Off to spring training, and I’ll take your Braves’ questions
You can only find this scene at spring training in Florida. (Jason Getz/AJC)
We start with an affirmation that even one of the most corrupt individuals in American history had at least one good (legal) idea.
William “Boss” Tweed, best known for orchestrating the Tammany Hall scandal — an estimated $200 million swindle, and this was back when $200 million got you more than Prince Fielder — also owned an amateur baseball team, the New York Mutuals. In the spring of 1869, Tweed had the idea to move the Mutuals to a warmer climate than Brooklyn. So the team loaded a train and headed south to New Orleans to play a series of exhibition games against the hometown Pelicans.
The seed for one of pro sports’ greatest traditions was planted.
It’s true that baseball’s spring training has lost some of its charm in recent years, some of its uniqueness. The stadiums are closer to the downsized palaces of the majors than they are to the upsized softball fields of the neighborhood park. Ticket prices have increased. Major league teams have made permanent homes in the two spring training states of Florida (Miami, Tampa) and Arizona (Phoenix), dulling the once-romantic notion of an entire sports league traveling to sunny remote outposts to practice. But it’s still cool.
My son wasn’t a huge baseball fan when he was young. But I surprised him one day when he was in the second grade by picking him up from school and heading to Florida. I wanted to visit different stadiums. He wanted to visit the beach. We reached common ground. We were both right.
For a Braves’ fan, going to Florida isn’t just about seeing if Jason Heyward has fixed his swing. It’s knowing you can get a little closer to the players at a time when they aren’t burdened by the stress of a playoff race. It’s knowing that if you’re at the Braves’ spring training facility in Lake Buena Vista, you can drive anywhere from 20 minutes to a few hours to watch any of 14 other teams — Houston (Kissimmee), Detroit (Lakeland), Washington (Viera), Toronto (Dunedin), the New York Mets (Port St. Lucie), the Yankees (Tampa), Boston (Fort Myers), Baltimore (Sarasota), Florida (Jupiter), Minnesota (Fort Myers), Philadelphia (Clearwater), Pittsburgh (Bradenton), Tampa Bay (Port Charlotte), St. Louis (Jupiter).
Visiting spring training should be on everybody’s bucket list. Not every fan’s. Everybody, period.
OK. I’m done waxing.
I leave for Braves’ camp Friday morning, just in time for the first full-squad workout on Saturday. I would’ve left earlier, but I had no idea that Tommy “Crash” Hanson was going to get squirrely in the turn (NASCAR term), bang his head, get a concussion and add a little bit of drama to pitchers-and-catchers reporting. (I’m driving, by the way, and it’s my plan to make it to the first workout without an incident.)
I’ll have new columns daily from my week in Orlando, the first posting on Saturday (Sunday’s newspaper) on whether we should expect better results this season from largely the same team.
If you’ve got anything you would like to read about, I’m always open to ideas. If you’ve got specific questions you would like asked, let me know. If I get enough of them, I’ll throw them together for a blog during the week.
That’s it for now. Just list your questions below and I’ll check back soon.
By Jeff Schultz
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119 comments Add your comment
Vinny
February 23rd, 2012
4:47 pm
1st?
Hankie Aron
February 23rd, 2012
4:56 pm
Schultzie- What are they expecting or hoping to get offensively from Tyler Pastornicky?…. Thanks from the hank, Hankie Aaron.
George Stein
February 23rd, 2012
4:56 pm
Will Fredi get over his obsession with bunting and other small-ball tactics? Also, will he use his closer in tie games in the 9th inning on the road this year?
stevie zero
February 23rd, 2012
4:56 pm
hey jeff, any info on chipper’s knees, overall health, and what he’s feeling he can contribute coming into spring?
THE MAJOR
February 23rd, 2012
4:57 pm
Dang Second……
Vinny
February 23rd, 2012
5:00 pm
Why is the Braves’s highest paid player so fat?
Vinny
February 23rd, 2012
5:02 pm
Why did Frank Wren trade for Dan Uggla when the team already had TWO All-Star second basemen on the team?
Vinny
February 23rd, 2012
5:03 pm
Why do the Braves have eleventeen starting pitchers and zero shortstops?
George Stein
February 23rd, 2012
5:03 pm
Your first comment made laugh, Vinny. Let’s be real, though. Infante should never have been an All-Star.
Bob Gard
February 23rd, 2012
5:04 pm
What are your predictions for the World Series match up and the playoffs leading up to the WS
Steve
February 23rd, 2012
5:04 pm
Jeff, will you be retiring soon so that I can take your place? Would love to be headed down to Braves spring training!
