Chop Chick

By Eric

October 5, 2005 10:31 PM | Link to this

The mind-set of the Braves and their manager is illustrated nicely by the word “just.” Here are five quotes from after the game:

(Hudson) It just took me a little while to make adjstments.

(Hudson) I was just overthrowing.

(Hudson) … just leaving the rubber too quick.

(Cox) He was just too fired up.

(Cox) He just got the ball out of the strike zone.

This use of “just” is meant to minimize a lousy performance. As in, “I would have gotten an A in the course - - I just didn’t pass any of the tests.” It may be this subliminal message that makes fans so irate, maybe without even knowing why.

It is similar to our announcers’ tendency to use little bit. “Smith has only 2 hits in his last 87 at bats, so he is scuffling a little bit.

I would feel so much better if I heard Bobby say, “None of my managerial decisions worked out, Hudson was awful, our pen was horrid, and our hitting stunk.” Instead, all we get are veiled excuses and subtle denials that anything was all that bad.

By benny

October 5, 2005 10:44 PM | Link to this

In the post season, it all comes down to starting pitching. Pettitte got the job done while Hudson did not.

By Miles

October 5, 2005 10:58 PM | Link to this

Didnt we acquire Hudson for the sole purpose of having a top ace to match with smoltz against those Prior/Wood ace combinations that teams have thrown at us the last 3 years? We might as well of started with russ ortiz! I cant believe his mechanics were off in this game, hes had the whole season to fine tune knowing full well that he would be relied upon in the playoffs. This isnt the yankees/red sox lineup we’re facing, this a weak Houston lineup that has had to manufacture runs all year. We more or less handed the game to them by walking 9 batters!!! As bad as Hudson was, the bullpen was far worse with Reitsma doing his best Kolb impression. For the past few years we have had one of the top bullpens in the league with guys like hammond and gryboski and now we’re stuck with this laughable bunch. And whats with Cox starting estrada and franco?? Estrada has been terrible offensively since his injury and is only a mediocre defensive catcher anyway, McCann might of given us a spark with his clutch hitting. I understand that Franco hits well off of left handed pitchers but we needed more left handed bats in the lineup which is why laroche should have started. I know im going on a bit of a tantrum but this team has been bounced from the first round in 4 of the last 5 years, I dont think I can take another first round exit. Smoltz better pitch a gem tomorrow night if this team is to have any chance of advancing.

By Joe

October 5, 2005 11:11 PM | Link to this

I can always tell how bad a Braves game is going to be after the first inning. Lets face it, Cox in the post season is horrible. What does he say to these players before they go onto the field? All year long he has been right there at the top of the dugout giving each player motivation and where was he tonight? He was sitting next to the rocking Leo. Cox don;t fix what is not broken. Why start Jordan, Franco, and Estrada when Langerhans, Laroche, and McCann has been getting the job done? Stay with the chemistry that won you your 14th divisional title. Don’t play the “Jordan and Franco is my man” game. They are both great players and I was glad to see you left Jordan on the roster, but don;t do what you have done all of these years. And Braves fans….why were 10,000 seats empty? I grew up in Atlanta and now I have been in the Navy for 18 years. Show up and give support! Act like you are alive when you are at the game! One last thing…Chipper, good on you for going out and talking to Devine when he had the bases loaded. That showed what a true veteran, teamate, and class act you are.

By Donny

October 6, 2005 12:32 AM | Link to this

Not that losing wasn’t bad enough but to hear those ESPN announcers comment time after time on the empty seats, how great the big 3 are for the Astros, and every inning about the Braves not getting it done in October. But I feel like the rest of you. I just knew when I woke this morning that after the game I would have this burning pit in my stomach due to another loss. I try to stay as confident as possible but this is ridiculous. When I saw the bullpen warming up, I just assume Hudson get a lefties glove and throw left handed. Yeah we got Smoltz tomorrow, but they got Clemens. Health is an issue for Smoltz so you know the bullpen will come into effect at somepoint. And even if they do win, do any of us really feel confident with Sosa pitching in a must win game with all the pressure. We all saw what walks did to us today and Sosa, as good as he is, walks A LOT of guys. I don’t know but if they win this series, it would be nothing short of a miracle. I hate to say that and I hope I’m wrong but after todays game, what hope do we have?

