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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1,141 comments Add your comment
Animus
September 16th, 2012
3:04 pm
Here’s hoping Minor can complete the sweep – just needs a little help from the bats.
DiamondbackMac
September 16th, 2012
3:08 pm
Thanks for the new blog Carroll.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 16th, 2012
3:08 pm
Thanks CR!
Go get ‘em Braves!
Mixxo
September 16th, 2012
3:10 pm
Thanks Carroll!
Venice Jim
September 16th, 2012
3:13 pm
Thank you, Carroll!
nolie
September 16th, 2012
3:14 pm
Thank you Carroll. You need to bring us the kinda good luck tonight that David has the last two nights though….
haggard
September 16th, 2012
3:15 pm
Thanks for the new goods, Carroll.
I’m just hoping the weather holds here in Atlanta as a front moves in that supposed to dump 2 to 3 inches through Tuesday.
jeffrey d
September 16th, 2012
3:16 pm
Thanks Carroll!
haggard
September 16th, 2012
3:16 pm
kenhotlanta
I’m so sorry to hear of all you and your family have lost. My prayers are with you, good man.
Efrim
September 16th, 2012
3:17 pm
#5 for a contender? I think he’s a #5 for a re-building team….
Can you please name me some #5’s for contenders?
Tip O' the Cap
September 16th, 2012
3:17 pm
Ha ha! Teflon gloves. He needs to get a suit of armor, too.
Weaseal
September 16th, 2012
3:18 pm
2 nights of Prime Time for Oh Atlanta… Go Braves & Falcons we need to win both @ Home !!!
Steve
September 16th, 2012
3:18 pm
Diaz will be released.
nolakid21
September 16th, 2012
3:23 pm
We don’t want Hudson pitching the 1 game play-in. His numbers show a true inconsistency and the amount of runs he has given up in the 1st inning this year are shocking. He is a sinker pitcher so it can take him a few innings to start finding his groove. Medlen is the clear choice to pitch the WC game because his command is lethal right now and he has command over 5 pitches.
nolie
September 16th, 2012
3:23 pm
they might make a cheap offer to Diaz, if they can’t get something done with Reed
Mixxo
September 16th, 2012
3:24 pm
kenhotlanta -
Thoughts are with you my friend.
haggard
September 16th, 2012
3:26 pm
nolie
Thanks for the “Insider” scoop. Tom Verducci also has good things to say about the hometown nine.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/tom_verducci/09/11/kris-medlen-atlanta-braves/index.html
monty
September 16th, 2012
3:26 pm
Bad news about BMAC. Shoulder, now he can’t squat. Always thought he should change positions, he was such a good hitter,shame to let the hard life of catching rob you of what you do best. Hit!
haggard
September 16th, 2012
3:27 pm
Hey Mixxo.!
haggard
September 16th, 2012
3:28 pm
Time to forage for some late lunch. See ya’ll for the game Go Braves !
Mixxo
September 16th, 2012
3:29 pm
Whaddaya say Hag?!
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 16th, 2012
3:37 pm
Can you please name me some #5’s for contenders?
Nats- Edwin Jackson 3.89 ERA, 28 Starts, 173 IP 1.198 WHIP , .238 OBA 103 ERA+ 1.8 WAR
Giants- Barry Zito 4.21 ERA, 29 Starts, 167 IP, 1.37 WHIP, .259 OBA, 82 ERA+, -0.2 WAR
And Zito is considered a bad pitcher…. he’s close to Tommy’s numbers, but his periphs are better
Tigers- Drew Smyly 4.26 ERA, 16 Starts, 87 IP, 1.281 WHIP, .254 OBA, 98 ERA+, 1.1 WAR
Tommy Hanson 4.33 ERA, 28 starts, 158 innings, 1.450 WHIP, .270 OBA, 93 ERA+, -0.4 WAR (worse than Zito’s)
Efrim
September 16th, 2012
3:42 pm
And Zito is considered a bad pitcher…. he’s close to Tommy’s numbers, but his periphs are better
You can’t seriously think that Hanson is a worse pitcher than Zito…..
And also, I think you said “maybe” a #5 on a rebuilding team. You have no idea what you’re talking about if you’re going to say something like that.
You’re position on Hanson is getting close to MFin’s, and thats really sad.
nolie
September 16th, 2012
3:49 pm
Hanson a 3 on many rebuilding teams, 4 on many contenders. would take a deep staff to make him a 5 at this point.
