AJC > Sports > Braves > Blog > Archives > 2007 > April > 08 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USHampton shuts it down
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Happy Easter to all from sunny and significantly more comfortable Turner Field, where the temp is still low but the wind’s not howling. And where Kelly Johnson just crushed the first pitch El Duque threw, a leadoff homer to start the bottom of the first.
That was Kelly’s second hit of the the season, both homers.
First, some bad news: Mike Hampton’s elbow was barking at him again when he threw a bullpen session this morning in the indoor batting cage. Not good, folks. He aborted at mid-session and went to talk with the orthopedist.
Hampton wasn’t available to talk to us before the game. Hopefully I’ll get him afterward. But the important stuff is already known: His left elbow is still not right, 18-1/2 months after surgery.
“Especially knowing what a productive, competitive member of our pitching staff he was before he got hurt, this is bad news,” GM John Schuerholz just told me a few minutes ago in a pressbox hallway. “But we have to press on. We have no choice.”
Hampton’s going to be reexamined Monday in New York by the doctor who did his September 2005 “Tommy John” surgery, and the Braves are probably braced for the worst _ since it seems that’s become the best way to prepare for news regarding the oft-injured pitcher.
OK, don’t want to rain all over the Easter parade, so here’s the good news: Lance Cormier threw in the outfield this morning and said he was pain-free. Granted, it wasn’t off the mound, wasn’t really turning it up to full intensity.
But it was progress nonetheless, given that he had discomfort in his troublesome triceps/lat area when he did the same throwing drill Monday on the off day at Philly. That’s when they decided to DL him, rememember.
He’s eligible to come off the DL on the 15th, but his next scheduled rotation turn (the one Kyle Davies is taking today), wouldn’t be until the 19th. So there’s no rush to get Cormier on the mound to test it with a bullpen session, but that will likely come within a week.
What happens to the rotation when Cormier is ready? I’d assume he’d replace Davies. But hey, if Davies deals today and in his next start, maybe they have a decision to make. I don’t know. That’s getting ahead of ourselves.
I do know that Mark Redman hasn’t relieved since 2000 and certainly doesn’t have the stuff to be a reliever, unless you looked at it like this: He throws so much junk, his stuff might throw some hitters for a loop if he came in during the late innings after a hard-throwing starter and another reliever or two.
But again, that’s getting ahead of ourselves. And Redman didn’t throw badly in his first start Friday. Wasn’t great, by any means. But he didn’t pitch badly, and as I said in spring training, the Braves got him at a bargain rate _ $750,000, plus incentives _ for a guy who’ll give you 170-190 innings and a chance to win more often than not.
So my guess is he stays in the rotation. But hey, we’ll see what transpires. Davies would need to pitch a lot better than he did last season to even give the Braves anything to think about, in the first place.
He’ll get his chance, starting today.
El Duque vs. El Davies: Gonna be an interesting matchup today, isn’t it? They say this big, slow curveball that Orlando Hernandez has been throwing at times is almost an eephus pitch, it’s so slow (mid-60 mph range).
“That pitch just locks a hitter up,” Mets catcher Paul Lo Duca said. “If he gets ahead of you with that at 0-1, he has four pitches than he can throw for strikes. He’s tough, and he’s very deceptive.”
I’ve gotta share this from my buddy, Dan Graziano, who writes baseball in New York (we used to cover the Marlins together in the mid-90s). He wrote this tongue-in-cheek _ at least I think it was tongue-in-cheek _ description of Hernandez for the notes network our paper is part of:
“Hernandez, as you may or may not know, is a powerful and mysterious ancient wizard, similar to Gandalf from ‘Lord of the Rings,’ except in Spanish. Other tricks from Tuesday night’s game included pitching those seven outstanding innings without striking out a single batter and also picking off a baserunner. Later, in the clubhouse, he put a spell on David Wright’s bowling ball, turning it into a rooster.”
That’s good stuff.
Best Radiohead and REM songs: This has nothing to do with anything, so skip this part if you don’t want to hear my opinion of music. But I was just thinking in the past couple days how time can change your thoughts on particular songs, etc.
Specifically, two bands I’ve always loved: REM and Radiohead. My favorite REM songs were always “Begin the Begin,” “Pretty Persuasion,” “I Believe,” “Rockville,” etc. Now, after listening to the Best of IRS CD a few times lately, I’ve decided that “Sitting Still” might just be my favorite song of theirs. Don’t know why I’ve come to that conclusion or changed my opinion, but man, is that song incredible.
As for Radiohead, I hadn’t played any of their stuff in a while, and was listening to the “OK Computer” CD this week when I came to another conclusion: “Let Down” is just a remarkably good song that only gets better with time.
OK, like I said, it had nothing to do with anything.
“HAVE A LITTLE FAITH IN ME” by John Hiatt
When the road gets dark/And you can no longer see
Just let my love throw a spark/And have a little faith in me
And when the tears you cry/Are all you can believe
Just give these loving arms a try/And have a little faith in me
Chorus:
Have a little faith in me
Have a little faith in me
Have a little faith in me
Have a little faith in me
When your secret heart/Cannot speak so easily
Come here darlin’/From a whisper start
To have a little faith in me
And when your backs against the wall/Just turn around and you will see
I will catch, I will catch your fall baby
Just have a little faith in me
Have a little faith in me
Have a little faith in me
Have a little faith in me
Have a little faith in me
Well, I’ve been loving you for such a long time girl/Expecting nothing in return
Just for you to have a little faith in me
You see time, time is our friend/cause for us there is no end
And all you gotta do is have a little faith in me
I said I will hold you up, I will hold you up
Your love gives me strength enough
So have a little faith in me
Services »
Comments
By Rosalynn
April 8, 2007 1:26 PM | Link to this
Happa Easta Everabodah! Did you see all those bunnas in the stands?
By ElbravoX
April 8, 2007 1:28 PM | Link to this
Get the insurance from Hampton’s contract. It is time for him to face reality and pull a Mo Vaughn. Enough is enough!
By Epinephrine
April 8, 2007 1:28 PM | Link to this
Terrible news about Hampton. I am starting to write him off. Looks grim.
Well done on KJ. That, everyone, is why he is the starter over Prado.
Radiohead: where to begin?
There, There, Idioteque, Everything in its Right Place, Morning Bell, Airbag, Paranoid Android, Exit Music (For A Film), Let Down, Lucky, Black Star, Fake Plastic Trees-
And now, with Arpeggi and Videotape-they are the best band in the world today, in my humble opinion.
By journalist jimmy smith
April 8, 2007 1:48 PM | Link to this
this journalist is worrying about chipper’s new glove. how will chipper break it in if chipper doesn’t catch something? and what is this about another oblique strain? boyer is the latest to strain an oblique and jimmy smith still doesn’t know what an oblique is. and hampton … this is sad news. and what about the bloggers who went to the game and imbibed? and who’d have thunk grinch would be the one to take care of scribe? and did scribe listen to the new speakers? and what will happen when - oh, the humanity! the braves just got reyes out! finally! and who was the blogger who said unkind things about davies’ fastball? that blogger was right! flat fastball and waiting to be hit out. and still this team looks pretty good to jimmy smith. will the starters be strong enough to make this a good year? and now, journalist just heard on local news of a detly shooting. what is a detly? and what happened to the blog yesterday? this journalist noticed during yesterday’s braqves telecast that bobby is using tissues in the dugout. does bobby cox read this blog? and it is a beautiful, but cold, easter day. happy easter to all. peeps on sale in all stores today.
By Rip
April 8, 2007 1:51 PM | Link to this
Johnson homers not Davies. Time to collect the Insurance and let Hamp walk. Go Braves. Redman was not that bad…Wilson and Woodward could have help him out!
By Lord of Waffle House
April 8, 2007 2:03 PM | Link to this
This is when it makes me sick to be a fan of pro sports. Here this guys been rolling in the Braves dough for years now when it’s obvious he has niether the desire, nor the physical capability to keep pitching. It makes my blood boil to know that he is going to be sitting out another entire season while cashing those huge checks. It’s just wrong, man.
By ihop man
April 8, 2007 2:09 PM | Link to this
Waffle House - I also hate that Hampton will be ‘cashing those huge checks’ but can assure you that he has the desire to play. Hampton is probably one of the most competitive athletes in the majors. We can only hope that this discomfort is something to be expected and Hampton will be healthy by the all-star break.
By David O'Brien
April 8, 2007 2:15 PM | Link to this
Rip, thanks for the tip to my typo. I was just finishing the blog when Kelly took El Duque deep, and talking to Carroll about Kyle at the time, so had the brain cramp. Now, if Davies went deep, that’d be a story.
Epinephrine was right, by the way: That’s one big reason Kelly was tabbed as the second baseman coming into spring training, because the Braves believe he can hit 15-20 homers with a high OBP. Can’t just anything on the first five games.
By Rosalynn
April 8, 2007 2:16 PM | Link to this
One quick Easta joke befoah Jimma comes back to watch the game with me -A ladah looked in heh refigerata and theah was a bunna sittin theah on the shelf. “What ah you doin’ theah, bunna?”, she asked. “This is a Westinghouse, right?”, asked the bunna. “Yes,” the ladah replied. “I am just westing” said the bunna.
Oh, I do enjoah a good bunna joke on Easta! Speaking of bunna jokes, is that a bunna skin glove ol’ Chippa is weahing at thuhd base?
oh, mah! A triple for Reyes on an 0-2 count! That boah is vera good.
By ElbravoX
April 8, 2007 2:26 PM | Link to this
GO KELLY GO
By ElbravoX
April 8, 2007 2:35 PM | Link to this
Back to the dugout…
By Jake
April 8, 2007 2:45 PM | Link to this
Radiohead- “Just” from The Bends. Great video as well.
REM- It’s hard to pick against some of the classic stuff, “The One I Love”, “Rockville”, and “Superman” are among the favorites…I know there are tons of more obscure REM tunes that could be considered better…but REM reminds me of when I was a kid…and those were the ones I heard first.
By ElbravoX
April 8, 2007 2:45 PM | Link to this
AJ makes Francour look good, what an awful approach
By DonCoburleone
April 8, 2007 2:48 PM | Link to this
Happy Easter everybody….. Okay, first thing. Andruw, get your sh!t together! Once again he strikes out in an important situation, leaving any chance of heroics up to McCann… The Jones boys seriously need to wake up; how about one of you reach down, grab your junk, and get Davies some run support!!! This is a HUGE confidence building start for Davies, and its going to go for not if somebody doesn’t step up!
By A.J.
April 8, 2007 2:49 PM | Link to this
It really makes me sick when people write things as ignorant as this:
“This is when it makes me sick to be a fan of pro sports. Here this guys been rolling in the Braves dough for years now when it’s obvious he has niether the desire, nor the physical capability to keep pitching. It makes my blood boil to know that he is going to be sitting out another entire season while cashing those huge checks. It’s just wrong, man.”
To quote Bill Cosby in an early Cosby Show episode, “That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard in my life.”
Oh I know, Hampton makes more money than you, he must be a bad guy. Freaking pathetic.
Mike Hampton LOVES baseball. Mike Hampton is one of the MOST COMPETITIVE players in baseball. Mike Hampton is a GREAT GUY who EVERYONE LOVES. Try to find someone to say a bad thing about Mike Hampton.
The worst thing anyone can honestly say about the guy is that he’s injury prone. He must be a real jerk to get injured all the time. Don’t be an idiot.
If he didn’t care he’d retire, take all that money that he gets either way and go home where he doesn’t have to be in pain to do his job. He can hang out with his kids, sleep with his wife every night and worry about idiots who attack him because he can’t get healthy as hard as he works and he happens to play in a league with guaranteed contracts.
That’s just baseball economics. You think he should give the money back? Well it’s impossible. It’s just not the way the world works. This is not Albert Belle signing a contract and retiring. This is not Travis Lee being released by the D-Rays just because he doesn’t want to play anymore.
You don’t think it hurts Hampton to see his name on that worst contracts every year? Especially when he still believes, and probably rightly so (I believe the same thing) that if he could just stay healthy he could earn all that money.
Obviously his situation is still something we’d all be jealous of, yes he has already gotten to live the life that we all dream of, playing baseball in the majors. Yes, he is making more money than any of us will.
But DON’T YOU DARE act like you are better than him just because he got to live the life we wish we could.
I promise you, that if Hampton can get healthy, Hampton will be in the lineup, pitching until his arm feels like it will fall off. And he’ll probably do a good job. I pray that day comes so you can eat your sad, pathetic words.
By DonCoburleone
April 8, 2007 2:55 PM | Link to this
Hey, come on. If you are surprised by this news about Hampton then you are either completely dillusional, or you’re KC. WE WILL NEVER GET ANYTHING FROM HAMPTON! The only tangible thing that trade is going to provide is the guarantee that we won’t be able to keep Andruw Jones beyond this season. HAMPTON = CHAMPIONSHIP KILLER!
By ElbravoX
April 8, 2007 3:02 PM | Link to this
And introducing A.J., Mr. Hampton’s agent. Although I wish the man no illness or injury, he gets no slack with me, ever. He probably is a great person, but as Brave, he blows PERIOD!!!
By Gil in Mechanicsville
April 8, 2007 3:12 PM | Link to this
Amen A.J. Amen
By DonCoburleone
April 8, 2007 3:19 PM | Link to this
Renteria, it’s up to you again man!!!
By DonCoburleone
April 8, 2007 3:21 PM | Link to this
Renteria, it’s up to you again man!!!
By DonCoburleone
April 8, 2007 3:23 PM | Link to this
Renteria, it’s up to you again man!!!
By bergian
April 8, 2007 3:35 PM | Link to this
Guys, scar tissue can really hurt as well, could just be a tear in the tissue…didn’t this happen to someone else? (Perhaps even Hampton earlier?)
By A.J.
April 8, 2007 3:37 PM | Link to this
To quote, a person who may be a good guy, but has been known to say at least one completely asinine thing:
“This is when it makes me sick to be a fan of pro sports.”
ElBravoX: I did not say resign Hampton. Even Hampton know his contract has been bad for all his teams.
I’m sorry if he offended you. Even though, if I understand insurance correctly, he did not cost the Braves anything last year while he was injured.
I’m sure Hampton will be very sad to know that he “gets no slack from you.”
What I am trying to say is we should be fans of this guy, we should root for him not curse him. I know you would rather him be healthy, and I know we’re all losing hope, but this guy did not do anything to the Braves. It was not a bad move for the Braves to get him. It was a great, but unlucky move.
Maybe I’m just a naive little 20-year old college student, but I don’t think the Braves owe us anything but their best effort. When they do something stupid I am upset. When a guy makes the same mistake over and over again, I get upset. But only because I want him to be great.
If they just aren’t good enough then it’s sad, but they have to go. The point is still to try to field a winning team. If a player just isn’t good enough, you don’t get mad at him, you get upset with the front office. But when a proven winner is just not physically able to continue, I feel sorry for HIM, I have no sympathy for YOU in all your agony. And since it wasn’t a mistake for us to get him in the first place (based on what we knew then), then I just think that it’s for us to hope it gets better, not to be mad at the player.
Obviously the game would not exist without the fans, but it wouldn’t exist without the players either. I just think it’s immature to think that the Braves owe us anything more than to try, and there is no doubt he is trying. Beyond that it’s just bad luck and luck is life. Deal with it, (and keep your sad story of how much it sucks to be a fan of a team with a guy with an injury to yourself).
By DonCoburleone
April 8, 2007 3:41 PM | Link to this
Chipper… comes through.
Andruw, A-A-Andruw! Somebody please wake him up.
By Ron
April 8, 2007 3:44 PM | Link to this
DonCoburleone, You are 100% right about Hampton guarantees the Braves of not keepin Jones, but at least Hampton’s contract is up at the end of 2008!!!!! Thank GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By Ron
April 8, 2007 3:45 PM | Link to this
DonCoburleone, You are 100% right about Hampton guarantees the Braves of not keepin Jones, but at least Hampton’s contract is up at the end of 2008!!!!! Thank GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By A.J.
April 8, 2007 3:45 PM | Link to this
Now when Andruw strikes out in another awful at bat, we all have the right to be pretty bothered by that. He really needs to get it going.
AT LEAST MCCANN IS BOTH ALMOST AS GREAT A PLAYER AS HE IS A PERSON. There is someone noone can be upset with. Man I love that kid (who is 3 years older than me).
By Greg in TN
April 8, 2007 3:46 PM | Link to this
It stinks to hear about Hampton, and I do remember DOB mentioning the fact that there’s no insurance to collect. Let’s hope the doctor visit goes positive. He wants to be out there, I don’t question his desire at all.
Just watched B-Mac tie the game. Good grief this kid is clutch.
By bergian
April 8, 2007 3:46 PM | Link to this
Way to go Brian!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By DonCoburleone
April 8, 2007 3:46 PM | Link to this
B-MAC! B-MAC! B-MAC!
By Ron
April 8, 2007 3:48 PM | Link to this
YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!
By A.J.
April 8, 2007 3:49 PM | Link to this
We’re going to hit it to the fence! And we’re going to go to left field! And we’re going to go to right field! And then we’re going to score runs! And then we’re going to take the lead!
BYAAAH!
By bergian
April 8, 2007 3:51 PM | Link to this
Jeff F.!!! Jeff F.!!! no…not a good nic, way to go Frenchy!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By DonCoburleone
April 8, 2007 3:52 PM | Link to this
Francoeur!!! Man, what an at-bat. When that guy is up in an important situation he can really ratchet up his concentration… In other words, he’s CLUTCH!
By A.J.
April 8, 2007 4:00 PM | Link to this
If this offense can ever play a whole game (and we know they can), this team will be a sight to see.
Just think about how we’ll look when our 3 and 4 batters start hitting.
Scary.
The Mets have been great so far this year, but that’s with everything on their team working (other than Delgado). I’m impressed how well we’ve done when the whole team isn’t even going at the same time.
I sure do hope we hold on this game, but these last two games (as well as the first three) have really shown how good a team we can be. I’m loving it.
By A.J.
April 8, 2007 4:06 PM | Link to this
It seems like today was a bit of a reversal from yesterday and Friday.
From my upper deck seats the last two days, there were several well hit balls by the Braves that got me up out of my seat before I realized they’d be caught.
Today, the Mets have hit quite a few that scared me to death before I realized they’d stay in play.
Great game though!
BRAVES WIN! Great come back in the last two days after that first game. I love baseball season.
By bergian
April 8, 2007 4:06 PM | Link to this
mets fans?????????????????
By Greg in TN
April 8, 2007 4:07 PM | Link to this
The mets arrive in town in first place, the mets leave Atlanta in second place…
Good weekend for the home team.
By ihop man
April 8, 2007 4:08 PM | Link to this
And the chaw is thrown on the mound…Go Braves!!
By Steve-O
April 8, 2007 4:08 PM | Link to this
Da Braves!!!!!!
By Josh
April 8, 2007 4:13 PM | Link to this
Where oh where are the Mets bloggers? Thought this series was over Friday…
By MEB
April 8, 2007 4:13 PM | Link to this
Does it get any better than the closeup of Willie Randolph complaining about the strike zone. I thought that Bobby was the only one guilty of such a breech of proper baseball etiquette. Great clutch hitting by McCann and Francoeur! Andruw will come out of it and start posting some big numbers eventually. Great Easter present by the first place Atlanta Braves… a series win against the evil Mets.
GO BRAVES!!!
By Steve-O
April 8, 2007 4:16 PM | Link to this
MetroMan?? NO CHOP ZONE??? Come hang out buddies……We want input on how you feel about the BRAVES taking the series. Lets see if the Mutts can handle the Phils like we did….Washington and Florida, here come the 5-1 Braves……
By Dan
April 8, 2007 4:35 PM | Link to this
Mets fans are known as the biggest frontrunners in MLB. I doubt the Mets bloggers will return unless they’re doing well.
By Chop Chop
April 8, 2007 4:36 PM | Link to this
Nice to see the Braves win a couple of close games against the Mets. The 11-1 blowout aside, the Braves were able to beat the Mets when the game was close. They built on those two extra-inning wins over the Phils. There’s nothing like knowing you can win if it’s close. Confidence is a great thing.
By Steve-O
April 8, 2007 4:36 PM | Link to this
Braves play Washington 5 times in the next 8 , with Florida in between, its not a stretch to say they can EASILY be 12-2, hell, maybe 13-1……
By David O'Brien
April 8, 2007 4:39 PM | Link to this
OK, NEW INFO ON HAMPTON: Not on the status of his elbow, which we probably won’t know about until Wednesday, since his appointment tomorrow isn’t until after 5 p.m. But about the INSURANCE: I’m told by a very reliable source that the stuff about them not having insurance this year is completely innacurate.
So assume that if he does have to miss significant time, the Braves will have at least some of his salary covered.
How ‘bout DAVIES today? Wow. Impressive, to come back from the four-pitch walk to Reyes to start the game, strike out Beltran and Delgado with Reyes at third base, then to come back from giving up back-to-back solo jacks in the second and not give up any more runs…. Impressive.
Very strong statement from the kid.
By humbug
April 8, 2007 4:42 PM | Link to this
Does the Braves organization buy bats from a discount store? It seems that an awful lot of them shatter when a baseball touches them. Also they don’t give fly balls good carry. Not all the bats, mind you, but a lot of them. About Hampton—-He might be a great guy and fierce competitor, but the fact that his career might be over must be faced. I would love to see him come back and pitch like he and us know he can, but it’s unlikely. I wish him the best, whichever way it goes. He was one of my favorites before the elbow went.
By Steve
April 8, 2007 4:45 PM | Link to this
First time in over a year being in first place…It feels good.
By Braves fan 202
April 8, 2007 4:52 PM | Link to this
5-1 son 5-1. 1st in the NL East baby. Imagine how sweet that would be if the bravos swept the nats(toatally possible). And then they would be 8-1. Wow. They have had to come back to win it to many times and that will not continue, so these guys need to start hitting early. If El Duque didnt get tired today or if randolph didnt pinch hit for him, this one might be in the loss column. But he did so go braves
By Epinephrine
April 8, 2007 4:57 PM | Link to this
DOB-what does Gonzalez say about his early trouble? What are your feelings on it? Seems to me that his control is turning into an issue.
By Coach
April 8, 2007 4:57 PM | Link to this
Wow , what a day by Davies. If the Braves get another start like this from him , sending Davies down to Richmond will be an agonizing decision. Well Mets fans , it took us all of a week to knock you guys out of first place. Five wins and one loss. Four quality starts , one good start and one stinker(you guys can stop defending Redman)so far from this rotation. I hope Hampton is just experiencing some inflammation and its not something worse. Smoltz , Hudson , James , Davies and Cormier get my vote. The gist of the problem is , Redman would have to go through waivers to be sent to Richmond. Davies has options as does Cormier. I’m just glad it’s not my call to make.
By ERIC
April 8, 2007 4:57 PM | Link to this
great day to be a braves fan.
sent the muts packin’ and reclaimed are rightful spot at the top of the nl east.
The starters look very good,smoltzie & davies esp.
the bullpen is doin what we paid for….
and the hitting has been clutch,so far so good.
By ERIC
April 8, 2007 4:59 PM | Link to this
great day to be a braves fan.
sent the muts packin’ and reclaimed are rightful spot at the top of the nl east.
The starters look very good,smoltzie & davies esp.
the bullpen is doin what we paid for….
and the hitting has been clutch,so far so good.
go braves!!!!
dob. you heard the new Drive by Truckers album,great stuff.
By Wayne in Utah
April 8, 2007 5:00 PM | Link to this
AJ: Great posts on Hampton! Some guys have heart, others talent. Personally, I hope that Andruw walks, because as great as he can be, he is not who I want to spend 20 Million on per year. I still say in 3 years, he will be a 5 million dollar a year player.
As for those who have disparaging comments about Mike Hampton, this just shows me how very little you understand about baseball and people. You are probably the same ones who were wanting to send KJ to Richmond for Prado after opening day, and were crying wolf on Friday night.
Prediction: Hampton will come back and win between 10-20 games before this contract is up. Should we have expected more from him, certainly. I take a player like him over a guy like Sheffield, who after his second year in Milwaukee, TANKED intentionally so he could get traded out of a town he didn’t want to live in. He then admitted it after the fact.
By Braves fan 202
April 8, 2007 5:02 PM | Link to this
DOB When are you saying you think hampton will be back?
By GatorHater
April 8, 2007 5:06 PM | Link to this
Why is Hampton still on the team? This guy is dead weight. They need to dump his A@@ and his fragile elbow.
BTW…I am glad A Jones time is coming to an end. Another CLUTCH strike out late in the game. His best years are over.
By GatorHater
April 8, 2007 5:07 PM | Link to this
Why is Hampton still on the team? This guy is dead weight. They need to dump his A@@ and his fragile elbow.
BTW…I am glad A Jones time is coming to an end. Another CLUTCH strike out late in the game. His best years are over.
