AJC > Sports > Braves > Blog > Archives > 2007 > April > 03 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USSmoltz vs. Glavine on Saturday
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
OK, I’ll crank out a quick blog before heading out to get something to eat. Did you hear: Smoltz vs. Glavine on Saturday. Only the second time the buds will face each other, first since July 2005, and first time in Atlanta.
More on that in a moment.
All I can say is, good thing you all can’t smell the funk on me as I write this, because I just got back from running down Ben Franklin Parkway and up the steps of the “Rocky” building (the Philadelphia Museum of Art).
Hey, nothing wrong with acting like a tourist sometimes. But not too often.
(And right about now I’m reminded why I confine most of my running to a treadmill these days _ knees are aching from the sidewalk, curbs, etc. Old man knees, too many years of running….)
It’s an off day and the Braves’ workout was voluntary and brief, so I’ll blog accordingly. This time, I’m serious about keeping it being brief. I always say that, but this time, no question.
Obviously the news of the day is Lance Cormier and the Braves’ likely decision to put him on the DL because of his sore shoulder. Bobby Cox just told me that after he watched Cormier long-toss at the corporate-bank-name ballyard in Philly.
He’s going to throw again Friday, but I really think the decision has pretty much been made.
That’s too bad for Cormier, who pitched his butt off this spring to win a spot in the rotation. But by being cautious now the Braves hope to get him back quickly. They can retro the DL assignment to March 27, the day after his last spring start.
That would make him eligible to come off as soon as April 11, if my math’s correct (and we know how reliable my math is _ no comments from the peanut gallery).
It’s not official and Bobby said it wasn’t certain, but I think Cormier will be DL’d and Kyle Davies recalled from Class AAA Richmond to start Sunday vs. the Mets. Bobby even said he thought it would be Davies, before adding it wasn’t decided yet.
The Braves will probably have Cormier rest and rehab for the soreness in his triceps/armpit area. I don’t know if they’ve scheduled an MRI exam, but they probably will think about that if they haven’t set it up already, just to make sure there’s no structural damage.
Until he left that March 26 start against the Astros, spring was pretty much bliss for Cormier. Led the Braves with a 1.15 ERA and limited opponents to a .186 average while recording 13 strikeouts with one walk in 15-2/3 innings. Big stuff.
But it’s not like they’re bringing up some hack like a couple they had to turn to in binds last year. Davies also made progress late in spring training after simplifying his windup. He finished with a 2.84 ERA in five starts, allowing 14 hits and nine walks with 11 strikeouts in 19 innings.
If he can get past the damn first inning and not walk guys, Davies should do fine (he says, raising his eyebrows as if to say, those might be easier said than done).
Smoltz vs. Glavine: That’s the other news, the big matchup of friends, former teamamtes and golf partners on Saturday at Turner Field. They haven’t pitched against each other since 2005, and never in Atlanta.
Both pitched well in their only start against one another, July 15, 2005 at Shea. Smoltz allowed four hits and one run in seven innings and won. Glavine gave up one run and six hits in seven innings for no decision.
There had been some confusion about when Glavine would pitch in this series, but it came from the Mets’ end and was created, apparently, by their writers assuming Glavine would go on regular rest after his first start in their Sunday opener.
That would have put him in the Braves’ home opener Friday. But the team never announced that, and when they did announce pitching plans, it was Glavine going Saturday on an extra day of rest.
In this screwy first-week schedule the Mets have two days off and didn’t want to skip two starters in order to keep Glavien on regular rest. So he’ll go a day later than usual.
But we’ll get to that more in the next couple days.
The steps: Getting back to the run. Thought it was pretty cool that Sly and the Family Stone’s “Simple Song” (get it, Sly Stallone, Sly and the Fa… oh nevermind) was playing on my Ipod when I hit the steps. Then a Wrights song (have you heard them? Great husband/wife country group from Atlanta). Then I advanced the song to see what was next to run back down the stairs and, it was Townes Van Zandt’s “To Live is to Fly.” Not making that up.
Once again, I failed to keep it brief. Until tomorrow….
“THE PRETENDER” by Jackson Browne
I’m going to rent myself a house/In the shade of the freeway
I’m going to pack my lunch in the morning/And go to work each day
And when the evening rolls around/I’ll go on home and lay my body down
And when the morning light comes streaming in/I’ll get up and do it again
Amen
Say it again
Amen
I want to know what became of the changes/We waited for love to bring
Were they only the fitful dreams/Of some greater awakening
I’ve been aware of the time going by/They say in the end it’s the wink of an eye
And when the morning light comes streaming in/You’ll get up and do it again
Caught between the longing for love/And the struggle for the legal tender
Where the sirens sing and the church bells ring/And the junk man pounds his fender
Where the veterans dream of the fight/Fast asleep at the traffic light
And the children solemnly wait/For the ice cream vendor
Out into the cool of the evening/Strolls the Pretender
He knows that all his hopes and dreams/Begin and end there
Ah the laughter of the lovers/As they run through the night
Leaving nothing for the others/But to choose off and fight
And tear at the world with all their might/While the ships bearing their dreams
Sail out of sight
I’m going to find myself a girl/Who can show me what laughter means
And we’ll fill in the missing colors/In each other’s paint-by-number dreams
And then we’ll put out dark glasses on/And we’ll make love until our strength is gone
And when the morning light comes streaming in/We’ll get up and do it again
Get it up again
I’m going to be a happy idiot/And struggle for the legal tender
Where the ads take aim and lay their claim/To the heart and the soul of the spender
And believe in whatever may lie/In those things that money can buy
Thought true love could have been a contender/Are you there?
Say a prayer for the Pretender/Who started out so young and strong
Only to surrender
Comments
By TheSouthernJackAss
April 3, 2007 7:12 PM | Link to this
?…
By ernesto
April 3, 2007 7:22 PM | Link to this
Say a prayer for the moderate spender, otherwise known as the Homeboy upstairs.
By Wayne in Utah
April 3, 2007 7:23 PM | Link to this
Jackson Browne is one of my favorite artist of the past 35 plus years.
Looking forward to Smoltz vs Glavine. I am not the Glavine lover that many on this blog/team are. I still think of him as a deserter. Loyal to the almighty dollar. I could have left my company many times over the years for a few more bucks, but stayed because I am a team player. I don’t respect players who leave for the $$. So, AJ, if you must go, then go. But don’t expect all of us loyal Braves fans to welcome you back home warmly if you do.
By Wayne in Utah
April 3, 2007 7:32 PM | Link to this
Ernesto: Schuerholz is not the problem. The top brass control the dollars, he just manages with what he is given.
Deep down, I would like to see a very small amount of variance when needed, but I do love the budget. Kind of makes it easy to cut the dead wood maybe a year or two before they fall to the ground anyway.
As for AJ, I think I would rather him walk than for us to pay him $20Mil for 2-3 years after he has become a $5 mil a year guy.
As much as I admire Smoltz, I would never give him more than 2 years guaranteed at this point. If he needs more for his “family” then he is not the person I thought he was all these years.
Save it for Frenchie, James and the younger guys.
By Carolina Lady
April 3, 2007 7:39 PM | Link to this
Looking forward to the Smoltz-Glavine matchup. Glavine showed me his true colors with his stunt this winter and I’ll not wish him well.
By ernesto
April 3, 2007 7:39 PM | Link to this
Wayne in Mormonland, it just seemed to go with the song…that’s all. Actually I agree with you on at least the philsophy of fiscal restraint, I wouldn’t want that Zito contract, Soriano contract or A-Rod’s contract/lottery prize on our beloved Bravos.
By The Stranger
April 3, 2007 7:54 PM | Link to this
Marcus laid an egg today in his debut at the top of the Pads order. Not sure how many pop-ups he dropped, or how many times he told esteemed Union Tribune scribes he was uncomfortable leading off.
By mr baseball
April 3, 2007 8:13 PM | Link to this
Posted this on last blog while DOB was setting up new one.
caveman22 (and other Cox worshipers): Cox made the absolutely wrong move by having Renteria bunt, and the Braves won in large part because he “failed” to do what Cox wanted him to. Went over this late last night, will make another attempt. Any of you tell me which is the better situation.
1) Runner on 1st, no outs, next 3 hitters are Renteria, Chipper & Andruw.
2) Runners on 1st and 2nd, 1 out, next 2 hitters are Andruw and Diaz (pinch-hitting for Wickman).
If Renteria gets the bunt down and advances the runners, the Phillies are almost certainly going to walk Chipper. With runners on base in late inning situations, the 3 Braves you want at the plate are Edgar, Chipper & McCann, who was out of the game. By asking Edgar to bunt, you are taking the bat out of the hands of the 2 best clutch hitters in your lineup (plus giving up an out) so Andruw and a pinch-hitter can have a shot at driving in the go-ahead run.
If the advocates for a bunt in that situation truly believe the Braves are better off with the second scenario, there’s not much more I can say. I think it’s pretty obvious which one gives the Braves the best chance to succeed, and as it turned out, it did.
Too many times over the years, Cox has gone by the “book” in similar situations and it has cost the team, the best example being game 4 of the ‘05 series with the Astros. He bunted with 2 on and no outs in extra innings, taking the bat out of the hands of 2 guys swinging hot bats in favor of a tired catcher and a bench warming pinch-hitter. You have to take into account who the hitters involved are and what the opposing team is going to do. Cox evidently doesn’t.
Take a look at the Braves’ yearly record in 1-run games since 1991. For a team as successful as they have been during that span, their record in that category isn’t that impressive. Any guesses why that is?
And for those of you whining about the 5-game division series: The first 5 years of the NLDS, the Braves won all 5 series and were a combined 15-2. Since then, they’ve lost 5 of 6 series, all of those losses to inferior or comparable teams. The Braves were a perfectly competitive post-season team from ‘91’-96, but have been mostly awful since. I think that’s more due to the general manager than anything else (with a helping nudge from ownership), but it’s got nothing to do with the number of games played in the first round.
When the Braves face a team on or near their level, they typically are at a disadvantage, because the guy making decisions in the other dugout is more likely to make astute moves with the game on the line. Cox has several admirable qualities as manager. Game strategy, however, is not one of them.
By ncscoots
April 3, 2007 8:23 PM | Link to this
I’ll admit, I have to admire the pluck of a blogger who willing to not only post the same argument two days in a row, but feels that the opinion is worth re-posting because it was at the end of a previous blog, LOL. Especially when the reasoning is, well, somewhat faulty. But I give you points for doggedness, if not for acumen.
By Gil in Mechanicsville
April 3, 2007 8:59 PM | Link to this
Mr. Baseball… You saw where managing by the seat of your pants got Grady Little didn’t you?
Sometimes you have to rely on the players to do their job. Some times they don’t. Sometimes the other team is better. Sometimes they are luckier.
Just remember, excuses are for losers…
By Rosalynn
April 3, 2007 9:03 PM | Link to this
Todah has been a vera difficult dah. This mohning I buhned Jimma’s breakfast and then I was a little fohgetful on the blog. Jimma was vera unhappa. I would now like to talk about cold ringfinga. Let’s say yoah ringfinga is alwahs colda than yoah other fingas and toes, does that affect the wah you throw a baseball? If you have alwahs lived on the outside cohna and you develop cold ringfinga and have to come inside does that improve yoah game or is it a hindrance? Will cold ringfinga cause yoah balls to tumble towahd the plate? “What Jimma?” Oh, please let me reprhase that last question, will yoah balls tumble towahd the plate if … wait, that isn’t right eitha. I am having such a bad dah! Please fohget that I brought it up.
By robdawg06
April 3, 2007 9:31 PM | Link to this
Dave, I was wondering why today was an off day after just the opening game ? What purpose does a day off this early serve ? They were just off for 5 1/2 months (off-season)…
By Yars
April 3, 2007 9:32 PM | Link to this
Not trying to change the subject, but Marcus Giles is hard to figure out at times. He basically said the reason he didn’t have a good ‘06 was because he had to hit in the leadoff spot, and he didn’t really like it. He’s with the Padres now, & guess what? He’s hitting in the leadoff spot! I still say Kelly Johnson will put up better numbers than Giles this season.
By snowball's chance
April 3, 2007 9:33 PM | Link to this
Where the veterans dream of the fight/Fast asleep at the traffic light
Is this a song for Tony LaRussa?
By MEB
April 3, 2007 9:36 PM | Link to this
So Saturday’s titanic event featuring Glavine vs. Smoltz is FOX’s game of the week. Joe Buck and Tim McCarver in the booth for the coverage. Glad I will be in the stands!
GO BRAVES!!!
By No Chop Zone
April 3, 2007 9:37 PM | Link to this
There are off days right after opening day in case there’s a rain out. Then the opening day game would be played the next day.
By robdawg06
April 3, 2007 9:40 PM | Link to this
At least Giles could catch a lazy infield fly ball… Also, why didn’t Kelly try to steal a base when he drew a walk ? Pete said this about Jimmy Rollins : “A single is basically a double for Jimmy because he will steal second base every time.” At leadoff, Kelly should steal 40 bases this year.
By robdawg06
April 3, 2007 9:44 PM | Link to this
That’s a weak reason if that is the reason they were off today. You could just add a game at the end of the series (if one were rained out) and let the 2nd scheduled game be the opener.
By KC
April 3, 2007 10:02 PM | Link to this
Come on you lousy good for nothing bum Cardinals. Score a damn run, will you?!!
It’s Orlando Hernandez… not friggin’ Roger Clemens!!!!!
By Bob, journalist
April 3, 2007 10:07 PM | Link to this
We all have our own perspectives but I thought Mark Bowman’s latest was poorly done … read almost like a parent preparing a child for failure.
Radar shows thunderstorms headed this way with some tornados … it’s starting to rain hard and the wind is something else … there’s the first thunder … time to shut down!
By Braves fan 202
April 3, 2007 10:15 PM | Link to this
KC im with you, what is up with the cardinals they’re rainin on are parade, we need the mets to lose, im sick of this, their pitcher BLOWS! Hit him! Whatever more pressure for us
By Braves fan 202
April 3, 2007 10:29 PM | Link to this
Home run scott rolen, good for my fantasy team and good for the braves! Ok now cards lets get a comeback!
By No Chop Zone
April 3, 2007 10:35 PM | Link to this
It’s a fantasy thinking the cards are going to make a comeback…..
By Glass Half Full (GHF)
April 3, 2007 10:39 PM | Link to this
Love the Jackson Browne shoutout…
By KC
April 3, 2007 10:43 PM | Link to this
Unfortunately, the 8th/9th innings aren’t where the Mets are weak. It’s the bullpen depth that’s taken a hit. Not much chance of the Cards pulling this one out, unfortunately.
Gotta tell you though… the Cardinals don’t look good. I don’t mean just because of their first two games. I mean that their pitching is really, really suspect. Probably more so than the Mets. And the Cardinals no longer have that loaded lineup to atone for their other shortcomings.
By DAP
April 3, 2007 10:47 PM | Link to this
just like last year, the mets seem to find ways to win. their team has weaknesses, but they find ways to overcome. they must have some of those intangibles weve talked about before.
we can take ‘em.
By KC
April 3, 2007 10:56 PM | Link to this
Whew! Looks like you dodged a bullet there No Chop!
By No Chop Zone
April 3, 2007 10:58 PM | Link to this
Pujols had his chance to tie it and didn’t. The bullpen holds the lead!!
By KC
April 3, 2007 10:58 PM | Link to this
Tomorrow is a very, very big day for the Braves. Hudson looked very good overall this spring, but now it’s time to start doing it for real and put last season behind him. I’m confident that Hudson will do just that… but to be honest, it’s still going to take a month of good starts from Huddy before I can relax about it.
By Micah
April 3, 2007 11:04 PM | Link to this
So, could the topic of discussion tonight be serendipitous behavior? I got your Sly tune comment, did you, by chance, get to see Sly at the Grammies? One of the all time special guests/sit-ins in history….that guy is so elusive, he’s the J.D. Salinger of Funk/Rock n’ Roll! Anyway, I had it taped and watched it over and over and over….did i mention over, again? Oh, and the Wright’s! I was wondering about those guys/gals since I noticed they play Mothers Day here and my mom’s maiden name is Wright…..is that serendipitous behavior?
Thanks for all the updates on opening DOB…..best thing next to cable but I guess you don’t want to bring up cable around Carolina Lady, huh?
I’m so psyched for this season, I can smell the ballpark franks in they air every so often.
Florida showed up like champions and they definitely deserve it but all the talk about best team ever doesn’t set well with me. I realize Donovan is a master motivator and wants to inspire but be a little more humble, please. Eh, it will give the ‘Dawgs fodder to chew on for next season! Best team ever! Give me a break!!!!!!!!!!!!
Go Braves!
By No Chop Zone
April 3, 2007 11:10 PM | Link to this
I am so glad we didn’t sign Zito. You here that Lew where ever you are. San Fran overpaid big time.
By KC
April 3, 2007 11:10 PM | Link to this
Went out to Centennial Park yesterday to check out Marc Cohn (one of the finest musicians alive) and The Robert Randolph Family Band who are also terrific. Great music, great time. If you’re not family with either artist/band, I highly suggest checking them out.
By Willy Wally
April 3, 2007 11:13 PM | Link to this
After our win yesterday, the tragic number is 162 for you Mets fans. Don’t forget that.
By woogidy
April 3, 2007 11:14 PM | Link to this
Yeah, Kelly’s run would have counted double, had he been at second when he scored on the Home Run. Stupid. That’s why you don’t steal.
By No Chop Zone
April 3, 2007 11:18 PM | Link to this
Better win tomorrow…..keep up
By Braves fan 202
April 3, 2007 11:28 PM | Link to this
KC you seem like a reliable resource from the blogs i have read of yours, anyways, what makes you think hudson will have a turn around season? I hope your right. I remember times like last year when he threw a one hitter against the mets and showed signs of excellence. If barry zito keeps sucing than that shows anyone can pitch in oakland, cuz mulder and hudson were also good until they left oakland. I really hope hudson turns it around tho, one his slider is on he is a hell of a pitcher. Cant wait til tomorrow, the only thing is that damn cole hamels, its his first full season so he could blow up like davies did. Anyways go braves and the cards BETTER when tommorow.
By Darren
April 3, 2007 11:33 PM | Link to this
I’m a big time Tommy Glavine fan and equally so a big time Johnny Smoltzie fan to. The game should be awesome on Saturday. Too bad I have to work, it sucks being a cop sometimes. Hopefully I will be able to Tivo the game, that is if it is on TBS or Espn, that’s all I get here out in Las Vegas.
By MEB
April 3, 2007 11:41 PM | Link to this
DOB… don’t forget to take something to keep you dry and warm tomorrow. What do think will happen if they call the game due to rain; will it change the Saturday match-up with Glavine-Smoltz? Thanks again for all you do for the blog!
By Hayden
April 3, 2007 11:42 PM | Link to this
Wow, a Townes Van Zandt mention…”to Live is To Fly” is one of his best.
By MS
April 3, 2007 11:43 PM | Link to this
DOB, that’s great to hear about Smoltz vs. Glavine. I can’t wait. If that game wasn’t going to be a sellout before, it certainly will be now. I needed to get a few more tickets for my group, and I better do it quickly tomorrow before they’re gone.
That’s funny you mention climbing the Rocky steps in Philly. My cousin moved out there about a year ago and said he spent an afternoon in a restaurant (Arby’s maybe?) right across the street from the steps watching people run up and down all afternoon long. Celebrating and putting their hands over their head at the top and everything. He said it was pretty darn funny to watch. So you were probably entertainment for someone today. :)
Finally, just got done watching tonight’s episode of House i had DVR’d and thought you’d get a kick out of the closing scene. As everything wrapped up and they showed House sitting in deep thought at home, Lucinda’s “Are you alright?” came on to close it out. I know I wasn’t too fond of it a couple of weeks ago when I saw her perform it on Letterman, but I really enjoyed it tonight. Good song.
By Braves Fan Since April 2, 2007
April 3, 2007 11:51 PM | Link to this
I’m not too impressed with Smoltz. Never have been. A really good pitcher would have taken that game to the house. Everyone blames the pen last year but it was his job to seal the deal. He failed as he so often has for the Braves. After all these years, he has the same exact winning percentage as Michael Vick. Smoltz has always been at best a glorified #3 starter. I say cut bait this year and good riddance.
By Braves Fan Since April 2, 2007
April 3, 2007 11:59 PM | Link to this
I really recommend you go to Paulie’s meat plant and punch some dead cows. Hey PhillyBraves fans, as the Mafia driver said to Rocky in the first movie, take DOB to the zoo, I heard retards love the zoo. Sorry, DOB. Tasteless and not too funny joke. Just a random quoting of a trivial line from a movie. Great blog as always despite my posts.
By Braves fan 202
April 4, 2007 12:07 AM | Link to this
Braves fan since April 2, 2007, are you kidding me?!?! What kind of a***** doesnt like smoltz! O wait i know, a fairweather fan who jumps on the bandwagon after 1 game. You make me sick. Smoltz is a hall of famer who is about to pass cy young on the strike out last, you remember him right? Over 500 wins. Not bad huh. Smoltz would have won 300 easy if he wasnt a closer. And winning percentages as pitchers and quarterbacks is way different. Especially since closers tipically get either a save or a loss, never a win. 750 winning % is ok as a QB vut excellent as a pitcher. Maybe if you watched the braves and knew somin about baseball, you might have realized he is one of the best pitchers in our era. What braves pitcher has stats that come close to his huh?
By Braves fan 202
April 4, 2007 12:13 AM | Link to this
Oya, smoltz also has the record for the most career playoff wins. Thats right, more than any yankee, any cardinal. Not too shabby for a 3rd guy in the rotation is it?
By DAP
April 4, 2007 2:13 AM | Link to this
*braves fan 202
man, i really hope that braves fan scince april 2nd was just being sarcastic with his post. i was about to tell you to chill because the guy was obviously kidding, but i guess you can never really tell with plain text. no intonation or anything to give it away.
if he was being serious, he probably really is retarded and someone should take him to the zoo.
By Braves fan 202
April 4, 2007 2:26 AM | Link to this
DAP, thats not somin you joke about, im sure he was serious. Considering his blog name is braves fan since april 2nd im sure he doesnt have much knowledge of smoltz’s history. It doesnt matter we all know he is great and the majority of braves fans appreciate what he has done for this franchise. But if he was joking than i feel like a jerk. Hopefully he was.
By Braves fan 202
April 4, 2007 2:32 AM | Link to this
Havent heard from tennesse paul on a blog in a while, he used to be every other blog. wonder where he went
By bergian
April 4, 2007 4:05 AM | Link to this
Is it just me, or did it seem like espn was low key about baseball this spring? Did I miss the ususal team by team breakdown that they usually did in the past, with a team each night? All I ever saw was NBA highlights, which bore me after 2 minutes. Hey, the 7 foot guy dunked, amazing….zzzzzzzzz
By Braves Fan Since April 2, 2007
April 4, 2007 4:28 AM | Link to this
Kidding? What would make you think I was kidding? Smoltz was a great closer but he has never in his career been a legitimate #1 starter. Never. He has great postseason stats but that is very deceiving.
In Game 7 of the 1991 World Series, the Braves lose 1-0. Old Man Jack Morris famously goes ten innings to seal the deal. Youngster Smoltz can only go seven or so, thus leaving the fate of the Braves in the hands of the immortal Alejandro Pena.
In Game 2 of the 1992 Series, Smoltz has a 4-2 lead heading into the eighth. He wilts and leaves the fate of the Braves in the hands of Jeff Reardon and, well, y’all know the rest of that story. Smoltz again comes up short by not sealing the deal.
In Game 3 of the 1995 World Series, Smoltz is smacked all around the yard, getting himself chased in the third inning. The Braves go on to win the World Series despite Smoltz.
In Game 5 of the 1996 World Series, Pettite, like Jack Morris five years earlier, betters Smoltz 1-0 to help the Yankees take a 3-2 lead in the Series. Again, Smoltz comes up short in a big spot and the Braves suffer because of it. Everyone blames everything on Neagle and Wohlers but the series was merely tied at that point. Smoltz just came up short as usual in that pivotal Game 5 swing game.
In Game 4 of the 1999 World Series, entrusted with the responsibility of preventing a sweep by the Yankees, Smoltz again comes up short to a true ace like Roger Clemens. As a result, the dynasty that never was is swept by the dynasty that has always been.
Smoltz is a closer. Not a starter. He got screwed by management when they made him a closer. The team got screwed when he refused to be a closer anymore. There were two reasons why it is better if he is a closer as opposed to a starter: (1) He is a better closer than starter; and (2) If he is a closer, they do not have to pay him as much. People say he took a hometown discount. That’s not true. Smoltz took closer’s money because that was what his role was.
Selfishly, he demanded back into the rotation because (1) He does not realize that he is an all time closer but at best a glorified #3 starter; and (2) He wants to be paid the market value for a starting pitcher which is twice as much as what is paid to a closer.
Cut bait with this marginal starter and say good riddance.
