Braves

By Matthew, Dad to Walter

May 20, 2007 2:51 PM | Link to this

According to the NWS, looks like the rain may be heading out of the Boston area soon. Hopefully we can get the game in, since we won’t be coming back this way.

http://www.erh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=box&FcstType=text&MapType=3&site=box&CiTemplate=1&map.x=199&map.y=124

By chrisklob

May 20, 2007 2:58 PM | Link to this

Sixth is still too high in my opinion. I’d be happy for him to hit eighth.

It will be interesting to see what Prado can do while he’s up. Woodward and Orr are probably a little nervous about their jobs this afternoon.

Let’s hope that Lerew’s elbow injury isn’t serious AND that whatever is ailing him is what has caused his problems since he’s been up. Why would he allow himself to be hurt for a month before he finally told someone???

By Yars

May 20, 2007 3:04 PM | Link to this

DOB….any word yet on who will start Thursdays game? Please tell us it’s not Redman. I also don’t see the logic in calling up Prado. There had to have been a better hitter at Richmond. I can’t see Prado playing much. But since Harris/Diaz platoon is working well, I guess I can see why it wasn’t an OF from Richmond. Perhaps the Braves could be using Prado as trade bait? Bring him up to the show for a week or so, so that other teams can get a look at him?

By Alex

May 20, 2007 3:05 PM | Link to this

The Braves have to win this game today, whenever they start playing, it’s a statement game. Winning 2 out of 3 from the first place AL team will be a big morale boost after losing that closely contested series with the lowly Nats.

With Prado getting the start, it gives the Braves more speed in the lineup and it gives Bobby Cox a good left handed bat on the bench for a key pinch hit situation in Kelly Johnson.

Maybe Andruw will respond and get hot tonight from the sixth spot in the lineup. It doesn’t matter where you’re hitting, just hit ‘druw and stop overswinging for the HR ball every time! TP must be losing his mind trying to “coach” a guy like Andruw Jones right now.

Will Thursday’s matchup against the Muts be Smoltz vs Glavine again? Those two seem to be destined to pitch against each other 4 or 5 times this year.

3pm…still in a rain delay…surely TBS has something better to show during delays…Saved by the bell, God have mercy!

By jaytriskit

May 20, 2007 3:07 PM | Link to this

I hope Prado can take the place of either woodward or Orr, whichever. They are both waisting space in my opinion.

By jaytriskit

May 20, 2007 3:08 PM | Link to this

I hope Prado can take the place of either woodward or Orr, whichever. They are both waisting space in my opinion.

By Coach

May 20, 2007 3:13 PM | Link to this

Adjustment ? Dear Andruw , if you stop trying to pull everything while giving the pitcher and the defense one-third of the diamond it just might help a bit , don’t you think ?

By David O'Brien

May 20, 2007 3:13 PM | Link to this

Yars, it’s Smoltz vs. Glavine on Thursday, Smoltz going for win No. 200 against his pal and the Mets, in Atlanta. Couldn’t have scripted it better.

Matchups for that series, as of now:

Davies vs. Jorge Sosa on Monday, Chuck James vs. Oliver Perez on Wednesday, Smoltz vs. Glavine on Thursday.

No matchups beyond that. Bobby said he hasn’t decided. But I don’t see how they can NOT start Redman now, with Lerew on DL and Cormier needing a couple more rehab starts, at least.

By Braveheart

May 20, 2007 3:18 PM | Link to this

Hey, hey. Don’t be knocking Saved By The Bell. Some good violence breaks out on that show. In case you missed Simmons giving the link this week:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=JpxDeeZHeZM

By Seymour

May 20, 2007 3:25 PM | Link to this

About Andruw:

Isn’t the purpose of his widened batting stance to help him stay back with more of his weight on his back foot instead of lunging at the ball? So, with his acrobatics where he collapses that back leg to the point where his knee is touching the ground much of the time, doesn’t that almost totally cancel out the benefit of his widened stance?

By N8

May 20, 2007 3:28 PM | Link to this

DOB

Excuse my “ignorance” on the topic. Just got back into town after two long roadtrips this weekend (blogged from a hotel yesterday afternoon).

Tried to read through everything to “catch up”.

Are the Braves (Cox) upset with Lerew? What was Lerew’s tone when he made the comment about Bobby knowing his elbow was sore? But most importantly, DID Bobby know (to your knowledge) that his elbow was sore, or is Lerew just being an embarrassed rookie, and making excuses?

Sorry for the 20 questions. But since this kid was highly thought of by the organization (obviously enough to bring him up), I would hate for the relationship between manager/player to be strained over some public comments.

Just curious.

For the record, anybody that wants to rag on me for being all gloom and doom yesterday, can do so. I can take it.

But the bottom line is STILL the same. After Smoltz and Hudson, we are in serious trouble with this rotation. Especially if Cormier is giving up HR’s to his opposing pitcher in his rehab starts.

It doesn’t matter how good the bullpen is, (which has to be considered iffy at best after Soriano and Wickman), if the 3-5 starters are putting us in a ridiculous hole early in every game.

So while game two of the DH was definitely good, and even if Hudson dominates today, allowing us to win the series. NOTHING has changed. Just our two aces doing their job, and praying that that the other guys can suck just a little less to allow us a chance.

Congrats to Bobby for finally doing what’s been obvious to most normal observers for a couple of weeks, by dropping Andruw down in the lineup. A little odd that without him in the lineup they put up 14, isn’t it.

Sorry for the long blog (no….really), I have no intention of bogging down the blog today. Too much yard work to do.

Enjoy the game guys.

By Ron Roberts

May 20, 2007 3:28 PM | Link to this

Coupla points…

1. Prado’s speed won’t mean squat if he’s not able to get on-base. I hope he’s not too juiced about getting the call-up and oh by the way playing in Fenway.

2. I’d have sat Andruw today, too. The guy needs more time in the batting cages, frankly. I’d have Willie in CF, with Diaz in LF, and McCann batting the DH. Doing that and slinging Chipper (the most productive bat in our lineup this season, thus far) would cover us fine, I’d think.

Which brings me to my question… DOB, is there some spoken or unspoken agreement with Cox and Chipper about him not batting cleanup?

Again, at least this season, he’s been the most consistent hitter and extra base guy in the lineup.

So why not put C. Jones in the spot?

By Kevin

May 20, 2007 3:29 PM | Link to this

braveheart, Bill Simmons is a household name in my friend circle, glad to see he is recognized by others as well.

By Braveheart

May 20, 2007 3:30 PM | Link to this

Seymour, I think you are exactly right.

By joebrave

May 20, 2007 3:30 PM | Link to this

Seymour,the problem with Andruw’s back leg is all those late night stops at the local Krispy Kreme,when you got all that weight on one ankle something’s gotta give…

By Lew

May 20, 2007 3:31 PM | Link to this

And maybe Prado is just up to fill the role of Utility Infielder-just like we’ve all been repeatedly told, that this is how he’s viewed by the Braves powers that be. Maybe someday we will understand this and like the Beatles, Let It Be.

By bravefansince54

May 20, 2007 3:35 PM | Link to this

I don’t quite know what to make of Lerew’s comment. I think he owed it to the team to be honest about his sore elbow. Maybe he’s just alibi’ing, and trying to justify another bad performanc - either way I am dismayed. I am thinking that the real problem is that he just can’t contribute at the major league level. Braves can’t wait for him to heal and then find out he can’t pitch. It is troublesome that he is pretty clearly not the answer to our rotation dilemmas. On the subject of BC, I offer this: this year’s team is basically a very good one, with several glaring problems, but BC needs to be a bit more decisive. He has - as Lincoln famously said of one of generals - “a bad case of the slows”. He probably still hasn’t pulled the trigger yet on Redman, of whom it was said on this blog is very close to the highest ERA ever recorded at his level of innings pitched. Folks this franchise is 131 years old. That is one he— of a stat, if true!

By gotigers72

May 20, 2007 3:36 PM | Link to this

Andruw saying he’ll make adjustments? Please. He’s had all year and is still trying to hit the same way. Balls to the wall, the heck with everything else. Maybe hitting 6th will wake him up and make him change his approach. Maybe not.

If it does rain today’s game out, that would mean Hudson and Smoltz would both go against the Mutts. So a rain out is not an all bad scenario, except for DOB who has to sit in the pressbox and watch the grass grow for however many hours it lasts.

By Coach

May 20, 2007 3:37 PM | Link to this

16-9 in April and I figure roughly 16-13 this month and on pace for a 90 plus win season. It’s good to hear that Lance Cormier is pitching again , the Braves need him.

By Braveheart

May 20, 2007 3:39 PM | Link to this

Looks like the Pumpkins will be playing the Fillmore on July 22, 24, 25, 27, 28, 30 and 31 and August 1. Looks like I am going to have to find a way to get out to San Fran and catch the Pumpkins and the Braves, see the beautiful park and boo Barroids. Hell Yeah! Thanks for the heads up, 10Paul!

By joebrave

May 20, 2007 3:40 PM | Link to this

DOB, you are the man sir, but I do hope you are wrong about Redman,I don’t think the entire Braves nation can stomache much more of him… Although his remarks were rather comical(I had more velocity in my rehab start aftre surgery),what a load of crap….

By TennesseePaul

May 20, 2007 3:41 PM | Link to this

DOB (and others): Sorry I didn’t get extra tickets. There was a limit of only 2 per person. But they are on sale right now. The Pumpkins, and you’ll love this DOB, are playing while the Braves are in Frisco. Go to www.SmashingPumpkins.com. They are also playing a residency in Ashiville NC at the Orange Peel from 6/24 - 7/5. The dates in Frisco are 7/22 through 8/1.
I’ve never been to the Filmore. But I can’t wait to go. Legedary place.

Thanks for the news on Lerew DOB and for the new blog.

By Braveheart

May 20, 2007 3:43 PM | Link to this

Which game did ya see yesterday Lew?

By Stuart

May 20, 2007 3:45 PM | Link to this

I am going to make a bunch of points: I am glad prado is up and giving kj the day off. Last time we gave KJ a day off after a big night, he went on a tear. KJ hasn’t played regularly in over a year, so he needs a day or two off every once in awhile. I love the fact Prado is up, we are too left hand heavy on this team. Chipper needs to hit 3 because you want him hitting as much as possible. I think andruw batting sixth is going to help him because he is going to see better pitches to hit, IF Chipper, Frenchy, and McCann keep getting on base. Honestly I wish we could trade Andruw for pitching help, (i know, we would have to find a CF, but we need at least one new you arm and then can trade Chuck to Tampa for one of those CFs there, but that is a perfect world.)

By PaBravefan

May 20, 2007 3:45 PM | Link to this

DOB, How can you say that you can’t see Redman Not starting on Friday??? To me it sounded form Bobb’s coments that he has seen enough. It would not surprise me at all to see the Braevs Release Redman this week and bring up someone else from the minors!! Let’s face it, about anyone would be better. Richmond has a terrific pitching staff!!! Trey Hodges has lloked great so far or we could bring up Dam Smith from Mississippi. He is going today and Friday would be his next turn in the rotation. Lose Redman NOW. If we could eat Wilson’s 2 mill contract, Redman’s 750K is nothing!!

By beki

May 20, 2007 3:48 PM | Link to this

As I have said on another post,Andrew literally screws himself into the ground; and thus, begins running from a crouching position. In that kind of stance, he never gets enough steam to get to first base.It seems, to me, as if he aiming to get a homerun instead of trying to help the team with either a base hit or a walk.

By True Braves Fan

May 20, 2007 3:49 PM | Link to this

ANDRUW The pitchers are pitching you better this year?? Wake up and smell the roses. The pitchers know that you are too stubborn to adjust, and never have been able to either hit or lay off a low outside curve. Look at the difference in JF this year with his different approach. You are probably the greatest defensive CF all time, but right now you are a liability to the Braves at the plate.

By ElbravoX

May 20, 2007 3:50 PM | Link to this

DOB-I thought the Brave were off on Monday, I am sure they are, I think.

By Lew

May 20, 2007 3:51 PM | Link to this

Braveheart-The wrong one.

By 96,sc

May 20, 2007 3:55 PM | Link to this

jaytriskit, I agree. I would much rather see prado stay with the team than chris w. prado is also known for his defense and he could be a better backup for chipper.

By tvsportscaster

May 20, 2007 3:59 PM | Link to this

DOB I would be stunned if Redman starts Saturday and is not released. I think at this point, the Braves feel anyone is a better option than Redman. You got that feeling by Bobby’s comments after the game yesterday.

By John

May 20, 2007 4:02 PM | Link to this

joebrave, you are correct.Redman, Paronto,and McBride should be in Rome.Smoltz and Hudson can’t keep us in the running.Three more starters’ are a MUST.

By Braveheart

May 20, 2007 4:04 PM | Link to this

sorry to hear that Lew.

By Braves Fan 79

May 20, 2007 4:08 PM | Link to this

So whos the 306 idiots that dont think Smoltz is a first ballot Hall of Famer?? Did you 306 idiots change your minds after watching Smoltz dominate the RedSox last night? You probably didnt becuase its clear you havent watched the Braves play the past 15 years…so maybe u should go do polls on stuff u actually have a clue about…and leave the baseball knowledge to us TRUE fans!

By DCBrave

May 20, 2007 4:15 PM | Link to this

It amazes me that they released a veteran 1B who can hit 20-30 homers a year if playing every day, but they won’t release Redman. They should call up Kevin Barry or start McBride or even Villarreal…they’re going to be in the game by the 3rd inning if Redman starts anyway! Hell, call up Trey Hodges to start…he always pitched a helluva lot better than Redman!

By Gil In Mechanicsville

May 20, 2007 4:16 PM | Link to this

Lerew should talk with Davies on how the Braves feel about a pitcher hiding an injury….

How serious is it and who knew what when? Makes little difference now. I have however seen guys try to play through pain or hide and injury because they are afraid for their jobs.

Heck, I worked with a bad back for twenty years before I got found out… So what happened? Let’s just say I enjoy retirement. Doc said he did not see how I worked with the pain.

I said it was easier than being poor…

By Chris

May 20, 2007 4:18 PM | Link to this

Did Andruw say that they are pitching him different? BS. They are throwing him the same down and away slider they have thrown him since 1996. He gives them the same big Ryan Klesko swing and falls down before he sits down. Last game is Sept. 30 - That’s 132 days, 19 hours and 43 minutes until we get to watch him screw it up for somebody else.

By BossLady

May 20, 2007 4:18 PM | Link to this

I think Andruw has been injured for a long time. The Braves have never publicized his medical reports. He plays throught injury all the time. For years when he played almost every single day laying out on catches and into the walls, everyone loved him. It is more than just what you see with Andruw. The Braves uses his reputation to intimidate the opposition. Otherwise there is no reason for him to be in the lineup with his batting average and running. It may take time but like the Braves front office believes he will heal and help the team.

By bravefansince54

May 20, 2007 4:22 PM | Link to this

I can’t believe they would consider starting Redman. He has got to be totally demoralized. We have talent in Richmond and Rome, I know the tendency is to bring them along slowly, but we are in crisis mode. The page has been turned, the die cast, the verdict is in. Read the writing on the wall, for “it is writ large”.

By GiveUpNow

May 20, 2007 4:22 PM | Link to this

WHO HERE THINKS THE BRAVES ARE LOSING THEIR MAGIC TOUCH? THEY HAD A GOOD OFFENSIVE NIGHT LAST NIGHT BUT IT WON’T CONTINUE. NOPE. THEY STINK. WISH WE HAD A GOOD CLEANUP HITTER. MCCANN, FRANCEOUR AND JONES ARE NEVER GONNA BE BETTER THAN A #6 HITTER IN A GOOD LINEUP.

By BossLady

May 20, 2007 4:23 PM | Link to this

The 306 idiots that don’t think Smottz is first ballot are the people who are depressed and inferior in their own lives. The don’t believe in anything since they have abosolutely not succeeded in anything. The type of person that wants everything around them to go badley so they don’t feel so bad. They vote for their own hopes that all is bleak in the world.

By brian

May 20, 2007 4:29 PM | Link to this

I wonder if the Braves are talking to someone now regarding a trade and want to showcase Prado for a game or two. He has torn up the minors and if he can get off to a good start here he would up his value. Getting to June we should start seeing more trades as teams have fully evaluated their roster and weaknesses after 2 months.

By the way, anyone here still complaining about “wasting” money of Sturtze when the Braves signed Redman and will have no room for him. He has as good as shot as anyone to be our 5th starter when he returns from injury.

I still would like to see Salty and McCann in the lineup together with Orr the backup/emergency catcher. Salty needs ABs not splinters to develop

By BossLady

May 20, 2007 4:30 PM | Link to this

Redman should have caught a ride with Wilson out of town. The Braves should not degrade their organization by allowing him to ever take the field again. In the old days we called pitchers like him “Dirty Nose Stinkers”

By Braves Fan 79

May 20, 2007 4:31 PM | Link to this

DOB: i hope your wrong about Redmen getting another start….id much rather see anyone BUT redmen start the game! U know this about when redmen starts…hell pitch about 3 innings…and well be down by about 5 or more runs. Theres GOTTA be someone better in the minors that we can give a chance!
And Id much rather see prado in the lineup over woodward or orr. I like orr ok because hes been around awhile…but woodward….man we gotta let him and redmen go!!

By DCBrave

May 20, 2007 4:38 PM | Link to this

If you start McCann and Salty, you can always move Salty to C if you have to take McCann out for some reason. There’s no rule against moving a player to catcher during the game.

By BossLady

May 20, 2007 4:46 PM | Link to this

PLAY BALL!

By journalist jimmy smith

May 20, 2007 4:58 PM | Link to this

wendel wurlitzer is a pleasant man. journalist just received a call from wendel wurlitzer wegarding the wurlitzer prize. it seems wendel wurlitzer is concerned about any one journalist winning too many wurlitzers in a wow. this could lead to retirement of the wurlitzer cup. yes, cup. dob did get the cup, too, right? and now, after scoring 14 runs last night, bobby cox has worked to take some of the fear out of the lineup. did francona take out some starters, too? no? oh, well. and when redman pitches again let’s hope it is in redman’s basement. 3-0 in the first inning. this is not a good start, oh, the humanity! 4-0. woodward and prado must both hit 3-run homers today.

By Glass Half Full (GHF)

May 20, 2007 4:58 PM | Link to this

Any chance the Braves are showcasing Prado? I mean where’s the guy gonna play in the foreseeable future unless Johnson gets injured? Plus, you’ve got Elvis behind him.

By gameover

May 20, 2007 4:59 PM | Link to this

3.5 out after today. It is demoraling to let up those runs in the 1st, especially with 2 out

By Victor

May 20, 2007 5:00 PM | Link to this

Hey DOb, any chance to see MaBride starting next saturday???

By Train Wreck Bystander

May 20, 2007 5:02 PM | Link to this

Where is the rain when you need it…

By berigan

May 20, 2007 5:03 PM | Link to this

AL teams, especially AL east teams, are very patient for the most part. You throw a ton of pitches, and when 3-1 you need to come in with a strike. I think I said it earlier this year, Andruw should be forced to watch EVERY game the Sox play, on Tape. Right a report on what pitch each player saw, what they did ahead, and behind in the count…. or, just keep swinging for the fences and hitting .219.

By NO~TO~AMNESTY~!

May 20, 2007 5:04 PM | Link to this

McDowell is pathetic…another injured pitcher and he knows nothing about it…INCOMPETENT COACH!

By N8

May 20, 2007 5:04 PM | Link to this

Don’t look now. But your local gloom and doom specialist is here to point out that in his last 22 IP, Hudson’s ERA is 4.09.

:-) Just kidding. Obviously today’s 1st inning has skewed that number.

I’ve just been waiting for the clock to strike midnight for Hudson, not that I want it to happen. But even with the recent success (last 3 starts), I’ve noticed many more mistakes up in the zone that he’s “gotten away with”, as compared to his first few starts when he was “on”.

Can’t leave pitches up in the zone to the Red Sox and expect to see the 5th inning. It’s that simple.

By berigan

May 20, 2007 5:09 PM | Link to this

I don’t understand why McCann is playing today. Didn’t he play a game and a half yesterday? And isn’t today a day game after a night game to boot? They just said his finger tip is still quite sore, so why is he out there today? Are they afraid to have Salty catch Hudson in Fenway????

By Meanie

May 20, 2007 5:13 PM | Link to this

This looks like Hudson ‘06. The ball just ain’t dropping like it has this year. I do think we’ll get some offense going the second time through against their kid. Let’s just hope Huddy has us in the game then…

By N8

May 20, 2007 5:17 PM | Link to this

I sure hope Prado can hit. Because you had the slower than slow Ortiz hit a perfect DP ball, and he BOMBED it.

Nice job.

By Glass Half Full (GHF)

May 20, 2007 5:18 PM | Link to this

You can’t blame anyone but Lerew. The kid gets the call to make his first MLB start; there’s no way he tells anyone he’s been hurting.

By Train Wreck Bystander

May 20, 2007 5:19 PM | Link to this

AJ - golden in the field, as usual. He may be a liability at the plate, but he makes up for it with catches like that.

By Ron

May 20, 2007 5:21 PM | Link to this

Well that 1st inning did not go to well, damn just when I was typing this Prado should have made that play instead they scored 1 run damn that was a sure double play!!! It aint over, but it is over, especially with us against first time pitchers for the most part, What a catch by Andruw!!! Even though he is struggling he does not let it effect his fielding!!! As much as we hate the way he is swinging, we do need to appreciate how great he has been for us, and he is the Best Defensive Center Fielder that I have ever seen in my life!!! We do need to appreciate Andruw, because he will be gone at the end of the season wether he hits great or hits bad!!!

By David O'Brien

May 20, 2007 5:25 PM | Link to this

Victor, I’d say there’s a chance we could see McBride starting, but more likely to be Villarreal or, painful as it is to say it, Redman.

By JasonInMaine

May 20, 2007 5:29 PM | Link to this

This looks like another blowout…let’s hope the bats get going and that we don’t make another rookie look like Cy Young.

Regards,

Jason

By Ron

May 20, 2007 5:32 PM | Link to this

Hudson is very very good, but he will have an off day every once and awhile, every single pitcher has an off day!!! Hell even the Best Pitcher in the game, Johan Santana has off days, Hudson will be OK. Lets just keep us in the game and give us a chance to come back.

By berigan

May 20, 2007 5:32 PM | Link to this

Hmmm, this Gabbard kid looks very good. And they have John Lester coming back. They also don’t really need them when Beckett comes back. Sigh….

By eric the elder

May 20, 2007 5:38 PM | Link to this

Andruw appealed a check swing to the first base umpire. My day is complete.

By berigan

May 20, 2007 5:39 PM | Link to this

Man, did you see that 2nd pitch against Andruw? No way was that a strike! He will strike out for sure with a little ump help. Rookie ump!!!!! GRRRRR!

By Glass Half Full (GHF)

May 20, 2007 5:40 PM | Link to this

If Andruw was still hitting 4th, it would still be a no hitter with the #5 spot leading off the next inning.

By Please Andy

May 20, 2007 5:42 PM | Link to this

Andruw, pleaaaaaaase drop your no trade position!

By N8

May 20, 2007 5:42 PM | Link to this

THIS JUST IN….

Even in the 6th hole, Andruw still knows how to kill a rally.

Maybe Bobby should hit him 10th.

By N8

May 20, 2007 5:49 PM | Link to this

Anybody else see that “shot” on TBS of Salty standing right next to TP leaning over the rail in the dugout?

Smart kid.

I wonder where Andruw is sitting?

By Savannah Guy

May 20, 2007 5:51 PM | Link to this

Notice how we get such a lift when Android is in the game and Kelly is out of the game? Everyone really hits and fields thier very best. Hitting fourth or sixth or eighth, Android has a domino effect. They should give a new blog award for each games most disruptive player (MDP) and let ‘droid have a few dozen awards retroactively.

