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By Voice of Reason Raisins
JEFFERSON, GA – I was talking with my 12-year-old son yesterday about this task of putting together a lead topic for the Braves and Stuff blog. He asked me, “What are you gonna write about?” My honest response to him was, “I don’t know. What do you think I should write about?” To this, he gave a couple of minutes thought and asked, “Does it have to be real?” I replied, “No, it does not.” Suddenly, a flurry of ideas for stories began to come forth out of the mouth of this suddenly released creative force. “The President is at the game, and Chipper Jones is batting. His bat breaks and a sharp piece barely misses the President and the Secret Service arrests Chipper and throws him in jail.” Or, “Mark Teixeira is really a spy from another country. He’s gathering intelligence from all over the country while posing as a baseball player.” I reminded him that Tex was from Baltimore, so he quickly said, “OK, it’s Escobar!” Then there was, “Brian McCann and Jeff Francoeur discover Area 54 and are held captive 54 miles below ground in an underground bunker.”
Wow… I had unknowingly tapped into an endless resource of creativity all from the perspective of the 12-year-old world. So I thought, how about a little creativity from a middle-aged dad trying desperately to stay connected to a 12-year-old world?
How about: “The Braves break Spring Training with a pitcher who dominated the Grapefruit League. Amazingly, he had not pitched in a Major League game in 2 years, but his spring games were so awesome that the Braves, and the Braves fans, came to rely on him to be an important part of their plans for 2008. In the last 2 years, he had endured knee surgery, elbow surgery and a torn hamstring. He was practically like the Bionic Man. Local sports talk radio suggested he be placed in bubble-wrap prior to his first start. Ha-ha… that’s pretty funny. As the radio hosts signed off from their show on the evening of his first regular season start, they jokingly admitted that it looked like he was going to make it. 15 minutes later, this pitcher tears a pectoral muscle and can’t answer the bell. He has yet to toe the rubber again in a Major League game.” Nah…
I got one: “A future Hall of Fame pitcher enters into the season looking for one more run to the playoffs. He even implores the Braves management to bring back one of his good buddies to make the run with him. He enters into Spring Training, but disappears from sight. He trains by himself on back fields, like a ninja, secretly preparing his new arsenal so that he can unleash his final attacks on an unsuspecting league of batsmen. As the season unfolds, his team leans on him like never before. And he is good; I mean really good. He even reaches a career milestone. You’d never know that his elbow had ever been surgically repaired. You’d never know, in fact we didn’t know, that he had once had an unprecedented procedure to fix a hole in his elbow tendon. He was dominant… for about 5 innings at a time. Then 4. Then, without warning, his shoulder began to ache. It ached badly. It ached so badly that he couldn’t throw between starts… so badly that he couldn’t sleep. It ached. He was shut down, unable to help his reeling teammates – unable to right a listing ship. But he had an idea. “If I can’t throw for 5 innings anymore, maye again lead my troops to victory!” He prepared for his triumphant return to the hails of a loving throng of worshipers. But, alas, it was not to be. His return was not triumphant. And he ached badly. He would not pick up another ball this year, nay maybe never. His own shoulder had betrayed him, and perhaps this mighty warrior shall never again taste the sweetness of victory.” No, I don’t like it…
And then there’s: “The Prodigal Son returns. He returns after many years in the camp of the enemy. Yes, he wore the hated blue and orange, he wore the scripted NY, he fought with the rival. Many things were said of this once revered man. He was accused of having ulterior motives. “No!” he said. “It was just business. Things are not as they appear.” But his former faithful did not believe. But time has a way of healing wounds, and the Prodigal Son wanted to come home. Soon, many began to believe that all was truly not as it had appeared, and his former faithful began to also wish him home. He almost made it, but alas, it was not to be. But wait! A new season dawns and he has returned. Our grizzled veteran has come home to help propel his friends and teammates to another post-season. This man had seen many campaigns, some supremely successful, others not so much. But he could battle. He had never missed any portion of a campaign over his entire Hall of Fame career. He had come home to be a workhorse for a manager that he had loved and admired. But suddenly, the well conditioned workhorse pulled a hammy and found himself inactive for the first time. Yes, even the mighty fall sometimes. But he came back fighting. Ow! His elbow hurts! Dang… He has slightly torn something in his elbow. DL’d again…” No, I don’t like that one either…
Maybe: “Hot young prospect suspended for performance enhancing drugs?!?” Maybe not…
Or: “Replacement center fielder returns from back surgery to perform wonderfully… until he injures his back.” No…
Or: “Hot young pitcher steps funny in dugout and rolls his ankle.” Uh-uh…
I know: “Major free-agent-to-be can’t perform until the calendar says it’s OK.” Still not it…
“Sore armed closer lets manager know when he can pitch.” Crazy…
“Mexican League refugee finds himself an important piece of a Major League rotation.” Never…
“Rival base runner twice tries to implant his head into the shortstop’s thigh.” Funny, but no…
I got it!!! “Stud third baseman bats .400 well into June, but gets knocked outta service when he doinks a ball off the batting cage crossbar into his own eye.” That’s a good one! But it just won’t work…
I think I’ll just go back to “Brian McCann and Jeff Francoeur discover Area 54 and are held captive 54 miles below ground in an underground bunker.” It’s more believable.
~Raisins~
Terrific, Raisins! Love the concept and approach. Many thanks!
Who of us expected all the problems this team has had since ST?? I had really hoped that this would be a super year for them.
It has been pretty unbelievable, all the crazy things that have happened so far. Now if it was one of those “Major League” movies the young guys would step up (as some of them are doing), Chipper would hit .400 for the year & the injured guys would make miraculous comebacks & we’d win the WS. Hmmm…that works for me. Good work, VOR!
Repeating myself from the end of the last blog . Hillbilly, I have never gotten both feeds for any game here. You just get the feed they give you. For some reason they won’t show any Peachtree games (which makes no sense because I have Brighthouse cable & they own Peachtree). Usually they show the other team’s feed but once in a while they just don’t carry the game. It seems like I never see a Braves’ broadcast anymore. One more reason to be anxious to move to Georgia.
Yo, Raisins! If all you wrote weren’t true, I’d say someone spiked your OJ…err…coffee! Nice!
No one in Hollywood would buy that script, right, Salty? They’d call it too far-fetched.
Raisins-Actually the spy is Omar Minaya and Willie Randolph almost blew his cover, necessitating a middle of the night execution (figuratively speaking). Wilpon is trying to build an Evil Empire. Sniper 69 and MetroDude are likely operatives. I’ve always suspected as much. Good thing we took out the Drooling Fool, though.
Hillbilly-I responded to you at the end of the last blog. I’m too lazy to repeat it and too technologically backwards to figure out how to transfer it. Go read it on the other blog.
Raisins… You offer further proof the truth can be stranger than fiction…
Great lead by the way, perhaps you could tell the one about how a team calls up 2/3 rds of their AAA roster and negates the need to move their minor league franchise to Atlanta as the player are already there…
By the way, Richmond is looking for some pitching help… Think anyone could be getting healthy on the big Braves’ staff????
Lew,
Y’all are not missing much with the Peachtree broadcasts. The scoreboard display at the top of the screen sucks, Chip is annoying as he!!, and the “sideline” reporter, J.J., is horrible. The only time I actually get excited about a Peachtree Game is on a weekend when Skip is filling in. I just can’t force myself to enjoy Chip.
Very good indeed VOR! Sounds like you are the semi growed up version of your son!
You did forget the tale about the tattooed Aussie reliever who was likely to be our(next) closer,was found to have a bone spur so big, it needed two zip codes, had it removed, and put an end to his season. 
and SG, I had several fascinating things to say at the end of the last blog, please read, as I read every one of your 50,000 word “posts”
Tiger Woods is pretty tough!
http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/news/story?id=3450453
Thanks for the speedy new blog CL! Why was the old one so slow??? It seemed that way from about post 300 on!
Just getting caught up on baseball news…from mlbtraderumors.com
<b.Braves Interested In Randy Winn?
According to Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle, the Braves are one team with “apparent interest” in Giants right fielder Randy Winn. Winn can play all three outfield positions. Lately the Braves have been using Brandon Jones in left, Gregor Blanco in center, and Jeff Francoeur in right. Matt Diaz will be out several more weeks with a knee injury, while Mark Kotsay has a lower back issue.
Winn, 34, is hitting a respectable .298/.359/.447 in 288 plate appearances. Winn’s line would look better in center field, but Blanco has a tidy .375 OBP going. Winn makes $8MM this year and $8.25MM in ‘09. He can block trades to ten teams. I imagine Brian Sabean would settle for a marginal prospect if a team would take on all of Winn’s contract.
Oh good grief!!! I hope this is just a rumor, and never gets beyond talk… Yeah, he’s hitting .298…but 5 homers, 27 RBi’s for the year. And from what I can tell, he’s doing that batting 3rd in front of 2 guys hitting in the .280’s. Can’t Brandon Jones do that??? Find some stud left fielder that would hit 20-25 homers the rest of the way, ok(And who in the world fits that bill?)…otherwise, it’s just gotta be the Giants talking.
This is already getting a bit old, but some Tex trade talk…I have to say about Olney’s Red Sox dreaming…no way we would trade him for 2nd tier prospects…and even with losing Glavine and Smoltz, if Morton keeps pitching like he did the first start, we won’t need starting pitching, at least this year!
• The Atlanta Braves continue to struggle, and at some point, they will face the same decision with Mark Teixeira that the Indians have to make with C.C. Sabathia: Do they trade the prospective free agent for established talent, or do they keep him for the rest of the season and just take the draft-pick compensation when he walks away at the end of the year?
In a summer in which teams are absolutely starving for power hitters, the Braves might well get more value by trading him — to the Angels, who may need to find a way to make up for the power that Vladimir Guerrero has not been providing, or the Dodgers, or the Yankees (though this is very unlikely). But here’s an intriguing thought (and it’s nothing but speculation): For the same reason that the Red Sox might be the best-positioned team to make a run at Sabathia, if they wanted to, Boston could be best positioned to make a short-term acquisition of Teixeira.
The only reason the Red Sox would consider doing this would be if they determined, internally, that David Ortiz will not be able to make it all the way back. Even though he might play again this year, that does not guarantee that he actually will come close to being as good as he has been in the past, with wrist injuries being an uncertain and touchy matter. The Red Sox are so loaded with prospects that they can hang onto the likes of Clay Buchholz and Jon Lester and Justin Masterson and Jed Lowrie and tell other teams to consider their secondary prospects. And while there is on-going debate about how much money Teixeira will be paid as a free agent this fall — many executives think it will be far less than the $200 million speculated upon in some corners — there is no doubt that he would be a suitable replacement for Ortiz. The Red Sox could essentially rotate the Gold Glover with Kevin Youkilis and Mike Lowell in the first/third/DH spots, and down the stretch, they could simulate the kind of power that Ortiz has given them in the past. And then, at season’s end, they could let Teixeira walk away and they could take the draft picks as compensation.
I don’t think the Red Sox would do it — with or without Teixeira, they are a great team capable of winning the World Series again — and if they have to replace Ortiz’s offense, they could do so with a less costly player. My colleague Peter Gammons thinks Josh Willingham of the Marlins would be a great fit. All interesting thoughts.
There! Stuff to chew on for awhile, whilst I do important stuff….
Back for just a sec. Hillbilly, that would still be better than no game or being forced to listen to the opposing team’s guys, most of whom don’t know squat about the Braves. I’m biased of course but our broadcasters seem like they try to be knowledgeable about the other team.
The Red Sox don’t need Teixeira IMO.
Hillbilly-I promise you would quickly learn an appreciation of Chip if you had to watch (and occasionally listen to on XM) some of the absolute idiots the other teams have doing their radio and TV work.
I was telling someone on the other blog yesterday that the Brewers’ guys are the most ill informed and clueless people doing play by play and color commentary. They tried telling us that Blanco had most of the season’s playing time in center while Kotsay was still activated. He had actually played two games there.
As much as I always iked Ron Santo of the Cubs as a player, sympathized completely with his diabetic problems and his amputations as a rsult, listening to him on XM during the Cubs series was painful. He was so bad it was brutal.
Unfortunately, I haven’t seen or heard a broadcast in two weeks with ANY Braves’ guys. Believe me. Chip would be a pleasant change. Really. I promise.
I’m glad it’s not just me, Lew. I’ve got to rely on y’all to share any news/info our guys say on the broadcast because generally the other team’s guys don’t have a clue about the Braves.
Stopped in for a breather. Lew, I’ll be glad when XM and Sirius merge. Maybe then the contraction will weed out a few of those that shouldn’t be announcing games or anything else.
When I used to listen to games on XM (last year and a few years before), at least all home games would have Skip and the home guys… away games would have the away team’s announcers, but it was bearable.
Then again, who knows… if they merge the two stations they may just promote the worst and we’d get Howard Stern announcing games, having x-rated conversations with the Braves cheerleaders throughout the game. I can hear it now, “so, tell me what you have to do to become a cheerleader for the… wait, there’s crowd noise… something just happened… does anybody know? One of the teams scored or something. Whatever… baseball is so noisy. Shut the windows in this booth. Now Sherry, tell me about…”
I don’t think that the merger will make a difference, SG. They use the teams’ regular radio feed.
Why do baseball teams need cheerleaders anyway? It makes no sense. It’s not like football, where the men need to look at something during the 14,000 time-outs per game.
SG-Not too sure of that assertion (or hope), Dude. Sirius has never broadcast baseball games-just football. While I would love to listen to my Buccaneers every Sunday for the first time in seven years, I hold no hope for any improvement in the baseball announcing.
Part of the problem is that they are not employed by XM, but the individual clubs. EG-When the Braves are at home, Skip (or whomever)and Pete are the team. If away, the other club’s feed with their radio crew is the broadcast team du jour. We’re doomed. May as well reconcile ourselves to it. Must have to do with expansion watering down the talent pool-just like pitching, right?
Why do baseball teams need cheerleaders anyway?
Hmmm. Dunno FBG, maybe it’s a plot between MLB and owners. We are being prepared for instant replay. Or maybe it’s just a nice way to deliver tee shirts to the crowd with that little air-gun rocket tee-launcher thingy. Don’t get me wrong FBG… they’re cute and all in those skimpy little shorty shorts and tight little tee’s… well, maybe they’re not that bad afterall. Hmmm…
Nah, I actually find the whole spectacle more annoying than anything else. But then, I don’t like 40′ foot cows in the outfield stands, the blaring top 40 music or the ‘wave’ either. Maybe I just like to watch the game and talk to whoever I’m there with. Call me crazy.
I’m waiting to see how the cow thing is going to work. Hey, you never know. People go crazy over someone running around dressed like a giant bratwurst in Milwaukee after all.
Lew, I suspect you’re right about the dilution of broadcast talent. Maybe by the time our ears go the way of our hide and hair, they’ll have good announcers… by then it won’t matter, cause we’ll just have that little hearing impaired device turned on our TV so we can read what the announcers are saying.
“WELL… AND HERE COMES JAIR JURRJENS TO THE MOND TO TOW THE RUBERR… STILL PICHING IN 2030… MAY BE HIS LAST SEASOON AFTER 22 YEARS IN THE MAHOORS…ON HIS THIRD BIONIC ARM…. HE WILL GO FOR HIS %X$LU%$ WIN TONIGHTTT… BOBBY COX SAID HE MAY RETIRE THIS YEAR… MAYBE… ONE YEAR AT A TIME HE SAID…”
We won’t be able to hear it so we’ll complain about the typist.
Raisins, ‘twas a very nice lead and read indeed. Enjoyed it… and that’s very cool and promising creative stuff by the little Raisin too. Didn’t know you wrote fiction. C’mon now, be raisinable… who’da thunkit in the spring?
First, we all thought we’d have a pretty well rounded team at Spring Training. Then in April we saw pitchers dropping like, uh, cousins of sleuth reporters. Left and right, down… gone for the season or DL’ed. Then we had a bullpen that was unexpectedly remarkable. Then Huddy took us on a Dr. Jekyll Mr. Hyde rollercoaster ride (still is). Then we saw unexpectedly amazing starts by Jurrjens, Campillo and now Morton acting like they’re supposed to be in the rotation… and they are!
All this time, beginning when our pitchers all checked into the whoopsie daisy injury clinic for arm problems (and assorted body part issues on Hampton), we thought pitching would sink us early. Then it turned out that pitching was our strength and HITTING was the problem.
Many thought Chipper was going to have an injury plagued, ‘twilight of career’ season with an expected drop in batting average. He’s hitting .400 in mid June. Incredible. We thought Tex would be the big bopper that would carry the team. Whoosh… we’re still waiting for him to ‘heat up’. We figured Frenchy would improve his D and his hitting, then whiff and slosh… it ain’t happenin’. It’s just a fictional season all around. It’s the kind of year that anything could happen… anything! Who knows… Phillies could run into a bunch of injuries.
Here’s an idea. On this particular Raisins blog number 49, you should have little Raisins write a little fiction story for us and post it. It’ll be his story, in his own words and with his own spelling too. That’d be fun to read. Could be a keepsake… his very first published work!
I had several fascinating things to say at the end of the last blog, please read, as I read every one of your 50,000 word “posts”
Bear, fifty thousand words? Me? Fifty large? Fitty-K? The big Five-0?
Book ‘em Danno… for unreasonable exaggeration. You’ve been warned about your exaggerations. That’s right, over two million times just this week by over 8000 denizens here on this blog alone. Gee willikers…
Frenchy said he’d never pull himself out of the lineup, and I am sure Bobby loves that….but, it isn’t good for the team right now….