It is almost hilarious to hear people say he is going to be a HOFer. He’s been pitching about as long as Glavine and Maddux. Glavine has about 100 more wins than Smoltz and Maddux has about 150 more wins than Smoltz. 4 years as a starter cost him about 55-60 wins or so - still way behind the true #1 and #2 guys on the Braves staff for all those years of what might have been if only Smoltz could ever take a game to the house instead of fading late in games.
By David O'Brien
April 4, 2007 4:57 AM | Link to this
Fell asleep, woke up to turn off laptop. Read some posts. RobDawg, two things you asked/said:
robdawg06 April 3, 2007 9:40 PM | Link to this At least Giles could catch a lazy infield fly ball� Also, why didn�t Kelly try to steal a base when he drew a walk ? Pete said this about Jimmy Rollins : �A single is basically a double for Jimmy because he will steal second base every time.� At leadoff, Kelly should steal 40 bases this year.
I WOULD POINT OUT: Braves have to have the green light, the signal, to steal. And Hubbard told me this spring how much that was a strong point with Kelly compared to some others _ when they gave him the green light, he would always go. “Some players don’t have larceny in their heart,” is how he put it. “Kelly does. He’ll go when he gets the green light.”
Your man Giles, by the way, stole 10 in 15 attempts last year. From the leadoff position. Braves leadoff hitters had the second-fewest steals in the NL last season, and had the worst success rate. The NL team average for leadoff hitters: 34 in 45 attempts.
Braves actually did better from the No. 2 spot: Renteria stole 17 in 23 attempts, and he’s a lot bigger than Giles and with more wear-and-tear from 11 years in the majors and a chronic back problem that he has to constantly keep in check to continue playing.
(Renteria, by the way _ just for those interested _ does a regimen of back exercises every day, before every game, without fail. Watched him do it a couple hours before the opener, in a hallway near the weight room in the visitor’s clubhouse. He sits on a big rubber ball and does these exercises, including catching a heavy ball repeatedly thrown by strength coach Frank Fultz, while Edgar sits on the big rubber ball. Cal Ripken used to do the same exercises every day. He had a spine curvature similar to Edgar and some other players. It’s why you always see Edgar leaning back with his hands to his waist, when he’s in the field, on the bases, etc. He’s always stretching his back.)
By robdawg06 April 3, 2007 9:44 PM | Link to this That�s a weak reason if that is the reason they were off today. You could just add a game at the end of the series (if one were rained out) and let the 2nd scheduled game be the opener.
I WOULD POINT OUT: No, that wouldn’t work at all. Reason: Opening day is sold out at virtually every stadium. There’s typically a pretty sharp dropoff to Game 2, especially in cities with larger stadiums (Philly seats more than 44,000) and in places that don’t typically sellout every game. They might drop to 30,000 or fewer for Game 2.
Everyone who bought a ticket to the sold-out Game 1 could not attend an opening-day game the next day if the first one was rained out. In fact, most couldn’t attend. Because if 30,000-35,000 tix are already sold for the next day’s game (which they would be), then there are only about 10,000 seats available if you wanted to let people swap their tix for the next day.
In other words, all those 44,000-plus who bought tickets for opening day, would have to swap their tickets for another game during the season, based on availability, blah blah blah. Not a very good swap for folks who bought opening-day tix, don’t you think?
It does simplify things, especially in places prone to rain at this time of year, if you have the next day available to make up an opening day rainout. While it looks bad having an off day, especially when it’s nice like it was in Philly Tuesday, it does make good business sense, and potentially helps a lot of fans who’d get shortchanged if the opener was rained out and they had to attend some August game vs. Pittsburgh instead, because that’s the only date seats were available and they could get back to town to attend, etc.
And no, teams don’t want to give money back to fans. Those tix are sold. They don’t want to have to sell them again. Just business.
By Braves Fan Since April 2, 2007
April 4, 2007 5:11 AM | Link to this
Further proof of how deceiving his postseason stats can be:
In Game 4 of the 1993 NLCS, Smoltz is bested by the immortal Danny Jackson. The Braves lose 2-1. The Braves had a 2-1 series lead at that point. Coming up short by Smoltz allows the Phillies to even the Series. By failing to seal the deal against the Phils, Smoltz breathes new life into the Phils chances. After beating Smoltz, the Phillies never lose another game in the 1993 NLCS.
In Game 3 of the 1997 NLCS, with the series tied 1-1, Smoltz gets smacked around, giving the Marlins a 2-1 series advantage.
In Game 1 of the 1998 NLCS, Smoltz comes up small, leaving the game trailing 2-1. He is saved from a loss by the overrated Trevor Hoffman (who Smoltz is 10 times better than as a closer) blowing the save. The game however was tied going into the eighth. Smoltz has to give up a run of course giving the Pods a late lead before Hoffman blows it. If Smoltz was able to close the deal, the Braves never would have had the fate of the team in the hands of the immortal Lightenberg in a big spot.
In Game 5 of the 1998 NLCS, Smoltz is smacked around. He leaves the game in the seventh with the Braves trailing 4-2. The Braves have to rally in the game to win despite Smoltz coming up short again. Maddux has to come in and save Smoltz and the team from Lightenberg (which Smoltz failed to do just like he failed in Game 1) in the ninth to preserve the victory.
That 15-4, 2.65 ERA postseason record is incredible and incredibly deceiving at the same time.
The Braves should have kept true winners like Maddux and Glavine and told Smoltz to be on his merry way. Argue all you want. Just because he is the last man standing over here does not mean he should be here over the two true aces of that era.
Tiger’s ATM indeed. He is also the ATM bank other teams cash in on in big spots in the World Series and the NLCS when he is a starter.
By ppaddy123
April 4, 2007 6:31 AM | Link to this
Hey Braves Fan 2007, does Smoltz owe you money? Did he kick your dog? Mess with your wife? Eat the last piece o’ fried chicken? You need to get back on your meds and lighten up.
By ppaddy123
April 4, 2007 6:34 AM | Link to this
Mr. Baseball, I was wondering, exactly which Little League team do you manage and what’s your won/loss record during your tenure?
By Braves Fan Since April 2, 2007
April 4, 2007 6:52 AM | Link to this
Paddywagon, Smoltz merely owes me a World Series title. I only have one and he stunk that World Series up. They won the 1995 World Series despite Smoltz. Smoltz has unfortunately never won any of us a World Series title. Someday, the rest of you will realize that. As for my meds, the doctors have not yet figured out the right dosage, so bear with me. Hopefully, I will find a doc who cares about my mental and emotional well-being and who is not merely a pill pusher. One can only hope. Well, actually, I guess the rest of you hope I get the right meds as well. Oh, the humanity!
By Barrett
April 4, 2007 7:45 AM | Link to this
Braves Fan Since April 2, shut up and go root for the mets…. I normally don’t participate in the childish banter that goes on in here because I am much to mature to even bother with giving people that constantly complain about hudson winning only 12 games so we should throw him on the streets, Bobby Cox being a worse manager than Grady Little and other such non-sense. Seriously, Smoltz is a #3 starter. A number three starter that is going to be in the top 5 in the league in every major pitching catagory. I agree with however said this guy/gal needs to be taken to the zoo. I will buy you one of those ‘cool’ little cups too…
Idiot
By Paul
April 4, 2007 7:50 AM | Link to this
Post Season Stats
Glavine 14-16 3.42 (World Series 1-4) Maddux 10-11 3.34 (World Series 1-2) Smoltz 15-4 2.65 (World Series 1-4)
Game 7, I have my choice of Glavine, Maddux, or Smoltz….I’m starting Smoltz.
By Braves Fan Since April 2, 2007
April 4, 2007 7:52 AM | Link to this
Barrett, can you buy me a candy apple at the zoo when you take me there?
By JJ
April 4, 2007 8:52 AM | Link to this
So do Braves lose an option on Davies?
By Lew
April 4, 2007 8:56 AM | Link to this
Braves Fan Since 2007-Has anyone ever told you you don’t know your butt from a golf course? I can’t begin to address all your misconceptions, but I guess no one else agreed with you either. If he was so bad a starter, how did he end up right behind Cy Young on the K list? How did he end up with a Cy Young Award (and let’s not forget the CY he should have won last year and possibly in 05 if not for the 12 blown saves)? Dude, whoever asked you if he owed you money might have been right on target. You’re certainly not rational.
By NO CHOP ZONE
April 4, 2007 8:58 AM | Link to this
I like the start so far for Mets. What should worry you Brave fans the most is that both Glavine and Hernandez only allowed ONE run each. Yeah it’s only two games but I like the start on the road.
By Mike
April 4, 2007 8:59 AM | Link to this
Braves fan since April 2… Yeah, sorry Smoltz gave up ONLY ONE RUN in three of those games! Too bad Smoltz couldn’t work on his homerun power and perfect his pitching at the same time… ‘tard.
By Lew
April 4, 2007 8:59 AM | Link to this
JJ-Even if they do, the options would be good for this entire season. If it is his last option, then it wouldn’t matter until 08.
By Mike
April 4, 2007 9:02 AM | Link to this
Oh yeah, and TWO RUNS in two of the games…. Smoltz is SO terrible. That’s, what, FIVE quality starts?
By wayne
April 4, 2007 9:11 AM | Link to this
this is the wave of the future for braves starters this season: rotating injuries. Its a good thing we have multiple starters….were gonna need ‘em.
By Lew
April 4, 2007 9:24 AM | Link to this
ChopZone-No, I think the Cardinals need to worry why they have no offense, even Pujols, to this point. The Mets true pitching colors will show. It’s only two games. You still are not repeat Champs quite yet.
By Gil in Mechanicsville(zoo keeper)
April 4, 2007 9:26 AM | Link to this
Good morning Boys and Girls, My … The midnight shift does bring out the beast sometimes…. Must be the full moon.
Well, Roachie is still 0 for Houston but Marcus did manage a walk yesterday for the Padres. Let’s hope the Braves can fill that big offensive void today with weak hitting Thorman and Kelly J.
The Brewers look good this year. Our old friend Johnny Estrada had a good night. He is a gamer folks. He will not hit with the power of McCann but he is a RBI machine….
Don’t look now but the Marlins are tied with the Mutts, of course they opened against the Nationals so they have been wearing themselves out running the bases.
By Braves Fan Since April 2, 2007
April 4, 2007 9:30 AM | Link to this
Mike, don’t blame the hitters. Smoltz simply got outpitched by the other team’s pitchers in those critical games. It’s not the hitters fault that Smoltz has never been as good as the best pitchers the other teams throw at the Braves in big games. If you stick around long enough you are going to catch up to people in strikeout totals. Compiler in everything except win totals I guess. He was never an ace. He’s the Mike Vick of baseball - talented but ultimately a 58% winning percentage. If you are going to give Smoltz love, you had better do the same for Vick. There were several years when Smoltz was actually the fourth pitcher on the team behind Avery, Millwood, and Neagle.
By NO CHOP ZONE
April 4, 2007 9:39 AM | Link to this
Hey Braves fan since 4/2…..If you don’t want Smoltz we’ll take him.
By Lew
April 4, 2007 9:42 AM | Link to this
ChopZone-I’d be willing to bet that Glavine and ElDuque won’t end up with a combined 70-0 record with ERA’s under one.
By flange1
April 4, 2007 9:43 AM | Link to this
Braves Fan since yesterday, Could you tell me the year the braves went with Smoltz, Avery, Millwood and Neagle as a rotation? I thought I had been watching the past thirty years, but maybe I missed something!
By Marc
April 4, 2007 9:43 AM | Link to this
Wayne,
No offense but I guarantee your company would drop you like a bag of turds if they thought it would help the bottom line. Ask the workers at GM about loyalty; I had a friend whose father worked for a steel company that laid him off six months before his 30 year pension. You live in a dream world. It’s pretty hypocritical for people that live in an acquisitive society like America to criticize players for going after the bucks. That is the American way. And, you know damn well that the first time Glavine started struggling, the “fans” would be yelling to drop him. I have no problem at all with what Glavine did. Loyalty in pro sports is a myth—unless you are willing to keep lousy players and lose games to be loyal.
By yoyoma1234
April 4, 2007 9:45 AM | Link to this
Well said Paul, well said. It’s a travesty that we even have to argue with a ‘fan’ about Smoltzie. There is no one I would rather have in a Braves uni. He is one classy SOB.
By Barrett
April 4, 2007 9:46 AM | Link to this
Braves Fan Since April 2, 2007, I’ll even sit in the little booth with you and let you take your picture with me…
By Gil in Mechanicsville(zoo keeper)
April 4, 2007 9:57 AM | Link to this
Now that’s a riot… Even a Met’s fan can recognize quality pitcher when they see one.
However, I suspect 007 is just someone looking to stir up a littleconversation in their otherwise lonely life. No serious baseball fan could expect a pitcher to come out a throw nine innings of shutout baseball in the major leauges every game.
That is something that only happens in the little leagues, movies and works of fiction. The real world knows that proffesional hitters are paid win too. It is useless to argue with this fellow.
Sorry John slighted you in some way, did he run over your cat?
By KC
April 4, 2007 9:57 AM | Link to this
By Braves fan 202: “…what makes you think hudson will have a turn around season? I hope your right. I remember times like last year when he threw a one hitter against the mets and showed signs of excellence. If barry zito keeps sucing than that shows anyone can pitch in oakland, cuz mulder and hudson were also good until they left oakland. I really hope hudson turns it around tho, one his slider is on he is a hell of a pitcher.”
There are a few reasons why I’m optimistic about Hudson. First, 2006 was the first and only poor season of Hudson’s career, and if he bounces back this season, he would be one of many, many excellent baseball players who have had a bad season and bounced back from it. It happens sometimes. Many would say “no, it’s not just one poor season. He’s been in decline for several years”. I disagree.
Hudson’s 2004 and 2005 seasons were termed “mediocre” by many. By Tim Hudson standards, that may be so… but not by MLB standards. Until 2006, Hudson finished in the top 15% of all Major League starters in ERA every year of his career (except in his sophomore season… but he won 20 games that year) INCLUDING 2004 and 2005. And it’s worth noting that he wasn’t 100% in either of those seasons. He struggled with an oblique injury most of the 04/05 seasons. For a guy to be operating at about 80% most of the time and *still finish top 15% is an accomplishment, not a failure.
Anyway, after last season, I was curious to know if there was any precedence for what had just happened with Hudson. It puzzled me. Here was a bonafide ace who was healthy and still very much in his prime. There was no tangible reason for his struggles, so I wanted to see if there were other examples of that in recent history. I looked up pretty much every pitcher who had consistently finished top-10 in ERA at an point over the past 25 years. What I found was encouraging. Numerous pitchers such as Roger Clemens, John Smoltz, Mike Mussina (back in his more dominant Baltimore days), Kevin Brown, and others… all had seasons similar to the one Hudson just had while healthy and in the prime of their careers.
In every single such case that I could find, that pitcher bounced right back the following season. I couldn’t find a single instance where a prominent pitcher struggled for a season in his prime, and then just fade out into the sunset. And I wasn’t being selective… seriously; I couldn’t find a single instance where that pitcher didn’t come right back.
Tim Hudson is still fairly young, he’s healthy, and he still has all the same tools he had in Oakland. He hasn’t had any major injuries that would affect his stuff. It’s all still there.
Also, Hudson’s spring was encouraging. It wasn’t perfect, but it was very good and he looked much, much better than last season. In fact, more than one scout told reporters that Hudson’s stuff once again looked like it did back in his best Oakland years. He seems to be getting that tough downward movement on his pitches again, and his spitter is looking crisper than it has in a few seasons.
In the end, I just don’t see any reason to expect a repeat of last season from Hudson. Now… will he be back in Cy Young caliber form? Who knows, but the fact of the matter is, he doesn’t need to be. It would be great if he posts a sub-3.00 ERA, but frankly if he could just put up another 3.50… that would be plenty good enough to win at least 18 games with this offense and especially this bullpen.
I don’t think that’s a lot to hope for. I really don’t. I’m not betting any big money on a Cy Young season from Hudson… but I would wager that he’ll be FAR better than last season. In fact, I have wagered on that. =)
By NO CHOP ZONE
April 4, 2007 10:01 AM | Link to this
I know that Lew but I like 2-0 better that 1-1 or 0-2. It’s a nice start to the marathon otherwise known as the baseball season.
By KC
April 4, 2007 10:03 AM | Link to this
Braves fan 202:
Also, on the pitching in Oakland thing… if you look at Zito’s stats, you’ll find a precipitous downturn that started 3 years ago in Oakland. Over the past 3 years, he has an ERA of about 4.00. Not that’s not bad at all by today’s standards, particularly in the AL. But he’s not proven worth anything close to the money the Giants gave him in several years.
Mark Mulder posted a very mediocre 4.43 ERA his last year in Oakland, and then pitched well for St. Louis in 2005 before a bad, injury ridden season last year. And Hudson’s last year in Oakland was virtually identical to his first year in Atlanta.
So I’m not a believer in the magic Oakland coliseum theory. Yes there’s more foul territory there than most parks, but that’s not going to significantly impact a pitcher’s ERA. It’s not about where they’re pitching.
By Gil in Mechanicsville(zoo keeper)
April 4, 2007 10:03 AM | Link to this
Wayne.. Could not agree with you more on that one….
By Braves Fan Since April 2, 2007
April 4, 2007 10:05 AM | Link to this
Go ahead. Take Smoltz, No Chop. We can win zero World Series with him, we can win zero World Series without him. You took our real winning ace and we smack him all over the ballyard everytime we see him. You guys need all the help you can get with that horrendous pitching staff of yours. At least then you would have a #3 masquerading as a #2. Your pitching rotation slogan could be Glavine, Smoltz, and the Dolts.
What’s the difference anyway? Maddux leaves, Glavine leaves, Klesko leaves, Justice leaves, Millwood leaves, Grissom leaves, Javy leaves, Drew leaves, Sheffield leaves, Furcal leaves, Giles leaves, Laroche leaves, Andruw is leaving, Smoltz is probably leaving, McCann will eventually leave, Frenchy will eventually leave, taking James with them. What does it matter? It’s no longer root, root, root for the old ballteam. It is now root, root, root for the owners.
I’m just preparing myself for next season when he is no longer here - it won’t hurt as much next year if I get all negative now about him. Hopefully, that will brace the inevitable blow of losing Smoltz. It’s better than being a bunch of losers who attack Glavine for taking money none of us would ever turn down and it is better than the casual indifference Braves fans usually have when star after star leaves the team.
By KC
April 4, 2007 10:05 AM | Link to this
Braves Fan Since April 2, 2007:
Since I began blogging here early last season, I’ve run across many people and points of view with which I disagree. While I may not always see eye to eye with a person, I’ve always taken great care to confine my criticisms to the argument at hand, rather than say anything of a personal nature. So please know that’s it’s a bit out of the norm for me when I say…
YOU’RE AN IDIOT!
If you want to sit here contradict all the facts and numbers by, with the selective precision of a neurosurgeon, cherry picking a start here and there where you don’t think Smoltz came through… be my guest. I won’t argue with you. There’s no point.
By Shaun
April 4, 2007 10:06 AM | Link to this
From yesterday…
Payne: As I’m sure you are well aware, baseball is a game of failure. This means the batter will fail more than he will succeed. Knowing this, it is then very important for a player to make his failure be as productive as possible. The K is the least productive failure. it’s what and how much they do in between K’s that matters. Unfortunately for LaRoche, in between K’s, he was striking out. There isn’t much “in between” 0-5 with 4Ks.
Really? Why is the list of active players with the lowest strikeout rates rather unimpressive? And why is the list of active players with high strikeout rates not that bad at all?
Seems odd to argue that it is very important to make failure count, when how often you fail has proven to be much more important than how you fail.
Again, I point to the fact that many times in baseball history the teams that score the most runs often are the teams that K the most.
Sure, in some situations it’s better to make contact than strikeout but most of the time an out is an out.
And with LaRoche, yes, it’s bad that he’s made this many outs but it’s still only two games into the season. Let’s wait at least a few weeks before we start on him.
By Gil in Mechanicsville(zoo keeper)
April 4, 2007 10:10 AM | Link to this
Sorry Marc…. I meant I agreed with your statement. I went from a family owned business that was bought out by a corporation. When I became very Unionized…..
By David O'Brien
April 4, 2007 10:15 AM | Link to this
Braves Fan since 2007: Gotta tell you, that was a hilarious April Fools Day post you put up about Smoltz and his “deceiving” postseason record. Absolutely hilarious. Good one.
I know what it was. You saw Leyland’s quote to me this spring, when I simply asked him his general thoughts about Smoltz and he said, “No doubt about it, best postseason pitcher I’ve ever seen.” You saw that and thought, I gotta wait until April Fools Day and put up this funny post. So I tip my cap to you. It was strong.
Wait, what’s that? Oh, April Fools Day is April 1?
Nevermind.
And don’t fear when the men in white coats knock at your door later today. They’re friendly. Not there to hurt you.
By Sir Stealth
April 4, 2007 10:24 AM | Link to this
People, haven’t you ever heard of a troll? I can’t believe everyone is even responding to this Smoltz crap. It could have just been one lost post, now its spread all over the place.
As many have said, this game is all about Tim Hudson and setting a standard for how he’s gonna pitch this season. I hope he’s up to the task and I hope that Francoeur looks somewhat less awful than he did on Monday.
By Gil in Mechanicsville(zoo keeper)
April 4, 2007 10:27 AM | Link to this
Hey 007, need the number for a good therapist? Yes, the sun will burn out in about in about trillion years… How does that make you feel? Be glad you are not a Cubs fan…..
By yoyoma1234
April 4, 2007 10:28 AM | Link to this
Good one NO CHOP, which episode of The Sopranos did you steal that from btw?
By DAP
April 4, 2007 10:28 AM | Link to this
braves fan since april 2
Dude, i still think youre kidding. either that or you are really dumb. you gave a bunch of examples earlier of smoltz losing some important game 1-0, some of those when he didnt even give up the run.
if i remember right, mad dog maddux got knocked around in the ‘95 world series to, and at other times, and so has glavine, in the postseason or otherwise.
how about our lone win in the ‘05 NLDS against houston? i believe smoltz went 8 innings against the great roger clemens, and we won that game. if you want to know why john smoltz is a hall of fame pitcher, just watch that game. hes got many many more like that.
also, his wins as a starter PLUS his saves make him hall of fame worthy. if he had started those years he was a closer and gotten 50 wins, which is what i think you said he would have had, thats 243 wins with a couple of years to go… being a starter would have given him more strikeouts, as well, ect. hes a shoe-in for the HOF.
By Eric from MO
April 4, 2007 10:32 AM | Link to this
Braves fan since April 2, where do I start? First of all Smoltz didnt go 7 innings in the game 7 of 1991 World Series; he went 9 innings. If his offense gave him any kind of production he would of been the world series MVP but they couldnt give him one run. Also not only is Smoltz has a more wins than anyone else in postseason history he also has more Strikeouts. As for the 1996 game once again he got no run support. He left one pitch, I think a slider to Paul Oneil, hang and it got hit out. That was the only runs he gave up. In 93 he went 8 shutout innings what more do you want. How often do you see pitchers throw a complete 1-0 game in the playoffs. Not often. Basically you took all of his losses to show how “horrible” Smoltz is. However you didnt show any of his 15 wins or his 4 postseason saves. How about his last win in 2005 against Houston. His shoulder was about to explode. There are pictures that show how bad it looked. It is black and blue just from throwing. However Smoltz goes 7 innings against Clemens and shuts down the Astros but I guess you dont want to talk about that? Another thing you said you deserved another world series guess what you have none since you apparently you werent a fan in 1995. There are many more wins and other opportunities I could talk about but I dont feel like wasting my time with you.
By journalist jimmy smith
April 4, 2007 10:41 AM | Link to this
oh, the humanity! dob is in a playful mood today - must have opened the ham last night. and what is worse than having another blogger call you a “looser”? how loose? and this famous line from a day earlier, “your an idiot!” - oh, the humanity! this journalist is no pre-madonna but jimmy smith thinks bloggers should be kinder to one another and more careful with the posts. this journalist has did some things in the past year to make jimmy smith’s posts more grammaticallly correct.
By David O'Brien
April 4, 2007 10:49 AM | Link to this
No Chop, that last vile comment was probably enough to get you banned. If it wasn’t, I can’t imagine what would be.
Yoyoma, some advice: Wouldn’t use any more of the “greasy” and “garlic” stuff, or you might find yourself in read-only mode here.
By avlbrv
April 4, 2007 10:50 AM | Link to this
i know this isn’t baseball or man in black talk, but DOB, for your aching knees and running, i have a book for you. i will give it to you if interested.
By rammerjammer
April 4, 2007 10:52 AM | Link to this
Paul Hagen of the Philadelphia Inquirer wrote this yesterday:
“With two outs and a runner on first in the sixth, Helms doubled over the head of Andruw Jones in center. Two years ago, almost certainly, Jones would have caught that ball.”
Interesting.
