By Josh

October 4, 2005 04:23 PM | Link to this

No Tood Hollandsworthless, although I like it….it surprises me Bobby chose the rookie left handed bat over experience, guess he figures one more rookie can’t hurt. O well, I’m pumped up….and we’re gonna sellout!

By Mike

October 4, 2005 04:41 PM | Link to this

The only thing that matters is who ISN’T on the roster…..aka Dan Kolb!

By Adam

October 4, 2005 05:11 PM | Link to this

Finally, after 14 years Cox goes with just two catchers! Kelly is more likely to catch-up to fast ball than Todd. This is non-traditional thinking from Bobby Cox.

By HAROLD LEE SCOTT

October 4, 2005 05:25 PM | Link to this

I KNEW BOBBY WOULD MAKE SOME GREAT DECISIONS. I UNDERSTAND WHY HE WENT WITH JORDAN OVER HOLLINGWORTH BECAUSE OF HIS BRAVES EXPERIENCE AND HIS ATTITUDE IN BACKING THE ROOKIES, ETC. HOWEVER ON THE LAST DAY HOLLINGWORTH HAD HIS BEST DAY AS A BRAVE AND LOOKED LIKE HE MIGHT BE READY TO BE A PINCH HITTER. BEFORE THAT HE HAD DONE NOTHING. KELLY HAS BEEN ONE OF MY CHOICES TO GO FROM THE BEGINNING. HE HAS EARNED HIS CHANCE. I ALSO AGREE WITH USE OF ORR AS THE THIRD CATCHER, NOT BECAUSE HE IS THE BEST CATCHER BUT BECAUSE THAT WILL NOT LIKELY BE NEEDED. MUCH MORE IMPORTANT TO HAVE ANOTHER PITCHER IF NEEDED. AND THE WAY THINGS LOOK WHO KNOWS WHICH PITCHERS ARE GONNA BE CONSISTENT AND ABLE TO PERFORM AT THEIR BEST. THAT IS THE KEY AS WELL AS CONSISTENT HITTING, OF HOW WELL THE BRAVES ARE GOING TO DO IN THESE SHORT SERIES. IF THINGS ARE GOING GOOD WITH THE PITCHING AND HITTING THEN I THINK THEY HAVE A GREAT CHANCE TO WIN BECAUSE OF THIER ATTITUDE, HUSTLE, FIGHT, AND DETERMINATION TO WIN. HOPE WE ARE READY! GO BRAVES!!!! LET’S REFUSE TO LOSE!!!

By Jon

October 4, 2005 05:27 PM | Link to this

Good decision by Cox to go with the two catchers. I think Kelly Johnson will much more valuable in this series than 3rd catcher Pena.

By Todd

October 4, 2005 05:37 PM | Link to this

NC State website is reporting that Bobby told Joey Devine that he was on the postseason roster… Does that mean Boyer is unable to go at least for the Division series?

By Bob

October 4, 2005 05:58 PM | Link to this

Dear GOD. Please don’t let Bobby Cox put Dan Kolb on the playoff roster! I promise to catch up on my tithing soon! Bob

By Lifelong brave

October 4, 2005 06:05 PM | Link to this

I am thrilled that Devine is on the playoffs roster. I’ve been hoping that he would make the roster ever since his recent emergence as a reliable arm that can come in and shut down an offense. I really think he could be like our K-Rod of the 2002 Angels who came up in september and turned out to be a huge difference in their championship run. He has the similar lights-out, shut-you-down stuff.

By Tim

October 4, 2005 06:06 PM | Link to this

Certainly Bobby wouldn’t include Kolb on the pitching roster. That would be a waste of a roster spot. Give it to one of our deserving rookie pitchers before that.

By Jamesy

October 4, 2005 06:10 PM | Link to this

The Braves have shot themselves in the foot again by losing their last four games of the regular season;thus rendering their chosen post season roster as irrelevant. Having won their division, I understand the reason for resting key players but don’t subscribe to it. Losing tends to become a habit just as much as winning and the team’s mindset is now in a negative spiral. In contrast, The Astros enter the series with positive momentum and will unfortunatley sweep us.