And where are all these Cy Young pitchers coming from the last few weeks? I always dread facing a rookie.

By Please Andy

May 20, 2007 5:52 PM | Link to this

Now this is what I’m used to seeing from the Braves when they are facing a triple A pitcher for the first time. Last night against the same type pitcher was an exception for the team.

By N8

May 20, 2007 5:53 PM | Link to this

Why is Woodward on the 40 MAN roster, much less the 25 man roster?

By journalist jimmy smith

May 20, 2007 5:54 PM | Link to this

journalist thinks j.d. drew did not make a very good effort to keep the no-hitter going for the young pitcher. j.d. drew is a sad ballplayer who probably has no fan base considering how drew has treated the teams for which drew has played. journalist also bets the braves players were anxious to get to the park today to continue from last night - only to find that francona had dicatated a new lineup for the braves today. and what good is a right handed bat that does not hit? and will bobby pick bobby’s nose in fenway or is the history too rich for such an exploit? and kason gabbard has struck out andruw twice today. remember kason gabbard for trivia later in the season. now, a baserunner at last! who is up? oh, the humanity! it is woodward! strikeout number two for woodward! will francona make a change and force bobby to call wilson back for an at-bat?

the young pitcher is tiring. maybe there is still time for some 3-run homers.

By Please Andy

May 20, 2007 5:56 PM | Link to this

Druw was on the phone to Scott Boras while Satly was talking to TP.

By the way, Boras told Andruw to swing harder.

By JasonInMaine

May 20, 2007 5:57 PM | Link to this

Please, don’t ever start Woodward again…man, we have some awful players on this team…just awful.

By joebrave

May 20, 2007 6:03 PM | Link to this

Why in the blue f*** he!! do we make these goddam rookie pitchers look like Cy F*** Young and every goddam hitter look like ty F*** Cobb,Bu!!$hit,somebody shoot these sorry sumbitches!!!!!!

By Please Andy

May 20, 2007 6:05 PM | Link to this

Why do I feel like this is the real Braves team and the team that played the first six weeks were the pretenders?

By Braveheart

May 20, 2007 6:07 PM | Link to this

Andruw ain’t doing great at all but don’t ya think most people are getting more than a little carried away with the disrespect for the guy? He ain’t as bad as he is playing right now and he ain’t as bad as y’all are making him out to be either. He will end up with his usual numbers which means he will have a helluva last 115 games or so in the Braves uni. That being said, he is just plain awful right now. Don’t know how that drop to a knee thing got started but don’t know why it has not been stopped - chrissakes, he has been doing it since last July - either TP was asleep at the wheel at the end of last year or he was trying to stop it and Druw was just that stubborn. I don’t really recall TP making any issue of it last year. Yeah, TP says he is stubborn this year but TP never should have let him come into this season with the same bad habits he developed in the second half of last year. I don’t know but I fear TP did not adequately address the one knee problem last year and now the bad habit is so entrenched that it is beyond repair - something that should have been killed as it was developing last year or in the offseason.

By Please Andy

May 20, 2007 6:07 PM | Link to this

Mckay McCarwreck warming in the bullpen.

By joebrave

May 20, 2007 6:09 PM | Link to this

Cmon guys, you can win in spite of A.J. even though he is occupying the 6 hole he damn sure ain’t hitting, PATHETIC, how can you go from marvelous to $hit in less than 24 hrs…..

By N8

May 20, 2007 6:11 PM | Link to this

Updated Tim Hudson ERA.

4.32 in his last 25 IP.

Hudson’s 1st 5 starts:

37 IP, 1.22 ERA, 31 K’s, 25 hits, 11 BB’s

Hudson’s LAST 5 starts (including so far today):

34 IP, 3.70 ERA, 12 K’s, 30 hits, 4 BB’s

What does all that mean? It doesn’t appear that he’s getting the same sink on his pitches he was early in the year. Not as many K’s, not as many walks, and more hits.

Not that a 3.70 ERA is bad. But it looks like the beginning of a downward trend to me.

He’s done a nice job of somewhat keeping us in the game (if you can count giving up 4 runs in the 1st inning, keeping us in the game).

I’ll appologize and admit I’m wrong, if this turns out to be a “bump in the road” for Tim.

But, you heard it here first. I think he’s gonna end up closer to last year’s numbers than everybody thought two weeks ago.

By Jimbo

May 20, 2007 6:14 PM | Link to this

Sometimes its just plain painful to watch this team especially when they face a triple A pitcher. Andy looks the same batting 6th. What’s next?

By N8

May 20, 2007 6:14 PM | Link to this

“Why do I feel like this is the real Braves team and the team that played the first six weeks were the pretenders?”

Uh huh.

By Please Andy

May 20, 2007 6:14 PM | Link to this

You’re right Braveheart.

We need to ease up on Andruw. Let’s just all calm down until the end of the year. Instead of paying him 18 million next year, we can get two decent players at 9 mil each.

By joebrave

May 20, 2007 6:15 PM | Link to this

Bobby needs a date with Robert today,helluva lineup last night,$hitty lineup today…

why is Salty not in the game against a Lefty,and why in the BLUE HE!! is WOODPECKER in the game,what a waste of roster space, J.S. if your going to nickel and dime HOW BOUT USING OUR OWN DAMN PLAYERS!!!!!!quit with these p** poor rejects!!!!

By daniel

May 20, 2007 6:17 PM | Link to this

Francoeur has looked like a different player all year. Great to see that he can make adjustments. Only wish number 25 could do the same. We need to put some runs on the board here, hopefully in bunches.

By N8

May 20, 2007 6:18 PM | Link to this

Francoeur sure looks like he wants to stay in that cleanup spot, doesn’t he?

What’s the over/under on Andruw hitting into a DP this inning.

Not only will he NOT “avoid an out” as Shaun would say, he’ll account for two of them.

By weret8

May 20, 2007 6:19 PM | Link to this

wow……….

By joebrave

May 20, 2007 6:22 PM | Link to this

well I’ll be damned we can score,and please Andy,don’t take up for A.J. he is an overpaid,overhyped fatbody,not to Mention selfish,greedy and stubborn,He and He alone is killing this club,no play all pay,He should have been dealt last July!!!!!!!

By daniel

May 20, 2007 6:23 PM | Link to this

andruw has to hit to hit into a double play…totally clueless up there

By Victor

May 20, 2007 6:24 PM | Link to this

DOB: I am wondering if Braves could call Buddy Carlyle in order to strenght their rotation since he is having a good season in Richmond

By weret8

May 20, 2007 6:24 PM | Link to this

K ALLERT!!!! Andruw K’s Again!!!!!!!!!!!!

By N8

May 20, 2007 6:25 PM | Link to this

Hey. At least he didn’t hit into a double play.

I don’t say this very often when describing anybody other than Redman, but quite simply….

ANDRUW JONES SUCKS.

By joebrave

May 20, 2007 6:25 PM | Link to this

Cmon Bobby bench A.J. another strikeout to help kill an inning how much longer???????? Get a clue He has Lost it ,or just don’t care!!!!

By Matthew At The SLC

May 20, 2007 6:29 PM | Link to this

ANDRUW JONES = MOST OVERATED PLAYER IN THE LAST DECADE OF BASEBALL

By N8

May 20, 2007 6:31 PM | Link to this

I’m all for giving Salty a “chance” to drive in some runs.

I wanna see what the kid can do as well.

But why not PH with KJ with only 1 out and bases loaded?

Andruw is currently batting .214, that is unreal.

Hit or out, this has been a VERY nice AB by Salty. Nice job kid.

By joebrave

May 20, 2007 6:31 PM | Link to this

looks like Jrod is gonna be our Arod!!!

By daniel

May 20, 2007 6:31 PM | Link to this

Hell of an at-bat there by Salty…He actually appears to have a concept and a gameplan up there. What a novel idea that is…

By weret8

May 20, 2007 6:32 PM | Link to this

GO SALTY!!!

By berigan

May 20, 2007 6:33 PM | Link to this

How can salty nearly hit a homer, then take a pitch for a walk? Amazing eye! I can’t believe that! Ok, we can’t trade him for less than a #1 guy, McCann, can you play left???? ;)

By Ron

May 20, 2007 6:34 PM | Link to this

What an at bat by Salty, he looks better every time I see him at the plate, We got another great young player on this team!!!

By Victor

May 20, 2007 6:34 PM | Link to this

What a nice at bat by Salty!!! it is good to see a young hitter with that kinf of approach!!!

By Jeffro

May 20, 2007 6:34 PM | Link to this

Why does Bobby Cox waste 3 players-Salty to pinch hit and then KJ to pinch run for him and probably Pete Orr to play 3rd. Why not pinch hit with KJ-he had a great game last night and is left-handed. Cox is an idiot.

By JasonInMaine

May 20, 2007 6:37 PM | Link to this

That was our one shot to get back in the game…where’s wilson when you need him? He would have at least k’d

By weret8

May 20, 2007 6:38 PM | Link to this

O WELL, GAME OVER, BUT AT LEAST WOODWARDS GONE

By Savannah Guy

May 20, 2007 6:38 PM | Link to this

Can’t help it…Android IS THE DOMINO EFFECT. Fats Domino with his peppermint twist at the plate.

Android (Domino) Jones would look good in an American League uniform, batting 9th.

But notice his “I’m not bothered by all this, I’m cool” spit that he’s perfecting after he strikes out?

By daniel

May 20, 2007 6:39 PM | Link to this

Salty has more pop and had the chance to pull us back within a run there. I don’t blame Cox for pinch-hitting Salty there. Use your best pinch-hitter at the most important opportunity. I doubt there will be a bigger spot than that one was.

By joebrave

May 20, 2007 6:40 PM | Link to this

Damn Thor, dude I’m your biggest supporter,and you go and hit into an inning killer, WOW great play by DIAZ!!!now on to more runs …… Mcbride looks good so far.

By Matthew At The SLC

May 20, 2007 6:41 PM | Link to this

Seriously, he really is the most overrated player in baseball. His OPS SUCKS!!! His BA SUCKS!!! His Strike Out to RBI ratio SUCKS!!! His OBP SUCKS!!! And I’m not just talking about this year. I’m talking about his WHOLE stinking career. He’s had 2 years where you can say he was good or decent. The one year he hit over .300 and last year, when he hit 50 homers (although, even that year, he struck out way too much, and his OBP sucked).

Has any player hit into more DPs or killed more rallies over the last 10 years than Andruw Jones? Andruw Jones is all style and no substance. Who wouldn’t rather see Jeff Francour take over centerfield with a nice new contract than overpaying for that fat loser? Let the Yankees have him. After two years in the Bronx, Andruw will be crying all the way back to his beautiful island home after the Yankee fans and George Steinbrenner turn on his fat @$$.

ANDRUW JONES = THE MOST OVERRATED PLAYER IN THE LAST DECADE OF BASEBALL!

By Savannah Guy

May 20, 2007 6:41 PM | Link to this

Notice how many outs Android “avoided” last night on the bench?

By Robert

May 20, 2007 6:42 PM | Link to this

“Minutes after manager Bobby Cox said Lerew was healthy and was only taken out of the game because he didn’t have good command, Lerew tells us his elbow’s been sore for a month after starts and that he was getting by in the minors by not throwing between starts”

If he was not throwing between starts, then the coaches knew something was up.

So, either Cox knowingly lied to the press, which makes it useless to quote anything he says, or Cox is just a stupid mofo, which makes it useless to quote anything he says

By the way, NICE move by Cox today, letting Hudson go ahead and start after a long rain delay. CLASSIC setup for a starter to get bombed, and what’s worse, to get hurt.

Of course, NOONE could have done it better.

By Jeffro

May 20, 2007 6:45 PM | Link to this

I should point out that Salty has yet to homer while KJ has several. The problem is that Cox is obsessed with the home run ball and doesn’t understand that real rallies include singles and doubles (note how Boston scored their runs in the first). If anything, Cox could have pinch hit KJ and saved the switchhitting Salty to pinch hit for Thorman (in case they did bring in a lefty).

By Ron

May 20, 2007 6:47 PM | Link to this

I still cant believe Andruw had the nerve of saying that the Pitchers are pitching him differently this year than previous years, Thats a bunch of BS!!! The PROBLEM is that he is trying to pull every single pitch he sees!!! Does he actually not realize that? Because if he does not he is in worst shape than any of us ever thought!!!

By joebrave

May 20, 2007 6:47 PM | Link to this

Let’s go Braves how bout s 5 spot this inning..Just hope A.J. doesn’t hit with RISP…. and if and that’s a big IF A.J. is hurt why is he in the game? and guys those footsteps you hear are the Philthies,only thing worse than a Mutt is a Philthie!!!

By Robert

May 20, 2007 6:48 PM | Link to this

DOB - Have the Braves shown even an inkling of interest in Sidney Ponson?

I know he wasnt having much better results with the Twins than Redman has had with us, but if he can pass a physical, wouldnt it make sense to sniff him out at least?

By JasonInMaine

May 20, 2007 6:50 PM | Link to this

So, is francona an idiot as well since he let his starter pitch as well?

By Savannah Guy

May 20, 2007 6:52 PM | Link to this

Please Andy thank you so much for pointing out that we are all frustrated with Android Domino Jones and advising us all to calm down in our collective disgust with his pitiful attempts at the plate. Golly, you just made me feel so much better. And you know, he’s really so special.

Feel better now?

By N8

May 20, 2007 6:53 PM | Link to this

Robert

“By the way, NICE move by Cox today, letting Hudson go ahead and start after a long rain delay. CLASSIC setup for a starter to get bombed, and what’s worse, to get hurt.”

While I normally would agre with you on that assessment, it didn’t seem to effect Gabbard, did it?

By Braveheart

May 20, 2007 6:53 PM | Link to this

SLC MATT, go back to stinking up the Falcons blogs. Be gone.

By joebrave

May 20, 2007 6:55 PM | Link to this

Hall of Fame HUH! I doubt it!the Braves only have 1 jones headed to the hall and that’s Chipper!!!!

By joebrave

May 20, 2007 6:59 PM | Link to this

You tell em Braveheart I thought i hurt his feelings too bad already,some dumba$$es never learn…..

By Robert

May 20, 2007 6:59 PM | Link to this

To Andruw’s credit, SOME of the bad or stupid pitchers didnt used to throw him offspeed stuff lo and away. But this year, EVERYONE is doing it.

Rumor has it that asked off the record, even Donk said he’d pitch Andruw lo and away, and we all know Donk aint the brightest carrot in the bag

By the way, pitching Larew when he was hurt is NOT McDowell’s fault. It’s DONK’s fault - either for doing it knowingly or for not knowing

This WAS a statement game. By starting Hudson despite the long delay, Cox made a clear statement of his idiocy

By N8

May 20, 2007 7:00 PM | Link to this

Jeffro

Excellent post 6:45 post.

By Robert

May 20, 2007 7:03 PM | Link to this

“While I normally would agre with you on that assessment, it didn’t seem to effect Gabbard, did it?”

N8, it’s RISKY. That doesnt mean it ALWAYS results in injury or bad performance.

The thing is, if the rotation is in a jam, maybe you risk it, with a Larew, or Gabbard.

(Notice I said risk incurring injury or bombardment, I did NOT condone letting a guy pitch knowing he is hurt)

You do NOT, on the other hand, take this risk with your ACE.

This move is akin to him letting Chipper try for that 63rd consecutive 100 rbi season - (sound of baseball smashing wristbone)

By Don

May 20, 2007 7:04 PM | Link to this

NOONE but the idiot doesn’t understand that the starting pitchers warmed up on a normal schedule because the tarp was on the field and the start time was backed up. The delay had nothing to do with Hudson stinking it up. Guess that’s why the Red Sox starter threw 5 shutout inning. Nice try though, horse’s a$$.

If the Braves don’t have at least 5 pitchers in the minors who could be called up to start and give them a better chance to win than Mark Redman, everybody in their scouting system should be fired. The Sox brought up a guy who shut out the Braves for 5 innings. You can’t be worse than the fat soft-tossing Redman. It’s not possible. For all the crap the Braves threw out there last year, none of them were as bad as Redman. He should have already been released.

By Ron

May 20, 2007 7:07 PM | Link to this

Robert, Dude their rookie Pitcher started after a long rain delay also, and he looked great!!! Probably was our hitters that made him look great, but none the less he pitched after a rain delay also!!! Francona must suck like BC does huhhh Robert!!!

By JasonInMaine

May 20, 2007 7:10 PM | Link to this

Robert,

It is hard to say this to a fellow ‘Cuse fan, but man; you are out there sometimes. So, this game has 2 idiots managing, huh?

By berigan

May 20, 2007 7:13 PM | Link to this

So, would you want to face the Sox in the WS? Could we compete????

By joebrave

May 20, 2007 7:14 PM | Link to this

I am normally a Bobby Cox supporter,but after today,I think ol B.C. needs to checked for Alzheimers,note to Bobby this ain’t 1996 A.J. is stinking the place up and Redman is a big ol puss pocket,tighten your A$$ up old man I admire ya but many more days like this,and………

By Robert

May 20, 2007 7:14 PM | Link to this

Ok, let’s back up. I mighta made a mistake. I was following the game online only and somewhere along the way I thought I saw the game had been delayed after 1 inning.

I thought what Cox did was put the starter back out there after an extended delay, which is a time proven recipe for disaster

If Hudson never even warmed up until it was known the game was gonna start, then Cox if off the hook. If he warmed up, then came the delay, then they made him do it again, in my book that’s unacceptable risk with your stud starter.

By Robert

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

OK, here’s the deal. Cox truly looks like a donkey. My obsession with him? Sigh, here goes.

Back in the day there was this sexy young thing, name was Ginny. Coat smooth as warm milk, tail of hand-spun silk. One summer we fell in love. She was so beautiful…man how I rode that a*! All was well until one day this huge, older mule rode into town. Had a 6 branded on his left hip. Long story short I guess he rode that a*, guess he rode it better than me because off they rode together. Now don’t you all feel guilty?

By IlliniBrave

May 20, 2007 7:19 PM | Link to this

Take a look at the two lineups. When you trot out a group that includes such AAAA players as Woodward, Prado, Diaz, and Thorman, all of whom are platoon/bench players at best, and the opponent has All-Stars at 4 or 5 positions, it’s hard to compete. Imagine if they had included Lowell and Willie-Mo in the lineup? Top all that off with your supposedly “clutch” hitter having the worst season of his entire life, and you get the results we got today, and all throughout the Pirates and Nationals series. We just don’t have enough good players. Chipper, McCann, Frenchy and Edgar aren’t enough weapons. We’ve tied up way too much salary in a handful of players and can’t improve the roster enough to compete with the best. It’s really depressing to realize that you just aren’t good enough.

By joebrave

May 20, 2007 7:20 PM | Link to this

Damn A.J. does it again how styupid did he look just then about as dumb as one stupid sumbitch can look all three pitches were balls and behind him before he swung,Fat Dumba$$!!!!!

By JasonInMaine

May 20, 2007 7:20 PM | Link to this

Robert,

Maddux used to do it ALL the time. He would simulate innings by throwing in the tunnels and what not. Is he an idiot as well?

By Ron

May 20, 2007 7:21 PM | Link to this

Joebrave, Dude Andruw will get to the Hall of Fame, you know why? Because he will probably win about 15 Gold Gloves in Center Field and probably hit 500 HomeRuns!!! Case Closed he will get to the Hall of Fame as long as he stays healthy, no doubt about it!!! Those two stats along out does his OBP, Slugging, Batting Average, and any other stat that you can think of!!!

By Daxxed

May 20, 2007 7:24 PM | Link to this

8th Diaz on 2nd no 1 out…If BC had AJ bunt Diaz at 3rd, if he refused bench him for WH, he knows how to bunt…Then with KJ had hit to SS Diaz scores…Should be 6 to 4…OH but this is the Braves and BC does not know how to play small ball…Mark my words folks…Braves are headed for the cellar and a remarkable first to worse if BC continues relieing on long balls or big hits instead of little bunts to make the runs.

By Robert

May 20, 2007 7:24 PM | Link to this

Ron - lemme TRY and explain this you

The situation is not an easy one. Your choice is either to risk an injury to your starter, or to possibly put your staff into some disarray and maybe risk injury to another guy by having him pitch on short notice or out of turn

So what does a WISE man do? He weighs his options, and picks the least of the available evils.

Francona decided to go ahead and take the risk of having his fill-in minor league callup injured. If Gabbard gets hurt, you send him on down the road and call up the next fill-in.

Cox decided to go ahead and risk it with his ace. If Hudson gets hurt, you CAN NOT just call up the next guy to fill his shoes. If on the other hand you choose to sit Hudson and shake up the rotation, you throw one of your expendable arms out there.

Now it doesnt help that Cox needlessly burned most of the available arms in game one yesterday

One act of mismanagement breeds the next. Mistakes propgate themselves. Somewhere along the line, a little bad luck accompanies one of the propagated mistakes and bang, you’re out in the first round of the playoffs (again). Smart folks realize the chances for the bad luck couldve been miminimized if some forgotten mistake many games ago hadnt set off the chain

Now Ron, if you think taking a risk on Gabbard’s health and taking a risk on Hudson’s health are equal in terms of wisdom, then you are as retarded as the Braves manager

By the way, if Francona got a lobotomy and afterwards had an I-beam fall on his head, he could STILL run rings around Cox

Schuerholz has gotta be a big supporter of the Special Olympics, or he woulda gotten rid of Donk long ago

By Savannah Guy

May 20, 2007 7:28 PM | Link to this

Chalk up another rally killing by Android Jones. Even with his Domino effect, automatic out, the slugger does it once again. He is totally clueless at the plate. I think his problems are beyond what TP can help him with.

How long are the Braves going to have to play around his ineptitude? It’s like having one arm tied behind thier backs while dragging a dead weight.

By MBATL

May 20, 2007 7:29 PM | Link to this

Robert, of all the stupid arguments (and occasional good ones) you make, this is one of the worst. The game was “delayed” an hour before the scheduled start time. Hudson just had to push his routine back a little.

It’s not an issue.

By joebrave

May 20, 2007 7:30 PM | Link to this

Chip just said an off day might be what the Dr. ordered for Andruw:NEWs FLASH Chip, He has been off all damn year….. He has killed two freakin rallies today and by the way looked pretty Damned stupid doing it!!!!

By Robert

May 20, 2007 7:30 PM | Link to this

Meanwhile, another BEAUTIFUL at-bat by Andruw Jones.

Golden sombrero

4 K’s, all swinging, on a grand total of 17 pitches.

And what does Donk do - stares vacantly from the dugout, cussing the ump under his breath

joebrave said - “I am normally a Bobby Cox supporter,but after today,I think ol B.C. needs to checked for Alzheimers,note to Bobby this ain’t 1996 A.J. is stinking the place up and Redman is a big ol puss pocket,tighten your A$$ up old man I admire ya but many more days like this,and………”

HOW MANY MORE? It’s like everyone who is now on Cox about how long it took him to do something about Andru, or last year about Giles. I’m the same way with y’all. How long will it take for y’all to see what any intellignet human being can clearly see?

By Tomahawkin' Again

May 20, 2007 7:30 PM | Link to this

DOB I know the main topic on these blogs for majority of the season has been on Andruw and there is some excuse-makers for him, mostly bashing…but, let’s get serious here. WHAT IN THE HELL IS HIS PROBLEM?!?! He is now 5 for 35 w/16 K’s on this roadtrip. Simply unacceptable. It’s basically insubordination if he is refusing coaching from TP, Bobby, etc. by not going w/pitches away from him to right. Trying to pull everything, his swing is a joke. What is it w/him? Mental, physical, both, neither? Getting real tired with AJ, let me tell ya…

By AMG

May 20, 2007 7:31 PM | Link to this

The Braves problems:

1. No pitching from the 4th and 5th spot in the rotation

2. No bench … when Matt Diaz starts the Braves really do not have a good pinch hitter

3. A stubborn Andruw Jones

4. Not very good against left handed pitchers

By IlliniBrave

May 20, 2007 7:33 PM | Link to this

My God, Robert, you really hate the man, don’t you? Wow. What an obsession! If we all agree on this blog that Bobby Cox is a, what do you call him, oh yeah, donkey, then can we get on with other topics? The fact is that, he’s not going anywhere. And unfortunately for me and many others, Andruw isn’t going anywhere, nor is that big blob attached to his rear end. And, horror of all horrors, as much as we all want to kill ourselves instead, Redman is probably not going anywhere. So we’re stuck with the Braves as we have them. The discussions should focus on how can we get the most out of what we got.