By Scalp 'Em Braves
April 4, 2007 10:53 AM | Link to this
I have to marvel at the responses to idiotic posts like Braves Fan since April 2 2007 on Smoltz. Seems posts of this ilk always appear from a brand new name, never seen before, and are intended to do one thing, and one thing only - draw attention to themselves by stating either th outrageous (e.g., Smoltz was never better than a #3 starter), or the stupid (Bobby Cox is an idiot because he gave Renteria the signal to bunt twice). Ivariably, this is what people will respond to, as opposed to legitimate, valid points. No problem with calling these people out, but after a while, geez folks, just ignore them and debate something worth talking about.
I hope Cormier is ok. I got my hopes up this spring that he had really come into his own, and was ready to step up to being a reliable, quality starter. If we’ve got a Kerry Wood in the making, god help us all.
Can’t wait for the Muts to hit town. No doubt, the current series with the Phils is important, as I believe they pose more of a threat to take the divsion this year than the Muts. But, the weekend series is as much emotional/confrontational as it is important, from a win/lose standpoint.
Bring on the Muts!!
By Gonzo
April 4, 2007 10:54 AM | Link to this
Adam LaRoche is 0 for 8 with 5 strikeouts this year. Of course Scott Thorman is hitless as well. I like the trade and I think LaRoche had a career 2nd half last year that he can’t repeat with the holes in his swing. I like Mike Gonzalez.
By David O'Brien
April 4, 2007 10:56 AM | Link to this
JJ, they already used an option for Davies, when they sent him to Richmond. But he can go back and forth as much as they want to send him this season and it’ll still be just one option. We knew he would get recalled at some point, so not a big deal.
Unless I’m mistaken, he’s used all his options now. So next season, he’ll either stick with the Braves or … well, you know the drill.
By KC
April 4, 2007 10:56 AM | Link to this
Gammons apparently has a piece up on the ESPN site trumpeting the “amazing” talent of the Mets. “The powerful Mets lineup” is all it seems we hear about. So again, I point out that the Mets have not edge offensively aside from Jose Reyes.
I’ll point it out one more time here, since I don’t have Peter Gammons’ email address…
Side by side 2-6 slots in the Mets/Braves lineup:
Mets - [Lo Duca, Delgado, Beltran, Wright, Alou]: .294, 132-HR, 469-RBI
Braves - [Renteria, C.Jones, A.Jones, McCann, Francoeur]: .290, 134-HR, 481-RBI
The bottom of both orders are also very comparable in both power and batting average. Not edge for either team there either.
Jose Reyes is the only edge the Mets have on the Braves offensively. And while he does represent a significant edge… is he enough to make up for the fact that the Braves have a better rotation and and a better bullpen?
Not so “amazing” when you really look at it.
By KC
April 4, 2007 10:59 AM | Link to this
If the Braves win tonight, I trust they’ll receive the same fanfare the Mets have after 2 wins.
By Barrett
April 4, 2007 11:08 AM | Link to this
Was it just me, or did any of you other people start laughing out loud when Mike Gonzalez made Howard looking silly…. Oh how I like a good ‘pen.
By coach
April 4, 2007 11:16 AM | Link to this
All right , lets debate(argue). My top five starters: LH Santana , RH Smoltz , LH Willis , RH Webb , RH Oswalt. Johan Santana did something on 2004 that hadn’t been done in thirty-six years and when I saw it my jaw just about hit the floor. Bob Gibson previously did it in 1968 , anybody want to venture a guess ?
By IllinoisBravesFan
April 4, 2007 11:17 AM | Link to this
I thought this was a Braves blog not a Mets blog.
By rammerjammer
April 4, 2007 11:18 AM | Link to this
The Mets will get more love because they’re the defending division champs whom many have written off, and they’re in New York. It is what it is.
Until last season, those stories were written about the Braves. Now we know how it feels to CONSTANTLY hear about another team’s greatness.
Winning will take care of this annoyance. Go Braves.
By Carolina Lady
April 4, 2007 11:21 AM | Link to this
I can’t believe y’all are even responding to the fake fan. Some things are best ignored.
jjs, isn’t it wondrous to see the fruits of our education tax dollars? Amazing.
Cable repaired. (Micah, you are so right! Sore subject!) :-)))
By NRBQ
April 4, 2007 11:21 AM | Link to this
Wow, that never happened before!
Braves Fan Since’s opinion is so warped it made my browser crash……….
By Greg in TN
April 4, 2007 11:21 AM | Link to this
Morning gang…
KC, if the Braves win tonight, why don’t we schedule a parade from Five Points to the ballpark? I can’t honestly figure out why Bud hasn’t called a press conference yet and awarded the Warren Giles championship trophy to the mets.
In all seriousness, folks. Tonight we can put ourselves in position to take series #1 from a division rival on the road. A good night from Huddy will put us in position to do just that. April’s schedule puts us in a position that if we do well, we are well on our way.
By Renegator
April 4, 2007 11:25 AM | Link to this
KC:
I think everyone thinks the Mets lineup is so much better than ours because they have so many veterans that are proven hitters. We have many questions like Langy, Thorman, Johnson, and Francouer. If these guys step up this year, I think we have just as good of an offense as the Mets (minus Reyes - we have no team speed to match him) but if these guys don’t step up - then we have a much weaker offense than the Mets.
Just my humble opinion.
By Braves Fan Since April 2, 2007
April 4, 2007 11:29 AM | Link to this
Do you guys mean he was not supposed to go 23-2 in the playoffs? Y’all need to raise your expectations. Don’t worry. Smoltz does not take the award for the most statistically deceptive and fraudalent big game pitcher. That award goes to Mariano Rivera. Rivera gave up the Alomar home run in 1997, blew Game 7 of the 2001 World Series, and blew the 2004 ALCS against the Red Sox. You can’t be much more of a big game choker than that. You should completely ignore that deceptive postseason ERA of 0.80 in 113 postseason innings. Rivera is a choker just like Smoltz.
Uh-oh. Here comes Shaun in his white lab coat just as DOB warned. Hope he lets Barrett take me to the zoo like he promised. Retards like me with belated April Fool’s jokes love the zoo.
By Matthew, Walter's Dad
April 4, 2007 11:32 AM | Link to this
Barrett:
I too got a very excited feeling in my gut when Gonzo made the second coming of Babe Ruth (or so Philly fans believe) look like a Junior Little Leaguer. While I can appreciate Wickman’s style (not a K pitcher, but gets guys out) I do enjoy the strikeout.
I really feel strongly now that whenever our starter leaves the game, if it is a 1 or 2 run game either way, the Braves will win the vast majority of them. Gonzo, Soriano, and Wickman are a deadly combination, and when you add the “lesser” bullpen arms, Atlanta is the team to beat in the East.
Mark it down, friends, that if Chipper plays 120+ games and the rotation stays relatively healthy, the Braves will win 100 game and go to the World Series.
By PhillyGirl
April 4, 2007 11:35 AM | Link to this
Mr. O’Brien,
Regarding your post at 10:56am, is it the same situation with Cormier?
Could he pitch in Richmond next year if we wanted him to?
By the way, I’m a long-time reader but this is my first post. I am a Dave O’Brien fan!!
By KC
April 4, 2007 11:38 AM | Link to this
Greg in TN: Have I said anything to indicate I think the Braves have this division in the bag. I haven’t said anything like that, because I’m not even close to believing that.
I think the Braves are the better team right now, but not by a wide margin. I’m not convinced the Phillies will be able to keep pace, but the Mets are going to win well over 90 games again this season… so it’s going to be a fairly tight race to the finish.
I just get physically ill every time I hear people fawning over the Mets, while the Braves (who I feel have a more complete and slightly better all around ball club) are still showing up #16 on some power rankings.
It’s amazing how much respect the Mets are getting while the Braves are getting pretty damn little recognition.
I know, I know… that will take care of itself in time. It just bugs me, that’s all.
By ernesto
April 4, 2007 11:38 AM | Link to this
Just read that Bud-sucks Selig was paid $14 million last year by MLB - that’s a lot of jack for a bungler. Seriously, what does that guy do to warrant that kind of compensation? P** off a good deal of loyal fans with the Extra Innings travesty? Come up with hairbrained ideas like winner of the AllStar game gets home field advantage in the WS? He must have fallen on a grenade and saved a whole regiment in a previous life…although I bet he just tripped. Idiot.
By David O'Brien
April 4, 2007 11:39 AM | Link to this
Smoltz and Mariano Rivera fraudulent? Seriously, as Johnny Mac once said, “You CANNOT BE SERIOUS?”
C’mon, man, you’re making it too easy. At least Robert has an argument. You’re just being ridiculous.
I will tell you this: Smoltz _ and any other pitcher alive _ wouldn’t mind being lumped into any comparison with Rivera. In fact, you’re right lumping those two together: Probably the two greatest postseason pitchers of the current era.
By TennesseePaul
April 4, 2007 11:41 AM | Link to this
Payne: You still miss the point. You have to advance the runners around the base. Getting on base is only part of the battle. You have to move in 90 foot intervals all the way around the bases. If you have a choice between having your hitter ground out and the runner advancing, or striking out and the runner staying still, which would you take? Here’s another way of asking this question… Which event has the highest probability of advancing a runner and/or scoring a run, ball in play, or strike out?
By Metropolitan Man
April 4, 2007 11:45 AM | Link to this
KC im tired of you touting out that 2-6 is even in the lineups becasue of the way you matched them up. But your scenario doesnt tell the entire story such as who in the 2-6 lineup is the clutch hitter, who scores the most runs, who has the most RBI’s, stloen base, better glove. You lump these players up and come up with a lump number and say they are comparable with Reyes being the exception. Dude that formula only works for grouping your stats together instead of truly breaking it down by individual and then you might see the diffrence and why no one is coming up with that crazy comparison you keep posting. METS and braves lineups are not equal individaully but close as a group.
By KC
April 4, 2007 11:47 AM | Link to this
Renegator: I think you are correct about the veteran thing. Really… I think it’s about the names they have in their lineup.
Because he plays in NY, everyone knows about David Wright, but how many people realize that Brian McCann is one of the best young all-around hitters in the game? Not very many.
And a guy like Sean Green, while he’s a shell of his former self, still sounds better than a Langerhans/Diaz platoon. Even if he’s not.
Does the casual baseball fan even know that the Braves out-scored and out-hit the Mets last year? I would imagine the average fan thinks the Mets scored twice as many runs as Atlanta last year.
And that’s fine. I just wish that professional journalists would take the time to do their homework. If they did, they would know that the pitching staff of these two teams are further apart (in the Braves favor) than these two lineups are.
By Rodger
April 4, 2007 11:49 AM | Link to this
C’mon guys, I agree with bf2007-I mean, why shouldn’t Smoltz be able to pitch 8-9-10 innings of shut out/1 run ball and knock in a couple runs. Maybe he could DH in interleague games. If he can’t do that, I say we dump him too.
By Wayne in Utah
April 4, 2007 11:52 AM | Link to this
By Marc April 4, 2007 9:43 AM | Link to this Wayne, No offense but I guarantee your company would drop you like a bag of turds if they thought it would help the bottom line. Ask the workers at GM about loyalty; I had a friend whose father worked for a steel company that laid him off six months before his 30 year pension. You live in a dream world. It’s pretty hypocritical for people that live in an acquisitive society like America to criticize players for going after the bucks. That is the American way. And, you know damn well that the first time Glavine started struggling, the “fans” would be yelling to drop him. I have no problem at all with what Glavine did. Loyalty in pro sports is a myth—unless you are willing to keep lousy players and lose games to be loyal.
Marc It seems we are playing “long-time” respond this morning. A couple of points to clarify. Yes, I do live in a dream world of sorts, as I dream of a country and a team who are not only thinking of themselves, but all those around them that are affected by their actions. (ie. AJ affects me as a Braves fan is he selfishly leaves for a few more million bucks.)
So, my point is to the players of today, don’t give me that horse$hit answer about it being a “family” decision whether I stay or leave. If the Braves do not offer a fair contract fo Smoltz or AJ, then I don’t blame them for leaving. Glavine got a fair offer from the Braves, but chased the Mets offer of more $$ a few years ago, and didn’t want to take less this past winter, so he bolted before they even had a chance to make an offer. I am sorry, but I can’t respect that.
And, on a personal note, since you do not really know me, you might think I live in a dream world as you state. But, did you know that a Fortune 100 company sent me packing 18 years ago, after I had given them 10+ years of “exceeds requirements” performance, for no reason other than corporate downsizing and being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Over the course of the next 2 years, I lost everything, but never missed paying a bill. At the then young age of 35, I started over again. My philosophy is that my job security is how well I can do my job today and tomorrow. I could be let go in a heartbeat. I understand that it is not personal, it is just business.
BUT, in the sports world, if the Braves no longer need Redman after July, then he will be gone. Understood. Does that make it right that a player who has had ample opportuntity to set himself and his family up for life should abandon his team over a few bucks. It happens all the time, but that doesn’t make it right, or something I can respect.
So, if I get dropped like a bag of turds tomorrow, I will find another job, because I have been there, done that, and have the t-shirt to show for it.
Welcome to MY dream world.
By NO CHOP ZONE
April 4, 2007 11:53 AM | Link to this
I was just defending myself DOB. My comments weren’t directed at anyone other than the poster that targeted me without provocation. You should put out a list of words that are not allowed on the blog just like the networks do.
By Braves Fan Since April 2, 2007
April 4, 2007 11:55 AM | Link to this
The gig is up. I actually do agree that Smoltz and Mo are the two most clutch big game pitchers over the last quarter century. Sorry you had to put up with me over the last 12 hours. I just wanted to see what it was like to be totally irrational and stubborn as a poster, distorting all facts to try to prove a clueless viewpoint. What I found is is what I expected. It is fun for the poster but not for anyone else. Alright, go back to baseball now, folks. My bad. This candy apple does taste might good though. Thanks, Barrett.
By MBATL
April 4, 2007 11:55 AM | Link to this
*but the Mets are going to win well over 90 games again this season… *
KC, that’s quite a turnaround in your evaluation of the Mets, after just 2 games, isn’t it? I thought their pitching was a disaster!
I would bet that if the Mets win ‘well over 90 games’ - I assume that means at least 93, 94, they will win the division. It’s not likely that TWO teams in this division, and playing the interleage schedules they both play, will win well over 90, is it? I don’t think so, but maybe you disagree.
Anyway, I don’t get your obsession with the media coverage. The Mets, playing in the nation’s biggest market and the reigning NL East champs, are playing the WS champs in a rematch of last year’s NLCS; and the Mets have dominated the series so far. It IS newsworthy, as much as any other story in baseball at this point.
If the Braves play well, they’ll get their fair share of attention, and we’ll get to watch a lot of national writers eat crow.
By Greg in TN
April 4, 2007 11:55 AM | Link to this
Hey KC,
My post was in jest, apologies to you because we’re certainly on the same page. This division will be a dog fight until the last day of the season. I think it’s important for us to get off to a good start and Monday was certainly that step in the right direction.
It’s hard not to get bent out of shape reading the bouquets they’re tossing in the direction of the mets and my first reaction when I see that is to feel my blood pressure elevate, but then I just shake my head and move on. Thankfully, we’ll settle this on the field during the next 161 games.
By Wayne in Utah
April 4, 2007 12:00 PM | Link to this
KC: You are in the company of many who feel the same. It makes me want to hurl to keep hearing about the Mets. I gotta tell you too, that it got worse for me when Glavine went there a few years back. I hope their “up the middle” defense fails him as often as possible, although I am sure it won’t.
Gotta like the prospects of Langerhans, Thorman and Johnson over Alou, Greene and Valentin.
Did you see that diving catch Alou made the other day?? Impressive for an old fart.
By NO CHOP ZONE
April 4, 2007 12:01 PM | Link to this
I agreee with RammerJammer. For years all I heard was how great the Braves were. Even though they could only claim a world title only once. So now there’s a new teachers pet in the class and I think some braves fans are having a hard time dealing with it.
By Scalp 'Em Braves
April 4, 2007 12:05 PM | Link to this
Ernesto:
I think Bud “Beer for Brains” Selig has pictures of a majority of the owners. Can’t figure out, otherwise, how he has survived so many mishandled matters over the years. But, just wait - it won’t be long before he comes up with another boondoggle which will exceed anything he has done in the past - in that respect, he never disapoints.
DOB;
Agreed on your comment about Rivera and Smoltz postseason prowess/performance. Pettit is running a real close third - I think he only needs a win or two to catch Smoltz.
I could care less about power rankings, talking heads on TV and radio, etc. Fortunately, the score is settled on the field, and not through some subjective, totally biased poll. Let them prattle on and rave about the Muts. Hopefully, it will only take a month or two for them to have been proven wrong. Then they can always fall back on the “unforseen injuries” line, or something similarly lame. Hell, at least last year for us, there was no doubt what the problem was… our bullpen stunk, and our starting pitching was much less than what we expected, injuries aside. The Muts won’t admit any weaknesses, so it will be interesting to see how they respond when things ain’t going so well. And they won’t go well.
By ssiscribe
April 4, 2007 12:07 PM | Link to this
Dear goodness, ignore the fool out there talking about Smoltz. Probably the dumbest argument I’ve seen on this blog, and brothers and sisters, that’s sayin’ somethin’. I mean, come on. Don’t you pay attention? Have you ever watched baseball? I mean, seriously, that really ticks me off that you could come on here and be that ignorant. At least the people on here who I disagree with make decent arguments, ones I can consider and come back with constructively.
Your statements, however, are just ridicilous. Please.
Now, the Mets: Good start so far for the New Yorkers. This weekend is going to be fun, indeed, with the big pitching matchup Saturday. Glavine and Smoltz, the two former teammates. Historic day at Turner Field.
And I, as it turns out, will have an extra ticket to that game. Of course, what I really want is one ticket to the Thrashers’ game that night against Tampa Bay (sold out). Anybody out there wanna trade my one extra at Turner Field for one inside Philips that night? I’m not expecting that to happen, but just thought I’d put it out there to see.
In the meantime, big start for Hudson tonight. Really be nice for him to go out and keep the ball down in that bandbox, make a good quality start to begin the season.
Can you believe it? We’re about 55 hours and some change from the first pitch at Turner Field. Can’t wait to get in there with the sold out crowd, chopping and chanting (I’m sure there will be some “Let’s Go Mets!” in there, for sure). Always fun when the Mets come calling.
OK, back to lunch. The Scribe abides.
—30—
By coach
April 4, 2007 12:10 PM | Link to this
Lets put it this way so everyone can understand the difference between the Mets and Braves lineups. The Mets have a lead off hitter in Jose Reyes who can fly , hit for average and power , steal second and third , manufacture runs and generally make life hell for the opposing pitcher. Did I mention that he’s a switch hitter to. The Braves have Kelly Johnson who has yet to prove he can do anything. Thats the fundamental difference between these two lineups.
By Wayne in Utah
April 4, 2007 12:11 PM | Link to this
No Chop: In all seriousness, enjoy it now, as there are a lot of old farts on the Mets team today. It might not last too long.
I will respect Omar even more if he starts to develop and sticks with a strong farm system, instead of trying to sign as many old latin players as he possibly can.
He is starting to make some good decisions, maybe he will follow through, but I am sure the pressure to win now is great in the Big Apple.
By dcarp23
April 4, 2007 12:20 PM | Link to this
DOB—they going to play tonight? It’s looking nasty in Philly, which begs the question: why would MLB ever have Atlanta and Florida opening the season on the road? Atlanta, Florida, Houston, Arizona, LA and San Diego should open at home every year.
By Shaun
April 4, 2007 12:21 PM | Link to this
TennesseePaul,
That’s my point—it’s situational. Given a choice would you would rather have the whole package, high on-base, high power, low K guy. But a good on-base, good power, high K guy is preferable to a low K, below average on-base, below average power guy.
Yes, getting on base is only part of the equation but it’s a rather big part don’t you think? You can’t score without it.
I’m not arguing that strikeouts are no different than other outs in every situation. I’m arguing that in more situations than you seem to realize, strikeouts aren’t any different than other outs.
At the major league level, if a player makes contact every time he’s up but it’s weak contact, that player isn’t going to last long.
Again, the numbers don’t lie. Teams that score a lot of runs often strikeout a lot.
It’s not about probability of which event has the highest probability of advancing runners. It’s about the probability that a hitter is going to create a run. If I have a choice between Eric Young in his prime and Jim Thome in his prime, I’m going with Jim Thome no matter what the situation because, while there’s a high probability that he’ll K, there’s also a higher probability that he’ll do something to win the game.
By rammerjammer
April 4, 2007 12:29 PM | Link to this
Hey, for a good time, log onto the Philadelphia Inquirer sports page (easy to find via Google). Man, after ONE GAME they are already throwing the manager and GM under the bus.
Seriously. The manager’s getting ripped for batting Howard third instead of fourth, and the GM’s getting ripped for not having a bullpen in place.
This, after one game. I tell you, I had no idea the season opener meant so much.
By Carolina Lady
April 4, 2007 12:29 PM | Link to this
Lemme see if I’ve got this right:
my opponent over there has beat me out of 14 straight prizes - but those 14 prizes don’t mean anything because he won the BIG prize only once.
However, now I finally won the (singular) prize and even though I didn’t win the BIG prize either, I am mightier than mighty and much more worthy with my ONE prize - and have the unending right to crow and thump my chest (Tarzan yell here). With my single prize in hand, I can continue to demean my opponent’s 14 prizes because my 1 means more than his 14. Perfect logic.
Frankly, it doesn’t bother me that the Braves are being dismissed by the media. It can be quite entertaining to watch someone eat crow. The opinions of dubious self-important “experts” are of little value anyhow. Just because they say something doesn’t make it true.
I would much rather that the performance of our team do the talking in terms that cannot be misunderstood. :-))
By MGL
April 4, 2007 12:30 PM | Link to this
NO CHOP - “You should put out a list of words that are not allowed on the blog just like the networks do.”
How ridiculous! If you don’t know what words are appropriate in a public forum, you should not be posting.
By Shaun
April 4, 2007 12:32 PM | Link to this
TennesseePaul,
Actually, I should say there’s a higher probability that Jim Thome will do something to help win a game than Eric Young, no matter what the situation.
By DonCoburleone
April 4, 2007 12:33 PM | Link to this
You heard it here first - Hudson doesn’t make it out of the 4th inning tonight….
By Eric from MO
April 4, 2007 12:36 PM | Link to this
Braves Fan since April2 would you please compare Maddux and Glavines postseason stats to Smoltz’s. Not just the games that you want to. Maddux is 12 and 13 with a ERA around 4. While Glavine is 12-14 With a ERA also around 4. Smoltz is 15-4 with 4 saves and an ERA under 3. Smoltz also has over 50 more strikeouts than either one of them. You keep talking about how Smoltz kept blowing big games well in 1999 when the Braves were facing a sweep why were the Braves facing a sweep. Could it have to do with Maddux and Glavine. Also I dont suppose you saw last years NLCS. Did you see where Glavine pitched pretty good however his bullpin gave up a homerun Yadier Molina, thats right Molina who only hit 5 homeruns all year. I guess that has to be Glavines fault his bullpin gave up that homerun. Man what a chump. Just so you know Im being sarcastic here.
By Braves Fan Since April 2, 2007
April 4, 2007 12:41 PM | Link to this
If the average major leaguer hits .320 or so when he does not strike out, why would you not prefer a good contact hitter? If Frenchy strikes out 50 less times last year, his batting average and OBP numbers would have gone up by 25-30 points just merely by getting an extra 15, 16, 17 hits out of making contact better.
By rammerjammer
April 4, 2007 12:41 PM | Link to this
Well said, MGL.
By Carolina Lady
April 4, 2007 12:46 PM | Link to this
MGL, amen! :-))
By Matthew, Walter's Dad
April 4, 2007 12:48 PM | Link to this
DonC:
I’m not a betting man, but if I were, I’d take that bet and go one further. Huddy goes six strong innings, and Gonzo, Soriano, and Wickman slam the door.
Braves 4 Phillies 2
By Georgiaboy
April 4, 2007 12:50 PM | Link to this
Fire Billy Knight
By Shaun
April 4, 2007 12:50 PM | Link to this
Carolina Lady,
In fairness to the experts, I would say all of them realize that almost every divisional race is wide open. Also, I’m sure none of them would be all that surprised or bothered if the Braves ran away with it. Most of them are probably either forced to make predictions, if not they probably feel like they should because that’s what sportswriters do, and it’s kind of fun to try to predict things. How many of us filled out NCAA basketball brackets and had fun doing it? And how many of us would have been all that surprised or bothered if a different team than we picked went all the way? Unless you had a lot of money riding on it or a team you were a fan of, you probably weren’t that concerned about picking against any particular good team.
