Sad to say, this Braves’ season could be over very soon

I think by big move in the first week he meant move in the standings. Learn some reading comprehension before an idiotic post like that.

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Sad to say, I agree with you. I’ve said it before and it bears repeating – I do give Wren credit for getting a plan together and sticking with it. But I think it’s way too soon to judge whether signing Lowe, etc. was a good move for this team at this point in time.

Another thing that I’m wondering a lot about lately is: do the Braves really have a good grasp of the players in their system and what they are (and are not) capable of doing on the field? Every offensive player they counted on to step up their game this year has regressed instead.

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This team would have had a chance if Kelly Johnson & Francoeur had stepped up as hoped.
Instead they have both been miserable & thus no chance in 2009.

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Yes, Mark. We’re done. I think it’s time to start looking at what we can do now in order to be more competitive next year. I have to say, though, it breaks my heart.

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MB – love the new format, the non-stop blogging. And the content has been great. You’re dead on except that you’re late. They are already done. Just do the math. Stick a fork in ‘em. On to the next. Let’s go Falcons!

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Bobby should do the honorable thing and step down. All those years of success with the division winners will be forgotten if he is fired. The team no longer has any swagger or passion. Frenchy is such a mess at the plate, it’s tough to watch anymore. I keep hoping for a multi-game winning streak, but just don’t see it coming.

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The Braves lose, and aren’t even entertaining. I appreciate good pitching, but terrible, lifeless offense is hard to stomach for 9 innings almost every night.

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And as it’s already been proven, we can’t GIVE Frenchie away, much less trade him.

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the season was over before it started brotha

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I can’t see the Braves getting any better this season, and in looking forward to 2010, the outlook isn’t much better. Their best position players are two or more years away, and to get help in LF, RF, or 2B, they will have to either trade current pitchers like Soriano, Vasquez, or Gonzalez(players of value) or minor leaguers(mortgaging the future). Noone wants to write off the next two years, but the sad truth is that might be what will happen.

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i’ve given up and i love the braves.

LSU could beat them and maybe even georgia..

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My guess is that Bobby is going to finish the season but ikely will announce before season’s end that he is moving to the front office and someone such as Ned Yost will be replacing him. Well before the trade deadline the Braves will be sellers and hopefully will be receiving top level prospects in return. As a result 2010 will be better, with 2011 being a key year for returning to the top of the division. My crystal ball is partly cloudy otherwise.

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I think Frank Wren has made solid-to-dynamite moves (OK, I’d've liked a little more ballast in LF, even at the expense of one less starting pitcher) and at the end of the day, it’s all fallen completely flat, like a bad souffle’. Nobody has developed or improved or even been a pleasant surprise (CF, SS, 2B, 1B, LF, RF), which is what had to happen in conjunction with the existing solid spots and upgrades.

Very disappointing and frustrating to watch. Bottom line: This ain’t fun. I checked out on about August 1 last year, kinda looking like the same this year, though I do like the team better in theory.

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This is going to be another long, frustrating summer.

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One word sums up the problem with the Braves — KARMA… it’s payback for how they’ve treated certain icons recently…. it’s just a shame good players have to pay the price for the idiot management (but don’t we all in the working world).

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When a predominantly left-handed hitting lineup gets dominated by guys like Aaron Harang (nothing but fastballs), Jeff Suppan and Paul Maholm, the season is over on June 17.

No speed, no power, no plate discipline, no hitting with RISP, no bullpen throwing strikes, no coaching adjustments.

Tigers don’t change their stripes.

Game, set and match.

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Mark is right, the Braves are no more than an average team right now. There’s nothing shameful in that–this isn’t Lake Wobegon, most teams aren’t going to be above average–but it’s a hard thing to accept after all those years of dominance.

And why should we expect anything different? The Phillies are outspending us by $15 million and the Mets by $40 million. That means somewhere between one and three top-notch, league-leading players on your team. How can you expect to compete with that? I know money doesn’t dictate results, but it sure helps. You can’t be disappointed when a team performs about how their salary predicts they’ll perform.

The worst thing for the Braves was being sold to Liberty Media, an organization which is only interested in the short-term financial side, not in building a better team.

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This trend of the last four years is sapping the energy from fans. It seems as though there is no strategic game plan for this team. Plug a hole here and there with a veteran like GA or rent a player like MT, but ignore the basic problems.

Front office needs to put together a blue print and stick to it. Develop young talent. Have some balance between speed and power.

And, most importantly make a decision of how to transition Cox into a different role and prepare for a Chipper wind down in the next couple of years.

As for this season, look for a couple of bright spots in the lineup….NM and CK and BM and YE…as well as pitchers. In short, set reasonable expectations.

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Mark – my guess would be two essential points about Cox tomorrow.

1: That Cox has done a reasonably good job managing a flawed roster the last 3 years.

2: If the Braves fall out of contention, they should reassess who they are as an organization and where they are going …and how Cox fits in the mix going forward.

How’d I do?;)

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Now that the Braves season is over and I live in Baton Rouge, I wonder if I can get a prorated credit on the $9.99 MLB.COM app for my iPhone that I purchased to listen to the Braves games?

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One more thing — every team has a defining moment in a successful season. A few years ago, the Braves were down 7-0 in Baltimore, won 8-7 and went on to win the NL East. It was the defining spark for that season.

When Kawakami oudueled Halladay 1-0 a few weeks ago — that was the Braves’ moment. You all saw what happened after that series. The spark fizzled, gonzo.

Chipper doesn’t need to wind down. Chipper needs to go where he can win. Get something for him and anyone else who you can right now. Gut this thing. Too many teams to pass.

Braves will finish fourth with these guys, fourth without them. Truth hurts.

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Mark,

You’re going to say that Bobby Cox is not Oral Roberts and can’t heal the masses or even the Braves.

Bet you don’t say that Bobby seems to have lost his fire, his desire and his ability to motivate and he should retire.

Now THAT…. IS NOT what you are going to say tomorrow even if it’s true!

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As a life long Braves fan, I regretfully say that Braves management is not going all out to win this year. I’m not talking about potential trades or call ups from the minors. I’m referring to the refusal of Braves management to bench Jeff Francoeur. Over the past year and a half, I have become very frustrated with Francoeur’s inability to drive the ball and knock in runs when the game is tight.

Yesterday’s game was CLASSIC of the negative impact that Francoeur has on the Braves offense. 4th inning, runners 1st and 2nd and 2 outs, swings at first pitch and grounds out. 6th inning, bases loaded and 1 out, swings at ball 4 and grounds into a double play.

However, many of you Jeff Francoeur apologists will point out that weak a$$ infield single that he got in the 8th inning as evidence that he is coming around. Going 1-4 with an infield single is not what I call “carrying a team”.

If Braves management cared about trying to win TODAY, then they would start Matt Diaz in right field and either bench Francoeur or send him to Triple A. When I say “cared”, I’m not talking about “wanting” to see the Braves win. I’m talking about taking “action” to help the Braves win. Putting Francoeur in the line-up does not give the Braves the best chance to win, PERIOD.

The Braves’ offensive woes lie deeper than Jeff Francoeur. However benching him would be a START to addressing those woes. No team is going to trade for Francoeur PERIOD. He has ABSOLUTELY no trade value. Main reason (besides him sucking as a hitter) is the fact that will be in line for a significant bump in salary during salary arbitration after this year. Do you really think that any team out there is going to give up anything for a hitter who not only cant hit……….but also likely to command $6-7 mil in salary arbitration after this season?

The Braves only options are to either bench Francoeur and use him as a late inning defensive replacement……….or……..send him to Triple A.

Maybe I’ll hold out hope that the Braves will finally bench him when Omar Infante comes back. Then again, they’ll probably bench Kelly first and have Omar play second base.

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Good points made by all, first of all BC & TP have got to go. Anyone has any idea of a coach for this team. I have one idea-Joe Torre, if he would come back after what happened in the past, didn’t he leave on not so good terms.

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Mark,

I’m still waiting on either you or Shultz to call out Frank Wren on the carpet. He gets all the credit for fixing our pitching woes (and he has) but where is the AJC criticism over the failure that is the Braves lineup. Braves have “half a lineup” most nights. When the bottom part comes up with runners on, it takes a miracle to score any runs. Only way Braves are scoring runs is for 1-5 to knock them in right now. Wren left us with this OF situation. Where it the AJC calling out Frank Wren, the GM, the person responsible for having the likes of Anderson, Jeff F. in the corner OF positions?

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The Braves were done before this season started. How can you expect to win with deficient offense at 5 positions (first, second and all 3 outfield spots before the McLouth trade), no team speed and a low budget bench? Plus their only 2 outstanding hitters (Chipper and McCann) play about 130 games each.

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MB,
The organization is not spending their money very wisely and is hesitant at making the needed changes. Granted they took a chance on Lowe and KK, but truthfully only 1 is half way decent. Yet he is near the end of his prime. Jair, Hanson and Vasquez could be the foundation of the Braves pitching for the next few years. Heck, we still Hudson coming back late in the season. They were HOPING that the KJ and Francour experiment would have a 50% success rate, neither has worked out. Signing Chipper, who is near the end of his career, was a honorable thing to do, but was not right for the team’s long term success. Letting Bobby Cox and Tp stick around while the ship goes down is pathetic. In a corporate world, if a team is not performing, you change the personal within the team. After making those needed changes on the team and they still not produce positive results, you make managerial changes. This shows the investors (or fans) that the organization is dedicated to making the needed changes for the company to be successful.

