AJC > Sports > Braves > Blog > Archives > 2007 > October > 12 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USCan Wren fill Schuerholz’s suspenders?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A few thoughts after spending part of the morning/afternoon sifting through the various stories written around the country about the end of the John Schuerholz GM era. Sounds like this fella has a whole lot of admirers in his industry.
Reminded me of an old quote from George Brett, who said, “John Schuerholz is the luckiest general manager I know. Everywhere he goes, his teams always win.”
Anyway, read Bradley’s column about Schuerholz. Agree with most of it, except I’ve never found Schuerholz to be a guy easy to dislike. Yeah, he’s a arrogant and a dapper dresser who wears suspenders to the ballpark, but so what?
I like a guy who’s brash, not afraid to make a sartorial statement or say what’s on his mind, and doesn’t dabble in false modesty. A guy who is damn good at what he does, and acts like it.
And believe it or not, he’s got a great sense of humor.
I’ve always enjoyed talking to the man, and I know I’ll get ripped by a few here on the blog for saying that, because apparently to them, saying something nice about a person you’re assigned to cover means you’re sucking up to them. Whatever.
I said he’s full of himself. I’d never wear the suspenders. I’ll tell you he seems to like telling folks what book he just finished reading (he reads a LOT), or the fine restaurant he ate in last night ( that most of you and I probably can’t afford). Not particularly flattering things to say about someone. No way to suck up.
But if he or someone else were to dissect me in print or on a blog or whatever, I can assure you, there’d be more flaws and annoying tendencies to point out than the ones I attributed to him. And if I read as much as him (which I should, but don’t), I’d probably tell people about it, too. (I do the same with music, with CDs I’ve heard. I know it. I know it annoys some people. Too bad.)
We all have our moments, and most of us can be royal pains in the butt at times; some of us more than others. So what?
The man’s great at what he does, or did, or whatever. Deal with it. Or do you think the Braves not winning another World Series or two is somehow a big mark against the general manager who assembled the teams that made it to 14 consecutive postseasons? If so, hey, you’re entitled to your opinion.
As for the Bradley column, I do think Bobby Cox was at least equally as important as Schuerholz for the Braves’ long run of success, probably more. And you can’t overlook scouting guru Paul Snyder and the player development staff.
But Schuerholz … anyone who doesn’t recognize he’s one of the best general managers of the modern era, if not the best, is simply ignoring the evidence — the nearly 1,600 wins in 17 seasons in Atlanta, the division titles, the success with Kansas City before the Braves — while also declaring the overwhelming consensus of his peers and others in the industry is flawed.
Nevermind us ink-stained wretches, just listen to the folks he competed against, those who’ve tried to measure up against him in his own profession. I’ve looked, and the only negative comment I can find over the years, the only person in baseball — player, manager, GM, scout, anyone — I can find that was criticial of Schuerholz, on or off record, was John Rocker, who said last year that he was overrated and had a little man’s complex, or something to that effect.
If you can find someone else who’s said anything dismissive of Schuerholz’s body of work, who has said anything that can be construed as less than glowing praise, please let me know. Otherwise, we’ve got Rocker and Angry Joe from Smyrna.
Because I can tell you, even the agents he’s butted heads with in recent years, at least to me, have never said Schuerholz is anything less than a fine GM.
And most everyone I talk to, either in interviews or simply casual conversation around batting cages, etc., says the man is the best in the business.
I won’t be so bold as to suggest I know more about judging GMs than do other GMs, scouts, coaches, managers and players. Maybe a few of you do. But I don’t.
Wren’s got big shoes to fill: To say the least, he’s got a tough assignment. Not only is Frank Wren following a GM that presided over a worst-to-first team that went on to win 14 consecutive division titles, but he’s taking over at a time when their payroll ranks in the middle of the pack, unlike the top-tier payrolls that most of Schuerholz’s Braves teams enjoyed.
And Wren doesn’t have Dayton Moore heading up the minor league system, though the replacements have done a sound job according to most experts who’ve judged the Braves’ last couple of drafts and their minor league system. I don’t know; I think it’s too early to tell on that front.
Anyway, Wren. I’ve known him since my first year covering baseball in Florida in 1995, when he was a Marlins executive working under Dave Dombrowski. And I’ve always been impressed by his baseball acumen and his knowledge of the myriad rules regarding free agency, arbitration, options, Rule 5 drafts, etc.
He knows that stuff far better than anyone else I know, and I mean anyone.
But that’s only a small part of being a GM. Schuerholz didn’t seem to know much more about that stuff than I do, to be honest. But he didn’t need to — most of that stuff has become much more complicated in the past 10 years, and by then Schuerholz had reached such a stature and surrounded himself with such baseball minds, he delegated most of that technical stuff to Wren and others.
Frank told me yesterday that he knows he’ll have to get an assistant soon and delegate a lot of the very stuff he specialized in, because the GM simply has too many responsibilities to get caught up in all that on a daily basis.
“This is a big job,” he said. “It’s a daunting task to be a general manager of a baseball franchise.”
Frank knows that now he’s got to try to come up with the “big deal” ideas, something that Frank said he always marveled at John’s ability to do. “All of a sudden he’d say, ‘Why don’t we get Gary Sheffield?’” Wren said yesterday, speaking of Schuerholz. “When we hadn’t even talked about Gary Sheffield.”
Jim Leyland was Florida’s manager in 1997-98, Wren’s last two years there before he took the doomed-to-fail Orioles GM job.
(I say doomed to fail, because everyone I’ve talked to who was privy to the goings-on there said owner Peter Angelos and his sons were meddlesome and involved themselves in every situation. No question Frank made some personnel moves that backfired there, but again, I’m told that his hands were tied on many fronts, and that a toxic atmosphere was created by all the backstabbing and second-guessing from the top when anything went wrong.)
Here’s what Leyland told me yesterday when I called him to ask about Frank: “I’m happy for him. He’s a good man. He knows the game. He knows players. He knows what he’s doing. After working with Dave and John Schuerholz, two Hall of Fame general managers, and Bobby Cox, a Hall of Fame manager … that’s pretty good.”
Dombrowski told me Wren was as qualified as you could possibly be, and pointed out that other organizations had pursued him but that Wren liked Atlanta and turned down some opportunities.
Wren did turn down the Pittsburgh Pirates GM job. That’s the only GM job he was offered since Baltimore, but he also took himself out of consideration for two or three others.
He didn’t get the Cincinnati Reds job he interviewed for a year ago. Sometimes, things happen for a reason. Today, Wren couldn’t be happier than he was bypassed for that post. Because now he’s got the one he wanted most.
Will he do a good job? I’m confident he will, though I don’t know his approach behind-the-scenes well enough to say it with absolute confidence. I do know he’s a good guy, with three kids he didn’t want to move from Atlanta, including a couple of athletic twin sons who are 13, the age you don’t like to move them.
He’s learned lessons since his Baltimore experience, and says he’s developed as a manager of people, something that’s absolutely critical for success as a GM. It was perhaps’ Schuerholz’ greatest strength, his ability to motivate and lead the staff that worked so hard for him.
Whether Wren can fill those shoes, and have the great working relationship with Bobby Cox that Schuerholz did, we’ll soon find out.
I do know he won’t be intimidated, another big strength of Schuerholz’s. Let me give you one example from his only GM experience, both used against him when Angelos fired him in Baltimore:
Cal Ripken Jr. was an absolute living legend still playing for Baltimore when Wren was the O’s GM. One day late in the ‘99, the team’s chartered jet was waiting to take off for a West Coast road trip at 8 a.m.
Ripken, who could be a bit, uh, well, high-maintenance, called saying he was stuck in traffic and would be arriving in the next five to 10 minutes.
“At Wren’s order, the plan[e] took off without Cal, who arrived at the gate a few minutes later. Cal was then forced to make his own cross-country travel arrangements,” the Orioles said in a release when they fired Wren.
” … In the opinion of management, there was no need for such an arbitrary and inflexible decision…. The Orioles management cannot and will not abide having a general manager operate in such an unreasonable, authoritarian manner and treat anyone in this way, especially someone such as Cal who has done so much for the Orioles and for baseball.”
Hey, say what you will about the decision, but making the call to leave Ripken at the airport? That’s someone with stones.
And I can pretty well assure you of this: He wouldn’t be the one having to make that call with the Braves anyway, not while Bobby Cox is the manager and chain-smoking, old-school, gravel-voiced Bill Acree is the no-b.s. travel director.
What a job. What a life.
Baseball.
You gotta love it.
“CRIMSON DRAGON TATTOO by Ray Wylie Hubbard
I have a crimson dragon tattoo
It burns on my arm like the truth
The red ink is in my skin, it’s on my soul too
I have a crimson dragon tattoo.
Twenty-one silver dollars is what it cost
Drawn by a fast left hand when I was lost
I did not choose a heart, a rose or a cross
Twenty-one silver dollars is what it cost.
Sometimes it whispers my name
And tells me that this life is just a game
Whom the gods wish to destroy, first they drive insane
Sometimes it whispers my name.
I have a crimson dragon tattoo
It burns on my arm like the truth
The red ink is in my skin its on my soul too
I have a crimson dragon tattoo.
I have a crimson dragon tattoo…
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Muggly Other
October 12, 2007 2:28 PM | Link to this
Frank Wren is easier to spell when we want to rant about bad GM moves so it has to be a good thing.
By Blazerpunter
October 12, 2007 2:34 PM | Link to this
Good article DOB! I think this is a great situation for Wren! He will be able to transition into the role instead of most new GM’s who have to start from scratch with a new organization.
Also, JS will still be around and would be able to offer guidance if anything should really catch Wren off guard! I think this will be good for the Braves!! People have been crying out on here for change, well here it is!! Let’s jump on board with both feet and ride it to a new streak of division championships, starting with 2008!!
GO BRAVES!!!!
By Shaun
October 12, 2007 2:43 PM | Link to this
TennPaul, my source is espn.com’s stats page and it’s everyone who came to bat as a centerfielder, best I can tell. It makes some sense to look at only CF who qualified for batting title so I understand where you’re coming from but seems to me you’d want all centerfielders. What if a guy platooned and got a lot of plate appearances yet he didn’t get quite enough to qualify? A team’s regular CF could possibly not qualify.
By beachcomber
October 12, 2007 2:45 PM | Link to this
I’m sure Mr. Wren, a fine Pinellas County, Florida product, will do a good job but fill JS’s shoes - No.
Just as Elston Howard never filled Yogi’s shoes; Phil Bengston - Vince Lombardi’s or the litany of head coaches filled the Bear’s in Bama. You do not fill an icon’s shoes.
By Shaun
October 12, 2007 2:50 PM | Link to this
JC Bradbury’s view of John Schuerholz’s legacy:
He deserves a lot of credit for keeping a winning team on the field, with only one losing season in 17 years. In terms of payroll, only during his first season did the Braves have a payroll below the league average. Now money alone is not enough to be successful on the field, but it doesn’t hurt your chances.
My verdict on his Braves tenure: good, but not great. I’m somewhat sorry to see him go, but I’m not as worried as Twins fans have to be with the departure of Terry Ryan. To be fair, I’m not too fond of his public persona—he might be a nice guy in private, but comes off as a bit smug in interviews—but I cannot deny that he got the job done.
Note: not saying I agree. Just posting this for discussion’s sake.
By Muggly Other
October 12, 2007 2:54 PM | Link to this
Schuerholz was on the Colin Cowherd show on ESPN this morning. Guess he was able to get some stuff off his chest now that he is the “ex” GM.
He said that the proposal for Andruw’s contract that he got from Boras in the off season was so ridiculous that it didn’t even deserve a reply……so he didn’t reply. Seems like Andruw’s fate was sealed even before the season began, which is fine with me ‘cause I was ready to see him go. Just goes to show that all the speculation here and other places about Andruw’s return to Atlanta was an exercise in futility. The GM had made his decision before the season even began. Since that was the case, probably didn’t hurt Schuerholz’s feelings to see Druw hit .220. My only problem with Schuerholz on this is that he had to see it coming a year and a half ago. Why is that a big deal? Simple. At that time Druw was not yet a 10-5 guy and Schuerholz should have traded him then! I was begging for it! Miscalculation, plain and simple. Andrew stuck around and did not contribute to another trip to post season.
I fear Schuerholz final move will be remembered by Braves fans as something that damaged the franchise for at least the short term. I think Tex will walk after next year. I fear that payroll will be just good enough to make us pretenders for a couple more years AND I feel that the trading of great prospects like we gave up for Tex will prove a big mistake, especially if he walks.
The development of home grown talent is the model of 3 of the final 4 playoff teams. Even Boston has some home grown pitching studs on the horizon. Where are the pitching studs in the Braves minor league organization? Where are Phillip Hughes and Jaba Chamberlin? Where are Papelbon and Lester? The Yankees raped their minor league organization for years to get veteran stars, now they are back and it didn’t take them very long. They get Chamberlin and we get…… Chuck James? Anthony Reyes? Anthony Larew?
It’s great to have McCann and Francouer. Brandon Jones may come up big. But where is the can’t miss stud pitcher? If you ask me, player development and scouting needs some help. We seem to be fine with young position talent, but we stink at signing and developing stud pitchers. I don’t want to hear about some undersized, gutty, left handed kid at Myrtle Beach. I want to hear about some monster that throws 98 and has an untouchable slider that just needs to be tamed.
By Mr J
October 12, 2007 2:59 PM | Link to this
I think this move is a good sign for the Braves future under Liberty Media. JS and McGuirk were convinced that Wren was a guy they didn’t want to lose to another team, so they did what was necessary to keep him. Expanding the upper management in this way was probably not inexpensive, and not something that a team with a penny-pinching mindset was likely to do.
Generally, I think this supports the idea that Liberty is interested in investing in its asset, not just holding it. And specifically I think it bodes well for our chances of getting Texeira resigned.
By Jared
October 12, 2007 3:01 PM | Link to this
Well, there was Lonnie Smith. He didn’t like John Schuerholz. He was going to shoot and kill Schuerholz when Schuerholz was with the Royals. Or something like that.
“If I couldn’t get back to baseball,” Lonnie Smith says, “I was going to take him with me. I was going to fly out there, wait for him in the parking lot of the stadium and pop him. If I got caught, I got caught. If not, I’d come on back home.”
Anyways….Schuerholz was a great GM. You never know what you have until it’s gone. Now we get the guy who signed Albert Belle. But we also get the guy who traded for B.J. Ryan.
By Robert(Justice Is The Best)
October 12, 2007 3:01 PM | Link to this
Robert, what is your flippin deal with DOB. The man is great. He writes blogs and converses with all of us giving us the scoop before anybody else. What? Are you p** because he doesn’t join in your Bobby bashing. Get a life, dude. DOB has ripped me numerous times for things I have said or suggested. I take it like a man. I respect his opinion even if I disagree with it and move on. Robert, you need some serious help. Really, dude. So much of what you say is true about Cox but it gets so lost because of all the bile and moronicism you spew.
By Chop Chop
October 12, 2007 3:01 PM | Link to this
John Schuerholz might be as good of a consigliere for Wren as Vito was for Michael, but I don’t really think it’s necessary for Schuerholz to be sticking around this organization. I’m sure he truly loves baseball, but Schuerholz loves the ego trip just as much. I would have rather seen Homeboy kicked out than kicked further upstairs.
And, hey, what was this that I heard today? Schuerholz was on Colin Cowherd’s ESPN radio show this morning. He made his debut as team president by mocking Boras and his contract demands for A-Rod. And while I think Schuerholz is dead-on in his criticism of Boras, he has to remember that Mark Teixeira is a Boras client AND that he is not doing the negotiations for that contract. His successor will. Make it easy as you can on Wren, why don’t ya, John? After all, we all know you can’t stand Boras. Shut your yap.
The sad fact is that Frank Wren will take the fall for any further decline of this team. Schuerholz will end up being the guy that everyone looks to when big decisions need to be made (Who’s Clemenza and who’s Tessio in the Braves organization?). After a while, ol’ JS is going to have to take a tumble into a row of tomato plants for this team to truly move forward.
By TennesseePaul
October 12, 2007 3:02 PM | Link to this
but seems to me you’d want all centerfielders.
Well that’s the point Payne. I want CF, not Willie Harris. And there are a lot of guys that played a game or had an at bat while in CF that aren’t CF. This is why I restricted it to Qualifying CF and excluded utility men and/or any of LaRussa’s midseason crazy ideas.
The one thing I’d agree on is Cameron is a CF. But I disagree that he’d be a good option at 7 to 8 million a year, even if it’s 1, 2 or 3 years. Cameron’s numbers came up below qualifying CF numbers. His career numbers leave little to justify 7-8 million a season. And obviously there are people out there that think he is worth this much, and some here have speculated he’d get more than that. We’ll see, he could get that or more, but I hope it isn’t Wren signing him up for that much.
I agree with Lew on this point, that 7-8 million could be better spent on something else. We need only to replace .222/.311 (AVG/OBP).
Qualifying also includes majority of games played at that position. Harris wouldn’t Qualify as a 3B even though he played a few innings there. But he’d be included in 3B stats for those few innings if you take off the qualifiers.
By Bryan (Go KU)
October 12, 2007 3:06 PM | Link to this
Lets think about this…We all know Mark Texeira wont sign long term without a no trade clause.. can you hear the conversation between Terry Mcguirk & John Schuerholz…”Hey John if we promote you to team President you wont have to cave and give Tex the no trade clause he wants… Frank can do it as the new GM and you will save face”.
What do you think about that?
By Savannah Guy
October 12, 2007 3:06 PM | Link to this
ready to condemn anyone to the fires of baseball hell (probably Tampa Bay)
Well now Lew…I must take issue with that comment. Flushing is baseball hell. Tampa Bay is merely purgatory.
By Choppy
October 12, 2007 3:06 PM | Link to this
I wonder how many GM’s that had previously been gunshy about getting out dealed by Schuerholz called Frank Wren yesterday looking to make a deal?
1 priority is to fill out the starting rotation with 2-3 guys who can take the ball every 5th day and know what to do with it. 2 priority is to figure out who to play in CF.Other than these two items, the Braves don’t have any glaring holes.
By Bryan (Go KU)
October 12, 2007 3:10 PM | Link to this
Lets think about this…We all know Mark Texeira wont sign long term without a no trade clause.. can you hear the conversation between Terry Mcguirk & John Schuerholz…”Hey John if we promote you to team President you wont have to cave and give Tex the no trade clause he wants… Frank can do it as the new GM and you will save face”.
What do you think about that?
By Chico Escuela
October 12, 2007 3:17 PM | Link to this
Beeseball has been berry berry good to me and my good fran Hojn Sureholtz.
By Robert(Justice Is The Best)
October 12, 2007 3:18 PM | Link to this
Jared, apparently ‘ol Lonnie forgave JS because he was on the Braves team in ‘91 and I personally hold him soley responsible for the Braves not winning that game 7 against the Twins. That was the most idiotic baserunning mistake in Braves history.
By Jared
October 12, 2007 3:19 PM | Link to this
Here should be the Braves’ new policy:
No Boras-clients shall be signed as free agents. No Boras-clients shall be acquired via trade. No Boras-clients shall be drafted. Impending Braves’ free agent Boras-clients shall not be signed and the Braves will issue a public statement as soon as possible that they’re not coming back so Boras cannot use the Braves as leverage when discussing a contract. If possible, a clause shall be added to every new contract a free agent signs with the Braves stating they cannot, as long as the contract is in effect, make Scott Boras their agent. Boras is banned from Turner Field.
By Lew
October 12, 2007 3:21 PM | Link to this
Savannah Guy-Have you ever been to Tropicana Field? Great place for Arena Football, though I have no desire to visit Shea, either.
Shaun, You really should go read my final post on the last blog. I think there is substantial truth in it. It is how I really feel and will be my last word on the topic. It might do you some good if you heed what I say, though. Doubt you will, fanatic that you are, but I tried.
By Shaun
October 12, 2007 3:21 PM | Link to this
TennesseePaul, yes, I agree that qualifying will cut out the Willie Harris’s. But it will also cut out some guys who got significant time in centerfield. Maybe a better way would be to look at guys who got maybe 400 plate appearances (obviously that would be four in 100 games). That way you weed out the Willie Harris types but you also include the guys with significant playing time as centerfielders yet still didn’t qualify.
Also, with regard to Cameron, you say he’s subpar compared to other qualifying centerfielders but does that take into account park adjustments? Just some issues to think about. Trying not to get too argumentative with this issue. I’d really like to heed to others’ complaints as to not appear like the jerk that I am not.
By roan st
October 12, 2007 3:27 PM | Link to this
Ahmen MUGGLY OTHER, I have been saying that very same thing about the pitching in our organization for years. It is the one big hole in john shuerholz resume with the braves. Where have the pitching studs been if were so great at scouting talent? Most people outside of the braves family don’t realize that shuerholz was not responsible for glavine or smoltz. They were already here when he arrived and maddux was signed as a free agent. So shuerholz didn’t have anything to do with the drafting or development of the great braves pitching trio of the nineties. Something I think most outside observers unwittingly give him credit for. I hope wrens first goal is to start trying to develop some big time pitching within our org. No more soft throwing undersized pitchers but some big old flame throwing farm boys. Look at how much pitching billy beane and oakland have churned out in the last 10 years. Incredible. We can’t come up with zilch.
By Chico Escuela
October 12, 2007 3:29 PM | Link to this
Meester Savannah Man, “Flushing”? I thought we were going to get off the jygene hokes now that Senora Carolina Lady is once again(thankfully)among us. May a Hecko eat Senor Fly.
By Chico Escuela
October 12, 2007 3:34 PM | Link to this
Herk? Did someone call Senor Sjaun a herk? Sjame on you!
By tp
October 12, 2007 3:34 PM | Link to this
DOB, that was a terrific blog. Keep up the great work!
As an near-lifelong Atlanta sports fan, John S. helped put a franchise on the map and national stage I could be proud to root for. I’ve gotten nothing but heartache from the rest of the lousy franchises in this town!
By Shaun
October 12, 2007 3:37 PM | Link to this
Lew, if you want to assume meaning in what I say, that’s fine. What I say is what I say, nothing more nothing less. I have no idea how intelligent you are or anyone else that posts regularly. All I do is respond to posts with the best information and knowledge I have.
Also, don’t think I’ve ever mentioned a formula for park adjustments. I do say we must take them into account and suggest how I do it (by looking at road stats before jumping to conclusions about overall stats of players who play home games in extreme environments).
I’ve never ever called anyone here dumb that I can recall. I simply respond with the knowledge that I have in the best way I can. I refuse to try to convince you I’m not smug or condescending. You don’t really know me other than my words on a computer screen and I can’t really control what you think. I just do the best I can and try not to name call. Thanks.
By Mr. Fly (Sleuth Reporter)
October 12, 2007 3:41 PM | Link to this
Chico Escuela, Sr. Fly nunca caería víctima de un lagarto. Ellos son demasiado mudos y lentos.
By O'Reilly
October 12, 2007 3:45 PM | Link to this
Who will get the last word? Factor that into the formula.
By Rooster
October 12, 2007 3:45 PM | Link to this
DOB Leo Mazzone was just let go by the Baltimore Orioles do you think there is a chane the Braves would bring him back for one last time with bobby.
By Robert
October 12, 2007 3:46 PM | Link to this
Leo Mazzone fired as O’s pitching coach after only two seasons….OUCH….anybody still interested in him?
By TennesseePaul
October 12, 2007 3:48 PM | Link to this
Payne: I think the qualifiers pulled in all the capable players. And, even when you just look at Cameron’s splits away from Petco, he still came up under everyone else’s qualifying numbers. Nevertheless, he isn’t worth 7 or 8 million.
By Gil in Mechanicsville
October 12, 2007 3:48 PM | Link to this
Actually, I think Terry McGuirk is a pretty shrewd guy. He was able to retain the services of a guy like John Schuerholz who was growing weary of the job and keep from losing another talented assistant ala Dayton Moore to the Royals by promoting Wren.
That is a win win situation for all involved. By keeping JS, it is like have a GM Emeritus. Now as for payroll, it is going to be difficult to get big bucks from Liberty Media after watching the success the Rockies have had.
I have mentioned it before when people have clamored for a local owner, you have to be careful what you ask for….. See comment about Peter Angelos and sons.
By True Braves Fan
October 12, 2007 3:49 PM | Link to this
DOB: The Schuerholtz-Wren move is a big plus for the Braves…We get the best of both worlds. Question: Who did JS replace as President of the Braves? Did TM previously hold the titles of Chairman of the Board AND President?
By Shaun
October 12, 2007 3:49 PM | Link to this
Leo Mazzone was fired today.
By Chico Escuela
October 12, 2007 3:51 PM | Link to this
Meester Savannaj Mano: Sjow off!
By Jared
October 12, 2007 3:53 PM | Link to this
Leo Mazzone fired.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3060643
By Robert
October 12, 2007 3:53 PM | Link to this
DOB - how soon after the WS do you think Wren will go after and try to wrap up Glavine? Can he be had for as little as 5-6 million for 2008 with an option for 2009?
By Rooster
October 12, 2007 3:54 PM | Link to this
If the Braves can find away to grab tori hunter, Glavine and a young power starter things look Championship like in 08.
Projected hopeful 08 lineup 1- Escobar -ss 2- Kelly Johnson -2B 3- Chipper Jones - 3B 4- Mark Texieria - 1B 5- Tori Hunter - CF 6- Jeff Francour - RF 7- Brian McCann - C 8- Diaz/B. Jones 9- Pitcher
Starting Rotation 1 - John Smoltz 2 - Tim Hudson 3 - Tom Glavine 4 - Blanton/Haren 5 - Hampton if healthy/ or Reyes
Bullpen Soriano Mahay Moylan Asciano Few others
Wow makes me wish dreams really could come true. All of this for probably 110 million next year. Liberty Media needs to open their wallet. Lets bring another title to atlanta and shut the national media up. GO BRAVES!!!!!
By Choppy
October 12, 2007 3:54 PM | Link to this
Doh!
That was the sound of Roger McDowell reading that Leo Mazzone is now unemployed.
By Gil in Mechanicsville
October 12, 2007 3:55 PM | Link to this
Ah, pitching prospects….. The Braves can always tap into the Cubs farm like the Marlins have done the past several years. Yep, the have picked the Cubs pocket so many times it’s a joke.
Best position players always seem to come from the Indians organization. They always have some great young guy waiting in the wings.
Now, the other end of the spectrum, look at the recent Expos/Nationals and the Orioles.
Tampa has loads of talent in the minors but they don’t seem to know what to do with it when they get them to the majors.
By Lew
October 12, 2007 3:58 PM | Link to this
RoanSt and Muggly Other- If you think the Braves are pitching bereft in the minor leagues, maybe you should check out the following- Cole Rohrbaugh, Thomas Hanson, Steve Evarts, Jose Ortegano, Edgar Osuna, Chad Rodgers, Jairo Cuevas, Bryan Dumesnil, Jaye Chapman, Kyle Cofield, Benino Pruneda, and Cody Railsback. These are all from High A ball down to Danville (who had the lowest ERA in their league). They all have great K to BB ratios and are quite capable, (Rohrbaugh and Hanson in particular) of being stud pitchers. For that matter, give JoJo Reyes a bit more time and you might be very surprised. Y’all act as if the Braves have never drafted good pitching. It certainly is not so. Just how many stud pitchers (with a decent track record-not just one or two good seasons) are there scattered among the 30 teams, anyway? Not all that many, or half of the teams (or more) wouldn’t be constantly looking for more pitching. Look at the bunch of can’t miss pitchers the Marlins had a few years ago. Where are they now and what have they all really done? I think Beckett is the only one who has truly lived up to expectations and excelled-I know AJ Burnett has been injured a good bit of the time. That is quite typical of “stud, can’t miss” pitchers-one or two good years and out or end up mediocre.
By Lew
October 12, 2007 4:04 PM | Link to this
No Shaun- You need to realize that words can have implications as well as having intrinsic meanings. However, you are so anal in your outlook, you can’t see that what you say means more than just what you think it says on the surface. It’s time you realize that whenever you have pain in your intestinal tract, it isn’t always colon cancer-sometimes you’re just constipated. You, Sir, have one of the most well defined cases of mental constipation I’ve ever encountered.
By Oranthologist
October 12, 2007 4:05 PM | Link to this
Wrens, Hawks, Thrashers and Falcons. And they wanted me to do something about the pigeon mess downtown. This town is for the birds.
By Shaun
October 12, 2007 4:05 PM | Link to this
TennPaul, apparently we’re looking at two different things. Here’s what I see; Cameron’s ranks in AVG/OBP/SLG among ML CF with at least 200 PA on the road (27 players):
19th in AVG/11th in OBP/8th in SLG
That seems pretty good to me. Obviously, feel free to draw your own conclusions. I’m just pointing out what I see.
By kreedham
October 12, 2007 4:07 PM | Link to this
Dave, enjoyed the comments about Bobby and Paul Snyder having been a big part of the Braves success. After the World Series win in 95 I was able to get a ball signed by John, Bobby and Paul. Only them…no players. I knew what you know those threewere the reason the Braves won.
By bill
October 12, 2007 4:09 PM | Link to this
Alot of people been wanting Mazzone back, here’s their chance. I don’t want him back. He’s the one that left, wasn’t fired. He got greedy. McDowell knows as much as he does. Just got to give him time. Mazzone had alot more to work with. JS has been great for the Braves but this trade for Tex was a mistake. Tex is a great player but the Braves are not going to pay him 20Mil per season. Trying to deal with Boras will be a circus. He will be traded by mid season. Hopefully they can recoup some of the prospects they lost.
By Dr. Lew
October 12, 2007 4:13 PM | Link to this
A mentally constipated baseball statistician should take a pencil and work it out.
By Big Buck
October 12, 2007 4:23 PM | Link to this
Brought over from the old blog.
Before finalizing plans for an “in-person” meeting, ask yourselves this? Can you imagine spending an evening with some of these windbags without a “scroll” button? Me either! Get me a to-go plate.
By David O'Brien
October 12, 2007 4:28 PM | Link to this
Braves Fan, McGuirk had dropped the president’s title, apprently more than a month ago. He added CEO to his chairman title.
Choppy, you really think that because some fans want Leo back, McDowell’s nervous?
He’s had nothing but praise heaped upon him by his bosses, Cox and Schuerholz, and I’ve heard not one inkling of any pitcher or Braves front-office person having missed Leo or wished he was back since the day he left.
So tell me, why would or should McDowell feel the least bit concerned? Answer: He shouldn’t. And I’m pretty certain he doesn’t.
You or I might miss Leo, but our opinions mean squat in the hiring and firing of coaches. And they just re-signed all the coaches for next season.
By Greg in TN
October 12, 2007 4:29 PM | Link to this
Afternoon gang…
It actually feels like October in East Tennessee now and I had to pull out one of the Terry Cashman CDs to listen to “The Song of October”.
Yesterday’s press conference (thank you SportSouth for covering it live in the southeast) confirms to me that it will be business as usual at the corner of Bill Lucas Drive and Hank Aaron Drive, which is just fine by me. I had to chuckle at Frank Wren’s little backhand at the Oriole’s organization when asked what he had learned in his year in the Chesapeake in 1999. Has to be a tough gig being a figurehead GM under Peter Angelos.
Some are asking about our approach to Teixiera now that FW has the reins and if the franchise will veer from their long time aversion to granting no trade clauses in contracts. It’s true that FW will be his own man and I believe he is willing and very capable to guide the team in the years ahead, but he is also very much in tuned with JS in terms of how the organization is run, so I wouldn’t think there’ll be a change in that mantra.
We have JS locked up contractually for four more years, which is a nice thought to this denizen. It will give Wren time to move into the position and make it his own, but also gives him the luxury of walking down the hall to the suspendered one if he needs another opinion, and JS will still have to sign off on any big moves.
DOB, I was going to ask you a week or two ago what JS’s relationship was like with Gregg Clifton, so thanks for mentioning that yesterday. It’s easy to see why there is such a adversarial relationship between JS and Bora$, but I was always curious as to how JS and Clifton got along after Glavine’s first free agent foray to New York and how it eventually wound up in print in JS’s book.
By ncscoots
October 12, 2007 4:31 PM | Link to this
Lew, you forgot Dan Smith.
Sent you an email earlier, BTW.
By TennesseePaul
October 12, 2007 4:32 PM | Link to this
Payne: I do see something wrong. Everyone else can hit in Petco and have those stats included, but Cameron cannot. And even still, this does not justify 7-8 million annual salary.
By Braves20
October 12, 2007 4:35 PM | Link to this
Enjoyed the “good but not great” comments a few hours back by one of the number crunching right fielders the national pastime is no plagued with.
And the author of those comments built how many winning franchises in his lifetime?
The only worse plagues are dolts like Andrew Zimbalist who claim sports have absolutely no economic impact on communities. (Sorry off the subject but had to vent about idiots like him.)
By N8
October 12, 2007 4:36 PM | Link to this
Choppy
“Doh!….That was the sound of Roger McDowell reading that Leo Mazzone is now unemployed.”
Some of you just don’t get it, do you?
1) Leo could’ve been retained in Atlanta had JS and Bobby (along with veteran pitchers), had given him a ringing endorsement…..the DIDN’T.
2) Leo SUCKED in Baltimore. He did NOTHING to warrant NOT getting fired once his buddy Sam got the axe.
3) Why on earth would the Braves fire McDowell to hire Leo? Do you realize that the Braves finished 7th in MLB in team pitching (4.11 ERA)??? And that’s with such journeyman/losers/rookies like Redman, Lerew, Buddy, Jo-Jo and Bennett pitching in the 4th and 5th spots of the rotation and losing Mike Gonzalez for the year in May???
Get over it. Leo is NOT coming back. nor SHOULD he.
BTW: Baltimore finished 29th in MLB with a 5.17 ERA.
Yeah. Leo’s a GOD.
Unreal.
By mo in the boonies
October 12, 2007 4:38 PM | Link to this
Replying to a few posts from the last blog.
Gil in Mechanicsville What does JS do as President? He sharpens his pencils, arranges his desktop neatly, leans back in his cushy leather chair, puts his feet up on the window sill, and keeps his mouth shut. Next year he leaves with a very nice pension, and a few shares of the corporation. This was not a promotion per se. It was corporations way of getting rid of a guy, and still allowing him to save face. Trust me, he will not be consulted by Wren, Liberty probably thought Wren was more capable of negotiating with people rather than the increasingly arrogant Schuerholtz. I figure the way he handled Andruw was probably the last straw for Liberty. Don’t ever kid yourself that they aren’t keeping close tabs on everything the Braves do.
mr baseball, I agree completely with both of your posts, too bad more people, the press included, don’t open their eyes about the ineptness of both Cox and JS. If the Atlanta press had been more diligent in exposing all the stupid things Cox does in so many games, and the trades that JS got snookered in over the years, perhaps the nation wide adulation of both Cox and JS would not be so glowing. Ignorance is Bliss! In DOB’s defense, as the Beat reporter, he had to walk around partially blind-folded, if he had any hopes at all of having any contact with the team and manager. Any disparaging words written by him would have meant instant banishment from the team environment. But the esteemed columnists of the AJC certainly dropped the ball over all the ensuing years.