Yes, I did read your post… and it was fascinating, kiddo. I always read all comments, almost always before I post. As far as Bobby’s management style or not making seemingly rational calls at times for not benching/resting Frensheesh or Bobby’s oft bizarre use of the pen and so forth… yes, I’ve read that about two hundred million times. it’s been written one hundred ninety five million different ways on eight thousand different blogs.
I’ve even written about that subject myself at least a million times. But you said it better than at least one hundred ninety nine million, nine hundred ninety nine thousand, nine hundred and eighty five others that attempted the subject. Give or take a few million here or there.
Could be a little off… my adding machine just froze up. Will reconcile later.
FBG, forgot to mention earlier -
from the previous blog about Hampton DL’d for a ’strained eyelid’ – funny!!!
Hurley, the Hurler! Even though he’s not nearly as tall as Chris Young, he seems to throw the ball past guys with a 91 MPH pitch, and has a good slider and change-up….Frenchy gets a hit….those one for 4’s will keep him in the line-up forever…
Heres an interesting did ya know….Frenchy is batting…. .237….against lefties! .265 against right-handers. .317 against lefties last year, .281 against righties…someone ’splain that to me!
…someone ’splain that to me!
Uhm…he ain’t hittin’ well this year! That’s my ’splanation…and I’m stickin’ to it!
Strained eyelid!
Happens to umps, right!?! 
Oooh…watchin’ Kotsay work out! Nice to see…hit from the tee tomorrow? Hmmm…what’s a healthy Braves team look like anyway?
someone ’splain that to me!
Simple.. he’s not hitting as well, hence the lower averages.
Salty beat me to it.:lol:
In Brandon Jones, I see a bit of a resemblance to Renteria…at times. Am I alone…very…alone?
Very great minds think alike, SG!
You are alone Salty. But he does look like Renty.
I was gonna say the ‘great minds’ thing too… but I knew you would.
40-foot cow…oh, the bovine-osity!
Think they’ll use it to launch fireworks after a homerun? Could be interesting! 
The cow does have horns, right?
We’re going to need more than two runs, people.
Just realized I forgot to put Jo Jo in my earlier post to Raisins. So, we have Huddy, Jo Jo, Jair, Campillo and Morton. We have Glav and Hampton in some capacity or some role at some point. We’ll need help for these young arms this year so they don’t get burned out… but with the vets and some long relief here and there I like our chances with pitching.
Now… those bats have to heat up or it’s all moot.
The cow does have horns, right?
Whoever told you that is full of bull.
I’m trying to visualize sitting in the stands across from the cow and having to look at the underside of the thing for a whole game. Ummm, I don’t think so.
This sounds like something that Bill Veeck would have come up with in the old days!
The cow has a problem… on leg is shorter than the other. Has been named Eileen.
Blogjam… Salty, did you cause my post to get caught in the lint trap?
CL, I agree. Not a good visual. An utter shame. So many will milk the cow jokes until fans will just get up and hoof it out of the stands in herds.
man, go away for awhile, and everyone posts!!!
Enough with the cow references. Gonna pull my hair out if I hear another.
Bears back… quick… hide.
Is the Ted the new Cow Palace? Or is it now The Barnyard?
Fran comes through in a pinch once again.
This will not win games. Fran needs to sit. Period. Arrrggghhh!!!!!
CL… I think we can use both names, depending on how things are going.
Did you ever hear the old, old recording of Andy Griffith’s “What It Was Was Football”?
Right now I want to rant about how Bobby Cox manages… how he leaves players in for way too long, until whatever physical, mental or mechanical problem gets so entrenched in their psyche that they stay in a funk all year.
But I won’t. Just imagine about 12 more critical paragraphs here, discussing the flaws in doing that.
Then I’ll write a few more about how Kelly has to stop that throw.
I hate to lose games like this.
I agree with all 12 paragraphs!
How’s this for a new logo:
You mess with the bull, you get the horns!
CL, never heard it.
I missed it… where is Yunel?
SG, those were the best twelve paragraphs you’ve never written!!
After that inning, we’d have Red Bull.
Could put us on the horns of a dilemma.
Klobber… that hurt.
Just imagine 14 paragraphs below explaining why being verbose is really OK.
What It Was Was Football – 1953
I’m just kiddin ya’ SG. Didn’t you see the laughing emoticon dude? Here, lemme pour you a double White Russki!
Gotta hit’em whar they ain’t t’sall.
CL, that Andy clip was funny. Last weekend we tuned in to a Mayberry marathon and watched about five. Good stuff.
Ratabout nye’uh, ah thank I’m'a gawna hav’a drank jus lack Andy, only not ornge jooce, an just’a sit back down rat’cheer and watch’chis’seer ball game raht’ov’ar on thayut tellyvision. Mmmm, hmmm. That’s’a whut’ahm gawn’a do. Yes’m.
Nah, Klobber… feelings an all. Drink? Sure pal… 3 fingers of the good stuff.
Gonzalez is gonna close tonight???
Bobby won’t put Gonzo in here, now… not in this game. Right?
Uh…
Welcome back to the bigs Mr Gonzalez. No pressure, or anything. Just go out there and have a good time.
That is the strangest position I’ve ever seen.
Is he hyperventilating? Does Jeff Porter need to take him a paper bag to breathe in?
WOW!!!!! Well, that worked out. Gonzo was lights out. We needed that. He needed that. Braves win Braves win.
Whew. Well, that will take some ‘getting used to’. I read a quote where he said he was so excited about coming back that he hadn’t really slept all week.
I would hate to have faced Gonzales as a batter tonight. Bullets flyin’.
Welcome back, Gonzo!
Maybe his wife told him he could make love to her again…. once he closed a game in the majors!!!
I loved his stance, the rocking, the mean, madman approach. Killer instinct. Much needed by the Braves. All that and articulate… like it a lot.
keep depriving him Mrs. Gonzo!
keep depriving him Mrs. Gonzo!
Thank emoticon fits better! 
I loved his stance, the rocking, the mean, madman approach. Killer instinct. Much needed by the Braves. All that and articulate… like it a lot.
The killer instinct is something that has been sorely missed this year. How many times did they have a lead and let the other guy back in. When you’ve got your enemy on his back and your hands are around his neck, you have to squeeze like hell. These guys haven’t been doing that. Hopefully Gonzo gives them a nice boost and they pick up something from his attitude on the mound.
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Mike Gonzalez. It’s about time we had someone in here with a little personality and flair. I’m sure Bobby will work as hard as he can to kill it, but maybe it’ll take a while and we can enjoy a real baseball player in the interim. I also hereby apologize for my lack of confidence in JoJo; while my feelings were not misplaced in general they happened to be wrong in relation to this particular man who overcame himself in the last couple of months. Bully for you, sir. We may have a shot after all.
Raisins, good lead.
Anybody else wishing that 9 million had gone to the pitcher who actually has a pair?
Gonzo the mad
We do need someone like this, that WANTS the ball in the 9th!
HungarianTexan!!!!“Could put us on the horns of a dilemma”
Isn’t that a De Loren that breaks down a lot???
Did anyone else notice that Gonzalez is no longer pitching across his body? He is coming more over the top with his pitches…
Great game by the way, this is the Braves team I have been expecting to see since the end of spring training…
Well, maybe not the same players I was expecting to see but you folks get the idea….
Now, hopefully Bobby won’t fall in love with his new toy in the bullpen and wear out Gonzo before the end of July…
Yeah, Gil, back to back two inning saves are next in line. Look for two other RP’s to have their innings attached to him while they go from being overused to languishing in the pen. But it’s important to “throw him into the fire” 12 months into an 18 month recovery.
I bet head cooch blew every gasket holding his fragile psyche together when Blanco hit that triple; it probably validated to him every outrageous claim he pitied us for not believing in the last three or four years, making us all fools. But, if it works it works and I don’t mind in this case if it makes him 3-562 all time.
Grinch… I would say he was due…
Indeed. He was due to be right (at least temporarily) like Graham Chapman was due to find the Holy Grail.
Now, BEER. Yes, I’m temporarily off the wagon. Where the hell is everyone? Y’all act like you’ve got to get up in the morning, or something.
Good evening y’all. Good to see Gonzo in there, even if he’s a little strange to watch. I guess closers should be a little crazy. Too bad Jo-Jo didn’t get the win. He’s looking more & more like a guy who’s figured out what he needs to be doing.
I guess everyone’s gone to bed. Good night y’all.
Here’s an interesting story about some guys that don’t get nearly the credit that they deserve for the jobs they perform:
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2008-06-18-umpires_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip
Eileen…man that was funny…or I’m just that drunk.
Grinch, still waiting on the link, sir.
Scray stuff on Obama, Klobber; thanks for the email.
Lew, welcome back; thanks SG.
Off to the bar…wish me luck.
Before I go, a short rant about wordpress randomly assigning avatars.
’tis BS (sorry CL, but it is what it is).
I would attempt domination…
but know that I am too lazy to match the 15 straight of VOR and SG.
Man, I could use a Berigan mucus update about now.
SG and FBG, is there a place in the square for a town drunk?
Panhandling allowed?
I am sincerely happy that Lew is back.
And I cannot stop myself from posting this; please forgive me CL.
I am selfish, and I truly wish everybody was back together.
Something happened some weeks ago. While I don’t know the particulars, I feel I know the folks involved well enough to know that nothing too harmful could’ve been said.
A successful blog is an all but impossible thing. Leaving the AJC blog was a dramatic step, one I understood on principle. But I think you folks need to be read; you are entertaining, and enjoyable, and others need to see that. Personally, I would’ve said “FU” (sorry, CL) DOB, and went about my business. However, I understood. But, now that some have left, and others’ interest is waning, I worry about the future of this space.
All I am trying to say, is that this is a glorious place. I am truly impressed by what CL and all of you have done. I simply worry that far fewer people can enjoy your minds, and your words.
I really wish I had the skill of a ssiscribe, or a scoots, or a braveheart. I wish I knew how to say this better, and I know I shouldn’t be saying it at all. But, I am a selfish man. I want all of you together again.
Anywho, I realize this is an unwanted post, but can’t help myself. I’ll try to refrain from doing so in the future. But know that I’ll always be reading, happily.
Thank you, to all of you.
008, you’re old.
Good game last night. Even with the pitchers duel, Jo Jo held a lead and didn’t give in even when tied… that showed guts. Then, like days of old, the back of our order scratched out some late, clutch hits and got us some runs. Then Gonzo slammed the door shuy like we haven’t seen in a long while. Classic Braves stuff.
I’ll have to also fess up and ditto Grinch on the Jo Jo call. My lack of confidence is in the record… somewhere, back there. The man has guts, his focus is better, he’s gotten stronger, goes later in the games. Wish someone that was not lazy like me would let us know how his pitch count has increased. I know his innings have increased. Jo Jo is looking like a damn fine starter.
Who is that passed out… er, sleeping on the park bench over there in the Stuffville Town Square with that crumpled up newspaper over their face? Hmmm…
Must investigate further.
Something happened some weeks ago. While I don’t know the particulars, I feel I know the folks involved well enough to know that nothing too harmful could’ve been said.
Bay Area Steve, not sure what you’re referring to but all is well and good around these parts. Oh, we’ve had our family squabbles and rubber-tipped sword fights and such like any family or group of thinking adults but the molehills that momentarily turned into mountains are once again well-trodden flat ground.
We was wondering where you was. Listen up… practice what you preach and get back in here more regularly instead of wandering through the park with that half pint wrapped in the paper bag. We’ve been a’missin’ you around here to, hear? You don’t wanna be a’sleepin’ on a park bench, even if it is in safe little Stuffville park. Not dangerous to sleep on a bench mind you, but the, uh… well, we have pigeons and all. Best cover the face with something. An AJC paper works pretty well as a cover. Just try not to read the political section.
Tell ya what… why don’t you grab that little vacant diner down by Klobber’s KC Saloon. You can serve breakfast starting at midnight. Eggs, bacon, cheese grits, pancakes, hash browns, corned beef hash… and maybe offer up whatever they serve over in there on the Bay for some exotic menu items… like fried abalone and rice-a-roni with poached eggs on top and such. Could go upscale like Fog City Diner or maybe rustic like Heinold’s First and Last Chance Saloon over on Jack London Square. Maybe ‘Steve’s Last Chance Diner’.
Lack the sherrf Andy mite say, havin’ a cot an a ‘ol hound dawg to curl up with is a dang site better’n slaypin’ on thayut ‘ol park baynch o’vair with thayem pigeons an awl. Sumpin’ lye’kat. Mmm hmm.
Yessir, a sauf feathur bed show is mo betta than’a baynch with them pigeons.
This good and fine morning has already brought word from friends with stories of Angels and Bonaroo too.
And the sun rises over yonder mountain.
This JoJo is looking like a helluva pitcher. Over his last 15 outings, including 14 starts, he’s got a 3.75 ERA over 86 innings. Over his last 5 starts, 35 innings, 2.80 ERA, 29 Ks, only 12 walks. 7 IP per start. Wow! Who knew? Well, I guess the Braves did. They kept saying he projected as a top of the rotation starter as opposed to Jurrjens who projects as a middle of the rotation starter. I laughed at them but I was wrong.
As good as Jurrjens is, I think Morton and JoJo definitely have the potential to be better than Jair. Jurrjens seems fully developed – he has the control, the poise and all that good stuff. Jair’s just so refined already that he seems like he’s as good as he ever will be – which is fine because he’s darn good. But JoJo and Morton seem like they have the ability to get better and better. Jair is more of the sure bet but Morton and JoJo could be studs.
I wish Chuck James would get back to the form he had from August 1, 2006 until August 1, 2007 when he went 16-10 with a 3.50 ERA. If the Braves are just gonna be mediocre, I would much rather watch a rotation of Hudson, Jair, JoJo, Morton and Chuck than torture myself watching Glavine and Hampton or whoever else. Watching Hudson and the kids would be awesome.
20-11 when Jair, JoJo, Jorge, and Morton start.
16-26 when Smoltz, Hudson, James, Glavine and Bennett start.
25-16 when Smoltz, Jair, JoJo, Jorge, Morton, Chuck start
11-21 when Hudson, Glavine and Bennett start
13-24 when Hudson, Glavine, Bennett and Chuck start
10-18 when Hudson and Glavine start
7-9 when Hudson starts
3-9 when Glavine starts
Hudson has been a tough luck pitcher but that’s why there is hope for a dramatic turnaround. Hudson’s teams usually win well over 60% of his starts. Look at our record when Jorge, Jair, JoJo and Morton start. If this offense wakes up and helps Hudson out a bit, the Braves could do some serious damage over the next 40 games with Hudson, Jair, JoJo, Morton and Jorge. I’m thinking they could go 25-15 or even better. But Tex and Francoeur need to wake the hell up. And KJ has put up solid numbers but has still not had one of those torrid one or two week stretches he is capable of where he kills everyone.
Lunch box ready, got hat, bullet proof vest, raincoat, peanut butter and jelly sammich… gotta go work. But first, a coupl’a shiny new quarters in the old dusty juke box.
See you soon.
Coldplay’s Chris Martin intro’s Verve’s Richard Ashcroft.
Thanks, SG! Everytime someone hits the filter, Salty’s called out! Wassupwitdat!
Sheesh! 
Jes’ joshin, ya!
Watch Gonzo in his next appearance (this afternoon…I hope not!). I like that subtle rockin’ motion…looks like a Cobra hypnotizing its’ prey…before the STRIKE!
Deadly!!!!
Nice to see Steve, Grinch, and WW droppin’ in to see what condition Stuffville’s condition is in! SG’s right, Steve…watch for the pigeon
pooh…stuff!Salty, can you imagine how distracting Gonzo’s rocking is to the hitters??
And how can the umpires tell if he has balked?? Davidson would go nuts!
WW, I agree that it’s nice to see all the young guys have success at the major league level. One thing that worries me though is the number of innings that the kids may be asked to pitch this year. I’d hate for Cox to burn those guys arms out. That’ll put us in a pickle next year.
Nice to see the cameos from BAS and Grinch. Y’all should really come around a little more often.
BAS… Don’t complain about the avatar, it could have been worse…
However, you are right in that the B&S blog is one of the preeminent Braves blogs. The fact that it is not as widely read as some others is no great loss to the us, only to those who have not yet found us. Tis quality and not quantity that is important.
Braveheart, while I agree with most of your post on the Braves young pitching staff, I could not help but think about how many folks likely gave up on Morton before his emergence in the AFL… Goes to show that we don’t always know which trees will yield fruit when the seed are first planted.
Consider this, of all the pitchers plying their trade in the minor leagues, how many will actually become a big league starter? From Rookie ball to AAA, how many will actually be a number one? That is why they earn the big bucks because there are so darn few who actually make it.
Gil-All we need is for Hanson and one other to achieve their promise and along with JJ, JoJo and Morton, we should have a staff for the next decade. Add a healed Chuck James with a third pitch and I’m quite optimistic with how it could go.
Steve, I’ve done what I could about your unwanted avatar. Can’t do anything else about your other complaints. Sorry.
Nice new avatar, Lew.
Good morning y’all. Glad to see some of our wandering brethren check in.
Happy now, Lew? A nice blank slate. I think you should draw your own avatar.
I like blank slates and I do not want an avatar. I do not NEED an avatar. I’m enough as myself.
OK Lew. Blank slate (or maybe canvas) it is.
On the bright side…. Perhaps with the return of Gonzo, Bobby will allow Manny to rest a bit more. I don’t know why the Braves carry 13 pitchers when he uses the same 5 relievers to the point of their braking down.