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Could be out by July 4? This has been over for a while. Statisical analysis of the games played so far would demonstrate that this is the way it’s going to be. They’ve established themselves–as losers.

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Baseball is a simple game and (like most sports) you can’t win if you can’t score. That’s written, I’ve been a baseball fan long enough (for over 35 years) to know that as long as you are within 10 games of first place, then you still have a shot. Why? Because all you need is a hot streak to play yourself into contention and there are a slew of examples of somnambulant teams suddenly turning into giant-killers. With our solid pitching staff, we still have a chance. At this point, we have to take anyone off the bench who is a threat to hit and plug them into the line-up. Hopefully, Kotchman will return as somebody else and go on a hitting binge—all you need is one guy to get it jump started. We also need to grasp the fact that Frenchy needs to sit with someone else starting. If we can get past Chipper’s annual injury binge and have him play most every day then he and McCann can carry us. We have to focus on contact and forget about homers. With Nate, we finally have someone with some speed and we can play some small ball. Keep the faith people! LET’S GO BRAVES!!!

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Finishing my opinion,

I like the move on not resigning Smoltz, Glavine and Tex. That’s business.

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trade frenchy now!! its best for both parties

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Thanks Mark for saying that the Braves season is done. The obvious is that they STINK and STINK bigtime. When are Braves fans going to realize That they STINK from
Frank wrenn on down, terry pendleton, mcdowell and even slick bobby cox, who has won 2000 games but should retire. The braves are fortunate to be even playing around .500. The relieve staff is hoorendous and has been since mcdowell came. The offense is offensive, the braves need a major shakeup. Probably any other teams would have had a shakeup by now. This team is an embarrasement to ATL. This is the 4th season of sub 500 baseball we have endured. Maybe we are studying the pirates, who stink but still draw crowds, they beat us anyway. BOYCOTT THE BRAVES UNTIL WE GET A REAL TEAM—-BOYCOT THE BRAVES, save your money in this recession.

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An intelligent article about Bobby Cox would say that he’s done all he can with a team that lacks power, speed, and defense. He’s not the best manager by any means, but he does what he does very reliably. He is not a worse manager than he was during the 14 year run (but he’s not the type of great manager that gets something extra out of the players).

Wren is the cause of the Braves downfall. He created such a bad team offensively, he was forced to overpay (by $15M over the Mets’ outrageous offer) to get a #2 pitcher; he was forced to give away too much talent to trade for an expensive #3 pitcher; and a journeyman reliever (Ohman) saw the writing on the wall and accepted 1/3 the money to play for a winning team in LA. Wren treats icons like dogs, can’t handle the press, and whines when agents are mean to him. If the Braves want back in the playoffs, they need to promote Wren to customer.

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I believe you will be in Bobby’s doll house all the way. He’s the Best you’ve ever known, etc,etc.

The real Mark (fair and balanced) I hope will just tell the truth and not what you wish it to be. ex. your Glavine post.

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True! Braves chances at playoffs may be over by trading deadline, but it won’t be because of Frank Wren, Bobby Cox or Terry Pendleton. It will be because the Braves’ players didn’t play up to their ability, individually or collectively.

Wren did a great job coming up with a starting staff and adding McLouth with the funds available. The coaches did a good job in spring training getting them ready to play and, indeed, they played well in spring training.

That early promise hasn’t panned out because the players themselves, with the exception of Chipper, Brian, on-again off-again Yunel, and good starting pitching, just hasn’t continued into the regular season.

In my opinion, which means nothing, Bobby Cox has done all he can do with what he’s got to work with…he’s got them all in their proper positions, Terry has taught them which end of the bat to use…the players themselves have to take the majority of the responsibility for their lack-luster performance.

It is fashionable, I guess, to look for a scrapegoat of two — we bloggers sure spend a lot of time every day doing just that. Truth is players have to be accountable in their jobs just like the rest of us.

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The Braves threw up the white flag last year when they let Tex go. Braves fans don’t want another white flag this year, we want to win. Everybody on this team acts as if they have the Swine Flu! No life.

Mark, I think what you are going to write tomorrow is that we need a more youthful manager. Bobby Cox is a baseball genius and has had great success but he doesn’t seem to have enough energy to even argue with the umps anymore. I imagine a Braves locker room that is very low key as reflected in the manager. We have a team here that needs a butt kickin’ and I don’t think Bobby has it in him to do that anymore on a consistent basis. I say keep Bobby involved but not in the dugout. It seems even Mclouth has already been affected by the Braves doldrums. We need some fire! Like an Ozzie Guillan type manager.

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Mark,

I think Bobby’s time has come and gone. However, he cannot hit, he cannot pitch. And if he decides not to send KJ or Frenchy out there, then who does he send?

That being said, sometimes I wish we had a manager who had some fire (like Ozzy). A manager to call players out sometimes, light a fire under their tail…

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We need to get a few hitters in the line up. Our starting rotation is great but Kawakomi (sp)? is awful. We need an overhaul on our bullpin. We also need power.

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I agree. Braves season could be over by the end of the July 4 weekend.

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LSU:

Since your team is looking dominant in the COLLEGE W-S, my question to you is this, Could the BRAVES beat out the TIGERS in a best of seven? My money goes to the boys from BATON ROUGE right now.

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I just wish the Braves had come to the realization that they were a mediocre ballclub 3 years ago. If they had, they might be in a lot better shape today. It is best that the Braves and front office accept the truth and plan for the future. No more trading multiple young players for that “one guy” who they think will push us over the top. JD Drew couldn’t do it, Texiera could not do it, McClouth won’t be able to do it. One big free agent signee like Derek Lowe won’t do it either.

If the Bobby Cox and the front office are guilty of anything it is that they are overly optimistic. Instead of trading young guys, we should be trading the older players and playing the young guys. Let’s take our lumps now and let it pay off for us 3 or 4 years down the road. If the front office had taken that approach earlier, we might be in the midst of a great pennant race right now.

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Watched Jeff F’s 1st AB last night: swing the 1st pitch, swing the 2nd pitch. Then he learned his lesson: did not swing the 3rd. But the 3rd was a charm: a strike.

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I miss Ted. Arthur Blank please buy the Braves. Bobby can’t do anything with these bums. Strong ownership is the only way to get us back to the glory days.

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Personally, I hold the players themselves accountable more so than Bobby. At that age, and when you’re being paid that much, you should know how to bring it. True, Bobby does seem to be lacking here of late in the motivation department, but at some point, it rests upon the players to come together as a team and motivate themselves.

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richbrave,

My Tigers are looking dominant right now. I sure as hell hope it continues in the CWS…Also, Erin Andrews is looking very good in Omaha too.

As for the Braves vs LSU,

Aluminum Bats….LSU wins

Wooden Bats….Too close to call

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Bradley– Why I are just now coming to this conclusion? Most folks on here, myself included, have been saying for 2-3 weeks that the Braves are toast. Welcome off the bandwagon. If you’d get out of the shadow on Booby Cox butt long enough to see what’s really going on, you’d see this team is awful……… better pitching than last year but that ain’t saying much, bullpen too inconsistent, no speed, not enough power, too many losers like French-Maid, KJ, and Anderson, and $**t for brains Escobar. And this glorious cast of misfits managed by Booby Cox.

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Sad to say, Mr. Bradley’s analysis is spot on. The sad truth is that when you do not have Major League level hitters at first base, second base or right field, you put tremendous pressure on the other five hitters to produce every night, and that is not the nature of the game. Add in these facts: (1) the shortstop seems to be on the outs with the manager and exhibits prima donna tendencies on the field from time to time without the numbers to back it up; (2) the third baseman is great but 36 years old and we know his injury history; (3) there hasn’t been anything consistent in left field since Ron Gant’s bike injury (or whatever it was); (4) and the center fielder has never had to produce on anything resembling a contending team, and this is just not a good line-up. At all. Blame it on unstable, corporate ownership, blame it on the fact that this organization has produced and held on to exactly two — Chipper and McCann — Major League level position players since the beginning of the glory days, blame it on whatever. The sad truth is that we are witnessing a return to consistent mediocrity. Does not matter to me. I’ll still watch and cheer. Guess that makes me part of the problem.

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I hate to admit it, because my family luvs Jeff Francouer,but he does need to be BENCHED. He just cant get it together and he continues to have difficulty. Its an automatic out. Im sorry to say.
Id rather have Brandon Jones up cause the other pitchers may not know how to get him out.
And Kelly? Hes got to be benched too. You have to give us fans some reason to tune in(or come down to park).
Let Prado play or Diory at 2nd.

Bobby —-YOU have been PATIENT and your a good manager but these GUYS R KILLIN US!!!!!!!!
Bobby –Dont you want to try to win a playoff birth or have aWINNING SEASON just ONE MORE TIME?

For the love of God man……change out some of these guys who are not giving us anything. Forget their egos…and your own for a change.

