ESPN – Nationals vs. Braves Box Score, June 27 2007 – MLB
1 0 2 4 3 2 1 0 X
That’s the Braves’ line for this game, a game in which they pounded out 22 hits and scored 12 runs before they hit a homer. It is somewhat tempered by the fact that it came against a team that is very, very bad and so desperate that they’ve been forced to put Micah Bowie in the rotation. Bowie lasted only 3 1/3, allowing six runs on nine hits, but was better than some of the other pitchers the Nats tried tonight.
All the starters for the Braves had at least one hit, including John Smoltz. Escobar, who is definitely platooning at second base now, had four, and scored all four times. Chipper had three hits and I believe drove in Escobar each time; at any rate he drove in four. Renteria had three hits as well, and if you get 10 hits from the first three spots in the order you’re doing well. Francoeur went 3-3 with a walk, Diaz was 3-5, and McCann, though he had only two hits, had the Braves’ lone homer. Even Andruw (.199) had an RBI single in the fourth, when the Braves had five straight singles to break it open. Chris Woodward had a pinch-hit double. It was that kind of night.
As it was, Smoltz didn’t have to do too much. He only went five (being lifted for a pinch-runner — Orr, of course — in the sixth) and allowed five hits, walked one, and struck out seven. He’s laboring but doing so very effectively, at least in a limited role. Villarreal pitched a couple of innings, Fredo pitched the eighth, and Paronto the ninth, allowing two hits but preserving the shutout.
A streak? Wa-hoo!
Even though Andruw had a hit and an RBI – it was still very embarassing to watch him at the plate. He tried to bunt! It was ugly…i hope he never, ever even attempts that again
At this point I don’t care what the Natspos record is. The fact is they beat us 3 out of 4 in mid May. So a little payback is mighty fine by me. Yes, our power outage is of concern to me…although small ball is a beautiful thing when 5-6 hits come in a row. Now can we do that against a quality pitcher?
Who is having a more surprisingly bad season at the plate, ‘Druw or Langerhans?;) I am in the minority on this, but I can’t figure out what happened to both of them. We really need ‘Druw to wake up and quit eating ding-dongs with Wickmania.
Mac,
I think it should be that the Braves punded out 10 runs (not 12) before hitting a homer.
This was a nice way to end the series and hopefully our hitting slump will be a thing of the past. It definitely helped to play the Nationals, but hadn’t we lost 3 of our last 4 against them? Nice rebound!
I’ve always like Langerhans, but I can’t imagine where we’d be right now with his .168 batting average in our lineup consistently.
The last sentence should be “liked”. It’s kind of funny that I posted about the same time as “er” and our points were basically the same.
I know that some on the game thread mentioned that KJ must be in the dog house after Chucky pinch hit. I’m not sure I agree. I think it might just have been that the score was already a blow out and Bobby didn’t want to seem like he3 was rubbing it in by having a real hitter pinch-hit(Orr and Woodward don’t count, even if Woodward hit a double tonight).
Good win tonight. Cool seeing the boxscore and the shiftiness (probably not a word) that Bobby pulled. Looks like everyone got in the game but KJ. Huh.
I know it’s the Nationals, but when you put up 12 runs against a major league team, that’s something to be excited about. I mean, it’s not like they are that bad compared to an average team, so 12 runs is still an accomplishment, especially since our offense has been so dreadful.
I’ll take a three game winning streak right now. Looking towards the end of the season, I still like our offense. I think it can score enough runs to offset a bad starting rotation. Like I’ve said, I think that Andruw will rebound, but he’s the key to our offense. I still think we need to trade for a Vazquez/Buerhle/Garland as was talked about in one of the previous threads. You get a decent 2nd/3rd starter, and we can start really talking about the playoffs. If we had Smoltz/Hudson/Buerhle, I think we can hang with anybody in the playoffs. The question is: does it come at the expense of trading Salty and one of our few good pitching prospects?
Andruw’s bunt, with two on and no outs, couldn’t have been a call from the dugout. Or could it? I’m baffled.
I’m still worried about Smoltz’s health over the long run. If he holds up, I agree that we’re a starter away from serious postseason contention—I just don’t expect him to hold up.
Stu,
I hear your concern and I seriously hope you are wrong on that. Also, we need Huddy to distance himself from his recent imitation of his 2006 self. With the current rotation we need Smoltzie and Huddy to be lights out every appearance. Unfortunately that is a wee bit unrealistic.
I had wondered if KJ was in the doghouse if it was because he might have been involved in the whole Chipper-Smoltz-?? verbal issue(s). I have no idea, but…
Escobar is hitting the cover off the ball, kj/escobar platoon ….no doghouse, no nothing.
i don’t have high hopes for the road trip…braves please proove me wrong.
Maybe the Braves are just tired of getting their asses whooped and are going to take it out on these lousy teams. Hope so.
KJ is in the doghouse because he pulled a Giles and complained to reporters about not batting leadoff and then not being in the lineup. I just hope Bobby and John don’t do something petty like trade him a la Betemit. Long term Johnson is a much better choice at 2nd than Escobar because he walks a lot more and has more power.
I agree with Stu about Smoltzie.
Smoltz stepped off the rubber for a while in the 2nd inning (the other best part about playing the Nats is that I actually get to see all the Braves games on TV–finally) and he’s definitely playing through pain; interestingly, so is Chipper.
They may have made up publicly but I wonder who blinks first. It’s almost like they are quietly challening eachother to continue to play.
I really hope John can last the season, but who knows. I was very grateful that when it was 10-0 in the 5th, Bobby went to the pen–GREAT call. Why use John anymore at that pt. with a 10 run lead over a terrible team.
KJ:
I am disturbed as to what has happened with KJ. While I am grateful that Escobar has been such an offensive spark, I am really worried how quickly the KJ situation is, and yes, don’t ever go to the press, KJ.
On this, I am with Bobby…all Bobby asks (just like Popovich does w/ my Spurs) is to keep everything in house, be quiet, and Bobby will play you.
I mean, if Bobby could get away with playing Keith Lockart 80-100 games a year for 5 years, and now regularly seems to use Chris Woodward, he would pretty much play ANYONE.
One the good lineup news, we seem to be seeing less and less Thor. I also won’t read too much into Frenchy’s walk last night…that was more a statement on how bad the Nats pitching is.
Bobby made the right move in platooning Escobar. KJ hasn’t been doing as well as his overall stats lately and the team just scored 1 run during a 5 game stretch. It makes every sense in the world to try a platoon there to improve the offense. This also gets Escobar more at bats and showcases him to teams that might be interested in trading for him. Kelly needs to let his bat do the talking. He could be the Braves’ 2nd sacker for years to come, but if pops off to the press, he will be gone in a hurry.
KJ has been pretty solid at 2b this year, but he hasn’t nailed down 2b like Andruw owns CF. He just hasn’t been at it long enough to be complaining a whole lot. Bobby did the right thing by shaking things up a bit. That is his job and it had to be done. I’d suspect that if KJ would shutup and let his play do the talking, then he’d be out there in not time.
