Braves, not Phillies, may be the best team in N.L. East
Jason Heyward, Chipper Jones and Frank Wren may be looking at division title this year.
When they were hanging banners for 14 straight seasons, the Braves had more than merely great parts. A team that wins so often and for so long develops a confidence and a belief that can’t be taught, it has to be experienced.
“You want to get back to that point where you walk onto the field every day and you just expect to win,” Chipper Jones said Tuesday. “That was something we had back in the 1990s and early 2000s. That mentality of, no matter what happens, things will fall right.”
The Braves may be at that point again.
Two years ago, they were hovering barely above .500 in early September. Then they rose, as Don King once put it, “from the media pallet of death.” They went 15-2 and pulled to within two games of the wild card lead, only to eventually start dropping parts on the highway. Last year, we watched a perfect blend of imperfect players get back to the postseason despite a blur of injuries and lineups. The last spasm in game No. 162 got the Braves in. They eventually lost to San Francisco, the team that would win the World Series.
They are better now. More importantly, the majority players on this roster can draw on success that their predecessors from the previous few years couldn’t.
Yes, on paper, Philadelphia has one of the greatest starting pitching rotations ever assembled.
But on the field, the Braves project like National League East Division champions.
“We’ve got to play the games – we’ve got to play 162 games,” manager Fredi Gonzalez said when asked how he felt about the fact most are picking the Phillies to win the East. “They have a great pitching staff. But we feel pretty good about ours, too. So in September, let’s see where we’re at.”
The Braves’ last division title came in 2005. It was the last time they hung a banner in Turner Field until team officials decided to commemorate last year’s wild card team with a flag on banner row — only the sixth of 17 wild card participants to do so.
“Making the playoffs is special and it should be recognized,” general manager Frank Wren said.
This team could be more special. Adding Dan Uggla gives the lineup the potent right-handed bat it needed. Jason Heyward is no longer a prospect — he’s a given. Martin Prado is as good an all-around player as there is in baseball. Nate McLouth looks better. Chipper Jones made it through spring without a limp.
The starting rotation isn’t Philly’s but it is top 10 — at least. Closer Billy Wagner is gone. But Craig Kimbrel and Jonny Venters might be good enough to fill the void.
Think I’m drunk on the Kool-Aid? Maybe. But a lesser team won 91 games last season with a lineup that on some nights looked like that old stuffed bear you kept as a kid, despite the missing arm and the partially detached head.
About the Phillies: They’re good. They’ve won the division four of the last five years. They have a ridiculous top four in the rotation: Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, Roy Oswalt. (Joe Blanton is Gummo Marx in this exercise.)
But Philadelphia has significant issues:
♦ Chase Utley has been “their heart and soul for the last several years,” Wren said. But he has patellar tendinitis, bone inflammation and something called chondromalacia. That’s Latin for: “My knee hurts.” Utley has risked public humiliation by sitting on a stool while fielding ground balls. His goal is to be back for the All-Star break. Not his projection – his goal. Doctors don’t even believe surgery would help. They’re basically declaring his right knee terminal.
♦ Closer Brad Lidge may not pitch this year. He is one hiccup away from mutating into Mike Hampton. He has had elbow problems, knee problems, biceps problems. Now his shoulder hurts. His tombstone will read: “Doctor, it hurts when I go like this.”
♦ Jayson Werth is gone. He signed a ridiculous $126 million contract in Washington, but that doesn’t diminish what he meant to the Phillies. He brought needed right-handed power.
Philly is more than beatable.
Jones again: “They’ve earned that moniker as the team to beat. But as long as we’re in the mix and people are talking about us, it’s good.”
It will be very good.
By Jeff Schultz
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295 comments Add your comment
dawg4u
March 29th, 2011
6:58 pm
Enter your comments here
clusters are back
March 29th, 2011
7:00 pm
Wher r u clusters
skip defabs
March 29th, 2011
7:01 pm
Jeff- what is your predicion for the year? i think realistically we could go 95-67 and that would be good enough for NL champs… fair? or foul?
dawg4u
March 29th, 2011
7:04 pm
I agree that the Braves may well be the division champs this season. Our starting 8 looks better with the Phils not having Utley or Werth. Our bullpen should again be better and hope that Venters and Kimbrel can consistently throw strikes. Utley’s injury is bad because anytime he moves laterally or tries to plant to make a throw the pain is excrutiating. I feel two big keys for us are McLouth and Freeman. The rotation the Phils have is the best I have seen since the ‘93 Braves though.
Younger Than That Now
March 29th, 2011
7:06 pm
There ya go Schultzie… that’s the way to start the season!!
GO BRAVES!!
clusters are back
March 29th, 2011
7:06 pm
For the folks that bash posters claiming first… yeah on most blogs it would be silly- on a sports blog, I think its funny. The bloggers dig to compete.I love it that my F150, gets like twelve mpg.That means I win. Unless you have a Ram.
Jeff Schultz
March 29th, 2011
7:13 pm
Hey folks — it’s baseball season. Almost.
FYI – Wrote an earlier blog on the wild card banner. For what it’s worth, it’s now covered. Braves plan to unveil it at the first home game a week from Friday.
NagoyaBrave
March 29th, 2011
7:14 pm
Nicely put. I agree. But we need all our moving parts to win this thing yeah?
Jeff Schultz
March 29th, 2011
7:14 pm
Clusters are back — new nickname?
Jeff Schultz
March 29th, 2011
7:15 pm
Skim Defabs — 95 wins could indeed win the division title. I like that possibility.
Jeff Schultz
March 29th, 2011
7:16 pm
Younger than that now — Thanks.
Sonny Clusters
March 29th, 2011
7:18 pm
Jeff, we was wondering . . . did Chipper really say, uh, “moniker”? Did you hear him say it?
We are so glad it is finally baseball season again. Clusters never miss a game.
Jeff Schultz
March 29th, 2011
7:18 pm
Martinez works easy inning in 1st. Coming off for the Braves: Prado, McLouth, Jones.
Jeff Schultz
March 29th, 2011
7:18 pm
By the way, teams using the DH today.
Kyle
March 29th, 2011
7:18 pm
Jeff- Heyward looks bigger this year can you confirm?
Coach (2011 and Fredi G. a GO!)
March 29th, 2011
7:20 pm
Awesome camera angle Jeff, it’s right over the pitchers mound and allows the viewer to see the movement of the ball out of the pitchers hand. Not to mention being able to call balls and strikes from my easy boy
Jeff Schultz
March 29th, 2011
7:20 pm
Kyle — Not aware that he’s bigger via weight program or anything but he’s still growing. Just a kid.
Sonny Clusters
March 29th, 2011
7:21 pm
Jeff, is anybody there?
ATL FAN
March 29th, 2011
7:21 pm
Way better than the injury prone Phils
Pond John
March 29th, 2011
7:21 pm
Ok folks in celebration of OPENING DAY:
WEDS. MARCH 30 @ EDDIE’S ATTIC in Decatur- It’s the annual salute to baseball, featuring multiple Grammy nominee John Mc Cutcheon & Chuck Brodsky AND special guest : BRAVES organist Matt Kaminsky. PLUS A Secret local celebrity singing the national anthem! This concert of baseball tunes from two of Americas best singer songwriters both of whom have played at the hall of fame in Cooperstown. Don’t miss this !!!
Jamie
March 29th, 2011
7:23 pm
25 Man opening day roster! http://forums.throughthefencebaseball.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=14
dantheman
March 29th, 2011
7:23 pm
anyone that can settle this once and for all? who is the closer gonna be? I love Venters but can we afford to let Kembrel go to waste?
Coach (2011 and Fredi G. a GO!)
March 29th, 2011
7:23 pm
That wasn’t Prado’s fault, the hit and run was on. He just got caught in no man’s land.
Sonny Clusters
March 29th, 2011
7:23 pm
We was always like that when we was playing ball back in school. Clusters was always getting bigger and stronger and better looking each year. It really wasn’t fair to the girls. They couldn’t resist us when we was hitting like a state championship hits.
Jeff Schultz
March 29th, 2011
7:23 pm
Prado leads off with a single but that’s it. We’re scoreless. (How’s that for insightful commentary?)
skip defabs
March 29th, 2011
7:25 pm
just so you are all aware, i live in Idaho and will be coming out for my annual turner field party sometime in july!! Gotta show my braves some love!
Jeff Schultz
March 29th, 2011
7:25 pm
Scott Linebrink comes in for Martinez. Expect this . . . every inning.
Sonny Clusters
March 29th, 2011
7:25 pm
We already miss Chino. Fredi’s coaches appear to be in better shape and their uniform pants fit better.
Coach (2011 and Fredi G. a GO!)
March 29th, 2011
7:25 pm
dantheman, Fredi has stated that he will use both Kimbrel and Venters as closer, but I really think it’s going to be counter productive. Fredi should just name one on them as his go to guy in the ninth.
Joe Tess Fish House
March 29th, 2011
7:26 pm
Why is Chiper Jones stil on this team? He is over the hell and no good. He is alwas injrued and they have to keep him a way from Hoters!
