AJC > Sports > Braves > Blog > Archives > 2008 > March > 14 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USYou missed Dinosaur City … Soriano to pitch!
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Clearwater, Fla. _ With visions of Maria Bartiromo (see early morning comments on previous blog) now mercifully squeezing into brain space previously cluttered with spring-training baseball immersion, we come to you live today from beautiful Bright House Field.
If you haven’t been here or seen pictures, it’s the best ballpark built in Florida in, oh … when was Dodgertown built? Well, since then. Great little park, and Francoeur just hit one onto the thatched roof Frenchy’s burger joint above the left-field corner during batting practice. Seriously, he did.
The drive over from Dark Star used to be absolute hell, but now they’ve finally finished I-4 construction and it’s not bad at all, only about 75 minutes.
Love the scenes out the windows on the drive over, a mix of trailor-park trash culture, kitsch tourism, agriculture, old Florida and industry (distribution centers and such).
Had the Band of Horses’ great second CD blaring, then some Gram Parsons and the Flying Burrito Brothers live (from a show at the Avalon Ballroom in San Francisco when they opened for the Dead) and finally, as I rolled into Clearwater, the terrific new John Doe album, his most rockin’ and best solo work to date. Great rock record.
Anyway … driving along, trying to avoid the many Polk County cops in marked and unmarked vehicles handing out tickets in bunches around the Lakeland exits, and I saw this guy enjoying what looked like absolute heaven to me at this point in the six-week spring grind — he was sitting in a bass boat on a huge lake along I-4, looked like his feet were up on the edge of the boat, a line in the water, and not a ripple on the lake or another boat in sight. I doubt he much cared if he got a bite.
What a slice of Americana that road is out there between Orlando and Tampa. A half-dozens RV sales centers, acres and acres of huge gas-guzzling tourist machines for sale, and one place had huge old Airstreams buried nose-down in the ground, their ends sticking straight up in the air, like the famous Cadillac Ranch in Texas.
There’s Dinosaur World just outside Tampa (with a huge sign you see as you drive past, “You’ve just missed Dinosaur World at Exit …” )There’s the Hooters that had the short-lived Hooters Motel behind it, which is now a Hooters with a big weed-filled sandy lot behind it, after they demolished both that impossibly tacky concept and the structure itself.
There’s Plant City, where they still have great strawberries, but no longer have major league spring training (the Reds moved a few years ago, to Sarasota).
And Ybor City in Tampa, the trendy, bar-filled neighborhood with restored buildings and the huge “Home of Cuesta Rey Cigars” sign over the warehouse you see from the road. Love it. So does The Hold Steady, apparently, since that great band has included Ybor City in several of its great songs over the years.
OK, enough with my travelog. I know some of you hate anything not related directly to the Braves, so I’ll stop now.
Smoltz Q&A:Had to go over to Dark Star this morning, opposite direction than Tampa from the rental house, because I needed to do a Q&A with John Smoltz that I’d forgotten about — it’s running tomorrow, should be posted online later today or tonight.
Got lucky and Smoltz was pulling into the players’ lot just as I was (and just as the Braves’ buses were pulling out, headed over here). Did the Q&A with John as we walked to the Braves’ clubhouse over there, then turned around, went back to my car and sped over here.
While I’m thinking about, sorry to those autograph-seeking fans who were standing at the fence by the batting cage at Dark Star when I walked past interviewing Smoltz. I ruined your opportunity. My bad. Had to get that interview done, though, and get on the road.
So now we’re here, and I just got back from the field/dugout, where Braves left field when it started raining. Oh, I didn’t mention that — rain. Thunderstorms expected later. Don’t know if we’ll get all or any of this game in.
As I walked past in the tunnel to the clubhouse, Cox was talking to Hudson about alternate plan if he can’t pitch today because of weather. Heard him say he’d prefer to pitch tomorrow if that’s the case.
Speaking of tomorrow, we have a Rafael Soriano appearance on the docket. Yes, release the pigeons, for the Braves closer is set to make his Grapefruit League debut tomorrow. He’s not pitched all spring because of a sore elbow (and a stomach virus of some kind).
That means Soriano and Smoltz will likely make their spring debuts in the same game, assuming Soriano pitches in the home split-squad game vs. Tampa Bay instead of the road game against Houston. (Jair Jurrjens is scheduled to start against the ‘Stros.)
Smoltz is scheduled to go five innings against the Rays, his first start after three simulated-game sessions (you might have read or heard something about those…). Said he feels great and that he actually threw more in those sessions than he probably would have thrown if he’d pitched in actual games.
”SIN CITY” by Gram Parsons and Chris Hilman
This old town is filled with sin,
It’ll swallow you in
If you’ve got some money to burn.
Take it home right away,
You’ve got three years to pay
But Satan is waiting his turn
This old earthquake’s gonna leave me in the poor house.
It seems like this whole town’s insane
On the thirty-first floor, a gold plated door
Won’t keep out the Lord’s burning rain
The scientists say
It’ll all wash away
But we don’t believe any more
Cause we’ve got our recruits
And our green mohair suits
So please show you ID At the door.
A friend came around
Tried to clean up this town,
His ideas made some people mad.
But he trusted his crowd,
So he spoke right out loud
And they lost the best friend they had
On the thirty-first floor, a gold plated door
Won’t keep out the Lord’s burning rain
Services »
Comments
By mat
March 14, 2008 12:42 PM | Link to this
first
By darblue
March 14, 2008 12:43 PM | Link to this
darblue 1st?
By Shane
March 14, 2008 12:44 PM | Link to this
99th?
DOB - Any word on some potential trade moves? What about the thing with the Angels?
By McFann
March 14, 2008 12:44 PM | Link to this
First?
Hey, DOB, you said Smoltz was driving an Escalade? What about some of the other players? What kind of cars do any of them drive?
Thanks.
By The Mysterious Rhinestone Cowboy
March 14, 2008 12:45 PM | Link to this
Another superb music selection, though I only know the Uncle Tupelo cover. When I read Dinosaur World, I couldn’t help but picture Joe Dirt walking down the sidewalk with a sign over his shoulders….”Molar World!”
By Capt. Caveman
March 14, 2008 12:47 PM | Link to this
me first??
By ssiscribe
March 14, 2008 12:47 PM | Link to this
Ah, after two lovely days in beautiful (not) Northern New Jersey and a trip to Times Square, it’s good to be back home along the southern rim of the capital city, for Braves spring training baseball on the ol’ Web cast and the Braves/MIB humming along, a cigar and a cup o’ joe on the back porch. No place like home, denizens.
Two weeks from Sunday, and we’ll fire it up for real.
The Scribe abides.
—30—
By Lew
March 14, 2008 12:56 PM | Link to this
Someone on the last blog asked about Josh Andersonn’s minor league stats and where to find them. They may be found on Baseball Cube.Com. They were as follows-
2473 AB, .290 BA, .413 OBP, 372 Runs, 718 hits, 95 2B, 15 HR, 201 RBI, 150BB, 49 HBP, 237 Stolen bases and 62 Caught stealing.
Not too sure what the beef with this guy is. His minor league averages were between .268 and .358. As many are now realizing, the guy has mucho speed and is quite capable of stealing bases and making great catches. No, he does not have much power, but he hit quite well in the minors.
By Chuck
March 14, 2008 12:59 PM | Link to this
Hey DOB, love the blog. Makes me want to drive over to Florida and skip work. Anyway, does it look like Jair Jurrjens is going to get the fith spot? I haven’t got to see him pitch yet but he sounds like the real deal.
By StingerSplash
March 14, 2008 1:01 PM | Link to this
With the Maria Bartiromo reference, is this going to devolve into a discussion on the sheer genius of The Ramones, because if it is … count me in. Is Bright House that much of an improvement over Jack Russell Stadium?
By Pfunkatl
March 14, 2008 1:08 PM | Link to this
Infrequent comments from a DIE-HARD reader. DOB thanks for last years HEADS UP on Havana Sandwich…love the place…best cuban masitas de puerco and coffee since I left Miami. I think the Braves go with Smoltz/Huddy/Glav/Hampton(cross fingers) and Jurggens…keep two of three from Pado/Lilli/Javi…need sum TRADES for those OPTION-LESS players…comments?
By David O'Brien
March 14, 2008 1:08 PM | Link to this
Chuck, looks definite for Jurrjens, barring injury. He’s in. And he’s good. Very good….
Molar World. Nice….
Tarp’s off the field here, so we might have some ‘ball. But still doesn’t look promising for the afternoon.
By Matt_T
March 14, 2008 1:09 PM | Link to this
That Band of Horses album is fantastic.
By Niels Boor
March 14, 2008 1:11 PM | Link to this
Saltywoody: “What do Anderson’s minor league numbers look like? Not good? I wouldn’t even know where to go to find those.”
Josh, Moby Grape and chrisklob have each recommended The Baseball Cube for minor league stats.
By Phil
March 14, 2008 1:12 PM | Link to this
I’m over here in Ft. Myers watching the defending champs! Nice team but surroundings nothing like our Braves have. Stadium in the middle of the hood. Reminds me of the ol Fulton County Stadium days and the gypsy parking lots.
By jim
March 14, 2008 1:13 PM | Link to this
Reaction to N8’s post on the previous blog
Everyone of those pitchers on your list with the exception of James and Scott Olsen have been in the majors at least 5 years. James has been around for 1 and 1/2 years and had injury problems in the second half of last season. Chuck’s ERA for his time in the majors up untill mid July last year (when I will assume the “dead arm” problems surfaced) was under 4. I don’t think you can make such definitive statements about such an inexperienced pitcher. Maybe you should include Robin Roberts in your HR vs ERA stats too. (Of course his IP stats are off the charts compared with the innings good pitchers pitch today.)
I agree with another poster who said James has to work on getting his pitch count down so he can pitch deeper into games, but unlike a number of other young pitchers who came up here with better stuff, Chuck James has kept his team in most of the games that he has started, and he has won 22 of them.
By Burrito Brother
March 14, 2008 1:15 PM | Link to this
It is neither Graham Park nor Graham Parsons.
It is Gram Parsons.
By BravesAC
March 14, 2008 1:17 PM | Link to this
DOB Had this question in yesterday and maybe it got lost….are you and Conan bros? And if so, who was funniest around the Thanksgiving table? By the way, are the Phillies as worred about their 40+yr old as these posters seem to be…or do they worry less becuase Moyer is a soft tosser?
By Chuck
March 14, 2008 1:18 PM | Link to this
Thanks for the update DOB. Is Jurrjens a injury risk? Will Chuck James ever crack the rotation again? Thanks.
By David O'Brien
March 14, 2008 1:21 PM | Link to this
THIS JUST IN: Huddy scratched because of the weather. I’m sure they just don’t want to take chance of his start being interrupted by rain, since it looks like it could start raining at any time.
Royce Ring will start and probably go an inning or two, then it. Other scheduled relievers today: Ohman, Moylan, Resop. And now, I’m sure they’ll use two or three minor leaguers from among the extras they brought today: Dan Smith, Vladimir Nunez, Sung Ki Jung all made the trip.
By Roper
March 14, 2008 1:22 PM | Link to this
Has anyone noticed Skip Caray is sounding more and more like Rush Limbaugh? oh, wait a minute…well, there’s always 94.9 on the Fm dial. Just as soon as Joe Simpson finishes singing this heinous Brooks and Dunn song…
Darn it! Why does the ajc insist on providing bogus info about where we can watch/listen to the braves.
Any updates would be appreciated.
By James
March 14, 2008 1:24 PM | Link to this
DOB, what are your thoughts on Borchard right now?
By David O'Brien
March 14, 2008 1:24 PM | Link to this
Hudson will pitch a simulated game tomorrow. Sim games big with this year’s rotation….
Stinger, you know you can also sub Mariah Sherapova’s name perfectly for Batiromo in Joey Ramone’s great ode to the latter….
By David O'Brien
March 14, 2008 1:26 PM | Link to this
Pfunkatl, glad you did Havana Sandwich. Great place. I wouldn’t steer you wrong.
By Randy S
March 14, 2008 1:28 PM | Link to this
DOB - (repeating a question from last blog) Given Boyer’s experience as a starter in the minors, what are the chances he takes the long man/spot starter role? I like him better as a late reliever (I think he has setup/closer potential), but that would save one of our waiver arms.
By David O'Brien
March 14, 2008 1:30 PM | Link to this
Burrito Brother, thanks for pointing out the typo. And trust me, that’s all it was, a typo. I’m a huge fan of the man, Gram Parsons — a Georgia boy, by the way.
Also a huge fan of Graham Parker, and, well, sleep deprivation and deadlines (plus no copy editor for the blog) will occasionally yield unfortunate results.
By the way, if you haven’t bought it, that double-live CD that was just released last year is outstanding. From a recording no one knew existed until recently. They opened for the Dead, and you can tell most of the crowd didn’t even know who the Burrito Brothers were when they introduced them as the warmup act.
By TennesseePaul
March 14, 2008 1:36 PM | Link to this
Francoeur just hit one onto the thatched roof Frenchy’s burger joint above the left-field corner
Let’s see, how did Chipper put it…?? Lose an Andruw gain an Andruw… I’d have been more impressed with Francoeur had he hit it into the right field corner topas shack.
Lew: The beef with Anderson happens to be with the one stat you mistyped:
In the minors:
Josh Anderson Stats
That is, Anderson’s OBP. It wasn’t .413. That was his OBP in a hand full of games at the end of last season in Houston. Last year in AAA his OBP was .325. It was low, and is low throughout his minor league career save a season early on. This is because of his low walk rate. He average 2 walks per 33 at bats, or 1 walk per 18 plate appearances.
But that’s the only “beef” I can find with him. He’s exceptionally fast, plays good defense and seems to be able to hit rather well. In 2,724 plate appearances he only hit into 30 double plays. Maybe because no one was really on base in front of him but I’d speculate his speed helped him out of many would be twin killers. Though, a little over 1/3 of his total minor league DP came last season at AAA. That wasn’t one of his better years for hitting, but his 3rd best year for stealing bases (83% success rate).
As a fourth outfielder I can’t really see any big problems with him. If he were an every day guy I might be a little less thrilled with him.
But anyway. I don’t think he will be a drag on this team. If this team fails to make the post season this year it isn’t going to be due to him, the fourth out fielder.
By Epinephrine
March 14, 2008 1:37 PM | Link to this
Ought to be a big one for Resop and Ring. Lots riding on the next few appearances for them, Boyer, and Yates.
By David O'Brien
March 14, 2008 1:39 PM | Link to this
Today’s lineup: 1. KJ, 2. Escobar, 3. Francoeur, 4. McCann, 5. Diaz, 6. Thorman, 7. Schafer, 8. Lillibridge, 9. B Jones (DHing since Huddy was scratched)
By ncscoots
March 14, 2008 1:41 PM | Link to this
Lew, a little “eyeball” typo in your Anderson stats. He has a career minor league OBP of .342, not .413, I’m guessing your eye just moved to another line in the stat sheet by mistake.
No pop, no plate discipline (150 BB in almost 2500 AB), K’s have spiked since hitting AA…what’s not to love?
And, oh, by the way…runs like the wind.
Maybe the guy DID figure it all out in those 67 ML AB last year (stranger baseball things have happened). But I’m afraid I’ll need a little more convincing…
By Robert
March 14, 2008 1:42 PM | Link to this
DOB Is my 7 man bullpen right, if not what is you guess
Soriano Moylan Acosta Ohman Boyer Yates Resop
By Epinephrine
March 14, 2008 1:42 PM | Link to this
Also, love me some Gram Parsons (spelled like that, DOB, not Graham). Hot Burrito and Dark End of the Street are classics.
By David O'Brien
March 14, 2008 1:42 PM | Link to this
randy s, I asked Bobby that specifically and he said for now, they like Boyer relieving. He’s not stretched out to be a spot starter, hasn’t thrown enough innings the last couple years
By Randy S
March 14, 2008 1:44 PM | Link to this
Though Boyer does look like a strong candidate to make the pen in any capacity. Don’t think he’ll be seeing waivers.
By Epinephrine
March 14, 2008 1:44 PM | Link to this
Nevermind, just saw you caught it.
By MOTDawg84
March 14, 2008 1:45 PM | Link to this
Lew:
Not sure where you’re getting the numbers from, but Anderson’s line from the Minors is .290/.342/.370. Baseball-reference.com’s minor league stats don’t show his hbp’s or sacrifices from 2003 and 2004, so his OBP is .337 according to it. The .413 OBP is from last year, not his career OBP.
By BossLady
March 14, 2008 1:47 PM | Link to this
Man, that was great! I felt like I was in the car taking that ride too. Daily blogs and in game reports terrific. Thanks
By Robert
March 14, 2008 1:49 PM | Link to this
DOB: Does Gregor Blanco have any chance of making this team. Either way do the Braves ever view him as part of our Major League team.
I CAN”T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR ALL THE KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION YOU GIVE US BRAVE FAN
By Pfunkatl
March 14, 2008 1:49 PM | Link to this
DOB…one MINOR caveat. I used to work for Gloria Estefan in miami. They make the BEST cuban mojo sauce EVER,and Havana…well, NOT so good. Otherwise I LOVE it…been there like 6 times since you mentioned it and even TOLD them you recommended it.
Any trade prospects for our OPTION-LESS players, or we just gona LOSE them…I somehow feel that Thorman COULD well be in that group.
Also, I have had the PRIVELGE of being in Havana Cuba ITSELF, tho QUITE on the DL, and I think Gloria’s team has better mojo than FIDELS…LOL
By 18 Wheels of Love
March 14, 2008 1:49 PM | Link to this
I think the DBT’s should rename Zip City to Plant City.
”..when you don’t put out in Plant City so far away…”
By nOLIE
March 14, 2008 1:56 PM | Link to this
Jerome Walton was also a big prospect for the cubbies in 1988-89 I believe. and what happened to him? I have no idea.MF
Why, he played for the Braves of course.
By David O'Brien
March 14, 2008 1:56 PM | Link to this
Diaz hit by a pitch and Schafer opposite-field single, runners at firt and second with two out in the second.
By Pete
March 14, 2008 1:58 PM | Link to this
I always thought it was “Lord’s burning rays”
By Pete
March 14, 2008 1:58 PM | Link to this
I always thought it was “Lord’s burning rays”
By Shaun
March 14, 2008 1:59 PM | Link to this
Here’s something just to drive some of you crazy, from a book called Complications: A Surgeon’s Notes on an Imperfect Science:
Over the past four decades, cognitive psychologists have shown repeatedly that a blind algorithmic approach usually trumps human judgment in making predictions and diagnoses. The psychologist Paul Meehl, in his classic 1954 treatise, Clinical Versus Statistical Prediction, described a study of Illinois parolees that compared estimates given by prison psychiatrists that a convict would violate parole with estimates derived from a rudimentary formula that weight such factors as age, number of previous offenses, and type of crime. Despite the formula’s crudeness, it predicted the occurrence of parole violations far more accurately than the psychiatrists did. In recent articles, Meehl and the social scientists David Faust and Robyn Dawes have reviewed more than a hundred studies comparing computers or statistical formulas with human judgment in predicting everything from the likelihood that a company will go bankrupt to the life expectancy of liver-disease patients. In virtually all cases, statistical thinking equaled or surpassed human judgment.
Yep, projection systems will often times outperform human judgment. (Thanks to Mr. Neyer for that excerpt.)
By Pete
March 14, 2008 2:00 PM | Link to this
I always thought it was “Lord’s burning rays”
By David O'Brien
March 14, 2008 2:00 PM | Link to this
Lillibridge hit by a pitch in back, bases loaded for B Jones
By Jared
March 14, 2008 2:01 PM | Link to this
In response to the post made today at 1:22 PM:
Exactly. Where is the AJC getting their info? They keep telling us these games are on certain radio stations and they almost never are.
http://www.ajc.com/braves/content/sports/braves/index.html
TV; radio: No TV; 640 AM/94.9 FM
LIES!
By David O'Brien
March 14, 2008 2:02 PM | Link to this
B Jones oppo single through left side, drive in two. Runners on corners for KJ.
By David O'Brien
March 14, 2008 2:04 PM | Link to this
First pitch GRAND SLAM BY ESCOBAR after KJ walked.
Escobar CRUSHED that ball to the left-field Phillies bullpen. Braves up 6-0.
By DAP
March 14, 2008 2:09 PM | Link to this
10paul I’d have been more impressed with Francoeur had he hit it into the right field corner topas shack.
im with you man. i just hate it when he hits homeruns to left. arrrgg! i only like opposite field homers. i also like to find negatives whenever i can!!!
By Pete H.
March 14, 2008 2:09 PM | Link to this
IIRC, Dinosaur World closed down a couple of years ago. When we lived in Tampa, we had year passes to Universal Studios, so we drove I-4 a lot, and what a boring drive it is. Particularly this time of year, when tourists in RVs block the passing lane doing 50 MPH and endangering lives.
My daughter, whose name is Kathleen, always got a kick out the fact that there’s a whole town called Kathleen, just outside of Lakeland.
By Pete H.
March 14, 2008 2:13 PM | Link to this
I think this kid Escobar might make the team this year.
By David O'Brien
March 14, 2008 2:13 PM | Link to this
Ring cruising along until Greg Dobbs’ two-out homer in second. The Dobber (just guessing they call him that, this being baseball and all)
By DAP
March 14, 2008 2:14 PM | Link to this
escobar hit it left field to? makes that “lose and andruw gain two andruws”, right 10paul? im not happy about that grandslam at all, because it was hit to left field, and i dont like that.
By jim
March 14, 2008 2:16 PM | Link to this
Perhaps Hensley Meulens is the name of the Yankee 3B prospect of the late 80’s. He was a prospect, but never quite regarded as the first coming of ARod.
By David O'Brien
March 14, 2008 2:18 PM | Link to this
Schafer with a NIIIICE over-the-shoulder catch at the warning track in dead center. Sort of a poor man’s Willie Mays grab. Actually more a middle-class man’s Willie Mays, because it was really a nice grab.
By Capt. Caveman
March 14, 2008 2:20 PM | Link to this
DOB
What’s the status on Escobar’s contract renegotiation?? Will we be able to sign him again?? After that GS BOMB!! We only have 3 yrs to get something done. What are our trade possibilities?? Maybe we could trade him to Detroit for their shortstop before he leaves via FA - I heard they had veteran. Who do we have in the farm system?? Oh crap — shortstop is a MESS !!
Sorry - I just wanted to be the first to FREAK OUT and OVERREACT!!
By the way — does the Phillie’s complex still have that field with the HUGE green wall in center about 420 ft away to block the sun??
