In the magic of the moonlight we briefly saw the skeletons come to life. Jeff Francoeur and Kelly Johnson each hit a ball far enough to land BEYOND the outfield fence. That is called a “home run.” Who knew?
But Williams Perez seemed like he spent too much time in Tortuga. His schtick seems to really work about 1 out of 5 games. It barely gets by one more time. And, it gets hammered the other three. Actually, if he pitched for the 1995 Indians, he would be a credible pitcher. As long as you can count on your side getting 5 to 8 each night, hey, he might win 20. But when it is 3 to 0 after 1, you figure these Barves are headed for Davy Jones locker.
And if it had stayed 3 on the Pirates side, ACTUALLY the Barves could have recovered. BUT, the doubly named starter gave up 2 more in the third inning. Well, really a lot of those runs originated with the statues formerly known as Erick Aybar and Kelly Johnson. Note to Fredi: When you have a ground ball pitcher pitching, you need people in the field that can get to ground balls. BUT, if it had stayed at 5, even then these Barves on this rare moonlit night, could have reached that. But no, our Bills gave up one more in the 6th.
After which there came the most magical and mystical experience. The skeletons came to life. I saw it. Somehow a lefthander was pitching to Jeff Francoeur. By such move Clint Hurdle turned Pee Wee Herman into Scotty Smalls (the protagonist/ narrator in “The Sandlot”). And Scotty tagged one to make it 6 to 2. Was there more magic in the moonlight? Should we bring out Moonlight Graham (his ghost is a better batter, after all)?
But no, the Barves returned to “Blue Lagoon Island” and found their stash of rum. But, in so doing, they didn’t see anything as hot as Keira Knightley. So, another run scored. But then, they Barved up 2 more, thus giving us our final score.
This is the second game in which the Barves hit 2 home runs. I wonder how many more will pass. Will Captain Barbarossa take the treasure again or will Captain Fredi Sparrow accidentally create a “win.” The 3 sequels have already been put in the can, so we can watch if we want to for the exciting moments here and there, but we can’t change fate.
Well done. The Braves deserve less.
Cliff, you are wonderful. What a nice antidote for bad baseball.
perfect pitch…
JC’ed response to Blazon @108 from the last thread:
@108, “Grybo” is in the Braves Journal Glossary:
(For that matter, here’s the definition of JC’d:
)
When should we expect to see Shae Simmons in Atlanta? I assume Johnson or Grilli could be cut by then.
No need to rush Simmons back. I vote we take it slow and shoot for July
Cobb County to use tax money specifically earmarked for other infrastructure projects despite County Attorney’s concerns of legality and Commission Chair Lee categorically ruling it out during a televised debate just last week.
“(Attorney) Dance declined to comment when asked if her office’s recommendation came after studying the SPLOST law, which dictates that levy proceeds only be used on projects listed in advance of the vote. Likewise, Cobb Finance Director Jim Pehrson did not respond to an email asking several questions, including whether the Braves had made payment for their portion of the bridge and whether the county had applied for the $1.3 million FTA grant identified as a funding source.
Lee refused to answer an AJC reporter’s questions about bridge funding after last week’s debate, saying he was late for a lunch appointment.”
http://www.myajc.com/news/news/local-govt-politics/cobb-reconsidering-use-of-splost-funds-for-braves-/nrNhh/
I think things are about to blowup in the Braves face on about 14 different fronts.
@7, That’s a dirty business. Shame on the organization.
I’ll defend the performance of Williams Perez all day; Aybar gave them six outs (four plays, two of which could have gone for two). That was the worst error-free performance I’ve ever seen.
Shoot Aybar. Delenda Home Run Frenchy.
Williams had KJ and Aybar up the middle for him in his last two games, with drastically different results. Good ol’ luck.
Why aren’t the Braves paying for the bridge?
Also if you can vote in Cobb County the primary to defeat Tim Lee is on May 24. Fuck that guy.
Public stadium financing is a sketchy business in the best of circumstances. I would be very surprised if any of these revelations actually materially change things for the Braves — if anyone gets slapped on the wrists, it seems like it’s likely to be Cobb County, but I doubt that affects the stadium plans.
Why aren’t the Braves paying for the bridge?
Why should they? The county decision makers have already been compensated. It’s their baby now.
http://www.myajc.com/news/news/local/land-grab-preceded-stadium-announcement/nbs8c/
All this time I thought JC’d meant “just copied” as in, this is not the original posting; it is “just copied” from the previous thread. … learn something new every day if you’re not careful.
