Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
2,160 comments Add your comment
Dan Faber
September 7th, 2012
4:13 pm
Where’s Simmons already?!!!
ncscoots
September 7th, 2012
4:16 pm
We really need Ross to be the Number One guy for now
Yes, and Reed Johnson five days a week. And an occasional Constanza Bonanza. And hit Prado in the middle of the order. All things that really spell “playoffs”. Yowsah.
phil
September 7th, 2012
4:17 pm
If we don’t sweep these Mets, the season is an abject failure….
ncscoots
September 7th, 2012
4:18 pm
If we don’t sweep these Mets, the season is an abject failure….
I think somebody beat you to that call, around June, I think. Maybe May.
Efrim
September 7th, 2012
4:20 pm
I don’t like seeing Prado at SS or batting #5.
tony austin
September 7th, 2012
4:22 pm
I don’t mind Janish’s bat in the lineup as I would rather see him at short, no offense to Prado. It’s Uggla’s and McCann’s bats that make Janish’s bat stand out so much. If those two weren’t such an automatic out nowadays, Janish’s low offense could be overlooked.
Efrim
September 7th, 2012
4:22 pm
24 games to go. Exactly one month from the one game bonanza on Friday, October 5th. Yippee.
Fly On The Wall
September 7th, 2012
4:22 pm
If someone would figure out what a bat is for….we wouldn’t have to play Prado at SS.
Lew
September 7th, 2012
4:22 pm
Hell – If it adds 7 years to your life, I’d better get to booing – I’m not getting ny younger.
cricket
September 7th, 2012
4:23 pm
from verducci -
Until 2007, baseball never had seen a second baseman strike out 160 times in back-to-back seasons. But then Dan Uggla did it (2007-08), and now Danny Espinosa of Washington is just three whiffs from joining him, and Kelly Johnson of Toronto is just 19 punchouts from joining both of them.
.
.
By the time DiMaggio struck out 200 times, he had played seven years, made seven All-Star teams and won two MVP awards.
Heisenberg
September 7th, 2012
4:23 pm
Maybe try Bourn at #5. He has one of the highest (if not the highest) averages on team hitting with runners on base. Somewhere in these blogs I recall reading that.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 7th, 2012
4:25 pm
And Uggla or Freeman at leadoff since they have “high” OBPs….
ncscoots
September 7th, 2012
4:25 pm
Maybe try Bourn at #5.
That’s right, just put more notions in Fredo’s head, LOL.
Efrim
September 7th, 2012
4:26 pm
The Nationals have a hell of a final 19 games: @ Atlanta 3, vs. LAD 3, vs. Milwaukee 4, @Philly 3, @ STL 3, vs. Philly 3…….
Semper Fi Braves Fan
September 7th, 2012
4:27 pm
CAC write up about our SS situation. The Rev, was listed as the lowest WAR in the ML at SS.
http://capitolavenueclub.com/?p=7742&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+CapitolAvenueClub+%28Capitol+Avenue+Club%29&utm_content=ESPN
MVPrado14
September 7th, 2012
4:27 pm
They’ll still go something like 12-7
Efrim
September 7th, 2012
4:27 pm
I guess 100 wins isn’t out of the question for Washington, but I’m thinking they’ll fall well below that.
Billy Beaneater
September 7th, 2012
4:28 pm
DOB!! Phil Spector Ramones(with a Sax solo no less)!! Reminds me of the time they were on with Regis & Kathy Lee. How about PJ Soles dreaming of Joey singing ‘I want to be your boyfriend’?
Heisenberg
September 7th, 2012
4:29 pm
Back in the ‘roids days, 180+ Ks and 40+ HRs were common. So the logic was we can live with the Ks because we are getting the long balls and ribbies and striking out is acceptable. Well this in not how it is now and we need to get back to when striking out was a bad thing.
cricket
September 7th, 2012
4:29 pm
is 98 well below?
