Get out of town, you creeps.
The Alabama preview is up at SEC Previews. Tennessee is written and will be up soon, Georgia is spoken for, but looking for others.
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Get out of town, you creeps.
The Alabama preview is up at SEC Previews. Tennessee is written and will be up soon, Georgia is spoken for, but looking for others.
Use code “Journal” for a 5% discount.
I can do an Ole Miss one for you. I can’t imagine it being spoken for.
No… No, it hasn’t. Feel free. You can use the format I did, or not, no big.
I would love to bring back Chipper as a hitting coach. He’ll probably need a couple years of retirement to realize how much he misses the clubhouse, but I think he’d be fantastic at it.
And I don’t say this often enough, but I really think Roger McDowell has been terrific.
Just email it to you like I did two years ago? (Sorry about last year. I was afraid to say anything and jinx us. And it didn’t matter anyway because we crapped the bed.)
Maybe false modesty, but there’s a chance we overestimate the intelligence of “crafty” pitchers just like we do backup middle infielders.
Are you suggesting people overestimate the intelligence of Greg Maddux? Wow. Never heard that before. He is my favourite player of all time, and I have watched his career closely. As far as I can tell, he is the smartest individual who ever toed the rubber.
Experience or no, I would hand the Braves job to Greg in a split second if only he wanted it.
I don’t care how cerebral a player is, experience is important. It’s like (an obvious exaggeration) taking the head of the class at Annapolis and making him captain of our newest aircraft carrier. I don’t care how smart he is, he isn’t ready to be a skipper. You don’t just start at the top. Plus, it seems to me that Maddux might like golfing too much to spend the kind of hours that, say, Bobby Cox seems to spend at the job.
I would like to see the Braves go outside the expected suspects and bring in someone younger and, perhaps, more versed in statistics, but that’s not likely to happen.
1. Infante 2B, 2. Heyward RF, 3. Gonzalez SS, 4. McCann C, 5. Glaus 1B, 6. Conrad 3B, 7. Ankiel CF, 8. Cabrera LF, 9. Hanson
Seeing AAG in the 3 hole hurts my soul.
Is Billingsley any good?
In principle I agree with you, Bethany, but in fairness, he was awesome yesterday.
Tom, I’ve never heard anything that would suggest that Maddux was anything but intelligent, though I have no idea how good he is at communicating with other players. Chipper, certainly, has taken a more vocal leadership role — both in the media and, as far as I can tell, in the clubhouse — so while Maddux is clearly a Jedi master, I don’t know whether he’d be a good teacher.
Billingsley’s got big hips for a dude.
Yesterday was just one game. The Braves had scored two runs in two days beforehand, and there’s no reason to think that that production was less normal than the explosion yesterday. Get him out of the 3-spot!
AAG will be gone from the 3 hole when Prado returns.
The prospect of signing Alvord and/or Sabol is especially interesting, because this was the first draft of the post-Roy Clark era, and it appears that the Braves did a pretty good job of drafting and signing some interesting position prospects, despite not having a high pick and despite Alvord being the only drafted player from the state of Georgia.
If we can sign one or both of those guys, what already looked like a decent draft will look even better, and augur well for the future.
I’ll write up South Carolina again.
Okay! Five down, seven to go. Well, I assume Stu wants Vandy.
Tom @ 5,
You probably correctly identified Maddux’ “aw shucks” routine. He is acknowledged by many to be an expert at probabilities based on growing up in Vegas and also as a good “poker player” type that knows how to divert people.
However, Maddux is ultra competitive. I think he will eventually be a GM because right now that is where the real competition is.
I do believe that catchers have a work experience advantage on being managers. They have to know how to deal with the varying fruitcake personalities in the pitching profession. They have to make each one feel special and important and try to maximize their gifts. They have to know things about pitching mechanics (“hey, Joe, your leg kick was a little low last inning”).
Also, catchers have to work on their own hitting. So, they are in touch with hitting coaches in a meaningful way (unlike pitchers who are practicing bunting when they are with the hitting coach).
I think that the psychological part requires some level of “credibility”. Cox got most of his by managing in the minors (and that will work). Some guys get it by their play at the ML level.
15—Don’t think I’m up for it this year, Mac. Here’s a one-word preview: BLEAK.
Here’s another word: TURKEYS!
Yeah, that speech will almost certainly be the highlight of the season.
Managing is, at bottom, a supervisory position. Supervision in any profession and any level is difficult. I know it’s hard for me. I think it takes experience to be able to do it well. It’s more than just credibility; it’s knowing what works and what doesn’t and you don’t get that just because you were a great player (or a great doctor or a great lawyer). I just would not hire a guy to manage who has no experience at all. Let him work out the bugs in the minors. Just because someone was a great player and/or is very smart doesn’t mean they know how to manage people.
considering there’s absolutely no defensive upgrade playing him, the starting lineup against rhp would not include troy glaus. i’d love to see a prado, infante, gonzalez, and raw dog infield. they all hit rhp very well.
we really need another outfielder that can hit left handed pitching. just diaz is not going to cut it, unless we keep getting dominant pitching.
Kenny thinks we may be in on Brad Hawpe.
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/MLB-latest-news-from-August-080110
Thoughts?
clint barmes? god, i hope not. he’s horrible away from coors and not even very good there. now hawpe i’d be in on.
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2010/08/braves-considering-clint-barmes.html
If it were me I’d hit Melky second (he’s been hot! You can look it up!) and Heyward third and slide New Guy down to seven or eight. Oh well.
