel, Ken Griffey Jr (oh wait…)
(Troy Glaus, Derrek Lee)
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 5th, 2012
11:06 am
CB has the right of it at 10:47. CF is the least of the priorities, and you don’t spend all your bank on the thing you need least.
RH OF power, a front-line pitcher, and see what’s left for CF
Co-Sign!!!!
Arkansas Transplant
September 5th, 2012
11:07 am
MF, just cause a team can afford to give him 18 doesn’t make him a 18 million dollar player. And the rest of your paragraph, I have no idea what your trying to say?
MFin04
September 5th, 2012
11:08 am
And of course Michael Bourn after his career year will completely stop trying to play baseball, will refuse to slug extra base hits anymore, and stop trying to score runs with his speed because he just doesn’t want to run hard anymore.
Lew
September 5th, 2012
11:10 am
Transplant – Dream on. Uggla will be a Brave next year and will start the season at second base. Just because they let KK rot in AA with a year of less than $7 mil at stake and dumped Lowe with a single year left in his contract to save $5 mil in a terrible salary year, does nothing to tell you that Uggla, with almost $40 mil owing and three more years on his deal to go will be dumped either for a lame trade or while eating tens of millions of $$$$$.
It’s not going to happen – and like someone earlier mentioned – There has never been an incident of players improving after a down year, so no way it could happen in Dan’s case.
Arkansas Transplant
September 5th, 2012
11:10 am
Priority one should be a top flight pitcher.
MFin04
September 5th, 2012
11:10 am
Of course after Zack Greinke signs his 5 year $100 million contract he will return to Cy Young form and pitch 5 consecutive years of 16-8 baseball with a 2.16 ERA.
Dadgum.......
September 5th, 2012
11:10 am
Prado would do for a short time as a lead off for an average team. He is ideally suited for the 2 or 6 slot and playing 2nd base. Exactly where he is now. Uggla is better off coming off the bench to help the team. Not ideally but that is the hand we are now dealt hoping for the best.
raleighbravefan
September 5th, 2012
11:10 am
MFin – Bourn and Jay are both consistant…Bourn is consistantly (and significantly) better.
Never say never (or always), but I would be astonished if Uggla is moved (wouldn’t be the first time I get astonished, of course). Just not going to happen. As for Uggla returning to form…how many said Heyward was done?
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 5th, 2012
11:13 am
Yeah, how about give Bourn 18mil for 6 years… he’ll still be great when he’s 36
That means Prado plays LF and 3B, Juan plays 3B (except for lefties), we have to get a RH power bat that mashes lefties, and we roll with our rotation of #3s and 4s (except for Huddy, who’s a declining #2).
Sounds great to me… NOT. Fill in LF and/or SP (which can be done cheaper and for less risky players than Bourn) and go cheaper and defense oriented in CF. Bourjos or Jay, please.
MFin04
September 5th, 2012
11:13 am
“just cause a team can afford to give him 18 doesn’t make him a 18 million dollar player.”
Michael Bourn is EASILY an $18 million player. Just because the Braves can’t afford him, doesn’t mean he isn’t worth it. He IS worth it, we just can’t pay him that. The guy is an elite CF with a unique skill set that very few if any in baseball can match.
Arkansas Transplant
September 5th, 2012
11:13 am
Lew, I’m not trying to say what the Braves will or won’t do but what I am saying is they’d be best served to move him now. Are you telling me that Uggla is so bad that he doesn’t have any value? If so, why do you want him at 2nd anyways? So why does it offend you so bad to think of moving him earlier than later?
DAP
September 5th, 2012
11:14 am
lew We’ve been lacking a lead off hitter since Raffy left.
not really. furcal has been overrated. prado is better.
Lew
September 5th, 2012
11:15 am
Only Braves -WAR be damned – he’s playing for a winnig teamminstead of a perrenial cellar dweller who wouldn’t have won if the had an outfield of Bourns.
