Braves

By Tony Almeida

August 4, 2006 01:00 PM | Link to this

You’re my hero Guy.

By shawn

August 4, 2006 01:14 PM | Link to this

Can you guys tell something we don’t already know? Is there anything to the waiver story? Any possible deals to be made? Is Chipper coming back on time? What is the Braves plans for next year?

By RW

August 4, 2006 01:36 PM | Link to this

I am afraid that JS has his eyes on the prize for next year. If there is any chance that AJ could be traded for good or legitimate arms I think JS will bite and I think that moving AJ salary would put them in a position to resign the current bullpen and move Fancouer to center and Diaz becaomes starting right or left fielder next season. Aybar gives JS a chance to trade Giles too.

I really will miss AJ and I would rather see him finish his career in a Braves uni… Then again it was a travesty that Maddux won #300 as a cub.

Oh the prefidy that is corporate ownership.

RW…

By dadgum

August 4, 2006 01:50 PM | Link to this

Yes there is a lot to the waiver story. This is one move to gauge interest in Andruw from other teams. The Braves are either goingto renegotiate his contract or trade him. Preferably all prior to Aug. 15th when both trading and resigning him become more difficult tasks. If he clears waivers Andruw can be traded for other players who have also cleared waivers or go into negotiations with the team winning the waiver claim. Or the Braves can do nothing and hold onto him. Yes there is a lot to the waiver story. Also you can bet that Francouer, Hudson, Giles, LaRouche, Ramirez and others are also on the waiver wire. Standard operating procedure which the Braves do every year. This year however there is perhaps a greater chance of teh Braves doing a waiver trade especially if they sweep Cincy to solidify their pitching for the wild card push.

Next I feel it is doubtful Chipper will return on time due to the specifics of the injury and the healing it needs. Don’t be shocked if Chipper is out until late August but hope for the best obviously. We need him but only at full strength.

Again any deals will be made but only if it is something that they can carry forward to ‘07 that will strengthen the pitching rotation. There is entirely too much uncertainty surrounding teh picthing staff as to injuries, retirement, contracts, etc. Of Ramirez, Hampton, Davies, James, Hudson I can’t say for certain if any of those guys will be effective or even be a bRave next year. Hampton will given his contract but will he be effective. Who knows.

So yeah there is a lot to the story but the real story line may be during the off season where I feel the Braves may be in such upheavel with trades we won’t know who is on teh team until the smoke clears. We’ll see.

By TennesseePaul

August 4, 2006 01:55 PM | Link to this

I don’t believe the fuss. Andruw is on waivers. From what I can tell, he is also still a Brave. He is in a Brave uniform. And he most likely will be through next year. The Braves will be able to resign him. Hopefully he won’t price himself out of their range. But it isn’t impossible to sign him. They can work the contract in such a manor that it would allow them to keep him, and these young ones for years to come.

I appreciate Wickman and Baez’s work so far. I’d like to think they could be resigned for a reasonable price AND perform just as well next season. But there is no guarantee of the contract or the performance. The only thing one can count on is Andruw playing like a Hall of Famer. He’ll be 30 when he’s a free agent. Hopefully we can sign him for 5 years, maybe 7, at a reasonable price. If not. I will resume egging Scott Boras’s house.

The one thing that article about waivers didn’t disclose was, if Andruw or any other Brave, has ever been put on waivers before. Reading DOBs input makes one think that this could be the case. And, thinking about it like that makes you realize that there probably is even less to this story than there was to the Smoltz trade rumors. Maybe the AJC feels out done by NY and Boston and feels the need to stir up controversy before anyone else can.

By Craig

August 4, 2006 01:58 PM | Link to this

Here is an email I got from ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick on Andruw Jones waiver situation:

Craig,

Just about every player gets sent through waivers, so that’s really no big deal.

If Jones gets claimed, the Braves can either: a) let him go to the claiming club (not gonna happen), b) pull him back off waivers. I think that means he can’t go back on waivers for 30 days; or c) try and work out a trade with the claiming club.

I wouldn’t read too much into this. I think the Red Sox were interested in Jones in July primarily as a means of spinning him off to Houston and trying to land Roy Oswalt.

But if you look at the history of August deals, very few guys get dealt now.

Thanks for the note,

Jerry

By shawn

August 4, 2006 02:01 PM | Link to this

Tennessee Paul don’t bet on it. I am not even sure the Braves WANT to resign him. As for HOF that is a bit premature. I really do like AJ but I don’t consider him HOF.

By shawn

August 4, 2006 02:07 PM | Link to this

Oswalt, Lidge, Tavares and Ensberg for Chipper, Andruw, and Hudson

By Andrew

August 4, 2006 02:10 PM | Link to this

dont know if i agree with the complaints about how BC managed the rotation order. Think of it this way… the Braves obviously have a problem closing out a sweep as you can see from what happened yesterday. If they are going to hope to sweep the Reds then Smoltz needs to pitch the last game. Id rather see him finish it than any of the other starters. Huddy has struggled the most and he is out of the way now. The offense will reawaken tonight and tomorrow because their backs are against the wall. Then John Smoltz will promptly come in on Sunday sweep out the dirt and close the door behind him on what will be a very productive series. Thats what I hope anyways… GO BRAVES!

By TennesseePaul

August 4, 2006 02:13 PM | Link to this

What makes you think the Braves don’t want to resign the best defensive outfielder in the league? His hitting has improved. His home run power improved. He’s only 29. And there is no viable replacement in the system. Nothing JS, Bobby, anyone on the team, or Andruw himself, has said would lead anyone to believe they don’t want him anymore. Andruw himself has repeatedly stated that he doesn’t want to leave. I’m sure JS would laugh at such a remark as he did to all the Smoltz trade rumor speculation.

As for his credentials, yes, if he keeps playing the way he has, he will be in the hall of fame. He’ll have over 500 home runs (could be as many as 600 depending on how long he plays). He’ll have an ungodly amount of gold gloves. And he’ll have a few more silver slugger awards to go with at least 5 all star appearances. And for the little cherry on top, he’s still the youngest player ever to hit home runs in the WS in his first two at bats.

By KC

August 4, 2006 02:23 PM | Link to this

HERE’S WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT IN REGARD TO ANDRUW:

First of all, with absolute 100% certainty, I promise you… Andruw is not going anywhere this season. The waiver placement means nothing. John Shuerholz’s answer to the Red Sox when they inquired about him before the non-waiver trade deadline was… “make me an offer I can’t refuse, and he’s yours. But we’re in no hurry to trade him.” He’s not going anywhere this season. If you’re worried about that… relax, take a deep breath and think happy thoughts. He’s not going anywhere this season… period.

Now, this winter: The Braves front office will probably talk to Jones and Scott Boras (his agent) this winter, and try to gauge their chances of keeping him past next season. If JS feels they have a decent chance of re-signing him, then history indicates that he will hang on to Jones and make the best effort he can to keep him (even at the risk of losing him to free agency after next season).

However, if JS feels that AJ is going to listen to Boras this time and go after the highest bid from a team like the Dodgers, BoSox, Mets, or Yankees… then JS will be more motivated to move him this winter. However, you can be sure based on his track record that JS will not make a move that is going to significantly hurt the team’s chances to win next year.

In the winter of 96-97, JS worked a trade with Cleveland that trade sent David Justice and M.Grissom to the Indians in exchange for Kenny Lofton and Alan Embree. That move was made to free up money to re-sign Maddux and Glavine to long-term deals. BUT you’ll notice that Atlanta got a player who, at the time, was the premiere leadoff hitter in all of baseball, and one of the top superstars in the game overall.

JS is looking always looking to win now, as long as that’s realistic (and for the past 14 years, it always has been). If the Braves don’t feel they can resign AJ, they will listen to any offer that would not significantly hurt the team’s chances to win next year, and would give the Braves something of value beyond next year. If it appears likely that Andruw is going chase every dollar he can get next winter, the Braves might trade him this winter IF, and only if, the right deal comes along.

Again, you can be sure that JS isn’t interested in doing anything to weaken next year’s team. And in any event, the Braves are not going to just dump Andruw an effort to get something in return for him before he becomes a free agent. The Braves have never done that with a key player in JS’s tenure, and they’re not going to do it now.

By Braves20

August 4, 2006 02:24 PM | Link to this

Shawn - The Astros would make that trade in a minute. Fortunately anybody in the Braves organization not on drugs would not. Lidge has become another Wohlers, Tavares is a poor man’s Juan Pierre and Oswalt, while good, sure doesn’t justify trading a sure Hall of famer, a maybe Hall of Famer and a pitcher who could straighten himself out for that assembly.

By Craig

August 4, 2006 02:28 PM | Link to this

This just in from ESPN

Braves center fielder Andruw Jones has been claimed on waivers, but it’s not clear which team has claimed the eight-time Gold Glove winner, ESPN The Magazine’s Buster Olney reports.

The Braves placed Jones on waivers Tuesday. The team that claimed Jones has 48 hours to strike a deal with Atlanta; the window expires Saturday at 1 p.m. ET.

Jones will earn his 10-and-5 rights on Aug. 15, which means he can veto any trade. If the Braves pull him off waivers, they cannot trade him this season.

The Red Sox talked to the Braves about Jones leading up to the trade deadline. Some scouts believe that the Angels, who have been looking for a bat, would naturally have interest in him.

By fnreitsma

August 4, 2006 02:35 PM | Link to this

andruw isn’t going anywhere. but i am a little sad they even put him on the waiver list. the man deserves better treatment. he has stood by this organization every step of the way…he deserves better. HUDSON, on the other hand. :)

By KC

August 4, 2006 02:35 PM | Link to this

It is infinitely common to place a player on waivers, and just as common for a player to be claimed. It can (and does) happen a hundred times a season without a single player changing hands. Andruw is not going anywhere. When you consider the players a team would have to give up to get him… there’s no way all of those players would also clear waivers.

IF (and it’s not likely), Andruw is traded, it won’t be until this winter.

By Breaking News

August 4, 2006 02:38 PM | Link to this

BREAKING NEWS

The Braves entire roster has been place on waivers and claims have been made. It appears the deals will go down. Every single player is being traded for cash and tax incentives. The Braves will forfeit the remainder of the season and the use the money to try and sign one extremely over priced reliever in the off-season. Next year will consist of a team of rookies making league minimum and one middle reliever making 70% of the salary. More details to come.

By Smitty

August 4, 2006 02:40 PM | Link to this

The fact that we haven’t heard about the Braves pulling him back yet means we are listening.

KC is right, this is common.

By Carolina Lady

August 4, 2006 02:40 PM | Link to this

Well put, TN Paul!

By KC

August 4, 2006 02:41 PM | Link to this

fnreitsma:

It’s not bad treatment to put Andruw on the waiver wire. Again, it doesn’t necessarily mean anything at all.

But even if they are doing it to gauge trade interest for this winter, that would only be becuase Andruw is not letting agent Scott Bor-a$$ do the talking, he’s saying stuff like “There will be no hometown discount this time.” With the tenor of Boras’s statements, JS has to talk to Andruw/Boras to gauge the likelihood of re-signing him, and then look at all his options (including Trading AJ if that’s what it comes down to).

But again, ATL will be in no hurry to trade AJ this winter. He’s a big part of their plans next year. They can be persuaded to change their plans, but only if another team offers something quite substantial.

By geauxbraves2000

August 4, 2006 02:42 PM | Link to this

Thanks, KC, well put. AJ isn’t going anywhere, so let’s talk about something else, like what does the team need to do to sweep this weekend.

James is a crap shoot, Shiell - well, hopefully the Braves can score about 20 runs that game (I can’t believe there’s no one else they can start) & Smoltz, wow, 40 years old and still kicking butt.

I think a sweep is necessary, but anything less than 2 out 3, well, technically the season is not over, but theoretically it won’t look good.

Geaux Braves!!

By Braves20

August 4, 2006 02:44 PM | Link to this

Last year Manny Ramerez was on waivers so what? On another subject, two games over .500 is currently leading the wild card. We’re seven under and have had 20 blown saves. That is sickening. If only we had gotten off our wallet in the offseason for Farnsworth, Wickman, Baez, even Todd Jones, we’d be a minimum of 3 or 4 up in the wild card. Just disgusting.

By TennesseePaul

August 4, 2006 02:45 PM | Link to this

Trades in midseason don’t pull down as much as they could in the offseason. And of course the Braves will listen. Listening is part of being a good GM.

By bh

August 4, 2006 02:46 PM | Link to this

nice way to jinx the bullpen dipsh**. i hope they dont read your crappy article

By The Grinch

August 4, 2006 02:49 PM | Link to this

Morning, all! I must apologize for my shameful behavior last night; the Grinch can be easily provoked in the wee hours after a few brews, especially by the unwashed denizens of Metropolitan New York’s sewers. Also, as Lew can tell you, I was already in a rather contentious mood pending an upcoming showdown with a mortal enemy of mine (next weekend:I’ll keep y’all posted unless my fingers are broken). Journalist Bob, I was expecting an admonition from you today and was not dissapointed. I am only a hero sometimes…often still I’m just another kid on the playground. I’m working on it. Dadgum, I WAS posting from my house, silly! Surely you didn’t think I was posting from the library at 4 am? Just messin’ with you. :-) My house and my office are one in the same. Speaking of which, time to get some work done. FlBravesgirl: meringue is also suitable for key lime pie…

By chop me gently; chop me slowly

August 4, 2006 02:53 PM | Link to this

Have you people been watching the same Braves of 2006 that I have? How many series sweeps does it take to get you to a 50-57 record? A sensible fan would be praying that the Reds don’t sweep us. The Braves had a chance to sweep the Pirates — the lowly Pittsburgh Pirates — and couldn’t do it. What makes you think Cincinnati is going to conveniently roll over for the mighty Braves? Shiell is starting the middle game, for God’s sake!

You’ve just become too accustomed to watching your team in October, I guess. Eventually, I suppose, when the games and opportunities have dwindled down to few enough that even you starry-eyed dreamers can do the math, then and only then will you accept your fate: you are rooting for a truly bad baseball team whose awesome streak of division titles and playoff appearances is flat out over.

Can any of you out there who remember the Braves of the 1970s help me convince these fans who have been spoiled rotten by years and years of success that these 2006 Braves are far more reminiscent of the Braves of Noc-A-Homa than the “bulit-to-win” Braves of the Scheurholz days? The sooner these folks get past the stage of denial they’re mired in and move on to acceptance and healing, the better off we’ll all be. Then maybe we can reach a day on this blog when all God’s children — black men and white men, Jews and gentiles, Protestants and Catholics — can join hands and chant together, “The run is done, the run is done; thank God Almighty, the run is done!”

By TennesseePaul

August 4, 2006 02:57 PM | Link to this

Sheeesh what a rant from a guy who doesn’t know what it means to root for your team. Pardon us. We love the Braves and hope the best. This is America.

GO BRAVES

By Bob, journalist

August 4, 2006 02:59 PM | Link to this

One Guy is enough, two’s a couple … but three is something else!

This is a stale continuation of previous threads but I hope I’ve got the closing stitches.

That nice girl from south of Georgia knows her pudding … meringue belongs on lemon meringue pie!

I’ve been confused by Mama’s old recipes for years. Mama never measured nothin’ or so it seemed … just a bunch of smidgens, pinches and dashes that she didn’t explain … though she showed me more than once what a pinch was. My Lady’s reference prompted me to get the skinny straight from Golda’s Kitchen and according to Golda; 2 smidgens = 1 pinch, 2 pinches = 1 dash, and 8 dashes = 1 teaspoon.

As an aside, I can’t count the number of times I got my fingers burnt stirrin’ the bubbly stuff while making chocolate fudge and banana pudding.

KC, when you say that you disagree with your own last statement, are you saying that … if you agreed but still felt it to be unfair, you would still consider your own beliefs fair and would defend them to the death? I think that I’d request a waiver on that … or take the fifth. Unfortunately, you can’t take the fifth, I found the empty bottle while cleaning up this morning; perhaps some nice puddin’ with that which shant be named.