By Seymour
March 14, 2008 2:23 PM | Link to this
Who started for the Phillies today?
By Braveheart
March 14, 2008 2:25 PM | Link to this
Perhaps Hensley Meulens is the name of the Yankee 3B prospect of the late 80’s. He was a prospect, but never quite regarded as the first coming of ARod.
He was not Hensley Muelens. His name was Bam Bam Muelens.
By Robert
March 14, 2008 2:26 PM | Link to this
Keep Thorman
By Joe Simpson
March 14, 2008 2:26 PM | Link to this
A homer to left field? That’s awful. Escobar needs to learn to hit to the opposite field more. Singles the opposite way are better than pulled homeruns.
By David O'Brien
March 14, 2008 2:26 PM | Link to this
Thor’s either securing a spot or becoming more tradeable — he just hit a three-run bomb off LH Shane Youman
By David O'Brien
March 14, 2008 2:28 PM | Link to this
This Schafer kid looks pretty good. Anyone familiar with him?
(he just doubled)
By Thrillhouse44
March 14, 2008 2:29 PM | Link to this
“middle-class man’s Willie Mays…” classic!
By TennesseePaul
March 14, 2008 2:29 PM | Link to this
i also like to find negatives whenever i can!!
DAP: You just aren’t trying hard enough. I think you could squeeze more negativity out of it if you put your full effort behind it. Com’on!
By ncscoots
March 14, 2008 2:31 PM | Link to this
Yep, projection systems will often times outperform human judgment.
Probably true, when the human in question gets a YAI just for standing up in a crowd, LOL. Or barfs at a Geico commercial.
But projection systems such as you mention have a common failing (not a deadly failing, but a limitation, nonetheless) in that they cannot use data that doesn’t exist. That is, they cannot intuit a possible outcome not based on previous data. Humans can, because they can imagine.
When parameters fall within solidly defined guidelines, statistical systems can perform admirably. But they cannot do so when so-called squirelly data pops into the equation. Just the nature of the beast, and, for that reason, no critical thinker would ever rely on such systems for decision-making, not without consulting a little human “judgment”.
After all, humans write the algorithms that make such statistical systems smart. And those humans can be, well, idiots, too. :-)
By David O'Brien
March 14, 2008 2:31 PM | Link to this
Lillibridge hit again, this time by a different pitcher (Youman)
Captain Caveman, why on earth would you be talking about Escobar’s contract “situation”? He has no contract situation. The guy won’t even be ELIGIBLE FOR ARBITRATION until after the 2009 season.
Geez, dude. Enjoy the game. Escobar won’t make any money (relatively speaking) for THREE MORE SEASONS.
By N8
March 14, 2008 2:32 PM | Link to this
DOB
I know this might seem like a redundant or silly question, but what are the odds of the Braves trading Matt Diaz and going with Jordan Schafer in LF to start the season?
When Andruw came up in 96 Grissom was playing CF, and in the spring of 97 the Braves traded for Lofton and had Andruw play LF.
I’m sure with the spring Diaz is having, there would be some teams “interested”, not to mention, if Kotsay is healthy, that would give us one HELLUVA defensive outfield.
The kid sure sounds like he’s ready to me. It sounds like Bobby LOVES this kid, and I seriously doubt they’d call him up to start the season, and NOT play him everyday.
Again, just curious.
By TennesseePaul
March 14, 2008 2:32 PM | Link to this
I can’t believe Lou Dobbs hit a homer off of Ring. What’s he doing hitting in the Phillie line up anyway?
By N8
March 14, 2008 2:36 PM | Link to this
Joe Simpson
“A homer to left field? That’s awful. Escobar needs to learn to hit to the opposite field more. Singles the opposite way are better than pulled homeruns.”
LOVE the sarcasm, that was pretty good.
But I, myself, have never ragged on ANYBODY for taking a pitch down the middle or on the inner half and driving the hell out of it.
However, when a player takes an outside pitch and TRIES to pull it for a HR, and hits a dribbler to SS or 2B, even you have to admit that that is just stubborn and silly.
Yes. The last sentence was a direct remark right about Andruw.
By glove51
March 14, 2008 2:38 PM | Link to this
DOB: Graham Parker and Band of Horses - both good stuff. Don’t Tell Columbus is a great record.
By David O'Brien
March 14, 2008 2:38 PM | Link to this
Dan Smith’s in now for the Braves.
Francisco Rosario started for Phils, went two innings and gave up six runs, including three walks, two walks, an HBP and a GRANDE SLAMMAGE.
By flange1
March 14, 2008 2:39 PM | Link to this
10Paul,
Isn’t Lou Dobbs a dead pull hitter too?
and from the last blog, Lerew had TJ surgery and is out until June/July.
By Pete H.
March 14, 2008 2:41 PM | Link to this
DAP: You just aren’t trying hard enough. I think you could squeeze more negativity out of it if you put your full effort behind it. Com’on!
Home runs are just laziness. Real ballplayers go round the bases the hard way, not with these sissy home runs.
By Ric Flair
March 14, 2008 2:41 PM | Link to this
Captain Caveman has gone crazy.
By David O'Brien
March 14, 2008 2:41 PM | Link to this
CaptCaveman, sorry about that. I read first line of your post and thought you were being serious about Escobar. Fired off my comment, then read the rest of yours and realized you were being sarcastic.
By Braveheart
March 14, 2008 2:42 PM | Link to this
I can’t believe Lou Dobbs hit a homer off of Ring. What’s he doing hitting in the Phillie line up anyway?
Rumor is Lou Dobbs asked the Phillies for a chance to show the Braves how weak they are in protecting their borders out there in the outfield.
By 18 Wheels of Love
March 14, 2008 2:43 PM | Link to this
Lou Dobbs is a dead-pull idiot.
By 18 Wheels of Love
March 14, 2008 2:43 PM | Link to this
Lou Dobbs is a dead-pull idiot…in the independent league.
By chuckaluck
March 14, 2008 2:45 PM | Link to this
DOB — Amen on Escobar. Why fret over a problem that ain’t even a problem yet. When does Hampton go again?
By Braveheart
March 14, 2008 2:46 PM | Link to this
yes, lou dobbs just proved how weak royce g-ring-o is at protecting the border
By Shaun
March 14, 2008 2:46 PM | Link to this
Lou Dobbs is upset because baseball teams keep hiring Dominicans, this administration and this congress is doing nothing, so he took it out on the baseball.
By DAP
March 14, 2008 2:47 PM | Link to this
10paul im trying to be more negative, but im beat. you take it from here, ill catch up with you!
By 18 Wheels of Love
March 14, 2008 2:47 PM | Link to this
These idiot Phillie announcers are going on and on and on about how Francoeur and McCann are from Canada and played together in Canada! And they are still talking about it.
By Braveheart
March 14, 2008 2:50 PM | Link to this
I’m guessing Lou Dobbs hit the homer to right
No way in hell Lou Dobbs would go to left
By Pete H.
March 14, 2008 2:50 PM | Link to this
I can’t believe Lou Dobbs hit a homer off of Ring. What’s he doing hitting in the Phillie line up anyway?
Checking their documents, perhaps?
By David O'Brien
March 14, 2008 2:51 PM | Link to this
Braveheart, that was funny. About Lou.
By chuckaluck
March 14, 2008 2:54 PM | Link to this
DOB — I have enjoyed the cliche play-by-play you have been doing down there. As a recovering sports editor,the cliches bring back memories of great stringers and Friday nights.
By Shaun
March 14, 2008 2:55 PM | Link to this
18 Wheels of Love, Canada is so close to Georgia. Easy mistake to make.
By David O'Brien
March 14, 2008 2:58 PM | Link to this
Amen on Escobar. Why fret over a problem that ain’t even a problem yet. When does Hampton go again?chuckaluck
I don’t think you intended it to be funny, but the juxtaposition, and my skepticism due to Hampton’s injury history, made it funny.
By the way, he’s scheduled to start again Monday. Chuck and Jo-Jo will probably throw in minor league games Tuesday on the off day, Cox told me before game.
By Ric Flair
March 14, 2008 3:00 PM | Link to this
Dave any news on a Mark Teixeira extension? Just kidding. What do you think of Peter Gammons saying the Braves are the team to beat in the NL?
By Jared
March 14, 2008 3:01 PM | Link to this
Lou Dobbs ‘08!
By StingerSplash
March 14, 2008 3:03 PM | Link to this
18 Wheels,
I’m with you on renaming Plant/Zip City. Francouer and McCann are from a foreign country - Gwinnett County. Furriners, such as Yankees, have taken it over. (This is not a diatribe on our nation’s stance on illegal or legal immigration - just a born and bred Georgia boy’s notation on the drastic change of a county named after a signer of the Declaration of Independence from St. John’s Parish)
By TennesseePaul
March 14, 2008 3:07 PM | Link to this
Braveheart: Classic. Just saw that one.
By David O'Brien
March 14, 2008 3:07 PM | Link to this
Ohman pitching for the Bravos. Dan Smith pitched well.
By Epinephrine
March 14, 2008 3:10 PM | Link to this
That’s what Gwinnett gets for writing success lives here on a water tower. Horrible.
By Jared
March 14, 2008 3:15 PM | Link to this
The stats people at baseballprospectus don’t seem to have much faith in Escobar for whatever reason. The following is from them:
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=7119
Atlanta Braves
Trading away Renteria shows a faith in Yunel Escobar that is likely misplaced. However, the presence of Brent Lillibridge should save them. Losing Jones was inevitable, although the contract he signed may turn out to be a bargain. They have no center fielder, despite trading for two nominal ones over the winter.
One move to make: Escobar is a utility infielder who happened to have a peak season for batting average. The Braves can’t get Renteria back, but they can minimize the damage by moving quickly past Escobar to Lillibrdge. The 24-year-old has good secondary skills and a plus glove at shortstop; rumors that he might be moved to center field persist, but those have more to do with the Braves’ fascination with Escobar than with Lillibridge’s skills.
By DAP
March 14, 2008 3:16 PM | Link to this
i get it! its politics on the blog!! hahahNOT!!!
no politics on the blog!!!
you people make me sick…i hope an ateriod is on its way to strike earth right out of the solar system right now… of course frenchy would probably turn on it and knock it right into the sun, that jerk.
(hows that n8?)
By McFann
March 14, 2008 3:17 PM | Link to this
Sheesh…Those crazy Phillies dudes…Where on Earth did they come up with that, anyway? Oh dear…Their gonna get embarrassed about that when they find out they’re wrong, heh heh!
By McFann
March 14, 2008 3:19 PM | Link to this
Good one, Shaun.
By Capt. Caveman
March 14, 2008 3:19 PM | Link to this
DOB
I knew you’d figure it out. Now about my field question.
A few years back I was playing an MSBL tournament in Tampa and we played a semi-final game at the Phillies complex. I was hitting against some former reliever for the Dodgers and I hit an absolute BOMB to straight center (aluminum bat on a 90mph fastball) About 2 secs after I “assumed my pose” in triumph I realized that ball wasn’t going to clear that wall. It hit about 2/3 of the way up. I was lucky not to get thrown out at second. Absolutely the hardest ball I ever hit down there and I still see that freakin’ wall in my dreams. LOL
Just hopin’ they tore it down by now. Do you know??
By Coach (Lets Go Braves in 2008)
March 14, 2008 3:23 PM | Link to this
Afternoon Denizens , just turned the game on. Wow , 9-1 and the Braves are beating another team into the ground.
Audio only and this feels so freaking weird. I cannot remember the last time I heard a Braves on the radio , it’s been a long time. Of course it’s being broadcast over the internet , but it feels the same.
By flange1
March 14, 2008 3:25 PM | Link to this
DOB,
Can you give us the 411 on Dan Smith? I know he will not make the team, that he was left unprotected in the Rule 5 draft, will start the year at either AAA or AA.
Is he “Glavine” type pitcher? 90 MPH fastball and control guy?
He seems to have pitched well so far in ST. I have heard he has control issues.
Thanks!
By Rhett Butler
March 14, 2008 3:27 PM | Link to this
mmmmm….Grand Slamwiches are good!!!! Espically with fries and a coke. But I guess with Escobar it would be fried plantains and a coke.
By Burritto Brother
March 14, 2008 3:27 PM | Link to this
Glad to hear you are a big fan of Gram. I stuck that there in case somebody got interested and googled it.
I am also a huge fan. I have had a recording (albeit a different source) of that April 6 show for many years. This release does sound great.
I enjoy your blog - I’m usually don’t have any comments to add. I’ve been a fan since Brett Butler played left (hated that Len Barkar trade) and will be bringing Bobby cigars to Coors field as a small token of “thanks”. All the best, BB
By Epinephrine
March 14, 2008 3:29 PM | Link to this
Hey Jared,
While we are on the topic of breaking news, did you see the Braves didn’t resign Andruw Jones?
I mean, honestly, DOB wrote a freaking entire blog on the prospectus article.
By Lew
March 14, 2008 3:40 PM | Link to this
MOTDawg-I got them from BaseballCube.COM-thought I’d mentioned that. They have (at least from what I’ve found) the most comprehensive Minor League Stats.
By Pete H.
March 14, 2008 3:44 PM | Link to this
I gotta admit it. It’s not often you see TWO really stupid things on the same blog. Frenchy and Heap being from Canada and Escobar a no-talent; two truly dumb things.
By Lew
March 14, 2008 3:47 PM | Link to this
MOTDawg-I apologize, I made two mistakes- a typo on BA, it was really .290, not .293 and I copied down his OBP from Houston last year. You are correct about it, it was .343. Sorry, they were right on top of one another on the site.
Still, he was not that bad a hitter in the minors and we all have seen numerous players who exceeded their minor league numbers when they make it to the bigs. I’m still quite impressed with the kid and think he’ll be a solid player.
By Jared
March 14, 2008 3:48 PM | Link to this
While we are on the topic of breaking news, did you see the Braves didn’t resign Andruw Jones?
Wow, you don’t say?
(Jacka**)
By DCbrave
March 14, 2008 3:49 PM | Link to this
There is another reason why Lou Dobbs took the baseball out himself today: the Chinese is contaminating the American baseball by the “China Series,” and this administration and this congress are doing nothing about it.
By Anders
March 14, 2008 3:50 PM | Link to this
DOB
This Schafer kid looks pretty good. Anyone familiar with him?
Yeah I am. He’s kind of the poor man’s Fernando Martinez. Actually, more of a middle class Fernando Martinez as he’s been rated fairly high as a prospect.
By Braveheart
March 14, 2008 3:55 PM | Link to this
Is it just me or is FSN televising the SEC tourney with the broadcast quality of a 1972 telecast?
The blurriness of the picture is hurting my eyes.
By David O'Brien
March 14, 2008 4:03 PM | Link to this
Wily Mo Pena’s out 4-6 weeks with a strained oblique. I wonder if that’s from trying (successfully, I might add) to hit the ball 900 feet in BP home-run contests with Elijah Dukes.
By Lew
March 14, 2008 4:07 PM | Link to this
DAP-No, Frenchy would likely catch it and use it to throw out someone at home
Scoots-I understand your reluctance, believe me. I’m certainly not saying that Anderson is a Blue Chip prospect or a potential superstar in the making. Maybe he will never be more than a fourth outfielder-I don’t know.
However…….Look at all the eyes he’s raised this spring. He came into a situation where the 4th OF spot was already seemingly handed to Brandon Jones and he made the Braves not even give BJones much of a look early at Spring Training.
This kid has some intangibles going for him that some don’t take into account. He has an incredible work ethic and if you have seen him play, you would see a baseball knowledge and a grasp of some intracacies that make him stand out-I’ve seen him back up plays in the infield and you wondered how he got there, it was so quick-he was just right on top of things. His speed is unreal. I saw him beat out a tapper to the pitcher. Still don’t know how he did that. No one else on the team could have beat out that play. Not many in all the NL, as a matter of fact.
Like I said, who knows how it will all shake out, but I’m betting on this kid. The desire, hard work and tools are there. If he can learn to go gap on a regular basis, he could be special.
By Jon
March 14, 2008 4:07 PM | Link to this
Tell you what, I would hate to be in Bobby Cox’ shoes right now. I mean, Resop has thrown great, Boyer is throwing great, and of course Yates seems like a lock to make the team, so Bobby has one heck of a decision to make before the end of spring training. But who knows, Resop or Boyer could totally flop the last few weeks and make it easy on the Skipper to decide, or they could keep pitching lights out and make it super tough on him. Hey DOB, whats the Chances that Bennett and Carlyle both get sent to Richmond and maybe we could keep Boyer and Resop, Boyer could be Spot Starter, because, isnt that what he did in Richmond last year? He started? Right? Yeah, I just checked, he started 12 games.
By David O'Brien
March 14, 2008 4:08 PM | Link to this
Caveman, still a high center-field wall I’m guess about 12 feet….
Jared, regarding your posting of the Baseball Prospect report on Escobar, etc.: Did you hear about President Lincoln getting shot?
By Random
March 14, 2008 4:11 PM | Link to this
Hey, Jared—
If you liked the Baseball Prspectus article, get a load of THIS:
Poor Turncoat Tommie took a pay cut to $8 million. How’s the guy gonna eat?
8-P
By ncscoots
March 14, 2008 4:12 PM | Link to this
of course frenchy would probably turn on it and knock it right into the sun
Only the rising sun. Setting sun is opposite field, LOL.
You have to admit, it’s a picky fan who gets snarked about the fence over which a homer goes. Now, that’s HARSH!
Who was it here who recently said homers were “overrated”? Two big flies, seven runs.
By David O'Brien
March 14, 2008 4:14 PM | Link to this
Not a bad little offensive showing by the Hoss- and Tex-less Braves today. And a bunch of relievers, including several minor leaguers, combined, so far, for a six-hit, one-run performance with Huddy pushed back a day. Not shabby against the Phils.
By Sherm Lollar
March 14, 2008 4:15 PM | Link to this
hey guys and DOB, thanks for the updates. braves’ info is tough to come by down here in australia, so i’ve been relying on this blog for the past couple years.
One question…i’ve been thinking about purchasing the MLB.com season package. I’ve heard a few people mention it on here…just wondering if anyone can give me a recommendation on it. Cheers!
By Bravetiger
March 14, 2008 4:20 PM | Link to this
DOB - How many players are left on the major league roster at this time and when do you expect the next round of cuts to come?
By DAP
March 14, 2008 4:23 PM | Link to this
DOB are most of the philly regulars in?
By Capt. Caveman
March 14, 2008 4:26 PM | Link to this
DOB
I think you’re talking about the main stadium. MY BAD - We were playing on one of the back fields the wall was at least 20-25 feet high and it was 420 to centerfield. Like I said-I hit it really high and on any other field that ball would have land 450-460, it’s fun to play in those spring training complexes every year. I hit 2 out on Johnny Bench field at the REDS complex but that one off the wall is the one I remember the most.
Thanks for the response.
By Lew
March 14, 2008 4:36 PM | Link to this
Sherm Lollar-Been a real long time since I’ve heard THAT name-way back when I still had hair on the top of my head. The ex White Sox/ St. Louis Browns’ player has been gone for over 30 years, but I remember him playing.
By Nathan
March 14, 2008 4:38 PM | Link to this
Why isn’t anyone talking more about Joe Borchard? He’s hitting almost .500, has more RBIs than anyone else in camp, and the most total bases. Who is this guy?
By TennesseePaul
March 14, 2008 4:38 PM | Link to this
Lew: he made the Braves not even give BJones
I don’t know Lew. I think Brandon Jones’ inability to cover all three spots is what pushed Anderson up more than Anderson’s good showing. Not that the showing hurt him or didn’t help, but Jones’ limitation I’d imagine were the impetus of the situation. Things could change though before the end of March.
By David O'Brien
March 14, 2008 4:42 PM | Link to this
Bravetiger, 44 on the roster, next cuts probably on Tuesday after overnight trip to Jupiter.
By GTI in Chicago
March 14, 2008 4:49 PM | Link to this
Sherm Lollar The MLB.com package is great - IF you live out of market. (And the braves do have a rather big market area in the SE.) Otherwise, it’s a pretty sweet deal. Any MLB game, any time (except for the blackout area - which they base on your credit card billing address’s Zip Code) for just $90 bucks for the year. For $120 they up the picture quality and you can watch the game full-screen with a pretty good image. (It’s not horrible at the lesser price.) Keep in mind Post-season is not included.
I live in Chicago, and this’ll be my 4th season on either the audio or video package. Been great for me.
By MGL
March 14, 2008 4:50 PM | Link to this
DOB, are there rules about when cuts have to be made?
By Lew
March 14, 2008 4:50 PM | Link to this
Ten Paul-Maybe so, but the fact remains that BJones got zero reps on the main field for the entire time I was in Orlando and Josh Anderson got them all-whatever the reason. He must have impressed someone or another tack would have been taken.
By richbrave
March 14, 2008 4:53 PM | Link to this
SHERM LOLLAR:
Dude, doing any catching down under? I’m giving it a go, but hasn’t been installed yet. Gotta’ scare up the moola.
By richbrave
March 14, 2008 4:58 PM | Link to this
DOB:
So I “guess” no thoughts on James’” tightness?
By ChampDawg
March 14, 2008 4:58 PM | Link to this
“Love the scenes out the windows on the drive over, a mix of trailor-park trash culture, kitsch tourism, agriculture, old Florida and industry (distribution centers and such).”
Perfect description of the entire state of Florida. If it weren’t for the tourist industry the state would be one great big hell-hole.
By David O'Brien
March 14, 2008 5:01 PM | Link to this
Nathan, if you’d look up Joe Borchard’s career stats (try Baseballreference.com, or anywhere else that has stats) you’ll see why he’s a non-roster invitee.
He’s had a great camp, though, and that’s why the Braves have tried him at 1B during drills. He’s rough over there, not good defensively at all, and he’s not much of an outfielder. He can hit for power, and that’s been about it throughout his career, at least in the majors.
Before you get too excited, keep in mind another recent spring phenom: James Jurries, a few years back. Had a terrific spring.
By HuffBraves
March 14, 2008 5:02 PM | Link to this
Any word on which players will play in which SS game tomorrow?
By AGTFan in IL
March 14, 2008 5:07 PM | Link to this
Thanks GTI. I moved to Bloomington, IL last spring and I’ve been thinking about MLB.com since the Braves are leaving TBS.
A few other comments:
Cut Jared some slack. That comment from baseballprospectus.com is so mind boggling, it deserved to be reviewed every now and then. Like maybe when Escobar leads all NL shortstops in hitting.
