Braves

By gobraves06

June 22, 2006 12:30 PM | Link to this

These are sad days for the Braves. Not only are they in last place, but one of their key players seems to be past his prime. I’m pretty sure that Chipper will remain with the Braves, though. I only hope he can once again become a productive player.

By Gran Jen

June 22, 2006 12:40 PM | Link to this

Quit picking on Chipper! I’d like to see who among us could get up every day and go to a physically demanding job with the injuries he has and perform half as well! I would whine and cry every day about how it’s just not fair! Chipper’s not going to be right all year. You can’t hit like he does without your legs! But he goes out there every day and tries, and doesn’t complain. If Bobby thinks he’s more valuable on the field than sitting in the dugout, that’s what he’s paid to decide! If it was MY job, I’d probably rest him more, and let Wilson play more third, and let Chipper come off the bench, but it’s NOT my job, so I’ll keep watching and cheering, and waiting for the next miracle!

By Ken

June 22, 2006 12:42 PM | Link to this

I am a Chipper fan, but sadly Mr. Cutwright is correct. You don’t expect these guys to play forever, but I didn’t think Chipper would go out all at once. Hopefully, he will pick it up and have a few more productive streaks before he retires.

By Mike

June 22, 2006 12:43 PM | Link to this

I think Chipper is still plenty productive, but as he himself said earlier this year, the Braves don’t pay him the big bucks to draw walks and hit singles. He’s looked a bit confused at the plate lately with strike 3 being called and the bat sitting on his shoulder….and when he is able to make contact he rarely drives the ball like we’re used to seeing him do.

By rob

June 22, 2006 12:43 PM | Link to this

It’s not just one player. Top to bottom, no one is cutting it. No one.

And whatever happened to “One Crazy Summer” Seems like yesterday.

By Glass Half Full

June 22, 2006 12:43 PM | Link to this

Bring back greenies!!! That’ll stop this current skid…oh, Bud Selig, do not read this.

By Glass Half Full

June 22, 2006 12:46 PM | Link to this

I wonder if something juvenile and “high schoolesque” like someone vandalizing Turner Field would fire the team up? Imagine if they showed up at the park and someone had spray-painted “Mets Rule! Braves Suck! Hank Aaron and Dale Murphy are Gay!” on the centerfield wall.

By Kevin

June 22, 2006 12:46 PM | Link to this

Chipper needs to move to 1st base, yes I know I will get killed for this statemnt but move him to 1st and Wilson to 3rd full time—trade Giles/LaRoche for Bullpen help or a leadoff hitter. As for 2nd base, Prado can be recalled

By Glass Half Full

June 22, 2006 12:48 PM | Link to this

I doubt Chipper would agree to move to 1st, but he could platoon either with LaRoche or Thorman.

By Not Dr Laura

June 22, 2006 12:49 PM | Link to this

I think something is really up with Chipper. It’s the “elephant in the room” that no one wants to discuss. Personal life, injuries, unrealized World Series rings, something has taken away his swagger. He’s just not the aggressive player he once was. He’s still making contact, so this is not a Dale Murphy-type free fall. It’s different. The fire has gone out. Everyone can see it.

By Jim Presley

June 22, 2006 12:51 PM | Link to this

Chipper’s plight reminds me of Dale Murphy, a sudden plunge into mediocrity after several fine seasons, in what should be the prime of his career.

Unfortunately, the Braves owe him some big bucks and they are not getting much in return for this quick-fading star. As for trade potential I think the Braves are stuck with him & his huge salary. Who’d want him? His numbers are atrocious !

By Glass Half Full

June 22, 2006 12:52 PM | Link to this

Perhaps Francoeur being christened the future of the team and the new face of the franchise last season actually bummed Chipper out David Justice stle.

By CoxNeedsToChange

June 22, 2006 12:54 PM | Link to this

Bobby Cox needs to place McCann in the three hole and move Chipper to the fifth spot. He should also move Rent to leadoff and Diaz to the two hole. As for Marcus, let him hit in the seventh spot. This would push LaRoche to the eighth (and don’t even think about playing Pratt… EVER). And let’s hope the move of Sosa will help out.

By Glass Half Full

June 22, 2006 12:54 PM | Link to this

style…not stle

By OutBack Jack

June 22, 2006 12:55 PM | Link to this

The Braves should resign recently released (and former Braves) pitchers Russ Ortiz, Terry Mulholland and Antonio Alfonseco!! That would three “great” additions to a bullpen that already smells like an outhouse.!!!

By Glass Half Full

June 22, 2006 12:56 PM | Link to this

I agree, Chipper is no longer a #3 hitter, but Cox is waaaaay too loyal to drop him to 5 or 6.

By Nick

June 22, 2006 12:56 PM | Link to this

I think a couple of things have led to Chipper’s production. Injuries and Drug testing…. He has lost pretty much all of his power. He still has a great swing from both sides of the plate. If he can stay healthy, he will hit over .300.

By SCW

June 22, 2006 12:59 PM | Link to this

HAS ANYONE EVER STOPPED TO CONSIDER THAT MAYBE - JUST MAYBE - CHIPPER WAS ON STEROIDS? HIS DECREASE IN PRODUCTION AND INCREASE IN INJURIES STARTED EXACTLY WHEN THE TOUGHER DRUG POLICIES WERE IMPLEMENTED. HIS SWOON IS SYNONYMOUS WOITH THAT OF SAMMY SOSA, BARRY BONDS, ETC. THINK ABOUT IT.

By Glass Half Full

June 22, 2006 01:02 PM | Link to this

Alfonseca, yes (he’s cheap and was effective in 2004). Ortiz, no. He’s too much like the bottom 3 in our rotation…you never know what kind of outing to expect. Mulholland…I don’t think so.

By Glass Half Full

June 22, 2006 01:03 PM | Link to this

He does look smaller this season.

By The Truth

June 22, 2006 01:04 PM | Link to this

Let’s be honest, last year was the first time I’d seen Chipper smile and have fun in quite some time. Now, with the “baby Braves” maturing, Chipper is back to his old self: lolly gagging around, with absolutely no emotion. I used to be a huge Chipper fan, but wouldn’t be upset at all now to see him go. Although he is still wonderful defensively, some of his recent at-bats have been downright pathetic and uncharacteristic. My feeling on this whole situation is that losing Leo is hurting more than some people want to admit. Leo was the one guy on the coaching staff who wasn’t afraid to get in someone’s face…now, however, we are stuck with a manager and pitching coach who are both “player’s managers” and the lack of discipline is showing day in and day out. As far as I’m concerned, except for McCann, these guys have ZERO plate discipline and Andruw’s lack of hustle in the outfield lately is incredibly obvious. Although we are done for this season, my belief is that Sosa AND Smoltz (haha, they said he would take it easy this season yet he is throwing 120+ pitches a game) need to be in the bullpen and put Chuck James and Davies (when he gets healthy) in the rotation. Our farm system is still deep, but if the Marlins are having their great run with a bunch of rookies, then we sure as heck should be in second place with the team we have. I never thought I would say this, but I really think it is about time for the Braves to move on…including Chipper and maybe even Bobby.

By Pantherssuck

June 22, 2006 01:06 PM | Link to this

Physically demanding? How? Because he has to get up 162 days of the year to play a game that pays him $10 million? Now, Cal Ripken was different, he played every game for every year from 1982-1996 with injuries worse than Chipper’s and still produced great numbers…THAT was impressive! Come on, you act like this is football, which any hit can ruin a season or career. Brett Favre is another impressive one in this regard. Playing QB for every single game for 14 straight years, with some very severe injuries AND perform at a high level (minus 2005) is impressive. Yes, Chipper tries hard but if he’s slumping, he might want to sit for the better of the team.

By Glass Half Full

June 22, 2006 01:06 PM | Link to this

At the All-Star break they should allow the last-place teams in each division to load up on greenies, HGH, and other steroids for the rest of the season. They should also use alluminum (sp?) bats. That would make things interesting.

By BOB C

June 22, 2006 01:07 PM | Link to this

Hey CoxNeedstoChange. Any chance we could get you a uniform and in the dugout tonight? Solid ideas on the order! I bet you would even try to move a runner over with a bunt once in awhile. Must admit, Cox’s idea to move Sosa to late in the game fascinates me - if he can harness his stuff - which is probably among the top 10 in the NL.

By The Truth

June 22, 2006 01:08 PM | Link to this

And yes, Chipper does look smaller this season…there isn’t anyone who can refute that.

By Rob C

June 22, 2006 01:15 PM | Link to this

I can refute it: Chipper doesn’t look smaller this year.

Without any actual evidence or pictures I just don’t understand why people would say he does. To me he looks the same, just older and slower.

By Matt

June 22, 2006 01:17 PM | Link to this

I really wish people would calm down. The Braves have always been a second half team. If at the end of July we still are winning, then I say lets dump Giles and AJones, only because of free agency. I think this Sosa move will shake the team up. I would love to see Diaz playing ALOT more and Betemit switching up playing 2nd, SS, and 3rd 3 out of 4 days. That way all the infielders play 3 of 4 days. Thorman, I think this kid is going to be huge. Our system is still loaded, so we can always dump some players for some bullpen, but not on just anybody though. Dang it, why are we pursuing a trade for Keith Foulke. HELLO. Sosa, Thomson, Ray in the pen isn’t that bad. If we could only get Foulke who isn’t getting used!!!!!

By TennesseePaul

June 22, 2006 01:17 PM | Link to this

Tonight is the night folks. We will win tonight and break out of this slump. Then we’ll roll into Tampa and sweep them. The Yankees will fall as well and go into a 15 game lossing streak. The term “fire sale” will be whispered about the Yankees, but no real takers will show up. It’s going to be great.

GO BRAVES

By ugadawg

June 22, 2006 01:22 PM | Link to this

Everybody said Griffey was done a couple seasons ago, and look at his comeback last year. Just as soon as the Braves were to let Chipper go, he’d have another 30 HR, 100 RBI season. I say they need to find a way to light a fire under him.

And how in the world does anyone think you can just “move” a player to first. It’s not an easy position to play, and many transplanted players have proven that.

Maybe Chipper was on ‘roids at one point. Remember when he bulked up so much in the offseason after he fathered the illegitimate child? Regardless, ‘roids are not what made Chipper great when he first came up. It was a strong desire and really hard work ethic. I just hope he can regain that somehow.

But you can’t, like someone said, try to blame the Braves’ woeful slide on any one area. It’s not just the bullpen or any one player. It’s a team effort, with the exception of McCann who seems to be the only one that cares.

By Glass Half Full

June 22, 2006 01:22 PM | Link to this

I’m watching the replay of last night’s game on Turner South, and it occurs to me that Torborg might actually be the worst announcer of all-time…Pacoriek and Rathmun are tied for 2nd.

By Matt

June 22, 2006 01:24 PM | Link to this

The Braves are a second half team so I wish you people would relax. We have seen some crazy things happen in baseball. Remember who led the East last year in June, the Nationals. With Sosa, Ray and possibly Thomson in the pen, that makes us alot better fast. Sosa is good to 2 innings and Thomson, I believe, has the mentality of a reliever. He is a horse. The only thing I wish is that we would make some moves, trade Giles, Salty to get Keith Foulke. He is a proven closer, I think pretty young and he isn’t being used. I just don’t want to see a trade for someone who is iffy. We need a stud as closer, an average closer nevers works in Atlanta. Maybe Thomson or Sosa could do it. That Stockton kid looked pretty good to me, just nervous. What did ya’ll think?

By Glass Half Full

June 22, 2006 01:25 PM | Link to this

Matt, where did you hear the Foulke rumor?

By Glass Half Full

June 22, 2006 01:26 PM | Link to this

Remember the 2004 Braves? They were sh-it until the end of June. They were 40-14 in July and August.

By KneeJerk

June 22, 2006 01:31 PM | Link to this

Quit already with our “depth” in the minors. We don’t have many outstanding prospects left. We have more Brad Komminsks and David Nieds than Chipper Joneses and Steve Averys

By Brent

June 22, 2006 01:31 PM | Link to this

I guess you “move” Chipper to first the same way that you “move” Brian Jordan to first.

I can’t see how it can be any worse, and it allows you to put a better bat in the line-up.

By rowland

June 22, 2006 01:33 PM | Link to this

Foulke is 33 and on the DL with elbow tendinitis (and a 5.63 ERA). He’ll fit right in.

By Matt

June 22, 2006 01:34 PM | Link to this

I didn’t think the first one posted, sorry about that.

By Glass Half Full

June 22, 2006 01:36 PM | Link to this

Foulke is also making $7 million and reports state that he’s not making much progress returning from his injury.

By KneeJerk

June 22, 2006 01:36 PM | Link to this

A sad truth: Many people grew up with Skip and Pete on TV. Across the country people have “grown up” listening to Ernie Harwell, Jack Buck, Harry Caray, Vin Scully, Harry Calas (sp?), the list goes on. Will our kids now have to say that they grew up listening to Bob Rathbun and Jeff Torborg calling games?

By Matt

June 22, 2006 01:37 PM | Link to this

Its not a rumor, just a thought from me. 33 years old isn’t bad for a pitcher. What’s he on the DL for. 5.63 but usually lower than that. Even with that ERA though, he would still have the best on our team. Just an idea. No rumors. Sorry to make you think that.

By Glass Half Full

June 22, 2006 01:38 PM | Link to this

That’s why my family turns on the radio during Braves games. My kids will know about Skip and Pete.

By Glass Half Full

June 22, 2006 01:41 PM | Link to this

After the season I wonder if Chip, Joe, or Don might work for FSN. I doubt they would hire Skip or Pete because they would overshadow Rathbun.

By Matt

June 22, 2006 01:42 PM | Link to this

$7 million. For a decent closer I would hope we would pay it. Its nice to have people find stuff about this guy. I haven’t heard anything about him and just assumed he was rotting away in the bullpen. Does anybody know what his injurying is. Arm, groin, finger. I wonder if he won’t return b/c he can’t close. Just kidding. I thought it was a good idea though. My bad.

By glennbo

June 22, 2006 01:43 PM | Link to this

What’s up with Guy, callin’ evverybody out like that. If it lights a fire under the Braves, or lowers their ticket prices, I’m all for it.

TennesseePaul, glad you still believe. Hope this expenditure of optimism doesn’t irreprabaly sour your outlook if things don’t pan out. Me, I think this is a wake up call for JS and BC. Writing a book is great whe you RETIRE. And Awards are to be savored after you RETIRE.

By Glass Half Full

June 22, 2006 01:43 PM | Link to this

Elbow tendinitis.

By Chris

June 22, 2006 01:44 PM | Link to this

Anyone realize that just about the time that Rath and Torborg took over on Turner South the Braves went into their skid? Ironic…

By Glass Half Full

June 22, 2006 01:45 PM | Link to this

Landing an established closer is highly unlikely. JS should seek a reliever who could develop into a closer…like Farnsworth.

By Glass Half Full

June 22, 2006 01:46 PM | Link to this

I meant like Farnsworth last year…not seek a trade for him this year (too expensive).

By bravesfansince1966

June 22, 2006 01:48 PM | Link to this

Rath and Torborg are doing as poorly as Chipper! BRING BACK PETE AND ERNIE — MILO COULDN”T HURT EITHER AT THIS POINT! Hey has anyone noticed Chipper doesn’t seem to care anymore? You know why? He has his sights on his ranch in Texas… his mind isn’t on winning… just DOLLARS!

By KneeJerk

June 22, 2006 01:48 PM | Link to this

I wish I had the luxury of Braves radio. I moved to South Florida 2 years ago.

By nathan

June 22, 2006 01:50 PM | Link to this

SWC…..How dare you acuse the “GOLDEN CHILD” of such nonsense!

Actually, I asked the same question on these blogs back in April and got BLASTED!

I’m not accusing, just asking!!

Each day that goes by I have to wonder how far from the truth I was. You could essentially ask the same question of Marcus “I only have warning track power now” Giles.

I won’t go any further than that because I know this will get me RIPPED enough!

By bravesfansince1966

June 22, 2006 01:53 PM | Link to this

Would someone at the AJC please set up a BLOG for complaints regarding Rath and Torborg??? We need someone to begin a campaign to rid ourselves of these two BORING announcers.. Its bad enough watching the Braves lose night after night— now we have to listen to these two… Bring back Pete and Skip, and Don!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By ugadawg

June 22, 2006 01:54 PM | Link to this

Brent,

BJ has a 986 fielding percentage, and that’s not counting the numerous misplays that weren’t counted as errors. Do you not remember Caminiti’s switch from third to first? Horrible. LaRoche, on the other hand, has a 992 Fielding percentage, and he’s hitting about the same as Giles.

Giles is the one that they need to sit to get Betemit on the field. There’s absolutely no reason to do a position change in the middle of a season when the obvious solution is looking them straight in the face.

By Brent

June 22, 2006 02:00 PM | Link to this

ugadawg,

That is my point about Jordan. His defense is terrible. So, even if we put Chipper there, we still have a bad first baseman defensively, maybe, and have Betemit batting (Giles is a better hitter than BJ and LaRoche).

I thought my point was evident by noting that “I can’t see how it can be any worse.”

By Brent

June 22, 2006 02:01 PM | Link to this

Also, I’m fine with sitting Giles, too. It’s as obvious to me as it is to you.

Unfortunately, Bobby doesn’t see this.

Chipper to first is an alternative if Bobby is dead-set on playing Giles.

And yes, you really do need spring training to make a change like this.

Still can’t see Chip being worse at first than BJ.

By Gene

June 22, 2006 02:02 PM | Link to this

Chipper just looks disinterested. On Sunday night, when Francouer hit his homerun, Chipper was the only player who sat on the bench during congratulations. He is not a leader at all and hasn’t been since 1996. I just think it is time to get something for him, but it appears that the Braves are hoping against hope that a miraculous turnaround will occur. I don’t think they have the talent to turn it around.

By Matt

June 22, 2006 02:02 PM | Link to this

elbow tendinitis, that sucks. good point ghf about developing. DEVINE, where are you. maybe stockton. he’s a gasser. nobody answered me about what they thought of that kid.

By Matt

June 22, 2006 02:08 PM | Link to this

When Chipper gets hot, which he is due, everybody will be kissing his a$$. Remember the WBC, he was killing the ball. Maybe he isn’t getting pitches b/c nobody in front of him is getting on base. Renti is struggling right now and Giles is very inconsistent. When 1 and 2 start getting on and CJones heats up, watch out.

