Braves

By TheSouthernJackAss

April 16, 2007 3:15 PM | Link to this

As requested in the previous blog—those of faith please continue to pray for those affected by the massacre at Virginia Tech—32 confirmed dead…so far

By Glass Half Full

April 16, 2007 3:17 PM | Link to this

Carroll

Have you or DOB heard anything on Tanyon Sturtze’s progress recovering from his injury?

By Matthew, Walter's Dad

April 16, 2007 3:19 PM | Link to this

Nice story about Barrett, DOB.

Oh, and if you have time this afternoon, it sounds like a great day to fly a kite…okay, maybe not.

Go Braves!

By TennesseePaul

April 16, 2007 3:27 PM | Link to this

Carroll: Thanks for the post and the quotes. Are you at the park? Does it appear the wind is swirling around so that it eventually blows out in LF or RF? Or is it swirling out back over home plate?

GO BRAVES

By Mitchell

April 16, 2007 3:37 PM | Link to this

HA! That Ichiro quote is awesome. Sounds like it’s straight from a Kung-Fu movie.

By Rodger

April 16, 2007 3:38 PM | Link to this

Has Lew dug his computer out of the snow yet? Weird weather we’re having-everybody, that is. I think part of this year’s official uni (available, I’m sure, at the clubhouse store) is the ski mask.

By Matthew, Walter's Dad

April 16, 2007 3:43 PM | Link to this

Woops, sorry Carroll. I didn’t read the author line. My bad.

By Steve in DC

April 16, 2007 3:49 PM | Link to this

DOB

As an Atlantan expat making home in the District, man did I pick the wrong game to buy tickets in advance for. I’m sitting in my office near K Street and looking outside at the pedestrians being blown across the street like old newspapers and…..getting psyched for my first Braves game of the year!

I’m sure there will be so few people at the game that you’d be able to spot me in the upper deck, ‘cept I’ll be right above you behind the plate. Maybe I’ll spell out “DOB says GO BRAVES” with all the empty seats. (Belgian beer after the game anyone?)

Have fun tonight. Anybody wanna go to the game with me? My wife (and everyone else I know) bowed out. Sissies.

I’m putting the over/under on combined errors at 6. That is, if anyone can even make contact.

By Lew

April 16, 2007 3:50 PM | Link to this

Rodger-We only got six inches and it’s almost all melted already. Either that, or the wind just blew it to New Hampshire, along with part of my carport roof. Maybe the roof will put in an appearance in DC this evening. The wind’s strong enough.

By Steve in DC

April 16, 2007 3:52 PM | Link to this

Ditto on not seeing the author line…welcome to DC, Carroll! Enjoy the weather tonight!

By 22oz

April 16, 2007 3:53 PM | Link to this

i still can’t believe the Braves almost sold Diaz to a Japanese team in the offseason. That idea is completely idiotic.

On another note, I noticed that Smoltz and Hudson have more AB’s this year than Pete Orr. What does a guy have to do to get a little playing time? Pete’s like the bizzaro Aybar, all he does is hustle.

By TennesseePaul

April 16, 2007 3:54 PM | Link to this

looking outside at the pedestrians being blown across the street like old newspapers

Well written. Descriptive, informative, and very funny. One question, if no one is at the game, why wouldn’t you just move up to the good seats?

By Rodger

April 16, 2007 3:54 PM | Link to this

Gee, I guess congrats are to go to Ms Terrence Moore, er, Cynthia Tucker, for a Pulitzer. Only slightly less valuable than a Wurlitzer, but surely easier to carry. Do you think she gets a canned ham, also?

By Rodger

April 16, 2007 3:55 PM | Link to this

Steve in DC Does that include wild pitches that never make the plate?

By caveman22

April 16, 2007 4:05 PM | Link to this

sja where are you getting any good info about VT?? Everything I see is the same story on different sites.

By Steve in DC

April 16, 2007 4:06 PM | Link to this

Rodger Hmm. I hadn’t considered that. Perhaps we should set the line much higher on errors? I could feel the wind this morning on a BUS coming downtown. And I’m currently starving because I haven’t found the courage to face the wind to get lunch.

And TP, I’m guessing I’ll be able to sit right behind the Braves dugout with no problems. But maybe I’ll still stick a pro-Braves message on the seats upstairs before moving down!

By KC

April 16, 2007 4:09 PM | Link to this

It’s waaaaaay to early to predict anything, but…

Has it crossed anyone else’s mind that Smoltz and Hudson could both be among the top handful of candidate for a Cy Young award this year? Could see one of those friendly internal rivalries we used to see through the 90’s.

If early returns are any indication… that’s certainly a posibility.

By bigdog

April 16, 2007 4:12 PM | Link to this

Jason Whitlock of AOL Sports wrote a great article calling for Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton to step down after they helped “to turn radio shock jock Don Imus’ stupidity into a world-wide crisis”. Jason Whitlock is also black.

Sports Commentary

I’m calling for Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, the president and vice president of Black America, to step down.

Their leadership is stale. Their ideas are outdated. And they don’t give a damn about us.

We need to take a cue from White America and re-elect our leadership every four years. White folks realize that power corrupts. That’s why they placed term limits on the presidency. They know if you leave a man in power too long he quits looking out for the interest of his constituency and starts looking out for his own best interest.

We’ve turned Jesse and Al into Supreme Court justices. They get to speak for us for a lifetime.

Why?

If judged by the results they’ve produced the last 20 years, you’d have to regard their administration as a total failure. Seriously, compared to Martin and Malcolm and the freedoms and progress their leadership produced, Jesse and Al are an embarrassment.

Their job the last two decades was to show black people how to take advantage of the opportunities Martin and Malcolm won.

Have we at the level we should have? No.

Rather than inspire us to seize hard-earned opportunities, Jesse and Al have specialized in blackmailing white folks for profit and attention. They were at it again last week, helping to turn radio shock jock Don Imus’ stupidity into a world-wide crisis that reached its crescendo Tuesday afternoon when Rutgers women’s basketball coach Vivian Stringer led a massive pity party/recruiting rally.

Hey, what Imus said, calling the Rutgers players “nappy-headed hos,” was ignorant, insensitive and offensive. But so are many of the words that come out of the mouths of radio shock jocks/comedians.

Imus’ words did no real damage. Let me tell you what damaged us this week: the sports cover of Tuesday’s USA Today. This country’s newspaper of record published a story about the NFL and crime and ran a picture of 41 NFL players who were arrested in 2006. By my count, 39 of those players were black.

You want to talk about a damaging, powerful image, an image that went out across the globe?

We’re holding news conferences about Imus when the behavior of NFL players is painting us as lawless and immoral. Come on. We can do better than that. Jesse and Al are smarter than that.

Had Imus’ predictably poor attempt at humor not been turned into an international incident by the deluge of media coverage, 97 percent of America would’ve never known what Imus said. His platform isn’t that large and it has zero penetration into the sports world.

Imus certainly doesn’t resonate in the world frequented by college women. The insistence by these young women that they have been emotionally scarred by an old white man with no currency in their world is laughably dishonest.

The Rutgers players are nothing more than pawns in a game being played by Jackson, Sharpton and Stringer.

Jesse and Al are flexing their muscle and setting up their next sting. Bringing down Imus, despite his sincere attempts at apologizing, would serve notice to their next potential victim that it is far better to pay up than stand up to Jesse and Al James.

Stringer just wanted her 15 minutes to make the case that she’s every bit as important as Pat Summitt and Geno Auriemma. By the time Stringer’s rambling, rapping and rhyming 30-minute speech was over, you’d forgotten that Tennessee won the national championship and just assumed a racist plot had been hatched to deny the Scarlet Knights credit for winning it all.

Maybe that’s the real crime. Imus’ ignorance has taken attention away from Candace Parker’s and Summitt’s incredible accomplishment. Or maybe it was Sharpton’s, Stringer’s and Jackson ’s grandstanding that moved the spotlight from Tennessee to New Jersey ?

None of this over-the-top grandstanding does Black America any good.

We can’t win the war over verbal disrespect and racism when we have so obviously and blatantly surrendered the moral high ground on the issue. Jesse and Al might win the battle with Imus and get him fired or severely neutered. But the war? We don’t stand a chance in the war. Not when everybody knows “nappy-headed ho’s” is a compliment compared to what we allow black rap artists to say about black women on a daily basis.

We look foolish and cruel for kicking a man who went on Sharpton’s radio show and apologized. Imus didn’t pull a Michael Richards and schedule an interview on Letterman. Imus went to the Black vice president’s house, acknowledged his mistake and asked for forgiveness.

Let it go and let God.

We have more important issues to deal with than Imus. If we are unwilling to clean up the filth and disrespect we heap on each other, nothing will change with our condition. You can fire every Don Imus in the country, and our incarceration rate, fatherless-child rate, illiteracy rate and murder rate will still continue to skyrocket.

A man who doesn’t respect himself wastes his breath demanding that others respect him.

We don’t respect ourselves right now. If we did, we wouldn’t call each other the N-word. If we did, we wouldn’t let people with prison values define who we are in music and videos. If we did, we wouldn’t call black women b*** and hos and abandon them when they have our babies.

If we had the proper level of self-respect, we wouldn’t act like it’s only a crime when a white man disrespects us. We hold Imus to a higher standard than we hold ourselves. That’s a (freaking) shame.

We need leadership that is interested in fixing the culture we’ve adopted. We need leadership that makes all of us take tremendous pride in educating ourselves. We need leadership that can reach professional athletes and entertainers and get them to understand that they’re ambassadors and play an important role in defining who we are and what values our culture will embrace.

It’s time for Jesse and Al to step down. They’ve had 25 years to lead us. Other than their accountants, I’d be hard pressed to find someone who has benefited from their administration.

By Rodger

April 16, 2007 4:14 PM | Link to this

Sorry to hear about the roof Lew-hope all are safe there.

By Rodger

April 16, 2007 4:17 PM | Link to this

KC, Smoltzie chances are way down cuz we haven’t given him any runs; he’s only 1-1 after pitching 3 very good games. Heck, thats a short step from Redman…

By Coach

April 16, 2007 4:28 PM | Link to this

Better yet , whats the word on Lance Cormier ? He should be off the DL , he isn’t on a rehab assignment with Richmond as of yet. What’s the skinny , Carroll ?

By MBATL

April 16, 2007 4:32 PM | Link to this

bigdog, try to learn to post a link, instead of all the text… please.

