Yes, it’s go-for-.500-all-time day! This one’s for Wally Berger!
127 Comments
Advertisement
Use code “Journal” for a 5% discount.
Yes, it’s go-for-.500-all-time day! This one’s for Wally Berger!
Use code “Journal” for a 5% discount.
The Braves organization is really ‘reeling in the years.’
Baseball Nation has Venters’ sinker as the best pitch in baseball, unseating Mariano Rivera for the first time since 1996.
http://mlb.sbnation.com/2011/6/9/2215872/best-pitch-in-baseball-mariano-rivera-jonny-venters
As much as I like Kimbrel, I’d love to see Venters get more opportunities to close.
Well, its been said here before, most of the time the 8th inning is the actual save situation. I have no problem with Venters and/or Kimbrel finishing in any order. Both are HUGE $%^# out of the pen.
I agree we’re not losing much if anything by having Venters pitch the 8th, but in a small sample size, Venters seems to thrive when the pressure is on, which is a huge part of being a successful closer. Kimbrel is a stud, but I think Venters is currently a more complete pitcher.
Gearrin was optioned back for Minor.
Using Venters in the higher leverage situation is the correct call.
Mac, what’s it like communicating with Chip Caray, even if it is via Twitter? I feel like we’ve gone through the looking glass.
He knows we’re here.
Schafer 8 Uggla 4 McCann 2 Jones 5 Freeman 3 Gonzalez 6 Hinske 7 Young 9 Minor 1
I wasn’t around yesterday, but the protest about Uggla in the two hole was probably epic
Well, one day in the two hole for Uggla and we scored 11. Its worth trying again. I mean its the Astros…
“Baseball Nation has Venters’ sinker as the best pitch in baseball, unseating Mariano Rivera for the first time since 1996.”
Non-closing relief pitcher for Cy Young award?
I have a massive fever. It may be staph!
I’m in favor of people saying good things about Jonny Venters. That said, Baseball Nation has only been around for a few months.
“Mac, what’s it like communicating with Chip Caray, even if it is via Twitter? I feel like we’ve gone through the looking glass. He knows we’re here.”
That became apparent in 2010 when, during a game, Chip Caray said: “there’s a word that a Braves blog likes to use to describe this team: ‘resilient.'”
So, philosophical question.
I really don’t know much about the sport of hockey. I have enjoyed watching it immensely in the past, but I just didn’t understand much about the finer points of it. Unfortunately, my ‘team’ (if you could call them that), the Atlanta Thrashers, have moved on to green pastures. The only reason that I ‘rooted’ for the Thrashers was that I’d spent my first few years in the US there, and I had a very close connection with the Braves/Falcons.
But now, I’m in Novi, Michigan. And since the Thrashers have moved on from Atlanta, I’ve decided that it’s fine for me to choose a different team, and I find that I’d prefer to root for the team that I’m nearest (this one). I have a few questions regarding this change. Is it permissible under the rules of fandom in hockey (which I hear are much more severe and tightly regulated than the rules of fandom in other sports)? I get angry enough at people that continuously root for the Yankees/Red Sox/Eagles without having set a foot in those cities, let alone seen a home game; I would feel bad being an Atlanta transplant and cheering for the Red Wings.
desert, your question strikes me as odd. As far as I’m concerned, there is no such thing as “chosing” a team to root for. I never “chose” the Braves to be my team, they just… are.
(Which, thinking about it, is a lot odder than having chosen them.)
Well, I also live in Michigan, have never been to a Braves home game and have been a huge fan for 25 years. People in Michigan love the Red Wings, but I find it humorous that so many Wings fans fall out of the woodwork when the playoffs start. You could easily become a Wings fan and nobody would know the difference of when you started cheering for them.
@16,
Well, I’m sure that you have a reason for why you cheer for the Braves. Maybe it’s because your first game was in Atlanta, maybe it’s because TBS was on at home all of the time, maybe it’s because you’re LDS and cheered for Dale Murphy in the ’80s. I’m a Braves fan because as we were clearing the clouds, Turner Field was the the first landmark that I saw in the US as my plane from the Netherlands was landing in Atlanta. I root for Atlanta-based teams because I’ve never been more comfortable in a city than in Atlanta, and I consider it my home. Basically, I’ve got a personal connection to the Braves through the city of Atlanta.
But, there’s a lot of people that don’t have a reason to be a fan of the team. They just choose the best team in the league, and go with it; see, Miami. I enjoyed watching the Thrashers while they were in Atlanta. Now that the owners and the NHL have moved them to a new city, I don’t have a reason to feel connected to them, in fact, I dislike them now.
