Fun Mets Fact: The Mets (of course) had the first pick in the 1966 draft. They took high school catcher Steve Chilcott, who never played in the big leagues.
With the second pick, the A’s took Reggie Jackson.
306 Comments
Advertisement
Use code “Journal” for a 5% discount.
I’m sure everyone has heard about the horrible move that Fox has made taking Skip, Pete and the rest of the team off of their broadcasts. If anyone else is as pissed as I am about this and want to get them back, e-mail the president of Fox South and speak your mind. Here’s his e-mail:
jgenthner@foxsports.net
I got to see Charles Thomas playing centerfield last night for the River Cats in Tucson. He looked great. He swung the bat pretty damn well too. He tanked it right after joining the As, then I think started this year in Oakland and was sent down quickly. I may have hallucinated that last part.
Tonight’s lineups:
Mets
Reyes
Lo Duca
Delgado
Wright
Floyd
Nady
Matsui
Chavez
Martinez
Braves
Giles
Renteria
C Jones
A Jones
LaRoche
Francoeur
McCann
Langerhans
Smoltz
That’s about the best lineup we can hope for from the Braves at the moment.
I can never get over the Reyes-Lo Duca one-two “punch.” I can’t wait until Heart and Soul’s inevitable second-half slump; the New York press will be all over him like a pack of vultures.
Ehh. Switch McCann and Laroche, pls. >_
Is the audio on mlbtv f’ed up for anyone else?
ummm.we walked the lead-off hitter with a .296 OBP. Do we expect any good to come out of this? Mets win tonight, 7-4.
Here we go, lets see smoltz get out of the 1st unscathed.
And wtf is up with putting Laroche ahead of anyone in the lineup? He should be last.
Time for a GIDP for Wright.
Thanks for the jinx Tanto.
I tried wgst.com, but it looks like they figured it out. Phil Hendrie is on. Last year, whatever station carried the Braves, fixed the stream to play Neal Boorst during games.
The logic is power. But I agree landogamer, Langerhans, McCann, or Francoeur could handle the power. I wouldn’t recommend moving Francoeur ahead of LaRoche, he’s not doing very well either.
And another walk that should have been an out comes back to bite us. Freaking umps.
I can’t see the game. So Smoltz got pinched?
Cliff Floyd is to the Mets what LaRoche or Francoeur is to the Braves right now. Except for the future potential upsides, of course.
?Cuanto est? el juego?
Well. This is absolutely terrible.
Well at least Endy is crap.
Have I mentioned before that I love John Smoltz?
Also, that sure looked like a splitter….
You gotta love Smoltzie, but I wish his pitch count wasn’t at 42 after 2 innings.
Man, I’m shocked that Andruw hit a weak grounder to the left side of the infield.
So we’re knocking Andruw again?
I’ve been knocking Andruw for trying to pull everything for the past week and a half. It’s a fair assessment.
Is it your opinion that Andruw’s should be free from criticism? That when he’s displaying a consistent flaw, it’s unfair to point it out?
Well at least he only swung at the strikes…
When has Andruw ever been sucessful going the other way?
What’s the score????
You should know; you’re pitching.
1-0 Mets.
Plus, yeah, I do think Andruw’s earn a certain degree of immunity from criticism. He’s the one who carried us last year.
I wouldn’t say that it’s unfair to point out his no going the other way with pitches, but it’s tired. He doesn’t do it well. He makes a living pull the ball to the moon. We either live or die by that. It’s not worth bringing up again this season.
Stu you are hilarious!!!!!!!!
To say that because someone has done something well in the past, you can’t critique them for not doing something well this year is crazy, in my opinion.
And I disagree that it’s not worth bringing up again. As long as he’s making outs that way, I think it’s worth bringing up. And you can be sure that I’ll continue to do so.
Have we hit a ball hard yet tonight?
Well, I didn’t see the first inning, but Langerhans just did, and Francoeur’s grounder to SS last inning was hit pretty solidly. Still, right now it looks like another frustrating night on the offensive side.
I’m not asking you to not bring it up. I’m just saying, your criticsim is dated.
People talk this issue to death surrounding Andruw. Andruw isn’t a spray hitter and trying to make him would be destructive to his production and our team. That’s why he’s not instructed to change his approach, just his mechanics(last season). We should all be thankful that we’ve been able to get the most out of Andruw’s ability. Bobby’s done amazing work trying to make Andruw’s game functional in the lineup.
Andruw’s always had amazing potential and I think he’s completely fulfilling it now. I just think he never had the potential to be a dominant spray hitter with power AND nearly unrivaled CF defense.
hey, anybody watching on MLB TV? All I want is to sit down and see what I hope will be a great matchup and I get nothing but frustration and re-booting. AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
It’s not only Andruw. The whole offense sucks, so why just pick on him.
Almost got Pedro this inning. Too bad, go get him again!
