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March 2008
Braves’ Opening Night didn’t go as planned
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I’m sure I’m not alone when I say that Opening Night didn’t quite go as I’d drawn it up. (Maybe the “Night” part was part of the problem?)
There were some positives: Tim Hudson settled in after some early trouble and dominated, keeping the Nats off the bases after the first, and the Braves battled back to tie it in the ninth and take Hudson off the hook for the loss. But the predominant emotion for me was frustration.
First source of early-season frustration: Picking up where they left off last year, another incredible effort by Huddy was wasted, only Bob Wickman wasn’t involved. No, this time it was because the Braves’ lineup couldn’t get to Odalis Perez. Come on, ODALIS PEREZ? Aside from Chipper’s fourth-inning bomb, there wasn’t much to write about.
I’m not ready to panic about the bats yet, though; it’s early, and it was cold. I don’t really think that lineup is going to struggle like that for long.
The second source of early-season frustration may be a little more of a long-term issue: baserunning. And I’m not just talking about speed. Even the Little Chopper knows the Braves aren’t burning up the basepaths. I’m talking smarts and instinct.
The tone of the game was set when two early hits were erased by errors in baserunning judgment - Brian McCann getting thrown out at second on a ball that rocketed off the outfield wall and Kelly Johnson getting nailed at second after getting on with a single. Meanwhile, Washington’s Nick Johnson, not known for his blinding speed, legged out a double on an innocent-looking broken-bat liner to right and then manufactured an insurance run when he came home on a single by Austin Kearns.
You can’t coach speed, but you can coach baserunning, and if this team isn’t concerned with getting faster, it needs to get smarter.
So, go ahead, vent if you need to. Get those “uh-oh” thoughts off your chest. Or, better yet, tell us all that it’s only one game, for crying out loud, and everything’s going to be just fine.
By the way, did anyone else happen to notice that the Braves’ “alternate” jerseys looked eerily like the Mets’ black unis?
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Who would you welcome back?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s that time of year. Several ex-Braves have gotten the news that they won’t be on their respective teams’ Major League rosters to start the season, namely:
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Rangers
Ryan Langerhans, Nationals
Pete Orr, Nationals
Marcus Giles, Rockies
Kyle Davies, Royals
Chris Reitsma, Mariners
Rudy Seanez, Dodgers
If those teams aren’t going to utilize their services, I wouldn’t mind having a few of them back in town when the Braves break Spring Training camp this weekend, particularly Salty. That would go a long way toward settling the current backup catcher dilemma and add another powerful switch-hitter off the bench, don’t you think?
Speaking of the bench, several current Braves are fighting to stay on their Major League roster. Who do you like?
Catcher: Brayan Pena, Clint Sammons, Corky Miller
Utility/Bench: Scott Thorman, Martin Prado, Josh Anderson, Gregor Blanco, Brent Lillibridge, Omar Infante
Pitchers: Jeff Bennett, Blaine Boyer, Chris Resop, Royce Ring
What if you could include someone from the list of ex-Braves above?
Traffic and Weather: The DOT has canceled plans to start work on the Downtown Connector this weekend, so you won’t have that to deal with en route to or from the games this weekend. But there is a 40% chance of rain on Saturday, so get out those ponchos.
Public Service Announcement: If you’re trying to divvy up season tickets among a group, there’s a cool-sounding new way to do it. Think “e-vite” meets fantasy draft. Here’s the story from MLB.com.
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Braves’ schedule off to strange start
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s opening day! Sort of.
The Red Sox and A’s have played a game that counts, even though it was halfway around the world, so I guess that makes it official. Sort of.
The Braves don’t have to cross the International Date Line, but they will have a wacky start to their season. After playing two exhibition games in Atlanta, they’ll fly to Washington to help the Nats open their new stadium Sunday night, fly back to Atlanta for the home opener on Monday night, then have an off-day Tuesday before resuming their three-game series against the Pirates on Wednesday.
