ajcsportstalk

By shawn

August 5, 2006 05:50 PM | Link to this

Past the 48hr window so has AJ been pulled back

By Ken Stallings

August 5, 2006 05:51 PM | Link to this

Yep, toast — burnt!

By BirdMahn

August 5, 2006 05:55 PM | Link to this

No playoffs this year for the Braves. But that’s no reason to get rid of your best hitter and dismantle team.

By william

August 5, 2006 06:00 PM | Link to this

Braves are done.. season is over First thing the braves need to do in the offseason is settle the ownership of the team i think that its affected the braves more than anything. Second thing cut all those bums in the bullpen except ray wickman and baez. Sign those three to return. 3 Bring in some experienced bench players to pinch hit.. 4 cut brian jordan period he’s a waste of space on the roster. 5. I think its time for some new blood on the coaching staff and in the front office. JS has had a good run, time to let him go, and bobby cox, bobby has a good run with atlanta and its time to let him ride off into the sunset. 6. Bring Starters here, Go back to 1. NOOONE IS GOING TO COME HERE AS LONG AS AOL TIME WARNER IS OWNER OF THE BRAVES PERIOD. 7. Bring in a new pitching coach.. roger is not doing anything with this team.. Fire him.. 8. Rebuild the minor league system, we have used or traded most of the top prospects over the last 2 years. 9. resign andrew jones at any cost or trade him to the yankees cost thats where he’s going if you don’t resign him

By Louis Vales

August 5, 2006 06:02 PM | Link to this

As a Time Warner stockholder—Blank The Braves and let’s get our house in order.

By william

August 5, 2006 06:04 PM | Link to this

lol typical time warner asskisser… move to new york

By Rob

August 5, 2006 06:05 PM | Link to this

Brian McCann is the only one on the Braves roster that is actually playing like a Major Leaguer (Smoltie also). It’s impossible to get into the Wild Card race when you know you are going to lose everytime james hudson and shiell starts. I still dont see all this hype in this aybar kid. all i see from him is terrible at bats while betemit is ripping it up in LA. also francoeur… well i dont know what to say. and as far as AJ goes, shut up with it being rude. you are getting paid 13 mill i dont want to hear you whinning crap about anything. especially with your .260 BA and striking out in all the critical situations.

By william

August 5, 2006 06:05 PM | Link to this

once time warner sells the braves.. lets do this.. 1 run those cheap sobs out of town.. 2. Boycott aol and all its products including its crappy internet service 3. GO Braves.. LONG LIVE WCW

By william

August 5, 2006 06:09 PM | Link to this

YES Thats true but remember this.. they have only been in the league 1 year… does that mean we give up on frenchy hell no. He will come around. its just been a bad year.However i agree with you on the bullpen and the 3 4 and 5 starter spots in the rotation. BUT NOONE IS STUPIED ENOUGH TO COME HERE BECAUSE OF WHO OWNS THE BRAVES. it is so plain and simple.. aol wants all the good players gone.. and wants to turn the braves in the mudhole royals or tampa bay devil rays. The braves fans won’t put up with this. hense they just need to just give the braves away.. which is what there going to do with other corporation liberty media.. stock for braves.

But the braves need is new blood in front office and coaching staff.. including new pitching coach that wasn’t in the minors

By Rob

August 5, 2006 06:15 PM | Link to this

as soon as the braves are sold to liberty they are going to turn into the cubs. it has been stated repeatedly that liberty and warner are just working on a tax free deal and that liberty has to care whatsoever about the baseball and the braves in particular. just like the tribune did to the cubs this liberty comp. is going to do to the braves. corporations could care less about winning they are just using the braves to make money. and they will continue to try and make money off the team and spend the least amount possible on the team through salary.

By william

August 5, 2006 06:19 PM | Link to this

well they also said they have no interest in keeping the braves long term. so we could also see that libery media sell the braves to arthur blanks group and then we see a improvement of payroll to 90-110 million at most.. but the braves won’t be able to compete if these corporations come in and have crap players like coco crisp mark derosa, etc.

for the braves to win the world series they will have to spend money.. its that simple..

By Rob

August 5, 2006 06:23 PM | Link to this

the biggest problem the braves face from now on is that the mets have turned into the yankees on the AL. with their new own tv station and the huge market in ny they now have an unlimited budget like the yankees and so they can buy whoever they want. how else to the go from terrible to getting beltran, delgado, pedro, and wagner all in 2 years. they are going to continue to spend and get who ever they want from now on just like the yankees do and thats how they will probably go on a run like the braves have bc the braves payroll continues to shrink every year and so the next 10 years look real sad if you are a braves fan.