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Sadly, Chipper & McCann are just part time players.

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I totally agree with Cutler’s comments…right on, dude!!!

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MB, I think you will write that Bobby needs to change his approach to certain players. That he may be a little TOO patient, but that in the end he can only work with the tools he is given. (Also, he taxes the bullpen too much. Those guys are coming off fairly recent injuries!)

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Already in the doldrums waiting for football season; just release chipper, trade Mcann for a minor league prospect, and give Kenijawanagatanamgha or whatever his name is another $35 mil. Fulton County Staduim years, here we come.

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I think that the Braves’ front office is inept, to say the least. The treatment of Smoltz and Glavine has affected player morale, although that is only a small part of the problem. It is a boring baseball team, with players staggering around like zombies. I have been a fan of Bobby Cox from the beginning, but nothing short of a major house cleaning–including Scheurholtz and Wren–will return the franchise to respectability.

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Isn’t it really incredible (maybe MB can address this at some point as well) how little the sports teams in this city have accomplished? Even Pittsburgh, a so-called “small market” town has won 11 major sports championships since 1970. And they don’t even have an NBA team. Atlanta, represented by all 4 major sports, has won 1. ONE! I challenge someone to find another city that has every sport represented that has performed this poorly. This city’s sports organizations are truly pathetic. I absolutely despise the collection of players on the team this year, with the exception of Brian McCann and a few others. They should trade him so he’ll have a chance to play with a winning team. The Braves are going absolutely nowhere.

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We are second to last in MLB in stolen bases and last in attempts…let’s not forget that 7 of the stolen bases were by McLouth with the Bucs…so we’re really last.

Just for the fun of it….let’s try a double steal, hit ‘n run, squeeze, go from 1st to 3rd on a base hit..make Frenchy bunt with runners at 1st & 2nd so he doesn’t ground into an inning ending double play.

Please…do something to try to generate some runs.

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Mark, I’ve always enjoyed reading your stuff. Like many sports columnists, you’re wrong often enough, but unlike many, you’re man enough to acknowledge it and even a good enough sport to poke fun at yourself for it. Most of all, I like your stuff because when you are wrong, you’re wrong the way a fan is wrong: you’re wrong because you follow your heart and not your head. You love these Atlanta and Georgia teams, and that’s always the thing that’s motivating your opinions, predictions and conclusions. Just like a fan (because clearly you are one).

But in this case I give you props for the opposite, the exception that proveth the rule. Here you’re doing what even real fans must at some point, when hope becomes untenable and simply can no longer be reconciled with harsh reality: you’re facing the truth and not flinching from it. It’s what we all need to do — especially Frank Wren — because four seasons in a row of under-performing expectations says all that needs to be said. In your concise phrase, the Braves just aren’t very good. And they really haven’t been for several years. And they’re really not going to be in the next several, unless changes are made.

The commenters screaming for Bobby’s head, or TP’s, or Frenchy’s, or KJ’s, or whomever’s, are fans senselessly cursing the heavens because the reality hurts. It’s not one thing, folks; it’s a bunch of things. They can be changed, but the first step in recovery is admitting you have a problem.

I happen to be a big fan of Frank Wren’s at this point, because I think he’s admirably demonstrated he knows his job: make the Braves better in any reasonable way he can, without sentimentality or emotion. He has to be coldly rational, and he has been. I don’t know if he’s a great GM, but I don’t think anyone can question his steely fixation on the one goal his job entails.

Will he be able to see clearly and make the changes necessary? My guess is yes. But my guess is also that it’s going to get worse before it gets better. I think he’s going to have to break up a chunk of this team and rebuild with a new offensive cast around Chipper and Brian, the only two legitimately great position players the Braves have.

So brace yourself, Mark, and fellow members of the lunatic commenting fringe. The bottom’s about to fall out over the next two weeks; the drunk is going to see the bottom of the glass and realize he’s been lying to himself. He said he could control it, but he can’t. He needs to quit the stuff. He needs help.

So say it with me: My name is Bravesfan, and I’m a hopeaholic.

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I agree Mark. I have been thinking the same thing. This team is done.

I am usually an optimist when it comes to the Braves too. I remember thinking the signing of Jim Presley would put them over the top.

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I’d knudge bobby out and invite Freddie Gonzo from Florida to come back to manage the team.

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Te team has no personality,there’’s no speed so there goes the threat of the stolen base,no consistent power anywhere to give the threat of the long ball,and they don’t seem to be able to the situational hitting to play small small.Worst of all you’ve got 3 places in the batting order(Francouer,Johnson and the pitcher)that are of late automatic outs.There’s nothing about the team that other teams have to prep for.There’s really no big deal letting the top of the order get on base since once you get past McCann no one is a threat for anything…..

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Would you trade one of the Braves good starters (i.e. Javier Vasquez) to get a big bat in the lineup? If you’re only scoring 3 or fewer runs most games, wouldn’t you trade an opportunity to have a well pitched game every 5th game for the chance to score 4 or 5 runs every game out? I would think that making sure quality starts by Derek Lowe, Jair Jurrjens, and Tommy Hanson are capitalized on is more important than having 4 quality starts not capitalized on. Then you just leave the 4th and 5th spots up for chance with KK and maybe Kris Medlen, but I think with decent run support either one of those guys could win enough of their starts to keep the Braves competitive. And the Braves have Tim Hudson making his comeback in August. And either Vasquez or Hudson will have to be gone next year anyway, because the Braves can’t afford both, and the other guys are signed long term (Lowe, KK) or are cheaper (Jurrjens/Hanson/Medlen).

I don’t know who might match up favorably in a potential trade, but I do know that the options for starting pitching has grown thinner with the injuries to Jake Peavy (out a couple months) and Erik Bedard (scratched from his last start), and Roy Oswalt and Halladay not available. So to me the NL leader in strikeouts would be a very enticing trade piece.

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This season is going to be over for the Braves in a few weeks, unless a lot of guys suddenly get very hot. If the name is not McCann, Jurrjens, or Hanson, start shopping them. Anyone that can get sufficient YOUNG value in return gets traded. If guys like JF or KJ can’t bring in any value, let them play and see if they can turn it around. If they can’t turn it around, cut em.

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1. McClouth
2. Infante
3. Escobar
4. Chipper
5. Mac
6. Kotchman
7. GA/Diaz
8. Kelly

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The Braves still have too many sacred cows, Bobby Cox being the most sacred. I respect Bobby Cox, but the Braves need a major shake up. The players must be rocked from their comfort zones, like we average joe’s experience daily in todays corporate world. In the real world, you don’t produce, you are history. There needs to be more energy and fighting spirit. They need a good fight in the dugout! Hire Valentine or somebody that can ruffle Chipper’s feathers. Darn we are boring and and not mentally tough enough. Put up a fight!

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I believe the Bravo’s were doing the same thing last year expecting different results. They just go to the ball park and go through the motions. No desire in the team (EXCEPTION FOR A FEW). SOMEONE!!!! needs to be in that dugout to fire them up. BUT………

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This is what you get (and what you are going to get in the future) when you have Liberty Media owning the team. Pure and simple as pie.

Baseball played on a scale of economy.

The payroll, to be blunt, needs to be in 150 mil range to attract top tier talent to this organization.

Newsflash, that ain’t going to happen with this ownership.

Anybody ever ruminate over why Sherholz moved upstairs? Maybe he knew what was coming down concerning econmy baseball and decided it was time for Wren to “make a name for himself.”

This whole team (including front office and ownership) is a nothing more than a manifestation of giving 70% effort and hoping the breaks fall your way to be competitive. Use smoke and mirrors to mislead the fans.

You can tell how well that is working by the home attendance.

Thanks, Liberty Media and AOL/Time-Warner for royally screwing up a good thing we had going here.

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One more thing and I’ll shut up. It truly hurts to follow a team from Boston, to Milwaukee to Atlanta and see them become so inept. However, I for one don’t want to see us pay big money and trade talent for a player who will be gone within the year. Money, in my opinion has ruined all sports. Who’s to blame? We the fans who continue to pay big bucks to go to the game. There is not an athlete alive who is worth twele, fifteen or twenty million a year to play three or four months of the year. Money has ruined all sports and I don’t see an end in sight. I’m through. Just wanted to vent frustations.

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I’ve been on a couple of these blogs before and defended Kelly Johnson. I’m sorry. I was completely wrong to do so. If Infante were healthy, we wouldn’t be dealing with him.

I think it’s time to move Casey Kotchman. I think he’s a player of value that will at least get us a few prospects in return. Even though he’ll never admit it, it’s time to move Chipper to first base. He’s so limited at third now, it’s almost irresponsible to keep him there. A move to first means less stress on him physically, which means less rest needed, which means his bat stays in the lineup.

Our immediate options for second base and Chipper’s replacement at third are limited, obviously, but with an infield that looks like 1B-Chipper, 2B-Prado, 3B-Infante, SS-Escobar we would be in pretty good shape, at least offensively.