Maybe you’re right. However, I don’t see how he could be any less productive than he’s been since we left Shea stadium. Maybe it’s not that he’s trying to pull everything; maybe it’s something else that’s wrong with his mechanics. I’m hoping that whatever it is gets fixed soon, because, as I said, I’m tired of watching him hit weak grounders to SS and 3B.
Well, I’m not just picking on him, kc. When he’s at-bat and grounding out, though, it’s his struggles I’m going to talk about, not someone else’s.
I’m not saying we shouldn’t criticize Andruw, either. I’m arguing that he’s play has earned him the ability to stand above criticism of his game. You criticizing him for not going the other way is futile, because he provides more than enough for our club. When players reach a Hall of Fame level, which I think Andruw will be if he continues this level of production, you can’t say he should change X or Y about his game, because it changes an already elite configuration and approach.
Vlad Guerrero’s batting style is another prime example. You can say he should be patient all day long, but it’s futile. He’s elite by being agressive, changing his approach would be disastrous to his production. You can’t just change a person’s approach to the game, they’ve spent years and years developing to a certain point to just simply change.
Speaking of sucking: tonight’s home plate umpire. He’s blind and inconsistent. How’d he get assigned to Pedro-Smoltz?
Our lineup sucking has a lot to do with injury, so picking on our lineup also seems fultile.
We used a depleted lineup the first two games in Mil and have faced two aces since. I wouldn’t begin to “pick” on our hitters. They’re pretty damn good as you can recall before the injury bug.
Ouch.
Excuses!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What’s going to be yours Big Toe?
Well Smoltzie sure does have the strikeout working for him tonight.
He’s battling, but Pedro’s hammering us.
What’s the score???????
Please don’t K, Adam.
14-0, Braves.
Don’t Met fans have somewhere to socialize?
It’s unbelievably pathetic, they’re need to prove their worth to us.
What is it that you exactly want us to be impresssed about Pedro? The possibility of you actually tying the season series after talk of “running away”?
Well, I think Mets fans, by definition, have social disorders.
I’m not a Mets fan!!! I hate all of NY sports franchise.
I agree with you on that. However, with a name like Metros, it might be a confusion of sexual identity (not orientation) that’s at the heart of this franchise.
I do believe this one’s perilously close to being out of reach, folks. I’m gonna go rent the first season of Lost, now. Goodnight!
OK!!!
Now,is it true that the braves are winning 14-0??
Do yourself a favor and rent Six Feet Under instead =). JK.
Later, Stu. Enjoyed your thoughts on Andruw.
No the Mets are up 3-0
If the first time you asked, the Mets were up 1-0, how could it possibly be 14-0 in favor of Atlanta now?
Can what Pedro said even be considered a joke?
Do yourself a favor and grow up a bit before you engage adults. Thanks.
Actually I think capital-P Pedro might be friendly. Lowercase-p pedro seems to be the troll.
Alright, I’m really gone this time.
It is possible that he isn’t a troll and he is a Braves fan named Pedro that is just checking in on the score.
Actually I’ve met four-year-olds with the ability to write and express logic better than you Pedro. And don’t use the foreign transplant excuse, because the real Pedro can speak the language as well.
MY BAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’m SORRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
No, it’s the classic “scoreboard” call. Like it means anything now, way to pick your spots Pedro.
And it’s the same guy, look at the similar, fake e-mail addresses.
Hey!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’m 100% LATINO!!!!
Don’t be sorry, just seriously wait, grow up, and then develop something worth offering to the regular population.
You can’t be faulted for being a child, I’m just not in the mood to babysit, especially a Metros fan.
WOW!! You guys do read the e-mail address!!!!
great play by Smoltzie there, still, I kinda hope bobby gets him out of there before he gets hurt/irreparably spent
Why do you guys hate me??
Why is Smoltz batting? That’s something I’ve tried to defend for a minute here and can’t.
My bad. I should’ve known better than to critcize Bobby. I get on people for doing it all the time. Lesson learned.
Greg the Mad Dog is 5-0? That’s awesome.
ahhhh good game hu?
I know, what a bad, bad man.
pedro is washed up, he sucks, his big toe will prevent him from playing this year. He is an ass and the mets are better without him. I make my self laugh sometimes
Hey Dan, do Braves fans talk on the Mets blog?
Oh, here we go again. Don’t you learn NYMETS.
What is that you came to prove to the happy, spoiled Braves fans? That you can enjoy baseball too? Congrats, really.
come on down folks and feed the troll. Bring the wife, the kids, and the dog if you have one. Don’t be shy, step on up and feed the troll
If what you say about Pedro is true NYMETS, which it isn’t, then you have absolutely no shot at beating us.
If you don’t believe in Pedro, how exactly do you figure you’ll win a WS?
chipppppaaaaaaa!
Chippa!