Here is a good article discussing interleague play.
http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/major-league-shame/
When did KJ complain? There was a headline in the AJC in which it said KJ wasn’t happy, but when you read the article he said no comment. What was he supposed to say? “I’m happy about it, I don’t mind the rest.”
DOB comments further:
“Johnson again declined to criticize the decision to play Escobar against three consecutive lefties in what looks like a budding platoon situation. Suffice to say, he didn’t seem pleased to be on the bench.”
Ok…I come on today and people are still dogging Escobar. He spent two seasons in the minor leagues unlike the 7 seasons KJ spent. Folks as every Braves scount will tell you…Escobar is a player and YES HE CAN HIT. Did you even see the two defensive plays he made last night? Someone said over the long run KJ will be the better option at 2nd b/c he walks more? I don’t know what Escobar has done to you people, but this is ridiculous. He is way better than Betemit, b/c he doesn’t have the looping swing, it’s short compact…therefore you don’t have the strikeouts that you got from Betemit.
KJ should have kept his mouth shut. That’s all Bobby asks. If you are not happy about it, then start hitting the damn ball. For me I love the energy and excitement Escobar brings to the leadoff spot. I like KJ, but I like Escobar better leading off.
Here in DC Bob Carpenter and Don Sutton were talking about lack of HR having to do with HGH and some players are saying it’s the wood this year…wood? Yea right…Their bodies are just adjusting to being chemical free…lol
#18…as for the article about interleague play. The problem with that is that “casual” fans aren’t readers THT and that is why MLB did…to make money. It brings fans to ballparks and raises ratings (like all the losers that showed up to Turner Field to cheer for Boston). I hate it, its totally unfair. Baseball went downhill when Florida & Colorado where included and even moreso when Tampa Bay & Arizona arrived on the scence. Too much expansion at one time, coupled with the wild-card, steriods, etc. baseball hit a low point…perhaps President Bush should’ve stuck with Owner of the Rangers, b/c he voted against all of this. haha
I mean, what good is playing a 162 game season and then having to play a 2nd place wild-card team in a 5 game series? But that’s a whole other argument all together.
Check out the daily blog on BR…it has list of pitchers with the most losses in a game which he pitched at least 7 innings and gave up less than 2 runs. Noah Lowry (3), Matt Cain (3), and Matt Morris (2) all on the list for SF. Maybe they’ll take Escobar for Morris to help the other guys? Pedro Feliz is simply awful and Vizquel/Durham are old…they definately need the INF help. Actually, they need all over the field, but Yunel would be a start.
How could the decline of HR have anything to do with the lack of HGH? There is still no test for it…not to mention that it doesn’t do anything anyway.
bamachum,
I agree with you. Interleague play makes a ton of cash and the players enjoy seeing different cities. My solution is, if interleague play is so great, increase interleague play. Even out the distributions.
Also, I think the MLB should do what the AAA does, when an AL team comes to a NL ballpark you use the DH. When a NL team goes to an NL ballpark, no DH. That way the fans get a little more excitment by seeing something they don’t normall get to see.
I think it is a win-win, Bud gets his interleague play and the Braves, et al. get a fair schedule.
Yeah, HGH. What a load of an argument there. Maybe it is just too hot or something, or maybe they just can’t hit right now.
If some people think it is the wood, Louisville better start looking out.
Kelly Johnson had about 5 seasons in the minors. He started as a SS then becaome an LF. Johnson, of course, is now a 2B and looking at the lack of continuity in his career leads me to believe that the Braves have always liked him, but never known quite what to do with him. In addition, KJ tends to be streaky hitter, which is not a good thing for a guy at the top of the order. My guess is that Bobby wants to keep Escobar in the lineup and has yet to figure out what to do with KJ….
You know who’s been surprisingly decent for us? Wilfredo Ledezma.
God, the Washington Nationals are just what the doctor ordered. Not even Jason Bergmann could stop us from sweeping them, though he sure did his damnedest. Winning is the best cure for everything–I’m sure John and Chipper will agree.
The best advice for KJ I can think of is from the movie Brain Candy:
“You know, the thing about being upset is that–besides it sometimes being a turn-on to women–it’s not a state you wanna be in when making important decisions, like going to the press, wouldn’t you agree?”
So just to be clear on this, so I am on board, is it KJ that we don’t like now? Has he replaced Andruw and Frenchy? Stupid Kelly being mad because he isn’t getting to play as much as he was.
For those who can’t distinguish, the previous paragraph was loaded with sarcasm.
That interleague article is right on. Baseball’s supposed to be about even distribution of games to show who the REAL best team is.
I don’t want a DH in a national league park, let the AL have that garbage.
I would be in favor of the NL adopting the DH fulltime. Why would you not want your nine best hitters in the lineup. I think it is just a matter of time before it happens.
I dont want to lose his bat, but with Escobar playing well defensively, Edgar may be our best option for a trade. It’ll free up salary for next year also, but I dont want to lose our only Allstar from this team. If we traded him and Chipper went down it could get ugly
The DH is evil, unnatural, and opposed to all that is good and holy and right.
Other than that, it’s fine.
KJ does appear to be a streaky hitter. I’d like to see Willie and Escobar platooning at leadoff. Move KJ down to the 6 or 7th spot. Until he’s traded.
As for KJ being better at second because he walks more and has more power? Escobar has a much better arm and better defense. And he would appear to be less streaky. Last night was his second 4 hit game in his very young major league career. And From what I have read he will be a 20-25 homeruns per year guy, eventually. I don’t see KJ doing better than that.
Trade KJ and one or two more prospects for a decent # 4 or 5 pitcher.
Lando, where did you read that he could hit 20-25 hrs. I havent seen anything from him showing me power, good hitter but no power
Lando,
Edgar’s highest HR total in a single season is 16, and Escobar doesn’t appear to have as much power as Edgar, so I don’t see where 20-25 homeruns is coming from.
@ 32 – Correct. 9 positions in the field, 9 spots in the order. Simple. Beautiful. The DH needs to be abolished and pitchers need to start re-learning how to hit! There are other positions not known for their offensive production, but they don’t get a mandatory sub at the plate.
IIRC, dob’s blog and one of our announcers. He’s only 24, I’m sure after he does some steroids he will bulk up a little. Not like he had access to all the best steroids down in Cuba.
Trading edgar would be like trading your car engine for new rims, and calling it an improvement.
DH delenda est
Not a fan of trading edgar either. He’s too consistantly good at the plate to give up. We have him on the cheap until 2008. Let’s enjoy that.
*through 2008
How much does a good arm really matter at second lando? He’s got to throw the ball all the way to first base?
Tony, what comments are you talking about? Keep his mouth shut? What did he say?
Escobar might be a 25 HR guy… for his career. Come on, the guy’s on a hot streak, it happens. But hot as he’s been, his OBP is still .345 and his SLG is still .415, and neither is really a plus. there is nothing in his record to suggest that he will ever hit for power or walk much. And as for development, assuming his listed age is correct, which we really can’t, Escobar is all of nine months younger than Kelly.
Didn’t Babe Ruth prove that pitchers can hit?
