ESPN.com – MLB – Box Score – Orioles at Braves
Wow, a blowout win. When was the last time that happened?
The Good Horacio was late to the ballpark, as the Bad Horacio allowed a two-run homer to the second hitter of the game. After allowing a single to the next hitter, he was stellar, giving up only two hits in the next six innings, not walking anyone, and striking out four. When the Orioles rallied to get a run in the eighth (on a hot day, he would have been out of the game if Bobby had any reason to have any confidence in the bullpen) he even made a great catch of a softly hit foul ball to get the second out of the inning.
Meanwhile, the Braves got six runs in five innings off of Kristin Benson, including solo homers by Langerhans and Betemit (who started at third for a gimpy Chipper). Then they went into hibernation mode for the next two innings (including one by Bruce Chen, he gets to play but Javy Lopez never leaves the dugout) they bust out for four in the eighth to put it out of reach, Chipper’s first career pinch-hit home run, a three-run job, capping the scoring. Ray pitched the ninth more or less harmlessly.
Betemit had three hits, but did commit a throwing error that could have been disastrous in the eighth. Andruw was hitless, all the rest of the “regulars” had at least one.
I’m going to post this again:
Looking at Zach Miner today, his season and all his stats, I sometimes get a slight feeling he’ll be the exact reverse of what happened after the Smoltz-Alexander trade. Think about it. Alexander went 9-0 with something like a 1.80 ERA after his trade and got the Tigers to the play-offs, where they lost early and he retired a couple of years later while Smoltz is still pitching great for the Braves. Now Miner is pitching great for the Tigers while Farnsworth’s 10 saves in 10 chances arguably was the only reason the Braves made the postseason last year, only to go out early. All were trade around the deadline and where great temporary fixes down the stretch. I fear we’ll be regretting that five years from now the way Miner is going now. The Braves certainly could have used him as a plug instead of Cormier.
Also, what’s with this?
Tuesday: Cormier vs. Carpenter
Does Bobby Cox just want to lose?
So based on an a whopping 6 starts, you’ve come to the conclusion that Zach Miner is going to turn into a Hall of Fame pitcher? That kind of seems like what you’re implying, which is ridiculous. Colon was the centerpiece of the Farnsworth deal. Miner was a B level throw in.
I just said I fear it. I know it’s to early.
We’ll see how “B level” Miner looks a few years from now.
I don’t mean to hijack the thread, but I’ve got to know….anybody know the details on this from the Atlanta Journal this morning:
“….Outfielder Matt Esquivel, leading the M-Braves with 38 RBIs, was suspended indefinitely by the Braves”
What’s the deal? Jay? Anyone???
If I had to guess, I’d say a syringe was involved.
Hey everyone…I am glad I at least got to watch this game at the gym (which has Direct TV) since effing evil Comcast still blacks out Orioles and Nats games…very nice win.
The glass half empty side for me is not just that our only series wins have come against the awful D-Rays and Orioles; it’s the fact that I am disgusted to have our so called “ace” go out & pitch like garbage yesterday and to give away a needed home win to the awful Russ Ortiz and the horrible Orioles. It’s incredibly deflating…we should have swept this series and if you look at the 3 pitching match-ups, the Hudson-Ortiz should have been the easiest win of the 3!!!
That’s why I am completely 100% in the camp of dealing away Hudson this offseason for some relief pitching and offense. I can live (at this point) with a 2007 Rotation of Smoltz-Hampton-Davies-Ramirez-James.
I can’t get out of my head how Hudson not only cost this team a desperately needed home sweep against the shitty Orioles, but a home series sweep would have been enormous in terms of confidence boosting…now it’s just a wasted loss and 2 of 3 home wins against a bad bad team—huge difference psychologically.
Re: Zach Miner
I am upset to see how well Zach has turned out and would easily be the 2nd best starter on this team, and the deal has turned into a total crushing for the Tigers over the Braves. If you go back 16 yrs., this has to be a Karmic situation for the Smoltz/Alexander deal…no other way to look at it and we can’t get upset.
The glass half full side of me, is that generally, outside of say Jason Schmidt and Odalis Perez (and now Miner) very few of the prospects we have given away have come back to haunt us. Yes, Glavine & Millwood in particular have found great success post Atlanta, but we got many good years from those guys.
The other “positive” is if Miner, a Braves kid, helps the Tigers (a team none of us genuinely have any issues with) beats an American League team with an a-hole Manager (Ozzie Guillen) or teams most of us despise (the Yanks & Sox), then we could easily stand up & root for Miner and the Tigers.
If it were a syringe, he would have been suspended by the Commissioner. My guess is that he had another temper tantrum, or several. Matt has a rep as a headcase. Got in a fight, stayed out late partying, missed practice repeatedly, something like that.
Third & last post (for now):
Re: Teams to root for or against
One, I am a Braves fan first and only in Baseball so if the Braves don’t win and are well out of it by September, I will be watching my favorite Fall TV shows like “Prison Break” and “Lost” and not really concerned about who wins or loses…that is usually what happens when one of my ‘Big 3’ (Braves, Georgia and the San Antonio Spurs) is not in it.
However, I live in Alexandria, Virginia so if the Braves aren’t in it, my second favorite team is the Nationals. I don’t like and have never liked Mac’s persnickety “Natspos” name which is generally a device by him to demean the team, but when the play the Braves, they can be the Natspos. Against everyone else, I will root for them unless we are the 2 teams battling for the division in a future year (or like the first half of last year).
As previously stated in here, another thing Mac and I have in common (besides being good friends since college) is that we have immediately family who are Mets fans. I am hard core rooting against the Mets right now (it’s July 2nd) but my father & brother are lifelong Mets fans so when the Playoffs begin (unless by some miracle the Braves make it), I will be forced to pull for the Mets. They were my 2nd favorite team when I was kid because the Braves were in the NL West so no issues for me…it’s only when we went to the NL East this became a Major problem.
As for other possible/probable Playoff Teams…
Boston–They have officially become my least favorite team in Baseball…new mantra – anyone but the Red Sox
Yankees–would root against them unless they play Boston; I have switched sides in this fight.
White Sox–Absolutely rooted for them against Houston and would do that again. But I hate Ozzie and wish he’d shut the heck up. What a jerk. Hate Pierzynski too.I would pull for the W. Sox though against the Yankees and Bosox.
A’s–Easily would root for them against Chicago, Boston or NY. “Moneyball” is not evil (Joe Morgan! John Schuerholz!) and you have to hope Billy Beane gets one
Tigers–Considering the long current losing history and the beefed up role of ex-Braves prospect Miner, I would pull for Detroit over the W. Sox, Yanks and Bosox. If Detroit and the A’s play, would be genuinely happy for either. I do hate Jim Leyland but not enough to be against the Tigers.