By joebrave

May 20, 2007 7:35 PM | Link to this

I hope we get some help from the Stankees tonight…. and if A.j. gets 500 hr it will be a miracle…

By Don

May 20, 2007 7:36 PM | Link to this

Even after admitting he had no idea about the facts the obsessed moron blathers on. NOONE is dumber.

By JasonInMaine

May 20, 2007 7:36 PM | Link to this

Will droid get a shot at a fifth k?

By Robert

May 20, 2007 7:38 PM | Link to this

MBATL - I admitted that if if it was just pushing his routine back, I was mistaken. (if however, it was started, interrupted, and restarted, then I stand by what I said

I love the comment about our lineup vs the Sox. Whoa is us. We only have Diaz and Thorman and Orr and the like, while the Sox have Cora and his .240 career average and Pedroia with his less than 200 big league at bats. I mean, it’s just so UNFAIR that we have to face such a loaded lineup.

Of course, when OUR lineup was loaded for bear all up and down, then there was some other lame excuse for us not winning anything of consequance.

I’m just curious. To the diehard Cox supporters. What would he have to DO (what COULD he do) that would make it where y’all could bring it upon ourselves to blame him for ANY failure? It is so ridiculous. This guy isnt making little mistakes, or getting beat by bad luck. He is making fundamental errors, day in and day out, and y’all laud him as a genius.

If it werent my favorite baseball team that has been suffering for it these past 17 years, it would be quite funny

By MBATL

May 20, 2007 7:39 PM | Link to this

AJ up, representing the tying run… what a classic situation!

By Ron

May 20, 2007 7:39 PM | Link to this

Yeah joebrave, Andruw looked as bad as I’ve seen him look on those pitches. Joe Simpson said he is fighting it, that is an understatement!!! Andruw is at the plate in the 9th come on redeem yourself now!!!

By N8

May 20, 2007 7:40 PM | Link to this

Hey, I was just on Ebay and noticed there is an Andruw Jones jersey up there going for $4000.00.

But I’ll just refer to the price as 4K

To whomever stated the game should be 6-4, let’s not forget the Prado dropped transfer on the EASY double play with Ortiz running earlier in the game.

This game should be 5-5.

Updated prediction on Braves season:

78-84 4th place finish. (Yeah, that’s right. I think this team is ONE GAME WORSE than last year)

Andruws numbers: .236, 23 HR, 84 RBI, 178 K’s. Which will be followed by somebody STILL giving him about 18 million a year.

By Savannah Guy

May 20, 2007 7:40 PM | Link to this

How perfect…Android gets to either tie the game or end it…

By Robert

May 20, 2007 7:40 PM | Link to this

You can NOT be serious

Tying run comes to the plate, and you let the guy hitting in the .210’s with 4 K’s already today bat

Even if he hits a home run, this is just STUPID.

This defies all definition of stupidity

By eric the elder

May 20, 2007 7:41 PM | Link to this

Perfect ending. Scripted.

By Daxxed

May 20, 2007 7:42 PM | Link to this

AJ needs to be benched for lack of production…WH needs to be allowed to start in CF…let AJ learn to hit again before he returns…

By journalist jimmy smith

May 20, 2007 7:43 PM | Link to this

5 strikeouts!!! count ‘em! oh, the humanity! andruw is messed up! this was an ugly game and largely because bobby was out-managed. journalist knows some will defend bobby, but by this time in the season bobby should know who will produce and who will not with risp. woodward and andruw are not stellar.

By Calvin

May 20, 2007 7:44 PM | Link to this

who switched Andruw’s swing with Raul Mondesi’s swing? 0-5 5k’s. Wow.

By TennesseePaul

May 20, 2007 7:44 PM | Link to this

AJ sucks. I love him. But he sucks.

By Ron

May 20, 2007 7:44 PM | Link to this

The Sox closer threw him a hanger and he still missed it!!! Wow I am in disbelife right now. Andruw is in bigger trouble at the plate than we all know!!! This is starting to look sad right now. Time to bad him 8th in the Lineup, he is really aweful right now, never seen him look that bad ever!!!

By varoadrunner

May 20, 2007 7:44 PM | Link to this

HOW FRUSTRATING ! ! !

Andruw at the plate and I have absolutely no confidence at all that he will hit a home run, get a single or hell, MAKE CONTACT! Since the teams in MLB decided to throw Andruw sliders on the outer half, he has all but thrown his back out trying to pull it and coming up a LOSER. Yes Loser, anyone that has his potential and —(by the way, he just swung and missed the ball ovver his head to end the game)— as I was saying, with his potential, and refuses to grasp the simple fact the he cannot touch balls on the outer half until he decides to at least consider taking the ball to right center. Maybe we should “LET HIM GO” so we can get someone that will “take it to right” but then again, what about his defensive play — Dam I am FRUSTRATED !

By N8

May 20, 2007 7:45 PM | Link to this

Is Randall Simon still in the league?

Because if he is, Andruw has officially become the 2nd best player from Curacao.

Actually, it doesn’t matter if Simon is still playing. I’d rather watch him hit.

I think it’s time for Chipper to take Andruw “out back” and get in his face. This is frickin ridiculous.

He’s gotta go. Maybe the Mariners would give us Chris Reitsma for him……even up. Then again, they’d probably just laugh at that proposal.

By Train Wreck Bystander

May 20, 2007 7:45 PM | Link to this

Five swinging strikeouts - oy vey.

By berigan

May 20, 2007 7:46 PM | Link to this

You know, after that ab, I feel sorry Andruw! Bobby, use your head, let him have a day off, he is 30, and in the worse slump of his career! Let him rest his body, and his mind. What can it hurt???

By AMG

May 20, 2007 7:46 PM | Link to this

I guess it is a good thing the Braves play NY and PHI next… they have a winning record against those teams.

Andruw … where have you gone?

By N8

May 20, 2007 7:47 PM | Link to this

MBATL

“AJ up, representing the tying run… what a classic situation!”

If you’re a Red Sox fan.

By True Braves Fan

May 20, 2007 7:47 PM | Link to this

K K K K K 5 strike outs in 5 at bats. Is it possible on Tuesday night, we could see Diaz in LF and Harris in CF? No doubt, Andruw is the superior defensive CF, but we can’t continue to carry his bat in the middle of the lineup.

By Savannah Guy

May 20, 2007 7:47 PM | Link to this

The Android stikes (out) AGAIN This is getting sad.

By Robert

May 20, 2007 7:47 PM | Link to this

That is flat out unbelievable.

That right there is comparable to leaving Maddux in to start the 8th in Game 1 of the 99 WS

You cant even defend this with loyalty to your player, cuz when he is struggling that bad, loyalty says you take the pressure off him

How in the name of all that is holy can you leave Andruw in there to bat -

I wanna see ANYBODY try and defend this one.

Nice touch by the way, with the 5th swinging K of the game.

Dangnabbed stupid useless idiot clueless brain-damaged cud-chewing nose picking worthless donkey worst frickin manager of all time -

WORST - Of all time and FOR all time

By Jeff321

May 20, 2007 7:48 PM | Link to this

At this point I’d rather have Willie Harris in center field. At least he doesn’t go 0-5 with total K’s. Sheesh.

By Drummerdad

May 20, 2007 7:48 PM | Link to this

Words can’t describe how lost Andruw looks. The at bat against Okajima was about as pathetic as it gets. He’s an instinctive player, and that probably means he has a hard time following instruction. I’m trying to remember the last time I saw a marqee player having this bad a time in his contract year.

By Joe Bob

May 20, 2007 7:48 PM | Link to this

What to do with Andruw? Team would be better off with him on the bench(5 K’s today vs Sox) but that would prevent him from playing out of the slump. My guess is BC will play him in the 6-8 slot until his numbers improve. Right now he just looks silly up there. To make the last out on a pitch up in his eyes just when the team was rallying is hard to overlook.

Ron- you’ve got your head shoved so far up Andruw’s derrier that your comments are voided. He is far from a lock for the HOF. The experts say Smoltz is not a lock which makes Andruw’s situation even more iffy.

By N8

May 20, 2007 7:49 PM | Link to this

Oh, btw, someone just bid on that Andruw jersey on Ebay.

It’s now up to 5K.

By IlliniBrave

May 20, 2007 7:50 PM | Link to this

Wow. It can’t get any more embarrassing than this, can it?! Five strikeouts with a total of seven runners on base. And the way he struck out - just flailing away at the ball, looking totally clueless. I think my disgust is not turning into pity. Can it get any worse for Andruw? It will be very interesting to see how he responds to this debacle.

By Tomahawkin' Again

May 20, 2007 7:50 PM | Link to this

Make that 5 for 36 with 17 K’s on the road trip. Wow, the mother of all slumps continues…

By Braveheart

May 20, 2007 7:51 PM | Link to this

well, i gave defending Andruw a try….. never freaking mind.

By brian

May 20, 2007 7:51 PM | Link to this

0-5 with 5K and 7 men LOB -

Nice work Andruw. You obviously are correct in your belief that you do not need help from Pendleton.

Not exactly playing like a $20 million/per year player.

The Braves best offensive output here lately - last night with Willie in CF. Coincedence? maybe, but odds are someone could have done better than Andruw at the plate tonight as well

Anyone think that Andruw is already gone from the Braves mentally and that is affecting his performance? I would have thought he would have had a monster year in his contract year.

By Ron

May 20, 2007 7:53 PM | Link to this

Where is Shaun at now to defend Andruw?

By Meanie

May 20, 2007 7:53 PM | Link to this

Hey DOB,

If the Braves put Andruw on waivers now like they did last year, and someone claimed him, would the claiming team have to pay the rest of his salary? Any chance this could happen? I’m liking this lineup if Mac were fifth, followed by some combo of Harris/Diaz/Thor. Let’s face it… Diaz is a significantly better hitter than Andruw. Doesn’t have the pop, but .300 lifetime has to get noticed at some point. I’m dreaming, yes, but perhaps you could pry away an Arroyo for a good prospect if you also took the salary?

By Robert

May 20, 2007 7:54 PM | Link to this

I can just picture Cox’s post-game news conference where he talks about the “just one pitch” they made to Andruw

By N8

May 20, 2007 7:57 PM | Link to this

*”Since the teams in MLB decided to throw Andruw sliders on the outer half, he has all but thrown his back out trying to pull it and coming up a LOSER.”

The sad thing is, not only can he not hit those pitches you describe on the outer half. But NOW he can’t even MAKE CONTACT with two hangers in one AB, with the game on the line.

DOB

Here’s a question for you, in ALL seriousness. Really, no sarcasm. I’m not sure (actually I have no clue), on MLB rules with veterans. But Andruw came up at age 19, NEVER to return to the minors.

Does he have any “options” left???

He REALLY needs to go to Richmond and kill their rallies.

If this is a legitimate option (no pun intended), JS would really show me something if he made that move.

Didn’t the Royals send Angel Berroa to the minors, which is the reason they traded for Pena Jr.?

Give me ONE good reason why JS shouldn’t be thinking about it.

By eric the elder

May 20, 2007 8:00 PM | Link to this

I pulled out my calculator and found that, at my salary, it would take 407 years to make what Andruw is making this year. It’s a moot point, though, because if I performed in my profession the way Andruw is performing in his, I would have been gone long ago.

By Wayne in Utah

May 20, 2007 8:02 PM | Link to this

Robert: Have you always been an a..hole, or did it take you years to develop into one. So, it is Bobby Cox’ fault that Andruw sux??? Who was he going to put in where a dinger gets a win???

You, my friend are the true idiot here…..

Doesn’t matter what happens, it is always BC’s fault.

By BravesDave

May 20, 2007 8:03 PM | Link to this

I think we all have to start giving Andruw credit just for putting the ball in play, even if he pops up. We can call it ‘stikeout avoidance’.

By Savannah Guy

May 20, 2007 8:03 PM | Link to this

Android Jones Shorts Out Like any Android, the circuitry goes bad and, well, we’re talking C3PO.

By Troy

May 20, 2007 8:04 PM | Link to this

You guys need to lay off Andruw, i dont care that he’s batting 210 and just struck out 5 times. The guys almost has 400 lifetime Hr’s and he’s only 30 yrs. old, and for the past 2 season’s has been one of the top 5 power hitters in all of baseball. The guys in a slump, plain and simple, and looking at Andruw’s past numbers he will amost certaintly break out of it with some major power numbers. Even with all the K’s, and horrible at bats he still has 30 RBI’s…top 10 in the NL…All these people trying to critique his swing…i dont see any of you in the mlb and with almost 400 career Hr’s.

By N8

May 20, 2007 8:04 PM | Link to this

Meanie

I believe the claiming team would have to pay the remainder of his salary.

BRILLIANT idea. Time to cut our losses, IMO.

By We Have Mets the Enemy

May 20, 2007 8:06 PM | Link to this

Don’t anybody stay up late on the blog waiting for Shaun tonight. I wouldn’t look for him tomorrow, either.

Andruw’s out avoidance is the pits. Hell, he can’t even manage any strikeout avoidance.

Andruw just keeps flailing wildly in the face of Shaun’s faith. They’re both looking equally pitiful right now.

By Please Andy

May 20, 2007 8:06 PM | Link to this

Doesn’t matter where Andruw hits, today proves you can’t hide him.

I have an idea! If he hits leadoff, then there will be at least one at bat a game where he won’t come to the plate with runners in scoring position!

By crimedogrules

May 20, 2007 8:10 PM | Link to this

This was the worst week of the year!!!

Come on Braves, get it back together.

By gotigers72

May 20, 2007 8:13 PM | Link to this

Put him hitting 6th and what happens? He still comes up w/lots of runners on, as he was doing in the 4 hole, and strikes out 5 times, leaving 7 men on base. SEVEN!! When they return to NL rules Tuesday, he may as well bat 9th. A pitcher could do no worse than strike out 5 times, right? He and Thorman left 13 men on between them, but Thorman did hit the ball hard twice, one of which was a double play.

It’s obvious that it’s in his head now. He’s battling it mentally as well as mechanically. If he can’t make himself change his approach somwhow, what are the Braves gonna do?

By Troy

May 20, 2007 8:13 PM | Link to this

You guys are such IDIOTS….lol..you guys are so stupid talking about sending him down to the minors. Do you have any idea how many runs he has saved this year, and in past because of his defense. The man has 9 straight gold gloves, and could be considered arguably one of the top 2 or 3 defensive outfielders in history. Get a life you pathetic low income low life losers sitting in your trashy little trailors

By Braveheart

May 20, 2007 8:16 PM | Link to this

Man, with all this negativity on here about Andruw, I feel like I am living in Manhattan, listening to WFAN and reading the New York Post. There has to be more than a few Boston people reading this after today’s game and saying, man, I thought those Atlanta fans were supposed to be soft but I read this and they are worse than a bunch of over bearing obnoxious New Yorkers with how they talk about their teams and stars.

Andruw, I love ya man, the only bobblehead I own, but ya gotta start pulling your head out of your Robert.

By steve

May 20, 2007 8:17 PM | Link to this

If the Braves can still trade Jones then by all means do it. Until he learns to listen to his hitting coach and stops trying to hit everything to left he’ll be an offensive liability. Guess when yhou have his money you can thumb your nose at everyone and continue, as Frank Sinatra’s song goes, “I’ll do it my way (evey though it’s wrong)”…

By Ron

May 20, 2007 8:18 PM | Link to this

Joe Bob, Dude Andruw will be a Hall of Famer as long as he stays healthy. He has 3hundred and something Homeruns and will get 500 Homeruns and he will probably win 15 Gold Gloves!! Ozzie Smith went to the Hall of Fame by defense alone!!! Hell Andruw will win the Gold Gloves and hit 500 Homeruns!!! You got your head up your A$$ if you dont think Andruw will go to the Hall of Fame!!! Give me a reason why he wont get to the HALL!!!

By Scooter

May 20, 2007 8:18 PM | Link to this

“WOW”, 5 K’s!!!! Andruw should hit no higher than 8th. Right now he’s an automatic out. Also what a weak line up the Braves had today. At very best it was a good triple A team. And please tell me the Braves aren’t thinking about pitching Redmond again!! What a joke. I still believe in Braves, but they’ve got to make the smart moves.

By Scooter

May 20, 2007 8:19 PM | Link to this

“WOW”, 5 K’s!!!! Andruw should hit no higher than 8th. Right now he’s an automatic out. Also what a weak line up the Braves had today. At very best it was a good triple A team. And please tell me the Braves aren’t thinking about pitching Redmond again!! What a joke. I still believe in Braves, but they’ve got to make the smart moves.

By N8

May 20, 2007 8:22 PM | Link to this

TROY

I let your last post “go”, because I’m not in the mood to argue with people that don’t see the big picture.

Langerhans is FAR superior to Harris defensively…..agreed?

You gonna try and argue how many games Langerhans “saved” with his glove too???

Didn’t we win 14-0 in the second game last night WITHOUT ANDRUW TAKING THE FIELD???????

I don’t care if Andruw has 400 HR. In fact I don’t care if he would have 800 under his belt. RIGHT NOW he is the WORST HITTER on this team. Below Woodward. Below Orr. Below Pena. In fact the ONLY two guys that have had a significant ammount of AB’s this year for the Braves that sucked more than Andruw are Wilson and Langerhans……Hmmmmm.

HE IS KILLING THIS TEAM RIGHT NOW. I don’t care if makes 20 diving catches a game. Is his defense good. Yup, in fact I’ll admit…it’s great.

But you know what?? I can name you 8 teams that made the playoffs last year WITHOUT Andruw Jones playing CF for them.

Keep rootin for him though. I’m sure he won’t let you down.

By IlliniBrave

May 20, 2007 8:22 PM | Link to this

Troy:

You misspelled “trailors.” Also, agreed that he is one of the best defensive CFs ever, but you don’t pay a guy $14M to catch the ball. He gets paid to hit and drive in runs, especially in clutch situations. None of which he is doing this season, nor did he do all that well after July of last season. Face it, the man has major problems. Major! The same can be said for Vick. Similar underperformance.

And as several have said, in the real world you get fired if you don’t do your job!

By joebrave

May 20, 2007 8:24 PM | Link to this

I’d like to be the fly on Bora$$ wall right now,cell phone rings to A.J. this is Scott,A.j. smiling stupidly,what’s up,he asks,Scott: Druw what in the he!! are you doing? A.J. playi ball,why? Scott:Druw your really p** me off,A.J. why? Scott, you are costing me millions!and I don’t like it..Druw: I don’t know what to say,I’m swinging as hard as I can,damn near threw out my back doin it too.Scott make up something gety your a$$ on the D.L. before Schuerholz has me by the balls,you hear me Druw? A.J. yeah I’ll take care of it just as soon as I finish my Donuts and jelly!!!!

By rob

May 20, 2007 8:24 PM | Link to this

ANDRUW SUCKS RIGHT NOW.BOBBY NEEDS TO GROW A SET AND SIT HIS A* UNTIL HE DECIDES TO CHANGE HIS APPROACH.IF A YOUNG FRANCOUER CAN CHANGE AND LEARN TO HIT THE OTHER WAY WHY NOT ANDRUW?HE PROBABLY HAS THE LITTLE F* BORAS IN HIS EAR.IT SEEMS LIKE HE IS TRYING TO HIT IT 500FT. ON EVERY SWING.SIT HIM BOBBY!!!!!

By HP

May 20, 2007 8:25 PM | Link to this

Go Yankees!!! Only when there playing against the mets.

By LivininAL

May 20, 2007 8:26 PM | Link to this

After Sunday’s game maybe just maybe Andrew will become coachable. Frenchy is showing what listening, patience and using the opposite field can do for the Braves… I remember in past Andrew studied Albert Pujols films in the offseason..nothing about Andrew now resembles Pujols.

By LivininAL

May 20, 2007 8:26 PM | Link to this

After Sunday’s game maybe just maybe Andrew will become coachable. Frenchy is showing what listening, patience and using the opposite field can do for the Braves… I remember in past Andrew studied Albert Pujols films in the offseason..nothing about Andrew now resembles Pujols.

By Dsquared

May 20, 2007 8:28 PM | Link to this

Is this rock bottom for Andruw? If so maybe the JS should once again break his rule of no negotiations during the season and talk to AJ about a year extension. Boreass would get all red in the face, but it would make sure that it is not an issue for the rest of the year, and they could use the argument that Andruw wants to be there as long as Bobby is in the dugout.

By The Truth Hurts

May 20, 2007 8:31 PM | Link to this

Put A.J. on waivers. “Sniff out” Sydney Ponson. “Out avoidance.” Sell “the parts.”

And who says bloggers aren’t wacko?

Yes, there are holes. Yes, there are 118 games left. No, blogging in relative anonymity is no excuse for being a moron. But, as we speak, I am making a big, blue ribbon for N8, Shaun, and Robert. By the end of an interminable baseball and blogging season, I will present my new origami masterpiece to the winner of the “Most Hyperbolic, Oversensitive, Sky-Is-Falling” award.

Oh my gosh. We’re only 26-18. We just lost 2 of 3 to the $150 million team.

Guess what we learned from this series? Anthony Lerew is not the answer. Okay. Now, move on.

By joebrave

May 20, 2007 8:32 PM | Link to this

Ron he will reach 500 strikeouts in a season that is and I don’t think they put you in the hall for that.

Troy what damn ball player are you watching boy,if you are referring to A.Jones he is only a shell ofwhat he once was,Yesterday’s game damn fly ball misjudged,an ordinary A.J. gets it but this A.J. isn’t ordinary He sucks pure and simple,how many runs did he save today? answer none.How many did he cost the Team with his me first swings,a damn lot!!! by the way you little Peckerhead sumbitch I don’t live in no trailer and learn how to spell B!TCH!!!

By Nelson

May 20, 2007 8:32 PM | Link to this

Troy: It is happening for many years, he doesn’t want to improve his at bat performance, he made it clear when he said he is a pulling hitter he doesn’t want do hit he opposite way. Yes he is the best centerfield with the glove but whatever he is doing with that later comes and destroy it wit his bat, at this moment the best way he help the Braves is in the bench or in the minor leagues with an assigment to solve his problems, if that not possible trade him for pitching when he is stillvaluable, I personally not want to see him in Braves uniform!. Sorry but this is my opinion I respect yours, but a MLB player should be good in evry aspect of the game! and even worst he is not cooperating and doesn’t want to do it either. We have left more valuble players in the past like David Justice ( he was the heart of the Braves like Chiper and Smolt are now). Everybody coul have a bad moment but his is taking tooooo long.

By Please Andy

May 20, 2007 8:32 PM | Link to this

I can’t argue that Andruw saves runs in the outfield, but there are some plays he makes that other major league center fielders make. Whats he saving? A run a game? Probably not even that but I’ll give that to him.

So does that mean if Andruw isn’t in the game today the Sox score 7?

How many opps has he missed lately to drive in runs by just putting a good swing on the ball? Lots! So if he saves you a run, but leaves 3=5 runs on the bases during the game when he is hitting then I suppose that makes sense?

No one is going to drive in runs every time the opportunity arrises, but right now, he doesn’t have a chance.