Jeff Schultz
March 29th, 2011
7:26 pm
Sonny Clusters — Yes, Chipper actually said moniker. He has expanded his vocabulary.
Joe Tess Fish House
March 29th, 2011
7:27 pm
Anoter thing why did the Braves hire a loosing managar with a loosing record?
Jeff Schultz
March 29th, 2011
7:28 pm
Joe Tess Fish House — I’m not familiar with Hoters. Are their wings as good as Hooters?
Sonny Clusters
March 29th, 2011
7:29 pm
If we was there tonight we’d try to talk with Chipper about wanting to be a broadcaster bad. We’re not sure that’s what he meant to say but, if it is . . .
Joe Tess Fish House
March 29th, 2011
7:29 pm
I would nt no cuz I am a Church going man we we dont vist places of the flesh and niether should Chipper
Sonny Clusters
March 29th, 2011
7:30 pm
We was thinking Chipper may think Moniker is Lewinsky.
Justafan
March 29th, 2011
7:30 pm
Joe tess fish house….same reason they serve rotten fish at your fish house.
Jeff Schultz
March 29th, 2011
7:31 pm
Prado gets an error, no RBI. Run scores 1-0.
Coach (2011 and Fredi G. a GO!)
March 29th, 2011
7:32 pm
We just saw Prado’s inexperience in LF and he over ran the ball. I think we will see more of these mistakes early on during the season until Martin gets more playing time out there.
Joe Tess Fish House
March 29th, 2011
7:32 pm
Gonna B a long session 4 the Braves……Loosing manager.
Dirty Jacket
March 29th, 2011
7:33 pm
what channel the game on? i have directTV and it is not on the FSSO channel…
Dave
March 29th, 2011
7:33 pm
The optimistic view: The rotation and bullpen are as good as last year; even if he struggles, Freeman won’t be any worse than pre/post-May Glaus; McLouth can’t possibly be worse than last year; Uggla adds needed pop to the lineup; Chipper is healthier; and the team is loose and confident, and should contend.
The Pessimistic View: Last year, the Braves had 45 come-from-behind wins, and 25 wins in their last at-bat. History tells us that such phenomena don’t repeat themselves year-to-year. Gonzalez can’t hit, can’t even make contact, and makes too many bonehead plays that counter his sweet double-plays; McLouth can’t hit, and his one good year in Pittsburgh was an aberration; Chipper is going to get hurt; no one knows what Freeman will do; Hudson is good, but not as good as he pitched last year; no one knows if Jurrjens will be ever be healthy; Kimbrel has a history of control problems; and Venters will probably go the way of Medlen and Moylan and wind up under the knife after Bobby ran him out there day after day last season.
ATL FAN
March 29th, 2011
7:34 pm
George Sherrill will kill this team.
Joe Tess Fish House
March 29th, 2011
7:34 pm
Jeff who du you thing will be the biggest bust this year? Last year no dout was Jay Hayword
Justafan
March 29th, 2011
7:34 pm
649 Dir-tv
dawg4u
March 29th, 2011
7:35 pm
I wish Gonzalez would at least get our fourth or fifth starter some innings tonight.
Joe Tess Fish House
March 29th, 2011
7:35 pm
Direc tv 649
Joe Tess Fish House
March 29th, 2011
7:36 pm
Oh grate Hayword up 2 bat
Sonny Clusters
March 29th, 2011
7:36 pm
Nobody ever called us a looser and nobody better do it now.
Jeff Schultz
March 29th, 2011
7:37 pm
Double header. Another base runner waster. This season is going down the drain! … Joe Tess Fish House: That was just for you.
skip defabs
March 29th, 2011
7:37 pm
joe tess, why dont you go away. no one wants to hear your griping. Im sure you’re mommy could use your help cooking supper, get off your bean bag and leave your basement. life is to short to be 40 and alone, and living at home… go go go
Joe Tess Fish House
March 29th, 2011
7:37 pm
See? Hayword hit in 2 dubbel play
Coach (2011 and Fredi G. a GO!)
March 29th, 2011
7:37 pm
Uggla and Heyward nailed a couple of pitches, just right at a defender. Inning over.
dawg4u
March 29th, 2011
7:38 pm
What is a looser?
Jeff Schultz
March 29th, 2011
7:38 pm
Dirty Jacket — Check SportsSouth. (53 on Comcast).
Peter
March 29th, 2011
7:39 pm
dawg4u,
I think Beachy is gonna pitch tomorrows game for a few innings. Tonight is all the relievers.
Joe Tess Fish House
March 29th, 2011
7:39 pm
U guys thing I am happy the Braves are in such truble? I hate this 2 and I am just pointing out the problems. Fist being the hire of a loosing managar.
Jeff Schultz
March 29th, 2011
7:40 pm
In comes Sherrill, out goes Linebrink: 1 inng, 2 hits, 1 unearned run.
Sonny Clusters
March 29th, 2011
7:41 pm
We was thinking Chipper meant to say “sobriquet” – still, saying moniker is pretty impressive when your best friend is a deer.
Sonny Clusters
March 29th, 2011
7:42 pm
dawg4u, that’s why we don’t want to be called one.
Larry
March 29th, 2011
7:43 pm
Interesting irony…in the 90’s and early 2000’s Braves’ opponents were saying the same kind of thing the Braves are today: “they have the great starting pitching but we have the better offense and good starting pitching.
By the time you reach the League Championship and World Series, you are always facing the best pitching in baseball. Then it boils down to defense, key, situational in-game decisions by the manager, and station to station baseball–the latter two Bobby Cox was the absolute worst at in the playoffs.
I say let’s play a few game and see!
Jeff Schultz
March 29th, 2011
7:44 pm
Joe Tess Fish House — I think Tim Hudson goes 4-17, ERA around 4.95.
skip defabs
March 29th, 2011
7:44 pm
tess, correct me if im wrong, but doesn’t Gonzo have a WS ring? losing managers don’t usually have that much bling son.. GO AWAY
ATL FAN
March 29th, 2011
7:48 pm
yes skip you are wrong
Dan S
March 29th, 2011
7:49 pm
Life long Cardinals fan here, but I have lived in Georgia for 28 years. Many people here in Southwest Georgia doubt the Braves, but I think they beat the Phillies in a stunning upset (to most so called baseball experts). The Phily bullpen is the difference maker, Halladay, Lee will have to throw complete games, and that is only two out of five starters.
Peter
March 29th, 2011
7:54 pm
Some people really need to learn English.
45ACP
March 29th, 2011
7:55 pm
Is this game on TV?
Richie_Rich1986
March 29th, 2011
7:56 pm
Braves are Back in Atlanta!!!! I’m going to miss spring training games down in here Florida but I’m ready for the season to get started so the Bravos can shut up all these phillies fans. Our bats need to come alive….
@45ACP its on MLB Network
45ACP
March 29th, 2011
7:57 pm
Other than Comcast sux?
45ACP
March 29th, 2011
7:57 pm
tried MLB. Not available in this area….
Jeff Schultz
March 29th, 2011
7:58 pm
So far a rather uninspired spring effort on a cold night in the Atl. … (I’m trying to wax poetic here.) … On another note: Moylan looks pretty good so far. So it’s not all bad.
Richie_Rich1986
March 29th, 2011
7:58 pm
That sucks, I’m watching it on MLB network.
Sonny Clusters
March 29th, 2011
7:58 pm
When we was just learning to play ball back in 1982, we mostly played centerfield because we was short for a ballplayer at that age. Coach didn’t want them hitting it over our head in the infield. Later, we became an outstanding shortstop and played there until we started to shave. That’s when we was in 6th grade. We started pitching some then. Baseball was never hard for us because we was a Clusters.
Jeff Schultz
March 29th, 2011
7:58 pm
Delmon Young has struck out twice tonight. I’d still take him.
Tech Fan
March 29th, 2011
7:59 pm
Seriously!!! Heyward’s shoulders look freakin huge compared to last year. Even Freeman looks like he bulked up. But man, those shoulders look like bazookas!!
Richie_Rich1986
March 29th, 2011
7:59 pm
nice Peter Moylan went 1-2-3.
Jeff Schultz
March 29th, 2011
8:00 pm
Moylan dealing. But guessing that will be it for him too. Gonzalez giving everybody one inning tonight.
45ACP
March 29th, 2011
8:00 pm
Found it on 649, DirecTV.
So happy that Baseball is back.
Richie_Rich1986
March 29th, 2011
8:01 pm
@ Tech Fan,
Heyward has always been that big he didn’t seem any bigger to me this spring…
Foghorn Leghorn
March 29th, 2011
8:02 pm
Jeff Schultz…..While not a fan of Spring Training baseball….the alternative is watching women’s college basketball (which is terrible to watch) on espn.
Seriously, our defense is going to be a big issue this year. Uggla, The Dipper, McCann and Prado all are error prone in the field. While Uggla, Prado and McCann can more than offset those errors with their bats…..the same cant be said for The Dipper.
Sonny Clusters
March 29th, 2011
8:02 pm
They just showed a Clusters-like baby on television. Handsome babies that can play ball.
Peter
March 29th, 2011
8:02 pm
Good inning for Moylan. He looks sharp.