By william

August 5, 2006 06:27 PM | Link to this

i agree if the braves are going to compete they have to do the same thing and with time warner… it won’t happen just another reduction in payroll

By Charlie

August 5, 2006 06:27 PM | Link to this

“Fading fast”??? The Braves did that in June. Now they are simply dead. This is a poor excuse for a major league team. They trot out their stable of AA pitchers (or less), and expect to be competitive. I feel badly for Smoltz. He’s the only quality pitcher they have. Hudson? What a joke! He should give is salary back. And the guy they trotted out today… Did anyone actually think he wouldn’t be shelled early and often? If he’s the best we have for a 5th starter, the Braves are screwed. (Apparently he IS, and they ARE!) Enough.

By jeff p

August 5, 2006 06:29 PM | Link to this

Last night did it for me. Based loaded and no runs. ESPN mentioned the other day about Jack Nicklaus stating what differentiates true winners (T Woods) from the rest of the field is most are fearful of succeeding. The Braves fit this perfectly. Play well enough during the regular season but always fall “a bit short” in the big games. Normally the big games are in the playoffs, this year it is the “Wild Card”. Either way, there is an acceptance that they “really tried hard” to compete and fell “just a bit short. Gosh, if I had this excuse every year in my job, I would be a lot of trouble.

The problem wit this team has been the pitching plain and simple. I bet if you compare the offense statistically to those in years past, is probably one of the best.

Try and keep Giles (in the 2 hole where he belongs) Renteria, Chipper (simply because he is untradable, LaRoche (yes, he is coming into his own this year), McCann (of course), Francouer (remember he probably should still be in the minors and is only 20 yrs old). I guess we have to pray Aybar can parallel Betemit staistically (only time well tell) and find a true leadoff hitter. Wildcard here is A Jones (he has value and we know we won’t be able to re-sign him - Boras and new owener of team. Do we keep him or get three good upcomiung players in return?

Pitching is awful. I guess you gotta keep Smoltz (because hs is the only one left with any competitive juices on the staff), Hudson (hope to God he somehow gets his form back), Hampton (coming back) and hope Ramirez and Davies will be healthy and productive. Blowup the bullpen and hope that Boyer, Foster come back next year and maybe re-sgn Wickman and Baez. Heck, maybe we trade Wickman and Baez for some good prospects as well given they are the only pithcers with any true value now (except for Smoltz).

The team is done and nobody really cares. I am just ready for the weather to cool and look forward to hopefully an exciting football season ahead.

By Chipper's a Candy

August 5, 2006 06:38 PM | Link to this

The best statement made so far is to let Cox go. His stupid decision making never ceases to amaze me.

By C Daddy

August 5, 2006 06:51 PM | Link to this

Any realisitc chance of taking the wild card spot disappeared with the sweep by the Mets, which exposed how poor the Braves pitching (more like throwing) staff really is. The kernel of the fuure is there, except for pitching, from front to back. Too many pitching prospects traded away over the last few years for far too little in return (Kold, Drew etc.) During the offseason both A Jones and Giles need to be traded for some arms and Chipper traded to an AL team that needs a DH. Time to move into phase II of the rebuilding program.

By brian h

August 5, 2006 07:04 PM | Link to this

A season like this will make me and all the other complacent fans appreciate what we’ve had for 14 yrs. But J.S. why did it take last season,the winter and 100 games this year to plug the holes in the bullpen d**e that almost every fan knew was a major disaster?

By Robert(Justice Is The Best)

August 5, 2006 07:08 PM | Link to this

Are they done? Anything is possible. I’ll put it like this. If they are more than 7 games back when Chipper returns, its time to call up the kids and let ‘em play out the string. Its a positive thing that Davies has looked good on rehab assignments and could be back in 2 weeks. Chipper has got one more week. But, will it be too late by then? The Phillies and Brewers come into town next week and they are not pushovers. Not to mention the Braves haven’t played well at home. Needless to say tomorrow is a MUST win.

By sam

August 5, 2006 07:10 PM | Link to this

It will be good for the braves in the long run if the bottom falls out this year—last place finish-because this will provide a true indication of how bad things really are. Then we can re-build by dealing with the reality that things are no longer the way they use to be.For the past 2-3 years we have been “high mediocre” at best but refused to admit this.

Here’s to strong rebuilding plan!!!

By Todd A

August 5, 2006 07:23 PM | Link to this

Agree,Jeff P.I held out a small glimmer of hope(for some strange reason)for the wildcard until last night.I still say Frenchy needs the Ron Gant treatment.Send his @$$ all the way down to A ball UNTIL he learns some plate discipline,and don’t promote him until he shows drastic improvement.It doesn’t help to have his manager saying he likes Jeff’s aggressive approach;not to mention,he continues to put him in the lineup every day.What incentive does he have to get better?Kid needs some tough love right now,not to be coddled day in,and day out by a “do nothing” manager.

By Robert(Justice Is The Best)

August 5, 2006 07:23 PM | Link to this

Sam, I agree with you. Our pitching was just okay last year. The bullpen was awful also. In the end it may be good for these guys to experience losing. It will make them hungrier next year. They have been just going through the motions the last couple of season. Three straight years they were lucky to win the division.