Scoots, yours words were fine, the poor choice of words was mine … but who would have thought my simple observation … that JS shouldn’t expect that putting Andruw on Waivers will cause him to lose weight because banana pudding was fattening … would cause such a stir?!

But, you were right, it all made me think of Mama, and Diana Shore too … oops, she was apple pie.

Baseball almost: I thought we buried Arron a couple weeks ago and now he’s back pitching for the Reds as if nothing had happened … a lot shorter for sure, but you can tell by his eyes and chin that it’s him.

If James is tippin’ his pitches, maybe the Reds won’t notice.

I’m sure that we’ll get harangued on the Blog by members of the SPCA and some primate escapees from selected zoos throughout the country … but let’s not threaten him with more anesthesia, just knock him senseless … kidnap him after the game and take him back to the Atlanta Zoo where he belongs.

It’s starting to storm in Nashville … later!

By dadgum

August 4, 2006 02:59 PM | Link to this

Any team can claim a guy on waivers and if it is teh Angels you can bet that another team would lay claim and block a potential playoff team from possibly working a trade for him. Also the National league has first dibs if teams have similar records. My guess is that perhaps as many as 5 teams have laid claim to Andrew just as a way to block each other. Waivers are a screwy process. The fact that he didn’t clear waivers simply means that the Braves even if they wanted to trade him have more limited options.

You can bet that JS will be working every angle with Andruw to sign him to an extension prior to Aug. 15th. He can play out the year without worrying about off season deals.

Of most concern has been Andruw listening to Boras and not really talking to JS about an extension. It fuels the specualtion that Andruw will look for BIG money via Boras negotiations and I just can’t see the Braves coming out on the winning end of that no matter how they structure the deal. Andruw most likely will be looking for at least $20 mil/year for at least 4 years. Hey I know he said he wants to continue playing in Atlanta but that means raelly about as much as teh waiver process right now. In other words not much. All great players want to play on championship teams and be paid what they can negotiate to the max. The Braves may indeed be a championship team but will they want to mortgage the future by being the high bidder for Andruw. I doubt it.

I would like to see Andruw sign an extension now so to show his true commitment to the Braves like he says he has. If JS gauges that they just won’t be able to retain him then I feel he will traded at or before the winter meetings. The longer into next year this drags on the worse teh Braves’ position becomes and the less they will get for him and the harder it will be to resign him.

JS…..GET “ER DONE!

By geauxbraves2000

August 4, 2006 03:01 PM | Link to this

Until the time comes that the Braves are officially eliminated I will NOT give up hope. This has been my team for roughly 25 years, I will not give up, I refuse to. I’ve seen the good and I’ve seen the bad. This team in no way compares to any of the teams of the late 80’s.

Geaux Braves!!

By The Grinch

August 4, 2006 03:03 PM | Link to this

It never ceases to amaze me how much more our recent success has affected the rest of the world than it has us. I had no idea peace in the middle east had been achieved through the common desire to see our division streak end…

By Braves20

August 4, 2006 03:04 PM | Link to this

Someone please remind the moron who is obviously from New York, that Bench, Rose, Morgan and Griffey, Sr. no longer play for the Reds - in fact neither do Kearns and Casey. This ain’t exactly the Big Red Machine we’re facing this weekend. And Arroyo won his last game when?

By Smitty

August 4, 2006 03:05 PM | Link to this

Bob

Andruw can’t sign and extension if he hasn’t been offered one and with new owners comming in soon, JS’s hands are tied. He doesn’t know what his payrole will be.

By dadgum

August 4, 2006 03:09 PM | Link to this

Hey Freietsma, if Andruw was a true Brave he would have been talking to JS about an extension instead of listening to that a==hole agent of his. Hey I don’t buy his company guy image he is selling.

By The Grinch

August 4, 2006 03:10 PM | Link to this

Journalist Bob…I promise you you’re not responsible for all the nastiness. It just shows what a bunch of stooges the rest of us are when someone innocently proclaims: “Pie!” and everyone else starts throwing them. We all belong in padded cells. :-)

By dadgum

August 4, 2006 03:20 PM | Link to this

Everyone, it will all work out the way it is supposed to and nothing we say here will change the direction it is going to go. Whatever happens in the off season will have it’s supporters and skeptics. Just the way it is. The only thing I know for dead certain is that if Andruw can’t be resigned whomever we get will be in place for quite awhile and help this club well into the future.

JS will continue to work in that $80 mil budget so he does have an idea of what his limits will be. Maybe not exactly but close enough to where he can open talks soon.

By hop on chop

August 4, 2006 03:21 PM | Link to this

Same old story for Grinch — get all dressed up, go down to Whoville, strike out with every chick there, get drunk, stumble home near dawn, log on to blog, spew bitter bile, pass out, wake up next afternoon all meek and ashamed, beg forgiveness.

It’s a vicious cycle, Grinch. Better to stay home and blow up you Cindy Lou Who doll.

By Bob, journalist

August 4, 2006 03:25 PM | Link to this

Smitty, if your “Andruw Extension” post was directed to me, be assured that I appreciate the insight and information … though I suspect you were responding to another boob, not me.

Grinch, promises, promises … just wear your superhero suit at all times and it will help protect both thee and me from having a padded cell as home.

God’s bowling again, so I’m turning off the computer as I post.

By KC

August 4, 2006 03:28 PM | Link to this

Buster Olney: “That Jones was placed on waivers is unremarkable; he was one of hundreds of players, including many stars, who were placed on waivers earlier this week. What makes Jones’ situation interesting is that on Aug. 15, he will gain 10-and-5 rights”

Why is that so interesting? Correct me if I’m wrong, but don’t you think Andruw’s 10-5 status date has been on a calendar somewhere on a Braves’ front office wall for years now? Does Mr. Olney think that JS and co. were standing around a water cooler this week when somebody said “OH S_! Andruw’s 10-5 status is about to kick in. We forgot all about that! … And the non-waiver trade deadline’s already passed! We’d better put him on waivers and see if we can get something done.”

If it were a priority for the Braves to trade Andruw before he has the ability to veto a trade… they could have gotten something done involving AJ before the deadline. But the fact is that the Braves weren’t in any hurry to trade him a week ago or a month ago, so what makes anybody think that they’re trying to deal him now after the non-waiver deadline???

Ridiculous sensationalism by the sports media. Nothing more.

By Chop Chop

August 4, 2006 03:37 PM | Link to this

KC, since I understand the Andruw/waivers situation, I’m not wasting my time blogging about it. The AJC was just trying to get people stirred up.

Chuck James has a playoff start tonight. Let’s hope it goes well.

By Lew

August 4, 2006 03:41 PM | Link to this

I seriously think the days of $20 million are gone for the foreseeable future. I would be surprised if Andruw’s price tag goes much over $15-16 million. Well within the range of keeping him long term. Smoltz really only has next year on his contract, and I think they can buy out Chipper in 09. As far as re-signing Baez and Wickman- Sosa, Reitsma, Remlinger, Thomson and Jordan are gone and their combined salaries are in the $12 million range- a great start on Wickman and Baez-probably most of what they would command if Wickman decides not to retire. It isn’t necessary to dump Andruw yet, but I expect Giles to be gone-then we can resign the relievers and still have enough for a right handed bat.

By THE SOURCE

August 4, 2006 03:42 PM | Link to this

You have to look beyond what tommorows team will look like and look at what the team will look like in 2 years from now to understand what they are doing

Here are the scenarios:

A. We re-sign Andruw at whay will probably be 5 guaranteed years with two option years..paying him roughly $15 million on average. You then have AJ, Hampton, and Chip taking up a serious portion of the payroll

B.) We trade Andruw this winter…where has slightly less value especially to a contender bc if they aquire him now they have him for two years of playoff runs.

C.) We trade him now and get the most return we will ever get bc he is not considered a rental yet…and any team that trades for him will have an eyes towards re-signing him and they will have a year to work on that.

D.) He walks away and we get draft picks as compensation.

Don’t give Scheurholtz grief..at the end of the day no one cares a smuch for the Braves as they man whose job is to ensure they will win. Don’t look at this the wrong way!!!!

By Carolina Lady

August 4, 2006 03:43 PM | Link to this

Journalist Bob, your 2:59 post is priceless! :-))

By The Grinch

August 4, 2006 03:49 PM | Link to this

See, Bob? I could have said something very, very ugly just now, but I didn’t. However, it does strike me odd how many Met fans are pathetic enough to log onto the blog of a region 1000 miles away to make insults about blow-up dolls to the fans of a team that couldn’t really care less about them or their city. Makes you wonder how lonely and sad their lives must truly be. Hop, I think you just need a hug, even if it is only from a plastic doll.

By Lew

August 4, 2006 03:51 PM | Link to this

Another thing we need to realize-The Braves are not in such bad shape that a run at the division NEXT year still looks good, especially with the dead wood gone and our injured pitchers for the most part returning. We have already seen that what has been offered by other teams for Andruw won’t come close to replacing him. Now answer this question honestly-Do we stand a chance next year without a 35-50 HR and 120 RBI performance and do you see us getting something in return for Andruw that would equal this performance? People, Coco Crisp and a rookie pitcher won’t do it. As the source says-So what if we lose him to freeagency instead of trading him? We still end uo with $13.5 million and draft picks in compensation. What’s the big deal? We still have an MVP caliber player for the relatively low price of $13.5 million. You couldn’t get one that cheap anywhere else. I promise that’s what’s on JS’s mind.

By JasonInMaine

August 4, 2006 03:53 PM | Link to this

It’s probably the Cubs that claimed him (:

By KC

August 4, 2006 03:58 PM | Link to this

LEW DITTO!

I think we can give the hand wringing a rest. We not going to move Andruw unless we get an offer we can’t refuse. We do have a very real shot at re-signing him. People keep saying that we wouldn’t be able to afford his salary beyond next year. That’s simply not true.

Most of the contracts players sign with ATL are slightly back loaded. Andruw might actually wind up taking slightly less money over the first couple of years of a new deal than he currently earns per year. If Andruw takes less money only in the first year of any new deal, that would be enough to make his contract very workable (since Hampton and C.Jones contracts both expire after the 2008 season).

Bottom line: JS won’t even consider trading him unless we’re being offered something of equal or greater value to us in return. And we do have a very good chance of keeping him.

By Andy

August 4, 2006 04:03 PM | Link to this

TenPaul I really appreciate your comments on a whole—thanks.

By Bob, journalist

August 4, 2006 04:06 PM | Link to this

Hop on Chop, while waiting for windows to save and close, I noticed your post to The Grinch.

Regardless of whether your analysis is far off the mark or dead on point, you would be well served to place dignity and self respect ahead of self importance. The Infernal Regions are full of misguided folks who thought quite highly of themselves … think of your grandchildren as they proudly tell their little ones of how great-great-granddad honorably conducted himself as he slew the dastardly dragon … a true gentleman was he, the ultimate epitome of style, grace and eloquence.

A stretch perhaps … it ‘taint baseball but hopefully there are some points worthy of pondering if you’re so inclined.

By ncscoots

August 4, 2006 04:27 PM | Link to this

Bob, god love ya, civility and honor are righteous traits, no doubt, and it would be fabulous is if everyone were imbued thereof. But sometimes the only way to back a batter off the plate is to throw some gas about lip-high.

By Bob, journalist

August 4, 2006 04:33 PM | Link to this

Thanks My Lady! Unfortunately, I’ve had all of my stuff appraised and most of it is priceless.

By Moe

August 4, 2006 04:35 PM | Link to this

Infernal Regions?

Do you mean Jacksonville FLA?

By 22oz

August 4, 2006 04:38 PM | Link to this

Can we place Terry pendleton on waivers? He’s obviously not getting through to frenchy and andruw. We need a hitting coach who has authority and will lay the smack down.

By The Grinch

August 4, 2006 04:39 PM | Link to this

Bob, that reminds me of “Kill Bill vol. 2.” When David Carradine jumps on his brother Bud for pawning the priceless sword he once gave him: “Bud, you PAWNED a Hanzo sword? That sword was priceless!” Bud: “Not in El Paso, it wasn’t.”

By Moe

August 4, 2006 04:41 PM | Link to this

Terry P. does not lay the smack down, he smacks the Lays (i.e. potato chips) down.

By The Grinch

August 4, 2006 04:45 PM | Link to this

Double Deuce, I think if Bobby would lay the smack down (I.E. quit doing heroin), we wouldn’t have to keep watching Schiell perform…equally important, I think.

By Lew

August 4, 2006 04:45 PM | Link to this

Moe-For we Bulldogs out there, the infernal regions are Gainesville, home of the Gators. Go Dawgs!

By The Grinch

August 4, 2006 04:47 PM | Link to this

Good one, Moe.

By The Grinch

August 4, 2006 04:50 PM | Link to this

Lew, please don’t bring up the Swamp; I just ate! Wearing one of many Dawg shirts now.

By journalist jimmy smith

August 4, 2006 04:55 PM | Link to this

civility? or lack of civility? the late aaron giraffe once said, “when once the forms of civility are violated, there remains little hope of return to kindness or decency.” it is clear that little effort is being made to return to civil discourse. this boorish behavior is more difficult to kill than rasputin. it is ironic that on a blog where there is pudding there is also obscenity - (though meringue on pudding is yet another obscenity). oh, the humanity! now, baseball … chuck james pitched okay -it is when bobby started calling him chucky james that the problems erupted. what will happen when bobby starts calling wicky to the mound? will wicky become a sissy who can no longer throw strikes? much to consider. journalist wonders how many banana puddings are being prepared now …

By Bob, journalist

August 4, 2006 04:55 PM | Link to this

Scoots, The Lip agreed with you, even when he wasn’t drinking Shlitz … he’d start a fight with his own pitchers if they failed to make their point!

I just think that most of these fellows are nice young men starving for attention who have unfortunately identified with the wrong media created role models … our apathy induced slience sends a strong signal that such behavior is acceptable and I just don’t want them to wind up old and gray before realizing the essence of Housman’s little lyric.

By The Grinch

August 4, 2006 05:04 PM | Link to this

I thought I was reasonably civil…for me, anyway. But then, I never proclaimed myself spotless christian hero. We are all of us flawed (some more than others, to be sure). My flaws happen to include being easily goaded and a weakness for fried pork chops. It could be worse…

By ncscoots

August 4, 2006 05:04 PM | Link to this

better send ‘em a copy of the poem, then, Bob. Might include the old saying about mules and two-by-fours, too, in case A.E. can’t quite get the job done :-)

By The Grinch

August 4, 2006 05:12 PM | Link to this

With two by fours and a mule you can definitely build a house-man…

By Andrew

August 4, 2006 05:33 PM | Link to this

Why is AJ with that p******k Boras anyways? Anyone have any idea what kind of contract they have going? It seems to me that if I were a professional player, i would want an agent that was focused on do the best thing for my career rather than lining his own pockets….

By ncscoots

August 4, 2006 05:45 PM | Link to this

Andrew, guess it all depends on the perspective of “whats best for my career”. Is it worth 15% less money to stay with the only organization he’s ever known? Don’t know, he’s the only guy that can answer that. And I’ll bet Boras whispers in his ear in every other conversation that Bobby’s contract runsout in 2007.

By ELH

August 4, 2006 05:56 PM | Link to this

The Braves would be a fool to trade the best Center Fielder in the history of baseball. They should try to sign Andrew alone for his defense.

By TennesseePaul

August 4, 2006 06:30 PM | Link to this

It seems to me that people keep forgetting that Andruw already pushed Boras to the side and negotiated a contract which was “below market value” to stay with this team. I hope his experience with the Braves hasn’t been so awful that he feels the need to follow Furcals lead. I could understand the “jealousy” that could come with watching Furcal sign a contract that is equal to what you currently make. But honestly, Furcal had to turn his back on all his teammates to do it. Plus, if it looks hairy, I might start a pledge drive to raise the money to keep him in Atlanta. It’d bum me out to see yet another Brave take off for the money, but if it is so important to him, then I’m willing to toss in some of my coin to keep the guy in a Brave outfit. Because it means more to me than the money. I already buy everything that has his name on it, or the Brave name.