The interesting team for me in the SEC this season is Arkansas. Good QB, interesting mix of talent. A typical SEC squishy soft non-conference schedule (four home games, Tennessee Tech, La-Monroe, Texas A&M, UTEP). They somehow miss Florida and Tennessee and their toughest road game is either at Georgia or Auburn and who knows what to expect from those two. They could surprise.
Tom #5 / Cliff #16
Maddux is also my all time favorite athlete (any sport).
Always played the “aw shucks” / video game routine.
And i agree that he seems to be headed to the GM side. The strategic nature of the job must be very appealing to him.
Hawpe might be worthwhile; he’s a decent hitter who can take a walk and hits for some power. But he’s another lefty outfielder who doesn’t hit LHP particularly well.
Why would we be interested in Barmes? He’s a worse version of Omar Infante. It would be like if we reacquired Wilson Betemit.
@10 – I think sdp’s “affliction” is really getting to him.
Marc, so what you are saying is if you were Wren and Greg approached you and asked to let him manage the 2011 Atlanta Braves, you would not do it? Don’t get me wrong, I don’t believe it’s going to happen (TP appears to be the frontrunner to me, though I would prefer Joe Torre), but if, I would definitely do it. Players would listen to what he has to say, pitchers and hitters alike, and I have no reason to believe he wouldn’t supervise a team just fine. My only concern is that he might like to golf a little too much, as you mentioned.
Here in Germany, soccer players become managers right after their playing careers all the time, and a good many of them do reasonably well, without any experience.
EDIT: I’d also love to see Maddux the GM. He might be the Cub’s only hope.
I’ll try to do the writeup of the team that beat Georgia in Athens and Auburn on the Plains.
@22
unfortunately, your article says nothing about the braves being interested in hawpe.
@27: Second base on a first date. I kinda feel bad about it.
Tom @ 28,
I guess I am showing my ignorance of and distaste for the game, but there seems to be no comparison to the strategy and decision making in “futbol” compared to baseball.
I think our best long term manager out of our staff is Eddie Perez. I think he needs to be manager of a AA or AAA club or a year or two.
And on the “dumb Chipper” commentary flowing down, Chipper went to high school at the Bolles School. They are a pretty good academic institution. Certainly they might let an athlete slide, but Chipper’s dad is on record that he sent Chipper there because the local high school had people that would not challenge him academically.
Not sure what this says, but lately I’m glad when Melky’s up in the clutch.
Must.
Put.
Bong.
Down.
I think the fact that Maddux is already in the front office is a vote of confidence on his intelligence. I do think generally, perhaps not in Maddux’s case, that pitchers without crazy powerful arms get the “smart” label when they just have a different skill set—control, command of multi-pitches that don’t necessarily have anything to do with intelligence.
It helps if a player has been especially devoted to working on his game all the time either out of necessity or insanity. Successful managers are crazy workaholics. You probably want to find the ones with lousy marriages, resentful children, and no hobbies.
@32 Dumb is probably a bad way of putting it, but it’s telling that in all the years he has been playing no one has ever mentioned that they thought he’d be a good manager. I said this in the last thread, but if Bobby thought he had that in him you’d think he’d be dropping hints about it for years now. It feels like half of Eddie Perez’s career was spent with other people touting him as a future manager.
I say all of that with the caveat that maybe Bobby and other players have the same back-up catcher prejudice we all do and also that they just assumed Chipper was rich and uninterested enough in it that it wasn’t worth mentioning that they thought he’d be good.
Also. It’s completely f-ed up Chambliss hasn’t gotten a chance to manage!! I feel like starting a facebook page devoted to getting him hired. And another facebook page devoted to someone else to replace him as Black Guy Who Always Gets Interview But Never Gets Hired.
Dave Stewart?
I’m betting Chambliss will get an interview with the Mets fairly soon.
Well, one of the reasons that I never thought of Chipper managing until now is that I knew he’d be really rich and could chill forever if he wanted.
Now, I’m beginning to feel that he truly loves the dugout.
I don’t dislike LaRussa because he’s a lawyer and I don’t disrespect Chipper because he didn’t go to college. Each have their strengths and weaknesses.
We’re gonna need a hitting coach next year. Might as well be Chipper. (I’m not optimistic on his recovery.)
@37 So you’re saying there are fates worse than not managing?
I dislike LaRussa, but not because he’s a lawyer.
K-Rud tore a ligament in his pitching hand. Apparently punching his girlfriend’s dad. Will require surgery. He sure fits into that team.
He is acknowledged by many to be an expert at probabilities based on growing up in Vegas
This is the first I've ever heard of this – where did you see it? I would be very interested in learning more.
@41 As Crash Davis said never punch someone with your pitching hand. You’re suppose to learn that in the minor leagues I think.
@42 Growing up in Madrid, Spain while his father was in the Air Force also made him a champion Flamenco dancer.
And he can really dance around a pole, after his years in the A-T-L. Count it!
@45 Oh how I wish the mind could unthink things.
PS: Shanks says we’re definitely not signing Sabol. As I expected, but still…drat.
I would be more for this if he changed his last name to BarNes. I don’t think we should have to call anyone anything that looks like a typo.
http://www.talkingchop.com/2010/8/16/1626240/braves-considering-a-trade-for
Greetings from Atlantic City….
This has got to be the most unhealthy looking group of people in America, and a good half of them are wearing Eagles or Phils gear.
I saw one rotund guy in an old-school Phils cap wearing a T-shirt that read: “I’m allergic to exercise.”
No kidding
On the other hand, Stu, there’s this: it’s Bill Shanks.
He’s not always right.
Mets are looking into voiding Nim-Rod’s contract. I wouldn’t like that. I don’t want the Mets getting rid of a bad contract and freeing up money.