Schultz,
It looks like they’re going through the whole bullpen tonight, but only O’Flaherty, Venters, and Kimbrel are left. Who is going to pitch the rest of the game after those guys?
Tech Fan
March 29th, 2011
8:03 pm
His shoulders just look so bid, not fat..just bigger…Maybe I just forgot how big he was to begin with.
Richie, doesn’t Freeman look like he added some bulk though?
Jeff Schultz
March 29th, 2011
8:04 pm
Braves no hits (one walk) since Prado led off with a single.
Foghorn Leghorn
March 29th, 2011
8:04 pm
Our hitters look like their in a hurry to get home. Good thing it’s only a Spring Training game, lol.
Sonny Clusters
March 29th, 2011
8:04 pm
Do they have the buffet set up for you tonight, Jeff? We was always wanting to go through that line.
Jeff Schultz
March 29th, 2011
8:06 pm
Next Braves pitcher: Jay Chapman.
Richie_Rich1986
March 29th, 2011
8:06 pm
@ Tech Fan,
Ya Heyward is just a man-child lol and ya Freddie put on muscle but not that noticeable both of them are really big kids lol….I took a picture with them both this spring and man I’m 6′1 and I look so small compared to them lol.
Jeff Schultz
March 29th, 2011
8:07 pm
Foxhorn Leghorn — The Dipper?
Jeff Schultz
March 29th, 2011
8:09 pm
Nice play by Gonzalez at one end and Freeman at the other. Hey, defense!
Richie_Rich1986
March 29th, 2011
8:09 pm
Wow NICE play by Gonzo in the Gap!!! Nice Stretch and Scoop by Freddie Freeman!!!!
Peter
March 29th, 2011
8:09 pm
Web Gem!
dawg4u
March 29th, 2011
8:09 pm
I doubt Freeman is still growing but he definitely looks more bulked up. We are loosing right now but the night is young still. @ Peter , thanks I wasn’t sure we had another game left.
Richie_Rich1986
March 29th, 2011
8:10 pm
Man the Braves Defense sucks sooooo bad!!! how can we call these guys professionals?
Justafan
March 29th, 2011
8:11 pm
Like Chapman old high sox uniform…
Jeff Schultz
March 29th, 2011
8:12 pm
Peter — a lot of guys with big numbers: Chapman, No. 90. Not sure who’s next.
Richie_Rich1986
March 29th, 2011
8:12 pm
dang gun son!!!! D. Ross is gunnin these runners down!!! 2nd runner he’s thrown out trying to steal on em!!!
Metro Coach
March 29th, 2011
8:12 pm
Memo to the Twins: Stop running on David Ross.
Jeff Schultz
March 29th, 2011
8:13 pm
David Ross two for two on stolen base attempts tonight.
Justafan
March 29th, 2011
8:13 pm
Freeman looks like Biggieee boy out there…
clusters are back
March 29th, 2011
8:15 pm
jeff- clusters are back is a drunk guy-me- all happy cuz he posts more in baseball season-he cracks me up….. funny funny character- he should go pro.
Sonny Clusters
March 29th, 2011
8:17 pm
Jeff, based on what we’ve seen so far . . . we was wondering if anybody’s earned a moniker tonight?
Foghorn Leghorn
March 29th, 2011
8:18 pm
Jeff Schultz……”The Dipper” is what I refer to the player who used to be Chipper Jones. I call him “The Dipper” because of how he said that he would “retire” if he didnt play up to the standards that he’s accustomed to playing.
However, he aint walking away from $28 mil over the next two years. He said he would retire after his injury prone 2009 season….in addition to after the 2010 season. My guess it that after he has another injury filled, non-productive 2011 season…he’ll make one more “give it one more try” proclamation for 2012.
My point is that having to pay him $14 mil to in each of the next two years to bat #3 in the order…is dipping into our chances to put the best line-up out there that can give us the best chance to win.
The Dipper should be batting #6 and Heyward #3 in the order.
Jeff Schultz
March 29th, 2011
8:18 pm
Uggla hitting .203 in spring as he steps to the plate.
Uppercutting his way back to AAA
March 29th, 2011
8:19 pm
Nate Mclouth didn’t learn anything. I still see his uppercut coming through hard. Why can’t he drive the ball in the gaps. pop outs are a sure sign he still has that flaw in his swing!
Jeff Schultz
March 29th, 2011
8:20 pm
Sonny Clusters — We was thinking that David Ross earned the moniker “Rocket Arm.” We was thinking Frenchy had a Rocket Arm back in the day.
TomahawkChoppin'
March 29th, 2011
8:23 pm
Freddie Fly Trap Freeman! Because he can gobble up anything in sight, effortlessly!
Jeff Schultz
March 29th, 2011
8:24 pm
That’s a base hit. Can’t call it fielder’s choice. … But it’s wasted.
DHD
March 29th, 2011
8:26 pm
Maybe. Who knows? As Skip said….that’s why they play the games.
Jeff Schultz
March 29th, 2011
8:26 pm
Next pitcher up: Eric O’Flaherty.
Joe
March 29th, 2011
8:28 pm
How many fans at the game?
Jeff Schultz
March 29th, 2011
8:28 pm
Foghorn Leghorn — I would counter by saying that when Chipper got injured last season, he was playing at the level he’s accustomed to. He was one of the team’s hottest hitters at the time. That’s biggest reason he came back.
Sonny Clusters
March 29th, 2011
8:28 pm
Monikers can be handy. We was always wanting a moniker when we was playing ball but they insisted on just calling us, Clusters. We have been wondering where Chipper was exposed to monikers? Do they have them in the woods?
Sonny Clusters
March 29th, 2011
8:31 pm
When Chipper’s daddy was teaching him to hunt he told Chipper to find some tracks and follow ‘em. That’s how Chipper almost got hit by a train.
Brad
March 29th, 2011
8:32 pm
What station is going to carry the Braves Opener on Thursday??
Curse of the Flat Billed Cap
March 29th, 2011
8:32 pm
Already see a difference between Gonzo and Cox. In the Cox era, Joe Mather would have been on the roster because it was decided when he was claimed off waivers. Matt Young beat out Mather and low and behold…. he’s on the roster and Mather is on waivers.
The Jesse Chavez’ of the world have been penciled in a number of times in the Cox era without actually performing better than their competition. Glad to see that Gonzo will actually take a guys performance into consideration when determining a roster spot instead of of going the Cox route and giving a guy a job just so you don’t look like you made a mistake by claiming or trading for a player.
Brad
March 29th, 2011
8:33 pm
Nevermind now….
Jeff Schultz
March 29th, 2011
8:35 pm
Sonny Clusters — I think you should do play-by-play for spring games. You’d make them more entertaining. You might even earn a moniker.
Peter
March 29th, 2011
8:36 pm
So ill be going to the opener in Washington, and Livan Hernandez is pitching for the Nats. The last time I attended a baseball game that Livan Hernandez pitched was Game 5 of the 1997 NLCS. Fortunately, no Eric Gregg.
Joe Tess Fish House
March 29th, 2011
8:38 pm
No 1 at game B cuz they no the Braves will crash and bern this year
Jeff Schultz
March 29th, 2011
8:38 pm
Pitching: No. 94 Tim Gustafson.
Foghorn Leghorn
March 29th, 2011
8:38 pm
Jeff Schultz…..I disagree with you on your interpretation of The Dipper being “hot”when he got hurt.
The Dipper was batting around .300 over a 20 game stretch when he got hurt. However, before that, he was batting in the low .200’s. Even with his so called “hot streak”, he ended up batting .265 with 10 homers and 41 RBIs in 95 games.
Chipper Jones has a career average of .306. The Chipper Jones I rooted for for most of his career would have been “insulted” if you said that he was in a hot streak if he was hitting .300 over a 20 game stretch. The Chipper Jones I know would be hitting close to .400 and jacking 10 homers in a 20 game stretch……
Chipper Jones does not play for the Braves anymore. He left the building 2 years ago. The Dipper is who we have playing 3rd base and batting 3rd in the batting order now.
bravofan
March 29th, 2011
8:42 pm
Medlen just said freaking easy haha I love him ! !
TomahawkChoppin'
March 29th, 2011
8:45 pm
Chipper Jones fans I know wouldn’t diss a great leader, Future HOFer, and great clubhouse voice. Chipper Jones fans stick by him, and root for him to come back this year and disprove all you former fans of Chipper Jones who continue to say he should retire. Go ahead and get your Chipper Jones shirts now instead of waiting until he proves you wrong and jumping on his bandwagon later this year.
Joe Tess Fish House
March 29th, 2011
8:45 pm
I agreed with Foghorn. Chiper is whased up. @ many injruies over the years and his old age make him worthless. Frank Wrent need 2 cut Chipper and Hayword lose and try to get some 1 beter.
TomahawkChoppin'
March 29th, 2011
8:46 pm
Hear a faint tomahawk chop starting….
Jeff Schultz
March 29th, 2011
8:47 pm
Foghorn Leghorn — I know Chipper Jones a little better than you do. He wouldn’t be insulted by my comment. Yours, possibly.
