AJC > Sports > Braves > Blog > Archives > 2008 > April > 15 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USTex will hit, but how ‘bout Kelly?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Fort Lauderdale, Fla. — Greetings to the denizens, and a few thoughts while noting that it’s chillier today in Fort Lauderdale (60 degrees with strong wind at noon) than it is today in Denver, where we were snowed out Friday.
Do you folks realize that the Braves have scored three runs or fewer in half of their 12 games? I didn’t think so. The fact that they’ve scored in double digits in four games has a way of overshadowing what’s been a lackluster offense.
And when you consider that the leadoff man isn’t leading off very well at all, and the cleanup hitter isn’t cleaning up much, you start to wonder how the erratic (so far) Braves offense has managed to put up the third-highest runs total in the league (67), behind only Arizona (81) and Pittsburgh (69).
(I should take a moment now to pat myself on the back by pointing out that I picked the Diamondbacks to win the World Series. Look it up. But I won’t point that out, since it’d be rather gauche to do so.)
Back to the Braves’ offense (hey, just thought I’d start off the blog by talking about something other than the bullpen and Glavine’s hamstring, since I know things will quickly veer in that direction regardless. By the way, I’ll let you know the other roster move, to go with Buddy Carlyle being recalled, soon as I hear anything, but that probably won’t be until we get to the ballpark.)
Braves leadoff hitters (Kelly Johnson 37 at-bats, others 14 total) are hitting .235 (10th in the NL) with one RBI (tied for last in the NL), a .304 OBP (12th) and a .314 slugging percentage (13th).
Braves cleanup hitters (Mark Teixeira) have the league’s worst slugging percentage (.383) and third-lowest batting average (.213).
Now, as I’ve stated many times, there is no need to worry about Teixeira, who is a notorious slow start who quickly gets things turned around and ends up with his usual solid numbers. Mark it down.
Tex is a .285 career hitter with a .370 OBP and .536 slugging percentage. But in April he’s got a career-worst .251 average (27 points lower than any other month), and a .435 slugging percentage that’s a whopping 91 points lower than his next-worst month.
So you see, this is very typical of him to struggle like this.
But Kelly Johnson … well, there I would not be so cavalier as to suggest there is absolutely nothing to be concerned about and that his track record says he’ll hit.
Because frankly, his track record isn’t quite long enough just yet, not after just one full season in the majors. We know Kelly can hit, period. And he’s got a great eye.
But pitchers seem to have made adjustments to him, and it’ll be interesting to see how soon Kelly can make adjustments to counter those moves. That, or just how soon he’ll start to hit.
Because if you’ll recall, Kelly finished the 2007 season on a skid. And he also didn’t do much this spring.
I’ll not including spring numbers, since they’re meaningless and it’d be hypocritical for me to start acting as though they’re important when I’ve said otherwise since we got down to Dark Star in February.
But let’s just go with his season-ending slump and this one to start the new season. Going back to Sept. 7, Johnson has now hit .204 (19-for-93) with just two doubles, two homers, seven RBI, nine walks and 21 strikeouts in his past 27 games.
He has a .282 OBP and .290 slugging percentage in that 27-game stretch, with as many errors (four) as extra-base hits, and as many GIDPs (one) as stolen bases.
Maybe he gets 6-8 hits in this Marlins series and starts to put slump talk to rest. But that’s becoming quite a stretch of unproductivity, and it wouldn’t surprise me if Cox shuffles the lineup a bit if it continues much longer.
Speaking of April duds…. There’s also been an awful lot of talk on the ol’ Braves/MIB blog about Matt Diaz’ slow start, some of you even starting to howl for a platoon (my, how quickly attitudes change in that regard).
Well, it should be pointed out that, like Teixeira, Diaz also does his worst work in the season’s first month.
Diaz is a .316 career hitter with a .351 OBP and .464 slugging percentage, but in April he’s got a career-worst .243 average, putrid .248 OBP and .333 slugging, far and away his worst in all of those categories. In fact, he’s hit at least .274 in every other month, including a robust .402 with a .633 slugging percentage in May, and .396 with a .705 slugging percentage in August.
That’s right, he goes from cold to hot in a hurry.
And even though it’s still April, something’s gotta give this week for Diaz. Either his April skid or his career-long wrecking job against Marlins pitching. Because he hits no one quite like he does the Marlins, especially at Dolphin Stadium.
The stats are absurd, really. I mean, what he does against Florida is hard to fathom: Diaz has a .436 career average (41-for-94) with 15 extra-base hits (six homers), a .461 OBP and a .745 slugging percentage in 31 games against the Fish.
And at the rather charmless edifice on the northern edge of Dade County, all Diaz has done is hit .472 (25-for-53) with four homers, 12 RBI, a .500 OBP and an .849 slugging percentage in 17 games. Yes, a 1.349 OPS.
He must like that lovely Miccosukee sign that covers the outfield fence from the left field corner all the way to center. The ivy at Wrigley has nothing over that thing.
By the way, Diaz has hit .522 (12-for-23) with three homers and eight RBI in his past eight game against the Marlins, including six games down here.
Plenty from the 2-3 holes: While the Braves wait for their leadoff and cleanup men to come around, they continue to get stellar production from the Nos. 2-3 spots in the order — from Yunel Escobar and Chipper Jones, respectively.
At the No. 2 spot, Escobar is making folks quickly forget about Edgar Renteria. From that spot in the order, the Braves lead the NL in average (.367) and OBP (.446), rank second in RBI (10), and third in slugging (.571).
And from the Hoss hole, the Braves lead the NL with a .392 average, rank second in OBP (.429), tied for second in RBI (11) and fifth in slugging (.549).
OK, gotta get to the ballpark…. Just wanted to say, if you’re looking for a great CD by a local band, get the EP from Athens-based Dead Confederate on Razor & Tie records. These guys are gonna be very big, soon. Great guitars, drums, and brooding lead singer. And if you want a great CD by a couple of alt-rock legends who’ve never sounded better, get The Gutter Twins’ “Saturnalia.” The Twins are Greg Dulli (Afghan Whigs, Twilight Singers) and Mark Lanegan, former grunge band Screaming Trees’ front man, but more recently a guest member of Queens of the Stone Age and the aforementioned Twilight Singers. These guys sound great together. Lanegan sounds like rum and cigarettes.
Oh, and if you want a great country album the way Steve Earle is country, then get the debut by newcomer Hayes Carll, called “Trouble in Mind.” You’ll thank me later.
I’d recommend the new James McMurtry and John Hiatt CDs (got an advance on the Hiatt, which isn’t out until next month), but I just picked them up yesterday and haven’t had a chance to play them. But McMurtry’s up for the drive to Dolphin Stadium.
Now, a tune that speaks volumes. Son Volt killed at the Variety on Friday night.
“BACK INTO YOUR WORLD” by Jay Farrar (Son Volt)
Living for the moment
It flashes and fades
And takes you down
Familiar deserted byways
Shelf-stored memories
Lead you where you been
No long ago
And guess who’s guessing now?
Let me back into your world
At the blink of the eye
No uncertain terms
Let me back into your world
You should know
What is real by now
Let the judges meet their makers
Can’t slow down
Burning that four-barrel speed
A battle cry to treat this absence
Let me back into your world
At the blink of the eye
No uncertain terms
Let me back into your world
Spent the promises
Spent the meantime
Through ins and outs
Of halfway house boundaries
Leave this impasse
If you’re gonna leave anything
Just don’t leave here
Without speaking your mind
Let me back into your world
At the blink of the eye
No uncertain terms
Let me back into your world
Services »
Comments
By Robert
April 15, 2008 2:25 PM | Link to this
DOB - I’ve never understood why the team doesn’t grant its beat writer access to the team’s charter flight, etc. If its good enough for the announcing crew, why not for its beat writer?
Also, any chance you are going to land your own show on any of the AM stations in the near future?
By Robert
April 15, 2008 2:25 PM | Link to this
DOB - I’ve never understood why the team doesn’t grant its beat writer access to the team’s charter flight, etc. If its good enough for the announcing crew, why not for its beat writer?
Also, any chance you are going to land your own show on any of the AM stations in the near future?
By AGTfan
April 15, 2008 2:29 PM | Link to this
new BLOGGAGE IS UPPAGE
DOB are you sure you’re not sitting on the beach drinking something with an umbrella in it?
By Josh from Columbus
April 15, 2008 2:29 PM | Link to this
FIRST!
By The Big Show
April 15, 2008 2:29 PM | Link to this
The Bravos will be just fine this year. Glavine will not be out for long and Hampton will actually win some games for us. Smoltz the Biggest Big Game pitcher ever will continue to pitch with ailments or not and we will finally win a bunch of games for him this year. Oh and Kelly Johnson, don’t worry about him because he is on my fantasy team and he will be just fine. Or else I’m gonna be p**. Anyways GO BRAVES and I can’t wait to get down to the ATL this summer to catch some games!!!
By NRBQ
April 15, 2008 2:30 PM | Link to this
IMO, Tex’s putrid April numbers are directly related to his laissez-faire attitude towards spring training.
I’m sure I’m not the first to suggest that, but look at how hard Chipper worked in ST, and he’s bustin’ it.
By Michael in England
April 15, 2008 2:30 PM | Link to this
First?
By Chop Chop
April 15, 2008 2:30 PM | Link to this
Seventh.
And if I’m not seventh, Original Jon, your still right…and I am still and idiot.
By JasonInMaine
April 15, 2008 2:33 PM | Link to this
Roster Question: If a player gets suspended, is he still on the active roster taking up a spot or can the team call someone up?
By Shaun
April 15, 2008 2:33 PM | Link to this
Still a little too early…actually a lot too early…to read too much into the numbers right now.
Kelly Johnson does have a track record. He’s played 244 games and has 981 plate appearances in the majors and has hit .264/.357/.432 at barely over 26-years-young. Is is guaranteed that he’ll start hitting? Of course not. But if I had to bet on whether he’ll be a legit all-star caliber second baseman and lead-off hitter or not, I’d bet in favor of it.
By Michael
April 15, 2008 2:34 PM | Link to this
Good blog as always, DOB
By DunderChief
April 15, 2008 2:34 PM | Link to this
FIRST!?!
By Shaun
April 15, 2008 2:40 PM | Link to this
We still should rely on overall track record over two weeks worth of games or 27 games.
By Steve McP
April 15, 2008 2:41 PM | Link to this
Look out for Diaz hitting the first pitch in Florida too - I recall from last season that he was hitting something outrageous (no idea on how to look up this stat) on first pitches against the fish (500+?).
By AGTfan
April 15, 2008 2:41 PM | Link to this
And if I’m not seventh, Original Jon, your still right…and I am still and idiot. Chop Chop
Since you were seventh, what does that mean?
By Efrim
April 15, 2008 2:46 PM | Link to this
Kelly will be fine, as will Tex. As will Diaz for that matter…..12 games in. Plenty of time to turn those averages around.
The starting rotation and closer’s health are the real issues we should be concerned about.
By Original Jon
April 15, 2008 2:48 PM | Link to this
Ok guys and gals, apparently I missed an inside joke or something on the last blog and I apologize if I was making it seem like I was calling Chop Chop an idiot. I wasn’t intentionally doing it, just pointing out a mistake, which was my bad. Sorry for not reading the blog all the way. lol
By Tsweet
April 15, 2008 2:52 PM | Link to this
I am not worried about Diaz hitting, i think it will come along. But his defense makes me cringe. He hasnt butchered any balls yet but once a game he takes a terrible angle on a ball.
By Rooster
April 15, 2008 2:53 PM | Link to this
I still think we should have traded for Nady. I told people that before the season started and they laughed at the idea. Who’s laughin now. Nady would be and upgrade over Diaz plus give us a veteran who can play the outfield and first. mark my word if Diaz can’t cut it the Braves will be forced to make a move. I also say its time to go with this line-up.
*Anderson/Diaz
bring up Anderson and start the platoon immediately. It seems everytime we rally the 8th hole always comes up. (Diaz found himself lucky in the Washington game the other day. Dad always said a blind squrril finds a nut every now and then!!!!
By Josh from Columbus
April 15, 2008 2:53 PM | Link to this
DOB,
We’re still anxiously awaiting the roster move…
By McFann
April 15, 2008 2:54 PM | Link to this
Quite a few have questioned the meaning of “Your and idiot” lately…
19th? Uh…20th?
By AGTfan
April 15, 2008 2:55 PM | Link to this
(I should take a moment now to pat myself on the back by pointing out that I picked the Diamondbacks to win the World Series. Look it up. But I won’t point that out, since it’d be rather gauche to do so.) DOB I think April is also a little early for self-congratulations.
By GSU-Lee
April 15, 2008 2:56 PM | Link to this
Thanks for the updates DOB. Hey by the way, just out of curiosity, should there be a need in the bullpen where does Phil Stockman stand in terms of getting to Atlanta sometime this year…or ever?
By Train Wreck Bystander
April 15, 2008 2:57 PM | Link to this
Too much going on in real life to be a “First Poster” dweeb.
You gotta hope that the Teixeira Effect for Chipper will transmogrify into the Escobar Corollary for Kelly. At least, I hope so.
By Erik
April 15, 2008 2:58 PM | Link to this
I’m betting that Resop is the one that gets sent down, instead of Glavine being put on the DL.
Ok, maybe I’m just hoping that Resop is the one to go.
A Huddy-Smoltz-Jurjjens-Bennett(Reyes?)-Carlyle rotation looks a lot like that awful rotation of last year. Lets hope it doesn’t last too long.
By CT
April 15, 2008 3:00 PM | Link to this
Diaz is a pure everyday major league hitter and you are crazy to think otherwise. He earned his shot, screw the platoon. Yall can go back to panic island with all the people throwing hissy fits. 10-2 starts and instant fire bats only happen when you have 3 future HOF pitchers in their prime.
By Rooster
April 15, 2008 3:01 PM | Link to this
I know its early but I have found the last two years that the Braves waited too long before making a change. Our bullpen will look different in Sept., hopefully Wren donesn’t wait to long or we might be trading for prospects. I also think if Diaz struggles in Miami then its back to the old platoon. Our offense will come around and when it does it won’t matter who’s on the mound becuase we will smoke the competition. We have a AL line-up that is capable of 7 or 8 runs a night. Lets just hope they find the stroke before mid night or our season will rot like a carved pumpkin.
By Robert (Chipper Is The Best)
April 15, 2008 3:03 PM | Link to this
ESPN just reported that Glavine is not going on the DL and will make his next start. I hope that is the case but you have to wonder why Carlyle got called up then unless he is going to replace Bennett?
By Chop Chop
April 15, 2008 3:03 PM | Link to this
No problem, Original Jon. I just felt the need to stick with the joke until someone else explained it.
By FJR
April 15, 2008 3:04 PM | Link to this
For those who are really worried about his team, lets just take a little peek at the current standings. Your division leaders are…. (drum roll)
Baltimore, KC, Oakland, Florida, St. Louis and Arizona. I’d bet a LOT of money that one or fewer of these teams makes the playoffs.
Now, lets look at teams who are in last or next to last in their division: Colorado, LAD, Cincinnatti, Atlanta, Seattle, Cleveland, Detroit, and NYY. I’d e willing to bet that 4 or more of those teams make the playoffs.
what does this mean? Its freaking early.
By Billy (TBFnB)
April 15, 2008 3:06 PM | Link to this
Rooster,
Thats funny my dad said the same exact thing…..
By Allie2
April 15, 2008 3:07 PM | Link to this
I think Kelly has hit just fine so far this season. Sunday was the first time that he didn’t record a hit in game this season (even though he hit the ball well and he come into Sunday hitting .294) . He is driving the ball well the other way as well. I think the reason why Kelly’s numbers look down is because he didn’t draw his first walk until Sunday. I think we all know that really won’t be much of an issue with him.
By Epinephrine
April 15, 2008 3:07 PM | Link to this
Kelly is a streaky hitter. It is something he is trying to work on, but right now that is the nature of the beast. Last year, look at his month by month break downs, excluding September when he was just done.
April: .326 March .259 June: .256 July: .356 August: .269
Right now he is hitting .264, which is consistent with one of his down months. With all that being said, it is still way too early to make any predictions. We have only gone through half of a month of baseball-with two canceled games to boot. Kelly could well end up hitting over .300 for the month.
It is just silly to make guesses and predictions about what two weeks of baseball means for one particular player. At the very least, we should be waiting until the end of April before jumping to conclusions. The same thing was said repeatedly last year, but here we are back in the same boat.
Unless his knee acts up, my bet is Kelly will be fine. Harder to say for Matty, because this is the first shot at non-platoon, but it is really too soon to make any decisions.
Next two series should be telling. Anyone else noticed that Tex didn’t pop balls up in the infield during the Nats series? That is good news. I have a feeling the bats are going to be alive in Florida this week.
By FJR
April 15, 2008 3:08 PM | Link to this
NRBQ, by “Tex’s laissez-faire attitude to spring training”, you mean hitting the weight room for hours every morning, the batting cages for hours after that?
You’d be an absolute freaking idiot to suggest the guy didn’t work hard in spring training.
By PABravefan
April 15, 2008 3:09 PM | Link to this
Maybe we should start to look to put together a package for Brian Roberts of the Orioles. Oh, wait it is April!! If Kelly is still hitting this poorly in another month then we can start to explore other avenues. Until then, maybe we can give Prado a few at bats, and when Infante comes back from the DL, he can fill in some. Relax folks and look around the league! The world seems turned upside down. Do we really think the Marlins are going to win the division because they are leading? What about the Orioles? Is Detroit really the worst team in the league? NO, NO, and NO!!! AGAIN, IT IS THE MIDDLE OF APRIL!!!!
By Chop Chop
April 15, 2008 3:10 PM | Link to this
I think Jo Jo can be a good pitcher. He’s only 23 and has decent stuff. He just needs seasoning in the minors. I hope the Braves can avoid turning him into “Yo Yo” (as Carroll says her boyfriend puts it) this year. I hope the “depth” will prevent that.
By DAP
April 15, 2008 3:11 PM | Link to this
so the mets fans boo santana in his first appearance at shea, and he explains it away by saying they are like like because they are used to not being very good. wow. what a shot. i cant think the mets fans are going to appreciate his comments!
heres the article if you missed it
DOB thanx for the new blog. i wouldnt get to giddy about predicting the dbacks to win it all just yet. its april 15th, and you could still end up looking stupid! :-)
By FJR
April 15, 2008 3:12 PM | Link to this
my analysis of the NL thus far and going forward
By Rooster
April 15, 2008 3:13 PM | Link to this
Resop is pronounced Re-Sux. Maybe the Braves will trade him to the Pirates for a (A-) prospect. Some reason our bullpen rejects do good in the Steel City. I say offer Schaffer, Resop, Boyer, Pena, and B. Jones to the Twins for Joe Nathan. Lets go ahead and fix the bullpen now. That contract the Twins signed him to makes him more attractive. Imagine Nathan, Moylan, Sorieano, Gonzalez, Ohman, Ring in the October bullpen.
By Bravesfan79
April 15, 2008 3:14 PM | Link to this
Your right DOB… Arizona will be very tough to beat in the NLCS. The key to any playoff series for the Braves is to have a healthy Smoltz and Chipper. With them i like our chances against anyone!
By Rooster
April 15, 2008 3:19 PM | Link to this
Epinephrine you hit the nail on the head when you said Kelly is a streaky hitter, that is why he shouldn’t lead off. He would serve the line-up better in the 7th hole. His struggle continue and the anti-edgar will bat first.
By Austin
April 15, 2008 3:23 PM | Link to this
Rooster
I double checked and indeed the pronunciation of Resop is Re-Sux.
By bruce
April 15, 2008 3:23 PM | Link to this
its peter moylan!! 15 day dl with elbow
By David O'Brien
April 15, 2008 3:24 PM | Link to this
BravesFan79, absolutely agree with you: If Smoltz and Huddy are both healthy when the postseason begins (assuming Braves are in it), they’ve got a shot against anyone. And if Glavine’s healthy and Jurrjens keeps it up, too, well then I like their chances against anyone. But lot of ifs. Whole lot of baseball to play before we even start thinking about that stuff….
DAP, I didn’t have strong conviction about D-backs, just was asked to make a pick and made it. And since they’re playing well right now, I thought I’d point it out. Believe me, I’m not putting any money on them. Like I said, had to make a pick.
I do love that pitching staff, though, and just liked how much energy they played with last year and again so far this season….
By FJR
April 15, 2008 3:24 PM | Link to this
um, rooster, you don’t normally sign a guy and then trade him for prospects the next second.
By Austin
April 15, 2008 3:26 PM | Link to this
Kotsay should lead off. Esocobar is the prototype 2 hole hitter. Johnson should slide down into the 7 hole.
By Braveheart
April 15, 2008 3:26 PM | Link to this
KJ is too much of a worrier. He seems to think about things too much. McCann and Frenchy seem more free in their interviews. When I watched KJ in interviews this spring, he doesn’t seem as comfortable as Frenchy or McCann in admitting his weaknesses or strengths. McCann is astonishingly honest about his flaws and performance in a way that only a person very sure about himself can be. Frenchy talks like the former defensive back he used to be. He acknowledges his mistakes but has supreme confidence in himself to shake off getting burnt on the last pass so that he can intercept the next pass. Escobar can’t speak English so you don’t hear him interviewed but he seems like one of those cold blooded psychos like Michael Jordan who spits on his mistakes and buries them as if they never happened. Chipper talks like a player who knows he will be humbled but it won’t matter because his mechanics and approach will overcome any failure over the long run.
KJ, on the other hand, seems so unsure of himself when he speaks. He seems to let mistakes or other people’s perceptions haunt him. Just think about the mind block he had late last season on balls up the middle. It seems like he makes a mistake and instead of shaking it off, he lets it snowball. He just thinks too much. He keeps saying things like I need to get better on D, I need to strike out less and make more contact. Eff that. KJ needs to stop thinking and worrying and figure himself out as a player.
He should know by now he is an adequate defender when he is not worried about being an adequate defender. He should know who he is as a hitter and that if people want him to walk and to wait for pitches he can drive, they will just have to accept the strikeouts. Stop making concessions to others. Frenchy, McCann, Chipper, Tex, Escobar don’t.
I guess what I am trying to say was said best by Neil Young: Indecision is crowding me, I have no room to spare, And I can’t believe she cared, Like a dream she has taken me, And now I don’t know where, And a part of me is scared, The part of me I shared, Once before.
By Steve from OH
April 15, 2008 3:28 PM | Link to this
Moylan to DL…oh boy, we’re in trouble.
By Deuce222
April 15, 2008 3:35 PM | Link to this
I just heard Moylan is on the 15 day DL and that is the reason for the roster move.
By Patrick
April 15, 2008 3:36 PM | Link to this
DOB,
You slackin?
Bowman just beat you to the punch about Moylan headed to the DL. Along with our season if these injuries keeps happening.
By DAP
April 15, 2008 3:36 PM | Link to this
DOB i feel ya. on the roster move, yeah, just make a stab at one. im sure youll be close…
By flange1
April 15, 2008 3:37 PM | Link to this
From Mark Bowman on atlantabraves.com “MIAMI — Peter Moylan won’t be serving as the Braves’ closer while Rafael Soriano rests his ailing right elbow. Instead, Moylan now also finds himself on the 15-day disabled list with his own elbow problem. The Braves placed Moylan on the disabled list on Tuesday afternoon and recalled right-hander Buddy Carlyle from Triple-A Richmond. If Tom Glavine’s right hamstring isn’t healthy enough, Carlyle could find himself starting Saturday’s game against the Dodgers.
But for now, he’ll simply provide relief for a suddenly decimated bullpen. The Braves are hopeful that Soriano will be able to return in a couple of weeks. But there’s some indication they can’t currently be as optimistic about Moylan.
Moylan felt some discomfort in his elbow while throwing a pitch in the ninth inning of Friday night’s win over the Nationals. The Australian right-hander went to Atlanta for an MRI exam on Monday. Results haven’t been released.
With Soriano and Moylan both out, the closer’s role will likely belong to Manny Acosta, who has just 26 career appearances.”
This is not good at all……
By Austin
April 15, 2008 3:37 PM | Link to this
Braveheart
Flawless post. You are absolutely right about KJ.
By jbutler
April 15, 2008 3:37 PM | Link to this
I just saw that Moylan went on the DL…did I miss something?? I guess I didn’t know he was aching…not good news!!
By Torchy
April 15, 2008 3:38 PM | Link to this
DOB, You see Kevin Gregg heading north with the Bravos? He seems to be the only closer available for less than a King’s ransom.
By Roman Gal
April 15, 2008 3:38 PM | Link to this
April Fools?
Haha…you got me!!
By NRBQ
April 15, 2008 3:39 PM | Link to this
FJR
It isn’t pleasant to be called an idiot by some anonymous poster who’s never met me.
Nonetheless, if you go back and read Tex’s own quotes, he said in effect, “I always start slow. It doesn’t bother me. I just want to prepare for the long haul.”
To your point, most of these guys work out everyday year-round.
He’s in his twenties, and in top physical condition. So he doesn’t care about April? Don’t April games count? And how many games have we lost when one hit from Tex could have made the difference?
Sounds laissez-faire to me, idiot or not.
By Efrim
April 15, 2008 3:39 PM | Link to this
DOB
Ever hear anything on Cole Rohrbough? I know he was injured, and might start at Myrtle Beach at some point this month?
By Rooster
April 15, 2008 3:40 PM | Link to this
FJR - The Twins did sign him and that makes him more attractive to a team wanting him. Yes teams do sign a player and then trade them. It is a way that they can get more in return. That is why I included the prospects I did. Think about it. The Twins don’t need him when they are in a rebuilding mode. You don’t mold a team around a 32 year old closer.
By mo in the boonies
April 15, 2008 3:42 PM | Link to this
Wayne I don’t get my marching orders from any past bloggers, and if someone is making a point counter to my logic (remember, BravesDave said I was the smartest person on the blog!), then I feel obligated to nominate them for the award for that night. If that is too harsh, then folks gotta get some thicker skin! Whaddddyyyya think?
What do I think? I think we are never going to agree on Bobby Cox, but I don’t see as that makes either one of us an idiot. That is my whole point.
BTW was there a smiley face implied after “remember, BravesDave said I was the smartest person on the blog!”, because I didn’t see one there.
If someone makes a point counter to your logic, then you feel obligated to call them “and idiot”?? Really? As I said before I think it is time to put that “little gem” to rest.
Lou I know Chipper has always called home to find out what is wrong with his swing or stance or whatever…point is should he have to? Shouldn’t the pitching coach be the first one to point out anything to him? That is what he is getting paid to do.
McFann The Andruw Jones incident happened when Andruw was just a rookie on the team, and I watched that game. I mentioned it the other day in response to some one. Andruw always made everything look so easy out there, almost like he had a magnet for the ball in his glove, that it looked like he was dogging it, but in reality he wasn’t, and in my opinion the removal was never necessary. It got a lot of air time because Cox never did that to any player before or since. And Cox got a lot of atta-boys because he was such a disciplinarian. Ya right! Go ask Grandpa about it.