By Troup

October 4, 2005 06:18 PM | Link to this

Do you remember how the Braves closed out the ‘95 regular season? Of course you don’t. By being swept by the Mets, that’s how. Another similarity was that Grissom was on fire in the postseason, hitting in every game. Furcal is in position to do the same as he is really swinging well.

By A Lifer

October 4, 2005 06:23 PM | Link to this

Whew! Sigh! Glad Bobby went with two catchers, a 5th outfielder is a better option—the bench is too left-handed without BJ and KJ for sure deserved to be on the roster over Pena. With that move, that shows that Bobby is willing to change his normal phylosophy, could it be a sign of more good things to come (like leaving the vet. Kolb off the roster).

Past that, we need to get ALL of the hitters to think line drive hits, regardless of who is on the roster. The HRs will come, especially in Houston, if the correct approach to hitting is taken. Think small-ball fellas! Go Braves!

By Gail

October 4, 2005 06:37 PM | Link to this

Major keys for the Braves to win are production from Fookie, Marcus, Chipper, Andruw, and Kyle. They must step up and they can do it. Smoltzie and Tim will be fine if they get run and defensive support.

By mike

October 4, 2005 07:01 PM | Link to this

Frankly, after his pitching performance Saturday and the dismal job the relievers did Sunday, I hope Chuck James makes the postseason roster. I say bring both Devine and James along. I have more confidence in them than I do Ramirez and Davies. I am not sure I want Thompson there either, but he could be an emergency starter if Smoltz can’t go the second time around. I don’t even want to mention Dan Kolb on here. Please.

By Paymon

October 4, 2005 07:18 PM | Link to this

I think the keys to this series are the following:

Bullpen: Chris Reitsma He will be the bridge between the starters and Farnsworth on an ideal night; regardless, he will be coming in a close game. He needs to shut’em down, hold them where they’re at for Farnsworth. No messing around here.

Starting P: Tim Hudson It’s self-explanitory, but Hudson has to be the ace this series. He may have to pitch two games, and would hopefully go at least 7 in each.

Offense: **Furcal, Francueor” I chose two rather one, because each serves a role. Furcal, obviously, needs to get on base. Take pitches, don’t be too aggressive early, etc. Basically, don’t stray from what worked in the second half. Francueor’s bat will be key I believe, as he will be t he protection behind Andruw, who is the protection behind Chipper, who is Giles’ protection. Therefore, if Jeff can get real hot this series (a la Beltran, 2004), the entire top half of the lineup will suddenly get better.

By david

October 4, 2005 07:25 PM | Link to this

Braves Roster is in MLB.com The players left off are(Kolb,Davies,Boyer,James,Lerew,Pena,Hollandsworth,Marte,&Perez)

By david

October 4, 2005 07:29 PM | Link to this

Del,I know you will be excited that KJ made it over Hollandsworth,but prepare yourself BC has already told Jordan that he will be starting Gm#1 and Langerhans will be on the bench.

By david

October 4, 2005 07:33 PM | Link to this

I like the roster,the only change I would have liked to see would be keeping the 3rd catcher(Pena) over the 11th pitcher(Brower)this would also enable McCann or Estrada to pinch hit and still have a catcher on the bench. GO BRAVES!

By andy

October 4, 2005 08:27 PM | Link to this

thank goodness jordan made it so bobby can back himself into a hole by pinch hitting for all his left handers in the 5th inning, just like in years past, and we all know how that turned out. he always takes out his best hitters whenever a left hander comes in. you’ll see the same thing with laroche and julio, who is in a HUGE funk by the way.

By Carroll

October 4, 2005 09:36 PM | Link to this

Todd: I read on MLB.com that Boyer woke up Sunday with severe shoulder pain. I think he’s done for the year.

I am a little miffed at the Hollandsworth thing. I realize he didn’t do great since coming here, but frankly, we didn’t trade for him him because of what he could do for us in the regular season….we got him for his postseason track record. Now that’s all for naught. I believe I’d have kept him instead of the 11th pitcher in Brower. But overall I’m very pleased with Bobby’s choices.