By 22oz

April 16, 2007 4:32 PM | Link to this

What do Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton have to do with the Braves?

By Perry, Dayn

April 16, 2007 4:37 PM | Link to this

KC, you have not mentioned me yet today? Why is that? And I noticed you mentioned Donovan’s power rankings? Are you cheating on me with Donovan? Just for that, I am going to drop the Braves two more spots in my power rankings. You can beg for forgiveness all you please but always remember Dayn Perry is an omnipotent, omnipresent, unmerciful God. He knows all and sees all. Long live the immortal Dayn Perry!

By NRBQ

April 16, 2007 4:40 PM | Link to this

22oz —

Jessie and Al will be descending on Atlanta to straighten things out just as soon as they read Moore’s column about no African-American Braves players.

By Darrin "The Vent King"

April 16, 2007 4:41 PM | Link to this

I really don’t have anything to complain about concerning the Braves so I’ll just say this:

THANK GOD TOMMORROW IS THE END OF THE HAWKS’ SEASON!

Sorry just had to get that off my chest.

GO BRAVES!!!

By Thrillhouse44

April 16, 2007 4:43 PM | Link to this

Caveman, I’m from the area. Check out roanoke.com or wdbj7.com. I’ve seen more info on wdbj7 than CNN or anywhere like that. Say the shooter was a student (Asian male) and he turned the gun on himself. Sad day for the nation.

By Ron Roberts

April 16, 2007 4:43 PM | Link to this

No kidding…’sup with Lance? Last we were updated was after he pitched a bullpen session and felt fine, then the day after, he felt fine, too. Will he pitch a minor league rehab assignment?

Carroll, glad you discussed Francoeur’s progression. I’d noticed he was doing better, but I think putting it into type really shows how he’s improved. And ler’ts remember that he only got better last season as the year went on.

By Bruce Lee

April 16, 2007 4:51 PM | Link to this

Be water my friends.

By MGL

April 16, 2007 4:52 PM | Link to this

Jessie and Al provide the material for Terrence Moore’s columns.

By TennesseePaul

April 16, 2007 4:57 PM | Link to this

I wonder if it’s possible that the wind create such a cyclonic event a batter could pop the ball straight up and have the wind wip it around the stadium and eventually toss it out of the park over the centerfield area. Diaz could get some homers if that’s the case. As for the Nats, even with the wild winds I think Chuck James will be able to K most of them.

By Donovan

April 16, 2007 4:59 PM | Link to this

Happiness runs in a circular motion, love is like a little ship upon the sea, everything is part of every thing else, anyway, you can be happy if you let yourself be.

By Oregon_Braves

April 16, 2007 5:03 PM | Link to this

Dayn Perry, omnipresent or not, is indeed a douchebag.

By Deepak Chopra

April 16, 2007 5:04 PM | Link to this

No, I have never been to a baseball game in my life! I’ve never understood it. Now, cricket, that I would go to.

But nonetheless, go braves!

By caveman22

April 16, 2007 5:07 PM | Link to this

thanks thrillhouse

By tokyobrave

April 16, 2007 5:17 PM | Link to this

Well having lived in Tokyo and having translators, I can beleive that quote from Ichiro. They all have this same type of Ninja Warrior mentality (and it’s not a bad thing) that makes them say these types of statements. I went to many sales kick off’s across the country and I heard that same type of statement all the time. But the thing is, they all speak like that over there so it’s OK. You can’t say things like “You catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar” They’ll (and did) ask why we use honey to catch flies - why not a spray? Or ” You have big shoes to fill..” They reply ” my feet are not big!” Anyway, I get a kick out of the small snipits I hear and how they are translated.

By James

April 16, 2007 5:18 PM | Link to this

Hey KC, assumning Chuckie pitches well tonight, wouldnt you have to put him and his 0.82 era into the CY Young talk?

By Perry, Dayn

April 16, 2007 5:18 PM | Link to this

Oregon, I heard that.

By Perry, Dayn

April 16, 2007 5:21 PM | Link to this

Deepak, so have you been hanging with Vandersloot lately?

By Deity Perry

April 16, 2007 5:26 PM | Link to this

Are you all talking Cy Young already? Dayn Perry says such talk is premature. Dayn Perry also wonders where his beloved disciple Shaun has been today?

By Chopra Jones

April 16, 2007 5:33 PM | Link to this

The Mets arouse the fire that’s dormant in the innermost recesses of my soul. I plan to come at them with the zeal of a spider monkey.

By Rodger

April 16, 2007 5:40 PM | Link to this

Perry Dayn sounded kind of like Penny Lane…

Since Carroll provided us no music, in her honor we could do Foreigner-“Cold as Ice”, or for the unfortunate VT folks, not wanting to make light, but eerily similar, Boomtown Rats “I Don’t Like Mondays”?

By Willy Wally

April 16, 2007 5:43 PM | Link to this

For anyone interested, go check out the end of the last blog. Robert is still hanging out over there all by himself ranting to himself about Bobby Cox. I can’t tell if it is funny, sad, or frightening, or all of the above.

By caveman22

April 16, 2007 5:43 PM | Link to this

I would really like to see James, Davies, and Cormier step up big this year and form the nucleas of another Big Three for the future. People seem to forget we had Glavine and Smoltz before ‘91 and they struggled before they broke out as well.

By Lew

April 16, 2007 5:48 PM | Link to this

Rodger-No big deal. It was just a piece of corrugated fiber glass. We caught it and it has been re attached. I was just joking about it ending up in DC. The weqther here has been miserable, but not life threatening like those storms with all of the tornadoes. Appreciate the concern, though.

By Bob "Buddha" Wickman

April 16, 2007 5:53 PM | Link to this

When eating or drinking, become the taste of the food or drink. And be filled.

By Bill

April 16, 2007 5:53 PM | Link to this

This is a crazy thought. Is it time to trade Tim Hudson? A couple of more good starts, I say yes. As bad as some of the big money teams needs pitching, he could bring a king ransom. This would be one way to keep AJ.

By Pete Orr, philosopher

April 16, 2007 6:00 PM | Link to this

When seated on the bench, I let myself become weightless, beyond mind.

By journalist jimmy smith

April 16, 2007 6:01 PM | Link to this

carroll, that was illuminating journalism. journalist jimmy smith especially liked the part about catching pop-ups in the windy conditions. will chipper play tonight? jimmy smith did some of jimmy smith’s best journalism at the end of the last blog. there is some concern if richard russell is a better fielder than chipper but jimmy smith would give the edge to chipper because the senator has the senator’s glove hand in the senator’s pocket. henry grady only goes to the left and john b gordon is aided by being on a horse. and cynthia tucker has won a pulitzer! what will cynthia take for it? we must get dob a pulitzer of dob’s own. and carroll … hang around and carroll may win a wurlitzer. also, tip for a cold, wet, windy pressbox … cheese in a can! that’s right, cheese in a can. stays dry until spread on a cracker. hearty appetite and please bring us coverage during the game.

By caveman22

April 16, 2007 6:03 PM | Link to this

If the Braves want to keep AJ it’s simple. Up the Payroll. Trading a good player just to pay AJ and keep the budget at 80 mil wont work.

Economically - yes. Competitevly - no.

All this talk about trading hereline of financial restranit, and cutting there, is all b/s to the bottom line— financial restraint ultimately will doom the team to playing with young unproven talent that if they excell will command higher salaries anyway and probably with other teams. Let the Marlins be an example of fiscal restraint that only succeeded through the emergence of young talent all at once. Nice result but hardly a sound plan of action for every team.

By Tonight on TBS

April 16, 2007 6:09 PM | Link to this

Looking For Mr. Aybar (1977)

Journalist Carroll Rogers (Diane Keaton) spends her evenings searching the locker room, hoping to score an interview with an exciting, new, switch-hitting, utility infielder. But he is nowhere to be found.

By akirell

April 16, 2007 6:13 PM | Link to this

Just wanna say that all my prayers go out to the people affected by the tragedy at Virginia Tech today. I can barely think about my school work, let alone baseball, after having spent several hours viewing the news on this disturbing story.

By Carroll Rogers

April 16, 2007 6:16 PM | Link to this

i’m not sure how much of a weather gal i am but from being down in the dugout a few minutes ago it looked like the wind was blowing out to right. but that was what flags at the top of the stadium were doing. since RFK stadium is circular who knows what’s swirling down on the field. i know eddie perez came in from the bullpen which is out in right field, frozen. ok not frozen, but you know what i mean.

hudson wins NL pitcher of the week. DOB coulda called that one.

cold as ice is a good choice.

by the way, i saw a pregame schedule and there will be a moment of silence tonight for the va tech shooting victims. what can you say besides unbelievable. just beyond the imaginable.

By Seymour

April 16, 2007 6:19 PM | Link to this

OK, so this has probably already been covered in one of the blogs, but I can’t spend all of my time pouring over them.

Anyways, what happens if the decision is made to go with Davies and Cormier over Redman. Does Redman have options? Can he be sent down to Richmond, or would be effectively be letting him go? Any info would be appreciated. Thanks.

By ko an

April 16, 2007 6:27 PM | Link to this

Several braves were watching the flag flapping in the wind.

Chipper said “The flag is moving.”

Andruw replied “The wind is moving.”

Bobby Cox overheard this. He said, “Not the flag, not the wind; mind is moving.”

By Willy Wally

April 16, 2007 6:29 PM | Link to this

caveman, I like your 6:03 post. I agree with you. that $80 mil payroll is a b.s. joke. a $100 mil payroll limit would be responsible in this market but also allow the team to remain competitive. And I would not want them to bring in big ticket free agents. Just sign and retain the homegrown dudes you got.

By Turnin2

April 16, 2007 6:34 PM | Link to this

MY OH MY - what weather! I flew into town this morning and we had to abort our landing 3 times before we found a runway that didn’t have too much wind! The turbulence was horrid -people were getting sick all over the plane…of course flying around for almost an hour, attempting to land then va-voom…taking off again and circling in the stuff will do that I guess… any way tv coverage for me tonight - I’ve been in enough cold and rainy weather for a while…here’s hoping tomorrow is a brighter and warmer day!!!!

By the zen of chuck james

April 16, 2007 6:36 PM | Link to this

I feel the ball in my hand. I feel the absence of all other objects but the ball. Then - leaving aside the object-feeling and the absence-feeling - THROW!

By chipdip

April 16, 2007 6:44 PM | Link to this

syd barrett.