His slash lines are almost identical for four years. He’s hitting right on his four year average for doubles and triples. He’s stealing bases at about the same rate (or a bit less). The only differences are in HR and RBI (and how many times have we heard that RBI are more indicative of runners on base than a personal stat?).
No career year – it’s an absolutely typical Bourn year. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 5th, 2012
11:16 am
And of course Michael Bourn after his career year will completely stop trying to play baseball, will refuse to slug extra base hits anymore, and stop trying to score runs with his speed because he just doesn’t want to run hard anymore.
Not what I said… but he will start to “decline” after his age 32-33 season… he won’t be as fast, and it’s his legs/speed that make him valuable.
Of course after Zack Greinke signs his 5 year $100 million contract he will return to Cy Young form and pitch 5 consecutive years of 16-8 baseball with a 2.16 ERA.
5 years 89 million, with a 6th year option for 15mil
However, Greinke isn’t the only pitcher we can target… there are trade possibilities too.
Arkansas Transplant
September 5th, 2012
11:16 am
The guy is an elite CF with a unique skill set
And what exactly is that skill set that sets him so apart from the rest of the league? Defense? Cause I’ve seen some pretty good defense from other players. Offense? He hasn’t been lighting it up much lately. Speed? He’s definitely got that. Your right, give the guy 18 million over 6 years.
Lew
September 5th, 2012
11:17 am
Transplant – How could they possibly be better served moving him now if they get a crap return or have to eat lots of money – a commodity they seemingly don’t have enough of? And they have no one better to replace him with.
And don’t hand me the move Martin to second line again.
Dadgum.......
September 5th, 2012
11:19 am
No question Uggla gets a pass into 2013. Agree with Lew there but not so sure after that if the production remains real poor.
Also agree that Prado, as the team is currently structured, is best suited for 3rd base next year. We need a big RH bat for LF. A resurgent Uggla at 2nd and a steady Prado at 3rd with the Simmons kid at SS along with Freeman is pretty damn strong.
DAP
September 5th, 2012
11:19 am
dadgum Prado would do for a short time as a lead off for an average team
or he could hit leadoff for a powerhouse team. im not sure why a player who is as good a hitter as prado would be a sign of an average team, if he were batting leadoff.
raleighbravefan
September 5th, 2012
11:20 am
Lew – You are right about baseball economics. Young stars are way underpaid, aging stars are almost always paid too much in their final years for the actual production on the field. A GM earns his money by getting great production out of guys during their middle years, and evening out the cost of young/cheap vs old/overpaid. The system is at its best when you have a Chipper Jones, who you are rewarding for production he actually gave you through the years.
Arkansas Transplant
September 5th, 2012
11:21 am
Lew, and what makes you think they would have to eat money? I don’t think they would, and like you said, it’s a great commodity. To which would be better served using it elsewhere for this club.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 5th, 2012
11:21 am
ot really. furcal has been overrated. prado is better.
I wouldn’t say Furcal is overrated, but we do have a damn good leadoff hitter in Prado. If Bourn walks, we’re not doomed there.
He’s stealing bases at about the same rate (or a bit less)
“Only” on pace for 45 this year… he hasn’t stolen as much since he’s come to Atlanta. And has been caught more often as well (though there were at least 4-5 bad calls)
The guy is an elite CF with a unique skill set that very few if any in baseball can match.
For defense alone, Trout and Bourjos can go step for step with Bourn.
Arkansas Transplant
September 5th, 2012
11:23 am
And as far as getting crap back. How is that any different than what we’re currently getting?
cricket
September 5th, 2012
11:23 am
Why is it that when Big Red pitches a good game, The offense hits like shyt?
how many times has this actually happened this year?
MFin04
September 5th, 2012
11:23 am
It makes ZERO sense to get rid of Uggla. We already have enough holes to fill, and Prado can’t start at 3 different positions in the SAME game.
With Uggla gone you have to fill 3rd, LF, and 2nd. Not gonna happen.
