Live from the ballyard: Smoltzie and I avoid each other!
I spent about a half-hour in and around the Red Sox clubhouse, and I should tell you the Red Sox have a great vibe about them. Kind of like the old Braves, only a tad livelier, and nothing like the new Yankees, who come across as spoiled and surly. The Red Sox, I can report, have a splendid mix of guys.
And now you’re wondering: Amid this splendid mix, did I encounter My Favorite Pitcher in said clubhouse? Not really. (Nor did I go looking for him, or he, I feel sure, for me.) My Favorite Pitcher and I almost crossed paths when the Sox were preparing for batting practice, but we both turned our heads. (We’re really good at this, as you may know.)
I can also tell you I’m writing a little something for Sunday print — and for posting here later today — on Red Sox manager Terry Francona, whom I see as the New Bobby Cox. (And I mean that, Larry, as the highest possible compliment.) Francona is a delightful conversationalist, and we media types got to talking with him about Michael Jordan — whom Tito, as he’s known, managed in Birmingham in 1994 — and then we got around to Michael Jackson and Anna Nicole Smith.
And I’m thinking, “Gee, Bobby Cox never has that sort of conversation with the media.” But lo and behold, I walk across to Cox’s Batcave and he brings up Michael Jackson, and then John Schuerholz, who’s sitting there, asks Cox what was the first record he ever bought, and Cox says he never bought a record in his life and Schuerholz says his was “Rock Around the Clock” by Bill Haley and the Comets. And there we went.
I brought up the Temptations and the Supremes as my first recorded purchase. Dave O’Brien mentioned Wild Cherry. (I swear.) Then we got going on Kiss — O’Brien’s first concert, you should know — and Mark Lemke said something about Gene Simmons that I choose not to reproduce here.
And now you’re up to date on all essential baseball matters. And if you’d care to share your feelings about Michael Jordan or Michael Jackson or Anna Nicole Smith or Gene Simmons or even this afternoon’s Braves-Red Sox game … well, I’ll be happy to chat back all afternoon long.
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227 comments Add your comment
Drock
June 27th, 2009
3:12 pm
So what kind of music is Bobby Cox into? Or is he a talk radio kind of guy?
NORRIS
June 27th, 2009
3:38 pm
so how bad is Mclouth? will it be lengthy?
Dex
June 27th, 2009
3:38 pm
Who Kissed who? Im confused
Ernest
June 27th, 2009
3:38 pm
It is amazing that the Braves are still in the hunt considering how bad they’ve played over the last few weeks. Maybe this is the ‘bad stretch’ every team has during the season and the rest will be over .500 ball? Am I being to optimistic?
SlimG
June 27th, 2009
3:39 pm
Smotzie is a putz. He always was and always will be. Is he still see a psych?
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2009
3:43 pm
I think he’s more a talk radio guy — and baseball. He has XM in his truck, and I know he listens to games on the way home.
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2009
3:45 pm
According to Dave O’Brien, McLouth could play tomorrow but probably won’t.
BT
June 27th, 2009
3:53 pm
Did anyone mention the great hustle of G Anderson in left field last night. GA has to be a real inspiration in the clubhouse
BT
June 27th, 2009
3:55 pm
Enter your comments here
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2009
3:56 pm
As I said the other day, Garret is a glider.
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2009
4:00 pm
Lineups: Varitek and Jason Bay get the day off the Sox. Blanco starts for McLouth and leads off. Hernandez stars for Escobar and bats eighth. Wakefield and Vazquez are your hurlers.
Random
June 27th, 2009
4:00 pm
SlimG (June 27th, 2009 3:39 pm): “Is he still see a psych?”
What a putz.
What’s your first language — Pig Latin?
BT
June 27th, 2009
4:02 pm
Yeah I remember. Does Bobby mention anything about the “Glider.” How is our clubhouse atmosphere?
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2009
4:03 pm
I should also report that a major gaffe on my part seems to have been averted, if only just. I contrived to spill a Coke Zero on the ol’ keyboard 45 minutes ago, and my cursor is just now reverting to midseason form. For a minute there, I was thinking the chat would be conducted via MY NEW IPHONE.
Lots of Sox fans here. You knew that already. And it’s about 118 degrees. You knew that as well.
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2009
4:05 pm
What with discussions ranging from MJ to MJ to Anna Nicole to Kiss, Garret was one name that didn’t arise. But he’s playing left field and batting fifth, for what that’s worth.
Truth to tell, I sort of breezed through the Braves’ clubhouse today. But it seemed the way it always does. Not much changes, ambience-wise. Hasn’t for about 20 years.
John T
June 27th, 2009
4:07 pm
IPHONE is great MB, welcome to the club. Is Escobar feeling the heat from Bobby still? Think they’ll leave him in the 5 spot?
Rick
June 27th, 2009
4:08 pm
Really, Braves are fortunate the rest of division is playing to their level. But that said, they lost 90 last year, the pitching is better this year–might get them 8-9 more wins. but their offense can’t overcome defensive lapses & the inevitable poor pitching performance, So, how many teams make the plyaoffs with 81-84 wins ? Zero.
When Yankees were here & I saw Texiera’s numbers-lord, if he had been paid & stayed, Braves would be in 1st place this year.
But instead we wait for offense (in no particular order) from Francouer, Johnson, Kotchman, whoever that glider is in left, a semi brain dead shortstop, and some bench guys who think they should start.
So, 5 position players who haven’t contributed much. Looks like a 4th place team to me.
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2009
4:11 pm
Thanks. I’ve only downloaded four or five apps, but it is pretty amazing.
And not to sound all pessimistic or anything, but it should be noted that the 2008 Braves lost 90 games and were two games better than the 2009 team to this point.
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2009
4:16 pm
Pedroia leads off with a single to left, but McCann throws him out — pretty handily, actually — stealing.
BT
June 27th, 2009
4:17 pm
MB, that the clubhouse hasn’t changed in 20 years is very telling. Braves lost 97 games in 1989 and could in 2009. GA was probably still a glider in 1989 though. I bet he was constantly late for class.
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2009
4:23 pm
And he probably didn’t appear to mind if he was, BT. That’s just the way Garret Anderson looks. Always has.
Two singles for the Sox, but Vazquez strikes out Drew and Ortiz. Nothing doing in the top of the first.
Chris
June 27th, 2009
4:27 pm
Mark,
I troll all the sports publications on a daily basis as I’ve recently become a drain on the working class.
I’ve never seen a writer who interacts with the fans like you and seems to genuinely enjoy it. It’s refreshing,,,thank you
Smoltzie's Whipping Boy
June 27th, 2009
4:29 pm
You should try being the Official Scorer that credits a hit on a ball that rockets off his knee all the way to left field that costs him 4 earned runs in the inning. Silly me, how could I have NOT realized that a 100mph comebacker was a “routine” play.
If you aren’t sucking up to Smoltz, you are on his black list and it shows in every aspect of his hypocritical life.
Just sayin’….
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2009
4:30 pm
Gosh, Chris. I don’t know what to say. Except thanks very much.
Top of the second now, no score.
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2009
4:34 pm
Updates: Kotsay just walked leading off the inning; I’ve now risked the continuing existence of this chat by going to get a large cup of water, which I will endeavor not to spill, and I find myself writing like a broacaster: “Nothing doing in the top of the first”? Where did that come from?
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2009
4:40 pm
Bottom of the second, no score. Glidin’ Garret took an odd route to get under Julio Lugo’s fly ball, but he got there. And two more strikeouts for Vazquez, who it seems I’ve underrated hugely. He’s a heck of a pitcher.