By Yelling Last Night

June 22, 2006 02:13 PM | Link to this

I believe Chipper is still bothered by the nagging injuries. Time for Bobby to have him sit every other day and get Betemit in the lineup. Say, about 2 weeks ago didn’t Bobby say he was going to have Betemit play more? I think he’s actually been in the lineup twice since then. Let Chipper get his legs back and maybe he’ll start driving the ball again.

But what is really troubling this team is a lot more than just Chipper’s falling production. Again last night I was yelling at the TV about poor fundamental baseball. Diaz getting picked off for the 3rd out in the inning. (gee, I think the Jays scored their 1st 4 runs after 2 outs). Hudson failing to get a bunt down with runners on 1st & 2nd and nobody out. Those are the kind of things that make for a last place team. Maybe “The Truth” is right, that Leo was the only coach that got in peoples faces and now that he’s gone there is nobody to hold these guys accountable for the poor fundamental plays. Diaz and Hudson should have gotten their a$$ chewed off for those plays, but all we hear is Bobby bemoaning “bad luck” and “he just got a ball up, otherwise he pitched well”. And yes, Bob Rathbun and Jeff Torborg are horrible. Why is Jeff Torborg involved with the Braves? Sadly, the days of the Superstation, Ted & Jane’s Excellent Adventure, Skip & Pete and winning pennants are OVER! Great read about the End of the run is linked on Deadspin.com from yesterday. Interesting insight into how JS has been able to get by with a less talented roster every year since the wildcard came into play and now this cutting back on talent has finally come to roost. Man, I said I’d have to keep this blog name until the Braves won a series but now I just wish they’d win a game.

By nathan

June 22, 2006 02:14 PM | Link to this

I hope he doen’t heat up too fast. He might burn his skin and miss a few weeks.

By Cox rules

June 22, 2006 02:16 PM | Link to this

Chipper’s not a leader, looks disinterested, doesn’t care…How do you people know? Just by looking at someone on the bench or their facial expressions? You don’t have to be John Rocker-excited to be a good leader, care, etc. How I wish I could cheer for a team with decent fans that don’t bash their own, don’t stay away from playoff games, etc.

By Gene

June 22, 2006 02:22 PM | Link to this

OK - How do you know he is a leader? What does Chipper do that you see that indicates that?

By Gene

June 22, 2006 02:24 PM | Link to this

I guess we should just be thankful and happy that they have won 3 out the last 22. Also, at least the bullpen’s ERA is less than 6! I will try to be a good fan and only focus on the positives. Better get a magnifying glass.

By Matt

June 22, 2006 02:26 PM | Link to this

funny about chipper burning. about chipper not caring, when has any braves ever showed any emotion. same with ajones, all he does is smile. only recently with frenchy, giles and mccann has the braves started showing emotion.
i bleed blue and red and my wife hates me for it. win or lose, i will still be there, or listening, or watching. give them time they will get hot.

By nathan

June 22, 2006 02:32 PM | Link to this

matt, you are right about the “no emotion” factor. I think the common denominator in the no emotion bench is Cox. That’s his style and the teams relflect that.

Well guess what! All of the Baby Braves (especially the home grown ones) have been watching the stoic faces on the Braves for a LONG time. It seems to me Francoeur and McCann have taken it upon themselves not only as Braves Players but as Braves Fans, to change the exitement and attitude of this drab old bunch. IMO

By Drixie

June 22, 2006 02:32 PM | Link to this

Chipper is not a leader. Never has been never will be. He has been a very good player for most of his career. He is all about himself. I suspect that the reason he is such a media hound (much like “Red Sock” Schilling) is because he knows media darlings tend to get more HOF votes. I believe Chipper should either be moved to first base or off the team in a trade. His hayseed, me-first attitude is only dragging down the team.

By andy

June 22, 2006 02:36 PM | Link to this

Flashback to 2000 last series of the year cards v. Braves for homefield advantage. hard hit ball to third. a great thirdbaseman would have made the play. A good thirdbaseman would dive for the ball and try to at least knock it down and keep it on the infield. our mr jones just said ole. braves lost game homefield and three stright to cards in playoffs. I didnt watch another game until last year. THe only reason i can see for larry not to retire is that he has to be getting close to two carreer records: most cliches in post game interviews and most excuses for not doing any better in postseason play. i also wonder if anybody has done the famous barry bonds head size comparison could be interesting

By Matt

June 22, 2006 02:36 PM | Link to this

can you tell i’m in denial

By TennesseePaul

June 22, 2006 02:37 PM | Link to this

This losing sucks. But I just can’t believe the season is over. This team isn’t even mathamatically eliminated yet. We just need a good healthy winning streak. We’ve seen them in the past. There was a year we started off 13-0 or something close. One of those runs puts us at .500. One of those runs will cut off about 3 or 4 games from the Mets. That pulls us closer to 10 games out, and that is managable. We still have 9 games left with the Mets and an August Schedule that looks to good to be true. If we just fix the parts that are broken, higher a new hitting coach (Mr. McCann would be a good one) and execute the fundamentals we’ll be back in this thing in no time.

All of this would also put us in a much better position to win it all. Because when we do win this thing this year, it will be because we were hot all the way through the second half and post season. No more of this clinch in August, relax for a month and then try to win it all stuff. It never works.

On that note, if for some nightmarish reason we don’t win the division, and the Mets take it, they will fall victim to that lazy second half effort that’s hurt the Braves in seasons past.

By Robert

June 22, 2006 02:37 PM | Link to this

Well, this is a start. Two and a half years after he quit being an elite producer, somebody in the Atlanta media finally dares to speak ill of Chipper

My question is how long will it take before someone in the Atlanta media starts talking about the donkey wearing the manager’s uniform and his ten year slump - actually more like a lifelong slump interrupted by fifteen minutes of glory in 1995.

Get Eeyore out of the dugout, for heaven’s sake get Eeyore out of the dugout

By Johnny Taco

June 22, 2006 02:40 PM | Link to this

IS THE DODGERS’ DANYS BAEZ A FREE AGENT THIS YEAR?

I KNOW JS TRIED TO ACQUIRE HIM FROM TAMPA LAST WINTER.

By Woodrow

June 22, 2006 02:43 PM | Link to this

Thank the broadcast gods that tonight’s game is on TBS. We won’t have to suffer through a Torborg induced agaony.

“When I was a catcher…” “When I was with the Expos…” “When my son was a pro wrestler…”

By Kentavo

June 22, 2006 02:45 PM | Link to this

Could it be that Chipper was on the juice, and now he’s not?

By Self-important blogger

June 22, 2006 02:49 PM | Link to this

Guy Curtright tells it like it is—-nothing like DOB who I would suppose is afraid of getting banned from the shower rooms if he doesn’t keep pandering to the slobs!

By Josh

June 22, 2006 02:51 PM | Link to this

Now I admit that I love the old broadcast crew just as much as everybody else but give Rath and Torborg a break. What can they talk about. They cant talk about the great success the Braves are having or winning streaks or all of the successful rookies or Andrew’s break-out year or Giles 40somethin doubles etc. etc. They aint got much to work with this year

By Red Bull

June 22, 2006 02:54 PM | Link to this

Guess Chipper isn’t getting the same results now that it’s just Red Bull and sunflower seeds!

By Matt

June 22, 2006 03:03 PM | Link to this

also, another reason to look up for your braves chances. we are leading all of baseball (what i heard before the game yesterday) in 1 run games. its not like we are usually getting blown out of the water. that damn bullpen. what happened to our 2 out clutch hitting at the beginning of the year. when that picks up, we’ll be ok. another thing, i want to know how everybody feels. would you rather win the wild card and then the world series or would you rather keep our streak of division titles going and lose in the playoffs. this might sound like a dumb question to you, but most people that i know are kind of mixed about it. what say you.

By xavier

June 22, 2006 03:04 PM | Link to this

u writers are the worst instead of writting about how the team fights even if they are lossing i wonder what r u going to write about if they turned around ur going to be kissing the braves butts….ohh and i live in new york i’m a loyal diehard braves fan even if finish in las place.

By L.W.

June 22, 2006 03:07 PM | Link to this

Chipper’s problem is simple. He misses R.F. batting in front front of him. This year the pitchers are throwing almost all breaking stuff to chipper. Without R.F. on base he isn’t getting fastballs to hit.

Of course it is Chipper’s job to adjust and thus far he hasn’t adjusted this year. I think he is leaning back to far when he bats left thus his head and body are moving. He can’t adjust to the breaking pitch when he has so many moving parts. I think he he stood straight in the box with his feet a little further apart he would be able to hit the off speed pitches.

By Robbie

June 22, 2006 03:11 PM | Link to this

Chipper has been tanking it on purpose because he knows that he is Atlanta’s Golden Boy and that no matter how bad he plays grandpa Cox will put him in the lineup. Case in point the Marlins game almost a week ago when Remlinger threw to third and the ball glanced off Flipper’s glove. Game over it was a half hearted effort at best.

By Antonio McNugget

June 22, 2006 03:20 PM | Link to this

I have the answer to our struggles. It will only take one thing to get back in the division race. HGH

Anyone have Roger Clemens #?

By Kman

June 22, 2006 03:21 PM | Link to this

I definitely believe Chipper was juiced a number of years back (98-99). I photographed the Braves quite regularly from 90-2003 and when he came to spring training in 98 he had gained about 20-30 lbs of muscle. If I’m not mistaken, that was his MVP year too. Ever since 2000, he has dealt with the same type of injuries attributed with juicing. I have posted previously on his rediculous statements regarding the Remlinger throw in FLA and also his lack of emotion ofter Frenchy’s blast against Beantown…

By Robert

June 22, 2006 03:28 PM | Link to this

You know the more I think about this, the more I think the current struggles will eventually prove beneficial to this team

We DO have some good young players. And it looks like they will get to develop something that the past two or three generations of home grown talent havent had the chance to develop - character

Look at Chipper - as soon as the team isnt winning and he isnt chasing a 100 rbi season, he looks totally listless

Look at Andru - a very very good player, but no fire in his belly

Smolztie I’d like to see get a last chance to win - trade him home to Detroit - He has been the only consistant playoff warrior for the Braves - I’m a little disappointed at his lack of leadership now, but he gets something of a pass in my book

For leadership, dont look to Chipper or Andru - aint gonna happen. They never dealt with hard times. Thy dont have it in them

Hopefully, one of the young guys can pick it up. Francouer and McCann both have the makings of long time productive big leaguers (granted, Frenchie needs to learn to some plate discipline, but the raw talent is certainly there) - Hopefully, by going thru this losing, these baby Braves will develop a fire and backbone that the current crop of vets (save Smoltz) never developed

Oh, and by the way - There’s a donkey in the dugout

By T-Bone

June 22, 2006 03:28 PM | Link to this

Trade Chipper this year because this season is a wash and next year he would be 35. It time to shop him and look for a proven younger talent because Chipper All-Star days are behind him. I dont see Chipper going to another team and becoming an All-Star and since the drug testing his power number has went south and plus he is not feared across the league anymore. ITS TIME ATLANTA!!! The problem with the Braves beside owner is that the team hold on to the older guys to long. See Glavine, Maddox,Chipper,Jordan,Smoltz all these guys were proven players but instead of trading them when they get of age and while their trade value is still high, we keep them and let them become FA and they move to another team without getting nothing in return. Plus the Braves have let a ton of good players get away from their system for players they kept for one or two season like the Millwood deal, Sheffield,Lofton,R. Sanders,B.J Suroff,J. Marquis,the J. Dye deal plus many more. The Braves has the best farm system and their line up should be more productive and pichers more proven if only the Braves made the trade at the right time. Plus people forget we won the Championship 11 years ago. Thats a long time ago, hell I was a teenage now I am looking at my 401k. That team was young with speed and power within the whole lineup along with the pichers. So with that been said Trade Chipper and Giles for that proven young guy that plays in Washington Alfonso Soriano and with that I am gone.

By Jerry C

June 22, 2006 03:28 PM | Link to this

Sadly, and for whatever reasons, it appears that Chipper’s best days are behind him. Three straight years of injuries has reduced his production. However, let’s give him credit for the excitment he brought to Braves fans for many years. Now the organization needs to concentrate on rebuilding. Let’s hope a deal for new ownership is reached, and the new owners will have deep pockets.

By Skip & Pete Fan

June 22, 2006 03:28 PM | Link to this

Chipper is done, fini, kaput. He has been for a couple of years, but others carried him. His attitude and arrogance have been hard to take since he came up, but now that he can’t back any of it up - he is hard to take.

Cox won’t move an incompetent lead-off hitter, so you know he won’t move an incompetent #3. Won’t happen. Would rather lose than admit that one of his “boys” can’t do it. We’ve always had a bunch of guys that could overcome Bobby’s reliance on old, non-producing players. But this year, no one has stepped up to make the difference.

Whatever happened to Bobby’s proclamation in Houston that he had to play Betemit more. He played for Giles (when he had a temperature) and he played for Chipper (when he had sore thumb). Otherthan that, all you’ve seen of Betemit is pinch-hitting. So much for Bobby’s proclamation.

Last point - Chipper sitting on the bench the other night when Franceour had just put us ahead with a 3-run homer shows very clearly why this team is horrible. Our highest paid player and self-appointed leader couldn’t even get off his a** to congratulate our new leader!

By Rob C

June 22, 2006 03:33 PM | Link to this

I love how many leadership experts we have here. I just wonder how anybody knows one way or another whether Chipper or anyone else is a good “leader”. Are you in the clubhouse before and after games? Do you tag along when the “leaders” take the younger guys out for dinner or sit in the clubhouse discussing different approaches to hitting with them? The truth is that none of us have any idea, and to make statements that you have no way of know the truth in is completely stupid.

By Kentavo

June 22, 2006 03:44 PM | Link to this

Chipper didn’t celebrate Frenchy’s homer against Bosox because he knew the bullpen was going to blow it. If that was a walk-off blast, Chipper would have joined the celebration.

By Jeffrey

June 22, 2006 03:44 PM | Link to this

Hard to believe that Chipper is now 34 years old. It is fun to remember the young Chipper of the mid 90s and the clutch hitting that he provided. If you look at the greats of baseball, many of them had significant downturns in production around the ages of 32-35. I think Chipper fits that pattern and I think he knows what is happening. It would probably be best for him to move on elsewhere or he will face a rough future with fans and media alike. We will always compare the Chipper of 34 to the Chipper of 24 and that simply can never be. Like Dale Murphy, Chipper should look at the chance to start over elsewhere and be hailed as a big time acquisition for fans who have not watched him daily for the last decade.

By Chop Chop

June 22, 2006 03:45 PM | Link to this

T-Bone, that “proven young guy that plays in Washington” (Alfonso Soriano) is 30 years old (not young) and is a free agent after this season. If the Braves are afraid to pay Giles $6-7 million after arbitration, there’s no way they’ll be willing to pay Soriano more than that for a three or four year deal.

Skip & Pete Fan, if Francoeur is the Braves’ new leader, he’ll have to start acting like it at the plate. I’m talking about patient at-bats and sustained production. I’ll agree with you about how Chipper doesn’t seem interested. He’s only used to winning. A number of years ago, I remember it being mentioned that Chipper had never missed the playoffs in his life. That might be one reason why he seems so bewildered.

By the way, here’s a link to Chipper’s website:

chipperjones.com

Interesting, uh, read. (That was for Jimmy Smith)

TennesseePaul, my belief is that the Braves are done this year. I don’t have blind faith with this team, mainly because of the postseason failures the Braves have had in the past. To me, this streak reminds me of all of those failures. That’s a strange feeling as a fan, isn’t it? You start looking back and thinking about the missed opportunities…and you wonder if your team will get the chance to miss them again anytime soon.

Strange times to be a Braves fan.

By Jimbo

June 22, 2006 03:47 PM | Link to this

Guy is right. Chipper is not the same player he used to be. As much as I would like to see him finish his career here this is a two way street. Players are rarely loyal to their team..see Greedy Glav and our former fundamentally challenged shortstop. I think it was Branch Rickey who said many years ago…its better to get rid of a player a year too soon then a year too late. Chipper falls in that category. He still has value but it is dwindling.

By Robert

June 22, 2006 03:47 PM | Link to this

You are correct that we arent privy to everything that goes on in the clubhouse (amd we shouldnt be - as much contempt as I have for the man, I do have to give Bobby Cox credit for keeping team business, team business, and not turning every breath and whisper into public knowledge)

On the other hand, leadership can be evident by what we do see and hear. If Chipper were a leader, he wouldve handled the Remlinger incident last week differently. A leader wouldve taken responsibility - “My bad” (whether it was or wasnt, that’s what a leader does, take one for the team sometimes) - The best Chipper could say was that everyone has played a role. How about saying “As a veteran leader, it looks like I need to step up and do more to get us turned around”

Look at two years ago, when Chipper opted to chase a personal stat streak instead of making sure he was healthy and rested for the playoffs.

Chipper has never rally carried this team, except for a short stretch in ‘99. He has also never elevated this team. He is one of those guys who is a stat stud, but you get this odd feeling that as counterintuitive as it sounds, the team might be better off without him.

His peripherals are none-existant. Poor baserunner. Below average fielder. Poor fundamentals. Little evidence of leadership

Now he may well be playing hurt - which may sound noble, but given the Braves situation it would be time to give it up and do the smart thing, for his career and for the team. If he’s hurt, get out of the lineup for a while

Plus, he’s going on 35 - Trade him now when you might have some excuses for his lackluster performance so far this year. Try trading him when he’s 36 or 37 and the slide has continued, and you couldnt get Reitsma for him

Back to the Braves rebuilding effort. It’s important that they be able to tell lead from gold, and that they dont attempt alchemy (turning chicken s** into chicken salad). By that I mean that Francouer and McCann are hot prospects, but LaRoche and Langerhans arent. Similarly, they gotta realize that Horatio Ramirez is garbage - no stuff, as evidenced by his lo K rate, and no command, as evidenced by his awful K/BB ratios. Sosa merits a look in the bullpen, tho this season is the first that he has shown any semblance of command

By the way, dont get on the pitchers because of their won-lost record. A pitcher can pitch shutout ball ad nauseum and not get a win, and he can pitch 5 innings of crap and get a win if his team bails him out. Pitchers should be judged on inside stats like K rate, walk rate, K/BB ratio, hits per inning, ground ball/fly ball ratio, not on how much run support they get

By Paul

June 22, 2006 03:50 PM | Link to this

It’s not that easy to just trade away Chipper even if JS wanted to. You have to understand the economics of baseball, what team is going to pick up that giant contract? Yankees? Already have A-Rod. Mets? Already have David Wright. The only way Chipper is going anywhere is if we agree to pay at least some of his salary, and I don’t seee JS ever agreeing to that.