BTW, Andruw got a triple yesterday.
And I agree with your two points about keeping the complaints to yourself. Seriously, what good is it to whine about something that no one on here can fix, anyway?
Now we can’t post anything but good stuff on here? It is going to be a very short blog.
nolie *Bobby’s probably been reading this blog and… *
From your mouth to God’s ears! :-) But I doubt it.
Sorry for such a long post, but I won’t be back on today.
By Serge
April 15, 2008 3:42 PM | Link to this
How does Matt Diaz have a track record to suggest “hes fine” but Kelly does not
By Justin
April 15, 2008 3:42 PM | Link to this
DOB got scooped by Bowman? Maybe the Marlins have a shot this season after all.
By The Mysterious Rhinestone Cowboy
April 15, 2008 3:43 PM | Link to this
Moylan to the DL. Uh-Oh.
By Braveheart
April 15, 2008 3:43 PM | Link to this
Fangraphs.com has cool stats on how often a pitcher throw a certain pitch and what the average mph is on those pitches. Check it out at the bottom of the page for Jair Jurrjens:
http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=5556&position=P
By Austin
April 15, 2008 3:44 PM | Link to this
Good God Almighty. The Braves need to deal for a GOOD reliever now! Yes it’s April but when your only two dominant relievers are out you can’t win ball games.
By Rooster
April 15, 2008 3:45 PM | Link to this
Braves offense better wake up and score 10 a night becuase we will be trotting out 3rd graders if the bullpen players continue to drop like flies. Our bullpen needs a overhaul or we will have five starters with a combined record of 30-90 and a 2.99 ERA. It never fails we loose 3-2 with the bully pean screwing the pooch in the 7-9.
By JimD
April 15, 2008 3:47 PM | Link to this
OUCH! Moylan to the DL, and the Braves are not too optimistic of a speedy return.
OK, glad we didn’t unload those prospects for bench help at the end of spring training. We need them now to make a trade for a closer.
I am usually an optimist, but I am afraid the team is unraveling right before our eyes.
So far Wren has done a fabulous job, let’s see if he can pull a rabbit out of the hat now … or a closer outta the trade heap …whatever.
By Carroll Rogers
April 15, 2008 3:50 PM | Link to this
It’s Peter Moylan to the disabled list with a right elbow strain. DOB just called from Florida, and I filed a burst for him. He’ll have more information coming, but he’s in the clubhouse reporting at the moment. But it’s Carlyle for Moylan. Moylan had some elbow soreness in spring training but seemed fine when he pitched his perfect inning on Friday in DC for a save. But DOB will get to the bottom of it.
By FJR
April 15, 2008 3:51 PM | Link to this
NRBQ,
The players work out different amounts throughout the year. A professional baseball player can’t really hit the gym hard everyday without his body breaking down from being so tired.
Have you been around Teixiera at all? Have you ever seen his work ethic? I have and I can tell you that if you’re questioning his work ethic, you are in fact an idiot. I don’t know for sure that you are, thus I am not calling you an idiot.
Tex’s point in your misunderstanding of his quote was that in spring traning, its far more important to get your body ready for a 162 grind than it is to worry about being 100% ready to hit right out of the gate.
I love chipper, don’t get me wrong, but its funny that you point to him as a refutation of Tex’s ST approach. One of Tex and Chipper has been better at staying ready all season long and the other has struggled to play 150 games. Maybe Tex has a point about ST.
We’re 2 games out of first place. David Ortiz is hitting sub .100. The Tigers, supposedly the best lineup int he modern era isn’t scoring runs. Let’s chill and wait for the weather to warm up a touch before we start getting too worried.
By Rooster
April 15, 2008 3:53 PM | Link to this
For those saying it to early to panic remember this WE DON”T HAVE A BULLPEN RIGHT NOW. Acosta, Ohman, Ring Re-sux, Caryle, and the rest of the bums are not the answer. Again offense wake up before we find ourselves 0-10 over the next 10 days. Panic because if that happens there ain’t no diggining back. In a division with so much competition that would take 200 games to make up. I say sound the horn lets get something done. No need to wait for the trade deadline when our season is on the ropes now. Our bullpen couldn’t finish a little league game. Our opponents have the mindset, well getem in the 7,8, and 9.
By FJR
April 15, 2008 3:56 PM | Link to this
Rooster, can you find me one example of a major player that was signed to a medium or long term contract and then traded within a month in MLB? Just one?
It doesn’t happen. It happens in the NBA because fo their retarded salary cap structure, but it does not ever happen in MLB.
And no, it doesn’t make him more attractive, it locks you into a big contract that you might want to opt out of later. If you want to sign a player, generally you want to be the one negotiating the contract.
By flange1
April 15, 2008 3:57 PM | Link to this
Braveheart,
I am looking at the link you posted, is that saying JJJ’s fastball is 91-92, his slider 80-82 and his change 84-85?
I always thought a slider was harder than a change?
Am I reading this correctly or am I And Idiot?
By Steve from OH
April 15, 2008 4:00 PM | Link to this
I didn’t see this one coming…
By Braveheart
April 15, 2008 4:02 PM | Link to this
The 3 best relievers (Soriano, Gonzo & Moylan) on the DL. Not good. Not good. Not good at all.
By Allie2
April 15, 2008 4:04 PM | Link to this
Braveheart, I agree with your post as I am sure Kelly would as well. He has actually said quite a few times that he thinks and worries too much and that he is a perfectionist to a fault. I think that, instead of some lack of baseball or athletic skill, is his biggest fault.
That being said, I again point out that his actually hitting has been fine. This early in the season an 0-fer day will easily bring your average from .294 to .263. It’s the lack of walks that is the issue and we all know that will right itself.
By KC
April 15, 2008 4:06 PM | Link to this
Moylan to the DL??!!! Come on now… this isn’t fair.
Damn the baseball gods. They are cruel and unjust.
Geeeze!! First Hampton, then Soriano, then Glavine, now Moylan… this ain’t right. It just ain’t right.
I think Phil Stockman should have been the guy called up, not Carlyle.
If we need a 5th starter… I’ll take Campillo. We don’t know how good he may or may not be, but he can’t be any worse than Carlyle.
By Rooster
April 15, 2008 4:07 PM | Link to this
Braves need pitching now. The starting rotation will work itself out. Older players adjust as the weather warms. Our Bullpen is doomed. Soriano’s and Moylans injury sound like surgery might be in the future.
Breaking News: Too add to the freakish injuries Mike Hampton has just been held from side sesson due to anal strain. Reports are he was laughing uncontollably at the way Diaz looks when he swings/misses and lost control of his ability to stop anal wind. Bobby says, “This guy needs a cork in him, he’s done.” Team trainer Jerry Porter advised him to seek a bubble and live out life secured from the freakish elements.
Sorry but Hampton is a great player when he’s healthy but wears a target on his back for critisim.
By Bravesfan79
April 15, 2008 4:07 PM | Link to this
Glad to see Andrew doing better. I hate to see any ex Braves struggle. Unless its chris woodcrap or kyle farnsworth that is!
Its not like the Dodgers will be in the playoffs to challenge us anyways. (assuming we get there ourselves) We gotta find a way to start winning theses close games. Its really killed us the past couple of years.
Even with all the injuries i still feel better about this team now than i did this time last year!
At least we dont ever have to worry about seeing a starting linueup with 4 or 5 automatic outs in it, Andrew, pitcher, Woodward, Orr, Wilson/Thorman. Man i felt sick to my stomach seeing the lineup Cox put on the field at times last year when Chipper got hurt. The tough part was knowing Escobar should of been up the whole year and if u replace all the chances Woodward was given with Escobars production… we would of stayed around 10 games over .500 without chipper instead of free falling like we did!
I dunno what Bobby was thinking when he made the roster last year….but in the long run im glad he didnt get Escobar enough at bats not to be a rookie anymore.
Maybe it was the Braves management strategy to not let him play the entire year so they could keep him around another year extra for cheap compared to the free agent market.
While i think it cost us making the playoffs last year, in the long run well be better off with Escobar officially being a rookie this year.
By Deep Throat
April 15, 2008 4:07 PM | Link to this
Acosta-Boyer-Ohman-Ring-Resop-Bennett-Carlyle
I smell a ton of blown games until one of Soriano/Moylan/Gonzalez comes back. The bullpen on paper looks worse than the 2006 version right now.
Any chance the Rockies will still trade the Braves Fuentes? Where is Bob Wickman these days?
By Jason
April 15, 2008 4:08 PM | Link to this
BOOG IS CHEATING!!!
By DAP
April 15, 2008 4:10 PM | Link to this
the bullpen certainly takes a hit without moylan. all we can do is hope the offense makes it easy on the bullpen for the nest couple of weeks, and that resop and boyer figure it out in there. weve had worse bullpens than this in recent memory, but this doesnt make me feel good. maybe we can pick someone up.
By chase
April 15, 2008 4:10 PM | Link to this
To anyone questioning DIAZ in the lineup…let’s see what he does this series….
If he LIGHTS UP the FISH the way he has the past couple of seasons then many of you will be saying “I knew he could do it all along”
By ernesto
April 15, 2008 4:11 PM | Link to this
Can you imagine the Bravos clinging to a 1 run lead, late innings and out trots Buddy C?
Makes Charlie Liebrandt look like a dominant closer.
By Reid in EAV
April 15, 2008 4:11 PM | Link to this
Dear Jair, pitch to contact tonight, rack up those 3-10 pitch innings, and get us a complete game, ‘k?
By Rooster
April 15, 2008 4:15 PM | Link to this
FJR you know nothing about value. He is more valuable in a longterm deal because teams are beginning to value prospects more. I will bet anything that he is traded this year or next. Teams will give up A grade talent on a closer that is very dependable and is under salary longer. The Twins signed him becuase they can get a ton in return, not likely if they signed him to a one-year deal and was a free agent the next season. The Twins are rebuilding and like I said you don’t build a great team around a closer. Mike Hampton is a example of signing a big contract and then trading. Dang us for takiing him though. My point is that he is more attractive to teams with a long term deal and the Twins know that.
By RC
April 15, 2008 4:16 PM | Link to this
Do the Yankees have any relief pitchers we can trade Pena for?
By Efrim
April 15, 2008 4:16 PM | Link to this
Shocked.
Well this isn’t good at all.
If Moylan is out for longer than 15 days, we are in trouble. We already were, and now the fate of our bullpen is left up to the inexperienced Manny Acosta and Blaine Boyer.
By Original Jon
April 15, 2008 4:17 PM | Link to this
I didn’t think we would need our so called pitching depth this early in the season. Our bullpen looks horrible right now, who the heck is going to close? Bobby wouldn’t possibly put Acosta in that situation, would he?
By brent a.
April 15, 2008 4:18 PM | Link to this
in retrospect, Glavine being DL’d might not have been so bad.
By Ryan V.
April 15, 2008 4:18 PM | Link to this
Will Brian McCann start against the lefty tonight?
By Braveheart
April 15, 2008 4:21 PM | Link to this
I am looking at the link you posted, is that saying JJJ’s fastball is 91-92, his slider 80-82 and his change 84-85? I always thought a slider was harder than a change?
Flange, I dunno. I guess it depends upon the pitcher. Could be a reason why he is not throwing the slider as much this season. It’s cool that his changeup only drops 7 to 8 mph though. Disguises the pitch better. It’s enough of a drop to make his pitches miss the barrel of the bat by the fraction of an inch he needs.
By Efrim
April 15, 2008 4:23 PM | Link to this
What’s with everyone’s obsession of Phil Stockman?!?!?
By Shamus Thacker
April 15, 2008 4:25 PM | Link to this
Hope Tex “gets going” before it’s too late. I don’t care if he eventually bats .400 with 200 RBIs, he did a disservice to the Braves and their fans with his approach to spring training. If one of the other teams were red hot we’d be in trouble right now. His end-of-season stats don’t mean a DAMN THING if we’re out of it by June; except to Tex of course… I don’t think he’s a TEAM guy in any way, he’s a TEX guy, and I personally don’t care to see his return!
Some of you idol worshipers can carp all you want, but what I say is true. If he KNOWS that he ALWAYS starts slowly, then WHY not at least TRY and do something about in spring training? THAT is why we HAVE spring training! He was lifting and stretching; things that should have been done on his OWN TIME in the off-season. For the money he’s making, and the obscene amount of money he’s expecting in free agency, it seems to me that he should ARRIVE at spring training loaded and ready to go. He should have been in the batting cage with Terry from day one! He should have stayed there till his hitting came around. Instead, he chose to spend time lifting and stretching, things he should have ALREADY taken care of. If we lose this thing by a handful of games, you can trace it all back to this early start. Tex is THE reason for it!
By ncscoots
April 15, 2008 4:26 PM | Link to this
Rooster gets the Wurlitzer for Most Apropos Moniker, in that he’s hoppin’ around the blog like a chicken with his head cut off :-).
Boyer and Acosta have to step up, that’s all. Trial by fire, and all that. Campillo is already here, and Stockman, Reyes, and Morton are all on the farm (I don’t think Rouwenhorst is on the 40-man), so it’s not as if no arms are available.
No panic-stricken trade necessary, unless one thinks Moylan and Soriano are gone for the season.
By Daybed Wagmoe
April 15, 2008 4:27 PM | Link to this
Rooster: Our bullpen needs a overhaul or we will have five starters with a combined record of 30-90 and a 2.99 ERA.
A 30-90 record from five starters would be the result of a very weak offense more than a very weak bullpen. A very weak bullpen would likely leave the starting five with a ton of no-decisions.
By RC
April 15, 2008 4:29 PM | Link to this
Rooster, Mike Hampton is NOT an example of signing a big contract and trading (in the way you’ve implied). Hampton signed a big contract, then was ineffective/injured for the first few years of that. Colorado traded him to the Braves, but part of the stipulation was that Colorado and Florida paid almost ALL of Hampton’s salary for the first 3 years. FJR is exactly right that teams would rather be able to negotiate their own contract with a player. The only reason the Twins might trade him is if they feel they can get good value for him at the All-Star break, when they can start a bidding war for one of the games top closers.
By Tomas
April 15, 2008 4:33 PM | Link to this
What the hell is happening, braves have a docen injuries already, and from key players specially pitchers. Mike Hampton, Mike Gonzales, Peter Moylan,Tom Glavine, and Rafael Soriano, and Chipper playing hurt. they have the injury bug on that clubhouse.
By Tomas
April 15, 2008 4:38 PM | Link to this
I’d say the best choice to serve as the braves closer right know is blaine boyer because he has more experience than acosta, but this is a critical time for the bulpen and starters have to step up as well as the hitters which are doing there job.
By doug
April 15, 2008 4:41 PM | Link to this
‘docen injuries’ are the worst kind too.
By McFann
April 15, 2008 4:41 PM | Link to this
McCann is astonishingly honest about his flaws and performance in a way that only a person very sure about himself can be. Braveheart
You are dead on, man! He interviews well. Looks a little nervous at times, id est, he cann work up a good sweat on his face, but he knows what he’s talking about.
Now we can’t post anything but good stuff on here? It is going to be a very short blog. Mo
Complaining about the past can’t change it, that’s all we are saying.
Ryan V.
He should start tonight. We shall see. I mean, they just had a day off yesterday…and really, what cann Corky provide that McCann can’t? This year, McCann’s hit .389 against lefties! I say, “Put him in! Put him in!”
But of course, how is my saying that going to effect the outcome?
; )
By Bravesfan79
April 15, 2008 4:42 PM | Link to this
we just need to make clones of Smoltz and Glavine and well be ok the next 20 years! ;)
By AGTfan
April 15, 2008 4:44 PM | Link to this
Any minute now I expect to see mets fans laughing hysterically. All sports have an element of luck. Right now it’s not going our way, but maybe one of the youngsters will step up and start pitching lights out. Some people respond well to adversity. I think that we have several arms in the bullpen that have the stuff to succeed. I’m not going to kill myself yet.
By KC
April 15, 2008 4:46 PM | Link to this
Ernesto: “Can you imagine the Bravos clinging to a 1 run lead, late innings and out trots Buddy C?”
That is a creep mental image.
Gosh, I was having a good day before this Moylan/Carlyle news today.
By KC
April 15, 2008 4:47 PM | Link to this
Ernesto: “Can you imagine the Bravos clinging to a 1 run lead, late innings and out trots Buddy C?”
That is a creep mental image.
Gosh, I was having a good day before this Moylan/Carlyle news today.
By Rooster
April 15, 2008 4:47 PM | Link to this
Hampton was traded in the first quarter of his contract. If Nathan is traded at the deadline, he would be moved in the first quarter of his contract. It is the same difference just not in years. I was not suggesting the Braves go now (just hoping) and trade for him, but as a big option that could sway the division race. It doesn’t matter if Hampton was effective or not, it was the fact that he was traded in the first quarter of his contract. Like I said you call me foolish now but come July or the off season he WILL be traded.
By Shamus Thacker
April 15, 2008 4:47 PM | Link to this
FJR, professional ballplayers should have their bodies prepared for the 162-game grind BEFORE spring training. It’s not like they have to work in the off-season. Considering MLB wages, it’s a disgrace for a player to show up in need of further conditioning. He’s PAID to HIT and FIELD; that’s what he should be working on in spring. Getting in shape BEFORE spring, for a baseball player, is a no-brainer. He’s not being paid to muscle-up during spring training, he’s being paid to get ready for the START of the regular season. If there are things to be worked on, that’s where they’re supposed to be worked on. He admits that he’s a slow starter. He should have been trying to do something about it. He wasn’t!
By KC
April 15, 2008 4:48 PM | Link to this
Ernesto: “Can you imagine the Bravos clinging to a 1 run lead, late innings and out trots Buddy C?”
That is a creep mental image.
Gosh, I was having a good day before this Moylan/Carlyle news today.
By Jersey Gil
April 15, 2008 4:49 PM | Link to this
Hey guys we are not the only team with Injuries, look at the Injuries report today, the list is BIG, with BIG NAMES, To mention some: Florida: DeAza,Johnson,Mitre,Owens,Sanchez Mets: Burgos Alou,Castro,Hernandez,Reyes,Martinez Philadelphia: Rosario,Rollins,Victorino,Zagurski,Mathewson…Just to mention few.
By Rooster
April 15, 2008 4:52 PM | Link to this
30-90 record can happen with the starting pichers if they leave the game trailing 3-2 and the bullpean allows 7 runs to score. Our offense won’t beable to make the difference. It was a joke anyway. My gosh some need a little sense of humor. But my above senerio is possible so don’t knock it.
By Rooster
April 15, 2008 4:53 PM | Link to this
30-90 record can happen with the starting pichers if they leave the game trailing 3-2 and the bullpen allows 7 runs to score. Our offense won’t beable to make the difference. It was a joke anyway. My gosh some need a little sense of humor. But my above senerio is possible so don’t knock it.
By Steve McP
April 15, 2008 4:53 PM | Link to this
Maybe Smoltz should have another spell as closer to let Carlyle start.
By Original Jon
April 15, 2008 4:55 PM | Link to this
KC, want to say that again, hahaha
By Efrim
April 15, 2008 5:01 PM | Link to this
Jersey Gil
Anyway you spin it, our three best relievers have elbow issues(Gonzo, Soriano, and Moylan). I bet you Moylan is out for longer than 15 days too.
Not good news.
It’s good to get injuries out of the way in April, but when it is things like Elbow strain/inflammation, then that is a problem that might linger all season. Especially considering both Moylan and Soriano had sore elbows in spring training.
By Astro Joe
April 15, 2008 5:01 PM | Link to this
Well with Jurrjens going and Glavine possibly needing to shut it down early, I could see why they chose a long reliever to bring up. Basically, Glavine wants to maintain that meaningless streak and Braves went with an insurance policy to help him out.
So Tex is batting something like 40 points less than a typical April, and we have nothihg to worry about. Glad to hear it.
Looks like another .500 season for a .500 team. We’ll see 4 of 5 wins followed by 4 of 5 losses.
By Jersey Gil
April 15, 2008 5:02 PM | Link to this
Arizona is the only team with none Pitching injuries, just three(3) position Players. So not expect any trade with any one because everybody has the same problem.
By FJR
April 15, 2008 5:03 PM | Link to this
Rooster,
The best example of signing a player and immediately trading him is Hampton? Really? He pitched two full seasons after signing his mammoth contract. When the Rox signed him to that contract they thought they could contend. They never planned on trading him.
The Twins don’t plan on trading Nathan at this point. If they are awful for the next two years maybe.
So Hampton was more valuable after signing that long contract? Is that why the Rockies paid 30 million of his contract?
No, none of that is true. Hampton was traded because the rockies wanted to dump his ridiculous contract, so you actually made my point. The same was true when the Marlins traded him to atlanta, they wanted to dump his contract again.
Pitchers are not more valuable if they are on long term contracts. You typically have to pay a large part of the contract to move them.
By David O'Brien
April 15, 2008 5:04 PM | Link to this
Folks, this thing with Moylan is potentially quite bad. Calling it a strain, for now, but he’s going to see Dr. Andrews in the next day or two for a second opinion. The MRI showed some things that they are concerned about. The ligament is apparently just fine, but there might be something involved with the bone and a calcium deposit.
Braves are being careful with what they’re saying about it until he has the second opinion. But again, it could be worse than a strain. Perhaps a lot worse.
As for GLAVINE, he’s doing better, but won’t know about his start until he throws off mound tomorrow or Thursday. He’s aiming for Saturday, not Friday. They’ll probably start Buddy on Friday.
Hampton will throw in the bullpen tomorrow, provided he has no problems playing catch today. But he’s likely going to need a rehab assignment. Don’t look for him for at least a couple weeks, and perhaps closer to a month, if I had to guess.
By Efrim
April 15, 2008 5:08 PM | Link to this
I’ll say this though, the Phillies had an absurd amount of injuries in 2007 and STILL won the division. I mean, they lost Myers for like 2 months, Hamels for a crucial stretch in September, Utley for the month of August(I think). The had, and still have, the guts to overcome injuries.
NO ONE cares about the amount of injuries you have. The only thing that matters at the end of the season is who won the division.
Time for guys to step it up. Not just Acosta and Boyer. The offense is going to have to start and pour it on teams early and often throughout the game.
By FJR
April 15, 2008 5:08 PM | Link to this
shamus thacker, yes, players are paid to hit and field. Tex is one of the top 5 hitting 1B and a gold glover and he’s had very few injuries throughout his career.
Maybe he knows a little more about performance and conditioning than you do.
Unless you are an absolute freak of nature, you cannot work out hard all year long, it will break your body down. Baseball players have the longest season of any pro sports league and most have to take the off season mostly off with only light workouts and weight training (light for them, it would kill most normal people) and then they start hitting the gym hard to get ready for the season.
By RC
April 15, 2008 5:09 PM | Link to this
I disagree that Nathan being traded at the break is the “same” as Hampton being traded after 2 years. The biggest, most obvious reason they are not at all comparable is because there is NO WAY the Twins will eat money on Nathan’s contract. With Hampton the Rockies just didn’t want to have to pay ALL of his salary for the next 6 years, so they traded him and about $20 million to the Braves for 3 batting helmets, 5 pairs of sliding shorts, and a rosin bag. At least that’s how I think I remember the trade working :).
By BossLady
April 15, 2008 5:09 PM | Link to this
How could every pitcher on the Braves have something going wrong with their arms, elbows and shoulders? What do they have in common, I wonder. What techniques are they using, I wonder.
By Patrick
April 15, 2008 5:11 PM | Link to this
So what you’re saying is that we’ll see you in 2009 huh DOB?
By DCbrave
April 15, 2008 5:11 PM | Link to this
About Idiot I really don’t like these “idiot” callings here in the blog. Usually, if the only thing somebody could do is to call somebody else an idiot, then s/he might not be far away from being just that. Why cann’t we just talk/argue about issues without mallice?
Tex You can call me anything you want, but I want to say this: Tex is a good-great player with good-great stats, but a player plays for a team to win. His contribution to the team in winning may not be as great as his stats look like personally. How many games have the teams (the Braves now, the Rangers before) lost because of Tex’s slow April starts? Why don’t a great player have something to improve, and why is this not something that Tex can improve upon to become even a greater player?
Braves offense in general The stats DOB just disclosed about the Braves offense proved a point I made several weeks ago: The Braves’ high offensive stats(last year and this season so far) of the team in general and several players in particular are hugely inflated by those lopsided games, and they are really good at this: against a poor to medium pitcher, they can pound him to death to get double digits runs/game, and then against good to great pitchers, they suck and could not get much run supports for the decent to great pitchings from their pitchers. We saw so much of this last year and plenty already this year. Why is this not a concern and why has this not been part of the reasons they lost so much and win so little in 14 consecutive playoffs? Why is this not having something to do with their hitting strategy and why is TP not partly to blame?
Diax Wow1 what a stat against the fish. If I were Diaz, I’d request a trade to the Marlins now! :-)
By RichmondBrave
April 15, 2008 5:12 PM | Link to this
Can we try and get Yates back!!??? What once looked like a strength is now in schambels. The offence better come around soon because the pitching staff is all on the DL.
By woogidy
April 15, 2008 5:14 PM | Link to this
kill me now
By Ryan V.
April 15, 2008 5:15 PM | Link to this
bosslady, don’t forget about legs. Hampton and Glavine
By BamaBravesFan
April 15, 2008 5:16 PM | Link to this
Don’t look for him for at least a couple weeks, and perhaps closer to a month, if I had to guess.
Or for the rest of the season…
By BravesFanInRockies
April 15, 2008 5:18 PM | Link to this
Denizens have been saying for years that Boyer has closer’s stuff…
Acosta says he wants the opportunity to close and can do the job …
Guess we’ll learn pretty soon who’s right. Hope someone is.
By Overlord
April 15, 2008 5:19 PM | Link to this
Does GLOBAL WARMING has anything to do with all this INJURIES???
I guess not!!!!!
Hudson and chipper next?????
By Daybed Wagmoe
April 15, 2008 5:20 PM | Link to this
Ryan V: Will Brian McCann start against the lefty tonight?
No reason not to, especially after an off-day. He’s started against other lefties all year (except for Zack Duke).
Rooster — It was obvious that you were exaggerating or trying to make a joke. I’m just pointing out that a completely lopsided win-loss record like the one you mentioned is going to happen more from a lack of run support than the bullpen allowing a lot of runs. Matt Cain of the Giants had a 3.65 ERA last year, but he went 7-16 thanks to a run support of 3.20. Sure, your above scenario could happen, but not on a regular basis. The key to your scenario — the starting pitcher leaving the game trailing 3-2 — is that the offense didn’t put up enough runs. Sure, that’ll happen from time to time, but especially with this Atlanta team, it won’t be the norm.