To be honest, Gil, I had never even heard of Morton before AFL. But the kid is impressive. I do worry though because if these fans don’t have the stomach to deal with the growing pains of Francoeur and KJ, how are they gonna have the intestinal fortitude to be patient enough with the pitchers? Young, developing hitters are easier to deal with than young pitchers. Pitchers seem to get hurt alot, their confidence suffers more and they don’t have as many opportunities as hitters to go out there everyday and shake off a bad performance. I just hope that all of these people all geeked up about Morton, JoJo and Jair brace themselves for injuries, inconsistencies and maybe a stink bomb of a season from one, two or all three of them over the next few years. Just look at Chuck. 16-10 with a 3.50 over a 365 day period. 120 games later, he is persona non grata to most of these fans. Or look at Francoeur. 24 years old, has done some really good things, has demonstrated in each of the 3 previous seasons that he gets better in the second half of the season but these people just want to toss him into the waste bin. Of course, these are the same fools that want to trade away everyone and start over with a youth movement when they keep showing they don’t have the patience for it.
Oh, a lot of them will whine , complain & cuss, WW. There’s always going to be the “what-have-you-done-for-me-lately” crowd. I like seeing the homegrown kids and just keep in mind that there will be some speedbumps. Of course it’s too soon to say anything about Morton but I’m impressed with the way Jair & especially Jo-Jo seem to really be learning from the experience this year & applying it… quickly.
Braveheart-What the fans fail to understand is that no matter whether or not they have the patience to deal with growing pains, Bobby Cox and the Braves’ staff do and the fans have no say in the process-they just think they do.
Well, one way to not worry about a youth movement would be to become a Mets fan…
And you make my point… Young pitchers are prone to inconsistencies. things like blisters and minor aches and pains are not always reported. Chuck James is only now recovering from an unreported (in the media) injury and is once again becoming an effective pitcher. The Braves as a team could be in a much better position if the offense had shown up earlier in the season.
As for Frenchy, well, when you are not producing as expected, you need to be placed where you can do the least harm until you come around. We had to deal with Bobby’s refusal to face the fact that Andruw was a liability in the cleanup spot last year, I hate to see history repeat itself with Francoeur. Put him in a less demanding role and allow for someone else to give the team a chance to win some games.
I’m also not too sure what a youth movement would entail, considering the Braves are the fifth youngest team in all of baseball and with Smoltz and Glavine (Hampton, too) gone after the season (yes, I know Smoltz will try to come back, but….), the team won’t be getting any older. The next step younger would entail Pampers.
You’re right, Lew. Tex will be gone, Kotsay, etc. Next year it’ll be Chipper & the core group of young guys.
God mornong Stuffville!
I like that subtle rockin’ motion…looks like a Cobra hypnotizing its’ prey…before the STRIKE! Deadly!!!!
That is exactly the vision I related to while watching Gonzo to e the rubber. It was awesome from a pure spectalce point of view. That is the way to make a big comeback, eh? That was the proverbial shot in the arm.
If, and I hate the word if, Charlie can follow up his impressive debut with another good outing, our boys can come home 5-5 from this roadie after a disastrous 0-3 start. That, my friends, is the kind of thing you can build momentum on. It’s exactly what they need. And with the emotional boost they’ve gotten from both Charlie and Gonzo, they might can make some hay in the next 6 at home with Seattle and Milwaukee and 3 at Toronto. Meanwhile, the Phillies have 3 at home against the Angels before hitting the road to Oaktown and Tejas.
It’s not a youth movement but more the natural progression of the team.
Uh… good morning…
I need more coffee…
What I like about JoJo is that he got knocked the hell out and humiliated last year in the majors and in spring training this year but he lifted himself off the mat and is fighting back. He battles. Love that. Francoeur and Chuck have now been flattened. Let’s see if they get off the mat and fight the way JoJo is. KJ suffered the most humiliating thing that can ever happen to a baseball player with that dropped flyball. I wanna see how well he bounces back. That’s the fun of watching kids. Morton is flying high right now and has been for a year. But he has a history of confidence issues. Let’s see how well he responds when he gets hammered for a few games in a row because he eventually will get hammered like that. Will he go back to being unsure of himself or will he roar back the way he has over the last year? I’m watching Brandon Jones now play like he is angry and determined to show that they never should have sent him back down to AAA. Escobar fought back after he suffered a horrible season in AA in 2006. McCann fought back and rededicated himself this winter after regressing a bit last year. Acosta was a little full of himself earlier this year but now seems shellshocked. Let’s see if he can get back in a groove (or if Bobby will let him by letting him rest).
I like how Charlie, in his first start, had such mound presence. He worked quickly and dictated the pace. It’ll be interesting to watch him early today and see if he starts the game with the same confidence and presence.
You find out what they’re made of.
One thing about Francoeur, he never looks like he’s having fun the way he used to.
Has anyone read the Feinstein book on Tom Glavine and Mike Mussina? It’s a good book. It’s cool reading about Glavine describe his gradual development as a pitcher and how important Sain and Mazzone were for building up his arm strength and how he wouldn’t have ever become what he became if he didn’t learn the changeup by accident.
There was an interesting story in there about Glavine and his current wife. When they were dating, she told Glavine if I’m just your Tuesday and Friday girl, fine, I’m cool with that but just be honest and let me know that. If you want more, then let me know. After placing that ultimatum on him, Glavine didn’t call her for 3 months. He was all screwed in the head at the time he said because of his divorce.
Haven’t read it, WW. But I read Glavine’s book. He talked about how in rookie league (here in Bradenton) he was ready to give up & go home. That’s when Johnny Sain started working with him & turned him around.
Francoeur has a bit of a confidence crisis underway. He is unhappy, and has made the game complicated for himself…too much thinking, not enough ‘Jeff’ coming through. Striving for perfection in baseball (or pretty much anything) will burn you out quickly. He used to be ’swing hard’ and let the chips fall where they may. Now, he’s trying to live/perform to fans’ and media expectations (and trying to keep up with McCann). No one needs to be anyone’s ‘Golden Child’ or ‘face of the franchise’. It will happen as a natural order of things…but shouldn’t be a goal. Jeff…be happy, and simplify your game, oh…and let Bobby know when you’re tired.
FBG, you’re right about Francoeur. He sure doesn’t look like he is having fun at all anymore. He was filled with so much life when he first came up. Does anyone else find Frenchy’s song choice for his batter introduction curious? Is there a message behind the song choice for the fans that people aren’t noticing? Or did he just so happen to pick a Bon Jovi song that he thinks sounds cool but perfectly describes how his relationship with the fans has developed?
Shot through the heart and you’re to blame.
Darlin’, you give love a bad name.
An angel’s smile is what you sell.
You promise me heaven then put me through hell.
Chains of love got a hold on me.
When passion’s a prison you can’t break free.
Oh, you’re a loaded gun… yeah.
Oh, there’s nowhere to run.
No one can save me; the damage is done.
Shot through the heart and you’re to blame.
You give love a bad name.
I play my part and you play your game.
You give love a bad name.
And you give love… a bad name.
You paint your smile on your lips.
Blood red nails on your fingertips.
A school boy’s dream; you act so shy.
Your very first kiss was your first kiss goodbye.
Oh, you’re a loaded gun.
Oh, there’s nowhere to run.
No one can save me; the damage is done.
Shot through the heart and you’re to blame.
You give love a bad name.
I play my part and you play your game.
You give love a bad name.
I think there’s a physical problem too, Salty, but yeah that sounds pretty accurate.
I thought that was an odd choice too, WW, considering that song would be “old” to him.
Perhaps the song choice is odd because he can’t seem to find a “hit” lately…
It’s too bad for his sake we’re not closer to the AllStar break. 3 days of lounging around would probably do him a lot of good.
VOR….that’s cold!
Yeah, I’m just wondering if he is making a commentary on the fans through the song choice. The first kiss from the fans in 2005 was their first goodbye. The fans have shot me through the heart with all the criticism. The fans are to blame for breaking my heart. The fans give love a bad name. The fans promised me heaven and are now putting me through hell. The chains of love have me in shackles. The love/hate passion has imprisoned me and now I can’t escape and can’t be saved here. The damage is done.
Probably reading too much into it but was he even born when that song came out?
Probably not. Or he would have been very young.
WW,
That’s a pretty good assessment of the lyrics, but I can’t imagine Frenchy’s mind being that deep.
That album was released in 1986, I think, making it 22 years old. How old is Jeff?
He’s 24.
Hillbilly, you’re probably right. I can’t see Jeff thinking anything more than that song sounds cool. Jeff’s 24 so I guess he was 2 when that song came out.
You could probably read things into a lot of guys’ song choices when in reality they never thought past “hey, I like that one!”. I think Chipper has the right idea, go for something that sounds ominous to the opposition.
Hillbilly, you’re probably right. I can’t see Jeff thinking anything more than that song sounds cool.
And boy, is he wrong……
Maybe I’m being harsh, but when I look at Jeff, especially when he’s running, I can’t help but think of…..(lord forgive me for this)….Gump. He’s Frenchy Gump. No way he parallels the lyrics to the fans.
“I’m not a smart man, but I know what plate discipline is.”
Yeah, I heard Chipper in a radio interview this spring say that he picked that Ozzy Crazy Train song because he thought it sounded cool when he heard Larry Walker using it. He said he’s gotten tired of it and wanted to change it over the years but hasn’t because fans always tell him that no matter where they are in the stadium or in their house, when they hear the intro to that song, they knew he’s coming up and will drop what they are doing to go watch him hit.
He said that he wanted to change it to Kid Rock’s Cocky because he thought it was so appropriate for him. The song lyrics are too filthy to post here but here is the chorus part of it that fits Chipper:
They say I’m cocky, and I say What?
It aint braggin’ ****** if ya back it up
LOL
If the lyrics are that bad then I don’t think it’s appropriate for the ballpark either. C’mon Chipper, you’ve got little kids.
There was another interesting part of the Feinstein book where Kasten says it makes no sense that Glavine is a hardcore union man while at the same time being a country club Republican while Kasten represents the company but is a Democrat
I hate to say this but after watching that Frenchy In His Own Words thing for the millionth time, Frenchy is a Mensa member compared to his wife
I thought she was a teacher.
I had some really dumb teachers in high school. Just saying.
Frenchy is a Mensa member compared to his wife
Not all trophies sit ‘pon de shelf, mon!
I’m a Computer Information Systems grad. Yet I’m only a couple of levels above clueless on a computer. Cramming is a fact of life.
Well, I haven’t seen that show of course. But the high school football hero & head cheerleader aren’t expected to have brains. ( One look at her, you just know she was a cheerleader.)
I’m about half a step above clueless on the computer myself.
Cramming is a fact of life. Too funny!
Just get me through today; I’ll worry ’bout tomorrow when it gets here! The good ol’ college days!
She’s a decent looking gal, I’ll give him that. So was Jenny. See, I’m telling you…”Run, Frenchy Run!”
Frenchy fell in love in with Catie when all the mean boys on the bus kept saying seat’s taken but she gave him the seat next to her.
Now that we have dissected Jeff’s whole life…
Time to get some stuff done before the game starts. See y’all later.
“Cramming is a fact of life.” Too funny!
Just get me through today; I’ll worry ’bout tomorrow when it gets here! The good ol’ college days!
That’s right. Now cut me a slice of that frozen pizza, and hand me another Old Milwaukee Light, so I can get on with my day.
My oh my… Braves tie it in the ninth… At least Morton is off the hook.
Well, I’m so very glad we sent Stockman down (who had completely dominated AAA while there, and in the very rare occsions he was used up here in the last few weeks dominated also) in favor of Ridgeway, who was shelled in AAA and shelled here. Why am I glad, you ask? Because it’s the kind of thing, when added on to all the other similar things, that prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that Cox is about six months away from getting in his car to go get a gallon of milk and being found hours later out of gas from circling 285 and mumbling something about how great a hitter that Killebrew kid’s gonna be when he makes it to the majors as they cart him off to a nursing home.
Somebody, sooner or later, has just simply got to understand the situation and do something about it. This is unprecedented in sports history as far as I know; no other figure has been allowed to hang around this long to the detrement of an entire major city, without a single media outlet anywhere in the country even insinuating what’s perfectly obvious to anyone who bothers to watch. Quite the opposite, in fact; the blame flies in every other direction than where it clearly belongs, and people will come to blows with you if you suggest otherwise.
This team has proven it can overcome injuries, and I’m very proud of them. If it proves it can overcome Bobby then it’ll go down as one of the greatest teams ever.
Grinch….and if we send Ridgeway down….we can’t even call Stockman up for a week plus, right???(Gil or Chris was refreshing me on this subject on the previous blog) so….since we don’t need 4 lefties, or 21 pitchers(Or whatever the number is
) will we recall Josh Anderson, so we can have a truly spare player?? A guy to run for a slow runner late in the game??? Nah…silly me.
Is there another team in baseball with a backup catcher hitting anywhere near .103???? Can’t we trade for someone, anyone, anywhere????? A guy hitting .200 would be….you know…be twice as good!
Funny, I thought Frenchy’s wife was just fine…just very young…..
Give Frenchy 2 days off, and his IQ will raise 20 points…..but, can we risk losing the 1 for 4 days??? Those 2 singles??? Nope…he might just run into a pitch and get a homer!
Yeah, I’m thinkin’ Clint Sammons is starting to look like a pretty good option over Miller. I watched him in spring training and he was clearly the most talented behind McCann and the drop-off after those two was significant. I don’t see why we need to keep him down there if we’re not grooming him to replace McCann; it’s not like he’s gonna catch more than once a week here regardless. Plus, he’d provide some pop off the bench.
Why is it we seem to know so much more about the team than the front office does? Kind of makes you wonder what’s really going on.
Here’s another one for you: Kelly Johnson’s hitting around .240 combined in the number 1 and 2 slot, and almost .500 combined in the number 7 and 8. So where does he bat? Highly remenicent of when Giles was here; he was going 2-4 with a homer and three RBI every single time they hit him second, and was an automatic out every time they hit him everywhere else. He even complained publicly that he just wasn’t comfortable enough anywhere else to be effective. So where did they bat him? Leadoff. Brilliant!
Do they even watch their own team?
Can’t see the forest for the trees.
Good evening y’all. Disappointing end to the game but you could see it coming.
I have the feeling that I’m on my own here tonight. Hellooo? Anybody home?
Did y’all see how Francoeur looked when he dropped the ball today? Utterly defeated. Not mad or anything, just beaten down. I’m getting very concerned about him. He needs a break & he needs it now. I know I’m preaching to the choir here but that just emphasized how mentally & physically exhausted he is right now.
FLB, can you give me one good reason not to rest him for a few days??? The streak is over….Perhaps Bobby after that last play will wise up tomorrow….he often does after everyone and their brother is a few pages ahead in the book…
Not a one, Berigan. He needs more than 1 day off IMO. At least a game off before an off-day, if not more.
Aside from looking wiped-out, I think his ankle is still barking because he’s just not moving like he used to.
Well, we know Bobby doesn’t listen to me(or anyone else it seems-a coach should say to him that Jeff needs a day off) but like I said before, send Ridgeway down, and bring Anderson back up(It’s been long enough, right?) Surely he can play right, or Infante at least??? We still don’t have a day off til Next Thursday…..
Makes sense to me. They need to do something .
Good night!
I saw this on the other blog….remember KC??? Mister Optimism??? Mike Hampton will win 15 games??? Check out this post from yesterday!!! Right on target, IMHO….
By KC
June 19, 2008 4:05 PM | Link to this
IF WE LOSE THIS GAME, BOBBY COX DESERVES 100% OF THE BLAME.
First of all, NOTHING Ridgway has done at AAA this year warranted his being her in the first place (and it was Bobby’s decision to have him here).
Second, why was he brought into a 2-1 game with 2 runners on against a switch hitter who actually hits higher from the right side of the plate?
I love Bobby Cox. I do. But I’m so disgusted right now, I can’t see straight.
And while Ridgway is up here coughing up this series, Phil Stockman, who has nothing but dominate at every level (including his limited big league opportunities), sits at Richmond.
Here are Phil Stockman’s numbers:
2008 with Atlanta: 6 games/7.1 innings, 9 strikeouts, 2 hits, 0 walks, 0 runs allowed… 0.00 ERA.
2008 at AAA Richmond: 23.1 innings, 19 strikeouts, 8 hits, 10 walks, 2 earned runs… 0.77 ERA.
2006/2007 minor league totals: 41.1 innings, 50 strikeouts, 21 hits, 18 walks, 4 earned runs… 0.87 ERA.
Here are Ridgway’s numbers:
2008 at AAA Richmond: 33 innings, 33 strikeouts, 43 hits, 13 walks, 17 earned runs… 4.64 ERA (with a .316 opposing avg.)
This has been a disgraceful display of bad judgment for a manager of Bobby’s caliber.
Lots of good stuff in the Stuffville Post… except for another one-run loss. That is a dubious record we don’t want, but we got it and we earned it. Sigh
Well, after catching up on the overnights and the yesterday’s, Francoeur has not just dropped a grounder as the winning run trotted home but he just dropped another few pegs. First, he went down ten pegs for even liking Bon Jovi music and second, he plummets another twenty pegs for liking it enough to use it as his game music. That pop music insight may be as good an index to his maturity, his taste and his, uh… development as anything having to do with baseball stats.
Look, I’m not being a music snob or anything and everyone has different tastes and such… but Bon Jovi is the male equivalent of Britney Spears. Well, maybe not quite that bad but not far off. I’m making myself ill just thinking about these pop tarts. Who brought this up? I hope whoever brought that up gets Muskrat Love or the Pepsi yawn commercial in their head this morning and can’t get it out until after lunch. Oh, that was cruel… never mind.
Where was I? Oh… Right now it wouldn’t be a huge stretch to see Jeff wind up one day, earlier than ever imagined, as the once phenom kid who washed out after a short and unremarkable career in the MLB.