The outfield remains the biggest question mark on our team. I think dealing Frenchy and Matt Diaz and releasing Anderson would be in our best interest. Before I get jumped, I know we won’t get much more than a couple (maybe) of low level prospects for them, but the move needs to be made. It just needs to be made at the right time. Once Schafer is ready to come back up, he’ll take over the CF position and move McLouth to one of the corner spots. Let Blanco and Barton platoon the other spot for the rest of the season.

Now, this would allow for a few million $$ to be freed up for us to go after a bridge-gap in the outfield in the offseason. We go after a free agent who we can sign to a short term deal who won’t be a liability in the field. Just a guy who we keep only until Heyward is MLB ready.

I’m not sure how long Heyward is expected to take to get up to the majors, but I hope for the Braves sake, it won’t be any longer than the All-Star break next year.

Does anyone know what’s keeping him at High-A Myrtle Beach? It seems like he had such a great spring that sending him to A ball seems like a waste. Anyone with real insight?

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Bobby Cox- the eternal bridesmaid. There were some great coaches in the past and Bobby Cox will go down as a great coach. I truly believe however, the game has passed him by. We need to manufacture runs- do whatever it takes. Who was the last consistent base stealer we had? Otis Nixon, maybe? Marquis Grissom could maybe be it. We even had Kenny Lofton and Bobby never let him run. Let’s be patient at the plate, steal bases, bunt runners over- whatever it takes. This needs to be a TEAM approach.

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Their not good at all. I have not watched them at all and have not been to one game. I dont plan on going either.

Wren did great rebuilding the rotation, although I dont think they should have signed KK. They would have been better off getting a Dunn or someone who can hit on a daily basis.

They braves never have fixed all the problems. These players we have are just trash. Even Chipper and Escobar are going 0 fers and Im fed up. If they want a team they need to spend some money and get players. Maybe they can trade KK and Jo Jo and get another bat, although at this point I can say this for certain.

Weakness, at short, 2nd, left field, right field and the bench. To many holes and we will never fill them. I would bring up Heyward and give him a shot and see what he can do. I would also bring up Hernandez and put him in a spot. You people who want Brandon Jones and Diaz to play. Thats the problem. We have to many fillins playing everyday rolls. Like Johnson and Francoeur and Anderson. My God this lineup stinks. We will be in last place before the July deadline.

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timthebrave had an interesting twist on history. How can you take anyone seriously who says that it was the Germans that bombed Pearl Harbor ?

Several of the writers / critics hit the key points. First, the Braves put the world on notice that they were not serious when they let Texeira go.

Second, Bobby Cox is a hometown hero, but his stubborn approach leading to keeping Pendleton as hitting coach and Francoeur in the lineup are problems.

Get used to it. This team is done.

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our team is weak and our fans are weak. we are giving up on the season when there are 100 games left. a good run and your right up there. we are not use to trust and belive. why? if we didn’t do that for 14 years.
the reason why we can’t compete is out of our reach. MONEY in a small market

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Nine innings of Braves baseball is one of the most frustrating thing to watch. You just know that a 2 run deficit is insurmountable, even in the first three innings, with six innings to go….

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the problem is no one can hit the ball out of the park mark derosa of all people has 13 home runs…well above any of the braves. is it that difficult to find someone who can hit homers?

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Mark, while in reality, you’re probably right, I’m looking at the other side of the coin.

The last time the Braves played the Mets and Phillies in New York and Philly, they had a very good road trip. That was during that one stretch in mid May where they played well. They seem to “get up” for the good teams, and play lousy against the lesser teams.

They might well play 500 against the Yankees and Phillies, et all, and stay just about where they are, and not fade until later in the summer. I’m by no means saying that the Braves will make any major moves forward in the division, because I dont think they will, but it’s very possible you might see them go something like 7-8 or 8-7 over the next fifteen, and be just about where they are now, or not much further behind.

I know you said you were going to address the Cos thing in a later blog, but I really think that it’s time for him to retire. Maybe this team is just in a rebuilding mode, even though no team likes to say that nowadays with the money at stake in attendance and merchandising revenue, especially in this economy. What I would love, is if Bobby went back to being the GM, and made Wren his assistant, and let someone else take over in the dugout. Shake it up after 20 years. It seems time to do something, with this team in it’s fourth season in a row of non contending baseball.

Mitch

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trade vasquez??? man you are crazy!!! he’s good, way under-rated… truth is, the team is looking ahead to next year already.. i’ve heard 3 guys on the bravos already mention next year. talking about the pitching they’re going to have, which they will, lowe, hudson,jurrjens,vasquez,and hanson. looks pretty good to me. but they’ve already thrown in the towel.

as i have….

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Did they dump Wren yet?

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Gene…

What’s wrong with Lowe, Jurrjens, Hanson, and Kawakami and maybe Medlen as the fifth starter, along with a 3 positions in the outfield who can HIT? If we kept Hudson he would be in the mix with Kawakami or Hanson taking up the 5th slot.

There are only so many slots available you know. Someone is going to get traded. I can just about guaranty you that Vasquez will be one of them in part due to the $11.5 million salary and because the team just does not need that much pitching. It would be nice if we had a line up that could hit but we don’t so we need to give up something to get something.

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Did they dump Wren yet?

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Liberty Media has brought an old act out of the closet. The Bad News Braves are back. Where is Ted Turner when you need him? Arthur Blank, HELP,HELP.

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I don’t know when the Braves are going to make the needed changes: 1) replace Bobby Cox, and 2) either demote, or trade Jeff Francouer. Somebody needs to shake things up, and finally realize that baseball is a “what have you done for me lately sport”.

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Lets all hang our heads for a moment and remember the past teams and mourn for the passing of “our” Braves bats. They died a long time ago!! The Braves we all grew up will be back someday hitting and pitching like hall of famers. This year is officially over for me and I am guessing for all of you out there as well. I have been as optimistic as I can be to this point and can no longer do it. Went to see the Bravos in Baltimore and they look flatter in person then on the broadcasts. No life in this team and at least Barbaro Canzinares had some oomph in him but this is why I agree to let the kids come up and light a fire under the team. They would not be any worse than Schafer and I have to say that I think at least defensively Schafer is far better than McLouth.

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Next Braves Manager…
1: Ned Yost
2: Joe Simpson
3: Eddie Perez
4: Don Mattingly

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bobby’s not going anywhere, at least not until the end of next year, when he hangs them up.

and oh joy, we’ll get TP then….

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Mark, sadly I must agree except for timing. I think they were toast as long ago as the first of the month. No attitude, down-in-the-dumps, poor play, atrocious pitching – particularly in the bullpen. BUT, Cox has his job forever and TP is still coaching the hitters (is that why they are scoring runs?). Better watch out, Liberty Media is looking at attendance and payrolls and something had better happen fast. Not that they will improve, but that they all have jobs lined up for the near term…the front office, I mean.
Frank Wren has a target on him the size of a baseball diamond. Cox will be the last one standing. Only in Atlanta can a manager keep a job and not worry about consequences.
Good God what a mess.
Jenzen Auldwauld, Sandy Springs

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i remember playing for torre, awful, just awful…

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Rick n J is right, our pitching has been a little suspect as of late, especially the bullpen. It is still good, however, or at the very least comfortably above average. I don’t get all this trading nonsense, or bringing up guys not ready for the majors. Who wants our Major League players that you want to trade? Do you not remember a guy named Jeff that came up, skipping AAA, and now is having problems. Please don’t wish the same on Heyward, Freeman, or our other minor league position players.

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I don’t know what it is with the Braves and running the bases, as well as other aspects of ’small ball’ gene g. Is it Bobby holding them back, or are they just knuckleheads on the bases? If we give the sign to Escobar to steal, will he run across the pitcher’s mound and slide into third?

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Just as long as the “Cubbies” miss out on making the playoffs (and the Yankees missing out would be great, too), I’ll be happy.

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hey did ya`ll read where i said Fire Wren welllllllllll

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Thanks MB, glad you’re still responding.

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Too much emphasis over the past few years has been placed on adding that “piece or two” to put us over the top. I think the overwhelming reason for this was to send JS and Bobby out as “winners”. There is no reasoned architecture to this team. Wren went out in the offseason and signed three starters, committing a significant percentage of the available budget, when an offensive upgrade was sorely needed. Now we’re waiting for Heyward et. al. to arrive. By the time they get here the rotation will need another overhaul. Most important, however, is the fact that Bobby is ill suited to deal with the day to day ups and downs of the younger player’s. I just picture him sitting in his office until a few minutes before gametime and heading back after the game is over, not really saying much to anybody in between. Everybody is in awe of him, but he’s a shadow of the manager he was when he helped construct the team that won all those division titles. Time to move on…

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I just see so much more potential in KJ and Francoeur. I hate to blame it on the coaching, but I really think something should’ve and could’ve been done to either prevent or shorten their epic falls.

PS – Nice use of the word “fortnight,” Mark

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MB
Love to see an article about Bobby Cox – but please be candid. He has had his years of apparent brillance, but was it an illusion due to have three Cy Youngs pitching for him?
Rather than for entertainment value, serve up the truth as you see it.
I’ll look fo rit.