Blue Jays–I haven’t forgotten the heartbreak of 1992 so I would root for Detroit and Oakland against them but would pull for the Jays over the aforementioned troika of evil in the big cities.
Seattle & Texas—I dont care about either and even though Oakland is only 1 Game up on these teams, I really believe the A’s starting pitching will get them the west and wont be close by the end.
Cardinals–I like their fans and hate their manager. It all depends on whom they play as to whether I root for them (by default). LaRussa is complete a-hole…I like Jason Marquis and would be happy for him.
Reds, Padres, Rockies, Brewers–complete and utter INDIFFERENCE so I would root for any of these teams against teams I hate like the Cards, Red Sox, Yanks and W. Sox.
Astros–family & friends who are die hard Houston sports teams fans and various members of this family & friends (most, not all) have been giant a-holes about the Braves/Astros rivalry and the Spurs-Rockets rivalry (this one in particular…a particular horrible incident in the NBA Playoffs in 1995 from family has scarred me for life) plus add in the fact that I HATE Roger Clemens…I wont root for Houston against anyone…except the Red Sox. I would even pull for the Yankees over Houston. I have horrible hatred of Houston sports teams (cherry on the sundae…ex girlfriend was a Houstonian who loves these teams along with her family though I miss the great seats!).
Dodgers–while I don’t hate the Dodgers as much as Mac, I hate Nomar and genuinely dislike them. I like Grady Little and feel the giant a-hole Red Sox fans treated the man terribly over one decision that wasn’t really his fault…he should have stood up to his ego maniacal starter (Pedro) and the Red Sox fans treated him like garbage…so if we get a Boston/Dodgers WS, definitely rooting for the SoCal boys.
Mets–its a tough one because I have grown such a passionate hatred for almost all their fans, the fact that they just spend and spend and buy their good team….but I love my dad and he alone is the so,e reason I would pull for the Mets in the Playoffs. It will KILL ME, but I will do this for him.
I’m not rooting for any team in particular, but it would entertain me if Tom Glavine’s head exploded.
s/
Alex,
I’m sure your dad likes something else that you can root for.
Sunday, July 02, 2006
Candid Billy
While some — like the entire city of Philadelphia — find Billy Wagner’s candor irritating, I’ve enjoyed it so far this season. It’s refreshing to see ballplayers actually say what they think. However, when the NYT asked him which players he would have liked to have played with in his career, Wagner could have been a tad more diplomatic:
I could see myself on those Braves teams of the 1990’s. I grew up a huge Braves fan…
Thought some of you might like this.
Oh, darn. Reitsma out for the year. I’m so distraught.
The Braves should just release Reitsma without pay for ruining their season by hiding his numbness problem. Good riddance and please don’t return next year, Chris.
Proving that Reitsma hid a major injury is going to be awfully difficult, and I just don’t think he’s worth that kind of time. Let him walk.
Concerning the All-Star Game- I voted for Liriano and Young for the last slot in each league. I’m mostly voting against the other NL candidates, especially Wagner.
KC’s Mark Redman probably isn’t the worst All-Star ever (5.59 ERA, 30 BB, 30 K in 74 IP), but he’s close.
I like Tommy Glavine and I am one of the Braves fans who genuinely appreciates him and his contributions for 15 years to this franchise, not to mention that he will be in a Braves uniform when he gets to the Hall.
Furthermore, met him in 1995 and he’s a great guy and a class act. In the Schuerholz (God forsaken) book, it points out that Glavine genuinely struggled with this decision and if it hadn’t been for his a-hole agent and the Players union, was prepared to take less $ to come back.
So, rooting for a man who pitched the Game 6 in ’95 that delivered us a world championship, to have his head explode is complete B.S. and any Braves fan who condones this should be ashamed.
You can choose to tell me your opinions as to whether or not I should support my father (and mind you when there was NO rivalry, I rooted for the Mets 2nd as a kid), but to wish that upon a guy who gave 15 yrs. to the Braves, struggled personally with his deicision to leave, and won us a world series is beyond ridiculous.
I am, and always will be a Braves fan for the rest of my life…it’s my skin, it’s in my blood…and if you call yourself a true Braves fan, you’d wish nothing but Hall of Fame success for Tommy and for him to only lose when he faces the Braves. That’s what I do.
Kruk is an idiot saying the mets deserve their starters as ‘those guys are they best at their position’ paying extra special attention to Lo Duca. sigh.. poor mccann.
I love Zach Miner and root for him, but you have to be f****ing crazy to think he’s John Smoltz. He’s having a nice year, but lets not go nuts here.
Congrats to Renteria, McCann, and Andruw for making the All Star Team. Represent us well boys!
Also, Alex, I think braves fans like Glavine more than you give them credit for. Just because a few guys here who like to push your buttons don’t like him doesn’t mean the rest of Braves fans feels the same way. I also think that any wounds from when he left will (and are starting to) heal with time as people appreciate what a great player he was for us. By the time he pulls on his Braves cap and makes his speech at Cooperstown, all will be forgotten.
Loduca doesn’t deserve to start, the ballot was stuffed. But the Mets deserve the most All Stars because they are the only good team in the National League.
I am anti New York/Boston ESPN bias, but the Mets (and for that matter, the evil and annoying Red Sox) deserve all their all stars.
But McCann should be voted the starter or at least be on the team because fans are idiots.
That said, I am always against my favorite teams players (Braves & Spurs) having to play in All Star Games because I would rather them rest.
Wow… I just got home from playing ball with the fellas and what do I see..
The Braves win a blowout and win a series.. and Brian, Edgar and Druw are on the All-Star team. Not a bad day after all…
I’m so happy McCann got in, he deserves to be there…and he’ll be the reason why I’ll watch the game
Also, congrats to Tommy G on the all star selection – here’s hoping you’re the opening day starter. What a player!
Kyle,
I dont thimk Sam was trying to push my buttons specifically, I just think he said something pretty bad and we should never be rooting for someone’s head to explode, especially an ex Braves who won us a world series and gave us 15 years.
You’ve probably seen this already..
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/0606/gallery.greatathletes/content.6.html
Brian Jordan is ranked by SI as the # 10 best college athlete of all time..
Jordan has struggled the past couple of seasons and we all get on his case, but I’ll remember the B.J of old.. He gave us some good years..