By Willy Wally

April 16, 2007 6:45 PM | Link to this

“I am moving to virtual presence, being there without being there.” - Willy Aybar

By the zen of andruw jones

April 16, 2007 6:46 PM | Link to this

Toss attachment for body aside, realizing I am everywhere. One who is everywhere is joyous.

By Willy Wally

April 16, 2007 6:50 PM | Link to this

“Let there be nothing within thee that is not very beautiful and very gentle, and there will be nothing without thee that is not beautiful and softened by the spell of thy presence.” - Bobby Cox recently instructing Willy Aybar

Of course, it was probably more like take off the skirt Wilma Aybar and get on the darn field.

Things can get a little lost in translation with Bobby’s interpreters at times.

By Willy Wally

April 16, 2007 6:52 PM | Link to this

“Solitude is strength; to depend on the presence of the crowd is weakness. The man who needs a mob to nerve him is much more alone than he imagines.” - Willy Aybar, of course.

By the zen of syd barrett

April 16, 2007 6:53 PM | Link to this

Put on a gown that touches the ground, float on a river forever and ever, Emily. There is no other day, let’s try it another way. You’ll lose your mind and play.

By Willy Wally

April 16, 2007 6:56 PM | Link to this

“Absence sharpens love, presence strengthens it.” - Chipper Jones speaking with Willy Aybar upon realizing Aybar was in fact still on the team.

By Bob, journalist

April 16, 2007 6:57 PM | Link to this

Honorable Southern, I just returned from my monthly sojourn at Sam’s Club … if several hours qualifies as a “stay” … to hear of the VT tragedy.

I’m sure that virtually everyone shares your feelings and .

In times of tragedy we express our outrage and our sympathy for those directly impacted … but we reap what we sow and things will not change for the better unless we demand a return to fundamental moral values.

That’s unlikely to happen in a society predicated on civil rather than moral rights … that places entitlement over privilege.

The French showed us democratic government predicated on entitlement following their Revolution … our Founding Fathers showed us republican grovernment predicated on moral principles and values. Why do we insist on changing ours to equate to theirs?

I think the answer lies along side your your answer as to when “racism” will cease to be an issue … coupled with the apathy of those who support such change … and the ignorance of Doc’s sheep.

I’m again reminded of my High School Principal’s words “Offer your kids the choice of vegetables and candy and you’ll make a lot of dentists happy!”

I would hope that some day we will stop scotching the snake … and just kill it!

By MBATL

April 16, 2007 7:00 PM | Link to this

Carroll, thanks for the report. We’ll see what the weather holds… Of course a lot of folks in the DC/Northern VA area have kids or friends at VA Tech. It’s got to be a little somber there tonight.

By the zen of leo mazzone

April 16, 2007 7:04 PM | Link to this

Without support for feet or hands, sit only on buttocks. Suddenly, the rocking.

By JMar

April 16, 2007 7:05 PM | Link to this

If I’m not mistaken, a game has been cancelled for being too sunny.

By Robert

April 16, 2007 7:11 PM | Link to this

Willy Wally - If I owned the Braves, I’d trade Bobby Cox for the clap. In a heartbeat.

VD is curable. Stupidity is not.

By Willy Wally

April 16, 2007 7:14 PM | Link to this

Bob, this ain’t the right forum for that rant but I will take your bait a bit. The problem with this society is not civil rights. It is a decaying sense of morality due to what is inevitably each individual’s sliding scale of moral relativity. The more appropriate concern is to concern ourselves with rights of the paramount importance: other people’s basic human rights. If you have a basic respect for the human rights of others, you will live your life by the motto of the Carolina Lady To Do Unto Others As You Would Have Done Unto Yourself. If you respect another’s basic human rights, there is no need to concern yourself with civil rights or moral rights because that will take care of itself with proper respect paid to human rights. But in any regard, moral rights comes in third to human rights and civil rights. But this is not the appropriate blog for this nonsense.

By MBATL

April 16, 2007 7:18 PM | Link to this

Francoeur is an On Base Machine!

By more zen of wickman

April 16, 2007 7:20 PM | Link to this

When Wickman was walking through a supermarket he overheard a conversation between the butcher and a customer.

“Give me the best piece of meat you have,” said the customer.

“Everything here is the best,” replied the butcher. “You cannot find here any piece of meat that is not the best.”

At these words Wickman became enlightened.

By F A Skippy

April 16, 2007 7:37 PM | Link to this

I just finished the latest Moore reprint (well it could be)I’m really starting to think there’s something wrong with the man.Mr Moore it’s your call about the help but please help us by giving this bs a rest.

By brad

April 16, 2007 7:47 PM | Link to this

Robert

The reason why you can draw such an absurd conclusion is because you fail to recognize that the founding fathers simply assumed a shared moral framework. Regardless of whether they were Christian or Deist or Atheist, they all shared broadly “Christian” values because those simply were their values.

Also, the failure to recognize this leads to anachronims. It’s anachronistic to read back into the founding fathers the sort of pluralism we find in our country today. The sort of pluralism they had in mind was almost purely Christian: Catholic vs Congregationalist vs Puritan vs (state-controlled & mandated) Church of England, vs Quaker etc. Sure, there were a few atheists and other non Christian types, but nothing like today. So it’s absurd to think that they had the sort of relativism which you invoke in mind when they composed our founding documents, etc.

All that being said, you could argue that the principles upon which they founded this nation lead inexorably to your conclusion - it’s seems compatible if you flesh it out appropriately. But there has to be some form of shared public morality. For example, if a man can’t trust another man (and I mean in those situations that are not legally binding, etc) then you don’t have much moral ground upon which to build a society that will last very long in any meaningful sense. So away with your naive relativism. It sucks and is ultimately antithetical to the American experiment (i.e., the founding fathers were NOT members of the libertarian party - i.e., radical egoists opposing any and all government interference, which is what true libertarianism is - not Boortz’ watered down brand).

By brad

April 16, 2007 7:50 PM | Link to this

Back to the Braves…

I think it’s a bit strong to say that the reason for Francoeur’s slow start last season was his playing in the WBC.

I’m glad his OBP is .333 so far. It won’t stay there unless he learns to walk more frequently, however. A consistent .350 would satisfy me. And I still laugh whenever I see him thanks to Chipper Jones’ caveman reference. That’s a great description of Franceour’s “approach.”

By brad

April 16, 2007 7:53 PM | Link to this

And I keep spelling Francoeur wrong. It’s Francoeur. Francoeur. Francoeur.

By the zen of terence moore

April 16, 2007 7:55 PM | Link to this

Suppose you are gradually being deprived of knowledge. At the instant of deprivation - TRANSCEND!

By Carroll Rogers

April 16, 2007 7:56 PM | Link to this

you guys see francoeur’s walk in the first inning? that’s FOUR….nevermind the groundout just now in the third.

Cormier is set to throw one more bullpen on thursday and head out for a minor league rehab assignment sunday.

i beg your pardon it wasn’t NL pitcher of the week for hudson, it’s NL PLAYER of the week. maddux would not approve of my mistake. he used to walk by, back in the day in the braves clubhouse, and go “hi writers.” if you said “hi pitcher” back, you got a frown. “i’m a player, he’d say. “i hit, i field, i throw.”

By JasonInMaine

April 16, 2007 8:02 PM | Link to this

Awesome…another loss to the Nationals!

By Josh C

April 16, 2007 8:06 PM | Link to this

Was it just me or could Andruw have caught that with a slide? Three runs after that…

By Gil in Mechanisville

April 16, 2007 8:10 PM | Link to this

Awesome… another fair weather fan.. jump off the band wangon dude if you going give up after the third inning.

By JasonInMaine

April 16, 2007 8:11 PM | Link to this

Matt who?????????????

By MBATL

April 16, 2007 8:12 PM | Link to this

Carroll, that’s 4 walks in 5 games!

Hard to tell on t.v…. is there anyone besides players and staff in the ballpark tonight?

By Cold in PA

April 16, 2007 8:15 PM | Link to this

I saw it asked before but not answered as of yet…..What happens when/if Redman becomes the odd man out in the rotation?

By BravesFan stuck in PA

April 16, 2007 8:18 PM | Link to this

I saw it asked earlier but no responce yet…..what does happen when/if Redman is the odd man out of the rotation?

By terry p

April 16, 2007 8:18 PM | Link to this

What is the sound of no Braves hitting?

By Rosalynn

April 16, 2007 8:21 PM | Link to this

Ah declah, that boah betta read some histora befoah tryin’ to set us right on the Foundin’ Fathers. If you realla must sah it, trah to get it right. Jimma is upset because Peta Pan Peanut Butta is still not back on the shelves. Jimma does enjoah a peanut butta cracka or two befoah bed. Peta Pan is Jimma’s favahrite but he has a jah of Skippa right now. Ah think that Bobba Cox is the best managah in all of baseball and he has alwahs been vera nice to Jimma and me when we visit Turna Field. He does pick his nose but so did Madeline Albright and she was a fine Secretara of State. Ah undahstand that Cynthia Tucka has won a Pulitza Prize and Ah would like to congratulate that guhl. Now, let’s talk a little ball … the Braves left too manah runnas on base in the fusht two innings of this game. Whah ah the Braves so cold and the otha teams seem to be able to plah undah adverse conditions? When Wila Ahbah comes back Ah hope his soah hand is healed and that he will plah some good baseball. And Ah do miss that Don Ho so. Ah plahed mah Don Ho albums all dah todah and that boah just made me crah. “Tina bubbles, in the wahn …”

By Gustopher

April 16, 2007 8:22 PM | Link to this

Great Madd Dog story CR. I heard a similiar one in Phoenix a while back.

By Gil in Mechanisville

April 16, 2007 8:24 PM | Link to this

Wiffffffff……Thuuuuuuuddddd….

By Tony Almeida

April 16, 2007 8:25 PM | Link to this

A leadoff hiter with two hits already…so thats what is supposed to happen…can’t wait for KJ to come back with his O fers.

By Al & Jesse

April 16, 2007 8:32 PM | Link to this

We noticed that blogger Rosalynn has used the term “Ho”. Twice. We demand that the Braves blog fire Rosalynn. Immediately.

By MBATL

April 16, 2007 8:33 PM | Link to this

Jeff Francoeur has the best eye in the National League! I wish he’d quit walking so much, and start swinging at some pitches.

