Braves

By Voice of Reason

May 22, 2007 2:18 PM | Link to this

The Braves scouting and farm system is, bar none, the best in baseball. Seemingly every year, they add another quality rookie or two (McCann, Francouer, KJ, Saltalamacchia, etc.) to an already quality lineup. That fact alone tells you why Los Bravos are in the playoff mix every year. The future looks pretty bright, too, with Brandon Jones, Yunel Escobar, Jo Jo Reyes, and Brent Lillibridge. It’s the additional spending to fill in the gaps, however, that gets you over the hump. Unfortunately, JS’s hands have been tied for the last several seasons when it has come to making the necessary additions in late July. Let’s hope Liberty gives him a few liberties this year to add that additional starting pitcher they desperately need, and sooner than later.

By NO CHOP ZONE

May 22, 2007 2:18 PM | Link to this

I’M FIRST

By Brad

May 22, 2007 2:19 PM | Link to this

Maybe Willie Harris should start instead of Andruw Jones. First, I think Jones needs to learn how to bat. Look at his back foot when he hits, he doesn’t rotate it and he falls down all the time. If this was any other player, he would be sent back to the minors. Harris has been hitting really well and I think he should get the start over Jones until Jones learns how to hit.

I also have heard some things about Jones back, maybe he should be sent to the DL for a while and the do some rehab in the minors to get his swing back like it should be.

By N8

May 22, 2007 2:19 PM | Link to this

Nice job Carroll.

I’ve been arguing the same point, with the Mets fans on the blog for a couple of weeks.

I’m a firm believer, that even if JS had the Mets “money” to work with, he still wouldn’t break the bank on the free agent market.

The Braves since 1991, have signed 3 “Top Flight” free agents, (if there’s more - please remind me)

1) Greg Maddux

2) Andres Galaragga

3) Brian Jordan

Those are the only guys that were considered to be stars at the time of their signings. Every other free agent (John Thomson, Sid Bream, Terry Pendleton, Jaret Wright, even Walt Weiss) were considered mediocre “roster fillers” at best.

JS has always spent his money (even when he was allowed to) at rewarding players that are already Braves with extensions. Sure when Ted was the owner JS was allowed to spend more. There was a time when we were “the Yankees” of payroll. In fact I remember headlines when we acquired Denny Neagle saying : “THE RICH GET RICHER!”

That was the other benefit of Ted’s checkbook. When we needed help in July, JS was always given permission to add payroll via trade. If that player worked out (McGriff), then he was given an extension.

But I get tired of everybody saying they wished JS still had Ted’s money to throw around. He NEVER through it around to begin with. All he ever did was lock up the stars as they came through the system.

My guess is that there are about 25 other teams out there (even some of the ones with money to spend) that wished they had our scouting and developing so the DIDN’t have to shop on the free agent market every year.

By BamaBrave

May 22, 2007 2:20 PM | Link to this

I don’t care if they paid $350 million, and drafted guys from the planet Krypton. It’s really gonna bite if they win this division again. It’s almost June…time to stop this slide. Go Braves. Especially you, Andruw.

By joe

May 22, 2007 2:21 PM | Link to this

1st

By DonCoburleone

May 22, 2007 2:22 PM | Link to this

I agree Carroll about our farm system. I think without question it has been one of (if not the) best farm system in all of baseball for nearly 20 years now… I think if you go back to the start of this decade (2000) the Braves are right at the top along with Minnesota and Oakland.

By Fred from CT

May 22, 2007 2:26 PM | Link to this

NCZ that will be second at about 10:15 on thursday night. let’s go braves

By Jmart

May 22, 2007 2:28 PM | Link to this

Andruw Jones is a proud man. He wants to do things his way. I believe this to be nothing more than a maturity issue. Andruw has basically been catered to ever since he hit the world series home runs in New York. Its time for him to “man up”. Put aside his ego and do what is best for the team. That being return to the wide stance that brought so much success last year. Andruw is over swinging (what an under statement). When your head moves as much as Andruw’s does on his flailing stroke (should that be failing stroke) there is no way to make consistent contact. Bat speed is important but staying on the ball is more important. Andruw is as talented as anyone that ever put on a Braves uniform. He is also perhaps the most obstinant that ever put on a Braves uniform. If for one week Andruw tried to hit every pitch to right field, by the second week he would hitting the ball again with authority. He would have cut down on his stride, he would have cut down on his swing, he would have cut down on his strike outs and he would have cut down the wall of ill will that currently stands between himself and the fans. Not that the fans don’t support him but they want to see the old Andruw not the Andruw that appears close to spraining or breaking his ankle everytime he takes a cut. Compromise Andruw. Listen to Pendleton and try his approach for one week. It will make all the difference.

By DonCoburleone

May 22, 2007 2:30 PM | Link to this

I know I’m a little late on the Andruw Jones situation, but I’m gonna give a take anyway… AJ has always been a streaky hitter, but for some reason it seams different this year. He is showing less plate discipline than ever before and his mechanics look more screwed up than ever before. I remember at the tail end of 2005 was the first time I saw his “current” swing in action. I remember thinking to myself, “oh, he must have new cleats or something cuz it looks like he’s slipping on every big swing.” But, last year the same swing continued and I started to wonder what was up. Of course, neither you or I really said anything cuz he still wound up with 41HR’s and 128RBI. I really do think it’s different this year though; something ain’t right. I think he’s let his mechanics go so much over the last year and a half that there is no turning back. I mean come on, he got a PLATINUM SOMBRERO (5 strikeouts) in the game against Boston (I don’t even think Adam Dunn has accomplished that feat)… His swing is completely out of wac and his pompous a$$ attitude only makes it (near) impossible to change… I wouldn’t be surprised if he hit around .220 with less than 30HR’s this year…

By Carroll Rogers

May 22, 2007 2:31 PM | Link to this

good stuff, n8. hard not to think of gary sheffield on that list too, but you’re right, he came via trade, not free agent signing. they did have more payroll room to cover him though.

By Thrillhouse44

May 22, 2007 2:31 PM | Link to this

I’m proud of the Braves and our homegrown talent. I’ll be even more proud of them after they win the NL East this year. Here’s to Davies bringing his A game tonight and to the Braves starting another winning streak!

By Metropolitan Man

May 22, 2007 2:33 PM | Link to this

Cant wait to increase this lead. For now all I will sat is its great being a METS FAN!!! LETS GO METS.

By JasonInMaine

May 22, 2007 2:33 PM | Link to this

From the discussion on the previous blog:

Question:

If you could take one pitcher at the top of his game for a single game 7, who would it be?

Regards,

Jason

By Thrillhouse44

May 22, 2007 2:33 PM | Link to this

No, NO CHOP, you’re never first.

By JasonInMaine

May 22, 2007 2:36 PM | Link to this

Remember the game in Texas a couple of years back when all 10 players, including the DH, were from our own system?!

By Matthew, Dad to Walter

May 22, 2007 2:36 PM | Link to this

Posted this to the last blog, but I’ll re-post it here.

TennPaul, strong 1:52. I’m not into bashing Shaun (or anyone for that matter, even the Grinch and his debauchery…picking at you, Grinch). But Nolan Ryan had “it” and should be considered if not among the greatest pure pitchers (a la Greg Maddux) then definitely one of the most intimidating. No one can convince me that some of those Ks came as a result of younger players soiling themselves in the batter’s box out of pure fear at Ryan’s presence. No one throws SEVEN no-hitters without having some dominant stuff.

Off-Topic Question for Non-Georgian Brave Fans, or Those Who Watch the Braves on TV

How do you enjoy the Braves on TV? My routine is to fix a large glass of sweet iced tea and find my way to the recliner. If its a night game, I am usually sitting in the chair with my 8 month-old son, whose first words, “Da da” came this weekend! If he is already asleep, then I have a bowl of popcorn or a bowl of beefy nachos (a healthy diet for Braves games is VERY IMPORTANT). What about ya’ll? BTW, is ya’ll acceptable speech in GA?

Go Braves!

By Matthew, Dad to Walter

May 22, 2007 2:41 PM | Link to this

I very rarely answer Met fans on this BRAVES blog, and I won’t now. However, I will say this: after we remind Jorge Sosa who he really is, then inform Ollie Perez that he is not Tom Glavine, and then see John Smoltz win #200 over his good buddy Tom Glavine, we will see the NL East Champions of 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005 re-claim the 1st spot over the NL East champions of 2006.

By Alex

May 22, 2007 2:42 PM | Link to this

Metro Man, that would truly be a great day for us Braves fans…if indeed that is all you are going to say!

By Shaun

May 22, 2007 2:43 PM | Link to this

If you could take one pitcher at the top of his game for a single game 7, who would it be?

It’s hard. Baseball is almost a completely different game every 40 years, at least as far as pitching is concerned.

Pre-WWII: Walter Johnson

Post-WWII: Roger Clemens

By kd bart

May 22, 2007 2:43 PM | Link to this

You make it like every Met but a couple were acquire via big money free agency except for a couple of players. In fact, most were acquired via trades or as small dollar free agency or off of the scrap heap.

Players picked up via trades: Delgado,Maine,Perez,El Duque, Lo Duca, Green, Duaner Sanchez, Burgoes, Castro, Vargas, Gotay

Players picked up via waivers or as low cost free agents: Julio Franco, Endy Chavez,Valentin, Easley, Newhan, Sele, Sosa.

I guess it hurts that the Mets now have a GM who knows how to find and evaluate talent in the major and minor leagues rather than a moron like Steve Phillips.

By kd bart

May 22, 2007 2:44 PM | Link to this

You make it like every Met but a couple were acquire via big money free agency except for a couple of players. In fact, most were acquired via trades or as small dollar free agency or off of the scrap heap.

Players picked up via trades: Delgado,Maine,Perez,El Duque, Lo Duca, Green, Duaner Sanchez, Burgoes, Castro, Vargas, Gotay

Players picked up via waivers or as low cost free agents: Julio Franco, Endy Chavez,Valentin, Easley, Newhan, Sele, Sosa.

I guess it hurts that the Mets now have a GM who knows how to find and evaluate talent in the major and minor leagues rather than a moron like Steve Phillips.

By Mike

May 22, 2007 2:44 PM | Link to this

Is it close to the trade deadline yet? Why is Andruw still a brave? I think they need to trade him and still Willie in center. 5 strikeouts in one game, a recurring theme in the last few years. I am sure he will be missed, but by who not me! GO BRAVES! I got Andruw striking out twice tonight.

By kd bart

May 22, 2007 2:44 PM | Link to this

You make it like every Met but a couple were acquire via big money free agency except for a couple of players. In fact, most were acquired via trades or as small dollar free agency or off of the scrap heap.

Players picked up via trades: Delgado,Maine,Perez,El Duque, Lo Duca, Green, Duaner Sanchez, Burgoes, Castro, Vargas, Gotay

Players picked up via waivers or as low cost free agents: Julio Franco, Endy Chavez,Valentin, Easley, Newhan, Sele, Sosa.

I guess it hurts that the Mets now have a GM who knows how to find and evaluate talent in the major and minor leagues rather than a moron like Steve Phillips.

By Glass Half Full

May 22, 2007 2:45 PM | Link to this

Matthew, Walter’s Dad

Y’all is perfectly acceptable In Georgia. “You’s guys” is not.

By NO CHOP ZONE

May 22, 2007 2:45 PM | Link to this

Carroll Rogers needs to work on her spelling and information gathering. It’s Mike Pelfrey (Not Pelphrey) and the Mets also have Joe Smith (Pitcher) & Carlos Gomez (Outfield) who are Home Grown. I guess you’re resorting to discounting the Mets success since you can’t do it based on their current records (Mets in first/Best record in the NL)…good try.

By atlpaddy

May 22, 2007 2:48 PM | Link to this

Dude, how can you forget the Crime Dog? Easily the best Braves FA pick-up after Mad Dog.

By Carroll

May 22, 2007 2:49 PM | Link to this

N8: we also had some quality mid-range FA signings which, in my mind, is where you separate the men from the boys amongst GM’s. Anyone can go out and find the big-ticket guys if they have the money to spend (I’m looking at you, Omar). But JS has shown the savvy to find the above-avg guys who play with heart and fire for an affordable price. Included in this list are: Walter Weiss, Chuck O’Brien, John Burkett, Jaret Wright, Bobby Bonilla, Vinny Castilla, and Albie Lopez—J/K LOL! Nobody’s perfect, right?

By Metropolitan Man

May 22, 2007 2:50 PM | Link to this

Everyone laughed when the METS spent money and flopped. Now they spend money and win, whats the problem. Pick a mood braves nation.

By TennesseePaul

May 22, 2007 2:51 PM | Link to this

Now Carroll, by lighting up the blog are you implying AJ was on here bloggin away? There is always rumor out there that a key Brave gets on this thing. If he was, no wonder he is taking a stubburn stance. But he shouldn’t take it all to heart. No one has suggested choking up on the bat… yet.

As for the past few series losses… Well, lets see.

By Fred from CT

May 22, 2007 2:51 PM | Link to this

matthew Dad to Walter If it is a big game like these next three the choice of drink will be captain and coke. usually just regular iced tea nothing special for snacks during the games. the only problem I have is TBS will be blocked out up here in CT so I will be watching the mets channel. that sucks

By Braveheart

May 22, 2007 2:51 PM | Link to this

By NO CHOP ZONE

May 22, 2007 2:18 PM | Link to this

I’M FIRST

Nope, No Chop. As usual, just like your Mets, you can’t finish first.

By Carroll

May 22, 2007 2:51 PM | Link to this

Oh yeah….and how could I forget the mid-range FA signings that started it all: TP, Sid Bream, Raffy Belliard, Otis Nixon, Deion Sanders, Danny Heap, Mike Heath.

And Marquis Grissom might qualify as another big-name FA.

By Glass Half Full

May 22, 2007 2:52 PM | Link to this

McGriff was acquired via trade in 1993 not a FA.

By JasonInMaine

May 22, 2007 2:53 PM | Link to this

Shaun,

You are correct…very hard, but most baseball questions are! I like your choices. At first, I would have said the same thing. But, for one game, one game, and knowing that pitcher was on his game; I would take Nolan Ryan post WWII.

Now, don’t go crazy. I am in no way, shape, or form saying that Ryan was the best pitcher ever. Over a 162 game schedule, there are many pitchers I would rather have. But, knowing that a pitcher was going to be on his game; I take Ryan.

Regards,

Jason

By Fred from CT

May 22, 2007 2:55 PM | Link to this

crime dog was a trade

By Braveheart

May 22, 2007 2:58 PM | Link to this

I don’t want the payroll to be increased so that we sign other team’s stars. I deplore that kind of thing. I just want an increased payroll so that we can retain the stars we have. Would this rotation be much better right now with Smoltz, Maddux, Glavine, Millwood, and James as opposed to Smoltz, Hudson, James and duck for cover? Obvious answer even if Millwood ain’t all that and even if Maddux is a shadow of his former self.

By NO CHOP ZONE

May 22, 2007 2:58 PM | Link to this

You are all so full of you know what. If the braves won the World Series and had a $300 million dollar payroll not ONE of you would apologize for it. In fact, I bet in the 90’s the braves had one of the highest payrolls in baseball……I don’t hear anyone saying “sorry” or giving back the WS trophy. What a bunch of hipocrates.

By VaBravesfan

May 22, 2007 2:59 PM | Link to this

Game 7, one pitcher at the top of his game? Ok, let’s go for two. Roger Clemens for the first seven, John Smoltz to close it out.

By daniel

May 22, 2007 3:00 PM | Link to this

Fred McGriff came via trade…I’m sure someone else has already said this though.

By Tommy Boy

May 22, 2007 3:00 PM | Link to this

But lets not forget that free agents and trades don’t always work out for Atlanta —- the trade for Dan Kolb is evidence of that. Add that with the signings of Raul Mondesi, Wally Joyner, Bernard Gilkey, Rico Brogna. OUCH!!

How could anyone look at Kolb and his lollipop 85mph fastball, and say, geesh — I gotta have that!

It has taken the Braves two years to recover from Mr. Kolb being in the pen. I think the stench has finally started to dissipate.

I love JS, but not all of his moves have been great ones (with or without Ted’s money) in the trade/free agent market. Baseball is a hit-or-miss game. Sometimes it is better to stick with homegrown talent and let it develop.

By DonCoburleone

May 22, 2007 3:01 PM | Link to this

No Chop it isn’t her fault… You and probably 1 other Mets fan know how to spell “Pelefry”, or however the he!! it’s spelled… Most baseball writers have a hard time spelling a player’s name when they SUCK.

By meansonny

May 22, 2007 3:01 PM | Link to this

No Chop,

The Mets success on May 22nd is great. I hope you take great satisfaction in that type of success as it doesn’t amount to a hill of beans.

And as a reminder to you, correcting spelling on a blog doesn’t make you seem any more credible. It’s a blog. Fingers are flying. Keys are being hit. Just ask KD Bart.

Go Braves!!! Beat da Mets!!!

By DonCoburleone

May 22, 2007 3:03 PM | Link to this

Maybe if he had been in the majors for more than 5 starts she would know how to properly spell his name No Chop

By NO CHOP ZONE

May 22, 2007 3:03 PM | Link to this

That’s funny bravefart, I checked the stats and found they did finish first last year. Oh, and holy sh-it they’re in first now.

By bruce

May 22, 2007 3:03 PM | Link to this

Stockman back on DL in Richmond from Richmond Times dispatch article With second baseman Martin Prado gone to Atlanta and reliever Phil Stockman going on the disabled list, the Braves received some help yesterday. Second baseman J.C. Holt and right-handed reliever Zach Schreiber were called up from Double-A Mississippi.

Holt, a third-round pick in the 2004 draft out of Louisiana State, was hitting .377. He went 0 for 3 in his Triple-A debut. Schreiber, drafted in the 16th round out of Duke in 2004, had a 0.86 ERA in 17 appearances. He allowed two hits and one run in 21/3 innings last night.

Stockman, who had offseason surgery on the upper part of his hamstring, went on the DL for the third time because of problems in the same area.

By N8

May 22, 2007 3:06 PM | Link to this

NCZ

I believe she was referring to homegrown guys that are regulars in the starting lineup.

EVERY team is filled with bench/roll players and RP’s that are homegrown guys. Usually journeymen or guys with no longterm future with a regular job.

Say for instance….Pete Orr.

Hey I remember a trio of “homegrown” pitchers you guys had on the way. Bill Pulsipher, Paul Wilson and Jason Isringhausen. WHEN are those guys gonna make an impact on the NL East?

By Fred from CT

May 22, 2007 3:11 PM | Link to this

game 7 one pitcher bob gibson I could probaly name 10 pitchers I would take before clemens.

gibson koufax drysdale hershiser jack morris (sorry) smoltz carlton schilling el duque tom seaver

By NO CHOP ZONE

May 22, 2007 3:11 PM | Link to this

She gets paid to write and have accurate information….We bloggers don’t, so try another one.

By Arkansas Hillbilly

May 22, 2007 3:13 PM | Link to this

Matthew,

Recliner, two bags of Frito-Lay BBQ Sunflower seeds (which are gone, just like the inside layer of my jaw, by the seventh inning) and a styrofoam cup. Four-year old daughter on the floor with a coloring book or a naked barbie. Wife on the couch swooning over Tim Hudson and Kelly Johnson. She thinks Hudson is the hottest thing to ever pee in front of a pair of tennis shoes. Go figure.

By KJGold

May 22, 2007 3:13 PM | Link to this

Hey Mets fans: If you love NY and the Mets so much, why are you in Atlanta? Either move back to Long Island or shut up.

By NCBravesFan

May 22, 2007 3:15 PM | Link to this

Carroll … I think it’s unfair to criticize the Mets on the money issue. After all, they had nothing 2-3 years ago and Omar Minaya and Willie Randolph have done a masterful job of getting good players in the years since.

It’s nice that we have a lot of homegrown talent here, but it would be nicer if we actually won something going forward.

If money was the sole determinant, the Stankees would not be 10 back of the Sox right now. In fact the ‘Stanks have a billion $$ spent and absolutely zilch to show for it the last 4-5 years.

By Shaun

May 22, 2007 3:16 PM | Link to this

JasonInMaine,

I’d have to respectfully disagree.

Here’s something to ponder: Ryan ranks tied for 255th in Adjusted ERA+ (ERA adjusted for league and ballpark). That’s tied with guys like Al Leiter, Freddy Garcia, Matt Morris and CC Sabathia. (Ryan ranks 242 in ERA)

I don’t think Adjusted ERA+ is everything (obviously Ryan was better than those guys he’s tied with) but I’d want someone that ranks higher than 255th to start an important game for me.

Chances are he’s not going to allow many hits but he is going to walk a lot of guys (he’s not among the top 1000 in lowest BB/9).

By Coach

May 22, 2007 3:17 PM | Link to this

Yes Ma’m , the scouts have been , are and always will be the lifeblood of the organization. Look at the roster’s of Richmond and Mississippi , between the two of them you could put a minor league all-star team together. the 2005-2006 drafts were heavy on pitching and I expect the 2007 draft to be much of the same.

By Braveheart

May 22, 2007 3:17 PM | Link to this

Game 7, one pitcher at the top of his game? Ok, let’s go for two. Roger Clemens for the first seven, John Smoltz to close it out.

Spare me Roger Clemens in a big game. He is not a big game pitcher. Clemens is only 12-8 with a 3.66 ERA in the playoffs with some well known meltdowns. He came up short for the Stros last year in the biggest regular season game for them last year which they were paying him a million dollars to win. He was garbage in the world series two years ago for the Stros. He escapes all blame for leaving after 7 in game 6 of 1986, leaving their fate in the hands of Schiraldi and Buckner. He had that mental meltdown against in the A’s in 1990. He pitched good in 2000 but had that weird bat episode with Piazza. So, spare me Clemens in a big spot - he is about the last great pitcher I would ever want pitching a big game.

Give me Smoltz for the first seven and Mariano Rivera for the last two and you will rarely lose a Game 7.

By Carroll Rogers

May 22, 2007 3:21 PM | Link to this

thanks for the spelling help No Chop. now like magic, I can make it disappear and you’re still on here sounding like an angry person. Joe Smith isn’t in the rotation, which is what I was talking about. and i took green over gomez as an every day player. but you can have some credit that gomez and his six games played are home grown. that’s fine by me.

By HP

May 22, 2007 3:22 PM | Link to this

KJGold, mets fans come over here because there are not any mets blog. I tried to google at once, but I didnt find any mets blog. If someone could find one, please give link to us here.

By Braveheart

May 22, 2007 3:22 PM | Link to this

brainfart instead of bravefart would have been wittier but hey, you’re No Chop

By Fred from CT

May 22, 2007 3:24 PM | Link to this

no chop why don’t you go blog with mike lupica then or mushnick or vaccaro or joel sherman or one of those new york sport writers that are so great.

By Meanie

May 22, 2007 3:24 PM | Link to this

NoChop returns to the blog…Cause he’s sick of his mother the hog… Makes him clean his room, Then uses the broom to hit him, beat him and his dog.

So NoChop the angry young man… Decides to become a Met Fan… Makes sense it seems… As No Chop and “Queens”… Are coupled just like beach and sand.

By JasonInMaine

May 22, 2007 3:25 PM | Link to this

Shaun,

Agreed, but remember the criteria; we know that the pitcher is going to be on his game. If we were simply taking someone, without any other criteria, to pitch a game 7; I take Smoltz. My point is, when he was on his game, Ryan was arguably better than ANYONE. But, as you have pointed out and backed with some statistics, he wasn’t on his game as much as some of the all-time greats.

Regards,

Jason

By Shaun

May 22, 2007 3:25 PM | Link to this

You could make a good argument for Pedro Martinez, if you had only one game (as long as you have a good bullpen).

He’s 3rd all-time in K/9, 3rd in fewest H/9, 225th in fewest BB/9 (16th active), 3rd in K/BB.

By Ron

May 22, 2007 3:25 PM | Link to this

No doubt the Braves Farm system is the Best, but I wished we could develop some Hard Throwers, instead of all these Control Pitchers, because one thing that we have learned in all of these years is that Control Pitchers get Crushed in the Playoffs!!!

By Glass Half Full

May 22, 2007 3:28 PM | Link to this

Let’s see Game 7: Mark Redman (2007 version) for 5 innings, 2 innings from Mark Wohlers (1999 version), Jorge Sosa and Chris Reitsma (2006 version) in the 8th, and closing it out…Dan Kolb (any year since 2004).

By GermanBravesFan

May 22, 2007 3:28 PM | Link to this

Andruw is just sucking on purpose, so that nobody else will sign him after this season - after all, he wants to remain a Brave…

JUST KIDDING!!!!!!!!

By NO CHOP ZONE

May 22, 2007 3:31 PM | Link to this

You’re right, Brainfart would have been funnier. It even made me laugh. Meanie missed his calling. He should be writing childrens books.

By MJ

May 22, 2007 3:31 PM | Link to this

Correct me if I’m wrong but the longest tenured Met is….Tom Glavine. That’s just downright pathetic.

By Ron

May 22, 2007 3:31 PM | Link to this

JasonInMaine, Dude no question about it, it would be Johan Santana!!! He is incredible when he is on top of his game!!!

By Braveheart

May 22, 2007 3:31 PM | Link to this

A Phil Mushnick mention. Uh, oh. Now he is probably going to read this and go on a diatribe about moral decay and how much he hates the world and everything sports related, especially blogs. That guy has to be the most negative man in the world. Yes, N8, there is someone out there even more negative than you. Actually, he is much more negative than you. It would take about 10 N8s to match the negativity of Phil Mushnick.

By Glass Half Full

May 22, 2007 3:31 PM | Link to this

Here’s an idea: expand MLB by 2 teams (one in each league) for all unsigned free agents and for players who are released throughout the season. I’d like to see how they do over a season. Couldn’t be much worse than KC and the Nationals.

By DonCoburleone

May 22, 2007 3:32 PM | Link to this

“Wife on the couch swooning over Tim Hudson and Kelly Johnson. She thinks Hudson is the hottest thing to ever pee in front of a pair of tennis shoes. Go figure.”