By jed

May 20, 2007 8:38 PM | Link to this

waive andruw? you people need to take a pill and lie down. sure, he’s brutally awful this year. no doubt, but you dont just dump andruw jones in mid-may. that’s goofy talk.

however, i cant help wondering where shaun and his ridiuculous stat breakdowns are? oh that’s right. he doesnt watch the games. the human mosquito, that one.

By N8

May 20, 2007 8:39 PM | Link to this

Dsquared

What the hell are you smoking?? WHY ON EARTH would JS wan’t to talk extension with a guy that can’t hit, and won’t listen to the hitting coach to improve?

Anybody out there remember when TP walked off the field when the pitcher (?) wouldn’t “throw at” the opposing batter in retaliation? Maybe he should tell Bobby he’s gonna “walk” if the players don’t start listening to him.

I see a lot of people on here RAGGING on McDowell because he’s “not doing his job” and helping the pitchers.

How come nobody is saying TP should get fired because Andruw aint listening? (sarcasm, btw)

Bottom line is:

a) sometimes players DON’T listen to the coaches. Especially after they’ve made their millions.

b) sometimes players aren’t CAPABLE of listening (or adjusting).

Andruw falls into BOTH of these categories.

Andruw needs to go…….far away.

By Josh

May 20, 2007 8:40 PM | Link to this

Robert your 7:16 brought a tear to my eye. Guilty? Doesn’t begin to describe it!!!

LMAO!!!

By Savannah Guy

May 20, 2007 8:43 PM | Link to this

Troy…Now you AJ apologists come out of the wood work (trailers do have wood on the inside don’t they?) to create argumentative dialog about something you are so wrong about. Android has done well, just not nearly as much as he’s done poorly. Trouble is, when you only hit 3 out of 10 in this game you are a great hitter. 2 out of 10 makes you a liability in any lineup.

I’d like to buy the ‘Droid for what he is worth and sell him for what you and your AJ fan club think he’s worth. So go ahead Shaun, or Troy or Ron. Are you all really the same blogger?

TroyPer your 8:13 post, Do YOU really live in a trailer and feel inadequate so you create a false persona on this blog to lift yourself? Or do you just like to make those with less than what you insinuate that you have feel bad? You are a jerk.

By joebrave

May 20, 2007 8:44 PM | Link to this

Note to Bobby Cox,DON”T LOSE SATURDAY NIGHTS LINEUP CARD!!! Dammit that little peckerhead David wright just Homered,sumbitch!!!!

By Jman

May 20, 2007 8:46 PM | Link to this

So does Andruw and Scott Boras really believe that defense alone is worth $20+million a year?

By Daybed Wagmoe

May 20, 2007 8:48 PM | Link to this

DOB and MBATL,

with all of the guys in the minors seemingly ready for the majors (brandon jones, martin prado, yunel escobar, elvis andrus, brent lillibridge, matt harrison — some more ready than others, of course), what current braves (renteria? kelly johnson? scott thorman? others?) would you imagine being replaced by such rookies as early as 2008? do the braves picture kelly johnson as the 2B for years to come, or is he a stop-gap guy until prado or someone else is ready for everyday play? are they thinking they’ll keep renteria through his current contract, or sign him to an extension? thanks

By StingerSplash

May 20, 2007 8:51 PM | Link to this

Andruw looks so befuddled at the plate right now he might as well be taking a differential equations final. There’s bad, and then there’s his performance at the plate today. He may need to drop lower than sixth in the batting order. There are other problems creeping in — couldn’t have the Braves released Redman between games yesterday and save everybody the pain and misery of the possibility of watching him pitch again in a Braves uni. Never thought this would ever get said, anytime, anywhere, but I can’t wait for Lance Cormier to get back. DOB, I’m interested to get your take, and what the players had to say, about Dice-K now. If not for Wile E. Mo Pena - as a fielder, he sure can hit - and his Great Northern Route on two balls Saturday, Dice-K would have gotten away unscathed, aside from the Frenchy blast.

By Scott Boras

May 20, 2007 8:53 PM | Link to this

Druw,I want you to put down the twinkies and relax,It’s okay,I will still get you your millions,but you have to give me something to sell,I cannot sell strikeouts,I’ll as John tomorrow if he will work out a deal with the D-RAYS,that’s the best I can do right now!! Unless you start hitting the basbeall Druw we’re gonna go bankrupt now you wouldn’t want to make me angry now would you?well would you???????

By Eric C.

May 20, 2007 8:57 PM | Link to this

How fu<&!#& hilarious…BC inadvertently puts AJ in a position to leave SEVEN on base.

Something is obviously bothering AJ and I’ll refrain from bashing him too much…but what a freaking IDIOT he was to go out and INSIST to the world…as if they didn’t already know — pitch me away because I will pull everything — How stupid can anyone be. His stubborness has cost the Braves and himself dearly.

By Mike Clark

May 20, 2007 8:57 PM | Link to this

5 for 5 strikeouts and 7 left on base. Just how bad can it get for Andruw.

By joebrave

May 20, 2007 8:57 PM | Link to this

However:it is a shame to watch a man’s skills diminish right before your very eyes,and for the man not to even realize it,makes it even more of a shame! now what we have here is another case of holding on to a player too long once again J.S. dropped the ball on this one big time…….

By George

May 20, 2007 8:58 PM | Link to this

Has Andrew had his eyes checked lately? That last pitch was over his head and he *swung at it. I agree someone needs to do a one on one with Andrew… John smoltz maybe chipper. someone help the guy…#pleeeeaaassseeee

By George

May 20, 2007 8:58 PM | Link to this

Has Andrew had his eyes checked lately? That last pitch was over his head and he *swung at it. I agree someone needs to do a one on one with Andrew… John smoltz maybe chipper. someone help the guy…#pleeeeaaassseeee

By DNice

May 20, 2007 9:00 PM | Link to this

ANDRUW JONES = THE MOST OVERRATED PLAYER IN THE LAST DECADE OF BASEBALL!

Lets not be crazy here. Yes he is sucking it up right now but you cant argue with the stats cause they are better than anyone else we have had out there. He already is close to Dale Murphy’s stats and more homeruns than Chipper.While he looks like a softball player or at best a TBall player you cant argue with the long term results. Just in case you were not looking Ryan Howard and Pujols are not exactly having great years either albeit no one is swinging like Druw but hey who is catching like him other than Hunter?

By Please Andy

May 20, 2007 9:01 PM | Link to this

Many baseball pundits are now saying that 500 Home runs will no longer guarantee a trip to the HOF. Small ball parks and weakened pitching means lots of guys are gonna reach the 500 club.

Ozzie Smith did make the HOF based largely on his defense. I’m trying to think of a single outfielder in the Hall that is there because of his defense.

Hmmmmmm didn’t think so.

By Ron

May 20, 2007 9:01 PM | Link to this

I know Andruw is lost at the Plate right now, but come on we aint sending him down that would be really stupid, just bat him 8th. He is the Best Center Fielder in the game!!!

By NO CHOP ZONE

May 20, 2007 9:02 PM | Link to this

What is “sumbitch” Joebrave??* I thought the motto was “No child left behind*. I guess they weren’t talking about you.

By Lew

May 20, 2007 9:02 PM | Link to this

Nathan-You made your point.

By Yars

May 20, 2007 9:07 PM | Link to this

I agree with a lot of you that say there has to be someone in the Richmond starting rotation that could pitch a better game than Redman will likely be pitching late next week, against the Phillies. When Redman starts, the Braves are guaranteed a loss. It’s that simple. They released C. Wilson, and he was making $2 million this season. Redman, I believe is making $750K. If the starting rotation isn’t addressed soon, we are going to see the Mets run away with the NL East, and the Braves competing against 6 other teams for the NL Wildcard. Does anyone have the answer for Andruw’s problems at the plate? I say rest him for 3 games.

By Greg

May 20, 2007 9:07 PM | Link to this

I think this Andruw thing is psychological. I don’t think he wants to leave Atlanta, and it’s weighing on him. I think maybe he needs some psychological help. Then he needs to fire Boras and do what makes him happy. Right now, his head isn’t in the game and even though he smiles like an idiot after every K, he can’t be enjoying this. This is horrible to watch.

By Gil in Mechanicsville

May 20, 2007 9:11 PM | Link to this

Sigh Five swinging strike-outs… That should get his attention. Good hitters make adjustments, poor hitters make outs. Let’s hope Andruw gets his mind right and soon as we do need his bat in the line-up. We don’t need this current imitation.

Looked like the game was still winnable right up to the end. Prado did well for his fist game up. He hit the ball hard but out in his first at bat.

Thorman is still striking the ball well. He will get better. The bull pen did a nice job of holding the line but unfortunately the Braves offense was not up to par.

Looks like McCann is getting his stroke back too. Yep, all are playing better except Andruw. Maybe they should DH for Druw during interleague play and let the pitcher bat….

By berigan

May 20, 2007 9:19 PM | Link to this

Greg, he was smiling like an idiot, except after the last ab….Like I said before, Bobby needs to sit him for a series, but knowing Bobby, the Mets and Phillies are too “Big” that we need Andruw in for his defense. Sigh…..

By Bravesfan

May 20, 2007 9:20 PM | Link to this

Andruw Jones is no 20 million a year player and we can and do win big games without him. The Braves will not fall without Jones in Center and we need to say goodby. Let someone else deal with his falling out at the plate. I for one am tired of waiting for him to be the hitter they have predicted him to be the last 11 years. Its way past time. He is not a 5 tool player. Im sorry the guy just cant be a consistant hitter. Never will be.

By NO CHOP ZONE

May 20, 2007 9:22 PM | Link to this

Hi there Lew…..It’s days like today when thinking of you brings a smile to my face.

By TP

May 20, 2007 9:24 PM | Link to this

Trade Andrew Jones to the Minnesota Twins for(P)Johan Santana. Move W.Harris to(CF), M.Diaz to(LF), J.Francoeur(RF), Chipper(3rdBase),Renteria(S), K.Johnson(2nd),let J.Saltalamacchia learn to play 1st base, B.McCann(catcher). Move Bobby Cox to front office and let TP Manage the team. We will win the WS.

By Nelson

May 20, 2007 9:27 PM | Link to this

This is atrue story: In Cuba there was a player named Armando Capiro, like Andruw he was trying to pull every thing, one day he dissapeared from the line-up apparently for no reason, he re-appeared one or two weeks later as a pinch hitter, of course the pitcher offer him an outside the corner breaking ball, he swung and the ball dissapeared over the right-center fence. After that he was using all the field and became one of the cuban baseball greatest slugers. Ofcourse he is not a millionare neither owns a batting cage, but took pride of himself and the fans. That’s all we need from Andrew, but I’m affraid it is too late now!

By Meanie

May 20, 2007 9:30 PM | Link to this

TP you freaking foreskin! Give up Santana for Andruw? They MIGHT give you Jack Morris, Kent Hrbek, and a player to be named. Sometimes I wonder how people make it out of bed.

By HP

May 20, 2007 9:31 PM | Link to this

Are there more Yankees fans out there in Shea Stadium than mets fans today? The crowd is crazy loud when the Yankees get a hit.

By Matthew At The SLC

May 20, 2007 9:32 PM | Link to this

Braveheart = Dumb@$$

Man, some of you apologists have absolutely NO shame. And the thing is, a team that has Bobby Cox and Andruw Jones on it has the two most overrated people in their positions on it. It’s the truth, and the truth hurts.

By Robert

May 20, 2007 9:34 PM | Link to this

“So, it is Bobby Cox’ fault that Andruw sux??? “

You know what. YES IT IS! Because it Bobby frickin COX that let a 21, 22, 23, 24 year old Andruw play every day without putting any pressure on him to develop better fundamentals and without forcing him to get into proper shape

N8 said “But you know what?? I can name you 8 teams that made the playoffs last year WITHOUT Andruw Jones playing CF for them”

Psst, buddy. (leans over to whisper in N8’s ear - dont get jealous Coach)

Those 8 teams that made it without Andruw in CF? They made it without Donk managing either.

If our manager had two functioing brain cells that werent connected by an inhibitory spirochete, we’d wake up tomorrow to hear that Andruw had been either benched for a few games, or better had, had gone on the DL with a strategically timded hangnail or somesuch.

But guaranteed if DOB were to ask he’d just give him that vacant stare and say something like “why would I consider doing something like that” with genuine shock and surprise in his bray

You know it’s about time for our blog writer to get some BALLS and stop ki$$ing the Braves collective behinds and maybe call Cox out on his idiocy - call him to account

Fat frickin chance. It’s much less risk to just call me names

“Guess what we learned from this series?”

Bobby Cox is an idiot? No, wait. Some of us have known this for going on forever and some of us will never learn

What exactly is ridiculous about seeing if a pitcher with 1500 big league innings under his belt might not be available for a nickel bet on a long shot?

I havent said the sky is falling. Scroll back thru past blogs and you’ll see that I said this team will likely win in excess of 90 games. It has the talent to. All I have ever said is that this team and it’s fans are kidding themselves if they think this team is a playoff contender - even if it happens to find itself a playoff participant.

And that sad state of affairs has very little to do with the makeup of the playing roster

By Ron

May 20, 2007 9:36 PM | Link to this

Savannah Guy, Dude I am not defending Andruw Right Now, he sux and should be batting 8th!!! All I said is that he will get to the Hall of Fame!!! He will probably win 15 Gold Gloves and hit 500 Homeruns, and that makes him a Hall of Famer!!! I am not defending him right now because he sucks right now and everybody knows it!!! Savannaha Guy, dont get me confused with Shaun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Nelson

May 20, 2007 9:38 PM | Link to this

TP: I’m 100% with you. And I think many other fans too! But the way he is now I don’t think we can get anythig good in return, but the main responsable is Bobby Cox he should scratched him from the line-up today! and tight his pants, he is the manager and the players should do whatever he decides is good for the team.

By Robert

May 20, 2007 9:39 PM | Link to this

“Looked like the game was still winnable right up to the end”

Yes, grasshopper. Now if you will realize that game was lost not when Andruw took final flailing swing but when Donk grunted and let him bat in ninth inning. Someday soon grasshoppah,perhaps little lite go on inside your feeble mind and you not be Cox-apologist-moron any more

By Rosalynn

May 20, 2007 9:40 PM | Link to this

Jimma said aftah the game todah that Andruh is the wuhst hittah in braves historah. Jimma said he thinks Bobba’s support of Andruh is: Abominable. Lohal. Blind. Apparentlah subsehvient. Ah asked Jimma what prompted all this and he said it was the five strikeouts and seven men left on base todah. When Jimma was a little babah no one knew he would grow up and be the smahtest man in the wohld.

By george

May 20, 2007 9:44 PM | Link to this

I appreciate all that Andruw has done for the Braves, but I agree it might be time to say goodbye, particularly if it is going to cost more than 15 million for 6 or 7 seasons. Andruw was once the greatest defensive centerfielder in the history of the game, but even that has slipped during the last couple of years. As for his hitting, he is too stubborn to take TP’s advice. He could hit the ball out to all fields, but keeps insisting on pulling everything. With his attitude now, I say trade him today for whatever you can get. He’s going to be gone at the end of the year anyway. I sure hope the Braves are not dumb enough to pay him anything close the what Scott Boras is asking for.

By Kevin

May 20, 2007 9:48 PM | Link to this

Robert, who would you have rather seen bat at that point in the game? I’m sure if they put in Willie Harris and he struck out you would have second guessed that too. Every single thing that goes wrong can not possibly be BC’s fault. At some point, the players must be held accountable.

By Troy

May 20, 2007 9:51 PM | Link to this

I due apologize for my previous comments. I am just a huge andruw jones fan and it is very frustrating to see him struggle like this when i know and have seen what he is capable of. I really hope he can get out of this slump soon, and i am sure all of you guys do to. It doesnt seem very long ago at all when he blew up and carried the braves during the summer of 05, and almost beat out Albert Pujols for the MVP award, and was the MLB player of the year. Even last year he had 41 Hrs, and 120+ Rbi’s….I really belive this is all mental, and i will admit some stubborn behavior on Andruw’s part, but he will get out of this slump! i have faith!

By brian

May 20, 2007 9:51 PM | Link to this

first of all we are unlikely to get anything in return for Andruw, but I have to wonder if he continues to struggle, will Andruw and Boras ask for a trade for a change in scenery? That way they can blame his early struggles on the tough environment in Atlanta surrounding the grief people are giving him in regards to his contract situation. If he turns it around then it must be Atlanta’s fault, and if he doesn’t turn it around then it is the trade that messed him up. Either way he is worth $20 million/season, or so Borasses reasoning would go

By Ron

May 20, 2007 9:51 PM | Link to this

Please Andy, Dude he will Have 500 Homeruns and about 15 Gold Gloves how does he not make the Hall of Fame, he has to make it!!! Sammy Sosa will end up making the Hall and he will have about 600 Homeruns and he was a pathedic Defensive player!!! Andruw has to make the Hall!!!

By Please Andy

May 20, 2007 9:52 PM | Link to this

Ok, a simple question. No what if’s or disclaimers. Everyone chime in and answer this question:

Is Andruw going to be worth 17 mil or more to the Braves on a long term contract?

Before you answer, think what you can do with that 17-19 mil a year without Andruw here.

So is it yes or no? No what ifs?

Lets hear it?

By joebrave

May 20, 2007 9:56 PM | Link to this

Nochop I notice you disappeared what’s wrong you Mutts getting their A*******ES beat,by the awy you little peckergnat son of oa B!TCH,do you like my spelling now you $hithead retard!!!

By JasonInMaine

May 20, 2007 9:59 PM | Link to this

No

By Meanie

May 20, 2007 10:01 PM | Link to this

Please Andy

Nobody gives a crap about your questions. Is pleasing Andy what you do best? And is Andy you or your domestic partner? Or do you get off on people responding to your garbage, thus leading to the questions? Damn, just made you shoot in your drawers didn’t I?

By George

May 20, 2007 10:02 PM | Link to this

Andy…to answer your question about Andruw being worth 17 mil or more on a long term contract…NO NO NO. Right now, with his attitude, if I’m the Braves I wouldn’t pay him more than his current salary. A .220 hitter is not worth anything close to his current salary.

By Theoldprofessor

May 20, 2007 10:04 PM | Link to this

Um, George… “The greatest defensive center fielder in the history of the game?” I seem to remember a guy in NY named Willie Something who might disagree. Andruw ain’t jack. Give him a week on the bench and then see what, if anything, he’s got left.

By journalist jimmy smith

May 20, 2007 10:10 PM | Link to this

journalist notes that tony pena, jr., who nobody wanted, has 155 at-bats and is hitting .239 for the royals. braves’ andruw jones in 156 at-bats is hitting .212. pena has struck out 32 times, andruw has struck out 51 times. oh, the humanity! for less than $15 million …

and now, a story about a ugandan center fielder who struck out at every at-bat and would fall to the ground in disarray. one night coach ubuto took this center fielder out to the blue worm fields and left him overnight … and from that point forward the player hit to all fields.

and all this talk about trailers … not so bad. easy to dig a wine cellar under a trailer.

By Matthew At The SLC

May 20, 2007 10:10 PM | Link to this

Did anyone notice D. O’Brien’s lack of mentioning the Overrated Andruw Jones in his recap tonight? Man… what a homer!

By Please Andy

May 20, 2007 10:11 PM | Link to this

600 Homeruns is going to be the 500 HR club of the future for HOF consideration. If Andruw hits 600 maybe he makes it. But you’re talking like he’s a lock to make the HOF. I don’t buy that he’s a lock. He may make the hall but if he does, it will be based on his performance from now till retirement. His 15 Gold Gloves will be a consideration, but you said Ozzie made it based on his defense. No outfielder is going to make the hall because of his defense only. So in essence, the jury is still out on Andruw.

What if he is a future HOF inductee?

Great for Andruw! Lets just give him the option of going into the hall with some other teams cap on.

By Theoldprofessor

May 20, 2007 10:12 PM | Link to this

NO!

By Please Andy

May 20, 2007 10:16 PM | Link to this

Whats’ the matter Meanie?

People picking on poor little Druw?

wahhhhhhh!

By joebrave

May 20, 2007 10:18 PM | Link to this

Menwhile at$hit Stadium Stankees 5 Mutts 1,there is a God,Nochop I know that it’s to much for your inbred little mind to fathom,but you guys have to play the rest of the season too… And do you people watch the games,it’s becoming alarmingly clear A.J.”s skills have deteriorated,and arer only going to get worse. Lew how’s the toe man? Hope your doing better. And where is the Jackass tonight? I’d like to hear what his opinion of Mr. Jones is!!! I’m quite sure it’s probably along the same lines as me,maybe…….

By george

May 20, 2007 10:25 PM | Link to this

Professor, actually Willie Mays himself said Andruw was the best defensive centerfielder of all time about five years ago. So, I don’t think he would disagree at all. And, speaking of Willie Mays, for my money he was the best all around player to ever play the game, hitting for average, power, defense, speed, etc.

By stendec

May 20, 2007 10:26 PM | Link to this

painful to say but braves are done. no heart. no desire. no hope. more is the pity. to sleep per chance to dream. real braves are back. woe are we.

By joebrave

May 20, 2007 10:26 PM | Link to this

Looks like the Mutts are getting their a*******es waxed again this time courtesy of the Stankees,I just don’t know who’s applying the wax….

By Ron

May 20, 2007 10:28 PM | Link to this

At least the Yankees are winning tonight!!!

By bamabrave

May 20, 2007 10:29 PM | Link to this

Well, one way you can look at Andrew’s struggles is that he will not be getting the ‘hometown discount’ at the end of the season. In fact, it might be Jones coming back to the Braves a lot cheaper than he or Boros thinks.

By Random

May 20, 2007 10:29 PM | Link to this

Shaun:“If outs don’t kill rallies, what does?”

As to “AJ the Rally Killer”, DOB and Shaun are talking apples and oranges (hurling them at each other, actually).

Shaun says that AJ’s less likely than Francoeur to make an out in all situations (ie, AJ has a higher overall OBP), therefore AJ’s less of a rally killer than Frenchy.

DOB says (in part) that AJ’s more likely than Francoeur to make an out in rally situations (ie, RISP w/ 2 outs), therefore AJ’s more of a rally killer than Frenchy.

DOB, of course, is right. Apples to apples, AJ’s OBP in rally situations is .455 (based on DOB’s 1:38 PM stats). Francoeur’s OBP in rally situations is .531. AJ has been (see below) the bigger rally killer of the two.

So IMO Shaun’s question above is properly answered that not all outs kill rallies, only outs in rally situations kill rallies.

As for DOB’s implicit contention that Francoeur is significantly more productive in rally situations than is AJ, a comparison of the two’s OBP+SLG averages in rally situations might be appropriate (though DOB might prefer SLG alone).

All the above have been DESCRIPTIVE stats — numerical pictures of actual PAST performance. I suspect that Shaun is more concerned with PREDICTIVE stats — using those numerical pictures to project future performance. And he MAY be right to assume that past overall OBP is a valid predictor for not just future overall OBP, but also for OBP in rally situations. I think he’s wrong, though — what better predictor of future OBP in rally situations could there be than actual past OBP in rally situations?

By brian

May 20, 2007 10:34 PM | Link to this

Please Andy -

The answer is no and that answer would not change even if Andruw was having the year we expected from him. He is not worth 20% of our payroll

By Braveheart

May 20, 2007 10:38 PM | Link to this

Water-Maine Break! Looks like John Maine is crumbling under the pressure. The ERA keeps rising.

By Ron

May 20, 2007 10:41 PM | Link to this

Please Andy, Dude so you call 500 Homeruns no offense, that is what you are saying, DUDE HE WILL HAVE 500 HOMERUNS AND ABOUT 15 GOLD GLOVES!!! HOW THE HELL DOES HE NOT MAKE THE HALL!!! This is whay you said Please Andy, No outfielder is going to make the hall because of his defense only. So what you are saying is 500 Homeruns is absolutely no offense, you are a dumba$$!!! You are more of an idiot than Robert is, and I thought he was pathedic. My apology to you Robert, Please Andy takes your spot now!!!