By humbug
April 8, 2007 5:10 PM | Link to this
DID WE SHOCK THE MIGHTY METS OR WHAT???????
By Lew
April 8, 2007 5:11 PM | Link to this
If anyone had told us at the end of Spring Training that after the first week we would be 5-1, having taken 2 of 3 from the Mets, had 5 of 6 excellent starts from the rotation-all with Chipper and Andruw not being a factor, would anyone have objected? As far as Gonzo-he is leaving the ball high in the zone and that is almost definitely a mechanical problem involving release point-probably the easiest thing to remedy. No need to worry. And DOB was right-the new Kings of Leon IS good.
By A.J.
April 8, 2007 5:14 PM | Link to this
Thanks Wayne. I hope you are right about Hampton. I would love it if you are right. I sure hope for him to get at least one more chance to make a difference for this team, still, as much as I hope for from him (and I think he could be just as good or better of a “midseason pickup” for this team as Martinez for the Mets), don’t get your hopes up too high. Poor guy just can’t keep it together.
It really is sad. Still hope is all we have. I really am rooting for him. I’d rather believe the best (though obviously JS and Bobby should plan for the worst) and be disappointed than always expect the worst.
If we all expect the worst, we’d say Francoeur will never be a good hitter. We’d say McCann will never keep this up. We’d say Smoltz is bound to fall apart, Chipper will never stay healthy enough to make a difference, and the Braves don’t have a chance to sign Andruw. We might say that Wickman will “eat himself out of a job” (direct quote from an ESPN analyst). Maybe that works for analysts, sure it’s their jobs to at least consider it, but for fans why not just believe.
When you are jaded about a friggin game, that’s just sad. Be jaded about life, escape life with baseball.
By David O'Brien
April 8, 2007 5:23 PM | Link to this
GatorHater, you ask: Why is Hampton still on the team? This guy is dead weight. They need to dump his A@@ and his fragile elbow.
Once more: Do you understand that if they “dump his a@@,” they’re still going to pay his a@@ $29.5 million over this season and next? So why would you dump him, when you could at least try to get 1-1/2 good seasons, or one season, or even, a half-season, out of the guy you’re going to pay more than anyone else on the team anyway?
And if he’s hurt, insurance will pay some of it. But not if you “dump” him, in which case you’ll pay him.
By KC
April 8, 2007 5:30 PM | Link to this
YEAH BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Phillies and Mets are both going to finish ahead of us in the standings (according to the national media)… so it was extra sweet to go 5-1 against them to start the year.
By ElbravoX
April 8, 2007 5:31 PM | Link to this
OK, if Hampton is such a big time pitcher, would anyone playing pretend GM sign him to the same contract? What about for half the cash? Or even a third? Nothing against the man, but he has been a horrible business investment for THREE teams-not personal, just business.
By Steve McP
April 8, 2007 5:35 PM | Link to this
What is gator Hater saying about Andruw? How soon we forget. We have the best centre (I am English so will use English spellings!) fielder in the league, how many runs does he save? He will hit soon and then we will be singing his praises.
On Hampton, it is not his fault! i am sure that he would be much happier on the mound than the DL and with any luck this will be the case sometime this season, then we might see some return on the money when we really need it.
Fantatstic start to the season, if we can push on and make the most of the coming stretch of home games then people will be scared of us, even if they are not already.
The bullpen is just incredible, I was listening to the game today and when we went ahead it seemed almost certain that the win would come - as somebody said earlier - isn’t confidence wonderful.
By KC
April 8, 2007 5:37 PM | Link to this
Let’s see… after the Mets’ win on Friday, many of the national sports media websites had headlines like “Amazin’ Start”. So after the Braves win today to take the series from NY and finish a 5-1 stretch to start the season against the 2 teams that are supposed to be better than them… I was just sure that there would be headlines about Atlanta. I was just sure of it!
So imagine my surprise to find nothing of the sort. Maybe it’ll just take them a couple more hours to get a story together, and they’ll have headlines on the Braves start sometime this evening. Yes… I sure that’s the case. =)
By A.J.
April 8, 2007 5:38 PM | Link to this
The reason, gatorhater, that we don’t “dump his [butt]” is because it would be stupid.
Other than that it’s a great idea.
This is nothing to do with me liking the guy, this is what we call common sense.
You can’t trade an injured pitcher with a huge contract. (Note that’s not, can’t get anything good, it’s cannot get anything). Why on earth would you just release him when it’s possible he could get healthy and win 10 after the break.
It would actually probably COST us money to release him. I know almost nothing about insurance and may be wrong, but I would imagine that you get no insurance for a player you have released.
So we could keep him on the season, hope he gets healthy. If he does we gain a talented, driven, playoff experienced pitcher. If he doesn’t we can collect some insurance and hope he finally gets healthy next year.
OR we can be rash and give up just because we are tired of waiting and pay his whole contract OUT OF POCKET so he can sit at home. Hey, at least we won’t have to worry about him.
So who votes we act asinine, we give up and we “dump his [butt].”
Who votes we be patient, hope to gain a good pitcher, and save money?
Oh you want the latter, gatorhater?
By KC
April 8, 2007 5:39 PM | Link to this
What’s the magic number? =)
By Lew
April 8, 2007 5:40 PM | Link to this
KC-I was listening to John Donovan from SI.COM yesterday on XM Home Plate, and he was saying the Braves are much better than anyone is giving them credit for. I could have sworn he wasn’t that high on them earlier, but maybe there are some minds changing. The Braves have some questions that still need answering and the Jones Boys need to heat it up, but all in all, first place and a series sweep and a series win against the two teams that are supposed to be our main competition, sure works for me. We can only get better. Bring on the hot weather. Does this start show anyone that Boston won’t sign Andruw or the NY teams either. He doesn’t do well in the cold (at least offensively).
By Ricardo
April 8, 2007 5:42 PM | Link to this
I think this stinks for Hampton, but what could anyone really expect from the guy? For the most part after 6 games, I like what I see. Hitting will come around but for now, it’s been clutch. Bullpen has been really good and the starting pitchers have done a mostly good job. If Cormier comes back healthy, all the better - starting depth is so important. What’s more, I really like seeing them rally and take 2 of 3 from NY. We really did need to get off to a good start in the division and you can’t argue with 5 of 6. If I was grading, I’d say B+.
By snowball's chance
April 8, 2007 5:42 PM | Link to this
By David O’Brien
April 8, 2007 1:21 PM | Link to this
NEW BLOW UP _ don’t say I don’t care about you folks on Easter
New blow up what? Umma Thurman? Salma Hayek? Bea Arthur?
And what about all those unposted posts from yesterday? Are you holding them back until the Wurlitzer votes are in? Then at the height of your fame you pull a floppy disk out like it’s Hemingway’s suitcase. Maybe they ended up on a mets blog where the frontrunners could gloat over their one victory in Atlanta. Where would a Mets blog be found? I looked up The Flushing Gazette and the Queens Journal and ended up at gay bathroom humor sites. Good place for Mutt trolls come to think of it.
By Epinephrine
April 8, 2007 5:45 PM | Link to this
Lew-Andruw doesn’t do well in April period. Let’s wait and see how he does for the rest of the year, first.
How about that catch by the way?
By hawks are cursed for trading Nique.
April 8, 2007 5:49 PM | Link to this
i agree hampton was the worst move scherultz ever made…and even when healthy hes not a good postseason pitcher! the braves can overcome this thou….i hope we can dump his contract soon.
So wheres all the mets fans talking about how there team is unbeatable and going to dominate this year??
By Lew
April 8, 2007 5:50 PM | Link to this
Epi-I’m not worried about how Andruw will do. We’re 5-1 and he still has 40+ HR to hit. He’ll be fine. I just read that Hampton’s surgery was performed in NY by the Mets Medical Director. You don’t suppose……..? Nah.
By KC
April 8, 2007 5:51 PM | Link to this
Lew: Good afternoon! I had the distinct pleasure of politely laughing in the faces of Mets fans at the Ted today. Felt good.
Yeah… obviously people are going to take notice as time goes on. I’ve been saying all along that this is really a 2 team race, but not a 2 team Mets/Phillies race as many have suggested. I really don’t think Phili can hang with NY or Atlanta. I really don’t.
The Mike Hampton news sucks, but if Davies continues to pitch like this… it’ll more than atone for it.
Gotta say though… Orlando Hernandez and Oliver Perez are P!ssing me off! If they pitch as they did last year, Atlanta has a definite advantage in the rotation. But if they pitch anything like they have early… it changes a lot for the Mets. I sure hope their fortunes turn around soon.
In the end though… I’m pretty confident that both Atlanta and the Mets will make the post-season. Here’s hoping either Davies, Cormier (or both) step up this year if Hampton doesn’t return when expected.
By old timer journalist
April 8, 2007 5:53 PM | Link to this
I want to join the esteemed journalists this year. Must investigate JS, who says Hampton once was a key member of the starting rotation. When was that?
By Train Wreck Bystander
April 8, 2007 5:54 PM | Link to this
Two series played - two series taken.
As for AJ, Hampton and Smoltz; next year will take care of itself in due time. Enjoy this fine season that is stretched out in front of us all.
Life is good. The Braves are good. The teams to beat are not looking quite so unreachable.
Enjoy. :-)
By Metropoitan Man
April 8, 2007 5:54 PM | Link to this
Dam, 2 out of 3, congrats. Its time for the body to wind down now, too dam cold all weekend. The Easter egg hunt for the kids took forever but the little one had fun. Hope you guys keep it up because even though you are on top now, I see a see-saw game coming on between the braves and METS. No confidence lost here,we’ll take it out on the philthies. You guys were actually very good host this weekend. Enjoy the season!!!
By knowitall
April 8, 2007 6:03 PM | Link to this
I posted this at the end of the old blog by mistake:
Ahhh, I have just returned from Turner Field where I was lucky enough to have tickets right behind home plate. I was close enough to see the paper airplane wings on El Duque’s pitches as they floated up to home plate. I have to give the guy credit, he rarely threw a pitch above 75 MPH yet it got the job done.
Young Kile Davies was just as masterful. Fought threw two early homeruns and kept his team in the game. Can’t ask for much more than that. It’s only April but it’s nice to serve notice to the Mets that things won’t be as easy as they were last year for them.
By John
April 8, 2007 6:04 PM | Link to this
Get rid of Hampton and his contract!!!
By knowitall
April 8, 2007 6:10 PM | Link to this
Lew,
Urban Myer was at the Braves game today. Wasn’t the G-Day game yesterday? Coincidence????
John, exactly how do you propose the Braves get rid of Hampton’s contract?
By A.J.
April 8, 2007 6:16 PM | Link to this
The magic number is 156, but at this pace we will clinch on September 17 when we beat Florida.
At this pace we will be 117-23 after that win, and the Mets will be 93-47 after falling to the Marlins that day, which should put them right in the wildcard hunt (they’d actually be tied with the Marlins and the Pirates and Reds who would be tied for the Central lead).
I know it sounds impressive to break the single season wins record with 22 games left, but it will seem less impressive since the Angels are on pace to break it at the same time.
The Braves would finish at 135-27, winning the division by 27 games.
The rest of the division winners would be:
Reds and Pirates, Central, tied at 108-54. The D-Backs, the West at 116-46. The Mets would playoff with the loser of the Reds and Pirates for the Wildcard.
In the AL: Toronto wins the East at 97-65. The Twins in the Central at 130-32. The Angels in the West at 135-27. Cleveland and Seattle playoff, weather permitting, for the WC at 108-54.
In shocking news the Yanks and Sox tied for second in the East while losing 97.
The Nats set the worst team record easily, going 23-139 (that might actually be possible).
By the way, Wickman wins the NL Cy Young with a 27-0 record, 82 saves.
I love ridiculous projections after one week of baseball.
By ernesto
April 8, 2007 6:18 PM | Link to this
Gotta like sending the Mets home in second place, where they’ll take on Philly. Great quote from one of the Mets guys up here “Rollins predicted early that Philly would be the team to beat, and so far he’s been right on.”
Great weekend. Gotta love the 5 -1 start.
By A.J.
April 8, 2007 6:19 PM | Link to this
My Bad, we’d clinch on Sept 5 against the Phils.
By TheSouthernJackAss
April 8, 2007 6:19 PM | Link to this
Now watch the Braves get swept by the damned Nats!…
By KC
April 8, 2007 6:22 PM | Link to this
OKAY… LET’S STOP WITH THE “MIKE HAMPTON WAS THE WORST MOVE SCHUERHOLZ EVER MADE” CRAP. IT’S ASININE, AND I’LL PROVE IT.
From the time Hampton arrived in Atlanta, until the time he went on the DL in 2005 (leading to the Tommy john surgery), Mike Hampton pitched nearly 2 and 1/2 seasons for the Braves and produced the following:
31-18 with a 3.74 ERA
It really took Hampton about a 1/2 season to get his pre-Colorado form back. As soon as he did, he was great for Atlanta. From the all-star break in 2003 until he went on the DL in 2005, Hampton produced the following:
26-13 with a 3.43 ERA
And he got better the longer he was here. From right around the all-star break in 2004 until he went on the DL in 2005, Hampton did this:
15-1 with a 2.61 ERA
Through those first 3 seasons in Atlanta in which he produced the above numbers, the Braves paid him… 2 million in 2004, 2 million in 2005, and 4 million in 2005. Last year, he cost the Braves very little because insurance money covered most of his salary. And if he missed significant time this year, DOB just reported that insurance will kick in once again.
And what did Atlanta give up for Hampton? The only name I can remember is Tim Spooneybarger, and where is he now?
Not only was it not the worst move JS ever made… it was a great move. Hampton has cost the Braves relatively little $ to this point and gave them 2 and 1/2 seasons of fantastic work. And there is still a great chance that we’ll get at least one more good year out of him. Even if he doesn’t make it back soon or contribute much this year, there’s a great chance he will next year.
The numbers (stats or money) don’t line up with the “worst move ever” garbage.
By TheSouthernJackAss
April 8, 2007 6:22 PM | Link to this
Now watch the Braves get swept by the damned Nats!…
By raindawg722
April 8, 2007 6:23 PM | Link to this
Tough news about Hampton. Hope for the best, but if not, how is his right elbow?
By ssiscribe
April 8, 2007 6:25 PM | Link to this
Yeah, great weekend indeed. Two out of three over the Mets, and the wife is talking to me again :-)
All joking aside, I couldn’t hang with the Honorable Grinch and Metro most days. Just brought my A game, I guess.
Good news on Hampton if indeed insurance still covers part of his deal. I’m worried bigtime about his health. But it’s encouraging, indeed, to see the way Davies threw it today. The Pride of Stockbridge looked like he belonged out there.
OK, more later. For now, the Scribe abides. Peace, and 5-1 feels oh so good. Bring on the Nats, as our march to October and their march to 115 losses continues.
Selah.
—30—
By KC
April 8, 2007 6:25 PM | Link to this
CORRECTION: Meant to say “2 million in 2003, 2 million in 2004, and 4 million in 2005.
By random guy
April 8, 2007 6:29 PM | Link to this
Time to release Hampton. Too much money is being wasted paying his salary, and he’s not even playing. With that money, we might be able to get a guy with some speed.
By fastasballs
April 8, 2007 6:29 PM | Link to this
Great game, great series & a great start to the season!!!!
I have been impressed with the clutch hitting & pitching. Davies had an outstanding outing today. Soriano & Wickman were money as usual. I’m sure Gonzalez will come around before too long.
Andruw has not found his groove as of yet at the plate, but saved a run early in the game with that diving catch.
The 5-1 record is impressive enough, but the way each game was won gives me great confidence that we won’t see a repeat of 2006.
The middle relief bothers me to some extent but there are plenty of arms in Richmond should any of these guys falter too much
By KC
April 8, 2007 6:30 PM | Link to this
MetroMan: I agree that it’ll be a tight race between us and ya’ll all summer long. I just don’t think the Phillies are going to be able to hang. I think we’ll both be laughing at Jimmy Rollins in a few months. Hell, I’m already laughing! =)
By KC
April 8, 2007 6:32 PM | Link to this
random guy: Please scroll up to D.O’Brien’s 5:23 post.
By Ron
April 8, 2007 6:32 PM | Link to this
KC, I hope you were being sarcastic because the Braves will never get the respect like the Mets do when they do good.
By TheSouthernJackAss
April 8, 2007 6:38 PM | Link to this
I used to wonder how some students could make straight a’s while others flirted with the f’s…now I understand it more clearly—it has been explained a thousand times why the Braves just can’t ‘get rid’ of Mike Hampton…yet some just keep beating the subject into the ground…
By ernesto
April 8, 2007 6:38 PM | Link to this
Worst move JS ever made? C’mon the Reggie Sanders fiasco, Rico Brona? Who was that stiff we had playing Center field in 94? I’m not sure Hampton’s as bad as any of those, especially if the insurance kicks in if he goes on the shelf again. But JS has played so many right, you can’t fault him for having a few duds.
By ernesto
April 8, 2007 6:42 PM | Link to this
Dave Gallagher was the stiff in question.
By Ron
April 8, 2007 6:48 PM | Link to this
Did yall realize that the 5-1 record is the BEST START SINCE WE WON IT ALL IN 95!!!!!!!!!! Incredible!!!!!!!
By A.J.
April 8, 2007 6:48 PM | Link to this
You are correct KC. Not only was it not a bad deal. Think about this:
2003: 14 wins 2004: 13 wins 2005: 5 wins.
So without Hampton, think about this, we won the division by 10 games. Without those Hampton wins, it would have at least been a lot closer. Then in 2005, those 5 wins may been enough to make a difference in what ended up being a 2 game lead.
I can’t believe that we’d have won all three of those without him. Especially considering who we could have replaced him with, considering how relatively little he cost us.
By Braves fan 202
April 8, 2007 6:51 PM | Link to this
When can hampton come back!?!?! I want a date!!
By KC
April 8, 2007 6:51 PM | Link to this
Ron: Yes, I was being sarcastic. You’re correct. =)
By JC FROM UT
April 8, 2007 6:54 PM | Link to this
How can anyone bad mouth JS about the trade that brought Hampton to Atlanta? Granted he makes a ton of money, but personel wise all they gave up was Tim Spooneybarger and I haven’t heard of him winning any Cy Young awards.Hampton just might be that player we “acquire” at the trading deadline. If he comes back healthy in July or August it may be just what this team needs.
By flange1
April 8, 2007 6:55 PM | Link to this
Good evening folks!
Just got back from a VERY cold trip to Augusta, what a great baseball weekend in Atlanta! I waas very pleased with the team in these three games with the Mets. The starting pitching was good, the relief pitching was good and the team came through at the plate when they needed to.
I was very impressed wirth Oliver Perez and with John Maine’s last start as well. Include Glavine and El Ducko ans their rotation is looking better than I was expecting. I think this is going to be a hard fought battle until the end.
The Hampton story is just sad! Hopefully we will hear something about scar tissue poping loose or something non-serious, but I doubt it. But what a great day for Kyle Davies! Maybe this is a bit of good news bad news? Hope so! Hopefully Cormier will get healthy and we will have 6 straters for the remainder of the season.
DOB, for me, my favorite REM songs are Sitting Still and Shaking Through. I love alot of the later material, but the early stuff is still my favorite. In terms of Radiohead, I still like the first album best, Thinking of you is my favorite.
Metro Man, thanks for the compliment, hopefully we can play this kind of series again!
By JACK
April 8, 2007 7:07 PM | Link to this
I just wonder if Hampton has just found a way to get all of his money without having to WORK for it.He has not pitched in all most two year’s now,and it just seems to me that he really DOE’S NOT WANT TO.Out HERE in the REAL WORLD,if you are not WORKING YOU DO NOT GET PAIED. WORST DEAL J.S. HAS EVER MADE IN HIS JOB WITH THE BRAVES.
By A.J.
April 8, 2007 7:10 PM | Link to this
Man, I cannot stand Chris Berman. His tired old nicknames and his “Back, back, back” nonsense. I guess it would really be a shame if he let one ball go over the fence without saying that.
I don’t have a problem with Phillips and I like Kruk. Liked Reynolds too. Don’t always agree with them, but they are fine. Don’t so much have a problem with Stark or Olney, though I don’t particularly love Kurkijan.
I mean you can’t hate them b/c they don’t know as much about the Braves as DOB. Plus, if you are going to hate people for having a Mets, Yanks, Sox, Bonds bias, there’s no one left to watch.
But I will tell you, I really can’t stand Berman, or Miller, or Morgan.
By the way, new thing that I just learned that I hate more than anything in the world: Chris Berman imitating Dick Vitale.
If football fans like Berman (and for some reason they seem to) they can have him, keep him away from baseball.
By Chop Chop
April 8, 2007 7:15 PM | Link to this
The Braves could get rid of Hampton and eat the money if he started playing “hot foot” with Chipper’s toes. Otherwise, they’re stuck with the guy, so it would be nice if his elbow isn’t completely mangled when he’s examined by his surgeon.
By David O'Brien
April 8, 2007 7:22 PM | Link to this
Can I tell you how completely different it already feels covering this team when the late innings roll around? They’re 3-1 when trailing after seven innings, after going 8-67 last year.
Huge strides made by Davies today. I mean, he strikes out the two Carloses, Beltran and Delgado, back to back with Reyes at third in the first inning. That would never, ever have happened last year.
And then after giving up the two bombs in the second, he comes back and doesn’t let anyone else get past first in the next four innings except Reyes, who triples and doesn’t score. Big stuff….
Andruw looks lost at the plate, but what a vintage Andruw catch in the right-center gap today….
Francoeur goes the other way again on a 2-2 count _ again, something you rarely, rarely saw last year. Back-to-back opp-field doubles by McCann and Frenchy … gotta like the kids.
Soriano and Wickman, lights-out so far. Gonzalez, I believe, will be fine once he settles down. Still too geeked-up trying to impress and all.
Gonna be interesting when Cormier is ready in 10 days or so. If Davies pitches well in his next start….
By GatorHater
April 8, 2007 7:27 PM | Link to this
Hampton is not coming back. He is damaged goods. You are all banking on this great comeback later in the season.
You Jacka@@es are probally the same snapperheads who were counting on Ed Hartwell to come back for the Falcons.
By nate
April 8, 2007 7:30 PM | Link to this
Tough break for Hampton. He would have made the Braves rotation one of the best in baseball. A healthy Hampton that is. He’s a great pitcher in my opinion when he’s healthy and very competitive. When he did pitches healthy, he’s tough to beat. When the Braves picked him up, I thought it was one of best moves since we got Fred McGriff back in 93’. Now the whole deal has gone south with this elbow thing. Doesn’t look good for him. This could affect him mentally with all these set backs. But I admire the guy for keep coming back, but looks like time is running out on him. Hope he gets healthy before his time is up with the Braves. GOOD LUCK HAMP!!!
By fastasballs
April 8, 2007 7:32 PM | Link to this
Give up the Hampton bashing. He was productive when he was on the mound for the Braves & hopefully will be again.
Everything I have ever read or seen indicates Hampton is a competitor. He wants back on the mound as bad as we want him out there.
The post about Hampton not “working” for his money is ignorant. I’m sure he decided one day to injure himself & have elective sugery, endure countless hours of rehab & pain, just so he could get his money without having to “work for it”.
I do have a question about Hampton, not a bash. If he did not have the Tommy John sugery would there have been anything in his contract that would have voided it? Is there anything in the contract stating you have to pursue every known mean possible to rehab an injury? Say he really didn’t want to go through the rehab of the TJ surgery & let nature take it’s course would he receive the full amount of the contract?
By Paul Hamilton
April 8, 2007 7:32 PM | Link to this
Where is Metrosexual Man and the rest of the Mets invaders? I figured they would be on here talking trash. I mean 1 out of 3 isn’t bad for the lowly Mets.
Andruw, we love ya…but if your going to leave and get paid mega bucks, you could at least have a monster season for us! Get with the program, you look terrible at the plate.
By David O'Brien
April 8, 2007 7:32 PM | Link to this
Old Timer Journalist: You asked when Hampton was a key member of rotation.
Well, from July 4, 2004 through May 8, 2005, he went 15-2 with a 2.65 ERA in 21 starts, and the Braves were 18-3 in those games.
And from July 6, 2003 until the end of that season, he went 11-3 with a 2.76 ERA in 17 starts….
Flange1, you pointed out another great REM tune _ Shaking Through. Good call.
Snowball: I have no earthly idea what your post was about. I’ve read it three times and can’t figure out what the hell you’re saying. Am I supposed to read it backward or something? Is it in some code? Honestly, I don’t get it.
By Bruce
April 8, 2007 7:33 PM | Link to this
Metro Man Thanks for the classy 5:54 post. Your stock just went up in my book. Bruce
By Carolina Lady
April 8, 2007 7:37 PM | Link to this
202, you want a date with Hampton??? :-))
By David O'Brien
April 8, 2007 7:41 PM | Link to this
Sopranos and Entourage tonight, folks. And did anyone else watch the season premiere of the The Shield this week? Spectacular. What a show. Just gets better and better.