Uggla will be at 2nd next year, and hopefully tonight. (I’m pretty much done with the idea of sitting him. Let him play.) Prado at 3rd or LF depending on which the Braves acquire in the off-season. If they don’t acquire anyone we are pretty much doomed with the Loaf/Melky crap again.
ncscoots
September 5th, 2012
11:23 am
im not sure why a player who is as good a hitter as prado would be a sign of an average team, if he were batting leadoff.
DAP, you’re wise to question such a notion.
Prado would be absolutely fine at the top of the order, nothing wrong with that at all.
Yikes!
September 5th, 2012
11:24 am
Uggla is staying, warts and all. The Braves best option in the off season is to send him to Tibet to live with some guru who will whisper positive reinforcement into his ear and tell him it’s ok to try to take a level cut and just try to put the ball into play sometimes.
The guru’s name would not be Walker or Fletcher. You can be the best coach in the world but if you have a charge who won’t listen or implement your advice, your efforts and knowledge is worthless.
raleighbravefan
September 5th, 2012
11:24 am
TOBF – “cheaper and less risky” ….you mean like your boy, Greinke. I don’t think he is cheap OR less risky.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 5th, 2012
11:25 am
Actually, you know what? Bourn is worth more than 18mil yr…. we’ll have to pay him more than that to get him to stay. And will have to go an extra year as well… how about 7-8 years at 21mil yr? We just signed ourselves a new slugger!!! Nice. That’s Holliday kinda money. Oh wait, he’s a speedster who is 30? Likely to not be as fast in 3-4 years? Oh, well yikes…..
DAP
September 5th, 2012
11:25 am
theonlybravesfan I wouldn’t say Furcal is overrated
when people say the braves havent had a good leadoff hitter since furcal, he is being overrated.
Dadgum.......
September 5th, 2012
11:28 am
DAP…..the Braves are a good team and we have a great lead off guy. The Braves would not be as strong if Prado was lead off and we didn’t have Bourn. Pretty obvious I think. Prado is not a lead off hitter IMO full time.
ncscoots
September 5th, 2012
11:29 am
when people say the braves havent had a good leadoff hitter since furcal, he is being overrated.
That’s because too many folks equate “good leadoff hitter” with “speedy SB guy”, when the two are not even remotely the same.
Lew
September 5th, 2012
11:29 am
Only fans with that omnipresent Fantasy Baseball mentality (if a player has two ofer games, pull someone else off the list of remaining players and dump the “offender) would realize that they have a team with definite needs to fill (LF/3B, CF) and decide that dumping players necessitating yet more moves and filling needs that don’t need fillijng should take precedence over filling vacancies.
It’s going to be all Wren can do this winter to fill the openings he absolutely MUST fill and deal with all of the arbitration eligible players withoput adding more to the To Do list when they aren’t necessary to do.
Murph
September 5th, 2012
11:32 am
What makes people think that Uggla will return to form? He has had 4 months where he hit better than .240 in a Braves uniform… that’s 4 out of 12. He’s had 5 months where he hit under .200.
I think this IS Uggla’s form. At least it’s his form since coming to Atlanta.
Lew
September 5th, 2012
11:32 am
Furcal may not have been the greatest lead off man, but until Bourn came to the Braves, we haven’t had anyone nearly as good as Furcal since he left.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 5th, 2012
11:33 am
Prado hit leadoff in 2010 (he hit from that position the most that year)…. his line was .322/.362/.521/.882. Remind me why he can’t hit leadoff?
TOBF – “cheaper and less risky” ….you mean like your boy, Greinke. I don’t think he is cheap OR less risky.
Not just Greinke… Willingham, Shields, etc… And it also varies by position and age… at 28, for a pitcher, Greinke is entering his prime… same with Shields being 30, he’s in his prime.
Bourn is 30 and is a speedster CF… he won’t keep this up for another 7-9 years. Greinke, Shields, other pitchers can, and the OFers I’d like to acquire are either young (Jay) or signed at a reasonable short-term deal. (Willingham)
Lew
September 5th, 2012
11:36 am
Kind of hard to overrate someone when who you’re comparing him to is Nate McLouth.
