Chop Chick

By Gerald Barnes

August 28, 2008 10:45 AM | Link to this

I, for one, will continue to watch the Braves until the end of the season, and look forward to the playoffs. Then comes the most dreaded time of year, that time between the last out of the World Series and the first catch of Spring Training.

That time is best spent reading good books about baseball, like “The Road to the Big’s.”

Google: roadtothebigs

                   GB

By Matt M.

August 28, 2008 10:54 AM | Link to this

I too will watch the Braves til the end, unless the UGA game is on. I’m a huge baseball fan and this year hurts. But it happens. Its going to happen the way the draft system is set up. Of course the Rays are good, they have had the #1 pick for 10 years. That being said, since the Pirates and Reds and Royals and other constant losers are still losing after having numerous top 5-10 picks, they should not be allowed to pick that high for 5-10 years, even if they do have the worst record in baseball. Why does MLB continue to reward bad mgmt. The Braves are suffering now because our top picks were typically #20-30. Hard to get good young pitching. Oh well, it will turn around and we will be back in 2010.

By Da Mick

August 28, 2008 11:28 AM | Link to this

It’s not that simple CC. I was also a fan during those difficult 80s years. But this seems like something else entirely. Those teams were flat out lacking. This is a squad that competed for 1st place, the first half of the year, injuries or not, and has looked like a stone rolling downward the bottom of the pit ever since. It’s demoralizing to watch them - I don’t know how they can come to the ballpark every night.

One thing is for certain: something more than the departure of Tex is reponsible, because the bottom began its total drop out before he left.

If this is just a case of lost spirit and the entire team giving up (with some notable exceptions), I think there may be some long term scarring with this bunch that they may not be able to get past with each other, and on to the notion of being winners again with each other. I’ve never seen anything like it. It saddens me deeply, and signals an undeniable call for a change in management and most of the coaches. I think our pitching coach is doing everything he can to work with these young guys in a brutal entry year for them.

To answer your question: Much as I might like to from time to time, it hurts too much to watch. I’ll agree that there is a bit hollow there though. I have enjoyed your blog this year. Thanks.

Mick

By Gwinnettian

August 28, 2008 11:43 AM | Link to this

There have been injury problems. However, with all due respect, I do not feel good about betting the season on an aging rotation and unproven journeymen. The Braves were destined for mediocrity at best. There is a lot of work to do before spring training for any hope next year. When 2009 rolls around, if the Braves take an approach similar to the pirates, reds and royals……I’ll spend less energy and time driving to ATL with the AAA team up the road.

By Jim H.

August 28, 2008 11:53 AM | Link to this

Injuries killed us…….it’s as simple as that. It just happens sometimes. The Braves were competitive, still in the hunt, and were surviving most of the injuries up until it got just totally ridiculous (loosing Hudson was the nail in the coffin).

Just have to regroup, gets some injured players back, sign some new players — and try it again next year. The situation isn’t nearly as bleak as some of the more pessimistic bloggers here will whine about (I think those folks need to pop a cold beer, listen to some Jimmy Buffett, and try and not be some damn pessimistic).

I’m excited about the possibilities with all the money that is coming off of the payroll due to expiring contracts. If they spend it correctly we are back in business. We have to obtain at least one top-of-the-rotation starting pitcher and one power hitting outfielder…That’s a given. Hopefully Frenchy can figure out his funk before next year too.

Go Braves!

By Jim H.

August 28, 2008 11:55 AM | Link to this

Injuries killed us…….it’s as simple as that. It just happens sometimes. The Braves were competitive, still in the hunt, and were surviving most of the injuries up until it got just totally ridiculous (loosing Hudson was the nail in the coffin).

Just have to regroup, gets some injured players back, sign some new players — and try it again next year. The situation isn’t nearly as bleak as some of the more pessimistic bloggers here will whine about (I think those folks need to pop a cold beer, listen to some Jimmy Buffett, and try and not be so damn pessimistic).

