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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
6,304 comments Add your comment
Mixxo
December 19th, 2012
8:42 am
Some good ones on the album list. Here’s another…
Check out Gary Clark Jr’s. newest one ‘Blak and Blu’
Awesome!
TheOnlyBravesFan
December 19th, 2012
8:47 am
Bourn provided us 100 runs of worth on offense by July 31… 145 for the season. Add in his defense, he was worth 170.
Upton has averaged 120 runs of worth the last 4 season on offense, and loses at least 5 for his defense.
Maybe he’ll break out after being in his prime for a year or so already and not improving the past 4 years… we will need it.
TennesseePaul
December 19th, 2012
8:55 am
Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes! Thank you DOB. I love the album lists and just in time for Christmas!
TennesseePaul
December 19th, 2012
8:57 am
Baseball people suggest Trevor Bauer has a better chance of becoming an impact player than Didi Gregorius
Bauer may well turn out good, and it takes talent to get talent via a trade, but Kevin Towers is also pretty astute when it comes to trading pitching. Doesn’t mean Towers think Bauer will stink, but that he may very well view the potential equal to his acquisition, that is, a fair trade.
ncscoots
December 19th, 2012
9:02 am
but Kevin Towers is also pretty astute when it comes to trading pitching.
And Bauer doesn’t help himself by his resistance to change. Beyond his warmup weirdness, his mechanics on the mound leave something to be desired. Yet, he reportedly fights any effort to tweak things. I understand that players think “this is what got me here” and “it’s my career”, but still…
Dadgum.....
December 19th, 2012
9:04 am
Any lists put out by Rolling Stone magazine can’t be taken too seriously. Probably the closest thing to propaganda and print in-breeding we have ever had in music. The Beatles were their love child and Zeppelin was the red-headed step child. A crime shame four shore.
Rock on…..if I’m on a deserted island and can only listen to one group then I’m cranking Zep. Greatest rock band of all time. Just damn Rockin. Beatles=Muzak.
bat082994
December 19th, 2012
9:28 am
insert obligatory “who’s on first” joke
bat082994
December 19th, 2012
9:28 am
insert obligatory “who’s on first” joke
Steve
December 19th, 2012
9:29 am
I just don’t see how the Braves are improved from last year. There are questions in left/third, second, catcher, and centerfield. That’s half the lineup. Granted, Upton may hit 30 homers, but he will also strike out. McCann will not be available for April. The last time I checked, games played in April count in the standings. It seems as if we have more money and less of a team. Why?
TheOnlyBravesFan
December 19th, 2012
9:31 am
BillShanks @BillShanks
@chapeldog23 – Yeah I think Schafer’s got a great shot (to make the team), especially if Gattis is the LF. Then Schafer can come in late to play LF.
Brian Ratledge
December 19th, 2012
9:33 am
Great article. Thanks for the insight. This answered many of my questions on the Braves.
ncscoots
December 19th, 2012
9:34 am
Yeah I think Schafer’s got a great shot (to make the team),
I can count on a couple of fingers the years that the Braves carried five OF, and this year is unlikely to be one of them. Johnson can play all three OF spots, which is one of the reasons he is so attractive as a bench player.
Bobby Cox
December 19th, 2012
9:37 am
I love it that Fredi may go with a Diaz/Schafer platoon in LF. Both have looked good in our simulated games.
Time for another drink …
jeffrey d
December 19th, 2012
9:40 am
I love it that Fredi may go with a Diaz/Schafer platoon in LF
When did anybody ever say that?
Frank Wren
December 19th, 2012
9:41 am
“I just don’t see how the Braves are improved from last year. There are questions in left/third, second, catcher, and centerfield. That’s half the lineup. Granted, Upton may hit 30 homers, but he will also strike out. McCann will not be available for April. The last time I checked, games played in April count in the standings. It seems as if we have more money and less of a team. Why?” – Steve
Steve, Upton is going to hit his “potential”; Uggla will hit his career average, and McCann’s will return in May and have a great season because he’s a free agent and we know what that means.
We should win the NL East by 5-7 games at least.
Steve
December 19th, 2012
9:46 am
Thanks for clearing that up Frank. Glad we our not counting a lot of “if”scenarios.
