Washington Nationals vs. Atlanta Braves – Box Score – September 15, 2010 – ESPN.
Pathetic failure, thy name is the 2010 Atlanta Braves (September version). Mike Minor gave up a grand slam in the second inning. The Nats got a total of two hits after that. And they didn’t have to worry about it, because the Braves couldn’t do diddly.
Well, in the fourth, Troy Glaus, starting because what the hell, walked, and Matt Diaz doubled. Alex Gonzalez, in full-scale failure mode, popped up, but Melky Cabrera drove in Glaus with a groundout. That was it. In the fifth, Omar Infante doubled, then came home on a two-out Martin Prado single, only for Prado to get thrown out trying to advance.
The Braves doubled the Nats’ hit total, 10 to 5, and drew one more walk, 3 to 2. While they didn’t hit a homer, they had five doubles. And two runs. I tire of this.
We’d be one-and-done in the playoffs, anyway. Does it matter if we make it?
I really thought there’d be more win-it-for-Bobby effect, but with Chipper out who’s the guy on the roster that’s been with him the longest? Everyone on the team seems to like him. Nobody seems particularly motivated to storm the barricades for him though.
We could also just collectively suck.
This was the Braves’ first loss of a home series since against the Phillies from April 20-22.
And we lost to frickin’ Washington.
Honestly, doesn’t anyone here want to go to the playoffs? Or couldn’t they reschedule Bobby’s farewell party from October 3rd?
The only spark I can think of now is to put Chipper in a walking cast and let him pinch-hit.
I want to go to the playoffs. I don’t want to go and get swept in the NLDS.
So, Mac, are you working on the Where Do We Go From Here? Posts yet? Because after today, it sure looks like you’ll need them around the first week of October.
Seems like this team really misses Chipper and Medlen.
Any chance A Gon sits a game so Infante can play short and we can get Glaus or Conrad in at 3rd? At least Glaus will occasionally take a walk, the first pitch pop up by A Gon with 2nd and 3rd no one out was a good foot outside.
1, exactly my thoughts. Our chances of beating the Phillies in the playoffs are zero, so why should I care if we make it or not? The Phillies bought the pennant when they got Oswalt. We, meanwhile, added crap and lost Chipper and Medlen.
Yeah, the old first pitch rally killer. That’s his specialty.
I don’t agree that the Chipper-less line-up has been the probelm.
When he went down he was replaced by Infante who has produced at a level on par with or better than the team got from Chipper all year.
The real line-up problems remain unchanged from opening day: no power and below average production from 1sy Base, Left and Center.
I want to go. I’d rather work myself into a frenzy of false hope and then have them dashed in the playoffs. We should be good at that by now. 95 was the aberration.
I don’t think the team is not trying or is giving up. They are tiring (it’s been a long, difficult schedule) and IMO, the team played over its head for most of the year. The combination of limited talent and the natural reversion to the mean has caught up with them. This is a lineup that all year was barely adequate–they were doing it with mirrors. A team with no power or speed. September is bad for teams like that. All along, success for the team was predicated on (1) Chipper bouncing back; (2) Glaus providing some pop at first; (3) shortstop (Escobar)providing punch; (4) McLouth doing well in CF; (5) Heyward contributing; and (4) deep starting pitching.
Several of these things did happen–the pitching and bullpen were strong most of the year, and Heyward has obviously been a contributor. Many of these things did not happen, yet the Braves were in first place most of the year. Without Chipper and a functioning first baseman, this was maybe an 85-88 win team.
They might still slip into the playoffs but, right now, they aren’t a playoff team. My deeper concern is will the Braves be better next year? Unless they make a lot of moves, they will still have holes in LF, CF, 3B (even if Chipper comes back, will he be any good), 1B (Freeman will be young and he is no Jason Heyward as a prospect), and, arguably, SS. I think there is also a big question mark about JJ after the way he has pitched in recent weeks. Heyward should be better and I assume Wren will make some moves during the offseason, but there doesn’t seem to be a lot of immediate help on the way.
Wow…didn’t even know it was a day game. Guess I am already tuning out.
The starting pitching has given up. The defense long since gave up. The offense has given up. The fans have given up. And judging by him starting Glaus and Melky and batting Ross 8th, even Bobby has given up. It’s weird how a team that has won so many games in its final at bat has turned into such chokers.
Is it too early to start dreaming about trading Lowe and KK and signing Carl Crawford yet?
a little cheering up
http://tinyurl.com/2cnc9kg
At least Kimbrel has looked absolutely wicked the last 3 weeks. Here’s to him keeping that up.
Freeman isn’t the prospect Heyward was, but he’s a top prospect all the same and projects to be a very, very good major leaguer. This season quashed any of the doubts I had. McCann, Prado, Heyward, and Freeman are a great core.
But yeah, that leaves four other positions. LF is a black hole; CF is probably the same, only we are on the line for a relatively hefty sum to pay McLouth; SS is filled with the definition of an average baseball player; and 3B is a huge question mark–especially if we have money tied up in an aging vet who may or may not make it back before June. Hopefully Wren nets a Matt Kemp or Colby Rasmus this offseason, but if he does expect a Jurrjens/Delgado package or something of the sort.