LOL, that is hilarious Arkansas Hillbilly. My girlfriend is 25 and we’ve been together for 2+ years now and she is now a big Braves fan because of all the “good looking” players on the Braves. She is absolutely in love with Jeff Francoeur, but she also likes KJ, Hudson, Chipper, and Andruw. She also tells me that Thorman, Kyle Davies, and Yates aren’t bad either… and oh she was disappointed to see Langerhans traded, cuz she thought he was cute too… I swear, I’ve never seen a girl so into baseball (even if it’s just because the players are “cute”)…

What about you Carroll? Do you think any of the Braves are “cute” or “good looking”?

By Glass Half Full

May 22, 2007 3:35 PM | Link to this

Seriously though, if Boras wasn’t Andruw’s agent this would be an ideal time to talk to Andruw about a contract extension if the Braves really wanna keep him. He doesn’t have much leverage as on May 22.

By gbaucum

May 22, 2007 3:45 PM | Link to this

No Chop’s attention to detail on a AAAA pitcher’s name is well documented. Did anyone notice he misspelled hypocrite?

*By NO CHOP ZONE

May 22, 2007 2:58 PM | Link to this

You are all so full of you know what. If the braves won the World Series and had a $300 million dollar payroll not ONE of you would apologize for it. In fact, I bet in the 90’s the braves had one of the highest payrolls in baseball……I don’t hear anyone saying “sorry” or giving back the WS trophy. What a bunch of hipocrates.*

By Shaun

May 22, 2007 3:46 PM | Link to this

Braveheart,

Clemens is only 14-9 in the post season, but also has a 3.66 ERA. His ERA in the World Series is 2.37.

I could see your point if he had pitched awful in the post-season but he’s pitched pretty well. And I put a lot more stock into his combined regular season and post-season body of work than just his post-season.

By metsmanintheatl

May 22, 2007 3:46 PM | Link to this

the METROPOLITANS will again march thru atlanta and the city will be burned again come thursday eve…FACE IT…YOU ARE PLAYING FOR THE WILD CARD…ladies and gents…this year’s world champs…the NEW YORK METS!!

By Ron

May 22, 2007 3:47 PM | Link to this

No Chop, who gives a SH!T how you spell Pelphey or whatever, he is irrelevant, so who cares, Oh yeah, thats right you care, and all those Muts fans, but thats all that care!!!

By GT80

May 22, 2007 3:47 PM | Link to this

For one pitcher in Game 7, post WW2, how about Gibson. Ryan was fantastic but Gibby had that nasty attitude that just wouldn’t let him lose. In fact I think he won a few game 7’s in his time, didn’t he.

By Shaun

May 22, 2007 3:53 PM | Link to this

Braveheart and N8,

How about Murray Chass? He’s pretty miserable:

http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2007/02/27/murray-chass-defends-his-right-to-be-ignorant-uninformed/

By Metsr#1

May 22, 2007 3:53 PM | Link to this

Ok, so the Braves do have one of the best scouting systems in baseball. So, the Mets can afford to buy players. That’s baseball today. But please give credit to Omar Minaya for believing in Endy Chavez, Jose Valetine, Damion Easely etc. Other teams wanted nothing of these players and look how they helped the Mets. Home grown? While the Braves do a great job of it they are the exception not the norm. So give credit were credit is due. Omar and the Wilpons have brought life back to a dieing franchise to the dismay of Braves fans everywhere. It’s our turn to run up a string of consecutive division titles and I’m sure more World Series victories than the Braves managed in the 14 years they were in first. LETS GO METS !! Chop the Braves!

By Turnin2

May 22, 2007 3:53 PM | Link to this

Carroll - we were on the same flight to Pittsburgh, next time we’re on a flight together I’ll introduce myself and maybe we can chat (depending on your answers to DonCoburleone 3:32 PM question it would be fun)… Andruw is getting about as frustrating as any player I’ve seen over the years. What to do — what to do… lock him in a room and make him watch films of himself when he had a good swing? Bench him? Not sure settling him in lower in the order is the answer — but then again I’m all out of suggestions (other than what I posted to DOB about bringing in Galarraga or Baylor to jerk a knot in his tail)…

By BamaBrave

May 22, 2007 3:56 PM | Link to this

“the hottest thing to ever pee in front of a pair of tennis shoes”??!!?? PAGING JEFF FOXWORTHY…PAGING JEFF FOXWORTHY…

By Shaun

May 22, 2007 3:58 PM | Link to this

Here’s another piece about Murray Chass that’s pretty humorous:

http://www.firejoemorgan.com/2007/02/this-is-why-this-site-exists.html

By Spike

May 22, 2007 3:59 PM | Link to this

Don’t post too much but I have to defend Chad Paronto a little here. The guy was solid last year(with Yates and McBride)in a bad bullpen. He was solid in Spring Training and all the way up to going on the DL. He may still be nursing a hamstring and not telling anyone. Why? Because he was an 11 year minor leaguer making squat and now he makes $400k plus. You’d try to get by too. As to the trade rumors, there was a post on ESPN that the Braves are looking at Rich Harden(not Haren). A’s need a catcher desperately with Kendall being 33 and not hitting. Anyone else see that post?

By TennesseePaul

May 22, 2007 4:01 PM | Link to this

Payne: don’t think Adjusted ERA+ is everything (obviously Ryan was better than those guys he’s tied with) but I’d want someone that ranks higher than 255th to start an important game for me.

Why would part of your criteria be that the guy ranks high in a stat you don’t trust? And as JiM pointed out, the criteria was a pitcher on his game. With Ryan’s 7 no-hitters, on his game is likely to be a no-hitter. It’s not a bad choice. PLUS, if the game gets hot and contested and the opposition charges the mound, Nolan is going to put the smack down again and still not get tossed from the game.

By MD Braves Fan

May 22, 2007 4:01 PM | Link to this

Remember the question, what pitcher would you want at the top of his game. Nolan Ryan was a wild as hell thrower in his youth, which effected his bb/game and era. As he aged and matured, he became a masterfull/ dominating pitcher. Nolan in his prime, compared to Clemens, is like comparing the closers John Smoltz and Dan Kolb

By Luv 2 Hate Me

May 22, 2007 4:05 PM | Link to this

The Braves are my team but Sosa will get the win tonight. Davies suck & we need help in the starting rotation. We will win the series but not tonight’s game.

By Thrillhouse44

May 22, 2007 4:06 PM | Link to this

metsmanintheatl, it’s May 22 and you’re 2.5 games up. I didn’t know you clinched already. Does the season end tomorrow?

Last time the Mess “marched” into Atlanta, they left having lost 2 of 3. Are you drunk already?

By JasonInMaine

May 22, 2007 4:12 PM | Link to this

Spike,

I have not seen that rumor on ESPN, but it was mentioned by Rosenthal on FoxSports, and subsequently; it was on MLBTradeRumors.com

Regards,

Jason

By ncscoots

May 22, 2007 4:12 PM | Link to this

Spike, Harden has managed to pitch all of 19 innings this year, due to injury. Can’t imagine a trade the Braves would be willing to make that the A’s would be willing to take.

Harden could heal up (in which case the A’s would be the loser in almost any trade) or go down long-term (in which case the Braves would be the loser in almost any trade). A deal with those kind of risks for both sides would be pretty hard to make, IMO.

By Kentavo

May 22, 2007 4:12 PM | Link to this

I agree Braves have top flight talent scouts, but what about the ones that scout other MLB teams? Why do Braves always fare poorly against a young pitcher they’ve never seen before?

By TennesseePaul

May 22, 2007 4:13 PM | Link to this

the Braves are looking at Rich Harden(not Haren). A’s need a catcher desperately with Kendall being 33 and not hitting.

To bad we already shipped Max Ramirez to the Indians for Wickman. Maybe we can dig up another one of these mid 30’s, injury plagued, Rookie level catchers to trade for a key cog in the machine. Come on JS, work your magic! You already fleeced Bean once with Chucky T and whatever for Hudson.

By HP

May 22, 2007 4:15 PM | Link to this

Spike, I would love to see Rich Harden in braves uniform. I know that Jason Kendall is batting .189 with .437 OPS. I hope the braves make a trade for Saltalamacchia. We don’t need another catcher. We already have Brian McCann signed for long term. This trade might help both teams because Oakland already have four good starting pitchers. Rich Harden career stats 31 wins 17 loss, 3.58 ERA in American League is really good. This year stats 19 IP 6BB 20K 1.42 ERA.

By Christy

May 22, 2007 4:17 PM | Link to this

NCZ, regarding your 2:58 post, I know that N8 already pointed out the obvious, but because one of the things that I loathed about the 1997 Marlins was that they were bought for the World Series and sold right after, and because I hold a similar disdain for the Mets of the new millennium, I feel the need to distinguish the 1995 Braves and “one of the highest payrolls in baseball”

The following 1995 starters came up or arrived in the majors with the Braves: Chipper Jones, David Justice, Javy Lopez, Jeff Blauser, Ryan Klesko, Mark Lemke, (6 out of 8) On the Bench, at least 3 more: Ed Giavanola, Mike Kelly, Mike Mordecai

Out of the Starting Pitchers: John Smoltz, Tom Glavine, Steve Avery and Kent Mercker (that’s 4 out of your 5 starters) Bullpen: Greg McMichael, Mark Wohlers, Brad Clontz, Steve Bedrosian (came up, left and returned), Kent Mercker, Mike Stanton, Pedro Borbon

The following had been with the Braves since 1993 or earlier: Rafael Belliard, Fred McGriff

The main players that came late to the party: Marquis Grissom, Charlie O’Brien, Greg Maddux

So whatever salary was being paid in 1995, the bulk of it was to home grown players who had helped build the franchise over the previous 5 seasons. You’re 3 big moneymakers that did not come up in the system were Maddux, (well hello, Cy Young winner and brought in as an FA, of course he’s the #1 salary), McGriff who’d been there since 1993 and had gone 7 seasons with at least 30 HR (remember when 30 was Huge?) and Grissom.

The payroll, I would argue, was earned…

By jonathan friedman

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

www.mushygushy.com/K62O7I not only dominate on the field, but also in electronic greeting cards.

By Braveheart

May 22, 2007 4:21 PM | Link to this

Shaun, he is actually 12-8. His teams are 14-9 in the postseason series he has played in.

By Grahamdawg

May 22, 2007 4:21 PM | Link to this

TennPaul, great post about Paronto. Now that Craig Wilson is gone, he is my least favorite Brave. For some reason, Bobby has a man crush on him. He sucks

By meansonny

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

Good post TN Paul.

Regarding the +- ERA stat… How hard is it to get a very favorable lifetime ERA over a career when the league average ERA is 3.57. Span that career over 27 seasons? Anything negative is awesome. -0.38 with a career 3.19ERA?

I think the point that this as a knock against Nolan Ryan is ridiculous. Steve Carlton’s ERA was 3.22 over roughly the same span!

By Salty

May 22, 2007 4:24 PM | Link to this

TPaul Always a Braves fan, but a Rangers fan when living in TX years ago. I was watching the game when Ventura charged Ryan. If memory serves me, in the paper the next day, Ventura lamented the fact; something like “I’m halfway to the mound and remember, WTF, this guy wrestles cows! I’m screwed, but can’t turn back now and save face. I’m just glad he didn’t pound me worse than he did.”
Funny story in hindsight!

By Kentavo

May 22, 2007 4:25 PM | Link to this

I would love to gather thousands of Braves fans and descend upon sports bars throughout Queens, Flushing, Long Island etc. and root for the Bravos. That would give ‘em a taste of the obnoxiousity we endure because NYers can’t stand to live in their own city or state and have to move to our towns.

By Kentavo

May 22, 2007 4:25 PM | Link to this

I would love to gather thousands of Braves fans and descend upon sports bars throughout Queens, Flushing, Long Island etc. and root for the Bravos. That would give ‘em a taste of the obnoxiousity we endure because NYers can’t stand to live in their own city or state and have to move to our towns.

By Calvin

May 22, 2007 4:27 PM | Link to this

Endy Chavez came back to the Mets last year, vice this year. Remember the great catch in the NLCS last year against the Cards?

By Chris Woodward

May 22, 2007 4:30 PM | Link to this

Re: Woodward, Orr, Redman, K-Druw Jones:

Can Chris Woodward fly back to NYC with the Mets on Thursday? He is a waste of a roster spot and sucks both offensively and defensively. He has done absolutely zero to contribute to the team and has a .222 BA.

While we’re at it, cut Mark Redman. It was a good trial, but it has failed miserably. I am going to vomit if I see him on the mound for the Braves again. He couldn’t pitch for a high school team and I can’t bear to watch him lose again.

Pete Orr, who is supposed to pinch run and steal bases hasn’t even attempted one and has a lousy .192 batting average. Richmond could use him. Willie Harris is more than sufficient in the utility role.

That’s 2 more spots on the 25-man roster for a starting pitcher and a minor league infielder, which we are loaded with talent. If Cormier is going to continue to be out, we need to go out and get another quality starter.

K-Druw Jones needs to bat 8th until his stubborn, arrogant, fat head listens to his coaches. Contrary to your quotes, YOU DO NEED TO CHANGE SOMETHING!!! You have 51 strikeouts (number 2 in NL) and are batting .212! You have the lowest batting average in the league with at least 150 at-bats! Carlos Delgado is on your tails with .214. With these screwy, knee-bend, left field foul line swings, no wonder his back hurts. I would imagine that 5 consecutive stikeouts swinging though air trying to hit the ball to the moon would hurt a bit.

Learn to hit like a professional and take the outside pitches up the middle! You have a batting cage in your house for gosh sakes! The scouting report is out and it is not that complex. Fastballs up and in, then sliders off the plate away.

By Salty

May 22, 2007 4:33 PM | Link to this

MD Braves Fan Good point. If Smoltz holds up as well as Ryan, he could win another 50 games…certainly tough enough.

Also on Nolan, lots of people would watch at least until the opponents got a hit…a no-no was always possible, especially at twilight. The day my daughter was born (up all the prior night), I came home from the hospital and watched the Rangers play at Oakland. Nolan was starting, so I figured I’d watch until the A’s got a hit…I made it to the 7th and woke up to see everyone jumping around. At least I’ll know the date of his 6th no-hitter…and doggone if he didn’t do it again less than a year later. He was good…bloody good. Oh, was there when Henderson K’d for # 5000. Ok…no more stories…I promise!

By MBATL

May 22, 2007 4:35 PM | Link to this

To bad we already shipped Max Ramirez to the Indians for Wickman. Maybe we can dig up another one of these mid 30’s, injury plagued, Rookie level catchers to trade for a key cog in the machine.

10Paul, maybe I’m misunderstanding, but Max Ramirez is still just 22 years old, and is hitting over .300 with a .939 OPS at high-A. He’s a good prospect who’s gotten better at every level, though still a couple of years away. Trading for Wickman was a good move, given that we had McCann and Salty, but come about 2009 Wickman will be retired and Ramirez will probably be starting for Cleveland. That was not a one-sided trade by any means.

I’d trade Salty (and more) for Haren, but I’d only trade Pena and other pieces (a pitching prospect, Diaz/Wilson, maybe Thorman) for Harden. Harden would be worth taking a chance with… he’s very good when he plays … but I wouldn’t give up a top prospect for him.

By Fred from CT

May 22, 2007 4:37 PM | Link to this

Kentavo i live in connecticut and if I did that in a bar in CT they would start a fight it’s not worth it trust me. I can’t even imagine how much worse it would be if you actually went into the city and did that. plus yanks play red sox tonight so the mets are second class citizens like they always are in there own city.

By Brando

May 22, 2007 4:39 PM | Link to this

Rumors are going around that Joey Devine will be in uniform tonight for the Braves!

By Burt

May 22, 2007 4:41 PM | Link to this

Another FA signed by the Braves: Kenny Lofton, $4.825M — lasted a season.

Burt

By Burt

May 22, 2007 4:43 PM | Link to this

JasonInMaine: One guy, Game 7, on top of his game: Steve Carlton.

Burt

By bravefromthepast

May 22, 2007 4:47 PM | Link to this

what are you smokin mess man in the atl?…saw your lame crew sunday nite against hapless yankees…pretty sad…predict bravos will overtake you and never look back…GO BRAVES!!!

By TennesseePaul

May 22, 2007 4:48 PM | Link to this

Salty: You saw Ryan K Rickie? I saw Rickie steal his last professional base. The guy is a lot smaller in person than I thought he would be. Man what a leadoff hitter though.

Ryan in a fight is bar none the best pitcher ever. It is probably a dis-service to some of those guys who came before him, and before the advent of motion pictures, but Ryan kicked the snot out of a man half his age. He got in about 7 punches (1 for each no-no) before Ventura could cover his head. I still get pumped every time I see that replay. It was so incredible. Right up there with Randy nailing that pidgeon. Sure, his perfect game was cool to watch, but it would have been a real treat had he squared up a few more pidgeons in the process.

By Burt

May 22, 2007 4:49 PM | Link to this

Oops. My bust. Lofton came over in the Grissom/Justice trade. Got his FA leaving ATL.

By dudley

May 22, 2007 4:50 PM | Link to this

So ridiculous I couldn’t even read the whole thing. I don’t care where they are from or whether they are mercenaries. Just win. This sort of thing is why Atlanta is a 2nd tier town to places like NY. 2nd rate teams, 2nd rate fans, 2nd rate newspapers and 2nd rate journalists with 2nd rate ideas. If you’re from someplace big, you know I am right. If you are from Atlanta and think I’m wrong, you’re an imbecile. Thanks.

By Kentavo

May 22, 2007 4:50 PM | Link to this

Fred from CT

One revision to your comments. Mets are no-class citizens.

By will

May 22, 2007 4:52 PM | Link to this

The one person who really needs to jump on Andruw about his hitting is the one person who will loose the most money with Andruw in the off season. That person is non other than Scott Boras. Who else welds as much influence? Andruw says he love playing for Bobby Cox but somehow Bobby is just not getting thru to Andruw. So if anyone in the Braves organization has really wants to see Andruw turn it around, give Scott Boras a call. Maybe Andruw will listen to him.

By Burt

May 22, 2007 4:53 PM | Link to this

JasonInMaine: Here’s another one to chew on: Sandy Koufax. He was the real deal.

By will

May 22, 2007 4:53 PM | Link to this

The one person who really needs to jump on Andruw about his hitting is the one person who will loose the most money with Andruw in the off season. That person is non other than Scott Boras. Who else welds as much influence? Andruw says he love playing for Bobby Cox but somehow Bobby is just not getting thru to Andruw. So if anyone in the Braves organization really wants to see Andruw turn it around, give Scott Boras a call. Maybe Andruw will listen to him.

By Langerhans

May 22, 2007 4:54 PM | Link to this

What exactly did we get from Oakland in return for Ryan Langerhans? Oakland got Chris Snelling from Washington when they shipped him there and he is doing pretty well in a Nats uni. What did we get? Cash or a player to be named later? When will he be named? Can we use the cash to sign another player?

By furmandeherman

May 22, 2007 4:57 PM | Link to this

DUDLEY…r u talkin’ ta me?

By MBATL

May 22, 2007 5:00 PM | Link to this

Burt, good call. Koufax is not in most discussions because he didn’t play long. But aside from his regular season record, he was 3-1 in 8 post-season games, with a 0.97 ERA, 61 K’s and 11 BB in 57 IP. Wow.

By ChampDawg

May 22, 2007 5:00 PM | Link to this

I hope the Braves win the series— take all 3 for that matter. But each week it becomes increasingly clear that the Mets have more talent. I don’t like the Mets but top to bottom they are a much stronger team and the season after 162 games will bear this out if not already (Braves already 1 1/2 games back).

By meansonny

May 22, 2007 5:01 PM | Link to this

Dudley, LOLOLOLOLOLOL

Mets fans talking about 2nd rate????

If it weren’t for Bill Buckner, you’d still be reminiscing those 1969 Amazin’ Mets!

Even the NY Rangers are more dominant than the NY Mets.

Keep talking about 2nd rate. It’s something Mets fans should know a lot about.

By TennesseePaul

May 22, 2007 5:03 PM | Link to this

MBATL: I just looked him up. You are right, he isn’t 30. I’m starting to come down from that trade now. =). But if I recall correctly he was on the DL, or injured, at the time of the trade. At any rate, I think it was a great steal by JS. Had Wicky not had the No-Trade protection, the Indians could have received more in return I think. Maybe at least two guys at rookie level. He’ll be 23 by the end of the season. Probably be in the Majors by 25. He doesn’t have as much power as McCann or Salty and wasn’t close to a top prospect ranking when traded.

No matter though. If a trade does occure, JS will move the right parts.

By BamaBrave

May 22, 2007 5:03 PM | Link to this

What are you, Dudley? Second grade? or third?

By JasonInMaine

May 22, 2007 5:06 PM | Link to this

Burt,

Absolutely good choices. The point of my question was to get people thinking about a pitcher at his best. While I wouldn’t take Ryan over the course of 162 games, if I knew he was going to be on the top of his game, it would be hard not to take him…he’s got 7 no-hitters. But, Koufax, when on, was as tough as they come. I remember an article in SI quite a few years ago that statistically speaking, no one had a better 4 year run than Koufax. The article was about Maddux and how Koufax was the only pitcher to have a better 4 year run. Of course, that was before Unit and Pedro’s dominant runs.

Regards,

Jason

By wh

May 22, 2007 5:07 PM | Link to this

So it is more important to have home grown talent than league leading talent? That makes sense.

Game 7 - Jack Morris

By Carroll Rogers

May 22, 2007 5:07 PM | Link to this

The Braves released Mark Redman, and have recalled reliever Joey Devine from Mississippi to fill in until Saturday. Bobby Cox said Saturday’s start will go to somebody called up from Richmond. He mentioned Buddy Carlisle and Trey Hodges as possibilities. Will post more momentarily.

By journalist jimmy smith

May 22, 2007 5:07 PM | Link to this

Associated Press Writer

DENVER — A capuchin monkey at the Denver Zoo has died of plague and officials are trying to prevent an epidemic by isolating the primates and treating them with antibiotics.

Zoo officials learned late Friday that the 8-year-old animal that died Wednesday tested positive for the flea-borne disease, according to a zoo statement.

More than a dozen squirrels and at least one rabbit have been found dead of plague in the City Park area just east of downtown, which includes a golf course, the zoo and the Denver Museum of Nature of Science.

The monkey, which was acting lethargic, was found dead by a zookeeper.

By The Grinch

May 22, 2007 5:07 PM | Link to this

Hey dudley, you’re sister is second rate in the sack. But then, you probably already know that. You’re welcome.

By Braveheart

May 22, 2007 5:08 PM | Link to this

Dudley, have you recovered yet from Mr. Horton, that creepy guy in the bike shop, trying to teach you how different the strokes can get?

By TennesseePaul

May 22, 2007 5:09 PM | Link to this

Oakland got Snelling from the Nats. The Nats got the A’s. Snelling is on the DL and Langerhans is raking! OK, that might be an over statement. But he is hitting nearly 210 points higher with the Nats than he did with any other team this season. =)

By BamaBrave

May 22, 2007 5:17 PM | Link to this

Redman gone! BRAVO, JS.

By wh

May 22, 2007 5:18 PM | Link to this

Game 7 - If they are lefty leaning- Pettite

By The Grinch

May 22, 2007 5:18 PM | Link to this

Sorry, I meant “your” the first time. REDMAN IS GONE! YEE-HAW! Things are looking better and better. Cause for celebration, indeed. Thank you, Carroll.

By biffpocoroba

May 22, 2007 5:18 PM | Link to this

Call up Preston Hanna

By MBATL

May 22, 2007 5:19 PM | Link to this

Carroll, that’s great news! Goodbye and good luck to Redman. He gave it a shot, but just didn’t have it.

I’m glad to see Devine get a chance, and hope we’ll call up Carlyle for the 5th starter spot. Great news!

I still say that new ownership has already shown something by allowing the Braves to release Wilson and Redman, despite money owed to them. We’ll see, but I’m encouraged in the first week.

By JasonInMaine

May 22, 2007 5:23 PM | Link to this

Well, like I said earlier; I would have been very surprised to see Redman pitch again for the Braves. They must have been seeing if anyone…anyone at all…would take him of their hands. That’s the only reason it took this long! The Skanks should have sent a minor leaguer over for him (:

Regards,

Jason

By will

May 22, 2007 5:24 PM | Link to this

hey wh, what’s important is having talent period. Home grown talent allows you to maintain a manageable payroll, which allows you to make trades for or sign free agents that will a have a bigger impact. But having the talent no matter how you aquire it is mos.t important

By Braveheart

May 22, 2007 5:26 PM | Link to this

What if Devine lives up to his potential and does not turn into a basketcase this time, then we will have a wicked bullpen with Gonzalez, Soriano, Wickman, and Devine owning the sixth to the ninth in close games when Wickman and Gonzalez get back? With Paronto being another solid piece with Villereal being a decent mopup/long relief guy.

I’m pulling for you kid. NO GRAND SLAMS THIS TIME THOUGH GRAND SLAM DEVINE! Puhleeze. Maybe it would be a good idea to never bring Devine in with inherited runners - let him start innings off fresh.

By BamaBrave

May 22, 2007 5:27 PM | Link to this

Great point, MBATL…the new ownership must have played some role in allowing the release of the deadwood, and it’s highly encouraging. If my name is Chris Woodward, I’m a little more nervous today…

By Don

May 22, 2007 5:29 PM | Link to this

Hallelujah, the fat soft tosser Redman joins the fat mullet wearing strikeout artist Wilson on the unemployment line. That’s $2.75 million in payroll squandered this year. But it’s sunk cost, better to admit mistakes than continue to trot them out to lose games.

Chris Woodward, you’re next!

By lowered mound and band box

May 22, 2007 5:29 PM | Link to this

I know that in some corners (my parents) it is sacrilege to assume anyone could be more dominant than Koufax. It was a different game then with the higher mound (Thanks B Gibson) and stadiums that were far larger than Philly, Houston, Texas and the rest of the homer friendly stadiums of today. Pitchers of the 90’s forward have been disarmed so it is hard to get a read on how they compare to the greats of the 70’s back.

By UGASHOUSE

May 22, 2007 5:34 PM | Link to this

There is not much to say other than the Mets will always be a doormat for the Braves….Don’t be jealous fella’s you still have a great “Diamond Vision”!!!

By Amber

May 22, 2007 5:36 PM | Link to this

Carroll, you just made my day!!!