Lew
December 19th, 2012
9:46 am
So Shanks thinks that if Gattis plays left, that despite having signed Reed Johnson who can play all outfield positions, that they’d put Schafer on the roster just to play late inning defense in LF? Sorry, just not seeing that at all.
Steve
December 19th, 2012
9:48 am
Thanks for the insight Frank. Glad there are not a lot of “ifs” in your scenario.
Steve
December 19th, 2012
9:50 am
Computer problems led to the double post. Sorry about that.
Lew
December 19th, 2012
9:50 am
There are “IF” scenarios every year for every team. Last year it was “if” Prado could come back, “if” Heyward could go back to his rookie numbers, “if” Chipper had anything left in his tank, “if” Hudson could return to any significant form after yet another surgery, “if” Medlen would pitch in relief or start, etc.
Nothing new here, is it?
Enquiring Minds Want To Know
December 19th, 2012
9:50 am
Frank, I’ll go you one better. Uggla will have a monster year in 2013 because his last two have been below average. Reversion to the mean, and all that.
ncscoots
December 19th, 2012
9:50 am
Glad we our not counting a lot of “if”scenarios.
Man, every team counts on “if”, LOL. Your “ifs” just include the worst outcomes, is all. You’re being no more realistic than the Pollyannas here.
Stephen
December 19th, 2012
9:52 am
The failure to include Zac Brown Band’s Uncaged in this list is unforgivable.
Rick C
December 19th, 2012
9:52 am
I can’t say that I know more than a few artists on DOB’s list, and none that I am particularly big fans of. And I thought I listened to obscure music…
TheOnlyBravesFan
December 19th, 2012
9:53 am
MLB Network Radio @MLBNetworkRadio
Shapiro on Swisher’s Energy: “It’s legit. It’s not an act. He loves playing baseball, loves his teammates & brings a lot to the table.”
MLB Network Radio @MLBNetworkRadio
Mark Shapiro on visit with Nick Swisher: “Outstanding. There are some things that stand out beyond the consistency of his performance.”
I don’t get Shank’s idea that Schafer would be on the roster in that situation… why would we need 5 OF? But the Braves do like having guys who can’t hit on the bench… Janish/Pena will be on to pinch-defend.
Laird, Mejia, Francisco, Reed, Janish/Pena
CDS
December 19th, 2012
9:58 am
Thanks for the info on the team, and the ranking of albums. Gonna have to check some of these out. Just curiouis – but I didn’t see Rush’s “Clockwork Angels” release on there. Not a fan, or have you not had a chance to listen to it? If you haven’t, it’s worth a spin. It’s not their typical stuff, it’s much more straightforward, guitar heavy rock, and the last song on the record “The Garden” may be one of the best songs they’ve ever written.
For me personally (I am a huge Rush fan) it would have to be near the top of my list, but that’s the great thing about music – love it or hate it, everyone can appreciate good music and the talent it takes to make it.
Steve
December 19th, 2012
9:58 am
My “if scenarios look at Uggla’s production last year, McCann being injured for the first month, questions as to who will play LF/3B, and Upton hitting less than .250 last year.
Brava
December 19th, 2012
10:00 am
Check out Gary Clark Jr’s. newest one ‘Blak and Blu’
Love him, Mixxo.
jbill
December 19th, 2012
10:01 am
Bobby Cox..Diaz is not on the team.
Rick C
December 19th, 2012
10:01 am
CDS, Clockwork Angels is a great album. Possibly my favorite Rush album since Moving Pictures. I’ve never gotten the impression that DOB is into prog.
Steve
December 19th, 2012
10:03 am
I do think the pitching will be better, with Medlen starting all year, Hanson replaced, and a stronger bullpen.
flange1
December 19th, 2012
10:03 am
Shanks is not real bright. And he probably forgot the Braves signed Reed Johnson.
Lew
December 19th, 2012
10:04 am
As to having bench players who can’t hit – I’d say that most teams (unless they have the DH) utilize players that have a defensive upside for their bench – it’s not something that’s all that rare. And as for the infield subs not hitting – how many shortstops out there who can hit are going to be on the bench to begin with? How many that CAN hit are good on defense, too?
Different players have different skill sets and those who are really good on both sides of the ball are called starters.
Brava
December 19th, 2012
10:06 am
Juan + for Giancarlo! Do it Frankie!
Jayson Stark @jaysonst
Hearing Marlins so unhappy with 3B options, they’ve been checking out Miguel Tejada in winter ball. Also kicked tires on Polanco & Inge.