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This team needs a leader and the heir apparent would be Chipper (to Smoltz) But time will tell if Chipper is up to the task. I haven’t heard of any closed door meetings or any a$$ kickings. Make some of this public (not specifics) so we fans will know at least you care about your dismal performance. Who is calling Franceour to task? Who tells McCann that last night’s last at-bat was horrible and required a little more patience (of course if he gets a hit he’s a hero). who kicks Yunels butt when he F’s up? I just don’t see it and what do we have to look forward to next year? Nothing changing. I really don’t think trading away the farm for McClouth was a “big move” on our part. Locke is rated as a #2 and Gorkys should have been the heir apparent to no one right now. He would be our first real CF since Andruw. Hell, bring Andruw home next year.

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as previuosly stated…without new ownership we ARE cooked. Losing Teixeira was a disasterous deal and Blank nor Ted would have allowed that to happen…
I love the lying from the front office last winter: “Liberty has not given us a number for payroll. we will receive what is needed to put a championship team on the field no matter what it takes…” HAHAHAHAA! If the Braves can’t sell out playoff or World Series games, THEY ARE GOING TO ABANDON A FOURTH OR 5TH team…Look out…here come the Hartford Braves! (see Boston, Milwaukee…Atlanta…)

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Once again, I see Jeff Francoeur playing right field, batting 7th. It sickens me, as a TRUE Braves fan, to see the Braves not play the better player (Matt Diaz is a better player than Jeff Francoeur). I dont care how strong Francoeur’s arm is. You have to score runs to win games. Ryan Howard is probably one of the worst 1st basemen in baseball. However, he MORE than makes up for his defensive deficiencies by knocking in a lot of runs.

If Matt Diaz were given a chance to play everyday, I feel that his hitting would be much better than Francoeur’s. Diaz has a little pop in his bat, which is far more than I can say about Jeff “punch and Judy singles” Francoeur.

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There’s a lot the Braves could do they just don’t want to face the reality of it.
Like getting rid of Cox, Pendleton, Johnson, Francoeur, Anderson, Kotchman, who can’t hit, and a couple of more.
Bobby has his favorite club, who can do no wrong.
Last year the same thing, over using pitchers, leaving in guys can can’t hit over their weight.
Cox, will bench Escobar, but won’t bench Anderson, or anyone else.
The Announcers are always sticking up Chipper, blaming the lost on one player, when the Braves blow the game 10 runs or more.
Anyway the Braves were out of it before spring training.

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Enter your comments here

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Lets not forget that hitting is the problem and Pendleton has never got the jon done.he has screwed up Jeff F bad.Why do good batters turn bad in Atlanta.Tex has been good everywhere but here.

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Bobby, sign me up. Like most of your players, give me a position I didn’t earn. I’ll show up, but don’t expect too much. And, as one of
your favorites, I want to play every day. And, if my play stinks, don’t even think about sending me down to AAA. It’s great to be a starter for the Braves.

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I heard Costco had Braves gear all marked down yesterday.

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baseball is simple and weare simply awful, fundamentals are lacking and that starts and ends with the manager and his coaches. bobby has seen his best years and there will be no more , the game moves on and mediocrity at best is whats left for the woeful braves and their beleaguered fans

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We have three hitters: Chipper, Brian and Escobar. When Ross plays we can add another. I hope nobody ever says on this or DOB’s blog that G Anderson is a professional hitter. Good hitters are insulted when that is said.

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Anybody remember the infield lineup of our dynasty teams? Sid Bream, Mark Lemke, Rafael Belliard, Chipper, and Greg Olson. I would put our infield now way way way above that lineup in terms of hitting!! These guys just need to get their crap together and start producing! Wren has given us the players. We definitely have the pitching. We just need a spark, and this team will catch on fire!!

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Dawg95 I hate to disagree with you since I am a UGA alum but I don’t see our infield better than the one you mentioned. Lemke and Belliard could not hit a lick, especially Belliard but they could move a base runner over, they knew how to sacrifice, they would work counts etc. Chipper was Chipper. Bream would give you absolutely everything he had and I don’t remember Olson playing the infield.

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I believe the answer is simple. “Team Ownership” You have to have an owner who cares about winning! There was this Home Depot guy who showed some interest, my thoughts are he would develop a winner.

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McClouth’s Gonna Do It Again

Well, the train to Lawrenceville is runnin’ right on time

Now that Schafer boy has got a better frame of mind

People up in Michigan can’t be still

When Josh Anderson’s givin’ Tiger fans a thrill

People down in Texas come from near and far

To see Andruw Jones hit – how bizarre!

We wear ‘em down

We kill centerfielders

In this town, we run ‘em down into the ground

They leave Atlanta, then they rebound

And Bobby Cox is confounded

Remember Kenny Lofton?

Well McClouth’s gonna do it again

Nate was lookin’ good in Pittsburgh P.A.

He won a gold glove with his all-star play

Traded to the Braves and you can bet, for sure

He’s up there hackin’ like Jeff Francoeur

And soon as he leaves this town in shame

He’s probably headed to the Hall of Fame

We wear ‘em down

We kill centerfielders

In this town, we run ‘em down into the ground

They leave Atlanta, then they rebound

And Bobby Cox is confounded

Remember Marquis Grissom?

Well McClouth’s gonna do it again

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Dawg95 catcher is part of the battery not the infield but no big deal. you have some very good points but Lemke would have brought Frenchy in this inning, Johnson’s at bat was pitiful and our inning was disgraceful after Frenchy’s at bat.

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HOw’s that for baseball? Franceoour hussles and takes asvantage of a bad outfield play by Tavares – ends up on 3B and the Braves cannot get him in. Kelly pops up. Vazquez opos up and then McClouth pops up. Manon third withno outs and nothing to show for it

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As you all can see, I can’t type when they play like that

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Mark, you are unquestionably literate and clever. Whether you are smart or insightful is up for debate as is the question of whether you just mouth the same junk as most other sports writers( see ESPN). With re. to your article on Josh Smith, do you fail to recognize he is a greatest strength,greatest weakness type of player who plays well enough at times to be an attractive hero but also badly enough to get his team beat due to either stupidity or stubborness or ego or all three. Are you willing to admit that the Braves already settled for mediocrity this year and maybe next when they let go for money reasons arguably the best 1stbaseman in baseball in order to rebuild their pitching staff. As a result they have only 2 or 3 studs on offense and 2 or 3 studs on the mound, the same as almost every other team in baseball. There is not a GOOD team in baseball that would want Anderson, Francour,Kotchman(if they need homers from a 1stbaseman), Bennett, O’flaherty or
the sidearmer.Cox is thus stuck with an Amer. League philosophy but a weak Nat. League team.

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Bobby Cox the problem with the Braves? I don’t think so. Pick your manager; make him the Braves’ manager. I doubt the club is playing any better than its playing now. Why?

The talent. A manager is only as good as the talent provided. Managers are typically overrated in determining the success or failure of a team.

Anyone really think the Braves wouldn’t have had “The Run” without Cox?

Come on. Let’s get real.

Trouble is JS and Wren have tried to transition this team while contending. One foot in a pennant race and the other in rebuilding is a tough trick to pull off. Most GMs don’t try it.

If the Braves don’t turn things around, and there’s a good chance they won’t, management needs to sit down and reassess the plan.

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Mark, do we have any shot at getting A. Gonzalez from SD?

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Gee, Skip. The guys hit well in our simulated games. Time for another drink.

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Mark … Please write the truth — Atlanta is a bad sports town. We supported the winning Braves teams of the early 90’s but since then, it’s been “facilis descensus averni.” The late 90’s teams were good but were embarrassed repeatedly by the Yankees. The early 2000 years were false bravado, “Yippee, 14 straight” and out in the first round. It’s an accomplishment but the Falcons not having two winning seasons in a row is a freaking accomplishment too! The Braves management doesn’t care, the Braves dugout – from Chipper’s North Florida drawl to Bobby Cox’s “slap my forehead” ennui – don’t care and really, down deep, no one in Atlanta really cares. By the 4th of July, this team is double digits out. The bad news is they will get very bad very quickly; I was here in the late 70’s and it was great to get good seats up front for general admission prices. That’s all we have to look forward to.

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The Braves will be out before long. They just don’t have the talent or coaching to make a consistent run for the play-offs. I wonder if some of these players on the team could even play for other teams. Time for some changes in the organization.

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Vazquez & Escobar will look good in RedSox uniforms.

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It may be easy for everyone to blame the Braves’ losing ways to poor hitting, but last I checked the Braves were hitting .257, and the last time the Braves hit .250 during a season, they won the Series.

The Braves ERA is 4.11 last check, and we never had a pennant winner with an ERA that high. In fact, from 1991-2005, only twice did we finish with an ERA above 4, and only one time did we win 100+ games with an ERA above 4, and that was with the .284-hitting 235-HR offensive juggernaut of 2003. 9 times in 12 years we had an team ERA below 3.60, and four times 3.18 or better. Couple that with an offense that averaged .260-.270 BA each year, and you had a tremendous degree of success.

Though the Braves aren’t tearing the world up with their power and BA, the past few years we have actually had a good offense, just lousy pitching. Now our pitching has improved a bit over 2006-08 (especially with the new young guns), but our bats are regressing, and the pitching isn’t there yet to make it up.

