Btw, Rob, all credit where it’s due: this is an incredibly good opening day thread for this turkey of an offseason.
Thank God being a Braves fan means I get to watch Ronald Acuna and Ozzie Albies and forget about the venal morons in the executive chambers who are too busy four-putting the Sharper Image smart greens on the master suite Persian rug while short-selling frozen orange juice concentrate futures to be bothered improve the team.
Dan
on March 28, 2019 at 9:16 am
Judging by this quote, Minter thinks he pitches for the Phillies.
A.J. Minter: “We had a chip on our shoulder, and we’re still going to, but we want to be in that situation. We want to make teams think about us, and obviously, we did that this offseason.” @DOBrienATLhttps://t.co/4uLw0kWeRM
@4 – Framed executive John Coppolella returns from disgrace to combine forces with interloper Alex Anthopoulos to bring down an evil corporation in: “Trading Salary Obligations.”
Tanto
on March 28, 2019 at 9:32 am
@5 — It’s like he couldn’t decide if he wanted to go with the “We’re the champions, so we’re favorites until someone beats us, they’re chasing us” line of optimism or the “We’re underdogs, no one believes in us, but we’ll show them” line, so he just kind of switched off halfway through.
Adam R.
on March 28, 2019 at 9:32 am
The idea that there are real, otherwise-functioning adult people out there who thought the Braves would be holding onto news of a Kimbrel signing until they could announce it via 680 The Fan’s social media account…
*Whistles*
You do it to yourself, you do
You and no one else
You do it to yourself, just you
And that’s what really hurts
Hey, I think we made it through an entire offseason with no RNRHOF discussion.
Want to feel better about the Braves? Janet Jackson is going in, and the recently departed Dick Dale remains out. Quite a world we live in.
Rob Copenhaver
on March 28, 2019 at 9:35 am
@9 I’ll admit that the thought briefly came to my mind, and the only defense for the idea was that since Kimbrel perhaps has a closer relationship to the Braves, and has had an offseason he really didn’t like, maybe this was something to make it more exciting… or something. But then I quickly realized that that had about 0.0001% chance of happening.
SCORCHING HOT TAKE: My favorite Radiohead album is probably still OK Computer, but at this point I’d probably rather just listen to Kid A in the background.
Tanto
on March 28, 2019 at 9:39 am
@9 — It’s probably only a matter of time until a major league team tries to turn a signing into a social media event. Video games are already at the stage where they do teasers for announcements of announcements of livestreams of announcements, and MLB has consistently been 10-20 years behind the curve.
Maybe if they sell enough of those sandwiches, they can afford to extend Freeman and Acuna.
Adam R.
on March 28, 2019 at 9:57 am
@13, Maybe for the ASB.
Alex, while thinking about rock Keltner criteria, I found a guy who beat you to the punch. The website isn’t letting me post a link, so google “Keltner analysis of undiscussed Rock Hall Artists: Sonic Youth.” I like some of his criteria, but I want to suggest more improvements.
I would also do a Keltner for Dick Dale so that more people understand how obvious it is that he’s an inner circle HOF’er.
Beggars Banquet-Let It Bleed-Sticky Fingers-Exile on Main St.
Dusty
on March 28, 2019 at 10:21 am
Luke Jackson is on the opening say roster. Wonder who went off the 40 man?
Rob Copenhaver
on March 28, 2019 at 10:36 am
Watch it be O’Day gets put on the 60-day. Ugh.
Maybe DFA Lopez?
Hambone
on March 28, 2019 at 10:44 am
Luke. Jackson.
Sam Hutcheson
on March 28, 2019 at 10:46 am
The Bends and OK. Amnesiac is forgettable.
DS
on March 28, 2019 at 10:50 am
Darren O’Day to the 10-day DL. Lopez DOA’d.
#Braves pitchers Mike Foltynewicz (elbow bone spur), Kevin Gausman (shoulder tendinitis), A.J. Minter (shoulder inflammation) & Darren O’Day (forearm strain) start season on 10-day injured list. C Raffy Lopez was DFA'd. RH Josh Tomlin and OF Matt Joyce had contracts purchased.
Radiohead is the only thing in this world that has done nothing even remotely bad for the past 25 years. There’s only one Streak in my life, and it started with the My Iron Lung EP and (firmly excluding the drummer’s solo work) continues to this day. I even enjoyed the Suspiria soundtrack. Eat it, Braves.
tfloyd
on March 28, 2019 at 11:07 am
@17–your list is probably #1, but Bringing it all Back Home–Highway 61 Revisited–Blonde on Blonde is in the argument. And Astral Weeks–Moondance–His Band and the Street Choir–Tupelo Honey ought to get votes.
Notice that all the artists I cite are pushing 80. I have a bad case of Baby Boomer tunnel vision.
Chief Nocahoma
on March 28, 2019 at 11:16 am
Only you lot would be fangirling over Thom freaking Yorke an hour before first pitch.
Askia
on March 28, 2019 at 11:21 am
Always depends on your age and what you listened to that made a great impact on your life. For me it’s: The Smiths/Meat is Murder/The Queen is Dead.
Rob Copenhaver
on March 28, 2019 at 11:21 am
AA didn’t even trade for Luke Jackson. He must like something. He had a 3.55 FIP last year. He’s a long reliever, an innings eater, and he probably doesn’t even see the mound much with the off-days. His FIP last year is a hair below Cristhian Martinez’s career FIP.
With that said, RHB had a .793 OPS off of him last year (.624 for LHB). Yikes. Personally, other than the FIP and the K rate (10/9), I’m not sure what the big deal is. But he plugs a hole for now. Whatever.
Adam R.
on March 28, 2019 at 11:25 am
@26, Welcome back.
Meat Is Murder is so good.
Moondance is the weak link for me IMO.