I’m ready to say Seitzer is a harmful hitting coach. I do think hitters should learn situational hitting, but more important than that is being very selective and trying to scald the ball as best you can.
Small-ball give-yourself-up do-the-little-things is very harmful and our bench coaching is ate up with it. Give me Earl Weaver please. That said, I think the problem is that our players are just bad, and no coaching would salvage it.
http://www.thescore.com/mlb/news/1024296
well, now what?
Consider what Seitzer has to work with. I know that it’s a poor workman that blames his tools; but there are few players at his disposal. He’s a hitting coach, not a miracle worker.
Or what krussell said.
Cue it.
Fredi’s out
AJC is now confirming Fredi’s firing.
Snitcker is getting promoted.
And Snitker is in. At least he won’t be making the calls in the third-base coach’s box.
sacrificial snitker
Somewhere DOB is weeping.
LOL. This is great.
We’re back to getting Snitker’ed.
Finally! I’ve been waiting FOR-EV-VER.
Inevitably, whatever day Fredi was canned, we would ask, “Why today?” So, why today?
This is like blaming a builder when you take away all his tools and expect him to construct windproof house out of newspaper. I’m not saying Fredi was great, but what was he expected to do with this pile of hot garbage?
We can do better than Fredi … I hope we do.
One thing I liked about Fredi was that speaks Spanish. That should be an asset in a manager, and with no other managers as Spanish speakers it could even be a competitive advantage … surely someone out there speaks Spanish and can also manage a bullpen.
@33
That’s a great point, and I always thought that would be an advantage. It just never seemed to play out on the field. We just haven’t seen Latin players come to Atlanta and have their best years because we have a Spanish-speaking manger.
I’m ready for the new era. There was literally nothing to lose here, and Fredi will still be paid handsomely.
I’m hoping this renews the Jeffrey Loria/Bobby Cox public beef.
Can’t blame Fredi for this season, but you most definitely can pin multiple prior team collapses on him, and you can infer from that that had he had stuff to work with this season, he’d have somehow fouled it up again. He was a proven leader when it came to epic collapses…no record of playoff success, though. But he’s a likable guy.
Snitker is the perfect choice for interim manager. He’s an organizational soldier that won’t get his ego all bent out of shape when he’s demoted after this disaster of a season winds up. He’ll go back to AAA, or he’ll get a role on the bench with Atlanta, or he’ll build up his credentials for an actual managing job elsewhere in the majors.
And Atlanta gets to manage the decline further in 2016 without tainting the candidate they have always known they wanted to open the 2017 season, and I yet again go back to my prediction it will be Chipper Jones.
People can learn Spanish. I mean, they won’t, but they can.
EDIT: Somewhere, an ESPN commenter is predicting a WC spot.
Tosca out too. TP now the bench coach. Eddie Perez to first. Marty Reed to the pen
@31
Fair question. I imagine Fredi got sick of it all and forced Coppy’s hand. The FO shouldn’t have let it go on this long.
My head’s exploding!
Hector Olivera was apparently the last straw.
Chipper for player-manager.
@41
What makes you say that?
Bill Shanks is saying it may have something to do with the lazy play in the field last night.
There have been rumors of Aybar and Markakis dogging it.
Snitcker is supposedly known for not putting up with that.
Feeding was front and center in vetting Olivera from a “Braves Way”/ppl perspective, both as an IFA and then as a trade target.
Noooooo.
We needed Gonzalez to manage the team to that first overall draft pick.
Agree with Sam. Fredi appeared to have been one of Olivera’s biggest proponents before he was acquired.
Snitker is an anagram of s-t-i-n-k-e-r.
I wonder if the Cobb County officials needed the heat off them and Fredi was served up
I’m gonna have to hear more about this Olivera-Fredi connection before I believe it. Doesn’t sound plausible that he’d have been the one to put together that deal.
http://espn.go.com/blog/jayson-stark/post/_/id/1562/the-connection-between-braves-hector-olivera-and-his-manager
Let’s make today a holiday!
Just remember, the people that highly valued Fredi are the ones running the rebuild.
I blame management for consulting Fredi about transactions.
EDIT: what krussell said
@51, Okay, so Fredi was a lousy scout on Olivera. But there’s no way he was the *only* scout. And Fredi’s comment about how Olivera wasn’t talking about “race cars” is howlingly off key in light of that TMZ story about Olivera’s souped up ride, but that was news when he was in LA. The front office should have been well aware that this guy’s mind (and body) weren’t fully on the field.