Vinny
February 23rd, 2012
5:04 pm
Why does a millionaire have tires on his car that are susceptible to blowouts?
john
February 23rd, 2012
5:10 pm
Hey Jeff – You should ask Fredi if he plans on Heyward playing against Lefties and Righties this year. Supposedly Johan is scheduled to start the season opener. Imagine the shot to Heywards confidence if Diaz starts over Heyward. I’m sure Fredi will say he doesn’t know yet…
Eli Marrero
February 23rd, 2012
5:11 pm
If the Braves RF and left fielder bounce back, and if the highest paid player can start 120 games and if the 1,2,3 starters come back from injuries… WE CAN GET THE WILDCARD! YEAH!!!!
Yunel Asscobar
February 23rd, 2012
5:17 pm
Could we trade Fredi Gonzalez to an American League team who needs a DM – designated manager? They could use him as a back up when the real manager needs time away, becomes ill, is suffering from a hangover, etc., etc. This would free up vital roster space for the Braves to acquire a manager who understands the game, knows how to make the necessary changes on a team that is floundering, and doesn’t appear totally clueless in the dugout.
Herschel Talker
February 23rd, 2012
5:23 pm
Schultzie:
Please find out when they’re planning on firing Fredi Gonzalez. Many thanks for your hard work.
HT
Steve
February 23rd, 2012
5:27 pm
True question to the bloggers, why do you all hate Fredi so much? First, he had the pressure of replacing Bobby. Second, it was not his fault so many players were hurt or had bad seasons (Heyward and Uggla). Third, he still won 89 games in his first year with Atlanta and just missed the playoffs. Last time I checked, he is not the one out there pitching and batting. Yes, he may have used the bullpen a little too much but what do you expect after 26 extra inning games? Finally, if your wish came true and they fired Fredi tomorrow, who would you want in there that is available?
Richard
February 23rd, 2012
5:30 pm
Can we stop blaming Fredi for the collapse. It’s tough to win games when your rotation looks like this: Hudson, Lowe, Beachy, Minor, Delgado. 3 of those dudes were rookies. Plus, someone had to hit at some point to win a game. Last I checked, a manager can’t swing a bat or throw a pitch.
Herschel Talker
February 23rd, 2012
5:32 pm
Steve:
I would take pretty much anyone over that fool Fredi.
HT
Whopper Dawg
February 23rd, 2012
5:36 pm
Jeff,
Please ask about the health of the staff with the stalwarts coming off injury and surgeries.
Thanks,
Whopper
MatthewH
February 23rd, 2012
5:41 pm
Please make sure you do a Digi-Blog. I always enjoy those. Found your one from last year and the “We Bare All” sign. hmmmmmm
Ace
February 23rd, 2012
5:49 pm
Is anyone else a bit skeptical about the blown tire? Was Tommy texting while driving or nodding off (not used to being up that early)?
extremus
February 23rd, 2012
6:15 pm
I do have to admit it looks like Chipper has put on some serious weight in all the wrong places since September. I hope he’s able to work throughit, take off the extra pounds, and contribute while staying healthy…and that’s a lot of extra questions that a team already going into camp with so many doesn’t need.
So, Mr. Schultz,
1) From what you can see is Chipper physically ready or not?
2) We know the new hitting coaches (and Chipper) have been working with Heyward during the offseason, which is great. A) Is Heyward indeedlooking better? B) What about Uggla, Prado, and McCann, whose numbers all also fell off substantially last year (albeit after injuries to Prado and McCann primarily)?
3) Do you get the sense that Hanson will have no lingering effects from the concussion, or could this be one of those things that really derails a season for him?
4) Will O’Flaherty, Venters, and Kimbrel be scaled back on their appearances this year to save their arms for the pennant race/playoffs?
5) How do you feel about Freddie Freeman’s chances of avoiding a “sophomore drop-off”?
6) A lot of “experts” suggest that Tyler Pastornicky is NOT ready for the Major League level just yet, and perhaps never as an everyday starter at his position (doesn’t that fill you with confidence going in, by the way?). What’s the Braves’ “backup plan” if he falters?
You obviously don’t have to answer ALL these in one swoop, but please feel free to pick any that you’d like to address. Thanks!
George Stein
February 23rd, 2012
6:22 pm
It’s even more difficult to win when you’re bunting all the time, setting foolish lineups, diminishing the value of plate discipline, and abusing your bullpen, Richard.
msbrave
February 23rd, 2012
6:41 pm
Given Jason Heyward’s balky, oft injured shoulders, has the medical staff told him to minimize the headfirst slide, which orthopedic surgeons have told me heightens the chances of a shoulder injury? That is a Q that needs asking and a seed that needs planting. KeepJjason healthy, please!
DetroitBraves
February 23rd, 2012
6:50 pm
Will Fredi still fall all over himself to get his hitters that make the most outs to the top of the lineup so they also get the most at-bats (therefore making even more outs!!!)?