Snowshine
on March 28, 2019 at 11:27 am
Shall we get a prediction thread going? I’ll start
Braves W-L: 93-69
Team leaders:
Wins: Wright 16
Losses: Julio 12
Saves: Viz with 22
HR: Acuna 35
RBI: Acuna 109
Runs: FF 105
SB: Inciarte 16
Date Austin Riley debuts: Jun 26
Date Christian Pache debuts: Sept 2
Braves W-L: 86-76
Team leaders:
Wins: Folty 14
Losses: Gaus 13
Saves: Viz with 19
HR: Acuna 38
RBI: Acuna 110
Runs: FF 105
SB: Albies 30
Date Austin Riley debuts: July 1
Date Christian Pache debuts: April 2020
Sam Hutcheson
on March 28, 2019 at 11:39 am
On the Mouth/Foolish/Here’s Where the Strings Come In
blazon
on March 28, 2019 at 11:39 am
If you want to fill in the last couple hours before we start there is a tasty morsel available at 1, Mets(De Grom) / Nationals.
Chief Nocahoma
on March 28, 2019 at 11:44 am
82-80 3rd or 4th in the NL East.
blazon
on March 28, 2019 at 11:47 am
Changes…read while you wait.
Smitty
on March 28, 2019 at 11:50 am
I love this thread!
Braves W-L: 88-74
Team leaders:
Wins: Julio-10
Losses: Wright 12
Saves: Viz 19
HR: Freeman 31
RBI: Freeman 99
Runs: Acuna 100
SB: Swanson 17
Date Austin Riley debuts: May 20
Date Christian Pache debuts: July 2020
Adam R.
on March 28, 2019 at 11:52 am
Black Sabbath
Paranoid
Master of Reality
Vol 4
Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
Sabotage
What do I win?
Feels
Strawberry Jam
Merriwether Post Pavilion
My Aim is True
This Year’s Model
Armed Forces
Get Happy!!
Wanna feel sad? Part I
Five Leaves Left
Bryter Layter
Pink Moon
Wanna feel sad? Part II
Either/Or
XO
Figure 8
Wanna feel sad? Part III
Spirit of Eden
Laughing Stock
Mark Hollis
🙁
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Yeezus
The Life of Pablo
🙂
Adam R.
on March 28, 2019 at 11:54 am
At this point, how do you not just go with whatever Smitty predicts?
Smitty
on March 28, 2019 at 11:58 am
I think we are going to regret not adding a front end starter and another bat.
I really think we are going to regret not adding bullpen help.
I think the Braves were foolish for putting so many eggs in the Minter, Vizy, O’Day, McCann and Donaldson basket. Those five have significant roles on this team and seem like a long shot not to miss lots of time.
blazon
on March 28, 2019 at 12:00 pm
Pat Boone( my music?)
On a day like today
we wait to watch them play
happy ball players fronting the stand
how we laughed when they tried
to much improve their slide
but wept over those who’d been canned.
Roger
on March 28, 2019 at 12:06 pm
@30 you pre-empted me, dangit. I’ll have to go (in addition to the Ramones):
A Tonic for the Troops
This Year’s Model
Eat to the Beat
Dance Craze (Ska compilation)
That Summer! (soundtrack w/punk compilation 1979)
Rob Copenhaver
on March 28, 2019 at 12:11 pm
FWIW, I have a prediction thread going up on the Friday off day.
Roger
on March 28, 2019 at 12:26 pm
Braves W-L: 92-70
Team leaders:
Wins: Folty-15
Losses: Julio 10
Saves: Viz/Minter 20/20
HR: Acuna 35
RBI: Freeman 105
Runs: Inciarte 95
SB: Inciarte 30
Date Austin Riley debuts: Sept 2019 or with the first IL stint of Donaldson
Date Christian Pache debuts: May 2020
Dusty
on March 28, 2019 at 12:36 pm
Braves W-L: 85-77
Team leaders:
Wins: Fried 14
Losses: Newcomb 12
Saves: Kimbrel 25
HR: Acuna 33
RBI: Acuna 118
Runs: Albies 106
SB: Inciarte 28
Date Austin Riley debuts: June 17th
Date Christian Pache debuts: August 13th
JonathanF
on March 28, 2019 at 12:44 pm
Braves W-L: 162-0
Team leaders:
Wins: Teheran 25
Losses: Everybody 0
Saves: Minter 2
HR: Acuna 80
RBI: Acuna 320
Runs: Albies 210
SB: Inciarte 1
Date Austin Riley debuts: His HS girlfriend
Date Christian Pache debuts: His Elementary School Girlfriend
I don’t like making predictions much beyond W/L, but I like Roger’s prediction. I think 92-70 will be it. I like Acuna for at least 35 homers.
I do think Julio Teheran will lead the staff in losses, but that’s because I think Julio will give us the most innings and will also be worth close to 4 bWAR this season. There’s my prediction.
Sam Hutcheson
on March 28, 2019 at 1:51 pm
If I were going to do a prediction post, I would certainly predict the team lead in saves going to Craig Kimbrel, just to troll you lot.
King
on March 28, 2019 at 2:20 pm
Braves W-L: 89-73
Team Leaders
Wins: Folty 16
Losses: Newcomb 12
Saves: Kimbrel 21
AVG: Freeman .304
HR: Acuna 34
RBI: Freeman 108
Runs: Donaldson 93
SB: Albies 27
Riley: August 3rd, for a new team. Traded for a big name upgrade after a Donaldson extension.
Pache: May 1st 2020
Just finished installing a new water-closet in my master bathroom, I’m remodeling, and I still have almost ten minutes until first-pitch. It’s a good day.
DS
on March 28, 2019 at 3:00 pm
I predict the Phillies will finish 82-80. 😉
Dan
on March 28, 2019 at 3:05 pm
Braves will finish 86-76, one game behind the Phillies for the second wildcard, after Realmuto has a monster season.
