AJC > Sports > Braves > Blog > Archives > 2008 > June > 28 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USBraves close despite all that’s transpired
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Toronto — Our worldwideinterwebnet traffic is slowest on weekends, but I figured with the Braves managing to get within three games of first place after Jurrjens’ gem Friday night, we could stir up some good discussion among the denizens here during these two day games with the Jays.
Thus a new blog canvas. No, really, don’t mention it. It’s the least I could do.
A few things: Braves since April 17, despite an ugly skid in the middle of that period, are 35-32 with a .272 average and 3.51 ERA. Only the division-leading Phillies have as good or better record among NL East teams in that span, at 36-30 with a .258 average and 3.98 ERA.
Of course, the Phillies have been in free fall lately, losing 10 of their past 12 games including eight of the last nine before today. This is hard to fathom: Philly has a .184 batting average during its 1-8 skid, and scored two runs or fewer in five of those games.
OK, to finish the original point: Since April 17, Phils are 36-30 and Braves are 35-32. In that period the Mets are 32-34 with a .253 average and 4.36 ERA, the Marlins are 32-33 with a .250 average and 4.49 ERA (but 92 home runs, to Braves’ 63 and Phillies’ 88).
And for the curious, the Nats are 28-38 with a .241 average and 4.47 ERA in that span.
While Phillies have hit their worst rough patch of season, Braves have bounced back from their worst to put together a pretty good run lately despite an extremely banged-up roster, piecemeal lineup and inexperienced rotation.
It all comes back to starting pitching, as those who followed the Braves through their best years know. And lately, they’ve been getting some very good starting pitching.
After going 4-12 with a .241 average and 4.31 ERA during a stretch from May 27 to June 6 that was threatening to sink their season before the All-Star break, the Braves have gone 8-6 with a .264 average and 2.99 ERA since then (entering Saturday’s game, which is about to start as I type these words).
Besides the pitching from Jurrjens, Hudson, Campillo, Morton and Reyes, they’ve been getting timely hits and they’ve gotten a much-needed surge from Mark Teixeira while Chipper’s been sidelined.
They won last night with a lineup that included Gregor Blanco and Ruben Gotay in the first two spots, Kelly Johnson filling in for Chipper in the 3-hole, Greg Norton as DH, and rookies Brent Lillibridge and Brandon Jones in the last two spots.
Braves are running out that same lineup today, with Jones and Lillibridge reversed.
Chipper told me he’ll probably not be in lineup until Tuesday, though he hit and took some infield this morning and his injured quad feels a lot better than he did a few days ago.
Shortstop Yunel Escobar (shoulder) is still sore from where he jammed his rotator cuff while reaching out for the base when caught in double play Tuesday. He’s iffy for Sunday, and DL is a possibility, though probably still less than likely.
Infielder Omar Infante (hamstring) still isn’t ready to play, Bobby Cox said this morning.
Chipper creates runs: But you knew that. Anyway, I stumbled upon a Stats Inc category this morning for “runs created per 27 outs.” Don’t ask me how it’s computed; I’d have to look it up and will later.
But anyway, here are the NL leaders: 1. Chipper Jones, 13.01; Lance Berkman, 13.01; 3. Albert Pujols, 12.88; 4. Pat Burrell, 9.46; 5. Chase Utley, 8.96; 6. Matt Holliday, 8.79.
Tex rakes Toronto: Mark Teixeira’s 2-for-3, three-RBI game with a double and homer Friday raised his career average to .313 with 12 doubles, 16 homers and 44 RBIs in 40 games against the Blue Jays, with an 1.125 OPS.
In his past 30 games against them, it was .333 with 15 homers and 40 RBIs.
Blanco provides spar: After his recent slump, the rookie outfielder had consecutive two-hit games and three two-hit games in his past five before Saturday.
J.J. buzz: Lot of folks were still talking here today about Jair Jurrjens’ performance Friday night, when he retired the first 13 batters and threw eight scoreless innings with three hits and one walk.
He leads all major league rookies with eight wins and a 2.94 ERA and ranks third with 69 strikeouts. His ERA is the sixth-lowest in the NL among all qualifiers, just ahead of Tim Hudson’s 2.96.
Jurrjens has a 0.00 ERA and .182 opponents’ average in his past three starts, after posting an 8.40 ERA and .406 opponents’ average in his three starts before the fall at Wrigley that left him with an ankle sprain and forced him to miss a start.
For his career, Jurrjens is 11-4 with a 3.36 ERA in 23 starts, and his teams are 17-6.
I wanted to compare that to some other notable pitchers, so I chose the Braves’ Big Three and some other contemporaries. There are really not many conclusions that can be drawn from this, since some great pitchers started poorly and some mediocre pitchers started out stronger than expected.
Some guys pitched for terrible teams, some for strong teams, some in-between. Some got good run support, some got great support, some terrible. And I obviously didn’t research to find ones who started out great and have since hit the skids (it’s a blog, not a front-of-the-section Sunday story).
But here goes anyway. In their first 23 starts (team = team record in his starts; RunSupp = run support per nine innings he pitched):
Greg Maddux: 7-11, 4.46 ERA, team 9-14, RunSupp 4.15.
Tom Glavine: 5-11, 5.37 ERA, team 9-14, RunSupp 4.35.
John Smoltz: 9-10, 3.72 ERA, team 11-12, RunSupp 4.03.
Brandon Webb: 8-7, 2.59 ERA, team 12-11, RunSupp 4.54.
Jake Peavy: 10-9, 4.43 ERA, team 10-13, RunSupp 5.10.
Tim Hudson: 12-2, 3.22 ERA, team 14-9, RunSupp 6.37.
Jair Jurrjens: 11-4, 3.36 ERA, team 17-6, RunSupp 5.39.
OK, we’re in first inning. A tune as we turn attention to the game.
”WEDNESDAY” by Patterson Hood (Drive-By Truckers)
There was something in the envelope she passed him
That weighed more to him than paper and some ink
It had a hint of something darker and a hint of something sweet
And a little extra glue right on the tip
There was something in the pain that shot right through him
As he climbed up to the place he called his home
They say every man’s house should be his palace
But his castle stank of cat [expletive] and alone
So he opened it and found a faded picture
Of a girl he’s never met, but somehow seen
Like a memory of a dream from early childhood
Like a virgin’s idea of release
She said “I can bend my arms until they’re backward
But you can’t bend your will to take in mine
And I could hold my breath until next Wednesday
And still be doing fine”
He was sad in ways he couldn’t tell her
Though she could make his sadness all her own
He couldn’t see the use in spreading sadness
So he took his dark depression and went home
She saw things in him he never bargained
But it wasn’t enough to save either one of them
Because she took that sadness one step further
And left him all alone to face the end
Comments
By Steve C.
June 28, 2008 1:58 PM | Link to this
any conceivable chance Jurrjens or Hudson get into All-Star game???
By Efrim
June 28, 2008 2:03 PM | Link to this
I’m really not sure a right handed hitting outfielder is going to save this team. They really have trouble with lefties. So freaking strange.
By Braves WIll WIn (Cody)
June 28, 2008 2:09 PM | Link to this
looks like we are going to waist another good pitching performance from our great rotation. I hate when the Braves play like this.
By Braves WIll WIn (Cody)
June 28, 2008 2:11 PM | Link to this
My prediction after the TEX walk 6-4-3 DP by Norton
By David O'Brien
June 28, 2008 2:13 PM | Link to this
It’s the start of the fifth inning, fellas. No need to reach for the razor blades yet.
But yes, this lineup against a lefty … whew. Braves struggled against lefties even with their full complement of players.
By Braves WIll WIn (Cody)
June 28, 2008 2:14 PM | Link to this
well I was almost right man I hate facing lefties. Can’t wait until Kotsay and chipper and yunel get back, watching th offense is like watching the Expos of old.
By Braves WIll WIn (Cody)
June 28, 2008 2:17 PM | Link to this
Alright McCan’t, Imagine if we can just get Chip, Tex, Mcann and Francine hitting great at once. Like our chances against anyone.
By Greg in TN
June 28, 2008 2:18 PM | Link to this
Thanks for the new blog, DOB.
It’s amazing that the team is still in the thick of things with the injuries and inconsistent play.
Nice RBI double by BMac to plate Tex and tie the game.
Yeah, Will, whatever dude.
By Braves WIll WIn (Cody)
June 28, 2008 2:20 PM | Link to this
WELL THAT A* FRANCOUR COULD FIND AWAY TO HIT THE BRAVES OUT OF AN INNING NO MATTER WHAT. Forget mccann should have stayed. FRANCOUR SWUNG AT A PITCH THAT TIGER WOODS COULDN’T HAVE HIT WITH A IRON.
By McFann©
June 28, 2008 2:22 PM | Link to this
We got ourselves a tie!
I was wondering where the doubles had gone…
By Efrim
June 28, 2008 2:23 PM | Link to this
Mr. Extra Base Hit(Heap) does his thing.
Go McCann.
Go Braves.
By McFann©
June 28, 2008 2:23 PM | Link to this
Well, crud. Never mind.
By Efrim
June 28, 2008 2:24 PM | Link to this
And then Huddy gives it right back.
Sigh.
By sportsmandh
June 28, 2008 2:26 PM | Link to this
Hey DOB, Been meaning to suggest this to you for a while. Have you ever listened online to WDVX? It’s a radio station out of Knoxville, TN that plays Americana, Alt. country, bluegrass, classic country, singer/songwriter stuff, blues, etc. Given a lot of the music you post (minus rock), I think you’d probably really like the channel. Just go to WDVX.com. They have different show hours during the week too I think, probably shows their schedule on there.
Any legit trade rumors blowing yet as far as the Braves are concerned? I still wish they could get Tony Clark for a bat off the bench, but from what I’ve read I don’t think he’d agree to a trade out of San Diego. Guess he’d have limited value too since he can’t play anywhere but first, and interleague is over now so no dh games to go.
Go Braves. Really hope they can win 2 out of 3 this weekend. With all the injuries, if they can do that, I would say that’s a pretty big accomplishment. Good thing there’s another off day Monday. I still think this team is gonna turn the corner some time soon. I don’t know if I’m ready to predict a division title, but I think it’s very likely we stay in the wild card race all the way.
By Doc Holliday
June 28, 2008 2:29 PM | Link to this
Great base running by TEX, not too many 1B would have scored on that double by Mc. Good job TEX. Now you are looking better!!!!
By kirknga
June 28, 2008 2:30 PM | Link to this
The Braves need someone who can coach base running.
By sportsmandh
June 28, 2008 2:32 PM | Link to this
Doc Holliday, don’t you play for the Blue Jays? What’re you doing on the Braves blog?
By Quack Quack
June 28, 2008 2:35 PM | Link to this
BobbysCox
I want to say again that I was too harsh with you. You used some observations and you put the effort into doing some research. The only legitimate criticism is that the sample sizes are somewhat inadequate when you try to micro-analyze with stats-and most on here do that anyway. Keep inquiring and keep doing the research guy. It’s interesting at the least and can give some insights. At least you are trying to have reasons for what you say.
By Greg in TN
June 28, 2008 2:35 PM | Link to this
Miscue on the bases by BMac after the double. Then Huddy gets a slider to Barajas up and it gets hammered.
Other than a couple issues from Bmac behind the plate so far today, the fielding has improved since the Milwaukee series.
By McFann©
June 28, 2008 2:38 PM | Link to this
It’s a good thing no one scored off the WP and PB. Sheesh!
By Quack Quack
June 28, 2008 2:38 PM | Link to this
Oops, bad sign. We tie it up but let them go right back ahead in the bottom. With this lineup this might be a tough game to win against a lefthander who has been on a roll. Well we can keep hopin’. Lets go Bravos.
By Run Heap Run (R.I.P. Uga IV)
June 28, 2008 2:40 PM | Link to this
So Heap lost in a race with Corky? lol
By Doc Holliday
June 28, 2008 2:40 PM | Link to this
At least Lilly fields his position like a veteran, no defense downgrade from yunels.
Gregor with 2 singles today, lets the guy hit leadoff a little longer.
He is taking the walk also……
Go braves!!!!!!
By A-ville Ranger
June 28, 2008 2:41 PM | Link to this
When I see McCann make mistakes by not moving his body to block a ball it brings to question his weight.The guy is clearly 20 or so lbs heavier than he needs to be for his position.If he stays this big and doesn’t have problems over the years it’ll be pure luck.
By Robin
June 28, 2008 2:42 PM | Link to this
Terrible AB’s for Gotay. Just terrible. What happened to trying to move the runner over?
By kirknga
June 28, 2008 2:43 PM | Link to this
Had to laugh.
You can tell that the Blue Jays’ announcers don’t read this blog as they said, “Cox doesn’t just sit back ,he forces the action.”
By chip
June 28, 2008 2:43 PM | Link to this
Okay, I know the Braves are still in the NL East race (though it feels like that’s more a result of Philly’s struggles than our own strengths), but nobody is really looking at this team as a potential champion. Some surprisingly good pitching (but they’re relying on very young guys, which will bite you in the postseason) and barely enough hitting to get by. Injuries, a slow start by Tex, and the surprising struggles of Frenchy hurt the offense.. but you just wonder if the outfield is good enough.
So two questions:
2, If Wren makes a trade for a bat, is it likely to be another rent-a-bat? Or somebody you figure will take over left field and spend a good chunk of his career here?
Thanks.
By KC
June 28, 2008 2:46 PM | Link to this
WHY WASN’T GOTAY BUNTING??????!!!!!
If he moves Blanco over, the game is tied right now.
And McCann should be up with the bases loaded right now… NOT FRIGGIN GREG NORTON!!!!!
Brilliant lineup decision there.
By KC
June 28, 2008 2:50 PM | Link to this
Greg Norton protecting Tex in the order instead of McCann…
Brilliant, Bobby. Brilliant.
By David O'Brien
June 28, 2008 2:50 PM | Link to this
Well that was a HUGE wasted opportunity. Don’t know what Norton was complaining about on that second strike — it was a good call, a strike that caught the outer part of the plate and was thigh-high.
By Doc Holliday
June 28, 2008 2:51 PM | Link to this
MF umpire………he missed that call…….horrible………high, way high.
Norton waaas walked, come on!!!!!!!!!
By Coach Smith
June 28, 2008 2:51 PM | Link to this
what a BS strike call…..
Should be 2-2 right now with McCann coming to bat with the bases loaded
For that matter why the hell is McCann not hitting behind TEX?
By Robin
June 28, 2008 2:51 PM | Link to this
High strike Laz!! Dammit!
By kirknga
June 28, 2008 2:52 PM | Link to this
Well thank you Lance Diaz for an Eric Greg-esque strike zone.
We seem to have issue with him whenever he’s around.
By MurphyRules
June 28, 2008 2:52 PM | Link to this
why not let chipper hit for norton there with bases loaded?
By Deep Throat
June 28, 2008 2:52 PM | Link to this
Sure was great having McCann hit after Teixeira so he could be up in that bases loaded situation in the top on the sixth inning and hit yet another career grand slam…..
Wait…really…? Norton? Greg Norton?! Behind Teixeira instead of McCann?!!!
BOBBY!!!!!!!!!!
By Mr. Optimistic
June 28, 2008 2:52 PM | Link to this
i know the game isnt over but if these guys belived in taking a walk we would at least be tied. what in the world are gotay and norton thinking.
By Efrim
June 28, 2008 2:52 PM | Link to this
When was the last time this team got a big hit with the bases loaded? Kelly’s grand slam at Shea???
Unbelieveable.
By Coach Smith
June 28, 2008 2:53 PM | Link to this
Just like always when the Braves don’t score with the bases loaded and the other team comes right back and scores instead
By David O'Brien
June 28, 2008 2:54 PM | Link to this
Ouch, was that a poorly located 1-2 pitch by Hudson, or what? (I’ll answer that — it was a poorly located 1-2 pitch.)
By GeorgetownKid
June 28, 2008 2:54 PM | Link to this
Mr. O’Brien,
With the relatively unimpressive play of B. Jones and Lilibridge in their short times in Atlanta (barring Jones’ initial hot streak), and with their poor seasons in Richmond, do you think that the Braves have re-adjusted their expectations for these two prospects?
I had the impression that the organization projected them as starting-calibre players at the big-league level, though not necessarily as star-calibre prospects. Do you think the Braves still view Jones and Lilibridge as favorably as they did at the end of last season.
By BravesFanInRockies
June 28, 2008 2:54 PM | Link to this
KC,
Not much can be done about this lineup unless somebody’s DLd or a pitcher’s sent down. WYSIWYG.
I’m dumbfounded that neither happened before this series, esp. in an American League park.
BTW, I just read that 4:20 a.m. posting from Coach. Man, I almost expected him to be rolling a pair of ball bearings in his hand and muttering about strawberries.
By Efrim
June 28, 2008 2:55 PM | Link to this
See ya guys tomorrow.
By princetonbrave
June 28, 2008 2:56 PM | Link to this
Everything about Toronto Bluejays baseball is depressing: The Turf The Dome The uniforms (seriously, those are baseball uniforms!?) The commentators (watching this on mlb.tv)
One thing they do have going for them: Not having Norton batting 5th.
By McFann©
June 28, 2008 2:56 PM | Link to this
Run Heap Run (love the name, BTW)—
Yep. Boog and Joe were talkin’ about it, and it was hilarious! (Especially when they put the little graphic on the bottom of the screen that said, “Corky vs Mac: The Race of the Century” and had a little picture of a snail next to the words.) Ya had to hear them!
The race was last night, and today McCann said he really took a hit. Said, “I couldn’t sleep last night.” LOL!
The way the game’s goin’ (Timmy??), I’m ready for “Braves Live”…
By Quack Quack
June 28, 2008 2:57 PM | Link to this
So two questions:Chip
No on trading Tex and i don’t think it’s arrogance.I think that they believe that they have a chance to win. If they can get into the playoffs, it’s all a crap shoot. Anybody can win it as St Louis proved .
Yes it will probably be a rent-a-player or at least not somebody likely to spend a lot of his career here. 1/2 to 2 1/2 years I’d guess. Might not even happen, but I’d guess it will if they can find a decent deal at all.
By BravesFanInRockies
June 28, 2008 2:58 PM | Link to this
You know, in the 5th, if Chipper is available to pinch hit I think you do it right there. If he delivers, you run for him and have a pitcher DH if necessary next time through the order. This might be your only chance for a big inning.
By ijonathan
June 28, 2008 2:59 PM | Link to this
DOB
Thigh-high second strike to Norton? Dude, that was close to the armpits. Are you up on the catwalk of the dome?
By bsj
June 28, 2008 3:00 PM | Link to this
Perhaps a little off topic, but I want to say again that I think Hampton will play a role in the second half. I said it before on the blog after he tore his pec. Obviously it’s just a feeling cuz we got nothing else to go on. Conversely, I don’t think we’ll get anything from Glavine. I think he’s done. Call me Kreskin, but those are my prognostications for the second half.
I’m not sure how I can be as ambivalent toward Cox as I am after all these years. He doesn’t do a lot to upset me generally, and he doesn’t often do things that make me sit up and take notice. But this is one of those “sit up and take notice” times. The things that he’s done with the lineups and the pitching since the beginning of May has been remarkable. Hudson and Jurrjens are the only two known quantities left in the starting rotation, and Ohman, Bennett, and Carlisle are the only ones in the pen really. We’re only 3 games out with a .500 record, and we’ve got Greg Norton, Reuben Gotay, Omar Infante, Gregor Blanco, Brandon Jones, in the starting lineup regularly. No one in March, looking at the starting lineups for the past week, would have said that we had a stinking chance in the East this year. More likely they would have speculated we were out by 15 games.
I’m giving Cox the credit because he seems to know which buttons to push when the chips are down. He’s done it consistently over the years. Some seem to think it’s stubbornness, an unwillingness to admit what seems obvious to everyone else. Those who have played baseball beyond high school will understand that baseball is an in-your-face game with very subtle undertones. Everyone usually gives maximum effort, but results can be inconsistent. It takes a special manager to recogize those undercurrents.
By Lorena Bobbitt
June 28, 2008 3:00 PM | Link to this
Yet another game where Cox doesn’t put his players in a position to succeed.
When you “protect” Tex in the batting order with Greg Norton, you’re putting your team at a huge disadvantage. If McCann hits 5th, then Tex gets more pitches to hit, or McCann gets more opportunities with runners on base.
Typical Cox to not realize this.
It’s time to sever ties with Cox!
By BravesFanInRockies
June 28, 2008 3:01 PM | Link to this
When Huddy loses it, it leaves in a hurry doesn’t it?
By woogidy
June 28, 2008 3:01 PM | Link to this
Alex Rios = Young Right fielder to be excited about.
By P-Town Brave
June 28, 2008 3:03 PM | Link to this
WOW! Glad to see Hudson return to proper form
Why is it that when we start to get on a roll its ruined by a Tim Hudson under-performance?
This guy is supposed to be our ace…a rookie is out doing him on a daily basis…and getting out pitched by a Triple-A call-up…
Great to see you still don’t have it when we need you Timmy!
By jim
June 28, 2008 3:03 PM | Link to this
If Chipper were to pinch hit at some point (becoming less and less relevant) is there anybody left on the bench that can play in the field?
By Greg in TN
June 28, 2008 3:03 PM | Link to this
Huddy’s control bailed on him in the last two innings, now have to hope for Bennett to come in wiggle us out of this.
By A-ville Ranger
June 28, 2008 3:03 PM | Link to this
Does Hudson ever have trouble that isn’t because he runs out of gas ?When he’s strong he looks close to unbeatable,when he’s not, he’s average.
By Braveheart
June 28, 2008 3:04 PM | Link to this
Enough with Greg freaking Norton. ENOUGH! Why the f$U#ck is he batting fifth? It’s time to make a trade. They need a bat bad.
By BravesFanInRockies
June 28, 2008 3:04 PM | Link to this
(It was the 6th not the 5th. My bad.)
By lilman
June 28, 2008 3:04 PM | Link to this
Bennet would not be my choice right here. I think the game is about to get out of hand.
By Braves never win on the road
June 28, 2008 3:06 PM | Link to this
I see the Braves are up to their old tricks again (can’t score)…Like i keep screaming theY suck along with JF
By kirknga
June 28, 2008 3:09 PM | Link to this
With the relatively unimpressive play of B. Jones and Lilibridge in their short times in Atlanta (barring Jones’ initial hot streak), and with their poor seasons in Richmond, do you think that the Braves have re-adjusted their expectations for these two prospects?
Isn’t it way too soon to give up on these guys? They haven’t played enough to get a good read. Lillbridge has only been here two weeks and has been on the bench for the most part.
By sportsmandh
June 28, 2008 3:09 PM | Link to this
DOB, about the WDVX suggestion earlier, I checked their website, does show playlist, schedule, etc. under ‘programming’.
cheers
By sportsmandh
June 28, 2008 3:10 PM | Link to this
DOB, about the WDVX suggestion earlier, I checked their website, does show playlist, schedule, etc. under ‘programming’.
cheers
By Robin
June 28, 2008 3:12 PM | Link to this
I see Eckstein’s still poppin’ them greenies. You’d think he’d outgrown that crap.
6-1! Grrrrrr… this is gonna be tough. I thought Huddy was (almost) gonna be “on.”
By ijonathan
June 28, 2008 3:12 PM | Link to this
Hudson sure is a beast in interleague play. Geesh.
By Coach Smith
June 28, 2008 3:13 PM | Link to this
6-1….
so far
barring a MIRACLE this game is OVER
should’ve known this when BENNET came in
How about CARLYLE in that situation
I said this the other day, I have seen enough of BENNET for a while
He can NEVER LIMIT DAMAGE
3-1 or 4-1 your team still has a chance, 6-1 = NO CHANCE
that’s 2 bad starts for HUDDY recently
By kris
June 28, 2008 3:13 PM | Link to this
wow I forgot what a hit with the bases load looked like since the Braves never do it.
By BravesFanInRockies
June 28, 2008 3:13 PM | Link to this
jim,
I don’t think Chipper could play in the field even if an emergency arose. If he could he would be DHing. You’d have to use Corky or maybe one of the pitchers and pray. A lot.
By lilman
June 28, 2008 3:14 PM | Link to this
Bennet did good job getting that 1st out, but couldn’t close the deal with the double play ball. Games over, see you tomorrow.
By bobby
June 28, 2008 3:15 PM | Link to this
Any way that you look at it, the Braves are just an average or little below team. They really don’t play much worse with the injuries than they do without them. This has been going on for the last three years.
By David O'Brien
June 28, 2008 3:16 PM | Link to this
Bennett lately hasn’t met many inherited runners he wouldn’t allow to score….
HUDSON in interleague games for Braves: B-R-U-T-A-L. A loss today and he’ll fall to 1-11 with a 7.27 ERA in those tilts.
By BravesFanInRockies
June 28, 2008 3:16 PM | Link to this
Games like this show how much we miss Moylan.
By Doc Holliday
June 28, 2008 3:16 PM | Link to this
princetonbrave Norton was walked…. umpire missed the call badly, not his fault. (I just sounded like Cox right there)
By KC
June 28, 2008 3:17 PM | Link to this
Can we please stop sending Jeff Bennett out there in big game situations now?
Please Bobby?
By bsj
June 28, 2008 3:18 PM | Link to this
Agreed, kirknga. I think both have been fairly solid. A couple of misplays by Jones, but otherwise…
By Doc Holliday
June 28, 2008 3:19 PM | Link to this
Game over!!!!!!!!!!!
I just had it when we lose a game because of low IQ of umps.
As if we didnt have enough trouble trying to win a game.
By monty
June 28, 2008 3:20 PM | Link to this
Win one, lose one Bravo’s. Same ole same ole. Some guy gets called up from triple A and we make him out to be Cy Young. We had a chance with the bases loaded but you really didn’t place alot of hope in Norton did you?
By ijonathan
June 28, 2008 3:21 PM | Link to this
So what’s next for Frenchy, lasik surgery?
By jim
June 28, 2008 3:24 PM | Link to this
When Francouer crosses the Mendoza line, is there any special initiation to commemorate the event?
By Doc Holliday
June 28, 2008 3:24 PM | Link to this
MR. Bobby Cox!!!!!!!!1
If Jeff Francouer is playing because he has earned the job………..
WTF have the fans earned? Watching such a bad performance????????
Have some respect for the fans also….. Get more people involved in RF. You are treating JF as if he was a superstar in a slump and he is not. He is just a developing kid, treat him as one.
TIME TO HIT THE BENCH…… WEEKS AGO!!!!!!
By Greg in TN
June 28, 2008 3:24 PM | Link to this
Certainly not working out according to plans. Barajas has a quick bat, the homer he hit off of Huddy was a hanging slider inside and even though BMac was setting up outside, there was a Bennett pitch that was well inside that he got around on and rocketed it foul. I think we’ll be wanting to stay outside with this guy the rest of the series.
Ohman now in to pitch the seventh.
By northbeach Scott
June 28, 2008 3:26 PM | Link to this
Do you suppose that Bennett does not understand that it is not a virtue to allow all of your inherited runners to score. Wow, what a lousy job of relief. Bennett’s overuse has him looking more like Reitsma everyday.
By P-Town Brave
June 28, 2008 3:26 PM | Link to this
Good night Braves fans
Glad to see we showed up today against mediocre pitching…
a) Will someone please tell Frank Wren to make a trade for a bat w/ POWER, a HIGH OBP, and preferably an OF that doesn’t hit like a girl (see Francine)
b) Will someone tell Bobby that Greg Norton is a career pinch hitter and NOT a regular everyday player
c) Will someone tell Tim Hudson he is our ace and NOT a #4 starter
Back to mediocrity we go, but what can you expect from an average team w/ below average coaching…I mean we aren’t 40-42 for nothing
By Mr. Optimistic
June 28, 2008 3:28 PM | Link to this
ppl need to give bobby a break . if u bat mac 5th then they pitch around them and that leaves you what. 6 being norton or francour 7 being either one of them and brandon jones and brent l batting 8 and 9. u have to protect the lineup somewhat.
By Doc Holliday
June 28, 2008 3:28 PM | Link to this
Why wasnt Ring in?
Isnt he better when people is on base?
By Deep Throat
June 28, 2008 3:29 PM | Link to this
Looks like another 0-fer from Francoeur…whose OPS is now .692 (!). And that OPS is coming into today, so it will be worse.
So any predictions on when the Braves pull the plug on this train wreck? I think around when Francoeur’s average falls below .220.
Or maybe the Braves think Francoeur sells jerseys and tickets and they’ll never let him go. That’s possible. It certainly isn’t because the Braves believe Francoeur gives them the best chance to win ball games, heck no.
Free Jordan Schafer or another worthy minor league outfielder!©
By kirknga
June 28, 2008 3:32 PM | Link to this
Let’s not throw Hudson overboard yet ok. Remember , like several others, Hudson is being asked to play a role he wasn’t initially asked to be. Smoltz was our #1 and Hudson our #2.
Given how quickly he loses “it”, Bobby left himself open for criticism in not pulling Hudson quicker.
I’ll take this opportunity to once again hope that the Braves pursue CC Sabathia. Nothing like a Cy Young winner in your rotation.