Savannah Guy We don’t have gators or poisonous snakes up here in the Midwest, northern boonies, thank God! We do have bears and coyotes, and deer, but they don’t bother me, and I don’t bother them. Live and let live. I’ve never eaten Carolina BBQ, but I’m sure I’d like it. :>)
Lady Carolina I don’t know you very well, since I’m a relatively newbie to the blog, but I’m happy for you to have beat the big C.
As for the new GM of the Braves, look at it this way, he couldn’t do any worse!
Leo coming back to the Braves? I certainly hope not! We need to change the pitching coach, but not him.
By Savannah Guy
October 12, 2007 4:38 PM | Link to this
DOB: (On Schuerholz) “I said he’s full of himself. I’d never wear the suspenders. I’ll tell you he likes to let folks know what book he just finished, the fine restaurant he ate in, that you or I probably can’t afford. Not particularly flattering things to say about someone. No way to suck up.”
Since you mentioned it, just wondering…did JS share those things to whomever he said them to as a superficial, “I’m rich and talented and you’re not” way or was he simply sharing his publishing accomplishments and fine dining experiences to be personal and relate on those levels with other writers/foodies he thought might also appreciate his writing or enjoy hearing about his favorite restaurants?
The way you stated it (construed as far less than glowing praise), the behavior you described may seem obvious but I’m curious to learn more about your perception there. If another person’s behavior is a window then our own perception must be the door.
So, could you please flesh JS out a bit more clearly for the purpose of drawing a realistic picture of the old GM and the new President? Not asking for gossip, laundry aired or a lengthy profile in sport success at the top…just a bit more insight into the man that leads the Braves.
Oh, does he call them suspenders or braces? That’s really important. Most telling…
By Big Buck
October 12, 2007 4:38 PM | Link to this
One more piece of subject matter from the old blog: It was suggested that we get Grinch on “ice”(pun intended)to skate for the Thrashers. I think it would be good publicity for the blog. It should certainly make Letterman’s Stupid Pet Tricks. :-)
By mike
October 12, 2007 4:41 PM | Link to this
bobby cox smokes
By beachcomber
October 12, 2007 4:43 PM | Link to this
Greg in TN - Your comment about Terry Cashman reminded me (and excuse me if this has been mentioned before). He has a new collection of baseball songs out modeled after the ‘82 song - Willie, Mickey and the Duke which (to digress even further) my daughter and I danced to at her wedding this summer.
Anyway, it it has a fairly neat Braves version in the collection. I picked it up off iTunes but imagine, it’s available elsewhere.
By Jared
October 12, 2007 4:44 PM | Link to this
Again: can the Braves afford both Glavine AND Cameron?
I have yet to have anyone answer that.
By Shaun
October 12, 2007 4:46 PM | Link to this
TennesseePaul, out of everyone else, who played as many as 328 of their plate appearances in Petco? That would be kind of difficult since the most plate appearances any of those centerfielders got on the road was 382. So how do you know everyone else can hit at Petco? Do you have the stats for all centerfielders at Petco? Not trying to be smug or condescending, just wondering where you see that everyone can hit at Petco except for Cameron. (Although I would argue that Cameron can hit at Petco, his stats just drop because it’s a difficult place to hit.)
By Muggly Other
October 12, 2007 4:47 PM | Link to this
Lew,
You had to be bored and just wanted to post an opposing viewpoint, right? I mean your argument is indefensible simply because the facts are there for all to see. The Braves haven’t drafted and developed young pitchers who make it to the big leagues and make an impact.
Braves have developed ZERO stud pitchers in the last 10 years or so.
“Outside of Beckett in Fla”……well that’s one more stud than the Braves have developed. Johnson is a stud who has injury problems, but at least the Marlins are paying a once and maybe again young stud close to the minimum, even though he can’t pitch. The Braves have a 14 mil a year pitcher that hasn’t pitched in two years that they traded for.
Nice list of names in the minors, Lew. When any of them get to the majors and perform like Carmona, I’ll be happy to sing their praises.
By Steamboat
October 12, 2007 4:52 PM | Link to this
Regarding Cameron’s numbers: Shaun, correct me if I’m wrong, but as I understand it, the *OPS+ stat at baseballreference.com is park adjusted. At least according to their definitions (and the whole calculation is pretty “jamesian”).
Cameron had an OPS+ of 101 in 2007, meaning he was 1% better than the average hitter playing in the same ballparks.
My concern is that the number is down from 119 in 2006. I’m just wary of giving a 2 or more likely 3 year contract to a 35-year-old player coming off a down year - in terms of park-adjusted OPS, his worst year since 1998.
Admittedly, I don’t see him play enough to guess whether it was just a blip on the screen, or a sign of decline. Just going by the numbers.
By ncscoots
October 12, 2007 4:53 PM | Link to this
…Willie, Mickey and the Duke which (to digress even further) my daughter and I danced to at her wedding this summer.
beachcomber, gotta love a girl who would do that, my friend, LOL. And props to the baseball-fan father who brought her up that way. Tell her to get started on those Little Leaguers for ya :-).
By Shaun
October 12, 2007 4:54 PM | Link to this
TennPaul,
Padres Home - .235/.310/.378
Padres Away - .265/.333/.440
Padres Opponents at Pecto - .235/.294/.336
Padres Opponents Away - .264/.328/.413
Seems like everyone hits worse at Petco (although again, I suspect they don’t actually hit worse but their stats are worse because Petco is a tough place to hit). Sorry I can’t seem to find anywhere with just centerfielders’ stats at Petco and away from Petco. Not trying to be smug. Maybe you know something I don’t know and you see that all of those centerfielders actually do hit well at Petco (or their stats look good at Petco) when Cameron can’t (or his stats don’t look so good). If you do, please share the knowledge.
By The DUDE
October 12, 2007 4:54 PM | Link to this
Does Frank have any kids? Just wondering if we are going to have to watch any of his offspring waste time in the minor leagues for the Braves the way John’s kid did.
By Savannah Guy
October 12, 2007 5:00 PM | Link to this
Lew: Nope, never have been to Tropicana Field, even though I was born and raised just down the road in Ft. Myers. When my family relocated to my namesake town I was just a young ‘un. When we left the area, Tropicana Field was not even a faint glimmer in the eye of Tampa.
By Billy, The Real Blogger Formerly Know as Billy
October 12, 2007 5:00 PM | Link to this
Who remembers a Brave’s off-season having two big stories inside of the same week. J.S. always the one to make a spash doing what no one saw comming.
By ncscoots
October 12, 2007 5:01 PM | Link to this
Perhaps Muggly might enlighten us on all the stud pitchers (minimum three years of excellence) produced by the other 29 clubs in the last ten years. And also the 100 or so in each organization who failed to become studs. Perhaps there are actually teams that produce an elite pitcher (not a one-year wonder) at a rate higher than one every ten years, and the rest of us have just missed it. Thanks.
By Greg in TN
October 12, 2007 5:02 PM | Link to this
N8, agree with you, bringing back Leo would be a step backwards.
beachcomber, thanks for the information. I had heard he was working on something but hadn’t realized he released it. Will need to run out and add that to the ‘ol collection. It’s great that you danced to Willie, Mickey and the Duke at your daughter’s wedding. I’ve listened to Terry’s “Talking Braves Baseball” several times over the years but need to add that as well as soon as I get a chance to check out my usual music sources.
Gil, agree completely about local owners. I think if we ended up with a local team that micromanaged everything to the finest detail (like Angelos) or just showed no signs of being able to effectively run and manage a big league organization (I have that impression of Vince Naimoli in Tampa), it could be a million times worse than a faceless corporate entity.
By Savannah Guy
October 12, 2007 5:08 PM | Link to this
Seems Cameron is making the rounds again. Is that two or three days? Is he really the only CF out there? Do we know his great grandmother’s secret apple pie recipe yet?
By Shaun
October 12, 2007 5:08 PM | Link to this
Steamboat, good points. OPS+ is park adjusted and adjusted for league average (of all hitters). Cameron was only one percent better than the league average player in OPS when adjusted for ballpark. That sounds bad but may not be all that telling. You see OBP is more critical that SLG because it measures success and failure and OPS assumes they are equal, although both are important. Cameron actually posted a pretty good OBP if road stats and home stats compared to everyone else are any indication.
By Muggly Other
October 12, 2007 5:09 PM | Link to this
A GREAT column by a NY writer in a NY paper. Kind of “in your face” to the fans and management of the NY teams.
Worth the read.
Hey NYC: Watch And Learn From NLCS
By Edgar
October 12, 2007 5:11 PM | Link to this
*DOB
When do you expect the Payroll to be set, because by Mcguirk comments, he always says, “the Trend is to be up, it’s not going down” but he doesnt give a Number,an expectation of it or what is going to be???
By Daryl
October 12, 2007 5:17 PM | Link to this
I hate white people like that bigot JS who traded away all the black players and never signed any good one to replace them. That is why the Braves never won more World Series. Out of 14 straight division titles, they should have won the World Series at least seven times. But not being open-minded enough to embrace some of the better player in baseball, JS allowed his opinionation to define his team and organization, and thus determined the destiny of the Braves. It’s a sad day to see that the Braves will continue in this same direction and philosophy. Get use to the facts being stated.
By Shaun
October 12, 2007 5:18 PM | Link to this
TennPaul, one way we may be able to solve are little dilemma is to look at all the centerfielders’ stat vs. the Padres (since most probably play roughly an equal amount of games in Petco and at home vs. the Padres) and compare those to Cameron’s overall stats (since he plays roughly an equal amount of games in Pecto and away).
Cameron - .242/.328/.431
The lowest I can go on espn.com’s stat page is minimum 25 plate appearances, and there were 13 CF with at least that many vs the Pads.
Of those 13 eight posted a higher AVG, five posted a better OBP and four posted a better SLG.
Seems Cameron out-hit most of his opposing centerfielders. Take from that what you will.
By Steamboat
October 12, 2007 5:22 PM | Link to this
Shaun, and the age/decline factor doesn’t concern you? I thought you were a strong proponent of the “peak years” theory.
From ‘06 to ‘07, playing in the same park, his BA dropped 26 points; his OBP dropped 27 points; SLG dropped 51 points.
My point is not that he’s a bad player; my concern is that he’s an aging player coming off a bad year, and the cost and commitment are likely higher than he’s worth to us. (read today that Rowand is seeking 6 years/$84 mil - which is just gonna drive up the bidding on the less expensive CF’s like Cameron).
By Shaun
October 12, 2007 5:23 PM | Link to this
TennPaul, sorry. That’s supposed to read our little dilemma, not are. (I do stuff like that all the time.)
By Shaun
October 12, 2007 5:28 PM | Link to this
Lew, sorry my words offend you, if they do. That’s certainly not my intent. I just communicate the best way I can. I try to be as straight forward as possible.
By TennesseePaul
October 12, 2007 5:29 PM | Link to this
Steamboat: I’ve pointed out OPS+ rankings before, thanks for bringing it up again. I’d say your “blip” theory might be worth looking into. While OPS equates OBP and SLG the same, SLG does not include all plate appearances. It has been argued that batting average is an obsolete 19th centry stat because it doesn’t include the times the batter walks and so forth. This is the limit of slugging as well. So in one way, it balances out. Not completely, but well enough to get a good idea of what’s going on.
The blip though would more likely be last season, Cameron’s first full season in San Diego. He hit like the dickins that season, but then dropped off. Perhaps last season was the blip, as Cameron’s OPS+ has been in steady decline since 2001 (he was 6 years younger, 28 I think at the time). There is his last season in the Mets when he was injured and played in less than half the games, his OPS improved, but it could be argued that the sample size was not large enough to get a good idea of direction.
Or perhpas his 18 point drop in OPS+ from last year could be viewed as a 34 year old player dropping off a cliff. Either way, all the signs are pointing towards Cameron not being worth 7 to 8 million a season.
By Shaun
October 12, 2007 5:33 PM | Link to this
Steamboat, I could be wrong but I, like DOB, thinks Cameron isn’t going to get much more than around his $7 million a year salary this year at his age. And I still believe he may be willing to take a little less to come to Atlanta and be with his family.
Yes, the age concerns me, but for $7-8 million, at the going rate for decent centerfielders, I think he would be worth it even if he is average or slightly below average offensively. I honestly don’t see his production dropping off a cliff in the next two seasons, but you never know. Seems to me you just have to go with what seems likely not what could happen.
By Lew
October 12, 2007 5:54 PM | Link to this
Scoots-Received your email and have responded. Again, you words are well considered and are right on.
Muggly-I echo Scoots’ sentiments-define what you think is a stud pitcher and show me some examples who have achieved for three or more years. Dude, there just aren’t that many truly great pitchers in all of baseball the past ten years. Mediocrity abounds-hell, we discuss it here on a regular basis. Talk Carmona to me when he registers three years of this year’s numbers. Look at all the baby Marlins that were going to be the Gods of pitching year before last. Where are they now? How about Anibal Sanchez, Johnson and Nolasco? How about Dontrelle? What are their records now? How many have avoided going on the DL? There just aren’t that many Johann Santanas running around, are there? Ask the Twins about their other stud, Liriano. Three or more years, Dude. Not many studs out there when you look at it in those terms, are there? You asked about pitchers the Braves had drafted recently, not ten years ago. I showed you. If you refuse to see them, then I can’t do much more. You wouldn’t believe me if I showed you Millwood and Wainwright-two as good as most other teams have developed. You’d turn around and find fault with them, I’m sure. Of course I’m bored. I’ve been attempting to argue with Shaun.
By Muggly Other
October 12, 2007 5:58 PM | Link to this
ncscoots,
Unlike many here, I don’t feel like spending a few hours at baseball reference or sabermetrics trying to prove my point about developing pitchers in house.
So I’ll just give you one example.
Oakland A’s
From 2001 thru his last year with the A’s of 2005, Mark Mulder went 21-8, 19-7, 15-9, 17-8. ERA of 3.45-3.37-3.13-4.43
Tim Hudson from 2000 thru 2003 (injured in 2004) averaged 17 wins a year and had a couple of sub 3 ERA years.
Tranfering the stats is time consuming and pointless, so here are just the names of others. You look it up if you doubt it.
Barry Zito, probably the least consistent of the 3 but won 23 one year and had a decent ERA in his career at Oakland including one sub 3 year.
Oakland currently has young talent at multiple pitching slots even now that the above mentioned are gone.
Some other in house studs.
Jake Peavy- San Diego
Brandon Webb- Arizona
Roy Oswalt- Astros
I’ll even accept “traded for studs” like Smoltz who at least came to the bigs with the team they helped.
How ‘bout Johan Santana? Scouting and development is in charge of that as well. They see who belongs to someone else but can help YOU in the future.
Unlike you, I don’t base my “stud” label on 3 years or whatever. A guy is a stud if he makes a positive impact and helps the team win. Dontrelle Willis was a stud when he helped the Marlins get to the WS. He wasn’t very effective in the playoffs but he surely helped get the Fish there.
Why do you guys feel it’s necessary to appologize for a shortcoming in this organization? The King is naked! Say it! The King is what the King is!
The Braves have not done a good job of signing and developing good young pitching that makes it to the bigs and makes a positive impact! If your position is that they have, then you are as naked as the king.
By dizjosh
October 12, 2007 5:59 PM | Link to this
DAVE,
As president, do you see John S.’s move as an exercise in putting his talent to its best use? What I mean is, does he see himself more effective as a president than a GM at this time in the area of leveraging Liberty’s board and stock holders for a great payroll?
By Gil in Mechanicsville
October 12, 2007 6:06 PM | Link to this
Jared Your question has been answered many times on the blog. It is not a matter of if they can afford free agents, it is a matter of do they want to. The Atlanta Braves is a very well financed team as are all of major league teams in baseball.
On owners, I guess some of you don’t remember when Ted Turner thought he was the next Branch Ricky and nearly destroyed the Atlanta franchise. The Braves did not turn things around until he stepped back from the everyday operations and hired people who actually knew what they were doing. Ted Turner is/was no dummy when it came to making money but sometimes folks with all that disposable income have a hard time letting people who know what they are doing actually do their job.
The owners of the many other sports franchises are no different.
Throwing money at a problem does not always fix it but if it is not your money what’s the worry? Maybe the money is being thrown at you. A lot of truth to the old saw, A fool and his money are soon parted Some are more foolish that others.
By Coach (Lets Go Braves In 2008)
October 12, 2007 6:10 PM | Link to this
Jared , to answer your question of whether or not the Braves can afford both Glavine and Cameron. That is a definite NO. The Braves currently have six major contracts. Include Glavine and that makes seven. Check back over the salary structure during the past four or five seasons , the Braves never tie up money in the five million dollar range or more among more than seven contracts. Go back and check the numbers , I already have. So , until Renteria is traded the answer is NO. If and when Edgar is traded , all bets are off.
By mr baseball
October 12, 2007 6:19 PM | Link to this
Enjoy Teixeira next year, Braves fans. If the ex-GM’s words have any meaning, that will be it for him in Atlanta. Considering how JS has bashed Boras on the air and in print of late, anybody really think the Braves are going to pony up when Boras issues his financial requirements for re-signing him? If Mahay signs elsewhere this off-season, the Braves will have zero/zip/zilch left from the Texas deal after the ‘08 season, for which they traded several potential MLB-caliber prospects. Adam Wainwright, anyone?
It took the Orioles 2 years to learn what eagle-eyed Braves’ observers spotted a while back. Leo Mazzone can only work with veteran pitchers. His track record of developing young pitching talent in Atlanta was terrible, and I suspect was a major reason behind the trade of so many pitching prospects in recent years. McDowell did a nice job working with what he had available, especially some of the young arms in the bullpen. He should not have to be looking over his shoulder.
Haven’t been following all the back and forth regarding Cameron on the blog that closely, but I can’t see the downside to signing him for 2 years in the $15 million range. He has more than adequate power, can still steal a base, is someone you don’t mind having at the plate with the game on the line (unlike our last CF) and is excellent defensively. He strikes out a little too much and does not hit for a very high average. So what. He’s going to be hitting no higher than 7th in the batting order, and there will not be many guys hitting in the 7 hole in the NL who will produce more than he will. If the Braves can afford him, they need to sign him.
The Braves do not need (and probably can’t afford) the likes of Hunter or Rowand. With first rate offensive players at catcher, second base & shortstop, typically the weakest offensive positions, they do not need huge weapons in center & left. If salary concerns prove to be more serious than we’ve been led to believe, the Braves would be OK with the likes of Corey Patterson, the Royals’ DeJesus or (as a last resort, if healthy) the Pirates’ Duffy. With a Diaz/B. Jones platoon in left, the CF could hit 8th, which could make Duffy at least a short term fit.
And for those screaming for unavailable starting pitching help, please check out the starting rotations of the 2 teams in the NLCS. Chuck James’ ERA was basically identical to that of the Rockies’ ace and Chucky had more wins than every other Colorado starter. His ERA & record is again almost identical to that of Davis, Arizona’s No. 2. Webb is the only D’backs starter with a lower ERA than Chucky.
The two teams with the best starting pitching in the NL both went in the tank at the end of the season. And the team with the best starting pitching of the 4 playoff qualifiers excited in 3 games.
As his first official act, Frank Wren needs to put in a call to Tom Glavine and tell him that the Braves are interested in him in the event that Mike Hampton can’t pitch next season. If Glavine wants to sign eleswhere, fine. If he’s willing to wait around and see what happens with Hampton, let’s talk later. Stay in shape and we’ll get back to you. If that’s not acceptable, good luck.
By Lew
October 12, 2007 6:19 PM | Link to this
Muggly-That’s all you can come up with? Only one team, the A’s has more than one and Zito’s season last year was God Awful and Mulder has missed more than a year on the DL. You can’t name one stud pitcher per team over the past ten years-30 pitchers in ten years, because there aren’t that many. I would be willing to bet that half of all ML teams have not developed a single stud pitcher over the past ten years. The Braves are no different than most teams-except that we are perennial winners.
By Julia
October 12, 2007 6:24 PM | Link to this
I played 36 today - but on 2 different courses. This town sizzles. I found a fine little s-e-a-f-o-o-d restaurant just steps from the ocean and I didn’t even pick up a menu. I just strode in, absorbed all the gawking from those never expecting me to walk in there, and I ordered: SHRIMP SAMMICH PLATTER, PLEASE! This was a t-a-s-t-y treat and I will go back again. I thought for a minute I recognized someone there, sitting alone at the bar, eating a SHRIMP SAMMICH of his own. Too POOCHY to be anybody I know, though.
By ncscoots
October 12, 2007 6:27 PM | Link to this
A guy is a stud if he makes a positive impact and helps the team win.
But, Muggly, under that definition, Damian Moss was a stud, LOL.
It’s OK, I know what you mean. I don’t dispute your conclusion (that few Braves’ pitching prospects in the last ten years have been major impact pitchers), only your assertion that this is somehow a major failing of the scouting and development departments. NO team consistently produces elite, top-tier pitchers…they’re as rare as hens’ teeth, the exception that causes teams to run 60+ pitchers through the organization each year in hopes of finding magic. That the Braves have gone through a period of time without one (as have the vast majority of ML teams) is merely the norm, and not cause for the gnashing of teeth, the spewing of bile, and off-with-their-heads for the scouts.
By nolzfaninbamacountry
October 12, 2007 6:42 PM | Link to this
Hey DOB, I know it’s early, but what do you think will be Wren’s take on the Glavine situation…..
Also, if Mariano becomes available, do you think the Braves would be interested…….
I’ve heard you say time & time again, McGuirk said it yesterday, PAYROLL WILL BE GOING UP…….
By BravesFanInRockies
October 12, 2007 6:44 PM | Link to this
Denizens,
Didn’t hear the JS interview on ESPN, but I guess we’ll eventually learn if Boras really does work for Tex … or vice versa.
By David O'Brien
October 12, 2007 6:56 PM | Link to this
Savannah Guy, I think you misunderstood my meaning in the book comment. Schuerholz is a voracious reader; I was talking about the latest book he finished reading, not writing. He doesn’t brag about writing books, or about reading them, for that matter. He simply comments, when asked what he did last night or this afternoon or what have you, he comments that he finished reading this or that book and that it was fascinating for this reason or that. He just enjoys talking about it, usually with people, unfortunately, who don’t read nearly as much as he does.
He reads everything — novels, non-fiction, biographies, everything.
And I didn’t mean that he comes bouncing into the dugout during batting practice talking about this book or that restaurant.
He’s asked about dinner last night or whatever and answers (this happens a lot with some folks when we’re sitting around the dugout: they have a fascination with where so-and-so ate last night, what you did last night, etc; I’m not one of those people, I can honestly say).
By David O'Brien
October 12, 2007 6:59 PM | Link to this
Edgar, McGuirk has given no indication whatsoever of when or even IF a payroll figure will be set. He has indicated they’ll work from the bottom up, whatever that means. From what he’s said, it sounds to me like they might have some broad parameters in mind, but that they will spend what they need to spend, within reason, to fill the holes they have.
Sorry, but if anybody tells you they know more than that, well, I’d suggest they’re probably guessing at this point. I mean, I’ve asked several times, and he’s given absolutely no indication of what the number will be or when it will be “set.”
By David O'Brien
October 12, 2007 7:08 PM | Link to this
I’ve got the event for tomorrow, folks. “Sherman’s Last Burning” in Covington, Ga. (About 35 miles east of Atlanta). More than 30 professional BBQ cooks, plus country and bluegrass music, and lots of arts and crafts vendors (a little something for everybody, in other words).
American Legion Field in Covington, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
We’ll be skipping breakfast to prepare.
By Big Buck
October 12, 2007 7:21 PM | Link to this
“Sherman’s Last Burning”: That’s the type of thing that would appeal to y’all from “off”. Have fun.
By Shaun
October 12, 2007 7:26 PM | Link to this
DOB, any word on whether Mazzone will be coming to accept the Assistant GM job. Just kidding. Can you see Mazzone in a suit?
By ncscoots
October 12, 2007 7:42 PM | Link to this
TPaul, meant to tell you…loved the “Shaun intervention” crack, LOL. Guess old SABR-phobic baseball Luddites still got love for their fellow man, huh?
And, Shaun, whatever we all say to and about you, you’re one of the guys that make this concern go, IMO. And that’s straight from one of the heathen Chinee.
By Big Buck
October 12, 2007 7:51 PM | Link to this
Shaun, why don’t you and ncscoots and TNPaul form your own blog. You can take turns kissin’ each other’s butts.
By Big Buck
October 12, 2007 7:53 PM | Link to this
Oh, I forgot. LOL.
By MC Ren
October 12, 2007 7:55 PM | Link to this
GM Wren is the final frontier
The Atlanta Braves are N.W.A.
Schuerholz was Dr. Dre doing all the dope producing.
Bobby Cox was Ice Cube. Not sure why I said that except both are portly.
GM Wren was MC Ren.
Leo Mazzone was Easy E - the guy they all turned on and made a joke out of afterwards.
By Gil in Mechanicsville
October 12, 2007 7:56 PM | Link to this
DOB I doubt seriously that the Braves will reveal their payroll limits to anyone. They would be foolish to do so. it would be like telling the snake oil salesman how much money you have to spend before you find out the cost of his wares.
Do you remember the lashing Hoss got from JS when he said he would restructure his contract in order for the Braves to sign Hudson? This was before the negotiation was complete and one of the bargaining chips flew out the window. I thought Homeboy was going to have an apoplexy.
By DaNooch
October 12, 2007 8:05 PM | Link to this
Blazerpunter and everyone out there at this newspaper and the rest of the world.
TRANSITION IS NOT A VERB!!!
By Overlord
October 12, 2007 8:16 PM | Link to this
Looks like we have a 2007 WS champion already…….
By DaNooch
October 12, 2007 8:17 PM | Link to this
MC Ren,
WHAT THE F* ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? THIS IS A BASEBALL BLOG.
By ncscoots
October 12, 2007 8:23 PM | Link to this
Buck, thanks for the advice, I’m sure we’ll take it under advisement. Perhaps, one day, you might have a couple of acquaintances who enjoy conversing with you, too.
Nah.
By Choppinmama
October 12, 2007 8:47 PM | Link to this
Senor Reporter Fly:
Instead of being the intrepid, always-on-the-job Reporter Fly that we have all come to know, love and depend on, and who should have been hanging around on one of JS’ 6 walls (count floor and ceiling) at this time of year to have covered this breaking Braves News………where were you?
Down at some tropical beach with a southern fly temptress no doubt! Well, there’s more big Braves News to break, so let’s get back to work, shall we?
Buzz from office to office, GM to President to Mgr to Public Relations, then duly report back on this blog. Gracias in advance little buddy.
By A-ville Ranger
October 12, 2007 8:56 PM | Link to this
DOB I like the Ripkin story,knowing what a prima Donna Cal became late in his career it is funny.What roll do you think the idea of needing to deal with Boras next year played in John’s decision ?
By Choppinmama
October 12, 2007 8:57 PM | Link to this
Shaun and ncscoots:
Do ignore Big Buck’s comments and keep it up. I’m amazed at the numbers you share with us and the resouces you must have to come up with all this stuff. I’m learning plenty about the stats side of the game my reading the blogs every day.
If I was Big Buck I’d be plenty worried about something more dangerous than this benign blog. Isn’t it the start of muzzleloader season in lots of places? Keep your head down, Big Buck
You don’t want to know what’s happening down on the Ol’ Double Dime!!
By Savannah Guy
October 12, 2007 9:00 PM | Link to this
DOB: Seems I misinterpreted the JS book and restaurant attitude part in your article. Thanks for the clarification. By the way, where did you eat last night? Read any good books lately? Kidding…I think I know what you mean.
Oh, what the hell…where did you eat last night?
By Choppinmama
October 12, 2007 9:05 PM | Link to this
You know, until McGuirk and JS figure out what the President’s duties shall be, then they tell DOB, then DOB tells the denizens, I’m just going to think of President Schuerholz as our Braves Guardian Angel up there on the top floor over at the Ted.
He’ll look down on his Braves organization and take care of all things that are good for this team.
Until I learn differently, that is….
By Savannah Guy
October 12, 2007 9:09 PM | Link to this
DOB, any word on whether Mazzone will be coming to accept the Assistant GM job. Just kidding. Can you see Mazzone in a suit?
Shaun, I’m not DOB nor did I stay in a Holiday Inn last night, but I just happen to have the inside scoop on this so I’ll let you and the denizens in on some executive suite stuff. Mazzone was considered for the GM job but the deal fell apart because there is a Company policy against rocking chairs in executive offices. Strange I realize, yet true enough.
You just can’t make this stuff up.
By Yars
October 12, 2007 9:24 PM | Link to this
DOB….I don’t think you have given us your world series predictions yet. Who do you see playing in the WS? Also, have you heard anything on who might be the new Cardinals manager? I really hope TP is considered. La Russa has already stated he has no interest in managing the Yankees. I see Dusty Baker landing the Reds job. now playing: Give Me Novocaine by Green Day.
By Mike Hampton is an expensive #7 starter
October 12, 2007 9:26 PM | Link to this
Dave, I would love an article talking about the Braves future. I’d like to hear about the kids in the minors. I hadn’t heard about Schafer until recently. What about Cody Johnson? I’d like to hear your analysis. Great job as always.
By David O'Brien
October 12, 2007 9:26 PM | Link to this
Nevermind what MC Ren meant, what the h did Big Buck mean? Dude, it’s a BBQ and bluegrass/country music thing in a small Georgia town. What part of that are you bashing?
On second thought, don’t answer that. Keep it in that steel trap of yours.
By chrisklob
October 12, 2007 9:28 PM | Link to this
Hi SG, what’s up? Seems to have gotten pretty quiet in here tonight.
By Savannah Guy
October 12, 2007 9:35 PM | Link to this
Choppinmama Love? Ahhh. Intrepid? Ohhh…I like. Now I can be The Intrepid and Sleuth reporter. Thank you for adding such a nice prefix to my credentials. Can I be notorious too or would DOB be jealous? Nah…DOB notorious, Fly intrepid.
Miss friend, there are very few things this Intrepid Sleuth Mr. Fly just won’t report on. One: inside executive matters involving JS. He is a friend of mine (lets me fly in his jet). John told me as soon as he found out but I can’t break our man-to-fly agreement. Two: I cannot divulge the restaurants John goes to or books he reads (just learned he likes to report those stories himself). Three: Mr. Fly cannot kiss and tell (would take too long). Let’s just say that there are many cute little orange blossoms here in South Florida. But then, there are many lovely peach blossoms in my home state (peaches preferred).
There is nothing that goes on in the executive offices that Mr. Fly does not know about, even when traveling…so never fear, Mr. Fly is always on the job (unless the little blossoms are, well, you know).
Also Miss friend, I promised you a secret on my unfly-like longevity. That will come soon. For now, there is much work to do and reports to file. So many acquisitions to consider and must not forget center field rumors either. Gotta fly now.
By Mr. Fly (Sleuth Reporter)
October 12, 2007 9:39 PM | Link to this
Choppinmama So you know…I had SG report that for me. I was in the middle of an orange grove. Doing research of course…
By Julia
October 12, 2007 9:42 PM | Link to this
DOB, have you ever had barbecued fish? I have tried it but I really like the SHRIMP SAMMICH a lot better. Except for the POOCH - I don’t care for the POOCH.
By Savannah Guy
October 12, 2007 9:44 PM | Link to this
Chris Hey friend. Just as I was filing out I saw your post and wanted to say howdy do backatcha. Wife and I are going to watch the rest of our movie (while I’m pausing for BoSox updates in between).
Keep the fires stoked. I’ll catch up later.
By BravesRic
October 12, 2007 9:47 PM | Link to this
DOB,
I’m getting old (like Coach), but if memory serves me Covington is EAST of Atlanta. Enjoy the BBQ…
By chrisklob
October 12, 2007 9:50 PM | Link to this
Julia, have you ever tried grilled shrimp on your shrimp sammiches? All the batter and grease on the fried shrimps really aren’t good for the pooch. The grilled ones are much less poochy yet still make excellent shrimp sammiches.
By M.C. Ren
October 12, 2007 9:56 PM | Link to this
MC Ren admits MC Ren made zero sense. But not everything is supposed to make sense on here. Not everything can be logical or rational. Anything goes. Even well intentioned but very poorly executed attempts at humor. It’s like a slapstick comedy. Throw enough stuff out there and you’re bound to get a laugh or chuckle or grin eventually. Back to the drawing board. I will try to do better.
By Choppinmama
October 12, 2007 9:58 PM | Link to this
Mr. Fly: OK, OK, so you have the journalistic morals of a……..journalist. I can appreciate that, and I salute you, sir for the non-disclosure ethics you upheld. Kinda like DOB sometimes, huh?
Well, since we can’t use you as the primary source, we’ll just have you back it up as a secondary. That ok with you?
And now to the “blossom” situation. You are using some kind of uh, uh, protection aren’t you? We just can’t have an explosion of maggots sired by our very own Sleuth Reporter in every peach and orange grove within a 2-state radius.
We already went through that with Hoss, and the Braves brass didn’t like it very much. It might affect your tiny press credentials in a negative way. That pesky morals clause.
By chrisklob
October 12, 2007 10:04 PM | Link to this
Mr Fly, you seem to have so many peach and orange blossoms. Are you Spanish Fly?
By journalist jimmy smith
October 12, 2007 10:12 PM | Link to this
choppinmama, cannot mention hoss in that way. sure to be banned. also cannot say dob has a girlfriend born in 1919. will be banned. of course, girlfriend is rich and could drop at anytime. could soon be o’brien enterprises. best of o’brien. imported cheese from here on out.
By Mr. Fly (Sleuth Reporter)
October 12, 2007 10:19 PM | Link to this
Choppinmama My Savannah Guy friend was so embarrassed that he didn’t use my moniker as I instructed…so I promised to repost for his sake. He means well but what can I say? To err is…you know. He asked me if we could tear the last post up and throw it away. Should I even try to explain it to him? Nah…Oh, my orange grove research went by pretty quick (flys don’t take long). Anyhoo, can’t be confusing the folks now can we? Wouldn’t be, uh…prudent. So here is the same old post with my intrepid name attached, as it should be. Slow night…another hit won’t be too bad.
Love? Ahhh. Intrepid? Ohhh…I like. Now I can be The Intrepid and Sleuth reporter. Thank you for adding such a nice prefix to my credentials. Can I be notorious too or would DOB be jealous? Nah…DOB notorious, Fly intrepid.
Miss friend, there are very few things this Intrepid Sleuth Mr. Fly just won’t report on. One: inside executive matters involving JS. He is a friend of mine (lets me fly in his jet). John told me as soon as he found out but I can’t break our man-to-fly agreement. Two: I cannot divulge the restaurants John goes to or books he reads (just learned he likes to report those stories himself). Three: Mr. Fly cannot kiss and tell (would take too long). Let’s just say that there are many cute little orange blossoms here in South Florida. But then, there are many lovely peach blossoms in my home state (peaches preferred).
