You’re not getting anything but Wham! and George Michael videos until the Braves stop being depressing.
UPDATE: Holy crap, the Braves have designated Wickman for assignment. He wasn’t pitching that badly, but since he’s probably going to retire after the season they must have felt there was no point in hanging on to him. A week ago Bobby was “still confident” in Bob.
I guess Soriano (who has been pitching better) is now the closer.
http://www.addictinggames.com/pinchhitter2.html
I beat the game – try out your skills. It gets progressively harder and finishes up quite impossible.
How will the Braves lose this one tonight? They always come up with something creative. Someone should come up with a “Braves loss type” sort of thing. Wait, that sounds familiar…
Wham! Nooooo!
As always, the innocent get punished while the guilty…um, bunt.
If lame videos mean wins, break out the Ann Murray & Air Supply.
The Braves need to take ol’ Bob’s advice.
http://www.addictinggames.com/pinchhitter2.html
I beat the game – try out your skills. It gets progressively harder and finishes up quite impossible.
Wow do I suck at this. I’ve got the Otis Nixon beat the ball into the ground swing mastered.
Air Supply and Ann Murry? Sorry, buddy, I think we’re past those gentle shores.
It’s time for Mrs. Miller: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-XpI8ua1Jw
@ 6 i tried, i only hit 3 homeruns, all to the opposite field, i only pulled one ball.
AAR – completely mind boggling, i never thought things could get that bad.
Just like my real life little league experience, warning track power.
I managed to hit one HR. Can’t tell you how I did it and couldn’t repeat it. Couldn’t figure out how to pull the ball either.
Wickman designated for assignment.
http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/braves/stories/2007/08/24/wickman_0825.html
Holy shit.
Wow, they’re just going to throw Wickman away like that? He still has some value on this team. I guess the Braves either think he’s through or they are conceding 2007.
The guy’s ERA was in the 3s….wonder what happened? Maybe they all had it out in the clubhouse after the game.
#13 – took the words out of my mouth. That’s crazy. I feel like Phillip must be right and something happened in the clubhouse after the game. Bobby has stuck with this guy at closer for the whole season.
Also, correct me if I’m wrong, but wouldn’t it had made more sense to put him on waivers first? That way, it doesn’t look like they are just trying to get rid of him, and there’s a better chance that they could get something decent back in a trade.
So now what? Royce Ring?!
Something had to happen. Wickman was still as good of a 7th inning option as Yates. And yes, no chance for a trade.
I don’t understand it.
My guess is that they told him he wouldn’t be closing and he said “forget it” (in a less than nice way).
Jeeeeez…
What the hell happened to the best bullpen in the NL?
Wick’s gone, Gonzo’s way out, and Soriano’s overworked like hell…
What are we gonna do?
See my comments above. It’s a surprising move; it’s not like he was any worse than any number of other guys, but they must have felt they had to clear a roster spot now.
New poll.
I read from an unverified source that Devine got the call.
If they needed to clear a roster spot, why not clear one of the guys Bobby never uses? Like the Ascanio/Devine/other random unseen minor league bullpen 6th/7th man?
Wickman wasn’t willing to do anything but close which is why he was designated.
The move is surprising, sure, but I’m perfectly fine with it. You had to hold your breath and cross your fingers every time he entered a close game. Richmond is full of relievers, not the least of which is Devine, who better be on his way back up (and maybe see some action!??). Plus, I doubt we would have re-signed him for next year. Good to see a bold move.
“He wasn’t pitching that badly, but since he’s probably going to retire after the season they must have felt there was no point in hanging on to him.”
Is this the Braves’ way of giving up? If they still had a chance, wouldn’t they keep Wickman around?
Dumb move.
Maybe this was a way to fire guys up…?
I hope and pray?
I’m reserving judgement for the moment, but yeah, it’s surprising.
Last 10 outings, 8.2 IP, 11 H, 6 BB, 6 K, 3 ER
Too quick on the send…
Waiting to see what else JS has in store.
This does make sense if you are thinking of next year, but I don’t know if this is going to give the Braves the best chance to win games this year- fine to demote him from the closer role, but he would have been another fungible middle-relief guy, maybe better than some currently on the roster. Hard to believe Wickman let his pride get in the way of that. I usually cringe when people criticize the professionalism of MLB players (there are notable exceptions of course) but in this case it may be warranted- it is easy to believe that Wickman had a chance to do what was best for the team, refused, and got told to pound sand.