We started the streak in 1991 with a simple strategy. Great defense, the strongest pitching we can get our hands on, and decent hitting. I have seen that strategy get muddled the past few years, and it’d be nice to see things righted in my lifetime.

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WHAT THE BRAVES NEED IS MORE REDNECKS TO COMPLEMENT CHIPPER BUBBA JONES AND BOBBY GOOD OL BOY COX…THATS HOW YOU WINS GAMES…

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Thank you Bobby Cox for your years of service.
Now, it’s time to hang up the spikes.

.

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Does anyone remember Raul Mondesi. Braves signed him on a hope he had something left and he didn’t, so they let him go. Garrett Anderson is Raul Mondesi, when do they let him go, soon I hope. I just can’t believe the amount of money wasted on him and Kawakami, another joke. Someone needs to have a long talk with Bobby Cox about leaving gracefully. Maybe they can fake an injury or illness as an excuse, they seem to be good at that when they want to get rid of a player, i.e. Norton and Carlyle. There is no hope left for this season. Fire Sale time, another reason Bobby could step down. He could say he is not into rebuilding so he is leaving at All Star break.

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I agree that the Braves season is all but over. Face it, they are a mediocre team this year that can’t string together any sort of a winning streak. In fact, as I think about it, does anyone know the last time the Braves actually won more than 2 or 3 games in a row? It seems like it’s been forever since they went on a 7 or 8 game winning streak.

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Here’s a suggestion…. play Matt Diaz regularly.

It may not be the answer to all their problems, but no sense in leaving one of your best hitters on the bench when the team routinely can’t hit.

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There is no heart, fire, edge, excitement to this team. Certainly not with Bobby coaching his way with players like Anderson, Francour, etc. Chipper and McAnn are quiet leaders. At least Diaz seems to care. But who does Cox listen to. In another 2 weeks we will all quit watching. Doesn’t matter, Announcers keep covering , TV keeps paying, etc. Who really cares?

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WHEN WILL PRADO START @ 2B????????

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Boy, am I glad I saved my money this season! I haven’t been to a single Braves game.

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McLouth and Anderson are dogging it. Neither seems to want to play the outfield. Does Nate know how to throw a ball to homeplate? I sure haven’t seen it. I have never seen as much apathy as I have from those two and Escobar. Send their butts packing and find someone with a little grit who plays hard all the time.

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I agree… this season is basically over. The Braves don’t have the hitters to pull of the 10-game win streak that they need to get back in the race. 2 here, 1 there, 3 there, but never a solid run.

There’s only one person who can fix the Braves. Anyone know what Ted is up to these days? He’s our only hope.

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i was just at the baltimore series and watching them in person they look sluggish, slow, burned out even though the season really has just begun. all these guys get paid to hit and they never seem to push those runs across. getting guys on base and then hitting into double plays or striking out! the pitching has been very good your gonna see 4 guys with great era’s with losing records. unfortunetly im a huge braves fan and want the best for my team, but if they dont get a big bat(right handed power hitter) they will be done , dont know if they couold get it done within the next 3 days because if they dont these 2009 braves are gonna be well below the 500 mark. go braves!!!!!11

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Maybe Bobby was digging when he found this Garret Anderson character.

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Somebody better tell McLouth to slow down running to first base. He’s still running all out and you don’t do that on a Bobby Cox team – might pull a hammy.

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Frank Wren’s hands must be tied with Liberty Media and a strict Budget.
He has been able to overhaul the pitching staff in one off season while staying in line with the number he’s been given.
Our payroll is lower than it was in the mid-nineties.
Yes, our pitching staff is very good and our offense is way below average, because we’re asking bench players to put up starting numbers.
Kelly Johnson, Frenchy, Ross, and whoever is at first base, coupled with the guy who’s name I can’t remember because he’s hitting .100 does not a contender make. These are not bonified major league everyday players. They are bench players at best.
I’ve said before that we should have gone out and tried to get Sheffield and put him in left. He has more home runs than anyone on our team. We need someone like a Craig Council at the 2 bag.
Our top 4 hitters are good, then there is a drop off a cliff with the second half of the batting order.
Maybe we can trade Hudson after he shows he can pitch when he comes back. This would be more of a move for next year though, rather than trying to contend this year.

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We was never this bad.

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I think you should write an article about Frank Wren. I cannot believe that he will have a job at the end of the season. With the embarassment of the offseason and the terrible way he has handled Smoltz and Glavine he has done enough as Braves GM to set this team back. This organization used to be where players would run to play now they are running away. Coming out of spring everyone knew that this team as constructed would have trouble scoring runs. They dealt Mark Tex and got little back. What was left was a team of singles and doubles hitters, nobody a pitcher would fear other then Chipper on a good night. This is the first year where Chipper did not have Andruw or Tex backing him up and it shows. I love the Mcann but he is not a cleanup hitter nor should your catcher be unless his name is Mike Piazza. The Braves went worse than cheap allowing Raul Ibanez, Orlando Hudson, Bobby Abreu, Adam Dunn all available at a relatively cheap rate, there was no move aquire any of them. Instead we give three years to Kenshin Kawakami who it appears is not a major league starter. Instead we kept the same cast of characters that ended the year near last place. Wren failed to realize that when you took away Tex the offense went with him. Look at the stats of the Braves after he was traded last season, its just as bad as what we have seen so far this year. I agree the picthing needed to be addressed but this isnt the early 90’s where you can have great pitching and win games 2-1 every night. The lineups of the Phils, Red Sox, and Yankees are far better then any we faced in that era. The Phils proved last year picthing is great especially when you have an ace like Cole Hamels but where would they be with Kotchman, Johnson, and Escobar instead of Howard, Utley and Rollins.

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I recommend we put Petrocelli and Columbo on the case immediately. My hunch is they’ll not find anything.

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All yall Frenchy haters talk about how much he sucks, his numbers are not far off from every single person in the lineup, he has 31 rbi’s i believe and he is second in outfield assist, look at how many runs he saves the braves. He is not playing good at all, i get that, instead of getting down on our players why dont we act like real fans and quit acting like freakin yankee and red sox fans who boo everyone.

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This is one sad team.They will not be in the hunt this year nor next. Bobby and this coaching staff ( excluding Mcdowell) are a tired bunch. As long as Bobby is the coach, this team will not be motivated to play thier best. I like Bobby as a person but no longer as a coach.

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Hey Ms. Francouer, We see right through your Brave7 screen name. Your son’s a good guy, but right now, HE’S KILLING US.

Sincerely,

Chipper

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We was always able to hit.

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You nailed it MB….It’s hard to believe tho that this team is as close to .500 as they are….If the lower half of the BO start to hit just a little they could be at .500 before July 4…..Stranger things have happened!!! Starting pitching has kept it this close….It’s a shame that some pretty good pitching performances have so little to show….There’s still 3 1/2 months left….Come on Guys!!!!!

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Good point Quint. If a team in Atlanta was being pulled together by their leadership, it was probably in the visiting locker room.

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Since 2005 when McCann, Frenchy, and Kelly came up, the Braves are 50-74 in June. Why are they so bad in June? June always seems to be their worst month. I can’t figure how a month in the middle of the season is the worst. I can almost make sense of running out of gas in September, but September hasn’t mattered since 2005, so what’s the deal? Why June?

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Mark, I keep hearing that the Braves might trade Francoeur and/or Kelly Johnson. My question: WHY would any major league team give up anything of value to get either of those two guys? Francoeur has one of the lowest OBP’s of anybody playing regularly in the major leagues, has no power anymore, is not a fast runner on the bases, only has a great outfield arm to offer, nothing much else. Johnson is a .250 hitter who is below average defensively. Most teams can find a .250 hitter with a better glove to play second base. A GM would have to be nutty give up anything of value to get Francoeur or Johnson.

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This bunch refuses to work the counts…they’re as impatient as any I have witnessed and are the opposing pitchers best friend…tonight they were facing a guy that is average and his pitch count was up there early…what do they do? Assist him greatly by swinging at first pitches and early in the count…that’s especially problematic with Frenchy and Garrett Anderson–just about over folks…this team just doesn’t have it…but I’ll continue to support them regardless–they’re our Braves.

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Soon? The Braves season is over. This is a result of the last 4 years of bad ownership and mismanagement in the entire organization. They have rushed prospects to majors too fast. Frenche is a perfect example of this. They have also held on too many players from the so called glory days, who were getting paid far too much money. Terry P is another example of being with the organization too long. After he get fired this year he will not getting a batting coach job in the next five years. I am glad I have not wasted any of my money on this organization the last few years. It’s tome to blow it up, and start from scratch.

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Somebody already touched on this already so I want go to much into it but its nice to see the Braves in another “June Swoon” yet again. I remember when June use to be a month where we turn it on, but I seen something tonight that made me want to go ahead and pull up the white flag.

It was right after Escobar homered…
He headed towards the dugout with a high five from Chipper and then once he hit the dugout steps I’m expecting some energy and passion out of the guys waiting at the bottom of the steps and there was absolutely nothing! Yeah, the guys were standing there with their high fives and all but the energy was nonexistent and if you can’t get pumped up off a homer that put you ahead for the first time in a few games in the middle of a slump I don’t know what will…This team is just walking dead right now and its pretty bad to look at especially when you know what this team was doing just 5 years ago…

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I love the Braves, but they are just getting boring to watch. Lifeless and unenergetic. Not the way to get people in the seats. Unless something changes, attendance will stay low.