TomahawkChoppin'
March 29th, 2011
8:49 pm
Uggla can tattoo letter high fastballs!
Jeff Schultz
March 29th, 2011
8:49 pm
Uggla doubles off the wall, misses homer by 3-4 feet.
Conrad running for him.
Sonny Clusters
March 29th, 2011
8:50 pm
To quote Chipper, we wanted to be an announcer bad. We was thinking maybe we could team up with Chipper in the booth later on. Our good English and his witty repartee might work well together. “Did you see Uggla hit that ball?” “Uh, yeah, I did.”
Jeff Schultz
March 29th, 2011
8:54 pm
Braves strand 2 more. Still 2-0 through seven. … Next pitcher: Venters.
TomahawkChoppin'
March 29th, 2011
8:55 pm
Finally its time for everyday Johnny!
Richie_Rich1986
March 29th, 2011
8:57 pm
These Chipper Bashers are just trying to get Braves fans wriled up!! Chipper is and has been my favorite player and he will always be my favorite player. Guy has been tearin the ball off the cover this spring. So you know what all you chipper haters yal can suck it!!!
Sonny Clusters
March 29th, 2011
8:58 pm
“tearing the ball off the cover?” There should be a moniker for that.
Sonny Clusters
March 29th, 2011
8:59 pm
We was highly entertained tonight, Jeff. Thanks. It is time to go to the Dairy Queen.
Jeff Schultz
March 29th, 2011
9:00 pm
Hey, Brooks Conrad! … He pulls off a 4u-43 double play!
Jeff
March 29th, 2011
9:03 pm
What is the rotation going to look like to start the season after Lowe, Hanson and Hudson… How did Jurrjens feel after he threw yesterday? Will he start the Milwaukee series on Monday, or will Beachy?
Larry
March 29th, 2011
9:06 pm
“David Ross is 2 for 2 in stolen bases”…in the same game?
This indeed could be our year!
Richie_Rich1986
March 29th, 2011
9:06 pm
Jeff,
My understanding is its going to go Lowe, Hanson, Hudson, JJ they are going to skip Beachy’s first start of the season….. From what JJ told me on Sunday after the game he told me it was just a cramp he will be fine to make his start. Keeping my fingers crossed he wasn’t just trying to make me feel better because he knows I’m a big fan of his.
Jeff Schultz
March 29th, 2011
9:06 pm
Jeff — No decision yet on Jurrjens. It’s still up in the air and he wasn’t available to the media before the game.
Jeff
March 29th, 2011
9:09 pm
not what I wanted to hear, Rich… Beachy is my first cousin and I was hoping to watch him pitch in Milwaukee. Braves don’t make it to the midwest often enough.
Jeff Schultz
March 29th, 2011
9:10 pm
Richie_Rich1986 — He might’ve thought that then but things change. Not saying they have, though.
TomahawkChoppin'
March 29th, 2011
9:10 pm
I know its not good to speculate..but JS do you believe JJ could be our best trade bait later this year should we need help in another area. Injury prone and almost an ‘Andruw Jones’ type attitude. Not that AJ was a bad player, he just sometimes had a bad attitude. Teams that need starting pitching would be willing to deal for him. Meds coming back off the DL and Beachy and Minor can all join the rotation should we decide to trade JJ. Your thoughts???
Eating Boogers For The Protein
March 29th, 2011
9:10 pm
My god…….Is it baseball season already?
Steve
March 29th, 2011
9:12 pm
I sure hope the Braves can stay healthy! I am reading more and more “experts” pick the Braves to go to the WS. I have seen several pick the Red Sox beating the Braves. Next Friday at Turner Field will be electric with those Phillies in town. Can’t beat opening day. Although last year was the loudest I have ever heard that place when Heyward went deep on his first swing. Jeff, us Braves fan expect live blogs for every home game this year for those of us on nights we can’t make it. You and Mark don’t mind right?
Richie_Rich1986
March 29th, 2011
9:12 pm
Jeff,
Sorry buddy I mean I might not be 100% correct man, just what I hear from being at a lot of spring training games and getting to talk to the skipper and a few of the players….I think I also saw a blog on here a few days ago about the same thing that they are thinking about doing that. I got to talk to your cousin quite a bit this spring what a great guy man. I am a big fan of his, can’t say I was rooting for him to win the 5th starting position but he has good stuff. I was really hoping Minor would make it simply he is our only lefty option really in the rotation. Having to face the Phillies 18 games a year we are going to need a left handed starter.
Eating Boogers For The Protein
March 29th, 2011
9:13 pm
I was watching the Thrashers. It seems they can’t get any breaks from the officials. Can we talk hockey instead?
Billy Batts
March 29th, 2011
9:14 pm
Get your shine box.
Richie_Rich1986
March 29th, 2011
9:15 pm
@ Jeff Shultz,
you know just like I know that major league players try to play down everything like its not a big deal. I like to call it their “PR Answers” …..
Eating Boogers For The Protein
March 29th, 2011
9:17 pm
Are both teams wearing the same uniforms?
Notice I didn’t use the gay variation and say “unis”….
Richie_Rich1986
March 29th, 2011
9:17 pm
man i’ve been too busy blogging forgot about the game!!! Kimbrel is looking good!! Hoping he will still be avalible late in my fantasy draft tomorrow night as I’m depending on getting him as my 3rd closer.
Peter
March 29th, 2011
9:18 pm
If you wanna talk hockey, move to Canada.
Richie_Rich1986
March 29th, 2011
9:18 pm
I 2nd Peter!! There’s no room for hockey in the south!!
Jeff
March 29th, 2011
9:19 pm
Yeah, that is what I heard too last week, then the article on Sunday said Jurrjens would be pushed back to the 6th, but he was supposed to throw yesterday and I hadn’t heard how it went. I’m a new Braves fan, where is the best place to get the latest info on probable pitchers and such?
Steve
March 29th, 2011
9:20 pm
@Richie_Rich you may want to at least spell Jeff’s last name correctly.
Jeff Schultz
March 29th, 2011
9:21 pm
TomahawkChoppin’ — I speculated late last season that he might be trade bait for a bat. He was most logical given he had value and other pitchers couldn’t or wouldn’t be moved (Hudson-Lowe-Hanson). Then Braves got Uggla and it didn’t matter. Problem now is that if injuries continue, his value will be way down.
Richie_Rich1986
March 29th, 2011
9:21 pm
@ Jeff ,
Espn is usually good with probable pitchers because they do the fantasy thing…and I have to give the Twins Bullpen props they have some nice arms with Joe Nathan being back from TJ….
@Jeff Shultz,
Can you find out how Joe Nathan’s spring was? and also what’s the word on Lidge and Utley are they really done for their careers?
Richie_Rich1986
March 29th, 2011
9:21 pm
wow that called 3rd strike on Hicks looked low and inside.
Jeff Schultz
March 29th, 2011
9:21 pm
Eating Boogers — I’d love to talk hockey … if Thrashers were in the playoff race, which they’re not.
Vito Corleone
March 29th, 2011
9:22 pm
Well Jeff, looks like you have put the Mark Bradley kiss of death on the team before we even play the first game. And Joe Tess, you must have been sleeping with the fishes. Chipper’s hitting over 400 with 7 doubles, 4 homers, and 15 RBI’s in the pre-season. If that’s washed up, please give us a tsunami of players like him.
Eating Boogers For The Protein
March 29th, 2011
9:22 pm
Did Bobby Cox lose weight? He looks so much younger too.
Richie_Rich1986
March 29th, 2011
9:23 pm
@ Steve,
If I cared about spelling correctly I would. This is a blog D-Bag!
Jeff Schultz
March 29th, 2011
9:24 pm
Richie_Rich1986 — Here’s the blog Carroll Rogers did tonight on Jurrjens: http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2011/03/29/braves-are-playing-it-cautious-with-jurrjens/
Steve
March 29th, 2011
9:26 pm
Charge the mount Conrad!!!
Jeff Schultz
March 29th, 2011
9:27 pm
We have ninth inning drama! … Error and hit batter gives Braves 2 on with 1 out. … The .137 hitting Joe Mather up.
Richie_Rich1986
March 29th, 2011
9:27 pm
DAmn that was nasty!!!! Conrad sure is gunna have a rasberry on that!!!
Richie_Rich1986
March 29th, 2011
9:28 pm
@ Jeff Schultz,
ya I saw that blog and I was the first to post!! first time ever lol.
Jeff Schultz
March 29th, 2011
9:30 pm
Lucas makes it 2-1. Runner held at third. Still one out, still loaded for Shawn Bowman.
TomahawkChoppin'
March 29th, 2011
9:30 pm
heres that late inning drama continuing this season
Foghorn Leghorn
March 29th, 2011
9:30 pm
Jeff Schultz…….Chipper Jones does not play for the Braves anymore. He’s been replaced by a shell of his former self I now call The Dipper.
Let’s see how well The Dipper’s body holds up when he has to play 14 games in 14 days….when he doesnt get every couple of days off…when he has to play 4 or 5 games in a row without being pulled early for a defensive replacement…because the Braves feel they need his bat in the line-up.
