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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1,107 comments Add your comment
HooRah
September 17th, 2012
3:57 pm
Mejia is no spring chicken. perhaps like that Cuban dude who was at first there is some part of his game that they are not happy with
Puma
September 17th, 2012
3:59 pm
Thanks DOB for the Neil Young link…I just wasted half hour on you tube listening to music when I should have been working. Hate when that happens
Disgusted
September 17th, 2012
3:59 pm
I hate it that Clayton Kershaw has gone down — injuries to guys like that are bad for baseball.
He is a real superstar in the making — hope he is not out beyond this yr.
HooRah
September 17th, 2012
4:00 pm
Noles said he would probably not get the call IIRC TOBF
raleighbravefan
September 17th, 2012
4:04 pm
We always win when the Rev is in there? I thought it was Georgie that always won. Man, they should both be all stars.
The A Bomb
September 17th, 2012
4:05 pm
Disgusted — right on about Kershaw — but I’ll save my sympathy for AFTER the one-game playoff.
And I thought Chipper was a big Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka fan. The things you learn after 20 years.
raleighbravefan
September 17th, 2012
4:07 pm
Adding Mejia to the 40-man roster has long-term consequences. Not so much with Baker, who likely won’t be around long term….Not to mention that Majia led the league in strike outs.
raleighbravefan
September 17th, 2012
4:09 pm
Yeah, we’re probably playing either Dodgers or Cards. I’ll worry about Kershaw after they get eliminated.
raleighbravefan
September 17th, 2012
4:10 pm
Who do we WANT to play…Dodgers or Cards…and why?
Arkansas Transplant
September 17th, 2012
4:11 pm
Doesn’t really matter what Mejia did as far as strike outs, just look at the K’s Uggla and Bourn and company are throwing up. Baker has never been a very productive major leaguer, I don’t see the need to bring in someone with far less ability to contribute.
MFin04
September 17th, 2012
4:12 pm
“Who do we WANT to play…”
The Nationals in game one in D.C.
cabravesfan
September 17th, 2012
4:12 pm
If Kershaw has to have surgery, they don’t expect him back until May
Arkansas Transplant
September 17th, 2012
4:13 pm
It’s got to be a nice thing for just about any minor leaguer to look at Baker and realize you don’t have to have much skill and you can still make over a mil a year.
phil
September 17th, 2012
4:13 pm
The meaning?
Who cares. Just win.
I left off baby intentionally. We don’t need the ghost of Al Davis mucking up the works….
phil
September 17th, 2012
4:15 pm
raleighbravefan
September 17th, 2012
4:10 pm
Who do we WANT to play…Dodgers or Cards…and why?
*********
Who cares.
Just win.
Juan
September 17th, 2012
4:15 pm
raleighbravefan
September 17th, 2012
4:10 pm
Who do we WANT to play…Dodgers or Cards…and why?
Ok put it this way…Series with LAD 3-3, Series with the Card 5-1….What do you think?
Not Brainer the Card
DAP
September 17th, 2012
4:15 pm
raleighbravesfan Who do we WANT to play…Dodgers or Cards…and why?
cards, righthanded SP.
Efrim
September 17th, 2012
4:15 pm
Kershaw and Billingsley being hurt really, really hurts that team through 2013. And they just paid big in terms of dollars and prospects for NOW value. It’s a small disaster if Kershaw has hip surgery and Billingsley has Tommy John surgery. Capuano, Beckett, Harang, Lilly as the 1-4 in that rotation.
ncscoots
September 17th, 2012
4:15 pm
If Kershaw has to have surgery, they don’t expect him back until May
What do you hear out there about Billingsley, cab?
ncscoots
September 17th, 2012
4:18 pm
Yep. “@Joeyakeley: @ajcbraves If Nats and Braves are tied at end of regular season, do Nats get div. title because of head-to-head record?”
David, I don’t think this is correct. I’m pretty sure a tie for the division will result in a game.
The A Bomb
September 17th, 2012
4:18 pm
When you have money like the Dodgers and a multibillion dollar TV contract looming, you’d have to work pretty hard to use the term DISASTER.