APGuy
June 27th, 2009
4:45 pm
How do things look down on the front row?
sidslid
June 27th, 2009
4:47 pm
Ican’t let the Anderson play go this flippantly. That was disgusting and a watershed disciplinary moment. If Anderson is still on this team in a week, Cox has lost all control and that should be it for Bobby.
Boribrave
June 27th, 2009
4:51 pm
Oh God! When are we going to get rid of Frenchy?!!!
He is doing absolutely nothing in this team. I know he aint worth nothing in the trade market right now, but having him in our team doesnt help at all.
Mark, have you heard something about possible trade for a new right filder before the trade deadline?
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2009
4:52 pm
About the same as on Row 2, Mr. Newberry. (That’s Paul Newberry of the Associated Press, folks. Great writer but something of a wise acre.)
And Sid, I don’t know what to tell you. I know esteemed colleage DOB — he’s sitting in Row 1 to my right — had a particularly damning phrase in his game story: “Garret Anderson didn’t bother backing up [the play].”
But Glidin’ Garret’s in the lineup today. So apparently the manager isn’t too upset.
Tom from Charlotte
June 27th, 2009
5:00 pm
I went to a Braves-Red Sox game the last time Boston visited Atlanta. Red Sox Nation was in the house — numerous, vocal and having a blast. I was hoping Braves fans would rise to the occasion and vie in the spirit of friendly rivalry to out-cheer the Bosox faithful. Alas, it was not to be. Most Braves fans instead sniped at the Sox fans and booed them. Disappointing. Please tell me it hasn’t been like that this visit.
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2009
5:00 pm
Nothing much seems to be happening, trade-talk-wise. And that’s all over baseball, not just here. It’ll heat up, figuratively speaking, after the Fourth.
Michael
June 27th, 2009
5:00 pm
Does Cox have different standards for Anderson (trusty veteran) and Escobar (young guy who needs to be put in his place)?
StingerSplash
June 27th, 2009
5:02 pm
Red Sox radio crew just savaged G. Anderson. Talked about how slow he looks now and how he appears to have lost the ability to judge balls. Got onto him about the play in last night’s game.
And welcome to the iPhone world, Mr. Bradley. It’s … awesome. Just wish AT&T had better coverage in less, shall we say, metropolitan areas of the world.
With other Dave O’Brien in the booth, Red Sox radio crew has talked a lot about Georgia football today. Really.
StingerSplash
June 27th, 2009
5:04 pm
Paul Newberry can thrash you, Mr. Bradley. Not that he would. He’s far too nice a fella.
Ask him about the Thunderbolt Patterson Cadillac match and the missing hubcaps.
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2009
5:04 pm
Officially, I’m told Escobar didn’t start today because his hip flexor is bothering him again. Unofficially, I’m told not to buy into that too much.
And Michael, I think your point is the proper one: Anderson, at this age, is what he is. (Not to sound like Frenchy here.) Escobar is still, theoretically speaking, young enough to learn.
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2009
5:09 pm
Thanks, Stinger. Are you listening to the Red Sox broadcast via the Sirius XM app on your iPhone?
And Mr. Newberry has told me the Thunderbolt Patterson Cadillac match story. It involves wrestling at some old place off where the Glenridge Connector is today and is much too long to get into.
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2009
5:11 pm
Back to baseball: Red Sox have had four consecutive leadoff men aboard but haven’t gotten one to second base. Braves have more stolen bases than hits. Nobody has a run. Bottom of the fourth now.
Henry
June 27th, 2009
5:12 pm
I have been a fan of the braves since ‘66 thru good and bad but I have one word for the braves now and that is “pathetic”
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2009
5:15 pm
Pathetic? They’re tied with the Red Sox after four innings and are only 4 1/2 games out of first place!
I know. That’s not much of a case I’m making there. But it’s the best I can do at present.
sidslid
June 27th, 2009
5:18 pm
Now I have it figured. With McLouth and Infante out, Anderson has to play. I am now OK with a release after McLouth is back (remember Bob Wickman-it doesn’t matter if it’s a veteran).
StingerSplash
June 27th, 2009
5:19 pm
Not listening on iPhone, though that is the next app to get. Will look sweet next to urbanspoon and The Masters app (Billy Payne thinks of everything! Except for transportation and getting street vendors out of the way. But that’s an old story.)
Nope, listening on mlb.com on my other computer.
Ken Stallings
June 27th, 2009
5:22 pm
Mark, trust me, I’m a pilot. It isn’t a glider if it can’t get off the ground! What Garrett did on that play wasn’t gliding. It was staying tied up on the ramp, grounded!
That lack of hustle was the type of play that got Andruw Jones benched. If you recall, Cox stood on the dugout steps and ordered him to run in as his replacement was running out to the field. It was in the middle of the inning, in front of 40,000 fans, and it was a message in public.
I’m shocked Cox didn’t do the same thing to Anderson, and he should have.
This tells me Cox might be getting frustrated with this team to the point of thinking they are beyond help. Cox has always had a willingness to dicipline those who did not respect the game. Failure to run in on a grounder is a failure to respect the game.
The Braves aren’t giving their pitchers good defense and worse offense. They are losing close games against quality opponents because of these mental and physical breakdowns. I find it hard to accept why Cox hasn’t sent a stern message already. He needs to.
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2009
5:23 pm
Mr. Newberry, you should know, is curious as to your secret identity, Stinger.
Bottom of the fifth, scoreless.
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2009
5:26 pm
I covered the game when Bobby pulled Andruw. Nobody seems to remember it was a hugely hyped pitching match — Maddux against Kerry Wood.
And it was stunning that night, Ken. And I don’t really know what more to say about Garret. I can only tell you he has always had that languid air about him. But he was a really good player for an awful long time with the Angels.
StingerSplash
June 27th, 2009
5:28 pm
Mr. Bradley, I will send you an email … maybe (it is mbradley@ajc.com, no?). I figured that would stir Mr. Newberry.
But he truly is as good as they come, as a person and a writer.
DidTheyCall
June 27th, 2009
5:30 pm
MB, are you hearing anything on the possibility of Brandon Jones coming up and getting some starts in LF? One of the talking heads on ESPN Radio last week seemed to think that may be the Braves approach since trade talks have died down a bit.
All I'm Saying Is...
June 27th, 2009
5:31 pm
Is that all we’re going to talk about today? Garrett’s lack of hustle from yesterday’s game? Like that’s the reason we lost that game. Like that’s the reason we are a mediocre team. GA is back starting today because people who know baseball like Bobby Cox know that in baseball unlike any other sport, you have to have a short memory to be successful — remember if you fail 7 times out of 10, you can still make it to the hall of fame. I’m sure Bobby pointed out GA’s mistake to GA and it won’t happen again.
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2009
5:33 pm
I haven’t heard anything about Brandon Jones. Sorry.
I will say this about professional athletes: They’re paid to hustle. Performance can wax and wane, but effort should not.
sidslid
June 27th, 2009
5:35 pm
Why doesn’t SunTrust and the other corporate types ever have hot babes in the SunTrust Plaza? It’s always full of fat old guys. The national TV audience must think the ATL is Phoenix East
The Herd
June 27th, 2009
5:37 pm
Is there any chance the Braves could demote Francouer again? In spite of his recent, er, uh, surge?
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2009
5:39 pm
Cox is now yelling at plate umpire Marty Foster. Vazquez didn’t get a call on 2-2 and 3-2 to Ortiz. The Red Sox finally have a man in scoring position.
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2009
5:40 pm
If they weren’t going to demote Frenchy when he was hitting .240, they’re not going to do it now.
All I'm Saying Is...