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Question is, how many of our regular 8 could start for any other ML club? Chipper, McCann, Escobar, and McLouth. All the rah rah from Cox can’t make smart hitters of Andrsn, Frenchy, KJ, or Kotchman. Piniella or LaRussa wouldn’t just sit there in the corner and trot em out night after night expecting different results.

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If only we could play the Mets every other week. They’re the ultimate slump busters.

We really don’t get to play them often enough. It’s a shame.

I was in Borders the other day and I saw this stupid book called “greatest new york sports moments” or some crap and although it wasn’t on the author’s offical list of 50 or 100 or whatever it was he had a little sidebar that included the 8th inning comeback the Mets had in June of 2000 against us at Shea. In his opinion, that was the night the Mets were finally able to break the Braves spell.

It wasn’t. I’ve been trying to find his email address somewhere online so I can tell him what an idiot he is. I am awesome.

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That is, Nate had that career .206 June average before he got to the Braves. It seems like he’s hitting according to past form.

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Someone asked Bobby if the team was dissapointed in this stretch of games. All he said was “No.” How can they not be? How can they not look at the body of work over their past 10 games and not be disappointed? As an athlete, I’m disappointed if I lose 1 game. They should be ashamed. I know La Russa wouldn’t sit back and take this. I don’t like La Russa, or the Cards, but I have to admit he gets the job done. I think both Bobby and La Russa are great managers, but the difference is that Bobby is tired. He’s just too tired to get this team in gear. I think this season will make him realize that he wants to retire. I’ll be sad to see him go, and I admit that maybe I’m a little too sentimental for my own good, but I hope that Bobby sees what everyone else sees. It’s time for him to hang it up.

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You win this round Bradley.

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i agree trade chipper riigt now before he breaks down again and we pay him alll that money for nothing i would never have sighned him long term how long has it been since hes played over 140 games and when he does his rotten defence ruins what he does with the bat get somone with a touch of fire for him and do it now!!! maybe a american league team will take him off out hands one can hope anyways

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BMac is the only one worth anything. So everyone go vote and make sure he starts at the allstar game.

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First of all, I’ve always thought Mark Bradley was a great writer and one of the best the AJC has ever had. Secondly, the Braves were done the day Frank Wren was named GM. I remember when this team had zero expectations back in the 80’s. It is so much worse when you are used to your favorite team winning every year and then they suddenly lose that winning touch. Still, I would take this team over any of the 1984 to 1990 Braves.

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Pitching is fine ———–> YOU JUST CANT WIN WITH A TRIPLE A LINE UP IN THE MAJORS.

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Not much to add, Mark. Short column, but it’s unfortunately accurate. If I have one thing to add it’s that it’s not merely a talent issue on offense, but the team seems to be playing in a rut, unmotivated.

I wonder what to do now to make this team a contender in the future. Clearly it seems our scouting system no longer gets the effective results from the draft as we used to get.

While the Nate McLouth trade has helped the team and he’s played well, blunt truth he made last year’s All Star roster only because every team has to have someone suit up, and he’s the best the Pirates had. But compare that to previous trades such as the deal for Fred McGriff that put Atlanta over the top for their only World’s Championship.

Just look at first base. We have a barely better than journeyman player in Casey Kotchman. How does that compare to Andres Galleraga, Fred McGriff, and Sid Bream. Now, there’s only two roster spots where the Braves have even the fourth best player in the NL suit up — third base and catcher.

The front office did a really nice job getting the rotation back to contender status. Our bullpen hasn’t been as good as we thought it might be. Our offense was a question mark answered now, but not how we wanted!

The sad thing is that the Braves still had a few years of good offense where a few good bullpen acquisitions and one starter would have given this team the right combination. But Liberty Mutual was too cheap for all that.

Now attendance is going down to levels not seen since the woeful 1980’s. With the economy like it is I think things are going to get real lean. Get used to the Yankees in the series. They’ve got all the money!

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For those of you saying you’d take this team over any of the mid-late 80’s squads:

The 84 squad that went 80-82 had a 3.57 team ERA. I’ll take that over today’s 4.11. Sadly, the offense that year batted .247 with only 111 HRs.

The 86 staff went 72-89 and finished 6th in the NL west despite a staff ERA of only 3.99, which is still better than the ‘09 staff. They, too, were waylaid by an anemic offense that likely should outhomer the 2009 squad (138 to 120ish).

The 89 squad had an ERA of 3.7. Team BA of .237 and only 128 HRs doomed them to a mere 63 wins.

The 80’s were full of bad managing, poor timing, and criminally poor use of good pine, but also some decent pitching. Sounds a lot like 2009 to me.

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Also if cox wants come back i would say fine but not here at if no better by all star break Fire Bobby cox n TP it will be a shock to Us n his poor wife who he beat up after bein fired….all ican say is fire bobby cox…1 ring 14 titles that divison is fine (not really if been Jimmy leyland here from 1990 to 2000 we had 7 WS championships)u folks been hidin under AJC newspaper makin dolls!

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Well of course the Baves aren’t very good. I had them in 4th (again) before the season began. Why? Baseball, like almost everything else is cyclical. You must have a good farm system and draft good players. When you do, like the Braves of the ’90s, the kids develop, key additions can be made, trades can help, etc. But to get good young players you must have top draft picks and you cannot get too many good draft picks when you are consistantly picking low because your ‘bigs’ team keeps winning. SO the Braves suck throught the late ’70s and ’80s and get high picks and the best young talent and then win through the ’90s. And then lose through the next decade. And it happens, basically, to almost all teams (barring the Yankees and Dodgers – big $$$ always wins).
And then there’s the organization. When a team is owned by a single single-minded egotistic ultra-rich guy, a team seems to do better. At least better than those owned by ‘corporations’ and ‘committees’. Give me an egotistical a$$ every time as owner. He CARES. In fact, the team is an extension of his ego. Ted was like that. Steinbrenner surely is as were so many team-owners in the past. Seems there are fewer today. Corporate baseball – UGH!
So you have cycles and monied egos at work. The Braves best hope? The same cycles and some ego-driven ownership who knows enough to hire good people – expensive people – top to bottom and LEAVE THEM ALONE. Sort of like Arthur Blank and the Falcons. Even he has learned to LEAVE THEM ALONE. Hard for that ego-type, but doable. Know anyone like that? And would he like to own a team?

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Braves are only 6.5 games out, and the only team that is at .500 for their last 10 are the Marlins @ 5-5. Every one of the other NL East Teams are under .500 for their last 10 games. The next 15 games are definitely key, as 6.5 games is NOT “Out of it” already. Granted, we need a couple of people to step up, but the starting pitching is there, the fielding SHOULD be there, it’s the hitting we need. We have the ability, they just need to come together at the right time. Luckily neither the Mets or Phillies are tearing it up, or we coupld be 10 games out! There are almost 100 games to go, PLENTY of time to right the ship, the clubhouse just needs someone to step up and start smacking people around until the rust and/or funk shakes off…I have faith, the BRAVES will compete—THIS YEAR!!!

GO BRAVES!!!

****TOMAHAWK CHOPPIN***

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Hello. U-Haul? I’d like to reserve a huge truck, please.

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Our Hall of Fame manager is the reason we are sinking like a rock. Consistent playing of those that should be on the bench or sent down (Schafer, Francouer, Bennett, Johnson). Insane mismanagement of the bullpen and lack of fundamentals ingame. This has been going on for four years now. It is way past time to get rid of the old wife beater!

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The Braves have to start making changes and it hurts me to say that TP should bite the bullet. The Hitting Coach is responsible for the team’s offensive performance so I suggest a new one.

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I hate to say “Wait till next year”, because I expect it to be just like the past few years unless there are some drastic changes in ownership, players, and management.
We could put a minor league team on the field and get the same results this bunch gives us at a much lower payroll, plus we might see more exciting efforts.
Those in charge have turned a winner into a dull loser and the players have adopted that thinking.
Get rid of McCann and Jones and what’s left but a bunch of minor leaguers.

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Why does everyone look at Bobby Cox through rose colored glasses? During “the streak” of titles, he was nothing more than a bus driver. Anyone could have driven the bus with the talent that the Braves had during that period. Fact is, Bobby Cox never should have left the GM world. He has only one World Series title during that period and that was during a strike shortened year. Also note that the Braves hit at least one homerun in ALL SIX games of the series… Unfortunately, Bobby Cox is the baseball version of Joe Paterno and Bobby Bowden… All three should have retired several years ago.
For all those saying that it is not Cox’s fault, the sign of a good manager is one who can draw out the potential of his given personnel… The really funny part of all this is that FLA Marlins have never won the Division yet they have twice as many World Series Championships as Cox during “the Streak.”

