Numbers give Braves edge over the Nats in … baserunning?
"Even when I'm 40 years old, I'll still have better wheels than you, Rochy." (AP photo)
There’s a metric for everything in baseball. The fun ones are those that tell us something we might not have known just by using our eyeballs. Here, courtesy of an ESPN Insider post by Ben Lindbergh of Baseball Prospectus, is a key reason why the Braves might just overhaul Washington to take the National League East.
The Braves are very good at running the bases. The Nationals are not.
From Lindbergh:
Baseball Prospectus offers a stat called baserunning runs, which measures the number of runs a player adds or subtracts by advancing more or fewer bases than expected given his number of opportunities. The Braves and Nationals couldn’t be further apart on the BRR leader board. Atlanta is baseball’s best baserunning team with 13.7 BRR, while Washington is the worst with -14.9. The Braves have been almost four runs better than the next-best baserunning team, while the Nats fall a full five runs below the next worst.
Some of this will not be surprising. If you pay attention to the Nats’ games, you’ll see the overly aggressive rookie Bryce Harper getting thrown out a different base every night. (I exaggerate for effect.) And you’ll doubtless have noted that Jason Heyward — like Harper, Heyward was a hugely touted prospect — is truly outstanding in his baserunning. But Michael Bourn, according to BP’s BRR, is even better. Lindbergh again:
[Bourn and Heyward] rank first and third in the majors, respectively, in individual BRR. Bourn and Heyward have combined for 15.4 runs on the bases, which means their teammates have been a net negative.
I strongly advise you to read the entire article — the link requires registration — but I leave you with one more nugget. Lindbergh advises that Chipper Jones, who’s 40, has the lowest BRR rating among Braves at minus-2.6. Even so, he’s better than Adam LaRoche, the former Brave who plays first base for the Nats and who is eight years younger. LaRoche’s rating is minus-3.7.
LaRoche also happens to be Chipper’s best hunting buddy. Bragging rights!
Update: Mr. Lindbergh was kind enough to Tweet that the overly aggressive Bryce Harper I mentioned above has, in Mr. Lindbergh’s words, “actually been one of the few good baserunners on a bad running team.” (Harper’s BRR is 35th-best in baseball.) Another example of eyeballs — via MLB.com’s At Bat iPad app, I’ve watched a lot of the Nats the past few weeks — not necessarily telling the true tale. Which is why Baseball Prospectus and FanGraphs come highly recommended.
By Mark Bradley
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111 comments Add your comment
Hillbilly D
August 17th, 2012
10:50 am
The metric that really matters is which team scores the most runs in the game.
Greg
August 17th, 2012
10:52 am
First
Mark Bradley
August 17th, 2012
10:52 am
Well, that’s an important one.
Jtb
August 17th, 2012
10:59 am
But Bryce Harper hustles and loves the game Mark! Jason Heyward is just some lazy baseball player! These nerd stats just CANNOT be true!
bulldogbubba
August 17th, 2012
11:04 am
And remember Dan Uggla is “heating up”! L-O-L ! ! !
BravesWin
August 17th, 2012
11:05 am
Enter your comments here
bulldogbubba
August 17th, 2012
11:06 am
I also wonder if Sonny Clusters got his bobblehead last night?
BravesWin
August 17th, 2012
11:06 am
With a BRR that high, it would seem like more base stealing and hit-and run plays would figure into even more runs scored.
tooltime236
August 17th, 2012
11:08 am
Heyward stretching that hit into a double last night was some amazing hustle Jtb
evan
August 17th, 2012
11:08 am
Heyward and Bourn score from 1st like nobody’s business. Wonder who #2 is sandwiched in between them?
Mark Bradley
August 17th, 2012
11:12 am
According to the Baseball Prospectus BRR rankings, Mike Trout of the Angels is No. 2 — behind Bourn, ahead of Heyward.
Ostrich Racer
August 17th, 2012
11:17 am
In a universe of ridiculous number-crunching codswallop, that may be the dumbest calculation yet. As of today, of all the major statistical categories, the Nats are only in the MLB top ten in ERA (1st, at 3.27) and Saves (T-2d, with 40). Oh, and one other — Wins (1st, 70). That’s the only one that counts.
Paul
August 17th, 2012
11:17 am
Mike Trout has had an amazing year as a rookie. I cannot imagine what his ceiling could be. His effect on the game can be heard all the way across the country.