Murph
September 5th, 2012
11:36 am
25 years old
$480k/year
132 AB’s
.280/.314/.538/.852
8 HR
25 RBI
Let Juan start!
brian
September 5th, 2012
11:36 am
TOBF-
Option 7 – move Prado to 2B, trade for Headley, man CF with Pagan/Victorino/Bourjos, and sign a LF. Uggla sent packing
sounds good but never will happen
George_George
September 5th, 2012
11:36 am
Good morning all
GOOD GRIEF. Sad night at THE TED, BRAVES played like sad sacks. Annouced attendence, less than 17,000 less than half that number really there, shades of MONTREAL. TRUELY SAD.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 5th, 2012
11:36 am
That’s because too many folks equate “good leadoff hitter” with “speedy SB guy”, when the two are not even remotely the same.
True…. they’re in love with the stolen bases. I admit that I am too, but I also know that SBs aren’t necessary from your leadoff hitter. Getting on base is.
abeeeewright
September 5th, 2012
11:37 am
Just a drive-by post.
What do Terry Pendleton, Larry Parrish, and soon, Greg Walker all have in common?
Sent to the unemployment line by the same inconsistent bunch of hitters.
If anyone wanted proof that “it ain’t the hitting coach” you need to look no further than the 2009-2012 Atlanta Braves.
Mitchell
September 5th, 2012
11:38 am
3-15 Monday record.
5-10 against the division rival Nationals.
12 times shut-out by opponent.
Narrowly escaped a sweep at home by a fourth place Phillies team.
9 f*ing hits… ZERO RUNS. Against, who?!
“They had early scoring chances against rookie left-hander Drew Pomeranz, who came in with one win in 16 starts and was 0-5 with a 7.04 ERA in his previous nine games.”
The Braves have a lot of *%$#@ to talk about attendance after last night.
There really could not possibly be anyone left in Braves Country dumb enough to believe Sunday’s comeback win would have any significance beyond what it was: one game.
Miracle 9th inning comebacks and Kris Medlen shut-outs. There’s your route map to October.
Good luck with that.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 5th, 2012
11:39 am
Let Juan start!
Grief… him and that horrible swing won’t last long… he’ll be looking silly even against RHP soon. He’d have to platoon for sure, meaning that Prado does as well. Then we have to pay 5mil or so for a decent part time OF that mashes lefties.
abeeeewright
September 5th, 2012
11:40 am
The positive to take out of last night’s game is that Hanson was locating his fastball much better than in his previous starts. He has come to rely too much on his breaking ball, due to the overall suckiness of his fastball.
Got beat by Cargo on a good pitch. Hung a curve to P-new-guy.
Held a very good Rockies line-up to two home runs. Could have finished the fifth with a good play by SS or 2B.
DAP
September 5th, 2012
11:41 am
dadgum The Braves would not be as strong if Prado was lead off and we didn’t have Bourn. Pretty obvious I think. Prado is not a lead off hitter IMO full time.
he isnt because we have bourn. doesnt mean he couldnt be, or that any given team would be “average” with a guy like prado leading off.
cricket
September 5th, 2012
11:42 am
good comment on HBT about attendance –
danandcasey – Sep 5, 2012 at 10:24 AM
JJ – I understand your point. I have lived in the ATL for the last 10 years. It took me a couple years to figure it out. There are four types of fans in Atlanta. Baseball fans, who moved to Atlanta from somewhere else and are passionate about another team. They go to the TED to see their favorite team when they are in town and maybe go to another game or two during the season just because they like baseball. In these games, they root for the Braves, but they are not going to go crazy for the Braves (I fall into this category). Then there are football fans who like sports in general and like to see games. They root for the Braves during football’s off season but lose interest if the Braves are bad or Fall comes around. Third, there are people with sufficient disposable income to go to games regularly as something to do or a place to be seen. You see them behind the plate playing with their iPhones. Finally, there are Braves fans. Many live further out from the metro area (or around the country and may visit once a summer). They come to the games when they can and they cheer. But they cannot get into the city often and they do not outnumber the other three groups.
abeeeewright
September 5th, 2012
11:43 am
I’m not sure if I’ve seen 10Paul’s last 9 of the starting 9 lately.