By Robert

June 22, 2006 03:53 PM | Link to this

Anyway, I hope we finally win a game tonight. Watch, after what I said about him, Ramirez will hurl a shutout

Cant wait to see what “Eeyore the Mastermind” has in store for tonight. My bet is he’ll tuck his ears under his cap, curl his tail around the bench, shove a hoof up his nose, and stare blankly out toward the pitcher’s mound, but I’m only guessing that cuz it’s what he’s done for the past 2400 or so games. Who knows, tonight the donkey might surprise us all

By jest me

June 22, 2006 03:55 PM | Link to this

Some Cal Ripken stats for those who think he was such a great player.

Lifetime BA: 276 lifetime OBP: 340 Years above 300 BA 3 Years above 30 HR: 1 Years above 100 RBI 4

BA at age 34: 262 HR at age 34: 17

Please explain how that’s so much better than chipper

By ugadawg

June 22, 2006 03:59 PM | Link to this

Chipper has never carried the team? What? That “short stretch in 99” was when he won the NL MVP. I’d say that was pretty good.

Chipper has lost a step, and he’s becoming a joke at the plate. But lets not throw him in the dumpster, the man did a lot for this franchise in the past.

By Josh

June 22, 2006 04:00 PM | Link to this

Didnt Cal Jr. get over 3,000 hits? Has Chipper? I dont think he’s anywhere close. I like chipper but dont be sayin cal wasnt a great player

By Chop Chop

June 22, 2006 04:07 PM | Link to this

You’re right, Paul. There’s no way Chipper’s going anywhere unless the Braves take someone else’s overpaid trash in return. Since that wouldn’t help the team, I think Chipper’s going to be a Brave at least through next season.

One thing I would like to see the Braves add in the offseason is some speed. Since they don’t seem to be willing to send runners in motion very often, they need guys who can generate speed on their own. Some would say that Francoeur should be able to steal bases. No less of a baseball authority than the greatest announcer of all-time, Mr. Bob Rathbun, raves about Francoeur’s speed, but the man has yet to steal a base in his career. He has good outfield speed and good first to third/home speed. Maybe Francoeur will learn more about that as he goes along, but you get the feeling that this coaching staff (Pendleton…who should know how to because of his 127 career steals in the bigs, Fredi Gonzalez, Pat Corrales) doesn’t know a damn thing about how to teach someone how to steal a base. Look at ‘em. Look at those bellies. Anyway, as far as I can tell, the only spots on the team where speed can realistically be added are in left field and second base…and the bench. Pete Orr has great speed, but he can’t bunt a ball off a tee to get on base, so his speed is mostly shown when he’s hustling down the first base line for an out.

By Brad

June 22, 2006 04:08 PM | Link to this

Chipper Jones is exhibitting the same entusiasm toward basball, both offensively and defensively that I di about picking cotton by hand in 90 degree weather. But I did not get paid like Chipper does!

By robert

June 22, 2006 04:11 PM | Link to this

Question to does Chipper’s arms look much smaller than say two years ago? His power numbers sure reflect a loss of quickness and strength.

By Glass Half Full

June 22, 2006 04:11 PM | Link to this

1871 hits for Chipper in 1700+ games.

By jest me

June 22, 2006 04:22 PM | Link to this

Ripkin played 21 years with 11500 at bats to get to 3000 hits. There’s a lot of players now, in the past, and in the future that can get 3000 hits with that many at bats including chipper. All you have to do is have a BA over 280. Ripkin averaged 80 rbi 20 hr and 276 BA over his playing time. Not great stats for a super star. He was great only because he came to play every day and he was able to play 21 years without getting seriously injured and set the consecutive game record. Not because he carried a team any year. Notice he only had 100 rbi of over 3 years out of 21.

By Josh

June 22, 2006 04:29 PM | Link to this

and you think Chipper can play as long as Cal did?

By Brent

June 22, 2006 04:31 PM | Link to this

Francoeur is fast, but he doesn’t steal bases because he doesn’t have a quick first step.

It takes him too long to “get going.” (See: When he was thrown out on that sac fly attempt in Houston).

Anyway, stealing bases can be taught, it involves standing correctly, and crossing your left leg over your right in the proper fashion on your first step.

Maybe Dale Murphy could teach him. They have a similar build and Murph stole about 30 bases a year when he was Frenchie’s age.

By Brent

June 22, 2006 04:39 PM | Link to this

“Being a switch hitter is rare commodity in this day and age.”

Yeah, just ask Wilson Betemit.

I hate that commerical.

By Yelling Last Night

June 22, 2006 04:39 PM | Link to this

Robert, why do you hate Bobby so much. Quit waisting space on this blog with your incessant moaning about the man. Offer some real criticism and or insight or just shut up. Why don’t you go on a Terrence Moore blog where your can join someone else who can’t provide any original thought or insight.

By Chop Chop

June 22, 2006 04:40 PM | Link to this

Brent,

You’re exactly right as to why Francoeur is seemingly unable to steal bases.

The question is this:

Why hasn’t he been taught proper technique?

Many of these young Braves players seem to be lacking in baseball fundamentals (with the exception of McCann). Maybe the Braves need to clean house in the minors and get some coaches in there who will drill this stuff into players’ heads. Everyone has to make adjustments in the big leagues, but you’re supposed to be making adjustments without also having to learn basic fundamentals about baserunning, bunting, etc.

By jest me

June 22, 2006 04:44 PM | Link to this

josh

Never said that chipper could play 21 years or get 11500 AB. He has the misfortune of being injury prone. Only said that if he did then he would get to 3000 hits with his BA. Was only comparing chipper’s yearly stats with ripkins yearly stats. Everyone complaining about chipper but when you compare his stats to a hall of famer like ripkin, even this years stats, then he doesn’t look that bad. Even compared to another hall of famer Eddie Mathews he doesn’t look that bad (higher BA 271 to 309, more years above 100 rbi - 5 to 8,

By Brent

June 22, 2006 04:45 PM | Link to this

Chop-chop,

Good point. I didn’t want to bring up the lack of fundamentals, because we supposedly have the best system in place in all of baseball.

But you can’t refute the fact that Jeff is lacking in a couple of key areas (maybe he was rushed up too quickly?)

I understand that Jeff Blausser is now coaching at AA Mississippi - maybe that will help. ;-)

By Josh

June 22, 2006 04:50 PM | Link to this

ok i see where you’re comin from now

By MGL

June 22, 2006 04:54 PM | Link to this

OK, we need a couple of games like the White Sox just completed!! 40 hits and 33 runs in 2 games against the Cards. Go Braves!!

By Franklins Tower

June 22, 2006 04:58 PM | Link to this

Gran Jen wrote: “Quit picking on Chipper! I’d like to see who among us could get up every day and go to a physically demanding job with the injuries he has and perform half as well.”

You are pitiful. I think most of us would climb Kilamanjaro every day for $13M a year and that is 100X more stressful than what MLB players deal with. What a simply ridiculous statement you made.

By jest me

June 22, 2006 04:59 PM | Link to this

are you sure that 11 runs a game is enough for this pitching staff? Bull pen would fing a way to give up 12.

By MGL

June 22, 2006 05:07 PM | Link to this

jest me - It should be enough, it was 33 in 2 games, 16.5 each.

By Jeff

June 22, 2006 05:12 PM | Link to this

Guy’s right, but…the team could carry Chipper if the pitching was where it should be. Position players don’t win championships; pitching and defense do.

By Seth

June 22, 2006 05:18 PM | Link to this

Chipper looked so good in the World Baseball Classic. I was very excited to see him crush the ball the same way for the Braves this season. So far it’s been the total opposite. Last night, Toronto actually brought in a right hander in the eighth inning to make Chip bat left-handed. I’ve never seen that happen before. He looks awful from the left hand side and it’s usually a sweet swing. Oh and if you’re wondering how the whole “bringing in a righty to face Chipper Jones” tactic worked, he struck out…..looking.

By elbravo x

June 22, 2006 05:19 PM | Link to this

greenies!

By glennbo

June 22, 2006 05:24 PM | Link to this

jest me, Chipper Jones faced pitchers who tossed from a mound 6 inche shorter than those who played before 1969, like Eddie Matthews. I don’t think you can compare the two just yet.

By MGL

June 22, 2006 05:24 PM | Link to this

Well, I’m going to have a couple of martini’s before the game to relax and cheer for these guys so loud that they can hear me from Orlando!! If you have the good fortune to go to the game, please cheer them on, they need some positive reinforcement.

By nathan

June 22, 2006 05:26 PM | Link to this

Well said with the Branch Rickey quote. It’s not that the Braves can’t afford to gamble by dealing him. It’s that they can’t afford gamble by keeping him.

By brad webb

June 22, 2006 05:32 PM | Link to this

chipper isn’t cutting it, but bobby is worse. chipper is not a #3 hitter right now. but bobby still has him there. just like giles is not a #1 hitter right now. mix the #@%$^ lineup please. diaz and mccann hitting 6,7,or 8th? this is a bad joke. bobby is to blame for the offense. mix up the LINEUP.

the pen just sucks…that’s not bobby’s fault.

By jest me

June 22, 2006 05:32 PM | Link to this

Players before 1969 also batted before the slider came into prominence.

By paluka

June 22, 2006 05:34 PM | Link to this

I agree Chipper is not playing well at all!!But to trade him is nearly imposible. He just restructured his contract and I would bet there is some sort of clause in it states that the restructuring is void if traded. Besides that he is 10 and 5 player and would have to approve any trade. Plus who is going to trade for him, do any of you out there really think any other team would give up prospects for an aging 3rd baseman who is becoming a defensive liability? I agree he must be moved from the 3 hole. McCann should be hitting there. Chipper should hit 2nd since he is still a .300 hitter and does walk some, and edgar should be dropped to the 5 spot. Another thing I hope Bobby sticks with Thorman at 1st.

By MGL

June 22, 2006 05:41 PM | Link to this

Chipper batted for .327 AVE and .433 OBP during the month of May. I don’t think he is washed up yet.

By jest me

June 22, 2006 05:42 PM | Link to this

I could be wrong (memories not what it use to be) but I seem to remember that the mound was lowered for only a few years in the mid 60s. Bob Gibson, Sandy Kofax and others forced the return of the higher mound with outrageous era’s after it was lowered.

By Paultb

June 22, 2006 05:45 PM | Link to this

I just want to see some FIRE. For years this team played like it was going to the dentist right after the game. With few exceptions the play was listless and even lazy.

The Baby Braves gave us a boost but there is no leadership (Chipper are you there?) and no fire for us to get excited about.

I followed the pirates for years and I can tell you that fans will keep coming back if the team is full of fighters. If all you give us is wins - then we only show up at playoff time. If you don’t fight and you don’t give us wins…..

By jest me

June 22, 2006 05:50 PM | Link to this

While we are discussing trading chipper or theroach or Giles, could someone explain to me how one position player makes that much difference. If you replace chipper with the top 3rd baseman in the league you are adding at most 40 runs in a year (assuming chipper only gets 90 rbi and replacement gets 130 if possible with no one on base ahead of him) That’s .25 runs a game. How many more games is that going to get you. I think the yankees and phillies and rangers and others tried to win with allstar caliber high paid position players and found the hard way that it requires pitching to win championships.

By doe

June 22, 2006 05:52 PM | Link to this

Chipper jones order $200 dollars in to go food at my bar. We chatted for a bit until his food came up and when he paid the bill he gave me a stiff. $15 million a year and no tip. I wrote him off right there. That was 2 years ago. He hasn’t been good since. Karma?

By teoa

June 22, 2006 05:56 PM | Link to this

Tenn Paul, you are the eternal optimist, but even you are grasping at straws now. The best you can say is the Braves “aren’t even mathematically eliminated yet.” Well, considering that it is mathematically impossible to be mathematically eliminated before the season is half over, you are correct, sir. Even a team 72 games back after 72 games would mathematically have a chance. In the real world, however, (as oppose to the mathematical one), the Braves chances of surving Bobby Cox’s senility, Time Warner’s greed, Scheurholtz’ book tour sabatical, Terry Pendleton’s incompetence, Roger McDowell’s inexperience, and a team full of underachievers are about as good as that team 72 games back after 72 games. I like your optimism, Tenn Paul, but don’t set yourself up for a disappointment: this team is done. Try again next year.

By paluka

June 22, 2006 06:07 PM | Link to this

Does anyone have any thoughts on who would take Chipper and what we would get back in return?

By realisticbrave

June 22, 2006 06:12 PM | Link to this

Yeah, ol’ Chipper just don’t heal up as quick as he used to now that they’re testing for ‘roids. Funny how he’s lost a lot of power out of his bat too.

Must be because he’s hit the ripe “old” age of 34.

By nancy

June 22, 2006 06:13 PM | Link to this

I have been a Braves fan since the 70’s when they were alot worse than they are this year (just barely). I know everyone in this city loves - just loves Bobby Cox. But, has anyone ever really considered that he could be the reason we have lost many postseasons and now suck this year…lets look at a few facts:

1) Continues to play Adam LaRoche even though he continues to not play up to his so called potential. Give this new guy a shot at first and bench LaRoche (finally please!). 2) Wilson Betemit is one of the hottest hitters but yet he continues to ride the bench. 3) Their hottest hitter, Brian McCann, continues to sit against lefties when he has a higher bat avg against lefties than Pratt does overall. 4) Continues to bring in the same reliever night after night to have them lose it night after night…just let the starters stay in. Or, maybe its time to try some new ones from the minors.

Don’t know about anyone else but I’m sick of the stupid decisions being made with this ballclub.

Lay off Chipper…I wouldn’t have my heart in it either if I played with these decisions.

By Zippy

June 22, 2006 06:18 PM | Link to this

Who would take Chipper? Some team with bad scouts and money to squander.

I see the Richmond Braves have lost 12 in a row. There just being prepared for the big leagues.

Alamanza? Somebody’s getting their hopes high on the latest Schuerholz acquisition from the scrap heap. Where does he find these guys?

By Glass Half Full

June 22, 2006 06:29 PM | Link to this

According to MLB 06: The Show, Chipper retires at the end of this season…after being named World Series MVP. Silly video game. Even LaRoche consistently bats .300 and hits 30+ homers from 06-09. Crazy.

By Lane tucker

June 22, 2006 06:30 PM | Link to this

Whats the big hub bub about the Braves losing record in 2006?

So the Braves have choked in June instead of October like they normally do. It’s not like the end result was going to be any different

Braves fans should celebrate the 10 Straight post season chokes from 1996-2005

By Dan

June 22, 2006 06:39 PM | Link to this

Kneejerk, you obviously don’t know what you are talking about, when you say we have no talent left in the minors. Have you checked Rome lately?

By realisticbrave

June 22, 2006 06:41 PM | Link to this

Skip and Pete Skip and Pete Skip and Pete Skip and Pete… I am so freakin’ SICK of Skip and Pete I might become bulemic.

I like Joe because he seems like a nice guy. I like Don because he’s forgotten more about baseball than Skip and Pete have ever known and he shares it with us. But why all of you people moon over Skip’s nasal honking and Pete’s high pitched squeaking constantly pushing their BBQ on the air and sucking up to the other team’s players, I have no idea.

Bob Rathbun is OK and Jeff Torborg is about as exciting as a stick in the mud, granted. But the Brave’s announcers I miss are Joe and Don… Skip and Pete and their constantly man-love for the teams that are PLAYING the Braves are not missed in my household.

By Ralph

June 22, 2006 06:56 PM | Link to this

Must people are asking the big question where is Chipper Jones, Well the guy playing third base looks like him, still looks are deceiving, it could be that Larry took his place when no one was looking.
Truth is that his spirit is in his ranch in Texas on his favorite horse and riding of into the sunset. Reality - If the man is sick or hurting, take care of him and bench his butt until he can do better, he is not helping the team or himself playing hurt, even if he makes 12 millions a year the way he has been playing lately, he does nothing but harm and they can do without another zombie on the field. The braves aren’t going to catch anyone this year, they may catch a view on how empty the stadium is, but thats about all. Its rough to be a braves fan and see your team going under without a fight so early in the year. With a general manager who is indifferent about whats going on and a manager doesn’t know whats going and he does nothing new to wake up the team and save something of whats left of the season. The braves so far this year have shown, bad sportsmanship, lack of respect and disregard towards the fans in the southeast and throughtout the country. The braves organization is an excellent example of how cold blooded big cooperation have become. I can still remember when they use to throw free Atlanta braves baseball tickets at you and your car if you drove to close to the stadium trying to get you or any living body to go in and watch a braves games and most of all to fill the thousands of empty sits.

By Larry

June 22, 2006 06:57 PM | Link to this

Well said Nancy,I could not agree more!

By JJMB

June 22, 2006 06:59 PM | Link to this

Torborg knows a lot about the game. I like him. Yes he was never a starter, but he did catch SANDY KOUFAX’s PERFECT GAME! One of the 17 perfect games pitched in MLB since 1880. He is part of history.

By CobbCountyMetFan

June 22, 2006 07:05 PM | Link to this

I see the Braves have a SOLID LOCK on last place. It’s a wonderful site to behold. These are GOOD DAYS for Met fans. I want everyone in Atlanta to enjoy this….I want to spread the love.

By glennbo

June 22, 2006 07:09 PM | Link to this

jest me, The mound height was 16 inches through the 1968 season. In 1969 it was lowered to 10 inches because the pitchers were too dominant. (Yaz won a batting title with a .301 BA.) And how could lowering the height make pitchers more dominant?