By DCbrave
April 15, 2008 5:24 PM | Link to this
Another best for the Braves: best DL (oh well, maybe next to the Cardinals?).
By Rooster
April 15, 2008 5:26 PM | Link to this
RC I see where you are coming from but you totally are missing what I am trying to explain. I will drop the issue and wish you would do the same. You are not understanding my explination on the value of nathan with a contract. The Twins want value and they will get it because he is worth what they are paying him. They signed him looking out for number one. They are REBUILDING and need great players to get AWSOME prospects. They signed him knowing he would be easy to trade because teams want be worried about losing a one year wonder. I know we all feel that way with the Braves past moves.
By j-school dropout
April 15, 2008 5:27 PM | Link to this
Pitchers are amazing. Moylan threw in the high 90s in his last appearance. And he was injured. I hope it’s minor. I think he is an excellent setup man.
By Zbrave
April 15, 2008 5:28 PM | Link to this
Now it’s the time for those gurus to come out to tell us calm down and it is a long season and everything will fine in a long run…………………..
By Coach (Lets Go Braves in 2008)
April 15, 2008 5:32 PM | Link to this
Excuse me while I rant.
BUDDY Career journeyman CARLYLE, you have got to be freaking kidding me !
Jo-Jo Reyes, Jeff Bennett, Charlie Morton or even Francisley Bueno has better stuff than this stiff.
Bobby Cox has wasted a roster spot on this career triple A journeyman for months now in the hopes that he would have an excuse to call him up from Richmond.
Dear God, I had better not see this guy anywhere else other than the bullpen. If Carlyle starts, the Braves will need to some runs on the board.
f he starts and loses even one ballgame, I swear by all that is holy, I will rip Bobby Cox a BRAND NEW BUTTHOLE.
Cox has already deliberately tanked one ballgame (Chuck James start). Albeit, in an attempt to save his bullpen a few innings of work.
I know we are only twelve games into the 162 game season and I’m not worried about the team.
I am very concerned about the decision making process of Robert Joe (Bobby) Cox.
The trades of Tyler Yates (1.00 ERA) and Willy Aybar (.294 BA) were not the work of Frank Wren.
I can almost guarantee both decisions were made at the behest of Bobby Cox. Somebody will have to prove me wrong on that statement.
And my confidence in Roger McDowell is beginning to wane.
Tyler Yates struggles all spring training and almost as soon as he is traded, he becomes a different pitcher under the tutelage of the Pirates coaching.
I still have faith in Bobby Cox. But , the following history lesson has far reaching lessons for all of us.
The Titanic was wonder of it’s day, it’s Captain, E.J. Smith was a 30 year veteran making his last voyage before retiring.
Everything the man knew about captaining a ship was working against him, his decades of experience led the man to make all the wrong decisions.
I hope we are not seeing something similar in the demeanor of Bobby Cox.
By DCbrave
April 15, 2008 5:33 PM | Link to this
How could every pitcher on the Braves have something going wrong with their arms, elbows and shoulders? What do they have in common, I wonder. What techniques are they using, I wonder By BossLady
You are not saying “Leo,” I wonder?
By FJR
April 15, 2008 5:33 PM | Link to this
RC,
Hampton was traded to the Marlins first along with juan pierre. The marlins dumped a few salaries back to the rockies, but didn’t pay any of those contracts. In the first years the Marlins saved money because the immediate dump of the players they sent outweighed hamptons contract. They then traded him to Atlanta and threw in 30 million, which basically cleared their salary structure long term.
Its a very complicated financial move and had nothing at all to do with wanting to sign him to a long term contract so that he would be more valuable in trade. he would have been twice as valuable if his contract was short term. As it was all the rockies got was big contracts of underforming marlins players.
By brent a.
April 15, 2008 5:34 PM | Link to this
Is there any chance at all that Leo Mazzone ever becomes the pitching coach of the Atlanta Braves again?
(I’ll hang up and listen).
By Kris
April 15, 2008 5:34 PM | Link to this
The injuries to the Braves this year are just astounding. Either the Braves dig deep and show they really are a contender or they fade away and don’t contend.
Personally I think the Braves will continue to fight and are still the best team in the NL East.
By Braveheart
April 15, 2008 5:35 PM | Link to this
Personally, I blame Phil Stockman for all of this. He brought those dang kangaroo balls into the clubhouse and jinxed the Braves. Get the roo roo balls the hell out of the clubhouse.
Bringing those roo roo balls into the clubhouse was the chronically injured Stockman’s way of getting the pitchers chronically injured like him so that he could have a better chance of getting called up.
Felix Pie’s testicles are nowhere near as twisted as those roo roo balls.
DOB, get down there pronto and castrate those roo roo balls from the clubhouse.
By woogidy
April 15, 2008 5:36 PM | Link to this
I guess it takes about 6 - 7 months to feel the full effects of being used too much out of the ‘pen. The combined 151 appearances of Moylan and Soriano caught up to them. Who’s next? Yates? Oh yeah, traded that guy. Who closes now? It’d have to be Acosta. How many games is he going to Acostus? (cheesy right?) Trade Kelly Johnson for bullpen help. Let Prado play every day. We have got to hope someone in Richmond or Mississippi has a breakout season, and fast.
By Shamus thacker's mom
April 15, 2008 5:38 PM | Link to this
Sorry about Shamus. He walked in on me and Tex during the offseason.
By Overlord
April 15, 2008 5:40 PM | Link to this
Now we´ll get theyll get the chance to show the pitching depth….. If it doesnt exist we´ll lose something like 5 of the next 7.
I still think theyll get out of this problem without major damage. We have the offense to help this DL stints.
Dont forget campillo looked good, acosta is no clown and carlyle sometimes does his job.
KEEP THE FAITH PEOPLE!!!!!!
By FJR
April 15, 2008 5:41 PM | Link to this
rooster, you are flat out wrong. You don’t sign a pitcher to a long term contract with the idea of trading him. the only example you can come up with is mike hampton, who pitched two years, who the rockies had to pay 30 million to get rid of, and who they only got marginal players with bad contracts in return.
I still challenge you to fine JUST ONE example of a team that signed a player to a high dollar, long term deal and then traded him immediately. It just does not happen.
I normally don’t like to call people on things here, as its mostly opinion, but you’re just flat out wrong here.
The Twins want to have at least a decent team when they move into a new ballpark.
Signing Joe Nathan only hurts them (assuming, like you do, that they want to trade him), as now they will get less for him not more, and will have to pay a significant amount of his contract. He was signed to keep him in Minnesota, not to get prospects in trade.
Again, find me one example of what you’re talking about and I’ll admit I was wrong. That example doesn’t exist in MLB.
By ncgary
April 15, 2008 5:42 PM | Link to this
By Rooster
April 15, 2008 3:13 PM | Link to this
Resop is pronounced Re-Sux. Maybe the Braves will trade him to the Pirates for a (A-) prospect. Some reason our bullpen rejects do good in the Steel City. I say offer Schaffer, Resop, Boyer, Pena, and B. Jones to the Twins for Joe Nathan. Lets go ahead and fix the bullpen now. That contract the Twins signed him to makes him more attractive. Imagine Nathan, Moylan, Sorieano, Gonzalez, Ohman, Ring in the October bullpen.
i wanted nathan in early march too, but id rather see the padres get out of contention early and trade for peavey in july,. but that probably aint happnin
any chance pads part paydays with peavey , for bevy of boyish braves , schaeffer,canizarez??? boyer , resop, rohrbach??smith, b jones, gorkys, anderson, offer 10 pick 5 pena, you know but not who
we could all hope for a padre collapse and arizona or colorado run away with division early
but yeah rooster if that bullpen you proposed were active healthy braves in october, we would only need 5innings from starters
By Overlord
April 15, 2008 5:48 PM | Link to this
Ill agree with the guys that say that Roger is not picking up some bad mechanics on our guys.
Position players are doing just fine, KJ is dealing with a problem he had last year and has been a case full of injuries last few years.
But since roger got here, our pitchers are always injured.
Well, it could be something else, but McDowell i would say McDowell could very well have a lot to do with this.
By BA
April 15, 2008 5:49 PM | Link to this
I heard DOB was working on a human interest type story on Phil Stockman. They are also working on a “In their own words:Phil Stockman” on FSN south.
By MGL
April 15, 2008 5:49 PM | Link to this
FJR - The reports said tht Esocbar worked out hard with Renteria all winter, look at how he started the season.
By Epinephrine
April 15, 2008 5:50 PM | Link to this
That is horrible news. You did have to wonder when all the appearances would catch up with Soriano and Moylan-especially after being thrown into the mix immediately and often despite feeling elbow problems in spring training.
There is no question that Bobby has no concern about going to his bullpen mainstays very frequently, and eventually it is bound to lead to an injury here and there.
Bullpen is in real trouble. Boyer and Acosta are really going to have to step up.
By DCbrave
April 15, 2008 5:50 PM | Link to this
And my confidence in Roger McDowell is beginning to wane by Coach
Why and how did you have confidence in him in the first place? What had/has he proved to you? Leo has a 14-year record there. For the starting pitchers, you can argue that we had GM, TG and JS who did not need much coaching to be great(even that may be untrue), but what about the bull pens? Look at the pen’s ERAs in those years, then compare those to those of the McDowell era.
By Dadgum
April 15, 2008 5:58 PM | Link to this
DOB…as for your Kelly HJohnson summize I couldn’t agree more. I have said for more than a year on this very blog many times that your 2nd baseman should be Martin Prado. Now I don’t wish Kelly bad, quite the contrary, but it is what it is and at least for no other reason than to get Kelly jump started perhaps a platoon would be best at 2nd. We’ll see…
I won’t go off on the pitching just yet. We have some good starters but age issues have to creep in during the long season journey. Our middle relief is very suspect at best and with no closers that look durable this is going to manifest itself into an ugly beast of a problem as the games accumulate. Read: need to lead the league in runs scored.
Oh well, speedy recovery to all Bravos. Caught them on MASN against the Nats but sightings are few and far between. When teh Marlins are leading the division I guess we have nothing to fear. Right?
Robert Plant winning a CMA!!!! Duh huh!!
By Law Firm of Wickman, Reitsma, Kolb, & Devine
April 15, 2008 5:59 PM | Link to this
One call, that’s all boys! We’ll be ready if you call us.
By Roger McDowell
April 15, 2008 5:59 PM | Link to this
DCBrave is an idiot…
By And idiot
April 15, 2008 6:05 PM | Link to this
B-heart: I saw the word pronto and thought it said Paronto. I almost choked on a beet.
By AdirondackDave
April 15, 2008 6:06 PM | Link to this
If the Braves are serious about going for it this year either FW needs to somehow get us several quality relievers quick or Cox needs to manage these games for the next month as though there is essentially NO bull bullpen. The team needs to get 7-9 efficient innings from the starters and put a lot of crooked numbers on the board to stay in contention for the next month or two.
Jeez… the pitching went from a major strength to a disaster area in no time flat. I feel like Chicken Little!
By DCbrave
April 15, 2008 6:06 PM | Link to this
DCBrave is an idiot… By Roger McDowell
As I said earlier on this blog, if that is all you had to say, you’re not far from idiodom if not there already, maybe the latter. Or is this all a joke because of my earlier post ….
By Cleanuphitter16
April 15, 2008 6:18 PM | Link to this
Perhaps we should simply call up all of the AAA ‘pen and rotation now. Considering who’s gone down lately and who is left (and their track records…Boyer, etc) This seems like the beginning of a revolving door scenario at this point.
Yes, this is a sarcastic statement resulting from depression at seeing our real anchors going down (I mean, to start the season, which two relievers were we all MOST hopeful about closing the door on late inning rallies? Moylan and Soriano.)
Perhaps Gonzo will go well, Andrews will clear Pete in the coming days, Mike’s peck will heal faster, Glav will get a valium/cortizone prescription for that hammy, and all will be well in 2 weeks. But barring that….anyone else have a sense of impending doom over this recent trend?
Ok, enough venting. If any of you fellas in the ‘pen are reading this blog today, we know you have great stuff, you belong up here in the bigs, so make us proud! You can DOO EET! Take it one inning at a time guys!
By AdirondackDave
April 15, 2008 6:18 PM | Link to this
Some might say this pitching situation/urgency is pre-mature but we can spare Diaz and Pena. Looks to me like it’s time to get a couple good relievers if we can find willing trade partners. Or maybe Betemit and pen guy for Diaz and Pena?
Hey guys Gil and Richbrave… what if anything from Richmond can help our pen now?? Carlyle probably won’t be the answer.
By Chop Chop
April 15, 2008 6:25 PM | Link to this
I hear that Will Cunnane is available. Ol’ C** is what my brother and I called him. Those were our surlier, perpetually angry-at-the-world days.
Hey. Mike Cather would be a good signing. He has upside. I wonder what ol’ Brad Clontz is doing these days. Jim Clancy and Dan Petry probably have something left. Get Juan Berenguer on the phone. Alejandro Pena would be a useful arm.
I have an even better idea: Jeff Parrott still owes us some good pitching after that Murphy trade, dammit! Have him delivered to the team hotel in manacles and shackles post-haste!
By Shamus Thacker
April 15, 2008 6:29 PM | Link to this
I’m sorry Momma. I shoulda knocked…
By FJR
April 15, 2008 6:29 PM | Link to this
enough gloom and doom. I mean yeah, I’m worried, but here’s to knocking around Scott Olsen tonight and making the bullpen a non-issue, if just for one night. I think we can all agree on that.
By FJR
April 15, 2008 6:33 PM | Link to this
MGL,
reports say that Renteria worked out hard with Renteria all winter and look how that worked out (.264 BA, .304 OBP, .321 slugging, 0 homers, only 3 extra base hits).
Again, I’ll defer on how Tex should prepare himself to the guy who has hit 30 HRs, 100+ RBIs and .290 for the past 4 years.
By Dutchie
April 15, 2008 6:35 PM | Link to this
Hope Jair will have his usuall tight controll tonight. And lets see Tex speed up!
Go braves!
By Austin
April 15, 2008 6:36 PM | Link to this
What’s John Rocker doing these days?
By OrlandoFan
April 15, 2008 6:36 PM | Link to this
Amazing how strengths turn to weaknesses in a flash, isn’t it? In spring, Braves bullpen was stalwart and backbone of a solid but aging rotation. Now, its top 3 guys (counting Gonzo) are out. Pressure is on untested folks who have been less than stellar so far. And the rotation is ailing, too. Oh, the humanity.
By Justo
April 15, 2008 6:40 PM | Link to this
Buddy is back, Moylan hurt and soriano, Are bullpen now is horrible, I dont know if it is a bad as 06 was but without those two it is bad.
By AGTFan
April 15, 2008 6:44 PM | Link to this
I’d think all this panic and gloom and doom was funny, if I could just stop crying.
By McFann
April 15, 2008 6:47 PM | Link to this
But since roger got here, our pitchers are always injured. Overlord
Int’resting…
McCann is starting tonight, BTW. I think as long as he’ healthy, he’ll be starting about 6 out of 7 or 7 out of 8 games.
BTW, I don’t wanna sound dumb (or like and idiot) but where does the “Oh the humanity” line come from?
By DCbrave
April 15, 2008 6:53 PM | Link to this
You would think this would be the time for N8 to come out and …. Sorry N8, that is not a challenge :-)
By Billy (TBFnB)
April 15, 2008 6:53 PM | Link to this
Even if the ever present optimist (as such I am) Moylan injury is tough to swallow. We went having a decent bullpen, recent woes withstanding, to having one of the worst. The Yates/Devine trades are looking really really bad right now.
By Pete H.
April 15, 2008 6:53 PM | Link to this
Let’s hope Jair has a good one tonight. As Dave noted, our offense is pretty spotty at the moment. I have no doubt Tex will hit, and very little doubt about KJ, but if he does have a flaw, Prado deserves some starts. He’s a different player than he was a year ago.
By TennesseePaul
April 15, 2008 6:57 PM | Link to this
Is this the record for Braves DL maneuvers in April? We’ve had James, Smoltz, Moylan, and Soriano. That’s quite a bit. More than I can remember for a season start.
By AGTFan
April 15, 2008 6:58 PM | Link to this
*McFann
The line comes from the radio broadcast of crash of the Hindenburg.
By BravesFanInRockies
April 15, 2008 6:59 PM | Link to this
McFann,
A denizen from an earlier time used the phrase often. Whatever happened to the esteemed journalist, BTW?
The phrase originated at the Hindenburg disaster. When the hydrogen-filled passenger blimp(!) caught fire and crashed to earth, the radio newsman cried — “Oh, the humanity!”
If you ever hear the audio, well, it’s great radio.
By BravesFanInRockies
April 15, 2008 7:02 PM | Link to this
BTW, let’s hope the big Aussie is OK. You do have to wonder about last year’s workload on a guy who hadn’t pitched that often (to our knowledge), you know, EVER!!
Might that contribute to the rash of injuries? Using five or six pitchers per game?
By AGTFan
April 15, 2008 7:04 PM | Link to this
OK. I never make predictions, but here goes.
Braves man up to the adversity and sweep the fish.
By mr baseball
April 15, 2008 7:05 PM | Link to this
Another fallout from the injuries to Gonzalez, Soriano & Moylan (not to mention Hampton, Glavine & James): our Hall of Fame manager, who has never been particularly adept at handling the bullpen, will have to deal with a situation he has never encountered during his second stint with the Braves — a bullpen without a closer.
Cox is going to have to mix and match what’s left, which means he has to have a pretty clear idea going into a game what he’s going to do in the event of certain occurrences. Cox has typically managed either by rote (doing the same thing over and over until it’s obvious it’s not working) or by the seat of his pants (doing whatever appears best at that moment with little regard for what impact a decision might have later in a game).
Instead of deciding this guy pitches the 7th, that guy pitches the 8th and some other guy pitches the 9th, he needs to be thinking who he wants on the mound when the Marlins’ big hitters are up.
If Ramirez, Uggla, Willingham, Hermida & Jacobs are due up in 8th, that’s when whoever he thinks his best reliever is needs to be in the game, not the 9th against a fairly weak bottom of the lineup. He also needs to make judicious use of Ohman & Ring against the Florida lefties, but please, no more of this Resop to left field while Ring pitches to one batter.
As big an ego as he has, you have to give LaRussa credit for how he manages his bullpen. It will be interesting to see how Cox fares when dealt a very bad hand. Given his history of inserting the wrong reliever at the wrong time in too many situations, the next few weeks may get ugly.
However, nothing that 6 or 7 runs a night and some help from what’s left of the rotation behind Smoltz & Hudson can’t overcome. Time for the offense to step up and bludgen some opposing pitchers.
By DCbrave
April 15, 2008 7:11 PM | Link to this
OK. I never make predictions, but here goes. Braves man up to the adversity and sweep the fish By AGTFan
My prediction with the Nats series was right, fortunately or unfortunately, 2-1. I predict the same with the fish.
By Arrrgh!!!
April 15, 2008 7:21 PM | Link to this
arrrgh!!! moylan hurt!!! carlyle up!!! arrrgh!!! a sinkhole has swallowed the bullpen!!!
By David O'Brien
April 15, 2008 7:26 PM | Link to this
You said it, Justo. I actually like the way you said it…
By Overlord
April 15, 2008 7:35 PM | Link to this
Anything new on glavine?
Is he better ???
Any workout today?
pitching on friday???
What about smoltzs shoulder? pain free or some tightness???
By Bravesfan
April 15, 2008 7:41 PM | Link to this
Why don’t Kelly Johnson walk any more? 1 total walk this season. That is not really good for a leadoff guy.
By geauxbraves2000
April 15, 2008 7:41 PM | Link to this
A new name for the Braves: The Atlanta Swingers. Their nickname: We’ve never met a pitch we didn’t like.
Geaux Braves!!
By BravesFanInRockies
April 15, 2008 7:45 PM | Link to this
mr baseball,
I’m not such a big fan of LaRussa. He’s the guy who started the whole one-inning specialist trend, which I hate.
Cox has pretty much followed that template, with the exception of the postseason, where he’s showed some creativity — using his closer and his setup guys earlier in games to get out key hitters at crucial times.
I know it’s harder to do that when you have 145 games to play rather than three or four.
I wouldn’t mind seeing somebody use a reliever for two or three innings a couple of days a week rather than four or five games in a row for an inning or a batter at a time. Seems that approach would cause less wear and tear, but maybe that’s just me.
Still, if you ask me, LaRussa is the manager who’s gone more by rote over the years.
By BossLady
April 15, 2008 7:45 PM | Link to this
I wonder We have never had these many pitchers going on the DL or out with surgery.
Last year it was similar. Before that, not so much.
I know, I know, I hate “not so much” too
By Im
April 15, 2008 7:49 PM | Link to this
DOB, you like the way he said it? you like the fact that he does not know the difference between “are” and “our”?
By Efrim
April 15, 2008 7:51 PM | Link to this
Take some pitches fellas….
It’s Scott Olsen.
By Efrim
April 15, 2008 7:53 PM | Link to this
42 pitches through 4 innings….for Scott Olsen.
By calicriz
April 15, 2008 7:53 PM | Link to this
The bullpen takes a big couple of hits, but i’m optimistic about the way we’re gonna hold up until Soriano gets back…and to a further extent Gonzales. Boyer, Resop and Acosta definitely have the stuff to be big time guys, they just have to hit their grove and gain a little confidence in those roles. We’re not going to be playing a whole lot of close games when Tex gets going and the weather warms up. If our starters continue to work late into games things will be fine. The world is not coming to an end…just yet. Any room for error has flown right out the window though.
By chuckw/deadjournalist
April 15, 2008 7:53 PM | Link to this
This thing with Moylan is exactly what I was concerned about about a month ago. ssscribe might be the only other one to remember the post …
By geauxbraves2000
April 15, 2008 7:55 PM | Link to this
Okay, I’m just a fan watching the game, and I don’t know what goes on behind the scenes, but it just seems to me that this team has no fire right now. It’s almost like they can’t wait to just get the game over with.
A good fire might help if someone would just step up to the plate.
Geaux Braves!!
By keylargo
April 15, 2008 7:58 PM | Link to this
Scott Olsen looks good tonight. I had hope the Braves would try to trade for him in the offseason but his off field adventures stopped that.
I saw Wes Helms in the Marlins dugout. Didn’t know the Phillies had dumped him.
I’m not getting into the mix on offseason workouts, but Edgar Renteria carried the Braves the first 20 games last year. I remember a game winning homer at Phil. last year in the first series. Seems like this year the whole Tiger team is slumping with the 3 - 10 start.
By Random
April 15, 2008 8:00 PM | Link to this
I pretty much agree with you nolie, not only on Cox but also on the empirical uncertainty of the value of “small ball”.
I heard/read somewhere many years ago that in any given baseball game, the (very high) odds were that the winning team would score more runs in a single inning than the losing team would score in the entire game.
If true, that pretty much demolishes the theory of the universal necessity for “small ball”.
By McFann
April 15, 2008 8:02 PM | Link to this
Thank you, AGTfan and BravesFanInRockies.
OK, it’s time for the Braves to score some runs!
By David O'Brien
April 15, 2008 8:03 PM | Link to this
Wow, that was a brutal throw to second.
Fredi’s got his boys running against Jurrjens and Fredi’s his old pupil, Mac.
By McFann
April 15, 2008 8:03 PM | Link to this
Oh crud!! Another stolen base, dangit!
Oh, the humanity!
By David O'Brien
April 15, 2008 8:04 PM | Link to this
im: yes, it had a certain something….
By Coach (Lets Go Braves in 2008)
April 15, 2008 8:06 PM | Link to this
Amazing what a stolen base will do isn’t it? 1-0 Marlins.
By McFann
April 15, 2008 8:09 PM | Link to this
Here comes Diaz!!
By Mishop
April 15, 2008 8:09 PM | Link to this
oh oh starting to look like another one run loss type game braves just not hitting including DIAZ let’s pray that jurrjens can go 8 innings…
By Tomas
April 15, 2008 8:12 PM | Link to this
Braves are screwed, DOB whats the update on Soriano, will he be ready when he gets out of the DL?
Why did they send chuck james to the minors, he could have been the braves fifth starter, and that would give extra rest to braves veteran pitcher Glavine and Smoltz who are banged up. I prefer James a million times over buddy cayrlile
By McFann
April 15, 2008 8:12 PM | Link to this
Hiya, Random.
DOB, by “brutal” do you mean…bad?
By mr baseball
April 15, 2008 8:16 PM | Link to this
BravesFanInRockies:
Don’t personally care much for LaRussa or his tendencies at over-managing, but he has a clear idea of what he’s doing with his bullpen, especially in regards to matchups. He’s also willing to use his entire bullpen, unlike Cox, who typically rides his main setup guys hard and lets the guys at the back end of the ‘pen sit for days at a time. Also, LaRussa is not as averse to using his middle guys for multiple innings than Cox, who may be forced to re-think his approach a little considering the current state of the bullpen.
Won’t matter much if the offense can’t do anything against the latest in a long line of lefties who can’t break 90 on the radar gun.
By chase
April 15, 2008 8:23 PM | Link to this
JJ has given up 1 RUN on 2 Freakin Hits…Can we get the guy some RUNS PLEASE!
By flange1
April 15, 2008 8:23 PM | Link to this
Coach,
I don’t know if I agree with you on the Tyler Yates and Willie Aybar trades being bad, but I do agree with you on recalling Buddy.
Buddy would be my last resort.
I would sure have brought up Morton or Jo Jo to start on Friday and move to the long roll.
I guess we will see.
These injuries are tough. I would love a trade but so would 25 other MLB teams…
Time for Boyer to step up. BIG TIME..
By David O'Brien
April 15, 2008 8:25 PM | Link to this
Tomas, why did they send Chuck to the minors? Did you not see him pitch against Colorado? And see his comments afterward, when he said he’s never felt so lost out there, and that he needed to work on his command throwing either on the side or in the minors?…
McFann, yes. Precisely.
By Tomas
April 15, 2008 8:25 PM | Link to this
A lot of pitches for Juirjiens 80 in 5 innings, I think bobby wont let him until the 7 unless he has a 10 pitch or something like that.
By Efrim
April 15, 2008 8:28 PM | Link to this
Couple of hits to start an inning…awesome.
By David O'Brien
April 15, 2008 8:30 PM | Link to this
Despite that broken-bat flyout to left, Chipper has two hits tonight to raise his already league-leading average from .408 to .423. Hey, I’m all about pointing out the positives, you know?
By geauxbraves2000
April 15, 2008 8:32 PM | Link to this
Why are they swinging at almost every pitch they see?
By keylargo
April 15, 2008 8:32 PM | Link to this
NOT GOOD. 3 - 4 -5 up with no outs and 2 on. NO RUNS. Not MLB>
By Dutchie
April 15, 2008 8:34 PM | Link to this
pfffffff…….1st and 2nd, no outs….. Two fly balls later 1st and 3rd…. Ground out by Frenchy…..
That is NOT helping your pitcher!!!!