Course he could continue to go downhill or blow out his arm….
or he could gradually improve his command some and produce better
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 16th, 2012
3:52 pm
I didn’t say maybe… I said I think. I’ve seen him pitch. I’ve looked at his stats. He’s gotten worse every year. Why exactly should I/we expect that to change? I sure hope that we can trade him… let some other team try him out. Doing so helps us quite a bit. Especially if we can wrangle a good player for him… it’d be a steal.
BTBUS
September 16th, 2012
3:52 pm
Med Dog for the Wildcard game!
cabravesfan
September 16th, 2012
3:56 pm
Eli doing what Eli does…
Kat
September 16th, 2012
4:01 pm
Chipper on SNL.. hmmm
http://mlbfancave.mlb.com/fancave/blog.jsp?content=article&content_id=38517922&partnerId=th_twitter#fbid=xxYrWMBBFSP
Carroll Rogers
September 16th, 2012
4:09 pm
you’re welcome, y’all….since it’s going to take all day for this game to start (smile), might as well have some new material.
Efrim
September 16th, 2012
4:09 pm
I’ve seen him pitch. I’ve looked at his stats.
And clearly haven’t looked at other teams starting pitchers to think he’s maybe a #5 on a rebuilding team. That’s absurd. Are you aware at how bad some of the other staffs there are out there? Obviously not.
nolie
September 16th, 2012
4:12 pm
calm down guys, we don’t want another Mixxo situation…….
Nova Scotia Steve
September 16th, 2012
4:14 pm
The only way Chipper lands on SNL is if he can do a skit involving a camo jump suit, fake deer antlers and a cross bow.
Kat
September 16th, 2012
4:18 pm
@Braves
Tonight’s lineup vs. WSH (8:05, ESPN/680AM/BRN): Bourn 8 Johnson 7 Heyward 9 Jones 5 Freeman 3 Uggla 4 Ross 2 Simmons 6 Minor 1
Bravefaninok
September 16th, 2012
4:18 pm
Atlanta Braves @Braves
Tonight’s lineup vs. WSH (8:05, ESPN/680AM/BRN): Bourn 8 Johnson 7 Heyward 9 Jones 5 Freeman 3 Uggla 4 Ross 2 Simmons 6 Minor 1
chipontheroad
September 16th, 2012
4:18 pm
If you had to put five names in a hat from starters on the braves 40 man roster and the name you pulled had to go seven innings in one game play-off would you put Tommy’s name in the hat?
nolie
September 16th, 2012
4:18 pm
Buster Olney ESPN Insider
How Braves Learned From Their Collapse
ATLANTA — There was a basketball court of sorts set up in the Braves’ clubhouse on Saturday, with two shopping carts positioned as baskets on opposite sides of the room, about 20 feet apart. The object was to fire the ball into the top part of the cart — where a toddler would sit — and with great focus and intensity and laughter, various Atlanta players took turns attempting to successfully drop high-arcing shots into that very small space.
Dan Uggla was consistently good at this; Freddie Freeman got better when he made more athletic moves, rather than standing still as if he was shooting free throws. Craig Kimbrel had his right shoulder wrapped as part of his daily treatment and tried shooting with his left hand, which was unfortunate.
The players laughed with and at each other as this went on, and it was in the midst of that hilarity that one of them raised the subject of last September’s collapse with a reporter.
“Hey, it happened,” the veteran said. “There’s no sense in avoiding the topic.”
And they don’t. It’s just an acknowledged element of their shared history, in the way that an employee remembers the job interview he botched before joining his current company, or how a divorced man jokes about the alimony paid to an ex-wife. The context for the present is provided by the past.
Fredi Gonzalez will tell you flatly that he learned from what happened last September. This September, he’s been much less patient with the status quo and much more willing to make changes. Uggla was benched, and the slumping and injured Brian McCann was moved down in the lineup. Ben Sheets pitched well and was in the rotation, but then he struggled and has now been shifted into the bullpen.
Because of the near-complete collapse of what had been one of the best bullpens in the majors last season, Kimbrel, Eric O’Flaherty and Jonny Venters each have about 20 fewer appearances than they did a year ago. Last year, those three pitchers had been used so often that they had almost nothing left down the stretch; this September, they are all throwing well.
Kimbrel struck out the side with 10 pitches Friday, with a ferocity that was striking to some of his teammates, and he got three strikeouts again Saturday.
“Everybody in the ballpark knows a fastball is coming,” said Uggla, “and it doesn’t matter.”
Dating back to Aug. 28, Kimbrel has struck out 24 of the 36 batters he has faced, allowing four hits, two walks and one run. He has 104 strikeouts in 55.1 innings this season, with 23 hits and 14 walks. O’Flaherty has an 0.47 ERA in the second half and hasn’t allowed an earned run since July 13. Venters struggled earlier this season, raising questions about whether he had recovered from his 2011 workload, but he’s allowed runs in only two of his 20 appearances since the All-Star break.