This sets the tone for another year of an unbalanced number of division games, bizarre interleague matchups and ill-timed West Coast trips. So let’s take this opportunity to talk about the schedule.
Do you like the recent changes? Do you think the division schedules and interleague games give some teams an unfair advantage or does it all work out in the end?
By the way, one interesting note about MLB scheduling: For 24 years, it was done by hand by a Massachusetts couple, but in 2005, MLB started accepting bids to take advantage of newer technology. Here’s the story from MLB.com. Can you tell the difference?
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Fear and loathing at Spring Training
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I’ve returned from Spring Training with lots of great memories and an irrational disdain for one player.
Let me explain:
The Little Chopper has been to several games in his 3 1/2 years, but this was the first time he really got into it. On Friday, we were enjoying a beautiful day at Disney’s Wide World of Sports, watching Jeff Bennett breeze through three innings while our little guy breezed through French fries, popcorn and two frozen lemonades in between cries of “Go Braves!” He was even given a ball by a friendly usher.
Enter Ryan Drese.
The 32-year-old right-hander never found the plate, walking five consecutive batters and bringing the game to a screeching halt. The Little Chopper got bored, and we exhausted our bag of parent tricks, leading to an abbreviated outing for us as well as for Drese, who lasted little more than an inning.
I have no idea what the future holds for Ryan Drese, but one thing is certain: Every time I hear his name, I’ll think of the two or three innings of spring baseball he cost me that day. (Insert smirk here.)
So my question for you is: Have circumstances that may or may not have anything to do with baseball ever led to an irrational dislike of (or affinity for) a certain player?
Unrelated Spring Training trip note: I can’t believe the Astros have upped their parking charge to a whopping seven bucks! (The Braves, on the other hand, don’t charge anything.)
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Kid’s sizzling start has Braves fans buzzing
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
There’s been a lot of buzz around some of the guys at Spring Training this year … Tom Glavine, Mike Hampton, Jordan Schafer, even Javy Lopez. But one youngster seems to be generating more excitement than all of them.
The idea of having Yunel Escobar at the top of the lineup for a full season has Braves fans, me included, almost giddy with anticipation. And with good reason.
The 25-year-old Cuban shortstop has 36 at-bats in 14 games this spring, and here are the stats: .472 average with 12 RBIs and 10 runs scored. He’s leading the team in RBIs and total bases (26) and is tied for the lead in runs scored and hits (14). All this comes on the heels of his strong debut — a .326 average in 94 games last year.
Escobar, who made five-time All-Star Edgar Renteria expendable after last season, is expected to take over the No. 2 spot, behind leadoff hitter Kelly Johnson. “He’ll bunt, hit the ball to the right side,” Bobby Cox told Dave O’Brien last week.
And Kelly seems happy to have him there. “With the way Escobar swings it,” he told DOB, “and the way the two guys behind him [Chipper and Texiera] swing it, just get on base and you’re going to score runs.”
Sounds good to me.
So how pumped are you about seeing Escobar this year? What other Braves prospects do you remember generating this much excitement?
Blog schedule note: I’m heading down to Spring Training on Thursday, and I’m not sure if I’ll be able to post something from Orlando. If I can, look for it on Friday; if not, I’ll see you back here early next week.
What does your starting rotation look like?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Inspired by Chuck James’ two scoreless innings against a formidable Tigers lineup, let’s talk starting pitching.
As the Boston Red Sox proved a couple of years ago when they sent Bronson Arroyo to the Reds because they thought they had too many arms and then regretted the move when a couple of guys broke down, you can’t ever have enough pitching. So I’m liking the fact that the Braves look to have an excess of starters at the moment.
The aces are there — John Smoltz, Tim Hudson and Tom Glavine — and Mike Hampton has been pain-free thus far (outside of a mild groin strain). As I mentioned above, James looked pretty darn good yesterday, and Jair Jurrjens has made a very impressive first impression.