Lew and TennPaul, I think what made people stop looking at BJ is how lost he’s seemed in ML camp.
Caveman, I loved the way you got DOB. A little sarcasm goes a long way.
And finally, DOB, thanks for the best sports blog on the net. No wonder the Mets Trolls keep showing up.
By Capt. Caveman
March 14, 2008 5:08 PM | Link to this
champdawg
It it weren’t for the tourism industry Florida would just be one big crappy BOATDOCK.
Or part of Puerto Rico.
By Lew
March 14, 2008 5:13 PM | Link to this
I was talking to a friend today about appropriate music for St. Patrick’s Day and it led to a question I’m sure some Denizen-or DOB-can answer.
Who is the band that does the Irish Sea Shanty main theme in the movie The Departed and is it typical of the type of music they ordinarily play? Oh well, DOB blog Math-two questions, really.
By Pete H.
March 14, 2008 5:20 PM | Link to this
The not so nice part of Puerto Rico. I actually liked living there the first three years. But the stupid, it burns! After a while, I was desperate to find someone who didn’t listen to either Skynrd or death metal, the only two options apparently.
By the fourth year, I couldn’t wait to get out. Chicago, despite the winters, is, comparatively speaking, heaven.
By Pete H.
March 14, 2008 5:28 PM | Link to this
Lew: It was the Dropkick Murphys, I think. Punk rock Irish stuff.
By Noch-a-homa
March 14, 2008 5:32 PM | Link to this
DOB Is Jurrjens starting the Braves-Stros game tomorrow? We have third row tickets behind home plate.
By chrisklob
March 14, 2008 5:33 PM | Link to this
Pete H.
Don’t you go knockin’ on Skynyrd son, or someone’s gonna come and get you! :-)
By Logan23
March 14, 2008 5:34 PM | Link to this
During today’s radio broadcast of the Ranger/Royals game, Tim Kurkjian stated that Salty will probably be sent down in order to hone his catching skills while playing on an everyday basis.
By bravetiger
March 14, 2008 5:40 PM | Link to this
DOB - if you had to give odds on the final roster spots, what are the odds of say Borchard, Thorman, Lillibridge, Javy, Anderson and maybe Prado?
By ncgary
March 14, 2008 5:46 PM | Link to this
I see your intentions and they’re making me sad im feelin the sensations of daze gone bye reliving the moment when you first made me cry the first time we parted
and how I hugged you softly whispering something you could only hear this time it was clear you couldn’t be here
these 7 daze we must be apart shouldn’t have to happen livin on the other side of the sun if often times a bother but for you my love the moon must rise and fall for seven daze before our lips and legs can embrace some more on the floorz
but now my dear my missions end finally nears and you’re not back yet you know I never could question your heart one more demon to conquer love hurry back please don’t be late for when it’s the year of our lord hun you got to be back for the fun so hurry please don’t be late to get through the gate
cause its one more demon to conquer girl please don’t be late when it’s the year of our lord hun, not everyone can come
repeat
repeat
one more demon to conquer girl before the year of our lord one more demon to conquer girl before the year of our lord one more demon to conquer girl before the year of our lord
if john the babtist were here today hed have something similar just to say surely he wont tarry much longer one more demon to conquer girl before the year of our lord one more demon to conquer girl before the year of our lord please don’t be late
By Mike in LA
March 14, 2008 5:47 PM | Link to this
I don’t think the bullpen should have as many questions as the writers have led on the last few weeks. Just let the best seven pitchers fill those spots. Forget about the crappy situational leftys in Ring and Ridgeway and go with a bullpen of Soriano, Moylan, Acosta, Ohman, Yates, Boyer, and Resop. Those are some great young power arms there that would surely shorten games. Yes, there’s no “long man” like Villareal last year but who cares the starting rotation is much better this year so there probably won’t be many games in which we’ll need a reliever to go 3 innings. And we don’t need a crappy lefty to come in and walk the bases loaded in a one run game. The Richmond rotation should be Chuck James, Reyes, Morton, Bennett, and Carlyle all of which can be called up to fill in for an injured starter on short notice
By Pete H.
March 14, 2008 5:49 PM | Link to this
Nothing against Skynyrd, in particular, but just TRY listening to Florida radio. Metal, southern rock and rap metal. A vast, repetitive wasteland.
By Pete H.
March 14, 2008 5:54 PM | Link to this
Resop had quite an inning today. A hit, a walk and 3 Ks. I wonder if his nickname is Poser?
By Lew
March 14, 2008 5:59 PM | Link to this
Pete-Thanks for the info. Is that song typical of the Dropkick Murphys?
BTW-All commercial radio is nothing but a repetitive wasteland known as ClearChannel.
While in Orlando the first day, my son had on the Classic Rock station. I made a bet with him that within 20 minutes they would play Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Skynyrd and ZZ Top. I won the bet.
By TennesseePaul
March 14, 2008 6:00 PM | Link to this
Maybe so, but the fact remains that BJones got zero reps on the main field for the entire time I was in Orlando and Josh Anderson got them all-whatever the reason. He must have impressed someone or another tack would have been taken
Well I don’t know how all that works in the front office, but I’d guess Infante’s injury also assisted Anderson in getting more “up front” work as well. Had Infante been healthy, the center field back up would be on the bench already leaving the question of 4th outfielder a little more open than it is right now.
By Murphy
March 14, 2008 6:03 PM | Link to this
By Logan23
March 14, 2008 5:34 PM | Link to this
During today’s radio broadcast of the Ranger/Royals game, Tim Kurkjian stated that Salty will probably be sent down in order to hone his catching skills while playing on an everyday basis.
—That sound you hear is thousands of fantasy baseball owners groaning.
By Savannah Guy
March 14, 2008 6:10 PM | Link to this
Lew, Pete H. is right, Dropkick Murphys are a celtic punk band and they did much of the Departed soundtrack, including the song you refer to, I’m Shipping Up To Boston. It is typical of the stuff they play. Not date music… unless you have a pretty tough gal. Very hard driving, Irish rough-house, blue collar, invented in a basement in Boston kind’a band. Here’s a taste.
Knowing that you’re a southern rock and metal guy, I think you’d like them. I’ll send you a CD.
Erin Go Bragh y’all.
By Pete H.
March 14, 2008 6:15 PM | Link to this
Lew: I have never heard that song, although I meant to see the movie. However, if it sounded like a punk sea shanty, that’s what they sound like. I think that song is called Shipping Up to Boston (which is where they’re from). They sound a lot like the rowdiest part of the Pogues.
No argument about ClearChannel. The only radio I listen to anymore is NPR and some college stations, when I can get them. I live among the skyscrapers of Chicago, so reception sucks. What I actually listen to most is Little Steven’s Garage Rock on the Sirius channels I get with Dish TV. Sirius also has a great punk channel, and an Americana one that is usually pretty good.
All I want out of life at the moment, apart from the season to start, is the new Brian Jonestown Massacre CD. It’s only about two years overdue.
By Sherm Lollar
March 14, 2008 6:21 PM | Link to this
GTI…thanks for the info on the mlb.com package. hopefully i can get it all sorted out and follow the braves a little closer this year.
i thought i’d give my all-time favorite player a little love with my screen name.
By TBraveFan
March 14, 2008 6:22 PM | Link to this
Driving over isn’t bad - but driving back is pure he11… took me over 3 hours to get back to my condo - traffic over the bridge took forever and it didn’t get any better on I-4 until the Lakeland exits. Next year I believe I’ll have to pass on the west coast games… but I did see Dinosaur City..sorta
By Lew
March 14, 2008 6:24 PM | Link to this
Thanks y’all-I just went to YouTube and listened to four or five videos. I like these guys, so I guess I’d better get one of their CD’s for Monday. Any suggestions on which is the best?
By Lew
March 14, 2008 6:26 PM | Link to this
TenPaul-Like I said, whatever the reason…However, I think Anderson’s stock has risen and Brandon’s may well have dropped-or not.
By THE BEAR
March 14, 2008 6:33 PM | Link to this
By bravetiger
March 14, 2008 5:40 PM | Link to this
DOB - if you had to give odds on the final roster spots, what are the odds of say Borchard, Thorman, Lillibridge, Javy, Anderson and maybe Prado?
This is not DOB but I’d like to take a shot at this.
Borchard 10-90 Thorman 80-20 Lillibridge 40-60 Javy 40-60 Anderson 80-20 Prado 60-40
By David O'Brien
March 14, 2008 6:36 PM | Link to this
Savannah Guy, a fine synopsis of the Dropkick Murphy’s, a very fine band. My buddy Jeff Horrigan, who covers the Red Sox for the Boston Herald, helped write the updated “Tessie,” the fight song of the 1903 Red Sox that was recorded again by the Murphys (the band sang it in before the clinching ALCS win this year on a little stage put up on the warning track)
Jeff got a songwriting credit and his name rolls on the credits at the end of that movie, Fever Pitch (it’s played in the movie)
By Savannah Guy
March 14, 2008 6:38 PM | Link to this
Lew, I’m no authority on the Murphys and haven’t heard their new album. I have The Warrior’s Code and it rocks. You might also take a chance on The Pogues, Dirty Old Town. Both are good and by the time you get through listening to them on St. Patty’s day you’ll feel like an Irishman. As with all rock… loud is best.
By THE BEAR
March 14, 2008 6:40 PM | Link to this
Sherm, this is my third year with MLB.COM TV and I like it a lot. I take the $90 and get TV and radio. I have been watching Spring Traiing games that were on and getting radio play by play on the others. Home team broadcasters are used on the radio part but that is OK. I listened to the Philly broadcasters today talking up Schaefer. They were high on him needless to say.
By Pete H.
March 14, 2008 6:43 PM | Link to this
Lew: I think you can safely buy any of their CDs. They’re pretty consistent. I forget the name of the latest one, but it got great reviews. Ah, I looked it up. The Meanest of Times…it came out last fall. If you get a chance to see them live, they’re a blast.
By David O'Brien
March 14, 2008 6:44 PM | Link to this
TBraveFan, that’s exactly why I’m going to watch the KU game at 7 p.m. at the Tilted Kilt Pub next door to the ballpark here, then drive back at 9 or so….
Pete H, Resop had a good inning, but he’s fortunate that former first-round draft pick of the Phils, Greg Golson, is a strikeout machine. Resop threw him three crushable pitches over the plate, belt high. Golson hit none of them.
Then Resop got the ball down after that guy. No question Resop’s got a great arm. But he’s got command issues still. We’ll see if they keep him.
Oh, and you’re right about Florida radio: Absolutely the worst in any metropolitan areas of the country, both Central Florida and South Florida. Awful. I haven’t turned on the radio once since I’ve been here, after giving up from previous experience. All CDs now.
By rainman
March 14, 2008 6:49 PM | Link to this
I think once we look back at this year the trade for kotsay will be the thing that held us back. the kid is ready and twice the fielder kotsay is. going to be a lot of doubles and triples in center this year.
By David O'Brien
March 14, 2008 6:49 PM | Link to this
Savannah Guy: there’s no “taking a chance” on the Pogues. They are simply one of the finest rock bands of the past 25 years, and obviously the best incorporating any traditional Irish music into the mix. No contest. Not even the Dropkick Murphys, a great band in their own right, can rate with the Pogues before Shane MacGowan left the band.
By Savannah Guy
March 14, 2008 6:51 PM | Link to this
David, there’s a Tessie video on YouTube that I found looking for a link for Lew just a few minutes ago. As music videos go it’s nothing to write home about but if you like the Dropkick Murphys, which I do, and you like the Boston Redsox, which I do, it’s pretty cool.
Filmed at Fenway, in the clubhouse, band intros, putting on the Bosox jerseys, rockin’ on the field… the whole schtick and all. Works for me.
By JC FROM UT
March 14, 2008 6:54 PM | Link to this
DOB: Who has a better chance of making the team Resop or Ring?
By Savannah Guy
March 14, 2008 6:55 PM | Link to this
That Pogues opinion is right on… top o’ the heap to be sure, although when recommending them to a dyed in the wool southern and metal rocker like my pal Lew, you gotta add a mild disclaimer.
By JC FROM UT
March 14, 2008 6:55 PM | Link to this
DOB: Who has a better chance of making the team Resop or Ring?
By Pete H.
March 14, 2008 6:59 PM | Link to this
Shane’s back in the Pogues, DOB. Who knew he would live so long. Rum, Sodomy and the Lash is one of my all-time favorites.
Lew, you might also enjoy Black 47, although their albums are not recorded all that well. That sorta Clash with fiddles and accordians sound.
My daughter swears that there’s a new Brian Jonestown Massacre CD out, but I can’t find a thing about it. If you’ve never heard them, think the brief psychedelic phase the Rolling Stones went through (We Love You, 2000 Light Years from Home, Dandelion, etc.) beaten into the ground. Beautiful stuff.
By nOLIE
March 14, 2008 7:00 PM | Link to this
While in Orlando the first day, my son had on the Classic Rock station. I made a bet with him that within 20 minutes they would play Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Skynyrd and ZZ Top. I won the bet.Lew
and well they should. Best stuff in the world. Throw in a little Allman Bros, Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones and nothing more is ever needed. ;-)
By Savannah Guy
March 14, 2008 7:20 PM | Link to this
Pete H, your description of the Brian Jonestown Massacre sounds interesting. Whether In another land, She’s a Rainbow or your samples, anything resembling any phase of the Stones sounds good. I’ll have to give’em a listen.
nOLIE, if you removed Skynyrd and ZZ Top from your list I’d agree. No, take that back. Great stuff but man cannot live by classic rock alone.
By Reid in EAV
March 14, 2008 7:33 PM | Link to this
We can dismiss Baseball Prospectus (particularly at this late date) with three little words: Your. And. Idiot.
By Capt. Caveman (the original dawg)
March 14, 2008 7:35 PM | Link to this
DOB
You know it used to be the other way around. In the late 80’s - early 90’s Atlanta had some really sucky stations and Orlando’s were rockin out. WJRR 101 was a great station at the time and there was one around 100.5 that was good as well. Also UCF’s college station. But like everything else ClearChannel has ruined the nation everywhere the are. I actually think Atlanta has one of the better mixes right now thanks to 105 buying out 96 Rock. No offense to Classic Rock but the playlist was really small and repetitive after 20 yrs.
By TBraveFan
March 14, 2008 7:35 PM | Link to this
DOB - If Choppinmama were still staying with me, staying for a drink or two -and dinner of course - would have been a good option; but alas, she is back home now.
btw- Shoutout to Choppinmama:
Hope you feel better soon!!!
By Pete H.
March 14, 2008 7:41 PM | Link to this
I finally found it on Wikipedia. It’s called My Bloody Underground and came out in Feb. Now, since it’s on some label I never heard of, A Records, it’s probably going to be a bear to find it.
I get a Pavlov’s dog response whenever I hear there’s new stuff from John Cale or The Fall or BJM. I’m off to Reckless Records to try to find it. I might grab that Dropkick Murphys CD too.
By Lew
March 14, 2008 7:43 PM | Link to this
Nolie-Don’t get me wrong. I have the entire Zep catalog (at least the studio and live stuff), a good deal of Floyd (who I’ve listened to since their first album came out in 67), and plenty of Skynyrd and ZZ. Seen them all in concert, too. However, if I were the program director, I would come out with a much more diversified play list than Clear Channel plays.
I do have it on authority from a CCh. employee that their program directors do submit larger lists but they always get edited down.
I no longer listen to commercial radio. I have an extremely extensive CD collection (though only half the size of DOB’s) and I have XM Radio in the car and house. I listen to either Home Plate or channel 41-The Boneyard-best hard rock station that there is.
By Train Wreck Bystander
March 14, 2008 7:45 PM | Link to this
Reid, your remark about Baseball Prospectus is priceless for reasons you may not grasp.
By Lew
March 14, 2008 7:46 PM | Link to this
Caveman-You seem pretty familiar with Central Florida. Are you familiar with the old Tampa/St.Pete station 95YNF, from about 15-20 years ago? I did a lot of rock and roll art for these guys, back in the days of Russ Albums and the Ron and Ron show. Ron Bennington now has an XM Comedy show.
By nOLIE
March 14, 2008 7:53 PM | Link to this
I’ve heard Shipping Up To Bost and Kiss Me I’m Sh1tfaced and like them. I usually don’t do albums, so any other individual songs of theirs that y’all can recommend?
By Jersey City
March 14, 2008 8:10 PM | Link to this
Is there a chance the Braves may peak too soon?
By nOLIE
March 14, 2008 8:13 PM | Link to this
Lew my tongue was in my cheek a bit there. I do love classic rock and southern rock, and blues and jazz and Waylon/Willie/Kris/Cash country. I’ve still got about 1500 CDs, though I have ripped most of them to the computer at fairly high bitrates and sold some of my least favorites. I will hafta admit that very few of those CDs have been purchased since the mid90s or so. My hearing has deteriorated enough from endless concerts and a lot of pistol shooting that I notice little difference anymore unless they are played on a high-end stereo system. My preferred car listening is actually USB thumbdrives. 4 and 8 gig drives can take you across the country in one fell swoop.
By Braveone
March 14, 2008 8:15 PM | Link to this
DOB: Great Q&A with Smoltz! I would like to know if he is planning to add the knuckler to his repertoire since he is planning to throw more off-speed pitches this season.
By nOLIE
March 14, 2008 8:24 PM | Link to this
Got the No Country For Old Men DVD today. I’m hoping one of the special features discusses that ending a bit. Anybody else think that Josh Brolin is getting a mid-80s Nick Nolte kinda look about himself?
By Jersey City
March 14, 2008 8:30 PM | Link to this
Here come old flattop he come grooving up slowly He got joo-joo eyeball he one holy roller He got hair down to his knee Got to be a joker he just do what he please
He wear no shoeshine he got toe-jam football He got monkey finger he shoot coca-cola He say “I know you, you know me” One thing I can tell you is you got to be free Come together right now over me
He bag production he got walrus gumboot He got Ono sideboard he one spinal cracker He got feet down below his knee Hold you in his armchair you can feel his disease Come together right now over me
He roller-coaster he got early warning He got muddy water he one mojo filter He say “One and one and one is three” Got to be good-looking ‘cause he’s so hard to see Come together right now over me
By Randy S
March 14, 2008 8:33 PM | Link to this
Just flipping through and caught a bit of Tiger at Bay Hill. As he is walking up the fairway he was taking practice swings with his club like a baseball bat. Smoltz got in his head!
By Jared
March 14, 2008 8:36 PM | Link to this
“We can dismiss Baseball Prospectus (particularly at this late date) with three little words: Your. And. Idiot.”
Snicker.
By Yars
March 14, 2008 9:07 PM | Link to this
The only cool thing about commercial FM radio is that on some rock stations now, they have their, ‘flashback lunch hour’ so if luck is on your side, you just might hear something really cool from way back when. Yunel is a freak at the plate right now the man is in the zone I hope it carries over to opening day. now playing: headstrong by trapt
By Daybed Wagmoe
March 14, 2008 9:45 PM | Link to this
Anyone else watching the Alabama-MSU game? Weird stuff…
By dgd
March 14, 2008 9:46 PM | Link to this
I know everyone is talking about Acosta as a lock for the bullpen, and he’s terrific, but since he’s righthanded and has options—and is not needed at this point to be either the closer or primary set-up man—doesn’t it make the most sense to have him start the season in the minors. If you do that, and assume Ring is history, the the bullpen would be: Soriano, Moylan, Ohman, Boyer, Yates, Resop, and Carlyle to start the season. I think Bennett is better than Carlyle in the long-relief/spot starter role, but he won’t be ready to start the season. Then you wait until the first reliever goes down (either by injury or ineffectiveness) and bring up Acosta. That way you don’t lose ANY of Boyer, Resop, Yates and Acosta probably doesn’t spend more than a month in the minors…..
By ColoradoBravesFan
March 14, 2008 9:46 PM | Link to this
OK denizens…. David has stated in one of his stories that tomorrow is a very busy day. Smoltz fist ST game, JJJ making his scheduled start, Hudson throwing a simulated game on the backfields, and Soriano making his ST debut. And that’s just the pitching. Lots of questions to be answered, will Smoltz be an Ace with his new change-up curve ball combo? Is Soriano’s Elbow good to go, and Can he be a solid closer? Will JJJ continue to impress? Will Huddy continue his dominance from last year?
Who will fill out the final bullpen spots Boyer Resop Yates? Will Javy hit better and make the team? Am I blogging to myself?
I am asking for all those who can, fill up the DOB Blog tomorrow with any and all updates on our Braves as Possible. Because unless Ms Rogers helps cover some action tomorrow, DOB will have to break out the Cape to bring us everything we need… yes we need it.
And in reference to the Schafer catch today, shouldn’t that have been an “everyday Man’s” Willie Mays instead of a middle-class man’s Willie Mays….?
By Braveheart
March 14, 2008 9:52 PM | Link to this
Yeah, Daybed, I’m watching it. Crazy.
By Capt. Caveman (the original dawg)
March 14, 2008 9:53 PM | Link to this
GA DOME just got hit with a rotating wind storm during the OT period of the Miss ST - Alabama game. Ripped out part of the ceiling and threw debris onto court. Possibly a tornado force storm.
Lucky nobody got hit.
GA game might be delayed.
Game is on FoxSports
By Daybed Wagmoe
March 14, 2008 9:59 PM | Link to this
Regarding the Bama-MSU game: either a tornado or very heavy winds hit the Georgia Dome and has delayed the game…
By Braveheart
March 14, 2008 10:03 PM | Link to this
Daybed, oh, you were talking about the tornado? I thought you were talking about that three Bama hit to send it to OT. Roll Tide!
By Braveheart
March 14, 2008 10:04 PM | Link to this
Tim Brando is trying to win himself an Emmy
By Capt. Caveman (the original dawg)
March 14, 2008 10:10 PM | Link to this
Schafer should get a hip -hop nickname like
Vanilla Mays
for that catch.
By Braveheart
March 14, 2008 10:13 PM | Link to this
You can’t put that much tornado bait in one place. Bama, Tucky, Miss State, UGA fans all in one place. A tornado was inevitable.
By Capt. Caveman (the original dawg)
March 14, 2008 10:13 PM | Link to this
Sorry Braveheart
But I still gotta pull for the Bulldogs, even if they are Miss St.
By Capt. Caveman (the original dawg)
March 14, 2008 10:23 PM | Link to this
Evidently the storm blow out windows on the concourse outside the Dome. If you’ve never been there the glass is HUGE and THICK and the wind shattered them and ripped out part of the roof. SCARY stuff.