Lost two of three to the Pirates and Nationals in a close race in September.
That should automatically disqualify them.
trade Hanson/prospect for Braun/prospect
Adam, We’re thinking along the same lines, I would include Infante (in a super-sub role) as part of a great core. I think McClouth gets another chance due to his recent hitting (which will prove disatrous, in all likely-hood.) Left-field needs an everyday right-handed power bat. I say damn the defense, get someone who can rake. 3b—-Is Chipper’s until he proves he can’t play anymore, which could happen around May 15th. SS-Man, I just don’t know. I suppose you could go with Agony, or someone similar to him, personally, I’d just like to find someone who could play the position. I’d sacrifice some offense here. Pitching, I like our bull-pen, I think Venters has thrown a lot of innings this year, he’ll be better next year, and will probably inherit the closer’s role. Starters—-Hanson will be strong next year, Huddy still the ace, Lowe a lot of money for a 13-12 pitcher, JJ—-Big time worry. We’ll definitely miss Medlin. Jury’s still out on Minor.
I don’t think the problem is that the Braves were playing over their heads or that everyone is just collectively gassed (or if that is the case then get everyone out of here not named Heyward because if you can’t play a full baseball season then what good are you?), I think it has to do with the change in offensive philosophy that, imo, was signaled by the Escobar for Gonzalez trade.
If we can just put the whole “he was a cancer” thing aside for the moment, it’s still true that Escobar wasn’t contributing anything with the bat. Not that involved actually hitting a ball, anyway. But despite the fact that he was only hitting .238 for ATL, he was still posting a .334 OBP. While nothing to write home about, it’s made slightly more impressive given how impotent he was when it came to actually hitting the ball. He drew 37 walks for ATL before he was traded.
Gonzalez, on the other hand, has drawn 29 walks ALL YEAR – just 12 for Atlanta in nearly as many games. I don’t even know how it’s possible to walk less than 30 times in nearly a full season. Hitting 30 points higher for ATL than Escobar, his OBP is still 11 points lower. Again, not a huge deal, but it was only a sign of things to come.
After the ASB, the Braves either forgot how to be patient and take walks and create opportunities to score runs, or they were told, directly or indirectly, what amounts to “if OBP is so important, why don’t they put it on the scoreboard?” Because since then, the Braves are approaching offense as if Francoeur were the hitting coach, only he’s not teaching Heyward because he’s jealous that he’s got Frenchy’s old spot in RF.
Keith Law projects Freeman as a good prospect but not great. Even if he has a high ceiling, he is still going to be very young and probably lacking Heyward’s plate discipline. Not saying he won’t hit eventually, but counting on big numbers next year might be unrealistic.
Also I’d literally throw AAG under bus before I let him step foot on the field in a Braves uniform next season. Play a three legged dog at SS for all I care, I hate AAG. Put Francoeur at SS. The bat would be basically the same, only it wouldn’t be old and have been traded for under the auspices of 4 weeks of good play out of a lifetime of fucking failure.
God I hate that fucking trade. I’ll never be able to think good things about Bobby again. And Wren is pushing it.
Not that they nor anyone else cares.
21- That’s exactly what I’ve been saying; the trades had the cumulative effect of telling the team that its first-half strengths were unimportant. Forget defense and patience; swing for the fences and don’t worry about an error or five.
But there is also a psychology problem here. When a guy on track to win the batting title, representing the tying run, sacrifices rather than swings away, that tells me that he is terrified of failing. There is no reason for this. Infante’s certainly succeeded often enough in this situation, so why is he giving up now?
As for Cox, he’s out to lunch. The problem is that I can’t think of a coach on this staff who should have his job.
Oh, and the Rox are winning 9-2 in the 6th and will gain a game on us.
The most frustrating part was how many bad pitches they swung at with runners on. In the middle innings, Lannan wasn’t anywhere near the zone EVER. He was walking guys right and left, and getting behind everyone. So what did the Braves do? They swung at 2-0 off-speed pitches in the dirt. Very disappointing.
I think this team was definitely playing over their heads. It’s pretty ridiculous to think we would actually win the division over the Phillies. They are a much more talented ball club. We have been getting by on heart, clubhouse chemistry, and luck. Losing Medlen and Chipper hurt too.
Starter Comparison vs. Phillies with Career/Season OPS and Career/Season ERA
LF Raul Ibanez(.821/.775) vs. Melky(.708/.674)/Diaz(.805/.725)
C Victorino(.773/.770) vs. Ankiel(.753/.700)/McLouth(.776/.611)
RF Werth(.839/.886) vs. Heyward(.884/.884)
3B Polanco(.760/.741) vs. Prado(.816/.824)
SS Rollins(.764/.695) vs. AGon(.699/.774)
2B Utley(.895/.836) vs. Infante(.718/.808)
1B Howard(.946/.862) vs. Lee(.864/.744)
C Ruiz(.743/.841) vs. McCann(.853/.849)
P1 Halladay(3.33/2.44) vs. Hudson(3.41/2.62)
P2 Oswalt(3.20/2.94) vs. Hanson(3.27/3.54)
P3 Hamels(3.53/3.01) vs. Jurrjens(3.52/4.64)
P4 Blanton(4.31/5.00) vs. Minor(5.84/5.84)
P5 Kendrick(4.73/4.85) vs. Lowe(3.87/4.22)
They are fielding someone with a better season OPS at 5 out of 8 positions and someone with a better season ERA at 4 out of five rotation spots. At least our bullpen is better.