I love Chipper!
yes they do kc
Chipper!
I am not planning to. I just want to know.
Hell yeah! Let’s get his train rolling over the Metros again, like God intended!
go chipper !!!!!
what’s the score???
COME BACK STU! You know better than to have that much faith in a Mets pitcher, no matter his name.
Andruw should have killed that last pitch.
chipper is the man. Im going to go be a braves fan now. We are going to get beat down in atlanta
I hate the mets and myself….hahah
Pedro, click your mouse in the address box, type mlb.com and away you go.
why isn’t tbs showing the game?
I don’t think Braves fans talk on Mets blogs, because there is no need.
We have nothing to prove. Metro fans, on the other hand, have trouble justifying their existence.
I’m being completely serious too.
no, really. they do. Trust me. Last week it was 10-11 braves fans on our chat room. Talking about”braves fans unite”—funny as fuck if you ask me
Raoul, I know what you mean, but I don’t know if all the Braves fans behave like we do.
raoul: what are you so upset about? am i dissrespecting you or making fun of your team in any way? Last time I checked I have been making fun of my own team and myself. I can come after you if that what you want from me.
I’m 100% Baves fan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bobby finally learns from SOME of his mistake: walk Delgado.
no thay dont kc. Trust me!!! I am not making this up. I swear to god. Honestly
Dan, your golden boy “delivers”!
?? I cant watch the game right now so I have no idea what you ment
Did you guys knew that Delgado is puertorican??
Yeah, you’re right KC. They’re are plenty of kids who cheer for the Braves and probably go trash talk. I think that is what’s really at issue here. Kids crossing over into the world of normal baseball talk.
I mean, I’m 24, so it’s not like you have to be really old or anything to know baseball. But I think kids and idiots of age are the primary carriers of this trash talk.
Whatever. I stand by the comment on Metro fans needing to justify their existence, though.
yes pedro, you should know, your on the mets!!!!
I thought Delgado was cuban. Then again, didn’t he grow up on the same team as Javy Lopez?
And Beltran too!
Hell of an effort from Smoltz tonight. He is definitely finished. 122 pitches. Let’s see if we can take him of the hook by getting a run.
Yeah, only those people have that kind of time to trash talk…
Man, Smotlz has been battling all night. This is what you call a clutch start. He hasn’t been perfect, but he’s been fighting to keep it close in some pretty tight situations, and has mostly succeeded. Now let’s hope they can go get a couple for him this inning.
I’m not upset with you NYMETS fan, I’m just tired of Mets fans not saying anything constructive. It’s one thing to talk baseball, but it’s another to act like a teenager in need of attention.
“I can come after you if that what you want from me,” is exactly what I’m talking about.
The consistent misuse of language and grammar is another tipoff. It’s one thing to make a couple of writing mistakes, but I think it’s obvious when someone is still in need of basic English lessons.
Delgado is a cuban?! That’s funny.
Spot on Maxwn.
pitch 100 coming up
raoul: what the hell are you talking about? “Justify our existence” Baseball is not our life. It is a sport I love to fallow. The existence of all people is somewhat a mystery. I don’t need to prove anything to you, as your thoughts and actions mean nothing to me or any other person. I think it is you that is searching for the reason of “existence”. Keep searching, maybe you wuill find out what it is and enlighten us on why we are all here, and what our purpose is.
What’s all the confusion about Delgado’s ethnicity?
If I am Pedro, I would just throw three straight changeups to Adam.
Boy, Wright’s defense is scary to watch…
Who’s your Daddy? Dum-dum-du-du-dum.
I’m not a NY Mets/Yankees/Jets/rangers/GiantsFAN!!!!!!!
Did I forget(forgot, I don’t kow) any other NY team???
Oh, yes they played together in 1995. I think
Scary good or bad kc? Remember his 3 error effort to lose NY the game against Huddy?
Damn it, he got the damn hand in under the tag.
gotta go for a sec. Ill be back latter
Cheers
dan
That sucked Franky.
out call simply because the ball beat him
Scary bad.
What is Bobby thinking by sending Frenchy? Not with McCann at the plate!
Delgado is NOT cuban!!!!!!!!!!
That offends us puertorican!
GO BRAVES!!!!!!!!!!
Of course I know Delgado is not a Cuban. I don’t even know who brought that up.
What’s the score?
Me either. The line of converstion breaks down with idiots like Pedro around.
Why is it so hard to get normal conversation in this world…
I don’t think stealing with McCann at the plate is a terrible idea. It’s not like he’s Chipper or Andruw with great power. He’s got decent power, but is much more likely to score Jeff if he’s in scoring position. If Jeff was called safe like he actually was, then McCann could score him with any base hit and its a tie game. I think that was an acceptable risk.