Good thing about the Alabama team is they can take the toilet paper off of their ROLL TIDE display’s and wipe themselves b/c you know somebody was crapping their pants.
Nobody hurt so let’s get ready for Cats and Dawgs !!!!!
GA gets another hour of rest after last nights 2 OT win and tonights game isn’t going to start till after 11:00 and end after 1:30am. Good thing we’re a party school and it’s Friday night so we’re right on schedule to be awake anyway.
GO DAWGS!!!!!!
By ColoradoBravesFan
March 14, 2008 10:24 PM | Link to this
dgd… I agree with you that probably one of our bullpen guys will have an injury or at least a sore elbow before opening day, or early in the season. If the guys that are out of options convince Bobby they can be effective, then some thought should be given to sending Acosta down to keep from losing a pitcher on waivers.
By Lew
March 14, 2008 10:27 PM | Link to this
Never a dull moment in the SEC.
By Braveheart
March 14, 2008 10:43 PM | Link to this
Never a dull moment in the SEC.
You got that right Lew
By David O'Brien
March 14, 2008 11:24 PM | Link to this
Did you guys see footage of the scaffolding and overhead scoreboard/video board swinging back and forth? Now THAT was scary….
Hey, PETE H.: You’ve gotta take your daughter back to Dinosaur World, because it’s open again. I checked on way back….
THIS JUST IN: Basketball game postponed. Just announced.
By David O'Brien
March 14, 2008 11:29 PM | Link to this
ColoradoBravesFan: Ms. Rogers left more than a week ago. As I said a few days ago, flying solo now, except for columnist here another day or two.
Won’t be at Jurrjens’ game in Kissimmee, obviously. As a beat writer, you go where the manager goes on split-squad days.
We’ll get his results from PR man who goes with that split squad. I’ll go watch Huddy’s sim game, but those are deathly dull. All you get out of that is make sure the guy doesn’t get hurt, really.
Smoltz and Soriano on the main field … now that could be some good stuff. Gonna be interesting.
By Thrillhouse44
March 14, 2008 11:31 PM | Link to this
Just read the Smoltz Q&A; “it’s never dimmed the desire to come to the park and really try to strap it on for another championship.” Was Smoltz referring to the proverbial leotard?
By David O'Brien
March 14, 2008 11:45 PM | Link to this
Pete H, I had not heard Shane was back with the Pogues. I’ll have to look for a story. That’s wild. Outstanding news. I thought he was absolutely done with them.
And you’re right — the fact he’s still alive and functional is right there with Keith Richards still going strong….
Reid, loved the line: Your. And. Idiot.
That’s also perfect for Clear Channel radio programmers….
Savannah Guy: Good call on Black 47. Incredible live band, by the way. They played for years at a bar in Manhattan, as the house band. Not sure if they still do that with any regularity or not. Saw them a couple of times at Irish festivals in Fort Lauderdale. Their new album is supposed to be their best in some time….
Speaking of CDs, just broke down and had my first semi-splurge of spring training. Stopped by a Best Buy in Clearwater while waiting for traffic to die. They had quite a selelection of blues and country. Got J.J. Cale’s definitive collection, Luther Allison’s remastered classic blues “Bad News is Coming,” a Vanguard Visionaries best-of set of Junior Wells, Nick Lowe’s expanded and remastered 30th anniversary release of “Jesus of Cool,” Son Volt’s “A Retrospective 1995-2000,” and Tift Merritt’s new one, “Another Country.”
If you haven’t heard Tift, she’s an incredible singer-songwriter, Americana/country-rock.
By Wolf Blitzer
March 14, 2008 11:50 PM | Link to this
Amazing, amazing.
By sean in columbus,ga
March 15, 2008 12:29 AM | Link to this
Hi David, I was wondering how far off my opening day is roster looks? 1.Hudson 2.Glavine 3.Smoltz 4.Hampton 5.J.J. 6.Mccan 7.Lopez 8.Tex. 9.Thorman 10.Johnson 11.Prado 12.Escobar 13.C.Jones 14.Lillbride 15.Diaz 16.Anderson 17.Kotsy 18.Frenchy 19.Soriano 20.Moylan 21.Acosta 22.Ohman 23.Yates 24.Bennett 25.Boyer or Resop I think a trade may be in the air. Thanks Dave.
By The Man
March 15, 2008 12:35 AM | Link to this
The only cool thing about commercial FM radio is that on some rock stations now, they have their, ‘flashback lunch hour’ so if luck is on your side, you just might hear something really cool from way back when.
Yars, in the deep south state of GA believe me all you hear at lunch is oldies whether your choice is rock, country, pop ….whatever. I also have dish network for my house so I get about 65 sirius stations with the basic package. That will spoil you to say the least.
I have to admit I enjoy the music reviews on this blog by DOB and other bloggers as much as the Braves updates. DOB I will say to you this blog rocks sir.
By ColoradoBravesFan
March 15, 2008 12:39 AM | Link to this
DOB.. Yes I misremembered reading about you flying solo. I had just read the season ticket article by Caroll rogers, and had that on the brain.
Do you think Bobby would send Acosta down to keep from taking a chance of losing Resop or Ring on waivers?
GO BRAVOS…
By David O'Brien
March 15, 2008 12:50 AM | Link to this
Thrillhouse, believe me that’s exactly what I thought of when Smoltz said that this morning. Made me smile when I was typing the Q&A….
ColoradoBravesFan: No, I don’t think he’d send down Acosta. Becuse at some point you’re going to have to send down whoever it is you’d be keeping in that scenario, because you certainly aren’t going to carry a Royce Ring and reduce your chances of winning by having one of your best arms (Acosta) down at Triple-A in the interim. And it’s generally harder to get a guy through waivers a few weeks into the season than it is right around opening day.
By Greg in TN
March 15, 2008 12:58 AM | Link to this
Top of the morning everyone…
I guess when the Dome’s rocking, don’t come knocking right?
I do hope that the good denizens of Planet Braves that were in the cross hairs of Mother Nature made it through the rumbling downtown okay. I’ve spent a lot of time in stadiums and arenas and it’s times like these that makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck. I still remember the ‘89 World Series and I shake my head in wonder Candlestick Park didn’t come down with the force of the quake in the Bay Area. Granted, the ‘Stick was constructed with an idea that something like this would happen eventually, but it’s little consolation to the folks sitting underneath the upper deck during something like that.
Now onto baseball friends and neighbors. Here’s hoping we see a lot more of Francisco Rosario once the season begins because I think we did a pretty decent job of hitting the guy today, what with Yunel torching Rosario for four the long way in the second and Thorman hitting up Shane Youman for a three-run homer one inning later. Royce Ring was pressed into duty when there was some questions that the weather in Clearwater might not cooperate and from the looks of things didn’t pitch bad at all giving up an earned run in two innings of work against a Phils lineup that included Rollins, Utley and Howard in the early going.
Telling comments from Charlie Manuel after the game… ”It’s good to be relaxed and it’s good to be loose, but it’s about time for us to talk,” Manuel said. ”We got some guys that are too cool and there’s a fine line between having a real good time and being relaxed, and taking it for granted and being complacent. We have something happening, but it’s nothing that we can’t take care of.” source
Sounds like Charlie’s going to invite a few folks to his office.
Meanwhile it’s a treat of daily double proportions at Dark Star tomorrow as Smoltz and Soriano make their Grapefruit league debuts to the delight of Braves Nation. Add to that another split squad game featuring the affable JJ and a whole lot of basketball for SEC fans and it looks to be a busy day for the Braves/MIB denizens tomorrow. Eat your Wheaties gang.
By uga-brave
March 15, 2008 1:08 AM | Link to this
well that was fun,
me and my boys were at STATS downtown chugging our last beer before walking over to the ga. dome. waited till the bama msu game was over and damn.
if you have never been in a weather event like the one we just saw, pray that you dont.
i believe there were multiple funnel clouds. downtown looks like a war zone. cars that were parked on the streets have broken windows and cnn center and the omni hotel have broken windows. we were lucky that our car was unscathed and we did not even walk into the ga dome. we had a hunch that it might be postponed.
either way it looks like the sec and the ncaa might have a tough decision, no way do they make ga. or ky. play two games in one day.
By chrisklob
March 15, 2008 1:17 AM | Link to this
uga, glad to hear you’re safe. You’re right, tough decisions to be made. They’re going to have to postpone part of the tournament. I don’t see them making either team play two in one day either.
By The Man
March 15, 2008 1:22 AM | Link to this
uga-brave - yes the weather channel just said a major tornado hit downtown Atlanta earlier
By uga-brave
March 15, 2008 1:35 AM | Link to this
klobber,
it was a erie sight, we got the heck out of there before most people.
not kidding we were walking out at the middle of ovetime of the bama msu game and then boom. went back in and waited a while and left.
weird sight, low pressure systems smell and look different. oh by the way it does sound like a train.
By BA
March 15, 2008 1:55 AM | Link to this
NO WAY you send Acosta down, that guys stuff is NASTY. He’s got that closer poise, too. I hope all goes well with Soriano, his pitches are even NASTIER than Acosta’s. DOB, I’m a cynical person. I hate giving anyone credit. But after reading about three of these blogs, I was convinced you are the best in the business. And probably the hardest working. You don’t see other bloggers interacting with the (gasp) LATE NIGHT CROWD! The music stuff, the Braves stuff, warts and all don’t change a thing. I grew up reading I.J. Rosenberg(yuck), so for me this is WAY above par. Oh yeah, and for the record, Smoltz would be an ace with ANY combination of pitches.
By uga-brave
March 15, 2008 2:24 AM | Link to this
DOB,
sorry about giving you heck about lenny.
BRAVE-DAVE if you are still out there remember what i said about bear stearns? told you about their siv, and cdo market.
they are boarderline insolvent. $150.00, to todays closing price of $30.00. heck the stock was down $30.00 today.
lehman bros. is next. for any of you gamblers, buy the out of the money puts, and in the money calls.
kind of a volatility straddle, with a hedge.
By BayAreaSteve
March 15, 2008 5:15 AM | Link to this
Nothing for three hours…freakin ridiculous.
By BayAreaSteve
March 15, 2008 5:21 AM | Link to this
Hey BA, if you didn’t know I was being sarcastic with the post about deleting Woodward…well…I don’t know…insert something sarcastic here.
And stop giving DOB credit for “interacting with the LATE NIGHT CROWD!” I’ve never seen the man post between 3:00 and 6:00. How is that acceptable?
I fully expect 24 hour bloggage from a true “Crusading Everyman.” Anything less is Whitesnakish, and he knows it.
By BayAreaSteve
March 15, 2008 5:40 AM | Link to this
UGA, I’m glad you’re ok. (Mostly for selfish reasons, as we can’t lose an early AM poster.) I sold half my silver (coins, not stocks, per your question), but it sounds like you would’ve recommended otherwise. I guess I’m just an optimist, hoping this is as bad as it’s going to get.
Or, more likely, I have no idea, and just felt like taking the sure profit.
By Coach (Lets Go Braves in 2008)
March 15, 2008 5:42 AM | Link to this
I agree about Acosta , he deserves to make the team. But , he also has options. Boyer , Resop , Yates and Ring don’t.
It still remains to be seen exactly how Bobby Cox tackles this problem.
Per Ken Rosenthal :
The Braves continue to look for a veteran bat off the bench, preferably left-handed, but they don’t want to make such a move if it costs them Scott Thorman, who is out of options.
Thorman, 26, could be claimed by a team that covets his power, and that team might find it easier to pass him through waivers in a month or so.
The Braves could keep Thorman as well as a veteran addition if they carried one less utility infielder and used Thorman in the outfield.
Mark Sweeney signed with the Dodgers over the Braves in part because he sensed that the Braves’ loyalty to Thorman eventually might cost him his spot.
By BayAreaSteve
March 15, 2008 6:17 AM | Link to this
I believe Acosta deserves to make the squad as well.
My problem is, were I GM, I truly think I would sacrifice the active 25 to ensure that I wouldn’t lose a player for nothing.
If I can’t trade a Ring, or a Resop, or a Pena for even a single-A prospect, I take them north, shelter them during April/May, and hope something comes together later.
I can’t yet give up on these players. If Prado can play even a below-average shortstop (as long as it’s better than I can play), let Lil’bridge get regular at bats at Richmond, and take Anderson, Prado, Pena, Lopez, and Thorman to Atlanta.
I feel this is not the best 25, but is a better use of our assets.
What a thing for a GM. You’ve spent years developing these guys, and have to risk losing them for nothing.
By Moby Grape
March 15, 2008 6:31 AM | Link to this
Thorman, 26, could be claimed by a team that covets his power, and that team might find it easier to pass him through waivers in a month or so.Coach quoting Rosenthal
Thrilling news let someone claim him. Sweeney woulda been a much better option
By David O'Brien
March 15, 2008 7:12 AM | Link to this
Moby, my friend, there are players/opportunities missed that are worth fretting over. A 38-year-old Mark Sweeney is probably not one of them
The Braves would like some pop from a backup first baseman who’s likely going to play so rarely in the field.
Sweeney hit .251 with 15 doubles, five homers and a .382 slugging percentage in 259 at-bats in 2006.
He hit .260 with nine doubles, TWO homers and a another .382 slugging percentage in 123 at-bats in 2007.
At least with Thorman (29 doubles, 16 homers and a .407 slugging percentage in 415 career at-bats; granted, not great) there’s a reasonable chance of assuming his best is ahead of him, not behind. Not saying he’s going to be great, just saying he’s 26, not 38.
And yes, I’m aware Sweeney has 15 career pinch homers in 600-plus pinch-hit at-bats.
By Moby Grape
March 15, 2008 7:51 AM | Link to this
Moby, my friend, there are players/opportunities missed that are worth fretting over. A 38-year-old Mark Sweeney is probably not one of themDOB
yeah I’m sure that you are right Dave. I’m just not a Thorman believer ever since I watched him come through the minors. and the fact that he plays only one position and that one not all that well is in my opinion a waste of a slot, but like you say he might get better I just kinda doubt much better.
By Coach (Lets Go Braves in 2008)
March 15, 2008 7:51 AM | Link to this
All right , I think that Morgan Ensberg could be a realistic addition to the Braves. He has seen action at 1B and 3B so far this spring.
He is currently in the Yankees spring training camp and hitting .300 in twenty at bats with four doubles.
Wilson Betemit and Shelly Duncan appear to have to inside track on the back up jobs at 3B and 1B for the Bronx Bombers.
Morgan Ensberg is a non-roster invitee invited to the Yankees camp after signing a minor league contract with them.
His career was pretty much derailed with the Astros after suffering a torn tendon in his shoulder back in June of 2006.
He is definitely worth a look.
By Braveheart
March 15, 2008 8:18 AM | Link to this
ugabrave Glad to hear you made it out of there in one piece. That sounded and looked insane on television.
10Greg When I was watching the Bama game last night, my mind did flashback to that 1989 World Series as well.
caveman I agree that he needs a nickname. The name Jordan Schafer sounds like the name of a Days of Our Lives character.
Hey, PETE H.: You’ve gotta take your daughter back to Dinosaur World, because it’s open again. I checked on way back….
In other words, Smoltz to pitch today, Glavine tomorrow.
Smoltz looks like a meat eater, so I’m thinking he’s the T-Rex attraction.
Glavine looks like a plant eater, so I’m thinking he’s the Brachiosaurus attraction.
Yeah, sorry, this post was kinda Anders-esque of me.
By MEB
March 15, 2008 8:34 AM | Link to this
Braveheart… your 10:13 post has made me laugh for thirty minutes… funny stuff! Are there any reports on the Ted and if the ginormous big screen is OK?
GO BRAVES!!!
By 30YrBravesFan
March 15, 2008 8:55 AM | Link to this
DOB
Just wanted to say, Great Piece on Smoltzie. What a priviledge we have had being able to watch such a class act over the years. I had a catch in my throat reading his response to your last question.
Hoss and Smoltzie are true leaders of that team.
By David O'Brien
March 15, 2008 8:56 AM | Link to this
Moby, I feel you. Can’t really offer much of a dissenting view regarding Thorman. Although he has shown that immense power potential a couple of times this past week or so….
By TJ
March 15, 2008 9:26 AM | Link to this
Ensberg is an interesting idea. If we could package Prado and one of the out-of-options relievers for him, I’d say still keep Thorman; a bench of Ensberg (3b), Lillibridge (2b/SS), Thorman (1B), Anderson (OF) and (my preference) Diaz (c) is versatile and pretty potent with the bat. If Ensberg can also play some 1B, all the better, but mainly, he’d be a polished, legitimate backup for Chipper.
As to the “problem” in the bullpen (having too many arms we’d like to keep), it gets even worse when Gonzo comes back, hopefully in June. Then we’ll have to either send down Acosta (only one with options, right?) or waive/trade even another pitcher. Oh well, these things have a way of working out. Sore arms generally see to that.
By Anders
March 15, 2008 9:53 AM | Link to this
Braveheart
*Smoltz looks like a meat eater, so I’m thinking he’s the T-Rex attraction.
Glavine looks like a plant eater, so I’m thinking he’s the Brachiosaurus attraction.
Yeah, sorry, this post was kinda Anders-esque of me.*
These two great dinosaurs flourished together for many years in he plains of Georgia. But then there was the devastating players strike. Alas, as more years past meat and plants were both growing scarce in the Georgia plains. Tom Glavine set out to the north where there was promise of many plants - more than he could ever expect to find in Georgia. Smoltz, to his great credit, decided to stay back in the Georgia plains and eat less meat for the good of the other dinosaurs around him. Years past and Glavine finally decided that while there were still many plants in the north he had his fill and would return home. While he knew even todaythere would be less plants available on the Georgia plains, he was re-assured by the vast plants he had stored away in the north over the last 5 years. He could bring them back to the south with him.
Today these two dinosaurs roam the Georgia plains together again. Glavine now plump and content from his days up north. However, he better be careful for should he not carry his weight with the herd the carnivorous dinosaurs he left behind years ago may eat him alive (metaphorically speaking).
By Braveheart
March 15, 2008 9:58 AM | Link to this
Does the rotation for the first 10 days or so figure to be this: Smoltz, Glavine, Hudson, Hampton, Smoltz, Glavine, Jurrjens, Hudson, Hampton?
By richbrave
March 15, 2008 9:59 AM | Link to this
MOBY GRAPE:
Thorman reminds me of the current version of a Wes Helms - almost. Helms was a little better.
By Braveheart
March 15, 2008 10:14 AM | Link to this
That was a good follow up Anders.
Here’s a clip of T-Rex Smoltz saving the Braves fans from those little wimpy dinosaurs Reyes and Wright
By i can't take it anymore
March 15, 2008 10:27 AM | Link to this
anders…got free time?
By David O'Brien
March 15, 2008 10:29 AM | Link to this
Braveheart, too early to tell whether Bobby plans to skip a guy on that off day, but I’d doubt he’ll skip Jurrjens….
Hudson’s throwing simulated innings at about 11:15 a.m., for those who might be wondering….
30YrBravesFan, thanks.
By Moby Grape
March 15, 2008 10:36 AM | Link to this
Thorman reminds me of the current version of a Wes Helms - almost. Helms was a little better.richbrave
at least Helms is more versatile for sure. Thor reminds me of Hessman. It’s true though that Thor might just have had a bad year and will be somewhat better, but doing nothing but hitting a couple of times a week as a PH isn’t going to help him improve even if he can. Oh well as Dave said the season probably isn’t going to hinge on one backup player
By Anders
March 15, 2008 10:40 AM | Link to this
Braveheart
Good one - gave me a laugh.
Of course at the end of the movie when it matters most the meat eater was doing all the work while the plant eater was no where to be found. It’s been a while since I’ve seen the movie but I don’t think the plant eater made it out of the first scene. Granted during the development of the movie no one was more consistent than the plant eater, but when it was time to put the movie on film - not so much.
By David O'Brien
March 15, 2008 10:41 AM | Link to this
Omar Infante is finally out of his cast. But it’ll be a week or two before he can start hitting. He’s gonna stay in Florida in extended spring training, probably miss all or most of April.
By David O'Brien
March 15, 2008 10:49 AM | Link to this
By the way, Lillibridge is at 2B today and pRado at SS. I thought Lillibridge had played 2B this spring but he has not. In fact, he hadn’t even worked out there before today.
Like he did when he played Prado at SS last week, Cox wants to see if one or both of them can play 2B/SS/3B, and play them well.
By BravesFanInRockies
March 15, 2008 11:05 AM | Link to this
Mornin’ denizens —
Thoughts and prayers to those folks in Atlanta and the Southeast. Stay safe and hang in there.
Fellow XM fans, we may be in for some changes. If you hadn’t heard, the brains and heart of the outfit, Lee Abrams, is leaving to become the CIO at Tribune Co.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/11/AR2008031103028.html
I remember Abrams from my college days at Carolina; he was program manager at WQDR in Raleigh, where he invented album-oriented rock. He apparently had a big role in getting Dylan and Petty to produce their own weekly shows on XM.
He may have left in anticipation of the merger with Sirius, of course. Still, I hope the programming stays solid. The sports options are terrific, and I’d subscribe just for them, but I originally signed up in 2002 for the music and to leave radio hell.
By Braveheart
March 15, 2008 11:06 AM | Link to this
Thanks DOB. I just figured since Jair and Smoltz were throwing on the same day today that maybe Jair gets skipped the first go around. But I guess Hudson is throwing today as well now.
My thinking was from here until Openining Day, Smoltz goes today, then Thursday, then Tuesday, then the season opener on Sunday and then goes on his normal days of rest and pitches again on Friday in the series opener against the Mets.
Glavine then goes, Sunday, Friday, Wednesday, and then the home opener on Monday.
Hudson would start the Wednesday game that first week.
Then the Thursday game is either Jair or Hampton. I was thinking Bobby would go with the vet because he loves showing respect to his vets. But maybe he would rather have the vet pitch against the Mets and give the kid Jair an early confidence builder against the Pirates as opposed to perhaps having the kid maybe get overemotional trying to take it to the Mets so early on.
The more I think about it, the more it makes sense for Jair to go Thursday and Hampton to go on Sunday. The kid picks up a confidence builder against the Bucs while the vet goes against the Mets. Also, if he goes on Sunday, Hampton won’t have to pitch in Colorado where he wasn’t all that good at the end of his time there. Jair seems to be keeping the ball down so he might have some success in Colorado.
Anyways, just my thoughts on it. I guess these thoughts won’t matter if Cox doesn’t have Smoltz go Sunday then Friday on his normal days rest.
Only 2 weeks left until Opening Day and I’m getting all strategical with the rotation like the World Series is about to start.