By Del Young

October 4, 2005 09:51 PM | Link to this

David … It was almost a given that if BJ made the roster, he would be starting aginst lefties. That’s unfortunate, because I believe that RL’s average against lefties is better than BJ’s. But that is vintage BC. Let’s hope the sun shines on Bobby this year.

By Jim

October 4, 2005 10:17 PM | Link to this

Dave,

How come this paper and its writers cannot print or publish a simple list of the 25 players on the roster?

All I can find are stories like yours with bits and pieces of this player and that one?

Even the Braves website doesn’t show a playoff roster that I could find?

How about it?

By Jim

October 4, 2005 11:11 PM | Link to this

OK…now I read somewhere else that Boby won’t release the final roster until game day…

But what about the blurb on the Braves website that “Blaine Boyer awoke on Monday morning without feeling in his right arm.”????

First I have heard of that….

By David O'Brien

October 4, 2005 11:37 PM | Link to this

OK, for an update for all you folks. Sorry we don’t have the simple 25-man roster anywhere on our site. I’ll put it below. But first, let me update you on Boyer: He did wake Monday with a lot of pain in the shoulder after pitching Sunday, Didn’t have enough room to get into it in my story for tomorrow, other than to say the shoulder’s keeping him off the roster.

He told us today that it was bad when he woke after pitching Sunday, but that the MRI is good and only inflammation in there, not tear or loose bodies or anything that would require surgery. At least that’s what they’re saying now. Anyway, he’s almost certainly done for postseason, and already talking about how hard he’s going to work this winter so he’s ready to throw “300” innings next year, though he’s obviously exaggerating to make his point.

Now here’s the roster (alphabetical order): PITCHERS Brower, Devine, Farnsworth, Foster, Hudson, McBride, Ramirez, Reitsma, Smoltz, Sosa, Thomson

CATCHERS Estrada, McCann

IINFIELDERS Betemit, Franco, Furcal, Giles, Chipper, LaRoche, Orr

OUTFIELDERS Francoeur, KJohnson, Andruw, Jordan, Langerhans

By david

October 4, 2005 11:46 PM | Link to this

Jim, the story is on MLB.com you can go to the Braves site and find the story by Mark Bowman.The official roster doesn’t have to be submitted to MLB until morning of the game.Apparently BC informed the players this afternoon.Pitchers(11)Hudson,Smoltz,Sosa,Thomson,Ramirez,Farnsworth,Reitsma,Devine,McBride,Foster,Brower-Position Players(14) Estrada,McCann,LaRoche,Franco,Giles,Furcal,C.Jones,Betemit,Orr,A.Jones,Francoeur,Langerhans,Jordan,Johnson. B.Pena and Davies sent to Instructional League to work out and stay in game shape in case they advance and the Braves want to possibly make changes before the NLCS.Boyer apparently didn’t throw at all,he awoke with no feeling in his shoulder.

By David O'Brien

October 4, 2005 11:53 PM | Link to this

No, it wasn’t “no feeling” he woke with in his shoulder. It was pain.

Here’s the 25-man division series roster:

PITCHERS Jim Brower *Joey Devine Kyle Farnsworth John Foster (LH) Tim Hudson *Macay McBride (LH) Horacio Ramirez (LH) Chris Reitsma John Smoltz Jorge Sosa John Thomson

CATCHERS Johnny Estrada *Brian McCann

INFIELDERS *Wilson Betemit Julio Franco Rafael Furcal Marcus Giles Chipper Jones Adam LaRoche *Pete Orr

OUTFIELDERS *Jeff Francoeur *Kelly Johnson Andruw Jones Brian Jordan *Ryan Langerhans

• Rookie

By David O'Brien

October 4, 2005 11:56 PM | Link to this

One last post before signing off. From Boyer on Monday morning (after he pitched Sunday):

“I woke up the next day and couldn’t even move my arm.”