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I remember during the free agent period looking at the available outfielders. I couldn’t believe the Braves didn’t make a play for Raul Ibanez, of course the Phillies did and he’s having a great season. Instead we get Garret Anderson who hasn’t done anything. Francoeur is a flash in the pan and done, maybe a change of scenery might help him. Kelly Johnson is pathetic, Chipper’s hurt too much and so is Kotchman, who can’t hit like a first baseman should anyway. Wren-Schuerholz did a decent job of bringing in starting pitching, but you can’t win without offense, and the Braves don’t have any! This once proud franchise is now a sad-sack again. Liberty Media should put the team up for sale. Maybe an owner who actually cares about baseball might come forward.

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Doesn’t Liberty Media have to hold the Braves until 2012 to get their tax break? Please let some with deep pockets and passion buy the team then.

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I’m optimistic. The Braves have looked really good this year when they have won and (for the most part) have looked good when they lost.i.e. Vazquez last night. I don’t think they are too far out of it. Francoeur is going to hit and hit big time. He’s too good not to. Francoeur just needs some more at bats to level off his swing. Kelley ? Don’t worry about him. He’ll be fine. He’s just hitting in some bad luck this week and last. He’s a real pro that any team would want to have. I predict that his numbers for the second half of the season will be very impressive. I truly believe that this team can and will contend.

Braves fans support our team, don’t give up hope!!!

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Oops!!!….I’m LSU now, I’m not AJC anymore…All of these emotionless, boring & predictable Braves losses have gotten me to the point where I can’t even remember my new and improved screen name.

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Javy Lopez had an incredible money year for the Braves, and all of a sudden, it’s over…………..Hmmmmmmmm (scratching my chin) I wonder how Javy had that great season.

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Looking at last night’s debacle on top of the previous debacle on top of… well-l-l… the snowball is headed downhill, and I’m like you this time BRADLEY. It’s rolling down the wrong side of the mountain.

By INDEPENDENCE DAY the record could be a dismal 33-47. Maybe this team can accomplish what the 2008 edition could not. Maybe we get the first pick in the 2010 draft instead of the seventh unless its been traded of course….

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Really want to know what’s wrong with the Braves? Bill Shanks in his column in yesterday’s Macon Telegraph summed it up pretty well – lack of leadership among the players. Here’s the link, it’s worth a read – http://www.macon.com/758/story/749937.html

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Why not get Micah Owings and stick him in left field, then let him be a middle reliver. The problem is what happened to another Gainesville native, Jody Davis, when the Braves got him. Also the Braves need to be playing closer attention to the talent coming off the local campus at GT. Very good program that has produced some pretty good major league players.

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I can’t begin to tell you what is wrong with the Braves, but I’ll try. First, there was the broadcast booth fiasco of several years ago when Skip Caray was not brought back — until mid-season, thanks to fan protest — but further complicated by too many broadcasters and games spread over four or five channels, some of which (SportSouth, for example), much of the Braves nation (such as those on Comcast) could not receive. And then there was the ownership that would not commit the money necessary to stay competitive. The Braves are mediocre by design. Look at all of the Braves alumni playing throughout the major leagues and you have to weep. Remember Jerome Dye? He has had a near-Hall of Fame career. I live in Nashville and I have been driving to Atlanta to see the Braves every since 1973. I had seasons tickets in 1994 (which I shared with 4 other guys). I have not been to a game since 2006. I have no interest. Smoltz is gone. Chipper is going. It’s over.

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Hey Bradley, is Cox going on a permanent vacation? otherwise, don’t bother with the details of that phone conversation because I don’t want to know.

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For starters, play Prado and Diaz over KJ and Frenchy. That will help. Why should Frenchy and KJ get such preferential treatment?

Or, tell KJ and Frenchy to stop swinging for the fences every plate appearance.

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Whoa, BobbyJ – While I certainly agree that Terry has not been notably successful as a hitting coach, he did have serious fire in his belly as a player. No one knows if that would transfer as a manager, without Bobby around, but it just might. What have we got to lose and who else is out there? Too bad Billy Martin’s not still around, because he’s who this team really needs right now – someone who will kick a** and take names. What did Reggie Jackson do after Billy yanked him off the field and then went after him in the dugout? If you’re too young to know, look it up. Bobby is loved by his players, because he will never throw them under the bus, but sometimes, with some guys, that’s the only way to get their attention. Terry’s a very smart baseball guy and we sure as heck don’t have anything to lose at this point by giving him a shot. Ozzie Guillen might like the hot climate in Atlanta and he’s as close to B. Martin as we can get. Maybe if we offer Francoeur and Kelly and Kotchman and Anderson in a trade, we could wrest him away from the ChiSox.

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“I just spoke to Bobby Cox, by the way. Via phone from Cincy. Stay tuned.” – MB

I wonder if he uses a public phone? I would not want to handle a phone after Bobby Cox.

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FIRE BRADLEY!!!!

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With his fingers in his nose he could be giving signals. Or, he could just be picking his nose. It does not make Bobby look especially intelligent though we are told how much he is revered by all. A good baseball man. A players’ manager. A nose picker.

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Bradley is 100% right. Braves fans (and Bobby Cox) wake up ! We will never be able to hang with the Mets and Phils until we get folks that can swing the bat. The days of playing small ball with NO TEAM SPEED has got to end. This is getting ridiculous.

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Mark, you asked us to guess what you would write about Bobby Cox. You’ll probably slurp him big time, like all the rest of the Atlanta media. However, I think most every Braves fan will agree that the team should have won more play-off games, given their personnel, during his tenure.

It’s time for him to go. Actually, it’s long past time. It’s about production. I know, you’ll talk about how many division championships he produced, but just getting into the post-season isn’t enough. Show me the hardware, the trophies and the rings. In that, most critical area of production, Cox hasn’t produced. The bottom line will always be, that he only produced one World Series championship team.

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Mark,

Is there any chance of the Braves moving a veteran player by the trade deadline to pick up some prospects? The Yankees seem to need some pitching (ie Lowe or Vazquez) and the Braves could probably get some pretty good prospects out of the deal. The Yanks are obviously tired of losing to Boston and could overpay for one of our pitchers. I would think that, given our situation and outlook for next year, nobody would be off limits. Even Chipper has to be clammoring for a shot at another postseason before his time is up.

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I have been a braves fan for about 20 years now and this team had me going this year i mean with the trades that we got for Javier and then siging Derek and Kenshin and i hurt me when he did’nt get Griffey Jr then we were a solid team during the spring and the first 2 weeks then the meltdown statrted i mean you have garrett dropping flyball all the time and when we are down runs in the game we play we go up to bat and want to drive the long ball instead of gettin basehit and then they want to trade Francoeur i am sorry i don’t agree with that because he has a good arm and is a great ballplayer i think they should let him play his year out and then trade him i just would like to see the world series come back to atlanta like it did in 1995 but if us braves fan want that then we have to wait and see what happens

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Mr Blank please try again, our problem is ownership, we are a tax write off , we need someone willing to invest, get us a payroll of 140-150 mill and get us a proven lf/2b, and a bullpen. Please Mr Blank try again. We need a passionate owner that cares if we win. It is not Bobby, Terry, Frank, Or John, we need players and real players usually cost money. I hate being a write off at years end , I miss being a contender at seasons end.

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Turn out the lights the party’s over they say that all good things must end
Let’s call it a night the party’s over and tomorrow starts the same old thing again

What a crazy crazy party never seen so many people
Laughin’ dancin’ look at you you’re havin’ fun
But look at me I’m almost cryin’ but that don’t keep your love from dyin’
Misery cause for me the party’s over

Turn out the lights…

Once I had a love undyin’ I didn’t keep it, wasn’t tryin’
Life for me was just one party and then another
Broke her heart so many times had to have my party wine
But one night she said sweetheart the party’s over

Turn out the lights…

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I know I am dreaming but how kewl would it be if we could pull off getting Hanley at short and Carl Crawford in left? Wow we could send Yunel down or if he could move to second, or dh, or back up Chip and rest of infield. Thanks for letting me dream for a second. Garret would move to rf for a speedy power hitter like a Crawford can produce.

Hanley ss
Mcclouth cf
Chip 3b
Crawford lf
Mccann c
Anderson rf
Kotchman 1b
Escobar/or Prado 2b
pitcher

Heck I could go for Owings from last nite in a corner of spot for us geeze

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I have said it before, and I will say it again. BOBBY HAS TO GO!!!! The last 2 or 3 years the Braves have been one of, if not THE MOST fundamentally UNSOUND teams in MLB. That comes back to poor managing and coaching. There is a noticeable lack of discipline; they are poor in their basic skills such as bunting, sacrificing, maunfacturing runs, fielding. Their best player spends as much time on the bench injured as he does playing 3d. The catcher is a good hitter, but can’t throw. Players go to seek advise from other teams hitting coaches. It all adds up to a BAD baseball team in need of a transfusion. The transfusion needs to begin with the manager and coaches, and then a new GM that will bring some legitimate talent to Atlanta. As a reminder how far the Braves have fallen, a question: When did the Atlanta Braves last WIN a playoff series?? Not MAKE the playoffs, but actually WIN a division series. I could be wrong myself, but try LAST CENTURY. It is LONG PAST TIME for a change.

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Won’t catch the Phils

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[...] was only a week ago I suggested the Braves’ season could be finished, at least as a vibrant entity, by the Fourth of July. Today I wrote there’s a way they can [...]

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