By ssiscribe

April 16, 2007 8:33 PM | Link to this

Denizens of the blogosphere, the Scribe lives!

Actually, I’ve been busy hanging out with the family, trying to get caught up at work in this, the midst of several special sections in a row, trying to figure out what the hell is wrong with the Thrashers (went to the game Saturday; sad, sad) and just been away from the computer.

So, from the Scribe’s notebook from days gone by:

— Somebody cue up “Walk The Line” by the one and only J.R. when Frenchy strides to the dish. FOUR walks? You gotta be kidding me. All joking aside, look at the difference a full spring training makes.

WOW WOW WOW, another walk for Frenchy. That’s FIVE this year, TWO in 90 minutes!! More on the notebook later. Must post this breaking news from D.C.!!

The Scribe is back, breaking news, and abiding, as always.

—30—

By Barrett

April 16, 2007 8:39 PM | Link to this

Frenchy TWO WALKS… I think we all may have to ice skate to work/school tomorrow because Hell just froze over….

Go Bravos!

By Bob, journalist

April 16, 2007 8:41 PM | Link to this

It wasn’t my intent to stimulate discussion of mores and/or folkways … it’s just disconcerting that we allow ourselves to be led in the wrong direction because we either don’t care about our destination or don’t want to admit that we’re lost.

The Braves are losing but seem to be making some changes that could prove productive.

By ssiscribe

April 16, 2007 8:42 PM | Link to this

OK, now back to the notebook after stopping to post about Frenchy’s run at Bonds’ walk record:

— I really feel for McBride. He’s a good guy and did a great job getting Howard to ground out with the winning run on base in Philly the second day of the season. But you can’t keep running a guy out there who has walked 11 guys in three innings. McBride’s got great stuff; no doubt in my mind he’ll get it straightened out and be back in Atlanta before summer gets going.

— Hudson indeed is a player (CR, I remember Maddux saying that; funny because in those specs of his, he looked like anything but a player). Huddy looks like an ace. Case in point: he gave up the run early yesterday but avoided the big inning by getting the ground ball double play. Then, he made the pitches he needed to make. Folks, if he can continue to pitch close to the way he’s thrown it the first three games of his season, he’s gonna win those 17 games and have an ERA near 3.00, which is what I said the Braves had to have from him this year.

— Entering last week, the Jones’ boys combined had no homers and one RBI. Now, each has three homers and seven RBIs entering tonight.

— See where Kelly Johnson, he of the six hits so far this season, leads the NL in walks by a leadoff hitter with nine (entering tonight), courtesy of Mark Bowman of MLB.com. Kelly’s gonna hit, guys, don’t worry about it.

— Really need to get a run or two here in the sixth, down 3-0 on a brutally cold night in D.C. (UPDATE: Just did get a run in, making it 3-1). But days like this remind us how fragile life is, and how insignificant these games people play are in the grand scheme of things. My deepest thoughts and prayers to those in the Virginia Tech tragedy, and warm wishes to all of you out there on this evening from the southern rim of the capital city.

—30—

By Carroll Rogers

April 16, 2007 8:42 PM | Link to this

nope, in case you were wondering, that was not the first time francoeur has walked twice in one game. he did it one other time sept. 26, 05 vs. colorado….dang. that woulda been a good stat to add to the oh-my-gosh jeff is walking stuff. and look what it got him. a run there without anybody getting a hit.

By flange1

April 16, 2007 8:49 PM | Link to this

ROBERT,

enough is enough!

Now you want to talk politics too?

No one is interested…..Just like your BC rantings..

By ssiscribe

April 16, 2007 8:50 PM | Link to this

CR, glad to see you got the “AJC beat writer” blue on your name. That’s Carolina blue, right (he he he)?

Glad you’re back on the beat. You going to the Garden for Game 4 of the Thrashers on Wednesday?

—30—

By Cold in PA

April 16, 2007 8:51 PM | Link to this

Coyler sure has a “lively” arm.

Redman, anyone?

By ssiscribe

April 16, 2007 8:54 PM | Link to this

OK guys, since DOB’s not covering the game tonight (he may be checking in, though), let me step up and say something for a second:

NO political discussion on here. PERIOD. If you want to talk politics, GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.

We can ignore the ridicilous, mindless, incessent rantings about Bobby Cox (Robert, I could rip your argument to pieces, but you’re so set in your ways, it’s not worth it). Political debate? Take it to Jim Wooten’s blog and leave the Braves/MIB alone.

There, carry on. The Scribe abides.

—30—

By Carroll Rogers

April 16, 2007 8:54 PM | Link to this

and no, there aren’t many folks here besides those that have to be….it looks a lot like, well, an expos game!

By journalist jimmy smith

April 16, 2007 8:55 PM | Link to this

we are seeing two-hand, two-glove catches by francoeur in the outfield - and walks! yes, this is indicative of change. no dropped balls. no swinging at balls in the dirt. now, let’s hope francoeur can still connect in the late innings and win this game for the braves. seems to be the best chance. and what is all this talk of politics on the blog? americans have much for which to be thankful. any of your presidents cannibals? this ugandan journalist did not think so.

By Gustopher

April 16, 2007 8:57 PM | Link to this

Carroll you must be psychic. Talking about Frenchie and then he gets two walks!

By Willy Wally

April 16, 2007 8:59 PM | Link to this

5 walks. What the hell is going on? He should have had a sixth walk but he get hit with that pitch with three balls on him on Friday night. If you watched that at bat, you could tell that the pitcher had no control, Frenchy knew it, and was just going to let that pitcher walk him until the pitcher hit him

By TheSouthernJackAss

April 16, 2007 9:00 PM | Link to this

Journalist Bob—most days I have many thoughts, on many fronts, and usually full of words that just can’t wait to get said—-today just isn’t one of those days…

We don’t need to look for answers in others, we need only look within ourselves…

Those obsessed with civil rights are concerned mostly with the good of themselves, those who embrace moral rights are concerned more with the good of their fellow man…

By George King

April 16, 2007 9:04 PM | Link to this

ROBERT is an alien intelligence who is trying to disseminate his knowledge to humanity. We may not comprehend all that he is trying to tell us, but it is for our own good.

It is important that we stop blogging for a few minutes so that ROBERT can contact us telepathically.

By Roberta

April 16, 2007 9:06 PM | Link to this

Ever heard that it takes one to know one? Must be partially true since it’s obvious that a donkey has been clearly identified by a horse’s a$$ !!! Go Robert Go!!

By Greg

April 16, 2007 9:07 PM | Link to this

Our total lack of offense is starting to be a major concern. We shouldn’t lose close games to the likes of the Nationals. If this continues, we may not even get the Wild Card.

By Brad in MT

April 16, 2007 9:08 PM | Link to this

Wow…it amazes me how Robert can make the most irrational arguments I have ever heard> someone has no brain cells and its you Robert…take your crap somewhere else so the rest of us can enjoy the blog.

By Sir Stealth

April 16, 2007 9:08 PM | Link to this

The zen of terence moore one finally got me to laugh out loud. Here’s to another Braves comeback. Surely our offense won’t completely crap out against the Nationals in consecutive games…

By Robert

April 16, 2007 9:10 PM | Link to this

I apologize for the political musings

By Cold in PA

April 16, 2007 9:11 PM | Link to this

Good outing for Coyler, huh. Looks like we have a serviceable lefty other than Gonzalez now.

By JasonInMaine

April 16, 2007 9:11 PM | Link to this

typical Druw swing and on a 2-0 count…he can’t tie it if no one is on base!

By Efrim

April 16, 2007 9:12 PM | Link to this

This is a sad offensive display.

By JasonInMaine

April 16, 2007 9:13 PM | Link to this

typical Druw 2-0 swing

By Cold in PA

April 16, 2007 9:15 PM | Link to this

Can’t lose games to the Nationals and hope to ‘fend off the Mets, Marlins and (Ah-Hem) Phillies.

By JasonInMaine

April 16, 2007 9:16 PM | Link to this

and I apologize for basically the double posts…I had received an error so I didn’t think it was posted…

By Efrim

April 16, 2007 9:18 PM | Link to this

2-2 against the Nats is unacceptable. This team should be ashamed.

By Ron Roberts

April 16, 2007 9:21 PM | Link to this

For the love of God….

Why does there have to be a lousy team that handles the Braves like this, year-in, year-out?

It doesn’t matter how good or bad we are, there’s always a team that flat-out sucks that handles us.

Pathetic offensive display tonight; Terry Pendleton shouldn’t draw pay or per diem for tonight’s work, because he’s APPARENTLY not talking to the batters tonight. Best guys at the palte tonight were Chris freaking Woodward and his vaunted two singles and Jeff Francoeur’s two walks? Pathetic.

By Ron Roberts

April 16, 2007 9:23 PM | Link to this

Correction Efrim, we’d be 1-2 vs. the Nats.

By Sir Stealth

April 16, 2007 9:25 PM | Link to this

Robert, if you really are just a bunch of Berry College students, then y’all truly are a bunch of cruel pr*cks. I almost admire your ability to make everyone who reads this site that much more p** off every time they come. The foray into politics makes me think that much more that your posts are a sick joke. I realize this may be some dorky internet forum, but its still remarkable that a person despised increasingly every time he makes his presence known will still continue to hang around, pollute and think he has something valid to say. Of course, I hate myself even more now for responding, but I truly hope that you will actually leave. If you want Bobby Cox to leave so bad, can you imagine how everyone who reads this site feels about your continued presence? At least get yourself lost out of empathy.

By Sir Stealth

April 16, 2007 9:26 PM | Link to this

Speaking of things that make me ill, how bout this game?

By Ron Roberts

April 16, 2007 9:28 PM | Link to this

The way Gonzalez has been pitching, I’m now actually hopeful LaRoche is a dud, too, ‘cause this trade’s starting to look like a mistake, folks. This guy remind me of….

…RICK CAMP!!! Oh, the humanity!

By JasonInMaine

April 16, 2007 9:31 PM | Link to this

Does Gonzalez have lingering shoulder problems???

By Josh C

April 16, 2007 9:31 PM | Link to this

No, 2-2 is correct.

By JasonInMaine

April 16, 2007 9:33 PM | Link to this

Maybe BJ Ryan will be out for the year and the Blue Jays will overpay for Gonzalez and we can fill a whole or two by trading him. The market for pitchers is absurd right now…

By ssiscribe

April 16, 2007 9:33 PM | Link to this

Apology accepted on the political talk.