No NL DH.
Dan, his natural position is shortstop, I believe? So he could take over for Edgar in 09, cause I’m sure we won’t be able to afford a new contract with edgar.
Mac, you skipped over his defense. At short or 2nd he’s a much better defensive option than KJ.
Where did we get onto the NL having a DH? I mentioned that it might be enjoyable for the same fans that like interleague play. Personally, I loath the entire AL and despise the DH. The DH takes a lot of strategy out of baseball. We might as well get free pinch runners for fat players, or maybe players should be able to re-enter like softball.
Babe Ruth proved pitchers could hit around the same time that pitchers could also pitch more than once every 5/6 games. Pitchers are nancy boys now.
Dan, you have to have a good arm to make the turn at 2nd/SS. Most of those throws are made without having your feet set.
To all those who think KJ has been complaining to the media about playing time, he hasn’t. All he has said is that he has nothing to say about it. I say that’s a pretty fair response considering the way Andruw gets treated for far, far less production.
AJC said KJ specifically declined to comment on being benched. I don’t know where people are hearing/reading anything otherwise.
I don’t think Yunel playing has anything to do with KJ not being good or complaining. It has to do with putting who’s hot in the lineup, regardless of what Bobby does with the two Golden Boys in the outfield.
I am not sure where everyone gets that KJ has said anything about the platoon. The only thing that I had read is that he had no comment and nothing to say. That sounds to me like the best answer anyone can give. I would definitely expect a major league player to not like sitting on the bench.
And yes, KJ is going to be a better hitter than Escobar. I like Escobar a lot, but his swing doesn’t seem to generate the kind of loft for any power. KJ is someone I think that could eventually grow in to being an ideal #3 hitter.
According to reporters, it was the way KJ said “no comment.” Apparently, he was pissed. But he’s gotta know that this platoon situation is just to up Escobar’s trade value. Clearly, the Braves won’t trade Salty, but the team has needs and Escobar is the most attractive expendable guy around right now.
KJ is cold right now, Escobar is hot and tradable, simple as that.
And the DH needs to go away. I hate it times a million. Sure, watching people like Ortiz hit is entertaining, but as a pure DH he isn’t a baseball player in my head. How much actual time does Ortiz spend playing in a normal game? Let’s say a game lasts 3 hours, each at-bat lasts…3-4 minutes, and he gets on base 2 outta 5 times for 10-15 minutes of base runnings. What a nancy boy.
Plus, there has GOT to be some pitchers in the AL that can hit like Zambrano, Hampton, Dontrelle, Marquis, etc. I think that’s MUCH more entertaining than watching a big fat guy hit.
The scouts call ’em 5-tool-guys for a reason.
How can David Ortiz be an all-star first baseman? What a farce.
Did anyone see that new all you can eat seats promotion? For 25 dollars, you get an upper reserved ticket and all you can eat/drink hotdogs, peanuts, nachos, popcorn, coke and bottled wated. It’s about time they did this.
*water
Dan–that sounds like a deal!
Ah… it’s about time I got back out to the ol’ ballyard.
I may be a little late on this but did y’all see where some guy gave it a 60% chance the Braves will trade Chipper?
http://www.sabernomics.com/sabernomics/index.php/2007/06/braves-on-the-block/
While he’s also got 10/5 rights I hope it would never come to that. When a guy reworks his contract to give money back to the team so that he can stay long term he earns the right to retire with the team. I’d be furious if the JS suggested this.
You could trade anybody else on the team but in my opinion but he’s earned the right to retire a Brave. Smoltz comes close but I haven’t seen him giving money back. Especcially after he’s $14 mill extension he just signed.
the braves need to do something to get more butts in the seats. Ticket prices keep going up every year and I’m surprised that we have the attendance that we do. It cost about $200-250 for a family of four to go to a game and eat there, thats ridiculous
Guys Chipper never gave money back to the team, he still got it, but it was done in the form of bonuses and other things. Chipper never gave money back, however, he reduced his guaranteed salary (not bonuses) just like Smoltz did in order to help the team. Both in my opinion deserve to retire a brave. I just wish we could get the old chipper back, the one who could play 140-150 games
KJ is the same guy who got be out for the left field job two years ago by RYAN LANGERHANS…what makes so many people believe he will be such a great hitter? His swing is proned to streaks b/c it is longer. That’s why I would prefer Escobar in the leadoff role.
Now I see why they are reluctant to play Escobar at SS. He will make Edgar look too bad. Those two plays he made last night were terrific. Has great range and a great arm. Bob Carpenter was absolutely raving about Escobar.
New poll.
Langerhans was about 2 years older than him, and Kelly began his big league career with the opposite of a bang, a 0-30 slide. The Braves have always said he’d hit, and Bobby in particular has called him “the Braves’ best hitting prospect.” He’ll be streaky, but he’ll be fine.
@61 exactly. Renty has made some nice plays this year. I don’t know about making him look bad but I sure wouldn’t miss him at ss.
Kenny–if I am not mistaken in his major league debut KJ actually batted 3rd. This echoes AAR’s point: the Braves have obviously believed in him for a long time–including when they first scouted him….
I don’t want a “streaky” hitter in our leadoff spot. That doesn’t strike me as a good idea.
As long as Willie’s hitting like gangbusters, I see no problem with leading him off, KJ 2nd, Edgar 3rd, Chipper 4th, Brian 5th, Salty 6th, Frenchy 7th, and Andruw 8th.
How’s that for a lineup?
can we please quit recycling the same three posts about KJ and escobar…jeez.
neither player will take us to the promise land, they both have their strong points and weeknesses. most important, they are cheep and reliable in the field and often at the plate. if splitting time at 2B is what it takes to keep the team winning fine, if trading one of them will help us win fine, but this topic has been beaten to DEATH over the past 48 hours.
sorry guys, but sometimes you gotta call it like you see it.
Hey, I think Smoltz should be allowed to retire a Brave as well.
Tony,
Escobar is very valuable to the team, he’s going to be our new starter. If we can get a Matt Morris for him Escobar might be our MVP this year.
Keep hitting and the chances of him being traded for a good SP are getting better and better.
I’d prefer someone in the leadoff role who is patient and has speed. There is a great chance that Escobar is nothing special, look at last years minor league stats.
#64, you wouldn’t miss Edgar at SS, this guy has been incredible. His bat is amazing, great team player, and has a good glove. On top of that he is someone reasonable. I’m confused, Edgar has been the teams MVP for the first part of the year and people are talking about putting a kid there who has 80ish career at bats.
Yeah, forgot to add Esco’s speed to his list of talents. Also something else KJ doesn’t have.
@71 I meant I wouldn’t miss him defensively at ss. I would miss his bat, hence why I don’t want him traded.
There is still no test for it…not to mention that it doesn’t do anything anyway.
Great, it’s ‘steriods don’t help you play baseball anyway’ argument again. Yes, guys risk their health, reputations, and careers to take them but aren’t sure if they actually work. Stuff like this kills me, no basic understanding of the risk/reward model of human behavior.
Landogarner, misunderstanding.
