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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
3,117 comments Add your comment
DS1
October 5th, 2012
10:40 am
I realize he has had a pretty good year, but the guy that scares the heck out of me in the pen is Durbin. Much more so than Venters, Avilan or Gearrin!
MFin04
October 5th, 2012
10:41 am
“Hinske over Francisco is kind of strange”
Yeh, but sometimes you gotta keep the guy on your bench that is BEYOND DUE.
I dunno. Hinske has had so many clutch hits for the Braves you hope he could come up with one more. But I do feel for Juan as well.
Side question: Are the Braves allowed to have more than 25 players in the dugout? Like can the guys who didn’t make the cut like Hanson and Juan be in the dugout?
Shaun
October 5th, 2012
10:41 am
P-Town Brave, Yeah, I’m assuming Hinske’s overall approach helped him a lot, though he hasn’t been particularly good this season. I think it was Carson Cistulli from FanGraphs who said Francisco had a video-game approach: Swing hard in case you hit it.
Veer
October 5th, 2012
10:43 am
Shaun,
I don’t think it’s as strange as you think both haven’t done anything and Fransisco takes the same swing regardless of the in game situation. Also Hinske wins a possible tie breaker between them because he is such a good cheer leader. Always the first guy to hi5 people and always smiling. We need his Hi5 and cheerleading. Perhaps not being on the roster the guy would been depressed and sitting on the end of the bench and not be as active in his Hi fiving
DS1
October 5th, 2012
10:43 am
Shaun
That was my approach to hitting when I used to play. Swing hard, you might hit the ball!
Brian from SC
October 5th, 2012
10:44 am
If Chad Durbin pitches in this game, then something has not gone the way the Braves wanted it to. I’m hoping Medlen, EOF, and Kimbrel are all we need.
Brian from SC
October 5th, 2012
10:45 am
MFin04, just like in the regular season, when players on the DL are allowed to be around, I would think the Braves can have whoever they want in uniform and in the dugout.
David O'Brien
October 5th, 2012
10:46 am
Can’t say I’m surprised Juan Francisco left off roster, considering how little he was used late in season. Got only 26 at-bats over team’s last 34 games, went 3-for-26 with 15 K, 0 BB in that span.
TheOnlyBravesFan
October 5th, 2012
10:46 am
Cards only have 2 lefties w/ them I believe… might have made it easier to drop Juan and use Baker instead, and then spin it as not wanting a 3B only player…
Veer
October 5th, 2012
10:46 am
Exactly Durbin isn’t pitching today unless something has gone absoultely wrong or absoultely RIGHT. Either we are down by 10-1 or up by 10-1. Durbin won’t be there in a close game at all
MFin04
October 5th, 2012
10:47 am
“I’m hoping Medlen, EOF, and Kimbrel are all we need.”
To be honest, I’m hoping it is just Medlen.
P-Town Brave ©
October 5th, 2012
10:48 am
TOBF-
In all fairness, as just a PH, Juan is 7 for 47 for a cool .149 avg
Powderfinger
October 5th, 2012
10:49 am
I wouldn’t be surprised if the rosters for any subsequent playoff series don’t look like this one. After all, it is built for one game only…
Shaun
October 5th, 2012
10:49 am
You do realize he is at the ballpark and supposed to be promoting the Braves game right?
His job is to talk sports, “5-alarm sports opinions” (to borrow a line from Dayn Perry).
P-Town Brave ©
October 5th, 2012
10:51 am
Shaun-
Yeah….I did the BP on the field thing Sat….
Juan is impressive in BP, but there’s nothing to it…he’s like the John Daly of baseball…grip it and rip it…
And in fact, the two more impressive BP guys were Francisco and Baker….although it helps when you’re facing meat tossing at 80-82 mph
This was also when I noticed up close just how bad BMac’s shoulder is….
P-Town Brave ©
October 5th, 2012
10:53 am
Brian-
Not necessarily….
Recall that Durbin has been used against righties in situations where we need a double play or to wiggle out of trouble…..
IF Meds can get to the 7th, then yes, I agree w/ you….mix Gearrin against the righty, Venters against the lefty, and get the ball to EOF in the 8th.
TheOnlyBravesFan
October 5th, 2012
10:53 am
How did Ross look?