The GMs engineer the trades, they’re the ones who have to do the analysis on whether it was a good trade or not. Fredi’s opinion certainly factored into that, but if it was really the only one that carried the day on the decision, then the problem is even more with the front office.
I think John R. is right on about Chipper taking over in WFF. That has to have always been the plan. It’s marketing gold, assuming Chipper would actually want to do it.
Fredi was out no matter what, but maybe doing it this way does allow a lot of the things that have gone wrong to be swept out the door with Fredi. This is years too late though.
http://jeffschultz.blog.myajc.com/2016/05/17/braves-making-gonzalez-pay-price-today-while-building-for-tomorrow/?ref=cbTopWidget
Managers don’t actually matter that much. One of their biggest roles is to be the scapegoat when things go badly. In that, Fredi is as good as any manager out there. Fredi wasn’t very good at a lot of other manager duties, but take that FWIW.
That said, I don’t really think you can blame Coppy, the one running the rebuild, for Fredi.
The manager is always deeply involved loved w trades and acquisitions. Fredi got a reprieve by saying Frank Wren was micromanaging him. That reprieve is up.
Tip of the cap to the former skipper.
I thought it wouldn’t be until late this season or the offseason.
I blame the John trinity. Assigning percentages of blame is an exercise for the reader.
Never liked Tosca. I always thought he should have kept Fredi from making all those dumb in-game decisions. Glad to see him go.
I emphatically believe that Fredi was not the problem. However, I think firing him was the right call. He did not have anyone motivated to start the season and I think he lost his fire from even last year. In his defense I can’t imagine too many managers who wouldn’t be discouraged when given a team like this. Let’s hope Snitker can help instill a winning attitude. My only goal is to see improvement and that we go into next year at least feeling like we have a chance.
Watch this play that Aybar DID make last night:
http://m.mlb.com/video/v703771983
Halfway through they show a behind-home replay. This ball was hit to the shortstop side of second, and Aybar wasn’t going to move an INCH until it deflected toward him.
The inmates have been running the asylum, and I suspected that was the case during the collapses too. Fredi had to go.
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/2016-broadcaster-rankings-tv-30-21/
Fangraphs doesn’t like Chip’nJoe either.
You know I love a good conspiracy theory…the way Aybar is dogging it is so blatant that it makes me wonder if he’s been told to make sure to be bad so that his young successor has zero pressure.
Ok, that’s too whacked even for me to really believe, but it is working out quite nicely.
Coppy’s trades, as they sit today, have been overwhelmingly positive, so this “FO listened to Fredi, therefore dumb” doesn’t hold water.
If Fredi was really high on Olivera, and he was wrong, then my question is centered around how Fredi handled Olivera after he came to Atlanta. I live in a world where a problem player has some sort of “handler” or someone loosely involved in his day-to-day. My concern with someone in that role for Olivera and being overseen by Fredi is that Fredi is not hard on the players at all. Fredi’s persona, demeanor, expectations have always been overly player-friendly, and it’s shown up moreso this year as professional baseball players (not kids, not prospects, but veteran ball players) didn’t show up to Spring Training in shape, have had very little passion, and Fredi hasn’t given any indication that’s upset about that. It’s one thing to protect Wisler, Folty, Blair, etc.; it’s another thing to hear nothing about Francoeur, KJ, Aybar, AJP, Grilli, Freeman, Garcia, and now Markakis all collectively underperforming and we’re forced to conclude, “Well, they all must suck.” I refuse to acknowledge that all of these players (save Freeman and, until recently, Markakis) have all just decided to turn into pumpkins at the same time through no fault of the manager.
@60, If Fredi had a respectable terrible no-good awful losing record, he’d have made it to the offseason. But 9 wins by mid-May is humiliating and noticeable. Front office can’t be seen not making a move in that context.
from a detailed analysis of the breaking news this morning Smitty was clearly the man(‘lazy play’ etc)…must have been having his hair cut, what a source.
@67, I mean, they kinda do all suck…right? This veteran leadership nonsense can also go south if everyone realizes that they are playing for a team trying to lose, that they are all cannon fodder, and that nobody even gives two shits. I bet AJP is a barrel of fun right now. This teams needs a cleansing.