By Doc Holliday
June 28, 2008 3:35 PM | Link to this
Coming back with half the team on the bench is almost impossible.
Seriously. This is not about JF, not against him. He just cant do it anymore on daily basis.
Managers put up lineups they think can help the team win. In which way is JF gonna help this team win???
No contribution, you sit, its easy.
What are you afraid about COX??? Im 100% all the baseball world (fans, media, players, etc) will understand it was time to bench him.
Stop this circus right now……
By NO MORE BOBBY
June 28, 2008 3:37 PM | Link to this
Why is it so hard for this team to show up EVERY GAME with the killer instinct they had Friday against the Jays? Its like watching two teams!! They don’t have that “WE ARE HERE TO WIN” look they did Friday.
The bipolar Braves!!!!
By The Seven Words You Can Never Say If You Work in the Braves' Front Office
June 28, 2008 3:39 PM | Link to this
Send Jeff Francoeur to the minor leagues.
By Robin
June 28, 2008 3:40 PM | Link to this
Uhh-Ohhh!!!!
Couple more bloops and a blast ….ya never know!
By Steve from OH
June 28, 2008 3:40 PM | Link to this
Gotta start showing Tex some love. He’s really stepped up in Chipper’s absence.
By Greg in TN
June 28, 2008 3:40 PM | Link to this
Tex, Blanco and company are making it interesting.
By Doc Holliday
June 28, 2008 3:40 PM | Link to this
Gotay is at .200
Time to send him packing as soon as Prado is back. what a useless guy from the bench.
Id rather have another arm on the roster than him.
TEX is just trying to carry the team…….welcome back big guy.
By David O'Brien
June 28, 2008 3:40 PM | Link to this
As Tanner would say, “The cruddy game ain’t over!”
By kirknga
June 28, 2008 3:40 PM | Link to this
Way To Go Tex!!
Maybe he is going to start carrying the team. The last two weeks have been worthy of our expectations.
Can we stop now with the trade him stuff?
By GeorgetownKid
June 28, 2008 3:42 PM | Link to this
kirknga
I don’t think we’re anywhere near “giving up” on Lilibridge or Jones, I am just wondering if the Braves are as high on them now as they were at the end of last season.
Do the Braves still believe that these are guys who could be quality starters in the big-leagues?
By Geoff
June 28, 2008 3:43 PM | Link to this
For those of you who know the game, you’ll know what I mean by saying, “We didnt need Tex to hit a home run right there”
By bsj
June 28, 2008 3:43 PM | Link to this
You naysaying whiners take the cake! I guess it’s only a great day when you wake up to find someone HASN’T p!&&ed your Corn Flakes.
By cabravesfan
June 28, 2008 3:44 PM | Link to this
umm-ok, nice little rally the Braves put together in the 8th…where the hell has that been all day?
By A-ville Ranger
June 28, 2008 3:44 PM | Link to this
One down in the eighth….game over.
By monty
June 28, 2008 3:45 PM | Link to this
Another one run loss?
By Doc Holliday
June 28, 2008 3:46 PM | Link to this
OOOOpss
Brian couldnt get on base to clear up the pitcher……sorry i meant Jeff F. So he will leadoff the 9th……. Lilly goes 2nd ……game over.
We will need a HR from B. Jones.
If chipper PH for Lilly, I suppose there is no one on the bench to play D, so we are scr……
By ijonathan
June 28, 2008 3:46 PM | Link to this
Jeff Francoeur: Rob Deer without the power.
By KC
June 28, 2008 3:47 PM | Link to this
Oh Dear Lord. We’re down by one run on the road. Why am I afraid of how this might end?
By Athens Brave
June 28, 2008 3:47 PM | Link to this
DOB, what are your thoughts on the passing of Uga 6? Even if you don’t like the Dawgs, you have to love Uga… best live mascot in college sports. That dog had a great personality, too.
By Chop Chop
June 28, 2008 3:48 PM | Link to this
How bout them Braves, huh? Four runs in the eighth off a pitcher who obviously had nothing. Tip of the hat to Blanco and Tex. A tip of the hat to Cito Gaston as well.
By the way, Sport South just had a nice shot of Bobby picking his nose while Acosta was on the mound. That is why those cameramen get paid the big bucks, folks. Ain’t nothin’ like a good ol’ Saturday afternoon pickin’, is there?
By Wayne in Utah
June 28, 2008 3:49 PM | Link to this
We have Corky Miller available on the bench today, and three walking wounded. Just who do you want Bobby to put in for Francouer??
JEEZ!! Get a frickin life, if this drives you that crazy! I guess we should bring up the world beater Josh Anderson, or put the unproven Jordan Schafer in RF. Maybe that highly touted Jason Perry, the one that strikes out a lot. Bet you guys would love that.
I swear I have never heard such frickin crybabys!
By BravesFanInRockies
June 28, 2008 3:49 PM | Link to this
OK. I stand corrected. We did have a big inning. Too bad it happened after Huddy lost it and Bennett couldn’t contain the damage. Another one-run road loss?
How much you want to bet that Tex isn’t seeing another pitch between the on-deck circles the rest of the series?
Speaking of 7+ ERAs, check out Pedro’s numbers this year. Ugly.
By A-ville Ranger
June 28, 2008 3:50 PM | Link to this
Acosta needs to be sent down,he has NO confidence,just a mess.
By Kev
June 28, 2008 3:50 PM | Link to this
and now that they tried to Comeback….HERE’S WHERE ALL THE INHERITED RUNS BENNETT GAVE UP HURT!! A lot…we would’ve Been winning THIS game if it wasnt for Bennett…Geez…
By tbo
June 28, 2008 3:51 PM | Link to this
Just saw Bobby go to his nose. That is the absolute best move he can make. For example, consistently putting Francouer in, putting the NO-pitching idiots in the game, Bennett and Acosta, etc. Pick another good one for us Bobby! Watch, just so we can lose by one, the Braves will get a run in the ninth.
By Jeff in Alabama
June 28, 2008 3:51 PM | Link to this
BFIR Man, I almost expected him to be rolling a pair of ball bearings in his hand and muttering about strawberries.
Coach Queeg… now THAT’S funny!
By Robin
June 28, 2008 3:51 PM | Link to this
Attaway Manny, put it on a plate for ‘em for cryin’ out loud! UFB!
By Soul Man
June 28, 2008 3:51 PM | Link to this
Who didn’t know Acosta wasn’t going to pitch a scoreless inning?
By The Seven Words You Can't Say in the Braves Dugout
June 28, 2008 3:52 PM | Link to this
Come On Manny Acosta, Hold That Lead
By Doc Holliday
June 28, 2008 3:52 PM | Link to this
Geoff thats true, but that also was a momentum changer…….. what we really needed was for Mc to get on base…..
That would have cleared JF giving more breathing room in the 9th.
Now we are toasted…….1 run was almost imposible…….
2 runs…….that just wont happen.
Not with JF and Lilly hitting in the 9th.
By Coach (Put up, shut up, do or die)
June 28, 2008 3:52 PM | Link to this
Good idea Bobby, Bring Acosta into the game.
Manny Acosta is 0-3 with an ERA of 7.59 in his last ten appearances.
GREAT JOB BOBBY ! Your team gets back within one run and you kill them !
By Deep Throat
June 28, 2008 3:53 PM | Link to this
Well, it’s no longer in line to be a one-run road loss.
Why Acosta over Stockman again? Oh right, Bowman says it’s cause the Braves believe Stockman’s big leg kick could allow for a stolen base attempt late in the game.
I agree. Who cares how bad Acosta is and will continue to be, or how many scoreless innings Stockman throws in the majors and AAA? As long as there is not a stolen base attempt!
By Coach Smith
June 28, 2008 3:54 PM | Link to this
TYPICAL BRAVES THIS SEASON
Give you just enough HOPE to break your HEART
At least MANNY made sure we wouldn’t lose by ONE RUN
Manny may need to go back to Richmond for a while…the guy has been throwing Batting Practice for a while now
By BravesFan79
June 28, 2008 3:55 PM | Link to this
Man….would of been nice to get Gonzo in this game in the 8th to keep it a 1 run game…. 2 bad he was used last night in a blowout.
Why does Bobby not think about these things ahead of time??
By Wayne in Utah
June 28, 2008 3:55 PM | Link to this
To those who think the game is over, why do you stick around??? Heck, you can go mow the lawn (cut the grass for those in the south), fire up the grill, or go visit mama.
And you stay around to watch/listen to a game that is “already over” as you have stated. Smart….
By Soul Man
June 28, 2008 3:57 PM | Link to this
If MLB’s Gameday is to be believed, Manny threw Rios at least two strikes. When you’re pitching like Manny, though, you shouldn’t expect umpires to give you anything close. For what it’s worth, if the Braves are going to lose, I hope it’s not by one run.
By Mike
June 28, 2008 3:57 PM | Link to this
God, I hate Acosta!!!
By kirknga
June 28, 2008 3:57 PM | Link to this
GeorgetownKid
Why wouldn’t the Braves still be high on these guys? I still say they, and most of the young players, have not played enough to give up on yet.
This includes Acosta who leads the league in appearances by rookies and has hit a wall.
Many on this blog are very generous with their praise of these guys down in the minors. They are very protective of them….”don’t trade them”, they say.
Then they get to the major leagues and don’t immediately dominate as they did in the minors and people get real disappointed really quick.
By Coach (Put up, shut up, do or die)
June 28, 2008 3:57 PM | Link to this
If I did my job the way Bobby Cox does, I’d be fired in a heartbeat !
By Mr. Analogy
June 28, 2008 3:58 PM | Link to this
Frenchy’s batting average is to the Mendoza line as…
A moth is to a flame
By northbeach Scott
June 28, 2008 3:59 PM | Link to this
Nice work by Longball Manny to ensure that Braves will lose by more than 1 run. He needs to catch that long train back to Richmond to get his confidence and competence back.
By DerekZ
June 28, 2008 3:59 PM | Link to this
Send Acosta to Richmond! Why is this not a no brainer!
By Andy
June 28, 2008 3:59 PM | Link to this
Manny Acosta was well rested for another blown inning. Why is he here over Stockman???????? This guy sucks so much it ain’t funny.
By Andy
June 28, 2008 3:59 PM | Link to this
Manny Acosta was well rested for another blown inning. Why is he here over Stockman???????? This guy sucks so much it ain’t funny.
By Geoff
June 28, 2008 3:59 PM | Link to this
DocHoliday… you are agreeing with me in that it more or less killed the rally and still left us one-run down, enabling Talet to pitch with no pressure at all. The HR will only go as a nice “statbook” victory if the Braves lose
By Coach Smith
June 28, 2008 4:00 PM | Link to this
MANNY HAS TO GOOOOOOOOOO
And why why why why did COX leave him in after that run, hit, and then walk?
There you go…leave him in long nough to make sure that we have NO CHANCE in the 9th…PATHETIC
By monty
June 28, 2008 4:00 PM | Link to this
Tough day for the pen!
By tbo
June 28, 2008 4:00 PM | Link to this
Hey Cox. You are a complete FOOL. Good job putting Acosta in there. He did good by only allowing 3 runs. Now we may come back and get 3 so we can have Francouer come up and strike out to end the game for a one run loss.
By bsj
June 28, 2008 4:00 PM | Link to this
Man, I’m glad I don’t have to party with you guys. And, thankfully, I don’t have to blog with you either. Good luck with this, DOB. I think you’ll need it.
By cabravesfan
June 28, 2008 4:01 PM | Link to this
The offense finally wakes up and gets us back in the game…and Manny Acosta give up 3 in the bottom of the 8th…good job Manny!
By Derek
June 28, 2008 4:02 PM | Link to this
Why would Frenchy swing at a 3-1 pitch when we need base runners?
By BravesFan79
June 28, 2008 4:02 PM | Link to this
Yea we allowed another run in the 8th……wait make that 3….this is fckin terrible… wow Bobby is AMAZING at managing close games!
I think Bobby shakes his Magic 8 ball before he makes every decision…” o 8 ball…who do i bring in… Corky? but i have Chipper on the bench…. owell….get em Cork!”
“O 8 ball were up by 14 runs…who do i bring in to finishup the game…. our closer?? o ok…gotta protect that 2 touchdown lead!”
By Doc Holliday
June 28, 2008 4:04 PM | Link to this
If you take a look to HRs……..
KJ 7
Yunel 6
JF 8
What is that about? Couldnt tell which of them are middle IF and which the RF.
Come on Cox, the guy hits a pop up to start the 9th and walks all the way back to the dogout with his head down……and I mean it……..all the way….. He just cant stand it anymore…… putting him in is just pressing even more……
Even Lilly got a single……. unreal.
By Dawg88
June 28, 2008 4:05 PM | Link to this
Dave,
Please ask BC this question:
Why does Brain McCann hit #6 behind JF or even Norton today when the Braves face lefties?
And please don’t accept the lefty/righty argument. It get old hearing that one. Plus, McCann hits about 50 points higher vs lefties despite being lefty vs lefty.
Norton is hitting .210 and BC thinks it is better for him to hit behind Tex. Please! And until recently he has hit behind JF even though he is fading fast.
Is he just hard headed and will not go against “the book” as they say. He is so predictable its unbelieveable!
Now if anyone wants to argue against McCann hitting 5th….answer me this:
Who would the Braves players, fans, and most of the coaching staff rather have up there when the bases were loaded today 1) Norton (who BTW popped out after the umpire blew the strike 2 call) or 2)McCann (who will be a 3 time All-Star by this time next week)?
Oh…I’d much rather have Norton up there not some sorry All-Star catcher. Yeah, right!
By BravesFanInRockies
June 28, 2008 4:05 PM | Link to this
I don’t think I’ve ever spoken ill of Acosta, but he may really need to go to Richmond and figure some things out.
While we’re at it, why is Corky on the roster? I mean the Braves had Sal Fasano in the minors and basically gave him away. If you’re worried about harming Sammons’ development by having him sit most of the time, why in the name of all that is good and decent did anyone think that Corky was a better backup than Fasano?
I feel like the Aflac duck in the commercial with Yogi.
By TexasBrave
June 28, 2008 4:06 PM | Link to this
Bring in Chipper to hit for Gotay!!!!
By kirknga
June 28, 2008 4:07 PM | Link to this
Many of the same people who are calling for Stockman now are the same people who were praising Acosta last season.
How quickly people forget that Acosta was in not going to be asked to be the closer or setup guy.
This season is a testament to what happens when you ask too many young and role players to perform in key situations they aren’t suited to handle.
By A-ville Ranger
June 28, 2008 4:07 PM | Link to this
Forget the bullpen era,we all know this pen can’t pitch in the clutch…except for Gonzo.I’m so gd tired of watching sweating,scared,pouting, BOYS sent in to do a man’s job.
By BravesFanInRockies
June 28, 2008 4:08 PM | Link to this
Geoff,
A HR “killed the rally”? Take the runs, man, let the rest sort itself out.
By Edward
June 28, 2008 4:08 PM | Link to this
And THEN ACOSTA HAPPENED
Its ridicoulous with This guy now….WHY is he STILL ON THIS TEAM…is beyond Comprehension…WHAT is FRANK WREN waiting for….hes not giving the Results the Braves want…i DONT UNDERSTANd…Isnt there ANYONE ELSE in the Minors that CAN DO a better JOb than this loser…Geeez…Thank You A-Cost-YA…
By tbo
June 28, 2008 4:08 PM | Link to this
Can somebody please get rid of Bobby Cox? This is ridiculous! Coach, you are so right. If ANYONE performed their job the way BC does they would have been fired 3 years ago. WTF. I can’t stand it anymore! Go Phillies.
By Doc Holliday
June 28, 2008 4:09 PM | Link to this
Only players with at least 200 ABs with lower OPS than JF are:
Ooopss…. only blanco…….not good
With at least 100 ABs:
just add diaz…….. Badddddd.
By Coach (Put up, shut up, do or die)
June 28, 2008 4:09 PM | Link to this
Another lefty, another loss and the beat goes on. The Braves have not seen .500 since June 8th. Thats eighteen straight games of sub .500 baseball and counting. Atlanta is now 12-17 versus the southpaws and 28-25 against right handers.
Jeff Francoeur is now hitting .241 for the season. He has hit .135 in his last ten games and has not homered in sixteen contests. Talk about an automatic out!
At least the Twins are winning!
Positivity indeed !
By Doc Holliday
June 28, 2008 4:11 PM | Link to this
What was that about…….Maybe im not a major league manager……but letting gotay hit and then putting chipper on deck??????
Am I missing something?
WTH would you do that?
Thats is (at least in my head) a horrible move.
By TexasBrave
June 28, 2008 4:11 PM | Link to this
Dam Bobby what in the he11 is wrong with you. Gotay has no business being in the 2-hole and then when something gets going you decide that you would rather pinch hit for KJ who has a hit today against a lefty instead of below the Mendoza line Gotay. What brilliant management.
By Kev
June 28, 2008 4:12 PM | Link to this
Mississippi Called…They Want their Closer Back…Hurry Up Wren and Do it!
By cabravesfan
June 28, 2008 4:13 PM | Link to this
ESPN just scrolled an interesting stat- over the last 30 days (not including today) Tex leads the NL with 11 HRs and 31 RBI…can’t ask much more then that
By Poll of Braves/MIB Blog Posters
June 28, 2008 4:13 PM | Link to this
Worst Braves?
A. Manny Acosta
B. Jeff Francoeur
C. Ruben Gotay
D. Corky Miller
By Eman
June 28, 2008 4:13 PM | Link to this
Ok guys, time to learn your team:
If the braves are down 1 run going into the 9th on the road, they’re going to lose.
if Acosta didn’t give up those runs you would be seeing the new record holder for most consecutive one run losses on the road
By Poll of Braves/MIB Blog Posters
June 28, 2008 4:13 PM | Link to this
Worst Brave?
A. Manny Acosta
B. Jeff Francoeur
C. Ruben Gotay
D. Corky Miller
By chopperhobby
June 28, 2008 4:13 PM | Link to this
Those who pay no attention to the past (Acosta) are destined to relive it - simply unbelievable!!!!!
By northbeach Scott
June 28, 2008 4:14 PM | Link to this
French swung at that 3-1 pitch because he is a) stupid b) selfish c) does not know what the f**k he is doing d) vision problem e) minor leager f) all of the above.
I am going with f). Look forward to booing your worthless azz in the Phillies series French F**k.
By Lorena Bobbitt
June 28, 2008 4:15 PM | Link to this
Gotay is batting in the 2-hole because you want his sub .200 batting average to come up as many times as possible?
Brilliant, Cox, brilliant.
Also, you gotta send Frenchy down at this point. Anyone else would be an improvement.
By Doc Holliday
June 28, 2008 4:15 PM | Link to this
BravesFanInRockies you 1st of all take the runs……
By Jeff321
June 28, 2008 4:16 PM | Link to this
You Cox groupies have to agree that Acosta is a disaster.. Does anyone want to rationalize sending Stockman down while Acosta is stinking up the joint? Does Cox love losers? Can you smell that 3rd place finish cooking again?
By Britt
June 28, 2008 4:17 PM | Link to this
It is amazing that we are still in it with all our injuries and poor hitting. This division is kind of flawed. The Marlins record is surprising because most people had them picked as the worst team coming in. The Mets are dysfunctional in every since of the word. As for the Phillies, they should just be kicking themselves. In terms of this division they are the healthiest team. If I were them I would really be worried because in this division, with all the stuff going on with the Mets, Braves, and Marlins there is no reason why their lead shouldn’t be huge. I guess it proves that the Phillies philosophy is wrong. They have one good pitcher in Hamels but after that its all down hill. You can have the best offense in the world but as their recent slide shows good pitching beats good offense any day. Even if they do win the division I don’t see the Phillies doing much after that especially in their ballpark.
By Hey, Something's Not Right
June 28, 2008 4:19 PM | Link to this
How could the Braves give up 9 runs. I thought they had the best ERA in the National League!
Something’s not right here.
By Chop Chop
June 28, 2008 4:19 PM | Link to this
How dare Joe and Boog question the lineup (Norton instead of McCann hitting behind Tex) Bobby Cox put out there today!
Neither of those two chucklehead announcers is a future Hall of Famer!
For shame!
By Tomas
June 28, 2008 4:20 PM | Link to this
very dissapointed in manny. Damn Soriano and his elbow problems.
By hosea
June 28, 2008 4:22 PM | Link to this
It would have been a lot closer if we weren’t ACOSTAED again….when is he going awayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy??!!
By Hey, Something's Not Right
June 28, 2008 4:22 PM | Link to this
The Braves are trying to break your heart.
By BravesFan79
June 28, 2008 4:22 PM | Link to this
Look people.. im not ready to give up on Acosta. Hes a guy that can really help the Braves when hot. But right now.. hes NOT HOT! Kinda like Andrew ALL OF LAST YEAR, like WOODWARD ALL OF LAST YEAR!
The Braves would of been so much better last year if cox had NOT used Soriano so much when he was in his slump, and NOT used Wickman in away game save situations!
Bob Wickman was one of the best home closers in the game, we cut him because Bobby didnt know how to use him!
yea i know Big Bob was not happy….but maybe he would of been happier had Bobby used him wiser.
Can we please get a manager that knows when to play hot players….and when to sit cold ones!!
By Deep Throat
June 28, 2008 4:22 PM | Link to this
Does anyone think the Braves are throwing the season? How else can you explain Acosta over Stockman and, previously, Ridgway over Stockman? Or Jeff Francoeur never missing any real playing time? Or the fact that left field is still a black hole and no trades have been made?
The Braves’ front office is either throwing the season on purpose or they’re idiots. It’s gotta be one.
By A-ville Ranger
June 28, 2008 4:23 PM | Link to this
Kirknga, I liked Acosta when he looked like he could (and had the nevers to) pitch.A manager has to live in reality,that means TODAY’S reality.How many thought he was going to get the job done today ? besides Bobby Cox and Mcdowell I mean.
By tbo
June 28, 2008 4:26 PM | Link to this
Blanco was 4 for 5 in the lead off spot. He has been fabulous. What do you think the Genius Bobby Cox will do when Escobar comes back? Of course we know he will put him back in the leadoff spot and sit Blanco.
Bobby, will you please retire? That’s the only way we will be rid of him because management will not do it.
By MBPELICAN
June 28, 2008 4:26 PM | Link to this
seems like we’ve had a million chances to get back to .500 these past 2 weeks, and we just can’t win to get back.
By Doc Holliday
June 28, 2008 4:27 PM | Link to this
Poll of Braves/MIB Blog Posters
What a bad poll, Gotay and corky are not even braves.
I would say, right now…..JF.
League has adjusted to him, they now the game plan is….. just dont throw a strike, he will get himself out.
Acosta has been bad lately, but JF is just awful at this moment.
northbeach Scott you are out of line saying Jeff is stupid…. that would be enough to ignore you.
My answer would be……. he doesnt have any discipline nor knowledge of the strike zone.
By Hey, Something's Not Right
June 28, 2008 4:28 PM | Link to this
This division is kind of flawed.
No - it’s as solid as the idea of giving no money down, adjustable rate mortgages to anyone who wanted one.
By The Goche
June 28, 2008 4:28 PM | Link to this
For those of you who know the game, you’ll know what I mean by saying, “We didnt need Tex to hit a home run right there”
That is an absolutely ridiculous statement: “For those of you who know the game,”—hilarious.
Right…those of us who know the game realize that it is better to be down by two with a runner on than to be down by one with no runners on.
Or even more likely, three runs down with two runners on.
Brilliant.
I’m glad we have people who know the game around to keep us straight.
Anyone who would choose to not have runs to keep “pressure” on is just silly.
What sounds like more pressure to you: being up by three runs with runners on and one out or having blown four runs of a five run lead with only one out?
By kirknga
June 28, 2008 4:29 PM | Link to this
Well in the past Acosta did a terrific job. Including his saves in the minors and the month he was up in the majors.
When the team limited his role he performed well, including a brief stint as closer. But due to injuries he had to pitch more and in more critical situations than he likely would have if Soriano and Moylan were healthy.
With the exception of Ohman, each of the Braves pitchers today deserve their share of this loss, not just Acosta.
Acostas’ worst mistake was the success he had initially. Now when he struggles for the first time, he is shown zero mercy.
We should treat our rookies much better than that.
By Doc Holliday
June 28, 2008 4:35 PM | Link to this
Does anyone knows when is Prado gonna be here? Cant stand Gotay anymore.
Will Kotsay be ready for phillies series? If so……he needs to play CF and Blanco RF.
Positive stuff so far…….Blanco is getting his AVg and OBP up. TEX heating up in the same period, that spells runs.
Chipper, Prado, Yunel and Infante injured at the same time spells trouble……big time.
Winning this series would be huge, unreal.
Time for the rest of the injured people to get their axxex here.
By Supes
June 28, 2008 4:35 PM | Link to this
I see the TM article has been closed for comments and that my comment was erased or lost somehow from the other day. I guess the AJC can’t take constructive criticism.
Anyways…since that is close…TM how about it? Your “boy” Jeff going 0-fer again today. Anymore excuses? What’s next? A Jeff Shultz article to defend Francouer? I mean after the big “guns” of MB and TM have been used to defend him, I guess Jeff Shultz is next.
Yeah…I just saw the stats on Braves Live. FRANCINE hitting a robust .116 the past 8 games with an OBP’s of .206? UNREAL that Jeff still has a job in the majors. If that was Blanco’s stats or any other outfielder, everyone would be screaming for them to be cut.
Speaking of Blanco, have a day Gregor. First 4 hit game of his career. Awesome. He’s earning more playing time when Kotsay returns.
What’s it going to take for Jeff to sit, or be sent down? Him hitting below the mendoza line? A few more K’s and DP with the sacks jacked? I guess tomorrow Brian Jordan will have a “Jeff Francouer” special. I hope someone TiVo’s that for Jeff, maybe that’s the answer?
And all the Bobby Cox apologists…please defend the decision to have GREG NORTON hitting behind TEX, instead of B-Mac? B-Mac mashing the ball against LH pitching but NO…the genious of BOBBY COX has NORTON hitting behind TEX? Explanation? Reasonable? Anyone?
Meanwhile, TEX continues the hot hitting. Awesome job by Mark. Man does it ever hurt to have Chipper out right now. The way TEX is mashing the ball, if Chipper was healthy in the lineup…you know runs will be scored!
I hope the Braves win this series tomorrow. Need to win the series and finish on a positive note…and get ready for the series with the Phillies.
DOB, would you please ask Bobby Cox tomorrow or whenever you get a chance why not hit B-Mac after TEX in the lineup? I’m curious to know the answer. Thank you.
By StingerSplash
June 28, 2008 4:35 PM | Link to this
So the Braves brass or higher ups or whoever would have us believe that Acosta can get outs better or more than Stockman? Seriously? I know it didn’t come down to an Acosta vs. Stockman scenario, but Stockman was the last righty to be sent back down, so he is logically the next one to be brought back up. Can we please have seen the last of Mr. Acosta for a while? He wanted to be the late inning guy and he has spit the bit.
By SnuffySmith
June 28, 2008 4:37 PM | Link to this
When I looked at the NL standings this morning I couldnt believe it. The Braves have had a horrible June but in spite of that have actually GAINED ground on the NL East leaders. When the Braves started the month they were about 6 1/2 games out of first place. Despite playing just a couple games over .500 the Braves have actually gained 3 games this month and are approaching the top of the division. Not bad for a team that has been decimated by injuries and have had a lot of their key starters either out (Chipper) or in slumps (Francour). The only way that this could happen is the steadying influence of BOBBY COX. Bobby never waivers at all. He is steady as she goes. Thats why Bobby will certainly make the Hall of Fame as one of the greatest managers in the 21st Century. Bobby has kept the team together and continues to push the right buttons to keep them competitive. When everyone gets healthy and some of the Braves starters return to the starting lineup look for the Braves to make a strong run in competing for the division lead and possibly adding another divivion flag at turner field along with the many others. The Braves are talented but are just not jelling as a team just yet but when they do I expect them to make the post season by at least a wild card berth and really make a very good run at the NL penant. Should the Braves need an extra bat down the stretch, if I were the Braves GM I would consider calling Barry Bonds agent just to see if Barry is ready to play. Bonds would help this lineup immeasurably and get them over the hump. Well it should be an interesting year to say the least. Go Braves!
By KC
June 28, 2008 4:40 PM | Link to this
Gotta hold BC accountable.
I love Bobby Cox… I really do. But he’s GOT to be held accountable for some of these inexcusable errors in judgment.
Brain Jordan, Joe Simpson, and Boog all said what I was thinking from the moment I saw the lineups this afternoon…
Brain McCann should have been hitting 5th.
He’s hitting .344 off lefties, and he’s the ONLY one in the lineup right now capable of protecting Tex in the order.
I’m not saying Bobby cost them this game… but he might have. We’ll never know what might have happened had they been forced to pitch to Tex the 2 times they walked him, or had McCann been up with the bases loaded instead of Norton.
This is another installment in what has been a series of head-scratchers (to be very nice about it) from Bobby Cox.
The last year or two, things seem to be going downhill for Bobby in terms of his judgement.