I’m excited about the possibilities with all the money that is coming off of the payroll due to expiring contracts. If they spend it correctly we are back in business. We have to obtain at least one top-of-the-rotation starting pitcher and one power hitting outfielder…That’s a given. Hopefully Frenchy can figure out his funk before next year too.

Go Braves!

By chopwhop

August 28, 2008 12:02 PM | Link to this

Why would we watch this bunch? The organization gives up in July, then expects us to not give up? Lower our ticket prices for September, since we’re not paying Tex or Kotsay, saving millions—pass it on to us fans!!! Otherwise, I’ll be seeing you in the spring (and you better spend the money, or I may not ever be back).

By mighty mike

August 28, 2008 12:27 PM | Link to this

I’ll keep watching, though it’s probably out of habit more than anything else. It’s difficult to be optimistic when your team has lost thirteen of its last sixteen and most of the pitchers are seeing specialists of one kind or the other. But I’ve been a baseball fan too long to give up and go hide just because the team is out of contention.

Way back in, shoot has it been twenty years already, 1988, I lived in the shadow of Stone Mountain and the only channel I got (couldn’t afford cable) was TBS. So, I watched the Braves almost every night. I watched the Dodgers and the Mets and the Reds and the Giants and the Astros and the Padres and the Pirates shake hands after beating the Braves (who won only 54 that year) and I stopped dreaming about the post season altogether. But because the Braves had become largely irrelevant by June, I became an even bigger Braves fan. I lived alone in those days and it sometimes felt like I was the only person paying any attention to them, other than the four or five thousand fans scattered around Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium and broadcasters Skip and Pete. The team finished dead last in hitting and next to last in pitching — only Philadelphia’s pitching staff had a higher ERA, but not by much. Glavine, who made $65,000 in 1988 according to baseball-reference.com, and Smoltz won nine games between them and lost 24, but they were young and showed promise at the time, not unlike Jurjens and maybe Charlie Morton. Will Morton and Jurjens turn out to be hall-of-famers? Not likely. But therein lies the drama. Who will emerge from the shadows of the minor leagues and blossom into an all-star; who will take the league by storm only to falter later on; who will come back from a career-threatening injury. And that drama doesn’t mean very much if you only pay attention when ESPN is paying attention. Back in 1988, Tom Glavine lead the league in losses with 17, and Daryl Strawberry led the league in homeruns with 39. Would you have traded Tommy for Strawberry? If you had only watched SportsCenter, you might have. Because you wouldn’t have noticed the unflappable nature of the lefty who merely chewed his gum a bit harder after a home run than he did after a strike out. You wouldn’t have noticed that althought Smoltz was wild at times, he had some serious stuff. You wouldn’t have wondered what on earth the Braves were going to do with the obviously talented Ron Gant who didn’t seem to have a clue at the plate anymore (sound familiar). And you wouldn’t have marveled at Gant’s play in the early nineties when he was hitting thirty homes runs a year and stealing thirty bases before he got hurt and wound up in Cincinnati. So, I’ll keep watching because as much as I’d like to see them in the post season tangling with the Mets and the Cubs etc., each game has its own drama, although the denouement is usually much more appealing to the other teams.

Well, I don’t know if this made any sense, but that’s my take.

By Michael Scharff

August 28, 2008 1:06 PM | Link to this

CC, where have you been? I got used to your weekly posts, and I got worried that we hadn’t heard anything from you in a while. I’ll still follow the Braves in the ajc daily for the rest of the season, but I won’t be watching them very much on t.v.

By Go Cubs Go

August 28, 2008 1:13 PM | Link to this

Normally I am a braves fan…but this year it is just too hard…

So this year I am singing..

Go Cubs Go.. Go Cubs Go.. Hey Chicago What da say The Cubs are going to win today!

By Jogger

August 28, 2008 1:26 PM | Link to this

The longest time is between the end of football season and the beginning of spring training. I do not like January-March. Booring………….