Now, as for the “Go ahead son. Try” crack, first of all, I doubt you are old enough to be my father, so don’t call me son, Mister.

You are so steadfast in your stance on Cox, it wouldn’t do any good for me to try and have a reasonable, mature debate with you. True, I don’t have any barnyard noises to make or any sugar cubes in my pocket, so my argument wouldn’t hold up anyway, would it?

See, pal, I don’t chug the Kool-Aid like some folks. I will not make the case that “he is the greatest manager of all time.” Cox is not, in my opinion, the greatest manager of all time. But he’s a hell of a lot better than you claim he is. You make him out to be Eddie Haas.

You’re entitled to your opinion, and I respect that, even if I disagree with your opinion and the method by which you try to back it up. Coming from somebody who writes for a living, someody who can tell you first-hand what it’s like to state an opinion and take the heat that ultimately comes when you have the guts to put your opinion (and your face) in print, your act grew old months ago. So, do the denizens on here a favor: count down the number of days until Cox is gone, offer us something of substance on the subject, or leave it be and blog about something else.

There. I’ve given you all I’ll ever give you on this topic. You have your opinion, and that’s fine. It’s the sophomoric manner in which you present it that irks me. I’m sure I get under people’s skin, too, and that’s OK. In my career, I’ve certainly stirred my my share of bees nests.

As they say, we agree to disagree. Peace to you and yours. The Scribe abides.

—30—

By Ron Roberts

April 16, 2007 9:33 PM | Link to this

So we bring in one of our big three, and he succombs to .179 and .217 average hitters and two more runs score.

Nice.

By Ron Roberts

April 16, 2007 9:39 PM | Link to this

That’s right… we did manage to take 2 of 3 at home against this AAA team, didn’t we? My bad.

By JasonInMaine

April 16, 2007 9:43 PM | Link to this

Honestly, Langy is a nice guy, and he is darn good defensively, but…

What in the flying heck is he pinch-hitting for? At least Orr can beat out an infield single…

Another no name bum pitcher that the Braves make look like Sandy Koufax. The Braves, Phillies, Mets, and even the Marlins are going to beat up on each other all year. The games against the Nats will be critical, and this is two losses to them already. Gosh darn it!

By Lippman

April 16, 2007 9:47 PM | Link to this

You can always count on Joe “Homer” Simpson to make it sound as if the umps somehow robbed the Braves. Is that why TBS kept him and cut Don Sutton loose? I wish they had played it the other way around.

By TennesseePaul

April 16, 2007 10:06 PM | Link to this

I got home and saw the loss. Figured it couldn’t be good. Had to be something wrong… Sure enough, The Nats tossed a southpaw at us and we responded with the B-Squad. I’d like to see what our starters could do against these guys. We better win tomorrow.

By mike

April 16, 2007 10:09 PM | Link to this

Typical Braves. No hitting and none in sight. First baseman hitting a buck 80. All we take about is how Francour walked twice tonight. Tell me again what Francour has done. Oh thats right nothing. I have seen enought through twelve games to see that we finish third maybe fourth. Pitching is decent but hitting will hold us back.

By Efrim

April 16, 2007 10:16 PM | Link to this

This team better hit Jerome Williams hard. Before these four games started against the Nats and Cubs, I wanted the Braves to take 3 of 4, but that doesn’t look like it will happen now. Zambrano and Rich Hill against Davies and Redman on Wednesday and Thursday. Then a trip to New York, Florida and Colorado. Braves have lost 3 of 4 to the Nats and Marlins…..

By aeg

April 16, 2007 10:30 PM | Link to this

The lack of clutch hitting by the Braves is becoming contagious. Every player acts like if he doesn’t get the big hit, the next guy will… Another thing that drives me crazy, if we get a mediocre pitcher on the ropes early and don’t deliver a big punch, we immediately give up and just start swinging at everything. Tonight is just another example of that.

By Rodger

April 16, 2007 10:38 PM | Link to this

Excellent piece on/with Smoltzie after the game-“In my own words”.

Too bad he’s such a moron with his respect for, and enjoyment of playing for, Robert’s buddy.

By Don

April 16, 2007 10:51 PM | Link to this

Thanks for the whacked out political diatribe Robert. Though many here probably thought you one dimensional, you’ve now proven that you can spew idiocy on any number of subjects.

By Robert

April 16, 2007 11:02 PM | Link to this

“You make him out to be Eddie Haas.”

Maybe you misunderstand my point of view.

Eddie Haas was a genius compared to Bobby Cox

Ron Roberts asked why it is that there is almost a not-good team that seems to own us, year in and year out

That is a classic sign of a poorly managed team

“Too bad he’s such a moron with his respect for, and enjoyment of playing for, Robert’s buddy.”

Smoltz isnt stupid. He’s 40 years old, he’s very comfortable, and he does not want to anger Donk.

Heck, a guy can get suspended for wearing sunglasses during BP. Imagine what happens to someone who questions the comnpetence of the BIG Doonk.

Smoltz knows on what side his bread is buttered, and at this point in his career, he doesnt want to be sent to the barn to shovel dung into the stable

By N8

April 16, 2007 11:05 PM | Link to this

TennesseePaul

“The Nats tossed a southpaw at us and we responded with the B-Squad. I’d like to see what our starters could do against these guys.”

Pardon my “french” T-Paul, but our A-Squad (or starters as you call them), consists of B-Squad players, other than Chipper, Andruw, McCann and Renteria (until Francoeur has an OBS more than 50 points higher than his Batting Average - He’s a B-Squader too).

I’m telling you all. While GREATLY improved over last season (when it comes to pitching), this TEAM isn’t much better than last years. Fix one problem, cause another.

I do believe that the ONE pitching issue we have with our rotation, will be solved when Cormier is healthy. But if there is another injury then what??

This lineup SUCKS. OK, that’s a little harsh, let me rephrase. If the opposing pitcher has a clue on how to pitch and refuses to make mistakes that can be hit for HR’s, then this lineup SUCKS.

Renteria should bat leadoff. McCann should hit 2nd and Chipper should hit 3rd like he is. Why do that, you may ask??

Because those are the ONLY guys in this lineup with ANY consistancy when there is a good pitcher or a crappy pitcher on the mound. THEY KNOW HOW TO HIT. THEY HAVE AN APPROACH. Despite Bobby’s best efforts, they REFUSE to succumb to the Hack-n-Jack lifestyle that it is to be an Atlanta Brave. We might as well get those three guys AS MANY at bats as possible, right? 4-8 in the order doesn’t matter. Let em all HACK AWAY.

What’s the mark of a mediocre TEAM? I’ll tell you. One that “steps up” to face the (alleged) BIG GUNS in the division (Mets/Phillies), all while laying a big TURD while playing the Marlins (who I have stated ALL ALONG are a better team, and one that will finish ahead of the Phillies), and the Nats. Do I really need to state how EMBARASSING it is for the Braves to be 2-2 against them?

The benchmark that the Braves created for themselves throughout the 90’s, was a team that played ABOVE average (and won most of the time against the upper level teams), but ABSOLUTELY dominated, abliterated, whipped, kicked the sh*t out of, barely EVER EVER lost to the crappy teams. Anybody remember how the Braves did against the Rockies, in their first 2 years of existance??? For those of you that dont….the Braves were 27-6 vs. the Rockies from 1993-1995, & 25-12 vs. the Marlins during the same stretch (20-5 during the Marlins and Rockies initial season - one could argue that the Nats are BARLEY an expansion team) That’s a TOTAL of 52-18 against the two expansion teams. Let me tell you. Those Rockies teams had a HELL OF A LOT more talent than the Nats do.

Until the Braves show that they can CONSISTANTLY beat on the weaker opponants, I will consider them nothing more than an average TEAM with really good pitching.

0-2, while being outscored 7-1, in the last two games against the Nats. Against pitchers named Bergmann (didn’t reach the 4th inning in his start BEFORE facing Atlanta) and Chico (a guy who AFTER allowing only 1 run in 5 innings lowered his ERA to 5.27!!), all while totally 7 DAMN HITS in these two games.

YIKES, YIKES……DOUBLE YIKES!!

By brian

April 16, 2007 11:13 PM | Link to this

I think there are more people here than at the Expos/Nationals game.

the LaRoche trade verdict will be out for years because Lillebridge was a key piece of that trade and as DOB said may end up being the key piece

Gonzalez will be fine once he stops pressing so much. Now he has a lively arm

By MEB

April 16, 2007 11:23 PM | Link to this

The blog certainly thinks the glass is half empty. Well I’m going to chalk this one up to a cold, wet and windy night and look forward to those hot humid dog days of August. The weather will be hot and humid come August won’t it?

GO BRAVES!!!

By Sir Stealth

April 16, 2007 11:32 PM | Link to this

Despite doom and gloom, still in first place with Smoltz vs. Nats tomorrow. I plan on making a trip and being there in the wind.

By Brad in MT

April 16, 2007 11:34 PM | Link to this

Even though the offense hasn’t been too great lately, I think its way too early to panic. The cold weather probably has a lot to do with the lack of hitting, and we are still winning. We are 8-4 and in first place..I think that most of you would agree that this team is capable of playing much better, so there isn’t any reason to start to panic, and maybe even a lot of reason for optimism.

By Robert (Justice Is The Best)

April 16, 2007 11:35 PM | Link to this

I have to wonder if part of Gonzales’ problem is that he is not closing. Closers can be strange creatures. If they are not in closing situations, they just don’t seem to perform the same. How many times have you seen a closer come into a non-closing situation and stink up the joint when you would think all the pressue would be off but can come into a game with the bases loaded and nobody out and strikeout the side. I don’t know. Just throwing it out there.

I was definitely dissapointed in the team tonight. They had plenty of chances to score and couldn’t come through. Strangely, it was McCann who failed twice.

By Efrim

April 16, 2007 11:37 PM | Link to this

This team has to start hitting in innings 1-6. They have been walked a lot. They haven’t really created their own runs by just hitting the crap out of the ball. Got to win tomorrow night, Zambrano and Hill vs Redman and Davies. Then the Mets…..could be a rough week.