Efrim
September 7th, 2012
4:29 pm
Although damn, 85-52, I guess my “well below” is 97 wins. Hah!
phil
September 7th, 2012
4:29 pm
Oprah Winfrey spotted in Atlanta
****************
Semper Fi Braves Fan
September 7th, 2012
4:30 pm
In all Simmons is hitting 3-11 in 3 rehab starts so far. (1 hit in each game)
Efrim
September 7th, 2012
4:31 pm
Simply amazing. They are at +134 in run differential, 2nd in baseball to the Texas Rangers. Nationals have just murdered teams this year. When I thought the Cards might help us, they take 3 of 4, then they don’t sleep on the Cubs and beat the living crud out of them for a four game sweep.
MVPrado14
September 7th, 2012
4:31 pm
Washington’s XWL is 100-62, Atlanta’s is 92-70
Probably about right
phil
September 7th, 2012
4:31 pm
The 3 games the Nats play in Atlanta don’t exactly qualify as difficult for them….
If we win one, we’ll be fortunate.
Murph
September 7th, 2012
4:32 pm
The Nationals have a hell of a final 19 games: @ Atlanta 3, vs. LAD 3, vs. Milwaukee 4, @Philly 3, @ STL 3, vs. Philly 3…….
But those games against Philly are automatic wins… at least that’s what people on here were saying a month ago.
Efrim
September 7th, 2012
4:32 pm
Nats are 36-18 in the 2nd half.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 7th, 2012
4:33 pm
I’m out guys, take care… Braves win tonight, look for good nights from every batter, but esp. Ross, Prado, Uggla, and Heyward… I think Heyward and Uggla go deep.
Go Braves. Peace.
Efrim
September 7th, 2012
4:33 pm
Wow, scratch that. Nationals are #1 in run differential at +135 ahead of the Rangers who are at +120. They have the next best team in the NL(Cards) at +38 runs.
phil
September 7th, 2012
4:33 pm
Note that most of what people say on here is horse manure….
Heisenberg
September 7th, 2012
4:33 pm
“And Uggla or Freeman at leadoff since they have “high” OBPs”
****************
Joe Madden would do it.
Heisenberg
September 7th, 2012
4:36 pm
“Note that most of what people say on here is horse manure…”
******************
I prefer bovine fecal matter.
brian
September 7th, 2012
4:36 pm
Scoots. Reed Johnson has the law of diminishing returns label applied to him. The more you use him the less effective he becomes. Using him 3 starts a week is probably about right
brian
September 7th, 2012
4:38 pm
Cricket- striking out used to be considered a bad thing. How many players now shorten up their swing to make contact with 2 strikes
brian
September 7th, 2012
4:39 pm
Still wonder why Fredi did such a flip flop with uggla
Heisenberg
September 7th, 2012
4:41 pm
efrim, Nats beating Cards 3 of 4 probably worked out better for Braves. They will not catch Nats for division, so why not put some distance on other WC teams. A 3 game lead with 24 to play should be a lock, right?
Rodney Derrick
September 7th, 2012
4:42 pm
Considering DOB said Jeff Baker is 6 for 12 against Niese, you really have to wonder why this would not be a good spot to start Baker instead of strike out king “His name is Dan Uggla”.
Semper Fi Braves Fan
September 7th, 2012
4:42 pm
There was an interview done with Dan Uggla after his 2nd day on the bench, totally paraphrasing here. Uggla said something along the lines of. I contribute every time out, have a high OBP, and always a threat to go deep, even if he is in a slump. Along with that pitchers take notice of my spot in the line up and have to choose how they pitch to those before me.
He was back in the line up the next day.
Heisenberg
September 7th, 2012
4:47 pm
Sempi Fi, I saw that interview and did not care for the answer Danny Boy gave. I would have preferred he acknowledged he is struggling and needs to work towards making changes to get better. That did not sit well with me and I have gotten more critical of him since.
Pitcher do take notice of his spot in the lineup so they know where they can get an out.
bravofan
September 7th, 2012
4:47 pm
this chipper press conference live on braves.com is great stuff
bravofan
September 7th, 2012
4:48 pm
LIKE this Thanks Chipper page!!
http://www.facebook.com/ThanksChipper
RC
September 7th, 2012
4:49 pm
He was back in the line up the next day.
And has been every game since.