Please tell me you were being sarcastic on 72.
Well put Robert. It’s usually the fans of players like Bonds, Giambi, etc. that regurgitate the “it doesn’t help them” argument.
Yeah, I’ve heard nothing about Escobar having speed.
Why would I be sarcastic about that? Esco has good speed, KJ has average speed. As far as I know that’s fact?
Did you miss Esco’s stolen base last night? Looked pretty quick to me.
Here is the best quote ever from a recent SI article.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/jon_heyman/06/28/scoop.dreamteam/2.html
“One NL executive says the Braves might be better off giving the first-base job to Jarrod Saltalamacchia over Pete Thorman.”
I know that Thorman is not having a great year, but let’s not say things we cannot take back. Talking to him like he is the horrendous Pete “why am I here” Orr.
This forum has been a broken record with about 3 songs on it for the last week or so. Jeez.
And I say neither should play 2B because in MLB:07, neither are in the game. I’m starting fucking Prado out there.
I know it’s just stats and all, but KJ for his minor league career stole 73 bases and was caught 38 times. Escobar for his (much shorter) minor league career (through 2006) stole seven bases and was caught 11 times.
That would’ve been Yunel’s eighth career swipe. He has yet to be caught. KJ has more steals, but gets caught about half the time. This is all irrelevant anyway. KJ’s offense, on the whole, is enough to offset whatever he lacks in defense, compared to Escobar.
Whoops, I missed it. Yeah, 11 CS…
Yes, because whining about what other people obviously want to talk about, is so constructive and fresh…
KJ is faster then Escobar. Escobar isn’t slow but he’s not fast, don’t expect many stolen bases.
Like delicious home-grown celery.
Mac, nice of you to completely ignore KJ’s 5 stolen bases and 4 caught stealings this year. But like you said, they are just stats.
josh,
KJ is in my game on the ps3. I know it came out later then the ps2 version if you have that one.
I think what Mac and I am saying is Escobar may be a fine player but he’s more valuable to us traded for a good SP then to keep as a platoon with a 2B who is more then capable.
Yeah I have the PS2 version. It’s probably the last PS2 game I’ll ever buy.
What’s KJ’s speed rating in it? I bet it’s like… a million.
Landogarner, he was refering to minor league stats not major league stats. Read
My last comment on Escobar vs. KJ.
For all you people going by Escobar stats for last year in Double AA ball in Miss…be for real. The man is in the major leagues right now b/c someone smarter than us…knows he’s a player. Jarrod has stated it. Chipper has stated. Bobby Cox knows it.
Escobar has good speed, excellent range and a terrific arm. And HE CAN HIT. Matt Morris? If we can’t get a good leftY I say we don’t trade none of our top prospects. The lefty dominateD Phillies and Mets line-up don’t exactly fear the 2007 Matt Morris. Please take into consideration the very weak hitting NL West before we crown Matt Morris the saviour. Hell 41 y/o Greg Maddux is 7-4 out west.
josh, he’s actually slow in the game. But it doesn’t even show a real picture of him so you can tell they didn’t put much time into it. Brian is the highest rated player on the team with Smoltz second. AJ hits a ton of bombs but has lousy contact rating.
MLB 2K7 has better stadium graphics but MLB 07 is so much more realistic, the players are identical on the ps3.
@93 LOL, that was my point! He failed to mention is horrible ratio in the major leagues. Read
Tony,
We have a young player who is capable of doing the job at 2nd. We have an all star SS and when healthy an allstar 3B. We NEED Starting pitching, it’s obvious if we don’t trade for SP we aren’t going to make playoffs. The braves can afford to trade EScboar if it brings at least a #3 starter. I don’t have anything agianst the guy, except for the fact he flings his bat after contact. I just think he’s more valuable on another team.
Considering that Escobar has only been the majors a few weeks and his SB number is a whopping two out of three, there’s really nothing to compare except on the minor league level. For instance, KJ was two out of three as a rookie. What does that mean? Nothing, really.
#98 well said. I don’t think there is anything we can do to change peoples minds. Everyone feels that Escobar is the next Edgar and thats okay. Your right, lets not trade any prospects a rotation of Smoltz(injured), Hudson(good start, bad start, etc.), James, Davies, and Carlyle is good enought to do damage in October.
We appear to have divided up into 2 or 3 camps, with no real conclusion to the debate until JS does something.
Of course they see something in Escobar–nobody is saying he sucks, we’re just pointing out his flaws. Our side just thinks he has more flaws than KJ, and is the most “flippable” for temporary help.
I also think it’s clear they’ve seen something big in KJ since at least 2005. As I think Mac mentioned, he did start of 1-30, but they kept running him out there.
Lastly, let’s also not forget that baseball fans tend to vastly overrate their own young players. And holy shit the Braves have a ton of good MIF players… and really bad ones too. Like Escobar.
Just kidding.
Oh and in other news… The Big Lebowski is one of the best comedies ever made. Just saying.
I think both, Escobar and Johnson are not the long term solution in the infield. Escobar is hot now, and is helping the team win right now. He may also help the team win via trade. Johnson may have potential but, I don’t think he’s shown enough to deserve to play over Escobar.
I don’t care who gets the job long term, I just want a productive 2nd baseman/lead-off hitter.
@ 101 – Yeah, well that’s just like, your opinion, man.
Considering that Escobar has only been the majors a few weeks and his SB number is a whopping two out of three, there’s really nothing to compare except on the minor league level. For instance, KJ was two out of three as a rookie. What does that mean? Nothing, really.
But Mac, you’re forgetting that Escobar looks like a good player. Even the other players—when have you ever heard someone talk down his teammates’ abilities?—and his Manager and GM—this has nothing to do with their desire to increase his trade value—say so!
I agree that this is pointless. There are some—*cough* Tony and Lando *cough*—who just don’t care about stats and track records.
Dans,
Lol…so who is the longterm solution at 2nd base? 2nd base is not 3rd base…wow
Josh and Mac
KJ is too streaky to be a leadoff hitter and definitely not good enough to be batting 3rd. Josh, where do u see more flaws in Escobar than KJ? Please tell me. And yes Mac Esco is will steal more bases than KJ.
Damn I said I was finished with this convo
Lets not right off KJ just yet. This is the first year that he has started full time and has more than held his own. He’s only 40% through a season in which he has been thrown into a new position and the leadoff spot. I think he’ll be just fine, but at this point any comparison between Escobar and KJ is a futile attempt. There just isn’t enough mlb experience to make a solid statement like we should get rid of KJ and make Escobar the new emperor.
*write* not right
OK, I’ll chime in. Here’s another quote from that SI story:
Another opined of the Braves’ rotation; “After [John] Smoltz and [Tim] Hudson, they’ve got nothing.”
Let’s see: Which player who has high trade value right now (but we won’t perhaps ultimately miss) can we package up for a MLB starting pitcher?