By wh

May 22, 2007 5:37 PM | Link to this

Will - I agree - that’s what makes this article kind of foolish. Manageable payroll is unimportant in Baseball since there is no cap. The concept that there are small market teams is laughable - they are all owned by billionaires. Owning a team is not a “business” - It’s an ego trip and hobby with the benefit of being able to deduct business losses against the rest of their vast revenue streams. So without a cap - Fans need to look at their favorite teams owners and question why they don’t want to win as much as other teams owners ie: Mets, Yankees, Red Sox. If they can’t negotiate a cap leveling the playing field then they should sell to other mega rich egomaniacs (Cuban) who will spend whatever is necessary to win.

By meansonny

May 22, 2007 5:38 PM | Link to this

if a desparate team (see yankees) signs Redman, would the Braves still have to carry the rest of the season’s tab?

Redman is obviously an AL pitcher :-) AllStar calibre over there (George S. Are you paying attention?)

By TennesseePaul

May 22, 2007 5:39 PM | Link to this

The Braves released Mark Redman

The Braves released Mark Redman

The Braves released Mark Redman

The Braves released Mark Redman

The Braves released Mark Redman

!!!!!!!!!!!GO BRAVES!!!!!!!!!!!

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

I’m so frickin happy right now. I think I’ll call it a day and go celebrate. That’s the best news I’ve heard since, well since the Braves announced they released Wilson.

2 Down. Not too shabby.

By Robert

May 22, 2007 5:42 PM | Link to this

Well folks, THIS is the first really big series of the year. Get swept (at home) and we’re in deep doo-doo

Here’s hoping Donk gets ejected before the opening pitch three nights running

By Braveheart

May 22, 2007 5:42 PM | Link to this

You see Will, the Braves have a good minor league development team with good scouts, so they get good homegrowns. This keeps payroll manageable. There is no need for free agents because you have to overspend for free agents. You have to spend obscene amounts to get the gil meches of the world. They need the money to retain the stars they have. Star after star after star has left this team because of lack of AOL/TW money. If that money had been available, then the Braves never would have lost those guys. There is no need to go out and get other team’s stars if you build and maintain and keep the stars you have. The problem for the Braves since the turn of the century has not been developing stars, it has been keeping them. The problem for the Braves has not been that they needed to go get other team’s stars, it has again been that they needed to keep their own stars. Free agents would have wasted money and will always waste money. Who needs them if you have your own stars and are able to keep your own stars? Keeping Maddux, Smoltz, Millwood, Glavine, Furcal, Giles would have left you with a rotation today of Maddux, Smoltz, Glavine, Millwood, James with a lineup of Furcal, Giles, Chipper, Druw, McCann, Frenchy, KJ, and Thorman. Thorman would have been the weakest link and he is pretty decent. Orr and Woodward would not be on the team because you would have been able to afford keeping Betemit. And on and on and on. Thus, I do not think the problem for the Braves is that they have not been signing free agents - it is merely that there has been talent erosion because they are not retaining their own stars. Blah, blah, blah. Thus, they need more money to keep their own homegrown stars and never to sign free agents except to get the bargain basement guys like Pendleton, Bream and to get maybe a mega guy like Maddux every 5 to 7 years when the need arises.

By Robert

May 22, 2007 5:47 PM | Link to this

“2 Down. Not too shabby.”

Yup. One big dumb well entrenched one to go :P

By DonCoburleone

May 22, 2007 5:48 PM | Link to this

Dudley I am from LA (you would consider LA “someplace big” wouldn’t you?) and I think you are a complete imbecile. You are the typical New York a*******hole jerk-off who thinks his $hit don’t stink cuz you’re in big, bad New York City… Well let me tell you, I’ve been to New York and I was thoroughly unimpressed. Everyone seems miserable who lives there and New Yorkers try and make everyone else miserable like they are… In my lifetime (and I’m only 24) I’ve been to LA, Boston, Miami, Dallas, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Atlanta and New York and without question the most overrated city of that group is New York… So why don’t you take your “I’m a bada$$ cuz I live in New York” attitude elsewhere, cuz we don’t want it here.

By meansonny

May 22, 2007 5:51 PM | Link to this

Wh,

I don’t disagree with everything you say. But a few quick counterpoints…

Time Warner is not “an owner”. It was a corporation. Or “the Firm”. Public companies don’t usually look for tax writeoffs when there are dividends to pay.

And Braves fans could look to ownership for some passion all they wanted. It wouldn’t change the fact that the team was owned by a faceless entity. What do we do? Boycott Time Warner AOL (which would include watching Braves games?)

Your points aren’t valid to the Time Warner situation

By MBATL

May 22, 2007 5:51 PM | Link to this

wh, I agree with you. I will never use payroll as an excuse for the Braves to lose. As long as we’ve got a reasonable figure to work with, I’ll expect our front office to make us competitive.

But I DO think that baseball needs a miniumum and maximum payroll. If you can’t put (for example) $70 mil annual payroll into a team, you should have to put the team up for sale; and you shouldn’t be allowed to spend more than (for example) $125 mil.

I’m not locked into those numbers, and there are a lot of ways to implement the general idea, but when the Yanks have a couple of players making more than the entire D’Backs team, there’s something wrong.

This is why I kind of LIKE corporate ownership- they must make responsible business decisions. The problem is having a few private owners who will spend any amount of money on their ‘hobby’, thus throwing the whole system out of whack.

By N8

May 22, 2007 5:52 PM | Link to this

What’s up NCZ???

I mention your “big 3” and you go run and hide?

Did I see that somebody posted that Tom Glavine is the Met that’s currently been on their roster the longest?

That pretty much sums it up, doesn’t it, NCZ?

Christy

You made a comment about the 1995 team and were pretty much dead on with who was brought up through the system and who was brought IN to the organization from outside of it. One correction though, as minor as it may be.

You wrote:

“The following had been with the Braves since 1993 or earlier: Rafael Belliard, Fred McGriff. The main players that came late to the party: Marquis Grissom, Charlie O’Brien, Greg Maddux”

Maddux was in a Braves uniform BEFORE McGriff was. 1993 was Maddux’s first season in Atlanta. We traded for McGriff during the 1993 season.

Like I said, minor, but….

MARK REDMAN RELEASED!!!

It’s about time. Things might be looking up after all.

By dudley

May 22, 2007 5:54 PM | Link to this

All I’m saying is that most cities only care about winning sports teams. Not feel good, home-grown, touchy-feely, lame-o, dumb-a* stories and ideas about mercenaries. We are a joke around the country. Don’t even have a home field advantage in the playoffs. Weak. And ridiculous stories in a horrible paper p** me off, too. Thanks.

By Chop Chop

May 22, 2007 5:56 PM | Link to this

Robert, “Donk” mentioned something about Redman pitching about the same as he has since he’d been with the Braves. I think “Donk” was taking a thinly-veiled shot at Redman, which is probably more along the lines of what you’re looking for in a skipper. I wish Bobby would publicly criticize players from time to time. Coming from him, his players would have to know that the criticism is warranted and it might make them less likely to do “just enough” to make Bobby think they’re giving 100%.

By Braves Fan 79

May 22, 2007 5:59 PM | Link to this

We got Mcgriff thru a trade midseason…NOT thru free agency!
The Crimedog was one of my favorite Braves players of all time thou!
Heres a question for you….we signed craig wilsons sorry butt for 2 million. WHY didnt we just bring in Javy Lopez instead?? we could of had him really cheap….and we know hes a great hitter and former fan favorite! As much as i love the Braves….as long as Cox keeps putting out players like woodward on the field and starting Redmen theres no way we can win more games than the mets. I however DO think we can and WILL beat the mets in the NLCS!! Go Braves! Dont worry mets fans…after we take Glavine back next year the Braves will once again rule the division as they have since 91.

By joebrave

May 22, 2007 6:00 PM | Link to this

Sanity has been restored to the universe,No Mo Redman!!!!!what a wonderful Day,now If I could just squash a few Mutts fans, you little peckergnats can ki$$ my … well you know,No chop is beating his knobpolisher again I see,what a dork,in the Fairiest of senses!!!!!!

By DonCoburleone

May 22, 2007 6:00 PM | Link to this

Redman gone, that is of course a good thing. It is going to give BC and JS time over the next 2 months to decide who of the AAAA pitchers is most reliable and who should remain in the bigs once we trade Salty for a starting pitcher… That is inevitable if you ask me. I just hope it is to an AL team so he doesn’t have the opportunity to burn us every year… Please please please, can we get Dan Haren for Salty Billy Beane???

By DonCurb

May 22, 2007 6:00 PM | Link to this

NYC is not impressive? OK. Everyone is miserable? Right on. Sounds like you couldn’t afford to enjoy the multitude of pleasures the city offers. LA - I am there for 6 days out of 14 and you can have it. That place - as if it can be called one city since it is really just an endless stream of 70K people communities off of a freeway- is a hole. Are there a bunch of j******* in NYC? yes - Are they by % greater than ATL (Go read the Falcons Blog for shear racism and hate) or anywhere else? No. Overrated - please by all means list the ways - start with Culture, Restaurants, Club scene, Music scene, proximity to Ocean Beaches and Air Quality. When you deliver a solid presentation on those, we can continue. Also - please note the crime index in NYC versus every other city you mentioned. Thanks.

By UGASHOUSE

May 22, 2007 6:01 PM | Link to this

Dudley ….

YOU ARE AN IDIOT..!!! I AM ORIGINALLY FROM THE BIG SOUR APPLE…I HAD TO GET AWAY FAR AWAY BECAUSE OF PEOPLE LIKE YOU !!!!!! IT IS NICE TO BE IN THE LAND OF SWEET TEA….SEC AND BRAVE’S COUNTRY…THATS RIGHT !!!!! THE MET’S SUCK THE YANKEES SUCK AND THE FANS ARE HORRIBLE….SLEEP ON THAT JERK…!!!!!

By meansonny

May 22, 2007 6:07 PM | Link to this

Dudley,

The only team that might have a homefield advantage in the playoffs is Minnesota.

There’s no such thing as homefiled advantage in baseball.

Are you expecting NY fans to affect the ability to audible? Well, they might try to use a laser pointer at home. But that’s not enough to call it a homefield advantage.

By DonCoburleone

May 22, 2007 6:08 PM | Link to this

Hey I was just looking at MLB.com and on the main-page there is a picture of Jorge Sosa (at the bottom right) if you click on that the little caption beneath his picture says: “In one previous outing against his former team, Jorge Sosa allowed one run on five hits in six innings.”

Ummmmm, when exactly did Sosa pitch against us this year? That’s right, the answer is NEVER!

By N8

May 22, 2007 6:09 PM | Link to this

dudley

Well than maybe you should thank Mike Vick for being such an idiot. Because between him, Clinton Portis, there isn’t a SINGLE “non-braves” fan talking about the Braves when the word Atlanta is mentioned.

Listen to ANY sports talk show and it’s ALL about Vick. I’m not from Atlanta, so I have ZERO sense of pride one way or the other what the folks that live down there and attend (or don’t attend) the games. Don’t care if they’re loud, quiet, late arriving, early departing or if they’ve EVER done the Tomahawk Chop.

It simply makes NO difference to me. I like the team, and when I’m watching on TV, or listening on MLB.com it makes ZERO difference to me what the crowd is doing.

The Braves had GREAT crowds during 91, 92, and 93. How many WS titles? That’s right, ZERO!

But somehow in 1995 when David Justice rips the fans, they win the title. Amazing, if only the fans would’ve SUCKED 4 years earlier, we might’ve beat the Twins.

You’re either good enough to win it all, or you’re not. We weren’t good enough until 1995. Period.

But hey. Those fans in NY have really helped the Mets and Yankees win some titles the last 4-5 years, haven’t they?

You know what embarrasses me as a Braves fan? When our 14.5 million dollar, future HOF’r, gonna be a free agent CF, can’t make contact with the ball, and then he smiles about it. Or when the “BEST” option you have to send out there for a month as your 5th starter is a guy that NOBODY wanted all winter who proceeds to give up about 10 runs per game.

That’s embarrassing. Not whether the Braves have a “homefield” advantage.

How many times did other teams celebrate on our field? Face it. We haven’t had “homefield advantage” since 1991.

Homefield advantage in baseball is ridiculously overrated, IMO, anyhow.

By wh

May 22, 2007 6:10 PM | Link to this

I agree that it is not apples to apples on the single entity ownership versus corporate- look what the Tribune has done to the Cubs for years and years. But think about the value to a company like Time Warner in having more capitalized losses on their balance sheet. Bleachh - this is the reason that I have grown less interested in sports as I have grown older - Half of the discussion centers around Crime and business. In the end each of the players in all the sports are themselves little corporations. IMO - Baseball is falling off the landscape do to the inequity that the no cap environment delivers - And this from a lifelong Yankee fan. At a bear minimum the point stated above of a minimum expenditure rule should be enforced. Obviously the Behemoths are not winning all the time - or at all lately - but they will always be in the hunt. W/O research - I am pretty sure that Clemens is getting as much as almost all of the TB team. ridiculous. All that said - I am going Thurs night - Does anyone know the Pitching matchup?

By Chop Chop

May 22, 2007 6:10 PM | Link to this

Robert, I’m talking about the opening game of Saturday’s doubleheader, of course. Anyway, “Donk” will never be a great strategist as a manager. We know that. As a fan of the other Atlanta pro sports teams, I have to say that “Donk” is the best coach/manager ever to lead a team in this city. You can whine and moan about the lack of postseason success (and of multiple World Series titles) all you want (and I have done that plenty on my own), but I know that this guy knows how to run a team. He knows how to keep a team together. If all you care about is winning World Series, then cheer for the teams that are winning the World Series every year. That way, you never get let down and never have to face the fact that maybe, just maybe, Bobby Cox is good at what he does and you are not. You’ve trotted out the same crap for years. Just accept that failure is part of life and that the Braves’ failures are not your own.

And yeah, I expect you to rip me…and I don’t even like Bobby Cox that much. I just know the guy’s been a solid manager for a long, long time in this town. Think Vick could play for Bobby Cox? Enough said.

By meansonny

May 22, 2007 6:10 PM | Link to this

Dudley,

The only team that might have a homefield advantage in the playoffs is Minnesota.

There’s no such thing as homefiled advantage in baseball.

Are you expecting NY fans to affect the ability to audible? Well, they might try to use a laser pointer at home. But that’s not enough to call it a homefield advantage.

By Dave

May 22, 2007 6:12 PM | Link to this

…the Braves have more homegrown talent……..that and a buck gets you a cup of coffee…….who’s in first place. P.S. Endy Chavez was on the Mets roster all last season as well…..

By will

May 22, 2007 6:17 PM | Link to this

wh, braveheart, and mbatl I can agree with points you all have made. I would have loved to have seen the Braves keep some of the players lost to free agency and trades. Adam Wainwright sure would look good in a Braves uniform this year.

By Jimbo

May 22, 2007 6:18 PM | Link to this

Carroll ..Great blog! No annoying music lyrics and more importantly no 9 million boring statistics. You seem to know stats are for losers. I appreciate that you can make a point by trusting your judgement without a load of space filling, mind numbing, stats to prove your point. I wish the other guy would get the message. We don’t need lyrica and we sure don’t need tons of stats. Trust in what you see and give us your opinion. If you know and believe in what you are talking about, say it and let it be. Thanks Carroll.

By berigan

May 22, 2007 6:19 PM | Link to this

Good grief, the blogs are smoking! 2 comments from the previous blog…. Thrillhouse44

May 22, 2007 11:46 AM | Link to this

Stark also claimed Greg Nettles was overrated…Overrated by who? I didn’t even know he was rated.

Thrillhouse, like Lew said as well, Nettles was a GREAT 3rd baseman! Even in his 40’s(and playing for the braves) he made some truly amazing plays. I’d see him come in late for defensive reasons, and he’d look so good, you’d wish he was starting. Not to mention how he looked in the Pinstripes. I don’t care what Stark says about him,(I usually, I really like Stark) I saw him play, he was a great 3rd baseman.

And Shawn, you mentioned Nolan Ryan. Granted, he walked a ton of folks, but ERA is what counts,(career 3.19) he got into and out of trouble.

And, he suffered the way Roger Clemens did with the Astros, complete lack of run support. Look at the season Nolan had at the age of 40. 211 innings, only 154 hits, 270 strikeouts and 87 walks. 2.76 ERA. So, how many games did he win? 8!!!! Lost 16!!!! On just about any other team, he’d have won 20 games. Next year, 12-11 with a 3.52 ERA. He got no run support for most of his career except for when he played with the Rangers, and even that wasn’t all that good.

Pick just about any year of his career. age 25 with the Angels. 39 games started, completed 20!!! ERA of 2.28. 19-16, 3 games above .500. Was that his fault?? He never had a season with an ERA higher than 4.00 in a season which he started more than 13 games. 222 complete games, about 100 more than Clemens, or Maddux(granted, Ryan pitched part of his career in a more compete game friendly time) Plus, Ryan threw really hard, which is totally cool! ;)

By wh

May 22, 2007 6:21 PM | Link to this

Dave - where are you getting your coffee :)

By BravesFanInRockies

May 22, 2007 6:21 PM | Link to this

Redman gone … these Liberty Media people may be OK after all …

By meansonny

May 22, 2007 6:23 PM | Link to this

Dudley,

One last thing before I exit the blog… DOB and Carroll are 2 of the best things about the AJC. I agree that another local paper would create good competition, but the Sports section is quite good. I really enjoyed the Metro section when I was a resident of Gwinnett. And so long as George Will is in the At Issue section, that is another great read.

Thank you AJC for this blog and bringing us DOB and Carroll Rogers!

By BravesFanInRockies

May 22, 2007 6:23 PM | Link to this

My guess is, Paronto should watch his Ps and Qs too. He may be headed to Richmond to make way for the 5th starter.

By Braves Fan Trapped In OR

May 22, 2007 6:24 PM | Link to this

I just read the good news! Finally a big get the heck outta here to Mark Redman. Although Joey Devine has never impressed me. He is only here for a few days though. Hopefully if we see him that means we are blowing the Mets out with his track record.

By Braveheart

May 22, 2007 6:24 PM | Link to this

“Oh, my goodness gracious!” Waldman gushed in the middle of the seventh inning. “Of all the dramatic things, of all the dramatic things I’ve ever seen, Roger Clemens standing right in George Steinbrenner’s box announcing he is back!”

Yeah, is that the kind of hard hitting NYC big city journalism we are missing out on? Spare me, please.

By journalist jimmy smith

May 22, 2007 6:25 PM | Link to this

what is wrong with you people? a monkey dies from plague and all you can talk about is mark redman? now, if lethargy is a sign of the plague . . . what is cold ringfinger a sign of? and isn’t it ironic that former teammates have a cold ringfinger and sore thumbs? *where have they been and were they together?” and bob is in the tub about now and someone must wake bob for the game. not i said the duck, not i said the cat, not i said the dog. and where is the little red hen? released. that’s right, released.

By Jimbo

May 22, 2007 6:27 PM | Link to this

Time for more mis-adventures of Fathead Jones at the plate. Wonder what comic relief he will provide tonight?

By Chris

May 22, 2007 6:30 PM | Link to this

Redman is no more. Thank you, Jesus.

By wh

May 22, 2007 6:36 PM | Link to this

Waldman is a journalist? hm. Who knew. I read The AJC and the NY Post/Daily News/Newsday daily for sports. AJC is pretty bad for the most part. There are some writers in the NY dailies I am not overly fond of as well, but top to bottom think it is better - Do in no small part to pay. ( I assume that NY writers are getting more due to larger distribution) I do like Seiku and Craig Custance - but the primary guys - Bisher, Moore, Shultz and Bradley are pretty sub par. Also - When I call out Vecsey on errors he responds 5 minutes later and I have had some pretty funny email exchanges w/ Mushnik over the years. The only other writer who has responded to me is Shaugnessy in Boston - for some reason his responses are always unhappy :)

By IlliniBrave

May 22, 2007 6:37 PM | Link to this

Jimbo

Sorry, but gotta disagree with you on two counts. I do like Carrol’s blog, but DOB rocks. For one, he knows how to put annoying bloggers in their place (Shaun the AJ apologist, No Chop the insecure Met fan, Robert and his bestiality/donkey obsession with Bobby Cox, etc.).

Secondly, statistics are relevant to virtually every aspect of our life. They are a tool, not a moral code. They can help explain past patterns of behavior and predict future occurences. That’s all. And DOB uses them, along with other sources of information, to provide insight on the Braves. Seems you had a bad experience with math or numbers or something like that. I can respect that. But stating that one should “just trust your instincts and say what you want to say” sounds pretty flaky to me.

By Braves Fan Trapped In OR

May 22, 2007 6:39 PM | Link to this

journalist jimmy smith- This is a Braves’ Blog with Braves’ related comments…go talk about the dead monkey somewhere else.

By DonCoburleone

May 22, 2007 6:44 PM | Link to this

Just a typical New York a******* Dudley, that’s exactly what you are and you’ve proved it with your remarks. It’s no wonder countries and cultures around the world hate the United States - They think people like you are what makes up the entire country…

By GT

May 22, 2007 6:45 PM | Link to this

CR - what’s with all these “diversion” stories? Who cares whether the Braves are home grown or brought in from somewhere else. Who cares about the players whining about their interleague schedule. Are these stories just a diversion from how crappy the Braves are playing, lately? Start writing about the Braves weak links and maybe they’ll fix them. Until we win another world series, there’s no need to reminisce about how much “better” we are than other teams.

I just hope the Braves are able to salvage one game from the Mets this series.

By Braves Fan 79

May 22, 2007 6:46 PM | Link to this

N8: u said the Braves werent good enough to win it until 95…your full of S**! In 91 we had it but the twins just got some lucky breaks…including Herbek pulling Ron Gant off 1st base one game! And Pucket making a miracle catch to rob a homerun.
In 96 the Braves were clearly the best team in baseball and lost their edge after winning the first 2 games of the world series. In 97 they got screwed by sorry a$$ eric gregg and his crappy umpiring giving the series to the marlins (who didnt deserve any of their world series). In 99 we made the world series but had to many hurt players to compete. Anyways im proud to be a Braves fan for life. Go Braves!! We released redmen…man its a great day!

By metsmanintheatl

May 22, 2007 6:49 PM | Link to this

davies………..HAR HAR HAR111111111111111111111111

By Barrett

May 22, 2007 6:49 PM | Link to this

journalist jimmy smith = a future anti-drug campaign…..

By Ron

May 22, 2007 6:49 PM | Link to this

So basically we wasted almost 3 Million Bucks, but we could not afford Betemit to be our Ultimate Bench Player, He is a Fantastic Bench Player!!! I know that we could not have known Aybar would go awry, but maybe those two Compensation picks in this year’s draft will play for us someday!!!

By Treadway

May 22, 2007 6:52 PM | Link to this

By NO CHOP ZONE May 22, 2007 2:58 PM | Link to this You are all so full of you know what. If the braves won the World Series and had a $300 million dollar payroll not ONE of you would apologize for it. In fact, I bet in the 90’s the braves had one of the highest payrolls in baseball……I don’t hear anyone saying “sorry” or giving back the WS trophy. What a bunch of hipocrates.

Who’s playing the if game now? See one of your posts in the last blog.

By ncscoots

May 22, 2007 6:57 PM | Link to this

BFTOR, uh, actually the way it works around here, and has worked for some years, is that we post about just about any darned thing that strikes our fancy…music, pie, bbq, banana pudding, and, oh yes, dead monkeys. Those who find the content not to their liking are welcome to adjourn to other quarters. Not the other way around.

By DonCoburleone

May 22, 2007 6:59 PM | Link to this

metsmanintheatl I believe this is the line the last time Davies pitched against your Mets: 6.2IP, 2ER’s, 8SO’s in a 3-2 BRAVES win… Is that what you are laughing at? Cuz I think that is pretty funny too…

By joebrave

May 22, 2007 7:02 PM | Link to this

Now if we could just get rid of THAT DAMN WOODWARD that boy has Mutts stank all over Him!!!!!

By jaytriskit

May 22, 2007 7:04 PM | Link to this

So the cubs are making Matt Murton available for a releiver, According to John Perrotto of Baseball Prospectus: http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=6251. I wonder if Wickman might fetch Murton to play left field while maybe making Thorman expendable for, say, Towers and maybe another player from the Jays?

By Ron

May 22, 2007 7:09 PM | Link to this

We better win tonight or we will lose at least 2 or 3 with Perez goin tomorrow!!!

By joebrave

May 22, 2007 7:11 PM | Link to this

A Met is A genetic disorder,A Carlos is a shriveled up monkey’s penis,So how in the blue he11 are you Mutts gonna beat our Braves with two shriveled up monkey’s penis’?????

By Jay

May 22, 2007 7:13 PM | Link to this

It p** me off to no end that the Brave fans, us Met fans thought you guys knew baseball, make themselves to look so pathetic after losing ONE YEAR!!! The facts are readily available people. The Mets payroll has ranged from 96-121 million since 1999. A span that included 7 braves division titles. 5 of those years we’ve had the bigger payroll and all you guys did then was clown the “over-spending no division winning mets.’ Now you lose one year and we’re the best team 116 million can buy? Pathetic.

Most of our roster has been put together by trades. Our huge free agent this year was Moises Alou? Gimme a break. Yes, we now have an expanded budget but get used to it, our budget is only going to get bigger.

The Mets own a Regional Sports Network and are currently building a state of the art stadium. Our revenue streams are going to get bigger with Citibank giving us 20million per year for 20 years just to call the stadium citifield. Thats not including the multi-million dollars for advertising on SNY.

All that starts in 2009. Now as far as our farm system goes, well Omar Minaya has wisely signed our veteran players to short term deals. We have three pitchers that project at the top of the rotation(Pelfrey, Humber & Deolis Guerra) we have three outfielders that project as all stars(Milledge, Gomez & Fernando Martinez) A power-hitting first base prospect(Mike Carp) and a very talented defensive catcher(Pena).

Not all these guys will work out but we have highly touted athletes getting ready to make the jump to the Majors.

So we have money and prospects. I feel no pity for the Braves. You guys have run a tight ship for a very long and successful run that will continue. The Mets have always had this kind of potential and have squandered it through the years. Now The Mets are beginning to become what they should have been for years now and thats the most powerful team in the National League.

The Mets operate in a market that demands they be just that. For years Met fans have watched the Yankees avg 200 million a year for their team. We are not the Yankees but 150-170million a year isn’t too far off in the future. Met fans don’t compare our payroll to the Braves, we compare it to the Yankees. We have a long way to go. The Braves winning 14 division titles while we spent so much money for nothing has embarrassed the Mets.