The Braves have also had better overall pitching, have three great players, and have the best run differential in the National League. It’s not just luck, or clubhouse chemistry, or heart. They’re a good team. It’s just a shame that three positions have been so awful; had the Braves posted even league average numbers from their CF, LF, and 1B positions this year, they would probably have wrapped the division up already.
@27-
I didn’t say the Braves weren’t good. Just that it is clear they aren’t the best team in the division. If the starting pitchers pitch well through September, we could still put together a run here. But Hudson has had a few rough starts in a row, Jurrjens looks to have completely lost it, and Minor has dead arm.
What do we do with Infante next year? He’s bound to come back to earth some, but I think he’ll still be able to put up something around .310, albeit an empty, low SLG, low OBP .310.
Put Infante at SS so we don’t have to bring back AAG. He can’t be any worse offensively or defensively, and he’s apparently not a detriment to the holy grail of baseball that is clubhouse chemistry.
The Phils are a better team because everyone on the team sends each other birthday cards and Christmas presents.
Except when Werth is busy banging Utley’s wife.
Send Omar to SS next year is my vote too. Not that it matters.
If I can’t see the braves in the playoffs can I at least NOT see the rockies there or the phillies in the WS? I’m sick of watch the phils in the WS, this must be how they felt all those years we went… As for the rockies, f@#*’em, I can’t stand that team.
@30
No, the entire Phillies roster is just THAT close. That’s why they’re so good.
29, 31- Thirded. A Chipper/ Infante/ Prado/ Freeman infield next year will have some glove problems but should put runs on the board.
I’m officially boycotting the Braves and baseball for a day maybe two.
not to mention that aag, coming off a career year, will be a great trading chip with his 2.5 million dollar salary. the braves might seriously be able to get a real left fielder in exchange for alex.
34- Convenient since the Braves have an off-day tomorrow.
Who has two thumbs and
misses Medlen and Chipper?
This guy. (Frowny face.)
Haiku’s power will
be severely tested by
the Atlanta bats
@ 36
Thats why I’m thinking maybe two but Friday is also my birthday and I would really just like the Braves to win that day but I also don’t want to see them lose 3 a row to the Nationals/Mets.
Do you think Lemke’s
knuckleball might be better
than Jurrjens and Lowe?
Chris Woodward sighting. Starting at SS for Seattle tonight.
I think it has to do with the change in offensive philosophy that, imo, was signaled by the Escobar for Gonzalez trade.
Yeah the philosophy really worked when Chipper and Glaus were in the lineup. Now we’ve got New Guy and Diaz who don’t walk period, plus Infante and Prado who barely walk. That’s half the lineup.
Still, we had the fourth most walks in baseball in August and are currently ninth in September. The real problem has been the power outage. Fourth most homers in baseball in August. Dead last in September so far.
As for Cox, he’s out to lunch. The problem is that I can’t think of a coach on this staff who should have his job.
As for this, I agreed with ever thing he did today (Infante was clearly bunting for a hit on his own). McCann can’t play everyday, spotting Ross against a lefty is good. Giving Glaus a chance against a lefty is good with Lee slumping. Melky against a lefty is good. Got Minor out of there as soon as he reasonably could.
When nobody is hitting, what can you do?
Has Bobby ever been a great game manager?
I know he’s won a lot of games–he’s a phenomenal manager, but IMO, that has always been more about managing the team and players in a way that gets people’s best performance rather than Bobby being some great manager of in-game decisions.
Obviously you have to do both well to succeed at the Majors level for as long as he has, but Cox’s specialty has always been more managing players than managing games. Helps explain 14 straight division titles but only one world series championship.
Who said in the middle of the season that this team wasn’t going to hold up? That’d be me. And that was when we still had Medlen and Chipper.
They symmetry of this season is really remarkable, if you can get past how bad it stings to watch your team collapse. They started out awful, rode Glaus, Prado (who were playing above their heads) and Heyward (who is just awesome) in the middle of the year, let the pitching carry them for a few months, then people got hurt, the trades they made didn’t work out, and everyone who was playing over their heads came back to earth.
McCann is also the best player on the team. He probably had something to do with their winning too.
Sex.
Either this team will completely collapse or we will kick ass in the playoff. There will be no in-between.
Go-o-o-o Dodgers.
Hey ububba, going to the Mets-Braves games? I have to go to a wedding this weekend but I’m gonna try to sneak away for Sunday if possible.