Expect them to buy 2-3 middle-of-the-rotation starters in the offseason. No worries for them.
MFin04
September 17th, 2012
4:19 pm
“I’m pretty sure a tie for the division will result in a game.”
I’m hoping for about 7 tie break games just to show how stupid this system is.
DAP
September 17th, 2012
4:21 pm
a bomb Expect them to buy 2-3 middle-of-the-rotation starters in the offseason. No worries for them.
or, expect them to buy grienke and sit tight.
Quack Quack
September 17th, 2012
4:21 pm
DOB Great article as always…I guess FG doesn’t have access to the same numbers as you, hence J-Hey batting 3rd. With the big difference, why do you think that is?
Lets go Bravos, take advantage of whats offered.
GO BRAVES!!!
jim
September 17th, 2012
4:23 pm
The second Wild Card and one game play-in creates the following dilemma –
Suppose the race for the division gets close. Suppose the Nat’s lead is down to 1 or 2 games with 5 to play (or even 2 games with 3 to play). Should the Braves go all out to try to win the Division or set up their pitching for the playoffs? If the two teams are tied at the end of the season, what is the situation? A one-game playoff with the loser facing a 1-game WC playin? The chance to win the Division is worth the risk, but if it doesn’t happen, it makes the playoff situation all the more problematic.
phil
September 17th, 2012
4:23 pm
Dave is a bbq expert, not a baseball tied records guy…..back off!
ncscoots
September 17th, 2012
4:24 pm
just to show how stupid this system is.
It’s hardly any more stupid than letting second-place teams in, to start with. Once you’re reconciled to that fact, what difference does it make how you determine that entry?
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 17th, 2012
4:24 pm
Joe Frisaro @JoeFrisaro
#Marlins Stanton has some soreness on right side, will miss a game or two. Not taking BP today
Greinke ain’t going to dirty LA… he’s staying in Anaheim or coming to ATL.
RC
September 17th, 2012
4:25 pm
When you have money like the Dodgers and a multibillion dollar TV contract looming, you’d have to work pretty hard to use the term DISASTER.
Do the Dodgers have money anymore? Hanley, A-Gonz, Crawford, and Beckett aren’t playing for free.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 17th, 2012
4:26 pm
One of the stats from this slideshow… In the last 17 games Ross has started behind the plate, the Braves are 13-4.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1337442-atlanta-braves-ranking-each-braves-position-players-right-now
phil
September 17th, 2012
4:27 pm
The chance to win the Division is worth the risk, but if it doesn’t happen, it makes the playoff situation all the more problematic. JIM
Nah, just start Teheran and kick back in that easy chair with a cold one!
raleighbravefan
September 17th, 2012
4:27 pm
MFin @4:12 – I like your way of thinking. Of course, what we really want, is an off day, while Nats and Cards battle it out for the WC.
ncscoots
September 17th, 2012
4:29 pm
If the two teams are tied at the end of the season, what is the situation? A one-game playoff with the loser facing a 1-game WC playin?
If the loser would qualify for a wild-card berth anyway, yes. Braves could go to DC for a division tiebreaker game, lose, come home to host the wildcard play-in, win, and host the Nats for the NLDS. Or win in DC and just hang out there until the Nats win the play-in, or be forced to fly out to the Dodgers, say, if they were to win.
A traveling secretary’s nightmare, in other words.
raleighbravefan
September 17th, 2012
4:29 pm
Jim – Interresting question. I say you always try to win.
Nerdville
September 17th, 2012
4:29 pm
i am not going to get too excited because they swept the gnats. it is about time they did something. they are still way back, 5 1/2 out and unlikely to win the division; i.e., a real title.
can’t get too fired up over winning a spot in a ‘play in’ game. so now the braves play miami with its communist loving manager.. well; in that case, since i hate the bolsheviks, what the heck….rah, rah beat the fish.
DAP
September 17th, 2012
4:30 pm
RC Do the Dodgers have money anymore?
yeah, i think they do.
Heisenberg
September 17th, 2012
4:31 pm
Season ends on 10/03, WC game is set for 10/05. So in case of any tie, send all tied teams to Omaha for a college style round robin double elimination tournament to be played entirely beginning at 4AM on 10/04.
