Chop Chick

By Marc Spoor

October 9, 2005 12:03 AM | Link to this

I am about to vent, and I don’t care if all of those positive bloggers want to b***.

First off what the hell happens to Bobby Cox in the playoffs.

Why not let Sosa throw seven or even eight innigs? He had thrown pretty well and he kept us in the game. What the hell is Bobby Cox saving him for, next year? Like our bullpen is going to do better.

Why bring in Reeksma in the seventh, the guy flat out sucks. He should be used in blow out situations only, like game 2. Why not bring in Devine to start the inning? He throws hard, let him get himself in trouble. Instead Bobby is going to destroy this kid by bringing him into impossible situations.

Why bring in Foster instead of McBride? Foster sucks, he can’t get anyone out. He is not a situational pitcher.

Why not bring in McBride to startt the inning if you are not going to use him situationally.

Why not use Thompson? Committ to the fact that Hudson must start game four, and Smoltz game five.

Why pinch hit with Jordan, he is worthless. Look at Franco’s hit off Lidge. Bobby should have pinch hit with Franco.

I am sick of BC loosing playoff games for us, and I am sick of this bullpen. It is time to man up. Hitters need to come through, pitchers need to step up, and BC needs to stop outmanaging himself.

I am also tired of this at least we got here b*t, does anyone really care that much about getting 4 extra games. I want these guys to win a World Series, I think they can do it. Go Braves, now is the time.

By Marc Spoor

October 9, 2005 12:19 AM | Link to this

Jerry, you should reread my blog, and read Eric’s blog before calling me delusional. I think you will find my blog well thought out. Maybe you just don’t understand the nuiances of baseball. BC doesn’t deserve any criticism. I think you are delusional. Sosa is a major league pitcher, I am quiet sure he is capable of throwing more than 90 pitches. He was matching Oswalt almost. If you give him another inning or two, than I don’t know you do the math, we would have tied the game. Have we ever tried using McBride or Devine to start an inning. All I am saying is mix it up, the sign of a good manager is one who can adapt, and BC doesn’t show that. If you were trying to unlock a door with a key, and it didn’t work over and aver again, wouldn’t you try to use another key?

BC isn’t the only one to blame, but two starters kept us in the game and our offense has scored enough. IN my opinion these two losses fall squarely on the shoulders of Tim Hudson, Bobby Cox, and the bullpen.

By Ron Roberts

October 9, 2005 12:47 AM | Link to this

sigh

We have two rookies in the outfield corners, a rookie catcher, a pitcher cast off from TAMPA-FREAKING-BAY as our 3rd starter, and rookies in the bullpen we trust more than Dan Kolb-as-ice…

You blame Bobby Cox for any shortcomings this team has, this season?

You people should worship the ground he walks on. No other manager - none - would’ve gotten the Braves INTO this series, let alone, win it. Tony LaRussa gets all cutesy with his decisions in playoff games, and that’s great, but this guy had Mark McGuire AND Albert Pujols once upon a time, and couldn’t figure a way to play ‘em both (or, oh by the way, have a .500 record while Big Mac hit 70 homers). So who’d have done better?

I’m sick of the elly aching about Bobby Cox. You delusional creeps seem to have this misbegotten notion that this year’s Braves squad is destined to hoist the WS trophy, without question. Are you kidding me?

With all our rookies (some of which, we rely on DAILY), with this bullpen (which JS did his best to make better - and did with Farnsworth, yet didn’t expect such a drop-off in Reitsma), and against this pitching staff… I think it’s been a bit pie-in-the-sky for some followers to hae expected something more.

Hey, don’t get me wrong. Do I BELIEVE the Braves can win two in a row and move on? Sure! Can they go on to beat the (assumed) Cardinals? Yeah, they COULD. Could they win the whole thing? Yeah, stranger things have happeneed. But I kid ya not, even if they got to that level of the playoffs, we’d still have malcontents on here b**ing their fingers numb about Bobby Cox’s inadequacies.