By Lew
April 4, 2007 12:51 PM | Link to this
Metro Dude-What’s wrong with KC’s evaluation? Would you rather go position by position? 1B-Mets have the edge with DelGado. 2B-Pretty much a wash. SS-Reyes, but Renteria was also an all star, so not as huge an edge as you might think. 3B-I’ll take Chipper, injuries or no. He put up almost identical numbers to Wright in 40 less games. C-McCann, hands down. LF-Offensive edge to Alou, Langy gets the defense-a wash. CF-I’ll take Andruw-at least for this year. RF-Francoeur, no contest. SP-Braves RP-Also Braves. All in all, the Mets do NOT have a better lineup than the Braves. Keep dreaming. I surely hope we don’t have to listen to all this Mets’ crap on a daily basis. The season is too damn long to deal with y’all every day. Y’all have a huge two game winning streak. It says much more about how badly the Cards have fallen, than it does about how great YOU are. You’re lucky Pujols didn’t get off to the start he did last year.
By Braves Fan Since April 2, 2007
April 4, 2007 12:51 PM | Link to this
I’m sorry. What can I say? I’m just more a Charlie Leibrandt guy myself. At least he had a .500 record in the playoffs unlike Maddux and Glavine.
By Rodger
April 4, 2007 12:52 PM | Link to this
DC-if he doesn’t make it out of the 4th, we’ll all be needing a fifth!
By Epinephrine
April 4, 2007 12:52 PM | Link to this
Well…honestly, I can see this being good for Davies. Here is your chance. The entire rotation isn’t riding on him-Hampton looks nasty, and Cormier will hopefully be back before too long. But, he has a chance to send a message if he has the stuff.
DOB-how many days of rest do you expect Bobby to give guys like Soriano and Gonzalez? Do you think we could see either tonight, or do you think Cox will give them two days of rest at least?
Either way, its nice to know that even after using 4 pitchers, we still have McBride, Villareal, and Yates-the few bright spots of last years pen.
I still have nightmares of seeing Remlinger coming in in the 8th.
By Coach
April 4, 2007 12:53 PM | Link to this
Don , do you like to eat crow ?
By TennesseePaul
April 4, 2007 12:54 PM | Link to this
Payne: It’s always good to put the ball in play. Always. That statement in no way says strike out hitters can never succeed.
By Coach
April 4, 2007 12:58 PM | Link to this
In 2004 Johan Santana did something that hadn’t happened in thirty-six years since Bob Gibson last did it in 1968 , anybody want to venture a guess ? All you sabermetrics geeks should figure this one out.
By Lew
April 4, 2007 1:00 PM | Link to this
Coach-The only thing that stands out to me comparing the seasons of Gibson/Santana is that they both had an ERA less than half the league average. That and 4+to1 K/BB ratio.
By Shaun
April 4, 2007 1:00 PM | Link to this
Braves Fan Since April 2, 2007,
Good point. Actually the major league average on balls in play is around .290 to .300, according to Yahoo Sports’ Matt Buser; still good though. But could it be the average major leaguer knows which pitches to swing at in order to hit a ball hard.
I’m guessing more contact doesn’t necessarily mean a .290-.300 AVG. Again, I would guess a big reason that the average is that high is because most major league hitters have a pretty good idea which pitches to swing at to produce a decent number of hits.
By Lew
April 4, 2007 1:04 PM | Link to this
Epinephrine-Why not let them pitch tonight? They’ve pitched on inning this season and had a day off yesterday. They should be able to handle it. This bullpen may be as scary good as last year’s was scary bad.
By Shaun
April 4, 2007 1:06 PM | Link to this
TennesseePaul,
Always? Hate to go round and round but if it’s always good to put the ball in play, why not bunt every time? Seems like that’s a great way to limit strikeouts and dramatically increase balls in play.
By WD
April 4, 2007 1:07 PM | Link to this
Lost all respect for Glavine when he patronized all fans by saying “the fans don’t pay my salary, TV pays my salary” during the strike year. Guess he’s not smart enough to know where TV gets their money.
By DonCoburleone
April 4, 2007 1:09 PM | Link to this
Coach, I am just telling you as an informed, objective baseball fan that the Phillies are a horrible matchup for Hudson. All 3 of their best hitters are left handed or switch and are good low-ball hitters. Unless his sinker is really on and he’s able to hit his corners (which he did not do last year), then Rollins, Howard and Utley are going to feast on him…
I hope I am eating crow tonight, but even if I am its still gonna take alot more than 1 good outing for Hudson to win back my confidence…
By Carolina Lady
April 4, 2007 1:09 PM | Link to this
Shaun, perhaps that’s true. It just seemed to me that the majority of them have a personal agenda, old school ties, etc. I quit watching them a looong time ago because I got fed up. I realized that I didn’t need them to tell me what to think and their opinions are meaningless to me. Much like blogging! :-)))))
By Braves fan 202
April 4, 2007 1:15 PM | Link to this
Braves fan since 4/2 2007 You might as well change your post name. After that display you put on you should never be taken seriously again. Dont act like you were jokin you went deep into the fact that smoltz wasnt any good. Im glad DOB KC and NO COP ZONE were there to back me up. And NO CHOP ZONE who do you like? If not the braves than why are you always on here? And KC thanks for the info on Huddy.
By NO CHOP ZONE
April 4, 2007 1:16 PM | Link to this
MGL….depending what part of the country you live in, some words are more offensive than others. one might think that a certain word or phrase is over the top to one person and totaly appropriate to another. I’m sure you have your list and I would have another.
By MBATL
April 4, 2007 1:27 PM | Link to this
Shaun, etc; I would think that there is a distinction based on the situation. With no one on base, and especially with 2 outs, a hitter with some pop is more justified in swinging away, and swinging hard - making it more likely he’ll strike out, but who cares in that situation? Except for the small incidence of errors, a strikeout is just as good as a flyout or groundout.
With men on, especially in scoring position, there is more merit in putting the ball in play.
I looked at Frenchy’s splits, and his strikeout rate was a good bit higher with none on base (every 4.6 ABS); and dropped with men on (5.4), and again with RISP (5.9). That’s a good thing.
I’m sure this is true of many hitters (though I haven’t researched it), and probably much more extreme for the best producers, or for players with better “plate protection” skills.
A good hitter probably should be able to dial it back a little when the circumstances call for it - when a strikeout is indeed a worse result than a grounder to the right side. He may still strike out a lot, but should be able to reduce the likelihood of it when circumstances call for it.
By Shaun
April 4, 2007 1:28 PM | Link to this
Carolina Lady,
I think that’s something to keep in mind. Most of them are labeled experts by whoever they work for but I doubt any of them would think of themselves in that light. I’m sure most of them realize there are plenty of people out there that know just as much or more than them about the game. I don’t think many of them have an agenda. For example, Dayn Perry took a lot of heat on this blog for picking the Mets to play well. Well, Perry is from Mississippi and live in Chicago. I seriously doubt he is a big Mets fan and that’s why he’s picking them to do well.
By Coach
April 4, 2007 1:30 PM | Link to this
Lew , thats not it. It is performance based. Quality is the key word.
By rammerjammer
April 4, 2007 1:31 PM | Link to this
Will Thorman sit against Hamels tonight?
By Joshhh
April 4, 2007 1:41 PM | Link to this
Daveee! Can we pleeease have something new and actually exciting to talk about??? I’m so tired of talking about how one guy thinks Smoltz is overrated (which we all know is bull) and how bad Our Braves are going to be this year. Its the same thing over and over. How about we talk of something new??? Please and thank you.
By TennesseePaul
April 4, 2007 1:41 PM | Link to this
Payne: Bunt every time? That’s your response? You follow up comparing Eric Young and Jim Thome with bunt every time… Congratulations. You have won the prize for consecutive lame rebuttles now that the Smoltz/Mariano business is over with.
By Braves Fan Since April 2, 2007
April 4, 2007 1:41 PM | Link to this
No Chop, as 202 has pointed out, I am in no position to comment right now, but I don’t believe that there is any part of the country where the comment you made is acceptable or even humurous at any time. It was just so childish. But that’s just my opinion and obviously my opinion is not worth very much right now. Take it for what it is worth.
By Shaun
April 4, 2007 1:42 PM | Link to this
MBATL,
I guess the point I’m trying to make is, yes, it is situational as to whether a K is worse than contact outs. But if I have a choice between a high K guy who’s a great on-base/power hitter and a low K guy who’s a bad or average on-base/power hitter, I’m going with the great hitter. Yes, the chance of a K increases but so does the chance of him reaching base or driving in a run.
By DonCoburleone
April 4, 2007 1:43 PM | Link to this
“Will Thorman sit against Hamels tonight?”
I would definately bet on it… Lets face it guys, 1B and LF are (and will be for the entire season) a platoon! Cox is no dummy, he knows that tonight the lineup is more dangerous with Wilson and Diaz in there than any other combination.
By Jim
April 4, 2007 1:45 PM | Link to this
Lew,
Reyes is a special player in a class with Pujols, Soriano? and few others. Renteria is good, but the Braves do not have an answer to Reyes — (in all phases of the game). A better way of making comparisons between the 2 offenses would be the following pairings.
Andruw — Beltran (a wash?)
Chipper — Delgado (adv. Chipper)
Renteria — DoLuca (adv. Rentereia)
Francouer — Wright (adv. Wright)
KJ — Valentin (wait and see)
Langerhans — Alou (youth vs. age)
Thorman — Green (?)
That leaves Reyes — for whom there is no comparable player in the Braves (or most any other) lineup and McCann for whom the Mets do not have a comparable hitter for consistency, average, power, and in the clutch.
Note — I think the key matchups here are Francouer vs Wright and Andruw vs Beltran. Francouer has to become the kind of player for the Braves that Wright is for the Mets. Francouer has to put up comparable or better HR and RBI numbers and has to raise his OBP by ~50 pts this year. Francouer and Wright are two “face of the frachise” players and it is essential for the success of the team now and in the future that Francouer become more comparable to Wright in all offensive categories. If the Braves are to win the Division this year, I think that Francouer has to become an MVP candidate (at least a top 10 candidate)
The Mets pitching staff may have questions, but let’s see how some of the uncertainties play out before we make more definitive statements.
By DonCoburleone
April 4, 2007 1:47 PM | Link to this
My god, poor Nationals, 5-0 again in only the 3rd inning… Even predicting 120 losses this season seems too low for them. When do we get to hammer that pitching?
By The Grinch
April 4, 2007 1:48 PM | Link to this
Morning, all. Scribe, if you’re trying to get rid of that ticket let me know; I’ll buy it off you. Voton1066@yahoo.com. Besides, you’d get the chance to sit next to a legend. :-) DonC, I’ll be rooting for Huddy tonight like any sane Braves fan, but it’s gonna take an awful lot of consecutively decent outings to make me anything less than horribly apprehensive every time he takes the mound. Wish I could slip him a few of his little helpers to get him back to Oakland form. Wayne in Utah and WD: hear, hear. Glavine is about as altruistic as the CEO of Time Warner. I really feel for any kid that had him as a role model growing up and learned exactly the wrong lesson. Unfortunately, that was probably an awful lot of kids.
By Wayne in Utah
April 4, 2007 1:53 PM | Link to this
It kills me that all the Braves games aren’t on TBS. No FS out here in Utah. Prediction: Braves 4, Phils 3. Hudson 7 innings, 6 hits, 3 SO and 1 BB.
Wilson hits a dinger and KJ goes 2-4 with a SB.
(external optimist!)
By KC
April 4, 2007 2:01 PM | Link to this
MBATL: “KC, that’s quite a turnaround in your evaluation of the Mets, after just 2 games, isn’t it? I thought their pitching was a disaster! I would bet that if the Mets win ‘well over 90 games’ - I assume that means at least 93, 94, they will win the division.”
Nope, not a turnaround. I haven’t changed my mind about their pitching, though I’m not sure I would call their pitching a disaster. I picked them to finish middle-of-the-pack in team ERA this year. The while not as deep, is still good. Glavine’s still got it, and Maine and Hernandez will at least be decent. Their pitching isn’t horrible, it’s just shallow.
Anyway, not big on their pitching, but I’ve always felt this Mets team is almost as good as last year’s club (their rotation was thin last year too). I think their pitching will be an Achilles heel… not in winning in a lot of ballgames, but in beating the Braves.
And I hear what you’re saying about it being so tough to win well over 90 games in this division. It’s a valid point. I’m not sure I entirely agree with it… but I will to a certain extent. It probably will be tough for either the Braves or the Mets to win close to 100 games this year, but I do believe both teams will win over 90.
I guess part of the reason I don’t entirely buy into the “division from hell” theory is that I’m not as impressed with the Phillies as some others are. I think they’ll score slightly fewer runs than last year… their bullpen is thin, and it remains to be seem what the Phillies will get from Hamels (who had an absolutely miserable spring) and Freddy Garcia (who posted an ERA around 4.50 last year, and is currently injured).
The Marlins will likely be an above average team this year, but I’m not sure they’re any better than teams like the Cubs, Astros, Brewers, and D-backs that teams in other divisions have to deal with. And the Nationals might be the only push-over in the league this year.
“Anyway, I don’t get your obsession with the media coverage.”
I know… I never said it was rational. =)
By op
April 4, 2007 2:04 PM | Link to this
I’m completely jazzed that we’re gonna see ‘ol Tom against Smolzie Saturday! Bought tix to take my 13 yr old nephew to the game, cuz he’s so into baseball and is an avowed Mets hater!!
By Braves fan 202
April 4, 2007 2:06 PM | Link to this
what did no chop say that was so bad?
By TennesseePaul
April 4, 2007 2:08 PM | Link to this
Payne: if I have a choice between a high K guy who’s a great … hitter and a low K guy who’s a bad or average … hitter … that’s the foolishness of your Point. The choice isn’t between a great hitter and a bad hitter. You always set it up that way. Let’s see, do I want Todd Pratt up there or Albert Pujols? Hmmmmmmmm. Tough call.
The point is, take a good hitter who K’s and a good hitter who doesn’t, which would you rather have?
By rammerjammer
April 4, 2007 2:09 PM | Link to this
I guess the percentages say Wilson over Thorman, but Wilson started looking cruddy late in ST. Did you see his batting average? He hit .190 with 22 Ks in 63 ABs. That’s awful!
With this one game, BC will let us know if the “unofficial” platoon is, in fact, “official.”
By Jim
April 4, 2007 2:09 PM | Link to this
In the last post DoLuca == LoDuca
Defensively the Mets have an advatage up the middle (mainly because of the range and arm of Reyes and the experience of Valentin with Beltran not far behind Andruw in his defense. The Braves are better in the corner outfield positions and the corner infield positions are probably a wash — McCann is a better defensive catcher than LoDuca but neither is a Bench or IRod.
By Shaun
April 4, 2007 2:11 PM | Link to this
TennesseePaul,
Not trying to be a smarty but it just seems if contact was that important that a team would want to do all they could to make contact every time. And seems that bunting is the best way.
Also, it seems like there would be some kind of reverse correlation between strikeouts and scoring. But throughout history there is very little to no correlation between strikeouts and scoring.
By NCZ
April 4, 2007 2:17 PM | Link to this
testing….testing….testing
By DonCoburleone
April 4, 2007 2:19 PM | Link to this
With this one game, BC will let us know if the “unofficial” platoon is, in fact, “official.”
Believe me, it’s official…
By MBATL
April 4, 2007 2:23 PM | Link to this
KC, I don’t know… sounds to me like you’re crawfishing just a little!:)
Shaun, not trying to be argumentative (ha!), but, how many low obp, low-powered hitters who strike out a lot are gonna get meaningful playing time? The only guys given the opportunity to strike out 120 times are guys who do much in their other 450 or so abs. And they would all be even better, probably, if they struck out less.
Just seems to me it’s a “chicken or the egg” kind of thing: do strikeouts not matter, or are good hitters able to overcome the negative impact of strikeouts because they’re good hitters?
My head hurts now.
By Braves fan 202
April 4, 2007 2:23 PM | Link to this
ill be at the thrashers game tonight so i cant watch the braves game. Ill probably be miserable at the thrashers game
By Shaun
April 4, 2007 2:25 PM | Link to this
TennesseePaul,
Of course, similar value hitters except one K’s more than the other, I would take the one who doesn’t K as much. But what brought this up was Adam LaRoche. You’re making a big deal about the fact that he’s struck out a bunch in his first two games. I’m just saying, there’s nothing wrong with his approach. He’ll get it together and probably be as good as he was last season or close to it. My point is only that LaRoche’s strikeouts shouldn’t concern Pirate fans.
By Wayne in Utah
April 4, 2007 2:29 PM | Link to this
Shaun: I really enjoy a lot of your comments, but I have come to the realization that you need to think less, and relax more!
:-)
I know, I know, you are driven by the numbers and statistics in your head. I over analyze many things myself. I just like to have a team with guys who smile a lot, and frown when needed, and play like it’s Saturday in the sandlot.
I really enjoyed Will Clark when I was living in the bay area when he came up. Took Nolan deep in his first at bat. What a life!!!
By David O'Brien
April 4, 2007 2:31 PM | Link to this
Braves Fan, it involved someone’s mother and certain act, and it was ridiculously crude and offensive to 99 percent of the blogosphere. All you need to know.
Like we’re going to repeat it, after he probably got banned for it. That’d be swell. Good idea.
By Lee
April 4, 2007 2:36 PM | Link to this
MBATL - My head hurts also. I have been trying to evaluate some of these posts today. Thought I knew a little about hitters and baseball. I will just put my dunce hat own today and admit defeat.
By KC
April 4, 2007 2:38 PM | Link to this
MetroMan: “KC im tired of you touting out that 2-6 is even in the lineups becasue of the way you matched them up. But your scenario doesnt tell the entire story such as who in the 2-6 lineup is the clutch hitter, who scores the most runs, who has the most RBI’s, stloen base, better glove. You lump these players up and come up with a lump number and say they are comparable with Reyes being the exception. Dude that formula only works for grouping your stats together instead of truly breaking it down by individual and then you might see the diffrence and why no one is coming up with that crazy comparison you keep posting. METS and braves lineups are not equal individaully but close as a group.”
Okay Metro Man, I’ll break it down a little further for your reading pleasure:
2 – Lo Duca: .318, 5-HR, 49-RBI / Renteria: .293, 14-HR, 70-RBI, 17-SB
Personally, I’d rather have Renteria. Lo Duca is a fine contact hitter, but he’s not going to hit .318 very often. He has no speed and no power… Renteria has some of both and is also a good contact hitter. Additionally, he’s regarded as one of the better clutch hitters in the game.
Chipper vs. Delgado: If Chipper’s healthy (which I fully admit is always a concern nowadays)… Delgado has nothing on him offensively or defensively. Chipper is a well above average defensive 3rdbaseman. I’ll be honest, I’ve never paid much attention to Delgado’s defense, so I can’t comment on that.
A.Jones vs. Beltran: Remarkably similar offensive players. Both hit 41 homers and well over 100 RBI last season. Beltran steals a few bases, but Andruw’s dropped some weight and will be doing the same this year. Offensively, I think they’re even. But all around… you know Andruw’s glove puts him over the top in that comparison.
McCann vs. Wright: You’re not going to want to hear this, and I’m certain you’ll argue with this… but McCann is a better hitter than David Wright. Sorry. Wright is a great young hitter… hell, a great young player! I’d love to have him on our side. But McCann is one of the top young hitters in the game.
McCann hit only 2 fewer homers and 6 fewer double than Wright, despite 140 fewer at-bats. McCann had a higher batting average, slugging%, and OBP than Wright. And he did it all while playing the most physically demanding position in baseball in the Atlanta heat. Now Wright can run a little, and that might pull him closer to even with McCann, but he certainly isn’t a better offensively player than McCann is. Both are fine defenders.
Francoeur vs. Alou: Alou is the more disciplined hitter of the two certainly. But Francoeur has made some nice adjustments and is likely to have an even better year this year. Frenchy’s on his way up, Alou is on his way out. Alou will hit for a higher average, while Francoeur will hit for more power, and probably drive in more runs than Alou this year. I’ll call it a draw in this comparison (for now). There you have it Metro Man. I don’t see the Met’s edge that’s supposed to emerge when you un-bundle the 2-6 hitters. Did I miss it somewhere?
By TennesseePaul
April 4, 2007 2:40 PM | Link to this
Payne: Simply put… Take two hitters with equivalent SLG and OBP. One K’s a lot, the other doesn’t. Which would you rather have? That is the only question.
And another point… You will not be able to find many, if any, players in the majors who have no power, poor on base skills and strike out as much as Adam Dunn. This type of player is generally scratched from the roster and released. However, you will be able to find a guy with poor power, questionable on base skills, and few Ks. This is because the first player has no skills. He kills the offense in every way possible. The second player has skills (he can at least put the ball in play, probably keeps a good batting average, and he is more than likely really fast) though some are way better than others. So, to pull up a list of guys who don’t K and compare it to guys who do, doesn’t do justice to either set of guys.
By Jim
April 4, 2007 2:40 PM | Link to this
DOB,
Miserable day up here in the Northeast. Is the game tonight still on down in Philly?
Actually a rainout might not be such a bad thing given that Redman and Davies are now scheduled to pitch 2 of the 3 games vs. the Mets.
By MBATL
April 4, 2007 2:41 PM | Link to this
Shaun: oh. Nevermind.
Personally, I think LaRoche had a couple of months where he hit over his head last year, and I don’t think he’ll be a consistent 290/30/100 hitter - but that’s just my opinion. Agreed: 2 bad days at the plate mean less than nothing.
By KC
April 4, 2007 2:43 PM | Link to this
MBATL: I promise you… I made my predictions official a couple weeks ago and had the Mets finishing middle-of-the-pack in ERA, but with over 90 wins. =)
Doesn’t matter… they’re still going to lose the division, barring any major and long-lasting injuries in Atlanta.
By NCZ
April 4, 2007 2:46 PM | Link to this
holier than thou……..
By DonCoburleone
April 4, 2007 2:46 PM | Link to this
DOB, are you with me, Huddy won’t make it out of the 4th inning tonight?
By TennesseePaul
April 4, 2007 2:47 PM | Link to this
Payne: Why it bothers you that I pointed out LaRoche’s 5 K’s in 8 at bats, I don’t know. So far, Thorman is better. That was the point. It was a slightly sarcastic point at that because, I do actually realize it’s the first 2 games of the season. But at the same time, I’m pleased that Thorman isn’t doing the same thing. I like Thorman because A) he hustles, and B) he doesn’t strike out as much. And C) his name can be shortened to “Thor” which is a pretty cool nick name. Do I need to back up point C with stats?
By brent
April 4, 2007 2:58 PM | Link to this
DOB,
Thanks for explaining “player options.” I never realized that they were “per season” as opposed to “per trip.”
Nothing shameful in doing the Rocky run.
Me, though, I took the handicap ramp over on the left side. It’s easier on the knees.
IMO, Philadelphia is one of America’s most underappreciated cities.
By Daybed Wagmoe
April 4, 2007 3:06 PM | Link to this
how’s the weather up in philadelphia? any chance of getting the game in tonight?
By NCZ
April 4, 2007 3:10 PM | Link to this
Let he who is without sin cast the first stone…….
By DonCoburleone
April 4, 2007 3:21 PM | Link to this
Looks like a 30% chance of rain until 9:00 tonight in Philly… Should be able to get the game in…
By Matthew, Walter's Dad
April 4, 2007 3:28 PM | Link to this
Interesting thing ncz. Jesus was completely without sin, and still did not cast the stone. He offered forgiveness when the woman was willing to change her heart and lifestyle. See John 7:53-8:11.
Sorry guys, with Easter approaching the pastor in me got loose. I’ll try to make him behave, but I’m not promising anything…:)
Go Braves!
By David O'Brien
April 4, 2007 3:30 PM | Link to this
Daybed, it was horrendous early today, rain and cold. But the rain’s stopped and we’re supposed to get it in, probably start on time and everything. No more rain is supposed to fall tonight.
By Coach
April 4, 2007 3:32 PM | Link to this
I have to question the pitching set up for this weekend. Why not limit Huddy to four or five innings tonight , start Davies on friday , Smoltz on saturday and bring huddy back sunday on three days rest and skip Redman until the National’s series. I had the first two months pitching assignments charted and Cox has already fu** it up.
By NCZ
April 4, 2007 3:39 PM | Link to this
DOB and all fellow bloggers. I apologize for my earlier post. I lost my cool and responded to a post that was directed at me with a comment that was over the top. I didn’t mean to offend any other poster. I hope you all will accept my apology and not hold it against me.
By David O'Brien
April 4, 2007 3:40 PM | Link to this
DonC, no, I think Huddy will go 5 or 6.
By David O'Brien
April 4, 2007 3:43 PM | Link to this
Jim, you’ve got the pitching wrong for the weekend. it’s Redman Friday, Smoltz Saturday and probably Davies Sunday, unless something changes with Cormier, in which case he’d go Sunday.
By Lew
April 4, 2007 3:43 PM | Link to this
ChopZone-Re your earlier post. After hearing some of the things you’ve said to me and about me, I figure you know what crap to talk no matter what the regional variations. Jim-The point I was trying to make was that the Mets really don’t have a better team than we do. Whether or not we have a Reyes is a moot point. We are better than the Mets in enough places that we are much closer to even than not. Except in pitching. The Mets pitching the past two nights is NOT indicative of what they will produce this season. It’s only two games in and you would think the Mets had run away with the division already.