Alex, he was the same guy that wanted Jose Reye’s ACL to explode in the game thread. Just ignore him and move on…
Davey is right. As much as we’ve been soured by Jordan’s competitiveness and desire to continue playing, he was an incredible athlete. He was bascially Deon-lite.
I think most Braves fans want to see Glavine and Maddux do well as long as it’s not against us. The same has gone for a few other players- Galarraga after he left us, Julio Franco, Dale Murphy in his day. Of course there were jerks like John Rocker and Kyle Farnsworth we couldn’t or can’t light up enough.
Spotted this in the comments area on Deadspin..regarding the all-star voting.
“‘m a pretty huge Mets fan. Even run my own Mets blog. Paul Lo Duca is not the best catcher in the National League. He’s just not. He’s only leading the All Star voting because the Mets are in the most populated city in the United States, because the Mets are playing well, and because the catchers in the NL stink.”
He makes a pretty good point but then he stumbles in that last sentence.
Well sir, have you met my friend Brian McCann??
He’s the best catcher in the NL and he does in fact not stink.
AR – Regarding Glavine, I personally like the guy and appreciate everything he did for the Braves, and hopefully will do in the future. Atlanta is still his home and you know he wants to come back. However, when he went to the Mets he said some pretty idiotic things and deserved to be called on it. The whole fight with JS that he and his agent took to the papers and then the “it’s not about the money” BS. Please!
As for the All-star game, shame on Kruk. Anyone who can read a box score knows that Beltran and LoDuca do not deserve starting positions. Harder to argue with Reyes. And David Wright is the Man!
Anyway, I am a huge Braves fan, but I never vote for our guys in the All-star game just because they are Braves. I try to vote for the players that deserve it. I guess the same cannot be said for the sanctimonious baseball fans in New York who claim to be so enlightened.
Anyone else smoewhat bothered by the fact that Nick Green is now a Yankee?
Nope, not in the least.
Chris Hammond got cut by the Reds. Not another washed-up lefty, Mr. Schuerholz.
I know not everyone will agree for various reasons, but seeing the Yankees beat the crap out of the Mets really warms my heart.
I like Green, he’s solid and glad to see someone pick him up. He hit a 2 run shot tonight against the Mets. I’ll pull for him no matter where he is playing.
Brain J, my thoughts exactly…..
Can anyone find a less-deserving all star than Redmond? That’s more shocking than John Kruk getting paid to say things – purportedly with authority – on television. Speaking of Kruk: tonight, when I was leaving a restaurant, I looked up at the television and saw his face, mouth moving, and commented to my friend that there sat the dumbest commentator on espn. The volume was off and Lo Duca’s picture was pasted in the background. Now I feel vindicated. Nice.
Like Alex, I also feel a bit irritated at Braves fans who boo Glavine. I saw Glavine pitch this season against Atlanta, in Atlanta, and he did get booed quite a bit where I sat. I think people should be able to boo if they want, but at the same time, I’m gonna call them out on being jackasses for it. The Braves didn’t offer him the money – as I recall they tendered a huge single season offer to Maddux that same offseason – or at least the 4th year option, which was crucial to him. Fans should be more pissed off at the trend in sports than at individuals. Well, that and the multi-million dollar deals to play a kid’s game.
I hate the Red Sox more than any other team, especially their fans. I can’t even confess to caring about the Yankees these days, they just haven’t really mattered for awhile. And screw Ozzie Guillen (speaking of Ozzie, has anyone noticed his inability to take pitchers out of games when they just don’t have it? It has essentially cost them the game the past two Sundays with first Vazquez, today Buehrle).
Enough rambling… to those here who celebrate it, have a good 4th of July.
Green’s not a bad utility infielder, but he’ll never have any job security. Tampa Bay let him go after he started out 3-39 for them. And just think, we got Jorge Sosa for him. That seemed like such a good idea last year.
Adam, the Braves offered Maddux arbitration after that 2002 season, hoping to collect two draft picks when he refused and left as a free agent, but he accepted and stayed for the 2003 season at a cost of $14.75 million.
And that’s Redman, not Redmond, if you mean KC’s dubious All-Star.
my bad. thanks.
Anyone who can read a box score knows that Beltran and LoDuca do not deserve starting positions.
Sorry, but on what planet does Beltran not deserve a starting position? He’s OPSing 1.002. That is exactly .004 worse than Lance Berkman, good for 2nd best among NL outfielders, and he’s much better defensively. LoDuca I thoroughly agree doesn’t deserve to start, but Beltran? Disagree completely.
Anyway, congrats to Brian McCann especially, but also to Andruw and Renteria. I will tune into the game to watch McCann, and that is the only reason.
Oh, and this is the worst Sunday Night Baseball game I have ever seen. The playing AND the announcing. Did anyone hear the retarded 15-minute argument about whether tomorrow’s game is more important than today’s? My dad forced me to mute the TV because he couldn’t take it any more. And I can’t believe we’re 14 games behind this team.
hey there, I’m kind of a lurker here, but a long term lurker so hopefully that gives me the right to sound off a little on Reitsma.
I’m dissapointed in the treatment he’s been given of late, yeah, his stuff has sucked, for sure he hasn’t gotten the job done and needs to be shut down until he is able to right the ship. But slagging a guy for ‘hiding’ an injury? what’s a guy to do, take himself out of the lineup for a little tingling in the arm? I’d rather see a guy try and gut it out and show me what kind of heart he has. Speaking of, he’s also been slagged for not having the ‘closer’ mentality. Well guess what….maybe he’s not suited to the closer role. Remember when Smoltz was great in the role, a 7th inning lead was money due to the fact that Reitsma was largely in charge of the 8th. The braintrust thought he could handle the 9th when Smoltz moved instead of putting some cash into filling the role and they were wrong, don’t kill the guy for trying and failing to do what he was asked. He’s also been knocked for being a Canadian, a sentiment which is as irrational, ignorant and offensive as they come.
One last thing, I like that he is talked about as a nice guy, that everyone is pulling for him. That says as much about him as the ‘team’ on the whole. Underacheiving teams succeed long term based largely on the concept of ‘team’. Don’t believe me? see the last 4 or 5 years.
Anyways, I love the Braves, love this forum (sometimes more that other times) and I believe we’ll be back, maybe even this year. Cheers and have a great 4th.
Kudos to Renteria, McCann, and Jones for making the all star team
agreed, Renteria & McCann at least bright spots in a tough year. Well done boys enjoy. The rest of you take 3 days off and be ready to come back with something.
I know that the Royals are bad, but they must have someone better than Mark Redman. Redman must be some kind of record. It’s like if they put Hudson on the team.
