Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
6,304 comments Add your comment
TheOnlyBravesFan
December 25th, 2012
6:32 pm
If the Phils win more than 81 next season… I’ll eat my cap.
Trolls trolls everywhere… so immature. Makes me more likely to get picked on for my age… I can’t play around.
Ron Burgundy, Anchorman
December 25th, 2012
6:54 pm
More wine
richbrave
December 25th, 2012
7:03 pm
Slow down PL, your azz is showing.
And lay off nolie. I read all his stuff.
But after the first several posts I will scroll past yours, Cheevers. BTW, if money’s involved for posts on this blog, you’re broke. Sorry.
richbrave
December 25th, 2012
7:06 pm
We own the PHILTHIES. What was our record against in 2012?
I’m much more concerned about the NATS a solid, well run organization similar to the BRAVES.
TheOnlyBravesFan
December 25th, 2012
7:18 pm
12-6 against the Phils, outscored them 90-70
Furman Bitcher
December 25th, 2012
7:26 pm
Andruw Jones arrested for beating his wife last night. Good thing Braves didnt try to sign him.
dylan
December 25th, 2012
7:30 pm
Honestly I’m just surprised cheevers can even spell douche…
dylan
December 25th, 2012
7:34 pm
@rich
Agreed the nate are the team that concerns me. We match up well with everyone in the division (pitching wise) across the board but them
George_George
December 25th, 2012
7:37 pm
Cheevers
December 25th, 2012
5:17 pm
Explain to me how not trading for a good LF and keeping Tejeran & Delgado when you already have Hudson,Beachy,Malholm,Minor,Medlen ??? Wren isn’t very smart…
**************************************************************************
There is nobody good left to trade for. Is that reason enough?
JC Brave
December 25th, 2012
7:43 pm
Who let the crazies out today?
TheOnlyBravesFan
December 25th, 2012
7:53 pm
Uncle Ted @DrunkTedTurner
Andruw Jones arrested for battery. Gwinnet County Police report says, “best hitting he’s done since 2007″.
urban redneck
December 25th, 2012
8:37 pm
only thing he’s battered in a couple of years is a buffet. merry Christmas, bravos.
Tomahawkin (Suffering Fan)
December 25th, 2012
8:37 pm
JC Brave
“Who let the crazies out today?”
I’m Snowed In, Which Sucks! I can’t even hit up The Boom Boom Room” Tonight!
Half Empty
December 25th, 2012
9:34 pm
snowed in? In Atlanta?
keyLargo
December 25th, 2012
9:42 pm
Not that kind of snow Half Empty.
Tom O'Hawke
December 25th, 2012
9:43 pm
Parts of Oklahoma & Arkansas had a decent amount of snow this afternoon. Maybe, T-hawkin is visiting relatives that live out-of-state.
Tomahawkin (Suffering Fan)
December 25th, 2012
9:45 pm
Yes, I’m In NE Arkansas…An Hour North of Memphis, Blizzard-Conditions out here til Noon Tomorrow!
Trey
December 25th, 2012
9:46 pm
I bet the Marlins fans are happy for getting Polanco from the Phillies.
Trey
December 25th, 2012
9:47 pm
Tomahawkin, those strip clubs will put a hole in your wallet.
Tomahawkin (Suffering Fan)
December 25th, 2012
9:47 pm
Out in The Middle of Cardinals Country, Makes me sick seeing all the #### Bandwagon Cardinals Fans out here who still think that Pujols plays for them….Yuck!
Venice Jim
December 25th, 2012
9:49 pm
Season’s Greetings, Mr. O’Hawke!
cabravesfan
December 25th, 2012
9:50 pm
Hi Tom
Merry Christmas!
Tom O'Hawke
December 25th, 2012
9:50 pm
T-Hawkin, are you near the Jonesboro area? Plenty of snow there, and still coming.
Tom O'Hawke
December 25th, 2012
9:51 pm
Hello my west coast friends… and a Merry Christmas to you, too.
