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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1,958 comments Add your comment
Jon
September 19th, 2012
3:01 pm
Roll Tide.
flange1
September 19th, 2012
3:04 pm
Thanks for the new blog DOB.
Venice Jim
September 19th, 2012
3:04 pm
Thanks, DOB!!!
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 19th, 2012
3:10 pm
Thank you Mr. O’Brien!!!
Juan
September 19th, 2012
2:49 pm
I saw yesterday in a “Bleacher Report” a Prediction on Free Agents and player change team for 2013, They say the Braves Lf next year is Cody Ross, also predict that Bourne stay with the Braves ans Greinke will also sign with the Braves
Yikes, that’s interesting. I don’t think Bourn is back. I think (and hope) that Greinke will be here. Cody Ross will either be in Boston or somewhere that will pay him 7mil/yr for the next 3 years. Don’t think it’ll be the Braves.
NO MORE FREDI
September 19th, 2012
3:23 pm
Medlen better pitch the wildcard playoff game. Fat Fredi will run Hanson out there though because he is all about names on the jersey.
tony austin
September 19th, 2012
3:23 pm
Per a Ken Rosenthal tweet from a while back, Cody Ross turned down an multi-year offer from the Braves. I would think that bridge is kindling and FW would not give him another chance to do it again. I guess we’ll see.
raleighbravefan
September 19th, 2012
3:24 pm
I believe there is NO way Fredi is fired after this season. Braves WILL NOT miss the post season (meaning, at least, the 1 game wild card). The Braves (and almost NO other team) would fire a guy who makes the post season, wins 90+ games, and has one of the 3 top records in the league. All of those will be true for the Braves this year.
Before you get too worked up, compare what the Braves have done this year to what the Red Sox have done.
Can Of Corn
September 19th, 2012
3:27 pm
BOURN’S STRIKEOUTS
What I’ve found disconcerting too, about Bourn’s overall stats are his extremely high strikeout totals.
He’s 5th in all of baseball in K’s with 147.
RC
September 19th, 2012
3:27 pm
I would think that bridge is kindling and FW would not give him another chance to do it again. I guess we’ll see.
FW doesn’t seem the type to bite off his nose to spite his face…except for maybe with Furcal
Sleeze
September 19th, 2012
3:29 pm
Hate to spend big bucks on Bourn, but other than Todd Cunningham who’s been in AA ball all summer, there’s no one in the Braves’ farm system to replace Bourn. It’s a weak free agent market. So where do the Braves go to find 2 starting-caliber outfielders (center and left)?
B
September 19th, 2012
3:29 pm
DOB: Any word on Simmons for tonight?
NO MORE FREDI
September 19th, 2012
3:29 pm
raleighbravefan – Only way Fredi is fired is if Braves lose the WC game. This team was stacked with talent and I think Fredi made some horrible choices costing us games. We shall see.
TennesseePaul
September 19th, 2012
3:31 pm
Thanks for the work DOB.
GO BRAVES!!
Bat Masterson
September 19th, 2012
3:31 pm
Thanks, DO’B, good read.
A double Yikes! for Bourn. A sure sign his value is dropping.
Efrim
September 19th, 2012
3:31 pm
I think the Giants, Phillies, Rangers and Nationals will be in on Bourn during free agency. Possibly even the Yankees if they decide to shift Granderson to RF so that they can have the best defensive outfield in history.
Wren will and probably should say all of the right things about trying to bring back Michael Bourn. I’m sure we’ll see a qualifying offer, and I’m sure Bourn will reject the offer. If I’m not mistaken, Bourn is Boras’s key free agent this winter. Him and Kyle Lohse. I don’t see how it makes sense for the Braves to even get into serious negotiations for Bourn.
B
September 19th, 2012
3:33 pm
NO MORE FREDI – The only way Fredi is fired is if Fredi starts Hanson in the WC game and then they lose. if he starts Medlen (which is most likely going to happen) and somehow they lose, then his job is still safe…
TennesseePaul
September 19th, 2012
3:33 pm
Cody Ross is having a nice little year at Fenway… not so much elsewhere, but when at Fenway, he looks like a champ.
tony austin
September 19th, 2012
3:34 pm
He’s 5th in all of baseball in K’s with 147 – Can Of Corn.