There is nothing that goes on in the Braves executive offices that Mr. Fly does not know about, even when traveling…so never fear, Mr. Fly is always on the job (unless the little blossoms are, well, you know). Also Miss friend, I promised you a secret on my unfly-like longevity. That will come soon. For now, there is much work to do and reports to file. So many acquisitions to consider and must not forget center field rumors either.
Gotta fly now…again.
By Mr. Fly (Sleuth Reporter)
October 12, 2007 10:26 PM | Link to this
Choppinmama! Wash your mouth out in soap my dear. Of course Mr. Fly does not use protection. Well…Mr. Fly is not needing that because of the, uh…experiment. No need for protection. But that is our secret to be told tomorrow. It may seem like science fiction to some, but was just another day at the office for me…
Will you be there tomorrow?
Gotta fly again or chance getting swatted…
By Tiny Trout Fly
October 12, 2007 10:30 PM | Link to this
I thought maybe I should post it again, too.
Love? Ahhh. Intrepid? Ohhh…I like. Now I can be The Intrepid and Sleuth reporter. Thank you for adding such a nice prefix to my credentials. Can I be notorious too or would DOB be jealous? Nah…DOB notorious, Fly intrepid.
Miss friend, there are very few things this Intrepid Sleuth Mr. Fly just won’t report on. One: inside executive matters involving JS. He is a friend of mine (lets me fly in his jet). John told me as soon as he found out but I can’t break our man-to-fly agreement. Two: I cannot divulge the restaurants John goes to or books he reads (just learned he likes to report those stories himself). Three: Mr. Fly cannot kiss and tell (would take too long). Let’s just say that there are many cute little orange blossoms here in South Florida. But then, there are many lovely peach blossoms in my home state (peaches preferred).
There is nothing that goes on in the Braves executive offices that Mr. Fly does not know about, even when traveling…so never fear, Mr. Fly is always on the job (unless the little blossoms are, well, you know). Also Miss friend, I promised you a secret on my unfly-like longevity. That will come soon. For now, there is much work to do and reports to file. So many acquisitions to consider and must not forget center field rumors either.
Gotta fly now…again.
By journalist jimmy smith
October 12, 2007 10:32 PM | Link to this
“I like a guy who’s brash, not afraid to make a sartorial statement or say what’s on his mind, and doesn’t dabble in false modesty. A guy who is damn good at what he does, and acts like it.”
gosh, thanks, dob.
By "Hoss" Fly
October 12, 2007 10:33 PM | Link to this
I thought maybe I should post it again, too.
Love? Ahhh. Intrepid? Ohhh…I like. Now I….
Ahhh, nevermind. You’ve already read this three times already.
By Mr. Fly (Sleuth Reporter)
October 12, 2007 10:33 PM | Link to this
Mr. Chris Spanish Fly? Nosirree…not me. But my cousin, Senor Mosca is a Spanish Fly. He talks funny though. Then there’s the northernmost contingent of my Fly family…up around Viagra Falls. Beautiful place…hard to fly around though…always a stiff wind up there around the falls (allowed?).
By chrisklob
October 12, 2007 10:37 PM | Link to this
Wow, I didn’t realize Jiminez threw so hard!
By Choppinmama
October 12, 2007 10:38 PM | Link to this
Mr. Fly (Sleuth Reporter): When I saw the Savannah Guy byline I just figured you were working undercover, and that you just picked a lousy a.k.a.
So now we know SG is your mouthpiece - no biggie!!
And about the Miss Friend sobriquet (look it up, denizens) - I haven’t seen my Miss years in a lot of baseball seasons. Choppin’ would be just fine, Fly Guy.
‘night all. I’m giving my full attention to the Rockies/Diamondback game. Just doesn’t look like the D’backs in red and white. I was used to the teal/purple look.
By knowitall
October 12, 2007 10:39 PM | Link to this
M.C. Ren,
I thought you made sense. I thought your Eazy E/Leo comparison was hilarious. I guess some don’t know the history of N.W.A.
By chrisklob
October 12, 2007 10:49 PM | Link to this
Apparently George Mitchell’s investigation into steroid abuse in baseball is close to its conclusion. Is anyone else as worried as I am about the names that are reportedly going to be published in his report?
Said one source familiar with what was said on the conference call, “This is going to be enormous … it’s going to be a huge story when these names come out.”
This could be yet another ugly stain on baseball and another stain on the record of Bud Selig.
Read the full story here
By dadgum
October 12, 2007 10:51 PM | Link to this
The Braves need change. Thanks JS for seeing that. Bobby will follow next year. AJ is gone Renteria will follow, also KJ. You see change is inevitable. Has to be if you want a winning program. Expect the unexpected and don’t automatically thing it is wrong. Go with youth as early as possible. That is the key. The Braves are on their way. Having JS step aside is huge. He is great but new blood is better. If you can call Wren “new”. Even better news is that Liberty looks to be sweetening the pot.
Rock on….remembering the late great Lewis Grizzard.
By Choppinmama
October 12, 2007 10:51 PM | Link to this
Mr. Fly: Please don’t tell me you were mistaken for a fruit fly (and I don’t mean fruit in THAT way…bit that there’s anything wrong with it) and subjected to unspeakable experiments? An inadvertent flight path through a Raid mist, or maybe too close a flight to one of the nuclear plants dotting our southern country, hence rendered sterile?
Well, OK then, party on!
I’ll be waiting for full disclosure tomorrow.
By Savannah Guy
October 12, 2007 11:38 PM | Link to this
Choppinmama “a lousy a.k.a”
Ouch! Nah…I just translate for the little fella.
By joebrave
October 12, 2007 11:40 PM | Link to this
Please explain the Mike Cameron,love fest and man crushes around here!!!! damn you guys are relentless,Let’s all get in a circle jerk and Kiss the stupid sonsabitches a$$ that broought up that Bum in the fiirst place…I have been right more than wrong,so here is your trades,Edgar will be Traded,either,to Detroit,or the Chisox,You will Either see,Javier Vasquez,or Curtis Granderson,come to the Atl.Bank on it!!!!do I need to remind you @ss clowns about W.Ledezma,Texeira,Hudson:etal..I called them all,I am calling this one.The Gut says Edgar,James,andB.Jones to Detroit,For Granderson,and Robertson…Then Wren will sign Glavine,and probably deal again with Oakland to try to pry loose Dan Haren…..
By joebrave
October 12, 2007 11:46 PM | Link to this
Now that I have PI$$ed some people off here,Joebrave will say Helloooooo,to Savannah guy,Lew,SJA,Paladin,Robertjib,and all joe’s acquaintances. Been a while,but I se the peckerchompers are still angin around like gnats on $hit here.Stinky,Coach,Robot,but surprisingly no Mutt stench in the air….wtf,Hey Robot,was that you I saw in Adairsville going thru Bobby’s Trash Can,sniffing the thrown out Thongs?????
By The Grinch
October 13, 2007 12:07 AM | Link to this
Wow. I just completely got put in my place. What a s%$#%y evening. All in the life of a Grinch. %^#@. And whoever earlier was talkin’ about pet tricks, I got your trick…she’s been goin’ out with you for a while. Insisted on takin’ her ring off while…well, you know. So she must really care. About you, I mean, or either not gettin’ it in her eye.
I missed you guys. All except Coach and Shaun.
Time for a drink.
By Shaun
October 13, 2007 12:23 AM | Link to this
joebrave, Granderson’s numbers this year: .302/.361/.552, 26 SB and 1 CS at age 26. Now Edgar is a great player but would you give up that for him?
By Mr. Fly (Sleuth Reporter)
October 13, 2007 12:30 AM | Link to this
Choppinmama Yes, I was amiss in my use of the miss sobriquet moniker thingy…sorry, but it is a nice little custom for friendly fly salutations. It’s good you don’t miss the miss.
Mr. Fly has never ever seen so many flies around…tiny trout flies, Hoss flies, Spanish flies and now fruit flies. A veritable melting pot of winged half-cousins and ne’er-do-wells. What next, deer flies, horse flies and such? Me…I’m just a Common Housefly, with an unusual, uh…twist. No no no…not bug spray altered or nuclear plant sterilized. It’s all happened like this…well, that’s another story for tomorrow. It’ll be our secret. Its science…trust me on that.
Now, for some of your comments: Oh, we don’t call our beloved offspring maggots. To us, they are cute little squiggly flybabies. They are so adorable…and what an appetite. Two state radius? Uh…thanks to my buddy JS, I get to most every state. I’m talking blossoms in every part of this wide country…blueberry, apple, cherry, cranberry, honeysuckle, yucca, and cactus…So many blossoms to attend to. It’s like my second job…reporting.
That’s enough. I’m gonna catch some zzz’s…
By uga-brave
October 13, 2007 12:38 AM | Link to this
how about pedro junior cruz pitching in a meaigful game.
i am sorry why do we have to watch guys like tutto, hawpe, upton, halliday, atkins, young, and matsui.
why dont we call out certain young guys on our team that are supposed to be STARS.
By The Grinch
October 13, 2007 12:41 AM | Link to this
Greetings, Mr. fly. Too bad you weren’t around earlier this evening; had an unusual occurance at the local pizza place. Wish it was on video.
Why, why must we suffer through another crappy WS? Why won’t they do away with the 5-game series? Blah.
By Savannah Guy
October 13, 2007 12:48 AM | Link to this
Well, a big howdy damn do to look who…just as I’m about to go saw some serious logs, look who just busted the door down in this old place…two of my favorite good guys, Grinch and Joebrave. Missed you fellas. Ain’t the same…just ain’t.
So, Grinch starts swinging the &%#$@# around at some earlier commentary and grabs a drink while Joebrave jumps right in the middle of the Cameron lovefest and turns it into a car wash. Put on some rock’n roll.
I’ve tried my best to stay up for this Rox Snakes game but I think it’s been going on now for about 12 hours and we’re just in the 6th frikken inning. Let’s GO Rockies and get some runs so papa can hit the roost pole. Those mountain boys are my pick to be goin’ to the big dance. Along with the Bosox.
You guys gonna keep the fires burnin’ for a while? Chris stoked it but must have succumbed to Knob Creek and that old Charleston swing.
By uga-brave
October 13, 2007 12:50 AM | Link to this
DOB,
well here comes my rant on FRANCOEUR, certain players understand the strike zone and certain players dont. HOSS always saw it and knew how to draw a walk. francoeur will always be nothing more THAN .280 20 95. not bad if he was not supposed to be a bit player.
if any of you guys think a great hitter is a lunger, you are wrong.
By Savannah Guy
October 13, 2007 12:56 AM | Link to this
Grinch…don’t tell me. A critter in the pizza? Hey, just protien with wings. No decent fly would touch a mans food without permission.
My sentiments exactly on the 5 game series…although it may have been the only way our boys got through the first round. My solution would be to start the season a week earlier and cut some of the interleague stuff by a few games.
By uga-brave
October 13, 2007 12:58 AM | Link to this
LEW,
you have often asked me why i dont like FRANCOEUR, pretty obvious, he is a red light guy. loves the cameras loves being the QUOTE. if he was not from the ATL. do you think he would of gotten this pass.
By The Grinch
October 13, 2007 1:01 AM | Link to this
Y’know, I’ve been hearin’ about this “Lightnin’ Creek” Chris keeps talkin’ about, so I tried it. It was cheap, I drank it and spent part of the night fightin’ strangers and the other part makin’ up with ex-girlfriends (sometimes at the same time) and woke up with the mother of all hangovers. My question is, why fortified wine? Damn, brother; I can hook you up with somethin’ better than that gawdawful stuff. Yikes.
Sav. Guy, the WS is being played right now between Cleveland and Boston. Please don’t waste your time with whichever wins and the NL “representative.”
DAMMIT, I hate women.
By uga-brave
October 13, 2007 1:01 AM | Link to this
SHAUN,
defend the faith, i might not agree with you on some things, but i respect your farvor.
By Savannah Guy
October 13, 2007 1:06 AM | Link to this
if any of you guys think a great hitter is a lunger, you are wrong.
Quickly: Vladimir Guerrero.
Am I wrong uga-brave? Frenchy may not be Vlad, but swinging hitters can succeed. Hope he does. Time will tell and next season is the time. He’ll be fine…good.
By Lew
October 13, 2007 1:09 AM | Link to this
UGABrave-Go take your meds and get a good night’s rest, Dude. That’s what I’m gonna do. Nighty night.
By uga-brave
October 13, 2007 1:10 AM | Link to this
lew,
i know you are a BLOG ALL-STAR, but i have been to stevirinos AND sons of italy, probably saw the great artwork. i just miss ATHENS. OH BY the way what a catch by TAVERAS. SKIED KILLINGTON TWICE, TOO COLD FOR ME.
By uga-brave
October 13, 2007 1:16 AM | Link to this
LEW,
i know you vermont fan is going to watch the end of this. plus you are a dawgs fan STREGTH AND HONOR.
By Savannah Guy
October 13, 2007 1:19 AM | Link to this
Grinch…man o man you are havin’ a bad night cuz. First, Knob Creek is a fine bourbon…you didn’t get that MD 20-20 did you? That stuff’ll make you fight dogs and wake up below a park bench somewhere.
Next, you can’t be serious? My bet is that the Rox see the Bosox and go 6 games. Although it’s hard to see how anybody can take the Boston boys this year. Monsters. Lastly…hate women? Here’s my take: if it were not for women, we’d still be living in caves. Yep. Best bet…don’t fight and don’t lose the faith. Before you know it there will be a Mrs. Grinch, a happy Mr. Grinch and little Grinchie’s running all over the place.
By uga-brave
October 13, 2007 1:21 AM | Link to this
TYBEE ISLAND,
always loved your blogs.
By flbravesgirl
October 13, 2007 1:22 AM | Link to this
Well, I was about to offer sympathy to the Grinch over what was obviously a bad experience but I’d say he doesn’t want to talk to anyone with ovaries just now.
By Savannah Guy
October 13, 2007 1:23 AM | Link to this
Keep the fires going and the wind at your back…I’ve had all the stokin’ I can handle for this day. Fingers are scorched from all the logs.
G’nite all…
By uga-brave
October 13, 2007 1:27 AM | Link to this
hey i all think we are watching this, and i LOVE TONY GWYNN, he does sound like MR. HANEY.
tony gynn is the man……
By uga-brave
October 13, 2007 1:32 AM | Link to this
pirates house,
thats a savanahh kind of thing
By The Grinch
October 13, 2007 1:32 AM | Link to this
“Knob” Creek? Oops. I just drank somethin’ that made me act like a knob instead. These things happen. There are those who would say I act like a knob anyway. SG, I appreciate your faith in the NL; wish I had it too. However, there is about as much difference in the BoSox and Rockies as there was last year between the Tigers and Cardinals. And yes, I know that doesn’t sound like a good example. But there’s no way that happens two years in a row.
As for women…don’t even get me started. Dammit all. There will be no little Grinches, much to the benefit of the world in general.
By The Grinch
October 13, 2007 1:40 AM | Link to this
FBG, YOU are the lone exception. Thank you for your sympathy. You may contact me if you wish; that would raise my spirits. :-)
By uga-brave
October 13, 2007 1:47 AM | Link to this
SVG, do you think FRANCOEUR IS going to a star look at guys like HART, VICTORINO, HAWPE, AND BURRELL. All much better.
By uga-brave
October 13, 2007 1:58 AM | Link to this
this is what baseball is all about
By uga-brave
October 13, 2007 2:02 AM | Link to this
dollar to donuts that hawpe or helton will get it done.
By David O'Brien
October 13, 2007 2:02 AM | Link to this
Saw a great movie tonight, “Michael Clayton,” and come home to see the last five innings of a great game. Niiiice.
The crowd is pretty clueless at Phoenix, but otherwise an outstanding affair this one is.
By uga-brave
October 13, 2007 2:08 AM | Link to this
this is why we love baseball
By Shaun
October 13, 2007 2:11 AM | Link to this
Too bad Comcast can’t seem to keep TBS and FOX on the air consistently. And their live chat is useless. Great cable service and great customer service. What else would you expect from a cable/satellite provider?
By uga-brave
October 13, 2007 2:12 AM | Link to this
dob,
read INTO THE WILD, i found o him somewhat insane.
By uga-brave
October 13, 2007 2:17 AM | Link to this
DOB,
we will watch the the last two INNINGS but i love TONY GWYNN.
By uga-brave
October 13, 2007 2:24 AM | Link to this
DOB,
plimsouls, drivin n cryin, old R.E.M, AND YOUR FAVORITE TIM. THE replacesments. i still think you JOHN CUSACK. I KNOW YOU KNOW THAT MOVIE. GO KANSAS.
By Braveheart
October 13, 2007 2:27 AM | Link to this
SVG, do you think FRANCOEUR IS going to a star look at guys like HART, VICTORINO, HAWPE, AND BURRELL. All much better.
Frenchy is 23 damn years old! 23 darn years old!
The other day you said the Braves should basically trade KJ for Brandon Phillips. At 23 years old, Phillips was already a failed major leaguer who had been banished back down to the minors.
At 23 years old Burell was an already famous Mr. Ballhoo College Baseball Player who hit only .260, .359, .463. Pat the Bat’s OPS+ when 23 was 104 compared to Frenchy’s 103.
Frenchy in a down year this year for power had about as many homers as Victorino has for his entire career. Frenchy had as many RBI this year as Victorino has for his entire career. Victorino did not get one plate appearance when he was 23 years old after only having a disgusting OPS+ of 14 in 83 plate appearances when he was 22 years old.
Corey Hart had only 64 plate appearances in the majors by the time he was 24 years old and had a batting average under .200, and OBP under .300, and an OPS under .650.
Hawpe is 28 years old. For their entire careers, Frenchy has more hits, one less homers, almost as many RBIs in 50 less games played. Sorry, I’m gonna take the kid 5 years younger.
By uga-brave
October 13, 2007 2:29 AM | Link to this
DOB,
I KNOW YOU ARE WATCHING.
By Shaun
October 13, 2007 2:34 AM | Link to this
do you think FRANCOEUR IS going to a star
I seriously doubt Francoeur will become an astronaut.
By Braveheart
October 13, 2007 2:36 AM | Link to this
What’s with the Tony Gwynn love, Uga Brave? Great, great, great hitter and a very likable guy but he is awful as a broadcaster.
TBS has been a real disappointment covering these games for me. The production quality of the broadcasts are far inferior to the production quality they gave to the Braves for the last few years. There has always been a huge difference between the sound and picture quality when TBS covered as opposed to the inferior production values of FSN for example. DOn’t understand why they went to a big stage and then decided to reduce the quality of their picture and sound production.
By Willysee
October 13, 2007 2:46 AM | Link to this
Colorado wins again,that’s 19 of 20…unreal.Has there ever been a run like this into the post season ? I used to live in Colorado and they love their team.I hope they go 25 for 26 and win it all.
By Shaun
October 13, 2007 2:46 AM | Link to this
Merkle, Buckner, Moore, Denkinger, Little…Valverde.
By Braveheart
October 13, 2007 2:55 AM | Link to this
bk kim
By The Expert
October 13, 2007 4:29 AM | Link to this
I’m sure he’s wearing braces and not suspenders. If you don’t know braces button inside the waist and suspenders snap onto the waist.
By Bravo Nam
October 13, 2007 5:28 AM | Link to this
Mazzone not returning to the Big A
Despite the speculation, no way known the Braves are bringing Leo back…not just because of his performance with Baltimore…but because I got the sense the Braves weren’t particularly perturbed when he left. Yet…the most important reason he won’t be back…can’t relate to young pitchers, and that ain’t gonna cut it.
By CC Rider
October 13, 2007 6:15 AM | Link to this
To all wondering about the Centerfield position! I’m not saying it will happen, but Jordan Schafer after 3 games in the Arizona Fall League is batting .459 with 1 HR and 4 RBI’s. I bring this up only because Yunel Escobar and Jarrod Saltalamacchia used their stellar play in the AFL as a springboard to the big team. If Schafer has a great AFL, the Braves might go to a low risk/low cost trade for a CF and wait to see how Schafer plays in spring training, while putting their payroll and trade resources into starting pitching and resigning Texiera.
By /\/\/\/\Berigan/\/\/\/\
October 13, 2007 8:19 AM | Link to this
Braveheart,
I bet one reason you see a bit less quality on TBS’s coverage of the games, is the talent is spread out (Or at least was for the first round) covering several teams. Plus, they haven’t been covering much braves baseball the last several years, and some of the folks may have gone to FSN and elsewhere….might have some of the Basketball folks working games who have never worked outdoors before.
By ssiscribe
October 13, 2007 8:38 AM | Link to this
Top of the morning, denizens, on this chilly morning along the southern rim of the capital city.
Speaking of directions, Covington actually is east of Atlanta (worked there for 10 months; missed the big BBQ event last year and have plans today, but it’s a big deal and a good time, from what I hear). If you go 35 miles west, you pass through my hometown and land in Carrollton, where there is the University of West Georgia, John Tanner State Park, some strip clubs (not that a younger Scribe would know anything about that) and little else.
But DOB, if you do drive west, hit Hudson’s in Douglasville when you’re heading back toward the ATL (I posted my favorite BBQ places throughout Georgia yesterday afternoon, but the post never appeared; alas, the Scribe was censored … oh the humanity!).
Now, women (noted transition): It’s best not to mix women and strong drinks, for sometimes the results aren’t great. Hang in there, Grinch; we’ll go see the Thrashers lose sometime soon.
Now, baseball (more transition): Wow, BoSox look good. Got home from my scribin’ assignment (for the record, I really enjoy early start times, and a close game was fun to watch) in time to see the end of that one and part of the Rox game. Wow, Colorado keeps winning. Methinks their streak will hit a brick wall, eh, a Green Monster here in a week and a half or so.
That’s it from here. Time for coffee, breakfast and family, not necessarily in that order. Later, folks.
The Scribe abides.
—30—
By Coach (Lets Go Braves In 2008)
October 13, 2007 8:42 AM | Link to this
Hey Grinch , Top of the morning to you to. Got anymore of those brilliant bets up your sleeve ?
By joebrave
October 13, 2007 9:00 AM | Link to this
Central DriveIn in Chatsworth,Ga. man the second best burger in the world,The Best and I mean The best Burger in the World,has to be Sunny’s in Gatlinburg Tenn.For those who have’nt been or don’t know it’s just a little tavern,off to the side of Ripley’s believe it or not.
By Lew
October 13, 2007 9:11 AM | Link to this
JoeBrave-Where you been? Isn’t it kind of early for you to be up and about?
UGABrave-Maybe I was wrong, Dude- It seems like you had some good medication last night. If you go about 1/4 mile up the road on the hill I live on, you can see the ski slopes at Killington. You’re right about it getting cold up here. I’ve seen 32 below zero-actual temperature-on the day I left for Spring Training a few years back. You can’t even breathe when it’s that cold. We had frost last night, but at least it isn’t quite THAT cold-not yet, anyway.
By joebrave
October 13, 2007 9:20 AM | Link to this
Now to prove I’m more than just your average Hillbilly,the CrabShack,on Tybee Island now that’s the place to Eat…..Oysters steamed just right,and the Frogmore stew DEEEElishus…………
Shaun:Hell yes you make that trade If you’re both Teams,Edgar is what Detroit needs,and Granderson,is more the .280 hitter,he will calm down,but he is above average on defense….
I tell ya this I take Granderson,over Overpaying for another .230 hitter just to have a body in Cf,for the likes of Cameron,Patterson,etal….
DOB you raked my @ss over the Nashville thing awhile back ,You been there lately?? the smog is worse than the Atl…
By joebrave
October 13, 2007 9:26 AM | Link to this
Lew,how’s life treatin ya my friend,Me I have been working my brains out,18 ours a day leaves me no time to blog here with the denizens,man the Repossesions are getting to be more and more…And no I am not the Repo Man,my job is ReInsurance damage Appraiser….that was for all of you guys that like to take shots at Joe…. So how’s the wife,and the foot, Lew??I hope life is treating you a whole lot better these days….
By BossLady
October 13, 2007 9:28 AM | Link to this
ssiscribe
You just passed by me in Douglas County and Hudson’s is huge in this area. I tried it before, but you know women with all that pork and beef, fatty meats don’t mix with our diets. You gave Grinch good advise about the alcohol and women too.
I’m concerned that JS stepped aside or up because there is a big hatchett facing the Braves and he did not want to be the one to swing it. My suspicions tell me that the ownership will spend money and trade big with the results being a shock. Don’t be surprised if they don’t start at the best to wager for pitching. Everybody is trade bait all deals on the floor. We may never see the same players again.
By chrisklob
October 13, 2007 9:35 AM | Link to this
Grinch, “Knob” Creek? Oops. I just drank somethin’ that made me act like a knob instead. Yeah brother, fortified wine is NEVER recommended unless it’s port or madeira and even then you don’t want to drink that stuff if you’re actually trying to get drunk. Stick to the KC and it’ll take good care of you.
Shaun , I seriously doubt Francoeur will become an astronaut. That was pretty funny. I knew you had a sense of humor hiding behind all those numbers!
I’ve always found it entertaining to watch certain bloggers throughout the course of the evening, especially on the weekends, as their ability to think coherently, spell and punctuate deteriorate!
By bevsouth
October 13, 2007 9:51 AM | Link to this
Grinch-Cardinals of 06 Rockies 07 World Champs Muggly-Schmidt, Marquis, Wainwright just to name a few. UGA-Brave Francouer -290,20,95 not to mention the best arm in all of baseball, do you have any idea how many teams would covet this guy? Oh and he’s 23 yrs old to boot! You need to start paying attention.
By David O'Brien
October 13, 2007 9:58 AM | Link to this
BossLady, all due respect, but I don’t see any “hatchet” falling and I don’t see any wholesale changes made via trade. Not that one or two regulars won’t go (we’ve said that’s possible all along), but your “we may never see the same players again” line? I just don’t see that in the cards.
By David O'Brien
October 13, 2007 10:04 AM | Link to this
JoeBrave, let me know when Nashville traffic compares with Atlanta’s.
You, my friend, should right now drive out to Loveless Motel and Cafe outside Nashville and dine on the best country ham-and-eggs breakfast in America. Ahh, making me hungry thinking about it.
But I’m only guzzling coffee this morning, as we’re going to drive over to Covington for the BBQ fest here pretty soon.
Scribe, I know exactly where Covington is, just screwed up when I said East instead of West. It’s right down I-20. But thanks for the correction.
By Efrim
October 13, 2007 10:05 AM | Link to this
Coach
Efrim , I’ll be honest. Your an insufferable amateur who wouldn’t know baseball if it hit you in the head. The four following statements attributed to you : The Cardinals are cash strapped, WRONG. Rick Ankiel is a fourth outfielder , WRONG. Edgar Renteria isn’t worth three prospects , WRONG. Rick Ankiel isn’t a center fielder , WRONG. Efrim , please put the crack pipe down , put your hands against your ears and shake , the rattle you hear is that BOX OF ROCKS between your ears !
You still didn’t answer my question. If you are a Cardinals fan, would you trade your BEST PROSPECT for Edgar Renteria who COULD POSSIBLY be on your team for ONLY ONE YEAR?
Don’t f*** insult me, just answer the question.
And remember that the Cardinals are not the Braves who replenish their system with talent at will. JS made the Salty trade with the thinking that they could sign TEX to a long term deal after the year and a half was over. He is a man you build your team around, so taht is why he gave up so many good prospects.
DON’T EXPECT THE CARDS TO DO THE SAME.
By Lew
October 13, 2007 10:16 AM | Link to this
JoeBrave-The wife and I are doing just fine. The toe has healed, even if it did take 2 1/2 years. In 45 years of practice, my Podiatrist has never seen an ulcerated toe that bad remain on the patient’s foot. He attributes it to vitamin supplementation and exercise. Personally, I think it’s a combination of a great immune system and that Ugandan Poultice Journalist Jimmy sent me. That stuff works miracles, but the smell…..Well, let’s just say it’s a good thing I have few neighbors. He’s absolutely right when he tells you toes are not to be trifled with. One little toe almost put me down for the count. Or maybe it was the grits that JJS and The Grinch sent.
By joebrave
October 13, 2007 10:19 AM | Link to this
DOB the traffic,there is getting to be extremely comparable,try 80 mph in congested traffic,on a 3 lane coming East on 24….
By JC FROM UT
October 13, 2007 10:20 AM | Link to this
Would anybody out there consider signing Aaron Boone to back up 1st and 3rd? He can also play second against a tuff left hander.DOB: you wrote earlier about those who were playing winter ball. Is Thorman going to play any left field? If B.Jones were used as a trading piece then perhaps Thorman would platoon with Diaz and he could gain a little expierince in case Tex moves on. What is your opinion on this
By joebrave
October 13, 2007 10:25 AM | Link to this
The best BBQ the wife and I,have ever tasted,High Falls BBQ just south of the ATL. Try it sometimes it’s Good……….
By brent a.
October 13, 2007 10:31 AM | Link to this
DOB,
I would assume “working from the bottom-up” means that the Braves have a profitability target assigned to them, and that they will start at that number, and then look at team expenses (which are backed out just before that number), with one very important expense (the most important number to the fans) being the payroll. Then, they work all the way up the income statement, all the way up to revenues.
Everyone needs to realize that McQuirk has more freedom than he has had in years on this payroll. Instead of having suits in New York doing all the calculations and saying to him, “You have an $80 million payroll,” he’s instead working with the suits in Colorado on how profitable they think the Braves can/should be, and from there, he can explain financially, how the Braves will get there. If he can justify a reasonable figure (which, may in actuality be “breaking-even” on an annual basis), then whatever payroll he provides to get them to that bottom-line figure will likely be the payroll figure approved.
McQuirk’s challenge in year 1, is increasing the payroll enough to field an improved team, but not so much that the team loses money in 2008. If he can do this, then he is in position to raise payroll for 2009. If not, then we could see it go back down in 2009.
By joebrave
October 13, 2007 10:34 AM | Link to this
However for those of you who haven’t traveled off the beaten Path,you should try a visit Thru Tullahoma,Winchester,andFranklin Tennesee,simply laid back and Be-A-utiful….
Turnip Greens,and Baked ham wit tater Salad,and Corn Bread…. Try Granny’s Kitchen in FT.Payne Alabama…..
By KC
October 13, 2007 10:35 AM | Link to this
Bravo Nam: The biggest reason he won’t be back is that the Braves seem quite pleased with Roger McDowell.
By BossLady
October 13, 2007 10:37 AM | Link to this
I don’t think we will be able to trade for big pitchers unless we give up valuable players to do so. JS has always been personable and media friendly, I just don’t think he wants to take the heat when we see the trades that are coming.
The Braves will never see another post season much less a WS until we get some pitchers that can win games. JS said himself that those are scarce in the marketplace today. Who is going to give us the likes of 15-20 game pitchers unless we give them .300+ position players. The new owners owe no one and Wren owes no one that’s why I am thinking they are about to pull off something.
By Lew
October 13, 2007 10:38 AM | Link to this
JC-Brandon Jones is a bona fide star potential outfielder, with over 100 RBI between AA and AAA last season. Thorman is, if he is lucky, a decent player, who couldn’t even win the first base job despite being given a huge opportunity. Why would you trade a top prospect with all his upside and use a player most wanted to run out of Atlanta on a rail? That one makes absolutely no sense-especially when you need to replace one of your outfielders to begin with.
By joebrave
October 13, 2007 10:40 AM | Link to this
Lasagne,with tossed Salad,and rice Pilaf….MMMMMM Little Rome right here in Good ol Chatsworth…36 years and counting….
Maybe Mr.Wren,will give Joebrave a belated Birthday Present and go get Dan Haren Early,Say before the winter meetings……But I doubt it!
Very Refreshing to see Mike Cameron not mentioned here Today,Thank God the man crush could possibly be over…. And to my Memory,I was called Stupid last Off Season for suggeting the Braves acquire Willy Tavares,from Houston,well lookie where ol Willy is righjt now!!!!!!
By Lew
October 13, 2007 10:51 AM | Link to this
BossLady-You make it sound like the Braves have no pitching as it is. You forget that we still have Smoltz and Hudson, who with James were almost 20 games over .500 in their starts. Our entire problem was the back end of the rotation. You just don’t go out and trade half of your team’s offense, which is quite good, to get a number 3 or 4 starter (James could go to fifth). That kind of move would be completely counter productive-ie. destroying your offense for pitching you claim is not available. No, DOB is absolutely correct-there will be no wholesale changes this year, especially when there will be considerable salary jettisoned in the coming couple of years. We will try to sign Glavine and make a trade for a younger pitcher. I doubt you will see much more than this done, except to shore uo the bench. As far as pitching for the future-check out who’s coming up from A and AA in the next couple of years. There are some guns on the way up. Ask Efrim, he’ll tell you that. too.
By Lew
October 13, 2007 10:53 AM | Link to this
JoeBrave-I’ve got a question for you. E mail me lewhartman@comcast.net
By Big Buck
October 13, 2007 10:55 AM | Link to this
joebrave Next time you are going to be around Tullahoma, give me a holler. We’ll have a beer, or more, and some good southern food.
By JC FROM UT
October 13, 2007 11:00 AM | Link to this
Lew: I’m just saying if say Oakland wanted a package including B.Jones to get Blanton/Haren would you then use Thorman in a platoon. Obvioously no one would use Thorman if B.Jones is on the roster.
By joebrave
October 13, 2007 11:00 AM | Link to this
Efrim,Don’t try to Explain real BaseBall to Coach,He thinks The Braves are a Farm Team For the Yankees… And whoever suggests that Wolesale Changes are coming ,Look Liberty Signed an agreement to build value of this Ball Club not tear it down,KNOW YOUR FACTS,how do you build value and worth,simple financial sense comes into play here.You Have To Spend Money To Make Money,John Malone has Ties to Ted Turner,and Everyone Knows Ted has a soft spot for the Braves.That being said,if You want steak and potatoes,you don’t buy round,you buy Sirloin…
See the Cardinals as of right now are cubed steak,and Liberty views The Braves as T-Bone.GOT IT……..
By GT
October 13, 2007 11:01 AM | Link to this
Great article
By joebrave
October 13, 2007 11:04 AM | Link to this
Will do Big Buck,I am Thru There all the Time…
By joebrave
October 13, 2007 11:16 AM | Link to this
I’m not accusing Malone,of being a Turner suporter,I’m just Saying He is a factor here,and a Big one….
By joebrave
October 13, 2007 11:18 AM | Link to this
Lew,the EMail,has been shot to You…..
By joebrave
October 13, 2007 11:21 AM | Link to this
I’ll get back to you Lew,I have to stroll down 75 to Acworth,for an inspection be back later,hold down the Fort,and don’t take no $hit from nobody!!!!
By Lew
October 13, 2007 11:30 AM | Link to this
JC-I’m not sure Thorman will be on the roster, anyway. I really believe he is doing the AFL so if he has a decent season, we can dump him on someone else as part of a trade. I think DOB has basically said that Brandon Jones and Yunel, as well as McCann and Francoeur are untouchable. They are the Braves’ future. We have a bounty of middle infielders and not outfielders. We already have to replace a third of the outfield as is. You don’t trade your wonder kid left field prospect. Believe me, the Farm System has plenty left in it for trade bait.