Bill Shanks
is he at one of those Cobb County banks
or just a paid hack?
we’re awaiting his sequel, they’ll take Fredi back.
Torey Lovullo, Mark DeRosa and Bud Black are all scheduled to get their hair cut by my barber.
@70
…based on how he performed and held up in that awful second half last year AJP would not make my list of likely malingerers.
Veterans dogging it is a pretty toxic environment to bring your prospects into. AJP might be trying still…dunno, not sure how you’d tell. I’m just saying he’s already a giant jackass, probably not someone I’d want my rookies around.
Glory !!! Mayve I wont have to see all those bonehead late inning decisions any longer … only bad thing is we were guaranteed the 1st spot in draft but now ??? My Fire FG chant finally happened … I vote for Eddie Perez !!! But know that Snitker was probably best for interim … but who knows who may be available at seasons end ….. this team is bad anyway but we dont have to amplify the how bad with bone head decisions … FG had no clue when it came to late game decisions ..getting outcoached continuosly by other Mgrs.
If Aybar isn’t motivated by the fact that he’ll be an FA at season’s end, then I’m pretty sure nothing a manager does will be much motivation. Seems more realistic that he’s trying but just sucking.
@70 “This teams needs a cleansing.” Or, like, a rebuild …
A rebuild is where you play young guys and they learn stuff.
Well, I figured Fredi would make it to the All-Star break but a change seems mandated. I wonder if Ted Turner would like another shot managing?
Meanwhile, where does Fredi stack up against other Atlanta and Franchise (Boston/Milwaukee) managers.
For Atlanta, he was the 17th manager since the team came to Atlanta (that includes Ted’s 1 game stint). In terms of length of tenure, games managed, victories and losses, he is second only to Bobby Cox, although a very distant second. In terms of winning pct. he’s dropped to 3rd, behind Cox and Torre. The Braves have only had 4 managers in Atlanta with winning pct. – Luman Harris is the other one.
For the Franchise, he’s 8th in terms on longevity 5.23 seasons, 6th in games managed and losses and 5th in victories. He drops to 14th in winning pct.
We’ll see what Snitker can do with this roster of AAAA players, over-the-hill veterans and not-ready-for-prime-time youngsters. I predict more of the same!
@78
I put Fredi third behind Cox and Torre, in terms of Atlanta managers. He’s certainly no worse than fourth behind Harris. Those are the only four managers to win a division(s) with the Atlanta Braves, as well as the only four to have winning records.
All in all, Fredi did not deserve to be fired for this mess, I don’t think, but he did deserve to be fired after the 2014 season. Also, he needed to not be the manager anymore once this team began turning the corner, so you had to do it at some point.
Snitker is a solid choice as acting manager. I don’t really want him as the full-blown manager, but I doubt there’s much chance of that. Snitker was the AAA manager anyway, and this is bascially gonna be a AAA team as we start bringing young players up over the course of the season. He’s a solid choice to see the team through that process.
I think TP deserves a fair shot next year. I’m glad they didn’t brand him with the interim title.
@76
Perhaps the argument can be made that not only could Fredi not create buy in with the veterans, he couldn’t even achieve compliance. Aybar, amongst others, can still show up everybody and earn their paychecks, and Fredi was failing at getting that.
DOB is having a meltdown on Twitter.
I am 100% opposed to TP, Eddie or Snitker getting the full time gig. Put me down for Dave Martinez, Alex Cora or Torey Lovullo. Need to go outside the organization and change the culture.
There’s gotta be a reason why Dave Martinez keeps striking out for manager jobs, especially by organizations that know him well, like the Rays.
Are they bringing up the AAA pitching coach to undermine McDowell? This could be the beginning of the end for him.
Fredi was a poor manager. I understand they are trying to create trade value for Aybar, but he is one of the worst players I’ve ever seen. Fredi couldn’t get it out of him. Maybe Snitker can get him to improve. If not, Snitker should be allowed to play Castro or Swanson later on.
Aybar is awful. I’d consider playing Johnson there over him. I’m not sure how anyone could be worse than the current option.
Had to LOL reading this from DOB:
David O’Brien ‏@DOBrienAJC 16h16 hours ago
#Braves KJ and Francoeur focused on hitting homers in BP today. Frenchy said Chipper used to say you couldn’t hit ’em w/out practicing ’em.
So, um… have everyone practice hitting homers today?
ACHE is who Aybar reminds me of! ACHE was just as motivated on the field as Aybar.