By Knockahoma

August 5, 2006 07:26 PM | Link to this

The run is over and next year looks like more of the same. Time to start discussing how many WS titles the Braves left on the table during the 14 year stretch and who was to blame.

For me, it’s plain & simple- the Braves should have won at least 4 WS titles. 1991 whould have been won if not for putting Liebrandt in the 8th inning of game 6 when everyone but one little man in the dugout knew Puckett would take him deep. 1995 was our only winner. 1996 was ours- anytime you beat the Yankees in NY and go home up 2 games, you should win. Again, the little man in the dugout was unable to get his guys focused and the Braves lost 4 games straight. In 2002(3)- the year Sheffield tore the cover off the ball in the regular season- the Braves had THE most potent lineup in MLB. Somehow the playoffs came and they all turned into little girls. Once again, the little man in the dugout refused to change his strategy or shake these guys up and the Braves wimpered home without even seeing the WS. This little man is obviously Bobby Cox. I realize that he can’t pitch or hit, but it is his job to motivate his players and put the best lineup on the field. He does neither well and his players control him. Bobby Cox is the reason the Braves only have 1 WS title in 14 straight years of reaching the postseason.

Now that it is quite obvious that the Braves will not be seeing the postseason for awhile with any regularity, these Cox snafus will really haunt us. The Braves lost the chance to be a dynasty and instead picked up the label of “always a bridesmaid until once becoming a bride divorce quickly followed”. Divisions are nice but years from now that will simply be another stat that is flashed on your screen and will be a reminder to us of how we could have messed up that run so bad.

By Mark

August 5, 2006 07:37 PM | Link to this

The Braves need more heart! Andrew should leave. He won’t ever win a championship here. This is why I told all you people not to get caught up in this braves hype weeks ago when they were scoring all those runs. They need more speedsters on the team. In fact they need more players of color on the team. This Langerhans, Diaz, Frenchy crap is not working. In the early nineties the braves had many players of color and they were a little more successful. They use to have an all black outfield, with exception of Klesko. They had guys on the infield like Pendleton, Belliard, McGriff. I know they had Lemke Blauser, Bream, Treadway, Giles, and Chipper also. When they had more of an integrated team they were more competitive. In those days we had Gant, Sanders, Nixon, Justice (Who everybody hated!) We had speed and power. It seems now that our GM gets rid of all the colored players. You can’t be an average colored player on this team , they will get rid of you. We got rid of Dye Grissom, and Justice in one whole offseason and they were great!. I know we got Lofton( for one season) and Tucker in exchange but come on! We have never really had pitchers of color. When we did have we got rid of them too. It just kills me how we can get rid of players of color whether they are american or latin, but stick with players like Langerhans, Giles, Laroche, hurt up Chipper,McCann, and Francouer. When we won our only WS series we had lots of players of color such as McGriff, Belliard, Grissom, Justice, Mike Devereax (Who was the NLCS MVP)Luis Polonia, and Alejandro Pena. It doesn’t suprise me that they have Andruw out on the trading block! We never really have enough money to sign or resign players of color. I know some of you people are going to say what about Sheffield and Renteria, we have signed some players of color. They never stay too long. Outside of Andrew, we don’t really too many players of color that stick around. Maybe Furcal McGriff and Justice. We don’t have to have a lilly white team to win. I know some of you people are going to say that what I am saying is racist, and it could be but it is truthful. This run of so called success started with more of an integrated team, but now as the team has gotten whiter and whiter, the success has dwindled to what you see everyday. I hope they never make the playoffs

By braves fan

August 5, 2006 07:38 PM | Link to this

the braves are going to have to win tomorrow to have any chance of winning to wild-card, but they may have already lost there chance. glad we have smoltz on the hill he usually kills the losing streak’s. GO BRAVES i sure wish yall could pull it out.

By Robert(Justice Is The Best)

August 5, 2006 07:41 PM | Link to this

I think sending Francoeur all the way down to A ball or the minors at all would kill his confidence. You don’t want to do that. The fact is he needs to learn plate discipline but its not something he is going to do during the season. That is why I suggested hiring David Justice or some hitting “guru” to come and work with him during the winter. Teach him how to recongnize the situation and know when to be aggressive and when to be more patient. He is the carbon copy of Vlad Guerrero. For those of you who remember when he first came up with the Expos. He was the same way. One game he would be the hero and the next game he would fail in a clutch situation by swinging at everything thrown. With maturity he will learn (I hope). Todd, you are right though. Bobby is not helping the situation by condoning his free swinging. I love TP but would love to know what it is he does. He sure doesn’t teach these guys how to hit or have any kind of gameplan. It seems every game they are swinging for the fences. For instance, Diaz today. Yes, he got a hit,but he came hacking right away at a point in the game we needed baserunners. He showed no patience at all. I don’t get that. If you watch other clubs like the White Sox, Yankees, Red Sox, Mets, Cardinals, and even the Reds, it always seem like they have scouted the opposing pitcher and have a gameplan going into the game. The Braves on the other hand just go up and hack away and hope for the best.