Tanto
on March 28, 2019 at 3:08 pm
86 wins seems like a fair prediction to me.
coop
on March 28, 2019 at 3:14 pm
Inauspicious beginning.
sdp
on March 28, 2019 at 3:16 pm
lol
Dan
on March 28, 2019 at 3:16 pm
“And the season’s over…”
coop
on March 28, 2019 at 3:16 pm
Well.
gaz
on March 28, 2019 at 3:17 pm
This is going well.
Dusty
on March 28, 2019 at 3:17 pm
Revised from #45:
Braves W-L: 77-85
Team leaders:
Wins: Fried 10
Losses: Julio 18
Saves: Kimbrel 20
HR: Acuna 29
RBI: Acuna 99
Runs: Albies 88
SB: Inciarte 16
Date Austin Riley debuts: Who Cares?
Date Christian Pache debuts: Not Soon Enough
Askia
on March 28, 2019 at 3:20 pm
Yay! Getting Harper out makes me happy. Glad MLB Tonight went live for that.
Tfloyd
on March 28, 2019 at 3:21 pm
It would have been nice if Mccutcheon had been available this offseason.
Putter
on March 28, 2019 at 3:21 pm
Julio being Julio
DS
on March 28, 2019 at 3:21 pm
It’s not Julio. This ump is blind.
timo
on March 28, 2019 at 3:23 pm
Julio finished well after that HR. I have a good feeling.
DS
on March 28, 2019 at 3:23 pm
Julio is looking good out there. Fastball is sitting at 92 MPH. He got robbed on a couple of strikes. One to McCutcheon that I believe set Julio up to go upstairs again but a little less than on the first pitch.
The ump had better get comfortable with belt high pitches or we’re in for a long game.
Tanto
on March 28, 2019 at 3:24 pm
Still a better first inning than I was expecting from him.
DS
on March 28, 2019 at 3:26 pm
Acuna wins the first match up against Nola. Draws a walk after a 3-2 count. Love it.
Tfloyd
on March 28, 2019 at 3:28 pm
I’m almost as excited by the walk by RAJ as if he had hit a line drive. Showing that kind of patience in his first AB of the season is a very good sign.
DS
on March 28, 2019 at 3:29 pm
Nola can’t get Acuna out of his head. More throw to first than pitches to Markakis so far.
6 throws to first. 1-0 count to Kakes.
DS
on March 28, 2019 at 3:31 pm
Acuna suddenly on 2nd base. How’d that happen?? 😉
DS
on March 28, 2019 at 3:31 pm
Markakis a roller to RF. Acuna scores. Tied 1-1.
Kakes got caught going to 2B. 1 out.
Hambone
on March 28, 2019 at 3:32 pm
Nick the stud.
coop
on March 28, 2019 at 3:33 pm
Ronald Acuna is okay.
Sam Hutcheson
on March 28, 2019 at 3:34 pm
DS
on March 28, 2019 at 3:36 pm
How the heck was THAT a strike against McCann??
Ump is totally blind…
DS
on March 28, 2019 at 3:37 pm
Nola is looking wild. He’s pissed.
Tanto
on March 28, 2019 at 3:37 pm
I don’t understand this ump’s zone at all.
sdp
on March 28, 2019 at 3:38 pm
Someone should tell Mike Winters that its Spring.
King
on March 28, 2019 at 3:39 pm
It’d be great to run Nola’s pitch count up, and maybe knock him out early. I like the patience.
Putter
on March 28, 2019 at 3:40 pm
I love that we made him throw 29 pitches that inning
timo
on March 28, 2019 at 3:46 pm
The umpire is a disaster.
beege
on March 28, 2019 at 3:46 pm
People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm —> Low End Theory —> Midnight Marauders
ATLiens —> Aquemini —> Stankonia
Tanto
on March 28, 2019 at 3:48 pm
Very nice inning from Teheran there.
coop
on March 28, 2019 at 3:49 pm
Julio’s looking good. Runs would help.
Rob Copenhaver
on March 28, 2019 at 3:50 pm
The winner of the best predictions, based on my unscientific math, will win a copy of Ballplayer, Chipper’s book. Feel free to amend your answers since the stakes are INCREDIBLY high
Askia
on March 28, 2019 at 3:51 pm
@85 You are dead right with that Tribe Called Quest sequence. Such an amazing run there.
timo
on March 28, 2019 at 3:52 pm
Oh man, Frenchy is just so much better than Joe S.
King
on March 28, 2019 at 3:57 pm
Donaldson was cheated on his 2nd AB. He had ball four. This umpire is trash today.
timo
on March 28, 2019 at 3:57 pm
Love the patience. The ump sucks.
Rob Copenhaver
on March 28, 2019 at 4:06 pm
One hit, one run. Efficiency.
coop
on March 28, 2019 at 4:16 pm
Nice, short.
coop
on March 28, 2019 at 4:20 pm
Things fall apart, but Brycie takes a seat.
Askia
on March 28, 2019 at 4:22 pm
As long as Bryce sucks, this day is a success.
coop
on March 28, 2019 at 4:24 pm
Woo, Julio!
DS
on March 28, 2019 at 4:26 pm
Julio is walking a tight rope with a guy on 3rd. Lots of pitches but is getting the needed K’s to end the threat.
timo
on March 28, 2019 at 4:30 pm
Rough inning.
Chief Nocahoma
on March 28, 2019 at 4:33 pm
@88 was that book written with the crayons they give the kids to play with at Hooters?
Braves14
on March 28, 2019 at 4:38 pm
Are those runs earned or unearned with the error to start the inning? The box score has them as earned for some reason.
timo
on March 28, 2019 at 4:42 pm
One of the runs should be earned.
Tfloyd
on March 28, 2019 at 4:42 pm
It was ruled a hit with the error on the throw allowing the batter to take second.
coop
on March 28, 2019 at 4:42 pm
Hit and an error to lead off. Two Ks, a walk and two singles = earned runs I guess.
Our New Insect Overlords
on March 28, 2019 at 4:42 pm
STFU, Ender. Take the call and stop complaining. Sure glad you’re seeing the most plate appearances today.
