Sports Columnists

By Bill

June 21, 2006 08:55 PM | Link to this

Two words:Leo Mazzone

By Patrick

June 21, 2006 09:01 PM | Link to this

You are wrong Bowman. Back in the day the Braves did have an owner that would spend in good ol’ Ted. They need your idea and the financial backup to compete again. Your way…the Braves won’t be good again for another 2-3 and before you know it, you might as well change the name to the Atlanta Marlins

By Eric Deming

June 21, 2006 09:05 PM | Link to this

you might as well change the name to the Atlanta Marlins

You mean winners of 2 World Series? I’m for that.

By Seamus O'Ryan

June 21, 2006 09:23 PM | Link to this

Pure andf simple: Team chemistry is awry. Leo gone, Furcal gone (I know..), Tom Glavine setting the woods on fire, the Time Worthless fiasco brought on by Teddy Turner (aka Montana Ted) and look at what we have today. The future is in the kids. Quit renting big names (J.D. Drew comes to mind), and let’s just take one for the Gipper. Start all over. Leo’s gone, folks so stop whining. If Bobby Cox is as good as most think he is, he will do it again with a fresh team.

By Dean

June 21, 2006 10:20 PM | Link to this

Its going to be a long summer in hotlanta..this team flat out sucks, scherhoulz did nothing to shore up the bullpen from last year..We could have avoided this had folks done their jobs.. IMO..Scherhoulz is overrated big time.. All he has done is traded for mcgriff, and Bobby Cox brought glavine and smoltz here, not JS….

What big has js done since 93? nothing…

By test

June 21, 2006 10:29 PM | Link to this

Test

By bryan

June 21, 2006 10:30 PM | Link to this

you people amaze me. not one, two or even three players or coaches totally ruins a team. that’s why it’s called a team. leo NEVER played, all he did was to give his philosophy to the players he coached, it is up to the pitcher to do what he’s told. so it’s a different philosopy, guy’s like smoltz will speak up when there are some leo-isms that work better. bobby cox kept this team in first place for 14 years with new and differnt players every year. he’s having a bad year, everyone has a bad year now and then, especially in a span of 15 years. so everyone just quit crying about where the braves are BEFORE the all-star break and root for the wild card. if that doesn’t work out, which i think it will, then look forward to ‘07 with the soon-to-be-great young players the braves have.

By GermanBravesFan

June 21, 2006 10:32 PM | Link to this

Thanks for the realistic assessment… Perhaps, by going through this season, people will REALLY appreciate the 14 Division Titles! It is amazing that the same people who cheered Bobby Cox when this streak started want his head on a platter. It is almost comical! Show some appreciation to the man who helped managed this team to greatness. With a little bit more luck, the organization would have one or two more World Series titles under its belt. Did Bobby Cox throw the pitch in the 1996 World Series or was it Mark Wohlers? I read the blog where someone calls Bobby a donkey - shame on you! Show some class! If you have some constructive criticism, then state in a more classy fashion!

I, for one, will be greatful for this organization. I am sure everybody knew that the streak had to come to an end. What frustrates most of us, I guess, is that the way it is happening. Most of us could imagine losing the division title the last week of the season, but not in June. But, hey, it’s sports!!! Things like these are bound to happen, so get over it. There will be better days ahead. From the way it looks, we have a lot to look forward to: Smoltz, Hudson, Hampton, Ramirez and Davies could be the starting rotation next year. There will be plenty of time to rebuild the bullpen and develop a reliable closer. I am already looking forward to 2007!

GO BRAVES!!

By Luis

June 21, 2006 10:49 PM | Link to this

LETS OPEN OUR EYES, FIRST WE NEED TO GET RID OF CHIPPER, HE IS PLAYING WITH ABSOLUTELY NO FIRE AND REALLY DOESN’T SEEM TO CARE HE IS OLD SLOW AND MOST IMPORTANTLY HE HAS ALREADY QUIT. I KNOW HE HAS REWORKED HIS CONTRACT AND STUFF BUT HE HASN’T BEEN A LEADER TO THIS TEAM. ALSO GET LAROCHE AND PUT HIM IN A PACKAGE WITH GILES AND TRADE THEM AWAY, GIVE BETEMIOT THE CHANCE TO PLAY EVERYDAY AT THIRD AND MORE IMPORTANTLY GET PITCHING START BRINGING UP YOUNGSTERS FROM THE MINORS AND GIVE THEM A CHANCE, THE BRAVES HAVE SOME YOUNG POWER ARMS THAT CAN HELP. TOO BAD THEY TRADED ROMAN COLON, ZACH MINER AND CAPELLAN AND PLEASE GET THIS TEAM TO PLAY WITH SOME HEART. ONLY MCCAAN, FRANCOEUR AND ANDRUW SHOW SIGNS OF LIFE RIGHT NOW. LETS TURN THIS AROUND

By Adam

June 21, 2006 10:49 PM | Link to this

Mark:

I couldn’t agree more. The Braves could get an awful lot in return for the likes of Smoltz and Andruw, and probably a little for Giles, Thompson and Rameriz. Everyone expects the Marlins to be dominant again by 2008 - no reason the Braves can’y make a few smart, possibly painful, moves to do the same.

By Louis Vales

June 21, 2006 10:51 PM | Link to this

John, Your track record was formulated by playing in one of the weakest divisions in baseball history consisting of basically you and the Phillies. Great, you dominated the Phillies for 14 years and with a virtual free pass into the playoffs you managed to win one less World Champiuonship than the Florida Marlins with those 14 chances. And you know what John—The Florida, San Antonio, or Southwest Virginia Whatevers will win another World Series before Atlanta Braves do. Check out PITCHING they’ve accumulated!!

By jeff p

June 21, 2006 11:03 PM | Link to this

I couldn’t agree with GermanBravesFan more. I was a neighbor of Biff Pocaroba (yes, you true Braves fans will remember him)and I remember as a kid when there were less than 1,000 people in the stands at Fulton County Stadium. We have a generation of spoiled fans that don’t appreciate or have a clue about how consistently great this team has been for 15 years. A few other comments:

1. Let’s face it, the bullpen has always been the problem for this team. Give us Mariano Rivera in place of Jeff Reardon and Mark Wohlers and the Braves have 3 rings. Make that 4 if Lonnie Smith picks up the ball in that joke of a stadium in Minnesota. Of course everyone will blame Bobby Cox for his moves during these series losses.

2. Let’s also face the fact that the team has been in a budgetary decline since 1997. They have consistently overachiveed in every year until now and unlike the sport of basketball, you cannot win with two GREAT players like a Wade and Shaq. Luck and timing have a great deal to do with the baseball playoffs and God help us all, we have endured many frustrating post season losses.

3. Keep McCann amd Francouer, they are the future. Everyone else is expendable on offense and can help bring in a proven leadoff hitter and deep bullpen we have always lacked.

Yes, this season is about over and it isn’t even July 4th yet. However, everyone that cries about the playoff failures won’t have to worry about that claim this year.

Appreciate the great organization you have and appreciate the respect this organzization has earned in MLB(the people who really know the game anyway).

By Hamilton McWhorter

June 21, 2006 11:06 PM | Link to this

By the way, going into this evening, Baltimore - and Leo - are 29th (out of 30) in team ERA. They are giving up .75 more earned runs a game than last year…I wonder if they want Ray Miller back.

By Todd A

June 21, 2006 11:12 PM | Link to this

Thank you…thank you.At least someone in the AJC is brave enough to hint that this team needs breaking up.After a season like this,no option should be off the table.

By GermanBravesFan

June 21, 2006 11:49 PM | Link to this

A few more things for those people who want to get rid of Chipper, Andruw, etc.: in today’s age of agents, free agency and money ball, it doesn’t happen too often that players show loyalty to a franchise. There is NO way Smoltz, Chipper or Andruw should be traded. Why?

1. Smoltz is the face of the franchise. He has been with the team since this run started AND he can still pitch. He reworked his contract to be able to stay with the Braves and to start again. Plus: the Braves have an option for him for 2007 at $8 million per year which is relatively inexpensive.

2. Andruw Jones: when it was time for him to become a free agent for the first time, he went into Schuerholz’s office WITHOUT an agent (Scott Boras) and signed for far less than he could have received elsewhere!

3. Chipper Jones: along with Smoltz, he is the face of the franchise. He restructured his contract to free up money for other players. Where else do you see this these days?

These players have shown loyalty to this franchise. It’s time their fans show the same loyalty to them!

I am also getting tired of people talking about Leo Mazzone. Leo had an agreement with his BEST FRIEND to go work for him should he become manager of a major league team. Thus, there was nothing the team could do to keep him. I also like the point someone made that the Orioles’ ERA is even worse than that of the Braves!

I guess it must be fun to “play general manager.” Everybody with their advice… I am sure John Schuerholz got his job for a reason. For all of us who are screaming to get rid of players or trade for certain players: go join a fantasy league!

I am quite proud that the Braves currently have mostly players on their roster that were “home grown.” Considering the payroll restrictions they have, the Braves have done a REMARKABLE job developing young players and bringing them up to the majors. From the way it looks, there are more to come! It’s easy to “buy” a team and then win a championship - what’s the fun in that?

Obviously, it would be great to sign a big-name free agent. But as of now, the Braves do not have that option since the payroll won’t allow it.

As I mentioned above: I am looking forward to more baseball this year AND ESPECIALLY in 2007!

GO BRAVES!!!

By C Daddy

June 21, 2006 11:56 PM | Link to this

I guess the question for me is, can the team replace Andrew Jones’ defense and offense (although a tad off this year from last) if he is traded for pitching propects. I remember the Braves of old, back when Glavine and Smoltz first came up and got smoked relentlessly, but they learned. Time to do it again. Trade Chipper off to a TX team, trade LaRoche and Giles too, clean house in the bullpen, and politely re-assign Tery Pendelton. Look hard for the next generation of pitchers and get a fire breathing hitting coach in here as the team won’t re-assign Bobby from the manager’s job.

By Colton

June 22, 2006 12:00 AM | Link to this

The John Smoltz lovers in the media continue to amaze me. He has started 15 games this year and the Braves have four wins to show for it. FOUR.