DetroitBraves
February 23rd, 2012
6:51 pm
Does Fredi intend to go to another SABR conference but hold his hands over his ears while yelling “I can’t hear you!!”?
Bill
February 23rd, 2012
6:52 pm
Glad you going Jeff. Looking forward to all your reports..Have fun.
DetroitBraves
February 23rd, 2012
6:52 pm
A question you may be more willing to ask, for the long-term do the Braves see Vizcaino as a starter or reliever?
DetroitBraves
February 23rd, 2012
6:55 pm
Richard, it’s not that the Braves don’t have other problems. They do. But Fredi is an obvious one, and one that can be corrected without touching the roster. Not doing so just because there are other problems is like saying “you might as well go ahead and punch me in the face since I’m already getting kicked in the groin.” Why would anyone do that?
Bill P
February 23rd, 2012
7:00 pm
Driving down tomorrow, and we have to wait until Sunday to see if we’ll win the pennant this year? You’ll need to watch the ENTIRE practice to tell! Slacker.
Sonny Clusters
February 23rd, 2012
7:12 pm
Do you like seafood as much as us and do you have a favorite seafood restaurant? Apparently Chipper has been eating extra hush puppies and washing ‘em down with milkshakes. Since DOP or whatever his name is took the offending photo of Chipper does that mean you will be the lead interviewer this spring whenever the ajc brings us Chipper’s insightful cliche riddled comments? Did Chipper catch anything during his fishing trip other than a red neck from too much sun? How many players are going to the Daytona 500 and how many are going to work on a little baseball this weekend? Do you think Dan Uggla has a future in the film industry and, if so, do you think he will play himself in the movies? If everybody has put the EPIC Collapse behind them what happens if they look back? And here’s one for Fredi . . . you said all your coaches would return and Parrish got fired the next day. You said Delgado or Tehran would go to the bullpen and the next day it was reported that would not happen. We was wondering if you are managing the team or not? And as a follow up . . . How much cap tipping is too much?
P-Man
February 23rd, 2012
7:18 pm
Can you find out when the Braves are going to get some real fans, instead of all these whiny-hinies on this board?
Seriously, I’m just excited baseball is in the air. I really miss the days when my kids were playing Little League. Sigh…
Trapper John
February 23rd, 2012
7:30 pm
Here, Jeff, in a nut shell is my question from a huge majority of die hard Brave fans. Why is Fredi Gonzales managing the Braves — if not for the “good ‘ole boy” reason? He is not a Major League caliber manager. He has never proved himself to be a Major League caliber manager on any team, anywhere.He will never, in the future, for this, or any other team — ever be a proven Major League manager — for the simple reason that after this season — he will not be the Brave’s manager after the Braves do not the playoffs at all this year! In the mean time, we are a slowly sinking baseball club on a downhill slide and all I can say to that is: “Well, you know…”
FL Jacket
February 23rd, 2012
7:32 pm
Jeff, are you and Bradley going to lay off the Braves for standing pat this offseason when it was pretty clear that slumps and injuries are what held them back?
A Father
February 23rd, 2012
7:33 pm
Question: Why did the ajc take down the story about our pitcher that had a wreck while reaching down on the car floor board to pick of the JOINT he dropped while driving. Come on guys, tell the truth to the fans.
"Chef" Tim Dix
February 23rd, 2012
7:40 pm
How much to keep Brian considering an AL team could give him the moon and stars?
Trapper John
February 23rd, 2012
7:48 pm
Question: “What do you think the Braves’ regular season record will be in 2012″. I predict 78 – 84. 3rd or 4th place finish in the division. Hope I am wrong. As a Chipper fan, I’d like to see him win MVP in the 2012 World Series, but know it could never happen. Winning it all in his rookie season will have to suffice. GO BRAVES!!
Dave
February 23rd, 2012
8:09 pm
Could you explain how the AJC actually covers the Braves among your staff. I’ve never quite understood you, the other opinion people, DOB and Carroll. Who does what and when? Thanks, assuming you answer.
FL Jacket
February 23rd, 2012
8:22 pm
Dave, it’s really quite simple…
DOB holds the mic under Fredi’s and the players mouths and reminds us that baseball athletes might be the dumbest of the lot. He then recaps the games and posts the quotes, and maybe is the only one that gives us interesting nuggets and rumors.
Bowman gives us pre-mature and erroneous trade news because someone tweeted to him that Zeke Spruill missed a start in High A Lynchburg.
Shultz and Bowman wait for something newsworthy to happen and then comment after it happens, makes irrelevant lists, and generally clog the blogosphere with the usual “afflict the comfortable, comfort the afflicted” type journalism we all love.
Yawn!!!
February 23rd, 2012
9:08 pm
After last season’s end of year debacle…..I have to admit I have no stomach to get excited about the Braves this year.