By David O'Brien
April 15, 2008 8:34 PM | Link to this
We almost had a scrap there. Jacobs put the unnecessary hard tag on Frenchy, and then didn’t turn back around as Frenchy was barking at him while Jacobs trotted to the dugout.
A good brawl might actually benefit the Braves at this point, not that I’m advocating violence. Of course, they might come out of said brawl with a few more joint injuries….
By chase
April 15, 2008 8:34 PM | Link to this
HORRIBLE INNING for the Middle of the order!!!!!!
1st TWO ON BASE..no outs and CHIPPER, TEX, and FRENCHY can’t even manufacture a run!!!!!
That is how you lose one run games!
Also, that TAG at 1st on Frenchy was a little uncalled for!
By McFann
April 15, 2008 8:34 PM | Link to this
McFann, yes. Precisely. DOB
I knew one was coming.
Hey, but, ya know…he still doesn’t have an error!
Chill out, Frenchy!
By Senor Smoke
April 15, 2008 8:34 PM | Link to this
We don’t need no stinkin’ trades for relievers. Just give me a call and I will bring it like 1991. Que Bueno!
By FJR
April 15, 2008 8:35 PM | Link to this
I normally would never say this, especially in a close game, but you HAVE to hit Jacobs after that.
By BossLady
April 15, 2008 8:35 PM | Link to this
This is a shame. Two men on with 0 outs. Chipper, Tex & Frenchy can not get 1.
I’m having two shooters and shampooing my hair.
Later
By PrincetonBrave
April 15, 2008 8:35 PM | Link to this
If you are looking for an answer to our 1-run losses. That last inning was a case in point.
2 on, 0 out, 3-4-5 hitters coming up. Must get a run there. Word to Braves starting pitchers: Its gonna be a long year.
By Coach (Lets Go Braves in 2008)
April 15, 2008 8:36 PM | Link to this
First and second with nobody out and Chipper nails a fastball. The bat shatters and instead of a three run home run it becomes nothing more than a harmless fly ball out to LF.
Tex fly’s out to RF for out number two and Francouer gets slammed to the ground at 1B for out number three.
U-N-B-E-L-I-E-V-A-B-L-E.
By keylargo
April 15, 2008 8:36 PM | Link to this
I’ll tell you why you’re on you a$$ Jeff F. Because you and your team mates are playing like a bunch of lethargic zombies. Show some desire and enthusiasm!
By David O'Brien
April 15, 2008 8:39 PM | Link to this
Jackie’s widow has asked that his uniform be returned after that play by Kotsay. Not stellar….
That even got the crowd going here at Marlin Mausoleum (and I’m using the term “crowd” loosely).
By Efrim
April 15, 2008 8:39 PM | Link to this
Well, the Marlins can hit for extra bases……
By andy--LA
April 15, 2008 8:40 PM | Link to this
I know people who know more than me say Kotsay is great—but I mean he just doesn’t seem to get as good of a jump on the ball as AJ—I know he is not suppose to be AJ—but man it seems like the braves need more speed. My two cents.
By McFann
April 15, 2008 8:40 PM | Link to this
Sorry, Frenchy! Just saw the replay. Yeah, that was dirty.
By uga-brave
April 15, 2008 8:40 PM | Link to this
terrible angle by kotsay. got caught flat footed.
this is a very mediocre team right now with ZERO team chemistry.
By chase
April 15, 2008 8:41 PM | Link to this
Whaddaya Know!!!!!! We get the first two guys on and can’t score…They come right back the next inning and SCORE!
This pattern does feel like last year with the EXCEPTION of the quality of starting pitching…
If the OFFENSE can develop some CONSISTANTCY they will be FINE…BUT if we keep coring 10, 12, 1, 2, 8, and so on..they are going to have problems!
By geauxbraves2000
April 15, 2008 8:41 PM | Link to this
Couple of hits to start an inning…awesome Efrim
Then 8 pitches later the inning is over.
Maybe I’m obsessing a bit at swinging at everything, but obviously that approach isn’t working. How about trying something new, it’s called patience.
Geaux Braves!!
By Tommy
April 15, 2008 8:43 PM | Link to this
Anyone else see the irony of a Border Patrol backstop ad, particularly while Jair Jurrjens pitches to Jorge Cantu?
By Eleth
April 15, 2008 8:43 PM | Link to this
Kelly has about the same amount of time in the majors as Diaz. How does that make his track record not long enough to predict anything from, but Diaz’s is?
By McFann
April 15, 2008 8:45 PM | Link to this
Somebody help!
By anti-brave
April 15, 2008 8:46 PM | Link to this
is that john kruk behind the dish? hilarious!
By FJR
April 15, 2008 8:47 PM | Link to this
okay offense. Jurjjens has done what we asked. Score some freaking runs. You own scott olsen.
By chase
April 15, 2008 8:48 PM | Link to this
Sorry guys BUT..AJ would’ve caught that ball!
WHY WHY WHY are they still swinging at every single pitch!
By David O'Brien
April 15, 2008 8:49 PM | Link to this
Coach, good point about Chipper’s broken-bat flyout. He squared that ball about as well as you can square one. Bat shatters, flyout.
By chase
April 15, 2008 8:52 PM | Link to this
MAybe if they would be PATIENT AT THE PLATE and work the count..the OLD SCOTT OLSEN WOULD APPEAR!
Just a thought!
By Bobby's Cox
April 15, 2008 8:54 PM | Link to this
This is pathetic. Nice blog today DOB. You hit the nail on the coffin.
Our hitting just blows. Chipper hits everything unless there’s men in scoring position.
Our hitters swing at the first Friggin pithc every at-bat. KJ swings at ball 1, then bloops ball 2 into right center.
This is the marlins and we can’t even beat them. Our hitting SUCKS. JUST SUCKS. We need to start platooning KJ. I’m telling you all that mo fo is streaky as hell. HE HIT .250 in 2005! Had a year off, was given 2B, and is streaky as hell. why in hell he’s our 2baseman is unreal. LET PRADO PLAY!
And get rid of Kotsay. He’s KJ’s older brother. He’s worse than andruw if he hits .240 cuz at least Andruw would hit a HR every now & then. Bring up Anderson to play center & bat leadoff already! I’ve been watching this team for 18 straight years. I know when they’re going to lose and they’re gonna lose tonight folks and continue to put this showing on display 3 out of every 5 games. This offense just BLOWS.
By Efrim
April 15, 2008 8:55 PM | Link to this
Anyone see Mike Pelfrey’s start against the Nats? Then again, it’s the Nats. Can we get that from one of our set up guys? Guy goes down, someone steps in and does well. I’ve seen it before, I hear it could happen.
By chase
April 15, 2008 8:55 PM | Link to this
JJ has deserved a better fate his last two times out!
The guy has been great at that 4th spot…He’s a Keeper :-)
By McFann
April 15, 2008 8:56 PM | Link to this
This game is ugly, folks! U-G-L-Y: Uuuuuugly!!!
Hey, Anti-brave, close your cyber trap! It’s NOT hilarious! Where’d you dig up John Kruk?
By brian
April 15, 2008 8:58 PM | Link to this
prophetic blog DOB on the Braves lack of offense.
By Tomas
April 15, 2008 8:58 PM | Link to this
Damn scott olsen has been on tonight, and it had to come against the braves. He has strike one 90 percent of the time, and were talking abou a guy averages around 3 walks per games.
By eric the elder
April 15, 2008 8:58 PM | Link to this
Isn’t it time for someone to take a bat to the water cooler? Bobby get thrown out? A brawl?
Our millionaires are making the Bear Stearns’ millionaires look good.
By Efrim
April 15, 2008 8:59 PM | Link to this
At least Olsen is out of the game, although it’s a good move by Freddy to jump all over Resop. Hanley will probably take him deep.
By Kev
April 15, 2008 9:01 PM | Link to this
These are not the Atlanta Braves i know….what team is playing right now in Florida…SOMEBODY WAKE ME UP!!! THIS OFFENSE IS A NIGHTMARE!!!
By Dutchie
April 15, 2008 9:02 PM | Link to this
Pitty for JJ. Pritty tight controll again. Only 4 hits and no unintentionall bb. Resop getting hit on his second pitch…. But comes back with a K…
Seems that indeed a dinger, instead of a broken bat, can save this day!
GO BRAVES!
By Brothers Grimm
April 15, 2008 9:02 PM | Link to this
Time for Resops’ foibles.
Over/Under: 2 runs???
By FJR
April 15, 2008 9:02 PM | Link to this
just a side note, but I hate umpires with overly dramatic strikeout dances.
Nobody is there to see you. Just let the guy know he’s out and be done with it.
By Ramblin
April 15, 2008 9:06 PM | Link to this
JJ great job no support. Kotsay got a slow start on ball over his head. Anderson would have had it. Diaz needs to be in AL as DH. Can’t run throw or field. Now we start musical chairs…good luck Bobby. Good job ring. Did the bat boy break out the bats?
By Philliesuk
April 15, 2008 9:08 PM | Link to this
By Billy (TBFnB)
April 15, 2008 9:09 PM | Link to this
Yeah 3,4,5 hitter no damage with no outs…..what a joke….Teix want 18 million a year?
By Lee in S GA
April 15, 2008 9:09 PM | Link to this
McFann
You are right. Besides JJ’s pitching this game has been ugly.
By Dutchie
April 15, 2008 9:10 PM | Link to this
Good start by KJ. Give this starting tune a nice melody now!
By chase
April 15, 2008 9:10 PM | Link to this
I’ve said it before…At least once every 5 days this OFFENSE manages to make a less than MEDIOCRE PITCHER look like CY YOUNG!
The big “O” has got to get CONSISTANT
By FJR
April 15, 2008 9:11 PM | Link to this
was it just me or did Escobar not really run that one out?
By Efrim
April 15, 2008 9:11 PM | Link to this
8 pitches?!?!?!?!
By Original Jon
April 15, 2008 9:11 PM | Link to this
This team flat out sucks
By Billy (TBFnB)
April 15, 2008 9:12 PM | Link to this
our number two guy cant hit into double plays….who leads the team in grounded into double plays (stat gurus?)
By Philliesuk
April 15, 2008 9:12 PM | Link to this
Bull**. That pitch to Chipper was way too low to be called a strike.
By Lance Goodthrust
April 15, 2008 9:12 PM | Link to this
This team will have a very tough time overcoming the loss of Moylan.To me he’s the best reliever on the team,that includes Soriano and Gonzo when they’re healthy.
By GermanBravesFan
April 15, 2008 9:12 PM | Link to this
Thank god, it’s only April…
By Dutchie
April 15, 2008 9:14 PM | Link to this
OK. The melody turnes into a blues….
DOB, any suggestions?!
3 outs left, so try and keep a bit of faith still!
By Overlord
April 15, 2008 9:14 PM | Link to this
Oh of course… AJ would have caught that ball……. braves front office are soooo dumb, how the hell they let that guy go away. I just cant believe it.
And he would have driven in at least some 4 runs today.
By chase
April 15, 2008 9:15 PM | Link to this
The Braves just seem to have lost that “SWAGGER” that let them know they were never out of a game and that Somehow Someway they were going to WIN no matter what!
They can get it back..they just have to STEP UP and play like they are capable of playing…
This IS a Playoff/ World Series Contending caliber team that is simply UNDERACHEIVING right now
By Billy (TBFnB)
April 15, 2008 9:15 PM | Link to this
ok JJ goes six and give up 2 runs and its been ugly? wow, standards kinda high huh.
By iowabrave
April 15, 2008 9:18 PM | Link to this
It’s weird how this team is so erratic. Win 2, lose 2, score 10, score 2. Really strange for a Bobby Cox team to be so inconsistent. Team is too talented for that type of play. Maybe they do need a good scuffle out there. Get a little fire going.
By Overlord
April 15, 2008 9:19 PM | Link to this
JJJ will end up 1-2 but he has a good ERA. No run suport. Tough on a youngster.
By Lee in S GA
April 15, 2008 9:20 PM | Link to this
Good luck with any players corking their bats these days. I don’t think I have ever seen as many broken bats in MLB.
By chase
April 15, 2008 9:21 PM | Link to this
Overlord
STOP OVERREACTING to the AJ comment..
Nobody says they should have kept him or paid him that money BUT facts are facts..AJ WOULD’VE CAUGHT THAT BALL!
By Allie2
April 15, 2008 9:23 PM | Link to this
All these people that are calling for Prado are crazy. If you don’t like KJ, then so be it. However, I am trying to figure out what the hell Martin Prado has ever done to show he can be as productive a player as KJ has been. Prado hasn’t been as good of a player in the minors as KJ was last season, and that’s after KJ pretty much was non-exsistant in September. I also like that he is still getting bashed after having a good night.
By Bowie
April 15, 2008 9:24 PM | Link to this
The young Fish look good and hungry. Time for Bobby to make his move.Go Buddy..I don’t see that fire in Braves players.
By Billy (TBFnB)
April 15, 2008 9:25 PM | Link to this
how do we get shut out for 8 innings?
By anti-brave
April 15, 2008 9:26 PM | Link to this
McFann, it most certainly is hilarious. In fact, I haven’t laughed this hard since JS wrote that book only to have his club tank the very same year! That was classic. Yes, indeed, classic!
By Efrim
April 15, 2008 9:26 PM | Link to this
Pelfrey: 7IP 5 hits 2 BB’s 4 K’s 0 ER
By supa
April 15, 2008 9:27 PM | Link to this
We have a really old and frail team.
By Im
April 15, 2008 9:28 PM | Link to this
Overlord…i have no idea why they would let Andruw go. Maybe because hes hitting .114 and is getting paid 18 million dollars. Just a guess though.
By FJR
April 15, 2008 9:29 PM | Link to this
yeah, the KJ thing is crazy. Look at their career numbers, there is NO WAY you can tell me that Prado is a better hitter.
By FEAR
April 15, 2008 9:29 PM | Link to this
the braves are pathetic this year
By Efrim
April 15, 2008 9:30 PM | Link to this
6 hits, all singles…..
By chase
April 15, 2008 9:31 PM | Link to this
BASESLOADED WALK with 2 OUTS!!!!!!!
GOOD GRIEF!!!
By Im
April 15, 2008 9:31 PM | Link to this
sorry overlord. didnt catch that sarcasm. my bad.
By Billy (TBFnB)
April 15, 2008 9:31 PM | Link to this
It’s been scary, but the bullpen kept us in it. LOL or not. What a joke.
By fastasballs
April 15, 2008 9:32 PM | Link to this
I’m with DOB, a good brawl may be needed. I’m interested to see if Frenchy is going start something with Jacobs in the 9th.
Anyone ever wish the Braves had kept Yost or Gonzalez & shipped off Cox? His former understudy just ran circles around the old man.
By Efrim
April 15, 2008 9:32 PM | Link to this
Nice job Will Ohman! Way to walk in a run.
By Im
April 15, 2008 9:34 PM | Link to this
Overlord…didnt catch your sarcasm. Sorry about that.
By DCbrave
April 15, 2008 9:35 PM | Link to this
Now the Braves’ 3 (0-3), 4(0-3), and 5(0-3) coming up in the 9th. Keep faith. How bad can they go.
By Reid in EAV
April 15, 2008 9:35 PM | Link to this
Walked in two runs. Oh. Man.
By Overlord
April 15, 2008 9:35 PM | Link to this
By Overlord July 15, 2008 9:19 PM
Oh come on people, stop being so negative. Its only 82 games. Braves will soon start hitting and we will be even better when we get back some people back from DL, specially TEX and Hudson. Gonzo had a setback but it aint the end of the world, is it?
You need to take the postive out of live, we are already approaching .500 baseball.
By Efrim
April 15, 2008 9:36 PM | Link to this
It’s not BC’s thing to yell at players, but what Ohman just did is unacceptable at the major league level. In 4 innings pitched the guy has walked 4 batters and struck out none. Some WHIP he’ll have at the end of the year if this keeps up.
By Murphy
April 15, 2008 9:36 PM | Link to this
Ugh. Just ugh.
By Billy (TBFnB)
April 15, 2008 9:37 PM | Link to this
Well I guess its hard to give up that game clinching homerun if you walk everyone…..yep me the ever present optimist.
By chase
April 15, 2008 9:37 PM | Link to this
Make that TWO BASESLOADED WALKS with 2 OUTS…SO FAR!
Exactly what cost us the game Sunday when BENNETT did the same thing!
COX is going to have to do something to rattle these guy’s cages…this team is TOO GOOD to be this inconsistant!
By BravesFanInRockies
April 15, 2008 9:37 PM | Link to this
Good God, this is pathetic. Bobby used, what, 43 pitchers in this inning to set up lefty/lefty righty/righty matchups and he ends up with Ohman vs. 2 righties and walks them both.
Fredi, the student is now the master.
mr. baseball, you made good points in the last post.
I’m sorry, in a 2-0 game in April you don’t burn your entire bullpen unless you have zero confidence that your pitchers can get people out. ARRRGGGGGHHH!!!
By matt
April 15, 2008 9:37 PM | Link to this
un-freaking-believable
By anti-brave
April 15, 2008 9:38 PM | Link to this
Are you sure that big tub of goo behind the dish isn’t john kruk?
By Goodoleboy58
April 15, 2008 9:38 PM | Link to this
this is hard to watch
By TDub
April 15, 2008 9:38 PM | Link to this
Here’s a wacky idea. Hampton in the bullpen? At least short-term?
By bfan54
April 15, 2008 9:38 PM | Link to this
Clearly, this team is demoralized (albeit temporarily) by injuries and slow starts by some players, that need to step up. The injuries are gonna impact for a good while, so don’t be looking for any swagger anytime soon - or anytime this season. Clearly, this year is going to be a significant challenge, for a good while to come.
Defense and lack of speed (and spark)are not helping things.
It’s hard not to be discouraged - at least by the injuries. Averages can jump back up there, but the injuries sap the clock.
I’m not panicking by a long shot, but I haven’t seen much to encourage me, yet. It’s the injuries, never seen so many coming one after another.
By Tomahawkin
April 15, 2008 9:39 PM | Link to this
I called it last week… even though the marlins were expected to finish last this year, that their rotation was gonna give the offense fits…
The only consistant thing about this offense is its inconsistancy
D.O.B. You barely won our little bet in Washington, but I think I will have the upper hand in Ft Liquordale, the Marlins always play us tough down there…
By fastasballs
April 15, 2008 9:39 PM | Link to this
Oh geez I wondered how long it would be before the “AJ would have caught it” posts would start. He’s gone & by watching him in 8 or 9 games with the Dodgers he wasn’t been that great in the field so I wouldn’t be so sure he would have caught it.
By cop
April 15, 2008 9:40 PM | Link to this
Overlord sucks. AJ wouldn’t have caught that ball with his extra 30 lbs.But Josh Anderson would have. Boy the Braves miss* Pat Corrales and Leo.* Time for Bobby to thing about retirement 67 on SS, Millions in the Bank whats the problem? ego…Diaz who? No leader on this team, everyone to lazy . PT damn can’t coach hitting. Be lucky to finish 3rd.
By davidabt
April 15, 2008 9:40 PM | Link to this
DOB—-How much time do you get off from your job—I mean besides the offseason.
You have not been here in days— what the h.ll you been doing?
By Niaccm
April 15, 2008 9:40 PM | Link to this
Starting pitching is better this year than last IF we can keep multiple starters off the DL. Smoltz, Hudson and Jerjens are better than Smoltz, Hudson and pray for rain last year. Starting pitching is a plus (If the big IF doesn’t come into play)
Bullpen is up in the air. Could be better if Soriano and Moylan come back soon. Resop absolutely stinks. Bennett is a better starter than long reliever. Pen could go either way, although the pen is stinking it up pretty good right now.
Now the bone to pick. This is the same maddening offense as we had last year! Score 10. Score 12. Then make a string of second rate starters look like a million bucks for a week. We saw this movie last year, seeing it again this year. Of course we’re going to hear how they score (fill in the blank)runs per game and have the (blank) rated offense. Of course anyone who actually follows the game knows that it’s not how many you score, it’s when you score them and the circumstamces. You can waste 10 runs in a 12-2 blowout. That can inflate the numbers after of week of losing 3-2, 2-1 and 4-1.
Francoeur, Mccann and KJ aren’t leaders. They’re still young. On the other hand, many of the young stars on the rise are coming through in the clutch after the same amount of time in the league as these guys have.
Braves stink at clutch and situational hitting. They stunk it up last year and are doing the same this year.
Thank goodness for Chipper Jones! Pray he doesnt get hurt! If he does, the Braves may be fighting the Tigers for the honor of futility on the diamond.
Final comments.
Bobby and his matchups are driving me nuts! I bet his success rate so far this year has been less than 50% on his revolving door matchup parade.
And….. wouldn’t surprise me if the Braves score a couple of runs in the ninth. They score runs when they’re up a few or down a few. What should that tell you? Tells me that when the pressure is off, they hit. When the pressure is on, the act like they have a chicken bone stuck in their collective throats.
By Overlord
April 15, 2008 9:40 PM | Link to this
3-5 against pirates, nationals and fish.
Great!!!!!!!!!!
Not to mention a sweep against the rockies, a team that is 2-7 while they dont play the braves.
By McFann
April 15, 2008 9:41 PM | Link to this
Sure, anti-brave, sure. It’s about as funny as a root canal.
By Zbrave
April 15, 2008 9:41 PM | Link to this
Oh, Uglla, Uglla … Oh yes, he just missed a grand …Uglla Uglla, ugly …Ugly!
By Bobby's Cox
April 15, 2008 9:44 PM | Link to this
Allie2
Yunel never had as good of a year in the minors than KJ had last year either. Look at Yunel’s stats in 2006 in the minors. Hit .260, and has hit over .300 in the majors since.
Look at Prado’s at bats. He doesn’t swing at bad pitches and hits over .300. Look at Prado’s stats the last 2 years in the minors, and the last 2 years in spring. Over .300. He put in his time like KJ did and is showing more discipline at the plate this year. Play the kid. KJ got a shot and is blowing it. Look at the stats DOB threw up there. If you follow the team, it wouldn’t take a genius to figure out an inconsitent hitter in an inconsitent lineup hasn’t fared well. Get KJ out of this lineup. In 2 starts this year Prado showed he could spark this lineup. Bat him 8th & put Anderson in center to bat leadoff. THERE’S YOUR SHAKEUP to the lineup EVERYBODY.
I don’t know what your jock is with KJ. A high OBP. That’s it? Not in his last 100 at-bats. Not this year. Pitchers have caught on. Platoon or replace.
By uga-brave
April 15, 2008 9:45 PM | Link to this
GOOD NEWS, only 7 more games to jeff francoeur’s next offensive explosion.
By Britt
April 15, 2008 9:47 PM | Link to this
This is getting sad now. All this talk about a stellar lineup but when will it show up. Starting pitching has been great this year with the exception of that one game started by Chuck. Lack of offense leads to overmanaging in the bullpen because game is always close you have to take your starter out to get offense. Bennett should have never been in that blowout then when you need him he’s tired. I’m tired of all the slow starters excuses. Teixiera can start slow all he wants but maybe until he gets hot, he should hit somewhere else. Kotsay has done pretty much what you wanted him to. Johnson is not your typical leadoff guy, but I believe if he changes his approach he would do better. I’m talking about trading his power for more slicing at the plate. Yeah he would be getting more singles than doubles and homeruns but with Yunel and Chipper behind him it should not matter. How many times this year and last year has his swing popped a ball up to the 3rd base and left field side. If he slices that ball its a hit. Sure its good to have power in this lineup like we have, but its also good to make the defense work. We have become predictable and that’s sad.
By bravos
April 15, 2008 9:47 PM | Link to this
Somebody please tell me why we didnt trade kj for pitching instead of edgar. Sure would be nice to have yunel batting leadoff and edgar in the two hole because are offense is brutal.
By Tomahawkin
April 15, 2008 9:48 PM | Link to this
Man This is getting ugly, Phiily has just tied their game and the mutts are beating the Nats (which good teams are supposed to do)…
These guys better get some fire in their asses before the mets and phils get hot….
Fastasballs with the way A. Jones has started out this year at the plate nad in the field, I will only comepare fly balls that I see now to the A. Jones of 10 years ago…
By chase
April 15, 2008 9:48 PM | Link to this
Be fair fastballs….AJ would’ve have gotten to that ball EASILY…it would’ve never been a question…He would’ve ran to a spot and been waiting on it!
NO REASON THIS TEAM SHOULD EVER BE SHUT OUT!
By McFann (Hangin' in there by a tread)
April 15, 2008 9:49 PM | Link to this
Waytago, McCann! Atta boy!
SHEEEEEEEEEESH!!!
By Niaccm
April 15, 2008 9:49 PM | Link to this
fastasballs
So you don’t like paying 18 mil a year for a hall of fame outfielder, who has slowed a couple of steps, gained some weight and STILL isn’t hitting?
Me either.
By Reid in EAV
April 15, 2008 9:50 PM | Link to this
Well, it seems the offense is doing its best to make the decimated bullpen a moot point.
By Billy (TBFnB)
April 15, 2008 9:51 PM | Link to this
Bobby needs to rip into these guys. Just yell at them.
By Overlord
April 15, 2008 9:53 PM | Link to this
Funny how some bloggers can actually think i would say letting AJ go was a mistake and really mean it….. Hellooooooo
By Tomahawkin
April 15, 2008 9:54 PM | Link to this
If there is anything good about the outcome of da game 2nite, is (Other than Chipper still raking) At least it wasn’t of the 1-run loss variety…
Phillies scored 4 in the 9th after being down 3-0 against the stros…
Looks like Philly is about to start clownin on the rest of the league while we keep making Jubroni Teams look like the 27 Yankees…
By Overlord
April 15, 2008 9:55 PM | Link to this
How can we get 5 hits from the 3 top hitters and not even a freakin run.
By fastasballs
April 15, 2008 9:56 PM | Link to this
Chase, When Andruw was in his prime, strange thing to say about a guy that is 30, you’re correct he would have been standing there waiting on the ball. His reaction to the ball off the bat was unreal, he was rarely ever fooled.
By Metropolitan Man
April 15, 2008 9:56 PM | Link to this
Overlord
Nobody on the braves team may have as many loses as Santana but how long will that last? Besides last time I checked baseball was a team sport that you win at any cost. The pitcher has a bad game, the bats should come alive. If the bats are dead, then the pitcher should be as close to “lights out” as possible. Bottom line is wins and losses and so far the in the NL Least the METS are topping the braves and that is a victory in itself when rivals are concerned.
By brent a.
April 15, 2008 9:56 PM | Link to this
I still say that the Braves do not need a closer.
By DCbrave
April 15, 2008 9:57 PM | Link to this
Just read what Ohman had to say about Moylan’s injury (cited by DOB):
When you lose guys of that caliber, you absolutely feel some sort of pressure to pick up the slack,” Ohman said. “But I think with the pieces we have, that we can do it. I don’t think it’s going to be an issue.