By sean in columbus,ga
March 15, 2008 11:17 AM | Link to this
Hi David, I was wondering how far off you think my opening day roster would be if there are not trades. 1.Hudson 2.Glavine 3.Smoltz 4.Hampton 5.Jurrjens 6.Mccan 7.Lopez 8.Tex. 9.Thorman 10.Johnson 11.Prado 12.Escobar 13.C.Jones 14.Lillibridge 15.Diaz 16.Kotsay 17.Frenchy 18.Anderson 19.Soriano 20.Moylan 21.Acosta 22.Ohman 23.Yates 24.Bennett 25.Resop or Boyer (Maybe a trade)
By Savannah Guy
March 15, 2008 11:17 AM | Link to this
Not-so instant yet notable replays:
Braveheart: You can’t put that much tornado bait in one place. Bama, Tucky, Miss State, UGA fans all in one place. A tornado was inevitable.
Lew: Never a dull moment in the SEC.
Blogphrase coinage at it’s entertaining best.
By dgd
March 15, 2008 11:20 AM | Link to this
When I suggested that it might be wisest for Acosta to start the season in the minors, it wasn’t because I don’t think he’s one of their best relievers. In fact, ability-wise, I think he ranks third—just behind Soriano and Moylan—and has the potential to be a closer. But it’s a long season, and given that major league teams average using 17 relievers in the course of a season (I think that number is a bit inflated by September call-ups), thinking of the long-haul, maybe you don’t want to lose the 100 MPH arm of Resop if you don’t have to. To anyone who thinks the Braves should let Resop go just to start the season with Acosta, I have two words: Bobby Jenks. Similar story to Resop—cut by Angels, awesome stuff but command issues. He put it all together in a rather nice way for the White Sox a couple of years ago didn’t he? Not saying Resop is going to be Jenks, but if there’s a chance—and the price you pay is putting Acosta in the minors until someone else goes down—then why not? And maybe you also discover that the reason Ring has been so ineffective so far is that he’s got some minor injury that would let you stash him on the DL for a while. It would be a shame to lose Ring and have Ohman go down before Gonzalez comes back……
By doc
March 15, 2008 11:25 AM | Link to this
okay DAVID OF DARK STAR do you know what chipper and gram parsons have in common? no, it is not attending an ivy league school which i am sure chipper could have if he had set his mind on it.
cigars still tasting good?
By Seymour
March 15, 2008 11:30 AM | Link to this
Sean,
Personally, I think you’re exactly right. Bennett makes the most sense as the long-reliever, spot starter. He’s got the best stuff of the possible candidates to fill that role. It will be interesting to see if Resop or Boyer gets the final spot, but I think the edge goes to Boyer. Hopefully, we can get something in a trade for Resop, however.
Seymour
By doc
March 15, 2008 11:36 AM | Link to this
you know dave i just had this image pop up in my head. the one that was the lead in for wide world of sports .. david here, scanning the wide world er dregs of central florida, sports to give you the most complete coverage of the braves.
you know i never knew about the hooters motel, cant wait to fill that in on my itinerary for my next central florida trip.
btw, cant google for the answer.
By TexasBrave
March 15, 2008 11:46 AM | Link to this
Thorman needs time to correct the hole in his swing which he is not going to get with the Braves barring injury. The fact that he has not made any adjustments by now shows that he is ok with it as is. Keeping him on the bench is not worth the one homerun he hits in every 26 at bats or a strike out in every four off the bench. Lets hope that Wren packages some of the excess relief pitching that are out of options and gets us a quality LH first baseman.
Speaking of relief pitching, man there are going to be some tough decisions coming up. Granted we still have two weeks for things to shake out, and I think the picture will be a little clearer, but still some tough decisions. I like Boyer, Ridgeway and Resop but I agree with Braveheart’s assessment that Bobby really likes Yates work and will want to keep him. Thus one of those three has to go, perhaps Ridgeway. Oh how about a long relief/spot starter? Buddy or Bennett? Then who do you get rid of, Resop?
Do we really need a long relief/spot starter at the start of the season? This years staff doesn’t look like they will need a long man for the first quarter of the season. Why not have Buddy or Bennett start at Richmond, then after the first 40 games bring up one of them or even Chucky to be the spot starter. By then we will have had time to evaluate the other relievers more to know who to let go or send down.
Oh and lets not forget about Gonzalez, someone will have to be moved for him upon his return. Wow! I don’t envy the Braves decision makers.
By Capt. Caveman (the original dawg)
March 15, 2008 11:47 AM | Link to this
SEC Tourny
we gotta win 3 game in 24 hours. OK - I’m rootin for that. GOOD LUCK !!
They actually said that they were considering canceling the tourny “out of respect for the damage to atlanta”. What the hell does that have to do with the tourny. I really get put off with these ultra-sensitive people who want to make a “memorial” out of every little thing. It’s like after 9/11 people were getting upset if somebody said “Let’s Roll”. Stop the tourny for a tornado?? You want to see some damage to a city , tell 50,000 people they traveled here and spent all their time and money and you decided to stop because of “damage”. I know it’s a serious situation but cancelling would have been another in a string of bad decisions made by people in charge in Atlanta.
OK - I’m a little cranky, I woke up on the wrong side of the ROCK this morning.
By johnny 99
March 15, 2008 11:53 AM | Link to this
Don’t know if this has already been seen, but it’s from Stark’s blog on ESPN:
The Pennant Race: You still can’t see the future without a Ouija board — but you can read all about it over at one of my favorite Websites, coolstandings.com.
Once again this spring, the guys at coolstandings are playing out the entire 2008 schedule based on last year’s stats. And you might want to check this out before you head for Vegas, because, through games of June 4, all of this was going on:
• The Braves (47-14) had an 8½-game lead over the Mets (38-22) in the NL East, and an 18-game lead over the Phillies (29-32). Don’t tell Jimmy Rollins.
• The Diamondbacks (36-24) were 7 ½ up — and (shockingly) the only team with a winning record — in the NL West.
• The Cubs (42-18) were running away from the Brewers (35-25) in the NL Central.
• The bizarre AL West was led by (surprise) the Rangers (32-29), with the Angels (27-34) and Mariners (25-35) still trying to scale Mount .500.
• The Tigers (just 33-27), Indians (32-28) and White Sox (30-30) were duking it out in the closest race in baseball, with even the last-place Royals (27-33) just six out.
• The Red Sox (43-19) were well ahead of the Yankees (37-24), but the Yankees still held a four-game lead in the wild-card race over the Blue Jays (33-28), owners of the fourth-best record in the AL.
• In other news, the Braves — not the Red Sox, Tigers or Yankees — had scored the most runs in baseball (328). And the Cubs had allowed the fewest (just 178). Just as you all expected.
By the way, this crystal ball isn’t guaranteed or your wager money back. Last year’s projections had the Phillies finishing 30 games back of the Mets, the Indians coming in fourth in the AL Central (behind those 98-game-winning Twins) and the Rockies landing 22 games under .500 and 31 games behind the Dodgers in the NL West. So how come we still love this stuff?
By ncscoots
March 15, 2008 12:08 PM | Link to this
Only a couple of things wrong with the notion of stashing better players with options and breaking camp with lesser players who don’t. The latter have to actually play and pitch while they’re up. Oops. And, should the latter be ineffective, a callup later presents the same waiver scenario as currently operative.
Besides, there’s no better time to try to squeeze a player through waivers than the last few days of camp or first few days of the season. Rosters are set, and fewer GMs will be willing to take a flyer on a marginal player at that point. Unless, of course, they have a huge gaping hole somewhere that could be improved by anyone with a pulse. Hard to sneak past that.
Still ten days or so before significant decisions start being formed. Any of the players on the bubble could make the decisions easy between now and then.
By dgd
March 15, 2008 12:24 PM | Link to this
Ncscoots—I don’t disagree, but what do you think the chances are of the Braves making it through April with no reliever going on the DL? I think pretty slim. I’m not talking about putting anyone though waivers now or then, I’m talking about stashing Acosta until someone gets hurt, as they inevitably will. And it’s not as if Resop and Boyer can’t pitch or there’s a world of difference between what they and Acosta will do in the handful of games they get into before he comes back up. Since there may be lingering doubt about Soriano’s elbow, why not let Acosta spend a few weeks closing for Richmond and have him primed to step into that role if need be?
By Kevin
March 15, 2008 12:28 PM | Link to this
Does anyone know what channel the UGA UK game is on on dish. It says FSN but I can’t find it anywhere. Thanks.
By kcr
March 15, 2008 12:29 PM | Link to this
DOB
I’ve lived in Miami for a few years now (after stints in New York and Atlanta), and I have to say that radio in South Florida is better for one reason: 88.9 WDNA Miami Serious Jazz. It’s by far the best jazz station I’ve heard. All the other crap they play down here, is, of course, forgettable to nauseating. But I don’t remember the last time that I enjoyed radio anywhere else.
By David
March 15, 2008 12:53 PM | Link to this
Just checked your comments on Maria Bartiromo and noticed that only Braveheart made mention of her. I’m astonished more males who love beautiful women didn’t comment. You boys around Atlanta aren’t going … well … in the spirit of the season “changing teams” on us are you?
By David O'Brien
March 15, 2008 12:56 PM | Link to this
Hudson’s five simulated innings (86 pitches) went without a hitch. Said he had his best cutter of the spring and his changeup, sinker and slider all were good. He’s pleased with his progress and blah blah blah.
Most important thing he said: He’s pitching Thursday vs. Detroit, on regular rest. He said before he was scratched yesterday that all the pitchers were going to get an extra day of rest with Tuesday’s off day, but that Huddy got his extra day by moving from yesterday to today.
What this means: He’s on pace to start Opening Day March 30, with Smoltz set for the home opener March 31.
Bobby hasn’t announced that, but all signs point to it.
Too complicated to figure out how it’d play out after that, since there’s an off day after the home opener. Could skip someone, or use all five starters. If they skip someone, the way the current schedule looks it’d probably be Jurrjens (I know I said otherwise couple days ago, that I didnt’ think they’d skip him, but the way it aligns he seems most obvious choice now).
Again, too soon to tell beyond those first two games, which look pretty certain to me: Hudson, then Smoltz in home opener.
By David O'Brien
March 15, 2008 1:00 PM | Link to this
Anybody out there? Glad I didn’t bother writing a new blog today (figured folks would be consumed with storm news, etc).
For those who care, today’s lineup vs. Rays: 1. Josh Anderson, LF; 2. Kotsay, CF; 3. Chipper, 3B; 4. Tex, 1B; 5. Mac, C; 6. Frenchy, RF; 7. Prado, SS; 8. Lil’ Bridge, 2B; 9. Smoltz.
Lillibridge playing 2B for first time this spring, hasn’t even worked out there this spring
By David O'Brien
March 15, 2008 1:07 PM | Link to this
Smoltz being Smoltz: Struck out Elliott Johnson on three pitches to start game, then one-pitch groundout to Jon Weber (who are these people?). Now Carlos Pena up. Takes a ball, first for Smoltz.
By David O'Brien
March 15, 2008 1:10 PM | Link to this
Pena singles to right, the Gomes falls behind 1-2…
Struck him out. End of inning
By David O'Brien
March 15, 2008 1:12 PM | Link to this
OK, I think I’ll just chill on the in-game commentary and do some other work. People otherwise occupied. No worries.
By Greg in TN
March 15, 2008 1:14 PM | Link to this
Afternoon gang…
I’m here DOB, just getting caught up on the changes to the SEC tournament and finding out the schedule for the rest of the day, but now I’m dialed in to Pete and ready to see how we fare against the Rays and also the ‘Stros today.
By Epinephrine
March 15, 2008 1:15 PM | Link to this
DOB, ajc website is all messed up. Believe me, a little tornado isn’t enough to curb a Braves obsession.
By DAP
March 15, 2008 1:15 PM | Link to this
im here DOB, thanx for the updates!
By Roper
March 15, 2008 1:18 PM | Link to this
**HOORAY!!!
The game’s on the radio in Atlanta today.**
Currently hunkered down in L5P, weathering the storm.
By TN-MAN
March 15, 2008 1:18 PM | Link to this
Oh come on DOB.. Some of us are here, I cant get the feed on 94.9 for some reason. Anyone else having that problem?
By Roper
March 15, 2008 1:23 PM | Link to this
thanks for the updates DOB.
we’re out here. we’re always out here.
By flange1
March 15, 2008 1:23 PM | Link to this
DOB,
I’m here too!
By Maybe so
March 15, 2008 1:23 PM | Link to this
I am listening, too, DOB.
Looking at the line up against the Astros, not very nice to throw those guys to the wolves! Against the Astros full squad, including Oswalt! Whew!
By Braveheart
March 15, 2008 1:27 PM | Link to this
Just checked your comments on Maria Bartiromo and noticed that only Braveheart made mention of her. I’m astonished more males who love beautiful women didn’t comment. You boys around Atlanta aren’t going … well … in the spirit of the season “changing teams” on us are you?
David, forgive them. Until opening day, only men 22 thru 25 on the roster have any interest to them.
Beautiful Maria could run naked around the infield for an entire half inning and the only observations made by the bloggers right about now would be love me a big strong Thorman, gotta get me some Ensberg, love me some Prado, can’t get enough Pena, I’m a Boyer man, Yates is my fella, gotta thing for Royce Ring, me bop with Resop, get your hands off my little bridge, got accosted by Acosta and got stuck with this Infante.
Before the two weeks of man crushing is over, at least a handful of bloggers will pop in a Sarah McLachlan cd and sing along to I Will Remember You, Will You Remember Me in honor of the greatest of the bottom 5 on the roster: Wilson Betemit
By Seymour
March 15, 2008 1:28 PM | Link to this
DOB,
It’s probably because this game is actually being aired on the radio.
Seymour
By Greg in TN
March 15, 2008 1:29 PM | Link to this
DOB, I do have a question for you when you have the time…
If Smoltz does as well getting ready for the season as I think he’s done by just working on the sim games early, do you think that’ll be something the Braves will look more at doing in future springs with certain pitchers? It seems smart to me in that pitchers can do a whole lot more work in simulations and work on mechanics or certain pitches that really can’t be done easily in game situations.
Pete alluded to the same thing on the broadcast as I was typing.
By Lew
March 15, 2008 1:32 PM | Link to this
I sure hope all who played last night and attended are doing well this morning, but where else but the SEC could something like this happen?
Just picked up tickets for two games in Toronto for when the Braves come to play in June. I’m gratified to see that MLB has chosen a ticket outlet worthy of MLB thievery-StubHUb.
I thought it was expensive going to see the Braves in Fenway last year and it was, but $487.50 for four tickets in Toronto? Maybe it’s time for Old Bud Light to get a grip and go for a reality check. Guess I’m going to spend a sizeable chunk of our Economic Stimulus package in Canada. Ironic? Maybe so. Baseball, Hot Dogs, Apple Pie and Maple Leaves? I wonder, do they sell Beaver Tails in Toronto, too? They did in Montreal.
By bravesare#1
March 15, 2008 1:32 PM | Link to this
Where is everybody?
By DAP
March 15, 2008 1:34 PM | Link to this
i wonder why my post saying “thanx for the in game commentary” didnt go through? and now there will be none. i guess ill live.
By Steve-O
March 15, 2008 1:36 PM | Link to this
I’m reading DOB. I’m stuck at work, your play by play is what helps the day go by!
By McFann
March 15, 2008 1:36 PM | Link to this
The Tampa guys better watch themselves if they do any scoring today…
By Epinephrine
March 15, 2008 1:41 PM | Link to this
And this website is still messed up. Anyway, Smoltzy rolling-doesnt appear to be much, um, contact pitching goi
By Epinephrine
March 15, 2008 1:43 PM | Link to this
Looks like Jurrjens is struggling though. Oh well, had to happen at some point. Still feel pretty good about him.
By TexasBrave
March 15, 2008 1:45 PM | Link to this
DOB - We’re here man don’t give up on us! Please do commentary as much as possible.
Thanks
By Robert (Chipper Is The Best)
March 15, 2008 1:46 PM | Link to this
DOB, since Joe Borchard was a non-roster invitee, is it possible he would accept a minor league deal if he doesn’t make the team? Also, what do you think of the Braves making a run at Kevin Millar or Scott Hatteburg to fill that 1B position. It is possible teams in a rebuilding mode like the O’s and Reds may be willing to take a chance on Scott Thorman.
By brian
March 15, 2008 1:49 PM | Link to this
I’m here too DOB - wish I was in Florida. Love the reports
By Murphy
March 15, 2008 1:49 PM | Link to this
Keep the commentary coming DOB! Thanks!!
By Murphy
March 15, 2008 1:49 PM | Link to this
Keep the commentary coming DOB! Thanks!!
By Pete H.
March 15, 2008 1:54 PM | Link to this
There have been problems with the web site. For one thing, you can’t log in and half the things I clicked on delivered an error message. Glad to hear Herr Smoltz is looking good.
I can’t remember a time when the Braves looked so deep in March. It’s exciting, but we are doomed to lose a few valuable parts. Unless the rest of the league would agree to let us carry 30 guys, that is.
By Robert (Chipper Is The Best)
March 15, 2008 1:54 PM | Link to this
DOB, I guess there is also Dan Johnson from the A’s. I really like this team but the backup 1B situation does concern me. It is the only position the Braves don’t have depth reall. Of course, perhaps it is possible Scott Thorman will continue his trend and breakout in his second full season on this level. Perhaps?
By 18 Wheels of Love
March 15, 2008 1:57 PM | Link to this
DOB, AJC website is all whacked out. I had to get here by checking my history from yesterday. You can’t get here from AJC.com Braves page.
By David O'Brien
March 15, 2008 1:59 PM | Link to this
Smoltz has been impressive — no more than 11 pitches and three balls in an inning until he threw 10 strikes in 15 pitches in fourth inning.
He’s allowed two hits, no walks, and has three strikeouts.
Also typical Smoltz in this regard: No offensive support. Braves had one hit through three innings.
Now they’ve had back-to-back singles in fourth, Prado up with one out and runners on first and second.
By David O'Brien
March 15, 2008 2:00 PM | Link to this
Prado grounded into double play to end inning.
By Murphy
March 15, 2008 2:03 PM | Link to this
Keep the commentary coming DOB!!
By Serge45
March 15, 2008 2:03 PM | Link to this
Here too DOB, just watching the Heels, hoping to hear good news about Smoltzie and Soriano for the Braves and my fantasy team.
By TJ
March 15, 2008 2:12 PM | Link to this
Looks like Jurjenns came down to earth a little today; couldn’t get out of the third (2 2/3 IP, 4 h, 4 R, 4 BB).
Dogs in OT vs. KY… showing a lot of heart.
By Lew
March 15, 2008 2:15 PM | Link to this
DOB-It could be because the blog is not registering posts. I sent one earlier that never made it on.
By KLB
March 15, 2008 2:16 PM | Link to this
Looks like Jurrjens is having is first rough start today. I’m glad to see that Smoltz is off to such a good start though, and I’ll keep my fingers crossed for Soriano.
By David O'Brien
March 15, 2008 2:21 PM | Link to this
What a wild inning in Rays’ fifth. Oddities.
Smoltz walks first two guys in inning, then gives up a two-run double to Reid Brignac.
After a sac, he gives up a sac fly. Then Josh Anderson goes flipping over the left-field bullpen wall chasing a Jon Weber foul ball. Dropped it as he went head-over-heels, after making great pursuit and jump.
Then Weber reaches on E3.
Up comes Carlos Pena, who hits a towering fly to left that Anderson goes back … back … sizes its up … makes perfectly timed leap … glove over wall … and doink. Ball goes off his glove and over the fence. Two-run homer.
End of day for Smoltz. From great to not-so-much in one inning: 4-2/3 innings, 4 hits, 5 runs, 3 earned, 2 walks, 4 strikeouts.
And THIS JUST IN FROM KISSIMMEE: Jurrjens has his first bad outing, goes 2-2/3 innings, 4 hits, 4 runs, 4 walks, 1 strikeout, 45 strikes in 78 pitches.
By ippississiM
March 15, 2008 2:23 PM | Link to this
This is not cool.
Jurrjens got pulled in the third this late in ST after giving up two in the second and then being lit up in the third.
By David O'Brien
March 15, 2008 2:27 PM | Link to this
SORIANO is pitching now to start the sixth
Dioner Navarro singles through right side on 0-1 pitch to lead off inning
By David O'Brien
March 15, 2008 2:31 PM | Link to this
Longoria follows with another single.
John Rodrguez up with two on, none out
By Halloweenhead (eware)
March 15, 2008 2:32 PM | Link to this
What’s going on with Smoltz? The box score showed him pitching dominantly til the 5th. Is he okay?
By BT
March 15, 2008 2:36 PM | Link to this
DOB, tell us what is happening. Georgia just beat Kentucky in front of 57 cheering fans.
By ippississiM
March 15, 2008 2:36 PM | Link to this
Also not cool. After four scoreless, Smoltz gave up a 2-run double, a 2-run homer and a sac fly in the fifth inning. Back-to-back walks, then the double, a sac by the pitcher moves the runner to third, sac fly and the runner tags up and scores, then the next batter reaches on a Tex fielding error and Carlos Pena bombs one to follow him home. That looked like a Chuck James fifth inning from last year.
final line: IP 4.2, H 4, R 5, ER 3, BB 2, SO 4, HR 1, ERA 5.79
By uga-brave
March 15, 2008 2:38 PM | Link to this
heck of an ending in the ga-ky game.
the short kid from “hooisers” drilled a blind three ball, to give the dawgs a OT victory.
dont think they will have much left for the latter half of their day-night double header.
By David O'Brien
March 15, 2008 2:38 PM | Link to this
Got a couple of outs on a popup and Brignac’s liner too right, runners haven’t advanced. Pinch-hitter Shawn Riggans flies out to cente to end inning
By chrisklob
March 15, 2008 2:41 PM | Link to this
DOB, Johnson the guy that broke the wrist of the Yankee’s catcher last week.
One interesting bit of trivia about him. He played for the Charleston RiverDogs in 03 and 04. At one point in 04 he hit four homeruns in four consecutive AB’s, over two games (three one game, one in the next). Oddly enough, he only hit six for the entire season.
By ippississiM
March 15, 2008 2:46 PM | Link to this
Soriano gives up a pair of singles and gets three flyouts. That’s a lot of contact for a closer.
By Randy S
March 15, 2008 2:46 PM | Link to this
Whoa, looks like JJJ finally gave up some runs. 7-0 Houston in the 5th. Looks like you chose the right game, DOB. And the low flow on the blog could be due to the ajc site being down for a little while recently.