They’re like the Falcons and Dawgs, early season optimism followed by end of year swoons.
I’m no sucker, don’t care no more and ain’t gonna get suckered again. I’m keeping my precious dollars and saving for the beach instead……have fun Jeff. If I were you, I’d listen to your kid and hit the beach too!!
Yawn!!!
February 23rd, 2012
9:10 pm
Kudos, Sunny Clusters……your above rant was epic!!!
MattyB
February 23rd, 2012
9:39 pm
Jeff, I’d like to know of Fredi G. feels less pressure to be like No. 6 now that it’s no longer a transition year and will he inject more of his own style into managing this year’s team. I felt like last year he was trying to toe the line between his way and the old way. Looking forward to your reports!
bulldogbubba
February 23rd, 2012
9:48 pm
Will they use the Henry Grady statue @ 3rd if Chipper can’t go.I know Sonny I stole one of your questions.Thanks!
Felix
February 23rd, 2012
10:22 pm
When it comes to this bunch of chokers; I’m from Missouri…………talk is cheap. Now show me.
Dr. Phil
February 23rd, 2012
10:30 pm
I have gone to tbe Braves camp every spring for the last 10 years. I even saw the Braves at West Palm in the late 60’s and a few times in the early 90’s. Players would walk from the practice field to the stadium and chat with fans, if they were so inclined, which they usually were in the pre Chipper Jones days. One of my great baseball memories was talking to Felipe Alou. Disney is an awful place, and I try to avoid it. We have gone to several games at the Houston facility in Kissimmee, which is more like the old grapefruit-league. The Phillies stadium in Clearwater is not like Houston, but better than Disney. Both Houston and Clearwater have excellent fans, many of whom are retired and just appreciate good baseball. I did see the Braves and Yankees at Tampa last year. That was similar to a major-league park but comfortable just the same. Spring baseball is a great experience, when everybody is hopeful. I don’t think I will go this year because of last year’s lollygagging goat rope. I am just not that hopeful.
Felix
February 23rd, 2012
10:31 pm
My question is about the “letter”. Does Jeff think J.S. followed through on it?
Most Braves fans I know were hopeful after the letter; but now are very disappointed with the inaction and minimal steps taken to improve the Braves chances to compete for a WS….. especially the fact nothing was done to beef up the offense (except for a new hitting coach and more batting lessons for Jason).
tyler
February 23rd, 2012
11:07 pm
will u ask chipper if the lead singer of Rascal Flats has hairy nipples? Thanks….
The majority
February 24th, 2012
12:51 am
Jeff, I predict that the braves will go 12-150 this year and probably finish last in the NL East. I mean a team that won 89 games last year and came within one game of making the playoffs has no chance of survival in this league. We suck. Doesn’t matter that our entire offense had a dismal year, our bullpen imploded in September, D Lowe couldn’t buy a win and we still won 89 freakin games, we have no chance. You can tell everything you need to about a manager after one year and Freddy needs to be fired no doubt about it.Every great manager wins in year one.
ajc sucks
February 24th, 2012
6:33 am
“burdened by the stress of a playoff race”..yeah almost as bad as a normal person’s life, death in the family, cancer, those poor pampered babies with 200 million in their bank account. how do they cope?
AtlantaDude
February 24th, 2012
6:46 am
Jeff –
Any chance that Fredi will change his approach to relief pitching? Maybe he should go back to how they did it 30 years ago, where you bring them in when trouble starts, rather than for some pre-assigned 8th or 9th inning. Let O’Flaherty, Moylan or whoever pitch the 7th and into the 8th (or maybe even the 9th) until they the get in trouble. Then choose either Venters or Kimbrell, based on who the next batter(s) are. That way you don’t burn them out pitching every 8th and 9th inning of the whole season.
Nativebird
February 24th, 2012
7:34 am
There’s only one real serious question that counts with this franchise: when will the Braves get an owner that truly has the singular goal each season of the only goal there is in baseball….a world series championship.?
Larry
February 24th, 2012
7:53 am
What is the betting lines on:
1. Fruiti returing as manager after the All Star Break? After the season?
2. Chipper Jones over and under of 5 injuries?
3. A person with a college degree making the 40 man roster? Coach or Manager?
bali
February 24th, 2012
8:20 am
i hope u will have a really interesting digiblog degiblog ablog with pictures again….my question…. of all the braves who would u select to be your personal driver for a day…..have fun in the sunshine state
blazerdawg
February 24th, 2012
8:33 am
On the way down, make certain to stop at Zaccadoos drive through on Baytree Rd, just off I-75 in Valdosta. Best chili dog anywhere, and pretty good chicken.