Anyone recall hearing Bud the Dud saying he’d perfer a local ownership in Baseball? Maybe, and I don’t know, but maybe it turns out that Arthur Blank is able to join in on the ownership in some minority manor. If that is the case, then we’ll for sure have the Money to sign Andruw. Whatever the deal is, I’ll light a candle for him.

And, if you look several years down the road, Smoltz is no longer here (sad to say, it’ll be an end to an era), Chipper won’t be here (again, sad) and Hampton, Hudson… if the long term contract is struck, Andruw will be the one that out lasts them all. If for no other reason than he is younger than them all. That far into the future, we’ll still be able to afford him and Francoeur and McCann and Davies, James, and whoever else. It’s all roses.

Anyway, next year we should be in a good situation. Lew spelled it out nicely. We’ll have all the deadwood off the decks and just the young guns left to battle it out. James and Davies should be in good form. Smotlz is back. Hampton is back. … hudson is back =(. I look forward to it. But until then there is this year. This season. This post season. And most importantly, this weekend. GO BRAVES

By TennesseePaul

August 4, 2006 06:35 PM | Link to this

What’s Boras going to whisper… pst. Andruw. Cox won’t be around forever. Turn your back on your fans and your team mates. The Yankees can flop in the post season. They pay tons of money. They boo you when you strike out. Throw trash at you when you don’t rob the home run. Attempt to stab you when you go out to dinner. It’s totally worth it.

By Charles

August 4, 2006 06:36 PM | Link to this

Andruw was claimed off waivers by an unnamed team according to CBS Sports. According to the report, the Braves have until 1 p.m. Saturday to strike a deal or pull him back.

According to the report, on Aug. 15 Andruw becomes a 10-5 player, or 10 years experience, five years with the same team. This allows Andruw the ability to block any trade.

It appears that the Braves are possibly testing the waters to see what the market for Andruw will bring. Also, if he had cleared waivers, he could have been traded anytime to any team, most likely prior to the Aug. 31 deadline for postseason play.

The move prior to Aug. 15 allows the Braves to have control of any trade leverage.

Multiple teams placed claims on Andruw, so the Braves will either work out a trade with the team that claimed him or remove him from waivers. Expect the latter to happen. A star or two usually comes out on waivers the first few weeks after the deadline. It’s basically the same thing that happened with Manny Ramirez a couple of seasons ago. The Red Sox pulled him back.

By Bob, journalist

August 4, 2006 06:59 PM | Link to this

Man, what a storm! It ain’t over but it ain’t overhead either so I’m back if for only a post or two.

It’s hard to find porkchops that are decent for frying … they’ve bred out all the fat, just as they’ve tried to eliminate the marbling in beef … but I agree that there ain’t much better than good fried porkchops, excepting maybe scratch biscuits, country ham and banana pudding!

All heroes are flawed regardless of their religion … just try to select those who will stand up for that in which they believe and place the proper playing of the game ahead of winning … it’s rare that you lose with heroes like that.

When things look hopeless and all my efforts seem to end in frustration or failure, my thoughts often turn to Harry Truman … who knew failure many times over … and I’m reminded that it’s not how many times a man falls down but how many times he gets up that really counts!

I agree with Reagan who said that in order to acheive your goals you must first get elected … and maybe the 2x4 reference is the best answer … but since I figure that most of those folks are going to skip over my posts and go after those easy targets who rise to the bait … the ones I’m really trying to influence are the good folks in the neighborhood who honor and appreciate charming Grace but need to realize that high noon is fast approaching … Frankie’s clearing his throat and ole Coop could sure use some help.

By Robert(Justice Is The Best)

August 4, 2006 07:06 PM | Link to this

Well, Shawn, I’m glad you asked about does anyone have any ideas about moving salary. I think I have an idea about moving some salary and making enough room to offer Andruw a very fair offer.

Everyone please hear me out and think about this for a minute before making snap judgements.

I looked at the Braves payroll for next year. Given that it will stay the same the dispatched salaries of Pratt, Reitsma, and Jordan basically will be offset by Hampton’s returing salary. (The part the insurance didn’t pay) Now, if you include Smoltz’s option, which will produce an extra 3 mil (he is currently making 11 mil and the option calls for 8 mil)and the money freed up that was given to Wickman and Baez this year that is basically 9 mil. If Baez shows he can do the job the rest of the season there is no way he shouldn’t be offered a contract. I say whoever we get for the closer’s role should be offered no more than 7 mil. That leaves an extra 2 mil lying around.

Now, to the meat of my proposal. During the winter I say JS should give the Angels a call and make the following offer. We offer them Giles, LaRoche, Langerhans, and Ramirez. In return they give us Figgins, Erwin Santana, and Howie Kendrick. Before everyone starts saying, “Whatever. They would never make such a deal!” I disagree.

Here is exactly why the Angels would at the very least listen to the deal. They want a solid defensive power hitting 1B. Kotchman just didn’t do the job. They were hard after Casey and Hillenbrand. LaRoche fits that description. Look, Adam will probably hit 30-35 HR and 80+RBI by the time the season is over. If you consider that he only started playing full time a month and a half ago, those are pretty good numbers. Over the course of an entire season there is no reason to believe he can’t hit 35HR and drive in 100+RBI. Especially in the hitter friendly parks of the American League. They would take Giles because despite what you people say, Giles is a good 2B. He can hit and has very good defense. He would be a bit pricey at 5 mil but cheaper than what they would have to pay Adam Kennedy. Horacio would take the place of Santana in the rotation. Ramirez is a very servicable major league starter and probably would flourish under Bud Black. Langerhans would be an excellent 4th outfielder and defensive replacement and would have to be better than Curtis Pride. As for losing Figgins, the Angels have the money to replace him via free agency.

From the Braves perspectiive. Figgins would be an obvious upgrade. He gives us a true leadoff hitter. (The guy has 40 SB already.) Could you imagine that outfield with Andruw, Frenchy, and Figgins?! Santana would give us a terrific young starter with playoff experience. (Good playoff experience. Don’t forget he knocked out the Yanks last year in the ALDS.) And, Kendrick would give us another utility guy that could come off the bench and allow us to rid ourselves of Pete Orr. Figgins can play 2B, SS, 3B, and all three outfield positions. Kendrick can play anywhere in the infield.

The lineup would be: Figgins, Renteria, Chipper, Andruw, McCann, Francoeur, Thorman/Jurries, Prado/Kendrick, Aybar, and the pitcher.

The money would saved would give us an additional 5 mil, which added to the other extra 2 mil would give the front office 7 mil. They could take 2 mil of that to get an outfielder to replace Langerhans.

The position players roster would be the above lineup with a bench of: Aybar, Kendrick, Jurries, Bryan Pena, and whatever extra OF they could pick up. With Santana in the rotation James could go back down to Richmond and get more seasoning and be a callup if anyone gets hurt (ie: Hampton).

The best part of all this would be we would have an extra 5 mil and with that money we could offer it to Andruw. Make a offer of 17.5 mil a year over 5-7 years with options for the 6th and 7th seasons at a reduced amount (14 or 15 mil). We could get Andruw signed to an extension during this offseason or spring training.

James could take Smoltz’s place in the rotation in 2008 and a good 7 mil or so freed up by that. By the time Frenchy, McCann, Kendrick, Aybar, James, Davies, and Figgins would be up for arbitration Hudson, Chipper, and Hampton’s contract would be expiring freeing up a crap load of money.

Sounds ambitious I know. But, if you think about it it is very doable. The deal would benefit both teams in the present and future. Sure the Angels would be taking on payroll. However, LaRoche, Giles, and Horacio would be cheaper than any free agent signings they would have to make to upgrade those positions and all three would be fit in very well with Scioscia’s system.

So, let me have it. Tell me how asinine all of this sounds.

But, remember the key to all of this is it would allow Andruw to stay a Brave.

By Bob, journalist

August 4, 2006 07:06 PM | Link to this

There are bunch of us folks not getting TS … so for those that do, how about sharing when you see something of especial interest that might be missed on WGST … Thanks!

Go Braves!

By Bob, journalist

August 4, 2006 07:11 PM | Link to this

Robert, JITB … Goodness! I saw the length of your post and thought I’d somehow reposted … my next thought was it was Nathan … no matter, bunch of interesting stuff!

By MBATL

August 4, 2006 07:12 PM | Link to this

Wow, have you guys read the article that was (I think) just posted, about AJ’s reaction to finding out he’s on waivers? It’s on the AJC Braves page, but HERE is a link. AJ sounds like his feelings are pretty hurt; even if he is not traded, might this influence that “home town discount?”

By Boomer

August 4, 2006 07:14 PM | Link to this

Aybar reminds me of a young Terry Pendleton.

He is built like him as well as a switch hitting second baseman/third basemnan.

His batting stance and swing even remind me of T.P.

His thowing motion at third is very similar also.

DOB;

Is there any way you could find out if this is coincidence or did Aybar follow T.P. while growing up and his mannerisms and style are intended to mimic T.P.?

By shawn

August 4, 2006 07:16 PM | Link to this

Robert how about AJ and Giles for those same people and then we still have money left to spend…..Just don’t think the Angels are going to do that deal but just my opinion. Anyone know who claimed AJ?

By MBATL

August 4, 2006 07:21 PM | Link to this

AJ’s comment that “I know they wouldn’t do this with Chipper or Smoltzie,” makes it sound to me like AJ is not so comfy with Braves management. Or, it could be Boras pullng a Cyrano and feeding him a reaction. Or maybe I’m Oliver Stone… who knows!

By David from Athens, ALA

August 4, 2006 07:25 PM | Link to this

Great fielding by Langerhans and Aybar …

By Bob, journalist

August 4, 2006 07:27 PM | Link to this

MBATL, I understand the public spin put on it by JS and BC … what else could they say?

However, if I were in the ‘Druw’s shoes, I’m sure that I would feel the same way … and hey, he stood up and spoke his mind … got a single too, good for him!

By shawn

August 4, 2006 07:28 PM | Link to this

They wouldn’t do it with Chipper or Smoltzie because when the 10/5 came up we had a first place team with few holes to fill. If they were short of 10/5 right now don’t be so sure they wouldn’t move either or both of them.Nothing wrong with AJ only there are several glaring holes on the team that need to be filled or next August we will be in the same spot…

By journalist jimmy smith

August 4, 2006 07:29 PM | Link to this

journalist bob has confused jimmy smith. bet bob confused you too, right? now, bob … just what is this reference to harry truman? did you not support dewey? and as to adlai stevenson - did he not have holes in his shoes? and furthermore, did you not vote for teddy roosevelt as well? as to the pork chops and pudding - when will they be ready? all the ingredients have been purchased for a nice banana pudding and journalist will enjoy it soon. journalist is now recalling from childhood a fried peach pie with a dusting of sugar. man, that was some good eating back in uganda! add a side of matoke fruit fiber and it’s heaven.

tp, there are those in the business community who say that arthur blank endeavors to have a minority interest so that he will have the inside track to full ownership when liberty’s tax breaks have been exhausted. liberty must retain ownership for a time to realize the tax benefits.

tonight, will francoeur see more than 5 pitches in 4 at-bats? isn’t langerhans a disappointment this year? remember the pre-season hype about his staking claim to left field?

By Bob, journalist

August 4, 2006 07:33 PM | Link to this

Shawn, Andruw was referring to now, not back when.

By Calvin

August 4, 2006 07:37 PM | Link to this

The way Andruw is talking it sounds like he feels he is gonna get traded.

By shawn

August 4, 2006 07:39 PM | Link to this

That is what I am saying…there is a difference between now and then. And if they were not 10/5 guys they might would go to…..still might

By MEB

August 4, 2006 07:43 PM | Link to this

After watching the interview with Andruw on TS I don’t think he understands the business end of baseball at all. You’d think he would since this is his 11th year.

Does anyone know how the waivers information was leaked to the press?

By MBATL

August 4, 2006 07:44 PM | Link to this

Bob, I understand… just that the whole spin here has been that AJ loved playing here, was happy as a clam, but for him to jump to that kind of conclusion suggests to me that he’s feeling a little unappreciated - and that could affect, or be an indicator of, his signability.

One might assume that if there was nothing to the rumors, management might have sat AJ down and told him so.

And nathan, I don’t sense that AJ was saying it would never happen to those other guys because of the 10/5 rule, but for other reasons that I won’t introduce into this blog…

And, his comments, or at least the report of his comments, comes a full day after this “waiver” story broke. So he’s had time to think and to talk to his agent and/or to Bobby. I don’t know, just trying to read between the lines. Maybe reading too much.

No, I don’t think JS or Bobby could say much else. I just see it as a conflict, apparently charged with emotion, that no one really suspected was there, and even if nothing is happening this weekend (and I doubt it is) this kind of thing could really impact our ability to re-sign AJ.

By Tonight on TBS

August 4, 2006 07:50 PM | Link to this

After the game…

Reds (1981)

An idealistic journalist (Jimmy Smith) and his paramour (Carolina Lady) journey to Cincinnati and bear witness to the Marxist-Narronist attempts to create a regime that will dominate the wild card race. (4 hours)

By geauxbraves2000

August 4, 2006 07:55 PM | Link to this

Oh where oh where has the offense gone, oh where or where has it gone?

By Moe

August 4, 2006 07:55 PM | Link to this

*(Boomer)Is there any way you could find out if this is coincidence or did Aybar follow T.P. while growing up and his mannerisms and style are intended to mimic T.P.? *

Unfortunately, Aybar decided to emulate the “old” TP rather than the “young” TP and therefore smacks down the Lays.

By MBATL

August 4, 2006 07:58 PM | Link to this

uh, that aside was for Shawn, not Nathan… need to grow another digit, I guess.

By journalist jimmy smith

August 4, 2006 08:02 PM | Link to this

who will own the braves next? when will the sale be completed? js will have a new boss and may receive new direction. for now, js should explore all options. if he believes he cannot sign andruw (remember boras) js will be wise to load up on young and affordable talent. having said that, andruw is so gifted and such a great player it would be terrible to lose him - especially if he really desires to remain here. andruw is a big boy in long pants so he had to realize that boras would be inflammatory to the braves - yet he hired boras. andruw’s reaction may, sadly, be scripted by boras. let’s hope this does not affect andruw’s play and that he will rise to the occassion and show leadership. sulking and crying will do him more harm than good. speaking out is not his nature but it is probably good that he voiced his (or boras’) thoughts. everyone is right that the waiver business should not have been leaked. this is sort of like flying another team’s football coach in to interview for your team’s coaching job - and there is no vacancy!! best to do that in secrecy, right?

By geauxbraves2000

August 4, 2006 08:06 PM | Link to this

Huit (??) There it is!

By Andrew

August 4, 2006 08:07 PM | Link to this

well two pop ups to first for frenchy so far…go figure

By Carolina Lady

August 4, 2006 08:07 PM | Link to this

Grinch, what happened to Diane Lane? Jimmy Smith may not be pleased with the casting change! :-)

By Brian

August 4, 2006 08:17 PM | Link to this

not to be a jinx but chuck james b!tch has a no-no through 4

By TennesseePaul

August 4, 2006 08:19 PM | Link to this

James doesn’t need more seasoning in the minors. He needs to pitch in the majors. And so far tonight he is proving he can pitch in the majors.

Second of all, if you subract out Reitsma, Jordan, Sosa, Wickman, Baez, Giles, and Pratt from the future payroll and assum a 10% increase in eveyrone’s salary, you still come up way under the budget. With that, you can afford to pay Andruw about 100 million over 5 years and still keep all the guys. It isn’t impossible to sign Andruw. And you don’t have to trade away everyone either. We can still keep LaRoche. Assuming the 10% works. But a lot of that is up to the arbitration process. Probably why it’s called arbitration. It is very arbitrary. But whatever. JS will make it work with out butchering the team.
We’ve seen a lot of turn over in the past 5 years. A lot. But most everyone has been replaced with a home grown talent. There have been a few spots JS filled with trades and signings. But for the most part, JS is getting them from our system. So nothing to worry about.

GO JAMES! GO! so far he is looking real good. He has a real nice line. No need to send that guy down. No need at all.