June 27th, 2009
5:41 pm
Trade deadline isn’t until 7/31 so don’t expect much until we get within a week of that date. What I want to know is when will we give someone else a chance in right field? How many at bats does it take to know Francoeur needs to be replaced on a regular basis? We obviously can’t send him back to the minors. We can still win the division and if we hit a hot streak going into the playoffs anything can happen … but it’s unlikely unless we get some consistent production at the plate from all of our outfielders. Nate is doing okay and GA’s bat has come around so we cannot continue to tolerate Francoeur’s lack of hitting .249 average and only 12 walks in ~270 at bats and lack of power 8 doubles and 5 homers(!)
sidslid
June 27th, 2009
5:44 pm
Scary. Vazquez pithces are now getting good swings on them. It is raining in Sandy Springs. Could use a little rain delay at the Ted about now
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2009
5:44 pm
Tough luck for Vazquez. He has struck out eight Sox, and two of the first four singles were on broken bats. And now he’s behind 1-0. Mark Kotsay poked one into left to score Youkilis, who’d walked ahead of the walk to Ortiz. And I know we’re going to hear afterward how Big Papi should have been called out twice.
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2009
5:45 pm
Clouding up big-time at the ballyard. One of those pop-up storms, I’d say. Just call me Ken Cook.
BT
June 27th, 2009
5:45 pm
GA charges the sharp hit to left by Kotsay, comes up throwing with his rifle arm and nails the runner at home. That is what happened isn’t it?
All I'm Saying Is...
June 27th, 2009
5:45 pm
Bradley: You try playing the outfield position over 162 games, many of them in 100 plus degree temperatures, and let’s see you back up every ground ball hit to an infielder and hustle on every single play…I’m not excusing GA, I’m just pointing out that you are making a mountain out of a mole hill giving the real problems (lack of hitting and/or power from RF, 1B, and 2B are killing us overall (plus you could have put CF and LF in that group too up until Nate’s arrival and GA turning it on a bit) we obviously have as a team.
Reid Adair
June 27th, 2009
5:46 pm
Come on, Mark. Why should you avoid John Smoltz? I certainly hope it’s not because you are worried about what his reaction to all of your written criticism of him might be.
bali
June 27th, 2009
5:47 pm
in your opinion who are the braves that hustle and give effort and those that do not/ wonder why they keep playing people who are just going through the motions
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2009
5:48 pm
I just wouldn’t want to subject either of us to one of those Awkward Moments, Reid. Life is too full of Awkward Moments as it is.
Blanco with a leadoff single.
All I'm Saying Is...
June 27th, 2009
5:49 pm
That storm cell hitting Sandy Springs right now is heading south by southeast (down I-75) but will likely miss Turner Field as its angling more eastward (per my desktop weather application on my p.c. courtesy of The Weather Channel)….
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2009
5:49 pm
I think the Braves hustle and give professional effort, with the occasional exception of Mr. Escobar.
Homer
June 27th, 2009
5:49 pm
“Yeah, Moe, that team (The Braves)sure did suck last night. They just plain sucked! I’ve seen teams suck before, but they were the suckiest bunch of sucks that ever sucked!”
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2009
5:50 pm
Thanks, All I’m Saying. And we’ll call you … how about Glenn Burns?
Or would you prefer Dagmar?
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2009
5:52 pm
Alert the wire services! (Actually, they know. Mr. Newberry is sitting behind me, as was mentioned earlier.) The Braves just executed a sacrifice bunt. Martin Prado did the deed. Man on second, No. 10 at the plate.
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2009
5:53 pm
More rotten luck. No. 10 hit the ball hard for the first time all day, but Pedroia gloves it. Two out, No. 16 at the plate.
All I'm Saying Is...
June 27th, 2009
5:53 pm
Bradley and Smotlz are both acting egotistically cowardly by not burying the little grudge they have. Egotistically in that they each believe this thing between them is REALLY IMPORTANT such that neither can speak or acknowledge each other (like any of us really care) and cowardly because neither one will actually bring it up, put it behind them, and move on to (far) more interesting things…(honestly, Bradley, please stop writing about whatever it is that’s got you and Smoltz’s underwear in a wad—most of us really don’t give a hoot.
bali
June 27th, 2009
5:53 pm
always thought dob was a wild cherry kind of guy
NCBravesFan
June 27th, 2009
5:53 pm
Could say Guy Sharpe with a pulse. But that would be a little creepy.
dawgfan1911
June 27th, 2009
5:54 pm
Vasquez is dealing but you know this line-up the Braves are throwing out here is horrible. They look like a minor league hitting line-up and Mcain is the only threat in the batting order. Chipper looks old, his swings look slow and of course noone else is doing anything as usually. The starters this year have pitched their azzess off and the hitters arent doing anything, another line out by Chipper??????? This is one of the most boring teams in baseball to watch. They need to clean house fire bobby cox, frank wren, terry i dont do anything pendelton and start over from scratch.
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2009
5:55 pm
It would be creepy, NC. But it did make me laugh. Out loud.
McCann grounds to first. Into the seventh, 1-0 Sox. And I’ll admit this Braves’ lineup isn’t looking like Harvey’s Wallbangers against Tim Wakefield.
All I'm Saying Is...
June 27th, 2009
5:58 pm
More on Francoeur (per MLB.com):
On one hand, in the 45 games that he’s played dating back to May 1, Francoeur has hit .229 with two homers and a .557 OPS. In addition, Francoeur has hit just .226 in his past 62 at-bats with runners in scoring position.
On the other hand, Francoeur is batting .317 with a 5/4 BB/K ratio since the beginning of June.
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2009
5:58 pm
About here, the aging Mr. Bradley feels compelled to educate you younger folks. Tim Wakefield beat the Braves in Game 3 of the 1992 NLCS and was way ahead in Game 6, and we geniuses down the right-field line in the auxiliary press box at the old stadium decided Pittsburgh manager Jim Leyland needed to pull the knuckleballer from Game 6 and then start him in Game 7 the next night. But Leyland didn’t, and the Pirates’ starting pitcher — Doug Drabek — carried a shutout into the bottom of the ninth. Whereupon Terry Pendleton led off with a double into the right-field corner.
I have no memory of what happened next.
bigmacattack
June 27th, 2009
5:59 pm
If Javy or the bullpen gives up just 1 more run and this thing will be a blowout
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2009
5:59 pm
And with that, Tim Wakefield is removed for a pinch-hitter. Mike Lowell flies to right. Seventh-inning stretch.
dawgfan1911
June 27th, 2009
6:02 pm
By the way, screw John Smoltz and I hope he gets knocked around all year long! He wanted out of Atlanta but tried to blame the Braves like it was the organization that was getting rid of him. He wont last an entire year with Boston he will be hurt again.
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2009
6:02 pm
Can I just say something? “Thank God I’m a Country Boy” does nothing for me. Of course, I’m an urbanite from the metropolis of Maysville, Ky.
NCBravesFan
June 27th, 2009
6:05 pm
It’s only 1-0 but it feels like we’re behind by six runs, doesn’t it?
Life in the 'box
June 27th, 2009
6:05 pm
GA gets barbequed for slacking off on a play, yet “journalists” can blog back and forth between each other separated by 2 feet and that’s doing what you’re paid to do????
StingerSplash
June 27th, 2009
6:05 pm
At what point is it good pitching (Beckett and Wakefield) and just plain lousy hitting (1 run through 16 innings at this point)?
And, Mr. Bradley, tell Paul he saw me as shotgun to Jay again at Augusta National, just like the old days.