By Rosalynn

April 16, 2007 11:43 PM | Link to this

All you bloggahs must keep yoah chins up! Suah, the team lost to Matt Chico tonight but Chucka James was not his usual self and those Braves hittahs didn’t hit. Foah instance, did you see those boahs McCann and Renteria hit those balls to the outfield and they just hung up theah in the ah for the fieldahs? That was unfohtunate baseball. Ah am inspihed bah the quote we sah eahlia about strappin’ on the leotahd. Ah do hope Wila Ahbah will strap on the leotahd in the next few dahs and plah some inspihed baseball. Did y’all see that plah at second base wheah that new boah apparentla missed the bag? Bobba came out of that dugout like he was gonna eat second base. Ah was suah Bobba would be thrown out of the game but Bobba just said a few ugla wohds right in the face of the camera and then Bobba went back to the dugout. Must have had something in the microwave. Congratulations to Boo Weekla who won his fuhst PGA touhnament. Ah don’t know Boo personalla but Ah do enjoah a good name like Boo. And lastla, theah has been some criticism of the use of the name Ho in some of mah posts. The Ho Ah am talking about was that little round Hawaiian Ho, the croona, who has passed. The other Ho’s are in rap music and Ah hahdly evah rap anahmoah. Mah last comment involves that nice boah, Andruw Jones. How does that boah expect to hit the ball with his legs stretched out so fah apaht wheah he cannot create the tawk necessara to hit the ball out of the ballpahk? That boah needs to let Terra show him how to stand in the battah’s box. He is an injura waiting to happen.

By TennesseePaul

April 16, 2007 11:46 PM | Link to this

Nathan: By B squad I refer to Woodward and Wilson, coupled with the lesser defensive skills of Diaz and a flip flopped batting order.
KJ is going to be a better lead off hitter than Giles once he gets out of this funk. Thorman we probably won’t know much about until Salty is on the verge of coming up. Then Thor will be played every day and break out creating a brilliant trading piece and more fodder for those who lament all past trades.
Basically N8, I hate platoons and would like to see a fairly consistant line up. This is the Nationals. If we are going to lose it, I’d rather our starters be in there figuring out whatever their kinks are that are prohibiting them from hitting.
But alas, I did not see this game nor do I know much about the playing conditions. If they were suspect and we wanted to save our stars for games that matter why was Chipper and AJ in there. Why not just start Orr and Langerhans in their place.
But whatever, just bummed on the loss. I hate scibbling the “L” on the schedule. The “W” is much more appealing.

By Braves fan 202

April 16, 2007 11:54 PM | Link to this

Man, sux they lost 3 0f 4. Its ok smoltzie can start a winning streak tomorrow

By Robert

April 17, 2007 12:04 AM | Link to this

” Bobba came out of that dugout like he was gonna eat second base. Ah was suah Bobba would be thrown out of the game but Bobba just said a few ugla wohds right in the face of the camera and then Bobba went back to the dugout”

Bobby came out of the dugout like he had just been zapped by the cattle prod, which is exactly what I suspect happened. Watching him, I could just imagine what he was saying to the umps (“Hee-Haw, Hee-Haw, HEEEEEEE-Hawwww”)

had he been ejected, we wouldve stood a chance at winning

“Despite Bobby’s best efforts, they REFUSE to succumb to the Hack-n-Jack lifestyle that it is to be an Atlanta Brave. We might as well get those three guys AS MANY at bats as possible, right?”

N8, your idea makes sense. Good sense. But why would Cox reward guys who dont subscribe to his philosophy? And what makes you think that there is ANY chance that suddenl;y, after 17 years, Cox will all of a sudden use good sense in making a decision?

By Coach

April 17, 2007 12:24 AM | Link to this

I didn’t get to see the game , but it sounds like we just got beat all the way around. Encouraging to hear that Francoeur is using both hands and showing some discipline and patience at the plate. The total lack of team speed is apparent and when they don’t hit the long ball or string hits together , this is what happens. We got beat , there is nothing else to say. Smoltz gets another shot at these guys tomorrow , score some runs fella’s.

By dadgum

April 17, 2007 12:33 AM | Link to this

Well here we go again…making the absolutely miserable Nats look like champs. Seems we can’t win in DC or Atlanta for that matter against the worst team in baseball. Folks these games are gimmies in the division. Lose one or two max for the year against these guys but we have already lost two and got a bunch to play.

We score one run!!!!!! Please tell me it ain’t so. Long year but it is beginning to look like the bats can’t help out the pitching. Last year it was just the opposite. Oh help me………………damn the carnage.

By choppinmama

April 17, 2007 12:37 AM | Link to this

Helllooo, Mr. Coyler. Chalking up the wild pitch to the cold weather and some relief nerves, that was some smart, solid pitching.

Gonzales still bothers me after he delivers and falls off the mound. Not a great defensive end to his delivery. The best he could do tonight was to try a kicksave.

Don Sutton sounded pretty solid on the game broadcast tonight. Let his broadcast buddy cover the Nats and Sutton did a solid job of analysis and Braves coverage. He guessed wrong on a couple of pitches thrown, but it was good to hear an opposing team’s guy cover the Braves side of the game in such a knowledgeable manner. (well, duh..) Do you think the Nats have held any debriefing sessions with him yet, or have they learned everything there is to know about the Braves from Pat and Stan?

Hey Sutton, Kasten and Corrales: how’s that DC traffic compared to 285/400/85?

By jed

April 17, 2007 12:50 AM | Link to this

awful weather for baseball. let’s strap on those leotards and go get ‘em tomorrow, boys!

By N8

April 17, 2007 1:15 AM | Link to this

T-Paul

I knew what you meant. Just having fun.

As for those “blaming the weather” on the Braves hitting woes…..doesn’t the opposition have to hit in them too?

Just a thought.

I still excited/happy we are in first place, but you’d have to be blind to think that it’s been a convincing “first place” first two weeks, other than the starting pitching….minus Redman of course.

Dissapointments:

KJ’s batting, Andruw in general, Thorman/Wilson (both offensively and defensively), Langerhans, Hampton being DL’d, Cormier getting hurt, Paranto getting hurt, Aybar, Gonazlez’ slow start, McBride, Redman.

Surprises/Good things:

Hudson, Davies, McCann, Renteria (at least on opening day), Chipper, Francoeur actually walking once in a while, Soriano, Wickman, Mets and Phillies playing mediocre enough to mask our mediocre hitting, allowing us to be in first place.

As another blogger said: 8-4, STILL in first place, and Smoltz on the mound tomorrow…….it could be worse I guess.

By Robert

April 17, 2007 1:25 AM | Link to this

“it could be worse I guess”

Yup. Cox could change his mind and decide he wants to go on managing indefinately

By gotigers72

April 17, 2007 1:56 AM | Link to this

As far as blaming the weather, yeah, other teams have to play in it too. Ironic though that the last time I looked, Florida was leading the majors in hitting with a .293 average.

Are these guys ever gonna start hitting? Except for a couple of games, the hitting has been putrid. At the start of the game tonight, there were 3 starters below the Mendoza line. Come on TP, work some magic like you did last year. Don’t look so smart now letting Marcus go [.311]. KJ [.154] is not looking so hot. At some point in time, they are gonna have to score in some manner other than a home run. No law against having a rally with 3 or 4 hits and a walk or two.

By Ron Roberts

April 17, 2007 6:48 AM | Link to this

DISCLAIMER:

Any use of my words by redundant Robot to try and twist together some moronic case to remove Bobby Cox as manager of the Atlanta Braves is done so without my permission and endorsement.

Robert, a bad team having a good team’s number is very common, dude. Very. In the early ’80s, when the Braves were competing for the NL West division against the Dodgers, the Cincinatti Reds always seemed to play the Braves tough, despite being a cellar dwellar. The same manager of that Braves squad now coaches the Yankees, who seem to have issues with the lowly Tampa Bay Devil Rays from time-to-time, as well. The ‘06 Kansas City Royals were 5-4 against the Boston Red Sox, for crying out loud. Last year’s world champions, the St. Louis Cardinals, had losing records against (then) lowly Atlanta and the Chicago Cubs.

So Robert… your point? Wait, forget I asked. I think we all get your nonsensical point. Over and over and over and over.

By Willy Wally

April 17, 2007 7:08 AM | Link to this

ERA, avg, obp, slg, homers are all down this year - almost to pre 1994 strike year, dawn of roids era levels. the weather, drug testing, or deflated balls? I don’t have comparisons for similar points in the past but here is what I found:

http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL.shtml

http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL.shtml

By Robert

April 17, 2007 7:11 AM | Link to this

“a bad team having a good team’s number is very common, dude… The ‘06 Kansas City Royals were 5-4 against the Boston Red Sox, for crying out loud”

5-4 constitues “having one’s number”?

“Any use of my words by redundant Robot to try and twist together some moronic case to remove Bobby Cox as manager of the Atlanta Braves is done so without my permission”

Didnt realize I needed permission to respond to your (or anyone else’s) posts

“Bobby Cox recently instructing Willy Aybar .. Of course, it was probably more like” “HEE-HAW”

translated - “we told you, no sunglasses on the ballcap during batting practice. That’s a five day suspension. Three days if you give me a sugar cube and rub my ears real nice”

By Robert

April 17, 2007 7:17 AM | Link to this

“ERA, avg, obp, slg, homers are all down this year - almost to pre 1994 strike year”

1)Real small sample size for this year - not sure if it’s legit to extrapolate it to compare to prior full year stats

2)A little weather, a little bit of post-‘roid hangover, and more than a little bit of better pitching. I think the game has seen a little of a swing back towards the pitching talent side of thinghs the past couple of years. The game always has and always will cointinue to run thru mini-cycles like this

By Robert

April 17, 2007 7:19 AM | Link to this

“Bobby Cox …. instructing “

Run a Google search on this phrase and you’ll get dictionary.com’s definition of “oxymoron”

By Willy Wally

April 17, 2007 7:34 AM | Link to this

“Nothing is true in self-discovery unless it is true in your own experience. This is the only protection against the robot levels of the mind.”

“I wish a robot would get elected president. That way, when he came to town, we could all take a shot at him and not feel too bad.” - Jack Handy

“The robot is going to lose. Not by much. But when the final score is tallied, flesh and blood is going to beat the damn monster.” - Adam Smith

“Beauty is and always is. You are absent. Why are you absent? Again your robot mind is the problem. It will not stay still and you cannot make it stay still. It is your master and it separates you from beauty and God.” - Barry Long

By beachcomber

April 17, 2007 8:04 AM | Link to this

I liked John Kruk’s comments last night on ESPN. In fact, I just like John Kruk - he never takes himself or the game of baseball too seriously. If you missed it, he said that the Braves have the second best record in baseball despite their CF, 1B & 2B all under the Mendoza line. Andruw will not hit under .200 nor will Johnson or Thorman (or their replacements) for the season. As in the past, our pitching will be the measure of how far we go - and so far you have be encouraged.