There’s Jeff, the heartthrob high school BMOC who got a golden opportunity to play in the big time, was too highly touted way by too many, too early in his too awkwardly and too selfishly sensationalized early career (beginning before his first game). Just too much adoration for Jeff, resulting in too much pressure for Jeff, exacerbated by too much playing time, too many unreasonable expectations, too little training and too much thinking along the lines of, say, a too greedy Scott Boras. Just too many too much’s for Jeff’s head to handle.
All that, and starting from day one, he’s been held up by the Braves PR machine and the Atlanta media as a bright, shiny, pretty boy, shooting star for all the wrong reasons. The innocent player was unwisely promoted without performance reviews and thereby expected by seemingly unconscious managers and ignorant, well-meaning fans to be the next living embodiment of Chipper Jones, Dale Murphy and Cal Ripken. Chipper got that kind of attention too, but he’s a different player than Jeff, which is quite an understatement.
Perhaps one day sooner than we all thnk, the one called ‘Frenchy’, who showed such promise but was allowed carte blanche in a meaningless ‘Iron Man’ crusade, left in a common sense vacuum to believe his ‘press’ and adoring fans and allowed to play injured while miserably slumping and limping by his aging, less than astute or increasingly deficient manager.
There’s Jeff, who, apparently lacking in self-awareness, just couldn’t get it done in the Bigs, couldn’t figure it out, couldn’t see the truth through the adoration, and couldn’t seem to breakout, winds up hobbled from an injured ankle and a vicious cycle of confidence crushing slumps. Without the capability of thinking it through or the benefit of good coaching to turn him around he’s allowed to crash and burn, leave baseball at 29 years old and resort to selling insurance for his stepfather in the Atlanta area to all his beloved middle aged female fans. Not that there’s anything wrong with selling insurance.
Please, someone… grab Jeff by the collar and show him the error of his ways and the increasingly foolish and potentially dangerous ways of his manager. There is still hope. You could take matters into your own hands and turn your career around. You could rest yourself, stay away from the adoring press, dig deep inside yourself to find that youthful confidence, change your mindset so that you develop mature, well-rounded confidence. You may never be Dale Murphy or Chipper Jones, but you could have a decent to good career. But first, you have to jump off that merry go round and stop believing the shallow high school hype.
Jeff… do yourself a favor. Sit down. Bobby won’t do it. Sadly, he may not even know to do it, but sit… it’s for the good of the team and for your own good. Do that and show then some progress at your approach at the plate and more hustle in the field and I’ll pull for you again. If not, I’ll hope you play baseball in another city or, after you wash out at 28, become a truly happy, successful insurance salesman or something. You’ll always have some glory days to remember… right?
Whew… just had to get that out. More room out there than there is, uh… in here.
Good morning! Thank God it’s Friday!!! More than that, I thank God the tornado that went directly over my office downtown allowed me and the building to somehow be spared. One of the big trees just a few feet from the building wasn’t so fortunate. I’ve never heard anything so loud or seen anything more powerful so close. Like a freight train right above our heads and right out the glass facade and front doors. It was like we were inside the circulation of debris because we could see it. It’s was pretty incredible really.
Yes… thank God it’s friday! Since Raisins was speaking in tongues yesterday, I’ll also say to him… God mornong.
Just benched Francoeur on my Fantasy team. Nothing else I could think to do.
Sorry to just blab and run, but that I’ve done and that I’ll do. There’s a guy with a chainsaw and a tree removal to attend to. Have a good day. Watch out for big storms and hail.
Wow SG!!! Thank God the tornado skipped by you(and everyone else I hope!!!)
Morning, Lew! Speaking of fantasy teams, thank you for being the only one out of 12 who even comes close to giving me a run at 1st place (though you lost some more ground this morning). You beat me to Volquez by about 5 minutes, which has saved your bacon. That dude is a strikeout machine if I ever saw one. I’m just lucky that I’ve lost Kelvim Escobar (2nd in AL Cy Young last year) before the season ever started), had Josh Beckett on the DL most of the season and CC Sabathia having the worst year of his career and I’ve still been in 1st almost the whole year. I took Soriano’s measure just a few days into his DL stint and dropped him early for Arizona’s closer, which in retrospect was a heckuva move. Anyhoo, enough of that.
SG, couldn’t agree more. ANYONE else would’ve dropped Jeff to 7th for a while and started benching him once or twice a week, which truthfully is all he needs in my opinion at the moment. But if he keeps playing every day batting 5th it may get so bad irreversible damage may occur. I honestly think Andruw could’ve been saved with the same treatment had it started back in ‘06. Bless his heart, Bobby doesn’t just cost games with bad decisions, he ruins careers. Ask Moylan if he’d like to have 80 multiple inning appearances next year. Check Acosta for elbow problems in ST. Boyer’s already had TJ surgery; maybe he can withstand it.
Oh yeah, I’ve also got Dice-K on the DL for forever.
SG, you’re a lucky man. God must be a republican.
Well, I just hope that as the chorus was getting louder every day to sit Jeff(Bobby picked about the dumbest day to do it-have I ever mentioned that before?
) and Bobby picked up on that….surely he will realize that he has to do something, anything to help Jeff get back on track! He’s hitting worse against lefties than righties??? Great! Have him rest against them for a week or two…what can it hurt??? Bat him 7th….still better than 8th!
He’s still better than Andruw was at this point last year…he does get a single at least now and then…I just wonder when we will find out he’s been playing with bone spurs, or a partially torn tendon in his ankle….at the end of the season???
It was so clear watching Josh Hamilton in right, he can cut left or right, he can move out there! You get the feeling that right now, Norton at 35 is a more mobile outfielder!
SG-As long as the guy with the chainsaw is not wearing a leather apron or someone else’s face, you’re probably OK. However, if he starts sawing on an Ent, all bets are off.
Grinch-Yeah, Volquez is unreal this year-certainly the two times the Braves have faced him and apparently the rest of the league as well. Hamilton is tearing it up in Texas, too, so I guess that’s what is known as an equitable trade.
Keeping Francoeur on the starting lineup was probably as stupid as leaving Andruw on my team last year. I kept Frenchy, though-on the bench-that way maybe he’ll break out of his doldrums and start being the Frenchy we were getting used to. One can only hope-on several levels. I’m not ready to throw him under the bus quite yet, though. I’m certain his difficulties are caused by either faulty mechanics (your butt should not be the first body part in motion swinging at a pitch) or possibly visual, as a result of his beaning this spring.
You’re right, though-those Orlando folk sure can’t keep up with the Georgia Contingency-at least in terms of Fantasy baseball. They may not want us playing next year.
The real problem is that the Braves have no one better to replace Frenchy with. Not too sure dropping him in the order would have much effect-maybe a session with Chipper’s or McCann’s Dad would be profitable. Losing Kotsay hit us much harder than a lot of people ever thought possible. I was almost in favor of signing him for another year or two. Unfortunately, I guess back problems will usually be chronic once they appear to the extent Mark has them.
The problem with benching, trading, demoting or dropping Frenchy in the lineup is that they do not have anyone better. This isn’t just about Cox. The man has his faults but this organization is royally screwed at this moment.
They don’t seem to have anyone in AA or AAA capable of coming up and making a contribution. Brandon Jones is doing fine now but he has only temporarily plugged a huge hole out in left. If the Braves did find someone good enough to replace Francoeur that person would be needed to play left. Left field has been an abomination this year. Diaz has been a monumental disappointment.
I’m all for benching or demoting Francoeur but not if I have to watch Anderson, Norton, Infante play instead. This is an organizational failure.
Tex also needs to wake the hell up. I have never hated a ballplayer as bad as I hate Tex. Before they even got him, I thought he was overrated. His numbers while overwhelming in appearance always seemed hollow. His underwhelming numbers this year are just plain empty. Plus, the guy is just an ass. Can’t stand him. For someone who wants to make alot of money, he sure doesn’t know how to market himself with his mouth.
Lew, agree with you. Kotsay was indeed a huge loss
Having Norton playing RF instead of Anderson is yet another one of those moves, especially since he’s got a trick knee. Good Lord.
Lew, I took a chance on Hamilton at the beginning and I’m glad I did. He carried my offense the whole time A-Rod was on the DL. That is odd, isn’t it, for a trade to benefit both teams so well? And what’s up with John, he’s still got Moylan in one of his RP slots; I take it he’s abandoned the game?
WW, couldn’t agree more with you about Tex. Can’t stand the guy, inside or out. Even when he was hitting well last year we didn’t finish any higher than we would have without him, and he ain’t hitting well this year. Factor in the turning down an 8 year 140 mil contract in Texas, then coming here without buying a house all because he’s so far up Boras’ colon he can tell what he had for breakfast and you’ve got a universally unlikeable dude. He reminds me a bit of JD Drew. And yet there are some on here (cough, Berigan, cough, cough) who think we ought to offer him 20 mil per. Not this white man. 6 and a half more than what Chipper makes to an unlikeable guy who couldn’t carry his jock? If anyone but Boras was his agent I’d offer him 12 and if he didn’t like it he could take a walk. But knowing that he wouldn’t take it anyway and knowing his percieved value on the market, I think we’d be foolish not to trade him at the deadline for 60 cents on the dollar of what we gave for him.
Damn DSL!!!!
Keeps cutting out on me! Connected for a few minutes, then I only have 3 of 4 lights on the DSL modem. The ADSL light keeps going out. Shut off box, and half the time, still 3 lights…unplug, then all 4 come on…for awhile…hate, HATE to call earthlink, since it will be in India. They will apologize like they peed on my shoes, but will offer no real help. “Can you unplug your phone line into the box?? Can you plug phone line in from another room??? Can you go outside and find something you have never seen before, and mess around with it like you are some highly paid tech, so we don’t have to send someone to your house???”
It’s 8 years old, send me another one!!!!!
Hey now Grinch….20 Mil is a bargain!!!!!
He’s got 50 RBI’s but, he so rarely get the big hit that puts a team ahead. Like the charge against A-Rod a few years back, he seems to boost his numbers in games you are way ahead in or why behind….
Chipper has been on base in front of him at least 143 times(don’t know how many fielder’s choices or errors allowed him to reach 1st) Imagine how many RBI’s Josh Hamilton would have with Chipper batting in front of him???
That said, who plays first in the future??? Matt Diaz??? Greg Norton??? LaRoche is hitting under .220, I am sure we could get him cheap.
Grinch-John is still battling the depression and diabetes-he’s gained a bit of weight trying to get the medical cocktail fine tuned. He and Shannon have been spending so much time working and doing Dog Training functions, that I guess the Fantasy team is the least of his worries right now. He never was into baseball to the extent we are though.
Grinch-another thing-Shannon’s sister and another friend of their’s are back from Iraq and staying at the house. Much going on down there. You’re likely right that the fantasy team is on the back burner.
Good morning y’all. SG,
!!! Thank goodness you’re OK!! Sorry about your tree.
Much as I would like Bobby to wake up & smell the reality, I don’t expect him to sit Francoeur anytime soon. Pretty soon he can use the AllStar break as an excuse – “he’ll get 3 days off then”. Maybe we should kidnap Jeff.
Grinch, I’m still torn about paying Tex that money. Part of me looks at the current state of the team and says we can’t give up a player in his prime years who brings that much offense. The other part of me thinks he is highly overrated and has inflated numbers that make him seem more valuable than he really is. He definitely does seem like an AROD or JD DRew who puts up inflated meaningless numbers.
Plus, he brings nothing to the table in terms of marketing or personality which is so important if you are gonna pay someone that much money to be the face of the franchise. I really don’t like the guy but I also really hate that the Braves keep letting players in their prime years just walk away. Teams win with their best players being in their prime years. The Braves keep giving that up. I dunno. I just don’t like Tex. Didn’t like him well before we traded for him. Don’t even want him on this team. But this team also can’t keep giving up players in their prime years who account for so many runs and replace them with youngster, old men and rejects from the waste bin.
Sorry; got sidetracked by a visitor.
I hope he’s doing ok, Lew; sounds like it’s a pretty hectic situation.
Y’all, the way I look at it is this: Next year we’ve got Hampton, Glavine, Smoltz and Tex’s salaries coming off the books. That’s what, around 40-45 million? We’ll have Hudson, Morton, Jurrjens, Reyes, Campillo and James to make a rotation out of. It would seem to me that 40 mil would buy us another solid middle of the rotation starter (which would allow us to move Campillo to setup and James to AAA where he belongs) , another solid setup man (if Soriano can come back and pitch the 8th), a leadoff hitter and a 1st baseman with decent power. That can all be accomplished if we’re shrewd, especially if trading Tex lands us one or two of those things. Taking away half that money for Tex is just silly. We could get a 1 bagger who puts up 3/4 the numbers but has just as much impact for half what he’s asking for.
WW, agreed, but I think this is a special case.
KC and I are going to the game tonight; I get to see the unveiling of the Cow!
Sorry, I meant if Soriano can come back we wouldn’t need another setup man besides Campillo, allowing more money for pitching and power.
Even if we keep Tex and don’t re-sign him those two draft picks will come in handy. Remember, we’ve still got a pretty good farm system. I’d like to see Borchard up here next year to back up 1st and provide some power off the bench. That guy positively RAKED in ST and hustled like nobody’s business.
Grinch-More like about $38.5 mil-but point well taken. I think given the current rate of development of JJ, JoJo and Morton along with Hudson returning (and who knows-Chuck may heal and develop that third pitch and be a dependable #5), that we could likely spend $$$$$ just on bullpen and backup (both pitching and bench) and get a first baseman along the lines of Nick Johnson and still have cash to burn.
I’m not so certain another stud starter is such a huge need now. Hanson may be ready by mid season next year, as well. I would lock up Bennett, Campillo and even Buddy Carlyle, who has turned into a pretty dependable long guy and spot starter-just for depth.
At this point I have no interest in Tex staying. His numbers might look good if you don’t see him play everyday but he doesn’t impress me. He’s not clutch. Besides I want the Braves to avoid Boras as much as possible. Tex isn’t even really a Brave. He’s never said or done anything that shows he considers himself part of the team. All he ever says is “This is a business” or “Baseball is just my job” . Fine, don’t let the door hit you in the butt.
FBG, agreed. He still keeps his home in Dallas (where his wife stays) and the fans there hate him for being greedy, I’m sure y’all heard the boos. He has no allegiance to anyone but Boras.
Lew, I don’t think we need a front-line starter either, just a dependable, veteran 2 or 3. It’d be a mighty young rotation without one (other than Hudson). Also, I don’t think a bullpen with a rested Boyer and Acosta, Ohman, Benett, Soriano for the 8th and Gonzo closing sounds all that bad, especially if Moylan comes back strong. Maybe add one more solid peice, but that shouldn’t be too expensive. And a Nick Johnson/Joe Borchard combo for a year or two ’till Heyward is ready sounds good to me at 1st. There’ll be plenty of money. There’s also been a lot of talk about us getting Randy Winn; he’d be a good stop-gap ’till Anderson and Schaeffer season a bit.
Our local town festival is going on this weekend, and there’s supposed to be a special surprise guest performing tomorrow night. Rumor leaking around town is that it will be none other than the Red-Headed Stranger, himself, Shotgun Willie Nelson. If it’s true, Lord help me come Sunday Morning…..Whiskey River, don’t run dry. Ahhhh, You’re all I’ve got to take care of me…
Hillbilly, if it is Willie, color me green with envy!! Enjoy and please give a FULL report!!
Grinch-I wouldn’t put a bet on if and when Soriano will return. I’m starting to think this is taking on a familiar look to Hampton’s first injury, Moylan’s problem and maybe Chuck, too.
First we’re told the MRI shows nothing and we’re told rest is what is needed. Then when rest doesn’t do it (starting to sound familiar?), they’re sent for a HIGH RESOLUTION MRI (why in hell they don’t do this one first amazes me) which shows surgery is necessary.
In the meantime, they’re sitting there accomplishing absolutely nothing, when they could have had the damned surgery and been rehabbing, well on the road to recovery.
They did this originally with Hampton and wasted four months. They had Moylan sit there for over a month and then sent him to the surgeon. I’m still not completely assured Chuck didn’t need to have that “slight tear” surgically repaired and now they’ve wasted the better part of a year, if such is the case.
Add to this that Soriano is starting to look like he needs a shrine to Jobu, or permission from his medium, his astrologer, or his Psychic Hotline Counselor to tell him that Jupiter is in the House of The Moose with Aries ascending on Sagitarius before he thinks he can pitch and you’re seeing wehat could be another FUBAR production in the making. In addition, Moylan may not be ready for more than a year, either. I’m not as sanguine as you about the bullpens’ longer term prospects.
RIP Tree. Actually it should be RI-pieces. Lew, the dude with the chainsaw didn’t look like the massacre type unless you have long limbs, leaves all over your body and are broken at the trunk. All is now settled at the Guy office. The roof was even good.
Lots of good baseball talk today. Interesting fantasy stuff too. I can’t keep up with all the numbers and circumstances of all those players like you guys but I enjoy reading about it. Man, there’s some serious Tex hatin’ goin’ on today. Well, maybe not hatin’ but strong dislikin’. I can’t honestly say that I like Tex much… what’s to like? I’ve gotten no reason from him to like him and he certainly hasn’t compensated for his bland personality with perfomance. It’s all just bland and hollow like someone said.
I also strongly agree that he needs to go… the sooner the better, as long as we can leverage that with some helpful pickups. Someone mentioned that his original home was in Boston and that he would possibly want to go there. I can see that, but I can’t see Boston wanting him. Why would they? They like batters that can work the count, not count the money while the bat sits on their shoulder. Anyway, I think several things and several people have been key to where the Braves are currently and Tex is a big part of that equation.
Seems his lack of fire and lack of hitting and zero clutch has surprised more than just the fans… he’s somehow made it acceptable to be mediocre on the premise of ‘heating up’ later. It is now later… much later.
Have a good’un at the game tonight Grinch. Tell KC howdy. Y’all have a beer for me. Make that two… one for the cow. Oh, and watch out for pies.