Oh yeh, you stepped up alright, your balls stepped up, way up!!
By BravesFanInRockies
April 15, 2008 9:58 PM | Link to this
Well, that was painful.
As good as this offense can be at times, you have to wonder if we’ll have a lot of low scoring games like this.
The offense may be really inconsistent simply because the final four guys in the lineup (JF, Heap, Kotsay and Diaz) are impatient at the plate. If they’re hitting at the same time, we’ll score in bunches. If they aren’t, we’ll not be able to sustain innings because these guys don’t draw walks and opposing teams can get five easy outs in a row.
Don’t know what the answer is, short of platooning Diaz or Kotsay with a more patient hitter. If we have one.
How’s that for a buzz kill?
By FEAR
April 15, 2008 9:58 PM | Link to this
they’re just bad face it
By Nick
April 15, 2008 9:59 PM | Link to this
I know there’s nothing that can be done about it now, but I really have to second guess a couple of our more recent deals, which I can’t remember doing in a Schuerholtz deal especially (except for dealing Wainwright for one season of JD Drew). I really feel that considering we included a second possible SUPERSTAR prospect in Elvis Andrus, in the Salty for Tex deal, I really feel as if we could have forced our hand in making the Rangers include CJ Wilson, rather than Mahay. The Rangers HAD to trade Teixeira, and there was no way hey were going to get a better offer than a MLB ready, switch hitting, future All-Star catcher like Salty. Considering we included our NUMBER ONE prospect (Salty was already in Atlanta), I just wish we had waited a few more days until closer to the trading deadline and told them the only way Andrus was coming was if CJ was the RP we got back.
I also have to wonder how in the world a player the caliber of a Mark Kotsay, especially with the recent injuries that caused him to basically miss the previous season, is worth a first round draft pick, who was finally mowing hitters down in the minors, and more than likely ready to play his first FULL season at the big league level, with closing no more than a year, two years max, on the horizon. Just wait and see what Billy gets for Huston Street at the trading deadline, because Joey Devine will be ready to be a major part of the A’s bullpen, if not Street’s immediate successor.
We HAVE to fix the bullpen folks or we are going to be in a world of hurt. A week and a half ago my biggest concern in the pen was finding a way to get Chris Resop out of town (I wasn’t paying as close of attention as I should have been at the end of spring training, did we really choose to TRADE Tyler Yates and keep Resop in the pen over sending Resop down and risking, or PRAYING, somebody else snatched him up?). Now we have to watch the likes of Will Ohman, BUDDY CARLYLE, and Resop himself, actually PITCHING in the 7th and 8th innings of CLOSE games. Uh-oh.
By uga-brave
April 15, 2008 9:59 PM | Link to this
bravos,
you asked why didn’t they tade kelly instead of renteria?
there are about $7 MIILLION reasons why.
By TennesseePaul
April 15, 2008 10:00 PM | Link to this
Doesn’t look like much has changed. Against the “team to beat” the Braves show up to play. And against the gimmie’s the team sleeps. Ah what do I know? I didn’t see the game. But the Braves lost, so that must mean Cox was out managed right?
You win some, and you lose some. Here’s a line I heard a lot this off season when I was hoping for more trades or acquisitions beyond Glavine and Jair to improve this teams pitching staff: “It’s only [insert today’s date]. There’s plenty of time left to make more moves.”
It’s only April 15th, tax day, we still have plenty of time left to salvage this season.
By Bama
April 15, 2008 10:01 PM | Link to this
Bobby don’t have a clue on what to do to fire up this team, what a joke. Frank Wren its time for you to make some tough decisions about players , Cox and coaches. Lets see what you are made of Mr. Wren. Put up or shut up.
By beachcomber
April 15, 2008 10:02 PM | Link to this
We need to tip our cap to the Olsen kid. He simply threw strikes all night. Tough loss for JJ but if he keeps throwing like that the W’s will take care of themselves.
Know it’s “only April” but we need to win more of these games. Take a peek at our September schedule. It is brutal.
By Efrim
April 15, 2008 10:04 PM | Link to this
DCBrave
I agree on Ohman. He really backed it up.
By chase
April 15, 2008 10:04 PM | Link to this
EVERYONE responding to the “AJ would’ve caught it comment” seem to be to stupid tp realize the difference between saying a superior defensive player would have causght a ball and saying he should still be here and the Braves should be willing to pay him 18 million!!!!!
Separate people!!! Defensively Kotsay is good but he is not in AJ’s league…He takes bad routes to balls sometimes and looks horrible doing it (something AJ never did)
Does this mean AJ should still be here or is worht 18 million..NO but facts are facts…AJ would’ve caught that ball!
And according to Braves.Com Kotsay came into tonight hitting .213 ????? and then went 0-4!
He is not exactly tearing it up at the plate…I’d like to see JOSH ANDERSON mixed in and let his speed spark some things in the outfield, the plate, and on the bases!
Phillies came back and won by the way :-(
By wiki
April 15, 2008 10:04 PM | Link to this
DOB…..agreed on the D’Backs. In the middle of the Mets/Braves jawing all winter here, I’ve posted that the road to the NL pennant goes through Phoenix. Some horses on the mound and mucho young talent with tremendous upside. We’ll see how it plays out.
I’m not one to call out a player or coach, but I have to ask if anyone knows Roger McDowell’s philosophies about his profession…..Leo’s mantras were made well known, i.e. throw strikes, throw frequently between starts, down and away, etc. I’m becoming critical of Roger, probably out of ignorance, but what does the guy bring to the table?
By Overlord
April 15, 2008 10:04 PM | Link to this
NO REASON THIS TEAM SHOULD EVER BE SHUT OUT!
Maybe wearing braves uni is a good reason…. It like mike tyson boxing like his grandma.
By Petey Mac O'Grady
April 15, 2008 10:05 PM | Link to this
I’m reminded of what my old uncle Jackie used to say after a tough loss in football back in old County Cork.”Bloody f*” he’d scream,”where’re my bloody f*” ? Smoking took him at too young an age but back to my point.He’d say ”Petey my boy when things keep going wrong somebody has to be accountable”.Since Mcdowell came aboard as our pitching coach it’s been one injury after another to his pitchers,so who’s accountable here ?
By Tomahawkin
April 15, 2008 10:06 PM | Link to this
Billy (TBFnB)
“Bobby needs to rip into these guys. Just yell at them.”
That’s not a bad Idea, Jim Leyland does it and his crew responded to it (Even though its Too early to tell)
Sweet Lou Pinella Went on a base throwing tirade as well as having to check a clubhouse brawl almost a year ago, and it seem to get that squad into Postseason…
So that doesn’t sound like a bad idea at all
By Efrim
April 15, 2008 10:06 PM | Link to this
Phillies had a big come from behind win in the ninth inning of Valverde…..
They hit home runs in clutch spots instead of singles…that lead to a pop fly or strike out with the last out.
Put one in the seats, between the foul poles, in the late innings.
By Allie2
April 15, 2008 10:07 PM | Link to this
Tell me what your jock is with a little bitty singles hitter that has never been as good as KJ has. Yunel Escobars are rare, not the norm. It has been beaten to death about KJ’s slump last season. He wore down. I don’t see what is so hard to understand about that. So far this season he has “hit” just fine. The only thing missing is the walks and we know that will come. You are kidding yourself if you think KJ’s walk totals will rival the likes of Francoeur and Diaz by season’s end.
I guess the big thing is that I don’t really understand why KJ was/is singled out. Anybody who has actually watched the games can see that he is swinging the bat well. The only ones that are really out hitting him in the lineup are Chipper and Yunel. Save for his big day on Saturday, Jeff hasn’t done much either (except rack up some horrid at bats). He (KJ) has failed to record a hit once this season and that was Sunday were he was hitting the ball hard at people. He has reached base in ever game he has played. Pointing at him like he is killing this offense is just stupid. Pretty much everyone, save Chipper, has done their part.
My focus is on KJ right now because he has been ragged on here and I think it is just stupid. When someone bashes another good player and wants them replaced by a less talented bench player (and we know that will happen), I will come on here and defend them too.
By BravesFanInRockies
April 15, 2008 10:11 PM | Link to this
Actually I do have an answer. Or an idea.
Put Blanco in the leadoff spot. Hit KJ between Franceour and Heap. (Another patient hitter near the middle of the order.) Let Diaz or Kotsay sit.
You’d never consider that move if Diaz and Kotsay were raking, but they’re not. KJ is a more productive than Prado, and has more power. Gotay’s a better hitter than Prado but a defensive liability. Otherwise I’d think about sitting KJ, too.
Thoughts?
By Overlord
April 15, 2008 10:11 PM | Link to this
Metroman, i wont stand any argument with ya today, it wouldnt be fair saying something good about this team today. The fall is reaching MACH 3.
By LT-AA Blogger
April 15, 2008 10:13 PM | Link to this
Pathetic, weak, a buncha wussies this Braves team is playing like.
Did I say weak…..just weak.
On top of it, I’m stuck at work tonight. Clicking the left mouse button in disgust to close MLB game tracker just doesn’t compare to the remote control into the couch cushons. Though, I think I frightened the cleaning lady with the click.
By vic
April 15, 2008 10:17 PM | Link to this
Braves Sucks, Cox Sucks, Management Sucks.
By Overlord
April 15, 2008 10:19 PM | Link to this
Here’s a wacky idea. Hampton in the bullpen? At least short-term?
Unheard of, but t could be a good idea.
By BravesFanInRockies
April 15, 2008 10:19 PM | Link to this
Overlord,
The reason this team gets shut out: The top four hitters can work counts. The last four don’t. Diaz never walks. Kotsay never walks. Heap rarely walks. Franceour rarely walks. The way you keep innings going is by building pitch counts, not letting the starter get deep in the game. Swinging at the first pitch all the time loses ballgames.
Is this a problem with TP’s approach as a hitting coach? Dunno, but it wasn’t a problem when Don Baylor was here. (I hear he’s looking to get back in baseball …)
By uga-brave
April 15, 2008 10:19 PM | Link to this
braves saw 110 pitches tonight, the marlins saw 152. the braves had ZERO walks again. the marlins had six. the braves had six singles tonight.
no walks and six singles aint a good offensive combination.
the outfield probably has the worst .ops in the majors and i really dont see it getting that much better.
you can only put so much lipstick on a pig.
By Tomahawkin
April 15, 2008 10:19 PM | Link to this
Its about time someone other than me starts calling out Roger McDowell… Finally after 2 and a half years of injury riddled pitchers, and a Blow-pen that cost us at least 20 games over since the Kolb Took over the entire Relief Corps in 05…
By DCbrave
April 15, 2008 10:20 PM | Link to this
I’ll say it again: The Braves now officially have the best DL in the Major!
By chase
April 15, 2008 10:20 PM | Link to this
Now BRIAN JORDAN has joined RON GANT in taking shots at COX
He said “you gotta tip your cap to Freddy Gonzales, he had his team ready to play…as where the Braves were not…they were flat coming off the off day..it seems like they are never ready to play and always struggle after an off day”
Look GANT and JORDAN both played for COX and for someone who is supposed to be so loved by his players these two guys sure don’t seem to have any problems taking shots at him and questioning his management!
wouldn’t mind seeing GANT as some sort of a COACH for this team before long!
By BravesFanInRockies
April 15, 2008 10:22 PM | Link to this
BTW, one denizen recently wondered why the Braves didn’t take the same patient approach at the plate TP did when he was a player. Well, just checked TP’s career stats on BaseballReference.com.
His career OBP was .316. That’s awful.
By chase
April 15, 2008 10:23 PM | Link to this
HOWEVER, as bad as this one stinks…you have HUDDY and SMOLTZ going the next two days…I still say they take those two and win the series and that’s all they need to focus on doing…Win series and the rest will take care of itself!
By Bobby's Cox
April 15, 2008 10:23 PM | Link to this
Nick
Good point you bring up about devine. I wondered the same thing. Kid was ready, and we had so many other kids ready for center. But, that says a lot about this management. They rather have feeble veterans “just in case”. A rookie like Anderson, schafer, or Lilibridge would’ve hit better than AJ’s .200 and could’ve filled a HUGE need at the front of the lineup. I was expecting Devine to be in our pen this year and solidify it a bit. Now look at the pen.
And about the Edgar trade Bravos. Agreed. Although i was happy we got JJ, clearly it was KJ that should’ve gone. Imagine our infield with Yunel and Edgar. My fingers were crossed when i heard KJ or Edgar might be moved. I don’t know who we could’ve got for KJ, but it’s sad that the budget came into play.
By Niaccm
April 15, 2008 10:24 PM | Link to this
Well if no one is saying we should have paid Andruw 18 mil for defense that is not even up to the standard of Andruw’s defense of a few years back, then why even bring Andruw’s name up at all?
If we are playing “IF” games, if we had Willie Mays in his prime playing center field for us tonight, he would have caught the ball Kotsay didn’t get to.
It’s a pointless argument. Andruw was either worth 18 mil a year to keep or he wasn’t. I vote he wasn’t. I don’t care what he was five years ago or five months ago. I don’t care if he’s a first ballot hall of famer or finds a cure for cancer or the common cold. It’s what he’s worth as a baseball player today that counts. He isn’t worth 18 mil a year and never will be.
By Shamus Thacker
April 15, 2008 10:25 PM | Link to this
I’ll say it again. Even if Tex bats 400 and has 200 RBIs at the end of the season, it makes no damn difference if we’re out of it by June.
Nobody ever said the guy didn’t work hard, he just had his priorities all outa whack. A guy his age needs no more than a month to be completely recovered from the season. That left 3-months for liftin n’ stretchin. If players can’t work out during the off-season, then why do so many players show up with mounds of added bulk? Guess Tex is the exception? He has to do it during spring training?
Bet some of the Braves are thinking the same thing…
BTW, Tex is THE reson we lost tonight, and he’s THE reason we ain’t in first-damn-place!
By fastasballs
April 15, 2008 10:25 PM | Link to this
The Braves have an all or nothing offense, which adds up to a .500 record at best. There is no consistancy outside of Chipper & Escobar.
They can’t manufacture a run when needed. There is ZERO team speed & little patience at the plate so getting a run by a walk, stolen base/sacrifice & a hit are virtually zero. No I’m a “small ball” fan, but when the bats are cold or facing a pitcher they can’t hit a team needs to be fundamentally sound & scratch out a run or two.
When your leadoff man has 1 walk all season, what does that tell you? Yeah I know he missed a few games, but last year he was an OBP machine last year.
The Braves need a Josh Anderson type guy leading off if KJ can’t get it done. If Diaz doesn’t start lighting it up it wouldn’t be a bad move to platoon Anderson in LF & let him leadoff.
The one real positive this season has been the starting pitching. With the exception of the James’ outing I don’t think there has been a bad one yet by anyone.
All teams have injuries, it’s the ones who overcome them & find ways to win that always rise to the top & right now it’s not the Braves. Maybe they will find a way, but I don’t see any fire in this team. They looked like they were just going through the motions tonight & Sunday.
Just an idea here, but why doesn’t Cox move Tex down in the order until he heats up? I have no doubt he will, but why continue to watch him fly out with Chipper & Escobar on base. We watched Andruw kill the line up for the first 100 games last year. I’m not comparing the two in any way, but Cox needs to do what’s best for the damn team.
By Nick
April 15, 2008 10:28 PM | Link to this
Can’t we just fire McDowell and bring back Leo? I’m sure he’d rather be rocking next to Bobby than giving analysis on Fox every Saturday. We won a decade and a half worth of division title’s while Leo was working with the pitching staff and haven’t even made the playoffs in the two years since he left. It’s not like the guy chased the dollar and left us for a rival, he fulfilled a promise to be his best friend’s pitching coach if he ever became a major league manager. The move didn’t work out and now he’s out of work. Our move to replace him hasn’t worked out either. BRING BACK LEO!!!
By Metropolitan Man
April 15, 2008 10:29 PM | Link to this
All jokes aside Overlord, you guys do have way too many injuries. I was hoping the best team would win at full strength but it looks like the GM that picks up the best retreads and the best “current” farm system will win it. I like what I saw I from the METS today but we took 2-3 from the Marlins to start the season. Do they really look that good now or are the braves hurting that bad? Except for the 10-2 blowout of the Nats, they gave you a little trouble also. Yeah, yeah, I know its still early and every NL team except for the Marlins stink, go figure.
By matt
April 15, 2008 10:30 PM | Link to this
Just a thought…I’m disappointed too, but all teams go through rough stretches. We know Chipper’s reading this and probably some of the other guys are too, why don’t we try not to be so harsh. I know everyone’s going to say they get paid a lot so they should be able to deal with our crap or that they shouldn’t read us if they can’t deal with it. But they are human too, and since we want them to win, we might as well take it easy on them and hang in there with them just as we expect them to hang in there.
By JC FROM UT
April 15, 2008 10:31 PM | Link to this
Could KJ, B.Jones and either CJ or Jojo get us Joe Blanton and Mark Ellis?
By SNIPER-69
April 15, 2008 10:31 PM | Link to this
I must confess….I love it when the braves lose.
By Bobby's Cox
April 15, 2008 10:31 PM | Link to this
Britt
I’m talking about trading his power for more slicing at the plate. Yeah he would be getting more singles than doubles and homeruns but with Yunel and Chipper behind him it should not matter. How many times this year and last year has his swing popped a ball up to the 3rd base and left field side. If he slices that ball its a hit. Sure its good to have power in this lineup like we have, but its also good to make the defense work. We have become predictable and that’s sad.
Agreed. Have you ever watched a braves game then watched another game right after? It’s amazing how much harder our hitters swing than guys in the rest of the league. Consequently, our guys have to start their swings earlier, swing at balls while taking strikes just for the sake of taking a pitch. Our hitting is ugly, certainly isn’t artful.
Someone pointed out what McDowell’s philosophy is. I wonder what TP’s is? I know it’s not swinging out of your shoes down by 4 in the 9th like Tex & Frenchy showed. Tex, Frenchy, KJ, Diaz, Kotsay, & Chipper (with RISP) all do it. Why can’t this team take a little off their swing and guide the ball into the outfield?
By Overlord
April 15, 2008 10:34 PM | Link to this
BravesFanInRockies simple but good thought. Ive been saying something like that for a week.
Time to get more people involved. I dont care if its blanco or anderson, but there is too much pressure on matt and kotsay, they need to breath some air.
We need speed at the top to make something happen, at least for the moment.
I agree KJ would be better if is dropped to 6th or 7th.
Id give Prado at least a start every 4th day. Until the spark hits us.
Now TEX is a problem….. cant sit him for Prado nor peña.
ILL ask again…….ANY NEWS ON HAMPTON, GLAVINE, SMOLTZ, SORIANO GONZO OR MOYLAN?
By chase
April 15, 2008 10:38 PM | Link to this
Niaccm
You keep saying AJ in his prime
Excuse me but didn’t he JUST WIN A GOLD GLOVE LAST YEAR
Also I have seen him on WEB GEMS twice already this year so he must still be making some plays..
The point with AJ’s Defense that people missed is that he made plays look routine that other players had to make look spectacular or didn’t get to at all..The point being..his diminshed range is still better than 99.9% of others best ever range
By brent a.
April 15, 2008 10:38 PM | Link to this
I’ve been watching the Braves since 1981, and the thing that has hit me over the last year + is that the Braves are in their first long stretch of mediocrity in decades!
Think about it. Historically, the Braves have either been really bad, or really good. After 1983, the Braves were the pits essentially every season through 1990, and then in 1991 - bam! worst to first, where they stayed, until 2006. But then, 2006, became 2007, and 2007 became 2008. And regardless of the attractiveness of many of the moves made over the last couple seasons, and off-seasons, it is clear that the fire and passion is flat out gone from this team.
There is too much talent on this roster to watch this garbage year after year.
Folks, Bobby Cox should have stepped away after one of the many play-off losses earlier this decade. My opinion was that 2004 should’ve been the year. It just seemed like by that point, that he had done what he was gonna do, and something different needed to occur.
I became increasingly more and more critical of his every move since that time, and basically nothing has happened (including the division title in ‘05) to make me feel any differently about Cox.
My hope in ‘05, was that Francoeur and McCann would be the spark of change this team needed to make this an exciting ball club again; but sadly, at least one of them has failed to develop into the consistent player we have to have him be for us to win.
Andruw quit. How does that happen? All we hear about is how these players will run through a wall for Bobby Cox; yet, we are seeing lackluster effort after lackluster effort on the field.
My personal belief is that while Chipper, Smoltz, and Glavine feel this way about Cox, other players are not stepping in and absorbing the same sense of loyalty for Bobby that we are told that EVERYONE has. Sure, people can say great things about what it’s like to play for Bobby, but it just isn’t translating on the field.
And then, there’s the same, tired, old, Runners on first and second with no one out with the end result being ZERO runs, OVER AND OVER AND OVER!!!
And, I know I’ll get blasted for the last part, but here’s the truth:
In the 1980’s, I was a kid and lived in Kentucky. Braves baseball was about all I had to look forward to; but now, I honestly feel like I am wasting my time with this garbage.
I know, people can say, “true fans stick by their teams”, blah, blah, and that’s true. But, I’ll always be a fan.
But, the predictability of this garbage for three straight seasons is getting so very tiring.
And, one more note: I think Mark Teixeira is running the risk of becoming this decade’s Kenny Lofton.
He has time to turn it around, and I expect him to; but, his penchant for watching 3rd strikes is late innings is not something that will endear him to a fan base that fell in love with 90’s Braves teams that played with passion and fire.
Bring back David Justice!
Go Braves!
By uga-brave
April 15, 2008 10:39 PM | Link to this
chase,
yeahhh, that one was bobby’s fault.
all this crap about a manager having a team ready to play, is that, just crap.
this team has had 12 out of 14 good starts and their record is 5-9.
about time guys like diaz, tex, K.J. and francoeur shoulder some of the blame.
this team has no leadoff hitter, no consistent power in any of the outfield positions and does not have anyone hitting in the eight hole that wants to turn the lineup over.
By Tomahawkin
April 15, 2008 10:39 PM | Link to this
Fastasballs Your Quote
“They can’t manufacture a run when needed. There is ZERO team speed & little patience at the plate so getting a run by a walk, stolen base/sacrifice & a hit are virtually zero. No I’m a “small ball” fan, but when the bats are cold or facing a pitcher they can’t hit a team needs to be fundamentally sound & scratch out a run or two. “
I’ve said that this team can’t play small ball for the last year and a half…
That’s why I lobbied to go after speedsters such as Cory Patterson, and Nook Logan, even though I got a lot of crap for making the suggestions…
By DCbrave
April 15, 2008 10:39 PM | Link to this
Shamus Thacker - I am with you on Tex and said it all in one of my earlier post today. It doesn’t matter whether his number will eventually go up, which seems to be the argument for Tex by many including our DOB, it does the team no good if the team is way out in April and May because the cleanupper does not clean.
By Reid in EAV
April 15, 2008 10:40 PM | Link to this
If anyone’s looking for me I’ll be out smashing mailboxes with a baseball bat… and getting more hits than the Bravos tonight.
By AGTFan
April 15, 2008 10:43 PM | Link to this
OK. I’ve been positive a long as I can. I’m now going to panic, sulk, and be generally negative. I won’t subject you guys to that though. I’ll be back when I feel better. Either the Braves will wake up or I’ll just get over it. Bye for now.
By chase
April 15, 2008 10:43 PM | Link to this
Metro man
Can you just remind me what the BRAVES have done against teh METS this year?
When the Braves take the next two from the Fish they will leave town the same way your Muts did with a 2-1 series win so maybe you shouldn’t talk so much!
By Overlord
April 15, 2008 10:45 PM | Link to this
The Braves have an all or nothing offense, which adds up to a .500 record at best. There is no consistancy outside of Chipper & Escobar.
Yes there is……..they constantly zok.
Metroman, its early, the truth is that the marlins are a good young team. But Braves are not stepping up like a winning team. At least all injuries are supposed to be kind of light, but it could get uglier in a hurry.
On the upside, as someone just said, we have huddy and smoltz coming up, we can still win our 2nd straight series.
By wiki
April 15, 2008 10:46 PM | Link to this
Its about time someone other than me starts calling out Roger McDowell… Finally after 2 and a half years of injury riddled pitchers, and a Blow-pen that cost us at least 20 games over since the Kolb Took over the entire Relief Corps in 05…
I’m probably just frustrated after seeing 4 bases loaded BBs in two games……I know, Roger doesn’t throw the pitches.
My take is that it doesn’t really matter who the coach is with regard to the veterans on the staff. It’s the less experienced pitchers (the bullpen in this case) that need the therapy of the pitching coach. Occasionally I get the impression these guys don’t really have an idea of what they want to do on the mound…simply said…have a plan how to get the batter out. Not a huge fan of Mazzone, but I have to admit that his greatest successes were with the pitcher that had talent, if only marginal, but no “plan”….one could go on forever with examples…Burkett, J. Wright, Holmes, Hammond, Bielecki, Remlinger, on and on…
By mr baseball
April 15, 2008 10:46 PM | Link to this
Two weeks into the season and a bunch of you are ready to hit the panic button with a sledge hammer. Some of the suggestions seem to be coming from people who can’t distinguish baseball from football.
The Braves are not losing because of a lack of team chemistry (whatever that is). They’re not losing because they are not sufficiently fired up. They lost tonight because they could not solve a lefty pitcher that probably can’t break 90 on a radar gun. It’s not the first time that’s happened.
Did those of you complaining about the Braves’ impatience at the plate actually watch the game. Olsen threw first pitch strike after first pitch strike. How exactly does taking a lot of first strike pitches improve the odds of getting on base? It doesn’t.
Not sure why the Braves struggle against similar pitchers, although they have lit up Olsen in the past. It just does. Remember how the Braves consistently hammered Glavine the first 5 or 6 times they faced him. But he turned things around and pitched pretty well against his former team before returning to Atlanta.
As bad as things are at the moment, it is much, much too early to consider blowing up this team or making rash moves that might seem necessary today but will be costly in the near future.
I’ve been harping about the make-up of the bench, and it’s becoming more evident every day that the people who made the roster decisions screwed up. Blanco, Gotay & Pena need to go, and the Braves need to find themselves a RH hitting CF, a veteran pinch hitter and maybe bring up Anderson to split time in LF with Diaz, who is not an every day player.
Some of these things could have been done before the season, but the powers that be apparently thought they were not required. There’s not much that can be done about the bullpen. No one is going to give up a quality reliever without the Braves offering a grossly excessive package of prospects.
Buck up, Braves fans. Hudson & Smoltz pitch the next 2 games.
By richbrave
April 15, 2008 10:46 PM | Link to this
ADIRONDACK DAVE:
I think you got your answer from Richmond—(silence)—(and more silence).
JoJo REYES looks extremely good, but the call-up of CARLYSLE may mean the management thinks he can go either starts or relief, and they don’t think REYES can do that. Don’t talk to Dave Brundige or Guy Hanson though. So I’m outside looking in.