Patrick
December 19th, 2012
10:06 am
The more time that goes by, I really am starting to believe the unbelievable. That they (Wren and the front office) is going to pocket all of this money that they have been telling fans for the past couple of seasons that-as soon as the resources are available-that they will use them to put the best team on the field. And I’m sorry, but trying to Con fans into believe that TWO platoons at key positions is the best way to construct the team. Or Con fans into believing that 1. A 26 year old minor league catcher can come in, play a whole new position in LF and make a significant impact, or, 2. A career minor leaguer that another organization gave up on is ready to take over 3B just because he’s “in shape” and has played exceptionally well in a Dominican Winter League-I mean come on! Francisco isn’t out there hitting again Strasburg, Gonzalez, Halladay, Hamels, Lee, Santana, etc…
This is nothing more than preventative damage control and/or posturing (like DOB mentioned) to try and get a trade completed. Now this could all easlily be fixed if whoever really controls the budget would let Wren spend an extra 5 million, which is peanuts to these people and they could go and sign a Cody Ross.But that has been made clear it won’t happen.
So since Wren is being hamstrung on budget, it is his job is to put the best team on the field with the resources that he does have. And right now 10+million dollars and a good amount of tradeable talent shoudl be enough to get something done.
Bottom line-this team is worse and weaker than last year and the year before.
If no left fielder or 3B is acquired via Free Agency or a trade and Gattis and Francisco don’t bail him out by stepping up and these platoons do not work. If they Braves do not make the playoffs, he should be fired, plain and simple.
ncscoots
December 19th, 2012
10:07 am
Steve, do you believe Uggla is cooked? That is, that he will never, ever again be the player that the Braves traded for?
Do you believe that the Braves lineup is not deep enough to withstand the loss of McCann for four weeks? That Heyward, Freeman, Upton, Uggla simply aren’t enough run production?
Do you believe that the projected lineup without a LF bat isn’t good enough? But that adding one bat does make it good enough?
If you answer “yes” to all that, then you’re right to fret. Otherwise, you’re just wearing gray-colored glasses, I think.
ncscoots
December 19th, 2012
10:10 am
and they could go and sign a Cody Ross.But that has been made clear it won’t happen.
Luckily.
Steve
December 19th, 2012
10:12 am
Uggla will never perform to his pre-Braves level. It is more than adding one bat.
Rick C
December 19th, 2012
10:12 am
“2. A career minor leaguer that another organization gave up on”
The Reds were pretty high on Francisco, he was just blocked. He’s never had the opportunity to regularly start.
jbill
December 19th, 2012
10:13 am
Luke Bryan’s tailgates and tanlines with hits ‘”Country girl “and “I don’t want this night to end”…didn’t make the list??
Murph
December 19th, 2012
10:14 am
Gattis for LF. Prado for 3B. World Series for Atlanta.
He may not be able to outplay Bonifacio or Bourjos with the glove, but he will outhit those two combined.
Gattis.
Mixxo
December 19th, 2012
10:14 am
Love him, Mixxo. – Brava
Yeah, so soulful and a pretty fine guitarist too.
I had the pleasure of doing sound for him at a local venue. A real nice guy. I’d never heard of him until then. He opened for The Futurebirds & Grace Potter & the Nocturnals. I was blown away. After his set, he and his band set up down the street at another watering hole and played all night. I went down there after our show and caught some of it……amazing!
Brava
December 19th, 2012
10:16 am
BillShanks @BillShanks
With Buddy Carlyle signing with TOR, the Braves have signed Tim Corcoran to be the new old guy for Triple-A Gwinnett.
Steve
December 19th, 2012
10:16 am
By the way, I hope I’m totally wrong and everyone blasts me next year. I would love to see the Braves do well. I live for the baseball season. (I know, I don’t have a life).
TheOnlyBravesFan
December 19th, 2012
10:19 am
Jim Powell @Jim_Powell
Loved Andrelton Simmons’ minor league #’s for same reason as Gattis’: Very productive w/ excellent K-rate. Translates at higher levels.
ncscoots
December 19th, 2012
10:19 am
By the way, I hope I’m totally wrong and everyone blasts me next year
Believe me, you are far, far away from being the worst doom-and-gloomer here, buddy.
ray k
December 19th, 2012
10:19 am
God Speed You Black Emperor are still making records?