I am double upset- the Cardinals look like they are out also. Bummer. At least I can watch the Cubs and see how far they can go.

By Hoosier Aaron

August 28, 2008 1:39 PM | Link to this

I spent many, many evenings in Riverfront Stadium with my Dad as a kid as one of very FEW sporting a Braves hat when they came to town. (The good ole’ days when they came to Cincy a lot). I was also there for the 1995 NLCS - that was sweet. Much easier to make the 2 hour drive to Cincy than the 7 hour drive to ATL.

I’ve been a Bravos fan since the early ’70s. Win or lose - doesn’t matter as long as they’re playing. Spring training never comes fast enough.

By by slick

August 28, 2008 1:46 PM | Link to this

it is time to move on and think about next year, wait it will be the same as this year, oh well forget that

By Phil

August 28, 2008 1:55 PM | Link to this

Who is watching them now?? Much less September! I quit watching at the All Star Break, they were done then.

It’s football season now, that’s all I will be watching. Moron Cox will keep the 10 of you that are still watching entertained I’m sure. Bafoons will do that.

By Jill

August 28, 2008 1:57 PM | Link to this

I will continue to root for the Braves, while I will continue to root against the Cubs.

By Phil

August 28, 2008 2:05 PM | Link to this

Now I remember who will be watching in September. “Moron Mark Bradley”! He said the Braves would be in First place by July 4th and “pulling away” in September! So he will tuned in watching to see if his prediction will come true. What a Moron…….

By me

August 28, 2008 2:44 PM | Link to this

The Braves are done for good. At best we can only hope to be the Twins or the A’s. The ownership of the Braves does not care about winning. I wish Ted still owned the team. :-(

Also, please do not renew the contact for the current chop chicks contract. If she is not going to write a blog at least three times week, the ajc should get someone else to do it.

By HeSaidWhat?

August 28, 2008 2:50 PM | Link to this

I and many of my family and friends believe that Bobby Cox is the problem. I have had coaches before who inspired and motivated me to give my all and other coaches who did not; I think Bobby must be the latter. He just does not bring out the best in his players! Have you ever heard of “Bobby ball”? No, and you won’t because unlike Billy Martin and his “Billy ball”, Bobby Cox just does not have any spark in his coaching style.

By KJ

August 28, 2008 2:52 PM | Link to this

*Normally I am a braves fan…but this year it is just too hard…

So this year I am singing..

Go Cubs Go.. Go Cubs Go.. *

Ugh. Why don’t you just become a Yankees fan, and get it over with?

By Alie

August 28, 2008 3:02 PM | Link to this

Not only will I remain a Braves fan, I am taking my 3 year old son to his 3rd game this Sunday at the new Nationals Park (I live near DC). I’ll be next to the Braves bull pen, enjoying the game.

By Alie

August 28, 2008 3:06 PM | Link to this

Not only will I remain a Braves fan, I am taking my 3 year old son to his 3rd game this Sunday at the new Nationals Park (I live near DC). I’ll be next to the Braves bull pen, enjoying the game.

By fieldofdreams

August 28, 2008 3:11 PM | Link to this

With apologies to Chop Chik: this awful season doesn’t compare with the former late season Braves agony; then there was no reason to believe we would improve, now we have a foundation of fourteen fabulous years on which to build. Before, Braves boosters couldn’t imagine winning, but henceforth the ghosts of Smoltz, Maddux, and Glavine will forever haunt us, a constant reminder of our potential. The bad old seasons were an ongoing plague but this year feels more like a market correction. I applaud Wren for aggressively trimming payroll, and going young.

By AG

August 28, 2008 4:09 PM | Link to this

What does the AJC sports dept have against Mark Texiera? Every baseball writer not associated with the AJC thinks that Tex had a very solid AND clutch season with the Braves, but Chop Chick and that doofus David O’Brien have made their distaste for Tex palpable and when there is mountains of evidence (i.e. his STATISTICS) that contradict their crazy talk.