The best reliefer so far this spring has been Jonothan Rouwenhorst. He’s had a 0.00 ERA through 4 relief stints and 8.2 innings.
And he has been both a reliefer and a starter in the Pacific Coast League. Since Carlysle’s gone, tonight they give him his first start of the season against Rochester. Bottom of the first leadoff batter, double. Second batter, triple. Third batter, double. Fourth batter, walk. Fifth batter, single - three earned in 3.2 and he’s lifted. I don’t know what that means other than he’s still shaking-down the starter thing. Maybe next time he’s effective. But this outing was rough.
Reliefing has been great though. 6 hits, 3 walks and 8 strikeouts in 8.2.innings. 0 runs, 0 earned, and I’ve lost track, but I don’t think he’s allowed an inherited runner to score. I’ve missed one of his appearances though, so that could be slightly off.
He’s the most effective we’ve got right now. NUNEZ has been steady in relief, but not as good overall. He’s next behind ROUWENHORST. I’m not sure NUNEZ is quite ready for prime-time, but ROUWENHORST might do some good. Hope this helps.
Oh, and BTW, JOSH ANDERSON had an inside the park HOMER tonight. Was 1-2 before I fell asleep after Rouwenhorst settled down. R-Braves lost in the eighth 4-3. Double header and radio reception gone after nine o’clock.
By Wayne in Utah
April 15, 2008 10:49 PM | Link to this
Would someone explain to DCBrave that the “your and idiot” comment is NOT really calling someone an idiot.
It is a term we use here when someone does something either dumb or if they are expressing opinions that differ from others. Nobody is calling anybody an idiot on here.
mo and I are in disagreement on Bobby Cox. I don’t think either of us is an idiot.
BTW mo, I am sorry if you don’t like “the phrase”, but it will continue, when warranted. Please feel free to nominate me for the nightly award, if you feel it fits.
And yes, there was an implied smiley face. You gotta be more attentive to my sarcasm.
By N8
April 15, 2008 10:51 PM | Link to this
Four observations, from doing nothing more than reading story and looking at the box score.
1) Moylan hurt? Ouch! We’re in BIG trouble.
2) Apparently nobody told Matt Diaz we were playing the Marlins, huh?
3) Evidently it wasn’t the cold weather keeping our bats on ice?
4) Don’t worry people….it’s EARLY. Sooner or later the Braves will wake up in first place and the Marlins will realize their the Marlins.
This team is a mess, and there isn’t much hope on the horizon.
After I watch the game on the DVR (not sure why I’m gonna bother), I’m sure I’ll have much more negative comments to make. LOL!
L8r.
By Bravesfan79
April 15, 2008 10:55 PM | Link to this
I agree with Nick…bring back Leo!! So when the announcers were talking today about all the strikes Olsen was throwing…was that from him REALLY throwing strikes, or were the Braves just typically swinging at the first thing they saw?
This season is making me sick, and i agree with we need a change at the top. Actually id like to keep Bobby, and just give control over the pitchers to the an assistant coach.
I think that would make a big difference. Like why take out caryle and burn another arm? We dont have any off days soon, yet we used HOW many pitchers tonight?
By BravesFanChris23
April 15, 2008 10:55 PM | Link to this
It was a tough loss and its appearing not so good for the Braves right now, but ITS STILL NOT TIME TO CALL IT A SEASON like I’ve seen some overreact to that level already. I am optimistic about Braves this season and I have a lot of reasons to be, but I’m also a realist and that is they are only 5-8 right now and that isn’t a season ending losing record, especially in April. I hate to use Phillies last year as an example, but its a spot on point. Braves can turn around and I think they will, its just that they aren’t playing so hot right now and they’ve had bad luck with injuries.
Is there room for the criticism that is going around? Of course. There has been things that deserves it thus far in the season. However, a lot of the overreacting is worse than what Braves are doing wrong in my opinion. A lot of hypocrisy is definitely shining through. I’m not finger pointing or anything like that, but if you truly care for the team to win, act like it. Instead of hanging them for every mistake. Whether the criticism is just or not, from what I’ve seen, its a lot worse than how the Braves are doing right now.
If by some chance they don’t turn it around AFTER APRIL or even heading into All Star Break then all of the reaction could be justified. Until (and hopefully if not until) such thing occurs, whining and moaning isn’t helping anything. Its just making things worse than what it realistically is.
Losing Moylan maybe for a long period of time is definitely a big blow and Soriano as well, but if either of them comes back in shape and form, it’ll turn itself around. I’m disappointed a bit as the next fan about the current situation/status of the Braves, but I’m being realistic in that the season isn’t over contrary to the overreaction and they DO have plenty of time to get back into good shape and get a winning record and goal of getting into the post season.
As far as calling for trades right now, I don’t think one is needed right now unless one of or both Soriano/Moylan is out for a significant amount of time. Even though the record doesn’t seem to show it, thus far there’s been plenty of good happening for Braves and reason to be optimistic about their chances. I can say this though, its better to get all of the woes (whether its injuries or bullpen stress) done early, so during the stretch run, everything will be fine.
I agree with the one person who said all Braves need to do is keep winning series (2 out of 3 or 3 out of 4) and things will work itself out.
By Metropolitan Man
April 15, 2008 10:59 PM | Link to this
If you say so Chase. Each week a team gets stronger and another gets weaker. Guess which team the braves are?
Bravesfan79
I really didnt want to repsond to you but you obviously dont like RAP. Thats fine, no debate but you obviously lived in a hood somewhere predominantly with black people who must have wore you out. Seen it and heard it before. Only a select few like yourslef I have met in my llife feel like that so you look at race through a microscope. Ever live in a trailer park? Probably not but you dont seem to have been many places or met enough people in you life to make those statements stick. Bad seeds of all races exist, do you watch the news? Most serial killers are considerd middle age and white, but I digress. Thats nothing to write about because the news has that covered. Now I wont respond anymore to your rants because you probably have a story for everyday of the week about how some black guy beat you up. That black guy was wrong if that happeneded to you, but after reading your rants, I’m not suprised.
By SNIPER-69
April 15, 2008 11:01 PM | Link to this
C’mon Chase, You know that the head to head record of two teams don’t mean sh—it after 162 games. The braves could win every game against the Mets….so what if they don’t make the playoffs. It’s still early but it’s obviouse the braves aren’t as good as the trash talking that went on this offseason boasted.
By N8
April 15, 2008 11:01 PM | Link to this
DOB
I like your style. When commenting on your “pick” of the D-Backs, you said the following:
“I do love that pitching staff, though, and just liked how much energy they played with last year and again so far this season…”
SOMEBODY doesn’t like the energy being displayed by the Braves, and it’s not me! LOL!
Just kidding man.
But you have to admit, the Braves seemingly have ZERO energy at this point. Unless you count negative energy….then we’re full of it.
Excuse my pizziness. My NBA D-League Dakota Wizards dropped a “Brave-like” turd in game one of the D-League play-offs tonight.
Unfortunately for them, it’s one and done. First two rounds are single elimination. Oh well, season was fun, as always.
No big deal, anyhow. Since I’m a Braves and Chiefs fan, I’ve gotten QUITE used to saying “We’ll get em’ NEXT YEAR!”
By chase
April 15, 2008 11:02 PM | Link to this
uga-brave
I was simply stating what BRIAN JORDAN said about COX..I think I made that perfectly clear!
However, when you have a roster like what COX has had over the years (including this one) you should have more to show for it!
This Braves team is underachieving and a GOOD PORTION of that blame has to fall to the COACH!
Gonzales out managed COX tonight no way around it…
He put runners on, hit and ran, pinch hit for a #3 hitter who already had and RBI…He forced the action and COX sat back and waited on the 3-run homer and got beat!
By brent a.
April 15, 2008 11:03 PM | Link to this
mr baseball - I think your comments about the make-up of the bench actually reconcile with a lot of people’s comments about a lack of fire.
We all know that people want to hit the ball, and no one goes up there not trying; however, when a team struggles, sometimes, often times, the best thing to do to break them out of a funk is to shake things up a little.
But, with the current make-up of this team, the only real option for shaking things up, is replacing a struggling, talented starter, with a less talented, also struggling bench player.
However, perhaps the addition of a wide-eyed youngster like Josh Anderson, to do, nothing else but maybe say, I don’t know … try and steal a base - would help spark something in this team.
The early 1990’s were fun when we had guys like Otis Nixon and Deion Sanders flying around the bases. It was pleasurable to watch, and yes, it could have the effect of firing up the team.
The Braves do nothing to put pressure on their opponent. Nothing.
By David O'Brien
April 15, 2008 11:04 PM | Link to this
RichBrave, Jo-Jo always looks good in the minors. Look at his numbers before the Braves called him up last season.
Then he gets in against big league hitters, elevates that fastball that he gets away with in the minors, and it gets torched. And he forgets his gameplan when he gets out there in a major league game.
By mets fan in atlanta
April 15, 2008 11:05 PM | Link to this
I’m not going to say I told you so, but this is what happens when you rely on a bullpen that has little to no major league experience. They aren’t used to pitching every night like they have been asked to do. Think what happened to Yates last year after he was run in the ground. Do you really think Mike Gonzalez is excited about coming back to this team? He knows what will happen to him—he will be asked to pitch 5-6 games a week, and he will need Tommy John surgery by the time Bobby Cox is done with him.
Also, some of you might want to stop making fun of Mike Pelphrey. This guy is also a former high draft pick (1st round - # 9 pick) who looks to finally be turning the corner. 7 shutout innings tonight, he’s 2-0 with an ERA of 1.50. And don’t look now, but Duaner Sanchez was activated tonight and threw a scoreless ninth inning with a strikeout. All of a sudden the Mets bullpen looks 1000% better than the Braves—even though I absolutely can’t stand Scott Schoenweiss (but he’s still better than most of the guys the Braves will trot out there the next two weeks).
By Wayne in Utah
April 15, 2008 11:05 PM | Link to this
OK, here’s the deal: 1)Go clean and caulk the shower, or 2)Blog
See ya tomorrow night!
By Peter King
April 15, 2008 11:09 PM | Link to this
how about those Falcons……
By Niaccm
April 15, 2008 11:13 PM | Link to this
Chase
I realize you probably have the candles lit at your handy dandy Andruw Jones in home shrine right now, and I’m fine with that. You’re never going to hear me say that Andruw is not one of the finest center fielders to ever play the game.
Let me make this a bit easier. Lets say that Andruw is still as good as he ever was defensively. Although I don’t really believe that, for the sake of argument I will say he is.
There is nothing about his overall performance last year and this year that make him worth 18 mil. He’s been a strikeout and double play machine since his offensive outburst of 3 years ago when he single handedly carried the team for a couple of months. 18 mil is too high of a price to pay for a glove in the outfield. Heck Chipper’s comment in spring training when Francouer was trying to jerk the ball out of the park with every swing tells you all you need to know about his view of Andruw. “Lose and Andruw, gain an Andruw.” was what Chipper said.
So according to you, Andruw is great and still is, at least that’s what I’m taking from your “webgems” comment. Enjoy your opinion, you are entitled to have it and believe in it.
By N8
April 15, 2008 11:14 PM | Link to this
Chase
You frickin’ confuse me dude.
You seemingly “get it”, by trashing on Cox when he gets out-managed. You pine for Ron Gant (the newest member of the Bobby Bashers), yet you went SO FAR out of your way last week sticking up for Andruw, when HALF of Andruw’s trouble, was that he had a manager that didn’t demand excellence out of him, and didn’t sit his azz down, when he was sucking.
It took Joe Torre all of two weeks to be annoyed with Andruw Jones.
My pizziness towards Andruw, has more to do with the fact that we didn’t trade him when the opportunity was there, and that Bobby (being the good guy he is), stood by his side while trolling him out there in the clean-up spot for the better part of a HORRIBLE season….not a slump! A season.
DOB
Well said about Jo-Jo. Of course. What’s the “right thing” to do?
Bring up the kid, who seemingly has his confidence back at AAA in Jo-Jo, or bring up a guy who seemingly CAN’T get out AAA hitters either in Buddy?
If the Braves pitching “depth” would at the season was titled “99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall”, we’d be down to about 92 so far, after only 13 games.
Anybody else see a trend here on the injury front, that their not to giddy about?
By mets fan in atlanta
April 15, 2008 11:16 PM | Link to this
Daggum, I can’t even spell Pelfrey’s name right—realized it as soon as i posted. Tells you how much I liked him last year when he started 0-8. Since then, though, he’s 5-1. So like i said, maybe he’s turning the corner.
By BravesFanInRockies
April 15, 2008 11:18 PM | Link to this
Wayne,
Make sure the bathroom’s well ventilated!
Outta here.
By chase
April 15, 2008 11:21 PM | Link to this
SNiper-69
You said “the head to head records of teams don’t mean S&%# after 162 games”
Really? You sure you wanna go with that statement? Cause I bet you if the Braves go 13-5 or 12-6 against every team in the division HEAD to HEAD it IS GOING TO MATTER at the END of 162 GAMES my friend!
The fact is that every time the MUTS see the TOMAHAWK they PEE THEIR PANTS!
By chase
April 15, 2008 11:23 PM | Link to this
Oh and Sniper-69
It was players for the MUTS and PHILTHIES that were doing the offseason trash talking
you need to go back and get your facts straight!
By chase
April 15, 2008 11:31 PM | Link to this
Niaccm
How many times do I have to say it….I DON’T THINK AJ IS WORTH 18 MIL a YEAR and I DON’T THINK HE SHOULD STILL BE A BRAVE
I was simply stating the fact that he would’ve caught the ball that KOTSAY didn’t and that that type of thing is what was overlooked in his game becuase of his stubborness at the plate I think we are going to come to see in some close games that He saved more runs than people realized
N8
I do want GANT on the bench, I want Josh Anderson on the big club, I want some people in here with fire, aggressiveness, and passion that has seemed to be lacking. I want someone who is going to hold player’s accountable and force the issue sometimes…
I think TP and GANT on a coaching staff would do wonders for this team…Maybe even dare I say YOST…I would have no problem handing the reins to some combo of those guys!
Honestly I think GANT is positioning himself for just that!
By richbrave
April 15, 2008 11:33 PM | Link to this
DAVID O’BRIEN:
Well David you would know. I’ve never seen him in Atlanta, only here. And I’m statin’ what I’m seein’ You and I should link up. We’d make a good team. BTW did Buddy get in tonight?
By Chop Chop
April 15, 2008 11:34 PM | Link to this
I think Jo-Jo can be a mid-rotation big-league starter, but keeping him in the minors this year would be the best thing. He deserves the opportunity to settle down and work on his game in the high minors. He made no more than 14 starts at any one stop in ‘06 and ‘07.
Buddy Carlyle is a pure journeyman, but I’d rather have him up right now doing spot starts than Reyes. When Buddy is scuffling, at least I know I’m not watching a young pitcher who isn’t ready for the big time. I just know I’m watching an older guy who is pure Quad-A all the way.
By uga-brave
April 15, 2008 11:34 PM | Link to this
offensively, besides tex, who in this starting eight is going to be dramatically better?
k.j., francoeur, b’macc, and diaz are pretty much the same type of player. all are steaky, they dont have great speed, and have average power.
someone mentioned the braves dont have the same swagger they used to.
they dont have swagger because all of the afore mentioned players have only had moderate success in the big leagues.
By mets fan in atlanta
April 15, 2008 11:34 PM | Link to this
I will bet you $100 right now that the Braves do not go 13-5 or better against any of their NL East opponents. Anyone want to deal?
By NY jay
April 15, 2008 11:35 PM | Link to this
Bravesfan79,
I don’t know your motives for why you posted your thoughts did but I had to respond.
This forum is for Baseball talk and not uneducated banter about race based on rap video’s and myspace pages.
However, I wonder if rap actually corrupts anything at all.
should I say that Rock n roll corrupted the persons responsible from colombine, VT or any other campus tragedy in the history of this country?
These acts are far and away more tragic than any “attitude” or “lazy” or “$1000 car with $3000 rims” could EVER be.
Maybe the Bible is corrupt. Or better yet, all clergy from the 14th through the 18th century. You know the “white mans burden” to spread the Gospel while looting, robbing and enslaving. Or maybe that little event called The Inquisition.
Because of that is the bible corrupt? Should Clergy feel ashamed?
You cannot comprehend African American culture based on Rap music, video’s and myspace pages. Just like I cannot judge God based on men abusing his Bible.
People who lack the fortitude to effect change rant on blogs. I would love to invite any white person to come to any public housing complex and offer to tutor young black kids or even attempt to show them a different way of life instead of ranting.
On a day like this where we get to celebrate Jackie Robinson there is a borderline racist post. I wish that our society weren’t so easily “corrupted” by a simple form of music. I wish that we were beyond these sentiments but we aren’t.
It is the fact that we aren’t that is truly corrupt. Racism is the biggest black eye on american culture. On WFAN in NY white men call in often complaining about Omar Minaya for having too many latin players on the Mets. Forget that Latin players are THE best players in baseball in this era, Where are the white guys?
Minaya relented by trading away the lone Black talent, because Lastings Milledge made a “rap” song that no one in America ever heard, for two “hard-nosed, intellegent” players in Brian Schneider and Ryan Church. Crazy stuff.
Its 2008.Not the Jim Crowe south era, We are all Americans. Get over it and help change someone’s life for the better.
By Overlord
April 15, 2008 11:37 PM | Link to this
BTW……..AJ is batting…….im watching the game.
By N8
April 15, 2008 11:40 PM | Link to this
fastasballs
“Just an idea here, but why doesn’t Cox move Tex down in the order until he heats up? I have no doubt he will, but why continue to watch him fly out with Chipper & Escobar on base. We watched Andruw kill the line up for the first 100 games last year. I’m not comparing the two in any way, but Cox needs to do what’s best for the damn team.”
Be careful. You make too much sense. If you don’t look out, somebody might ask you the following:
“GASP!! Then WHO IN THE WORLD would you put in the clean-up spot?”
To which a serious responder would say….Jeff Francoeur, until Tex heats up.
Of course the way people on this blog praise Matt Diaz, it’s a wonder Cox hasn’t put HIM in the clean-up hole.
I just don’t understand why when you have a guy (Tex) who’s HISTORY shows he is slow out of the gates in April (He’s said it, DOB has said it, the NUMBERS say it). Yet Bobby just keeps plugging him out their in the clean-up spot night after night.
We’ve got a guy in the 2-hole hitting .340 and the league’s leading hitter in the 3-hole. Chipper and Escobar have been on base 40 times between the two of them in 13 games. Yet Tex has 6 RBI (or “roughly” 1 less than Jeff had in one game last weekend). Even if you take away Jeff’s 7 RBI game, he still has as much as Tex.
I’m not doubting that Tex’s “numbers” will be where they always are at the end of the year. His history shows that they will be.
But the question is whether it will be too late at that point. Which leads to another question. You think that maybe HIS slow starts every year, had anything to do with Texas getting off to a slow start every year?
By Overlord
April 15, 2008 11:40 PM | Link to this
He worked the count to 3-2 and drew a walk….. He stayed away from 2 pitches 2 feet down and outside…….i was surprised to see that.
By Petey Mac O'Grady
April 15, 2008 11:44 PM | Link to this
I think Leo rocking to Bobby’s right side was more valuable than just his work with pitchers (even though the results spoke volumes).I beleive Leo was Cox’s muse/sounding board/yen to the yang/etc.TP is a great coach and obviously works well with the skipper but the relation Cox had with Leo may be one that’s not replaceable.
By Shamus Thacker
April 15, 2008 11:44 PM | Link to this
The pen scared me to death to begin with, now I’m mortified. There’s gotta be a trade in the works as we speak.
If not, we may be crying for a while.
By Overlord
April 15, 2008 11:45 PM | Link to this
Funny, Furcal drives in AJ, didnt we play earlier?
By Philliesuk
April 15, 2008 11:49 PM | Link to this
I am so, so sick of this Andruw Jones talk. He ain’t worth $18 million. Come to think of it, I’m not sure I would have paid him $6 million to come back. All he would have provided is another cold bat on nights like this one.
By Shamus Thacker
April 15, 2008 11:50 PM | Link to this
NY jay quote: I would love to invite any white person to come to any public housing complex and offer to tutor young black kids or even attempt to show them a different way of life instead of ranting.
If suicide ever becomes an option for me, that’s exactly what I’ll do, NY jay. Not a racist, just a realist…
By Shamus Thacker
April 15, 2008 11:54 PM | Link to this
N8, your last point is on point!
By BravesDave
April 16, 2008 12:01 AM | Link to this
An interesting note…in the last 2 games, the Braves offense has scored 4 runs total. During the same 2 games, the Braves pitchers have walked in 4 runs for the opposing offense. Disgusting.
N8, I made the point about Tex killing the Braves a few days ago. Seriously, with the amount of times Escobar and Chipper have been on base, it is nearly impossible for Tex to only have 6 RBIs. 4 of his RBIs have come on two swings - 2 2-run HRs.
Braves hitters completed another full game without drawing a walk. Scott Olsen had walked 6 in 13 innings before tonight.
By N8
April 16, 2008 12:01 AM | Link to this
BTW:
I can’t remember the guy’s name (Jeff something or other). But earlier today I was listening to my KC 610 am sports talk radio, and they were interviewing the guy from Yahoo Sports (this Jeff character), and the DJ’s asked him about the Royals “fortunes” this season.
They were concerned do to their lack of a pure power hitter in their lineup. To which he responded, that he thought they would win around 60 games or so JUST based off of their young power arms and the fact that they play IMPECCABLE defense. He said if they get ANY hitting at all, they’ll be a .500 team.
My point?
My point is, that we have Escobar (seemingly a good young hitter), Chipper Jones, (a REALLY good hitter), Tex (who despite his April woes is better than ANY of the Royals hitters), McCann (one of the, if not THE BEST hitting catchers in baseball), Francoeur (again, maybe not everybody’s favorite - but better than anybody in the Royals lineup), and then you throw in KJ, Diaz and Kotsay.
Here’s the thing. We aren’t doing SQUAT! until Tex starts hitting. It’s that simple.
But when he DOES start hitting, the 2-6 spots in the order (Yunel, Chipper, Tex, McCann, Francoeur), will be as good as ANYBODY’s 2-6 (including Detroit’s “vaunted” lineup).
That will be PLENTY of offense to win games. We have 10 times the offensive potential (there’s that word again),the Royals can even dream of having this year. Yet there are “experts” predicting they can win 60 games off of their pitching and defense alone.
How many games do you all think OUR pitching and defense (based on what we’ve seen so far, along with who’s not 100 percent on the pitching staff), can win us this year?
Which is why, IMO, LF and 2B should be “manned” by the best defenders we can come up with. Kotsay is more than likely the best CF in our organization with the Juice Boy now out of commission for 50 games. So he is fine.
In fact, if I were Bobby (thank god I’m not, because then Robert wouldn’t like me), I’d bat Yunel leadoff, and Kotsay in the 2-hole.
Maybe it works, maybe it doesn’t. But as DOB pointed out today, KJ hasn’t exactly been tearing it up since last September the 7th.
So, in closing, our leadoff hitter and clean-up hitter can’t get on base or knock anybody in (7 combined RBI in 13 team games).
Yet I can’t figure out why we are struggling. LOL!
If Benjamin Franklin were alive today, his official opinion of Bobby Cox, would be that the man is insane.
By fastasballs
April 16, 2008 12:05 AM | Link to this
N8 At this point you could have plugged Prado into the clean up sopt & he would have more production than Tex. Yes, we all know he’s going to hit, but we all know he starts slow so plug someone else in there until he does.
It’s not rocket science, it’s common sense like getting out of the rain. Maybe it’s not, I have heard Cox has a musty smell to him, maybe it’s just his Brute.
By mr baseball
April 16, 2008 12:09 AM | Link to this
Chase:
With Robert apparently having abandoned us, I take a back seat to no one on this blog in my criticism of Cox, but I have no idea how you can say Gonzalez out-managed him tonight.
His starting pitcher was better than Cox’s starting pitcher. Period. His decision to pinch-hit for one of his best players did not succeed, and would have looked pretty dumb if the Braves had rallied. He burned the best bat on his bench (Gonzalez), and that only worked because Ohman walked the next 2 guys on 3-2 counts. Cox might have left Ohman in one batter too long, but all that did was change the final score and rob Gregg (and his fantasy league owners) of a save.
Brent A:
Strong post about Cox earlier, but have a little nit to pick with your observation about speed. Otis & Deion were marginal contributors during their time with the Braves, and speed was never much of a factor in the team’s success. Their only Series winner was maybe the slowest team they’ve put on the field since ‘91.
That said, having someone like Anderson might help, certainly more than a non-contributor like Blanco taking up space on the bench. Better yet, Wren needs to find a Ward/Sweeney/Marlon Anderson type who might give the team some hope of a key pinch-hit in the late innings.
By BravesDave
April 16, 2008 12:13 AM | Link to this
Funny…Tom Glavine and Jair Jurrjens have walked 3 times combined.
Kelly Johnson, Jeff Francoeur, and Matt Diaz have walked 3 times combined.
Another strange fact…Braves hitters have only been walked intentionally ONCE in 13 games. ONCE. A team with Chipper Jones, Mark Teixeira, Yunel Escobar, Brian McCann, Jeff Francoeur, etc has ONE intentional walk.
That just proves how disfunctional this offense is right now. They are just not puttin any pressure on opposing pitchers.
By AdirondackDave
April 16, 2008 12:18 AM | Link to this
Richbrave — Thanks a lot for that update on the R-braves pitchers, much appreciated.
Whoever said Atlanta is a very mediocre team is wrong. Right now mediocre would be a distinct improvement in my mind.
By N8
April 16, 2008 12:23 AM | Link to this
To all of those saying MUSIC is responsible for ANY damage being inflicted by anybody OF ANY RACE, I’ve got two things to say. One is a statement, the other is a quote.
My statement is: SHUT THE beeeeeeep UP! Your stupidity shines through making statements like that.
BAD parenting and kids being put in situations WITHOUT parents around, causes crime to rise. NOT MUSIC.
The quote is from Denis Leary from his “No Cure for Cancer” stand-up from the early 90’s:
“Explain it to me. Heavy metal bands on trial because kids commit suicide, what is that about? Judas Priest on trial because my kid bought the records, and he listened to the lyrics, and he go into Satan… ALLALALALALALLALA! Well that’s great. That sets a legal precedent. Does that mean I can sue Dan Fogelberg for making me into a p*** in the mid ’70s, is that possible, HUH?”
If somebody grows up with homosexual tendencies and later it is found out that that person liked the Culture Club, is Boy George “responsible”???
How about if I got my girlfriend pregnant in high school, can I ask Slash and Axl Rose for money, if Paradise City was playing on the car stereo?
Just as “guns don’t kill people, people do” rings true. Music doesn’t make troubled kids. Troubled kids seek out disturbing music to “cling” on to.