By Jerry Holcombe

October 6, 2005 01:45 AM | Link to this

I saw absolutely nothing in today’s game that can convince me that the Braves are any better than they’ve shown over the last several weeks of the season. I honestly see a 3-game sweep by the Astros. If this is the way these guys are going to play, they don’t have a chance to win even 1 measley game. I certainly hope that some of our needs are addressed during the off-season. And we are, at best, a middling team if Hudson is to be our future. How could any of those idiots ever compare his ability to that of Maddux?

By Chop Chop

October 6, 2005 02:56 AM | Link to this

Hudson sure did a decent impression of “playoff Maddog”. Maddux would’ve walked one guy and given up hits to the other guys Hudson walked. Smoltz has always been the only starter the team and the fans have been able to count on in the postseason. Clemens is also ailing, so I think the injury situation is a wash. It’s going to be up to Smoltzie to come out and pitch big. If he does that, I hope to Almighty God that the team feeds off of that, does enough to win and then carries momentum into Houston with some early runs off Oswalt in Game 3. I really think that is the most legitimate chance we have of winning this series now. If we can make it to the NLCS, who knows? I’m just sick of going out in the first round. It reminds me of “Smitty From The City” and his Hawks of the mid-90s, and those teams didn’t even win their divisions.

By Steve Mac Arthur

October 6, 2005 05:59 AM | Link to this

That was a sick display of baseball…another year of disapointment is on the horizon

By HOWARD

October 6, 2005 06:10 AM | Link to this

BOBBY COX AND RANDY SANDERS(TENN.OFF.COACH] NEED TO BE TOGETHER! NOBODY COULD STOP THAT OFFENSE WITH ESTRADA AT QB,FRANCO AT RB AND BRIAN JORDAN AT WR. 3 AND OUT!!!!!!!!

By aaron

October 6, 2005 07:42 AM | Link to this

Bobby Cox blantantly insults the fans of Atlanta by trotting out BRIAN JORDAN, who should have retired 3 years ago, and JOHNNY ESTRADA, the only catcher in baseball who should be wearing a dress instead of shin guards. And we are supposed to come out and support THIS? NEVER! Year after year Cox finds a way to baffle us with his hilarious postseason moves. I’m sure the young players who got us this far appreciated getting butt sores on the pine yesterday watching these has beens gobble their well earned shot at playoff glory. I hope they return the favor when they reach free agency and bolt. I could care less about division titles - this is the most overblown streak in the histroy of sports - anyone who brags about it is not a true competitor and a second rate sports fan. Do you think anyone else around the world cares we won 14 divisions in a row? H*LL NO! They laugh at us for not finishing the job year after year. Cox STINKS!

By Tony

October 6, 2005 08:38 AM | Link to this

Andy Petite, Roger Clemens and hell even Jorge Sosa come from the hitter friendly Anerican League to the pitcher friendly National League and dominate. Tim Hudson is just average. He’s not a hall of famer, he has never been a stopper, he’s small, doesn’t have great stuff, and been a dismal failure in the postseason. Oh he fits right in with the Braves. Damn. Why can’t we get in pitcher to step up in the postseason? Is it the passive pitching style Mazzone teaches? The laid back style of Cox? I don’t blame the Braves fans for not coming out. I agree the 14 division titles in a row is actually embarassing. 5 World Series appearances and 1 title. The Yankees have won 8 divisions titles in a row 6 World Series appearances and 4 titles. Hell even the Marlins…well you get the picture.

I said this last year, but maybe it’s time for a Tony Dungy/Jon Gruden switch off. Bobby has been great, but we need a kick in the a* to get to the next level. His instincts have never been great ever since he played Lemke in ‘91 instead of Treadway. By the way, Lemke had one good postseason…he was a very below average 2nd baseman. Somehow he is looked at as a good Braves player…what is that? Selective memory…

Furcal…good riddance. You have underachieved ever since your rookie year…sure you had a great “contract push” in the 2nd half, but you are almost 30, still overswinging…it’s not worth it. Francouer…put up or shut-up young man.