I think much of the reason that Glavine (over time) failed to ingratiate himself to the Atlanta fanbase had something to do with his perceived involvement with the strike/lockout/whatever you wanna call it in 1994. He started to hear boos in the 1995 season, well before the post-season.
I’m not going to attempt to figure out the thought process there (or lack thereof), but there was something about the strike and the idea that there was a player who represented it playing for the Braves. The Braves were the hottest ticket in town…until 1995. There was a dramatic falloff in attendance that year. Glavine caught a lotta that flak.
The Mets defection…I could care less about it. It’s all business. Now he’s a Met & I don’t root for him ever. But I certainly appreciate everything he did while wearing a Braves uniform. No hard feelings at all. He’s a shoe-in future Hall of Famer & he’ll always be one of the great Atlanta Braves. That puts him in extremely rare company (along with Aaron, Niekro & eventually Maddux, Smoltz & Chipper, I believe). Glad I saw him in his prime.
Ububba, his involvement was more than just “perceived”. He was a member of the union’s executive committee. He had a visible role (routinely operating as spokesman for the union) in the bone-headed and selfish strike that nearly ruined baseball (not just once, but again with regards to how it affected the steroids issue, where the union strong armed the league into not adopting any rational policy and it came back to bite them all).
That said, he’s always been one of my favorite players, both in performance and temperment/personality. As a lefty pitcher I emulated his pitching philosophy. So, even though I utterly detested his position on the strike (unions in general get little love from me), I still wouldn’t boo him and I’d love to see him get 300 wins (in Atlanta if such is possible).
By “perceived,” I was pointing out that his involvement was exactly one-half of the picture (without delving into the whole mess). Ownership was and is the other. They both bear the blame for that fiasco, steroids & almost everything else. (The fact that the union got so strong also has alot to do with years of stupidity & greed on the side of the owners. And let’s face it, Bud Selig ain’t exactly King Solomon.)
In my mind, Glavine’s union status doesn’t carry onto the ballfield, where he’s always been a pro. How local fans got mad at him for that episode is beyond me.
I have relayed this story before, and I will relay it again.
In July of 1995, my dad (my parents have lived in Reading, Pennsylvania since May of 1995, moved there after I finished my Sophomore year at Georgia) and I spent the July 4th weekend at the Braves Hotel in Philly and were there to witness a beautiful 4 Game sweep by the Braves over the Phillies at the Vet.
(I was ballsier back then…at the vet, I wore my Braves hat and openly cheered to the anger of hundreds of Phils fans).
The biggest highlight for us personally that weekend was sitting for about 45 minutes in the Hotel lobby (along with 1 other Braves fan) and just chatting and getting to know Tommy Glavine.
I realize this was less then a year after the whole Union thing and even I had been pretty angry (and still hate the Baseball Player’s Union in general) but he took so much time (and yes, this was to help repair his image) to just sit and chat with us, I have never forgotten what it meant to my dad & I and he and I make it a point to have Glavine on any Fantasy team we have. We got to know the guy well.
So I for one will not say a bad word. The man pitched us to our only World Series title only 4 months after that time in Philly so he will always have an important place in Braves history to me. And for that matter, even Mark Wohlers and Dave Justice because they were the other 2 players who contributed to that crucial Game 6 win in Atlanta.
Re: The All Star Game selections
This will never happen but I have always been anti FAN voting.
The All Star Game, particularly if it’s going to mean something, should showcase the best 30 players from the NL to play against the best 30 players from the AL–with the right guys starting at every position. The Braves have one deserved starter and that’s Brian McCann. I wouldn’t have even put Andruw on the team.
The bottom line is as long as fans vote, the big markets like NY can stuff the ballots better then anyone leading to Paul LoDuca starting at Catcher among other issues. Plus, I know I personally am a die hard National League fan and w/ the possibility the Braves could make a World Series (and home Field advantage at stake), I deliberately vote for the WORST American League players because I want the NL to win every year (even though they never win anymore and they will probably get killed again…however, since the Braves have no chance for the W.S. this year, that’s OK).
The other thing that needs to be eliminated from the All Star Game is the 1 player for every team rule. The only way I would keep that rule in effect is if they are playing in the home park of said bad team–like this year in Pittsburgh (though Jason Bay is a stud and deserves to be there anyway…why don’t the Braves have THAT Canadien???).
But the Mark Redman selection is a complete joke. I agree w/ mac…if the 1 player per team rule is in effect, then the Royals have to have someone more deserving…Reggie Sanders? Mark Gruidzelanek? Someone! But really the Royals shouldn’t have an All Star. Look, I hate the Red Sox more then any team, but if they are 1 of the best teams and have 6 or more guys who deserve to be there, that’s OK with me.
I can’t believe Redman gets to go but Liriano, Schilling, Beckett, Bonderman and Verlander don’t. And Mark Buerhle?? Come on Ozzie, that’s weak
And where’s Nomar?? He’s only second in the leaugue in hitting..
And shouldn’t Mauer and McCann be starting??
That 1 player for every team rule is stupid. If you’re going to make the All-Star team, it has to be because your good and you’re having a great first half..not because the Royals need to be represented by anyone that has something resembling a heart beat. That’s the dumbest rule ever.
Davey,
Once again we agree! I understood the rule 20-25 (or more) years ago…a way to help promote various teams and to let everyone know all the teams in Baseball…but it’s completely antequated and bordering on insanity when Redman makes it ahead of the various stud pitchers you listed. That’s just plain stupid.
On the bright side, maybe an appearance in the game by Redman will be the kind of wake up call for the NL hitters to smack a homer off the guy and have a big inning leading to their first win in like 10 years! Of course, knowing a jackass like Ozzie Guillen (seriously, I now root for him to be fired more then any Manager in Baseball), he will then ask Redman to throw at an NL player (with our luck, McCann), Redman won’t do it and Ozzie, the White Sox manager will then have Redman sent to the KC triple AAA affiliate.
Alex R. touched on this subject earlier and I totally agree. I’m still disappointed about our last series just because our ace cant get out of the 3rd w/ the Orioles. Lets face it, other than 2 or 3 guys in their line-up, that team is terrible. Hudson is pitching like a bad #4 or #5 starter, and I say we try and move him. I just wonder if he is fighting that same injury as last year. His pitches aren’t moving and he’s leaving the ball up in the middle of the zone. I’ll be more than happy giving up Hudson for some relievers or a good leadoff hitter. I’m definitely fine w/ Smoltz, Hampton, Davies, Ramirez, and James rotation for ’07. Hell, we can resign Thomson and Sosa for about $5 million and keep both of them in the pen just for starting options. Barry is still another option for ’07. Hudson just hasn’t performed for us. If we trade him I would like to see Barry get a start or two…
forgot to mention that Russ Ortiz won that game, if you didn’t already know. Coming in he was 1-14 in his last 19 games w/ an 8.03 ERA and our ACE can’t pick up that easy win….