That being said, I want to find a new team to root for so that I stay interested in the NHL. I’m nearest to the Red Wings, and I’m surrounded by Red Wings fans. I like the Wings. I wanted to know if I was being like those bandwagon fans (that I quite frankly despise) if I started rooting for the Wings.
It’s hard to explain, but does that make a little more sense?
Leaving aside the logic of your argument, just the fact that you’ve given it this much thought probably puts you in the top 25% of Red Wings fans already. I think you’re in!
25% is a stretch. 5% surely.
I never knew Murphy was a Mormon. I learn something new everyday.
Yes it does (it already did at #15).
And sure, there is a reason why I am a Braves fan. But I couldn’t name it. Maybe because of the Murph, or Maddux, or Jamie Kotsay. But other teams had role models and great pitchers and attractive player’s wifes too (though none had a pitcher THAT great and a player’s wife THAT attractive, but that’s not my point). No, if there is a reason, then it is somewhat unconscious and beyond my control.
Let’s face it, being a Braves fan is not an easy life. If it was my decision to make, I would definitely pick a team that’s a little less stressful, like the f***ing Phillies or the Pirates.
@12 Do you really think that, Mac? Have you told your doctor?
Found a position player hitting worse than Uggla, its Tyler Colvin.
.114/.188/.227
22- As with many others here, I’m pretty sure my reason is spelled TBS. I can just remember the ’82 playoffs, which means the Braves contributed much sadness to my childhood before they broke out. But now, I can’t picture really rooting for another MLB team.
I find that my allegiances in other sports are more malleable because I’m not as emotionally invested. For example, I was a Redskins fan during grade school and high school (a longtime Redskin was from my hometown), then a Falcons fan when I was living in Georgia, and now a Saints fan in Louisiana (which, I believe, is required by law now).
AG or Uggla second is the choice
I grew up in Atlanta, rooting for the Braves and not closely following other sports. Desert, I think you’re entirely within your rights to follow your local team, particularly because the Thrashers are no more.
Hello from Minute Maid Park. If we don’t get the win tonight, please don’t blame me – Go Braves.
Schafer is back
2 straight games with a hit for Uggla… holy shit
Woo, two-game hitting streak!
Edit: Woo, wasted opportunity!
Mike Minor = Jo-Jo Reyes… embarrassing
Michael Bourn is 5-for-6 in this series now.
ugh. thats not a very good outfield… and mike minor is make em work
when can management come to the conclusion that Minor is a AAAA pitcher, the same thing that Jo-Jo Reyes was
You’re a AAAA poster.
Well, I was in the hospital, and now I have a fever, and hospital infections are so often MRSA. My doctor knows. I took Tylenol and the fever’s mostly gone.
When will Beachy go on rehab?
We should definitely toss a 23 year old pitcher with 56 innings in the majors under the bus. He’ll never amount to anything if he’s not a multiple Cy Young award winner in his first 56 innings.
First and third, no outs, and no runs. Last night was a dream; today’s the hangover.
P, MINOR IS FUCKING HORRIBLE… these are the ASTROS he is pitching against
@36 Mac I hope it’s not MRSA, and it was just a random fever.
I am frustrated with the way this game is going.
Feel better, Mac.
Dan Kolb vs. Dan Uggla…
I think Uggla would make an out.
Caps lock – when you want people to know they can ignore what you wrote.
So you’re a famous MLB scout, right? Who can determine a player’s entire career from their first appearances in the majors?
Way to go, Chipper! I certainly hope this means he’s on the upswing.
Thanks, Chipper! And dare I hope that this really is the beginning of the end of Uggla’s slump?
PgDn, P. PgDn.
Freddie Freeman can pick it!!!
BAM!
Man I’m glad we resigned Hinske. He makes it look so easy.
Let’s hope this is when it stays going on with the hitting and runs and stuff.
Minor for LF!
Beachy did well in a simulated game today, so he should be back soon.
Im guessing we should get Heyward, Nate, and Beachy all back pretty soon.
Whew, I was scared on that fly ball.
Heyward closer to return; Chipper’s tip from dad | Atlanta Braves.
I don’t think we’ll be letting Minor go anytime soon…
53- That line about Beachy pitching against “McLouth and rookie-league hitters” is amusing on several levels.
Maybe Nate will find God and leave baseball for the church.
“Maybe Nate will find God and leave baseball for the church.”
And then what? Permanent Schafer time? Pass.
@59, I don’t like either guy, but I’d rather have a below average player who’s getting league minimum than Nate for $7 million. And there is a third option, which is get someone else. Anyone else.
Just had a flashback to last year’s injury there. Helluva play by Chipper.
Minor settled down nicely. Nice play, Old Man.
