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Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1,958 comments Add your comment
ACE
September 20th, 2012
9:26 pm
I agree with you on Javy’s walk year. He didn’t much of anything after that. I just hate to think that Mac has reached that end stage of his career at this age. Watching Murphy go into decline was a tough thing.
nolie
September 20th, 2012
9:28 pm
falling on deaf ears, I’m afraid
nolie
September 20th, 2012
9:30 pm
Mac is just 29, catcher or not there is no reason to assume that he is near done
abeeeewright
September 20th, 2012
9:33 pm
It’s funny how Prado was ready for the blog’s scrap heap after last year. Now, sign the man to a 10 year contract.
Mac’s having a down year. Don’t pick up his option! Run the bumb out of town.
Antwan Mitchell
September 20th, 2012
9:35 pm
Since Chipper’s $13 mil is coming off the books (along with Derek Lowe’s $10 mil)….the Braves could do a bold thing and let Michael Bourn walk as well….and make a run at signing Josh Hamilton to a big contract.
I know, he’s left handed (in a lefty loaded line-up)…and he has had issues off the field. However, dude is a beast at the plate. He plays a good center field. He’d take a lot of pressure off Heyward and Freeman.
Hamilton wouldnt have the pressure in Atlanta (certainly no pressure coming from our soft-ball tossing local reporters) he would in New York or Boston. Texas seems to be reluctant to offer him a big contract. L.A. already has big money tied up in Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford (two lefties in their line-up).
It’s a bold move…but in my mind, worth the risk.
1. Prado
2. Heyward
3. Hamilton
4. Freeman
5. Uggla
6. McCann
7. Cody Ross (my other wish for the Braves)
8. Simmons
9. Medlen
That would be a GREAT Opening Day 2013 line-up!
nolie
September 20th, 2012
9:36 pm
yup, like I said there are a lot of folks who prefer to think a bad year means the end is just around the corner. sometimes it is, but usually a player regresses toward his mean.
nolie
September 20th, 2012
9:38 pm
no way they tie up the needed money in a player with as many potential serious issues as Hamilton has.not on their payroll
ACE
September 20th, 2012
9:40 pm
softball tossing local reporters.I like it.
nolie
September 20th, 2012
9:42 pm
you know, there are pretty effective treatments for obsessions now days
cabravesfan
September 20th, 2012
9:43 pm
Josh Hamilton is way to injury prone to invest the kind of money it would take to sign him. And while I am willing to…not overlook, but not let his off field issues get in the way of a contract, his past issues, I think, have led to the early break down of his body. A long term deal, which he will be looking for, is just not worth the risk
ACE
September 20th, 2012
9:44 pm
Which one are you oo Nolie?
Antwan Mitchell
September 20th, 2012
9:44 pm
nolie. risk? What about tying up $42 mil over 3 years in a broken down Chipper Jones (despite his ok year in 2012, he struggled, both at the plate and with injuries the past several years)…and $60 mil over 4 years in Derek Lowe?
That’s $28 mil a year in two players who, other than Chipper Jones in 2012, didnt give us much over the past years. Josh Hamilton at $22-$23 mil a year over the next 5-6 years…..would probably give us more bang for our buck..than both Chipper and Derek Lowe combined over the past 3 years (at $28 mil a year).
nolie
September 20th, 2012
9:46 pm
what is it you think I obsess on ACE, and repeat over and over dozens of times a day? Just saying , you don’t have to be like that, you could be almost normal….
Bat Masterson
September 20th, 2012
9:47 pm
abee@ 9:06 I looked him up, excellent choice.
http://batman.wikia.com/wiki/Clock_King_(Walter_Slezak)
ACE
September 20th, 2012
9:48 pm
Josh Hamilton was Jimmy Kimmel and was talking about some of the safe guards he has to do. One is never carrying any money. Who would be his guardin in Atlanta? Maybe bring Matt Diaz back for that role.