No way that happens. The MLBPA would scream bloody murder and they’d win, too.
@49 ububba, that reminds me of the pic I saw a few years ago at a ND tailgate party. There is this huge guy, I mean Orca big, 4 bills plus with a beer in one hand, brat in the other and a huge smile. His T-shirt read “I beat anorexia”
yeah, he beat it like a rented mule. Didn’t stop laughing for days.
Anyone see the Schultz article on acquiring Manny, specifically the comments section? Even by the low standards there it was a pretty epic fountain of baseball ignorance, and those were the least horrifying ones. Makes this place look like the Harvard Debate club.
http://blogs.ajc.com/jeff-schultz-blog/2010/08/16/hey-heres-an-idea-manny-to-braves-kidding-sort-of/?cxntfid=blogs_jeff_schultz_blog
@54 I believe the gold-standard in debating clubs is the Oxford Union.
Stupid-head.
You take that back!
/Lord Palmerston!!!!
I would remind the good gentleman, spike, of the current location of his cranium especially as it relates to his anal cavity.
The Azov Campaign would not have so dishonored the crown didst we have the Manny!!
First or Second Azov campaign, young swain?
And besides you started it by being idiot burgers. Harvard Debate Club! Pshaw!!
@58 Whatever one I had to go remind myself of on Wikipedia before I wrote that. OBVIOUSLY!!
Gentlemen, gentlemen, if you please. We cannot allow the standards of our fair society to descend to billingsgate.
Besides, Pitt the Elder was clearly superior, you cretinous goons.
The one during the Crimean War!
I didn’t realize there were 17th Century ones.
Oh. Nut-balls. You’ve won this round.
@61 Pitt the Elder was a pimp. He never could have out-fought Santino!!
I’m feeling morning-recappy tonight. Just the blahs. I’ll check in once or twice.
Santino? He couldn’t even get past the Barzini Family
For those who haven’t seen it. Hank Azaria as sportscasting legend Jim Brockmire from whom I just stole a joke.
http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/7d1f3b33e7/gamechangers-ep-3-a-legend-in-the-booth-with-hank-azaria
Hope you feel better, Mac.
It could be one of those Tommy nights.
The Cyborg needs to run a diagnostic on some of those throwpitches.
The Prado with a single in his first AB at Gwinnett. Think he’ll be activated tomorrow.
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/Jose-Canseco-signs-deal-with-minor-league-team-in-Texas-081610
How did we miss out on such a great, available talent???
Yeah, see you tomorrow, guys.
Even I am not so dismissive of the running game to think that Hanson’s problems holding runners aren’t hurting him.
I dont think Manny would get to us in the waiver wire. Someone would block that at all cost wouldnt they? Can Manny block a deal?
Feel better Mac.
Tommy with 43 pitches through 2 innings.
DOB seems to think Manny is not even a possibility.
Tommy can be so frustrating to watch.
CSG- I don’t think so. You need to have 10 years’ major-league service and five with your current team to block a trade.
#77 – I know about the 10/5 rights, but figured he’d have a weird clause in his contract or something…
Anyone think Conrad/Barmes could be a somewhat effective platoon? Prado could stay at 2nd and Omar could go to CF. Barmes career vs LHP .289/.336/.492/.828
smoltz was right. brooks just missed that pitch by a foot.
Awww shoot. So close.
Nate McLouth’s 2-RBI single brings the #GBraves lead to 3-0 over the Norfolk Tides!
This made me laugh and feel sad at the same time.
@78
no, his numbers away from coors are awful. he has a .799 ops at home and a .618 ops on the road. YOUCH!
i’ve never heard knucksie talk before. does he always sound drunk?
funny quote on knucksie’s b-ref page…
“Trying to hit him (Phil Niekro) is like trying to eat Jell-O with chopsticks.” – Bobby Murcer
I really like the part in that Schultz article where he says “Clubhouse chemistry has been central to the Braves’ success this season.” Yeah.. the Braves were doing terribly until they traded Escobar.
“Clubhouse chemistry” has GOT to be the absolute stupidest, most arcane and archaic concept in baseball. I hate it. It’s awful, and any manger/GM/team that bases a team around “chemistry” deserves to lose. Even Wren and the Braves.
“No thank you. You just keep your world class production to yourself, and we’ll take our chances and exit in the first round of the playoffs rather than deal with a ‘cancer.’ It’s for the good of the team.”
Stupid.
Yunel was not world class.
I wasn’t talking about Yunel. I wasn’t talking about anyone in particular, but just the whole idea of turning away a player who hugely upgrades your team just because of some nebulous notion of “chemistry.”
@86 He was as a defender, insofar as his being the best defensive player in professional baseball constitutes “world class.”
And… he’s already been worth a win since the AS Break.
We can quit wasting time talking about Manny. He’s not coming to this club.
And he cost us wins with his… unique baserunning philosophies.
Manny is world class, I wouldn’t put Yunel in the same category.
DowneasterJC,
I have played team sports at a competitive high school level, and I will say with absolute firmness that clubhouse chemistry, or relations with players, are among the most important facets of a team. The more people get along, the more they are friends at school or after practice, the easier it is to play a sport with them and be on the same level during games. This, in my experience, is an absolute, and even though it may make little logical sense, it is true.
However, since I have never been inside a Major League Clubhouse for even a game, let alone a season, let alone a season with airplane flights and hotel rooms for 81 games, let alone a spring training, I cannot say with absolute certainty that team chemistry is as important to Major League Players as it is to high school players.