By Braveheart
October 13, 2007 11:31 AM | Link to this
I’m sure he’s wearing braces and not suspenders. If you don’t know braces button inside the waist and suspenders snap onto the waist.
speaking of corrections. that is the most anally retentive correction seen in the last few months
By cooper
October 13, 2007 11:48 AM | Link to this
mo in the boonies - dead on post. this is an up and out the door move for JS and bobby is next.
Liberty Media wants the value of this team to go up in a few years so they can sell it for a profit. JS and Bobby have operated on a millenium at a glance calendar where it seems like eons since we won anything big.
that style of mgt and decision making doesnt fit with a 3-4 yr asset value growth plan.
JS had a great run but he last 7 years have been a GM train wreck. traded away the farm to chase a division flag - dumb & short sighted.
By Big Buck
October 13, 2007 12:20 PM | Link to this
I am really anally retentive. I hook mine with safety pins.
By TheSouthernJackAss
October 13, 2007 12:20 PM | Link to this
TheJackAss says hello to joebrave…
By chrisklob
October 13, 2007 12:30 PM | Link to this
cooper, JS had a great run but he last 7 years have been a GM train wreck. traded away the farm to chase a division flag - dumb & short sighted.
Train wreck? TRAIN WRECK? You might want to head over to BaseballAmerica.com and look at a page they call Trade Central. They have every trade made since 2001 listed there. I just scrolled through the past seven years to remind myself of all the trades the Braves have made. The only ones that are bad are the Wainwright trade and possibly the Betemit trade. If you’re talking about the Teixeira trade, it’s far too early to determine if that was a good trade or not. Won’t know until after next year. If the Braves win the WS or sign Tex to an extension or if none of the five guys sent out turn into real players then the Tex/Mahay deal was a good one too.
JS is a master at dealing extra parts or dealing prospects who were hitting their maximum value (see Andy Marte). Go back and look at their trades and you’ll see a bunch of kids sent out that either never made it to the bigs or had zero impact there. In fact, most of those guys are out of baseball completely.
By Tyler
October 13, 2007 12:47 PM | Link to this
Lew-Offense is overrated, in my opinion. The only thing an offense needs to do a be able to manufacture runs and be productive. Pitching wins games. There aren’t many 12-10 games in the postseason.
There should be no reason B.Jones or Escobar should be untouchable. If we can get Dan Haren at the cost of Escobar and another player, then pull the trigger. Pitching is our focus point. With that said, wasn’t Salty said to be untouchable at the deadline, too?
By Lew
October 13, 2007 1:17 PM | Link to this
Tyler-Is that how baseball works? Damn, how come I didn’t figure that out in 50 years as a baseball fan? Offense is overrated in your opinion? Look at all of the playoff teams. Boston-offensive club with good pitching. Yankees-offensive club with little pitching. Phillies-offensive team with damn little pitching. DBacks-mediocre offense and mediocre pitching-they are playing above themselves. Indians-offensive team with decent pitching. Rockies-Offensive team with decent pitching. Angels-Offensive team with decent pitching. Seems to me it takes a balance between the two aspects.
Best pitching in the National League-Padres, no offense and sitting at home during the postseason. So much for offense being overrated..
By Tyler
October 13, 2007 1:34 PM | Link to this
Padres had a similar problem we had. They had an awesome 1-2 punch, a descent 3, and not much else. The Indians have an incredible 1-2 punch.
Did you really read what I wrote about offense? I said it is more important that they can simply produce runs. The Rockies have not been hitting grand slams. They have been manufacturing runs on bloop singles and outpitching their opponents.
The Red Sox are the exception. They are the most balanced team in the MLB. You say the D-Backs have been playing above themselves, but have you noticed how many 1-run games they have won this year? That says a lot about both pitching and offense. It says they can get enough runs to win and they can hold the other team-something we could not do this year.
By Lew
October 13, 2007 1:37 PM | Link to this
Tyler-I just went and checked things out just to make sure I was right. I was. Most of the playoff teams had TWO good starters (we have Smoltz and Hudson). The Indians had a good #3 in Byrd, The Angels a good number 3 in Weaver. As far as I could tell, there was no team that had a dynamite (13-14 wins) staff past a number 3 pitcher. Seems to me if we make ONE trade for a young starter and pick up on Glavine, pushing James to five, we will have as good, if not better a rotation than anyone in our league-definitely in our division. There is no need to make wholesale changes like has been suggested, nor is their valid reason for decimating our lineup. Yes, you have to hold some players back. Escobar showed great promise and Renteria would work better as trade bait (though I really hate to lose him). We already have to replace Andruw and you don’t do that by trading your best outfield prospect and putting a mediocre first baseman with damn little outfield experience in his place.
By Lew
October 13, 2007 1:53 PM | Link to this
Yes, Tyler-The DBacks are playing over their heads. They gave up more runs than they scored. The fact they were winning so many one run games is a combination of lots of factors. It doesn’t really prove what you’re stating.
The Padress had the best ERA in the NL. The Braves had the third best. Didn’t get us to the promised land, did it. The Cubs were second and were three and out in the playoffs. The DBacks were number four and will be out soon. You have to have offense and not just pitching.
We just lost Andruw’s bat. Now, granted his season was terrible (for him), but we still lose 26 HR and 94 RBI. How are we going to replace that and still have to replace even more if we trade off our offense? You can’t count on Chipper coming in second in the batting race. You can’t count on Tex having an RBI per game. You can’t count on Renteria being in Atlanta next year and you can’t count on Yunel hitting .328 again. If Edgar stays, you can’t count on him batting .330 again, either. I, for one, don’t want to see if we can win so many one run games. I’d like to win easily for once. Even good pitchers won’t succeed as well in some of these little NL parks. You have to have offense, too.
No, You can’t go dump all of your offense because you think pitching is all there is to the situation. We need Glavine and one young arm. We have great pitching prospects waiting in the wings. We need to make it through this year and then go from there.
By JC FROM UT
October 13, 2007 2:12 PM | Link to this
LEW: who do you think may be intersted in Thorman? Kansas City along with Martin Prado for Zack Grienke? or San Francisco same deal for Noah Lowery(maybe Wren adds another prospect)? Also whats your opinion on signing Aaron Boone to back up the corners?
By journalist jimmy smith
October 13, 2007 2:12 PM | Link to this
dob is gonna be grumpy. sounds like dob is traveling west on i-20 looking for covington. when dob and anne get to alabama somebody needs to pick them up and take them for some barbecue somewhere.
“toes are not to be trifled with.” journalist has been saying this same thing for many months.
and lew, that poultice jimmy smith sent is an outdoor poultice. have to stay off the furniture when using ugandan poultice. good to hear that lew’s toe is recovered. maybe chipper could use lew’s podiatrist. how many toes? not sure, may be just a rumor.
now, baseball … “what? what, baby seal? oh, the humanity! the reinsurance damage appraiser is towing this journalist’s car!!”“
just kidding, joebrave.
By TennesseePaul
October 13, 2007 2:15 PM | Link to this
What a bummer. Did any of you see this about Encarnacion? After being hit in the head by a foul ball in August he has lost most of his vision in his left eye. At this point it appears his career is over.
By Coach (Lets Go Braves In 2008)
October 13, 2007 2:21 PM | Link to this
Efrim , I answered your question several days ago. Now , go dig back through the blog ! Have fun !
By Lew
October 13, 2007 2:30 PM | Link to this
JC-I imagine Thorman would be a part of some kind of deal. Even if he tears the AFL up, I doubt he would bring a whole lot in return all on his own. Let me check out Grienke and I’ll get back to you. Not all that familiar with the guy.
Esteemed Journalist-It would have been good if you’d told me ahead of time about the poultice’s outside application. I had to have the house fumigated-it darn near killed my Parrot and it burned holes in the sofa.
By Lew
October 13, 2007 2:37 PM | Link to this
JC-I don’t know. He can start and relieve, has a K to BB ratio of almost 3-1 and has an ERA in night games of 2.97, and a WHIP of about 1.25. LH and RH batters hit about the same off of him. I don’t see Prado and Thorman being enough to swing that deal. We’d have to throw in someone else, IMO.
By TennesseePaul
October 13, 2007 2:39 PM | Link to this
chrisklob: The only bad trades were Wainwright and Betemit? That Wainwright trade got us to the post season and Betemit has been passed around like currency. And how can either of these look worse than pulling in Dan Kolb via trade?
By Lew
October 13, 2007 2:40 PM | Link to this
JC-I think Boone would be an excellent bench player. A big upgrade over Chris Woodward, that’s for damn sure. I’d like to see him picked up-especially if Edgar gets traded. We will need someone to fill in for Chipper upon occasion if Escobar is an everyday player at short.
By Lew
October 13, 2007 2:44 PM | Link to this
Esteemed Journalist-Chipper would do well to use my podiatrist. He’s good and he actually listens to his patients. He’s trying to talk me into writing a book on diabetes control. Might just have to do it, too. Make some retirement money so I can afford to pay for the podiatrist in my old age (likely tomorrow or next week).
By Tyler
October 13, 2007 2:45 PM | Link to this
Lew-I completely agree that we can’t ship out our offense. I don’t want to get rid of Renteria or Escobar unless we get an arm like Haren. You are also correct that you really only need 3 great arms in the rotation. We lacked the 3rd arm this year. However, Glavine may get us into the postseason, but he may not. I was looking to make a deal for a better pitcher than Glavine. I’m hoping they get someone who is better than a #3 but will have to be our #3 because of Smoltz and Hudson.
By Tyler
October 13, 2007 2:50 PM | Link to this
JC-Greinke would be very tough to get and would command a lot. Not to mention the Royals have themselves a descent little staff over there with Meche, Bannister, and Greinke. They’re not going to want to give him up unless we give up B.Jones and maybe a top pitching prospect.
By Steamboat
October 13, 2007 2:53 PM | Link to this
TennesseePaul, I agree with you that the Wainwright trade made sense; we didn’t have any outfielders, with Sheffield leaving and Chipper moving back to 3B (to replace Vinnie C). Also, Javy was on his way out… we desperately needed a bat and an outfielder. We got the best year of Drew’s career and like you said, got to the postseason.
And Drew was affordable (this was when we were in the process of cutting the payroll dramatically).
The Kolb trade wasn’t so bad (Kolb was bad but we didn’t give up anything of value - Capellan and Zumwalt).
By journalist jimmy smith
October 13, 2007 2:55 PM | Link to this
lew can do illustrations. makes sense. not sure a sore toe book would be a best seller, though. speaking of sore toes, imagine how things must be going at the double dime about now. killin’, skinnin’, autographin’. and is dob goin’ out for a hunt, or not? should be able to can a lot of ham (well, venison) for you know who. and journalist is taking baby seal out for barbecue tonight since journalist has had a craving for barbecue all week (not sure why). may try some banana pudding, too.
By Lew
October 13, 2007 2:57 PM | Link to this
Tyler-I agree. I would rather use Glavine as a number 4 and toss the 5th spot to James, Hampton, Reyes or whoever can take it.
By JC FROM UT
October 13, 2007 3:06 PM | Link to this
LEW/TYLER: Do eithier of you think Cody Ross could be had for someone like Tyler Yates and Eric Campbell/Van Pope? Florida needs bullpen arms and want to move Cabrera to 1st. Ross would be a nice inexpensive stop gap until Schafer i ready.
By Braveheart
October 13, 2007 3:19 PM | Link to this
now, baseball … “what? what, baby seal? oh, the humanity! the reinsurance damage appraiser is towing this journalist’s car!!”“ just kidding, joebrave.
Oh, the humanity. Real life imitating fiction. Am I reading JJS correctly? Is Joebrave an insurance adjuster? Really? It all makes perfect sense to me now.
There has always been something very Tyler Durdenish about JoeBrave. If Joebrave is his cool Tyler Durdenish alter ego moniker who says and does everything everyone else always wants to say and do but are too scared to, which moniker is JoeBrave’s hapless regular joe Edward Norton insurance adjuster alter ego?
And who plays his Helena Bonham Carter in real life?
We all know the headless cooch is meat loaf’s bob paulson.
Someone please dare to tell me that every single Joebrave post does not take on the message of these words of Tyler Durden from Fight Club: “If you are reading this then this warning is for you. Every word you read of this is useless fine print is another second off your life. Don’t you have other things to do? Is your life so empty that you honestly can’t think of a better way to spend these moments? Or are you so impressed with authority that you give respect and credence to all who claim it? Do you read everything you’re supposed to read? Do you think everything you’re supposed to think? Buy what you’re told you should want? Get out of your apartment. Meet a member of the opposite sex. Stop the excessive shopping and mas turbation. Quit your job. Start a fight. Prove you’re alive. If you don’t claim your humanity you will become a statistic. You have been warned.
Is joebrave my bad dream? Or am I joebrave’s?
Just remember the first rule of Fight Club…. or else…..
damn crazy insurance adjusters…..
By Braveheart
October 13, 2007 3:22 PM | Link to this
so much for the aura of nick saban. come on already. it is freaking ole miss.
By Tyler
October 13, 2007 3:29 PM | Link to this
Anyone notice Cody Johnson was MiLB offensive player of the year? He hit .305 with 17 HR, 18 2B, 5 3B, .630 SLG in 68 games.
We have B.Jones, Schaffer, Heyward, Blanco and Johnson on the way up. Looks like we’re gonna have a few young stars in the OF the next few years. Not to mention Rohrbough, Hanson, Medlen, Devine, Bennett, and Reyes for pitchers. Lillbridge, Holt, Kaaihue, Escobar, Pena, Hernandez, and Prado gives us a lot of depth in infield prospects too.
By Savannah Guy
October 13, 2007 3:38 PM | Link to this
The Daily Buzz (Fly on Wall Report No. 021)
(Fly language translated for your convenience).
*As Mr. Fly, the intrepid sleuth reporter travels around the country reporting on behind the scenes Braves matters, he has gotten to know and become friends with many humans. John Schuerholz, who is a big fan of Mr. Fly, brought Fly along on his exciting negotiating travels during the heady days of the Tex trade. Fly go to top-floor meetings undercover, tucked inconspicuously behind the now famous JS suspenders.
Mr. Fly has gotten to know many people on the MIB Blog due to his Daily Buzz reports. Among bloggers he may seem just a little break in the sabremetric, Pythagorean baseball analysis. Some may even consider Mr. Fly a little pest, but to other flies, he is looked upon as a rock star. Now, everywhere he goes around the country he is signing little autographs for flygirls. Some flyguys like him too, but they don’t care about autographs…they want access to Mr. Fly’s cute little peach-blossom flygirls and the Braves game buffet.
Recently a nice Blog denizen, Choppinmama inquired about Mr. Fly’s longevity. Seems she was concerned about Mr. Fly making it through the winter season and being around to cover hot stove action, Spring training and the 2008 season. As we know, flies don’t live that long. To allay concern, Mr. Fly decided to let his friends know why he will be able to outlive others in this heretofore-deemed lowly species of insect. Until now, due to national security issues, it has remained top secret. Mr. Fly has decided to break this big story himself, right here in the friendly confines of the Notorious and Decent Hitman DOB MIB BravesBlog.
To tell his amazing and incredible story, Mr. Fly has decided on an interview format and has agreed to let another highly regarded journalist, Brit Hume conduct a controversial 3-part series that will be released here and then to a worldwide audience. Mr. Fly wanted his denizen friends to read it first before it hits the global networks.
The esteemed Mr. Brit Hume picks it up from here:*
Mr. Hume: Ladies and Gentlemen, we’re here today with A SPECIAL REPORT by Brit Hume. On my panel today, Charles Krauthammer…
Mr. Fly: Uh, Mr. Hume…it’s called the Daily Buzz. And no panel today, even though I am a big, big fan of Mr. Krauthammer. He so smart…
Mr. Hume: Oh, sorry Mr. Fly…you are correct. THE DAILY BUZZ with Brit Hume. Can I call you Fly?
Mr. Fly: Of course Mr. Hume. Can I call you Brit?
Mr. Hume: Absolutely. So let’s get started. You have some big news to report that you say will change the way we think about flies and longevity. But before we get into that, I wanted to thank you for allowing me to conduct this earth- shattering interview.
Mr. Fly: You’re welcome Brit. My friend Savannah Guy and I like you and chose you over all others. You are fair and easy to listen to.
Mr. Hume: Thank you. I’m honored to be here. I understand you received quite a few offers.
Mr. Fly: Oh yes…many. Tom Brokaw wanted to break this story but we would have needed two translators then. Great voice but sometimes hard to understand. Mr. Brokaw is now working on his new book, The Greatest Fly Generation.
Mr. Hume: Interesting…
Mr. Fly: Then there was Carl Bernstein. He is working on an expose called, “Flygate”. Dan Rather wanted to revive his career by interviewing me but we just said, uh, no way…as quick as a country fly in a hog wallow. He wanted to know if we had been in the National Guard in Houston for some odd reason. Then he got mad when I asked him what frequency Kenneth was on. Katie Couric wanted to meet Fly but I think she just wanted to appear more legit with an important hard news story like this. We said no. Then there was ESPN but I just said, yea right, then…
Mr. Hume: Hmmm…Well thanks again but I get the point. You are the hot story.
Mr. Fly: Sorry. So many journalists and networks make me dizzy.
Mr. Hume: Ok, where were we? Oh, the BIG STORY…so tell me Fly, we have never before seen a little fly that could talk. What in the world caused that? You are certainly a freak of nature. Tell us how you are able to talk, read, report…
Mr. Fly: Yes Brit…but freak of nature I’m not. Freak of science, yes. Not a lotta freaks since Woodstock.
Mr. Hume: Please explain…
Mr. Fly: Well, it was a really big music festival that…
Mr. Hume: No, I mean the ability to speak and such.
Mr. Fly: Well Brit, as you know I have a freelance career covering the inside dope on the Atlanta Braves baseball team, and…
Mr. Hume: You mean STEROIDS? Is this a steroid story? WOW! Some Braves do steroids and you ate some and that’s how…
Mr. Fly: No, no, no, Brit. You’re getting ahead of yourself here. I mean inside “stuff”, the “scoop”, the “story”…not drug dope…silly.
Mr. Hume: Does this story have anything to do with your affiliation with the Braves GM John Schuerholz? Is there something there in Atlanta that caused your, um…amazing evolution?
Mr. Fly: Nope. Mr. John is just a friend who took me under his, um, wing and let’s me know certain things about Braves before anyone else knows them…even before DOB. He’s no longer GM, he’s President. We go to nice restaurants and we read many good books together. I read from his shoulder and he turns the pages for me (me read faster).
Mr. Hume: Before we continue with your earth-shattering science news, let me ask you about the Braves a minute. So what’s up with all the musical chairs over there? Was JS “kicked” upstairs by Liberty or McGuirk? Is Bobby going away? Will they increase the budget next year?
Mr. Fly: Well Brit, let me just put it this way. I can’t break everything just yet, but I’ll start with, JS has not been “kicked” anywhere. What you are seeing is the beginning of a strategy for Liberty to go away and private ownership of the Braves. JS and McGuirk are leading that and will put themselves and a few others into ownership position. They may even have a breakfast at “Bernies” if you know what I mean.
Mr. Hume: Marcus? Are we talking about? Man this IS earth shattering…
Mr. Fly: Can we break for lunch now? Me hungry. Did you bring some cheeseburgers, NC BBQ, slaw and peach cobbler like you promised? This interview is way long…denizens will be bored and angry.
Mr. Hume: Yes I did Fly. Oh, So sorry folks…uh, we’ll be back later with part two.
By Mr. Fly (Sleuth Reporter)
October 13, 2007 3:46 PM | Link to this
Hey, don’t blame me. Brit just asks too many questions and SG was in charge of editing. Send them to Dark Star spring brevity training class. Sheesh…
By mo in the boonies
October 13, 2007 4:13 PM | Link to this
I’ll try to slip this in quick between Mr Fly’s interviews.
Thanks Cooper for not only agreeing with me, but also for bothering to even read my post, I get the feeling that not many do on this blog.
By Big Buck
October 13, 2007 4:21 PM | Link to this
Help! I need an insurance adjuster. My ‘puter caught fire while I was scrolling past Mr. Fly’s latest tome stone. And he says it is only “part one”! Where is a cyber-swatter when you need it?
By Kermit The Frog
October 13, 2007 4:24 PM | Link to this
I don’t blame anyone for length or too many questions or editing. I do get a little perturbed by Mr. Fly calling Brit Hume Esteemed. 20 years ago at ABC, yes. Since his move to you know where, not so much at all. just another dreadful, droll, dullard.. no longer a fair and balanced respected reasonably objective journalist. what a shame.
i see the power of the dark side and dark star may be corrupting Mr. Fly’s journalistic integrity. maybe it’s best if we uninvite him to the dark star brevity class. he’s too vulnerable. we can’t allow that good sweet intrepid reporter to succumb to becoming disneyified or murdoched. nope, can’t be having that at all.
otherwise, we’ll be sitting there chilling, drinking, telling jokes, making fun of each other, flirting with the sun soaking broads and then murdoch will appear with his imperial stormtroopers and have a showdown with us rebel fledgling journalists. finally, will come the ultimate showdown where ruppert murdoch tells Mr. Fly, I am your father……
If he had maintained his journalistic integrity, we would expect our little buddy Mr. Fly to go all Spaceballs on him and tell Darth Murdoch, I see your fly is open and I see your Schwartz is as big as mine. Never underestimate the power of the Schwartz.
By Braveheart
October 13, 2007 4:30 PM | Link to this
Thanks Cooper for not only agreeing with me, but also for bothering to even read my post, I get the feeling that not many do on this blog.
mo in the boonies i read your posts and I’m sure most do. if no one responds, it is actually a good thing. most people are probably agreeing with you. if you have not noticed, we rarely congratulate each other. we wait for each other to say stupid things so we can start off with your and idiot and then launch into a 15 paragraph attack on the person and their opinion and whomever the player, coach, and gm the person was talking about. if you want more attention, say something intellectually dishonest or outrageous just for the sake of getting attention.
By mo in the boonies
October 13, 2007 4:37 PM | Link to this
PS: For all of you who think Schuerholtz is happy about his move “upstairs” take a good look at his face in the picture of Wren and Schuerholtz on the home page of the AJC. That is not a happy face.
By Uncle Remus
October 13, 2007 4:40 PM | Link to this
Br’er Rabbit sez thro him in dat briarpatch, but please don’t thro him in that blog with Mr. Fly.
By TennesseePaul
October 13, 2007 4:41 PM | Link to this
Steamboat: I think Chipper was actually replacing the failed DeRosa =), but I get what you’re saying. Capellan hasn’t amounted to much. But the idea of Dan Kolb in a Braves uniform… I wish I could have never witnessed it.
By Task Master
October 13, 2007 4:48 PM | Link to this
Braveheart and Savannah, the fly guy, obviously did not take high school Latin. Or else, they were absent on the Vini, Vidi, Vici day. Please read and comprehend before the beginning of brevity class in the spring.
By mo in the boonies
October 13, 2007 4:48 PM | Link to this
PPS: Braveheart Not craving attention…just would like to know once in a while that I’m not talking to myself.
By Roll caller
October 13, 2007 4:56 PM | Link to this
Hav you noticed that Shaun rarely, if ever, is “on” on weekends? Personally, I am glad to see he has a life outside of this blog. Wish I could say the same for some of you other “shut-ins”.
By The Grinch
October 13, 2007 4:57 PM | Link to this
Oh, my head. Time for a Bloody Mary. Coach, I only made two bets this year that anyone took me up on, one was with Robert about Bobby Cox (which we won’t know who won ‘till next year) and the other was with MetroMan that the Braves would beat the Mets head to head last season. We split, so neither won. What exactly are you referring to?
Mo in the Boonies, I’m sorry; could you repeat that? I wasn’t listening. :-)
Go DAWGS! Maybe, just maybe they can handle Vandy today, though they’re better than usual.
By Mr. Fly (Sleuth Reporter)
October 13, 2007 5:00 PM | Link to this
Oh, my dear friend Mr. Kermit, let us not venture into a political tar pit, lest I am put in the unintended and unwanted position of defending Rupert Murdoch and Fox while you defend George Soros and the news networks. We will let them fight but not us. Besides, this would surely and justifiably be bannable and not very much fun either. No, Rupert is not my father…but you probably know who is. It’s a real science shocker straight out of Hollywood.
Oh, the Flymanity!
So, Mr. Frog…let us rise above politics and get to the more important and lofty matters, like baseball, BBQ, music and such. There, we can be biased together. It is amazing how different we all see the same things, even though we probably agree on even more. Despite different perspective and perhaps a differing value system, we have so much in common (but you do talk funny Mr. Kermit).
Also funny, you mentioned Storm Troopers. The esteemed George Lucas wants to do a movie about me but Mr. Spielberg, Mr. Scorsese and Mr. Eastwood also want the rights. Who should I choose?
By Atlas-Shrugged
October 13, 2007 5:05 PM | Link to this
mo in the boonies But, believe BH. “They” are back in their cyber-caves snarling, and just waiting the opportunity to attack you like the hounds of hell—given the opening. Don’t! Wish I could show you some of my scars.
By Mr. Fly (Sleuth Reporter)
October 13, 2007 5:08 PM | Link to this
Mr. Task, are you concerned about a possible eruption of Vesuvius during spring training? My rule is, when in Rome…eat BBQ squid with a nice Chianti. Yummy.
By Lew
October 13, 2007 5:12 PM | Link to this
Mo In The Boonies-There’s nothing wrong with talking to yourself. It’s when you have conversations between two of your personalities that problems arise.
By Van Vampire
October 13, 2007 5:13 PM | Link to this
If Grinch is up, it must be time for me and my buddies to be out and about. Grinch, I would like to tell you that “I would like to bite your neck” but 1. I swore off alcohol and 2. You definitely are not my type. But, Go Dawgs!!
By Tiny Trout Fly
October 13, 2007 5:14 PM | Link to this
Here’s a repeat of an earlier post.
The Daily Buzz (Fly on Wall Report No. 021)
(Fly language translated for your convenience).
*As Mr. Fly, the intrepid sleuth reporter travels around the country reporting on behind the scenes Braves matters, he has gotten to know and become friends with many humans. John Schuerholz, who is a big fan of Mr. Fly, brought Fly along on his exciting negotiating travels during the heady days of the Tex trade. Fly go to top-floor meetings undercover, tucked inconspicuously behind the now famous JS suspenders.
Mr. Fly has gotten to know many people on the MIB Blog due to his Daily Buzz reports. Among bloggers he may seem just a little break in the sabremetric, Pythagorean baseball analysis. Some may even consider Mr. Fly a little pest, but to other flies, he is looked upon as a rock star. Now, everywhere he goes around the country he is signing little autographs for flygirls. Some flyguys like him too, but they don’t care about autographs…they want access to Mr. Fly’s cute little peach-blossom flygirls and the Braves game buffet.
Recently a nice Blog denizen, Choppinmama inquired about Mr. Fly’s longevity. Seems she was concerned about Mr. Fly making it through the winter season and being around to cover hot stove action, Spring training and the 2008 season. As we know, flies don’t live that long. To allay concern, Mr. Fly decided to let his friends know why he will be able to outlive others in this heretofore-deemed lowly species of insect. Until now, due to national security issues, it has remained top secret. Mr. Fly has decided to break this big story himself, right here in the friendly confines of the Notorious and Decent Hitman DOB MIB BravesBlog.
To tell his amazing and incredible story, Mr. Fly has decided on an interview format and has agreed to let another highly regarded journalist, Brit Hume conduct a controversial 3-part series that will be released here and then to a worldwide audience. Mr. Fly wanted his denizen friends to read it first before it hits the global networks.
The esteemed Mr. Brit Hume picks it up from here:*
Mr. Hume: Ladies and Gentlemen, we’re here today with A SPECIAL REPORT by Brit Hume. On my panel today, Charles Krauthammer…
Mr. Fly: Uh, Mr. Hume…it’s called the Daily Buzz. And no panel today, even though I am a big, big fan of Mr. Krauthammer. He so smart…
Mr. Hume: Oh, sorry Mr. Fly…you are correct. THE DAILY BUZZ with Brit Hume. Can I call you Fly?
Mr. Fly: Of course Mr. Hume. Can I call you Brit?
Mr. Hume: Absolutely. So let’s get started. You have some big news to report that you say will change the way we think about flies and longevity. But before we get into that, I wanted to thank you for allowing me to conduct this earth- shattering interview.
Mr. Fly: You’re welcome Brit. My friend Savannah Guy and I like you and chose you over all others. You are fair and easy to listen to.
Mr. Hume: Thank you. I’m honored to be here. I understand you received quite a few offers.
Mr. Fly: Oh yes…many. Tom Brokaw wanted to break this story but we would have needed two translators then. Great voice but sometimes hard to understand. Mr. Brokaw is now working on his new book, The Greatest Fly Generation.
Mr. Hume: Interesting…
Mr. Fly: Then there was Carl Bernstein. He is working on an expose called, “Flygate”. Dan Rather wanted to revive his career by interviewing me but we just said, uh, no way…as quick as a country fly in a hog wallow. He wanted to know if we had been in the National Guard in Houston for some odd reason. Then he got mad when I asked him what frequency Kenneth was on. Katie Couric wanted to meet Fly but I think she just wanted to appear more legit with an important hard news story like this. We said no. Then there was ESPN but I just said, yea right, then…
Mr. Hume: Hmmm…Well thanks again but I get the point. You are the hot story.
Mr. Fly: Sorry. So many journalists and networks make me dizzy.
Mr. Hume: Ok, where were we? Oh, the BIG STORY…so tell me Fly, we have never before seen a little fly that could talk. What in the world caused that? You are certainly a freak of nature. Tell us how you are able to talk, read, report…
Mr. Fly: Yes Brit…but freak of nature I’m not. Freak of science, yes. Not a lotta freaks since Woodstock.
Mr. Hume: Please explain…
Mr. Fly: Well, it was a really big music festival that…
Mr. Hume: No, I mean the ability to speak and such.
Mr. Fly: Well Brit, as you know I have a freelance career covering the inside dope on the Atlanta Braves baseball team, and…
Mr. Hume: You mean STEROIDS? Is this a steroid story? WOW! Some Braves do steroids and you ate some and that’s how…
Mr. Fly: No, no, no, Brit. You’re getting ahead of yourself here. I mean inside “stuff”, the “scoop”, the “story”…not drug dope…silly.
Mr. Hume: Does this story have anything to do with your affiliation with the Braves GM John Schuerholz? Is there something there in Atlanta that caused your, um…amazing evolution?
Mr. Fly: Nope. Mr. John is just a friend who took me under his, um, wing and let’s me know certain things about Braves before anyone else knows them…even before DOB. He’s no longer GM, he’s President. We go to nice restaurants and we read many good books together. I read from his shoulder and he turns the pages for me (me read faster).
Mr. Hume: Before we continue with your earth-shattering science news, let me ask you about the Braves a minute. So what’s up with all the musical chairs over there? Was JS “kicked” upstairs by Liberty or McGuirk? Is Bobby going away? Will they increase the budget next year?
Mr. Fly: Well Brit, let me just put it this way. I can’t break everything just yet, but I’ll start with, JS has not been “kicked” anywhere. What you are seeing is the beginning of a strategy for Liberty to go away and private ownership of the Braves. JS and McGuirk are leading that and will put themselves and a few others into ownership position. They may even have a breakfast at “Bernies” if you know what I mean.
Mr. Hume: Marcus? Are we talking about? Man this IS earth shattering…
Mr. Fly: Can we break for lunch now? Me hungry. Did you bring some cheeseburgers, NC BBQ, slaw and peach cobbler like you promised? This interview is way long…denizens will be bored and angry.
Mr. Hume: Yes I did Fly. Oh, So sorry folks…uh, we’ll be back later with part two.
By Caved Man
October 13, 2007 5:21 PM | Link to this
All I can say is that the first 2-legged creature to eat squid, was one hungry son-of-a-beech. And he didn’t have any Chianti to wash it down. Further, I have my share of “eruptions” after eating squid.
By Lew
October 13, 2007 5:22 PM | Link to this
John Gault-Quit griping about your wounds and get those damn trains running.
By Savannah Guy
October 13, 2007 5:24 PM | Link to this
Tiny Trout Fly What exactly is your purpose in reposting my earlier Daily Buzz post? Think it’s funny? Don’t you think it was long enough the first time? Are you trying to disrupt the blog? Don’t YOU have anything original to say?
I’ve a good mind to report this to the AJC…troll jerk.
By Tiny Tim
October 13, 2007 5:26 PM | Link to this
Help me! Help me! I’m buried under the Fly’s latest post.
By mo in the boonies
October 13, 2007 5:26 PM | Link to this
Ok, Ok, so some of you are reading!
Mr. Grinch See mo with one middle finger up-raised. grin…
By Cybil's shepherd
October 13, 2007 5:30 PM | Link to this
Lew darling, I have no problem talking to my other personalities. It’s when they answer that it scares the sh!t out of me.
By Savannah Guy
October 13, 2007 5:31 PM | Link to this
If someone has the time or the inclination to report the little trout troll while I’m out…please feel free and let me know.
Otherwise, I’ll send it along when I return. What a lose. Now I have to hurry along to catch the movie, “We Own The Night”. Looks good.
By The Jury
October 13, 2007 5:34 PM | Link to this
If someone did re-post the Daily Buzz he, or she, should get the death penalty.
By The Grinch
October 13, 2007 5:44 PM | Link to this
SG, tell me how it is…I’ve been debating going tomorrow.
Mo, I don’t consider it a normal day without being shot at least one bird. It makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside. :-)
Ok, time to fire up the grill and get ready for the game. 6 PM, ESPN2. Be there.
By cooper
October 13, 2007 5:45 PM | Link to this
Trainwreck from the perspective of poorer and poorer results until at least the team cannot even make the playoffs.
That is what has happened over the last seven years.
Lots of one and done first round exits and no WS rings. For a team that had so much talent and momentum in the 90s to fizzle like ATL has is a trainwreck.
Sure more money would have helped but we traded away top talent for 1-2yr rentals just to buy more division flags.
I stand by my comments. JS had a great run but the last seven years with tighter monetary controls and more competitive teams was a better test of GM skills. If you measure those skills by merely winning division flags then it is ok but I for one care more about getting to and winning the WS.
JS built a team designed to be competitive and chase a flag not to win WS rings.
Facts bear that out. Two Octobers watching other teams in the playoffs do most pointedly.
JS and Bobby are fine managers and hall of fame bound but their numbers are up.
By David O'Brien
October 13, 2007 5:59 PM | Link to this
Well, that was pretty phenomenal eatin’, boys and girls. We drove to Covington to the BBQ cook-off (“Sherman’s Last Burnin”) and me and the lady were bombarded with generous competitors offering samples of their entry meats, including succulent ribs, chicken, brisket, etc. Absolutely delicious. And to top it off, we had sweet tea, homemade peach ice cream and sweet-potato pie turnovers (I’d never had one of those delicacies, but the vendor said he’s been making them and selling them down here for 15 years).
What a day of eatin’. And the Jayhawks destroyed Baylor. So it was a good day all around.