I just finished watcing the Rays-Yankees. Pretty exciting. Too bad the Braves aren’t fighting for a pennant. (:
If only the Braves could hit as well as Jeter can act.
@42 – thanks for providing that info. I had thought along the same lines as post #21, but it is interesting to see that the Braves had not dropped as far back as I had thought (with AAG, Prado, Infante especially). Still, though, it is a pretty significant drop off from early in the season, when they were leading the world in walks (though, of course, they were leading the division the too, so you can’t just say ‘see what they were doing when…’; it was a different team with Chipper & others,etc)
Nobody told me Nyjer Morgan tried to fight with Moylan…
Rob,
Yeah, I’m going Friday & Saturday with some friends visiting from from ATL (love that 4 pm start). Sunday is a little more doubtful.
Gotta cool off those blazing Mets.
It’s looking like with the now 3 game deficit in the division that the Braves have to cling to that slim Wild Card lead.
55- Which is a few minutes from being down to 1/2 game.
Maybe the Braves’ conditioning regimen needs to be examined. No other contender has fallen off the way the Braves have, and it certainly isn’t because of the schedule we’ve been playing.
You guys worry too much.
1) Still leading the Wild Card.
2) Still way better than the Giants.
3) Probably better than the Padres.
4) Still way better than the Rocks outside of the beer pit.
Also, the Phillies doing so well could help us out. If they clinch before the final games of the season, they might rest all of their starters during that final series.
I’m still pretty confident the team will make the playoffs.
@56, what do you mean? The Cardinals completely collapsed. The Padres lost like 10 straight.
A day off for Melky
In New York City
Lock up your daughters
JoeyT hope is thy name.
I love it!
joey, when our starting pitchers start giving up runs in bunches and we cant produce a run for shit, i’d say the worries are justified.
Baseball Gods must be
appeased, for Braves to win
Sacrifice Melky
Every time you fail
To follow five-seven-five,
God tells Cox, “Play Melk.”
how is matt young’s defense in cf? i mean, the guy screams leadoff. he rarely strikes out. his stolen base % has drastically increased over the past 3 years (81% compared to 56% his first 3 years), and his career minor league obp is .390.
Joey T,
It must be nice to be a wide-eyed optimist. Personally, I’m going back to pessimism; it seems to work better. Two weeks ago, I was sure the Braves would make the playoffs; now it seems unlikely. I’m just hoping they can get to 90 wins now.
But I still say this has been one of Bobby’s best jobs of managing, no matter how we pick at him for in-game strategy. I still think this is a moderately talented team that was leading a far superior team for three months, with almost no production from first base and center field, and declining production from left field and shortstop, and, for most of the year, third base.
I’m sad. 🙁
I don’t think the Phillies were a far superior team. They had an underperforming lineup, a horrible bullpen and an excellent front end rotation. Now they have an overperforming lineup and Roy Oswalt.
Call me optimistic, but I still believe that it comes down to the six we still play against the Phils. They’ve gotten healthy and are finally beating the teams they’re supposed to beat. We’re in a slump, but there’s no reason to believe that the bats and arms won’t get hot again.
But like I said two months ago, I’d sure like to see where we would have been if we had gotten Oswalt instead of the Phils. That move alone makes the last six games the most important of the season.
On the JQAS Study of Attendance and Winning.
I guess I like being optimistic. It might not happen, but I really enjoy looking forward to the playoffs right now. I want to believe in this, and I do. If they don’t make it, then that sucks. But I would much rather go this last few weeks with hope and confidence that this team will make it rather than worrying and acting like the season is completely over. The team hasn’t been this close to the playoffs in 5 years, boys. Let’s just take this all in and believe that this team will make it.
If in three weeks they aren’t playing in the playoffs, feel free to refer back to this post and rag on me as much as you want.
At this point in the year, I think we’ll play a lot better against the Phillies than other teams. We stink against pitchers we’ve never seen (especially when they have high ERAs) and managers have a tendency to pull pitchers who are uncharacteristically performing well at the first sign of trouble. This is even more prevalent since they have extra arms with roster expansion. We should at least split the series with the Phils, my concern is the other guys – Mets, Marlins and Nats.
@69,
I don’t think anyone (at least me) would rag on you for being optimistic. It’s a much better attitude. I agree that there is no reason to cut your throat; if they make it, they make it, if they don’t, they don’t. It just seems that whenever I am optimistic about the Braves, they suck and when I am pessimistic they do better. I’m hoping that’s the case.
@70,
It seems to me almost all teams struggle against pitchers they haven’t seen, especially teams with a lot of veterans. I don’t think this is peculiar to the Braves. A lot of times it’s easier to hit against guys you have seen–even if they are good pitchers. The Braves just seem to have this weird feast or famine phenomenon–they either score a lot of runs or score nothing. They are having trouble scratching out runs, partly, I think, because of their lack of power.
In the past nothing has cured our woes like a visit with the New York Mets.
This haiku thing — ugh.
Superstition doesn’t work?
I’m at my wit’s end.