Now it’s off to get tacos with Mrs. Guy and my big lil’ Guy that just showed up.
SG, sorry about your tree but I’m glad to hear that the office and its occupants were not hurt.
Tex is actually from Baltimore. While Boston probably doesn’t need him, Baltimore could surely use him. They’ve got plenty of money to spend too. Of course, if he goes there, it will just confirm what we all believe in our hearts — it’s only about the paycheck for him. He’s a mercenary, plain and simple.
lew614 Says:
June 20, 2008 at 6:15 pm
Grinch-I wouldn’t put a bet on if and when Soriano will return. I’m starting to think this is taking on a familiar look to Hampton’s first injury, Moylan’s problem and maybe Chuck, too.
First we’re told the MRI shows nothing and we’re told rest is what is needed. Then when rest doesn’t do it (starting to sound familiar?), they’re sent for a HIGH RESOLUTION MRI (why in hell they don’t do this one first amazes me) which shows surgery is necessary.
Lew, that’s a good point about the High res MRI…isn’t that what they are doing with Carlos Zambrano, at the first sign of shoulder trouble????
In a weak defense of Tex, baltimore is 3 games above .500, Braves are 2 under .500…If the Orioles finish with a better record than the Braves, then it’s hard to give a guy too much grief for going back home for more money and a team with a better record than the one he was leaving…
Scott babe, I am ready to start the PR game for our bud Tex!
Berigan, come on. You know as well as I what a disaster the Baltimore organization has been for YEARS. There farm system is a disaster and has been for years. They haven’t sniffed the playoffs since 1997, also the last year they had a winning record. The future of that organization is NOT any where near as bright as Atlanta’s. The Orioles may be two games over .500 TODAY but don’t forget the division they are playing in. Boston is very tough, Tampa Bay has finally figured things out and do NOT count the Yankees out. They are going to make some moves to be competitive.
Tex going to Baltimore signifies one thing and one thing only.
Shilling to have shoulder surgery, possibly ends career:
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080620&content_id=2967696&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb
Good background story on Campillo:
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080620&content_id=2967917&vkey=news_atl&fext=.jsp&c_id=atl
SKIP broadcasting tonight!!!
Was I dreaming I read about Boston for Tex? Not sure now… whatever. Tex can’t run either. He should’ve gone home on that McCann hit.
In 97 the Orioles were an awesome team. I saw them and Cal play the Braves during a West Palm Grapefruit League game… you could see something very special in those guys even in ST that year. They stomped so many good teams… including the Braves in inter-league that year. They should have gone to the WS that year and they would’ve won it… had it not been for a 12 year old kid in right field reaching out and snatching an up against the wall fly from Tony Tarasco, who was camped underneath it. Jeter and the Yanks were pleased that it was erroneously (suspiciously?) ruled a home run. It turned the game and the series around. That one smelled funny to me. Orioles were the best team in the majors that year. Then… the dumper.
Similar thing happened to the Cubs when a grown kid reached up, out of the field of play and caught the just right over the outstretched glove of Moises Alou. That play didn’t smell, just an idiot fan… but it sure reissued the curse of the Bambino.
I’d vote for instant replays if I had a vote.
And Fran comes through again. Maybe move him to cleanup.
Bases loaded, 1 out, Francoeur taps into DP. sigh….
CL, ironic that two warriors like Smoltz and Schilling go down the same way at the same time like this. Hope they’ll both be back… but it’s doubtful. Two of my favorite pitchers in this era.
It sure is. Similar comments from both: having surgery to stop the pain; if he can pitch afterward OK, if not – that’s the way it is.
Wow. There’s a team that runs bases worse than the Braves!
Friday night. We could fire a cannon right down the middle of Main Street and not hurt a thing!
Do all Aussie pitchers wear the same kind of glasses?
Aaaaaand the Braves fail to score again.
Bases loaded….Frenchy….’Ground Hog Day’
Ever notice the great echo you can get in here??
HELLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOooooooo
helllllloooooooooo…..
See??
Hey, Salty!! Glad to see you!!
And ain’t it the truth with JF??
Can you believe this???
“Becoming energy self-sufficient is now a topic being discussed by a growing number of members of Congress and the media. But two members of Congress want government to seize control of the oil companies, a stupid idea!
Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) has called for the federal government to seize control of oil companies. In a Washington Examiner editorial piece, Rep. Hinchey said, “We [the government] should own the refineries. Then we can control how much gets out into the market.”
Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) took the same approach, saying to oil industry executives: “Guess what this liberal (referring to herself) will be about? This liberal will be all about socializing – um, uh … will be about … basically … taking over, and the government running all of your companies.”
Bobby Cox has another interesting lineup tonight. He continues to baffle, defy logic and escape all reason. Fran misses a routine play in the last inning. He can’t even seem to run beyond a lumbering jog any more. I’m now officially tired of talking about Bobby and Jeffy.
Here’s an idea: Anderson leadoff. Oh, that’s right… he’s not here. Too fast. Then Yunel, Chipper, McCann, Tess, Kelly, Infante, Blanco or Branco… etc.
Maybe Chavez, Castro and Putin can host instructive webinars for the Dems. Nationalizing the evil businesses 101.
7th inning. The wheels are beginning to come off…..
When they start OPENLY talking about “seizing” the oil companies, they are getting WAY out of line. Privately owned corporations? Stock markets? Oil processing?? Seize them, but don’t drill into our massive oil fields no matter what, huh?
Since when did this nation become a dictatorship for the Democrats???
Ol’ Maxine kinda let the cat out of the bag with her “socializing” comment. No longer a republic but working toward a socialist communistic government? Constitution? Bill of Rights??
Anybody wonder why oil is so expensive? It ain’t the Arabs. It ain’t the evil oil barons. It’s the speculators and the value of the shrinking dollar. They are connected. Water has gone up too, as has everything else. Just not the buck.
Chipper hurt something again?
Right quad again…
Actually Maxine’s cat could’ve come up with the word Nationalize… but the windbag Maxine couldn’t, so she stumbled around and unwittingly and dimwittedly gave up the desired political system of the radical left that would do the deed. She’s a useful idiot. She has no idea what she’s doing other than repeating talking points of the socialist creed.
There goes the ballgame. Keystone Kops.
8-1 and Bobby wants to change pitchers???
As Bobby walks to the mound he wonders, “close game…game of inches…kid’s are just missing a few hits…pitcher’s are throwing good…bacon and eggs are good…car runs fine…tires need rotating…maybe bring Chucky back…who can I put on the mound that’s already pitched too much lately…they should be warmed up…who are we playing? Are we home? What’s that big thing in the outfield that looks like a cow or something? Hand me the ball kid…game of inches”
It is now safe to walk the dog. Unless you’re Maxine… then walk the cat.
Wonder if the cow is chopping tonight to rev the fans up? Was more chicken sold as a result of bovine guilt?
Wanna see something REALLY scary?
Yunel was very lucky. Bad slide. More like a fall.
So, we are having arse’s handed to us be THE WORST TEAM IN BASEBALL????? I can’t wait to hear what Grinch says about being at the game….I missed most of the game, but when I saw 4-1, I knew we weren’t going to come back….then Ohman comes in, walks a few guys(It did look like a few pitches were strikes) and is left in by mr. by the book, to face a right handed hitter?? A guy who already had to hits??? I knew even in an 0-2 count he would get a hit….it HAD to happen.
Chris….really??? You really think we are miles ahead of Baltimore??? Hard to be unbiased in the middle of a 9-2 game….we do have talent in the minors…but….we seem to have talent here at the ML level. We lose a ton of pitchers, and except for closing, we really don’t have a problem there….
We just can’t hit…or at least hit when it counts. Is anyone in the minors better than who we have in right, or 1st right now??? I think WW touched on this earlier today…. Something is clearly wrong, way wrong with this team….what is it????
Already had two hits…
The only reason I’ll continue to listen to this game is to listen to every moment of Skip that remains.
Escobar day-to-day???
Right about now, KC is trying to get Grinch to climb back down off of the cows head, where he stands, arms raised in defiance, screaming obscenities at Liberty, Braves management, Bobby Cox, Tess, Republicans and all women in general. Don’t worry, it’s just the full moon… or the team… or the beer. Probably all three.
Berigan, superior emails tonight!
Can’t skip the Skip.
That’s why it’s so quiet in here… it’s an email thing.
Seattle have double digits. Hopefully we’ll be beaten unmercifully and lose by at least 15 runs. Any other outcome and Bobby will call it a close game. There I go again. That’s it… last Cox rant.
SG, re: Grinch –
May be more true than we know! 
No, he sends 10 at a time. Read them between innings – or, in the case of tonight’s game, go ahead and read and just listen to Skip.
Now Yunel is hurt from the slide into home for a meaningless 9-2 game….
Well, it sounded like Gotay had a very good game in the field(From what I heard on the radio)and 2 hits…that’s his second game in the field for Gotay, correct??? Or at least his 2nd start??? I have been a fan of him….and he’s 25, but…we just don’t use him….he needs to be traded or released so he can play more with some other team. We need more pop off the bench….easier said than done I know…but, Gotay is more an Infante type, a guy who should get 150-200 abs a year….or perhaps play second regularly for teams like Colorado that don’t seem to have a real 2nd baseman….
Seattle ‘have’ double digits. Too bad I have single digit grammar tonight. Bobby have one more call to the bullpen. Gonzo? Bobby have close game. Bobby have favorite players in Atlanta lineup. Bobby have favorite bullpen. Bobby no like Richmond Anderson or Phil Stockman. Too, uh… no playa da clubhouse game right and treat Bobby right.
There I go again. Last time.
Way to go Fran. Another solid at bat.
There I go again, again.
There I go again.
There I go.
There.
I go.
Gotay, you suck!
CL, are you saying the aren’t usually superiour??? Kidding, kidding!!!
Thank you ma’am!!!
CL, I am sure without Skip, Pete, Ernie, and even John Sterling…I would not have watched the horrible teams year after year….sometimes they are better than ever when the Braves suck….they have been quite good this year.
Will KC bail Grinch out of the Fulton County pen for climbing on the cow?
May be on the AJC news tomorrow. Must get up early to read all about it.
Braves lose, Braves lose!
G’nite and g’luck.
Just our gluck.
Games ends, Skip gives the final line scores, then thinks the mike is off and comments to Joe, “That’s almost embarrassing.”
Joe was using the telestator earlier to show how JF is “flying open” – and Skip commented that he looks just like Andruw last year. Joe agreed. Said he’s not thinking, not looking for specific pitches, just swinging.
SG, once again..on a roll! If you don’t see me say that every time you funny man, I am thinkin’ it!
A perfect evening: the Braves embarrass themselves by losing a blowout to the worst team in MLB, have several players injured in the process – and the Mets lead the Rockies 6-2 in the 5th.
Almost makes me wish I was a drinkin’ lady.
CL, I didn’t hear that, didn’t have it loud enough…interesting!
I am getting to feel less and less after losses…which is a good thing….kind of like, oh well, we thought they were good. They suck. Lots of people thought Seattle would win the West…they really suck….really sucky beat somewhat sucky tonight…..say, is baseball tonight on??? Love watching the Rays, a team that has real talent, that really plays with heart…
Trot Nixon signed with the Mets??? When did that happen? What year is this? Who am I??
CL, that happened a week or so ago…I think Pappy was saying he was the kind of guy we needed…I pointed out he was 3 for 7 in the playoffs last year…not amazing numbers by any stretch, but a guy you would like to have come off the bench, perhaps rest the .250 hitter in right, and hit .250 in those games….
Greg Maddux pitching against the Tigers: through 3 innings -
33 pitches, 20 strikes, 13 balls.
Yet, it is 1-0 Detroit.
Ah. Last week was The Week That Was for me (Mother’s prep and appts before her surgery, then all the post-op care). I have no idea what happened anywhere!
CL, don’t forget, last week you promised me a 1,000,000 dollars!
Check’s in the mail, Berigan!
I was just looking at Maddux’s pitch sequences:
86-87 mph fast balls
1. ball
2. swinging strike
3. called strike
4. foul
5. called strike
Well, my Fun Meter has about pegged out so I’m going to tuck myself in for the evening! ‘Night!
night CL
Good evening y’all. Blech, terrible game. But I did laugh at SG’s 10:18. Can totally picture that.
I wish I could’ve heard Skip.
At least I should hear him on radio next week.
Well… That was ugly…. The game that is. I remarked to the wife. “Why is Bobby bringing in Bennett?” Then Joe said Bennett had pitched in 4 of the last 5 games and tonight made his third game in a row… 2 hits given up. 3 runs scored and GAME OVER…
Even the “Braves’” announcers are questioning some of the moves Bobby is making with his bullpen… Does he really expect them to pitch in 120 games this year?
And Frenchy needs a couple of days off…. for the team’s sake. He would likely make a base running error to go with his other blunders but he is not getting on base either.
Okay, on a more positive note, the wife and I went fishing today… Caught about 50 and kept 8… Fish will be frying tomorrow.
Francoeur did not hustle for that ball in the corner and the guy should have had a triple. Escobar did not come up throwing on that play where Ichiro scored. Blanco dogged it out in center and someone took an extra base.
Those are three glaring examples that Cox is not inspiring this team and is no longer scaring them either. Looks like he is losing them. If he’s losing them, then that ain’t good because let’s be honest, having a hold on his team is his biggest strength. In game strategy certainly isn’t.
And to be honest, KJ looked like he half-a*******ssed that tag at second on that poor throw by McCann. Blanco again dogs another ball in center – that’s three today
And where’s the leadership? Is there a veteran leader on this team? Joe Simpson tells some stupid story about Chipper having all this knowledge about hitting but doesn’t share it with his younger teammates unless asked? That’s leadership? Let’s be honest. Chipper is a Hall of Famer. Chipper has never been and never will be a leader. Still the rookie who got told to shut up and who still doesn’t find it his place to speak unless he’s throwing a former teammate and a current teammate under the bus with six words
Lose a Chipper, gain a leader
By TIM PEARRELL
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
Chuck James needs a good stretch to get him back to the big leagues. Pilates exercises four times a day might be part of the answer.
It wouldn’t be a stretch to say James turned in his best pitching performance of the season in the Richmond Braves’ 3-1 victory over Charlotte yesterday before 3,140 at The Diamond.
The left-hander threw seven shutout innings. He allowed three hits, struck out eight and retired 15 straight hitters while getting offensive help from Jason Perry (a two-run homer) and shortstop Brent Lillibridge (three hits).
Flexibility has been an issue for James. Hamstring and quadriceps tightness caused a consistently sore knee, which caused a sore back, which caused a sore shoulder, which cascaded into problems in his delivery.
James won 11 games in each of the past two seasons in Atlanta. He started this year on the disabled list with shoulder inflammation and then was roughed up for 21 runs in 23 innings in two stints with the big Braves.
He eventually landed on Richmond’s disabled list in late May with a sore back. A doctor recommended he start stretching.
“I had always been told I was tight,” he said. “But I had always been successful. It didn’t hit me until this last time they told me. I had nothing to lose.”
Better flexibility has allowed James to work on correcting bad habits that have crept into his delivery. Since returning from the DL, he has thrown 14 scoreless innings. The velocity on his fastball has gone from 86-88 mph to 88-92.
“My location is there,” James said. “All my pitches are coming off my hand right. I’m where I need to be.”
Notes from game…it was lots of fun till the 6th. Campillo looked good, Infante made a hell of a catch to rob a homer early on (they played the superman theme) and Tex made a hell of a throw home to start a DP. We were right in everything ’till Bobby reached for a pitcher who’d already thrown a season’s worth of innings to go for long relief. Infante and Ohman straight out sucked. Game over.
I’ll say this: despite Frenchy doing his best Andruw impersonation, the crowd roars for him more than anyone but Chipper (even McCann).
The cow is totally unobtrusive; it doesn’t dominate like y’all were worried it might. And it looks cool chopping.
There are so many hotties at Turner Field it’s dang near impossible to pay attention to the game.
The fireworks show was excellent; they certainly don’t skimp on it.
Gil, glad Chucky is gaining some zip, and is learning, at least from physical standpoint he needs to adapt if he wants to get back, and stay with the big club. I’d like to hear how his slider is really biting, or the curve is really falling off the shelf….I could snap off a curve anytime I wanted to before wrist surgery, and I am just a slob sitting in front of a computer…if I had a chance to make big money, and pitch in the majors….slurves, screwballs, sliders, 2 seamers,….anything and everything I’d be working on….not trying to rain on his parade. He has clearly looked a lot better the last month in the minors…
Here’s a question….who would you bump out of the rotation, Morton, or Campillo if/when Chucky or Hampton get called up??? I really don’t want to mess with either of them til they have back to back bad starts….who knows, we may yet have a surplus of pitching to trade!
Grinch, glad you had a good time in spite of the score! Cool to see a team you don’t see everyday, fireworks…and hotties!