Putter
on March 28, 2019 at 4:42 pm
Ender with a heck of a start to 2019
Tfloyd
on March 28, 2019 at 4:43 pm
Yes, all earned, but Julio has been pretty sharp.
Sean Q.
on March 28, 2019 at 4:43 pm
Thank God for baseball.
Nick
on March 28, 2019 at 4:45 pm
If you assume a single minus the error, he’s on first. The wild pitch would’ve moved him to second and the two walks would’ve loaded the bases. Therefore, the results would’ve been the same without the error and all runs are earned.
Braves14
on March 28, 2019 at 4:46 pm
Gotcha.
Hambone
on March 28, 2019 at 4:51 pm
Have a seat Bryce.
coop
on March 28, 2019 at 4:51 pm
Adios, Harper. Please take your seat.
Or what Hambone said.
Hambone
on March 28, 2019 at 4:52 pm
Chris Hanson voice- “Why don’t you have a seat over there.”
Tfloyd
on March 28, 2019 at 5:04 pm
I really don’t like sending Freddie in that inning. Don’t give away an out against this guy, especially with RAJ at the plate.
Braves14
on March 28, 2019 at 5:07 pm
I think Freddie did it on his own. Regardless it was a bad idea.
Tfloyd
on March 28, 2019 at 5:09 pm
The first appearance by the Braves pen this year yields a leadoff walk. Plus ça change.
Rob Copenhaver
on March 28, 2019 at 5:11 pm
I may or may not hate our bullpen before we’ve ever given up a run.
DS
on March 28, 2019 at 5:14 pm
I know one off-season acquisition is basically earning his pay today… it’s good to have McCann back behind the plate.
Tanto
on March 28, 2019 at 5:16 pm
Good to see the bullpen is in mid-season form.
Dan
on March 28, 2019 at 5:16 pm
That Braves bullpen.
Rob Copenhaver
on March 28, 2019 at 5:16 pm
Well, at least I had a good reason.
Tfloyd
on March 28, 2019 at 5:16 pm
@117–feel free to hate it now.
coop
on March 28, 2019 at 5:17 pm
161-1.
DS
on March 28, 2019 at 5:17 pm
Well that home run pissed somebody off. Braves baseball is having some technical difficulties…
Tanto
on March 28, 2019 at 5:17 pm
Heh, Carle got annihilated so badly it caused technical difficulties. That’s got to be an omen.
Our New Insect Overlords
on March 28, 2019 at 5:19 pm
Liberty must have pulled the plug on the broadcast
Putter
on March 28, 2019 at 5:20 pm
Leave it to the Braves to make sure Harper has a winning debut
Roger
on March 28, 2019 at 5:21 pm
Three of our four walks scored and one of their five walks scored. Now that is what pisses me off. Markakis stretching and Freeman stealing are not going to get us to where we want to be.
Julio did not pitch as bad as his line today.
Roger
on March 28, 2019 at 5:21 pm
Parsons did his thing. That’s a good sign.
Chief Nocahoma
on March 28, 2019 at 5:23 pm
0-162.
IMO.
Tanto
on March 28, 2019 at 5:24 pm
@128 — It’s almost like one team has a better offense than the other.
Rob Copenhaver
on March 28, 2019 at 5:25 pm
I’m in a bar. Drinking. BY MYSELF. Watching Julio Teheran start Opening Day against AARON NOLA while Justin Verlander and Blake Snell started on the other TV.
Where have I gone so wrong in life?
Our New Insect Overlords
on March 28, 2019 at 5:28 pm
With all that financial flexibility, the only flexibility that truly matters is in the body flexibility the team’s bullpen pitchers have to avoid getting hit by screaming line drives back up the middle.
krussell
on March 28, 2019 at 5:29 pm
Who is Matt Joyce? Did he come from flexibility?
John R.
on March 28, 2019 at 5:31 pm
HER NAME IS JOYCE!!!!
krussell
on March 28, 2019 at 5:33 pm
Got 2 runs and cleared Outciarte. Not over yet.
DS
on March 28, 2019 at 5:36 pm
@132 You just come on up to Huntsville any time, and you won’t have to drink and watch the Braves alone, buddy.
DS
on March 28, 2019 at 5:37 pm
Bad Jackson on the mound. They call him Luke.
Tanto
on March 28, 2019 at 5:39 pm
Don’t worry, Jackson’ll give ‘em back. Mean-spirited of Snitker to deny Robertson a save situation here.
Rob Copenhaver
on March 28, 2019 at 5:39 pm
@137 Means more to me than you are.
And when you yell “Yahtzee!” in a bar when Joyce goes yard when no one else is watching the Braves… you really have some explaining to do.
Rob Copenhaver
on March 28, 2019 at 5:40 pm
He can’t even throw to first… ::face palm emoji::
DS
on March 28, 2019 at 5:41 pm
And with a single wave of his arm, Big Bad Luke flung two Phillies from one side of the diamond to the other.
Rob Copenhaver
on March 28, 2019 at 5:41 pm
The only shot Jackson has of getting of those inning scoreless is if Jeff Francoeur comes up the next 3 hitters.
Tanto
on March 28, 2019 at 5:42 pm
The least surprising thing that has ever happened in the history of the world.
Smitty
on March 28, 2019 at 5:42 pm
Great job upgrading the bullpen
DS
on March 28, 2019 at 5:42 pm
Oh shit.
Rob Copenhaver
on March 28, 2019 at 5:42 pm
Rhys Hoskins is not Jeff Francoeur.
I don’t think Nick Markakis is gonna walk us off this year.
Grst
on March 28, 2019 at 5:43 pm
So, Kimbrel signing announced in the morning?
Putter
on March 28, 2019 at 5:43 pm
Luke Jackson..lol. We get what we deserve with that guy on the roster
DS
on March 28, 2019 at 5:44 pm
Alright, who thinks we’re signing Kimbrel this evening??