By chrisklob
March 15, 2008 2:57 PM | Link to this
Seems that Atlanta has had some more bad weather today. Bad enough to cause a least one casualty (info from CNN) and witnesses in Commerce, GA are reporting seeing a tornado touch down there. Could be that the weather is interfering with the ajc.com site.
By Pete H.
March 15, 2008 3:00 PM | Link to this
I just got back with a suit I was having altered. There is nothing, apart from losing two games the same day, as irritating as St. Patty’s day in Chicago. Every suburb rounds up all kids between 16 and 22, gives them fake IDs and green tshirts and hats, puts them on a cattle train, and ships them downtown, where they drink green beer and wander the streets in packs of 30 or 40, blocking the sidewalk and arguing loudly about what crummy bar to go vomit in next.
Since it falls on Monday, we’ll get an entire weekend of this crap. Grrrr.
I hope we can at least make both games respectable. This is kinda disappointing.
By David O'Brien
March 15, 2008 3:01 PM | Link to this
Just got back from talking to Smoltz. Said he was very pleased overall with the work, said he threw strikes until fifth and then didn’t have a couple of calls go his way on the walks.
Threw 15-18 changeups, 10-12 sinkers, not as many curveballs as he’d hoped to because of the wind….
Robert (CIB), yes, Borchard is already on a minor league contract, so options aren’t a factor with him. He’ll start out at Richmond, I’m fairly sure, since Braves aren’t going to take five pure OFs and he’s not much at 1B.
I also think Javy could go to Richmond to get at-bats if they want to keep out-of-options Pena as the backup. Someone like Baltimore might be interested in Pena, perhaps in a trade, and he’d surely get snatched up if they tried to get him through waivers because there’s such a shortage of catchers around the majors.
By TJ
March 15, 2008 3:02 PM | Link to this
Wow, Bravos down a collective 14-0 in two SS games. IT’S ONLY SPRING TRAINING (especially when you’re getting pounded).
On less relevant topics, I’m bothered by the new Viagra ad (ESPN). Five guys in jeans sitting around a recording studio, happily singing the Viva Viagra song; and two real happy guys in the control room, too caught up in the activity to do any mixing.
Too Brokeback for me (not that there’s anything wrong with that). I prefer the Cialis ads where at least there’s a woman involved somewhere in the storyline.
By Random
March 15, 2008 3:06 PM | Link to this
I think young dgd speaks sense about Acosta:
“When I suggested that it might be wisest for Acosta to start the season in the minors, it wasn’t because I don’t think he’s one of their best relievers. In fact, ability-wise, I think he ranks third—just behind Soriano and Moylan—and has the potential to be a closer.”
And ncscoots’ plan (sneaking an out of options player you want to keep thru waivers just before or after Opening Day) is more likely to work with a position player like Thorman than with a serviceable reliever. In the former case, the claiming team would have to decide which one of only two or three players of their own to replace, whereas with the latter, they would only have to decide which one of six or seven of their own relievers to waive or send down — an easier choice, looking at most teams’ bullpens.
By David O'Brien
March 15, 2008 3:07 PM | Link to this
Prado doubled in a run in the seventh, a shot that came pretty close to being a three-run homer. Nice drive. Dude’s got to be on the opening day roster. No question.
By David O'Brien
March 15, 2008 3:10 PM | Link to this
Pete H., that 3:10 post made me laugh here in the pressbox. Great stuff.
By David O'Brien
March 15, 2008 3:12 PM | Link to this
Blanco follows with a two-run single. Braves have cut lead to 5-3 here in the seventh, one out.
By Stephen
March 15, 2008 3:23 PM | Link to this
Dave,
How is the new field level seating construction going at Turner Field? Is it supposed to be completed by opening day?
By David O'Brien
March 15, 2008 3:23 PM | Link to this
Yates just hit a guy and has two on with none out in the eighth.
By David-ATL14
March 15, 2008 3:24 PM | Link to this
Could be the call on the backup catcher DOB.
The Professor keeps mentioning on the Broadcast to not forget about Pena as the backup catcher.
Said it enough this Spring that makes you think he has been pointed in that direction.
I hope so anyway. Good to see Soriano back on the hill.
Also hope any/all of the local denizens have weathered the storm safely.
By David O'Brien
March 15, 2008 3:26 PM | Link to this
In the other game vs. Houston, Pena had a two-out pinch-hit RBI single and Javy has a double and two RBI. Borchard has another double, giving him SEVEN for the season.
Braves are down 9-5 in that one after seven.
By David O'Brien
March 15, 2008 3:29 PM | Link to this
yates just made one of the more unathletic plays I’ve seen in a while when he ran in and dove to try to catch a little pop up. Didn’t get there and it bounced and caromed off his head.
Rays have two runs in the ining, still two on with one out
By David O'Brien
March 15, 2008 3:31 PM | Link to this
Stephen: Don’t know; been here five weeks. I’d assume it HAS to be completed opening day.
By Braveheart
March 15, 2008 3:31 PM | Link to this
Thanks DOB for addressing my questions about how the rotation might shake out the first week, especially the first two days.
By David O'Brien
March 15, 2008 3:33 PM | Link to this
Yates gave up another RBI single. He’s trudging off the mound now to scattered boos and some kind clapping. Recorded one out.
By Don
March 15, 2008 3:40 PM | Link to this
Dave, I have wondered for a while exactly what Bobby sees in Tyler Yates. He seems to have always been a favorite, but has never had the numbers to back it up. Yes the throws hard, but he also seems to have control issues and issues hitting spots thus crossing up the defense. Do you have any insight?
By Epinephrine
March 15, 2008 3:40 PM | Link to this
Not a great day for Braves pitching.
By brian
March 15, 2008 3:44 PM | Link to this
do you think the refs knew that Va Tech needed to win that game?
Anyway - that was a player of the year type rebound and shot by hansbrough.
Needs to work on his victory dance though.
DOB - have the Braves mentioned anything on the Yankees - Rays mess? All I know is if someone slid into me raising his legs and cleats at very important anatomy, I would probably be upset too
By ippississiM
March 15, 2008 3:49 PM | Link to this
Yates is really making a case for himself today. Of the basket variety.
By ncgary
March 15, 2008 3:51 PM | Link to this
dob do you remember seeing a guy named rick scheer crusher when he toured major league parks crushing softballs?
By TexasBrave
March 15, 2008 3:52 PM | Link to this
DOB - How is Prado looking at SS? Had many chances today?
By David O'Brien
March 15, 2008 3:53 PM | Link to this
Astros put up a 6-spot in the eighth and won 15-6.
Not a great day for Los Bravos.
By William
March 15, 2008 3:56 PM | Link to this
Thought some might find this story interesting. Another reason to be proud to live in America.
BEIJING – Cool heads staved off a potential international incident involving uniformed Chinese security guards and – of all things – the autograph of nearly washed-up Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Chan Ho Park.
Less than an hour after the Dodgers and San Diego Padres played to a 3-3 tie at Wukesong Stadium on Saturday in the first Major League game in China, a group of about 40 fans of Korean descent converged at the door of the Dodgers clubhouse as Park exited, wanting their longtime national hero and countryman to sign balls, jerseys and caps.
Park, who started for the Dodgers and allowed one run in five innings, tried to oblige but was blocked by a string of green-clad guards, who locked arms and would not allow the pitcher to greet the fans. The boisterous fans pressed against the soldiers and Park became visibly upset, for several minutes refusing to board the Dodgers bus until having a chance to sign the items.
“These Korean people came a long way to see me and to get my autograph,” Park said. “I’m not leaving without signing at least a few things.”
Photo Chan Ho Park pleads for his autograph-seeking fans to back up from uniformed Chinese security guards. (Y! Sports)
The soldiers were not aggressive, but they wouldn’t budge, either. Park was just as stubborn, behaving as if national pride was at stake. Like the game, it was a stalemate.
“The guards were being instructed by plainclothes police officers,” said a major league baseball official who was present. “The police officers were telling the guards to stand their ground and push into the fans.”
Security officials convinced Park to return to the clubhouse, saying they would bring items there for him to sign. But the Chinese police officers did not go along with the plan, and Park emerged again, shouting to his fans to back up and disperse.
Another MLB official said the incident might have occurred because of a key cultural difference: The Chinese aren’t accustomed to aggressive autograph seeking, and the guards might have believed they were protecting Park.
A protective barrier will be set up Sunday before the second and final game of the series.
“The important thing was that nobody got hurt and nobody was embarrassed, not the Chinese, and not baseball,” the security official said.
By David O'Brien
March 15, 2008 3:59 PM | Link to this
This eighth inning might not end before opening night at Washington.
Braves have two runs in bottomm of eighth, only one out and bases loaded after Lillibridge just got hit by a pitch for the third time in three days.
By Epinephrine
March 15, 2008 4:03 PM | Link to this
Haha wow
By David O'Brien
March 15, 2008 4:03 PM | Link to this
Corkey Miller just hit a first-pitch GRAND SLAM off some guy named Calvin Medlock. We have a tie game, folks. 10-10.
By JC FROM UT
March 15, 2008 4:18 PM | Link to this
DOB: Does it look to you like Yates days are numbered in Atlanta?
By McFann
March 15, 2008 4:28 PM | Link to this
Turner Field hit by tornado, BTW.
By David O'Brien
March 15, 2008 4:28 PM | Link to this
Prado just hit into a game-ending double play with two on in the ninth. Braves fall 11-10.
By Some Cheeks Have Tongues in 'Em
March 15, 2008 4:38 PM | Link to this
GOOD HUMOR MAN/WILD & CRAZY GUY ALERT
STALKER ALERT!!!
By Kev
March 15, 2008 4:44 PM | Link to this
I’ve said it since last season, TYLER YATES is a scrub, he’s the KWAME BROWN of BASEBALL, jesus,has control issues but “throws hard”, so what??? you could find a 1,000,000 pitchesr that throw “hard” like Yates and get crushed in the first pitch, but the guy is getting and is going to GET CRUSHED in the season….DOB what exactly Bobby Cox sees in this guy??? i rather keep Boyer a million times instead of him… Between Yates and Resop is a tossup. although right now i take Resop…Oh lord that guy can bring it…and IMO has better control than Yates.
Excluding todays performances stas from Resop and Yates:
Chris Resop
ERA G IP H R ER BB SO WP 2.25 5 8.0 9 2 2 1 9 0
Tyler Yates
ERA G IP H R ER BB SO WP 3.85 5 4.2 4 3 2 5 3 1
Who would you take DOB???
By StingerSplash
March 15, 2008 5:00 PM | Link to this
Lew,
I remember fondly the not too distant past when the American dollar was worth $1.25-$1.33 in Canada. But the Canadian economy has boomed — they rely a lot on natural resources, oil, timber, e.g., and those prices have gone through the roof — while ours … well, not so much. The dollars are about equal now. If you went hunting for beaver tail in Montreal (a great, great, great city), you didn’t go hunting on St. Catherine’s Street, did you. Not that I know anything about that or anything ….
By Random
March 15, 2008 5:01 PM | Link to this
DOB (or any kind denizen with the time and wherewithal to answer)—
I admit that this question may be coming a little late at this point in ST, but the interview with John Smoltz raised some questions in my mind about simulated games.
What are the “working rules” or parameters that govern what happens during a simulated game?
For example, Smoltz said “Yeah, I’ve actually thrown more in this situation than I would have in games. I could get three- and four-pitch outs, maybe one-pitch outs, sometimes in the games.”
What makes simulated games different from real games in this respect?
Also, it’s always been four batters identified as participating in the sim games. I had assumed that this was to provide for base runners, and bases-loaded situations. Is this correct?
If so, to what extent do steals, hit-and-runs and sacrifice bunts figure into sim games?
Are the batters (or base runners) given explicit direction as to how to hit (or run) in particular ways in order to simulate specific game situations, or does the actual flow of the sim game itself determine the hitting/running/pitching situation?
Thanks — maybe you’ll have time to reply Mon night or Tues off-day (or maybe never).
8-)
By Random
March 15, 2008 5:06 PM | Link to this
John Smoltz on simulated games:
“And I have a different mind-set about things — I can create pressure, create tension, in situations that normally wouldn’t be there. So if it’s a simulated game or an actual spring training game, the only difference is there’s a lot more people watching.”
I thought that the main reason given for Smoltz going simulated was to avoid real game adrenaline rushes and to prevent his competitive juices from overflowing in order to allow him to work on certain pitches WITHOUT “pressure” or “tension” — NOT simply to prevent “a lot more people [from] watching”, which per Smoltz is “the only difference”.
What gives, DOB — Was he actually working on some top-secret super pitch in these back lot games? Are you a part of the conspiracy, or merely an innocent dupe?
Well, after five innings today, I guess the answer to that first question is a resounding “no”. (The jury’s still out on the second question.)
;-)
By Random
March 15, 2008 5:10 PM | Link to this
Q. Does your stature and your relationship with the manager and the other players allow you to have maybe a little leeway as far as kind of distancing yourself from the team with your spring program and there not being any danger that there might be with another guy doing that?
DOB— Was there an editorial glitch here? Did you actually write something like “… and there not being any danger of resentment that there might be with another guy doing that?”?
Just wondering — no criticism implied.
By Jared
March 15, 2008 5:11 PM | Link to this
Prado hit into two double plays today. That’s known as the “Andruw Jones special”.
By Random
March 15, 2008 5:18 PM | Link to this
Smoltz Interrogation, Unredacted
Q. Looking at it statistically, the last couple of years, observers might wonder why you would you mess with success and change your repertoire, add more off-speed pitches, etc. But is that you knowing your body so well, knowing that it’s time, and that if you want to continue to have success you can’t just continue going out and doing the same things?
“Objection, Your Honor!!! Asked and answered.”
“Objection sustained. Mr Smoltz, you do not have to answer that question.
“Instead, if you’d like, you may change your shorts once again — things don’t seem to be going so well with those fish tacos you had for breakfast.
“Would you like to change your shorts, Mr Smoltz?”
A. Absolutely. I’ve made more changes probably than anybody, even when things are going good, that people didn’t notice. This is just a little more noticeable. …
By Dawg88
March 15, 2008 5:29 PM | Link to this
Random,
I was lucky enough to watch John Smoltz actually throw his final simulated game last Sunday at Disney’s Wide World of Sports. It was on the main back field of DWWS. He pitched to B. Pena, Jordan Shaefer, Brandon Jones, and B. Lillebridge. Javy Lopez was the catcher. Roger McDowell supervised the session from behind a protective screen in back of the pitcher’s mound.
They kept track of the count and the number of outs. No one ran the bases. When he ‘walked’ someone or gave up a ‘hit’, he would pretend as if they were on base and pitch from the stretch. He would cover 1st when a ball was ‘put in play’ that required him to cover in real games.
When he got 3 ‘outs’, he would go into the dugout and sit for about 10 minutes simulating ‘between innings’ rest. He went about 3-4 ‘innings’ and threw the same pitch at times over and over. In simulated games, he is not worried about giving up pretend ‘runs’.
Therefore, he did not pitch to try and just get out of the inning. That was his goal of course but he would not revert to trying to reach back and ‘get a little’ more on his pitches as he might in a real game. It takes pressure off of him to keep the team in the game so to speak.
Simulated games do not have umpires. Smoltz threw to Javy Lopez on this day. Smoltz or Javy would make the calls. Of course, a little funny side note was that several coaches were shagging the balls hit. Eddie Perez was in LF and he kept giving his own rendition of strike calls…”striiiiiike”. Guess you had to be there. He is a gem at Spring Training. Great guy! Fun to listen to and visit at Disney every year.
Hope this sheds some light on how the ‘simulated game’ went for Smoltz on this particular day.
GOOOOOOOOOOO BRAVES!!!!!!
By ncgary
March 15, 2008 5:38 PM | Link to this
Don McLean - American Pie Lyrics
A long, long time ago… I can still remember How that music used to make me smile. And I knew if I had my chance That I could make those people dance And, maybe, they’d be happy for a while.
But february made me shiver With every paper I’d deliver. Bad news on the doorstep; I couldn’t take one more step.
I can’t remember if I cried When I read about his widowed bride, But something touched me deep inside The day the music died.
So bye-bye, miss american pie. Drove my chevy to the levee, But the levee was dry. And them good old boys were drinkin’ whiskey and rye Singin’, “this’ll be the day that I die. “this’ll be the day that I die.”
Did you write the book of love, And do you have faith in God above, If the Bible tells you so? Do you believe in rock ’n roll, Can music save your mortal soul, And can you teach me how to dance real slow?
Well, I know that you’re in love with him `cause I saw you dancin’ in the gym. You both kicked off your shoes. Man, I dig those rhythm and blues.
I was a lonely teenage broncin’ buck With a pink carnation and a pickup truck, But I knew I was out of luck The day the music died.
I started singin’, “bye-bye, miss american pie.” Drove my chevy to the levee, But the levee was dry. Them good old boys were drinkin’ whiskey and rye And singin’, “this’ll be the day that I die. “this’ll be the day that I die.”
Now for ten years we’ve been on our own And moss grows fat on a rollin’ stone, But that’s not how it used to be. When the jester sang for the king and queen, In a coat he borrowed from james dean And a voice that came from you and me,
Oh, and while the king was looking down, The jester stole his thorny crown. The courtroom was adjourned; No verdict was returned. And while lennon read a book of marx, The quartet practiced in the park, And we sang dirges in the dark The day the music died.
We were singing, “bye-bye, miss american pie.” Drove my chevy to the levee, But the levee was dry. Them good old boys were drinkin’ whiskey and rye And singin’, “this’ll be the day that I die. “this’ll be the day that I die.”
Helter skelter in a summer swelter. The birds flew off with a fallout shelter, Eight miles high and falling fast. It landed foul on the grass. The players tried for a forward pass, With the jester on the sidelines in a cast.
Now the half-time air was sweet perfume While the sergeants played a marching tune. We all got up to dance, Oh, but we never got the chance! `cause the players tried to take the field; The marching band refused to yield. Do you recall what was revealed The day the music died?
We started singing, “bye-bye, miss american pie.” Drove my chevy to the levee, But the levee was dry. Them good old boys were drinkin’ whiskey and rye And singin’, “this’ll be the day that I die. “this’ll be the day that I die.”
Oh, and there we were all in one place, A generation lost in space With no time left to start again. So come on: jack be nimble, jack be quick! Jack flash sat on a candlestick Cause fire is the devil’s only friend.
Oh, and as I watched him on the stage My hands were clenched in fists of rage. No angel born in hell Could break that satan’s spell. And as the flames climbed high into the night To light the sacrificial rite, I saw satan laughing with delight The day the music died
He was singing, “bye-bye, miss american pie.” Drove my chevy to the levee, But the levee was dry. Them good old boys were drinkin’ whiskey and rye And singin’, “this’ll be the day that I die. “this’ll be the day that I die.”
I met a girl who sang the blues And I asked her for some happy news, But she just smiled and turned away. I went down to the sacred store Where I’d heard the music years before, But the man there said the music wouldn’t play.
And in the streets: the children screamed, The lovers cried, and the poets dreamed. But not a word was spoken; The church bells all were broken. And the three men I admire most: The father, son, and the holy ghost, They caught the last train for the coast The day the music died.
And they were singing, “bye-bye, miss american pie.” Drove my chevy to the levee, But the levee was dry. And them good old boys were drinkin’ whiskey and rye Singin’, “this’ll be the day that I die. “this’ll be the day that I die.”
They were singing, “bye-bye, miss american pie.” Drove my chevy to the levee, But the levee was dry. Them good old boys were drinkin’ whiskey and rye Singin’, “this’ll be the day that I die.”
By Coach (Lets Go Braves in 2008)
March 15, 2008 5:46 PM | Link to this
These split squad affairs are for the birds. 24 earned runs in 17 innings of work for the Braves pitching today , YEEEEEEESH !
Any word on the damage done to Turner field from yesterdays tornado in Atlanta ?
By McFann
March 15, 2008 5:47 PM | Link to this
Great song, ncgary.
Bad day for the Braves, eh? Thank you, Yates. The door is to the left…
McCann’s AVG is in the 300’s (.308)!! Whoo-hoo!!!
By ncgary
March 15, 2008 5:48 PM | Link to this
looks like ugabrave is right , no other way to describe what the politicians have did to us other than financial meltdown
While New York Governor Eliot Spitzer was paying an ‘escort’ $4,300 in a hotel room in Washington, just down the road, George Bush’s new Federal Reserve Board Chairman, Ben Bernanke, was secretly handing over $200 billion in a tryst with mortgage bank industry speculators.
Both acts were wanton, wicked and lewd. But there’s a BIG difference. The Governor was using his own checkbook. Bush’s man Bernanke was using ours………..
By Judge Nocahoma
March 15, 2008 5:57 PM | Link to this
Objection overruled, Random, you clueless moron. What fly by night crappy law school did you go to exactly anyway? Brush up on your rules of evidence. You asserted the wrong objection. Asked and answered was not the objection to make there. It was a leading question. But he wasn’t conducting a direct examination. It was a cross examination. During cross examination, leading questions are allowable, even preferred, unless you want to be laughed out of the courtroom.
And, in any regard, even if this was a direct examination, I remind you that this is an informal hearing where I, as the judge, am gonna be a little bit lax with the rules of evidence because this hearing has taken too long already although it has only last 5 minutes so far.
I have to catch a flight to the Bahamas in a few hours and I don’t plan on sitting here all day conducting this hearing and miss my flight just to make sure you are satisfied that the questions were asked properly when you know, I know, he knows, everyone knows what the damn witness’ answers are gonna be before he even says them.
Now go wipe your behind with your law degree because apparently that is all it is worth to you and this profession, you freaking moron.
By David O'Brien
March 15, 2008 5:58 PM | Link to this
Dawg88, thanks for that. I do believe that’ll help some folks understand sim games. I should’ve offered such an explanation earlier….
Yates and Boyer both stunk it up today. Yates said he’s got something wrong with his delivery, frustrated that he can’t pitch the way he’s capable. Said he and Roger are going to look at video and try to figure it out, but he believes it’s something that’s causing him to show the ball too long before he releases it, letting hitters see it too long.
He’d got a horrible 12.60 ERA after giving up five runs and three hits while recording just one out today. He’s allowed seven hits and seven earned runs in five innings over six appearances….
Boyer tried to put a positive spin on his first rought outing (one hit, two hit batters), pointed out that he had two strikeouts and did “damage control.” Also pointed out it’s first run he’s allowed (true that, he’s got a 1.00 ERA in nine innings, with eight hits, three walks, nine strikeouts.