Tomahawkin (Suffering Fan)
December 25th, 2012
10:07 pm
@Tom O’Hawke
Yes I’m in Jonesboro AR Right now. Went to High School here, and Its Ironic because I went to Elem and Middle School in Jonesboro GA
old man
December 25th, 2012
10:08 pm
nolie, TOH, what the hades was going on while I was gone? Last page looks loony! You guys seem to be bearing up pretty well.
Snow in Jonesboro, Georgia???!!
Tomahawkin (Suffering Fan)
December 25th, 2012
10:09 pm
Trey
“Tomahawkin, those strip clubs will put a hole in your wallet.”
I’m Not a Fan of Strip Joints, “The Boom Boom Room” is a Club that’s out here….
Tom O'Hawke
December 25th, 2012
10:10 pm
That IS weird, T-Hawkin.
I hope you can get tomorrow off from work without any problem.
Tom O'Hawke
December 25th, 2012
10:15 pm
Last page looks loony! — old man
1 A-troll = many monkers
Someone that got coal in their stocking, I assume.
TheOnlyBravesFan
December 25th, 2012
10:16 pm
they either got coal or a BJ Upton jersey… both are “evil” gifts to receive
LOL
People who find time to troll like that need help.
phil
December 25th, 2012
10:17 pm
Greetings, Tom…been a long time.
Hope you’re well.
It’s been a fine Christmas. Trust most have also been so fortunate.
Tom O'Hawke
December 25th, 2012
10:18 pm
People who find time to troll like that need help. — TOBF
Man, I agree with that! Those are the only people that scare me.
phil
December 25th, 2012
10:18 pm
Looks like the Christmas loon got loose on here late today…..sigh.
phil
December 25th, 2012
10:21 pm
“Is your house on fire, Clark?”
Tom O'Hawke
December 25th, 2012
10:22 pm
Hiya, phil… yeah, all is fine, thank you. Hope the same for you…
TheOnlyBravesFan
December 25th, 2012
10:23 pm
The state of Alabama is taking it hard tonight…. dang
University of Alabama for the National Championship.
richbrave
December 25th, 2012
10:24 pm
Merry Christmas sports fans. Hope you enjoyed being with family and/or friends today.
ASTROS, RANGERS, CUBS and several others sent their spec sheets over the past couple months to my favorite ballplayer. He’s been invited to some shindig in Arizona in January, but the cost would be just too much. And an agent TOTAL PRO sports has been bugging him.
Let’s put it out there folks. As far as I know, he’s firmly committed to UVA unless somebody parks a minimum of 2.5 million in the driveway with a top ten pick in 2013. That would get his attention. But trading a few thousand from the 20th round of which he’d only see slightly more than half against a degree from UVA……fa’ gid da’ boud dit.’
Trey
December 25th, 2012
10:27 pm
T’Hawkin, Boom Boom Room sounds a lot like one. When do you head back to GA? I head back to NC, tomorrow.
phil
December 25th, 2012
10:28 pm
“Probably just nosing through the trash.”
I love this silly movie…
Tom O'Hawke
December 25th, 2012
10:28 pm
richbrave
My heart opinion would be for him to just walk up to Frank Wren and see if he’ll sign him to a contract, even for peanuts.
My head opinion would be for him to contact Scott Boras.
TheOnlyBravesFan
December 25th, 2012
10:31 pm
Have Frank sign your boy up rich!
unbelievable
December 25th, 2012
10:33 pm
Everyone still getting booted from the site or is it just me?
richbrave
December 25th, 2012
10:34 pm
TOM ‘O:
We’re not at that point, but the advice is sound. I know BILLY WAGNER’s former agent who I like a lot even though I’ve only met him once. He’s a former BRAVES pitcher from Va. Tech.
Tom O'Hawke
December 25th, 2012
10:36 pm
Everyone still getting booted from the site or is it just me? — unbelievable
I’d respond to that but, DOB, frowns on any of us talking to a booted poster.
richbrave
December 25th, 2012
10:36 pm
TOBF:
Oh that I could. Like TOH says, the heart says BRAVES. They did send a Christmas card, and had him in twice this year for a look-see.
richbrave
December 25th, 2012
10:38 pm
It’s been a long day folks. I’m rolling up the old sidewalk. NYTOL.