By shaf at home

August 5, 2006 07:46 PM | Link to this

It certainly starts with the ownership. This, I agree with. However, the answer is escaping this board. There is a man out there who is BEGGING to get in to major league baseball. He is already one of the greatest owners in all of sports, and I can’t wait until he overpays for the Braves. Mark Cuban is a god and the answer to all of our worries. Once Cubes moves into the owners box, some tweaking needs to be mad in the coaching staff. Bobby needs to “step down,” giving way for Terry Pendelton to take over. He has been groomed for several seasons and is ready to make the move into Bobby’s chair. McDowell HAS to go. I don’t care who replaces him, but I haven’t seen a dramatic regression like that since David Duval fell off the face of the earth.

The worst part about this season is that the National League is pathetic. It’s a sad day to realize that this is the year we will miss the playoffs given how terrible the NL is. I just have to figure out how to avoid all of my AL-fan friends for the rest of the season.

By Eric the Brave

August 5, 2006 07:51 PM | Link to this

schuerholz cosigned this team to never never land by not landing one of the current Brave relievers (Baez or Wickman) BEFORE the season started. 20 + blown saves??!!!!

Preposterous. They could have made financial room for BOTH by not re-upping Thomson (4.75 mil) and Rietsma ($2.4 mil.

He killed the fan support and team morale with those non moves, and deserves most of the criticism to go along with the up coming trade of Andruw.

Done, of course. This team has ZERO heart, and the pitching has been beyond recognition except for Smoltz.

I never thought I would say this, but it is worthless to watch them.

By Robert(Justice Is The Best)

August 5, 2006 07:58 PM | Link to this

You know, Mark, this whole load of crap about the team not having color has nothing to do with it. This is not about race. This team didn’t win championships when they had more players of color. Stop it!

The orginization is not racist. Not one minority player that has ever been on this team has ever said anything about racism. If racism existed in this orginization, you don’t think guys like Justice and Gant, both of whom were very outspoken, wouldn’t have said something. Give it a rest, man.

By ken sly

August 5, 2006 08:04 PM | Link to this

Just close the blogs already.

By ken sly

August 5, 2006 08:05 PM | Link to this

Just close the blogs already.

By ken sly

August 5, 2006 08:07 PM | Link to this

Just close the blogs already.

By Robert(Justice Is The Best)

August 5, 2006 08:13 PM | Link to this

Man, it would be nice if Mark Cuban or Arthur Blank did wind up buying the team. Steve Lyons on the broadcast today talked about the pending sale and that it was reported Liberty Media is only buying the team as a tax incentive, to make a quick profit, and then sale the team. At that time they could perhaps sale it to an Arthur Blank or Mark Cuban. The only problem could be what shape would the franchise be in by then. Because if they are doing it for tax purposes then they could cut payroll even further and this team couldn’t compete.

I can’t believe Major League Baseball knowing that Liberty Media is planning on doing this would even consider approving the deal. Bud Selig and the boys need to get their collective heads out of their arses. They need to stop worrying about performing a witch hunt on Barry Bonds and look at what crime Time Warner and Liberty Media are about the perpetrate. I guarantee you that if this was the Mets, Dodgers, Yankees, Red Sox, Cubs, or Rockies they would never have allowed this proposed sale to get this far. MLB is a joke and should be ashamed of themselves. I look at the situation in Tampa with the Devil Rays and wonder how in the hell did they let that go as long as it did. Look at the Marlins. I thought Bud’s job as commissioner was to look out for the majors as a whole and every team. I can’t see how letting a corporation who has all but said they are not intersted in winning but making money buy the team. If you damage the fan base, how are you going to make money anyway. Even if its just one team not making money that is bad for Major League baseball. I don’t get it!

By daxxed

August 5, 2006 08:20 PM | Link to this

Too much too late. Why didn’t Smoltz step up and become the closer again. How many blown saves would we have then. Were would we be, if we only had 10 blown saves or 5. JS could have still got Wickman and Baez then Smoltzie could have gone back to the rotation. And we would be in contintion. So the blame is not JS or Bobby Cox but Smoltz for not stepping up and putting a plug in the sinking ship, before it was 3/4 full. After the 5 blown save, Smotlz should have rightened the ship instead of watching it slowly sink.

By SAL

August 5, 2006 08:50 PM | Link to this

Is today’s starter named Shiell or SHELLED. I just thought that Sosa was horrible. Compared to Shelled, Sosa is great. Sosa’s ERA was 3 better.