With his speed if he could of put just half of those Ks in play he may have beat out a few of them, there could have been a misplay by the defense and so on.
Some will say a strike out is just another out, but I hate it with a passion. I understand players are going to strike out, it happens, but the K rates nowadays are alarming. Just put the ball in play, you never know what is going to happen.
Efrim
September 19th, 2012
3:36 pm
Despite the poor 2nd half, I still think the floor on Bourn’s contract is five years, 75 million.
I think he’ll get less than Jose Reyes did(six years, 106 million), but not that much less.
Around The Horn
September 19th, 2012
3:36 pm
WHY LEADOFF THEN?
Based on Bourn’s current stats you really do have to wonder why Fredi continues to hit him in the leadoff position.
Fredi needs to read Tom Tango’s “The Book: Playing the Percentages in Baseball” — on how best to structure a batting order.
Largo
September 19th, 2012
3:37 pm
Sooner or later Medlen is going to get rocked. Is anyone prepared for that?
Abnerish
September 19th, 2012
3:38 pm
Hopefully, the “Little Doggie” label is a pitching comparison to Maddux and not a physical comparison. I mean, how diminutive do you have to be to be “Little” anything compared to Greg Maddux.
Heisenberg
September 19th, 2012
3:40 pm
Bourn must want to remain a Brave because he is playing his way into their price range.
Kris
September 19th, 2012
3:40 pm
Bourn is better than Crawford but will not get Crawford money.
Efrim
September 19th, 2012
3:40 pm
How about a platoon of Craig Gentry and Jordan Schafer in CF? And maybe Nick Swisher in LF? I know Nick Swisher is going to cost us our first round draft selection, but what does that really matter when we are getting one for Michael Bourn?……………………………………………….
Wait, what?
brian
September 19th, 2012
3:40 pm
I could easily see Cody Ross and Greinke but we would have Pagan or Bourjos in CF, not Bourn
Efrim
September 19th, 2012
3:42 pm
Sooner or later Medlen is going to get rocked. Is anyone prepared for that?
Absolutely. Because no pitcher in history has been perfect every single start like this kid has.
RC
September 19th, 2012
3:42 pm
Fredi needs to read Tom Tango’s “The Book: Playing the Percentages in Baseball” — on how best to structure a batting order.
If Fredi is going to make changes based on that book, the batting order is probably priority #452 to be fixed. Figuring out how we might have won last night’s game if Kimbrel wasn’t sitting in the bullpen with 7 days of rest in the past 10 days should be priority #1.
ncscoots
September 19th, 2012
3:42 pm
Fredi needs to read Tom Tango’s “The Book: Playing the Percentages in Baseball” — on how best to structure a batting order.
I’m guessing, but are you a new poster on this blog?
coastalbrave
September 19th, 2012
3:42 pm
1. Michael Bourn (L) CF
2. Martin Prado (R) SS
3. Jason Heyward (L) RF
4. Chipper Jones (S) 3B
5. Freddie Freeman (L) 1B
6. Dan Uggla (R) 2B
7. Brian McCann (L) C
8. Jose Constanza (L) LF
9. Kris Medlen (S) P
Bat Masterson
September 19th, 2012
3:42 pm
Fredi needs to read Tom Tango’s “The Book: Playing the Percentages in Baseball” — on how best to structure a batting order. _ Around The Horn
You’re just making assumptions there, ATH.
One, that he has not read it, another, that he can read.
Heisenberg
September 19th, 2012
3:44 pm
I would actually prefer Pagan. Switch hitter to help balance the lineup.
ncscoots
September 19th, 2012
3:45 pm
8. Jose Constanza (L) LF
There you go, Murph. Fredo has decided to collude with you on irritating me, LOL.