Rob Copenhaver
on March 28, 2019 at 5:44 pm
Let’s just dream of a better time:
Tanto
on March 28, 2019 at 5:45 pm
I’d rather play with a 24-man roster than have Luke Jackson on the team. The guy could find a way to make a 12-0 deficit worse.
sdp
on March 28, 2019 at 5:45 pm
BravesJournal is in midseason form. 😁
Smitty
on March 28, 2019 at 5:46 pm
Peanut will say
“That slam is an out of most parks”
Like Yellowstone
Sam Hutcheson
on March 28, 2019 at 5:46 pm
I think we should look at picking up some bullpen help.
Rob Copenhaver
on March 28, 2019 at 5:47 pm
How many times is too many times to post this?
Tanto
on March 28, 2019 at 5:48 pm
Oh, well, at least the Battery is having fun. All according to plan.
Rob Copenhaver
on March 28, 2019 at 5:50 pm
YOU HAVE A DAY OFF TOMORROW!
Rob Copenhaver
on March 28, 2019 at 5:51 pm
Siri, Google “how to add animated GIFs to native WordPress comments.”
@154 And he would be right, that slam would fly out of most parks. 😉
Braves14
on March 28, 2019 at 5:58 pm
Luke cut himself off from the force.
Hambone
on March 28, 2019 at 6:04 pm
Hoskins is Luke’s father.
Tanto
on March 28, 2019 at 6:05 pm
Fried looked good, although I don’t know why he’s in here.
Hambone
on March 28, 2019 at 6:07 pm
Hopefully this is Luke Jackson’s swan sing, like Wisler’s last year in Boston. Is Snitker just screwing with AA?
Dan
on March 28, 2019 at 6:13 pm
I will never understand this team’s fascination with Cool Hand Luke.
Tanto
on March 28, 2019 at 6:13 pm
The year can only get better.
Chief Nocahoma
on March 28, 2019 at 6:16 pm
*It’s baseball ™
BUT… and I don’t think that Kimbrel is really all that good anymore and probably wouldn’t pay him anywhere what he want(ed), but for this to happen to this craptastic organization is *very* fitting.
My only wish is that it had been a home game so the cacophony of boos was so loud that even they could have heard them.
Roger
on March 28, 2019 at 6:17 pm
@164 I think Fried was in there because his start is far enough away that he was just “getting some work in”. And he looked damn good doing it, too.
Plus Kimbrel
Minus Luke.
That is all.
Roger
on March 28, 2019 at 6:18 pm
The Brewers are likely to step up for Kimbrel soon because Knebel is going the way of TJS.
Hambone
on March 28, 2019 at 6:19 pm
There’s no reason except favoritism why Donaldson should hit in front of Acuna.
Dan
on March 28, 2019 at 6:19 pm
Somewhere AA watches, remembering how he didn’t acquire a single pitcher all offseason, and is thinking “at least we have our financial flexibility.”
Roger
on March 28, 2019 at 6:20 pm
How about this:
Both teams had 7 hits, 6 walks, and 9 Ks. You’d have thunked it might have been closer.
Tanto
on March 28, 2019 at 6:24 pm
@172 — Clearly the problem is that we didn’t have enough Financial Flexibility. Time to cut payroll some more. I vote for starting with Luke Jackson’s salary and going from there.
Or maybe that’s the joke that AA is sending over Liberty’s head. He keeps saying “financial flexibility” when really that’s code language that he is being held captive! That’s it!
Roger
on March 28, 2019 at 6:30 pm
Lest we think history will not repeat itself. Inciarte = 0/4 with 3 Ks. It’s hard to start slower than that. I wish we could learn from history and “expect” a slow start from Ender.
blazon
on March 28, 2019 at 6:31 pm
the individual Philly skill that hurt the most to watch..
Realmuto…not his bat, his throws to second…not only dead on line but arriving to hit the dirt for the first time directly alongside the front of the bag and into the wating glove. Jealousy.
Rob Copenhaver
on March 28, 2019 at 8:42 pm
Three things we ought not see on Opening Day:
1) Julio Teheran
2) Luke Jackson
3) Interleague play
I truly hate the Braves owners as much as I love the Braves players.
They are Ronald Acuna-levels of awful.
A worthy kickoff to the season. Or is it a worthy opening pitch? Or is it a worthy openging pitch?
It’s like Smitty is almost psychic.
Btw, Rob, all credit where it’s due: this is an incredibly good opening day thread for this turkey of an offseason.
Thank God being a Braves fan means I get to watch Ronald Acuna and Ozzie Albies and forget about the venal morons in the executive chambers who are too busy four-putting the Sharper Image smart greens on the master suite Persian rug while short-selling frozen orange juice concentrate futures to be bothered improve the team.
Judging by this quote, Minter thinks he pitches for the Phillies.
It is a worthy opening whinge…
@4 – Framed executive John Coppolella returns from disgrace to combine forces with interloper Alex Anthopoulos to bring down an evil corporation in: “Trading Salary Obligations.”
@5 — It’s like he couldn’t decide if he wanted to go with the “We’re the champions, so we’re favorites until someone beats us, they’re chasing us” line of optimism or the “We’re underdogs, no one believes in us, but we’ll show them” line, so he just kind of switched off halfway through.
The idea that there are real, otherwise-functioning adult people out there who thought the Braves would be holding onto news of a Kimbrel signing until they could announce it via 680 The Fan’s social media account…
*Whistles*
You do it to yourself, you do
You and no one else
You do it to yourself, just you
And that’s what really hurts
Hey, I think we made it through an entire offseason with no RNRHOF discussion.
Want to feel better about the Braves? Janet Jackson is going in, and the recently departed Dick Dale remains out. Quite a world we live in.
@9 I’ll admit that the thought briefly came to my mind, and the only defense for the idea was that since Kimbrel perhaps has a closer relationship to the Braves, and has had an offseason he really didn’t like, maybe this was something to make it more exciting… or something. But then I quickly realized that that had about 0.0001% chance of happening.