Tomahawkin (Suffering Fan)
December 25th, 2012
10:39 pm
Trey
“T’Hawkin, Boom Boom Room sounds a lot like one. When do you head back to GA? I head back to NC, tomorrow.”
Weather Permitting: I’m heading back to Gwinnett County (Grayson) in the Morning, I’m Dreading the Drive
Tom O'Hawke
December 25th, 2012
10:43 pm
2 attempts at commenting to richbrave… two failures. That’s what I get for joking with, unbelievable.
Venice Jim
December 25th, 2012
11:05 pm
You were right about everything, James – except, it was the S.S. Minnow…
Venice Jim
December 25th, 2012
11:08 pm
Can you get me to the IBC Building in 3 minutes?
What floor?
Tom O'Hawke
December 25th, 2012
11:14 pm
T-Hawkin
You don’t have to go too far to the east before everything is just rain. If it stays that way, tomorrows drive shouldn’t be too bad.
Hopefully, the warmer temperature will stay that way for your trip back.
David O'Brien
December 25th, 2012
11:59 pm
It’s gonna get down to about 5 degrees tonight here in Colorado. Was 45 degrees colder when I landed here than when I took off in Atlanta this morning.
David O'Brien
December 26th, 2012
12:00 am
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night (I think I got it in at the last minute; it’s only 10 p.m. here, but midnight back East)
Venice Jim
December 26th, 2012
12:05 am
Thanks, DOB! Enjoy the snowboarding!
Tom O'Hawke
December 26th, 2012
12:06 am
DOB
In ONE more minute, you would have had the earliest Merry Christmas greeting on record.
Venice Jim
December 26th, 2012
12:12 am
Plenty early here…
Venice Jim
December 26th, 2012
12:12 am
Laterer…
cabravesfan
December 26th, 2012
12:14 am
Just after 9 out here on the west coast. I’ve got 3 hours to wish folks merry Christmas
Tom O'Hawke
December 26th, 2012
12:18 am
I mistakingly gave DOB credit for his Merry Christmas at 11:59.
Actually, he hesitated and didn’t say it until 12:00!
That WAS the earliest Merry Christmas greeting on record! (my bad) Congrats, DOB!!!
DiamondbackMac
December 26th, 2012
12:39 am
cab
The Left coast is always behind the rest of us.
JC Brave
December 26th, 2012
12:46 am
TheOnlyBravesFan
December 25th, 2012
12:48 pm
BJ Upton @BJUPTON2
It’s pretty cool that so many people have my new Braves jersey already… I don’t even have one yet! If you have one tweet me a pic
My dad got me one… uggh lol
TheOnlyBravesFan
December 25th, 2012
1:54 pm
I’ve given him a chance for the past 4 years as a Ray…. dude’s mediocre and there’s no way around it. Got talent yes, but not the ability to put it all together.
We shall see. Anyways, I’m not wearing that jersey… it’s a plague. Evil.
TheOnlyBravesFan
December 25th, 2012
1:58 pm
… maybe I’ll find a needy kid who wants this “thing”
Send it to DR, I sure as heII would wear it
cabravesfan
December 26th, 2012
12:58 am
D’back Mac-
Not behind. We just move at a more mellow pace. No need to rich things. We are a laid back group.
cabravesfan
December 26th, 2012
12:59 am
*rush (not rich)- Damn you autocorrect!
Tom O'Hawke
December 26th, 2012
1:06 am
LAdy
Type: Don’t rush richbraves’ grandson to be rich, and see what your autocorrect comes up with.
cabravesfan
December 26th, 2012
1:10 am
Tom-
My brain is too tired for that now. I’m in bed on the iPhone. Rome to call it a night. Bye for now!