I don’t really know the right answer here. Much as I thought he should be benched, I kind of agreed with everything he said. And he’s a hell of a lot better offensive presence than Janish. Selfishly, I wouldn’t mind Prado continuing to flip back and forth from SS to 2b the rest of the season, to give me added eligibility for him in my fantasy baseball keeper league. But from a real standpoint, the team is probably best with Prado in left, Uggla at 2b, and Simmons at SS vs. RHP, and swapping Johnson for Uggla while moving Prado to 2b vs LHP.
RC
September 7th, 2012
4:51 pm
Pitcher do take notice of his spot in the lineup so they know where they can get an out.
No more than they do that with Janish. The fact that he’s walked as much as he has is evidence that pitchers are still pitching around him, regardless of whether or not it’s justified.
bravofan
September 7th, 2012
4:51 pm
Chipper in the live interview was talking about the ny media and how they sometimes take it out of context and he said if Dave O Brien says something out of context that he will walk up to him and give him a wedgie.
Zing
September 7th, 2012
4:55 pm
I don’t like Prado at #5 either, but I understand how Fredi got there. I also don’t like him at SS (though he’s changing my mind), though, again, you see how that happens as well. I’d much rather see Uggs on the bench at this point and Prado at 2B. It’s time to sit the slumpers– Mac, you’re great, but you’re hurt. We’ll play you 2 out of 5 games, max. Uggla, going almost 100 games hitting below .200 proves either that (i) you’re a stubborn cuss who won’t adapt or change or (ii) you’ve lost it. I don’t think it’s (ii), but if you do this next year, I sure will.
TennesseePaul
September 7th, 2012
4:58 pm
Thanks for the work DOB. Awesome read.
GO CHIPPER!!
GO BRAVES!!
Last 9 Starts of the Starting 9
_________AVG__OBP__SLG___OPS_wOBA_L9S9+
Bourn__ .207 .368 .207 0.575 .319 ___75
Reed___ .306 .324 .389 0.713 .315 __113
Chipper .286 .342 .371 0.714 .370 __113
Freeman .200 .444 .320 0.764 .374 __131
Prado__ .343 .368 .571 0.940 .419 __178
Heyward .222 .243 .278 0.521 .232 ___55
Uggla__ .188 .257 .406 0.663 .286 ___96
Ross___ .273 .342 .485 0.827 .352 __145
Maholm_ .053 .100 .053 0.153 .074 __-54
phil
September 7th, 2012
5:00 pm
Uggla at .188
Wonderful.
Kat
September 7th, 2012
5:02 pm
RT @Mets #Mets presented @RealCJ10 with this original @Fazzino Shea Stadium piece on his final trip to Queens https://twitter.com/Mets/status/244177992417423361/photo/1/large
Kat
September 7th, 2012
5:02 pm
The LARRY sign in the painting is the best!
Jeff R
September 7th, 2012
5:07 pm
I’m looking forward to another 1-0 victory by the Braves tonight, with Chipper hitting a solo dinger.
Felix
September 7th, 2012
5:07 pm
You guys are asking for too much. At this point, I just hope this constipated offense finally scores an earned run.
Murph
September 7th, 2012
5:07 pm
Uggla’s recent OBP is better than Heyward’s… yikes.
DAP
September 7th, 2012
5:09 pm
whats wrong with prado batting 5th?
cabravesfan
September 7th, 2012
5:11 pm
For those that can’t quite make it out, the blimp in the painting Chipper got is towing a banner that says “Congratulations Chipper on your Hall of Fame Career” (or something very close to that)- nice touch
Kat
September 7th, 2012
5:12 pm
I hope they also honor him on the field.
Semper Fi Braves Fan
September 7th, 2012
5:14 pm
So am I reading that right?? Prado is playing SS tonight
cabravesfan
September 7th, 2012
5:14 pm
Kat-
I believe I read somewhere that they may not do that, only because they were concerned about the fan reaction…
DAP
September 7th, 2012
5:14 pm
cabFor those that can’t quite make it out
lew…
cabravesfan
September 7th, 2012
5:16 pm
Also, there is apparently rain in the forecast, possibly tonight and tomorrow in New York…
Joe Simpson
September 7th, 2012
5:16 pm
Tonight’s the night! My Danny boy, the great clutch power hitter, will go on a tear starting tonight. The Mets had better watch out! As a career .240 hitter, when it comes to good hitters, I know what I’m talking about.
O.M.G.