@71 – I guess I’ve thought this was mostly a Brave phenomenon, but you could be right. My only problem with that theory is that recently we’ve gone against guys on their 3rd or 4th start with horrible ERAs. Apparently the previous teams didn’t struggle against him the first time they saw him.
I don’t know how, but I completely missed the Jeter thing.
What did he do?
In my less than distinguished athletic career, I really wanted to excel. I practiced hard, worked on technique and disciplined myself (nothing kinky).
Despite my best efforts, I never became a starter. Folks with more natural talent, who may or may not have worked as hard as I did, suceeded where I failed.
I believe it was Grantland Rice who said, “The race does not always go to the swift and the strong, but that’s the way to bet.”
Bobby Cox gets good effort from his players by and large; but talent plus effort beats less talent and more effort a lot of the time.
I’ve enjoyed the Braves this year, and hope still lingers; but it’s hard to win when half of your offense is not league average. It’s got to be depressing as hell for a pitcher to give up a couple of runs early and know he’s probably not going to get a win.
Still, it ain’t over til it’s over.
Go Braves!
Cap’n America pretended a ball hit him but it didn’t.
@71,
Well, you see a lot of pitchers that come up and have success right away, but then are much less successful the second time around. This isn’t universal, but it happens quite often; for example, Kyle Davies was very effective and won some big games when he first came up but that has hardly translated into stardom. I’ve read enough comments from fans of other teams that also complain about how their teams struggle against new pitchers.
I’m not sure that many people really think we’re out of the playoffs. The problem is that this team just doesn’t look it could really compete in the playoffs. You can call it a slump, but it’s been a 4-6 week slump.
Absolutely phenomenal article at BP on Chipper.
For non-subscribers, here’s the main thrust, writing of Eddie Murray and Pete Rose (other all-time great switch hitters):
“[B]oth of these players had stellar lines when their production had reached the point of no return, yet we give them credit as being markedly better than players like Chipper because they hung on and produced poor numbers in the attempt to reach an arbitrary point.”
He has a lot of evidence that Chipper was better than either.
He doesn’t compare vs someone like Mantle, but the article is still a great read.
Totally right on.
Chipper was way better than
Murray and Pete Rose.
That Chipper guy…he was pretty good.
I’m not usually a pessimist, but this team looks done to me. There are just too many guys hurt/playing hurt/slumping at the same time. I hope they prove me wrong, but with the way the pitching has been lately, I don’t see us sneaking into the post-season.
What do our payroll numbers look like for next year? Is there any room for a big bat like Werth?
#80
Didn’t read the story, but it’s an interesting (& kinda weird) comparison, Murray & Chipper. The first thing I think about isn’t the rate stats or the counting stats.
One thing about Murray when comparing him Chipper: Murray played 150 games 16 times, Chipper 8 times.
That’s not nothing.
@73
Writing’s on the wall.
Superstition ain’t the way.
Stevie bans haiku.
On the JQAS Study of Attendance and Winning.
This I’d like to know more about:
If the authors had lied about something so simple and easy to verify, what had they done behind the scene, where numbers can easily be manipulated? I looked at the results more closely, things looked fishy, and the explanations in the text didn’t make much sense.
I’m never going to have time to go check the numbers, but just reading the paper it had that ‘sandwich’ feel to it. That is, the top part was written, the bottom part was written and then the author went about finding something to put in the middle to make the whole thing go down smoothly. Unfortunately a common tactic for those trying to make a name for themselves.
@85,
Seems like the article was data analysis looking for a theory rather than the other way around. The authors said, hmm, there’s some interesting data, maybe I can build an article around it.
@83,
In fairness to Chipper, Murray (1) played first base for most of his career where the risk of injury is minimal; and (2)until he went to the NL late in his career, Murray was able to DH. Both of those factors made it easier for Murray to stay in the lineue.
But you are right, Ububba, it does mean something. The thing is, for the first part of his career, Chipper was incredibly durable and played through tons of injuries. For some reason, starting around 2004, I guess, his body just seemed to start breaking down.
I don’t know why the author didn’t include Mantle, other than the thought that Mantle was so obviously the best switch hitter that it would have been a “Duh” moment.
Did I see that right? Kelly Johnson has 21 homeruns? Twenty one?
Yep justhank… we basically gave away a non-clubhouse-cancer-cost-controlled Utley 2.0 (who COULD have played LF).
He also has played really good defense with a .364 wOBA. Heck of a year, even if a lot of it was park-produced.
Oh look, the Mets and we get to face Left handed Neise, Maybe Gee who we’ve never seen before and has an ERA of 0.69 in his two starts, and Pelf or Dickey? If we friggin lose 3 to the Mets I’m gonna move passed depression into ticked-off.
Also, let it be noted that Johnson was put on waivers and nobody–nobody!–claimed him. I must be missing something…
And now, for no reason at all, Bobby Cox with a chicken on his head.
@91
Not a great demand for second basemen for contenders.
Let’s be honest, his D in the out field make Melky look like Andruw Jones in his prime.
His number are largely park produced.
But good for him. I am glad he is producing.