The one thing good about having Redman on the roster is that Ozzie won’t feel too much pressure to get a sucky pitcher into the game.
It’ll also be interesting to see how the Mets would fare against the YankSox.
Yes Alex..we agree again.
I just think that it’s stupid to decide homefield advantage in the World Series and not have the best 30 guys on the team. If every team has to be represented, then you’re not going to have the best 30 guys, and deciding homefield with that is just insanely dumb.
Skip had a good point yesterday during the broadcast. He said the the homefield advantage should be decided by the leaugue that has the best inter-leuague record.. I thought it was a great idea.
You make a decision based on more than 200 games..not just 1 game.
If I’m an contending N.L. team..I’m happy that Mark Redman is going instead of say Liriano or Schilling or Beckett.
Either decide homefield via interleauge record..or let the best 30 play on the All-Star team.
The only thing that makes any sense with Hudson is that he must be hurt.
from AJC this morning….
Hudson, who has allowed 18 hits, 10 earned runs and six walks with only two strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings over his past two starts against the Yankees and Orioles.
Hudson says he’s healthy, and plans to go to the video room this week to figure out what’s gone awry.
Well, considering how we were all lied to by Reitsma and his injuries (and he’s a lesser pitcher then Hudson), I wouldn’t be surprised if Huddy was concealing his injuries.
Whether Hudson is injured or not to me, personally, is inconsequential at this point. He’s not remotely lived up to his big, fat contract and we are getting far more starting pitching production from two inexpensive and young lefties in Ramirez and Chuckie James.
Trading Hudson this offseason is a big win for the Braves on many fronts.
First, in 2 seasons (unless he turns it around immediately for the rest of this year) he has not remotely pitched like a #1 or #2 starter…at times he has but he’s also pitched horribly way too often.
Second, we are paying him as a #1 and if we are going to have our supposed #4 and #5 starters (Horam and James) pitch far better (and combined they don’t make half of what Tim makes), then why not spend that Tim $ elsewhere?
This way, in the offseason, if we can trade Tim to a contending (non NL East) that has a lack of a starting pitcher but has a derth of outfielders and first baseman and relivers, we can hopefully send Hudson to said team and in return, at least get a stud relief pitcher and a stud bat for left field or 1st base….maybe both?
Then if we had a real closer and more relief help in general next season, along with a healthy Hampton (and he & Smoltz can be a legit 1,2 at the top with 3 terrific youngsters backing them up) plus a better, higher OPS and power type offense (say with a new left fielder and and a new first baseman (plus, we all agree Giles can be traded and Betemit can play 2nd) then we have a better offense, a better pen, a very good rotation still, and the money aspect will be distributed better and not all tied up into Hudson’s contract since he’s not nearly worth the Money he’s getting now and he will get even more next year!
So, yeah, like most BravesJournal followers, I am of the opinion that the two regulars who most need to be traded (and hopefully get a lot in return) is Giles & Hudson.
Well, if you accept the fact that the Braves have a somewhat limited budget, then I think you have to trade Hudson. It’s just a question of what you think you can get in return.
I am in the same camp as you Alex. I think Hudson and Giles are the two we should trade this offseason. A Hudson trade won’t free up a lot of money for next season but the 2008 and 2009 seasons are when he gets too expensive. I think the quickest way back to being competitive is to get young high ceiling talent for these two guys. I realy think we’ll see some kind of shake-up because Hampton and his 13 or 14 mill will be on the books next year.
If Glavine wanted to stay in Atlanta, then why didn’t he just… stay in Atlanta? Ok he wanted more money than the Braves were willing to pay. I don’t agree with his motivations (what difference does another million or two make really?), but hey that’s pro athletes for you. If he had taken more money to go to the Yankees, the Red Sox, or just about any team other than the Mets, I’d have been disappointed but understanding. But taking more money to go to the Braves’ arch division rival? That is just too tough to swallow for me. I will always cherish what Glavine did for the Braves especially in Game 6 of the ’95 series, but I won’t respect him as long as he wears a Mets uniform. Going to New York was the proverbial slap in the face or stab in the back.
Ron,
The Braves did not make a serious attempt to keep Tommy, they tried but it was half hearted (to be fair). They were becoming more and more budget crunched since Ted had lost the team so they had to tread carefully with a then 37 year old starting pitcher (who, admittedly had been free of injury).
As much as I come on here and bash Schuerholz and bash him spending more time with that damned book then our favorite Baseball team, the book has an entire chapter that illustrates the blow by blow of the Glavine to New York situation.
Glavine wanted to take less $ and stay in Atlanta. He fought hard emotionally with the decision, loved (and still loves) the city of Atlanta & only ended up going to the Mets at the last minute because of his agent Greg Clifton and the enormous pressure Glavine and Clifton got from the Player’s Union who’s always scared sh–less when a star player (see Andruw Jones) takes less $ to staay and give his team a ‘hometown discount’.
The bottom line is this…Tommy gave us 15 incredible years and started the game in 1995 that delivered our only world championship in the modern era. If that doesn’t buy the man a free pass from Braves fans, then nothing will.
On the other hand, SOME come on here and attack Glavine but defend JD Drew. Why…because Glavine went to the Mets? JD came to Atlanta for 1 year (and he’s from Hiawatha, Georgia) played his best year to earn his next big contract and took big bucks and ran to Los Angeles. His piece of cra- agent Scott Boras, the most evil agent in sports not named Drew Rosenhaus, wouldn’t even hear the Braves out who started the conversaiton at 4 years (he took 5 years). It’s not like the Braves said ONE year–it was a joke. Drew could have cared less about his hometown team so that he could get that 5th year.
Tommy struggled and went back and forth and was really torn about what to do, even though the Braves were offering less at less years. Drew and his pig agent Boras had no qualms about hanging up on the Braves and sprinting to the west coast.
So, for people to come on here and attack Tommy Glavine and all he’s meant to our team’s history and our championship run 11 years ago, but give money grubbing Drew and his money grubbing agent Boras a free pass, is the biggest crime I have ever seen committed on BravesJournal. Again, that Schuerholz book lays out cleanly how incredibly hard it was for Glavine to leave but if a team is going to add 2 more years and more $ to a contract and he’s getting pressure form his agent and the Baseball Players Union and that rat, Donald Fehr, Glavine was trapped in a corner.