September 7th, 2012
5:16 pm
Cab, they have no class.
Bob
September 7th, 2012
5:16 pm
DOB…you’re a smart man and thanks for this article. Who is at fault with this lousy hitting? The players or are they getting bad instruction from the coaches? Is the organization not teaching fundamentals? Sure seems like we’ve gone through a long period of lousy hitting under the Cox/Fredi era. At times, it looks like we’re still trying for that three run homer rather than just get on base or move the runner over. Thanks.
cabravesfan
September 7th, 2012
5:17 pm
DAP-
VJ couldn’t read it either. I just have really good eyesight.
Jeff R
September 7th, 2012
5:17 pm
Prado’s at short because Uggla was benched earlier in the week. Huh?
Kat
September 7th, 2012
5:18 pm
cab – Mets shouldn’t be afraid of their own fans . what’s worse is being *that team that doesn’t acknowledge him on the field or having their fans boo him. I dunno… I’ll be disappointed in them if they don’t. They’d be putting their team/fans above honoring him on field.
O.M.G.
September 7th, 2012
5:21 pm
We can afford to have Dan’s dead bat and poor defence in the line up, but we can’t afford to have Janish’s dead bat and great defence in the line up? Makes no sense.
Billy Beaneater
September 7th, 2012
5:22 pm
Are you drunk JS?
cabravesfan
September 7th, 2012
5:22 pm
Kat-
One could make the argument that they should put their fans & team above honoring Chipper
Doesn’t really bother me either way- they have honored him and the fans will boo anyways…
cowdogit
September 7th, 2012
5:23 pm
Constanza needs to get out of the braves organizatiom, Even after winning the AAA hitting championship, He’s not going to get a chance to play even with a team thats desperate to score runs. Washington would be a great place for him.
David O'Brien
September 7th, 2012
5:23 pm
Chipper had a press conference, where the Mets exec Jeff Wilpon gave him a really cool pop-art painting that had Chipper’s face and stats on the scoreboard, and a “Larry” sign in the crowd, etc. It’s nice. Not just some boring watercolor.
He said at the press conference, “I’m in awe of how much attention this series is getting,” and also said, ‘Make no mistake, this is my last trip in.”
http://yfrog.com/oexgxwxuj
The media horde that turned out for Chipper’s presser
http://yfrog.com/oexgxwxuj
The painting
http://yfrog.com/oexgxwxuj
Charlie Manuel
September 7th, 2012
5:25 pm
To the Mets: Watch out for that Chipper Jones! Don’t you dare pitch to him with the game on the line. I did and really screwed up. He beat our butts with a 3 run homer that still hasn’t landed.
David O'Brien
September 7th, 2012
5:25 pm
Simmons playing another rehab playoff game for Lynchburg tonight, then they’ll decide if he comes up tomorrow to join Braves in New York. If one of the minor league teams, Rome or Lynchburg, advances in the playoffs, he could play more rehab games if they think it’d help him….
Sheets is throwing a side session today, but even if all goes well, no immediate plans to start him anywhere, since minor league seasons are over and Braves aren’t going back to 6-man rotation.
O.M.G.
September 7th, 2012
5:26 pm
The N.Y. fans should give Chipper a standing O before his last a bat just like every other city has done.
Kat
September 7th, 2012
5:26 pm
The only reason the fans boo is because he’s good. He isn’t a roid user, never hit their players (that I remember). It’s not like he did something bad that they shouldn’t honor him on the field. It’s just their fans are well mad he’s so good. No crime or anything bad with that. Now if he did do something really wrong that they hated him for that’d be a different circumstance. That’s all I was feeling.
Kat
September 7th, 2012
5:28 pm
O.M.G… I’ll be there Sunday so I plan to stand and cheer at his last at bat. I may be the only one but there’ll be at least one person haha.
cabravesfan
September 7th, 2012
5:29 pm
Kat-
Oh, I was not arguing with you at all
It would be nice to honor him on the field, but because he has been such a Mets killer in the past, I think they were afraid some fans wouldn’t appreciate it. At least, that is what I seem to recall reading. Doesn’t mean they won’t do anything.
mexican brave
September 7th, 2012
5:33 pm
Will be going to Foley’s bar (now Chipper’s) tonight…anyone else?
southern hope
September 7th, 2012
5:33 pm
I always sound like a broken record on game days, but, dang, DOB, you can really write. Thanks for the great blog.
mexican brave
September 7th, 2012
5:34 pm
Kat..I’m algo gonna be at CitiField on Sunday! What section are you gonna be in?