By David O'Brien

May 20, 2007 10:49 PM | Link to this

Matthew, that’s because almost the entire notebook is a sidebar about how terrible Andruw is doing, how me matched an all-time franchise record tonight (five Ks in one game, done only twice previously in more than a hundred years).

Yeah, homer. That’s me. I haven’t been critical of Andruw at all. Haven’t said for nearly two weeks he should be dropped in the order. Just ask Shaun.

By Donald

May 20, 2007 10:49 PM | Link to this

Guys,

Andrew is a 5/10 player and therefore cannot be traded unless he agrees. He and is agent have said all along that they will not accept a trade, so the issue is closed. You cannot hang this one on JS as under the collective barganing agreement, we are stuck unless Andrew decides otherwise. He is not, so stop the wasted words on trades past or why not trade…

By Glass Half Full (GHF)

May 20, 2007 10:58 PM | Link to this

Reading between the lines of Joe Morgan’s rap about the Mets being better than the Braves…”The Mets are the superior team despite losing 4 of 6 to the Braves because they have a black manager and the Braves are racist because they have only one black player and Frank Robinson is the best manager ever and the Nats are racists for letting him go. Hank Aaron is racist for not wanting to appear when Bonds passes his record…wait, what? Aaron is black? A black guy named “Hank?” That’s racist.”

By Please Andy

May 20, 2007 10:59 PM | Link to this

Ron, you don’t get it do you? This ain’t 1980. By the time Andruw retires, how many guys do you think will be in the 500 homer club? Quite a few. The numbers are going to be diluted. Hey “Dude” (as you say) I didn’t come up with this theory! Lots of baseball talking heads are saying this! The way he is hitting now 500 ain’t even a lock!

Listen to yourself! You’re already arguing for his induction and he doesn’t yet have the numbers you’re basing your assumption on. So what are you going to argue then? He’s got 15 gold gloves and a .270 hitter?

If he finishes with 500 homers, 15 gold gloves and a .250 ave., ain’t no guarantee he’s a lock.

Have you been paying attention to the HOF voting lately? The bar is being raised every year. The writers and the vets committee are getting tougher every year.

Andruw ain’t no lock. Put the pipe down!

By Jimbo

May 20, 2007 11:02 PM | Link to this

Today we saw a game by Andruw we can all remember when he is somewhere else next year. It was a classic game for the ages. Flawless in center, 5 Ks and another failure in a clutch situation in the 9th.

Why do they bother to have a hitting coach? Obviously Fatso thinks he knows better then TP. The whole situation has moved past sad to comical.

The first strike he took had hit me to right written all over it. But of course that would require Fatso to make an effort to hit the ball where it was pitched. Remember his famous qoute: “I’m a pull hitter. It’s what I do”. Let the countdown to Fatso being an ex-Brave continue

By Brad in MT

May 20, 2007 11:03 PM | Link to this

Even though the last week or so has been awful to watch, we still have the third best record in the NL…and the Mets are getting beat by the Yankees, the season is far from over, every team is going to have stretches like this week, lets just hope they can turn it around quickly.

By fastasballs

May 20, 2007 11:04 PM | Link to this

Andruw needs to sit for a week or more , maybe being the national embarrassment will light a fire under his arse, probably not.

His last two AB’s were pathetic. He has a 2-1 count in the 9th, but everyone in the damn ballpark knows he’s struggling so a fastball down peach street is not an option, well unless your thinking like Andruw. Hello McFly, anything but a fastball is coming. Hanging slider follows & Andruw is utterly shocked like an eephus pitch just fell out of the clouds. That’s followed by the “I don’t give a damn, I’m swinging at anything 3 feet over my head” and the game was over.

He doesn’t give a chit. Look at the other guy’s reactions, Thorman’s after hitting into the DP is a good example. He was mad a shell at himself even though he hit the ball on the nose.

By Gil in Mechanicsville

May 20, 2007 11:10 PM | Link to this

Maybe we could make a deal with Washington and swap them even Andruw Jones for Ryan Langerhans. Ryan at least had an RBI hit today and plays a good center field.

By JJMB

May 20, 2007 11:11 PM | Link to this

Heck, you know AJ doesn’t like the cold. Chipper looked like he was ready to get the helloutofdodge himself.

By Glass Half Full (GHF)

May 20, 2007 11:12 PM | Link to this

If the Braves stay within 4 games of the Mets, they’ll win the Wild Card. I’m still betting on Braves and Mets in the NLCS.

By Ron

May 20, 2007 11:17 PM | Link to this

Please Andy, Dude you need to put the Pipe down!!! Who do they not let in, Mark McGuire, the only reason they did not let him in because they think he used steroids, who else have they not let in to the Hall that has 500 Homeruns? Who??? You said I dont get it, Hell you dont get it do you? Earlier you said * No outfielder is going to make the hall because of his defense only.* Do you not think that 500 Homeruns is no Offense? And yes if he wins 15 Gold Gloves and hits 500 Homeruns, and .250 ave, he will still get into the Hall!!! I guarantee you that, that crack pipe must be pretty damn good, I might go and find somebody that sells it and try some, because obviously it is DAMN GOOD SH!T!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Ron

May 20, 2007 11:24 PM | Link to this

Please Andy, no doubt there will be some guys that are going to hit 500 homeruns in the next 10 years, but how many that will have about 15 Gold Gloves? Name me one Outfielder, that will probably have 15 Gold Gloves, and 500 Homeruns? Name ME Just ONE OUTFIELDER that will put up those numbers that I just said?

By Sam

May 20, 2007 11:26 PM | Link to this

Someone asked if Francona rested any of his starters today - he did. Lowell (3B) and Lugo SS). They also had a doubleheader Thursday with Detroit.

By Gil in Mechanicsville

May 20, 2007 11:27 PM | Link to this

Okay, time to be realistic. Braves have a good young team. Honestly, the Braves are only a few players away from being a real force. Their record is not shabby but they do need two decent pitchers to start.

If they cannot find them within the organization then they are in trouble in the long haul anyway.

The Braves have shown they can hit and produce runs but Andruw has to get right. Bad karma, hex, voodoo… Something has a hold on Druw that is blocking his brain waves.

My wife says Andruw looks like Francoeur did last year when he was struggling towards the end of the season. She is right. Rest him, shame him, something has to be done to get his attention.

Okay, Yankees win, we won’t see No Chop the rest of the night.

By Tony Almeida

May 20, 2007 11:32 PM | Link to this

Come on DOB, you had to have talked to Andruw tonight. What did he say. Is he still saying he’ll snap out of it, it’s just a slump? I would love to hear him explain today’s game.

By Please Andy

May 20, 2007 11:33 PM | Link to this

C’mon Ron, at least be original. The pipe comment was mine. You didn’t even come up with something on your own. All you know how to do is make your little dollar signs so you can get your A$$ remark in and call people names.

You still missed the point. You’re living in the past, The power numbers that have guaranteed hall induction in the past ain’t necessarily gonna guarantee hall induction in the future!

If Druw plays 7 more years and is eligible for induction in 10, how many members are going to be in the 500 homer club? Almost twice as many as are in it today? Keep in mind ( I know that part is hard for you)we’re talking ten years from now.

So all of a sudden, 500 isn’t the magic number anymore.

There seem to be a lot of voters out there who want to punish any power hitter who has played in the steroid era. There are even grumblings that Sosa won’t make it with 600!!

Ok Ron, I’m going to bed. You get the last word.

Andruw is a first ballot HOFamer. I bow to your superior baseball knowledge and ability to shout elementeary school insults. Lets go ahead and put his statue out there with Henry Aaron. Actually, the statue of Aaron could hit better than Druw right now!

By Train Wreck Bystander

May 20, 2007 11:41 PM | Link to this

So what do you do when your erstwhile clean-up hitter:

(1) Won’t listen to the batting coach (2) Can’t be traded without his approval (and doesn’t approve) (3) Is too good defensively to bench

Be thankful for the small things: (1) Strikeouts are better than grounding into double plays any day (2) He can still play a helluva center field (3) If he is underperforming relative to his carreer batting numbers, then a statistical correction should be expected

Despite all the fat jokes that permeate the blog, this batting slump seems to be mental. And it will eventually change - probably sooner than later. You’ll see the breakout numbers that will bring this season’s average in line with his others.

AJ is an easy lightning rod for the teams current troubles, but the back end of the rotation is where attention is needed.

By Braveheart

May 20, 2007 11:49 PM | Link to this

To be honest, calling DOB a homer with Andruw is silly. People were getting fed up and grumbling and growling about being disappointed in him for a while but it was a quiet growl. But then DOB had a blog about a week or two ago where he said that he thought it was about time to put Andruw down in the order. It was the equivalent of Mike Vick at a dogfight screaming sic ‘em. That very blog (and Druw’s continued poor performance) seems to have unleashed the full fury of this blog on Druw. So calling DOB a homer is pretty silly. The only two players I think DOB can be slightly a homer with are Smoltz and Chipper but that is just because they are so good and consistent that it drives him nuts that anyone could say a bad word about them - DOB is not a big fan of ignorant talk - hence, his daily battles with Robert.

BUT SLCMATT is an absolute moron. At least he has not said anything racist about Andruw yet. He is quite fond of throwing the race card around on the Falcons blogs. Go back to the minors over at the Dirty Bird blogs SLCMATT. Come back when you get a brain and some class.

By Wayne in Utah

May 20, 2007 11:52 PM | Link to this

I think it is obvious that the Braves are in a tough situation here. First, you don’t really want to alienate a potential 40 HR hitter. Also, you can’t go on forever with the current slump. So, does Bobby drop him in the lineup and leave him at 6 or 7 for a week or so? It seems that Andruw is saying all the right things about being dropped. Now, if he continues to struggle, do you sit him for a series or two? Maybe.

Also, if the Braves were trying to work something behind the scenes to address the issue, you KNOW we will only hear about it when it happens. What that could be, who knows.

Lots of interesting moves in the past week or so with dropping Wilson and keeping Saltalamacchia instead of Pena (I assume that is for insurance at 1B, although Woodward and maybe Diaz could provide that insurance.) Another possibility is Salty could be showcased. What I hope happens is that the Braves realize exactly what they have in Salty and keep him at all costs.

At what point would the Braves drop Andruw??? After sitting him for a week and him STILL not getting it for another month??? Just talking out loud.

DOB I would like to thank you for your consistent coverage and honest assessments. Keep up the great work!!

By Calvin

May 20, 2007 11:57 PM | Link to this

Frenchy had a really good series. He looks like a guy that gets it now.

By N8

May 21, 2007 12:01 AM | Link to this

To all of the whiners complaining that ESPN doesn’t show Braves highlights, I’m amused to report that they just spent about 2 minutes documenting how HORRIBLE of a day Andruw had (showing the 3rd strike of ALL of his K’s).

So there. How do you like dem’ apples?

Essentially they’re just letting the rest of the baseball fans in America aware of how ugly his game is right now. 17 K’s in his last 8 games.

YIKES, indeed.

Please Andy

“The power numbers that have guaranteed hall induction in the past ain’t necessarily gonna guarantee hall induction in the future!”

100 percent agree. Not only that, but power numbers of the PAST for any individual player aren’t a good indicator of his current value/ability.

Fact: Andruw is not as good in CF as he was in the past. Fact: Even though he isn’t as good as he USED TO BE, he is STILL one of the better CF’s in the game. Fact: Andruw has NEVER been a good “good pitch” hitter.

His past numbers mean nothing. Period. If that was the case, why not bring back Fred McGriff? He put up some pretty good numbers, right? Hell, why not bring back the HR King, (before he’s not the king anymore)? I’m sure Hank would love nothing more than to get on the field and show Andruw how it’s done.

Is Andruw a HOF’r? Probably. But last time I checked, his “credentials” aren’t gonna win us any games, until he remembers how to hit.

I’ll take Willie Harris in CF, giving us 5 good AB’s a game, over the chance that Andruw might accidentally connect on a bad pitch every 25 AB’s or so.

No brainer to anybody with a pulse.

Get back to me when (if) he actually makes those HR’s occur more frequently. I MIGHT change my mind.

By Wayne in Utah

May 21, 2007 12:24 AM | Link to this

Good points Nate. Read my last post, sent at about the same time as your last one. I think what we are saying is similar. How far do you go with him, knowing that at some point, he could come around.

Problem is, he is so badly broken now, that he will probably have to make major changes and his attitude does not give me the confidence that he will change.

I would be willing to live with Willie for a week in CF to let AJ get his head straight.

By Ron

May 21, 2007 12:25 AM | Link to this

Please Andy, You still dont get it do you? Yes there will be more people with 500 Homeruns in the next 10 years, I will give you that, no doubt about that, never said it would not, but how many will have 500 HOMERUNS, AND ABOUT 15 GOLD GLOVES!!!!!! You still never answered that question!!! By the time Andruw retires and waits his 5 years until he even gets a chance at the Hall, 600 might guarantee players Hall of Fame instead of the 500, but with all of his Gold Gloves it will be EXTREMELY hard for them not to put him into the Hall of Fame, You only have to get 75% of the votes not 100%!!! He will probably hit 500 and something Homeruns, about 15 Gold Gloves, and about 2500 CAREER Hits, I dont know how you dont get into the Hall of Fame!!!!!! I know you said you went to bed, but when you read this let me know your thoughts on this right here: If Manny Ramirez hits 600 Career homeruns does he get to the Hall of Fame? I would say if you think he does deserve to get to the Hall because of just the Homeruns, and a good Average, and ABSOLUTELY NO DEFENSE, you are pathedic, but let me know!!! Tired of Arguing with you because it is clearly going nowhere, I am not going to change your mind and you are Certainly not going to change my mind!!!

By Salty Dawg

May 21, 2007 12:26 AM | Link to this

Just freaking sit Andrews’ sorry a*. I would rather see Diaz in left, Willie Harris in Center and Francouer in right. These guys are in shape and give a crap. 0-5 is bad enough but striking out swinging five times, on some occasions with men on base? Andres is the biggest f*** waste. He hits when the game is so far gone it does not matter or the Braves are so far ahead his runs are of no consequence.

By Ron

May 21, 2007 12:34 AM | Link to this

N8, Since you are still up, let me ask you a question: Are you more concerned about Andruw or the backend of the Rotation? For me I am really concerned about Andruw right now, because I have never seen him this bad before, EVER, he even missed a hanger in the 9th, he at least was hitting those!!! But I am also really concerned about the Redman spot of the Rotation, We need to get somebody or bring up somebody!!!

By Wayne in Utah

May 21, 2007 12:46 AM | Link to this

Ron: What is your point about the hall of fame???? WHO CARES??? All I want is for Andruw to get straightened out so he can help us to the WS and then go make his millions next year SOMEWHERE ELSE.

While he has a lot of gold gloves, he is NOT the fielder that he was 3-5 years ago. He is too dang fat and has lost a few steps. That said, he is still one of the best. We can live without his glove. We ARE living without his bat. So, let’s sit him, and if he still doesn’t get it, put him on waivers. If nobody picks him up, release him eventually. This is all dependent on him not getting straightened out, which is my FIRST hope.

By Coach

May 21, 2007 12:52 AM | Link to this

As bad as Andruw’s five K’s were ,had the Braves not given Boston four outs in the first and second inning none of those five runs would have scored. Francoeur should have caught the flyball that Ortiz hit for a double in the first and in the second inning Prado should have turned a double play but he couldn’t get the ball out of his glove. It just goes to show that whether its the Nationals or Redsox if you give a major league team an extra out or two in an inning they will score. Andruw should be benched , but we know Cox , he will do the exact opposite and play his centerfielder in the belief that punishing a player for a horrid five K game would only hurt his confidence. Which of course is total bull , I don’t care if he is a gold glove in CF , he is an automatic out , which is why he needs to be benched. Note to all the fans who attend games in Atlanta : DID YOU PEOPLE SEE THE PASSION AND TRADITION OF THE REDSOX FAN FAITHFUL ? THEY WERE MAGNIFICENT ! I wish that kind fan base and tradition existed in Atlanta , but it doesn’t yet , even after 40 years of Braves baseball.

By me

May 21, 2007 1:01 AM | Link to this

Wayne You’re off base where andruw’s defense is concerned.He is still the best outfielder in the game.I’m at a loss when it comes to his clueless hitting though.I won’t be surprised if he picks up to close to the level of last season and 05 at some point,let’s hope it’s before the season is down the drain.PS setting him would be a short sighted reactionary thing to do.BC doesn’t do short sighted or reactionary.

By N8

May 21, 2007 1:06 AM | Link to this

Ron

I’m ALWAYS up way too late.

I’m much more concerned about the backend of the rotation. But since I don’t see an end in sight to our pitching woes (even if we trade Salty, since EVERYBODY seems to need pitching - and I surely don’t wanna trade Salty for Gil Meche!), we need to give what pitchers that are here right now the best chance to win.

One could argue that Andruw saves runs with his glove. I can’t argue with that…he does. But if he’s on the field for defense, bat him 8th. Also, like I said earlier, Langerhans was a VERY good defensive outfielder. But good luck convincing me that his defense saved more games than his hitting hindered.

It’s the same with Andruw right now. There wouldn’t be THAT big of a drop off putting Harris out there for a week (it’s not like we’d be putting Klesko in CF), just to get his bat in the lineup.

I’m not saying permenantly, just to shake it up a bit. While saying that, I realize that Andruw can’t get out of his slump without playing.

If I was Andruw, I would feel ridiculously guilty about my performance, and quite possibly volunteer to be “injured” and placed on the DL. Then go on a rehab assignment, and when I (and the club) felt my approach was acceptable or close enough, the come back.

In fact, if I’m JS, I just might suggest this to him. Of course the union would FREAK. But seriously, if this is purely mental, the longer it goes on, the longer it will go on.

Let me put it this way. I’ve ALWAYS been a bigger fan of the name on the front of the jersey, not the one on the back. I believe that JS made a HUGE mistake by not trading Andruw last year before he became a 10/5 guy.

No guarantees we win the WS with the guys we would’ve got for him. But I would’ve gambled. Which is essentially what JS was doing by gambling that either:

a) Andruw might stay in Atlanta after this year

or

b) Even if he left, the Braves would “benefit” from his walk year “numbers”.

I don’t hate Andruw. Just not enjoying watching him that much anymore.

By Coach

May 21, 2007 1:11 AM | Link to this

N8 , you can’t see the forrest for the tree’s. Andruw is all but a lock for the hall of fame , he would have to fall completely off his game and at the age of 30 that is unlikely. He is in a slump , he should be benched , but thats it. He is the Braves centerfielder for the rest of this season , the future is anybody’s guess as to whether or not he stays in Atlanta.

By N8

May 21, 2007 1:17 AM | Link to this

“…PS setting him would be a short sighted reactionary thing to do.BC doesn’t do short sighted or reactionary.”

Short sighted? We are a quarter of the way through the season and he’s hitting .212!!

I suppose you think it was “short sighted” to release Craig Wilson too?

How about last year? Were you clamoring for Ray or Sosa to remain the closer, even after Wickman was traded for?

Short sighted defines JS’ decision last year to hang onto Andruw when he had the opportunity to trade him without his consent.

By A-ville Ranger

May 21, 2007 1:19 AM | Link to this

Coach and Wayne No good manager would bench Andruw at this time.Haven’t you guys noticed the bad managers who can’t control their impulses and inevitably lose the team ? Think about the top guys,none of them jerk their players around and create animosity and distrust.If there’s one thing that has made BC successful all these years, keeping the players faith and confidence is it.

By The Truth Hurts

May 21, 2007 1:27 AM | Link to this

Release A.J.? Please. Rest him a day or two? Okay.

As for the passion of Red Sox fans, Atlanta does have a passionate fan base. It’s just for college football. The N.E. corridor (Boston/NY/Philly) has no substantive connection to collegiate sports. Having gone to school in Boston, the Red Sox, of course, are their religion. Just like Saturdays in the Fall here. It also helps that Fenway seats 36,000 in a city larger than Atlanta.

You can’t change Atlanta’s stripes.

By A-ville Ranger

May 21, 2007 1:30 AM | Link to this

N8 Don’t be silly.Last year was last year,it would have made sense to consider what the market would yield for Andruw at that time.There’s an expression my mom used,don’t bite your nose to spite your face.Another way to say it would be to not p** into the wind.It just makes no good sense to bench him now.

By N8

May 21, 2007 1:37 AM | Link to this

Coach I agree (about Andruw being a virtual “lock”). But being Braves fans, let’s not forget Dale Murphy.

His last remotely “productive” (up to his standards) season was 1987. He was 31.

Starting in 1988, he had 86 HR and 325 RBI over the next 4 seasons (21 HR & 80 RBI average). Also, I didn’t add his last two “limited” seasons in those numbers as to NOT skew the averages.

Ironically, the 21 HR, aren’t too far off of what Andruw is on “pace” for this year. Start of a “trend”? I’m not so sure it’s not. As for the RBI, Andruw is on pace for 112, which isn’t bad compared to Murphy’s 81. But do we REALLY want to get into who Murphy had to “knock in” in his last four seasons, as opposed to the lineup Andruw has around him? Didn’t think so.

Of course, Andruw’s defense (in total gold gloves) is better than Murphy’s. But again, let’s not forget….Murphy was a “converted” catcher that won some gold gloves in CF. Not a bad athlete in my book. Also, Murphy was no less healthy than Andruw at that point in his career. From 1982-1991 he played in 1586 out of 1620 games (missing only 34 games in 10 years).

So don’t tell me that there’s not examples of guys “falling completely off their game” at the age of 30. It happend less than 20 years ago to one of the greatest Braves players ever.

Scary similar, if you ask me.

By A-ville Ranger

May 21, 2007 1:38 AM | Link to this

Truth hurts Well said, this is a sports town,it’s just more grass roots.High school and college rule this region and that’s ok with me.

By Ron

May 21, 2007 1:45 AM | Link to this

Wayne in Utah, Dude the only reason i got into the discussion about Andruw going to the Hall is because someone earlier was talkin about it, then I got into the argument with Please Andy. I want Andruw to do good also!!!

By Coach

May 21, 2007 1:48 AM | Link to this

Exactly N8 , Andruw should have been traded last season. But , JS dropped the ball on that one. With the trade of Langerhans , the disaster that is Redman , The Willy Aybar saga , the loss of Danys Baez , the Laroche/Gonzo trade which isn’t looking so smart at the moment , Tanyon Sturtze and Mike Hampton are eating up roster spots on the 40 man…..the list of mistakes on the part of John Schuerholz is getting longer by the minute. Benching Andruw consists of one or two games , thats it , just enough to get his attention.

By N8

May 21, 2007 1:52 AM | Link to this

“Think about the top guys,none of them jerk their players around and create animosity and distrust.If there’s one thing that has made BC successful all these years, keeping the players faith and confidence is it.”

Yeah. One wouldn’t wanna make the millionaires “earn” their playing time, as to not “create animosity”, would he? COME ON!

I’m in total agreement that Bobby’s patience is usually a good thing in the long run. But if I’m not mistaken, JS DIDN’T trade Andruw last season, DID trade for Wickman, DID trade for Soriano, and DID trade for Gonzalez, so that we could compete this year.

Well, were about two more weeks of Andruw costing us games with his bat, of NOT needing to worry about this season any more. Or did you forget that we were “in it” last year through May as well? I, for one, sure am glad that Bobby/JS didn’t were worried about ruining Reitsma’s “trust” last year, rather than trying to win.

Is this baseball or pre-school?

By N8

May 21, 2007 1:58 AM | Link to this

Coach

I’m not trying to argue with you, because I think we are WAY closer on this than we both realize.

But really? Benching him for two days is gonna get his “attention”? If striking out swinging (none really that close) five times in one game doesn’t get his “attention”, is benching him gonna make him change his approach any more than what he’s doing right now?

You might be right, and me wrong. But at 14.5 million dollars, I would like to think the Braves have his FULL attention already. If not……buh bye Andruw.