By steve

October 6, 2005 08:55 AM | Link to this

I just do not understand how we can look so bad in post season, year after year after year. Other playoff teams have hitters up and down their lineup. We are LUCKY to have 2 people hitting in the same game. But then again we scored 5 runs - FIVE - against good pitching and that was not enough for our multi-million dollar pathetic pitching staff. Do not bother to go to the Ted tonight - it will be raining - water and Astro’s runs.

By William

October 6, 2005 09:06 AM | Link to this

The “Fat Lady” is warming up!!! I’m sooooooooooo TIRED of being disappointed again!!! It is really getting hard to be a Braves fan!!!

Go White Sox!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Fabrizio Di Muro

October 6, 2005 09:09 AM | Link to this

series isn’t over yet, but we HAVE TO WIN TODAY. That’s, of course, obvious.

Hudson wasn’t good enough, overall he didn’t pitch good, but he kept us in the game. When he left, we were down 5 - 3 and still had a chance to win it. The middle relief, as we all figured, killed us.

We did manage to get their bullpen in the game, and almost brought the tying run to the plate, and had Lidge throwing. These are little things, but the more they have to get guys up and throwing in the bullpen, and the mroe they have to bring them into the game, the better that is the longer the series goes. Small things, yes, but they do make a difference.

It’s a new day, and Smoltz is on the hill. If the offense can do its job again, then we have a good shot at winning. We could be up 2 - 1 in this series within a couple of days.

By Marc

October 6, 2005 09:38 AM | Link to this

Eric,

I totally agree with everything you said, especially the part about the announcers. That’s always been a pet peeve of mine, especially with Van Wieren.

Hudson has not been a dominant pitcher for a couple of years. He is most likely the most overrated pitcher in the league. His command has been poor all year. As soon as he gave up the leadoff single to Biggio, I knew what was coming. Hudson was missing his target by four or five feet in some cases-I’ve never seen anything like that.

The fact is, the Braves aren’t a very good team. They have been basically .500 for the last couple of months. Everyone focuses on Houston’s weak offense, but they have been winning games and they have much better pitching. The Braves offense is not all that great itself and, of course, they never produce in the playoffs. And, of course, even if the Braves get good starting pitching, the bullpen is poisonous.

It’s not Bobby Cox’s fault they lose. It’s ownership that has saddled the team with a payroll to small to make the necessary moves. But, if I owned the team, there are two things I would do. First, I would tear down all the banners except for the years they went to the World Series. Who needs more celebration of division titles and I certainly would not trot out new banners every time they clinch the division. Second, I would forbid John Schuerholz or Bobby Cox from talking about what a great year we had when they lose in the first round. Maybe that’s all that can be expected with TW owning the team, but it’s time to stop making this acceptable.

By Fred

October 6, 2005 10:04 AM | Link to this

Hudson has taken up right where he left off in the AL post season, he’s 0 for all starts. Smoltz will start tonight but his shoulder problems won’t let him finish so the goat pen will toss game 2. Cox should send Reitsma and Foster for the beer and hotdogs, give the ball to Devine and Mcbride and hope for the best. Cox will probably be the NL manager of the year, maybe deservedly so, he has proven time after time that he is a players manager in that he seems to fall in love with certain players, even if it means the team loses. Alas the Astros in 4.

By Will

October 6, 2005 11:01 AM | Link to this

Key situation eveyone is upset about the performance yesterday as well as myself but here are key things that should have happened, Brian Jordan I liked you in 2000 2005 NO start Langerhans or even Kelly Johnson he works the pitch count we need base runners. Julio Franco great guy and player but Roachy needs to hit Leftys perfect time to do it. Hudson and staff 9 walks you will always lose. Did anyone see that pitch Chipper hit for the double when have you ever seen him swing at at pitch that high he is trying to get it done. Johnny Estrada hey I like ya Man but you havent been the same since Erstad! McCann needs to play remember his clutch hitting 2 weeks ago? The Play that really got me heated was Francour hits a triple betimet gets on 1st and 3rd 1 out furcal up to the plate he had a great at bat but betimet should have been at second to take away the DP you are already down by 5 runs you think they are going to risk having Francour score by throwing an errant throw by BRAD ASUMUS to get betimet? Keys To Success Raffy you got to get on base bunt, take ball other way something once on you need to use those wheels Clemens doesnt really hold runners well Giles we need that gap power you have BAD. Chipper we see you want it Mash on them same for you Andruw. Play Francouer,Langerhans,Roachy,McCann as much as you can and kids you need to do the little things. Houston does not have that I gonna hit you out type power yeah yeah Berkman,and that other guy but why did Garner take Wily Taveres out of the game for Bagwell who cant play a postion? He has no line drive or gap power to get it out the infield. The Little things can win it Braves and in a 7 game series they can beat anyone. Go Smoltzie, Sosa Chipper and Andruw keep mashing Giles you are soooooooooooooooo important and win this D*MN thing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By John K