Quack Quack
August 17th, 2012
11:18 am
@Jtb
Surly you jest. J Hey has proven time and time again this season that he is all about hustle. How many runs have you seen scored from 1st base on a single? J Hey is rather rare, and still just a “kid” at this game. Watch him continue to grow.
GO BRAVES!!
Heisenberg
August 17th, 2012
11:23 am
As the old joke goes about the 2 guys being chased by a bear…”I do not have to run faster than the bear, I only have to run faster than you”. I think that is what Chipper is saying in the photo above.
mike/ in ATL
August 17th, 2012
11:31 am
I love how some people like JTB can be on thats NATS boat in say hidious remarks bout the braves. Jason Hayward a LAZY baseball player. Did u even watch what HARPER did last night? Made a complele bu-t out of himself when he got thown out at first slipping an falling on his rear. What did HAYWARD do last night?Well as far as baserunning he made a single into a DOUBLE on a blop hit. JTB the stats are right!!!! Get back on thats NATS BOAT, CUASE THIS IS BRAVES COUNTRY GO CHECK URSELF
longtimefan
August 17th, 2012
11:33 am
Jtb either has a fine sarcastic wit or is an idiot. I see the Heyward haters(and it truly was) as Chipper bashers have gone to ground. Couldn’t have been more wrong on either count, now could WE, Clusters.
During your conversations at the DQ was one of the topics about owning up. I heard they added crow to the menu at the DQ.
Lookaymyaverage
August 17th, 2012
11:35 am
Really jtb? Really?! Please post and tell us you are just kidding! Come on man! Where would the Braves be with JHey? This is our 3 hole hitter for the next 10 years it looks like! Come on man get serious!
Joel's
August 17th, 2012
11:41 am
@Jtb
You must be sarcastic cause that was complete crap you just wrote. Are u racist?
Nelson
August 17th, 2012
11:43 am
And what is the number for “slow motion” Mc Cann?
Birdhair
August 17th, 2012
11:45 am
Mark,
OBP and low ERA are the primary factors that should be considered. Baserunning runs? No. WOBA, OPS? Those are dervitive stats. If you’re going to rely on derivitive stats then that’s another problem. Ask the banks
Hillbilly D
August 17th, 2012
11:46 am
I don’t follow the Braves very closely but looking at Jason Heyward’s stats, his OBP is good, he scores runs, he drives in runs, what I have seen of him, his defense looks pretty good. Seems like he does his job, to me.
Greg
August 17th, 2012
11:47 am
Who cares? Wow this was a garbage blog. How about writing about how div 1aa football is expanding their playoffs to 24 teams and it was like pulling teeth to get a whopping 4 teams for major college football and some people act like that’s too many.
Sonny Clusters
August 17th, 2012
11:51 am
That photo reminds us of the deer tattoos and how Chipper and LaRoche have their own way of communicating with deer grunts. As for us, we admire the way Chipper is playing and while we do not consider him our hero and would not want him dating our sister, Honey Clusters, we feel that he is going out much better than he has played the past few seasons with all the thumb and toe and oblique and hammock bone issues. As for our being a basher . . . let’s keep an open mind here. We was reminded what our ol’ buddy Carl Sagan had to say, “It pays to keep an open mind, but not so open your brains fall out.” We will know in September if we are watching a championship organization or if we are watching the Braves that are almost good enough to get there, but not quite. Opening Day means something different to a deer hunter.
HOF 10
August 17th, 2012
11:51 am
Hey, let’s trade Pastornicky for Mike Trout. Seriously, though, Wren is the guy and none of us could do his job, but it is amazing that so many of us were screaming for Medlen while the GM was trying to trade top prospects for Dempster and others who would give us maybe 10 starts. Meds is really good, and the next serious talk about him down the road is going to be can we afford to keep him?
Bourn, of course, is gone after this season. We need him, but first we need new ownership that cares as much about winning as they do the bottom line. A top leadoff man who plays great defense will bring far more than the Braves will pay right now, even factoring in the money saved with the great Chipper’s retirement. Management never seems to re-invest such funds in new players.
coach13
August 17th, 2012
11:53 am
Quak- scoring from 1st on a single is a little misleading. I suppose if he were running on the pitch with 2 outs and it was deep in the right center gap but even Brian McCann should be able to make it to 2nd.