Now, the Mets are being run to the potential they should have reached years ago. So if your going to complain about payroll then I’d hate to see what your gonna say in 3-5 years because the Mets Franchise value is climbing rapidly.

Met fans will not stand for this team not being in the top 3 in baseball. We want a good mixture of both prospects and free agents.

Reyes, Wright, Heilman, Joe Smith, Ruben Gotay, and Carlos Gomez are all from our system. We traded prospects for: Delgado, Lo Duca, Maine, Perez, Shawn Green, Pedro Feliciano, Mota, El Duque, Burgos, and Ramon Castro.

We’ve signed only Glavine, Pedro Martinez, and Carlos Beltran to, 10mil plus, free agent contracts.

Please get your facts straight and stop whining after you team has given you 14 years of winning ball. Times do change people. I truly believe that you Brave fans took that team for granted all these years and seeing the Mets win last year was a shock for you guys but you need to ask yourselves if you really appreciated your team?

Has losing one year shocked you back into the Braves corner? All good things come to an end but it was you, Brave fans, who left empty seats during the playoffs, it was you that called them the Buffalo Bills of baseball. Met fans have long suffered at the Braves hand and times change. I wonder if you realize what you had? You team had greatness on the field but were Brave fans there to see it? Times change.

Lets Go Mets!

By Braves Fan Trapped In OR

May 22, 2007 7:15 PM | Link to this

ncscoots-

You hear that sound…its the sound of no one caring.

Its a dead monkey…of course people are going to be talking about Redman getting released.

Thats all I am saying…I would love to talk about any of those other subjects with you.

I am quite friendly. But that was a D and E conversation…so you should have just stayed the F out.

By Ron

May 22, 2007 7:16 PM | Link to this

jayriskit, Dude that other player better be real good because no way we give up Thorman for Towers!!! I like Towers, but it wont take nearly that much to get him!!!

By Jon B

May 22, 2007 7:20 PM | Link to this

I like the way the Braves are going. Last year, we would have waited till almost half the season was over before we released Wilson or Redman. But the changes seem to be happening fast and I like it. Way to go Braves front office

By joebrave

May 22, 2007 7:20 PM | Link to this

Damn Jay, are you quite through with your incoherent babbling,Damn son you don’t need to write a friggin book,or a biography!Just post your ignorance and get on with it,Do you root for or are you a Braves fan? HE!! no so SHUT UP dumb sumbitch!!!!!

By MBATL

May 22, 2007 7:25 PM | Link to this

Bobby just said on radio that Devine is just here through Saturday… and that then we’ll bring a starter up. Got to be Carlyle, Hodges, Reyes, Barry, Harrison or Smith, right? Probably Reyes, though I’m really kinda hoping for Carlyle.

By Ron

May 22, 2007 7:26 PM | Link to this

Braves Fan 79, You are right the Marlins should have never won that World Series in 2003, It should have been the Cubs!!! The Cubs CHOKED that NLCS away when they got mad about what Bartman did in the stands instead of taking care of busines, they were 5 outs away, and they choked it away!!! Teams get certain amout of breaks, we Rarely get breaks like other teams do, if we got a break here and there when we were really good, I say we have at least 3 World Championships, but that is the way it is, and am not gonna worry about it now, thats life, too bad it happened to our Braves though!!! Could be worst, we could be Bills fans, when they got to 4 Super Bowls in a row and lost them all, at least we did win 1, better than none!!!

By MBATL

May 22, 2007 7:26 PM | Link to this

Probably Hodges, I meant to say…

By jaytriskit

May 22, 2007 7:27 PM | Link to this

Ron,

I was thinking a decent reliever/starter like Janssen, but i think with the money freed up from Wickman, Overbay might be a better suit.

By Duchess

May 22, 2007 7:28 PM | Link to this

Braves Fan in OR, you got a lot to learn here, Bubba. lol Lots of folks here been around for a long time and don’t take too kindly to newcomers pushing ‘em around. Most will talk about what they want when they want. They’re good people …. mostly.

By The Grinch

May 22, 2007 7:32 PM | Link to this

Braves fan trapped in OR, I can see why you’ve been isolated from Atlanta. You have the class and social skills of a Mets fan. We are all free to talk about what we please; if you don’t like it I’m sure nobody will cry if you choose to take your sh^%%y attitude to a different location. Cheers!

By ncscoots

May 22, 2007 7:33 PM | Link to this

BFTOR, really? Actually, I thought that you might want the information printed in the clear that no one makes determination of who posts here or their content, within limits of decency. It seemed to me that you were confused on this point and I was trying to be helpful.

Of course, I guess it could be that you’re merely obtuse. Either way.

By Greg in TN

May 22, 2007 7:35 PM | Link to this

Evening Braves Nation…

The Redman experiment is done. At the time in spring training when Hampton went down again, it made sense to give it a shot. It didn’t work out. Those things happen.

Almost time for first pitch from the ballpark.

By joebrave

May 22, 2007 7:35 PM | Link to this

A tiskit a taskit 9 Mutts in a casket,Go Braves and Whip some Skanky Met @ss!!!!

By Mark Well Fedman

May 22, 2007 7:36 PM | Link to this

Screw all of you losers. You try pitching with an ingrown, you blogging chumps.

I pitched my heart out for you and you all make fun of me in a forum that my family can read. Losers! Get a life!

At the end of the day, there is something I can say about myself that none of you ever will: I was an Atlanta Brave and none of you will ever be. That will forever make me more of a Brave than any of you.

So keep blogging and typing all day and all night and all weekend, misdirecting all of the anger your wives and mothers and fathers have created in you and misdirect all of your ire at me and the rest of the athletes.

Deep down, how many of you resent that I have more athletic talent in my fat ingrown toenail than the rest of blogging creeps have in your entire bodies?

Deep down, how many of you resent that I just got paid in six weeks what it will take about 15 of you to make combined for the entire year?

You fellas are one sad little collection of mental midgets.

It’s pretty sad when my ERA is 10 and that is still higher than most of your IQs.

It’s pretty sad when my fastball tops out in the high 70s and that is higher than the IQ of the smartest guy on here (still not sure who that title goes to- not enough evidence yet to suggest such a guy exists - maybe proof of life comes later).

Now blog away creeps.

The Braves might not win the World Series without you telling the entire world every last thought you have.

By brent a.

May 22, 2007 7:37 PM | Link to this

Something just dawned on me:

Once again, Yankees-Red Sox and Braves-Mets are being played simultaneously, and once again, ESPN decides to show 2 of the Yankees-Red Sox games and ZERO of the Braves-Mets games.

Now, if Yankees-Red Sox gets you better ratings, then fine, show those games. But, wouldn’t it make sense for MLB not to schedule these two rivalries’ games at the same time, in an attempt to get some national exposure to both rivalries and leagues?

To me, it only makes perfect sense to spread these marquee games out a bit, if you know that ESPN will always choose to air Yankees-Red Sox when available.

By Jay

May 22, 2007 7:38 PM | Link to this

Joebrave the words can be read by those that can read and comprehend. Abilities you seem to lack, but you and your brave homies are very talented at talking sh*t on a blog. Like I said before you guys have a great team on the field but are you there joebrave? Are you at the game website tough guy? I thought not.

By Gil in Mechanicsville

May 22, 2007 7:38 PM | Link to this

Hi folks, Nice job Carroll… Gee, I love being right…. Predicted release of Redman, dropping of Andruw in batting order. If they bring up Buddy Carlyle I will be three for three.

Now, back to reality. Sad the passing of another gifted scout. There really should be a place in the baseball hall of fame for scouts and player development folks.

Scouting talent is like duck hunting, everyone can see the ducks when they are landing, by then it’s too late and someone else gets the ducks. A really good scout sees the ducks long before anyone else and is in the position to get them first.

By JasonInMaine

May 22, 2007 7:40 PM | Link to this

exactly what we didn’t want to start the game…can Davies alter his pre-game routine or something? man, he sucks in hte 1st inning and to the first batter

By berigan

May 22, 2007 7:43 PM | Link to this

Nice to see the Mets have their very own Andruw, thanks Delgado!!! We owe ya!

By joebrave

May 22, 2007 7:44 PM | Link to this

Jay your still a babbling,sumbitch peckerhead!!!!!!!

By JasonInMaine

May 22, 2007 7:44 PM | Link to this

KJ!!!

By beki

May 22, 2007 7:47 PM | Link to this

When I wrote my post last Saturday about Redmond’s day with the Braves being numbered after he gave up the grand slam; little did I know I was a lady Nostradamus! Thank you, JS!

By Braves Fan Trapped In OR

May 22, 2007 7:48 PM | Link to this

Duchess-

I wasn’t pushing anyone around…I was merely making a comment.

I am not the one that jumped on someone else.

I apologize to JJS…but not to ncscoots. He can take a flying leap. I was just mistake about someone making about big deal about people talking about the Braves on here instead of a dead monkey. I should have just ignored it. Just like nosey little ncscoots should have left my comment alone.

Thank you for showing me the error of my way. I guess this is a good way of getting involved with all you old-timers though.

But back to Braves’ Baseball because that is the reason I am here. And the reason I enjoy the blog and most of the comments.

By N8

May 22, 2007 7:48 PM | Link to this

Braves Fan 79

Lucky breaks?? Spoken like the true homer you must be.

Hrbek pulling Gant of the bag? I’ll give you that one. First of all the catch that Puckett caught was high up the plexi-glass, but the ball wouldn’t have been a HR. So let’s be clear on that.

As I recall later in that same game of the “miracle” catch, our reliever, Charlie Liebrandt wasn’t “good enough” to get that same Kirby Puckett out, much less NOT give up a walk off “game 7 forcing” HR.

Then the following night, Jack Morris was just a little bit better than Smoltz. As I recall, our very own Lonnie Smith (he or Lemke would’ve been the MVP had the Braves won), wasn’t “good enough” to NOT get deek’d by the rookie Chuck Knoblauch at 2nd base.

Lucky. Aw shucks, I can tell you’re not related to Bobby, since EVERYBODY knows the playoffs are a crapshoot.

1996? Well, we were good enough to go up 2-0 AT YANKEE STADIUM. But Denny Neagle wasn’t good enough to preserve a 6-0 lead. Wohlers wasn’t good enough to get Leyritz out. David Cone was slightly better than Smoltz in the 1-0 game. Jermaine Dye wasn’t good enough to “not cut Grissom off” on the fly ball that led to the ONLY run in that 1-0 game.

1997 was ALL Eric Gregg’s fault? Oh that’s right it was his fault that the Braves made errors in the first inning of the first game in that series, right? It was Eric Gregg’s fault that Smoltz was kept in the game too long and got hammered later in that series, right? If I remember right, one of the ONLY games we won in that series was game two against Fernandez, and he ended up on the “DL” after that start.

Make NO MISTAKE, that 1997 Marlins team was built to beat us, which they did convincingly in head to head matchups that season, and did in the post-season.

1999? You mean the series where we got swept? Oh, that’s right the injury to Reggie Sanders really hindered that team, right?

Listen. I’m not saying those teams weren’t good. They were. But you act like for 14 years things didn’t “go our way” other than in 1995. Not to mention that many Indians fans would claim that the better team lost that series as well. Teams make their own luck. Unfortunately, we’ve SUCKED at making our own luck once the post season bell rings.

By JasonInMaine

May 22, 2007 7:50 PM | Link to this

Okay, I have to relax and let the game take its course. I absolutely positively can’t stand seeing Sosa strike out 2 in the 1st…and 2 of our best hitters. Seriously, this team needs to put a serious hurting on this guy. They need to get jacked up and kick some a$$!!

By Braves Fan Trapped In OR

May 22, 2007 7:54 PM | Link to this

ncscoots-

Sorry didn’t know you were the Moderator. Please forgive me.

Let’s just call this a truce.

Now back to the Braves…I enjoyed this blog until you butted in. Oops sorry.

Truce starts now.

By Ron

May 22, 2007 8:00 PM | Link to this

1 to 0 Good Guys!!!

By Mark Well Fedman

May 22, 2007 8:01 PM | Link to this

Oregon Man, lemme guess, pretty angry after spending a day jacking logs, lumber, and wood up there in the Northwest?

By MEB

May 22, 2007 8:02 PM | Link to this

Carroll… I will be in town for the games on Friday and Saturday, so if the Braves need me for a few innings I will be in Section 124, tell Bobby to just give a holler.

So its Smoltz and Huddy and the rest is pretty muddy.

2-0 Braves… Yee Haw!!!

By Calvin

May 22, 2007 8:02 PM | Link to this

omg..AJ went back up the middle with a ball…shocking.

By Greg in TN

May 22, 2007 8:02 PM | Link to this

Nice job of hitting by B-Mac and Frenchy and a liner by AJ. Liner by AJ? Sweet!

By Ron

May 22, 2007 8:03 PM | Link to this

WOW, Andruw has just Changed his STANCE, did anybody notice that, wow, he looked much better at the plate, and see what happened he got a base hit!!!

By N8

May 22, 2007 8:09 PM | Link to this

Braves Fan 79

I googled game 6 of the 1991 world series. I then clicked on the Wikipedia link to that search.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1991WorldSeries

“Kirby Puckett leaped and made a sensational catch against the 14-foot Plexiglas fence, sending Pendleton back to first instead of around the bases for Atlanta’s first run.”

HOLY SH!T. I never knew that Kirby could’ve played in the NBA. Some teams could’ve used him in a gorilla costume for all those fancy “flip dunks”, except they wouldn’t have had to invest in the trampolene.

Kirby PUckett: 5’8”, 210 lbs. With enough vertical leap to save a HR over a 14 foot high fence. You crack me up.

I do have to give you credit though. Had Puckett actually come up with a “HR saving” catch on over that wall, it WOULD HAVE been a “miracle”, as you put it.

I just love it when homer’s memories serve them poorly.

Hey, remember when Roy Hobbs hit that HR and all the lights exploded? :-)

By The Truth Hurts

May 22, 2007 8:13 PM | Link to this

It’s amazing to hear Mets fans suddenly proclaiming themselves the best the NL has to offer…thanks Jay…one good year and an insufferable attitude already? Ugh.

I suppose it’s all in good fun, but sometimes it seems that it’s not so good-natured. Relax. The Mets have a $120 million payroll. Congrats. People act like it’s difficult to sign good free agents. It’s not. It takes more money than someone else. The Yankees are living proof that a lot of buffoons actually run professional organizations these days. People who otherwise would have been fired by now for incompetence are left to demonstrate their mediocrity to the world. It takes no skill to outbid someone.

Enjoy the game….

By Greg in TN

May 22, 2007 8:19 PM | Link to this

Great at bat there by KJ.

By parks

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

amazing AB by Kelly

By Greg in TN

May 22, 2007 8:28 PM | Link to this

A couple other thoughts…

I could care less what the mets or anyone else spends on payroll versus homegrown talent, honestly. To me, Huizenga did what he did in Florida in ‘97. If I were a Marlin fan, what he did in ‘97 was fine, but I’d be all over him for what he did the next year.

Sad to hear about the passing of Bill Wight. The Braves spend a lot of money on scouting and player development, and I think every dollar the team spends is well spent.

Just so we’re clear. We put Braves Fan 79 as a “homer” and Nate as “Not a homer”.

The wheels of the Sosa bandwagon are falling off guys. mets fans, no deposit, no return.

By TennesseePaul

May 22, 2007 8:37 PM | Link to this

Davies is throwing rocks tonight!

What a frickin curve ball. That’s the kind of pitch that just leaves a Met up there at the plate.

By TennesseePaul

May 22, 2007 8:40 PM | Link to this

OH MY!!!!! WAY TO GO THOR!

By MBATL

May 22, 2007 8:40 PM | Link to this

Mets’ fans, Jorge will, uh, give up the long ball. You’ll find that to be true, I think.

By Greg in TN

May 22, 2007 8:41 PM | Link to this

Wow. Thor plastered that hanger.

By N8

May 22, 2007 8:42 PM | Link to this

This just in…

Scott Thorman is Ryan Klesko’s long lost brother.

Man does he remind me of Klesko

By Greg in TN

May 22, 2007 8:47 PM | Link to this

On second glance, that was a letters high fastball. Good to see Thorman bouncing back from the K he had in the second.

TennPaul, really happy to see Davies come out and mix his pitches and hit the corners like he’s doing tonight.

By TennesseePaul

May 22, 2007 8:47 PM | Link to this

MBATL: Cox said the most likely candidates to start on Saturday are Trey Hodges and Buddy Carlyle, both of whom are enjoying successful seasons with Richmond

Pulled that from Bowman. It’ll be interesting to see who they pick.

By Gil In Mechanicsville

May 22, 2007 8:53 PM | Link to this

Whew…. Braves get the call on the ball Kelly just dropped.

By MBATL

May 22, 2007 8:55 PM | Link to this

10Paul, yeah, it will be interesting to see who we bring up. Personally, I’d like to see Carlyle. He was really good in spring training, and is a little older… but whatever. Good to be done with the Redman experiment. I don’t blame the Braves for trying that, but it just didn’t work out.

By TennesseePaul

May 22, 2007 8:58 PM | Link to this

Greg, ain’t it beautiful? He’s dropped his ERA below 5 so far. Sosa has added 1.25 runs to his ERA.

Let’s go BRAVES!

By Greg in TN

May 22, 2007 9:03 PM | Link to this

Gil, I think we got away with one there.

I’m glad to hear Gonzalez should be ready to go come June 1st. We just need to back him off just a tad from his arm exercises. Nice to know it’s not any more serious than that.

By Gil In Mechanicsville

May 22, 2007 9:04 PM | Link to this

The Truth Hurts The Yankees have operated that way ever since Steinbrenner bought the team. Baltimore tried it too but the results was disastrous. It is not how much you spend but how you spend it.

By brent a.

May 22, 2007 9:06 PM | Link to this

Way to go, Hawks! Way to keep that pick from Phoenix for another year.

By joebrave

May 22, 2007 9:06 PM | Link to this

Oh My,it’s 5-1 and nary a nochop to be found what’s wrong, got anything to say,cat got your tongue,yeah yeah that’s what I thought,only opinionated when the Mutts are winning… What a bunch of fairweather fans the Mutts have,bunch of peckergnats!!!!!!!

By TennesseePaul

May 22, 2007 9:06 PM | Link to this

It’s a load off MBATL. Davies is throwing better. The calls are going our way. The sticks are working. It’s just an all around euphoria so far. Davies breaking ball is the best I’ve seen him throw all season. Good times. Good times indeed.

By TennesseePaul

May 22, 2007 9:10 PM | Link to this

Yeah Greg. I read on Bowman’s report that they think it was just a matter of over working himself. Said since his injury last season he upped his work out to get strength back quick and never scaled it back. Sounds like all he needs to do is just sit down with the strength coach and figure out a good plan.

Come on AJ. Let’s wake up!

By joebrave

May 22, 2007 9:12 PM | Link to this

Jorge Sosa sucks,he sucked here and he still sucks,I read about a mutts blooger being in love with Sosa.let me explain Sosa to you S-ame O-l S-uck A-$$.

By Savannah Guy

May 22, 2007 9:15 PM | Link to this

journalist jimmy smithare you kidding about the monkees?

By journalist jimmy smith

May 22, 2007 9:16 PM | Link to this

oregon, that dead monkey with the plague is in colorado. it is well known that most monkeys entering oregon come through colorado. should plague-infested monkeys come to your town you will no longer be trapped- you will be quarantined. let that be a lesson to you. now, quit complaining and be more congenial with other bloggers - and avoid contact with other monkeys. journalist thanks scoots and others for covering jimmy smith’s back. now, apparently the redman toe injury was far more serious than first considered. imagine being released following a stint on the d.l. with a bad toenail. and how far did the ball go that thorman hit? thorman is a good contrast to laroche. thorman runs hard, plays hard on every play. laroche never looked that way. and it is good to see letwan back on the blog with news of pies and such. it is rumored that letwan has put on a few pounds with all the pies. now, who can identify the best bbq house in lexington, nc? they all are rated about the same on the internet and we all know that cannot be right. journalist will soon trek to lexington in search of some bbq. and why are there no bbq places in asheville? north carolina, right? what is going on here? also, anyone in colorado right now should avoid barbecue for awhile. reason is obvious.

By Greg in TN

May 22, 2007 9:17 PM | Link to this

Kyle Davies…. NICE

By TennesseePaul

May 22, 2007 9:18 PM | Link to this

OOOOHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!

WAY TO GO DAVIES!!!!!

By Quint

May 22, 2007 9:18 PM | Link to this

3-run homer by the pitcher!

By MBATL

May 22, 2007 9:18 PM | Link to this

I was just about to say that Bobby should pinch hit for Davies… guess not, eh?

By A-ville Ranger

May 22, 2007 9:18 PM | Link to this

Davies thre run shot !! that boy must’a ate all his beans today.

By TennesseePaul

May 22, 2007 9:19 PM | Link to this

3 more 2 out RBIs on that one.

By N8

May 22, 2007 9:19 PM | Link to this

joe brave

NCZ has been in hiding ever since I mentioned Wilson, Pulsipher, and Isringhausen.

Aparently those are the 3 most insulting words you can say to a Muts fan. Similar to somebody mentioning Kolb, Reitsma and Redman to Braves fans.

KYLE DAVIES 3-RUN HOMER!!! LOL!

Hmmm. Can Kyle play CF?

By Ron

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

Kyle Davies is SUPERMAN today, Pitching Great and just Hit a 3-run Homerun!!! WOW!!!!!!!

By Greg in TN

May 22, 2007 9:21 PM | Link to this

TennPaul, love that bullpen depth we have this year. It’s made a world of difference.

Nice inside-the-bagger there by KJ. Things are looking just fine in the ATL tonight friends and neighbors.

By A-ville Ranger

May 22, 2007 9:23 PM | Link to this

I’ve said before,KJ runs the bases like Larry Walker used to.He never seems to leave a base on the table or try for one when he shouldn’t.

By N8

May 22, 2007 9:25 PM | Link to this

Two things.

While KJ’s triple is a good thing. I would prefer him to “pick up” his 3rd base coach, rather than look over his right shoulder as he’s rounding 2nd base. Oh well. A triple is a triple.

The other is Chip’s comment about Sele being in the league since 1992 and NEVER allowing a homer to an opposing pitcher.

Uh…..I’m aware of interleague play and what not, but Sele was in the AL until LAST YEAR!

That’s as silly as being amazed that “only” 15 of Tony Gwynn’s 3141 hits came as a DH.

Come on Chip. Get your head in the game

By Ron

May 22, 2007 9:30 PM | Link to this

N8, You said can kyle play CF? Dude have you seen Andruw’s stance today, it looks great, and his swing is alot better, he might be coming out of his slump!!!

By Savannah Guy

May 22, 2007 9:32 PM | Link to this

journalist jimmy smith - oh. ok… you had me going there for a minute. I thought you were being serious. I just slapped my hand and promise not to do that again. Now I’ll go tell all my monkees that it’s safe to go back to Colorado…just don’t have any unprotected sex while there.

8 to 1…it’s a good night for B-ball when you know the Mutts arer gettin’ beat up, especially when we’re doin’ ta beatin’.

By Tomahawkin' Again

May 22, 2007 9:33 PM | Link to this

TONTO, JUMP ON IT!!! I do believe that the Bravos own the Muts this year.

By A-ville Ranger

May 22, 2007 9:34 PM | Link to this

Davies must’a had hot sauce on those beans.I can’t recall him playing mean like this,good stuff.

By TennesseePaul

May 22, 2007 9:35 PM | Link to this

94 pitches, 7 run lead. Do you take Davies out? It is, now, nearly 2 full months in the season. This would be a good time to see if he can stretch. Post seasons are made by pitchers that can stretch to 100+ pitches when needed.

By MBATL

May 22, 2007 9:35 PM | Link to this

Well, N8, long as you’re not looking for negatives on a positive night…

By A-ville Ranger

May 22, 2007 9:35 PM | Link to this

Davies must’a had hot sauce on those beans.I can’t recall him playing mean like this,good stuff.

By brent a.

May 22, 2007 9:42 PM | Link to this

Everybody be sure to let our resident Mets fans know how much you appreciate this win.

By Savannah Guy

May 22, 2007 9:44 PM | Link to this

Watch this team long enough and you know that Cox is a HOF manager (regular season…I won’t go into post-season). By having Android bat before Thor, he’s seeing more pitches to hit. And it may just be working. Tonight anyway. Either that or we bloggers take all the credit for willing the Droidster to get it going.

By The Truth Hurts

May 22, 2007 9:48 PM | Link to this

Gil, I understand that Steinbrenner has always done this. He essentially started free agency, did he not, by signing Jim Catfish Hunter? Anyway, the Yankees did win more regular season games in the 80s than anyone else, I believe (though, no WS).

Of course it’s how you spend the money. That’s quite obvious. When you sacrifice the spirited role players like they had in the late 90s for a fantasy team of egos like they have now, you’ll learn a difficult lesson. Boston will learn, too.

My original point is that people like Cashman, Epstein and Minaya get a bit too much credit, imho, because they don’t have constraints. There’s no roster manipulation. There’s no juggling. There’s trading away prospects for big names.

I just realized I sound like N8. I quit.

Davies should start only vs. the Mets.

Can I get an Andruw ‘out avoidance’ blog now? It’s been too long. I’m shaking.

By serbok

May 22, 2007 9:48 PM | Link to this

Savannah Guy monkey story is true

By The Grinch

May 22, 2007 9:49 PM | Link to this

Watch Cox bring Davies out for the 9th…

By Dan

May 22, 2007 9:52 PM | Link to this

Where are No Balls Zone and Metrosexual Man now? Probably crying in their Zimas. 5 out of 7 beeyatch.

By Mark Well Fedman

May 22, 2007 9:52 PM | Link to this

CUT PETE ORR!

By eric the elder

May 22, 2007 9:53 PM | Link to this

This is the kind of thing that drives me crazy about our fans. If they had been paying attention, they surely had to have known that Davies was done at the end of the 8th. Yet he got nothing from them as he left the field. Red Sox fans would have been on their feet with a loud, standing O.

By JasonInMaine

May 22, 2007 9:56 PM | Link to this

Hiw many does wick give up?

By Gil In Mechanicsville

May 22, 2007 9:58 PM | Link to this

Wickman looks pretty good tonight, maybe he can coach Paronto back to respectability.