By joebrave
October 13, 2007 6:16 PM | Link to this
Cute Braveheart,very Cute…I hope your’s isn’t the next bad case of financial mismanagement ,I have to see!!!!!!!!!
By Braveheart
October 13, 2007 6:32 PM | Link to this
hey joe brave, done out of love and respect.
sg, you know which one by the ugly green sock was done by me out of love and humor. as for the other extremist soros you mentioned i hold him in the highest contempt as well. i am a middle of the road fella. questioning hume’s journalistic integrity is not political. i don’t question greta van susteren’s despite where she works. hume disappoints me greatly because i used to hold him in the highest esteem when i was a child and he was working with peter jennings on world news tonight. but i guess i shouldn’t. it is essentially the difference between being a reporter and a columnist. columnists and television personalities often have to go to intellectually dishonest extremes to sell papers or drive television ratings. to me, it would be the difference between dob going from the guy who is very detailed and well reasoned in his facts and opinions as a reporter to becoming a shallow columnist who writes short little essays 3 times a week that show poor knowledge or selective knowledge and are only meant to enflame people’s emotions. could never see that happening but, hey, you never know. evidently, all of our journalistic and artistic and ethical integrities are endangered when the devil starts waving the almighty dollar in our faces. so, i don’t consider it political because i don’t take any of their opinions seriously. it’s more of a financial thing.
By jbutler
October 13, 2007 6:53 PM | Link to this
DOB Glad you enjoyed your tastings…nothing like a great meal with that special someone. You gearing up for a trip here to the Mile Hi? Unless the Rox pull a Mets like collapse…they will actually be in the World Series. Who would’ve thought. Ever. Ever.
I’m guessing the Magic Carpet Ride will stop if they face the Green monster…but its sure been fun.
Hit El Chapultapec just outside LoDo- terrific Mexican food, and live music.
By David O'Brien
October 13, 2007 7:34 PM | Link to this
Jbutler, love the El Chapultapec. Good burritos, good jazz/blues.
By Niekro35
October 13, 2007 7:43 PM | Link to this
DOB: Do you have any concrete info on whether the Tigers have interest in Renteria? Their farm system is stocked with pitching. Even after the Sheffield trade, they still have at least five excellent prospects. Two of them, Andrew Miller and Chris Cody, are exceptional.
By ?Big Buck
October 13, 2007 7:47 PM | Link to this
Savannah Guy, hurry back. Braveheart has gone ballistic.
By Tiny Trout Fly
October 13, 2007 8:00 PM | Link to this
Savannah Fly, A post like that bears repeating as you are wont to do on occasion - so no one misses your precious prattle. Give Tiny Trout Fly a break. Anyone not amused with your epic the first time through gets a second chance. We need some Raid on this blog.
By Braveheart
October 13, 2007 8:03 PM | Link to this
tucky wins
By ?Big Buck
October 13, 2007 8:10 PM | Link to this
tucky wins??
By Steamboat
October 13, 2007 8:16 PM | Link to this
Braveheart, if I’m an LSU fan (which I’m not), I’m all over Les Miles. Four halfback dives for NINE yards, when you’re behind in the 3rd OT? It’s nice to be confident, but that was some of the worst play-calling I’ve ever seen. Great game, though.
By ?Big Buck
October 13, 2007 8:16 PM | Link to this
Oh, I see. Sorry,
By Adirondackdave
October 13, 2007 8:32 PM | Link to this
TYLER — I think if I read the article correctly that Cody Johnson was actually named the Appalacian League Player of the Year. Your point is well taken though. It seems to me that we do still have plenty of young talent coming through the system and that can’t help but pay off in a couple more years. I’d say by about 2010 or so we will see a very young and even more competitative Braves team. The future is bright.
By journalist jimmy smith
October 13, 2007 8:53 PM | Link to this
peach ice cream? sweet potato pie? did dob not think of this journalist? has dob heard of take-outs? and now, baseball … a wren becomes gm and we can’t say titmouse on the blog. what are we to do? will frank wren become fw like homeboy became js? not being able to say titmouse on the blog but being able to talk wrens makes no sense. someone who can get (bite) the ear of anne cox chambers should ask about this disparity. and lew, glad to hear about the toe. that is very good news.
By Choppinmama
October 13, 2007 8:54 PM | Link to this
Intrepid Sleuth: After reading Pt. 1 of your Hume interview, I can say I honestly have not given you credit where credit is due in the past. You are really in with the Braves In Crowd. You continue to soar in those lofty corporate heights of the higher Braves echelons.
You really are bringing us Braves News from the TOP. You and JS, actual pals.
I’m looking forward to Pt. 2 of Portrait Of A Reporter Fly. Thanks for sharing.
By journalist jimmy smith, ornithologist
October 13, 2007 8:56 PM | Link to this
can say nuthatch? will see.
By journalist jimmy smith
October 13, 2007 8:59 PM | Link to this
journalist got t** mouse through! that’s right, beat the censors!!
By Jeff R
October 13, 2007 9:05 PM | Link to this
I think Wren wilb be a solid GM; it doesn’t hurt having Schuerholz around four more years, either.
But Boras was right in his reaction to the news. Teams with talented front offices still need the dollars to compete. $85 million in today’s market isn’t sufficient. Small, incremental increases are better than nothing, but what the Braves really need is for Liberty Media to boost payroll in $100 million range for 2008 and continue to make adjustments thereafter.
By journalist jimmy smith
October 13, 2007 9:06 PM | Link to this
oh, the humanity!
By Braveheart
October 13, 2007 9:11 PM | Link to this
well the dawgs pull one out. i was gonna say something disrespectful about richt barely beating vanderbilt then i saw him pushing and shoving and screaming at his players for acting like classless jerks after playing like crap against vandy of all teams. you are UGA. you just barely beat Vanderbilt. why the hell are you celebrating and why are you jumping up and down on the middle of the field. richt said oh hell no. not on my team. not after the crappy way you played. i love it. for those of us who say he does not have enough fire, i am starting to change my mind after seeing that. love richt for what he did to his players afterward.
By Carolina Lady
October 13, 2007 9:14 PM | Link to this
Idea! Atlanta Braves Wren houses! huh? huh? sigh…I didn’t think so….
By Carolina Lady
October 13, 2007 9:18 PM | Link to this
mo in the boonies, this lady appreciates your kind comments from earlier. Thank you! :-))
By The Grinch
October 13, 2007 9:22 PM | Link to this
WOOF WOOF WOOF! Braveheart, I agree. Say what you want about Richt, but the man exudes class. I think this team will be flat out awesome next year. Nearly as good as my steak just was.
By Stinky
October 13, 2007 9:27 PM | Link to this
Carolina Lady, I hope you are feeling well.
Just wondering how you feel about Tom Glavine coming back to Turner Field? Any feelings?
By Choppinmama
October 13, 2007 9:28 PM | Link to this
jjs,o - once again, you have made my day!
May I offer my condolences to the late booby bird?
By journalist jimmy smith
October 13, 2007 9:28 PM | Link to this
carolina lady, a white-chinned prinia and a bluebreasted bee-eater were seen by this journalist today making inquiries about the neighborhood. does carolina lady make accommodations for such birds?
By Choppinmama
October 13, 2007 9:31 PM | Link to this
jjs,o - you’ll have to correct me if I have mistakenly confused the extinct dodo bird with the booby bird.
By Carolina Lady
October 13, 2007 9:36 PM | Link to this
Stinky, thank you - I’m doing SO much better!! Glavine? With available pitching and what the team can afford, I think they’d better sign him if they get the chance. All other feelings/opinions aside, the market as a whole has to be considered and the pickin’s are slim! Just my 2 cents…
By journalist jimmy smith
October 13, 2007 9:41 PM | Link to this
choppinmama is kind. jimmy smith is unclear on blog policy. wren and t** mouse are birds of a feather but can’t talk t** mouse here- only wren. what if tommy t** mouse were made gm, would we talk t** mouse and not wren? this is all very confusing and dob is in alabama.
By chrisklob
October 13, 2007 9:45 PM | Link to this
Carolina Lady, thank you for gracing us with your presence. I hope that you are doing well!
TennPaul and Steamboat, the comment that I made earlier today regarding poor trades was made in reaction to a blogger who said JS had a great run but he last 7 years have been a GM train wreck. traded away the farm to chase a division flag - dumb & short sighted.
I was disagreeing with the “trading away the farm” part of his statement. I am aware of Drew’s contribution to the team the year he was here but he cost us Adam Wainwright, who I think is going to be very, very good. Frankly, in retrospect, I’d rather still have Wainwright in the system than the one year of Drew.
My point was that JS seems to have a knack for knowing when a prospect has topped out. The list of “prospects” that he’s dumped is remarkable in that most of them go on to have very unremarkable careers. Therefore, he’s not gutting the system.
By Julia
October 13, 2007 9:47 PM | Link to this
Carolina Lady, have you ever had a SHRIMP SAMMICH? Living on the c-o-a-s-t like you do, you must have had some great SHRIMP SAMMICHES. Since it’s just us girls tonight, we won’t talk POOCH.
By journalist jimmy smith
October 13, 2007 9:53 PM | Link to this
famous words spoken on the auburn-arkansas game telecast: “pie is our friend.” journalist likes that sentiment - likes it very much.
By Stinky
October 13, 2007 9:53 PM | Link to this
Carolina Lady, I am glad you are better. I have missed your contributions to the blog.
As for Glavine, I must respectfully disagree with the idea of signing him. His late-season collapse reminds this Barves Fan of a lot of late season lo-Mojo pitching from the prototypical junkballer. I see no upside in bringing in a mentor for Chuck James so that he might learn the art of emulating Charlie Liebrandt. Especially for $10,000,000.
That said, I hope you find your way back to the blog more often. You are good influence on some of the rowdier elements around here.
By Carolina Lady
October 13, 2007 9:54 PM | Link to this
jjs, very small straw hut?
By Carolina Lady
October 13, 2007 9:56 PM | Link to this
Hey, Chris! Much better, thank you!
Julia, shrimp make most any recipe a delight!
By chrisklob
October 13, 2007 9:59 PM | Link to this
That said, I hope you find your way back to the blog more often. You are good influence on some of the rowdier elements around here.
Anyone else see the irony in that statement, or is it just me?
By Carolina Lady
October 13, 2007 10:01 PM | Link to this
Thank you, Stinky. I sort of have that same feeling myself, but I look around at those we might obtain and it’s … hmmmmm. It wouldn’t hurt my feelings if he was NOT signed, but I’d just hope for the best if he did. Ambivalent, huh? :-)) Seems as if we’ve signed so many who just failed; I would hope that if he were to be signed that he would be rejuvenated by his return to ATL. Maybe feeling he has something to prove? Don’t know. Will surely be interesting! :-) (Appreciate the kind words!)
By Braveheart
October 13, 2007 10:05 PM | Link to this
Yeah, Grinch. Richt really earned my respect big time with what he did to his players afterward. It was great. That showed fire and class.
What was most telling as well is that the players immediately stopped doing what they were doing and had looks of shame and humiliation on their faces when they saw how angry and hurt he was at the distasteful way they were conducting themselves. That spoke volumes as to how much his players respect him. Alot of other players at other schools would have humiliated their coach and school by continuing to act that way and ignore their coach.
Seeing what Richt did makes it that much harder the next time we see some other team act like classless jerks after touchdowns, first downs, three pointers, slam dunks, home runs, strikeouts. Makes you wonder how much the other teams respect their coach and how much the coach respects himself, the team, the game, the opponent if he allows it to happen.
Richt just set a dangerous precedent for other coaches. Now we know if the coaches respect the game and if the players respect the coach, the nonsense can be made to stop immediately with the look, act or word of the head coach.
Good for Richt, great for UGA. Loved how he exactly knew the other time it happened and said that was before he and his school and players figured out who they wanted to be as a program.
By Stinky
October 13, 2007 10:07 PM | Link to this
chrisklob, This is no time to get ironical. I was referring to jjs.
By KC
October 13, 2007 10:07 PM | Link to this
I saw this a few days ago on Fast Company’s (a popular business magazine) website:
Is A-Rod Worth $1 Billion? It Might Not Be As Crazy As It Sounds
Well, that didn’t take long. When the New York Yankees were eliminated from the playoffs Monday night, the baseball season, for all intents and purposes, ended.
Forget the battle between Arizona and Colorado, in an NLCS that promises to draw about twelve viewers east of the Rockies. Not to mention those upstart Indians — who took down the Yanks — or a Red Sox team that seems the clear favorite to win its second World Series in four seasons.
No, the story in baseball is now all about one man. One agent, to be exact, who seems to believe he is the first in history to represent a deity.
Scott Boras, the high-powered agent for several stars including Yankees third-baseman Alex Rodriguez, is already pushing up his asking price should A-Rod decide to opt out of his contract.
As CNBC’s Darren Rovell reported yesterday on his sports business blog, Boras believes A-Rod is worth at least $500 million over the next 10 years. That’s almost double his current $252 million deal, which was signed after the 2000 season and remains the most expensive in baseball history.
My initial reaction was that Boras must be out of his mind. But Rovell got him on the phone later in the day and came away impressed by his logic. Basically, he says, team-owned regional sports networks have changed baseball’s economic landscape:
Before A-Rod, the YES Network never did better than a 3.2 rating. Since A-Rod came to the team, the network has seen its ratings rise to a record 4.7 this season. Since no significant position player has been acquired since Rodriguez joined the Yankees in 2004, Boras says he can contribute the ratings rise — as well as the turnstile rise, by the way — to his client being on the team…
…YES, which was given an initial value of $850 million upon launch in 2001 is now said to be worth about $3 billion.
While I remain dubious that A-Rod is the sole reason for the network’s growth — afterall, YES had only existed for two seasons when A-Rod arrived in New York — Boras makes a compelling argument. If one marquee player can have a dramatic impact on an RSN’s ratings, then isn’t he worth whatever the ratings boost brings in advertising revenues? From a purely economic perspective, I can’t say that he’s not.
That said, I don’t like the implications of Boras’ logic. Team-owned regional sports networks should generate revenue to help support a winning team, not the other way around. And despite the potential to grow an RSN, signing A-Rod to an earth-shattering deal isn’t the best way to put a successful product on the field.
Just look at the Yankees. They lost because they couldn’t pitch; their go-to guy, Chien-Ming Wang, lasted exactly one inning in Monday’s season-ending loss. Now consider that the four teams still alive in the playoffs have five pitchers between them who won at least 17 games this season, and that those five guys made a total of $21,054,167 in 2007 — even less than A-Rod ($27 million) in his current deal. As far as wins and losses go, especially come playoff time, there are clearly better ways for a team to spend its money.
In the end, Scott Boras has always valued the biggest deal over championships. But A-Rod already has the biggest deal in history. If he really wants a ring to cement his place as the Greatest Of All-Time, he should be careful about how high he lets his agent go.
By The Grinch
October 13, 2007 10:19 PM | Link to this
Scott Boras is a Douchebag. ‘nuff said.
By Frank Wren
October 13, 2007 10:21 PM | Link to this
I think we’ll sign this A-Rod Kid. Is that OK wit you, JS?
By chrisklob
October 13, 2007 10:22 PM | Link to this
KC, interesting reading. Thanks for posting it. If ARod is really interested in winning a championship, he will not allow Boras to sign him to a crazy deal that is going to hamstring the team so badly they are forced to fill the roster with a bunch of hacks. He’s only one man. History has shown that teams that put too much money in one guy don’t win championships (i.e. Texas in the early years of ARod’s contract — they were godawful).
We’ll see what ARod’s real aspirations are: a championship or being uber-filthy rich.
By chrisklob
October 13, 2007 10:25 PM | Link to this
Grinch, you gettin’ into the Lightnin’ Creek, like last night?
By Savannah Guy
October 13, 2007 10:27 PM | Link to this
Grinch, “We Own The Night” was very well acted…yet fell way short as a film. With such a potentially good story line and such great actors (Duvall, Phoenix, Wahlburg) I thought it would be a sure bet but there was not enough action to be a thriller and not enough character development to be a drama worth noting. The plot had potential but fell apart and seemed patched together in parts. The end was not predictable…it was weak, which I didn’t predict. So, I’ll give it one star out of five. Obviously, I would not recommend this movie to a friend.
Trolls, go see it three times back to back.
By chrisklob
October 13, 2007 10:28 PM | Link to this
Frank Wren, can he pitch ever fifth day?
By journalist jimmy smith
October 13, 2007 10:30 PM | Link to this
yes, chrisklob, stinky has journalist envy. absorbed in it. wallowing in it. it isn’t pretty, but neither is stinky. imagine a blog where stinky didn’t preen for approval then revert to stinky self. soon, the bewitching hour will arrive and stinky can blog with stinky. maybe tonight is the meltdown. must ask lew what lew thinks.
By Savannah Guy
October 13, 2007 10:39 PM | Link to this
Carolina Lady So good to see you here. Brings class to the place every time you stroll in.
Chris Hi friend, how is life in Mt. Pleasant?
By Overlord
October 13, 2007 10:44 PM | Link to this
Manny is just amazing, that guy has to be among best ever, regular season and postseason. He is a wrecking machine.
By Savannah Guy
October 13, 2007 10:44 PM | Link to this
To borrow an esteemed blog journalist’s expression, whither Bob, Journalist? This forum needs the presence of the sage and kind gentleman.
By chrisklob
October 13, 2007 10:47 PM | Link to this
SG, life is ok. Got some KC workin’ and I’m feeling good. Got some family in town from Texas and spent most of the day with them. They actually just drove up from Savannah yesterday afternoon. Enjoyed themselves immensely.
JJS, there does seem to be a bit of a split personality there.
By chrisklob
October 13, 2007 10:49 PM | Link to this
SG, speaking of missing bloggers, where has Paladin been lately?
By Stinky
October 13, 2007 10:59 PM | Link to this
jjs , why do you need Stinky to ‘meltdown’? Would that validate the journalist jimmy smith?
By /\/\/\/\Berigan/\/\/\/\
October 13, 2007 11:01 PM | Link to this
I really , really hope many of the braves players are watching the Cleveland-Boston series!!! I don’t want to hear next year during spring training that guys just turned off the TV once the season was over. They NEED to learn to approach the game the way these two teams do, the Sox in particular.
Did Ya’ll see that stat about Manny Ramirez when down in the count 0-2??? He is 3 for 4, and has 5 walks in the playoffs!!! Can you guys and gals imagine any braves (well KJ might get the walks at least) doing that well after being behind in the count like that? Even guys like Julio Lugo work the count. It really feels like you are watching “Modern” baseball in this series. Not just getting walks, but everyone works the pitcher. Cleveland’s best 2 starters that mowed down the Yankees, didn’t get thru the 5 the last few days.
Problem with this style of play, a game like tonights….6th inning, 3 hours long already!!!
By Savannah Guy
October 13, 2007 11:14 PM | Link to this
Chris, Dunno where the jet fighter Paladin is lately, but you know he’s down for the night. Maybe Braveheart knows since he’s the wingman. BH needs to email him and see if Nurse Ratchet will let him out for a while. Hopefully Chief didn’t give him the pillow. We’re going to have to have a Knob Creek intervention with Grinch…he’s drinkin’ that cheap moonshine lightnin’. Not advised.
Lew, now that the Dawgs won, you oughta’ be feelin’ pretty good…but I think we both stayed up too late last night. I hate these late games. I think it’s a huge mistake for MLB to allow that…the next generation of fans won’t be there because they’ve slept through all of the playoffs that we used to see or hear in the afternoons as kids. Go figure.
Journalist Jimmy, it’s always good to see you around. Sorry you have to deal with the, uh…limited and trollish ones and such. They covet your writing, simple as that. Wonder if I could say titmouse and have it go through?
Looks like a game tonight with the Injuns and BoSox.
By The Grinch
October 13, 2007 11:16 PM | Link to this
Actually, Chris, I’m drinking some pretty good stuff tonight. It doesn’t seem to help keep me from being a knob, however. :-)
SG, excellent review; thank you. I will file that one away and perhaps save myself 9 bucks.
Auburn lucked out big time; they’re still right in it despite everything. Major upsets all around, though.
By Overlord
October 13, 2007 11:18 PM | Link to this
\/\/\/\Berigan/\/\/\/\,
Dont worry, one of our problems is already fixed…AJ is gone.
That fact alone makes us better for 2008.
By chrisklob
October 13, 2007 11:23 PM | Link to this
SG, I hope the jackals haven’t gotten Paladin. Maybe he’s blogging “incognito” lately. I think he does that from time to time.
And drinkin’ cheap liquor is NEVER a good idea.
By [][][][]Berigan[][][][]
October 13, 2007 11:26 PM | Link to this
Overlord,
True that!!! Guys should take more pitches for that reason alone!
By uga-brave
October 13, 2007 11:30 PM | Link to this
uga-brave,
i am back. i know you guys are excited about that. LEW if are you still watching, i love KILLINGTON, great vertical.
By joebrave
October 13, 2007 11:30 PM | Link to this
News from Smack down Central,Go UK Wildcats!!! Now for anyone else who has a mancrush on Mike Cameron,I got a DX statement for you,$uck It!!! no way he is a Brave!!!!!!!!!!! Give Me Granderson or give me Death!!!!!!
And a Great big ol facial to TBS for taking a big ol Crap on Skip Caray..Who in the blue he11 do you MONKEY”S PENIS’ think you scumbag bottom feeding anal retentive sumbitches tink you are!!!!!! And Another thing TBS NOT FUNNY NOT VERY FUNNY at ALL!!!!! You trade off the Braves for that dumb@ss Seinfeld!!! Please you might as well shove the Six million Dollar Man down our throats and tell us how funny you think that CRAP is too..Who is the Jack@ss running that Show,OH YEAH the Same Sonsabitches that raped our Baseball Team and It’s Owner,Ted Turner.That would Be TIME WARNER !!!DUMB@SSES!!!!
By joebrave
October 13, 2007 11:39 PM | Link to this
Now,What about Cliff Lee???I wonder???????
By uga-brave
October 13, 2007 11:41 PM | Link to this
i guaratee that frenchy will always be a hacker. disipline just aint in him. we are doomed with the gwinnett all stars, never seen a more lazy catcher.
i know i have been chastised for my opinion, but we have missed the playoffs every year that they have been starters.
By uga-brave
October 13, 2007 11:49 PM | Link to this
DOB, at some point you gotta tell CHIP to quit eating PASTE, hey i went to undergrad and MBA school at UGA, but at some point he has gotta ask a tough question.
By chrisklob
October 13, 2007 11:52 PM | Link to this
i know i have been chastised for my opinion, but we have missed the playoffs every year that they have been starters.
Not true. Braves made the playoffs in 05. Both players came up mid-season that year and were regular starters for a good part of the year.
Also, they are NOT the reason the Braves missed the playoffs in 06 or 07.
By uga-brave
October 13, 2007 11:55 PM | Link to this
oh by the way the DAWGS were EXTREMELY lucky. great job little WILLY cant wait to here your excuses why we cant stop the run.
By The Grinch
October 14, 2007 12:08 AM | Link to this
uga-brave, Martinez needs to be fired. WAY too much talent on that D for them to be playing as soft as they do.
By uga-brave
October 14, 2007 12:27 AM | Link to this
chris,
i just say that to get peoples dander up. however i do believe that MAC has gotten fat and i never believe that francoeur will ever become a first name kinda guy.
By Overlord
October 14, 2007 12:30 AM | Link to this
\/\/\/\Berigan/\/\/\/\,
It would be easy to put anyone in CF that would make our offense better, the whole league knew that AJ was no threat this year. I didnt see a single pitcher this year pitch him with the respect you pitch a cleanup hitter, worse than that, a guy that hit 50 recently. He was a joke from day day 1 to day 162.
Hopefully JS does something about our SP and our bench.
By uga-brave
October 14, 2007 12:31 AM | Link to this
GRINCH,
we defintely are on the same page. too bad he is CMR’S best friend. he just might sink his ship.
By KC
October 14, 2007 12:44 AM | Link to this
Savannah Guy: I agree with your take on We Own the Night. It fell short of expectations for me as well.
By uga-brave
October 14, 2007 12:44 AM | Link to this
oh by the way if any of you remember derek liliquist and chris carpenter, the other one, that went to gainsville and pitched for the cards and he was a great punter. two great DAWGS especially DEREK he could rake.
BRAVEHEART, i played with those guys granted they won THE NATIONAL CHAMP after i was gone.
but i do believe we BEAT MUSSINA from stanford in 90.
oh by thev way we played the SEC chmpionship in ATHENS when joey BELLE was still ALBERT BELLE.
By Stinky
October 14, 2007 12:45 AM | Link to this
Savannah gay, how’s things at the beauty parlor?
By uga-brave
October 14, 2007 12:47 AM | Link to this
lew,
PERNOS FORMAL WEAR ON BAXTER STREET.
By [][][][]Berigan[][][][]
October 14, 2007 12:52 AM | Link to this
Free baseball in Boston!!! Just know Boston will win it eventually…..should be fun to watch the local fox folk that normally come on at 10 PM at 1 am at the earliest! ;)
By uga-brave
October 14, 2007 12:54 AM | Link to this
CMON brave-dave i know you are watching? MISS your input.
By uga-brave
October 14, 2007 1:04 AM | Link to this
cmon great ball-game goin on, but SHAUN will always tell me the virtues of MIKE CAMERON. lead off walks in extras will always beat you.
By uga-brave
October 14, 2007 1:10 AM | Link to this
berigan,
love your passiion but GAGNE like rocker does not do the roids anymore.
By uga-brave
October 14, 2007 1:13 AM | Link to this
same old GAGNE, no clear in the cream, no ability.
By Overlord
October 14, 2007 1:18 AM | Link to this
Trot Nixon just doing major damage to his old friends in Fenway. Weird, maye not.
By Stinky
October 14, 2007 1:18 AM | Link to this
How many beers must a man partake of, before he can prove he’s a man (in Germany)?
By uga-brave
October 14, 2007 1:18 AM | Link to this
WAYNE IN UTAH my friend are you out there? would love to here your input.
By Stinky
October 14, 2007 1:26 AM | Link to this
Trot Nixon, that’s a sad name. Even if I say so myself.
By [][][][]Berigan[][][][]
October 14, 2007 1:34 AM | Link to this
Wow. One of the best playoff games ever to this….by the way, are you guys having the sound cutting out on Fox???
By [][][][]Berigan[][][][]
October 14, 2007 1:57 AM | Link to this
Gee, did I say there was no way Boston wouldn’t win???? That’s why I love baseball!!! Like Joaquín Andújar said, you can sum up baseball in one word. You NEVER know!!!
And is T.I. really a rap superstar?? and a convicted felon??? A rapper with a criminal record?(Besides those records they have made) Now I have heard everything!!!! Oh, I sure hope the crooked baseball cap never goes out of style, they are so cool!
Tinky, Trot might be a sad name, but….Trot Nixon is a multimillionaire with a WS ring, and is in the playoffs, and is probably banging his beautiful wife right about now. And you are cleaning grease traps at Krystals tonight. But you are right, his name is sad….
By Bravo Nam
October 14, 2007 4:18 AM | Link to this
KC
Agreed.
By ssiscribe
October 14, 2007 7:18 AM | Link to this
Top of the morning, denizens, after a great playoff game last night, a big win for the Dogs and, alas, another loss for the Thrashers.
Man, I’m already sick of watching Le Thrash, and there are still 76 games left in the season. Spring training, where are you?
Agreed on all the comments about Richt and class above. The dude is a heck of a coach and a super good guy; best thing to happen to that program since Herschel.
DOB, glad you enjoyed some time in Covington yesterday. Great little town, full of really nice people. I really enjoyed working there; just got a much better gig to move on to, but fond memories of that place. And, it sounds like the BBQ was spot-on good.
We were going to try the Fresh Air BBQ place in Jackson yesterday, until my car decided not to work anymore. That led to us getting home very late, which led to us ordering take-out while watching the Dogs and Thrashers. Alas, there always is today after church for some good BBQ.
Anybody surprised the Injuns got a split at Fenway? I liked Boston in six, but the BoSox need to respond now. Great game. Looking forward to the NLCS shifting to Denver tonight. You know that place is going to be crazy, with the Rox just two wins from the World Series.
And to think, the Braves won four of six from Colorado this year. Sigh … that’s the way it goes, though.
Waiting for the wrecker yesterday, I gave some thought to Schuerholz’s tenure. It truly is amazing what the dude did. Think about the way baseball was in 1991, his first season here, and think about it now. There is so much more money involved, so much more pressure from ownership to do more with less resources, so much more of a higher profile for agents, etc. The expectations in and of themselves have changed so drastically with the Braves. In 1991, NOBODY expected this team to finish higher than maybe third. Today, it’s win it all or it’s a disappointment.
Yet Schuerholz remained steady as can be, even when the payroll was cut by some $25 million. Sure, there were moves that backfired (trading Wainwright, signing Lopez, getting Kolb). But at the end of the day, can you argue about his overall record?
I don’t think you can pin winning just the one World Series on him and decrease the stature of his tenure here, plain and simple. The man gave this franchise a chance to win each and every year, as opposed to being a contender for two years, then ripping it apart and going 65-97 for three years while rebuilding.
No, this franchise reloaded year after year, and Schuerholz is a huge reason why the Braves put together a run the likes of which we may never see again.
OK, time to get ready to teach. Enjoy the weekend … at least the Falcons won’t lose today.
The Scribe abides.
—30—
By Gil in Mechanicsville
October 14, 2007 8:26 AM | Link to this
Good morning all, Ah life is good, well…. most of the time anyway. Yes. Trot Nixon has been around the block a time or two. I can remember when he was a catcher for the Pawtucket RedSox and hitting homeruns for them against Richmond.
It is bad when the inmates take over the asylum, if A-Rod goes for the big money he will never see that World Series ring. No one but the Yankees could afford to have that much money on a player and still have other good personnel on the roster.
Boras is just doing his job acting the spin doctor for his clients. It is only sad when the teams do not perform due diligence and use their own evaluations to make their decisions. I mean, can you really believe the snake oil salesman to have your good health as their primary concern?
By journalist jimmy smith
October 14, 2007 8:40 AM | Link to this
journalist will now talk barbecue: 125 teams competed in the big pig jig in vienna, ga october 5 & 6. sam and dave’s bbq team (lost mountain) won 2nd place pork shoulders and 4th whole hog (out of 125) and came within a few points of being grand champion this year. lots of categories in competition barbecue - lots of teams competing. bloggers must try sam and dave’s in marietta. named best in atlanta by ajc. now, not to say there aren’t some other good barbecue places around just saying sam and dave’s is among the very best everytime.
and homemade peach ice cream - can’t get this at sam and daves. only pudding - banana pudding.
and stinky asks what a meltdown will accomplish? what did it do for stinky last time? same stinky? maybe, maybe not. same boorish attitude and crude attempts for acceptance? right on.
copycat stinky? like stinky used to copycat this journalist?
and what did toe journalism do for dob? that’s right, right after the famous dob toe blog, dob was awarded the first wurlitzer.
and dob, seems to be ignoring many of this journalist’s questions of late and jimmy smith thinks it is because dob is tender with love right now.
“a golden crown that makes a man a kiiinnnggg . . .”
and does this blog have a minister now that matthew, walter’s dad, has left because of stinky’s ungentlemanly posts? need a preacher here. several sunday school teachers now, and grinch.
and it is good to see carolina lady and choppinmama posting at the same time. adds class to the blog. also, both can talk birds with this journalist. not many know that carolina lady is in the bird industry.
and whatever happened to ralph peepers who used to blog with us? haven’t heard from ralph in a long time.
By Elvis
October 14, 2007 9:25 AM | Link to this
Ah well I bless DOB’s soul, Whats wrong with DOB?, DOB’s itching like a man on a fuzzy tree, DOB’s friends say DOB’s actin wild as a bug, DOB’s in love, DOB’s all shook up, Mm mm oh, oh, yeah, yeah!
DOB’s hands are shaky and DOB’s knees are weak, DOB cant seem to stand on DOB’s own two feet, Who do you thank when you have such luck? DOB’s in love, DOB’s all shook up, Mm mm oh, oh, yeah, yeah!
Please dont ask DOB whats on DOB’s mind, DOB’s a little mixed up, but DOB’s feelin fine, When DOB’s near that girl that DOB loves best, DOB’s heart beats so it scares DOB to death!
She touched DOB’s hand what a chill DOB got, Her lips are like a volcano thats hot, DOB’s proud to say shes DOB’s buttercup DOB’s in love, DOB’s all shook up, Mm mm oh, oh, yeah, yeah!
DOB’s hands get tied when DOB try to type, DOB’s insides shake like a leaf on a tree, Theres only one cure for this body of DOB, Thats to have the girl that DOB loves so fine!
By journalist jimmy smith
October 14, 2007 9:46 AM | Link to this
oh, the humanity! did jimmy smith cause this? dob, please forgive this journalist. and now, baseball … jimmy smith has been reading all the comments about frenchy moving to center or staying in right. jimmy smith says play frenchy in right and mccann in center. thorman can then catch. seems simple when not doing this for a living.
and this for carolina lady, the bluebreasted bee-eater was back this morning. no discouraging blue worms were to be found due to continuing drought conditions. perhaps the bluebreasted bee-eater will take up residency here. journalist must go out and catch some bees. back later.
By AJ 25
October 14, 2007 10:05 AM | Link to this
Great line in this morning’s NY Post…..
“I don’t want to say TBS took the low expectations surrounding its initial foray into playoff baseball and dug a tunnel to China with them, but I will say this: Making Chip Caray your lead baseball announcer is like CBS handing the “Evening News” to Bobcat Goldthwait”.
Truer words were never spoken.
By Lew
October 14, 2007 10:23 AM | Link to this
AJ25-Yeah, but the NY Post would still rather have Phil Rizzuto.
By brent a.
October 14, 2007 10:26 AM | Link to this
Welcome to a parallel universe where Kentucky football is a national title contender, the Braves don’t make the play-offs, the Lakers want to trade Kobe Bryant, and Leo Mazzone is not good enough to be the pitching coach of the Baltimore Orioles.
By flange1
October 14, 2007 10:36 AM | Link to this
brent a,
what next cats and dofs living together?
Holy Cornelia!
Oh the humanity!
By [][][][]Berigan[][][][]
October 14, 2007 11:41 AM | Link to this
Man, as long as I live, I will never understand the hate against Chip Carey! Better voice than either his father or Grandfather(But, I still love them, in a straight, manly way!)I don’t here him saying stupid things like Howard Cosell did on a minute by minute basis. Seems to know the game quite well. Has a positive attitude. Sure, he talks about the ex a bit, who do you know that has been thru a divorce doesn’t? Especially if the ex is still in your life?? There are MANY broadcasters that are MUCH worse than he is, jump around the AM dial some next year….He’s just fine with me, and I hope he is with the Braves for the next 30+ years…..
By David O'Brien
October 14, 2007 11:48 AM | Link to this
Brent A, and don’t forget my Kansas Jayhawks are ranked ahead of Georgia, Tennessee, Auburn, Michigan … and basketball season hasn’t started!
By David O'Brien
October 14, 2007 11:50 AM | Link to this
Oh, one other thing, Brent: It’s late October, and the Colorado Rockies have won 19 of 20 games and are threatening to roll into the World Series. The Mets and Yankees are at home watching, along with the Braves.