Arkansas Transplant
September 17th, 2012
4:32 pm
Anyone going to take in the new series Revolution tonight? Looks like a promising show.
Efrim
September 17th, 2012
4:33 pm
According to Cots, LA Dodgers have $196 million committed in salary before arbitration and minimum salaried players. While I understand they have a boatload of cash – I’m not sure how much more they will be willing to spend. The reason they went after Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford and Josh Beckett was because they weren’t thrilled with the upcoming free agent market – Hamilton, Greinke, etc.
phil
September 17th, 2012
4:35 pm
Nope. Football and baseball always trump anything else entertaining or educational….
Efrim
September 17th, 2012
4:35 pm
Perhaps they would have interest in Greinke, though.
raleighbravefan
September 17th, 2012
4:36 pm
I hear Dodgers and Nats both have money to spend. Dodgers have huge new TV deal. Both teams have deep pockets. I expect dodgers to go after Greinke. I expect Nats to go after Bourn.
TennesseePaul
September 17th, 2012
4:36 pm
Scoots:
Scenario #1: If there is a tie for a Division Championship and the winning percentage of the two Clubs tied for first place is higher than the winning percentage of each of the second-place Clubs in the same League, the Division Champion shall be:
The Club with the higher winning percentage in head-to-head competition between the two tied Clubs during the championship season; or
If the Clubs remain tied, then to the tied Club with the higher winning percentage in intradivision games during the championship season; or
If the Clubs remain tied, then to the tied Club with the higher winning percentage in the last half of intraleague games during the championship season; or
If the Clubs remain tied, then to the tied Club with the higher winning percentage in the last half plus one of intraleague games during the championship season, provided that such additional game was not a game between the two tied Clubs. This process will be followed game-by-game until the tie is broken.
Example of Scenario #1: The Oakland Athletics and Seattle Mariners end the championship season tied for the AL West Division Championship. Both Clubs have a higher winning percentage than the Boston Red Sox. Through games of September 7, the Mariners have the higher winning percentage in head-to-head competition (7-6, .538) and would be declared the Division Champion. Oakland would be the Wild Card.
ncscoots
September 17th, 2012
4:37 pm
While I understand they have a boatload of cash – I’m not sure how much more they will be willing to spend.
A little late for them to give lip service to frugality, dontcha think?
In for a penny, in for a pound.
TennesseePaul
September 17th, 2012
4:38 pm
The reason they went after Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford and Josh Beckett was because they weren’t thrilled with the upcoming free agent market – Hamilton, Greinke, etc.
I think they went after Gonzalez and the cost was Crawford and Beckett. Got a feeling, if you gave them the choice, Beckett or Greinke, they’d take Greinke. The Dodgers have long wanted Gonzalez.
DAP
September 17th, 2012
4:38 pm
efrim Perhaps they would have interest in Greinke, though.
especially if kershaw goes down. is that whats happening? is kershaw hurt?
Braint
September 17th, 2012
4:38 pm
Interesting article…..
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/craig-kimbrel-atlanta-play-game-starter-system-makes-190409112–mlb.html
Efrim
September 17th, 2012
4:38 pm
The Dodgers will pay Manny Ramirez $8.33 million dollars in 2013.
raleighbravefan
September 17th, 2012
4:38 pm
I’m going to record Revolution. Also Major Crimes, as well. Plan to watch the Braves.
ncscoots
September 17th, 2012
4:38 pm
TennPaul, I believe those are the tiebreakers from the previous CBA, are they not?
The A Bomb
September 17th, 2012
4:38 pm
Dodgers have a ton of money. Owned by Guggenheim Investments.
Kat
September 17th, 2012
4:40 pm
DOB @ 3:41 pm
David .. the picture of Chipper in your DOB Blog.. when he gives the I love you sign language sign is that to his kids or to the fans or both? — Kat
It’s to his family.
Thanks David. I was thinking of making a poster for the last regular season game at Pittsburgh with the same sign, but back to Chipper from the fans as a thank you — but that’s when I thought he was signing that to the fans as well. Hmm might have to table that poster idea haha. Would be a weird poster if that sign is always to his kids to not us fans.