I disagree, I think it’s a very good and very bold move. Wickman didn’t cut it so now he got cut. Give the younger guys a chance. Remember Stanton, Merker and Wohlers in the early 90’s?
Can’t be all that bad.
http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070824&content_id=2167614&vkey=news_atl&fext=.jsp&c_id=atl
Sorry, I don’t know how to do the links coding stuff. Andruw says Wick complained about pitching in non-save situations.
Adam, I mentioned that earlier, it’s not about his performance. He has been like that all year. It started in Florida when he came into the situation with bases loaded and blew the save.
Wow, I couldn’t believe the Wickmania news when I saw it. Is this the only way they could get Bobby to use him less? heh heh.
Doesn’t really matter if they can’t do better than .500 ball. I hope they start pulling it together soon.
Quote from Andruw:
“We need guys who want to pitch,” Jones said. “If you don’t want to pitch you shouldn’t be here.”
If Wickman could face Andruw every AB, I bet he would be sprinting to the mound! Ha, I will be here all week…
This is a good move. Addition by subtraction. Now I just wish he could give Smoltz and Hudson back the 5-6 wins he cost them as he heads out.
While Cox was diplomatic, Andruw Jones provided an indication that Wickman sometimes complained about pitching in non-save situations, like the one he entered in Thursday night’s extra-inning loss to the Reds.
Whoever said clubhouse problems, give yourself a pat on the back.
will someone in a playoff race with a surplus of starting pitching give us a starter for wickman? i sure as hell hope so.
A great move for the club. Wick is a nightmare any time he comes in the game. This gives Pete Moylan or Soriano a chance to come in when it counts, and i think we’ll see a better side of Soriano. I just have a feeling. Good riddance, Bob. You haven’t earned your bloated salary this year. You don’t deserve the role.
This is pretty freaking surprising.
What will become of the “Wickmania!” banner?
I’m sure there will be some teams interested. The Tigers come to mind.
This is very surprising, especially the reason: I thought Wick said in spring training he didn’t care if he was the closer or a set-up guy. Very strange.
Obviously there must have been major clubhouse problems we’ll never hear about.
Funny…from the preview for tonight’s game on Yahoo: “‘We have to forget what happened here, go to St. Louis and try to get started on a good note,’ said closer Bob Wickman, who gave up Adam Dunn’s walk-off homer.”
Yeah, I thought Bob was supposed to be good in the clubhouse. I trust that there was a valid reason for the move. And I look forward to Devine actually being used.
Devine still won’t be used. The only thing Cox hates more than using Devine is putting Kelly Johnson’s name on the lineup card when a left-hander is pitchig for the opposing team.
I’m hoping clubhouse tables and water coolers were thrown last night. It sounds like there were smore than a few confrontations.
I’m not convinced of that, Dan. I’m pretty sure they were babying Devine earlier, and with this, shocking, move they may be moving him immediately into a key role.
A la Bobby Jenks.
Home: 22.2 IP, 0.40 ERA, 1.06 WHIP
Road: 21.0 IP, 7.71 ERA, 2.10 WHIP
How do you explain this?
Bizarre.
Every game from now on for the Braves is essentially a playoff game.
Do we know who’s getting called up yet?
Devine?
Some team will definitely take a shot with Wickman. His numbers aren’t that terrible. Will he accept a non closer role with a contender? What kind of prospect can we get back in return?
He wasn’t cutting it, end of story. I seem to remember Wick not joining the pitchers’ workouts during spring training, saying something along the lines of, “I don’t do that sort of thing.”
I knew he would lose the game last night as soon as he was put in. That’s an awful terrible feeling and he needed to go.
It’s a good thing we have so many solid relievers to replace him.
*snort*
I’m shocked but since it seems like there won’t be that many save opportunities the rest of the way I guess it doesn’t matter if we don’t have a closer.
I wonder if we can DFA Andruw too and start taking a look at Brandon Jones.
Obviously they aren’t going to DFA Andruw, nor should they.
Ascanio was also called up, just to make sure Bobby doesn’t have to use Devine.