Did Tex catch Chop Chick and DOB making out in the tunnel underneath the stadium?

By bboutsider

August 28, 2008 4:56 PM | Link to this

The braves made a wrong turn when they changed the focus from baseball to marketing. After five years of expensive marketing, the attendance this year will be about the same as it was in ’03; however, now the team is no longer a winner. The focus needs to return to baseball operations. The best marketing is a winning team.

By lin

August 28, 2008 5:49 PM | Link to this

well i said they end up in 3rd so i did not go far enough down, this can happen to any team. this year was atlanta. as for next year well they still may have problems. i read they not too interested in pitchers well well well that a big mistake. there is not one who i would bet on to win 15. hampton need go in bullpen. smoltz need retire along with galvine. hudson trade along with all the other ones. sounds strange but this buying guys who are old needs to stop. best get young guns and build them up and build team all coachs need to go. including bobby.time for a big make over if want win champs again

By AGTfan

August 28, 2008 5:55 PM | Link to this

Alie It’s shame that more Braves Fans aren’t like you. Unfortunately we have more pretend fans like Phil.

I was at one of the Cubs games. I yelled at the Cubs fans to shutup, I gave them the finger, I was incensed that they were able to easily drown out the Braves fans in attendance.

I wish Braves fans were more like Cubs fans, becausenot only were they like this now when they’ve got a good team that can go all the way, they were like this for the last hundred years when they mostly stunk.

So for what it’s worth, I’ll never stop cheering for and pulling for the Braves, but for the remainder of this season, I’ll be going Go Cubs Go. A hundred years of misery is long enough.

By Tom

August 28, 2008 6:07 PM | Link to this

IF YOU ARE GOING TO GIVE UP EARLY AS THE BRAVES HAVE DONE THEN GET READY FOR NEXT YEAR BY PLAYING NOTHING BUT THE YOUNGSTERS AND FORGET THE OLD PLAYERS WHO MAY OR MAY NOT BE BACK NEXT YEAR. GET A NEW HITTING COACH OR BETTER YET GET A WHOLE NEW COACHING STAFF AND MANAGER.

By New AJC WRITER

August 28, 2008 7:42 PM | Link to this

I enjoy working here and look forward to work here some more. This team needs a new manger and I hope they will hire Joe Torre as manger. Joe Torre always beat Bobby Cox when there teams play. I think Joe Torre can convince Fancour to only swing a strikes and get more hits. I am going replace one of the fine writers that use to work here. I hope you will read my stuff.

By Tim Petrusa

August 28, 2008 10:24 PM | Link to this

I’m in it ‘til the end. There’s still alot of good baseball left. Charlie Morton was excellent tonight, and Chipper is fighting for the batting title. Josh Anderson was on base 3 times tonight and Brandon Jones made a HUGE catch at the yellow line! C’mon people, let’s just forget about the standings and enjoy some baseball!!!

By richbrave

August 28, 2008 11:16 PM | Link to this

CC:

Thanks for the new blog. CHARLIE’s uneven, but he always improves over time. So far, he following a similar pattern. He’d be good then bad twice. After four games he began a good twice and bad once. After ten starts, he really picked up and was dominating good his last two.

Translate that to ATLANTA and he’ll stay in the first phase, one good two bad starts, longer because the level of play is so much higher. He’s a slow and steady guy and by the end of ‘09 he will be a fixture in the starting rotation. And should be in the #3 slot for a long time after ‘09.

By CB

August 29, 2008 12:35 AM | Link to this

These are the times where the die hard fans are weeded out from the band wagoners! I have been a Braves fan all my life. i have been through the Eddie Hass’ times, the Chuck Tanner years and even endured the Ted Turner era, be it short lived. However I will continue to support the team even through this disastrous season, We die hards will always find positives during the bad times. as for this year my hopes rely upon pulling for Chipper and his average and who knows, maybe Jurgens and Campie can get back on track and we can make this thing look a little respectable. Playing the role of spoiler could put a smile or two on the faces of die hards as well.