Jake Fox (a journeyman) hit 10 homers for the Orioles this spring. Does that mean that we should anoint him the American League MVP…the winner of the Home Run Derby in the All-Star game?
Quicherbichin
March 29th, 2011
9:31 pm
i think Joe Tess Fish Mess’ keyboard should be suspended for 162 games for sheer incompetence. but i would settle for it happening to the operator of said keyboard.
Jeff Schultz
March 29th, 2011
9:33 pm
And didn’t we know it would come down to J.C. Boscan.
Jeff Schultz
March 29th, 2011
9:35 pm
And we’re all tied up. Infield hit scores run. 2-2.
Steve
March 29th, 2011
9:36 pm
Looks like this team is getting warmed up for a repeat of 2010!
Biff Pocoroba
March 29th, 2011
9:36 pm
I think Joe Tess is putting us on. No one could possibly spell that badly that consistently.
As for Chipper, he has earned the right to leave on his own terms.
Richie_Rich1986
March 29th, 2011
9:37 pm
Come back from 2-0 in the 9th tie game baby!!!!!
Richie_Rich1986
March 29th, 2011
9:37 pm
Ready for Thursday when games count!!!!
Steve
March 29th, 2011
9:38 pm
I bet the players on both sides are THRILLED with extra innings tonight.
REAL BRAVES FAN
March 29th, 2011
9:40 pm
BRAVES ALL THE WAY!!!!!!
Jeff Schultz
March 29th, 2011
9:40 pm
Steve — Assuming they won’t play more than 1 extra tonight.
Eating Boogers For The Protein
March 29th, 2011
9:41 pm
Thrashers score
Peter
March 29th, 2011
9:41 pm
So, did we just pick guys out of the stands and give em a jersey tonight? Who is Richard Sullivan?
Vito Corleone
March 29th, 2011
9:42 pm
Yeah!!! Now, if we can just get a run, then bring “Wagner” in to close the deal! If not, maybe we can get him and Clusters in for commentary!
Pete*
March 29th, 2011
9:42 pm
Steve, so are the umpires lol
Peter
March 29th, 2011
9:43 pm
Oh yea, Billy Wagner is still on the roster! He can pitch tonight!
Jeff Schultz
March 29th, 2011
9:46 pm
Less than 10 mins left in Thrashers game. Just sayin’.
Eating Boogers For The Protein
March 29th, 2011
9:47 pm
Thrashers keep getting hosed.
Richie_Rich1986
March 29th, 2011
9:48 pm
Ole Chuckie James!!!
Peter
March 29th, 2011
9:49 pm
Haha, Joe just ripped on the Mutts
Richie_Rich1986
March 29th, 2011
9:49 pm
@ Peter,
are you really that naive? its called spring training buddy minor league players play in the major league game.
Peter
March 29th, 2011
9:54 pm
Rich,
I’m aware of that. I was joking. I just figured I would have heard of some of these guys before.
Sonny Clusters
March 29th, 2011
9:54 pm
That was some good Dairy Queen tonight. When we got back home the game was tied. We’d bet a spoon that the Braves will win.
Jeff Schultz
March 29th, 2011
9:55 pm
And the win cries Mauro! … Mauro Gomez 2-run homer in 10th wins it for Braves 4-2.
Peter
March 29th, 2011
9:55 pm
YES!! THE WALK-OFF WARRIORS ARE BACK!!!
Eating Boogers For The Protein
March 29th, 2011
9:55 pm
That guy is on steroids
Richie_Rich1986
March 29th, 2011
9:55 pm
lol walk-off homer off of ole Chuckie James man I remember the nightmares he used to give me!
Sonny Clusters
March 29th, 2011
9:56 pm
Did anybody take that bet?
Sonny Clusters
March 29th, 2011
9:57 pm
Gomez deserves a moniker for that one.
Richie_Rich1986
March 29th, 2011
9:57 pm
@ Peter,
oh okay i gotcha, what minor leaguers do you know of besides Julio Teheran, and now Mike Minor?
ATL FAN
March 29th, 2011
9:59 pm
Anyone remember John Rocker? What happened to him
Peter
March 29th, 2011
10:02 pm
Pastornicky, Bowman, Lipka, Delgado, Vizcaino, Lucas, Abreu, just to name a few off the top of my head. The guys with names on the back of the jerseys during the spring, so I can at least say I recognize the names. But regardless, there are a lot of players in the system I don’t know.
Hedder
March 29th, 2011
10:10 pm
Just when I think JS can’t be any more of a dumbass, he writes this. Yeah jeff the phillies last year had 6 reg starters on and off the DL, have added cliff lee to the best rotation and won 97 games last year with all those injuries and you expect the braves with adding uggla to be better? Lay off the acid man.
Hedder
March 29th, 2011
10:12 pm
But I forgot the braves have conrad back! His perfection on the field should take them over the top!
Richie_Rich1986
March 29th, 2011
10:14 pm
@ Peter,
Nice 2 of those will be big time players and 2 of them will be maybe average….Not trying to call you out or anything but many people don’t follow it much if at all to even know the names of the top prospects in the organization let alone recognize them if you actually see them. Its amazing during spring training how people can tell who is who if they don’t have their jerseys on with their number and name on the back!
Quicherbichin
March 29th, 2011
10:20 pm
Joe Tess Fish House… Do we have a new player? who is Jay Hayword? won’t he get confused with Jason Heyward? And FYI… joe Torre had a losing career record when he was hired by the Yankees…. How did THAT turn out? one more thing… your teachers should be ashamed of themselves… You couldn’t spell the normal word for feline if I spotted you the c and the a!!! Learn to spell, please!!!
BuzztheKiller
March 29th, 2011
10:22 pm
Hedder- lay off the head dude. The Phillies will have the pitching,but their starting lineup is getting old and broken down. They do look like the Braves in the 90’s, lot of pitching, not enough hitting, and one title to show for it. Braves win the division by 2-3 games.
Pete*
March 29th, 2011
10:27 pm
Hedder: “….and you expect the braves with adding uggla to be better?”
You forgot the part about the Phillies subtracting Werth. So the answer to your question is yes.
Quicherbichin
March 29th, 2011
10:32 pm
Proof that Foghorn Leghorn is wrong… Joe Tess Fish House agrees with him.
Reid Adair
March 29th, 2011
10:37 pm
Entirely too many positive comments from Frank Wren. Wren is probably the who told them to put the banner up for the wild card.
MitchC
March 29th, 2011
10:48 pm
Jeff, Ironicially, I live in Pennsylvania, so I hear about the Phillies on the Philly TV station all the time. (I’ve been a Braves fan since 1983, through thick and thin, even when I lived in NY, btw, that having been said..”.
To the point of your article: I think it’s a bit.. boastful. Yes, the Phillies have some serious injury issues, and.. while their rotation may not be.. Maddux, Glavine.. Smoltz, with three likely Hall of Famers in it, their starting pitching is still very, very good.
Also, our starting pitching has some.. age on it.. Hudson and Lowe are over 35 Tommy Hanson is young and good, but.. what will happen with JJ this year?!
Chipper is healthy now.. but.. we know that somewhere along the line.. he will pull some muscle somewhere in his body. Hopefully, he’ll play more games than last year.
Uggla will help our lineup, definitely, but.. this team’s age.. plus the fact that we have two unproven closers, combined with Philly’s pitching staff,, make me uncomfortable with saying. “We will win the division”.
Honestly, this Braves team is good, better than last year. However. unless Philly’s pitching staff really falters, and we have a lot of things go completely right for us.. it would seem more realistic to think we are the favorite for the wild card.. not the NL East crown.
My call: A win total the same..or a bit better.. than last year, and an easier road to the wild card than last year. Some teams have sowed the wild card earlier than Game 162. We have a good chance to do that, and wrap it up earlier than the final game, if everyone stays realtively healthy, and plays as they should.
Jon
March 29th, 2011
11:13 pm
The Phillies will struggle to score the most they have in years!
http://www.sportswithjon.blogspot.com
Jimbo
March 29th, 2011
11:32 pm
Everyone is drunk on koolaid or something stronger. Phillies by far still the class of the east.
Foghorn Leghorn
March 29th, 2011
11:58 pm
…..Jeff Schultz…….Chipper Jones does not play for the Braves anymore. He’s been replaced by a shell of his former self I now call The Dipper.
Let’s see how well The Dipper’s body holds up when he has to play 14 games in 14 days….when he doesnt get every couple of days off…when he has to play 4 or 5 games in a row without being pulled early for a defensive replacement…because the Braves feel they need his bat in the line-up.
Jake Fox (a journeyman) hit 10 homers for the Orioles this spring. Does that mean that we should anoint him the American League MVP…the winner of the Home Run Derby in the All-Star game?
wayn-o
March 30th, 2011
12:02 am
Schultz with the amazing one-liners in this article! “He is one hiccup away from mutating into Mike Hampton.” yea I actually lol’ed
PaulieOldschool
March 30th, 2011
12:22 am
From your mouth to God’s ear, Jeff, as my grandmother used to say.