Zing
August 17th, 2012
11:54 am
Hey Mark, what’s your CAR? (Columns Above Replacement)
coach13
August 17th, 2012
11:55 am
Use as much of Chipper’s and D- Lowe’s money as possible to resign Bourn. You let him go it won’t matter who you sign, your time won’t be as good.
Sonny Clusters
August 17th, 2012
11:59 am
Yes, our Chipper Bobblehead is one of our most prized possessions. It will sit on the mantel with our Clusters Bobblehead from the STATE CHAMPION season. We had to take our first Bobblehead back last night because it had chin hair and we noticed Chipper did not. When we asked the usher for a clean shaven Bobblehead with a visible tattoo he looked up at us, and said, “You want WHAT?” We stayed there until we got what we asked for and we don’t know if they shaved that little Bobblehead or not.
Heisenberg
August 17th, 2012
12:02 pm
Nats & LaRoche have a mutual option for 2013. If Nats pursue Bourn (as expected), LaRoche would be odd man out as they would move Harper to LF & Morse to 1B. If Nats decline LaRoche and lose out on Bourn, their fallback would be Bernadina in CF. So either way LaRoche will be on the move again. I know he had his issues with Braves but it seems a guy this productive would have found a long term home by now.
Sonny Clusters
August 17th, 2012
12:03 pm
We just got filtered. The page was jumping around all over the place and ads were popping up and Ralph McGill was talking to us over the speakers and then we saw Jim Minter dancing across the screen and finally, ol’ Mark showed up and said he’d put our post up in just a few.
JoshTown
August 17th, 2012
12:05 pm
How has #WinOneForTheChipper not caught on yet?
lefty fielder
August 17th, 2012
12:06 pm
About the time I have Clusters figured out as wearing a plaid trucker shirt with 2 button-down front pockets, he quotes Carl Sagan.
Heisenberg
August 17th, 2012
12:08 pm
Sonny have you been eating the mushrooms growing in my yard?
longtimefan
August 17th, 2012
12:14 pm
The fact is the Braves rank right in the of the pack in MLB payroll, 16th out of 30. While I also would like to see some more funds directed to player salaries, many commenting on this blog would have you believe we are at the bottom. And as I have posted before, only 2 teams with higher payrolls this year have more wins- and the Yankees payroll is about double ours. I would say management has done a pretty fine job maximizing their resources.It appears that the facts don’t stand in the way of some people making silly statements. Give FW et al a chance to do their thing before you right off next season.
Zing
August 17th, 2012
12:16 pm
longtimefan — We might not be at the bottom, but we’ll be there soon, thanks to the awful local tv contract foisted on the Braves/Liberty Media/McGuirk by McGuirk/Turner. Sense any conflict of interest there by the way, on the part of McGuirk?
Brandon Lee
August 17th, 2012
12:23 pm
Mark Bradley is Lost in Baseball’s Fantsay Statistics… If These two teams were so diametrically Opposite in Base-running Skills, then the Braves Offense would not be Nearly as Impotent as it is… Hense Starters Feel they have to Pitch a Shutout as Kris Medlin performed, to have a Chance at Winning… Assomeone earlier Stated.. It’s the Team thatScores the most Runs Who Ends up in FIRST PLACE, Hence the Nationals Keep a Healthy Edge Over Atlanta… Mgrs are a More Important Statistic Factor to examine than just employing Sprinters who have not excelled in tthe Hitting dept… A Manager is worth More Runs for a Team than anyother Viable Statistic… Tony LaRussa was the Deciding Factor in St Louis Garnering the World Series Crown Last year, and why 99% of the Same team this year is Floundering. The Braves Will Never Become a Dominant Force in the NL East, until they Acquire someone who has the Ability to Get the Most Run Production out of the Materials they have…. Hitting Behind the Runner, to Advance a Runner one or Two Bases is an ART that FG Has NO CLUE how to instill in the Hitters… Just one example.
Tampa Fan
August 17th, 2012
12:29 pm
To say that an edge in baserunning could put our Bravos over the top in a matchup with the Nats is really a reach. By any objective measure, the Nats have the overall edge. The head-to-head record is all you need to look at. We may be getting ahead of ourselves anyway. Until they clinch a playoff spot, last year’s demons still lurk.
Mr. Dawg
August 17th, 2012
12:35 pm
The Braves just need to do their part and keep winning and hope that the Nationals have the kind of late season collapse that teams some times have (see the Braves in 2011). It will be very interesting to see how the Stephen Strasburg situation develops and whether or not the Nats really shut him down during what would be the stretch run for the penat and how that will affect them. In any event, the Braves base running has been noticeably great this year and that is definintely one reason they are in the hunt in Mid-August.