Brave New World
December 19th, 2012
10:20 am
With the team as is, the Braves will win 90-95 games in 2013. Our starting pitching is very good, and our bullpen may be the best in baseball. Prado, Heyward, Freeman, Upton, Simmons, Uggla, McCann, and either Francisco or someone like Gattis puts a bunch of power and speed in our lineup. The Nats are for real, but with plenty of games against chump teams like the Mets, Phils and Marlins in our division, we will be a playoff team in 2013. GO BRAVES!
TennesseePaul
December 19th, 2012
10:20 am
Do you believe that the projected lineup without a LF bat isn’t good enough?
Well, crossing that 60% threshold might be a tad difficult without a left field bat.
rammerjammer
December 19th, 2012
10:23 am
Prado, if I recall correctly, ranked high in number of pitches seen in every at-bat…something like that. To me, that’s an attribute for your leadoff guy. He clearly has the mental toughness to be first up. Question is, who bats second?
ncscoots
December 19th, 2012
10:23 am
He may not be able to outplay Bonifacio or Bourjos with the glove
We’re talking left field defense. Left. Field. As close to “Who cares?” as it gets on a baseball field.
Besides, Upton can cheat that way, with Heyward in RF.
Mixxo
December 19th, 2012
10:24 am
I’d love to see them do well as I have since 1971. But, I’m also a realist.
As long as BMac is on this team, we’re likely going nowhere.We got rid of one highly-touted guy (Hanson)……let Mac walk and we’ll finally have some intensity and passion on this squad.
BravePack(FreeFan)
December 19th, 2012
10:26 am
Gattis or bust.
Murph
December 19th, 2012
10:26 am
I think Simmons will be given every opportunity to win the leadoff spot… I imagine he’s the preferred solution just because Prado fits so well in the 2nd spot.
1. Simmons
2. Prado
3. Heyward
4. Upton
5. Freeman
6. Uggla
7. BMac
8. Gattis
I love that lineup. Power from top to bottom.
If Simmons fails in the leadoff role you can just slide everyone up one and move Simmons back down to 8th.
Arkansas Transplant
December 19th, 2012
10:27 am
Don’t know about Uggla being totally cooked… but it would surprise me to see him duplicate the season he had before being traded to Atlanta.
TennesseePaul
December 19th, 2012
10:28 am
Gattis is about 110 PA’s shy of where Simmons was when he bounced to the majors. Braves could stick Gattis down in AAA to start the season and then bring him up a month in or so… sort of like they did with Simmons. In that scenario, Schafer starts the season with the team and is the odd man out when Gattis comes up. That’d at least allow the FO to review Gattis’ work against AAA before throwing him in the fire.
TheOnlyBravesFan
December 19th, 2012
10:28 am
Jon Heyman @JonHeymanCBS
evan gattis, braves prospect, is tearing it up in winter ball. atlanta still eyes a LF, preferably a leadoff type for ‘13
Bourjos is a leadoff hitter, but Gattis would do, I suppose.
ncscoots
December 19th, 2012
10:28 am
Well, crossing that 60% threshold might be a tad difficult without a left field bat.
That’s just consistency.
It’s still a pretty deep lineup with McCann in there, even without a great bat in LF.
Steve
December 19th, 2012
10:29 am
I hope Gattis gets the opportunity.
Rick C
December 19th, 2012
10:29 am
rammerjammer, I wouldn’t bat him second but Uggla saw the most pitches per plate appearance on the team last year with 4.18 (good for 4th in the NL). Bourn saw 4.15, Heyward 4.03, Freeman 3.98, and Prado 3.93.
Parkway
December 19th, 2012
10:32 am
Hey all- I’ve been reading this blog for about as long as it has been around, but I rarely post (I think I’ve posted 3 or 4 times ever.)
Anyways, DOB- GREAT list!
Grizzly Bear’s SHEILDS would be my number one, but I am partial to that sound.
Moving from SC to Minneapolis two summers ago, the loss of real Barbeque and Sweet Tea has been alleviated somewhat by an amazing music scene. As a part of that, I have discovered most of those groups on the RADIO. Yes, the radio. It is a non-profit service offered by Minnesota Public Radio called “The Current.” They are member supported, so they give airtime to a great deal of groups you would never hear on a top 40 loop. You can listen to a live stream at thecurrent.org (http://minnesota.publicradio.org/radio/services/the_current/streams.shtml)
I know this sounds like a commercial, but if you’re looking for some new music to get into, go listen to their live stream.