It’s a bit myopic to pay attention to this team’s performance - from the manager on down - in a time when the competition is vastly superior to the teams we’ve faced in the regular season (I hear they only let the good teams in the playoffs). Take the time to even notice that this squad shouldn’t even be where they are, and appreciate that, alright?

My prayers are with Tim Hudson. I have faith in the guy. I think we’ll at least come home to have a chance. It all rides on his arm - for 8 innings, I hope. If he does his thing, I think our bats will do just fine tomorrow. Oswalt was just too good tonight. And Furcal/Giles did very little to even try and get on base tonight. Get creative, boys. Furkie, drop and leg out a bunth for once this postseason, kid.

Go Braves!

By Eric

October 9, 2005 10:02 AM | Link to this

Not to nit-pick, but Sosa’s actual pitch count was 82, not 90, which included two intentional walks. However, Bobby’s explanation had nothing to do with pitch count. He just felt that he had to pinch in the 7th because we were down a run, it was getting late, and Lidge was in the wings. This tempers my earlier views a little. Remember how we all howled when Bobby let Hudson hit late in the game? After a good night’s sleep, I’m less inclined to criticize the decision.

However, I still think I see sagging shoulders on the field when Reitsma is brought in, much like we saw when Kolb came in. Bobby couldn’t use Thomson because it was clear that Thomson would have pitched game 4 if the Braves had pulled it out in game 3. Homerio was the next-to-last guy I wanted to see. I wish Bobby would show more confidence in McBride.

Today’s good dream scenario is Hudson lights out for 8 innings and some offense against Backe. The nightmare scenario is Hudson wild high and bullpen by the 6th inning. Meanwhile, the Cards have swept and are setting their rotation. Ugh.

By William

October 9, 2005 10:12 AM | Link to this

Where has CHIPPER been this series???? Notice how the Astro’s high paid hitters have come through, where is CHIPPER??? .182????

By Adam

October 9, 2005 10:20 AM | Link to this

Reitsma sux. Kolb sux. BC cannot manage a post season ball club. Every year it is the same song and dance. I am sick of it. I feel like I am watching the Braves of old with the likes of Bruce Sutter, Jerry Royster, and Biff Pocoroba.

By William

October 9, 2005 10:27 AM | Link to this

All the “Experts” talk about is how the Astro’s are such a light hitting team!!!

If that is TRUE, then the Braves are Minor Leaguers!!!

By Joe Roman

October 9, 2005 10:38 AM | Link to this

It’s pretty clear now. today, it will take more than five runs an at least seven innings from the starting pitcher. The good news is all the Braves have to do in the off season is re-stock the bullpen. Between the farm and those already on board, the position players will be fine, but I’d feel a whole lot better of they re-sign Ferky.

By Preston

October 9, 2005 10:39 AM | Link to this

The Braves simply need to get rid of their entire bullpen except Farnsworth. Their performance this season has been nothing short of ridiculous. With good middle relievers the Braves are a serious World Series contender. With what we have now in middle relief, we’re a running joke. It’s time for this to stop. The owners need to spend the money to get quality relievers. We as fans need to start selling out every home game so the team can afford to get good talent every year (e.g., The Yankees).

By William

October 9, 2005 10:40 AM | Link to this

Where is Furcal??? Giles??

Look at the Stats, they do not lie!!!!

Braves - Furcal, Giles, Chipper .209 in front of Andruw .636

Astros - Biggio, Traveras, Berkman .429 in front of Ensberg .417

Everybody wants to blame the bullpen (which is bad), but look at our so-called “AllStars”

If we could hit, maybe our bullpen wouldn’t be under so much pressure all the time!!!

The only game we won, we hit, took the lead, won with this bullpen!!

Does anyone not see the problem???

By Joe Roman

October 9, 2005 10:43 AM | Link to this

William, you idiot, Chipper personally won game two. Do you hire someone to type for you? You’re obviously too stupid to figure out a keyborad all by yourself. Jeez!

By William

October 9, 2005 10:47 AM | Link to this

Roman, And your so smart??? Is this your first season watching baseball???