By Overlord
April 16, 2008 12:26 AM | Link to this
BravesDave very good points right there, so now you know our team is a disgrace.
By Bravesfan79
April 16, 2008 12:33 AM | Link to this
Whats it gonna take for this team to change its approach to hitting?
So if Cox dosent make the playoffs this year will he face pressure from Wren to step down?
I hope we get things figured out quick, we no longer have such a dominate team that we can afford Bobbys bad judgment late in close games. I just wanna see Smoltz One more time in a game 7 in the playoffs!
Players like Chipper and Smoltz dont come around often (2 of the best in the MLB that take hometown discounts to stay with the team)
I hope ownership puts more money into the team next year and this summer!!
I know ive never been a big fan of big corporations, but i especially hate and will never support Timer Warner (AOL), or TBS again!
By Overlord
April 16, 2008 12:36 AM | Link to this
This was supposed to be a young team, filled with energy. Yunel, KJ, Jeff, McCann, Blanco, Peña, Prado, Gotay, and we, the braves, cant steal a base (3), Only the Whitesox have less (1).
I guess the signals arent given by Cox either……
No walks, no patience, no stolen bases, no hit&run, no bullpen, no cleanup hitter (hibernating), no leadoff hitter, No clutch.
What does this spells?
By Tomahawkin
April 16, 2008 12:36 AM | Link to this
Bravesfan79 I do agree with the stuff you commented about the mantra of todays Black Youth…in the “Get Rich or Die Trying” crap thats been going on…
I stopped buying rap CD’s years ago , And I don’t listen to rap unless I’m at a party or a bar where that Pop-Tart Garbage is played constantly, I usually able to tune it out, and get my swerve on…I’d rather buy food and booze rather than support the garbage they put out…
I don’t want to turn this into a racial issue (As do a lot of topics on the ajc are…) but As a Black dude who goes to a pre-dominantly white college I find it very odd to go Rich White Kid Fraternity Houses and find that those cats listen to more rap than I do ( Most of these spoiled kids sit and watch BET/MTV All day, whom I make very responsible for the degrading for the young generations black and white
In other words until all that Nickelodeon Garbage like Soulja Boy, Lil Wayne, and other crap artists keep selling the garbage to surburban kids this crap isn’t gonna die anytime soon…Unless the Gov’t starts interviening into what is going on with America’s youth…
By Shamus Thacker
April 16, 2008 12:38 AM | Link to this
At least in this division we’ll be in it all year. Put simply, we suck no more than any other team, and may even suck less than the others if/when Tex finishes his early-summer training.
I’ve kinda rethought part of what I said earlier. I said, if we were “out of it by June,” in a couple [for the smartazz who scores grammar, I omitted the “of”] my statements. There’s really no conceivable way we could be out of it by June. With these panzy-azz teams in our division!? LOL We’ll be ahead by 10-games at the end of the season. We’re all trippin right now. We should chill a little and let the thang play out. If not for hard times, the good times wouldn’t be half the thrill… It’s gonna get going soon, specially on the hitting side, and we’re gonna be like the humongous red machine of the 70’s. I honestly do believe that, even though I can’t hide my feelings about Tex. He lets himself, and the team down, with the way he approaches the game.
Aloha from Cedartown…
By David O'Brien
April 16, 2008 12:41 AM | Link to this
Man, just stopped by a Flanigan’s for a blackened dolphin sandwich (or mahi-mahi; it’s the same fish). That little anti-chain of bar/restaurants makes the best dolphin sandwich you’ll ever find, regardless of price (it’s cheap, like everything else on the menu at these places). I lived in an apartment a block from the ocean in Pompano Beach for a few years, right around the corner from a Flanigan’s. Dolphin sandwiches were a staple….
By David O'Brien
April 16, 2008 12:46 AM | Link to this
Anybody catch Wade Boggs’ sweet mullet when he stopped by the Bristol studio for Baseball Tonight this weekend?
By GeorgetownKid
April 16, 2008 12:51 AM | Link to this
Mr. O’Brien,
How politically incorrect of you. Did you follow up your sandwich with some spotted owl meatballs?
By N8
April 16, 2008 12:59 AM | Link to this
“How politically incorrect of you. Did you follow up your sandwich with some spotted owl meatballs?”
Now THAT is funny? Hooter meatballs. Sounds like a date gone bad.
By CC Rider
April 16, 2008 1:02 AM | Link to this
I would like to make a couple of comments for the record and I am going to call it a night. I went on record during the winter of suggesting we trade Kelly Johnson while he was (According to Frank Wren himself) the most asked about Braves player in trade talks. I got alot of grief and I understood the reasons, but I say again KJ is only going to be a .260-.270 hitter with a little power, a lot of K’s and a below .330 OBP. He is a guess hitter not a reaction hitter. He is below average defensively. Most of all, HE IS NOT A LEADOFF HITTER!!! He belongs in the 8 hole at best. Bobby will get around to correcting this like he finally did last year, but it better be sooner than later with all the injuries. Point NO.2 Kotsay has lost some of his defensive ability the last 2 years and is no longer a good centerfielder. He is also a below average offensive player. I predict Bobby will move Kotsay into a platoon with Diaz at some point and bring up Josh Anderson, who will play stellar defense in center and become the leadoff man with speed we need. I hope this change will also be sooner than later. Anderson, Escobar, Chipper, Tex, Frenchy, McCann, Diaz/Kotsay, KJ will give the offense better consistency. Bullpen will eventually Consist of Soriano, Gonzalez, Acosta, Ohman, Boyer, Stockman and Bennett. Moylan will be lost for the year or most of it, Resop and Ring will be traded or released. WARNING! These moves need to be made asap or the gap between the Braves and the Division leaders will continue to grow!
By Shamus Thacker
April 16, 2008 1:03 AM | Link to this
That the same as mountain oysters?
By Shamus Thacker
April 16, 2008 1:06 AM | Link to this
Somebody’s at my door, hopefully a floozy…
Ciao
By Bravesfan79
April 16, 2008 1:19 AM | Link to this
Dolphin Sandwich?? yuck…ill stick to Tuna.
By Lew
April 16, 2008 1:24 AM | Link to this
I’m going to bed. This is degenerating into an episode from The Cooking Channel.
By Coach (Lets Go Braves In 2008)
April 16, 2008 1:34 AM | Link to this
As anemic as the Braves offense has been recently, Scott Olsen was on his game.
63 strikes in 83 pitches over seven strong innings with zero walks and he had command of his fastball, slider and change up.
Face it, the man was dealing.
Still, the Braves sixth inning will stick in my head for sometime.
I just cannot get over Chippers shattered bat. He hit that fastball right on the money and it should have been ten rows deep in the seats, resulting in three runs crossing the plate.
Instead it was just a harmless flyball out.
You talk about bad luck, when it rains it pours.
Mr.Baseball, your rather uninformed statement about speed not being a factor in the Braves success is just more reason to find a title that better suits you.
Something like Mr.amateur baseball.
The 1991 Braves, 165 stolen bases.
The 1992 Braves, 126 stolen bases.
The 1993 Braves, 125 stolen bases.
The 1997 Braves, 108 stolen bases.
The 1999 Braves, 148 stolen bases.
The 2000 Braves 148 stolen bases.
Don’t you feel smart now?
You say Deion Sanders and Otis Nixon were never much of a factor. You must have missed the 1991-1992-1993 seasons where the two of them combined for 565 hits, 216 stolen bases and hit .282 with an OBP of .351
Look before you leap next time, OK.
By Bravesfan79
April 16, 2008 1:44 AM | Link to this
Tomahawkin: man….FINALLY…about time someone else on here had some common sense. Id buy you a beer any time bro.
BTW…as a white kid coming from a poor family i cant stand those little preppy mommas boys either. They dont know how to appreciate things the way they would if they had to work for everything they had.
As a white guy that worked the projects to support myself from when i was 20-26 or so, now when i see preppy white kids singing along to all the lyrics i just think there retarted. They just have NO IDEA what that crap is really all about.
I actually like some rap, but i LOVE R&B and classic rock the best. I also dig blues from my time living in New Orleans.
By N8
April 16, 2008 2:08 AM | Link to this
“the families that had rap music blaring on the radio with little kids around were ALOT different than the families where they had Gospel music playing”
Again. It appears that it comes down to parenting, now, doesn’t it? A good parent would and will educate their child on what is right and wrong and what is art and what is life.
If parent (A) educates their children on sex, drugs, violence and such, and that kid plays Grand Theft Auto, said child is NOT likely to seek out weapons, drugs and steal cars while committing multiple crimes.
If parent (B) not only DOESN’T educate their kids on the above subjects, and happens to have drugs, weapons and sexually explicit material in the house, said child is VERY LIKELY to have his/her life “imitate” that video game.
Games fault? Or parents fault?
My point is a good kid, with good intentions that has a good network of leadership around him/her, will more than likely NOT be influenced by the demons that ENTERTAINMENT will lay before them.
Ever notice how most of the skanky girls don’t have fathers or father figures around? Because no dad is gonna let his daughter (with his knowledge) dress promiscuously, and stay out until all hours of the night.
Ever notice how most porn stars and strippers are from broken homes and had ZERO guidance along the way?
That being said. I’m not disagreeing with you that much of the stuff in today’s entertainment industry (death metal, hip-hop, movies, reality tv, shock radio, etc…) is garbage.
But garbage has been around forever. As we get older, things become more shocking, because there is NOWHERE for them to go.
Let’s not forget, that at one time, parents and network TV felt that Elvis Presley was filthy and gonna ruin the youth of that generation.
It’s all relative.
By AZBravoFan
April 16, 2008 2:14 AM | Link to this
Chase I’m not so sure Andruw would have caught that ball either. In recent years, Andruw’s strength has been cutting off those short balls with his diving catches. But I can think of more that a few times in the last couple years that he didn’t get to some balls in the gap that I thought he should have had.
By N8
April 16, 2008 2:27 AM | Link to this
“.i guess songs talking about “i wanna thug man” going into a little 5 year old girls head would never negativly impact her choices while developing huh??”
Again. What parent allows their kids to listen to that? And if the child happens to hear it in passing, or has friends that are allowed to listen to it, doesn’t educate them on right and wrong.
“Or a little 8 year old boy growing up in the hood listening to songs about trappin and hustling….i mean your so right, rap music that makes that stuff and those pple seem cool would NEVER make someone wanna lean towards that.???”
Again. See above argument.
Besides. When I was a kid, I loved the Village People. I’ve been to the YMCA many times. Had friends that were in the Navy, and had a very Macho uncle.
I’m not gay. Why is that? I listened to the music, right? Oh yeah. I had parents that educated me on what was ENTERTAINMENT and what not.
When I was 9 and watched the Braves games, it was often preceded or followed by “pro” wrestling. When I would watch for a couple of hours, I would take my 3 year old sister and slam her around for a while.
You know what happened? My parents sat me down and told me I could really hurt her, and if I did that ever again, I wouldn’t be allowed to watch anymore.
Then in the early 80’s, came this GREAT show. The Dukes of Hazard. I couldn’t wait to be old enough to drive, so I could jump the car over bails of hay, and “sneak” moonshine over the county line. All while causing the local sheriffs to wreck their cars while chasing me at high speeds. Of course they never would catch us, and I figured that since they didn’t wear seat-belts and ever get hurt, that THAT must be how real life was when you grew up.
But again. My parents told me differently. You know what? They were frickin’ right!
Once when I was a kid, I watched all of the Friday the 13th movies in one night. I absolutely LOVED those movies. I couldn’t WAIT to go to summer camp so I could kill everybody! But then I realized there was a difference in entertainment and real life.
I used to play the song “Closer” by NIN, over and over again. NOT ONCE did I ever think of f’ing anybody like an animal…..Oh wait. I did. Sorry. Never mind.
You know what all of this has made me think? That when I wake up tomorrow morning, I’m gonna call my parents and thank them for being there and doing the frickin’ job the “signed on to do” when they had sex, and conceived me. IE: Parenting.
And finally…. this gem:
“…now when i see preppy white kids singing along to all the lyrics i just think there retarted.”
Ladies and Gentleman. We’ve found our replacement phrase, when “your AND idiot” becomes a severely beatin’ dead horse.
By StingerSplash
April 16, 2008 2:33 AM | Link to this
DOB,
Didn’t notice Boggsy’s mullet. But that hair color … a little unnatural, no? Too mesmerized by trying to figure out what the hell he mixed up in a bottle to get his hair that color - and so much of it, too.
By N8
April 16, 2008 2:36 AM | Link to this
79
One last question for you.
Lets “hypothetically” say that there is a thug (your word), that is deaf. Born that way. Never listened to a second of Hip-Hop music.
But decides to commit some crimes, while using a weapon (very “thug” like).
Where on earth would you place the blame for that? The dude CAN’T listen to music, right? When his parents listened to Hip-Hop as a child, it couldn’t do any harm. What gives?
Show me a parent blaming music and entertainment for our troubles in society, and more specifically THEIR kids’ troubles.
I’ll show you a parent that’s un-involved, un-educated on HOW to raise a child, and un-aware of a THING their kid is involved in/with.
Life most of the time does not imitate art. The art is created by somebody as a reflection of what is going on in their LIFE around them.
But if you can find a way that guarantees me that life will imitate art. Let me know. Because I’ll get to work RIGHT AWAY on a song where I’m in a hot-tub with 4 college girls bonging beer.
I’ll call it the Matt Leinert Shuffle.
By Coach (Lets Go Braves In 2008)
April 16, 2008 3:01 AM | Link to this
We are now 5-8. I hate to say it, but the next two games are almost of the must win variety.
No way do the Braves want to go into L.A. 6-9 or 5-10.
The five man bench of Miller, Pena, Blanco, Gotay and Prado is hitting .219 with three extra base hits and two RBI.
The Braves have five quality starts, of which three have resulted in losses.
The team has 41 walks and 69 strike outs.
The bullpen has four losses, two saves and three blown saves.
And the beat goes on.
By jbutler
April 16, 2008 3:11 AM | Link to this
DOB Hey- I’ve been to the exact Flanigans you’re talking about…Back in the day, I taught tennis for the Florida Tennis Association in Pompano Beach. We’d eat there off/on. Great little spot - I don’t miss FL..but I sure loved their food!! :)
By Petey Mac O'Grady
April 16, 2008 3:15 AM | Link to this
DOB The mahi mahi (dolphin fish) is not to be confused with the Dolphin which is a mammal making them regular homeys.
By Bravesfan79
April 16, 2008 3:20 AM | Link to this
N8: The Matt Leinert Shuffle… classic! And the song im talking about is the #1 song right now, and is probably played about 20 times a day on all the hip hop stations. (trust me the radio stations, and what most young kids listen to) BTW: We grew up in the 80’s, i felt VERY proud when i got to have my picture taken sitting on top of the Dukes of Hazard car because man that was my show!
BTW…i am not a typical white person that throws the word “thug” around loosly. Some People might consider me a thug because i carry a gun. Im actually friends with some hustlers and used to be one myself (thank God i smartened up) But theres a BIG difference bt a small time hustler and the cats that do home invasions and robberies to make $$. Ive been face to face with cats i later saw on tv wanted for Murder.
My boy in south Atlanta…. (a big black dude that looks like rick ross that i met one day while working) One day we were chillin and he brought a stack of papers…they were all mug shots and wanted posters for all his best friends he grew up with in south atlanta. One girlfriend of his killed a cab driver for laundry money, 5-8 other males were serving at least 20 years in prison for Capital Murder and other armed Robbery charges. For alot of pple its not music homie, but a way of life!
If it was “just innocent music” as you claim, life would be a better place my friend.
Instead these radio stations and tv give these fools a chance to spread their garbage thru the media. Its a shame….bringing down society…all in the name of a buck!
By mr baseball
April 16, 2008 3:21 AM | Link to this
Coach:
Exactly how many bases did the Braves steal in 1994, when they won the World Series? I’m sure you have the answer. How much did Otis and Deion contribute to that title? You probably know the answer to that one, too.
Also, how many playoff series did they win with Rafael Furcal in the lineup? And how did they do the one year he was injured?
Off the top of my head, I can think of at least a dozen players who were more instrumental to the Braves’ success in the early ’90s than Otis & Deion. It was nice that they stole some bases and did OK at the plate, but the pitching, defense and overall hitting were a lot more vital to the team’s success than its speed.
My screen name on the blog is an intended attempt at humor, in part referring to a former Braves’ catcher of little repute. Yours is just a bad joke.
By nolie
April 16, 2008 3:42 AM | Link to this
That said, having someone like Anderson might help, certainly more than a non-contributor like Blanco taking up space on the bench.MrBaseball
if he’s a non-contributor it’s because he has had no action and neither would Anderson if he had been the one. Blanco’s minor league numbers were better than Anderson’s in about every category except steals. He is almost as fast as Anderson and Bobby seldom steals so what is the difference that Anderson is gonna make?
I’m not sure that either one will ever be an impact player in the bigs, but with the Braves’ style of play and Blanco’s much higher OBP history I have to think that Blanco has the better chance to help this club over the long run. Unless a miracle has occurred, Anderson is not going to continue hitting like he is now.
By Whiny Baby Bravo Bloggers
April 16, 2008 3:50 AM | Link to this
Uh, mr b., NO ONE won the World Series in 1994. Seems a man of your supposed expertise would get his facts straight.
The 1995 World Champion Braves only stole 73 bases, ranking them 12th out of 14 NL teams. Coach does seem to conveniently gloss over that fact, doesn’t he?
My point? Both of you are arrogant blowhards.
And you can take that to the damn bank and cash it.
By nolie
April 16, 2008 3:51 AM | Link to this
DOBHow politically incorrect of you. Did you follow up your sandwich with some spotted owl meatballs?
yeah I can’t believe he practically put a price on Flipper’s head.;-)
I know…I know…
By Coach (Lets Go Braves In 2008)
April 16, 2008 4:04 AM | Link to this
mr. amateur baseball, the braves won the World Series in 1995, not 1994.
You Fu** up, A-G-A-I-N.
By the way, I have coached in little league , legion ball and high school.
Tom Selleck is the real Mr. Baseball, your just a poser.
By Coach (Lets Go Braves In 2008)
April 16, 2008 4:18 AM | Link to this
The only thing I ask is this, if you must insist on posting your opinion. Make damn sure you actually know what in the hell your talking about.
Take the time to look, study, crunch some numbers and then back your statement up with some cold hard facts.
It bothers me and more than a few other bloggers when someone comes in here, bends over, drops his pants and takes a dump all over the blog.
Fully expecting us to take his load of crap while making up lies straight off the top of his flat cranium.
but, if you insist on doing so, you might end up like mr. amateur baseball, eating crow and trying to back up his ignorance with lies on top of lies.
By Random
April 16, 2008 5:23 AM | Link to this
Hiya, kid — I got one word for you: “Podkayne of Mars” by RA Heinlein.
If you’ve never read it, you’d better. (It’s good — no joke.)
If you have, lemme know what you think.
By AmazinsAgain08
April 16, 2008 5:39 AM | Link to this
Tom Selleck is the real Mr. Baseball, your just a poser.Coach
I agree that Tom Selleck is Mr. Baseball, but poseur is classier than poser Coach.
On the other hand a poser is a tough question too, and I guess you are right- it is a poser as to why that poseur believes that he knows anything about baseball.
Hey youse guys were supposed to knock the Fish off tonight so we would be closer to the lead. Youse let us down man.
By maybe!
April 16, 2008 5:59 AM | Link to this
Maybe we can turn things around??
I wanna believe but all these injuries are hard to take!
WE NEED SMOLTZ!!
AND HUDSON!!
ALL HEALTHY!!
GO BRAVES!!!
2008 champs!!
By maybe!
April 16, 2008 6:27 AM | Link to this
Hey the Indians are 5-9….if there
expected to turn things around WHY NOT
US 2!!
By Jeff R
April 16, 2008 6:31 AM | Link to this
I’m not worried about the hitting. It’ll come around. But what is it with the arm injuries to Moylan and Soriano? And last year with Gonzalez? Bad mechanics? Poor conditioning? Naturally bum arms? Or just dumb luck?
Glavine doesn’t count, really. He’s older and things like hamstring strains are more likely to happen. But so many young guys with bad elbows. What gives?
A friend of mine in Richmond , who coaches little league (serious league ball for kids whose parents are clammering for college scholarship money) tells me that kids’ arms are being overworked. He knows some kids who are suffering from arm problems in their mid to late teens.
Dunno. Odd that more than a few pitchers are hurting in the major leagues these days.
By Coach (Lets Go Braves In 2008)
April 16, 2008 6:43 AM | Link to this
Congratulations Atlanta, Georgia.
Forbes magazine has named Atlanta the most miserable sports city in America.
Teams: Falcons (NFL) Braves (MLB), Hawks (NBA), Thrashers (NHL) Flames (NHL)
Title round record: 1-5 (24th)
Semifinal round record: 6-9 (23rd)
Total seasons/early playoff-round exits (or baseball 2nd place): 142/41 (20th)
Total seasons/championships: 142/1 (25th)
Years since last title: 13 (14th)
Teams lost: 1 (Flames)
Atlanta sports teams have just one championship to show for 15 final-four appearances. Its hockey and basketball teams have, combined, two conference-finals appearances in 57 combined seasons.
It’s the fans of Atlanta seeing their teams reach a combined six World Series and Super Bowls and win one of them (the Braves have also lost in the National League championship series six times).
Meanwhile, Atlanta’s local basketball and hockey teams have earned a combined 30 playoff appearances with just two conference finals appearances to show for. That’s why Atlanta tops our list of sports heartbreak cities, followed closely by Seattle, Buffalo, Phoenix and San Diego.
Since joining the ranks of big league sports in 1966, Atlanta has produced 56 playoff teams, of which 15 moved on to at least the final four of the NFL, NBA or Major League Baseball post-season. (Neither of its two hockey teams, the Flames and Thrashers, have gotten there.) Just one club, the 1995 Braves, won a championship. It adds up to one title in 142 cumulative seasons of sports.
By Jeff R
April 16, 2008 7:06 AM | Link to this
Coach…wouldn’t put the Braves in the same category as the hapless Hawks and Falcons, two of the crummiest franchises on the planet. But the bigger point is well made.
By JC from UT
April 16, 2008 7:26 AM | Link to this
Would anyone trade Matt Diaz to SAn Diego for Justin Germano? I know he isn’t a rotation savior but he can eat innings and is a better option than Buddy, jojo or CJ. Then how about KJ to San Fran for Brian Wilson and Ray Durham. You would probably have to take Durham because I think the Giants would want to rid themselfs of the contract.
By STRETCH
April 16, 2008 7:37 AM | Link to this
ALL ATLANTA SPORTS TEAMS SUCK!
Falcons - Never had back to back winning seasons.
Braves - 14 Division titles (1 WS) and might finish 3rd or lower this season.
Hawks - Well…NOTHING
Wonder why other teams get more respect when they come to town? Dont get me wrong, i love my teams, but this is ridiculous!
By David O'Brien
April 16, 2008 8:07 AM | Link to this
Stretch, how could anyone “get you wrong”?
By the way, we’ve not played one-tenth of the season yet. That’s right, not ONE-TENTH. And has someone I’m not aware of begun to run away with the division?
By David O'Brien
April 16, 2008 8:10 AM | Link to this
Stinger, yeah, what was that hair color? Rust?
By Bravesfan79
April 16, 2008 8:15 AM | Link to this
Coach: i think several Atlanta teams have had GREAT seasons without winning the title. The Falcons coming back and winning that NFC title game was awsome!
The you got the Braves of 91 and 92.
And the Hawks teams of Dominique and Spud that could never get past powers Detriot and Boston in the playoffs.
GT Mens Hoops made it the the Final 4 in 1990 and the finals in 2004.
And are about to get the top recruit in the nation in 2009. D Favors from south Atlanta.
UGA football is a top team.
If you ask me coach, Georgia is a GREAT place to be a sports fan. Places that suck would be like Alabama (highschool sports and few college teams) And i can name about 30 or so other states that have it worse off than us when it comes to sports. I think Buffalo is worse off than we are… at least we GOT our championship in 95!
By j-school dropout
April 16, 2008 8:17 AM | Link to this
DOB:
You nailed it on Jo Jo Reyes. I think he is a perfect example of a 4A player, too good for the minors, but not able to adjust to playing against the best talent in the world. If fireballers like Kyle Farnsworth and Mark Wohlers couldn’t throw straight 101-mph fastballs in the zone in the Majors without getting hit, then there’s no way that Reyes’ 92-mph cheese is going to impress Big League hitters. I’ve watched Randy Johnson and Nolan Ryan in their primes. And it wasn’t their fastballs that destroyed hitters; it was their devastating breaking pitches combined with their fastballs. You can’t throw fastballs up in the zone in the Majors regardless of how fast. Somebody will hammer them.
By Bravesfan79
April 16, 2008 8:22 AM | Link to this
JC: are you serious? a .340 hitter for a #5 type starter?? Matt Diaz best asset to the Braves would be coming off the bench and being that big time pinch hitter we need late in games. Who on the bench can swing the bat like Diaz?? Id trade KJ before i traded Diaz.
By Paul in England
April 16, 2008 8:24 AM | Link to this
Hi everyone, medium term lurker, first blog post here. I’m not the most confident person, or living in England see as many games or am anywhere near as knowledgeable as you guys on baseball, so I enjoy just reading the blog, but as I have been a fan of Mark Teixeira since 2005 (and almost certainly the only one this side of the water), I thought I might be able to bring something new to the table.
N8, DCBrave, I don’t know whether your question about Texas’s starts were rhetorical, but anyway here are two opposing ones for you to think about. In 2006, Tex had his best April in his career, batting .293, but by June 7, he only had 6 HR, 30 RBIs. The team was 4.5 games ahead of the division at this point. Then he started hitting home runs (finished with 33) and the team fell in the tank, ending 13 games back. In 2004, he batted .183 his first 18 games, but the team went on to win the most games in the five seasons he was there. I’m sure that won’t be too bad if it’s repeated. :-) If you can find anything, there’s an inverse effect between Tex’s starts and the team’s finish.
Shamus Thacker, your posts (and other people’s) make me sad when I see you rip him. But only because I am a fan, not because I don’t agree with you - I quite often think the same things as you’re posting.
However, from watching games and reading articles over the past four seasons, I disagree that Mark is a “Tex Guy” and not a “Team Guy”. However you feel about how he gets there, he will play almost all the games in the season through the workouts he does, he seems to be an amiable team-mate, and he does a lot of community work (at least in Arlington he did). Yes, he wants to be paid, but IMO he does also get the representing the team ethic.