Everyone wants to blame the bullpen but in many instances he has pitched just well enough to lose.

Want some cold hard facts?

There are 44 pitchers in the National League with more wins than Smoltz.

There are 18 pitchers with a better earned run average.

Yet the writers and announcers slobber all over him as if he is a dominant pitcher.

Mark Bradley calls him “splendid.”

How about….slightly above average.

Trade him for a few prospects.

By Tony Almeida

June 22, 2006 12:26 AM | Link to this

This is the most racist article I’ve ever seen……Oops, sorry, I thought this was a Terence Moore Blog, my bad.

By Bo

June 22, 2006 12:36 AM | Link to this

Mark Bradley I’m glad your not the GM. I think JS should also be fired-He has done nothing the past two years to improve the bull pen or other problems.”When you have surprising disappointment” JS said. What was so surprising, the bull pen has been a problem for years. All winter Fans have ask for a closer and what did JS& BC do? NOTHING AS USUAL. The only people surprised were the people that believe Bobby walks on water. The Best answer to the problem has been DOB’S 3 Major trades. A new MGR would give some new blood and new life to this team. Bobby does walk on water—Only when it rains.

By dan

June 22, 2006 12:40 AM | Link to this

one major problem is the way the money that they have is spent. unfortunately we’re stuck with hampton. Andruw needs to be traded because he will demand even more money when his contract ends in 2007. Chipper is signed through 2008 and to pay 11 million for a player who is clearly beyond his prime is steve philips territory. Smoltz has an 8 million option for 2007 which will be picked up if he is not traded. The idea is for the 2007 pitching staff to get YOUNGER. Unless Smoltz agrees to go back to the bullpen, he should be traded(i’ve heard we would get Joel Zumaya who throws about 100mph out of the bullpen in a trade with Detroit). If we don’t have a legitimate leadoff man either in the minors or aquired by trade, then either giles or renteria have to go. I’d love to see more of Chuck James hopefully in the starting rotation. If Horacio can stay healthy he can be pretty good as a #3-4 starter. I think Davies will be solid next year and hopefully hampton comes back in his old form. As for the bullpen I don’t think putting Sosa there is suddenly going to turn things around but it is certainly a step in the right direction. Ray seems decent enough to hold onto. McBride is good as long as he doesn’t face righties and he’s only going to get better. The rest of the guys especially reitsma in the bullpen are worthless. One key stat to look at when looking st a bullpen is WHIP of which it seems every Braves reliever is around 1.6 (walks and hit per inning pitched) An example is the only somewhat reliable reliever Kenny Ray has a whip of 1.2 and Villiareal who has a whip of 1.6. Stockman looks alright and with the return of Blain Boyer and John Foster along with some good talent in the minors next year the bullpen may actually be fairly strong ( If the braves don’t hang onto the garbage thats currently out there) As for the offense, if we don’t have a legitimate leadoff man either in the minors or aquired by trade, then either giles or renteria have to go. With the huge salaries of Andruw and Chipper gone, we would have enough money to go out and sign one bigtime freeagent. I say get Soriano, let him play 2nd. I saw Giles play 3rd once maybe he can be taught that position and we can put Betemit at short and let edgar go. keep Thorman at 1st and McCann behind the plate. John Thompson and Reitsma almost certainly won’t be back combine renteria’s salary and thats 15 million, certainly enough to get Juan Pierre for center because of his subpar year. We might even be able to get Eddie Guardado for bullpen help. Francouer is or guy in right and for left we could use Matt Diaz and Kelly Johnson. Hopefully we will be able to get rid of Laroche and Orr. A dream team for next years braves would look like this: c: McCann 1b: Thorman 2b: Soriano 3b: Giles ss: Betemit lf: Diaz/Kelly Johnson cf: Pierre rf: Francouer Bench: Brayan Pena(backup catcher) Prado(utility IF from AAA) Langerhans (OF) a decent righthanded hitting firstbaseman (Not Brian Jordan) Rotation: Hudson Hampton Ramirez Davies James

      Bullpen: McBride
               Sosa
               Ray
               Stockman
               Smoltz
               Foster 
               Boyer
               Yates ( I think a guy who throws 97mph deserves a good look before we let him go.)

By DustinH

June 22, 2006 01:25 AM | Link to this

the Braves could be good next year…we just need to keep our core of the team and definitly DONT trade smoltz or Andrew!! and hopefully the new ownership will care and spend some more $ on a bullpen

By chopthis

June 22, 2006 01:25 AM | Link to this

Mark, collect your columns into a book titled “Built to Kiss Butt: A Collection of Mark Bradley’s Cowtowing Columns on John Schuerholz.” You and your hero can have a joint book signing. You’ll be found under the table, of course.

By chopthis

June 22, 2006 01:28 AM | Link to this

Mark,

Actually, you’re a kowtower. Sorry for the typo.

By Head Coach

June 22, 2006 01:39 AM | Link to this

Thank you Mr.Bradley. I said the exact same thing three weeks ago. It’s about damn time somebody agreed with me.

By Ralph

June 22, 2006 01:55 AM | Link to this

When a professional team like the Braves enjoy loosing, look forward to loosing, and stay up nights thinking of ways to lose, Its classified as a very bad habit that not easy to get rid of, its time to get treatment. When a doctor keeps telling you there is nothing wrong with you, it’s all in your head and you get sicker and sicker its time to fine a new doctor and the Braves are in critical condition, bring in the iv. Bobby Cox is set in his way and he doesn’t like to changes. He did try a couple of changes in the last couple of games and it looked very promising. They still lost, but the new kid looked promising he should play everyday. Bobby needs more than a couple of changes, start with replacing Giles in the leading of spot, try Diaz , Chipper he’s not doing anything worse while lately or put in the bat boy do anything to break the jinx. The jinex or the curse that the Mets have put on the Braves, which by the way is working, because Brave have become the Mets of last year. It like watching a Steve King movies, where the earth opens up and swallow the the real Braves team and is substituted with a losing team. But of all the participate in this comedy of error situation which is call the Atlanta Braves Organization, The ones I as a fan ready feel sorry for are the announcers who trying to find something positive about the Braves, even Sutton is speechless. The announcers try to improve on the Brave loosing situation, that their job and they are good at it. Some nights it sounds like this…………… “Yes, the braves pitcher have good stuff Greasy can throw 95 mph, The problem is he can’t get the ball over the plate for a strike, but he come pretty close, and he gives up to many home runs and his ERA which is 10.77 is deceiving he’s really a better pitcher than that”…… or….. “The Braves have something going on they have a man on third and only two outs, they can make it a very close game, if they score, it will only be 10 to 2, all they have to is to score another 8 or 9 runs and they will be back in the game, so go get them braves”………. or……. “one of these day they will surprise everybody and win a game they’ve come close a couple of times don’t give up on them, miracles do happen.” ………and finally my favorite……. “I heard that(whatever player )—— is not playing tonight? Yes, he got hurt, what happen? its his hand, he slip on a bar of soap in the shower and landed on his hand its a little swollen but the trainer said he should be ready to play in a couple of days”. The real story the announcers would love to tell the fans goes like this………. “He hurt his hand opening a can of beer, while speeding on his motorcycle trying to catch up with he said claims was a UFO the guy was so drunk that he couldn’t tell the different between a dead bug on his dark glasses and a UFO, he was going about 110 mph, his motorcycle hit a greasy spot on the road and it flip on its side he was thrown clean and travel on his behind for about 300 feet, landed in a pile of horse crap. He did hurt his hand when he try to kill the UFO that he claims landed on his dark glasses and slapping himself silly trying to destroy the it. By the way he also had a black eye he claim he got it from a spaceman that attacked him, but he fought back. He was proud that he took on spaceman and beat him beyond recognition. The spaceman turn out to be a piece of tire that broke away from the motorcycle. He also claim the the spaceman had a bad odor about him, smell like horse crap.” How about it Brave, when you play your next game, just have a think blank, don’t think about winning or loosing, just think blank. Maybe this will help you.

By Glass Half Full

June 22, 2006 02:22 AM | Link to this

Went to the game tonight and in addition to having to endure another loss, I sat in front of 2 now-it-all sports guys who had evidently been to every ball park in the country and in Canada. For three hours they cited stats, berated fickle Braves fans, and in general annoyed the hell out of me and my wife. Thanks guys.

By chopthis

June 22, 2006 02:28 AM | Link to this

Hey, Glass, I’m real sorry the guys behind you enjoyed conversing with each other and didn’t chop on cue as much as you’d like. You and your wife need to open your minds to accept impartial baseball fans and even fans of the other team. There’s going to be a lot more of them filling up The Ted now that fickle Braves rooters are going to start staying home in droves.

By Jeff

June 22, 2006 03:58 AM | Link to this

I live in Los Angeles now but I have been a fan of the braves sine the early 80’s and still keep up with them. I do find it entertaining that people are b*** about this season after the braves have given so much. I am dissaponted by the little league piyching the Braves have eneded up with but lets go back to ‘85 to ‘90 and remember what it was like. If you watched the games then you would know that the bottom of the 9th inning saw the closing credits even if the braves had runnerrs on, thats how sad it was. You need to rally behind your home team and give them the respect that they deserve.

By Chris McAndrew

June 22, 2006 04:54 AM | Link to this

The Braves need an owner who will SPEND again like Ted. You can’t get by forever CUTTING your payroll every single season. It just doesn’t allow you to keep up with teams like the Mets who are INCREASING their payroll every year. Eventually you get “kicked in the shins” and it does start to hurt. Letting Leo go was also of course a huge mistake.

By bill

June 22, 2006 05:12 AM | Link to this

It took a German Braves fan to enlighten the blog…thanks. Would a true baseball fan actually give up the past 14 winning seasons for one more WS ring? Not a chance…Florida has bought two rings over the years but their fans have been treated to countless years of firesale after firesale. JS and Bobby are recognized by people who know baseball and, more importantly, by their peers as “peerless”. Anyone who thinks otherwise is showing their ignorance. Even this year is going to end up being entertaining…we won’t win it but, just watch, it will be fun.

By Mike from the coast

June 22, 2006 06:26 AM | Link to this

Cut Pratt, bring up Pena, once again I’ll state who would you like to come up as a pinch hitter?