By Lil' Chopper
April 4, 2007 3:45 PM | Link to this
TenneseePaul, Earlier you wrote: And C) his name can be shortened to “Thor” which is a pretty cool nick name. Do I need to back up point C with stats?
Yes please!
By Lew
April 4, 2007 3:46 PM | Link to this
We’re due 10 inches of snow tonight. It’s already poured about two inches of mush. Springtime in Vermont. Didn’t Mel Brooks write a song about that or something?
By DonCoburleone
April 4, 2007 3:46 PM | Link to this
Wow, looks like we just figured out the Marlins major weak spot - CLOSER. Ouch, couldn’t even get through 7-8-9 in the Nationals order… Game tied 6-6 with one out and runners on first and third for the Nats.
Hanley Ramirez is a freakin’ stud though, thats for certain…
By David O'Brien
April 4, 2007 3:47 PM | Link to this
Well, Freddi’s Marlins just blew that one sky high at RFK. Unbelievable. Welcome to managing.
By DonCoburleone
April 4, 2007 3:50 PM | Link to this
There it is, Dmitri Young with the game-winning hit. Wow, Jorge Julio come on down! 1/3rd of an inning, 5 hits, 1BB, and 3ER’s. They would have been better off signing Reitsma as their closer…
By We Have Mets the Enemy
April 4, 2007 3:55 PM | Link to this
KC, there’s no way in hell a father of two small children has as much time and energy to blog as you do unless he’s a kept man with an au pair to boot. Do us all a favor and GET A JOB! Then your working-class hero wife can see the kids sometimes — you don’t seem to want to — and we’ll be spared these endless posts comparing the Mets and Braves as well as your bottomless optimism regarding Tim Hudson’s comeback. The season has started and we’ll see soon enough who was right and who was wrong, but that’s up to the players to decide, not you.
See, I understand why Shaun and Old Man Lew never get off the Net — they’ve got nothing better to do to fill the cavernous emptiness of their lives. You do.
It’s a big, beautiful world out there, KC — I suggest you get out in it once in a while. Those kids whose names you probably have forgotten will be gone before you know it!
It’s priorities, man — that’s all I’m saying.
By Carolina Lady
April 4, 2007 3:56 PM | Link to this
I’ve just discovered my new best car-cleaning friend: I washed the car while ago and decided to try the Armor All Cleaning Wipes I’d bought not long ago. Wow. It did a great job on the dash and other vinyl - then I read their claim on the label that it would clean upholstery. And did it ever!!! If you haven’t tried it, I sure do recommend it! It easily cleaned marks that I was sure would be there forever. Now, where’s my sweet tea? It’s HOT out there! :-))
By NCZ
April 4, 2007 4:02 PM | Link to this
Lew….Lets not pass too much judgment on others. Just because I may use words that are on the rough side doesn’t mean that posts that convey the same message in a more suave manner are any less allowed or offensive. I guess I need to be more subliminal and indirect with my post. Maybe I’m not as smooth with my words as you Lew.
By Willy Wally
April 4, 2007 4:04 PM | Link to this
In their careers, when they don’t strike out: Andruw is .340, .426, .644 Chipper is .361, .464, .643 Frenchy is .341, .379, .600 Laroche is .355, .424, .654 McCann is .367, .427, .609 CWilson is .388, .489, .702 Langerhans is .345, .448, .540 Renteria is .335, .396, .469 Jeter is .384, .459, .562 Pujols is .374, .464, .708 Soriano is .356, .405, .649 Wright is .376, .451, .647 Reyes is .325, .364, .486 Delgado is .374, .490, .738 Beltran is .344, .423, .602
They’re all not much different from each other when they don’t strike out. Thus, the way that some of them strike out more than others do, to me, affects consistency, streakiness, reliability, and overall productivity. If some of them would stop striking out as much, they would be right up there with some of the better players on the list. Easier said than done, I know. I am also aware that because some of them are free swingers, their SLG, OBP, AVG when they don’t strike out may very well decrease if they tried too hard to stop striking out because they would be betraying part of what makes them good productive hitters when they actually do make contact.
By Jim
April 4, 2007 4:07 PM | Link to this
DOB
It wasn’t the order that I was concerned about, but the fact that Davies and Redman would be pitching in 2 of the 3 games. The Mets got a break in the schedule with the Sunday game and the 2 off days, and they will be able to start their 3 best pitchers (I’m not ready to discount Oliver Perez so easily. He has talent and he was effective at the end of last season.)
By Greg in TN
April 4, 2007 4:10 PM | Link to this
Ouch. Just goes to show that it’ll be a long year in DC as well as south Florida. Both locales will be pitching-thin climates in 2007.
By rammerjammer
April 4, 2007 4:20 PM | Link to this
NCZ,
Appreciate your thoughtfulness.
A question…how much has Wagner lost off his fastball, if anything?
For a guy who’s averaged more than a K per IP, he only had four in 12 innings this spring and none in two innings this season.
By ernesto
April 4, 2007 4:21 PM | Link to this
DOB: Any word on whether it’s Thorman or Wilson tonight?
By meansonny
April 4, 2007 4:26 PM | Link to this
I agree that I think Huddy will have some tough innings today. The lineup does not match him favorably. I do think Atlanta will be able to get to Hamels. Tough pitcher, but he’s young and can serve a nice longball. I think Chipper will have another feast at the plate.
For a second day, the Braves win it with their bullpen. No decision for Huddy tonight.
By Yars
April 4, 2007 4:28 PM | Link to this
I find it very funny how so many people, including baseball related sites with so called, ‘expert analysis’ have already written off Kelly Johnson. I could be wrong, but aren’t we only 1-2 games into the season? So Kelly Johnson went 0-4 opening day, so what! As for getting 2B Jorge Cantu from Tampa Bay…what for? Let’s give KJ a break. Only 1 game into the season, & he should already be replaced? Man, totally insane some people are. What some of us forget is, Brett Myers pitched a great game opening day. He was extremely hard to hit. There’s a reason he is the Phillies, ‘ACE’. It’s not like KJ was the only Brave not to get a hit. If you recall, he did have a great at bat his last at bat & he was able to draw a walk, and then scored on Renteria’s bomb. Let’s give KJ a month or so & see what his stats are in mid May. Way too early to talk *hit about any player.
By Willy Wally
April 4, 2007 4:28 PM | Link to this
Is there any excuse for the Braves not to win about 25 of their 38 games against the Nats and Fishies? If they go .500 against the Phils and Mets, that would put them at 44-32. If they win 55% of the rest of their games, they should win 91 games.
By Shaun
April 4, 2007 4:31 PM | Link to this
Willy Wally,
Yes. I heard a quote from Gary Sheffield once that he thought he could be a better hitter if he didn’t worry about striking out so much.
By KC
April 4, 2007 4:38 PM | Link to this
We Have Mets the Enemy: I’m glad you liked my posts! If you’ll post your email address, I’ll be happy to send all of my recent posts to you for archive purposes. You may want to look at them later.
Believe it or not, I’m at work right now. =) It’s nice to get to a point in your career where you have that kind of flexibiity. I’m sorry they don’t let you blog at Pizza Hut. (not that there’s anything wrong with Pizza hut.)
By Arkansas Hillbilly
April 4, 2007 4:39 PM | Link to this
Carolina Lady,
Be careful with that Armor All. It doesn’t agree with some vehicles. I put some on my dash one time a couple of years ago, and within a month, it looked like the New Madrid Fault line. I had to buy one of those carpet dash covers out of Cabelas to cover the atrocity and keep my wallet from falling down into the glove comparment.
By MBATL
April 4, 2007 4:42 PM | Link to this
Shaun, I took a glance at NL playoff teams, 2001 - 2006; and the corresponding strikeout rates for those teams. Seemed to me that there was a correlation between not striking out a lot and making the playoffs.
Pretty unscientific research on my part, admittedly (didn’t have time to collect the numbers into a post, but for the most part, very few teams in the top half of the league in strikeouts made the post season. The Cubs were the closest (was that 2004?), finishing 3rd in K’s), but based on what I’ve seen, I’m not so sure there’s no correlation. Are you?
Really not trying to be argumentative - just find it interesting.
By jed
April 4, 2007 4:43 PM | Link to this
Glad to see Cox being careful with Cormier. (As opposed to that April game a couple years ago, in which he had Marquis throw 120 pitches and blew out his arm.)
I’m royally irritated that my MLB/Dish Network package is not yet turned on! I called and Dish says they’re still “in negotiations.” Bud Selig is an imbecile.
By ernesto
April 4, 2007 4:50 PM | Link to this
jed - yes, Bud sucks. I’ll tell the man to his face if I ever meet him.
By Lew
April 4, 2007 4:58 PM | Link to this
NCZ-Or should I say Welcome Back Stinky? Get a new computer, did we?
By Miss Manners
April 4, 2007 4:59 PM | Link to this
By NO CHOP ZONE
April 4, 2007 1:16 PM | Link to this
MGL….depending what part of the country you live in, some words are more offensive than others. one might think that a certain word or phrase is over the top to one person and totaly appropriate to another. I’m sure you have your list and I would have another.
I believe the appropriate test is the Your Momma test. If you wouldn’t say it in front of your Momma you shouldn’t say it on the blog. Miss Manners
By Lew
April 4, 2007 5:01 PM | Link to this
Yeah, it’s definitely the return of Stinky. Chop Zone wouldn’t have a clue what subliminal even means, much less use the word suave in a meaningful manner.
By Carolina Lady
April 4, 2007 5:02 PM | Link to this
Hillbilly, thanks for the warning! Those little wipes sure do clean, though. Could hardly believe what I saw. :-))
By woogidy
April 4, 2007 5:02 PM | Link to this
NO Chop Zone, Here is your list of words, Mets, Phillies, Marlins, or Nationals, Pedro, Ryan Howard, Utley, Wright, Reyes Beltran, Glavine, Delgado… unless the word(s) overrated, suck(s), play(s) like a girl, will finish second, is out for the season, had a terrible game or smells like dirty socks is follwed by them.
By Lew
April 4, 2007 5:05 PM | Link to this
Mets The Enemy-What does it say about how much time you’ve got on your hands if you have enough time to tell us our lives are bereft of meaning? You’re the one that needs the life. Too bad you feel so superior. You really have no basis for the feeling.
By Willy Wally
April 4, 2007 5:11 PM | Link to this
addaboy, woogiddy. love that list.
By Gil in Mechanicsville(zoo keeper)
April 4, 2007 5:20 PM | Link to this
YeeHaw….. :-))))
By Willy Wally
April 4, 2007 5:26 PM | Link to this
The Yo Momma test is good but much too strict for my liking. Considering the way some express themselves, I would think that part of the problem for others would be vice versa: that their momma talked to them that way and let them talk that way in front of her to others.
I prefer the Do unto others as you would have done unto yourself. Won’t work for everyone. Certainly doesn’t for me alot of the times. I often do and say things to others that would hurt me if said to me. I regret saying them but that doesn’t change the fact that I said it and did it. I wish sometimes we were allowed to edit our own posts once we put them up when we screw up and go overboard.
You kind of fall into the slippery slope of moral relativity when you practice the do unto others as you would yourself doctrine.
There is no easy answer Miss Manners except I guess basically for everyone, including myself, to stop being a moron, an idiot, an immature child. Practice some common human decency. Or so said my hypocritical self.
By TennesseePaul
April 4, 2007 5:38 PM | Link to this
Lil’Chopper: So beit. Breaking down players last names to create nick names. Scoring is done by validity of nick name, number of letters used from last name and strength connotation of nickname. Extra points are added to names that actually do work with the Coxian extention of “ee”, “y”, or “ie”.
M Giles Gil 3, Gilee 0
A Jones AJ 5, Jonesee 0
C Jones CJ 0, Jonesee 0, Chipper 5
Francoeur Franc 1, Frenchy 1
Renteria Rent 1, Renter 3, Renty 0
Langerhans Langy 0, Langerhans 7
Diaz D 0, Diazy -5
Langerhans/Diaz Diangerhans 9
Johnson KJ 5, Johnsonee 0
McCann BMac 8, McCannie 0
Smoltz Smoltzie 5
Thorman Thor 10, Thormanee 0
Gonzalez Gonzo 9, Gonzy 0
I think from this fair minded, balanced and completely impartial statistacl analysis it is clear that Thor ranks as the #1 derivative of a Braves players name.
By Wayne in Utah
April 4, 2007 5:40 PM | Link to this
Do we need to send Nancy Pelosi in to quell any disagreements between bloggers?
By Chop Chop
April 4, 2007 5:45 PM | Link to this
Bill Simmons’ readers are at it again. Check out Alanis Morissette’s parody of “My Humps”:
My Humps
Ahhh…good stuff.
By Wayne in Utah
April 4, 2007 5:45 PM | Link to this
I think I will call my buddies at the head of AJC and extend the funding for DOB’s Braves blog, ONLY under the condition that we pull all the bickering in one year (next April’s fools day would be appropriate).
By Barrett
April 4, 2007 5:50 PM | Link to this
No problem braves fan since….the other day. That picture we took is scaring off the neighbors dogs. That is one good thing that came from your unethical anti-braves rant.
I just got done watching “Jim Rome Is Burning” and I have to say, he is just horrible. I think we should all pitch in and buy him a couple of rolls of charmin ultra soft to wipe off his nose from the interviews he has. I get the impression that he wants to be put in these athlete’s wills. Just pathetic.
DOB, do you listen to any Neutral Milk Hotel or Built to Spill?
By StingerSplash
April 4, 2007 5:58 PM | Link to this
I feel your pain, DOB, on the running and the knees. Ah, the art museum. Great building. Lots of great exhibits. How about Reading Street Station? Good place, too. Forget the name of the ice cream place there, but it is almost as good as Aglemisas in Cincy. And for those even more adventurous, try going to South Philly and the corner of Swanson and Ritnour to see the former home of ECW. Who’s the cannon fodder for the Braves’ lineup tonight?
By Braveheart
April 4, 2007 6:02 PM | Link to this
Predictions for the game: KJ will go 1 for 3 with 2 walks; Edgar will go 1 for 4 with a walk; Chipper will go 1 for 2 with two walks and a double; Andruw will go 1 for 4 with a homer; McCann will go 2 for 4 with a double; Frenchy will go 1 for 4 with a homer; Diaz (if he plays) will go 1 for 3; Wilson (if he plays) will go 1 for 3; Langerhans if he is on the bench will come up with a clutch double to score the winning run in the eighth inning. Hudson will get beat up a little - I’ll say four runs over six innings, trailing 4-2 when he leaves the game - won’t matter - the patience of KJ, Edgar, Chipper, and McCann will work counts and wear Hamels out. It will become a battle of the pens from the sixth on. Soriano, Gonzo, and Wickman will shut her down over the last three innings. Hamels will tire in the seventh when he gets to 100 pitches and in will come the terrible Phillies bullpen to get torn to shreds by a late innings rally by the Braves with Frenchy starting it with a solo bomb to chase Hamels in the seventh to make it 4-3 and Langerhans pinch hitting in the eighth with a clutch double scoring the winning run. That’s the way I see this thing shaking out. 5-4 Bravos victory. If there is no platoon, I still say Langerhans is going to do something big to win the game late.
By Chop Chop
April 4, 2007 6:08 PM | Link to this
Barrett, Jim Rome’s intro to his show is very high on the Unintentional Comedy Scale: “Welcom. Wot is op!”
By parks
April 4, 2007 6:18 PM | Link to this
my pred, Braves lose 7-4 Hudson looks horrible and the blog has a meltdown.
Then Hudson finishes the season with a 20-6 record and a 3.09 era
By Wayne in Utah
April 4, 2007 6:24 PM | Link to this
parks: I like it! I would sacrifce one loss for a 20 win season.
My prediction, Hudson wins 7-4, and then goes on to have a 20-6 record and 3.08 ERA. (had to do a bit better…)
By DonCoburleone
April 4, 2007 6:24 PM | Link to this
parks I already predicted Hudson wouldn’t even make it to the 5th inning…
By DonCoburleone
April 4, 2007 6:27 PM | Link to this
I called it! Guess who is on first base tonight? What I don’t get though, is why all the smoke and mirrors over first base and left field? Why not just come out and say, we’ll be platooning at first and in left all season??? DOB, a little help?
By DonCoburleone
April 4, 2007 6:31 PM | Link to this
Tonights lineup: 1)KJ; 2)Renteria; 3)Chipper; 4)Andruw; 5)Francoeur; 6)McCann; 7)Wilson; 8)Diaz…
And believe me, this will be the lineup (barring injuries) every time their is a lefty pitcher…
By DonCoburleone
April 4, 2007 6:34 PM | Link to this
And for those who have DirecTV and are out of the Atlanta area, they are giving a free preview of the MLB package all week, so I get to see my Braves tonight!
By parks
April 4, 2007 6:40 PM | Link to this
Wayne, sounds good to me!
DonC, Didn’t mean to try to steal your thunder
By Wayne in Utah
April 4, 2007 6:44 PM | Link to this
DonCo: I sure hope that parks and I are right and you are wrong about Hudson…..
:-)
By Chris
April 4, 2007 6:45 PM | Link to this
I thought Glavine was scheduled to go on Friday…
Great. A Home Opener with 2 #5 starters. With a low of 38. Awesome. I’m so glad baseball’s back.
By N8
April 4, 2007 6:47 PM | Link to this
DonCoburleone
From those of us who have digital cable and DON’T HAVE direct TV, I say….ENJOY the free week of the “package preview” that we USED TO GET.
I’ll just listen to the game online, since TBS has decided to ONLY show games on Tuesdays, when there is a full moon during the month of July.
Oh well. That gives me a chance to sit on the blog and annoy everybody with my posts. LOL!
Hope Hudson proves me wrong tonight.
By DonCoburleone
April 4, 2007 6:59 PM | Link to this
Best thing about tonight’s game: Hamels gave up 19HR’s in only 132innings last year… ANDRUW! ANDRUW! ANDRUW!
By parks
April 4, 2007 7:02 PM | Link to this
Yeah I found out that Comcast no longer carries the MLB package about one week after I signed a 2 year contract, that just great
By David O'Brien
April 4, 2007 7:10 PM | Link to this
No surprise here: Wilson playing first base (told you it’d be a platoon). Diaz is in left, which I wasn’t quite sure about. Thought after Langerhans’ spring he might get a chance to play every day early on, but hey, Diaz was scorching for the last 10 days or so of spring.
Oh, and the Cormier thing was made official today. Bobby said Davies will start Sunday, Cormier to be DL’d, but probably won’t happen until Friday or Saturday for procedural reasons.
By Greg in TN
April 4, 2007 7:13 PM | Link to this
Looks like Hamels is having problems with location early. Wasn’t in the same area code with Chipper up and fell behind against Andruw earlier. Kudos to AJ for legging out the grounder to stay out of the DP.
The ballgirl down the RF line is getting her exercise in early chasing foul balls from both AJ and Frenchy.
Here comes Tim Hudson…
By Braveheart
April 4, 2007 7:14 PM | Link to this
Diaz was 2 for 5 with a triple last year off Hamels so I think he might be able to do something tonight. No other Braves hitter had alot of success last year off him. Very small sample size I know.
By Greg in TN
April 4, 2007 7:14 PM | Link to this
DonC,
Wind in Philly tonight seems to be blowing in according to Boog Sciambi. Doesn’t bode well for us at the plate but if Hudson doesn’t get the ball down it should help us out some.
By Greg in TN
April 4, 2007 7:22 PM | Link to this
Huddy seems to be struggling just a little bit with location. Almost hit Rollins and did hit Victorino, but I really like how he approached Ryan Howard. Kept the ball low early in the count and ended up with the fly out to Diaz and got Utley to fly out to Frenchy.
A couple of noisy outs, Utley seemed to get pretty good wood on the ball, but Huddy got the outs he needed.
By N8
April 4, 2007 7:22 PM | Link to this
Good to “hear” that Hudson is keeping that sinker down. LOL!
By DonCoburleone
April 4, 2007 7:22 PM | Link to this
Fly-ball outs early for Hudson… Not a good sign. Where’s the grounder machine we traded for and signed 2 years ago???
By David O'Brien
April 4, 2007 7:25 PM | Link to this
Gotta say, I’m surprised Frenchy is batting fifth and McCann sixth. Don’t care about the lefty-righty thing _ I’m batting McCann fifth.
By N8
April 4, 2007 7:30 PM | Link to this
Good to see you’re still alive DOB, I was beginning to wonder if something happened to you. Thought maybe Clubber Lang saw you running in Philly the other day and called you out.
Sorry. That was pretty weak.
I would’ve preferred to have Langerhans LOSE the everyday job, than not been given the chance to lose it. I don’t have a personal problem with Diaz, and from the numbers it sounds like he’s the only one who hit Hammels last year.
Let’s hope it was just a case of Bobby “looking at the individual numbers”, and he’s not gonna straight platoon with Diaz/Langerhans.
I know my opinion doesn’t matter much, but I’d like to see what Langerhans can do everyday, since he might be our replacement for Andruw next year.
By David O'Brien
April 4, 2007 7:36 PM | Link to this
Huddy can probably thank the wind for keeping that Utley fly in the park, the third out of the first inning. It was caught at the track, and there’s a stiff wind blowing in from center/left-center.
By Greg in TN
April 4, 2007 7:38 PM | Link to this
Nice work by Huddy in the second. Struck out Burrell, coaxed Wes Helms and Rowand into grounding out to Edgar.
He’s really got a lot of movement on the slider tonight.
By N8
April 4, 2007 7:39 PM | Link to this
DOB
Why, you wouldn’t be QUESTIONING any of Bobby’s decisions, now, would you??
LOL!
Couldn’t agree MORE with you. Quite honestly, with how GOOD of a hitter he is, I wouldn’t mind seeing him in the 3-hole and Chipper in the 5-hole. Then when (not if) Chipper goes down, there would’t be a PANIC situation with everybody saying “OH NO! Our #3 hitter is down”.
Note, that I’m not saying McCann is a better hitter than Chipper is (when healthy), though if I WAS saying that, you’d be hard pressed to prove me wrong based on McCann’s numbers from last year. Especially with RISP.
By OddJob
April 4, 2007 7:42 PM | Link to this
Frenchy has a first pitch itch.It’s way too early to put a limitation on what he can do,but right now he is seriously hard headed.
By Braveheart
April 4, 2007 7:48 PM | Link to this
You have to find a way to get the bat of Diaz in there when you can. The guy can hit. He needs to find 300 at bats this year. I like Langerhans alot though so I am conflicted. Like I said on the weekend, I think he could be a blend of Paul Oneill, Luis Gonzalez, Steve Finley, Rusty Greer.
By DonCoburleone
April 4, 2007 7:50 PM | Link to this
“Gotta say, I’m surprised Frenchy is batting fifth and McCann sixth. Don’t care about the lefty-righty thing _ I’m batting McCann fifth.”
I want to agree, but part of me thinks that Frenchy needs to get used to batting higher up in the order. Don’t forget, he’s gonna have to replace Andruw Jones in the lineup next year…
By N8
April 4, 2007 7:50 PM | Link to this
OddJob
Come dude! He’s just “aggressive”. LOL!
I love the kid. His enthusiasm and hustle is refreshing. However if I was an opposing manager/pitching coach and any of my pitchers EVER through him a 1st pitch (possibly even a 2nd pitch) strike, I’d have them on the next bus to AAA. Until he proves otherwise (during the season - not spring training), he shouldn’t se a strike until he has worked the count to 2-0.
Completely amazes me how many pitchers “challenge” him.
DOB
Sounds like KJ has made a couple of nice plays tonight. THAT is good news.
By Greg in TN
April 4, 2007 7:50 PM | Link to this
Really nice job by KJ on the grounder by Hamels. That’s one of those type of plays that a guy can let it eat him up and he stayed with it and got him out.
By David O'Brien
April 4, 2007 7:51 PM | Link to this
N8, good to know you feared for my safety after a few hours away from the blog.
We’ll get back to daily blogs, at least during the week, tomorrow. Just didn’t do one today because I filed one last night and there wasn’t much new to write on yet after just one game.
By Braveheart
April 4, 2007 7:53 PM | Link to this
We’ve got Hamels right where we need him. 51 pitches through 3 innings. We get him to 100 by the sixth or early seventh and we are gonna kill that pen. Hudson just needs to keep us in the game until the seventh and then let gonzo, wickman, and soriano take us home.
By Greg in TN
April 4, 2007 7:56 PM | Link to this
Hudson picks Rollins off of first after issuing a walk. Marvelous. I could have done without seeing him fall behind on Hamels, but it all ended up just fine.
Through three complete in Philly. Hudson’s line is as good as anyone can ask. 0 H 0 ER 1 BB 2 SO
Hamels is pitching much better in the last few innings. Struck out AJ to start the top of the fourth and victimized CJ in the third by staying away with the offspeed pitches.