Also in the mix are Jo-Jo Reyes, who’s had a tough spring so far; Buddy Carlyle, who gave up three solo shots on Wednesday; and Jeff Bennett, who pitched two scoreless innings on Thursday.
At this point, here’s my starting rotation:
Tim Hudson: The youngest of the “aces” deserves the chance to shoulder the No. 1 spot.
Tom Glavine: I’m a sucker for the righty/lefty rotation.
John Smoltz: He’ll keep those winning streaks started by Huddy and Glav going.
Mike Hampton: Gotta pencil him in here and cross your fingers.
Jair Jurrjens: He’s looked too good so far to keep him out of the rotation.
James, Reyes and Bennett are all likely to start the season in Richmond, giving them time to gain confidence and work on their consistency and giving those Braves a ridiculously strong rotation, and Carlyle could be moved to the ‘pen to take the long reliever/spot starter position vacated by Oscar Villareal.
So what would you do with this plethora of pitching? I’m not asking what you think Bobby will do; I want to know what your starting rotation looks like.
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Spring Training is calling me …
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mr. Chop Chick and I have gone to watch the Braves in Orlando five of the past six years, and we’re heading down next week for what has become an annual tradition. The trips are a little different now — the little Chopper, who’s 3, doesn’t really enjoy going to five games in three days, so we’ve cut back to three games in three days — but it’s still a blast.
I’m excited about checking out Jordan Schafer in person, and we’re hoping to watch Jair Jurrjens extend that scoreless streak. Seeing Tom Glavine back in a Braves uni will be nice as well. (Having done my best to ignore my favorite player for five years, I’m looking forward to being able to root for him again.) After the cold winter we’ve had, I’m also just eager to sit out in the sunshine and be warm again.
Most of all, though, I love hearing the sounds of the game and watching the guys have so much fun. It’s a vivid reminder of why we really do love this game. (If you haven’t read it, pick up a copy of ‘Why Time Begins on Opening Day’ by Tom Boswell.)
One of my favorite memories is of a spring game that John Smoltz was brought in to close during his stint in the ‘pen. With two outs and a two-strike count, the crowd stood and clapped and yelled, just as if it were a real game, and you know the competitive fire was there for Smoltzie, too. (But then, when isn’t it there for him?) He struck the guy out, and the place erupted. Very cool for what was supposed to be an exhibition game.
So have you been down to Spring Training? Are you going this year? Do you have it on your to-do list for a future season?
What are your favorite things about it? What would be special about this year? Any tips to offer fans going for the first time?
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Spring Training brings a lineup change
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Spring Training usually brings a few new players into the mix, and this year, the Chop Chick blog has a lineup change as well. My predecessor’s workload has gotten a bit heavier over the past year, so I’m grabbing a bat and stepping into the box. I’ll post two or three times a week in March and more frequently when the real action starts.
A little background: My father wanted a boy; I’m an only child. So I grew up a sports fan, most notably, a big Braves fan. My family’s annual summer vacation was a trip to Atlanta to go to Six Flags and a Braves game, but when the Superstation made its way to southeast Alabama in 1978, when I was 9, my life changed forever.
I used to fall asleep on the couch to Skip Caray’s voice during West Coast trips, which were plentiful back when the Bravos were in the NL West. I imitated Gary Matthews’ intimidating swing at my softball games. I was one of the few kids in the country who was thrilled to see Biff Pocoroba and Pepe Frias when I opened the Topps package.
In other words, I love this team, and I’m really looking forward to getting to know all of you who feel the same way. I’m excited about writing this blog and about the potential for the Braves this year. So I’ll begin by asking you the same question I posed to GM Frank Wren at the Braves 400 Club’s Gameboree in February:
What excites you most about this current team?
(His answer: The fact that the “kids” — Brian McCann, Jeff Francouer — are heading into their third full season and are about to hit their strides.)
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