Tom O'Hawke
December 26th, 2012
1:13 am
OK, LAdy… however, I will be awake a while longer trying to figure out why you call it a night based on orders from Rome. (and I’m the Italian dude, here)
JasonInFL
December 26th, 2012
7:30 am
Richbrave, been away for awhile other than the last few weeks…is it your nephew that you are talking about? Whoever it is…that’s awesome! Congrats.
richbrave
December 26th, 2012
8:24 am
JIFl:
Grandson.
JasonInFL
December 26th, 2012
8:48 am
That’s awesome, Richbrave. I remember it being mentioned when I frequented the blog on a daily basis, but couldn’t recall the relationship. My mind is even less (if you can believe that) than it used to be!
old man
December 26th, 2012
8:54 am
Just checking the FA list by Jess Passan at Yahoo. He says we signed the overall number 3 FA, after Greinke and Hamilton. Interesting.
Here are notable unsigned FAs remaining, with my comments:
8. Bourn (not excited about him coming back)
14. LaRoche (wonderful idea, but only as follow up to a totally unexpected Freeman trade.)
18. Lohse (I like him, but only as follow up to a crazy deal where we part with a lot of pitching.)
26. Berkman (LHB, old, no athletic defense in OF)
59. Hairston (nope)
66. Delmon Young (no, thank you)
77. Sizemore (His first microfracture surgery worked on the other knee . . . hmmm.)
Overall, not much to look at here. I’m feeling OK about signing BJ.
Jeff R
December 26th, 2012
8:55 am
Enjoy Colorado, DOB. Nothing like like the mountain west at Christmas! Merry Christmas!
Jeff R
December 26th, 2012
8:58 am
8. Bourn (not excited about him coming back)
I’d have no problem with Bourn returning to the Braves for a season if Boras can’t cut a lucrative long-term deal for his client. But I think Boras will cut that deal, so no Bourn for one more season.
JasonInFL
December 26th, 2012
9:02 am
Bourn for a year would be great, but it’s not happening. Now that would be a pretty good defensive OF…Bourn, Upton, and J-Hey!
I think it will be Fowler or the internal options.
richbrave
December 26th, 2012
9:03 am
JasoninFL:
Lead-off LH with some power although that’s dropped with the composite bats and a step up in H.S. competition [a new district assignment]. Last season, four doubles, three HR’s in 77 AB’s. .416 BA, .625 OBP, 30 R, 32 H, 22 RBI’s, 28 BB, 7 SO, 7 HBP, 20 SB, 1 E. His team won the state championship.
And he wowed them in August at YANKEE Stadium with a great running catch on the track in the right-center power alley, then started a relay throw that nailed a runner off first. He got a standing O for that play in front of the assembled YANKEES and RED SOX scouts. The YANKEES sent him an e-mail Christmas greeting.
He wants to become a radiologist at this point. But you know kids, they’ll change their minds a dozen times usually. The one’s that don’t generally have pretty good success.
TheOnlyBravesFan
December 26th, 2012
9:04 am
since we were only signing 1 legitimate FA this winter anyway, we should have gone after a premium player like Greinke or Hamilton… supposedly, we needed money to go after 2 guys, but it isn’t going to happen that way. Greinke or Hamilton and go with “internal” options for the OF or mediocre BJ, a decent rotation, and internal options for LF/3B.
I’d have taken the first.
old man
December 26th, 2012
9:13 am
TOBF:
You never know. Wren could have been told he had the money for two signings, and then Liberty yanked the money after the BJ signing. I don’t think Wren would intentionally lead the media astray on that.
Your point is good. If at one point he had the money to get Hamilton, should he have spent his entire wad before Liberty changed its mind? (Assuming that’s what happened).
old man
December 26th, 2012
9:18 am
TOBF:
The entire time line on this strongly suggests to me that Wren was told his payroll budget was X, and then he was suddenly told it was actually a number substantially below X.
He’s in no position to whine about that. He just has to adjust.
Lew
December 26th, 2012
9:36 am
old man – Nah, I doubt that’s what happned. From the speed with which they signed Upton, I’d say that he was exactly who they sought all along and that others like Span were merely fall back options for CF and after signing Bourn they no longer mattered.