FEAR
October 5th, 2012
10:53 am
Indeed. Medlin goes 8 strong and we have Kimbrel pitch the 9th and slam the door.
Not So Simple
October 5th, 2012
10:55 am
I haven’t been a Fredi fan, but this year he is turning me into one. He isn’t afraid to put his best chance of winning out on the field. Think not? Ask Uggla and Mac! Bobby would never have done that. Bobby’s loyalty to players based on their PAST performance cost the Braves some playoffs wins. Maybe thats why there was one WS championship to show for Bobby’s efforts. It would have been hard to argue with Fredi had he tapped Hudson to start today based on experience, but you can’t blame him for starting the back to back pitcher of the month to start a do or die game. Bobby would have gone with Hudson, no doubt.
As for the Ross over Mac argument, to heck with the bat. Medlen has thrown his best games with Ross behind the plate. While Meds doesn’t demean Mac as a catcher and praises him when he is his battery mate, he RAVES about Ross!
If Medlen stinks it up today, then the Braves will likely lose. The Braves success today will start and end with Med’s performance. The Medlen/ROSS battery is a good choice on Fredi’s part.
Powderfinger
October 5th, 2012
10:56 am
I’m really not worried about our pitching. But our hitting (or lack thereof) scares the hell out of me…
Brian from SC
October 5th, 2012
10:57 am
I agree that the Braves will live or die with Kris Medlen tonight. And they haven’t “died” with him in over two years.
FEAR
October 5th, 2012
10:58 am
Not So Simple – Amen!
MFin04
October 5th, 2012
10:58 am
“But our hitting (or lack thereof) scares the…”
If this ends up being a high scoring game, I’m not seeing us competing. If it’s a low scoring close game we have a shot.
Of course low scoring close games give me heart attacks.
DS1
October 5th, 2012
10:58 am
It’s going to be a GREAT day today. Braves are going to do well against the Cardinals, and we can all argue all day Saturday about who will be the starting catcher on Sunday!
Enjoy the moment!!
George_George
October 5th, 2012
10:59 am
phil
October 5th, 2012
10:08 am
And this is why I got so down on MLB about 10 years ago….
The game Monday is at 4:37, which means that most people with jobs CAN’T WATCH IT!!!!
This sh*t drives me nuts!! When it matters most, the fans are hung out to dry…..to heck with em.
*************************
Good morning all
Yup phil, BUD does not do very much for ATLANTA fans, he sure is anti ATLANTA. We never get a night game in playoffs. OF course we most likely won’t get by his silly play-in game to make the playoffs.
Shaun
October 5th, 2012
10:59 am
Francisco obviously has a horrible approach. Hinske hasn’t been good all season. Makes some sense that they would go with the guy who has shown the better approach in the past and the guy who can at least be a body in the outfield. The argument for Francisco is that maybe his 80-grade power could come in to play. But it’s probably the last spot off the bench, so flip a coin.
phil
October 5th, 2012
10:59 am
Shaun
October 5th, 2012
10:37 am
HUGE Braves game today and Kincade is AT the park talking about FOOTBALL….
You realize sports talk radio is on 24/7, right? Shows are, what, 2-3 hours? They should spend all that time talking about one sport?
************
Nah, we’re all too stupid to think for ourselves. That’s why we have you.
DS1
October 5th, 2012
11:00 am
Kris Medlen lives for this sort of moment. Even back 2 years ago, when his stuff was not quite as impressive, he was still a bull dog in every start he made.
Not to worry guys. If we lose 1-0, we can blame it on Medlen for not throwing a shutout and hitting a homer.
Brian from SC
October 5th, 2012
11:01 am
Can’t wait for that huge sense of relief and excitement at around 8:00 tonight. The World Series run will begin in earnest!
phil
October 5th, 2012
11:02 am
There is nothing to enjoy about this game tonight….
Let’s just win the damn thing so we can’t enjoy the one on Sunday too.
DS1
October 5th, 2012
11:04 am
DOB should declare a “No Negative Waves” zone on the blog today. (sorry phil……)
Shaun
October 5th, 2012
11:04 am
phil, well, it seems somewhat thinks a sports radio personality is supposed to talk about only the Braves for several hours just because his station decided to broadcast from Turner Field.
Sopheee
October 5th, 2012
11:05 am
I see DOB’s having fun on twitter.