DetroitBraves
February 24th, 2012
8:48 am
@AtlantaDude, you are 100% right that the Braves should use their best relievers to get through the toughest situations. But you know, no team really does that. Some are more flexible than others (the Braves being particularly inflexible) but every team has some kind of predefined roles. I would settle for the Braves just not piling up the innings for O’Flaherty, Venters and Kimbrel in games they are probably going to win anyway. But yeah, I am definitely in agreement with you.
D-bo
February 24th, 2012
9:28 am
It was reported that uggla put on all this muscle
Over the offseason. From what I’ve seen, javy lopez
Comes to mind, whenever someone puts on all
That muscle, their hitting is terrible. Any thoughts?
Joey
February 24th, 2012
9:34 am
“…burdened by the stress of a playoff race…”
*****************************************
Holy Cow! So, the Braves would rather has the bliss of a 4th place finish?
Sadly enough, some deer hunters on this team probably would . . .
Joey
February 24th, 2012
9:36 am
D-bo, maybe Uggla got those muscles from those “workouts” with Bibi?
Larry
February 24th, 2012
9:46 am
Yankees sign Raul Ibanez for $1.1 million. Left fielder who drove in 84 runs last year. After saying all winter they wanted an offensive upgrade in left field, why did the Braves pass on him.
George Stein
February 24th, 2012
9:49 am
I agree, DetroitBraves & AtlantaDude. The bullpen management was horrible last year by many teams, but especially the Braves. I’ll never understand why managers can’t just use their best relievers in the highest leverage situations, irrespective of inning. For example, if we’re playing Philadelphia and Utley, Victorino, Howard are coming up in the 9th inning in a one run game, it might make more sense to use Venters rather than Kimbrell in those situations. Fredi would rather run out Kimbrell, though, because he has to manage to the save metric.
George Stein
February 24th, 2012
9:52 am
Uh, because Ibanez can’t hit against lefties, had a .289 OBP, and is one of the worst fielding outfielders in the game, Larry. Also, RBI is a horrible metric by which to judge performance.
Sonny Clusters
February 24th, 2012
10:00 am
We thought of a few more questions . . . has anybody worked with Heyward on going back for a ball in the field like they have with his non-hitting? Is there a pretty good chance Chipper will have some toenail issues like he did a couple spring trainings ago? We remember when he had those painful ingrown toenails awhile back. That could be from wearing hunting boots all the time. Here’s one for Chipper . . . how many Mizuno logos will you be wearing at each at-bat this season? Is that up or down from last year? Who’s your daddy and what does he do? Will you be wearing more eye black this year after losing that high-hopper in the lights last year and costing the team a win and eventually missing the wild card by one game as a result? Does your deer tattoo look exactly like Adam LaRoche’s deer tattoo and did you two go in together to get them done? Will you be slinging the deerskin this year like we heard rumored or will you go with a more conventional glove? Does it matter?
Hillbilly D
February 24th, 2012
10:40 am
A person with a college degree making the 40 man roster?
Does it matter?
JoeFan
February 24th, 2012
11:05 am
Under current Braves ownership do you believe that the Braves will ever spend big to retain or obtain players or will they be content to growth players internally, trading or losing them to free agency as they expensive ? Given their track record of throwing millions at acquistions that didn’t produce, I can see why they would opt for the latter.
Sonny Clusters
February 24th, 2012
11:46 am
We was reading how painful Chipper’s sunburn is and how he winces when he puts on his shirt and swings the bat and we got to thinking . . . she really is a wus, isn’t she? If we was trying to remember all the reasons he sat out with little hurts and also for Lincecum and Halladay and a few others we might think Chipper is a big sissy with deer tattoos to make him look tough. Ask him if he was a mama’s boy growing up and if he has little feet sewed into his pajamas. This team needs a real leader and Chipper and Fredi looks to be what it’s got. Look for them to miss another wild card championship if something doesn’t change.
PMC
February 24th, 2012
12:33 pm
Will the temperature of the beer at Turner Field this year be cold as advertised or luke warm as usual?
Ryan
February 24th, 2012
12:36 pm
Jeff,
Can you ask John Schuerholz himself about the following statement that he made, released to fans in an open letter shortly after the Sept. collapse, and if he feels that his orgainization has “repaired its weaknesses?” Thanks.
From John Schuerholz, Oct. 6:
“However, our performance in the month of September was unacceptable to all in the organization, and we will evaluate and analyze our missteps to do all we can to prevent this from happening again. Our General Manager, Frank Wren, and his staff have already begun to evaluate our team and will be focusing throughout the off-season on building upon the strengths of this team and repairing our weaknesses to achieve our goal.”
Sonny Clusters
February 24th, 2012
12:44 pm
If we was the manager we’d never admit that Pastornicky might not have known he could report early and get some work in. We’d just tip our cap and be quiet.