The Braves are fortunate to have both Escobar and KJ. It is simply too early (especially for the former) to know the ceilings of either player. Neither is bound to one position and both have reputations: in the minors there was some concern that Escobar had an “attitude”–whatevery that might mean. Johnson, of course, is streaky–but it has yet to be demonstrated he whined in the press. Given these realities, Bobby himself may not know what he wants to do. My guess is that he simply trying to go with the hot bat–which for now is Escobar.
With the need for starting pitching, it would not surprise me to see one traded and the Braves learn to live with the one they keep….
KJ might be a streaky hitter, but before these last two games, Escobar was 0 for his last 12 or 13, so how can we know that Yunel isn’t streaky?
“KJ is too streaky to be a leadoff hitter and definitely not good enough to be batting 3rd. Josh, where do u see more flaws in Escobar than KJ? Please tell me. And yes Mac Esco is will steal more bases than KJ.”
Going to BBRef and just eyeballing KJ’s game log doesn’t lead me to believe he’s any more streaky than anyone else. In early May he had a 2 week period of getting 1 or less hit in every game (but mostly one), and he’s almost done that in June. He’s just sucking total ass in the past month offensively. I believe he’ll come out of it though.
My biggest complain about Escobar is he doesn’t have enough patience at the plate. Sure you can get by without walking a ton, but you better hit .300 with some pop. I’m just not that sure Escobar has that in him.
It’s almost like Tony and Lando are taking this personally.
Don’t get me wrong–I love Escobar. I like his swing, and his glove/arm, but I really just don’t think he’s any better than Betemit. Players like Kelly (athletic enough to change positions, left handed, 20 HR power, 10% of his AB’s are walks) aren’t that common.
I say Kelly’s upside is Utley, while Escobar’s is Renteria-esque. No doubt both are very valuable and useful, but I know which one I’d keep IF I had/needed to trade one.
My posts are too opinionated. They make me look all touchy-feely.
I say trade them both and bring up John, Jr. You know that’s what JS wants to do anyway.
I second the JS Jr. motion.
Put me in the trade Escobar faction. I see him as a quality utility player. He’d certainly be better to have than Orr and Woodward. His stock will probably never be higher than it is right now when his true quality is still something of a mystery, so it’s the perfect time to trade him for pitching help.
Johnson meanwhile has considerable power and walks a lot. He has played 2nd surprisingly smoothly. He’ll almost surely be a better 2nd baseman if he stays at the position than Giles and could possibly be one of the top in the league.
Trace…he wasn’t playing everyday either or leading off. Enough about that though…
This lineup is awesome!!
1. Claudell Washington
2. Rafael Ramirez
3. Dale Murphy
4. Bob Horner
5. Ken Oberkfell
6. Terry Harper
7. Bruce Benedict
8. Glenn Hubbard
9. Rick Mahler
That was the lineup of the 1st major league baseball game I saw on TV ….
When Escobar hits a double he claps and gets excited. He adds a spark to the top of the line up on the most borring team in baseball and we have won three in a row with him at second. I don’t care who we played, he has been hitting and we should ride him until he quits. However, if we can move him for a starter, we have to do it.
@116
those were the days when all the braves had to boast about was leading the league in double plays…ah the good ol’ bad days.
Smitty,
I agree I love Escobar enthusiasm.
Josh,
KJ started off his career in an 0-30 slump. Yes he is streaky. The Chase Utley comparison is a stretch. Chase can steal you 20 bases, hit 30 HR, drive in a 100 runs…Chase is more like a classic # 3 hitter in the mode of Chipper. KJ is a long ways from there.
Hey, Josh and Mac…here is nice little article:
http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070628&content_id=2054042&vkey=news_atl&fext=.jsp&c_id=atl
Beedee,
Tell me about it…Terry Harper, Bruce Benedict…wow
That spark from Escobar will fade when the advanced scouting gets built up enough for the pitchers to know how to pitch to him. That is what is hurting Kelly right now I believe is the league has adjusted to him, now it’s up to him to make counteradjustments.
His career start was in 2005, in LF, and it was his first MLB experience ever. One 0-30 slump to start your career doesn’t necessarily make you streaky.
And the comparison to Utley isn’t as much of a stretch as you think. Assuming KJ’s performance so far is the estimate, extrapolating out to a full season (let’s say 145 games played) would give you something like:
.271/.373/.451, 18 HR, 10 SB, 8 CS (ok that sucks), 90 BB, 100 SO, 24 years old.
Utley had MUCH worse seasons his first 2 years, and when he broke out in 2005 he was 26 and all KJ would have to add would be 10 HR’s or so and those numbers would be comparable.
And give me a break on that article. Anything like that could just as easily be a fluff piece to help a player’s trade value.
If any team GM will give the Braves a good third starter for Escobar, do it. That’s where Escobar’s real value lies. Escobar’s trade value will likely never be higher. The Braves have Kelly Johnson and Willie Harris, Escobar will not be missed.
Plus if Escobar is traded, that damn second base platoon goes with him.
I think we can all agree KJ is streaky
Yeah Tony, I remember those days. Mahler should have been batting 5th…
74. Taking HGH isn’t the same thing as taking steroids. Just because a person thinks he’s risking health for a huge reward doesn’t mean he is.
Every hitter in baseball is streaky. Is there any evidence at all that shows any hitter is streakier than statistically expected?
The one thing about Escobar; I agree with Mac on his AA stats last year. They’re not that impressive. Look at his AFL stats though: .407 AVG .463 OBP .558 SLG. That is a 1.021 OPS, me boyos. And ever since then, he has been on a roll. Maybe it just clicked.
In any case, I was skeptical at first and a big Ofer might take me back there, but I’m at least open to the fact now that he may be for real.
If we trade Escobar for pitching, I still think Johnson isn’t the answer.
What kind of future 2nd basemen do we have? Wasn’t there a kid ,I think his name was Holt, that was highly touted 3 or 4 years ago?
Johnson wasn’t just streaky when he got called up in 2005. He was so bad in August that he lost the starting job to Langerhans of all people.
I still have KJ faith, but I guess if he bombs out AND we have traded Escobar, then maybe Lillibridge or Elvis could step in.
dans holt was drafted out of LSU, and was moved to CF, and hasn’t been heard from much lately.
Don’t trust Arizona Fall League stats for batters.
A) It’s in Arizona, which is a hitter’s environment (dry & warm). I believe the park factors favor hitting to a strong degree as well.
B) But mostly, since the AFL is held at the end of the baseball season, the pitchers who attend are not top-notch.
Would you want to send your star pitching prospect to pitch in an after season league? Heck no!
Anything on the hitting side from the AFL must be taken with a significant shaker of salt.
Does anybody here work ?
J.C. Holt is the current 2B in Richmond. He moved up from Mississippi the other week, after doing well. However, he’s already 24 and likely won’t ever be anything more than a Martin Prado type player.
I think the answer is fairly simple package Escobar with a minor leaguer for a #3 starter. Johnson still makes the league min. Esocbar’s value is at an all-time high. Even if Johnson isn’t the answer at 2B/leadoff…Yunel’s minor league numbers do not indicate being a servicable leadoff guy. Also, I don’t know where some people are getting that Yunel could hit 20-25 HR’s. I see now indication of that ever happening. However, KJ could easily develop into a 18-22 HR a year type guy. KJ is well above leauge-average at 2B, esp. considering he just moved to the position after sitting out an entire year.