Efrim
September 19th, 2012
3:46 pm
I think we may see some Maddux-esque accepting of the one year arbitration offers this November. 13.5 million is a lot of scratch. Some teams are going to chance it based on the extra draft pick. I know multi year deals are nothing to pass up on, but still…
note: I don’t believe Bourn will accept. Pretty much 100% on that one.
Players like Edwin Jackson, Kyle Lohse, Hiroki Kuroda, Nick Swisher. They could surprise.
raleighbravefan
September 19th, 2012
3:46 pm
NO MORE – EVERY manager makes decisions that may end up with loses, especially in hind sight. Very questionable how many loses there actually are in that category. Your opinion (because that’s what it is), may vary from mine. More importantly, it probably varies significantly from the opinion of the Braves FO. Fredi is in NO danger if we make it to the WC round (win or lose). If we tank enough now to miss the WC, there will be at least some consideration to replace him.
All of the above is my personal opinion, as I, (nor anyone else here), have no “inside” information.
ncscoots
September 19th, 2012
3:47 pm
Figuring out how we might have won last night’s game if Kimbrel wasn’t sitting in the bullpen with 7 days of rest in the past 10 days should be priority #1.
Don’t go all “best-reliever” on us, RC. Please?
Efrim
September 19th, 2012
3:47 pm
I really hope Andrelton Simmons is healthy soon. We need that guy badly – can’t have Prado at SS and Constanza in LF, for crying out loud.
David O'Brien
September 19th, 2012
3:47 pm
BRAVES LINEUP
Bourn cf
Prado ss
Heyward rf
Chipper 3b
Freeman 1b
Uggla 2b
McCann c
Constanza lf
Medlen p
Bat Masterson
September 19th, 2012
3:47 pm
Biff again. Well sure why not. I seem to recall his flash in the pants hot streak last year included a series in Miami where he had 7 or 8 infield singles.
ncscoots
September 19th, 2012
3:49 pm
Biff again. Well sure why not.
But didn’t they lose with him in the lineup last night? What good is a good-luck charm that doesn’t bring you any good luck?
Efrim
September 19th, 2012
3:50 pm
Two weeks from today – end of the regular season and last game regular season game with Chipper in the lineup. Sad.
raleighbravefan
September 19th, 2012
3:50 pm
Around the horn – Why don’t you and Shaun have a private discussion on the proper structure of a batting order? You 2 can have a ball, and it will save the rest of use valuable scrolling time.
Heisenberg
September 19th, 2012
3:51 pm
I would tread carefully when considering signing Swisher. His numbers are probably inflated by Yankee stadium and the lineup around him. He is not a true middle of the order run producing anchor. He is a nice complimentary piece that could help a team.
Murph
September 19th, 2012
3:52 pm
There are cheaper, comparable options to Bourn out there… who don’t strike out 150+ times a season.
bravofan
September 19th, 2012
3:53 pm
downloaded ios 6 for my iphone 4s and was excited about using passbook for tickets at Turner Field but it is not a supported ball park through the at bat app. Maybe it will work through ticketmaster.
onebravosfan
September 19th, 2012
3:54 pm
I don’t mind having Georgie in the lineup but would have preferred Reed as DOB points out above.
RC
September 19th, 2012
3:55 pm
Don’t go all “best-reliever” on us, RC. Please?
It’s not worth getting into….90% of people seem to have already decided where they stand on the issue. I just had hopes that Fredo had come around to my way of thinking when he used Kimbrel in a tie game in the Mets series…but alas, it wasn’t to be. Maybe last night’s result will change his mind, but I’m certain that nothing I post on an internet blog will
Bat Masterson
September 19th, 2012
3:55 pm
What good is a good-luck charm that doesn’t bring you any good luck?
Lucky charm though he may be, even he can’t overcome Bourn’s suckiness.
After further thought, re Biff last year against the Marlins, I believe he had six infield singles and two walks in one game.*
*There may be some mythology at work on my memory there.
Heisenberg
September 19th, 2012
3:55 pm
You have an iphone 4s – that is so yesterday.