As for the LFer, we see how bizarre the market is and we just became victims of cirumstance. At least Wren has enough sense not to spend whatevcer might be left on anything just to make a deal.
old man
December 26th, 2012
9:36 am
Reading up on Sizemore:
Two hernia surgeries; Back surgery; elbow surgery; two microfracture surgeries, one on each knee.
Yikes!
Also read up on microfracture surgery. The idea is that bone in the knee is fractured intentionally with drilling and ultrasound to create holes and fissures to allow bone marrow tissue to seep out, including stem cells. These form a “super clot” in the knee.
The procedure is quick and easy, arthroscopic only. Lasts maybe one hour.
It’s the recovery that’s the problem. You have to be completely immobilized for a long, long time. You do not want to disrupt the clot because the stem cells are in there forming new cartilage. Over time, it forms a fibrous type of proto-cartilage. Some debate over whether it ever forms completely normal cartilage.
I always assumed the patient had a “microfracture” which needed to be treated. Actually, the microfracture IS the treatment. It’s basically just a cartilage replacement technique.
Allegedly, Sizemore did not seem diminished when he came back from his first one. He had it in June, to be ready by spring training. I don’t see how he is ready for spring training in 2013, as he just had this one earlier this month. Reports are he won’t play until mid season.
TheDudeAbides...
December 26th, 2012
9:43 am
DOB – LOVE the Top10…cept NAS and Dr John would be higher on my list. That NAS album is on another level…
I thank you for introducing me to Dr. John, Frank Ocean and a while ago, Ray LaMontagne.
TheOnlyBravesFan
December 26th, 2012
9:46 am
I doubt that LM changed their mind after the BJ signing… but, didn’t FW even say after that we had enough $$ to go after Swisher even after signing Bossman? Yet they never even reached out to him…
He said that he’d be shopping at Target, and get 2 premium OFers. Now, we got 1 decent CF and a platoon in LF, making Prado a yo-yo and reducing the chance that we can re-sign him. Not friggin close to what Frank said he was gonna do. But, if he was gonna sign just 1 player, why not go big? I mean, it’s not like we’ve upgraded anyway by having BJ over Bourn…
LM paid 93mil last year on payroll expenses for the team last year, and the Braves made a profit supposedly. Why are we dropping to the low 80s?
TheOnlyBravesFan
December 26th, 2012
9:48 am
Royals left fielder Alex Gordon appreciates the moves that General Manager Dayton Moore has made in order to win in the short-term, writes Pete Grathoff of the Kansas City Star. “To be honest, it seems like we’ve been sitting on prospects the last six years…It’s given them that option to be able to do that and go get a guy like James Shields and some of the other guys they’ve picked up. Yeah, it’s a risk-reward, but it’s something that you sometimes need to pull off,” said the soon-to-be 29-year-old.
monty
December 26th, 2012
9:58 am
Get a guy at the break next year for half-price, save your money. I suppose.
TheOnlyBravesFan
December 26th, 2012
10:03 am
tell me which player who is still performing well has a yearly salary of 15mil+ that Frank will 1) trade the necessary prospects (Teheran, Delgado, Graham +) for as a rental; 2) which team will give up a good player making 15mil who is controllable, 3) what prospects will Frank give up then for a good player who is controllable and makes 15mil+ a season.
I’m not seeing it. Saving 2-4mil would have been enough. Instead, we’re saving nearly 15mil.
TheOnlyBravesFan
December 26th, 2012
10:12 am
The lack of quality middle infielders, both on the current market and also in the draft and internationally, played an important role in the Didi Gregorius pickup. “Sometimes you have to overpay for [up-the-middle players], because of that lack of inventory,” said Towers.
Still wasn’t worth Bauer…
raleighbravefan
December 26th, 2012
10:21 am
TOBF – Just stoped by for a quick blog visit…but I gotta say, you have totally gone over to the dark side, to join the whiners.