Antwan Mitchell
September 20th, 2012
9:49 pm
cabravesfan….I guess that $28 mil combined for each of the past three years of Chipper/Derek Lowe..has been worth the “risk”?
nolie
September 20th, 2012
9:49 pm
for one thing Hamilton will get way more than 3/42. for another Chipper only got it cause he was an original Brave. and the risks with Hamilton are not just injury risks, he has strayed from treatment several times and no way to know that he will not again, and to lose what he will cost is too much chance for the Braves. It will not happen, no matter how you think it should
cabravesfan
September 20th, 2012
9:50 pm
Ace-
If I remember correctly, Hamilton has what is basically a “Sober Buddy” that travels with him, handles his per diem, and tries to make sure he doesn’t stray. This person is employed by the Rangers…
Here we go
September 20th, 2012
9:51 pm
era under 3? run support or not, he’s a stud
cabravesfan
September 20th, 2012
9:53 pm
Antwan Mitchell-
There was no way to tell Chipper would struggle or that Lowe (who we needed at the time- look up our starting rotation before we signed him) would be so inefficient. We know what to expect from Hamilton, and while I do like him a lot and do not question his talent, paying him $20+ million a year for 5-6+ seasons, when he as already displayed an inability to stay healthy, for a mid payroll team like the Braves, is a risk not worth taking. IMO
CaptainMudd
September 20th, 2012
9:53 pm
I think Matt Diaz has one more comeback in mind before he goes into Preaching the Gospel.
nolie
September 20th, 2012
9:55 pm
they might offer Matty a minor league contract
ACE
September 20th, 2012
9:56 pm
@cab, that is a good way for the rangers to protect their investment. It would be interesting to know if his contract has any language in it in regard to him missing time because of a slip up so to speak? I just don’t see the braves investing that money long term for him. He will ge a great addition to someone’s lineup no doubt.
nolie
September 20th, 2012
9:57 pm
Antwon Mitchell? let’s see, that was The Shield, right?
nolie
September 20th, 2012
10:00 pm
yes, if he stays on the right track(and the odds are probably favorable for that), he will be an impact player, though he fell off quite a bit from that early season tear for awhile. June and July were pretty rough
Bat Masterson
September 20th, 2012
10:04 pm
I dont see where people think the Braves will get all this money to sign a guy to $20+m a year and throw on Cody Ross, too.
Trader Jack
September 20th, 2012
10:06 pm
I’d say that the Mets have packed it in for the year – losing 16-1
nolie
September 20th, 2012
10:07 pm
they are gonna take the blog public and sell off shares Bat
Fredo
September 20th, 2012
10:08 pm
“I’d say that the Mets have packed it in for the year – losing 16-1″
wow, and Phillies scored 15 of those in just 2 innings
nolie
September 20th, 2012
10:09 pm
Here come Da Phils…….
cabravesfan
September 20th, 2012
10:09 pm
Ace-
It is good for all parties. I would suspect there is language in his contract that deals with relapses, but I bet they are more for long term issues rather than the isolated incidents he has dealt with. I have no doubt he would be a great addition to any lineup, and I suspect the Rangers will offer him a deal after the season, but he is just too costly and too risky for the Braves payroll. But, sadly, I don’t see him lasting many more years on his current path (strictly injury-wise). I would not be shocked if he ends up staying with Texas, actually. (I have a great deal of respect for what he has gone through and how he has turned his life around, and do not begrudge him his transgressions. They are part of what he will have to deal with for the rest of his life and he has made a tremendous effort to handle them to the best of his abilities. I sincerely hope he can manage and not have a serious – and potentially life threatening – relapse. He seems like a good guy who made some very bad mistakes)
Bat Masterson
September 20th, 2012
10:12 pm
Ah, I see, nolie
So Ace is vital to the Braves future. He drives blog hits and runs up the IPO.
nolie
September 20th, 2012
10:15 pm
well said cab
ACE
September 20th, 2012
10:16 pm
DOB said paricipation was the key.
nolie
September 20th, 2012
10:17 pm
yes he is , that is why I always give him the negative attention that he is looking for, to keep him coming back and driving the payroll eventually….
ACE
September 20th, 2012
10:17 pm
participation too
nolie
September 20th, 2012
10:18 pm
how ’bout precipitation too
Bat Masterson
September 20th, 2012
10:18 pm
Well keep up the good work. I’ll try to lend a hand where I can.
ACE
September 20th, 2012
10:18 pm
who is being negative?
nolie
September 20th, 2012
10:19 pm
on rainy nights I post more
Kat
September 20th, 2012
10:19 pm
NBC Sports Channel….’Caught Looking’ show has Braves episode on now..
nolie
September 20th, 2012
10:20 pm
nobody, ACE.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 20th, 2012
10:21 pm
Good thoughts guys, if there was ever a guy to look at and say, his body is gonna decline in the next 2-3 years, it’s Josh Hamilton. Not BMac nor Uggla (to an extent).