Now, oil. For some reason, Y’all don’t seem to want to educate yourselves about what’s available for us to use. The highest guesses for what drilling ANWAR might reach is 6 months of consumption at our current rate, and 10 years to be able to get it. In 10 years, that will be about three weeks worth of oil. Even if it was 6 months worth, does that really make us independent of the middle east? No, the Democrats bringing this up aren’t intelligent or well spoken, that’s one reason I’m not a Democrat. But alternative fuel technology has been available since the 60’s to avoid this crap from happening and big oil has bought out congress ever since to keep it from coming to fruition. Oil has gone from about a dollar a gallon to over four since your precious President (who’s campaign was financed by big oil) invaded an oil rich country, and Exxon/Mobil, BP/Amocco, and three or four others have shown record profits since 2001 (magically the same time we invaded and the same time prices started going up). Everyone’s willing to admit congress is crooked, but nobody’s willing to go a step further and admit what’s staring everyone right in the face. And before anyone accuses me of anything, keep in mind this is all public record. Every one of you could minimize your screen and find out the truth in 30 seconds if you wanted to, you just don’t want to ’cause you’re scared. Yes, the Democrats are stupid, and in most ways worse than the Republicans. But saying the government needs to regulate the oil companies isn’t stupid at all, it’s common sense. Unless, of course, you have a vested interest. If you’ve got stock in BP/Amocco, or you’re a Korean or a Chinese Communist, then I could see why you wouldn’t want anyone to step in and stop these freaking thieves from ruining our great country and picking all our pockets. To that, I have nothing to say. Look, Y’all, we’re already destroying a middle eastern country that has a lot of oil. Fine. If you care about the people dying, wouldn’t you at least like the savings passed on to the customer instead of going back into the pocket of campaign donors? I’ve got nothing against the Iraq war, I think gas is too high too. I just think it ought to come down in direct proportion to how much oil we steal. Just looking for a little accountibillity.
B, the hotties were so present it wasn’t even fair. Any time some d-bag from up north gives you hell for losing to them, remind them that the chicks that were third-tier at the game would’ve drawn a crowd in Cleveland.
And while I’m ranting, I just read that Chipper has re-injured his quad from jogging around the bases tonight and that there’s an egg-sized lump on it and he won’t be playing for quite some time. Here we go again. Let me preface this with a couple of disclaimers:
Chipper is one of the best hitters of all time.
Hampton is an all-star pitcher and in ST he looked way better than Smoltz, Glavine or Hudson.
Soriano has good stuff.
Now, I went through a good deal of physical therapy myself (6 months in a wheelchair and learning to walk again) and did three years of pre-med. There is NO FREAKING WAY you strain a quad jogging (if you’re a pro athlete), take it easy for a week or so and then tear it so bad you’re out for “a good while” by jogging a bit like he did tonight. I’m sorry, but no. That just doesn’t happen, and if it does you should be a pro knitter and not a pro baseball player. Try some massengil.
Hampton. I’ve been supporting him forever. Calling him a bulldog. But when you look like you did this Spring and PULL A PEC and are out for 75 days before you can even throw catch on level ground? Sorry, that’s straight BS. I pulled a pec in HS as a middle linebacker and was allowed exactly two practices off. And my job was to stuff the run on every play by hitting the running back square on and wrapping him up before flinging him to the ground. In other words, more use of the pec than Hampton needs. Try some massengil.
Soriano. Every piece of high technology known to man shows there’s nothing wrong with your elbow, yet “ohhhh, ohhhh, it hurts so bad” is all you can say for two months after signing a big money contract to close. Everyone gets tendonitis, and everyone knows yours was gone in a week or two at most. You freakin’ homo. Try some massengil.
Berigan.. You first…. I don’t think anyone has to be dropped from the rotation, I think the current pitchers will self destruct if given enough time. It is good to have spare parts.
Grinch… My but you are cynical tonight. I will not get into the debate about the nationalization of oil companies but obviously something has to be done before we see run away inflation like we did in the 80s…
The problem is there is no quick fix. However, if we the people had done something about the situation 15 years ago, we would not be facing this dilemma. Alternative fuels are great but has anyone thought about how the government is going to collect taxes on said fuel which will be consumed in automobiles? After all, we still need to fix roads and bridges. the real problem is our government loves to spend money it does not have on project we do not need.
I would love to buy all manner of things but since I cannot print my own money, I have to settle for the things I need, not the things I want. I should think the government would be sensible enough to realize that too but we both know it is not going to happen.
And as for Atlanta, look for Tex to be on the trade wire before the deadline. Maybe the Braves can pick up a future third baseman while they are at it.
And Joe Borchard is on the DL in Richmond….
And the war has been over for 150 years… Time to move on… Most of the folks that live up north are from some place else anyway.
When one side has all the ships. most of the money and the vast majority of the industry, one should expect the momentum to be on their side… The south gave good account of itself, the war will not be fought again so just be secure in the knowledge that no person in modern history has ever been elected President without carrying the South… We are all Americans… well, except those here illegally… but that is another string…
Grinch, you are a historian… Don’t you see the parallels between the oil companies today and the sugar interest in the Caribbean prior to the American revolution?
Gil, I’m actually in a pretty good mood. I’m just cynical by nature, and it comes out when I get fed up (and I’m up drunk with everyone else asleep). Agreed there’s no quick fix. Not so sure the gov’t couldn’t fairly quickly come up with a way to tax alternative fuel. Agreed there’s way too much pork barrel spending. Agreed they ain’t gonna fix themselves anytime soon.
Hate it Borchard’s on the DL, he was very impressive in ST. I personally hope Tex is gone shortly for some bullpen help and/or a run-producing 1b/outfielder.
Now, snooze…
Grinch.. Bobby would still use the same 5 guys in the pen no matter how many he has…
I have no idea why, but this page has refreshed itself, and I actually see posts at 2 am!!!!
Grinch…..I think they are know saying(Some doc on ESPN?) that often strains are often slight tears….didn’t we hear that Chipper had a small hole in his quad a few weeks back??? When you hear something like that, a team says, dude, we’d love to have you in the lineup every day, but, more than that, we’d love to have you raking in sept and oct!!!!! So, on the DL, and get that sucker to heal….now, get this…I heard them talking about Albert Pujols calf “strain” a Doctor on espn said he has hurt it before, and that the tissue is weakened from the first strain….and that they have to make sure it has completely healed, or it will get even more damaged. Never heard of that before, and imagine it’s the same thing with quads…but what do I know???
Well, I do know we have Infante now for just such a reason, to REST Chipper.
Absolutely, Gil, though John Locke isn’t stepping in with well-written essays at this point. Oddly enough, Georgia in particular was affected by the sugar act because Carribeans were using money from molasses exports to pay for Georgia lumber. And considering rum is made from sugar…
But now I must to snooze; I’ll resume this tomorrow if you’re up and about.
Yeah, berigan, I know all that. I also know my coach (and a thousand just like him) would just say “Boy, are you hurt or are you injured? What? WHAT? That’s what I thought! Rub some dirt on it and get your @$$ back out there.” And it wouldn’t/didn’t cause any permanent damage and I wasn’t making a dime. But whatever.
Gil, your 2:12 is spot on, unfortunately.
I’M GOING 2 BED NOW.
Wanted to post that before everyone left…of course “Everyone” may have…
I just get saddened when I see teams like the Red Sox not only outspend teams like us, but out think us as well! Thinkin’ like it’s the 21st century of somethin’. I hear Buster Olney talk about how they will give each starter time off during the season. No panic, they KNOW they will be in the playoffs. If they don’t win the division over the Rays, they’ll win the Wildcard.
And Beckett will come off rest like a guy pitching in May, and no one will be able to get a hit.
Braves??? Last year Smoltz was pitching on 3 days rest. Jurrjens has done it this year as well. Those are the LAST guys you want doing that for you.
Of course, Campillo and Bennett are used like it’s forever game 7 of the world series….pitch til you can’t pitch no more! How many times did one of them start and pitch 5-6 innings, even if they hadn’t pitched more than 2 innings in a row in the last 2 weeks???
Bobby seems to panic when it comes to pitching….panics that you can’t rest Chipper(Rest meaning DL) can’t rest Frenchy for just one day….he’s overdue for a big game!!! Never seems to rest McCann enough…and his off days turn into catching the last 2 innings more often than not…He’s young…
Oh sleepy one….One thing though…you and your buds were a lot younger, correct??? Just sayin’
Chipper is 36, and that quad is not getting the rest it needs…and just like Smoltz trying to pitch instead of really finding out what’s wrong and instead doing more damage, Glavine trying to pitch through pain on every pitch, and partially tearing a tendon….The manager has to make the tough calls for what is good for the team, longterm.
And respond tomorrow(Later today?) but I will bet you dollars to donuts Soriano has something wrong in there….He doesn’t strike me like a Fred Lynn kind of guy, oh my shoes were too tight during the game last night, I need today off!!!* Usually, when someone says they are hurt, something is wrong. He can throw 95, so could Smoltz with a really screwed up shoulder…..
And everyone remember, I said it first, Frenchy has Bone spurs in his ankles, or some sort of damage that the docs said he could play thru…and that’s why Bobby keeps running him out there….
Ha, outsmarted myself…the * was supposed to again show up at the bottom of the post and then I would say…not a true story(But man that guy was hurt more than anyone in the history of the game!)
Grinch a lot to digest in your post on oil…..
I think both Republicans and Democrats have a lot of blame to share.
Did you know the first George Bush was the one to put a ban on all coastal offshore exploration in 1990??? I sure didn’t til recently.
The president’s call to resume offshore drilling appears to go against the 1990 policy of his father, President George H.W. Bush, who signed an executive order banning coastal oil exploration as well as of his brother, Jeb, the former governor of Florida, an outspoken opponent of offshore drilling.
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/politics/jan-june08/bushoil_06-18.html
And this talk of resuming offshore drilling…its a day late and a dollar short…many days late. Should have been a top priority the day after 9-11…as soon as we found out 15 of the 19 hijackers were from the very wealthy country of Saudi Arabia….and yes alternative fuels should have been a higher priority…heck, how about just a priority, from either side?
Truth is, there are no leaders on either side, or we would have heard talk of doing something, ANYTHING last year when we flirted with $3.00 a gallon fuel.
We are completely unprepared for just about anything that may or may not happen.
Why are we not building nuclear power plants??? I used to be dead set against them, but if the French can get 80% of their power from them, surely we could get what, 50%????
Apparently, some folks would like to build them, but red tape keeps any new ones from coming online…red tape coming from Environmentalists. they mean well….
And as much as I’d like to punish oil companies for price gouging….how do we do it??? Are they going to do it overseas??? If China, India, Germany, France, etc, etc, etc. are not…then British Petroleum and Dutch Shell might not want to do business with us anymore if it’s less profitable to sell fuel in the states than anywhere else….what??? We use 25% of the oil worldwide! Yeah, well how many cars are being put on the road each and every day in China? About 1,000!!! Even if they are little econo boxes, that is a lot of new gas users….
Gonna break this up….man, why’d you start this, anyway???
Oh wait, wasn’t it CL and SG that really started it??? 
And how much oil is in ANWR??? Every time I see someone on TV or in print say it’s only 6 months…if that was an etched in stone fact, why would anyone bother with it??? How old are those projections??? Pre computer??? Pre deeper drilling equipment??? Who knows whom to believe??? Everyone has an axe to grind….everyone is an expert….Hey! Speaking of “experts” here’s a guy from the huffington post that writes on oil every few days, must be some sort of expert!
He bashes Bush a fair bit in his columns…guess you have to if you write for Huffington! 
Raymond
J. Learsy is his name…
What does he say about oil supplies???
The New York Times’ Hidden Hand On Oil’s Agenda
stumble digg reddit del.ico.us news trust Posted April 25, 2008 | 10:21 AM
Ironically, last Sunday the New York Times’ front page headlined ” Behind TV Analysts, Pentagon’s Hidden Hand”. On the front page of the Week in Review section Jad Mouawad set out to instruct us that oil’s future is murky (”The Big Thirst”). If ever a commentator on a given issue is freighted with prescribed points of view the New York Times’ reporter Jad Mouawad would be a standout candidate for the oil patch’s “golden goose” award for espousing the preprogrammed pieties that are wont to make us continue our soporific acceptance of the greatest heist, and transfer of wealth in human history. Where there are arguments to be contrived and oil patch rationalizations to excuse the heist inherent in today’s oil prices or to explain them away, leave it to the New York Times and Mouwad to convey the imprimatur of what once passed for serious journalism to this greatest of all con games.
Mr. Mouawad and his New York Times have been writing ceaselessly and irresponsibly on the issue of oil. Mouawad has never been held to account by the Times’ editors nor its editorial page. His writings could easily be attributed to an OPEC or oil patch pitchman. With Mouwad it is never the industry, its willing allies in and out of government, nor the perverting hand of the Organization of Petroleum Exportng Countries (OPEC). It is us, and a bevy of reasons that are repeated ad nauseum that are the cause of what has become a dysfunctional oil market. Let me explain by citing a few examples from his Week in Review article “The Big Thirst”. More would run me out of ink and you out of patience:
“no exporter turning off the spigot…Producers are struggling to pump as much as they can…”
Here alone the full dimension of Mouawad’s freighted reporting is laid bare. Clearly and seemingly purposefully no mention of the fact that OPEC by its own admission has held 1.2 million barrels/day off the market since the end of 2006 that it could readily produce. That Saudi Arabia and OPEC have turned a cold shoulder on President Bush’s lame entreaties as well as that of the International Energy Agency (IEA) to produce more, not because they can’t but because they wont.
“The North Sea and Alaska are slowly running out of oil and producers there are struggling to keep production from falling. Russia’s phenomenal surge is coming to an end”.
Ah, shortages on the horizon, one of the oil patch’s banner headlines to screw up the price another notch. No mention of the new finds off shore Brazil, the massive revised upward revision of Saudi Arabia’s reserves (please see “Peak Oil’ RIP. Official Obit Frontpaged in the New York Times” 03.08.07 — commenting on an article penned by Mouawad himself on the NYTimes’ front page March 5, 2007, so he will not be able to claim ignorance, upwardly estimating Saudi Reserves alone at some 700 billion to one trillion barrels), the burgeoning oil development activities in Iraq (”35 Firms OK’d to Bid on Iraq Oil Deals” The Huffington Post 04.13.08) whose reserves are estimated to be comparable to those of Saudi Arabia with barely 10 percent of its land mass having been prospected for oil. As to Russia, no explanation that the slowing of the ‘oil surge’ is structural and hardly due to an inherent diminishment of oil potential under the right rules and management. But that is how the oil boys and the New York Times try to scare us into ever higher prices. That the oil shortage is inherent and imminent, that we are running out of accessible oil. We are not, there are still trillions of barrels of oil around to be found and tapped, from offshore Alaska in the Chukchi Sea (please see “Royal Dutch Shell’s ‘New Heartland’, Alaskan Drilling Rights, The Abject Surrender of Our National Patrimony” 02.25.08) to coastal Africa, the South China Sea, the Gulf of Siam, Greenland, the Arctic, offshore Sakhalin, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and untapped reservoirs offshore the United States, the Gulf of Mexico and on. At current and significantly lower oil prices all are economically viable. But leave it to Mouawad to pull out the ‘arms length’ opinion from his friends at BP, “Another 1.2 trillion barrels of known conventional oil reserves wait to be tapped…But given the current rate of growth in demand, a trillion of those barrels will be used up in in less than 30 years”. Feel better now? Once upon a time the same argumentation was flagged to oil consumers, and yes we did run out of oil in Pennsylvania. You all remember that, don’t you?
-And on, bringing praise and glory to the heroic efforts of the oil companies (and advertisers in the New York Times?) Exxon Mobil, BP, and Chevron by name, the Times instructs us of their selfless magnanimity that they together with the two other of the largest international oil companies (”the five largest international oil companies”) had spent $100 billion on exploration last year, by implication to presumably ease our pain at the pump. Of course no mention that $100 billion after tax credits is closer to $50 billion in bottom line money, or the approximate earnings of Exxon-Mobil alone. In New York Times fashion, a nice plug for the oil companies as to what they sow, no mention of the egregious profits they reap.
- Then leaving caution to the wind, citing the ‘benefits’ of high oil prices. “High oil prices might end up forcing people to conserve and encourage the development of alternatives”. No argument there. All that cheering you hear in the background are the oil companies and oil producers cheering, “go Jad, go”, and reminding him not mention the enormous transfer of wealth that these high oil prices have facilitated, the growing risks to our national security given the nature of the regimes benefiting by this transfer of wealth, the crippling impact on our currency (by the way since beginning 2007 the price of oil has advanced more than 110% whereas the dollar has depreciated less than 30%. Correlation?), on our balance of payments, on the steadily engulfing stagflation and the toll on our economic well being.
- Citing John Hess, chief executive of the Hess Corporation, the international oil company, who reportedly warned at a recent energy conference that an oil crisis was looming if the world didn’t deal with runaway demand and strained supplies. Mouwad would have given us an especially instructive insight into what is happening had he quoted John Hess’ father, Leon Hess the legendary founder of Hess Oil. Hess Senior testified before the Senate Committee on Government Affairs hearing on the role of futures markets in oil pricing back on November 1st, 1990 (no mistake, yes 1990):
“I’m an old man, but I’d bet my life that if the Merc (the NY Mercantile Exchange) was not in operation there would be ample oil and reasonable prices all over the world, without this volatility”.
Mr. Leon Hess, where are you? We need you now. But please don’t apply to the New York Times. Your incisiveness and clarity of vision would be very confusing to them.
For those who might be interested in previous posts on the Times’ ‘Perils of Pauline’ reporting on oil, please see:
“The Energy Wimps at the New York Times”, (01.12.06)
“The New York Times Shamelessly Shills For OPEC” (09.12.06)
“The New York Times’, Mouthpiece for The American Petroleum Institute” (07.23.07)
“The New York Times’ Paroxysm of Mutual Self Congratultion With the Oil Patch” (08.06.07)
“The New York Times Wins the Alfred E. Newman Award For Its OPEC Coverage” (11.19.07)
Morning, all!
Berigan, I voted for Bush 1 and have no regrets (I’ve never yet voted Democrat; when Kerry ran I just didn’t vote). I voted for Bush II the first time thinking he’d act like an extention of his dad. Yikes.