Mixxo
September 17th, 2012
4:41 pm
HooRah-
See phil’s 3:47
Thank you.
Efrim
September 17th, 2012
4:41 pm
I do think they would go after Greinke, as they really should be all in now and they aren’t going anywhere with a rotation of Beckett, Capuano, Harang, and Ted friggin Lilly. That’s a disaster given their payroll. May as well give Greinke a backloaded contract.
Unless they will be at $230 million in 2013. I guess that’s a possibility….
Couch Tater
September 17th, 2012
4:41 pm
“Miami is a magnet — the city, the manager, the new ballpark, the players we have,” Loria said. “We have a terrific core here. All of it put together is the magnet.” – November 11, 2011, AP
24.5 games back. The force of the magnetic field has dwindled. Their schedule even fell of my fridge.
cricket
September 17th, 2012
4:42 pm
The reason they went after Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford and Josh Beckett was because they weren’t thrilled with the upcoming free agent market – Hamilton, Greinke, etc
or they just thought that they don’t have to wait another year for winning with all that cash lying around
raleighbravefan
September 17th, 2012
4:44 pm
Tater –
Efrim
September 17th, 2012
4:44 pm
http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/depth/_/name/det/detroit-tigers
That’s the worst defensive infield I think I’ve ever seen in my life. I forgot that Jhonny Peralta was their SS. Miggy and Prince on the corners. No wonder folks can’t understand why they are mediocre. They can’t get to any baseballs in the field of play.
DAP
September 17th, 2012
4:44 pm
braint, starting craig kimbrel in the coin flip game? i actually kind of like the idea. but im not sure if i would have the guts to actually try it, and im very sure gonzalez doesnt.
it makes you wonder though, maybe the postseason is a good time to turn all your pitchers into short relievers? youd have to practice it some, to get guys used to the idea, but to be able to use all 12 or 13 pitchers at any time would be interesting. being able to use medlen and hudson every other day instead of just twice in a short series is interesting.
CB
September 17th, 2012
4:45 pm
Major Crimes sucks without Kyra.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 17th, 2012
4:46 pm
Very interesting article, Braint. I wouldn’t be a fan of that though. That’s alot of innings to trust to the bullpen. I’d like Meds to go, but then that means he only gets 1 NLDS start. Should be on track for 3 NLCS starts though.
So which way should Gonzalez and Co. go for the one game that will determine their postseason continues? No team in baseball history has ever had this much time to think about who should start a do-or-die game and there’s bound to be plenty of speculation. Do you go with Tim Hudson’s veteran experience? Kris Medlen’s hot hand? Tommy Hanson in hopes that he can somehow pitch well enough to save Hudson and Medlen for the opening of a five-game series?
The bold part is utter foolishness.
raleighbravefan
September 17th, 2012
4:46 pm
Efrim – If we trade Uggla to Detroit, like AT seems to think is possible, does that actually upgrade their IF Defense?
RC
September 17th, 2012
4:47 pm
Miggy and Prince on the corners. No wonder folks can’t understand why they are mediocre. They can’t get to any baseballs in the field of play.
Miggy and Prince at the corners is a really problem for their other fielders, as they have to account for not just one but two additional gravitational forces on any ball hit into play.
raleighbravefan
September 17th, 2012
4:48 pm
CB – I gotta disagree. The Closer WAS the best show on TV, but Major Crimes is still better than most of what’s available.
cricket
September 17th, 2012
4:48 pm
I’m going to record Revolution. Also Major Crimes, as well. Plan to watch the Braves.
Major Crimes is holding its own. TNT, USA etc. channels re-run new episodes same day, easy to reschedule DVR. i’ll have DVR going and flipping between braves and falcons.
Arkansas Transplant
September 17th, 2012
4:48 pm
Yeah, I’m recording but I think I’ll be taking in the Falcon’s game and keeping up with the Braves on my Ipod with MLBonline.
TennesseePaul
September 17th, 2012
4:48 pm
scoots, the more I search the more I think no one really knows. Everyone has something different.
