Comments on: Chipper Jones: “I like our team … We’ve got a shot”

By: Dobearsbare

Dobearsbare — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 15:17:05 +0000

So Francouer has pared his roster of batting coaches from 1,000 down to four. Hmmmm … Someone else made refernce to sample size, which I only bring up to say this: Get back to me on Oct 4 with Francoeur’s stats with the Mets.

By: Marc in FL

Marc in FL — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 15:15:50 +0000

“No longer does Cox have to bat his first baseman seventh.”

Wasn’t that where Laroche was hitting last night?

This offense still sucks, but hopefully our rotation and the cavalry that’s coming in Infante, Hudson, Carlyle, and possibly Heyward is enough to get it done.

By: aswingruber

aswingruber — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 15:15:06 +0000

This team is much improved since the start of the season and Wren should be commended. The only questionable move would be giving a large contract to an unproven Japanese pitcher, money that could’ve been better spent on a much needed bat. The rest of the rotation would have held us up just fine and we could’ve plugged in another 4th/5th spot guy that could’ve pitched comparable to what KK’s done this year. Hindsight is 20/20 I suppose.

Despite the many improvements made, let’s be honest, this team has a slim to none chance of making the playoffs and slim just went on vacation. Five games back in the wild card with four teams to eclipse is a tall order. Two teams in front of us in the division with the defending world champs leading by seven games and now with one of the best pitchers in baseball. On the bright side, we’ve put ourselves in great position to make a run next year. “Next year.” Hmm, I’m hearing this way too often lately.

By: ChillyMutt

ChillyMutt — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 15:06:02 +0000

Re: Frenchy
He lost me last season when throwing a fit after being sent to the minors. Heck he couldn’t hit his way out of a paper bag. Sitting him on the bench wasn’t going to help him and he was killing us in the lineup. Thought that was pretty immature and selfish.

By: ChillyMutt

ChillyMutt — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 15:01:06 +0000

LMAO @ sonny Clusters. Bobble head night – brilliant! May the AADD jokes begin.

By: Diehard

Diehard — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 13:42:39 +0000

(From the NY Post) Since being acquired on July 11 in a classic change-of-scenery trade, Francoeur has benefited a lot more from his new scenery than the departed Ryan Church, who’s hitting .222 in Atlanta with one homer and four RBIs. Francoeur is regaining the swing that saw him post back-to-back 100-RBI seasons in 2006 and ‘07.

With two on and one out in the fifth, Francoeur charged Miguel Montero’s single and unleashed a dart that reached the plate without a hop to hold Stephen Drew at third, then he robbed Ryan Roberts of extra bases with a running grab in the ninth. But Francoeur has been even better at the plate.

After clubbing Jon Garland’s 2-2 slider out to left to lead off the fifth, Francoeur has four homers and 19 RBIs in his 19 games as a Met. He credits hitting coach Howard Johnson — as well as Jerry Manuel, David Wright and Gary Sheffield — with helping his Mechanics.

“It’s helped. That slider, I was able to get the foot down and put a good swing on it. Those are things I wasn’t doing a couple weeks ago,” said Francoeur.

So who is the Braves’ batting coach again?

By: TommyP

TommyP — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 12:49:30 +0000

Mark: It ain’t happening this year, my friend. I know you made your bold prediction with the Braves but it’s not gonna happen. This is a flawed team. And with the changes that have been made, it’s still not a playoff lineup. Great starting pitching but that’s not going to be enough.

Not endorsing it but the only way the Braves make it is if something spectacular happens….as in Heyward comes up and sparks the team.

By: Gov. Clinton Tyree

Gov. Clinton Tyree — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 11:51:58 +0000

Now or never. Thought they were rolling….bad week.

By: Dobearsbare

Dobearsbare — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 11:02:14 +0000

Late to the thread, but Jeff, those are some pretty telling statistics. But that run differential in any given year is a little on the finicky side. The Braves were -6 at the ASB, and they’re +19 now thanks to a two-week anomaly. It’s tough to believe they’ll continue playing that way for another two months..

On the Kotchman vs. LaRoche stuff, well, they get pretty much the same results. Same No. of RBIs, same OBP, same OPS. Kotchman hits for higher average; LaRoche has more homers and more walks. They get the same overall results in different ways. If there’s a clubhouse chemistry element, which has been hinted at here, then I guess advantage Braves. Otherwise, this deal is a wash.

By: The Braves: Bound for the Coast, a big week ahead | Mark Bradley

The Braves: Bound for the Coast, a big week ahead | Mark Bradley — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 08:38:56 +0000

[...] spent last night insisting that this could still happen, that the Braves are a better team than they were on Memorial Day or even the Fourth of July, that [...]