Braves are not a major league team. They have the payroll, but lack in passion and fundamentals. No more crap about AOL and the payroll. Braves had a top 10 major league payroll again this year. When you don’t play fundamentally sound and you tie up 50% of the payroll in the Jones boys (one can’t stay healthy and the other is as inconsistent as Francouer), Hudson (and he will make $13 million in 2008), and Smoltz (the only one earning his keep) how can you field a competitive team? You can’t. That is why the bullpen has been crap (exluding Wickman) and the bench sucks (minus Betemit).

Braves should have been aggressive in unloading Andruw before the non-waiver deadline. He could have brought 3 or 4 top prospects that could play now or in the next year or two. Braves are stuck with Chipper unless he would accept a trade to Texas so he can DH. Hudson, well, maybe the Yankees would take him they have taken less - Jaret Wright for one).

Braves are now stuck with the Jones boys since they can reject a trade. Boras will surely not let Andruw do another end run on his next contract. So, relax folks. Andruw will be a Brave through 2007. Then we get draft choices for him instead of top talent to help turn the corner.

So, let’s quit whining about payroll. If you get good players that are fundamentally sound, you can win in the major leagues. Braves have one and only one of these as position players (McCann).

By Bill

August 5, 2006 09:29 PM | Link to this

Braves are done this year. Just pathetic play lately. Wasted trade getting rid of Betemit. This sucks..

By Lemke Fan

August 5, 2006 09:38 PM | Link to this

The next 10 years will be like the 70’s and 80’s…wooo

By Voice of Reason

August 5, 2006 09:45 PM | Link to this

(Voice of Jim Mora): Wildcard?! You want to talk about wildcard?! This Braves team has to first win “a” game; avoid falling into last place in their own division, which they’re one game out of by the way; have a starting pitcher not named Smoltz throw a respectable game; learn how to score a run with the bases loaded and NO outs; not swing at the first pitch after the opposing pitcher has walked the previous two batters; ease the fears of their “best” all around player when rumors of him being traded are being circulated, especially when the “face” of your organization has spent more time on the DL than R. Kelly and Ron Isley; get back to, scratch that, get to .500; score more runs that involve stealing, sacrificing and playing ABC baseball as opposed to “solely” relying on the three run homer; and finally, admit to yourself that you’re NOT the team that has won 14 consecutive titles - you’re the team that has a patchwork offense, a mediocre starting pitching staff and bullpen and an old manager set in his ways. The division that you’re playing in is better, and in several facets your talent is inferior. Admit to yourself that you’re losing anyway so trying something different can only help. (Raising a beer): here’s to 14 years of great baseball!! It’s been a helluva ride.

By Doug

August 5, 2006 10:03 PM | Link to this

As much as I love the Braves, I think it officially over for them this season. You can’t win your division if you can’t beat the leader (swept by the Mets), you can’t win the Wild Card if you can’t beat the leader (a series loss). It is time to worry about fixing the issues they have now in order to come back next year. Better luck next season!

By gotigers72

August 5, 2006 10:16 PM | Link to this

No, they won’t make the playoffs, yes they will finish below .500. Keep the everyday lineup except for LF. We need an upgrade there. Keep Langerhans for a fourth outfielder, mainly to use as a defensive replacement in the late innings. Need to improve the bench.

Pitching HAS to be redone. Even after the All Star break when they were scoring all those runs and winning games, the pitching was still giving up 6 runs a game. Bill Fischer must be getting senile to have recommended Jason Shiell for the major leagues. Keep Smoltz of course. See how Hampton does next spring. Davies needs to learn how to pitch. If that requires pitching in the minors for awhile then so be it. Same for Chuck James I can’t believe Hudson has been so bad for most of his two years here. ERA of over 5 for an “ace”. HoRam needs to go. Way too inconsistent. As far as the bullpen, keep Wickman and Baez if you can sign them. Keep McBride and Paronto. McBride needs to learn how to throw strikes. Everybody else in the bully needs to be let go through a trade or being released. I am interested in how the guy that’s being called up, Will Franklin will do. He has pitched in the majors before and has done well in AAA. However, it is AAA.

They are scoring enough runs, that is what justifies keeping 7 of the 8 starting position players. But the pitching is horrible and needs to be fixed before 2007.

By Del

August 5, 2006 10:24 PM | Link to this

To Voice of Reason…. Great blog. you summarized my thoughts exactly. The only thing I would have added is that the future looks pretty bleak regarding pitching with very little on the farm, too many high priced starters with inconsistent starts and a bullpen that will once again undergo a complete revamping before next season. Throw in a questionable sale of the team, the continued inflexability of BC and the aging of our coaching staff and the reduction in JS’s experienced staff and I fear we are in for some lean years. We have the talent at the positions, but as always it will boil down to PITCHING, PITCHING, PITCHING. Just my opinion!