NO MORE BOBBY
June 27th, 2009
6:06 pm
SMOLTZ FOR MANAGER 2010
dawgfan1911
June 27th, 2009
6:06 pm
the Braves need to get rid of Garret Anderson, Francour, Kelly Johnson, Kotchman, and bring up the young guys from the farm system and let them play. We have nothing to lose. I know we are only 4 games out but with this lineup we cant beat any of the teams in front of us. Bring up the young guys and let them do what these old guys are doing now, Fly out, pop out, ground out, strike out, its terrible to watch. That inning lasted all but 4 minutes. Its horrble. I love the Braves but I am ashamed at what I am watching on the field.
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2009
6:06 pm
Manny Delcarmen just threw a pitch the scoreboard registered as 96 mph. The one fastball I remember Tim Wakefield throwing was clocked at 74 mph.
The_Superhoo (Montana by way of Virginia)
June 27th, 2009
6:06 pm
SIGH. on the one day we get offense, we have no pitching. Then we get pitching back, and have no offense.
Pathetic.
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2009
6:08 pm
Good pitching beats good hitting. And good pitching beats the living heck out of bad hitting.
BugKiller
June 27th, 2009
6:09 pm
But Mark, come on man.
Cox would NEVER have come back from 3-0 down to beat the Yankees in the ALCS.
And you can bet your butt that Cox would have found SOME way to lose to the far-less-talented Rockies two years ago in the Series.
Just as he did in 1993, 1996 (when up 2-0), 1998, and 2000.
Bobby Cox can’t hold Francona’s jock, to use a baseball expression.
Francona, when given a great team, produces.
Cox, when given great teams, underwhelms.
The new revised-history of the Atlanta Braves has Cox taking control of mediocre talent and winning 14 straight divisions with them.
How quickly EVERY Cox Apologist forgets that for a time, the Braves WERE the Red Sox and Yankees.
Without, you know, the multiple trophies.
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2009
6:11 pm
My apologies to BugKiller. I gave a shout-out to Cox critic Larry above but plumb neglected his comrade. Won’t happen again.
sidslid
June 27th, 2009
6:13 pm
There is an Eric Clapton look-alike making the moves on a Mike Smith look-alike in “The Plaza”
YoungerThanThatNow
June 27th, 2009
6:14 pm
Mr. Bradley (see how polite I am) you look much too urbane to hail from Maysville KY… I’ve been there!!
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2009
6:15 pm
Sid, I’m going to pretend I didn’t read that.
Great battle here. Vazquez still throwing seeds, Youkilis fouling off Strike 3. Two real pros at work.
YoungerThanThatNow
June 27th, 2009
6:16 pm
Enter your comments here
Jon
June 27th, 2009
6:16 pm
“And good pitching beats the living heck out of bad hitting.”
I would crack wise about a lead off hitter averaging barely above .100, but given his 2-3 performance so far, I’ll cut Blanco some slack.
The_Superhoo (Montana by way of Virginia)
June 27th, 2009
6:16 pm
UGH. great.
All I'm Saying Is...
June 27th, 2009
6:16 pm
Kelly Johnson: 229 at bats in 2009 and a .218 average with 5 homers, 20 RBIs, 15 doubles, 20 walks and 39 strikeouts—-most teams have either speed or sluggers playing second base and Braves are getting neither this year [Dan Uggla with Marlins: 256 at bats in 2009 and a .223 average with 15 homers, 45 RBIs, 11 doubles, 40 walks, and 60 strikeouts]
Casey Kotchman: 211 at bats in 2009 and a .275 average with 2 homers, 28 RBIs, 17 doubles, 17 walks, 23 strikeouts—most teams get far more from their 1B at the plate [Pujols: 256 at bats in 2009 and a .328 average with 28 homers, 75 RBIs, 17 doubles, 58 walks, 29 strikeouts]
Pujols is a future HOF but not Uggla.
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2009
6:16 pm
And Youkilis triples off the right-field fence on the 11th pitch of the at-bat. What a ballplayer.
Vazquez is done. O’Flaherty to pitch to Ortiz.
BravesGrrrl
June 27th, 2009
6:18 pm
Would you say there are more Sox fans or Braves fans in attendance? On TV, it looks like a Sox homegame. Frustrating . . .
Gaijin
June 27th, 2009
6:18 pm
121 pitches – and now Cox is pulling him!
BAD play by Francouer – either catch the ball or play it off the wall – you live out there for crying out loud – you should KNOW if you have a chance or not!
YoungerThanThatNow
June 27th, 2009
6:19 pm
Vazquez is coming out with two out in the eighth and has pitched much too good to be trailing by a run, with not much hope of the score changing before the whistle blows. IMO that’s about as good a job toeing the rubber as one can do against the BoSox.
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2009
6:19 pm
Actually, he’s not. He’s walking Ortiz intentionally to get to Mark Kotsay. Don’t get that one.
Shamus Thacker
June 27th, 2009
6:19 pm
Is Russ Minshew forecasting from prison (where he belongs) nowadays?
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2009
6:20 pm
I know Big Papi has a zillion big hits in his career, but Kotsay is hitting .306 to his .220. Weird.
The_Superhoo (Montana by way of Virginia)
June 27th, 2009
6:20 pm
yeah Mark, not a fan of this move….
Gaijin
June 27th, 2009
6:20 pm
So – Vasquez couldn’t intentionally walk Papi? Bringing in a reliever and having him throw four intentional just doesn’t make a lot of sense.
Another quality start (4 this month) and Vazquez won’t get a win – guess he really does have to throw shutouts to win.
dawgfan1911
June 27th, 2009
6:21 pm
O Flaherity………lol what a joke! They bring him in to walk someone.Since when does a starter go 8 innings gives up only 1 run strikes out 8 batters and cant get a freekking win? This sucks!
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2009
6:22 pm
But O’Flaherty gets Kotsay to pop to center. So maybe Cox does make the right move once in a while.
dawgfan1911
June 27th, 2009
6:22 pm
I am placing bets right now. The Braves inning will only last 10 minutes or less. A batter wont get past 1st base. All bets are on!
The_Superhoo (Montana by way of Virginia)
June 27th, 2009
6:23 pm
well, the move to pitch to Kotsay instead worked. Still think that move is highly suspect, but on we go to Bot 8, still only 1-0.
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2009
6:23 pm
Vazquez threw 121 pitches on a 95-degree day. And can’t get the victory.
Ken Stallings
June 27th, 2009
6:24 pm
Other than Chipper and McCann, I don’t think any Braves’ hitter is capable of doing what Youklis did to Vazquez. That’s professional hitting to foul off that many quality outside pitches in a row.
The big difference between the Braves and the Red Sox, is the Sox have many hitters with that kind of plate discipline and bat control. The Braves have at best two. That’s why despite excellent starting pitching the Braves at best will back into the playoffs and get eliminated quickly by a quality central or west division champion.
This game is another sad stew in the Braves receipe this season! Great pitching, no offense, no situational hitting, leave guys on base, and see the opponent eak out a run and send us home bitter.
I must love this team dearly to keep coming back to watch each game!
dawgfan1911
June 27th, 2009
6:24 pm
the clock starts now its 625
Reid Adair
June 27th, 2009
6:24 pm
One run in 16 innings heading into the bottom of the eighth. If the Braves don’t pull this one out, they’re six games under .500.
And yet, people still believe this offense (to use the term loosely) can turn it around and get this team to the playoffs.