I don’t every remember hearing (quite loyal) Braves announcers and former Braves player such as Joe Simpson, Brian Jordan, and Ron Gant publicly question decisions Bobby has made.
That to me is the most telling thing.
I hate to say it… I really do, but it’s probably about time for Bobby to call it a brilliant career and hand the reigns to TP.
By A-ville Ranger
June 28, 2008 4:41 PM | Link to this
Kirknga This isn’t charity it’s professional baseball.Acosta will make more this season than most men with families to feed will make this decade.He has pitched awful lately,more to the point it’s obvious he doesn’t have the confidence to pitch in clutch situations.He should be sent down or used to mop-up till he looks ready to do his job.
By KC
June 28, 2008 4:41 PM | Link to this
That is… “hand the reins to TP. Sorry.
By David O'Brien
June 28, 2008 4:45 PM | Link to this
If I were GM, I’d have Acosta packing for Richmond and Stockman ready for the homestand. No, actually, I’d have Stockman here tomorrow to replace Acosta.
Manny looks like a deer caught in the headlights right now. Just can’t do the job right now, and hasn’t for the past month.
By northbeach Scott
June 28, 2008 4:46 PM | Link to this
Doc H I stand corrected, perhaps Frenchy is mildly retarded or a moron instead of stupid. What would lead you to believe that he is not stupid? Sounds like a dim bulb when interviewed. Unable to learn or adjust. Has no plan at the plate and uses the same bad approach, no matter what the circumstances, count, or pitcher. Unless you have some specific information to the contrary, I am guessing Frenchy is a dumb cluck, lights on nobody home,perhaps in the Chuck James intellectual zone.
Would also agree that Frenchy has no grasp of the strike zone and lack of discipline. Any way that you cut it he has a lot of work to do to become a big league hitter. I would argue this is not a slump that he will get over. Rather, he is fundamentally flawed as a hitter and is going to really have to work to be useful to the Braves.
By Doc Holliday
June 28, 2008 4:47 PM | Link to this
tbo
You are right……75% chance he will do that. Id like to let KJ hit 2nd and let yunel hit 6th.
BLANCO, KJ, CHIPPER, TEX, MC, YUNEL, KOTSAY, JF.
If kotsay rests: BLANCO, KJ, CHIPPER, TEX, MC, YUNEL, BJ, JF
By gotigers72
June 28, 2008 4:47 PM | Link to this
A Triple A pitcher beating a Double A lineup. Seriously, the Braves had about 3 major league hitters in the lineup today. They don’t have a chance until Chipper and Yunel comeback. And until they send a couple of relief pitchers to the minors [Bennett and Acosta], and get some guys up here that can hold the other team down for an inning or two. Stockman would be one good replacement. Worried about his slow move to home with runners on base? That is one of the more lame excuses I’ve heard for leaving him at Triple A while keeping Acosta, Bennett and Jeff Freakin’ Ridgway on the ML level. Stockman has been dominant at Richmond and for the 7 innings he pitched with the big club. Runners have to get on before they can steal, and his WHIP is right around one.
They had 2 hitters below the Mendoza line in the lineup today [Lillibridge and Gotay], another one real close [Norton at .204], and another one nosediving very quickly that way [Francoeur]. Yet they still scored 5 runs because they do have SOME ML hitters. Gotay needs to go. Easy to see why the Mets released him. I’ve never seen anybody take as many good pitches and swing at as many bad pitches in my life. At least they have ML level starting pitchers and even some good relievers. Even though Huddy had a bad day today. You’ve gotta admit, those young guys have really come through. If someone had told you that the Braves’starting rotation would not include Smoltz or Glavine, but guys named Morton, Reyes, Campillo and Jurrjens, you would not think that they would be only 2 games below .500. More like 20 games under .500, especially with the lineups they have had to run out there lately.
Like many of you, I’m frustrated with this team’s play, but they still have a legitimate shot if they get their injured players back soon, and if the Young Guns continue with their nice work. They really need to get Chipper back next week when the Phillies come to town. I’m just afraid he’ll hurt that quad worse and be out for a month or so. If that happens….
By David O'Brien
June 28, 2008 4:48 PM | Link to this
I also agree with those who’d have Blanco (or Kotsay) move to RF when Kotsay gets back. Francoeur needs to go down for a bit, but it’ll never happen.
By varoadrunner
June 28, 2008 4:48 PM | Link to this
For God’s sake, how long is it going to take Wren to act?
Maybe he should be dismissed and replaced with Goofy. He’d do as well as Frank has been doing.
By kirknga
June 28, 2008 4:49 PM | Link to this
I liked Acosta when he looked like he could (and had the nevers to) pitch. A-ville Ranger
Exactly my point! What does it say that people here only like you when you have success?
I think it’s pretty weak to praise a guy, bring him up from the minors, he does well, put him in a role you didn’t want him to be in, then he still does well, and now he’s had a few bad weeks and he’s trash!
I got news for you people, Stockman is not the answer! He has a fresh arm so he might provide a streak of good outings. But like Acosta, he’s a rookie too!
Shame on you people who only back the rookies and young players when they’re going good. Way to stand up for your players.
By Doc Holliday
June 28, 2008 4:51 PM | Link to this
KC so much truth in your words……your last post I mean.
By McFann©
June 28, 2008 4:56 PM | Link to this
When Kotsay returns, the outfield should look like this:
LF: Blanco
CF: Kotsay
RF: B. Jones/Francoeur
By Goodoleboy58
June 28, 2008 4:57 PM | Link to this
I think our biggest needs remain another arm out of the bullpen and somebody in the OF that can hit from the right side… I’m too discouraged after that outing to say much more today… Congrats to Blanco and Tex for good days
By Doc Holliday
June 28, 2008 4:58 PM | Link to this
DOB I agree with sending Acosta back to AAA for stockman, but, what is ridgway doing here then?
BTW, I have to admit KJ is looking solid enough at the plate. He has look comfortable hitting 3rd. Id let him hit 2nd once Yunel is back and send behind Mc.
By Doc Holliday
June 28, 2008 5:03 PM | Link to this
Sorry……I didnt notice ridgway is not here……hard to notice…….right
By Lorena Bobbitt
June 28, 2008 5:03 PM | Link to this
Well said, KC at 4:40. I agree, it’s long past time to sever ties with Cox!
By TexasBrave
June 28, 2008 5:04 PM | Link to this
SuffySmith while I agree Bobby has been able to hold these Braves together to keep us in striking distance of the division lead. I also have to wonder that if he had some better in game managing decisions whether or not we would be closer or in first place by now.
I also agree with KC that Bobby has made more questionable game time judgement calls during the past two years than he has over much of his Atlanta career.
Thus you have to pick your poison, because you might be able to bring someone else with great game management skills but may not be able to hold this team together the way Bobby can. Either way this team is a .500 ball club unless we start scoring a ton of runs to take those decisions out of the managers hands.
By northbeach Scott
June 28, 2008 5:05 PM | Link to this
kirknga Are you nine years old? Perhaps you are one of those kids who finished 8th in the race and received a trophy to enhance your self esteem and now believes that should apply in the real world.
When professional athletes stink it should be called out. These guys make a lot of money to play a kid’s game that occur in the public eye. Criticism goes witht the territory. Acosta, while limited in major league experience is a 27 year old man who can take it. If he can’t take it, he does not belong.
You may not know this but folks on this blog are entitled to voice (or vent)their opinions. Not all of us are such Homers that we would never utter a discouraging word. Also, who are you to shame us. P*ss off.
By Deep Throat
June 28, 2008 5:09 PM | Link to this
I also agree with those who’d have Blanco (or Kotsay) move to RF when Kotsay gets back. Francoeur needs to go down for a bit, but it’ll never happen.
But why is the question. Why do the Braves give so much more slack to Francoeur than they do everyone else, especially players his age? Why is Francoeur’s spot secure and Kelly Johnson seemingly always fighting off platoons and losing playing time to Prado, Gotay and Infante?
Why can’t Francoeur be sent down to minors, like ever again? Why does this team not reward success (Stockman) and punish bad play (Francoeur, Acosta, Corky Miller)?
Seriously, what makes Francoeur so special (it certainly ain’t his play)? It’s become very clear that some animals are more equal than others in the Braves’ clubhouse.
By Doc Holliday
June 28, 2008 5:12 PM | Link to this
Need some help from the yankees….. Santana on the mound……and winning…….not good.
By kirknga
June 28, 2008 5:15 PM | Link to this
This isn’t charity it’s professional baseball.
Supporting your players only when they do well is what I expect of someone watching a charity game! Pro sports fans have more heart than that so…shrug
Counting last season, the guy has had 3 good months and 1 bad month. I believe he has earned some freakin leeway!
No other contending team has a rookie as a closer. Few, if any, have one as the primary setup guy.
You want him to play a lesser role for awhile, fine, that’s ok, but it’s way too early to give up on the guy.
And if they call up Stockman,another rookie, and he isn’t the answer, what then? How many the same people who swear he’s the answer will quickly throw him under the bus?
There is some reason obvious to the Braves why Stockman is not here and people should adjust their expectations of him accordingly.
By Doc Holliday
June 28, 2008 5:21 PM | Link to this
This team will stay 3rd and 4th as long as:
They play JF everyday.
Dont send Corky packing.
Dont send Gotay packing.
Dont send Cox to a shrink (not to say packing).
Dont get all of their bullpen involved (ring, Carlyle, stockman when here).
By kirknga
June 28, 2008 5:23 PM | Link to this
northbeach Scott
Are you mentally retarded or just a wus of a fan?
You have a player who does well for 3 months then has a bad month, you don’t throw him under the bus, especially if he’s rookie playing a role he shouldn’t.
And for your information when I was 9 this Braves team sux’d! Even at 9 I still had enough sense to understand that all players slump and rookies and young players are inconsistent.
By Doc Holliday
June 28, 2008 5:24 PM | Link to this
Im afraid Manuel is doing a much better job than Randolph. Dont look now, but i think he will get the muts to the top and we will have to win that dog fight if we want the flag……mets are not going south.
Braves need somebody like him…..he is kicking some butt.
By etownbrave
June 28, 2008 5:29 PM | Link to this
Totally agree with sending down Acosta for Stockman. JF should also be at least benched or platooned as that is what happened when KJ was so awful earlier this season. A few days off would not hurt JF if they are unwilling to send him to Richmond to relearn the strike zone and/or how to hit. McFann….really like your platoon in RF. Platoon there instead of in LF.
By Dan in NJ
June 28, 2008 5:32 PM | Link to this
Many here are amazed that the Braves are still in this race, considering all the injuries. But i don’t believe that many games were because of the injuries. Examples… Batting G. NOrton 5th.? Which many teams wouldn’t even want him on their bench. BUT BC bats him 5th.? that Has NOTHING to do with injury. M. Acosta.(he been horible lately) but not bad enough for BC to leave him out of games. same thing. J.Frenchy, Batting 5th or 6th soooo many times til recently, Having extra arms in the pen(which BC never uses anyway), instead of a bat like J.A. esp. for late situations. Over using Boyer,Acosta,bennett. and much more.
Bottom line best ERA, and Top 3 or so in AVE. that should tell you B.Cox just aint the answer. People can blame players all they want. But like someone mentioned, if i didn’t preform results at my job, REGARDLESS of the situation, i’d be long gone. Even if i tried to blame the gas prices, real estate or the economy and so on.
By kirknga
June 28, 2008 5:42 PM | Link to this
northbeach Scott
I never said people shouldn’t voice their opinion or criticize. You created that lie and then got all bent out of shape about your own fantasy.
Priceless indeed.
If you are going to voice an opinion then don’t cry when people don’t agree with it. I don’t take it personally that people don’t agree with my opinion.
I also don’t praise and build up expectations of players and then abandon them at the first sign of trouble. That goes doubly so if they have done well in roles I know they aren’t ready to play yet.
That’s my point. Nothing more, nothing less.
By Doc Holliday
June 28, 2008 5:42 PM | Link to this
etownbrave right
By Doc Holliday
June 28, 2008 5:47 PM | Link to this
If muts dont start hitting soon, their 120 M (or whatever) lefty, will go to .500.
By ccrider
June 28, 2008 5:49 PM | Link to this
We Braves fans all connect the success or failure of a season to our own observations of the reasons for that same success or failure. I will look back on the mistakes and achievements of Frank Wren. The biggest impact was of course the Renteria Trade. It is one that will live in infamy in Detroit for a long time. Jair has been amazing, and at 22 years old can anchor this staff for a long time. Gorky Hernandez , with his defense, speed, batting eye , may turn into an All-Star along with Jair. The signing of Jorge Campillo has turned out stellar as well. Bennett was a good sign even though I feel he would be better as a starter. The trade for Ohman and Infante has been solid. Unfortunately, our GM has also had some glaring failures and decisions that may not be as important as his long term trading for Gorky and Jair ,but may have sunk our chances to make it to the playoffs this year. You look at other playoff contenders such as Milwaukee, Florida and the Phillies and their benches are filled with mostly proven vets that have shared time or filled in for injured players with much success. Milwaukee with Gabe Kapler, Russell Branyan, Craig Counsell. Florida with Luis Gonzalez, Wes Helms and Cody Ross. Philadelphia with Greg Jenkins , Greg Dobbs, Carlos Ruiz, So Tuguchi and Jason Werth. Let’s look back at the Braves bench to start the sesaon, Corky Miller, Gregor Blanco, Martin Prado, Branyan Pena and , I believe Scott Thorman. This was and still is probably the weakest bench in all of baseball. It is a bench with little talent, little experience, little upside and no post season background. Unfortunatly, we have been beset with injuries and the replacements became Greg Norton, Rubin Gotay, Brandon Jones, Britt Lillibridge and STILL CORKY MILLER! A bench with little talent(Norton and Gotay) No experience(Jones and Lilli) and NO TALENT OR UPSIDE(CORKY). It is a bench that hasn’t been able to contribute very often, has defensive issues and either don’t belong in the majors or is not ready. The bullpen has been much the same: we lose Soriano and Moylan for either all or much of the season. We have Gonzalez miss the first 2.5 months of the season. The bullpen has consisted of vitual rookies(Acosta, Moylan, Bennett,Ring, Ridgeway, Resop), slightly longer vets but with meager talent(Buddy) and one vet with a track record Wil Ohman. I do not find it surprising we have lost so many 1-run games, when your bullpen has been so young and so diluted. I hope our GM will learn from this year and in the future build a better bench and a more experienced bullpen. This was an unusual year with all the injuries, but the lack of a bench and a the inexperienced bullpen may already have cost us the playoffs. A contending team has to be deep, experienced and talented from the get go to win a World Series.
By BraveTiger
June 28, 2008 5:51 PM | Link to this
DOB, I agree with you. Acosta needs to go down so he can get regular work and get his confidence back and maybe he would be ready if needed later in the season.
Also, I agree about Frenchy. Maybe when Kotsey comes back, sit him for 2-3 games. But that probably won’t happen either.
By A-ville Ranger
June 28, 2008 5:55 PM | Link to this
Kirknga, That is about the silliest reasoning I’ve seen in some time.So it’s THE FANS of pro sports that should be more professional ? and THE PLAYERS who should be pandered to ? Yea, that’s the way it should work.
By prattvillenolzfan
June 28, 2008 6:02 PM | Link to this
One comment I heard Boog & Joe make today that went virtually unnoticed is that Frank Wren decided to make the trip this week-end.
Joe said that he asked Wren about trade possibilities and Wren said they believe they have the pitching, but they are looking for a power/outfield bat
Unfortunately everyone else in the majors is looking for the same thing and some of the “border wild-card” teams still think they have a chance, so they are not ready to deal…..
I haven’t heard that much about Wren traveling w/the team….DOB how often does Wren accompany the Braves on out of town trips….
Mark my words guys, (and McFann & Roman Gal) Something Big is going to happen
I don’t think it’s going to be Brandon or Blanco.
As far as commenting on Cox screwing up the pitching situation/line-up…There’s really not alot we can say….Same song, different record….(Maybe Wren is taking notice of that too….)
By McFann©
June 28, 2008 6:06 PM | Link to this
Thanks, etownbrave!
.299…Sub-.300 for first time since May 7, but still an acceptable AVG.
(Soto 0-3 with two K’s, and 6 LOB)
By prattvillenolzfan
June 28, 2008 6:06 PM | Link to this
As far as Franceour being benched..
All that would happen if he was “benched”, is that he would be the one to come up in a pinch-hitting situation late in the game….
Is that what we want…..
By kirknga
June 28, 2008 6:06 PM | Link to this
It’s not my first choice, but I don’t have a major issue with sending Acosta down.
I believe you can “come back baby because rock-n-roll never forgets.”
I hope for Stockman(and the teams’) sake that we catch lighting in a bottle again and he does well. But I will say the same thing if he doesn’t and people throw him under the bus in short order too.
By NO MORE BOBBY
June 28, 2008 6:18 PM | Link to this
For all you Bobby Cox lovers out there - swallow your pride and Red Man chew and admit Cox is hurting this team by standing by players like Acosta. Why is this guy pitching in the majors????
Its great to not give up on a player in May but end of June and they are still not coming through… that is being selfish to the rest of the Braves.
Remember there is no I in team but there is in IDIOT and thats what Cox is for sticking with some of these losers!!
By Capt Caveman (the original Dawg)
June 28, 2008 6:20 PM | Link to this
DOB
So I guess I’m out of time-out now??
I said don’t take that comment personally about the blog, I just meant that it seems like some of the regulars don’t post as much anymore since we ran into this onslaught of negativity.
I assume you understood that my comment about the Patriots losing was only meant to say that even the best teams lose sometimes just because they do. It’s not always a failure of some epic proportion as it is just a good game played hard between 2 teams. To take a teams recent loss/losses and use it to negate a lifetime’s worth of work by an individual is just ridiculous.
That’s all that I meant.
Gotta go to the club now, I wish Coach would come tonight so I could “greet” him properly. LOLOL
By Jeff321
June 28, 2008 6:20 PM | Link to this
And if they call up Stockman,another rookie, and he isn’t the answer, what then? How many the same people who swear he’s the answer will quickly throw him under the bus?
I would much rather see Stockman failing than Acosta for the 300th time! And sure, if Stockman doesn’t pitch like he has, then I’d call for his ouster as well. But, ya have to admit, Stockman has a whole lot of disappointing outings to catch up with Acosta, eh? The object in this game is to win and Acosta clearly isn’t a winner.. and the “decider” clearly hasn’t been a winner since 1995. I mean, the World Series is what its still all about, right?
By kirknga
June 28, 2008 6:39 PM | Link to this
A-ville Ranger
I never said any such thing. Please don’t make up stuff and say that I said it.
You want to disagree with me, fine, I can accept that.
I just ask that you don’t lie about what it was I said.
I’ll repeat my point: …don’t praise and build up expectations of players and then abandon them at the first sign of trouble. That goes doubly so if they have done well in roles I know they aren’t ready to play yet.
It’s not just Acosta, but other young playerss as well. Someone asked if the Braves are still high on B Jones and Lillbridge and they haven’t even played enough to know.
It’s about a pattern. People praise players for their minor league performance. They claim these players are valuable and should be kept out of trades. They say that these players are the answer to address the teams’ weakness.
Then, if they don’t immediately duplicate that minor league success, or turn out to be an improvement of what we already had, then those same people throw those players under the bus.
I think that’s weak.
By David O'Brien
June 28, 2008 6:48 PM | Link to this
prattville, he makes an occasional trip, but not that many. maybe one in four? I don’t know exactly. Braves GMs just haven’t traveled much, since Schuerholz started the practice, I guess.
Some GMs make virtually every trip with their teams, others make almost none. In this day and age, you can get so much work done anywhere, it doesn’t seem to matter much.
By kirknga
June 28, 2008 6:50 PM | Link to this
Jeff321
Ok, I can understand. I don’t like seeing failure either. For the record, Acosta has succeeded more than he has failed.
I disagree with saying “he’s clearly not a winner” when the whole freakin team is under .500
Where were you people last September, how about March, April, May of this season?
I fail to see the logic in, “I’d rather see Stockman fail” and “The object of the game is to win.”
What is the difference between one players’ failure and the failure of another? If the object is to win, then failure should not be tolerated from anyonr correct?
Is there something more, or extra about Acosta that makes failure from him him different than from Stockman?
By Zach
June 28, 2008 6:50 PM | Link to this
WE HAVE GOT TO GET RID OF ACOSTA!!!! He and Jeff (but mostly him) are the cancer of this team.
I think what bothers me the most is that he doesn’t even look like he cares that he sucks so bad. Its like he still sleeps well at night or something.
By Comparing Day and Night
June 28, 2008 6:50 PM | Link to this
Albert Einstein: “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”
Bobby Cox: “I think I’ll put Jeff Francoeur in today’s lineup.”
By Tomas
June 28, 2008 6:52 PM | Link to this
I want to see the Braves recalling stockman. He has a 0.00ERA in the majors and an ERA under 1 in the minors. Recall him for at least 20 games, and if he messes up I will understand why they send him back down. But I don’t get BC reasoning.
By David O'Brien
June 28, 2008 6:52 PM | Link to this
Couple of paragraphs and stats from my game story:
Cox keeps hoping that Acosta will regain his early season form, but it has become painful viewing. The reliever has allowed 18 hits, 13 earned runs and 10 walks with only three strikeouts in 12 innings over 12 appearances since May 31, with four losses, two blown saves and a 9.75 ERA in that stretch….
Hudson was 10-1 with a 2.32 ERA in 13 starts against Toronto during his years with Oakland. Since switching teams and leagues, he is 0-2 with an 8.25 ERA in two starts against the Blue Jays….
Teixeira has 11 homers and 41 RBIs in 39 games since May 20, and he is 9-for-20 with six homers and 11 RBIs in the past six games.
“I didn’t get much to hit today, and I just tried to put a good swing on it,” said the former Texas Rangers slugger, who has 16 homers and 42 RBIs in his past 31 games against the Blue Jays.
By David O'Brien
June 28, 2008 6:55 PM | Link to this
On this day in history:
June 28, 1967: Jayne Mansfield died at 34.
June 28, 1995: Courtney Love punched Bikini Kill’s Xathleen Hanna backstage at the opening date of Lollapalooza.
By JEB
June 28, 2008 7:00 PM | Link to this
By David O’Brien
June 28, 2008 4:48 PM
I also agree with those who’d have Blanco (or Kotsay) move to RF when Kotsay gets back. Francoeur needs to go down for a bit, but it’ll never happen.
Why would you think they would not send Francoeur down? I do not know that the Braves have always had REAL strong loyalties to players when they were struggling for a long period of time! (example Langerhans, willie harris)
Is it just because we do not have any options for right field? I know BC stands by his players as long as he can, and is slow about making changes. But, as time goes forward he does make the right changes. (Andruw Jones being the exception last year, but he was knocked down in the order, and was not palying at all by the season’s end - but he was a 10 year vet.)
Surely, we would have someone playing RF if Frenchy was hurt & DL’d.
By Robert
June 28, 2008 7:02 PM | Link to this
IF the Braves win tomorrow they will have gone 5-4 on a homestand against three teams with a current combined record 18 games under .500 (111-129 if I am doing my fast math correctly)
Whopeteedoo
Cox’s comments about Jurrjens were just mint.
JJ ceratinly pitched a beaut yesterday, but to say it was the best he had ever seen? And then to say that every one of Jurrjens previous starts was great but this one was excellent? Jurrjens first of all has had a few clunkers, but more to the point his definition or misuse of great and excellent
But I digress - Yesterday, Cox watched baseball and said “Hee Haw” Today, Cox made a decision and cost the Braves a chance at winning a ballgame
The more things change the more they stay the same
By David O'Brien
June 28, 2008 7:04 PM | Link to this
And from my Braves notebook that should be posted now or soon, which also has a lead note about Soriano being back in the Dominican for “personal reasons,” there’s this:
Right fielder Jeff Francoeur’s average sunk to .241 Saturday after his fifth hitless game in seven starts. He is 7-for-51 (.137) with one extra-base hit and three RBIs in his past 14 games and has a .232 average and .293 on-base percentage in 70 games since April 13, with five homers and 30 RBIs.
By kirknga
June 28, 2008 7:08 PM | Link to this
DOB
Can you tell us what Acostas’ numbers were before May 31st?
By stamper
June 28, 2008 7:08 PM | Link to this
so… the general consensus is that we need a solid Right Handed LF in the lineup. Yes?
Who’s attainable? Jason Bay? Matt Holliday? Carlos Lee? Raul Ibanez? Any other possibilities?
What’s it gonna take to make a deal happen?
oh yeah, and what can we do about Bennet and Acosta? Sweet fancy Moses
By David O'Brien
June 28, 2008 7:11 PM | Link to this
OK, barnyard guy’s here. Seriously, I start feeling cheap and low-rate reading all the “donkey” and “Hee Haw” references and tired, joyless comments he has. I prefer entertaining, witty banter.
Someone call me at dinner and let me know when he’s gone.
By Jeff321
June 28, 2008 7:26 PM | Link to this
I fail to see the logic in, “I’d rather see Stockman fail” and “The object of the game is to win.”
Putting Acosta in the game at this point is pretty much guaranteeing failure. So, if Bobby insists on “throwing the game” he might as well use Stockman! With that said, Stockman has been “lights out” in limited appearances. So, seeing that he’s throwing well, whats the point of booting him to Richmond? Because everybody and their granny knows Acosta will bring the pain! (To our team!)
On a side note: Trading for an outfielder will be kind of pointless unless Frenchy is part of the deal or sent down.. Because last time I checked, he’s still just plain awful.
By kirknga
June 28, 2008 7:27 PM | Link to this
I think we need a stud bat and a stud starter. Perhaps a veteran in the bull pen.
Of course if the guys we have would start getting more clutch hits, as Tex has started to do, then we may not need that bat.
That is assuming that we get guys on the DL back as well as those hurt and still on the active roster.
By Run Heap Run (R.I.P. Uga VI)
June 28, 2008 7:33 PM | Link to this
Oh hey they’re replaying this disaster. Maybe FW is watching again to get another look at Acostyathegame.
Not pretty today but at the end of the day, the 1st place team has only won 3 more games than the Braves. No need to step out on the ledge just yet braves fans.
McFann I saw that Snail graphic. Funny stuff. Poor Mac, I wouldn’t be able to sleep either if I let someone with 8 years on me beat me. :)
By Doc Holliday
June 28, 2008 7:36 PM | Link to this
We are almost there……….3 outs to go for the muts…….
By kirknga
June 28, 2008 7:37 PM | Link to this
With three outfield positions why would Frenchie have to be included in any trade?
I agree Acosta should take a lesser role, even sent down to the minors if that is what it takes. But to ignore that he did very well for 3-4 months prior to this bad steak isn’t quite fair.
I feel for Stockman, and for Charlie Morton should he have a few bad starts in a row,
By Doc Holliday
June 28, 2008 7:39 PM | Link to this
Hope Rivera can close it for the junkees.
By Doc Holliday
June 28, 2008 7:43 PM | Link to this
Sorry, thats 6 outs to go for the muts.
By Doc Holliday
June 28, 2008 7:45 PM | Link to this
Wright just made his 11th E of the season, thats 4th worse in NL.
By Doc Holliday
June 28, 2008 7:47 PM | Link to this
Freakin fish are already winning, they just wont go away.
By David O'Brien
June 28, 2008 7:57 PM | Link to this
Acosta gave up four runs and two homers in his first appearance of the season on March 31 against Pittsburgh, in the home opener, then reeled off a 25-appearance tear in which he posted a 1.30 ERA and .198 opponents’ average, with 19 hits, four runs and one homer allowed in 27-2/3 innings.
That took him through May 30.
We know what’s happened since May 31. (See stats above.)
By Run Heap Run (R.I.P. Uga VI)
June 28, 2008 7:59 PM | Link to this
OT but can someone settle a disagreement between my uncle and me? My uncle says Chipper drives a Hummer, I could have sworn he drove a pickup. Any players lot loiterers on here know? And just out of curiosity, what do Frenchy and Heap drive?
By KC
June 28, 2008 8:02 PM | Link to this
kirknga: I don’t think we need a starter. Hudson has outings like this from time to time. Sometimes he even has them in bunches. But at the end of the season, he’ll finish with 15-18 wins, and an ERA around or a little over 3.00. And he’ll be among the league leaders in quality starts (as he is now).
Plenty of depth in the rotation right now. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying there’s any such thing as TOO MUCH pitching… but if we’re going to give up quality talent to get something, there are more pressing needs than a starter.
As you mentioned, we need a stud bat… and I would say we need another stud reliever.
The Braves bullpen (until today) has been very good this week, but I haven’t stopped hoping there’s a deal in the works for a reliever. We need a proven late-inning guy that can serve as the setup man and fill-in closer (when needed).
If we could get a Jason Bay, and someone like Heath Bell from SD, we’d be in great shape!
By kirknga
June 28, 2008 8:06 PM | Link to this
The Marlins have an effective lineup and they’re playing with confidence.
Lets hope the Rangers stick it to the the Phils.
By Doc Holliday
June 28, 2008 8:11 PM | Link to this
JF drives a JEEP called “BREEZE”.
Mc drives the FLINMOBILE.