Frenchy just singled to center. Hopefully this gets him going.
By N8
April 4, 2007 7:57 PM | Link to this
I’m not sure where the pitch was (Pete didn’t say on radio), but Francoeur hit a 1-2 pitch up the middle for a hit.
Unless Francoeur went out and “got one” out of the strike zone, there is NO REASON to throw him a strike with a 1-2 count and nobody on base.
By Braveheart
April 4, 2007 8:02 PM | Link to this
65 pitches through 4 for Hamels. That double play killed. Could have used another four pitch at bat to put that total up to 69 through 4. Only 30 or so more pitches for Hamels before we take this game over for good.
By Greg in TN
April 4, 2007 8:04 PM | Link to this
Nate,
The ball Frenchy hit looked a little below the knees and over the plate.
By Brad in MT
April 4, 2007 8:04 PM | Link to this
Hammels is having to throw a lot of pitches tonight…its nice to see the hitters working the count a little bit. I really wish that Frenchy would be a little less agressive, he seems to be up there hacking no matter what this year, I’m not seeing him having much of a plan up there like he was talking about during the spring.
By N8
April 4, 2007 8:04 PM | Link to this
I was just giving you crap DOB.
I tell you what. Work was AWFULLY tough today without my month long daily fix of Braves baseball online with all of the 12:00 (CDT) starts of the spring training games.
Sure made the work days go by quicker. Found myself trolling for ANY game on today in the afternoon. It’s just not the same.
You woudn’t happen to be “sidestepping” my question about your lineup comment, are you? LOL!
By David O'Brien
April 4, 2007 8:06 PM | Link to this
DonC, what inning was it that you predicted Hudson would leave the game?
By N8
April 4, 2007 8:07 PM | Link to this
So do I officially have to shut up for the time being about Hudson??
I’ll give y’all my answer after the 6th or 7th inning. He faired well MANY times last year through the middle-inngs, only to fall apart in the 7th or 8th.
With THAT bullpen (especially after a day off), there shouldn’t be any reason to leave him in to long.
But I like what I’m hearing so far. Sounds like he has some “nice” movement on his pitches.
By N8
April 4, 2007 8:12 PM | Link to this
Greg in TN
Thanks for the info on the pitch Francoeur hit. I don’t expect opposing pitchers to throw what boils down to intentional balls to him, but anything over the plate, is a mistake, IMO. Unless they are forced to pitch to him…as in: tie game, bottom of the 9th, bases loaded. LOL!
Hey, if Frenchy goes out of the strike zone to get a hit, not much the pitcher can do about that. The late Kirby Puckett had a pretty nice career by making contact out of the strike zone, as does Vlad today. But the one thing Kirby had and Vlad has, is the knowledge of WHEN to attack those pitches. As much of a free swinger that Vlad is, he hardly ever looks bad in an AB.
By N8
April 4, 2007 8:19 PM | Link to this
What happened. Went to the bathroom and came back and it was 1-0??
I’ll assume by the boxscore, that somebody hit a HR?
By Greg in TN
April 4, 2007 8:19 PM | Link to this
Nate,
Totally agree with you. Never seen a guy swing at stuff like Vlad does, and you’re right. They know what pitches out of the strike zone they can get to and drive. I think Frenchy will realize that at some point, but it will drive a lot of folks up the wall until then!
By robdawg06
April 4, 2007 8:19 PM | Link to this
Man, I’d like to see Chipper and Andruw earn some of those 18 millions each with a few hits… Me and my grandma (& she’s not alive) could go O for 8…
By Greg in TN
April 4, 2007 8:20 PM | Link to this
Ouch, Ruiz cremes a ball left out over the plate.
By Braveheart
April 4, 2007 8:26 PM | Link to this
88 pitches through 7. Frenchy is going to hit a bomb off Hamels in the seventh.
By N8
April 4, 2007 8:31 PM | Link to this
I know it’s only game 2, but where are all of the people that were saying our offense was gonna be “fine”??
Through 16 innings: 9 for 58 (.155 BA), with 3 HR and 5 RBI (zero runs scored without the benefit of a HR), with 19 K’s.
YIKES!
Of course I realize that one rally with a bunch of hits and some runs, could skew those numbers back up to respectability, but I have to say that it’s been pretty meek so far.
By Greg in TN
April 4, 2007 8:32 PM | Link to this
Looks like the OF’ers are struggling a little bit with fly balls being held up by the wind. Nice sliding catch by Frenchy to end the 6th.
By N8
April 4, 2007 8:34 PM | Link to this
Braveheart
“Frenchy is going to hit a bomb off Hamels in the seventh.”
As per my previous comments, if that happens it will be a SILLY mistake on Hammel’s behalf. Francoeur hasn’t shown any patience in the first two games of the season, if he gets ANYTHING to drive out of the park, Hammels should be banished to the principals office.
By Braveheart
April 4, 2007 8:37 PM | Link to this
Hudson did his job today. If he can get through the seventh then that would be icing on the cake by saving the pen. Hudson does have 79 pitches right now. He had an ERA over 5.00 past 90 pitches last year so that is troublesome. But at least he has now waded past Utley and Howard. Gotta worry about Ruiz surprisingly though.
By N8
April 4, 2007 8:39 PM | Link to this
Sorry Braveheart
You apparently forgot that in order to hit a “bomb”, a player must actually MAKE CONTACT to go deep. I was rooting for you to be prohetic. But apparently EVEN Francoeur can’t take advantage of a pitcher tiring in the latter half of a game.
By Braveheart
April 4, 2007 8:41 PM | Link to this
guess that Frenchy bomb ain’t gonna happen. i felt a stiff breeze all of a sudden. there has been a disturbance in the force.
Should we anger some people again by saying that Frenchy should have bunted Andruw over to second there? I don’t feel like repeating that fight and I don’t really want to see Frenchy fracture his cheekbone trying to drop a bunt like he did in the minors.
By N8
April 4, 2007 8:42 PM | Link to this
MAN are the phillies fans hard on Burrell or what? I realize I’m already complaining about the lack of punch from our offense, but if I was at these games, I’d HARDLY be booing…..yet. LOL!
By Greg in TN
April 4, 2007 8:44 PM | Link to this
Nate,
I think the offense will be fine. It’s early dude!
Nice piece of hitting by McCann.
By Meanie
April 4, 2007 8:44 PM | Link to this
Can somebody teach N8 to shut the hell up? Every other post is his blather. Nobody cares about all your ridiculous opinions N8…
By Braveheart
April 4, 2007 8:46 PM | Link to this
Darnit.
By N8
April 4, 2007 8:46 PM | Link to this
Way to swing at that first pitch Diaz. Nice approach!
HACK and JACK. Gotta love it.
By Lew
April 4, 2007 8:47 PM | Link to this
Nathan-It’s only game two. Concentrate on how excellent both starting and relief pitching has been. Look at Hudson through 6. Be happy.
By Braveheart
April 4, 2007 8:49 PM | Link to this
N8, looks like Burrell is not the only one getting booed early in the season. Looks like some jeers are being thrown in your direction.
By N8
April 4, 2007 8:49 PM | Link to this
Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie Meanie
Do you want me to keep “blathering away?”
By Greg in TN
April 4, 2007 8:50 PM | Link to this
Excellent turn by KJ. Chipper’s throw took off on him a bit to the 1B side of second base and Kelly makes a solid turn and threw to first to complete the DP.
By Ron
April 4, 2007 8:52 PM | Link to this
Great pitchin by Huddy!!! Only one stinkin mistake, come on Atlanta the 8th inning has got to be ours, we do not want to face Gordon, no freakin way!!!!!!!!!!
By I need a name
April 4, 2007 8:53 PM | Link to this
Man, is it good to hear Skip’s voice after the long layoff. All we need now if one of those “Swung on and BELTED, deep left center field, Rowan going back, that ball is outta here!”
Thank God for baseball! Thank God for the Braves! Thank Dave for the info!
By Braveheart
April 4, 2007 8:54 PM | Link to this
So much for my 100 pitch theory. We had him on the ropes. We let him off the hook. We needed to throw an uppercut there and finish him off. I am schocked that the Phillies manager did not walk Diaz in order to face Hudson. What was that all about? Terrible managing or did Manuel rather face Hudson than our menacing three in the back of the pen? You would have thought he would walk diaz, load the bases, pretend Hamel is going to stay, negating the possibility of Langerhans or Thorman pinch hitting, then when Bobby announces Woodward or Pena, pull Hamels and put in a reliever. Very strange. He could have forced Bobby’s hand. It worked out. Diaz did not come through. But I don’t think it was a very smart managerial move. Kind of like putting a classic #3 hitter at the cleanup spot and a classic cleanup hitter in the #3 spot
By Greg in TN
April 4, 2007 8:56 PM | Link to this
Great job of rallying by Hudson. Painted the outside corner against Ruiz.
Very solid performance tonight. Made one mistake on a fastball over the plate against Ruiz and paid for it, but I don’t think you can ask for much more. Gave up one run and two hits over seven complete.
By Lew
April 4, 2007 8:56 PM | Link to this
Hudson’s getting some great movement on his pitches. Through 7 he has 10 groundouts and 5 strikeouts. Even the batter he hit, the ball dove.
By OddJob
April 4, 2007 8:57 PM | Link to this
We could lose 1-0 and it’s a better night than winning 8-7 and Hudson getting hammered would have been.
By Braveheart
April 4, 2007 8:57 PM | Link to this
Great job Hudson.
Is KC weeping right now with pride?
By N8....Master Blather
April 4, 2007 8:58 PM | Link to this
I am happy Lew. The pitching has been OUTSTANDING.
The offense will come around, I’m sure of it as well.
I’m just frustrated with the “platoon” scenario already. Give the kids a chance to show they CAN’T hit lefties before you start platooning in game two. Just my blatheric opinion, that I’m sure you care nothing about.
Braveheart
I hear the boo-birds. But to quote Cliff (Matt Dillon’s character) from the movie SINGLES:
“This negativity only makes me stronger, I will NOT retreat. This blogger is unstoppable!”
OK, I changer the word “we” to I, and the word “band” to blogger. You get the point.
By Ron
April 4, 2007 8:58 PM | Link to this
Damn N8, that was damn funny. LOL. If Huddy can keep pitchin like that we have alot to hope for this season.
By Meanie
April 4, 2007 9:00 PM | Link to this
Just like the damn kid watching a game with the grown-ups that won’t shut his mouth. Seriously dude divide the number of posts you’ve made on this blog by the total number of posts. You’ve got to have 35-40 percent. You don’t need to put your two cents in every time…wait until you really have something to say. You are single-handedly slowing down the blog and making it arduous to sift through to DOB’s posts, which (outside of a few with no lives who believe they are journalists) is what almost all readers do…
By Braveheart
April 4, 2007 9:06 PM | Link to this
N8,
You pulled an Albert Belle there, firing the ball into the stands at your heckler
By N8....Master Blatherer
April 4, 2007 9:06 PM | Link to this
OddJob
“We could lose 1-0 and it’s a better night than winning 8-7 and Hudson getting hammered would have been.”
Amen! Very well said. (that is if you CARE about my opinion.)
By I need a name
April 4, 2007 9:08 PM | Link to this
er, Rowand…and maybe thank Ted for the Braves
By Justin
April 4, 2007 9:10 PM | Link to this
i believe the game is over
By robdawg06
April 4, 2007 9:13 PM | Link to this
It looks like its up to Fran The Man & McCann to win it if the Braves win tonight.
By N8....I'll give you my opinion ANYWAY
April 4, 2007 9:17 PM | Link to this
Gotta LOVE those leadoff walks from the bullpen.
Who put Javy Lopez in McCann’s jersey behind the plate? YIKES.
I sure hope LaRoche had a lousy night tonight.
By Braveheart
April 4, 2007 9:19 PM | Link to this
stealing third with utley and howard coming up. what a genius
By brent
April 4, 2007 9:21 PM | Link to this
Looks like we’re gonna live by the homer again this year.
100% of our runs so far. ;)
By N8....I'll give you my opinion ANYWAY
April 4, 2007 9:22 PM | Link to this
Just watch. In a CLASSIC Bobby move, he’ll platton Langerhans and Thorman with Wilson and Diaz. He will also throughout the course of the year, PINCH HIT for them BOTH when lefties are brought into the game in the later innings.
But here comes the OH SO predictible move (or non-move) of NOT pinch hitting Thorman for Wilson in the top of the next inning.
Sure am glad that Gonzalez is ON TOP of his game. LOL!
By Greg in TN
April 4, 2007 9:23 PM | Link to this
I almost think that Gonzalez and Mike Stanton could have been separated at birth on nights like this.
Don’t know what Victorino was thinking, but I enjoyed the relay from KJ to gun Ryan Howard down at the plate. Great job by McCann tracking down the throw and applying the tag.
By Lew
April 4, 2007 9:24 PM | Link to this
Kelly Johnson just threw a strike on a Francoeur relay to nail Howard at home. Great play. The Phillies ran themselves out of two runs in that inning.
By Greg in TN
April 4, 2007 9:26 PM | Link to this
McCANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!
I love this game…
By N8....I'll give you my opinion ANYWAY
April 4, 2007 9:26 PM | Link to this
For anybody that actually is NOT annoyed by my lathering:
Beltran just hit a 2-Run HR in STL. to put them up 2-0 in the 6th inning.
Nice to see that that HORRIBLE pitching the Mets were supposed to have is letting them down, huh?
Nice start by Francoeur in the 9th.
Where was the pitch, to anybody watching?
By Braveheart
April 4, 2007 9:27 PM | Link to this
BMAC! BMAC! BMAC! BMAC!! BMAC!!
MVP! MVP! MVP! MVP! MVP! MVP!
By robdawg06
April 4, 2007 9:27 PM | Link to this
Now who just called what happened ? Yours truly.
By N8....I'll give you my opinion ANYWAY
April 4, 2007 9:29 PM | Link to this
OMG!!!!!
Bobby PH Thorman for Wilson. Wake me up, I must be dreaming.
DOB
I guess THAT is why McCann was hitting behind Francoeur tonight, huh? LOL!
But since I’m the local “Debbie Downer”, I will point out that we STILL haven’t scored a run, without hitting a HR.
By OddJob
April 4, 2007 9:29 PM | Link to this
What do ya think guys ? with some seasoning this McCann kid could be a player.
By Braveheart
April 4, 2007 9:30 PM | Link to this
Poorly managed and poorly coached team these Phillies. Don’t they have an army of former managers on their team? You would not know it with their poor baserunning and poor managerial decisions.
By keylargo25
April 4, 2007 9:31 PM | Link to this
How big was McCann throwing out Vitrino at third with a throw so good all Chipper did was catch it and let the runner slide into the tag.
By Eric from Mo
April 4, 2007 9:32 PM | Link to this
MBATL you said 2 teams in the same division cant win 90 games. It happens all the time. Last year the Twins and Tigers did it. Red Sox and Yankees do it almost every year. Actually I dont think think there has ever been a year where two teams havent done it.
By Brad in MT
April 4, 2007 9:33 PM | Link to this
McCann is awesome…he is going to be a star for the Braves for a long time!
By N8....I'll give you my opinion ANYWAY
April 4, 2007 9:33 PM | Link to this
NICE CALL…*robdawg.
By Lew
April 4, 2007 9:35 PM | Link to this
Nathan-Chill, Dude. HR’s count. Do you really believe the Mets will continue pitching like they are or that Albert Pujols will continue to NOT hit? Maybe it IS time for your pills.
By robdawg06
April 4, 2007 9:37 PM | Link to this
Thanks. Wishful thinking works sometimes. Maybe Chipper & Andruw will win it in the 10th or 11th ?
By Braveheart
April 4, 2007 9:38 PM | Link to this
Is it gonna be a home run from KJ or another big walk that decides this game?
By Lew
April 4, 2007 9:39 PM | Link to this
Damn-Soriano and Gonzalez throw some serious heat.
By Greg in TN
April 4, 2007 9:39 PM | Link to this
Nice inning of work by Soriano in the ninth.
Free baseball in Philly again tonight. Hopefully we have the same type of success in the tenth tonight that we did Monday.
By Tony Almeida
April 4, 2007 9:42 PM | Link to this
Gotta love Kelly “Automatic Out” Johnson…..this guy SUCKS!
By Braveheart
April 4, 2007 9:42 PM | Link to this
guess it won’t be KJ. come on chipper.
By OddJob
April 4, 2007 9:42 PM | Link to this
I’m learning to be a Soriano fan,that last pitch he knew it was a strike.If he had the belief he’d make a hell of a closer,second best stuff on the team to Smoltz.
By I need a name
April 4, 2007 9:42 PM | Link to this
How about “The Prophet”…although Pete was calling that half inning.
By Daybed Wagmoe
April 4, 2007 9:46 PM | Link to this
according to Braves Fan Since April 2, 2007, hudson didn’t do well tonight since he didn’t “seal the deal.”
7 ip, 2 hits, 1 er, 5 ks and 10 groundouts from huddy — what a great sign for atlanta.
By Marc
April 4, 2007 9:47 PM | Link to this
Boy Andruw is realy convincing the Braves brass to lock him up.
By Braveheart
April 4, 2007 9:50 PM | Link to this
Andruw’s strikeout was a real productive out.
By Ron
April 4, 2007 9:51 PM | Link to this
Vitrino must have been smokin somethin when he tried stealin third or the manager was smokin somethin for tellin him to run, Braves saved 2 runs in that inning.
By t-towndawg
April 4, 2007 9:52 PM | Link to this
I’m beginning to worry about the “O” too. The team BA is terrible to this point. HR’s won’t save us all year, especially in the playoffs, as we’ve all seen before.
By Braveheart
April 4, 2007 9:54 PM | Link to this
You know it is April and we are playing baseball again when you hear Skip call a fan in the stands an idiot for the first time all season.
Thanks, Skip. Luv it.
By OddJob
April 4, 2007 10:00 PM | Link to this
Here’s my late entry in the Francoeur nick name sweepstakes rip not r.i.p. just rip as in just rip it,but Frenchy ain’t bad.Now Hoss, how could that be anybody but Wickman ? Anybody for 11 ?
By Daybed Wagmoe
April 4, 2007 10:01 PM | Link to this
how about another one- or two-line post in this blog, eh?
By Braveheart
April 4, 2007 10:01 PM | Link to this
we need some more mac daddies than the two we have.
By Ron
April 4, 2007 10:02 PM | Link to this
Too bad we dont have Prado at second, I know he may not be a prototypical leadoff hitter but I think he is a better defensive and offensive player than Johnson, but Prado will NEVER win second with Johnson in there even if Johnson goes 0 for 50!!!!!!!!!
By N8....I'll give you my opinion ANYWAY
April 4, 2007 10:02 PM | Link to this
Lew
“Do you really believe the Mets will continue pitching like they are or that Albert Pujols will continue to NOT hit?”
Maybe not, but MAYBE they do? I do know that I’m not DILUTED enough to think that we are the ONLY team that has good young pitching ready to help. El Duque’ looked OUTSTANDING last night. Mayne has allowed 1 hit and ZERO runs tonight against a VERY GOOD hitting team.
So for as excited as WE ARE about Hudson (justifiably so), we can’t sit here and say “Tim Hudson pitched good tonight, thus he’s BACK, and at the same time, discredit what the Mets pitching has done.
As good as our bullpen has looked, Gonzalez led off his inning with a WALK, that came back around to score. And he surely didn’t “get himself” out of the inning, with the blunder on the attempted steal, and the PERFECT relay play by Francoeur and KJ.
Not to mention the near PERFECT defense the Mets have played, to go with KJ dropping the pop up and McCann and Chipper “mis-comunicating” on that attempted bunt that was popped up.
It’s the LITTLE things that give me hope. So far the braves other than the pitchers, McCann and Renteria, the team looks flat.
Yet if I’m going to hold everybody up to the standard of judging other teams pitching, then I need to tip the cap to Myers and Hammels. I’m not naive enough to realize they aren’t trying to win as well.
PS: If you have any extra pills, send them my way. LOL!
By Greg in TN
April 4, 2007 10:06 PM | Link to this
Thorrrrrrrrrr!
Nice job with the bat, kid.
By Brad in MT
April 4, 2007 10:07 PM | Link to this
Nice job by Thorman!!….we may not be getting a lot of hits, but at least the ones we have been getting are clutch.
By No Chop Zone
April 4, 2007 10:08 PM | Link to this
one hit allowed though seven by Maine Lew…..Just providing an update to that staff that sucks for Lew.
By Braveheart
April 4, 2007 10:08 PM | Link to this
THORMAN - can’t get too happy about him because I have been pretty negative about him. Way to shove it in my face there Thorman - not that I am complaining.
By Ron
April 4, 2007 10:08 PM | Link to this
Good job of gettin that pitch by Thor!!!!!!!!
By A.J.
April 4, 2007 10:11 PM | Link to this
Is it just me or do these games just have a September feel? Braves in tight divisional games that just feel like we have to win. Watching the Mets the whole time to see if we can gain a game.
I’m sure it will wear off once we get into the grind, but with all the talk, so much will to prove something, not to mention all the Division games in the first month, specifically the first six against the Phillies and Mets. It just feels like it would be so good, if not really important, to finish the first six in the division lead.
Too bad the Cardinals absolutely suck. How have they scored so few runs. 2 runs total in 2 and most of the third game. I mean, even if the Mets fans are right and their pitching doesn’t completely suck that they can’t be this good. I mean Pujols has one hit so far. Ouch.
By Barrett
April 4, 2007 10:13 PM | Link to this
Does anyone else think that this team is playing with alot more enthusiasm than last year? The new found confidence is really nice…. and the jumping around like little kids in the second game of the season. It’s refreshing.
By Tony Almeida
April 4, 2007 10:14 PM | Link to this
Gotta love this lineup…Ryan “Mr K” Langerhans strikes out again, and Kelly “Automatic Out” Johnson grounds out….Maybe this upcoming offseason Schuerholtz won’t name an outfielder his starting second baseman and leadoff hitter in December…I’m just sayin..
By OddJob
April 4, 2007 10:14 PM | Link to this
Wagmoe short post are right for in game. BYE!!
By journalist jimmy smith
April 4, 2007 10:15 PM | Link to this
will wicky throw that nasty chaw on the field in philadelphia? journalist hopes so.
By OddJob
April 4, 2007 10:22 PM | Link to this
Wickman (Hoss) one and done!!! good show boys!!!!
By journalist jimmy smith
April 4, 2007 10:22 PM | Link to this
oh, the humanity! what a game!
By A.J.
April 4, 2007 10:22 PM | Link to this
I’m sure it would be hard to convince any Mets fans of this, but I think that in these first two Braves games and the first three Mets games that both teams have been equally impressive.
I mean the Mets have completely dominated an absolutely sad Cardinals team, I mean those Cards really look rough. The Mets offense has looked as good as expected and their pitching has made the Cards look awful. Of course you have to wonder how much of that was the Mets pitching doing well, and how much was the Cardinals just playing bad right now. It obviously has to be a mixture.
Then the Braves have played a good Phillies team, a division rival, who are playing good baseball too, and the Braves have managed to put together two strong team wins in tough extra inning games.
I really hope we get the game tomorrow to set up what looks to be an awesome early series. I hope those three games are as good as we’d expect. (or if their not that the Braves make the Met pitchers look terrible). Either way this will be a lot of fun!
GO BRAVES!
By Gil in Mechanicsville
April 4, 2007 10:23 PM | Link to this
Great Win for the Braves 3-2 in 11
By keylargo25
April 4, 2007 10:23 PM | Link to this
Mr. Hoss might be best for Wickman.
By Braveheart
April 4, 2007 10:23 PM | Link to this
Mets fans, your tragic number is now 161 and counting.
By MEB
April 4, 2007 10:26 PM | Link to this
BRAVES WIN!!!
Well I hope I get to type that about hundred more times this season. Just wait til we really start hitting the ball! Nice game Huddy!
By Braves fan 202
April 4, 2007 10:26 PM | Link to this
Yes! Braves win and it feels good!!!!
By Braveheart
April 4, 2007 10:28 PM | Link to this
This time tomorrow, we will be chanting SWEEP! SWEEP! SWEEP! SWEEP! SWEEP!
By The Stranger
April 4, 2007 10:29 PM | Link to this
oh, wicky threw that nasty chaw.
By DAP
April 4, 2007 10:29 PM | Link to this
wow. great game again tonight. i was so nervous! thats why i love baseball, it really gets me on the edge of my seat.
part of me is a little bothered that the only runs we can get are from homeruns,
but the other part of me feels like, what the heck…if we can hit ‘em,(and we can) whats wrong with winning with homeruns?
im just glad we won!
By OddJob
April 4, 2007 10:30 PM | Link to this
I think calling Wickman Hoss would be fun (and appropriate) they could play the theme to bonanza when he comes on,kids would love it.Just as long as he’s cool with it ,don’t want’a mess with his mojo.