By Moe

August 4, 2006 08:19 PM | Link to this

D*mn you Brian!

By The Grinch

August 4, 2006 08:20 PM | Link to this

Actually, CL, that wasn’t authored by me. Methinks it must’ve been penned in Alabama, since the two of you are cousins. :-) Perhaps the good journalist has dumped miss Lane, in which case may I offer her my shoulder to cry on? Or maybe it’s just that Scott Boras is her agent and priced her out of the film…

By Brian

August 4, 2006 08:23 PM | Link to this

sorry moe. although i would bet petey van wieren probably notes it after every out. he is the king jinx-master, and his reach is further than mine. did anyone hear ron gant’s comment about bobby and small ball. i hurt my shoulder - a la arthur blank - because i fell off my couch laughing. what a kidder that ronnie gant. don’t have confirmation whether or not he kept a straight face.

By Carolina Lady

August 4, 2006 08:26 PM | Link to this

Alabama??

By Brian

August 4, 2006 08:29 PM | Link to this

he’s referring to incest carolina lady

By Beachcomber

August 4, 2006 08:35 PM | Link to this

Top of the 5th - so typical of a Cox-managed team. Two on, none out, lets swing from the heels. At least we didn’t have to bear another pop up to the first baseman. That comes next inning. Cox may be in the National League but manages like he was still managing the Jays.

By Brian

August 4, 2006 08:36 PM | Link to this

no-no through 5

By Tonight on TNT

August 4, 2006 08:40 PM | Link to this

“Passing Lane,” (2006). Esteemed Journalist Jimmy Smith, frustrated by his girlfriend’s (Lane) lack of proficiency at making a proper bananna pudding, casts her out into the wild Ugandan Bush with nothing but the clothes on her back. Sobbing pitiously, she makes her way through the harsh countryside, dodging blue worms, poisonous snakes and bloodthirsty natives. Bedraggled and now nearly unclothed, she collapses at the foot of Grinch mountain in the far north of the country, able to go no further. Luckily, the Grinch’s trusty dog Max discovers her while gathering firewood, and loads her on his sleigh to bring her up top. As she shivers and sniffles sipping hot chocolate in front of a roaring fire in the Grinch’s den, wearing nothing now but one of his 2X Braves shirts and an old, comfy blanket, the Grinch paces back and forth in his kitchen, torn by his loyalty to the Journalist and the raw temptation of the situation…Oh, the humanity! TNT: WE KNOW DRAMA. Followed by a great deal of CSI:Miami.

By journalist jimmy smith

August 4, 2006 08:41 PM | Link to this

diane lane is well. she is out jogging just now - just ran past this journalist and is circling the track again. there is much to watch and journalist is having a good time doing so. soon, journalist and diane lane will return to journalist’s abode where diane lane will prepare a delicious banana pudding. life as a journalist is tough but has its rewards. too bad for dob that diane lane did not pick him. eating at night with the old jounalist must take its tole.

By The Grinch

August 4, 2006 08:41 PM | Link to this

They offered me a lot of money for that roll, Jimmy…I couldn’t just say no!

By Moe

August 4, 2006 08:47 PM | Link to this

Overheard in the Braves dugout before the game:

McCann: How am I doing Mr. Cox - I have a .336 batting average?

Cox: You stiff. You only have 12 home runs. Rich stinkin’ Aurilia has more than that! You’re going to have to do better son or we’ll put YOU on waivers too.

By The Grinch

August 4, 2006 08:48 PM | Link to this

I mean role. I think. Man, I’ve been acting goofy so long I’ve screwed up my own command of the language, such as it was.

By Brian

August 4, 2006 08:51 PM | Link to this

no hitter no more

By Davey

August 4, 2006 08:51 PM | Link to this

Well what a way to end a no no

By Moe

August 4, 2006 08:51 PM | Link to this

Yikes.

Apologize Brian!

By Tyger

August 4, 2006 08:52 PM | Link to this

I agree with Andruw Jones, the Braves are just a modern day version of the Atlanta Crackers, a racist organization through and through, he should pick his head up and be happy to leave. I hope he was picked up by the Mets, Nationals or Marlins. So he can take his fans with him and allow the all-white Braves to flounder in their racist p**s.

By geauxbraves2000

August 4, 2006 08:53 PM | Link to this

Think about the runner ‘stead of the hitter and boom. Good game so far James, keep your head in it. WTG

Geaux Braves!

By geauxbraves2000

August 4, 2006 08:55 PM | Link to this

What is the deal with the starters and the 6th inning?

By Bob, journalist

August 4, 2006 09:01 PM | Link to this

Jimmy, your being confused by journalist Bob does not compute though I must admit to occassionally attempting same. If others are confused by Jimmy’s prattle, I urge you to take his recent ordeal into consideration before judging too harshly. If I confused anyone, I sincerely apologize and remind you that the preferred proper deportment is to remain silent out of empathy and respect.

Suffice it to say that I don’t recognize the legitimacy of the American political mechanism … at least as it is effected. My list of the six best presidents may have confused some but I assure you that it’s correct … they’re the best even though we were denied the opportunity of seeing some of them prove it.

I may be a political conservative but that doesn’t equate to Republican Shill … as a kid, Harry was one of my heroes. Though I normally don’t approve of hard language, “give’em Hell Harry” goes down easy for me and “The Buck Stops Here” is a prescription would sure cure a lot of ailments.

Perhaps my favorite Truman quote is “If we see that Germany is winning we ought to help Russia and if Russia is winning we ought to help Germany, and that way let them kill as many as possible, although I don’t want to see Hitler victorious under any circumstances. Neither of them thinks anything of their pledged word” … said in 1941 before we entered the war … and reflective of my earlier WWII “what might have been” post connecting Harry and George.

Actually Jimmy, it was just a disconnected thread intended as positive reinforcement for any who are struggling … the ultimate underdog with integrity who never gave up and won against long odds.

You need only to look at the quality of public education to know what I think of John Dewey. Thomas was okay but he doubted that Harry had a chance … and was fooled by the Poles.

Adlai was another favorite of mine … a wonderful intellect with the patience of Job. Me thinks that Doc’s sheep elected IKE … however, intellect doesn’t equate to common sense … if it did, he’d had his shoes resoled before ruining those expensive socks and he would not have run a second time who was a popular general albeit a poor golfer.

Teddy Roosevelt was okay too … my great uncle for whom Daddy was named, rode with him up the hill and he was a good Conservationist … but his performance in Arsenic and Old Lace kept him from making my top six … but, he’s certainly in the top 10.

I thought I would try making matoke pudding but I must have heated the bananas too long ‘cause they went from green to black and tasted real bad.

Will you have someone tell Jeff that being placed on waivers doesn’t mean he’s going to be traded … Delta has been with the Braves for more than 10 years and they wouldn’t approve the trade! Neither should he pine over Buttermint being gone … it looks like Wee Willy will be alright.

By The Grinch

August 4, 2006 09:01 PM | Link to this

Yeah, Tyger; you’re right. Looking back on all the white boys of the last 15-20 years, there certainly seems to be a pattern. Otis Nixon, Jerry Royster, Deion Sanders, Terry Pendleton, David Justice, Fred McGriff, Gary Sheffield, Claudell Washington, Reggie Sanders, Marquis Grissom, Kenny Lofton, Jermaine Dye; why, you have to go all the way back to Hank Aaron to find a black player that was given a chance here. Please take that racist crap somewhere else, we don’t need it on top of the midnight Met fans.

By Lew

August 4, 2006 09:07 PM | Link to this

People-Why does everyone have to get so complicated? The shortest distance between two points is a straight line. With the attrition of Reitsma, Remlinger, Sosa, Thomson,Jordan and Pratt, approx. $12 million is freed up. Find a way to trade Giles for whatever you can get and dump Hudson for a bag of balls to whoever will take his contract. This frees up another $10 million ( + the extra $1.5 Giles would get in arbitration). This gives you $22 million to sign Baez, Wickman (if he wants to return), a pitcher, a right handed bench dude and to resign Andruw. Why go to such ridiculous lengths and try to decimate your team and their chemistry, when you can make two simple moves and clear all of your objectives?

By Lew

August 4, 2006 09:08 PM | Link to this

Grinch-Don’t forget Bobby Bonilla.

By Rich Aurilia

August 4, 2006 09:09 PM | Link to this

Apologies to Warren Zevon…

Well, we faced a Brave who was on the mound I ain’t naming names We really worked him over good Just like Chuckie James We really worked him over good We were a credit to all batters We put him through some changes, Lord Sort of like a Waring blender

Poor, poor pitiful Chuck Poor, poor pitiful Chuck The Cincy Reds won’t let him be Lord have mercy on Chuck!

By Brian

August 4, 2006 09:10 PM | Link to this

sorry moe, sorry cjb, sorry bravos, sorry braves fans

By geauxbraves2000

August 4, 2006 09:10 PM | Link to this

WTG Grinch, well put.

By Tony Almeida

August 4, 2006 09:13 PM | Link to this

Is it me or has Renteria really sucked lately? Batting average slowly creeping lower and lower.

By geauxbraves2000

August 4, 2006 09:15 PM | Link to this

AHHHHHH!!!! NEW PITCHER—=—TAKE A FEW FREAKING PITCHES, MAKE HIM WORK, HE’S IN TROUBLE NOT YOU, AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By el bravo x

August 4, 2006 09:15 PM | Link to this

know what will be rude, Andrew asking 15 to 18 million from the Braves.

By Tony Almeida

August 4, 2006 09:20 PM | Link to this

Andruw should ask for more…if Furcal can make 13 million, Andruw deserves a hell of a lot more then the alcoholic.

By geauxbraves2000

August 4, 2006 09:23 PM | Link to this

Renteria’s numbers for August - 2 for 12, 1 RBI, 0BB, 3Ks.

By geauxbraves2000

August 4, 2006 09:25 PM | Link to this

This all started with James being overly concerned about the baserunner instead of the hitter. I hope he’s learned a lesson from this.

Still some time,

Geaux Braves!

By MBATL

August 4, 2006 09:28 PM | Link to this

Andruw WILL ask for more, I can almost assure you.

Lew, I have a lot of problems with you your ‘straight line’ approach, but let’s start with this: who is gonna take Hudson’s contract without making us take salary back? Hey, if we can do it, I’m okay with it, but it seems simplistic to me.

By geauxbraves2000

August 4, 2006 09:30 PM | Link to this

Furcal is overpaid, and it’s a shame the Dodgers set that standard, now all of these greedy agents and ballplayers will be demanding unreasonable amounts of cash just to play a game. They are going to run baseball out of business if they keep demanding more and more every season. I remember a few years ago when Griffey Jr signed that massive 4 year $32M contract (my numbers may be a little off, I’m going from memory), now $32 will barely buy you a utility player.

That said, WTG Francouer.

Geaux Braves!!

By MEB

August 4, 2006 09:32 PM | Link to this

Pinch hit for our left fielder… Langerhans? Why doesn’t he sacrifice Thorman to third if nothing else?

By geauxbraves2000

August 4, 2006 09:32 PM | Link to this

I meant $32M will barely buy a utility player. $32 won’t hardly buy a hotdog. :)

By Beachcomber

August 4, 2006 09:40 PM | Link to this

What in the hell was Thurman doing - and why do we pay a third base coach?

By Moe

August 4, 2006 09:41 PM | Link to this

We need a salary cap. Braves can no longer compete with the Yankees, Dodgers, etc.

By the way…

Wilson Betemit is 1 for 3 tonight with a walk and a solo homer.

By Brian

August 4, 2006 09:50 PM | Link to this

what is a hosta?

By The Grinch

August 4, 2006 09:50 PM | Link to this

GeauxBraves, I heard that. You practically have to take out a signature loan to enjoy a night at the Ted. Remember back at the launching pad when you could take in a 48-qt. cooler of whatever you wanted? They were just happy for you to be there. Of course, you had to put up with mediocre baseball, but….hey, wait a minute! :-)

By Bob, journalist

August 4, 2006 09:50 PM | Link to this

MBATL, I stand confused and possibly corrected!

Guy’s article has “I know they wouldn’t do this with Chipper or Smoltzie, but they aren’t in the situation that I’m in. They can say no to a trade.”

Braves Notes reports Andruw as saying “I don’t think they would do that with Chipper or Smoltzie if it happened when they were available for stuff like that.”

Me thinks that’s two different reports of the same coments.

By The Grinch

August 4, 2006 09:52 PM | Link to this

Lew, you’ve got mail. Sorry, it isn’t Meg Ryan.

By Tony Almeida

August 4, 2006 09:52 PM | Link to this

Giles doing awesome in the 2 hole, but soon as Chipper comes back he’ll be batting lead off again.

By MBATL

August 4, 2006 09:58 PM | Link to this

Bob, those are indeed two very different statements. We (the blogging community, I guess) demand immediate info, and I guess this is the price for that.

I was surprised by what I read, but guess it’ll all be settled tomorrow. Thanks…

Runners on 2nd and 3rd… need to win this game!

By geauxbraves2000

August 4, 2006 10:00 PM | Link to this

Gee, bases loaded nobody out and they didn’t score. Shocker.

Maybe tomorrow.

Good night.

By David

August 4, 2006 10:00 PM | Link to this

PATHETIC.

By Tony Almeida

August 4, 2006 10:00 PM | Link to this

These “baby Braves” suck a$$ in the clutch.

By Moe

August 4, 2006 10:01 PM | Link to this

ARRGH!

By Beachcomber

August 4, 2006 10:02 PM | Link to this

Our incredibly stupid third base coach cost us two runs tonight and the ball game. At seasons end, in addition to everything else, we need a hard anlysis of our coaching staff. Dead wood like Dews, McDowell and the idiot at third base have to go.

By Del

August 4, 2006 10:02 PM | Link to this

This team DOES NOT deserve to be in the playoffs. CRAP.

By Robert(Justice Is The Best)

August 4, 2006 10:05 PM | Link to this

I hate to say this but the Braves playoff run is over. Tonight is the sort of game playoff teams win. Bases loaded and nobody out and no one scores. Pitiful. Shameful. As far as I’m concerned this could be the last game of the season because this is just depressing. DEPRESSING!

Andruw, you should want to leave. This is f*ing horrible.

By The Grinch

August 4, 2006 10:08 PM | Link to this

That WAS pretty pathetic, but tommorrow’s another day. Cheer up, lads! Don’t make me tell a bad joke…

By NYFan

August 4, 2006 10:08 PM | Link to this

Aaaaaaannnd…..the Braves still suck.

By Lew

August 4, 2006 10:09 PM | Link to this

Beachcomber-How do you figure Bobby Dews is dead wood? Just curious. Now I’m sure some overly optimistic soul is going to come on soon and say “But we can still win the series 2-1”. For all of you thinking winning series is going to get us anywhere, keep in mind if we win the next 8 (Yes eight) series 2-1, we will have reached .500. At this rate (5-9 in our last 14 games) we aren’t going anywhere except home in October, watching someone else play.

By Raul Castro

August 4, 2006 10:10 PM | Link to this

Does anyone know how to contact Senor Scheurholz?

Now that I am in charge, I will try to bring a market-based economy to Cuba. A cultural exchange would be very helpful to our poor nation.

I would like to propose to export to your city of Atlanta something that WE are very good at producing and something that YOU need - starting pitchers.

In exchange, you could perhaps send what YOU are very good at producing and something WE need - Jeff Foxworthy. Or perhaps that cable guy, Larry - our communication systems are in need of repair.

Via con dios, bravos.

By MEB

August 4, 2006 10:10 PM | Link to this

You know in the past 14 years the Braves have been on the winning side of games like this one more often than not. Sure feels lousy but I admire the Braves for the effort. I still don’t understand, and they did not show, what Giles was doing when ER hit his double. Did he really think the ball was going to be caught? Did he get a stop sign from the third base coach?

DANG!!!