By hk

June 22, 2006 07:18 PM | Link to this

… been keeping a Braves ‘MVP’ for quite a while now, where MVP=projected year end R+HR+RBI, based on latest actuals:

Yr End….Runs..Homers..RBI’s…MVP

Andruw…..99….38…..137…..275

Francoeur..77….34…..122…..232

Chipper….92….16……79…..187

LaRoche….70….25……83…..178

Renteria…92….18……68…..175

Giles……88…..9……52…..149

McCann…..50….11……50…..110

Langerhans.50…..9……36……95

Betemit….36….11……34……81

… Chipper’s MVP is 226 if you factor in the 15 games he missed …

… 1997-2006 MVP numbers for

Chipper:

232,264,271,265,253,219,236,195,159,187

Andruw

148,210,207,262,242,223,253,205,274,275

click here for curves

By Brent

June 22, 2006 07:19 PM | Link to this

Glennbo,

thanks for setting it straight

By bill

June 22, 2006 07:20 PM | Link to this

Come on people…Chipper Jones has proven himself at every level. He is a winner, always has been, always will be. You are a complete fool if you say that a manager should treat him otherwise. And anyone who equates the current Braves’ slide to the announcers…well, enough said. Got to go, there is a baseball game starting in a few minutes, with my favorite team of the last 40 years playing. Wow, should I quit watching them play now that they are having their first losing season in 15 years…I think not. As I have said before, if you are enamored with teams that will rent you a championship season every 6-8 years…get the hell out of here and head down to Florida, or up to N.Y. I can wait on my Braves to work through this…

By p

June 22, 2006 07:22 PM | Link to this

for the love of god, fire bobby cox. he’s STILL waiting for the home run ball big inning, and we don’t have ANYONE that can hit one.

By nathan

June 22, 2006 07:24 PM | Link to this

jest me…..

It’s not about trading Chipper to get production only from his position. It’s about freeing up that ANCHOR of a contract, so they can use the dollars to fill all of the other holes.

For instance, Betemit might never be what Chipper used to be in his prime. But he can surely be a singles and doubles hitter like Chipper is now. With getting rid of Chippers salary, they could probably afford a REAL closer and probably get one more if not two middle relief pitcher. God only knows we need it all.

A good example is what the Mariners did a few years back by not being able to resign AROD. They certainly didn’t replace HIS production at SS with Carlos Guillen, but he did an OK job and that freed up money to use on Bret Boone, to resign Jamie Moyer, afford to keep Ichiro etc…..

By Brent

June 22, 2006 07:24 PM | Link to this

So tonight, if there are runners on first and second with no one out, and LaRoche is batting, what will happen?

I hate this crap.

Anyway, Betemit, Thorman, and McCann tonight.
Let’s see what happens …

By bill

June 22, 2006 07:26 PM | Link to this

hk, great stats…if you could weight them for batting order position (opportunity) they would be excellent.

By glembo

June 22, 2006 07:30 PM | Link to this

Chipper has irreprabaly harmed his reputation with all that bubble gum in his mouth.

By DonCoburleone

June 22, 2006 07:31 PM | Link to this

We are stuck with Chipper! No sense in complaining about him, if anything, we should be complaining to Cox to move him down the lineup (or put Renteria 1 and Chipper 2). We couldn’t even trade him if we wanted to, no team wants him. Chipper not producing like he should is not this teams major flaw. It is OBVIOUSLY the bullpen (pitching in general). I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again: McDowell’s frat-house attitude is not what this pitching staff needs. Mazzone may have been over-hyped during his tenure here, but at least he had a philosophy and stuck with it! The pitchers knew, if they didn’t keep the ball down and attack the outside corners they were going to be disciplined for it. With McDowell, it seems like the pitchers are just doing their own thing and McDowell is encouraging it…Not a good approach for a HORRIBLE bullpen and an average at best starting rotation.

By Laurance Maney

June 22, 2006 07:36 PM | Link to this

Chipper would be having a good year hitting sixth or seventh all things considered. Giles would be having a good year hitting eighth. The problem is a manager who’ll run the same lineup out there every night and do the same inane lefty-righty switches as if the practice were on Moses’ Tablets. The one change the Braves can make on their limited budget is a new manager. The time is now.

By nathan

June 22, 2006 07:40 PM | Link to this

Ozzie Guillen suspended for 1 game for having his player throw at another player, and fined an “undisclosed” ammount for his comments about Jay Mariotti. Also he was order to take sensitivity classes.

I love Ozzie’s fire and can agree with the retaliation order. However his comments were uncalled for.

Can you imagine if John Rocker was ever to be a Major League Manager? LOL! He would make Guillen and Mark Cuban look like girl scouts.

Plus I just saw this not on the rumors section online. The Braves are giving tryouts to Juan Bueringer and Charles Kerfeld for their bullpen woes. Bobby said the both looked really good in their side sessions and should be just the help this team needs to make a “playoff push”. In the same story, it mentioned the Braves failed in their attempt to bring in Marty Clary and Rick Camp in for tryouts. They were interested in Clary for the rotation, Camp was wanted for the LF position. Bobby said back in 1985 when he hit that “bomb” in extra innings on July 4th in 85, he knew he was “somthing special” with the bat.

By nathan

June 22, 2006 07:41 PM | Link to this

NICE PLAY CHIPPER!

na na na na , na na na na, hey hey, GOODBYE!

By nathan

June 22, 2006 07:48 PM | Link to this

wow! a pitcher that doesn’t cry like a little girl and point fingers when an error is made behind him. Yeah - that’s directed at Hudson. Take control of the matters yourself, pitch around Glaus and get the other guys out.

Nice job Horacio.

By glennbo

June 22, 2006 07:49 PM | Link to this

glembo, Chipper did look a real sad sack after that boot.

By Hal

June 22, 2006 07:51 PM | Link to this

Thats the second time in two days ive heard some one use the movie “groundhog days” as an analogy to the braves season ! I think dumb and dumber might have been a better choice

By DonCoburleone

June 22, 2006 07:52 PM | Link to this

IF I SEE REITSMA EVEN TOUCH THE BALL IN A REAL GAME AGAIN I’M GOING TO THROW UP!

By nathan

June 22, 2006 07:53 PM | Link to this

Apparently, I’m the only one on the blog. Oh well, I’ll just type my thoughts to myself, so I can read them later.

I feel bad for Renteria, his intelligence must be getting sucked right from his brain with the guys that are surrounding him in the lineup! Renteria’s average is quietly creeping towards that .300 mark, isn’t it?……..DING! Oh, good evening Mr. Renteria……goind…..DOWN!

Hey, who did the artwork at Turner Field? That is got to be the most LIFELIKE statue of Chipper Jones that was just at the plate! You can’t hit the ball if you don’t swing the bat, MEAT!

By glennbo

June 22, 2006 07:55 PM | Link to this

Nathan, A little note from some online source:

Former Atlanta Braves pitcher Rick Camp has been sentenced to approximately 3 years in a federal prison after being convicted of participating in a conspiracy to steal more than $2 million from a mental health agency. Camp was serving as a lobbyist at the time he and 4 other people…(Sep 21 2005)

Is this a new work release program?

By DonCoburleone

June 22, 2006 07:56 PM | Link to this

Chipper, error in the top of the 1st; Chipper, strikes out swinging in the bottom of the 1st. Way to prove Cartwright’s point in just 1 inning!

By nathan

June 22, 2006 08:02 PM | Link to this

I was just about to type that the bases were empty, so I’m sure andruw will get a hit.

By nathan

June 22, 2006 08:07 PM | Link to this

Glenbo, the judge threw out the verdict and conviction after Bobby Cox pleaded on behalf of Camp.

Cox was quoted as saying “Ricky’s a good kid! He just ran into a couple of bad hops. That legal system is just a crap shoot anyways. It’s only “illegal” if you get caught. I’m sure if you let him out and just leave him alone for to work himself out of his “legal” slump, he’ll figure it out eventiually. Before he got busted, he was hittin’ the daylights out the mental health system.”

By nathan

June 22, 2006 08:09 PM | Link to this

It’s uncanny how the Braves let “mistakes” and fastballs go right down the middle of the plate. LaRoche just let two hangers go by, now I’m sure he’ll swing and miss at a garbage pitch.

By nathan

June 22, 2006 08:11 PM | Link to this

too predictable

By Hal

June 22, 2006 08:13 PM | Link to this

Camps accused of stealing 2 mil huh? whats our bullpen stealing ?Got to be more then that

By billy

June 22, 2006 08:14 PM | Link to this

Chipper struck out looking a the curveball. I dont know what to think about chipper. On one hand I have my normal loyalty to a braves player but obviously somthing does not seem right with him. I’ll trust JS/Bobby Cox to take care of this one. Although I think we as fans owe chipper some more loyalty.

Is it me or does the middle defence the past few games look great.

By sckot

June 22, 2006 08:14 PM | Link to this

Time Warner is to blame for our standings. An increase in budget could have made a big difference in retaining or obtaining free agents. The difference between the Mets and The Braves is The Mets spent and acquired Free Agents but Time Warner kept allowing players to leave. We are a few players short of cometive play. I hope someone will increase payroll and give the Braves a chance.

By nathan

June 22, 2006 08:14 PM | Link to this

Good thing that the league demands that EACH team has to send a player to the allstar game. Cuz that’s the only way McCann is going. If andruw got voted in (he’s in 5th place now), there is NO WAY that Larussa picks a braves player to be on his bench. McCann should be a lock if sombody was forced to “pick” a brave.

By billy

June 22, 2006 08:18 PM | Link to this

Time Warner is to blame for our standings. An increase in budget could have made a big difference in retaining or obtaining free agents. The difference between the Mets and The Braves is The Mets spent and acquired Free Agents but Time Warner kept allowing players to leave. We are a few players short of cometive play. I hope someone will increase payroll and give the Braves a chance.

Man, I’m tired of getting in a flame war with other posters….but can you possibly post something orignal….this gets posted at least 10 times a day.

By fan3585

June 22, 2006 08:30 PM | Link to this

No one realizes how smart he was to “GIVE money Back” (!!!!!!!). He knew about his decine and at braves expense he assured his millions and nothing to give in return, not even attttude or expression of regret after striking out time after time.

By journalist jimmy smith

June 22, 2006 08:41 PM | Link to this

toe injury to chipper jones - brought on by journalist guy curtright’s scathing commentary. will this toe injury further slow the lumbering giant? which toe was struck by the aj burnett pitch? how many toes were involved? how many toes does chipper have? is this the toe that broke the camel’s back? what does that mean? journalist does not know. it is not nice to mess with superstar toes.

By Hal

June 22, 2006 08:43 PM | Link to this

Toes,woes and Bad throws

By billy

June 22, 2006 08:45 PM | Link to this

fan3585,

What was your honest reaction to Furcal leaving for LA for more money.

By journalist jimmy smith

June 22, 2006 08:50 PM | Link to this

toe sickness is not a laughing matter. look at what thumb sickness did to chipper on the nights the braves faced beckett and schilling. chipper had just returned to health against ted lilly. now, a devastating toe injury at the hands of aj burnett. will the toe swell? worse, will there be numbness like chris reitsma? if there is numbness will chipper reveal same to bobby cox? will chipper be able to wear his glove? oh, never mind that one. will chipper play tomorrow?

By journalist jimmy smith

June 22, 2006 08:55 PM | Link to this

never mind will chipper play tomorrow. the question is will chipper take the field next inning? how does trainer jeff porter treat a damaged (sick) toe? stay tuned, journalist lives for this.

By billy

June 22, 2006 08:56 PM | Link to this

I feel sorry for chipper…….gave his body up the last 10 years and his fans abandon him. Just like most are about to do too Andruw. Dont worry guys I will always cheer ya.

By Hal

June 22, 2006 09:04 PM | Link to this

Chipper struck out !! i dont think he could get a good “toe ” Hold

By nathan

June 22, 2006 09:13 PM | Link to this

Just saw this at the local grocery store.

LOST

Little Puppy Dog. His name is Chipper. He’ll also answer to Chip, Chippy, Larry or Kid. He’s not as dangerous as he used to be, no need to be concerned. Especially if you are a pitcher. There is NOTHING he can do to harm you. If you wish, throw him a bone. But don’t use a curveball, he’ll just stare at it like he’s never seen one before.

If you find him. KEEP him. He hasn’t done much for me in about three years.

By darrin

June 22, 2006 09:21 PM | Link to this

the mets and all their fans can go to HELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Del

June 22, 2006 09:23 PM | Link to this

I have seen some sorry performances in my time, but tonights “effort” by Chipper can only be described as inept, disengaged, dis-interested and crappy. You Chipper lovers can defend him till the cows come home, but his game tonight in undefensible. His attitude is like a cancer on this team right now. He truly does deserve to be benched. Period !! End of story !!

By nathan

June 22, 2006 09:23 PM | Link to this

That’s right Billy. He “gave” it up.

It’s too bad he won’t have anything to show for it when he’s done. Oh Wait. That’s right, he has about 75 million of them that he has or will have accumulated over those ten years.

By nathan

June 22, 2006 09:28 PM | Link to this

If the story was called:

The Tortoise, the Hare & Adam LaRoche.

The Tortoise would get off to a faster start than LaRoche.

By nathan

June 22, 2006 09:34 PM | Link to this

You wouldn’t wanna know the layout of your HOME field would you Adam?

Nice job Slower than the Tortoise Guy.

By journalist jimmy smith

June 22, 2006 09:36 PM | Link to this

tarp injury! tarp injury to adam laroche. oh, the humanity! what is happening to these athletes? let’s pray that nothing happens to mccann. his game is complete. it will be fun watching his career.

By billy

June 22, 2006 09:40 PM | Link to this

Harocio’s a stud……if he can be a little bit more consistant…..he may be a good one

By billy

June 22, 2006 09:42 PM | Link to this

larouch make about 5 good plays tonight….and you still rag on him……you guys want perfection?

By nathan

June 22, 2006 09:42 PM | Link to this

Tyler “open the flood” Yates. Nice Job.

By glennbo

June 22, 2006 09:46 PM | Link to this

billy, I feel sorry for Chipper, too. He’s gotta go into NY next week and face their fans and media.

To the media: Uh, yeah…

From the Yankee Fans: Laaiirreeeee, Laaiirreee…

By brian

June 22, 2006 09:47 PM | Link to this

SWC and Guy is right. Chipper has been in a huge decline and anyone who doesn’t consider steroids or HGH either has their head in the sand or is blinded by loyalty to the Braves. He was much more muscular in his “prime” and has significantly deflated. Now he can’t shake injuries and while his batting average is still OK, his power numbers have plummeted.

Not hard to connect the dots

By nathan

June 22, 2006 09:49 PM | Link to this

Yeah Billy, LaRoche made some nice scoops at first base tonight. THAT’S PART OF HIS JOB DESCRIPTION!! I would hope that Bobby was keepin him in the lineup for his glove, not his paper mache’ bat.

But you have to admit, he appeared to have “no clue” as to wear the tarp was. He wasn’t even “feeling” out how close he was to the wall.

Not really complaining, just poking fun. Cuz that’s the kinda crap that’s been happening. Except usually, they would’ve scored 4 runs with the “extra” out. Of course no error was given on the play, but that’s a play he shoulda made.

By billy

June 22, 2006 09:50 PM | Link to this

hmmmmmmmm…………..

By billy

June 22, 2006 09:51 PM | Link to this

yeah i know…..

By glennbo

June 22, 2006 09:54 PM | Link to this

Nathan, Billy’s right. You were hyper critical about the tarp.

By billy

June 22, 2006 09:56 PM | Link to this

man chipper you become harder and harder to defend every ab

By nathan

June 22, 2006 09:58 PM | Link to this

I don’t think so. but, that’s alright. It’s all good.

By billy

June 22, 2006 10:00 PM | Link to this

here we freaking go

By glennbo

June 22, 2006 10:02 PM | Link to this

Paronto. Wasn’t that Jimmy Smith’s guy. And what about Bobby with the quick hook. You think he wants to win this game?

By billy

June 22, 2006 10:03 PM | Link to this

mother………………………….

By billy

June 22, 2006 10:05 PM | Link to this

there aobut to put itout of reacch

By glennbo

June 22, 2006 10:05 PM | Link to this

ssdd

By nathan

June 22, 2006 10:05 PM | Link to this

Hey Bobby.

I READ SOME WHERE THAT REMLINGER NOT ONLY CAN’T GET LEFTIES OUT…….HE SUCKS, HE SUCKS, HE SUCKS…..LET ME REPEAT THAT…..HE SUCKS. AND BECAUSE YOU KEEP BRINGING HIM IN. YOU SUCK!

HEE! HAW!

LONG LIVE THE JACKA$$

By tbo

June 22, 2006 10:06 PM | Link to this

OK Bobby Cox. Work your magic. Of course you put in current worst pitcher in the bullpen who instantly walks the first hitter. You may be learning Bobby since you took Paronto out, but OH NO bring in Remlinger who absolutely SUX. SO do you BC.

By billy

June 22, 2006 10:07 PM | Link to this

Harcio pitches his heart out and look wahts happens…….bull pen bull pen bull pen….can someone tell me when the last time our bullpen did not give up a run……I give a damn about chippers struggles……it dont matter….

By billy

June 22, 2006 10:09 PM | Link to this

quick to jump on the second guessing….whyd dont you post what you think before bobby does it so we know if you got skills or not

By billy

June 22, 2006 10:10 PM | Link to this

walk off time

By nathan

June 22, 2006 10:10 PM | Link to this

yeah…..God forgive he’d have a “quick hook” for old Grey Beard! Good Lord!

Oh & BTW. I am not psycho. I realize Bobby doesn’t read my ridiculous posts. So I’m not sure why I addressed the post like he would actually see it. LOL! Besides who ever heard of a Mule that could read?

Why do I feel like the score is going to be 6-2 any second?

By Billy Carter

June 22, 2006 10:12 PM | Link to this

Forget Chipper. WHY DOES BS KEEP PUTTING REMLINGER IN? HE FAILS EVERY TIME! WHAT A LOSER! WHY HASN’T BS LEARNED THAT BY NOW? REMLINGER JUST GAVE UP THE LEAD AGAIN TONIGHT!!! YET BS KEEPS TROTTING HIM OUT AGAINST LEFTIES, WHEN THE NUMBERS SAY REMLINGER IS NOT THAT GOOD AGAINST LEFTIES. ARGH!

By billy

June 22, 2006 10:12 PM | Link to this

walk him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By billy

June 22, 2006 10:14 PM | Link to this

AJ needs a HR……really bad

By tbo

June 22, 2006 10:16 PM | Link to this

I don’t care how bad the bullpen is. No one is his right mind would put Remlinger in except the old Stupid Fool, BC. How can any manager be allowed to continue to screw up without getting chased out of town? JS must be in a coma.

By billy

June 22, 2006 10:16 PM | Link to this

i hate to keep posting but how can you not point figures at the bullpen when your a player…..

By nathan

June 22, 2006 10:17 PM | Link to this

Billy, are you directing the “second guessing” post towards me?