By Doc Holliday
June 28, 2008 8:17 PM | Link to this
Poor Santana, he now is 7-7.
Tons of money for only a .500 record at mid-season.
By Doc Holliday
June 28, 2008 8:21 PM | Link to this
Rangers already up……. 2-0 after only 6 pitches by Hamels.
By Efrim
June 28, 2008 8:21 PM | Link to this
Wow. I never thought I would see people say Frenchy needs to be sent down. I’m not sure if he needs to be sent to Richmond, but he definetly needs at bats to be taken away. He has been one of the most unproductive regulars in major league baseball this season. It’s even worse because he is a corner bat. His defense has slipped as well.
I’m very much against the Braves trading any top prospects. But this team needs a corner outfield bat in the worst way. I know Randy Winn is owed 8 million next year, but if you were that worried about the salary, then why don’t you deal him this offseason? He needs to be brought in here and play in right field.
By kirknga
June 28, 2008 8:22 PM | Link to this
KC
I can agree that a stud bat is the first priority. However, we need others to do a better job with situational hitting or one more bat is not going to help much.
The pitching has been great, the bull pen solid. However, too many rookies and young players.
I know I’ll take gruff for this, but I look for Hampton to come back and be somewhere near his old self. All this time off can’t be anything but healthy for his arm and leg injuries.
I’m not sure Glavine is coming back and Smoltz is gone. I want another veteran, Sabathia is my wish. Depending on 3-4 rookie pitchers makes me nervous.
By Jeff321
June 28, 2008 8:30 PM | Link to this
With three outfield positions why would Frenchie have to be included in any trade?
Because making Frenchy part of the trade was my idea of getting him out of town! Seriously, this guy is a rally killer if I ever saw one. And his bad wheel is fouling things up in the outfield. Why do ya think KJ went into short right the other night to catch that ball? Because “flat tire” was just too slow.
By kirknga
June 28, 2008 8:34 PM | Link to this
Thanks DOB
Hopefully Acosta can regain his previous form, even if it takes sending him down.
Give Stockman his shot, but I think it may be a veteran reliever that is our best option in the setup role.
By jed
June 28, 2008 8:45 PM | Link to this
now’s absolutely the time to send down francouer and acosta. i think they will send acosta down for certain (they have no choice), but, knowing how braves brass thinks, i doubt they’ll send JF down, and that’s a real problem. his slump threatens to drag on endlessly, and this team’s not good enough to endure that. dont know why they couldnt just tell jeff “look…we need you full-steam from august on. go to richmond, relax, figure it out and we’ll see you in a few weeks.” seems like the most reasonable cure to me, as opposed to having this linger endlessly. keeping him in atlanta and having him endure escalating pressure and repeated failure hardly seems conducive to turning around a young player.
as for acosta, it’s imperative they send him down. i’d also give him at least a week off without throwing. cox used him too much, too early. (kinda had to.) let him re-charge his batteries. the guy’s got a great arm. handle him right and he’ll regain his form and be able to help us later.
By McFann©
June 28, 2008 8:47 PM | Link to this
Run Heap Run—
LOL…I was disappointed: I thought Boog said they were going to talk to BMac and Corky during the Braves Live Post Game Show—but they didn’t. That stunk…was the only thing to look forward too after that game…
Francoeur drives a black Hummer. I saw it parked in his driveway in a photo once.
I read an article from ESPN last year that gave me the impression that Heap has a Corvette. (He did an autograph session at this auto store. So many sessions for a free Vette. Man, those rich guys get all the breaks—no pun intended…)
And actually, we saw a yellow—yes, yellow—Corvette in the Braves parking lot last year. Then on the way home, a yellow Vette goes flyin’ past us—through the HOV lane, past some other cars…then it cut into the next lane and took off. Guess what he lacks in foot speed, he makes up for on wheels—if that was really his car.
Chipper? No clue what he drives. But then again, you weren’t even asking me.
; )
By Cooper
June 28, 2008 8:47 PM | Link to this
Hudson is a good pitcher with good overall stats but he still does not look like an Ace. He is number one by the process of elimination.
This team needs one-two big bats in the OF to be sure but I still feel they need another arm near the top of the rotation.
The rookies look good but they are rookies. In the heat of a playoff run (god willing) the loss of Smoltz will be felt bit time.
Wren should not be lulled into a falls sense of security now b/c JJ and JOJO are hot. He has to know that a 2 acting as a 1 (Hudson) and four rookies won’t get it done.
By TexasBrave
June 28, 2008 8:50 PM | Link to this
Since Jeff will never be sent down how about putting him in a platoon until he rights the ship. This serves a couple of purposes. One it gives him some much needed time off to clear his head and get out of the rut he is in of playing everyday. Second it will give any injuries he has some time to heal.
Really he just needs some time out of the everyday line up. Look what it has done for Diaz when he was in a platoon. Of course I reiterate that once he gets back on track that the platoon ends.
By Braveheart
June 28, 2008 8:52 PM | Link to this
it’s the magic in every game… the look on a kid’s face as the poster on his wall gets sent down to the minors
By Coach (Put up, shut up, do or die)
June 28, 2008 9:00 PM | Link to this
O’Brien, you are truly gutless. Keep deleting my post’s and I will stop posting.
By Ramblin
June 28, 2008 9:03 PM | Link to this
Bring Josh Anderson up and send Jeff to Richmond. It will not kill Jeff to go down. Josh will be a big improvement. Time for Bobby to retire.
By kirknga
June 28, 2008 9:03 PM | Link to this
I don’t know about trading or sending Frenchie back to the minors.
I do think he should sit some games.
By jed
June 28, 2008 9:05 PM | Link to this
too funny, braveheart
By RR
June 28, 2008 9:10 PM | Link to this
they will never send jeff down they might sit him down once kotsay and diaz get back so give up the “send jeff to richmond ” it will never happen
By TexasBrave
June 28, 2008 9:13 PM | Link to this
Good 8:45 post jed. Unfortunately I don’t see them sending Frenchy down. That’s why I suggested the platoon. It sounds stupid but if you are not going to send him down I think it would be a better option than letting him be a rotting hole in the line up every game. Time off, and just not one game, is what he needs. That along with watching tape of him hitting over the last two years.
It might not hurt to see Smoltz’s shrink, goes for Acosta too.
By Ramblin
June 28, 2008 9:14 PM | Link to this
Coach- Really, did DOB delete your post? He’s not that bad. I hope!
By kirknga
June 28, 2008 9:16 PM | Link to this
I thought about a platoon for JF too, but the only split that would make sense is a day/night one (.321 vs. .206)
Not that big a difference left vs. right (.254/ .225). Home vs. Away either (.245/ .244).
Sending him down after the season he had would be a big risk.
By McFann©
June 28, 2008 9:17 PM | Link to this
But how could I forget Chucky James, who is the proud owner of a 1965 Shelby Cobra?
Man, he’s prob’ly got the best car of them all!
Braveheart—
Hilarious! (I can’t stand that commercial!)
By Run Heap Run!
June 28, 2008 9:18 PM | Link to this
O’Brien, you are truly gutless. Keep deleting my post’s and I will stop posting.
Then by all means, Delete O’Brien Delete! :)
Thanks for that, McFann - I am very amused that Heap drives a Vette but yeah if he did promos for them they usually give the use of a car for a year in exchange for it. Chipper had a deal like that with a BMW dealer in Marietta in his 1st or 2nd year.
By Braveheart
June 28, 2008 9:31 PM | Link to this
I’ll second what texasbrave said. That was a good post at 8:45, jed.
It would suck for Francoeur if he got sent down but something has to be done at this point …. whether that be a demotion, a forced DL stint or a temporary platoon.
He’ll need to understand that there’s no shame in being sent down. Mickey Mantle came up in 1951 to tons of hype, sort of failed and got sent back down to the minors. After a few games in the minors, the Mick wanted to quit and called his father and told him he wanted to come home. His father talked him out of it and we all know the rest of the story. Heck, The Mick was back up before the end of the season …… even tore that knee up in a drainage hole in the World Series at the end of that year.
Francoeur obviously ain’t Mickey Mantle, and Mantle was only 19 years old back then, but if even Mickey Mantle could get sent down to the minors after being hyped the way he was, then Frenchy shouldn’t be above being sent down for the betterment of himself and the team either.
By Don
June 28, 2008 9:31 PM | Link to this
Per DOB’s note above - Not only will Francouer not get sent down, when Kotsay gets back, Cox will continue to send Francouer’s sorry arse to RF every day no matter how well Blanco or Jones are hitting/playing.
If the Braves were to change the name to something elase other than the “Braves”, I nominate the new name to be the Atlanta “Average Joes” since average is what the team basically has been for the last 3 years.
By McFann©
June 28, 2008 9:33 PM | Link to this
Run Heap Run—
It’s very amusing. But it being the promo thingy, he’s prob’ly given it up by now—if he only gets it for a year (he did the autograph signing in early June of ‘07, if I’m correct).
Didn’t get a look at the parking lot on Wednesday, so I don’t know what they’ve got down there now. Last year, there was a Lambo in the mix—cool lookin’ car! Don’t know who it belonged to, though.
I think Escobar’s got some sort of BMW, but I’m not positive. I’ll have to check up on that. Whatever it was, it was the “last thing he splurged on” according to the program that we bought at the game on Wednesday. (That thing was seven bucks, but it’s got some funny stuff in it!)
Well, I gotta go. Catch you all tomorrow!
Night, all!
By TexasBrave
June 28, 2008 9:33 PM | Link to this
Coach in the past I have enjoyed reading your posts. You have come up with some good ideas and discussion topics. However, man you have gone totally overboard on this Bobby Cox rant. I am beginning to wander if you are the second coming of Robert.
I agree that Bobby has some flaws and has cost the Braves games, but your more recent posts have bordered on the edge of insanity. There is nothing wrong with pointing out Bobby’s miscues (even I do it), but let it go after a post or two and get back to what you do best with insightful posts.
By TexasBrave
June 28, 2008 9:47 PM | Link to this
kirknga I wasn’t exactly thinking of the best splits, just wanted a reason to get Jeff on the bench for awhile so he can straighten some things out.
By Braves fan
June 28, 2008 9:51 PM | Link to this
For something funny - check out www.BattingStanceGuy.com He has done a great job on the Braves - Gant, Justice, Horner, etc. It would be great on the site too.
By Braves fan
June 28, 2008 9:51 PM | Link to this
For something funny - check out www.BattingStanceGuy.com He has done a great job on the Braves - Gant, Justice, Horner, etc. It would be great on the site too.
By DAP
June 28, 2008 10:22 PM | Link to this
just got back from a week in dc to find the braves have actually gained a couple of games on philly! this is surprising, and it looks like its not to late to be in this thing.
i got to see the replay of the game from today. depressing…the bullpen has been struggling lately. new arms are needed, i think. send some guys down, bring up some hungry young arms.
by the way, if someone had told me back in march that in late june, we would be fielding a team with gotay, lillibridge, b. jones, and blanco all in the lineup, i would have wept. injuries have been unreal for this team.
By gayle
June 28, 2008 10:24 PM | Link to this
I know I’m getting in here late, but I had a couple of things to add.
Too all of you who keep saying that the Braves just need to get in the playoffs because anything can happen - then you refer to the Cardinals of a couple of years ago. Is it selective memory? The Cardinals that you model these Braves after were swept by Boston in the World Series - so maybe they really can be like those Cardinals?
Also, this is a .500 team. Do the numbers - you can go back to last year. The only reason they remain in contention is because the other teams in this division suck.
Shut it down, get something for Tex besides draft picks and build a team that can honestly compete.
By David O'Brien
June 28, 2008 10:28 PM | Link to this
Braveheart, that 8:52 was cruel.
But damn, it was funny.
By kirknga
June 28, 2008 10:32 PM | Link to this
Ah ok *TexasJeff. Well I don’t know what they will do with him.
I don’t look for much from Diaz either. He seems to get a pass from people, but he didn’t standout offensively or defensively at all. No one wants to give Brandon Jones a chance in LF.Will Kotsays’ back hold up? I’m not counting on it.
So that is why I say go get a stud bat for the outfield. These are also the reasons why JF isn’t going back to the minor leagues anytime soon.
I think they would be better off trading him than sending him to the minors.
By keylargo
June 28, 2008 10:39 PM | Link to this
Hey O’Brien
How about next week you get a simple poll up along the lines of -
Do you feel good about Bobby Cox managing through 09?
Yes or No answer.
I think it is about 20 people with some type of issues that keep sending in this negativity. I think the poll would reflect strongly in Cox’s favor.
By Run Heap Run!
June 28, 2008 10:40 PM | Link to this
LMAO Braveheart, best comment of the week. Maybe even the whole month.
By double deuce
June 28, 2008 10:43 PM | Link to this
There are at least a couple of people here who get it. It’s not Acosta’s fault that he has been abused in the bullpen. It was evident a month ago his arm couldn’t handle the load Bobby was giving him, but he still runs him out there every chance he gets. What’s Manny supposed to do, say no? Manny Acosta is a great guy, a good bullpen pitcher who was asked to fill a role he wasn’t ready for. Its a managers job to find the right guy at the right time, not the same guy every time until he is shot. Acosta is done for this year. His arm and his confidence are gone thru no fault of his. You can lay that one on Cox.
By Shamus Thacker
June 28, 2008 10:50 PM | Link to this
Hay Y’all!
Ain’t been around much lately, sure have missed this blog. I don’t feel like a game is complete, even after watching the whole damn thing, till I’ve seen what DOB has to say. I appreciate each and every one of you, and hope DOB likes it well enough here to hang out with us for the balance of his career. This place cheers me up when pretty much nothing else will. Some of you are hilarious. Some of you royally/F-5 suck, but without you this blog wouldn’t be the dramatic joy that it is. Thank you, you’re sincerely appreciated, if only by me.
Mom is in the hospital. That’s where I’ve been the vast majority of time. Third time in a month. Just quit my prog. job to care for her full time. She’d do the same for me if roles were reversed. She helped get me out of lotsa foolish hi-jinks in my younger days. I owe her one, but more than that love her dearly. Pray for her.
Thanks for everything Y’all.
Aloha, from the white-as-Richard-Simmons-in-a-biker-bar shores of Cedartown.
By Doc Holliday
June 28, 2008 11:08 PM | Link to this
Man, Lidge is just lights out. Rangers had tying run on (1b and 3b), 1 out. Hamilton and Bradley (4th and 5th) coming up with one out. He struck them both out.
Phillies pick up a game on everybody.
Thats how a championship team gets it done.
By Robert
June 28, 2008 11:11 PM | Link to this
“Can somebody please get rid of Bobby Cox? This is ridiculous! Coach, you are so right. If ANYONE performed their job the way BC does they would have been fired 3 years ago”
THREE? Try fifteen. Not another team in any sport wouldve kept their flunky manager after a playoff loss like the Braves had in ‘93 to the Phillies- not already off two WS failures
By MEB
June 28, 2008 11:16 PM | Link to this
Shamus Thacker… took the time to pray for you just now. Glad to see someone who has their priorities in order. Like you I enjoy the banter on the ol’ MIB blog as long as I scroll past those nasty F-5’s. Take care!
GO BRAVES!!!
By JEB
June 28, 2008 11:37 PM | Link to this
Gayle
Go back and check your stats, Those Cardinals (2006) WON the World Series.
By Run Heap Run (R.I.P. Uga VI)
June 28, 2008 11:37 PM | Link to this
Best of wishes for your mom, Shamus Thacker
Phillies won, Fish lost, Mutts lost, Braves in 3rd…4 games out. I’ll take it. :)
By David O'Brien
June 29, 2008 12:16 AM | Link to this
Shamus, you’re a good man.
By Moby Grape
June 29, 2008 12:24 AM | Link to this
DOB
It seems to me that Stockton has not pitched since he went back down to AAA. Is that correct and if so do you have any idea why? Does it relate to why he was used so infrequently by Cox while he was up here?
By Chop Chop
June 29, 2008 12:31 AM | Link to this
Yeah, Gayle pretty much screwed that whole analogy up. The St. Louis Cardinals team that lost to the Boston Red Sox a few years ago (not a couple) in 2004 went 105-57.
The Braves only had one team with a better record than that during the division title run (106-56 in 1998). That team was beaten in the NLCS by the Padres. I seem to remember Sterling Hitchcock beating two Hall of Famers (Maddux and Glavine) en route to winning the NLCS MVP.
What a f*** joke.
Hey! The Angels might get a combined no-hitter…in a loss! Can they do it??? They’re through eight innings!
By StingerSplash
June 29, 2008 12:34 AM | Link to this
If — a mighty K2 sized if — the Braves decide to send Frenchy to Richmond, who then shall be sent to the ATL? They need an OF with some power, so that excludes Josh Anderson. I like him, but he’s not the answer for Frenchy at this point. That leaves your options as Joe Borchard, who has 4 homers, and Scott Thorman. Jason Perry, the former Georgia Tech outfielder, has five HRs in 28 games at Richmond, but those are his only games above AA ball. So not sending Frenchy down may have less to do with the Braves being tied to Frenchy, but there being very little in the way of a viable alternative. And the Dodgers are getting no hit but winning 1-0 through 8. Hmmph.
By James
June 29, 2008 12:35 AM | Link to this
By Coach (Put up, shut up, do or die)
June 28, 2008 9:00 PM | Link to this
O’Brien, you are truly gutless. Keep deleting my post’s and I will stop posting.
Now that is the finest post(I will stop posting) you have ever made. If you and Robert (how stupid of me-since you are both the same person) were never heard from again nobody would notice.
By Chop Chop
June 29, 2008 12:42 AM | Link to this
Tim Kurkjian says that 8-inning no-hitters don’t count anymore. That’s wonderful.
Since that is the case, why does MLB still count an 8-inning CG loss as a complete game? Jorge Campillo had one of those against the Angels. He didn’t pitch nine, so how can it be complete? Oh, he completed the game. That’s why.
Bah.
By Raymond
June 29, 2008 12:43 AM | Link to this
we have almost no shot at a wild card. we are 4th in a 5 team division. as bad as the Phillies and mets have played, we are still behind them and the Marlins. we can’t win on the road and can’t put together a solid streak. this team is mediocre and has about a 20% chance of making the playoffs. let’s face reality !
By StingerSplash
June 29, 2008 12:44 AM | Link to this
Apropos of nothing, but a Letterman-like fun fact from the FBMI: Of the 14 games already done tonight (there are two outs in the Angels-Dodgers game, top 9), six were decided by one run.
By Crazy Stats Katz
June 29, 2008 12:52 AM | Link to this
O’Brien, you are truly gutless
Maybe he is gutless. That’s why he gets women. Men without guts tend to get women. Men with big ole guts like Cooch go without women.
Cooch, you need a woman.
By David O'Brien
June 29, 2008 12:57 AM | Link to this
Too all of you who keep saying that the Braves just need to get in the playoffs because anything can happen - then you refer to the Cardinals of a couple of years ago. Is it selective memory? The Cardinals that you model these Braves after were swept by Boston in the World Series - so maybe they really can be like those Cardinals?Gayle
If the people you’re talking to are guilty of “selective memory,” then I guess your excuse is just poor memory? Because I covered that World Series, seem to remember it being cold and wet in both Detroit and St. Louis. Remember seeing the Drive-By Truckers in Detroit on an off day in that World Series. Oh, and a “dirt clod” on Kenny Rogers’ pitching hand.
Also, I distinctly remember the Cardinals winning that World Series, winning it in five games, Game 5 in St. Louis, the Tigers unable to even get the Series back to Detroit for a Game 6.
Gayle, at least you were right about one thing: Those Cardinals were barely a .500 team during the regular season — 83-78.
It was the 105-win Cardinals team of 2004 that was swept by the Red Sox in the World Series.
So what do we take from all that? That it’s better finishing five games over .500 (83-78) than finishing with a 105-57 record? Well, OK.
By Crazy Stats Katz
June 29, 2008 1:01 AM | Link to this
O’Brien, you are truly gutless
Maybe he is gutless. That’s why he gets women. Men without guts tend to get women. Men with big ole guts like Cooch go without women.
Cooch, you need a woman.
By StingerSplash
June 29, 2008 1:03 AM | Link to this
Last no-hitter against the Dodgers? Kent Mercker’s 10-K gem back in 1994. Stayed up to watch that game from the Left Coast and Mercker absolutely dominated them that night.
By COOCH IS WORSE THAN AND IDIOT
June 29, 2008 1:09 AM | Link to this
Coach, your behavior on this blog recently has been completely out of hand and it is completely unacceptable. To insult BC the way you have is one thing, however your rants towards DOB and Carroll and the rest of the AJC staff is simply intolerable.
This is DOB’s house. He works his arse off providing us with information that none of us could get from any other source. To crap all over this blog the way you do is unforgivable.
Imagine this: You’re sitting in your Lazy-Boy chair. You know, the one that’s all worn out and repaired with duct tape. It sits in the living room of the broken down old shack you call a home. Your 19 inch black and white tv sitting on a cardboard box blares away in the corner. You were too lazy to adjust the rabbit ears so the pictures not too great. Anyway, you hear someone in the yard because that mongrel you call a “dog” that’s chained up to that old engine block in the yard starts barking. Someone busts in thru what’s left of the screen door. Tripping through the empty PBR cans and Cheez-it cans on the floor they rush to the mantle where they grab your high school championship trophy. Remember that? It’s proudly displayed there. You won it all those years ago when your team won the AA state championship. You were named MVP and THAT is what qualifies you to be an expert on baseball. At least you think so.
Anyway, this guy pulls you out of your chair by grabbing your dirty wife-beater t-shirt and starts to assault you with it. Man, what a glorious sight!
Cooch, for the sake of the blog and for all that is good and holy I hope that DOB decides to delete every one of your posts.
I’d call you and idiot but that doesn’t do justice to all the folks that have worn that mantle. You could only aspire to be an idiot.
P** off you loser. Go root for the Twins. Or go root for the Cubs. But just go. Nobody, and I mean NOBODY here wants to see your kind around.
By Quack Quack
June 29, 2008 1:17 AM | Link to this
DOB, would you please ask Bobby Cox tomorrow or whenever you get a chance why not hit B-Mac after TEX in the lineup? I’m curious to know the answer. Thank you.Supes
perhaps he though that Tex is the one guy in the lineup who needs the least protection?As hot as he is now he can protect himself.
Anyway, the studies have indicated that the concept of protection is as likely a myth as a fact. It sure doesn’t work out the way we think it should all the time even over a season long period.
Y’all would b1tch iffen they hung you with a new rope. Get real, with the amount of regulars out right now replaced with guys hitting .200 or so any games we win should go in the miracle column.
By Quack Quack
June 29, 2008 1:30 AM | Link to this
You are right……75% chance he will do that. Id like to let KJ hit 2nd and let yunel hit 6th.
BLANCO, KJ, CHIPPER, TEX, MC, YUNEL, KOTSAY, JF.
If kotsay rests: BLANCO, KJ, CHIPPER, TEX, MC, YUNEL, BJ, JFDocH
FCS haven’t you dodos learned anything. You rant every other week about who is in which spot in the lineup, but when your guy gets there nothing changes. The team has produced to about the same degree no matter the lineups. Studies show that lineup changes make little difference as long as you don’t use ones like with the pitcher hitting cleanup. Y’all pontificate like you know what you’re talking about but all you do is make it obvious that you don’t know much of anything about real life baseball.
By Quack Quack
June 29, 2008 1:56 AM | Link to this
O’Brien, you are truly gutless. Keep deleting my post’s and I will stop posting.Coach
can we take that to the bank, coach? Gawd i hope so.
By BA
June 29, 2008 2:11 AM | Link to this
God bless your mama, Shamus Thacker.
By BA
June 29, 2008 2:17 AM | Link to this
Quack, I’m with you in spirit, but sometimes particular guys take off when they’re moved (in the lineup) remember Lemer when Bobby moved him up to the two-hole? Thing is, when you’re running out players like Gotay and ‘Lil Bridge everyday, the lineup is like lipstick on an Oprah.
By BA
June 29, 2008 2:24 AM | Link to this
Oh, sure, O’Brien’s “gutless”. Because we all know he’s the one commiting merciless acts of public slander at four in the morning. I heard O’Brien passed on HoJo too!
By nolie
June 29, 2008 3:36 AM | Link to this
Two Braves youngins made the BA Hot Prospects list at first and 8th. An ex-Brave was second.
Hanson’s no-hitter makes him an easy choice-Baseball America Hot Prospects List
Staff Report June 27, 2008
Early in the season, it seemed like hitters had the upper hand as we compiled the Hot Sheet. But this week, pitchers have definitely gotten their revenge. There’s a no-hitter, plenty of double-digit strikeout games, and enough mid-90s fastballs to have hitters quaking in fear.
But as we head into the second-half of the season, it’s kind of poetic that our first No. 1 of the year is back on top, with yet another game where his fastball proved near-invisible to hitters.
And remember as always this is not a re-ranking of our Top 100 Prospects list. Instead, it’s a snapshot of who are the hottest prospects in baseball right now, with stats form the past week (June 20-26) getting the most consideration. The Why He’s Here line in the writeups refers to each player’s stats during that time.
Contributing: Ben Badler, J.J. Cooper, Matt Eddy, Austin Maloney, Anthony Tynan and Jim Shonerd
No. 1 TOMMY HANSON, RHP BRAVES Team: Double-A Mississippi (Southern) Age: 21 Why He’s Here: 9 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 HBP, 3 BB, 14 SO The Scoop: After topping our first Hot Sheet of the 2008 season, Hanson finds himself back on top again after striking out 14 in a nine-inning no-hitter.
Hanson began the year dominating high Class A Carolina League hitters—a 0.90 ERA in 40 innings with a 49-11 K-BB mark—in the pitcher-friendly confines at Myrtle Beach. His transition to Double-A hasn’t been silky smooth—he’s allowed at least six runs in three of his eight starts—but he now has 49 strikeouts and 19 walks in 50 Double-A innings.
Of course, none of his outings were as good as the no-hitter—which Hanson said was his first complete-game no-hitter since he threw a couple of them in Little League. He made the Birmingham lineup look like a bunch of Little Leaguers on Wednesday, thanks in part to a new grip on his curveball, though Hanson said it was his slider that resulted in the most third strikes.
“Before the start I changed the grip on my curveball and started throwing my slider a little more,” Hanson said. “Last night was the first night everything kind of clicked. I was throwing it off my index finger, but (pitching coach Derek) Botehlo said I should throw it with my middle finger. It was a lot more consistent and felt a lot better coming out of my hand.” No. 2 NEFTALI, FELIZ, RHP RANGERS Team: low Class A Clinton (Midwest) Age: 20 Why He’s Here: 1-0, 0.00, 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 10 SO The Scoop: Feliz returns to the Hot Sheet for the second week in a row thanks to his second straight double-digit strikeout performance. The Dominican righthander is probably the most dominating pitcher currently residing in the Midwest League, and his 10 Ks on Sunday against Kane County put him at the top of the league leader board with 93 in 74 1/3 innings. He’s allowed more than one run only once in his last 11 starts, and he’s given up only one home run all season. The flame-throwing Feliz has also improved his command this year, having dropped his walk rate while still holding hitters to a .184 average and a .259 slugging percentage. No. 3 STEVE GARRISON, LHP PADRES Team: Double-A San Antonio (Texas) Age: 21 Why He’s Here: 9 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 12 SO The Scoop: Garrison fits in nicely among the list of Padres pitchers who throw a high percentage of pitches for strikes. When his curveball and changeup are on, those pitches over the plate become even more difficult to hit, though he’s not normally a prolific strikeout pitcher. Garrison’s last start lowered his ERA to 3.01 in 80 2/3 innings, good for third in the Texas League in ERA behind teammate Will Inman. No. 4 WILL INMAN, RHP PADRES Team: Double-A San Antonio (Texas) Age: 21 Why He’s Here: 7 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 HR, 1 BB, 11 SO The Scoop: With an advanced feel for pitching, Inman excels with his fastball command, which is one reason he’ll be on the USA roster next month at the Futures Game. Despite being one of the youngest pitchers in the Texas League, Inman now has 92 strikeouts in 85 innings, giving him the league lead in strikeouts by 17 over teammate Matt Buschmann. No. 5 BRETT GARDNER, CF YANKEES Team: Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (International) Age: 24 Why he’s here: .458/.629/.625 (11-for-24), 2 2B, 1 3B, 10 R, 1 RBI, 11 BB, 6 SO, 5-for-5 SB The Scoop: One of the IL’s steadiest performers all season, Gardner in the past month has become one of its very best. He’s batting .326/.446/.457 through 92 June at-bats, with 11 steals in 12 attempts, and on the season he now leads the league in on-base percentage (.417), stolen bases (30 in 38 tries), walks (57) and triples (10), while ranking third in runs scored (58). The quintessential leadoff man, Gardner has reached base in 71 of the 77 games in which he’s played this season. No. 6 DAVID HUFF, LHP INDIANS Team: Triple-A Buffalo (International) Age: 23 Why he’s here: 2-0, 2.25, 12 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 HBP, 0 BB, 13 SO The Scoop: Huff put Double-A behind him with a 5-1, 1.92 record, with 62-14 strikeouts-walks in 66 innings, but it appears as though he was only getting warmed up. A supplemental first-round pick from UCLA in 2006, Huff has strangled Triple-A batters in his first five starts, striking out 29 of them and walking just two (none in two starts this week) in 26 innings. With Aaron Laffey in the big leagues and two of the Indians’ other young, promising arms (Adam Miller, Chuck Lofgren) struggling mightily this season, Huff has thrust himself into the discussion as the organization’s top pitching prospect. No. 7 JHOULYS CHACIN, RHP ROCKIES Team: low Class A Asheville (South Atlantic) Age: 20 Why He’s Here: 0-0, 0.00, 12 2/3 IP, 8 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 14 SO The Scoop: After a few weeks’ absence, Chacin makes his return to the Hot Sheet after putting up a pair of strong starts this week. Chacin has gone six innings or more in 15 of his 16 starts this season, and he’s still yet to allow more than three earned runs in any of them, which was one of the reasons he got to start the SAL all-star game for the Southern Division. In his two starts this week, Chacin pitched six shutout innings on the road against Augusta last Friday, and then followed that up by allowing only one unearned run in 6 2/3 innings at home against Hickory on Wednesday. He ranks as the SAL’s leader in wins, strikeouts and innings pitched, and his 1.86 ERA is the circuit’s fourth best. No. 8 JORDAN SCHAFER, CF BRAVES Team: Double-A Mississippi (Southern) Age: 21 Why He’s Here: .435/.536/.652 (10-for-23), 7 R, 3 2B, 1 3B, 7 RBIs, 5 BB, 6 SO, 2-for-2 SB The Scoop: Schafer missed 50 games early in the season for Human Growth Hormone. He’s been pretty good since returning, though, hitting .296/.424/.531 in 99 June plate appearances. The top prospect in the Braves system entering the season, Schafer will have some stiff competition for that honor this year with the way Jason Heyward has impressed scouts this year, but he still looks like the Braves’ center fielder of the future.