I concur.
raoul.My spelling is not all that great but does nothing to change the fact that I am over 20, I just dont pay any attention to what I post here because no offence, I dont care what you think of me. I said I would come after you if thats what you would like becasue you seem to be upset with me for some reason and figgured you were looking for trouble. If not, I am sorry, but ass hole comments by you would be a sign for me that you want some kind of argument or fight from me.
now I really must go, See you guys latter
Maxwn, McCann hits a lot of double. Frenchy can score easily on a double.
I still don’t know why you guys hate me.
Why? please tell me why!!!!
Is this what goes on during every game? Or just every Braves-Mets game? (With the Metro trolls begging around for attention, I mean).
Yes, I love Julio!
I don’t think I’m being as asshole, you’ve clearly overexposed your worthlessness to us. It’s time to find a new hobby.
that was nice to see.
You obviously do care, NY METS, or you wouldn’t spend so much time on this forum, a place where you are unwelcome and where you should have absolutely no interest in lingering
I’m back, by the way. Big knock by Chipper.
Good to see that Julio’s heart is still with the Braves.
the ovation that was, the dp was nice too.
Now I love Julio even more!
A solid outing for Remlinger. He needed that.
The Mets are paying Julio to play for us, it’s about par for their managerial logic.
Acceptable risk? What?? That isn’t a risk. You have to do that if you expect to win. The offense hasn’t been good tonight. Remember, Wagner is going to throw the ninth. With that said, would you have done the same thing?? I would!
Sure, he could score on a double, but he might not, and he won’t score on a single from first. At second he scores on any base hit. Late in a one run game with a runner on who has some speed, I think you try and increase his chances of scoring as much as possible and don’t worry about taking the bat out of the hitter’s hands. Lo Duca is not known for having a tremendous arm, and Francouer has speed. It didn’t work out here, but he was safe. Against Pedro and the Mets bullpen, I don’t think you can wait for the homerun or the extra-base hit to get that one run that you need this late in the game. You’ve only got two more innings to get a run, and your offense hasn’t been doing much. It’s a risk, but you have to starting taking risks as the game wears down.
How about NYMETS dropping a post and then jetting all self-righteous?
It’s exactly like me when I was a teenager fighting with my girlfriend. Hanging up the phone to try and register some dramatic point, and of course, to garner attention.
Not Jordan please, I want Beta-meat!!!
Yeah save Jordan for Wagner if he’s the lefty hitting specialist.
This Duaner Sanchez is such a pain in the ass.
Yeap, the typical Jordan.
I’m not upset with the Francoeur steal attempt. (The umpire blew the call, anyway.)
I am a little upset that we pinch-ran Orr for LaRoche. First, it’s questionable enough to put in Jordan late in the game, when defense is so critical. Second, if Jordan has to come in, why not just use him as the pinch-runner? He doesn’t run quite as well as Orr, but he runs well enough. Plus, you don’t waste the bench player.
I dunno. I hate losing one-run games, though, and we’ve been doing that a lot this year.
Sanchez and Heilman will be worn out by July with the frequency Willie is using them.
Damn, Gilly’s got to be pissed.
Hey!!! I don’t want attention. I apologize for all I said.
Damn, that’s close…Marcus hit everything hard tonight but has nothing to show for it.
Amen Stu. I love winning one-run games and hate losing them.
I hope so kc. Let’s hope Willie wears out his options early.
Yeah, Marcus has missed about three homeruns tonight by a combined total of about ten feet.
Yeah, Giles sans juice only has warning track power, it seems.
Sucky, but we have the big boys in the ninth. Somethings going to happen, I feel it…
Get it done, Chris. Let’s go…
That was almost a great defensive play by Reitsma.
I’m seeing vision of back to back HR by the Jones.
one of the jones boys will come through. i hope
Hard to blame that run on Reitsma.
Both of them will or you will never see me again.
I know I’m going to regret this.
That run lets a little air out of the bag. Damn.
You can blame that one on him, though.
I’m unlucky tonight, boys.
Reitsma sucks.
At least we won’t lose a one-run game, though, right?
It is getting old watching Reitsma do this.
I guess Stu. I’m gutted. I was getting psyched about the 9th.
Oh, I don’t know. The first one wasn’t really his fault, and Wright took Smoltz deep today too. Sometimes this shit just doesn’t work out.
“Gutted” is a little dramatic, sorry. We’re still going to take this series.
Maybe we can rally like the Giants did and take away a three run lead. That would be awesome.
HEY!!!!!!!!! The game isn’t over. What if Wagner gets injured or the Braves rally back. huh?
Hope, just hope!
So… this is how the Reitsma dynasty ends…
we need travis smith, right mac?
One man on.
Puerto Rico! Puerto Rico! Puerto Rico! Puerto Rico! Puerto Rico! Puerto Rico! Puerto Rico! Puerto Rico! Puerto Rico! Puerto Rico! Puerto Rico! Puerto Rico! Puerto Rico! Puerto Rico! Puerto Rico! Puerto Rico!