Lineup:
Harris
KJ
Chipper
Teixeira
McCann
Frenchy
Andruw
Escobar
Smoltz
I like this one.
it’s a good lineup but I’m definitely getting the feeling that Harris is slowly but surely returning back to his former ordinary self…SO free that hitting machine Matt Diaz.
KJ maybe could return to lead off.
It is a good lineup because SMOLTZ is batting ninth.
It doesn’t seem surprising to me, given the comments in the articles. Chipper and Andruw both seem ticked off at his not wanting to pitch in non-save situations, and if he balked at pitching in an extra inning game when our options were increasingly limited, then that’s that. This team wants team players, and won’t tolerate someone who places himself above the team.
I can’t say I’m thrilled – the team doesn’t exactly have enough bullpen depth to throw away an arm that’s at least competent, even if not terribly good – but I can understand and respect the decision.
If Wickman really was so entitled that he felt that he shouldn’t pitch in the twelfth inning of a tie game because it was a “save situation” (and f*ck you, Jerome Holtzman) then he absolutely deserved to be released.
Exactly, Mac. And it must be just that bad, because Bobby’s saying it was his decision, and it took him less than 12 hours after the game to drop the news on Wickman. I can’t recall the last time Bobby said he made a decision like this. Usually everything stays in-house and comes out via Schuerholz.
And this is why Bobby Cox is the Face of the Franchise 🙂
Rain delay.
Have we put Andruw on waivers yet? Last chance to get something out of him. If we fall 3-4 more games out I would DFA him as well.
Why didn’t I see this thread until now? WTF? I know everyone sits around waiting for my pearls of wisdom so a repost from the last thread:
“I despise the Cardinals. I save up all the animosity I have towards every other sports franchise in existence and exact it on St. Louis. It’s ridiculous and irrational but I don’t really care. I hate the Cardinals more than a grown man should really hate anything other than death. We’ve got to win this series or I may throw in the towel.”
Also, can I get a ruling on whether or not trying to make the playoffs this year is more like hole-in-oneing a par three for eagle, driving a short par 4 and putting for eagle, or chipping in from medium distance for eagle on a par 4 on the 18th hole?
another alex r., what the hell was that thing with “mrs. miller”? That was hilarious!
According to Chip and the Lemmer, in the same interview in which Andruw was quoted re Wickman, he also said that Wick could turn around and say that Andruw wasn’t doing his job either. Difference is, quoth the Lemmer, Andruw hasn’t bitched publicly or privately about where Cox bats him.
No more Butterbean…
Where do we aim our frustrations now? Does Andruw carry the extra weight Bob left behind? Can Andruw withstand such a heavy burden??
Would someone please be so kind as to post when the games is about to start. I don’t want to have to listen to 30+ minutes of “ChipandtheLemmer” to find out.
RE: Wickman
Yet another example of the destructiveness of the “save” stat. I hate it.
We didn’t even get around to having “Wickman delenda est” at the top of the page. Somebody go brainwash Woodward and make him do something that Bobby will see as being a bad teammate so we can get that waste of a roster spot DFA’d too.
I bet Wickman is in an Indians’ uniform before September.
In case anyone cares Mets lead the Dodgers 2-0 in the top of the fifth.
It’s Perez vs. Penny.
Pads pounding the Phailies 8-3 in the top of the fifth and still batting.
I think St. Louis is slearing now, but there is a lot more rain westward headed east…maybe no baseball tonite. 🙁
Yay. Let’s do a double header this weekend. Just what our bullpen needs….
After he heard the news Wickman told Bobby, “I’m sorry I let you down.” That’s pretty classy.
“I’m sorry I let you down.” However, i’ve been bitching about how you’ve been using me to all my teammates all year. Come on!
link, url?
no link, it’s a fact. The guy has been this way since the Fla. blown save earlier this year.
Game time. Rain had passed.
I meant has passed.
And Willie staves off the Re-Pumpkinator yet again…
willie thrown out on the basepaths?
we haven’t seen that this year, have we?
:eye roll:
New and exciting ways to lose!
Disgruntled,
It was mentioned on the pre-game show.
Big surprise b/c Wickman had a public perception that was pretty favorable. But it’s got to be the clubhouse stuff b/c his performance hasn’t been bad enough to get him released–just think back to Cox’s infinite patience with Kolbb and Reitsma.