By ncscoots
April 8, 2007 7:42 PM | Link to this
Admittedly, Davies didn’t dominate (needs a little more consistency with his command to do that, I think, but that’s a small nit to pick), but there was beaucoup gumption on display today from the young man. Beaucoup. All the better to have a tight, make-no-mistake game in which to do it. Hope to see how he pitches with a big lead next time out, LOL.
By knowitall
April 8, 2007 7:44 PM | Link to this
A.J., don’t give Berman to the football fans. We don’t like him either. I know he’s been at ESPN since the beginning but I just wonder why was he even there in the first place?
By A.J.
April 8, 2007 7:46 PM | Link to this
Do people post without even reading what other people have said?
It is so funny how so many people can make very good cases for something, like the Hampton trade not being “the worst trade ever” and then almost immediately someone comes back with their sad little “Out HERE in the REAL WORLD,if you are not WORKING YOU DO NOT GET PAIED.” I really do think it just comes down to jealousy (along with that ignorance).
“I just wonder if Hampton has just found a way to get all of his money without having to WORK for it.He has not pitched in all most two year’s now,and it just seems to me that he really DOE’S NOT WANT TO.” Yeah, because if you were being paid 15 million dollars, I’m sure the first thing you’d do is try to figure out how you could get out of playing professional baseball. You know those guys must hate it.
It doesn’t even make sense.
Or like when DOB clearly explains how there is nothing to gain from dropping him and then someone else comes right back and says we should do it. It’s just dumb.
I love debating with people who disagree with me when they make sense, but I can’t stand just ignorant yammering.
By the way, I respect people like MetroMan who can hang out, talk a little junk and have some fun, but will give respect where it’s due.
By Lew
April 8, 2007 7:47 PM | Link to this
Ma’am-Hope your Easter was good. It sounds to me like he was asking someone to go out with him.
By MBATL
April 8, 2007 7:55 PM | Link to this
DOB, curious about Bobby pinch-running Pena for McCann in the 8th. I don’t know that Pena is so much faster on the basepaths than McCann, and the game could’ve gone into extra innings and Brian’s bat would have been useful.
I didn’t see the game - was traveling, so maybe this was addressed on t.v. or something. But, I’m guessing that Bobby didn’t want to face sending McCann home on a single and forcing him into a collision - and I think it’s a great move. Any thoughts?
By Lew
April 8, 2007 7:58 PM | Link to this
I wonder if the Giants are regretting the Barry Zito signing? He gave up 8 runs in 6 innings today. Needless to say he is now 0-2.
By Carolina Lady
April 8, 2007 7:59 PM | Link to this
Hey, Lew! It was a wonderful day. Hope y’all did, too!
That was a funny post. It sure did read that way, didn’t it?
Great game today! I especially enjoyed seeing the younger guys stepping out and demonstrating that they are in their rightful places in the Major Leagues. The next generation. I’m proud as a peacock of them! :-))
I was especially proud of the determination shown by Davies. It was as if he said, “Not this time!” and then pitched himself a ballgame.
By A.J.
April 8, 2007 8:18 PM | Link to this
MBAtl: Pena is by no means fast, but McCann is quite slow. Poor kid, can’t be good at everything.
Pena was a definite speed upgrade, I don’t know about the collision thing, though it makes some sense. I think more it is just Bobby’s way of trying to rest McCann bit by bit.
It seems like Bobby doesn’t want to miss McCann’s bat for a whole day of rest, so he is just trying to make it a 7 or 8 inning game for McCann whenever he can.
I don’t look forward to the day that it costs us a game not having McCann in to swing, but if McCann does end up playing in a good number of games this season and stays healthy then I doubt anyone will mind.
It seems like when he is making these moves he is trying to use a minimum number of roster moves.
For example one game in Philly McCann was on base as the winning run. He pinch ran for McCann with Orr, then pinch hit Pena (instead of a more proven PH) in the pitchers spot, then put the new pitcher in for Orr.
I guess the thinking is if we’re going to have to put in Pena anyway, they don’t want to waste an extra bench man to PH or PR even when there are obvious better options. That way he keeps the bench deep.
I don’t really care for it. I’d rather either go for the win by PRing for McCann and PHing with our best hitter, or just keep McCann in the game in the first place.
It’s kind of trying to have the best of both, save the bench but go for the win, to me though Pena (though a good young player) is the best of neither world.
Today wasn’t so bad a case, but still I’d rather have seen Petey run.
But like I said, if Brian is healthy all season and still has the gas left come October then I’ll change my tune (assuming he has games to play in October) and give Bobby the point.
By Tomahawkin
April 8, 2007 8:20 PM | Link to this
Good Series for Dem Braves…Too bad I had to work all damn weekend, and When I wasn’t at work I was either at A House party, Or at da Club…
This team Is gonna be sick, Its good to see that we are winning series after series again, The Old Bobby C. philosophy, now just Hope Phill can get into the Mutts as-s-es and Shut ESPN up about how good the Mutts are…
Go Braves!
BTW I’m on the philly.com forum, and their fans are pyssed off…Its funy to see their rants, especially when they get onto Jimmy Rollins and his predictions…
By Don
April 8, 2007 8:22 PM | Link to this
DOB, I am not trying to point any fingers or place any blame on Hampton’s problem, but I am wondering how the surgeon is decided upon. Dr. Andrews is close, developed a lot of the procedure, and has a very good track record. Why choose a NY doctor?
By Gil in Mechanicsville
April 8, 2007 8:42 PM | Link to this
AJ Sometimes I think it is because of the time delay between post. Other times it is because they are just plain stupid. After awhile you learn which post to skip over.
As for Hampton, he is a great asset when heathy and as far as cost, well, the Braves accepted his contract when they traded for him. No one held a gun to their head. I stll believe he will be back. I had three knee surgeries. Was not until the last one that I knew what was going on. He is still finding out.
By Dave
April 8, 2007 8:44 PM | Link to this
The Braves are off to a good start and that is a good thing considering the big bats are homerless. The rotation seems to be solid and the bullpen with the exception of Mcbride is doing the job. Go Bravos!
By ppaddy123
April 8, 2007 8:44 PM | Link to this
I am very proud of the way our Bravos fought back this weekend. If this is an indication for the rest of the year, we are in for an exciting season. One comment I’d like to make about Andruw Jones, (and some of you stat guys can look this up) he always has a terrible April. Last year he showed up at camp in great shape and hit all those homers in spring training, then had that terrible April. It’s nothing new. Just wait ‘till May!!!
By Little Nicky the Satan
April 8, 2007 8:49 PM | Link to this
Don’t worry the Braves will crumble soon. The Mets are the team to beat, just 6 games into the season does not do any justice..I am just kidding GO BRAVES..
By Little Nicky the Satan
April 8, 2007 8:52 PM | Link to this
Don’t worry the Braves will crumble soon. The Mets are the team to beat, just 6 games into the season does not do any justice..I am just kidding GO BRAVES..
By Little Nicky the Satan
April 8, 2007 8:52 PM | Link to this
Don’t worry the Braves will crumble soon. The Mets are the team to beat, just 6 games into the season does not do any justice..I am just kidding GO BRAVES..
By The Satan
April 8, 2007 8:53 PM | Link to this
Don’t worry the Braves will crumble soon. The Mets are the team to beat, just 6 games into the season does not do any justice..I am just kidding GO BRAVES..
By Daybed Wagmoe
April 8, 2007 8:54 PM | Link to this
it looks like andruw has been a whole lot more patient in this season’s first week, taking a LOT of pitches. he’s been walked 3 times this year, but has struck out 9 times in 23 ABs. could he be thinking that pitchers will try to pitch around him? or is he just trying to work pitchers and being selective? whatever the case, he definitely doesn’t seem as aggressive at the plate.
and for what it’s worth concerning REM, i’d say that “life’s rich pagaent” has one of the best 1-2-3-4 sequences of an album by anyone. the IRS years were them at their best, but i would definitely include some newer songs like electrolite, daysleeper, beat a drum, and aftermath among the best in their catalogue.
By JJMB
April 8, 2007 8:55 PM | Link to this
DOB, you’re right about The Sheild.
By The Satan
April 8, 2007 8:57 PM | Link to this
Hey Muts and Philties.. listen.. You might be on the right track but if you just sit there you will run over by a train (BRAVES)..
By Steve-O
April 8, 2007 8:57 PM | Link to this
DOB
HELLYEH Sopranos tonite! Rite on… Even though I despise the Mets and anything affiliated with them I have to say that was a classy post by MetroMan. Meanwhile like I said with 5 Washington and 3 Marlin games we could be 12-2 or 13-1 pretty damn easily if Davies can stay solid and Redman is serviceable. Im lovin what im seeing, EXCEPT Andruw….DAMN!!! I mean i know cold weather blahh blahh, always slow starts blahhh, the D is there, no question, but c’mon Druw, you want $150 million but all you been doin at the plate is smiling and striking out. You want to get paid the big money, and boast that you deserve to get the big money , and talk about how you deserve “market value” how ‘bout some CONSISTENCY. Geeeez a guy gettin paid those dollars doesnt start a season 3-25 with 12 K’s or whatever it is. The only people who deserve that money are the consistent ones, and Andruw is too damn streaky. So again, you wanna boast you aint takin no “Hometown Discount” then play like you atleast deserve a contract offer (on O). Just my opinion, I know he’ll come around but he’s been chokin in big spots already and just thinkin about him and his “I want market value” trash and seeing him play like that makes me mad…
Braves are the Shiiiizzniiit Sonnnn !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By Yars
April 8, 2007 9:02 PM | Link to this
Who would have predicted that Kelly Johnson would have more HR right now than both Chipper & Andruw? Some of you have been too hard on K-Jo since the beginning of spring training. He’s playing good defense, he’s drawing walks, scoring runs, & hitting the ball hard. His bat is really starting to warm up. Chipper’s bat will soon warm up. I’m more concerned about Andruw than anyone else. I know it’s still early. DOB………..can’t say I’m into REM or Radiohead, but I always thought REM’s, ‘Stand’ was a silly, fun song. As for Radiohead, the only song of theirs I like is, ‘Creep’. I suggest you pick up the new Nine Inch Nails album, ‘Year Zero’ when it comes out April 17. The few tracks I’ve heard so far kick *ss. A noisy, electro-rock album.
By Daybed Wagmoe
April 8, 2007 9:03 PM | Link to this
also, concerning andruw, consider these guys’ first weeks:
Albert Pujols: .136, 1 hr, 2 rbi Ryan Howard: .217, 0 hr, 2 rbi, Carlos Delgado: .185, 0 hr, 4 rbi
does anyone expect these three, plus andruw, to continue at the rates that they’re going?
By Quest 590
April 8, 2007 9:09 PM | Link to this
Smoltz and Andrew will be gone next season so enjoy them while you can you sorry Braves fans they will be wearing the Mets uniform next year because you rednecks are not going to be able to afford them…GO METS
By Braves fan 202
April 8, 2007 9:14 PM | Link to this
Quest 590, how many division titles have the mets won in the past 15 years? When’s the last time the mets won the world series? Whos in first place right now? Exactly. Go braves baby 2007 world series champs!!
By 96,sc
April 8, 2007 9:17 PM | Link to this
Bring up Salty! I just wanted to throw this into the blog since no one else has mentioned it. I have never been a huge fan of Salty but I am a huge McCann fan, just wanted to know what other fans thought of this. I read in another blog yesterday that the reason Salty hasn’t been working out at first base is because he is a better defensive catcher than Brian. Meaning, that he could be brought up later and Brian could move to first base to save his legs and to keep his bat in the lineup every day. Has anyone else heard this?
By Keith
April 8, 2007 9:18 PM | Link to this
It is PAST time that the Braves give Hampton his unconditional release - along with his $14 million salary this year. Maybe, just maybe, they can spend that money and get a good pitcher who can actually be available to play baseball. (Gee, let me think. Glavine for $10 mil or Hampton for $14.5 mil) Another idea - how about giving the fans a cumulative $14.5 mil rebate since Hampton is never available to carry his load? (Where do I get a job like that?)
By KC
April 8, 2007 9:21 PM | Link to this
Quest 590:
The Braves will re-sign John Smoltz, almost at any cost.
As for Andruw… not so sure about him. The only way we keep him is if the new ownership loosens the purse strings. We still have no way of know what they’ll do until the sale is finalized.
One thing I can say with a fair amount of confidence… New York won’t appeal much to Andruw. He’d perfer to play in warm weather. The Dodgers would probably be the automatic frontrunners in the AJ sweepstakes if the Braves can’t put in a competetive offer.
By Quest 590
April 8, 2007 9:22 PM | Link to this
The Mets will win the WS this year..they will spend $$$$$$ to get there…
By Keith
April 8, 2007 9:23 PM | Link to this
Guest 590:
Smoltz will be back. Andruw (and his current .147 BA) will leave. The Braves will win another division title. And New York will once again try to figure out why money don’t always buy a championship.
Redneck? No. Farm-system talent? Yes.
By KC
April 8, 2007 9:23 PM | Link to this
DOB: forgive my ignorance, but can you answer this question for me?
Why is it a big deal that Hampton is experiencing discomfort in his elbow. Isn’t that somewhat normal at this point?? Won’t he have to pitch through some discomfort for a while??
By JasonInMaine
April 8, 2007 9:24 PM | Link to this
KC, what’s up? I am not one to say I told you so, but do you remember our friendly little debate in regards to Hampton and a pitcher’s overall ability to come back from TJ surgery? Very rarely do you see a pitcher come back—whether in 12 months or 18 months—and have no problems, especially pitchers that have had a recent history of injury troubles. The numbers I provided in our friendly debate for which DOB called my input “irrational” and said I “rambled on for the last hour” simply pointed to this happening. Even if it is scar tissue, it takes some pitchers a while to come back from it. I hope he wakes up tomorrow and has been miraculously cured…
Now, as for Hudson, I also have to admit something: I think you were correct in your assessment that he is going to bounce back and have a good year. His first outing was more than I expected, so I may gladly be eating crow on this one as well…
Regards, Jason
By Keith
April 8, 2007 9:25 PM | Link to this
Guest 590:
Smoltz will be back. Andruw (and his current .147 BA) will leave. The Braves will win another division title. And New York will once again try to figure out why money don’t always buy a championship.
Redneck? No. Farm-system talent? Yes.
By KC
April 8, 2007 9:25 PM | Link to this
keith: Please scroll up an see D.O’Brien’s 5:23 post. Boy… I’m getting tired of suggesting that.
By LivininAL
April 8, 2007 9:28 PM | Link to this
I think pain is part of the recovery..if there is recovery were never any guarantees… Comier and Davies look like the answer to starters 4 and 5 to me…
By Quest 590
April 8, 2007 9:29 PM | Link to this
KC you sound like you know what are you talking about but do your research MONEY DOES TALK when it does there are listeners and AJ is going to be one of them…cold or freezing weather doesn’t matter the Mets will get him whatever it takes, the new owners for the Braves are not going to be able to afford him. As for Smoltz he is too old to investin him as much money as he will demand… Mets will win the WS this year..
By fastasballs
April 8, 2007 9:32 PM | Link to this
Quest, The Mets can try & buy the series all they want but look where all that money has gotten the “real” team from New Yok. How many have the Yanks won in the past 5 or 6 years?
The last time I recall was the the 2000 World Series when they spanked the Mets.
By Quest 590
April 8, 2007 9:33 PM | Link to this
Smoltz wants a long TERM contract.. the new owners are not going for that ,he is too fricking OLD…SMOLTZ WILL WIND UP IN NEW YORK WITH HIS BUDDY GLAVINE SO THAT THEY CAN WIN ANOTHER WS FOLKS..GET IT…
By Braves fan 202
April 8, 2007 9:34 PM | Link to this
Quest 590, once again. Did you watch the game today. Andruw and chipper(are best hitters) are sucking wind. Yet the braves are still 5-1. Can you imagine what it will be like when chipper and andruw heat up. I cant wait cuz it will be awesome. 2007 world series champs.
By KC
April 8, 2007 9:35 PM | Link to this
JasonInMaine: Honestly… I really don’t remember much who said what, but I’ll take your word for it.
As you can see from my above question to DOB, I understand that there is a normal process of natural challenges, particularly in the early stages (2 steps forward, one step back, 2 steps forward…)
My feeling was that Hampton would have his issues in the first half, but would have made great strides heading into the all-star break. I felt that the additional time Hampton had to recover (longer than normal) would help.
Unfortunately, we don’t what the hell’s going on with him right now. As I asked a moment ago… I don’t understand what the big deal is about him having discomfort. Smoltz had discomfort through most of his first year back, but that didn’t mean it was risky for him to pitch.
Anyway, from the looks of it, anyone who cast doubt on Hampton’s ability to contribute this season will look smart if things don’t change soon. I guess we’re back to “hope for the best, but don’t bank on anything”. Aaaaargh.
By ppaddy123
April 8, 2007 9:36 PM | Link to this
Quest 590, your starting pitching is weak and you have NO BULLPEN. You guys can spend all you want and it won’t help. What you do have is the BEST LEADOFF HITTER* in the majors and a very good line up. But pitching is gonna’ kill you guys this year, just like it did us in last year.
By Braveheart
April 8, 2007 9:41 PM | Link to this
We have got some real retards on here. Are you 14 years old or just an adult who is ignorant about baseball and the economics of it? DOB & A.J. said all that needs to be said about this situation with Hampton. Very well stated by both.
Great job by the Braves. Bravo! Bravo!
Your Tragic Number is now 156 Mets fans.
By Quest 590
April 8, 2007 9:42 PM | Link to this
YOU are right my friend but the Mets are trying harder and they have more money than the Braves..Go Mets…
By Braves fan 202
April 8, 2007 9:46 PM | Link to this
Quest590, you are an idiot! Money doesnt get you everywhere. The mets have been rich and they have won division in 15 years(that would be only if the mets won the division in 90, and i dont think it was). So go braves. 2007 world series champs
By Josh
April 8, 2007 9:49 PM | Link to this
It had been a happy winter for the young cowboy Randolph. Just last year he had taken over for old man Cox as sheriff of the East. The old man had been sheriff for as long as anybody could remember, and defeat tasted to him like burnt possum and flat warm brew. This year, the old man vowed, was gonna be different.
“Somehow, some way I’m takin’ back this division,” the old man growled as he scratched his nose with a fervor not seen in these parts, “ain’t no young rich cowboys pushin’ me and my boys out any more.” Though he’d never admit as much, the young sheriff knew that he had trouble on his hands. And thus, the battle begun…
By uncle pee pot
April 8, 2007 9:49 PM | Link to this
Great game for the Braves,myself and my nephews the two homo boys really enjoyed the game.it would have been an even nicer sunday had Tiger Woods won the Masters but anyway the Braves shut the muts up.way to go guys.keep it up.
By KC
April 8, 2007 9:50 PM | Link to this
Quest 590: “Mets will win the WS this year.”
Quest, a month ago, I would have laughed at you for saying that. I won’t laugh right now… not at all. However, I’ll have to wait and see how certain things shake out for the Mets before I could say how much I like their WS chances.
The main reason I have more respect for the Mets than I did a month ago is because of the performance of their starters.
When Oliver Perez put together the spring he did, I thought “uh oh”. And he didn’t do anything to make me feel better on Friday. Having said that, this is a guy who went, what… 3-13 last year with a 6.50 ERA? And he wasn’t much better the year before that. So he’ll have to do this a while longer before anyone can say he’s recaptured the magic he had a few years ago.
El Duque has also been fantastic. But again, I’ll wait and see if he’s still capable of pitching at a high level for a prolonged period.
If one of both of those guys have big years, and are still pitching like that come October when Pedro should also be back (a couple months before that, actually), the yes… the Mets are serious World Series contenders.
That said… there are several other teams, including the Braves, who are also legit WS contenders. And even if the Mets are the best team in baseball (and I’m not at all convinced of that), as the Cards proved last year, the best team doesn’t always win.
By uncle pee pot
April 8, 2007 9:53 PM | Link to this
Great game for the Braves,myself and my nephews the two homo boys really enjoyed the game.it would have been an even nicer sunday had Tiger Woods won the Masters but anyway the Braves shut the muts up.way to go guys.keep it up.
By KC
April 8, 2007 9:53 PM | Link to this
ppaddy123:
I want to agree with you about the Mets starting pitching… but I can’t. Not yet. As I just mentioned to Quest… a month ago, I would have agreed with you. But with Oliver Perez and El Duque looking as good as they did in their career-best years early on here, we can’t say that yet.
Again, I’m not sold on Perez and Herandez yet. They’re going to have to keep this up for a while before I lump the Mets in with the better rotations in baseball (as I do the Braves). But those 2 guys are making me a little nerveous, I have to admit.
By KC
April 8, 2007 9:57 PM | Link to this
Quest 590: Money does talk. Yes. And the Dodgers have every bit as much as the Mets… PLUS perfect weather, palm trees, great beaches, and movie stars and such to help feed Andruw’s apparently growing affinity for the MTV Cribs lifestyle.
All that said, if the Braves can offer him 18 mill a season over 6 years… he’ll stay. But we can only hope that Liberty Media will put Schuerholz in a postition to make that offer.
By fastasballs
April 8, 2007 9:58 PM | Link to this
I just hope the Braves don’t take a dump against Washington. These first six games have been very intense to say the least. A let down is possible but I doubt it.
Hope they can sweep but another 2 of 3 will do the trick. I’ve watched the Nats a few times this year & they look awful. I hope that trend continues.
By Kentavo
April 8, 2007 10:00 PM | Link to this
I feel great about the 5-1 start. Very exciting. I still am not impressed with Gonzalez, and Yates and McBride are not Major Leaguers any way you slice it. Paronto on the otherhand, looks like he’s learning from Wicky.
But what is it with Andruw Jones? How can someone who has played in the Bigs for 10 years look like an overmatched rookie at the plate? He looks absolutely clueless at the plate. He is an automatic out in clutch situations.
Maybe he’s underperforming so the Braves can afford to resign him. I’m kidding, of course.
By KC
April 8, 2007 10:00 PM | Link to this
WOW… Still not national stories on the great start the Braves are off to (like the headlines on the Mets ‘amazing start’ a couple days ago).
I’m shocked. Truly shocked.
By Kentavo
April 8, 2007 10:00 PM | Link to this
I feel great about the 5-1 start. Very exciting. I still am not impressed with Gonzalez, and Yates and McBride are not Major Leaguers any way you slice it. Paronto on the otherhand, looks like he’s learning from Wicky.
But what is it with Andruw Jones? How can someone who has played in the Bigs for 10 years look like an overmatched rookie at the plate? He looks absolutely clueless at the plate. He is an automatic out in clutch situations.
Maybe he’s underperforming so the Braves can afford to resign him. I’m kidding, of course.
By JasonInMaine
April 8, 2007 10:06 PM | Link to this
KC,
I always like chatting/debating with you anyway. But, hopefully it is nothing serious and it doesn’t set him back far. Man, with a healthy Hampton would certainly make this team look even better!
But, I am now on your side of the fence in regards to Hudson. I am starting to feel as though he is going to bounce back with a pretty big year.
Regards, Jason
By ColoradoBravesFan
April 8, 2007 10:06 PM | Link to this
Was it just me or did anybody else find it ironic that a mets fan, Quest590, was calling another teams pitchers “too fricking OLD” then states that the mets will sign him. Giving the Mets three pitchers over 40? I was laughing hard at that…
By KC
April 8, 2007 10:08 PM | Link to this
ppaddy123: Jose Reyes is still great, but until he can consistently post an OBP between .370-400 and boast a 96% success rate in the stolen base dept… Ichiro is still the best leadoff man in baseball.
By A.J.
April 8, 2007 10:15 PM | Link to this
It’s so funny how in the same day you can see someone be so classy as MetroMan was, then so lame as Quest.
It’s annoying enough dealing with ignorant Braves fans!
I go to Emory, and if you know anything about Emory, you know there are probably more people there from NY and Boston than from Atlanta. The Mets fans I know at Emory are actually good guys too. It’s the Yanks and Sox fans who are the most obnoxious. (There is also a good number of poor sad Cubs fans).
Obviously we’ve seen from the showings at Shea how lame Mets fans can be (I’m sure you weren’t involved in that Metro, right? LOL). But sadly enough, I really think that Yankees and Red Sox fans are worse. Luckily they’re so consumed with each other that they don’t care about anyone else.
Of course, at least the BoSox and Yanks fans don’t throw stuff. The Phillies fans throwing stuff at Francoeur was pathetic, and I’ve never seen anything worse than the batteries thrown at Rocker. Even if he was a jerk, that’s just wrong.
By Daybed Wagmoe
April 8, 2007 10:17 PM | Link to this
the braves have hit a homer in each game so far. not saying a whole lot since we’re only 6 games into the season, but it’s at least indicative of the power on the club.
none have been hit by andruw or chipper, but we’re 5-1 nonetheless.