Cheers!
Rick C
December 19th, 2012
10:32 am
TOBF, a career 301 OBP does not make a good lead off hitter. And save the “he had a good year when he started” crap.
raleighbravefan
December 19th, 2012
10:32 am
Nay sayers , winter 2011-12 …..”Braves will win 75 games”….”Braves are a 4th place (division) team”
Results…94 wins and playoffs (yes, I consider the 1 game a playoff game).
Nay sayers Winter 2012…well, you know, more gloom & doom. Time will tell. I predict 90+ wins again.
TheOnlyBravesFan
December 19th, 2012
10:32 am
Uggla isn’t cooked yet… but he will be 33. If he struggles again next season, say, under .730 OPS, I don’t see how we could expect him to get back to a 30HR guy again… he’d be our Vernon Wells for 2 more years
Atlanta Braves Links of the Day For December 19, 2012 | Atlanta Braves Dugout Online | Atlanta Braves Blog
December 19th, 2012
10:34 am
[...] Who’s in LF? Plus, DOB’s Top 50 albums [...]
Tera
December 19th, 2012
10:36 am
Thanks for the list DOB! I always find new music to try. I am sad Mumford didn’t even make honorable mention. I really enjoy the entire album.
TheOnlyBravesFan
December 19th, 2012
10:37 am
Prado, Uggla, Heyward, Upton, Freeman, Gattis, McCann, Simmons
Take our decently above average rotation, great bullpen, and solid lineup to battle, win 88-93 games, good enough to battle the Nats, but probably fall short. 1st WC should be ours, easy though.
Maybe Gattis will soar and be ready to supplant Upton as cleanup hitter by July. Move BJ to 7. We can’t get Choo now, Bourjos and Justin seem unlikely, no point in trading for a LF. And I’d rather try Gattis than Juan and make Prado a yo-yo… I want him back in 2014.
Go Braves.
Brava
December 19th, 2012
10:37 am
Jon Heyman @JonHeymanCBS
evan gattis, braves prospect, is tearing it up in winter ball. atlanta still eyes a LF, preferably a leadoff type for ‘13
Brava
December 19th, 2012
10:38 am
Oops, see you already posted that one, TOBF.
rammerjammer
December 19th, 2012
10:38 am
Greg Luzinski. Dave Kingman. Frank Howard. Leftfielders all.
Ralph
December 19th, 2012
10:39 am
I’m happy with our low budget players, it’s the guys making the most money that worries me.
TheOnlyBravesFan
December 19th, 2012
10:39 am
And save the “he had a good year when ….crap.
BJ had a good year in 2007! (.393 babip)
ncscoots
December 19th, 2012
10:41 am
but it would surprise me to see him duplicate the season he had before being traded to Atlanta.
About the only thing out of norm in that particular year was his BA. So, I certainly don’t think it’s out of the realm for him to repeat his OPS from that year. Even last year, the biggest difference in his slugging was that he didn’t get the ball out of the park as much. Still hit the usual number of 2B. But balls that he might have lifted for dingers in previous years stayed in the ballpark for outs.
I know it’s hard to conceive of the guy returning to form, given how he has underperformed for a couple of years. But if one thinks that he hasn’t fallen off a cliff, it’s reasonable to assume that last year is not his new “normal”. That really only leaves one conclusion: that he’ll have better results in 2013.
rammerjammer
December 19th, 2012
10:43 am
Rick C, thanks for that. Maybe Martin was ranked in “not swinging at the first pitch.” I know I saw something…somewhere…that indicated he had great value in working the pitcher and that benefitted his teammates.
Ralph
December 19th, 2012
10:43 am
Usualy it’s the players with the big salary that you depend on to score runs, it’s the reverse with this team.
David O'Brien
December 19th, 2012
10:43 am
And I’m sorry, but trying to Con fans into believe that TWO platoons at key positions is the best way to construct the team…. – Patrick
While I would certainly prefer a lineup of standouts who each could play 150 or more games at his position, I never have understood the repulsion that some Braves fans have regarding platoons. It’s as if they aren’t aware of how successfully platoons are utilized by many teams year after year in the majors, how it’s the modus operandi for some organizations and how versatility and having a few players who move around to several positions is actually the standard formula for some good franchises.