Brian from SC
October 5th, 2012
11:05 am
I am just totally useless today. Already have a knot in my stomach, and we’re 6 hours away.
P-Town Brave ©
October 5th, 2012
11:05 am
Brian-
I know one thing….I have plenty of beer waiting for tonight for me…..
Tomahawkin (LCS or BUST)
October 5th, 2012
11:06 am
Powderfinger
“I’m really not worried about our pitching. But our hitting (or lack thereof) scares the hell out of me…”
Co-Sign…What worries me is that we Suck at employing a A-B-C approach on offense even with a speedster like Bourn leading off
ABC baseball wins in Choptober
FEAR
October 5th, 2012
11:06 am
For the Cards: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRL9ivE6Yog
MFin04
October 5th, 2012
11:07 am
“Kris Medlen lives for this sort of moment”
Yep. All I can remember last year when the collapse was finally over was Kris Medlen bailing Craig Kimbrel’s butt out against the Phillies. Came in to a tough situation after just coming off TJ surgery and did his job. Just a brilliant moment for him.
Now it’d be real nice if the offense would help him relax a little and give him a nice lead.
P-Town Brave ©
October 5th, 2012
11:07 am
Brian-
Me too….
I really dont think Im gonna get anything done today at work….
2 hours in and I have sent out some reports, but thats about it….and I still have 6 hours to game time….
Funny enough, I blocked off my calendar for the last 2 hours of work here for start of game
Sopheee
October 5th, 2012
11:08 am
I gave up at 9am. Going home in an hour.
P-Town Brave ©
October 5th, 2012
11:08 am
Fin-
Like I said, the team is pretty money if they hold a lead by the 4th inning and if they give Meds a solid lead early
Juan
October 5th, 2012
11:09 am
Prediction:
The Braves score 40 runs in 6 games agains the Card in May…..My Prediction is Braves 8 Card 2
.
I have a print out from april 4, 2012 ESPN prediction and from 49 Reporter & Insider only 3 predict the Braves in the WS. There’re; 1- Jorge Arangure from ESPN The Magazine has Tiger Over Braves…2- Keith Law ESPN Insider Rangers Over Braves and 3- AJ Mass ESPN Fantasy Tigers over Braves.
DAP
October 5th, 2012
11:10 am
ok, i just bought my NLDS game 1 ticket!
P-Town Brave ©
October 5th, 2012
11:10 am
Frankly, for those afraid of Durbin…..
You should stay FAR away from Venters’ stats against the Cards….
IF you’re wanting anyone to not pitch against them, its Jonny
MFin04
October 5th, 2012
11:10 am
Gets me amped every time:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJZ0kFoqKQE
George_George
October 5th, 2012
11:11 am
Repost from last night so the morning folk can see it. I was surprised at how nice George was yesterday.
******************************
George_George
October 4th, 2012
6:57 pm
Why would we think about signing or tradeing for a catcher? BRIAN may be better next year we have ROSS even if he is kinda old to catch a lot of games. Then we have comming up BETTENCOURT and that other kid who tore up the low minors till he hurt his ankle. We need a LFder who can hit when MARTIN becomes full-time 3RD BASE. JOHNSON and JOSE C can handle CF. With our PITCHING STAFF we should be fine next year. I was going to retire from BRAVE FANDOM when CHIPPER did , but think Iwill stick around another year.
MFin04
October 5th, 2012
11:12 am
“I gave up at 9am. Going home in an hour.”
I’m pretty much useless at this point too, but I’ll blog it out for a while.
DAP
October 5th, 2012
11:12 am
looks like fredi agreed with me about the construction on the WC roster. im not sure how i feel about that.
P-Town Brave ©
October 5th, 2012
11:12 am
Soph-
I would, but I don’t have much time left from my vaca to ATL last week
phil
October 5th, 2012
11:13 am
I’m not being negative….
Just realistic.
DS1
October 5th, 2012
11:17 am
P town
I don’t put much value in how a particular pitcher does against one team. (Venters vs Cards) I am more concerned about trends. And Venters has been pitching great for the second half of the season.
But please don’t let me get in the way of your demons!
Powderfinger
October 5th, 2012
11:18 am
OMG – George_George is coming back next year? Who the hell picked up that option?