Bitching about how he’s been used is a no-no, but Cox’s pen moves have been pretty odd lately. I think it’s had more to do with overuse of other guys than the handling of Wickman.
There was a lot of talk last year that Wickman wanted to retire. I wonder if he came back sort of half-hearted.
76–Cleveland is my guess too if the waivers etc. work out.
Hey more baserunning fun with Willie Harris.
TAFKAU,
Regardless of how it went all went down it is classy to bear responsibility for your part in the situation.
I saw Brandon Jones play in Durham the other night and I wasn’t impressed. Among other things, he let a single slide right under his glove in LF. I don’t think we’ll see him in Atlanta until after the International League playoffs, and then only to pinch-hit.
OTOH, Barbaro Canizares looked interesting for a geezer. I could see him getting an Aug. 31 callup to pinch-hit and be an emergency catcher.
Brent Lillibridge looks like he’s still in high school. Unfortunately, from the little I saw, I don’t think he’ll have the arm to play shortstop in the majors on a regular basis. Small sample sizes apply.
Cardinals announcers on Francoeur:
“He swings at EVERYTHING.”
K, thanks.
So it’s gonna be one of _those_ nights.
Super.
Hey Chipper–don’t complain about guys not doing the little things when you can’t get a guy over to third.
Hey, an ump that knows the strike zone!
How long has it been since they have gotten a timely hit while behind or tied? Seems like a couple of months.
That’s more like it.
B-Mac, way to go.
It seems Edmonds has taught Duncan the catch the ball, take a step then dive technique.
Duncan dives after he catches the ball.
I’ve never seen a walrus make a diving catch. Interesting.
Another opposing pitcher with a hit.
Striped socks alert!
Good job, Smoltz.
Another lead thrown away the very next time the opposing team gets to bat.
And the pattern continues. Get two, give two.
Telegraphed change-up. Brutal pitch.
Micah Owings just hit another homer. Weird.
Tough stuff, Willie. Nice.
Chippa
so can we still trade Wickman?
per ESPN:Wickman gave up a towering walk-off home run to Adam Dunn Thursday night and has given up a blown save or taken a loss in three of his last 10 outings. The club now has 10 days to either trade, demote or release Wickman. With Octavio Dotel on the DL, look for Rafael Soriano to get the bulk of the save chances.
I think Chipper is the NL MVP.
also would we have gotten draft picks for Wickman at the end of the year?
Big Lots can be traded but it seems that the Braves have weakened their position to get the best trade.
Do any of you think Chipper will win the NL batting title? What would that do for his chances of making the Hall?
Most likely, no draft picks for Wickman, because he’s likely to retire. You only get compensation if he signs as a FA with another team.
#118 – he’s close if not already in
thanks bagger
I think Francoeur could use a day off. He’s looked terrible of late.
THAT was a strike???
hasnt Frenchy been hitting the ball hard lately but just right at people. Seems liek it, however everyone needs a day off
For those of you watching on MLB.tv did you see that shot of Bobby reacting to that called 3rd strike? Priceless!
hey guys I missed it…
why was Pendleton ejected last night?
arguing balls and strikes
actually it was a check swing call
thanks, csg.
Dane Cook delenda est, btw.
117–Big Lots
LOL.
Big Lots…that is a good one.
But not as good as “Blob Wickman”
Big Lots, ha, what a hoot.
I was always a fan of Fat Bob, it really snapped.
I had no idea that Troy Percival was back in the big leagues.
Maddux (my favorite player ever…I’m sure I’m not alone on this board in that regard.) set an MLB record tonight when he picked up his 10th win. This is Maddux’s 20th consecutive season with double digit wins…breaking a tie with Cy Young who did that only 19 years in a row (but in such a different era…1891-1909.)
Gotta give it up for Mad Dog, especially since he did it against the Phils. One of the all time greats. I feel privileged to have watched him and pulled for him through the prime of his career.
Cheers.
Chipper is already a HOFer — I’m rooting hard for a batting title nonetheless.
Just joining the game and read this thread: I am shocked to see Wickman go particularly because Bobby believed in him. Yes, he has pitched poorly in recent weeks, but before the season he was touted as a roll model for the younger pitchers and something of a team leader. Anyway, I think that he could have been a useful pitcher…..
Who now closes?