If you are. Are you saying that I can’t predict which pitchers he’s going to bring in, who he’ll pinch hit for, and when and who he’ll double switch with, when he’ll bring the infield in and any other “by the book” move he’ll do. Never going on “gut instinct” or actuall specific matchup stats of pitcher vs. hitter.

Here’s why the Jacka$$ moniker works so well for him. Well, for one, he’s a Jacka$$! To he’s got to be the MOST stubborn MULE on the face of the planet. How else do you explain his ignorance in bringing Remmy in to face a lefty. Every time he comes in to face a Lefty, TBS shows the stats he has not only this year, but for his career against lefties. THEY AREN’T GOOD! In fact they keep getting worse because he keeps bringing him in against them and they keep hammering him.

HEE! HAW!

By billy

June 22, 2006 10:18 PM | Link to this

no…way to go AJ

By nathan

June 22, 2006 10:20 PM | Link to this

obviously I meant to type “two” instead of “to” in the last post.

By billy

June 22, 2006 10:20 PM | Link to this

No i was not second guessing you….but you have to look at the sit……mcbride has pitched in 3 st8 games I think paranto (he hasnt been that bad) the same……bring in ray in the btm 8? who you got in ninth then? the problem isnt bobby…..its the bullpen

By billy

June 22, 2006 10:24 PM | Link to this

who said AJ wasnt clutch?

By nathan

June 22, 2006 10:26 PM | Link to this

Oh I hear you! They all suck. It’s kind of a “Pick your Poison” scenario, isn’t it.

Not trying to argue with you, but I’d bet anything he would have brought Grey Beard in anyway! That’s what stubborn mules do.

But you’re right, I was gonna b*tch either way, because whoever walked out of that gate was gonna give up the lead.

Nice at bat Francoeur. As Chris Farley would’ve said:

“FOR THE LOVE OF PETE! TAKE A PITCH!”

By nathan

June 22, 2006 10:27 PM | Link to this

LaRoche swings like he runs. SLOW

By billy

June 22, 2006 10:28 PM | Link to this

if anyone b*** about the bats I think m gonna lose my mind….how can you expect an offence to continue to come back and be effective……the god darn bullpen….man I wanna thow somthing

By billy

June 22, 2006 10:30 PM | Link to this

not looking good in btm half…no power comming up

By billy

June 22, 2006 10:32 PM | Link to this

one good thing is BJ ryan will be going three st8 games

By tbo

June 22, 2006 10:32 PM | Link to this

JS. Do you not care!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By billy

June 22, 2006 10:35 PM | Link to this

who says andruw lost a step…and is not clutch

By nathan

June 22, 2006 10:36 PM | Link to this

I’m not b*tching about the offense. But c’mon. Lead off double and no runs!

There is essentially 2 things Francoeur can do that won’t score a run. A Strke Out and a POP UP.

The infield was in. A broken bat bloop even works. And believ me, I’m not knockin’ Frenchy. He will be the team leader in HR and RBI at the end of the season. Not bad for a second year player. Heck the way everybody is hitting in the lineup now, he may finish 2nd to McCann in batting order.

BUT I’m with you at least 2/3 of these losses in this streak are 100 percent the bullpens fault.

LOOKS LIKE ANDRUW IS HURT. HE’S WINCING!

By billy

June 22, 2006 10:41 PM | Link to this

lets go fella 1 walk base hit and fly ball all it takes…..BJ’s due to give up some runs…..like i said he pitched in three st8 games…..your right leadoff double…that runs has to score.

By nathan

June 22, 2006 10:41 PM | Link to this

Andruw looks great coming in on the ball billy. But did you see the ball over his head earlier in the game. He catches that ball 3 years ago. He’s not nearly as good going back on the ball as he used to be. But I said this yesterday, I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt, because for the first seven years of his career, he had pitcher that actually hit their “spots”. When the defense sets up, it’s usually based on how they plan to pitch a player. When the pitcher doesn’t hit the “spot” it crosses up the defense. So that could explain a little of it. So here’s a concept for the Donkey to think of. With pitchers that aren’t as accurate or consistantly accurate. Play the defense straight away.

But I still say he’s lost a step going back.

By billy

June 22, 2006 10:42 PM | Link to this

there we go….!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

By robdawg06

June 22, 2006 10:43 PM | Link to this

I was waiting on one of the great (sarcasm) AJC writers to pick on Chipper. The only stalwart on offense besides Andruw and because he’s still injured but playing and not hitting tons of homeruns you want to write him off. Any freaking one of you and especially you Mr. Curtright, I will wager $100 bucks that Chipper will return to .300 30 100 (in one seasin) within the next 3 years. Any takers ? Come getcha some. Chipper is “THE MAN”.

By billy

June 22, 2006 10:44 PM | Link to this

WTF?????????????????????????????

By nathan

June 22, 2006 10:44 PM | Link to this

HEE HAW!

By glennbo

June 22, 2006 10:44 PM | Link to this

Langerhans: Must get uniform dirty. And make an out.

By billy

June 22, 2006 10:47 PM | Link to this

if bobby put a hit and run on with giles up …i miight have to agree with that he has lost it….I think Langerhans missed sign

By glennbo

June 22, 2006 10:48 PM | Link to this

robdawg06, you the man.

By billy

June 22, 2006 10:48 PM | Link to this

if chipper gets up….well see whats he made of.

By nathan

June 22, 2006 10:49 PM | Link to this

Anybody else see the similarites to Bobby, and Tom Hanks’ character in the movie - League of Their Own “Jimmy Duggin”

Hey they just said that the bullpen is 15 for 30 in save opportunities this year. They way I look at it, it couldn’t be any more fitting for Bobby…..Our bullpen is the ULTIMATE CRAP SHOOT.

As for RobDawg.

1. I think you are wrong.

2. If he is hurt and playing, he’s hurting the team.

3. Only way he comes back to those stats, is as a DH. No Way he stays healthy enough to put up those numbers.

Well, here’s his chance to prove me wrong.

By nathan

June 22, 2006 10:50 PM | Link to this

Yup, that’s what I thought he’d do.

By billy

June 22, 2006 10:51 PM | Link to this

he hit it on a button……just unlucky on that one

By glennbo

June 22, 2006 10:51 PM | Link to this

Whats the line on 20 losses in a row?

By billy

June 22, 2006 10:53 PM | Link to this

i was nine years old….last time i seen this

By nathan

June 22, 2006 10:53 PM | Link to this

billy, billy, billy. You’re starting to sound like a certain Donkey I know! LOL

By billy

June 22, 2006 10:55 PM | Link to this

well you got to admit he hit it hard….gave himslef a chance

By yoyo

June 22, 2006 11:00 PM | Link to this

yo yo yo yo guy

whos after my man carlos lee from the brewers (LF!!)? thats who the braves should go after. POWER

WE NEED POWER

well i think hed fit in very nice

By Ronald

June 22, 2006 11:02 PM | Link to this

If Chipper Jones is hurt he needs to go on the DL until he is well. I do not admire his “courage” for playing hurt. I loath the stupidity that sends him out there night after night when all he is doing is hurting the team. There is absolutely no pop in his bat anymore. If it is because of injuries sit him down until he is well. While you are at it send Roger McDowell so far away from Atlanta he couldn’t find his way back with GPS.

By billy

June 22, 2006 11:03 PM | Link to this

my final thoughts of the night……

You can blame the bats all you want. Yes I know we could of scored many times this game. How can we keep asking our bats to bail out the bullpen in the late stages of the game.

I dont think bobby put a hit and run on with giles up. I think Langy missed that the bunt was taking off.

If you JS dont make a move to help the bullpen in the next 48hrs he’s mailing it in for the season.

Bottom line the bullpen is destoying the morale of our young players and putting much undo pressure on them. You can blame chipper, bobby, AJ but all you want.

P.S. Who said AJ was not clutch. The guy is trying to carry the team the last four games.

By Hal

June 22, 2006 11:04 PM | Link to this

Im sure after all of this there are still idiots in other blogs defending managments complete disreguard for this season by sticking with this bull crap bull pen ,that isent fit for triple A .This is such bull sh@t theres not words for it .If there were not better pitchers then what we have in our pen available then i guess other GMs really lucked out cause we started the winter with the worst bullpen in baseball and to that “added” (sic) two rag armed relivers with no history of success !!Great job JS

By billy

June 22, 2006 11:09 PM | Link to this

oh yeah one more thing….what does (sic?) mean?

By Hal

June 22, 2006 11:14 PM | Link to this

Billy

it means we dident ADD anything with Cormier and Villareal i was being sarcastic ! As with every other move the front office made in the last 2 years it was a salary dump pure and simple .I Know some Arizona people who were killing them selves laughing when the deal was made .We can all see why now

By Todd A

June 22, 2006 11:16 PM | Link to this

Maybe if Chipper goes back on the juice he can reach those numbers.Either that,or go to the American League and dh where he doesn’t have to play as much in the field.Ok,I’m piling on.He’s had a good career here…but he and the Braves need to move on.

By Hal

June 22, 2006 11:20 PM | Link to this

yes Chipper sucked bad tonight but the worst at bat in the game was frenchys inability to move runners ! We wont hear anything about that though

By tbo

June 22, 2006 11:20 PM | Link to this

Ditto Hal.

I am done with these idiots.

By Todd A

June 22, 2006 11:20 PM | Link to this

Schuerholz is responsible for giving us this turd….Bobby has to eat it…..we have to smell it.

By Hal

June 22, 2006 11:23 PM | Link to this

Todd

Very well put and it SMELLS BAD

By Todd A

June 22, 2006 11:28 PM | Link to this

Frenchy need to be sent to Richmond.Tonight.Either that,or he needs to be benched for four or five games(and I’m one of the fools who rushed out last year and bought a regulation Francouer road jersey-so,I like him as a player).But it just won’t happen.If Cox let LaRoche pinch hit the night after he loafed on Johnson’s grounder,he ain’t going to bench Frenchy just because he’s struggling mightily.

By Robert Disenchanted

June 22, 2006 11:31 PM | Link to this

i WAS HOPING WHEN gILES WAS NOT IN THE LINEUP THAT HE HAD BEEN TRADED. Look what he did in the 9th inning. HE needs to be traded if we can get any value because Betemit has nothing else to prove. Give him a change and he will hit for more power and average. Where is Marcus head if he was not ware of the sign he should have asked for time-out so he could confer with the third base coach. This was a critical situation in the bottom of the 9th. If Marcus had not missed the sign Renteria hit probably would have tied the game. I AM SO SICK OF MARCUS GILES; BOBBY PLAY WILSON AND GET RID OF MARCUS. During this streak he has now cost up 2 games. Anyone disagree with my 2 posts.

By Striker

June 22, 2006 11:32 PM | Link to this

The ump was terrible tonight. Interestingly enough the home plate ump of tonight’s game was Jim Wolf, brother of Phillies lefty Randy Wolf. Could Jimmy have been releasing some pent up hostility against the Braves tonight? Possible. Blowing that Giles walk in the 9th sure looks bad.

By Robert Disenchanted

June 22, 2006 11:32 PM | Link to this

This is getting ridiculous. Francoeur has no BUSINESS swinging at the first pitch when there is a runner on 3rd and one out in the bottom of the 8th inning. When Franceour flied out to right field and headed back to the dugout you could SEE the DISGUST on Chipper’s face. He should have said something to Francoeur instead he just stared at Franceour and the ground. The veterans need to get on the first and secoond year players and chew their A* out becuase Bobby or TP are not doping it. Franceour has not warned the right to be a free swinger when the situation called for patience at the plate when Toronto changed pitchers. I guarantee if Franco or Perez were here somebodys BUTT would be getting chewed out. Wise up Frenchy you don’t play the game like that. Give it a DAMN chance and let the game come to you. Mike Remlinger father time is reaching out for you. You have nothing to offer this club. Please JS waive him and bring someone up from the minor leagues because he is wasting a roster spot and take fat A* Pronto with you. !!!!!! You can’t come in a close game and automatically thro 4 pitcher and yield a walk. Hey Paronto you walk was the winning run because your bullpen mates could not clean up your s**. There is CANCER spreading from the bullpen throught the rest of the club.

By Jonathon

June 22, 2006 11:36 PM | Link to this

I hate to place blame on someone but this slide started with the mental lapse made by Adam Laroche. I Know he has ADHD and I know that can be a problem but it seems like that was the turning point and the killer in morale. The Bullpen also blows so that doesnt help much either.

By Eric C.

June 22, 2006 11:40 PM | Link to this

Oh the agony of defeat…when will it end? How many times will the blowpen choke?

By CobbCountyMetFan

June 22, 2006 11:41 PM | Link to this

WOW……10 in a row. FANTASTIC. WONDERFUL. Let’s spread the LOVE everyone. The Braves are having a great year and the Mets are spanking the rest of the NL…. It’s just the way it should be. Enjoy. I love you all. LOL

By mike remlinger

June 22, 2006 11:46 PM | Link to this

i keep telling bobby not to put me in but he tells me that i’m doing good

By nathan

June 22, 2006 11:47 PM | Link to this

Rober Disenchanted

what the hell does Chipper have to be mad or disgusted at Francoer for.

Chipper failed to move runners along TWICE earlier in the game. Oh, what am I thinking, it’s really hard to move runners along, when you don’t even bother to pull the trigger on backdoor curve ball……did I mention he did this TWICE?

If Chipper is actually disgusted with anybody on this team, he should look in the MIRROR.

It’s his lack of “number three hitter - multi-millionaire” production that is hurting this team. How you ask, with this horrible bullpen? Well it’s his DEAD WEIGHT salary that’s killing this team (he’s not the only one), and that’s even after he renegotiated his deal, it’s still too much money for what he’s providing. If he were lighting it up every night like he used to, and carrying this team like he used to. Some, not all , some of these HORRIBLE outings by the bullpen would be “masked”. He’s had plenty of opportunities to win games with his bat.

If he’s not gonna have any power in his swing this season, the Donkey should put him in the leadoff spot. Might seem like kind of a waste, but i’ts sure a waste to have him STINKING in the 3-hole.

About a week ago I asked DOB why McCann isn’t in the 3-hole. He said for one, speed. You don’t want a catcher “clogging” up the base paths. Well I find it hard to believe that McCann is ANY slower than Chipper. DOB also said somthing to the effect of that being “Chipper’s” spot in the order! He would take it as a demotion to be moved out of that spot. GOOOD! Demote him, slap him, get him some hot chili to rub on his eyes! Anything to wake his A$$ up!

Who would you rather have had up in the ninth? Chipper or McCann. Face it people, I’m not saying he’s DONE. Sombody will give him a job. But he needs to be done in Atlanta. It’s time to move on, for the good of both players. Because if he stays, and continues to fail, it’s gonna get pretty ugly for him.

By nathan

June 22, 2006 11:58 PM | Link to this

And don’t give me the old “yeah, chippers power is down, but he’s getting hits” CRAP either!

He’s currently batting .275 with 7 HR’s & 37 RBI.

That projects out to 18 HR and 89 RBI. WOW, what a number 3 hitter. For those of you keeping score at home. Those totals end up being 7 LESS HR’s & only 24 more RBI than Pujols had in 54 GAMES before going on the DL!

Hell, let’s sign him to a LIFETIME contract, he can stay as long as he wants. While we’re at it, keep him in the 3-hole for the next 10 or so years. We wouldn’t want to hurt his feelings.

Pack to Pujols - anybody out there realize that he’s missed 14 games and he still leads the league in HR & RBI?…AMAZING

By CobbCountyMetFan

June 22, 2006 11:58 PM | Link to this

This is wonderful…..

East W L PCT GB NY Mets 45 27 .625 -
Philadelphia 35 37 .486 10 Florida 31 38 .449 12.5 Washington 32 42 .432 14 Atlanta 30 43 .411 15.5

Everyone, please enjoy.

By Jan

June 23, 2006 12:01 AM | Link to this

Instead of all the talk about trading Smoltz and Andruw, it might be time to discuss Chipper’s departure. I realize he’s a 5/10 guy… but with the attitude he has displayed this month, I have a feeling he would readily agree on leaving for greener pastures.

If he is a supposed to be a “team leader,” then it’s no wonder we have the record we have!

By Robert Disenchanted

June 23, 2006 12:04 AM | Link to this

Cobb County Met Fan: You have seen big leagues get you in trouble and the team can become pretty complacent in September. Complacency usually doesn’t go far in the way baseball playoffs are organized. This same scenario happend to the Braves and they got knocked out in the first round. Even the Mets should be careful and don’t screw it up this time. You may only get one shot.

By Todd A

June 23, 2006 12:04 AM | Link to this

Someone on here earlier today mentioned one crazy summer.I’m still laughing about that.Not sure many fans will remember that slogan,but it was the Braves marketing theme for the 1989 season with Ozzie Virgil as the poster-boy for all the commercials.I just thought it was ironic someone mentioned that today,because me and my dad still reminisce about those days when the Braves organization was such a joke around baseball,and we still laugh about that slogan in particular.Then in 1990 the Braves brass made Jim Varney of “Hey Vern” fame the spokesman.Ouch.The worst embarrassment was the mascot Homer the Brave.His head must have weighed 400 lbs.Skip hated that thing.So did I.But I digress.

By CobbCountyMetFan

June 23, 2006 12:05 AM | Link to this

East W L PCT GB NY Mets 45 27 .625 - Philadelphia 35 37 .486 10 Florida 31 38 .449 12.5 Washington 32 42 .432 14 Atlanta 30 43 .411 15.5

VERY PRETTY INDEED!!!!

By iwalter

June 23, 2006 12:17 AM | Link to this

Its time to say “thanks for trying” to Remlinger, Brian Jordon and Todd Pratt and let them go and bringup Will Startup and Brayan Pena. Jordan and Remlinger were good players for the Braves in the past, but you really can’t go home. While you are at it JS, send Pete Orr to Richmond and bring up Prado. Oh and send your .125 hitting son to Mississippi and bring up Soriano to Richmond.

By JJMB

June 23, 2006 12:17 AM | Link to this

Oh my gosh! A yankee as#hole! What a surprise! And he moved to Georgia! Wow, there are yankee as$holes in Georgia! How about that.

By Todd A

June 23, 2006 12:18 AM | Link to this

Jeez…yet another Mets fan piling on.Surprise,surprise.Lots of anger and frustration built up after 11 years worth of beat downs by the Braves.