By KC

April 17, 2007 8:29 AM | Link to this

Brian: “the LaRoche trade verdict will be out for years because Lillebridge was a key piece of that trade and as DOB said may end up being the key piece”

Brian, I agree. It’ll be a while before we know how this trade turned out. However…

It is time to worry about Mike Gonzalez. Time to panic? Not yet, but we’re getting there.

brian: “Gonzalez will be fine once he stops pressing so much. Now he has a lively arm”

I hope you’re right brian. I’m well known for being optimistic when there’s something to be optimistic about. But I’m genuinely worried about Gonzo right now.

I’m not sure if anyone else mentioned this, but in addition to AWOL command, his fast ball ranged from 85-91 mph last night. Yes, his fastball was consistently in the low-mid 80’s. That’s at least 8-10 mph lower than what he was throwing last year. That is very alarming. Someone here (JasonInMaine?… can’t remember) mentioned the other day that he seemed to have lost a couple mph on his fastball. Well it’s now looking a helluva lot worse than a couple mph.

He actually threw an 85 mph fastball last night folks. 85 mph!!! At first I was thinking “that wasn’t a fastball”. But then I rewound it and looked at it a couple times, and the pitch was as straight as a arrow.

Then I wondered if the radar gun was functioning properly, but James hit 90 with his fastball, and Colyer hit 93, so it must have been working.

I am definitely concerned at this point as names like Dan Kolb and Brad Lidge are running through my mind.

It’s still early, and there’s still hope that he’ll be the guy we thought we were trading for… but 85 mph??? Ouch.

By KyBrave

April 17, 2007 8:34 AM | Link to this

Do the Braves have a trade in mind by moving Mike Hampton to the 60-day DL since they only have 40 total players on the 40-man roster now and didn’t actually have to make a move? I’m wondering if they’re not looking at a 2-1 or 3-2 trade where they would need a 40-man roster spot.

By ncscoots

April 17, 2007 9:25 AM | Link to this

Scribe, frankly, your post re no political discussion was a little off-putting to me. Your effort to police the blog just because DOB has an off-day (not to mention the implicit slam at Carroll) made you come off as some junior blogmaster version of Alexander Haig (not your intent, I’m sure, not nonetheless…).

Musings on societal morality or the hypothetical mindset of the Founding Fathers don’t quite match up with a discussion of whether Bush is a donkey or Pelosi is power-mad (a true political discussion). I found nothing wrong with those posts. I find nothing wrong with discussions of pie and BBQ, either. I suggest the community here can handle policing of the content all by its lonesome.

By JasonInMaine

April 17, 2007 9:30 AM | Link to this

KC, I am right there with you. I have asked a couple of times if others have seen the same decrease in velocity, and it seems to be getting worse and not better ): I know the weather has been cold, but like yous said; 85 MPH?? That’s 11 MPH lower than what he hit consistently last year. Again, speed isn’t everything, but he just doesn’t look the same. I hope there are no lingering shoulder problems…

Ryan is out for 4-6 weeks. With the absurd market for pitchers, maybe the Jays will way overpay for him (: Just kidding…mostly

Regards,

Jason

By Ron Roberts

April 17, 2007 9:46 AM | Link to this

The thing I’ve sorta said all along was that I thought trading for Gonzalez was overkill, anyhow.

So seeing him struggle so far, to me, only makes me upset that we even trot him out there in key situations at all. Truth be told, LaRoche is struggling so mightily so far that this trade’s a wash for both teams, so far, but we all know LaRoche does this and will come around. But how does Mike Gonzalez regain his velocity?

If this is just a post-elbow injury issue, then I’d have preferred to have seen him be recovering from an off-season surgery at this point. At least that would explain the drop-off better.

Not that it matters how he pitched last night; our bats were as lifeless as a box of rocks, anyhow. That Colyer kid pitched alright, though, if we have anything positive to take from last night.

By Robert

April 17, 2007 9:50 AM | Link to this

I was one of the guilty parties as far as discussing politics on the blog and will be the first to opine that it doesnt belong in this forum

If I had to explain why, I guess it would come down to the fact that when discussing politics (or religion) you wind up with truly opposing sides, while here it’s (supposed to be at least) all Braves fans who might disagree on the hows but are all theoretically working for the same goal (the good of our Braves)

I’m all for free speech, more so, I daresay, then most “next guys”, but this just aint the place for politics

By the way, have I mentioned that I think Cox is a donkey?

By KC

April 17, 2007 9:50 AM | Link to this

JasonInMaine: Dude, to be honest… I kind of hope there are lingering shoulder problems… just so long as it’s something that can be fixed. I would probably feel better to know that there’s a health issue if there is one (again, so long as it doesn’t permanently affect him). At least that would explain it.

I wasn’t really worried when his fastball was 93mph. But NOW I’m worried.

By KC

April 17, 2007 9:58 AM | Link to this

Ron Roberts:

I don’t see how this would be a post-elbow issue. We’ve seen him run it up there to 93-94 in a Braves uniform. That may be a couple mph off last year, but he was still bringing it. But 85 mph… that’s a different story all together.

I don’t get it, because after allowing a runners at 2nd/3rd-nobody out situation in his first appearance back in Phili… he dominated that next 3 hitters, and looked like he did back in Pittsburgh. What happened after that???

On a positive note… Despite giving up a couple hits, I thought Tyler Yates pitched well again. One of the hits was off of a fastball on the outside part of the plate (not a bad location)… and the other hit was a slider that D.Young almost literally dug off his shoe-tops.

Also, as Ron mentioned, Colyer looked good.

I think this bullpen will still be in good shape even without a sharp Gonzalez… still one of the best in the league… but not the “Nasty Boys” caliber bullpen we all envisioned. Lets hope Gonzo comes around.

By caveman22

April 17, 2007 10:00 AM | Link to this

I was just wondering where the Nat’s bloggers are?? They would fair better here than shaun,no chop,and metrodude since there team seems to have our magic number.

and where are you Renegator?? I just met a girl from Gatorland and I was looking for a reference. You probably know her, I’ll bet EVERYBODY knows her.

By TennesseePaul

April 17, 2007 10:09 AM | Link to this

KC: I found this on FoxSports.com and thought you might want to tack it up in the basement:
The Giambino is hitting just above the Mendoza line at .205 and his OBP is below the Francoeur line at .286

Not only is the National Media not reporting much on the Braves, but they are coining negative terms out of the young stars names.

By KansasCityFireballer

April 17, 2007 10:10 AM | Link to this

Wow”“’ this blog is almost as exciting to read as the white pages in my phonebook///so many ignoramouses so little space,,,,who the toe feteshist

By TennesseePaul

April 17, 2007 10:13 AM | Link to this

OH, and this line was in there too:
[Jorge Julio] even pulled off the near-impossible when he walked the un-walkable Jeff Francoeur with the bases loaded in Atlanta on Sunday.

By KC

April 17, 2007 10:14 AM | Link to this

Well on a positve note, Kevin Mench has a feature story on Hudson at ForSports.com.

Who wrote that piece that referred to the “Francoeur line”?

By CowToe

April 17, 2007 10:16 AM | Link to this

Maybe if the braves were any shytin good they wouldnt be talked about like theyre not take the blinders off and look for youselves

By KC

April 17, 2007 10:19 AM | Link to this

Never mind, I just saw the “Francoeur line” in Mench’s piece.

That’s cute, but it’s a little early in this guys career to being saying stuff like that. I mean, for cryin’ out loud… the guy posts a low OBP in his first full major league season, and your naming benchmarks after him?? That’s a little silly.

Frenchy’s shown a lot more plate discipline this year, giving reason to believe he may get that OBP up into a much more respectable .330-350, so I don’t think there will ever be a “Francoeur line” (except in Kevin Mench’s head for the moment).

By TennesseePaul

April 17, 2007 10:20 AM | Link to this

Same feature story. He sprinkles it throughout.

By Lew

April 17, 2007 10:20 AM | Link to this

We’ve lost four games so far-two because Redman is atrocious and two because we can’t hit. Mike Gonzalez hasn’t really been a factor to this point, no matter how much velocity he may or may not have lost. My question is when is TP going to start earning HIS paycheck-a question I had many times the past couple of years. Francoeur’s looking somewhat more selective, but I think Pendleton needs to be working constantly with several players. This policy of waiting until someone comes to him is ok to a point, but we passed that point a long time ago. He hasn’t gotten Andruw out of his bad habits and last year, apparently he couldn’t tell that Giles had opened his stance way too much. Now, of course, I’m sure there’s much tutoring that I don’t see, but I have wondered on numerous occaisons just WTF is going on with the hitting coach.

By TennesseePaul

April 17, 2007 10:31 AM | Link to this

Bushwacker: It’s the part about being not American that makes them not African American. AJ is from Curacao not the Dominican, and Edgar from Columbia. And lastly, keep your Terrance Moore rants on his blog.

By KC

April 17, 2007 10:31 AM | Link to this

LEW: I don’t think TP can be faulted for anything, and I’m positive that he IS working with each and every hitter that’s struggling.

Lew, BTW… what is your email address again? I had a quick question.

By geauxbraves2000

April 17, 2007 10:31 AM | Link to this

I told my wife last night after Washington scored 3 runs in the 3rd that the lead was insurmountable. This offense better start coming to life or it is going to be a long season for them and their fans.

Geaux Braves!!

By KC

April 17, 2007 10:37 AM | Link to this

Hey… positive that I don’t think has been mentioned about last night’s game was the 2 walks Frenchy took. He showed a really good eye both times. If he becomes more selective at the plate and continues using the whole field (antoher 2007 improvement)… he could have a very big year.

By KC

April 17, 2007 10:37 AM | Link to this

Meant to say… another positive…

By TennesseePaul

April 17, 2007 10:40 AM | Link to this

Lew: I hear ya. I’m not sure we’ll ever get that answer. But it’s good to know that he is loitering in the dug out waiting for his next job.