I still don’t love the sacrifice bunt, but it WAS Schafer, so I can see the argument.
I’m watching the Lowe arrest video. Holy crap.
@64, What are your thoughts on it? Definitely not what i expected.
Perfect example of why you don’t bunt. You bunt, you have no guarantee you’ll get the base. You get the base, no guarantee you’ll get the hit. GET THE HIT, still no guarantee you’ll get a run.
Uggla’s batting average has surged from .170 to .176!
@65 I think he was clearly antagonized, if this happened to me I’d be livid. The length of time he was waving his finger around in front of him says it all. You’d only have to show that for a minute to get a laugh because it was so excessive, and this joker went on for at least 3. There’s also the fact that the cop sees two cars zip past and automatically assumes it was a race, then misleads Lowe by saying the other guy admitted they were racing.
@68, Agreed. That cop needs to be reprimanded if he hasn’t been already. Really a disgusting abuse of power.
Time to Ventilate. The best part of any game.
Yeah!!!! Great work by Freeman and Venters.
Agreed on the Lowe arrest video. That cop was disgusting.
Venters is a stud. Freeman is a stud.
Uggla is a dud.
Fredlot is a spud.
Tupac was a Blood.
Dammit.
Yay free outs.
Matt Young sucks.
Stealing does not work, please stop.
Stealing would be easier if these guys could learn how to slide.
Saving your closer for an inning that may not come, while a lesser reliever blows it is an awful idea.
Linebrink?!? Looks like we’ll have to do this the hard way.
Remember when Linestink was who “we” wanted from the Padres?
Like 6 years ago when he was in his 20s.
Whew. Ok offense, we just survived the Linebrink experience, got to get some runs.
Go offense! Or there will be a visit from the local proctologist…
@82 – not an awful idea in this scenario. Bottom third of the order up – don’t waste your closer there. Would rather linebrink not face top of the order the next inning.
Do you intentionally walk Uggla here?
What we have here is a failure to communicate.
Just got home, guess the real game just started.
There can’t be a Braves’ walk-off here, Chip.
Time for the best catcher in baseball to do his thing.
YESYESYESYESYES
Damn…
McCann is also a stud.
The best catcher in baseball!
man this lyon guy is terrible. I’ve never seen him have a even a decent outing
Fredi: “A double steal here would be pretty managery…”
best.catcher.in.baseball.!!!
Hell yes!
YEA CHIPPER! I love it.
That’s right, McCann: black power!
Woo-hoo!
B-Mac rules!
Chipper’s partying like it’s 1999.
Brandon Lyon, worst closer is baseball?
There’s your 40 year old Hall of Famer.
What does “Chipper doubles to pitcher” mean, as Yahoo is putting it?
It’ll be another win for the Braves, but I think tonight should be the final straw in the “let’s let Minor play for the big club idea”… dude is Jo-Jo Reyes re-incarnated
Oh, now you’re just being ridiculous. Minor went six innings and allowed two runs; he allowed only three baserunners after the first. Jo-Jo Reyes in his dreams couldn’t do that.
I will take 6 innings of two run baseball every single day.
So would I, but with our offense, we’d struggle to crack .500.
108- Lyon deflected the ball and it rolled into center field.
110- Minor’s a pretty good starting pitcher. His problem is that we’ve got a lot of pitchers and prospects who are better than “pretty good,” and who may take his job over the next year or two.
Woooooohooo, have a night, Hinske!
.500 all time.
And by the way, Frediot, this is why you don’t stubbornly have to save your closer in a tie game. What if we never get to the 10th due to Linestink giving up some rockets.
(Granted, there can be match-up situations where you can get away with not using your better pitcher, but I doubt the flowchart considers that.)
You know who else pitched 6 innings against the Astros this year and allowed 2 runs? Some scrub named Roy Oswalt. Clearly this means Minor is the same as Oswalt, right?
EDIT: nevermind.
Emma is clearly a troll, whether he knows it or not. PgDn, people.
Attention Braves Journal mavens: Scott Linebrink has not given up a run in a calendar month. Please cease your lectures.
I wouldn’t pay much attention to EmmaStone.
He was probably stood up at a Bob Evans tonight, and he seems like the kind of guy that wouldn’t let good roofies go to waste.
Kimbrel is no Venters.
What is Ross FOR, exactly?
It really did sound like there were more Braves fans there than at Turner Field
He played yesterday! Fredi can’t play him today! You can’t play your backup catcher all the time like that! How can you eat your pudding if you don’t eat your meat!
… Oops. Seriously, congratulations to the Braves on re-attaining .500 as a franchise. And to Minor for getting his feet back under him. And to McCann and Venters for being themselves.
Recapped.