By KC
April 8, 2007 10:20 PM | Link to this
JasonInMaine: Yes, it would be a big lift if we could just get Hampton back healthy in time for him to get sharp before the stretch run and October arrives. Not sure that’s going to happen now. Like I said… I guess we’re back in the ‘hope for the best but don’t wait up’ mode. Bummer. Oh well, maybe things will go well before long after all. Again, I’m not sure why his having elbow discomfort was a big deal. I thought that was normal at this point, but… what do I know?
Yeah… Hudson looks good. Assuming he continues to look good, we have as good a rotation 1-3 as there is in baseball, in my opinion. Then if Davies and Cormier come through on the bottom end of the rotation (please God let them perform well so we can get rid of Redman)… this rotation will be in damn good shape. And we know the bullpen is.
The offense is far better than most anyone gives them credit for. As I’ve said multiple times before… the only real advantage the Mets lineup has over Atlanta’s is Jose Reyes. A number of the Braves bats have started ice-cold, but they’ll come around. Guys like the Joneses (and Chipper has a long history of starting slow), Wilson, Thorman, Langerhans… okay, actually I’m not so sure about Langerhans, but my point stands. Other than Adam Eaton, this lineup has been facing some stingy pitching. Hopefully a series against the Nats in true springtime weather will help get the bats thawed out. =)
By JasonInMaine
April 8, 2007 10:22 PM | Link to this
DOB (and others),
I apologize in advance if this has been asked on previous blogs, but I was on vacation in HI for a couple of weeks and have been scrambling to get caught up at work as well as other things. Not that you folks care (:
Anyway, my question is in regards to Gonzalez’s velocity. I saw him a couple of times last year, and I thought I remembered his velocity touching 95-96 consistently. He seems to be consistently hitting 91-92 with an occasional 93. Obviously this isn’t the end of the world, but is his velocity down from last year?
Regards,
Jason
By mark
April 8, 2007 10:23 PM | Link to this
I love the Braves , and I think its kind of cool to be able to write comments in this blog . I just wish all of you would be more kind at heart..God Mike Hampton did not beg Atlanta To trade for him, and for sure he is a competitor and his injury happened while being a part of our team.I wish him the best.I guess I would like everyone just try to be easier on the players etc..Im a FAN , I love the BRAVES..5 and 1 thats a good start! GO BRAVES!!!
By KC
April 8, 2007 10:26 PM | Link to this
Kentavo:
Tyler Yates has had some outstanding stretches for Atlanta. Problem is, he’s been very inconsistent. He was with Atlanta for 4 full months last season. He had a truly lousy August… but his ERA over the other 3 months was 2.17. And he was great in September as Atlanta’s fill-in setup man, posting a 2.70 ERA that month.
McBride has been magic when they’ve used him in the correct role… as a situational lefty, and not as anything else.
Look at stats from last year. Left-handed hitters couldn’t hit this guy. And did you see him make Ryan Howard look bad earlier in the week?
The solution with McBride is simple. Use him as a situational lefty and nothing else.
Yates is more complicated. The Braves don’t have any options, so he either has to work out his problems here, or be shipped elsewhere. He’ll most likely be limited to mop-up duty for a while until he gets on track.
By 96,sc
April 8, 2007 10:32 PM | Link to this
A.J., I haven’t been able to see all the Braves games because I work 12 hour shifts and have to catch the play by play om SI.com. What’s the story about Philly fans throwing something at Frenchy?
By KC
April 8, 2007 10:33 PM | Link to this
I am an avid Braves fan, and an avid Spurs fan (from having lived in San Antonio for a while). Anyway, it the same with both my teams… the media has to be forced to talk about them. They don’t want to.
The NBA press would much rather talk about Dallas and Phoenix. The MLB press would much rather talk about the Mets and Phillies. Funny thing is with both teams… the seem to kind of like it that way.
By John
April 8, 2007 10:33 PM | Link to this
Metropolitan Man I don’t like Mets fans normally, but if there is one thing Braves and Mets fans can agree on, its that the Philthies need to be beat down. Good luck with that, and hope ya’ll really beat ‘em up!
By C Daddy
April 8, 2007 10:34 PM | Link to this
I don’t see why the Braves would be counting on Hampton for anything other than looking forward to the end of his grossly inflated non-value contract.
By C Daddy
April 8, 2007 10:39 PM | Link to this
I don’t see why the Braves would be counting on Hampton for anything other than looking forward to the end of his grossly inflated non-value contract.
By A.J.
April 8, 2007 10:43 PM | Link to this
KC, According the the Baseball Prospectus or maybe ESPN guys Ichiro should be in line for a dropoff pretty soon. Something about that kind of hitter reaching the low-mid 30s.
Of course, I don’t like most of what they say anyway. Too cynical, takes the fun out of it.
The dude is only 32, still if Ichiro is, as you say, still the best leadoff man in baseball, it’s not by much and it’s not for long.
As much as I hate him being on the Mets, at least Reyes is respectable. I’d think he’s great on any other non-Yankees team. And I’d love him to death on the Braves. He’s just a good guy. Same with Wright. It makes me sad to know I’ll have to root against them for years too come.
Reyes is positively annoying any time he comes to bat. I just can’t stand to see him. I hope that (without winning the Mets any more division titles) Reyes wipes away all of Rickey Henderson’s records. But that’s just b/c I don’ really like Henderson.
Reyes is not the most complete leadoff man ever, and probably isn’t the most complete in baseball right now, but he sure is good, and he sure does seem to get around the bases better than anyone else right now. (I don’t just mean the way he moves physically but they way he works his way around, advancing from base-to-base).
When he hit those triples against us you could tell right away. Just watching this weekend it seems like the dude could have 162 triples this season. It seems like he doesn’t hit doubles, any ball to the fence he just goes for three.
By the way, I didn’t notice how well Furcal did last season. Dude hit .300 last season, .369 OBP. Where was that ever before in his career? I still wish him the best, but it is kind of annoying to think of how good he could have been (and how good we could have been) if he could have learned to hit to get on base. I’m sure last season on his way to those numbers he was finally doing all of those I was yelling at the TV all those years.
By ppaddy123
April 8, 2007 10:45 PM | Link to this
KC, it’s easy to forget about Ichiro because he’s out there on the west coast and I mean no disrespect to him, but I feel that putting up big numbers for a contending teams that everyone “gears” up for is far more impressive. I remember Tony Gwynn absolutely wearing us out back in the dat, but he was the only thing the Padres had. Same thing, in my opinion, for Ichiro. And, as for the Mets pitching…..the season is a marathon, not a sprint. Off-speed pitching dominates in April because the hitter’s timing is still not quite there. I’m not the Great Kreskin, but let’s get 60 games into the season (1/3 of the way) and then look at things. P.S. The Phillies scare me more than the Mets do.
By David O'Brien
April 8, 2007 10:54 PM | Link to this
MBATL, regarding pinch-running for McCann: I didn’t have a problem with it for one reason: Game was tied, and he represents the winning run, and Pena is much faster than McCann. Could’ve easily made the difference scoring from second on a single (as it turned out, Francoeur doubled).
Also, game would’ve probably had to go 11 innings for McCann to hit again, and it’s not like Pena is a slouch at the plate. Hey, he was playing to win right then, right there, not worrying about extra innings. Like I said, I don’t have a problem with that at all.
By David O'Brien
April 8, 2007 11:01 PM | Link to this
Dave, you pointed out how promising it is that the Braves are 5-1 despite getting no homers from the big bats.
Also consider this: The Braves led the NL in homers (eight) before today despite getting zero from the Joneses.
By Willy Wally
April 8, 2007 11:03 PM | Link to this
People need to stop complaining about the lack of national media love. What do you expect? The team did not make the playoffs last year and were one and done since the turn of the decade. People are tired of the Braves. I think the final straw from the national media perspective was that 4 game sweep in 1999 to the Yankees. The nation seemed to stop believing about the Braves at that point where they had dominated from 1991 until 1999 and only had one World Series to show for it. Plus, the national media needs to sell. It’s hard to sell the Braves to the masses anymore. They just are not a sexy team. Back in the day, Smoltz, Maddux, and Glavine were shoved down the whole country’s throats. Chipper was shoved down the whole country’s throats. Almost every member of the Braves was a national rock star of sorts in the early 1990s. The story got old. The nation has moved on. The story of the Braves can no longer be sold nationally. Who would the national media sell on the Braves? Chipper, Andruw, & Smoltz? Been there, done that. Frenchy? Been there, done that (The Natural on the SI cover) and I think the national media feels he was a letdown last year. McCann? Not yet. I think many are skeptical because no one (not even Braves fans) ever saw this coming from McCann. If any of you tell me that you thought he was going to be this awesome, you are just lying or your last name is McCann or you were an ignorant optimist when you made the prediction. Evidently, he is this darn good. If he keeps getting clutch hits like this, you will see McCann be the poster boy leading the Braves march in the national media back to national prominence.
By jerry (Macon)
April 8, 2007 11:11 PM | Link to this
Hampton, I don’t know, so far we haven ‘t gotten our money’s worth. I really think Hampton is doing what best for him and the team, but we need pitching now. Let’s plan to go without him and if he makes it back this year that will be a plus. What really bugs me about the Braves is Andruw Jones. He looks like the same hitter that first broke into the league. He doesn’t seem to have a clue about the strike zone and that smile he has when he strikes out, looking or going for a pitch half way to first base really frustrates me. It has been the same thing, except for 2005 when I thought he was finally learning to hit major league pitching. Last year and so far this year has been a big dissapointment in his hitting. He has lost a step in the outfield and is calling off the other outfielders real late in the play, I’m sure they are getting tired of that too. Maybe next year we will have someone in center that is totally committed to playing the game the way it should be played.
By nj braves fan
April 8, 2007 11:12 PM | Link to this
I thought that Thorman was supposed to be the man this year at first? Already he is in a platoon situation, and I don’t think that Craig Wilson is worth half of what we’re paying him. At the very least he should be able to catch a popup, I mean wasn’t this guy an outfielder?
I know Bobby knows what he’s doing, but a platoon at 2nd and 1st base is not what is needed. KJ and Thorman need at bats (even against leftys). Woodward is terrible. If we’re gonna platoon guys, the so called ‘backups’ should at least be sound defensively.
By Josh
April 8, 2007 11:15 PM | Link to this
DOB, once Cormier comes off of the DL who is the odd man out in the rotation? After naming Cormier to the rotation at the begining of the season how can you send him down? Davies has pitched well all spring. Redman got shelled on Friday. I say see if Redman clears waivers. His contract is not that big so what if he doesn’t clear waivers.
By The Grinch
April 8, 2007 11:15 PM | Link to this
Morning, All. For what it’s worth, Scribe and I both thought while watching Gonzalez yesterday that he’s just trying too hard to be a “personality” on the mound. He’s overthrowing and swaggering, much like you’d expect from a kid who was the undisputed closer on a crappy team and suddenly gets a chance on a good one. He’ll be absolutely fine when he settles down. MEB, I posted the time and meeting place yesterday morning but the blog was down. We’ll try it all again soon. G’night, all, and happy Spring equinox.
By David O'Brien
April 8, 2007 11:15 PM | Link to this
KC, regarding your 9:23 post: If he’s flying to NY to see the doctor tomorrow, you can rest assured it’s PAIN he’s feeling.
We never got a chance to talk to him today _ he left before we entered the clubhouse after the game _ so I can’t give you any direct quote from him.
And by the way, I’ll disagree on leadoff men. I really like Ichiro, but JOSE REYES might well be the best leadoff man since Rickey. He’s better than Ichiro, because he’s such a power threat, and because he turns doubles for anyone else into triples. I mean, the guy gets standup triples on rather routine gappers. Reyes is phenomenal.
By Ron Roberts
April 8, 2007 11:17 PM | Link to this
Great start by the Braves, no doubt about it.
Great to see this team thrive with the Joneses’ sputtering at the plate, frankly. What’s really good to see is McCann being McCann, and Francoeur contributing with some quality plate appearances and good star6ting pitching from Smoltz (x2), Hudson, James and Kyle freaking Davies.
If Chipper and Andruw were contributing, we’d still only be 5-1, given the lopsided loss Friday night, so we’ll really ratchet it up when they come around (as we all expect they will.)
Here’s my (becoming) daily Mike Gonzalez diatribe, though. Two hits, two runners stranded today. Not what we brought him here for. Fortunately Paronto and Soriano have been lights-out for us out of the ‘pen.
Overall, I couldn’t be happier with this team after 6 games, but I’m hoping Gonzalez doesn’t become a bust for us.
By Willy Wally
April 8, 2007 11:17 PM | Link to this
njbravesfan:
Woodward is awful and should not be wasting a roster spot. Same goes for Orr.
Have to disagree about Wilson though. He has to play against lefties. In his career, Wilson against lefties is .294/.393/.540. Wilson must play against lefties. This is about winning and winning now. Klesko and Laroche did not seem to have their development stunted to me too much by being platooned.
By DonCoburleone
April 8, 2007 11:20 PM | Link to this
“Also, game would’ve probably had to go 11 innings for McCann to hit again, and it’s not like Pena is a slouch at the plate. Hey, he was playing to win right then, right there, not worrying about extra innings. Like I said, I don’t have a problem with that at all.”
Plus, lets face it, if there was a play at the plate you wouldn’t want to risk hurting McCann, rather have Pena do it.
DOB, how is Chipper feeling right now, have you had a chance to talk to him lately?
By David O'Brien
April 8, 2007 11:25 PM | Link to this
Grinch, agree with you on Gonzalez.
Josh, too early to answer your question about the rotation. Honestly, it’s just too early. These things have a way of taking care of themselves _ someone gets hurt, someone stinks it up, etc.
Your scenario is the way it could unfold. But several others could, too. Just pure speculation on anyone’s part, at this point.
First let’s let Kyle make a couple of starts, let Redman make a couple, let Cormier throw off a mound and show he’s healthy.
By El Caganer
April 8, 2007 11:30 PM | Link to this
**By Josh
April 8, 2007 4:13 PM | Link to this
Where oh where are the Mets bloggers? Thought this series was over Friday…**
I just felt that needed repeating.{-;
Braves look real good. With the timely clutch hitting and solid bullpen they are a 9 inning team and in every game.
I have already counted out before the season started. He gave the Braves some good seasons but his arm just doesn’t have the durability anymore and it is time to just move on. Bring along some young arms. For those of you who are unaware, all contracts in baseball are guarenteed unlike the NFL. If the player gets cut, he still gets paid. That is why he is being kept around.
As far as music, while I respect REM and Radiohead they are not exactly my cup of tea. This band is more my type of music and probably the best new band I’ve heard in a long time. If you have a few spare minutes on your computer check them out:
Official web site:text to be linked
My Way video on YouTube:text to be linked
They totally rock!
By Fred from CT
April 8, 2007 11:31 PM | Link to this
What a difference from last year. Pitching and timely hitting. Offense hasn’t got going yet. What a job by davies today. Just a couple of wins. But you have to likely they way this team is pulling these games out. They need to stay focused and take care of the nats. As far as chipper he is gonna get hot this week. just watch
By 1st and 6
April 8, 2007 11:39 PM | Link to this
I don’t care about the media. I care about the Braves. I have a good feeling about this year…The Hampton case is complicated, but something need to be made. Instead of pitching can he play another position? If he is that competitive as some people say that is an option and will fix his image…whatever
By Greg in TN
April 8, 2007 11:45 PM | Link to this
Evening Denizens…
Everyone repeat after me… “Hampton has a guaranteed contract, if we release him, we have to continue to pay it.”
I too agree with the call to have Pena run for McCann. To have anyone else run in that situation just burns a player we may need later (had we had to go to extra innings). Pena looked like he was trucking around third pretty well.
MetroMan, I respect you for your post earlier today. Very classy thing to do.
Folks, I keep thinking of Reyes and this year he really reminds me of Vince Coleman very early in his career with the Cardinals. All of the buzz early in the ‘85 season was Coleman and I remember him running all over us in one of our first meetings hitting a single and then stealing second and third off of Zane Smith and Rick Cerone in old Busch Stadium. Coleman went on to win the ROY that year and the Cards won the division.
I didn’t have opportunity to watch Davies, but am really impressed about how he handled the first inning and his day in general after that.
The team enjoys a day off before Don Sutton, Stan Kasten and the Nats come to town on Tuesday.
By DonCoburleone
April 8, 2007 11:46 PM | Link to this
From this day forward, the national league team that resides in New York, shall be known as the Metro-Sexuals…
By Kentavo
April 8, 2007 11:48 PM | Link to this
I am a member of the media, so I don’t really go for the media-bias theories, but I do get sick of ESPN blathering on about Yankees, Mets, and Red Sox.
I went to espn.com to see what they’d have about Braves taking series from Mets, and they’ve got the story about Hampton’s injury highlighted, with the game story as a sidebar.
I have noticed that anytime a Braves player gets injured, it’s featured prominently on ESPN.
By Steve-O
April 8, 2007 11:49 PM | Link to this
Willy Wally
McCann batted .286 with minimal power numbers because of lack of play because Estrada was catcher. However, when McCann hit that clutch homer off Clemens with that sweet swing then hit ANOTHER shot in Houston the next game, I knew he’d be a great player because he was 21 doing this. However, i didn’t forsee him being the most freakin phenomenal catcher ever. He IS that good and will only get better.
By fastasballs
April 8, 2007 11:54 PM | Link to this
Fred, I think your right about Chipper getting hot. Andruw’s bat will surface sometime in early May like it always does.
I’m still pumped about Francoeur’s last AB. I hope he goes back to looking to go to right field as he did in the spring. He would become so much more of a dangerous hitter like McCann.
By DonCoburleone
April 9, 2007 12:03 AM | Link to this
Can’t believe we are 5-1 and the Jones boys are a combined 7-37 (.189 average), 2 2B’s, 0 HR, 1 RBI… Pitching baby, pitching…
By gotigers72
April 9, 2007 12:06 AM | Link to this
5-1 on smoke and mirrors, but that’s alright. What will happen when they REALLY start playing? They are last in the NL with a .220 average, a little better in runs scored. Have given up the 2nd most walks in the NL, 9th in fielding. As DOB wrote, Andruw looks lost, and there are several more regulars/platoon players with averages well below the Mendoza line. How in he** are they 5-1?
Pitching is the answer. Throw out that one game where the Mets scored 11 and the ERA is in the 2s.
Maybe the bats will pick up with the Nats and Marlins coming to town. The Braves caught a bad break by having to go against the Mets 1 and 2 starters while the Mets caught a good break by going aginst the Braves’ 4 and 5 starters, as well as Smoltz. Yet they took 2 of 3 from the Mets.
Maybe this is one of those years where karma comes their way.
By ElbravoX
April 9, 2007 12:06 AM | Link to this
Hampton in the bullpen ala Smoltz?
By DonCoburleone
April 9, 2007 12:13 AM | Link to this
“Hampton in the bullpen ala Smoltz?”
There’s an idea. Maybe he makes it back before September?
By OddJob
April 9, 2007 12:24 AM | Link to this
I just got settled in after a three day computer free road trip.I’m not going to say much about Hampton,in my mind he’s been a question all along.Now for the start, GREAT STUFF!! two out’a three ain’t bad and five out’a six is just ridiculous!in the words of a favorite character of my nephew,happy!happy!joy! joy!
By Spike
April 9, 2007 12:28 AM | Link to this
First off, it’s really amazing to listen to people still talk about trading Hampton. Listen to what’s being said and you’ll realize he can’t be traded. Period. And to those who actually think he’s dogging it, you should become soccer fans since you don’t have a clue about baseball or what makes a guy worth the risk of a $121 million contract. Do you think they just do that blindly? A great thing happened for the second time this year…Francouer actually kept his hands inside the ball and doubled down the right field line. If this kid ever gets it he’ll be a devastating hitter and it looks as though he really does have a plan sometimes at the plate this year, and that’s great news for the Braves. Can’t have two Andruw’s in the lineup. Two guys back to back as dead pull hackers won’t work. I understand that in batting practice Andruw hits the ball consistently to right center with power…wish he’d take that approach to the game. As for the bullpen, I have been and will continue to be a huge supporter of Paronto, Yates and Mc Bride. The temperature was 27 the other night when they were on the mound. Have you ever tried to use your hands in 27 degree weather, much less try to pitch to the best lineup in the NL? Yates needs to be more consistent this year but has the stuff to be a difference maker, Mc Bride will be fine in situations and is still young and learning, and Paronto is clutch, especially with his new change up. All three need to be good to make the so called”Big Three” as good as advertised. I actually think they are the keys to success in the bullpen this year. I think Gonzo is pressing a little to live up to all the hype but will be as good as advertised. I still have my issues with Soriano, not with ability but with attitude. Seems surly to me, but I don’t have to play with him and he can definitely pitch. All in all I think the bullpen will be the difference maker, even if the players aren’t the same in September. Lots of good arms in the organization. First time the Mets haven’t been in first place in over a year. I think this could end up being one of the most exciting division races in recent years and am looking forward to watching some great, meaningful baseball games. Isn’t baseball the greatest sport of all?
By Wayne in Utah
April 9, 2007 12:38 AM | Link to this
Spike: Good comments. Agreed on Hampton. I get so tired of the same old crap about how he is a bum, etc. The man has had some real injury issues. With his heart, if the arm ever comes back around, he could pitch till he’s 40ish. He won’t get the same contract again, but I suspect that if he does get healthy, he is the type of guy that would sign an incentive laden contract. Those type players usually are appreciative of the team that paid them but didn’t get their money’s worth.
It’s a long season. It would sure be nice if Andruw would put the dang ball in play once in a while. I am not impressed by stubbornness in players that when they KNOW they are in a slump, they still swing from the heels.
By DonCoburleone
April 9, 2007 12:41 AM | Link to this
Well put Spike, very good points. Only thing i would disagree with is the point about Soriano’s attitude. I think that kind of guy is good for the bullpen. He’s crazy.
I agree it will be an exciting division race, and I think it will be between the Mets, Braves, and Marlins. Forget the Phillies, the Marlins starting pitcing is just as good but deeper, bullpens are even (w/ Marlins possibly a slight edge) and the lineups are not that much different. Hanley Ramirez and Jimmy Rollins are even. Ryan Howard and Miguel Cabrera even? I could argue that. The only position on the field where I see the Phillies have a definitive advantage is second base. Should be fun though, lets just jump way ahead of those teams so we don’t have to worry about em.
By Coach
April 9, 2007 12:48 AM | Link to this
Smoke and mirrors ? what do you know about baseball. It’s called Bobby ball , great pitching , defense and timely hitting. The same style of baseball that has carried the Braves since 1991.
By Lew
April 9, 2007 1:02 AM | Link to this
Does anyone truly believe Andruw will not hit his 40 HR and knock in his 120? Just because he’s cold over a week doesn’t mean much. He’s done his hitting routine for enough years to believe he’ll do it again. Same for Chipper. As far as Gonzo-Does anyone really pay attention when he pitches and watch the pitches instead of just the results? He’s leaving the ball up in the zone. This indicates a release point that’s slightly off-a mechanical problem that will be easily remedied. Just give him some time. His pitches have plenty of zip on them. Also, in case you haven’t noticed this, either, he hasn’t let an inning get completely away from him. He does real good damage control and this tells me much more about him as a pitcher than walking a few guys or giving up a couple of hits does.
By Coach
April 9, 2007 1:02 AM | Link to this
Glad to know I’m not the only one who has picked up on the anti-Braves bias from ESPN. I just wanted to add this : Cox really surprised me today with his aggression. Three pinch hitters in the seventh back to back with a five man bench , bringing the bullpen in while still trailing , pinch running for McCann. Cox was playing for the win in nine innings all the way and it worked. Great job by Bobby today.
By DonCoburleone
April 9, 2007 1:06 AM | Link to this
He should get to 40HR’s Lew, but historically, if you take out the 51 Homer year, he’s averaged about 36 in his career… So, I say worst case scenario, 36HR’s, 110RBI… If Chipper can get to 130 games or so then he should be fine (25-30HR’s, 85-100RBI).
By Larry
April 9, 2007 1:09 AM | Link to this
Ok, there is so much yak in here, I don’t know where to begin. All I can say is: thanks, DOB. Memories from that song came over me and I damn near cried. Good times, man. Wow…
By Lew
April 9, 2007 1:12 AM | Link to this
DonC-The point is that he WILL hit. Too many are freaked out about his week long slump. It’s just more apparent because it’s at the very beginning. Not to mention we tend to micro analyze on this blog-just a bit.
By DonCoburleone
April 9, 2007 1:20 AM | Link to this
“Glad to know I’m not the only one who has picked up on the anti-Braves bias from ESPN.”