Cut Jordan, bring up any right handed hitter batting over .250.

Cut Remlinger, I cringe when he is brought in and faces a lefty, or righty for that matter.

Please cut Reitsma when he gets back. I don’t believe when the feeling comes back he’ll do any better.

I love BC but let’s don’t even give him the option of playing any of those players. Call it building for 2007 if you want, but I believe your team will improve overnight.

By Bob Horner

June 22, 2006 06:46 AM | Link to this

You know in some sick way I am glad the old late 80’s Braves are back. I almost forgot how fun it was to make fun of those old hackers. The 06 Braves have equal hacking potential if not more. There is something humbling about it all. I mean I miss the days of mocking Andres Thomas, Gerald Perry, Zane Smith, Doyle Alexander and the other classic pre-winning Braves. Who can deny the comparisons? Come on guys, you think you can lose 100 games? Let’s enjoy this “kick in the shins” so we can appreciate once again the joy of the early 90’s once this team rebounds in a year or two.

For the Braves Marketting Dept: Have a late 80’s Braves Day! Bring back the ole suckies and parade them around the field. I mean who wouldn’t want a Zane Smith throwback bobblehead??? I will purchase 15 tickets to see it!

By Gota love em

June 22, 2006 07:23 AM | Link to this

At this point I want some of the young kids up. Trade Chipper because he is a waist. He cant run, has no life and is declining fast. He is not the face of the braves. Bring in James and some of the other power pitchers from the minors and let them work it out. Bring up Salty and let him play 1st. Put Thorman out in left. There ya go.

Pitching is what its all about. We have none. And without a hit or two well,,,,,,,

By Peter

June 22, 2006 07:23 AM | Link to this

After watching the last two games against the Jays, Giles is even more horrible of a leadoff hitter than I thought He doesn’t take enough pitches and he seems to pop up every at bat. The Braves need a leadoff man so badly And what a great start Thorman has gotten off to, what is he like 1 for 10 or something like that?

By T Robb

June 22, 2006 07:46 AM | Link to this

To the guy who points out that Smoltz has only won 4 of fifteen starts - he’s left after the sixth inning with the lead five times and the bullpen has coughed it up.

This entire bullpen belongs at Richmond. Ray’s inning last night was the first well pitched bullpen inning in days.

By Kevin K

June 22, 2006 07:50 AM | Link to this

Maybe a 100 loss season wouldnt be so bad. My Heels were 8-20 in 2002…won it all last year. And the house is LOUDER than it ever was during those 25+ consecutive 20 win seasons.

We, as Braves fans, need a kick in the teeth. We will only get up stronger.

By I Need A Miracle

June 22, 2006 07:52 AM | Link to this

Colton: You must be one of those who rushed to finish the test only to discover that you missed an entire page of questions. The page you missed on Smoltz is that the bullpen has blown 5 saves already where Smoltz was leading when he left. Last year, Dan Kolb blew countless save opportunities for Smoltz. Get your sack out of your mouth and wise up.

By dale

June 22, 2006 08:09 AM | Link to this

It’s exciting to see all of the comments made here. Just proves that folks still want whats best for the Braves. Their opinions about how to accomplish that differ, but they care. The only scary issue would be if no one responded. Then the franchise would be in trouble. Thanks to everyone who takes the time to offer their opinions. GO BRAVES!

By I Need a Miracle

June 22, 2006 08:10 AM | Link to this

John Scheurholz is a pompous jackleg. I heard him on the radio yesterday getting all defensive about the Braves situation. He criticized the media for creating the Smoltz trade rumor but conveniently forgot that Smoltz himself started this in his ESPN interview Sunday. Scheurholtz then goes on to call out Salty that he needs to start hitting better. Why not start calling out some of your aenemic MLB players, John? Besides the entire bullpen- Giles, Chipper, Langerhans, Thompson, LaRoche, Jordan, Pratt, and Sosa come to mind. That list comes to over $30M in payroll. Salty is not our problem and shame on you for tossing him under the truck.

John- keep drinking the Cox kool-aid until it gets you axed.

By mart

June 22, 2006 08:12 AM | Link to this

Well at least someone is writing about the future. It’s ridiculous (and a little sad) to hear so much talk about how “if only the Braves had a decent closer” or “if we make the right move at the trading deadline all will be right.” The Braves are lousy. Let’s gear up for 2008 instead of dreaming of salvaging this season.
Now for a prediction: Despite their record, the Braves will do as well this October as they have in the past 10 Octobers. Now advice for the GM: Please note that you should have learned long ago that you can’t build a team around or rely on either of the Jones boys.

By Jim O

June 22, 2006 08:30 AM | Link to this

GermanBravesFan, you do remember. As of today, Leo’s team has a 5.31 ERA and the Braves sit at 4.85. I am not so sure that Leo is the answer here - maybe a dedicated bullpen pitching coach. On our hitting, we have a .263 BA while Philly has a .254 (ERA of 4.68) and the Mets are .266 but a 3.84 ERA. So Terry isn’t far off the mark.

IMO, the bullpen coupled with the seemingly lack of enthusiasm they have shown in the past has led to this breakdown. Living in the DC area the past 32 years, haven’t gotten to see them much live, thank God for TBS, but went to most every game while at Tech in the late sixties and again in ‘73, ‘74. They weren’t the best team back then except in ‘69, but they were fun to watch. For the most part, this team isn’t fun to watch. Almost glad I can’t see them in person this year!

By Robert

June 22, 2006 09:04 AM | Link to this

I agree that we should not be chasing high priced free agents but rather trying to build for the future with solid young players

The KEY to all this, howver, is to make sure that another generation of young players doesnt get ruined by being exposed to Bobby Cox’s incompetant managing

There’s a donkey in the dugout

By Peter

June 22, 2006 09:11 AM | Link to this

Last night I was watching the game on TSN Canada’s ESPN and they had a pretty alarming stat. The Braves have blown 14 saves already this year They blew 7 at this time last year, thank you Dan Kolb. If the Braves had a competent closer, lets say who only blew 5 saves or so they would be 5 games back instead of 14 and a half We need bullpen and a lead off man badly.

By Todd

June 22, 2006 09:25 AM | Link to this

The braves just suck…and the dynasty is over…now its back to pre 1991 status where we get used to having a s** baseball team…then again what do they have to show for dominating their division for the past 11 years? NOTHING they choked every year in the playoffs. I would rather have a average team that at least gets to the world series every now and then…good riddance!!

By GermanBravesFan

June 22, 2006 09:37 AM | Link to this

Jim O… I didn’t mean that Leo Mazzone is the answer. I rather wanted to point out that, regardless, he would NOT have stayed with the Braves. I did not mean the Braves would be better off with him!

By TPM

June 22, 2006 09:38 AM | Link to this

It is more that painfully obvious that the streak is over. It is also time to trade David LaRoche - he is what he is and will not improve. it is time to cut your losses with Reitsma, Jordan and Thompson. Cut them or trade them for some young arms. You can’t move Chipper’s contract because he is dead wood. Move him to first base.

By Bill

June 22, 2006 09:38 AM | Link to this

Bobby Cox will be gone after the All-Star Break.

By toggle

June 22, 2006 09:39 AM | Link to this

I knew this day would come … they’ve been settting us up for fourteen years just to break our hearts.

I knew this team was a fluke! Back to the same old same old! Next thing you know, the Dodgers will be our arch-rival again and we’ll be brawling with the Padres!

As we used to say back in the day; Go Braves, and take the Falcons with you!

By Lew

June 22, 2006 09:41 AM | Link to this

It never fails to amaze me what a bunch of jerks the so-called Atlanta fans are (you know which ones I mean). 14 years of great teams and all anyone does is bi#ch about no Ws championships. What are you all, 16 years old? Teams have bad years. It happens all of the time. Everywhere. Older Braves fans are certainly aware of this, as are fans in most, if not all, cities. Do we support this team? Hell no. All I hear is griping. BC must go. JS must go. Cipper s$x, Andruw s$x. They must go. Are you poeople insane, or are you just clueless. All I can say is, for those of you who can’t stand one series and out in October, Guess what? You don’t have to worry this year. I, for one will be sad not to see the Braves, if even briefly in post season. However, I will remember those 14 straight division title, the 6 (should have been 8) Cy Young awards, the 2 MVP’s and TP’s batting title.

By krath

June 22, 2006 09:43 AM | Link to this

40 Year Old Pitchers

Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, Randy Johnson, Jamie Moyer, David Wells, Roger Clemens, Curt Shilling (soon) and John Smoltz (in a year)

Forty plus year old pitchers can perform at high levels no doubt. Maddux, having a good year. Glavine, leading the league in wins. Shilling, guts and still getting people out as is Smoltz.

The other side of the coin does exist though. Randy Johnson is an absolute coin toss. He shows flashes of brilliance at times and is lit up at other times. Even as early as 2001 Glavine showed a tendency to run out of gas at the end of the season. Is there reason to doubt that this season at another year older will be any different? David Wells can hardly walk to the mound without injury. Roger Clemens has accepted the fact he can’t pitch an entire season.

There is one factor that separates Smoltz from others on the above list. It’s called multiple major arm surgeries. He’s fully recovered multiple times but as you get older, one’s recuperative powers are not as strong. God willing, he will never have another major arm injury that requires surgery, but his risk factor has to be much higher than the others on the list especially considering he has had multiple arm breakdowns. Can he pitch effectively for 5 more years? Don’t think so? Is he likely to pitch more than a couple more years considering his arm history? Probably not.

I would differ with others who say that Chipper is the face of the Braves. To me, Smoltzie has been the face of the Braves, especially the last few years. His grit and determination personify what you want your club to be. He has performed in pain. He has picked his performance up a notch virtually every time the Braves back was to the wall. He is articulate, knowledgeable and most of all a fierce competitor. I would love to have 25 Smoltzs’ on a team.

That being said, it’s time to let him go.

Why would I even consider trading a John Smoltz especially after all the glowing things I said about him? It’s very simple if you take all factors into consideration.