By Rip

June 23, 2006 12:18 AM | Link to this

Schuerholt and Cox gave us this TURD…The Fans have to smell and eat it…BOTH SHOULD BE FIRED TONIGHT!!!!!!Who put this team together? Who picked the bull pen? Who makes out the line up? JS said last night that money had nothing to do with it. Bobby said he told JS what players he wanted and didn’t want before trades.Why put the Blame on the players? If you can’t judge a pitcher or 1st baseman no better than JS and BC, you don’t blame the player you Blame JSand BC.The blame starts and stops with these two individuals and they have done nothing to change it. More reason to fire them. Chipper is playing hurt period. TACO JS did not try to get Baez last year.He was to busy talking to Boston. Baez wanted to come to Atlanta I know that for a fact.Leader? Management should be the leader and what have they done? No effort to improve this team.You can Blame who you want but the Buck starts and stops with JS & BC.

By Tony C.

June 23, 2006 12:34 AM | Link to this

I have a reason why Larry-Wayne looks all deflated.

HE GAVE THE TEAM MONEY BACK TO GO GET A NEW LEADOFF GUY AND/OR A CLOSER AND THE TEAM DID NOT

I’d be p!ssed too if I gave my boss some of my paycheck for new-and-improved office equipment (or what have you) and all I saw my boss do was go on a book-signing tour.

That being said, I would love to see Bob let #10 rest for a little bit and have Betemit play the hot corner. If for only to give him some time to let the aches pains become “dull” again instead of “sharp”

I think Bob may be onto something! I noticed he didn’t have the G-Unit batting leadoff today…..

By hoho

June 23, 2006 12:39 AM | Link to this

Generally a much better quality (sanity?) of posts today. Yesterday was horrible on this blog.

ROBERT (DONKEY BOY) AND YOUR CRONIES, NATHAN, ETC.- please give it a rest. it’s not even funny or cute, just dumb and inane now. i think we all get your point- um… you don’t care for Bobby Cox right? is that it? but damn dude, get a hobby (another one, i guess). yoga, haiku, cooking. uhhh…read a book perhaps, you seem to have the discipline to write long passages.

By hoho

June 23, 2006 12:50 AM | Link to this

I’m sorry Robert I just love Bobby so much I can’t stand to here you talk bad about him.

By Hee Haw

June 23, 2006 01:02 AM | Link to this

He ee ee ee eeeee eeeeeeee .. Hawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww aww aww aww aww awwwwwwwwww wwwwww………

By teoa

June 23, 2006 01:05 AM | Link to this

Well, Ron Roberts’ brain-dead “mastermind,” Bobby Cox, had his fingerprints all over yet another loss.

1. Remlinger in late inning/close game situations coming in to face a lefty is inexcusable. Everyone knows this is a bad move — everyone except Bobby. Does he not even watch the games? Can he not pick his nose and pay attention to what is happening on the field at the same time? Remlinger hasn’t gotten a lefty out in 20 years! Granted, anyone else out of the pen may have blown the game too, but why go with the one reliever that guarantees a loss in that situation? If senility has taken hold and Bobby can’t remember lefties killing Remlinger his first time as a Brave, then he should have had plenty of reminders this year. Lefties hit around .350 against him, so essentially you are turning every hitter into an All Star in a game-deciding situation. I blame Scheurholtz for this as well — no way you should have Remlinger on the roster if Bobby Cox is your manager. You know Bobby’s intelligence is such that he is incapable of thinking beyond left/right matchups. By giving him an old washed up pitcher (which is doubly bad considering Bobby’s blind loyalty to veterans) whose talents (and I use that word loosely) go against the book, you are setting Bobby up to fail. Scheurholtz has to do a better job of protecting Bobby from himself.

2. 8th inning, 2-2, 1 out, bases loaded, Ray comes into the game — okay, Bobby lucked into the right move here. Ray is the best in the pen and you want your best in here. But does Bobby bring the infield in and try to prevent the run from scoring? Ray does his job and gets a weak ground ball to second, but guess what? Giles is playing back on the outfield grass, the winning run is allowed to walk home. Where is the sense of urgency? Wouldn’t you think when you’ve lost 9 in a row, you might be willing to make a small defensive gamble here and try to prevent the run from scoring? What do you have to lose besides #10 straight? Nice move Bobby.

3. The hit-and-run with Langer in the 9th — I’m not sure it’s a good move with Giles up and 0 outs, but at least Bobby is showing some indication that he is in fact aware that things aren’t going well lately. (Sometimes it’s hard to tell.) But when Giles doesn’t even know the signs in the 9th inning in this situation, this is a dead give away that this is a very poorly coached team. Tell Giles in the dugout beforehand, call him down to talk to the 3rd base coach, but for the love of God, make sure he knows he is supposed to swing before you run yourself out of the inning!

4. Play Thormon at FIRST BASE! It’s just plain stupid to bring up a young player and force him to try to adjust to major league pitching while also playing an unnatural position. It’s even worse when you’ve got such an obvious candidate to be replaced at 1B in LaDouche. The left field platoon is not bad at all — Langer hitting .253, gold glove caliber defense, always plays hard; Diaz hitting .350. Why do you take these guys out of the lineup and keep LaDouche out there: .239, average defense, prone to game-changing mental errors, and poor effort? .239 is horrible for a major leauge 1B. A couple of weeks ago, everyone was talking about cutting LaDouche some slack since he had a career month of hitting .290, but you don’t judge a player based on one “hot” streak. LaDouche is a bad player. Period.

I believe a big part of the reason this team is playing with no confidence is because they have no reason to have any confidence in their manager, when he continues to make such demoralizing and predictably disasterous decisions. That said, I welcome any and all defenses of the Braves’ “mastermind” — should be good for a laugh. I’m sure all Braves fans could use one.

By Todd A

June 23, 2006 01:44 AM | Link to this

Well thought out post,and I agree on all points.I was simply dumbfounded when point #3 unfolded as it did.How can a player miss a sign in that situation when you’re in the midst of a 9 game losing streak?Inexcuseable.

By TarBaby

June 23, 2006 01:45 AM | Link to this

OMG—-teoa you have personally attacked the great, grand wizard of everything Ron Roberts!—-you will be reported to the AJC, DOB, FBI, GBI, CIA, NFL, AT&T, UMWA, NBA, NHL, KKK, MLB, NAACP, PETA, and quite possibly the BSA—-there’s going to be hell to pay now,,,,folks!

By hoho

June 23, 2006 02:10 AM | Link to this

oops, i spoke too soon about good posts. now some idiot is stealing MY blog identity? i didn’t write that second post (12:50am) you coward. use your own identity. what is this, freakin middle school?

you’ll know it’s me because i won’t write the word HERE if i mean HEAR (you cretin). i guess i’ll never be in the donkey club.

just because you CAN write anything you want doesn’t mean it is a good idea. hobby suggestion: donkey grooming? shovel some stalls? get a life?

By Head Coach

June 23, 2006 03:09 AM | Link to this

Get used to it , its only going to get worse. Chipper has bad wheels , his legs are shot. He can still hit but not for power. Francoeur hasnt a clue. Its see the ball, hit the ball or strikeout , mostly (61 whiffs) strikeout. Dave Kingman would be proud of him. Except for Ken Ray , the rest of the bullpen has completely imploded. We have no leadoff hitter at all and never did. Ditto for the closer. 73 games in and they still havent figured out that without a leadoff hitter and closer they cant start or finish a nine inning baseball game , its just totally insane to watch. They have been non-competitive for 73 games and they will continue to beat themselves.

By teoa

June 23, 2006 04:24 AM | Link to this

TarBaby, I think you just about covered the whole alphabet of acronyms…sounds pretty serious. I will think twice before disagreeing with Ron Roberts again…as to avoid being placed on the wrong side of the remaining letters — “X” or “Z” organizations, for example.

I disagree that PETA would be offended by my post, however. That is not to say that there are not animal abusers here. Just look at all the posts comparing the great “mastermind” Bobby Cox to a donkey. If PETA is monitoring this blog, let the record show that I have refrained from ever stooping to such levels. I find it very inappropriate to insult the intelligence of a fine animal like a donkey in this manner. On behalf of fellow Braves fans, I apologize. In the future, we should all try to keep the comparisons of Bobby Cox’s IQ to that of inanimate objects — rocks, for example. Okay, carry on…

By Dan

June 23, 2006 04:31 AM | Link to this

Nathan, you are obviously a dumb a$$. None of your comments make since and you cannot ever get the facts right. Phil Garner will have the decision of all stars, not Tony Larussa. For all of you know it all baseball experts, get off your fat a*******es and let’s see how much better you can do. I am sorry for all of you that support the Braves, to have to read all of these idiotic posts from posters that do not know anything.

By krath

June 23, 2006 05:20 AM | Link to this

*What to do about this situation?

Last nights game. Langerhans leads off the ninth with a bunt single. On the second pitch he takes off for second. He’s thrown out by 10 feet. It was obvious that either he or Giles missed a sign. The game story I read on AJC and MLB Braves site both said the hit and run was on. Giles either missed the sign or just didn’t swing at the offering. Of course Diaz and Edgar followed with hits followed by a deep flyout to center by Chipper. If Langerhans is on (even with the Giles K) The game is at least tied with a runner still in scoring position and two outs.

This seems to be the Braves of late. Finding a way NOT to do what it takes to win.

So if you are the manager what do you do?

Say, “shucks Marcus, you missed a sign. That’ll cost you a couple hundred…now get back out there and play hard tonight!”

OR

Do you try and wake these guys up by benching Giles for missing a sign that cost the Braves a chance to win? Do extreme circumstances call for extreme actions?

Just curious.

By Peter

June 23, 2006 07:06 AM | Link to this

Chipper looks horrible at the plate and he doesn’t seem to care when he strikes out They need to trade him ASAP

By Zep

June 23, 2006 07:16 AM | Link to this

Chipper had 4 at bats, no hits & struck out twice, and had another boo boo on third. His average is down to .275 and yet there are a legion of bloggers on this forum who will stand behind him and somehow justify the amount of money he is getting.

Enjoy your stay in last place. You’d better get used to it !

By jeff

June 23, 2006 07:32 AM | Link to this

Sadly, Chipper is increasingly mirroring the decline of Dale Murphy during the middle 80’s when he seemed to be losing it all at once due to too many years of carrying the Braves. Chipper looks tired at the plate and slow at third. His power has diminished to warning track range. Seven HRs is a disgrace for Chipper at this point in the season. He should have at least 20 by now. He shows a marked lack of production, especially with men in scoring position where he has been relied upon in the past. His greatest asset at the plate seems to be his ability to draw bases on balls by being able to get the benefit of close calls by the home plate umpires. This is not what the Braves need from its number three hitter. His production would put him as a seventh place hitter in a good hitting lineup.His reputation is what is keeping him going at this point.

By ugadawg

June 23, 2006 08:15 AM | Link to this

Chipper should have 20 HR’s by now? Andruw doesn’t even have 20. That would put him on pace for about 42 HRs in the year. His career high was 45, and that was in 99 during his MVP season that some believe was helped by juice. I agree that Chipper needs to step it up, but some people are being a bit unrealistic.

What I don’t understand is why Bobby continues to bring in Remlinger to face lefties. They are hitting well over 300 against him. What in God’s name would possess you to think it is a good matchup?

Giles missed sign was ridiculous, but not as ridiculous as him coming in for Betemit in the first place. Betemit goes 1 for 3 with a walk and a double, and he comes out for what? Defensive purposes?

By zep

June 23, 2006 08:22 AM | Link to this

Betemit, hitting leadoff last night, was on base twice.

I’ll guarantee you he’ll be on the bench tonight !

Bobby said Remmy was just missing with his pitches.

Duh !

By dan

June 23, 2006 08:52 AM | Link to this

Chipper is overpaid and unproductive. I think he could benefit from a new environment. Invest in Betemit-NOW!

By Charlie

June 23, 2006 08:58 AM | Link to this

How many times during this streak have the Braves gotten a runner to second with no outs, or a runner to third with one out, and not scored him? That’s just terrible baseball. Their inability to bunt the runner over, hit to the right side, or sac-fly is just as troubling as their bullpen. Thursday night, they left at least two runners on in one of these scenarios. If those two score, the bullpen doesn’t lose the game. It’s fundamental baseball!

By Mike from the coast

June 23, 2006 09:02 AM | Link to this

CUT REMLINGER. How many times must he be trotted out to the mound. It’s like ground hog day!!!!!!

By Vinnie Boombotz

June 23, 2006 09:08 AM | Link to this

Hey TennesseePaul - sorry to disappoint, but the Mets are for real this year….there will be no second half swoons.

By Jim Goodwin

June 23, 2006 09:10 AM | Link to this

10 in a row, how bad can it get? Giles does not swing at a called hit & run play. Pull him right then, embarriss him right now, isn’t that what they do in the NFL? When a player comes off the field after a bone head play, his position coach is in his face. but not here, they just sit down, nothing is said. What is wrong with a little get-in-your face? Oh, I forgot, this is MLB. Remlinger says “this isn’t a bad team”, is he sitting in the Torento dugout? Chipper, error in the 1st inning and a fly out to end the game, he is useless, lets trade him for some help PLEASE.

By K-Doc

June 23, 2006 09:21 AM | Link to this

Get rid of Chipper. He’s the cancer drawing the team down. Remember several years back, near the end of the regular season — we’re going for home field advantage in the playoffs. Chipper made an error at 3B, which would have been the 3rd out. Instead, the other team scored, we lost the game and home field advantage, and looked listless into the playoffs.

What happened a few games ago? Remlinger makes a poor throw to third in the 10th inning. Chipper could have come off the bag to get it, but he stands there and lets it go, and the winning run scores. Malaise since then. If the “veteran” Chipper doesn’t have a spark, what is the rest of the team supposed to do?

By Paul

June 23, 2006 09:28 AM | Link to this

I agree that Chipper is having a bad year. It is hard to tell, at least from shots of him in the dugout, how he feels about it. Sometimes he seems indifferent, other times not. I feel bad for the Braves. I am sure they are trying as hard as they can, but things just aren’t coming together. They really need to do something about the bullpen quickly.

By Carroll

June 23, 2006 09:30 AM | Link to this

It’s funny how fast things fall, and how relativity changes perception. We all hated Dan Kolb last year. But earlier in this year, when Reeksma was sucking it up, I started longing for the Dan Kolb days (he had fewer blown saves and a better coversion ratio than Reeky). Then I was glad when Reeky got hurt. Now I long for the Reeky days. Hell, at least he would get the job done about every other time out there. That’s not good AT ALL, BUT at least you’re guaranteed to get a good outing once in a while. Now, you just don’t even hope or expect ANY of these clowns to get the job done…EVER!

By Savannah Guy

June 23, 2006 09:32 AM | Link to this

Players Don’t Win, Teams Do. The Braves have as much talent on the field as any other team in our division…or the National League for that matter… but they are not a good team. Nine players don’t make a team.

This is the first time here ever but I gotta vent. I’m a big Braves fan, but as a businessman, underachievement drives me crazy. Don’t let Smoltz go…he’s currently the only leader the Braves have on the team (or in the dugout evidently). Cox has been a great season manager, but his playoff work is, well, less than strategic or successful. He needs to get off the bench, stop running an easygoing, laid-back baseball country club, chew some butt and make some moves on the field.

Here’s my get-outa-tha-slump and get-everyone’s-attention starting lineup for today:

Batting Order: 1. Pete Orr (2nd base) 2. Brian Jordan (RF) 3. Wilson Betemit (third base) 4. Andrew Jones (center) 5. Brian McCann (catch) 6. Edgar Rentaria (short) 7. Matt Diaz (LF) 8. Adam LaRoche (First) 9. Non-scheduled pitcher (1 hr. before game, skip whomever starts next…no time to get mental). 10. Bullpen: call up 4 rookies and give them a chance for a week. Worst thing that could happen? We’d still blow games and be in last place.

It would work. Ok, switch around a couiple of guys and play Francouer if you want, but do something. But Cox won’t ever think of it much less do it. Might hurt feelings. They need to do the unexpected. Shake it up. Start this group for the next three games and our regulars will come back stronger.

There. I feel better now. By the way, why is Chipper is no longer a clutch hitter. Contrary to popular belief, I don’t think he’s apethetic…just depressed and he’s never shown passion.

Savannah Guy

By steve

June 23, 2006 09:44 AM | Link to this

I read everybody complaining about Bobby being a bad manager, and Leo being gone, etc. I never hear anybody talking about Pendelton. Isn’t he suppossed to be our “hitting coach”. Our hitting is terrible. There’s no dicipline at the plate. They can’t move runners over, they miss signs (Giles), can’t put down bunts (Smoltz, Hudson), they choke with runners in scoring position (EVERYBODY). And will Francour ever “take” the first pitch? It’s Pendelton’s job to “coach” the hitters, looks to me like he’s doing a lousy job. If you’re going to can somebody in the coaching staff, start with TP…

By Losing Hope

June 23, 2006 09:47 AM | Link to this

Braves fan for the past 30 years. Win or lose. Always seemed to me the game itself was reason to cheer. For the love of God, would someone PLEASE stop the chop?! Does mgmt. really think this crap helps? Seems every time the Braves get a man on base the stadium become a FSU football game. Thanks a lot Deon! Stop the chop & maybe the team can concentrate on the pitches & get a few hits. Most of these guys are young & will come around. Not this year but, hey, never give up!

By Matt

June 23, 2006 09:51 AM | Link to this

Trade Marcus and demote or release every reliever in our bullpen with an ERA of over 3.50. That includes the worst pitchers in baseball, Remmi/Reitsma. Give Sosa, Thomson, Ray and Stockton the ball. I think Stockton is going to be a stud, gas. The lineup needs to be shaking up with this losing streak. Its getting bad and BC won’t adjust it.
Renti - SS Diaz - LF Betemit - 2b AJones - CF CJones - 3b McCann - C Frenchy - RF Thormon - 1b That spreads the power and puts the contact hitters at the top of the lineup,

By Jane Farmer

June 23, 2006 09:53 AM | Link to this

Braves need to trade Chipper and put Betimet on 3rd and use the saved money to buy some pitchers. The Braves are playing like they are aged and tired. Some of the pitchers are good but some are awful and Cox continues to use them.

By Todd A

June 23, 2006 10:07 AM | Link to this

Ok…you had me until you said Pete Orr leading off,and Brian Jordan batting second.Up to that point,it was a solid post.As for Orr….you can’t steal first base.What good is speed if you can’t hit?