Hawk01
June 27th, 2009
6:24 pm
Blanco gets a hit and is on 1st base and Bobby Cox does not have him steal 2nd with Wakefield on the mound. Knuckleball pitcher who has topped out at 74 mph on his pitches today and he does not have Blanco to steal. Even the announcers for FOX thought Prado should have been taking instead of trying to bunt so that Blanco could steal 2nd. If Blanco steals 2nd then Prado can bunt him to 3rd. Now instead of 3rd base, Blanco is at 2nd where he never moved. Face it Braves fans, Bobby Cox is over the hill and needs to go. It is very sad to see this team not make the playoffs for the 4th straight year. We need a Jim Leyland type of manager that will get in their faces and tell them to play hard or get released or sent down. Francouer (Corner outfielder with 5 HR), Bennett, Kotchman (1ST baseman with zero power of 2 HR), Anderson (No power, slow, can’t throw, can’t run), Norton,Carlyle (Why is he still in the MAJORS), Campillo all must go along with the Skipper Bobby Cox.
Jman
June 27th, 2009
6:26 pm
Is there a chance Yunel gets moved? If the Braves officially (and yes by officially I mean 8 or 9 games out) fall out how about Vazquez? Seems like the Braves could pretty much name their price since no other pitchers of his caliber are likely to be available…
John
June 27th, 2009
6:27 pm
how is it that the TV always seems to zoom in on Bobby when he’s -um- saying “something.” Happens every Fox broadcast.
BT
June 27th, 2009
6:27 pm
I would keep the bats away from Vasquez he could understandably go bezerk.
Necromancer
June 27th, 2009
6:27 pm
Mark,
didn’t you used to have a beard? I swore you used to have one..or am I confusing you with Steve Hummer?
BraveCat
June 27th, 2009
6:27 pm
Most of the Braves fans I know do not give a f*** what Smoltz thinks or does. He is an old over the hill loser who has an ego that got put in his place in the lowest of lows Washington DC (Liberal capital now!!! yeah) The Braves Management did not think he had nor did they think Tom Glavine have it!!! I am so proud of the Braves Management for ridding this team of losers like Glavine and Smoltz. I get sick of hearing from stupid fan who do not understand baseball is a business. Oh, they must be union reps in their respective fields (NOT) to think Glavine should have been kept. I watch the 1995 World Series tapes frequently. Smoltz………….you got pulled buddy. Go Braves. I hate that Bostonians live here amongst us. I may get knifed later.
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2009
6:27 pm
Not “people,” Reid. Just dumb Bradley here. (Although I did say they needed to trade Vazquez for Adam Dunn. Don’t know about that, either.)
dawgfan1911
June 27th, 2009
6:28 pm
ok it will only last more than 10 minutesbecause of the pitching chnge but there will not be a runner past 1st base
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2009
6:29 pm
I would say the Braves’ patience with Escobar is nearing its nadir.
Oh, and to answer the question from a little bit ago: There are more Braves fans here, but the Red Sox folks are louder. I’d say it’s 65-35 Braves fans.
All I'm Saying Is...
June 27th, 2009
6:29 pm
Red Sox have Pedroia at 2B, Youkilis at 1B, and Drew in RF.
Braves have KJohnson, CKotchman, and Francoeur.
Given the play of KJ, CK, and JF, is there any wonder why we stink? These three everyday players are killing us, especially at the plate.
And folks want to say its Bobby Cox fault?
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2009
6:30 pm
I would note that Drew is 0-for-4 with three K’s.
NCBravesFan
June 27th, 2009
6:31 pm
Mark – on the Bravo flip-flop: I prefer to think that you drew the “Shana straw” in the Point-Counterpoint pool with Schultz this week.
Ken Stallings
June 27th, 2009
6:32 pm
I’m not one of “those folks.” You give Bobby the Sox’ lineup, and we’d be world beaters. However, the dude they got is doing a pretty fine job himself!
But we used to have a lineup like this one. Then Liberty started writing the checks and they got a lot smaller!
Sigh!
BugKiller
June 27th, 2009
6:32 pm
Mark, I’m no one’s comrade. Better dead than Red!
Haha.
Seriously. I think I’m a tad less… eccentric (putting it nicely) than Larry.
More prone to bouts of logic, as it were.
I like to look at trends, and verifiable statistics which confirm certain arguments.
Particularly those arguments pertaining to the perpetually overrated Bobby Cox and the in-over-his-head Willie Martinez.
You can take numbers and stats, twist them this way and that, and make them try and fit any argument.
But a verifiable, irrefutable trend? You can’t fake those.
I need to be like Ross Perot and draw me up some graphs and charts and show up to a Mark Richt press conference as he continues to defend the indefensible (in more ways than one, natch!) Willie Martinez.
Haha.
Enjoy the drive home, Mark!
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2009
6:33 pm
Terry Francona. Really good manager. But he just took out Manny Delcarmen, a righthander who hadn’t yielded a baserunner, to summon Justin Masterson, another righthander who just walked Matt Diaz and wild-pitched him to second.
dawgfan1911
June 27th, 2009
6:33 pm
WOW a runner at second!
All I'm Saying Is...
June 27th, 2009
6:33 pm
Oh, yeah. We should definitely lose all patience and get rid of Escobar. The last thing we need is a young, everyday player who can field one of the toughest positions out there (SS) and hit close to .300 as well as hit with RISP. But don’t worry, it will be okay because Francoeur, Johnson, and Kotchman will save us.
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2009
6:34 pm
Actually, NC, I pretty much got to write what I believe. Which says something about me, huh?
Man on third, two outs. Prado at the plate.
All I'm Saying Is...
June 27th, 2009
6:35 pm
“I would note that JD Drew is 0 for 4 with 3 Ks.”
I would note that Francoeur stinks.
Gaijin
June 27th, 2009
6:35 pm
0 – 15 w/runners in scoring position this series – oops, 0 for 16!
Necromancer
June 27th, 2009
6:36 pm
Good grief..the Braves wreak…
dawgfan1911
June 27th, 2009
6:36 pm
Same results NOTHING!
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2009
6:37 pm
Prado flies gently — and I mean gently — to right. The Braves have scored one run in 17 innings. But, on the bright side, they scored it against Jonathan Papelbon, whom I’m guessing they’ll be seeing momentarily. And Chipper is leading off the ninth.
And Soriano is pitching.
Curtis Jones
June 27th, 2009
6:37 pm
This dud of a game would be entertaining only if Joe Buck and Artie Lange were in the booth.
Jman
June 27th, 2009
6:38 pm
all i’m saying is… You absolutely cannot afford a guy in the field with as short a fuse as Yunel has… Not to mention his utter inability to play the field at times. If we’re giving up on the season anyway he might as well be traded for a some decent future talent. Yunel is well on his way to becoming Milton Bradley. Get rid of him while you can Braves.
Curtis Jones
June 27th, 2009
6:38 pm
Cox must have a really, really low opinion of Matt Diaz if he can’t crack that outfield.
Ken Stallings
June 27th, 2009
6:39 pm
Remember Junior Samples and Roy Clark from Hee Haw? It was the “Empty Arms” hotel! Well, we got the shack down the road … “Cracked Bats!”
Gaijin
June 27th, 2009
6:39 pm
What is really irritating is I only get to see the Braves anymore when they are nationally televised and THIS is the kind of game I get to see.
No offense, absolutely no fire shown – the TV just showed some of the ‘faces’ of the players in the field – they look bored to death.
StingerSplash
June 27th, 2009
6:39 pm
The Braves are only 4 1/2 out (though that may be 5 1/2 in a few minutes). But the two questions from the weekend are:
Just how bad are the Braves?
And did Atlanta just run into the 2009 world champions, because the Sox look really, really good. Good pitching, good hitting, decent fielding, power, speed and lineup flexibility.