By rocketman

May 21, 2007 2:01 AM | Link to this

Andruw is simply uncoachable - plain and simple. Or, he’s a man of low intellect. When Andruw tore the cover off the ball 2 spring trainings ago, every ball was being plastered in to right center field. Now, AJ says, “I’m just a pull hitter”

Maybe it’s time for Bobby to sit AJ down and explain that hitters all do go in slumps but relegating yourself to a mindset that takes away 1/2 the plate is unacceptable. You’d think in 10 years he would learn this.

By Coach

May 21, 2007 2:02 AM | Link to this

Andruw compared to Murphy ? thats absurd. Murphy’s career ended in a downward slide due to his bad knee’s starting around the age of 34 , Andruw is 30 and still has four or five more productive seasons before we will see a significant drop in his physical ability barring injury. Andruw has nine straight gold gloves and will win his tenth after this season , Murphy had five in a row. Andruw has already been the best player at his position twice as long is Dale did it. Thats the difference between the two. One will be a hall of famer one day and Murphy will always be my favorite player but he won’t ever get into the HOF due to a career cut short by bad knee’s.

By N8

May 21, 2007 2:06 AM | Link to this

Back to the “animosity/trust” thing.

What about creating animosity among the players that are actually performing?

You think guys like Smoltz are happy that every 5th day guys like Redman are being “allowed” to continue bringing this team down? At some point, the manager has to worry about the guys that are TRYING to play well, rather than guys with bad approaches, who are unwilling to change or guys who LIE about injuries.

It’s a real grey area, with probably no one correct way of handling it.

How ever it’s resolved, SOMETHING needs to be done. Moving him down in the order didn’t help, so the next move is the bench. If that doesn’t work, you got me.

Alright, after a long weekend off, even I have to work tomorrow.

Good night everybody. No hard feelings I hope. I enjoyed the debating tonight. Everybody stated their case well, even if I didn’t agree with all of it.

L8R

By Matthew At The SLC

May 21, 2007 2:12 AM | Link to this

O’Brien, I like calling you a homer because it sets you off. So yeah, I’m doing it to get a rise out of you, but also, man, you ARE a little bit of a homer. If not, you wouldn’t be so quick and so forceful in defending yourself. Methinks thou dost protest too much, O’Brien! Verily, there beist some truth in what I say.

By jed

May 21, 2007 2:18 AM | Link to this

hey N8—

you seem chompin’ at the bit tonight, but the andruw issue is a dead horse. nobody’s trading the guy. about the only thing you can do is sit him for a series, and yes, by all means, cox ought to do just that.

what intrepid bloggers like yourself ought to be focusing on is our need for a #3 starter. chuckie looks like a #4 at best this year. i’ve heard talk of tomo ohka and a couple other blue jay pitchers being available. you probably have your snout to the ground on all sorts of rumors…how bout focusing your endless pontifications on who might be available for our rotation?

By joebrave

May 21, 2007 2:28 AM | Link to this

Nothing else to be said here about A.J. man if you d******* are that damn blind then you need help,Okay he gave us ten good years but now they are over If he plays two more years it will be a miracle,He looks a lot like Raul Mondesi right now and I don’t see that sumbitch nowhere!! Go Braves !!! kick some Mutts @ss this week!!!! And for god sakes NO Andruw Jones!!!!!

By jed

May 21, 2007 2:31 AM | Link to this

matt/slc:

i dont think dob’s a homer, i think if you read above, you’ll see an interview with andruw about what’s going on with him. that’s access. if dob wants to continue to have players willing to talk to him, he cant be a pariah in the clubhouse, now can he? think about it. and in general, dob’s been pretty straight-forward in his analysis of andruw’s season. he thinks it’s awful. what more exactly would you like him to say? and really, arent there better things you could be doing with your time than trying to “get a rise” out of the best beat writer we’ve had in forever?

By joebrave

May 21, 2007 2:34 AM | Link to this

Hey MattSLC,Dude this ain’t the Falcon Blog,Lay off DOB,you are an overmatched annoying little peckergnat sumbitch,to be calling someone a homer,look do us all a favor you little turd burglar,Take your stupidity back to the Falcons Blog where somebody may actually give a damn,about what you have to say but Here we don’t like Buttgoblins!!!!!

By joebrave

May 21, 2007 2:39 AM | Link to this

Jed here are the available pitchers as of Now,Ohka,not good enough,Towers worth a look,Anyone in our farm system,and A.Cook and he sucks,other than that that’s about it,and don’t even mention Ponson he’s a bigger joke than Redman!!there you go pal pick your poison!!!!

By A-ville Ranger

May 21, 2007 2:41 AM | Link to this

N8 Redman is another matter.I’ll be surprised if he starts a game anytime soon.I’m sure you can see the difference in dropping Andruw a ten year performer and Redman (can’t you?)an emergency pick up.jed no doubt the real make or break position is the three spot in the rotation.There’s no way we can keep depending on Smoltz and Hudson to carry the whole rotation,I hope James can do the job but I’m not holding my breath.

By jed

May 21, 2007 3:02 AM | Link to this

villareal looked good when he was given the opportunity to start last year. i’d like to see cox give him 3 starts and see if he can settle in. by the 3rd start, you might have something. cormier’s back in a couple weeks and that could be good, if he’s healthy. forget redman. villareal, cormier, davies—2 of those guys are gonna have to step up and carry us until we can make a trade toward the deadline for a real 3 pitcher. hindsight being 20/20, it’s a shame we didnt sign glavine this off-season. i dont blame JS too much for that, though. rough luck with hampton….

By AZBravoFan

May 21, 2007 3:46 AM | Link to this

How many games have the Braves lost this year due to pitchers not disclosing injuries? I count at least 4 with 2 for Wickman, 2 for Lerew. And for all we know 3 or 4 for Redman. Although he’s looking like a lost cause, healthy toe or not.

By Bravo Nam

May 21, 2007 6:00 AM | Link to this

DOB

Maybe no chance of BC and Robert getting together for a pow wow, but it would be great theatre if it could be organised.

Distinguishing the two Bobbies

Bobby Cox makes lots of mistakes but is still a great Manager; Robert never makes a mistake and is peerless in all arguments but is still a real loser!

Focus on a Few Positives

With all the negative ranting and raving about the Braves, let’s reflect on a few positives: the form of Moylan out of the bullpen; over .300 average of Jones, Francoueur, Diaz and Renteria; over .400 average of Harris; two top level closers in the bullpen (Wickman and Soriano); and, the fact that AJ’s contract year wasn’t last year (with the Braves signing him for 6 years at a cool 17 mill)!

By Braves Fan 79

May 21, 2007 6:13 AM | Link to this

All you pple complaining about andrew and saying he should be traded youll be the same ones kissing his A$$ again when he catches fire. For the Braves to have a serious shot at winning the world series thell need Andrew and Chipper healthy and playing at there best!
Sadly we wont finish with a better record than the mets because of Bobbys fascination with crappy bench players like woodward…and giving away games like bringing in Redmen on saturday when the Braves were only down 3 runs. Why not use him AFTER the game was out of reach??
The Braves WILL win the wildcard and we can only pray to God we NEVER SEE woodward at bat in the playoffs…and that Andrew heats up!

By Braves Fan 79

May 21, 2007 6:21 AM | Link to this

IF the Braves do trade Salty (i hope they dont because hell make a excellent bench player in the playoffs) i wouldnt settle for anything less than a top level pitcher. Id love to see Roy Holliday in a Braves uniform. Anything less than that is a NO DEAL!
I hope come fall the bench looks like this: prado, salty, escobar, diaz.
Man we GOTTA get RID of woodward..and redmen!

By David O'Brien

May 21, 2007 7:36 AM | Link to this

Truth Hurts, definitely a lot to what you said vis-a-vis the NE corridor vs. Atlanta sports cultures. Professional sports are so much bigger than college sports for the general populations in the large cities up here — I say up here because I’m still in Boston, getting ready to fly home — it’s not even close. Nothing like Atlanta, where we have huge segments of the sports audience who call the ‘Dawgs, Tech, ‘Bama, Auburn or another school their favorite team, instead of the Braves or Falcons.

Up in the NE, there’s a lot of passion for certain college sports and teams, but it’s in much smaller segments of the population. Like the passionate crowd that follows college hockey in Boston — very passionate, but a tiny fraction of the fan base that follows the Red Sox, which in turn far outweighs the passionate Patriots fan base.

The Bruins and Celtics (still) also have far larger fan bases up here, I’m sure, than, say, BC or BU, which have great fans, but just not the overall numbers as the pro sports do heere.

College basketball is very big in New York and Philly, but a drop in the bucket compared to the sheer number of fans who call the Yankees, Mets, Giants, Jets, or Eagles their favorite team, or even the Flyers, Rangers, Knicks (still) or Sixers, I’d imagine.

And yes, besides being a great setting for ‘ball, the fact that Fenway seats only about 36,000 also helps by creating huge demand for limited tix, which sell out before the first pitch of the season is thrown, because people know they can’t wait and buy tix later or walk up and buy a ticket for a less-attractive game any time, the way they can at Turner Field.

Braves officials concede, at least privately, that Turner Field has about 10,000 too many seats. They messed up when they renovated after the Olympics _ should’ve made it smaller capacity for baseball.

By JasonInMaine

May 21, 2007 7:42 AM | Link to this

How’s this for a crazy rumor:

Monitoring Helton

As the Rockies struggle, there’s mounting speculation they will revisit trade talks regarding Helton. Tigers fans are clamoring for Helton, who’s off to a terrific start. That’s not going to happen, but all the pieces are in place for the Rockies to renew talks with the Boston Red Sox at some point. Helton isn’t thinking about deals right now, instead worrying about his team getting on track.

However, if Colorado doesn’t execute a U-turn soon, don’t be surprised if the Yankees, Red Sox and the Atlanta Braves - with new ownership - come calling.

Where do people come up with this stuff? We need pitching! The entire article can be found here: Pitchers fuel jump in slumps

By David O'Brien

May 21, 2007 7:44 AM | Link to this

Rocketman, I can assure you Andruw’s not a man of low intellect. But he’s seriously stubborn with an ego that stands in the way of acknowledging his approach needs work. He said again yesterday, “I swing the way I want to swing,” something like that (I’d have to look at my notes for the exact phrase he used). The point he was making was clear: Stop telling me to use the whole field, etc, because I’m going to do it my way.

By JasonInMaine

May 21, 2007 7:52 AM | Link to this

DOB,

Well, that’s too bad about Andruw letting his arrogance get in the way of helping the team. It is that mindset and arrogance that has always prohibited him from reaching his enormous potential. The greatest hitters in history have always worked at their craft, made adjustments, and studied hitting. Not too many of them where one dimensional, pull hitting power hitters…can he not see that?

Regards,

Jason

By Robert

May 21, 2007 7:53 AM | Link to this

“N8 , you can’t see the forrest for the tree’s. Andruw is all but a lock for the hall of fame , he would have to fall completely off his game and at the age of 30 that is unlikely. “

Slumps dont last a year. You could make a strong case that since the 06 All-Star break, Andruw has fallen completely off his game

By Don

May 21, 2007 8:01 AM | Link to this

Too bad the braves next opponent isn’t an Amercian League team at their park, then we could DH for Andruw and let the pitcher hit.

By dadgum

May 21, 2007 8:15 AM | Link to this

I don’t know maybe it is just me….was watching Prado play in Richmond the other night. Average game on his part that night and now here Bobby calls up Prado to replace Johnson (who had just gone 4 for 5)for his first start against the best team in baseball. Huh? You pull Johnson after he goes 4 for 5? I don’t get it. Kind of curious but as I said maybe it is just me.

Congrats to Bobby for at least moving Andruw to the 6th hole. Sometimes Bobby shows too much loyalty to his players to a fault but that is why they love to play for him. Gotta believe the walk year yips have gotten a hold of him. That swing and miss on strike 3 to end the game was about as bad as you can look. I mean the ball was chin-high and he missed it a foot. The dude is pressing and flailing at just any thing being thrown.

If Bobby really wants to call up somebody it might be Gregor Blanco in CF. Makes more sense to sit Andruw than have Prado play for a guy that just went 4 for 5. Ya’ll think about it.

Rock on………..remembering Hank Williams.

By JasonInMaine

May 21, 2007 8:16 AM | Link to this

I see Boyer had an extremely rough outing yesterday, and that while he escaped a lot of damage; Dan Smith walked another 5 batters. It appears if he can improve his control that he has a real chance to be successful.

By We Have Metes the Enemy

May 21, 2007 8:31 AM | Link to this

Shaun? Where are you, Shaun?

We all sure could use some reassuarance that Anudruw is “doing just fine.”

Just when we need you and your Andruw Jones man-crush the most, you disappear.

By ChampDawg

May 21, 2007 8:33 AM | Link to this

Andruw in the HOF….. LMAO!!!! Andruw is stubborn and arrogant. Those of you who defend his low BA as acceptable because of his great defense, i.e. “he saves more runs than he cost us” I challenge you to start with tomorrows game and do the math. Do it or shut the hell up. He might save us 2-3 runs a week vs. us missing at least double that due to his low BA.

By chipdip

May 21, 2007 8:34 AM | Link to this

ANDRUW’S WORN OUT BY HIS STRIPPER WIFE.

By Coach

May 21, 2007 8:34 AM | Link to this

robert , your obsession with with horses, donkeys and sheep is both disturbing and indicative of a purely narcissistic self-absorbed individual with no life whatsoever.

By dadgum

May 21, 2007 8:37 AM | Link to this

Not so fast Robert my blogger friend….Andruw is no lock for the HOF. Same thing was once said about Dale Murphy. Andruw needs to work on that lifetime batting average a little. Granted his defense is teh best I have seen since Willie Mays but Otis Nixon still has the best defensive catch in CF in Atlanta history. Time will tell but right now if I were him I would be trying to correct this little slump and not worry about the HOF or walk year or anything else.

By Ron Roberts

May 21, 2007 8:39 AM | Link to this

RE: Turner Field… I’d like to see ‘em down-size Turner Field, myself. The right field upper deck is useless (except it blocks off the view of the parking lot and ‘hood behind it), but what they could do is replace the ugly scoreboard and 755 club by tearing it down and re-building it above the right field bleacher section. That way, the view of the downtown Atlanta skyline can actually be seen in the stadium.

DOB … what keeps Cox from moving Chipper to cleanup, and moving Francoeur up to 3rd? Those two are the most productive bats in our lineup when it comes to knocking guys in. If I’m managing, I push Andruw back in the order to 5th or 6th; I think we have to squeeze Willie Harris/Matt Diaz in at 5th to put a potential RBI in in case Andruw actually comes around every at-bat or so. Follow with McCann (in case Andruw still sucks) then Thorman and the pitcher.

By Swing and a Miss

May 21, 2007 8:42 AM | Link to this

Andruw can’t possibly have very much intelligence or ego if he can absolutely embarrass himself like he did yesterday and still assert, “I swing the way I want to swing.” Anyone even remotely intelligent or with an ounce of pride in himself would have been utterly humiliated and contrite afterward.

Even Shaun’s not defending Andruw anymore. And Shaun’s as stubborn and dim as they come.

By David O'Brien

May 21, 2007 8:44 AM | Link to this

Yeah, seriously, what’s the deal with the barnyard animals, compadre? Every time I read your posts I feel like I should make sure there’s no manure on my shoes. Enough already. It’s gotten beyond strange.

By dadgum

May 21, 2007 8:48 AM | Link to this

Francoeur is still too undisciplined a hitter for the 3 hole. Yes he is hot right now but he is better suited for the 5 or 6 spot overall. I would rather have McCann protecting Chipper. Can’t see Francoeur ever batting in the #3 spot this year.

By David O'Brien

May 21, 2007 8:50 AM | Link to this

Ron Roberts, I’ve said exactly the same thing about Turner Field. Agree with you completely _ tear down the left-field upper deck seating and 755 Club, move that and the team offices to right field upper deck, and you have a nice view of downtown skyline and seating capacity around 40,000. It’d cost millions, but would be worth it over the life of the ballpark, for sure.

By Swing and a Miss

May 21, 2007 8:53 AM | Link to this

A team generally bats its best hitter third. Besides, Chipper should bat where he wants to bat in the order, and obviously he prefers to bat third. It guarantees he comes up in the first inning, which is reason enough to leave him right where he is. It also guarantees him more at-bats over the course of a season than batting him fourth would — more at-bats than you probably realize.

Asking a zebra like Robert to change his stripes only serves to make him cling more stubbornly to his ways — sounds a lot like a certain Braves center fielder we all know, huh? Only no one ever defends Robert’s intelligence.

By David O'Brien

May 21, 2007 8:53 AM | Link to this

Chipper’s not moving. He prefers the 3-hole, and he absolutely thrives there, especially hitting behind Renteria.

By DHD

May 21, 2007 8:57 AM | Link to this

Try this lineup:

Harris, lf Renteria,ss K Johnson, 2b Chipper, 3b Francoeur, rf McCann, c Andruw, cf Thorman, 1b

By Ron Roberts

May 21, 2007 8:59 AM | Link to this

The reasons you go with Francoeur over McCann…

1. Francoeur, thus far, is hitting better and more consistently than McCann, this season.

2. McCann has deceptive speed. He’s slower than he actually looks. He’s a catcher!!!

By mel

May 21, 2007 9:07 AM | Link to this

David,

I heard your interview with Andruw this AM…I can’t believe how cavalier he is about his lack of production! Has it occurred to him that it is not so much that he is getting better pitching but that he is NOT adjusting like he says he should. I have heard over and over that Terry Pendleton has tried to get him to change his swing and approach but he is not listening. When he has listened to TP in the past, he has been more successful. I have tried to give AJ the benefit of the doubt when the fans have dissed him for his cute little smile that makes him seem that he doesn’t care but enough is enough! When is he going to admit that talent alone is not going to cut it and he needs to become a student of the game (and TP). I am so tired of his striking out and almost falling down every time! That can’t be good for his “sore back” or his swing. Get a clue, Andruw! You owe it to the fans!

By Matthew At The SLC

May 21, 2007 9:07 AM | Link to this

Ron Roberts,

Man, you are reading my mind! What about that ugly waste of space that’s the batter’s eye in center field? Doesn’t there need to be a fountain there, or a waterfall, or grass… just SOMETHING!!! Turner Field has absolutely no character. They need to put a nook or two in the outfield, it’s too uniform. They need to tear down the monstrosity that is the stupid cartoon thing in the pavilon as well. I say build the 755 Club on top of the existing left field bleechers, literally replacing those seats, and build it as a continuous wall from the playing field. It’s be like Fenway or Jacobs Field, but the people in the 755 Club would have an awesome view of the field. You could shorten the left field distance a bit, but that wall would create some great drama. Or… do it in place of the right field seats, and you could create triples galore. Keep the same wall idea.

And here’s another idea: if and when this team makes the playoffs again, only accept credit cards for tickets from those who have a Georgia zip code. Does anyone really want to see 20,000 Chicago fans fly down from Illinois, with another 10,000 from around the metro area? Now, we can’t help the 10,000. But we can certainly keep the Chicago, or New York, or St. Louis, etc. fans from travelling.

By Swing and a Miss

May 21, 2007 9:08 AM | Link to this

DOB, I’ll bet you could end all the lineup tinkering on this blog by posting Chipper’s career OBP in first-inning plate appearances. I’m confident it’s quite an impressive figure.

By Shaun

May 21, 2007 9:08 AM | Link to this

To all the folks who never read my arguments:

I never ever said Andruw was having a good season. A lot of what would have been hits last season for him are strikeouts.

I did argue that he is finding other ways to not make outs, namely walks, so therefore he was still not as bad as most of you thought. In fact, because of his very high walk total and the fact that he was still scattering in a few instances of power, he was still in the top half of most productive CF in the game.

Now he hasn’t taken a walk since last Sunday and has only 3 hits. In his defense, he was facing a good pitching staff this weekend.

Is it time to give up on him? I know this is going to sound like I’m defending him, but no it’s not time.

To show you it’s not too late to say it’s still too early in the season: AJ’s OBP went from .341 to .332 in one game.

Also, although he’s striking out a lot, he hasn’t chased all that many pitches out of the zone. If you have espn.com’s insider, you can see this. This leads me to believe it’s a timing or seeing-the-ball issue more than anything.

Again, yes, based on past performance and given his age and the fact that he’s in a contract year, my guess is he’ll get it together and have a big year.

Also, for those who think he is supposed to be a good situational hitter, he’s always been a low average hitter, a merely average on-base guy and a great power guy. If you have a problem with his situational hitting so far this season, you should have had a problem with his situational hitting his whole career.

Okay, enough of this! I’m honestly not trying to defend this guy. He’s definitely struggling. But it’s not as doom-and-gloom as everyone is making it.

By Swing and a Miss

May 21, 2007 9:08 AM | Link to this

DOB, I’ll bet you could end all the lineup tinkering on this blog by posting Chipper’s career OBP in first-inning plate appearances. I’m confident it’s quite an impressive figure.

By Ron Roberts

May 21, 2007 9:09 AM | Link to this

See, that’s what kills me….

1. Andruw’s not gonna listen to coaching, and stubbornly sticks to doing things the way he wants…

2. Chipper’s not moving because he prefers to bat 3rd…

I mean, Chipper likes cavorting with wing shack waitresses, too, but to do what’s best for his marriage, he avoids doing so (or so we all think, anyhow….)

God forbid one of these veteran leaders on this playoff-worthy team do what’s best for the team instead of what they prefer.

By Jeff R

May 21, 2007 9:13 AM | Link to this

Anybody’s who’s been to parks like Baltimore’s Camden Yards and Pittsburgh’s PNC Park (one of the best parks in the majors, and I’ve been to a few) have great views of their downtowns. Having Turner Field next to the interstate makes for great access, but…

DOB, what happens with the 4 and 5 spots in the rotation? Front office tipping its hat at all?

By bevsouth

May 21, 2007 9:18 AM | Link to this

For some reason the Baves seem to favor journeymen(Wilson,Woodward,Redman)over younger talent although inexperienced.No one ever improved by sitting on the bench.We need to find a way to get Salty in the lineup on a regular basis or send him back down.Let Mcbride or one of the younger pitcher from Richmond/Missippis start and release Redmond.What does it take for Cox to insert Diaz into the line up every day and use Harris as a late innng replacement/pinch runner?Smoltz and Glavine both struggled in their early years with the Braves but they grew into Hall of Fame caliber pitchers.

By N8

May 21, 2007 9:18 AM | Link to this

Braves Fan 79

“All you pple complaining about andrew and saying he should be traded youll be the same ones kissing his A$$ again when he catches fire.”

Yeah. Three years from now, with the word “Dodgers” across his chest, I’m gonna kiss his a$$.

Catch fire. That’s funny.

Robert

“Slumps dont last a year. You could make a strong case that since the 06 All-Star break, Andruw has fallen completely off his game”

Yup. Since July 1st last year, Andruw has the following numbers:

120 Games, .231 BA, 29 HR, 94 RBI and a WHOPPING 111 K’s in 424 AB’s.

Nice “slump”.

Here are Francoeurs stats over the same time since July 1 2006:

126 Games, .263 BA, 21 HR, 80 RBI and 100 K’s in 494 AB’s

And McCann’s:

101 Games, .295 BA, 22 HR, 91 RBI and 53 K’s in 419 AB’s.

Chipper’s:

85 Games, .340 BA, 30 HR, 73 RBI, and 45 K’s in 317 AB’s

Renteria:

110 Games, .282 BA, 12 HR 62 RBI, and 66 K’s in 488 AB’s. (From the TWO HOLE)

So in conclusion, one could reasonibly argue that since July 1st of 2006 Andruw has been the 5th best hitter on the team. Because, IMO, if Renteria would be in the cleanup spot, he’d have more RBI than Andruw even with 10 less HR.