By Smitty

June 23, 2006 10:12 AM | Link to this

First, Chipper makes too much money to be traded Second, this is they guy who re-did his contract so we could improve our club. Third, he is playing hurt and trying to help the team win.

Cut Chipper a break. He has done more for the Atlanta braves than any other player this side of Hank Aaron. Chipper Jones should have a interstate in Georgia named after him for what he has done for the city of Atlanta. I don’t see any columns on here about Paranto or Remlinger. Giles is issing signs on hit and runs, but we don’t blame him. Poor Chipper was NEVER going to win a gold glove at third base. He never complains and plays through pain. That baby David Justice sat out everytime he sneezed!

If anyone should be to blame it is the suits at Time-Warner-AOL-Google-Aflac-Sonic-What ever. I am ready for Liberty Media to buy the team. Maybe they will be a better ownership group than the current jerks.

Corporate ownership has no place in baseball.

By Hal

June 23, 2006 10:12 AM | Link to this

I just finnished reading all these posts Blaming Chipper,Remlinger,Larouche.the bullpen in general and i completly agree!! the thing is though …..who gave the big money big years contract to chipper?? …who has struck with the situation at first base for 2 years now?? who brought back Remlinger after he was RELEASED last year .Who failed to adress the bullpen issues that have been a smoldering cesspot of crap for the last 3 years at least ?Oh right i know budget restraints .I guess he dident know about or anticapate those restraints when he sighned all those lucrative long term contracts right?The Joke starts at the top and trickles straight to the on field product

By Mud Puppy

June 23, 2006 10:12 AM | Link to this

Man, I think “Glass Half Full” should be the Braves GM. I think we would be in a lot better shape judging by some of the posts he has on here, esp. June 22/12:46. Watch out, they will start treating you like Ozzie Guillen for speaking you mind, which by the way, I thought was your right. These reprobates on here acting like they are so holy because of thier “loyalty” make me sick. I pay big bucks to take my wife and son to a game, and you think I don’t have a right as a fan to question thier desire. Come on man, these guys are getting paid millions to PERFORM. If I performed on my job like these non-motivatede babies are playing, I’d be about $60,000 lighter in the pocket. I mean look at the ridiculios post by “Gran Jen” June 22/12:40. Quit picking on Chipper? He doesn’t get paid to be an Engineer, a Doctor, or a Teacher, he is a ballplayer! Start playing ball or go do something else so us Engineers can spend our evenings watching real ballplayers be ballplayers! Man, Chipper is such a cry baby! I have liked him for so long but his attitude STINKS!

By Robert H

June 23, 2006 10:14 AM | Link to this

I continue to be entertained by all the roster moves floated by all the armchair managers. Many people still fail to realize that, until you hire decent coaches, it won’t matter what moves you make. Pendleton and McDowell are horrible and should be fired today.

Put it this way…and this is only one example…either fire Pendleton or trade Francoeur. If Francoeur is fixable, then a competent hitting coach should be able to do it. Just teach the kid to have some plate discipline. And Cox and JS deserve some blame here, also. It would be a very easy thing to teach Francoeur some plate discipline. Simply send his butt down to Richmond and tell him he can’t come back until he’s walked ten times.

Francoeur, Giles, CJones, LaRoche…can anyone honestly look and those guys and honestly tell me that Pendleton is doing his job?

As for McDowell, he never should have even had this job to begin with. Go back and look at his resume. His ERA at Las Vegas last year was over 6.00. He had starters with ERAS over 7.00 and 8.00. He’s never had a job as an MLB pitching coach. Managers get fired mid year…why not coaches?

By Matt

June 23, 2006 10:17 AM | Link to this

Corporate ownership has no place in baseball so your ready for Libery Media to buy the Braves? That doesn’t make much sense.
I really wish people would stop blaming the owners, considering our payroll is still over $80 mill. Its not the payroll, its our role players sucking. We’ll survive and go on a winning streak. And if not, then thats ok. 14 years straight, I won’t complain b/c nobody can touch that.

By Hal

June 23, 2006 10:21 AM | Link to this

Mudd

these be patient dont blame any body bleeding hearts make me sick too ! The players are very well payed in the top third of all major league payrolls ! It makes me laugh when people say who could have anticapted this.Ill Answer that by saying a whole slough of people on this blog even, KNEW the bullpen was a collection of no name no talent scrap heep”talent” over the winter and for darn sure in spring training

Isent like better talent wasnt or isent out there eather look UP in the standings at the Marlins (who everyone laughed at a month ago) they completly gutted there roster over the winter and look at them now …look at there future too they dont have Hamptons albatros hanging from there neck

By Smitty

June 23, 2006 10:22 AM | Link to this

Well Matt,

You are right we can’t complain. But the ownership hasn’t allowed us to expand the payrole in several years. We are now clsoe to the middle of the pack in payrole and have to save money by signing cheap pitchers in the pen.

By Geno Beano

June 23, 2006 10:26 AM | Link to this

Yep, after last night’s “Oh No Again’s” -the pen, the vets, and JS and BC are ready for hunting, fishing, or golf, or retirement. Bring up the triple A and double A teams - at least they want to play.

I wonder if any of the Braves know some of us really have a love for the game.

In Little League Baseball - you teach character,teamwork,discipline,concentration, anticipation, and effort. It is a pitty that our kids see these grown men as our “professional baseball team”.

So what do you say to your kids when these sainted and glorified adults throw their bats, slam their helments, and complain about everything? Even my Little League teams have more heart for the game than these guys do.

By Matt

June 23, 2006 10:27 AM | Link to this

What are you talking about w/ Pendelton. Yes we strike out alot, but we also have 5 guys who play everyday or every other day hitting over 280. We have 2 guys, possibly 3 with a run that could get 30 hrs and 100 rbis. They aren’t hitting where they should and not getting protection. We are going to strike out alot b/c we are a young team and AJones has always struck out alot. Most power hitters do. Out top 3 in K’s are also our top 3 in hrs. And w/ McDowell, I only remember Mazzone having 1 decent bullpen. Look what McDowell is working with. 5 guys out of the minors, a guy who nobody wanted and is old, and a few guys who have never been good, even w/ Leo (reitsma).
Lets trade our future in Frenchy. Why, b/c he is 23 and is an aggressive hitter. I bet you didn’t say that when he came up last year or w/ his walkoff grandslam this year.

By Sane Jane

June 23, 2006 10:31 AM | Link to this

How smart does Chipper look now? Sure, he “gave up” a few mill… in order to secure $20MM more and turn two option years into guaranteed years.

I wonder if he anticipated the decline we’re all now seeing?

By Matt

June 23, 2006 10:34 AM | Link to this

Thats fine, but most of our money is already in our pitching. Why can’t MLB contracts not being guaranteed like the NFL. Damn Hampton is costing up 15 a year. But insurance covers that so our payroll is really around 65 this year, which makes us alot lower. I don’t think you should have to spend alot of money on players, but I do think you do on pitchers, especially closers. I don’t want to see any young guys go b/c I think we have another class of studs coming, same with pitchers but not as many of them. Davies, James, Stockton. We should try to get more pitching definately. But not spend a fortune on them b/c some get hurt so damn much. I think all we need is bullpen and we will be fine. Smoltz, Huddy, Rammi, Davies (when back), James and then Sosa, Thomson, Ray and Stockton in the pen could be a good thing.

By chippersux

June 23, 2006 10:38 AM | Link to this

Let’s get something straight with regard to Chipper “giving back” some of his salary in the offseasons. He has “given” absolutely NOTHING back… he has only DEFERRED a portion of the salary he is owed until a later date. He is still owed the FULL amount of his contracted salary. And this is the exact reason why he is untradable… he is still owed a massive amount of money for his current pathetic skills and puny production.

So let’s not start givin’ ol’ Chip a buncha wet, sloppy kisses for his generosity.

By Hal

June 23, 2006 10:38 AM | Link to this

Actually according to the web site “one stop baseball” Atlantas payroll is 9th out of 30 teams or in the top third

Some teams with less invested and better results (1) Detroit 10 mil less first place (2)Toronto 20 mil less 3rd but only 3 games back of yanks bosox in a very tough devision(3) Cincinatti 30 mil less and i think (though not sure)Leading the wild card race (4) Marlins SIXTY FIVE million less and have won like 10 of there last 12 thats WON not lost!

By ugadawg

June 23, 2006 10:48 AM | Link to this

Matt,

That’s crap and you know it. Our top 3 in k’s are Franceour, Andruw, and LaRoche. Yes, these are our top 3 in RBI’s but only because they bat 4,5, and 6 in the order. But Giles is only 1 k behind LaRoche and Langerhans is only 1 behind him. But the fact that these 3 are our top RBI producers doesn’t mean they are our top hitters.

Our top hitters in terms of batting average that play every day are McCann, Renteria, and Andruw. And there are not 5 guys that play every day batting over 280. The only ones that are are the 3 I just mentioned. I don’t know where you’re grabbing the other 2….Diaz and Betemit? Betemit only starts once every couple weeks and Diaz only slightly more often. Not every other day players.

By Smitty

June 23, 2006 10:50 AM | Link to this

Sure he moved his money to the back end of his contract, only so we could win now. We thought Boyer, Foster, Devin would all contribute this season and they can’t. We thought Villareal would be better, he has been terrible. When it comes time to pay Chipper the big bucks, Liberty Media will have sold the Braves to Blank (in two years it will happen) and we can still swing that.

We are 9th in payrole when we use to be top 4. We have had terrible luck with our pen this season and that is our problem

Our hitters have been ok and do strike our too much, but they are not the problem. If we had a “decent” pen we would have won 6 of our last 7.

By Hal

June 23, 2006 10:51 AM | Link to this

Jane

I think chipper anticapated another guaranteed year lol

With that in mind wonder if Hampton would consider restructuring?? maybe we can guarantee him two or three more years what do you guys think?

By Sane Jane

June 23, 2006 10:53 AM | Link to this

Chippersux, your info is wrong. LWJ’s restructuring will ultimately cost him $11 mill of the $15 mill he restructered… unless the Braves somehow decide that, in 2009, he’s worth $11MM (where the restructured dollars went). He did get a $4MM signing bonus this year (totaling the $15MM restructured) and guaranteed the two $15MM options years at $11MM apiece.

He’s making out like a bandit… but he is (in all likelihood) giving some of it back.

By Todd A

June 23, 2006 10:53 AM | Link to this

Justice may have been a pain in the arse,but he was a gamer.I wanted him at the plate when the game was on the line.When he left,I felt similarly about Javy Lopez.I’ll give Chipper his props for sept ‘99.He earned the mvp that year,and for once in his career…he put the Braves on his back and helped drive them towards a World Series appearance.But in that same WS,with the Braves already down 3 games to nothing,and behind in the 9th inning of game 4,the camera caught a glimpse of our team leader laughing in the dugout.I knew then,that this guy was just collecting a check.In that same series,Smoltzie went out and gutted it out throwing knuckle balls and changing arm angles,anything he could do to try and help his team win.This despite the fact Smoltz was in such pain,he should have been on the disabled list.

Chipper is a fraud.Always has been.Now most people are just finding it out,because the team is crumbling around him and his performance and attitude(lack there-of) are visible for all to see.I would take David Justice everyday of the week over Chipper.He may have had injury problems,but when he stepped between those white lines,he came ready to play,and usually delivered when it mattered most.Chipper is those situations became the deer in the headlights.Please,find a suitor for this guy somewhere else.

By Hal

June 23, 2006 10:59 AM | Link to this

LOL@ making out like a bandit ,Jane your a keeper you got to stick around this blog and help us through the dog days of summer ! After all the on field product is laughable so me may as well have a few laughs in the blog

By Sane Jane

June 23, 2006 11:01 AM | Link to this

2009 being an option year, added to the deal during restructuring, of course.

By Antonio McNugget

June 23, 2006 11:09 AM | Link to this

Robert H You can look at Renteria, McCann and Diaz and see that Pendelton is doing his job.

Look at Francoeur, Giles, CJones, LaRoche and you can see that some people wont listen.

Francoeur is better since the putrid start but it really looks like only Renteria McCann and Diaz are listening. No on whas a plan. When was the last time some one hit the ball the other way, with the exception of the above?

By Sane Jane

June 23, 2006 11:17 AM | Link to this

What else do Rent, McCann & Diaz have in common?

They’re all new faces. (minus Brian’s service time last year)

Yes, it is appropriate to focus on TP’s abilities as a coach. We should all be disappointed in what’s done during his time here.

Frankly, it’s no surprise that a gifted hitter doesn’t necessarily translate into a gifted coach - sometimes skills are just preternatural.

But maybe we should take a flier on Tony Gwynn as hitting coach, just to make sure…

By Charleston Brave

June 23, 2006 11:18 AM | Link to this

Hello everyone, Long time reader, first time blogger.

First I’d like to thank everyone for the info, humor, and updates.

You guys on the blog are in a word psychic. I’ve read for weeks to put Sosa in the pen, call up Thorman, bench Recksma and BJ(DL but who’s complaining), play betemit.

All have transpired.

Keep up the good work. Someone is either listening or finally seeing what we’re seeing. Unfortunately I think it’s the later b/c our skipper holds on to tight.

I want to be pyschic too so here it goes. Remy,Mcbride for righties, Paronto,Yates for lefties. Pena in for Pratt.

It just might work.

By Smitty

June 23, 2006 11:18 AM | Link to this

Todd, CHIPPER JONES IS GOING TO THE HALL-OF-FAME! David Justice was not a gammer! He was a cry baby. He sat out all the time. Javy Lopez had two solid seasons with the Braves and the rest of the time he was the most over rated player in the league.

By Matt

June 23, 2006 11:27 AM | Link to this

ugaboy, i never said they were the best hitters, you retard. I said power hitters strike out more. do you understand. leading the team in hr and rbis typically means your a power hitter. If you look at games played, they have played in almost half. Giles is aggressive, he will strike out plus he sucks this year.

By james

June 23, 2006 11:29 AM | Link to this

People are unforgiving lets blame someone.Chipper and andruw need to step it up no doubt!! but we still dont have agood leadoff hitter or a closer so what is the big ????Did not have in the spring and still dont.15 games back i think it is time!!

By Sane Jane

June 23, 2006 11:30 AM | Link to this

Ha ha… “psychic”… even a broken clock is correct twice a day!

Thanks for the kind words, but I don’t see any of the “LaRoche/Langy & Reitsma for solid bullpen help” scenarios coming to pass!

And Smitty, no WAY LWJ makes it to the HOF. How many third basemen currently? (12 I think) 2 or 3 MVP seasons do not a Hall of Famer make.

By Norris

June 23, 2006 11:32 AM | Link to this

Chipper looks bad, no doubt about it. Has he been on the roids? I would have said no over the years, but it is possible. Did Bobby Cox ruin the longevity an All-Star 3B by moving him to OF? ABSOLUTELY!!! Did it cost Chipper a possible Hall of Fame spot? Possibly…

So what are we left with? Giles has got to sit, maybe even send him down until he can regain his swing and confidence. Once again a bad decision by Cox to use him as a lead-off hitter messed up his confidence too.

We started the year with a mediocre FB, and nothing has changed. It would be radical to move Chipper, but a few games with Better-mint at 3B, and Chipper at first might be worth seeing how the team reacts?

Bottom line: Ownership started the season without a Closer and it cost too many games early on. It lodged in the heads of the players that the team couldn’t hold a lead, even when they were up by 4 runs late in the game… and now the team has lost heart.

Let me say it again… THIS WHOLE MESS STARTED WITH OWNERSHIP NOT GOING OUT AND GETTING A CLOSER!!!! And now we have to live with the outcome…

By Joseph Coffey

June 23, 2006 11:32 AM | Link to this

FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Some one publically stated that Chipper isn’t cutting it! Gee, give than a cigar! Chipper Jones is now vastly overrated and an too expensive one. Bobby Cox’s fair haired boy is not any thing like he used to be on the field and off. ANDREW JONES and JOHN SMOTZ should be the teams leader as they are more productive.

By Jbones

June 23, 2006 11:36 AM | Link to this

Should we atart worrying yet?

There is no emotion with the Braves whether good or bad. For once I want to see someone break a bat over their knee or take out their fustration on a water cooler in the dugout.

Maybe they should try something different like pulling a lineup out of a hat or Cox managing in boxer shorts or not picking his nose as much on camera.

Giles is not a leadoff hitter and Chipper “rally killer” Jones needs to be moved out of the number 3 hole until he decides to swing at a pitch and not hit a ground ball double play in the clutch.

By Matt

June 23, 2006 11:37 AM | Link to this

Uh Jane, yes LWJ will be in the HOF. Alot of people consider him one of the greatest switch hitters of all time. What was it, 9 seasons in a row with 100 rbis, or something like that. Never on a losing team. He gets some credit, he was only the best player for most of the 90’s.

By ugadawg

June 23, 2006 11:39 AM | Link to this

Matt,

If you could string together a sentence with even decent grammar and punctuation, then maybe people would understand what you’re even talking about. I wouldn’t call LaRoche a power hitter. Sure 11 hr’s is 3rd on the team, but that’s only on pace to hit about 20 this year…not exactly power numbers.

You didn’t have anything to say about the “5 hitters hitting over 280” comment, as you know you were just blowing smoke. I don’t care if Giles is aggressive, he is our leadoff man. No way he should be 4th in strikeouts.

By T-bone

June 23, 2006 11:39 AM | Link to this

I like the idea of platooning Chipper at first with Thorman.

Giles has got to come out of the leadoff spot. Heck, make Francooer lead off and force him to take pitches until he has a couple strikes on him.

Diaz & Betemit need to play every day. Langerhans & bad relievers trade for prospects.

By Matt

June 23, 2006 11:42 AM | Link to this

Best player on the Braves, nobody misunderstand that. Sorry

By Hal

June 23, 2006 11:43 AM | Link to this

I just had a very sobering though .Can you emagine if the braves (Brain?) thrust actually exersised the option on Chipper for ‘09 ?Seeing the wAy his health and performance had deteriorated over the last 3 years can you emagine him in ‘09

Also not much in the way of third basemen in the minors ,Campbell in Rome being the exception .I guess Betemit moves to third but in a couple years Renteria will be gone too .Problems ,problems still it keeps one from thinking about this years unmitagated disaster

i wonder if thats the braves managments thought process lets just ignore these things maybe they will go away

i think JS punishment for his off season performance should be that he has to go on every road trip tell they win 5 in a row or the season ends whichever comes first lol

By Matt

June 23, 2006 11:50 AM | Link to this

Best player on the Braves, nobody misunderstand that. Sorry

By Todd A

June 23, 2006 11:53 AM | Link to this

Is Murphy in the HOF?He had 2 MVP’s.Chipper’s had a good career here,but let’s not go overboard.He was a better selection that Todd Van Poppel.I’ll give you that.