October 6, 2005 11:08 AM | Link to this

The Braves have been terribly inconsistent all season, but I for one appreciate this division title, playoff wins or not. If anyone had known back in April how many rookies would be on the roster, the loss of Hampton, Jones & Thompson for long stretches, and that the N.L East would end up being the most competitive in baseball, most everyone would have picked Atlanta no higher than third. Instead of always whining about playoff exits (although a trip to at least the NLCS would be nice one of these years), it could be worse. We could be forced to suffer through a season like in Detroit, Kansas City or Colorado.

By Carroll

October 6, 2005 11:13 AM | Link to this

Did ANYBODY else notice the pitiful effort by CJ on the bloop liner hit by Bagwell? It was right at him and he missed it. It was 5-3 at the time and that was the nail in the coffin. Typical typical typical..all the way around. EVERYONE gets the credit for this debacle.

By LongTimeFan

October 6, 2005 11:14 AM | Link to this

The Braves take that ‘Boys of Summer’ moniker a bit too literally. They’re fading just like clockwork.

I think there’s som’n to be said about scraping your way into the playoffs vs clinching hadily year after year.

I am really tired of all the self-congratulatory back patting every year after winning the division. I think subconsciously these guys think, “our work here’s done”…

By Jeffrey

October 6, 2005 11:15 AM | Link to this

Enough about the Braves. So what 14 straight titles. So what rookies on the team. They can’t win when it counts. Sure it’s great to make the playoffs but how about winning in the playoffs. Let’s talk about a team that is ripping apart baseball. Might I mention the Chicago White Sox. Up 2-0 against the World Champions. The White Sox are not your choker Yankees. And to think I would love to see a White Sox - Atlanta Braves world series so that I could go and cheer on the Sox and say I have been to the World Series. However I just don’t see that happening because the Braves don’t look like they will make it out of the first round AGAIN!

By Mike H

October 6, 2005 11:21 AM | Link to this

For 14 years, Bobby Cox has managed teams to regular season titles. In most of those years we have failed in the post season. Why, because the same loyalty that Bobby shows to players over 162 games is a noose around our necks in a 5 games series. Where are the rookies that made the season exciting (for the first time in years) and successful? Jordan, Estrada and Franco - great guys and should all be on the bench. Bobby needs to light a fire under these millionaires. How do teams win a short series? By thinking it is a 1 game series and leaving it all on the field, not by thinking there are 161 more games.

While I am venting, why is Chris Reitsma on the team? This is not a good player and his performance over the past 30 days is a disgrace to him and the organization. Keep him on his lazy boy at home with Dan Kolb.

Play the rookies, light a fire under the veterans or they will all be on vacation by Saturday.

By Keith

October 6, 2005 11:23 AM | Link to this

OK, I’ve read every single post and all but one of them has been pessimistic! I know it’s easy to get pessimistic, but my gosh people, THE BRAVES HAVE ONLY LOST ONE GAME! Forget about the last 9 years of early exits. Forget about only 1 World Series ring with 14 division titles. Good gosh, get your butts in the seats and sell the freaking stadium out!!!! No wonder the Braves don’t win in the playoffs - they read these pessimistic columns from the fans and don’t see them in the stands! Have you been to a sold-out Falcons game lately? Do you realize how much they actually do feed off the fans? The fans get the Falcons pumped up, fluster the opponent, and the Falcons can get it done! As for the Braves, get excited, start posting POSITIVE things about the Braves, and GO TO THE GAMES! A little support has never been a bad thing. My buddy and I felt like we were the only ones at the game yesterday.