By Gustopher

May 22, 2007 10:01 PM | Link to this

Great Blog CR. Why does Willie wear a batting helmet with both ear flaps?

By TennesseePaul

May 22, 2007 10:03 PM | Link to this

No Davies in the 9th. Everything just works so much better with Redman off the team.

GO BRAVES!!!

By JasonInMaine

May 22, 2007 10:03 PM | Link to this

Eric, I was thinking the same thing!!!

By Savannah Guy

May 22, 2007 10:06 PM | Link to this

Tonights game was a benchmark and a fire starter. Davies raised the 3-4-5th starter bar…Wick looks pretty good. Soriano’s always mean. AJ earned some confidence. Now lets get Gonzo back and get on a serious run. Success breeds success.

By joebrave

May 22, 2007 10:11 PM | Link to this

Well what a wonderful thing we have working here,No redundant bleatings from Minaya’s lost sheep,man the silence is ear-soothing..

Nice win tonight one can only hope this is the real Kyle Davies… and did you see those two shriveled up monkey penises named Carlos,in the 9th,man did they look whipped….

Tomorrow I predict Braves 6 Mutts 2…

By journalist jimmy smith

May 22, 2007 10:11 PM | Link to this

oh, the humanity! no one can tell what chipper hurt on that play! is it the thumb? did chipper throw a shoe? did chipper see a pretty girl in the stands? gotta keep that bat in the lineup. hope chipper heals fast. and wicky, has that chaw working tonight. did not see wicky throw it on the field, though.

By Gil In Mechanicsville

May 22, 2007 10:14 PM | Link to this

Okay…. Nice start for the homestand. Good pitching, timely hitting, good defense, yep… And nary a Mutts fan in sight. Life is good. Have a good night folks. Time for the news…

By Greg in TN

May 22, 2007 10:15 PM | Link to this

Nice night at the Ted.

Can’t say enough about the game turned in by Davies tonight. He had a superb curve tonight and hit the corners well. Very encouraging game.

Good nights at the dish from KJ, B-Mac, AJ. Does Kyle Davies get moved up in the order now?

In all seriousness, we needed to get this short homestand off on a good note after the last road swing we went through. Mission accomplished. Let’s build on this folks.

By joebrave

May 22, 2007 10:15 PM | Link to this

Savannah guy,No Steinbrenner did not sign the first free agent,It was actually our very Own Ted Turner who started all the bidding wars,by signing Andy Messersmith,He was the first free agent… So no king George is not guilty of that one!!!!

By Braveheart

May 22, 2007 10:20 PM | Link to this

5 wins, 2 losses. 5 wins, 2 losses.

Magic number is 120!

The Wannabepolitans go down once again to Los Bravos.

They lost to Kyle Davies. They lost to Kyle Davies. Actually, they got owned by Kyle Davies. Great pitching and a homer. Kyle Davies, Mets fans?!?!?!?!? Kyle Davies?!?!?!? Ha-Ha! Jorge Sosa was what you threw at us?!?!?!?!? You cannot be serious.

It’s over Mets fans. Pop in some Mazzy Star as you Fade Away. Pop in some old Kevin McHale tapes if you want to know what a fadeaway is supposed to look.

By crimedogrules

May 22, 2007 10:23 PM | Link to this

Winning is great, you know…

Like its so much better than losing

By N8

May 22, 2007 10:23 PM | Link to this

MBATL

“Well, N8, long as you’re not looking for negatives on a positive night…”

LOL! I’ll assume you’re talking about me commenting on KJ not picking up Snitker (sp?) at 3B. I wasn’t b!tching. Just commenting. I believe I did follow it up by saying “a triple is a triple”. I didn’t call him (KJ) any names, or say how worthless he is.

So (sticking tongue out at you)!!! Just kidding.

Since you’re accusing me of being a Debbie Downer, when I wasn’t being one, how come is it that we’re supposed to get all excited about the hitting of Andruw, against a bum like Jorge Sosa, the KING of the hanging slider?

That being said, tonight was a very nice night for Kyle Davies. He needed it. The Braves needed it, and most of all….WE needed it. And I’m not talking about his HR.

By Lew

May 22, 2007 10:24 PM | Link to this

JoeBrave-Dude,was that a satisfying win, or what? Might shut the Mets fans up for a minute or two.

By Efrim

May 22, 2007 10:36 PM | Link to this

Nice win.

Lets keep it going tomorrow. Oliver Perez has owned us. Lets hit him hard tomorrow night and give Chuck some run support.

By crimedogrules

May 22, 2007 10:37 PM | Link to this

2 for 3 with 0 K’s Thanks AJ

By MEB

May 22, 2007 10:38 PM | Link to this

Has anyone thought to check on Micky Dolenz and the boys. Oh, the humanity!

This was a big game tonight and the Braves really looked good. I hope the Mets don’t figure out that we infiltrated their lineup with Sosa until late October.

Need another good start from Chucky tomorrow and then bring on Glavine vs. Smoltz again on Thursday.

By Mike in 'Fretta

May 22, 2007 10:40 PM | Link to this

It never fails, for the past 2 days this blog has been infested with Mutts fans…and once again when the Braves put a beating on them they scurry away like a bunch of nasty old cockroaches.

NCZ, Metrosexual Man you are biggest blog losers on the planet. You dumb sumbitches if you are gonna invade our blog and talk smack about how great your team is at least have the ballz to blog when you get your AZZES handed to you! Pathetic Losers!

By Savannah Guy

May 22, 2007 10:42 PM | Link to this

joebrave…I got your message but I think you got the wrong number…I never called about your reply subject. That’s ok. Bravos win. Life is good.

By gotigers72

May 22, 2007 10:44 PM | Link to this

Way to go Andruw!!! A single up the middle for a ribbie. You stayed in on that pitch, stayed closed and hit the ball where it was pitched. Good job. The double you hit later was pulled, but it should have been, it was on the inner half. Keep learning, get out of this funk you’ve been in.

Way to go Kyle!!! 1 run and 4 hits and a 3 run big fly. Looks like your head may be catching up with the tremendous stuff you have. Loved the way you threw a lot of curves tonight and had command of your fastball. Kept the ball down most of the night and “trusted your stuff”. Keep it up, the Braves need you to step up and show that tremendous arm off. Just use your head too.

By Scalp 'Em Braves

May 22, 2007 10:49 PM | Link to this

At least two weeks since I have posted. Yes, I know, nobody missed me. Been busy making a living, taking care of business, etc. But have been reading DOB and Carroll’s posts along the way. News coverage of the Braves in the paper stinks. This is the FONT of Braves knowledge.

Good to see Sosa show his true colors tonight - anybody here think we had made a mistake letting Senior Stink go mid season last year? Not me, despite his 3-0 record up to this point. It was only a matter of time, and GAWD it was good seeing the Braves expose this imposter.

Redman is gone - thank goodness - and Craig Wilson too. Both good guys, I am sure - but when they are not only failing to add anything to the club, but dragging it down, something had to give.

SALTALAMANIA has subsided - but, his pinch hit double the other night was gold. Will be interesting to see what happens when Pena can think straight again, and forget about getting conked on the head - poor guy - this is a Johnny Estrada moment - hope Bryan comes back to full form.

Great outing by Davies tonight - we all wish he could be this good, every time out - consistency is important - sure could use him in the 4 spot pitching like this for the rest of the year.

Baby Huey hitting clean up and Druw hitting 6th is working out - hope Bobby leaves it that way for a while - let’s see what happens.

Chipper is stil the man - guy is a gamer, and still has it at the plate. Go get ‘em Hoss.

At worst, we will finish this series with a 5-4 lead over the Muts for the year until we see them in August. A good advantage, psychologically. But, I think we will win this series, if not sweep. Smoltz is going for 200 against TommyBoy - would give anything to be in the Ted that night, but won’t happen for me. OlPer is due for a meltdown against us - I predict the broom comes out in this series, and we take the division lead.

We get to play some Central Division weenies next. Here’s hoping the Muts don’t get the lower division dregs, and that we don’t play down to the lever of our competion as we did against the Gnats and the Bucs.

Back to work and making a living. Grinch, I’m going to get to, you know, soon, as soon as I drain this swamp and find somebody to kill all these gators.

By joebrave

May 22, 2007 10:57 PM | Link to this

Sorry Savannah guy it was Gil I was responding to,my bad but He!! yeah! what a sweet night… Lew you feelin better bro.btw dud I’m in Dalton,Ga. so i know what hot is…..want some Grits I’ll send ya some….

By meansonny

May 22, 2007 10:57 PM | Link to this

Great all around game by the Braves.

The only thing I hope they work on (for the post-season’s sake) is turning the double-play. We’ve let too many of those opportunities slip away the past week.

We won’t be able to afford giving teams extra outs in the playoffs (We’re going to make the playoffs with the team we have now).

Go get ‘em Hubbard. Make em practise till it’s automatic for the people.

Sorry for being the Doggie Downer. This really was an excellent outing all-around. I’m just keeping my eye on the prize.

By MBATL

May 22, 2007 10:58 PM | Link to this

N8, no big deal, of course. You do tend to find the negative, but that’s okay. I tend to find too much positive and am often proved wrong…

Scalp em, Great outing by Davies tonight - we all wish he could be this good, every time out - consistency is important - sure could use him in the 4 spot pitching like this for the rest of the year.

God, of course we wish our number 4 starter could hold the best offense in the league to one run in 8 innings … but that’s not realistic. What you expect from a #4 is to keep you in most games, give a chance to win. If Davies keeps pitching like he has in May, he’s a #2, not a 4.

By Don Imus

May 22, 2007 11:04 PM | Link to this

Even though the Braves have been in a little slump lately i love this team. If Mr. Selfish would join the party we could really do some damage, but you cannot afford to have Dave Kingman Jr. batting cleanup. Great job tonite by Kyle Davies. He could turn into a quality #4 man if he keeps his head screwed on right. Anyway good win tonight. We are definitely not scared of the mets and their payroll. If we just play solid and hard we can beat them.

By Efrim

May 22, 2007 11:07 PM | Link to this

I gotta think we can hit Oliver tomorrow night right???

Lineup:

LF Diaz SS Renteria 3B Jones RF Francouer CF Jones C Saltalamacchia 2B Woodward 1B Thorman

I hope Salty comes up big tomorrow night.

Biggest thing about facing Oliver…

Take some pitches. Work the count. I was at the last game we faced him at Shea. I know he was on point, but it would of been nice to foul SOME pitches off and force his pitch count up a little.

By HP

May 22, 2007 11:08 PM | Link to this

Where are the mets fans now!!!! I forgot they only appear when the Braves lose or the Mets Win.

By Drummerdad

May 22, 2007 11:11 PM | Link to this

Does anybody know the status of Tanyon Sturtze? I thought we would be seeing him by now. Maybe the lovely Carroll Rogers could inform us.

By Jimbo

May 22, 2007 11:28 PM | Link to this

illinibrave

Being from Illinois I figured you would miss my point. DOB knows enough to give us an opinion without burying us in stats to “prove” his point. For example: He can tell us that Fathead Jones is in a alump with 9 million meaningless stats to prove it. He should tell us what he thinks about it. What does his teammates think about Fathead kiling them? What is BC thinking or doing about it? It’s called analysys. Trusting your judgement. Carroll made several great points with a minimum use of stats. Maybe I’m expecting DOB to be a columnist instead of a beat writer. That’s not fair to him I admit, but I crave some real opinions, observations, and impressions instead of stats and song lyrics. I’m sure you know you can use stats to make any point in baseball. Wait I guess you don’t.

By Mets Suck

May 22, 2007 11:33 PM | Link to this

7 games. 5 wins. What about that Mets? Did our pitcher get his first hit of the year and plant it over the 400’ marker in dead center? BRAVES OWN THE METS! Get out the brooms cause it’s going to be a sweep.

By Boys in Blue

May 22, 2007 11:39 PM | Link to this

Carroll

Who exactly are the boys in blue? The umpires?

By journalist jimmy smith

May 23, 2007 12:21 AM | Link to this

a statue is being erected of ernie banks at wrigley field. why not atlanta? the ted could use some more statues. what? oh, a cub. well, let the cubs keep the ernie banks statue and the braves can get a few of their own statues. now, let’s see … how about bobby cox? and what would the statue be doing? can have a statue like that? and how about homeboy upstairs with some nice stone suspenders? and what of the journalists who cover this team? is there a dob statue in the braves future? and what would this statue be doing? eating cheese? and why are there no more reports of journalists eating cheese at the ballpark? is it because carroll rogers does not like cheese? are they now serving carrots and celery sticks instead of cans of cheese? oh, the humanity! and fishing, why don’t more of these players go fishin’? why all the huntin’? can’t shoot a fish, that’s why. and high powered weapons … bad on the thumbs. and will laroche be invited back to the double dime this year? think laroche can find it again? and where are the bobbleheads this year? will wicky have a bobblehead? and won’t the wicky bobblehead be a little bottom-heavy? so many questions.

By TheSouthernJackAss

May 23, 2007 12:24 AM | Link to this

joebrave—I gotta agree with you on that one—two shriveled up monkey penises would be ‘hard to beat’!…even for a Metropolitan…TheSouthernJackAss sure would like some to try some of those ‘grits’!…

I see the Braves finally got their moneys worth out of Jorge Sosa tonight…sure as $hit didn’t when he wore a Braves uni…

Draining the swamp, bet the little woman just loves that terminology…

By meansonny

May 23, 2007 12:35 AM | Link to this

Efrim,

Not a bad lineup. Sad to say, but I pondered this question for quite a bit today.

I didn’t think of Diaz at the #1. But it’s not bad.

I took a look at Kelly’s production against lefty’s, and he’s actually hitting .080 higher AVG and almost .200 higher OPS than when he faces right-handers. That said, he’s 0 for 4 with 4K’s versus Oliver Perez. So, Woodward is probably the best offensive and defensive opportunity for us at 2B.

I was thinking McCann at C and Salty at 1B. Salty’s probably not ready defensively. But I think the position we need to upgrade the most is our 1B offensive production against Lefty’s.

Anyways, we only need to score 1 more run than the other team. Hopefully, we can keep the offense rolling tomorrow with lots of production from the right-handers (Edgar, Chipper, Diaz, & Frenchy)

By Carroll Rogers

May 23, 2007 12:37 AM | Link to this

good question, boys in blue. i didn’t write the headline and i did a bit of a double take too. the braves are occasionally boys in red but not so much on the blue, unless you’re talking bp jerseys, eh? but i won’t get on the desk folks bout that, they were nice enough to fix my spelling of mike pelfrey, so i wouldn’t look bad to no chop.

as for you, DonCoburleone, i’d probably better take the fifth. though i will say - because it’s just a fact of life - that mike mussina is not at all bad to look at.

and turnin2, speak up next time at the airport, eh? didn’t know i had a blog correspondent on the pittsburgh trip. I could have used your help. I’m not all that sure how you knew who i was. Must have been all the Braves knowledge i was radiating. No? Must have been the AJC business card i use for a luggage tag then.

later….

By Wayne in Utah (temporarily in So Cal)

May 23, 2007 12:45 AM | Link to this

Hello gang! Great game tonight with “Slugger Davies” getting it right in more ways than one way. Also, goodbye and good luck to Mark Redman. It was a good idea in the beginning, but you just didn’t have it.

I hope Devine gets a couple of innings to prove himself this week. If he does, I could foresee McBride or Villarreal getting a chance at the #5 spot. I like what I am seeing of Davies lately.

Could this be the end of the Andruw Jones slump?? If so, I BARELY got the “Ballad” in before he woke up. Could it be that he reads the blog????? NAH….

Stuck out here in California and my work days go to 9-10pm here, so can’t get on earlier to converse and/or argue with my friends.

Long time no talk, Carroll Thanks to your plug I am getting an original Lew “Dale Murphy” which I am greatly excited about.

flbravesgirl glad you liked the ballad last night. I don’t think too many saw it. If Andruw puts on another oh-fer, maybe I will repost it.

By IlliniBrave

May 23, 2007 12:51 AM | Link to this

Jimbo:

Yeah, guess your right. I’m a simpleton. Yeah, and my state’s education system isn’t continually rated in the bottom 5 of the 50 states. I guess my Ph.D. which included a minor in research methods and statistics was worthless. Probably all a sham. Oh, just so I have a better understanding of your argument, I went and looked up that word you used - what was it, oh yeah, ANALYSIS:

noun (pl. analyses /naliseez/) 1 a detailed examination of the elements or structure of something. 2 the separation of something into its constituent elements.

Fact is, this is what statistics does - it’s an analytical tool. What you described as analysis [“giving your opinion” “telling what you think” “trusting your judgement”] is actually known as CONJECTURE.

I wasn’t trying to dis you or be a smartass. I was actually just respectfully disagreeing with you. But your rude, misinformed response sadly shows your ignorance.

By Lew

May 23, 2007 1:04 AM | Link to this

JoeBrave-I’m doing better. Grinch and Jimmy Smith have been sending me grits and black eye peas, so I’m in pretty good shape. Thanks, though.

By Ron

May 23, 2007 1:06 AM | Link to this

N8, Dude yes we should be excited about Andruw tonight, did you watch the game, he totally changed his Stance!!! If he did not change his stance I would not have thought much of anything, but he did change his stance, and I think the Slump might be over!!! If anybody here thinks that we will even have a Chance at winning the World Championship this year we have to have Andruw Producing, if not we probably wont even make the playoffs without him!!!

By your phreaking daddy

May 23, 2007 1:56 AM | Link to this

NO, I’M FIRST

By joebrave

May 23, 2007 2:17 AM | Link to this

Lew how bout some collards,and maters?

By fastasballs

May 23, 2007 2:24 AM | Link to this

If Andruw stays with the stance & is looking to take a few pitches the other way 4-5 games from now then I will buy into he maybe he’s “getting it”. Remember the series with the Pad’s? He changed his stance a bit, had a few clutch hits to right and went right back to his “standing dump” stance.

Regardless hitting 6th takes some pressure off him so maybe he will come around. I always thought he produced well for the 5th & 6th hole, he’s only hit clean up for a few years.

McCann is swinging it again & Frenchy has done a complete 180 from last year. So when Salty is in I assume Frenchy moves to clean up & Salty bats 5th?

Great moves this week as well, no more Redman (thank God) & Wilson. JS is setting up for some moves, just waiting to see how the pitching shakes out I assume. Wouldn’t the Mets just crap themselves if Liberty pumped in another 10 mil later in the year, doubt it occurs though.

If Chuckie can find his groove tomorrow night they should be in fine shape. Even in games he pitches half decent he throws 100 pitches in 5 innings. The good thing is the entire pen has had 2 days off except for Wickman.

They will get to Perez if they stay patient. They battered Sosa tonight & for some reason that just baffled Muts fans. We had a ring side seat for the Sosa show last year.

By GiveUpNow

May 23, 2007 2:32 AM | Link to this

BRAVES BLOW BALLZ. METS RULE. BRAVES WON’T WIN ANOTHER GAME ALL YEAR. YOU GUYS ARE JUST HOPING YOU CAN BRING BACK GOOD PLAYERS LIKE, MADDUX, GLAVINE, SHEFEILD, AND SOON TO BE ANDRUW JONES. WONDER HOW BAD YOUR PITCHING STAFF WILL LOOKM WITHOUT HIM NEXT YEAR? LOOKS LIKE ITS ALL DOWN HILL FROM HERE. ENJOY WHAT LITTLE RESPECT YOUR GETTING THIS YEAR CAUSE WHEN LIBERTY CUTS PAYROLL AND YOU LOSE PERENIAL GOLD GLOVER JONES TO THE METS AFTER THE SEASON YOU CAN KISS YOUR AZZES GOODBYE.

By serbok

May 23, 2007 2:36 AM | Link to this

last !

By bryan

May 23, 2007 2:41 AM | Link to this

Man it took a mets fan this long to make a post? I guess making a post this late when most people aren’t on makes you feel big

By meansonny

May 23, 2007 2:41 AM | Link to this

Good post fastasballs.

I’m a little concerned that the patience with Perez may be counterproductive. He put us behind in a lot of counts the last few times we’ve faced him by flat out throwing strikes. Then, he’d go out of the zone when we’re trying to defend the outside part of the plate.

Normally (like today), I’m all about patience. But if the guys going to put the ball in the K zone the first 2 of 3 pitches, then we need to be a little more free swinging.

If he’s on, then we need to be hacking.

By meansonny

May 23, 2007 2:46 AM | Link to this

Regarding Frenchy and McCann in the #4 spot. I think it’s a win/win situation whomever is there. They both can handle it.

Bobby is obviously letting the pitcher dictate who bats where (Righties get McCann at #4 with Lefties facing Frenchy).

By joebrave

May 23, 2007 3:10 AM | Link to this

Give up now,WHAT THE BLUE HE!! ARE YOU TALKIN ABOUT?Man Easy on the caffeine,and lose the caps,Dude your adderall must have worn off,either that or you are one anally vocal sumbitch,you come on here and you say BLAH

By Spike

May 23, 2007 4:24 AM | Link to this

Don’t know who posed the question about who you would have pitch the last game of the World Series, but the choices were awesome. Certainly ‘85 was Doc Gooden’s year. 24-4, 16 complete games, 1.53 ERA. Seems like the game has changed so much and that wasn’t that long ago. Carlton was a freak. It would be like him pitching for Kansas City today, winning 27 games and posting a 1.93 or so ERA. I think Philly only won 58 games that year. Think about that…unbelieveable. I’m an old school guy, grew up with Koufax and Drysdale as my heroes, but if I had to pick one guy to win the 7th game of the world series it would be Bob Gibson in ‘67. The guy was mean. He wasn’t just intimidating, he scared people. I saw him beat Koufax in Dodger Stadium, Koufax was his usual awesome self, but Gibson was on another planet. It was as if the Dodgers couldn’t wait for the game to be over so they didn’t have to pretend they could hit him, he was that dominating. I know that was a different era, but there have been few who could reach that level. Just as a side….anyone remember JR Richard from Houston? By all accounts he was the worst teammate you could ever have, but there was a period there, however brief, that he was unhittable. I had a friend who pitched for Houston who told me he didn’t think JR had a friend on the entire team, but when he went to the mound sober he was as dominating as anyone around at that time.

By Bravo Nam

May 23, 2007 6:10 AM | Link to this

Kudos to JS

Full credit to JS- made a bad signing with Craig Wilson (should’ve resigned Ward), took responsiblity for it and recently cut him; made a good signing with Redman who didn’t turn out and cut him. I like a man who takes responsibility for his mistakes, good or bad.

Hold on to Salty

Salty’s value is in its infancy stages…he has a mountain of potential…if the Bravos trade him now, they’re not going to get deserved value, and it could come back to bite them on the a*ss. Hold on to him longer- and then either keep the stud or trade him and get real value in return.

By KC

May 23, 2007 6:33 AM | Link to this

Well, there’s some good news for the Braves’ rotation this week!

First and foremost, Redman is gone!!!!!

Second… after Davies start last night, he is 2-1 with a 2.73 ERA over his last 4 starts, and the Braves won 3 of those 4 games.

Is Davies finally starting to come into his own a bit?

As for the 5th starter… my vote (not that I get one) is Oscar Villarreal!!!!

If Davies continues to pitch well, and Villarreal does as well as he did last year in 5 starts, this rotation will be fine. More than fine, in fact.

By KC

May 23, 2007 6:40 AM | Link to this

Bravo Nam: “Salty’s value is in its infancy stages…he has a mountain of potential…if the Bravos trade him now, they’re not going to get deserved value”

I don’t think you have to worry. The only way they would trade Salty would be as part of a package for a good, affordable starter. If his trade value isn’t extremely high right now… they’re simply not going to part with him.

They’re certainly not going to trade him just to trade him. It’s not like they’re in a “We’d better get something out of him while we can” mode.

If there’s a good, affordable #3 starter out there that the Braves could keep beyond just this season… Salty may be gone. If not, he’s not going anywhere.

By joebrave

May 23, 2007 6:56 AM | Link to this

Give up, stop man than sh1t breath coming from your diharrea hole you call a mouth is killing us… your a little tiny whiny punk with a mouthful of peckersqueezins,I told you you couldn’t beat us with that pair of monkey penises and David Wright man does that head need a condom or what!!!!

By Ron Roberts

May 23, 2007 7:12 AM | Link to this

Look it up… I called Kyle Davies’ as being back in the last DOB blog. Folks, that’s his fourth consecutive good start, in my opinion, and his third out of the last four starts are quality starts. Heck, aside fom Smoltz, he’s suddenly our most consistent starter!!! Freaky, eh? And damn, did he just look more confident last night, too? He made me feel confident about him on the hill last night.

Getting that kid right is of huge importance to the Braves. If he’s legit, and Huddy and Smoltz can continue what they’re doing and we get (I’m) Chuck James (B!tch!) on track, then the Mets are in for a season-long race and we can do no worse than grab the wild card.

Efrim made a solid point, earlier, too. If the Braves make Oliver Perez actually pitch a little bit, he’s completely beatable. They have to work deeper into the count w/him.

KC, I’m down with Oscar Villareal as the fifth starter - if and only if Lance Cormier can’t recover, and all indications are Lance pitched without pain the other night.

It’s more important to note that he got through the 2-inning stint painless than what he did, performance-wise, at this rate.

Hell, if we get the Lance Cormier we saw in spring training back, this is gonna be one hell of a pennant race, folks!

By meansonny

May 23, 2007 7:52 AM | Link to this

I could very well be wrong. It’s happened in the past.

But we’ve taken the patient approach with Oliver Perez, Jason Bergman, Rich Hill, Scott Olsen, & Cole Hamels. At the end of the game we’re saying, “Oh, we have to tip our cap to the pitcher.” At some point in the 2nd or 3rd inning, we could’ve realized that the pitchers approach was to go after us with strikes. Because of their youth, I think the patient approach against most of those pitchers is the way to go.

But against Oliver Perez, I think we need to be looking for strikes early in the count and trying to put good wood on the ball.

His first start, he went 7 innings without a walk against us.

His second start, 1-2 count to Kelly (2 called strikes). 0-2 count to Chipper (2 called strikes). 0-2 count to Kelly again in the 3rd (2 called strikes)

He ended up throwing first pitch strikes to 22 batters faced. 13 of those were taken by the Braves.

He finished the game with 9 strikeouts and 0 walks

By David

May 23, 2007 8:09 AM | Link to this

N8, Carroll, you forgot the Crime Dog.