Phillies4Ever
March 30th, 2011
12:43 am
Jeff can you please tell me where you got the pot you smoked before writing this article? I got some friends that would really enjoy it. Utley has been our heart and soul for a little while but we played without him last year too and still had the best record in the league. Lidge is only out 6 weeks..get your facts straight. Werth might be gone but we’ll be just fine without him. Oh yeah..i forgot something else. Halladay, Lee, Oswalt, Hamels, hell even Blanton. Blanton would be a #3 on every other team. Hamels would be a #1 on just about every other team. Braves don’t stand a chance.
John
March 30th, 2011
12:45 am
Pitching? Yes. Offense? Yes. Defense? No. Defense will be the Achilles Heel and cost the Braves a division title. Hope I’m wrong…
Prognosticator
March 30th, 2011
1:11 am
Kim Cattrall to play has-been porn star
Wasn’t that what she was doing all those years on “Sluts in the City”?
carlchamblee
March 30th, 2011
1:49 am
Braves have as many question marks as Phils if not more – Chipper’s health, McLouth trying not to stink, Jurrjens arm, young pen, and a bad defense that got worse when they put UGH-la at second and moved Prado to left. And I really like Heyward but it’s not a “given” he will have a big year given his ups and downs in his rookie year. Probably will be fine but sophomore slumps and busts have happened.
This best-in-the-division talk sounds a lot like another AJC sportswriter predicting UGA would beat UNC in hoops enroute to a sweet 16. Simply based on homerism and rallying the faithful.
Phils are the best team in the division until someone proves otherwise. You just can’t discount how incredibly good their starting pitching is.
carlchamblee
March 30th, 2011
1:52 am
Might add that it’s funny how anyone in Atlanta would think that the Phils great starting pitchers won’t carry them. Hello 1990s Glavine-Maddux-Smoltz and 14 division titles!
JASon
March 30th, 2011
4:23 am
“That was something we had back in the 1990s and early 2000s. That mentality of, no matter what happens, things will fall right.”
Hey chipper, you know not everyone on this team was here back then. In fact, most of the players weren’t. Its this attitude that has stifled the development of young players on this team for years. NO ONE CARES ABOUT YOUR PAST SUCCESSES. STOP BEING SUCH A BAD LEADER.
scottbravesfan
March 30th, 2011
4:44 am
The Braves easily have a top three rotation in the national league. Only the Phillies and Giants are better.
Ringtoss999
March 30th, 2011
5:00 am
Start the season with the Nationals on the road.Should give us a taste for what is ahead. Stan Kasten has been working hard to create a good team.162 games is a marathon ,not a sprint.Do we have talent ? Yes.Do the Braves have a swagger ? No. Why ? Too much reminiscing about past glory. And every media scribe continues to wallow in what was (sorry,Jeff). Banner in the outfield for wild card slot. Please. Lets start the season with our eyes wide open and hope,no pray,that Freddie G. can kick some arse when he has to ramp up the productivity.Chipper will be out before the All Star break and be a psuedo bench coach,which is where he should be. He is worth his salary for insight about the opposing teams,not his vocabulary (”moniker”-Really). And he knows all the ladies on the road.
FalconUGAFan
March 30th, 2011
5:40 am
Yea….this is nice spring talk, but like the man says….let’s see where we are in Sept….
Stinger2
March 30th, 2011
7:18 am
I am one Braves fan who is going to wait until at least June before I get too excited and go overboard with predictions where the Braves will finish the season. Jeff and the rest of you can have the fun and I will enjoy reading your posts.
Braves N.L. East Champs?
March 30th, 2011
7:36 am
IF the Braves get into the post season, we know what they are best for doing,CHOKING.
Truth
March 30th, 2011
7:38 am
As much as I like the Braves
We had over 20 last at bat wins. We cannot duplicate that this year. We need take 2 out of 3 or sweep the teams we ought to be
Mitchell
March 30th, 2011
7:51 am
It starts in April.
Okay, technically it starts in March but this thing has to get going right out of the gate.
No more 9 and 10 win Aprils. The Braves need to back up all this talk and start winning now, not in May or June.
If they can be in first place at the end of April, take advantage of the Phillies weaknesses and injury problem then that gives them a real chance to win it.
Because if the Phillies get behind, I mean, like seven or eight games back in the first month or two they could totally fall apart under the pressure and expectations that they would run away with it.
The Braves should win it. They’re just better when you get right down to it but if they don’t come out and play like they are capable of at the start of play, it won’t be so easy.
Jeff R
March 30th, 2011
8:09 am
I’d still pick the Phillies as odds-on-favorites to win the division, though Jeff Schultz’s points are well made.
I do think the Braves will contend for the division, and most certainly are the best of the NL wild card contenders. But some things have to fall into place for the Braves, too.
Chipper needs to stay healthy. Jurrjens needs to… stay healthy. McLouth needs a return to his pre-2010 form. Kimbrel and Venters need to step in and close effectively. Freeman needs to hit close to what he did at Gwinnett last year.
And the Braves defense needs to improve. The team’s middle defense is generally fair, not good.
Having said all that, I think the Braves are positioned to compete for the division and certainly for the wild card. Let the games begin.
BrandonC
March 30th, 2011
8:10 am
I’m always excited and confident this time of year, but ESPECIALLY this year. I think this team is very capable of pulling off 93-95 wins with the addition of Uggla. Whether that will be enough to win the division I’m not sure, but it will be exciting. Philly is hitting the back side of their dominant run due to their age and the Braves are on the rise. Can’t wait for tomorrow!!
KRAMER
March 30th, 2011
8:32 am
BUT WILL ANYBODY SHOW UP , THOSE EMPTY SEATS ARE A BEAUTIFUL THING. YOU WERE WRITING THE SAME NONSENSE WHEN THE BRAVES LED THE PHILLIES BY SEVEN GAMES LAST YEAR, DID THEY REALLY LOSE BY 6 GAMES, ASK THE EMPTY SEATS.
BobDawg
March 30th, 2011
8:36 am
.. I want to see how our “Defense” stacks up… the biggest move we made in “91 was adding Pendleton to 3rd and Sid Bream to 1st which really helped our defense…. Let’s see how many errors we make in first few months.. then I will feel better about things
Rich
March 30th, 2011
8:51 am
They will compete, but the defense, and bullpen are a big concern.
woman in the throes
March 30th, 2011
8:59 am
A little kool aid can be good for what ails ya, but seriously, Martin Prado is one of the best players in baseball? I love Martin but, wow. Might want to lighten up on the hard stuff Schultzie.
idot
March 30th, 2011
9:01 am
It seems that JS has struck a nerve with the Phillies fans, and brought out all of the negativity of some of the so-called Braves “fans”.
The Phillies, DO NOT, have a lock on the NL East, they can be beat, and the Braves can beat them.
The Braves will definitely be in the NL playoffs, and have a chance of taking the WS.
GO BRAVES!!!!!!
idot
March 30th, 2011
9:05 am
FOGHORN LEGHORN……..@8:38pm, 3/29/11…………Chippers “hits .300 over a 20 game period”, and that is not a hot streak?
That comment at 8:38pm is pretty dumb.
Ben
March 30th, 2011
9:20 am
Jeff, the problem is that the Phils lost a huge chunk of their lineup with Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Howard gone for much of the year and this pitching rotation hasn’t been together for a whole season yet. They still won the division by 6 games.
Do we really think Chipper will make it the whole year? McClouth is the answer in CF? Rawdog has solved his fielding issues? Can Kimbrel do it for a whole season?
I think this team will compete but it just seems that everything has to go right for the Braves to win the division and everything merely has to go “okay” for the Phils to do it.
That said, on opening day…….hope springs eternal. Go Bravos.
Delbert D.
March 30th, 2011
9:32 am
VCU got in the playoffs on a wildcard.
ConVick
March 30th, 2011
9:35 am
Empty seats, yep and it will be the same this year too. The braves are the kings of choke. We have what 15, 16 banners that proudly back that statement up. People talk about how pitiful Atl fans are, and my answer to that is what do they have to be proud about? Braves, 1 championship, since what 1965??
Hawks, None
Falcons, None
Thrashers, None
But who knows, new coach who might actually be able to coach in the post season unlike the vaunted god Bobby Cox.
phil
March 30th, 2011
9:50 am
Boy, that was a pitiful effort last night….the last week hasn’t been much better…we might want to reserve judgment on that division title for a few months until we see if McOut, McFann, Hurtward, Ugly and the rest of the crew actually win some games….
phil
March 30th, 2011
9:53 am
What’s with all this negativity? Don’t you people know it will make us lose?
Joycee Banicheck
March 30th, 2011
9:58 am
Just read through this entire blog since I didn’t catch the game. Sounds like this Foghorn douche needs to drink a glass of shut the hell up. I think I speak for a majority of Braves fans when i say why don’t you take your chipper hatin’ arse to some other blog. Every blog has its idiots and you sir are it…
Dr. Phil
March 30th, 2011
10:06 am
No question the Braves will be in contention. Chipper and McLouth must come through.
mbatl08
March 30th, 2011
10:13 am
I bet this team wins 100 games within the next few seasons. Sure the Phillies have a great rotation, but just imagine how sick our rotation is going to be when we add Teheran and Delgado, and Vizcaino is right behind them. People are saying Teheran could be the second coming of Pedro Martinez (although hopefully with fewer injuries). Frank Wren really has done a commendable job rebuilding our pitching staff. I don’t think we’ll have anything to worry about in that section for a good while.