I guess it is suprizing a team didn’t pick him up for a left handed power bat off the bench.
Braves and Myrtle Beach have apparently cut ties, no word yet on where the Braves’ high-A team will be next season.
KJ has had a great year but he was pretty much KJ which is to say streaky as hell. His stellar season is propped up by a torrid start & a strong July if going by month:
Split 5 G PA BA OBP SLG OPS
April/March 22 94 0.313 0.404 0.75 1.154
August 29 126 0.257 0.357 0.404 0.761
July 24 105 0.333 0.381 0.552 0.933
June 25 119 0.235 0.345 0.333 0.678
May 27 115 0.245 0.351 0.418 0.769
Sept/Oct12 50 0.244 0.292 0.467 0.758
Mac, could we see a Fayetteville, NC affiliation (my hometown). We were A for the Tigers a while back and have a decent stadium and PLENTY of Braves fans. Would make going home tolerable.
From what I can tell, there are three Carolina League affliations expiring this year (not including the Pelicans): Kinston with the Indians, Lynchburg with the Reds, and Potomac with the Nats. Assuming the last stays [UPDATE: they have] the Braves better get one of the other two or they’re going to wind up with a team in the California League.
Expiring High-A affliations. Someone is going to get shuffled out to the California League over this, and it better not be us.
Wow that has to suck for the high A kids. Where would you rather play? Myrtle Beach or Lynchburg? Hell I dunno Lynchburg may be paradise but Myrtle Beach has certain accoutrements.
It would be cool if they could move to Charleston SC. They are Sallie league now but they have changed affiliations serveral times that I know of.
Here’s a reality check: the Braves are tied with the Reds and Padres for the second-best record in the NL. That means that the Braves control their fate, even after the semi-disastrous home stand in which they could have put some distance between themselves and the WC contenders. They even, technically, still control their fate in the division, since they play Philly six more times–but that’s a longshot.
All to say… for all their awfulness of late, the Braves aren’t done yet. They need better starting pitching, and they need to hit better with men on base, but what happened yesterday doesn’t actually shape what will happen tomorrow. In a way, the season starts anew this weekend.
Well, if it’s Bakersfield, which I fear will be the case, at least there’s a musical tradition.
The Braves own all their affiliates except MB. They might try to buy an A-ball affliate but could wind up stuck in the CL for a couple of years first.
Bakersfield, huh? Good Vic Chesnutt song, too.
Imagine-That Dept.
Most Mets fans had fully transitioned to football by the first NFL pre-season game (or the first day of the Darrelle Revis holdout), but now they’re talking smack about ruining Bobby Cox’s last season.
I’m sure the Braves are plenty motivated this weekend. And now, FWIW, so am I.
Also kinda think that Citi Field is going to be dead this weekend. Not necessarily a bad thing.
Yuck.
Wow. Here’s a partial list of artists I’d rather see at the Super Bowl than the Black Eyed Peas:
America
Bread
Dan Fogelberg
Justin Guarini
Soulja Boy
The String Cheese Incident
Uncle Kracker
Zwan
Yoko Ono
Any Middle School orchestra
3000 Beginning Theramin Players
Nothin’ But Bagpipes…
I always disdainfully joke that a band that was popular 40 years ago, would be the halftime entertainment at the next Super Bowl, but I’d rather see an old Roger Daltrey/Pete Townsend WHO, than the Black Eyed Peas.
Alex, I actually saw America in concert. Not very good, but I still like the opening 20 seconds of Sister Golden Hair.
Alex, BTW, Dan Fogelberg won’t be giving any concerts any time soon. Good talent, loved Part of the Plan.
Oh, the Black Eyed Peas aren’t that bad.
Plus, the SB halftime has to trend a little younger at some point. Actually, for demo purposes, BEP are perfect. They have lotsa hits & the dirty old men can stare at Fergie.
I’m surprised the Super Bowl hasn’t recycled Bob Seger yet. But give ’em a year or two, it’ll be Bon Jovi. You watch.
I’d just make the halftime entertainment Prince every year, but that’s just me.
No Black Eyed Peas
For America’s Biggest Game
Only sixties bands
I’d be down with having Prince, Bruce Springsteen & Tom Petty alternate.
Ububba, I LOVE BOB SEGER. Listening to Get Out of Denver right now. All Midwest Boys will tell you he blew Jersey’s Bruce Springsteen away.
I actually thought McCartney was pretty good, if predictable (I called his entire set in advance, in order). Prince, Bruce, and Stevie Wonder in rotation.
I’d be okay with this, too.
My 18-year-old (at the time) daughter went to a Seeger show a few years ago. She loved it.
In fact, her younger brother’s favorite band is the Eagles. Followed closely by Led Zeppelin.
Btw, am I the only person in the world who didn’t love the Alison Krause / Robert Plant pairing? Love both of them individually, but it just didn’t mesh somehow. At least for me.
It was like they were on their first date and were watching their manners or something …
I read once that after about Super Bowl X, Pete Rozelle said, “Just no more Up With People.”
Is Stevie Wonder still performing?