LaRoche from July 1 to the end of the season, added with Thorman’s stats THIS YEAR, they have the following numbers:

108 Games, .304 BA, 24 HR, 72 RBI with 85 K’s in 358 combined AB’s.

Giles from July 1 of last year combined with KJ from this year:

105 Games, .284 BA, 12 HR, 59 RBI with 82 K’s in 411 combined AB’s.

So I stand corrected. Out of 8 “regular” position players, since July 1 of last year, Andruw is the 7th best hitter on the team. The ONLY category where he’s the best is RBI. Hmmmm, I wonder (based on his horrible BA with RISP), if that’s had anything to do with the players surrounding him, and the opportunities of being the cleanup hitter?

Put ANY of the above mentioned players in the 4-hole and I guarantee that the RBI’s would surpass Andruw’s.

Still productive? Sure. Overrated? ABSOLUTELY.

By Steve McP

May 21, 2007 9:18 AM | Link to this

I start by saying that I firmly believe that Andruw will start to hit (he has to if the Braves are going to go anywhere other than on vacation in October), but what I find most disappointing is that he does not seem to care about what is happening.

All of the quotes from Andruw that DOB has provided on this site and in the reports of the game on Braves website have him saying something to the effect of “oh well, it will get better I’ve done this before and will come out of it”. I think that this is what he is being told (is he surrounded by sycophants?) and he believes it, so he is not thinking that he needs to change anything. Even Bobby dropping him down the order did nothing other than aggravate an “injury” in the first place and give us 5 petulant strike outs including one in a game winning situation the day after the dummy he spat had been picked up.

Strangely he admits that he is getting pitched better, but I can’t understand why he does not see that it is not just the pitching, surely teams have been trying to work him out for years and have tried pitching him outside? Even if it is the pitching then he should be doing something to change what he does not parroting the “I’m a pull hitter and that’s the way it is” response. Does he remember two game winning hits to the “wrong” side a couple of weeks ago, I really hoped that would have taught him something useful, but it does not appear to have done so.

By bevsouth

May 21, 2007 9:19 AM | Link to this

For some reason the Baves seem to favor journeymen(Wilson,Woodward,Redman)over younger talent although inexperienced.No one ever improved by sitting on the bench.We need to find a way to get Salty in the lineup on a regular basis or send him back down.Let Mcbride or one of the younger pitcher from Richmond/Missippis start and release Redmond.What does it take for Cox to insert Diaz into the line up every day and use Harris as a late innng replacement/pinch runner?Smoltz and Glavine both struggled in their early years with the Braves but they grew into Hall of Fame caliber pitchers.

By Laurance Maney

May 21, 2007 9:20 AM | Link to this

There’s too much nonsense in this blog to consider so let me start and end with “Daxxed - AJ needs to be benched for lack of production…WH needs to be allowed to start in CF…let AJ learn to hit again before he returns…” Perhaps Daxxed knows more about baseball than I do, but in my 60+ years as a Braves fan I’ve never seen anyone “learn how to hit again” sitting on a bench nor “learn how to hit again” batting in the bottom of the order. AJ came up as the most exciting ballplayer I’d seen in decades - as a kid he reminded me of Mays and Jackie Robinson and a little bit of Bobby Bonds, but then inexplicably and contrary to the evidence that he hit right handed pitchers better than left handed pitchers he was platooned with the immortal Michael Tucker and thrown in as a futile pinch hitter on his off days. The next year as center fielder he was banished to the bottom third of the order until May of 2005 when desperate for a clean-up hitter Cox moves him to the 4th spot from where he hits 90+ homers in 2 years. As impressive as that might have been, he still hit for low average and struck out a lot and now after countless batting coaches meddling with what was once an intuitively gifted ball player he’s where he is today. The one exception to all this was the year AJ batted 2nd, ahead of Chipper, when he hit .304, had 199 hits, 36 HR, 100+ RBI and struck out the fewest number of times in his career. So who do we blame here? Do the math. In my opinion AJ will never get back to that year in Atlanta but he will somewhere else. And then all you grit-eating experts will be blaming Liberty Media for not keeping the best center fielder I have ever seen, and if he’s the best I’ve ever seen, he’s the best you’ve ever seen also.

By Ron Roberts

May 21, 2007 9:23 AM | Link to this

Matthew in the SLC….

I actually like the left field seats where they are… just not all the crap behind and above it blocking the skyline view. I’m saying move it all behind and above the right field lower level seats. I’d actually like to see that right field section demolished and re-built, too, more jutting into the field than it does. Those seats are pointed towards the outfield, essentially, and ballpark designers usually point the seats more towards the infield.

Also, if you had only Georgia residents buying playoff tickets, there’d only be 25,000 attending first round Braves home playoff games.

Oh, and I live in New Orleans, Louisiana, and thus, even though I’m not a Braves fan, wouldn’t be able to buy tickets if I wanted to travel up and see a game.

By JasonInMaine

May 21, 2007 9:24 AM | Link to this

Shaun,

I could care less what the ESPN Insider says…I am an Insider as well and know exactly what you are referencing. Again, I have watched Andruw on TV for an average of 130-135 games since he became the starting CF. He has been chasing that low and away breaking ball his entire career, especially this year. He certainly chased balls out of the zone last night. Andruw certainly doesn’t have a reputation of having a keen eye at the plate. Pitchers have consistently gotten him to chase balls out of the zone, especially when he has 2 strikes. He always has, and from what he says; he always will.

By Shaun

May 21, 2007 9:28 AM | Link to this

Random,

What defines a “rally situation”?

Why only RISP with two outs? What about hitting into a double play with no outs and runners on first and second? Seems like a double play in almost any situation would be defined as a rally killer. What about making an out when you’re the leadoff hitter in an inning? That greatly decreases your chances to score. What about when a manager bunts a runner from first to second in the first inning with a hitter besides the pitcher. I’d say that’s a rally killer.

To say a rally is only when there are RISP with 2 outs is a rather simplistic definition, don’t you think?

In a situation where I’ve got a chance to score, I want someone who is not going to make an out, first and foremost. Obviously that’s not the only thing I want (a homer or a single would be nice) but I’m going to weigh not making an out rather heavily in almost every situation. (Basically the only situation I’m not going to worry about the hitter making an out is runner on third, tie game, ninth inning, less than two outs.)

Outs are the most precious resource in baseball. Some seems to think you need to use outs to score runs but no team ever scored a lot of runs by using up their outs.

The most staunch supporter of “productive outs” has to agree that you need baserunners and how do you get baserunners besides avoiding outs.

(Okay, make fun of me now, but in making fun of me you are also scoffing at Fact and Truth.)

By N8

May 21, 2007 9:29 AM | Link to this

The 3-Hole is genearally reserved for your best hitter. If there are ANY doubts about who the best hitter (both power and average) on this team is, check my epic “stats since July 1, 2006” post above. I knew he had been putting up stellar numbers, but those numbers are stupid-good. MVP numbers.

Chipper’s only downfall, has been his health. I think he’s proven (even to me - even though I never questioned his ability to play - just to stay on the field, due to recent trends).

Chipper is without question the BEST hitter on this team. PERIOD. The 3-hole is his, as long as he wants it, IMO.

This is the way the lineup should look, based on R/L matchups with the opposing pitchers.

1. KJ, 2. Renteria, 3. Chipper, 4. Francoeur/McCann, 5. McCann/Francoeur, 6. Andruw/Thorman, 7. Thorman/Andruw, 8. Harris/Diaz

By JasonInMaine

May 21, 2007 9:29 AM | Link to this

Chip batted 3rd when Sheff was in town…didn’t like it much, but he did it…not saying he should just that he obviously has…

By Headlines

May 21, 2007 9:32 AM | Link to this

PITIFUL is the only way to describe this team. Always has been and always will be. Leave town already ….

By Ron Roberts

May 21, 2007 9:44 AM | Link to this

Here’s why I hit Francoeur third instead of, and in front of, Chipper.

Chipper’s had more extra-base hits, and thus with runners on-base, would more likely bring RBIs. Also, Francoeur’s actually hit for a higher average this season, and has done so consistently through the first two months. I know it’s just two months, but nobody’s saying we do this permanently anyhow.

By Lew

May 21, 2007 9:45 AM | Link to this

God God Almighty-Is there anyone left here who still has a spleen? After all that has been vented in the past 24 hours, I kind of doubt it-hope no one bled to death. If Andruw won’t listen to TP, then I sincerely doubt any of y’all made his ears wither and fall off. All of this and Robert, too. I’m out of here for a while. I can’t take a whole lot more of this negative crap. I had enough being in the middle of 34,000 derisive Red Sox fans during a rainy 13-3 loss on Saturday in Boston. I swear they were more pleasant to be with than the Braves doom and gloomers that reside here. I’ll leave you to Robert, Nathan and the rest of the barnyard. See ya.

By Shaun

May 21, 2007 9:49 AM | Link to this

JasonInMaine,

Obviously you haven’t watched enough. If so, you’d have seen AJ’s 26 walks, almost halfway to his 162-game career average already.

Look, no one is denying he’s striking out too much and that he’s been a lot worse than normal or even that he’s chasing pitches out of the zone. He’s just not chasing as many as he normally does, which tells me it’s a timing and vision issue.

By the way, this is what I don’t get from people who say, “I don’t care what the numbers say, I’ve watched a million games a year, blah, blah.” Well, if you watched so many games, why can’t you see things like Francouer costing the Braves the equivalent of 169 scoreless innings last season or that Alex Rodriguez has had 3- to 4-week stretches like he had to open up 2007 or that bad players can drive in over 100 runs in a season if they play enough and are in the right lineup or that bases aren’t as valuable as outs? If you watched that many games, certain things should be obvious.

By Swing and a Miss

May 21, 2007 9:50 AM | Link to this

Also, although he’s striking out a lot, he hasn’t chased all that many pitches out of the zone.

Right, Shaun. Strike three in the ninth last night was right down the middle, wasn’t it?

And how is it any defense of Andruw to say he’s swinging and missing at good pitches? Shouldn’t a cleanup hitter on a major league team be hitting good pitches? Once in a while, at least?

Five strikeouts in five at-bats, Shaun! Not a single player in baseball has that ultra-dubious distinction on his resume this season.

Thank goodness the rest of the team was deft enough at out-avoidance to give Andruw that fifth at-bat!

Thank you, Shaun, for always staunchly and courageously being the Keeper of Fact and Truth on this blog.

Jeez, man — how do you get through your mommy’s basement door with a head that huge?

By We Have Mets the Enemy

May 21, 2007 9:57 AM | Link to this

Looks like Little Lewie woke up this morning to find no Braves division title under his fantasy tree. Cold reality seems to have set in. Pout and shout, Lew! Metropolitan Man must be eating this up with a spoon!

Let’s give a shout-out to KC! Where are all the bloggers who were so optimistic over the winter and all through April?

By Lew

May 21, 2007 10:04 AM | Link to this

Mets The Enemy-No I realize all the Mets’ fans are complete a*******e$, but I don’t expect it from Braves fans.

By JasonInMaine

May 21, 2007 10:04 AM | Link to this

Shaun,

Certain things are obvious…Andruw has always chased pitches out of the zone. He has chased 25% of the pitches he has seen low and away, 36% of the pitches that are low, 22% of the pitches that are low and inside. He has also chased 30% of pitches that are outside, 45% of pitches high, 25% of pitches high and away, and 23% of the pitches that are high and inside.

For a reference, here are chipper’s:

11% low and away, 24% low, 9% low and inside, 16% outside, 12% inside, 15% high and away, 47% high, and 16% high and inside.

If that’s not chasing pitches out of the zone, please explain to me what is..

By NO CHOP ZONE

May 21, 2007 10:05 AM | Link to this

LEW, you’ve been keeping a low profile here on the blog. I hope the braves falling behind the Mets 2 1/2 games doens’t have anything to do with that…….Does it?

By joebrave

May 21, 2007 10:06 AM | Link to this

Today starts a new week Go Braves,We had some help form the Stankees,now You guys goota do it yourselves Beat He11 outta dem stinkin Mutts!!!

By Shaun

May 21, 2007 10:12 AM | Link to this

Swing and a Miss,

Are you reading my posts?

Key words in your post: 5 at-bats.

Obviously he’s swinging at bad pitches, especially in a 5 K game. But this season, he hasn’t swung at as many bad pitches as he normally does. He’s missing more good pitches than he normally does making a normally high-K guy into an extremely high-K guy.

By NO CHOP ZONE

May 21, 2007 10:12 AM | Link to this

There are a-holes everywhere LEW. Just look in the mirror.

By We Have Mets the Enemy

May 21, 2007 10:13 AM | Link to this

Boy, Lew, you were gone for a long time there! We missed you!

By the way, Shaun, did you and your boyfriend Andruw notice how Renteria, Francoeur and Diaz reached base off Papelbon in the ninth last night? They did it by conceding they would be playing to his strength by trying to pull his fastball and having the smarts to go to right field.

Andruw was having none of that, because Andruw’s a pull hitter who swings how he wants to swing.

Strike three. Game over. Embarrassment complete.

By Ron Roberts

May 21, 2007 10:13 AM | Link to this

WeHaveMets…

Are you kidding me?

Andruw’s not hitting, we only have two good starters in our rotation, we’ve booted a $2 million LF/1B power-hitting platoon man because he hasn’t produced, and we’re still only 2.5 games back of the (chuckles) mighty Mets?

Dude, there’s plenty to be optimistic about!!!

Even moreso because two teams we’ve handled thus far this season, namely th Philthies and your beloved Met-Your-Makers, are on the schedule this week.

By We Have Mets the Enemy

May 21, 2007 10:19 AM | Link to this

Sorry, JasoninMaine, we only have room for one obsessive stat geek on this blog, so you’ll have to wait for Shun to abdicate the throne of Fact and Truth.

Besides, it’s obvious to those of us who have watched him for years that Andruw’s a free-swinger. You don’t need to rely on numbers — you’ve got common sense and your own two eyes.

Only difference this year is Andruw’s a free-swinger and a free-misser.

But he’s missing strikes mostly. And he’s a fearsome cleanup hitter averaging half-a-walk a game. That’s all Mr. Fact-and-Truth seems to think is important.

By NO CHOP ZONE

May 21, 2007 10:20 AM | Link to this

Now that’s the spirit Joebrave. It doesn’t matter that your braves lost 2 of 3 to the Redsox and the Mets meanwhile were taking 2 of 3 from the Yankees. Your braves should be able to take at least one game this week from the Mets and you’ll only 3 1/2 games out by Friday…..Keep your chin up.

By Kentavo

May 21, 2007 10:21 AM | Link to this

This is funny: my wife who I’d describe as a casual fan at best, was watching parts of the game with me yesterday. She lost interest after Salty’s near-grand slam. I called her back in to watch Andruw’s last at bat, just to get her reaction, as I felt pretty certain he would strike out again. And she says after AJ whiffs for the 5th time: “Can’t they suspend him or something?”

By Shaun

May 21, 2007 10:21 AM | Link to this

JasonInMaine,

Comparing Andruw to Chipper is ridiculous. Compare Andruw in 2007 to Andruw in 2005. Compare Andruw to Francouer—somewhat similar approaches.

Francouer is between 32 and 63 in all areas. He’s over 60 in two!

But Francouer is having a better season than AJ so far because he’s not missing as many pitches in the zone.

By Jersey Gil

May 21, 2007 10:23 AM | Link to this

Enough saying what Andruw is going in on…but if anybody think that he has some kind of personal problem in his mind(additional to be a free agent this year).I saw the game yesterday and his look like clueless what is coming…If not his batting stand is in his head…he look real bad yesterday and on TV show that TP don’t talk to him during the game.What happen to Druw is more than mechanic…trust me on that.

By Fred from CT

May 21, 2007 10:26 AM | Link to this

back in firt thursday night about 10:15 all will be well. lets go braves.

By We Have Mets the Enemy

May 21, 2007 10:29 AM | Link to this

I don’t love the Mets, Ron. And they’ve had their problems as well — Delgado’s not exactly tearing it up, either, and their best pitcher is on the shelf through July, at least. But they’re still playing just as well as I feared they would. I’m not blind like you are to another team’s quality simply because they’re the chief rival of the team I root for. You leave that kind of fanship behind when you grow up. I respect the Mets. I’ll bet our Braves do, too.

The Braves are regressing badly these days. And they’d better play this week as well as you say they will, or it won’t take another June Swoon to do them in this season.

By N8

May 21, 2007 10:32 AM | Link to this

Lew

“Mets The Enemy-No I realize all the Mets’ fans are complete a*e$, but I don’t expect it from Braves fans.”

If you are referring to me as an A-hole for stating facts. None of what I said, is my opinion. The numbers don’t lie. Period.

So I resent you resorting to name calling. If you can’t handle the truth about this team (That beyond Smoltz and Hudson our rotation is in trouble - with the occasional decent start by Chuck - and that Andruw is a shell of his former self), than I’m not sure what to say to you.

Would you prefer I talked about how good Hudson looked after the 1st inning yesterday? Or how good Prado’s defense was, other than the botched double play?

Bottom line, is that we aren’t as good as the early results showed we were, and the Mets are quite possibly BETTER than they were last year. That sucks. If you don’t like it, I’m not sure what to tell you.

But please don’t refer to me as an A-hole again.

By Shaun

May 21, 2007 10:34 AM | Link to this

From JC Bradbury:

We haven’t played a game in a while. I’m really getting sick of Joe “Other Way” Simpson bashing Andruw Jones for his slump. It’s like he hasn’t been watching the team he’s been calling for a decade. Andruw Jones has never hit to the opposite field, even when he was going good. You’d think he’d be an expert on slumps since his career was nothing but one (I acknowledge that Joe’s career was a lot better than mine). Anyway, I don’t like the fact that Other Way never gave Frenchy a hard time last year when he was just as deserving of criticism. Now he won’t stop gushing about the kid (hey, Francoeur does deserve praise).

By Fred from CT

May 21, 2007 10:34 AM | Link to this

back in first

By Stuart

May 21, 2007 10:34 AM | Link to this

Andruw is by far my favorite player, but somebody has to come up to the guy and ask him to toughen up.
(Ahem - Coach T. P., you might want to have little conferences with your batters before they head to the plate.)

The Braves are at a crossroads… no real pitching after #1 & #2, feast or famine hitting… and now the Mets start to separate.

Stop ignoring the elephant in the room. Andruw has been a rally killer more times this year than he has been a producer. Somebody needs to fire this team up, NOW!

“I’ve struck out six, seven times in a row [over two games] before, so it ain’t no big deal,” Jones said.

Yes it is a big deal because Andruw has yet to produce… since “he is hitting .212 with six homers, 30 RBIs and 51 strikeouts in 156 at-bats, including .147 in May and 3-for-29 with 15 strikeouts in his past seven games.”

By NO CHOP ZONE

May 21, 2007 10:35 AM | Link to this

Andruw is one big homerun away from all you brave fans loving him again.

By Swing and a Miss

May 21, 2007 10:36 AM | Link to this

I see you’ve grasped how to spell “ridiculous” over the weekend, Shaun.

See? You CAN listen to others and learn from them.

By eric the elder

May 21, 2007 10:40 AM | Link to this

Comparing Boston and Atlanta as baseball towns is just apples and oranges. First, Boston is technically larger than the City of Atlanta, whose population is roughly the same as Long Beach, CA. But Metro Atlanta is way larger than Boston.

People aren’t exactly shoving each other aside to immigrate to Boston. Boston is a tough city to live in. It’s old, very expensive, terrible traffic, awful weather, etc. Bostonians are Bostonians through and through, while Atlanta is a microcosm of the nation and the world. The fan base in Boston is homogeneous, whereas the fan base in Atlanta is diluted.

Fenway is a baseball stadium, whereas Turner Field is more of a Six Flags Over franchise. Bostonians go to watch baseball, Atlantans go to see and be seen. Bostonians applaud Matt Diaz for his great catch, and they continue to cheer for their team when they are down 14-0. Atlantans talk on their cell phones, hit on each other at the Chop House, and play video games.

One cannot get a ticket for any game at Fenway, while Atlanta cannot sell out a playoff game. It’s just the nature of the respective regions, and DOB’s analysis is spot on.

By Ron Roberts

May 21, 2007 10:41 AM | Link to this

WeHaveMets…Pedro’s most certainly not been the Mets’ best pitcher the last season or so. They still have him pitching; his name’s Tom Glavine.

Delgado didn’t hit all that well for ‘em, last season, either. He had good power numbers, but only hit .265, much like an Andruw Jones.

Either way, we’ve faced quite a bit more adversity than the Mets have. Let’s throw in Mike Hampton and the mystery that is Mike Gonzalez, plus two blown saves by Bob Wickman, who’s back problems sidelined him. If he makes the one makeable save of those two, we’re 1.5 games back. If Cox pulls Hudson before leaving Wickman with a bases-loaded, no-outs situation in the other game, we’re a half game back, and only by virtue of playing one more game (a loss).

Again, plenty of room for optimism in Atlanta.

By NO CHOP ZONE

May 21, 2007 10:43 AM | Link to this

Finally, an unbiased fan who not blind to another teams strengths and his own teams weakness’s. I commend you Mets the Ennemy. You have my respect sir.

By We Have Mets the Enemy

May 21, 2007 10:44 AM | Link to this

It’s somehow fitting that Shaun gets this science fiction he spouts about Andruw from a fellow named Bradbury.

By Lew

May 21, 2007 10:47 AM | Link to this

Nathan-Go chillout and take your meds. You read too much into things, but yes, your rant is continuous and is also getting old. Give it a rest or come up with a different topic. YOu’ve killed the Andruw horse.

By N8

May 21, 2007 10:47 AM | Link to this

“Andruw is one big homerun away from all you brave fans loving him again.”

Nope. I resent the fact that he is on this team. I don’t resent him, he is what he is. A mediocre hitter, who swings for the fenses and occasionally connects on mistake pitches, that happens to be one of the greatest CF’s of all time.

But if JS had traded him last year for some pitching help, we wouldn’t even be talking about this upcoming series with the Mets being a big deal. Our lead in the division woulld be comfortable.

So, unless with Andruw’s next HR, he suddenly finds a way to make Redman, Lerew, Villareal, and Cormier NOT give up 3-5 runs in the first two innings of all their starts, I’m not sure his next HR, is gonna effect me.

But thanks for playing.

By We Have Mets the Enemy

May 21, 2007 10:55 AM | Link to this

Well, thanks, No Chop, you’ve got a really good team there, but N8’s been able to balance rooting with realty better and more eloquently than I have, so you should have respected him long before this.

I hope the Braves can get it together here soon and make this division race a down-to-the-wire affair. The baseball last September wasn’t too exciting for either of us.

By Lew

May 21, 2007 10:57 AM | Link to this

Nathan-After your last post I rest my case. You are approaching Robertian proportions. It was bad enough to sit in the middle of 34,000 Red Sox fans ripping everything from Chipper to the pronunciation of Saltalamacchia this weekend (yes, including Andruw’s fielding), but to have to listen to it from Braves fans…….You really need to examine how you support your team.

By NO CHOP ZONE

May 21, 2007 10:57 AM | Link to this

Here’s a thought/question. The Mets lost El duque and Alou to the disabled list and still are winning. If the braves lost lets say Hudson and renteria for few weeks you have to be completly in denial to not admit that the braves would lose ground to the Mets quickly and possibly get caught from behind by the phils. Face it folks the Mets are deep and talented. If Pedro, Mota and Sanchez and can contribute the seperation between the Mets and braves will get wider and wider.

By We Have Mets the Enemy

May 21, 2007 11:02 AM | Link to this

What’s really scary is Andruw will probably be elected one of the starting outfielders in the All-Star Game. I dearly hope La Russa will have the decency to pull him before he strikes out five times with the whole world watching!

By NO CHOP ZONE

May 21, 2007 11:05 AM | Link to this

Ron Roberts, playing the IF game won’t change reality. It’ll just give you a false sense of security.