P-Town Brave ©
September 19th, 2012
3:55 pm
Efrim -
I don’t know about you, but declining SB numbers, a weak OBP for a leadoff guy, and MASSIVE K numbers for a leadoff guy….
I just can’t see spending that kind of cake….especially when you consider the money we will need to divide out to Heyward, Freeman, Prado, Simmons, Minor, Kimbrel, Medlen, etc in the next few years
raleighbravefan
September 19th, 2012
3:55 pm
I’m SURE if we win tonight, it will be because of Georgie, not Medlen…
SIGH
Ward
September 19th, 2012
3:57 pm
Hello everyone! Thought I would come on for a few. Last year I wanted Adam Jones, or Cody Ross, but that did not happen, and look where we are at in offense. I would like the Brave to sign Bourn, and Swisher next year. Move Prado to 3rd, and Keep Francisco on the bench. Sign Reed Jophnson for bench, keep Paul at SS for back up, and go with Mejia for the bench, and keep Catcher Ross. That’s what I would like to see.
matt
September 19th, 2012
3:58 pm
trade for headley,keep prado in left!!
Arkansas Transplant
September 19th, 2012
3:58 pm
Trade for Gentry, Sign Greinke and work a trade for Justin Upton. Your outfield is set for the forseeable future and you’ve got a very strong if not the best rotation in baseball.
Ward
September 19th, 2012
4:01 pm
Out field would be Swisher, Bourn, Heyward, and Reed Johnson
Bench
1. Paul SS
2. Ross catcher
3. Mejia
4.Francisco
5. Baker
ncscoots
September 19th, 2012
4:01 pm
but I’m certain that nothing I post on an internet blog will
You underestimate yourself, sir. Besides, presenting a cogent and articulate position statement is never a bad thing, in and of itself. I always enjoy your posts, even when I think you are…mistaken.
Helps me to critically look at my own version of things, you know?
MFin04
September 19th, 2012
4:03 pm
The use of relief pitching wasn’t the problem last night. It was the defensive alignment that screwed us up. How in the world does the game winning run score from 2nd on a ball that was blooped 125 feet into RF? What the heck was Heyward doing in RF, hanging out on the warning track?!?
Jeff R
September 19th, 2012
4:03 pm
There are cheaper, comparable options to Bourn out there… who don’t strike out 150+ times a season.
Hey, 150+ strikeouts annually is nothing to sneeze at.
brian
September 19th, 2012
4:03 pm
I love the offseason planning as much as anyone, but in the heat of a pennant/playoff race, I am surprised that there is so much chatter on offseason trades and not on the job at hand.
Yes, Medlen will get rocked or actually lose a game. No problem. I am just going to enjoy the ride while I can
DAP
September 19th, 2012
4:03 pm
scoots But didn’t they lose with him in the lineup last night? What good is a good-luck charm that doesn’t bring you any good luck?
they took him out in the 9th after tying the game. you see how that worked out….
CB
September 19th, 2012
4:03 pm
I bet if you took all of Biff’s hits and added them together you Might get a 400ft homer.
Arkansas Transplant
September 19th, 2012
4:03 pm
Ward, Baker? Really?
Jeff R
September 19th, 2012
4:04 pm
I love the offseason planning as much as anyone, but in the heat of a pennant/playoff race, I am surprised that there is so much chatter on offseason trades and not on the job at hand.
We’ve all assumed that the Braves will win the World Series and have moved on.
PDOG
September 19th, 2012
4:05 pm
Would offer Bourne 13 million for 5 years doubt that will get it done. That being said best bet for the Braves next year would be to trade Hanson and Malhom for Lorenzo Cain and a prospect from KC. I would then use the extra money to lock up Freeman, Heyward, Medlin and Prado for the next 5 to 7 years. After Hudson comes off the book in 2013 need to lock up Kimbrell and see about McCann.
Ward
September 19th, 2012
4:05 pm
No more pitching moves, we have enough pitching. change course,a nd sign Swisher,and Bourn, and Keep Reed Johnson.
phil
September 19th, 2012
4:06 pm
Medlen belongs in the pen….
Period.