SCORCHING HOT TAKE: My favorite Radiohead album is probably still OK Computer, but at this point I’d probably rather just listen to Kid A in the background.
@9 — It’s probably only a matter of time until a major league team tries to turn a signing into a social media event. Video games are already at the stage where they do teasers for announcements of announcements of livestreams of announcements, and MLB has consistently been 10-20 years behind the curve.
Someone oughta do a Keltner list!
Maybe if they sell enough of those sandwiches, they can afford to extend Freeman and Acuna.
@13, Maybe for the ASB.
Alex, while thinking about rock Keltner criteria, I found a guy who beat you to the punch. The website isn’t letting me post a link, so google “Keltner analysis of undiscussed Rock Hall Artists: Sonic Youth.” I like some of his criteria, but I want to suggest more improvements.
I would also do a Keltner for Dick Dale so that more people understand how obvious it is that he’s an inner circle HOF’er.
AAR @ #11
https://twitter.com/jrobertlennon/status/1110327943123881985
Okay:
Beggars Banquet-Let It Bleed-Sticky Fingers-Exile on Main St.
Luke Jackson is on the opening say roster. Wonder who went off the 40 man?
Watch it be O’Day gets put on the 60-day. Ugh.
Maybe DFA Lopez?
Luke. Jackson.
The Bends and OK. Amnesiac is forgettable.
Darren O’Day to the 10-day DL. Lopez DOA’d.
Radiohead is the only thing in this world that has done nothing even remotely bad for the past 25 years. There’s only one Streak in my life, and it started with the My Iron Lung EP and (firmly excluding the drummer’s solo work) continues to this day. I even enjoyed the Suspiria soundtrack. Eat it, Braves.
@17–your list is probably #1, but Bringing it all Back Home–Highway 61 Revisited–Blonde on Blonde is in the argument. And Astral Weeks–Moondance–His Band and the Street Choir–Tupelo Honey ought to get votes.
Notice that all the artists I cite are pushing 80. I have a bad case of Baby Boomer tunnel vision.
Only you lot would be fangirling over Thom freaking Yorke an hour before first pitch.
Always depends on your age and what you listened to that made a great impact on your life. For me it’s: The Smiths/Meat is Murder/The Queen is Dead.
AA didn’t even trade for Luke Jackson. He must like something. He had a 3.55 FIP last year. He’s a long reliever, an innings eater, and he probably doesn’t even see the mound much with the off-days. His FIP last year is a hair below Cristhian Martinez’s career FIP.
With that said, RHB had a .793 OPS off of him last year (.624 for LHB). Yikes. Personally, other than the FIP and the K rate (10/9), I’m not sure what the big deal is. But he plugs a hole for now. Whatever.
@26, Welcome back.
Meat Is Murder is so good.
Moondance is the weak link for me IMO.
Shall we get a prediction thread going? I’ll start
Braves W-L: 93-69
Team leaders:
Wins: Wright 16
Losses: Julio 12
Saves: Viz with 22
HR: Acuna 35
RBI: Acuna 109
Runs: FF 105
SB: Inciarte 16
Date Austin Riley debuts: Jun 26
Date Christian Pache debuts: Sept 2
Ramones-Leave Home-Rocket to Russia-Road to Ruin
22 — DOA? That’s extreme, they only had to cut him from the roster.
*insert eye roll for “dad joke” here*
Braves W-L: 86-76
Team leaders:
Wins: Folty 14
Losses: Gaus 13
Saves: Viz with 19
HR: Acuna 38
RBI: Acuna 110
Runs: FF 105
SB: Albies 30
Date Austin Riley debuts: July 1
Date Christian Pache debuts: April 2020
On the Mouth/Foolish/Here’s Where the Strings Come In
If you want to fill in the last couple hours before we start there is a tasty morsel available at 1, Mets(De Grom) / Nationals.
82-80 3rd or 4th in the NL East.
Changes…read while you wait.
I love this thread!
Braves W-L: 88-74
Team leaders:
Wins: Julio-10
Losses: Wright 12
Saves: Viz 19
HR: Freeman 31
RBI: Freeman 99
Runs: Acuna 100
SB: Swanson 17
Date Austin Riley debuts: May 20
Date Christian Pache debuts: July 2020
Black Sabbath
Paranoid
Master of Reality
Vol 4
Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
Sabotage
What do I win?
Feels
Strawberry Jam
Merriwether Post Pavilion
My Aim is True
This Year’s Model
Armed Forces
Get Happy!!
Wanna feel sad? Part I
Five Leaves Left
Bryter Layter
Pink Moon
Wanna feel sad? Part II
Either/Or
XO
Figure 8
Wanna feel sad? Part III
Spirit of Eden
Laughing Stock
Mark Hollis
🙁
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Yeezus
The Life of Pablo
🙂
At this point, how do you not just go with whatever Smitty predicts?
I think we are going to regret not adding a front end starter and another bat.
I really think we are going to regret not adding bullpen help.
I think the Braves were foolish for putting so many eggs in the Minter, Vizy, O’Day, McCann and Donaldson basket. Those five have significant roles on this team and seem like a long shot not to miss lots of time.
Pat Boone( my music?)
On a day like today
we wait to watch them play
happy ball players fronting the stand
how we laughed when they tried
to much improve their slide
but wept over those who’d been canned.
@30 you pre-empted me, dangit. I’ll have to go (in addition to the Ramones):
A Tonic for the Troops
This Year’s Model
Eat to the Beat
Dance Craze (Ska compilation)
That Summer! (soundtrack w/punk compilation 1979)
FWIW, I have a prediction thread going up on the Friday off day.