Lets start with his contractual status with the Braves. He’s affordable and will be very much so next year with an 8 million dollar option. On that count, it’s a no brainer. Where can you get a pitcher the caliber of Smoltz for 8 mil? Ask yourself this, however. Without making major moves, how competitive will the Braves be next year? Boyer, Devine and Hampton are all question marks. Chuck James is still an unproven commodity at the big league level. Kyle Davies has shown flashes of brilliance but only flashes. There may not be a closer in the organization or on the market during the winter that the Braves can afford. There will almost definitely be no increase in payroll and maybe even cuts in payroll. To compete now takes money and/or quality trade bait neither of which Braves management seems willing to part with. With what has been stated above, can the Braves compete next season? It’s possible, but I feel unlikely.

Do you keep Smoltz around another season to pitch for a .500 ball club (IF they improve) or do you move him before the trade deadline for some pennant contenders #1 pitching prospect? Every team in the pennant race seems to be short a position player but they will work around that if they must. Most every team in the playoff hunt would give up their number one pitching prospect to have a John Smoltz on the mound when the playoffs begin! In essence, it would be a Doyle Alexander revisited and wouldn’t it be ironic if Smoltz were the key figure?

What about loyalty? Smoltz probably deserves that more than any player on that team considering what he has meant to the club and considerations he has made to stay with the Braves. If I were JS and could do a deal for Smoltz, all it would take from Smoltz would be a simple….. “I want to stay here” and I would not even consider a deal. Smoltz deserves that. Besides, he can veto a deal.

I know Smoltz has been doing damage control for a week now over the ESPN interview but what do you expect him to do? I’m sure he is happy in Atlanta. I’m sure he would be happy to play out his contract with the Braves. But he would not have said what he said in that interview if the competitive fire inside him didn’t make the thought of playing for a contender this year attractive to him. I still feel he would jump at the opportunity of having a chance to go back to the World Series this year!

Smoltz has been great. He’s still damn good! Will the Braves be in the thick of it next year? Who knows? Will Smoltz arm and ability hold out another year? Who knows? If the Braves are a sub-par team next year and his contract expires will he want to resign with the Braves (considering he even pitches past next year) or try to go out with another team? Who knows? Of all the things that could happen with Smoltz (injury, effectiveness, decision to retire or re-sign with the Braves, Braves ability to compete next year) it might be best to move him now for some future value.

One thing is for sure, Smoltz cannot perform at a high level for another five years. He may not even be able to do so for another year. A high level pitching prospect (or two) from another team could be with you for a career should they work out. Could in fact be the next John Smoltz!

Smoltz deserves to go out with a winner. The Braves owe him that.

By JohnnyDragon

June 22, 2006 09:44 AM | Link to this

All I have to say is I have been a Braves fan since 1982. I have seen some bad teams, got laughed at for walking down the street in a Braves jersey. I was there in 91 when they won the division. I remember the excitment of that night as I road through Atlanta. It has been a wonderful time. We have a ton of divisional titles, several National league banners hanging, and we even have a World Series banner flying. You know what? I believed every team in the 80’s was going to win and I still believe in this team now. I don’t care if they win or lose I will support them. I also want to tell the team to go out every night and have fun. If you are having fun then we in the stands and watching on T.V will also have fun. Go Braves.

By Ron

June 22, 2006 09:44 AM | Link to this

Dear Chipper, As a ten-and-five guy we know you can veto a trade. We don’t really want to see you traded. You are the team’s most popular player, judging by the crowd noise when you’re introduced. You are the team’s best pure hitter, and a switch-hitter at that. And, by the way, thank you for restructuring your contract to free up some money for the team. That showed class - and loyalty. I know your power numbers are down, but you are still a feared hitter. BUT… We all know you’ve never finished in anything but first place since Little League, so this is new territory for you. How are you going to handle it? It seems to this casual observer that your head is down. As the team leader, you need to be confident for the young players. Remembner that commercial you did for MLB - “I live for this” - you said you take great pride in knowing the pitcher doesn’t want to face you, because they know you’re a tough out. So, the team is losing. You still need to be a tough out! Play like it’s game seven of the World Series! And what’s up with the ten errors already? That throw from Remlinger - what good does it do to keep your foot on the bag if the ball gets by you? Game over! Come on, Chipper, dive for that ball! Make that play! No more excuses. Yes, this season is over as far as making the playoffs. But some of us bought season tickets and we still want to see competitive baseball! Wake up, Chipper, and get your head in the game, please! Play ball!

By Greg Brooks

June 22, 2006 09:47 AM | Link to this

Four words: Bring back Leo Mazzone

By GTGD

June 22, 2006 09:47 AM | Link to this

alright, TPM, first of all, the name is ADAM LaRoche. and he has very little trade value unless packaged with someone. Chipper is a great defensive third baseman, so moving him to first would be STOOPID. Sosa moving to the bullpen will be an excellent move- he does well in early innings, gets tired, and blows it later. he has a hard fastball and nasty slider, perfect closer/late-reliever stuff. we’ll make some SMALL moves as usual and rebound nicely. maybe this year, probably next year.

By David

June 22, 2006 09:48 AM | Link to this

The only ones in this organization not committed to winning is the ownership. If we get another owner who wants the Braves as a tax write off, we will still be doomed. John and Bobby have a great record…..give them a litte credit and stop crying about the first bad season in 15 years. Moving Smoltz or either of the Joneses would be bad….

By Larry

June 22, 2006 09:49 AM | Link to this

Its hard to win when our hitters face BIG LEAGUE Pitching and our opponents get to hit LITTLE LEAGUE Pitching!

By Richard Olcott

June 22, 2006 09:56 AM | Link to this

We probably needed this “shot in the arm” to take it to the next level. Let’s take advantage of it.

By Shawn B

June 22, 2006 10:04 AM | Link to this

One good thing about the nightmare that is occurring right now: All the bandwagon jumpers who became Braves fans in 1991 and have spent the last six or seven years dogging Hall of Famer Bobby Cox, can now crawl back under the rocks where they came from. All of you think this is bad, and it is horrible, did you suffer threw the decade of the 80’s? or did you even know there was a team in Atlanta?

By Zerevon

June 22, 2006 10:08 AM | Link to this

BRAVES WILL BE BACK, REAL SOON, JUST WATCH AND SEE. WE NEEDED THIS MAJOR SLUMP FOR REALITY CHECK. METS ARE NOT GOING TO WIN ALL THEIR GAMES REST OF THE WAY, NO WAY. GO BRAVES…!

By diehardfan

June 22, 2006 10:14 AM | Link to this

How cool would it be to come from 14 games back, win the wild card and knock off the Mets? Tom Glavine is not going to win 20 games this year, and the Mets … well, they’re still the Mets. We’ll see.

By Jeff

June 22, 2006 10:17 AM | Link to this

Mark, you’ve got the formula down: look past 2006 to 2007 and beyond. The key is to make the Braves year-in and year-out competitive, and that’s accomplished through soild pitching and defense. The hitting needs to be timely. Short term fixes—trading blue chip prospects—likely won’t fix anything well enough to matter now.

Great franchises—I’m thinking of the old Yankees, Dodgers and Giants (NY vintage) had runs end, but they always had an eye to the future, had farm systems stocked with top talent,and accpeted taking a step back to take two steps forward.

That and budget. This team needs to more player budget annually. Management needs to have the bucks in the off-season to plug holes. Will the new owner step up and give management a bigger budget to work with? And I’m not talking about Yankee or Met sized budgets, but a budget that reflects that the Braves are a bigger market team.

By BAMA Brave

June 22, 2006 10:25 AM | Link to this

Where is this immediate help from the minors going to come from? The R Braves are the worst AAA team in the minors led by a starting infielder (with a famous last name) hitting .140. Everybody is searching for answers. The fact of the matter, is the Braves are just bad. They play hard but they are a flawed team. There is not one category that you can rate this team above average. This team needs a serious upgrade on talent. As Braves fans, we are going to have to be patient until the next wave of talent (which is at AA or below) arrives in the ATL.

By tigger101023

June 22, 2006 10:36 AM | Link to this

Smoltz is 15th in the ERA in the NL with 16 teams and that’s slightly above average? Are you nuts? He’s way above average. I’m not sure he can carry a team anymore, but I am sick of people daring to call him average. What garbage.

By wayne

June 22, 2006 10:41 AM | Link to this

what’s juan berenguer up to? Bring back senor smoke!

By Art

June 22, 2006 10:46 AM | Link to this

I would like to see Chipper play first and move Betemit to 3rd unless the Braves trade Giles and put Betemit at 2nd. Why not trade LaRoche for a 2ndbaseman?

By B.J.

June 22, 2006 11:07 AM | Link to this

Out of all the comments on here, C Daddy’s was the MOST on point. When we are discussing the Braves, there are several facts that must be addressed FIRST:

The truth of the matter is that we are actually in year 2 of this realization—The Braves were very fortunate to “mask” this last year. There’s one primary reason why these obvious shortcomings were masked last year, which leads to my fact #2:

One Name: Wilson Betemit

These are great examples of why we are suffering through this now. As currently constructed, this team is incapable of beating Major League teams consistently, because it is void of so much major league TALENT. In order to acquire talent, we must have INTERESTED ownership, and a LOYAL fan base. The question is, can we achieve what is actually necessary? I hope so, but I honestly think not.

By Dewaine

June 22, 2006 11:13 AM | Link to this

The Braves should try to get a closer before the season is over. They need to have a yard sale of their own to get one. If the Braves keep Chipper, they need to make him platoon with LaRoche and/or Betemit. Lead-off has been poison to the Braves so Giles, if they keep him, should be placed further down the lineup. Leadoff with Betemit or Renteria. Too bad Orr cannot hit or he would be leadoff. You have to keep Andruw even if he was hitting .100 since he saves the Braves two or three runs a game.

By Lee south of ATL

June 22, 2006 11:16 AM | Link to this

After reading the majority of these postings, I can now understand why most of the playoffs never sold out in Atlanta. There are those of us who have been here since before the “run” (the Horner/Niekro/Garber/Murphy/ days, remember Al Hraboski(sp?) ) and will continue to be here after the “run”. Sure it sucks losing, but we have had it good for an unprecedented long time. It’s only natural that the brakes would get put on at some point. I find all you armchair GM’s who have all the answers, pretty freakin’ funny. So do you dispense these words of wisdom to your customers as you hand them their McNuggets?