DAP
October 5th, 2012
11:20 am
FEAR, border bash is a big deal around here, lots of folks excited. BUT, there IS buzz about the braves as well. i know quite a few people who off work to go to the game today. there are even businesses putting GO BRAVES! on there signs. This is Braves Country, brother.
P-Town Brave ©
October 5th, 2012
11:22 am
DS1-
Well….I was just stating to the ppl all concerned about Durbin and how they should be more concerned w/ Venters facing them….
In fact, Durbin has OWNED Beltran
P-Town Brave ©
October 5th, 2012
11:23 am
Powder-
I don’t know but Veer is like Milton from Office Space….we stopped sending his paycheck and put him in Storage B….
He still doesn’t get it…
FEAR
October 5th, 2012
11:23 am
DAP – Well hell, I haven’t seen it. I didn’t get the day off work. Hahaha.
Venice Jim
October 5th, 2012
11:25 am
Smoltzie on DP Show…
George_George
October 5th, 2012
11:25 am
BELIEVE IN THE MEDS.
George_George
October 5th, 2012
11:26 am
I am listening to him,
P-Town Brave ©
October 5th, 2012
11:26 am
Phil-
I don’t know about you, but I for one am trying to enjoy every last moment I get to see of Chipper…
And we have a lot to be proud of today too….
Medlen has been outstanding….Prado has been Prado…..Kimbrel has been unreal….
There is MUCH to be proud of as a Brave fan….and hopefully come 8p ET, they will give us more
DS1
October 5th, 2012
11:27 am
P town
My guess is we won’t need either of those 2 guys today.
bravofan
October 5th, 2012
11:27 am
The start time for Monday is absurd!!
FEAR
October 5th, 2012
11:30 am
Well let’s not forget before big cable tv money WS games were on in the afternoon a lot.
usnavyvolfaninva
October 5th, 2012
11:30 am
Day 3. Approval rating for my cooking among the kids is 100%. Last night-Tacos. Tonight- Shepherds pie.
MFin04
October 5th, 2012
11:30 am
I need to take some MEDS if this game doesn’t hurry up and get here. (insert big eye smiley here)
P-Town Brave ©
October 5th, 2012
11:33 am
DS1-
That would be nice…
Certainly would help my blood pressure
Murph
October 5th, 2012
11:33 am
Today could be Chipper’s last game. Holy hell. Just stop and think about that for a second. He could be down to his last 3-4 AB’s. Ever.
Venice Jim
October 5th, 2012
11:33 am
The first scheduled night World Series game was Game 4 of the 1971 World Series at Three Rivers Stadium.
usnavyvolfaninva
October 5th, 2012
11:35 am
Murph,
Yep. Could be.
P-Town Brave ©
October 5th, 2012
11:36 am
Murph-
I’d rather not….
Don’t make me come through that PC of yours and smack you
MFin04
October 5th, 2012
11:36 am
“Just stop and think about that for a second. He could be down to his last 3-4 AB’s. Ever.”
Let’s hope not. I’m hoping for 50-60 more AB’s minimum.
usnavyvolfaninva
October 5th, 2012
11:36 am
VJ,
That was the year Clemente was killed in the plane crash; did that happen before or after (or during) the ‘71 season?
P-Town Brave ©
October 5th, 2012
11:36 am
Murph-
Not now….NOT TODAY
#12in12for10
usnavyvolfaninva
October 5th, 2012
11:37 am
Never mind. Clemente was killed New Years Eve 1972.
P-Town Brave ©
October 5th, 2012
11:37 am
Clemente died NYE of 72
usnavyvolfaninva
October 5th, 2012
11:38 am
…so says Wikipedia.
George_George
October 5th, 2012
11:38 am
Murph
October 5th, 2012
11:33 am
Today could be Chipper’s last game. Holy hell. Just stop and think about that for a second. He could be down to his last 3-4 AB’s. Ever.
******************************************************************
It is really sad, he will be much missed.
P-Town Brave ©
October 5th, 2012
11:40 am
If I recall correctly, he won the WS MVP in 71 and his last regular season hit in 72 was exactly 3000
usnavyvolfaninva
October 5th, 2012
11:42 am
Clemente died almost exactly 6 months before I was born.
P-Town Brave ©
October 5th, 2012
11:44 am
A little under 10 years before my birth….
But I have a wealth of baseball knowledge just sitting around in this brain of mine….