It doesn’t matter who is selected as manager. They will pick someone who is well liked, which is important. The problem is, nobody really seems to discuss what attributes make a person a good baseball manager. They pick someone who is liked and/or respected and has been around the game in some capacity. Only after watching them manage do we find out that, in fact, they are atrocious at in-game strategy and player motivation. Then we’re stuck with them because of managerial inertia.
Crasnick “One MLB official says he’s “shocked” #Braves went with Brian Snitker over Terry Pendleton or Eddie Perez as Fred G. replacement.”
Why WOULDN’T you guy with the guy who already has experience handling a triple A roster?
Apparently being able to clap your hands, smack rear ends, and tip your cap are the primary attributes of a manager. There should be a manager combine where we can quantitate this stuff.
Snitker’s promotion is simply the next stage of his ongoing punishment.
Snitker’s first lineup
Inciarte-LF
Markakis-RF
Freeman 1B
Aj C
Beckham 3B
KJ 2B
Castro SS
Blair P
Smith CF
Thye need to fire the scouts .. we have to have the worst farm system and major leagus systema s far as power numbers…. the power that some of these other teams have is ridiculous .. we have NONE … majors or minors .. whats up with that ???????
@93
Well…there is some power. I do agree there isn’t a lot of it though.
@87
How ignoble to have been brighter once amidst the host of Angels
than the sun amidst the stars
and now languish with the purgatorial Barves.
@31 and @39, perhaps they pulled the trigger late last night after Fredi’s post-game interview. He was obviously tired of pencilling in Aybar and KJ up the middle. His post-game was as close to an FU to the FO as he would ever go. He’s a genuinely friendly and nice guy, much more intense than he projects during games and interviews. Had every reason to resign during the last two weeks after Coppy said he’d let him twist in the wind for the rest of the season, but he stuck with his players. Gotta admire that if nothing else. Best of luck to him.
Coppy selling the Aybar/Newcomb/Ellis trade before the season, followed by Fredi’s post-game quotes:
“You can make an argument that we are a team that could actually win more games with Aybar,” Coppolella said. “[Aybar] was a huge part of this deal. This wasn’t just some kind of prospect trade. This was a value-for-value trade that had two really good prospects in it.”
Fredi’s quotes after game last nite:
Perez wasn’t particularly sharp, but got no help from his up-the-middle infield defense. Shortstop Erick Aybar had two first-inning grounders go just beyond his reach as his limited defensive range was tested.
“Williams is going to wake up tomorrow and see his line, and it’s going to look not very good,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. “But a lot of balls just out of reach of defenders — in the infield, some bloops between outfielders and infielders. But I thought he pitched well. He’s a contact guy, they made contact against him. I think at one point in the first inning they had bases loaded and the ball hadn’t left the infield, pretty much.
“They were all ground balls just out of reach of our middle infielders (Aybar and Kelly Johnson.
After Perez walked Jaso to start the first inning, he gave up consecutive infield singles that tested the range of veteran shortstop Aybar. He’s floundered at the plate in his first season with the Braves, and Aybar also demonstrated again that his defense is not remotely comparable to that of the previous Braves shortstop.
“Yeah, we have gotten spoiled watching (Andrelton) Simmons set all kinds of records defensively, for a long time,” Gonzalez said. “(Aybar) is not Simmons, but he’s better than what we’re seeing. But we’re so used to it and so spoiled to see Simmons play, that sometimes you scratch your head and go, Simmons can make that play.”
@96, The only thing potentially problematic in his quotes is that last line, “Simmons can make that play.” That’s a pretty direct jab at Aybar. It also happens to be the truth, as was everything else he said. It’s as obvious as the nose at the end your face that Aybar is not playing major-league caliber ball this year.
@93: Did you miss the memo after Wren was fired? This team is now no longer about players that hit home runs and strike out too much. I can still remember Simpson’s gloating about the “new Braves’ way of doing things” on Opening Day of 2015.
Snitker makes sense, I suppose. If the atmosphere is truly poisoned, they might as well go with someone who hasn’t been breathing it all season.
I think bringing in someone apart from the ML staff and someone, supposedly, known for being tougher on players (not a hard feat) makes sense. It also helps that the young pitchers have some familiarity with Snitker.
Life has changed and I don’t check into Braves Journal like I used to. Stopped by to get the Fredi reaction only to see that JC’ed is still going. Takes me back. Y’all are the best. Man, I miss Mac.