By Dave

June 22, 2006 11:18 AM | Link to this

I am in total agreement with Mark Bradley (something I thought I would never say). What I am about to say is counter-intuitive, and will probably be blasted by all successive posts: The WORST POSSIBLE OUTCOME for the Braves is to get hot and win 15 of the remaining 17 games left before the All-Star Break.

Hear me out: The Braves’ starting eight is, by and large, a pretty decent team. Granted, a legitimate leadoff hitter is needed, and a power hitter at first base would be nice. Still, Andruw Jones and Franceour will both drive in more than 100 runs this year while hitting in excess of 30 home runs each. Chipper, Renteria and McCann will probably end the season as .300 hitters. If we got Giles out of the leadoff spot, he would probably end the season around .280, and LaRouche will probably hit 20+ home runs and have about 70 RBIs. This team has a good mix of youth and veteran experience, with multiple prospects in the farm system waiting for their chance. If you hypothetically asked each general manager to trade his entire starting eight players for the Braves current starting lineup, most of them would make that trade without hesitation.

The problem with this team is PITCHING, pure and simple. Last year, a combination of luck, defense and timely hitting overcame a mediocre starting rotation and abysmal relief pitching. This year, as so accurately documented in yesterday’s AJC article, injuries have decimated a pitching staff that was not that good to begin with.

If the Braves managed to get back into the race this year, John Schurholz would be tempted to make some trades to get the quality relief pitching needed to stay competitive. The GM on the other side of those trades will not be asking for John Thomson, Brian Jordan, Chris Reitsma or Todd Pratt. They will want Tony Pena, Kyle Davies, Brian McCann or Jarrod Saltalamacchia. They will want the prospects, and THAT is something the Atlanta Braves cannot afford to give up.

WRITE THIS SEASON OFF!!! Accept the fact that the streak has ended and look to 2007. Assuming no trades are made and everyone recovers from the accumulation of injuries, we are looking at a 2007 starting rotation of Smoltz, Hudson, Hampton, Davies and Ramirez, with Chucky James waiting in the wings. The relief pitching would be Devine, Foster, Boyer, McBride, and Sosa, with Reitsma, Stockman, Cormier and Villarreal also available.

John Schurholz should make some trades with the expressed purpose of making the team better for 2007. He should be VERY SELECTIVE in his trades, with the intent to get that leadoff batter and some decent relief pitching for next year. John Thomson, Adam LaRouche, Marcus Giles, Lance Cormier, Jorge Sosa, Oscar Villarreal, Matt Diaz, Ryan Langerhans, Pete Orr, Kelly Johnson, Wilson Betemit and, yes, even Ken Ray, Chris Reitsma and Chad Paronto all have some trade value. Brian Jordan and Todd Pratt should be released to make way for the farm hands.

There is, however, one VETERAN pitcher I would welcome back with open arms: Greg Maddux. We should have NEVER let him go to begin with, because he was the most dependable starter we had. Granted, he is NOT the Greg Maddux of the early 1990s, but he is undoubtedly the best control pitcher in the history of the game. I am also convinced that his veteran presence and his guidance to the younger pitchers on the staff made him, in effect, a second pitching coach. I suspect that Leo Mazzone was not the genius everyone thought he was, but rather much of credit for the Braves’ 1990s pitching legacy belongs to Greg Maddux. It probably won’t happen, because, at $9M per year, the Braves could not afford Maddux, but I can dream, can’t I??

By Cityofdecatur

June 22, 2006 11:20 AM | Link to this

faith in JS. faith in Cox to keep ship afloat in this storm. Go Braves Now everyone take a deep breath hang on root root root for the home team and we’ll see what the situation is on July 31st. NO TIME TO PANIC Remember mama said there’d be days like this SHE JUST NEVER SAID HOW MANY

By Cityofdecatur

June 22, 2006 11:21 AM | Link to this

faith in JS. faith in Cox to keep ship afloat in this storm. Go Braves Now everyone take a deep breath hang on root root root for the home team and we’ll see what the situation is on July 31st. NO TIME TO PANIC Remember mama said there’d be days like this SHE JUST NEVER SAID HOW MANY

By Colin Christopher

June 22, 2006 11:22 AM | Link to this

I can’t believe the very first comment on this article is “Leo Mazzone.”

When are you people gonna get it? It is NOT Leo Mazzone they are missing! Leo is in Baltimore, where the pitching staff has the second-highest ERA in the AL! What does that tell you? It tells you that Leo is overpaid in Baltimore because he had extremely good, durable pitchers like Maddux, Glavine, and Smoltz for the bulk of his tenure in Atlanta.

What the Braves really miss is NOT Leo, it’s more of those smart, durable veteran arms. Keep Hudson and Smoltz, keep any good arms we have left in the farm system, keep Francouer, McCann, Betemit, Diaz, and all the other young guys still finding their way up. Trade Chipper and Giles to contenders (CJ deserves another ring and he ain’t gonna get it in Atlanta anytime soon) for some good young arms.

We’ll be back.

By Colin Christopher

June 22, 2006 11:24 AM | Link to this

I can’t believe the very first comment on this article is “Leo Mazzone.”

When are you people gonna get it? It is NOT Leo Mazzone they are missing! Leo is in Baltimore, where the pitching staff has the second-highest ERA in the AL! What does that tell you? It tells you that Leo is overpaid in Baltimore because he had extremely good, durable pitchers like Maddux, Glavine, and Smoltz for the bulk of his tenure in Atlanta.

What the Braves really miss is NOT Leo, it’s more of those smart, durable veteran arms. Keep Hudson and Smoltz, keep any good arms we have left in the farm system, keep Francouer, McCann, Betemit, Diaz, and all the other young guys still finding their way up. Trade Chipper and Giles to contenders (CJ deserves another ring and he ain’t gonna get it in Atlanta anytime soon) for some good young arms.

We’ll be back.

By paul

June 22, 2006 11:30 AM | Link to this

Do not get rid of Chipper, Andrew or Smoltzie. They do not deserve it. We owe them our loyalty.

By phil

June 22, 2006 11:55 AM | Link to this

We all knew this day would come. The Braves need to bulid back the team and that means make smart trades for talent that will help for the next 6-8 years. If Smotlz really cares about the team as he says by pulling a Dale Murphy he would go to the bullpen and help stop the bleeding. If he doesnt than trade him for prospects like the braves did to get him. Look at the top team with the exception of the new york teams all the other teams have worked the young players into the field and are now winning. The braves need to move some of the dead weight and maybe that is chipper needs to go but not for another aging star but a good player that will make a difference in a year or two. Braves fan we need to just ride the year out and wait for new owners to give JS some cash to do some work. Look at it this way at least we wont have another october letdown we get it in the summer, now we know what royal fans feel like.

By sickandtired

June 22, 2006 12:04 PM | Link to this

This post is full of prophets, who think they know what is going to happen and think they know what should happen. JS and BC got where they are because they know what they are doing - and if they are any kind of competetors they are just as frustrated as the fans and are trying to right the ship. You people crack me up with your prophecies about “BC will be gone by the All Star break” and all. Oh, and for those of you who are crying for Salty to come up just so you can name drop some prospects - He currently has a horrific .212 avg. IN AA. Man I am glad that none of you are GM of the Braves.

By Tvilleguy

June 22, 2006 12:10 PM | Link to this

Ya’ll think Turner South booting Skip and the professer started this lousy season?

By Glass Half Full

June 22, 2006 12:12 PM | Link to this

No way should Reitsma and Villareal be part of the 2007 bullpen…or the 2006 one for that matter. Sure JS should have invested in the pen during the off season, but now it’s a self-fulfilling prophecy for those guys…everyone expects them to suck so the pitchers come in thinking “I gotta be perfect and just through strikes.” Well, once you start thinking too much those strikes end up over the plate and out of the yard. If you expect to suck, you will.

By Robert

June 22, 2006 12:12 PM | Link to this

There’s a donkey in the dugout

By Glass Half Full

June 22, 2006 12:14 PM | Link to this

That’s “throw strikes” not “through strikes.”

By Tom Rogers

June 22, 2006 12:17 PM | Link to this

As the late Johnny Oates once said: “There are no must games. Life goes on and baseball goes on.” Thus—there are no must seasons. I am greatful for the 14 years the Braves gave us. I am greatful for the games I saw in St Louis with Dale Murply sliding into home. I remember the clinching game in 1982 in San Diego that we lost—when Joe Morgan beat the Dodgers to get us to the playoffs. And then came the 1991-2005 streak. Great Great. Baseball has brought me and my brothers closer togther. And what about the Tech and Georgia teams this year.Great-Great. I will bleed and whine about the Braves this year like every one else—but I am greatful for the experiences and look forward to what happens next. Watching these guys handle this adversity and continuing to watch a class act like Smoltz is what baseball is all about!!! I don’t like this season any more than anybody else—but as a ardent fan of baseball—it comes with the package. Life goes on and baseball goes on!!!

By Glass Half Full

June 22, 2006 12:21 PM | Link to this

Same thing with the hitters…without saying so openly, the 1-8 guys are confident that the pitching staff will blow any lead the Braves have, so everyone (including Rafael Belliard) is swinging for the fences. The result? 6-4-3 double-play or K.

By Glass Half Full

June 22, 2006 12:31 PM | Link to this

MLB: The Show update…2009 World Series Braves v. Indians (rematch of the 1995 and 2008 World Series). I knoq you guys care, right?

By RICK

June 22, 2006 12:41 PM | Link to this

GET RID OF COX

By wes1

June 22, 2006 12:47 PM | Link to this

Maybe we can trade chipper, put terry pendelton on third and get a good batting coach!!! We also need to release everyone in bullpen today and completly start over.

By John Schuerholz

June 22, 2006 12:47 PM | Link to this

The sky is falling, the sky is falling!

Wow, this blog is like comic relief …. So we take a year off from being a contender, big deal? Time to suck it up big boy style and realize its not a practical reality to win your division EVERY year. Perhaps this will make SOME realize how special 14 in a row really are.

GO BRAVES! … I’m down with you regardless of how this year works out.