O'Brien
August 17th, 2012
12:39 pm
Mark,
The Braves have won 15 consecutive games started by Medlen, and he was awesome last night. Do you still think he should be sent back to the bullpen?
Sonny Clusters
August 17th, 2012
12:41 pm
Our teacher at Parkview once told us that it was nice to be important but it is important to be nice. That is why we are always nice to other bloggers and why we are always polite even to that little fella that’s always stalking us and posting about us and doesn’t understand baseball like we do. It is very simple – and a bit different this year – teams play 162 games to see who finishes at the top of the division. Teams that “win” the division can advance in the playoffs and now, there are two wild cards. Everybody will play and some will win and some will go deer hunting. Win the Division Series and go to the Championship Series. Win the Championship Series (notice first use of “Championship” by MLB in spite of what the Braves may tell us) and pick up your Championship pennant and then go for the World Series win. This may be oversimplified for some of you but we are trying to help the little fella that thinks those signs at Turner Field (even the one for 2010) represent championships. Gee, golly, wow! We do think the Braves have a chance this year – and if we are to believe Joe Simpson they will be led by the hottest hitter on the team, Dan Uggla. .215 hot!
urban redneck
August 17th, 2012
12:42 pm
holy capitalization, batman. go bravos.
Sonny Clusters
August 17th, 2012
12:47 pm
We like Jason Heyward a lot. Prado, too. Bourn will be gone, right? Who can play center field? Simmons is coming back. Janish could play second. Francisco at third? First is set with Freddie. Bethancourt at catcher? What if they use McCann’s money to keep Bourn? We was always destined to be a GM if we hadn’t gone on to second shift. As it turned out, it’s good we did because we like the benefits and we get to see most of the games.
Heisenberg
August 17th, 2012
12:47 pm
Brandon – “… then the Braves Offense would not be Nearly as Impotent as it is…”
********************************
Only Cards have scored more runs in NL than Braves. Did you mean Miami or San Diego?
VinceVanGo
August 17th, 2012
12:51 pm
All I know is that with McCann’s shoulder issue and Betencourt’s injury, the Braves better be on the lookout for a decent backup catcher in the next few weeks. I’m afraid they’re going to need one. With Diaz out and Fredi carrying only 2 catchers I wonder who the emergency catcher is, probably Prado.
Keith
August 17th, 2012
12:54 pm
Interesting article for those baseball nerds out there.
I admit, I’m one of them.
These next 3 series will really tell us what this team is made of.
Go BRAVES!
Sonny Clusters
August 17th, 2012
12:56 pm
We have been getting some e-mails from some of you wanting to know if Honey Clusters, our sister, is as good looking and athletic as us and the answer is, yes. Honey Clusters was voted Best Looking at Parkview just like us but she was in the female category and we was in the male category. She could always play ball and one time when Stinky Wintes was out sick Coach let Honey play in his place and she hit for the cycle. We did not like having her on the team though because of the ways guys talk in a locker room and we didn’t want her hearing that – not to mention the problems with her getting showered after the game. That’s why Clusters men are the ballplayers now and Clusters women mostly are into science and theology.
Keith
August 17th, 2012
12:57 pm
Re: VinceVanGo
Good point. I would think they’ve already thought about that…
reckingball
August 17th, 2012
1:05 pm
Is someone that wears a plaid trucker shirt with 2 button-down “front” pockets, incapable of quoting Carl Sagan?
p.s. I don’t recall ever seeing a shirt, that had pockets on the back. haha.
Hillbilly D
August 17th, 2012
1:09 pm
Our teacher at Parkview once told us that it was nice to be important but it is important to be nice.
That teacher must’ve sold Mary Kay products on the side.
jay
August 17th, 2012
1:13 pm
I’m pretty sure JTB was being sarcastic. Heyward has really come into his own this year with the baserunning. He doesn’t seem that fast, but those long strides really do get him going.