By Incognito
October 14, 2007 12:26 PM | Link to this
SG, I hope the jackals haven’t gotten Paladin. Maybe he’s blogging “incognito” lately. I think he does that from time to time.
And drinkin’ cheap liquor is NEVER a good idea.
ChrisKlob Right and RIGHTER. :>)
By Savannah Guy
October 14, 2007 12:27 PM | Link to this
The Daily Buzz (Fly on Wall Report No. 022)
(Fly language translated for your convenience).
Continuing the incredible interview series with the intrepid Mr. Fly, sleuth reporter, where for the first time in recorded history, we’ll find out just how this heretofore deemed lowly insect can actually talk. Following the first interview the producers of this story have decided to alter the format a bit, due to a special request by Mr. Fly himself, per advice offered by the esteemed Kermit Frog, an old and trusted Hollywood friend of the sleuth reporter. Brit Hume was respectfully asked and has graciously stepped aside to allow another journalist to conduct part two of the Fly series.
It’s been determined by Mr. Fly’s publicist to keep the incredible Fly saga above reproach and apolitical by continuing the interview series in a scientific, fair and balanced manner. Legitimate news and talk show representatives from different networks will conduct the remaining interviews. So, without further ado, please welcome Mr. Chris Matthews.
Mr. Matthews: Glad to be here. You follow the Braves, a professional baseball team and I play hardball, so let’s get right to it Mr. Fly. So, you have some big news. What is it?
Mr. Fly: Morning. Well it all started at a research lab. One day while visiting with a scientist friend and…
Mr. Matthews: Yea that’s fine whatever…you turned down Dan Rather for your interview, which I find curious. Why? Why? Why? Why?
Mr. Fly: Uh, well…
Mr. Matthews: You turned down Katie. I see a pattern here…are you one of those right wing type flies?
Mr. Fly: Um, I have two nice wings. All the better to…
Mr. Matthews: Yea whatever. Moving on…so, you say you have an incredible story. That’s fine. I just wrote a book that’s pretty incredible. But then, you probably don’t even read, right Fly? Why are we even interviewing a fly anyway? What are you, some sort of trick fly? Pet trick type stuff? Have you seen my book?
Mr. Fly: zebu &%#$& uuumgzzz zzzaazzghhoollzz
Mr. Matthews: What? Where’s the translator? That’s gibberish. Why are you avoiding my questions? Was that a curve ball? This is supposed to be hardball. Got something to hide little fly man? Well? Well? Well?
Mr. Fly: My head hurts. I’m leaving now…
Announcer: Ladies and Gentlemen, that concludes Part 2 of the incredible talking Fly expose.
By s T inky
October 14, 2007 12:33 PM | Link to this
He’s just fine with me, and I hope he is with the Braves for the next 30+ years…..
I always knew there was something I didn’t like about Berigan.
By Incognito
October 14, 2007 12:36 PM | Link to this
Mr. Savannah, your Fly is open.
By N8
October 14, 2007 12:40 PM | Link to this
DOB
Are you “still” watching HBO’s: Tell me You Love Me?
I remember reading that you watched the first episode. Pretty intense for HBO.
How about John from Cincinatti? I gave up on that one. Initially I loved it’s wierdness, but too damn slow for me.
Maybe I’ll marathon them later this offseason, with the In Demand feature. But I doubt it. I stopped after about 5 episodes, if you are still watching it, did it “speed up” a little bit, or stay pretty much the same. I’m not sure, I wanted to get too into it, because everything I’ve read about it, is that it WON’T be back for a second season (critics predictions), so I figured, why bother?
By David O'Brien
October 14, 2007 1:21 PM | Link to this
N8, i’m with you on John From Cincinnati. I liked it, but not enough to stay with it. Haven’t watched it since the first few episodes. I watched three episodes of Tell Me You Love Me, but also wasn’t motivated to watch that, especially since I can see it on OnDemand anytime.
Once the postseason started, and a bunch of good movies came out, and several of my favorite shows also started new seasons, including Curb Your Enthusiasm, Friday Night LIghts, House, etc., just didn’t have enough interest in watching anything I don’t really have a passion for.
By Kermit The Frog
October 14, 2007 1:25 PM | Link to this
Dammit! The Fly saw right through our trick. Kermit now rolls with Disney which of course owns ABC. We at Disney/ABC respected Brit Hume when he rolled with us. Now that he is with the other guys,we no longer consider him credible. Hypocrisy you say in our opinion of ole Brit? Biased? Of course. Truth be told, we were trying to sneak Cokie Roberts in there to interview the Fly. Could have been dangerous because the Cookie Monster loves to go after her saying C is for Cookie and that is good enough for me. We just might have to ask George Snuffleupagus to do the interview instead. It would be interesting to hear Bawbwa Waltews do the interview. She talked like she had a keyboard without an R button.
By mo in the boonies
October 14, 2007 2:05 PM | Link to this
*jjs, * Going along with your titmouse, wren theory, how about grosbeaks? Too gross?
ssiscribe Anybody surprised the Injuns got a split at Fenway?
I was surprised, I figured the socks would win at home, split in Cleveland, and win in seven, but when both pitchers were gone by the fifth, and we saw the entire socks bullpen, I’m beginning to have my doubts, if they can withstand the Indians hitting. Shilling sure didn’t have anything last night, and if he is their number two, well…. I watched until the Indian go-ahead in the 11th, and then went to bed. Lofton’s been playing way over his head, makes me wonder if he is on the clear. I’d like to see that list from the Pharmacy in Florida. BTW, that isn’t being turned over to the Mitchell committee, I wonder why?
By journalist jimmy smith
October 14, 2007 2:14 PM | Link to this
well, it looks like the braves will have a new hitting coach next year. what in the world was t.p. doing with machine guns in the house?
and fly, frog, and several others seem to blogging here today along with stinky. journalist is going outside to see the nuthatches.
and the falcons will not lose today. tomorrow, may be a different story.
By journalist jimmy smith
October 14, 2007 2:18 PM | Link to this
grosbeaks are good. also the shoebill. makes for many questions.
By Incognito
October 14, 2007 2:23 PM | Link to this
If the “Fly” and “Kermit” can tiptoe around politics: Before you Demos become too excited over Gore getting a Nobel, Yasif Arrafat got one, too. Jimmy Carter, also.
By Incognito
October 14, 2007 2:37 PM | Link to this
jjs Let us know if you see an ivory-billed woodpecker(can say?).
By N8
October 14, 2007 2:48 PM | Link to this
DOB
My wife watches Friday Night Lights, I don’t. It looks pretty good. When it first started, I figured it was one of those “cheap imitations” of the movie, that couldn’t possibly keep my interest week to week. But she really likes it.
Is it worth buying (or renting) on DVD to catch up, since it’s not 8 seasons into it?
LOVE House. His sarcasm and attitude is right up my alley.
Do you still watch Rescue Me? I love that show. But I’ve always loved Denis Leary. Funny, intense human being he is. It’s a little over the top and ridiculous, but STILL very entertaining.
On a Braves note, is it safe to assume that with JS as team president, that things won’t really change that much as far as player moves is concerned? I mean, JS still has to approve any deal I assume, or is he FULLY turning that responsibility over to Wren?
I’m not nearly as “worried” about it as I was when it was first reported that morning that JS was stepping down. The way I look at it, he’s stepping UP, and it’s gonna be the same old same…
By Savannah Guy
October 14, 2007 2:49 PM | Link to this
The Daily Buzz (Fly on Wall Report No. 023)
(Fly language translated for your convenience).
We pickup Part 3 of the incredible talking Fly series with Tim Russert, who will continue the interview with Mr. Fly, sleuth reporter. Welcome Mr. Russert:
Mr. Russert: Good morning Mr. Fly, nice to have you to meet the press. May I call you Fly?
Mr. Fly: Good morning…may I call you Tim?
Mr. Russert: Of course. So let’s get right to it. The headline here is “What laws were broken during controversial insect research?” That insect…er, fly is you. So let me just read part of a report I just picked up from ControversialNetworknNews.cam: “There have been high level leaks that state: top secret and controversial military experiments have been conducted that went terribly wrong”. Although unnamed sources have leaked this story and we don’t have any idea of who these unnamed sources are, we do understand that they are reliable and credible. These sources go on to say, “unsanctioned scientific experimentation without congressional approval is not legal nor is it condoned”. Seems pretty damning from the evidence. So, how do you respond to those allegations Mr. Fly?
Mr. Fly: Well Tim, I’m not sure. So much of your information is news to me. Am I in trouble?
Mr. Russert: Have you talked with an attorney?
Mr. Fly: Uh…no. Do you think I need to?
Mr. Russert: So, you are denying this story?
Mr. Fly: Which story? The scientific experiment was correct but all the rest is just…
Nice Attorney: Excuse me Mr. Russert, I represent Mr. Fly and he has nothing further to say on this subject. He is not agreeing or disagreeing with any of it. Interview over.
Mr. Russert: I understand. Ok, next up on this edition you’ll meet an alleged friend of this sleuth reporter Fly, Miss Piggy. Back in a minute…
Mr. Fly: Bye bye Mr. Russert. Sorry…me scared.
By mo in the boonies
October 14, 2007 2:55 PM | Link to this
Incognito We have Downy woodpeckers in the boonies. :>)
jjs Where did you see that about TP?
By Lew
October 14, 2007 3:00 PM | Link to this
DOB-The only reason I can think that the Jayhawks are ranked above all those theams in football is global warming.
By Lew
October 14, 2007 3:20 PM | Link to this
Denizens-The Skip Caray Wurlitzer drawing has been posted in the Baseball Gallery at LewHartman.Com Check it out.
By Braveheart
October 14, 2007 3:47 PM | Link to this
great job with skip lew.
n8, friday night lights is really good. i bought the first season on dvd a few weeks ago and have about 3 shows left to go. if you want, when i’m done, i will mail it to you by the end of the week if we can figure out how to make that happen. it’ll save ya the 30 bucks or so.
By Overlord
October 14, 2007 3:54 PM | Link to this
Reds hired BAKER as their new manager. Something is starting to tell me this guys want the central flag badly and soon. That reds team is in fact a good team, i think they are just young and unexperienced, and with some holes…….but i really think with 2 good acquisitions that team could be in the fight, but brewers are just better and will be even better next year.
Problem with reds is that brewers and cubs have a better chance to win division next year. And that phillies, braves, rockies, dodgers, mets and padres will also have more chance for wildcard. But dont count them out…. i expect them to make a run at the WC…..something like the rockies this year, problems for them is that competition will be better than what was for rockies this year.
By flange1
October 14, 2007 3:57 PM | Link to this
Hey Lew,
Luv the Skip Wurlitzer!
By Overlord
October 14, 2007 4:11 PM | Link to this
NL EAST: i guess we all expect braves to acquire missing pieces in the rotation and bench and get back on track and another run.
NL Central: i think the brewers will be even better and theyll have no competition.
NL WEST:I think the dodgers have a great team, theyll be back and finish what they started.
NL WC: Mets have the upper hand here. They have enough, but phillies could be dangerous if they get pitching help.
AL EAST: it will be the same old redsox, yankees……..but look for the yanks to get loaded with pitching also…..
NL Central: Tigers will be back, indians will be right there again as they are young.
AL WEST: unpredictable.
By Efrim
October 14, 2007 4:21 PM | Link to this
Overlord
Way too early for any predictions.
In other news…
Jordan Schafer left Saturday’s AFL game in the sixth after sustaining a mild concussion while attempting to field handle a fly ball.
By Overlord
October 14, 2007 4:38 PM | Link to this
Efrim you can make predictions everyday…….and they change with the everyday move…….
those are mine as for this moment……… obviously theyll be diferent in 2 months as teams make their moves.
By Mr. Fly (Sleuth Reporter)
October 14, 2007 4:40 PM | Link to this
Kermit Aha! A vast Disney/ABC/frog conspiracy. I knew there was something going on “behind the green sock”. Shouldn’t you be getting another movie or TV special soon? Can I have a cameo?
Do I detect a wayward jet fighter buzzing around here?
By Savannah Guy
October 14, 2007 4:53 PM | Link to this
Lew Very nice Skip Wurlitzer. He’ll love it. Looks great online so I’ll bet it’s really handsome, uh…make that sharp, in person. Sid may want one of his own.
I’d say that deserves a Wurlitzer…but then, well, you’d just have to do one for yourself.
By [][][][]Berigan[][][][]
October 14, 2007 4:57 PM | Link to this
Efrim,
Glad you posted that about Schaffer. Kids, never, ever attempt to field handle a fly ball!!! It’s just too dangerous!
By Savannah Guy
October 14, 2007 5:03 PM | Link to this
N8 Dittos on House. Good show.
Got hooked on John From Cincinnati, even though much was too “twin-peaksish” weird. Surfing drew me in and the music was good. I’d almost watch it just for the feel-good music and scenes in the opening credit. Bought the CD of Joe Strummer and the Mescelaros with the JFC credits song, “Johnny Appleseed”. Good stuff. Wish the series would’ve continued. Other than that it was a letdown the way it ended. But then, so was Sopranos.
By Braves4Ever
October 14, 2007 5:11 PM | Link to this
Let’s see what happens with Baker. His history with superstars bears checking. He kissed Bonds A$$ so they got along fine, but in Chicago he got into a ego contest with Sosa and single handedly ruined the Cubs and Sosa. Baker not Bartman was the reason The Cubs lost. Baker was either absent in decisions or making the wrong ones. The Reds shoulda kept Mac.
By Savannah Guy
October 14, 2007 5:46 PM | Link to this
The Daily Buzz (Fly on Wall Report No. 024)
(Fly language translated for your convenience).
After the last few futile attempts at going public with his story, Mr. Fly decided to seek the advice from legal council, publicists, crisis control PR specialists, publishers, branding committees, cobblers, bakers, chefs, Indian Chiefs and Orkin Pest Control reps on his next moves and possible legal liabilities.
After hours of conferring with all of his advisors, Mr. Fly retreated to a wall far away from the maddening crowd. How could things have gone so wrong? Here was the story of a lifetime…a huge scientific breakthrough that should be glorified and explored; yet the media was twisting it and turning it into something else…something ugly. Mr. Fly was sad.
He pondered…there must be a way for his story to get out and not get lost in the hype, political agenda and individual bias of any particular network or talking head. Mr. Fly only wants to be fair, balanced and apolitical. What to do?
A short time later his advisors returned with a solution. “A Panel Interview”, they declared! They had already identified the right mix of media figures that would, together, surely bring this amazing story the attention it deserved and handle it in a professional, respectable way. “Uh, Great”, said Fly. So Mr. Fly had his panel. They were all pros from various media, left, right, center and otherwise upside down.
The panel includes: Bill O’Reilly, Bill Moyers, Walter Cronkite, Mike Wallace, Andy Rooney, Shaun Hannity, Dr. Phil, Larry King, Barbara Walters and Keith Dobkowski. “Are you ready to have another go at it?” the advisors asked. Um, I suppose.
OK then, they’re all here so let’s get started. Please welcome them all…Ms Walters will start the interview:
Barbara Walters: Mr. Fwy…do you cwy easiwy? Can I see a wittle tear?
Bill Moyers: I work best alone, but let me offer this: I believe that global warming and capitalistic agendas are behind this talking fly hoax. It’s merely a ruse to draw attention away from the current administration.
Bill O’Reilly: I am the king, nobody touches me, I have the highest ratings, I am brilliant, I am just looking out for the people. So Fly, I’ll give you the last word. What say you? Oh, almost forgot, need some no-spin ties? Coffee mugs? Books?
Dr. Phil: Let’s get right to the problem and stop beating around the bush Mr. Fly. I understand you “get around” quite a bit while you are away from home. I’ve heard lurid stories of philandering with multiple “peach blossoms”, “orange blossoms” and all manner of lewd and lascivious behavior. Have you heard the word MONOGAMY? Aren’t you ashamed of yourself? When will you change this flygirl addiction?
Walter Cronkite: Mister Fly, hello and good afternoon. There seems to be a lot of controversy surrounding this story. I don’t do panel interviews anymore and I’d rather be sailing. And that’s the way it is.
Mike Wallace: Mr. Fly, good morning sir. I understand you have recently been depressed. I have experience with that but I conquered it and so can you. Have you used any tobacco products that may have caused this, um…transmutation? Big tobacco corporations!
Larry King: Mr. Fly, always good to see you. What would you like to talk about? I understand you follow the Atlanta Braves. I like softball. Play every night. Want me to toss you a few?
Keith Dobkowski: Hello Mr. Fly. There are deep MLB ramifications to this strange story of your sudden strength. Some have linked your unusual ability to steroids. Have you ever been with Mark McGuire? Jose Canseco? Palmero? Bonds? Sheffield? Giambi? Does John Schuerholz have knowledge of your steroid use? Pills? Shots? Lotions?
Shaun Hannity: Hello Mr. Fly. You’re a good American. Before I interview you let me tell you about a Fly story of my own. I’m thinking of writing a book on the subject. I’ll call it, “Building an American media empire on the fly”. Ha Ha Ha. Get it? So anyway let me tell you another story about myself…
Andy Rooney: I’m told we have a story about a fly here. Well, I just think that’s stupid. I really don’t like flies. I don’t like many reporters either…full of themselves. Always buzzing around. They’re all pests in my opinion. News people are just like little insects. I don’t really like anything or anybody. Ever noticed when you unroll flypaper your fingers get all…
Barbara Walters: Oh, wook…he’s cwying! Can I jump back in now? Mr. Fwy, can you teow us why I’m seeing teaws? Does it have anything to do with youw childhood? Wewe you abused? Wet it all out…
Mr. Fly: sniff…well; I thought everyone would be interested in my story. I’m the only fly in the world that can talk and think and write. But nobody wants to hear it I guess. I’m going to fly away now.
Barbara Walters: Poor Mr. Fwy, would you wike to continue to give me your view in pwivate? I could ask a few of my girlfwiends over and it’ll be just us. It’ll be an excwusive, er, a comfortable setting. The netwook watings, um…convewsation will be wewaxed. Vewy pwivate. We can wide in a wimosine.
Mr. Fly: No thanks…I must fly. I’m dizzy. Oh, the humanity!
By MEB
October 14, 2007 6:01 PM | Link to this
Lew… Sid Slid is absolutely awesome. I think you captured Sid’s exhausted posture perfectly. I know I’ll never forget that moment.
GO BRAVES!!!
By Incognito
October 14, 2007 6:15 PM | Link to this
Mr. Fly, why?
By Kermit
October 14, 2007 6:19 PM | Link to this
Do I detect a wayward jet fighter buzzing around here?
Savannah Guy Little known blog fact gleaned from Wikipedia: The old crazy gunslinger is an ageless wonder. Continuing to cross the borders between lawman and lawbreaker for the past three centuries.
Born in 1851 in Griffin, Georgia as John Henry Holliday, he eventually became known as Doc Holliday. He was an American dentist, gambler, and gunfighter of the American Old West frontier who is usually remembered for his associations with Wyatt Earp and the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral.
A man afflicted with tuberculosis, a bad temper, and alcoholism, he had an attitude that a death by gun or knife was better than by tuberculosis.
Many in Wyatt Earp’s inner circle questioned Wyatt’s loyalty and allegiance to Doc because Doc could sometimes go wayward himself.
But Wyatt at the OK Corral, like DOB at the DOB Corral, knows that when the going gets tough and the stinkys and the trolls and the jackals and the bad hombres and the bad cowboys in the black hats with the black horses showed up, many of those who swore by Wyatt would run for the hills but Doc Holliday Paladin never would and never did.
Many we trusted quit and dodged Dodge this summer when the trolls and jackals hit the hardest and left Wyatt O’Brien to fend for himself against them but his boy Doc Holliday Paladin never abandoned him, he stood in there gunslinging to the very bitter end.
Some mistakenly believe the old misunderstood gunslinger to be too much of an outlaw and gunslinger to be much of a trusted lawman and gunman of Wyatt O’Brien at the DOB Corral. Others correctly see that a notorious gunslinger like Doc Paladin is better for the law and the blog than the yellow bas tards who run for the hills when the enemy attacks.
As one quote about Doc Holliday back in his time said so appropriately if applied to the blog today: “There was something very peculiar about Doc. He was gentlemanly, a good dentist, a friendly man and yet, outside of us boys, I don’t think he had a friend in the Territory. Tales were told that he had murdered men in different parts of the country; that he had robbed and committed all manner of crimes, and yet, when persons were asked how they knew it, they could only admit it was hearsay, and that nothing of the kind could really be traced to Doc’s account. He was a slender, sickly fellow, but whenever a stage was robbed or a row started, and help was needed, Doc was one of the first to saddle his horse and report for duty.”
My feelings on the possibility of him being a wayward gunslinger match those of Wyatt Earp: “Doc was a dentist whom necessity had made a gambler; a gentleman whom disease had made a frontier vagabond; a philosopher whom life had made a caustic wit; a long lean ash-blond fellow nearly dead with consumption, and at the same time the most skillful gambler and the nerviest, speediest, deadliest man with a gun that I ever knew.”
When asked to comment about remorse over any of his killings, Holliday said: “I coughed that out with my lungs, years ago.”
Besides, isn’t it hypocritical for The Fly to question the possible wayward nature of Doc Holliday Paladin? The Fly, after all, did offer lodging to Doc Holliday at the time of the OK Corral. If Wiki is to be trusted, here is an excerpt: In Tombstone, Holliday quickly became embroiled in the local politics and violence that led up to the famous Gunfight at the O.K. Corral in October 1881. The gunfight happened in the vacant lot and street immediately next to Fly’s boarding house where Holliday had a room, the day after a late-night argument between Holliday and Ike Clanton. The Clantons and McLaurys collected in the lot before being confronted by the Earps, and Holliday likely thought they were there specifically to assassinate him.
Doc Holliday lives on. Sometimes he is here with us as Paladin. Sometimes, he pitches for the Toronto Blue Jays.
By Braveheart
October 14, 2007 6:26 PM | Link to this
SG & Fly: You’re doing really good funny pieces
Rumor is that The Fly is going to seek safe haven by letting Howard Stern do the interview instead. Good luck Mr. Fly.
By Doc Hollyday
October 14, 2007 6:30 PM | Link to this
All of it is true except the part about me being a pencil-necked dentist. The only dental work I did was to punch out a few teeth with the barrel of my long-barrel 44. And I’m too old to pitch. I did help Leo with the Oreos, until that Notre Dame-lovin’ little sh!t tried to send me in during that 30 run debacle.
By chrisklob
October 14, 2007 6:34 PM | Link to this
Lew, excellent job on the Wurlitzer. You truly have a talent. Personally I can’t draw stick figures with out a ruler! I’m glad you found a good picture of the Bream slide.
I hope that there will be a recap by DOB when Skip receives it. (At least that’s what I thought I heard the plan was). Either way, I hope he appreciates what his many years of service to the organization mean to so many of us here.
By journalist jimmy smith
October 14, 2007 7:02 PM | Link to this
nice job, lew. but that does not look like cubbie to this journalist. looks like skip.
“jjs Where did you see that about TP?”
oh, the humanity! t.p., t.i., what’s the difference?
and now, a proper banana pudding will not have syrup in it. not even delicious maple syrup from vermont.
By Adirondackdave
October 14, 2007 7:08 PM | Link to this
Hey DOB — Do you think you will be able to interview Frank Wren before the November vacation I think you said you had coming up?
By Choppinmama
October 14, 2007 7:19 PM | Link to this
Mr. Fly, SG and Kermit (wink,wink): Beautiful, boys!! Keep it up and there may be a coveted prize in your future……….for creativity!
Fly, just don’t let Kermit arrange an interview. He would be very HAZARDOUS to your HEALTH!!
So, sounds like we all should keep an eye on DOB’s musical selections over the off-season to see if we detect a softer, more romantic trend?
By Mr. Fly (Sleuth Reporter)
October 14, 2007 7:22 PM | Link to this
Kermit Oh I remember the days. There was a big fella, William Wallace I believe they called him…yep. Used to ride along with that fella Have Gun Will Travel dude. Coupla’ tough hombres.
At least thats the way I remember it in Marvel.
By MadduxSmoltzGlavine
October 14, 2007 7:26 PM | Link to this
To back up chrisklob, here are all the trades since 2000
Yr Player notes ‘00 Bruce Chen 4.71 era, 27-35 record since traded ‘00 Trenidad Hubbard .212 BA in 184 AB since traded, out since 2003 ‘00 Fernando Lunar .235 BA in 143 AB since traded, out since 2002 ‘00 Jimmy Osting 14 IP since traded, out since 2002 ‘00 Luis Rivera 0.2 IP since trade, out since 2000 ‘00 Steve Sisco never played again after trade
‘01 Brad Voyles career 6.45 era in 68 IP ‘01 Alejandro Machado 5 major league ABs
‘02 Odalis Perez [Gary Sheffield] 4.29 era, 55-55 rec since traded ‘02 Andrew Brown 4.35 era in 51.2 IP since traded ‘02 Jose Cabrera 6.79 era in 103 IP in 2002, out since 2002 ‘02 Damian Moss 5.72 era in 110 IP since traded, out since 2004 ‘02 Kevin Millwood [too expensive] 4.23 era, 58-55 rec since traded ‘02 Tim Spooneybarger career 97 IP, out since 2003 ‘02 John Foster career 60 IP, out since 2005 ‘02 Brian Jordan [Gary Sheffield] avg 10 hr, 44 rbi in 3 yrs away from braves, out since 2006 ‘02 Wes Helms avg 9 hr, 41 rbi in 5 yrs since traded ‘02 George Lombard 7 hr, 18 rbi since traded, out since 2006 ‘02 Paul Bako 6 hr, 69 rbi, .220 BA since traded ‘02 Elvis Perez never made it to majors ‘02 Ben Kozlowski 10 IP since traded, out since 2002 ‘02 Ryan Baker never made it to majors ‘02 Manuel Mateo never made it to majors ‘02 Merkin Valdez 1.2 IP since traded, out since 2004
‘03 Chris Spurling 4.32 era, 6-8 rec since traded ‘03 Matt Belisle 4.85 era, 15-18 rec since traded ‘03 Jason Marquis 4.60 era, 54-46 rec since traded, 6.02 era in ‘06 (30 starts) ‘03 Ray King [JD Drew] 3.68 era since traded, avg 45 IP in 4 full years since traded ‘03 Adam Wainwright [JD Drew] was 3 years away from majors at time of trade
‘04 Juan Cruz [Tim Hudson] 4.40 era, 11-10 rec since traded ‘04 Dan Meyer 8.82 era in 16 IP in 2007, only year in majors since trade ‘04 Jose Capellan 4.46 era, 5-6 rec since traded ‘04 Eli Marrero 13 hr, 34 rbi in 3 years since trade, out since 2006 ‘04 Charles Thomas 5 hits in 46 ABs since traded, out since 2005 ‘04 Richard Lewis never made it to majors ‘04 Andy Pratt 1.2 IP since trade, out since 2004 ‘04 Jung Bong 15 IP since trade, out since 2004 ‘04 Bubba Nelson never made it to majors ‘04 Matt Merricks never made it to majors ‘04 Alex Zumwalt never made it to majors
‘05 Zack Miner 4.17 era, 10-10 rec since trade ‘05 Dan Kolb 5.12 era in 51 IP since trade ‘05 Roman Colon 5.34 era in 64 IP since trade ‘05 Johnny Estrada [Brian McCann] 21 hr, 125 rbi in 2 years since trade ‘05 Nick Green 7 hr, 33 rbi since traded ‘05 Andy Marte 6 hr, 31 rbi since traded ‘05 Kevin Gryboski 15 IP in 2 years since traded ‘05 Todd Blackford has not made it to majors ‘05 Angelo Burrows has not made it to majors
‘06 Horacio Ramirez 7.16 era, 8-7 rec in 20 starts since trade ‘06 Jorge Sosa 4.66 era, 9-9 rec since traded ‘06 Wilson Betemit 23 hr, 74 rbi, .234 avg since trade ‘06 Luis Atilano has not made it to majors ‘06 Maximilian Ramirez has not made it to majors
‘07 Kyle Davies 6.66 era, 3-7 rec in 50 IP since traded ‘07 Wil Ledezma 6.28 era in 14 IP since traded ‘07 Macay McBride 6.11 era in 17.2 IP since traded ‘07 Adam LaRoche [Mike Gonzalez] 21 hr, 81 rbi, .272 avg, 131 KOs since trade ‘07 Tony Pena 2 hr, 47 rbi, .267 avg, 23 errors since trade ‘07 Jarrod Saltalamacchia [Mark Teixiera] 7 hr, 21 rbi, .251 avg since trade ‘07 Ryan Langerhans 6 hr, 22 rbi, .193 avg since traded ‘07 Beau Jones has not made it to majors ‘07 Neftali Feliz has not made it to majors ‘07 Matt Harrison has not made it to majors ‘07 Elvis Andrus has not made it to majors ‘07 Jamie Romak has not made it to majors ‘07 Will Startup has not made it to majors
By Choppinmama
October 14, 2007 7:31 PM | Link to this
jjs: isn’t it funny that one little-bitty letter can change the WHOLE meaning of a story?
But, being a journalist, I know you know the Journalist Credo. May I quote Sgt. Friday - “Just the facts, ma’am.”
Since it’s a Sunday, you’re copyeditor was probably off. Mine works 24/7, and everyone’s seen the stuff she misses on my posts! ;-)
Now, on to puddings. Had any bread pudding lately? With bourbon sauce on top? mmmmmmmmm-mmmmmmmmm!!
By journalist jimmy smith
October 14, 2007 7:31 PM | Link to this
show tunes, choppinmama, dob will soon be into show tunes. ethel merman, carol channing, maybe some more. blogs will start out like this …
I got rhythm, I got music, I got anne — Who could ask for anything more?
I got daisies In green pastures, I got anne— Who could ask for anything more?
I got daisies In green pastures, I got my anne — Who could ask for anything more?
Old man trouble, I don’t mind him — You won’t find him ‘Round my door I got starlight, I got sweet dreams, I got my anne — Who could ask for anything more — Who could ask for anything more?!
thankyou, thankyouverymuch.
By journalist jimmy smith
October 14, 2007 7:47 PM | Link to this
yes, jimmy smith was startled by the news that t.p. had machine guns in the house but t.p. may have felt the need with a .220 cleanup hitter last season. it is good that it turned out to be t.i. (who is t.i.? american league?) instead of t.p. journalist will have to use more t.l.c. when reading future reports.
and bourbon is not for pudding, bourbon is for a glass. hmmm….
and whither the nuthatch tonight? must be deep into a casserole by now.
and here’s hoping grinch is in better shape today. must have had some of that pudding choppinmama was talking about.
now, al gore won the nobel peace prize. dob, want one of those? jimmy smith will go right to work on it.
and let’s hope dob does not get mad at this journalist for the show tune lyrics. jimmy smith has been under stress lately. check this stress reducer: http://people.ambrosiasw.com/~andrew/funny/piggy.swf
By Incognito
October 14, 2007 7:48 PM | Link to this
Birds, Banana puddin’, Berlin—-Burb! The “taste” of the blog is certainly on an upswing.
By chrisklob
October 14, 2007 7:50 PM | Link to this
MadduxSmoltzGlavine, thanks for creating the supporting documentation that, frankly, I was too lazy to do myself. It is pretty remarkable the list of supposed “prospects” that suddenly became “suspects” once they were traded out of the organization. In my mind it happened far too many times for it to be coincidental.
For anyone to say that JS “traded away the farm” clearly isn’t paying attention. What he did was fleece just about every other GM in both leagues.
By journalist jimmy smith
October 14, 2007 7:53 PM | Link to this
oh, the humanity! did journalist break the blog? or did dob pull the plug?
By chrisklob
October 14, 2007 7:54 PM | Link to this
Did someone say “bourbon”? Why thank you, I’d love some!
By Savannah Guy
October 14, 2007 7:59 PM | Link to this
Thanks Braveheart. It’s been fun but I’m afraid the Fly is wearing out the blog. When you see that ol’ cuss Paladin ridin’ the range tell him to get on over to the saloon. I’m buyin’.
By Gunslinger
October 14, 2007 8:07 PM | Link to this
William Wallace is a brave man with whom I will fight, with he as my ally, at any time. That being said, we all saw in Indiana Jones what happens when you bring a sword to a gunfight. :>)
By David O'Brien
October 14, 2007 8:13 PM | Link to this
N8, I really don’t anticipate things are going to change much, if at all, with Frank handling matters. However, he is in control, not a puppet, and I really do think he’ll be aggressive, while also relying on the farm system heavily. He’s always been a big advocate of player development and utilizing your minor leaguers, but he also won’t be hesitant to trade a marginal guy or even a top prospect if it fills a need….
I definitely watch Rescue Me. Season’s over, but it was probaby my favorite show while it was going. That, and The Shield, and The Wire.
Dude, Friday Night Lights is a damn fine show. Not cheap knockoff of the movie by any stretch. It’s well-written, well-acted, and far, far better than 95 percent of the stuff on TV. One of my top 10 shows, for sure.
By Gunslinger
October 14, 2007 8:15 PM | Link to this
Tell SG that my sidekick Paladin sez his Daddy told him that anyone who turns his back on someone who is offering to buy him a drink is an ill-bred sob. Further, he sez he’ll have 3 fingers of Klob’s Knob.
By joebrave
October 14, 2007 8:19 PM | Link to this
Little Jack daniels if you please……
By Efrim
October 14, 2007 8:25 PM | Link to this
DOB
Who do you think is going to win the ALCS?
By Metropolitan Man
October 14, 2007 8:31 PM | Link to this
I know you bloggers are busy with music and food but heres a question. The METS were interested in A-Rod before the Texas deal and this is what Boras was asking. Now I’m sure the same still apllies but add another 5 million to that for todays price. Question is wpuld you want him for this criteria????
Steve Phillips painted a gloomy picture of the Mets’ potential interest in Alex Rodriguez in today’s Daily News, and I have to agree.
That didn’t stop David Wright from continuing to volunteer to switch positions for A-Rod.
Here’s Phillips recounting to me his conversation with agent Scott Boras at the GM Meetings before A-Rod signed that monster contract with Texas.