I have a feeling that the last 15 of the starting 9 is pretty ugly.
Although some of the pain has been caused by good pitching, last night’s array by the Rockies was terrible and the Braves couldn’t muster anything.
Lew
September 5th, 2012
11:43 am
In his career, Prado has hit -
1st – .298, .340, .469, .809
6th – .333, .366, .462, .827
7th – .319, .338, .377, .715
8th – .389, .443, .648, .1.091
Maybe we should have him hitting in front of the pitcher or maybe sixth?
Point is that Martin will do well whereever you play him in the field or where he hits in the batting order. It doesn’t mean he’s who you need at leadoff.
Arkansas Transplant
September 5th, 2012
11:44 am
Uggla in some package to Detroit for Infante and McCann or other package would be fine with me. At least we’d receive a replacement option at 2nd if we were unable to find a suitable player.
MFin04
September 5th, 2012
11:44 am
“SBs aren’t necessary from your leadoff hitter. Getting on base is.”
Scoring Runs is the most important aspect of a leadoff hitter. Speed helps you accomplish this goal. Getting on base at a high rate does as well.
George_George
September 5th, 2012
11:44 am
Murph
September 5th, 2012
11:36 am
25 years old
$480k/year
132 AB’s
.280/.314/.538/.852
8 HR
25 RBI
Let Juan start!
***********
He might be ok there next year with MARTIN playing 2ND if we can get rid of DAN.
Tomahawkin (Suffering Fan)
September 5th, 2012
11:46 am
MFin04
“The biggest problem with this lineup is that are 3 and 4 hitters (or 4 and 5 hitters) for this year are both hitting like 8 and 9 hitters. That is quite unfortunate.”
Co-Sign! Matt Chernoff Said it best, This is a lineup full of streaky hitters, It seems like they like to all go into slumps in groups, like 3-4 hitters all fall in deep slumps at the same time
And this team is picking the wrong time of the year to suck at hitting with RISP
Yikes!
September 5th, 2012
11:46 am
Chipper calling out the fans on Twitter.
He better watch it. They ran David Justice out of town for doing the same thing in the middle of a World Series that the Braves actually won!
ncscoots
September 5th, 2012
11:47 am
Scoring Runs is the most important aspect of a leadoff hitter. Speed helps you accomplish this goal.
Basepath speed and SBs aren’t the same thing, either. I’m not sure that you meant that, but I’m taking it that way, just so I can make this post.
Lew
September 5th, 2012
11:48 am
They probably won’t run Chipper out of town – he’s retiring.
Lew
September 5th, 2012
11:48 am
And it wasn’t the fans who traded Justice.
Tomahawkin (Suffering Fan)
September 5th, 2012
11:49 am
cricket
Why is it that when Big Red pitches a good game, The offense hits like shyt?—T-Hawkin
“how many times has this actually happened this year?”
I was referring to over the course of his Braves career, sorry
David O'Brien
September 5th, 2012
11:49 am
Chipper calling out the fans on Twitter.
He better watch it. They ran David Justice out of town for doing the same thing in the middle of a World Series that the Braves actually won! — Yikes!
So you think they’ll run Chipper out of town, not let him play here again in 2013?
CB
September 5th, 2012
11:49 am
Anybody catch any numbers on Hanson’s FB? Seemed to be a little sharper.
MVPrado14
September 5th, 2012
11:50 am
“Miracle 9th inning comebacks and Kris Medlen shut-outs. There’s your route map to October.”
That’s why anyone who is honestly expecting to see this team play beyond that Pittsburgh series is in for a serious letdown.
It’s been a nice season with a few moments to savor, but when it’s all said and done, the word to describe the 2012 Atlanta Braves will be “inconsistent”. And inconsistent teams seldom play in October.