Sonny Clusters
August 17th, 2012
1:15 pm
We are not offended by that at all, reckingball. While we do not own a plaid trucker shirt, we could have been wearing one and nobody would ever know because this is a blog. Very few people know that we keep such good company and when we was talking with Bertrand Russell one time when we was a baby he said something like, “Collective fear stimulates herd instinct, and tends to produce ferocity toward those who are not regarded as members of the herd.” We’ve always remembered that and that’s a reason we don’t dress like everybody else.
longtimefan
August 17th, 2012
1:21 pm
The bloggers can write anything they want; I’m assuming posts outside the bounds of propriety will be censored by AJC. Some feel comfortable posting drivel or sarcastic putdowns of iconic players disguised as humor but act offended when called on their game. I doubt these same people who hid behind the anonymity of internet handles would spout the same bs directly to Chipper, McCann, Uggla, Heyward and others. It is so easy to criticize; I suspect the root of it comes down to one the big 7-envy. Hate it for you they make Millions-they can hit the 95 mph fastball.
lefty fielder
August 17th, 2012
1:24 pm
Most all of the people I’ve seen wearing plaid trucker shirts usually quote Roy Mercer.
C From Marietta
August 17th, 2012
1:26 pm
@Jtb
Jason Heyward:
.275 Avg. .350 OBP 16 SB 20 HR 60 RBI .493 SLG
Bryce Harper:
.245 Avg .321 OBP 13 SB 10 HR 32 RBI .396 SLG
Heyward is not lazy BTW.. I guess you missed the hussle double last night?
Joe
August 17th, 2012
1:31 pm
Mark-
Give us your best faith guess- what’s it going to cost to re-sign Bourne? Do the Braves have that in them? He’s become such a key player. And yet, at the length of contract he’ll demand, it’s a real risk for a speed player (speed is the first thing to go as an athlete ages).
Sonny Clusters
August 17th, 2012
1:35 pm
Well, our shirt right now is checkered and crisply pressed, we might add. At least we are not a longtime fan who complains of “anonimity” of people’s handles. If we blogged nonsense like longtime fan, we’d want to be anonymous, too. That’s why we always post using our name, Sonny Clusters. You can tell it’s us by our name and our punctuation and good grammar. As for having some opinions and expressing them we could always just say, golly, gee, really?!! When a Clusters pays to see baseball he wants to see good baseball and that’s what’s been happening most of the time this season. We hope it will continue because we remember what happened last year and so does a longtimefan if he really is a longtimefan.
Sonny Clusters
August 17th, 2012
1:42 pm
The problem with a couple little fellas on here who disagree with us is they want to tell us what to think. If they was growing up and never learned how to think it may be because somebody was telling them what to think like they are trying to do with us. If everybody thought like them we’d never have landed a man on Mars and and brought Francisco back from there to play third base.
Sundrop Kid
August 17th, 2012
1:45 pm
Apparently 2 or 3 posters on here missed JHey not hustling a couple of nights ago on that third out to end the game, when he swung at strike three. It took him about 10 steps to get going and then he wasn’t running full force when he neared the bag. He just assumed an easy out. That would have tied the game had he been safe at first which he missed by about a second or so. Not saying that he doesn’t hustle most of the time, but he takes some days off now and then and slacks off. Got to go all out all the time, especially when it means the difference in a win or a loss.
JAFO
August 17th, 2012
1:56 pm
SC just bringin the high heat today.
Stinger 2
August 17th, 2012
2:03 pm
Clusters: I have never tried to tell you how to think. In my responses to your countless negative posts about Braves players and management, I have simply told you what I think about them.
You obviously, like anyone else can think anything you wish. One final comment…I believe your intent is to enhance your followers on these blogs
by incorporating your own self-styled humor and gain attention. That is fine with me so don`t think I am saying anything against this.
JNick
August 17th, 2012
2:04 pm
Harper = grossly overrated…
Stac
August 17th, 2012
2:07 pm
I can see it now, Medlen back in the pen, Sheets sitting out and the rotation consisting of
Hudson, Hanson, JJ, Minor and someone else that Gonzo seems to like. He is more like Bobby Cox then he should be. Plays anyone who he think can do the job instead of who actually DOES do the job. I really hope the Braves get a new manager after this season. Gonzalez is not a good manager.
BravesWin
August 17th, 2012
2:07 pm
Agreed, Stinger…Sonny’s class-clown act is not just wearing thin, it’s wearing stupid. Nobody thinks you’re funny, Sonny. Just annoying.