And with regards to people attacking Glavine because he may have said some things he later regretted about Schuerholz and/or Stan Kasten, he was understandbly emotional leaving the only organization he’s ever known and truth be told, Glavine felt like ALL OF US BRAVES FANS FEEL: that ever since Ted Turner lost the team to this evil corporate giant Time Warner and a cap of $80 mill. was put on, things have never been the same again for the Braves.
If Ted was still the principle of the Braves, Tommy Glavine would be facing Cris Carpenter on Tuesday in a Braves uniform. It’s a scary reality but it’s our nightmare scenario…we lose our financially generous Ted Turner (and a fan himself) and get an evil corporate giant that cut the budget, who will be selling to an even more evil corporation in Liberty Media that likely may vut the budget even more.
What I don’t understand is how Bud Selig could allow any of his 39 teams to be sold to some evil corporation…has he not seen how much more productive teams are when they have owners who care? And whatever happened to Arthur Blank? Gosh, I think every Braves fan in America would kill for Blank to ride in on a white horse and save the day for the Braves. It’s the team the city of Atlanta still cares the most about, and it’s the team most screwed by the current system.
I meant 30, not 39 teams…
I’ve always felt the team with the better record should get home-field advantage in the World Series. I mean, even if you use the interleague record, you’re still looking at a World Series team being at the mercy of the rest of the league. If a team survived 162 games to make it to the playoffs then got the 7 wins it takes to get to the WS, it’s slightly unfair to be beholden to the rest of the teams in your league who did not do those things.
So, just look at the records. Even if a wild card team has a better record than a division champ (as could very well happen this year with the Tigers and White Sox running away with the league), give them the home-field advantage. They earned it, so don’t penalize them by making the entire league earn it.
‘Rissa…ultimately I agree…plus, what if it’s a situation like the Mets this year where say they had the best record in Baseball by the end (which they won’t necessarily but hypothetically) but the rest of the National League completely sucks (which is the case this year) so even though they might be 10 games better then say the White Sox or Red Sox, they would not have home field because say Eric Chavez of Oakland hits a 9th inning home run off Tom Gordon of Philly in July…it’s not really a fair system.
I would rather see Hudson and Thomson traded for relief and prospects than Giles. Get a solid leadoff guy and relief pitching for those two. We then seriously talk to Chipper about going to 1st and keeping Betemit at 3rd. I have a hard time putting or best infield arm at 2nd. I think Marcus would improve drastically at the 2nd hole. That can only happen if Chipper will move to 1st and we can get a good leadoff to play LF. If Chipper doesn’t move then Giles has to go. I could handle our offense and defense a lot better if its Betemit, Renteria, Giles, Chipper than LaRoche, Giles, Renteria, and Chipper.
Also, if we trade Giles we are going to need another solid utiltiy player and Tony P. is not the answer. Chipper wont play more than 110-115 games at 3rd its just not going to happen. Too many holes, but not enough solutions. Two major solutions at this point is Hudson has too go and Betemit has too play!
1. You people have no sense of humor.
2. Anyone who roots for Glavine to do well is by default rooting for the Braves to do poorly. (He is, you know, the competition.)
3. I am greatly appreciative of his service to Atlanta.
4. He no longer works for Atlanta.
5. Exploding heads are _funny_ you gits.
6. The players’ strike of 1994 was almost completely the fault of ownership.
7. Hudson isn’t a very expensive pitcher. When “gets expensive” in a couple of years he’s still making essentially what Kris Benson makes.
8. If Hudson and Giles are not worth keeping for the Braves, why exactly would another team trade away good young talent for them?
9. The problem isn’t LF. It’s RF. And LF. And 1B. And, for this year but not for his career, 2B.
10. You don’t trade away quality major league starters when what you need is _quality major league starters._
11. Counting on Mike Hampton, post-TJ surgery, is damned near suicidal. There’s no reason to think he’ll be signficantly better in 2007 than John Thomson is in 2006.
12. Counting on Horacio Ramirez is just stupid.
13. James is good.
14. But Smoltz is old and getting older, and he will falter shortly.
15. You never trade quality starters for relievers. Never.
s/
Hudson will make 13 mil in both 2008 and 2009. Granted Smoltz may be retired by then, but that is not quite the same contract as Kris Benson.
at least part of the fault for mcann not starting lies with the braves orginization. All-star ballots were not put out in the park until a week later after they were allowed to go out. We could of had 2-3 extra days of voting but due to the delay it had to wiat ill the next home stand. Also, unlike every other park and other years at turner field ballots were not handed out they were mealy setup in kiosks. Nearly no mention was ever made about voting for the all star game at the park at all. Usually you goto a park, and the ushers hand out the ballots and collect them during the game, they encourage people to vote.
It’s really disapointing. It just goes to show how the orginization just seems to be lost this year.
Saying you wished Tom Glavine’s head exploded and also wish a career ending leg injury to Jose Reyes, now that’s stupid. Ignoring Glavine’s 15 Hall of Fame years with the Braves including winning us a World Series, that’s also stupid.
Real Braves fans can absolutely boo Glavine when he pitches for the Mets against the Braves…they should, we root for the Braves. But real Braves fans also appreciate what Glavine did for us for 15 years.
Any other argument on this subject is completely and utterly ludicrous.
I dislike Jose Reyes as much as anyone here, but I still don’t see the humor in him getting a career ending injury.
Wishing a career ending injury upon anyone is anything but humorous.
I know it’s been a few years for all of us, but we should remember back to what happened in Baseball, post 9-11.
I remember something Chipper said that we have all forgotten (including myself). I remember him talking about being at Shea ina series sometime shortly after 9-11 and making the comment that it was “hard to look across the field and hate any of these guys…”
He said something to the effect that we either all love being in America or being free, or something, but the point was bigger then the words…it’s just a Baseball Game and we shouldn’t HATE period.
I am just as guilty as anyone on here of that sometimes, but I think heading to the 4th of July holiday, that should be a lesson for us all to remember. And while I wish for the Braves (always) to defeat the Mets and every other team, I can’t wish actual injuries on opposing players. It’s just not right…ever.
Especially when one of those players is Tom Glavine. I just shake my head on that one.
Re: not any one thing in particular – I’m pulling for teams who have not done well recently, so I think it would be nice to see the Reds & Tigers hold together (even the Blue Jays, though there is a little residual ill-will from 92-93, though even that is mostly counterbalanced by that fact that if they win the Yanks/Red Sox don’t).