By Glass Half Full

June 23, 2006 11:56 AM | Link to this

Murphy is not. You need 390 votes to get in and each of the last three years he’s gotten 50-something votes.

By Matt

June 23, 2006 11:58 AM | Link to this

I’m sorry ugaboy, I didn’t realize these blogs were being published in a book, so screw your decent grammar and punctuation. 3 hitters that play everyday hitting over 280. 2 who have over 100 ab over 280. ab for each player, mccann-156, diaz-109, renti-255, betemit-121, ajones-272. I call that sufficient playing time. Giles is agressive, he struck out over 100 times last year. he is not your typical leadoff hitter, everybody knows that. you can’t change the type of hitter you are b/c of where you bat. everybody wants you too, but its not that simple. Laroche will be a power hitter, he will get near 30 this year, watch.

By Jeffrey

June 23, 2006 12:02 PM | Link to this

FACE IT FOLKS, CHIPPER JONES IS “WASHED UP” JUST LIKE THE REST OF THIS TEAM!!!! THE RUN IS OVER..14 YEARS OF PLAYOFF FUTILITY HAS CARRIED OVER TO THE REGULAR SEASON..TIME FOR A NEW TEAM AND A NEW MANAGER..YES, YOU HEARD ME RIGHT-A NEW MANAGER IS DESPERATELY NEEDED!! BOBBY COX’S “GOOD OL BOY ROUTINE’ WORKED IN THE REGULAR SEASON FOR YEARS BUT IT’S NOT EFFECTIVE ANYMORE..HE IS COMPLETELY “CLUELESS” NOW AND THIS TEAM IS PATHETIC!!! NO HEART, AND IT’S UP TO THE MANAGER TO “RIGHT THE SHIP” AND COX DOESN’T KNOW HOW TO..HAS NO IDEA WHAT TO DO TO GET HIS TEAM OUT OF THIS “FUNK”..WHEN YOUR LEADOFF HITTER IS BARELY HITTING .240, ISN’T IT TIME TO FIND A NEW LEADOFF HITTER?? GILES IS THE WORST LEADOFF HITTER IN BASEBALL!!! AS LONG AS COX IS MANAGER, MARK MY WORDS, THIS TEAM HAS NO CHANCE OF WINNING ANOTHER WORLD SERIES..AND THE WAY IT LOOKS NOW, EVEN GETTING BACK TO THE PLAYOFFS..

By Jack

June 23, 2006 12:04 PM | Link to this

I’m not accusing him, but the question has to be asked: Was Chipper on the “juice”? Is it just me, but do his biceps look smaller than last year? I really have to wonder because I see a lot of warning track power when he is able to get it out of the infield.

By Billy

June 23, 2006 12:04 PM | Link to this

There’s a obvious trend on this blog. All you see during the day is uneducated (in a baseball sense) post. However, that kind of changes during the night. You still have your ignorant post during the night but it is no where near the level it is in the morning/early afternoon.

It appears a lot of fans have given up on Chipper. I don’t doubt he is struggling and I myself questioned what’s he up too but I still have loyalty to our third basemen. I don’t stop loving the braves because they are having a bad season. JS make a couple of bad moves and fans turn their back on him. What gives with that? You would be hard pressed to prove to anyone with any baseball merit that JS has done way more harm than good to the Atlanta Braves. If I was interested enough to make people look like fools I would keep a record of all posts then point out the hypocrisy that occurs on a daily basis here on our beloved blog. Don’t get me wrong, I do understand the frustration bloggers have and respect their right to post just as I do. However, the lack of loyalty of our fans has an impact on our team. What does it say about your fans when you can’t sell out a NLCS?

Now some baseball thoughts from a fan…..

Its the bullpen people….. A bunch of bloggers blame Giles, Chipper, AJ or Frenchy. I don’t understand this as they would never be in some of the positions they were in if it weren’t for the bullpen blowing leads or the starters giving up runs early in a game. If you believe more blame goes to the boppers on the team you need to hang up your tomahawk and go home because you don’t have the privilege of watching baseball.

People talk about Frenchy failing….he’s 22 which means he will probably fail in clutch sits more than his fare share….part of growing up in baseball…if anyone honestly thinks he should be sent down to the minors should again hang up their tomahawk because you obviously don’t belong as a Major League fan.

I do understand some of the criticism of JS as he should have made some kind of deal for any arm just to shake up the bullpen. There has/had to be somebody worth a gamble…..but will I turn my back on the man who has done more good than bad……not a chance in hell

By Gary

June 23, 2006 12:12 PM | Link to this

How many times have you seen Chipper “pumped up and enthused?” Chipper said it himself last year in the AJC. “If I had it over to do again, I’d do something else (other than baseball).” He doesn’t like what he’s doing and has infected that attitude in the team, both young and old, regular season and playoffs. Give him what he wants, something else to do. I don’t get Cox. Does Chipper control him?

By Jim

June 23, 2006 12:18 PM | Link to this

Let’s look at the facts: 1. The ability of JS and BC et al. to continually reconstitute the team over a period of 15 years and keep winning was amazing — but all good things have to come to an end.

1. We haven’t had a draft pick higher than mid 20’s in the first round for 15 years and other teams now have a better core of young talent than we do. There is talent at the A level that may develop into big league players, but there isn’t much talent at the AA and AAA levels (just look at the records)

2. To compete against teams like Fla. and the Mets (with a core of Wright, Reyes, Milledge, and Pelfry) in the next few years, we need to restock the minor leagues with trades of veterans.

By Glass Half Full

June 23, 2006 12:20 PM | Link to this

Consider this: Francoeur has only played 143 games (not even a full season), has 29 career HRs, 100 RBI, and a .273 batting average. Those are respectable numbers and they will improve. Power hitters often strike out alot so I don’t expect him to be a .300 hitter, but 30+ homeruns each year is a lock.

By Tommy

June 23, 2006 12:20 PM | Link to this

Let’s don’t crucify JS just yet, as he will get some trades made, and he knows most teams won’t part with their relievers until they know they are out of the race. They wait until the trade deadline, hoping their team will turn it around.

And if no lock-down closers are available, then he’ll try to get someone for next year. LaRoche/Langy, one has to go. Same for Remy/Reeks, trade whichever one you can.

Betemit continues to impress, play him at 3rd. Chipper can platoon at first with big-dog Thorman, some post-er got that right. (CoxNeedstoChange?)

Diaz battles at the plate. Play him more. Francoeur has got to learn some discipline at the dish. Sit him down occasionally or make him bat lead-off as punishment for striking out 2-3 times a night. We can’t afford a Mexican sombrero!

Can we bring back Nick Johnson? And is it too early for September call-ups??? :O

By Glass Half Full

June 23, 2006 12:24 PM | Link to this

If Youkilis can lead off, so can Diaz. The Braves don’t steal bases or move the runner over anyway so give it a shot.

By DonCoburleone

June 23, 2006 12:31 PM | Link to this

You know what really sucks about this losing streak? Is that I bet baseball and I vowed years ago to not bet on Braves games… If only I would have been betting… I saw this slide coming and not stopping after the 4 game sweep at the hands of the Diamondbacks. It really is amazing, 3-20 in the last 23 games. How is that possible?

By ebineezer

June 23, 2006 12:31 PM | Link to this

To claim that any magor league players have quit steroids because of testing is just stupid. Major League baseball does not even test for HGH. The players are all rich and can afford all the lastest and greatest and undetectible steroids on the market. The cheaters have always been and always will stay ahead of the testers. Look at players like Albert Poulholts(sp?) or Atlanta’s favorite Hulio Franco and tell me its is all natural. MLB’s drug testing is a joke.

By DonCoburleone

June 23, 2006 12:42 PM | Link to this

Why does everyone continue to pile on MLB for its drug testing policy? It’s now the strongest in all of American Sports! How about we actually acknowledge the 6’5” 350LB elephant in the room (AKA NFL lineman)? Not to mention all the other skill position and defensive players. Honestly, can you tell me you think that Alge Crumpler or Duckett are ALL NATURAL? Not to mention players like Takeo Spikes, Terrel Owens, Ray Lewis, Jamaal Lewis, Larry Johnson? All these guys! I guarantee HGH is being used by WAY MORE nfl players than baseball players. Just compare the size of the athletes in the two sports. It’s ridiculous! So please, lay off baseball, jesus.

By Robert

June 23, 2006 12:49 PM | Link to this

Eeyore strikes again. Fire the donkey manager TODAY!

By DonCoburleone

June 23, 2006 12:52 PM | Link to this

Does everybody on this post honestly think that players are still using performance enhancers as much as before (ex. 2001)? You have to be kidding me. If you think that nobody in MLB noticed and/or was petrified of what happened to Grimsley is kidding themselves. Nobody wants to get busted with this stuff, especially big name players who are putting up big numbers. I am certainly not naïve enough to think that drugs have completely stopped in MLB, but to say most of baseball is still using is just ridiculous. And oh, by the way, I wish some guys in our bullpen would find a way to get by with using steroids… Anything to enhance their performance I’m all for…

By DonCoburleone

June 23, 2006 01:02 PM | Link to this

The only position player on the Braves with a legitimate shot at the HOF is Andruw Jones. Chipper is 150 homeruns or another MVP away from getting in. (And we all know neither of those is going to happen).

By Help

June 23, 2006 01:03 PM | Link to this

Well it will all hit the fan if the Braves get swept by Tampa (and then the Yankees!) I like the idea of moving Chipper to first (he can at least catch a ball, but will have to learn to stretch for it!!) and have Wilson B play third (he needs to play every day. Also, Giles is not a leadoff man-never has been comfortable there. Bottom line for this season is each player needs to look into the mirror and pick it up a notch or several. No trade is going to fix what ails them-they are pressing way to much, and please Bobby dont put Remlinger in a tight game again!

By MOBRAVESFAN

June 23, 2006 01:04 PM | Link to this

For those who continue to bash Chipper; I don’t recall Chipper coming in from the pen last night and giving up a 4 pitch walk or hits on the next two consecutive pitches and blowing the lead again. The real problem is the bullpen, Chipper hasn’t blown 15 save opportunities. Let’s ask John Smoltz who has blown the lead for him his last 5 appearances. And for the record Chipper has ZERO BLOWN SAVES for his career.

By CobbCountyMetFan

June 23, 2006 01:08 PM | Link to this

OH-AND-TEN

Love how that sounds…….

Tell JS and Bobby to leave the team EXACTLY the way it is. The bullpen is TERRIFIC. Lot’s of team chemistry. Don’t ruin a good thing.

Spread the love….

By bobby

June 23, 2006 01:15 PM | Link to this

How can BC be so stupid and keep bringing Remlinger into a game? Can anyone remember the last time he got anyone out?

By GULAG

June 23, 2006 01:18 PM | Link to this

The radio telecast has a free gas card promo — if the braves steal a base in the designated inning, the contestant wins the free gas. $75 gets added in prize value if no one steals a base. Last night, the gas card value was near $2,000!!! that’s like 26 games.

Bring a young Lou Brock/Ricky Henderson wannabe up from the farm to hit leadoff. That’s one way to juice the batting order. Do we have any of these type players on the farm? I don’t care if he’s only in Single A ball — bring him up for a few games and see what happens.

By Cleanuphitter16

June 23, 2006 01:27 PM | Link to this

To be quite honest, I would not be suprised to see Chipper simply retire at the end of his contract rather than stick around for one last contract or even an option year in ‘09. It really does seem that he is tired of playing, tired of injuries, tired of MRIs…just tired of the grind.

It actually says something about his ability and talent that he is able to go out there every day and hit .270 while barely even trying. And no, I don’t have some psychic link to Chipper telling me if he’s trying or not, I’m just saying it certainly doesn’t LOOK like he cares at all. Example: when Frenchy hit that dramatic 3-run homer against Florida on the 14th, Chipper didn’t even get off the bench until Frenchy was back in the dugout. Then Francoeur came over to him for a congrats hug and Chipper didn’t make eye contact, didn’t smile..in a word: emotionless. I mean, what the hell? Go give the kid a smack on the helmet and tell him “good job” don’t make him come to you and then basically dismiss him and act bored. I watched that happen and was just amazed at how apathetic Chipper was while everyone else was exicted, meeting Francoeur on the steps, slapping his helmet, etc. Most of his ABs are that way these days too. The most reaction you ever see is a faint look of annoyance on a called strike-three.

By MOBRAVESFAN

June 23, 2006 01:50 PM | Link to this

I think maybe it’s the whiplash the team gets when the bullpen is called to duty. Sometime within the time the relievers begin to pitch in the game and the end of the game, so many balls have been hit past the defense that the team gets whiplash from trying to track the ball. And what the hell was Remlinger doing last night on the bunt anyway, trying to deek chipper into an error. Remlinger has to go, And Bobby, Remlinger can’t get lefties out!!!!

By Smitty

June 23, 2006 02:16 PM | Link to this

Oh Chipper is a HOF player! Let’s look at what counts, the numbers! 5- All Star games An MVP 2-Silver SLuggers -.303 life time average -He will hit over 400 homers, probably close to 500 -Only switch hitter in the history of the game to hit over 300 homer and hit over .300 -HOF Monitor: Batting - 125.5 (105) (Likely HOFer > 100) -Was the leader of the team for 12-15 CONSECUTIVE DIVISION TITLES!

He has bett life carrer numbers than Scott Rolan, the only player that has played as many games at third that is currently active. And Chipper does have that World Title.

By Doug

June 23, 2006 02:58 PM | Link to this

When does football start?

By Doug

June 23, 2006 03:01 PM | Link to this

By Doug

June 23, 2006 03:04 PM | Link to this

By EddieJ

June 23, 2006 03:42 PM | Link to this

I am disappointed in the Braves’ performance this year. But I have been entertained and even thrilled by their success over the last 15 years. Therefore I will drive across the bridge to St Pete to see them take on the Devil Rays in three games this week-end. This is the first time the Braves have ever played with an inferior record to the D-Rays. Maybe the Braves will get swept again, but I won’t miss the opportunity to see them. They are my team, and one stinking month doesn’t change that. You people should live in Tampa all the time. You would be very proud of the Braves.

By I'm hurting

June 23, 2006 04:42 PM | Link to this

tell frenchie not to swing at anything that isn’t about to HIT HIM.. they have his Tiger woods swing down pat now. He would hit 50 homers if he would let everything go that is below his belt.

By wildrex

June 23, 2006 05:23 PM | Link to this

chippers stats project out on what hes done 2 this point are .275 18 hr 89 rbis not far off what hes done last 3 yrs its just that it magnified becuase there losing this yr

By Jim

June 23, 2006 10:05 PM | Link to this

Chipper couldn’t cut it, if he were a butcher.

By Todd A

June 24, 2006 12:02 AM | Link to this

Glass half full,Thanks for the response.But I realize Murph isn’t in the hall.He was my favorite Brave growing up.It was a rhetorical question in response to Smitty’s Chipper HOF post.

By Metropolitan Man

June 24, 2006 09:58 AM | Link to this

Cant you bums see Chimper only plays for 2 reason. 1 is himself and the other is when the braves are on a roll. Other than that he is the major cause of your demise. A perfect example of a has been trying to invoke fear over past accomplishments. If he never gets intentionally wakled this year, its too many. Face it he will go down in the Sosa, Mcgwire, Palmiero era as the one who got away with it. Good numbers for many years but truth be told, he had some help. Now he is finally exposed for the Chimper he is…..a slim, lazy, mouth full of poop, Herman Munster, dip chewing, overated, buzz cut wearing, 2 timing, washed up wanna be hall of famer. We now open our doors to Larry Wayne Chimper Jones to the wall of shame. For pretenders who got there fans excited only to quit on them when the going got rough.

By brownstar

June 24, 2006 03:12 PM | Link to this

to metropolitan man

wow, do your mouthes only run when you’re winning?

By Metropolitan Man

June 25, 2006 08:38 AM | Link to this

No Brownstar, it runs all the time. You sorry braves fans were so wrapped up into yourselves the past few years that you were oblivious to anything besides brave. But now since the world has an eye on the worst team this year and everyone has taken interest in your losing and not winning says alot to the masses. You guys bored the world with winning and are entertaining the world with losing…….its a brave new day!!!!

By Nelson

June 25, 2006 10:48 AM | Link to this

GUY you’re RIGHT, it is very sad because for many years he was the leader of this team and we love him, for many of us he should be moved to first base, long time ago instead to go left field, probably he doesnot like the position or didn’t want to take some body else’s job. But the responsible for that is Boby Cox, he knows the guy is playing 50%, he as a manager has to talk to him, move him to hitting 5th, put Renteria in the third hitting spot (he is the higher Ave. in the team), Giles return hitting second and Matt Diaz first (he is on base more than any body else) and at the end of the season convince Chipper to start practicing on first for 2007, in my point of view tis move will save the Braves.

By Steven

June 26, 2006 11:11 AM | Link to this

Chipper Jones is still a very good player in the National Leauge, he is just in a slump right now. Everybody has one sometime, and you cant just expect chipper to carry the team, thats why the braves have many other good players, just give chipper a chance and he will come out of his slump.

By Josh

June 27, 2006 12:53 PM | Link to this

wheres all the chipper haters after last night? most of the ones that are on chippers case most likely kno nothing about the game of baseball or what kind’ve career chipper has had.

By Still A Fan

June 27, 2006 01:14 PM | Link to this

My only complaint about Chipper is that he needs to get his a* off of his shoulders and show some heart on the field and in the dugout. One of the veterans on this team is going to have to show the younger guys that it aint over until the fat lady…

By Not giving up

June 30, 2006 09:54 AM | Link to this

I guess no one has ever heard of a slump. Well Chipper was in one & now he’s out of it. Give him a break already, he’s just one player on a 40 man roster. Chipper has done so much for this team, but no one can seem to remember that now. Who was the last Braves to win a MVP award….? Everyone wants to point fingers now that we are obviously not going to win the division but it’s not humanly possible for this bad season to be one persons fault.