By JasonInMaine

May 23, 2007 8:10 AM | Link to this

Kyle seemed like a different pitcher after he got Delgado to ground into that double play in the 1st. That was freakin’ huge! I have to admit; he looked different last night. He seems to to really confident. Wow, if he can pitch like that consistently…

By meansonny

May 23, 2007 8:17 AM | Link to this

I’m just saying that Oliver Perez has an approach, and I don’t expect him to mess with what has brought him success.

He’s going to mix his pitches (off-speed and fast balls), but he’s going to keep most of them around the plate early in the count.

Francouer & Diaz have had success against pitchers who throw strikes early in the count. I think tonight would be a good time for Kelly, Chipper, Andruw, & McCann to keep an eye for something off-speed and over the middle of the plate early. Hopefully, we can make him pay for his aggressiveness.

Screw me once, shame on you. Screw me twice, shame on you. If you keep me behind in the count all game for a third time, shame on TP.

By Shaun

May 23, 2007 8:43 AM | Link to this

Why would part of your criteria be that the guy ranks high in a stat you don’t trust? And as JiM pointed out, the criteria was a pitcher on his game. With Ryan’s 7 no-hitters, on his game is likely to be a no-hitter. It’s not a bad choice. PLUS, if the game gets hot and contested and the opposition charges the mound, Nolan is going to put the smack down again and still not get tossed from the game.

TennPaul,

I didn’t say I didn’t trust Adjusted ERA+. I said it wasn’t everything.

I think you get a better chance at having a pitcher “on his game” with another guy (like Walter Johnson or Roger Clemens or Pedro if you have a good bullpen).

With Nolan Ryan you’re likely to see a lot of walks, maybe a few hit batsmen, and if he allows only a hit or two, your team could be down 3-0, 4-0, 5-0 really quick.

I didn’t say Ryan was a bad choice, I’d just rather have some other pitcher. I think most agree Ryan’s not the best pitcher in history. I’d rather have the best pitcher in history on the mound in a game I had to win.

By Paul Hamilton

May 23, 2007 8:53 AM | Link to this

Someone was talking about how we have only signed 3 big name free agents since JS was running the show. The key word is “signed”, taking on big time free agents in a “trade” have keyed several Braves seasons. This is also taking on money, which is where the payroll comes into play again. We picked up Fred McGriff in his prime and he helped the Braves blaze a trail to the postseason. We also traded for JD Drew, who played a great 1 year for us, Sheffield, Renteria, Hudson. The point of your argument doesn’t take any of that into effect, and it’s a huge piece of the puzzle. It works out better financially to trade for someone now than to try to outbid the Redsox and Yankees.

By N8

May 23, 2007 8:54 AM | Link to this

David…..exactly what did I forget about the Crime Dog?

We TRADED for McGriff in the middle of the 1993 season. Then extended his contract.

By MEB

May 23, 2007 8:59 AM | Link to this

Did you all see Kyle’s post game comment?

“When a pitcher gets a hit at this level, it’s not luck,” said Davies, whose only two hits since the beginning of last year account for his two career homers. “But it’s kind of luck. If he’d have thrown me anywhere but right where I was swinging, I’d have probably missed it.”

LMAO!!! Kind of like the golf announcer who says “if he wouldn’t have left the ball short it would have gone in.”

Great interview with John Smoltz on the Mike and Mike show this morning. John really is a class guy!

By Lee

May 23, 2007 9:09 AM | Link to this

So long and good riddance Mr. Redman and thanks for nothing. Don’t know what sounds better ……… Redman gone or Braves beat Mets.

Mets fans saw the real Sosa pitch last night. Get prepared and ready because once he gets on a roll there is no stopping him. Stopping him from losing that is.

If the Braves played the Mets every game this season they would run away with the Division crown. Perez does scare me tonight but the Braves hitters are starting to come around again. The only thing that bothers me is they score runs in bunches and then go sour in the next game or 2. If we could score enough to beat Perez and the Mets tonight, I believe that would really keep the bats alive for a while.

By AthensBrave

May 23, 2007 9:11 AM | Link to this

Where are the Mets fans this morning? Great start to the series….that was a very important game last night. If we win this series, we’ll be in their heads for sure. Why do ya’ll think O.Perez has so much success against us? I hope C. James brings his A game tonight.

By Shaun

May 23, 2007 9:18 AM | Link to this

Regarding the +- ERA stat… How hard is it to get a very favorable lifetime ERA over a career when the league average ERA is 3.57. Span that career over 27 seasons? Anything negative is awesome. -0.38 with a career 3.19ERA?

I’m not denying Ryan was a great pitcher, Hall of Famer, etc. But Pedro’s career ERA was 1.68 runs below the league average. Clemens: 1.36 below.

If a negative ERA is what you like, there are better options than Ryan.

And Shawn, you mentioned Nolan Ryan. Granted, he walked a ton of folks, but ERA is what counts,(career 3.19) he got into and out of trouble.

See above. Ryan was obviously impressive but there were other pitchers who dominated more, if ERA is your criterion.

And, he suffered the way Roger Clemens did with the Astros, complete lack of run support. Look at the season Nolan had at the age of 40. 211 innings, only 154 hits, 270 strikeouts and 87 walks. 2.76 ERA. So, how many games did he win? 8!!!! Lost 16!!!! On just about any other team, he’d have won 20 games. Next year, 12-11 with a 3.52 ERA. He got no run support for most of his career except for when he played with the Rangers, and even that wasn’t all that good.

I don’t deny Ryan played for some bad teams and often didn’t get run support. But also, look at the years where his ERA was above league average. His wins were still in the double digits.

Pick just about any year of his career. age 25 with the Angels. 39 games started, completed 20!!! ERA of 2.28. 19-16, 3 games above .500. Was that his fault?? He never had a season with an ERA higher than 4.00 in a season which he started more than 13 games. 222 complete games, about 100 more than Clemens, or Maddux(granted, Ryan pitched part of his career in a more compete game friendly time) Plus, Ryan threw really hard, which is totally cool! ;)

Ryan was really cool. I wouldn’t mind trading places with him during his prime. But I’m just saying that like most I don’t think he was among the ten greatest pitchers ever. I’d rather have one of the ten greatest pitchers ever starting an important game.

Remember the question, what pitcher would you want at the top of his game. Nolan Ryan was a wild as hell thrower in his youth, which effected his bb/game and era. As he aged and matured, he became a masterfull/ dominating pitcher. Nolan in his prime, compared to Clemens, is like comparing the closers John Smoltz and Dan Kolb

Ryan finished in the top eight in walks almost every year from 1970 to 1989. At age 30 and after he led the league 4 times and finished in the top six 11 times in 14 seasons. He also led the league in wild pitches five times after age 30 (including his age 42 seasons. He wasn’t just wild in his youth.

Again, I think Ryan was great, a HOFer, in spite of his wildness but Clemens may be the greatest living pitcher.

(Not trying to be a smart a** but it’s fun to discuss historical baseball arguments.)

By Headlines

May 23, 2007 9:23 AM | Link to this

This is the biggest set of overpaid losers that money can buy. Leave town already.

By Shaun

May 23, 2007 9:23 AM | Link to this

Someone was talking about how we have only signed 3 big name free agents since JS was running the show.

Probably because Schuerholz is smarter than a lot of those other suckers who think they can improve their team by signing players who are more than likely past their prime (like most players by the time they reach free agency).

By UGASHOUSE

May 23, 2007 9:27 AM | Link to this

Dudley oh Dudley where did you go …Probably crawed back into sewer.. Braves beat down your big city mets… I believe it’s 5 out of 7 games..now..!!! DOORMATS..!!!!! It does not matter where they play Turner, Shea, a sandlot they will always be able to get in your heads up there in New Yuck City…Last year was a FLUKE…!!!!!

By Coach

May 23, 2007 9:28 AM | Link to this

Amazing what happens when Andruw starts making adjustments in the batters box , isn’t it ? Davies HR was impressive but Thorman’s was a bomb , that kid has dynamite in his bat. Does it really surprise anybody that Davies is settling in ? Not this fan. We have four dependable starters and just maybe Cormier can get healthy , stay healthy and fill that fifth spot. We seem to have the Mets number , don’t we ? LOL ! Bye bye Mark Redman , you might want to consider a career change , seriously.

By DirtyDawg

May 23, 2007 9:33 AM | Link to this

Just remember, the other - and real - name for Met fans living in Atlanta, is ‘carpetbaggin sons-a-b**es’…in case you were wondering.

By NO CHOP ZONE

May 23, 2007 9:35 AM | Link to this

Sosa pitched his worst game since being called up. He seemed to unravel after francoures hit which wasn’t a bad pitch. It also seems like davies does his best pitching against the Mets. Oh well, It looks like the braves get up to play the Mets. No where is it written the Mets have to win the season series to win the division. They’re still up 1 1/2 and need to win one of the next 2 to keep it that way. I said that I’d be here win or lose. 3 reasons I am confident the Mets will win the division. 1. Pedro will be back by the end of July 2. Delgado won’t stay in a slump all year witch will force pitchers to pitch to Beltran 3. Minaya will make a trade to correct any weekness that exists by the trading deadline. GO METS!!!!

By AthensBrave

May 23, 2007 9:39 AM | Link to this

Shaun QUIT SCANNING OLD POSTS SO YOU CAN TALK STATS. YOU ARE A HEADACHE

By Mitchie-san

May 23, 2007 9:39 AM | Link to this

I had to chime in about Redman being gone…. Dreams can really come true!

By Gil in Mechanicsville

May 23, 2007 9:41 AM | Link to this

Best pitcher???? Wow, the one thing people should take into consideration is many never saw some of the best pitchers ever to play. You would have to divide it into eras as the type of players and strategy used has changed so much over the years.

The lowering of the mound is one factor that has skewed stats. Having said that, Koufax, Gibson, Charlton, Feller, Drysdale and even Smoltz could be a great pick for the money game.

ps to joebrave I did not comment on who started the free agent frenzy, only stated that Steinbrenner was a big proponent of spending to buy established stars. What he has not seemed to realize is money is no guarantee to win. A fool and his money is soon parted and some part with it sooner than others.

One problem many people have is equating cost with value. Good example throwing millions at a so so pitcher and thinking it will make him a 20 game winner. Look at the Yankees roster for many examples. Heck, aren’t the Braves still paying Len Barker?

By UGASHOUSE

May 23, 2007 9:41 AM | Link to this

Thank’s D-DAWG…I LIKE IT….!!!!!

By Matthew, Dad to Walter

May 23, 2007 9:44 AM | Link to this

Good morning blogophiles!

Several things about which to comment, before launching into my 5th to last day as an 8th grade history teacher.

1. JJS The announcers said last night that when Chipper dove, he busted a belt buckle. Nothing serious, at least from what I gathered. But if anyone could go on the DL with a broken belt buckle…

2. Kyle Davies The homer was icing on the cake. Several of you have mentioned that he seemed more confident last night. I noticed that he was not taking very long to make his pitches. In other words, almost as soon as BMac got the ball to him he was set and ready to go again. Perhaps that had something to do with it, maybe throwing the ball that early kept him from getting nervous?

3. MET fans congratulations on having a very good team. If your team played in any other division, I’d have no trouble admiring them. And if their fans weren’t so obnoxious, I might still be able at least to appreciate what they have put together. However, my experience with most Met fans is that they are insufferably arrogant, dreaming of having the Yankee WS championships and, in a sense, borrowing some of the Yankee mystique in an attempt to legitimize themselves as a historically dominant team. Your World Series title in 1986 is a great thing to look back on-don’t feel like you have to borrow Yankee pinstripes, NY Giants logos, or stealing Yankee theme songs to be a good team. Build your own identity, and do it with class, following the Braves’ model. And while we’re at it, I think Willie Randolph is a very good manager. If the NY fans will leave him alone, he will build something good there (so please get on his case so that he’ll leave…)

Mark Redman was a good experiment, relatively inexpensive and if he had panned out, would have been an absolute steal. Hope Redman lands on his feet (well, his good one that is…)

I posted yesterday that Jorge Sosa would be reminded who he is, and that happened. Next up is Ollie Perez. Braves, this is Oliver Perez-hit like it!

By meansonny

May 23, 2007 9:45 AM | Link to this

Shaun,

TN Paul was commenting about the lack of purpose for +ERA. If Pedro was pitching during the 27 yr span of Nolan Ryan and had an ERA 1.68 below the league average, he would’ve had a career ERA of 1.89. Pedro is a full run per game off that mark. Nobody is going to blow away career ERA numbers like that over a 27 yr career during Nolan Ryan’s ERA.

If your talking about a players ‘A’ Game. Nolan pitched 61 shutouts. He’s right there with the best pitchers of all time in that category (except for Walter Johnson of course).

By NO CHOP ZONE

May 23, 2007 9:47 AM | Link to this

How one series changes the moods of brave fans here on the blog. Last week after losing 3 of 4 to the Nats, fans were ready to jump off a ledge. Now euphoria fills the blog. Now the braves invented baseball and are the best that ever played. Sooooo much baseball still left(117 games left).

By UGASHOUSE

May 23, 2007 9:48 AM | Link to this

Pedro is no real threat and you know it….!!!!

By journalist jimmy smith

May 23, 2007 9:48 AM | Link to this

lew, jimmy smith has been experimenting with a new heavily concentrated grits. one spoonful of these concentrated grits and some water makes enough grits to feed 3 hungry wickys. this product is not ready to market just yet because jimmy smith has had to throw away every pot that these concentrated grits were cooked in. this is not good economy since the pots cost more than the grits. still, if journalist gets the kinks worked out, one small bag of grits mailed north each year should last lew for the year. and now, if oscar doesn’t feel right since combing oscar’s hair … it is the pomade! pulling a comb through a heavy pomade can cause elbow issues. and if “just doesn’t feel right” means that oscar is not regular, then some of these concentrated grits could be the answer. now, the dead monkey with the plague … a blogger told jimmy smith last night that this is not the proper forum for such a discussion … well, where are we to talk of dead monkeys if not with dob? braves.man-in-black.toes.music.pie.bbq.deadmonkey.blog. and did mccann’s daddy help francoeur over the winter? can dob find out? or maybe carroll? and if mccann’s daddy did work with francoeur can it be revealed without offending terry the hiting coach? and what would mccann’s daddy do with andruw? and mccann looks like a clean-up hitter to this journalist. and three players on the team are tied for most doubles with 14. know who they are? chipper, francoeur, and mccann. this journalist is working on a big story and may have some fish to fry shortly. that is a journalism expression picked up from scribe. more later.

By Shaun

May 23, 2007 9:50 AM | Link to this

I sort of came up with a defensive stat that may be more useful than range factor or zone rating.

Since Range Fractor is (put outs + assists) divided by innings, divide Range Factor by (team balls in play/innings).

This will tell you what percentage of a team’s balls in play a defensive player turns into outs per inning. Compare that to other players playing the same position and I think that will tell you more than pure Range Factor or Zone Rating.

I believe it puts defensive outs made by an individual player into context more.

If a team allows a lot more or a lot less balls in play than other teams, a player’s RF may be skewed. This helps to adjust for that.

There are problems with this. Like most percentage or rate stats, sample size is important; the larger the sample the better. For example, you have a SS who plays two innings and makes 5 outs, he’s going to have an extremely high RF.

Another problem with this is type of pitchers may skew the numbers. A groundball pitcher may increase infielders’ RF. A flyball pitcher may increase outfielders’ RF.

The good thing is there are usually all types of pitchers on major league staffs, so it’s probably not as big a deal as it may seem.

By Ron Roberts

May 23, 2007 9:52 AM | Link to this

NO CHOP…

It’s w-e-a-k-n-e-s-s-e-s.

And you’re right; you don’t have to win the season series to win the division (are you conceding THAT already?… 12 more games head-to-head chum, hang in there!), but if this race is gonna be tight, and I think it will be, it sure would help!

By UGASHOUSE

May 23, 2007 10:02 AM | Link to this

Hey Chopzone..or whatever I will say again out of the 45 games played the Braves have beaten the mets 5 out of seven…as far as the Nationals are concerned they never play them tough not even when they were in that french filled city of Montreal…and if you are going to count on Pedro as a solid winner it’s going to be a long 117 games…..

By journalist jimmy smith

May 23, 2007 10:04 AM | Link to this

matthew, walter should be about ready for a glove by now … please give us a report.

oh, the humanity! a busted belt buckle? the trainer went out for that? journalist supposes the busted belt buckle could have tickled the oblique. what is an oblique, anyway?

now, more serious baseball matters … if prado went shopping in sandy springs and went to the prado would there be confusion? and what lineup surprises are in store for us tonight from bobbycox?

By UGASHOUSE

May 23, 2007 10:09 AM | Link to this

Hey Shaun,

Dont you have a Summer class to get to at Tech….Please keep that stat to yourself….I would rather read directions in Japanese….

By Shaun

May 23, 2007 10:14 AM | Link to this

Gil in Mechanicsville,

You are right, context definitely has to come into play. You can often adjust for context but sometimes the game is just too different in different eras. Baseball was almost a completely different game in Walter Johnson’s era than it is now. It’s like trying to figure out which football player would be the best pitcher.

Sometimes you just have to say things like Walter Johnson was the best pitcher pre-WWII.

It’s kind of like Charles “Old Hoss” Radbourn obviously had the best season in baseball history, in terms of contributing to his team winning, but can you say it was the best baseball season ever? It wasn’t baseball then as we know it now.

I don’t know if overhand pitching was completely legal and how strict the rules were enforced if a pitcher threw sidearmed, etc. To say the game was still evolving would be quite an understatement.

Radbourn started and completed 73 games, threw 678.7 innings and posted a 1.38 ERA in a league with an average ERA of 2.83. Adjusted for league and ballpark, his ERA was over 100 percent better than average.

He also came to the plate 387 times, and while he didn’t do much, he did get 83 hits and walked 26 times.

By Shaun

May 23, 2007 10:14 AM | Link to this

Gil in Mechanicsville,

You are right, context definitely has to come into play. You can often adjust for context but sometimes the game is just too different in different eras. Baseball was almost a completely different game in Walter Johnson’s era than it is now. It’s like trying to figure out which football player would be the best pitcher.

Sometimes you just have to say things like Walter Johnson was the best pitcher pre-WWII.

It’s kind of like Charles “Old Hoss” Radbourn obviously had the best season in baseball history, in terms of contributing to his team winning, but can you say it was the best baseball season ever? It wasn’t baseball then as we know it now.

I don’t know if overhand pitching was completely legal and how strict the rules were enforced if a pitcher threw sidearmed, etc. To say the game was still evolving would be quite an understatement.

Radbourn started and completed 73 games, threw 678.7 innings and posted a 1.38 ERA in a league with an average ERA of 2.83. Adjusted for league and ballpark, his ERA was over 100 percent better than average.

He also came to the plate 387 times, and while he didn’t do much, he did get 83 hits and walked 26 times.

By Shaun

May 23, 2007 10:14 AM | Link to this

Gil in Mechanicsville,

You are right, context definitely has to come into play. You can often adjust for context but sometimes the game is just too different in different eras. Baseball was almost a completely different game in Walter Johnson’s era than it is now. It’s like trying to figure out which football player would be the best pitcher.

Sometimes you just have to say things like Walter Johnson was the best pitcher pre-WWII.

It’s kind of like Charles “Old Hoss” Radbourn obviously had the best season in baseball history, in terms of contributing to his team winning, but can you say it was the best baseball season ever? It wasn’t baseball then as we know it now.

I don’t know if overhand pitching was completely legal and how strict the rules were enforced if a pitcher threw sidearmed, etc. To say the game was still evolving would be quite an understatement.

Radbourn started and completed 73 games, threw 678.7 innings and posted a 1.38 ERA in a league with an average ERA of 2.83. Adjusted for league and ballpark, his ERA was over 100 percent better than average.

He also came to the plate 387 times, and while he didn’t do much, he did get 83 hits and walked 26 times.

By Gil in Mechanicsville

May 23, 2007 10:20 AM | Link to this

More news from the farm

Taken from Richmond Braves news releases.

*”Richmond starter Buddy Carlyle dropped his first decision since the Braves’ season-opener on April 9. He allowed three earned runs in four innings, his shortest outing since the opener. Carlyle fell to 5-2 with a 2.59 ERA on the season. One bright side to his afternoon was that he struck out six Yankee batters and didn’t offer a free pass in the loss.

The Braves will send RHP Trey Hodges (2-2, 2.06 ERA) to the mound on Thursday to battle the Norfolk Tides’ RHP Tim Kester (3-3, 5.40 ERA)”*

Whether or not Trey pitches Thursday will be a big indicator on who will get the call up Saturday.

By ncscoots

May 23, 2007 10:20 AM | Link to this

jjs, I vote for “dead monkey” to be added to the blog dictionary, enjoying a place of honor along with “strap on the leotard”, “clary”, etc. Not sure what an appropriate blog definition might be, as yet, but we’ll come up with something. Just want to make sure we get plenty of “dead monkey” mentions in the future, LOL…

By NO CHOP ZONE

May 23, 2007 10:24 AM | Link to this

Ron Roberts…..I’m not conceding anything right now. It’s just obvious that the braves get a woody going whenever they play the Mets and I don’t think the Mets get that up for the series. That’s just my opinion. As for UGA’S comment about Pedro. Not only do I think he’ll be back and contribute. I think he’ll give the Mets as a whole a big lift. Lets not overlook Mota, Sanchez, and Valentin coming back as well. I said it after you guys lost 3 of 4 to the Nats and I’ll say it again…..There’s lots of baseball left.

By UGASHOUSE

May 23, 2007 10:25 AM | Link to this

Fellas,

is this a blog or an enineering class….??? Lets get back to the Braves….

By ernesto

May 23, 2007 10:28 AM | Link to this

For all Mets fans who think what they saw from Sosa last night was an aberration…ummm, yeah, it was. Stick with that guy. He doesn’t have million dollar head/.10 head syndrome. He’s a stud. Just ride out this one rough outing.

Seriously.

By Shaun

May 23, 2007 10:29 AM | Link to this

Sorry for the triple post. Computer did something funky. Wasn’t on purpose.

By Lew

May 23, 2007 10:29 AM | Link to this

Shaun-Have you ever realized that you can’t spell analysis without ANAL?

By UGASHOUSE

May 23, 2007 10:34 AM | Link to this

Hey Chopzone…The Braves demolished Pedro already this season ..Move on he is washed up…And if the Mets dont get up for the games against the Braves they will find themselves in the wild card…The race is slowly starting to take shape just ask the Yankees what they think about it in this very young season…at 9 games back…

By AthensBrave

May 23, 2007 10:38 AM | Link to this

Hey NO CHOP and other Bloggers, Listen to this. I went to the NJ ledger’s online site and signed up to talk a little trash…nothing bad, just rubbing it in a little. I made a new blog topic and then got one response. I replied to the response, but it wouldn’t post. I then looked to see that my previous post had been erased and I had been banned from blogging there. Again, I said nothing nasty. At least here, we allow Mets fans to express their opinions. What a joke that they wouldn’t allow me to blog. Everything about the Mutts are pathetic

By Lew

May 23, 2007 10:39 AM | Link to this

ChopZone-Do you even realize how scared and pathetic you sound when you keep harping on the fact that the Mets will do well because they’re getting Pedro back and DelGado can’t suck this bad forever? Dude, if you were even vaguely confidant, it wouldn’t matter how good DelGado may get or if Pedro was coming back or not. You’re scared Little Chop Zone. It’s 1/4 of the way into the season and despite Andruw’s terrible start (and he can’t suck that bad forever, either. I guess Andruw and DelGado are a wash) and our injury problems, we’re still right there. You never expected that. And now your pitching is falling off, just like I predicted. Sosa just proved why he no longer pitches for the Braves. Pedro hasn’t even started long toss. El Duque is still hurt and not throwing. Park is gone. Pelfrey flamed out and went back to AAA. Maine just proved himself human and vulnerable and Glavine’s ERA is rising with every start. Scared Little Chop Zone. Scared witless. Oh, excuse me. You were witless to begin with. I guess that was really a typo.

By Gil in Mechanicsville

May 23, 2007 10:40 AM | Link to this

journalist jimmy smith The oblique muscles are located on the sides where one would find the “love handles”. If you don’t know where to find them, keep eating your grits and look in the mirror.

You may also want to do a little personal research but one must be very careful on how you approach your target subject. I don’t know if monkeys have “love handles” but I am sure they have obliges…. Oh the humanity….

By Ron Roberts

May 23, 2007 10:40 AM | Link to this

So lemme get this right… the Metrosexuals are excited about the prospects of Pedro returning to the team, when he was 9-8 with a 4.48 ERA in 2006? Keep in mind, he started 6-0 last season, too. So he limped onto the DL with a nice 3-8 string.

Please. Can’t wait. FYI, reports are he’d be back in August, at best. Two months of impact from a starter, eh? What’s that, about ten starts? Keep in mind that they wouldn’t all be wins, either.

Negligable impact, gang.

By UGASHOUSE

May 23, 2007 10:42 AM | Link to this

Yeah Sosa a stud…you are in lala land…The Braves Gave him every opportunity to shine he failed…Do you think the Mets are going to turn him around…I will say if anyone can do it it’s Rick Peterson…Would not mind having him on the bech at Turner Field….

By NO CHOP ZONE

May 23, 2007 10:42 AM | Link to this

UGA….What Pedro are you talking about? He’s been on the DL since last year.

By Fred from CT

May 23, 2007 10:42 AM | Link to this

UGASHOUSE yanks are 10 1/2 out and we did not face pedro this year

By beachcomber

May 23, 2007 10:43 AM | Link to this

Just catching up with yesterday and today’s blog (great commmentaries on best pitchers) Before the day is out I’m going to make a list of the Top 10 pitchers of my lifetime - which is considerable. But not on that list will be the greatest pitcher I ever saw - Herb Score. Totally dominant. Career batting average against of .199. And that after suffering a devastating injury in 1957 that all but ended his career.

But my favorite pitcher today is Kyle Davies - clutch performance last night!

By Ron Roberts

May 23, 2007 10:46 AM | Link to this

Lemme correct myself, a bit. Pedro started ‘06 5-0 not 6-0. Still, the Mets were only 11-12 in games he started last season. That’s not the impact I think Metrosexual fans are dreaming about in their delusional minds.