The Braves were swept in Milwaukee earlier this week, raising questions about whether another collapse was in the making. But they beat the Washington Nationals on Friday and again on Saturday. What happened last year will always be a part of the Braves’ shared history, but they are working to create something new.
Chipper Jones walked into the room Saturday, aimed a shot at the shopping cart and drilled his first and only attempt, and raised an arm in celebration, the same thing you see when he hits a walk-off. The other players reacted loudly, not all of them generously.
It’s the same team, but a different time for all of them.
The Braves rallied in a big way Saturday.
A call went against the Nationals here Saturday, and what followed was a lot of ugliness, Adam Kilgore writes.
In the Nationals’ clubhouse, a thick skin is required.
McCann is day-to-day with knee tendinitis.
jeffrey d
September 16th, 2012
4:19 pm
I’d kinda like to see another Mixxo situation
cabravesfan
September 16th, 2012
4:20 pm
In case anyone wants to watch, the Dodgers/Cards game is the free MLB.tv game online today
nolie
September 16th, 2012
4:21 pm
what does that have to do with it? There are very few #4 or #5 starters who go 7 with any regularity at all, in fact many 3s don’t either.
chipontheroad
September 16th, 2012
4:21 pm
Gotkowski chokes
nolie
September 16th, 2012
4:21 pm
yeah, well with Mixxo it was ok……
brian
September 16th, 2012
4:26 pm
not a fan of either but great game between the Giants and the Bucs. Eli Manning definitely went above his pitch count
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 16th, 2012
4:29 pm
Prado with a day off… nice to see
Tampa got screwed by the replacement refs, btw…
Bravefaninok
September 16th, 2012
4:29 pm
Wich esteemed blogger is this???
The Associated Press
ATLANTA —
The Atlanta Braves say a man got $76,000 worth of tickets by using bad checks.
Police told WSB-TV (bit.ly/V034bQ) that 36-year-old James Lally was arrested in Atlanta and made his first court appearance Saturday. His bond was set at $20,000.
He’s accused of buying 1,300 tickets and then bouncing the five checks he wrote to pay for them. He’s accused of selling the tickets at a bar and online. Authorities are unsure how many were sold. The Braves have deactivated the tickets, but there is no way to know who has the tickets that will no longer work.
Authorities said Lally is also accused of bouncing checks in Florida
cabravesfan
September 16th, 2012
4:29 pm
TheOnlyBravesFan-
How did Tampa get screwed?
chipontheroad
September 16th, 2012
4:30 pm
It doesn’t have any thing to do with it I just hope if he pitches for the braves in the future he works hard to overcome his obvious struggles.I would love to see him suc seed on some other club
jeffrey d
September 16th, 2012
4:31 pm
He’s accused of selling the tickets at a bar and online
Man, if you can’t trust someone at a bar or on the internet, who can you trust?
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 16th, 2012
4:32 pm
There are some bad staffs out there, yes… but Tommy has consistently gotten worse every year. You almost have to expect that trend to continue next year. Put him in the AL, and mercy! Maybe some GM will take that risk and pay this guy 3.5 mil + trade a decent prospect for him. I hope someone does.
chipontheroad
September 16th, 2012
4:33 pm
But Tommy has pitched us to alot of wins this year you can’t take that away from him
Half Empty
September 16th, 2012
4:33 pm
There is no starter on the Braves, other than Medlen with his relatively small sample size, who has averaged 7 IP per start
Playoffs!!!
September 16th, 2012
4:34 pm
I sure hope the Braves are not considering anyone except Kris Medlin for the one-game playoff. That is a no-brainer.
nolie
September 16th, 2012
4:36 pm
man, whatever happened to guys with 20-30 complete games each season???….
bobbymahlon
September 16th, 2012
4:36 pm
How can there be any question who should pitch the play in game. I won’t even take the time to tell you who I think that pitcher should be but his initials are CM. I respect anybodys opinions for somebody else but I won’t agree.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 16th, 2012
4:36 pm
they called that sideline pass an incomplete pass… I’m confident that the receiver took 2 steps with the ball
cabravesfan
September 16th, 2012
4:37 pm
Actually, if you are talking about Medlen, his initials are KM…
cabravesfan
September 16th, 2012
4:39 pm
TheOnlyBravesFan-
It was an incomplete pass because he did not maintain control throughout- that is a rule they changed a few years back- you cannot be bobbling the ball when you go out of bounds (and it appeared to hit the ground also)- he clearly did not have control of the ball when he was going out. (Mike Pereira agreed that it was not a catch)
ncbravesfan90
September 16th, 2012
4:43 pm
“It was an incomplete pass because he did not maintain control throughout- that is a rule they changed a few years back- you cannot be bobbling the ball when you go out of bounds (and it appeared to hit the ground also)- he clearly did not have control of the ball when he was going out. (Mike Pereira agreed that it was not a catch)”
But from what I could tell is that he caught he ball, had two feet in bounds, and then made a football play, and then got hit by a defender. He had possesion until he was hit by the defender. Even with the new rule, my understanding is that if you catch the ball, have two feet in bounds, make a football play, and then get hit and the ball comes loose, its still a catch.