I dodn’t agree Nuclear power is the answer. Too dangerous and hard to properly dispose of the waste. Honda already has a car that produces zero emissions. The Japanese are almost finished with a process to pull hydrogen out of sea water to make a viable fuel source. I saw a show the other day where a couple (I can’t remember their name off the top of my head) have developed a modification to attach to most any gasoline engine that will allow it to get 150 MPG with little loss of power. All these things and more are available or could be in a short time frame, but as long as big oil runs congress and both parties they won’t see the light of day. We need Teddy Roosevelt back here to bust these damn companies up. He would do that, and save the environment (without him we wouldn’t have half the national parks we do) plus he wouldn’t take any crap from foreign nations. He was the best of all worlds.
Also, yeah I was referring to myself at 16, but I’ll tell you that I’ll be 35 next month, I’ve got a plate and screws in my left ankle, screws and wire in my left knee, and stage III degeneration in my lower back. I’m also about 70 pounds overweight, yet I still ocasionally haul my fat, creaky butt out to the park and play tackle football with the youngsters, sometimes on asphalt. I also dabble in Mixed Martial arts (Pankration). If Chipper tried even once to do what I do for free and for fun, he’d wind up in traction. I’m just sayin’.
You may be right about Frenchy; I hope there’s a reason somewhere.
Later; got errands to run.
Ha! Funny with the sunglassed emoticons! Not in the article…. also forgot to link to that article….
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/raymond-j-learsy/the-new-york-times-hidden_b_98589.html
Here is my last post on this subject…for now…Saw Glenn Beck talk about the subject a few times…here is part of a transcript(The link will have the rest)
Well, hello, America. I`ve got good news, and I`ve got bad news for you. Let`s start with the good news.
The president has decided to invest over $23 billion to build seven new oil refineries. That means by 2012, oil and gas production will increase by more than 1.5 million Barrels per day. The president feels that due to the limited refining abilities, this will make the country energy independent if we build them. That finally is vision.
Now the bad news. That comes from the president of Iran.
Here`s “The Point” tonight. The rest of the industrialized world understands the need for energy independence. Why are we still hopelessly in the dark? Here`s how I got there.
France has invested in nuclear energy. Europe is building 40 new coal plants. China is opening a new coal-fired plant every two weeks. And they`re currently building the largest hydroelectric dam in the world. I can`t fire up a barbecue in this country without Congress throwing a hissy- fit.
For some unfathomable reason, our leaders in both parties in Washington would rather wag their fingers at oil companies and CEOs and place our country`s future in the hands of foreign dictators. You need to understand, we, the people, don`t control the supply and cost of our own energy, and neither do the oil companies.
Ironically, there is an endless supply of innovators right here in America that are dying to solve this problem. But Congress keeps putting them in handcuffs.
Oil companies want more domestic drilling. Industry wants to implement coal-to-oil technology. But permits to open new refineries and nuclear power plants so tied up with red tape, and over a trillion Barrels of untapped oil lies just in the shale of the American West. That is three times the largest oil reserve in the world. It would keep America energy independent for 167 years. We would answer to no one but us. Feds aren`t going to let us do it…..
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0806/05/gb.01.html
Whoa, I definitely don’t have time to touch that one. Later.
from email:
Once again, Mensa asked readers to take any word from the dictionary,
alter it by adding, subtracting or changing one letter, and supply a
new definition. Here are this year’s winners. Read them carefully.
Each is an artificial word with only one letter altered from a real
word. Some are terrifically innovative:
1. Intaxication: Euphoria at getting a tax refund, which lasts until
you realize it was your money to start with.
2. Reintarnation: Coming back to life as a hillbilly.
3. Bozone (n.): The substance surrounding stupid people, that stops
bright ideas from penetrating. The Bozone layer, unfortunately,
shows little sign of breaking down in the near future.
4. Cashtration (n.): The act of buying a house, which renders the
subject financially impotent for an indefinite period of time.
5. Giraffiti: Vandalism spray-painted very, very high.
6. Sarchasm: The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the
person who doesn’t get it.
7. Inoculatte: To take coffee intravenously when you are running late.
8. Hipatitis: Terminal coolness.
9. Osteopornosis: A degenerate disease. (This one got extra credit.)
10. Karmageddon: It’s like, when everybody is sending off all these
really bad vibes, right? And then like, the Earth explodes and it’s
like, a serious bummer.
11. Decafalon (n.): The grueling event of getting through the day
consuming only things that are good for you.
12. Glibido: All talk and no action.
13. Dopeler Effect: The tendency of stupid ideas to seem smarter
when they come at you rapidly.
14. Arachnoleptic Fit (n.): The frantic dance performed just after
you’ve accidentally walked through a spider web.
15. Beelzebug (n.): Satan in the form of a mosquito, that gets into
your bedroom at three in the morning and cannot be cast out.
16. Caterpallor (n.): The color you turn after finding half a worm
in the fruit you’re eating.
And, the pick of the lot…
17. Ignoranus: A person who’s both stupid and an ***hole.
(Thanks, Gil!)
Grinch, all for hydrogen fuel cell cars…I just wonder how we can get the water for them! We have a water shortage now…I can’t even wash my car….
Desalinization plants would be a very good idea….Saudi’s, Kuwaitis, all those stinkin’ rich folks living in a desert can do it…but, again…..when I was looking into info on those plants…environmentalists….they don’t like them! They tie everything up in court for years, decades….and nothing can move forward…
We have met the enemy, and he is us…or whatever Pogo said many moons ago….
What?? You voted for Bush 1??? Me too! Well, the first time, then I voted for Clinton in 1992. Change, and all that…he said that a few thousand times and hey, Bush looked at his watch during a debate, he didn’t want to be Prez like Bubba did!
Hey, nobody’s perfect! 
CL, someone here might not like #2!!!!
Take your time Grinch….I is tire and headed for bed!!!
so…a bit of baseball guesstimating before dreamland. Chipper can’t play. Out for longer than last time. Yunel not likely to be able to play for the rest of the series either. That means Infante, and Gotay HAVE to start today, correct???? So, any bets on us sending Ridgeway back down??? Or does Bobby say, Norton can play 3rd, we don’t really need more than one pinch hitter in a game anyway.
Lillibridge then???? Gil, is there anyone else who might come up in a pinch from AAA????
Can we put Bobby Cox on the 60-day DL? I’m totally underwhelmed by his and the team’s performance.
Grinch…Every one of you could minimize your screen and find out the truth in 30 seconds if you wanted to, you just don’t want to ’cause you’re scared. Well…I feel better now. I knew something was bugging me, I just didn’t know it was fear! If that came from anyone else, it’d be offensive!
Highly technical subjects involving US or global economics, society, energy, the environment and politics are so often… no, make that most often… no, make that almost always mired in controversy due to preconceived notions and disinformation by opposing sides of any given issue. The ‘I’m absolutely sure about this’ stance or the ‘science is settled’ positions and opinions therefrom are most often relative to nothing based on reality except what the assumed end result of a successful argument might lead to in the mind of the person making the point.
Those that expect government to make their decisions for them and redistribute the wealth… take away from those that “got lucky” by working hard or smart… and give to those that are repeatedly, chronically unlucky or those that haven’t worked as hard. Facts are funny things. We’ve become so polarized in this country that one third will always be left and one third will always be right… no matter the facts or the truth. One third has no clue but are subject to sway this way or that based on any number of superficial reasons. The ignorant one third rule the country with their unconscious or self-centered vote.
The majority of both sides of any issue will almost always vote on things that are based on little pertinent information, cherry picked ‘facts’, out of context statistics and party-line talking points. All of this leads to confusion, misunderstanding and sustained ignorance. Depending upon one’s core views of political systems (not parties), the arguments in America today have less to do with reality and more to do with our own predilection to improve our own personal circumstance in life. So many tend to gravitate towards views, popular opinions and ‘facts’ that make them feel a part of a larger group and improve their own lot in life. Most opinions about complex issues are based on ulterior motives that are propped up by whatever gross over simplifications and erroneous viewpoints we can gather around ourselves.
The aforementioned issues du jour are classic examples of that, but it’s really not about economics, oil or political affiliation. At the core of our beliefs, most or all things are influenced by our own sense of right and wrong. Politically, most issues are directly linked to either our belief that we should have a capitalist system or a socialist/communist system of government. We are either free to work hard and prosper or sit around and gripe about our unrequited sense of entitlement.
Everything else is noise. Whether ANWAR can provide enough oil to cover 1% or 50% of out oil needs for either a few years after the plant is on line or until 2050 (which are the extreme estimates), is not the real point that needs to be argued. Energy independence is the point. Environmental protection, alternate, sustainable resources and clean technology is also the point. The most urgent point is national security and global economic competitiveness. One point, to a reasonable person, does not rule out the other. Our ultimate goal should be to do everything possible to ensure a clean, safe and secure country. All three goals can be achieved at the same time.
Having an oil extracting facility in ANWAR would not harm the environment. Imagine one single shopping mall in the state of Virginia. That’s the footprint. Even that small footprint can be erased without any harm to the icy, barren wasteland when we’re done and leave.
Until the politicians and media quit posturing on opposite sides of every complex issue (not likely) and the citizens of this country either become educated on the issues (not likely) or the citizens become influenced by the arbiters of more reasonable and balanced information (possible but improbable any time soon), then this country is bound to continue beating itself up, suffering from analysis paralysis, remain stifled because of political posturing and become vulnerable to danger in ways that we’ve never imagined.
All the noise is not about oil; it’s about misinformation and wild speculation by American and foreign market makers. It’s not about whether or not drilling in ANWAR and offshore with clean, high tech methods or whether that will make enough of a difference in production or whether it pollutes the environment or becomes a minor inconvenience to Caribou… it’s all about (should be about) energy independence and national security.
It’s not about choosing between oil drilling protecting the environment or developing alternative fuels, it needs to be about all three. It’s not about taking 10 years to come on line with oil operations… the same groups saying that now were saying that 15 years ago. Time flies. Doing nothing about the oil fuel under our feet is nothing but irresponsible and dangerous. Screwing on solar panels or creating a global food crisis while causing more water and air pollution due to mega-farming for alternative fuels is not an answer. Stuffing corn in our gas tank is not a final solution. These are not the sustainable, practical or sensible solutions we need.
Global warming is not about the weather, it’s about solar flares, other natural cyclical causes and yet it has become for many a way to overtax America and reallocate worthy environmental funds and national security funds to self-centered ‘research labs’ that spew the Global Warming mantra. Many of these are the very same research labs that were calling for an ice age just 25 years ago.
Polar opposite viewpoints by the same people yet the political weather has not changed a bit. This relates to every issue in America. This has to change or we will compound one mistake with another until we become a failed society and a failed country. Freedom is key. The government is not in the business of ensuring freedom and justice at this point. Our government is engaged the tug of war between capitalism and socialism.
It’s not about ANWAR; it’s about America.
Oh… good morning Stuffians.
And now for something completely diffferent……………..
What happens when an ambidextrous pitcher faces off against a switch-hitting batter?
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080620&content_id=2969030&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb
Klobber, that article is hilarious. Can you imagine what was going through that batters head? Too much probably, since he struck out. Ambidextrous pitcher… very cool. I hope he gets to the Bigs so we can watch that.
The next step in the Yankees minor league chain is Charleston. I hope he comes here! That’d be cool!
Klobber, I’ll come up there to see that.
Is Pappy on vacation or in the lockup with Chief? Or maybe Nurse got annoyed and they did the, uh… procedure and he’s still a little sluggish.
With Chipper and Yunel injured I may have to just watch a movie tonight. Nah… I’m a glutton for punishment. It could be ugly.
With four position players on the bench and two of them filling in for Chipper and Yunel, that leaves a very thin bench. I have a feeling that Chipper really should be disabled. That’ll give him time to heal and also allow the Braves to get someone up to help.
Sounds like a plan to me-Bull Moose 2. Start walking softly.
Would Bobby overwork and ambidextrous pitcher? Inquiring minds (at least mine) want to know.
I’d expect a call-up today…don’t envision Chipper playing over the next week or three.
SG…nice novel, very novel in fact.
…disinformation by opposing sides of any given issue. 
In the ‘information age’? How dare! Actually, I’ve long considered this the ‘disinformation age’…folks simply look for the view supportive of their own.
…and the citizens of this country either become educated on the issues (not likely) The media, nor politicians want that…not at all in their interests! Very
an
Sorry!
dambidextrousMornin’, Lew…SG…Klobber…Berigan (when he awakes), CL (when she comes up for air), Grinch (when the headache wears off!
), Gil, FBG, et al. Off for a run…feeling hostile…gasping for my next breath tends to mellow me…well, takes my mind off hostile intent! That’s good, too…I’m not big nor mean enough to act out! 
Adios!
Salty running music.
Much good stuff on the old blog today…. Even some baseball.
Just thought I would drop in, I have several projects awaiting my attention today, I have been waiting for the parts to come in and they finally arrived.
Berigan, there are some kids coming along but I don’t know what the Braves are looking for and I am not sure they know either…
SG…nice song selection. Do know, I am now breathlessly mellowed out!
Looks like Klobber is currently getting clobbered up there in Charleston. We’re about to get it too. Man, some powerful storms this season.
First day of Summer, right? Happy Summer.
SG, the rain is just starting to hit at my house. We got pounded yesterday too. Gotta love it.
Well, as luck would have it, only part of the projects completed. Wrong parts sent.. who would have thunk it???
Oh well. gives me something to look forward to.
Guys, keep safe down there in the land of cotton… We had a small storm passed through earlier but only just enough to spot up the cars.
By TIM PEARRELL
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
For all you guys who just know you have what it takes to play professional baseball if given the chance, Richmond Braves outfielder Carl Loadenthal should be your daily inspiration.
Undrafted in college. Signed out of a tryout camp. Now in Triple-A, using his speed and hustle to “annoy other teams.”
Loadenthal still is an underdog to make it to the major leagues, but then he’s always been something of an afterthought.
“I’m sure I have far exceeded other people’s expectations,” he said. “Every year in spring training, some people are surprised I’m still with the Braves.”
Loadenthal was one of the nation’s top basestealers in 2003 as a senior at Rider University in Lawrenceville, N.J. But no team picked him in the draft.
Two days after the draft, a teammate called to say Rider’s seniors had been invited to a Braves tryout camp in Baltimore. Loadenthal, disappointed he went undrafted, almost didn’t go.
He finally decided to hop in a car at 7 a.m. with five teammates and make the two-hour drive.
Atlanta possibly needed some fill-ins for their rookie-league teams, a scout explained. Loadenthal ran the 60 in a fast 6.4 seconds, threw three balls from right field, hit, dropped some bunts. . . . He got a message the next day asking if he wanted to fill one of those spots.
He has pretty much started every season as a fourth outfielder, scrapping to get in the lineup, then getting regular playing time when someone gets hurt or underperforms.
“When your back is against the wall every day, you have something to fight for,” R-Braves manager Dave Brundage said. “Not that they all don’t have something to fight for, but it’s not like they gave him a million bucks to sign. He’s got something to prove every day.”
Loadenthal had his best season last year, hitting .300, driving in 31 runs and stealing 40 bases with Double-A Mississippi. He was named to the Southern League all-star team. Baseball America rated Loadenthal the league’s best defensive outfielder and best baserunner.
The career .297 hitter started this season in Mississippi and missed a month with a bruised hip after banging into an outfield wall. He then was promoted to Richmond last week when outfielder Brandon Jones was promoted to Atlanta.
Loadenthal has a degree in communications. He’s a sports talk-show junkie whose dream is to be a host. His other dream — however farfetched it seemed before that tryout camp — still is in reach.
“I’m willing to do whatever it takes to get [to the big leagues],” he said. “If I make it, it’ll be more inspiration for every other kid who doesn’t get drafted.”
By TIM PEARRELL
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
For shortstop Lillibridge, hitting has come easily, but this season’s different
a closer look Brent Lillibridge would like to get back to being fruitful when he’s at the plate for the Richmond Braves.
Richmond’s shortstop usually sees grapefruit-sized baseballs. Those have been reduced to BBs this season as he struggles through the first prolonged slump of his professional career.
“I’ve got good eyes,” he said. “That’s not the problem. I see the grapefruits once in a while.”
Lillibridge, 24, sports a .286 average in three pro seasons. Almost a third of the way through this year, he’s carrying a mystifying .187 mark as the Braves start a four-game series with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre tonight at The Diamond.
“I thought .270 was slow,” he said. “I don’t even remember hitting below .250 after 10 games. It’s a new thing.”
Lillibridge was sensational last season with the R-Braves, at the plate and in the field, after joining Richmond from Double-A Mississippi in June. He hit .282 and had 13 homers, 58 RBI and 42 stolen bases combined.
But Lillibridge hit .195 in April, then .200 in May. He’s at .125 (3 for 24) in June. He has one homer and 14 RBI, with 13 stolen bases.
“Hopefully, June is a good month and nobody remembers I was hitting so bad,” he said.
Getting back to seeing grapefruits is Lillibridge’s goal. He has been jumping at the ball — baseball terminology for moving his body forward too much when he starts his hitting motion.
The movement jerks his head forward and doesn’t allow him to track the ball as well. Braves hitting coach Chris Chambliss has been working with Lillibridge on staying still.
That’s the physical remedy. Lillibridge is working on the mental one.
“Everybody has a time and place when they have to endure failure,” R-Braves manager Dave Brundage said. “He has been his own worst enemy. He’s put so much pressure on himself, so much emphasis on his batting average. It’s tough to come out of that hole until he frees up his mind.”
Brundage said it has been evident Lillibridge has been wearing his struggles on his sleeve.
“He has taken his bat to shortstop,” Brundage said. “We’ve talked about that. He has the ability to win games with his mind, his glove, his arm, his legs and his bat. Not many people have that ability. We’re trying to engrain that in his thought process.”
Lillibridge says he’s using this as a learning tool. He’s in a good state of mind, he said, and he’s stoked by the thought he’s still got three months to catch fire.