Always wanted to go through life at the speed of “As”
————–
Jethro Tull, anyone? Maybe not for America’s Game.
And that picture of a chicken on Bobby’s head is stealthily hilarious.
High-A Braves are going to … Lynchburg! Feel the excitement!
Randy,
Dunno if you know this, but Bob Seger worships Bruce Springsteen.
He’s said himself that listening over & over to “Born to Run” inspired him to write the “Night Moves” albums.
FWIW, I like Bob Seger fine. Saw him open for Kiss once. Stopped buying his 8-tracks after “Stranger In Town.” Love the live album.
However, I gotta say that “Old Time Rock N Roll” is one of my least-favorite songs, right up there with “Don’t Stop Believin’.”
Lynchburg? Well, at least they’ll have an ample supply of Dr. Daniels if anybody gets hurt.
Virginia, not Tennessee.
#122
That show was in the late summer of 1976, at the Atlanta-Fulton County stadium. Johnny and Edgar Winter were on the same bill, but they had to wait until after dark to play. Blue Oyster Cult, .38 Special, and someone else whom I forget. Good show!
Remy,
Summer Starburst!
Aug 29, 1976. I’d just turned 13.
Nope, you got ’em all.
It started raining during the BOC set & they had to stop a couple times because they were getting zapped onstage.
BTW, that show (along with many other shows, like the motocross events) was one of the reasons why AFC Stadium had one of the worst infields in MLB. The field got tore up that day.
And now, for no reason at all, Bobby Cox with a chicken on his head.
That’s just Jurrjens laying another egg.
Ububba, I agree that Old Time Rock N Roll pretty much sucks. Contrary to most beliefs, it really wasn’t a very big hit. Owes more to Risky Business to it’s continued play on oldies stations.
My Top Ten Seger Songs: 1, Night Moves, 2, Turn the Page, 3, Get Out of Denver, 4, Katmandu, 5, Ramblin Gamblin Man, 6, Beautiful Loser, 7, Heavy Music, 8, 2+2= 9, Travlin’ Man 10, Down on Mainstreet.
Also realize that Seger/Springsteen are huge fans of each other. Love Bruce myself. Just like to see the old Midwest boy get his due.
Remy,Would have loved to see that show in ’76! I’ve seen BOC on two occasions, very good. Saw Johnny Winter years ago in a bar, FANTASTIC!
BTW—I don’t really like Journey, but I have to admit I love Don’t Stop Believin’ Just a city boy, born and raised in South Detroit. Love that line.
@122 – the feeling must be mutual, as Bruce did that entire album of Seger covers…
Back from Amsterdam
Things are just as I left them
Except worse now. Sigh.
Is this Jerry Falwell’s Lynchburg?
Yep.
They play in “Calvin Falwell Field”. I am very carefully following my own rules here.
Hillcats Sign Player Development Contract with Braves | Lynchburg Hillcats News.
Billy Joel and Elton John would be the best halftime show tbqh. Especially if they extend it to two hours.
This is what I will say. I am glad that the Braves’ High-A affiliate is still in the South. I am glad that the Braves’ scouts will remain in the same time zone as the home club, and within the same general region.
Pete Seeger, Bob Seger… what’s the difference?
#128
Yup, that’s the batch right there.
And, as if it needs any further recommendation, Amsterdam is one of the great, great cities in the world. Just be careful you don’t get slammed by a bicycle.
Speaking of old rock bands, have any of you guys seen Kansas in concert lately? IMO they are still amazingly good. Going to colleges and performing with their symphony orchestras is a great idea.
No California League then I guess. Too bad, it would have been fun to pretend we had all these great power prospects in the minors.
Myrtle Beach blows.
Hate having to pay so much attention to the out-of-town scoreboard, but… go Dodgers, go Cardinals.
I’m still sad that the AAA team left Richmond, but that’s cool that the A team is headed to my hometown. (Not that I’m ever there…)
134 — when in the world did they name it that?! It’s always been “City Stadium” to me…
I love Journey. I’m
Not even kidding. Love them.
Now, do you hate me?
“Faithfully” has got
To be the greatest power
Ballad of all time.
Ok Lynchburg. Still got to suck for the players. Of course I may be remembering the Myrtle Beach of my youth and not what ever is there present day. Drinking age back then was 18.
edit: whew, I thought I was the only one that liked Journey.
Love and a music
Man ain’t always what it’s s’posed
To be — amirite?
Whoever says they don’t like Journey is lying.
And my grandma owns a condo in Myrtle Beach so we used to go there every summer. Last time I went was for Spring Break in March of last year. I actually had a hell of a time.
147 — Many people in Lynchburg vacation in Myrtle Beach. It’s a pretty easy call on the preferable location…
Other than the strange videos, what’s wrong with Journey?
Crazy ride home tonight. We, apparently, had tornadoes here. Among other crazy debris, I saw an uprooted 50-foot tree on the side of the Grand Central Parkway.
#149
I’m certainly not lying.
And “don’t like” is too kind a notion.
To each his own, but the word “saccharin” comes to mind.