By ncgary
March 15, 2008 6:09 PM | Link to this
clemson 79 duke 74 look for more of the same from clemson against unc
By Dawg88
March 15, 2008 6:10 PM | Link to this
Random,
Tim Hudson pitched a simulated game today….here’s his take on what you do in a simulated games as well (funny quote at end):
Hudson said the relaxed, unregimented setting also provided him the opportunity to get a better sense for his pitches. He was pleased with his curveball and felt his cut fastball was as good as it’s been this month.
“You can get instant feedback from hitters [during simulated games],” Hudson said. “When I throw a pitch, I can ask them, ‘How did that look?’, ‘How was my arm angle there?’, ‘Did it start breaking late or did it start breaking out of my hand?’ [In a regular Spring Training game] you can’t exactly ask Ryan Howard, ‘How did that split look, buddy?’”
By Pete H.
March 15, 2008 6:21 PM | Link to this
NCGary: You have obviously never seen mortgage bank industry speculators in lingerie. We’re talking SERIOUS HOT. Pssssss!!!! You’d fork over $200 billion of someone else’s money in a New York minute.
By ncscoots
March 15, 2008 6:24 PM | Link to this
Where’s my buddy BravesFanInRockies? Better get to the closet and find that leotard, my friend. Got a feeling we’ll be strappin’ ‘em on tomorrow. Round Three of Clemson-UNC.
And I’ll say this: if your guys can beat my guys three in a row, they DESERVE to be the #1 team in the country. HA!
By Bo
March 15, 2008 6:29 PM | Link to this
*You heard it 1st right hear on DOB blogs, The Falcons have just traded D-A@@ Hall to Oakland for 2nd round pick. * I can’t wait to see Braves start the season. I love the young kids in the outfield. It should be fun.
By Tomas
March 15, 2008 6:29 PM | Link to this
Kev,
I agree with you 100%, on the tyler yates, chris resop, and Blaine Boyer issue. For me Blaine Boyer is a no doubter, he is on my team, then I watch at Yates and Resop. Tyler has had a rough spring, with a 12.50 ERA, but doesn’t mean anything look at Ichiro, his first hit of the spring came two days ago, and averages 200 per season, but Yates has never been consistant, he is very wild, although that when his stuff is working he is unhittable. He throws real hard, but Resop throws harder (100mph) plus the fact he is a lefty, and has more control than Yates. I take Resop, and hope another team doesn’t take Yates and resigned him to a minorleague contract like Julio Franco last year.
By Random
March 15, 2008 6:48 PM | Link to this
Good stuff, Dawg88 — many thanks!
Follow-up: so it seems that Smoltz pretty much determined the situations he might want. Did he announce his pitches beforehand, or at least let people know what situation he had in mind?
Thanks again.
So bottom-line, Judge Nocahoma, the verdict is “Not Funny”?
Nolo contedere.
By Daveinzona
March 15, 2008 6:50 PM | Link to this
He throws real hard, but Resop throws harder (100mph) plus the fact he is a lefty, and has more control than Yates.
Resop is right handed.
By Pete H.
March 15, 2008 6:55 PM | Link to this
If all three of Yates, Ohman and Poser (resoP) make the team, the walks will come in clutches. Ohman can put on a clinic in missing the strike zone 11 straight times.
By David O'Brien
March 15, 2008 7:02 PM | Link to this
Ncscoots, congrats. Very happy for your boys, who deserved that one after losing so many close ones to the big boys this year. The Tigers are tough, man, and I really think they’ll give the Heels a great game tomorrow….
Random, no he didn’t announce any pitches. That was part of the deal, why he wanted to do it in situations he controlled….
By Niels Boor
March 15, 2008 7:10 PM | Link to this
LOSERS ILLUSTRATED:
Ken Griffey, Jr, on Mariano Rivera’s cutter:
“One of the nastiest pitches in baseball, and I’m glad I don’t have to face it anymore.”
Now, wouldn’t you figure that Griffey’s manager and fans would rather have heard something like this:
“One of the nastiest pitches in baseball. I’d like to get another crack at it this October, if the Yankees make it that far.”
By masivatack
March 15, 2008 7:14 PM | Link to this
I don’t think Turner Field is in too bad of shape. Most of the damage happened just down the street in Cabbagetown.
Living just a few blocks from both, I was lucky not to have any damage from the storm. But man, there is going to have to be some serious cleanup between downtown and the Eastern Metro area. Amazingly, no fatalities in the city, but The old Fulton Cotton Mill is in shambles. I got out in it today thinking the worst was over and got pounded by some marble to golf ball sized hail.
Scared the crap out of me.
By HuffBraves
March 15, 2008 7:15 PM | Link to this
I noticed Soriano pumped two fastballs up to 94 today, but most of them hovered around 91-92. Not the 95-96 we’re used to from him. I’m assuming (hoping) that it’s just because he didn’t want to go 100% his first time out, and not because his elbow’s not letting him? (Keeping in mind that Gonzalez’ loss of velocity was the first sign of his season-ending injury last year)
By Niels Boor
March 15, 2008 7:15 PM | Link to this
A question for Anders, James, jd, Brad in KY, ellaguru and michael:
Ad hominem arguments — is that when you make such a brilliantly irrefutable point that your opponent is reduced to babbling “hominem, hominem, hominem”?
(Maybe it’s the kind of argument that N8 just wouldn’t get, ‘cause he’s never had grits.)
Or is it when your own argument is so definitively and universally persuasive that your opponent is reduced to repeating it back word for word — that is, “ad homonym”?
(Can a word even be a homonym of itself? I guess so — why not?)
(Can a word be a synonym of itself? Yes — some theories of literary criticism — well, at least one that I know of — are based on that very premise.)
(Can a word be an antonym of itself? Shiccheah, if it’s used satirically, sarcastically or ironically!!! Right, DOB?)
By dgd
March 15, 2008 7:39 PM | Link to this
Bless your heart Random for calling me “young dgd” earlier—I’m actually a forty-something mother of three with a life-long love of the Braves. Been tending to a sick young one this afternoon instead of blogging, though doesn’t look like I missed much, with two ugly losses. (Speaking of ugly losses, Duke’s loss to Clemson was ugly. Clemson may be pretty good, but there’s nothing pretty about the way they play….)
By TJ
March 15, 2008 7:47 PM | Link to this
Now, wouldn’t you figure that Griffey’s manager and fans would rather have heard something like this: etc…
Yeah, and then let’s complain that all we get from athletes are stock, cliche answers. I’m sure Griffey has plenty of desire to play in the post season. He gave a straight answer to a direct question… what more do you want? Scott Boras writing the answers?
By ncscoots
March 15, 2008 7:48 PM | Link to this
Neils, that’s real angels-on-the-head-of-a-pin stuff, there. Almost rises to the level of dotty maunderings…but not quite. Keep trying, though, failure is good for the character.
By Capt. Caveman (the original dawg)
March 15, 2008 7:53 PM | Link to this
Nots Beer
Can a post be booring altogether?
Can a poster be altogether booring?
objection — as to painfully obvious
Now back to my DAWGS !!
** Goooooo DAWGS — Sic’em woofwoofwoofwoofwoof woofwoofwoofwoofwoof
By ncscoots
March 15, 2008 7:57 PM | Link to this
dgd, guess it depends on yur definition of “ugly”, LOL. Sick defense is supposed to make it ugly, so I guess you’re right. They ain’t pretty.
And I look forward to seeing my favorite pretty boy, Hansbrough, get uglied up tomorrow. Based on the first two games, he’s already filling the whirlpool bath for after the game. :-)
In a righteous world, Hansbrough gets called for traveling (finally) in the last 8 seconds, and the Tigers ice it at the FT line. (Take THAT, BFIR!)
By Don
March 15, 2008 8:06 PM | Link to this
So, what does Tyler Yates say caused his problem last year with his 5+ ERA and control issues?
By Lew
March 15, 2008 8:23 PM | Link to this
Stinger-Unfortunately, those were US dollars and the problem is hardly just the exchange rate. The problem is that MLB has worked out a deal with Stub Hub (I was automatically linked to Stub Hub when it was indicated that the tickets I wanted were sold out) and now people are buying all the tickets so they can legally scalp them on Stub Hub, who gets a cut as well as Fed Ex who gets shipping charges. #$^%^^&*%$@ing outrageous, but when did the fan ever get a break? Oh well, I paid it though, didn’t I? I guess I must truly love the Braves.
This is NOT just a ticket outlet like the old Ticket Master or Ticketron-it IS a legalized Scalping operation sanctioned by MLB. It just cuts out the streetcorner vendors.
Beaver Tails (for the uninformed) are pasties with an apple mixture on the pastry. They used to sell them at Olympic Stadium at the Expos’ Games. However, the other “tail” you speak of is certainly well represented in Montreal, though I would be loathe to apply that appelation myself. Or is that APPLE ation? OH! The Humanity!!!
By Lew
March 15, 2008 8:32 PM | Link to this
Niels Boor-Dude, Griffey plays for the Reds and no matter how much better a manager they have or how improved they may be-They will not be playing the Yankees in the series come October. Hence, anything Griffey says about Rivera is a moot point.
By BravesFanInRockies
March 15, 2008 8:44 PM | Link to this
scoots,
Was in Lower Downtown Denver at a fellow alum’s St. Pat’s party watching the ACC tourney. Fun stuff.
Best of luck to your guys tomorrow. Seriously. Glad to see them hit enough FTs down the stretch to beat the evil empire.
I like the Tigers (and esp. Oliver — classy guy) and agree — tomorrow may be a war. Neither team is playing to get in, but both have something to prove.
Should be fun. And whatever happens, I hope the zebras are at least consistent tomorrow. We were complimenting the Pac-10 officiating crew working the first game today. Some of the calls were inexplicable, going against both teams.
Go Heels!
By David O'Brien
March 15, 2008 8:45 PM | Link to this
HuffBraves, can’t tell you with certainty, because I was in the man’s head. But Cox went out of his way after game to say how glad he was that Soriano didn’t go out there and try to throw as hard as he could the first time out. So make of it what you will.
By Capt. Caveman (the original dawg)
March 15, 2008 8:53 PM | Link to this
HUDDY WAS AWESOME
He had his sinker going today. Worked in his best cutter of the year so far and was rolling all day, great shutout for him.
Sure it was against 5 minor leaguers on a backfield with no umpires,fans,or any other teammates to back him up. BUT HEY - he had Eddie Perez playing in the outfield for him and he is SLOW. So Huddy couldn’t afford anything in the gaps and he kept those no-names off the bases all day. Or for 5 fake innings - whatever - thats not the point.
Huddy for Cy Young
If he keeps this pace up he could win 30 fake games this year !!
Amazing !!
DOB — what’s his contract situation, can we sign him in the next 2 yrs, maybe we can package him and Smoltz for a draft pick in 2012, there’s a kid in High School right now that has SURE THING written all over him.
Need the 411 —DOBie DAWG !!!!
By Shamus Thacker
March 15, 2008 9:01 PM | Link to this
Maybe it’s time for Smolts to master the knuckler.
By Shamus Thacker
March 15, 2008 9:02 PM | Link to this
Smoltz too!
By McFann
March 15, 2008 9:14 PM | Link to this
Lew—
Hey, got my mail, dude. Thanks!
BTW (everybody, or to whom it may concern), might not be around much on Sundays from now on. Just thought I’d let y’all know so ya wouldn’t get worried.
8 )
By Braves20
March 15, 2008 9:43 PM | Link to this
After watching the last two Braves games (today being the one at Lake Buena Vista), a few observations.
Anyone who did not see today’s game will read the box and say Smoltz got lit up. Actually he was vintage Smoltz for four and the fifth was a combination of fatigue and a pop fly that is an out 90% of the time that just eluded Josh Anderson.
Speaking of which, there should be an investigation if Anderson doesn’t go north. Not only is this kid putting up good numbers but he plays with an intensity we haven’t seen in 10 years.
There should also be an investigation if Tyler Yates DOES go north. Same old same old. Takes a close game and puts it out it out of reach - at least until Corky Miller’s incredible slam. Gotta love that Miller guy.
Lastly, this team will hit - this year - next year and the forseeable future. So much so, that the Braves will be wise to wish Tex the best the end of this year and spend the money where it can be better used.
By Shamus Thacker
March 15, 2008 9:45 PM | Link to this
Each Spring I revisit my past and remember childhood trips to Florida with my parents. We were half-redneck, so we camped about half the time. I’ll never forget the three of us holding up a cheap tent during an electrical/wind storm. The car was just four feet away and our lives were at stake, so Dad made the decision that every half-blooded redneck Daddy would make; we’d risk almost certain death to hold down that 45-dollar tent. And we met the goal of every semi-quasi-pseudo-redneck, we lived to tell about it…
By Shamus Thacker
March 15, 2008 9:49 PM | Link to this
Thanks Lew! I’d have gone insane with worry. Owe ya one man….
By chrisklob
March 15, 2008 10:05 PM | Link to this
Boor, and you think I don’t have a sense of humor? Dude, that was weeeaaaak. Don’t quit your day job or you’ll wind up living with your mom in her basement. What? Oh sorry, I forgot. You DO live with your mom in her basement.
By AdirondackDave
March 15, 2008 10:16 PM | Link to this
Braves20 — I’ve been a big Tex booster but I’m slowly coming around to agreeing with you. This club is really talented offensively 1-8 and may be better off next year spending most of the “Tex money” on proven, young pitching. However, still need to keep in mind that Chipper isn’t getting any younger. His skills haven’t declined at all but will at some point. If that happens sooner than later we will regret the loss of Tex.
By ippississiM
March 15, 2008 10:34 PM | Link to this
McFann:
If you don’t mind me asking, what changes your Sunday plans? I’m also usually unavailable on Sundays for a few hours, for a pretty common reason, but not every single week, although I should.
By Eric
March 15, 2008 10:53 PM | Link to this
DOB - I’m not sure if you’re dissing the I-4 corridor or explaining how great and relaxing the drive over is
By Niels Boor
March 15, 2008 10:55 PM | Link to this
Guilty as charged, chrisklob — that was an awful long way to go (with no scenery) just to get in an ironic dig at DOB.
Still, in your own defense, I did think of someone here who’s even more humorless than you.
Ya wanna guess who? (And no, not Stinky or Robert or any of the Mets clowns — I’m thinking of a stalwart and respected regular.)
Lew — hence, Griffey is a moot loser.
Capt. Caveman, ncscoots, y’all have my apologies. I’ll try harder/do better next time.
By Coach (Lets Go Braves in 2008)
March 15, 2008 11:00 PM | Link to this
No doubt Braves20 , this team is going to score….a lot.
Even better news , no more of these Saturday split squad affairs where the Braves are 0-4 while being outscored 46 to 28 and posting an ERA of 10.32 Yikes !
The Braves came into todays two games with a very good team ERA of 3.25 and exited with a very pedestrian 4.15 ERA. Ouch !
So far the spring training numbers are not too bad. 11 wins 7 losses and 2 ties while scoring 133 runs , giving up 97 and averaging an incredible 6.65 runs scored per game. Outstanding !
The defense has committed 24 errors in 20 games so far. I wouldn’t be concerned about it except that Escobar has booted four chances and Chipper/Teixeira have five more errors between them. Needs Work !
Thirteen more games to hash out the roster , it’s gonna get very interesting !
By David O'Brien
March 15, 2008 11:12 PM | Link to this
Shamus, that was a touching story (9:45). We, too, did the half-redneck vacation — but in the camper, the kind you folded open. Of course we went to Florida in July, with no AC in that camper.
It was either camper or motels, always the kind with the pool with the chain-link fence around it and the rooms you entered from outside.
By Lee
March 15, 2008 11:14 PM | Link to this
Seems like errors would be high in ST games. The plyers have to be a little rusty over the winter. Surely within the next couple of weeks things will iron out with the defense.
The biggest concern to me is still the bull pen. It seems to rise its ugly head every year with this team.
By chrisklob
March 15, 2008 11:16 PM | Link to this
Boor
“One of the nastiest pitches in baseball. I’d like to get another crack at it this October, if the Yankees make it that far.”
I don’t find Lew to be humorless at all. While I consider him to be a friend, he can be gruff at times, but he’s not humorless.
Specifically to your post, Griffey would NEVER say anything like “if the Yankees make it that far”. Not his style. I’m not really a Griffey fan but I’ve never known him to be a trash talker so nonsense like that is really out of character for him.
Lew is a realist. While the Reds might be improved this year, and certainly should appear so, considering the weak NL Central schedule that they’ll play, they still aren’t going anywhere.
Lew didn’t respond humorously to your post because he found no humor in yours, mainly because, once again, it was not present. You’ve really got to work on your game instead of pointing out weaknesses in the sense of humor of other bloggers.
By David O'Brien
March 15, 2008 11:18 PM | Link to this
Eric: I’m not sure either (10:53)
By cityofdecatur
March 15, 2008 11:33 PM | Link to this
thank everyone for the good reading. hiding from nurse ratchet tonite be back tomarrow for more literary consumption. (ain’t much with the typing)
from the top of the post it was always tuff to open for the dead some did it better than others but most of us (yes old old deadhead) just wanted to see the boys ! we could be rude sometimes. lol good nite lites out here comes nurse ratchet.
By Niels Boor
March 16, 2008 12:17 AM | Link to this
chrisklob—
Nonononono — that was just a bad transition by me.
Lew is not the answer to my “most humorless” guessing game — he’s not humorless at all, imo (unlike you).
I was addressing a different topic to him, having nothing to do with humor.
My fault for a bad transition and unfortunate juxtaposition.
Sorry — guess again.
PS: sorry for the delay in responding — my Mom was playing computer Solitaire.
Again!!!
By uga-brave
March 16, 2008 12:28 AM | Link to this
scoots,
your last chance to beat carolina.
if you ever hit your free throws, you might have a chance.
NCgary,
you are dead on, been in the financial game for a long time.
spitzer attacked, dick grasso, and ken laggone, without remorse. no matter what the effect. his attacks killed the stock market.
if you dont think it affected you, just check out your last 401 k statement.
either way HOW BOUT THEM DAWGS, they just won two games in the same day.
they just beat ole miss, kentucky, and miss st.
all close games, maybe some destiny going on.
all those bubble teams are hoping the dawgs lose.
either way the dawgs are playing like warrior poets, no one giving them any chance and they are stiil there.
By Moby Grape
March 16, 2008 1:10 AM | Link to this
What? Oh sorry, I forgot. You DO live with your mom in her basement.chrisklob
but he swears that she lets him out for an hour every day to run around in the fenced-in back yard. course it’s at night when none of the neighbors will get too scared.
By Kevin
March 16, 2008 1:26 AM | Link to this
I am still beaming with pride for my Bulldogs. They beat Ark. earlier on in the season so there is def. a chance. It would be awesome for these seniors to beat them again to get into the big dance.
By uga-brave
March 16, 2008 2:03 AM | Link to this
moby,
why are you giving chrisklob grief. the guy, as far as i am concerned is great guy and a friend.
he is a talent here and a great guy.
i for one like him.
By ippississiM
March 16, 2008 2:45 AM | Link to this
I’m just about disillusioned with the idea of Chuck-n-duck James as a successful major-league starter. My many reasons would be much too long to clog the blog with, but suffice to say, his shoulder isn’t the only think messed up with this kid. Does anyone know if he’s learned a third pitch, or what his pitch mix looked like in his one ST appearance? Unless he comes up with a usable third pitch, I can’t see him sticking long-term. Not here, not anywhere.
By BA
March 16, 2008 3:04 AM | Link to this
Ippississim, I have a theory that even though he lacks the third pitch to be an effective starter, James could be used as a situational lefty with great success. Maybe even a Todd Jones style closer. Thing is, around the all-star break even if EVERYBODY stays healthy, I think I heard hints of maybe a SIX man rotation at times. I guess since Smoltz/Glavine/Hampton are a combined 160 years old. Good stuff earlier about the “stimulated” games. Interesting for someone like me, the baseball equivalent of a crackhead.
By Moby Grape
March 16, 2008 3:06 AM | Link to this
why are you giving chrisklob grief. the guy, as far as i am concerned is great guy and a friend.
he is a talent here and a great guy.
i for one like him.UGA
You might want to reread my post UGA. It isn’t directed at Chris. I was backing Chris up giving the grief to Niels Boor along with Chris, who I agree seems like a good guy.
By uga-brave
March 16, 2008 3:07 AM | Link to this
miss,
like you as i do gotta go, either way my friend, bed calls.
this is the year. the braves are as good as ever. we are stacked in every position. you love the breakdown, how about the fact we finally have some pitchers.
it is gonna be interesting, it will be FUN.
AT LEAST WE ARE MINUS DAVIES. what a punk.
By Coach (Lets Go Braves in 2008)
March 16, 2008 3:07 AM | Link to this
It’s 2 a.m. central time and I’m watching a live baseball game between the Padres and Dodgers , being played in Beijing , China. MLB.com is broadcasting the game right over the internet. The score is Padres 6 Dodger 3 middle of the seventh inning. You just have to love technology.
By Coach (Lets Go Braves in 2008)
March 16, 2008 3:19 AM | Link to this
Tis very strange to see advertising on the outfield walls in English and Chinese. Cheerleaders on the field in the middle of the seventh inning stretch , it’s a truly bizarre sight.
By Capt. Caveman (the original dawg)
March 16, 2008 3:25 AM | Link to this
GGOOOO DDDAAAWWGGGSS
I just walked in the door and am still walking on “air” from the double wins today. It’s been a while since we had a feel good b-ball story like this from GA. I think it was 1983 or 84 when we last made the final four with Terry Fair and the gang as the cinderella’s.
Oh Yeah — HUDDY and SMOLTZ for the “Simulated Cy Young” this year. It’s gonna be a close race.
By Coach (Lets Go Braves in 2008)
March 16, 2008 3:31 AM | Link to this
Andruw Jones just with popped out with a runner on and one out , two down in the eighth. And they’re playing Van Halen in the background , the American and Chinese flags flying side by side , it’s surreal. Still 6-3 Padres in the eighth.
By BA
March 16, 2008 3:41 AM | Link to this
I got a request- when I was a kid reading Braves articles, one of my favorites was the “futures” article. Some of them turned out (Klesko, Javy, Chipper) and most didn’t (Melvin Nieves, Ramon Carraballo, Tony Tarasco?!). I’d like to see the DOB version, especially starting pitchers. Maybe on a slow day. Think of me as a listener on your cheesy oldies station.