Two men on. Come on Diaz!
All right, now we got a chance. Come on Rochy.
Wag-NER! Wag-NER!
Oops. I forgot about the double switch. Let’s go Diaz.
BYE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Todd Pratt for McCann…
I could care less about his career numbers, being a battery mate.. yada yada…
wow
Why is Pratt up for McCann??????
Good AB by Pratt
where;s mcann….i hate bobby
helluva ab there pratt.
Well, that was predictable…….
putting pratt in for mcann was retarded
Yeah, that’s inexplicable. Todd Pratt? I think I’m going to die.
How is McCann to develop if you don’t let him hit in that situation?
If you had a better PH maybe, wow…
I mean, if McCann died or something and you need to pinch hit, use Betemit! Todd frickin Pratt?????
little things like that…
oh, yeah! WB was still on the bench. Whatta hack job there. Let’s start over tomorrow.
Gotta love Bobby.
oh yeah i remember- he needed some at bats…
Don’t blame Pratt–the worst damage was done in the top of the 8th. Even when Reitsma is not in a save situation, he remains dangerous….
somebody please explain bobby cox to me.
wait, nevermind, i’m not sure i want to know.
We didn’t buckle, which is a good sign. If Reitsma keeps it close, then the 9th is a lot more different.
Keep fightin’ boys. As our health improves, that of the Metros will do the opposite.
i think bobby cox is running the Texans these days too
I love Bobby, that doesn’t come into question.
Where’s Betemit in that situation ???
If it’s still a 1-run game going in, Renteria scores and its tied.
Tomorrow game is on TBS. WhooooohoOooooo!!!
Billy Wagner has been death on left handers. I don’t know that he is really any less deadly to right handers, but I can at least understand the impulse to send a righty out there. I don’t know if its necessarily the right call to sub Pratt for McCann there, but given Wagner’s strengths, I don’t think it’s clearly the wrong thing to do either.
Let’s put things in perspective, though.
Bobby’s still the best manager in baseball.
Pratt .977 OPS vs LHP (3 yr splits)
Wagner .413 OPS vs LHB (3 yr splits)
But, hey, whatever.
HAHAHAHAHA….maybe scheuholz is the best GM but Bobby has been out managed by some pretty average managers lately
The one good thing about tonight: Andruw got hit in the elbow. Be afraid Mets fans, be very afriad.
Betemit .. Betemit .. Betemit ?????????
Maxwn, you make a good point. If it wasn’t a really good oppurtunity for McCann to learn in an important AB, I’d agree.
Matt, you don’t know what you’re talking about. I think that’s clear.
Betemit should have been out there though. Pulling McCann for a righty is probably not a bad move, but it should have been Betemit. You don’t need to save your bench in that situation. That’s the way it goes though, I guess.
Good stats Mike A, but taking McCann out of that situation does worse damage than losing one game could.
Who’s pitching tomorrow? I wish it were Sosa so we could go headhunting without actually missing out on any good pitching when he got ejected. If we were lucky, he’d get suspended a couple weeks.
Let’s concentrate on beaning David Wright. He’s our real nemesis and the rest of the guys on the Metro can easily wear themselves down over the season.
Let’s make this rivalry ugly tomorrow. It’s time to get serious with these Metros.
Raoul, What was McCann going to learn in that at-bat? Wagner is just wicked for lefties to hit against. In all likelihood, McCann would have not had much more success against him than Pratt did. I’m all for putting faith in your guys and letting them get it done, but when you’re facing such a vicious platoon split, I don’t think it is a good idea to just throw your guy out there when he’s not in a good position to succeed. And McCann wasn’t.
I honestly don’t see how you can defend Bobby Cox in this situation. If you’re thinking righty/lefty matchup, then yeah we’ve still got Betemit on the bench. But even Todd Pratt in a “favorable” matchup is worse than Brian Mccann in a lefty/lefty.
If righty/lefty was so important then why wasn’t Delgado walked in the 9th (a lefty vs. Reitsma, a righty) with Wright (another righty) on deck. If Delgado’s on first, I think Reitsma pitches different to Wright and doesn’t let him get anything in the air.
But then again, it’s Reitsma.
Bobby’s track record is far better than any manager in baseball, in my opinion, but he has made some questionable decisions early this season that have not helped this team, to say the least.
McCann is a big boy with a great attitude – I think he can handle it. I’m not saying I agree 100% with the move to put in Pratt, but it is defensible – Wagner is death on lefties, Pratt hits lefties well, etc, etc…but you can’t help but wonder what McCann would have done. That’s baseball.
Delgado wasn’t walked in the ninth inning because you don’t want to put another baserunner on and give Wright a chance to hit a three run homer and totally put it out of reach.