Necromancer
June 27th, 2009
6:40 pm
This team needs an overhaul..
I think an actual owner who cares and doesn’t use this team as a tax write-off would be a welcomed change.
Someone with the intensity of Mark Cuban..but not actually Mark Cuban.
Curtis Jones
June 27th, 2009
6:41 pm
Just realized that we’re almost at the midway point of the season, and our first baseman has only 2 more home runs than I do.
All I'm Saying Is...
June 27th, 2009
6:41 pm
“I would note that JD Drew is 0 for 4 with 3 Ks.”
I would note that JD Drew has a .264 batting average (lifetime .283)
I would note that JD Drew has 9 homers, 2 triples, 15 doubles, & 33 RBIs
I would note that Francoeur has a .249 batting average (lifetime .266)
I would note that Francoeur has 5 homers, 2 triples, 8 doubles, & 32 RBIs
No matter, I would still trade Francoeur for JD Drew straight-up despite Drew’s awful day at the plate.
NCBravesFan
June 27th, 2009
6:41 pm
That’s cool, Mark. These Braves can seduce for prolonged three game or so stretches. I thought the column made some good points about how the Braves could play, especially with Dunn in the lineup.
I worry that we haven’t seen nearly the best of the Phils yet and that’s clouded our judgment about the division a bit – and I suspect they will load up soon with an arm or two and make reservations for October.
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2009
6:41 pm
Don’t get me started on Junior Samples, the pride of Cumming, Ga. A great hero of mine.
It’s hard to get excited when you can’t hit, Gaijin.
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2009
6:43 pm
OK, people! I feel a rally coming! Who’s with me?
BugKiller
June 27th, 2009
6:44 pm
Bobby Cox had a similar low opinion of Ryan Klesko.
Who then showed the kind of production in San Diego that the Braves COULD have gotten out of left field as Gant’s replacement if they had a competent manager.
Yet another of Cox’s humiliating multi-year terrible decisions which negatively impacted the team.
Gaijin
June 27th, 2009
6:44 pm
Ok – here’s a chance to really salvage my day – Chipper and McCann against a quality fastball – nobodies in scoring position, so….maybe like last night – bases empty – no pressure HR???
Vazquez deserves NOT to be the losing pitcher – just hoping I guess.
a643dp
June 27th, 2009
6:45 pm
If we dont score in the next inning these are the offensive numbers it makes me want to puke.
9 times braves have been shutout (12%)
6 times braves have scored one run (8%)
11 times braves have scored two runs (15%)
35% of the time the Braves cant score more than 2 runs a game
The average MLB baseball game total score is around 9.6 runs a game
The Braves have only scored more than 5 runs in 24 games(32%)
68% the time the Braves are below average offensively
And Wren, Bobby and TP still have jobs.
Reid Adair
June 27th, 2009
6:45 pm
Mark, it hasn’t been just you. There have been many people (MANY) from the discussions all the way back on the Glavine deal who said they believed the offense would turn it around, get some consistency and get this team to the playoffs.
I really don’t see that happening. At least, not with this current lineup.
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2009
6:48 pm
Papelbon throwing mid-90s, according to the stadium gun. Chipper fouling off Strike 3. He’s not a bad ballplayer, either.
All I'm Saying Is...
June 27th, 2009
6:48 pm
Jman: you and everyone who feels that way about Yunel are dumber than a rock. I have read person after person talk about Yunel but no one consistently writes about how crappy KJ, Kotchman, and Francoeur are or how we should replace them but let Yunel botch a play or flip his helmet the ‘wrong’ way and everybody wants to trade him. And now, you have the nerve to compare Yunel to Milton Bradley? That’s the dumbest thing I’ve read in a long time. Plus, given the way our team is playing, you want to trade him? What, you don’t think the rest of the league is aware of his talent and will somehow give us back someone close to his equal or someone who might be better? I mean do you even think that, say, Texas will take him and trade us back Elvis? Yeah, they are that dumb.
We need to spend more time correcting our obvious deficiencies at RF, 1B, and 2B instead of worrying about or trying to trade away Escobar.
At a minimum, we need to give Yunel (this is only his 3rd full year in majors) at least as many years to get it together as we apparently are going to give Francoeur (this is his 4th full year in the majors).
Michael
June 27th, 2009
6:48 pm
The Anderson discussion reminds me of an article in Baseball Prospectus this winter that made the point that the Braves should have spent extra money on Dunn or Abreu because they were a left-fielder from being a playoff team and making the playoffs would pay for the extra payroll. Think about that as we’re four games out with two of the weakest corner outfielders in baseball.
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2009
6:49 pm
But No. 10 pops up eight feet from home. Two outs to go.
Ken Stallings
June 27th, 2009
6:49 pm
“That wouldn’t be a home run in a phone booth!” — Harry Caray.
I don’t think Chip would mind me quoting his grandfather!
mike
June 27th, 2009
6:50 pm
Clearly this team is poised for a run. After a great start to this homestand, I think the only standing between us and the division title is the Nationals. Hope we can hold them off.
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2009
6:52 pm
Nasty slider. McCann swings over it for Strike 2. And then hits one to warning track, where Drew and Jacoby Ellsbury collide but Drew gloves the ball. One out left, and …. look, it’s Glidin’ Garret!
Necromancer
June 27th, 2009
6:52 pm
Sounds more like the Braves are playing at Fenway Park..
very sad…
Gaijin
June 27th, 2009
6:52 pm
That’s the JD I know – he always did play JUST for himself – wish they would have dropped the ball!
All I'm Saying Is...
June 27th, 2009
6:53 pm
Glidin Garret is batting .280. What’s Francoeur up to?
All I'm Saying Is...
June 27th, 2009
6:54 pm
And signing Adam ‘Mr. Whiff’ Dunn isn’t going to get it done, Bradley. What about 2B and 1B? Do you have any suggestions about filling those holes? Or are you going to write about Escobar or type Glidin Garrett again?
Reid Adair
June 27th, 2009
6:54 pm
Ken Stallings, the payroll with Liberty is actually a bit HIGHER than it was in the last year or so with Time-Warner.
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2009
6:55 pm
And Garret Anderson doubles past Ellsbury to the gap! Keep hope alive!
Gaijin
June 27th, 2009
6:56 pm
GA just teasing us – c’mon – let’s NOT go 0 for 17 w/runners in scoring position!
Gaijin
June 27th, 2009
6:56 pm
Ok – I think they’re on TBS tomorrow – so I get to watch them TRY to hit tomorrow. What a tremendously disappointing exhibition the Braves put on today!!!
They do lead the league in being shutout – is that an offensive category? Or simply offensive to fans?
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2009
6:56 pm
Casey Kotchman at the plate. Swings at first pitch. Grounds to second. Ballgame.
mike
June 27th, 2009
6:57 pm
What a great piece of hitting by Kotchman. Another great effort from the JV squad.
Ken Stallings
June 27th, 2009
6:57 pm
Mark, turn out the lights on your way out. I think you might be the last one left!
Reid Adair
June 27th, 2009
6:57 pm
And so much for the glimmer of hope that Papelbon gave the Braves on the double by Garret Anderson. Nice roller by Kotchman to end the game.
One run in 18 innings. Javier Vazquez has to be loving today’s offense.
All I'm Saying Is...
June 27th, 2009
6:57 pm
Adam Dunn’s strikeouts in a season:
2008 164Ks in 517 At Bats
2007 165Ks in 522 At Bats
2006 194Ks in 561 At Bats
(anyone notice a trend here?—apparently not Bradley.)