By Robert(Justice Is The Best)

August 5, 2006 10:37 PM | Link to this

I think starting lineup needs to stay in tact for the most part. I still say if you can trade LaRoche and/or Giles for either a good leadoff hitter or some relief help, then do it. The lineup has to have a leadoff hitter, so someone is going to have to get traded since the available money will have to be spent on a reliever. It would be nice if one of the current young pitchers could close but other than maybe Boyer I don’t see it. I think Giles is showing his worth but unfortunately for him he will make too much money after arbitration so he will definitely be gone. Despite what many on here say, Giles is a quality 2B that a lot of teams would want. I think giving the Angels a call about Figgins or Kendrick or maybe the Tigers about Gunderson will be the way to go. I would prefer LaRoche stay. Our rotation will be decent with Smoltz, Hudson, Hampton, Davies, and either James or Horacio. I’m betting James. Horacio should be packaged with Thorman or Diaz or Langerhans to either get relievers or a leadoff hitter. I think priority one in the offseason should be getting Andruw to sign an extension. The team needs to know his intentions. If he waivers or wants to wait like Furcal, then they have to act. They can’t take the risk of being stuck like they were with Sheffield and Furcal. I know I’m going to be branded a traitor for saying this but if you can’t get Andruw to committ to an extension (even if its verbal) by the end of November then JS has to trade him at the winter meetings. He has no choice.

By Todd A

August 5, 2006 10:55 PM | Link to this

Y’all really think Bud Selig would intervene and stop the sale to Liberty?C’mon.He hates the Braves more than any other organization.He’s still harboring ill feelings because they left Milwaukee.He is enjoying this season’s debacle immensely.Don’t count on that moron to do what’s in the best interest of Atlanta.

By Todd A

August 5, 2006 11:02 PM | Link to this

Me,quit playing on the computer or I’m going to tell your daddy.Now,go to bed before you get a whippin’.

By Yars

August 6, 2006 12:33 AM | Link to this

We should be on a 3 game winning streak, not a losing streak. Hudson should have won against the dead last, awful Pirates. What the heck is wrong with Tim Hudson? Is he hurt and just not telling anyone, or is he actually having an, ‘off year’? Maybe he’s a little like Renteria, he can only succeed in one league. If he keeps losing, I say throw him back to the AL over the winter. Let’s give the Andruw rant a rest. He’s still a Brave that much is true, but anyone who will be shocked if he is traded over the winter need a reality check. I think the front office has already thrown in the towel regarding this season. They’ll hang onto Andruw until the end of the season, then he’s gone. We need to start preparing for it. I also think some of you are bashing Francouer too much. So he lost Friday’s game for us. Name me some players on the Braves right now that haven’t lost a game for us. Frenchy is my opinion, is having a good sophomore season. He’s still learning at the plate, so go easy on him. Sure, his OB% and average could be higher, but he’s putting up solid numbers in most categories. He will only get better. In other words, it will not be his fault if the Braves don’t make postseason. I feel this team is all but done. Their chances of winning the NL wildcard now are slim to none. If Smoltz can rack up a win Sunday, we will still be 5.5 games back with around 50 to play? I agree with what someone posted earlier in saying that the NL is pathetic this season. I agree 100%, but other NL team playing pathetic only shows how more pathetic we’re playing. We have no starting pitching, with the exception of Smoltz and the ever so rare decent Hudson outing. We need to quit expecting a big game from McCann every game. I wouldn’t put all the blame on the pitching. We have some holes in our offense. It looks like Langerhans is also having an off year, or perhaps he just can’t hit major league pitching and his average ‘05 season was nothing but a fluke. I would keep Thorman in LF for the rest of the season. I suggest Langy plays some winter ball. He plays excellent defense, but his hitting needs major improvement. Giles is finally starting to hit. Where was he in April, May, June, & July? LaRoche is quietly having a pretty good season. I love his swing. Chipper will be back soon, so maybe we still have a prayer. All I can say is, say a prayer for your team.

By Kentavo

August 6, 2006 01:26 AM | Link to this

Trade Andruw. We haven’t won a WS with him, so we can try without him. His lackadaisacal attitude and lack of hustle permeates and rubs off on the rest of the team. And the young guys are emulating him at the plate - especially Francouer. Andruw’s defense will be missed, for sure, but the rally-killing won’t.

By gotigers72

August 6, 2006 05:30 AM | Link to this

They put up a telling graphic during the game on Saturday. In most categories, Braves’ pitching is the worst it has been since 1977!!! I have not criticized Roger McDowell because as far as I know he hasn’t thrown a pitch this year, but he has to share SOME of the blame for the p**s poor pitching this year.

Way too many walks, pitching up in the zone too much, pitches finding too much of the plate. Nibble, nibble, nibble, get behind in the count, then walk a hitter, or have to throw a 3 and 1 cookie for the hitter to hit 400 feet. Almost every game that Smoltz doesn’t pitch. Look at Chucky’s game Friday night. Only gave up 2 hits, but gave up 3 walks, all of whom scored. And his strength is supposed to be control. He has given up 3 or more walks in all but one of his games. You can’t win pitching like that. Same troubles Davies had before he went on the DL. Everybody seeems anxious for Davies to come back, but he had an ERA well over 6. He and Chuck may need to pitch in the minors some more to learn how to pitch.