By Robert

October 6, 2005 12:07 PM | Link to this

This is for Keith: Are you telling me that you plan on buying tickets to every round…even as the prices go up each round?

By Robert

October 6, 2005 12:12 PM | Link to this

Keith - Are you trying to tell me that you are going to pony up the money for a game in every single series…even as the games get more and more expensive?

Perhaps some people are saving their nickles for the pricier games in the later rounds…or have families that makes it very hard to afford to bring to the game.

By Eric

October 6, 2005 12:17 PM | Link to this

I like your good spirit, Keith, but I guarantee no Brave reads these blogs. I doubt that they even read the AJC. Also, I think the game attendance thing is a copout. I can’t be convinced that the team can play well with 50,000 in the stands, but not with 40,000.

Baseball is a business, not a gift to the fans. I have a right to do business with them or not. If going there involves making my way through neighborhoods where I’m not welcome and paying obscene prices for awful products, then I opt out, and apparently a lot of other people do too. Baseball can’t have it both ways. It can’t operate as a business and yet expect the fans to ignore market forces.

By Nicholas Irwin

October 6, 2005 12:24 PM | Link to this

Don’t give me that crap, Robert. This is the only freaking city in America where that is accepted as a legitimate excuse. Division Series tickets are only marginally more expensive than regular season tickets. I’m a college student. Do you think I have a lot of money? But I wish to God I was in town because if I was, I would’ve gone to BOTH games. Anyone who uses money as an excuse doesn’t really wanna be there anyway.

By DrBert

October 6, 2005 12:31 PM | Link to this

Would someone explain to Tim Hudson that an ERA above 4 might make you a good pitcher in the AL, but not in the Senior Circuit? I’m sure the management thought they were getting a stud, but instead got a dud…maybe they should have gone for Mark Mulder instead…Nice to see that other people are tired of the Braves hitting into DP’s to end any chances for a rally…When will these players learn to work a pitcher, so that he will tire before the 7th or 8th inning? I remember a game last year when the opposing pitcher was clearly having control problems, and AJ promptly swings at the first pitch thrown to him…Hopefully the rookies will get to play tonight and show us all how the Braves got to this point…at least Langerhans, McCann, and LaRoche (though not a rookie) know how to get a clutch hit…

By CJ

October 6, 2005 12:34 PM | Link to this

I’ve been a fan since Hammerin’ Hank played and I’ll take an annual trip to the post season any day over what we endured in the eighties (with the exception of 82&83). Am I frustrated with the recent early exits? Sure. Do I get tired of hearing about how we have but a single WS title during all those years? Absolutely. To be disappointed is natural. And it’s certainly the prerogative of a fan to second guess lineups/moves that BC makes. But to belittle what the Braves have accomplished the last 14 years and call them losers is just ignorant.

BTW Tony, lay off the Lemmer. He may not have been the greatest 2nd baseman of all time, but his .272 post season average (including .417 in the ’91 WS, .333 in the ’92 NLCS, and .444 in the ’96 NLCS) and his career .984 fielding percentage aren’t too shabby. He was a scrapper and a gamer that played way over his head when it mattered most.

Look for Smoltzie to come up big tonight and for Sosa (9-0, 1.81 on the road) to get it done on Saturday. After that, we’ll see what happens.

By Ron Roberts

October 6, 2005 12:37 PM | Link to this

A few rebuttals…

1. Marc…I, too, am not thrilled with the organization pinching pennies when they have small holes that need filling, but Cox isn’t devoid of blame. The bullpen IS and has been a problem all season, and if Cox truly believed he needed more than he was given, he wouldn’t have KEPT trotting Kolb out there day-in, day-out. He’d have let the guy sit out there and colllect dust between blowouts. It’s as if AOL/TW were building a car and bought the BEST engine, a great body, interior, and oh by the way, forgot the steering wheel. They tow the line on their budget, not budging even slightly, yes. But Bobby Cox has some say in what he needs, and I believe if he’d TRULY said to John Schuerholz and the higher-ups that “we can’t get by with this bullpen,” then we’d have made a deal to shore it up. I think Bobby believed (as have I) he could manage through the postseason with what we had and what we’d be adding from the rotation since we’d only use 3-4 starters.