Any smart baseball person knows this for the fact that it is.
RC
September 19th, 2012
4:06 pm
I bet if you took all of Biff’s hits and added them together you Might get a 400ft homer.
And a really wet bat.
Ward
September 19th, 2012
4:06 pm
Maholm isn’t going to be traded, because we have him locked in for another year…
MFin04
September 19th, 2012
4:07 pm
“Any smart baseball person knows this for the fact that it is.”
Yes, that would be Frank Wren. The guy that didn’t believe Medlen should start a game this year.
Murph
September 19th, 2012
4:07 pm
Trade for Gentry, Sign Greinke and work a trade for Justin Upton. Your outfield is set for the forseeable future and you’ve got a very strong if not the best rotation in baseball.
But, what do you do when Hudson goes down to injury? Or Maholm? Or anyone in the rotation? You’ve traded away Teheran and Delgado, probably Gilmartin too…
I guess you could always call up Graham a bit earlier than expected.
P-Town Brave ©
September 19th, 2012
4:07 pm
So I see being gone for quite awhile some things still dont change….
Ward is still a frittata
ncscoots
September 19th, 2012
4:07 pm
they took him out in the 9th after tying the game. you see how that worked out….
Well, geez, he leaves no good-luck residue? His good luck has no staying power?
I dunno. I think there may be other good-luck charms out there who could provide similar good luck at a better price.
Heisenberg
September 19th, 2012
4:07 pm
Any news on Janish injury? I hate to say it but they way he fell looked a lot like the final play of Drew Brees tenure as a San Diego Charger.
Arkansas Transplant
September 19th, 2012
4:08 pm
Ward just wants us to be a team of old men.. much like the yankees are becoming.
MFin04
September 19th, 2012
4:08 pm
“sign Swisher”
Yes, the same guy who would write a slur on his eye black, but instead of in Spanish he’d write it in English. No thanks with Swisher. Guy is an idiot.
Bat Masterson
September 19th, 2012
4:08 pm
and keep Catcher Ross.
I like that. Ross should consider legally changing his name. Dumbfounded Catcher Ross.
RC
September 19th, 2012
4:09 pm
Medlen belongs in the pen….
Period.
Any smart baseball person knows this for the fact that it is.
Random declaration that many will disagree with, with no evidence to back it up. Four periods.
The word “Period” as it’s own paragraph.
Declaration that proclaims that anyone who disagrees with random declaration about is not smart, regardless of any other evidence they may provide.
Did I get it right?
RC
September 19th, 2012
4:10 pm
I like that. Ross should consider legally changing his name. Dumbfounded Catcher Ross.
Catcher Ross sounds like the protagonist of a Hemmingway novel.
Heisenberg
September 19th, 2012
4:10 pm
Medlen belongs in the pen….
While warming up for his next start.
ncscoots
September 19th, 2012
4:10 pm
We’ve all assumed that the Braves will win the World Series and have moved on.
You’re right, kinda. The chances of catching the Nats or being caught in the wild card are both pretty low, so it’s difficult to get jacked up on either of those fronts. Need some magic to tighten up the division race, and then we can all get crazy.
Jeff R
September 19th, 2012
4:11 pm
Greinke? Greinke!
If we had a buck for time Greinke’s name makes it on the blog, we’d be able to give Bourn a ten-year, $20 million per deal!
Greinke!
RC
September 19th, 2012
4:11 pm
“sign Swisher”
Yes, the same guy who would write a slur on his eye black, but instead of in Spanish he’d write it in English. No thanks with Swisher. Guy is an idiot.
He certainly does appear to be an idiot, but it’s really unfair to proclaim that he would do something like that. For all his idiot ways, he’s never shown reason to believe he’s a bigot (that I’m aware of).
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 19th, 2012
4:12 pm
Biff again? Sigh…. his MPVness sure helped last night. He was putting so much pressure on the pitchers and defense…
Andy’s still not healthy, more Prado at SS joy… sucks that Rev looked so bad early this year, or he mighta gotten a start. Prado at SS isn’t ideal.