GermanBravesFan
February 24th, 2012
1:12 pm
Sonny Clusters: you crack me up, dude! Here’s a good German beer to you!! We thinks you might like it…
Leon "Pooch-Kick" Trotsky
February 24th, 2012
1:43 pm
Jeff, you lucky, lucky dog! Have a great time at Islands of Adventure… err, I mean Spring Training.
LawDawg
February 24th, 2012
1:51 pm
If Heyward reaches his potential, we should be much improved even standing pat. It is hard to believe we will have as many injuries, that Uggla will start out so horribly, or that everyone on the team will hit prolonged slumps at the same time.
Last year was a nightmare of misfortunes, and the Braves still missed the playoffs by only one game. I, for one, am pretty confident about the team and I think the acquisitions made by the Marlins are overrated and the Nationals are definitely a year or two away from being a threat. The Mets may be the worst tea in the league.
Color me optimistic, I guess.
Jack in Macon
February 24th, 2012
2:05 pm
Jeff let me preface my question by first communicating my belief that Prado’s does not seem to attack the ball in the number 2 hole. I just don’t think that is the best place for him in the batting order. He often seems to slap at the pitch when Bourn is on first. So my question is; if Pastronicky shows by the all-star break that he is making good contact and not intimidated at the plate, please ask Fredi if he would consider moving up to the two slot giving us a lot of speed at the top of the lineup?
Stinger2
February 24th, 2012
2:05 pm
Notwithstanding his preceived wit by some on these blogs, Clusters act is beginning to become annoying to some Braves fans. His constant negative rantings about Chipper,Freddie and the team in general are sickening.
Go root for the Mets if you dont like the Braves Sonny Boy.
Chipper = Fat
February 24th, 2012
2:09 pm
How many times did Chipper visit an all you can eat buffet this off season? How many games to you think that he will miss due to injury? Which Brave is most likely to hit under .230 this season? Is there a ratio that corresponds to Uggla’s bicep size and an increased number of strikeouts? Why haven’t the Braves addressed any glaring holes in their roster at several positions? How many times a day does Freddi pray that he will still be employed by the all star break? Will Braves fans pay to come to Turner field to watch a sub-par product that will be lucky to win 70 games?
Chipper = Biggest Loser
February 24th, 2012
2:11 pm
How many cases of Moon Pie’s and gallons of Mountain Dew did Chipper consume this off season?
"Boss" Tweed
February 24th, 2012
2:13 pm
I wouldn’t pay a nickle for Chipper Jones or that sorry Manager Freddi Gonzalez. In my day I woulda sent them out of town on a rail, never to be seen again
Sonny Clusters
February 24th, 2012
2:16 pm
Stinger2, fans don’t have to be cheerleaders. You must be one of those “real fans” or maybe you are a “true fan”. It doesn’t matter much which you are. You go on and say “golly, gee whillikers” when you talk about them and we will just express our opinion on here like you do yours (or whoever thinks for you). Have a nice day and if you want us to root for the Mets you should know that a friend of ours played for them awhile back and we rooted for him just a little bit. We was thinking you might be challenged or in a special school so we hope we didn’t hurt your feelings.
Sonny Clusters
February 24th, 2012
2:24 pm
Chipper says he’s not fat nd that’s good enough for us. We don’t want to see him with his shirt off so he has nothing to prove to us. Some people get a little tender when we criticize Chipper but you have to remember that this season he’s going to shape those chin whiskers into a Mizzuno logo and anybody that would do that opens himself up for criticism. When we was little and playing ball at a championship level we would sometimes run into fans like Stinger2 and they would be wanting us to sign something for them and wanting us to date their daughters. True fans like that are sickening and they’re annoying to some fans and they should change teams.
DetroitBraves
February 24th, 2012
2:28 pm
@George Stein, have you seen the Fredi Gonzalez bullpen flowchart? Hopefully the link works.
http://i51.tinypic.com/wrb9jc.png
Ted M
February 24th, 2012
2:31 pm
Jeff – How out of shape does Chipper Jones look to you? He looked terribly out of shape to all of us.
Larry
February 24th, 2012
2:41 pm
My eternal gratitude to George Stein for the 411 on Raul Ibanez. 84 RBI’s – guys a bum! Enjoy another year with the dynamic 2nd rate duo of Prado/Diaz. The object is to score runs. Oh, and the question was for Jeff, you idiot.
DetroitBraves
February 24th, 2012
2:47 pm
While I happen to think Chipper has been a very good player, and is still a positive contributor on offense (at least he’s not allergic to walks like most of the Braves), I understand where Clusters is coming from, and I definitely appreciate their wit. As for Fredi, Clusters is spot on. He is amongst the worst managers currently employed. I don’t see why the Braves tolerate him and I certainly don’t see why we should cheer his incompetence. In fact, many real fans just want to see the club win so we feel we have the right to demand better.