By Lee in S GA

August 29, 2008 9:38 AM | Link to this

The Braves will become secondary sports to both college and professional football in my life when the season begins. I will occasionally watch the Braves as I currently do already. If they had a chance to make the post-season it would be different.

By New AJC WRITER

August 29, 2008 6:23 PM | Link to this

Only 4 posts in 23 hours? Whats going own? This team is dying like the ajc has been dead for 2 years. I’m writing here now and I think your going to like my work if the ajc’s checks don’t bounce. Maybe I can bring back some readres with my pithy commments and journalistic stile. For now, go Braves and I hope youll keeep reading.

By Uncle Dave

August 29, 2008 10:28 PM | Link to this

cc: I find it hard to believe that you are old enough to really remember what it was like in the old days… when Jeff Burroughs was the best hitter on the team… or when Chuck Tanner promised we would have a victory parade down Peachtree… how about the Russ Nixon experiment? Does that ring a bell? Those of us who really remember, can only sigh and hope we do not have to wait as long this time for another run… but until we have a local owner who actually lives here and cares about the team and the city… nothing will change. Ted Turner where are you?

By John

August 30, 2008 5:00 PM | Link to this

Everything that happed this year was absolutely predictable!!! The Braves went with old pitching, a scrub bullpen and rent-a-bats. It got so depressing that even the good players like McCann got stuck in the mud. The broadcasters on Sportssouth are so bad that the games are unwatchable. Without some significant change I may not even watch them next year!!

By Firetheoldfool

August 30, 2008 9:07 PM | Link to this

Hey New AJC Writer. Hopefully you are kidding because if you aren’t the AJC should fire you right now. It’s you’re not YOUR!

By richbrave

August 31, 2008 12:05 AM | Link to this

Hurrah, The reason I started rooting for the BRAVES has finally been equaled by the current reason I root for the BRAVES. Congratulations to CHIP JONES for tying EDDIE MATHEW’s longstanding record of at least 20 home runs in their first 14 ML seasons.

By santa3247

August 31, 2008 12:39 AM | Link to this

Hi, I’m Seong-Ho,Yoon living in Jinhae City SouthKorea now.

Babylon Braves waiting last season again? ^*^

The Audacity of Hope said:

“Republican Party’s grassroots base is Christians along with consevative Catholics” ^^

37percent of USA People call themselve Christians. ^^

95 percent of Americans believe in God. Really? ^^

And What on earth is the God? ^*^

the only God living in Jerusalem(Laputa) and don’t have a shape of human being. Just light.^*^

Freemason Iluminati do you copy?

Why USA made the simbol of nation to Eagle? do you remember? ^*^ The origin was there, the horus, absolom. Far far before babylon invaded Egypt and Judah’s tribe did exodus between Spain and Moroco by the help of Absolom not Moses.

So real freemason of past loved Absolom more than Solomon, because when Judah tribe was under the invasion from babylon, Solomon was in Hades of Sun and coudn’t help them. ^*^

Therefore, past Freemason loved Absolom and Eagle, but the shape of Eagle’s head was made by Babylon. ^*^

Horus, Absolom was the first informal emperor(king) of Japan(Yamato) tribe, so called Jinmu Tennou, and after that, he reborned to Hero “Jang-Mugi” of southchina, and “Toyotomi Hideyoshi” who invaded southkorea and southchina for salvation of Yamato Tribes from malevolent tribe Babylon, and “king Taishou(Taisei)” of Japan who invaded again korean peninsla and south-china. ^*^

Why Horus continuously invaded southkorea and southchina and tried to exterminate Babylon of Manjyu Area? ^*^

Answer was in my Little Script from past to now.