By Joe Roman

October 9, 2005 11:12 AM | Link to this

Gee William. When a team hits and pitches well, it wins. When a team hit and pitches not so well, it loses. Wow! That is so profound……so original. You’ve got my nomination for the Nobel Prize for stating the obvious. By the way, William, the contraction you are so desperately seeking is ‘you’re’. It is short for ‘you are’. That is why it is called a contraction. Your choice, ‘your’ is personal possessive meaning ‘belongs to you’. Get a grip. Chipper hit well in game two. He didn’t hit in game three. Roy Oswalt had something to do with that. It is called good pitching. Sometimes things don’t go the way you want. Screaming, crying and seeking scapegoats doesn’t make the disappointment go away, it just makes you look like a childish fool.

By Carroll

October 9, 2005 11:27 AM | Link to this

William: you’re right about CJ and his usual disapperaing act. Yes he made a decent play in game 2, but he made a poor effort for Bagwell’s soft liner in game 1 that really opened the flood gates; he let a weak Tavarez grounder trickle by him last night without so much as stretching his arm out for it or god-forbid diving; and all while he’s batting his usual playoffs low of .180ish and no emotion. Yeah that’s some allstar! Don’t pay attention to these other guys…they’re so far up the home team’s rear that they cannot see objectively. Next they’ll be saying that the bullpen’s not all that bad and BC is just the victim of bad luck.

By braves fan

October 9, 2005 12:06 PM | Link to this

Joe if you needed any substaniation that you are right,that William is an idiot,I give you Carroll jumping on board with William on what is better known as “The Bandwagon of Stupidity”.Carroll is the most clueless person that visits these boards with any regularity.William is just as oafish and stupid as Carroll.

By Brian Donegan

October 9, 2005 12:26 PM | Link to this

Well a few hours after the game last night I was positive because if Hudson can go 8 innings I think we can win tonight. Also I figured that Smoltz can dominate like he did on Thursday night in Game Five. Well those thoughts are dashed today as Ramirez has been named the Game 5 starter. Throw in the towel that’s it. Ramirez can’t get it done. I guess Smoltz’s arm is bothering him. Might as well lose today cause we can’t win with Ramirez pitching on Monday night.

By True Braves Fan

October 9, 2005 12:30 PM | Link to this

Ron Roberts, Joe Roman, and braves fan: Thank you very much for your comments. Your summed it up very well…Thanks again.

By MT

October 9, 2005 12:46 PM | Link to this

Carroll/William, I have to disagree with you on Chipper. “his usual disappearing act.” So, you call .291, 13 HRs, 47RBIs career postseason disappearing, huh? And to call his play in Game 2 “decent,” c’mon. That’s a little too convenient for your argument. It was shown all over the highlight reels Thursday night and Friday. Crucial play in a critical situation. It doesn’t get better than that. He didn’t hit well last night, but then again, who else did? Would you like to put in Betemit instead? Or Marte? You’re entitled to your opinion, but make sure it makes sense.

By Rodger

October 9, 2005 12:53 PM | Link to this

I want to believe too, but whay does anyone think Huddy dominates today? Have we seen anything all season, much less game 1, that gives us that faith?

Regardless, if Reeksma is even IN the bullpen today, Cox should be suspended, fired, shot, whatever!

By Joe Roman

October 9, 2005 01:02 PM | Link to this

Thanks Ron, braves fan and True Braves Fan. It’s nice to know there are other adults happy to just take what the Braves and by extension, the game of baseball is willing to give them.

By Carroll

October 9, 2005 01:47 PM | Link to this

Yes…nice to know there are losers out there willing to accept b****** underperformance and idiotic decision making. Ofcourse they’re all the same person but there’s at least one more loser.

By Brian Donegan

October 9, 2005 01:55 PM | Link to this

Rodger,

it was jsut a few weeks ago against the Mets (on three days rest) Hudson pitched eight innings and got a shut-out victory.

Another thought-

MLB needs to make some changes to the rulebook. One of them needs to keep home teams from doing things giving them too much of an advantage. If you have crystal clear skies and comfortable temperatures, you should not be allowed to keep your retractable roof closed in the playoffs. You also can’t keep turing the air conditioning on and off to get a ndadvantage either (Remember the Metrodime in 1991 anyone?)