CaptainMudd
September 20th, 2012
10:28 pm
@Trader….was that mets game @Citi?
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 20th, 2012
10:32 pm
keithlaw @keithlaw
No. “@dirtymichael: @keithlaw do you buy into the whole “Grienke would crumble in a big market” myth?”
Whoever Grienke is…
CaptainMudd
September 20th, 2012
10:36 pm
Ace possesses a penchant to ‘turn a blog around’ because he loves to see production…..he turns his beat around personally and likes to cover all sides–a comprehensive means to a pleasureful end.
cricket
September 20th, 2012
10:36 pm
i enjoyed Caught Looking on NBC Sports Network about braves’ sweep of nats. had kinda NFL Films feel to it. worth watching. they are going to run it again at 12am, for folks who missed it at 9 and 10.
Trader Jack
September 20th, 2012
10:38 pm
Capt
Yep game was at Citi
CaptainMudd
September 20th, 2012
10:40 pm
I would really like to see that ‘Behind the Lines’ episode featuring ‘Frenchy.’
CaptainMudd
September 20th, 2012
10:44 pm
As you are aware Trader Jack—this team has not won much ast Citi this year…bad PR and; just a horror story for the regular season ticket folks…..just terrible, maybe they should have designed the new park to look more like the old Shea Stadium.
nolie
September 20th, 2012
10:46 pm
Chipper would have loved that idea Capt. he really hasn’t hit all that well in Citi
Trader Jack
September 20th, 2012
10:49 pm
CaptainMudd
Valid points. The fan base is really pissed that the place looks more like Ebbets Field due in part to the Wilpon’s love affair with the Dodgers. At least Shea was a place the fans could identify with the Mets.
The hard core fans really despise the place
nolie
September 20th, 2012
10:55 pm
Ebbets Field was pretty cool….
course I was just a kid and thought most all big league parks were awesome
Trader Jack
September 20th, 2012
11:00 pm
nolie
Ebbets was a neat place, however the Polo Grounds was a strange place. Like watching a baseball game played on a football field
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 20th, 2012
11:00 pm
Hah!
Adam Kilgore @AdamKilgoreWP
The Nats had a subdued champagne toast in the clubhouse. “Of course,” Jordan Zimmermann said, “Bryce had water.
Trader Jack
September 20th, 2012
11:02 pm
If I’m not mistaken, dead center at Polo Grounds was almost 500 ft.
CaptainMudd
September 20th, 2012
11:04 pm
Continuing……re: Citi Field, tellingly fans are in a twist prior to the first game in receiving memos regarding the elevated ticket prices—a strong walk up seemed challenging at onset, and, I imagine this unfortunate reluctance by the casual fandom [currently] remains ongoing.
cabravesfan
September 20th, 2012
11:05 pm
Dimensions of the Polo Grounds (they are borderline insane):
Left Field – 279 ft (85 m)
Left-Center – 450 ft (137 m)
Center Field – 483 ft (147 m)
Right-Center – 449 ft (136 m)
Right Field – 258 ft (78 m)
Trader Jack
September 20th, 2012
11:09 pm
cab
You see why the Giants needed someone like Mays to patrol center field
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 20th, 2012
11:11 pm
279 down the LF line???? Wow, I’d definitely stay a pull hitter.
nolie
September 20th, 2012
11:15 pm
Lil’ ol Mel Ott hit a gazillion there pulling them down the line
nolie
September 20th, 2012
11:17 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dK6zPbkFnE
Willie at the Polo Grounds
nolie
September 20th, 2012
11:19 pm
great diving scoring play at home
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oHWD94jgaw&feature=related
cabravesfan
September 20th, 2012
11:20 pm
279 down the LF line???? Wow, I’d definitely stay a pull hitter.
I’d be more enamored with the 258 down the right field line
Mac would feast on that
nolie
September 20th, 2012
11:21 pm
Mel Ott
Baseball career
In his 22-season career, Ott batted .304 with 511 home runs, 1,860 RBIs, 1,859 runs, 2,876 hits, 488 doubles, 72 triples, 89 stolen bases, a .414 on base percentage and a .533 slugging average.
[edit]A power hitter
Ott was a six-time NL home run leader, in 1932, 1934, 1936–38, and 1942. From 1928-1945, he led the New York Giants in home runs. This 18-season consecutive dominance is a record; no other player has ever led his team in more consecutive years in a single Triple Crown category. He was both the youngest player to hit 100 home runs and the first National Leaguer to hit 500 home runs. He passed Rogers Hornsby to become the all-time NL home run leader in 1937 and held that title until Willie Mays passed him in 1966.