By Quack Quack
June 29, 2008 3:53 AM | Link to this
Quack, I’m with you in spirit, but sometimes particular guys take off when they’re moved (in the lineup) remember Lemer when Bobby moved him up to the two-hole?BA
yeah, you’re right sometimes it can work, but you never know if it will or not and these guys rant & rave and curse Cox like it’s a given that they are right and for the most part it makes little difference and certainly so far this year it has had no effect on scoring runs.
Just another example of the hater/ranter mentality. Obsess on little crap that is usually meaningless and spill hate at the manager and players because they ain’t doing it the way the ranter thinks it should be done; and then it turns out that it made no difference anyway.
Nobody in Braves management is an idiot, they have reasons for what they do. They ain’t trying to throw the season or any other stupid thing that posters here come up with. There are always more than one side to any issue including for instance why Heap was batting 6th today. The decisions might work or might not but thats the way the game was designed: 30% success rate as a player and something <60% as a team are high marks.
By Moby Grape
June 29, 2008 4:39 AM | Link to this
DOB
I asked about some guy named Stockton in an earlier post. You can disregard that, but if you hear anything about Stockman not pitching I would appreciate some news.
By BA
June 29, 2008 5:01 AM | Link to this
Agreed, Quack. Management is NOT the problem. I try to be a voice of reason on Bobby Cox. Your more intelligent assessment is wasted on a handful of boobs. Am I crazy to think Carlyle deserves a shot at some of these late innings? Acosta is up in his head, and Bennett has been stretched thin. Bueno pitched in relief at Richmond tonight, maybe they’re getting him ready for a call up?
By David O'Brien
June 29, 2008 6:54 AM | Link to this
Nolie, here’s another interesting point about the BA hot prospects list: Right behind Hanson at No. 2 on that list is Neftali Feliz. That was the “other” pitching prospect the Braves sent to the Rangers in the Teixeira trade, along with Harrison, SS Elvis Andrus and couple other guys.
It was Feliz, not Harrison nor Andrus, who was considered by the Braves to be the only truly elite prospect they were losing in that deal.
The Braves, however, still have a handful of pitchers in the system that they believe are elite-level, big-time pitching prospects, including Hanson, Charlie Morton, Julio Teheran, Jeff Locke, Cole Rohrbaugh, and another kid, Randall Delgado, on the Danville team with Teheran.
By Bravo Nam
June 29, 2008 7:07 AM | Link to this
Smoking?
In recent days some bloggers on here have been smoking some pretty strong stuff…they think the Braves have been lucky coz Philly and the Marlins have stumbled lately…otherwise they’d already be out of it. I think you’ve got things a bit upside down there…the other teams have been the LUCKY ones that the Braves have lost so many one run games and have had a slew of injuries…otherwise the Bravos would already be out in front by a winning margin.
By ncscoots
June 29, 2008 7:35 AM | Link to this
It was Feliz, not Harrison nor Andrus, who was considered by the Braves to be the only truly elite prospect they were losing in that deal.
Wow. Braves didn’t consider Andrus elite? Guess that means that they thought he would never hit enough, because I’ve seen few kids flash leather like that guy could.
Most here know I’ve been an Escobar fan from way before he showed up in Atlanta, but I always thought Andrus had an even better glove.
By nolie
June 29, 2008 8:08 AM | Link to this
Most here know I’ve been an Escobar fan from way before he showed up in Atlanta, but I always thought Andrus had an even better glove.Wscoots*
WOW! I never got to see the kid play though I read a lot about him. If he has better leather than Esco including arm and range then he’s gotta be something. I alwats heard that he was a little light with the wood. As long as Yunel keeps on like he has the only real complaint we could have about trading Andrus no matter how he develops is that we might have been able to trade him later for perhaps a stud pitcher.
I noticed that Feliz was second on the BA list. He does indeed look like he might be great if he can stay healthy, but that is such a crapshoot in young pitchers. Bird in the hand often ends up applying to such trades. We’ll see.
BTW,Is it true that Stockman hasn’t pitched since he went down like my cuz posted?
By James
June 29, 2008 8:33 AM | Link to this
There are some in the Braves that are very high on SS Hicks. It is a nice situation to be able to deal from such depth and was one of the reasons Andrus was expendable. The 22 year old Hicks is a combination of power and speed that strikes out a little too much, but also is displaying enough defense that could have him pushing for a job in 2 years.
In 243 AB’s he has 13 HR’s, 21 doubles, 11 stolen bases, 11 errors, but 87 strike outs. Keep your eye on this beast. At 6’ 2” 200 lbs. he is on the fast track.
By Cherokee
June 29, 2008 8:53 AM | Link to this
Keep your eye on this beast. At 6’ 2” 200 lbs. he is on the fast track. James
perhaps Chipper’s potential replacement as we don’t seem to have any real thirdbasemen looking that good down there do we?
By Jeff R
June 29, 2008 8:55 AM | Link to this
Nothing like a division full of mediocre or worse teams to keep the Braves in it. But, who knows? We’re not even at the All-Star break yet. Perhaps injured Braves will heal and return to the line up. Perhaps Reyes and Morton will continue to develop. Perhaps Gonzalez will find his old groove. Could happen.
But while this club has some good young talent and a lot of upside potential, it’s not ready for prime time yet. Need to settle the outfield, find a first sacker (come on, Super Tex is gonna leave), develop or acquire a third sacker (I said it! Chipper ain’t forever!), settle the rotation and sort out the bullpen. Challenges more than problems.
With the right moves, the future will be a Brave one…
By h_charles
June 29, 2008 9:00 AM | Link to this
This “Braves are still in it” argument is a bit of fools gold, unless something changes. This isn’t a good team not catching breaks.
This is a mediocre team suffering from 3 things. 1) lack of discipline — at the plate, on the basebaths, in the field. Not sure where that is from, but it is a BIG problem. Watch this team execute, then go watch the Twins play. That is how to get the most of what you have.
2) Injuries. Can’t control that, but it is insane. Amazing we took one from the Jays. This is the only thing that gives hope. With Chipper back and Escobar back perhaps they could change their future.
3) Cox “head scratchers”. Always been a Cox fan, but this year in particular there have been MAJOR blunders. Not typical second guessing of debatable moves. Bad baseball moves, no reason for them. Pullling Tex for pinch runners, not pitching Ohman vs. Edmunds, constantly overworking the same guys in the pen, refusing to acknowledge Boyer can’t go more than one inning, refusing to play then sending down Anderson, refusing ever to pull Hudson until its too late.
It is what it is, but if you gave this team to any manager who had to play “by the book”, we have 5-7 more wins right now, no doubt.
By David O'Brien
June 29, 2008 9:00 AM | Link to this
Ncscoots, no question about Andrus’ glove. Never was. Just the hitting. If you can’t hit, well … this isn’t the same game as it was back when teams would carry a .250-hitting shortstop with no power, long as he had a great glove.
Tony Pena Jr., same thing.
By Efrim
June 29, 2008 9:19 AM | Link to this
DOB and NcScoots
I agree with both of your points, but keep in mind that Elvis Andrus will turn 19 years old this year. 19 year old in Double A. That said, sooner or later you need to produce.
By Mark
June 29, 2008 9:38 AM | Link to this
wow, great song….love Drive-By Truckers always great music selection
By Efrim
June 29, 2008 9:56 AM | Link to this
I mean he will turn 20 years old.
By James
June 29, 2008 10:05 AM | Link to this
Efrim are those Furcal and Betemit years?
By Efrim
June 29, 2008 10:16 AM | Link to this
James
Maybe. But does that mean that every minor leaguers age should be questioned? I’ll believe their listed age until I am told different by a reliable source(like the team or the player himself).
By KC
June 29, 2008 10:43 AM | Link to this
kirknga: I also have a little bit of optimism where Hampton is concerned, for which I take a fair amount of crap. =)
If we can get some guys healthy here (Chipper, Escobar, Kotsay, Diaz)… that should help a lot.
The three issues for this offense have been injuries, Tex’s underachievement, and Frenchy’s other-worldly slump.
Tex is finally locked in, so if we can get reasonably healthy, that will take care of 2 of our 3 problems withe lineup.
Make a trade for another big bat… that would compensate for Frenchy’s struggles, and the offense should be back at the (very high) level it was at in Aug/Sep of last year.
By BravesFanInRockies
June 29, 2008 10:47 AM | Link to this
Really is tough to see Francouer’s continued slide. You can’t bench him with Chipper and Yunel (and even Infante) banged up.
When Bobby was the GM in the ’80s, he sent Ron Gant back to the minors to learn the OF when it was obvious he couldn’t handle 2B or 3B.
The differences between now and then? The Braves weren’t expected to contend, so you could take that type of gamble with a promising young player. And it’s one thing to teach a new position to a player who’s certainly going to hit (same thing happened with KJ).
How do you convince a player with two-plus years of full-time major league experience to completely change his approach to hitting?
I’d love to see him sent down, too. Just to see if such a transformation can take place. Otherwise I’d hit him 9th with most of our starters on the mound (everyone but Charlie).
Which would be a bigger blow to his ego? Demotion to Richmond or demotion to 9th in the Atlanta batting order?
By KC
June 29, 2008 11:04 AM | Link to this
Well, it’s time to see how JoJo bounces back. If he pitches a great game today, It will go a long way to build my confidence in him.
Very big game today. We need to get a win and take 2 of 3 heading into the series with Phili.
By KC
June 29, 2008 11:10 AM | Link to this
DOB: PLEASE tell me McCann is hitting 5th today!!! Making that mistake once was bad enough (might have cost us the game)… but if he does it (bats Norton 5th) again… well, let’s hope he doesn’t.
By Will
June 29, 2008 11:22 AM | Link to this
The thing with Frenchy is that i am not sure what we are hoping for him to regain. Has he not always had a p** poor approach at the plate? I think it is just all catching up with him now. The Jeff Francoeur joy ride is over. And bringing in Acosta again in a tight spot is reason number 1,143 why Bobby Cox is not a good in-game decision maker.
By Section 412
June 29, 2008 11:27 AM | Link to this
Big game today, imho. I don’t usually get into the hyperbole around individual games or series being “make or break” in the first half of the season, which just ended, but I think this one is big. Why? A win means a series victory on the road (rare this year). It also means we are no more than 4 out come Tuesday. With an off day tomorrow, then the Phils in town on the tail end of a LONG trip, we need to win that series. Then with the Phils and Mets playing each other while we play Houston, we have room to gain a little more.
There is no reason that we can’t be within a game or two by next Sunday, but we could be 7 or 8 out. I think today is a real tone-setter for the next week.
Let’s go get em Braves!
By jim
June 29, 2008 11:28 AM | Link to this
Couple of comments from earlier posts:
What does JF drive? Whatever!!! He does NOT drive the ball to the gap and he does NOT drive in runs!!
Is Bobby slipping? I remember the shots from the dugout from the Yankee games back in the late 90’s. Torre and Zimmer, the bench coach, were always sitting next to each other, assumedly discussing the progress of the game and game situations. On Brave telecasts we hear Bobby rooting on every pitch, but does he ever sit with Cadhia and discuss strategy? Do the two have any kind of a working relatioship? We usually see him sitting next to McDowell. Does McDowell have much input on how the bullpen will be used on a given day? Bobby brings stability, perhaps more stability in terms of sticking with players and set lineups than most bloggers here would like; but that is his strength. In deference to advancing age, we all have to make some adjustments in our working routine, and Bobby must examine the situation and admit that he has to get more advice in formulating in-game strategy.
By jim
June 29, 2008 11:48 AM | Link to this
In defense of using Acosta: He has a live arm and a good breaking ball. He is in a terrible slump, but he did pitch a scoreless inning the last time out and he has been rested lately. He was probably warming up to pitch when the game was 6-1. If Acosta is to get out of a slump, the only way it can happen is for him to pitch his way out.
Batting Gotay 2nd: Gotay is a switch hitter, but he is a much weaker hitter right handed than left. Given the options Cox had for the lineup, if he were to Bat KJ 3rd, the next option for batting second would probably be Lil’bridge. That does not seem to be a better option on face value. Yesterday the Braves were playing with virtually no bench. There was no opportunity to bench JF or anyone else. If Chipper were to pinch hit, who would have played in the field? For all those who are calling for Gotay’s head right now, remember that it was Gotay’s 8th inning HR that started the game winning rally only a weak ago.
Batting Norton 5th in front of McCann does not make a lot of sense, but then neither does the order of Norton, JF, Lil’bridge, B. Jones following the 5th spot look very promising. On paper it looks like one out of every two innings you have no reasonable chance to score.
By James
June 29, 2008 11:56 AM | Link to this
By Efrim
June 29, 2008 10:16 AM | Link to this
James
Maybe. But does that mean that every minor leaguers age should be questioned? I’ll believe their listed age until I am told different by a reliable source(like the team or the player himself).
Sorry, it was meant as humor. Humor must not show up here well. I was under the impression everyone knew that Birth dates and ages since the 9/11 tragedy where scrutinized to accuracy. My fault for attempted levity.
By timthebrave
June 29, 2008 12:05 PM | Link to this
I disagree about Acosta. I think he has good stuff but needs to be used differently. Get him in ball games that aren’t close so that he can get his confidence back without the pressure. I think he will still be a good ballplayer. All these Bobby Cox haters sound like a bunch of fools. I can’t see how every loss is blamed on him but all the wins are the players doing. If all the losses are his fault then all the wins are his too. I guarantee NONE of the Braves players that took cuts would be here if not for Bobby. Imagine the last 6 years without Chipper or Smoltz. Do you think they would take the discount for another manager? I don’t. Does Bobby sometimes make bad decisions that cost us games? Sure…Will he go and deserve to go to the hall of fame on the first vote? YES…Go Braves!
By flange1
June 29, 2008 12:07 PM | Link to this
James,
For your information, the Astro found out earlier this year that M Tejada was older that his supposed age.
So no, “everyone” does NOT know how old some of these Dominican players really are.
Your joke was fine, but I agree with Efrim, just got to believe what you are told until there is evidence to the contrary.
By James
June 29, 2008 12:10 PM | Link to this
Todays batting order Gregor Blanco CF, Ruben Gotay 3B, Kelly Johnson 2B, Mark Teixeira 1B, Brian McCann C, Greg Norton DH, Jeff Francoeur RF, Brandon Jones LF, Brent Lillibridge SS
By Will
June 29, 2008 12:26 PM | Link to this
Timthebrave, I personally think the BLIND loyalty towards bobby cox is just as foolish. You are darn right he is a hall of famer for sure, but it doesnt mean it might not be time for a change in the culture around here. I mean just how many freaking times is he gonna continue to throw the same players out in situations to fail time and time and time and time again!
By David O'Brien
June 29, 2008 12:34 PM | Link to this
No change in Chipper or Escobar, both hoping to play Tuesday, but not a certainty.
Chipper’s also uncertain about All-Star Game. He wants badly to play, but says if he can’t, he can’t. But that decision doesn’t have to be made for some time. Right now he’s just trying to get back in the lineup for the series with the Phillies.
“We’ve got to win the series,” he told me just a few minutes ago.
His quad still hurts when he stretches, still hurts when he runs at over about 50 percent effort. Bobby Cox thinks Chipper will be ready Tuesday, or at least he hopes he will be. He’s planning on it, put it that way.
By James
June 29, 2008 12:35 PM | Link to this
Well flange we do know how old baseball players are since 9/11 now that the last one that was signed pre 9/11, out of thousands has been discovered. The Tejada situation is in a different light since he was signed as an amateur free agent in 1993. Again, something that was meant as humor has been lost.
Lighten up. Have some fun. Life is short. Get the small end of the bat outta ya behind and you won’t squint. Life is good.
Betemit was younger when signed and Furcal older.
By brian
June 29, 2008 12:52 PM | Link to this
did I miss the storyline on Acosta being sent down to the minors and Stockman being recalled? Why has this not happened yet?
By ncscoots
June 29, 2008 12:53 PM | Link to this
DOB, Efrim, I actually thought Elvis had the lightbulb come on last year, after the trade. He hit .300 in the Cal League (I think), and had a good AFL season. I haven’t really tracked him this year, but, last I looked, he was hitting in the .260s. Don’t know what he’s doing now. Efrim’s right, he’s still playing above age level, but gotta hit sometime, fer sure.
BTW, I saw him take one of those awful-minor-league-field bad hops once that would have put a facial on 99% of ML SS. Before I could get the “Oh s!@t” out of my mouth, glove snapped up, ball fielded cleanly, and a rocket to first. Jaw-dropping. Hands that quick oughta be able to hit! :-)
By KC
June 29, 2008 12:57 PM | Link to this
James: THANK GOD!!!! At least BC didn’t make that mistake again.
By Tomas
June 29, 2008 1:05 PM | Link to this
Timthebrave, well said.
By jim
June 29, 2008 1:07 PM | Link to this
Pitch selection for JF has always been a problem, however, it is not the only reason for concern. When he DOES get a pitch to hit this year he rarely does anything with it. The number of balls that he has hit hard this year would probably total fewer than half his hits and probably no more than 10% of his outs. I recall 3 hits that he has in this recent slump. One was an infield hit, one a weak grounder that was well-placed between 1st and 2nd, and the third a bouncer up the middle that was not stung but could be credited as a legitimate base hit. I think he is an athlete that has rarely experienced failure in the past and has often experienced remarkable success. He has not learned how to handle the failure, and is pressing too hard to try to regain the success. When Kotsay returns, the outfield has to be Kotsay, Blanco, and B. Jones no matter which hand the pitcher throws with. Jeff needs to invent an injury (mentally unable to perform?), go on the DL, and have a full rehab assignment.
By David O'Brien
June 29, 2008 1:16 PM | Link to this
You guys will love this. I was getting some quotes for Sports Illustrated from Braves players, about Shea Stadium for a story they might do (obviously they wanted me to talk to Chipper, who named his kid Shea because he’s basically owned the stadium during his career).
Anyway, this quote from Francoeur, about Shea fans and how brutal they are in terms of ragging on players:
“They’re the second-best behind Philadelphia. Philly’s still got ‘em. Philly’s more vulgar. They’ve got better quotes there in New York, at least. But it’s fun. Especially when you’re winning, they like to get on you.”
Then I asked if they get on him about his name or anything like that:
“Yeah, I always hear ‘France sucks” and “You should’ve helped us in the war,” stuff like that.”
By Tomas
June 29, 2008 1:23 PM | Link to this
Increideble the angels had a no hitter yesterday and lost one to nothing, because of two errors.
By kirknga
June 29, 2008 1:35 PM | Link to this
KC
I guess we’ll see about Hampton within a few weeks. Of course I don’t have more than just a feeling, but something tells me he’s going to pitch well.
By Moby Grape
June 29, 2008 1:36 PM | Link to this
did I miss the storyline on Acosta being sent down to the minors and Stockman being recalled? Why has this not happened yet?Brian
As far as I can tell the guy has not pitched since he was sent down.Nothing in the minors since May 14th according to the three sources that I checked. If that is so there must be some reason and it would seem unlikely that he would be brought back up. It might correspond to why he was used so seldom up here.
By David O'Brien
June 29, 2008 1:43 PM | Link to this
Blanco has eight hits in his past three games before today, and has hit .321 with a .377 OBP in his past 15 games.
Odd thing: He has 18 hits in that-15 game stretch, and all but one game in multi-hit games. He had seven multi-hit games in those 15, and seven games with no hits. Only one game with one hit.
By TexasBrave
June 29, 2008 1:48 PM | Link to this
Someone please tell me why Gotay is hitting 2nd? Why not B. Jones or move KJ 2nd and McCann 3rd.
By Jeff321
June 29, 2008 1:50 PM | Link to this
The Braves starting pitching is doing well. So, putting Hampton back in the rotation would be a classic Bobby Cox move. The only spot Hampton needs to be is the bullpen. We just can’t count on the guy and even if we could.. Is he really better than any of the current crop? I would say hell no.
By kirknga
June 29, 2008 1:51 PM | Link to this
Even though he was caught stealing, I like the aggressiveness of Blanco that inning. Gotay is struggling. I wonder if he’s a better choice than Lillbridge in that spot?
By David O'Brien
June 29, 2008 1:55 PM | Link to this
Pretty impressive damage control by Jo-Jo there. First and second, no outs, and he gets out without any damage.
By Robert
June 29, 2008 1:57 PM | Link to this
“The Braves starting pitching is doing well. So, putting Hampton back in the rotation would be a classic Bobby Cox move”
Bobby Cox 101 - If it aint broke, break it. If it is broke, keep using it and stare at it vacantly in the hope it will fix itself
By ppaddy123
June 29, 2008 1:57 PM | Link to this
Jeff321 As a general rule, major league baseball teams don’t pay a guy a go-zillion dollars to sit in the bull pen.
By TexasBrave
June 29, 2008 1:59 PM | Link to this
Jeff321 sooner or later Morton is going to start to get rocked before things even out for him. Not very many rookie pitchers in recent memory have come up and just dominated without going through a tough spell. Send him down on a high note with a few things to work on for the next time he is up this year or as one of the starters in next years rotation.
By Steve C.
June 29, 2008 2:01 PM | Link to this
Jeff321,
I can think of about 15 million reasons, if Hampton is healthy and off DL, why he would be in the rotation. As it was stated at the beginning of the year and last season, and…anyway, if he isn’t on the DL, insurance isn’t picking up a part of the tab, and last I checked, not too many 15 million dollar pitchers in the pen. Not really a classic Cox move at all, I think most teams would handle it the same way…
By McFann©
June 29, 2008 2:03 PM | Link to this
Grrrrr……AVG with RISP .291…AVG for the year .297……
By David O'Brien
June 29, 2008 2:05 PM | Link to this
And Burnett returns the favor — Braves had first and second, no outs, and get nothing against A.J.
Norton’s left some runners out there, hasn’t he? Whew.
By Will
June 29, 2008 2:06 PM | Link to this
Robert, Gotta laugh at your Bobby 101 post. That is so true!!
By Jeff321
June 29, 2008 2:10 PM | Link to this
Well, the Braves have been coddling Hampton for years.. So, whats the difference if he’s in the bullpen or hanging out in AA/AAA? At least in the bullpen he might eat some innings. I just don’t like the idea of taking anyone out of this rotation at this time. And that includes making a spot for Glavine.
Btw, when teams put the shift on Tex and have the third baseman playing SS.. Why can’t the “super star” just hit it in the third base area?
By Will
June 29, 2008 2:10 PM | Link to this
I thought Norton’s ball was gone last inning. He really got into that one!
By Chuck James is solid until the 6th!! (Formerly Steve-O)
June 29, 2008 2:13 PM | Link to this
GREG NORTON IS THE WORST PLAYER IN BASEBALL HANDS DOWN, HIM AND CORKY MILLER FIGHT IT OUT AS THE MOST EMBARASSING PATHETIC LOSERS IN THE MLB!!!! I CANT TOLERATE WATCHING EITHER OF THE TWO ITS SICKENING!!!! DOB WHY THE HELLLLL DID THEY TAKE CORKY OVER JAVY??? ITS NOT LIKE CORKY GUNS OUT EVERY RUNNER AND HES BATTING .090!!!!!! JAVY WAS SLIM AND IN SHAPE AND WACKIN LINERS I DONT GET IT…ALSO WHY IS GREG NORTON OUR FIFTH BATTER??? WE HAVE ZERO CHANCE OF SCORING UNLESS A) WE GET LUCKY AT THE BOTTOM OF LINEUP WITH INFIELD HITS AND BUNTS AND ERRORS OR KELLY TEX AND MAC GET STRAIGHT HITS….PATHETIC!!!!
By Braves20
June 29, 2008 2:15 PM | Link to this
In line with Mr. O’Brien’s original thesis for this blog, it is truly a miracle that this team is but 4 games out. Probably more a testiment to how weak a division leader the Phils are than anything else.
We have ten players who were presumed to be part of our team this year out of the lineup. Today’s line-up includes four guys who should be at Triple A or lower and yet we are just four out.
It’s probably way too much to hope for but if we could get just half those injured guys back, we can probably climb back into this thing and even win it.
By kirknga
June 29, 2008 2:18 PM | Link to this
I’m not “counting on” Hampton, I do feel that if he comeback he will be close to what he was before the injury streak.
A veteran with a 138-101 record needs to be in the rotation if he is healthy. That is a better record than all 4 rookies put together x’s 3!
And if Glavine is healthy he goes back into the rotation too.
By School Marm
June 29, 2008 2:21 PM | Link to this
Steve-O, it’s called cap locks. Take it off please. Your hurting our ears with your shouts!
By Interested Observer
June 29, 2008 2:22 PM | Link to this
If Kotsay is activated on Tuesday, is B. jones the one to go back down? I know it probably should be Frenchy, but I don’t see that happening. I assume if they need an infielder it will be Diory Hernandez, unless they activate Prado earlier than expected.
Has anyone seen Jorge Julio pitch since he joined Richmond? Could he be a suitable replacement for Acosta?
By Dr. Phil
June 29, 2008 2:24 PM | Link to this
Jeff 321: If you mean having several surgeries, two of them major operations, in the past 3-4 years, then yes, the Braves have to definitely quit “coddling” Hampton. Have you ever had a major surgery? If so, I hope nobody “coddled” you.
By David O'Brien
June 29, 2008 2:24 PM | Link to this
Gotay is 6-for-41 since May 21, and 1-for-17 this season as a No. 2 hitter.
By Stephen
June 29, 2008 2:24 PM | Link to this
Give Norton a break. With all the injuries, he’s been thrust into an everyday role and that’s not what kind of player he is. He was brought here to pinch hit and to give a man a day off every now and then, but instead he’s virtually playing everyday. Give him a break and understand that his being in the lineup so much is not ideal but necessary under the circumstances.
By Bob Costas
June 29, 2008 2:26 PM | Link to this
NEWS ALERT Word is that the Atlanta Braves have fired Bobby Cox as manager. The new manager is a nobody by the name of Robert. Rumor has it that he was working the driveup window at the Burger Queen in Alpharetta.
By Will
June 29, 2008 2:26 PM | Link to this
Jeff321, You are absolutely right about Hampton, but Braves will no doubt put him right back in the rotation if he comes back. But look on the bright side that pansy is not coming back so Bravos should be fine.
By Chuck James is solid until the 6th!! (Formerly Steve-O)
June 29, 2008 2:27 PM | Link to this
DOB
I want your HONEST opinion….Do you think Corky Miller is THE worst player in baseball?? Please answer honestly….
PS - If you didn’t realize I DESPISE Greg Norton and Im sick of Ms. Chipper Jones playing 110 games…He’s great, my favorite player, but he is fully injury prone and can’t stay on the field anymore…
PPS - Brent Lillibridge would struggle on a High School team, he is the definition of “The Pits”
By Jeff321
June 29, 2008 2:27 PM | Link to this
*A veteran with a 138-101 record needs to be in the rotation if he is healthy. That is a better record than all 4 rookies put together x’s 3!
And if Glavine is healthy he goes back into the rotation too.*
What about when Hampton starts getting lit up? Next DL stint will be for hurt feelings.
If Glavine comes back to the rotation, it will be more 5 inning appearances and getting rocked most of the time.
By TexasBrave
June 29, 2008 2:33 PM | Link to this
Stephen I don’t know about Norton but I would think he would be excited about the opportunity to get to play everyday. He may not be used to it but I can’t believe he would complain about being in there everyday.