By Arkansas Hillbilly

May 23, 2007 10:51 AM | Link to this

I sort of came up with a defensive stat that may be more useful than range factor or zone rating.

Shaun,

You’re killing me, man. So what level Dungeon Master are you?

By Matthew, Dad to Walter

May 23, 2007 10:52 AM | Link to this

JJS

Walter is doing just fine, thank you. E-mail me and I’ll send you a few “preaching” pics of him. His first words came out over the weekend. Just two words, repeated incessantly…

Da Da Da Da Da Da

I don’t enjoy listening to it at all (SARCASM ALERT!)

By KC

May 23, 2007 10:53 AM | Link to this

Ron Roberts: I’m all for seeing Cormier in the rotation as well, but I believe I’ve heard that he’s not expected to be ready for another couple of weeks. And we’re going to need someone this weekend.

By Lee

May 23, 2007 10:55 AM | Link to this

The key is Reyes. Keep him off the bases and the Braves seem to win every game played against the Mets. This was mentioned last night on radio. I forget Reyes’ OBP comparing the 5 loses to the 2 wins the Mets have against the Braves this season but it was substantial. It has been mentioned several times on this blog that Reyes is the one key advantage the Mets have over the Braves. Shut him down and the Braves have a significant advantage over the Mets.

By TAMPABRAVE

May 23, 2007 10:58 AM | Link to this

UGA you must be confused Pedro never faced the Braves…Get into the game man…Although you have made a couple good points…

By ernesto

May 23, 2007 10:59 AM | Link to this

No Class Zone obviously doens’t follow the papers of his fave team. Up here the post just ran a big story about the Yanks and the Mets no longer being the big pride series for the Mets - it’s been supplamanted by their rivalry w/ the Braves. You don’ think they’re up for htis series?

With every post No Class just embarresses Met Nation even more…too bad Minaya can’t do anything about that glaring weakness.

By Shaun

May 23, 2007 10:59 AM | Link to this

Arkansas Hillbilly,

Are you [Murray Chass[(http://www.firejoemorgan.com/2007/02/this-is-why-this-site-exists.html) in disguise?

By KC

May 23, 2007 11:00 AM | Link to this

I’m not holding my breath, but it would be incredible to see Chuck James out-duel O.Perez tonight. Wouldn’t it be great to head into the Smoltz/Glavine showdown tomorrow with a shot at a sweep?!

Go Chucky!!!

By KC

May 23, 2007 11:02 AM | Link to this

The goog news for tonight is that James has a 3.07 ERA at home so far this year.

By Matthew, Dad to Walter

May 23, 2007 11:02 AM | Link to this

Interesting take on last night’s game from the MLB.com Mets writer.

http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/news/gamedayrecap.jsp?ymd=20070522&contentid=1979545&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=nym

The phrase I found interesting was this: the writer described Atlanta’s attack as a ten-hit “Ted offensive.” If you don’t get that, then you’re either younger than 30 or you’re not an historian.

By Gil in Mechanicsville

May 23, 2007 11:02 AM | Link to this

One final comment on great pitchers. I would have loved to have seen Satchel Page in his prime. Also Walter Johnson and Dizzy Dean. I thought Mark Fidrych of Detroit was a great pitcher the one year his arm was healthy. I did see all of Baltimore’s 20 game winners pitch in the 70’s.

So many good ones that I could not pick just ten. I could only pick the ten best pitched games I have witnessed and even that would be tough.

By AthensBrave

May 23, 2007 11:04 AM | Link to this

Does anyone know how Will Startup has been doing? I think he is in Richmond. He was a great picther for the Dawgs

By Lew

May 23, 2007 11:05 AM | Link to this

RonRoberts-The problem is that the Mets’ fans still think Pedro is a CY Young type pitcher, not realizing he passed that stage of his career several years and several injuries ago. They would do better to see what happened to Mike Hampton. That’s closer to what may be with Pedro.

By UGASHOUSE

May 23, 2007 11:05 AM | Link to this

Sorry Fella’s

Had a lapse of Memory.. But Pedro is still washed up…Watch and see…

By Matthew, Dad to Walter

May 23, 2007 11:08 AM | Link to this

TRADE POSSIBILITY

No Chop, Metro Man, and all other Met fans to be named later in exchange for, for…a cooler of Gatorade or cash considerations (no, Grinch, you cannot buy beer with it-we’re going to extend Bobby Cox’s contract)

Robert just wet himself.

By NO CHOP ZONE

May 23, 2007 11:08 AM | Link to this

Yes Lew, The Mets have their problems (What team doens’t) but you can’t predict a whole season on one game or one outing. You make some valid points about about Pelfrey and Park. But You’re wrong when you say I didn’t expect the braves to be right there. I knew that when they addressed their bullpen. Read yours and other posts. You’ll see that most that’s written is based on a hate for the Mets not on facts. The Mets are a GOOD team and even with the points you made are still in FIRST PLACE . The facts say right now the braves are not as good as the Mets.

By KC

May 23, 2007 11:08 AM | Link to this

ernesto: If the Mets aren’t “up” for this series… that would be a low-character indicator of the worst kind.

By Matthew, Dad to Walter

May 23, 2007 11:10 AM | Link to this

KC

What is goog news? I looked it up, and a goog is defined by www.dictionary.com as an Australian word for an egg.

Peter Moylan, can you elaborate?

By Lew

May 23, 2007 11:11 AM | Link to this

ChopZone-The Mets can’t get up for a series with their main rival and the team that embarrassed them for 14 straight seasons? You think THAT is a championship caliber team? As far as Sanchez-Dude, there’s no return in sight and you’d better hope Mota has some talent un-juiced. I repeat, why are you so scared and in need of these extra pieces if the Mets are as good as you say?

By TAMPABRAVE

May 23, 2007 11:14 AM | Link to this

AthensBrave

You were right he is in Richmond he has pitched 11 1/3 innings 2.38 ERA no wins or losses.

By Matthew, Dad to Walter

May 23, 2007 11:19 AM | Link to this

NO CHOP:

It is big of you to come back today after the punding the Mets took last night. I applaud your loyalty, if not your sanity. The Mets are ahead while the Braves settle the 4th and 5th spots in their rotation. But you and other Met fans know that as the summer heats up, historically so do the Braves. The two teams do not meet after this week until August. After the Braves take AT LEAST two of three this week, they will sit 1 1/2 games out or a 1/2 game ahead. June and July will see the Braves distance themselves as the Mets eagerly await Pedro’s return. In August, if he comes back, the two teams will square off in what should be an epic battle. However, the Braves have been playing below their potential (see Andruw Jones) while the Mets are playing way over their heads (see Jorge Sosa before last night). The Braves will return to their throne, and the Mets will win the wild card.

All I ask is for a respectful banter between fans. I hold no ill will toward Metroman, No Chop, or anyone else, and hope we can continue the discussion throughout the summer.

At least, when my eight-month-old son lets me blog…oh the poopanity!

By beachcomber

May 23, 2007 11:19 AM | Link to this

Gil - First a belated thank you for the geography lesson as to where Mechanicsville is. And thanks for bringing up “The Bird” probably not the best pitcher I ever saw but by far the most entertaining. Don’t remember a player who seemed to enjoy the game so much. Closest thing today is the D Train in Miami.

Must agree with some folks yesterday day who said how great he would look in a Braves uniform.

By Matthew, Dad to Walter

May 23, 2007 11:21 AM | Link to this

Sorry-should have said “pounding.”

I don’t know what a punding is.

By TAMPABRAVE

May 23, 2007 11:21 AM | Link to this

Chopzone dont take the hatred to heart the Mets are the bad guys in every sport you have to love to be hated it’s the best…It’s even better when you win…I wish more people hated the Braves…Not just met’s fans…

By AthensBrave

May 23, 2007 11:22 AM | Link to this

Tampabrave Those are decent numbers. I hope he gets a chance if we need him

By Arkansas Hillbilly

May 23, 2007 11:27 AM | Link to this

Arkansas Hillbilly, Are you [Murray Chass[(http://www.firejoemorgan.com/2007/02/this-is-why-this-site-exists.html) in disguise?

No Shaun, I’m just a simple Arkansan that didn’t understand a majority of what I read out of that link you just posted….. Merely a simple-minded fan of the game.

By TAMPABRAVE

May 23, 2007 11:29 AM | Link to this

Chop Dont take the hatred to heart. The Mets are the bad guys. You have to love to be hated and its even better when you win.I wish more people hated the braves other than just the mets fans..

By Coach

May 23, 2007 11:31 AM | Link to this

Jason in Maine , I asked a question a couple of weeks ago and have yet to get the correct answer from anybody. So , I’ll ask it again. Bob Gibson did it 1968 , Johan Santana did it again in 2004. Nobody else in MLB history has accomplished this fantastic and almost mythical task. It’s so impossible that baseball has failed to recognize the significance of it or even the fact that it happened at all.

By TennesseePaul

May 23, 2007 11:31 AM | Link to this

meansonny: Spot on. The criteria was A game. Ryan’s A game included 7 No Hitters. That’s a pretty solid A game to bring to the table. And all this talk about hit batsmen. Ryan could hit who ever he wanted. He threw lightening bolts and if the sorry sonuvabitch charged him, he’d be the snot out of ‘em.

Another pitcher I’d have to seriously consider would by Cy Young himself. The man completed all but 66 of the 815 games he started. He had 76 shut outs and kept his ERA at 2.68 over 21 years of winning. But I guess, as is the case with Ryan’s K’s, one could be unimpressed with Cy’s W’s because he had so many L’s. But he did have 3 no-hitters. Including a streak of 24 consecutive perfect innings. The streak still stands today. Pretty solid A game right there.

By DonCoburleone

May 23, 2007 11:31 AM | Link to this

“Scott Thorman is Ryan Klesko’s long lost brother.”

“Man does he remind me of Klesko”

LOL, I was thinking the same thing yesterday when he hit that home-run…

By ncscoots

May 23, 2007 11:32 AM | Link to this

The facts say right now the braves are not as good as the Mets.

True, if by that you mean at this moment in time. And you are also correct in saying there is a lot of baseball left. And, if our Mutts bloggers were consistent in that, I doubt many here on the blog would have cause for complaint.

But it’s my impression that upon a Mets win or Braves loss, both those notes go out the window as far as the Mutts bloggers go. Then it’s “Braves are doomed, Mets are far superior, the season is over”, etc. I’m pretty sure that’s why Braves’ bloggers might get a little snippy with you guys occasionally.

By Lew

May 23, 2007 11:33 AM | Link to this

ChopZone-My predictions were based on the Mets pitching staff being lousy. They overachieved. However, check this out-Glavine, 12 ER in his last 25 IP. Maine, 11ER in his past 16IP. We saw what happened to Sosa last night. Leopards don’t change their stripes. He showed his last night. Vargas has an ERA of 6.43 this season and a 5.31 for his career. The only one to this point I was wrong about was Perez and I still think he will go down in flames (quite possibly tonight). You were beating your chest in recent weeks because the Mets’ staff had a sub 3.00 ERA. It’s now up to 3.55. You’re going down. All teams have problems? Glad to see you finally admitted the Mets have problems. I’ve been pointing that out to you since this spring, but you’re just slow on the uptake, I suppose-must have something to do with being from NY-all those fumes, I guess. All that bull about not getting up for the Braves’ series is just that, Bovine excrement (that means BS since I realize you were probably educated at PS whatever in NY). Keep dreaming of your missing parts-must be like that phantom feeling amputees reportedly have. As far as all that chest thumping-I suppose it comes from watching all of those King Kong remakes.

By ernesto

May 23, 2007 11:35 AM | Link to this

Tampabrave…wha?

By TAMPABRAVE

May 23, 2007 11:36 AM | Link to this

This server sucks just re-wrote a post and my original shows up. AthensBrave I thought Perno was going to be a good fit in Athens is he losing a step or did the Dogs just have a bad season ?

By Mike in 'Fretta

May 23, 2007 11:36 AM | Link to this

No Chop Zone,

How can you say that the Mutts don’t get up for games against their most hated division rival. That is the dumbest thing I have ever heard - Suprise, Suprise, the dumbest thing I have ever heard comes from a Mutts fan.

I am sure the Mutts get up for games against their division rival and that’s why it is so much sweeter when the Braves romp them like they did last night. If the Mutts really can’t get excited about playing the Braves then it sounds like you have a championship caliber team…what a joke!

You also keep saying the Mutts are a better team, but so far your record against Altanta is 2-5. That’s funny, because after 7 games you would think that the better team would have the better record in head-to-head competition….and low and behold they do.

The Braves may not have the big names the Mutts have, but they do know how to play ball as a team. Maybe that’s because many of the players on the Braves have come up through the same farm system and know each other well, as opposed to the Mutts free agent pick-ups who come from all over the place.

Break out the brooms Braves fans!!!

By TennesseePaul

May 23, 2007 11:43 AM | Link to this

I think, if Hodges is pitching Thrusday, Carlyle will be the guy called up for Saturday. If it is to be between those two guys. But it could be someone else entirely.
It better not be Kevin Berry.

Even with all the unknowns, this is way more exciting than the prospect of Redman taking the mound.

By TAMPABRAVE

May 23, 2007 11:46 AM | Link to this

MIKE Well said my friend….

By NO CHOP ZONE

May 23, 2007 11:48 AM | Link to this

I was fearful of this series because it was right after three games against the Yankees (Subway Series). I don’t know if Atlanta fans can appreciate the hype that follows those interleague games. they’re important for bragging rights even if the players won’t admit it. The Mets looked flat yesterday and the braves did what good teams do and beat the hell out of them. Hopefully they’ll wake up and take home a win tonite.LEW, my point is that even with the problems you pointed out, the Mets are still in first…that’s all.

By Arkansas Hillbilly

May 23, 2007 11:49 AM | Link to this

Giambi failed amphetamines test. Un-be-lievable.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2879878

By MBATL

May 23, 2007 11:51 AM | Link to this

In May:

ERA: Braves 3.78; Mets 4.32

Runs: Braves 91 runs in 20 games (4.55 Runs/game); Mets 95 runs in 20 games (4.75 R/G).

Neither team has been scoring very well. But even for the entire season, if you take away Redman’s 28 ER in 21.2 innings (which we’ve finally done!), our pitching has been virtually equal to the Mets. And the trends are in the Braves’ favor.

KC, I don’t disagree that Villarreal would be an okay option for a couple of weeks - I’d kinda like to see Devine get some time in ATL. But, sounds like that’s not gonna happen. Probably Hodges, though I’d still like to give Carlyle a shot.

Anyway, I agree that we should keep moves to a minimum. The roster is really shaping up pretty well and there’s no need to turn things upside down.

By Efrim

May 23, 2007 11:52 AM | Link to this

MLB.COM has Buddy Carlye starting the game on Saturday against the Phillies. Don’t know what to expect. Anyone know what he throws? Great strikeout to walk ratio. I’m guessing he is a control pitcher who has a great changeup. Anyone know?

By DonCoburleone

May 23, 2007 11:53 AM | Link to this

“The facts say right now the braves are not as good as the Mets.”

5-2 against you dude! We may not have as many wins against the rest of the league at the moment, but right now, we are BETTER than you. You guys just better start praying you don’t have to face us in the playoffs…. And oh yeah, No Chop, please thank your team for me for making Kyle Davies look so good. So far, in 2 outings, the Braves are 2-0 vs. the Mets while Davies has pitched 14.2 innings, struck out 11, allowed only 3ER’s and hit a 3-run homer!!! If only he could pitch against you guys every game, he’d be a modern day Babe Ruth…

By Shaun

May 23, 2007 11:56 AM | Link to this

Gil in Mechanicsville,

Mark Fidrych may have been the luckiest SOB (no relation to DOB) in the world in 1976. He only struck out 97 batters in 250+ innings.

His batting average allowed on balls in play was .250. Typically BABIP will be around .290. Fidrych was around .272 for his career. Pitchers with extremely high or low BABIP usually are significantly better or worse the following season.

Injuries cost him, but what cost him more was an inability to strikeout hitters.

If a pitcher can’t strikeout hitters at a certain rate, he’s not going to be able to stay in the majors for long (except for maybe extreme cases like knuckleballers, certain types of LHP, etc.). Eventually, contact outs are going to find holes and turn into hits.

By DonCoburleone

May 23, 2007 12:00 PM | Link to this

Coach, is it that they won the pitching “triple crown”; That is lead all of major league baseball in wins, strikeouts, and ERA???

By journalist jimmy smith

May 23, 2007 12:02 PM | Link to this

let’s see … “oh, my god, chipper, did you hurt yourself? can you get up?”

“uh, i think i broke my belt buckle.”

there have been many equipment failures in atlanta braves baseball history … broken bats, broken laces, shoes coming off, bases coming up … but the broken belt buckle is a new one. play was suspended for a short time while trainer jeff porter sprayed chipper with a little can of belt buckle spray. at least that’s what this journalist thinks was happening. oh, the humanity!

By Shaun

May 23, 2007 12:03 PM | Link to this

DonCoburleone,

As much as it pains me, the Mets have a better record and a better run differential; not significantly better but both are better than the Braves’. It’s not clear cut, but it looks like to this point the Mets are better.

By Coach

May 23, 2007 12:05 PM | Link to this

Stick a fork in the Stankees , they are done , well done.

By AthensBrave

May 23, 2007 12:05 PM | Link to this

Hey NO CHOPI read three different articles yesterday on the Mets from various NY/NJ newspapers. Everyone talked about how it was nice to take the series from the Yankees and so on, but that they cared more the upcoming series with the Braves. Heres the link to just one of them. http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/mets/ny-spmets225224674may22,0,6375549.story?track=rss

So quit the B.S. about the Mets not being up for this series and accpet the Braves domination of your team so far.

By N8

May 23, 2007 12:06 PM | Link to this

I find it amusing that when I go off on whatever my “I’m not liking what I’m seeing” flavor of the week is going on, or Robert Goes off on Cox, you ALL call us redundant and say things like: “it’s getting old.”

Yet EVERYDAY the same handful of people are on here ALL DAY arguing the SAME POINTS with the Mets Bloggers, like none of it’s been said before.

Hey POTS, the Kettle called and wants you all to come over for dinner.

By Lew

May 23, 2007 12:09 PM | Link to this

ChopZone-Team ERA up more than half a run in two weeks. Going down Chop Zone. Blame it on the Yankees series all you want (stupid excuse, actually-is it that or you can’t get it up for the Braves?). The pitching staff overachieved. Your grace period is over. Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown. Oh yeah-The Mets only have half a crown. They couldn’t beat the Cards in the NLCS. Never did get that championship we heard about all last season. Keep pinning your hopes on Sosa and Pedro’s return. Let me know how that goes, will ya?

By Fred from CT

May 23, 2007 12:13 PM | Link to this

why are the mets better because they beat up bad teams and we don’t. run differential is BS. they mets were so good last year to but also couldn’t beat the good teams. they have a monster offense but when they face good pitching they fold.

By metsmanintheatl

May 23, 2007 12:14 PM | Link to this

you won your one game of series…mets take next 2 and lead with extended 3 and one half game lead plus 4 in loss column…looking at that magic number…METROPOLITANS RULE!!!!JAMES///HAR HAR HAR!!!!!!!!!

By Efrim

May 23, 2007 12:14 PM | Link to this

The Mets and Braves are the class of the National League. That is a fact.

By Lee

May 23, 2007 12:18 PM | Link to this

I was fearful of this series because it was right after three games against the Yankees (Subway Series). I don’t know if Atlanta fans can appreciate the hype that follows those interleague games. they’re important for bragging rights even if the players won’t admit it

No Cho Zone - That is why I stated last week NO the interleague game is not as important to the majority of Braves fans. The Yankees vs Mets or White Sox vs Cubs maybe I can see why. I could care less about any special match up with any AL franchise besides the World Series. But I will say you better worry more about the Braves instead of that inner New York City bragging right with the Yankees. The Yankees are no longer the cream of the crop of the AL east…. much less the overall champions of the American league. All the Mets did was beat a washed-up has been team and nothing more.

By ncscoots

May 23, 2007 12:21 PM | Link to this

jjs, that belt buckle was a dead monkey, brah. Much worse than a strained buckle, for sure. Had to numb it and play through it. But Hoss gritted his teeth and manned up.

By Lew

May 23, 2007 12:21 PM | Link to this

Nathan-Could it be that we are responding to attacks by Mets bloggers? I haven’t seen anyone else rant on the same topic 50 times in a single night like you and Robert. Dude, I’m not into counting your posts (it’s been done enough by others), but you’ve got to admit you can wear a topic out in no time flat. I will give you this much-at least you speak on more than one topic-occaisionally-Robert doesn’t. We all realize that Andruw has been sub-par. We didn’t need the consistent posts from you over the course of two full weeks at 35-50 times an evening to inform us. We really do appreciate your passion on the topics you choose to address-but bludgeoning is not necessary with us-just with Chop Zone.

By Mike in 'Fretta

May 23, 2007 12:22 PM | Link to this

Shaun,

You are ridiculous. Your statement:

“As much as it pains me, the Mets have a better record and a better run differential; not significantly better but both are better than the Braves’. It’s not clear cut, but it looks like to this point the Mets are better.”

By making that statment you are showing how little you know about baseball or sports in general. When you see baseball all you notice are stats and numbers. Well my friend there is a couple of one stats you can’t measure for instance team chemistry, desire, attitude and heart. The Mets may have a better overall run differtial and they may have higher out avoidance rates, but they don’t play as well as the Braves which is why the Braves have taken 5 out of 7 against the so-called better team.

The Braves want to win more and the Braves have a better clubhouse atmosphere than the Mets. Why don’t you break out your caculator and try and come up with a stat for that!

By Shaun

May 23, 2007 12:24 PM | Link to this

Fred from CT,

Yes, run differential is BS. Who cares if you score more runs and allow fewer runs than the other team?

By Braves20

May 23, 2007 12:26 PM | Link to this

No Chopper - give us a break. Flat after playing the Yankees - who the hell do you think we were playing the last three - the Bad News Bears?

By Shaun

May 23, 2007 12:30 PM | Link to this

To Mets fans: It’s not really clear cut who is the better team. They are close in record and close in run differential. Stop gloating about your slim lead.

To Braves fans: The Mets have a slim lead and a slightly better run differential. Stop acting like the Braves are a much better team just because they have a good record against the Mets.

Like Efrim said, it looks like the Braves and Mets are among the class of the NL, at least so far.

By Lew

May 23, 2007 12:31 PM | Link to this

Shaun-I think what he’s trying to say is that all that matters is the W and L columns,

By FLBRAVESFAN

May 23, 2007 12:33 PM | Link to this

All this run differential conversation amuses me. If you want to see the significance (or lack) of run differential take a look at the 1960 World Series. Yankees 55 Pirates 27. But it seems that World Series flag is flying over Pittsburgh’s stadium.

By Metropolitan Man

May 23, 2007 12:35 PM | Link to this

Ok, this is getting a little crazy. The braves smashed the METS last night and it was Davies who did it. What is going on??? Not much to say about last nights game, the score said it all. Well only good teams bounce back from getting blown out and we dont have any 3 game losing streaks this year. So with that in mind O. Perez has to continue what he has done against the braves and that is be DOMINANT. Revenge tonight. You guys refuse to lose to the NL EAST but wont beat up on the rest, go figure.

By Fred from CT

May 23, 2007 12:36 PM | Link to this

shaun: well we outscored boston this weekend how did that work out

By beachcomber

May 23, 2007 12:40 PM | Link to this

FL BRAVES FAN - Thought only I was old enough to remember that great World Series. There is another WS that makes your argument although it pains me to bring it up - Braves 26 Yankees 18. The 1996 Series - the only one I ever attended - 11 years later it still hurts!

By Ron

May 23, 2007 12:42 PM | Link to this

What do yall think about Odalis Perez of the Royals? He is a former Brave, and should not take much to get him, and he has been pitching good the last few starts, I say why not try for him, could be a huge gain for us!!!

By N8

May 23, 2007 12:43 PM | Link to this

Fair enough Lew.

But still, you start your response out to me by saying:

“Could it be that we are responding to attacks by Mets bloggers?”

I realize that I respond to “every post” like some people have accused me of. But MOST of the time, I am not spewing Andruw (or whoever I happen to be ripping, or occasionally praising LOL!), stats just for the fun of it. It’s usually in RESPONSE to others.

So you’ll understand my seeing a little hypocracy, still.

I’m surely not angry at any of you guys, and I understand that when I’m bored and “in a mood”, I can go off.

But the vas majority of my posts are “responses” as well. Now if you want to accuse me of jumping into a conversation that I wasn’t invited into….

:-)

By Shaun

May 23, 2007 12:44 PM | Link to this

Mike in ‘Fretta,

I don’t know which team is better at this point. It’s still close.

But I think scoring more runs and allowing fewer runs than the other team means something.

Also, last season the White Sox took 12 out of 19 from the Tigers, but guess who made the playoffs and finished ahead of the other team?

And I’m sure no team in baseball wanted to win more than the Cardinals and that’s the reason they won the World Series. And I’m sure they had the best clubhouse atmosphere even though their thirdbaseman and manager reportedly didn’t speak to each other throughout most of the playoffs.

Your passion is nice but it’s getting in the way of the truth, man.

By Lee

May 23, 2007 12:45 PM | Link to this

The best team will not be decided until that team claims the NL East crown and last time I looked that still has a few games to go this season. I am also not counting out the Phillies or even the Marlins. Still a ways to go people.

By Shaun

May 23, 2007 12:52 PM | Link to this

FLBRAVESFAN and Fred from CT,

Obviously run differential isn’t the whole story. It’s not going to take into account blowouts and close games.

The 1960 World Series is the exception that proves the rule about run differential. Every game was a blowout or close.

Run differential is a lot better indication of future performance than past W-L record.

Look at the ‘05 Nationals. Everyone knew they weren’t good but they were in first place for much of the season. They were in the negative in run differential and eventually their record turned into what is should have been.

To say that runs scored/allowed doesn’t matter is pretty crazy when the name of the game is to score more runs than the other team.

By Lee

May 23, 2007 12:52 PM | Link to this

Ron

Odalis Perez would be a nice addition if like you said it did not take much to get him.

By TLJ

May 23, 2007 12:53 PM | Link to this

After reading the mets fans blog the past few days, it’s obvious they are looking over their shoulder to see where the braves are. Like Satchel Page once said “don’t look back because they might catch you”.