2. To those who are disappointed in what we’ve gotten out of Tim Hudson… his ERA was the same this year as it was last. He was coming off an injury-plagued season last year and just hasn’t been the “ace” he was in 2002 and 2003, period. I was one of the very few “negative” bloggers who wsn’t completely sold on this guy as being “ace” material when we got him, but I think he’s been about as good as we could expect for a guy changing leagues, coasts, etc. Ironically, he pitched LIGHTS OUT in that bandbox they call a stadium in Houston, if there’s anything to have hope for.

3. Carroll… get off the “Chipper didn’t try” crap, man. He reached out for that single Bagwell hit. The ball barely cleared his glove. You make it sound as if he stood there, flat-footed and just half-@ssedly reached over for it, when the replay showed FULL EXTENSION. It was a good hit, and he made good effort for it.

Bottom line is this… you metro Atlanta folks ought to be ashamed for not showing up. You can sit at home and ‘expect’ all you want, but if you don’t show up, you aren’t helping the cause any. Just flat out pathetic that a metropolitan area with over 2.5 million can’t get 50,000 to the stadium for a PLAYOFF game. Excuses are worthless. Every city has to deal with them. If we got the primetime slot, we’d still not sell out, and we’d say the games are too late. There IS no optimal timeslot for this market, apparently. I’m starting to think that Atlanta’s not a baseball town, after all.

And I can’t help but wonder now if the Braves’ brass regrets their last-minute push to add seats to Turner Field when the original designs only called for a 40-ish thousand seat stadium.

By Not Bobby

October 6, 2005 12:51 PM | Link to this

Thanks Tim Hudson for doing your best Kenny Lofton Free Agent impersonation. Bobby can’t be blamed for any of these post season losses. All he does is stick his 15 million dollar starter out there and he can’t throw a freaking strike. I’m sick of us playing down at playoff time.Would somebody please step up for once?

By Keith

October 6, 2005 01:10 PM | Link to this

Nicholas -

You da man.

Here is another reason why, in my last post, I made a note about the sold-out Falcons games. Obviously there are plenty of people who have the money to go to those games, which by the way, are much more expensive than Braves games, and which are also, by the way, on the heels of Vine City - one of the roughest neighborhoods in Atlanta.

By Keith

October 6, 2005 01:24 PM | Link to this

And by the way… I know it’s hard to go to a lot of games. Yes, it does cost a lot of money.

BUT, is it really that hard for Atlanta to get 50,000 people out of the Atlanta population, as Ron Roberts said, to go to one game? Just think, that’s only 150,000 of Atlanta’s population needing to pay the same amount as a regular season ticket to go to a Division Series game. I would sincerely hope that 6% of our population could afford to go to one game.

By Eric

October 6, 2005 02:34 PM | Link to this

I still haven’t heard anyone explain how it is that the Braves would have played better if there had been 50,000 in the stands rather than 40,000. I can understand all the griping if it’s a matter of civic pride or wanting to look good on ESPN. But can we really believe that Hudson would have pitched better if 10,000 more people had shown up? Bobby explained the Hudson debacle by saying that he was too fired up. That might imply that Hudson would have pitched better with 10,000 fewer fans.

By Roop

October 6, 2005 03:02 PM | Link to this

Braves have to remember a pretty simple strategy. You have to outscore your opponents to win. If Brian Jordan is in the starting lineup today, you may see me out on the field.

By john

October 6, 2005 03:05 PM | Link to this

The Braves did not lose because they did not sell out or because they didn’t start a bunch of rookies.They lost because of poor pitching.Five runs is enough to win.The ownership of the Braves is perfectly willing to let Bobby Cox take the heat for the Braves playoff failures rather than admit their failure to provide him with better players.I do believe that players win championships.

By Eric

October 6, 2005 03:06 PM | Link to this

I’m with Eric. Let’s try a different strategy for a change. We can’t win with people in the stadium, so let’s see if they can win without any fans in the stadium. Then they won’t be distracted or “too pumped up.”

Wait..wait…. Yup, Chris Reitsma just gave up another run.

By Global

October 6, 2005 03:13 PM | Link to this

The Braves announcers have by far the most blatant “homers” of any major league team.

They overstate the positive and ignore the negative. It’s no wonder fans get the feeling the team is the greatest thing since sliced bread and are shocked when they lose in the play-offs.