The way I see it, Wren beat everyone else out of the gate, an made a very good signing of BJ. He continued to shop, but couldn’t stomach the prices (for guys who aren’t even great players, I might add). He also saw that some of our minor league guys were doing really well. I AGREE with not wasting bloated amounts of money and talent on the guys available. TOTALLY agree.
BTW, would you have paid what Angels paid for Hamilton? or what Dodgers paid for Greinke??? I WOULD NOT!
Frank Wren
December 26th, 2012
10:27 am
How does Scott Hairston in LF excite you?
VaBravesFan
December 26th, 2012
10:45 am
Why waste money on Scott Hairston, all he is is a more powerful platoon bat vs LHP, but he’ll produce a much worse avg/obp than Reed….
Frank Wren
December 26th, 2012
10:49 am
a Hairston/Schafer platoon in LF ?
VaBravesFan
December 26th, 2012
10:49 am
We just have to decide if Liberty really slashed payroll or did Frank Wren really completely miss the boat.
Hook em Horns dad
December 26th, 2012
10:49 am
Scott Hairston does nothing for me!! He’s definitely not the answer in left field! I though DOB said that the rumors involving Scott Hairston weren’t true?
TheOnlyBravesFan
December 26th, 2012
10:55 am
With payroll 81-83mil this year, I wonder if LM will let Frank go back into the 90s next year… or will they be like, “you made do with 80, we’ll keep it there”
sigh
made a very good signing of BJ.
Hah. There is no such thing as a “very good signing” of Bossman Junior. Well, unless it was for under 10mil a season and no draft pick loss… which didn’t happen
VaBravesFan
December 26th, 2012
10:56 am
I really hope that Liberty just slashed payroll and Wren has been posturing the whole 10-13 million to spend. Cause I seriously doubt that if he really did have that money we wouldnt have settled for a platoon. Every offseason were under tight budget and have little flexibility, Lowe 10 million, Bourn 7 mil, Chippers 13 million all came off books, but he’s only signed BJ Upton for 13 million in 2013….
Zing
December 26th, 2012
11:05 am
Lew @ 9:36 and raleigh @ 10:21 are spot on. The Braves sought out BJ as their no. 1 target early and got him, then intended to do something for LF (via trade, most likely) and it didn’t pan out. They had the money to sign a guy like Swisher or Ross but have (so far) declined, because (a) they didn’t think those guys were worth it long-term (beyond 1 year) and (b) they have some very intriguing options with Francisco/Gattis– workable because Prado can either be @ 3B or in LF. The payroll suddenly being reduced just seems very unlikely to me unless you can show me a new story about LM facing bankruptcy–which you can’t, because Malone is rolling in dough.
The Lawyer
December 26th, 2012
11:06 am
Who in our outfield had more homers, RBIs, and stolen bases than Bossman?
I think we’ll see huge strides in OBP this year.
Zing
December 26th, 2012
11:07 am
Also, while I was an early proponent of shoving all the chips in the middle — signing Josh Hamilton to a big contract, doing what it took in terms of prospects to get Span — I can’t say that the situation the Braves find themselves in isn’t 2nd best. And, as a Braves fan, I just love this Gattis story and want it to pan out.
Zing
December 26th, 2012
11:09 am
The Lawyer: Who in our outfield had more strikeouts and a lower OBP? Nobody.
However, I’m really hoping BJ performs more like his early career. The hitting instructors did a good job with Heyward, so hopefully they can turn BJ around a bit.
old man
December 26th, 2012
11:13 am
raleighbravefan
December 26th, 2012
10:21 am
True dat.
TheOnlyBravesFan
December 26th, 2012
11:13 am
Malone is rolling in dough.
And saves it all for himself… doesn’t take 30mil or so to get this team more competitive in FA. Frank with a 120mil payroll would be friggin awesome. I could easily see them pocketing the 10mil we don’t spend this year and slashing that from payroll. Already, Frank has said that much of the 25mil they’ll be getting from the new MLB TV deal won’t be used for the team… wonder why.
Nowhere man
December 26th, 2012
11:15 am
Andruw finally using those hitting tips that Bobby gave him.