By david

October 5, 2005 12:21 AM | Link to this

In a story posted at 6:45pm on MLB.com by Mark Bowman QUOTE “Boyer awoke without feeling in his arm”Monday morning.Maybe the AJC can remove their esteemed beat writer for their playoff coverage, for a Dan Kolb like performance.

By BUZZSAW

October 5, 2005 12:58 AM | Link to this

Hey folks, the bottom line is Winning and the Braves feel their going with with what got them there ! Bobby Cox knows how to Win!!……Just got to get Hot at the right time! Houston has two great pichers going 1-2 ! Rookies will have to step way up in this series!!….With 10 ESPN Baseball Writers checking in only 1 says the Braves have a chance ! I say the 1 writer is CORRECT ! He says Braves in 4 !………GO BRAVES !!!…….BUZZ

By Chop Chop

October 5, 2005 01:29 AM | Link to this

Lower-cased “david”, maybe Bowman got it wrong. The real David seems to know what he’s talking about.

By BUZZSAW

October 5, 2005 01:49 AM | Link to this

David O’Brien has it right! couldn’t MOVE my arm ! is correct ! If it were can’t feel my arm ? he would be in the Hospital under going a battery of tests!…NO DOUGHT !….O’Brien’s got mt vote !………..

By Carroll

October 5, 2005 07:44 AM | Link to this

I know this is no time to start thinking about next year, but I just read an article claiming that Fooky said he wants to play for the Mets next year (barf!) and is even willing to play second base! Can you imagine the top of their order with Reyes and Fooky??!! Kinda scary to think about.

Bottom line, I think that between the Mets and the Cubs the price for him is going to go way too high for the Braves. As much as I love him, they need to maintain their sensibility and stay within the budget. I think Orr/Betemit will do just fine. That being said, lets go out and “win the whole f***’ thing” (Tom Berenger, Major League, 1990)….just in case his loss hurts us worse than I expect.

By Mantuan

October 5, 2005 09:19 AM | Link to this

Hey Buzzsaw:

The #3 Astro pitcher ain’t chopped liver. Agree he may not have the proven playoff performance of Pettitte or Clemens, but Oswald is a stud.

By BB FAN

October 5, 2005 09:36 AM | Link to this

Cox did a grea tjob picking the post season roster. A couple of surprises even. I hope the rumor that Jordan is going to start against LH is just a rumor. Langerhans has done a grea tjob in Sept. so why would COx change it. We’ll see. I think the Braves can win this series. They went to 5 games last year with Wright, Ortiz, Byrd starting. Hudson, Smoltz and Sosa are a lot better than them. And Houston does not have Beltran or Kent this year. It should be a good series.

Carroll, I hope that rumor of Furcal is wrong as well. I would hate to see another Brave become a Met. I think the Braves will have enough money to keep both Furcal and Farnsworth. At the start of next season. they will have rid themselves of about 12 million from the following: Gryboski (.877 mil), Jordan (.6 mill), Kolb (3.4 mill), Mondesi (1.1 mill), Tom Martin (1.9 mill) and Thomson (4.25 mill). And of course the replacements for these guys are all rookies making minimum salary. Also, a good part of Hampton’s salary will be covered by insurance.

By david

October 5, 2005 10:01 AM | Link to this

I’m not saying Mr.O’Brien has his info wrong,I just took a quote from a story about the Braves an exact quote as it was printed.Mr.O’Brien’s info is usually timely and correct and I enjoy his thoughts on this blog.When I posted the blog with the info I read elsewhere it was after 11:30 pm and I incorrectly assumed that Mr.O’Brien had signed off for the night.I was just sharing some second hand info from a story tha had been posted earlier.Brave fans and various bloggers were interested in this info. I regret my “Dan Kolb comment” and would like to apoogize for the out of line comment.

By Carroll

October 5, 2005 10:01 AM | Link to this

BB: a couple of things: even if we get rid of Kolb next season, I’m pretty sure we’ll still be on the hook for the rest of his contract. I can’t see any team taking him off our hands in a trade.