May the force of Messiah be with you

P.S: Don’t be deceived by fake santa who may say “Obama is dangerous today” together with request to babylon “Fake Assasination to Obama today please” ^*^

By richbrave

August 31, 2008 8:28 AM | Link to this

SANTA’s back and all Christendom is safe once again. Thank you SANTA for your dispensation’s. We are so unworthy.

By New AJC WRITER

August 31, 2008 4:25 PM | Link to this

This blog never dissappoints. I know the difference between your and youre but the AJC doesn’t pay enough for me to care. Sorta like that new relief pitcher, Elmer Somebody, why do the job if no one cares? I read that the AJC may move off Marietta Street and go to Clayton County where they can find better educated workers. The work of a AJC writer is never done and all this work takes a tole on the writer. Some are so tired thay can’t blog for dats. U hope you will read my stuff so I can keep this job. and I hope the AJC checks don;t bounce.

By You got to be kidding me

September 1, 2008 6:47 PM | Link to this

While unfortunate, these things were entirely predictable… when you continue to spend money on aging players past their prime or injury prone you are going to get what we got… when you don’t have veteran leadership worth a damn then you have your young stars go into slumps… when you have a manager who has also passed his prime and lost a grip on the game this is what you get! It ain’t gonna get any better for quite a few years either… might as well get used to it!

By richbrave

September 2, 2008 10:12 AM | Link to this

NO. NO. NO. Will not get used to it. Did that crap for decades. LIBERTY. Put the coin where your propaganda is. Do this. 120 million payroll next year and 2010 we’re back in the hunt.

By richbrave

September 6, 2008 10:43 PM | Link to this

SABATHIA in ‘09. Whatever it takes. TOP 5 pick in this draft. Sandwich as well. Let Second rounder go and sign OHMAN. SIGN GONZALEZ. Use ‘09 to work MOYLAN, SORIANO, HUDSON, MORTON back into shape. Don’t count on HAMPTON, SMOLTZ or GLAVINE. Move on toward ‘10. Build, don’t back-fill. Give KOTCHMAN a year to adjust unless he doesn’t want to be here. Otherwise, get a great #2 hitter and a third HR basher behind McCANN and rule the NL East again.

By richbrave

September 9, 2008 12:16 PM | Link to this

SABATHIA in ‘09. 6 year 25 million a year contract. Lets get it done. First in house in ‘08, sign GONZALEZ and OHMAN. Make sure PRADO gets a long look in ‘09. Rent another major bat at 1st base or LF for two years.

By richbrave

September 9, 2008 3:47 PM | Link to this

SMOLTZ a ghost in ‘09.

By santa3247

September 13, 2008 10:16 PM | Link to this

Hi, longtime no see, I’m Seong-Ho,Yoon living in Jinhae City Southkorea now.

Two Starters? again friends of Babylon? ^*^

Todd Redmond, Tom Hansen can fill the holes.

Do you want to get more Mike Hampton? ^*^

Together with player like Joseph Sammon, Brent Lilibridge,(Jesus Aybar 2, Implanters? ^*^) you brave can’t be strong team again.

Before the beginning of this season, Brave want to be champ again. ^*^

Bobby Cox is just part of neutron baseball club for babylon’s friends. ^*^

May the force of Messiah be with you

from 13th(Sat) ~ 16th(Tue) this month, thanksgiving holiday break I am. ^*^

If USA would lost the last chance of making nation of justice again in this election, the fleets of Laputa and 2hundred million troops of Griffin, would have to destry the strongest nation which could be the weapon of Babylon completly.

Keep in mind! ~*~

By richbrave

September 14, 2008 10:24 AM | Link to this

SANTA:

Ghost in ‘3247.

By jc_dawgs

January 9, 2009 1:10 PM | Link to this

Just wait…..

this year you will be saying….”so this is what it feels like to be eliminated by June 1st” as we may be 15-20 games out by then.

The Braves have done nothing to make this team better.