Be careful mets fans because when you look back the braves will pass you.

By Efrim

May 23, 2007 12:53 PM | Link to this

There is no way you can say the Braves are better than the Mets. You can make a better arguement that the Mets are better than the Braves. They take care of business with other teams.

What a Braves fan can gloat about is that IF these teams meet in the NLCS, it seems the Braves have gotten in the Mets heads a little bit. Again, 7 games have been played so far and the games in September are going to be more important in terms of the NLCS.

Basically what I am saying is that the Mets don’t lose 4 outta 5 to Pittsburgh and Washington. They just don’t. They never have stretches like that. The Braves have kind of played down to their competition this year. That bothers me. Those losses are the difference from a division winner and a wild card team.

By joebrave

May 23, 2007 12:54 PM | Link to this

I need to admit this - I am one dumb peckerhead sumbitch. Read my posts so you can see the level of my retardation.

By Fred from CT

May 23, 2007 12:57 PM | Link to this

Shaun This isn’t college football there are no polls if you lose 17-2 or 2-1 theres no difference the last time I checked it was still only one loss.

By TennesseePaul

May 23, 2007 12:57 PM | Link to this

Run Differential is nice when looking at your teams progress, but it guarantees absolutely nothing. It can highlight trends and allude to direction, but it guarantees nothing. A better Run Differential doesn’t give you a WS ring. It doesn’t give you an NL pennant. It doesn’t give you a Division Title. The W and L determine all of those. FredCT rightly pointed out the Boston series. The Braves had to play the best team in the majors while the Mets played a sub .500 has-been team. The Braves lost the series, but, on a posititive side, we outscored and out hit the BoSox. So, while the differential didn’t help the standings, it is a positive and shows we can hang in there with the top teams in the majors. The differential mainly shows us that our pitching failed us in Boston. And, if you look at it in more detail you will see that Mark Redman and Chad Paranto accounted for 9 of the 13 runs allowed in the first game. They did that over a span of 2.2 innings. We’ve since cut Redman, so things are certainly looking better.

By flange1

May 23, 2007 1:07 PM | Link to this

Hey No Chop and Metro Man,

Not interested in rubbing anything in, we had a great night last night and as everyone with a brain knows it is a long season.

But Delgado just does not look right. I know he was hurt last year, and had surgery, but he does not look the same. Do y’all agree? Is there any news that i havent heard?

thanks

By TheSouthernJackAss

May 23, 2007 1:08 PM | Link to this

Y’all are giving the damn Mutts and their mentally challenged fans way too much credit—Hell, they’re no better than the Fills, the Marlenes, or the Gnats…all insignificant, irrelevant, wannabes…they all suck, the only difference is that the Mutts spent a whole lot more money to do so…

Now, just to clarify one earlier topic—monkeys do have obliques, even a dead monkey—however, as far as Muttropolitan fans are concerned, monkeys do have “love handles”…even dead monkeys!…

Having said that, concerning that zoo monkey that supposedly succumbed to the plague—that’s not the way it was told to TheJackAss—TheJackAss heard that certain Mutts fans, those that have been infesting this blog as of late, had crept into that monkey’s cage, and were in the process of attempting an “@$$waxin’” on this poor, unsuspecting primate in hopes of converting it into becoming a Mutts fan, and ultimately, something went tragically awry!…word is that one of them, and I won’t mention any names for the sake of embarrassing the monkey’s surviving relatives, but he usually uses CAPS all the time when posting, but one of those nasty Mutts fans spotted that monkey’s “love handles” and suddenly an innocent @$$waxin’ inadvertently turned ugly, then eventually ended with deadly results!…deadly indeed…

In an attempt to smooth things over with zoo officials—Omar Minaya has offered to give the zoo a choice between either Lastings Milledge, Tom Glavine, or Pedro Martinez as a replacement for the slain monkey…

By The Grinch

May 23, 2007 1:09 PM | Link to this

Efrim, much as I hate to say it you’re 12:53 makes a good bit of sense. However, I do think a lot of those losses came down to an unsettled pitching rotation (and Redman is now gone…can’t say that often enough to get old) and a couple of drastically retarded and wholly inexplicable late-game moves by Bobby Cox. Throw away even two Redman starts and one Cox brainfart and we’re tied. Plus, while we may not have more talent or name recognition, we have a better TEAM. Did you see McCann and Francour jumping all over Davies last night like it was a game 7 win when he hit that HR? They played little league ball together. Davies batted 4th after Francour. You won’t find that kind of chemistry in the Mets clubhouse, unless most of them grew up in the same part of Mexico. Now, do I think it’ll come down to the wire? Yes. Do I think all this smack talk about this 3 game series is a little premature with 2 games to go? Yes. Do I think we’ll win the division anyway? Ask Metroman, I’ve got 50 bucks riding on it.

By Efrim

May 23, 2007 1:10 PM | Link to this

Fred from CT,

I know what you saying man, but run differentiial definitly matters.

By Shaun

May 23, 2007 1:13 PM | Link to this

TennesseePaul,

Well said. Run differential can give us a huge clue as to what kind of teams we’re looking at but they don’t guarantee anything because there’s always that element of luck and chance, and teams playing better than they should (‘06 Cards), etc.

To all those who say it doesn’t matter, I pose this question: You can take over a team with a month left in the season. That team is tied with another team. Their records against good teams and bad teams are the same, against good pitchers and bad pitchers they’re the same, etc. Neither team has made significant trades or had any significant injuries. They look equal except one team’s run differential is significantly better. Which team do you go with?

Seems like a pretty easy choice. As TennPaul said, it’s not a sure thing that the team with a better run differential will end up winning but all things being equal, I’ll take my chances with run differential over anything else.

By DonCoburleone

May 23, 2007 1:14 PM | Link to this

LOL, reading some other Mets blogs, check out this one:

“Isn’t it interesting how Cox has a struggling Jones hitting 6th and our stubbern mule mgr. won’t move Delgado down in the lineup.”

Apparantly Mets blogs have a Robert on their hands…

By Shaun

May 23, 2007 1:17 PM | Link to this

Shaun This isn’t college football there are no polls if you lose 17-2 or 2-1 theres no difference the last time I checked it was still only one loss.

You’re exactly right. I’d rather be lucky than good. But I would rather be lucky and good than just lucky.

I would rather have a team that losses a lot of 2-1 games than a lot of 17-2 games, if I’m trying to figure out which one to be more optimistic about.

By Ryan

May 23, 2007 1:23 PM | Link to this

I don’t get the fixation with the Mets when it comes to this stuff. It’s as if Braves fans are intent on finding any way possible to feel morally superior to the Mets.

If “homegrown players” as opposed to “mercenaries” is the Atlanta obsession du jour, I will submit that money alone is not going to get you a john maine, an oliver perez, an endy chavez, a damion easley, a jose valentin or even a shawn green.

Just because a player isn’t “homegrown” doesn’t mean he did not arrive thanks to excellent scouting and shrewd thinking. And even then, that player’s success does not occur without his team having faith in him - and, on a more basic level, having faith in its own talent evaluation skills.

Braves fans can continue to think the Mets “bought” their team (as if their success were nothing more than the result of breaking out the checkbook) if it makes them feel better; but the truth, as usual, is far more complex (and indeed, more interesting).

And, as Whitey Herzog (I believe) once said - you don’t build a team with trades, you don’t build a team with the farm system, and you don’t build a team with free agency. You build a team with ballplayers.

By Ron

May 23, 2007 1:26 PM | Link to this

N8, you right about your 12:06 Post!!! All your negativity does get OLD, All of Robert’s SAME OLD comments get OLD, and one Stupid Mut fan comes on here andstart sayin the same OLD stuff to them!!! But this is a Blog and sometimes thats all there is to talk about!!!

By DonCoburleone

May 23, 2007 1:27 PM | Link to this

ATLANTA — Turner Field may be the home of the Braves but it assuredly is not the land of free agents. At least not the expensive kind, the kind that dot the roster of the Mets and their crosstown rivals. The local franchise has a different approach to team-building and it has served the Braves well for the better part of two decades. While their patience in developing talent - and a shrinking budget allocated by corporate owners - failed them last year, the Braves are rising to the challenge this season on the backs of players who have never worn another major-league uniform. Of the eight runs they scored in an 8-1 rout of the Mets last night, all were driven in by those originally drafted and/or signed by the Atlanta organization. What’s more, five of the Braves in the starting lineup were 25 or younger. That’s in marked contrast to the Mets where general manager Omar Minaya used free agency to restock a depleted roster and change the clubhouse culture. It paid off dramatically in 2006 when the team won its first National League East title in 18 years and advanced within a game of the World Series. And the Mets still hold a 1 1/2-game lead over the Braves today despite a 2-5 record against Atlanta with two games remaining in this series. To each his own. “The best thing we do is to develop players for the major-league team,” said outfielder Jeff Francoeur, a former first-round draft choice who drove in his team-leading 35th run last night. “When they draft kids here, they draft them to play for the Atlanta Braves. They don’t draft prospects to trade them.” In their unprecedented 14-season reign atop the division, the Braves made a seamless transition from one generation (Terry Pendleton, Sid Bream, David Justice, Ron Gant) to another (Chipper and Andruw Jones, Javy Lopez, Ryan Klesko). Now there is a third not en route but on the field in the persons of Francoeur and Brian McCann, Kelly Johnson and Scott Thorman and a pitcher, Kyle Davies, who not only pitched Atlanta to victory but slammed a three-run homer. Oh, sure, they experienced a stunning fall from grace last year - a 79-83 record and a no-show in the postseason - but manager Bobby Cox said it had nothing to do with age or talent. “We blew 30 games [in the bullpen],” he noted. “If we just had a horrible year and blew only 20, we would have been in the playoffs.” The bullpen has been solidified this season and the Braves are back in contention with one of the youngest clubs in the league. Oh, sure, the Jones boys are still around but they contributed only one hit in the blowout against former Braves’ pitcher Jorge Sosa and reliever Aaron Sele. The damage was done mostly by Francoeur, McCann and Davies, all 23 and all from the Atlanta suburbs, and Johnson and Thorman, both 25. “Credit the scouts for drafting the right guys and the organization for sticking with them,” said Davies, who claims to have batted cleanup behind Francoeur on an amateur team. “Bobby’s a great manager to play for. He doesn’t put pressure on young players.”

That was written by NY sportswriter Joe Gergen… See, all these stupid a$$ Mets fans yesterday blast Carroll Rogers for this blog and yet LOOK, a NY sportswriter, your own guy, wrote the EXACT SAME THING. What about that h0m0s?

By DonCoburleone

May 23, 2007 1:32 PM | Link to this

SI Players asked 464 MLB Players: “If you could play for any major league team other than your own, which one would it be?”

San Diego Padres 10% New York Yankees 10% Atlanta Braves 10% Boston Red Sox 8% St. Louis Cardinals 7%

FAST FACTS Poll taken just before the start of the season…. Every team received a vote except for the Washington Nationals…. The Detroit Tigers, last year’s AL representative in the World Series, received just one vote, the same as the Kansas City Royals and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays…. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (seventh, 5.5%) edged the L.A. Dodgers (eighth, 5.2%)…. More than 18% of players 27 years old or younger voted for the Braves.

By Ryan

May 23, 2007 1:36 PM | Link to this

“See, all these stupid a$$ Mets fans yesterday blast Carroll Rogers for this blog and yet LOOK, a NY sportswriter, your own guy, wrote the EXACT SAME THING.”

You write this as if the NY media hasn’t been using the Mets as a punching bag for the past 15 years.

By Ron

May 23, 2007 1:37 PM | Link to this

DonCoburleone, What blog is that Mets blog, how can someone get on that blog? I want to talk some Trash to them!!!

By MBATL

May 23, 2007 1:42 PM | Link to this

Shaun, I agree that RS/RA is among the most basic of stats to look at to determine “who’s good.” It’s not 100% accurate, of course, but it over the long haul, it’s a pretty good indicator.

It’s also obvious that if you stop the season right now, the Mets are better than the Braves. They’ve got a better run differential, and (most importantly) have won more games.

However, as many have noted, the Mets’ pitching the first month was unrealistically good, and they were likely to fall back to earth a little. That’s happening. And the Braves’ numbers are skewed by the failed Redman experiment. Absent his 28 ER in 21 innings, the numbers are pretty similar.

Over the last 30 days, the Braves have outscored their opponents 139-117 in 26 games, a difference of 22 runs, or .846 runs/game. During the same period, the Mets have outscored their opponents 124-121 in 27 games, or .11 runs/game. (granted, 30 days is an arbitrary sample, but is meaningful, and easy to look up :)).

You’ll probably argue that the larger the sample size, the more accurate the analysis. True, in a way, but it doesn’t reflect meaningful trends. In this case, that the Mets are much less dominant today than they were 30 days ago (still winning, but the “expected WL” has gone down), while the Braves’ expected WL has gone up. The trend is in the Braves’ favor.

I’m not saying that the Braves are necessarily better than the Mets, but I can make an argument that the Mets aren’t likely to be better than the Braves.

By TennesseePaul

May 23, 2007 1:43 PM | Link to this

I have not set a mouse on a Met blog. I really haven’t found a reason to. The only non-Braves blog I’ve visited was the Mariners blog when KC tried to pump up HoRam (6.10 ERA 4-2 record, leading the team in un-earned runs allowed). That trip to the Mariners blog was totally worth it. After weeks of KC defending HoRam the same arguments were swiftly brushed aside. The only thing those guys could glean from KC’s sermon was “when healthy”. It was pretty funny.

In other news, Mark Redman is no longer on the team. The Braves won last night by 7 runs. Luck? I think not. When you cut off an anchor like Redman you can really take off. It’d be nice to run off a 10 or 15 game winning streak. Let’s see, Redman managed to give up 29 runs in 21 innings, man that’s awful. To make up for it we should go on a 21 to 29 game winning streak.

Just crunched some of these Redman numbers. The contract was for $750,000. I assumed, as a fifth starter, he’d start about 25 games. That’s about $30,000 a game. He made it into 5 games, costing us about $150,000. He posted 21 innings, at a cost of about $7,000 an inning. His 29 runs allowed worked out to about $5,175. Do we get any of this money back? We could use it to pad Smoltz’s signing bonus or something.

By Shaun

May 23, 2007 1:48 PM | Link to this

Ryan,

Don’t see how that article was using the Mets as a punching bag. It really didn’t say anything negative about the Mets. It just gave the Braves some praise.

There is more than one way to build a team. And when you combine the Braves approach with a high-payroll approach, you get a great team—the late ‘90’s Yankees, this year’s Red Sox.

If you can develop your own players and can afford to keep them and can afford to take calculated risks on high-priced free agents, that’s every GM’s dream.

By jaytriskit

May 23, 2007 1:55 PM | Link to this

I think that if Liberty increased the payroll of the Braves to what the Mets Payroll is now, 109 million, there would be no question who would have the better team next year. Spend the extra 30 million, 45 Mil counting AJ’s salary, to resign Jones and add a couple big named free agents and the braves have the best team in baseball.

By Shaun

May 23, 2007 1:55 PM | Link to this

MBATL,

I think it goes back to you’re never as good as your best streak and never as bad as your worst slump.

Unfortunately, if I were in Vegas and had to bet on one of the teams, I would bet on the Mets. I wouldn’t feel too confident in it because neither the Mets’ record nor run differential is significantly better than the Braves, but if I was forced to choose, I’d pick the Mets.

But, as a Braves fan, I feel pretty confident because the Braves are extremely close in both run differential and record and because there is always the Wild Card. And if the Braves get into the playoffs, I like their chances.

By TennesseePaul

May 23, 2007 1:56 PM | Link to this

Payne: I think, in terms of Baseball and tradition, it is better to be good than lucky. You can pass on traits you learned, traits that make you good. You can’t pass on luck to the younger generations. This is why the Braves have won for the past 17 years give or take. Stability comes with being good over just being lucky. So I’d rather be good than lucky.

By Ryan

May 23, 2007 1:58 PM | Link to this

“Don’t see how that article was using the Mets as a punching bag. It really didn’t say anything negative about the Mets.”

Shaun,

He didn’t go so far as to call the Mets “mercenaries,” but he was basically saying that the Braves do things the right way, and Omar Minaya did things a different way.

There’s an implied premise there, don’t you think?

By DonCoburleone

May 23, 2007 1:59 PM | Link to this

“There is more than one way to build a team. And when you combine the Braves approach with a high-payroll approach, you get a great team—the late ‘90’s Yankees, this year’s Red Sox.”

Shaun, exactly who from the Red Sox was brought up through their minor leagues? I can think of 2 who are currently contributing and that’s Dustin Pedroia(he’s totally insignificant) and Papelbon (the only real “homegrown” player of any value on that entire team)… So what are you talking about?

By DonCurb

May 23, 2007 1:59 PM | Link to this

I am a moron. I have no quality points worth mentioning. Growing up in LA smog has contributed to my low IQ. I use really funny insults such as Homo. I suck.

By MBATL

May 23, 2007 2:01 PM | Link to this

DonC, thanks for that post. The NY writer said better than I can why I like this Braves franchise!

By Ryan

May 23, 2007 2:03 PM | Link to this

“However, as many have noted, the Mets’ pitching the first month was unrealistically good, and they were likely to fall back to earth a little. That’s happening. And the Braves’ numbers are skewed by the failed Redman experiment. Absent his 28 ER in 21 innings, the numbers are pretty similar.”

Were the Mets’ numbers not skewed in a similar way with Pelfrey, who has since been removed?

By ncscoots

May 23, 2007 2:06 PM | Link to this

Folks, I’ve been reading this blog for quite some time, and there have posts heretofore with truly brilliant comedic content (often intentional).

But I hereby award my personal all-time-champeen trophy to SJA’s 1:08 today. Bubba, that post was anything but a dead monkey…it was RIGHTEOUS! LOL Ab-so-lutely hilarious.

By Shaun

May 23, 2007 2:06 PM | Link to this

TennesseePaul,

I’d rather be good than lucky, too.

I was talking about run differential. I’d rather have a team that losses a lot of close games over won that losses a lot of blowouts. That’s what I was referring to.

But I’d rather be lucky enough to win a lot of games that could go either way and good enough to blow teams out.

By TheSouthernJackAss

May 23, 2007 2:06 PM | Link to this

You can always tell when the Mutts are in town to play the Braves—the Braves’ dugout is being stocked with David seeds, various types of tobacco, & Gator Ade—while the Mutts’ dugout is being supplied with Geritol, a case of Depends, & Ben Gay!…

Also while the Mutts are in town—a large handicap placard will be hung over the visitor’s dugout as representation of the Mutts’ team logo…

I would also like to see a large, lifelike portrait of John Rocker hanging in the Mutts’ locker room while they’re in Atlanta…

By Lee

May 23, 2007 2:07 PM | Link to this

I will give the Braves organization credit this year. They have made some impressive and right moves so far……………Langerhans, Wilson, and now Redman are all history. They have brought up Salty and several pitchers from their farm system. J.S. and company are truly dedicated to attempt to put a winning franchise on the field this year and make up for last year. Can’t wait to see what else may be in store for the remainder of the Braves season. J.S. is determined not let this team fall out of contention this year.

By Shaun

May 23, 2007 2:14 PM | Link to this

DonCoburleone,

Well, there’s Youkilis, who’s playing an important role. You mentioned Pedroia and Papelbon.

They traded Hanley Ramirez, their top prospect, to get Josh Beckett.

They traded a couple of players they developed in the Curt Schilling deal.

We’ll probably see some of their solid pitching prospects throughout the season (like Gabbard).

But they also took calculated risks with expensive free agents, but you don’t see them sign a mediocre veteran pitcher for big bucks or things like that. I don’t think you can say they completely bought their team like some rich teams do.

By NO CHOP ZONE

May 23, 2007 2:16 PM | Link to this

Well I said that I’d show up regardless of the outcome and I did. LEW. As usual your post are full of numbers and stats that are convinent to your arguments and you ignore others that don’t. My comment about the Mets being better than the braves are based on the standings. In the end that’s all that matters. You could win every series head to head against the Mets but if you play the way you did againt the Nats you can forget about the division. Anyway we have Perez tonite and I’m confident of a win……..GO METS!!!

By TheSouthernJackAss

May 23, 2007 2:18 PM | Link to this

ncscoots—Thank You!…Thank You Very Much!!…it takes a bit of genius to recognize a bit of genius…TheJackAss has now left the building!!!…

By ernesto

May 23, 2007 2:21 PM | Link to this

Shaun is right. If you look at the numbers the Mets are the better team, Detroit beat St. Louis in the World Series last year, there is nothing wrong with Andruw’s swing.

Of course if you actually watch the games you may have a different opinion.

And Don C. the only reason so many players say they want to play for the Braves is that they are all part of a large conspiracy to keep Bobby Cox, the worst manager in any sport in any league, at the helm of hte Braves thus sabotaging the Braves’ chance to win a WS.

At least according to Robert.

By Tomahawkin' Again

May 23, 2007 2:23 PM | Link to this

As far as some of you asking about Met blogs to go onto, there aren’t any worth a darn. I have been on the Newsday, NY Post, etc sites trying to stir things up and I usually am blogging to myself. None of their blogs can match what DOB and Carroll put out in the AJC day in and day out. I have been listening to the live stream broadcast of Mike and the Mad Dog on WFAN today and let me tell you, I don’t want to read a single comment ever again from a Mut fan about how much better their fans are than Atlanta’s. There has not been a single mention of the Muts, the game last night, nada since the show started at 1pm. As a matter of fact Mut fans, your team would appear to be #3 in NYC…Yankees 1, Red Sox 2, Muts 3.

By Coach

May 23, 2007 2:24 PM | Link to this

John Schuerholz has made an effort to clean up his own mess by dumping Wilson and Redman , but it never looks good when you have to flush three million in payroll down the drain.

By Turnin2

May 23, 2007 2:26 PM | Link to this

Carroll — not that the abundant Braves knowledge was not radiant enough - but I knew who you were because eons ago, in a galaxy far, far away, Javy pointed you out on another road trip — Philly or maybe Miami….

By David O'Brien

May 23, 2007 2:29 PM | Link to this

NEW Blog is up

By KC

May 23, 2007 2:33 PM | Link to this

TennPaul:

I have taken credit when correct (Hudson, Willie Harris, etc.) So I must also accept responsibility when I’m wrong…

I really thought that the HoRam for Soriano trade wasn’t going to be at all one-sided. I thought that Ramirez would pitch well so long as he could avoid injury.

I was wrong.

Schuerholz raped the Mariners. They should feel very, very violated right now.

By Bob, Journalist

May 23, 2007 2:33 PM | Link to this

Honorable Southern, it isn’t often that the esteemed Scoots hands out such lavish praise … he’s on the mark, as per usual!

However, you shouldn’t take license with “Geritol, Depends, & Ben Gay” … at least not until you’ve shaken hands with them … nice friends to have, I assure you!

By Ryan

May 23, 2007 2:38 PM | Link to this

I have been listening to the live stream broadcast of Mike and the Mad Dog on WFAN today and let me tell you, I don’t want to read a single comment ever again from a Mut fan about how much better their fans are than Atlanta’s. There has not been a single mention of the Muts, the game last night, nada since the show started at 1pm. As a matter of fact Mut fans, your team would appear to be #3 in NYC…Yankees 1, Red Sox 2, Muts 3.

Why would M&MD devote its prime airtime to a controversy-free team that’s doing well? The Yanks are a soap opera, and that’s what attracts listeners, so that’s what they’re going to talk about.

And I don’t see what that has to do with Mets fans. If M&MD are talking about the Yankees, callers who want to talk about the Mets aren’t going to get through.

By TennesseePaul

May 23, 2007 2:43 PM | Link to this

However, as many have noted, the Mets’ pitching the first month was unrealistically good, and they were likely to fall back to earth a little

Were the Mets’ numbers not skewed in a similar way with Pelfrey, who has since been removed?

Yes, even including the Pelfrey days, the Mets rotation over performed. Such as:
Perez - 2.90 2007 ERA, 4.67 Pre07 ERA.
El DL - 2.53 2007 ERA, 4.19 Pre07 ERA
Maine - 2.77 ERA, 4.58 Pre07 ERA
Sosa - 2.55 ERA, 4.61 Pre07 ERA

That’s how the Mets were able to sustain the handful of Pelfrey starts. That level of production (nearly 2 runs lower than the career ERA’s for almost every pitcher listed) isn’t likely to last. And Pelfrey still out performed Redman. Redman, in case you missed it, absolutely sucked.

By Scott

May 23, 2007 2:52 PM | Link to this

The Braves are doing it the right way. Develop your own players. The Mets are old and they better hope they don’t break down and all of those old players are signed to long deals. Only Glavine is on a one year deal.

By Ryan

May 23, 2007 3:17 PM | Link to this

TennesseePaul

The problem with this thinking is that ERA doesn’t always tell the full story of a pitcher, or of a pitching staff.

Perez - 2.90 2007 ERA, 4.67 Pre07 ERA.

Perez’s career has been so odd thus far, who’s to say whether he’s overperforming or not?

El DL - 2.53 2007 ERA, 4.19 Pre07 ERA

Duque’s definitely one of those guys for whom ERA does not tell the whole story. I expect his to rise this year, but he’s the type of guy who is a fantastic pitcher most of the time, but will give up like 11 ER in the occasional start (as he did last year). I think he’s far more valuable than a guy who is a true-talent 4.5+ ERA guy, even though his ERA won’t differ much by the end of the year.

Maine - 2.77 ERA, 4.58 Pre07 ERA

Maine is the one guy for whom I think your argument holds water. But he’ll still be an asset to the Mets this year, even after he regresses towards the mean. He’s a good young arm.

Sosa - 2.55 ERA, 4.61 Pre07 ERA

In Pelfrey, Chan Ho Park and Jason Vargas - three jettisoned pitchers - the Mets have then gotten rid of roughly 40 IP worth of 7.5 ERA production (as opposed to the Braves getting rid of roughly 20 IP of 10+ ERA production in Redman), not to mention an 0-6 record between the three. If Sosa can pitch to his career ERA in that fifth starter slot (he’s besting it in 24 IP so far), the Mets have come out ahead, at least compared to the three pitchers they tried out.

Another couple factors that are being overlooked when talking about the Mets’ pitching - the Mets are an excellent, excellent defensive team, and they play in a home park that is perfectly suited for the pitchers they have.