Also, I agree with your sentiment about Langy. In fact, on the baseball tonight “who’s hot” segment for this series last night, Langy was the hottest Braves over the last 2 mos. hitting about .350 and playing great defense. I know Pettite is a tough lefty but I think he can handle it…at least as well as BJ can. PLus it saves BJ for us to use if we need a pinch runner or a RH pinch hitter later in the game.

On the other hand, Langy will get plenty of playing time the next two games against tough righties. SO maybe if we start him against a tough lefty like Pettite it might get him all screwed up such that he’s less effective against Clemens and Oswalt.

By Carroll

October 5, 2005 10:10 AM | Link to this

By the way, what’s the status of ticket sales? Are we at Standing room only yet? SOld out?

By david

October 5, 2005 10:20 AM | Link to this

Carroll,Kolb is on a 1 year contract there is no balance owed after this season.I’m sure the Braves will non-tender him and he will be come a free agent and the Braves will have no financial ties to him whatsoever.

By Carroll

October 5, 2005 10:27 AM | Link to this

Awesome!

By Mantuan

October 5, 2005 11:44 AM | Link to this

BB Fan:

I have not checked the ESPN Salary web site, but I am about 97.3% certain that Jordan isn’t making $6M this year.

Re: Kolb and that thread. I am pretty sure Kolb will be non-tendered meaning he will be a FA at FA time. Braves will have no obligations to him for 06.

By lewis

October 5, 2005 12:12 PM | Link to this

BB fan states Jordan is making .6 million which is correct(600,000). His numbers are correct if the Braves exercise the option to buy out Thomson that will cost them 500,000 .Of course they were not responsible for Gryboski,s salary after he was traded to the Rangers and in the Martin deal with the Dodgers the Dodgers paid part of his salary when the trade was finalized.The point being that there will be some money freed up at the conclusion of this season.

By Isenberg

October 5, 2005 12:34 PM | Link to this

At least Kolb and Hollandsworth aren’t in there.

By Braves fan

October 5, 2005 12:56 PM | Link to this

Cool. This is the roster I wanted (except for Boyer, who they obviously decided wasn’t healthy enough to go). No Kolb. No Hollandsworth(less). We get the rookies. I’m most excited about the edition of Joey Devine. I know what people will say. “He gave up two grand slams.” Yes, but he did after hurting his hip. The first inning of work he pitched lights out, then hurt his hip. But since being reactivated he’s been excellent. I love this kid’s stuff. 96 mph fastball and a nasty delivery. Mark my words, he’ll be a huge factor.

Let’s go chop some astros. GO BRAVES.

By Gail

October 5, 2005 01:52 PM | Link to this

Joey Devine will be excellent if he can stand the pressure and not lose his command. His stuff is nasty.

By BB FAN

October 5, 2005 02:13 PM | Link to this

Jordan does make .6 mill or 600,000. But I forgot LA picked up some of Martin’s salary. And the Braves probably had to pay approx. half of Gryboski’s pay as he was with them half the season. But anyway, we are still talking about $10 million off the books for next season. Not including what ever insurance picks up of Hampton’s salary. I’m hoping it’s at least 75%.

Devine should be a great asset. And according to reports, he was hurt when he gave up those two grand slams. It makes sense seeing how he was great before and after. Foster is a very good situational pitcher. That is how Cox used him in the beginning of the year and he was just about unhittable. Reitsma has shaped up lately so he should be OK. And Farnsworth has been awesome. I think if the hitters hit, they should advance to the NLCS.

I think A Jones needed a little rest the last two weeks and that is why he slumped. He plays so hard on defense in center every game, he deserves more rest throughout the year. I hope Cox starts giving him about 12-15 games off a year to conserve his energy. Maybe the extra few days off the last week helps him get strong again. I noticed last year he missed about 8 games and he did well in the post season.

By david

October 5, 2005 02:25 PM | Link to this

Lineups are posted,the Braves are playing their normal lineup(vs Lefty)Franco batting 5th,Jordan 7th,Estrada 8th. One interesting note for the Astros O.Palmerio is batting 6th and playing LF,he is a good player and one of the better pinch hitters in the league.Could possibly be key if he is not available to come off the bench, late in the game.