#150 didn’t mean to disparage your home town.
I took my family to Myrtle a couple of years ago. Damn, it looked like I270 near Dublin there were so many Ohio license plates.
#152 Yeah we had one of those apocalyptic style thunder storms roll through here late afternoon. Its disconcerting when the building tornado alarm goes off and its not a drill.
Lovin, Touchin, Squeezin would be what’s wrong with Journey.
Apparently Randy never let Steve Perry do his dirty work for him.
As for me, gratitude swells.
Two songs I loathe: “Don’t
Stop Believin'” and “Jack and
Diane.” They’re like Kolbb.
EDIT: Also, new All Questions Answered thread over at minorleagueball.com.
The Giants are on track to win their game tonight and pass the Padres, who lost today. We would hold a .5 game lead on San Diego.
Chris Marve is the man
On the football field and in
Vanderbilt’s classrooms.
Alex, yes, I never listen to Jack and Diane after the first few seconds, but I got to admit I always stay to here “Sucking on a chili dog,outside the tastee-freeze.” Rapidly downhill after that.
Thanks, Cards.
Let’s do our own work tomorrow. We face a lefty (Niese), so we’ll need Matt Diaz to head into the phone booth & come out mashing.
I like Journey. Sue me.
@161
Thank you,Adam for posting.
It seemed that after 8 hours nobody had anything to say about the Braves or anything else, haiku or not.
I feared maybe the writing was on the wall about this team and I was just too stubborn to read it.
Now, more than ever:
Go Braves!
I think people are trying to distract themselves from the Braves by focusing on other things. Isn’t the fall weather nice these days?
ububba,
Summer Starburst! I had forgotten about the rain delay. Are you sure that Z.Z. Top wasn’t also on the bill? I want to say that it was their Tejas tour. Weren’t animals supposed to be onstage? I don’t know. Everything’s such a blur now.
Remy,
Nope, ZZ Top played its Worldwide Texas Tour date at AFC Stadium before that, but I think it was earlier that summer.
Onstage, they had haystacks, steers & rattlesnakes (in clear plastic cases on the lip of the stage). I didn’t go to that (I was 12 & lived 100 miles away), but a friend of mine did & later told me that Billy Gibbons would kick the cases with the snakes & they would rise up & start rattling.
Saw ZZ Top in Columbus, Ga., in 1979. I was 16 & obviously very impressionable, but it’s still one of the best rock shows I’ve ever seen.
#161
You’re under arrest.
@163, for the next 12 weeks, to own a motorcycle in Atlanta is one of the greatest joys man can hope to know.
OK I’ll play Mr. Brightside. We did just finish up a strech of 3 weeks with no off day, so maybe the rest will do us good. Not that it seems to matter to our offense but aside from the Phillies series, we really shouldn’t see tough pitching the rest of the year either as Josh Johnson, Nolasco, Strasburg and Santana are shutdown for the year. I expect us to start hitting again real soon.
Oh, and Toto for the Super Bowl.
Dusty,
I think the off day will help too. Alonge with playing the Mets
I know there is little respect for RBI as a statistic in the modern world of baseball, but it would sure be great to have a couple guys in the lineup that could cosistently hit a fly ball with a man at 3rd and one out.
Journey makes my ears bleed. But for some reason, Styx does not. I don’t know what this means, but I thought I’d share it.
Have you guys seen this ridiculous Mets commercial? It’s hilarious – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVkalfhzvVA
#165
ububba,
Thanks for sorting me out. Like I said, the bicentennial year has become a blur. Don’t remember what I paid for my ticket, but it was way cheap compared to today’s prices.
Summer Starburst was $7.50. I still have my ticket.
Randy at 128,
No “Her Strut”?
#166 Having driven in Atlanta, isn’t owning a motorcycle there tanamount to Russian Roulette?
Cliff, Her Strut is a really good Seger song, just misses the cut, along with Shakedown, Like a Rock, Makin’ Thunderbirds, Back in ’72, Against the Wind, Fire Down Below, and Come to Poppa. Come to think of it Fire Down Below could probably be top 10.
Jason at 170, I actually saw Styx twice in the 70’s. Early on as the opener for Crow (great Minneapolis group) and REO Speedwagon, then as a headliner. But they lost it for me in the Mr. Roboto days.
@174, no worse than anywhere else. I find that “bad driving” can be largely ameliorated by “paying attention”. Sure, you get the high pucker factor moment occasionally, but that’s sort of what makes it fun in the first place.
The fall is quite long and spectacular though.
And now that I think about it, I would also enjoy a Black Crowes show as long as they didn’t play anything from Warpaint except Woah Mule, Oh Josephine, or Locust Street.
Atlanta’s fine for motorcycles as long as you stay off 285. It’s so rutted and pot-holed that you can get forced into some dangerous routes even if you’re the only vehicle on the road. The real joy of motorcycle ownership in Atlanta is proximity to the Dahlonega/Jasper/Elijay area and some nice spots out west around Rome/Cedartown/Carrollton. NE Alabama is a surprisingly gorgeous place to ride too.
New post.