Braves W-L: 92-70
Team leaders:
Wins: Folty-15
Losses: Julio 10
Saves: Viz/Minter 20/20
HR: Acuna 35
RBI: Freeman 105
Runs: Inciarte 95
SB: Inciarte 30
Date Austin Riley debuts: Sept 2019 or with the first IL stint of Donaldson
Date Christian Pache debuts: May 2020
Braves W-L: 85-77
Team leaders:
Wins: Fried 14
Losses: Newcomb 12
Saves: Kimbrel 25
HR: Acuna 33
RBI: Acuna 118
Runs: Albies 106
SB: Inciarte 28
Date Austin Riley debuts: June 17th
Date Christian Pache debuts: August 13th
Braves W-L: 162-0
Team leaders:
Wins: Teheran 25
Losses: Everybody 0
Saves: Minter 2
HR: Acuna 80
RBI: Acuna 320
Runs: Albies 210
SB: Inciarte 1
Date Austin Riley debuts: His HS girlfriend
Date Christian Pache debuts: His Elementary School Girlfriend
Braves W-L: 85-77
Wins: Gausman 14
Losses: Gausman 11
Saves: Minter 25
HR: Donaldson 28
RBI: Acuna 88
Runs: Acuna 105
SB: Albies 23
Riley: June 10
Pache: 2020
I don’t like making predictions much beyond W/L, but I like Roger’s prediction. I think 92-70 will be it. I like Acuna for at least 35 homers.
I do think Julio Teheran will lead the staff in losses, but that’s because I think Julio will give us the most innings and will also be worth close to 4 bWAR this season. There’s my prediction.
If I were going to do a prediction post, I would certainly predict the team lead in saves going to Craig Kimbrel, just to troll you lot.
Braves W-L: 89-73
Team Leaders
Wins: Folty 16
Losses: Newcomb 12
Saves: Kimbrel 21
AVG: Freeman .304
HR: Acuna 34
RBI: Freeman 108
Runs: Donaldson 93
SB: Albies 27
Riley: August 3rd, for a new team. Traded for a big name upgrade after a Donaldson extension.
Pache: May 1st 2020
New Sandwiches Sold: 401,528
Braves W-L: 88-74
Wins: Folty 13
Losses: Julio 13
Saves: Minter 22
HR: RAJ 30
RBI: RAJ 94
Runs: Inciarte 93
SB: Inciarte 28
Riley: September 19
Pache: 2020
80-82, 4th in NL East
Just finished installing a new water-closet in my master bathroom, I’m remodeling, and I still have almost ten minutes until first-pitch. It’s a good day.
I predict the Phillies will finish 82-80. 😉
Braves will finish 86-76, one game behind the Phillies for the second wildcard, after Realmuto has a monster season.
86 wins seems like a fair prediction to me.
Inauspicious beginning.
lol
“And the season’s over…”
Well.
This is going well.
Revised from #45:
Braves W-L: 77-85
Team leaders:
Wins: Fried 10
Losses: Julio 18
Saves: Kimbrel 20
HR: Acuna 29
RBI: Acuna 99
Runs: Albies 88
SB: Inciarte 16
Date Austin Riley debuts: Who Cares?
Date Christian Pache debuts: Not Soon Enough
Yay! Getting Harper out makes me happy. Glad MLB Tonight went live for that.
It would have been nice if Mccutcheon had been available this offseason.
Julio being Julio
It’s not Julio. This ump is blind.
Julio finished well after that HR. I have a good feeling.
Julio is looking good out there. Fastball is sitting at 92 MPH. He got robbed on a couple of strikes. One to McCutcheon that I believe set Julio up to go upstairs again but a little less than on the first pitch.
The ump had better get comfortable with belt high pitches or we’re in for a long game.
Still a better first inning than I was expecting from him.
Acuna wins the first match up against Nola. Draws a walk after a 3-2 count. Love it.
I’m almost as excited by the walk by RAJ as if he had hit a line drive. Showing that kind of patience in his first AB of the season is a very good sign.
Nola can’t get Acuna out of his head. More throw to first than pitches to Markakis so far.
6 throws to first. 1-0 count to Kakes.
Acuna suddenly on 2nd base. How’d that happen?? 😉
Markakis a roller to RF. Acuna scores. Tied 1-1.
Kakes got caught going to 2B. 1 out.
Nick the stud.
Ronald Acuna is okay.
How the heck was THAT a strike against McCann??
Ump is totally blind…
Nola is looking wild. He’s pissed.
I don’t understand this ump’s zone at all.
Someone should tell Mike Winters that its Spring.
It’d be great to run Nola’s pitch count up, and maybe knock him out early. I like the patience.
I love that we made him throw 29 pitches that inning
The umpire is a disaster.
People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm —> Low End Theory —> Midnight Marauders
ATLiens —> Aquemini —> Stankonia
Very nice inning from Teheran there.
Julio’s looking good. Runs would help.
The winner of the best predictions, based on my unscientific math, will win a copy of Ballplayer, Chipper’s book. Feel free to amend your answers since the stakes are INCREDIBLY high
@85 You are dead right with that Tribe Called Quest sequence. Such an amazing run there.
Oh man, Frenchy is just so much better than Joe S.
Donaldson was cheated on his 2nd AB. He had ball four. This umpire is trash today.
Love the patience. The ump sucks.
One hit, one run. Efficiency.
Nice, short.
Things fall apart, but Brycie takes a seat.
As long as Bryce sucks, this day is a success.
Woo, Julio!
Julio is walking a tight rope with a guy on 3rd. Lots of pitches but is getting the needed K’s to end the threat.
Rough inning.
@88 was that book written with the crayons they give the kids to play with at Hooters?
Are those runs earned or unearned with the error to start the inning? The box score has them as earned for some reason.
One of the runs should be earned.
It was ruled a hit with the error on the throw allowing the batter to take second.
Hit and an error to lead off. Two Ks, a walk and two singles = earned runs I guess.
STFU, Ender. Take the call and stop complaining. Sure glad you’re seeing the most plate appearances today.
Ender with a heck of a start to 2019
Yes, all earned, but Julio has been pretty sharp.