Oh man, tell me about it. If the Mets had swept us, or even just taken 2 of 3 it would have LEAD Sportscenter (after the Masters anyway). Watching Baseball tonight earlier, and John Kruk (who usually gives credit to the Braves) picked the Mets starting rotation as the best performance of the first week… How about the Braves bullpen? Or our starters? We’re 5-1 remember? Not them…
By TheSouthernJackAss
April 9, 2007 1:33 AM | Link to this
I must agree with DOB this one time—the Shield is one of the best shows on TV…but I would like to slam a size 17EEE Brogan right into to ol’ Kavanaugh’s pie hole, pull it out, then slam it up Aceveda’s crooked a$s@…HATE those bastards…
Is stinky back?…
By Braves fan 202
April 9, 2007 1:35 AM | Link to this
Im with you guys, we are 5-1! Wait till we win the world series and they complain about how long it took us and it really hurts our team. On ESPNs top 20 most overrated, the braves were # 11. We should be number 1 on underrated. They did put hank aaron on the under rated list though. Thats good. But we wont get any talk til we’re over 110 win season. Maybe around the horn or PTI will give us some credit.
By A.J.
April 9, 2007 1:44 AM | Link to this
NJ Braves Fan and Willy Wally: I won’t argue with you, because I’m about to prove that you are wrong, so no arguing needed, plus I’m tired of arguing:
First off, to answer your question, NJ fan: I really think that while they believe Thorman can be an everyday player eventually, I think they really always had in mind a platoon, just because Thorman is not good against lefties yet.
Consider this: they say he will NOT platoon at first and that he WILL be in the mix in left, as well as backing up Thor. In doing so, they put more pressure on Langy and Diaz to produce, plus they give Thorman the vote of confidence to try to build his confidence.
Now to correct your wrongness: Wilson, first off, is not a defensive liability, note the final catch in the Saturday game. Plus, you have no idea how hard it is to catch a straight up pop fly on a day with 20 MPH winds. Note Chipper and A.Rod missing that kind of ball all in this first few weeks too.
Wilson is no defensive all-star, but no worse than Thorman either. His fielding percentage is .993, compare to LaRoche at .995, so Wilson makes one more error every 500 chances. Obviously he won’t make as more awesome plays, but plays without many mistakes.
Plus the guy is a great pinch hitter and hits lefties hard. In the last three years he’s hit them for a .272 avg and a .497 slugging %age.
As for Woodward, he is a fine fielder, mainly acquired because he can back up at SS, where his career fielding percentage is .969. For reference, 2 time gold glover Renteria has a .969 fielding percentage.
He has not hit in any especially exciting pace. .247 AVG for his career. Well, I calculated the total batting average for all NL shortstops last season who had at least 100 AB and less than 500. The total average was .248. The real deal is that you are just not going to find a SS who can field and hit .280 to back up, b/c he will start somewhere if he does. In his best year, 2005, Woodward hit .283. The Braves are hoping that he can hit anywhere between that .247 career average and that .283 high.
He is not platooning with Kelly, I believe they are just trying to let Kelly get his legs a bit before starting against lefties. All the talk is that Kelly can hit lefties almost as well as righties and he will get that chance.
As for Pete Orr, he is a team player and adds some team speed, and they guy hit over .300 in 2005. So half the seasons thus far he has hit .300. If he proves to be a .250 guy in his career like he was last season then he’ll be gone within a year or so, but as a backup 2b with a career .277 avg, he will get a chance to prove if he can hit .290 or .300 again. Plus Orr will be gone when Aybar gets back anyway.
The real deal, is these guys are role players. I’m sure we’d have Chase Utley as our 2b backup if we could, but we couldn’t afford him to play there. These guys aren’t All-Stars but they are an important part of the team.
If not Woodward, Wilson and Orr it would be someone else. They are an important part of any team and all teams have them. Ours are pretty solid, and really, most teams are rolling the dice at these positions every couple years. Not many backup types are with teams for real long times. There is lots of turnover and so if you really have such a problem, just wait and maybe you’ll like the next crop. (like DeRosa, Green, Betemit, Franco, Hessman and the long forgotten Jesse Garcia before them, and that’s just since 2004).
Until then try to appreciate what these guys bring to a team. Guys like this do little things that bring wins.
By Braves fan 202
April 9, 2007 1:47 AM | Link to this
The best show on tv is king of queens. Good stuff.
By DonCoburleone
April 9, 2007 1:52 AM | Link to this
Why don’t the ESPN punks point out the fact that Reyes was stranded TWICE tonight at third base. I don’t even think they noticed the Mets lost, by the way they are talking about them. They are all like: “Welp, I guess the Mets can’t win ‘em all…”
Another thing, if it had been Mike Pelfrey on the mound for the Mets and he pitched a game like Davies did tonight, he’d already be dubbed the next great Met’s pitcher.
By Jared
April 9, 2007 2:12 AM | Link to this
“Get rid of Hampton and his contract!!!”
How on Earth do you do that? Releasing him just means you’ll pay him (no insurance and you know you’ll never get anything back, whereas there is still a slight chance he’ll do something) still. No team is stupid enough to trade for him (anyone suggesting that is on drugs.)
For the final time: MLB contracts are sure things. You can release Hampton but you’ll still be paying him!!!!!
But I’m sure next blog someone else will suggest it….
Also, what’s with the Lance Cormier love-fest? “Oh when Cormier comes back, we’ll be unstoppable”, “good news: Cormier is coming back soon” and “boot Davies/Redman when Cormier comes back” are all frequent posts among others. When did this guy become an NL Cy Young candidate? The guy has one good spring training and people think his horrid career ERA goes flying out the window.
By TheSouthernJackAss
April 9, 2007 2:17 AM | Link to this
‘king of queens’—appropriate choice from a guy that wants a date with Mike Hampton!…
By DonCoburleone
April 9, 2007 2:29 AM | Link to this
I don’t want to get too excited and start sounding like KC, but if Redman can solidify that #4 spot that will be huge for our rotation. It will spur a nice competition between Davies and Cormier that could make them both better. DOB, do you think the Braves will do what you said and give Cormier a “rehab” start in Richmond and let Davies get another start? I just hope Cormier gets his shot, be nice to see what we have there. And then if it gets into July and Davies and Cormier are pitching well (WITHOUT INJURY) maybe a trade of Redman would be something the Braves could consider? (after some team hovering around .500 is desperate for a starter; ala Jamie Moyer to the Phillies last year). Then maybe move Davies and Cormier into the rotation (or, maybe even if the $14.5mil China Doll is healthy by August or so he could step in).
Just cross our fingers on Davies staying healthy, he’s gotta go at least 15 straight starts before I would stop being nervous when he goes out there. Have to admit, he looked good today… But talk to me in August and ask me if I’m convinced about him, 1 start means little.
PITCHING PITCHING PITCHING! This is how we won 14 straight division titles… NIIICE!
By OddJob
April 9, 2007 2:39 AM | Link to this
I’m trying to wind down from a long drive,as I’m reading and typing I’m also watching a replay of sports center.They’re doing a story on Jackie Robinson and they,re working the same angle as Moore did last week.To me they miss the point,on this monday morning after easter,it’s like saying Jesus would be disappointed that there aren’t more carpenters and fishermen.As I watch the sports center story they reach the same conclusion as I did in my post after the Moore story,there simply isn’t a big market for baseball in most black communities and that’s ok, after all it’s a free country.
By Scott
April 9, 2007 2:42 AM | Link to this
I just don’t know how you can take someone out of the rotation that has the stuff of Davies and let someone with Redman’s stuff stay in. If Davies takes some licks, let him. He’s got WAY too good of stuff to be pitching down in Richmond.
By zach irwin
April 9, 2007 3:17 AM | Link to this
Get rid of Mike Hampton. If his elbow is not getting better by now, it’ll never get better. Time for the Braves to move on without him.
By OddJob
April 9, 2007 3:17 AM | Link to this
PS I hate the shield!! I watched a couple of the early shows but after they whacked a fellow cop all I could think is,these guys should be punished.Too many American movie endings I suppose,still I can’t get past it.
By Spike
April 9, 2007 3:59 AM | Link to this
Someone asked the question about how Hampton would decide who does his surgery. When a player has an elbow injury that requires reconstructive surgery, he has his choice of surgeons to perform the operation. There are two prominent surgeons, Dr. Andrews in Birmingham(I think that’s where his clinic is)and Dr. Kerlan at the Kerlan/Jobe clinic in LA. In New York, Dr.Rokito, who was the team physician for the Mets, also is highly respected for ligament transplant surgery. If I’m not mistaken, both Andrews and Rokito did their internship at the Kerlan/Jobe clinic in LA. I believe Rokito did Hampton’s surgery. Some were speculating that Hampton should expect to pitch with pain. Discomfort is one thing, pain is a whole different thing. Once the scar tissue breaks you will have discomfort but you can work thru it, and is actually a big part of the rehab process. When there is pain, it’s time to shut it down for awhile and apparently that’s where Hampton is at. Doesn’t mean he won’t pitch again this year, but its definetly a setback.
By old timer journalist
April 9, 2007 5:26 AM | Link to this
Right, Dave. Hampton had some stretches, but never has been counted on for a full season the whole time he’s been in the Atl. To be a key guy, seems like you’d have to at least pitch well over a full season some year. Great competitor, worth the gamble because Colorado paid much of his contract, but he really hasn’t worked out.
By Rodney Derrick
April 9, 2007 6:20 AM | Link to this
A few thoughts— Andruw will be fine when the weather gets warmer…time for patience on Hampton as it may well be scar tissue; whatever it is, it is so time will tell…ESPN had a mention several days ago on Thor, saying that scouts around the league say he has a big hole in his swing; well, they said the same thing about “Big Papi” in Minnesota and look what he has done in Boston…the performances of guys like Belisle, Wainwright, Schmidt, and yes, even Marquis, for other teams show that Leo was not the greatest with young pitchers and the Braves are just now making up for have the Big Three with their requirements of never missing a fifth day…now guys like James and Davies have an opening, and eventually Soriano may be a starter when a few more of the relievers in the pipeline mature, and kudos to McDowell, who seems to communicate well with the young and the older pitchers.
By Rodney Derrick
April 9, 2007 6:41 AM | Link to this
One other comment— Has anyone noticed that the managers of the Marlins, Brewers, and Dodgers are Bobby Cox disciples, all trained by him as Braves’ coaches. It is possible, especially if Mets pitching falls apart, for the NL playoffs to feature Bobby and his three disciples, a truly fitting testament to Mr. Cox.
By Ron Roberts
April 9, 2007 7:02 AM | Link to this
Some of y’all knee-jerk reaction types have to chill; the Braves aren’t gonna dump Redman after he made a fairly decent start against arguably the best lineup in the National League.
Hell, if anything, he went out there in front of a buzzsaw as sacrificial fodder, and stood his own. The ‘pen imploded Friday. So what major league GM or manager in their right mind is gonna release a veteran starter when most teams are short-handed in that department.
Also consider that given Hampton’s bad news, and Cormier’s still-to-be-determined recovery status, we’d make ourselves short-handed by jettisoning the guy.
He’s also affordable for a guy with a mid-5 ERA out of the hitter-heavy American League, and still managed to claw out a double-digit win total for the kansas City Royals! For my money, he brings the ‘07 Braves what Hamptons probably would’e, best case scenario, anyhow, wins-wise.
And stop thinking of him as fourth in the rotation as if that means he’s our “fourth-best” starter. A manager puts his rotation in an order where you don’t have similar-throwing guys back-to-back, because hitters can just get in a groove over a two-game period and tear the second guy up. He’s where he is in the rotation because he offers a change of pace from the 3 guy and the 5 guy (once we know who that’ll be for the long haul).
I’ll give him this much, Bobby Cox could be in an enviable tough spot… picking from three very good options for the fourth and fifth spot in the rotation. Kyle Davies is young, and has thus far shown that he’s not start-to-start dependable, yet, but if he’s as good all season as he was today, wow, the Mets and the rest of the NL are in trouble. If Cormier (who I’ve been pulling for since his starting stint last season to be in the rotation) comes back and pitches like he did this spring (as our back-of-the-rotation guy, no less), we’re set. If Redman is able to give us what he gave the Royals last season, he’ll be a fine piece to the puzzle. But that’d give us six starters in a five-man rotation.
So Bobby may have a really tough decision to make.
Then again, having options is good insurance in case of an injury hitting one of our top-tier guys.
So I’d do whatever I could to keep Redman, because most MLB squads don’t have that kind of option.
Wow, wait’ll this team starts to actually HIT!!
By dadgum
April 9, 2007 8:04 AM | Link to this
The Braves are loaded with pitching with the off season moves and all. It’s a shame about Hampton but perhaps he will be able to help later this year when the innings start to pile up. If not then it is doubtful the Braves are too worried(except for the cash). They sort of expected a less than healthy Hampton and always have had their fingers crossed hoping against hope if you will.
If Cormier and Davies can get it done with 10-12 wins on the back end of the rotation then the Braves are in great shape because the pen is going to keep their end of the bargain it appears.
By jason s
April 9, 2007 8:23 AM | Link to this
A quick comment on Sunday’s game. That’s the way we know Kyle can pitch. Consistencey is all he needs. That and maturity. I enjoyed watching him pitch Sunday. A couple more starts like that and a decision will have to be made on him, and Cormier. I know Andruw is a warm weather guy, but has got have better ABs in a game. He has looked awful, like he has know clue as to how to swing a bat. I know he will correct and do some damage, but ugly, just ugly. I also have a question on Woodward. I have not seen anything to be impressed by. Shoddy defense, and not much of a stick either. How was he picked ahead of Willie Harris ? Is it because of the need for a back up short stop ?
By JC FROM UT
April 9, 2007 8:29 AM | Link to this
DOB: Can you tell me where Brandon Jones is playing this year (AA or AAA). And if he is a reasonable replacement if AJ leaves. Also what do you think about Ken Rosenthal’s thought about Mike Cameron coming to Atlanta.
By Gil in Mechanicsville(zoo keeper)
April 9, 2007 8:37 AM | Link to this
Just be ever vigilant and not let the National sneak up on you. It was a great game yeaterday. The Braves showed real pluck. Great game by Davies.
Cannot be worried about ESPN. They are going to play to the bigger market. When is the last time you saw a lot of Tampa Bay/Kansas City highlights?
Nothing left to say on Mike Hampton that has not been said. Just wish him a speedy recovery and hope it is not serious. I suspect the worse. He is a gritty guy and I’ll bet he just pushed it too hard.
The Marlins look like they have a decent team this year. Watch out for these guys. I don’t think they will be push overs. They have some good young arms on their staff.
And last but not least, did not Chipper get the lead off double to start the late rally before McCann’s and Francoure’s heroics?
By 22oz
April 9, 2007 8:37 AM | Link to this
I think the time has come for a disclaimer to be put at the top of each blog about Guaranteed Contracts and No-Trade clauses. i think we would free up alot of space on this blog.
By Earl
April 9, 2007 8:40 AM | Link to this
Dave,
I take it you mostly like the old REM stuff from the same time period. You gotta include “The Great Beyond” though, from the overhyped movie Man on the Moon (bad movie, great song).
I couldn’t see the game yesterday, but you have to wonder how long the Braves will wait before putting two of them in the rotation and taking someone out for good.
By BigBravesGirl
April 9, 2007 8:43 AM | Link to this
Hampton needs to give the Braves a refund!
By Shaun
April 9, 2007 9:07 AM | Link to this
Ron Roberts,
A few thoughts on your rantings…
I mostly agree with your assessment of things. I think the question should be is Redman the best available option? It looks like he is at this point.
I do think Davies is a better pitcher than Redman.
By newkid
April 9, 2007 9:12 AM | Link to this
Someone wrote of Hampton “If he didn’t care he’d retire…” One could easily make a plausible argument that if indeed he does care he’d retire.
By caveman22
April 9, 2007 9:27 AM | Link to this
Braves got smacked around on Friday but did what all GOOD teams do, they came back and took the series. It’s 6 games into the year and all or you worrywarts are ridiculous with your crap. The Braves are fine, they got some rough spots but even with that they just started 5-1 against 2 of the best teams in the league. You guys are pathetic with your “analysis” of doom.
It’s baseball, Enjoy it.
By Gil in Mechanicsville(zoo keeper)
April 9, 2007 9:31 AM | Link to this
How can this be???
ESPN is reporting that Blaine Boyer got hurt pitching for Richmond this weekend. (Strained oblique?). They have yet to play a game as they have been snowed out due to bad weather in Buffalo.
What can you find out O’Brian…
By CK
April 9, 2007 9:40 AM | Link to this
As I stated Friday… the barves could sweep the Mets if they get past Perez..but obvioulsy they couldn’t beat the reclamation project. Otherwise this was a great series.
Just a couple of notes… i think the Bravos could still have beaten perez except for the bungling W’s (Woodward and Wilson) also Cox went too far with Redman, I’m not stating that in hindsight either. It was obvious that redman was fortunate to get thru the 5th inning and keep us close.
Anyway this is a great start to the season and I am juiced for the next series.. go Braves.
By chris from md
April 9, 2007 9:42 AM | Link to this
DOB— three questions for you. If you can answer any, I’d be most grateful.
Wouldn’t you think the Braves could resign both Smoltz and Andruw by trading Renteria and not resigning Wickman in the offseason? I love those guys (it’s looks like Wickman can still do his thing) but isn’t that a secondary reason why they stockpiled closers and have so much infield depth? Seems to me that would free up 12 million dollars? Am I being too simplistic?
Who is our closer in Richmond?
In the event of another starting pitching injury, who would you say we call upon next? Reyes, Harrison, or Villareal?
Thanks for the time!
Chris from MD
By ppaddy123
April 9, 2007 9:46 AM | Link to this
I gave my two cents worth concerning the ESPN coverage of the Bravos on a previous blog and I’m glad to know others have noticed the disrespect we’re getting as well. Gil, nothing against Kansas City or Tampa Bay, but those guys haven’t won 14 straight division titles. We had one year didn’t make the play offs and suddenly we’re not even worth the air time. I agree that people probably got tired of seeing the Braves win all those division titles. But we don’t have a huge pay role (Yankees, Mets, Red Sox). Where pay role is concerned, we’re in the middle of the pack. We have a few veteran players and some dynamic young guys. This team is going to be there ‘till the end. So ESPN, take your head out of your ashe and take notice.
By Shaun
April 9, 2007 9:46 AM | Link to this
caveman22,
I’m glad the Braves are 5-1. Just goes to show how much the bullpen improved and how their luck has turned from last season in close games. The run differential is exactly 0 and the Braves are still 5-1.
By Matthew, Walter's Dad
April 9, 2007 9:49 AM | Link to this
I don’t know about a refund, because he was hurt “on the job” so to speak. If you worked in a factory. and your arm was damaged by the machine you were working, but would still be doing some parts of your job (rehab, occupational therapy, etc.) would you want to be fired AND forced to reimburse the company for all of your back salary? No, and it is unfair to expect the same of Hampton. It would be one thing if he were at home eating Doritos and watching John Wayne movies (sounds good to me). But he’s not. He has been rehabbing like crazy to get ready, and has had a couple of setbacks along the way. Frustrating? Sure it is, but to suggest Hampton refund all of his contract is ludicrous.
Which is easier, to criticize or to wish him well (or I would suggest praying for him)? I think we are seeing that it is easy to jump to the negative, worst-case scenario.
Put it this way-we are better off than the Mets. Their injured pitcher is their ace-ours is an expendable yet valuable commodity.
Go Braves!
By ernesto
April 9, 2007 9:54 AM | Link to this
How painful must it be for Phils’ fans right now?
1-6 with a very real chance of being 1-9, if they get swept by the Mets. Ouch!
Meanwhile, our beloved Bravos have a very real chance of starting the season 9-1 or 8-2 by beating up on the Nats. Good time for AJ and Chipper to find their strokes. Good time for the the Mets and Phils to beat each other up.
Good time to be a Braves’ fan!
And how nice is it the series win seems to have shaken off hte more obnoxious Mets’ trollers - mmm, mmm, mmm, smell that nice, clean, fresh blog air.
By Shaun
April 9, 2007 9:55 AM | Link to this
caveman22,
I’m glad the Braves are 5-1. Just goes to show how much the bullpen improved and how their luck has turned from last season in close games. The run differential is exactly 0 and the Braves are still 5-1.
By Matthew, Walter's Dad
April 9, 2007 10:02 AM | Link to this
Chris from MD:
Last year, Manny Acosta registered 17 saves for the R-Braves, and he is on their roster again this year. Will Startup is on the Richmond roster also this year. Last season he was the MS Braves closer, but I don’t know about saves recorded in 2006. Both of them are viable closer options, but DOB will have to give a definitive answer for us.
By caveman22
April 9, 2007 10:17 AM | Link to this
shaun Exactly. The Braves luck may be changing but mine sux right now.
Friday night I was playing poker and I’m sitting on a full house at the turn so I go all in. My buddy just smiled and asked me if I wanted to bet my Braves Tix for Saturday against his Thrasher Playoff tix, OH HELL YEAH.
We flipped’em over and my House was ahead, he only had ONE out card for a straight flush. ONE F’N CARD. ON THE RIVER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I watched the game on TV. I hate the 9 of clubs!!!!
By Gil in Mechanicsville(zoo keeper)
April 9, 2007 10:23 AM | Link to this
cavey… a hard lesson in life, second best hands will make you poor!!!!
By Eric from MO
April 9, 2007 10:34 AM | Link to this
Like I said before the season Davies should be on the team, not Redman.
By StingerSplash
April 9, 2007 10:36 AM | Link to this
Isn’t it amazing that such a simple adjustment for Davies could result in such great developments - so far? DOB, I’ll back you on Reyes as the best leadoff guy, to a point. I’ll take Reyes over His Rickeyness because Reyes also plays the more difficult position of shortstop. I think us East Coasters are deprived of watching Ichiro (unless you pay half a backside for the Extra Innings package) and seeing just how good he really is. From home to third, there may not be a faster AL player, including Carl Crawford and (gulp!) Rocco Baldelli (had to get in a Baldelli reference, just had to). I think Reyes in time will surpass him because he draws walks, so his OBP and OPS will be higher. But Ichiro, from hitting pitches that bounce in the dirt for doubles to hosing runners from the outfield to scoring from first on hits is a joy to watch. And if you’re from Georgia and went to college in the state in the mid to late 80s, you know half a dozen people who claim to know the girl “Don’t Go Back to Rockville” was written about. DOB, I’ll take “Superman” and “Finest Worksong” to block. Good call on “Begin the Begin.”
By Coach
April 9, 2007 10:44 AM | Link to this
Is this blog working again or is it just my comments that being singled out due to my justified criticism of the incompetent tech wanna be’s losing my previous two blogs ?
By ncscoots
April 9, 2007 10:48 AM | Link to this
Oh, please…do you know the odds of hitting the straight flush filler on the river? Sorry, bubba, I believe that like I believe Hernandez is 37. Fictional interludes, methinks…
By meansonny
April 9, 2007 10:49 AM | Link to this
Gotta love 5-1. If the Braves can take care of business with the Nats (not overlooking them. just speculating). And go 4-2 against the Fins, the Braves have a shot out of the gate this season like the Mets did last season (16-8). Or better.
Who knows if the offense will take us there? Or if the pen will keep providing W’s and Saves. But it sure would be nice to start the season well above .500
My REM song has to be “Night Swimming”. Melodic and lyrical. And it brings up many memories of adolescence in GA. The summer heat in GA may be brutal, but the summer nights are one of my favorite aspects of living in the South. The song takes it home.
By Lew
April 9, 2007 10:50 AM | Link to this
Reyes is good, but will never steal as many bases as Henderson or hit as many leadoff HR’s. I didn’t like Ricky all that much, but let’s be real here.
By ernesto
April 9, 2007 11:01 AM | Link to this
Reyes is a flat out stud. His weakness used to be a lot of K’s but looking at him this weekend you can tell he’s worked on being a more disciplined hitter - which, with his speed, makes him lethal. He gets on first and you’re just like, “well that’s going to be a double any second now…” He’s pretty popular up here as well, people say good things about him.
Now I love Edgar and the make up of this team but watching this weekend does remind you how important a speed guy can be, and how, no matter how you try to spin it, we just don’t have that guy this year.
Then agian, there does seem to be only one Reyes, so not a lot of other teams have that guy either.
By Shaun
April 9, 2007 11:05 AM | Link to this
StingerSplash,
Reyes has really only had one year even close to a Rickey Henderson-type season (2006). He’s still very young and improving and he will likely be the best leadoff hitter in baseball for a while. He may even become a Hall of Famer, but the odds are against him becoming another Rickey Henderson.
I agree with the assessment of Crawford. I think he’s overrated because of fantasy baseball and his tremendous speed but he’s not really a great hitter. No one seems to notice but Baldelli’s actually a slightly better hitter and could become an All-Star caliber player within the next year or two.
By Lew
April 9, 2007 11:06 AM | Link to this
Ernesto-You nailed it right there. There is only one Reyes. Even if we still had Furcal, it wouldn’t be even.