cabravesfan
September 16th, 2012
4:46 pm
ncbravesfan90-
To me, it didn’t look like he had complete control of the ball- was moving even as he was being hit (I know, balls move, but that apparently is enough)- but I think they said he didn’t make a football move. Anyways, I don’t think it was an atrocious call. And I’ve seen the regular refs make that same ruling many times
Bravefaninok
September 16th, 2012
4:46 pm
MLB Network Radio @MLBNetworkRadio
Andrelton Simmons, #Braves shortstop joins @Rickardonsports and @JimBowdenESPNXM right now to preview tonight’s Braves/Nationals game
ncbravesfan90
September 16th, 2012
4:48 pm
cabravesfan-
Oh yeah agree, definitely wasn’t a terrible call, could have gone either way.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 16th, 2012
4:48 pm
I saw him get 2 feet in bounds and had possession until he got hit by the defender. The ball movement before that didn’t seem to be a big deal to me… he didn’t lose possession then
cabravesfan
September 16th, 2012
4:50 pm
ncbravesfan90-
In recent years, I have rarely, if ever, seen that ruled a completed catch. But it’s more of a judgement call, and consensus seems to be that it was correct.
What was atrocious, however, was Tampa’s secondary in the 2nd half…
Efrim
September 16th, 2012
4:51 pm
I’d rather have Hanson than Bruce Chen, Luke Hochevar or any other Royals starter currently at the major league level.
I’d say the same about the Rockies, Blue Jays, Twins and possibly the Indians.
And he’d be the #1 on those teams. He really just needs to be another member of a rotation for the other team.
cabravesfan
September 16th, 2012
4:52 pm
TheOnlyBravesFan-
You don’t have to lose possession- you just have to not have complete control (which is any movement of the ball)- and given that he did lose the ball as he was going out of bounds, that typically equals an incomplete pass.
UKUGA
September 16th, 2012
4:53 pm
Yesterday was fun. How about one more?
Efrim
September 16th, 2012
4:54 pm
Phillies down 7-4 to the Astros. If they lose they will be 4 games back of the 2nd Wild Card with 15 games to go.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 16th, 2012
4:54 pm
And he’d be the #1 on those teams. He really just needs to be another member of a rotation for the other team.
And that’s the sad part… a declining pitcher is a #1. You’re 2nd part is definitely correct, he needs to be in a rotation on a team not named the Braves. Maybe the Phils/Marlins will want him? We can beat him up a few times a year…
Ryan
September 16th, 2012
5:00 pm
Sorry hoping Hanson and Maholm arent with us next year.
chipontheroad
September 16th, 2012
5:02 pm
If Tommy could get some serious improvement in his health over the winter I hope he comes back and wins 20 next year I just have a hard time believing it will happen
Efrim
September 16th, 2012
5:03 pm
We can beat him up a few times a year…
Are you related to MFin?
chipontheroad
September 16th, 2012
5:07 pm
Would love to see what Maholm could do with a complete season for us next year
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 16th, 2012
5:07 pm
Are you related to MFin?
No… I just can’t defend his sukkage.
I hope he comes back and wins 20 next year I just have a hard time believing it will happen
Agree. He’s more likely to only make 20 starts than have 20 wins….
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 16th, 2012
5:09 pm
The only way I can see Maholm not being here next year is if we sign Greinke and we need that 6.5 mil of room…. Maholm is staying.
Efrim
September 16th, 2012
5:11 pm
No… I just can’t defend his sukkage.
You need to look more around the league at the mid-back of teams rotations.
Redneck Braves
September 16th, 2012
5:11 pm
I think Hanson isn’t going anywhere. Maholm, Sheets and Jurgens on the other hand I can’t see in the ATL in 2013.
abeeeewright
September 16th, 2012
5:11 pm
Phillies trying to give away a series to the disAstros. Pirates blow a lead to the Cubbies.
chipontheroad
September 16th, 2012
5:12 pm
And Greinke is staying in L.A.
cabravesfan
September 16th, 2012
5:16 pm
Anaheim is not Los Angeles
Efrim
September 16th, 2012
5:16 pm
Maholm, Sheets and Jurgens on the other hand I can’t see in the ATL in 2013.