Curtis Jones
June 27th, 2009
6:57 pm
Shouldn’t Kotchman’s jersey # be 43? So we’ll go ahead and put that in our scorebook before he swings the bat?
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2009
6:58 pm
And the Bravos still haven’t won a series since Memorial Day. And they’re now five games out of first. And their next four games are against division leaders.
Wasn’t it just last Wednesday I was being all optimistic? Am I an idiot or what?
All I'm Saying Is...
June 27th, 2009
6:59 pm
Way to come through with a double GA right after Bradley makes another one of his asinine comments. And what did Mr. Kotchman do? Swings at the first pitch to end the game but doe we have a nickname for Kotchman’s season long stint of mediocrity, Bradley? Huh? Do we? Still want us to trade for Adam ‘Special K’ Dunn?
mike
June 27th, 2009
6:59 pm
Yes.
Ken Stallings
June 27th, 2009
7:00 pm
If you are, then take a number!
mike
June 27th, 2009
7:00 pm
Enter your comments here
Rogers Nelson
June 27th, 2009
7:00 pm
Trade Francouer and KJ both for one power hitting outfielder, put Infante at 2nd when he gets back, and then we’ve got the Division.
Shadetree
June 27th, 2009
7:00 pm
Disgusting is all I can say about the Braves
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2009
7:01 pm
Headed downstairs for incisive interviews. Wanna bet Balls 3 and 4 to Ortiz are mentioned in the Braves’ clubhouse?
You all have it for a few minutes, and I’ll check back.
braves70
June 27th, 2009
7:01 pm
Glad that snooze fest is over. Now we can watch the AAA G-Braves on CS Sports and we might see a Brave actually score a run.
StingerSplash
June 27th, 2009
7:01 pm
A good AB by Anderson. Prado also has played well of late (don’t know if he’s a 500 AB a season guy, but he is valuable).
But this still a fairly punchless lot. Red Sox crew was effusive in their praise of McCann all day long.
Stating the Obvious
June 27th, 2009
7:02 pm
Yes, you are ain idiot.
BTW – There probably isn’t more than 15,000 BoSox fans there, but 15,000 FANS will always make more noise than 35,000 spectators.
mike
June 27th, 2009
7:02 pm
Look at the bright side, Bennett didn’t blow the lead today. See….we’re making progress. Now, who else can we get to break their hand?
dawgfan1911
June 27th, 2009
7:02 pm
Every last hitter that played today should donate a game salary check to some charity. Watching the Braves is just down right boring and disappointing. Why is Terry pendalton still the hitting coach? Hell why is Bobby Cox still here for that matter but I alreay know the answer to that. Man after garret Anderson fights of several pitches and gets a doouble Kotchman swings at the first pitch for a ground out. Clean House get rid of the old useless players. They are just collecting a pay check
All I'm Saying Is...
June 27th, 2009
7:02 pm
Remain optimistic, Bradley, because as long as we are within 10 games of first, we still have a shot.
What you might want to do is criticize all of the Braves contributing to our poor record — how about calling out Kotchman and Kelly Johnson instead of spending all of your time on GA? And please come up with a better suggestion than trading (of all things) for Adam Dunn. We already have a huge sucking sound in our line-up and the last thing we need to do is add Dunn and his strikeout ratio of once every 3 to 4 at bats.
Rogers Nelson
June 27th, 2009
7:03 pm
Can we put David Ross in right field?
Shadetree
June 27th, 2009
7:03 pm
If I was Vasquez I would want them to trade me. Again, disgusting.
Shadetree
June 27th, 2009
7:08 pm
Why would the Marlins trade Ross. Heck, they’re probably going to win the division. I would take Dunn’s stirkeout every 3 or 4 at bats because he will give us some RBI’s. Better than what we have. I would trade for prospects and call it a year.
StingerSplash
June 27th, 2009
7:09 pm
Braves have now lost series to …
Orioles
Reds
Red Sox
Yankees
Red Sox.
And they split a series with Pittsburgh — right after losing a series to Milwaukee.
Talking about seeking your own level. They have sought, found and ensconced themselves in it. Mediocrity, not velvet, that is.
Shadetree
June 27th, 2009
7:10 pm
I enjoyed the 70’s and 80’s Braves more than I’ve enjoyed watching this crud.
Curtis Jones
June 27th, 2009
7:11 pm
I can’t imagine how putting David Ross on the field somewhere (1B, LF) could possibly make this team worse.
bigstack19
June 27th, 2009
7:12 pm
Shutout 10 times this season. Had 34 games where they have scored 4 runs or less with the emphasis being on less. In those games they are 4-30. There are no fixes for a team that can’t hit, and that can’t steal bases, and that can’t do the little things to manufacture runs and win games.
Shadetree
June 27th, 2009
7:14 pm
I can hear Skip now.
Braves stink!
Braves stink!
Braves stink!
mike
June 27th, 2009
7:15 pm
Maybe there’s a AA team ou there with a whole in their schedule the Braves could fill.
Shadetree
June 27th, 2009
7:15 pm
The Braves aren’t even a AA team.
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2009
7:28 pm
And there’s more good news, folks. Tommy Hanson has the flu and is, per Bobby Cox, doubtful for tomorrow’s start. In which case Medlen would toe the slab.
No excuse.
June 27th, 2009
7:28 pm
Atlanta Braves baseball.
Uninspired. Anemic. A waste of time.
Shadetree
June 27th, 2009
7:31 pm
Mark,
What are they saying in the locker room. How embarassed are they? Has anybody given their paycheck back?
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2009
7:34 pm
No one gave his paycheck to me. But there seems a sense of great frustration, and I’m going to try and write something about it right this minute.
Shadetree
June 27th, 2009
7:34 pm
Instead of calling some one else out has Chipper called himself out?
Shadetree
June 27th, 2009
7:36 pm
Frustration was 3 weeks ago. Pissed off is the sense today. At least for me.
mike
June 27th, 2009
7:41 pm
Come on guys. They’re “one hit away”, “a call here or there”, “a couple of bad pitches”, from “being a good ball club.”
I know it’s not true, but it’s what the Braves have become accustomed to using to justify their play.
And for those of you that think the Braves are one hitter away from being a solid team, you really need to be a bit more realistic. Their lineup is really pretty anemic. They are 3-4 players from being solid.
Ken Stallings
June 27th, 2009
7:44 pm
For the record, anyone who wanted to focus upon the two no-called strikes to Ortiz, that would have merely sent the game to extra innings. I’m sure by at least inning 18 the Sox would have squeaked out a run to win!
No excuses.
June 27th, 2009
7:45 pm
Atlanta Braves.
Lowering the bar for underachievers everywhere.
DirtyDawg
June 27th, 2009
7:47 pm
For some reason I hadn’t seen MB’s piece on ‘his favorite pitcher’, but I congratulate him on calling Smoltz out. This guy, as great as he’s been, has also been a whining prima-dona his whole career – just ask his ex-wife and neighbors. This whole thing about his signing with the Red Sox instead of the Braves was simply that he didn’t want to have to work that hard in order to ‘earn’ his $5.5 million by showing that he could indeed pitch after surgery at his age…and he still hasn’t shown it despite all the camera coverage and feel-good comments form the faux announcers today.
This business of GA being a ‘glider’ and ’sanguine’ has got to be being delivered with a tongue poking through the cheek. Dead lice wouldn’t fall off of him. OK, so he got the hit in the ninth to get our hopes up, but then they didn’t bother to pinch-run for him…with that Kotchman must have figured, ‘if they don’t care enough to put somebody in that just might score on a base hit, then what’s the use’.