Ott’s 1940 Play Ball baseball card
Because of his power hitting, he was noted for reaching base via the base on balls. He drew five walks in a game three times. He set the National League record for most walks in a doubleheader with six, on October 5, 1929 did it again on April 30, 1944. He tied an MLB record by drawing a walk in seven consecutive plate appearances (June 16 through 18, 1943). He also led the NL in walks six times: in 1929, 1931–33, 1937 and 1942. He twice scored six runs in a game, on August 4, 1934 and on April 30, 1944. He is still the youngest major leaguer to ever hit for the cycle, which he accomplished on May 16, 1929. Ott was the first NL player to post eight consecutive 100-RBI seasons, and only Willie Mays, Sammy Sosa, Chipper Jones, and Albert Pujols have since joined him.
He used a batting style that was then considered unorthodox, lifting his forward (right) foot prior to impact. This style helped with his power hitting. More recent players who used a similar style include Harold Baines and Kirby Puckett, as well as the Japanese home run king, Sadaharu Oh.
In 1943, all of his 18 home runs came at home; only two others ever had a greater number of all-homefield home runs. Of Ott’s 511 career home runs, 323 of them, or 63 percent, came at home. (Home Run Handbook, John Tattersall, 1975). Because of this, his home run record historically has been downplayed, suggesting that a 257-foot (78 m) foul line at the Polo Grounds resulted in higher numbers at home. As a balance, the Polo Grounds had the deepest power alleys in baseball. Also, he hit more career home runs in foreign stadiums than any other National League hitter at the time of his retirement.In some of his better seasons, he hit more homers on the road than in the Polo Grounds.
Though there may be reason to believe that he was a better hitter than his record holds due to differences in National League and American League ball specifications (”All too forgOtten” Steve Treder, October 2, 2007). Those differences are considered the most outstanding in the history of the game and made it considerably harder for National League hitters to achieve home runs.
During the prime of Ott’s career, eleven seasons from 1931 through 1941, the American League home runs averaged 21% higher and peaked at 41% higher than the National League for every year of this period. Babe Ruth and Jimmie Foxx, contemporaries, and both American League players, were the only batters to surpass Ott’s record during this time.
Trader Jack
September 20th, 2012
11:21 pm
Every time I went to the Polo Grounds, it seemed like I saw Sal the Barber pitch. Great times
nolie
September 20th, 2012
11:23 pm
yeah Maglie was a hero of mine. no quarter given
keyLargo
September 20th, 2012
11:25 pm
NBC Sports Network really sounds like they are going to make an effort to be a major player in the sports television network. They carried the USA coverage of the Tour de France, which is a major promotion that last 4 weeks. They had some serious bidders from the previous carriers.
I don’t have any info on what they are going to go after, but money doesn’t seem to be a problem.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 20th, 2012
11:26 pm
I’d be more enamored with the 258 down the right field line Mac would feast on that
Definitely! Even JHey and Freddie.
And Bonds… he hit 71 in SF, he’d prolly hit 171 in Polo Grounds!!!
Trader Jack
September 20th, 2012
11:27 pm
Yep, with Maglie you crowded the plate at your own risk
nolie
September 20th, 2012
11:28 pm
I’d be more enamored with the 258 down the right field line Mac would feast on that
Ott pulled a lott, down that line
nolie
September 20th, 2012
11:29 pm
I think I remember Gibson as saying Sal was an influence on him
keyLargo
September 20th, 2012
11:32 pm
Left Field – 279 ft
Right Field – 258 ft
I’d become a switch – pull hitter.
nolie
September 20th, 2012
11:32 pm
did anybody watch that scoring play?
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 20th, 2012
11:34 pm
the diving one? Yeah, that’s pretty cool. I would try it, but it seems like an easy way to make my hand….
nolie
September 20th, 2012
11:36 pm
well I gotta go Jake and Pete and i are going out to a midnight breakfast. see y’all later
Trader Jack
September 20th, 2012
11:38 pm
nolie
First thing that comes to mind – Buster Posey wishes Scott Cousins would have done that
cabravesfan
September 20th, 2012
11:38 pm
Watching Caught Looking- best line so far: After Meds’ 13 K game, a reporter asked how it felt. Kris, almost before the reporter got the question out, said “enough about me…” <3 him so much
Venice Jim
September 20th, 2012
11:51 pm
Connected series words of un since dead blog the is…
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 20th, 2012
11:52 pm
keithlaw @keithlaw
Yes. Best to ignore reliever/batter matchup stats. “@tovkalon: @keithlaw won’t sample size always be an issue with relievers?”