By Robert(Justice Is The Best)

August 4, 2006 10:22 PM | Link to this

To all those that say the Braves don’t need to show emotion or have displays of anger and frustration I say bulls**t! This is the kind of game where JS should be getting a bill from the Reds for the damage done to the visitor’s clubhouse. As I am typing, there should be yelling, screaming, slamming things, and fists going through walls. How do you lose a game like this. This is the second stragight game where we had good solid pitching and the offense had multiple chances and failed almost every time.

I can’t even express my anger. I’m not frustrated. I’m not disappointed. I’m PISSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No excuse for crap like that. McCann and Francoeur both should have their behinds reamed by Cox for failing in golden situations. All you had to do is hit a fly ball and the game is at least tied. Absurd. Now, they have to win the next two games but Jason Schiell is going tomorrow. Now, honestly, who thinks we are winning tomorrow? Can you say a second straight Saturday of embarassing baseball on national television. Grrrrrrrrrrrreat!

By Chipper's a Candy

August 4, 2006 10:25 PM | Link to this

The third base coach needs to wake up. He sends runners when he shouldn’t, and holds them when he should send them.

This game was lost by Cox, and his stupid decision making. He left Jame in too long, and brought in Ray in the seventh for the coup de grace.

By Bob, journalist

August 4, 2006 10:25 PM | Link to this

Beachcomer, what do you know of messers Dews and McDowell … their talents and their contributions? In years past, Bobby was an infielder and Roger was a pitcher.

By Bob, journalist

August 4, 2006 10:31 PM | Link to this

“He … brought in Ray in the seventh for the coup de grace” … a bit strong, don’t you think … in the game I heard, the Braves were in the game until the final out … and should have tied or gone ahead in the ninth.

By Lew

August 4, 2006 10:39 PM | Link to this

Grinch-Message received. I tried to call but box was full. The type of people you describe deserve all sorts of bad things. Just remember, those who start the excrement are rarely there when it makes contact with the rotating blades. You might want to think long and hard before making your life any more difficult than it already is. Now that Dear Abby is done. The Braves really need to get their excrement together.

By Bob, journalist

August 4, 2006 10:40 PM | Link to this

From what I heard, Giles’ base running in the ninth seemed questionable since both radio announcers thought Edgar had done the dirty deed … and McCann appeared to be trying for a sacrifice fly after Bobby had previously decided to go for the win rather than the tie … then my connection went bad.

If there is to be a run, it had beest start now … From my perspective, we just effectively lost 2 games in the standings to the Reds.

By hop on chop

August 4, 2006 10:41 PM | Link to this

Dang! Those mean teams we play just will not cooperate with our grand plans to sweep them, will they?

By Lew

August 4, 2006 10:43 PM | Link to this

Beachcomber-There’s an article up on AJC right now about Bobby Dews. Maybe you should read it. Gain enlightment, it is a good thing, Grasshopper.

By Robert(Justice Is The Best)

August 4, 2006 10:44 PM | Link to this

Who cares? Call up the kids and let them play. Evaluate them and see if they can play at this level. Call Prado, Jurries, and Bryan Pena. If Andrus and Campbell are on the 40 man roster, call them up to. I would rather see a minor league team play in the majors than “major league” team play like its in the minors.

By Chipper's a Candy

August 4, 2006 10:46 PM | Link to this

Good post Robert. This team’s as stoic as Chipper Jones in a college physics class.

By The Grinch

August 4, 2006 10:48 PM | Link to this

Thanks Lew; I’ve been getting a bad signal here lately. I’ll be ok; just wanted you to know I wasn’t a loon. Like you say, excrement happens. Got to go get some writing done so I can have fun tommorrow night; going to one of the Elder Grinch’s girlfriend’s high society parties. Wait’ll they get a load of me! :-)

By The Grinch

August 4, 2006 10:51 PM | Link to this

Besides, it looks like the Met monkeys are here to fling their poo; no sense in getting caught up in that again…

By dadgum

August 4, 2006 10:51 PM | Link to this

Not sure I have any words to add from what I just listened to on the radio. Utter ineptness to the point of embarrassment for everyone in the Braves organization. I will always be a Braves Fan but you have to get real sometime. The last two games were just sitting there to be had and we can’t get one run in either game when it really counted.

Glad I am going to the beach for a week and I will be damned if I am going to overly concern myself with watching this crap.

How in the hell do you not score one run with the bases loaded. I mean you can bunt the damn ball and score 1 run but noooooo. We score zero.

We have no Chipper and still no LaRocher, pitching tomorrow is Schiell. Man don’t that make you feel great.

Good bye, good night, good God!!!

By Chipper's a Candy

August 4, 2006 10:51 PM | Link to this

Yeah, Ray came in the seventh and gave up an earned run. Ho Hum

By Lew

August 4, 2006 10:55 PM | Link to this

Grinch-No problem that’s what us old gaseous windbags (as someone here recently called me) are for. RobertJIB-Andrus and Escobar are not on the 40 man roster and I don’t think I saw Campbell, either. Prado and Luis Hernadez are about all we have left with Pena up already. I would like to see Hernadez play though. He is excellent defensively. Maybe Edgar could stand a day off. I’d like to see Pena for a day, too.

By Bob, journalist

August 4, 2006 11:04 PM | Link to this

Brian, I’m not positive but in some quarters folks refer to a place where unregistered immigrants from Mexico live as a Hosta … sorta like a small communal hotel … just another example of vulgar slang.

We used to have Hostas where we lived in Ohio but those were plants; expensive members of the lily family … that’s most likely what Jimmy has too … though we never had problems with worms, just squirrels.

By Bob, journalist

August 5, 2006 12:06 AM | Link to this

Lew, that’s a good article about “little Bobby Dews”, well that’s what we called him 50 years ago … didn’t realize that I hadn’t read it.

Though he was a few years our senior, Lane Acres was the shortstop with whom I best identified; having known him before he attended Tech but Bobby was a Marcus Giles of sorts whom you couldn’t help but like … Coach Hyder was famous for his “Cheese & Crackers”, I can tell you that.

Interesting how so many of us lead dramatically different lives yet reach the same conclusions … truth’s truth, no matter where you find it.

By Jman

August 5, 2006 12:27 AM | Link to this

Trade Andruw NOW!!! Get some really good young arms in return! Forget ‘06. It is now officially over!!!

By flbravesgirl

August 5, 2006 12:30 AM | Link to this

Well, that was an appropriate end to a really bad day for me. It’s becoming very difficult to stay positive. I won’t give up on my Braves but they’re going to give me gray hairs and ulcers if this continues.

Grinch, I usually top key lime pie with whipped cream instead of meringue.

I had to grin at the image of you at the high-society party. They won’t know what hit them!

By The Grinch

August 5, 2006 01:03 AM | Link to this

Hey, Y’all; just checkin’ in a moment before beddy-bye time. Journalist Bob, you should write your memoirs sometime, if you haven’t already done so. I expect it would make for excellent reading (though it would probably be too heavy for the coffee table)! :-) Flbravesgirl, key lime is a favorite of the Grinch’s and I agree that whipped cream is a better option, especially since meringue is such a pain to make. I was just following a three-day old thread. Yeah, the last one of these parties I went to they actually had an elderly black gentleman wearing white gloves at the bottom of the driveway with a Bently, to drive guests the 25 feet or so up to the door. I spent most of the party with a similar gentleman who was tending bar; I stood there sipping Chivas and making snide remarks about the whole thing, much to his infinite merriment. After a bit too much of that wonderful stuff, I loudly told a highly inappropriate joke, causing many blank and confused faces until a really really old (and even richer) woman broke out in a fit of coarse laughter. The bartender then privately turned me on to some even better scotch. Their ceremonies are absurd, but some of them actually are aware of it and appreciate roguish fellows like myself. All the diamonds in the world can’t buy good satire. Bob, I’ll smoke a cigar in your honnor. Night, all!

By Bob, journalist

August 5, 2006 01:19 AM | Link to this

Nice Lady from South of Georgia, if it’s real Key Lime pie, it needs no toppings … though my wife puts vanilla icecream on top. Back in olden times, you had no chance to get Key Limes unless you were out past Homestead, but now, one needs only to go to Kroger.

From what I understand, Grinch The Elder knows how to handle Grinch The Younger … and I imagine there’s probably a lot of mutual respect … with Grace, Bing, Frank and Satchmo all gone, I’m sure that High Society ain’t exactly as I remember it … but it would be fun to be a fly on the wall and see our Grinch in action.

By hop on chop

August 5, 2006 03:29 AM | Link to this

Braves fans have probably been too caught up in going 2-4 this week to notice, but the Dodgers haven’t lost since acquiring Betemit. Thanks, JS, for pulling the trigger on the deal that turned L.A. around, anyway.

The Dodgers don’t have Izturis anymore, but I’m sure they’d be willing to trade Ethier for Andruw, sine you’re in a giving mood lately.

Nah — why should the Dodgers take a chance on spoiling their momentum now?

By The Grinch

August 5, 2006 08:14 AM | Link to this

Morning, again. Journalist Bob, the people you remembered aren’t gone; they still have records and movies. And the functions I’m talking about are likely very similar to what you remember; I’m about 35-50 years younger than most of the people present. Times change for most people, but not all. I find this process facinating, being somewhat of an anachronism myself. That’s why I spend so much time reading history and writing biographies. Man, now I’m in the mood for key lime pie. Mets fans are undoubtedly obnoxious for the most part, but one of them made a good point, or at least one worth noting. I know it’s far too early to make anything of this really, and it still looks right on paper, but it shows you what a nightmare it must be to be JS when you pull an unpopular trade like the one involving Betemit and have the involved teams go in such opposite directions initially. It must be maddening. Anyhoo, time for breakfast.

By Lew

August 5, 2006 08:28 AM | Link to this

Grinch-Why am I getting all of these Gatsbt images? Did you and Zelda enjoy yourselves?

By The Grinch

August 5, 2006 09:04 AM | Link to this

Damn you Zelda you incorrigeable harlot I love you; fix me another gin fizz…

By The Grinch

August 5, 2006 10:04 AM | Link to this

Man, I wish they’d take that picture of Andruw looking like a hurt little kid down from the Sports page; it’s depressing. I’m normally one for doing anything that makes good buisness sense, but I really don’t want them to trade Andruw. Even for a good deal. He’s just too much of a likeable fixture here. Chipper and Smoltz have done their time and have been and still are highly productive despite being on the downside of their careers, but it wouldn’t break my heart to see either or both of them go for the right deal if that were to come about, partially because they’re not likeable people. It does make a difference, at least to me.

By Blake

August 5, 2006 12:07 PM | Link to this

anyone know if AJ is in the lineup?

By MEB

August 5, 2006 01:00 PM | Link to this

Gameday shows Andruw in the lineup, batting 4th, in centerfield, as usual. Also shows Larouche on lst and Thorman in LF.

I think Andruw understands the situation better than the media has been reporting it. They are the ones playing up the angle that the Braves are going behind his back. He is a professional and I would expect him to be a Brave for a long time.

By Chipper's a Candy

August 5, 2006 01:14 PM | Link to this

I really feel sorry for Andruw. I mean, he’s only making a few mils playing a child’s game. Booo freaking hoooo

By Robert(Justice Is The Best)

August 5, 2006 01:27 PM | Link to this

Thank God, its 1:00pm and Andruw is still a Brave so now all of these people can calm the hell down and let this non-story go. Every player gets placed on waivers in August. EVREYONE OF THEM! Its the business of baseball. If the Braves were going to trade Andruw they would have done it on Monday. They will I guarantee explore the option in the offseason. And they should.

What really scares me is that Andruw apparently has no clue about the business of baseball and has Scott Boras as his agent? Boras could tell him anything and he is likely to believe it. I hope Smoltz, Chipper, and Renteria talk to him and explain somethings so Boras doesn’t try to pull a fast one on him.

Even as for the trade talk Monday, JS is the kind of guy that would have discussed it with Andruw so the fact that he didn’t should tell him and everyone else that the Braves never intended to trade Andruw.

By MEB

August 5, 2006 01:34 PM | Link to this

Way to step up Brian McCann!!!

By Blake

August 5, 2006 01:40 PM | Link to this

We are going to need alot more than 3 runs today. That’s for sure

By Calvin

August 5, 2006 01:50 PM | Link to this

Shiell is definitely not the answer as the fifth starter.

By Greg

August 5, 2006 01:50 PM | Link to this

Jason Schiele is throwing batting practice. He’s awful. Just like that we lose. I’m done. I’m turning it off. I can’t watch.

By Robert(Justice Is The Best)

August 5, 2006 02:26 PM | Link to this

I can’t believe Cormier would be worse than this. Lets just hope Shiell can give us two to three more innings of scoreless ball and give the offense a chance. With Arroyo going on three days rest I would think in the 5th or 6th inning we will see Bronson start to struggle. Lets just hope it matters by then.

By MBATL

August 5, 2006 02:35 PM | Link to this

Grinch, Smoltz is not likeable? I’m surprised to hear you say that. A matter of personal preference, obviously, but I always considered Smoltzie a standup guy and a professional, and a solid citizen who does a lot of community work. Anyway, not arguing, just surprised.

By Del

August 5, 2006 02:35 PM | Link to this

BC is managing like like he has already thrown in the towel. Shiell cann’t last much longer, so what does BC do when he comes up to bat with the bases loaded? He lets him bat!! I give up.

I know our minor league pitching cupboard is pretty bare, but if Shiell is the best we have in the minors then the next several years look very bleak indeed.

By Robert(Justice Is The Best)

August 5, 2006 02:43 PM | Link to this

Del, generally speaking I would disagree with you but in this case you were right. I think a pinch hitter should have been used. They are playing with fire the longer Shiell stays in the game.

By Robert(Justice Is The Best)

August 5, 2006 02:45 PM | Link to this

Here we go!

Folks, I think we are watching the season go right down the drain!

By Robert(Justice Is The Best)

August 5, 2006 02:52 PM | Link to this

Shiell should be on his way to Richmond right now. I knew it was only a matter of time. This is four straight starts that he has sucked. He isn’t Tim Hudson. This should have been last chance to prove himself. If he pitches next weekend, I’ll scream! Just awful. He doesn’t look remotely like an major league pitcher. Why would you get a guy to swing horribly at a slider away then follow that with a fastball down the middle of the plate.

By The Grinch

August 5, 2006 02:53 PM | Link to this

MABTL, I’m not saying Smoltz isn’t a stand-up, dignified guy who’s obviously charitable, and he may be nice when you get to know him or are under the right circumstances. However, I can’t help but remember seeing him at a gas station back in the heady days of ‘92, and when he was standing at the counter paying for gas (wife and kids out at the pump in an SUV), all of us in the store kind of whispered to each other ‘till we were sure we all recognized him and gave him a subdued but heartfelt round of applause for being who he was. He didn’t even acknowledge it, and walked out the door like he was mad to be sharing the air with us. Maybe he had just been arguing with the missus. Maybe he’s just shy and we caught him off guard, and I got the wrong impression. That WAS back when he was seeing that sports psychologist to keep him from cracking up. Anyway, I just didn’t care for it. I’m sure if I had lunch with him or something he’d change my mind, but that’s the explanation for my comment, anyway. Gotta run; catch y’all later this evening. Hopefully there’ll be something to celebrate.

By Hal

August 5, 2006 02:58 PM | Link to this

Ahhh the inning ender strikes again .The bats smarter

By Robert(Justice Is The Best)

August 5, 2006 03:00 PM | Link to this

This is just depressing. Time after time runners on base and time after time no runs score. We had a pitcher on the mound that the average little league team could shell.

Question is has the Braves already given up? Kind of looks like it.

By Tonight on TBS

August 5, 2006 03:20 PM | Link to this

Caddyshack (1980)

Comical goings on at an Atlanta baseball team. The members of the pitching staff are mostly young, poor and slightly eccentric. The main subplot involves the wacky pitching coach (Bill Murray) and his futile attempts to rid the staff of gopher balls.

By Robert(Justice Is The Best)

August 5, 2006 03:20 PM | Link to this

Say what you want about Giles but for whatever reason he is so much a better hitter in that two hole. He should stay there the rest of the year. He could know to that he will be huge trade bait during the offseason and he is trying to show the Braves’ brass that he belongs. He, like Andruw, has clearly expressed his desire to stay a Brave. Unfortunately, for him the only way he stays a Brave is if new ownership increases the payroll, and I doubt that happens.