By Efrim
June 29, 2008 2:33 PM | Link to this
Ruben might have to get DFA when Prado gets back.
By Efrim
June 29, 2008 2:38 PM | Link to this
Heap needs to make em pay.
By timthebrave
June 29, 2008 2:39 PM | Link to this
I don’t have BLIND loyalty for Bobby Cox. I watch every game and go to about 20 games a year. These are the players he has. What would you suggest he do. Yesterday for example….Bring in Mike Gonzalez with the bases loaded. Say he strikes all 3 out…Hooray! We lose another one run game and have nobody close today. Bat Chipper and he hits a 3 run bomb instead of Gotay. Hooray! Another 1 run loss. Those are big ifs and we lose either way. As far as the lineup. What would you suggest? It’s hard to get a lineup going with all the injuries. Take the best hitter and pitcher off any club and see how good they are. (Smoltz and Chipper) It’s mostly up to the players to win games..We need some runs today. Go Braves!
By Chuck James is solid until the 6th!! (Formerly Steve-O)
June 29, 2008 2:44 PM | Link to this
Give Norton a break because he is batting .190 or because he has left 30 men on base in the last 20 games??
By ppaddy123
June 29, 2008 2:44 PM | Link to this
that was about 4 inches inside! no way it caught the plate.
By Reason2
June 29, 2008 2:46 PM | Link to this
Most fans want to do Bobby like he has A. Jones and Jeff. Leave them out there till they crack, are die on their own. Same with b/c some fans rather die with b/c than make a move.
Man! AJB looks good. just got Mc looking. Bay game winner last night! Be great as a Brave.
By timthebrave
June 29, 2008 2:47 PM | Link to this
I don’t have BLIND loyalty to Bobby Cox. I watch almost every game and go to about 20 games a year. What would you suggest he do yesterday? Put Mike Gonzalez in with the bases loaded. If he strikes all 3 batters out and gets out of the inning we still lose by 1 run and we don’t have him for today? Bat Chipper instead of Gotay and he hits a 3 bomb. Hooray another one run loss. Those are big ifs in both of those situations and we still probably lose. I just think he has done a good job of keeping us in it with all the injuries we have had. Take the best hitter and pitcher on any club and see how good they are? What would you do with the lineup? Send francouer down and bat WHO in his place? You people sound like me ex-girlfriend….B*** and moan no matter what you say or do. That’s why she is my x. Get some runs today and GO BRAVES!!
By Robin
June 29, 2008 2:48 PM | Link to this
DOB: How about shooting a little “heads-up” to Sp. South’s audio crew on Boog’s mic. Either a bad channel, bad mic, or a bad insert, etc. Pretty annoying.
Well, whaddaya know, they fixed it! I must be telepathic!
By kirknga
June 29, 2008 2:49 PM | Link to this
Jeff321
Look I realize you are upset with Hampton, I think we all are disappointed that he hasn’t been able to stay healthy. But when he was healthy he was great(138-101)
But Hampton pitched his way into the rotation this Spring. So if he is healthy he goes back into the rotation.
When Kotsay is healthy he goes back into CF, even though Blanco is tearing it up right now.
As one of the people screaming for Acostas’s head, I would think that you would want to stop asking people to perform roles they aren’t being asked to perform.
The fact is, Campillo, Morton, and Jo Jo weren’t supposed to be in the rotation this year. They’ve been great. But there is a reason why they didn’t win spots during ST and Hampton and Glavine did.
By TexasBrave
June 29, 2008 2:49 PM | Link to this
timthebrave although I agree with not throwing in Gonzalez in that situation, I have to say that Chipper should have pinch hit for Gotay. You have to give yourself a chance to win and Chipper in that spot does that. Sure with a homer we would still be one run down but you would still have KJ and Tex coming up to try and get that run.
You have to get yourself in a position to win.
By Chuck James is solid until the 6th!! (Formerly Steve-O)
June 29, 2008 2:49 PM | Link to this
Game. Over.
By Edward
June 29, 2008 2:52 PM | Link to this
What do you want to bet that ALL THIS BASE RUNNERS LEFT ON BASE will come back to haunt the braves in this game…im just prepared to watch the Braves Score ZERO RUNS! and watch the BLUE JAYS CELEBRATE AS THEY WIN IT IN THE 9th…what a Waste of a great Pitching performance!..JESUS!!…WHAT A WASTE OF TEAM!!
By Will
June 29, 2008 2:55 PM | Link to this
timthebrave, I would suggest the Braves move in a different direction to end this current culture of their team. Sometimes its just time to move on. At this point Bobby Cox would be a great bench coach, great guy to have around the team and give his input but not be the ulimate decsion maker any longer. He could still yell COME ON KID and TAKE BALL 4 all he wanted.
By Flanders
June 29, 2008 2:56 PM | Link to this
GAME OVER….im tired of This…Braves always do this….LOB LOB LOB and mORE LOB and then the other Team scores a run or two and thats it…geez…WHEN THIS SUFFERING ENDS…EFFIN TELL ME..thsi team will go nowhere with this TYPE OF PLAY!!
By McFann©
June 29, 2008 2:56 PM | Link to this
[Very heavy sigh.]
By Will
June 29, 2008 3:00 PM | Link to this
And also its easy to b*** and moan watching a .500 baseball team that easily should be better and should have 3 or 4 world titles. I hope Cox manages til he is 95 cause there is nothing more exhilarating then watching your favorite team win 95-100 games a season and then get bounced right out of the playoffs by a lesser team. I have really missed that these last 2 years.
By Efrim
June 29, 2008 3:00 PM | Link to this
An absolute waste.
Jeff wasn’t even trying to go to right there.
Infante needs to be given at bats in right field.
By JEB
June 29, 2008 3:00 PM | Link to this
timthebrave Your 2:39 post is RIGHT on! Wish everyone could see as clearly. There is a BIGGER picture in place, more to think about than just the best scenario we think of in our own minds.
By bgvt
June 29, 2008 3:01 PM | Link to this
On the theme of 23 starts into a career, today is Jo Jo’s 23rd appearance and 22nd start of his career. Coming into today, he was 5-7 with a 5.26 ERA over his career. He has brought the ERA down a touch with today’s performance.
He also seems to have improved a ton since last year. His BB/9 is down from 5.3 last year to 3.4 this year and his K/9 is up from 4.8 to 7.4. He is also getting more ground outs than last year.
By Robert S
June 29, 2008 3:01 PM | Link to this
Naturally, after the Braves couldn’t make contact with a runner on and one out in the top of the 6th, the Jays score in the bottom half.
Am I the only one who thinks this is getting old?
This horrible lack of punch is gonna take a toll on the pitching staff eventually. The pressure is only going to mount for these guys, knowing that the Braves can only muster a run here or there. Or none. Just saw Francoeur ground out to third with a runner on second. This is maddening!!
By David O'Brien
June 29, 2008 3:01 PM | Link to this
He finally gets a first-pitch fastball on the plate, and takes it.
Then grounds out to third, the one thing he couldn’t do in that at-bat, with a runner at second and none out. Hit it anywhere in the air — to left, center or right. Hit a grounder to the right side and move the runner over. Anything but the groundout to the left side.
Oh, well … wild pitch accomplishes what Francoeur did not. Runner’s at third now with one out.
By Will
June 29, 2008 3:02 PM | Link to this
Way to move that runner over Frenchy!! My god he cant do anything right now, this is pathetic.
By StingerSplash
June 29, 2008 3:02 PM | Link to this
Boy, Frenchy’s outs are now in the class of bad outs. Sure, it’s B. Jones and Lillibridge behind you in the order, but you’ve got to find a way to get that runner to third with less than two outs so a grounder, a sac fly, a 58-foot curveball that bounces past Barajas (and swear to God, that just happened as I was typing it) can score him. For my next trick … lottery numbers! Or getting B. Jones a hit against A.J. Burnett. Yikes.
By Coach Smith
June 29, 2008 3:04 PM | Link to this
This team without CHIPPER, YUNEL, KOTSAY, INFANTE, and DIAZ is looking OVERMATCHED OFFENSIVELY
Frenchy CAN’T DO ANYTHING RIGHT right now…
If he moves the runner over it is 1-1 right now…..
By fastasballs
June 29, 2008 3:04 PM | Link to this
Francoeur just missed a golden opportunity to move the runner over, but he doesn’t even try. He should have been looking for anything outside to hit to the right side & he stares at a perfect fastball on the outside corner on the first pitch. Every other time he would have swung at the first pitch.
It’s one thing to be in a slump, but it’s another when you can’t even execute getting a runner to 3rd by sacrificing your at bat. Pathetic is about the only word to decribe his play right now.
By David O'Brien
June 29, 2008 3:06 PM | Link to this
These matchups seem almost unfair, B Jones and Lillibridge looking like, well, rooks against Burnett.
Blew that 96 mph heat by Lil’ Bridge.
By timthebrave
June 29, 2008 3:08 PM | Link to this
Hindsight is 20/20 but instead of Chipper hitting a 3 run bomb say he hits a grounder and hurts his quad worse. Then you b*** and moan even more. It’s easy to say that Gotay shouldn’t have been hitting because he got out. JMO on the game yesterday. I’m sick of not getting runners in with less than 2 outs and a runner on 3rd. So frustrating..Go Braves
By beachcomber
June 29, 2008 3:08 PM | Link to this
Sad to watch a gutty pitching perforamce like this ruined by the little league line-up playing behind Jo Jo Reyes.
By Robin
June 29, 2008 3:09 PM | Link to this
Ya think our leftys might be expecting A.J.’s 0-2 curveball? Jimminy crickets!! Adjustments…. guys!
Lilly was totally over-matched in that ab.
By David O'Brien
June 29, 2008 3:10 PM | Link to this
Well, at least the ‘Bridge made a helluva play in the field after his K.
Season-high 11 strikeouts for Burnett.
By Jeff321
June 29, 2008 3:11 PM | Link to this
Fair enough, kirknga. But, what is Hampton’s record as a Brave? Because last time I checked, winning games for other teams really isn’t relevant. (Unless of course you’d like to make a case that he’s worthy of HOF consideration!)
By rupert
June 29, 2008 3:11 PM | Link to this
francouer has no idea what he is doing, I have always been a big fan of his, laughed at people saying send him down etc. but its time, the kid needs to go down, beat up on some tripple a pitching, hopefully come back later on with some confidence and a better approach
gotay, lillibridge, b.jones, all over matched at this level, jones started out well, but they have figured him out and he’s not adjusting
wren has got to make some move, this offense is pathetic
By Section 412
June 29, 2008 3:12 PM | Link to this
Lillibridge and BJones = overmatched against Burnett. Doesn’t mean they can’t play, or they suck, etc. Just means they are overmatched against a big-time major league pitcher. But, they are all that we have today.
That said, DOB often asks how the season ticket holders would react to certain moves. As one, I tell you that I would 100% support getting Frenchy off this team for now. If you think the future is bright, that’s fine, then send him down. If you think that would devastate him, tell him his ankle / foot is worse than he thought and that he needs to be DL’d. I know you can’t do that today, but as soon as we get some healthy players back, do it. Play Infante in left and Norton in right if you have to. Give BJones more ABs. Move Blanco to right when Kotsay is back. Pull the trigger on a trade for an outfielder. Anything. Frenchy must go, if even for just a while.
By David O'Brien
June 29, 2008 3:12 PM | Link to this
That’s 119 pitches for AJ — best hope for Braves is to get to that bullpen.
By StingerSplash
June 29, 2008 3:12 PM | Link to this
Can’t say enough about the way JoJo has pitched today. Looks like he has really figured this stuff out. He has pitched very well the last month or so, outside of that start against the Brewers.
By LT-AA Blogger
June 29, 2008 3:12 PM | Link to this
Back from a long vacation and this team still can’t hit. Even with Tex finally doing his thing, this team is absolutely wasting excellent pitching.
Absolute rubbish!
By Greg O.
June 29, 2008 3:12 PM | Link to this
DOB, any chance you could check with the Elias Sports Bureau on MLB team statistics for conversion rate with a runner on third and less than two outs? I can’t imagine there’s a team in baseball worse than the Braves.
By vic
June 29, 2008 3:13 PM | Link to this
Lillibrige is so small the bats bigger than him. Must be reason for name? He can still pick’em.
Did ya’ll see Bobby in dugout playing with different gloves..what a joke.
By kirknga
June 29, 2008 3:13 PM | Link to this
Got to tip your cap to AJ today. That curveball has been devastating.
It’s frustrating, especially since we had men on base, but he bought his A-game today.
He pitched like a guy looking to op-out this winter.
By KC
June 29, 2008 3:15 PM | Link to this
If the Braves lose this game, I can’t really fault anyone for the loss.
Yes, there have been a lot of runners left on base, but Burnett has been completely dominant. I think the hitters have done all they can.
The only one I fault is Frenchy for not inside-outing the ball to move the runner over.
Unlike yesterday, Gotay did what he needed to do and bunter the runner over when he needed to. Again, I think these guys have done their best.
JoJo has certainly pitched well enough to win. It’s just one of those things where we ran into a buzzsaw with an injury decimated lineup.
As Joe Simpson pointed out, they couldn’t even use Chipper to pinch-hit because there were no options on the bench to replace Lillibridge.
All I can say is that Chipper, Escobar, and even Infante (as well as he was hitting) can’t get back soon enough. Kotsay would also be a welcomed addition.
Get well soon guys. I can’t stand to watch this lineup much longer.
By TexasBrave
June 29, 2008 3:18 PM | Link to this
Great pitching performance by Jo-Jo. Lets get him some runs this inning, there is no way he deserves to loose this game.
By KC
June 29, 2008 3:18 PM | Link to this
Somebody give Gotay a pat on the back. He brought his glove with him today.
By Robert S
June 29, 2008 3:19 PM | Link to this
I truly wonder if Wren and Cox are ever going to reach a point where they feel the need to demote Francoeur. He’s a big liability right now. I know the odds of him getting optioned to Richmond are about 10%, but he’s doing the Braves no good here. He needs to go down and learn some plate discipline.
By McFann©
June 29, 2008 3:19 PM | Link to this
kirknga—
Sorry. My cap is staying on my head…
By Ned
June 29, 2008 3:21 PM | Link to this
THIS TEAM IS A JOKE R.I.P 2008 SEASON
By StingerSplash
June 29, 2008 3:23 PM | Link to this
Hey, Burnett could do this to a lot of teams. Anybody who can walk 9 guys and still hang around long enough to finish a no-hitter …. No one has ever questioned his ability from the shoulder down. Between the ears and rib cage, maybe a different story. So what was that like in person, DOB? How many WTFs got tossed out in the pressbox that night?
By timthebrave
June 29, 2008 3:24 PM | Link to this
I think you wait until Kotsay or Diaz come back to sit Francoeur but I still like him being a back up pinch hitter. I’d rather see him up there down by 1 than Corky Miller…..unless there is bases loaded
By KC
June 29, 2008 3:24 PM | Link to this
If Gotay can score the tying run, it would be fitting because he’s played the field with a helluva lot of heart.
Alright Tex, the stage is yours. Get em home.
By kirknga
June 29, 2008 3:26 PM | Link to this
Hampton’s record with the Braves is 32-20 3.87.
By KC
June 29, 2008 3:28 PM | Link to this
If McCann walks, I say pinch-hit Chipper, and if he reaches, use Escobar to pinch run, and Jorge Campillo (who can hit) can replace Norton as the DH.
By Jo-Jo Reyes
June 29, 2008 3:29 PM | Link to this
What’s it take to get a run of support?
By A-ville Ranger
June 29, 2008 3:29 PM | Link to this
Down one, bottom of the eighth, on the road…yet again.
By timthebrave
June 29, 2008 3:31 PM | Link to this
Nobody is hitting in this line up besides Tex and the Jays no it. It really hurts not having Chipper in the line up
By KC
June 29, 2008 3:34 PM | Link to this
OK, well if the bullpen can hold the Jays in bottom of the 8th, I still say we should get Chipper up to the plate in the 9th.
He can (and should) pinch hit for Brandon Jones. If he reaches, use Escobar or Jurrjens to pinch-run, Norton to LF, and Campillo can DH.
By JEB
June 29, 2008 3:35 PM | Link to this
Right now, we have only got BMac, TEX, and KJ, who are proven guys. But, you can’t place all of the weight on them. There are ways to pitch around these three. Blanco is doing what he can, you only win with the rest of this line up if you are lucky. They are unproven rooks and backups for the most part. Without Chipper, Escobar, Kotsay, Diaz (Frenchy being who he is supposed to be) to balance this line up and pick up the slack, we are really not a good team! I don’t know that we are even a .500 team. What keeps us in the games is our starting pitching!!
Can you imagine this line up with last years starting pitching - GEEZ I don’t know that we would be better than the NATS.
If we get some guys healthy, and perhaps an extra bat, with our starting pitching coming around and giving quality starts, this can be as good a team as any of the early 90’s team for the second half!
I love baseball!!
By Coach Smith
June 29, 2008 3:35 PM | Link to this
That was probably the last chance..
I hate to say this but it is time for Chipper and Yunel to SUCK IT UP..
Take the old cortizone shot, loosen up, and play
they are sitting there watching the Braves give away game after game
Teams are going to continue to walk TEX until they get back which for all intents and purposes eliminates not only Chipper and Yunel from the lineup but TEX as well
NOT going to win that way
Can’t afford to waste starts like this
By kirknga
June 29, 2008 3:35 PM | Link to this
Sorry. My cap is staying on my head…
Huh?
By Jeff321
June 29, 2008 3:37 PM | Link to this
Wow, I like McCann but he’s come up short a few times today. Oh well, I guess losing 1-0 is better than 6-0. Stop the press! Boyer just gave up a double, eh.
By David O'Brien
June 29, 2008 3:37 PM | Link to this
This would be the 23rd consecutive one-run road loss for Braves, extending their own major league record.
Unbelievable.
For those seeking good news: Kotsay 6-for-18 on rehab assignment before today. Haven’t checked today’s stats yet.
By Daybed Wagmoe
June 29, 2008 3:38 PM | Link to this
DOB
You’d be doing all of us who are watching on TV a huge favor if you could find whoever is blowing that damn horn and shove it down their throat. Thanks man.
By Daybed Wagmoe
June 29, 2008 3:38 PM | Link to this
DOB
You’d be doing all of us who are watching on TV a huge favor if you could find whoever is blowing that damn horn and shove it down their throat. Thanks man.
By Daybed Wagmoe
June 29, 2008 3:38 PM | Link to this
DOB
You’d be doing all of us who are watching on TV a huge favor if you could find whoever is blowing that damn horn and shove it down their throat. Thanks man.
By DCbrave
June 29, 2008 3:39 PM | Link to this
With all the struggles the offense has exprienced lately, shouldn’t Cox play more small balls? I have not seen any non-pitcher bunts lately.
By Reason2
June 29, 2008 3:40 PM | Link to this
Have no fear-with BC we always win.
By KC
June 29, 2008 3:41 PM | Link to this
OK… someone has GOT to work with McCann on blocking pitches in the dirt. That’s about 3 pitches in 2 games that he should have kept in front.
On another note…
We desperately need bullpen help!:
Once all of our hitters are healthy, I don’t think we’ll be as desperate for offense as we are for more relief help. Right now, Boyer, Ohman, and Gonzo are the only relievers we can trust in a tight game.
Gotta go get a proven late-inning reliever to add some depth.
By McFann©
June 29, 2008 3:41 PM | Link to this
This game—
By fastasballs
June 29, 2008 3:42 PM | Link to this
The Braves are going to have to make some roster moves if the injury situation isn’t resolved soon. Giving away two games in Toronto hurts, but not as bad as giving them to the Phillies.
The team is still in a good spot in the standings & the starts for the most part have been solid & I don’t see that changing.
Lil’bridge, Gotay & Miller are basically just wasting roster spots. None of them can produce any offense.
I assume Kotsay is about ready. I would also bring up maybe Diory Hernandez & send out Lil’bridge. DFA Gotay when Prado returns & get a back up catcher up here that can hit his weight.
Francoeur is a lost cause right now. He really needs to go down to the minors & get his head straight. It may be the best thing that could happen to him. He’s suppose to be one of the Braves’ cornerstone players so they should do anything & everything to get him to play to his ability.
Yes it’s going to hurt his feelings, but it’s the best for him & the team.
By Coach Smith
June 29, 2008 3:44 PM | Link to this
I CAN’T HARDLY STOMACH THIS ANYMORE
Every chance in the world to win and run down the Phillies and Chipper, Yunel, and Infante can’t get off the bench AND
This team just can’t seem to get out of it’s own way
By KC
June 29, 2008 3:44 PM | Link to this
Why isn’t Chipper hitting????????
Your last at-bat… Chipper should be up there. Worry about what you’re going to do in the field if you tie it after you tie it.
By A-ville Ranger
June 29, 2008 3:45 PM | Link to this
Throw out the one run games and the Braves would be on pace to win 103 games this season.That doesn’t even count the many times the team has lost by two or three when they failed to hold or score late.There is no structural problem that could acount for these things.These guys collectively are the worst group of clutch players maybe in the history of pro baseball.
By StingerSplash
June 29, 2008 3:45 PM | Link to this
13 strikeouts. Not good.
By Lorena Bobbitt
June 29, 2008 3:46 PM | Link to this
I never thought I’d miss Pete Orr, but he would actually be an improvement over 5 guys on the Braves roster…sad.
By Quack Quack
June 29, 2008 3:47 PM | Link to this
OK so McCann is backing up Tex today like y’all were screaming about, and guess what Tex has walked 3 times. What a big damn difference that made huh? And Norton is the one with a hit. Just like all the other crap that y’all rant about, means absolutely nothing, in fact they scored 4 with yesterday’s lineup and NONE with McCann in 5th. Well another loss looms, guess all you haters will have another enjoyable night pontificating about what Cox should do, cause obviously y’all know it all. Sheesh, what a bunch of jerks.
By Robin
June 29, 2008 3:47 PM | Link to this
That drive by BJ was like rubbing some salt into the wound/s. :( :(
One more biscuit for breakfast and …..
Ugly series, all around. :(
By brent a.
June 29, 2008 3:47 PM | Link to this
Just more evidence of how good a team we are.
By TexasBrave
June 29, 2008 3:48 PM | Link to this
Again what would have been the harm in letting Chipper pinch hit for B. Jones there? Let Chip take a shot at hitting one out. He doesn’t need to run hard if he doesn’t and if he gets on base then have one of the pitchers run for him.
By Will
June 29, 2008 3:48 PM | Link to this
Another just pathetic waste of a great pitching performance. I dont care if they bring a guy up from Class A Jeff F has to be benched. If he isnt even gonna move runners over then he is worthless to this team.
By JEB
June 29, 2008 3:48 PM | Link to this
Well, the Braves broke the record for the most consecutive one run road losses.(23)
Of course it was their own record they broke!
By McFann©
June 29, 2008 3:49 PM | Link to this
kirknga—
You said to “tip your cap to AJ”. Sorry. My cap is staying on my head.
Jeff321—
I love McCann, but you can’t ignore that he left 6 men on base. Guess this time he shoulders the blame.
Losing 1-0 is better than 6-0? Why? A loss is a loss…
By MAV
June 29, 2008 3:49 PM | Link to this
Coach Smith,
Appearently you don’t remember all season long pitchers intentionally walking Chipper to get to Tex. I’m sure it makes alot of sense to you for them to suck it up, but wouldn’t it be great if they got injured further by sucking it up. Pay attention jack!*#
By timthebrave
June 29, 2008 3:50 PM | Link to this
Small ball would be great but I haven’t seen anyone lay down a good bunt except some of the veteran pitchers. I’ve seen some slumps.. but Francouer is playing terrible right now. Not getting the runners over and in is what cost you so many 1 run games. What scares me even more is what happens if we don’t sign Tex. Got to get a big bat now…Go Braves
By Eman
June 29, 2008 3:51 PM | Link to this
I can’t and don’t expect this team to improve much more than they way they’re playing for the rest of this year.
It’s June and they’re still losing one run games and they’re still losing consistently on the road. If it’s June there’s not much left that you can teach.
Phillies are going to win tonight, and then I expect them to take 2-3 in the upcoming series. The better team should always win and the Phillies should
By Robert S
June 29, 2008 3:51 PM | Link to this
Final. Braves lose their 7,654th one run game in a row, and of course they strike out twice in the ninth.
When they scout players to sign or trade for, do the Braves go out and actually look for guys who can strike out?
This is all sarcastic of course, but there’s gotta be some serious changes soon. The status quo aren’t cutting it. They’re not out of it because no one else is exactly lighting it up, but a golden opportunity to move up in the standings is being totally wasted by their pitiful offense. Hope for Chipper and Escobar to return soon, hope Kotsay comes back and stays healthy, send Frenchy to Richmond, DFA Norton and Gotay, call Anderson back up, and hope that Wren will pick up a bat like Nady or Ibanez. Anything’s better than the clowns we have in the lineup now…
By rupert
June 29, 2008 3:54 PM | Link to this
hate to say this but it seems like chipper has adopted the same injury approach he had for the past few years, he went into warrior mode last when smoltz called him out, really could use him in there tues. night, shoot it up, and play hoss
By Run Heap Run (R.I.P. Uga VI)
June 29, 2008 3:57 PM | Link to this
Dammit.
Chipper not PH’ing makes me worried he won’t be ready against Philly.
Once again, a pitching gem wasted but the comatose bats.
By kirknga
June 29, 2008 3:57 PM | Link to this
Never feels good to lose. Great outing by Jo Jo though, can’t ask him to do much better.
I hope Soriano is able to get it together. To me, his return is as important as anyone else’s. With the return of Gonzalez, Sorianos’ return will allow them to lessen the innings for Boyer and Acosta which hopefully will do both of them some good;especially Acosta.
By AuburnBrave
June 29, 2008 3:58 PM | Link to this
Another day, another 1-run road loss.
At least according to the remarks Frank Wren made during the game today it sounds like they’re ready to pull the trigger to get some offensive help, the sooner the better boys.
By James
June 29, 2008 3:59 PM | Link to this
Kotsay did not play in Mississippi today. He was on a plane to Atlanta this morning
By Coach Smith
June 29, 2008 3:59 PM | Link to this
MAV
If they are SOOOOO hurt..THEN THEY NEED TO BE ON THE DL Jack Azz
If not, they are simply hamstringing the Braves even more
Having played football through the collegiate level I have to say that many of these injuries that keep Baseball players out of the game would NEVER, repeat NEVER keep a footabll player off the field
Just an example, Keith Brooking played last year with two fractured vertabraes in his neck, football players will play with torn cartiagle in their knees, casts on their arms, for crying out loud VICK played QB in a NFL game with TWO SEPERATED SHOULDERS and we know what kind of “team guy” he wasn’t…
Any of those would shut down a baseball player for months
By Chuck James is solid until the 6th!! (Formerly Steve-O)
June 29, 2008 4:00 PM | Link to this
I rather Chino Cadahia batting then Lillibridge who looks like he is in T-Ball at the plate and Norton who strikes out relentlessly and shakes his head like he expected to actually do something productive. Francoeur is batting .238, he is overrated and terrible, bat him 8th or send him to AAA. Thank GOD we didn’t sign him long term…His mind is not on baseball his head is somewhere else and it is blatantly obvious…
By Efrim
June 29, 2008 4:01 PM | Link to this
Look at that. Braves lose a one run game on the road.
The Marlins come back and score 2 runs off Lyon in the 9th.
What’s are one run record again?
By DAP01
June 29, 2008 4:01 PM | Link to this
Francouer is not a smart hitter. He needs to be benched or sent to AAA to learn how to play ball. Right now, he don’t have a clue and I don’t know if he realizes it.
By ncscoots
June 29, 2008 4:02 PM | Link to this
DOB, I know you mentioned that the blog has seen its hits go up in the last few months, and it got me to thinking about the content of that increase. A one-run loss today seems an appropriate day to unveil a little unscientific research into:
“The Top Ten Blog Posts By Frequency”
“I know the pitching’s been good, but the bullpen stinks”.
“I know Tex has been ripping lately, but not when it counts. Tex stinks.”
“Why is Corky Miller on this team?”
“The bench stinks.”
“(insert name here, many different mentions; all players eligible regardless of actual performance) stinks.”
“The season is over” (multiple dates of posts counted in this category)
“Send (insert name here) down, and bring up (insert other name here).” (Most names interchangeable, multiple counts; includes Stockman-Acosta posts)
“Cox is senile.”
“Francoeur stinks.”
“This team stinks.”
For those interested, you may count today’s posts to see if these percentages hold, LOL.
By KC
June 29, 2008 4:03 PM | Link to this
Despite a series loss that sucked beyond belief…
There’s still plenty of reason to remain positive.
The bottom line here folks is this… as Joe and Boog just said, when your best players are sitting on the bench for a while, it’s going to catch up to you.
As frustrating as it is to see the Braves floundering right now - despite great starting pitching, unable to get their heads above water (the .500 line)…
The Braves are going to get their injured players back. That alone will be a HUGE lift for this team. Beyond that, I think a move or two will be made to strengthen the offense and possibly the pen.