But when the people (Schultz, DOB, Peanut, etc.) who interact with the Braves on almost a daily basis and actually get to know a team say that clubhouse chemistry is important, especially in this situation, I tend to trust that they know what they are talking about. Coupled with my own experiences in sports, I think that it is illogical to downplay the importance of team chemistry, no matter how absurd a topic it may seem to be.
Man, McCann is looking so much better throwing to second.
Yeah.. the Braves were doing terribly until they traded Escobar.
Pre-trade: 52-36
Post-trade: 16-13
So you can see, that deal turned the season around.
You killed that one New Guy.
Edit:I have played team sports at a competitive high school level, and I will say with absolute firmness that clubhouse chemistry, or relations with players, are among the most important facets of a team.
This might be true. What I’m positive is true is talent is the most important facet of the game.
Bethany’s Yunel hate has always amused me.
Remember a couple years ago when she tried to convince us that (now out of baseball) Khalil Greene would be an upgrade over him?
😆
You have failed us, Torgo.
I’d rather have a garden gnome at shortstop than Yunel.
Glaus is so predictable.
No more Troy Glaus.
Torgo strikes again.
I am shocked that Glaus would ground into a double play.
meaningless homeruns and double plays. that’s my game. my name’s troy glaus and i get paid to play baseball poorly.
Oh Torgo.
@93
I can’t tell if you’re being sarcastic or not, but I was.
I’m getting spam filtered even though I’m not posting any links…
3-1 count. Home run here.
It’s too wet for raw-dogging.
And by home run, I meant walk. I’m happy with it.
Way to go, Brooks! Make him get soggy out there.
one more time…
@96
Khalil Greene sucked worse than a garden gnome the day you said that.
*sarcasm* And yeah, who would want the best defensive player in the sport who also has a career .367 OBP and hasn’t yet turned 30 playing shortstop for their team? Especially a team with as much depth at the position as the Braves? *sarcasm*
🙄
Canizares 1-2 with a homer, up to .334 batting now. Can we get him up already and put the statue of Troy on the DL. Again, I refuse to believe he could be any worse at first defensively.
Unfortunately, I have no desire to revisit an argument from two years ago, Douglass.
Right. I wouldn’t want to be reminded I thought Khalil Greene in 2008 was a better baseball player than Yunel Escobar either. Especially if I wanted people to take my opinion about Escobar (which you post nearly every time his name comes up) seriously.
brooks almost slip-n-slid right over the bag.
Rawdog is a fastdog.
Unrelated fact: I can’t even remember my own arguments from 2 years ago, much less other people’s.
Stop swinging at pitches like that stupid.
Who says I want anyone to take me seriously? You’re the one who’s analyzing my words so carefully. I had no idea I had such a hold over you. I’ll watch myself from now on.
this is getting absurd…
…you never forget when someone says trade for Khalil Greene.
😆
Does anyone know what diamond dry is, exactly?
Aha, interesting:
“The proven quality athletic drying material, Diamond Dry is a quality product made exclusively from natural corn cobs.
Diamond Dry is an all natural, biodegradable, and renewable product made from corn cobs with no chemicals, coloring, or other additives. Diamond Dry does an exceptional job of absorbing water on baseball/softball fields. Just apply to the wet areas and rake into the wet soil.”
http://www.bestcob.com/DiamondDry.html
@116, if you don’t want people to take you seriously, why do you post? Unless you’re trying to make people laugh, or you’re trying to intentionally rattle people for lulz, the very fact that you’re posting means you want people to respect your opinion and respond to it intelligently.
No one but an internet troll is going to think that your opinion from two years ago is more than a tiny reflection of the way you think about things now.
Thanks, spike. Never would have guessed that it wasn’t some sort of bizarre synthetic material.
@121 So, someone drags up a comment I made 2 years ago, and now I’m a troll. Awesome. Internet is such serious business, right?
Hell of a memory you have, Douglass.
I’m thinking about boycotting the Braves until they issue a statement condemning the use of Conflict Diamond Dry.
nice, Joey.
Smoltz probably shouldn’t talk about draftees signing.
Talking Chop is reporting that we’ve pulled our offer from Alvord to save money in case we get Aramis Ramirez.
http://www.talkingchop.com/2010/8/16/1626553/braves-nix-zach-alvord-deal-to
How do you guys feel about Ramirez? How many years are left on his contract? Is this year just a down year for him?
Just like the Braves to get the Ramirez who isn’t hitting and will be owed 16M dollars next year if traded, instead of trying to get the one that is hitting and not owed a penny next season.
I LOVE YOU OMAR!!!!
Ok, now all we have to do is figure out how to get the runner home from 3rd with NO FUCKING OUTS.
That story is the most depressing thing I have read today. I also think it’s probably true.
I’M A ONE UPPER AND I LOVE EVERYONE FROM VENEZUELA. TAKE THAT BETHANY!
GOOO awww… woah. Still, YAY!
Touche, Ryan C.
Wow, great catch. At least the job got done.
Stretching that to three ended up actually being important. Nice.
Man, Heyward was that close to killing this rally. We really owe Ethier one.
ethier is a good player.
nate mclouth has 5 rbis tonight for gwinnett.
About a year ago I moved Ethier up from good to great. Dude is sick.
Douglass, he did kill the rally. After all, he didn’t leave anyone on base.
I just wanted to rip on Francoeur. I, like Mac and many of you, will never pass up an opportunity. Kind of like Francoeur swinging at every pitch.
in straight contradiction to spike, that story excites me. aramis has a .958 ops with 12 hrs since coming off the dl on june 25th. he’s a very good player that was obviously hurt for the majority of the season.
I kinda doubt that the Braves are re-routing money from draft pick towards Aramis Ramirez. I find it more likely that the agent is pissed he didn’t get the deal he thought he was going to get. Also a way to cover his ass with his client.