By Rodger

October 9, 2005 02:05 PM | Link to this

Wmat I remember of 91 in Minneapolis is Leibrandt & Puckett, Hrbeck tackling Gant @ 1st, & Lonnie Smith being stoned on the bases!

By Brian Donegan

October 9, 2005 02:58 PM | Link to this

Do a seatch in the stacks. The Metrodome staff admitted to turing the a/c on and off throughtout the World Series there (in ‘91). They turned the a/c on when the Braves were at bat to knock down fly balls and turned the a/c off for the Twins so it was more favoable for Twins batters. The story was in the paper before we played them in Interleague action a few years back.

By Joe Roman

October 9, 2005 03:28 PM | Link to this

As cliche’ as it may be, I have to blame the media. Nobody wants to let the games unfold. Everybody wants to be a Cassandra, a soothsayer. Posing as an expert is more important than watching the damn game to way, way too many so-called fans..Face it, they’re NOT fans, they’re just looking for a mechanism to make them feel like a bigshot. It’s really pretty sad.

By Brian Donegan

October 9, 2005 04:00 PM | Link to this

A few thoughts as we go th the 9th

1. Interesting choice as far as Farnsworth is concerned. I thought it was a good one and the inning should have reflected that. Cheap Grand Slam. It shouldn’t have been four runs. Should have been three runs. Mr. Dumb Dumb umpire blew a call and cost us an our. Plus the walk before the HR was a strike out, instead was called a ball and loaded the bases. The home run shouldn’t have happened. Thank you, Blue!

2. An apology and a thought. The “Ramirez starts game 5” rumor swas started by Pete Van Wieren on the radio (Chip and Don corrected him later). Cox has not made his decision yet apparently. If, and that’s a BIG IF at this point, we get back to Atlanta who knows, Ramirez could get through 5 innings. Instead of using the bullpen bring Smoltz in and let him at the Astros again. But let’s get through the bottom of this inning first

By Rodger

October 9, 2005 04:12 PM | Link to this

Game 5! What game 5?

By Brian Donegan

October 9, 2005 04:15 PM | Link to this

Well now what? I feel so bad for Farnsworth. Two cheap home runs. One that should have not been hit, and the one that ties the ballgame that in any other ballpark would be a double. How are we going to get out of this jam? tenth inning and the only pitcher in your bullpin that has pitched well has pitched for two innings. Does anyone have any antacids?

By Michael

October 9, 2005 04:19 PM | Link to this

Bobby’s moves cost us AGAIN.

Why take take out Laroche for Franco? Why? Laroche was two for four with a grand slam. Cox would say for “defensive reasons.” According to those who know, Laroche is a better fielder and his spot was due up at the start of the ninth. And hasn’t Franco cost the Braves two outs in the playoffs for not stretching and getting outs. So why?

And why is Ramirez or Thompson not in the pen? If they are not starting, why not bring them out in relief? At worst, they are still better than anyone else we have got.

And what is the worst is that Bobby would start Franco and Jordan again if we happen to make it to game 5.

Bobby has got to go.

By Rodger

October 9, 2005 04:21 PM | Link to this

WHAT THE F* HAVE WE DONE TO DESERVE THIS?!!!

REEKSMA WITH THE GAME/SERIES/SEASON ON THE LINE!!!!

SHOOT COX!

By Adam

October 9, 2005 04:22 PM | Link to this

That’s it…I have had it. I cannot watch this team self destruct AGAIN. It is the 10th and BC puts HIM in…yeah, that’s right…Reitsma. I have been a Braves fan since 1979. This is almost as painful as wathcing Len Barker pitch. Why bother?

By Rodger

October 9, 2005 04:26 PM | Link to this

Adam, then you saw Cox do this back then

By Rodger

October 9, 2005 04:28 PM | Link to this

Done done done

Any other posts about how great Cox is in postseason?

By Brian Donegan

October 9, 2005 04:35 PM | Link to this

Did Reitsma just get through an inning without anyone crossing the plate or am I hallucinating?