By wes1

June 22, 2006 12:48 PM | Link to this

Maybe we can trade chipper, put terry pendelton on third and get a good batting coach!!! We also need to release everyone in bullpen today and completly start over.

By E. Gonzalez MD

June 22, 2006 12:48 PM | Link to this

I agree with Mark’s comments, but the Braves need a true lead off hitter in LF aa closure and 4 good arms in the bullpen. Our team is a terrible in fundamentals. They can’t bunt, they strike out too often, don’t take deep counts, etc. I agree we need pitching, but they need to work in fundamentals and try to cut down the strike outs. Chipper is not the same, he is not a good player anymore. Maybe someone needs a third basement and give us some young player for him. Giles is a good second basement and I would not get rid of him, he was asked too much.

By Brian

June 22, 2006 12:49 PM | Link to this

Dean, you’re an idiot.

By Vinnie Boombotz

June 22, 2006 12:51 PM | Link to this

Hey JohnnyDragon - What the heck are you smoking and where can I get some of that sh*t? LMAO All of you diehards can pray to the big chief in the sky all you want, you guys are done this year. Mets don’t need to win all their games this year, they can play .500 ball the rest of the way and still win the division and put you 30 games out in the process! Get over yourselves, it’s over!!! Long live the METS!!!

By Ron Roberts

June 22, 2006 12:53 PM | Link to this

The donkey business is stupid. Pure and simple. Take two doses of GrowUp and we’ll take your temperature in the morning.

Mark hit the nail on the head, though. With regards to pitching, this franchise sort of veered from the premise that strong pitching wins many years ago.

Russ Ortiz?

Jorge Sosa?

John Thomson?

Jared Wright?

John Burkett?

We’ve been “lucky” for a season with SOsa, Wright, Burkett, and had decent results for a season out of Thomson and Ortiz, but these guys weren’t long-term projections for our rotation. The one rotation pitcher we’ve added over that same time span is Tim Hudson, and I think he’s a formidable #2 guy, and sometimes is down-right nasty, but we don’t have a #1 guy, really. With Smoltz at his age, we have two #2 starters, and after that, it’s a crap shoot. Throw in Hampton (who knows what he brings?) to the mix, and at best we have three #2 starters.

We’ve wavered from Schuerholz’s self-proclaimed “pitching first” philosophy, with an offense-heavey ‘03 team, a patchwork miracle playoff squad in ‘04 and ‘05, but we’ve not really bolstered this rotation with a daunting three anything like Smoltz, Glavine & Maddux in the mid-90s. Let’s also not forget it was Bobby Cox as GM who brought Avery, Glavine and Smoltz to the organization.

Looking at ‘07, with Smoltz, Hudson, Hampton, and I’ll assume Chuck James and Kyle Davies or Horacio Ramirez, we’re loaded for rotation pieces, but again, is there a bonafide top of rotation guy amongst them? I don’ think so. Three #2s and some 4/5 guys, the younger ones with high potential.

And all along, in the playoff losses, that’s what hurt us. We just didn’t have shut-down starters after 1996.

So what to do? Package a “Davies/Ramirez-for-your top-tier guy” trade? Or use our depth in the rotation to bolster our bullpen? Conventional wisdom holds that it’ll be cheaper to fix the bullpen than grab a starter in free agency, too, but Barry Zito, Jason Schmidt, Mark Mulder, Greg Maddux and yes, Tom Glavine on the market, none of those will come cheap, but damn adding one of ‘em sure would make our rotation the best, most-deep rotation in the majors, and frankly, would put the onus on Smoltz to at least consider the bullpen again for a World Series run.

Positionally speaking, we have to find a spot for Wilson Betemit while he’s still cheap for us; Giles or Chipper on the trade block should help us snare a more viable option in LF or 1B, unless Chipper would re-consider a move to 1B with some work in the offseason. Nomar’s success in LA, and with that move should be enough to convince him, I’d think.

If he moves to 1B in the offseason, we have a place for Betemit at 3B, and we can then decide what to do about LF and 2B. Here’s a name I like for 2B if we dump Giles….

Craig Counsell.

He won’t be expensive, either, but he’s a Brave-killer and does all the little things with the bat and in the field.

Seriously, folks… that leaves us with one question mark position - LF, and do we give up on Langerhans and/or Kelly Johnson if we can shore up everything else on this team with moves like these?

I’d like to hope that, unlike many pie-in-the-sky bloggers, my moves make some sound baseball and fiscal sense. The moves are minimal, but without the (neighborhood figure) $4 million we’re paying Giles, and the $6 million we’re apparently not going to spend on this year’s squad that we saved on Chipper’s contract… this franchise should go after one of those marquee starters I listed above. My preference would be a blowtorch, a la Schmidt, myself. Secondary choices would be Zito or Mulder, with Glavine and Maddux there just for sentimental reasons. Glavine’s been terrific, but we need gas and he’s still a movement and finesse guy.

Thoughts?

By G

June 22, 2006 12:55 PM | Link to this

BRAVES NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE LITTLE THINGS. FOR STARTERS, FIND OUT WHY BRIAN MCCANN SPENDS THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME AT THE PLATE SQUINTING, AS IF THE PITCHER IS THE SUN. SINCE MCCANN IS THE BEST HITTER ON THE TEAM, IMAGINE IF HE COULD SEE. PERHAPS MAKE A TRADE TO GET GREG MADDUX BACK SO HE CAN ASSIST MCCANN WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EYE SURGERY.

By Ron Roberts

June 22, 2006 01:01 PM | Link to this

And Robert… dude, I know you can’t really believe Bobby Cox has ruined young pitchers, right? Let’s look at all the pitchers he’s ruined in their younger days….

Tom Glavine….yep, he’s worthless now, ain’t he?

John Smoltz….stinking up the joing with all those sub 4 ERA years, the Cy Young award and those franchise-best saves.

Greg Maddux….yeah, he sucks, too, right?

Jason Schmdit….the Giants found out how worthless he was after Bobby ruined him in his early years, didn’t they?

What are you talking about, man?

By Ron Roberts

June 22, 2006 01:01 PM | Link to this

The donkey business is stupid. Pure and simple. Take two doses of GrowUp and we’ll take your temperature in the morning.

Mark hit the nail on the head, though. With regards to pitching, this franchise sort of veered from the premise that strong pitching wins many years ago.

Russ Ortiz?

Jorge Sosa?

John Thomson?

Jared Wright?

John Burkett?

We’ve been “lucky” for a season with SOsa, Wright, Burkett, and had decent results for a season out of Thomson and Ortiz, but these guys weren’t long-term projections for our rotation. The one rotation pitcher we’ve added over that same time span is Tim Hudson, and I think he’s a formidable #2 guy, and sometimes is down-right nasty, but we don’t have a #1 guy, really. With Smoltz at his age, we have two #2 starters, and after that, it’s a crap shoot. Throw in Hampton (who knows what he brings?) to the mix, and at best we have three #2 starters.

We’ve wavered from Schuerholz’s self-proclaimed “pitching first” philosophy, with an offense-heavey ‘03 team, a patchwork miracle playoff squad in ‘04 and ‘05, but we’ve not really bolstered this rotation with a daunting three anything like Smoltz, Glavine & Maddux in the mid-90s. Let’s also not forget it was Bobby Cox as GM who brought Avery, Glavine and Smoltz to the organization.

Looking at ‘07, with Smoltz, Hudson, Hampton, and I’ll assume Chuck James and Kyle Davies or Horacio Ramirez, we’re loaded for rotation pieces, but again, is there a bonafide top of rotation guy amongst them? I don’ think so. Three #2s and some 4/5 guys, the younger ones with high potential.

And all along, in the playoff losses, that’s what hurt us. We just didn’t have shut-down starters after 1996.

So what to do? Package a “Davies/Ramirez-for-your top-tier guy” trade? Or use our depth in the rotation to bolster our bullpen? Conventional wisdom holds that it’ll be cheaper to fix the bullpen than grab a starter in free agency, too, but Barry Zito, Jason Schmidt, Mark Mulder, Greg Maddux and yes, Tom Glavine on the market, none of those will come cheap, but damn adding one of ‘em sure would make our rotation the best, most-deep rotation in the majors, and frankly, would put the onus on Smoltz to at least consider the bullpen again for a World Series run.

Positionally speaking, we have to find a spot for Wilson Betemit while he’s still cheap for us; Giles or Chipper on the trade block should help us snare a more viable option in LF or 1B, unless Chipper would re-consider a move to 1B with some work in the offseason. Nomar’s success in LA, and with that move should be enough to convince him, I’d think.

If he moves to 1B in the offseason, we have a place for Betemit at 3B, and we can then decide what to do about LF and 2B. Here’s a name I like for 2B if we dump Giles….

Craig Counsell.

He won’t be expensive, either, but he’s a Brave-killer and does all the little things with the bat and in the field.

Seriously, folks… that leaves us with one question mark position - LF, and do we give up on Langerhans and/or Kelly Johnson if we can shore up everything else on this team with moves like these?

I’d like to hope that, unlike many pie-in-the-sky bloggers, my moves make some sound baseball and fiscal sense. The moves are minimal, but without the (neighborhood figure) $4 million we’re paying Giles, and the $6 million we’re apparently not going to spend on this year’s squad that we saved on Chipper’s contract… this franchise should go after one of those marquee starters I listed above. My preference would be a blowtorch, a la Schmidt, myself. Secondary choices would be Zito or Mulder, with Glavine and Maddux there just for sentimental reasons. Glavine’s been terrific, but we need gas and he’s still a movement and finesse guy.

Thoughts?

By Richard

June 22, 2006 01:05 PM | Link to this

I have followed the Braves all over the world, thanks to TBS and the Navy. This meant that I would have to some times watch the Brave late at night, 2am and then work the next day. I love the Braves. I grew up in Roswell and I went to games in seasons when they would loose 100 games. I love the Braves.

Here is what I see is wrong with the Braves.