“He gave me this book they had put together for everbody. He went through his rundown. And I had my yellow notepad with me. I listened to his presentation. He does the presentation. I had heard rumblings of it because he had already talked to a number of members of the media, and told them what he was looking for. I believe he had went on Mike & the Mad Dog about what he was looking for in addition to the money. He said, ‘All these things have to be part of the deal or there’s not a deal,’ including an office at the stadium for his marketing person, a luxury box where he could host people, and after the game people come down to the clubhouse and get things signed. That he had become so big he can’t fly commercially, so he’s going to need charter airfare. That he wanted to meet with ownership and go through the scouting reports in the organization, since he’s making a long-term commitment, of who is coming up in the farm system to know there’s a bright future to play with around him. He wanted to have a tent in spring training to sell A-Rod apparel. He wanted to know what the team marketing plan was going to be around him as he joined the team. I think that’s about everything. I just wrote everything down and digested it all and told ownership about it, got their reaction to it and told them what I thought - that there are things I’m not willing to create when we already have Mike Piazza, who was the lowest maintenance, or one of the lowest-maintenance stars to play; I think his dad and brother came around once in a while. It’s been another way for everybody else forever. After hearing their knee-jerk reaction, they said, ‘Okay, just tell them were out.’ We told him we were out. In addition to the money, which was discussed at $25 million a year for 10 years, there were opt outs after three, five and seven years of the deal. It wasn’t any sort of a setup that the Mets had interest in before. So they instructed me to do as indicated, that we were out. I will say this, and I think Fred Wilpon has said this: There’s no way the Mets would pay $25 million a year at the time. There was certainly interest, but it never got to money to where that ultimate threshold was determined. He said multiple times, ‘There’s no way the Mets would pay $25 million a year.’ The dollars were never negotiated. It’s structure was beyond what was appropriate at the time.”
Sorry, didn’t mean to talk baseball on YOUR blog!!!
By joebrave
October 14, 2007 8:33 PM | Link to this
Jack Daniels and Coke!!!!Merle Haggard,and Willie. Mama’s
By chrisklob
October 14, 2007 8:36 PM | Link to this
Denver does not look like a comfortable place to be tonight: 41 degrees and rain. Yuck!
By joebrave
October 14, 2007 8:37 PM | Link to this
Pancho met his match you know Smokin dope in Mexico,or something like that!!!
By Mr. Fly (Sleuth Reporter)
October 14, 2007 8:38 PM | Link to this
My oh my…frogs, gunslingers, show tunes and now DOB is talking puppets. Jim Henson would be proud as punch…uh, bourbon.
By Lew
October 14, 2007 8:39 PM | Link to this
Denizens-Thanks for the good words on the Skip Wurlitzer. However, DOB informs me it may be the beginning of the season before it can be gotten to Skip. I’m certain he will tell Skip the true meaning of our Wurlitzers and will let him know what we think of the Award and Skip, too.
Esteemed Journalist-No syrup in banana pudding of any type whatsoever. Whoever heard of such a thing. That’s worse than forgetting the Nilla Wafers. Maple syrup is excellent for pancakes (I don’t eat them much because of the weight issues, but every couple of months, I eat breakfast at a little place in town that makes the best apple/cranberry pancakes that go great with Vermont Maple syrup.
Now it’s cold and we’re losing all those colorful leaves. Trees will be much barren and snow tires go on the car later this week. However, today I had one of Vermont’s greatest seasonal product-fresh pressed apple cider. Damn, that’s good stuff.
I’m having to educate these Vermonters in the ways of fine Southern Cuisine. Someone here tried to make a maple pecan pie just using maple syrup. Oh, The Humanity. I gave them a good Southern recipe and a bottle of Karo syrup and told them to try again. REAL pecan pie does not drip!!!!
By Efrim
October 14, 2007 8:41 PM | Link to this
Metro Man
So what are your intentions after posting something like that???
AROD is not going to be a Met. You have a better chance of trading for Miguel Cabrera. The Mets don’t need offense. They need pitching. Just like the Braves. The Mets probably have to put an emphasis on the bullpen, as suppose to the Braves who need Starting Pitching.
By chrisklob
October 14, 2007 8:46 PM | Link to this
Metro Man, Interesting story. Might be the smartest thing Steve Phillips ever did in NY. I’d be happy for ARod to go to the Mets. The circus that follows him around would be a wonderful distraction that would benefit all of the other teams in the NL East. Not to mention that he would tie up a huuuge chunk of pay-roll, hopefully hamstringing the GM’s efforts to field a competitive team around him.
By Stinky
October 14, 2007 8:51 PM | Link to this
Karo syrup good.
By Lew
October 14, 2007 8:54 PM | Link to this
MetroDude-The Braves tried to get ARod as well, but never got to offer a deal, from what we’ve heard. I’ve heard rumors, as well that Boras is looking for a 10 year $500,000,000 deal this time around. Don’t know if that’s true or not, but if it is, no one but the Yankees or maybe the Red Sox will ever sign the guy. That figure goes well beyond insanity. It passed ridiculous a long time ago. If anyone gives him anywhere near that much money, the rest of the owners should order a hit. $30 mil a year is absurd.
By Stinky
October 14, 2007 8:58 PM | Link to this
ShowTunes fit. The foot groper is in his element.
By Savannah Guy
October 14, 2007 8:58 PM | Link to this
Well siree we got a doggone dag blasted barn burnin’ mother lode of outlaws and gunslingers in this place. Jes put’cher guns at the door gents.
Chris, would you set us all up with three four fingers of that good stuff you got behind that bar a’ yourn?
Looks like the Gunslinger Paladin, that range’ ridin’ cattle herdin’ shooter William Wallace, the outlaw poet and riverboat gambler Jimmy and me are all havin’ the Klob Knob. Desperado Joebrave is a Jack and Coke man. Go ahead and set Lew, Lady, Grinch and Bob, J up too. If they don’t show up we’ll drink ‘em up. Nothin’s wasted around here. Choppinmama probably could use a sip’er two herown self after making that dessert.
So knock the dust off and belly up to the bar boys. I’m a buyin’. Lady and Choppinmama…here’s lookin’ at ya kids.
By Lew
October 14, 2007 8:58 PM | Link to this
MetroDude-Exactly where would Wright go if he switches positions? Didn’t y’all make enough errors with him at third? How many would he make in a position where he isn’t used to playing to begin with?
By Carolina Lady
October 14, 2007 9:09 PM | Link to this
Y’all got Diet Coke?
By chrisklob
October 14, 2007 9:11 PM | Link to this
Uh oh, looks like I better get another bottle……..or two. Seems like a tough drinkin’ crowd tonight.
Question is, who’s gonna get liquored up first and shoot the place up?
By Corey
October 14, 2007 9:12 PM | Link to this
DOB, and everybody else, I found a great blog: Blabberin Braves
They have this great idea of a mock offseason. You pick a team, and get to be the GM of it. You guys should totally sign up. It’s sweet!
By Metropolitan Man
October 14, 2007 9:12 PM | Link to this
I’m not vying for A-rod at that price however if we could get a Boras discount for some crazy reason, moving Reyes to 2nd, and have A-rod play his natural position is interesting. But I know the pen has to be revamed, an ace, and an innings eater so the A-rod thing is a pipe dream. The only thing is there isnt many METS reports on interest at this moment so we will problably end up with him and the other needs will go unadressed. Ahhh to be a METS fan.
By chrisklob
October 14, 2007 9:15 PM | Link to this
CL, welcome good lady. No Pepsi products behind this bar!
By chrisklob
October 14, 2007 9:17 PM | Link to this
so we will problably end up with him and the other needs will go unadressed. Braves fans can only hope.
By journalist jimmy smith
October 14, 2007 9:21 PM | Link to this
well, the nuthatch is back. insignificant bird with bad bowel habits. must be the casseroles. or karo syrup. and why taunt this journalist? matching wits with jimmy smith does not look promising for the stinkybird. and will the meltdown occur soon? will sja leave with the little woman? will the tires on the house go flat? and what if the cable company catches nuthatch stealing cable? no more internet. now, not saying nuthatch listens to show tunes, too, but hello stinky.
and, diet coke is always available to carolina lady on this blog. sweet tea, too.
By Carolina Lady
October 14, 2007 9:25 PM | Link to this
Hi, Chris! Great, I’ll have one Diet Coke with lots of ice, if you please, sir! :-)
By Metropolitan Man
October 14, 2007 9:26 PM | Link to this
Owners are saying A-Rod will pay for his own salary by having the HR chase close in with a team he will be with for the next 7-10 years. With all the merchandising, and fanfare he brings, they think in the long run it will not just even out but they will make huge profits in the end, only if he stays with 1 team while approaching the asterik HR record.
By Efrim
October 14, 2007 9:29 PM | Link to this
Metro Man
He is a great player, but do you really want to pay the guy 30 mil a year???
He is going to be a Yankee because they are the only team who would pay him that much money. Even if your the Angels, who probably could afford AROD because Moreno has more money than god, how would you explain paying Rodriguez 30 million a year while your paying the face of the franchise 14 million dollars a year? That’s right, Vlad makes only 14 million dollars a year after signing a 5 year 70 million dollar deal after the 2003 season.
By Rex the Lion
October 14, 2007 9:30 PM | Link to this
I live here in Covington and I found a complete set of teeth on the ground yesterday next to the barbecue tent. If you lost a set of choppers please contact me and I will see that these teeth are returned to you (or your significant other) in time for the football game Monday night. My name is Rex and I am in the Lion’s Club. No reward is necessary. Matching people and their teeth is reward enough.
By Carolina Lady
October 14, 2007 9:30 PM | Link to this
jjs, trying out a new plan for the Ugandan birds - little straw huts. That’ll work, right?
By chrisklob
October 14, 2007 9:31 PM | Link to this
does journalist jimmy smith have a favorite bourbon? what about journalist jimmy smith’s favorite cheese? more importantly, does jimmy smith’s favorite bourbon go well with jimmy smith’s favorite cheese?
By David O'Brien
October 14, 2007 9:35 PM | Link to this
Efrim, if I had to pick one I’d say Boston, but I don’t feel too strongly about it.
I do believe I’m gonna have to pack all fall/winter clothes covering this World Series, since I think it’s obviously a lock now for Colorado winning the NLCS, and the weather’s changed by now in Boston and Cleveland, too.
What a miserable night tonight in Denver.
Sure would’ve been a nice night for baseball here in Atlanta. Absolutely perfect weather.
Anyone else see “Michael Clayton” or “Valley of Elah”? I thought both were outstanding movies.
“Gone Baby Gone” coming out next Friday, also looks intense.
By Carolina Lady
October 14, 2007 9:41 PM | Link to this
Cheese with firewater? Oh, my.
By chrisklob
October 14, 2007 9:49 PM | Link to this
Owners are saying A-Rod will pay for his own salary by having the HR chase close in with a team he will be with for the next 7-10 years
MetroMan, are owners saying that or is Scott Boras saying that? I read an article earlier today about Hideki Matsui and how the real effect that he’s had on merchandising was about 10% of what Boras predicted. Yes, I realize that Matsui is no ARod but the Japanese stars have an enormous following back home.
The article was in the Boston Globe and you can find it here
By Elvis
October 14, 2007 9:53 PM | Link to this
So, sounds like we all should keep an eye on DOB’s musical selections over the off-season to see if we detect a softer, more romantic trend?
Yes, choppinmama. We can all see it coming, can’t we? He used to come to my shows and request Suspicious Minds. Now he comes and requests Love Me Tender. I suspect the blog will be headed that way with the lyrics soon as well. Reminds me of when I met myself Priscilla. I loved that woman.
We had a party up here in the clouds this afternoon after listening to God and Jesus do their thing for an hour or so. It was a righteous old block party put together by Pac, Biggie, Jammaster Jay, Left Eye, Aaliyah, and the ODB. Good ole BBQ don’t you know it?
I sat and talked most of the day away with J.R and Junebug. Them two act just as much in love today up here in these clouds as they did when I first met ‘em however many darn years ago. Makes me pine even more for my sweet Priscilla.
Darn little Johnny Lennon is still an unhappy man waiting for his Yoko to make her way up here with us. George Harrison was sitting there and he almost died when he heard him bring up Yoko yet again. In fact, he whispered to me we need to make sure this new woman of DOB does not go Yoko on the blog. Lil’ Lennon asks him what are you doing here with God anyway? Shouldn’t you be somewhere with Hare Krishna? Harrison says to Lennon what are you doing up here I thought you did not believe in God, did not believe in Beatles? Believed in nothing bigger than yourself? Or was it Yoko that was bigger than everyone? Never quite figured that out John.
Needless to say, don’t count on a Beatles reunion tour up here in Heaven anytime over the next 50 years. Lennon is still complaining incessantly about the way Paul keeps pimping the Beatles out 40 years after he tried to kill them off. It drives him nuts. He continuously mocks him as the silly little love songs guy. Wings? he says. What were they ever good for?
From where Elvis is standing up here in the clouds over you, John Lennon needs Yoko up here fast. He is still a restless discontented soul even in death without her. Beatles be damned in Elvis’ book. Just make that man happy. Elvis knows his pain. Even blissful life in heaven is not worth living without your soulmate to live it with you. Everytime that Buckley boy starts with that Hallelujah song up here, Elvis breaks down.
Linda is lonely up here waiting for her Paul to join her. Her heart is torn to pieces about what that one legged golddigger put her Paul through after she died. I told her I know the feeling. I almost told God to send me to Hell a few years ago when he let my Lisa Marie marry that Wacko Jacko.
Hendrix, Cobain, Vicious, the Ramones, Van Zant and Morrison are always grooving out in their own little posse. They are an inseparable group. They all finally seem happy now that they have each other. They are each other’s soulmates. Cobain sent me a letter the other day saying he is finally happy because he no longer has to fake it.
I wanna keep Cobain happy. I will personally make sure that wretched wench Courtney Love lives her miserable life until she is 100 something years old so that she accumulates so many sins not even Jesus’ forgiving heart will find room for her up here with us.
Mama Cass keeps trying to shove sandwiches down her face. It’s hard to invite her to a BBQ and not let her eat a sandwich but chrissakes the woman killed herself with the damn sandwich. Can you blame us? Janis Joplin actually had to tackle Mama Cass to the grass today to stop her from eating them sandwiches.
We all watch out for Clapton’s poor little boy, making sure he cries no Tears in Heaven. The women all watch over him. Junebug and J.R. do the best job with him. The Carter family always lends a helping hand. Bob Marley always comes over to him when he is about to cry and says eh, little darlin’, don’t shed no tears, no daddy, no cry. Don’t know what we’d do with out that buffalo soldier, dreadlockeded rasta. He’s cool as hell. Jerry Garcia always brings the Clapton boy some Ben & Jerry’s Cherry Garcia ice cream when times are tough for the little Clapton boy. I always make sure he brings me some too which always makes Buddy and Valens unhappy. They always tell me they don’t like fat Elvis because that was not the Elvis they knew.
When the parties get too slow, James Brown and Rick James know exactly how to get that thing cranked right back up. Curtis Mayfield and Marvin Gaye know how to make us soulful even when some of us don’t have our soul mates up here with us. Barry White and Luther Vandross end every party getting us in the mood to be romantic with our soul mates. Unfortunately, Elvis is still waiting for his. J.R. and Junebug did it the right way. They loved each other so much they could not spend more than three months without each other at the end of their lives.
For those wondering, Biggie and Pac were the best of friends from day one up here. You never would have known there was ever any drama between the two of them down on earth that cost them their lives. Elvis wishes he had a sympatico compadre like those two have in each other. Elvis worries about Zevon. Warren is having a tough time even up here. Elvis is working on drawing him out of his little world.
June Carter Cash and Johnny have been fighting with each other a little bit lately. Johnny thinks she needs to get down there with you guys and act as Britney’s guardian angel before she ends up here with us before Christmas. Jim Morrison would not mind that one bit. He can’t stand her music but the Lizard King has always been a horndog. He says I might be a snob musically but with women, I don’t discriminate and that’s gonna make for a fine looking corpse. The sooner she gets here, the better as far as I am concerned. But June Carter keeps telling Johnny that she does not think Britney is ready for her to intervene just yet. This drives Johnny nuts. They’re just replaying the history of their relationship out with the plight of Britney right now.
Since y’all are talking drinks, take some guesses at which drinks us fine folks up here want Klobber to serve us up with.
By Stinky
October 14, 2007 9:58 PM | Link to this
jjs must have went to church this morning. He sounds full of the spirit he usually exudes, that of a needy, flighty bird who had his wings clipped at an early age. What a bitter song to sing over and over and over againl…
By Savannah Guy
October 14, 2007 10:04 PM | Link to this
Well now I see that the Lady from Carolina has shown up and placed her order at the saloon.
DOB, I recall letting you know that you’d need to dress for the Gore-Tex World Series. Barring a meltdown by Colorado, looks like that’s what your gonna get. Just remember Elk burgers and chili…
Well good folks, I’ve finished the Human-Fly Origin piece but think I’ll do everyone a favor and tuck it away for a fresh new blog. Sorry for my fly-obsession today and eating up the footage…it was way fun.
Teaser: Mr. Fly finally got rid of all his “handlers” and selected an interviewer and a filmmaker himself. Find out how this incredible fly came to talk, discover who his father is and other such nonsense. So stay tuned…all will be revealed by Mr. Fly.
Go Rox.
By journalist jimmy smith
October 14, 2007 10:07 PM | Link to this
henry iv is probably the favorite bourbon of this journalist. and as for cheese, jimmy smith likes cheese right from the refrigerator. nothing in a jar or can, though. better to ask dob about cheese than to ask jimmy smith. so many cheeses, so little time to try all these cheeses.
and, yes, carolina lady is right … all these birds are ugandan. strange that so many ugandan birds would show up all of a sudden. little grass shacks cannot possibly be politically correct terminology for ugandan birds. why do american birds get substantial wooden homes and ugandan birds get straw? see what this journalist means, carolina lady? like saying stinky lives in squalor when, in reality, stinky has tin over his head every night.
and as for wardrobe, dob should dress in layers. alas, blog tee shirts would have worked nicely. synthetic leisure suit, and muffler. of course, cold weather provides opportunities to snuggle with anne. can’t be all bad.
and baseball in atlanta tonight would not be possible since all the players are a huntin’.
By chrisklob
October 14, 2007 10:22 PM | Link to this
journalist jimmy smith, i would have guess that henry viii would have been your favorite bourbon.
By Stinky
October 14, 2007 10:22 PM | Link to this
and as for cheese, jimmy smith likes cheese right from the refrigerator.
Aye. The lord of the cheeeze speaks truth.
But with all his blogging, and sja nowhere in sight, where is the mrs. journalist?
By Carolina Lady
October 14, 2007 10:32 PM | Link to this
jjs, little straw HUTS, it was. Birds like straw, don’t they??
This lady has been learning to bowl online. Bowling with a mouse is not easy! A model of inconsistency, I am; scores have ranged from 299(!) to 158. Definitely not ready for prime time! But it IS fun! :-))
By flbravesgirl
October 14, 2007 10:34 PM | Link to this
Hi, CL! (You’re probably gone now, I keep just missing you on the blog.) I was so happy to hear the good report on your health & that you’re stopping by the blog again. We missed you!
By journalist jimmy smith
October 14, 2007 10:40 PM | Link to this
By Stinky
October 14, 2007 9:58 PM | Link to this
“jjs must have went to church this morning.”
right, stinky. done went to church this morning then came home and gone to lunch.
mental midget.
By Don
October 14, 2007 10:41 PM | Link to this
What a run. I moved to Atlanta in 1989 and a year later the Braves put in place the infrastructure for what was to become the most incredible run of Championships in MLB history by hiring John Scheurholz as GM. I bought season tickets in 1991 realizing that something special was about to begin. And something special it was: 14 straight Division Titles, 5 World Series and one World Championship. I became a lifelong Braves fan in 1957 when the Milwaukee Braves beat the hated Yankess in the World Series. Thanks to John Scheurholz, Bobbie Cox and the great players like Aaron, Matthews, Smoltz, Glavine, Maddux, Chipper, Andruw and so many others I will die a Braves fan.
By Savannah Guy
October 14, 2007 10:43 PM | Link to this
Elvis Righteous post, my man…just righteous. It was so good to hear from you and all my favorite rockers and sould men and women. Brought a smile and almost a tear.
Drinks? Oh, I’ll say that you could put an order in for some of those little umbrella drinks…the kind with fresh fruit juice and non-alchoholic. Don’t want Janis getting near that Southern Comfort or Jim getting into the beer barrels at the Whiskey a Go Go.
By the way, can you get those fried peanut butter, banana and bacon sammiches up there?
By N8
October 14, 2007 10:47 PM | Link to this
What’s with EVERY team’s fans and the stupid white towels/hankies??
Come up with an original idea already? Come up with some sort of chant, maybe with a native theme.
What’s that? Oh the Braves stole that from the Seminoles?…..Never mind. :-)
I’ve got one. You know those little “clickers” that people use to train dogs? Give 50,000 people one of those on their way into the park. They’re REALLY frickin loud. That surely couldn’t be any more annoying than spinning a white towel around.
Better yet, give everybody a whistle, or maybe one of those canned “fog horns” that people have on their boats.
I got an idea. How about just cheer when things go good, and boo when they don’t. Clap your hands and stomp your feet.
By journalist jimmy smith
October 14, 2007 10:49 PM | Link to this
flbravesgirl, this calls for a cake for carolina lady! please mail the cake to jimmy smith and journalist will take it from there.
By Carolina Lady
October 14, 2007 10:52 PM | Link to this
Hi, flbravesgirl!! Great to hear from you and sincere thanks for your welcome words! Good to feel like blogging again, believe me! :-))
About bedtime now - catch y’all later! Chris, thanks for the Diet Coke!
By Stinky
October 14, 2007 10:54 PM | Link to this
jimmy takes cake. How original. Guess mrs. journalist does cheesecake.
By chrisklob
October 14, 2007 10:56 PM | Link to this
N8, how ‘bout some rally sticks. Those things are real noisy and annoying. At least the white towels don’t make much noise.
By chrisklob
October 14, 2007 10:59 PM | Link to this
Goodnight CL, hope to see you soon.
By SeattleBrave'sFan
October 14, 2007 11:05 PM | Link to this
DOB & N8….John from Cinci was interesting, but never really materialized and was baffling after all said and done, won’t be back for another season, so don’t bother if you don’t have the desire, it really doesn’t seem to answer much. And agreed DOB on Friday Night Lights, really good entertainment.
By flbravesgirl
October 14, 2007 11:09 PM | Link to this
jimmy, I would be delighted to make a cake for the Lady & of course I trust you to deliver it safely to her. ;-) The problem lies in getting it safely to you. Homemade cakes don’t mail well.
By journalist jimmy smith
October 14, 2007 11:12 PM | Link to this
stinky, better strap on the leotard if stinky plans to play at this level. seriously over-matched.
now, isn’t it annoying with that repo man always knocking on the trailer door? door is still up, right? can understand all the screens missing but should try to keep the door on the hinges/hinge.
now, since no one else will blog with stinky and this journalist is about to leave for the night, perhaps we will see the reappearance of some old blog favorites as stinky blogs with stinky.
will tonight be meltdown?
g’night, mary ellen, g’night jim bob, g’night erin, g’night ben. g’night john boy.
“g’night anne.”
“g’night dob.”
By journalist jimmy smith
October 14, 2007 11:17 PM | Link to this
flbravesgirl, this journalist has the best of intentions with respect to the cake for carolina lady.
of course, if the cake arrived here even slightly damaged, this journalist would feel compelled to eat the cake in its entirety rather than send carolina lady a damaged cake.
please mail the cake tomorrow :-).
By KC
October 14, 2007 11:29 PM | Link to this
Well, it looks like the Rockies are headed to the World Series… just as I predicted at the beginning of the season. lol
By chrisklob
October 14, 2007 11:36 PM | Link to this
KC, I don’t know if you really predicted that, but either way, those guys are a lot of fun to watch. They’ve finally figured out the pitching and watching all those kids is a blast.
In a way, they remind me of the 91 Braves. Bunch of kids no one’s ever heard of.
By A-ville Ranger
October 14, 2007 11:42 PM | Link to this
How are all you crazy b******* doing here in DOB-ville ? Just kidding, I’m sure most of you have honorable fathers and the crazy part is subjective.Seriously though,how about them Rockies.I lived in Colorado for 5 years till 2001 and I live outside Asheville NC now where the Tourist,a Rockies minor league team is located.Holloway among others played here on his way to the show.As a casual fan this is getting to be a great story.Tonight makes 20 of 21,I hope they run the table…what a story that would be.
By A-ville Ranger
October 14, 2007 11:56 PM | Link to this
That should read Holloday not Holloway…what a stupid b******* I can be…..just kidding Mom.
By chrisklob
October 14, 2007 11:57 PM | Link to this
A-ville Ranger, I’m a big fan of minor league baseball. I live in Charleston and Asheville plays here a couple of times a year. I had the chance to see Hawpe, Francis, Jiminez, Salazar (with AZ), Iannetta, Corpas, and a few others on their journey to the bigs. It’s awesome to be able to say “I knew that guy back then!”
If you’ve never met Joe Mikulik you should make a point of doing so. He’s a very classy gentleman and his players are always classy too.
By jbutler
October 15, 2007 12:21 AM | Link to this
Hey Carolina Lady…a hearty welcome back…I’ve been absent all but a couple of days while I clear space on the Rockies bandwagon…but always welcome your words of wisdom. Certainly hope the good news/good feelings keep up. All the best from the Mile Hi!!! (**Dare I say home of the NLCS champs???) Still doesn’t seem right. Even just 1 victory away. Wild.
By dunwoody in denver
October 15, 2007 12:31 AM | Link to this
Hey DOB, I’d check the weather forecast every day before you pack for the trip to Denver…
Sure, it was miserable tonight, but the weather here is as unpredictable as the Tech football team. Having lived here for 4 years now, it wouldn’t shock me if it was in the mid 70’s for the World Series.
Then again, we could have a blizzard.
That’s one of the beauties of living here though…
By dragrace79
October 15, 2007 2:57 AM | Link to this
yes, jimmy smith was startled by the news that t.p. had machine guns in the house but t.p. may have felt the need with a .220 cleanup hitter last season. it is good that it turned out to be t.i. (who is t.i.? american league?) I have read the blog from the start and never posted, but that was the funniest thing I have ever read on here, hands down. thanks, jjs.
By ncscoots
October 15, 2007 6:45 AM | Link to this
The worst thing about John From Cincinnati? That David Milch killed Deadwood to work on it. Some things cannot be forgiven.
Someone slow down the planet, the A-Rod hyperbole of Scott Boras has spun off into space. The worst thing that happened to A-Rod? Not playing for Bobby Cox when he had a chance. Maybe then, he wouldn’t have become the self-obsessed, narcissistic prima donna that he is.
The Rox, hoodathunkit? Pythagoras catches up with the D-Backs at the wrong time. Baseball has finally reached the “any team, any time” phase, I guess. the Rox get my cheering in the WS this year, but my prediction: neither team makes the playoffs next year.
By eware
October 15, 2007 6:55 AM | Link to this
DOB, did you make it to the Ryan Adams show last night at the Fox? If not, you missed a HORRIBLE show. I consider myself a huge fan, and I left really disappointed. Why is he trying to be like the Dead? Where were the great songs - not just the mediocre/kinda good ones.
Complete letdown. I took a bunch of friends, including my wife, trying to turn them on to his music. But, he pretty much killed it for them.
Hope you didn’t waste your money too.
By Gunslinger
October 15, 2007 8:19 AM | Link to this
First, it sounded as if we were going to have a good old end-of-cattle-drive get together with the usual fightin’, fartin’ and foolin’ around, now it sounds like a Dunwoody wine and cheese with diet cokes and bottled water. Oh, the humanity; and I thought we’d sit in the tub and shoot flies(oops, sorry)roaches off the wall. Now, I guess we will go out in the gaardun and bird watch.
But, in seriousness, CL if it meant you could be with us, I’d be more than happy to drink Evian and watch titmice(can say?) :>)
By Shaun
October 15, 2007 8:48 AM | Link to this
ncscoots, I don’t know, Diamondbacks are young and more talented than their run differential. As long as Webb doesn’t get hurt or doesn’t have an off year, I think they have a chance for the next few years.
What’s surprising this year is not so much that they won the division but that they won it by being outscored.
By Gil in Mechanicsville
October 15, 2007 9:31 AM | Link to this
but my prediction: neither team makes the playoffs next year.
Gee, that sounds like the NFL….
By David O'Brien
October 15, 2007 9:32 AM | Link to this
No, eware, I swore after seeing him for a third time at Tabernacle 18 months or so ago, and being disappointed for a third time, that I’d stick to listening to Ryan on CD, where he’s excellent. Because his shows, at least the ones I’ve seen, stink.
I was gonna try to get to the Band of Horse free show at the Tavern at Piedmont Park (whatever it’s called, Tavern on Park, something like that), but didn’t make it. They’ve got a great Sunday series of shows going on there.
You heard the new and seemingly improbable collaboration by Drive-By Truckers and the great soul singer Bettye LaVette? Very good stuff. CD just came out.
By Overlord
October 15, 2007 9:32 AM | Link to this
Shaun i dont think the DBs will be back next year, its hard to keep up the good work, everything went right for them, thats all. On the other hand, rockies look very solid to me, if one of those 2 teams is to repeat their good work, i think it will be the rockies, much more talented.
By brent a.
October 15, 2007 9:37 AM | Link to this
DOB,
Sorry about omitting your amazing Kansas Jayhawks.
Maybe, UK & KU will meet in the Cotton Bowl on New Year’s Day.
By Arkansas Hillbilly
October 15, 2007 9:43 AM | Link to this
Good times are among us. Carolina Lady is back, FlBravesGirl is making a cake, Lew’s newest Wurlitzer is outstanding, Grinch apparently had a glorious weekend, JJS is in fine form, and I recently found out that there will be a new little hillbilly among us in about 8 months.
By Thrillhouse44
October 15, 2007 10:07 AM | Link to this
Congratulations Arkansas Hillbilly!
By Shaun
October 15, 2007 10:07 AM | Link to this
Overlord, West certainly looks like it will be a good division for a while. Lots of talented young players out there. Wouldn’t be surprised to see either team make it next year or the Dodgers come up and win it with all their young talent.
D-Backs just seem loaded to me—Drew, Conor Jackson, Reynolds, Upton, Webb, Owings, Valverde, and if Carlos Quentin comes through, they’d be set.
By Overlord
October 15, 2007 10:13 AM | Link to this
I like the Dodgers the most….. njust bad luck this year.
By Corey
October 15, 2007 10:14 AM | Link to this
Blabberin Braves Forum is having a mock off season. You get to claim a team, and be the GM of it. You make every decision from Contract Extensions, Free Agency, and Trades. We need more members to get it going though. I am the commissioner, but do a better job than Bud Selig (LOL). It should be a fun experience, and hope you join and enjoy.
By journalist jimmy smith
October 15, 2007 10:19 AM | Link to this
good news, hillbilly. congratulations! considering naming this baby after dob? would be a nice tribute to the blog leader. could call the baby “dob” sorta like bob, but dob. works for girl or boy, dob. corn cob. dob. the name is growing on jimmy smith. soon, baby seal will need a new name (not really a baby anymore) and perhaps dob would be a good name for baby seal. will have to think about it since the name was first offered to hillbilly. first dibs, so to speak. and what is in a name? in dob’s case, the letters d,o,and b.
famous fdr, jfk, and t.i. go by similar names. and journalist realizes dob is in a quandry about what to pack for the world series. jimmy smith has mailed dob a copy of “pack for success” along with a hand warmer and a small flask. dob should be alright with these accompaniments.
and journalist is anxiously awaiting the delivery of a cake today. must make some peach ice cream. wait! no, ice cream! forget that! carolina lady’s cake. journalist apologizes.
dragrace79, journalist thanks dragrace79 very much. blog with us some more. watch out for stinky, though. no manners.
have a great day, everybody!
By Lew
October 15, 2007 10:41 AM | Link to this
Hillbilly-Congratulations are in order. I would offer a Wurlitzer For Procreation, but I’m not certain the world could stand the resulting population explosion. Maybe if you had quadruplets or something?
By Shaun
October 15, 2007 10:45 AM | Link to this
Overlord, forgot about the Giants with all that young pitching. They tweak the offense just a little and they will be very dangerous. And the Padres are always a threat with Peavy and Chris Young. I can’t believe Adrian Gonzalez is only 25. Seems like he’s been around forever. That’s good news for the Padres.
NL West is back and I think it could very well be the best division in baseball next year, if we’re talking really good teams from top to bottom.
By jbutler
October 15, 2007 11:03 AM | Link to this
Hillbilly - Congrats on having a little carpet cruiser!! We’ve got 4 little Mile Hi creations here; my husband swears the altitude affected his judgment. All the best….
By Braveheart
October 15, 2007 11:06 AM | Link to this
Razorback would be a good name for the kid.
By Carolina Lady
October 15, 2007 11:06 AM | Link to this
jbutler, thank you ma’am! And Go Rockies!! Enjoy every minute of this!
Gunslinger, very gracious words. Thanks you! :-)
Hillbilly, heartiest congratulations!! Wonderful news!
*jjs, my chances of seeing FBG’s cake are somewhere between zero and -5. “best of intentions” indeed! :-))
But FBG*, your kind offer is greatly appreciated! A flbravesgirl cake is a much coveted commodity! :-))
Lew, you out-do yourself every time. How I’d love to know Skip’s reaction when he receives it! Simply outstanding! It is perfect! Be very pleased with your effort!!
By Gunslinger
October 15, 2007 11:22 AM | Link to this
Congratulations Hillbilly, but your part requires no particular talent, or sacrifice. :>)
By Lew
October 15, 2007 11:24 AM | Link to this
Ma’am-Thank you. Skip was not an easy portrait to draw-mainly because there aren’t many pictures of him available. To my way of thinking, the most impressive part of the drawing was the dust kicked up by Sid’s Slide. I’ve never drawn dust before. Never drawn flies, either. I’ll go now.
By Gunslinger
October 15, 2007 11:36 AM | Link to this
Ashes to ashes
and rust to rust
Lew captured Sid’s slide
in a cloud of dust.
Well done, Big Dawg!
By Arkansas Hillbilly
October 15, 2007 11:38 AM | Link to this
Thanks everybody. Lew, I’ll take you up on that if we have quadruplets.
JButler, I think it was the budweiser that affected my judgement. (Kidding…we were trying for 8 months).
Braveheart, Razorback is not an option after this 0-3 start in SEC play.
JJS, I’m putting you in charge of the “pick-a-name” project. Make me proud. Suggestions are welcome from everyone, but you’re the moderator.
DOB, haven’t heard about the DBT collaboration. What kind of music is it? Is the c.d. under their name or hers?
By George Constanza
October 15, 2007 11:51 AM | Link to this
your part requires no particular talent, or sacrifice
I disagree Gunslinger. There is talent in making sure your boys can swim all the way to the desired location. If Hillbilly was like me when his wife told him she was pregnant, he yelled out “My boys can swim!” For every boy that can swim there, thousands of other boys drown. Arkansas Hillbilly just found himself a Navy Seal amongst his boys. Any man can be a father. It takes a special man to be a daddy. That’s where all the talents of Arkansas Hillbilly will truly shine.
By Carolina Lady
October 15, 2007 11:57 AM | Link to this
Lew, yes! The dust, the little bits of dirt flying, the catcher’s intensity, that particular angle of “The Slide” - just perfect! BRAVO!!!
I never realized before, but looking at Skip’s portrait, I see something of Yogi Berra in his face. Interesting.
By Braveheart
October 15, 2007 11:58 AM | Link to this
Braveheart, Razorback is not an option after this 0-3 start in SEC play.
Then I’m guessing Houston Nutt or Mitch Mustain is out of the question as potential names as well, huh?