By deermit

August 6, 2006 07:31 AM | Link to this

Most of you guys sound like a bunch of fickle babies! One disappointing season and you’re all ready to jump off the bandwagon. Go to Wrigley and mingle with some real fans!

By john

August 6, 2006 08:34 AM | Link to this

This team needs pitching.They need to trade players that the other teams want.If that means Andruw,Chipper.Giles so be it.Why haven’t we found some new pitchers like some of the other teams seem to have found.

By Todd A

August 6, 2006 09:31 AM | Link to this

Kentavo…dead on with your comments about Andruw.I’m betting he would veto a trade to the Yankees.There he would have to run out ground balls and change his approach at the plate or he would ride the pine under Torre and Steinbrenner.What’s really sad is,coming up through the organization,there were whispers that Andruw had Willie Mays and Roberto Clemente talent.He is the best prospect ever to come through their system.But,thanks to having a cheerleader for a manager,rather than a coach, he only scatched the surface of his immense talent.Look at his swing right now.He’s almost falling to the ground he’s swinging so hard.The guy has been in the league for 10 years,and he is an absolute roller-coaster when it comes to streaks and slumps.

I’m afraid Bobby will ruin Frenchy the same way he did with Andruw.No one has tried to harness his aggressiveness one bit.He needs to be sent back down to the instructional league,not put in the lineup every day.

By Nelson

August 6, 2006 10:13 AM | Link to this

Andruw should be a lot more worried about that low breaking ball outside the corner that is killing him year after year (making him look even worst than all rookies together) than trade rummors or the front office silent! Don’t you think I’m right?

By dubya

August 6, 2006 10:15 AM | Link to this

I guess I just don’t see the logic. You have two straight games with the wildcard leading Reds, you enter the bottom of the eighth inning with a tie. You have Wickman in the wings. **Why don’t you throw Baez in the 8th??” Please explain.

By Robert(Justice Is The Best)

August 6, 2006 10:20 AM | Link to this

Todd A, I agree with you to a point. I watch Thorman and runs out every ground ball not matter what. The boy runs like his butt is on fire. That is what hustle is all about. Andruw doens’t do that . He jogs to first. And for all those that say nothing negative should be said about Cox well this is a case where he doesn’t do a good job. I have seen Andruw lolly gag to 1B for 10 years. On that popup that wound up being a hit yesterday. If that had been Thorman, Frenchy, or Giles they would have been on 2B. Andruw, however, just jogged down the 1st.

I love Andruw but his “laid back” style has been condoned instead of reprimanded. Its great Bobby encourages everyone but sometimes you need to put a foot in the butt and tell them to get it going. That is one thing I miss about Leo. Leo would go straight off on someone when they weren’t performing. This isn’t little league. You can’t worry about feelings. If their feelings get hurt, then so what. Now you know they don’t have the makeup to be a good player. Some guys you have to come a little less harsh then otherrs, but no one is above a chewing out. They mentioned on the Fox broadcast yesterday that Jerry Naron held a team meeting before Friday’s game to get the Reds back on track. How many team meetings do you think the Braves have had? If zero was the answer, I would not be the least bit surprised. I guarantee you that by now Frenchy would have had his a** reamed about his wild swinging if LaRussa, Guillen, Torre, or Scioscia was his manager. Torre would do it privately but you can bet it would have been done long ago.

By Dawgs2006

August 6, 2006 10:24 AM | Link to this

It is time for the Braves to lose for awhile. I hope Turner Field goes back to days of the old Atlanta Fulton County Stadium…EMPTY! They take their $8.00 beers, $4.00 Sodas, $5.00 Hot dogs and shove em. The ushers at Turner Field stalk the aisles are act like Prison Guards. They expect you to sit in your exact seat when a section is completly empty. Anybody who wants to go into the Ghetto and get harrassed by Katrina refugees in the parking lot, is doing so at their own risk. The Braves and the city of Atlanta get what they deserve! Adios Bravos!!!!!!!!

By 2realistic

August 6, 2006 10:27 AM | Link to this

You know it’s over when the Braves are figuring out ways to “snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.” Put a fork in ‘em… they’re done.

By Robert(Justice Is The Best)

August 6, 2006 10:47 AM | Link to this

That’s nice, Dawgs2006. Just can’t make a statement without throwing in a racial reference, can you? Pathetic. The Katrina refugees comment was total class, pal! Real classy.

By Cox 4 HOF

August 6, 2006 11:49 AM | Link to this

Say what you want to, but Cox needs to go. He’s a loser in big games, and this current team can’t win in spite of him, like the former teams have. I doubt any other manager will have the opportunities like he’s had. We need a manager that’s not afraid to put some fire in this team.