DAP
September 17th, 2012
4:50 pm
efrim, they could always unload a little of that salary this offseason, too. particularly beckett, maybe hanley or eithier.
raleighbravefan
September 17th, 2012
4:51 pm
Gotta go. Let’s win tonight!
bravesgrl4life
September 17th, 2012
4:52 pm
I don’t pay much attention to football until baseball is over.
Looks like I am going to spend at least half of my October 7-14 evenings in San Diego in my hotel room watching playoff games. Maybe I can take in a game with cabravesfan and VJ. That could be fun especially if the Braves are in it after the play-in game. Of course, I’m still hoping the Nats lost so much momentum that they just slide backwards like a 2011 team that shall not be mentioned
ncscoots
September 17th, 2012
4:53 pm
this ought to be alink to the full agreement, if I have it right
RC
September 17th, 2012
4:54 pm
efrim, they could always unload a little of that salary this offseason, too. particularly beckett, maybe hanley or eithier.
I really don’t think that they could. Baseball sources were shocked that they were willing to take on those salaries this season, and now they are going to be able to unload them 2 months later? The only way that happens is if they eat a significant portion of those salaries, which would in effect mean they paid even MORE for 2 months of Ramirez or Beckett.
Dodgers may have some money to spend, but they’ve already spent most of it.
Efrim
September 17th, 2012
4:54 pm
they could always unload a little of that salary this offseason, too. particularly beckett, maybe hanley or eithier.
Hah! They just signed Ethier to that contract too, and I think it was a terrible move. Guy has always had trouble hitting LHP and is not a good baserunner or defender in RF. Now, 30 years old.
Heisenberg
September 17th, 2012
4:54 pm
I will be watching both games in my man-cave with 3 televisions. The only question is which to have the volume on.
Murph
September 17th, 2012
4:55 pm
Should the division standings remain the same, I don’t see how it’s even a question of who starts the WC game for the Braves. It has to be Medlen. It’s do or die, single elimination… can’t worry about the series after that one.
Go big or go home.
cricket
September 17th, 2012
4:55 pm
like a 2011 team that shall not be mentioned
you can say it – Red Sox
Efrim
September 17th, 2012
4:55 pm
I don’t think the Dodgers would get much for any of the players that they just acquired. Those salaries are awful.
RC
September 17th, 2012
4:56 pm
I will be watching both games in my man-cave with 3 televisions. The only question is which to have the volume on.
Braves game, Falcons game, and Gilmore Girls. And you know you are leaving the volume on Gilmore Girls.
Arkansas Transplant
September 17th, 2012
4:57 pm
upgrade their IF Defense?
Who’s defense are we referring too?
cricket
September 17th, 2012
4:58 pm
It has to be Medlen.
Absolutely No Question About It.
Also starting that game with relievers is idiotic. Just because something is not traditionally done, doesn’t mean it’s a better idea.
Efrim
September 17th, 2012
4:58 pm
http://espn.go.com/mlb/stats/pitching/_/split/182/league/nl/order/false/minip/60
Medlen and Minor – 1 and 2 in ERA post All Star break.
Heisenberg
September 17th, 2012
4:59 pm
Gilmore Girls? What channel? I hope it is a marathon!
Arkansas Transplant
September 17th, 2012
4:59 pm
Nevermind.. I think Uggla would be solid for them, sure.
Efrim
September 17th, 2012
5:00 pm
Phillies are 5-6-7 Lee-Kendrick-Hamels.
Phillies will be interesting to watch this offseason. Great rotation. Developing, young power arms in the bullpen. Just need, ya know, an outfield and a 3rd baseman.
cricket
September 17th, 2012
5:00 pm
from Peter King –
“I don’t know. He must like the cougs.”
– Green Bay linebacker Clay Matthews, on the relationship between 25-year-old Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez and 37-year-old actress Eva Longoria, on “The Dan Patrick Show.”
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 17th, 2012
5:00 pm
AT: Detroit’s
Medlen and Minor – 1 and 2 in ERA post All Star break.
Minor better be starting in the NLDS over Maholm and Hanson.