…which wright did anyway.
anyone who thinks Bobby is the best manager in baseball has tomahawk-tinted glasses on man…i think its way past time for him to hang it up
You might be right Max, but what’s the use or benefit in conceding to Wagner when you’re only other options are Pratt and Betemit? Conceding that McCann can’t do it is a bad message for a team which depends so heavily upon him at a young age. It would be a huge boost to McCann to get that AB.
I want to see what McCann does in that situation if I’m Bobby, but I’m not.
Matt, were you around at all the last two seasons?
I don’t think even Alex R. has his head as far up his ass as you do. Sorry, but it’s the truth.
And Matt, my brain has a tomahawk actually stuck in it, so…
anyone who thinks pete orr should be on a major league roster…anyone who thinks adam laroche and brian FREAKIN’ jordan are acceptable at 1st base…anybody who thinks this bullpen is capable of anything but being horrendous…is merely the product of some great talent and smart decisions made in the last 10 years…i would have voted bobby best manager many years in the past, but this year- he has been AWFUL
i know brad and scott will agree…
agree matt
I just got home and only saw the 9th inning, and in that small of a sample size, I can objectively say that Bobby Cox is a moron.
I hate this kind of cynicism.
It’s not like Atlanta can buy great players at every position. If that’s what you want, and I know people hate this when it’s said, but go cheer for the Yankees. Atlanta wins with patience, development, and good coaching. That’s how it’s been in this era and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Citing failed roster overhauls as evidence against Bobby Cox is beyond idiotic. We don’t have the resources and that’s not a strategy we’ll ever employ. Thanks God.
Agree, but he’s being stupid with what he has. There is NO situation EVER where todd pratt should bat for brian mccann. EVER.
its one thing to not have the resources…but there is NO EXCUSE for starting Todd pratt and brian jordan and matt diaz in the same game that you are already without chipper, renteria, and giles…and then your excuse is “they needed more at bats”
Matt and Brad, this small sample you’ve given me of your intellect is more than enough for me to conclude that you are the biggest muppets who claim to be Braves fans there are.
Calling Bobby Cox anything but a great manager, and one of the best all time, is so unbelieveably void of meaning. Should we go and get Willie Randolph, Joe Giradi, Frank Robinson, or Charlie Manuel? Name one manager we should fire Cox for.
There’s a reason Mccann is the starter and pratt the backup. when does the backup ever pinch hit for the starter? does pete orr pinch hit late in games for giles?
I didnt say fire him…i think he has done more for the braves than anyone in history…but i would not be disappointed if this year was his “swan song” and he went out as a hero…obviously what he has been doing IS NOT WORKING ANYMORE. I love the division titles, but bobby has been terrible in the post season
You have to weigh the averages. Is Brian Mccann vs. a lefty going to be worse than Todd Pratt vs. one? I’d rather have Mccann up facing a lefty than Pratt. If it was Betemit, that’s different. It’s not like when he sent up Eddie Perez against Randy Johnson when he was getting his perfect game. That was cute. This wasn’t. This was annoying.
I’ve been a braves fan for 25 years, and my intellect isn’t in question. ANY manager who does the things he does (the john thomson game, the pete orr love affair, pinch hitting the backup for the starter and hottest hitter on the team in the 9th) should be questioned. No one’s arguing he’s not a good manager or that we haven’t enjoyed him the last 14 years. But as Alex R. and I stated when he did this crap last week, we’ve won IN SPITE of him, not BECAUSE of him.
Brad you’re framing this McCann/Pratt choice as black and white is so simplistic. I’m glad things are so easily discerned in your world.
“Bad move”
“Cox dumb”
“Me right”
I can sit here and predict almost batter-by-batter what is going to happen when the braves make the playoffs…i SAT there in person and did it when Kerry wood beat us in game 5 2 years ago. i just think its time to change things up, because it aint doing it for me anymore
Yeah, you and Alex R. are peas in a pod.
Void of any constructive ideas and a penchant for needing the soap box to shout all of your empty rhetoric…
it makes sense now that you two would find an affinty for one another.
despite all that, i still think we take 2 out of 3 from the mets
It was a bad move. I also thought walking Delgado to pitch to wright the inning earlier was a bad move, but it worked. I’m not saying he’s the worst manager ever in the world, I’m saying I can judge these moves objectively. If I watch the Yankees and Torre pinch hits for derek jeter in the 9th inning with the bases loaded, with jeter holding a bat and looking on in the dugout confused, I’m going to say it’s a bad move.
Calling Cox stupid calls your intellect into question, sure.
I’m failing to see what else that comment does other than that.
Cox the man isn’t stupid. Cox the manager, questionable.
he may not be stupid but he does stupid things
“I’m not saying he’s the worst manager ever in the world”
Well, thanks. What a concession. You guys need to learn that just because you’re a fan of baseball and the Braves that doesn’t qualify you to make incredibly difficult decisions. You incredibly self-righteous, cyncial, arm-chair managers contribute close to nothing in a logical debate.