By MBATL

August 5, 2006 03:26 PM | Link to this

Robert JIB, any chance Aybar will play some LF when Chipper returns? I know he played OF some in the minors, but don’t know how well. Aybar is not hitting a ton, but we’re really not getting much out of LF now, and like you said, our lineup just looks better with Giles in the 2 spot.

By Glass Half Full

August 5, 2006 03:29 PM | Link to this

Also in Caddyshack: an aging, yet established pitcher (Chevy Chase) seduces a young female broadcaster (Erin Andrews) with a heart-harming Casio serenade.

By Robert(Justice Is The Best)

August 5, 2006 03:34 PM | Link to this

I think its something to think about…playing Aybar in LF. Otherwise Renteria has to leadoff. I know he doesn’t like it just like Giles doesn’t but Renteria has some experience and throughout Giles’ career he has always struggled when leading off.

By MBATL

August 5, 2006 03:37 PM | Link to this

Agreed, Giles is an asset, but not a leadoff hitter. Hopefully Bobby will see things my way!

Btw, Salty is on fire at Richmond; I think 16-32 in his last 10 games. That’s a good thing!

By MBATL

August 5, 2006 03:37 PM | Link to this

uh, that’s Mississippi, not Richmond.

By Robert(Justice Is The Best)

August 5, 2006 03:47 PM | Link to this

It happened again! 1st and 2nd with no one out. They never moved. How do you have 1st and 2nd w/0 out time and time again and never score. Oh yeah, because every hitter is trying to hit the 3-run HR. Just put the damn bat on the damn ball and get a basehit. Why is that so hard for them to do?

By Robert(Justice Is The Best)

August 5, 2006 03:49 PM | Link to this

Hopefully, Villareal will get through this inning with no damage. The top of the order is coming up in the 8th. Isn’t a bit comforting to know that Baez can be brought in to keep this game in check. Of course, now that I say that watch him come in in the 8th and get rocked.

By Robert(Justice Is The Best)

August 5, 2006 03:52 PM | Link to this

BTW, for all of those that continue to slam me about this team’s lack of ability to score runs unless it comes by the homerun, the Braves have scored six runs today. How many have scored via the long ball?

By Robert(Justice Is The Best)

August 5, 2006 04:03 PM | Link to this

Never in my freakin life have I seen a team that can’t get a runner home when its basically given to them.

By David from Athens, ALA

August 5, 2006 04:04 PM | Link to this

Nice SAC by Aybar … but we still couldn’t get the run in …

By Robert(Justice Is The Best)

August 5, 2006 04:07 PM | Link to this

I don’t understand this whole first pitch swinging crap with runners on base and this late in the game. Giles and Renteria both did it.

Well, Phillips just hit a big HR. Game over it looks like.

By Robert(Justice Is The Best)

August 5, 2006 04:10 PM | Link to this

May I ask why Baez isn’t in the game pitching. Aren’t these the types of gams we got him for. Why is Yates pitching the 8th when it should be Baez? This is the kind of crap Cox does that is just maddening. Someone please explain this to me!!!!!!!!

By Moe

August 5, 2006 04:11 PM | Link to this

Another gopher ball!

By craig t

August 5, 2006 04:14 PM | Link to this

Dandy don id singning the party’s over turn out the lights. This team is done for the wild card folks

By Robert(Justice Is The Best)

August 5, 2006 04:14 PM | Link to this

I guess by questioning why Cox woudld have Yates in the game instead of Baez I am being a “fantasy player” again. Whatever? This is a save situation. We got Baez to be the setup guy and to hold the game and he is in the pen? Makes no sense. Someone defend this!

By Robert(Justice Is The Best)

August 5, 2006 04:19 PM | Link to this

I just don’t get it. I was all for the trade of Betemit to the Dodgers for Baez and Aybar. But, if you are not going to use Baez for the situations you supposedly traded him for then why get rid of Betemit. It makes no flippin sense. I know I don’t have a clue about what I’m talking about right? You have the top of the order coming up of one of the top offenses in baseball and instead of a guy who has been successful in pressure situations and pitched lights out since he’s been here you put in a guy who is inexperienced. Makes perfect sense to me!

By YAD

August 5, 2006 04:23 PM | Link to this

Perhaps his nickname should be Tyler YIKES!

By Moe

August 5, 2006 04:26 PM | Link to this

Arrgh!

By Voice of Reason

August 5, 2006 04:26 PM | Link to this

…check-MATE.

By Robert(Justice Is The Best)

August 5, 2006 04:29 PM | Link to this

This run is offically over! I am disgusted right now. C’mon everyone slam me for slamming this team for their lack of ability to score runs without hitting homeruns. Here we are again another loss because we can’t get clutch hits and I am still mystified by the fact that Yates and not Baez was in the game in the 8th.

Whatever! I’m a Brave fan for life but I am done believing this team can make the playoffs. Because they can’t and they won’t. I hope I’m wrong and if so will eat my words but I think I will have to find something else to satisfy my hunger.

By parks

August 5, 2006 04:29 PM | Link to this

well finally giving up on the season …..that was fun

By craig t

August 5, 2006 04:30 PM | Link to this

the partys over turn off the lights, wait till next year

By MBATL

August 5, 2006 04:34 PM | Link to this

Robert, I read these blogs and haven’t seemed you slammed for your views on the Braves offense. Get over it. We scored 6 freakin’ runs against a good pitcher. I don’t care if they came on home runs or bunts.

As to the pen, hard to argue with hindsight. The game was TIED, not a Braves lead. If we use Baez in the 8th (and of course assuming he doesn’t give up any runs) then you go the 9th if the score is tied? Who do you use then in a tie game? Sooner or later, you have to trust someone besides Baez and Wickman. If we had the lead, I’m sure we’d have seen Baez.

By Chop Chop

August 5, 2006 04:34 PM | Link to this

Robert,

The Braves were a longshot to make the playoffs before this series, so I’m not too broken up about it. After all, if the Braves haven’t been consistently good at all this season, why should I expect them to find consistency when it matters the most? I haven’t given up on them, but I’m certainly not going to waste too much anger or frustration on a team that is nine games under .500. The Braves just aren’t a very good team this year.

By Steve

August 5, 2006 04:36 PM | Link to this

The bigger question is why is Schiell starting when it’s a guaranteed loss??? His f*cking era is 8.62!!!!!!!!!

And you bring in Yates instead of Baez, there goes 06…thanks JS for providing no bullpen until it was too late and to BC for always putting in the wrong pitcher at the wrong time.

And someone go beat down John Thompson for being a giant damn p*ssy!

By Robert(Justice Is The Best)

August 5, 2006 04:36 PM | Link to this

I’m venting and venting. I know I’m being annoying I know. I just can’t let this go. I know I am no major league manager as some have so graciously pointed out. However, I have enough sense to know that in a tie game that is a must win in the 8th inning you don’t have Tyler Yates on the mound instead of Danys Baez the guy you acquired just for these situations. I can’t wait to hear the explanation for this. Well, that is if the question is even brought up like it should be.

I knew they would lose when they had 1st and 2nd in the 6th and didn’t score and a runner at 2nd with 1 out in the 8th and didn’t score…..AGAIN!

Tomorrow is probably a win because Smoltz is on the mound. But, who cares?! It doesn’t matter. Someone tell Chipper to take his time healing from his injury. No reason to risk further injury to play with this train wreck. I bet Smoltz is thinking right now, “I sure wish I had demanded a trade to a team that can actually hit in the clutch, put major league pitchers on the mound, and put their best options on the field in the proper situations. Man, I never thought the run would end like this. This is a catastrophe.”

By Chop Chop

August 5, 2006 04:41 PM | Link to this

By the way, in twenty games since the All-Star Break, the Braves are 10-10.

By old timer

August 5, 2006 04:43 PM | Link to this

Robert, I think the setup guy is supposed to come in in the 8th when the team is ahead, not tied.

By old timer

August 5, 2006 04:45 PM | Link to this

or behind.

By MBATL

August 5, 2006 04:46 PM | Link to this

Take a deep breath, Robert. Do you think Smoltz is mulling around the house in his boxers, hopelessly sad that he chose to stay in Atanta? If so, I guess AJ’s desire to stay in Atlanta should be with an asterisk… “as long as they win the division every year.”

btw, in the 6th, Frenchy, Laroche and Thorman all crushed the ball. But all were caught. That’s baseball.

By Robert(Justice Is The Best)

August 5, 2006 04:47 PM | Link to this

MBATL, I see your point. The reason I felt Baez should have been in the 8th is that he would’ve (presumably) kept the game a tie going into the 9th with the heart of the lineup coming up. In defense of the hitters I think they get tired of this crap. They come back to tie the game only to once again see the bullpen give it away. You could almost tell that is what Andruw was thinking when he came to the plate. He just swung at the first pitch as to say, “what does it matter, they’ll just blow it anyway”. A major league team scores six runs in a game they should more often than not win it. How many times have the Braves scored six or more runs and lost? Too many to count.

This was really a must win and that is why I thought Baez should’ve been on the mound. Anything can happen! The Astros were 56-60 in 2004 and won the wild card. But, you can’t rely on lightening in a bottle to happen twice. Who knows? Mabye when Chipper returns they will go on a tear and win the damn thing. It is defintely obvious this offense is so much better when he is in it. It seems like his approach at the plate filters down through the lineup…well, except Francoeur. I will say this. McCann is a stud. He showed his heart today. He is the future of this team. And, so is Francoeur. He actually had a good at bat in the 9th. I just think this offense is so unbalanced and then they just quit because they know no matter how many runs they score they will still lose. I bet before this season is over we will see a 15-14 type loss.

By Robert(Justice Is The Best)

August 5, 2006 04:53 PM | Link to this

MBATL, you are right. I am very frustrated because this seems to be a daily occurrence with this team. I,unlike a lot of people, think this team is much better than they have played. I think the 2006 Braves have greatly underachieved.

By MBATL

August 5, 2006 04:55 PM | Link to this

Robert, agree with you in princple, just not a fan of picking apart every move a manager makes, because ultimately he’s gotta count on the players to make plays. We need some better players on the mound. anyway… you keep b**tching and I’ll keep arguing… it’s all good.

It is a huge loss, and the only hope we have is to go on a bigtime winning streak. Not likely, given our record to date.

By Chop Chop

August 5, 2006 04:58 PM | Link to this

The Braves are 29-8 when scoring six or more runs in a game. Eight is not “too many to count.”

By old timer

August 5, 2006 04:59 PM | Link to this

We’re out of practice, obviously, on what you do when you team doesn’t make the playoffs. Think I’ll focus on some positives:

McCann is unreal. He started off really well and you figured he would level off and settle in at around .270 or so, HR here and there. But he has just gotten better and better.

Edgar has been wonderful all year, giving us the option of having him at short next year or trading him for a starting pitcher. I would feel very comfortable with Pena at short because his defense is so strong, plus we have other great prospects at the position.

James, despite his meltdown against the Mets, has looked mostly very good. You never know with a young pitcher, but he is worthy of a rotation spot next season.

Frenchy needs to take a first pitch now and then and be more patient in all counts, but he is going to be a great player. He is 5-tool and has a terrific attitude.

LaRoche has done better than I expected and could be packaged in a trade in the offseason or come back and play first.

Giles is starting to hit and if he keeps it up might bring a starting pitcher or bullpen help. Again, we have plenty of middle infielders waiting in the wings.

A couple of the young guys in the pen have shown potential.

We can be a force next year.

By Robert(Justice Is The Best)

August 5, 2006 05:01 PM | Link to this

MBATL, I’m just venting.

Like I said before, I just think this team despite all its flaws is so much better than they play.

Hopefully, in the offseason JS will make the necessary moves to make this team a true contencer next year. The East will be tough with the Mets, Marlins, and Phillies all having very good teams.

By Del

August 5, 2006 05:04 PM | Link to this

Worst managed game I’ve seen this season. Four distinct “what did he do that for” decisions that influenced the outcome. Sad,sad day!!!

By Robert(Justice Is The Best)

August 5, 2006 05:13 PM | Link to this

I stand corrected, Chop Chop. I was wrong. Totally! It just seems no matter how many runs we score we lose.

One good thing is happening and this the play of Giles and LaRoche. Both of those guys are showing they can hit and if need be could be used in a trade to better the team in the offseason. I would like to keep both but we need a leadoff hitter and more bullpen help in the worst way. And unfortunately, those two along with Horacio may be our best players to trade to bring those things to Atlanta.

I still like my trade proposal to the Angels that would send Giles, Horacio, LaRoche, and Langerhans to the Angels for Figgins, Kendrick, and Santana. It would give us the leadoff hitter we need and free up some money to sign Andruw.

If that trade doesn’t hit the spot, I also think offering LaRoche to the Tigers along with Langerhans for Gunderson would be a good trade as well. Gunderson is a good young leadoff hitter and the Tigers may bite because LaRoche would give them the power hitting 1B they want and at a cheaper price than Sean Casey would be.

I don’t know. Just throwing it out there.

By MBATL

August 5, 2006 05:29 PM | Link to this

Wonder what’s a good salary slot for AJ in ‘08 - ‘12.

Carlos Beltran is probably the most similar player I can think of - not as good, or as proven, but the closest I can come up with. Same age, good speed/defense, hits with power but not a great average. Not nearly the rbi machine AJ is.

Beltran makes $12 mil this year, then gets 18.5 mil each year, ‘08-‘11.

Manny Ramirez is not an “AJ type”, but is a big-hitting OF; he makes $18mil, $20mil, and $20 mil in ‘08-‘10.

I would think Boras would use numbers like this to build his salary case for AJ. Now, whether AJ will order him to discount things, I don’t know… but if the Braves don’t have a commitment on that, I sure wouldn’t count on it.

By Robert(Justice Is The Best)

August 5, 2006 05:35 PM | Link to this

I did some figuring and research when I thought up the trade proposal to the Angels. I figured with the additions from the Angels (if the trade was made), subtracting Smoltz’s contract (given last year is his last year), and the salary relieved by Giles and LaRoche being gone the Braves could offer Andruw a 5 to 7 year deal at about 17 to 17.5 mil per. Now, if another team comes along and offers more and Andruw doesn’t give the hometown discount then the Braves would be in trouble. Offering 17.5 mil would be stretching the payroll as thin as it could get in the first place. Now, some releif would come in 2009 and 2010 whne Chipper, Hudson, and Hampton’s contract would be expiring.

By MBATL

August 5, 2006 05:45 PM | Link to this

I haven’t researched your trade, Robert; off the top of my head, though, I wouldn’t trade Laroche (who’s gonna do a better job at 1b?); and I don’t think we need Figgins (a 3b, right?). I’m not saying NO (as though it mattered), but I’d suggest keeping Adam, and keeping Giles through arbitration and maybe beyond … we can always trade him next season as a F/A if we want.

I’d put some combination of Thorman, Renteria, Escobar, Saltalamacchia, Pena, Langerhans, and Prado on the trading block, for a swift LF and a pitching prospect or two.

Just chatting though… haven’t thought this through too thoroughly.

Per my last post, AJ is the big unknown, as far as salary goes. If we trade AJ, everything changes.

By Robert(Justice Is The Best)

August 5, 2006 05:52 PM | Link to this

I had Figgins playing LF because he has outfield experience. Figured Kendrick could platoon with Prado at 2B. Escobar would give us a very solid starter. He is very young at 23 and very good.

By mariner

August 5, 2006 06:24 PM | Link to this

braves send down schiell and call up wayne franklin, a 32-yr old relief pitcher, with good stats at least

By Chipper's a Candy

August 5, 2006 06:25 PM | Link to this

The braves normally win in spite of Cox, but now he doesn’t have the talent to overcome his blunders. Hey, don’t fret it, the old dinosaur will be back next year.

By ssiscribe

August 5, 2006 06:33 PM | Link to this

I’m not saying it’s over but … I’m as frustrated as I’ve been all season.