By Coach (Lets Go Braves in 2008)
March 16, 2008 3:43 AM | Link to this
6-3 is your final , Padres over the Dodgers. I got a glimpse down the right field line and it read on the wall next to the foul pole , 320 ft. 98 Meters , I kid you not. And the Chinese folks stand up and clap.
By ippississiM
March 16, 2008 4:14 AM | Link to this
BA My whole beef is that he’s been a starter the whole time, minors and all, but I want to find the numbskull minors pitching coach who first decided to stretch a situational lefty with only a fastball and a cutter (“country-smart” James calls it a changeup, but he could call it anything he wants to and it’s still a cutter) into a starter, and shake his brains out. Now, instead of coming to the majors as a reliever, being confident and lights out, and rising through the ranks and earning respect with his sneaky ways and the confused looks on batters’ faces, now even if he becomes a top LH setup man or even, Lord help us, a top closer, he’ll always be a failed starter, and he will always have some idiot’s decision to turn him into a starter as a black mark on his career.
By BA
March 16, 2008 4:28 AM | Link to this
I agree to an extent, but who knew? Eck, Smoltzy, most of the best relievers have always come up as starters. Maybe he had a third pitch, but he doesn’t use it up here. I think you’re selling the guy a little short, though- he’s no Mad Dog but I say he’s a servicable number 5, with our potentially deep bullpen. The one I’m excited to see is Jurrgens. But I think we’ll see plenty of both because if Hampton makes twenty starts I would be shocked. Thrilled, but shocked.
By ippississiM
March 16, 2008 4:39 AM | Link to this
Chuck James has 5 career minor-league relief appearances and 9 major-league relief appearances. He has 69 minor-league starts and 48 major-league starts. And yet by all indications, he’s not starter material. The many seasons wasted on trying to force a square peg into a round hole are appalling considering the fact that if he had been used as a reliever throughout his major-league career, we wouldn’t be upset that he is great for four innings and pitiful thereafter, we would be talking about how brilliant the scout was who spotted him and took a chance on someone who was a catcher in school, but who later turned out to be a lights-out reliever. Instead we’re wondering why the guy has a job that doesn’t involve a power screwdriver and a caulk gun. I pitch batting practice to high-school kids as a hobby and I’ve installed windows as a summer job, and I’ll give you two guesses on which one I think Chuck is better at at this point in his life, but it’s not his fault he was ruined by being pushed into starting when he doesn’t have the velocity, variety, or mental makeup to stick as a starter in the bigs.
By Capt. Caveman (the original dawg)
March 16, 2008 4:42 AM | Link to this
BA
Absolutely man. People keep forgetting that the #4 or 5 starter in our rotation will not be the same 2 guys all year long. I think we have so many options there that BC wont hesitate to mix others in if there is a drop off from these 2 spots over any time in the season. Just like the strike zone - It’s not black and white but also a little outside the edges and how it’s being called on any given day and it changes with every game. So let’s just watch and enjoy.
GO BRAVOS
By BA
March 16, 2008 4:57 AM | Link to this
The guy throws 85mph(like 3/4th’s of the LEAGUE), he can change speeds, and he’s been good for twenty wins, albeit in two years. Ten wins and an era sub 5.00 is solid for your fifth starter(these days), which is what he will be this year. He was exposed as a number three. Maybe this guy is your brother-in-law?! Pitchers in general just aren’t groomed to go eight innings anymore. And I doubt there are any idiot pitching coaches, or else they’d be pitching high shcool batting practice. And maybe installing windows in the summertime.
By ippississiM
March 16, 2008 5:20 AM | Link to this
I just feel like this guy could have been an amazing bullpen lefty, but as a starter he will never rise to the top. Also, because teams tend to go young and cheap on the 5-hole compared to closers and top setup men, I wonder how much shorter his career may be since with all this depth, I don’t see him being in the long-term plan for the Braves unless he has the humility to eventually move to the bullpen and not resent it, but even so, everyone thinks of him as a scrub starter, not as a lefty who can shut them down for four innings who would be welcome in just about anybody’s bullpen.
By ippississiM
March 16, 2008 5:24 AM | Link to this
By the way, Lance Lynn, who pitched a 146-pitch complete-game one-hit shutout for Ole Miss last year, is primo draft fodder. He was a 6th round pick in 2005 out of high school, and now he’s a college junior with a lot more impressive resume.
By ippississiM
March 16, 2008 5:48 AM | Link to this
BA: Got me on that one, even though the window installing was only one summer in high school, and the batting practice is from the regulation-height mound in my backyard for my kid brother, two nephews, and a couple of neighbor kids. I’ve never played high school or college ball (our high school coach was less concerned with skills and more concerned with parents’ position in the community, which meant that when I got to college I didn’t even get a look since I hadn’t played in high school), just YMCA-league, church-league, and about six months of weekly games between various USMC support units, very few of whom could hit against a lefty sidewinder with a 20 mph difference between two-seamer and changeup. I also sometimes use a 3/4 delivery for breaking pitches, and that just freaked them right out, since by the second time through the lineup they were looking for my sidearm release point. Anyways, I’ve never claimed to be some kind of undiscovered baseball genius, but I have studied pitching for 18 years, mostly to improve my own pitching but also to understand other pitchers, and if I hadn’t had a third pitch, I would have been an outfielder, even on the church team. A pitcher usually can get away with one flaw at the MLB level, but if you don’t have velocity, you’d better have pitch variety, location, movement, and control if you want to stick around. I never had super velocity, but on the level I played at, variety, movement and control wound up being enough. If my location had been better, who knows. I might have gone to a tryout camp or three when I was still young enough to have a shot. As it is, I’m pushing 30, with a wife and two boys, and I’m happy to get to be involved in my favorite pastime in any capacity I can, including helping the youngsters, and also including this blog and my overblown, drawn-out analysis of stuff that nobody takes seriously anyway. I do it for fun. I do it for the love of the game.
By Niels Boor
March 16, 2008 6:06 AM | Link to this
Et tu, Moby Grape?
But I do agree with you here — chrisklob is a great guy.
He’s just so effin humorless. (But please — decide for yourself.)
By Niels Boor
March 16, 2008 6:24 AM | Link to this
ippississiM—
Hey, buddy — how goes it?
Listen, you really got to come up for air and start a new paragraph every two or three sentences. (Actually with you, I’d definitely recommend limiting the paragraphs to two super sentences.)
;-)
Btw, *great stuff about Chuck James. Thanks again.
By ncscoots
March 16, 2008 6:38 AM | Link to this
I do it for fun. I do it for the love of the game.
And that makes you a full-blown blog denzine, my friend. Good on ya.
And I wouldn’t worry too much about your playing resume. Though the blog is populated by a number of former college players, at least a couple of former minor leaguers, and coaches past and present, there’s only one thing that gets you cred here: the content of your posts. In that respect, you got good VORP, LOL.
The unfortunate truism is that a good CV doesn’t necessarily mean you aren’t and idiot. :-)
By David O'Brien
March 16, 2008 7:33 AM | Link to this
Morning, denizens:
ippississiM (and do you know how hard it is to write that in a hurry?): Haven’t you heard, Chuckster has a slider. OK, so he only threw it once, in the dirt, in his two-inning debut the other day. Still, he’s got it. Really can’t tell you honestly how good it is, whether he’s confident enough to use it in real games….
uga-brave, amazing day for the ‘Dawgs. Really was. Coach saved his job, and team pulls off an unprecedented feat — winning two games in one day in a major-conference tourney. And does it on its in-state rival’s court, no less.
And thanks to the Hogs for beating Tennessee and giving the 30-3 Jayhawks a a slightly better chance of getting a No. 1 seed….
OK, gotta drive to Jupiter. Two hours or so. And I hear Florida highway patrol’s under orders to give tons of speeding tickets this weekend. Statewide crackdown on speeders.
Time to slow it down, get a big steaming travel of mug of coffee, and put on some good Sunday morning music — some Mahalia Jackson, Johnny Cash, Albert King, Gram Parsons, Allmans….
Later.
By ippississiM
March 16, 2008 7:48 AM | Link to this
DOB:
I guess that means it slid. The way a runner slides in to second.
BTW, I’m fine with “ippi” for short, especially since that’s what I post under when on the road or someone else’s computer and in a hurry. The username is my play on how backwards a lot of my fellow Mississippians are, and how backwards they think I am for having been “out in the world” and lost most of the accent.
Sorry about the long paragraphs, it’s just that I grew up on the kind of books where you would go half a page without a period - Dickens, et cetera, and it kinda rubbed off on me.
By ippississiM
March 16, 2008 8:04 AM | Link to this
His slider’s confused. It slid in to home plate. I wonder if it had its spikes up, like that guy coming in to second in the Yanks/Rays game the other day. I don’t really know what happened there, since I only caught the highlight out of the corner of my eye while doing something else.
By Geezum, Will?!?
March 16, 2008 8:17 AM | Link to this
Since when did they have infomercials on radio?!?
Word to the wise: avoid 640 AM for the timebeing.
By Random
March 16, 2008 8:41 AM | Link to this
I’m blessed.
Well, at least my heart is.
By Random©
March 16, 2008 8:45 AM | Link to this
Judge Nocahoma—
Based on the confrontational fierceness of your criticism, bookended as it was with abusive invective, my immediate suspicion was that you were bluffing.
A few productive minutes with Google and I see that you are indeed correct (except that it was a direct examination, and not a cross).
I’m not a lawyer, nor do I play one on a blog. I was merely trying to inject some light-hearted humor into the proceedings.
So sue me.
By Moby Grape
March 16, 2008 9:14 AM | Link to this
Et tu, Moby Grape?Niels
I guess it’s that excitable football player part of me. Always usta love piling on. The baseball player part is much nicer.;-)
By ippississiM
March 16, 2008 9:26 AM | Link to this
Now I feel guilty. I guess I need to apologize to Chuck James for calling him a two-pitch chump. I guess I misremembered him talking about his slider last year in an interview with Bowman. I believe Chuck said he only throws the slider if he wants to watch it go over the centerfield nosebleed seats, or something to that effect. I’m happy to see he’s keeping it down this year, although I think three feet in front of the plate is overdoing it a bit.
Maybe by the time he’s called up again, he will have worked up the guts to throw it five, maybe six more times, and be comfortable enough with it to get it to the catcher without dirt on it.
By Seymour
March 16, 2008 10:00 AM | Link to this
DOB,
You might have already seen this, but I just saw this on another Braves blog and figured you would really get a kick out of it (seeing as how you’re a Radiohead fan- I think). Braves Preview Video 2008
Seymour
By The Mysterious Rhinestone Cowboy
March 16, 2008 10:04 AM | Link to this
Who would have ever thought we would see the Hogs and Dawgs in the SEC Finals? As a Hog Fan, if you would have told me this group of seniors would be playing in their second straight SEC Title game, I would have called you a damn fool. That game against Tennessee was the best b-ball game I’ve seen in a long time. As a Hog fan, it ranks up there with the 94 NCAA title game vs. Duke. Good luck Georgia Fans. You’ve made an amazing run and Destiny seems to be on your side. The Dawgs man-handled us in the regular season match-up, but then again, so did Tennesse. Should be a fun game to watch. May the best team win. GO HOGS!!!
By ippississiM
March 16, 2008 10:12 AM | Link to this
I’m sorry, now I’m just being snarky for snarky’s sake. I’ve got to stop taking out my insomniac frustrations on professional athletes I’ve never met….
By Judge Nocahoma
March 16, 2008 10:26 AM | Link to this
Random, Google University’s law school is not ABA approved. I don’t consider badgering witnesses in my courtroom to be light hearted or worthy of my time. You see, I’ve got quite a full docket just like DOB did that day. So, for the sake of time, when I am conducting informal hearings like his informal Q & A session that particular day, being a little lax on the form of questioning is a common practice. And you did miss out on another objection but I guess they don’t teach that at Google University’s law school. Now get the hell out of my courtroom before I have you prosecuted for practicing law without a license.
By Andy
March 16, 2008 10:34 AM | Link to this
DOB, Why in the world do you think Cox is so enamored with Tyler Yates?? They guy consistently has era’s above 5, and this spring has been no different with a 12.60 era, and showing no signs of being able to throw with consistent control. He only has two pitches. His fastball has no movement whatsoever. What does Cox see in this guy? We are going to lose Resop or Boyer so that we can keep an older useless Tyler Yates. Yates has trouble pitching on back to back days, much less pitching effectively in any giving outing. I have the roughest time watching Yates blow lead after lead. Why are we going to keep this guy, when we have two guys with much more upside and potential? Thanks for your input!
By Lew
March 16, 2008 10:43 AM | Link to this
ippississiM-Dude, not too sure how you can say that a pitcher, who as a starter, wins 11 games both of his first two seasons (1 1/2, actually), has an ERA at or below league average both years and a 2-1 K to BB ratio for his (short) ML career, despite shoulder issues has no starting potential or to be used as such.
Now this is not to say that an effective slider or curve and some intense offseason training regiment to increase stamina would not be helpful, however……
Sorry, Dude, just can’t go along with your negativity about Chuck. He may have room for improvement (just like almost every player), but he’s hardly scrap heap material, either.
By richbrave
March 16, 2008 10:55 AM | Link to this
ANDY:
I’m inclined to agree regarding Yates. He’s the equvalent in pitching of Thorman as a position player. At least in my mind. Not nearly multi-dimensional enough to hang onto. His only advantage appears to be that he has a history with Atlanta at this point.
It looks as if Boyer has shaken off the blaas he experienced upon being returned to Richmond last year and is ready to bring his “A” game to the A-Braves. Hope so. Would love to see him succeed as he is family.
Resop is the arm kinda’ like Yates ONCE was. Great potential. Lets keep one for development. He might work out!
By ippississiM
March 16, 2008 10:59 AM | Link to this
Lew: I was just off on a tangent about the fact that while Chuck will probably never be better than a #4 starter, he would be much more valuable in the bullpen, given how much better he does the first time through the lineup and how hittable he usually is by the third go-round. I honestly think he could be a top-notch reliever, but instead he’s a bottom-of-the-rotation starter that nobody’s afraid of at all.
By David O'Brien
March 16, 2008 11:04 AM | Link to this
Wow, every year I forget how far that haul is — about 2-1/2 hours, and that’s going right at 80 or slightly below, with cops everywhere….
OK, gotta get down to the field.
By Andy
March 16, 2008 11:13 AM | Link to this
Richbrave, Thanks for your opinion. Nobody bothers me more on this team than Yates. He seems so stubborn consistently throwing this 98mph straight fastball and getting nailed. He walks guys and always gets in trouble. You almost NEVER see a 1-2-3 inning from the guy. I realize he has history with the Braves the past couple of years, but it needs to end. I don’t see losing him as a big loss when we have Boyer and Resop looking more than capable. Regarding Thorman, I at least respect the dude because he hustles like crazy up the baseline, plays good D, and seems like a winner. He just needs to cut down on the monster swing. I see him having some big pinch-hits for us this year.
By Braves20
March 16, 2008 11:15 AM | Link to this
One last note on my journey to Lake Buena Vista this weekend. Give me the oldies they pump out anytime to that annoying chick (Suzy something or other) they have between innings.
Also wish every Brave fan in America who appreciates the little guy or the struggling vet could have been there for Corky’s slam. What a moment for the guy.
By richbrave
March 16, 2008 11:30 AM | Link to this
CORKY20:
Miller was great here in Richmond last year. Playing out the string, he worked tirelessly with the pitchers, showed great hustle, and attitude. Its a shame his offensive skills have kept him from the bigs. Hopefully this slam will give him some leverage for a back-up spot in Atlanta this year. Of course if Miller’s in than Sammons and Lopez are out, but that’s what SP’s for. I expect to enjoy Sammons in Richmond thyis year.
By Austin
March 16, 2008 11:46 AM | Link to this
*Braves 20
I would pay a daily fee to keep Suzy Q from the stadium.
By Austin
March 16, 2008 11:52 AM | Link to this
ippississiM
hilarious 10:12 post. I do however agree with Lew that James is a good pitcher and does have potential. James right now is a great #5 and maybe even a good #4.
By Lew
March 16, 2008 11:55 AM | Link to this
ippi-No one’s afraid of him, yet he still pitches effectively (at or below league average) despite the lack of fear. I say he’s an effective breaking pitch and one inning per start from being one of the best lower rotation starters in the NL, at the very least.
Dude, LH relievers who can get one or two batters out are much more prevalent than lower rotation pitchers who can consistently win 11 games per season. Go check it out.
By Lew
March 16, 2008 12:01 PM | Link to this
ippi-We have three LH relievers fighting for a spot on this current team. Exactly how many LH #4 or #5 starters that have won 22 games the past two seasons do we have fighting for the end of the rotation? For that matter, how many do ANY ML team have fighting for that 4 or 5 slot?
By Lew
March 16, 2008 12:07 PM | Link to this
Braves20 and Austin-Dudes, at least you got to see Suzy with her act down tight. I saw her the first day when she was out there practicing her act. I think the high point of that whole performance was The Grinch trying to photograph the part of her that leaves a room last-as he did with almost every woman who was on the field that day.
What can I say? I’ve been trying to class up the Grinch’s act, but it’s a thankless job.
By Savannah Guy
March 16, 2008 12:36 PM | Link to this
The Grinch trying to photograph the part of her that leaves a room last-as he did with almost every woman who was on the field that day.
Lew, the esteemed Grinch is just practicing to be a detective… learning to tail his subjects and such.
By Moby Grape
March 16, 2008 12:37 PM | Link to this
Regarding Thorman, I at least respect the dude because he hustles like crazy up the baseline, plays good D, and seems like a winner. He just needs to cut down on the monster swing. I see him having some big pinch-hits for us this year.Andy
I’ve been watching him for 4-5 years and he does NOT play good D. Barely adequate is much more like it. He does hustle, but that and a buck will get you a cup of coffee and he has already had his IMO.
By Austin
March 16, 2008 12:45 PM | Link to this
Lew
I was down there Monday for the game and even with her act down it may have been the worst part of the game.
Nothin wrong with a photograph here and there I must say. Stay strong Grinch.
By richbrave
March 16, 2008 12:50 PM | Link to this
MR> GRAPE:
Agree with you on Thorman. He had a lon-g-g look last year when the Braves really needed him to fill the position he was given. He didn’t in any way. Cut him loose, or trade him for a good low minor league pitcher.
By ippississiM
March 16, 2008 1:03 PM | Link to this
All I’m saying is that he doesn’t do well at all the third time a batter faces him, which means he will always start getting lit up in the fifth inning as a starter unless he does something to fix it.
Thing is, I just flat-out don’t think he’s got the mental agility to make the necessary adjustments, at least not quickly enough to keep from being marginalized to the point of being pushed out by someone younger, more versatile, and with more life in their fastball. For better or worse, Chuck’s who he is. I love his humility, and that he wasn’t above manual labor after being such a rising star his first season in the bigs, but on the other hand, he’s an MLB pitcher, whose career depends on his hand and arm more than anything else, who chose to spend his offseason doing home improvement for hire, where any little slip could have left him short a finger. NOT A ROCKET SCIENTIST.
By JC from UT
March 16, 2008 1:07 PM | Link to this
MOBEY: Couldn’t agree with more on Thorman Great hustle hard nosed player, just can’t cut down on that swing. Wish FW could pacakge him and Yates for something even if it is something that would not help this season. The only team I see being interested in Thorman is the Giants, I cant even think of an AL team that might want him to DH
By David O'Brien
March 16, 2008 1:08 PM | Link to this
CHIPPER goes YARD, two-out solo homer in first on an 0-1 pitch.
He was crushing the ball in BP, best I’ve seen him this spring.
I’m about to post a new blog.
By David O'Brien
March 16, 2008 1:15 PM | Link to this
tough call on E6 Escobar with two out in bottom first.
By chrisklob
March 16, 2008 1:16 PM | Link to this
….could have left him short a finger.
Hey, it worked for Mordecai “Three Fingers” Brown!
By Jared
March 16, 2008 1:23 PM | Link to this
Wish FW could pacakge Thorman and Yates for something
I’m sure teams are lining up and falling all over themselves to trade for the players people on this blog routinely ridicule and call “garbage”.
By David O'Brien
March 16, 2008 1:26 PM | Link to this
SCARY MOMENT: Francoeur has just been hit inthe side of the face by a pitch. Keep in mind, he had a career-threatening HBP to the face in the minors, that broke his orbital bone and did all kinds of damage. Still has a plate in there.
He’s up on his feet and walking off field with assistance from trainer, headed to clubhouse. Bobby just threw the batting helmet into the dugout as he came off field. He’s p’d off.
By ippississiM
March 16, 2008 1:26 PM | Link to this
MLB is showing that as an error on Chipper. What happened?
By ippississiM
March 16, 2008 1:30 PM | Link to this
Yeah, well, it could give him an awesome splitter, or it could make tucking the finger unnecessary on a 12-6 curve, so I guess there’s an upside to amputation after all.
By ippississiM
March 16, 2008 1:33 PM | Link to this
DOB: what’s going on? Is Frenchy hurt? I just saw on the boxscore that he’s been pulled without recording an AB.
By chrisklob
March 16, 2008 1:33 PM | Link to this
DOB, that’s awful news. Who threw that pitch?
By David O'Brien
March 16, 2008 1:36 PM | Link to this
NEW BLOG IS UP
By Andy
March 16, 2008 1:40 PM | Link to this
JC,
Mobey was ripping me on my Thorman comments. Thorman plays adequate D, and hustles, which is why I at least respect the guy. I have no respect for someone like Yates throwing straight fastballs to guys, and walking the planet. If you look at back-up 1B around the league, are you really going to find THAT much better cheaper options than someone like Thorman right now? The answer is “No!” Thorman is not a critical piece on this team, so I don’t see the extreme criticism warranted. Tex is going to play just about everyday. Thorman is not going to blow you any games, quite like Tyler Yates. YATES is my main criticism because Cox loves to throw him out there with the game on the line, and he consistently trashes the start of an inning, or completely loses the game. Never a 1-2-3 inning with the useless guy. Part of my criticism boils down to Cox’s lack of good management in close games, and in extras. He refuses to throw the right people in tight situations. See Wickman in road save situations last yr. See Wickman against the Marlins. See Yates in any situation that counted. Cox also refuses to move runners over in extras, which kills me!
By Daybed Wagmoe
March 16, 2008 1:42 PM | Link to this
chrisklob — Todd Wellemeyer threw the pitch.
By ippississiM
March 16, 2008 1:43 PM | Link to this
chrisklob: I’m showing Wellenmeyer as the pitcher for the Cards.