This talk of Bobby should be sacrelige in this circle. You have no loyalty or appreciation.
When did this become just your team?
come on, all people start to do questionable things in their 70’s…only most of them dont have thousands of fans emotions riding on EVERY ONE OF THEM
BTW, I’ve been a cox apologist for years since JS had to make a roster fit with budget constraints. I know he didn’t choose these guys, and I actually blame JS more than Cox for this mess, but still–tonight was an easy one, dude.
Whatever. I don’t want to hear your empty concessions now. It’s not my job to sort through your corrupt thoughts on Bobby, you’ll come along if and when you develop a stronger brain.
i think that being able to criticize is what makes it EVERYONE’S team…so we have to paint every picture with optimism? frankly i just DONT SEE IT THIS TIME. I didnt know that means i have no loyalty or appreciation.
Are you *actually* defending him replacing our hottest hitter with a cold, old, backup catcher who, pinch hitting, was batting like .190? That’s not even rational. And that’s the crux of my argument tonight.
Blaming JS is equally an exercise for the feeble witted.
But then again, this is YOUR TEAM, so you can make the rules Raoul
Dude, I’ve been a braves fan 25 years. And I’m going to the game tomorrow to support them. And I’m in law school, so let’s leave ‘brain strength’ out of this. You have no argument here, so admit it and go away.
Did I SAY that? No.
You’re calling Cox stupid in a blanket remark. That is only what I’m responding to. I don’t care if you criticize Bobby for individual choices, he’s going to make mistakes.
But you guys have to learn that your opinions are dirt if you’re going around with bullshit like Bobby Cox is a moron.
You can argue that losing tonight wasn’t Bobby Cox’s fault, but what did he do tonight to help the team win the game?
Yeah, JS is a genius. He had all offseason to retool the ONLY thing that cost us the WS last year (bullpen), and his theory was …well, we can run reitsma out there and cross our fingers. Oh, and watch our division rivals sign billy wagner, which we had the money to do. Brilliant.
i think boards like this exist for people to blow steam and say whatever the freak they want after games like this…im sorry its not the love-fest you feel they deserve
Did I say that Matt?
My point is that you act like someone who knows all the right and wrong within this franchise and that I try and conduct myself like a respectful and respetable member of fanbase containing millions.
I agree you’re free to say what you want.
And I’m free to repsond to you anyway I want, are you denying me this?
if i cant give my opinions here, where can i do it? its not like anyone is even reading this anymore besides the 3 of us…
It’s not personal, Raoul. Tonight was a game we should have won, and didn’t for a lot of reasons. You would just think that after HAVING to have reitsma, laroche, orr, et al, you could at LEAST count on the manager to not make things worse. And tonight, with a chance to win, he gave the game away. That’s why we’re frustrated.
you can say what you want, but so can those of us who feel like this team has fatal flaws…dont just assume you are always right too
Right, we would have passed up Billy Wagner if we had a reasonable chance to match that offer. I think you’re seriously mistaking our options.
With the money we saved from letting furcal and farnsworth go, we had plenty. JS even said he was ‘shopping’ at the winter meetings. But he came away with nothing, and did nothing to improve a team that couldn’t win a playoff game last year. That, to me, isn’t good.
at least in baseball theres more than a hundred more games
Oh, don’t forget Kolb and Franco’s salaries–that’s 4 million right there. The money wasn’t a problem.
Raoul, you wouldnt happen to be an auburn fan would you?
Hey, don’t do that to him…low blow!
oh but brad, dont forget- we brought Brian jordan back this year! and we did sign Mike reminger!! see johnny did A LOT of work
He gave the game away? You’re guys are so incredibly dumb.
Brave hitters did actually fail to win the game. Placing the blame on Bobby for possibly making a bad decision in one situation is, well, I think you know where I’m going again…dumb,stupid, etc.
BRAVES HITTERS DID GET SHUTOUT IN EIGHT OTHER INNINGS!
you arent denying that you are an auburn fan…
Yeah, if only jeff blauser wasn’t our AA manager. He would have been a nice addition to our bench. And I bet steve avery could still pitch…
where’s juan bereguera?
Funny Matt. No I don’t cheer anyone in the SEC. I don’t live in the South either, so no you’re twisted assumptions about my brain power based on my teams won’t work.
Sorry.
not brain power as much as “selective reasoning”
This is analogous to a few years ago when pratt was the backup catcher for the mets. If bobby valentine, in a close game in the 9th, had taken out mike piazza for todd pratt, I would have been jumping up and down with excitement. That’s giving the game away. Even objectively, without Bobby-colored glasses, you can see the diff. in batting average. Plus the fact that you don’t bring in cold hitters to face wagner. I didn’t like him bringing in diaz either.