Thank God for baseball.
If you assume a single minus the error, he’s on first. The wild pitch would’ve moved him to second and the two walks would’ve loaded the bases. Therefore, the results would’ve been the same without the error and all runs are earned.
Gotcha.
Have a seat Bryce.
Adios, Harper. Please take your seat.
Or what Hambone said.
Chris Hanson voice- “Why don’t you have a seat over there.”
I really don’t like sending Freddie in that inning. Don’t give away an out against this guy, especially with RAJ at the plate.
I think Freddie did it on his own. Regardless it was a bad idea.
The first appearance by the Braves pen this year yields a leadoff walk. Plus ça change.
I may or may not hate our bullpen before we’ve ever given up a run.
I know one off-season acquisition is basically earning his pay today… it’s good to have McCann back behind the plate.
Good to see the bullpen is in mid-season form.
That Braves bullpen.
Well, at least I had a good reason.
@117–feel free to hate it now.
161-1.
Well that home run pissed somebody off. Braves baseball is having some technical difficulties…
Heh, Carle got annihilated so badly it caused technical difficulties. That’s got to be an omen.
Liberty must have pulled the plug on the broadcast
Leave it to the Braves to make sure Harper has a winning debut
Three of our four walks scored and one of their five walks scored. Now that is what pisses me off. Markakis stretching and Freeman stealing are not going to get us to where we want to be.
Julio did not pitch as bad as his line today.
Parsons did his thing. That’s a good sign.
0-162.
IMO.
@128 — It’s almost like one team has a better offense than the other.
I’m in a bar. Drinking. BY MYSELF. Watching Julio Teheran start Opening Day against AARON NOLA while Justin Verlander and Blake Snell started on the other TV.
Where have I gone so wrong in life?
With all that financial flexibility, the only flexibility that truly matters is in the body flexibility the team’s bullpen pitchers have to avoid getting hit by screaming line drives back up the middle.
Who is Matt Joyce? Did he come from flexibility?
HER NAME IS JOYCE!!!!
Got 2 runs and cleared Outciarte. Not over yet.
@132 You just come on up to Huntsville any time, and you won’t have to drink and watch the Braves alone, buddy.
Bad Jackson on the mound. They call him Luke.
Don’t worry, Jackson’ll give ‘em back. Mean-spirited of Snitker to deny Robertson a save situation here.
@137 Means more to me than you are.
And when you yell “Yahtzee!” in a bar when Joyce goes yard when no one else is watching the Braves… you really have some explaining to do.
He can’t even throw to first… ::face palm emoji::
And with a single wave of his arm, Big Bad Luke flung two Phillies from one side of the diamond to the other.
The only shot Jackson has of getting of those inning scoreless is if Jeff Francoeur comes up the next 3 hitters.
The least surprising thing that has ever happened in the history of the world.
Great job upgrading the bullpen
Oh shit.
Rhys Hoskins is not Jeff Francoeur.
I don’t think Nick Markakis is gonna walk us off this year.
So, Kimbrel signing announced in the morning?
Luke Jackson..lol. We get what we deserve with that guy on the roster
Alright, who thinks we’re signing Kimbrel this evening??
Let’s just dream of a better time:
I’d rather play with a 24-man roster than have Luke Jackson on the team. The guy could find a way to make a 12-0 deficit worse.
BravesJournal is in midseason form. 😁
Peanut will say
“That slam is an out of most parks”
Like Yellowstone
I think we should look at picking up some bullpen help.
How many times is too many times to post this?
Oh, well, at least the Battery is having fun. All according to plan.
YOU HAVE A DAY OFF TOMORROW!
Siri, Google “how to add animated GIFs to native WordPress comments.”
trade tex for prospex
@154 And he would be right, that slam would fly out of most parks. 😉
Luke cut himself off from the force.
Hoskins is Luke’s father.
Fried looked good, although I don’t know why he’s in here.
Hopefully this is Luke Jackson’s swan sing, like Wisler’s last year in Boston. Is Snitker just screwing with AA?
I will never understand this team’s fascination with Cool Hand Luke.
The year can only get better.
*It’s baseball ™
BUT… and I don’t think that Kimbrel is really all that good anymore and probably wouldn’t pay him anywhere what he want(ed), but for this to happen to this craptastic organization is *very* fitting.
My only wish is that it had been a home game so the cacophony of boos was so loud that even they could have heard them.
@164 I think Fried was in there because his start is far enough away that he was just “getting some work in”. And he looked damn good doing it, too.
Plus Kimbrel
Minus Luke.
That is all.
The Brewers are likely to step up for Kimbrel soon because Knebel is going the way of TJS.
There’s no reason except favoritism why Donaldson should hit in front of Acuna.
Somewhere AA watches, remembering how he didn’t acquire a single pitcher all offseason, and is thinking “at least we have our financial flexibility.”
How about this:
Both teams had 7 hits, 6 walks, and 9 Ks. You’d have thunked it might have been closer.
@172 — Clearly the problem is that we didn’t have enough Financial Flexibility. Time to cut payroll some more. I vote for starting with Luke Jackson’s salary and going from there.
Phillies new players – Cutch, Segura, Bryce, JTR = 3 hits, 3 walks, 6 runs……
Y’all are too inflexible… financially…
Or maybe that’s the joke that AA is sending over Liberty’s head. He keeps saying “financial flexibility” when really that’s code language that he is being held captive! That’s it!
Lest we think history will not repeat itself. Inciarte = 0/4 with 3 Ks. It’s hard to start slower than that. I wish we could learn from history and “expect” a slow start from Ender.
the individual Philly skill that hurt the most to watch..
Realmuto…not his bat, his throws to second…not only dead on line but arriving to hit the dirt for the first time directly alongside the front of the bag and into the wating glove. Jealousy.
Three things we ought not see on Opening Day:
1) Julio Teheran
2) Luke Jackson
3) Interleague play
Recapped