In a vacuum, I like the idea of a Ramirez acquisition. I have no idea where the money for his 2011 salary would come from, though.
Also, I once advocated that we trade Yunel (and Jo-Jo!) for Bronson F. Arroyo. This was the year of the Teix deal, as I recall.
There can not be truth to that story. We can not afford Ramirez next year.
I wore acid wash jeans when I was twelve. I hope Douglass doesn’t hold that against me.
144- I agree on an ARam deal as being a good idea for a one-year rental. As for the money, we’ll hopefully get a bump in attendance from winning this year, and the economy can’t stay this bad forever, can it?
Maybe we think we can trade Ramirez in the offseason?
I once compared Mike Minor to Mark Redman.
I just don’t see us getting Armas Ramirez. Not with all that money owed. Sounds like it could be a smoke screen. I would rather make a run at Beltran than Aramas
Carroll is a real pest.
The Ramirez thing doesn’t seem to fit, unless there is something in the works to offload some payroll.
148—Well, that’s just ridiculous. 🙂
@129
Duh. Good clubhouse chemistry is WORTH $16 mil AND less offense. It’s THAT important.
I was once one of the League of Evil Exes.
@144
we could afford ramirez if we were able to trade kawakami. so, chipper’s going to move back to left field…lol.
I once suggested to my wife that our entire reality is just a dream. Oops. Now I have to relive it when internet blog commenters keep bringing it up.
Getting Ramirez would have to require some money from the Cubs and maybe Freddie Freeman going back with KK and or McLouth. If no Freeman, that would signal to me that the Braves think Chipper is done for good.
Gah, now I want to go see Inception again.
I’ll give you that he is hot, ryan – but it’s still a financial commitment to a guy who owes a fair amount of his success to playing in hitter’s park, on the wrong side of 32, and is owed a huge salary next year. You’ve mildly lifted my spirits – but only just.
If this Ausmus at-bat ever ends, you should see Scott Pilgrim instead. It’s really, really, really good.
Spike,
I am with you, but what if the Cubs ate some of that money and took KK and or McLouth?
@159 That’s good to hear. I’m planning on seeing it this week!
I am really geeking out over how awesome our starting pitching has been lately.
The Cyborg has effectively executed his program this nightcycle. Now it is time for him to enter his maintenance period.
I once said Smoltz would never leave the Braves.
156—What? No way Freeman is getting traded.
There have got to be more Torgo lines we can use to express disgust as his failures at life.
I agree Stu, but I think it would be the end of Chipper with the Braves if Freeman isn’t included in a Ramirez deal
I once said the Giants would beat the Patriots 17-14 in Super Bowl XLII.
http://bravesjournal.us/?p=3396#comment-157371
Brooksie!
Keep it up, joeyt, and I’ll be remembering you as the francoeur of comedy.
I’m sure I’ve said stupid things, but I’m not going to make things easier for you by pointing them out.
IF the Cubs took on a bad contract and sent some money back (and why would they – they get a 2M buyout for him next year if they want), sure I would be fine. But we would have a 20M liability to Ramirez – how much do you think they are going to pay?
Ankiel is really not a good offensive addition.
I wish Ankiel didn’t suck.
Yeah, I don’t get it. A guy with a .290 obp this season. Its as if the Braves are ticked that their team obp is so high and want to ‘correct’ the situation. According to B-R owed 17.6 extra large minimum for 2011-2012.
How much credibility does Talkingchop have?
I wish Cabrera didn’t suck, too. Brooks, you’re going to have to hit the ball harder next time.
174—gondeee typically knows what he’s talking about.
They would have to send a lot of money and take a bad contract. Which would mean they would have to probably take a good prospect too.
@174, it’s more than that – his option vests if traded. Thye braves would owe ~4m this year and 16 the next
smitty, i dont think you’ve thought the freeman statement through. jason heyward, savior of the braves, is freddie’s roommate and best friend. i think they’ll keep them together.
@176, it really has to be a case that somewhere in the game of telephone, someone assumed the “Aramis” part that wasn’t there because he’s a third baseman. A Manny trade makes sense for all parties. Because of the immediate vesting, Aramis is one of the most unmovable players in baseball.
A man was hospitalized with 6 plastic horses up his ass.
A doctor described his condition as stable.
I don’t care for the way this inning is going.
Oh no…
@178 – Wow only 20? that makes me feel better. Much consternation.
Stu I agree gondeee seems to have good Braves contacts. Not sure how I feel about this one.
@178, the $16 is for 2012, not next year. Next year is a player option. Since either team would pay next year, a trade partner might get the Cubs to pitch in. The 2012 option is the poison pill.
Ballgame.
Oh fuck this
DAMN DAMN.
Conrad giveth and Conrad taketh away.
More great defense.
Wow. Terrible. What in the world is he doing?
So does Conrad only make errors late in games, too?
great googly moogly.
For all the crap Chipper takes for his defense, he makes that play almost every time.
At least Prado is returning tomorrow.
Conrad really struggles at throwing to first.
what happened? gameday says throwing error by the folk hero.
@179
I don’t think they trade Freeman. But if they pull the sting on this deal is the organization saying Chipper is done? If not, then where does Chipper play?
If they think he can come back and they get Aramis, Chipper has to go somewhere and first would be the logical option. On top of it, Freeman’s trade value is at an all time high. The Cubs would have to send a lot of money and take KK and/or Nate as well.
I don’t think we do it. I don’t think we should do it, just throwing things out there.
Obvious statement of the day….these defensive problems really rear their head when you only score a run or 2 a game.