Stinger 2
August 17th, 2012
2:10 pm
I appreciate your comments BravesWin.
bulldogbubba
August 17th, 2012
2:11 pm
Does anyone think we could trade for Padres 3rd baseman Chase Headley to replace Chipper.What do you think?
oldfart
August 17th, 2012
2:13 pm
I just hate to see an entire season come down to a single game playoff, play-in, whatever for any team. Baseball is in bad need of a real Commissioner that is not also an owner by proxy.
bulldogbubba
August 17th, 2012
2:13 pm
Sonny’s funny and some people take life too serious. Go Braves
lefty fielder
August 17th, 2012
2:17 pm
i like bulldogbubba . . . do you own a trucker shirt?
SSIgator
August 17th, 2012
2:17 pm
BravesWin
Stinger 2 -
“Where humor is concerned there are no standards – no one can say what is good or bad, although you can be sure that everyone will.“
John Kenneth Galbraith (1908 – 2006)
Relax guys
Sonny Clusters
August 17th, 2012
2:24 pm
Well, sticks and stone can break our bones but, seriously, why would you want to bother with us? Just skip over us like we do you. Baseball fans are baseball fans and the degree to which any of us subscribe to the team will vary. As for us, we bet we follow the Braves as well or better than most and we have paid for a lot of tickets over the years when we wasn’t the guest of one of the players or management. We’ve been that, too. As for speaking to the players, we’ve also done that and have had meals with some of them and know some of them quite well. Still, we don’t find our heroes on the baseball field. To those that do, golly, gee, try to expand your horizons. And to the little fella now posting under Stinger2 we are reminded of something else Carl Sagan had to say, “People are not stupid. They believe things for reasons. The last way for skeptics to get the attention of bright, curious, intelligent people is to belittle or condescend or to show arrogance toward their beliefs.” Now, have a nice day.
Stinger 2
August 17th, 2012
2:24 pm
SSIgator: Did you read my post carefully? I did not say that Clusters humor is good or bad did I? I only stated my thoughts about the intent of his humor.
I will say again….I don`t care what he thinks or says on his post. I do care about Braves players and management and will continue to voice my thoughts when he says something negative.
Sonny Clusters
August 17th, 2012
2:26 pm
We got filtered again and we was being nice to the little fella when it happened. As our REAL mama would say to our pretend little mama, “Bless your heart.” That’s southern for, “it’s a shame your thoughts are not very deep.” Again, have a nice day.
Yunel Asscobar
August 17th, 2012
2:30 pm
Two comments:
1. I enjoy Sonny Clusters
2. I wish he, or Terry Francona, would become the next manager of the Braves. To the best of my knowledge, I’ve not seen Francona in a trucker shirt; two pocket or otherwise.
Go Braves!
JAFO
August 17th, 2012
2:37 pm
Did we land a man on Mars SC? Carl and I missed that one. Point taken.
OTP
August 17th, 2012
2:38 pm
That is amazing! All the more reason to hang on to Bourn.
JNick
August 17th, 2012
2:47 pm
Headley would cost us at least Teheran AND Delgado, IMO…probably another lower level prospect too. I don’t see SD trading him at all though – he’s about all the offense they have.
Sonny Clusters
August 17th, 2012
2:52 pm
Some of our best work is sitting in Mark’s filter and nobody’s going to see it. We outlined for everybody just what will happen over the next 3 series and we made our predictions for where the Braves will finish this year. We also revealed some personal information about our upcoming book and appearances at Turner Field. One more thing, we was reading little fella’s post and came across this . . . “Clusters: I have never tried to tell you how to think. . . .You obviously, like anyone else can think anything you wish.” That’s all we need for redemption! Now life can go on. Thanks, little buddy. Go Braves!
Bob the Blogger
August 17th, 2012
2:56 pm
Back on the subject of baserunning, I’ve seen McCann stretch a double into a single.
bulldogbubba
August 17th, 2012
3:06 pm
Truckers wear shirts? Go Dogs
Heisenberg
August 17th, 2012
3:12 pm
Truckers wear shirts?
Indeed they do. Plaid ones with 2 pockets on the front and the sleeves cut off.
longtimefan
August 17th, 2012
3:21 pm
As a longtimefan following the Braves since 1966, I have seen a lot of players come and go and have watched many games. Chipper has been one of the most outstanding and celebrated players of this and any other era. Any blogger can post their opinion contrary, just as you are free to join the Flat Earth Society. But expressing your contrarian opinion on certain topics simply makes those individuals look petty, silly or ignorant about the game of baseball. Chipper is a Braves icon, future HOF player and one of the best hitters the Game has seen.
GTT
August 17th, 2012
3:23 pm
Sonny Clusters is really Norman Arey. Betcha.