It’s like Francoeur has OD’ed on “Jolt” or something. Has he taken a single pitch tonight?
Franchise spent the rain delay watching his high school glory days on SS.
How do they keep a straight face watching Duncan (the sea cucumber) play left field?
Padres beat the Phillies tonight, and the Dodgers lost.
If we hold on then we’ll move into a tie with Philly and back ahead of the Dodgers. We’d remain 3 games behind SD.
congrats to Maddux
Mac, you serious about Percival?
Hopefully the Wickman release will light a fire under these boys
Smoltz did say after his last start that he would get a complete game before the year is over, is tonight the night?
what teams do you see going after Wickman?
Boston
That’s a good bet, csg. Of course, I’d prefer it to be when we win the World Series.
Hope in reality is the worst of all evils because it prolongs the torments of man.
-Friedrich Nietzsche
/I don’t really believe that, good copy though.
I’m serious. As far as I knew, he was serving time with Ugueth Urbina.
when a player is suspended indef. does that mean forever or until someone decides its been enough time? Michael Vick’s case?
I’m pretty sure we beat up on Percival earlier in the year.
If we didn’t…I must’ve dreamed it.
I like the way Smoltz is pitching tonight with this lead, slow stuff for strikes and getting hitters quick, not trying to overpower anyone
I think indef. means they haven’t really decided yet how long..but for the time being said player’s ass is canned.
Excuse me if I’m wrong though
It would be great to see Smoltz stay until at least the 9th….
Lets get some more runs…
88 pitches so far – 105 or less going to the ninth he finishes
Percival pitched against us on July 21st
2IP 3H 3R 1HR 4K in a 14-6 win for us
If we have the lead going into the 9th I would bust out the new pen.
starting to rain again
great catch Druw!!
big K there
let him finish!
sorry for all the posting, but does this get Smoltz in the Cy Young talk?
Smoltz at 103 pitches. Will he get a shot at a complete game?
He threw 122 his last start. I dunno.
I think he’s done. nice job.
Who’s on deck?
Thorman is hitting
Why not Diaz?
so who pitches the ninth?
Sounds like it’s time for Mahayhem!
…
because there is a righty throwing, you know we cant hit a righty verses a righty
Mac,
JS is actually on the phone with the prison guard to see if he can let Ugueth out. I still have nightmares of that guy making out with Pudge Rodriguez after the Marlins WS run in ’03.
That Cardinal fan making the crow sound is pretty damn annoying.
That’s Chris Duncan doing his seal mating call imitation.
Mahay to finish, I actually like this decision for once
Mahay for closer!!
Maybe the Yankees with deal for Big Lots. Can you imagine? H-U-G-E pinstripes.
why change pitchers here?
A pitching change? Moylan? Bobby, give it a rest. We’re up 5!
This is a LaRussa type move.
Bustin’ out the pen. I like it.
I know this is going to come off as bitter, but Scott Rolen’s batting right now and remember all that talk of how Rolen was supposed to be the next Chipper Jones from all the obnoxious Phillies fans and this and that, and I know he’s only 32 or 33 and has been hurt this year, but 8 freaking home runs the whole year ??? Maybe I just really hate Scott Rolen.
This is like when Little League coaches change pitchers so as to reach time limit.
What d’ya mean? Moylan hasn’t pitched in at least 12 hours.
This makes NO sense. Typical Cox bullpen management. Using 3 pitchers in a 7-2 game…brilliant.
This is a LaRussa type move. Why even get Moylan up right here ? So he’ll be “fresh” for tomorrow. I don’t understand these things. I guess Bobby is trying to give him some confidence since he has struggled lately.
And I just realized there are 2 outs. Now it makes even less sense.
Huzzah!
Oh yeah.
Moylan throws one pitch. I’m very confused.
One pitch, one out, one game!
Lets hope its the start of a winning streak…
I have a feeling we are going to see every arm in the pen in the 9th over the next few games.
Huzzah, indeed!
So we can now add ‘closer’ to our list of platoons. Wonderful.
So be it. As long as it gets the job done I don’t really care.
just glad to be out of Cincinnati
That’s one in a row. Yippee.
Here’s to a real streak.
*clink*
D*mmn it!
Dane Cook is on Conan!
Dane Cook delenda est!!!!!!1111one