DetroitBraves
February 24th, 2012
2:52 pm
@Larry, George Stein is correct on Ibanez. RBI are about as useless as you can get in evaluating hitter skill. Ibanez hit .245/.289/.419 in a hitter’s ballpark. He was an ungodly negative defender, a negative baserunner, and a below replacement level player. However, I’m willing to listen to why you think this type of player would make the Braves better. And I promise that no matter your argument I will not resort to calling you an idiot.
DetroitBraves
February 24th, 2012
2:58 pm
DOB, I appreciate you answering my question on Gilmartin, but the Braves are comparing him to Glavine? Seriously? Didn’t Glavine grade at plus-plus for both his change and his command? Or maybe the comparison ends at being able to repeat his delivery. Obviously there is value there, again with command but also in projecting long-term health. If the comparison goes beyond repeating the delivery that’s got to just be considered spin given they took a marginal prospect with a first round pick due to the low ticket price involved.
George Stein
February 24th, 2012
3:08 pm
That made me laugh, Detroit. I might print that out so I can follow along during games this summer.
TONY THE TIGER.......
February 24th, 2012
3:11 pm
Are all the Orlando chicks still in the $300 range ?????
George Stein
February 24th, 2012
3:13 pm
You didn’t address your question to anybody, Larry.
I did get a pretty good laugh out of someone that thinks RBI are a useful metric in evaluating player performance calling me an idiot, though. The irony is pretty good.
George Stein
February 24th, 2012
3:20 pm
One other thing, Larry. You are mostly correct that the object is to score runs; the other part is preventing them. Ibanez would have done nothing to contribute to either objective and likely would have put the team even further away from accomplishing the goals.
Felix
February 24th, 2012
3:25 pm
Jeff: You asked for questions…so where are your answers?
cowdogit
February 24th, 2012
3:42 pm
HEY JEFF” Any truth to the rumor,s that the GREAT WHITE HUNTER is going to have a bunny shoot at Turner Field this year ?
taylor
February 24th, 2012
3:51 pm
Jeff, ask Fredi why Medlen isn’t being considered for the last rotation spot?
Patrick
February 24th, 2012
3:56 pm
Jeff:
Here’s my question:
Are you going to answer any of the questions that you asked people to ask you so that you can answer them back?
A Father
February 24th, 2012
4:37 pm
Jeff: do you let T. Hanson drive while getting high???????
Sonny Clusters
February 24th, 2012
6:35 pm
We was wondering if you would ask Fredi what did he know and when did he know it? We aren’t sure he ever knew or knew he didn’t know but that’s just us.
SeATLite
February 24th, 2012
6:53 pm
Jeff, you might also have mentioned that the Braves got their team name from being owned at the time by a member of Boss Tweed’s Boston contingent (the Tammany Hall minions were often referred to as “braves” to Tweed’s chief).
History FTW!
mikeb
February 24th, 2012
8:44 pm
The Braves 2012 Broadcast Schedule posted on braves.com:schedule
shows only 8 of 162 games are scheduled to be telivised on FOX TV this year. I saw that WPCH was dropped from DISH recently because they wanted a huge increase to televise braves games in 2012.
What is the latest story ?
I’m not going to pay $ 100+ to see them on MLB TV network.
blazerdawg
February 24th, 2012
9:01 pm
Happy Birthday, The Atlanta Journal!
Stinger2
February 25th, 2012
7:16 am
George Stein: Why do you think RBI`s are not a useful or important stat in measuring player performance? Just Asking.
DetroitBraves
February 25th, 2012
9:55 am
I know I wasn’t asked but I don’t find RBI to be a useful metric either. I mean, if a #3 hitter hits .300/.400/.600 while the #1 and #2 hitters post a .400 OBP, given a decent sample size, it stands to reason that the #3 hitter will have more RBI than if the #1 and #2 hitters post a .300 OBP. However, the #3 hitter has the exact same skill set either way. He has no control over what the two hitters ahead of him do. Therefore, RBI are a context dependent stat. They can’t be used to evaluate the abilities of the #3 hitter.
DetroitBraves
February 25th, 2012
10:01 am
I should add that while holding everything else equal, it’s not unreasonable to expect the better hitter to have more RBI given that he will make less outs and likely have more extra base hits. This is probably where a lot of the confusion over the importance of RBI originates. However, since the extra RBI are a result of avoiding outs and gaining extra bases why not take the context out entirely and measure those things directly – for instance, gaining extra bases is easy enough to evaluate by slugging percentage, which is provided on the back of every baseball card, or isolated power if you’re interested in more advanced metrics.
Mr Pants
February 25th, 2012
10:47 am
I know he’s gone, but when should we expect Terrance Moore’s annual “The Braves don’t have enough black players and are therefore racist” article?
coach joe
February 25th, 2012
10:48 am
Why isn’t Medlan on the possible 4th 5th starters? He can pitch…
Ralph
February 25th, 2012
11:52 am
Jeff, when do you plan to answer all these questions???????????