WhoCares?
August 17th, 2012
3:24 pm
Heyward continues to impress. He’s learning and he has a lot of talent. Great asset for the Braves, and boo to those bloggers who were calling for him to be traded earlier this season.
lefty fielder
August 17th, 2012
3:35 pm
bulldogbubba . . . just the uppity ones
Gil in Mechanicsville
August 17th, 2012
3:39 pm
Wow, I never knew I could acquire such astute fashion advice just from reading a sports blog, especially one originating in Atlanta… Now it looks as if I will have to completely redo my entire wardrobe as I have learned plaid is no longer the “new black”. Does this mean I will have to also do away with my matching cammo and bib overall ensemble too? Sish, just when I was getting them broke in good too.
Now baseball… As a long time reader of Sonny Clusters and his first cousin by another mother, Jimmy Smith, I have learned, learnt if you are southern, bless your heart, not to take his envy of all things Chipper to heart. He is still upset Chipper shot his pet moose by mistake and just also has a phobia about people who wear seal skin boots.
Anyway, baseball…. Having been forced to watch many Nationals’ feeds on TV folks should count their lucky stars that they do not have to listen to Bob Carpenter do the play by play of the Braves games. I cringe at hearing the phrase “See you later” every time a Gnat hits a ball beyond the fence. That said, I have learned , learnt, see above explanation…. that as long as you touch them all, it matters little as to base running ability when hitting home runs.
No matter, the base running prowess of Brian McCann can be summed up as station to station. I just wish our illustrious manager would allow for his should to get better rather than continue to allow for him to struggle every at bat.
Mr. Mike
August 17th, 2012
4:03 pm
My best guess is that Bourne is playing somewhere else next year. Boras will ask for the keys to the kingdom. Maybe Simmons could bat leadoff.
D-Man
August 17th, 2012
4:09 pm
None of this matters unless you make the playoffs. I know this is just a topic of discussion, BUT I’m just saying. I’m tired of just being an exciting REGULAR season team, come October – let’s make it happen captain….GO BRAVES!
D-Man
August 17th, 2012
4:11 pm
and oh yea, we get Andrelton Simmons back soon, while they will be shutting Sharpsburg down hmmmm…
D-Man
August 17th, 2012
4:15 pm
“One last thing, I like ice cream but I have to eat it when it’s real cold. I don’t like it when it starts to melt and gets all, ummm, wait there’s a word for it…oh yea Melky. It’s not as good.”
Signed, Ms. Karma
BravesWin
August 17th, 2012
4:17 pm
The gnats will not shut Strasbourg down. Pitch-count and/or innings pitched restrictions, maybe, but not take him out, as long as they hold a significant lead in the division.
WeBurn
August 17th, 2012
4:20 pm
Heyward is gonna get PAID if he keeps it up.
Bradley, is J-Hey our best overall position player?
Mr. Mike
August 17th, 2012
4:26 pm
Heyward and Freeman are both gonna get paid. We should try to sign both of them longterm now as opposed to later. Heyward will get a sgnificant raise next year as I believe he is arbitration eligible after this season.
Paul
August 17th, 2012
4:27 pm
Last time I checked, the Braves had produced 30 more runs than the Nationals so far this year. So, it’s not about the total runs — it’s about starting pitching. The last month has been the best so far this year in that category for the Braves. If the starting pitching holds up through September, I think we overtake the Nationals. Especially with a bullpen that is not worn dead this year.
BravesWin
August 17th, 2012
4:27 pm
Ownership is going to have to pony up to keep a good thing going. Bourn, Heyward, Freeman, Prado, et al are going to have to be covered so we can hang on to the other, younger talent we have in the wings. Do I think that’s going to happen? Well, umm…umm…
GermanBravesFan
August 17th, 2012
5:10 pm
Long time no posting, but for what it’s worth: Sonny Clusters rules… at least he’s funny and isn’t taking himself too seriously. Keep those posts coming, Mr. Clusters!