ACE
September 7th, 2012
5:37 pm
Thank you DOB
Kat
September 7th, 2012
5:37 pm
cab – I know
Kat
September 7th, 2012
5:39 pm
mexican brave –
I actually don’t know yet as I’m getting them complementary from an employee of the Mets. I think around sec 124 as that’s where the comp tickets normally are, but generally they gets them in the 120s so I assume around there.
Kat
September 7th, 2012
5:40 pm
*get
RC
September 7th, 2012
5:43 pm
Even though I get why they decorated that way for the press conference, seeing Chipper sitting behind a table with “METS” plastered all over it and the wall behind him feels like some trippy nightmare. Fortunately he’s wearing his “A” hat to let me know I’m still sane….
Jerry
September 7th, 2012
5:51 pm
Well, didn’t take long for ole Fredi to lose the balls that he finally grew. Why the hell would he even call Uggla into his office and make a big production number outta sitting his ass down if he’s only going to stand by that decision for 2 days? Makes no friggin sense, but what the hell. It gives me someone to boo tonight. And look at the bright side, if he’s in the lineup, he will be under .200 before the season is over. That will be a great day for everyone who tried to convince me that he deserved to be an all star and that he is an on base machine.
David O'Brien
September 7th, 2012
5:55 pm
Mets will play a video tribute to Chipper a few minutes before tonight’s game. Haven’t announced it, though. So worried about how their fans would handle it.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 7th, 2012
5:56 pm
Uggla has good stats against Niese…. don’t see why we people have a problem with him getting a start. We’ve got to get him going at some point.
Disgusted
September 7th, 2012
5:57 pm
I doubt that Mc Shamm gets 5 extra base hits the rest of the season.
Hell, he might not even get 5 base hits all total. He will be lucky if he drives in two runs the rest of the way.
I have had it with him & he deserves to be Booed.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 7th, 2012
5:58 pm
I think the Mets fans will be classy… it’s his last series there. New Yorkers aren’t all that bad.
ACE
September 7th, 2012
6:01 pm
Let’s go Chipperrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
ChipperisGod
September 7th, 2012
6:02 pm
Great write up, DOB. Hopefully Chipper has one dagger left to drive into the Mets heart for us to get a series victory.
Really hope we get the bats going, and I hope Simmons comes back tomorrow!
Charlie Manuel
September 7th, 2012
6:03 pm
I really shouldn’t have let Papelbon pitch to Chipper. My Mom always said I was a bit slow.
Kat
September 7th, 2012
6:05 pm
Thanks David for the info on the video. Will be interesting. I really think they’ll clap for him.
Yogi Berra
September 7th, 2012
6:06 pm
Uggla 188..wow!
I read earlier today that McCann was hitting 168 ba for the last 24 games.
Chipper will shine in NY and so will Braves.
ACE
September 7th, 2012
6:09 pm
I know this a big IF but if Uggla could get hot what a lift it would be. For the reamaining regular season games and the playoffs.
Fredi G.
September 7th, 2012
6:10 pm
I’m starting Uggla because he said that if I didn’t start him he would punch me in the nose.
Jerry
September 7th, 2012
6:11 pm
Uggla has good stats against Niese…. don’t see why we people have a problem with him getting a start. We’ve got to get him going at some point. TOBF
Well hell TOBF, what does it matter how ell he USED do against Niese, he won’t tonight! But by all means, look up all the pitchers he has faced this year that he had good numbers against and he his failure rate now. It’s a new day and time for Uggla and what used to be the norm certianly isn’t any more.
Jerry
September 7th, 2012
6:11 pm
certainly*
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 7th, 2012
6:13 pm
I read earlier today that McCann was hitting 168 ba for the last 24 games.
Chipper will shine in NY and so will Braves.
He is, unfortunately… if Dan is gonna have his starts so should McCann (seems like it’s happened already, due to injuries and matchups). It’s been a tough year.