Hopefully we can lock up the right-side of the field McCann, Salty, Johnson, and Francoeur for years to come.
Finally, Elvis Andrus is around 3 years away from MLB from what I hear.
Mac, Is the “Polls Archive” link a dead link?
Yes. There’s supposed to be an archive but it doesn’t show up.
Anyone talk about Boyer’s start on Tuesday, by far his best. He still is having trouble with his control apparently, but here is his line.
@ lou
5IP 3H 0ER 3BB 3K
his other two starts weren’t very good
Dan already posted (#55) about the Braves’ new $25 all-you-can-eat hot dog and Coke seat, where for $25 you get an upper deck seat with all the hot dogs, nachos, peanuts, popcorn, Coke and water you can consume.
However, he didn’t mention the supersize version: the Lexus package, where for $60 you get a Lexus level seat, along with as much as you want of the following:
BBQ Pulled Pork sandwiches
BBQ chicken wings
hot dogs
cole slaw
potato salad
corn bread
peanuts
popcorn
Coke (and other soft drinks or bottled water)
Budweiser and Bud Light
Can you believe that? Unlimited beer at a baseball game? Good sweet Lord of mercy.
That is by far the best deal ever. It is like baseball happyhour.
At regular stadium pricing I could drink the $60 in beer during a nine inning game, so that package would be well worth it, if only I lived anywhere near Georgia.
Justin…
Unfortunately my job requires that I look at numbers all day on a computer screen…which happens to have internet access. Tough job right?
Ron
I mentioned KJ losing the job to Langerhans but everyone seems to have forgotten about it. I think it maybe a mental thing with KJ. With his type of swing he should not be this streaky. And right now I don’t Bobby has patience with he or Thor.
People Yunel spent 2 years in the minor leagues, please quit bringing up those stats. They mean nothing…He has already had two 4 hit games in his major league career…compared with 1 for the Great Kelly Johnson. Let’s just wait and see how things go….
2 years of minor league stats mean more than 2 weeks of major league stats, that’s for sure.
That Lexus Level deal is dangerous. It’s not quite Cleveland’s infamous 10-cent beer night, but it’s leaning in that direction.
Truth be told, however, that I’m such a beer snob I wouldn’t do the Lexus package due to their lousy choices of suds (Bud & Bud Lite). Get me some imports, though, and I’d play ball.
Damn right. Most domestic beers suck ass.
Yeah, whatever. After four or five you won’t even notice any more. Plus there are enough food choices to give yourself a heart attack in the stadium. Sign me up.
After four or five you won’t even notice any more.
(a) With those types of beer, it’d take a whole lot more than 4 or 5.
(b) That’s an awful lot of nasty beer you’d have to drink before it wouldn’t matter. Not worth the try.
I’m with ububba and—there’s a first time for everything—landogarner.
Common ground?
It appears so. You love athleticism and good beer; I like production and good beer—we’re really not so different.
Now hug…
beer…it brings the world together
The Cardinals had something like that but it cost $100 bucks. We got robbed. Did it as part of a bachelor pary back in April.
It was also bud/bud lite but the best part of it is they start serving an hour before first pitch and let you keep going till the end of the 8th.
Of course none of this can touch the “thirsty thursdays” here in Mississippi. 16oz draft for a buck till the 7th.
Josh, I’d need a lot of shitty beer in me before I hugged a dude I didn’t know.
You put that very well though. I do enjoy watching the more athletic players, even if they aren’t as productive as others.
To those who think KJ’s 1-30 start was indicative of anything, remember that Willie Mays was 0 for his first 12 (OK, not the same as 1-30, but still) before he took Warren Spahn deep. I think it is safe to say that he developed into a reasonably useful baseball player.
How much beer would you need before you started hugging on guys you did know? 🙂
Anyway, we need something interesting to happen. Off days are so boring.
Good friends? None. I’m comfortable with my manhood.
The draft is on soon. That should be plenty of entertainment.
Not that these measurements are scientific, but…
I usually need about 3-4 beers to hug guys I know well, about 5-6 beers to hug guys I don’t know well, and probably about 7-8 beers to hug guys I don’t know at all.
After 9 beers, you probably don’t want to be within hugging distance of me, if you know what I mean.
If I am going to be sitting out in the heat, and sweating the beer out pretty fast, I don’t mind bud heavy. But I will always prefer foreign beers. I went to Romania and Hungary once for a whole month, and they have nice beers
Sorry it’s been a long day at work and I’m beginning to lose it.
@157 /laugh
Nice AAR, haha.
If they served PBR at ballparks I’d go a lot more often.
I live in an area where Bud is considered good beer. It’s sad.
Well it’s irrelevent for me. I don’t drink any alcohol. It’s poison.
Sweet, sweet poison aka “pain-go-bye-bye juice.”
I find the PBR phenomenon amusing. I mean, the company did a good job at marketing the idea of “slumming” and so on, but…
PBR was the beer I had to drink when I was a broke college student. At the Chickasaw Club in Columbus back then, it was $5 at the door, you got a big plastic cup & it was PBR draft all night. Oh, those hangovers were painful. So…
Now that I’m gainfully employed, I try not to drink that stuff anymore. And yes, the European beers rule.
I drank it as a poor college student and as a poor intern/grad student. It’s pretty much the nectar of the gods I’ve decided.
But I’m an IPA fan myself in non-poor land.
And holy shit I want to go to the Chickasaw Club.
i like imports as much as the other guy ububba. you can say all you want about bud light because it tastes like piss, but budweiser is a good beer. bring on the abita for me. if you have never had abita beer from louisiana then go right now, pick up the amber, the turbo dog, and for a treat hit the purple haze. every spring in new orleans, we get abita’s seasonal beer called strawberry harvest. let me tell you, it tastes like springtime in the mouth.
2nd to none. lienekugels’ (sp?) sunset wheat is also a great summer brew.
According to pasty Ric Bucher, the Nuggets have offered Marcus Camby for the #11. I have no idea what the Hawks would do with Camby and Horford and Patchoulioil, but it would certainly be interesting. Of course, I guess that if they were going to trade for Camby they could draft Conley.
Abita is so overrated. Yazoo (Nashville), Sweetwater (Atlanta) and especially Terrapin (Athens), are better southern breweries.
The strawberry beer is an interesting gimmick—yeah, it does taste like strawberries—but it’s not what I want when I’m drinking a beer.
And Budweiser is only a good beer when compared with American light beers.
About the Hawks: I’d prefer Calderon over Camby, though I’d prefer Camby over Ellis.
Josh,
We’re talking Chickasaw Club circa 1984. There was a DJ playing dance music, followed by a country band playing covers & they’d alternate sets every 45 minutes. How weird is that?
You’d get the mixture rednecks from Phenix City brawling with Ranger boxheads from Ft. Benning, sometimes under your own bar stool. That place was, as we used to say, wide open.