1994 - 2002 filly attendance
March 30th, 2011
10:15 am
>19,000 per game (or 32,000 empty seats at the vet – PER GAME)
PMC
March 30th, 2011
10:16 am
I think they will or they have developed that belief somewhat because of last year. They had all kinds of issues in the lineup and they found ways to win games. They found ways to win over 90 games. This year they have fixed some of those major issues to go along with the excellent pitching.
The issues of course are health and the fact that they are still really thin in the outfield and that the defense is poor to awful for a major league team.
Runs or lack thereof have always held this team back. I think they’ll find a lot more of them this year.
Joe Tess Fish House
March 30th, 2011
10:23 am
No 1 ansered me as to why they thing this team can be beter then the Philys when they have a loosing managar with a loosing record.
Be prepaid to to be disapointed.
Lum
March 30th, 2011
10:25 am
Hope all you d-wads watched last night’s game all the way to the…bottom of the ninth. LOL, at fair weather fans.
Don
March 30th, 2011
10:33 am
“Philadelphia has significant issues” (relating to their position players) — LIKE, THE BRAVES DO NOT???
At Third Base the Braves have a player trying to come back from injury to what was already a significant downhill age slide – who was already not producing very good offensively, especially for a third place hitter, and whose defensive range is poor – to say nothing of now being another year older.
Their Shortstop is probably below average both offensively and defensively.
At First Base, they have a rookie who has not yet shown that he can hit major league pitching.
Their Center Fielder has had only one good year in his entire major league career and that in a non pressure situation in Pittsburg, and who has been – well really unproductive the last couple of years -especially last year.
Instead of being strong defensively up the middle, they do not really have a single strong defensive player up the middle — and you can add Third Base to that list.
a different Don
March 30th, 2011
11:06 am
OK. The Braves should be better in 2011. But, while enumerating the Phillies problems this year, Jeff forgot to look at what issues the Phillies had last year. Gotta look a both sides of the ledger!
Lidge was hurt and or terrible for half the season.
Madson was out a couple months.
Utley tore his thumb and was out a month.
Howard was out a month and had a sub-par year
Rollins was out a couple months and never got going.
Victorino had a sub par year.
Polanco was injured by the Braves, was out quite a bit and had a sub par year.
Only the catcher, Ruiz, was steady all year.
Is all of that going to repeat itself? Not likely.
Did Jeff bother to see who would replace Werth? The guy is hitting .377 with 5 HR and 14 RBIs this spring and has a career OPS of .775s (and his backup is hitting .299 with 5 HR and 11 RBIs) So, maybe not such a big drop-off.
So the Phillies offense will likely be better in 2011 than in 2010…and the differential will remain about the same.
Coach13
March 30th, 2011
11:22 am
The Phillies have the staff but will they have the run support?? Howard and Victorino are the only real threats in the lineup. Rollins and Utley aren’t what they once were.
Outside of the Phillies name another starting rotation better than the Braves in all of MLB. Name a better bullpen than the Braves. 1-9 their lineup is a pretty good one too. The Phillies are the pretty pick but don’t be surprised if they don’t even make the postseason.
All teams are 1 or 2 injuries away though.
Robert
March 30th, 2011
11:26 am
“You want to get back to that point where you walk onto the field every day and you just expect to win,” Chipper Jones said Tuesday
Expecting to win just by walking onto the field is how they got complacent and sloppy
MColquette
March 30th, 2011
11:27 am
I think it’s pretty obvious that the Phil’s have one of the most daunting staff’s we’ve seen in quite a while. The biggest difference I see is the other 8 players.
1B: Howard vs. Freeman = Phil’s
2B: Utley/Backup vs. Uggla = Bravos
SS: Rollins vs. Gonzo = Push
3B: Polanco vs. Jones = Bravos (Healthy Chipper)
LF: Ibanez vs. Prado = Bravos
CF: Victorino vs. McClouth = Phil’s (could be push if he wakes up)
RF: Brown vs. Heyward = Bravos
C: Ruiz vs. McCann = Bravos
5 out of 8 positions the Braves are better…. Going to be a fun season!
Bob Davis
March 30th, 2011
11:55 am
Does anyone know if the games carried on Peachtree TV this season will be shown on SportSouth or Fox SportSouth? I heard they were bought-out by Fox (formerly owned by Turner Sports).
john
March 30th, 2011
11:56 am
- Braves do not score runs against better Pitchers – get some on but cannot advance
- Braves have to beat up on every average/Loser Pitcher just to keep close to Phils and other good Teams…….
Buffy
March 30th, 2011
12:24 pm
Chipper will be whining about some injury within the month of May….watch. Cannot think of a “marquis” player that has been more injury prone. Freddie is still unproven. Uggla may go down as another Teixeira, Heyward did have a major cold run last season. I am a die hard Braves fan, since 1969, but I would say this prediction is immature, premature, and just a headline to sell papers. Cannot diregard the tried and true combination of the strongest pitching rotation in baseball in the Phillies. I hope I am wrong, but I hope Schultzie remembers this article when its 100 degrees at the Ted and we are getting swept by the Phils!
Buffy
March 30th, 2011
12:26 pm
PS: Bob Davis makes a good point. The biggest problem with the Braves is figuring out what channel the game is on any given night. Its like a rubiks cube for cryin out loud.
Blackberry Cobbler
March 30th, 2011
12:27 pm
Yes, the Phils have their problems.
But any team that has to depend on McOUT, a healthy Chipper, and D-Lowe in the rotation to make the post-season is in just as bad a shape IMHO.
I’m not drinking the Kool-Aid just yet.
Buffy
March 30th, 2011
12:30 pm
MColquette – baseball is not a wrestling match. What is your relative point?
Blackberry Cobbler
March 30th, 2011
12:35 pm
“PS: Bob Davis makes a good point. The biggest problem with the Braves is figuring out what channel the game is on any given night. Its like a rubiks cube for cryin out loud.”
Come on, man! Just go to the AJC or Braves website and the broadcast channel and time is shown for every single game!
Get a grip. It can’t be any more simple than that.
Skeezix
March 30th, 2011
12:37 pm
Jeff: I am glad to see that at least one ajc sportswriter agrees with me—the Braves are overall the best team in the NL East. This is a better team than last year’s team. Take away the crippling injuries as we neared the end of last year and the Braves very well may have been in the World Series. The Phils are still very good and have the best rotation, but offensively we are stronger and I really like our closers (but of course I wish we still had Wagner). The Braves now have to stay healthy and go out and perform; if they do, I believe in the end, the Bravos will be on top of the East.
Richard Dawson
March 30th, 2011
12:39 pm
Chipper to fans: “Kiss my a**”.
Fire this classless redneck thug and maybe we have a chance.
Richard Dawson
March 30th, 2011
12:41 pm
MColquette, typical homer analysis. Rollins is 2x or 3x the SS Gonzalez is, and Polanco is better than Chipper/backup at 3B. Utley/backup at 2B is at least the equal of Uggla. Ibanez beats Prado in LF too.
Richard Dawson
March 30th, 2011
12:42 pm
“Jason Heyward is no longer a prospect — he is a given.”
Oh, like Francoeur was a given after his rookie season?
That was an incredibly shallow, short-sighted, homeristic statement. Very typical of this sports section though.
Richard Dawson
March 30th, 2011
12:45 pm
Buffy — well said. You sell “papers”, or web hits, by pumping the local teams as much as possible early on, then dumping on them when they lose and the fans are down on them. Gotta to move with the fan sentiment. There is no original thinking going on here. It’s the same every year.
papadawg
March 30th, 2011
12:50 pm
Hmmmm, a good crop of pot just arrived, huh
idot
March 30th, 2011
12:56 pm
A lot of negative imbeciles on this rag.
idot
March 30th, 2011
12:57 pm
It will come down to which team stays the healthiest.
Big Mike
March 30th, 2011
12:57 pm
Give ma a break Guys…The same people has been saying this yr after the yr….stop putting all this pressure on the team before the season start….Chipper want play that much and Jayson has to overcome that teams has learn how to pitch him…Let us fly under the radar …like the Giants.
PLEASE QUIT WE THE PREDICTION FOR A WHILE.
DawginLex
March 30th, 2011
12:58 pm
Hey Richard, aren’t you due back on the set of The Family Feud Reunion show?
You sure don’t know anything about baseball
idot
March 30th, 2011
12:58 pm
That’s already a couple of marks against the Phillies.
Buffy
March 30th, 2011
1:11 pm
Cobbler- Game channel is a moving target……bad marketing in the purest sense. The more you disect television coverage, the more you confuse your audience. Marketing 101. Pure branding science. You must have an art degree or enjoy the comics.
Skeezix- you must be smokin too much of papadawg’s shipment. Or not know baseball. Pitching and defense win out over run scoring in every analysis since infield dirt was invented.