By No Chop Zone
April 4, 2007 10:32 PM | Link to this
O’ Brien…..Has my apology been accepted? Are we cool…..Yes or No? Oh and by the way, the Mets have basically shut down the Cards over three games.
By brian
April 4, 2007 10:33 PM | Link to this
brian agree with journalist!
What a start to the season! The thing that impresses me the most is the intensity and focus the Braves are playing with. I only hope they can control it so they do not burn out by the end of the year. It is a long 162 game season before the playoffs.
But again, what a start to the season! To quote Chipper, we lose tonight’s game 80% of the time last year.
Hudson - great first start. One mistake. Thorman with the game winning homerun. KJ with the solid throw home. Bullpen solid again (Gonzalez was rough tonight notwithstanding).
Concerns - can we score runs any other way than with home runs? Few defensive lapses as mentioned above. Still waiting for KJ to hit.
A Sweep of the Phils to start the season - now that would be priceless. (actually I will thoroughly enjoy a sweep of the obnoxious Phillies or Mets anytime)
By mike
April 4, 2007 10:36 PM | Link to this
We’re baaaack…
By Braveheart
April 4, 2007 10:36 PM | Link to this
Will Braves fans stop talking about what the hell the Mets are doing? Who really cares about the Mets? We have never before concerned ourselves with the Mets, we should not start doing that now. If we just take care of what we have to take care of, the Mets will be of little concern for us this season. Trust me.
By Greg in TN
April 4, 2007 10:36 PM | Link to this
The lineup is 2-0 Tony. I’m just sayin… Sheesh.
Great night tonight by Tim Hudson. Very encouraging start of the season and something to build on. Loved the clutch homer by Thorman and Kelly Johnson played well, especially in the field. Kudos to Frenchy and KJ on throwing out Ryan Howard at the plate. That play was huge along with the Victorino caught stealing.
We’ve got series #1 under out belts. Bring the brooms to the ballpark tomorrow. Would love to have a sweep.
By Lew
April 4, 2007 10:39 PM | Link to this
I gotta go along with AJ on this one. I think the Cardinals look terrible. They have no pitching, especially since Carpenter is hurt and their offense has not been in St.Louis. I think it’s much more them being in a slump then it is the Mets’ pitching being anywhere near that good. We’ll see. For sure, though, neither we nor the Mets have looked like the Nationals or the Cardinals. That’s something I think everyone can agree on. The Marlins relievers looked nasty today, too, losing a 6 run lead.
By Lew
April 4, 2007 10:41 PM | Link to this
One other thing. The last two games are EXACTLY the type that we would have lost last year. The Mets might want to take that into account. There won’t be any double digit leads for the Braves to overcome like in 06.
By Carroll
April 4, 2007 10:51 PM | Link to this
I understand the concern about the offense. It has been downright painful to watch. However, offense will come around. The important thing is pitching, and that has been out-friggin-standing. It’s so nice to have a real team again that can actually win these types of games. I’m very excited about this season!
By Tony Almeida
April 4, 2007 10:51 PM | Link to this
Smoltz and Hudson deserved WINS!! The offense needs to step it up.
By flbravesgirl
April 4, 2007 10:51 PM | Link to this
For those who haven’t seen the announcement, MLB & cable have come to an agreement on the Extra Innings package! They’re already doing the preview,I checked the channels it was on last year & got to see the last couple innings of the game (which made me even happier!).
By Greg in TN
April 4, 2007 10:52 PM | Link to this
Lew,
Agree with you. We would have very likely have been 0-2 rather than 2-0. The performance of the bullpen has been just as advertised so far.
By No Chop Zone
April 4, 2007 10:52 PM | Link to this
You’re right braveheart. The Mets are coming from the North and you have nothing to worry about……Didn’t they say that about Sherman?
By zimo z
April 4, 2007 10:54 PM | Link to this
The department of continuous improvement: a few suggestions to improve THE GAME…
1) The games are way too long (e.g. tonight). How about if relief pitchers are no longer allowed to throw practice pitches if they enter a game after an inning has already started. In what other sport does something like that happen? Does the backup quarterback get to throw practice passes on the field? No, he throws on the sideline while the game goes on. Do baskeball subs get to shoot practice free throws?
2) There are not enough players allowed on each team. Look at tonight, each team used up almost all their non-pitchers. Here is the suggestion: why not allow each team 1 player coach - a coach who can enter the game as a player if needed? e.g. Eddie Perez - coach and emergency backup catcher.
3) And finally - why have managers and coaches (who don’t play) wear uniforms? It is too ridiculous. I’d like to see Bobby Knight in tank top and shorts. Or Bill Belichek in pads helmet. Not!
ok, that’s all for now.
By akirell
April 4, 2007 10:56 PM | Link to this
I have a feeling DOB’s gonna be dealing with a lot of additional complaints about the LaRoche-for-Gonzalez deal now that Gonzalez is looking pretty shaky, while a future Braves franchise led by McCann, Francoeur, AND LaRoche would sound enticing. At least the first two are still Braves, and probably will be for a very long time. I think Gonzalez will turn it around.
By The Grinch
April 4, 2007 10:58 PM | Link to this
The message that we’re back has been served on a flaming arrow into the butt-cheeks of the NL East. Word to your parents. :-)
By DAP
April 4, 2007 11:05 PM | Link to this
eric from mo
youre right about that , eric, in fact, in the AL central, 3 team won 90. twins, tiger, white sox.
By Najeh Davenpoop
April 4, 2007 11:05 PM | Link to this
This has to be one hell of a psychological blow for Philly, to be at home and blow a lead in 2 straight games against a division rival. Great way for the Braves to start off the season. I am lovin’ this pitching staff so far, with the exception of Mike Gonzalez.
By Braveheart
April 4, 2007 11:10 PM | Link to this
I don’t know No Chop. My family was in Ireland being oppressed by the freaking British in the 1860s and were residents of Bronx tenements from 1893 until 1999, so that lame Sherman reference does not faze a carpetbagger like myself. Try again. Where you from, Poughkeepsie or Lilburn? ‘Cause you clearly ain’t from a borough. But you wish you were. Wannabe.
By The Stranger
April 4, 2007 11:12 PM | Link to this
Twenty innings, two-and-oh. Against the team to beat. Wicky wins the 1st, saves the 2nd. If this were 2006 we’d be 0-2 and talking about cheese.
By Braveheart
April 4, 2007 11:13 PM | Link to this
zimo, why don’t football coaches dress like tom landry anymore instead of dressing like a bunch of weekend warriors in their jumpsuits?
By Kentavo
April 4, 2007 11:14 PM | Link to this
Okay, I know it’s only two games, but…
Folks who’ve said these first two games would have been lost last year are right.
These games are setting the tone.
I still groan when I see Paronto or McBride enter the game - but maybe there really is something to those guys knowing their roles and seeing how it’s done by Wickman, et al.
I’m sure I’d have more confidence too if my role model was Wickman rather than the wussy Reitsma.
I’m still not too impressed with Gonzalez.
Gonzo got bailed out tonight.
But I’m very impressed with Soriano.
By jd
April 4, 2007 11:19 PM | Link to this
two great games-amazing what good pitching can do-capable starters and excellent bullpen. starting lineup looks good-renteria through mccann….not to be a “glass half empty” guy, but i fear that kelly and ryan are both 240 hitters max, which will really stress the rest of the lineup, and i don’t think bobby will bench either of them-hope i’m wrong, but they look overmatched…..on a different note-i’ve seen jackson in concert 5 times, including chastain and an unbelievable show at the fox….he’s as old as i am, but he can still write a song….and his backup band is always strong
By Scalp 'em Braves
April 4, 2007 11:21 PM | Link to this
DOB
Know you are probably feverishly working on your stories for the paper, not to mention a new blog. But, will you take back your “I’m not sure about batting Francouer 5th & McCann 6h” comment? Of course, we will no doubt hear from Robert a/k/a Mr. Baseball - since Francouer doubled, with no outs, Bobby should have given McCann the signal to bunt, move the runner to third and hope for a sac fly.
Speaking of which, one of our Mut buddy bloggers mentioned the other day that we are relying too much on the long ball to bail us out. I do agree with that statement/observation. We have got to start scoring some runs with hits (not necessarily HR’s) with runners in scoring position. This does concern me. Time will tell.
TennPaul
Agree with you on the nick-name(y)(ie) post. No imagination these days. We have had a plethora of “Raffie”(s). Wasn’t he the guy that did kid songs? (I still here “The Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round” in my nightmares). We had “Furcie” (a fuzzie kids toy that talked, as I recall). “Jonesy” - too lame to even comment on.
Whatever happened to the good nicknames? “Roadrunner” (Ralph Garr), “The Hammer” (Hank), “Dirt” (Lemke), “Skates” (Lonnie Smith)et. al.?
I tried to get some discussion going on this issue last summer. Even threw out “Baby Huey” for McCann - seems to have stuck, as I heard Joe Simpson say “McCann has that Baby Huey look with his hair standing up” (after his 2 run bomb tonight). But, of course, Lew, KC, Braveheart, Shaun, etc were too busy arguing over their myopic points, and the dialogue got lost amongst the continual blather over minutiae.
I’ll throw out a proposed nickname - for Dru, I would call him “Glider”, or maybe “Hoover” (as in vacuum cleaner). Not the best, but its a start.
2 games - both extra innings. Bully looks solid, despite the Gonzalez walk to Rollins (bad, bad mistake), McCann’s bad, bad throw, and grooving an 0-2 pitch to Victorino for a down the line double. Soriano (nickname, “Mr. Nasty”) was awesome, Paronto, a wee bit shaky, but came through, McBride, one pitch, one out, and Beefy Bob, steady as a rock - didn’t get rattled by giving up the single.
Muts looked damned good tonight - offense, pitching and defense. Can’t wait for the to come to the Ted, and see their fall to Earth.
Bring on the Muts!!
By The Grinch
April 4, 2007 11:21 PM | Link to this
Davenpoop, Gonzalez will settle down. Even if he doesn’t his stuff will give the other team something to consider in their game plan; a curveball to throw at them if you will. Think about it; if WE don’t know what to expect you KNOW they won’t. That’s what I’m telling myself, anyway.
Zimo z, good job. Mail your ideas in and see what happens. We got your back; glad to know there are people out there taking up the slack for the purists who couldn’t get it right in the last 125 years.
By No Chop Zone
April 4, 2007 11:21 PM | Link to this
Nice to see you got your monies worth from Ancestry.com. Anyway, I’m just agreeing with you braveheart. The NY METS are nothing to worry about. Just go to sleep and rest in peace.
By meansonny
April 4, 2007 11:21 PM | Link to this
McBride is our best pitcher against lefties. That’s all he’s good at, though.
By N8....I'll give you my opinion ANYWAY
April 4, 2007 11:27 PM | Link to this
I will say this much. For the lack of overall hitting we’ve shown (though I have to admit, the HR’s have been clutch/timely), the bullpen has been EVERY BIT AS GOOD as advertised.
8 IP, 6 hits, 1 ER, 6 K’s and 2 for 2 in saves. Bullpen ERA: 1.12, with an OVERALL team ERA of: 2.14
Nice start I’d say. And all of that with Gonzalez looking SHAKY at best, and our 2nd best starter from last year, has YET to take the mound. Let me rephrase that: VERY nice start.
Now for that offense…..
By Robert (Justice Is The Best)
April 4, 2007 11:32 PM | Link to this
Yes, the offense has been sluggish the first two games, but it is not a cause for concern. Kelly Johnson can hit and he just needs to get his groove. And, it is not exactly like Andruw has been tearing it up. The encouraging thing is the pitching. Gonzales has looked shaky but in the end has got the job done. Soriano and Wickman have looked great. McBride did what he is supposed to do tonight. But, the best sign of all was Hudson tonight. He looked great. He had a few walks but looked really good. The offense will come around and I believe this team will be okay. Let’s hope Chucky looks good tomorrow.
By brian
April 4, 2007 11:33 PM | Link to this
No chop - don’t joke around with Sherman. The man committed war crimes against the state of Georgia.
Agree with above - we do not need to scoreboard watch, especially in April. Take care of ourselves and we will advance far.
By Kentavo
April 4, 2007 11:37 PM | Link to this
Anybody have the stats on what we’ve done against Adam Eaton in the past? I seem to remember him striking us out a bunch when he was with the Padres.
By TennesseePaul
April 4, 2007 11:42 PM | Link to this
McCann is so frickin good. And Thor… well let’s see.
LaRoche 1-12 with 7 Ks.
Thor 1-6 1 HR 1K.
Hudson was fantastic. Two extra inning victories. Close games. 8 innings from the pen and only 1 run allowed. Let’s keep up the good work. I’d like to see more scoring in the early innings. We can’t use the pen 4 innings every night. But I like the showing so far. Just break out and flash the guns early. Nice. Very nice.
GO BRAVES
By Braveheart
April 4, 2007 11:45 PM | Link to this
Hey, Blather Accuser. Dude, your dialogue does not get lost because of other people. This is why no one realizes that you have posted: All we just heard out of you was blather, blather, Hoover, blather, blather, glider, blather, blather, Mr. nasty, blather, blather, Baby Huey. How about renaming yourself this: The Blathering Misnomer?
By DAP
April 4, 2007 11:46 PM | Link to this
does anybody know about what time batting practice will be going on in atlanta on friday?
By Scalp 'em Braves
April 4, 2007 11:51 PM | Link to this
For those griping about KJ, Dru, Langerhans, and the others who have not exactly set the woods on fire, through all of 2 games….. consider this.
This is a long season. Different guys come through with big plays at different times. Some players rake almost every game (McCann comes to mind, Edgar too, so far, Chipper and Andruw in the past, etc. KJ threw a laser to the plate to cut down Howard. That saved a run, and without that play, McCann’s bomb would have been meaningless. McCann’s throw to third, and Chipper’s tag to nail Victorino at third was major (though the replay seemed to indicate that Chipper tagged his helmet right after his hand touched the base). Thorman’s HR was timely, and huge, to say the least.
Before you start bashing one player, or another, as ineffective, a choker, we’d be better off with somebody else, or accuse somebody of being outright crappy, can’t we just at least get through the first week before the cacphony for change begins?
Somebody brought up visiting the Phil-thy Newspaper blog, and after one game, those d-bags are already calling for Charlie Manuel’s head, Madson is a goat (actually, they may be right about that after giving up the bomb to Thorman tonight), panic has set in and they need a new roster outside of Rollins, Howard and Utley. God forbid Bravos fans becoming that critical, and booing a bad outing by any of our players.
By David O'Brien
April 4, 2007 11:53 PM | Link to this
So, does this team seem like one that might keep your interest for the next six or seven months? Wow. What a couple of games.
Check out the stats in these couple of graphs I just wrote in my game story:
The Braves won the series opener Monday on Edgar Renteria’s two-run homer in the 10th inning _ also off Madson. They trailed 3-2 after seven innings Monday and trailed 2-0 after eight innings Wednesday.
They were 8-67 when trailing after seven innings in 2006. They’re 2-0 today.
�It�s huge for us,� third baseman Chipper Jones said. �We need to get that attitude back, like we�re going to win these games. I think we got out of that mode last year because we couldn�t get outs late in games.�
The Braves were 19-33 in one-run games last season and had a National League-worst 29 blown saves. Their revamped bullpen has come through so far this season, despite a shaky eighth inning Wednesday from Mike Gonzalez.
By No Chop Zone
April 4, 2007 11:59 PM | Link to this
In 1985 The NY Mets were denied the playoffs by the Cardinals in a late season matchup despite winning 98 games. In 1986 they opened the season against those same Cadinals and swept them. they ran away with the division that year in a magial season that culminated with a world title. In 2006 the Cardinals ended the Mets hopes of a WS trip. In 2007 they again open against them and again sweep them. Coincedence you ask……I think not.
By David O'Brien
April 4, 2007 11:59 PM | Link to this
Kentavo, ask and you shall receive: Eaton is 2-1 with a 3.86 ERA in five career starts vs. the Braves.
But only one in 2004, one in 2005, none since. In other words, most of these Braves haven’t faced him.
Chipper’s 4-for-8 with a homer against him, Edgar is 4-for-8, Andruw is 3-for-13 with a homer, and Wilson is 1-for-3 with a homer.
Eaton’s not very good. Rangers scored loads of runs for him last year to prop up that record: He was 4-0 in his final six starts despite a 5.08 ERA and only one quality start in that span.
By Scalp 'em Braves
April 5, 2007 12:03 AM | Link to this
Braveheart:
Yes, I will call you by name instead of trying to come up with a stupid, non-descriptive nickname that makes no sense. At least I make my point, and go on, instead of arguing incessantly over the same stupid point.
I’ll accept the “Misnomer” comment, from the standpoint of nicknames. As for “Blather” - I can’t lay claim to it - you’ve got the market cornered on that one.
By N8....I'll give you my opinion ANYWAY
April 5, 2007 12:08 AM | Link to this
Since I was the one “scoreboard watching” by posting what was happening in the Mets game, I’ll comment.
I wasn’t “scoreboard watching”. I was just cautioning that if we are gonna get all excited about our pitching (justified, to say the least), we need to recognize that we’ve given up 5 runs in 21 IP, very respectable. However the Mets (whom EVERY Braves fan on this blog - myself included - said they would SUCK past Glavine), have allowed TWO RUNS TOTAL in 3 full games, which calculates out to a 0.66 Team ERA. Not so “sucky” I would say.
I just find it amusing how fellow Braves fans can say: The Mets STILL suck, the Cardinals just aren’t “hot” yet, but since Jimmy Rollins proclaimed the Phillies the team to beat, OUR pitching performance is legit.
Make no mistake. I’m happy for the “RESULTS” of the first two games. But face it, we’ve been a little lucky:
1) We won, despite a dropped popup by KJ, which he never ATTEMPTED to use two hands.
2) That win was fueled by an inning that was cut short due to a batted ball hitting a Phillies baserunner.
3) Renteria hit the go-ahead HR after FAILING TWICE to lay down a sacrifice bunt.
4) The win tonight was “aided” by a HORRIBLE attempted steal of 3B with Howard up and Utley on deck.
5) There was a dropped (or not caught) popped up bunt by Chipper and McCann, that COULD have led to more runs but didn’t.
6) Gonzalez pitched HORRIBLY tonight, but was bailed out by the above baserunning blunder, and a GREAT relay play by Francoeur/Johnson/McCann.
7) This one is disturbing, yet relieving. We’ve won two games with Chipper and Andruw going a combined 2 for 15 with ZERO RBI!
YIKES.
As somebody stated earlier, we lose BOTH of these games last year. Make no mistake. OUR LUCK (along with a new and improved bullpen) has taken a turn for the better.
Ladies and Gentleman, I believe we will have a good old fashioned 162 game dogfight on our hands. Should be fun (stressful - but fun). Sadly enough for Jimmy Rollins and his MOUTH, unless they fix their bullpen (I’d panic if I was them, see: Braves 2006 bulpen), they won’t be involved.
Much to Meanie’s joy, this will be my last post of the night.
By Braves fan 202
April 5, 2007 12:11 AM | Link to this
Ya NO CHOP ZONE i dont think so. Considering the only similarities between 86 and 07 are the jersey names. That is it! None of the same management or players. NE ways the mets got lucky in 86. So coincidence? I think so.
By DAP
April 5, 2007 12:14 AM | Link to this
im not at all worried that we have only scored on homeruns.
we have played two games and so far have faced two very tough pitchers. It hasnt been easy to string hits together because the pitching has been really good, except for their bullpen.
at least were scoring runs. when homeruns stop and were still not driving in runs with base hits, THEN we have a problem.
hitting 5 homeruns in 2 games, NOT a problem.
By KC
April 5, 2007 12:17 AM | Link to this
GRINCH: BBQ and beverages baby!!!!!
By Coach
April 5, 2007 12:19 AM | Link to this
Yo DonCoberleone , hey buddy , EAT CROW ! OPEN MOUTH , INSERT FOOT ! Do yourself a favor and don’t make anymore predictions this season.
By OddJob
April 5, 2007 12:19 AM | Link to this
Hudson had a good game but if the wind blows the other way ? Still great start to the season.BC and JS must be dancing about the pen, they couldn’t have drawn it up better excepting the run given up by Gonzo it was just about perfect. Eight innings by the pen and Yates wasn’t even used,a player like Yates could contend for the setup roll on some of the past Braves teams.What this means to me is we have a very deep as well as talented group of relievers and before the year’s out we’ll need em all.
By KC
April 5, 2007 12:23 AM | Link to this
A few things we can be confident in from what we’ve seen so far…
The bullpen will be deadly.
The offensive knows how to get a timely hit.
and… Tim Hudson is back!
Questions still to be answered:
What will we get from the bottom of the rotation (particularly until Hampton returns)?
How good a leadoff man will Kelly Johnson become?
I still believe in Johnson. I think he’ll be a fine major leaguer… but I would still love to see the Braves go out and get a Ryan Freel or someone like that.
When Hampton returns, trade Redman, Yates, and if necessary… even Villarreal for a proven leadoff hitter. We can afford to part with a couple guys from the back end of our pen because we’ve got Boyer, Stockman, Moylan, and soon, Sturtze… all waiting for a job to open up.
Let’s get a little speed at the top of this lineup.
By KC
April 5, 2007 12:25 AM | Link to this
BTW: I agree with Grinch… Gonzalez will be just fine. He’ll settle in.
By KC
April 5, 2007 12:26 AM | Link to this
Two great gutty wins!!! Now it’s time to win one convincingly to complete the sweep. James vs. Eaton… I like our chances tomorrow.
By KC
April 5, 2007 12:30 AM | Link to this
Oddjob: Skip and Pete were talking on the radio about how the dimensions were designed as they are in that park because they expected the wind to blow in most of the time. Instead, it usually blows out.
That park is very small to help compensate for the inward wind. Those same fly balls would have been outs at Turner Field with no wind at all.
But even if he had given a solo homer in the 1st… 7 innings, 4 hits and 2 earned would have been just fine.
By Train Wreck Bystander
April 5, 2007 12:31 AM | Link to this
Glad to see the Bravos up 2-0! But Hudson was fortunate; that wind blew two homers in early in the game.
Got my broom ready for tomorrow afternoon!
By OddJob
April 5, 2007 12:36 AM | Link to this
KC I’m more concerned with obp and base running skills than pure speed in a leadoff man.I know Johnson is a smart base runner so my question is can he get on base at a .375 clip or better ?
By OddJob
April 5, 2007 12:40 AM | Link to this
Good info on the park design kc I missed that, thank’s
By flbravesgirl
April 5, 2007 12:52 AM | Link to this
OK, let’s try this again: * MLB & cable have agreed on a deal for Extra Innings.* The preview has already shown up on my cable. If you’re planning on subscribing I suggest doing it this week while it’s $159. They said the regular price has not been set yet, which translates to “a lot more than the introductory rate”.
By Coach
April 5, 2007 1:09 AM | Link to this
Two quality games from our one and two starters , can’t ask much more than that from our best pitchers. how deep is the bullpen , you ask ? Joey Devine is in AA Mississippi with no room for him on the Richmond roster. The minor league games kick into gear today and Richmond is going to kick some donkey butt this season. Nobody has figured out my little question yet , Bob Gibson in 1968 , Johan Santana in 2004 , thirty-six years in between. They both won the Cy Young those two years , but what else did they do that is so unique ? think QUALITY , people !
By The Grinch
April 5, 2007 1:19 AM | Link to this
FBG, I noticed your post earlier. I wasn’t ignoring you; I just happen to have TBS, FSN, TS, ESPN 1,2,8 and WGST/94.9 FM. Therefore, I thought I’d let those less privileged whoop and holler. :-) KC, I’ll honnor the bet at the next game regardless in honnor of his doing it at the right time. I’ll be honest; he does look like he’s back. If that’s the case, I think we have a legit chance at the WS. I’m not annointing him yet, but this was certainly encouraging. He pitched a hell of a game. 7 innings of 1-hit ball and a no-decision; got to work on some run manufacturing. I will go to bed confident, though; even more so than normal. :-)
By flbravesgirl
April 5, 2007 1:28 AM | Link to this
And that was supposed to be bold, not italics. Yeeesh.
Guess the cable’s not a sore point anymore, huh, CL?
By Chop Chop
April 5, 2007 1:34 AM | Link to this
3:05 start?
Why, I’ll start my tailgating at 8 a.m.!
That is all.
By brent
April 5, 2007 2:39 AM | Link to this
My only concern is that all our runs have been scored on homers this season.
Bobby Cox baseball isn’t going to change, but it would be nice to at least see us string some hits together.
Of course, if Kelly Johnson doesn’t get on base, then it’s hard to even try to shake things up.
Hopefully, Kelly’s strong defensive plays will help him relax, and improve his focus at the plate. We need him to set the table, especially in Atlanta, where the homerun balls don’t fly quite as much as they do in Philly.
The bullpen is nasty. But, do doubt, if we don’t start scoring some runs, we’ll be hearing about “overuse” in just a matter of weeks.