Frankly, its why I don’t have room for anything actually important
George_George
October 5th, 2012
11:44 am
USC gave us a scaire last night.
Venice Jim
October 5th, 2012
11:45 am
I was shooting baskets New Year’s Day outside the house when I heard the news…
Venice Jim
October 5th, 2012
11:45 am
Jon Sciambi @BoogSciambi
@mlbonespradio today at 4:30 eastern #cardinals #braves with @c_singleton
usnavyvolfaninva
October 5th, 2012
11:46 am
P-town.
Most of us have a library of useless knowledge upstairs, but few admit it.
Jeff R
October 5th, 2012
11:50 am
Clemente died almost exactly 6 months before I was born.
I was kid, and we were visiting family in Ft. Lauderdale when Clemente perished. I remember it was big news, particularly in south Florida.
P-Town Brave ©
October 5th, 2012
11:51 am
So Kincade just gave his weekend guarantee and that is the Braves WILL win….
cricket
October 5th, 2012
11:52 am
Playing little ball bunting, sacrificing, and Hitting a sac fly
oh phooey..i vote for Bourn bunt single, hit-run with prado putting Bourn on 3rd Prado 1st, Heyward 3-run shot, chipper solo shot and Bob’s your uncle..
P-Town Brave ©
October 5th, 2012
11:52 am
USN -
I admit it every day…especially when my fiance just shakes her head and is like, how do you know these things….
BTW….if I havent said it enough, thank you for your service…..its all appreciated.
Lew
October 5th, 2012
11:53 am
I was 20 when he died.
P-Town Brave ©
October 5th, 2012
11:54 am
cricket-
If that happens in the 1st, I may not make it through the last 30-35 minutes of my workday.
cricket
October 5th, 2012
11:54 am
can someone with insider access post this please?
http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/playoffs/2012/story/_/id/8460964/how-kris-medlen-take-st-louis-cardinals-mlb
usnavyvolfaninva
October 5th, 2012
11:55 am
Thanks, P-town. It’s an honor.
And I’m with on the fiance/wife thing. My wife was watching a movie from the 1940s with Peter Cushing in it. He was playing a clergyman of some sort. After my attempt to bottle it up inside became futile, I blurted out “THAT’S GOVERNOR TARKIN FROM EPISODE 4!!!” Yep, got the couch that night.
cricket
October 5th, 2012
11:56 am
P-Town Brave – it’s happening in 1st. i’m getting away from work at 4:37 (solidarity with 5:07 start) to watch it
Venice Jim
October 5th, 2012
11:58 am
Lew – I did skip the part where I was shooting those baskets while on semester break from my freshman year at W&M…
Lew
October 5th, 2012
12:00 pm
VJ – Yep,we’re a buncha LOF’s – no doubt about it
Jersey Gil
October 5th, 2012
12:00 pm
I saw clemente plane before the crash….I was living in Puerto rico, i was in my friend condo at front of the Airport playing Domino before 10Pm. The condo is across the Highway and we can see the runway and my friend said someting about that plane was sound very bad…we continuos playing domino and about half hour later we saw flair in the distance and some helicopter looking for something in the shore….we turn the TV on and found that Clemente plane crash.Everyone was at shock…there was not anyone making any noise for hours….
True Story.
P-Town Brave ©
October 5th, 2012
12:03 pm
cricket-
Yeah, wish I could leave by 1st pitch….but would be completely ok if we put up a 4 spot before I got home….
People are giving me evil looks because they just started the chop music on 680 and I’m chopping at my desk….
Remind you, I’m in the middle of Cards/Cubs territory…..
BUT they can all suck it!
P-Town Brave ©
October 5th, 2012
12:04 pm
Navy-
Yeah,
Im sure that was enjoyable….I just get the eye and the head shake now….
I know way too much about nothing….(at least thats what she says)
Me, I say, hey, it could be useful at some point….
bravofan
October 5th, 2012
12:04 pm
Pedro Gomez just said Chris McCann behind the plate
P-Town Brave ©
October 5th, 2012
12:06 pm
bravofan-
Pedro Gomez….what the hell does he know?!
The guy followed Barry Bonds around for 8 years and still didn’t believe he was a roid user….
For all Pedro knows, I’d be surprised Chris Hansen wasn’t announced as behind the plate…..