southgabrave
August 17th, 2012
5:23 pm
Bourn will NOT be in a Braves uniform next year unless he takes a huge discount t stay. He will get between 16-19 mil a year for no less than 5 years. Two things there, one do you want to sign him that long? His game is speed, and his legs may or may not go around 35. The second thing is are you (Braves probably wont) going make Bourn your highest paid player? I like Bourn as much as anyone, but we will have to find a cheaper, speedy, defensive CF that can hit. There are cheaper options that will work (no not as good as Bourn) if Wren looks hard. There may be a guy in the minors system for another team, we know nothing about. One thing I have noticed is Bourn tails off the last third of the season yearly. He has done so this year (he may need some rest….Hey Fredi) and he did last year in mid August on. No not badly but somewhat from his first half. If he could sign for 13-15 mil a year for 3 yrs with mutual options for the next 2 years I would say heck yea! I cant see tying 16-19 mil per for that long on player off his age. The Braves are going to have to come up with money for Heyward, Prado, Freeman, Medlen, Kimbrell, O’Flare for contracts during that same time period. Plus you will have give raises to your other players. They can afford everyone if you pay a few 16+ mil a year, especially one that will be on the backside of his career in 3+ years.
The Braves will need to lock Kimbrell up, buying out his first few years of free agency and his arbitration years. He will not be cheap and between him and Bourn will who do you want? See the problem here? The only fix is a new ownership.
If the
DetroitBraves
August 17th, 2012
9:25 pm
Good article Mark. The run differential suggests the Nats are a better team but every advantage counts. I believe Bourn rates very highly defensively as well. Those are two areas where the Braves figure to be worse when he walks in the offseason but it’s fun to watch while it lasts.
COOPER
August 17th, 2012
9:28 pm
Gonzalez has got to be the dumbest manager in Pro ball. You have a well rested bullpen , Hanson is over 100 pitches and you leave him in until LA get their 3RD run. It made no since to keep Hanson in this game.
DetroitBraves
August 17th, 2012
9:33 pm
@Brandon Lee, the Braves anemic offense has scored the second most runs in the league coming into tonight’s actions. If that’s anemic, with all due respect, what exactly would you consider acceptable production?
bobbybragan
August 17th, 2012
9:46 pm
Uggla’s killing the Braves with the strikeouts. Whatever he’s doing ain’t working. Often, when he misses the ball by a foot, it appears he has his eyes closed and is just swinging as hard as he can.
DetroitBraves
August 17th, 2012
9:58 pm
Sonny has been a bit harsh on Chipper at times but I get much of what he’s saying (for instance I think he makes a good point about the arbitrary nature of so-called division championships) and I’ve never felt that he states an opinion without giving it some thought. Right or wrong, there’s no shame in that. And with good humor is well. There are definitely worse ways to blog.
smitty derf
August 17th, 2012
11:12 pm
Watchn this game. Braves should have won in the 10th with Bourn at 3rd, one out, 3 – 1 count to Prado, the best bunter on the team, who they did not want to walk. Why won’t good managers like Cox and Freddi use the squeeze during the season to practice it for the playoffs. One reason I liked Larussa so much and why he was so sucessful
Skeezix
August 17th, 2012
11:59 pm
Great win tonight!
Chipper is really, really a special talent. 40 years old and batting well over .300.
Uggla continues to be a huge disappointment.
Franscisco has been a pleasant surprise.
Is it just me? Does it seem to others like Washington never loses?
Skeezix
August 18th, 2012
12:13 am
I was wondering why, in that situation (Prado with a 3-0 count and Bourn at third)–took that fat pitch right down the middle. We didn’t need a walk, just a ball in play. Not knocking Prado as he is clutch, having had lots of key hits to win or help win games.
RunninWithTheDawgs
August 18th, 2012
8:41 am
Looks like Hudson, Maholm, and Medlen next week on the road against the Nats. That’s about as strong as we can pitch at them. I just our bats make a lot of noise up there !
bigbobbles
August 18th, 2012
9:14 am
If Sonny took a pay cut as AJC editor, he then could manage the Braves next year. Two things that would come out of this decision. 1. He would not have to filter his own posts. 2. We would not have Fredi to kick around anymore.
DetroitBraves
August 18th, 2012
9:54 am
If Sonny manages the Braves next year I really hope Chipper decides not to retire and the Braves pick up his option. That dynamic alone will be worth tuning in to the games.
Dooner
August 18th, 2012
10:34 am
What do you think about the beloved, academic inspired North Carolina at Chapel Hill continuing athletic scandals?
Joey
August 18th, 2012
12:30 pm
I love Sonny Clusters. Lots of us do.
Carry on, Sonny . . .
allen cohen
August 18th, 2012
2:21 pm
Always been a Brave fan but they are just not in the same league (this year) with the Nats. Braves will be a wild card though.