I’m not going to rip Cox apart. I’m not going to second-guess who pitched the eighth (me, personally, and only me, I have Baez in there). All I’m going to say is this:

Until this team can hold a lead, until the starting pitching can straighten itself out, it’s going to be very, very difficult for Atlanta to get to the playoffs.

Chipper has to get back and stay healthy the rest of the way. Hudson has got to pitch better. Davies has to come back and be lights out. The guys not named Baez and Wickman in the bullpen have to quit giving up runs in critical situations. The offense has to quit stranding runners all over the damn place.

That’s asking a hell of a lot, I know. But that’s where we’re at right now. The next week and a half will make or break this team’s playoff chances.

For the first time in a season during which my faith has wavered yet never sank, tonight I’m officially shaken and have the panic button in hand, ready to press at a moment’s notice.

Nobody light a match. :-)

By NowhereMan

August 5, 2006 06:37 PM | Link to this

Just off the wire. Braves optioned Schiell to Richmond and purchased the contract of Franklin (Richmond).

By NowhereMan

August 5, 2006 06:58 PM | Link to this

SSIScribe,

I hit the point you reference over a week of so ago. Went to a bunch of games recently.

After the Mets series, suddenly, clouds parted.

It became “OK.”

I saw the remainder of the season as a time for our new guys to grow. Specifically, all our rookie pitchers.

Look at the stats for say Glavine, Maddux, and Smoltz for their first three seasons. Pretty dismal.

Look at what Chuck James did through 5 innings yesterday. Look at Horacio’s numbers (the good games and the bad). Davies (last year).

Lots to be encouraged by.

Thinking of 2007 excites me. Maybe it will you, as well.

By ssiscribe

August 5, 2006 07:31 PM | Link to this

NoWhere Man:

Certainly, I’m excited about 2007. On one level, I’m not totally surprised the Braves don’t lead the East at this juncture. When I went to spring training for a week in March, I wondered if the young kids could play at the level they played at last year, if this team was good enough to run with the Mets. Of course, we now all have our answer, emphatically sealed by last weekend’s beat-down at 755 Henry Aaron Blvd.

What bugs me is this team shows me enough in stretches to make me believe it’s capable of winning the wild card and, I think, a playoff series. Win the pennant? Tall order. Win the World Series? Really tall order. But the wild card? Certainly. And, in fits and starts, we see a team that is good enough. Just getting there and winning a playoff series, after four consecutive NLDS losses (and five of the past six) would be tremendous for all of us, from the players and coaches to the fan base.

Alas, then for two or three nights, we see a team that’s not good enough to contend down the stretch. That irks me because I know how talented this team is. My frustration is tempered by the fact these kids are going to get better in the years to come.

I grew up in Atlanta, and I remember watching the late 80s teams. Glavine shut down the Dodgers in the 1989 home opener, the defending World Series champs, and I really thought at that point he would develop into something special. I remember watching Steve Avery in 1990 get destroyed by Cincy (which, by the way, won the Series that season) in his first start, only win three games that season, but you could see the talent and potential was there. The rest, as they say, is history.

I wish this year’s team could put it together. Coming back and making the playoffs after the 3-20 stretch in June, with all the injuries, the slow start by Giles, the way LaRoche played in May (boy, has he did a 180, or what), the hot streak by Chipper (borderline 1999 stretch drive white-hot), would be maybe the best story of any of their playoff berths.

There are some things to address with this team in the offseason, not that I’m ready to totally give up on 2006 yet. Unless we turn it around, we’ll have all fall and winter to talk about what to do between now and the beginning of festivities at Lake Buena Vista in February.

Finally, I wish we were in the race for one very selfish reason: I moved away six years ago and, in 12 days, we move back to Atlanta. We’ve already decided to go to a few games, and I’m taking my boys, who have enjoyed the minor leagues games down here on the coast, to their first big-league game when we get there.

I just hope, when we hit The Ted in two weeks, we’re not watching a team that’s all but eliminated.

Thanks for the post. Take care.

By Bobby Dews

August 5, 2006 07:49 PM | Link to this

This season might be the worst of times, it might be the best of times.

Nah - it’s the worst of times.

By J Lemke, PhD

August 5, 2006 08:01 PM | Link to this

Pain is directly proportional to actuality minus expectations.

P ~ A - E.

The rewards of success are trivial inverses, never so grand in their superficial desirability as to match the far greater horror of the opposites they subtly suggest.

Material wealth is not necessary to keep us relatively safe from excesses of pain, but failure is quite enough to shatter us in them.

The Braves have failed us and we (Brave bloggers) are collectively in a world of pain.

By Bob, journalist

August 5, 2006 08:07 PM | Link to this

I agree that Justice was the best! One of the all time greats, Charlie “choo choo” was his name and football was his game.

I remember when MM stood for either “The Mick” or “Norma Jeane” … and both wre revered by the fans of baseball.

General George is porported to have said “God, how I hate the 20th century” … I wonder what he would think of the 21st?!

Marilyn and Mick are no longer here, but the MM connection to baseball is stronger than ever as “Media Money” dominates what used to be a sport and is now entertainment.

I’m both amused and bemused when I see “I’m a Braves’ Fan and and so long as their cap has an “A” and shirt says “Braves”, I’ll
pull for them, whoever they may be” … and then, in the same post, harsh criticism and defming of the players and management … followed by multiple trade suggestions involving virtually every player.

Some of these are but expressions of frustration from folks unaccustomed to losing … that’s understandable. For the rest of those folks in this group, the season is over … they’ve had enough of these “losers” … and maybe that’s good, for they’re not fans in my book. All they’re interested in is a winner … it matters not who the players are or how we win … just so long as we win.

When I think of such people, it reminds me of the “fan” who turned on the TV, very late in the game … saw that it was still a scoreless tie and remarked “good, I haven’t missed anything!”

Baseball, a game of the past. All but extinct … but there are some older bloggers here that can tell you about the game as it once was played and surprisingly, even some relatively young folks who seem quite knowledgable too.

Ours is a very talented young team … but someone needs to show them how the game was played before it became the den of millionaires and entertainment rather than sport. It’s hard to light the competitive fire in the belly of a youngster if he’s never known hunger, especially while he’s smiling for the camera.

What does it mean to you to be a Braves Fan? At this juncture, it might be a good topic for discussion … maybe not as lively or meaningful as the one on banana pudding, but one never knows … that’s why the games are played.

God, how I hate the 21st Century …

By Todd iPod

August 5, 2006 08:14 PM | Link to this

Hey Bob…

Dude - what do you mean you hate the 21st century? IT ROCKS!!!

You wouldn’t even be bloggin’ us if it weren’t for the internet.

Why don’t you send your thoughts by pony express, man? Or better yet, how about carrier pigeon.

By J Lemke, PhD

August 5, 2006 08:28 PM | Link to this

Bob:

Indeed, “What does it mean to you to be a Braves Fan” would, in fact, be a good topic for discussion.

But it depends on what we mean by “mean”. And that would get into the area of Semiotics, and I am not sure that there is enough interest on this blog for that.

By NowhereMan

August 5, 2006 09:02 PM | Link to this

SSIScribe,

Congratulations on your return.

Spending time at The Ted with your boys will be Wonderful, no matter if we’re In or Out.

I’ve wished for years we’d bring the kids in and forego the mid- to late-career free agent route. Now they’re here. More losing for awhile is to be expected. I’m over the freakout.

Let It Be, I say to myself.

It actually (when you get right down to it) makes it more fun. It’s made me more hooked… more sucked in to day-to-day and minute-to-minute stuff since at least 1992. Maybe 1991.

I well remember the desert years. : )

I didn’t really become a real baseball fan (I’m discounting my kid/little league years) until sitting in cafes in Europe in the late seventies. Reading the Herald Tribune and zeroing in on box scores did it for me. I started keying in on the Braves and that pulled me back to the states. Ever since that point, I’ve been a REAL fan. Moved to ATL from LA in the mid-eighties and started going to games. I remember sitting at La Paz (Sandy Springs) and eating dinner for the first couple of innings, jumping in the car and heading down to the stadium and then walking through the gate by the 3rd/4th inning (unimpeded) and getting a free seat behind home plate. CONSISTENTLY. But the baseball was much worse then.

I like the 2006 Braves season. It re-invigorates me. It’s been said that a tree branch doesn’t go straight to the sun. And it’s been said that you can’t have light without darkness. You get my drift.

It’s GOOD. It’s the way it has to be.

By journalist jimmy smith

August 5, 2006 09:41 PM | Link to this

forgive journalist jimmy smith for being awol today but journalist has been very busy. a breakup of affection was necessary earlier in the day. thinking diane lane the perfect companion, journalist was shocked to learn she cannot prepare a proper banana pudding! her banana pudding tastes like paste! sadly, jimmy smith had to ask diane lane to leave today. it would never work for diane lane and jimmy smith if diane lane cannot prepare a delicious banana pudding. journalist gave diane lane cab fare and addresses of dob and grinch. we shall see where she goes from here. journalist will certainly miss the eye candy and other characteristics found most pleasurable. diane lane cried like a baby as did journalist - but jimmy smith was crying because of bobby cox. where was esteemed baez today? something hurting? numbness (something not hurting)? something oblique? toes? oh, the humanity! tell journalist it is not toes! bobby dews has pointed ears, right? pixie? leprechaun? elf? or just nice old man with pointed ears? now, standings … oh, the humanity!

By Terry Pendelton

August 5, 2006 09:55 PM | Link to this

Jimmy Smith - someone said you keep talkin’ ‘bout Hostess. I love hostess.

And I love puddin’ too.

By Carolina Lady

August 5, 2006 10:11 PM | Link to this

Poor cousin jimmy! It’s been a bad day all around! Now you’ll have to find a new co-star: Diane can’t cook and our common ancestor back in the late 1700s precludes me from filling in it seems. :-)))

What are we to do with the Braves?? I just wish they could reach the .500 mark before the end of the year….but…..dunno. There is no joy in Mudville.

By Bob, journalist

August 5, 2006 10:12 PM | Link to this

The way our pitchers have been getting hit this season … causes one to ponder if perhaps the opposition knows all about signs, at least how to steal them.

We all know that it was golf and not baseball that was Denmark’s national pastime during Hamlet’s day … as evidenced by Polonius’ advice to Laertes when he was coaching him “To thine own self Be true”.

In baseball, the cardinal rule is “Don’t get caught” … stealing signs, bases … or taking steroids.

What does it mean to me to be a fan? I just wish the soft spoken Miss Pearl were here for us to ask … though her lifetime actions speak out rather loudly on her behalf. I wouldn’t want to get caught stealing either, but I’d be right proud to plagiarize whatever she might say in answer to that question … as my very own.

By D Baez

August 5, 2006 10:12 PM | Link to this

Wicky and I couldn’t pitch today. It was too hot and, well, we just didn’t have much energy. Hey, Bobby Dews - how about bringin’ some puddin’ to the pen tomorrow for a pick-me-up for Wicky and me? Hey, Paronto - you in?

By Moe

August 5, 2006 10:18 PM | Link to this

Where is DOB???

By Carolina Lady

August 5, 2006 10:18 PM | Link to this

Pudding after every WIN. No win, no pudding, boys!

By Larry Jones

August 5, 2006 10:32 PM | Link to this

I’d like some to, but I don’t have enough energy to scratch my butt, much less walk to the pen in this heat. Save mine for a rainy day, or the next time I go on the shelf.

As for you Cox Bashers, give me a break. He’s the best in baseball, just ask George Steinbrenner. Even when we stink, Bobby pats us on the back and tells us, ” good job.”

By Lew

August 5, 2006 10:38 PM | Link to this

For the overly optimistic group that thinks winning series 2-1 will help. It will now take 9 (nine) series won by 2-1 margins to exceed .500. Winning series is no longer good enough. We need series sweeps. Or possibly series sweeps and banana pudding. Paronto and Wickman must keep their strength up in case we ever need closers again.

By Carolina Lady

August 5, 2006 10:43 PM | Link to this

Journalist Bob, There’s not a quick and easy answer to you question: What does it mean to be a Braves fan?

I would be hard-pressed to come up with the exact time my long-lived love affair with the Braves began - probably about the time the games were first broadcast from ATL. They’ve been a part of my life so long, I simply can’t remember!

There were those looooong seasons when it seemed to be an exercise in futility, but it was always interesting. So many of the players and staff became as familiar as family, though the names and faces changed over the years. But it was still the Braves. Then all the great years watching seasons roll by that will never be duplicated. Did any of us truly appreciate what we were witnessing??

There was a huge map of the United States on the kitchen wall next to the breakfast table. A large red pin marked the location of ATL. When they went on the road, a different colored pin marked the travel-city: Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, San Diego and so on. That’s how my daughter first learned something about US geography. She has watched the Braves with me since she was in a cradle and has no concept of life without them!

Being a Braves fan meant introducing my Mother to baseball. Try explaining it to a hard-of-hearing, elderly lady while trying to watch a play! :-)) But also watch that same little old lady’s eyes light up with excitement when she has learned to recognize a well-turned DP or other beautifully executed play. No matter what the state of her health (which has been up and down), whether at home, in a hospital, or rehabbing at a nursing home from some misadventure, her eyes never fail to brighten at any news of “her” Braves.

Being a Braves fan is a constant reminder of summer afternoons with my grandfather who introduced me to baseball when I was a child. Not-so-good pictures on a black-and-white TV, but learning the intricacies from a dearly beloved gentleman who was the grandfather that every child should have.

Being a Braves fan is all this and more. It is a state of being.

By Rosey Blinder

August 5, 2006 10:44 PM | Link to this

No true braves fan criticizes our boys. They get their feelings hurt when people say bad things about them. You should cheer mediocrity, no matter how you feel. If you think something’s wrong with the braves, keep it to yourself. I get a fuzzy feeling just thinking about 14 in a row, don’t you?

By Robert(Justice Is The Best)

August 5, 2006 11:19 PM | Link to this

Well, you know all the people and “fans” who constantly mock the 14 straight divison titles are now maybe appreciating those titles a little more. This season is very humbling. Hopefully the team feels the same. They should know what this losing feels like so they never want to feel it again.

By The Grinch

August 6, 2006 12:57 AM | Link to this

Morning, All! Back from my party. I think I’ve actually drunk myself sober. Carolina Lady, I have fond memories of watching the Braves with my maternal grandmother in the late 80’s-early 90’s, right before she passed…it was a treat, to be sure. She had a glass eye that always threw you off when you talked to her face to face, but when you watched her from the side and Otis Nixon or Brett Butler would steal a base or Murph would slam one out, you could see the real one twinkle…Journalist Bob, hope I didn’t offend you. I brought a couple of Punch Rothschildes to the party, wound up smoking some mighty tasty Hondurans (cigars, not people). Yum. Thought of you, as I thought of Jimmy Smith when I saw a massive pie as part of the dessert spread. No pudding; alas. I also thought of Jimmy when I recovered several emotional sounding calls from my answering machine from Diane Lane. I was unable to reach her by that time, DOB must have been available. He’s much closer to the Wurlitzer than I; it stands to reason. Sigh.

By Bob, journalist

August 6, 2006 01:29 AM | Link to this

Todd iPod, I admit that maybe it’s a bit too early to render a final verdict but my final comment was just reflecting my feelings regarding the differences in direction and values … of 60 years ago and today. It’s a good read albeit a very, very long story but I will say this … it involves saying please and thank you, whistles made from goose quills, counting the number of seeds in head of a stalk of sugarcane, the circus coming to town, Lash Larue and Al St. John, sneakin’ into Cracker games, fishing in an unpoluted stream … and speaking to an honest to an goodness, live person when you answer the phone or make a call.

“p” players … please ponder prices paid for peace, progress, and prosperity.

While the short lived Pony Express was before my time, the reading of its creation left a lasting impression of the importance of being faced with significant obstacles. Without proper transition … the character of this team of Braves has been both defamed and defended on the Blog as it has faced its share of obstacles … it’ll certainly be interesting to watch the rest of the season unfold.