By Bigboi
April 9, 2007 11:08 AM | Link to this
There will never be another leadoff hitter like Ricky. Also has anyone read the TX Rangers blog about us giving up Davies and Langy for Slammin’ Sammy Sosa? I think that would be a great move, gives us more pop and gets rid of a starter in which we’re over crowded with already. Oh and I don’t believe that Straight Flush story either.
By caveman22
April 9, 2007 11:09 AM | Link to this
scooterpooter He already had a flush, he didn’t know I had a house. He thought he was done and I thought I was going to a hockey game. and by the way , who the hell are you?
but here you go a##clown: his hand — 10c , 6c my hand —-Js , 8s
flop — Jc 8c 7c turn — Jd RIVER — 9c
Don’t call me a liar, you little shyt, who would want to tell that unless it was true. It takes two good hands to get a good all in and I knew he had the flush, it just turned nasty for me at the river.
Of course the Braves game wasn’t making me feel better either.
By Land-Man
April 9, 2007 11:10 AM | Link to this
AJ:
I’m not knocking Hampton personally, but these guaranteed contracts are ridiculous. He should pitch for an extra year in Atlanta for free.
By Bravo Nam
April 9, 2007 11:15 AM | Link to this
Caroline Lady
Thanks for the welcome back.
DOB
Thanks too for the welcome back. In answer to your questions, I was a volunteer in Vietnam for the first three years I was there- working as an Organizational Devt Consultant for a VN NGO and editor for the Women’s Union. After that did some contract work for an NGO and UN, then finished off managing an American NGO: Volunteers in Asia, for three and a half years. After seven years in VN, came to Cambodia in the spirit of adventure and to learn Khmer/Khmer culture. I am teaching English here for the Australian Centre for Education.
Wasn’t quite sure what you meant about Puerto Gallarta or Maui. What did you mean?
One thing I will say: some absolutely gorgeous women this part of the world!
Marlins
I agree with one of the writers above. Beware the Marlins. It surprises me that on this blog and amongst every expert column I’ve read, the Mets, Braves and Phillies are listed as the teams- Marlins are given no respect- these guys will not be going away- and the Mets are still the team to beat, as they really are a monster of a team nowadays.
Bats
I noticed a number of bloggers talk about how well the Braves have done despite production from the two Jones boys. Well, to delve a bit further, the production from the Thorman/Wilson platoon has also been dismal, as too from Mr. Langerhans. And yet, in spite of this, the Braves are 5-1. Two series are nothing upon which to evaluate these guys, but if the situation hasn’t evolved much after the first month, I think JS will quietly be looking at alternative first base options.
By dannycardwell
April 9, 2007 11:18 AM | Link to this
i guess in a way its good every one is jumping on hampton. it gives chipper and john smoltze a rest. i remember when they got the same treatment. smoltze also had scar tissue problems and every one wanted to get rid of him. if hampton does not throw one pitch this year he deserves credit for the effort and pains he is going through. the only disapointments on this team so far are mcbride and andrew jones. mcbride can be fixed with coaching but andrew is what he is, a great centerfielder that can hit lots of home runs but cant hit well in clutch situations. i like him but wont miss him next year because we can use all the money he would have made here to enhance what what we already have. you can never have too many good quality pitchers. if andrew thinks he has it bad here in the cold spell he is playing in he has some sad surprises ahead when he signs that big contract with either new york team or boston next year. its a lot colder for a lot longer and the fans love to boo a man when he struggles at the plate. the future looks great. we have the best overall catcher in baseball, smoltze should be resigned for at least another year, and the bench players and bull pen are very much improved. if we get as much as a five game lead on the mets i think they will struggle just as we did last year to catch up.
By Phillip Moon
April 9, 2007 11:18 AM | Link to this
Your wasting time SITTING STILL1111111
By Phillip Moon
April 9, 2007 11:19 AM | Link to this
Your wasting time SITTING STILL1111111
By Shaun
April 9, 2007 11:21 AM | Link to this
StingerSplash,
Reyes has really only had one year even close to a Rickey Henderson-type season (2006). He’s still very young and improving and he will likely be the best leadoff hitter in baseball for a while. He may even become a Hall of Famer, but the odds are against him becoming another Rickey Henderson.
I agree with the assessment of Crawford. I think he’s overrated because of fantasy baseball and his tremendous speed but he’s not really a great hitter. No one seems to notice but Baldelli’s actually a slightly better hitter and could become an All-Star caliber player within the next year or two.
By Phillip Moon
April 9, 2007 11:24 AM | Link to this
Your wasting time SITTING STILL1111111
By Phillip Moon
April 9, 2007 11:24 AM | Link to this
Your wasting time SITTING STILL1111111
By Shaun
April 9, 2007 11:26 AM | Link to this
StingerSplash,
Don’t know what’s up with the double posts.
Lew,
I think Reyes may be close to as valuable as Henderson was in some of Henderson’s seasons for several years in the near future because of his position. I just don’t think Reyes will ever be the hitter Henderson was and as great for as long as Henderson was. No knock at Reyes but he’s not Rickey Henderson and is not likely to be Rickey Henderson.
By Bravo Nam
April 9, 2007 11:28 AM | Link to this
Carolina Lady
Thanks for the welcome back.
DOB
Thanks too for the welcome back. In response to your question, I was a volunteer for the first three years in VN, working as an Organizational Devt Consultant for a VN NGO and an editor for the Women’s Union. After two consultancies with another NGO and the UN, I then finished up managing an American NGO for 3 and a half years: Volunteers in Asia. I came to Cambodia for the spirit of adventure, and to learn Khmer/Khmer culture. I am teaching English here.
I wasn’t quite sure what you meant about Puerto Gallarta and Maui. Any clarry?
What I do want to add though: the women from this part of the world are absolute knockouts.
Marlins
I agree with one of our bloggers above: the Marlins are a very real threat- it has surprised me that everyone talks about the Mets and Phillies, but don’t talk about the Marlins- the Mets are still the team to beat, but the Marlins aren’t far behind them.
By Phillip Moon
April 9, 2007 11:31 AM | Link to this
I don’t here any nasal twang today. It sounds sooooooooooo nice!!!!!!! GO BRAVES!
By Rodger
April 9, 2007 11:33 AM | Link to this
Is everything posting twice supposed to make up for nothing posting for a whole day?
By Chad
April 9, 2007 11:35 AM | Link to this
I think from the start the move to get Hampton was a bit risky due to the HUGE contract he signed with Colorado, and he didn’t even have “Santana” like stuff. He’s got another year left on his contract, while he’s making another $14 million sitting his A@#! on the bench. Believe me, I think this is a HUGE learning lesson for Schuerholz. I think if they continue working the homegrown kids through the farm system, they’ll be better off down the long run. I mean, look at Chuckie James, and the players like Andruw, Frankie, and Brian Mccann. Strap on your adrenaline belts folks, the Braves are back and they will give the Mets, Phillies and Marlins headaches over the season. Its time for another World Championship, and this team can do it.
God Bless
By Bravo Nam
April 9, 2007 11:37 AM | Link to this
Carolina Lady
Thanks for the welcome back.
DOB
Thanks too for the welcome back. In response to your question, I was a volunteer for the first three years in VN, working as an Organizational Devt Consultant for a VN NGO and an editor for the Women’s Union. After two consultancies with another NGO and the UN, I then finished up managing an American NGO for 3 and a half years: Volunteers in Asia. I came to Cambodia for the spirit of adventure, and to learn Khmer/Khmer culture. I am teaching English here.
I wasn’t quite sure what you meant about Puerto Gallarta and Maui. Any clarry?
What I do want to add though: the women from this part of the world are absolute knockouts.
Marlins
I agree with one of our bloggers above: the Marlins are a very real threat- it has surprised me that everyone talks about the Mets and Phillies, but don’t talk about the Marlins- the Mets are still the team to beat, but the Marlins aren’t far behind them.
By Carroll
April 9, 2007 11:40 AM | Link to this
They might as well try to teach that bum Hampton to pitch right-handed. What a waste of space.
By brent
April 9, 2007 11:40 AM | Link to this
When I watch Jose Reyes, I think to myself, “He’s everything I always thought Furcal should be.”
The major difference in talent perhaps being that Reyes has legitimate HR power, and he takes them when they come, whereas Furcal didn’t have homerun power, but was always trying to hit them.
By MBATL
April 9, 2007 11:51 AM | Link to this
KC - you out there? Just wanted to give you a heads up… The Mets home opener is the lead story on MLB.COM today!
By Shaun
April 9, 2007 11:57 AM | Link to this
brent,
Actually I think the Reyes-Furcal comparison is a pretty good one. Reyes is a little faster and has a little more power but so far hasn’t yet shown the on-base/out-avoiding ability that Furcal has shown. I know it’s still early, but it wouldn’t surprise me if Reyes at his peak is only slightly more valuable than Furcal at his peak, which is certainly not a bad thing at all. I just think anyone who says Reyes is another Rickey Henderson isn’t really paying much attention.
By Rodger
April 9, 2007 11:58 AM | Link to this
Good point brent
By Matthew, Walter's Dad
April 9, 2007 11:59 AM | Link to this
MBATL:
Did you notice that the story you referenced was written by the esteemed retired journalist Guy Gurtright?
Thought it was worth mentioning.
By caveman22
April 9, 2007 12:00 PM | Link to this
Where are NO-BRAINS-FORME AND METRODUDE.
I thought they were diehard fans, one series loss surely isn’t going to be the end of our blogger rivlary is it??
And where is Rental-gator?? I’ve got some more UGA news for you.
By BB FAN
April 9, 2007 12:02 PM | Link to this
DOB,
A few questions for you?
How much would the insurance cover on Hampton’s contract id he misses the whole year? Ballpark figure…50%, 75%?
The Braves would not have to pay Hampton the last 2 years worth if he retire, right?
I’m not saying I think Hampton would retire, but I’ve seen crazier things happen. It probably would depend on the damage that has occurred to the elbow and how long it would take to rehab. Thanks.
By Coach
April 9, 2007 12:03 PM | Link to this
Agreed , there will never be another lead off man in the mold of Rickey Henderson. He is probably the only player I ever saw who could consistently get to second base on his own after a walk. Basically , walking Rickey was akin to giving up a double , not to mention all those lead off homeruns.
By Fred from CT
April 9, 2007 12:04 PM | Link to this
The braves team batting average is .220. That is terrible. That ranks 27th in the league. You know that the bats are gonna come around. So if are pitching stays healthy this team is gonna win a lot of games. I think the most positive thing so far is that Chipper looks healthy. He also had the big double to start the rally yesterday. Chipper is about to get really hot.
By Where is Buzz Capra
April 9, 2007 12:10 PM | Link to this
If Hampton pitches this year what about having him pitch in the pen? I doubt his arm will be strong enough to throw 100+ pitches any time soon and why put added innings on the pen? Besides I am not to happy with how McBride has pitched (not just this year), not sure why Bobby Cox is so high on him.
If Davis continues to do well hopefully Bobby will stick with him and then have Cormier and Redman battle it out for the other starters role. Again I wouldn’t mind another lefty in the pen (assuming Cormier pitches well). I’d also think of doing something with Villarreal is it me or does he seem to be getting hit hard (even the outs) this year.
By Where is Buzz Capra
April 9, 2007 12:13 PM | Link to this
If Hampton pitches this year what about having him pitch in the pen? I doubt his arm will be strong enough to throw 100+ pitches any time soon and why put added innings on the pen? Besides I am not to happy with how McBride has pitched (not just this year), not sure why Bobby Cox is so high on him.
If Davies continues to do well hopefully Bobby will stick with him and then have Cormier and Redman battle it out for the other starters role. Again I wouldn’t mind another lefty in the pen (assuming Cormier pitches well). I’d also think of doing something with Villarreal is it me or does he seem to be getting hit hard (even the outs) this year.
By Shaun
April 9, 2007 12:15 PM | Link to this
Fred from CT,
Not so much concerned about the batting average. Yes, their batting average is near the bottom but they are in the middle in runs.
I’m more concerned that the run differential is exactly even. But, as you said, the offense should get better.
By brian
April 9, 2007 12:19 PM | Link to this
No way Hampton retires and walks away from $29 million over the next 2 years. Even if he is hurt and cannot play again, he can “try” to work on a comeback and sit back and collect the money. Hey Carroll instead of trying to get him to throw righty how about trying to turn him into an OF like Rick Ankiel? Kidding
How on earth is the GM at Colorado still employed? Look at the contracts of Hampton, Neagle, and Helton. The high altitude must have really delivered less oxygen to the brain.
By KC
April 9, 2007 12:19 PM | Link to this
DonCoburleone: “I don’t want to get too excited and start sounding like KC”
What… do you mean intelligent and well reasoned? =)
“…if Redman can solidify that #4 spot that will be huge for our rotation. It will spur a nice competition between Davies and Cormier that could make them both better.”
Actually, I’m not very OPTIMISTIC (there’s that word that is so popularly associated with my screen-name) that Redman will be able to “solidify” the #4 slot in the rotation. Maybe I’m reacting too much after only one Redman start, but I just don’t feel good about this guy. I like the depth that having 6 starters gives us, but not if it means keeping a 5.71 ERA type of guy in there while sending a superior pitcher to Richmond.
I think Davies will get another start. I really do. He’s earned it. And if he does pitch well his next time out, I think he should stay right where he is. What does that mean for Cormier? Well, as much as I hate to say it, put him back at Richmond just for the moment. Give Redman at least another couple of starts. If he doesn’t look much, much better than he did his first time out… trade or release him and promote Cormier. That’s my vote (not that I get one… lol)
By Shaun
April 9, 2007 12:20 PM | Link to this
Fred from CT,
With all due respect, we need to stop thinking of offense in terms of hits per at-bats and start thinking of it in terms of runs. And when your thinking about runs, you need to first think outs avoided per plate appearance.
By Braves Babe in TX
April 9, 2007 12:25 PM | Link to this
I am sure that not many will agree with my opinion, but Hampton is an outstanding person. His heart is in a Braves uniform on the mound, and some of that money that some are so viscious to want him to pay back went to the Jessica Lunsford reward fund, if anyone here remembers her, and what happened to her. I did not hear of any NYY or NYM players contributing to that. I know that dose not put a win in the W column for the Braves, but it does certainly put a feather in Hampton’s hat.!! I will be back in ATL next month to see my family and at least 1 Bravos game. GO BRAVES!!
By KC
April 9, 2007 12:29 PM | Link to this
MBATL: “KC - you out there? Just wanted to give you a heads up… The Mets home opener is the lead story on MLB.COM today!” LOL, I’m shocked! Ya know… I actually did hear Kruk last night no Baseball Tonight talk about how the Braves have gone 5-1 so far because the pitching is greatly improved, and because of good (and clutch) hitters like Renteria, McCann, and Francoeur. He also pointed out that they have done this without the Joneses hitting a lick, and said “when those guys get it going… watch out NL East”. So it was nice to hear a little recognition there. But overall, much of the media may still be writing off the Braves’ 5-1 start, thinking “they’ll level off”. And certainly, they won’t finish with a .830 win%. But I think over the next several weeks, more national media types will realize that the Braves didn’t start 5-1 against the supposedly superior Phillies and Mets for no reason. Especially if the Braves are still in 1st a month from now… we’ll start seeing stories about the Braves comeback this year.
By ssiscribe
April 9, 2007 12:30 PM | Link to this
OK, fully recovered (for the most part) from Saturday night’s excursion with Grinch and Metro Man … next time, guys, Diet Coke for the Scribe. A few notes on this, an off day for the hometown nine:
— Great first week for the Braves. I don’t think you reasonably could have asked for a better six-game showing out of the ballclub. Certainly, Friday night’s home opener was ugly, but Saturday and Sunday showed why the Braves figure to be in the race all season long. Clutch hitting, great starting pitching, solid bullpen work and good defense. Four critical elements to winning a championship.
— To me, the Braves just look like a more confident bunch because of the bullpen additions. I don’t know how to quantify that other than to say I sense a different feeling from watching four games on TV and two games in person.
— The atmosphere was great at Turner Field all weekend long. Drawing more than 138,000 in that weather is a good sign. Certainly the attendance will drop some with the Mets and their legions of blue and orange heading home, but all in all, I think the fan base showed this weekend that it’s definitely energized. The chop and chant was loud and proud, indeed.
— There is a real chance the Phillies could be in one heck of a hole by the middle of next week, especially with the Braves facing the Nats five times in the next eight days. There also is a real chance the Braves could have a double-digit lead on the Nats by the time we get to next week.
—30—
By Sneakin' In
April 9, 2007 12:35 PM | Link to this
After one week of baseball here’s how I see it… There is an old saying in baseball that goes something like “You’ll win 54 games and you’ll lose 54 games. It what you do with the other 54 that determine how successful your season will be”. So far, I think the Braves are doing OK. We’ve had 1 of those wins (an 8-4 win over Philly) and one of those losses (the blow-out on Friday night vs. The Mets). It’s those other 4 that have me excited. Three 1-run wins (two in extra innings) and a two-run win all against teams that are supposed to finish ahead of us in the standings. Those are 4 games that we likely would have lost last year and we are 4-0 this year. I know the year is young and I know you can’t judge what will happen in a 162-game season by the first 6 games alone. But if you’re into trend analysis, this has to be exciting, folks.
By David O'Brien
April 9, 2007 12:40 PM | Link to this
Fred from CT _ Also regarding Chipper, despite the low average and one extra-base hit, he does have five walks and a .370 OBP, and he’s been part of some big innings like the one he started yesterday with the double.
Shaun, who said Reyes is “another Rickey Henderson?” Maybe someone else did. I said he may well end up the best leadoff hitter since Rickey. Didn’t compare him to Rickey or say he’s another Rickey.
And I think the person “not paying attention” is not the person who’d compare Reyes to Rickey, but rather the person who’d say Reyes probably won’t be more that “slightly more valued at his peak” than Furcal.
Reyes has had only TWO full seasons in the majors (he played 69 games and 53 games in his first two, so I’m not gonna use those as a measuring stick).
In his two full seasons, he twice led the NL in triples (17 each season) and in stolen bases (60 steals and an 80-percent success rate in 2005, 64 steals and 79-percent rate in 2006).
He hit .273 with a weak .300 OBP and a .686 OPS, 99 runs and 58 RBIs in his first full season, then .300 with a .351 OBP and .841 OPS, 122 runs and 81 RBIs in his second full season.
After six games in his third season he’s hitting .320 with three triples, three steals and an 1.153 OPS.
Of course he’s not going to keep up the OPS, but the point is, he’s getting better, significantly better, and his potential “ceiling” is so much higher than Fookie’s that it’s not even comparable.
And I really, really like Fookie as a person, a player, and the strongest-armed infielder I’ve seen in person since Shawon Dunston at his peak.
That said, how can you compare the two statistically?
Furcal hit .295 with a .394 OBP (with four homers, 37 RBIs, 40 steals and a 74-percent success rate) in 137 games as a rookie, and then had OBPs of .321, .323, .352, .344 and .348 over the next five seasons before going to .369 last season, at 29.
He has stolen more than 40 bases once in seven seasons (career-high 46 in 2005; Reyes has done 60 or more twice in two seasons), has never hit more than 15 homers (Reyes hit 19 in his second full season, at age 22/23.
Shaun, for a man who knows his stats, you’re way off on this one. And to guess that Reyes will be only slightly more valued at his peak than Furcal? That’s absurd.
You’re just assuming Reyes’ vast improvements, the ones that all scouts, opponents (including the Braves), and coaches (Mets’ Sandy Alomar, and a couple of Braves coaches I talked to yesterday) have raved about, are going to suddenly stop, or be reversed? Because he doesn’t have to get better than last year’s season to have far, far more value than Furcal. If he’d repeat last year’s numbers five times, he’d dwarf Fookie’s numbers.
And those who watch him play, up close and frequently, say he’s even better this year than he was last year. And is striving to improve all the time.
So mark it down. Today’s the day you said Jose Reyes’ value, when he’s at his peak, will probably be only slightly higher, if that, than Fookie’s at his peak.
You’ll regret that statement, my friend.
By KC
April 9, 2007 12:41 PM | Link to this
This Nationals series is important, especially because the Phils and Mets are starting a series against each other today. If the Braves can sweep the Nats, they’ll have a chance to gain a little ground on one of both of them (Phili/NY).
Phili really needs to win this series. They don’t want to find themselves 6 or 7 games back only 10 games or so into the season. Actually, I’m pulling for the Phillies to win the series.
If the Phillies take 2 of 3, and the Braves sweep the Nats… we’d be up 3 games on NY and 5 games on Phili. That’d be nice! Of course it’s a very long season, but it always feels better to have at least a 3 game cushion.
By crimedogrules
April 9, 2007 12:47 PM | Link to this
I know a few things about the Braves.
Way to go Braves!! Just remember that Jimmy Rollins still thinks the Mets are the team to beat. I guess they’re playing for a wild card instead of the division.
By KC
April 9, 2007 12:48 PM | Link to this
DOB: According to a headline story at foxsports.com… Bobby Cox compared Reyes to Ricky Henderson. At least that’s what the headline says. I didn’t read the story. Don’t care.
By ncscoots
April 9, 2007 12:49 PM | Link to this
Well, Redman is certainly never going to end up in the pen…he doesn’t have the tools for it.
His first start looked like just about what you would expect from a 5+ ERA guy who had been throwing in his basement until a couple of weeks ago, and no one should expect him to turn into Sandy Koufax in May, LOL. But no one has seen Cormier in a regular season game yet, and I’m sure there is still some skepticism about Davies’ ability to be consistent. In other words, the reasons for signing the guy in the first place are still operative. I’m not a big fan of his, but I can see why the Braves are gonna keep throwing him out there for a while.
‘course, he throws a few BP sessions like the first two innings of his last start, and ALL that might change! :-)
By MBATL
April 9, 2007 12:50 PM | Link to this
Shaun, the runs scored vs. runs against numbers are kind of skewed. We’ve won a lot of close games and the 11-1 loss obviously had a big impact on the numbers. Anyway, yeah, we need to outscore our opponents to win 90+ games. At least it’s a reversal of last year, when we had a lot of blowout wins and a lot of close losses.
I think 2 things need to happen for the Braves to stay at the top of the division:
We need to start hitting - and I’m sure we will;
We need to reduce the use of the ‘big three’ out of the bullpen. At this pace, Wickman would pitch over 100 innings, and Soriano and Gonzo more than 80.
We’re averaging 5 pitchers per game (24 appearances by relievers in 6 games, plus of course the starters). We need more innings out of the starters (and that will probably come as they work into shape) and/or more innings out of our middle relievers (Paronto, McBride, Yates).
By OddJob
April 9, 2007 12:51 PM | Link to this
The Mets series is analogous of the Bobby Cox factor.A team that virtualy all the experts picked as the division favorites came to town and put a big’ol thumpin on the Bravos friday.Most teams would have this branded in the psyche but as they have for 17 years it was put behind them at once and they won the series.This is all BC and it’s maybe his greatest strength.So in the words of Frank Drebin the glove’s on the other foot now !
By KC
April 9, 2007 12:53 PM | Link to this
nscoots: I see you’re point and agree with it. But if Redman posts and ERA of close to or over 5.00 through April… it’ll be time to give him his walking papers. That’s assuming of course that both Davies and Cormier still look like good options by that time.
By Matthew, Walter's Dad
April 9, 2007 12:54 PM | Link to this
KC: your starting that optimism thing again. You have to watch it! A little optimism here or there and before you know it we could be looking at World Series champs here!
Keep it up-I feel the same way!
By Shaun
April 9, 2007 12:56 PM | Link to this
KC and MBATL,
I certainly hope the trend continues and I think the Braves will be fine, but some things to consider:
1) It’s still way too early to say too much about this season.
2) The Braves run differential is dead even. They won some close games because of the improved bullpen, yes, but does the 5-1 start with a lot of close wins tell us all that much? Not really.
Again, I think the Braves will be fine. I’ll stick to what I thought before the season—they will finish in the top 5 in runs and bottom 6 or 7 in runs allowed. But let’s not get too excited about a 5-1 start.
By Renegator
April 9, 2007 12:58 PM | Link to this
Caveman22 I’m here brother - whaddaya got?
By DonCoburleone
April 9, 2007 12:58 PM | Link to this
Danny, I say Andruw goes to San Fran, Texas, LA (either team) or New York (if A-Rod walks). No doubt he is a great player, but you’re right he’s not very clutch and for someone who is probably going to sign a $140+ mil contract he is waaaaaay to inconsistent (at the plate). Not to mention, by the 3rd or 4th year of the contract he signs, he won’t be a gold-glove caliber Center-fielder anymore. Still good, just not great anymore defensively. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, we’ve got him in his absolute PEAK years (‘05, ‘06, ‘07). After this year, it’s time to let him go; Then resign Smoltz, Wickman(why not if he’ll sign for another $5mil?) to 1 year deals and Francoeur long-term…. Anyway, enough thinking ahead (i just can’t help myself though). The time is this year, everything is in place to make a run. Only thing I see as a glaring weakness is the inability to MANUFACTURE a run, but I don’t believe that is a fatal flaw; and I do believe it can be fixed.