Heisenberg
September 17th, 2012
5:01 pm
I want so bad to come around and finally be a Mike Minor fan but I am afraid if I do it now it will jinx him. So understand if I am critical it is for the good of the team.
MFin04
September 17th, 2012
5:02 pm
So basically every team that went out this off-season and paid tons of cash for free agents is going to miss the playoffs?
Marlins, Tigers, Angels, etc.
Gotta love it. Especially when the Angels and Tigers were going to blow everyone out of the water. And Detroit was a lock for the World Series.
Efrim
September 17th, 2012
5:02 pm
Dan Uggla in his last 36 games, 138 plate appearances: .239/.355/.462
RC
September 17th, 2012
5:02 pm
Also starting that game with relievers is idiotic. Just because something is not traditionally done, doesn’t mean it’s a better idea.
I wouldn’t call it idiotic, but I also don’t think it’s nearly as good of an idea as the article makes it out to be. While the Braves bullpen has been great this year, the chances that a single reliever simply “doesn’t have it” on a given day makes the downside of such a plan huge, and not enough to outweigh the potential upside.
I could be onboard with a plan that the starter only goes through the lineup once. If you are lucky, that’s 3 innings taken care of before you can lean on 5-6 relievers to finish it off while providing different looks. The additional upside of such a move is that with so little work, the starter would likely be good to go on as little as 2-3 days rest, meaning he can possibly pitch multiple games in the first round.
Efrim
September 17th, 2012
5:04 pm
Minor better be starting in the NLDS over Maholm and Hanson.
New rules this year. You have to win the Coin Flip game before being involved in the Real Postseason. So I wouldn’t really worry about a postseason rotation until we actually get there.
Normally, it would of already been locked up.
Heisenberg
September 17th, 2012
5:06 pm
RC, I like your concept. It does beg the question of how to structure the roster and if roster changes are allowed between WC and NLDS. If you can have 1 roster for WC then change it, the smart play is to drop at least 3 starters and load up on relievers. You could even add an extra bench guy.
Couch Tater
September 17th, 2012
5:06 pm
The Dodgers will pay Manny Ramirez $8.33 million dollars in 2013.
The Mets will pay Bobby Bonilla $1.2 million in 2013.
The Orioles will pay Bobby Bonilla $500,000 in 2013.
Bonilla Waivers for yer ‘Nanna puddin.
Murph
September 17th, 2012
5:07 pm
The additional upside of such a move is that with so little work, the starter would likely be good to go on as little as 2-3 days rest, meaning he can possibly pitch multiple games in the first round.
Maybe I put too much into the “starter’s routine”, but I can’t help but think that this is a bad idea. You’ve got a guy who is used to doing things a certain way, getting ready for his start a certain way, and then you only throw him for 2 or 3 innings and turn around and have him start just a couple of days later?
Sounds like a recipe for disaster to me.
Murph
September 17th, 2012
5:08 pm
I guess the team could start JJ… he’s used to only going 2 or 3 innings per start.
Heisenberg
September 17th, 2012
5:10 pm
Murph throwing daggers. Truth hurts sometimes.
phil
September 17th, 2012
5:11 pm
Ah Ah is back home…
Yes, I know. What is phil doing watching something like that. It really does do the heart good. Go look it up on msn.com and take a peek.
Nothing if not miraculous too.
Made my day.
Heisenberg
September 17th, 2012
5:11 pm
Good thing game is in Miami, otherwise it would not get played tonight.
Murph
September 17th, 2012
5:13 pm
I want so bad to come around and finally be a Mike Minor fan but I am afraid if I do it now it will jinx him.
I’m the exact same way. I have stopped picking on him, which hasn’t done anything to jinx him so far, but I cannot bring myself to say publicly what a good job he’s…
Ah, see there? See what you almost made me do? tsk tsk tsk
cricket
September 17th, 2012
5:14 pm
i would bet every time that a starter will have better success going through a lineup 2nd time than a bunch of relievers (about 6, possibly more) holding their own starting from about 4th inning.
anyway, this discussion is strictly academic, never gonna happen in real life. so my interest is already gone.