We should all have more respect for birds with builtin internal compass mechanisms … the world would be dramatically different were it not for them. Given power outages, downtime, and how slow the response time on this Blog can sometimes be, I not all that sure as to which is the more efficient means of sending messages.

Like many of God’s creatures, man can be innovative when the situation so demands … trust me, if I wanted to communicate with you guys bad enough, I’d find a way … Internet or no.

Actually, computer networks with associated logs have been around longer than most folks realize … my first involvement came around the time the Braves moved to Atlanta. Weblog forums, as we now know them, are themselves, a late 20th century creation.

Methinks the global acceptance of such a complex mechanism as the Internet by folks who can hardly even spell computer is at least as dangerous as it is powerful! The surface of the technology is only now being scratched … Caesar, beware!

We face ever increasing threats to our way of life in Century 21 from “p” players … predators, pedophiles, pornography and parasites … Bah, Humbug, I’m getting a different Realtor!

By The Grinch

August 6, 2006 01:50 AM | Link to this

Journalist Bob, an astute yet cryptic post as always…I, too am fearful of technology; I’m sure I’ve mentioned in the past I believe I’m an anachronism. I long for the days of old where life was a bit more simple, both the days I knew that are gone and the ones I didn’t but feel I know or should know anyway. I’m too schnookered to make a literary analogy; suffice it to say I mean it, by godfrey. You’re a good man, Charlie Brown; even if you are a bit stodgy…:-)

By The Grinch

August 6, 2006 01:52 AM | Link to this

By the way, I’d rather watch Hoppy or Roy or Gene on TCM anyday than Walker, Texas Ranger.

By The Grinch

August 6, 2006 02:38 AM | Link to this

I’m here, and I’m loud. By god, I’m in my prime. Where are the Mets? The Grinch has your number, even if the Braves don’t…I sound my barbaric yawp across the rooftops of Fulton county…

By The Grinch

August 6, 2006 02:52 AM | Link to this

COWARDS, Cowards all… No, I’m not about to go to bed, despite popular opinion. I’ll fly this flag until someone salutes or I need to defend it…

By Chop Chop

August 6, 2006 02:58 AM | Link to this

Grinch, I ain’t a coward.

However, I might need some of what you drank tonight to get me properly motivated.

By The Grinch

August 6, 2006 03:02 AM | Link to this

I’m off to a different venue. Sorry if I offended anyone; I’m honing my chops(pardon the pun). I’ll check back later if I don’t do something stupid. I probably won’t; though I can’t guarantee someone won’t do something stupid around me…nighty-night!

By The Grinch

August 6, 2006 03:06 AM | Link to this

Chop Chop, I drank entirely too much, but you’re not my target. My own insides are. Use me as motivation; I’m as fired up as anyone need be…perhaps more so. Can’t believe I can still spell. Grwahhh! That was accurate…:-)

By The Grinch

August 6, 2006 03:30 AM | Link to this

All right, the Grinch has now been properly fed and watered. He will cause no more trouble tonight; not that anyone gives a rip. :-) Night all, and blees our Braves; may they be in better shape tommorrow than the Grinch is likely to be in…

By Tomahawkin

August 6, 2006 04:04 AM | Link to this

Grinch, This team is p-i-s-s-i-n-g me off playing with my Emotions like this, Dude I’m throwing in da towel, Til they prove me otherwise. I’m still loyal to my boyz and will watch them to the finish

I’m F-c-ked up, and will catch you guys tomorrow

I knew that when Bobby said Thursday nite about how he was going to beat the Reds and He said, and I quote “I guess were going to have to out-slug them” I knew we were in trouble, Other than the 1993, and 2003 seasons we were never a team that was notorious for out-slugging opponents

Also I told You guys that Saturday was going to be a Given Loss, That’s why I thought that it was imperative that we win game 1, Send Schill down he hasn’t shown me nothing….

If we are gonna win the Wildcard, we must play every game like its a playoff game, where everyplay counts, and go all out, This, laidback, lackadasical attitude just p-i-s-s-e-s me off, maybe we need Ray Lewis on this team to light a fire in some of these guys a-s-s-es

By Bob, journalist

August 6, 2006 04:04 AM | Link to this

“Rosey Blinder”, how quaint!

Dorothy was right, you can lead a horse to culture …

I was going to pass since, from my perspective, your post is on point and speaks so well for itself, but were I to so do, I wouldn’t be me.

While we are all entiled to our opines, I don’t personally think that one should be critical of others just because of disappointment in performance nor do I think that medicore effort should be applauded or condoned … but I do think that the proper consideration of the feelings of others is far more important than the game of baseball … booing folks who are trying their best to please me doesn’t compute, not even in the 21st century. I humbly posit that most mockery is as insidious and nonproductive as it is satisfying to those who so indulge.

What I personally think or encourage is of no real consequence … why not participate in a positive manner and share your true feelings regarding what a real fan is or should be? Sure there are those who will share wonderful stories that paint pictures of what the Braves mean to them and why they love both the game and the team … this is a wonderful meeting place to meet new friends and share ideas, opinions, experiences and feelings … don’t mock them, goodness!

Memories are among the most powerful and treasured things that life has to offer … memories may not be why one is a fan but it’s certainly one of the greatest benefits and the cost of sharing is far less than that of a ticket.

Sure there are those folks, and I’m certainly one of them … but there are probably as many answers as there are fans … maybe more … there are no right or wrong answers, just different ones.

By hop on chop

August 6, 2006 04:30 AM | Link to this

Boy, this blog is some kind of dead tonight. It dies a little bit more with every Braves loss.

After the Mets’ sweep last weekend, everybody was still optimistic and eager to hit the road, like that was just the tonic the old Bravos needed. The bloggers were pretty much assuming a 6-0 road trip would follow. Unfortunately, the Pirates and Reds just wouldn’t lay down and die for us. So it’s been yet another week of taking on water aboard the old H.M.S. Ted-tanic.

Better get those life jackets on, folks, and head for the nearest life raft. There’s still six games to go against that pesky iceberg called the New York Mets.

Dodgers still undefeated since the Betemit trade, and Wilson’s new team now looks down on the Braves from their perch a full four-and-a-half stories above the wretched Braves. Old wheeler-dealer JS has sure gotta be proud of the job he’s done in 2006.

Hey, DOB, where you been lately? Sketching an outline for your own book, “Built to Spin: How to Kiss Corporate Butt and Blow Smoke Up Gullible Fans’ A*ses While a Dynasty Crumbles,” I’ll bet.

By Tomahawkin

August 6, 2006 04:40 AM | Link to this

I’m tellin Ya D.O.B.s out in Maui, Smokin A Fattie, or Gettin his swerve on in Buckhead, lol….

By Bob, journalist

August 6, 2006 06:54 AM | Link to this

Cryptic huh? Edgar Allan Poe had nothing on me … I can encode and decode with the best … well not anymore, but there was a time when that was true.

By Godfrey Grinch, a strong 3 digit man like yourself knows that good scotch is for sippin’ not picklin’ … our Mr. Boyd might share his wonderful laugh but he wouldn’t let you ride Topper unless you were wearing your superhero suit, it just wouldn’t be Lucky.

I think I’ll ask Maggie Smith to cast a spell on that suit so that the inside is filled with invisible superglue … then you won’t have any choice but to wear it at all times.

Silent Screen idol Boyd certainly had his demons, but he after he became his Cassidy persona … what a role model and true superhero he was … once he put that suit on, he never took it off, and neither should you.

An exercise you might enjoy would be to list the truly successful actors who appeared with him in movies in which he starred, excluding his silent film days. Bob Mitchum may have become the most famous but it’s a surprisingly long list.

Speaking of what it means to be a fan, by Godfrey … “My Man Godfrey” is like a tape of an exciting game that the Braves won … I could watch it over and over and over again.

Want a winning team for which to cheer? Try William Powell, Carole Lombard, Eugene Pallette and Alan Mowbray. Four delightfully funny players … what chemistry they had … no reason to make any trades, they were major league in every sense … if it were baseball, they probably would have won all 162.

Ain’t mind triggers a blast?!

By berigan

August 6, 2006 07:15 AM | Link to this

Too bad Schiell doesn’t have a better fastball, because some of his breaking pitches were really nasty.

By NowhereMan

August 6, 2006 08:45 AM | Link to this

Carolina Lady,

Your offering from last night on what Braves fandom means was wonderful. I thank you. In particular, the portion on your mother moved me. It also reheated an old inspiration I began growing toward incubation five or six years ago (simple bite-sized training snippets on how to watch a baseball game… actual delivery mechanism TBD).

I’ll have to see if it grows legs again.

In my case, after box score reading (any Herald Tribune I could find… bar after bar) pulled me back to the states from late seventies/early eighties Europe (mostly Spain and England), when I did land back here (with a noticeable thud), it created a bridge to a then-as-yet-unfilled Son/Father relationship which immediately began blossoming and continued… even blooming, right up until my dad moved on to higher ground in late April of this year.

He grew up a Cards fan as did most Southerners. After WWII he moved to St. Louis to work for a couple of years just to be able to go to Sportsman’s Park to see them play. He came back to the South (Tennessee, his home and where I grew up) and continued following them but then TBS started broadcasting Braves games and he was hooked. A Braves fan ever since.

As he was in really failing health by March of this year, I spent all my available time driving up to spend time with him and we certainly talked plenty of Bravesball.

The last game we shared (by then he couldn’t sit and watch) was Hudson’s 2-1 win over Glavine on April 19th. I sat in front of the tube and relayed the play by play to him in the next room. We rehashed that game all through the next day (Braves were off that Thursday) and on Friday, his Ride Arrived.

What a sweet shared love, for two people who needed one, being a Braves fan has been for my Dad and me.

By MEB

August 6, 2006 09:09 AM | Link to this

Natural ventilation, the flow of air through a building, is sometimes not sufficient to keep the occupants of the building cool and comfortable. In the South during the summer, most people turn to air conditioning to increase the flow of cool air in the home. Central air conditioning units, however, use a lot of energy and are expensive to operate. Fans, particularly ceiling fans, are a good option to increase air circulation while saving energy.

A good fan is not to be trifled with.

GO BRAVES!!!

By MEB

August 6, 2006 09:10 AM | Link to this

Natural ventilation, the flow of air through a building, is sometimes not sufficient to keep the occupants of the building cool and comfortable. In the South during the summer, most people turn to air conditioning to increase the flow of cool air in the home. Central air conditioning units, however, use a lot of energy and are expensive to operate. Fans, particularly ceiling fans, are a good option to increase air circulation while saving energy.

A good fan is not to be trifled with.

GO BRAVES!!!

By robdawg06

August 6, 2006 09:24 AM | Link to this

I think that putting Andruw on waivers will pizz Andruw off enough to ask too much money to be resigned by the Braves. That’s all Andruw and his agent have to do to sign with another team. The Yankees,Mets,Red Sox,Dodgers,and Cubs will all offer more than the Braves can afford to offer for Andruw. This really blows losing to the Reds this series. The Braves have gotten leads early only to still lose. The starting pitching is now the achilles heel. Smoltz is solid as is Horam most of the time. You get Jekyll or Hyde starts from the Hudson,James,and Shiell. And why is Jeff Francoeur still starting ? The pop-up king needs to sit a while…

By Robert(Justice Is The Best)

August 6, 2006 09:50 AM | Link to this

There is enough blame on this team to go around. Francoeur takes terrible swings in run scoring situations. He is 22 and in his first full season. What excuses do “veterans” like Giles, Andruw, Renteria, and Pratt have? To lay it off all on Francoeur and say he needs to sit is unfair. He is not the only “popup king” on this team. If I see another pitcher groove a fastball down the middle of the plate on a 0-2 count, I will run through a wall. Everyone except for Smoltz does this on a constant basis. Again, James is a rookie. What excuses does Horacio, Hudson, and Shiell (who has been around enough) have? Does anyone ever notice that other than Giles and Renteria occassionally that no one shortens their swing with 2 strikes? Chipper has the best mechanics of any hitter in the lineup and it seems to filter down to the other guys when he is there, but when has been on the DL this year it is like they have no clue.

The really frustrating thing is that we make every pitcher look like Clemmens or Pedro. Yesterday was a good example. Bronson Aroyo is a good pitcher but he gets easily rattled. I saw him enough with the Red Sox to know this. When you have him on the ropes, you have to knock him out. The Braves had him on the ropes in the 1st and gently let him up. After that he gained his composure and pitched a good game.

The pitching in the National League is horrible. Not one team can send three quality starters in a row. But, when they play the Braves you would think they were facing our rotation of the 90’s.

The fact is this team isn’t out of it yet. They should be but aren’t. Today’s game is a MUST win and I think they will win it because Smoltz will make sure of it. I just have to wonder and DOB could answer this maybe is there any dissention in that clubhouse. I just can’t believe that guys like Chipper, Smoltz, Wickman, and McCann are keeping quiet watching the same silly mistakes being made by rookies and veterans on a daily basis. Obviously all Bobby is going to do is say, “Good job, kid. C’mon keep it going. Don’t stop being you.” Well, that encouragent while normally a good thing isn’t working. They need a foot in their a**! Look at the White Sox. They had a bad stretch and Ozzie stayed calm as long as he could. I guarantee he saw enough and went off about a week and a half ago. Since then they are playing good baseball. Nothing wrong with staying positive but sometimes a good chewing out is badly needed!

By Robert(Justice Is The Best)

August 6, 2006 10:07 AM | Link to this

I just read that Kyle Davies is making his second rehab start today in Mississippi. Lets pray that evreything goes really well like it did on Tuesday in Rome. At this pace Davies would make another start on Friday in Richmond and the Braves have already said that if the starts today and Friday go well he won’t have to make a 4th rehab start. If that is indeed the case we could have Davies back by the 16th and rid ourselves of the AAA call up of the week.

By no means is Davies Clemmens but he will a 100% better than the 5th starters we have seen the last month and a half.

By Joe Roman

August 6, 2006 10:55 AM | Link to this

First, the AJC website is the slowest to respond of any major daily in the country. Itris a serious handicap for DOB and other fine AJC columnists. That said, does anyone have any idea what the Braves fiscal situation will be in the off season, even Scheurholz? The present seems to be without postseason expectations now. TBS has no interest in picking up the production costs of baseball and content to air endless syndicated mediocrity. Does anyone have a clue about the future?

By Daytona Beach Seabreeze

August 6, 2006 11:08 AM | Link to this

Where is Sir. Obrien?

By Carolina Lady

August 6, 2006 11:40 AM | Link to this

NowhereMan, thank you. Yours is a moving story to which I well relate! And you have my heartfelt condolences on your loss!

MEB, your fan description - funny! :-))) (And there is nothing like a good ceiling fan!)

Did the Blue Worms kidnap DOB?? :-0

By Tonight on TBS

August 6, 2006 01:16 PM | Link to this

Saving Scribe O’Brien (1998)

During the most intense action of the ‘06 campaign, staff journalist Dave O’Brien (Matt Damon) has gone missing. AJC command cannot bear the loss of another esteemed writer. A rescue team is formed, led by Lt. Guy Curtright (Tom Hanks), composed of intrepid bloggers (with colorful nicknames: Head Coach, Lew, Jimmy, Jackass, etc.) in order to save Dave O’Brien. With Kate Beckinsale as Nurse Gretchen. (Parental warning: much cussing and whining by the intrepid bloggers.)

By robdawg06

August 6, 2006 02:37 PM | Link to this

Its Clemens with one “M”. This game is just like I said above : Braves get early lead then give it up. This time its Smoltz. This team has no fire at all. They look like they are just going thru the motions. Teams that play like that always lose.

By robdawg06

August 6, 2006 02:40 PM | Link to this

Why defend Francoeur. Yeah he’s 20 but they have Thorman,Diaz, and Langerhans they can replace him with. He has NO plate discipline and makes out on “pitcher’s pitches” instead of waiting on good pitches to hit. He may be the Braves future but he stinks in the present IMO.

By The Grinch

August 6, 2006 03:15 PM | Link to this

Morning, All! Boy, do I feel lovely! Breakfast, then blog when I am properly baconed and coffee’d.