@185, Holy cripes, you are correct sir. Over 35M is the total owed, including a 1M trade bonus for next year.
Meanwhile, Brooks Conrad shows why he really isn’t an everyday player.
196 — Theriot hit a slow grounder to 3rd. Conrad charged in and fielded it, but threw it past Glaus. Both runners came in to score and Theriot made it all the way to 3rd.
Melky!
Nice job, Melky!!!
Now, let’s rally.
MELKY!
More great pitching wasted…..
This would be a tied game if not for that error.
If Melky’s making throws now, can he go back to center? Please?
Melky’s always had an accurate arm. It’s the whole “running” thing that he sucks at.
Not this guy…
Melky might be losing his BJWB status.
and Ankiel is moving in
I’ve got no problems with Melky. He’s fun to make fun of, but he always hustles, usually gives a good at-bat, and isn’t totally inept in the outfield.
Two balls that were so close to being hits…
Kuo, best LOOGY ever?
I wish this offense didnt suck, but we better get used to this whole 1-0, 2-1 type games. We just arent going to score much more than that…(outside of fluke outburst like yesterday)
I think LA is 0-25 w/ RISP this series and are about to split with us
Kuo is MLB’s version of Anthony Kim.
I think i’ll now watch the Hoff roast I DVR’d last night.
Is it possible McLouth might be a AAAA player? He’s 2-4 with 6 RBIs including a 3-run shot.
@214, the sad thing about 1-0, 2-1 type games is that the Braves have a losing record in one-run games. Audible sigh.
-216
Not right now. He can’t hit in AAA either.
Id rather have Nate here than Ankiel right now
So THAT’s what’s supposed to happen on ground balls!
Tonight’s HR notwithstanding, the .234 he is hitting in AAA foresees a sub-Mendoza performance in the bigs.
Kuo with a 2 inning save
On the other hand, I would love to see Freeman or Barbaro Canzares get a shot. I know Barbaro is supposed to be bad defensively, but Glaus can barely move.
Ankiel would be fine platooning with Diaz in left field. I’ve begun to dread wide shot replays or any camera work that allows me to view the center field train wreck.
The hit was lucky, but that was a quality PA from AGony.
@223, THE WHOLE NATION AWAITS THE COMING OF BARBARO
http://tinyurl.com/32qybd2
nice….
does Bobby burn an out and bunt them over? doubt Glaus can bunt anyways
Torgo, you better not hit into another DP.
What a hit!
I would support a pinch-bunt here.
Wonderful, now Glaus can hit into a triple play. Nice change of pace.
Be a hero, Glaus.
Be.
A.
Hero.
Glaus could by him self another month here
I would support knocking Torgo out with chloroform here.
i would take everything back i said about you troy for a walkoff.
Alright! No DP and a hit ties it!
HUGE!
that helps, cmon Glaus
RESILIENCY.
Yes! No double play! No triple play! Yes!
Oh thank god. Glaus can’t fuck this up now.
If we were the Phillies, Casey Blake would be due for an error right now.
If we can execute fundamentals here, we can score these 2 runs w/o any hits. Who am I kidding though… this is the Braves.
FUCK NO KNEES GLAUS!
I was expecting a GIDP from Glaus, so that’s ok.
Folk Hero time.
Am I off base, or should AGony have been able to score on a play like that?
Folk Hero
Not worth the risk.
Stu,
You don’t risk it there
@247
you’re off base.
249—Yeah, probably true.
#247 – i think he scores
Glaus = tits on a bull
@247 Not sure if I’d risk it when your run doesn’t matter and there’s one down in the bottom of the 9th.
Let him swing
let it ride bobby!
Don’t swing!
Damnation. Now Ankiel will roll into a DP.
Edit: Or Ross.
Ross to hit.
here comes hinske!
Do it for Bethany, Hinske!
EDIT: And for Hiram Kyle Davies, who was once traded for ~5 innings of this bum!
You can’t hit for Ross, McCann is out of the game
Joe forgot that McCann was pinch-run for, so Ross has to hit.
Oh, right. Crap.
quick, put mccann back in before anyone notices.
Come on…
I gotta say, my expectations are low.
ATTABOY! I’d slap your hiney hard right now, ROSS!
huge walk there by Ross, was down 1-2
Great AB
Oh thank god the ump is not calling the outside corner.
DEPTH
Dotel!
COMMON, MELKTASTIC!
Nothing on the ground.
First pitch is not inspiring.
Make Dotel pay for that wasted two months of him in 2007!
Lordy, Melky.
Dammit Melky why swing at the first pitch after that.
You really think he would learn to not swing at pitches like that
good god melky. what was that?
melky, time to show that yankee magic you once possessed. i’d officially become a fan.
@282, how does money come in handy here?
MELKY!!
YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MELKY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MELKY!
OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BRAVES WIN!!!!!!!
YES
I’m stunned. This is fantastic.
OH MY FUCKING GOD HOW AWESOME
Get drunk, Melky! Get very drunk!
MELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLKTATSTIC!
YAY! I LOVE MELKY TONIGHT!
resiliency!!!!
Ryan C, President of the Melky fan club
Way not to listen to me and hit it on the ground. The Melk delivers.
Dotel STICKS the Triple Grybo!!!!!!
A perfect 10!
Melky fails to suck!!!!
RESILIENCY!
That was truly unbelievable.
melky has been pretty serviceable lately.
MELKMAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was about ready to bitch at MelkDud swinging at the first pitch after a walk again, but he kinda made up for it.
THE MELKMAN COMETH!!
@296
A one night membership.
How about that, Melky did something good.