Go Braves!
By DonCoburleone
April 5, 2007 3:03 AM | Link to this
I am eating crow right now… tastes good…
By DonCoburleone
April 5, 2007 3:07 AM | Link to this
Strong outing from Hudson tonight; still needs to convince me though…
McCann, Brian McCann. The guy is a bonafide stud… Andruw, A-A-A-Andruw; the season has started, you’re playing for a new contract remember?
By DonCoburleone
April 5, 2007 3:14 AM | Link to this
“Let’s get a little speed at the top of this lineup.”
Couldn’t agree more. I honestly believe that is the biggest hole on the entire Braves roster. Forget Maddux, Glavine, Wainright, Dye, Drew, Sheffield, Giles, LaRoche; The biggest loss from this Braves roster over the past 6 years is RAFAEL FURCAL.
By DonCoburleone
April 5, 2007 3:20 AM | Link to this
“Eaton’s not very good. Rangers scored loads of runs for him last year to prop up that record: He was 4-0 in his final six starts despite a 5.08 ERA and only one quality start in that span.”
Totally agree. I think we see Atlanta’s offense bust out tomorrow. Andruw and KJ need to get it going too before the hated ones arrive…
By DonCoburleone
April 5, 2007 3:24 AM | Link to this
DOB, if you’re reading this, this next beers for you… Shout at you tomorrow when King James takes the mound…
By ernesto
April 5, 2007 6:41 AM | Link to this
Those two W’s would have definitely been two losses last year. And as far as the “balls hitting players” or the “Phils losing their minds on the basepaths” those are exactly teh kind of things that went AGAINST us last year. We seemed to get every freaky yip or unfortunate event - glad to see that turn around.
The bad - all runs scored by HRs - nothing inherently bad about that but we’re not going to average 2.5 HRs a game for the year, got to start manufacturing as well.
The real good - After we threw out Victirno, I just had a feeling - something’s going to happen, we’re going to win this one - I’ve got to admit I didn’t have that feeling at all last year. Felt nice. Oh yeah, and Huddy looked pretty good.
By Lew
April 5, 2007 7:40 AM | Link to this
Well,I’m certainly happy about the cable deal, as I was about to be disenfranchised-however….Bob DuPuy just issued a statement to the effect that MLB just wanted all their fans to be able to view baseball as they chose. That’s nothing but revisionist history and a healthy case of spin doctoring. Bud Light, he of the $14.5 million salary, just basically told us to “Let them Eat Cake” two days ago. I wonder why there was no mention of the extra $700 million the deal just pulled in? Or the fact that they just forced cable to carry the Baseball Channel in 09, boosting their viewership to a potential 40 million homes.
By Scalp 'Em Braves
April 5, 2007 8:44 AM | Link to this
Looking over the box scores this morning - one thing really jumps out.
Kelly Johnson is the only leadoff hitter in the NL with a batting average of .000! Holy Schnikies, Tommy Boy!! Hope he breaks out soon.
Marcus Giles broke out last night - 3 for 4, HR, 2 RBI’s.
By meansonny
April 5, 2007 8:46 AM | Link to this
I’ve got to say that both starters really showed something yesterday. I was expecting both of them to take some shots the 2nd/3rd time around in the order. Both were warriors.
The last 2 games smell a lot like playoff baseball. Survive against a starter who’s bringing his A game. Then take advantage of the bullpen. Our bullpen is better than yours, thanks for the W.
I do think we’ll need to be a little more efficient offensively if we’re going to take 2 of 3 against the Mets.
By The Amazins
April 5, 2007 8:51 AM | Link to this
Shocking. Braves fans giddy about Smoltz and Hudson. A day after Smoltz pulled a Smoltz, Hudson pulled a Smoltz. One never was an ace, one used to be an ace. Smoltz outpitched by the Phillies ace Myers, Hudson outpitched by the Phillies #2 Hamels. Saved by the pen. Blame the hitters if you want. The hitters got the hits they needed against the inferior pen pitchers of Philly. The Philly hitters got the hits they needed off the inferior Smoltz and Hudson to have a lead. Fly Ball James is going to get bombed today.
By KC
April 5, 2007 8:59 AM | Link to this
N8: “Nice to see that that HORRIBLE pitching the Mets were supposed to have is letting them down, huh?”
Their pitching isn’t terrible. However, it is thin. Lack of depth is typically something that will rear its head as the season goes along. Last year, the Mets often had to go to their bullpen prior to the 7th inning. But they don’t have the same bullpen depth they had last year to enable them to do that. So has the rotation improved to a point where they won’t need to?
O.Hernandez and John Maine looked like Cy Young contenders in their first starts… but honestly, are they that good or did they simply have good days? I actually think John Maine is going to be a good one. Not great (not a superstar)… but I’d be a little surprised if he doesn’t finish with a sub-4.00 ERA. O.Hernandez on the other hand… I’m not sure he can post a sub-4.00 ERA over a full season anymore.
We still haven’t seen Oliver Perez or Pelfrey. Perez had a great spring. Hopefully, that won’t carry over. If Perez somehow recaptures the magic he had a few years ago, then I admit… I’d be scared of the Mets. But if I were a Mets fan, I wouldn’t be holding my breath for that.
Overall, I expect Glavine to have a great year, Maine to have a good year, and Hernandez to have a decent year. Not sure what to expect out of the bottom of their rotation yet. Let’s see how O.Perez and Pelfrey look through April (hopefully not good).
The Mets just have to hope that the bottom of their rotation comes through and doesn’t overwork the bullpen… because again, that pen no longer has the depth to do part of the rotation’s job for them.
By KC
April 5, 2007 9:02 AM | Link to this
Amazins: Smoltz and Hudson will blow the S*!t out of Glavine/Hernandez this year. But thank you for the laughs.
By Barrett
April 5, 2007 9:14 AM | Link to this
Amazin’s, Right now I think most of the free world would take Smoltz and Hudson over Myers and Hamels. I’m not saying that they aren’t good… They are just young. Smoltz is proven and NONE of us want to get in that “debate” again becuase it’s not a debate, it’s a fact. That would be the same as saying “Josh Gibson was not a good hitter,” or “Cy Young was a mediocre pitcher,”. So say what you want to about them. We all know that Smoltz and Hudson are not “Inferior”
“Fly Ball James is going to get bombed today” What about Freddie Garcia? Is he not a fly ball pitcher and going to play half of his games there?
By Shaun
April 5, 2007 9:19 AM | Link to this
MBATL,
Well, I haven’t done the research about K’s myself but I’ve read plenty on the subject and there is little to no correlation between run scoring and K’s.
Not trying to pick on you, but it is fairly easy to see this without doing any scientific research. For example, look at the AL last season. The top six run-scoring teams all struck out over 1000 times. Of the bottom eight run-scoring teams, only two struck out over 1000 times.
Sometimes great scoring teams strikeout a lot, sometimes a little. Again, same song and dance, what matters most isn’t how you make outs but how often.
You can argue about whether or not outs are productive, but I’m not sure how you can argue that baserunners are like shots in hockey—the more you have, the more you are going to score.
By Shaun
April 5, 2007 9:22 AM | Link to this
DonCoburleone, what happened to your Hudson prediction?
And what’s Hudson’s waste size? 26? A swift Philadelphia breeze may have blown him away.
By KC
April 5, 2007 9:24 AM | Link to this
Grinch: I agree with you. If Hudson continues to pitch like this… the Braves will be legitimate World Series contenders.
Smoltz/Hudson/James is already as good a starting trio as there is in the game (assuming we continue to get what we expect out of Hudson and James).
Then, Mike Hampton is due back in the first week of April. If he had no further setbacks, he could still have a significant impact on the season.
In all of Hampton’s bullpen sessions, not only has he not experienced and oblique problems, but his elbow hasn’t even been sore. That is very, very good news. And if you think about it… doctors say it takes 12-18 months to fully (physically) recover from TJ surgery, and it’s been 19 months since Hampton’s surgery. At this point, it really may just be a matter of shaking off the rust, getting his mechanics in sync and the feel back for his pitches.
I figure it’ll take him at least 6-8 weeks, if not something closer to a 1/2 season, to really get back in the groove. But he could be a force in the second half. And by the time September rolls around (again, barring any further setbacks)… Hampton will be a full 2 years removed from the surgery, and will have had 4 months worth of starts under his belt, and 4 healthy months should be enough time for him to regain his form.
Also, I believe between Cormier and Davies, we’ll have a quality guy in the 5 slot.
So if we go into battle in September and October with Smotlz, Hudson, James, a healthy/sharp Hampton, and even a quality 5th starter (to go along with the best bullpen in baseball)… I’ll feel pretty damn good about our chances.
By Arkansas Hillbilly
April 5, 2007 9:33 AM | Link to this
Journalist Jimmy,
I noticed it was a very subtle, low-profile, back-handed chaw-toss lastnight. Wicky clearly didn’t want to overthrow the chaw on a cold night this early in the season and risk injury.
By Arkansas Hillbilly
April 5, 2007 9:40 AM | Link to this
OK, lets play a little caption game without pictures. Caption this:
Thoughts going through McCann’s head when receiving the perfectly executed relay throw with the Shaq of Baseball closing the distance on him…Your thoughts?
By caveman22
April 5, 2007 9:58 AM | Link to this
yyyyaaaawwwwwwwwnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn………………………………..
Just got up, did I miss anything???
Dam!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thurmnan!!!!!!!!!!!!! I mean Thorman!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I had this crazy dream that I met somebody who just started bein a Braves fan since last year. He was tellin me how bad Smoltzie was then miraculously had every stat from every “bad” game all the way back to the Little League. Shortly thereafter he was B#$%&-slapped by the whole blog.
So what’s going on around here today??
By Renegator
April 5, 2007 10:11 AM | Link to this
I don’t know why people are concerned about the Braves hitting. They NEVER hit in April. They always get off to a slow start and then get rolling when the weather warms up in May. I think it’s going to be an ugly series against the Mets this weekend. The bats will still be sluggish and I bet K. Johnson still won’t have a single hit. This guy SUCKS!!!
By Gil in Mechanicsville(zoo keeper)
April 5, 2007 10:14 AM | Link to this
To all the folks who are still whining over the loss or trades of (pick one) LaRoach, Giles, Glavine, Furcal, GET OVER IT. They are gone. They don’t play for the Braves this year so move on. Let’s see how the team does with the players we have before we start clamoring like a bunch of fifth graders. Looks to me like two wins against a tough division foe on the road is a very good start.
As for all the Mutts bloggers, welcome, as long as you can behave yourselves, (I know that is a stretch for some of you who had no parental guidance to tell you about bad words). The AJC likes the blog hits. Personally I don’t feel the need to blog on a Mutts site. Maybe I am narrow-minded but then again, I knew both of my parents.
By KC
April 5, 2007 10:15 AM | Link to this
Boog and Joe (Boog’s okay… I just miss hearing Skip on TV) were commenting how hard Thorman swings at everything, and how his homerun swing seemed a bit easier than the 2 swings-and-misses that preceded it.
They’re correct… that guy is so strong, he doesn’t need to swing hard. If he’ll just concentrate on putting the fat part of the bat on the ball, the homeruns will take care of themselves.
By MBATL
April 5, 2007 10:20 AM | Link to this
Shaun, I don’t taking it as “picking on me.” No argument with your last post… Some of these statistical issues run counter to intuition (to me, anyway), so it’s fun to examine them … still working on my ‘streakiness’ proof, btw!
By NO CHOP 4-U
April 5, 2007 10:21 AM | Link to this
I know it’s only 3 Games into the season but what was that you said Lew about the Mets pitching??
By Lew
April 5, 2007 10:23 AM | Link to this
Amazins-If Smoltz and Hudson were as bad as you claim, you wouldn’t be here trying to convince the Braves’ faithful, now would you? On the other hand, I can see you coming here trying to convince us your staff will keep it up. Get real. The Mets pitching staff benefited from a Cardinals team that didn’t even show up. If Pujols had gotten off to last year’s start, you’d be crying in your beer. Great offense against a team that has no pitching. Even the Cardinals’ ace (maybe their only really good pitcher) is on the shelf. It’s only a single series. Don’t start drooling quite yet (although in the case of Mets fans, that may be a natural state)-El Duque, Maine and Glavine aren’t likely to remain 162-0. El Duque is not likely to pitch 6 inning no hitters very often. Sooner or later you’ll actually have to face a real team. Like this weekend.
By Gil in Mechanicsville(zoo keeper)
April 5, 2007 10:26 AM | Link to this
Renegator… I am willing to take that bet.. How much?
By NO CHOP 4-U
April 5, 2007 10:31 AM | Link to this
KC…..The problem with you analysis of the Mets pitching is that at the season goes along they should get stronger. They’ll have Mota by end of May. Pedro and Sanchez by the All-Star break. Of course they may not be effective in their return. But if they are The Braves and the rest of the NL East are in trouble.
By caveman22
April 5, 2007 10:33 AM | Link to this
GIL Ain’t it funny how Mutters keep showing up around here? You’d think the “REIGNING” champs would have gotten over there obsession with the Bravos. They kind of remind of that CRAZY ex girlfriend I used to have. She was fun for about minute and just stupid for minute after that.
So how much for a brake job?
By Lew
April 5, 2007 10:33 AM | Link to this
I know this is supposed to be a baseball blog, but it’s moment of silence time for Darrell Stingley, the Patriots player paralyzed by a Jack Tatum hit. The man turned a horrendous experience into as positive a one as was humanly possible. He served as Patriots Executive Director of Player Personnel and did major work with paralyzed patients. He died yesterday of unknown causes. He was an inspiration. It’s a shame he’s gone.
By JC FROM UT
April 5, 2007 10:34 AM | Link to this
DOB: In this mornings article you calles Thorman a rookie. Is he still under rookie status to be eligible for ROY honors or did he have too many at bats last season. Also how much patience will bobby have with KJ not hitting. I remeber two years ago he was plenty patient and KJ turned it around. Will Bobby have the same amount of patience this time around?
By KC
April 5, 2007 10:34 AM | Link to this
Renegator: “I bet K. Johnson still won’t have a single hit. This guy SUCKS!!!”
I think you’re judging KJ too harshly too early. I think he’s going to be a very productive major league hitter. I just wish he didn’t have to be thrust into the leadoff role. If we’re going to break a kid in that’s not proven at the big league level… I wish we could do it batting him 8th, but… oh well.
So far in his first two games, he has hit a few balls hard. They haven’t fallen in yet, but he hasn’t looked terrible.
Also, in the first 2 games of the season, only 2 players have drawn a walk in both games. Actually, only two Atlanta Braves have drawn a walk period. One of them is Chipper Jones. Guess who the other one is.
“I don’t know why people are concerned about the Braves hitting.”
Agreed. I have a dumb question… is there some evidence to suggest that power-driven teams go into offensive slumps more often than teams that have to manufacture runs?
I mean… sure, you’re not always going to hit homeruns, especially against a good pitcher. But it’s not exactly easy to string together several hits in an inning against a good pitcher either. The Phillies couldn’t string anything together off Hudson last night. The only thing they got was a longball.
Everyone keeps saying how concerned they are that all the runs have come off homeruns. Why? Again, yes there will be times when you don’t hit them. But there are probably just as many times when you can’t string together hits.
The Braves aren’t “sitting back and waiting for the 3 run homer” as some would say. They play station to station ball, and do what they can to get a run in that way. And certainly all their offense won’t come by way of the longball… but it just so happens that we have a lot of power in this lineup and some of those hits are going to go over the fence. That’s not bad news.
By Monroe & Marietta
April 5, 2007 10:39 AM | Link to this
The excitement is back! After last year when I had to turn off the tv when the starters were pulled, it is so good to know that we are still in the game. When Wickman got the final out, I was cheering like it was October, not the second game of the season. It is like the Prodigal Son has returned! Kill the fattened calf and let’s party! GO BRAVES!
By NO CHOP 4-U
April 5, 2007 10:39 AM | Link to this
It’s just like you LEW to devalue the Mets 3 game sweep of the Cards in ST Louis By a combined score of 20-2. I don’t care who you’re playing, in this case the World Champs, that’s impressive. If the Braves had done it you’de be having an orgasm (Can I say that?).
By KC
April 5, 2007 10:43 AM | Link to this
This weekend will be interesting. We’ve got:
Redman vs. o.perez… two guys that looked awfuly the last 2 years, but looked good this spring.
Glavine vs. Smoltz - nothing needs to be said about that.
And Pelfrey vs. Davies (I think that’s right)… two guys also in a very similar position I think. Both have a lot of potential. Both had good springs (though Pelfrey’s ended very poorly).
Hudson is the biggest edge our rotation has over theirs right now, but he won’t pitch in this series.
By caveman22
April 5, 2007 10:45 AM | Link to this
I went to a cookout at a Mets fans house and the couldn’t get the fire going cuz they didn’t have any good STARTER. Good thing I broght some Smoltzie with me or we woould of had to order pizza. That’s kinda lame but since the Mutters were acting stupid I thought I try to come down to their level. It’s kind of hard to bend down that low though. I’m saving my good stuff today for the next SOB who talks smack about DOB. The blogs too long to go back and look up his name and really not worth my effort but if he comes back I’ll be here waiting.
By Lew
April 5, 2007 10:46 AM | Link to this
You know, what it comes down to is this- The Braves and Mets are undefeated and the Phillies are 0-2. Nothing else matters right now. Neither the Mets or Braves will remain undefeated. The Phillies will win some games. The Mets pitching will come back to earth and Kelly Johnson will get hits. Count on it. In fact, you can quote me on it. Don’t you just love this chasing of minutia and micro analysis?
By NO CHOP 4-U
April 5, 2007 10:55 AM | Link to this
Pelfrey won’t pitch until April 15th. It’ll be Hernandez vs Davies.
By rammerjammer
April 5, 2007 10:57 AM | Link to this
Good things to take from yesterday:
Thorman steps up to win game. Nice confidence builder.
Hudson did fine against a team that historically rips him apart. Very good sign.
KJ makes terrific throw to nail runner at plate. Like Thorman, nice confidence builder.
Those three guys all had question marks hanging over their heads before yesterday, and all three came up big.
And, on a side note, I think it’s GREAT that the mets are winning, too. Makes the fight a lot more interesting.
By pedro's daddy
April 5, 2007 10:57 AM | Link to this
When my boy comes off the DL sometime in August will you tell him I’ve moved down to Atlanta?
Thanks.
By MBATL
April 5, 2007 10:58 AM | Link to this
KC, I agree. There is NO reason to worry about the Braves offense (unless you were worried about it a week ago!). If a couple of guys go hitless for 2 games in the middle of June, no one even notices. Everything is amplified at the start of the year.
We are very fortunate to have won two games against a formidable division opponent - with their “aces” on the mound (and both of them had great stuff), and with most of our team not swinging the bats well. It doesn’t prove we’re the best team, or that they’re the worst, but the victories are meaningful, and the performance of selected hitters are not at this point, IMO.
By Shaun
April 5, 2007 10:58 AM | Link to this
MBATL,
I agree that a lot of things that are true in baseball seem to run counter to intuition. I think it’s because things that were always held sacred in baseball were left unchallenged for so long. With computers and the internet, it has become much easier to study things more in depth and actually check on some things that were held sacred for so long. People can now study several years worth of statistical evidence in minutes.
A perfect example is the OBP “craze” of the late 1990’s-early 2000’s. With the internet and computers the fact that OBP is much more important than batting average gained traction and is now widely accepted.
Also, with all due respect, if you think about it hard enough, the fact that strikeouts have little to no correlation to run scoring is not all that counter-intuitive. Think about the fact that a lot of strikeouts are going to come with no one on base or when contact may not advance a runner anyway or a lot of strikeouts may keep a hitter from grounding into a double play, it’s easy to see why strikeouts shouldn’t be that much of a concern except for the fact that they are outs.
By Renegator
April 5, 2007 10:59 AM | Link to this
The problem with the offense right now is that the Braves only have 7 hitters (2-8 slots). They are basically carrying two pitchers (the actual pitcher and K. Johnson). The good news is that both pitchers hit back to back so they should be able to get rallies started with Renteria and ending with McCann and Francouer. I think they offense will continue to struggle in April (as always) and really get going in May, June, July etc. Hopefully Bobby’s loyalty to K. Johnson won’t keep him from making the right decision (if needed) when Johnson can’t get his average over .200. I understand that he walks and that is a good thing - but you have to be able to hit over the Mendoza line (.200 right?) in order to be on a major league roster (especially batting lead-off - good point KC). Remember Mondasi last year - he couldn’t get over .180 and he was gone quickly. Hopefully Bobby will do the same with Johnson if he can’t get it going. I personally don’t think he has what it takes - but I’m no expert.
Sorry, that was really long winded but K. Johnson’s hitting ability always gets me fired up. Remember his 1 for 34 to start out the year two years ago. Man, I was steamed about that. Looks like we are headed that way again this year.
By Jeff R
April 5, 2007 11:00 AM | Link to this
Mets deserve credit for sweeping a much diminished Cards pitching staff. Having watched two of the three games on ESPN, the Cards aren’t nearly as tough as the Phillies. Don’t forget it’s a 162 game schedule. The Mets pitching is thin. We’ll see how it holds up over the long haul.
By ernesto
April 5, 2007 11:01 AM | Link to this
We will rake on Perez!
By Sir Stealth
April 5, 2007 11:07 AM | Link to this
Thoughts from first couple games:
Not optimistic about K-Jo leading off. I always just cheer for him to get a walk - he is pretty good at that though.
Andruw will come around and its nice to win two with little contribution from him.
Jury still out on Francoeur’s improvement. Nice to see no soph slump for McCann.
Disappointed so far in our left field platoon. Good clutch bomb from Thorman and I really don’t miss LaRoche. When I traded him, I tried hard to focus on all his early season K’s and rally killing DP’s over the years. Not surprised at all to see him be a fan machine in his first few Pittsburgh games.
Encouraged by Hudson. Not discouraged by Gonzalez. Bullpen is gonna be great this year. The whole “we would have lost those two games last year is no bull.” I predict we come out and blow Philly away today for the sweep. Get out the brooms.
By John Adcox
April 5, 2007 11:11 AM | Link to this
Is it 3:05 yet?
By Lew
April 5, 2007 11:14 AM | Link to this
ChopZone-You’re right. I put the Mets sweep in the worst terms I possibly can, while giving the most favorable interpretation I can to what thew Bravews do. Count on it happening all year long-and next year, ad infinitum. That means for a long time to you semi literate Mets fans. I remind you, you’re on a Braves’ blog. I don’t casre what words you use. The Mets are losers and so are you. Get over it or go to a Mets blog and thump your chest there. Who cares what you think? I sure don’t.
By David O'Brien
April 5, 2007 11:15 AM | Link to this
NEW BLOG IS UP, or will be shortly
By Thrillhouse44
April 5, 2007 11:22 AM | Link to this
NO CHOP, aren’t you living on borrowed time right now? Keep talking while you can. Lucky for you and us, you won’t be able to post after the Braves whoop your Mess this weekend.
By kinley
April 5, 2007 11:24 AM | Link to this
KC: I agree to a certain extent about a team relying on home runs. Yeah, it might be easier to go yard than to string together three or four hits against a good pitcher. But you can’t go into the ninth inning every night down two runs (or the 11th inning of a tie game) and expect a home run to save you. It’s just living dangerously.
By Gil in Mechanicsville(zoo keeper)
April 5, 2007 11:24 AM | Link to this
Okay, enough about the Mutts… There is a long season ahead and to overlook the Phillies is just wrong. Let’s hope for a sweep but two out of three is not going to be a head hanger.
Great series coming up at Atlanta and yes, cheering like a 10 year old and it is only the second game of the season. WOW….. Should be electric at Turner Field this weekend.
Don’t the Bucco’s look strong? Or maybe the Astro’s look very bad…. I think the Brewers are going finally rise to the top of that division. They played a strong series against the alleged best team in the West in the Dodgers and nearly pulled off a sweep.
By Matthew, Walter's Dad
April 5, 2007 11:29 AM | Link to this
Hey, my prediction yesterday was close. Hudson would go six strong (he went seven) Soriano, Gonzo, and Wickman would slam the door (Gonzo got a little wild, but otherwise accurate), and the BRaves would win 4-2 (they won 3-2).
Not bad!
Today? Chucky goes seven, McBride, Paronto, and Soriano send us home smiling, ‘cause the Braves break out the whoppin’ sticks and sweep their way to a big win:
Braves 6 Phillies 2
I say McBride and Paronto because Wickman and Gonzo have worked both of the first two games. Soriano has also, but he is the closer of the future in my view and will still work.
Let’s Go Braves!
By Richard Cory
April 5, 2007 11:31 AM | Link to this
Great start!! Funniest thing I believe I have ever seen in baseball, was when Wickman had the #$@& scared out of him, by Chipper.
By DAP
April 5, 2007 11:55 AM | Link to this
anybody know when i need to be at turner feild to watch batting practice on friday?