1. Pitching. I believe the problem is not the talent; it is how they are attacking the hitters. It appears to me that they are trying trick the other the hitter. If I was the pitching coach, I would get strike one. Make the best hittable pitch the first pitch, not have to throw a strike at 3-2. I believe John Smoltz’s pitch count is so high because he has so many 3-2 counts. By making the best pitch to hit the first pitch, this will force the opposing team to go after that first pitch, this will lower the pitch count and our starter can go deeper into the game.
2. Hitting. Too many strikeouts. The opposing team is throwing garbage and we are swinging at it. We have talented hitters. They need to put the ball in play, go with the pitch and put it in play. I think that Bobby Cox needs to change the line up. I feel the team is waiting for something to change and he is not doing anything significant and the team is discouraged.
3. Laugh. Do you remember Pasqual Perez? I think it was 1982 and Pasqual got lost on spaghetti junction and missed the game. My beloved Braves were in loosing streak then. This broke the tension. Those Braves went on to win the West that year.

No matter the out come, I will love the Brave. Go Braves.

By patrick

June 22, 2006 01:09 PM | Link to this

I am going to predict that these guys will turn the season around starting tonight!!!!

I am always going to support this team, no matter what, and I will not sit here and slam the guys for having a bad year. Do I get mad and upset watching it? hell yes…

Let’s get some pitching up here, make some trades, and let’s start to rock again….

P

By Donkey

June 22, 2006 01:10 PM | Link to this

Is it classy to beat your wife?

By p

June 22, 2006 01:34 PM | Link to this

Again, where is the pitching, JS?

Built to lose [big].

By Glenn

June 22, 2006 01:37 PM | Link to this

Wow Dean, you truly are an idiot. JS is the greatest GM of this generation, in any sport. Read his book and you’ll only be amazed.

By Glenn

June 22, 2006 01:38 PM | Link to this

Wow Dean, you truly are an idiot. JS is the greatest GM of this generation, in any sport. Read his book and you’ll only be amazed.

By JJ

June 22, 2006 01:43 PM | Link to this

Smoltz needs to quit being a selfish and get in the bullpen. If he really cared about winning like he says he does, he would realize the team needs him in the bullpen. How many games have we lost in innings 6-9? Too many. Just imagine where we would be if we had held on and won half of those games…. Also, Chuck “Cy” James needs to be starting NOW!

By Dave

June 22, 2006 02:23 PM | Link to this

You want to know what JS has done how about two words. Farm system.

By Mark

June 22, 2006 02:24 PM | Link to this

I can sum up the problem in 2 words………Leo Mazzone.

By Murph Fan

June 22, 2006 02:27 PM | Link to this

I’m really surprised at the amount of people who have written this team off. Yes being in last place is no fun and 14 games out is not where you want to be at this point in the season. However, this team will play good baseball again. One of the great things about baseball is that you have a season that consists of 162 games. Another title might be a long shot but lets not give up just yet.

By Ricky Vaughn

June 22, 2006 02:30 PM | Link to this

Uh, yeah so Smoltz is running a baseball camp this week, and LaRoche is hosting a golf tournament. Shouldn’t both these clowns be practicing. Neither one is leading the league in anything other than they both can’t play dead. I see Hampton is healthy enough to swing the golf clubs but can’t pitch? These guys are over paid and lazy. Maybe a little less time screwing off outside the empty confines of Turner field and little more time devoted to their skills and just maybe the Braves might start winning.

By Ricky Vaughn

June 22, 2006 02:39 PM | Link to this

Uh, yeah so Smoltz is running a baseball camp this week, and LaRoche is hosting a golf tournament. Shouldn’t both these clowns be practicing. Neither one is leading the league in anything other than they both can’t play dead. I see Hampton is healthy enough to swing the golf clubs but can’t pitch? These guys are over paid and lazy. Maybe a little less time screwing off outside the empty confines of Turner field and little more time devoted to their skills and just maybe the Braves might start winning.

By David Baxter

June 22, 2006 02:51 PM | Link to this

I just want people to know one thing. If you are a fan of the Braves then you are a fan win or loose. The Braves have had a bad year so far and we need to be more supportive of our team like the Redsox are of theirs. We need to back our Braves and go and route them on as much as we can. We have a lot of History here with the Braves (aka Hank Aaron and many more). I love to watch the Braves and see what kind of talent we have out their. I go and watch the Rome Braves at least once a week and they have some talent on their team. Just look at their website and you can see some good players (look at the 1B man and Eric Cambell and their picthing). I am excited for the Braves future. Just watch the Braves and cheer for them no matter what. I want them to win every time they step on the field, but there will be some bad years they have to go through. GO Braves!!!!!!

By Bobbymahlon

June 22, 2006 03:08 PM | Link to this

John Smoltz was a great closer, john smoltz is a good starter, enough said. Move Smoltz to the pen and trade for Willis. Have patience with Thorman he has a good strong level swing. Trade Giles and Laroche and get bullpen help for them and put Betimit at short and move Renteria to second. When Jurries gets fully recovered from his injury bring his good right handed bat up.

By **JOHN B.**

June 22, 2006 03:20 PM | Link to this

For those who are claiming Andruw Jones is not having a good season. Last year on June 21st, he had 20 HRs and 46 RBIs, compared to this year on June 21st when he has 17 HRs and 61 RBIs. He still strikes out too much but he is having a very good year.

The bullpen has been the biggest problem for the Braves. The starters have been decent, but not great. They walk too many guys in critical situations.

Next would be the fundamentals of hitting. TP needs to teach them. How to move a runner over, how bunt, how to take a walk. These things are required for a team to be successful.

Maybe the laid back attitude of the coaching staff needs to change. I’m not saying they need to be Larry Bowa, but they need to light a fire once in a while.

By John Schuerholz

June 22, 2006 03:32 PM | Link to this

Where’s Lou Piniella these days?

By Chase

June 22, 2006 03:33 PM | Link to this

NEVER TRADE ANDRUW!!!!! He is a sure fire hall of famer…only 28 or 29 years old 8 straight gold gloves and over 300 homers and saves many runs a year with his glove…He’s got 8-10 years left, he will hit over 600 homers have 15 gold gloves, 3000 hits (he’s got over 1500 already) and be a first ballet hall of famer! Build around Andruw, Francoeur, McCann, Renteria, and Betemit. Keep Chipper and Smoltz and Hudson untill the end of their careers. Make some small trades this year to see if it’l fire up the team for a wild card run and next year you will have Smoltz, Hudson, Hampton, Davies, Rameriz…IT WILL BE A QUICK TURNAROUND!!!!

But never trade Andruw. we would go down in history as the idiots who let a first ballot hall of famer go—one who I might add has and will take less to stay here.

AS far as Salty—he’s a catcher and McCann will be here for years to come so either trade him or teach him a new position—trade Giles and let Betemit play and go out at the deadline or off season and find a speedy left fielder (like Gathright or Crawford) and possibly move Chipper to first next year…..

comments?

By baseballnut22

June 22, 2006 03:38 PM | Link to this

Some people should not be allowed to post here. It is win or lose, people, not lose. Anyway. I don’t think that Bobby Cox is the greatest manager of all time, but he is pretty good. Think about this. 14 consecutive division titles. And ask yourself this. How many hall of fame players have been Braves during this time. At the most three: Maddox (a no-brainer), Smoltz (probably first ballot), and Glavine (close, but in). No position player from this era will make it. Think about it. The best players at each position during this time: c- Lopez (it’s way to early to say McCann); 1b - McGriff; 2b - Lemke; 3b - Pendleton or C. Jones; ss - Furcal (see McCann comment for Renteria); lf - Gant; cf - A. Jones; rf - Justice. A. Jones may one day be considered, but he will have to have many more great years. Cox won last year with a team of rookies. I’ll grant you mistakes made, both in season and playoffs. But overall he has been good for the team. If Lonnie Smith runs, and if Mark Wohlers throws a fastball to Leyritz, that would have been 3 titles. It’s that simple. And quit asking that the Braves trade lesser players for superstars. In order to trade Giles, LaRoche, etc., somebody has to want them. Oh, here’s an idea: LaRoche straight up for Albert Pujols. I’m sure the Cards will go for that. And while were at it lets trade Reitsma for Pedro Martinez. Do you think the rest of the GM’s in baseball are complete goobers? I wonder if anyone will trade with J.S. at this point. Anyway, it had to end. I remember taking a date to the stadium in the late 70’s. It was cheap, and plenty of room to spread out. The run was fun. And the people who got us there are still in place. This year is out. But they can build for the future. The foundation is there. In the mean time, think, people.

By braves man

June 22, 2006 03:52 PM | Link to this

you people are idiots. the braves are having an off season and you people are too young to remember that the braves used to always haave off seasons. you are spoiled because you are actually seeing the braves loose. you should keep all the starting fielders right now. laroche is young he can field and he can hit too. if he lowers the k’s he’ll be fine. giles is good just needs to move out of leadoff and put edgar in there. chipper is the face of the franchise and andrew is young and i think
in the top5 players of the game. smoltz is fine and always starts seasons off bad hes only got 2 years left lets keep him a brave untill he retires. the bulpen is the only thing that needs work and js and bc will take care fo tat trust me

By Chriz

June 22, 2006 04:00 PM | Link to this

The front page shows a couple of 18 year olds with bags on their heads. Hey guys…The Braves have been winning since you were four years old!!! You don’t even know the meaning of a sorry baseball team in Atlanta so stop whinning!

By Chriz

June 22, 2006 04:10 PM | Link to this

The front page shows a couple of 18 year olds with bags on their heads. Hey guys…The Braves have been winning since you were four years old!!! You don’t even know the meaning of a sorry baseball team in Atlanta so stop whinning!

By Jason

June 22, 2006 04:19 PM | Link to this

“When you have surprising disappointment, you try to manage the organization past and through it,” Schuerholz said.

That says it all. Nobody is surprised by this at all, John, considering you did absolutely nothing this past offseason. You got Renteria because you HAD to replace Furcal and NOTHING ELSE. You asked for it.