For Pete’s sake (not Pete Van Wieren) they won only two more games than the much-maligned Phillies this season.

By Tony

October 6, 2005 03:15 PM | Link to this

Who cares if the Braves didn’t sell out…that’s not the reason the Braves didn’t win. Plus the Braves have tons of fans across the coutry b/c of TBS. Furthermore, only 1 championship in 14 years is enough to make anyone tired. The division series has become just another series…

Again it goes back to pitching. And who is the ace of the Braves for the future. Do we have a Dontrell Willis, Carlos Zambrano, Ben Sheets, Roy Oswalt type in our system. Hard throwing, big, power type starting pitching in our system? As a matter of fact, who was the last successful starting pitcher the Braves developed withing their system? Is Horatio Ramirez it? So tired of these soft tossing control pitchers who get clobbered in the post season.

By david

October 6, 2005 03:25 PM | Link to this

Global,you’re way off base on “homers” for announcers.I have the extra innings package.The Braves announcers are probaly in the lower half for being homers and soft on the home team.You may find it hard to believe but they are somewhat better than other announcing teams.You want true”Homerism” try Hawk Harrelson and his trusted sidekick on White Sox telecasts. The Braves announcers would come off like most of the “negative neds” on this block beside the Hawk.

By Marc Spoor

October 6, 2005 03:51 PM | Link to this

I am tired of reading how the Braves would have won if the stadium were sold out. I was born and raised in Los Angeles, and have been a die hard Braves fan for 25 years. I met Dale Murphy at Dodger stadium, and he took a picture with me, and signed a ball. From that moment on I hated the Dodgers and was a Braves fan through and through. Regretably I have not yet seen a game in Atlantaa, every year I go to all the games in LA and some in San Diego. I can tell you right now that the Dodgers sell out nearly every game and they do not win. They sold out every fgame of the last two playoff series they were in and won one game. There is no way the Braves would have won with 10,000 more fans in the stands.

The problem lies with the strategy that JS and BC employ, they draft, trade, and sign guys to get to the post season, no tto win in the post season. Maddux, Glavine(save for one year), Avery, Hampton, Hudson, these guys can’t cut it in the post season. We need power arms. We had Capellan, and Colon. But of course instead of trying to develop these guys, JS gives up on them and trades them. How great would it be to have to guys that throw 98-100 at the front of the rotation in a couple of years. How long did it take Randy Johnson to come into his own, or Curt Schilling. I like the look of Chuck James and Kyle Davies, but I guarantee you that they will not win in the post season.

This team needs a shake up. Let Furcal go, he swings for the fences, has a tendency to slump, and a tendency to drink. Take the 8 millon and bring in some power arms for the bullpen or rotation. This team needs to be shaken up. I love BC but he is to laid back, we need a guy like Jim Leyland some one who will kick but and not always do what is comfortable. Let the rookies play, let’s usher in a new era of clutch hitting and power arms.

As for Hudson, BC makes me sick with this he was to fired up Bull s**t. Hudson was tagged as an ace, he gets paid 12 millon a year, he does not get to be to fired up. He does not have the luxury to throw away a game maybe a playoff series, I mean come on. DId Michael Jordan ever get to fired up for a playoff game and go 0 for 20. Do you think if he did have an off game the fans would say, “you know there were 10,000 empty seats”. Do you think Derek Jeter ever goes 0 for a playoff series, or even makes an error. Or how about Andy Pettite, why wasn’t he to fired up, why didn’t he loose his control? Do you think Tom Brady ever gets to fired up for a super bowl, or Joe Montana. I’ll tell you why, because these guys are aces, MVP’s, and clutch. They get paid the big money to step up in big situations, and deliver championships for their fans. Those that don’t sre pretenders. Tim Hudson is no ace. He is simply typical of the good guy, soft tosser that JS and BC seem to always go out and get. I am and always will be a Braves fan I was when they won 60-70 games, and I will be when they win the division. It is time to win some more World Series. The simple fact is VHS tapes are outdated it is time that the Braves get some DVD’s.

Go Smoltz, our one proven winner, and go Braves. Let’s win with, or without a sell out.