By Afreakin

April 17, 2007 10:42 AM | Link to this

african-american no such thing either you born in africa or you born in america unless your mama started squeezing you out in africa traveled to america and you drop out here should strike idiots wth pangas

By TennesseePaul

April 17, 2007 10:44 AM | Link to this

It appears as if the streakiness of our offense is still present. We’ve been fortunate that the pitching has been there. But this offense is going to have to step up if we intend to win it all. The streakiness might not be so apparent if the players played consistantly. Maybe, say, pick a line up and run it out there for a week straight regardless of the oppositions pitching hand. Hell, if it doesn’t work you can always say… “It’s early”

By Lew

April 17, 2007 10:50 AM | Link to this

KC-I’m concerned about TP’s past comments about not offering advice unless asked. I’m certain this may be an over-simplification on his part, but still makes me wonder. He was NOT successful last year with Giles. Marcus’ problem was NOT being a leadoff hitter, it was trying to take pitches to the opposite field with a pull hitter’s stance. I’ve also wondered at Andruw’s lack of stance consistency-something that a hitting coach should nip in the bud. Now we do know that Andruw can get a tad hard headed and just fix that silly little grin on his face, doing things his way at all cots, but……Now, again, I’m sure Andruw will turn it around, but will it be at the cost of a broken ankle or a torn Achilles’ Tendon with that breakaway swing of his? Thorman definitely needs help from the hitting coach-Langerhans, too. We won’t even get into Francoeur’s idiosyncracies. My email is lewhartman@comcast.net

By MBATL

April 17, 2007 11:31 AM | Link to this

Last June the Braves scored a paltry 94 runs in a month (3.48 runs/game), and lost 21 out of 27 games. And still finished 2nd in the NL in runs scored. But, we didn’t have the pitching to overcome an extended hitting slump last year, and June just knocked us out of the race.

So far this April, we’ve scored 54 runs in 12 games (4.5 per game). Pretty poor, but we’ve won 8 of 12.

It’s hard not to be concerned with so few guys hitting even close to expectations, but I agree with what Kruk said: for the team to have this record when so many guys are struggling can easily be viewed as a positive sign.

By Coach

April 17, 2007 11:33 AM | Link to this

Yes , it could be worse. Robot could blog one hundred times a day instead the current fifty or so a day……….or is it better due to the CHA CHING and heavy traffic he generates for the AJC ?

By DAP

April 17, 2007 11:36 AM | Link to this

i hate that the lineup gets switched around every day. i think that that is probably really tuff on the guys in the lower part of the order and it really hurts consistency.

i think diaz, throman, and kelly j. should be the starters at their positions, and they should only be given a day off as often as the other position players, like andruw frenchy, mccann, ect.

By Carolina Lady

April 17, 2007 11:48 AM | Link to this

All this talk about leotards has inspired me! I went to the gym to an exercise class this morning. I stretched, bent, twisted and sweated for an hour….. but by the time I actually got the leotards on, the exercise class was over! Oh, well…..maybe next time! :-)))

By Lew

April 17, 2007 11:50 AM | Link to this

Has anyone else had missing posts? There’s at least two of mine that never showed up and I haven’t given anyone a hard time except TP.

By Lew

April 17, 2007 11:52 AM | Link to this

Coach-You mean he doesn’t?

By GeorgetownKid

April 17, 2007 11:54 AM | Link to this

Lew & TennesseePaul,

I whole-heartedly agree with you regarding our Batting Coach.

Our Batting Coach hasn’t had much success with several talented hitters over the years. And our best hitters (Chipper, McCann, Renteria) honed their craft before TP was their coach.

I don’t remember an example of our Batting Coach taking a young talent and making him better, or of rejuvinating an older hitter, such as we have seen with our Pitching Coaches (past and present).

By Lew

April 17, 2007 11:54 AM | Link to this

Ma’am-Exercise is a good thing. However, given your penchant for falling off things and cracking your head into equipment, might I suggest low impact aerobics rather than a step master or treadmill? It will be safer.

By Carolina Lady

April 17, 2007 11:59 AM | Link to this

Oh, no, Lew!!! Treadmill resulted in 3 badly bruised ribs!!

I really think the safest place for me is right here at the keyboard!!! :-)))

By Ripme

April 17, 2007 12:02 PM | Link to this

CHRISTOPHER J BISHOP-German instructor at Virginia Tech- was a AVID BRAVES FAN from UGA. Killed in Shooting at Virginia Tech yesterday. Our prayers go out to all VT students and their families.

By David-ATL14

April 17, 2007 12:13 PM | Link to this

Nice post at 9:33P last night scribe, I believe you speak for quite a few of us.

Robert your political discourse and your hacker’s knowledge of baseball is roughly the same.Below the idiot level of acumen on both subjects.

You’re a consistent source of incoherent musings and astonishingly stupid observations.

By David-ATL14

April 17, 2007 12:15 PM | Link to this

Yes I clumsily forgot to mention all the victims and their families in yesterday’s horrofic tragedy in Blacksburg. Prayers to all involved.

By Renegator

April 17, 2007 12:19 PM | Link to this

Caveman - I’m here. Whos the lucky lady?

I agree on the offense woes. Pick a lineup and stay with it. We all know that’s not going to happen because of Bobby (lefty-righty matchup) Cox. I know everyone keeps saying “It’s Early” - well when is that over - 50 ABs, 100 ABs? When should we start worrying that 4 starters are still hitting under .200?

By caveman22

April 17, 2007 12:23 PM | Link to this

wow robert

you really now how to win friends and influence people.

I would place the importance of your comments right below the need to fart. Sometimes you gotta do it, but it’s never a really good idea.

By Lee

April 17, 2007 12:24 PM | Link to this

I have never heard of so many excuses for a team’s lack of hitting in all my life. Cold weather, the opposing pitcher was really on tonight, give some of these guys more time and they will hit etc…….etc……etc……. Looking at the box scores this morning anyone want to guess what major league team had the least amount of hits last night excluding postponed games - that’s right THE BRAVES

I agree giving a couple of the players a while longer and stick with a regular lineup for at least the rest of this month; but there has got to be concern and doubt that some of these younger players will actually ever hit satisfactory at the Major League level. The question is, if they don’t start hitting eventually when is enough….enough. I would suppose when the Braves start falling from contention.

If Smoltz pitches adequate in his next start and receives no run support - don’t be surprise if he speaks his mind about the Braves hitting, because it is coming sooner or later if these bats stay as cold as ice.

By caveman22

April 17, 2007 12:29 PM | Link to this

She’s says her nickname was Gator-BAIT.

That’s b/c she was hot and underage at the time. BUT not anymore.

I’m afraid of picking up a Gator-ailment, if you know what I mean?

However, she’s hot enough to take the risks.

By Mitchie-san

April 17, 2007 12:30 PM | Link to this

Carolina Lady…. That was hilarious! It gave me a good laugh.

By ncscoots

April 17, 2007 12:30 PM | Link to this

No coach can force a player to do anything. Do you think Andruw’s going to be benched if he doesn’t listen to Terry Pendleton? Blaming coaches for the failures of players is like blaming the tree because it ate your kite.

By nappyheadedho

April 17, 2007 12:35 PM | Link to this

so is this dumbass caveman the same buffoon thats obsessed with stinky toes, pie, and Roslynn Carter? cheese and shytt like that

By Renegator

April 17, 2007 12:42 PM | Link to this

Caveman - Hey man, I hear ya. I don’t know her so I can’t tell you about the ailment. I can tell you this - she will probably be wearing jean shorts.

Lee - I’m with you. We will see the Braves continue to fall in the standings if the offensive issues aren’t addressed.

By Carolina Lady

April 17, 2007 12:46 PM | Link to this

Thanks, Mitchie-san! And THANKS for being in service for all of us! Tell your shipmates that y’all are 100% supported and appreciated!

By caveman22

April 17, 2007 12:47 PM | Link to this

nappy I know not of what you speak, However if you wish to engage in a battle of wits with me I suggest you think twice.

Anybody stupid enough to use that for a name is obviously 3 seeds short of a full watermelon.

By caveman22

April 17, 2007 12:49 PM | Link to this

Renegator dude that was frk’n hilarious —- She was.

and Daisy Dukes too.

Daaammmmmmmmmm, she was smokin’!!

By Mitchie-san

April 17, 2007 12:57 PM | Link to this

Thank you C.L. Hearing “thanks” does wonders for our morale!

By Renegator

April 17, 2007 12:57 PM | Link to this

“Daaammmmmmmmmm, she was smokin’!!” They always are my brother, they always are.

UF girls can party so better watch yourself.

By MBATL

April 17, 2007 1:00 PM | Link to this

… she will probably be wearing jean shorts. Renegator, ain’t it the truth. Never seen so much of that “fashion” anywhere as in North Florida.

Regarding the offense, I know it’s a blog and we’ve got to talk about something, but I just think folks are panicking way too early. That’s the point I was making about last June. For a whole month last year, we were much worse, offensively, than we’ve been in these first 12 games, and finished the year with one of the league’s best offenses.

Surprisingly, the Braves are 6th out of 16 teams in runs scored. 3 of the teams ahead of us in scoring are FL, NYM, and Philly; and we’re 6-2 against those teams. Scoring is down everywhere.

That said: to me, KJ is not even a concern. Wilson and Thorman are both struggling, with exactly the same .182 average. We really don’t have any options beyond them, so what are you gonna do? The only remaining question is left field.

Bobby is likely to stay with the platoons - I don’t think it’s just a lefty-righty thing, but also his philosophy that he wants a couple of key reserves to stay sharp by getting PT.

I tend to think it would be good to stick someone at LF, and at 1B, and let them play consecutive games for a week or two, but it’s just not Bobby’s philosophy, I guess. (and before the Cox bashers jump in … say what you want; he’s proven pretty good at winning in the regular season).

It’s way to early to start calling up AA outfielders, and there are practically no trade opportunities at this time of year, even if we wanted to make a trade (which we shouldn’t).

By caveman22

April 17, 2007 1:04 PM | Link to this

Remember Gator I attended UGA

The campus beer bongin champion was a girl. And she was a Tri-Delt.

Blonde, Boobs, and Beer.

It don’t get any better than that.

By Renegator

April 17, 2007 1:13 PM | Link to this

Caveman - yeah, my brother went to UGA so I know they can party too. I would agree with you on two of the three B’s - I disagree on Blond - Brunette works for me too.

By Mad Mike

April 17, 2007 1:20 PM | Link to this

New Blog Posted

By Bob

April 18, 2007 7:20 AM | Link to this

Yes there has been a windout. In 1993, I had tickets to a Spring Training game between the Braves and Expos and they called the game due to the wind. There was a front moving across FL.