By jeff

June 22, 2006 04:41 PM | Link to this

How’s this for a lineup? First base—Drew second—-Giles S.S.(and batting leadoff) Furcal 3rd—Chipper Outfield—-Andruw, Sheffield and Dye , catcher Estrada and McCann with a bench of Franquer, Franco, Benetez and LaRoche and a pitching staff of Milwood, Schmidt, Glavine, Maddox as well as Smoltz and Hudson. That team would very likely win the pennant. So why don’t we have most of these players? Because since Ted Turner left, Time-Warner refuses to maintain a payroll large enough to keep them. I’m not talking about signing high-priced free agents off other teams, I’m talking about keeping our own free agents and not losing them. So even if we continue to develop good players from our farm system we will eventually lose them to free agency because we are too cheap to pay them their market value. that is the key problem and the major reason why we are today in last place.

By Joe

June 22, 2006 04:46 PM | Link to this

In my opinion, the Braves might not be in this mess if they had not gambled away their top pitching prospects one by one for prima donna rent-a-players like Drew and Sheffield. Adam Wainwright was to be the cornerstone of the rotation for years to come. Both Spooneybarger and Capellan had great arms and could have easily been converted to closers or late inning stoppers much like Detroit has done with Zumaya. The pitchers they have in the bullpen now try to be too cute around the strike zone. They try to paint the corners instead of going after the hitters and throwing strikes. Reitsma is and never will be a closer. A closer is a guy who comes in and dominates an inning or two. A closer makes the players on the opposing team play harder for the first 7-8 innings just so they don’t have to face him in the 9th. A closer throws pitches that are nearly unhittable. Reitsma is not either of those. Opposing teams see Reitsma and they know that they still have a chance because he throws pitches that they can and will hit hard. They salivate at the thought that they get to face Reitsma in the ninth because of all the pitchers on the Braves staff, he is the easiest to hit.

By BC

June 22, 2006 04:47 PM | Link to this

As I life long Braves fan I must admit that this season has been painful. Since this is my first time wiriting to this Blog (and most likely my last) I will keep my comments real brief. This time (last place in the East) had to come considering that the Braves do not possess the fiscal resources to spend their way out of a problem. That said it is time to start over and prepare for the next run of excellence. For all of you fans (imagined, pretend or die-hard), except the reality and spend the rest of the season observing who on this team is worthy of being a Brave in the future. Now is not the time to quit being a fan, it is time to realize that outside of the Yankees and Red Sox every team has to reload. Look at the White Sox. They had been lousy for years. They got it together through their farm system and good trades. That is what the Braves have done and as a fan I have faith that they will do it again.

That is what true fans have is faith. Not of the instant variety, but long-term.

That is my take. I must say this Blog thing can be cathartic.

BC

By Joe

June 22, 2006 05:06 PM | Link to this

Part2 I hope that for the sake of the young players on the team, they get a true team leader in the dugout. Neither Chipper nor Andruw are vocal enough or have enough fire in them to invigorate a clubhouse. The team that the Braves are putting out there night to night seems to play hoping other teams will lose rather than actually playing to win which is what the Mets and Tigers are doing. They play like to expect the teams ahead of them to just eventually rollover and play dead so that they can hoist number #15 somewhere in the stadium. They concern themselves with putting together a team that can keep the streak alive rather than one that can actually compete for a world series(you kind of need a closer for that last one). I was kind of hoping that the Braves would have given Betemit a shot at playing SS this season instead of going out and trading more future players away for Renteria. The effort put forth to get Renteria should have been used to get some bullpen help which is a greater need for the Braves now. There is little to no drop-off from Renteria to Betemit offensively or defensively and Betemit has been projected to be a 20-25 HR a year guy while Renteria will top off at around 11-15.

By WG

June 22, 2006 05:22 PM | Link to this

I’m from Boston and have been a Braves fan since they were in Boston, Milwaukee, and now Atlanta. (THE WRONG TEAM LEFT BOSTON) It is time to bite the bullet and write the year off. Don’t trade kids. If you can get something for Giles OK. Move Betemit to 2nd or give Orr (some speed a chance) for the rest of the year. Dump a big salary (Chipper not AJ) in spite of his runners in scoring average. The only problem there will be his agent. (Boras) Chipper is now too prone to injuries. If you want to keep MeCann & Salty, one or the other needs to change positions quickly.

Mazzone wasn’t the maker of the staff when it was good and McDowell isn’t to blame because it is bad.

Let the kids get another year of experience and make a good run next year. Hopefully someone with a little more pocket change can loosen things up but still, the best way to go is to develop youy own talent and not rely on someone else’s.

AND BY THE WAY, COULD SOMEBODY PLEASE GET ON BASE BEFORE A HOME RUN IS HIT. THE BRAVES MUST BE LEADING THE LEAGUE IN HOMERS WITH NO ONE ON.

By WG

June 22, 2006 05:23 PM | Link to this

I’m from Boston and have been a Braves fan since they were in Boston, Milwaukee, and now Atlanta. (THE WRONG TEAM LEFT BOSTON) It is time to bite the bullet and write the year off. Don’t trade kids. If you can get something for Giles OK. Move Betemit to 2nd or give Orr (some speed a chance) for the rest of the year. Dump a big salary (Chipper not AJ) in spite of his runners in scoring average. The only problem there will be his agent. (Boras) Chipper is now too prone to injuries. If you want to keep MeCann & Salty, one or the other needs to change positions quickly.

Mazzone wasn’t the maker of the staff when it was good and McDowell isn’t to blame because it is bad.

Let the kids get another year of experience and make a good run next year. Hopefully someone with a little more pocket change can loosen things up but still, the best way to go is to develop youy own talent and not rely on someone else’s.

AND BY THE WAY, COULD SOMEBODY PLEASE GET ON BASE BEFORE A HOME RUN IS HIT. THE BRAVES MUST BE LEADING THE LEAGUE IN HOMERS WITH NO ONE ON.

By Brady

June 22, 2006 05:41 PM | Link to this

For all the people that say we need to trade Andruw and Smoltz, you are all morons. Andruw is still young and can carry the entire offense when he gets hot, and even if you trade him for some prospects there is no guarantee that one of them will become a MVP runner-up like the Braves would be giving up. Smoltz is the anchor of the rotation and without him the starting rotation would be pretty awful. I know he is old, but he is cheaper than guys who are younger than him and a lot worse. It is a bargain having him on the team. Giles, Thomson, Langerhans and possibly LaRoche and Ramirez are not really needed at all because the team wouldn’t be hurt if they got rid of them. If we got some good relievers from these guys we could easily contend for the Wild Card this year and would be contending if it weren’t for about 15 blown saves. The only way the Braves can compete this year is by getting some relievers and I think JS will do exactly that. The team doesn’t need Saltalamacchia because Brian McCann is definitely the catcher of the future and moving Salty to first base would be pointless because we have plenty of good young first basemen. Chipper Jones has been the face of the team for years, but however much I like him, he still needs to be gotten rid of. He costs too much for his performance the last couple of years, but if he was traded we would need a good young third baseman in return. The Braves should really go after Dontrelle Willis even if they have to give up Salty and some good prospects.

By geo rawlings

June 22, 2006 06:26 PM | Link to this

Yeah, right. The Braves bite the big dip and truly suck gas. They’re going nowhere. Generations—nonsense. They’ll be back in the year 2525……maybe, if baseball is still alive.

Gman

By chris

June 22, 2006 06:46 PM | Link to this

We are only in june!! Do not be suprised if the good ol braves pull this off and win another division title. I think as long as JS makes a good move before the trade dealine we will be ok. he finally needs to pull the trigger and make a “big” move before the deadline, b/c in the past he has always been “afraid” to do so. Move Giles and Laroache(Laroache could be the worst hitter i have ever seen, its either a strike out or homer! a weaker adam dunn). Keep getting Salty used to 1st base and when he is ready platoon him with Adam then slowly move adam out of the lineup. Get chuck james in the rotation and bring up Will Startup for the bullpen( the former georgia bulldog has been lighting it up in the minors but has been brought back down to earth once he hit richmond)in 16 games at AA mississippi he had a 0.72 era in 25 inning with 29 strikeouts. Dont give up on joey devine, b/c once he is healthy he is going to be a heck of a closser. he has yet to pitch healthy in the majors. Hope to see hime as the closer by the end of the year. Even if we fall short this year the future is very bright for the Atlanta Braves.

By p

June 22, 2006 07:06 PM | Link to this

Farm system? yeahm we’ve frafted 100 pitchers over the last 10 years, 90% from HS - where are they?

They’re gone. and, while your’re at it fire bobby cox. this team has shut him out

By D'Andre

June 22, 2006 07:07 PM | Link to this

If I was js I would do the following moves. Trade sosa,langerhas, laroche, and villareal, to indians for bob wickman. Then trade james jurries for salmon torres. Next trade wilson betemit for scott linebrink. then trade reitsma, giles, luis atlino,tyler yates , clint simmons, and mike remlinger for willis and Dan uggla. The last trade I would make is bryan pena, cesar crespo, anthony Lerew for carl crawford and sean burroughs. The lineup would be, The rotation would be
1. crawford 1. smoltz 2. renteria 2. hudson 3. chipper 3. ramiez 4. andruw 4. willis 5. mcann 5. davies 6. francouer
7. thorman
8. uggla Now the new and improved bullpen L. mcbride mr. thompson mr. james mr. torres su. Linebrink su. ray cl. wickman

By D'Andre Williams

June 22, 2006 07:17 PM | Link to this

If I was js I would do the following moves. Trade sosa,langerhas, laroche, and villareal, to indians for bob wickman. Then trade james jurries for salmon torres. Next trade wilson betemit for scott linebrink. then trade reitsma, giles, luis atlino,tyler yates , clint simmons, and mike remlinger for willis and Dan uggla. The last trade I would make is bryan pena, cesar crespo, anthony Lerew for carl crawford and sean burroughs.

The lineup would be,
1. crawford
2. renteria
3. chipper
4. andruw
5. davies 6. francouer
7. thorman
8. uggla

The rotation would be 1. smoltz 2. hudson 3. willis 4. ramiez 5. davies

Now the new and improved bullpen L. mcbride mr. thompson mr. james mr. torres su. Linebrink su. ray cl. wickman

By bravesfansince1966

June 22, 2006 07:33 PM | Link to this

Hey WG — You can’t get on if you strike out all the time…!!!

By WG

June 22, 2006 10:02 PM | Link to this

Hey “66” You are right. Maybe Pendleton is the problem. No one ever mentions him.