By Nicholas Irwin

October 6, 2005 04:12 PM | Link to this

And let’s not forget that a bunch of these people travel every weekend with whatever college football team they root for, and if that team isn’t Georgia Tech, they travel even to home games every weekend. That’s a pretty significant time and money commitment. You can’t tell me that you can’t drive downtown for an evening to watch a moderately-priced baseball game.

No, it’s not the reason that we lost, and I don’t think anyone is claiming that it is specficially the reason that we lost, but it is truly pathetic and there is no excuse for it. If you call yourself a Braves fan and you were in town and you didn’t have some other commitment, you should’ve been down there, period.

By Eric

October 6, 2005 04:50 PM | Link to this

But Nicholas, you still haven’t told us why? You say that not going to Turner Field is “pathetic,” but tell us why. Just explain it to us. Please.

By Old Coot

October 6, 2005 11:49 PM | Link to this

Please calm down people. Do any of you fairweather spoiled yuppies even remember what is was like in the 80’s losing 90-100 games a year? I bet not most you were in grade school. Get a grip people. What a bunch of nuts!

By Jerry Holcombe

October 7, 2005 01:03 AM | Link to this

Thank God that I was proven wrong on my prediction that the Braves would be swept by the Astros. It was nice to see young guys like McCann, Langerhans, and LaRoche lead the way for us tonight. The nice thing is that with Oswalt and Backe pitching the next 2 games in Houston, we should be seeing these same players in the lineup, except of course for McCann because Estrada can switch hit. Of course, Bobby should be shot if Estrada is seen behind the plate for tyhe next 2 games. And seeing as how Pettite made him look so bad in the first game, he should be shown the door. To be honest, if the Braves are fortunate enough to advance to the NL championship series, I would remove Estrada from the playoff roster in favor of Eddie Perez. Of course, I don’t even know if Eddie would be eligible, but if he were, he would do better than Estr(ogen)ada. What a wussy!

By Eric

October 7, 2005 09:22 AM | Link to this

Somewhat lost in the 2nd inning joy was Francoeur’s wonderful AB. His patience and selectivity led to a walk that extended the inning down to McCann. As the game went along, that patience deteriorated, and my hunch is that he subconsciously wanted to match his roomie’s contribution. I hope that team leaders and coaches will make it a point to give him some positive reinforcement for that AB.

By Adam

October 7, 2005 10:30 AM | Link to this

“There’s a lot of things going on in this city, a lot of negativity,� Smoltz said, referring to the here-we-go-again mood in Atlanta after the Braves lost their fourth consecutive division series opener at home.

So much for the fatalists thinking their attitudes don’t affect the team.

Regardless of what has happened (and yes, I was incensed at the lineup decisions made by Cox in Game 1), now is the time to get behind the team. Win or lose. Just think, if we lose, you’ll have the entire winter to complain. (Though I’m sure if this gritty team continues to surprise all of the naysayers and wins this Series and others, you’ll be saying “I told you so” to all of your friends and co-workers.) Typical.

And don’t worry - I know your response: “If this blog offends you, you should find another place to ….” And you’re exactly right. It has offended me - the 180 degree turn in the past day is patently rude. I mean, we were down by 1 game. Big deal. And I will go elsewhere - somewhere where I can cheer on the team with true believers.

By david

October 7, 2005 10:47 AM | Link to this

Well said Adam!

By Charlie Broadwater

October 7, 2005 10:53 AM | Link to this

Hey folks just remember that if we are so smart and know so much about how to manage a ball club, how come we ain’t in Atlanta making the Mega bucks and never losing a ball game? Come on folks knock off the negative garbage and if you are so tired of the Braves go elsewhere.Maybe the winning Mets can make you happy.

By josh

October 11, 2005 09:33 PM | Link to this

Chop Chick: We, the fans, deserve more from this organization.

Give me a break. The Braves organization doesn’t owe the fans anything. Division titles aren’t enough anymore? Would you rather follow an organization like the Cubs, that may win a division once or twice a decade, but ultimately fail every year? Or an organization like the Mets that trade away their minor leaguers and sign overrated, overpriced free agents and go nowhere? Evidently only winning the World Series counts as a successful season? Use a little common sense and appreciate what you are able to enjoy as a Braves fan.