I didn’t think we’d win the game, but we should have been down 1 going into the bottom of the ninth, not 3. had that been the situation, renteria might have tried to score. There’s always one aspect of this team that is seriously deficient when the others aren’t. Hitting, pitching, starters, bullpen, managing. It’s too early to panic, and I think (hope) everything will come around. But when you’ve got a *chance* to win a game that you shouldn’t (like tonight, down 3 in the ninth against wagner), you’ve got to try to win it. and sending up todd pratt does not do that.
I live in Arizona Matt.
Auburn has absolutely nothing to do with this and it wouldn’t even if I did give two #%^&$ about the SEC.
Good idea though. I would have explained everything right? I think it’s safe to say you’re the real moron and not Cox.
im just trying to understand the mindset of yours, i thought that might explain it, but i guess its just the arizona heat or something
Guys, it’s obvious he’s going to defend the cox/pratt power duo, so let’s save it. We agree to disagree. (we’re just right =)
maybe you just always hear about the diamondbacks and think it is acceptable to play and manage this way…
Still Scott, you have nothing to say about the Braves hitters losing the game.
Bringing up Cox as an excuse for losing is weak and completely disrespectful.
What’s the point of following Atlanta when you harbor all the feelings for Cox? It’s basically his team. I love being along for the ride.
I’d like to see you morons in the driver seat.
Hey, we could get tony clark from the d-backs. He’s only like 55…
I’d be a terrible manager. I also believe in player accountability. But I would give my team a chance to win, and the mccann/pratt thing fails on every level.
Right, I love the D-Backs. That’s why I get heckled and threatened when I go on the road to cheer for Atlanta.
It’s the heat also. You guys are so smart.
And I do love Todd Pratt. You morons confused my defense of Cox for support of his decision to hit Pratt. Scroll up, I disagreed with him.
How old are you guys?
Raoul, I said that there’s always some aspect of this team that’s not on when it needs to be. At the start of the season, it was starting pitching. Now, it’s hitting. Sure, the hitters didn’t do their part tonight. And I’m already mad because I’m stuck with 4 more months of Bob Rathbun and Jeff Torborg. Like I said, I didn’t think we’d win this game, that’s why it was so upsetting when we actually had a chance. A little magic in the ninth could have erased the hitting that wasn’t there earlier. I’m not using Cox as a cop-out for the Braves’ bad hitting.
Old enough to recognize a dumb move. Personally, I like Bobby. But purely from a managerial standpoint, what has he done this year to help us win a game? What move has he tried that’s worked? Even baseball critics across the board bemoan his playoff managing/unwillingness to play small ball/etc. 14 years and 1 world series? And the manager has NOTHING to do with that?
im old enough to remember when bobby could manage…and the team look a lot different now. you may the conclusion
brad, you wouldn’t give anybody anything but an uncomfortable feeling that we now have the most inept manager possible and our team would play with no confidence.
I’d actually endure a year of Cox-criticizing idiots mamaging the Braves, so the idea that you types are better suited to run our team would be so completely removed from respectable society that I’d never waste my time like this again.
The Arizona takes were so weak. Is that all you got? Cause I could pull out the Southerner card and have fun all night, but I’m a decent human.
“im old enough to remember when bobby could manage…and the team look a lot different now. you may the conclusion”
I seriously don’t even know how to sort through this garble and respond…
maybe its past your bedtime
later guys…i still have hope for tomorrow!
Don’t judge us by matt. And as I said earlier, I’d be a terrible manager…I’d fire half the team the first day and be stuck with about 10 guys. But one of those 10 would not be todd pratt.
Well, Scott, then your placing the resposibility for feeling secure about all aspects of the Braves on Bobby Cox, when again it’s also at least part a performance issue.
brad, in the end you sound like the genius.
he didn’t say ‘all aspects’ were on cox–he said a lot of things tend to go wrong. it would just be nice if you could pencil your manager in as ‘something to not go wrong’ occasionally.
Thanks dude. I dont’ have all the answers, but I’ve watched literally 90% of all braves games since 1992 and I can tell you: Cox is not a great manager. Decent. Adequate. Not a moron, like I said when I was frustrated, but SERIOUSLY not the reason for our division-title success.
Of course it’s a performance issue. But Bobby Cox is a performer too on this team, and if it’s ok to blame the loss on the hitting not being there, then what’s wrong with saying I think Cox had something to do with it?
Well yeah the hitting failed–it’s been failing since guys got hurt and he was stuck having to play pena and orr, etc. That’s not his fault, but JS’s. So this is a never-ending cycle.
guess that’s it for tonight. we’ll kick it around again tomorrow =)
Scott, it’s never been an issue of people simply criticing Cox. I disagreed with hitting Pratt. I would let McCann hit personally.
It’s just not anything to respect when someone acutally resorts to calling Cox names. It’s so childish.
just wanted the last word..haha