We HAVE to - absolutely MUST - take 2 of 3 from the Phillies.
We still have a chance to make a move over the next 8 days. We have the 3 game series against the Phillies at home, in which we’ll see neither of their lefties (Hamels and Moyer).
And then, beginning Friday, the Mets and Phillies go head to head for 4 games, so we’ll have a chance to gain ground on one or both.
So… yes, this sucked. But if we can find a way to win the next 2 series (against the Phillies and Astros), we’ll be in good shape as we should start getting some of our players back by the next time we go on the road.
By Coach Smith
June 29, 2008 4:03 PM | Link to this
Oh and MAV
Chipper has been intentioally walked a GRAND TOTAL of 9 TIMES THIS YEAR
Maybe you should pay better attention to the team my friend
By Teddy Jack Eddy
June 29, 2008 4:06 PM | Link to this
Gonzo and 24 ”Pucker Butts”I’ve never seen a team in any sport as ”sweet” as these guys.
By NO MORE BOBBY
June 29, 2008 4:08 PM | Link to this
In a division that sucks this year… WE SUCK MORE!!
Not gonna happen this year folks. Right when you think they are going to turn it around they instead let you down again. We need another David Justice to fire up this team and the fans again. Name one player with that kind of leadership for the Braves since he left. Exactly! There hasnt been anyone! The fact Chipper was just sitting there chewing gum with Mac up and two on in the eighth inning was a bit disappointing. I bet Jeter would have been up and letting his team know he was pulling for them to come through in that situation. But not Chipper. Not anybody!
By kirknga
June 29, 2008 4:09 PM | Link to this
McFann
Ah ok. Well you’re certainly entitled.
I’m not a pollyanna, but we need to hang in there. Get some people back and make a trade or two and the playoffs are still possible. At some point this 1-run madness will end.
In the mean time, we shouldn’t throw the rookies and young players under the bus. They should be allowed to have their growing pains. Unfortunately for us, those pains are coming with the expectation that we should contend for a playoff spot.
By Run Heap Run (R.I.P. Uga VI)
June 29, 2008 4:11 PM | Link to this
scoots Your #9 should be #1 lol
By Lorena Bobbitt
June 29, 2008 4:12 PM | Link to this
Agreed, Chipper’s gotta suck it up and at least get one AB that game. I don’t care if he can only run half speed, he gives you a better chance than Frenchy, Gotay, Norton, and Lilly.
Also, at this point, continuing to write Frenchy’s name in the lineup every day is not in his or the team’s best interest.
I guess Cox just wants to make sure that when Frenchy’s career is ruined and he’s gone from the Braves, at least he’ll keep saying the company line about Cox: he always stands by his players, he’s the ultimate players’ manager, blah, blah.
By JEB
June 29, 2008 4:13 PM | Link to this
kirknga Look to see Hampton back before Sorianno! This with Soriano has been going on since February, with no end in sight! (5 months) So, don’t look for this to change in the next month - noone knows what the problem even is with him.
With Hampton at least we know what we are dealing with and he is doing rehab with no problems right now.
Hampton NEEDS to prove himself to get some sort of contract for next year with someone! 15 mill a year only goes so far you know.
My bet is that Hampton will push through and make some starts this year (just don’t know when).
By Coach Smith is a TOOL
June 29, 2008 4:14 PM | Link to this
Football players don’t run the bases. Nobody cares about you and high school football. It couldn’t be more irrelevant. Is it required that if “coach” is in your name you’re a babbling retard? Brooking sucks.
By ncscoots
June 29, 2008 4:15 PM | Link to this
Having played football through the collegiate level I have to say that many of these injuries that keep Baseball players out of the game would NEVER, repeat NEVER keep a footabll player off the field
And as a baseball player through the collegiate level, I have to say you have little concept of the difference in baseball and football injuries, and their effect on performance. Sorry, man, but here you just don’t have enough information to speak intelligently to the subject.
By Crabby Bill
June 29, 2008 4:16 PM | Link to this
Was it N8 who said the entire group from the Cox era should go ? Whoever it was I’m starting to lean that way myself.There is something systemically wrong with this group.A complete break could be the best thing for these young players.It’s starting to feel like that store we all know that used to be great but the owners/management is past it’s prime and everything smells of mothballs.
By Deep Throat
June 29, 2008 4:17 PM | Link to this
A team with balls and the will to win would call up Schafer and send Francoeur to the minors to take Schafer’s spot.
Mets and Marlins win today. No one is going to lose forever…expect maybe the Braves. They’ve blown so many good pitching performances and so many chances with runners and scoring position. They’ve had their chances and they’ve failed. They’re a fourth place team and three games under .500.
By kirknga
June 29, 2008 4:21 PM | Link to this
ncscoots
Fun Stuff! So very True.
By David O'Brien
June 29, 2008 4:21 PM | Link to this
Just up from the clubhouse, sounds most likely that Chipper will be DL’d, though decision won’t be made until Tuesday.
He’s just not improved since his initial improvement that first couple days after the injury.
By RAR
June 29, 2008 4:21 PM | Link to this
The Braves should send Frenchy down to Richmond and keep Brandon Jones until Frenchy can learn to hit again. He was 0 for Canada!!
If they get hot they might finish at .500, but more likely to finish fourth and below .500. THIS TEAM SUCKS!
By MAV
June 29, 2008 4:23 PM | Link to this
Coach Smith,
Ikno with your extensive career in sports that you must know alot. But baseball and football are 2 totally different sports. Think about it dog lover!
By ryan
June 29, 2008 4:28 PM | Link to this
what a lineup Francour sucks told my son when he was batting watch jeff hit ball to 3rd with runner on2nd .hell we didnt need dh this week end pitchers could do what norton can.b jones is ready to go back to aaa lillibridge to aa norton gotay and corky dfa fire cox
By kirknga
June 29, 2008 4:28 PM | Link to this
JEB I think you are right. Part of the reason I look for Hampton to return and possibly do well is because he has been so confounding to this point. So it would be entirely appropriate for him to come back and pitch well enough that his resigning becomes an open question.
Why are people down on Lillbridge? It was that long ago that he was the twinkle in everyone eyes. He’s been here a very short time and already he’s being thrown under the bus?
No mercy for the rooks and young ones, that’s sad.
By ncscoots
June 29, 2008 4:29 PM | Link to this
Run Heap Run (R.I.P. Uga VI), it actually appears I got ALL the damn numbers backwards, LOL. On the other hand, maybe that’s just in keeping with the tenor of the list. :-)
By Kev
June 29, 2008 4:32 PM | Link to this
KC
2 out of 3…is good…lets even say its MANDATORY they win two games….but they MUST SWEEP THE PHILLIES…thats if they want to stay alive on this…winning 2 games against them would be the Consolation Prize IMO.
By kirknga
June 29, 2008 4:39 PM | Link to this
Why are people down on Lillbridge? He just got here!
It wasn’t that long ago he was all people talked about, and now all of a sudden he’s no good?
We just don’t give our rooks and young players any leeway, they are expected to play like seasoned vets from day 1.
My guess is we’ll see this same short praise-to-bust cycle repeated with Stockman and Schafer too.
By KC
June 29, 2008 4:42 PM | Link to this
Kev: Obviously it would be fantastic to get a sweep (and a little payback) against the Phils. But it’s probably not a must.
If they can take 2 of 3 from the Phils, and then do the same against the Astros (while the Mets and Phillies are beating up on each other)… we would likely be 2-3 games out by the end of the homestand, with some of our injured players coming off the DL around the end of the homestand.
That would put them in a good situation. But I certainly won’t argue against the benefits of a sweep here this week.
By A-ville Ranger
June 29, 2008 4:42 PM | Link to this
The Bobby Cox / Tom Landry comparisons are making more and more sense.I really,really wish Bobby would decide to retire and travel like he said he was going to do.He is making more money this one year than most make in a career of labor so it’s not like it’d be some tragic end.He’ll be a HOF manager with industry wide respect and probably a statue of his likeness outside the Ted.
By Efrim
June 29, 2008 4:43 PM | Link to this
Just up from the clubhouse, sounds most likely that Chipper will be DL’d, though decision won’t be made until Tuesday.
He’s just not improved since his initial improvement that first couple days after the injury.
Here is my worry. The Braves continue to play .500 baseball without Chipper. Stay 4-6 games back. Then think that they could win the division and trade very good to great prospects(similar to what happened last year). Very frustrating. At least we will get Kotsay back Tuesday, maybe Escobar and Infante too.
By Frenchy to Richmond
June 29, 2008 4:49 PM | Link to this
MUST SWEEP THE PHILLIES
With this lineup? With no Chipper? With Francoeur?
Just sign Nady already.
By Robert
June 29, 2008 4:51 PM | Link to this
Getting shut down by Ben Sheets is one thing
Shutting themselves against AJ Burnett is quite another.
What a well managed team this is
4-21 in one-run games.
What WAS Donk doing with the gloves? Checking them for sugar cubes?
By BravesFan79
June 29, 2008 4:54 PM | Link to this
SADLY…i just dont think this organization is serious about winning anymore. Thanks for selling the team to some crap corporation Ted!
I mean no organization serious about winning carries pete orr and woodward for a whole season. No organization serious about winning has a backup catcher that cant even pinch hit (Corky), and starts severly overmatched players (Lillibridge) No organization serious about winning waits so long to make a trade to help a struggling team.
Im starting to think our only hope is for Author Blank to hurry up and buy the Braves! Man if Blank had invested the money in the Braves instead of wasting it on the Falcoons…..we would of at least seen the NLCS last year.
Owell… at least SPAIN won the Euro championship! viva la Spain!
I still believe in the Braves, well when Smoltz is back next season that is! Oyea….we gotta change up the coaching 2… i agree with a prior person on here that said we should demote Bobby to bench coach and let another younger manager make all the personell and strategic decisions!
Ive been saying Bobby should be nothing more than “head cheerleader” for a few years now it seems…. love ya Bobby…but man… i lost most of my faith in him after he started Mike (NOT A BIG GAME PITCHER) against the Astros in that game 5….Instead of Smoltz (Best big game pitcher EVER in my mind) And of course like i predicted the night before….by the time Smoltz was brought in around the 5th or 6th inning…. the game was out of reach!
By Robin
June 29, 2008 4:56 PM | Link to this
I say shut Hoss down till the break, get some of these other guys healthy and nickel & dime some wins out against the Phils, ‘Stros, Dodgers and Padres, start the second half with a relatively healthy line-up and take it to the house.
No reason to risk an even more devastating injury to U Know Who. He could do some serious damage tryin’ to leg out a double, trying to score from second, or go from 1st to third.
By StingerSplash
June 29, 2008 5:00 PM | Link to this
Even the Astros TV announcers just mentioned the Braves’ one-run road loss streak.
By McFann©
June 29, 2008 5:02 PM | Link to this
KC when your best players are sitting on the bench for a while, it’s going to catch up to you.
And when your other best player is catching every freakin’ day, it’s going to catch up to you! (Or catch up to him, or something…)
7 complete games off in the first half? You gotta be kiddin’ me…Tomorrow’s stinkin’ day off better do some good! (Fat lotta good Thursday’s off-day did him, eh? 1-4…at least they won on Friday…)
kirknga—
Thanks. Yeah, I cann be a sore loser if I wanna be.
By FloridaBrave
June 29, 2008 5:07 PM | Link to this
Chipper’s my favorite player so it really pains me to see him injured all the time.
So much for him playing 150 games this season…I’m just so frustrated.
If Tex walks we need at least one middle of the order bat to replace him because we can’t count on Chipper to play more than 130 or so games, and it pains me to say it.
Anyways, another gem from our trio of young guns. We just can’t hit…
I was looking forward to Tuesday as the start of a “new season” with Chipper, Escobar, and Kotsay being back but without Chipper, I’m not really optimistic about the Braves salvaging their season.
By BravesFan79
June 29, 2008 5:12 PM | Link to this
We had a football coach take over our highschool soccer program when i was a junior in hs….and he was TERRIBLE!
Didnt know anything about soccer and had us doing stupid football drills in practice. I guess football players shouldnt be the only ones i consider a little slow. Just look at all the fools playing college and pro football. Not the brightest crayons in the box.
BTW…NO other sports athletes are in good of running shape as soccer and cross country.
By Run Heap Run (R.I.P. Uga VI)
June 29, 2008 5:12 PM | Link to this
Damn DOB, you’re breakin my heart. All that waiting and still gonna have to go on the dl. And I have plans to go to every game thru the 6th. Does that mean he’s out of the ASG? Will he still go if he’s unable to play? I would think it would be a big honor just to be voted in and go whether you can play or not.
By Harpie
June 29, 2008 5:19 PM | Link to this
This team stinks, and Francoeur is putrid.
By David O'Brien
June 29, 2008 5:31 PM | Link to this
Run Heap, he’d be out until the San Diego series before the break. But he’s also already accepted that he might not be able to play in the All-Star Game. They’d just have to wait and see how he feels in a couple weeks. If he’s fully recovered, then yeah, I’d think he’d go, sure. Just too early to tell.
By northbeach Scott
June 29, 2008 5:34 PM | Link to this
In anticipation of Chipper going on the DL and the season, truly becoming out of reach, I have placed all of my remaining season tickets for sale on Stub Hub.
Suspect others may have as well as ticket prices have dropped. If any of the denizens want to see any Braves games this season, check it out for some deals. My seat is 3 rows from the field behind Chipper in Section 118L. The Sunday seats are now down to $29.99 to be next to the visitors dugout. You can actually look into it from the seats.
The Braves may be making some deals, but look for them to be sellers with Chipper out until the All-Star break.
By Braves never win on the road
June 29, 2008 5:36 PM | Link to this
The Braves been done weeks ago when Kelly dropped that pop up in that Philly game .Chipper on the dl go figure don’t see that 150 games he talked about happen this year LOL
By Carolina Matt
June 29, 2008 5:36 PM | Link to this
Man, it would be awesome to sweep the Phillies and get back on track, wouldn’t? Here’s hoping…
And wouldn’t it be nice if the U.S. could throw a quick embargo up on the Dominican Republic so that we could leave Soriano there without having to pay him for his service (or lack thereof)?
By ryan
June 29, 2008 5:40 PM | Link to this
fire cox new policy no play no pay
By Braves never win on the road
June 29, 2008 5:42 PM | Link to this
Chipper and the rest of baseball players are soft it would kill them to have to work a real job like all of us non millonares.
By rupert
June 29, 2008 5:44 PM | Link to this
kotsay comes off dl tom. move should be to send francouer down, have man to man talk with him, put kotsay in center, blanco in right, jones in left, platton him with infante when he comes back and diaz when he comes back until hopefully a move is made for bay or nady or ibanez, maybe frenchy will figure something out, but let him work his sutff out where it doesn’t cost the team, he lost all his confidence, he’s not squaring anything up, its as much a move for him as for the team, give the kid a breather down there, he’ll come back up end of july and hopefully be like an aquisition, you just have to wonder when cox and wren are going to wake up on him, i know there have been injuries, but that doesn’t mean you keep throwing a kid out there like that, long term it be much better for him to go down, suck it up, play p** off and show everyone when he comes back
(also lil bridge is a lil to much of a light hitter to be playing everyday, defense is pretty good though)
By bravos2249
June 29, 2008 5:45 PM | Link to this
DOB
If Chipper had PH yesterday would he still be considered for the DL?
By Braves never win on the road
June 29, 2008 5:46 PM | Link to this
Matt stop sniffin glue brain cells are inportant.No way the braves sweep the philly
By bravos2249
June 29, 2008 5:48 PM | Link to this
DOB
If Chipper had PH yesterday would he still be considered for the DL?
and also if only 1 out of the 3 can play wouldn’t it be best to not DL and the other not able to play since Chipper can hit opposed to Escobar’s shoulder and Omar’s hammy?
By Andy
June 29, 2008 5:50 PM | Link to this
We had a .202 hitter(Norton), one hitting .239(Francine), one at .136(Lillibridge, and one and one at .203(Gotay), in the lineup today. Three big leaguers total(Tex, KJ, MAC). Shouldn’t expect to win with that kind of lineup. Very disappointing.
Any one of the guys in the rotation should be able to go over and choke any of the guys above, along with Acosta. Pathetic!!!
By Coach (Lets Go Braves In 2009)
June 29, 2008 5:50 PM | Link to this
Alright, I’ll drop the bomb. Atlanta has 40 quality starts and 40 wins. That alone tells me everything I need to know about this 2008 squad.
Atlanta is 12-17 versus left handed pitching, they cannot beat lefty’s.
The Braves are 4 and 21 in one run games. Which means they cannot bunt, run, steal bases or play small ball.
This 2008 squad is 16-16 in divisional play. Five hundred baseball won’t get it done.
88 is the magic number, no team has ever won the wild card with anything less. The Phillies are on pace to finish first in the division with 88 wins.
Atlanta is currently 40-43 (.481) They would have to finish at least 48-31 (.607) to have any prayer at sniffing the playoffs.
The Braves have not played .600 baseball since 2003. Read between the lines people. The remaining 79 games are nothing more than an exercise in futility.
Then of course, we have the Cox factor, as in: the joke is on us !
It all adds up to zip, as in dead, finished, stick a fork in this team, they are done. Bye bye, see ya in 2009 !
Anybody who tries to tell you anything different is a damn fool.
By MAV
June 29, 2008 5:52 PM | Link to this
You know it’s one thing to say for people to send Frenchy down and play B. Jones in right a little. But B. Jones is stinking it up just as much as he is. His average continuues to drop everyday. And overall Blanco isn’t that good either.
By JEB
June 29, 2008 5:57 PM | Link to this
Chipper is proof that just one more good bat in a line up makes a BIG difference!
Lil’bridge is the 2nd return of Raphael Bellard. Good defence, weak bat.
By bravos2249
June 29, 2008 5:59 PM | Link to this
I think after todays game all you guys would’ve realized Chipper wouldn’t play 150 considering this is the 12th game he’s missed and to tell you the truth should a guy 36 have to play 150 games? It’d be nice but it’d be easier if he had off days at the beginning of the season. His first official off day was in June, he’s almost 40…explain to me why that happened…yes he did miss 1 or 2 every so often for nicks but that’s because he never got an off day because quite frankly the team su.cks and thus he’s expected to play everyday like a 26 yr old and he’s not…and that’s why he continuously goes on the DL IMO.
By Carolina Matt
June 29, 2008 6:03 PM | Link to this
Braves never win on the road,
haha, if only I could kill enough brain cells the Braves would stop driving me crazy…
By Greg in TN
June 29, 2008 6:04 PM | Link to this
Afternoon folks…
Lose an Andruw, gain an Andruw. How prophetic have those words from spring training from Chipper been this year? Just a brutal at bat from Francoeur in the 7th with the grounder to third and that’s the reason why this team has underachieved thus far into the 2008 season. It’s the little things, friends and neighbors, that mean the difference in close games. And it’s the little things that keep getting missed.
BMac’s starting to show the wear and tear of a busy first half. A few passed balls this series and a bad day at the plate. He needs this day off tomorrow something fierce, obviously.
Reyes pitched fantastic today, however he’s having to pitch to a fine line with an offense struggling to hit AJ Burnett’s hook and heater combo.
June is winding up, thankfully, and it has been yet another forgetful month for Planet Braves.
By Mr. Optimistic
June 29, 2008 6:04 PM | Link to this
i agree these players are soft. please let them have the greenies. at least there wasnt a rash of injuries back in the juice day. if they DL chipper now he would have 4 weeks to “heal” til after the break. he could even miss a week after because they start back with was at home. it just amazes me he hits .400 he good to hit. once he goes under now he all of a sudden “cant”. soft a jello pudding.francour needs to find a big OL’ slump buster in hotlanta and knock it out the park if ya kno what i mean cuz he is god awful!!!!!!! and boy those kids looked overmatched bad today. looked like it was the first time theve seen 96 before. but with all taht said “IF” a huge if but if they can get everybody back they have a good lineup that can score enough to win some game and with the pitching they can win the East. as fans we just have to hope they dont get put to rest in the division by the break by the Mutts or phils
By Interested Observer
June 29, 2008 6:07 PM | Link to this
DOB: Any idea who they would replace Chipper with if he was DL’d? Is Prado ready to come back yet?
By BA
June 29, 2008 6:07 PM | Link to this
Was that 5:46 post from the ghost of Ben the Bunnyman?
By JEB
June 29, 2008 6:09 PM | Link to this
Ok Coach Since you are calling the whole season over - GOODBYE!! See YOU next year!
As long as they are playing baseball - I’m watching the Braves! I love Baseball!
By 11-16 in June
June 29, 2008 6:19 PM | Link to this
Unacceptable.
Once Kotsay comes back, the Braves need to platoon Jones and Francoeur. Play Blanco in left field, Kotsay in center. If Infante is well enough to play, then get him in there at 3rd. If not, DL him and bring up Prado. Escobar better be in there on Tuesday.
By JAB
June 29, 2008 6:22 PM | Link to this
As long as they are makin’ dog food - I’m eatin’ it. I love crap!
By Chop Chop
June 29, 2008 6:23 PM | Link to this
I’ve given up on the Braves plenty of times. Whoop-dee-do. I’m still a fan and still hope they’ll shock me, but I ain’t gonna worry my head about it.
By JEB
June 29, 2008 6:24 PM | Link to this
Interested Observer
Not answering for DOB, but Kotsay is on his way back to Atlanta. If Chipper is DL’d - it will be Kotsay that is brought back on.
By Interested Observer
June 29, 2008 6:29 PM | Link to this
I couldn’t help but look…Brayan Pena is hitting .319 in 47 ABs with Omaha. Even has 2 SBs. How nice would it have been for this series to have a back-up catcher that could hit a little, run a little, and help out at 1B, 3B, and LF in a pinch?
By McFann©
June 29, 2008 6:45 PM | Link to this
Greg in TN He needs this day off tomorrow something fierce, obviously.
How true! Not a good day at all for 3BMac today. (At least no one tried to steal…)
I can’t believe all the DGANG he’s started lately. I know the Corkster doesn’t hit, but neither did McCann in this series. He went 2-12 (.167) in these three games (though he did have an RBI double). And, no offense (literally), but what difference would it have made today?
Interested Observer How nice would it have been for this series to have a back-up catcher that could…run a little
We’ve got a backup catcher who cann run! Did you not hear about the big race? : >
By Wayne in Utah
June 29, 2008 6:54 PM | Link to this
Every year, every team suffers through various injuries, and players having great/terrible years. We are no different, except that the injuries seem to be so prevalent this year.
Somebody with a lot more time on their hands has probably looked up all the lost time we have had….. Chipper, Smoltz, Glavine, Hampton, James, Soriano, Gonzo, Moylan, Kotsay, Diaz, Escobar, KJ, the list goes on and on.
To think we are still close, is nothing short of a miracle.
Do we trade away prospects to try to salvage a season where we seemingly are snake bitten? I personally would love to see us ride it out… good or bad, and give some more of the youngsters a shot.
I personally don’t think that putting Schafer in would hurt his psyche or anything like that.
About the only real major hole we have is at third when Chipper is out (not to mention the black hole in right field). But, is there anyone out there that could help??
What are the splits away from Coors field for Jeff Baker??? He can play all 4 corners. Just thinking out loud.
Oh well, let’s hope that JoJo has some better luck next time out. Dude deserved a W.
By CONNECTICUT BRAVES FAN
June 29, 2008 6:59 PM | Link to this
Don’t send Frenchy to Richmond, send him to Rookie League. He is that bad. What is Cox thinking putting him in the lineup everyday? Put Campillo in right field, he would be better. Or activate himself, he has been seen trying on different gloves. I’m sure he could play better than he can manage. Fire Pendelton too, he is a lousy hitting coach. Hire Francouer to take his place. They all stink.
By Jeff
June 29, 2008 7:04 PM | Link to this
I’ll say it again.. Until Liberty media and its owners start to care about this ball club. When Frank Wren is Fired for running this Team into the ground,and for bobby cox to finally get out of the dugout. This Team will SUCK and not even come close to making it to the Post Season.. its time for a new manager, a GM who Knows what he is doing. and for owners who actually care. Braves fan for life but this year is such a joke.. I feel bad for all you season ticket holders who spent your precious money to watch this pathetic so called baseball team play and lay one stink bomb after another.
By Run Heap Run (R.I.P. Uga VI)
June 29, 2008 7:11 PM | Link to this
Greg in TN I know most here won’t agree with me but I’d rather have the real Andruw than then one he left behind. I’ll take streaky over just plain can’t hitty any day.
By Run Heap Run (R.I.P. Uga VI)
June 29, 2008 7:22 PM | Link to this
Oops..forgot to say, thanks for the info, DOB.
By JABberwock
June 29, 2008 7:26 PM | Link to this
‘Twas Chipper and his slithy toes
Did throb and flivver on the bench:
All nonesy were the semipros,
who flailed and reeked of stench.
“Beware the Corkywock, my son!
The feet of lead, the hands that catch!
Beware the lillibridge, and shun
The frumious Brandonsnatch!”
By kirknga
June 29, 2008 7:28 PM | Link to this
It really looks as if people are taking their disappointment and running with it!
I’m not one to say we’re going to make the playoffs this year, but I’m not going to act like all I see out on the field is talentless trash either.
Where were you people before the Braves were winners? I can tell you that even with the heartbreak that is this season it still much better than those days.
We have seen worse…much worse than we’re seeing now.
By Jeff321
June 29, 2008 7:42 PM | Link to this
McFann© Losing 1-0 is better than 6-0? Why? A loss is a loss…
Because losing 1-0 means the pitching did very well. And we already know the offense is very paltry most of the time. So, that’s to be expected.
By KC
June 29, 2008 7:47 PM | Link to this
Jeff: “When Frank Wren is Fired for running this Team into the ground”
You’re either just griping for the sake of griping (not entirely believing your own rantings)… or you have no idea what you’re talking about.
Frank Wren has made a grand total of one major trade since taking over as GM prior to last winter…
That trade send an aging shortstop, Renteria, (who is not having a good season) to Detroit for a 22 year-old pitcher (Jurrjens) who is 8-3 with a 2.94 ERA that ranks him top-5 in the NL…
AND, in addition to Jurrjens, Wren managed to get another highly touted prospect in G.Hernanez, who has been invited to play in the futures game at Yankee Stadium during the all-star break.
Wrens first major trade as Braves GM is looking like it could be the best trade this franchise has made in many, many years… possibly since the trade for Fred McGriff.
Wren isn’t responsible for losing 3 starters and our 2 best relievers to injury, nor is he responsible for all the position players on the shelf right now.
If it weren’t for the Renteria/Jurrjens trade, we would be at least 10 games out in the east right now.
So Jeff, what the hell are you talking about bro?
By monty
June 29, 2008 7:49 PM | Link to this
THis could be the year that a sub .500 team wins the East. It could and I stress “could” be the Braves just as easily as anybody else. Although they would have to have a healthy Chipper, Escobar, and I believe Kotsay back to somewhere near where he was before he got hurt. Anyone of those guys out and it’s over. RIght now that seems like a tall order. As of today we are basically trying to beat teams starting 4 minor league position players. Not gonna happen!
By TPM
June 29, 2008 7:51 PM | Link to this
I really thought Chipper was turning the corner and was going to play 150 games this year. He can’t seem to avoid these tendon problems. Then again - It is common knowledge that quadriceps injuries are often caused by anabolic steroid use.
By chipdip
June 29, 2008 8:06 PM | Link to this
THE BRAVES BLOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By BravesFan79
June 29, 2008 8:09 PM | Link to this
TPM: I tore my quad playing college soccer when i was 19 as a 160 pound player. I guess i must of been on roids 2. I mean seriously…do you see ANY similarities in Bonds, Sosa, and Chipper? I dont remember Chipper ever suddenly packing on alot of muscle during a offseason!
Perhaps if we had a manager that knew how to take out his star players once a game had already been decided (especially ones known for injury!) We wouldnt be in this situation this year! After all it was in a blowout that Chipper got hurt again. Always seems to happen that way.
By Jeff
June 29, 2008 8:12 PM | Link to this
that is the onlyy trade he actuallyyy made worth it… i love jair and yet to see what Gorkys can do.. should of mentioned that. my bad. but the other trades and waiver pickups have produced what..absolutely nothing. dont forget wren was fired by the Orioles after totally ruining that team.. not much more to say.A GM would use his farm system properly.He hasnt worth a lick..example the Anderson trade..Not even playing for the Braves..
By Greg in TN
June 29, 2008 8:12 PM | Link to this
McFann: It’s a tough position to be in with Chipper and Escobar hurting. I believe had Chipper been able to at least DH, BMac could have sat today.
Run Heap Run: I don’t know if I agree, but I understand where you’re coming from.
By Bill
June 29, 2008 8:13 PM | Link to this
Jeff—- I agree until this team is sold and a change of the manager, this team is only going to be a 500 club. I would keep Wren and give him a chance. Cox has had his day in the sun. He’s been there to long. I like Cox but he should retire.
By SoWeGa Fanatic
June 29, 2008 8:15 PM | Link to this
“Then again - It is common knowledge that quadriceps injuries are often caused by anabolic steroid use.” Not according to my medical books. They also tell me a quadriceps injurie isn’t a tendon issue - Stupid.