SIDENOTE: Phil’s and Mets about to start. Interesting match-up of young up-and-coming starters. Maine vs. Hamels.
By David O'Brien
April 9, 2007 1:00 PM | Link to this
BravesBabe, you’re right about Hampton _ he’s a really good dude, and believe me, this stuff is killing him. The last thing he wanted to be seen as was an injury-riddled player sucking up payroll. The man has busted his butt trying to get back. If you’d see him, you’d know that.
He’s in great physical condition, not some sloppy veteran drawing a paycheck and not caring if he never gets back. But this isn’t playing with bad knees or a sore back in your declining years, this is trying to pitch with an elbow that won’t allow him to.
Hey, we all get jaded watching Smoltz. But Smoltz is a physical freak. Four elbow surgeries and going strong. That’s not normal. Anything but. And he comes back as good as before every time, or adapts to become as good in a different way. But again, that’s not normal. Smoltz is Smoltz. The man’s a freak, a physical marvel, and a tough cuss, simple as that.
Hampton’s tough, but if the body won’t let you pitch, it won’t let you pitch….
KC, doesn’t surprise me Bobby said it. It’s a good comparison, Rickey to Reyes, the way he’s played since start of last season. I mentioned it to Bobby yesterday morning in his office, that I thought Reyes might be the best leadoff hitter since Rickey. He nodded in agreement. Not saying that had anything to do with his statement, which he might have made a day earlier, for all I know. Just saying, it doesn’t surprise me he said it.
And I agree with it. But I didn’t say he was “another” Rickey. Wouldn’t go that far, not for many years. I just said he might be the best leadoff man, the most dangerous for speed/power/average, since Rickey.
By Fred from CT
April 9, 2007 1:00 PM | Link to this
MBATL I agree with you that we need to reduce the use of the Big 3. Can’t rely on them every game but I think as the offense heats up the team should have some comfortable wins. Though it is nice to see what we have done in close games so far this year. I also haven’t lost complete faith in yates, paronto and even mcbride. Let’s see how these guys do when the wheather warms up. I still think mcbride will get some big outs against lefties for this team.
By ncscoots
April 9, 2007 1:01 PM | Link to this
MBATL, good points on the bullpen use, but, just as the hitting should pick up and even out, so should the pitching. Unlikely the Braves will average as many close games every week as they did this last (hopefully!). Peaks and valleys, my good friend…some weeks lots of the three-headed-monster, some weeks days between appearances. It’ll work out…but see me again if Wick has 20 innings on May 1!
By Renegator
April 9, 2007 1:04 PM | Link to this
Caveman22 I’m here brother - whaddaya got?
By beachcomber
April 9, 2007 1:06 PM | Link to this
DOB - Put me down for a me too on Reyes. He’s one of those guys you will forever hate because he’s on the other team, but like Jeter, Rose and some others down through the years, you’d do flips if he were on your team - no reflection on Edgar who, with one or two others, carried us the first week of the season. After the first week, you have to like our chances - first place with only a third of our line-up hitting what you know they will. Like some other bloggers, I still have some concerns about 1B but that will sort itself out.
By northgeorgiabravesfan
April 9, 2007 1:06 PM | Link to this
GO BRAVES.PROWD TO BE A ATLANTA BRAVES FAN.
By Shaun
April 9, 2007 1:06 PM | Link to this
OddJob,
Good point. A lot of people want to say winning close games early or just winning games early gives a team confidence. Well, the Mets destroyed St. Louis but lost 2 of 3 to the Braves. And the Braves beat the Phillies in a lot of close games but got destroyed Friday by the Mets.
I think the whole confidence factor is overrated.
By caveman22
April 9, 2007 1:07 PM | Link to this
GATOR
we currently have more fraternity/sororitys on probation
we also have more 8th year seniors
oh there’s more , there’s lots more
our chess club can beat up your chess club!!!!
By Shaun
April 9, 2007 1:07 PM | Link to this
OddJob,
Good point. A lot of people want to say winning close games early or just winning games early gives a team confidence. Well, the Mets destroyed St. Louis but lost 2 of 3 to the Braves. And the Braves beat the Phillies in a lot of close games but got destroyed Friday by the Mets.
I think the whole confidence factor is overrated.
By Kentavo
April 9, 2007 1:17 PM | Link to this
I’m hoping Cox doesn’t wear out the Big 3 - and I don’t think he will. He’s just like a dude with a new car - testing it out to see how it handles. He’s not gonna trot Gonzo, Soriano and Wickman out there every night - this was just the first week. So that means Fatty McBride, Vuturereal and Open the Flood Yates need to step it up as Pinto Paronto has.
By Kentavo
April 9, 2007 1:17 PM | Link to this
I’m hoping Cox doesn’t wear out the Big 3 - and I don’t think he will. He’s just like a dude with a new car - testing it out to see how it handles. He’s not gonna trot Gonzo, Soriano and Wickman out there every night - this was just the first week. So that means Fatty McBride, Vuturereal and Open the Flood Yates need to step it up as Pinto Paronto has.
By Kentavo
April 9, 2007 1:17 PM | Link to this
I’m hoping Cox doesn’t wear out the Big 3 - and I don’t think he will. He’s just like a dude with a new car - testing it out to see how it handles. He’s not gonna trot Gonzo, Soriano and Wickman out there every night - this was just the first week. So that means Fatty McBride, Vuturereal and Open the Flood Yates need to step it up as Pinto Paronto has.
By Kentavo
April 9, 2007 1:19 PM | Link to this
I’m hoping Cox doesn’t wear out the Big 3 - and I don’t think he will. He’s just like a dude with a new car - testing it out to see how it handles. He’s not gonna trot Gonzo, Soriano and Wickman out there every night - this was just the first week. So that means Fatty McBride, Vuturereal and Open the Flood Yates need to step it up as Pinto Paronto has.
By Kentavo
April 9, 2007 1:19 PM | Link to this
I’m hoping Cox doesn’t wear out the Big 3 - and I don’t think he will. He’s just like a dude with a new car - testing it out to see how it handles. He’s not gonna trot Gonzo, Soriano and Wickman out there every night - this was just the first week. So that means Fatty McBride, Vuturereal and Open the Flood Yates need to step it up as Pinto Paronto has.
By DonCoburleone
April 9, 2007 1:22 PM | Link to this
Danny, I say Andruw goes to San Fran, Texas, LA (either team) or New York (if A-Rod walks). No doubt he is a great player, but you’re right he’s not very clutch and for someone who is probably going to sign a $140+ mil contract he is waaaaaay to inconsistent (at the plate). Not to mention, by the 3rd or 4th year of the contract he signs, he won’t be a gold-glove caliber Center-fielder anymore. Still good, just not great anymore defensively. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, we’ve got him in his absolute PEAK years (‘05, ‘06, ‘07). After this year, it’s time to let him go; Then resign Smoltz, Wickman(why not if he’ll sign for another $5mil?) to 1 year deals and Francoeur long-term…. Anyway, enough thinking ahead (i just can’t help myself though). The time is this year, everything is in place to make a run. Only thing I see as a glaring weakness is the inability to MANUFACTURE a run, but I don’t believe that is a fatal flaw; and I do believe it can be fixed.
SIDENOTE: Phil’s and Mets about to start. Interesting match-up of young up-and-coming starters. Maine vs. Hamels.
By TheSouthernJackAss
April 9, 2007 1:23 PM | Link to this
Once again it’s the daily, monotonic, endless “KC & Shaun Show”…starring—KC…and his pal Shaun…Come join them every damn day to hear the endless, boring, dry arguments, and stats, yes, stats…so tune in anytime, night or day, 24 damned hours a day for your daily dose of nauseating blather…and don’t worry if you miss any of it…cause it’s always the same…
By TheSouthernJackAss
April 9, 2007 1:29 PM | Link to this
Once again it’s the daily, monotonic, endless “KC & Shaun Show”…starring—KC…and his pal Shaun…Come join them every damn day to hear the endless, boring, dry arguments, and stats, yes, stats…so tune in anytime, night or day, 24 damned hours a day for your daily dose of nauseating blather…and don’t worry if you miss any of it…cause it’s always the same…
By ChrisinPA
April 9, 2007 1:37 PM | Link to this
DOB - just wanted to say keep up the good work. Also - have you ever heard of a band called phonograph? My friend plays guitar for them…they kind of sound like Wilco (but better - and have opened for them in the past) and a little like Tom Petty. Judging by your taste in music - i think you would dig them!
And no love for the band Phish? - Trey is a guitar god!
By Jim
April 9, 2007 1:37 PM | Link to this
I am glad the Braves took 2 out of 3 from the Mets over the week-end, but still have to consider the Mets the stronger team. I have the following concerns about the Braves:
1) The bench. There is no one close to a Daryl Ward to use as a pinch hitter in a late inning situation. When Diaz is playing the best option is Wilson/Thorman (whoever is not in the lineup). Wilson has shown nothing so far.
2) The infield defense. Kelly is a work in progress at 2B, so it is not fair to project what he might be in a month or two, but the initial return is serviceable with average? range. Renteria’s defense is the bigger concern. He seems to have limited range, particularly to his right, and if he gets to a ball in the hole, he doesn’t have the arm strength to throw the runner out. Chipper is an average third baseman and neither Thorman nor Wilson will win a gold glove at first. The best to expect is that the infield will make all of the routine plays, but will not steal very many outs on the difficult chances.
Random (not serious) thoughts — given our bench, if Hampton can’t pitch anytime soon, maybe we should use him as a pinch hitter.
If Thorman is to play against any lefthander, wouldn’t it have been Glavine?
By KC
April 9, 2007 1:38 PM | Link to this
Shaun: “KC and MBATL, I certainly hope the trend continues and I think the Braves will be fine, but some things to consider:”
“1) It’s still way too early to say too much about this season.”
Agreed, of course.
“2) The Braves run differential is dead even. They won some close games because of the improved bullpen, yes, but does the 5-1 start with a lot of close wins tell us all that much? Not really.”
I wholeheartedly disagree.
The fact that the Braves have been pulling out these close wins (against their two foremost division rivals, no less) tells us a hell of a lot about this team. If Atlanta is going to get the well over 90 wins they’ll need to stave of the Mets, they’re going to have to be able to pull out these type of wins.
The Braves have 2 things that allow them to win close games and sometimes get comeback W’s: at great bullpen and a clutch hitters. Though of course, the starters also deserve credit for keeping it close.
When some of these cold bats (most notably the Joneses) come around, and as the Braves play lesser teams than they have over the firs week… they’re going to get some more convincing victories, but they deserve a lot of credit for this scratched-out wins. Especially when you consider that they were up against some very tough pitching, and 2 very talented teams.
It showed us something, not only about the talent of this team, but also about their character and heart.
By DonCoburleone
April 9, 2007 1:39 PM | Link to this
And what’s this talk about releasing Redman? I’ve said it a hundred times people, we need 6 starters! I don’t care if Davies or Cormier has to make 20 starts in the minor leagues, we need 6 guys. Besides, if anyone here was expecting more from Redman than what he did against the Mets, you’re dillusional.
By ssiscribe
April 9, 2007 1:45 PM | Link to this
Listening to the Mets and Phils … Philly just took the lead on a sac fly by Utley in the top of the third, 1-0 Philly. Second and third, one down.
Metro Man, that ain’t good, bro. Need to pound on them Phils and put them way down in the standings … and shut Jimmy Rollins’ pie hole.
—30—
By David O'Brien
April 9, 2007 1:49 PM | Link to this
ChrisinPA, haven’t heard of Phonograph, but if they sound like Wilco and/or Petty, then they’ve got promise, for sure. Just finished playing the totally underrated most recent Petty album Highway Companion, came up on the CD changer in my basement office. Been away a long time and haven’t changed the CDs out for two months.
Great album.
Phish? Sorry, just not my cup of tea. I respect the noodling “jam” bands, but don’t listen to them. Closest I get to that sound is Allmans or Govt’ Mule, bands I love that are more bluesy and rockin’ than they are jam bands.
By KC
April 9, 2007 1:49 PM | Link to this
Shaun: to follow up… I hope you don’t have the impression that I expect the Braves to pull away with this thing. I do not expect that.
Heading into the season, I felt the Braves were a slightly better team than the Mets, because of their edge in the pitching department, and the fact the Mets aren’t much better than Atlanta as most seem to believe.
However, if El Duque and Oliver Perez continue to pitch anything like they have… the Braves will not have any edge over the Mets whatsoever.
I’ll be honest, those 2 guys are making me nerveous. I’m just hoping Perez and Hernandez come down to earth soon. If they don’t, this race will definitely go right down to the wire late into Sept. And that’s best case scenario if the Mets continue to get this kind of pitching.
By David-ATL14
April 9, 2007 1:50 PM | Link to this
Great Job by DOB in calling out the Poindexter of the Blog Shaun, he can read a stats book but can’t understand the game.
Truly misguided,much like his assinine statement last season when DOB relayed some info from TP and Chipper about the difficulty of pinch hitting, and Poindexter had the unmitigated gall to say by looking at numbers, he didn’t see any difficulty in pinch hitting.
Typical stathead arrogance from someone who understands very little about the game.
Way to single him out for derision DOB.
By Coach
April 9, 2007 1:50 PM | Link to this
Well , Ive had direct tv for a little more than a week now and i must say : IT BLOWS ! This is the third day out nine that they have blacked out games and yes I bought and paid for the MLB extra innings package. I missed the first four innings of the TBS game yesterday , why I have no idea. Direct tv never could explain how a nationally broadcast TBS game was interrupted ??? I started to watch the Mets/phillies today and the game cut out , switched over to the Pittsburgh game and it did the same thing. It’s just unbelievable how unreliable this satellite crap has been so far. I have already got them to cut my monthly rate in half and at this pace I’ll be watching all the baseball I want for free by the end of the week ! Baseball fans be warned DIRECT TV SUCKS DONKEY BUTT !!!!!!!!!!!
By DonCoburleone
April 9, 2007 1:54 PM | Link to this
And guys, the Washington Nationals are B-A-D. A sweep should be expected, but anything less than 2 of 3 would be unacceptable. Our offense should tee off on their pitching. They’ve got 1 decent starter (Patterson) who isn’t pitching against us this series. The only other pitchers on that entire roster who are worth anything is John Rausch and Cordero (setup-man and closer). SWEEP SWEEP SWEEP!
By Lew
April 9, 2007 1:58 PM | Link to this
Beware Micro Analysis. It’s looking good so far, but it’s only been 6 games-for everyone.
By David O'Brien
April 9, 2007 2:04 PM | Link to this
Bravo Nam, just got up to your post: Did I say Puerto Gallarta? If so, meant Puerto Vallarta, as in Mexico. Just kidding with you, giving you the wimpy resort locales that the less-adventurous among us favor.
Much props to you. That background sounds fascinating.
By snowball's chance
April 9, 2007 2:08 PM | Link to this
DOB, Thanks for trying to decipher my post. What got me going was a typo you wrote —NEW BLOW UP- I know it was supposed to say new blog up but it hit me as new blow up (fill in the blank) which I filled in as doll. The rest was my attempt at jamming on the missing eight hours of posts from the tech snafu. I will try to make future posts clearer. My only defense is a bad case of Post Win Euphoria Syndrome.
By Lew
April 9, 2007 2:10 PM | Link to this
I just checked out SI.COM and John Donovan’s article on the first week power rankings. He has the Braves second behind the Angels and ahead of #3 Mets. He has some nice things to say (in a limited manner, of course).
By MBATL
April 9, 2007 2:12 PM | Link to this
Lew, of course it’s only 6 games, but it’s pretty much all we have to go ib … the logical thing is for all of us to shut up and wait until October to see who won, but not much blog fun in that!
I don’t think you can draw conclusions about specific players this early. I’m sure KJ will hit better than .150, and I doubt Renteria will slug at .583… etc, etc.
However, what you can see is how much difference a solid bullpen makes; I really do believe that if we had last year’s pen, and even bringing back Laroche, we’d be about 2-4 now. Last year we had to hit to win; now we’re winning without hitting.
Yeah, it’s only 6 games… but I think the Mets have played as well as they can play, and I don’t think we’ve even come close to doing that … so it’s encouraging.
By caveman22
April 9, 2007 2:12 PM | Link to this
holy crap I agree with SJA ?? That’s just plain scary. C’mon Shaun, tell the truth. Were you the last guy picked for the team at recess? Even after the fat kid?? And have you ever played an actual game of baseball, not softball, wiffleball, kickball, dodgeball, but BASEBALL!?
I’m not saying all of your stuff is wrong but dammmmmmmmm, this blog takes a long time to load already. At least KC makes his point and moves on (sometimes).
6 GAMES . 6 GAMES.
How the hell did you not get a job as a GM with all of your “knowledge”.
By Shaun
April 9, 2007 2:13 PM | Link to this
KC,
We’d expect the Braves to win a lot of close games because of their good bullpen and just better luck than last season, but who knows? Run differential is a better indicator of a team’s performance than actual record, which doesn’t seem to bode well for the Braves at this point except that it’s still way too early and too few games to pay much attention to any of that.
On the other hand, starting 5-1 beats starting .500 or 1-5, of course.
I just don’t think the Mets or even the Phillies are all that concerned at this point.
By David O'Brien
April 9, 2007 2:15 PM | Link to this
Gil in Mechanicsville, you wrote:
ESPN is reporting that Blaine Boyer got hurt pitching for Richmond this weekend. (Strained oblique?). They have yet to play a game as they have been snowed out due to bad weather in Buffalo.
What can you find out O’Brian…
Gil, good thing ESPN is reporting what we here in Atlanta reported two days ago. (And it’s O’Brien, not O’Brian, but no big deal. Common mistake).
Since you obviously missed it online at AJC.com Saturday and in our Sunday paper, here’s what I wrote:
Blaine Boyer can’t stay healthy long enough to get roster consideration.
The reliever strained an oblique in a workout with Class AAA Richmond, which still hasn’t opened its season because of snowed out games in Buffalo, N.Y.
Braves manager Bobby Cox said he didn’t know how long Boyer would miss. “You know how long those can take,” he said.
It’s been a tough 13 months for the Marietta right-hander. Boyer, 25, was a leading candidate for a setup role in 2006 before injuring his shoulder in the spring. He pitched in two April games before season-ending surgery.
This year in spring training he missed a few days after injuring a finger raising a window. Later he missed an appearance because of sickness.
He pitched seven innings (1.29 ERA) before being optioned to Richmond so he could be put on a schedule of two-inning appearances to build arm strength.
By RP
April 9, 2007 2:17 PM | Link to this
let’s say, and i by no means think this would happen, hampton decides he’s had enough and retires. what would the braves owe him? how much salary would that free up?
By RP
April 9, 2007 2:20 PM | Link to this
let’s say, and i by no means think this would happen, hampton decides he’s had enough and retires. what would the braves owe him? how much salary would that free up?
By UVABrave
April 9, 2007 2:23 PM | Link to this
Hey Dave, love the blogs. I love how much time you dedicate to us fans and answering our questions at all hours (althogh this is my first post, I’ve been reading since the blog was created).
Couple of quick thoughts: Regarding the Braves, big wins this weekend. I’m still a little worried about Gonzo (although, I’m still hoping he’ll settle down). Also, I’m a a little concerned about Bobby overusing the Big 3 bullpen guys. I know Paronto has been good, but beyond the Big 3, I feel like Bobby doesn’t have much confidence in the rest of the guys and seems to be leaning on those guys. Have you brought up the issue of overuse to Bobby?
Also, just a quick music suggestion, I found this guy, Joe Purdy, on a whim. Love him. He’s kind of folkish/guy with guitar and a piano. But, the cool thing about him is that he’s churned out like 8 albums in the past 2 years. Apparently, he just writes whole albums in a few days based on whatever is happening at that time (so, the lyrics seem a lot more real…like there’s a whole album about a brief fling with this girl he met in the Midwest and only knew for a few days - Julie Blue). Anyways, he’s a unique talent that I would probably compare to a more folky Ryan Adams with less pop sound (depending on the album) and sometimes his voice will sound like the lead singer from Counting Crows (sorry, I’m too young to give more historic comparisons). I like “You Can Tell Georgia” album…”Can’t Seem to Get it Right,” “Worn Out Shoes,” “Ode to Sad Clown,” and the title track are some of my favorites. Check it out if you get a chance…I think it’s right down your alley.
By Shaun
April 9, 2007 2:25 PM | Link to this
DOB,
Didn’t mean to imply that you said Reyes was “another Rickey Henderson.” I see your point.
Although, I would argue that Grady Sizemore is the best leadoff hitter in the game.
Sizemore’s career OBP is 30 points above the league average and his SLG is 81 points above the league average. All this while playing in a park that slightly favors pitchers and in the toughest division in baseball probably the past two years.
By UVABrave
April 9, 2007 2:27 PM | Link to this
Hey Dave, love the blogs. I love how much time you dedicate to us fans and answering our questions at all hours (althogh this is my first post, I’ve been reading since the blog was created).
Couple of quick thoughts: Regarding the Braves, big wins this weekend. I’m still a little worried about Gonzo (although, I’m still hoping he’ll settle down). Also, I’m a a little concerned about Bobby overusing the Big 3 bullpen guys. I know Paronto has been good, but beyond the Big 3, I feel like Bobby doesn’t have much confidence in the rest of the guys and seems to be leaning on those guys. Have you brought up the issue of overuse to Bobby?
Also, just a quick music suggestion, I found this guy, Joe Purdy, on a whim. Love him. He’s kind of folkish/guy with guitar and a piano. But, the cool thing about him is that he’s churned out like 8 albums in the past 2 years. Apparently, he just writes whole albums in a few days based on whatever is happening at that time (so, the lyrics seem a lot more real…like there’s a whole album about a brief fling with this girl he met in the Midwest and only knew for a few days - Julie Blue). Anyways, he’s a unique talent that I would probably compare to a more folky Ryan Adams with less pop sound (depending on the album) and sometimes his voice will sound like the lead singer from Counting Crows (sorry, I’m too young to give more historic comparisons). I like “You Can Tell Georgia” album…”Can’t Seem to Get it Right,” “Worn Out Shoes,” “Ode to Sad Clown,” and the title track are some of my favorites. Check it out if you get a chance…I think it’s right down your alley.
By Shaun
April 9, 2007 2:34 PM | Link to this
TheSouthernJackAss and caveman22,
Stats are the language of baseball. Sorry if that’s inconvenient for you. And I’m just responding to posts that in my opinion there is obvious evidence against. That’s why the blog world is fun for me. Sorry if that offends you. And, you know where I can get a GM job? I couldn’t be any worse than the Cubs’ of the last decade or so.
By Metropoitan Man
April 9, 2007 2:37 PM | Link to this
Dam, Utley just homered leading off the bot. 5th. So far the bats are still cold after Friday. 2-2, Maine and Hammels are in a good one. More to come…LETS GO METS!!
By Metropoitan Man
April 9, 2007 2:38 PM | Link to this
Dam, Utley just homered bot. 5th. So far the bats are still cold after Friday. 2-2, Maine and Hammels are in a good one. More to come…LETS GO METS!!
By snowball's chance
April 9, 2007 2:43 PM | Link to this
I think Francouer has had some quality at bats in this young season. If this continues maybe he will earn an extension like McCann’s. The Mets have given extensions to Reyes and Wright.It is a calculated risk in saving the club money.
By Metropoitan Man
April 9, 2007 2:46 PM | Link to this
Maine out in 4 1/3. Bases loaded, 2outs, Burgous pitching to Nunez, ground out to first. Philly is playing us tough folks.
By Lew
April 9, 2007 2:46 PM | Link to this
MetroDude-Not so fast on Maine. He just got pulled after 42/3. He walked SIX batters. He looks like what he is-a young kid. I wonder what happened to Chop Zone? No more smack talk?
By KC
April 9, 2007 2:47 PM | Link to this
Jim:
I wouldn’t get too carried away with any weakness we’ve seen through one week of play.
Craig Wilson has been one of the most productive bench players in baseball for years now. First of all, not only
Shaun: I don’t agree with your blanket statement that run differential is the best indicator. Are you aware that the Braves had a positive run differential last year, with a losing record?
I’m not saying this is necessarily the case, but if our 1-3 and our 5th starters are slightly better than the Mets 1-3 and 5th starters… but their 4th starter is much better then ours… I’ll take Atlanta’s hand in that game.
That said, I think you’ll begin to see the Braves put together a healthy run differential very soon. Again, they’ve been playing 2 good teams, which (with the exception of Adam Eaton) have featured excellent pitching.
Now the Braves are going to start facing some lesser competition, and they’ll begin stuffing some padding in that run differential.