Marty Reed to the pen is also a good move.
They say there’s no one perfect temperament to be an ML manager, so the best thing to do with a new hire is to flip polarities. Goatee for mustache or vice versa, if you will.
This fucking dumbass organization: https://twitter.com/DOBrienAJC/status/732700891141312512
“An hour or so after the Braves’ 8-5 series-opening loss to the Pirates, a person familiar with the situation said Gonzalez received an email notifying him of his scheduled flight to Atlanta on Tuesday afternoon.”
I suppose it doesn’t really matter, as this was a botch job either way, but it’s never said who the email is from. Team travel secretary? Airline? One would obviously be even worse than the other, but good grief.
New manager, same old Braves.
Crap ownership, crap organization.
SELL THE TEAM, LIBERTY
@104
That’s per DOB, Fredi’s BFF
This is a bad baseball team
Still feeling very good about my predicted 10-31 start to the season.
Touchdown Pirates.
@109, little did you know you were being optimistic
I like how FSS keeps flashing a graphic at the bottom of the screen that reads something like “John Hart in the booth second inning”. They’ve had to flash so many times because Blair can’t escape this inning. I’m sure he wants to be there for a braves batting half inning as to only have to spend about 90 seconds talking about any of this.
Joe is really needling Hart here. Kudos, Joe.
Aaron Blair
Anaro Blair
Analo Brair
Analo Bairr
Analo Barri
Anal Barrio
You’re welcome.
Of all the guys we have, I trust John Hart
John Hart admitted that they had to “bottom fish” to stretch their budget and put together a team this past off season. I nearly spit up!
As we know, Fredi never was much of a closer. But this year, it was a blind jockey riding a crippled horse on a muddy track.
Go to the beach, Fredi — you don’t have to watch (or apologize for) this sad bunch anymore.
About now, Brian’s saying, “I got Snicktered.”
I was surprised he said “bottom fish”. I mean obviously that’s what they did, but you can’t say that about your players.
Fredi can take a vacation away from this garbage.
It took hart 2 years to admit this was a rebuild. Well done.
Remedial Managerial Names Training required. Make that Snitkered.
This sort of honesty last offseason would have been nice. Coppolella would be wise to take notes — unless he actually believed Aybar could be a perfectly cromulent replacement for Simmons, in which case I question his mental fitness for the job.
I just added Snitker to my auto-correct lexicon so it won’t constantly change to Snicker. This s***’s starting to feel real.
@107
You’re implying the story is factually incorrect, not merely factually incomplete?
Oh, goody, a Bud Norris plate appearance
EDIT: I stand corrected. I want him used as a pinch hitter whenever Snitker considers using Aybar.
If these bottom fish have any balls they’ll make sure we lose 15-0 for the next two weeks. Let’s get the passive aggressiveness started.
@127 – “For every game we win, we peel off another piece of John Hart’s suit.”
I really think Mallex can be good. More Michael Bourn and less Ben Revere.
Didn’t see the Mallex homer. Can someone describe what it was like?
I’d really love for him to play every day so we can help him maximize his potential. Treating him like a 4th OF is bat shit crazy.
@130, it was like warm apple pie
@130 does this link work?
http://m.mlb.com/video/v706450383
Pitch was supposed to be high and tight, but ended up center-cut. Mallex turned on it and golfed it 10 rows deep.
I thought Hart, by his high standards was weak and unconvincing…as someone has said kudos to Joe for what he asked, Chip pandered, surprise.
But did i hear correctly that Hart committed himself to the specific stand that no young player would be held back for reasons of service time? We need hold his feet to the fire on that because when you’re talking about Aybar et al we have two who should be up here tomorrow who, just like Mallex, will make more than their fair share of errors but, just like Mallex, will add instant credibility and a dose of pleasure watching we have all missed. Now.
And…what cruel God decided this particular day would be perfect for Aaron Blair to pitch like a scared schoolboy?
Pat-a-cake, Pat-a-cake, Pitcher man
toss me a pitch as fat as you can.
@130
Turned on one and launched it halfway up the seats in right field. An absolute no doubter.
What specifically did Joe ask?
Thanks for the video link. He scorched it.
I do hope he doesn’t start thinking he’s a home run hitter.
Joe asked a lot of stuff. Hart didn’t really say much of anything other than be patient, we know what we’re doing, it’s gonna take 10 years, etc.
Power to all fields
he is not a Delino Deshields
admit you’re surprised
opinions of many revised.