St. Louis, for instance. They’ve long valued versatility and utilized platoons on a regular basis in La Russa’s tenure. That was the first team I thought of when it comes to platoons, so I went back and looked at 2011. Sure enough, in 2011 the World Series champion Cardinals had four (of the eight possible) positions where they didn’t have a single player make as many as 90 starts, and at two of the other positions the most starts they got from one player was 107 and 114.
Sure, injuries played a part in some of that, but so did planned platoons. La Russa used them with much success over the years, as have other managers (particularly on teams with budget constraints). Four of eight positions without a single starter with as many as 90 starts in 2011 for the World Series champions.
By comparison, the 2012 Braves had a player make at least 145 starts at four of the eight positions, and at the other four they had players make 113 starts (McCann at catcher), 111 starts (Prado in left field) and 100 starts (Chipper at third base). The only position where the Braves didn’t have a player make at least 100 starts was at shortstop, where Pastornicky struggled and lost the job early, and replacement Simmons got hurt and missed a couple of months. Simmons and Janish each made 49 starts at short, and Pastornicky 40.
The 2011 Cardinals had four positions in which no single player made as many as 90 starts. The 2012 Braves had only one position where they didn’t have a player make at least 100 starts.
The Truth....
December 19th, 2012
10:45 am
All this talk and guess work is fine and dandy. But as a long time Braves fan I still have to doubt the front office is really trying to put a championship team on the field. I think they just want to put a good team out there to put butts in the seats…..It is a business afterall….
Patrick
December 19th, 2012
10:45 am
Ugh, Bill Shanks really irritates me.
I really believe that if it were up to him. He would have NO player on the Braves be on the 25 man roster unless they were drafted and develpoed by them.
That dude is the biggest prospect lover I have ever seen. He has a complete bias towards any braves prospect, they’re like gold to him. I’m sure he’s loving this talk of Gattis playing and Schafer too (who I actually forgot that the Braves brought back)
wren-a-player
December 19th, 2012
10:45 am
The Brave’s will go with who’s in left and what’s on third and halfway thru the season trade 4 future major leaguers(Spurill,Gattis,Gilmartin and Ahmed) for a veteran who will bolt after the season!
Murph
December 19th, 2012
10:46 am
If Uggla has a season similar to his last two, will people start to accept that what we’re seeing is Uggla’s new “norm”?
I can’t predict the future and my guess is as valid as Ward’s, so I’ll abstain from any kind of Uggla prognostication.
I’ll believe he can return to form when he does so.
Lew
December 19th, 2012
10:46 am
Yeah Uggla and McCann were not up to their usual standards last year – no doubt about it. However – maybe we should look at how the rest of the NL did at their positions – it might give you a different take on the situation (probably not, but…..). 16 teams in the NL last year and this is where they ranked.
McCann – 4th in HR. 4th in BB. 6th in runs scored. 5th in RBI. Only one catcher with as many AB struck out less than Mac.
Uggla – 3rd in HR. 2nd in RBI. 3rd in OBP. 1st in BB. 3rd in runs scored. 4th in WAR (for all of y’all who actually believe it has meaning).
Lord help us if they were really as bad as some believe they were.
TennesseePaul
December 19th, 2012
10:48 am
If he struggles again next season, say, under .730 OPS…he’d be our Vernon Wells for 2 more years
TOBF, you keep coming up with total garbage. I applaud your consistency.
Uggla has not hit under .730 as a Brave. He makes $13M a year. Vernon Wells hasn’t hit over .682 in two years and makes $21M a year with a no-trade clause. These two players aren’t even on the same planet for comparison. No other player is right now. Vernon Wells is the worst performance and contract in baseball right now, regardless of the team he is on.
David O'Brien
December 19th, 2012
10:49 am
Why are you people thanking DOB ? He has said nothing here that we didn’t already know … — Whut ?
Tired response from a person who, for some reason, spells what with a “u.” Zzzzzzzz…. Please come up with something new to moan about.
ncscoots
December 19th, 2012
10:49 am
I’ll believe he can return to form when he does so.
so little faith among the faithful.