I can’t, ever, root for Yankees or Mets, and basically only root for Red Sox when the choice is them or the Yankees (I pulled for them in ’04 just to end all the “86 year” bellyaching, not that it’s helped – it’s like the region doesn’t know how to act now that they can’t claim martyrdom syndrome anymore). Mostly I pull against the Phillies, but mainly because they’re a division rival, but there’s no real animosity there (I have an uncle who lives in Philly) – their cause is not helped by their fans, but (IMO, at least) they don’t come close to touching the “Axis of Evil” troika of Yankees/Mets/Red Sox.
It would be nice to see teams like Brewers (now that Bud’s officially not an owner/completely free of the team), Pirates & Royals do well, and the Tigers’ success this year should at least give them hope.
Also, the Twins are on an incredible streak right now, and it is just plain fun to follow some of their storylines – J. Santana (nothing new, but still incredibly talented), Liriano’s incredible breakout, Morneau & Mauer’s hot hitting, Radke’s return from being one of the absolute worst pitchers in the league early in the year.
Anyway, sorry for going long, but I was just thinking – I’ll be pulling for the Braves all year (like always), but it will be nice to have lots of other good stories to follow (and there are plenty of other teams I didn’t touch on, but some *cough Cubs* should never really be rooted for under any circumstances) for the rest of the season.
Also, if I can add a quick question about a decision I need to make in my fantasy league (those who can’t stand such stuff, please indulge me & skip the rest 🙂 – it’s a roto league, 16 categories – (off) R, HR, RBI, Steals, BB, AVG, OBP, SLG, (pitching) W, K, BB, Saves, Total bases, ERA, WHIP, K/BB ratio – would you trade Manny (my team) for Jason Schmidt & Felix Hernandez?
Go Braves – nice to see 2 series wins in 3 (& could be 3 in a row if not for the freaking ARod non-choke moment)…
“Any other argument on this subject is completely and utterly ludicrous.” -Alex R.
If someone said something like that to you, Alex, you would flip your lid. It seems like you want everyone to let you have your opinions and not berate you, but you don’t give the same courtesy to everyone else. For goodness sakes, grow up people. Get a sense of humor. Everyone has said something a little extreme trying to be funny, and probably didn’t mean it. But you know what? Even if Sam DOES want Glavine and Reyes to suffer from spontaneous combustion and/or serious injury, who cares? It doesn’t affect you (and, even more importantly, Glavine and Reyes) in the least! Let’s just say Sam thinks he is David Blaine or Criss Angel, and can impart serious injury on people through mental persuasion. And let’s just say that, tomorrow, Glavine’s head explodes when he learns that Reyes just suffered an ACL injury. Would you think that it was the result of Sam’s comments in cyberspace? Probably not. But that’s what it seems like, since you are making such a huge deal out of it. This is usually a great place to come and talk Braves, but every few days the Braves discussion gets taken hostage by these pissing contests, usually involving some of the same parties. I logged on this morning and read the thread from last night/this morning, and I bet I read the same post a dozen times, with Alex telling Sam (or whoever) that he was an idiot for not kissing Glavine’s butt. Guess what? THAT’S HIS OPINION. He stated his, you stated yours, and now you should just move on. I almost feel like a douchebag for acting like I care this much, but my goodness, it’s just the same old crap, week after week. You’re having CYBERARGUMENTS, people! You are getting cyberoffended by cyberpeople in cyberspace. Lighten up.
Tennessee Brave-
You are right about one thing…I certainly have done my share of lid flipping and I do not deny this. You make a very solid argument that I get emotional–no problem with that.
But I don’t think anyone in here, I am sorry, I feel strongly about this, should wish injuries. And while we know that Tom’s head will never explode because we all don’t live in a science fiction film, to “wish” some kind of permanent injury on ANYONE is cruel and not appropriate.
people have gotten on me in here for being negative…if anything, I am taking the opposite stance with ths, tennessee, by saying none of us should would wish physical or mental harm on anyone that isn’t say an evil dictator or terrorist.
If you or Sam wished Osama Bin Laden’s head exploded, or that Saddam Hussein tore his ACL (ok, the thought of that statement is actually humorous), I don’t think myself or anyone else in here would have a problem with that. Those 2 men have committed terrorist and evil acts of atrocity against thousands of innocent people in thier own countries and here.
But the last time I checked, Jose Reyes and Tom Glavine were regular taxpayers not leading terrorist regimes and flying airplanes into buildings. So, I think we all need to be careful of the slippery slope of wishing evil acts upon regular people. Wish Bobby Cox would retire or wishing Judy Reitsma would get released is fine…some of us feel one way, some the other, but I am by far not the only person that has a problem with posting that you “wish” a Baseball player, any baseball player, would have his head explode or get a career ending ACL injury. It’s sick.
Mac has not posted on this but we spoke on the phone yesterday and discussed Sam’s postings and he also has a problem with anyone posting wishing career or life threatening injuries to any regular human being.
But Tennessee, I do hear you about any extreme opinions–and the last several months I have worked hard to be consciencly aware of everything I say.
That said, I will stand up on a soapbox if someone says something to the effect of wishing a serious and life threatening injury to any regular person, no matter what team they play for. I also don’t think it’s unreasonable (and won’t back down from this either) to defend Glavine’s 15 wonderful and championship years with the Braves.
The whole point of trading Hudson is not trading away incompetent players. It’s (assuming that he can turn it around) that we are trying to deal from a surplus, and he’s honestly the only guy I’d feel comfortable trading away and gettinga a decent return for.
We currently have 9 players capable of starting games on the roster/DL
Smoltz – I’d prefer to keep if any way possible. He is the face of the team, he is the heart of the team. And he deserves to retire a Brave.
Hudson – He’s capable of being a helluva player. He has been a helluva player. And while he’s been inconsistent at best this year, he can still get a decent return for him.
Thomson – Not extravagant, but a quality 3-4 starter with the ability to sweat a lot and pitch some really quality games. He is tradable, but he’s also cheaper than Hudson and probably wouldn’t get the same return.
Horacio – His problem is years past has been home runs. Always. And his home runs came off his cut fastball. And Roger (in his one good move) has gotten him to stop pitching his cut fastball. Since he’s returned from the injury, he’s made 6 or 7 starts, all but one were beautiful. What more can you ask for (Yes, Thompson faltered after 7 or 8 starts. He’s also 10 years older. It’s really not that comparable)
Chuckie – Is amazing. Proved that he is ready to be here, and at least be our 2/3 guy in the rotation.
In the bullpen:
Kevin Barry – While I’ve never seen him start, I watched him effortlessly mow down 3 innings of Yankee hitters…So I’m a believer until proven wrong.