I was “watching” gameday and I almost jumped out of my chair when i saw “in play, run(s)”
I am so freaking happy right now. I was all set to say “Really sucks to split a series against a team that’s done nothing offensively. But we did more nothing than they did.”
Mwahahahaha.
The 2nd best hitter on the team comes through…..
He threw a runner out and saved the game, then won it!
YES! YES!
Mac certainly has to retract the BJWB from Melky now!
I also suggest Ankiel as the replacement.
Ya. We have to de-whipboy Melky. I never thought I’d say that, but he earned it.
Melkman, also Folk Hero. Hanson: doesn’t know how to win.
Tommy Hanson just doesn’t know how to win, by the way.
Looks like Minor is Silencing His Critics: http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100816&content_id=13525438¬ebook_id=13525440&vkey=notebook_atl&fext=.jsp&c_id=atl
That last inning was such epic goodness. All sorts of bloops and bleeders and just-got-throughs. I can’t stop laughing about it. And then of course MELKY wins it. Hahahahaha.
I guess that’s what home field advantage means!!! Melky!!!
As someone used to say, this is the kind of game playoff teams win.
Utley may be activated tomorrow.
The win expectancy chart for tonight is particularly satisfying.
http://www.fangraphs.com/livewins.aspx?date=2010-08-16&team=Braves&dh=0&season=2010
@316 The bit in that article about Glaus “turning a corner” is a bit distressing. I’m not sure he will.
#320 – Prado may be also
so do the Nats sign Harper?
csg,
Not sure. He is dumb if he doesn’t
Brooks kept his head up & scored winning run for some redemption
The future Braves little league team is going back to the LLWS
@321, couple that with this:
http://www.fangraphs.com/wins.aspx?date=2010-08-12&team=Phillies&dh=0&season=2010
and you have the visual chart-based representation of how suicidal ideation develops. I’m glad I don’t have any Dodger fan friends.
324- I’d be shocked if they didn’t.
The Yankees tried to imitate us against the Tigers, but Jeter grounded into a double play to end it. Yanks lose 3-1.
But hey, Yanks- we’ll trade you a clutch Melky for that choker Jeter. Just because we like you.
unbelievable stat
Cliff Lee walked his first LH batter since Sept 2009 tonight, 1BB against 153 LH batters
I guess the Dodgers felt like they had to do justice by allowing the Phillies to come back last Thursday night.
332—I was thinking the same thing, kc.
We robbed Yanks, getting Melky for Vazquez, 9-9 with ERA just under 5.
Any word on our draftees yet?
From ESPN
News: After struggling Wednesday against the Rangers, Vazquez is confronting the possibility that his former fastball velocity may be gone for good, the Newark Star-Ledger reports. “I’ve got a lot of innings in my arm,” he said. “Maybe it’s catching up to me.”
Spin: Vazquez’s fastball has been a problem all season, both in terms of velocity and movement. His average velocity this month is 87.8, a staggering drop from his 91.5 average in August 2009. On top of that, his fastball didn’t generate a single swing and miss on Wednesday, a sign that it doesn’t have any life as it approaches the plate. Vazquez seemed to be adjusting to his declining physical skills with a nice little roll in mid-season, but it seems to be catching up to him again, resulting in a 6.43 ERA over his last five starts.
335—Last word was that they were done. Alvord and Sabol had been the only questions entering the day, and we’re apparently signing neither, much to my chagrin.
Cheap draft year, that’s for sure.
Bethany, I was a HUGE advocate of signing Derek Lowe. HUGE. We all have our moments.
As for me, I’m eternally grateful for your treadmill. You seem to have helped us turn around our slide.
I liked Javy and it’s a shame that he’s not had a good season, but I sure as hell am glad it didn’t happen while we were paying him.
I hate nickel and diming a couple of solid draftees. We’d just better get Aramis Ramirez. He’s a hell of a player.
@340 Watch it, AAR, you might be wishing for the second coming of Lowe 😛
The Cubs are going to have to give a f*ckload of salary relief if we’re to take on Aramis. I don’t see how it’s feasible for our budget at all without at least 50% of that salary kicked in.
If there’s one thing Jim Hendry has shown a willingness to do over the years, it’s throw money away. I don’t think salary relief will be an absolute sticking point.
I mean, Aramis certainly could be done as a useful player. But he’s been really really really good for a while, and he’s not THAT old. I’d be willing to bet on him.
@342 Then we will need to kick in some good prospects to make the Cubs pay.
@340 While I don’t think the amount to sign Alvord and Sabol would be considered as nickel and dime, we all know that the Braves are working under a very strict budget.
I’m undecided on the issue. My main thought is that it seems highly unlikely for such a financially strapped team. There’s also the whole “Manny’s better and cheaper” argument, which I think is very valid.
I would concede that an 1 1/3 year upgrade at third is more valuable than an 1/3 year upgrade at LF, assuming some relatively similar cost. It IS a lot harder to get a slugging 3B with good D, than a slugging LF with poor D. In this particular case the offensive difference would make it close, and it would make the Chipper situation problematic.
@336, 339 And yet some people think Wren is an idiot.
Who is Jose Bautista and why is he hitting so many home runs?
Career homers by year:
0, 0, 16, 15, 15, 13, 37
I’m digging Matt Lipka.
Bryce Harper got a $6.25MM signing bonus, $9.9MM in guaranteed money. 17-years-old.
Yeah — but he’s a right fielder, not a catcher, and there’s a little more depth at his new position. I know he’s got all the power in the world, and the Nats had to pay him the money, but I’d still rather have Heyward.
Keith Law says the TC report is B.S. Not that I don’t have a ton of respect for the people at TC, but I think KLaw is probably right.