Saw plenty of Eddie Haas/Chuck Tanner Era ball in that place. Mostly West Coast games as the Dodgers or Giants stomped them silly.
Like that era’s Braves, I don’t particularly miss it.
Well, the Hawks did what I wanted them to do and picked Horford. So why did I get that sinking feeling as soon as Conley went #4?
I’m going to Hell for saying this, but watching the footage of Yi is really confusing because all the Chinese basketball players look alike. In wide shots only, of course.
I love any beer german or dutch import, preferably dark.
Right now I’m drinking a nice little brew made right here in Louisiana called Abita Amber.
They make all kinds of great brews, from pale ale, to a dark lager with a chocolate after taste called Turbodog.
But when the money on the line, and you gotta spend small, PBR is the best.
Cheers.
SOrry I was late obn the beer comment.
The joy of drinking beer caused the delay.
Joakim Noah has never looked more like Sideshow Bob.
Terrapin beer is made of pure win.
The Clippers have to take Nick Young here. I will except no other choice.
Damn it. I hope Al Thornton doesn’t forget to bring his AARP card.
d00d! Leinenkugel Sunset Wheat tastes like Fruity Pebbles.
Top 3 favorite beers:
Chimay Red
Corsendonk Brown
Skullsplitter
Maudite = best.high.alchohol.beer.ever.
I like Tomahawk at the stadium although the bar in Lexus level keeps switching between Tomahawk and Sam Adams on tap which is also tasty.
My favorite beer these days is a butterscotch ale I make for myself and friends 😉 but my plain pilsner recipe is a close second.
Any beer from Red Brick brewery in Atlanta is awesome and Kelly’s Light is the only light beer I have found yet which actually has enough flavor to qualify as a real beer.
Sam Adams is another favorite of mine, thier ales are great.
I like Diet Coke. Diet Pepsi is good too, and you can’t go wrong with Coke Zero. Oh, wait, we’re talking about beer. Sorry.
It’s about time for me to make up a batch of homemade blackberry liqueur, since the blackberries are in. It’ll be ready just in time for the holidays. So tasty you *really* have to be careful with it.
Here’s the how-to if anyone is interested. It’s very easy to do, if you have the fruit. “The waiting is the hardest part…”
http://www.liqueurweb.com/fruitliqueurs.htm
@Hap: Atlanta Brewing Company (the home of Red Brick) is teh hawtness, mostly. Their regular ale is awesome. Their summer ale is orange juice.
If you’re slumming, Miller High Life is the only way to fly.
Nice, Urlhix. That could get a number of people in trouble.
stu, how can a brewing company be overrated and win taste tests annually. i am not for sure, but i think abita has brewed 7 award winning microbrews. say what you want about the taste on YOUR pallet, but the medals dont lie. and budweiser is a good beer compared to any beer. dont get all anti-american on us. budweiser is carried all over the world, and also enjoyed all over the world. the rest of the beer by anheiser busch can kiss my american ass, but this bud’s for me. now we argue beer. i like it.
Ryan,
The fun thing about a beer discussion is that you can’t be right or wrong. What tastes good to you may be shite to someone else. Taste tests are useful to an extent, but there’s no truly objective way to evaluate the comparative merits of beers.
Though if there was, I’d call it “sabeermetrics.”
I lol’d.
McDonald’s is enjoyed all over the world, too, ryan, but that doesn’t make it good. And I listed 3 American breweries that I like. And Terrapin’s won even more than that.
Seriously, Abita just isn’t that good. What medals? South Louisiana Beer of the Month?
I mean, I got married in Abita Springs (on a quail farm) to a girl from southern Louisiana, and I’ve tried to like that mediocre beer, but it just doesn’t compare to the stuff I mentioned. Or several others I didn’t mention.
And the 76ers just got the steal of the draft.
All I can say is the first time I had a Guinness in Dublin I nearly wept.
I’m weeping right now because I’ve never had a Guinness in Dublin.
I’ve been to Dublin, and I said no to Guiness. They do so much advertising for Guiness I felt like I had drank it, though.
Plus, Dublin wasn’t that “Irelandy” to me. It seemed like just a normal international city. Galway, on the other hand, was just how I imagined and seen Ireland to be.
Guiness is absolutely HUGE in Ireland, moreso than any one beer here in America. Imagine MLB and the NFL (or the NFL and NBA, whatever) having one beer that they were going to promote, and the American people embraced it with open arms. Everywhere you went there was an advertisement for Guiness. When we drove through the rural villages, there was a sheep with a Guiness logo imprinted on it. OK, I was just kidding about that.
Isn’t that Bud here in America?
Only Guinness is good. “Milk from the breast of God,” according to my favorite pastor and pre-marital counselor.
No, urlhix, not even close. On TV, all you saw was Guiness advertisements. There was almost no competition in the beer realm there. You have so many different beers here, but in Ireland, all you saw was Guiness shirts, posters, signs, commercials, etc.
Very eloquent, Stu…
You still aren’t convincing me, isn’t that how Bud is in America? Just plain everywhere. I know we have other beers, as do the Irish. For example, what do you think a bus full of Chinese tourists are going to see advertised and sold on a trip of the US. Bud, everywhere.
And as for pious beer quotes, Ben Franklin is the man.
This thread is making me wish I had beer in my apartment right now. All I have is rum, which doesn’t go as well with bar review as beer would.
Chuck G,
If you have lime and bitters as well, you are golden. If not, a simple sugar syrup + ice, water, and rum is a mighty tasty concoction. Add any fruit and it gets amazing.
congrats to Frank Thomas #500 and Biggio with 3000 hits tonight.
Thanks, Urlhix. I might be adding a sugary syrup called “Coke” to it in a few minutes. (I have very little in the way of ingredients, too.)
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=caple/070627
With a week left before Independence Day, it’s time for every fan to come to the aid of his/her country by actively supporting America’s Team — the New York Yankees can no longer be expected to carry the nation’s hopes and dreams on their shoulders all by themselves.
UMMMM, how about we dont. I hope they and their $250 million dollar payroll lose every game the rest of the season!!!
I just got a Blackberry today…and I’m already quite addicted.
I’m sorry…”BlackBerry.”
that could be one of the worst articles I have ever read, no surprise it came from ESPN
Hey, that’ll always do the trick, Chuck G.
Stu, didn’t pony up for the iPhone? I would if I could get reception out here in the boonies.
It’s on the employer’s dime, url. Can’t be too picky.
One time I was in England & bought a 4 liter bottle of Grolsch, put on some Robert plant, and just chilled out. I drank the whole bottle & that was the best damn beer I had ever tasted.
*Plant
WSH = Win Streak Helpers
Fair enough, Stu. The CrackBerry seems like a great tool for business. Nice of your boss to get you one. I’m just swept up in the Passion Of The iPhone at the moment.
Want.
First time I went to England & hit the pubs, I was shocked at how warm their draft beers were—they tasted like dishwater.
Rob,
You’re right about the superduper Guinness profile in Ireland. Of course, I thought I’d gone to heaven.