Jorge Sosa – Yeah, I’d rather he not start. But he can, if absolutely necessary, and while we’re on that note…
Lance Cormier – Laffo.
Meanwhile, on the DL we have both Davies (Who was starting to show brilliance until he got hurt and hid it. Remember the Mets CG? When they were at, like, an 800 winning percentage?) and Hampton, who at this point is completely an enigma, and it would probably be better not to count on him to be any better than a 5th man, at that.
That’s 9 players. IF we trade Hudson and IF Thomson walks in the offseason, that’s 7 players. IF Hampton’s elbow explodes and IF Cormier, Barry, and Sosa prove that they can not be consistent starters, then that’s three players. THAT is when we’re in trouble. After all of those IFs.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want to count on Sosa, Cormier, or (to a lesser degree) Barry for starts. But I hardly think it’s illogical to dismiss a rotation of Smoltz-Davies-James-Ramirez-Hampton, when that’s a potential 5 potential top-3 starters when most teams are lucky to have 2. And if Hampton looks to not be ready for the spring, it probably won’t be much of an ordeal to resign John Thomson. He likes it here, he fits here, and it’s possible he’ll retire here.
Earlier, someone (might have been you) shied from trading Hudson because he signed the extension because he wanted to stay in Atlanta, and it would be cheating him. That I can understand. But to say we can’t trade trade quality starting pitching because we need quality starting pitching is asinine.
I maintain. Hudson for Ryan Freel/Chone Figgins + prospects, then ship Giles for low-level prospects or just let him walk. Both Freel and Figgins are on the bench behind better/more liked players in Felipe Lopez for the Reds and Adam Kennedy on the Angels, both teams could use a starter, and I’m sure there are some prospects in their system that JS likes.
Let’s just say Sam thinks he is David Blaine or Criss Angel, and can impart serious injury on people through mental persuasion. And let’s just say that, tomorrow, Glavine’s head explodes when he learns that Reyes just suffered an ACL injury.
Oh, that would _so_ rule.
Alex, did you by chance tell Mac _who_ was wishing for exploding heads. Because honestly, I have no idea who you are, but Mac should know better.
Now, about that happy horseshit about 9/11 and Saddam Hussein. Whu?! Am I supposed to love Paul Lo Duca now ’cause “9/11 changed everything?” Because, well, I just don’t see that happening. I mean, I know I’m a freedom-hating America hater who hates our freedoms and America, but come on, it’s _Paul Lo Duca._ If I have to give up America or hating Paul Lo Duca, I’m afraid I’ll have to give up America. Because Paul Lo Duca is an ass.
Bill — Smoltz/James/Davies/Hampton/Ramirez would be a tolerable rotation, IF Davies and Hampton are both healthy. But both of those guys are DL’d at least until ST 2007 and it’s bad money to bet on both coming back with effectiveness. And if you trade Hudson, you’re left with an ageing Smoltz, James, the flakiness and DIPS-danger-doom that is Horacio Ramirez, and some combination of Jorge Sosa (who anyone paying attention should have known was going to suck this year) and Cormier (another disaster in waiting as far as starting pitchers go.) Kevin Barry? I’m not sold at all yet.
The Braves don’t need to trade simply for the sake of trading. If they can get better (a real 1B or LF wouldn’t hurt) then they should deal, but otherwise, they need to find a bullpen and hope Jeff Francouer doesn’t continue to suck. Saltalamacchia will be along in a couple of years. Betemit should push Chipper before too long. It’s a transition. Teams have them.
JoshQ: Benson makes 11.5-12 mil per year. That’s what an average major league starter goes for these days.
Kristin James Benson: signed 3-year deal worth 22.5M on 11/22/04- he will receive a 2.5M signing bonus and salaries of 4.5M in 2005, and 7.5M in both 2006 and 2007- + deal includes a 2008 option worth 7.5M or a 500K buyout
Even that is too much for Kristen, but anyway. I just don’t see us carrying both Hudson and Hampton when their contract balloon. Unfortunately Hampton is virtually untradable.
…all this talk about people wishing harm on others and comparing baseball with metaphors of terrorism is just hillarious…I think that conversation has completely reached the bottom of the barrel. Can we please go back to wishing harm on other teams in the form of losses and discuss Braves baseball?
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=keri/060703
Check out at 2nd base..and in the OF..
Pretty sad actually.
how about Todd Jones’ numbers
Fanasty Baseball – I think I just completed a great trade, any thoughts.
I currently have Giles at 2nd and Burrell in LF. I offered Bill Hall, Curtis Granderson, Huddy, and Aaron Sele for Coco Crisp and Dan Uggla.
None of the 4 I traded were everyday players they had just been sitting on the bench. Would you have made this trade?
I am personally going to celebrate my fourth with added enjoyment because Barry “i’m on juice ” Bonds didn’t make the all-star team
This is the greatest country in world
Glavine wanted to take less $ and stay in Atlanta. He fought hard emotionally with the decision, loved (and still loves) the city of Atlanta & only ended up going to the Mets at the last minute because of his agent Greg Clifton and the enormous pressure Glavine and Clifton got from the Player’s Union who’s always scared sh–less when a star player (see Andruw Jones) takes less $ to staay and give his team a ‘hometown discount’.
Reason #203571075 that I hate the players union.
Changing the subject, I agree with you 100% on the all-star game. Get rid of the minimum of one per team rule. Get rid of fan voting. Make it an all-star game instead of the popularity contest it is now.
From the fan voting to the one-player-from-each-team rule to the home-team-determination for the WS, the MLB all-star game is a shrill, shrieking fraud.
Does anybody know the reason Bud Selig doesn’t give home field advantage to the team with the better record. Before the whole All Star Game This One Counts Garbage it rotated between both leagues every year. I did not understand that logic either. What is wrong with the team with the best record having home field advantage?
I like the idea of giving the league with the best interleague record the home field record. At the very least, this would show which league is the better of the two. To me there is no head to head way of determining which individual team is the best between leagues. If you take their records and use that to determine who gets home field, it doesn’t take into accound the level of competition that was faced by being either an Al or Nl team. For instance, say the Mets have the best record in the majors and face the Red Sox who have the second best record in the majors in the WS. In my opinion giving the Mets home field would not necessarily be correct if the Red Sox played in a much tougher league.
Baseball had and has substantially set alignments of teams based on the ancient notion that large scale travel plans can’t be set for the teams themselves on short notice. I believe MLB books the visiting team accomodation in both possible cities before the LCS is over. Whichever team from the visiting league comes, their hotel is set.
I think they could still do it without pre-setting the home team. The playoff spots are sorted out almost always within the last couple of days of the season.