By CJC

October 9, 2005 04:35 PM | Link to this

At least we won’t have to see the opposition dancing on the Turner Field mound.

By not capitalizing on their countless chances earlier in the game they sealed their fate because you just knew the worthless bullpen would have to be involved.

This one hurts, even though it’s not officially over yet. But just how many innings can “those” pitchers hold the Astros down?

By Rodger

October 9, 2005 04:50 PM | Link to this

Yeah-he squeaked bye by less than 6 inches.

By Rodger

October 9, 2005 04:51 PM | Link to this

But if at first you don’t fail- RUN HIS A* OUT THERE AGAIN?

By Ron Roberts

October 9, 2005 06:26 PM | Link to this

Carroll,

I’ve dealt well with you and others assuming I’m using pseudonyms just because there are other fans who agree with me from time to time.

I’ve dealt with your racist comments.

I’ve dealt with your idiotic rants and insipid ideas.

I almost look FORWARD to an offseason where maybe I can just blog about the ‘Dawgs and Falcons and pray that you’re a fan of neither, so I won’t have to deal with til next spring.

Fact is, Cox has OUT-managed his opposition today, at least. The reason our beleagured bullpen went as deep as it did is because Garner emptied his bullpen and took big bats like Berkman and Willie Tavarez (who will more than likely win the ‘Rookie of the Year’ award, by the way.

Cox can’t go out there and personally lay the bunt and push Furcal down the line. He can’t personally put a bunt down FOR Giles. He can’t personally MAKE Chipper make better swings at the plate. He gets the players he gets, and he puts ‘em out there to DO THEIR JOB.

You wanna be p** and gripe about this team’s shortcomings, look at the bullpen. John Schuerholz is the General Manager of this team, and he’s done a HELL of a job keeping this team competitive for 14 consecutive seasons. But he failed MISERABLY with Dan Kolb…picking up Jim Brower did little to bolster the ‘pen…Chris Reitsma has been sporadic in his performances…he went and got Farnsworth (who I say the book is still out on…I like his stuff, think he’s made to be a closer, but didn’t exactly have the fortitude today)… who’s Bobby SUPPOSED to call on? He can only bring the arms out of the bullpen that are there to begin with.

By Ron Roberts

October 9, 2005 07:12 PM | Link to this

Rafael Furcal, Marcus Giles, Chipper Jones, Andruw Jones… veteran “leadership” … check out today and did nothing to will this team past the Astros.

It’d be one thing if they carried their weight and the others fell short; but these guys KNEW what was on the line, how the fans laid their hopes squarely on THEIR backs, how their performance would (and did) affect the Braves’ chances, not just today, but throughout the postseason, and what’d we get from ‘em today?

Schuerholz, go get a freaking bullpen. I’m a little bit p** so forgive me for saying it, but DAN KOLB was a HORRIBLE miscalculation on your part. All that you did to build this franchise up until the last offseason is what got us where we went. But just about EVERYTHING you did in the offseason since last fall reeks of incompetence.

Dan Kolb? You spent ALL THAT MONEY ON DAN KOLB? Reminds me of another pitching offseason pickup that blew up in your face. Albie FREAKING Lopez, remember him? The money we spent on Kolb would’ve gotten us THREE decent middle relievers.

Raul Mondesi and Brian Jordan ($2 million total), when that money could’ve gone to a more reliable outfielder. In hindsight, our kids saved our tails from that pathetic reach.

God help us if you’re declining in mental capacity, because all ya need to do is bolster the ‘pen and try to re-sign Furcal. Let’s RE-SIGN Brian Jordan for a cool million, right?

By Adam

October 9, 2005 07:17 PM | Link to this

Bottom Line: The Braves failed to get it done…AGAIN. No one stepped up and did what the Astros were able to do. The problem with BC is that he stays with a guy too friggin long. Some might call that loyalty, but I call it poor managing. To hell with it, I expected no less from a team that has made an art out of losing.

By clodhopper

October 9, 2005 11:53 PM | Link to this

“You’re no braves fan if…” That’s BS. Blind loyalty is stupid.