But I do sort of understand how it can seem that he’s only in it for himself. I think someone else mentioned it too, but from watching games, Mark seems to get a lot of “cheap” hits when the result is pretty much certain. I’ve seen a number of 0-for-3 days change to 1-for-4. Now I don’t know if that is different to anyone other player, but some Rangers fans said the same thing. I’m not sure whether Tex is the guy that you will ever be able to depend on in pressure situations. I only remember him having two walk-off hits in his career. But that is who he is. On this occasion, you do get pretty much what you see or have seen. It’s then whether you’re willing to accept that for a member of the Braves or not.
Anyway, I hope this is useful in some way. If it isn’t I’ll know to remain a lurker. ;-)
By Shaun
April 16, 2008 8:32 AM | Link to this
Would anyone trade Matt Diaz to SAn Diego for Justin Germano?
Let’s see…trade a .316/.351/.464 guy for a guy with a 4.70 career ERA…and a guy with a 5.20 ERA in 72.2 innings at pitcher friendly Petco Park? I don’t think so!
Then how about KJ to San Fran for Brian Wilson and Ray Durham.
Let’s see…trade a guy who has posted a .358 career OBP at barely 26, who a lot of smart people think is going to be one of the most valuable players in the game over the next five years for an okay relief pitcher and a 36-year-old who hit .218 last season with an OBP of .295? Again, don’t think so!
By Scott
April 16, 2008 8:42 AM | Link to this
WTF? What is everyone’s problem with KJ? He’s hitting 280+ at the moment and was on base twice yesterday. He isn’t walking much at the moment, but, if you watch the games, pitchers are throwing more strikes to him. What’s he suppose to do? Strike out looking on three pitches because they know he’s selective? At least he’s made an adjustment and is hitting more. he’s hit saftely in all but one game he’s played in. So, while he hasn’t walked due to the way he’s being pitched, he’s at least taking advantage of that fact by recording atleast one hit per game. Is he the perfect lead off hitter? No, but, once pitchers realize that he’s getting more hits by swinging earlier in the count, they’ll start throwing more balls and he’ll start walking more. Give the guy a break. He’s not our problem right now. The bullpen/rotation is.
By Dadgum
April 16, 2008 8:44 AM | Link to this
Just wondering, isn’t that Rowenhorst the same little kid that starred in The Rookie years back…..
Are the Marlins that good? Are the Braves that bad? I didn’t see the game (not many did)but no runs and few hits against the lowest payroll team in the majors? From looking at the box score you can’t blame the pitching.
The question I beg to ask is at what point do you trade a Diaz, Prado, Johnson type player for either a starter or closer? Also which team this early would give up said pitchers to help our needs. Can the Braves go the distance with what they have in pitching and still be in the mix without run support? So far this season the answer is a resounding NO. Like DOB says the year is young but the clock is ticking.
Rock on…..remembering Virginia Tech and the 32 innocent students and faculty that lost their lives one year ago today. May God rest their souls.
By richbrave
April 16, 2008 8:44 AM | Link to this
j-school dropout:
Thank you. I’m not sayin’ what these young men will accomplish in Atlanta. I’m only trying to relate what’s up here and now. Dave’s take on what happens when they do arrive in Atlanta is great. Putting my comments and his together makes you a very intelligent person. Sounds like REYES is a tweener (4A) just as you said, at least, right now. I’m sure none of the players in Richmond are here without some weaknesses in their game. Otherwise, they’d be in Atlanta. And when they’re ready, management will move them. Good luck to Buddy Carlysle. Hope he gets the job done. Meanwhile, GO BRAVES.
By jbutler
April 16, 2008 8:45 AM | Link to this
N8 Hey - to diverge from the game and dip into social commentary for a brief second…I completely agree with you on your take on parenting/environmental influence. Involved, informed parents are the best tool against whatever influence society tosses at our kids. There will always be something.
Back to the game last night- only caught the dreadful 7/8 innings- saw Resops speed on his fastball/slider were about the same- mid 80s. Yikes. Lets hope the BP will heal/rest and rookies will quickly season. Don’t see that as the ticket to the top!
By Shaun
April 16, 2008 8:53 AM | Link to this
See to be a lot of (pardon my harshness) morons out there who want to trade Kelly Johnson, and trade him for bit pieces. Let me build the case for why this is completely idiotic:
.265/.358/.433 career hitter in 985 PA and he’s barely 26.
Rob Neyer has him at 28 on his list of 50 most valuable players for the next five seasons. Here’s what he says:
Johnson’s been a second baseman for less than two years, but has made the switch from the outfield with great skill and established himself as one of the National League’s top second basemen.
If the Braves were to trade Johnson for a mediocre pitcher, it would go down as one of the worst trades in Braves history.
By anti-brave
April 16, 2008 9:05 AM | Link to this
sorry, mcfann, i just think mccann, like kruk, is a big tub of goo.
By flange1
April 16, 2008 9:06 AM | Link to this
Morning All,
Not a great outing by the Braves last night.
JJJ looked great! It seems to me he gets tired about 80 pitches and starts to overthrow a bit. I am VERY happy with his progress.
With Smoltz, Hudson, Glavine and JJJ, the Braves have 4 starters that can keep them in games and give them a chance to win.
I think Hampton and James will be back and contribute too.
The pen is a problem. I think Moylan is done for the year. The Braves are going to have to get creative in the pen or go out and REALLY overpay for experienced pen help.
Acosta and Boyer have got to step up. Both have the tools to be weapons in the pen if they will trust their stuff and pitch.
Ohman has got to throw more strikes.
I think Ring and Resop are close to valueless and when a better arm becomes available in Richmond (James, Hampton or ???) these guys should be dumped.
I agree with the discussion earlier that KJ should move down in the order. These guys will start hitting again.
The blog is getting to be alot like last year, in game bloggers get so negative it is almost funny.
Guys, chill out!
By Daybed Wagmoe
April 16, 2008 9:07 AM | Link to this
STRETCH: Hawks - Well…NOTHING
You do know that the Hawks are in the playoffs this year, right? Even though they have a 37-44 record, they’re in. Hey — if 37 wins is all you need in the Eastern Conference, then that’s all it takes.
By Thrillhouse44
April 16, 2008 9:09 AM | Link to this
Trade KJ? Why? He’s hit in every game but one this year. Dude’s a hitter: he has hit, he is hitting, and he’s going to continue to hit. Get a grip guys. I hope ya’ll are good and stretched out with all the knee-jerk reactions going on.
By Efrim
April 16, 2008 9:13 AM | Link to this
Shaun
Don’t bother man. No one thinks the guy is worth anything. People who call for him to be traded are insane.
By ChampDawg
April 16, 2008 9:17 AM | Link to this
Pitiful game. Pitiful.
In was cold in Denver….. whats going to be the excuse this time if the Braves loose 2/3 to the Fish?
The bullpen just sucks and Tex has got to get his act together now.
Pitching is depleted and there’s just no consistency on offense except for Chipper.
By Lee in S. GA
April 16, 2008 9:20 AM | Link to this
You DON’T trade a player like Diaz or K.J. this early in the season. In so many words that would signal panic w/in the Braves organization; however, if this team is under 500 at the all-star break and say 7 or more games out of first I would think you have to explore the possibility of trading Tex to a contender. Odds are the Braves will lose him at the end of the season anyway. He could bring some good young pitching which after this season, the Braves will sorely need. If the Braves get things turned around and I think they will, you have to keep Tex for the whole season and take your changes of resigning him..
By Scott
April 16, 2008 9:20 AM | Link to this
WTF? What is everyone’s problem with KJ? He’s hitting 280+ at the moment and was on base twice yesterday. He isn’t walking much at the moment, but, if you watch the games, pitchers are throwing more strikes to him. What’s he suppose to do? Strike out looking on three pitches because they know he’s selective? At least he’s made an adjustment and is hitting more. he’s hit saftely in all but one game he’s played in. So, while he hasn’t walked due to the way he’s being pitched, he’s at least taking advantage of that fact by recording atleast one hit per game. Is he the perfect lead off hitter? No, but, once pitchers realize that he’s getting more hits by swinging earlier in the count, they’ll start throwing more balls and he’ll start walking more. Give the guy a break. He’s not our problem right now. The bullpen/rotation is.
By McFann
April 16, 2008 9:24 AM | Link to this
We need to tip our cap to the Olsen kid. beachcomber
Lucky for me, I’m not wearing a cap at the moment.
anti-brave
What? Huh? You talkin’ to me?
You and I must be watching a different McCann.
k.j., francoeur, b’macc, and diaz…have only had moderate success in the big leagues. Uga-Brave
Yeah, boy. They all combine for two All-Star appearances, one Silver Slugger, and one Gold Glove. Funny, both the All-Star appearances and the Silver Slugger came from one of them. Moderate success? Yeah, OK……
By Sandusky
April 16, 2008 9:33 AM | Link to this
close on the lyrics
LIVING FOR THE MOMENT FLASHES AND FADES THEN TAKES YOU DOWN FAMILIAR DESERTED BYWAYS SHELF STORED MEMORIES LEAD YOU WHERE YOU’VE BEEN BUT NO LONGER GO CAN GUESS WHO’S GUESSING NOW
LET ME BACK INTO YOUR WORLD BLINK OF AN EYE NO UNCERTAIN TERMS LET ME BACK INTO YOUR WORLD
YOU SHOULD KNOW WHAT IS REAL BY NOW LET THE JUDGES MEET THEIR MAKER CAN’T SLOW DOWN BURNING AT FOUR-BARREL SPEED A BATTLE CRY TO TREAT THIS ABSENCE
LET ME BACK INTO YOUR WORLD BLINK OF AN EYE NO UNCERTAIN TERMS LET ME BACK INTO YOUR WORLD
SPENT THE PROMISES SPENT THE MEAN TIME THROUGH INS AND OUTS OF HALFWAY HOUSE BOUNDARIES LEAVE THIS IMPASSE IF YOU’RE GONNA LEAVE ANYTHING JUST DON’T LEAVE HERE WITHOUT SPEAKING YOUR MIND
LET ME BACK INTO YOUR WORLD BLINK OF AN EYE NO UNCERTAIN TERMS LET ME BACK INTO YOUR WORLD LET ME BACK
By McFann
April 16, 2008 9:35 AM | Link to this
He’s not our problem right now. The bullpen/rotation is. Scott
Definitely the bullpen, not so much he rotation…Last night it was the bats from the clean-up spot on down, as it has been practically all year.
But I know what you mean. The injuries to our rotation are abominable!
By Longwood's Finest
April 16, 2008 9:47 AM | Link to this
We’re losing- and we turn to Huddy again… If I’m a betting man, I’ll say that given his demeanor and his pursue to win- he’ll light a fire under the rest of the team tonight- whether it’s by throwing up and in to Jacobs-giving him a gut check in his first AB, or goes out there and dominates the whole game (with the bat too). I can see both things happening.
I hate when mediocre to poor pitchers dominate our offense…….
By Shaun
April 16, 2008 9:48 AM | Link to this
ChampDawg, how many times did Boston, Cleveland, the Angels, the Yankees, Arizona, Colorado, all the teams that won 90+ games last season lose 8 of 13. I bet it’s more often than we realize.
Boston had three four-game losing streaks.
Cleveland had two four-game losing streaks.
The Angels had a six-game losing streak.
The Yankees had a seven-game losing streak.
Arizona had three five-game losing streaks.
Colorado had an eight-game losing streak.
Can we give it at least a month, month-and-a-half before we make definitive judgments about this team?
The Braves are only three games back. Three! If that number gets to five or ten, let’s start to be a little concerned.
By McFann
April 16, 2008 9:50 AM | Link to this
No, Random, I never read it. Heh heh…I never even heard of it…
By David O'Brien
April 16, 2008 9:51 AM | Link to this
For those not monitoring the wires, you might not have noticed that this isn’t exactly the trading season in baseball. Rare are the trades that happen in April or May, especially anything significant. Teams didn’t spend the winter and spring formulating their rosters so that they could let two weeks of games completely change their opinion of a player.
By Tomahawkin
April 16, 2008 9:53 AM | Link to this
Bravesfan 79
Seemingly that most cats that I attend college actually have the Nerve to call garbage rappers like Jeezy, Dem-French-Fries Boyz, Young Croc, Mims (Among others) some of the best stuff they ever heard…Makes me crazy…Statement like that gives me a dead giveaway of one’s social intellect…
I find these suburban kids to be the one who attend Church every Sunday Morning, after spending the previous night trying to sing the lyrics of a Lil Jon song, Go Figure
By Nate
April 16, 2008 10:00 AM | Link to this
If only the Braves had traded for an established closer during the offseason. But who could have foreseen that need? Who could have predicted that? Seriously folks, if the Braves had traded for an established closer, than everybody else moves back a slot, and Resop gets dumped. Right now the bullpen have no anchor and won’t all season without a trade.
At least Kelly got on base a few times last night.
By Efrim
April 16, 2008 10:01 AM | Link to this
Can we give it at least a month, month-and-a-half before we make definitive judgments about this team?
May 13th. Why not. We declared this team to be “very good” last year before that Mothers Day massacre. After that game the Braves were never the same. They were 23-14 before that game, 61-64 after it. 37 games is probably enough to evaluate a team, right?
By SNIPER-69
April 16, 2008 10:02 AM | Link to this
Here’s a thought, Maybe your team isn’t as good as you thought they’d be….Just a thought.
By geauxbraves2000
April 16, 2008 10:03 AM | Link to this
That was probably the most pathetic excuse for an offense that I’ve ever witnessed last night. All I saw was a bunch of players (not teammates) trying to hurry up and get the game over. If ever I saw a “phone in” game, last night was it.
JJJ kicked butt and deserved a better fate. So have all of the starters.
There is no fire on this team right now. No one appears to be stepping up and taking charge. (Of course I don’t know what goes on behind closed doors (Charlie Rich!)). I will buy the water cooler and the bat if someone would just “go to town” on it.
The winter hibernation is over and this offense needs to wake up. And for goodness sake, try a little patience. Make the opposing pitcher work for the out instead of just giving it to him.
Everyone have a nice day. As I try to keep telling myself, “it’s just a ballgame, it’s just a ball club” my life will go on if they win or lose. However I’m so passionate about this team, and I really feel they can do well, and their underachievement really drives me nuts.
Geaux Braves!!
By Tomahawkin
April 16, 2008 10:03 AM | Link to this
Longwoods Finest Your Quote in Regards to Huddy
“he’ll light a fire under the rest of the team tonight- whether it’s by throwing up and in to Jacobs-giving him a gut check in his first AB”
You can forget that…Bobby Cox’s teams over the years have been known as being teams that don’t retialiate against others…And If Huddy Does go out and Dominate, 2 things are bound to happen…
1) He will get No Run support or 2) The Blow-pen will blow it for him, Huddy has had a couple games given up to the Marlins because of the Blow-pen…
I might sound like a pessimist, but when those scenarios happen over and over…It gets old watch a potential Cy Young award winner have games blown over things he have no control of…
By Shaun
April 16, 2008 10:09 AM | Link to this
I find these suburban kids to be the one who attend Church every Sunday Morning, after spending the previous night trying to sing the lyrics of a Lil Jon song, Go Figure
Maybe those are the kids that most need to be in church.
By Shaun
April 16, 2008 10:23 AM | Link to this
The only negative I can see is the bullpen. Granted, I understand it could be a big one but also could get straightened out with just a couple of moves/call-ups/players coming off the DL.
The Braves have still outscored their opponents. They have at least two or three good to great starters. The only guys struggling are the guys that have a track record of major league success, so we don’t have much reason to believe their struggles will continue.
By DAP
April 16, 2008 10:24 AM | Link to this
very interesting discussion on the blog last night, i appreciate what every one had to say. culture and media is a tricky thing…in college we studied it, and asked the question, does media influence culture, or does culture influence media?
a chicken or the egg type question, but the answer isnt as easy….(the chicken came first, of course)
one thing that we always have to remember, is that humans are NOT basically good, we are at our core, evil the tendency to be selfish, and only think about ourselves is natural, therefore hurting or killing someone who makes us mad, taking things that dont belong to us because we want them, or just being generally dishonest, or cheating just to get ahead, is completely natural for us.
a child left alone is going to do these things, and its a tuff job for parents to make sure their children do the opposite of what is natural.
problems compound when children arent taught that, and then they have children, and there is no way they can teach something they never learned…its a mess.
i guess we all just have to do our part.
By Longwood's Finest
April 16, 2008 10:24 AM | Link to this
Tomahawkin
True- Cox’s team’s are usually out of the norm with this kind of stuff; BUT- I remember last year quite well with a SORIANO incident- I think he hit like 3 jacks the day before and was standing about 1/2 inch away from the plate. Hudson nailed him in his first appearance.
Not saying any of this would happen- but I think that if a fire needs to be lit, Huddy is the guy to get it done.
My thoughts exactly, well said: *And If Huddy Does go out and Dominate, 2 things are bound to happen…
1) He will get No Run support or 2) The Blow-pen will blow it for him, Huddy has had a couple games given up to the Marlins because of the Blow-pen…
I might sound like a pessimist, but when those scenarios happen over and over…It gets old watch a potential Cy Young award winner have games blown over things he have no control of…*
By McFann
April 16, 2008 10:25 AM | Link to this
Sniper-69—
Here’s a thought, Maybe your team isn’t as good as you thought they’d be….Just a thought.
By Tomahawkin
April 16, 2008 10:39 AM | Link to this
Longwood’s Finest Unless I’m having Memory lapses, I don’t think there was much retialation done when Chipper got spiiked by Freddie Sanchez…So therefore I don’t think that what happened last night will carry over into tonite…
Plus is hard enough to get these boyz pumped up when the play the Mets or Phillies, so against the Marlins, It will definitely be Chillaxin time as evidenced by our offense last nite…
By SNIPER-69
April 16, 2008 10:51 AM | Link to this
Mcfann…..That may be true. But I’d rather be at .500 that .385
By DAP
April 16, 2008 10:52 AM | Link to this
to me, the braves bullpen is what needs attention. its so unstable, its at a point now where we will be relieved if they pitch well, instead of expecting them to pitch well.
i really like the way this team is put together, but with the unforeseen injuries to soriano and moylan, it makes things much more complicated.
if we had two good arms we could depend on in the bullpen, i think that would do it, so either we need to go get two reliable bullpen arms for middle relief, or two of our guys will have to step up. i sincerly thing acosta can handle closing for a short time, and ive really liked ohman. i think boyer is the guy to step up and turn it on, so we need one more good reliable arm.
also, one last thing this team needs, is a bench player. morgan ensberg on this bench would be great, and it WOULD make a difference. we could send corky back down, and have a good bat to back up third and 1st.
the rotation is good enough and deep enough to be ok. as much as we are complaining about injuries, we really have pretty good options to turn to. (i dont think carlyle is the right choice) i dont think glav will miss his start, so no worries.
By Robert (Chipper Is The Best)
April 16, 2008 10:55 AM | Link to this
Although it is hard to do, we all must remember we are only 2 1/2 weeks into the season. It is nowhere near time to panick. However, with that being said, I am concerned about the lack of “fire” with this team. I think Brian Jordan was dead on right when he said the team always looks flat after a day off. Hell, they have looked flat almost every game. The question is why? Is it the players or something else? I do think part of it is Cox’s responsibility. If people want to call that “Cox bashing” then sobeit. The facts are the facts. This team lacks desire.
Jim Leyland was on the Dan Patrick Show yesterday and said he doesn’t believe in those pep talks that all about cheering players on and encouraging them. He said they don’t work with professional athletes. But, he did say he sees nothing wrong with going straight off sometimes and throwing around a few profanities and letting his team know that he is clearly not happy with their play. I totally agree. Does Cox do that? Nope. He just nods his head and says crap like they played their best game after they got whooped 12-6.
I have complained about this in the past. This team lacks enthusiasm and fire. They almost just go through the motions. If they lose, you always hear “well, there’s tomorrow”. The problem with that philosophy is eventually there is no tomorrow. A great team learns how to deal with losing but they never accept it or brush it off as “part of the game”. This team accepts losing and brushes it off as “part of the game”.
I know I will get hammered for saying this but I am sick of this “whatever” attitude when this team wins or loses.
Also, it is a shame Jurrjens has two loses because he should be 3-0 right now.
By StingerSplash
April 16, 2008 11:00 AM | Link to this
As the brilliant Mr. Young (son of a sportswriter, by the way) once said, “Rust never sleeps.” Maybe Wade took his words too literally.
By Shaun
April 16, 2008 11:01 AM | Link to this
DAP, problem is your post describes probably 90 percent of major league teams. So where are the Braves going to find a team willing to give up bullpen help?
By Longwood's Finest
April 16, 2008 11:02 AM | Link to this
True- good points
I guess I was more or less wishing that something would happen to turn around the start. BUT, like everyone says- it’s a long summer and there’s plenty of time to catch up! Go Braves!
By McFann
April 16, 2008 11:04 AM | Link to this
Sniper
Yeah, wouldn’t we all. But if your team was as good as you made it out to be, you’d be in first place.
I think we’re all chewin’ on a little crow right now.
Alles Gute zum Geburtstag, heiliger Vater!
By Tom in NYC
April 16, 2008 11:04 AM | Link to this
Just thought I’d add my take on the whole rap discussion. I’m caucasion, but consider myself a huge hip hop head. I’ve DJed and basically taken the time to listen to most major releases from the late 80’s until today. Although I prefer RnB, I’ve always been around people who listen to hip hop so I got into it.
I recently attended UConn, which is predominantly white, so I’ve been around the whole scene you speak of in terms of “preppy” kids. To be honest, I really don’t think most caucasions these days take lil jon, young joc, soulja boy, etc too seriously, in fact I think they only use it as party music. I don’t have a problem with that at all.
To be honest, the hip hop music has faded and there is not much hope. See the record sales. And also, there are very few major releases anymore these days. At this point, I really don’t think people take it for more than party music or ringtones anyway, I don’t think anyone is taking the lyrics to heart.
Now say 5 years ago, I would agree, when half the campus was walking around screaming out G-G-G-G Unit! Everyone thought they had a thug “swagger” because they listened to 50 Cent. In fact it made me sick, because it was obvious they were trying to be something they weren’t and had no idea about that lifestyle except what they saw on tv.
In ending, I really feel there are certain hip hop artists who are really talented, but in terms of sales, they don’t always get the shine. Hip hop is evolving and changing, and I believe the hip hop of the past might be gone forever, which may be a good thing or bad thing, depending on how you view it. I just stay listening to the classics in hopes more of that pure hip hop will rise again one day.
By Supes
April 16, 2008 11:17 AM | Link to this
Sniper As a braves fan, I’m glad you took the time to put down the meatball sandwich out of your mouth long enough to tell us these things!
By Efrim
April 16, 2008 11:22 AM | Link to this
Robert(Chipper is the Best)
A team always seem to lack fire when they don’t have a consistent offense every night. I agree with you, the team does lack a bit of fire, but I am not sure that BC will ever yell at his players.
I have to imagine though, that he was as mad as he could be when Ohman walked those two batters in the 9th.
I know Ohman hasn’t given up many runs, but he has been very suspect. 4 BB’s, 0 K’s in 4 IP. I guess he really isn’t that much of a concern right now. Moylan’s elbow, Soriano’s elbow, Glavine’s hamstring, Hampton’s pectoral, James shoulder, and Smoltz shoulder are the things to be worried about.
Honestly, the team has had some really bad luck since the start of the 2006 season.
By MT Braves Fan
April 16, 2008 11:22 AM | Link to this
Robert, I agree with you, this team has such an aww-shucks attitude, and really always has. It was masked somewhat during their string of titles because of the dominant pitching, but it always reared its head in the playoffs. I don’t think all the players have that type of attitude, but the organization as an entity seems to. One of the more veteran players needs to go ahead and fire these guys up, whether it be through getting after people in the locker room, or going out and making a statement-type play, because it’s fairly evident to me and apparently to a bunch of other folks on this blog that they really aren’t that interested right now, and it’s a shame to watch an offense that we all know is extremely potent go out there and put up zeros against a mediocre starter from perhaps one of the poorest teams in the league. Something’s gotta give soon!
By David O'Brien
April 16, 2008 11:25 AM | Link to this
NEW BLOG IS UP
By Stuart
April 16, 2008 11:27 AM | Link to this
Not spending the money on Mahay really hurt this bullpen. If the braves had signed him, then they would not have had to trade for that loser Ohman. Mahay really was a great bridge guy. Him and Moylan really made the bully go last year. There are no arms to fill their roles.
If the bravos let Anderson/Blanco play CF, then Devine would be here to call up. Also, as much as I like Kotsay, I don’t see how he is so much better than what we had on hand. Of course at the time, the club did not know how good Blanco or Anderson were, and they had to have some plan.
I am still glad the club kept Boyer over Yates. That one is going to work out for us. However keeping Resop over Yates is going to bite the team in the backside. Resop is a joke.
By Tomahawkin
April 16, 2008 11:28 AM | Link to this
Robert (C.I.T.B.) Your Quote that reads…
“I know I will get hammered for saying this but I am sick of this “whatever” attitude when this team wins or loses.”
I’ve said that for years about that whatever attitude especially when we lost in the playoffs most recently
That attitude gets real old quick, especially when you watch the attitudes of players on other teams like the Phillies and mets…For one fans up there won’t put up with that carap as we seem to tolerate it down here, for whatever reason, I don’t know, but its getting really old…
Tom in NYC I have looked at the music that a lot of these white kids that I party with have more rap downloaded onto their labtops than I do…I think that there is something wrong of claiming that you know someones culture/slang based of the crap they are Brainwashed with from watching that mindless crap on MTV/BET
By Renegator
April 16, 2008 11:31 AM | Link to this
Stick a fork in this team - they are done. This is just like last year. They have the talent on the roster to win the division but something is holding them back. They can’t turn talent into results on the field.
Is that the players’ fault? Probably. Is that the coaches and managers’ fault? Probably. Either way - this team continues to not execute and perform up to their talent level.
And until they do - this team will be exactly like the teams of the past two years: a .500 team that finishes third in the NL East.
Sorry folks - it’s time to realize that this team is not going to live up to everybody’s expectations and compete for the World Series (Sorry Peter Gammons, Buster Olney, et al).
By KC
April 16, 2008 11:33 AM | Link to this
DOB: When are the results from Moylan’s examination (with Dr. Andrews) expected to be announced?
By AGTfan
April 16, 2008 11:45 AM | Link to this
The Braves need to start winning soon. This blog is imploding. It’s getting away from baseball or sports in general. Reading through it this morning has been painful.
By DAP
April 16, 2008 11:46 AM | Link to this
shaun everybody loves the braves…somebody will deal. :-)
seriously, though, i have no idea. the most likely thing to happen is that one or two of our relievers step up and pitch well until the casualties come back. and even though its early for trades, we we might be able to swap minor leaguers and maybe get a young guy we can bring up, or go talk to teams that arent trying to win this year. the giants, the pirates, the rangers, the royals, the mats, the marlins, ect. i acknowledge that this isnt likely to happen, but it doesnt mean the braves dont need something like this to happen.
By upmv xdoywec
November 3, 2008 11:15 AM | Link to this
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