Glad to see Big Frank & Biggio hit their marks today. Thomas is from my hometown, so I’ve always followed his career, but I’m hoping Biggio will finally get his due beyond the stathead world. When it comes to great players, he never seems to be a guy people ever talk about.
Carling is a favorite too, but I haven’t been able to find it here in the States. Maybe I’m not looking in the right places. I live in TN though, so what do you expect.
I lived in England for three years, but I never partaked in any beer because I was too young. XD
Oh, and I’m back from vacation and avoiding the losing streak. 🙂
We need a poll about beer!
Does anyone know the guidelines for calling vs. suspending a game in MLB? Is it completely at the discretion of the umpire?
Would love to have some Guinness…used to live in Britain and came to enjoy those warm British beers to which ububba refers….also Theakston’s Old Peculiar…
Since we are talking beers, make sure to have a least one Belgian option…
The rule changed this year, billy. It used to be that a tie game after the fifth inning was official, and if it was to be replayed it would start over completely. Now they just resume it from the point it was called. Tonight’s Yankees game is suspended because the visiting team took the lead in the final inning, before the home team had a chance to bat, so it will be resumed at whatever point it was stopped. If the game never reaches at least the bottom of the fifth, it starts over.
Cheers!! bring on the poll about beer
It’s the dreaded “morning after” and holy shit I still love PBR. I blame the Red Stripe for the headache.
Thanks, david15. I was wondering why Tommy’s game was called in the 6th inning, but they only suspended the Yankees/Orioles game.
Guiness in Ireland truly is wonderful. Chewy, even. There are a lot of good beers in Ireland though. Murphy’s is pretty good, as I recall.
Ireland to me were all the little villages along the Irish Sea. They’d have about 100 people in them and they’d have 200 pubs. And they’d all be full and thriving.
Beer in Europe is served warm so you can taste it. Beer in the US is served ice cold so it numbs your taste buds so you don’t notice the rancid flavor of the thing.
I just read the “Yankees Underdog” article and almost vomited in my mouth. It actually made me angry.
They are only “America’s Team,” in that they merely highlight everything that is wrong with America. And you can’t ever call a team with a $250mil payroll and underdog, that is ridiculous.
csg and JDMaker1,
With all due respect, get a sense of humour. That article was written in a sarcastic tone.
Ok maybe I spoke too soon. Now that I have read the whole thing, it is riddled with sarcasm. But i think the author is still a moron.
haha, we wrote that at the same time. I agree.
I was pretty POed after reading the first paragraph that i couldn’t get through the rest. I had to count to 10 first.
For me the best beer is Shinner Bock
On another note (I’m not a beer expert), everyone complains about Davies, but shouldn’t he get some props for holding the Tigers to two runs the other night? Naturally, of course, he is hurt and will miss a start. It’s not like beating the Nats, holding the Tigers down really means something. I really think that, as frustrating as he is, if we give him a chance, he can be a very solid pitcher. He certainly has more upside than “5-inning James”. At least with Davies, you always have the chance for a dominant outing.
As for the stuff about KJ in a previous threat, I would be very upset with a player that was happy about not playing. But it’s not as if he is Ricky Henderson. I don’t see any problem with Bobby trying to find a combination that works.
Abita Purple Haze is the worst beer ever. The only good Abita is the Amber.
Have to second Smitty. Shiner Bock is also my favorite.
Re: ESPN/Caple article – Jim Caple is a Yankees hater from way back, so the article was definitely taking glee in their ‘misfortunes’ (‘fortunes’, to the rest of us)
I laughed all the way through that Caple article. I thought it was very entertaining and loved how it got the point across that the payroll is ridiculous, etc., while taking a different approach than actually saying it.
I throughly enjoyed it, and if I were a Yankees fan I would probably be mad as anything with it.
I am surprised that an ESPN columnist, not named Bill Simmons, was allowed to bash the Yankees like that.
Everyone should be allowed to bash the Yankees.
Yankee bashing woohoo!!!
Also, I must note that I have a hangover just from reading this thread this morning.
still recovering from a night out with my buddy jack daniels and some local brewed IPA. in enjoyed the yankees article…enjoyed the interview alyssa milano even more,
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=alipour/070628
now i’m gonna look for some water
Generally, I believe Yankee voice John Sterling is the worst radio announcer in the history of the world. Truth is merely a convenience to him.
However, one oft-spouted phase he tosses out does ring true. After he gives his usual litany of recent misfortunes the Yankees have endured—the bizarre injuries, the umps’ bad calls, the unreasonable travel, the tough schedule—he always ends with a sigh and says, “Well, look: Nobody feels sorry for the Yankees.”
That’s one way to put it.
Best beer to the maxx: New River Pale Ale. Nice local brew from southwest Virginia… not exactly a brewing hotbed…
nomination for Belgian representative: Delirium Tremens or Delirium Nocturnum. Tremens is their flagship brew but I actually like Nocturnum even better. Can’t go wrong with Delirium, though.
@ 220
Down here in LC, we used to have a bar called Breezy’s Downtown, and I used to go there to see bands that my friends were in.
If they put you on the “list” you were considered “in the band” and you got $1 PBR and every other brew was a dollar off. So you could get a Newcastle or a Hieneken for like a buck-fifty. The band itself got as many free pitchers of domestic stuff they could drink. Of course, if they were cool, they’d give us “in the pit” a pitcher or two.
But when Hurricane Rita hit, Breezy’s got trashed, they never opened back up, too much structural damage. In fact, a month or so back I passed by there and it’s still boarded up.
The downtown area is just now sort of getting back to normal. But man! I had some great times there, their dollar PBR will be forever etched in my memory.
Of course by “the pit” I mean the 4 or 5 of us drunks who were running around hitting each other.
It was a nice way to spend a friday night.
Can’t go wrong with cheap beer and rock n’ roll.
Anon, I’m with ya–I like Nocturnum better too. No doubt, Tremens is a nice beer in its own right. But they’re about 9% alc by volume, so, man, they can get you happy in a hurry.
Nocturnum it is. Wish it were easier to find…I haven’t had that glorious stuff in far too long.
Didint Sterling used to announce for the Braves in the early 80’s?
For all you Joe Morgan haters, this is fantastic. Enjoy. Haha.
http://www.firejoemorgan.com/2007/06/joe-absolutely-nails-it.html
Ububba,
What, you don’t like it when Sterling says “Yankees win. . . the Yaaankees win” like an enraged banshee? Sterling is such a professional.
John Sterling was indeed a Braves announcer in the early 80s.
Mike @ 245.
That blog is hilarious. Joe wouldn’t make a very good politician.
Marc,
Yes, that Sterling bit is an embarrassment to broadcasting. But what irks me more is that he’s so wrapped up in himself and his “signature calls” that he doesn’t do a very good job of telling you what’s actually happening on the field.
Was it a homerun? Did the guy catch the ball? Was it a swinging or called strike 3?
Plus, he doesn’t tell the truth about what happens on the field sometimes. A “great catch” by a Yankee will often be a tiny-bit-more-than-routine snag. A baserunning blunder will end up with him saying, “That’s baseball.”
And so bombastic…