Venice Jim
September 20th, 2012
11:53 pm
Apparently the people at NBC Sports are complete morons who do not realize that McCann is a washed-up has-been…
Venice Jim
September 20th, 2012
11:54 pm
Forgot to mention – that fattest human in the entire history of humananityhood…
Venice Jim
September 20th, 2012
11:57 pm
All you have to do is look at his uniform and project your own fantasy-imagined sense of what his body looks like underneath his loose-fitting clothing (which some people seem to embrace with a gusto befitting their obsession with the male form)…
Venice Jim
September 20th, 2012
11:59 pm
NTTAWWT…
uga-brave
September 21st, 2012
12:01 am
tired, BAS nailed it tired,
uga-brave
September 21st, 2012
12:05 am
well at least i nailed a two game teaser. the giants and BYU.
Venice Jim
September 21st, 2012
12:06 am
ESPN Stats & Info @ESPNStatsInfo
Davey Johnson joins Billy Martin as only managers to take 4 different MLB franchises to the playoffs (from Elias).
uga-brave
September 21st, 2012
12:06 am
went underdogs twice.
David O'Brien
September 21st, 2012
12:06 am
The team took the rookies to a crowded sports bar here tonight in their hazing attire, watched the football game.
David O'Brien
September 21st, 2012
12:10 am
ace, you’re wearing out your welcome, dude. Sorry, but you bring nothing productive to the conversation anymore. Just acrimony. So we’re about to cut you off. This place doesn’t exist as an outlet for you to lash out at everyone.
Seriously, it was amusing for a while, but I think we’ve all had just about enough. So either start bringing something constructive or interesting or entertaining, or at least just be civil and not such an over-the-top jerk, or you’re going to be banned. Sorry, but it’s just that you’re rubbing everyone the wrong way, with the exception of about two other people. Actually probably just one other person.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 21st, 2012
12:15 am
Chipper Jones @RealCJ10
Rookies got roasted. Wanna thk Del Frescos in Philly for a great dinner and putting up w/ us. Time to rest up for the Phils over weekend!
Good night, people. Peace.
ACE
September 21st, 2012
12:22 am
so I assume you will also be banning those who call me an idiot, stupid, jerk etc.
David O'Brien
September 21st, 2012
12:22 am
Tumbledown, this is the first I’ve seen of the other guy using your name. You’ve got to direct this stuff to me by name, because I don’t read every comment, usually just the ones with my name or DOB in them.
The guy has now been banned.
David O'Brien
September 21st, 2012
12:23 am
so I assume you will also be banning those who call me an idiot, stupid, jerk etc. — ace
no, we won’t. because they wouldn’t be calling you those names if you didn’t ask for it and agitate everyone.
ACE
September 21st, 2012
12:27 am
Your blog, your right to ban who you want. I didn’t call anyone a name and just because I have a differing opinion does not make me wrong.
ChattTownBrian
September 21st, 2012
12:27 am
When I was little I didn’t think Bill Murray was funny. Thats because I didn’t get it. Now I do and I almost pee myself at him. Just watching Groundhog Day.
Venice Jim
September 21st, 2012
12:29 am
ACE – you can be a valuable contributor here, but your obsession is a definite negative – your diatribes against DOB are totally self-indulgent fluff on your part…
ChattTownBrian
September 21st, 2012
12:30 am
What About Bob is another funny one just because I’m sometimes sort of a hypochondriac myself so I can relate.
uga-brave
September 21st, 2012
12:30 am
oh for crying out loud ACE we are dobbers.
is that good enough for you?
what do frickin want?
pretty sure old ACE if you actually booted up on a HARLEY it would fall over on the top of you.
and when it did you would say “mea culpa.”
ACE
September 21st, 2012
12:30 am
The only two people you might say I had any type of run in with tonight was Cab and Nolie and I told Cab I didnot mean to offend her and I have often had a back and forth with Nolie.
Just a song before I go
a lesson to be learned.
traveling twice the speed of sound
it’s easy to get burned.