Mr. Richard Dawson- have not heard from you since Match Game 76! Thanks for the props. And as far as Chipper The Cockypop, we should trade him for his market value and get a durable 3rd baseman that can hit and won’t go down with a hangnail or period cramps every other week.
Richard Dawson
March 30th, 2011
1:17 pm
Will somebody PLEASE pay attention to me?
Big Mike
March 30th, 2011
1:19 pm
Mcolquette …Dude get real…La had a better batting avg and era…..you can’t say that…let the
cards fall where they may..
Keith
March 30th, 2011
1:27 pm
Hey Jeff ya coming to SEA when the Braves come up? if ya do look for me I would love to meet ya!
Buffy
March 30th, 2011
1:27 pm
Cobbler….a moving target on TV coverage is Branding 101. Never do anything to confuse the audience. Ever heard of same bat time, same bat channel??
Skeezix……smokin too much of papadawg’s new shipment? Pitching and defense win in every analysis since infield dirt was invented.
Mr. Dawson- thanks for the props. Schultzie is just trying to raise our irish. And Chipper will certainly go down with a hang nail or period cramps within a month. Trade him while he’s worth something. His cocky attitude makes me want to puke.
Buffy
March 30th, 2011
1:30 pm
Testing 123
Ed
March 30th, 2011
1:45 pm
What a joke. The Braves have question marks at 3B, CF, SS, 1B, closer, the back end of the rotation and the bench. Except they don’t have an elite rotation to compensate. They are not only overrated, but will backslide to .500.
phil
March 30th, 2011
2:43 pm
Hurtward is a given….to be injured and to strike out…a lot….until he proves otherwise, that’s my tale and I’m staying with it….
McOut? won’t hit .250…
McFann? Lucky if he reaches 20 dingers…emotionally fragile after maiming Salazar….hasn’t hit a lick since….
that guy at short? way past his prime…
Freeman? has proven zero…
Ugly? lots of long fly ball outs and ks….
i’m starting to scare myself with this….we’re awful…
Foghorn Leghorn
March 30th, 2011
5:18 pm
idot….your 9:05am post shows how dumb you are. The Dipper is a career .306 hitter (which means that, for him, hitting .306 ISNT a hot streak). It’s his AVERAGE.
So for Schultz to consider that The Dipper hitting .300 over a 20 game stretch is a “hot streak”……just shows how far The Dipper has fallen.
In other words, for those of you who are too simple minded to understand…over the course of his career, The Dipper has averaged .306 over 2,261 games in his career. How can batting .300 over a 20 game stretch be considered a “hot streak”?
Sure, for “average” players…hitting .300 over 20 games is considered good. However, when we are paying $14 mil a year to our #3 hitter…..then hitting .300 with little power is not what I would consider to be “hot” (especially when after the “hot streak”, The Dipper was only batting .265 with 10 homers and 46 RBIs in 95 games).
If Jeff Schultz feels that The Dipper he knows considers those numbers to be “hot”…..then The Dipper has fallen big time (which is what I’ve known the past two years).
Foghorn Leghorn
March 30th, 2011
5:23 pm
Joycee Banicheck,…….I feel that the majority of so-called Braves fans are really crotch sniffing, jock inhaling, fluffer wanna be fans of The Dipper….who place loyalty over their worshippness of The Dipper…over the ability of the Braves to field a line-up that gives the Braves TEAM the best chance to win.
I will stay here and keep advocating for my Braves to WIN. If The Dipper wasnt an injury prone, shell of his former self (otherwise formerly known as Chipper Jones)…….then I would have no problem with him batting 3rd.
However, to keep Jason Heyward in the #6 spot of the order…..so The Dipper can get welfare at-bats based on his back in the past glory……..shows that you guys arent 100% into seeing the Braves win.
Foghorn Leghorn
March 30th, 2011
5:31 pm
The sports reporting that goes on in Atlanta, would never fly in a real sports town like New York, Chicago or Boston. The next tough question that anyone in the Atlanta Press asks an Atlanta player of management…..will be the first in their history.
These reporters would make fluffers in the adult film industry look like amateurs, with how “hard” they work to “please” the likes of The Dipper and Booby Cox during interviews.
Jeff Schultz
March 30th, 2011
6:24 pm
Foghorn Leghorn — “The sports reporting that goes on in Atlanta, would never fly in a real sports town like New York, Chicago or Boston.” … Clearly you don’t know anything about me or my career. You’re just pouting because I’ve taken positions different from you regarding Chipper Jones and Bobby Cox. But I’ll stop because there’s an old saying I’m fond of: “Never try to match wits with an unarmed man.”
idot
March 30th, 2011
6:34 pm
Foghorn Leghorn@5:18………..Another stupid comment from you. Hitting .300, hitting HRs and producing RBIs is a hot streak.
idot
March 30th, 2011
6:36 pm
Now, I have nothing further to say to you. Arguing with an imbecile is futile.
Foghorn Leghorn
March 30th, 2011
7:20 pm
idot…….if you hit .300 with with a few homers and RBIs during a 20 game streak….yet overall have an average of .265 with 10 homers and 46 RBIs in 95 total games…..then it stands to reason that the other 70 games The Dipper played in pretty much SUCKKED!
Jeff Schultz……My problem with you isnt that you “disagreed” with me. It’s the fact that you havent been the least bit objective when it comes to questioning the wisdom of having a 39 year old coming off two injury filled, unproductive seasons…..hitting 3rd in the line-up.
Isnt your job as a journalist to question the manager (Fredo) into justifying that decision? Or question the player (The Dipper) on why he should bat 3rd given the past 2 seasons?
Instead, you are no different than your comrade David O’Brainless One when it comes to writing one fluff piece after another on The Dipper.
Jeff Schultz
March 30th, 2011
7:28 pm
Foghorn Leghorn — Do your homework about what I’ve asked and what I’ve written. Then get back to me.
Foghorn Leghorn
March 30th, 2011
7:32 pm
Jeff Schultz……….How about you (or anyone on this blog who claims to know anything about baseball)….show me who, in the HISTORY OF MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL….has ever come back from 2 injury filled, unproductive seasons at the ages of 37 and 38 years old…..to have the kind of season at 39 years old that many of you EXPECT and HOPE that The Dipper will have in 2011.
Just one? That’s all I’m asking for. Show me that I dont know what I’m talking about. Show me that what you guys are basing your expectations and hopes on has precedent…..show me that I’m blind when it comes to this “precedent”.
Ok? If I really “dont know what I’m talking about”…if I indeed have some sort of “grudge or hatred” towards The Dipper that defies “logic”…then you guys should have no problem with refuting me and showing me that what you are expecting and hoping for…..isnt out of the “ordinary”.
Foghorn Leghorn
March 30th, 2011
8:25 pm
Enter your comments here
Foghorn Leghorn
March 30th, 2011
11:17 pm
Looks like when you challenge those to prove their point…they get all quiet and disappear.
joey
March 31st, 2011
1:11 am
You were probably saying the same thing last year when the Braves had a 7 game lead. You just glossed over the Braves issues.
Potential for bad defense with Chipper, Uggla and McClouth. Potential for late season fatigue from Kimbrel & Venters. Who knows how Kimbrel will even handle the pressure of closing.
Beachy is a rookie who knows he will perform and even if he does good early he probably hit the wall in August unlike the Phillies staff that just gets stronger as the season goes on. Oswalt is 68-17 in his career after July 1st.
Will an aging Lowe duplicate his success from last season or regress? Will Chipper stay healthy? Will Freeman struggle as a rookie?
Coach13
March 31st, 2011
11:44 am
Some people in here just don’t know baseball.
The headline says “May be the best” not “will be, mark it down, for sure, etc.” The potential for the Braves to be the best in the East is certainly there.
Comparing Hewyard and Frenchy is apples and oranges. Heyward is 5 tool player that has shown discipline at the plate (take a walk) and actually has what you would call a “swing”.
McClouth has been a serviceable OF during the majority of his career. The same people that don’t want to be excited about Heyward for having 1 good year want to hang “McOut” for having one bad year.
Chipper is most likely not a 3 hole hitter anymore but who else would you put there?
The pitching staff if healthy can hang with anyone in Major League Baseball and is handled by a perennial ALl- Star behind the plate.
Some of you need to look around and realize that the Braves match up with anyone in the National League top to bottom
Coach13
March 31st, 2011
11:50 am
Let’s not forget that Freeman has been pretty successful at every level of the minors and by all means has earned a shot at being the everyday 1b. Gonzo is an adequate player with power and I think most teams would take a 7 hole hitter hitting 20-25 HR.
This team did just fine last year and needed 1 more bat in the lineup and they addressed that need.
This isn’t Xbox baseball people. They can’t go get whoever they want at every position and build a dream team.
braves fans are fake
March 31st, 2011
10:16 pm
since all of the braves season ticket holders posted on this blog i’d thought i’d share my thoughts. there is a 0% chance the braves win the division or win 95 games. the phillies lineup is better than the braves lineup even if the phillies don’t have howard, utley, and rollins as last year they proved it. the phillies get injured they run away with the division. the braves get injured and can’t score 1 run.
Phillies, Class of the NL
April 3rd, 2011
3:06 pm
hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!