By wreddd

August 6, 2006 12:12 PM | Link to this

dubya said …

“Why don’t you throw Baez in the 8th??”

Thanks dude. That is what I came here to ask.

Baez (nor Wickman) pitched on Thursday OR Friday. This is a BIG series, I am not sure why you get rid of Betemit if you are not going to use Baez.

That whole mentality of not using the set-up guy, or closer, until you have a lead has always puzzled me.

I am a big Bobby Cox fan, but ….

By Tyger

August 6, 2006 12:15 PM | Link to this

Atlanta Crackers lost again? Aawh shucks paw

I guess theyre making room for John Schuerholtz Jr.??? Sure, thats the ticket…

By mike

August 6, 2006 12:17 PM | Link to this

This is a prime example of how cooperations run. They try to fix something that was never broken. They have turned a well run major league team into a nice Triple A club with a couple of Pro’s mixed in to keep the premiums coming in at the gate. It has been sickening to watch the destruction of this franchise over the last few years. What next a 5 million pay-roll made up of rec league allstars.

By RedsFan

August 6, 2006 12:32 PM | Link to this

What a bunch of crying babies.

First year in how many that the Braves aren’t going to make the playoffs? Welcome to how the rest of the MLB teams except maybe the Yanks, live.

Enjoy watching the Reds in the post season Braves fans. We’ll be glad to take Andruw off your hands if you want to put him back on waivers.

By Not-A-Blogger

August 6, 2006 01:59 PM | Link to this

I’m now convinced that Andrew is dumb as a bag of dirt.

He could be a .330 hitter with any effort at all to go the other way with those outside pitches that has for 10 years fallen down trying to pull.

Now he admits that after 10 years in the bigs, and being paid $13M per year, he doesn’t know how waivers work (something every real fan understands).

“Somebody should have called me.”

Pathetic.

By Beachcomber

August 6, 2006 02:09 PM | Link to this

I hope our young hitters (and our hitting coach) watched the seven pitch at bat by Ken Griffey, Jr. against one of the premier pitchers in the game. Seven pitches! Meanwhile, our boys make yet another nothing pitcher look like Cy Young.

By tim

August 6, 2006 02:12 PM | Link to this

get out the broom and sweep this house clean. try to resign wickman and baez. do not mortgage our future to resign AJ. Jordan please show him the door. this new guy Aybar looks awful i would like to congratulate JS on a wonderful trade. how quick can we dismantle this ballclub primarily the pitching staff and its coach. trade hudson for prospects we need them and he STINKS. Mcdowell and pendelton are out of their league lets get a couple of new coachs. and finally Mr Schuerholz its been nice but i think some new blood would be welcome in the front office. ok management there you have the laundry list you don’t have to worry about the playoffs so lets get started.

By Bobby Cox

August 6, 2006 02:35 PM | Link to this

Biggest game of the year and we start a pitcher who is 0-2 with a 8.32 ERA????

Bobby, are you trying to lose games???

By Del

August 6, 2006 02:36 PM | Link to this

I sure hope the Braves long range plans for Aybar are as a defensive backup infielder only. His performance from the left side of the plate can only be described as pathetic.

Looks to me like Frenchy needs a 2-3 game blow. He has played every game this year, and it is starting to show in his bat speed.

I wish everyone on this team played with the same intensity and enthusiasm as Giles does. I was in favor of trading him, but if we get rid of him who is going to be our sparkplug?

Looks to me like our team has decided to mail it in today. Sort of the way our whole season has gone.

By becky

August 6, 2006 03:21 PM | Link to this

Watching the game and in the top of the 6th ending we have the bases loaded and one out: McCann pops out to the 3rd baseman and Francoeur grounds out to first. What crap! The Braves are freefalling and it began during the ‘05 offseason when JS could have cheaply resigned Furcal;instead, Furcal signs with the Dodgers for much moola before the 06 preseason. Braves pitching,however, has been bad since ‘04;only Smoltzie is consistent to any degree.Remember Kolb from a year ago? How could we forget that JS move? Hudson’s wins last year were fewer than we were led to believe he would win. Trade AJ? Without him in the game, the Braves are so-so;but, that’s mainly because CJ spends more time on the disable list and Frenchy swings at everything. It would be best to keep AJ at least another year and groom Frenchy,or Langy, for the CF position.Enough said. Argue this.

By Dawgs2006

August 6, 2006 03:39 PM | Link to this

The Braves are offically back in 1990. This is the worst Braves team I have ever seen. The 1990 Braves sucked because they did not have anyone. This team DOES and they lack Heart! Get ready for a long losing streak like the Hawks. It will be years before the Braves can get anywhere close to where they were. JS and Bobby Cox are bufoons. Hit the road Bobby! and take your little boy-toy Retsima with you. How long until Western Kentuck?…..less than a month :)

By old timer

August 6, 2006 04:45 PM | Link to this

Still a chance to catch the Reds, but it’s about the same chance 10 other teams have.