Tommy Hanson still doesn’t know how to win I see. If he doesn’t get his act together they might have to ship him back to AAA.
But Moylan does.
sdp, those are very encouraging numbers for Matt Lipka thusfar, thanks for posting that link.
I also would like to second AAG’s thoughts about Roger McDowell. I think we all would agree that he had pretty big shoes to fill, and I would say he has certainly exceeded my expectations. I think the real underrated stars of the organization are the Bruce Dal Canton minor league types that made all of the continuous postseason appearances possible.
Also, a Peanut article that features a ‘silencing the critics’ headline will never stop being funny to me.
I also wouldn’t mind a Inge/Conrad platoon at 3B, leaving Prado at 2B, and freeing up Infante to play more in CF.
@353 Where is the “silencing the critics” article on Roger?
#351
So would EVERYONE at BA, too.
as for Sabol and Alvord, I’M FUCKING PISSED. We had an agreement with Alvord in place. WITH a hometown discount. This is a guy people were comparing to Utley. This is a guy who demolished balls with wooden bats at Turner in May. This is a guy who COULD have, honestly, moved to 3B. Sabol was leaning to signing with us. He was our future LF in 4 years. We went cheap. VERY cheap. Disgustingly cheap to get a guy that, honestly, has been mediocre this year. I’ve been a Wren defender for a while, but after today, I have to say that he’s turning our organization into the Orioles.
@356:
Hyperbole much?
@356
bullshit.
I really wish we would have signed Alvord. But if the tradeoff is Ramirez, I could get over it.
Your that angry over a couple of kids named Sabol and Alvord?
The TC rumor about Aramis Ramirez has to be bullshit. 30+ extra large for a guy that has been very good but also misses a lot of baseball because of injury? Acquired by a team that can’t even afford to sign Sabol and Alvord? Doesn’t compute.
I am so stoked about the win. When I last checked I thought we were toast. Resilient.
“We’re just a team that fights,” Ross said after Atlanta’s 20th win this season on their last at-bat. “We’re in first place for a reason.”
Go Braves!
#357
How is that an exaggeration? Remember, Wren’s time as the GM of Baltimore was riddled with bad FA signings (Belle) that handcuffed the organization and Drafts that were FAR less than stellar (Jay Gibbons was his lone star of note). He’s been down this road before and to think otherwise is to doubt the collective intelligence of our fan base.
#356
Nothing of substance I see. Just say “bullshit” when you disagree. How insightful. Thanks for playing.
#360
When your first word is the incorrect usage of “your” in place of “you’re”, I’m pretty sure the rest of your post is not worth reading.
@362
that’s all your comment deserves, especially when you know nothing of the facts. we’re in first place and our minor leagues have a ton of players that can be a major impact.
bullshit is what your post deserves. so….
bullshit.
If we go 24-24 the rest of the season, we’ll finish with 90 wins. I think we can go 29-19 for 95 and that should be enough. Only 8 teams in the past 10 years have finished with 90 wins and not made the playoffs, and they were mostly concentrated towards the start of the century.
Some notes on the upcoming schedule: We miss Strasburg this week and we miss Ubaldo next week, and most importantly, Philly still has to have it’s long West Coast trip.
Was last night the best win of the season??
Hard to top the Cincy walk off Granny win, but this one last night is up there.
365,
I think it has to be considered.
@354,
This is a big weeks for the Phillies.
Chris, I believe the Albert Belle contract cost the Orioles very little after he retired due to an insurance policy they had on him.
chris, I don’t believe GMs operate in a vacuum. The Braves are a far superior organization when it comes to scouting. You sound hysterical and I am reminded of the scene in Airplane. Relax.
#362 – But you read the post any way, find any more grammatical errors?
Your pretty alone in you’re opinion of our GM.
@365 The beautiful thing about last night’s win was that it was a great snapshot of the things this team is doing well, and it’s a blueprint for what it’s going to have to do to get some more offense out of a depleted lineup.
One base, on base, on base, win.
Speaking of the Orioles, a Baltimore fan told me he’d heard that Mike Flanagan is interested in managing and had talked with Wren.
Would any of you believe that?
I have kind of been reading on the blogs about the whole Alvord situation. I am no fan of Frank Wren. I think he tends to be reactive and not proactive in signings, and he has a sick obsession with speedy guys, but I don’t think this is on him.
Not signing Alvord to make a run at Rameriez, or Hawpe, etc. is cutting off your nose to spite your face. It is an ownership being cheap issue and not a GM issue.
The braves need a bat at the ML level now, they also need hitters on the farm where we are devoid of anything resembling an impact bat at any level higher than A ball, save Freeman. This is a perfect opportunity to spend a little money to make some money.
The fans in Atlanta and the Southeast LIKE this team. The mojo is back. If you build it they will come, menaing get a bat or two and invest in making a run, cash in with a playoff run, and you will draw fans, the money will be made back. You also have to invest in the future. Keep the pipeline stocked, show the fans you care, they will come.
Frank Wren is below average, but Liberty Media blows. BTW, I am not in favor of any deadline deal involving Freeman or Tehran, especially one where ATL takes on money. Teams are dying to dump salary cause folks are broke, take on some more money before giving prospects.
I am no fan of Frank Wren. I think he tends to be reactive and not proactive in signings, and he has a sick obsession with speedy guys, but I don’t think this is on him.
What in the world?
Guys, if the kid is really this good, he would be a first rounder by default. I don’t believe he is really all that good.
Late recap is up.
374—No, both kids are pretty good. They just had “strong” college commitments, which often gets kids who would otherwise be considered in the first round pushed down the draft board.