Upper Deck…20 rows back…right? or was i dreaming?
@ 137
He is a home run hitter…check his percentage of XBH…i don’t know what it is but i’ll bet it’s impressive.
@139, I am not surprised. I was gushing about Mallex almost every day late last season when I stopped paying earnest attention to the MLB squad.
Hart never looked Simpson—or Carey, either, for that matter—directly in the eye.
Looks like the FO botched Fredi’s firing.
http://www.myajc.com/news/sports/baseball/gonzalez-firing-took-an-awkward-turn-late-monday/nrPMM/?icmp=ajc_internallink_referralbox_free-to-premium-referral
@101, we miss you too, JC!
nice, Alex.
Fredi would have been the first to tip the hat tonight – to Bud Norris, classy.
Ian Krol
Took a page from Bob Dole
Ian Krol does what Ian Krol thinks matters
Unfortunately that doesn’t include retiring right handed batters
Have we scored 6 runs all year?
My man AJ has stranded a bunch of base runners tonight..i seem to remember back-to-back-to back AB’s with the bases loaded, back to back double plays. But Chip said otherwise. Disappointing AB from Freddy with everything going for him.
@142…JWDB
surprised as to his power, did you really see that coming? We both love the guy.
Ian Krol
is best known for perfect control
but his accuracy lags
attempting to aim in the general direction of one of the bags.
@147
many, many times…in our dreams
in mine i am usually the one who comes up with the big hit.
Gordon Beckham is unequivocally the Braves best free agent signing this season
Snitker seems to be some kind of an offensive genius, but it appears that he doesn’t know anything at all about pitching.
As someone just said, he is a home run hitter.
If it’s not in the dirt he’s a threat.
HE’S AN ANIMAL!
MALLEX!!! Go crazy!!!
Ok…. What was that about Mallex Smith again??
Without AJP, we would be winning this game. A dropped tag and a bases loaded GIDP
That article I shared yesterday–it said the dbacks won the upton trade. Didn’t consider that we turned Justin upton into, at least, Mallex Smith, who is 2 wins better or so this season.
Without the bases loaded double plays, they’ve killed us.
David Freese, odd guy…has anyone in the last 50 years ever so dominated the outcome of a World Series with prodigious power hitting produced at exactly the moment it mattered most, time and again. At a time when he was a relative unknown with no such track record. And then faded away.
Mallex. Seriously. Assume for the moment this, or something like it is real. Where would you hit him in the order? Bet there is major disagreement.
Poor old Jason G. Sad.
So little league game, runner at first with two outs and bottom of last inning. We are fielding. Ball is hit hard to 2B in which he blocks it but bobbles. He picks the ball up with his bare hand and rolls over and touches the bag with his glove. Ump called the runner safe because the ball wasn’t in the glove. I went nuts.
Safe or out?
FYI, the runner then stepped off and we tagged him for the final out. I still think the ump was wrong.
Rusty @ #152. LOL!!!!!
csg, that was the right call.
Then again, on second thought I’m not sure!
Why? He possessed the ball and touched the bag. It’s a force play
That tag from Aybar – was he frightened of making contact when it would really matter? That’s what it looked like. Absurd.
You only have to tag the runner with the ball hand. You can tag the bag with your scrotum as long as you have the ball. Is a hand not as good as a foot?
Hand the ball is in only matters if the runner is bodily tagged out. Having the ball in barehand and tagging the base with empty glove is no different than ball in glove tagging base with foot.
@166
Don’t you think he effectively double clutched? Didn’t like the look of Cervelli barreling in. As if he knew everything would slow down when he made the bag. The throw was perfect, way ahead of the runner. Didn’t notice his scrotum in the play.
Mallex was on deck. Would have been the tying run. Dreams again.
Didn’t realize Cameron Maybin was finally up for the Tigers. 4 for 6 with 2 SBs in his 2 starts. That’s nice to see.
@ 166/167
I wish i could follow all that. One day, maybe.
Ok, can Mallex play everyday now?
Blazon Saddles, it’s in response to 160
Blazon, read my question @ #160. It should clear that up
Mallex Smith
Delivered homers forthwith
Heretofore a singles hitter
Negative prognosticators left feeling mildly bitter
Recapped.
@175
JWDB
John…true story…woke up at 5 this morning saying got it, Smith/forthwith! so much better than pith…but you beat me to it! can we think of any others?
i thought your whole Clerihew was great, best yet.