By Fred from CT

May 21, 2007 11:05 AM | Link to this

no chop zone that’s what a big payroll will do for you

By GT80

May 21, 2007 11:08 AM | Link to this

DOB, way to stay out of the Andruw bashing fray. I applaud you. Yesterday had to be rock bottom so there is nothing for him to do but get better. Let’s put that bad road trip behind us, come home to some beautiful Atlanta weather and have a great week beating up the Mutts and Phillies.

By Savannah Guy

May 21, 2007 11:08 AM | Link to this

Shaun, I see you are back and have a fresh, new approach to why Andruw the android is doing better than most bloggers, sports commentators, fans and even casual spectators believe. You are really having to reach far for your rationale and justifications.

By the way, didn’t you think Android was masterful at “out avoidance” in game 2 Saturday?

Have you left the MLB stat books and started referring to the “Bizarro World Book of Uncommon Sense” (where everything is upside down) to get your information? Admit it, you don’t watch the games on TV.

And now you have resorted to comparing the current AJ to the old AJ now and comparing “misses in the zone” to other batters. Shaun, even as AJ’s biggest apologist, you have to admit that you are reaching for straws. Your blog comments show that you are continuing to justify and “stat-ify” the ‘Droids batting situation. Your stubborn obsession with finding stats that excuse AJ’s numbers have an uncanny parallel to the stubborness the Android shows at the plate. I’m still not convinced you are not related to ‘Droid. If so, you can rightly be justified with almost every comment you’ve made this year on the AJ batting subject. If not…c’mon and get a grip and move on man. I’m just trying to get you out of an impossible position of defending the indefensable. It’s really a big joke on the blog. You GOTTA see it.

The move I would make as manager (don’t we all get to play that once in a while?) is, put AJ on the 15-day DL, and when he returns put AJ in the 8 spot and next year put AJ in another teams uniform. If he doesn’t want to go along with the DL I would bench him until he gets over his stubborness about taking a different approach and strongly suggest some guidance from TP. Further, if I’m TP or BC, I’m also strongly suggesting he see Smoltzy’s old therapist. Either case, he’s gone next year.

Then, he can “avoid outs” somewhere else.

By Kieran from Long Island

May 21, 2007 11:10 AM | Link to this

Hey Dave,

Good post about College sports down sputh as compared to New York. An I guess it is apparent even down tehre that the knicks are a joke! The NBA fan base is pretty weak up here. Theres little to no chatter during teh regular season and only mild chatter during the playoffs. Only avid Knick fans really pay attention, and what’s more alarming is that the Nets who are actually poretty good and have a future Hall of Famer as a Point Guard get absolutly NO attention from teh media or from the masses. A move to brooklyn might change hat but we’ll wait and see. The Devils suffer from similar woes, If the Bruins won as many stanley cups as they have in the past decade wouldnt we see “BRUINS NATION” draped allong the streets of Boston? New York can be a hockey town, but it’s primarily Rangers. The Islanders have a significantly smaller fan base, and the Devils, who are by far the best team of the three, come in third. But to Hell with Jerse anyway. NFL is huge here, NFL and baseball. It pretty much comes down to that. When talk shows are talkin about college sports, NBA, or NHL its almost liek their biting their lip and filling time until they can talk about Yankees/Mets or Giants/Jets. Keep in mind tehre really are no solid local College teams. Rutgers football would probably be the closest. When St. Johns Basketball has a good program they draw a ton of attention. Other then that there really isn’t much. A couple of barely mid major basketball teams in Hofstra, Iona, and Seton Hall. Baseball is number 1 though, with NFL in a seperated number 2.

Go Knicks! Go Giants! Go Islanders!

AND GO BRAVES!!!

By Swing and a Miss

May 21, 2007 11:14 AM | Link to this

You’ve got to be a baseball fan first, Lew, and a Braves fan second. You can’t truly appreciate the sport and hate the Mets and Phillies. They’re good teams and formidable foes who play the game the right way. It’s fun to have to fight for the top spot. It never did the Braves much good in their glory days to cruise — almost sleepwalk, in fact — through September with a huge lead, then run into a scrappy, hungier team in October, did it?

If you go into a hostile atmosphere like Fenway Park with your Braves cap on, Lew, you’ve got to expect to be heaped with abuse from a lot of fans who are no more mature than you are. You were forrunate to get out of there without being pummelled. In any event, it’s time to get over it and stop your tiresome b*** and moaning.

You’re the one who’s getting to be as monotonous and tiresome as Robert.

By Shaun

May 21, 2007 11:17 AM | Link to this

N8,

Who would the Braves have in CF this season? Do you really think Coco Crisp is an upgrade? Do you think there is a realistic option out there who would be better? And do you really think pitching we could have received would have made that much of a difference?

I know he’s slumping, severely recently, but geez folks!

By Joseph

May 21, 2007 11:20 AM | Link to this

Lets see, averaging about 3 runs a game with Andruw, just under 15 runs a game without him

By berigan

May 21, 2007 11:24 AM | Link to this

You know what’s sick???? Kason Gabbard, after making the Braves look bad yesterday, was rewarded with a pass back to AAA! Good grief! He’d be our # 3!!!!

By NYCMetsFan

May 21, 2007 11:25 AM | Link to this

I just love watching you Braves fans get your knickers all bunched up over your overrated Andruw “I never saw an outside pitch I didn’t like” Jones stink up the joint.

You guys should be concerned, the pitching match ups for this series heavily favor the superior Mets. Watch my boys pull away from your J.V. team and start watching the wild card hunt kids.

By N8

May 21, 2007 11:27 AM | Link to this

Mets the Enemy

“…but N8’s been able to balance rooting with realty better and more eloquently than I have…”

Thank you. I appreciate that. Yes. I do root for the Braves. Yes. I love this team, and want them to succeed. Yes. I do respect, in fact envy the Mets.

Having said that, I am ridiculously proud that JS has been able to keep this team close to the Mets and Phils the last couple of years, by promoting players we DRAFTED AND DEVELOPED as opposed to free agent signings and raping the teams that are dumping payroll (Delgado from the Marlins anybody?).

Lew

Sorry to hear that you think I’m drifting into Robert territory. The difference between Robert and I is that he (while entitled to his opinion) is basing most of his rants on his assesments and opinion of what Cox should or shouldn’t do. Like I said, as a fan he is entitled to his opinion, isn’t he?

Where I am stating, not only my opinion of what JS should’ve done with Andruw last year, but backing it up with numbers that don’t lie. Love Andruw or hate Andruw, if you (or anybody) can sit there and say that he is worth 1/5 of our payroll (even in the MVP runner up season), you’re blind. Or just basing your opinion/gut feeling on blind faith as a fan. Not looking at the big picture.

I’ll ask you this. If you had the choice of our rotation as it sits right now, and Andruw in CF, or having Willie Harris in CF with Diaz in LF, and Tom Glavine as our #3 starter, thus bumping Chuck to the #4 spot (not to mention, taking Glavine from the Mets), which would you chooose? Because, Andruw’s contract, and unwillingness to accept a trade after he became a 10/5 guy, is JUST AS MUCH to blame for JS not being able to pull the trigger on getting Glavine.

Of course with hindsight, and the numbers being put up so far, it’s an easy call to make (for some of us). But had the above scenario been proposed to me in December, I would’ve asked what time does Andruw’s flight out of Atlanta leave.

PITCHING, PITCHING, PITCHING. We don’t have enough and we have plenty of hitting.

I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again. If Ted still owned the team and had a wide open checkbook for JS to use, then by all means, lock up Andruw for the rest of his career, and let him play it out. If we had to “eat” his contract, so be it.

But with our budget, I don’t care if he hits 60 HR and knocks in 160 RBI, he wouldn’t be worth 20 million after this year. Not with the young talent we have, and have on the way.

I’m one who would love to see a guy start and end a HOF career with one team (Ripken, Gwynn, etc…). But we have Smoltz, we have Chipper, we already let Glavine walk. How many HOF guys that deserve big contracts, do we sit on and wait for their talents to deteriorate before our eyes, all while trying to maintain an 80 million (or so) payroll? Especially with Hampton still on the books.

I appologize to anybody that is tired of my “Robert like rants”. I will officially STOP posting on this topic. Everbody certainly knows how I feel and why. That being said, if somebody attacks my post or any other previous Andruw posts, I will respond.

But for now, I’m done randomly ranting on Andruw.

Good day to all, I’m off to work.

By Fred from CT

May 21, 2007 11:29 AM | Link to this

your not gonna bench andruw your not gonna just put him on the DL for the sake of putting him on the DL. He is not gonna hit eighth. There is no better option out there. Andruw is gonna hit eventually. His defense is still the best. The braves are losing as a team everyone not just one guy. There gonna turn it around as a team.

By Shaun

May 21, 2007 11:34 AM | Link to this

Savannah Guy,

Have I ever “excused” Andruw?

I think you are missing my points.

Andruw has been struggling. He wasn’t struggling as bad as most people thought earlier but recently he is struggling.

Of course I’d rather see him hit a lot better but he’s in a slump.

He’s too good to be this bad and he’ll get hot any day now. Remember, AJ was never a .300 hitter. His slumps are going to look worse to a lot of people because a low batting average is going to look even lower. And batting average is still King to a lot of people.

I’m not denying he’s in a slump and it is as bad as it looks recently. But earlier in the season it wasn’t as bad as it looked and, again, he’s too good to be this bad.

He’ll get hot eventually and get back to around .250-.260 with a .330-.340 OBP and a .500 SLG.

Everyone look at Albert Pujols. Will he finish anywhere close to 13th in OPS among 1B? Will he be anywhere close to 18th, as he is in May?

Let’s put things in perspective here.

Yes, AJ deserves some criticism but come on, folks. Let’s not give up on him so soon. Let’s not act like he’s the worst player the Braves have ever had.

By NYC

May 21, 2007 11:36 AM | Link to this

Why are you guys even arguing about Andruw making (or not) making the HOF with 500 homers? If he stays healthy, he’ll wind up with 600 plus? Moot point if you ask me.

By Shaun

May 21, 2007 11:42 AM | Link to this

Well said, Fred from CT.

Honestly, AJ’s approach is either the same or possibly better (given his increase in walks). He’s just in a slump but again slumps are going to look bad for those who overrate batting average and strikeouts because he’s always been a low-AVG, high-K guy.

By N8

May 21, 2007 11:42 AM | Link to this

Shaun

“Who would the Braves have in CF this season? Do you really think Coco Crisp is an upgrade? Do you think there is a realistic option out there who would be better? And do you really think pitching we could have received would have made that much of a difference?”

What’s lost in all of my ranting about Andruw, is NOT that he’s not putting up “numbers” similar to his past. But that the money JS is paying for those numbers isn’t worth it.

Our offense is fine with him here. Just so long as he’s not in the cleanup spot. Let him hack and hit his 30 HR’s while batting .250 from the 7 or 8 hole. Relative to his spot in the order, I could and would argue that he would be the BEST 7th place hitter in the league, but he’s NOT the best cleanup hitter. Hell, he’s probably not the best cleanup hitter on his own team.

You people are so “shortsighted” when somebody suggest trading a player, or letting them walk. It doesn’t always have to be about replacing that player’s positition in the SAID TRADE. We traded a 1B (LaRoche) for Gonzalez, didn’t we? Does Gonzalez play 1B? JS made an assessment that we’d be better off with Gonzalez in the pen, and Thorman at 1B, then with LaRoche at 1B. I believe that we’d be better off, with SOMEBODY else in CF and some more pitching depth for the rotation. Just my opinion.

We would’ve found SOMEBODY to play CF. Hampton goes down and we found Redman, right? Well he sucks. Period. Maybe who we would’ve found to replace Andruw in CF would’ve sucked too. But the offense hasn’t been our problem, has it?

Are you telling me that ANYBODY we would’ve got for Andruw in a trade, wouldn’t be better than Lerew (who I think has a bright future), Redman or even Davies?

Come on! Does it really matter WHO it would be? Jorge Sosa, would’ve been better than Redman, seriously.

Didn’t the Mariniers win 116 games just a couple of years after dealing Griffey, Big Unit and Arod???

How in the world did they every do it?

By JasonInMaine

May 21, 2007 11:43 AM | Link to this

“Let’s not act like he’s the worst player the Braves have ever had.”

Agreed…the thing that frustrates me the most is his unwillingness to adapt and change. When he snapped out of his funk in 05 and went on his tear, it was after working with Bobby on drills to go to RF. He should be doing the same thing now!

By Shaun

May 21, 2007 11:57 AM | Link to this

Didn’t the Mariniers win 116 games just a couple of years after dealing Griffey, Big Unit and Arod???

Getting players like Carlos Guillen, Mike Cameron, Freddy Garcia, and getting career seasons from guys like Bret Boone and Aaron Sele.

JasonInMaine,

Actually he was pulling the ball just as much, if not more, in 2005.

http://www.sabernomics.com/sabernomics/index.php/2005/06/the-myth-of-andruw-jones-and-the-other-way/

When he goes the other way, he’s more likely to fly out than to get a hit, or at least that’s the way it’s been in the past.

By Shaun

May 21, 2007 12:05 PM | Link to this

N8,

They had Thorman to replace LaRoche. They have no one in the minors likely ready to play CF in the majors.

And nobody they could have received in a trade would have been as talented as AJ. Coco Crisp’s numbers look even worse than AJ’s, even as bad as he’s been struggling.

Yes, if the Braves could have received Johan Santana or Brandon Webb or Jake Peavy, they should have traded AJ, even if they had to bring Dale Murphy back to play CF. But not for pitchers that other teams are willing to trade.

By JasonInMaine

May 21, 2007 12:08 PM | Link to this

Shaun,

Again, I am not arguing with you over the numbers. What I am saying is what helped him stay on the ball and get out of his slump was working with Bobby directly on drills that helped him stay on the ball by hitting it to right center. Once he got hot, he probably started pulling the ball again. At the beginning of the season when he struggled mightily in May, he took steps to work with Bobby and get out of his slump. That’s all I am saying. He doesn’t appear to be willing to do the same now.

By We Have Mets the Enemy

May 21, 2007 12:09 PM | Link to this

Honestly, AJ’s approach is either the same or possibly better.

He’s hitting .231 since last July. He’s struck out 111 times in his last 424 at-bats, more than 26 percent of the time. He’s struck out 17 times in his last 8 games.

Yep. Good approach. Productive guy. Just keeps getting better and better. Real asset to the team.

Tell me, Shaun, exactly how long does it take for a so-called slump to become a tendency?

Shaun, being too stubborn to abandon an untenable position has made you look foolish more than once. You simply outlast your detractors’ patience through sheer bullheadedness. But that never has, and never will, make you right. And this is your lamest argument yet.

By Swing and a Miss

May 21, 2007 12:16 PM | Link to this

Flyouts to right can help score runs if there are men on second or third, Shaun. Strikeouts can’t. But of course, you and Andruw only value the ever-more-infrequent bomb to left field at the expense of smart situational hitting.

But you ARE right to emphasize Andruw’s walk totals these days. Since his every swing now results in a miss, the only way he can reach base and bolster your position is via a walk.

By Shaun

May 21, 2007 12:18 PM | Link to this

We Have Mets the Enemy,

He’s always struck out a lot and hit for a low AVG. But his walk total has increased. He’ll get his K rate back to manageable and be the same ol’ AJ (or better because he’ll be the same ol’ AJ with a higher walk total).

By We Have Mets the Enemy

May 21, 2007 12:26 PM | Link to this

One question, Shaun: WHEN??????

He has never been this bad for this long. Never even close.

Wake up, you rebel, you!

By Swing and a Miss

May 21, 2007 12:35 PM | Link to this

He’s even swinging and missing at mistakes, now, Shaun. And pitchers have very little reason to fear him these days.

So expect to see your hero’s spike in walks level off real soon.

Andruw represented 11 percent of the Braves’ batting order yesterday. Yet he was responsible for almost 19 percent of their precious outs. And not one of his five outs accomplished a damn thing except making defeat surer.

Edgar and Jeff and Diaz were just suckers for going the opposite way and risking flyouts, I guess. Yet THEY were productive, in the face of all odds!

Hey, Shaun — you think maybe it’s just barely possible you don’t know what in hell you’re talking about?

By John

May 21, 2007 12:39 PM | Link to this

Leave Andruw for his defense, I don’t ever expect him to start hitting till mid June anyway.

By MGL

May 21, 2007 12:41 PM | Link to this

Shaun,

In the last 7 days, Druw has 29 AB’s, 15K’s, 3 hits, 0 walks. AVG, OBP, SLG all = .103. Why can you not admit there is a problem that has become worse. This is not a slump, he is stuck at the bottom of a well and refuses to grab the rope.

By BB FAN

May 21, 2007 12:42 PM | Link to this

NO CHOP ZONE,

The Mets had been trying to buy the NL East for years before Minaya finally did it last year. And it took the Braves suffering major injuries to it’s pitching and career years out of everybody on the Mets for them to win the division.

The Mets have a $115 million payroll compared to the Braves $81 million. Try removing $30-35 million from the Payroll and the Mets would be a last place team. Let’s see, that would be Beltran ($13.5), Glavine ($7.5) and Wagner ($10.5).

The best part is the Braves are right there in contention this year and they have taken 4 of 6 from your “mighty” Mets. You talk so much sh!t and yet the Mets have lost 4 of 6 to the Braves this year.

The Mets can’t develope any real talent so they just go out and buy the talent. They try to act like the Yankees (right down to hiring Randolph as manager). Yes, I know there’s Wright and Reyes, but beyond them, the Mets have not developed anybody. Hell, the Mets envy the Braves organization so much, they went out and overpaid for Glavine and Franco. I believe they even tried to get Smoltz years ago, but were turned down.

So far, everybody on the Mets roster has played over their head. Damian Easely? Jorge Sosa? John Maine? Oliver Perez? Those guys have all had career years already and it’s not even June yet. They better hope these guys don’t fall back to earth!

The Mets have also had 3 guys get suspended this year for performance enhancers. So if they can’t buy the talent, they cheat.

Face it, the Mets are classless compared to the Braves. Every team in the NL wants to be the Braves. Hell, even evey team in the AL (except the Yankees, who also buy success) want to be the Braves.

The Mets can’t do anything! They had to hire a career Yankee to manage the team. They can’t even come up with their own new stadium design. It’s basically Ebbets Field. And they are going to engrave a quote from a Dodger over the entrance of Citi Field. Oh yeah, the name, there’s another classless move…letting Citi Bank buy them off.

By K-Druw

May 21, 2007 12:48 PM | Link to this

My “slump” ain’t no big deal. I am hitting .147 in May and .212 on the year. I have 51 strikeouts and 33 hits- but don’t forget about the 26 walks, 6 homers, and 1 stolen base.

Of the 97 players in the major leagues with at least 150 at bats, I have the lowest batting average! (Carlos Delgado of the Mets is second lowest at .214)

I am proud to be second in strikeouts in the National League with 51 behind Adam Dunn’s 60. At my current clip of 17 strikeouts in my last 33 at bats (over 50%), I will be number 1 in no time. Of course, Dunn has more SBs, runs scored, hits, homers, and better OBP, SLG, and AVG, but I am not worried about “stats” because I will be in L.A. making $20+ million next year.

I certainly don’t need to change anything at the plate or listen to my coaches. I just go out and play the same way that I play always. I blame the opposing pitchers for continuing to pitch outside and not even in the stinking strike zone! They’re pitching me different than they pitched me before. How am I supposed to be a pull hitter when they do that?

I know, in 2005, I hit to all fields and had a career year, but I am 30 now and have decided to narrow my hitting to one dimension only- left field. Of course, that is only when I make contact with the baseball and hit one fair over there.

Regards, K-Druw Jones #25 .212 and falling

By eric the elder

May 21, 2007 2:06 PM | Link to this

Dear Andruw:

I won’t stand in judgment of anyone who can speak more languages than I can, so I won’t call you ignorant. Nor will I join in using any of the pretty crude comments about you that are woven through this blog.

No, Andruw, what I have to say is much worse: You are getting dangerously close to damaging your character, as others perceive it.

Your teammates will stand by you if they see that you are taking advice to heart. They will be with you if they see that you are trying to make adjustments. Even if you don’t do either of those things, they will still stand by you as long as they believe that the team is your highest priority.

If, however, you start telling reporters that your looking like a fool in critical situations “don’t mean nothin’” and “it’s no big deal,” then you will soon become a pariah in the clubhouse. You will be seen as Andruw caring only about Andruw, and your teammates are not going to take kindly to that. Would it kill you to say something like, “I know I’m letting the team down,” and then make a visible effort to show that you mean it?

You see, my friend, a man can fail in many ways, as long as he has his intact character to fall back on for redemption. I urge you to seek a higher ground before it is too late.

By George

May 21, 2007 2:58 PM | Link to this

Has anyone watched Andruw in batting practice? Is he at least making contact with the ball? I still think he needs glasses or contacts I don’t think he is seeing the ball. bases loaded and he lets a “mistake” go right by him without a swing and then swings at something over his head. That mistake should have been hit out of the park.

By Random

May 21, 2007 10:21 PM | Link to this

Shaun asks: What defines a “rally situation”?

I was going with DOB’s definition — “Shaun, please explain to me how Francoeur is more a rally killer … With runners in scoring position and two outs, Andruw is blah-stats-blah. In those same situations, Francoeur is blah-stats-blah.”

You may not agree with the terminology (which is fine), but please do recognize that you and DOB were talking about totally different situations — he more specifically, and you more generally. Which led y’all to talking past, rather than to, each other. And that’s no good for any of us.

However you may want to define a “rally situation”, do it and compare stats on that basis. What are AJ’s and Francoeur’s stats with runners on first and second with one out? Who has the higher OBP in those situations? Higher OBP+SLG? Who has hit into more double pays? (I don’t know myself. You opened this line of inquiry — what have you got for us?) (I WOULD argue that a lead-off out could never be seriously considered a rally killer, since there was no rally to kill at the time of the out.)

What would you consider to be a “rally situation” (as a distinct subset of all plate appearances)? Whatever that is, give us comparative stats for those situations. You mention “In a situation where I’ve got a chance to score” — why don’t you go with this as a working definition of rally situation. Give us stats for AJ and Frenchy with RISP regardless of number of outs. How do they each stack up?

Just let’s all be talking on the same page about the same stuff, that’s all. Thanks for your reply.

By Ralph

May 22, 2007 12:16 AM | Link to this

Sad to see Andruw look like a third rate hitter who should be in the minors, getting his timing back. A player who lost the ability to hit a ball thrown by a pitcher, and won’t do a thing to correct it. The Braves cannot let up if they want to be in or around first place at the end of the year. Bobby Cox, has got to stop taking out a player who does 4 for 4 in the first game and benches him next game. He got to stop leaving pitchers who are getting hit all over the place, game after game to the point that the braves cannot catch up. I keep hearing how you have to rest the players, especially those who make millions to play about 6 hours a day. It just breaks my heart to see how these poor under pay players work so hard and for so many hours for just penny’s a year. While the fans who go to the games and have so much money to spend now aday that the Braves just can’t manage to put the best on the field every single day of the 6 months or so that they play the game. Players can rest after the seasons is over. Baseball has become a pre-Madonna game with players going on the disable league for every little boo-boo that most normal, non-athletes people out there have got to go to work every day. If the opposition wants to set a record out in record in strike outs,
play against the Braves, (put Andruw and a couple of other for at least 2 apiece). If the opposition wants to set a record in runs scores, play against the Braves. If the opposition wants to see a team set a record in leaving man on base at least 10 a game or more, play against the Braves. If the opposition wants to set a record in making double plays against a team, play against the Braves. If you want to see some of the worst long relief pitching in the majors watch the Braves, and if you want to see a game being lost by a middle relief pitcher after time after time watch the Braves. And finally if you want to see a team with no personality, watch the Brave.