You can say all you want about Yunel being the only one that doesn’t seem to be hustling, but I’ve got a couple more – GA for sure and the HOFer at third. Yes, Chipper is so ‘in a funk’ at the plate, he just doesn’t seem to give a s**t…so why should we.
I suppose that they’ll bitch about the calls on Ortiz, but on replay they both looked ‘off the plate’…my bitch is that the damn knuckleballer got every call there was all day long – and the game last week as well – but a regular, hard-thrower, like Javy didn’t get crap from the guy. There ought to be a law against calling a knuckle-ball a strike – they either hit it, miss it, or walk.
Watching the NL East’s futility of late, I’m reminded of something my Dad used to say when asked about the outcome of a lackadaisically played game between two mediocre teams, namely, ‘One of ‘em was sorry and the other was glad of it’…only with this Division it’s ‘all of ‘em are sorry and the rest are glad of it’.
Dave
June 27th, 2009
7:50 pm
If Chipper and Brian aren’t hitting, we DOA.
mike
June 27th, 2009
7:53 pm
Chipper and Brian? Chipper is a mid-level third baseman at this stage of his career. He’s been living on his past exploits for about 3 years now. When was the last time anyone really looked at the Braves as dependent on Chipper’s production? This is soon to be McCann’s team. Trouble is….why would he want it?
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2009
7:54 pm
Chipper described the lineup as “offensively challenged” and said he meant “the whole lineup — nobody’s exempt.”
Hawk01
June 27th, 2009
7:54 pm
new lineup when Infante returns. Francoeur must be benched or sent to AAA. Give Diaz a shot. Try to trade Anderson. He can still hit, but he can not run, and looks bad in the outfield. Package Francouer, Kotchman, Bennett, and Johnson for some Power.
McClouth CF
Infante 1B
CJones 3B
McCann C
Diaz RF
Escobar SS
Prado 2B
Blanco LF
mike
June 27th, 2009
7:56 pm
No offense Hawk, but that lineup doesn’t strike fear into the hearts of any MLB pitching staff that I’m aware of.
And if it did, the bullpen would find a way to make it all for not.
No excuses.
June 27th, 2009
8:02 pm
Atlanta Braves.
Remember the 90’s.
Hawk01
June 27th, 2009
8:04 pm
Is Bobby Cox trying to win or is he just over the hill. Anderson on 2nb with the tying run and he does not send out Jair Jurrjens or Johnson to pinch run. Anderson could have only scored on a long single or an extra base hit. He is enamored with Francouer. OK Francouer you have been given your home town discount by not being sent down earlier………………it is time for you to sit in Atlanta or play in Gwinnett. We got nothing for Texiera, absolutely nothing. Call it a year. Sit down with Chipper and see if he would like to go to the American League because he can not play 3B this year. We have to replenish our minor league system.
crimedog
June 27th, 2009
8:07 pm
mike, you’re aware Chipper won a batting title last season?
Hawk01
June 27th, 2009
8:12 pm
Mike, you are so right, but heads need to roll. A 1B with 2 hr and a corner outfielder with 5 hr. Speed,power, and pitching win games. We have sort of like 1 out of 3 with the pitching. Get Jim Leyland next year. We do not need anyone that has been close to the players such as Hubbard, TP, McDowell etc.
mike
June 27th, 2009
8:12 pm
Seems I remember. It was such an impact on the Braves that they finished……..
Beautiful Monte
June 27th, 2009
8:20 pm
I’m surprised Mr. Bradley is wasting his time with the Braves.
I mean, not a single one of them has a long track record of abhorrent behavior that culminated with with a stint in Federal prison, so they’re obviously not his kind of people.
mike
June 27th, 2009
8:29 pm
Unfortunately, I’m a Tiger fan also. They’ll never part with Leland unless he retires.
SthrnSrvy
June 27th, 2009
8:34 pm
I have stood beside the Braves, up and down. However, these past few games have opened my eyes. What the hell is going on, i knew the offense has struggled, but 19+ innings without crossing home?????? Too much good pitching going to waste…PICK IT UP BRAVOS
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2009
8:39 pm
Here’s tomorrow’s print column, if you’re so inclined.
About to head home now. Thanks to one and all for hanging out this afternoon. I can’t tell you how much I enjoy these live chats. (Really!)
Bill
June 27th, 2009
8:43 pm
Mark, did you get a chance to talk to Coach Mills or Coach Farrell while in Red Sox clubhouse? If so what was the info? Thanks for hard work, u#1.
MIKE lump
June 27th, 2009
8:49 pm
i just got back from the game and i was totally embarrassed for the Braves franchise. Everyone from booby on up should feel disgusted for not doing their job. I would be conservative if i called the mix 50-50 Braves to Red Sox fans. I have never felt so pathetic.. My team, the HOME team the team i love can’t compete. Hell we can’t even make people splurge on tickets.. I had to booo just to drown out the lets go red sox chants..Thats not a fan issue.. it’s an organizational issue. They aren’t marketable.. Braves are now the Royal’s and the Astros and that flat out sucks. Our offense is AAA with no signs of life. So all you other posters rearranging the batting order… stop it! Crap is crap! at on point today the next 3 batters had a combined batting average of 275.. thats 125+50+100.. hardly worth buying a ticket for! Liberty Media Please sell us so we can salvage at least an ounce of pride. I’m glad the game was national so now everyone will continue to enforce the stereotype that Atlanta is a fair weather city! UUUUUGGGGHHH!
Dawg A
June 27th, 2009
9:00 pm
Mark…. you mentioned the Red Sox clubhouse. Who are your top three favorite baseball players to talk to and then who are your top three least favorite? I coach baseball so I would also love to know who are your easiest managers to talk to and the most difficult ones to approach. Thanks … I would to know your opinion on these!
RT
June 27th, 2009
9:04 pm
I got a idea,bring up the minor league players now, why wait till sept.AND FIRE COX!
Larry
June 27th, 2009
9:19 pm
Mark,
“The next Bobby Cox?” Come on, Mark! Don’t insult Tito, the games best manager today in BOTH the regular and postseasons. Tito already has two World Series titles under his belt since 2004 and is the favorite to get number three this season.
Francona is sharp, has a versatile, disciplined and multi faceted (speed, power, hustle, fundamental and determined) group of players who doesn’t, as you and others like to say, WANT to play for their manager, but respect everything about his leadership, strategy and in-game decisions such that they feel COMPELLED to play their hearts out for him! How many Braves players other than McCann and McLouth (he’s new and untarnished by Cox…yet!) play their guts out for Cox every night?
And Mark, “Anna Nicole Smith” and Michelle (yes, Michelle) Jackson? Are you serious? Mark, the Braves’ season is appearing more and more hopeless every day, Many players are making October plans away from the ballpark already, and we have the worst in-game, decision making manager in the modern era and you go to the ball park and come back and write about a drug addicted, foul mouth playmate and a drug addicted pedophile?
Mark, please tell me you’re not really a girly man! You’re my only hope here other than the pandering DOB and the slightly off center Jeff Schultz. We need a writer to have the honesty and integrity to tell the truth, Mark! That writer could be you, buddy!
You can do it, Mark! I know you have it in you to once and for all tell it like it is! Then, when you do, you’ll not only be proud of yourself but you’ll never have to worry that the Braves will not let you in the clubhouse for the free food because I commit right here to letting you use my tickets right behind the plate, my access to the 755 Club, and I’ll buy you all the $8.00 hotdogs and $5.00 you can eat!
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2009
11:08 pm
My three favorite baseball players, speaking professionally: Glavine, Chipper and David Justice.
Least favorite: Lonnie Smith, Bruce Benedict (yelled at me once), Tom Seaver (phony).