By BravesFan79
June 29, 2008 8:19 PM | Link to this
JEB: I dissagree… Lillibridge could be a very good MLB player if given a few more years in the minors. No reason he should be on the team right now.
“Interested Observer: I couldn’t help but look…Brayan Pena is hitting .319 in 47 ABs with Omaha. Even has 2 SBs”
Dude that makes me sick to my stomach. I called it when it happened…that keeping Corky and letting Pena go was as bad a move as putting a .200 hitting Woodcrap on the team over a .350 hitting Escobar coming out of spring training last year!
The Braves are not RICH enough to overcome these terrible roster moves by Cox anymore. Somethings gotta change.
By chipdip
June 29, 2008 8:20 PM | Link to this
We need our ace Mike Hampton back…then everything will be alright…plus we have Gotay , Norton and Miller who really put the fear in opposing teams and a red hot francouer to boot. Reminds me of “MURDERS ROW” of the 1920’s.
By h_charles
June 29, 2008 8:25 PM | Link to this
Actually, Braves Fav79, Chipper WAS noticably bigger several years ago.
Go look at the pics. Check him out when Giles was thriving (a long rumored roid head).
Chipper was WAY more muscular.
Not saying he was or wasn’t on roids, but this team fielded several players where roids have been mentioned from that era (Javy, Giles, Klesko, etc.)
All three had great power, then seemed to amazingly lose their prowess very quickly right around the time the roid purge hit MLB.
It wouldn’t surprise me if Chipper was roiding for a while — many were, and his upper body defintely looked the part.
Regardless, even if he did, that doesn’t mean Chipper wouldn’t still be hurt. Perhaps roids helped him stay healthy — he wasn’t fragile on when on them (if he was).
Griffey pulls hammys when the wind blows, and he is pretty clean. Chipper is who he is. Great hitter, body of a 45 year old.
By Lou Vales
June 29, 2008 8:27 PM | Link to this
Chipper Jones going on the DL—How Utterly Shocking!!!!!!!!
Right up there with GM probably working on a larger version of the Hummer, Country Wide Mortgage trying to expand the sub prime market, realtors in South Florida predicting an “imminent turn around”, Mark Texciera fretting about how “it is all about the next 5 generations of my family never having to get off their butts as long as they live as long as Scotty can get some morons to get me a nice long term deal”, some group of recruiting freaks already to follow around some high school males running around in shorts with no shirts and taking pictures—anyone else think that is bizarre??, and people without the proverbial pot to urinate in and with an upside down mortgage worrying about the Braves pulling off a trade to stay in contention. Unbelievable!!!!!!!
Well, I just spent a nice weekend in Savannah at the Westin and nobody seemed to give a damn about the Atlanta Braves scoring troubles—They probably all had lives.
By bravos2249
June 29, 2008 8:28 PM | Link to this
Wren also traded for Infante (awesome bench guy) and Ohman
and TPM get back to me when using steroids means hitting under 30 homers a year?
also Chipper never gets recognized for anything…I mean he got 100 hits this season last Wednesday right? well Ichiro got his 100th hit today…like boo hoo…that’s expected…even if Chipper’s not at .400 who expected him to have 100 hits already…not me. Especially when he only had 173 last season.
And typically almost every player in the NL Chipper’s age played around 130 games and Chipper played 134.
And really 35+ 130-14/162 is what you should ask for any more is a blessing.
By McFann©
June 29, 2008 8:28 PM | Link to this
Greg in TN—
I getcha. Unfortunately it didn’t pay off today.
Jeff321—
I guess that makes sense…But I hate it when they can’t help out a great pitching performance.
By Ned
June 29, 2008 8:29 PM | Link to this
Same OLD $H!&!..just DIFFERENT YEAR…Put a fork on this 2008 Atlanta Braves…Chipper said it himself…Without Smoltz its going to get pretty difficult to win the division…NOW IMAGINE BOTH OUT for an extended period of time!!…Im just saying be prepared fellow Braves fans..they say chipper will be ready to go in the series against San Diego…i bet Chipper will be ready(100 percent) 2 WEEKS AFTER THE ALL STAR GAME!!!
By BravesFanInRockies
June 29, 2008 8:33 PM | Link to this
KC,
The jury is out on Wren. He made one incredible trade with Detroit. He also made a nice deal to obtain Ohman and Infante from the Cubs.
But he’s responsible for the entire composition of the roster. He decided to gamble with a CF who was coming off a major injury and to rely on two 40+ y.o. starters, another starter who hadn’t pitched in two years because of injuries and a third with a tender shoulder.
Pretty much everything bad that could go wrong with this bunch has. Still it was always a major gamble to depend so much on pleyers who were either older, delicate or both.
We’ll have a better idea of Wren’s skills in the next 6 weeks to 8 months.
Had older/rehabbing players stayed healthy, he’d be considered a genius. They didn’t, which makes the decision to bank on so many of them subject to questioning.
By New World Order
June 29, 2008 8:33 PM | Link to this
Support the Braves all you want, but realize that you just may be supporting an insidious organization that is inimical to the American way of life and wishes to undermine everything you hold dear.
By KC
June 29, 2008 8:37 PM | Link to this
Jeff: Wren was not fired from the Orioles “after totally ruining the team”.
In the very brief opportunity he was given as GM in Baltimore, he was told by the owner, Peter Angelos, to go out and spend, and try to win “now”.
He did what he was asked, and a couple of the big signings (most notably, Albert Belle) didn’t work out, and he was criticized by Angelos for it.
But the real reason he was fired was that Peter Angelos simply didn’t like him, and Wren pis$ed him off when he wouldn’t hold a charter flight for Cal Ripken when he was running late, forcing Ripken to fly commercial to catch up with the team.
Anyway, let’s just say you’re right. Let’s say he was awful in his first go in the GM’s chair.
Keep in mind, that was 10 years ago. Smart people learn from their mistakes, and since then, he’s spent years studying under John Schuerholz, and learning the Braves approach to building a winning team.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but hasn’t the philosophy always been pitching first?
And don’t the Braves have the best ERA in the league despite losing Smoltz, Glavine, Hampton, soriano, and Moylan?
The lineup we have here (when everyone’s on the field) is almost exactly the same one the Braves featured in August and September of last year, when they wore out opposing pitchers.
As for Josh Anderson… dude, we gave up only Oscar Villarreal to get him. Villarreal is 1-2 with a 4.66 ERA this year. And Anderson hasn’t even been given a chance, so we don’t know yet whether or not we got anything of substance in that trade. But if we don’t, it doesn’t matter because we didn’t give up anything.
What did Wren do wrong this winter? Or what didn’t he do that he should have?
Seriously Jeff, tell us what he should have done. Be specific. I’m interested to hear your thoughts on exactly where he went wrong.
By AJ 25
June 29, 2008 8:37 PM | Link to this
It’s time to put 10, 29 and 47 on the wall and say good-bye to these three broken down players who are eating up precious salary.
How much longer will we have to watch Frenchy have clown at bars time after time. Maybe when Kotsay comes back tne Donkey will put him on the bench where he belongs.
By Lou Vales
June 29, 2008 8:40 PM | Link to this
Dear bsj, I couldn’t tell if you were being facetious about your earlier post saying “I really believe Hampton will be a factor in the 2nd half”——The only factor Hampton will have in anything involving Major League Baseball is if he puts together a seminar with Scott Boras predicated along the lines of “You Don’t Have To Excel, You Don’t have To Perform, Hell you Don’t Even Have To Pitch An Inning For Years To Keep On Getting Paid”
Mike Hampton and Ryan Leaf have been able to successfully corrupt the American Work Ethic to such epic proportions that they should be tenured as full professors at every major business school in America from Wharton to the University of Chicago and all those in between. They have come up with a system that isn’t Socialism or Capitalism. Rather it is a hybrid form of Production and Reward Theory that has successfully delineated the Production and left the Reward. truly Genius!!!
By SoWeGa Fanatic
June 29, 2008 8:41 PM | Link to this
I wish all you quitters who say the season is lost would go hibernate somewhere until 2009. Yeah, like Shea Stadium.
By warren
June 29, 2008 8:42 PM | Link to this
the braves offense is ugly right now, cant score runs, no one is doing anything with the exception of tex, bmac, and as of lately glanco. the need some offense!! they get no prodution from their outfield, worst in the league! they need to make a trade jeff francour! i would say after 80 games and still no sign of him coming out of this issue( i wouldnt call it a slump, they dont last that long.) their is a issue with him, he still looks lost, and his total game is affected. im a big frenchy fan, but i think a change of scenery is in order. his avg. dropped to below 240 today! the indians have a boatload of outfielders that can hit, good hitters. make a trade for ben franscico, either that or call up josh anderson and send down frenchy. im sorry if others are thinking this would be wrong. but a guy that has speed, good arm, and can make some things happen with his bat is better than a guy that isnt hitting, is a average outfielder with a great arm, and cant seem to get over whatever it is thats going through his head. trade frenchy and let him start anew with a another team. if the braves want to get closer in the division, they bneed offense, and that would be a great place to start.
By warren
June 29, 2008 8:42 PM | Link to this
the braves offense is ugly right now, cant score runs, no one is doing anything with the exception of tex, bmac, and as of lately glanco. the need some offense!! they get no prodution from their outfield, worst in the league! they need to make a trade jeff francour! i would say after 80 games and still no sign of him coming out of this issue( i wouldnt call it a slump, they dont last that long.) their is a issue with him, he still looks lost, and his total game is affected. im a big frenchy fan, but i think a change of scenery is in order. his avg. dropped to below 240 today! the indians have a boatload of outfielders that can hit, good hitters. make a trade for ben franscico, either that or call up josh anderson and send down frenchy. im sorry if others are thinking this would be wrong. but a guy that has speed, good arm, and can make some things happen with his bat is better than a guy that isnt hitting, is a average outfielder with a great arm, and cant seem to get over whatever it is thats going through his head. trade frenchy and let him start anew with a another team. if the braves want to get closer in the division, they bneed offense, and that would be a great place to start.
By bravos2249
June 29, 2008 8:43 PM | Link to this
BravesFan79
I know what you mean about the blowout…the play he said he hurt it on was before they got a ton of those runs but any intelligent person could see Chipper leaning on the trainer in the dugout and would’ve pulled him…it could’ve saved him days of playing your right…also he had to jump in the field for some cut off throws from RF after the injury and that probably didn’t help…but nonetheless when a guy looks like he did after he scored he should be taken out IMO…IDK how I feel about DL’ing him because he can hit and he said quick jolting movement doesn’t hurt him just running…and that .394 on the bench is better than any other option IMO…yeah you’d have to pr for him but you could use Jair when he doesn’t start and when Kotsay comes back we have the Jones/Blanco who can come in then play LF.
By Lou Vales
June 29, 2008 8:53 PM | Link to this
Dear New World Order, Just remember when Lenin said “Religion Is The Opiate of the Masses”. The little man got it wrong as everyone knows “Sports Are The Opiate of the Masses”—What else can distract a moron who has seen 32% of his or her 401(K) plan disappear, seen the value of home decrease in value impacting balance sheet, even worse be in an upside down mortgage, have credit card debt, even see Cobb County CC as being unaffordable for little Jimmy or Jenny, have job being threatened by downsizing, outsourcing, credit crunching AND YET through all that the concern about the MIGHTY TEX being signed long term is enough to provide a vicarious and life sustaining thrill as happiness drifts down if the Mighty Tex is able to get 78 Million for next few years.
Thank Goodness for pro and collegiage big time sports or we might need some of those militias referenced so often.
All Together Let’s do the Braves’ Chant—Na NA NA Na NANNAH NA
By Wayne in Utah
June 29, 2008 8:53 PM | Link to this
KC As near as I can tell, tonight is the “night of the flaming idiots” on the blog. Can’t reason with them, cause all they want to do is rant.
It is total idiocy that has caused me to severly limit my time on the blog. I do miss conversing with my old friends, but there is just to much of the BS.
Are we having a bad year, hell yes. Is it BC and FW’s fault. Are all the players the worst players of all time? Nah……
By BA
June 29, 2008 8:54 PM | Link to this
Dear Lou Vales: your old azz is proof that only the good die young. Do us all a favor and go steer that hover round into oncoming traffic.
By BA
June 29, 2008 8:57 PM | Link to this
Tonight this blog is a real testament to Georgia educators. Great JOB!
By Run Heap Run
June 29, 2008 8:58 PM | Link to this
Win or lose, first or last, I enjoy this blog and DOB’s insight and info and have posted comments for years (under the forgettable name blake..back before I got creative lol). I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t and I’m not sure why some people bother. To each his own, I reckon.
By Greg in TN
June 29, 2008 8:58 PM | Link to this
Ummmm, okay, I’ll bite.
Frank Wren inherited a Baltimore team from Pat Gillick that went 79-83 in 1998 and then Peter Angelos fired him after a contentious season that saw the O’s go 78-84.
Seems to me Angelos has more to do with the Orioles underachieving than Frank Wren.
By McFann©
June 29, 2008 9:00 PM | Link to this
Wayne I do miss conversing with my old friends
We miss you, too, Wayne.
By BA
June 29, 2008 9:03 PM | Link to this
Phillys lose! Too bad the season’s been called.
By bravos2249
June 29, 2008 9:04 PM | Link to this
actually I think Wren’s job now is a step down from last year cause he had JS’ job before….but one thing that’s overlooked since JS isn’t GM anymore is why wasn’t Andruw’s contract dealt up with an option year cause that cost us some early draft choices…granted I don’t think the Dodgers picked THAT high but still not too smart of a move
By KC
June 29, 2008 9:05 PM | Link to this
BravesFanInRockies: Sure, the jury’s still out, but the fact is that so far, so good.
“He decided to gamble with a CF who was coming off a major injury”
Ya know, coming into the season, Jordan Schaefer was one of the most highly touted prospects to come through the system in a long time - on par with Francoeur and Chipper when they were coming up. And most people felt he was probably ready THIS year, but just to be on the safe side, they wanted to leave him in the oven a little longer… so they needed a stop-gap.
After consulting with scouts and coaches, and looking pretty exhaustively at Kotsay’s medical reports, Wren pulled the trigger on the Kotsay deal.
Kotsay is a quality veteran player who would meed the Braves need for a defensive-minded center-fielder that could also handle bat. He had only 1 year remaining on his deal, and would be very low cost (with Oakland picking up most of his salary). So he was a perfect fit.
While the Kotsay deal was being discussed, Wren dealt for another center-fielder, Josh Anderson, to give them added depth.
Then of course, the HGH thing happened with Schaefer, taking him out of the equation this season (or at least for most of it) as a big league option. Kotsay later landed on the DL, and for whatever reason, BC just doesn’t seem all that high on Anderson and hasn’t really given him a chance. So that’s how we arrived at Blanco being the everyday starter right now, but I wouldn’t fault Wren for that.
Between Kotsay, Schaefer, and Anderson, Wren had every reason to believe we were set there.
“and to rely on two 40+ y.o. starters, another starter who hadn’t pitched in two years because of injuries and a third with a tender shoulder.”
Smotlz and Glavine had both pitched right at or better than 200 innings in each of the last 3 seasons. Glavine had NEVER been on the DL before. And when you look at a guy like Jamie Moyer (who is about 5 years older)… no reason to think Glavine didn’t have some good innings left.
And the Braves came into the season with no fewer than 8 starters they were pretty comfortable with Hudson, Smoltz, Glavine, Jurrjens, Reyes, James, Bennett, and Hampton. So it’s inaccurate to insinuate that Wren gambled everything on a couple 40-year-old arms and Hampton.
Pretty remarkable to have all the injuries they have and still have the league’s best ERA, while remaining in the race. So far so good for Wren.
By THB
June 29, 2008 9:06 PM | Link to this
Frank Wren’s Acquisitions:
1.Edgar Renteria to Tigers for Jair Jurrjens and Gorkys Hernandez.
Jair Jurrjens has been the most consistent pitcher on our staff. Best trade of the entire offseason. Better than the Volquez-Hamilton trade in the fact that we got a lot more than we gave up. Sure, the Reds got an ace but gave up a possible triple-crown winner. Rangers got the triple-crown winner but lost a young staff ace. Plus, we also got a future star in Gorkys who will be one of our top 4 prospects next year and a top 50 in MiLB. Grade: A+
Not much to say. Looked like a decent signing. Definetely looked like the typical Braves, signing what they can for cheap. I expected a healthy Glavine with a high 3’s ERA. But the fact is Tommy is on the DL for an extended period. Grade: C
Not a bad trade. Anderson has been solid in AAA, and has done fairly well in his short time in the bigs. I don’t think he has a place on the team, but not a bad move considering Villareal is struggling. Grade: B-
Barring a Kotsay injury, this would have been a solid trade. The the fact is, Kotsay was coming off of a back surgery and was definetely vulnerable. Yet another example of the Braves valuing money over value. Braves aren’t paying much for Kotsay. I’m not saying Devine had a place here, but he could have been used better in a different trade. Sure wish we snagged Randy Winn instead, huh? Grade: C
Worst signing he could have made. Guess he figured we should lock him up not before his stock soars? Turns out ignoring his elbow problems was a huge mistake. My bet is he has season ending surgery. Grade: D
Infante has been a pleasant surprise and extremely versatile, while Ohman has been our most consistent reliever much of the year. Second best trade only to the Jair trade. Grade: A
Overall, Wren has done a decent job. Has improved our bench, helped the bullpen, significantly improved our rotation, but failed to adress the offense. Tough to critcize him for that since we had a lineup of KJ, Escobar, Chipper, Tex, Mac, and Frenchy. It isn’t his fault Frenchy has been awful or that Tex started slow. I guess we’ll learn for next year that we need to plan for Chipper being out and not trade for injury riddled players.
By brent a.
June 29, 2008 9:07 PM | Link to this
Frank Wren was essentially forced by Angelos to sign Albert Belle, a player whom Wren describes as “not being on his radar.”
Angelos wanted Wren to sign Albert Belle, to keep him away from the Yankees.
Wren knew right then that he was in trouble.
IIRC, the Yankees ended up signing Bernie Williams instead.
By KC
June 29, 2008 9:07 PM | Link to this
Wayne In Utah: Yes, the ranting does seem a bit free from reason tonight. =)
By KC
June 29, 2008 9:12 PM | Link to this
BA: Nicely put!
By Lou Vales
June 29, 2008 9:14 PM | Link to this
Dear Ba, I’m only 60—That’s young by today standards, and I certainly have never wanted nor felt the need to idolize and live and die by the exploits of people who probably wouldn’t give me or YOU the time of day or maybe even call either one of us an ambulance if we had been hit by a truck. So you SNIFF away at that prototypical piece of equipment my good friend, but don’t really worry where I steer anything as long as you have your Larry ‘Chipper” Jones doll to play with all should be well.
Maybe say a prayer tonight that Tex gets his money so his “extended” family will be alright. I’ll give a damn about the millions of Americans and others around the world in severe trouble who don’t know mike Hampton’s chest muscle from Chipper’s quad.
By Greg in TN
June 29, 2008 9:14 PM | Link to this
Looks like KC got in a better written response on FW than I did. Kudos KC.
Meant to mention this before, but Quack Quack’s 3:53 post this morning also captures my thoughts very nicely.
And Wayne, it’s always good to see you in these parts.
By A-ville Ranger
June 29, 2008 9:19 PM | Link to this
I do understand the fact of injuries to many of our best pitchers.The thing is the Braves, as pointed out by DOB, have the lowest era in the NL.Today a shutout may not have been good enough to win.Yes the line up was depleted today,but it was McCann who had the most critical at bat.
It just doesn’t seem to matter WHAT is needed or WHO the player is in those critical points in these close games.They will fail to do whatever that thing is when it matters most.
By brent a.
June 29, 2008 9:19 PM | Link to this
A-ville Ranger,
I hear you on the Bobby Cox/Tom Landry comparisons.
One just absolutely cannot just sit back and spout the resume of an elderly man as evidence that he should keep his job forever.
I noted earlier this year that even John Wooden made the wise decision to announce his retirement before the 1975 NCAA championship game. He won, and walked away on top. The man’s not dead yet, do you think UCLA should hire him back? Maybe Pepperdine.
I honestly believe that all those division titles (with only one world series) is what kept bringing Bobby back year-after-year. He had to be thinking to himself that “I’ll get ‘em next year”, but sadly, the next year would come, and another play-off loss would mount.
The Braves appeared to be “losing it” at the beginnig of this decade, but after springing back to life in ‘02 and ‘03, there was good reason to believe that they might just have another title in them.
But, after losing to the Astros in 2004, it seemed to me like something major needed to change. All we got was Smoltz back in the rotation (and lo and behold, he got us our only post-season victory that year). But almost four full years later, here we sit with an average team, and an aging manager.
By Sunshine Band
June 29, 2008 9:22 PM | Link to this
Hey, where’s our leader?
Out blogging and blogging and blogging.
By Mike R
June 29, 2008 9:24 PM | Link to this
Too bad the Braves don’t have a vetern to call Chipper on the carpet for quitting on the team. Smoltz did it last year and Chipper started playing. Players that care about winning don’t lay down with buised hands or pulled quads. I’ve followed baseball since the mid 60’s. Ripken, Frank Robinson, Willie Mays, Henry Aaron, Bob Gibson would all be on the field. Read back into BB history, see how little time those guys in the 40’s and 50’s spent on the DL. By the time he comes back the Braves will be hopeless out of it. Then he will finish out the year and say “hey look at the great numbers I put up.” Everyone will forget that, just like last year, he laid down when they were still in the race.
By Wayne in Utah
June 29, 2008 9:24 PM | Link to this
Company is over…gotta run. Nite friends.
By brent a.
June 29, 2008 9:26 PM | Link to this
It just doesn’t seem to matter WHAT is needed or WHO the player is in those critical points in these close games.They will fail to do whatever that thing is when it matters most.
A statement that men like Rob Neyer will never understand.
By braves-fan in pittsburgh
June 29, 2008 9:26 PM | Link to this
long time reader, first time poster.
uga-brave and bravesdave are right.
francoeur is a diaster. the braves dont lose these one run games if the annoited right fielder is worth a darn.
sorry for all you local gwinett county types, pretty good chance parkrview boy is not gonna be a major leaguer for long.
i read all the vitrol that you all wined about #25 last year. francouer could not carry andruw’s jock.
brave’s fans are witness to probably the most overated braves player of all time.
since he has been here the braves have not won.
he his hitting .207 this month. he has ZERO power and does not walk.
great job SUPERSTAR.
By McFann©
June 29, 2008 9:31 PM | Link to this
A-Ville Ranger Yes the line up was depleted today,but it was McCann who had the most critical at bat.
Nobody cann deny that. We know it: That stupid strikeout cost us the game…
And McCann knows it, too. “We had opportunities, and it seemed like every time they came around, I was the guy at the plate,” McCann said. “Obviously I didn’t come through one time.” (Or two…or three…)
Hey, but kudos for the dude for taking the blame. I can’t stand it when someone has a rotten day like that and doesn’t say anything. And it’s always those same guys who come out and talk when they have a great day.
By BA
June 29, 2008 9:33 PM | Link to this
60 is not young, Vales. Don’t you hear that ticking sound? Go clean out your colostome bag and you’ll feel better. Your tired routine begs the question: WHY are you on this blog if you’re so above it? Isn’t there a “old but still babbling incoherently” blog somewhere? A “bedsores are killing me” blog? That’s it, Lou…keep buzzing towards the on ramp…
By Bravesfan79
June 29, 2008 9:40 PM | Link to this
Whats with all the idiots on here talking about Chipper has no heart….ect… The REAL problem is that Cox dosent know how to take players out of games when the games a blowout. And REALLY sucks at managing a bullpen.
By McFann©
June 29, 2008 9:41 PM | Link to this
BTW, A-Ville, how are the Wrens??
Night, Wayne!
braves-fan in pittsburgh—
Welcome aboard! I’m a local Gwinnett “type” (whatever that means, LOL) who lives in the Parkview district (I don’t go there, though)—but you don’t have to apologize to me! I don’t think it’s time to deem his career over, or close to being over…Someone’s bound to want him.
I don’t see him sticking with the Braves for the long term, but I’ve been wrong before.
By BravesFanInRockies
June 29, 2008 9:42 PM | Link to this
KC,
Let me preface this by saying hindsight is always 20/20 and I openly concede that Wren has done well given the bad hand that injuries and age dealt him.
Why I say the jury’s still out is because we have to see how he handles a roster he largely inherited.
Wren did emphasize building depth in the rotation and the bullpen and the team has needed it.
I also mostly agree with THB’s grades on Wren’s deals.
The Glavine signing I consider incomplete. If he can come back by, say, Aug. 1 and help the team win, it’s probably a B. If not, then it’s a D or F. No one should have expected him to miss a considerable amount of time given his history, but then again, he’s over 40. Such a breakdown has to be considered a possibility. And while $8 million may seem like chump change for a reliable veteran starter, it’s still $8 million, or about 10 percent of the payroll.
Wren’s also responsible for the composition of the bench — Corky, Gotay, Norton. (OK, they’re better than Woodward and Orr, but still …)
Wren focused so much on building pitching depth that they wound up with a bench that’s maybe average. If your regulars are indestructible, no big deal. But if a couple of key guys have a history of missing time with injuries, then it’s hard to field a championship caliber club if the bench is suspect.
By David O'Brien
June 29, 2008 9:44 PM | Link to this
Braves lineup without Chipper is probably going to see a lot more of what they got today, with Teixeira getting pitched around now that he’s heated up. But most days, you gotta think Mac will fare better than he did today.
Still, Braves need to get contributions from Escobar and Kotsay right away if they want to win this series against the Phillies. They’ve got a bit of a break with Houston and the Dodgers on the schedule after that, then might have Chipper back for San Diego before the break. Even without Chipper, they should be able to compete with those teams in their current states, though you’ve got to believe the Phillies are due to break out of their mind-boggling funk….
Just ready this one from NED:
“…Put a fork on this 2008 Atlanta Braves…Chipper said it himself…Without Smoltz its going to get pretty difficult to win the division…NOW IMAGINE BOTH OUT for an extended period of time!!…Im just saying be prepared fellow Braves fans..they say chipper will be ready to go in the series against San Diego…i bet Chipper will be ready(100 percent) 2 WEEKS AFTER THE ALL STAR GAME!!!”Ned
I’d say it’d be at least “pretty difficult” to win the division with or without Smoltz. It’s always pretty difficult to win a division these days, any division.
But they’re actually closer to first place now than they were when Smoltzy was lost for the season (they’re four games out of first now, were 4.5 out three weeks ago) and Braves starters have pitched better in past few weeks than they have all season as a unit.
Oh, and no one said Chipper would be ready for San Diego. I wrote today that he’d be ELIGIBLE to come off the DL that day. Only you, Ned, have taken it upon yourself to suggest the proverbial “they” have said he’ll be ready that day.
Ned and others spewing utter nonsense tonight: Do you guys even pay attention at all to the other teams in the division? You know, the teams the Braves have to beat out to make it to the postseason? Are any of those teams world-beaters, in your view? Really?
What would you be saying about your team tonight if you were Phillies fans? They’ve got everyone in their lineup right now, and they don’t have a single hitter who’s batted .275 in June.
Folks, the Phillies have lost 9 of their last 11 games, including being swept at home by the Angels and losing two of three this weekend at Texas.
They have hit — are you ready for this? — .191 in their past 11 games, and scored two runs or fewer in seven of those games.
Pat Burrell is 6-for-38 (.158) with one homer and 14 strikeouts in 11 games.
Jimmy Rollins is 6-for-42 (.143) in 10 games and 23-for-106 (.217) in June.
Ryan Howard is 7-for-43 (.163) with one homer and 17 strikeouts in 11 games.
Now I know these guys will all hit, but seriously, what about that team leads you to believe they’re going to run away with the division?
Even the injury-ravaged Braves haven’t had an 11-game streak all season in which they lost nine games and hit under .200. And remember, Philly’s not been without key hitters in that stretch.
They have a team filled with streaky hitters, other than Utley (and he just went through a 1-for-29 that ended last week, so he’s not immune either).
By David O'Brien
June 29, 2008 9:53 PM | Link to this
I would think Bobby’s really got to be thinking about not running Frenchy out there when Kotsay gets back.
Kotsay can play RF (it’s where he spent a good part of his career) and Blanco can stays in CF, or reverse them. Either way, Blanco’s hot now, he’s got to keep playing. He’s had four straight multi-hit games.
At the very least, gotta play Blanco in LF and keep him in lineup. But seriously, there’s never been a more obvious time for Frenchy to get some games on the bench.
By McFann©
June 29, 2008 9:56 PM | Link to this
DOB But most days, you gotta think Mac will fare better than he did today.
Heck yeah!!
(That’s not sarcastic, BTW.)
They have hit — are you ready for this? — .191 in their past 11 games, and scored two runs or fewer in seven of those games.
Holy crud…I hope that doesn’t mean they’re due.
By McFann©
June 29, 2008 9:58 PM | Link to this
DOB I would think Bobby’s really got to be thinking about not running Frenchy out there when Kotsay gets back.
That would be something…
Well, I gotta run. This c