Bill
February 25th, 2012
12:53 pm
Ok Jeff..1st full ST workout in 6 mins..waiting on your report. Thanks.
bulldogbubba
February 25th, 2012
1:59 pm
Jeff must have taken a horse and buggy to spring training.Has something to do with budget cuts maybe?
Mitchell
February 25th, 2012
2:10 pm
I’ll have new columns daily from my week in Orlando, the first posting on Saturday (Sunday’s newspaper) on whether we should expect better results this season from largely the same team.
Abso-freaking-lutely. Why would you even bother to ask that as if that’s a real question?
That’s why this team keeps finding ways to lose when the finish line is right in reach. Nobody in this town, either in print media or sports radio, thinks highly enough of it to care one way or the other.
The only demand ever put on the players by the manager is that they show up on time and after a decade spent as the best regular season team in the National League all the AJC, 680thefan and 790, etc. does is boast how the Braves had the fourth best record in the majors in the middle of August.
As if that means *&^% now.
If the Braves fail to reach the playoffs this year with these players, they never will again as long as Frank Wren and Fredi Gonzalez are in charge.
Part of me wants to say they should be fired but the fact is that would just be wasted breath.
The real question is why is Jeff Schultz (not to mention Mark Bradley) still employed by a legitimate news organization?
Oh, right. He’s (they’re) not.
Hillbilly D
February 25th, 2012
2:22 pm
The offensive stat that I like is runs produced, (Runs scored + RBIs) – HR’s. Run production is what it’s all about. The great players do both but for the average guy, you either need to be scoring runs or driving them in. If you can’t do either, you better be Ozzie Smith with the glove. And of course, Ozzie scored a lot of runs, as well.
DetroitBraves
February 25th, 2012
2:56 pm
Other than homeruns you only score runs when you are driven in, and you only drive them in when your teammates get on base. Context dependent stats. The same hitter will excel with this number in the Yankees lineup, but not so much with the A’s, and yet it is the same hitter. Position in the lineup will also dictate much of how many runs or RBI a player will accrue. If you avoid outs and gain extra bases you’ve done your part towards the run scoring side of the equation. In fact, subtracting homers removes the only part for which the individual is wholly responsible.
Felix
February 25th, 2012
3:48 pm
Well guys—let ask our questions of Dave. Maybe he’ll answer them.
Winter of George
February 25th, 2012
4:02 pm
It was fun to visit when spring training parks were about the size of a college baseball stadium today and prices were only a few bucks.
It was much more intimate and easier access to actually carry on a conversation with a player or get autographs. Even invited on field for pictures before game. Usually just a high school type, short, chained link fence with many openings like most city parks.
And get this….$1 hot dogs and beers….only a few years ago.
Nowadays, they’re spending millions on mini-major league park versions and charging major league prices for spring training tix.
They took the fun, enjoyment, and last bastion of humanizing the players as normal like the rest of us when they changed spring training to places like Disney.
Winter of George
February 25th, 2012
4:06 pm
Jeff, I’d like to know how “Georgie” Constanza is shaping up for this season.
We all loved his enthusiasm and effort off the bench last year.
Winter of George
February 25th, 2012
4:07 pm
Can’t wait to become Summer of George again!
Viva Los Bravos!!!!
February 25th, 2012
4:11 pm
Is English going to be the primary language on the team this year?
Hillbilly D
February 25th, 2012
4:22 pm
Detroit Braves
All stats are context dependent. The reason they subtract HR’s from the run produced stat, is so you don’t get double credit. For instance you don’t get credit for producing 2 runs, when you hit a solo homer, etc.
They're like dogs in heat now
February 25th, 2012
4:33 pm
Spring training is where all these dogs renew their old mistresses and add new ones. Till the family decides to visit for a short spring break vacation.
DetroitBraves
February 25th, 2012
8:59 pm
You can only produce 2 runs when a runner is on. The more often a runner is on the more likely the hitter is to produce 2 runs. That’s the context. How proficient your teammates are at getting on base. The hitter has no control of that. Therefore, RBI are not a good way to evaluate the hitter. If Albert Pujols were to bat third for the Yankees there is an extremely good chance he will drive in more runs than batting 8th for the Astros. Either way, he’s still Albert Pujols but there is your context.
Jeff Schultz
March 1st, 2012
11:12 pm
Sorry folks. I’m going to handle all of your questions in one blog in next few days. If you have any more, go ahead and post.
DetroitBraves
March 2nd, 2012
12:02 pm
Jeff, could you ask someone, Frank Wren presumably, if the Braves see Arodys Vizcaino as a reliever or starter in the long-term? Thanks.