I agree with the last two, but I’d be really surprised if Maholm wasn’t here.
chipontheroad
September 16th, 2012
5:16 pm
Nats have a brutal remaining schedule
cabravesfan
September 16th, 2012
5:16 pm
Sorry- that’s one of those things that I just can’t stop. My fingers go on autopilot and the words just appear.
abeeeewright
September 16th, 2012
5:17 pm
Hanson is on his way to throwing a full year with the Braves, less one 15 day stint on the DL for back problems, for the first time in two years (failed to complete 2011).
All his stats are disappointing relative to his career norms. But, he’s generally showing that the injury is probably behind him.
abeeeewright
September 16th, 2012
5:18 pm
Diaz won’t be released.
abeeeewright
September 16th, 2012
5:19 pm
Someone had to say it … since Diaz’s contract expires at the end of this year and he won’t come off the DL til November.
SpinMeister
September 16th, 2012
5:19 pm
chipontheroad
September 16th, 2012
5:12 pm
And Greinke is staying in L.A.
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cabravesfan
September 16th, 2012
5:16 pm
Anaheim is not Los Angeles
Hmmmm – the Los Angeles Angels true, the stadium is in Anaheim, but technically chipontheroad is correct!
jeffrey d
September 16th, 2012
5:20 pm
Anaheim is not Los Angeles
Then why are they called the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim? hmmmm??
chipontheroad
September 16th, 2012
5:22 pm
And Hogansville is not Atlanta but I still say I’m from Atlanta when Massachucettsites ask me were I’m from
cabravesfan
September 16th, 2012
5:23 pm
Then why are they called the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim? hmmmm??
Because the LA market is bigger and more important than the Anaheim one.
abeeeewright
September 16th, 2012
5:23 pm
I hope Braves sign some guy named “Jurgens” just so I can say “Jurgens WILL be with the Braves in 2013.”
Jair Jurrjens, on the other hand, won’t be on the Atlanta roster in 2013. Even if he were non-tendered and re-signed for a reasonable salary, Braves would probably like to sign someone with lower injury risk for the 10th place on the depth chart.
cabravesfan
September 16th, 2012
5:24 pm
And just because they are CALLED the LA Angels does not mean they play in LA, so by saying Greinke will stay in LA is technically incorrect, since he is not actually in LA.
jeffrey d
September 16th, 2012
5:24 pm
And Hogansville is not Atlanta but I still say I’m from Atlanta when Massachucettsites ask me were I’m from
Right. And when I’m at Disney World and people ask where I’m from, I don’t go, “Do you know where Buford is?”
Redneck Braves
September 16th, 2012
5:24 pm
I think Maholm staying in Atlanta will depend on what the Braves decide to do with the extra money with Chipper gone and whether they want to sign Bourne.
abeeeewright
September 16th, 2012
5:24 pm
Phils drop another game to the disAstros. I think they’ve cooled off a bit from their earlier torrid streak.
cabravesfan
September 16th, 2012
5:25 pm
chipontheroad-
And that comment was not directed in any way at you- I say that to VJ every time he calls them LA
SpinMeister
September 16th, 2012
5:25 pm
And just because they are CALLED the LA Angels does not mean they play in LA, so by saying Greinke will stay in LA is technically incorrect, since he is not actually in LA.
Whatever, it’s all LA LA Land
btw, how far did your MIGHTY Trojans fall in the polls???? They lost a game to a ranked opponent, so it shouldn’t have been too far, right?
jeffrey d
September 16th, 2012
5:25 pm
But the team is called LA. So saying he’s staying in LA is correct.
chipontheroad
September 16th, 2012
5:27 pm
Ahh the mysteries of the :”Buford triangle”
jeffrey d
September 16th, 2012
5:27 pm
And aren’t they like, 8 feet from each other?
Bat Masterson
September 16th, 2012
5:27 pm
Long time reader, first time commenting. Great blog, Carroll.
Big Brave fan here in the Arctic Circle. Its a lot warmer here than one might think. Love Chipper, Chris Meldeen, too.
Pastornicky is a dream.
Hanson is toast, been getting worse every year. The Braves will be lucky to trade him for a McDonalds Happy Meal. Hope I’m wrong
Go Braves!!!
cabravesfan
September 16th, 2012
5:28 pm
jeffrey d-
Anaheim and Los Angeles? They are not even in the same county