Jeff R
September 19th, 2012
4:14 pm
Need some magic to tighten up the division race, and then we can all get crazy.
You’ve pegged it.
And I meant to write: “If we had a buck for EVERY time…” Not clicking on all cylinders this afternoon.
Arkansas Transplant
September 19th, 2012
4:14 pm
But, what do you do when Hudson goes down to injury? Or Maholm? Or anyone in the rotation? You’ve traded away Teheran and Delgado, probably Gilmartin too…
We’d still have at least a few of these options… Hudson, Maholm, Greinke, Minor, Beachy, Gilmartin, Hanson.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 19th, 2012
4:15 pm
You didn’t trade Hanson? Gotta do that, clears 3.5mil. Makes it easier to get Greinke.
CaptainMudd
September 19th, 2012
4:15 pm
Roll Meds….I’ve been in a quick twist today–can anyone tell ’bout Pastor?
Bat Masterson
September 19th, 2012
4:16 pm
Catcher Ross sounds like the protagonist of a Hemmingway novel.
Probably where Ward picked it up.
Efrim
September 19th, 2012
4:16 pm
Solid read from one of my favorite GM’s: http://blogs.thescore.com/mlb/2012/09/19/i-can-be-wrong-but-i-cant-be-afraid-an-interview-with-alex-anthopoulos/#more-54783
Skip down to this question: Every teams covets prospects and seems determined to build their system for a trade that may never materialize. Are teams overvaluing minor league prospects and waiting too long to pull the trigger?
Arkansas Transplant
September 19th, 2012
4:17 pm
Personally, I’d rather get rid of Maholm over Hanson.
ncscoots
September 19th, 2012
4:17 pm
You’ve pegged it.
A Dodger DH sweep would qualify as magic, I think. And a Braves win tonight, natch.
Be a start, anyhow.
P-Town Brave ©
September 19th, 2012
4:17 pm
AT-
You were close….
Ward just wants
usto bea team ofwith old men..There ya go…fixed
CaptainMudd
September 19th, 2012
4:17 pm
Medlin uses Pen to his advantage……
Charging 19.95 per autograph
raleighbravefan
September 19th, 2012
4:18 pm
Boy, most here will hear, remember, and repeat things as they see fit, reguardless of the facts. That probably includes me, although I no longer claim to remember anything.
Efrim
September 19th, 2012
4:19 pm
“Now we are more interested in guys who will be around for a while and have some swing-and-miss stuff,” – Alex Anthonopolous
Sigh…..
Instead, LHP’s that throw strikes and pitch to contact.
MFin04
September 19th, 2012
4:19 pm
“he’s never shown reason to believe he’s a bigot”
Neither is Yunel. He said that it was a socially acceptable term. But yeh I’m sure the media wouldn’t totally overreact to something like that.
P-Town Brave ©
September 19th, 2012
4:19 pm
AT-
Why?
Tommy is awful….cant get through 5 w/o a pitch count of 100, hasnt changed his mechanics, lost 5 mph on his fastball in less than 3 years, AND is getting more expensive than Maholm….
Every time he pitches I wanna drive nails under my fingers with a hammer.
CaptainMudd
September 19th, 2012
4:19 pm
@ncscoots……how’s that course going at East Carolina?
phil
September 19th, 2012
4:21 pm
RC
September 19th, 2012
4:09 pm
Medlen belongs in the pen….
Period.
Any smart baseball person knows this for the fact that it is.
Random declaration that many will disagree with, with no evidence to back it up. Four periods.
The word “Period” as it’s own paragraph.
Declaration that proclaims that anyone who disagrees with random declaration about is not smart, regardless of any other evidence they may provide.
Did I get it right?
*************
The guy has been awesome. I just hope he can somehow keep it up.
Efrim
September 19th, 2012
4:21 pm
Personally, I’d rather get rid of Maholm over Hanson.
I’ve been a Tommy fan for as long as I can remember. 2006? Something like that. But he, and Randall Delgado, are two prime starting pitchers for the Braves to shop this winter to fill other needs.