By caveman22
April 9, 2007 2:48 PM | Link to this
shaun The only language you speak is “dumbass”. The point is shaddupp about it already. Do you have a job?? Maybe you could coach a little league team and then you could explain to some kids mom that little tommy doesn’t play well against lefty’s in day games after a cub scout meeting the night before. So your kids on the bench today and we’re going with the other kid cuz he’s batting 34 points higher on a Saturday when his dad comes without his mom and he gets a snowcone before the game.
What’s the record for most consecutive lossed by a 9-10 yr old team ??
Don’t worry , you can break it!!!
By journalist jimmy smith
April 9, 2007 2:51 PM | Link to this
new equipment. yes, new equipment - boxes of too large shoes and bunny-skin gloves and new bats. new equipment may be the reason for chipper’s slow start (not complaining about the walks though) - and failure to catch batted balls. chipper should ask for chipper’s old equipment back. say, the equipment chipper used when chipper was in the zone last year like no one has been in the zone for ninety years. yes, that is the equipment chipper should be using. and toes … what is chipper’s toe health at the beginning of this season? happy toes and healthy feet are essential ingredients for baseball success. now, a baseball question for dob … is it true that the braves will have wicky bobbleheads this season and is it true that the wicky bobblhead cannot be overturned? and what a nice thing that bobby cox is now using tissues in the dugout! is this something roger mcdowell introduced to bobby or is this the influence of a best of cox award-winning baseball blog written by a wurlitzer winner? and is it mrs. bobby cox who blogs here and suggested the kleenex? dob please ask and good luck.
now, scar tissue could be the issue with hampton. didn’t that happen with smoltz on one of smoltz’ surgeries? of course, it could be much worse news and if it is the braves will be losing a pitcher who was going about as good as anyone in either league when the problems surfaced two years ago. hampton could help this club if healthy.
now, seal clubbing is underway in canada! that’s right - seal clubbing. does andruw’s swing right now remind you a little of seal clubbing?
By MBATL
April 9, 2007 2:53 PM | Link to this
Who complained the other day about MLB’s Gameday interface? I think it’s great… almost feel like I’m watching the Mets-Phillies game. Maine was lucky - 5 hits and 6 walks in 4.2 innings, and only 1 run…
Anyway, the Phillies are hurting with Howard not hitting. When he heats up (and he probably will in a big way) they’ll be tough.
By Lew
April 9, 2007 2:54 PM | Link to this
I swear the Phillies are the worst defensive team I’ve seen in a long time. Howard just ran his own teammate over just as the guy was about to catch a pop up. Howard nailed him with an elbow to the head and literally knocked him down.
By DonCoburleone
April 9, 2007 2:56 PM | Link to this
Ryan Howard has been SUCKING since the start of Spring Break. He got something funny going on inside that head of his?
By KC
April 9, 2007 2:58 PM | Link to this
Jim: Sorry of the incomplete response. I posted that by accident.
What I was going to say is that Chipper is not a merely average 3rd-baseman. Not even close. He probably won’t win a gold glove, but he’s gotten better there as the years have gone by, and he is now without question a very good 3rd-baseman.
Edgar Renteria has won 2 gold gloves, and had a better fielding% last year than he produced in one of his gold glove seasons. He doesn’t have Furcal’s range or cannon for an arm, but there’s nothing wrong with his range or arm strength, and there’s a lot RIGHT about his glove and arm-accuracy. He’s a smart, steady fielder. CERTAINLY not a “concern” for this team.
Back to Craig Wilson… if you look at his career numbers (mostly produced while playing part-time) and divide them by 550 at-bats, you’ll get almost exactly the numbers he produced in the one opportunity he was given to play everyday a few years ago: a batting avg. in the .260’s with about 29 homers and 80-plus RBI. He’s off to a slow start, but he’ll give the Braves a good option against lefties, and a lot of pop off the bat.
I also think the Thorman/Wilson platoon will be at least on par with Sean Green, assuming he puts up numbers similar to last season. But if Green suddently turns back the clock and breaks out for 30 homers… then, yes, the advantage would go NY at the bottom of the order.
By Metropoitan Man
April 9, 2007 2:58 PM | Link to this
Ok 3-2 METS in the bot 6th. Delgado sac. fly, Reyes scored.
By Shaun
April 9, 2007 3:00 PM | Link to this
KC,
That’s not really a blanket statement. I am aware that the Braves had a positive run differential. Which is why I expect them to be better this season—they weren’t really as bad last season as their record indicated. Run differential is usually a better indicator of how good a team is over actual record.
And I agree that the Braves’ run differential will probably increase as the season goes on because, as I said, we can’t tell a lot about a team (even by run differential) over the course of 5 games.
By Matthew, Walter's Dad
April 9, 2007 3:03 PM | Link to this
I just checked up on our buddy Laroche. 1 for 15 with 9K and 3BB.
Ouch, and the Pirates are still tied atop the Central? Wait till he heats up and Sanchez gets back to 100%.
Look out Central.
By bobby
April 9, 2007 3:07 PM | Link to this
If the Braves had this bullpen last year, they would now be going for 16 in a row.
By ncscoots
April 9, 2007 3:07 PM | Link to this
MBATL, actually, I think it was I that dissed the interface. Can you see anything to the right of the hitter screen, such as the line score or box score? I cannot, and see nothing on the interface that allows different settings.
That was what actually got me off the launch pad about the thing…even if there is a way to change the look, it’s buried somewhere unintuitively. Help me out here.
By Shaun
April 9, 2007 3:07 PM | Link to this
Maybe you could coach a little league team and then you could explain to some kids mom that little tommy doesn’t play well against lefty’s in day games after a cub scout meeting the night before. So your kids on the bench today and we’re going with the other kid cuz he’s batting 34 points higher on a Saturday when his dad comes without his mom and he gets a snowcone before the game.
caveman22,
Statements like this are always funny to me. Basically you are saying people like me, who are into stats, over analyze things. But it’s folks like you who only want to judge players on hits in non-walk, non-sac at bats or runs driven in even though that depends on where and how often a hitter is in the lineup. Who is closer to the truth?
By MBATL
April 9, 2007 3:14 PM | Link to this
ncscoots, yeah, to the right of the hitter screen is the complete box score with details. Lacking that would make a difference, no doubt … I’m using Mozilla Firefox, but I’d sure think it’d work in I.E., or whatever. Only suggestion I can make in this forum is to “maximize” the screen” by clicking the square in the upper right corner, see if that helps…
By Lew
April 9, 2007 3:14 PM | Link to this
Howard hit a 3 Run HR. Phillies up 5-3
By Wayne in Utah
April 9, 2007 3:14 PM | Link to this
Ryan Howard just homered to put the Phils up 5-3.
Sorry about that Metro-dude.
By Metropoitan Man
April 9, 2007 3:14 PM | Link to this
Ryan Howard just hit a 3run bomb off Burgous. 5-3 Philthies bot. 6.
By ncscoots
April 9, 2007 3:16 PM | Link to this
OK, I see what’s going on with the GameDay thing. These guys decided, in their infinite wisdom, that everybody uses a screen resolution of 1024 or higher. I’m so used to using 800x600 (for software development purposes), just figured every else does, too. Duh.
By KC
April 9, 2007 3:16 PM | Link to this
Gosh… it’s nice to see one of those Mets pitchers fall back to earth. Maine wouldn’t have been my first guess though. I would have expected Perez or Hernandez to crack first.
By Wayne in Utah
April 9, 2007 3:16 PM | Link to this
Shaun and Caveman: I am closer to the Truth…….Truth or Consequences, New Mexico.
Beat that guys……
By Lew
April 9, 2007 3:17 PM | Link to this
Scoots-I’m just glad MLB and the Cable People came to their senses. I’ve got Extra Innings again. It’s great-even if I do have to listen to Keith Hernandez and Ron Darling, today. I’d much rather hear Harry Kallas do the play by play.
By KC
April 9, 2007 3:18 PM | Link to this
Speaking of Mets pitching… some of the depth they lost in their bullpen over the winter seems to be showing up over the last couple days.
By Braves20
April 9, 2007 3:19 PM | Link to this
Re: Adam LaRoche. It’s a tight race right now with Adam hitting .120 and our Thorman-Wilson tandem a robust .131 with seven K’s in 23 at bats. It’s a tough first week for NL first basemen, although Ryan Howard just went yard with two on against the hated Mets. He and Delgado haven’t exactly been lighting up the world either.
By Lew
April 9, 2007 3:20 PM | Link to this
Shaun-Ron Darling just nailed it. He said “Stats are all fine and well, but sometimes you just have to watch the game”. This does not require a response-just reporting.
By caveman22
April 9, 2007 3:23 PM | Link to this
go phillies!!!!!!!!!!!!
just like in nascar , the second place guys can beat each other up and leader just pulls away..
By Wayne in Utah
April 9, 2007 3:26 PM | Link to this
We could have a killer bullpen if we could just add Charlier Sheen to the mix…..
By ncscoots
April 9, 2007 3:30 PM | Link to this
Lew, who wouldn’t? LOL…Has Keith thrown in a Just For Men plug yet?
By Shaun
April 9, 2007 3:32 PM | Link to this
Lew,
And watching the game is always “fine and well”?
No one is saying don’t watch any games just look at numbers all day. But numbers give us a pretty complete snapshot of things without having to watch every single plate appearance of a player’s career.
By Wayne in Utah
April 9, 2007 3:33 PM | Link to this
DOB: Any chance you can reset this blog. It is taking forever to load. You don’t have to even write anything, except for “New Blog Starts Now” or something catchy like that.
If you can’t that’s OK. Don’t want you to think we don’t appreciate your efforts.
Go Bravos…..
By Jim
April 9, 2007 3:36 PM | Link to this
Shaun, Renteria is a solid player, especially as a number 2 hitter in the order, but his range + arm limit the number of outs he will record on balls hit to his right. I think infield defense is the biggest advantage that the Mets have over the Braves right now.
I hope Wilson will be OK as a pinch hitter, but Julio Franco at 49 does not give the Mets a very potent bench either. If bench strength needs to be fixed before the trade deadline, this is something that can be done most easily. (A big difference between ‘95 when we won it all and most of the other years was a stronger bench with the addition of Devereaux and Polonia in mid-season).
By MBATL
April 9, 2007 3:36 PM | Link to this
I think Shaun’s input is interesting (I know you’re in the room, Shaun… don’t mean to talk about you behind your back)
The statistical view of baseball is great in the macro view. Generally the team that scores the most, avoids the most outs, outscores the opponent by the most runs, etc, etc, is going to win most of the time. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that out.
But that doesn’t explain the Cardinals winning the WS last year, or the wild card team playing in the WS 5 years in a row; or the Braves winning only 79 games last year when the statistics said they should’ve won 85.
The Holy Grail for statisticians is OBP; well, Francoeur’s obp is just .292 this year (pretty much the same as last year, when most stat gurus called him a failure). But, if he had walked ONE time instead of making an out last week, his obp would be .333, and he’d be a statistical hero, even though that one walk may have had no impact on any games. Either way, he’s likely to hit 30 hr, drive in 105, score 90-100, this year. Good enough for a 23-year-old #6 hitter, with Jones, Jones, and McCann in front of him. Who cares if he takes walks, with Thorman, Langy and the pitcher behind him?
By MBATL
April 9, 2007 3:39 PM | Link to this
scoots, that’s interesting. I develop web sites, and used to keep my resolution down for that very reason, but finally gave up on that and decided that anyone using my sites was using updated equipment.
By Wayne in Utah
April 9, 2007 3:44 PM | Link to this
Shaun: I don’t think anyone on the blog doubts the benefits of looking at the numbers. Heck, I am a numbers guy myself. But, whether true or not, sometimes it seems like you are saying that it is all about the numbers. Sometimes, you just gotta go with the flow.
You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar, my man!
By Arkansas Hillbilly
April 9, 2007 3:44 PM | Link to this
“happy toes and healthy feet are essential ingredients for baseball success.”
Oh, wow. I misread the Journalist’s post at first. I thought I read “Happy Feet” is an essential ingredient for baseball success. I just bought my 4 year old daughter that movie for an Easter Basket Gift. Picture me scratching my head trying to figure out how a cartoon about an Emperor Penguin named Mumble could be so instrumental in the success of a Major League baseball player.
FROM AMAZON.COM
Plot Summary
Genres: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Musical
Tagline: WARNING: May Cause Toe-Tapping.
Plot Synopsis: ….. Through the motley crew’s trials and perils, Mumble learns many things about his frozen world, not the least of which being that his toe tapping talent may be what he needs to save his people.
Journalist should have a fun time dissecting this post.
By Wayne in Utah
April 9, 2007 3:46 PM | Link to this
Just remember, I am much closer to the “Truth.”
By Lew
April 9, 2007 3:46 PM | Link to this
Shaun-I said there was no response necessary. You do over analyze. And Yes- watching the game should suffice.
By Epinephrine
April 9, 2007 3:55 PM | Link to this
David-when do you esitmate we will know something substantive about Hamtpon? Thanks.
By ncscoots
April 9, 2007 3:56 PM | Link to this
MBATL, yeah, it would be nice if every corp in America would just go ahead and move to current technology, dadgum it! :-) Unfortunately, I’ve found that to be not the case all too often. So both Web-based apps and client/server, too, I still make the folks develop at 800x600. If it looks good there, it’ll look good everywhere.
And so much for the technical discussion of today, LOL. Finis.
By KC
April 9, 2007 3:57 PM | Link to this
SouthernJackA$$: “Once again it’s the daily, monotonic, endless “KC & Shaun Show”…starring—KC…and his pal Shaun…Come join them every damn day to hear the endless, boring, dry arguments, and stats, yes, stats…so tune in anytime, night or day, 24 damned hours a day for your daily dose of nauseating blather…and don’t worry if you miss any of it…cause it’s always the same…”
Yes, what he said. But thankfully, it’s interrupted on occasion by the refreshingly original, thoughtful, and always intellectually stimulating harangue of SouthernJackA$$… AKA: Chief of the Endless, Boring, Dry Argument Police. =)
By Lew
April 9, 2007 3:59 PM | Link to this
Shaun-I know I’m in all likelihood insane for even giving you an opening, but given the choice between looking at a sheet (or screen)of stats and watching a ball game-give me the game every time. That’s why I’m watching the Mets/Phillies today instead of reading about it later. It’s why even though the season is a week old, I’ve watched at least 17 or 18 games already. I love baseball-not the statistics it generates. As a result, yes, I think I learn much more watching the players every at bat than just looking at the boxscores. Boxscores are for those who can’t watch the games. And yes, I realize not everyone can watch every game. I sure don’t, but I do watch all that I can, which will probably total about 300 games by the end of the season. I think it makes me extremely knowledgable and conversant about the game that I and almost everyone here loves.
By TheSouthernJackAss
April 9, 2007 4:02 PM | Link to this
Shaun—you couldn’t offend me if you tried…I was merely making a sarcastic statement concerning an observation…there are times on this blog when certain people should show a little consideration for other bloggers, that want to have a ‘little fun’ too, by using instant messaging, email, or just by getting a damn room…not everyone is as enamored with numbers, or probabilities, as you and a few others are…some people, like me, just like baseball…to hell with all that statistical bullcrap…
Didn’t mean to upset anyone’s applecart, just trying to break up some of the monotony on this blog, guess it worked, but why on earth do some think that they have to post their every damn thought for all the world to see on this blog?…but go ahead and keep impressing us with your baseball acumen, hell, DOB appreciates the page hits…
Don’t think you’re GM material though, a GM uses many other tools other than stats when building a team…including the ability to think ‘for himself’…
By KC
April 9, 2007 4:06 PM | Link to this
Boy, that bullpen could knock the Phillies out of this race early. Phillies fans… we feel your pain.
By Shaun
April 9, 2007 4:12 PM | Link to this
MBATL,
With all due respect, stats are not meant to explain everything. They work like language, they express reality. Most stat guru’s aren’t going to tell you they can explain why an inferior team might play well over the course of two weeks. But most of them can tell you what kind of team the Cardinals were and what kind of hitter Albert Pujols was.
And you are missing the point about OBP, like so many do. OBP is what batting average is supposed to be—it tells you how many times a hitter succeeds and fails (how often he doesn’t make an out and how often he makes an out). OBP is not about how often a hitter takes walks, it’s about how often he succeeds at avoiding an out, which is why it should be the primary (but not the only) offensive stat that we pay attention to.
And you also miss the whole RBI and runs scored point that I’ve repeated and should be obvious. RBI and R are largely dependent on how often a player is in the lineup, where he’s hitting, who he’s hitting behind, etc. This is why RBI or R should not be primary stats that people look at when evaluating a hitter.
By Lew
April 9, 2007 4:12 PM | Link to this
Rollins just booted one and the game is tied. Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy. Again, I think the Phillies defense is atrocious.
By KC
April 9, 2007 4:12 PM | Link to this
MBATL: Do you have a website for your web services? What’s the address?
By ssiscribe
April 9, 2007 4:12 PM | Link to this
Our boy Jimmy Rollins just bobbled a potential double-play ball, allowing the Mets to tie the game at 5-5 in the eighth at Shea.
—30—
By Lew
April 9, 2007 4:15 PM | Link to this
Wild pitch and the Mets are ahead. Whoever it was that thought the Phillies would be the major competition-I just can’t see it with this bullpen and lack of defense. Another walk and the bases are loaded again. They’re bringing in a new sacrificial bullpen lamb.
By Matthew, Walter's Dad
April 9, 2007 4:17 PM | Link to this
Hey Hillbilly, what do you think of our new “new” coach, John Pelfrey?
By Lew
April 9, 2007 4:20 PM | Link to this
The Phillies bullpen-or more rightly lack thereof-is imploding.
By Matthew, Walter's Dad
April 9, 2007 4:20 PM | Link to this
I wonder if Rollins will do any more talking after the game today…
By caveman22
April 9, 2007 4:21 PM | Link to this
shaun
Here are some points for consideration:
Your posts in the evenings are 74% less accurate than those in the morning Your on-topic-percentage is round .342 but when discussing things other than baseball jumps up to a every respectable .640. Your ability to adjust in mid-post is lacking when discussing pitching substitutions and coaching strategy, but very strong when discussing things in hindsite. Your typing is above average but that because your juicing it with “spellcheck” And your overall ability to state fact and figures is around 86% accurate which is amazing in the respect that you usually totally miss the point by about 94%.
c’mon ,I’m just kidding,
You always miss the point.
By Chop Chop
April 9, 2007 4:22 PM | Link to this
Baseball and statistics go hand in hand, Shaun. Just remember that a lot of people don’t like to get bogged down in all the numbers. Also, remember that there are a lot of people here who are very aware of stats and numbers but still cherish the ability to praise a guy or rip him to shreds without Baseball Reference, STATS, Inc., or any of the many statistical reservoirs opened up in another window on their computer screen. I’m kind of a baseball stat geek, but I don’t need Baseball Prospectus to tell me that Jose Reyes is a better baseball player than Rafael Furcal. The experience of being a baseball fan my whole, cognizant life has tells me that. The stats just back it up, that’s all.
By Lew
April 9, 2007 4:23 PM | Link to this
Mets are now up 11-5.
By KC
April 9, 2007 4:24 PM | Link to this
Wow… are we sure there’s no one named Reitsma, Sosa, or Ray in the Phillies bullpen??
By ssiscribe
April 9, 2007 4:26 PM | Link to this
WOW: Philly just gave up SEVEN runs in the eighth inning. It’s 11-5 Mets.
—30—
By ssiscribe
April 9, 2007 4:27 PM | Link to this
KC, that’s awesome, dude. But you forgot to ask about Kolb!
—30—
By Metropoitan Man
April 9, 2007 4:28 PM | Link to this
That Philthies bullpen sucks, 7 runs in the 8th 11-5 METS. Things are going as planned so far, METS and braves. However with that devestating Hampton news, your starters will have to hold up just as bad as ours now at this point.
By Vonshawn
April 9, 2007 4:34 PM | Link to this
Boy, Jimmy Rollins was right, the Phillies really are the team to beat. And they keep getting beat over and over again…
By KC
April 9, 2007 4:36 PM | Link to this
Whew! Sorry Phillies fans… but better you than us. Been there, done that.
By Arkansas Hillbilly
April 9, 2007 4:38 PM | Link to this
Matthew,
At this point, I’m just glad it’s over. (Or is it? hahaha) Really though, the very little bit that I’ve read about John Pelphrey seems tolerable, I guess. Maybe the up-tempo style will get some more butts in the seats, at the very least. If he learned much under Pitino and Donovan, he could quite possibly raise a few eyebrows and make a splash in the SEC.
By David O'Brien
April 9, 2007 4:41 PM | Link to this
SJA, good post at 4:02. I agree.
NEW BLOG IS UP.
By Lew
April 9, 2007 4:44 PM | Link to this
The Phillies may just consider a muzzle for Rollins-That and some defensive practice. These guys look terrible. Even their offense is suspect. Keep in mind they no longer have Abreu, Lieverthal or Delucci, and Wes Helms is no sure thing at third, either. Their defense hasn’t even hit amateur yet.
By KC
April 9, 2007 4:44 PM | Link to this
siscribe: You’re right, I’m sorry for the omission.
Metro Man: I told you we would both be laughing at the Phillies soon. I don’t think you wanted to accept that we might have something in common… but it looks like you’re going to have to face the fact that we do! =)
We really don’t have much news on Hampton yet. The only thing we know is that he won’t be back in early May as previously hoped/expected. If it turns out that it’s nothing but scar tissue (which is the most likely thing)… everything may be okay. It’d probably just set him back a few more weeks
But don’t get me wrong… we certainly can’t count on him now. The Braves are as good as any rotation in the league 1-3… so how good our rotation is will all come down to what we get from the bottom of the rotation. I feel pretty good about both Davies and Cormier right now, but I’d like to personally help Mark Redman pack.
By ncscoots
April 9, 2007 4:45 PM | Link to this
Wonder if Charlie Manuel is traveling under guard, or have Phillies’ fans already disposed of the body?
By MBATL
April 9, 2007 5:09 PM | Link to this
KC, my web services are focused on trade shows and sales agents in certain industries … don’t really have (or need) a public marketing site, but sellingresources.com is an example of my stuff. If you’re just curious, fine… if you need a web site, well, let me know!
By DonCoburleone
April 9, 2007 5:47 PM | Link to this
Wow, how bad is that Phillies bullpen???
By newkid
April 10, 2007 10:56 AM | Link to this
C’mon DOB, there are few who question whether Hampton’s a good guy with a good heart. Point is he’s collected about $92 million (before taxes) over the past 4 years and stands to collect $29 million more over the next couple of years (whether he suit up or not). Collecting and not contributing is hurting the team - on the field - about which he purports to care so much. How much money does one person need to live comfortably for next couple of centuries? If you can’t perform any longer due to injury, how about stepping away and allowing your beloved team to use that money to bring in talent that can perform (if you really love them).
If you want to make a heart felt statement, arrange a reduced buyout and contribute the money to Turner’s foundation or something, but just move out of the way already. If you recover sufficiently well in a couple of years, show your love by coming back and negotiating another contract based upon your expected performance at that point in time. Clearly there are many options, but few rational ones that entail Hampton continuing to eat up $14+ million per annum in salary when unable to make an on-field contribution.
Not hating, just telling it like it is.
By robdawg06
April 10, 2007 11:01 AM | Link to this
I said that Mike Hampton (just like Paul Byrd) was a waste of money when the Braves signed him. This guy will sit on the DL another year and make $18 million bucks. I think the Braves need to release him. How any player making that kind of money not performing can look at himself in the mirror is beyond me. He must have no conscious ? I would give back at least 2/3 if not all of that money to the Braves. His contract was to pitch not to sit on the bench. All players contracts should be performance-based. That way, if you win 17 to 20 games you earn $18 million. If you don’t perform at all or perform poorly then the salary is adjusted for it. If you don’t pitch then you make zero. If you go 13-20 then you make $5 million instead of $18 million. Pro sports economics have been out of sync ever since free agency started with Mickey Rivers in the late 70’s. This has also caused a competitive imbalance in the game. Teams like the Mets,Dodgers,Red Sox,and Yankees buy the other team’s best players and field all-star teams every year while the Pirates,Nationals,and Royals have to play mostly triple A quality players. Let’s look at the Mets in particular. They signed the Braves Glavine,the Red Sox P.Martinez,the Astros Beltran,the Giants Alou,the Marlins Delgado,and the Marlins P.LoDuca. All 6 are all-stars. They basically have BOUGHT the best team. Free agency killed the competitiveness in MLB & other sports. But it made players like Hampton multi-millionaires with his mere thousands of dollars of actual worth. Who pays for these over-inflated salaries ? We the fans do. Isn’t it unbelievable that Mike Hampton will get $18 million dollars for sitting on the bench for 4 months (their season) while we fans work an entire 12 months to make between $20,000 and $1000,000 dollars a year ? Did I even mention that Bobby Cox makes $2 million a year as manager ? Its going to take the fans to fix this financial injustice. The owners and players sure don’t want to fix it. And they won’t even sign an autograph for you at a game on most days. That’s gratitude for ya !