By Gunslinger
October 15, 2007 12:06 PM | Link to this
“George” That part is true. We are all champions. Out of 10,000 of those little boogers, ours came in first.
By Salty
October 15, 2007 12:10 PM | Link to this
Wow…missed last night’s homecoming! Lots of fluid flowing…and Diet Coke…and cake, to boot! Hope no hangovers or ‘sugar shock’!
Arkansas Hillbilly I guess Houston is not an option, either (if a boy, that is)! BTW, congrats!
SG Note Lew’s comment: “Never drawn flies, either.” The intrepid reporter can’t be done!
UK and KU in the Cotton Bowl? Outdoor basketball! Gotta be global warming!
By Lew
October 15, 2007 12:10 PM | Link to this
Ma’am-I’m afraid that the pose I used was because that was the pose I had (Thanks to GregInTN).Yogi? Darn-Back to the drawing board. I guess it ain’t over til it looks like Skip.
By jbutler
October 15, 2007 12:10 PM | Link to this
DOB For as bad as it looked on tv- it was twice as bad in person!! In Denver we get weather whiplash…it never stays the same long enough to settle in. Today is sunny, mid 60s.
Not much consolation for that tropical Series you were hoping for..but trying to read the glass half-full. The first ski resort will be open by the time you all come out here…only an hour out of Denver. Not bad….
By Arkansas Hillbilly
October 15, 2007 12:16 PM | Link to this
Braveheart,
Houston would have been an option, because we were in Houston, (for the Braves-Astros game) when we found out. However, Houston Nutt trumps that option. Good suggestion though. Keep them coming.
By Lew
October 15, 2007 12:21 PM | Link to this
Hillbilly-Here’s an option for you. Name the child Willard Wurlitzer or just Wurlitzer and I’ll do a drawing for you. Willard Wurlitzer Hillbilly-a name to be reckoned with.
By Overlord
October 15, 2007 12:21 PM | Link to this
Shaun,
I like the dodgers better, their talent , you got to like penny, lowe, wolf, schmidt as their staff. and furcal, Martin, garciaparra, kent, laroche, loney, pierre, ethier. With their money i think theyll bring even a better team, they are close to great.
I just dont think a team that gets swept by the rockies (even as good as the rockies have looked), will be a team to beat next year.
By Serge45
October 15, 2007 12:23 PM | Link to this
DOB,
Does JS’s “retirement” mean anything with regard to him being elected to the Hall of Fame? I know it’s 5 years after retirement for players, but is it the same for executives?
By Lew
October 15, 2007 12:23 PM | Link to this
Hillbilly-Since you’re a Pink Floyd fan, how about Barrett, Gilmore or Mason? Don’t think Waters would work so well.
By David O'Brien
October 15, 2007 12:26 PM | Link to this
Hillbilly, congrats my man. As Luca Brasi said, “May your first child be a masculine child.”…
The Betty LaVette/DBTs CD is under her name. It’s just what you might expect, very soulful, belt-it-out singing, with some nasty, greasy DBTs guitar work behind her. Good stuff….
jbutler, A-Basin is already open. Opened last week. I’d imagine Loveland will open any day.
Too bad the Series isn’t starting a few days earlier, I could go see the Jayhawks, ranked No. 13 in the BCS rankings (just ahead of Florida, I’d point out to my man Don at Ella Guru), play at Colorado….
By Lew
October 15, 2007 12:29 PM | Link to this
All Right Denizens-Here’s what we can do. Let the Denizens choose potential names for Hillbilly’s pending family addition. The Wurlitzer Selection Committee will choose the best five names and the blog can vote on which is the best. Whoever’s potential name is chosen will win a Wurlitzer drawing of their choice. Hillbilly is not, of course, obligated to use the winning name (we don’t want his wife seeking vengeance, after all).
By Gunslinger
October 15, 2007 12:32 PM | Link to this
Hillbilly Name the youngan “Lew” and you can paper the house with Wuritzers. :>)
By jbutler
October 15, 2007 12:34 PM | Link to this
Hillbilly If you really end up w/quads (or even triplets..what the heck) I’m guessing you may turn back to Bud for some more counseling!!
My husband always got lots of “good jobs” whenever we were expecting. Not sure if that’s out of line, but I’ve always wanted to say it…so..”good job!”
By Braveheart
October 15, 2007 12:47 PM | Link to this
We gotta find some outddated ole Wild West names or crazy country western type names for Hillbilly’s kid. How about Wyatt or Yosemite or Tex or Rodeo or Lasso or Merle and so on?
Bat? Not enough people named Bat anymore. Bat Masterson was one however many years ago. Seems like if Hillbilly wanted his kid to be an MLBer, he’d name his kid Bat.
Colt seems popular these days. I have never heard of anyone named Colt. But the last 3 years every QB in college football is named Colt. Can’t turn on the television on Saturdays during all hours of the day and not hear Colt this and Colt that. What the hell happened 20 or so years ago? Were boys picked at birth and told you shall be a college QB and ye shall be named Colt. So, Hillbilly, if you want him to be a QB for the Razorbacks name him Colt. Just don’t name him Casey or Mitch.
Maybe name him Craig after Biggio since the last time you saw Biggio play was when you found out your child was coming…. with every end, there is a beginning
Or maybe just make his full name Bat Biggio whatever your last name is …..
If you don’t plan on sticking around, name him Sue like the Johnny Cash song….
But if we want him to be a linebacker or fullbacker we gotta give him a tough name - something very Polish sounding like he was raised in Pennsylvania or Ohio.
DOB just killed me with the Luca Brasi reference
By Braves4Ever
October 15, 2007 12:55 PM | Link to this
Let me just throw this out there for discussion. We are looking for an inexpensive short term or longer option for center field. From what I am reading, Cincy has an overload of OFs. Dunn, Griffey, Freel, Hamilton, Hopper amd need to make a place for Jay Bruce who seems ready for the bigs. Cincy wants pitching. All types including relief pitchers. What about Ascaino, Paronto, And Yates for Josh Hamilton? He has tons of upside and has already proven he is an exceptional player. He could play CF til Shafer is ready. If B Jones has done well we could then flip Hamilton for pitching. If BJ has struggled we could just move JH to Left.
Cincy might not do it, or it might take JoJo or James instead of Ascaino to get it done.
Just a thought, what do you guys think? Hamilton plays great D, is high energy, a good story and hits for avg, .292 and power.
At least he’s afordable and has to be a better option than Cameron unless the cost in prospects is too high.
By Arkansas Hillbilly
October 15, 2007 12:57 PM | Link to this
Lew, the name contest is an excellent idea. Mason would have been a good one but a close friend of the family just named her son Mason. I offered the name Syd, but it was shot down quickly after I forced her to watch a VH1 special on The Madcap himself.
DOB, I tried and tried to convince her to let me pick a name from The Godfather, Sopranos, or Goodfellas. Some of the names I chose just to test her reaction didn’t seem so funny to her: Fredo, Sonny, Vito, Sylvio, Meadow, Conway, Paulie.
Thanks again everybody. Y’all are bringing some good laughs my way this morning. JButler, I’ll accept a “good job.” It’s not out of line in my mind. Thanks.
By Lew
October 15, 2007 12:58 PM | Link to this
Gunslinger-He would have to get in line. I’m number 6 in our line and my son is number 7. The tradition is about 180 years old as it is. Never can tell when I’ll become a grandfather, either. It could very well exceed 200 years or more.
By Wayne in Utah
October 15, 2007 1:05 PM | Link to this
Let’s hope that if Hillbilly’s firstborn is a girl, it is not TOO masculine!
How ‘bout Hillary Rodham Hillbilly, or William Jefferson Hillbilly, after your local politicians.
Or how ‘bout Huckaby Hillbilly?
Of course, Wayne is a great name for a baby: Wayne Hillbilly or Waynette Hillbilly! :-)
By Lew
October 15, 2007 1:13 PM | Link to this
Hillbilly-Not too sure why any Mother wouldn’t want to name her son after an insane songwriter with a history of LSD induced mental illness. Maybe you could convince her that being called a Crazy Diamond was really an honor. Tell her it could be worse-you could name him Tarkus or something else from the glory days of Prog Rock. I suppose Ummagumma is out of the question as well? Maybe Atom Heart Mother? Tell her you were influenced by Zappa’s choice of children’s names. Maybe she won’t divorce you before the kid is born. Maybe.
By Wayne in Utah
October 15, 2007 1:14 PM | Link to this
Braves4ever I think and hope the Braves go for somebody like Hamilton, instead of such a retread like Cameron. Actually, I would prefer Freel over Cameron, but Freel has this thing about running into walls and getting hurt.
Any of these guys would be a good pickup: Sullivan in Colorado, Ross from Florida, Church in Washington, Duffy from Pittsburgh, or even Winn in SF.
By brian
October 15, 2007 1:22 PM | Link to this
Hey DOB -
Did you ever expect to see Kansas sitting above USC in the BCS ratings?
Wake Forest beats FSU 2 straight years, and Kansas atop USC in the BCS???
By brian
October 15, 2007 1:23 PM | Link to this
Hey DOB -
Did you ever expect to see Kansas sitting above USC in the BCS ratings?
Wake Forest beats FSU 2 straight years, and Kansas atop USC in the BCS???
I guess I could add the Braves don’t win the division for 2 straight years
By Braveheart
October 15, 2007 1:23 PM | Link to this
I. Heart Hillbillies
That’s a good name. A very manly name.
By Lew
October 15, 2007 1:25 PM | Link to this
Wayne-Fill the outfield position from within the organization. Use all available $$$$ for pitching and a bench.
By Thrillhouse44
October 15, 2007 1:28 PM | Link to this
FYI, Smoltz is going to be on the Mike Tirico Show shortly.
By flbravesgirl
October 15, 2007 1:29 PM | Link to this
Congratulations, Hillbilly!!! I like Wyatt.
Lew, the drawing is fabulous. I’d send you a cake for your efforts but I know it wouldn’t make it to Vermont in one piece. ( Plus I don’t know if you eat cake. Does it need to be sugar-free?)
By Lew
October 15, 2007 1:38 PM | Link to this
FlBravesGirl-We’ll just plan to meet you at Spring Training (maybe the Phillies complex in Clearwater would be more convenient). You can bring a cake. Grinch and a couple others are working on coming down for a week or so. We’ll just have to eat cake in Florida (or pie works, too).
By mo in the boonies
October 15, 2007 1:52 PM | Link to this
Lew I checked out your entire Gallery, very interesting stuff. I was curious what medium you worked in. Now I know.
Mr Fly Barbara Walters did not invite you to appear on “The view”? I noticed today, she had a visit from a Grinch, and some Clinton woman, who I didn’t bother to watch. I don’t think it was the blog’s Grinch though, because he was green. Well, maybe… it could have been… because I reckon he may have been green on occasion??
By Overlord
October 15, 2007 1:54 PM | Link to this
Does anybody here owns a honda civic or a mazda 3
What about a honda accord
By Wayne in Utah
October 15, 2007 1:57 PM | Link to this
brian Kansas above USC in the BCS!!! Must be the last days. Dogs sleeping with cats and all that sort of weird stuff…..
By dragrace79
October 15, 2007 2:01 PM | Link to this
Any of these guys would be a good pickup: Sullivan in Colorado, Ross from Florida, Church in Washington, Duffy from Pittsburgh, or even Winn in SF. I personally really like Cody Ross. I live in south Florida and get to see him play alot. Just not sold on him batting against right-handers yet…
By Braves4Ever
October 15, 2007 2:01 PM | Link to this
* Wayne in Utah * Hamilton is a 5 tool player and could be more than a stop gap. Do you think the packages decribed above is too much? I’d rather take that route than Cameron for sure. Church has been quoted as not wanting to play center and hasn’t for a while . I’m not sold on Duffy at all.
I like Ross but if Fla isn’t even considering him as an everyday answer in Cf as desparate as they are for a CF then I’m not sure we should. I like Sullivan too, and he could be available. Winn wouldn’t be bad I guess. He seems to play hard.
By Lew
October 15, 2007 2:04 PM | Link to this
Mo In The Boonies-Thanks. I use oils and acrylics, but good old number two pencil is still my favorite medium.
By Wayne in Utah
October 15, 2007 2:05 PM | Link to this
Lew I hear what you are saying. I would not want to spend much on the CF’er. Only take Winn if SF picks up a chunk of his salary. Also, the others I suggest are fairly low pay, or minimum type guys. None would require too much to be given up.
Also, I just don’t see the Braves using an existing player for CF. Frenchy could do it, but I just don’t see them moving him. Could be wrong though. Blanco doesn’t sound like he has convinced them he can handle it full time.
If Schafer tore up the AFL, would they dare give him a shot? Worse things could happen.
How ‘bout them Rox!!!
By Braves4Ever
October 15, 2007 2:08 PM | Link to this
* Lew* If we traded prospects for a Josh Hamilton, we would be saving money for pitching and getting a 5 tool player as well. What do you think?
By Wayne in Utah
October 15, 2007 2:08 PM | Link to this
Lew Who do you like as possible pitching additions? I know many are hyped about Glavine, and I would be OK with him, so long as we got one more arm to go with him. McGowan intrigues me. I would be OK with Robertson or Vazquez, if we could handle V’s salary.
By David O'Brien
October 15, 2007 2:09 PM | Link to this
Hillbilly, I’d suggest Townes, but I plan on using it if I ever have a son. Same for Katie Belle (Townes Van Zandt’s daughter’s name).
So how ‘bout Patterson?
Speaking of, I should point out that Patterson Hood’s dad, David Hood, also plays bass on the LaVette/DBTs album, and Spooner Oldham plays piano, and some other Muscle Shoals session dudes are on it.
Patterson wanted to get some guys who expemplified the Muscle Shoals sound (he’s from there), and his dad played on a LaVette recording in that city 35 years ago.
It’s more a Muscle Shoals/soul album than a DBTs album, for sure. Just saying that, so you don’t buy it expecting a DBTs record. But I really like it.
She covers everyone from Willie Nelson to Elton John, but not their huge, obvious hits.
By snuffy smith
October 15, 2007 2:12 PM | Link to this
excuse my cuzin jimmy bein’ obsessed with tp you see he allus forgets to bring some to the outhouse
what does that boy do i kin only imagine
By Hoosier Aaron
October 15, 2007 2:12 PM | Link to this
Upon JS arrival, he made two statements I have not forgotten.
“It’s time we start looking like winners, acting like winners and playing like winners.” * Accomplished!
“I want to make the Braves the Royals of the South.” * Now everyone wants to be like the Braves. Accomplished!
By 22oz
October 15, 2007 2:15 PM | Link to this
Schafer won’t be tearing up the AFL as he ran into the wall and suffereed a concussion. At least he didn’t go all Bump Bailey and get killed. He was doing quite well before that though.
By keylargo25
October 15, 2007 2:22 PM | Link to this
I like Cody Ross too. I don’t think his lack of playing time this past year was due to not being liked by management but from trouble with his hamstrings. I also remember him as being an excellent outfielder and having an assist rate almost the same as Francoeur’s, which led the league.
I also am still hoping that we can pursue Scott Olsen from the Marlins. He needs a new start and the Marlins will probably move him. Most of his problems are due to immaturity (24) and being extremely competitive.
By beachcomber
October 15, 2007 2:22 PM | Link to this
Lew - If you or any of the bloggers make it down to the Clearwater stadium this spring - would love to say hello. We have season seats behind the third base dugout - I think it’s section 116 and we’re there every game except for a couple weekend trips to Orlando to see the Braves each spring.
I’ll send you the exact seats when our renewal arrives - usually next month or early December.
By Lew
October 15, 2007 2:22 PM | Link to this
Wayne-Vasquez eats innings and is as consistent as anyone out there. He would make a good number three, Glavine number four and let James, Hampton, Reyes and Bennett fight it out for number five. One of the kids from San Francisco would be good, but I have concerns about Lowrey, who might be the easiest to obtain. He got shut down late in the season-I believe for bone spurs.
Either Gorzelany or Snell from the Pirates would work for me as well. Arroyo, or preferably Harang would be nice, but with the Reds hiring Dusty Baker, I wonder just how much, if any, pitching they would be willing to trade. I would also consider taking Matt Belisle back. Get him out of that tiny stadium and he might just be effective-and he’s an originally an Atlanta draftee-and one hell of a nice kid, if you were lucky enough to meet him during Spring Training while he was with the Braves.
By Gunslinger
October 15, 2007 2:27 PM | Link to this
I could never figure why my wife wanted to name our kid after the postman. We didn’t know him that well and Zeppelin is not, IMO, a very pretty name.
By Lew
October 15, 2007 2:31 PM | Link to this
Wayne-The free agent market for pitchers is not great, but there are a few who would fit in the lower end of the rotation. There’s Paul Byrd (likely to be expensive and not a long term option), or Livan Hernandez, who eats innings, but makes life an adventure with a 4.93 ERA and a WHIP of 1.59 and a not great K to BB ratio.(also likely to cost more than you would want to pay). Josh Fogg of the Rockies was not bad, especially considering that he pitched in Denver (4.79 IP per start and 5.1 IP per start), might be less expensive, but the playoff exposure with the Rockies as hot as they are, might up his asking price considerably. Of the lot, Byrd posted the best all around numbers, but would likely be the most expensive. After his last go around in Atlanta, they might be a bit gun shy. as well.
By flange1
October 15, 2007 2:35 PM | Link to this
Hillbilly,
I know this is too obvious, but if it is a boy, how about JED?
For a girl, I just like Peggy Sue…Can’t help it I am Buddy Holly fan!
By Lew
October 15, 2007 2:36 PM | Link to this
Beachcomber-If I make it to Florida (snow storms notwithstanding), I will definitely make it to Clearwater. I know one of the Phillies coaches and his son, the Assistant GM. I’ve known the Asst. GM’s mom and her family since I was three.
Key Largo-given Olsen’s attitude problems and temper, I don’t see the Braves being interested. He doesn’t fit the player type they usually look for. They are notorious for not taking players that rock the boat or could disrupt team chemistry.
By Arkansas Hillbilly
October 15, 2007 2:38 PM | Link to this
FlBravesGirl and Braveheart must have my house bugged. Knowing my love for Westerns, she asked me if there were any good names I could come up with from a cowboy movie. I told her everbody back then was named Bill, William, Billy, or John and we could do better than that. Wyatt and Josey came up in that discussion.
Wayne, if it’s a girl, I won’t try to make her too masculine. However, she WILL be able to blood trail a deer and call a turkey.
Lew, he or she WILL have a lullaby cd consisting of Shine on You Crazy Diamond, Echoes, Great Gig In the Sky, Atom Heart Mother Suite, Fat Old Sun, Mudmen, Set the Controls for the Heart of the Son, and Careful with that Axe Eugene.
By Lew
October 15, 2007 2:38 PM | Link to this
Excuse me-Fogg’s ERA was 4.79. Not too bad for that thin air.
By Lew
October 15, 2007 2:45 PM | Link to this
Beachcomber-I get down there the middle of February when the pitchers and catchers report and I’m gone before the games start. I go to get artwork signed and see my son and daughter in law. Nothing more boring to me than exhibition games with B and C squad players or players you’ve never heard of before. The only exhibition I usually stay for is the first-IF they’re playing the Dawgs. Don’t care much about Tech.
By jbutler
October 15, 2007 2:49 PM | Link to this
DOB A-Basin isn’t a ski area. Its suicide. I held a major yard sale on Pallavicini (ski patrol..the whole bit) and swore it off.
Copper’s my area of choice.
By Arkansas Hillbilly
October 15, 2007 2:51 PM | Link to this
DOB,
My last name screws up a lot of options, and Patterson Pearson is one of them.
I’m sure you already knew this, but Spooner and David also also play a role in Isbell’s latest album, which still hasn’t left my cd changer since I bought it.
By Lew
October 15, 2007 2:56 PM | Link to this
Hillbilly-Just name him Eugene. Get him an axe for his first birthday.
By journalist jimmy smith
October 15, 2007 2:59 PM | Link to this
a baseball player of uh, note has had some success naming children after ballparks. these names are still available: tropicana, minute maid, and u.s. cellular. bank one, too.
the cake must be mailed at once! merely stamp “fragile” on the box. jimmy smith will take it from there.
and now, drawing dust. journalist knows how to draw dust and not many know this. also draws stinky for some reason. journalist would like an eraser.
and carolina lady, the cake will only be eaten by this journalist if damaged in transit. cannot send carolina lady a damaged cake.
By keylargo25
October 15, 2007 3:02 PM | Link to this
Lew
I think the Braves might be what Olsen needs to settle down. He got into it with some of the Latin players in Miami over shoddy defense, mainly from Miguel Cabrerra, and took most of the blame. Cabrerra is every bit the head case Olsen is but it’s much easier for him to get away with it because he is a budding superstar. For example Olsen had a start against the Mets late in the year when he gave up about 6 runs in 5 innings with NONE of them earned.
I think Olsen has the potential to pitch as a #3 or #4 if Glavine comes. He is young and a stud physically, reminds me of Steve Avery so much. I can’t speculate on what it would take to get him but it would not take Escobar.
By David O'Brien
October 15, 2007 3:02 PM | Link to this
Scott Olsen? yeah, Marlins will be more than glad to show him the door. Dude’s got some serious attitude/maturity issues. Can’t see him in a Braves uni….
Bobby likes Livan a lot, always has. If he’s cheap enough, he’d be a good option, especially if Glavine thing doesn’t work out (and no, haven’t heard anything yet on that front)….
Jbutler, I like Copper, Keyston and Breck, all of ‘em within 15 minutes of my sister and brother-in-law’s condo in Frisco.
But I like Steamboat even more….
By snuffy smith
October 15, 2007 3:10 PM | Link to this
overalls come with the suspenders already built in
By Shaun
October 15, 2007 3:23 PM | Link to this
Overlord, Don’t know if I’d go too much by post-season sweeps or any post-season series as far as what team is the one to beat next season. Crazy things happen in a small sample of games. Look at something like the 1990 World Series. Reds swept the mightiest team on the planet but that really didn’t tell us much about the 1991 Reds.
But yes, the Dodgers should be a good team…as should a lot of the other teams in the West. All have some great young talent. Going to be an interesting division over the next few years, I think.
By snuffy smith
October 15, 2007 3:23 PM | Link to this
when cuzin jimmy was little he used to wet his bed and his momma would tell him jimmy you wet your bed agin and jimmy would say no maw stinky done it
By Shaun
October 15, 2007 3:29 PM | Link to this
DOB, Livan is great. Gotta love a guy that’s that nimble with that body. And a guy that could probably throw 300 innings a year if they asked him to.
By TheSouthernJackAss
October 15, 2007 3:33 PM | Link to this
TheSouthernJackAss has been a little busy trying to scrape a couple of A$sClowns from off the bottom of his boot…but there’s still room for one more stinky…
By snuffy smith
October 15, 2007 3:35 PM | Link to this
He is young and a stud physically
kin i borrow yer stud finder? Loweezy’s been fixin to have me put a shelf up in the shed
By Barney Google
October 15, 2007 3:37 PM | Link to this
“Snuffy Smith”, your total absence of humor is the reason we ain’t in the funny papers no more. That, and you so ugly they gave you to a momma dog to raise. I don’t know what she did with ya.
By Robert (Justice Is The Best)
October 15, 2007 3:53 PM | Link to this
I wonder what it would take for the Red Sox to give up Crisp. I know some on here have Cameronmania but I think Crisp would be a better option. For one he is cheaper. Two, he is faster. And, three he may not hit as many homers as Cameron but he will hit for a better average and his defensei is great! I’m also beginning to wonder if the Cubs would part with Felix Pie. They seem to be souring on him some and I’m not completely sure why. I think they feel they have a good shot at Andruw or Torri Hunter or even Aaron Rowand. Wouldn’t that just stick in the gut of the White Sox and Kenny Williams?
By snuffy smith
October 15, 2007 3:54 PM | Link to this
good ol barney google yer a real yahoo but why did ya marry an amazon c’mon back to hootin’ holler
By N8
October 15, 2007 3:55 PM | Link to this
Braveheart
Totally NOT neccesary for you to mail me the Friday Night Lights DVD set.
I appreciate the offer though. But by the time we (I) paid for shipping I might as well just go buy them. My wife was baffled that somebody would offer to do that. Seems she thinks the blog is just a place for me to hang out and vent. Who knew such a friendly offer would be made by what I’d like to call an “online friend”. LOL!
My wife’s sister is the manager of a video store, so I can pretty much rent stuff for free and keep it as long as I need.
Again. TOTALLY appreciate the offer, but would more than likely not have enough time to watch in the near future to get them back to you within reasonible time.
Thanks again.
By Unforgiven
October 15, 2007 4:00 PM | Link to this
TheSouthernJackAss has been a little busy trying to scrape a couple of A$sClowns from off the bottom of his boot…but there’s still room for one more stinky…
Oh, alrighty, here we go. Brace yourselves. The townfolk scraped together enough money to get the Most Honorable Southern off his ranch and now he’s been seen riding in on the outskirts of town. Get ready. We’re gonna have a shootout at the DOB Corral folks.
All the men report to the Klobber’s Knobby Creek tonight for some food, drink, and entertainment. We got ourselves a darn good bar tender in Klobber. Tonight is a time for ignoring Johnny Cash. Don’t leave your guns at home. Bring your guns to town. Journalist Jimmy will provide the vaudeville entertainment. Carolina Lady will provide the BBQ. Flbravesgirl will provide the pastries. Choppinmama will cheer us on, strapping on her rally ‘tard of course. The Fly will provide SJA boarding at Fly’s boarding house. We gonna get mighty good and drunk tonight and have ourselves a feast and a darn good time.
We ride out first thing in the morn. When that rooster crows, Wyatt O’Brien, SJA, Doc Paladin, Arkansas Hillbilly, Salty, Lew, the hounds from hell, and the rest of simple townfolk will roll in hunt of this mangy scoundrel until we slaughter him yet again.
Get ‘em SJA. Get that piece of crap. I’m tired of seeing Jimmy lower himself to playing around with that little fool. Crush that little dweeb like you always do.
By N8
October 15, 2007 4:03 PM | Link to this
snuffy smith
“overalls come with the suspenders already built in”
Now THAT is funny.
By ncscoots
October 15, 2007 4:05 PM | Link to this
Bobby likes Livan a lot, always has
Have mercy. Someone quick do a Bobby intervention and strike this guy’s name forever from his memory, then. Can one really see this bleeper throwing eephus pitches and Big-Fly fastballs in a Braves’ uni? Surely the rule of diminished expectations hasn’t taken root THAT deeply.
By Carolina Lady
October 15, 2007 4:06 PM | Link to this
Wyatt O’Brien Pearson
By snuffy smith
October 15, 2007 4:07 PM | Link to this
god bless cuzin jimmy he is allus talkin ‘bout peaches peaches this and peaches that but he had some funny ideas about how to fix ‘em
when he was back in the army he was tellin’ anyone who would listen that peaches was the fruit of all fruit…
you can barbecue it, boil it, broil it, bake it, sauté it
there’s peach kabobs, peach creole, peach gumbo, pan fried, deep fried, stir fried
there’s pineapple peach and lemon peach, coconut peach, pepper peach, peach soup, peach stew, peach salad, peach ‘n potatoes, peach burger, peach sammich
that’s about it he said
By jbutler
October 15, 2007 4:11 PM | Link to this
DOB All great areas…Brecks getting a little hoity toity - but still good stuff. My husband had a snowmobile company in Steamboat when we got married…He made good money- but we would be living in a tent for what it costs to live there.
By Chief
October 15, 2007 4:14 PM | Link to this
DOB- I have to disagree with eware’s assessment of the Ryan Adams show. I do agree that his shows in the past have been historically “unpredictable” due to all the demons he was fighting, but I thought he sounded awesome last night. When he and the Cardinals harmonized during “Peaceful Valley”, it sounded like what a 5 piece band should sound like. He didn’t play some of his older hits, but you should expect that going in. He has a ton of music out there, so its hard to cover it all. Considering his past reputation, its a roll of the dice buying his tickets, but I thought he sounded and played incredibe last night. You would have dug it…..
By Mr. Fly (Sleuth Reporter)
October 15, 2007 4:17 PM | Link to this
Mr. Fly cannot allow certain double entendre comment to stand without reply:
Never drawn flies, either Goody…now is your chance. Fly portrait!!! In the hands of a master artist, a no. 2 pencil could complete my portrait in less than 2 minutes. No dust.
Arkansas Hillbaby Name? if it’s a girl, I won’t try to make her too masculine. However, she WILL be able to blood trail a deer…
So…what’s so hard about that? It just comes naturally to my country cousin Deerfly. He’s been scent-trailing deer for years. No need of dogs or shock-collar to train the little ones.
Western moviestar name? No problem…”Flyatt Earp” Mob movie Character name? Bugsy Rock band name? Pink Flyoid (if girl)
Oh, my friend SG has names too for child, if a son. Goes naturally with Pearson. “Bartlett”. Or name for twin boys, “Hill” and “Billy”.
Wurlitzer worthy, no?
By Savannah Guy
October 15, 2007 4:22 PM | Link to this
Surely the rule of diminished expectations hasn’t taken root THAT deeply.
Ditto. (brevity)
By Arkansas Hillbilly
October 15, 2007 4:25 PM | Link to this
Lew, who will be in charge of keeping up with the nominations until voting takes place? I’m entirely too uncoordinated to do such a thing. Good suggestion by Carolina Lady. Keep ‘em coming. I can’t wait to see some of Grinch’s suggestions.
By Nurse Biddie
October 15, 2007 4:32 PM | Link to this
It’s not Stinky’s fault. He still has on his original diaper.
By beachcomber
October 15, 2007 4:36 PM | Link to this
Lew - Sorry, I got caught up in work for a couple hours. I understand your aversion to spring games but when you live here - a spring game with the Braves is better than a regular season game with the Rays!
I seldom get out to the Carpenter Complex but if I know you’ll be there, I’ll make it a point to do so and say hello to a fellow blogger.
By Thrillhouse44
October 15, 2007 4:37 PM | Link to this
How about Hilliam William, or Hill Billy for short?
By Gunslinger
October 15, 2007 4:37 PM | Link to this
Unforgiven I had never been on a “Stinky” hunt before, so I did some checking to see what kind of ammo I should have. Hell man, age has got you! We don’t hunt those things, we wipe ‘em.
By Gunslinger
October 15, 2007 4:43 PM | Link to this
Andrew (One of the grandparent’s names) Pearson. Or Andrea.
By chrisklob
October 15, 2007 4:44 PM | Link to this
Klobber’s Knob Creek bar will be open at 5 pm sharp. Don’t be late.
Tonight’s specials include Eastern North Carolina BBQ. served in honor of of the lovely, talented and wonderful Carolina Lady’s return to the blog. We’ll also have cheese served by this blog’s very own cheese master, Mr Journalist Jimmy Smith.
And of course, we have a full bar. You can get anything you want so long as it’s Knob Creek. It’s my speciality.
Oh, SJA will be at the door checking ID’s. A*******clowns shouldn’t even bother coming around.
So saddle up and head on out. See y’all soon!
By David O'Brien
October 15, 2007 4:45 PM | Link to this
Chief, good to hear a solid review of the Adams show. I was hoping he’d be a little better live than before, now that he’s got himself together….
NEW BLOG IS UP
By Savannah Guy
October 15, 2007 4:45 PM | Link to this
Please no Livan. He’s not Braves material.
Livan, Livan likes his money, he makes a lot they say. Spends his days counting in a garage by the motorway… smug with a 4.92 ERA, let him count Mets money all day.
By Robert (Justice Is The Best)
October 15, 2007 4:46 PM | Link to this
If they can be had, what about Kerry Wood and/or Mark Prior from the Cubs. If the Braves can get them cheap and I don’t know how they couldn’t, would they be worth the risk?
By Rush Limbaugh
October 15, 2007 4:48 PM | Link to this
You may not always agree with what Stinky has to say, but we will defend to the death his right to say it!
By Anthropologist
October 15, 2007 4:48 PM | Link to this
When early man cleansed himself without aide of tp, he frequently had Stinky pinkie.
By Neighbor
October 15, 2007 4:54 PM | Link to this
“Snuffy” got his name from the disgusting thing he did to pilfered underwear.
By Rory Calhoun
October 15, 2007 4:54 PM | Link to this
We’ll also have cheese served by this blog’s very own cheese master, Mr Journalist Jimmy Smith.
Where I come from, calling someone a cheese master is the worst kind of insult imagineable.
By Teddy Kennedy
October 15, 2007 4:59 PM | Link to this
I not only agree with Stinky, I’ll drink to it. Or Global warming. Or floods, pestilence and vermin. Set ‘em up. I’m buying!
By chrisklob
October 15, 2007 5:07 PM | Link to this
Rory, rest assured, no insults were intended for the inimitable journalist jimmy smith.
By Gil in Mechanicsville
October 16, 2007 9:09 AM | Link to this
Good morning Metropolitan Man, It is always interesting to gain insight to player negotiations and how people think. I always wondered why players did not ask for a percentage of the franchise but then again they know a bad deal when they ask for it.
A-Rod is a great player but not that great. How many World Series has his teams played in? I am glad he did not come through Atlanta. It is going to be tough enough to keep Tex.
Kudos to the Rockies, when things are going your way, every call, every play and every move seems to go your way. A lot of the same people who were calling for Clint Hurdle to be fired two months ago are singing his praises today.
DOB You are definitely not going to need the suntan lotion for the upcoming World Series. Pack the snow shoes and the parka. Denver is beautiful but jeeez it can get cold this time of year. At least you can say high to your sister. By the way, thanks for the updates on Jordan Schafer, personally, I think you should be budgeted to make a scouting trip to Arizona and then in January to the Caribbean just to keep us up to date on the prospects. Hey, maybe even a trip to Cuba….. All in the name of accurate reporting.
Lew Do you have a link to your Skip Carey portrait?
By GMAT
October 16, 2007 9:12 AM | Link to this
I will note that Deion Sanders and David Justice were critical of Schuerholz after he traded them, as was Tom Glavine about J.S.’ contract revelations in his book. Justice eventually got over his trade and Schuerholz personally telephoned him to break the news that Justice was entering the Braves’ Hall of Fame, and I expect Glavine to be dealing with J.S. once again. But unlike Rocker, Sanders and Justice weren’t mean-spirited in their criticism of the general manager, just noting that J.S. had purportedly committed to them and then turned around and traded them. Justice said that Schuerholz told him that he’d bet his house that he wouldn’t trade the outfielder, and then a couple weeks later, he did just that.
By GMAT
October 16, 2007 9:24 AM | Link to this
I will note that Deion Sanders and David Justice were critical of Schuerholz after he traded them, as was Tom Glavine about J.S.’ contract revelations in his book. Justice eventually got over his trade and Schuerholz personally telephoned him to break the news that Justice was entering the Braves’ Hall of Fame, and I expect Glavine to be dealing with J.S. once again. But unlike Rocker, Sanders and Justice weren’t mean-spirited in their criticism of the general manager, just noting that J.S. had purportedly committed to them and then turned around and traded them. Justice said that Schuerholz told him that he’d bet his house that he wouldn’t trade the outfielder, and then a couple weeks later, he did just that.