Lew
December 19th, 2012
10:50 am
Patrick – So what you’re saying is that if the Braves don’t spend all the money they budgeted, that Frank Wren and Bruce Manno get to split it between themselves? Is that what you meant by pocket the rest?
Murph
December 19th, 2012
10:51 am
I never have understood the repulsion that some Braves fans have regarding platoons.
I can’t speak for others around here, but in my own opinion, Bobby Cox ruined platoons for me forever.
It was beyond frustrating to see a guy come in, go 3-4 and help win a game on Friday, only to be then ride the pine on Saturday and Sunday due to matchups while his replacement would put up a giant O’fer.
I get the concept of playing matchups, but I also have seen guys get hot and hit anything and everything thrown their way for days/weeks at a time. Platoons feel like the anti-streak to me. They always seem to cool down a player just as he’s seeing the ball well.
I know I’m over-exaggerating, but that’s the overall feeling I got watching Bobby work his platoons over the years.
Rick C
December 19th, 2012
10:51 am
rammerjammer, yes I recall that. He was among the leaders in not swinging at the first pitch. If I recall correctly, it was under 10%.
Bobby Cox
December 19th, 2012
10:53 am
Gee, Skip. Ryan Langherhans could be an option in LF.
Bobby Cox
December 19th, 2012
10:53 am
Gee, Skip. Ryan Lagherhans could be an option in LF.
Comfortably Dumb™
December 19th, 2012
10:53 am
DOB, quit teasing me with all these “without further ados”..I can’t take one more ado. Please.
Bobby Cox
December 19th, 2012
10:53 am
Gee, Skip. Ryan Langherhans could be an option in LF.
Bobby Cox
December 19th, 2012
10:53 am
Gee, Skip. Ryan Langerhans could be an option in LF.
TheOnlyBravesFan
December 19th, 2012
10:53 am
looked at the total runs produced last year for Uggla, he was near his career norms… his RBIs were around normal, and thanks to the walks, he scored near his norm for runs. Mac is the one to hope comes back, he was about 30runs below norm last season
TennesseePaul
December 19th, 2012
10:53 am
it’s reasonable to assume that last year is not his new “normal”.
It need not be “last year” as the new normal. The “new normal” could be gathered from his two years in Atlanta. He was an .837 player before Atlanta, the “new norm” could be a “.750″ player. That’s not bad, considering he plays second base. What makes it bad is, this team sees him as the .837 player at second base and relaxes when placing a bat in LF.
Gil in Mechanicsville
December 19th, 2012
10:54 am
With absences of steroid use by today’s athletes, seeing players come into their own between the ages of 26 and 32 will again the norm in my opinion. Saying a player is “old” at the age of 27 is a bit unfair. Let us remember, there are very few Mike Trouts and Bryce Harpers in the game.
TennesseePaul
December 19th, 2012
10:56 am
That’s just consistency.
So, you see a good, but inconsistent line up in the 2013 Braves? Not much different than some complaints I’ve read from others…
Ralph
December 19th, 2012
10:56 am
Last year Uggla and McCann were like twins at the plate, this year with BJ we will have tripplets.
Steve
December 19th, 2012
10:57 am
One knows it is a slow time of the off-season when the Braves receive criticism for their Christmas card.
Patrick
December 19th, 2012
10:59 am
DOB,
Wow , I had NO idea the the Cardinals had that many platoons and as you said, some were by choice, some weren’t.
For me, I guess I see a platoon as a sign a weakness. That they cannot get someone good enough to play a position fulltime.A platoon gives the impression that neither player is good enough to do their job 100%. Which I will admit, is a very superficial, narorow-minded view. I know for years that the Braves had platoons at 1B and they had some really productive ones when Julio Franco was on the team (speaking of, do you know what he’s up to? I really thought that he should have become a hitting instructor after he retired).
To be honest, I’m still disappointed that the Braves aren’t what they used to be when Ted ran things.I hate how it is now and wish that they could get an owner who cares about winning more than tax breaks or saving pennies…when they’re already millionaires or billionaires.
I hate most that we cannot keep players that we’ve drafted and developed into stars (Furcal, Millwood, Glavine, maybe McCann to name a few)
Comfortably Dumb™
December 19th, 2012
10:59 am
I think the biggest question I have for you though, DOB, is why are you still working with a CD changer in your car? I’m not one of these technology snobs, but I think it’s time to go iPod.