“I’ve definitely allowed myself to get frustrated,” he said. “I feel like this is a big time for me to grow as a ballplayer and a person. How I face adversity and bounce back will be a big thing. I know I will.”
Gil, thanks for posting the two articles. I particularly liked the one about Loadenthal. I remember pulling some baseball cards of his and thinking “who the heck is this?” None of my autograph buddies had ever heard of him so we had to look him up. It’s a nice story and I hope he gets a chance to play in ATL.
Lilly is another story altogether. Not sure what’s happened to him. Is he simply overmatched at AAA?
Gil, very nice story on Loadenthal! And what a name! Hope to see him up here someday soon….
And speaking of Lily…he’s up!
http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/braves/stories/2008/06/21/bravesnot_0622.html
I’ve done a fair amount of research on oil drilling, and yeah there are estimates on how much oil’s in ANWAR that range from a few weeks to a few years. The sources I tend to trust say about six months, but I’m open to them being wrong. Of course nobody’s gonna know for sure how much is there ’till we drill and find out (and the way they’re talking about doing it doesn’t appear to me to be particularly harmful to the environment). My point is, we’re getting floods of oil from Iraq RIGHT NOW and the money’s going to BP and not the customer. If some more comes in from Alaska and goes to BP and not the customer then what frakin’ difference does it make if there’s a hundred year’s worth? THE THIEVES MUST BE STOPPED before the healing begins.
Let me give y’all a parallel: The South African company DeBeers owns the entire diamond market. There are no competitors of any kind. Therefore they set the market. Did you know that diamonds aren’t actually rare at all? The reason you pay an absurd amount for one is because they have a monopoly and sell them to you for what they please. If they were to flood the market right now with diamonds, a one carat cut diamond would be worth approximately 10 dollars. Feel free to look it up. This is exactly the kind of crap we put up with from our oil companies because their power extends over our government out of a long time “wink, wink, nod, nod, here’s your cut” agreement. I don’t care if we drill in Yellowstone park as long as the savings get passed on; I just happen to know better as would anyone who bothers to peek at the stock market and look at their profits rising in direct proportion to rising gas prices. Once again, I’m not pulling this out of my behind; it’s a matter of public record and there for anyone who wants to read it.
SG, you really can’t look at all the freakish hurricanes, tsunamis, tornadoes, melted ice caps, droughts, flooding and record temperatures that happen all to directly coincide with a dramatic population explosion and the increased use of coal burning and unregulated cars by the Indians and Chinese and see anything but “solar flares” as the cause? We have really GOT to play poker sometime, my man.
Now, baseball…
The dawgs beat Stanford to wrap up the number 1 bracket; they play either Fresno State or UNC best of three for the title. And they STILL don’t get any of the CWS coverage on ESPN.
Carrol Rogers posted this….funny for her to comment like this on the line-up…
oh and sorry, gotta give you the wacky lineup. please keep the hoots to a minimum.
1. Omar Infante SS
2. Kelly Johnson 2B
3. Greg Norton LF
4. Mark Teixeira 1B
5. Jeff Francoeur RF
6. Brian McCann C
7. Ruben Gotay 3B
8. Gregor Blanco CF
9. Jurrjens P
Frenchy will never miss a day!!!!
Start typing,then I get logged out!
Grinch, my best friend lives in Savannah, and is a football only kind of guy. He was never the least bit interested in baseball. So, when he started talking about the Dawgs winning the other day….I said, what, an old football game on ESPN classic?? Nope, he and his Dad were watching them in the CWS…and I said?? Really, you watching baseball??? Then I said…wait a sec, why is it every night I record Baseball tonight, the first half hour was missing because of the Women’s CWS??? Seriously, it wasn’t even getting much coverage on BT til a day or two ago….
This game is looking ugly early.
This really has the look of a split squad spring training game…
Just love Peachtree TV and their live mike snafus…
Gil, to be fair….the Mariners are 21 games under .500, it’s not like we have to put a great line-up against them. It’s not like the Mariners are going to get out to a quick lead or anything!
I’m watching Deadliest Catch on Discovery, if that gives you an idea of the confidence I have in the team at the moment.
Grinch,
Come on man! The Mariners have a lefty on the hill, we are overdue to beat one of those! 
Time out, everyone, and a moment of silence please. Scott Kalitta died in qualifying today in a 300 mph crash during qualifying. He was a two-time top fuel champion and 18 race winner. He was 46 and survived by a wife and two children.
I don’t know how many of you watch drag racing, but this is the equivilent of
of a top ten NASCAR driver or a multiple time NBA or MLB all-star player in his prime. There are actually fewer people capable of handling the g-force involved in top fuel acceleration than there are those who can handle the g-force in a front-line fighter jet; he cannot be replaced easily. God rest his soul.
Grinch, I don’t know exactly why, but I love Deadliest Catch!
Here’s what Newt Gingrich says about how to lower the price of oil/gas:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=UOpcPfAarjY
Grinch, that’s very sad! Amazing there aren’t more crashes at the extreme speed they run. Most of the time I see a race or two on espn or speedvision, they look like they barely have control….guess that’s true to a point…
Skip and Joe talking about what to do for the team, Skip even mentioned they might want to trade Tex….
McCann stole a base! Went into 2nd standing up he’s so fast!!!
Would anyone have wanted Jim Edmonds after he was released by the Padres???
With the Cubs, 4 homers 16 RBI’s in 74 AB’s hitting .311 with them after hitting.190 with the Padres….
Edmonds is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you’re gonna get. Not worth it, IMO.
B, it’s not just the speed it’s the acceleration. You’ve stomped on it a few times in your life, I’m sure. A late 60’s Camaro SS goes from 0-60 in about 7 seconds, and the quarter mile in about 14 seconds at about 90 mph (and feels like you’re sucked back into the seat big time). A top fuel dragster goes from 0-100 in ONE SECOND, and usually does the quarter mile in about 4.7 seconds at around 315-25 mph. It’s difficult to even wrap your brain around.
Chris, Deadliest Catch is a cool show; not sure why I like it either.
Interesting clip on Gingrich; I’ve always thought he was a bloody fool but he seems to have started using his noodle a bit more of late.
Grinch, 0 to 100 in a second! That’s a good way to look at it!!!
I have gone to the strip a few times in very heavy cars, and I know what it feels like to only be going 90 at the end of the strip (But with the pedal to the metal) and feeling if it was much faster, I’d worry about slowing down, car is floating slightly…I’d pee in my pants at 0-100 in sec…but, I bet’ I’d want to do it after changing clothes! 
Grinch, I’ll be happy to play poker with you any time… not so much to convince you of anything other than placing a higher bet while I’m holding a better hand. I’ll let you raise as many times as you like when that happens. Interesting comments you had on DeBeers. I see few if any parallels to how oil works or is ‘controlled’, but the diamond business is even more bizarre than anything I’ve ever seen. I once attended, on assignment, an International Diamond Convention in Chicago. It was surreal. The whole time I felt like I was truly in the ‘belly of the beast’. Scary and creepy, to say the least.
As far as the facts on oil and global warming, you really need to find a few new, unbiased research sources my man. Your argument seems to be based more on recession-minded emotion and proletariat ideology than anything resembling fact. You just need to resist the hysteria in the media.
First, the oil speculators, mostly in foreign countries, are driving the price of oil up. The BP’s, Exxon’s and Chevron’s of the world are making boatloads of money but not nearly what you and 90% of the public currently believes. Sure, oil companies benefit from the speculation because it’s driving price and margins up, but they are also spending billions in research, alternate fuels, technology, etc. But they are not the evil empire. If you’re going to blame ‘big oil’, then you’d better add quite a few other profit making enemies to your list.
When did ‘profit’ become a bad word in America? It’s what makes the world run. Without profits we live a hand to mouth existence. Without incentive, we are complacent, unmotivated wards of the state. Without profits, we have no… zero investment. Without the free, underline FREE enterprise system, we don’t just live in a socialist society, we live in a communist society where the government tells us what to do, when to do it and how to do it. Oh, and we get to spend times in bread lines for kicks. Did you know that many investment funds and employee retirement accounts, 401k’s, etc. have oil stocks in them? Yep, that’s the teachers unions, firemen, policemen and other groups not usually considered ‘greedy Wall Street barons’.
It’s much more complex than you make it. Your argument sounds good, but it won’t hold water. Oil is woven into the fabric of our economy and those around the globe. It makes motors turn and it makes the world economy turn. Oil is no more evil than were the Tulip growers in Holland and the tech companies during their respective stock bubbles and crashes. The blame goes to the speculators and mostly the ‘Greenspan’s’ of the time period.
Second, on the global warming topic, know this: it is true that the earth has been in a warming trend. Cycles of warming and cooling have been occurring since the beginning of earth itself. Just to be clear, the temperature is not the controversy. It’s whether or not or by how much man is causing it. Global warming has become more of a religion than anything to do with the weather. Ironically, most ‘believers’ are probably just passionate and uninformed good folks that want to protect the environment and save the earth. They are being used as ‘useful pawns’ in a much more serious political movement. The activist libs/progressives/socialists have glommed onto it as just another way to tax America and redistribute the wealth.
I’d be more than happy to load you up with email documents and articles on the ‘real’ science and the truth about the issue. I’ll also send them to anyone here that would like to see those. Here a just a few clips from various sources:
- If nothing else, we have certainly learned recently that planets undergo changes in their mean temperature, and while we can easily blame human activity here on the Earth, blaming humans for the recent warming on Mars and Neptune would be an astronomical stretch, to say the least.
- There is no reason to believe that this 10,000-year-old cycle of solar-induced warming and cooling will change. Dr. Sallie Baliunas, an astrophysicist with the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and one of the nation’s leading experts on global climate change, believes that we may be nearing the end of a solar warming cycle. Since the last minimum ended in 1715, Baliunas says there is a strong possibility that the Earth will start cooling off in the early part of the 21st Century.
- I’ve heard it said that scientists who don’t believe in anthropogenic (human-caused) global warming are quacks and handmaidens of “big oil.” These statements are being made by followers of the leading voices of the global-warming movement, such as Al Gore, whose mansion consumes 20 times more electricity than the average home in America, and Stephen H. Schneider, who in 1971 was saying that anthropogenic dust particles were causing a new ice age. Moreover, I’ve heard that people with this view must be correct because “2,600 climatologists” concur on this serious problem. Right? Wrong. The number 2,600 reflects the names of the people who worked on the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which is the agency that made the predictions of global-climate doom. Some of the people listed by the IPCC aren’t scientists at all, and some of those whose names are listed, including some of the world’s most respected climatologists who took part in the study, disagree with the IPCC’s conclusions.”
- At periods in the earth’s history, it has been much warmer than it is now (during the Medieval Warm Period, grapes could be commercially grown in England) even without human carbon-dioxide releases. Historically speaking, the warming of the earth correlates with changes in the output of the sun. During the 1940s, ’50s and ’60s, human releases of carbon dioxide increased significantly, yet temperatures dropped. Temperature measurements of the Earth’s upper atmosphere, where the sun’s rays should be caught by the greenhouse gases responsible for global warming, do not show as much warming as on the surface of the earth.”
(end of clips… deep breath now)
That was just the tip of the iceberg, so to speak. So, my friend, you can believe any of this or not believe a word of it… makes no difference. But I’d really like to turn you onto some pretty cool info, so you’ll be aware of the ‘other side of things’. Hey, the reason I’ve even spent this time writing and gathering is because I like you, you’re smart and, selfishly speaking, you’d make a great and passionate advocate for social conservatism, environmental and economic reality. Like someone I can’t remember once said, “Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn’t go away.”
Oh, and I’ll really try not rub it in when I clean you out at the poker table.
It’s not for the faint of heart. When my ship comes in I’ll be modifying my Monte SS for a few trips to the track, but it won’t break the 12 second mark if I can help it. I rode with a friend of mine in a modified big block cutlass that would go in the low 11’s and that made my you know what pucker up so bad I thought it was welded shut.
Frenchman continues to (fill in the blank).
While nature called me,(TMI?) Gotay hit a homer! Then Chipper pinch hit, and drove in a run, 4-3!!!
SG, I have roughly 4,000 books in my library. I have political and environmental books from the turn of last century and the one before that. I have current political books by both Howard Zinn and Ann Coulter, and many, many in between. I don’t need to see the “other side,” I’m not on a particular side to begin with. I also avoid the media like the plague, because honest journalism died out more than a decade ago and nothing they have to say interests me anymore as I can find out the truth through good old fashioned research. I am a historian who spends my time reading great works from great minds who come from different angles to each other. I don’t understand why all of you seem to think I sit around and sip green tea and listen to NPR, and play Woddie Guthrie around a campfire on my hemp guitar just because I’ve reached the conclusion through gut feeling and diligent research that middle class America ought not have to work three jobs to have to fill up the tank when there wouldn’t be an oil shortage if there was some kind of regulation on big oil profiteering and government based incentives on alternative technology that already exists. You’re saying that means I’m uneducated, left wing, media biased, anti-capitalist and a freakin’ commie? I’m just gonna let that slide, and go back to the game for now.
Savannah Guy Says:
June 21, 2008 at 9:47 pm
Frenchman continues to (fill in the blank).
Actually, he doesn’t come close to filling in the blank!
Forgot all about Norton being released by the Mariners, a double to tie the game!!! Good for Greg!! This time, hats off to Bobby for playing him tonight…a good move for once….
If ever there was a guy Frenchy should get a hit off, it’s this guy!!! Get him son!!!
Ya’ll, don’t get too excited, we won a one run game!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WOOOOHOOOO!!!! How’s that, Berigan? I was out running errands all evening, getting ready for the trip & watched the game on DVR. So I’m a bit behind y’all. Way to come back, boys!! How about Mac, steals a base & drives in the winning run.
Will wonders never cease? Kathy said earlier tonight when I told her what the lineup was that they just might pull it off and fool everyone. Look’s like she was right. Let’s hope it leads to some more of the same.
Profits and losses and Global Warming (or not)aside-It’s damn well time to develop alternate fuel sources and it’s damn well time to do it now. Wind and solar are there for the taking and the technology could put our manufacturing sector back to work-it won’t cover everything, but would sure help keep our electricty grids working on the cheap without a bunch of nuclear waste to dispose of or some fool to melt down. I’m just getting sick and tired of having someone on the other side of the world dictate to us what we need to do. Time to take it into our own hands.
There’s just not enough oil to deal with the demand of the whole world now that China and India are so heavily in the mix and it’s getting harder and more expensive to get it to the gas tanks. Good old (pardon the expression y’all) Yankee ingenuity has enabled us to accomplish anything we needed to accomplish in the past and it’s time to put it to work and come up with a solution-NOW, not later.
I can’t believe I’m still up. Maybe it’s the full moon. Maybe the comeback one run win. Dunno. Could be global warming.
McCann is looking better every day, maple shattered bat and all. Wow!!! What a nice comeback. With a split squad with Chipper batting 1000 tonight.
Lew, get Kathy to pick us some lottery numbers.
Grinch, didn’t mean to get your dander up and certainly didn’t intend to insult you. Listen, I hear you… but you have to acknowledge that “great minds, great and honest journalism” is relative to our own servo-mechanisms and our personal perspective and core beliefs. One man’s great is another man’s average. Even that equation is usually relative to the era in which the journalist’s perception was proffered or interpreted.
Further, journalism is no less honest than it has ever been. It really didn’t die out more than a decade ago… great journalism has always been in the minority of all journalism. Always will be. That’s what makes great journalism great… it’s rare, just like common sense, unbiased perspective and concise articulation of issues or events.
So, the card game is off? If scared, say scared. Hey, 4000 books in a library is impressive. Either you have a big library or have a lot of filled boxes. That’s 5 books per week for 17 years… or many books are yet to be read. Maybe you’re including the Jack and Jill and Dr. Seuss editions read before you turned 18. Is there an effects emoticon for ‘just pulling leg and jabbin’ a bit’?
C’mon now, you sayin’, “… don’t understand why all of you seem to think I sit around and sip green tea and listen to NPR, and play Woddie Guthrie around a campfire on my hemp guitar just because I’ve reached the conclusion through gut feeling and diligent research…”. That actually sounds like a pretty good evening to me. Campfire and Woodie Guthrie adds to the enjoyment, as does Pete Seeger and the Alice’s Restaurant son of Woodie. But what are you referring to there and who is “all of you”? By no means did I ever say or insinuate that you were uneducated, left wing, media biased, anti-capitalist and a freakin’ commie.
Well, I know you’re educated… not sure about the rest because of your own prior words and opinions. Hey, whatever…. it’s cool man. I’m just glad to hear you denounce those other things.
It’s either grapes of wrath or just where we put or find ourselves that makes us what we is.
How about this. I’m tired of having to try to out-type people and make points about things I normally reserve for in-person conversation. I don’t like to talk politics or religion with anyone I can’t look in the eye while I’m doing it. When someone is face to face with me I can take their measure and cut through the BS on the spot. I (and we, ’cause I’m always open to genuine debate) can break our sources out and settle things in a real and satisfying setting.
Ever since I’ve gotten on here, I’ve realized that it’s me against every single one of you. And what makes me angry is that 20% of my books are biographies and autobiographies of the greatest Americans who’ve ever lived. I’ve got a 10 by 15 American flag flying in my front yard, right above the same size Confederate battle flag. I’m all in favor of capitalism and conquering new territories. Seizing their property. Bombing them into the stone age if they resist. My family has fought in eight wars defending this country and I firmly believe we’re the greatest nation that the planet has ever seen including ancient Greece or Rome.
Yet all I get from y’all is crap because I dare to point out that what Bush is doing would cause our founding fathers to roll over in their graves. Guess what? That doesn’t make me a %$^#-ing communist, that makes me a REAL %$#^-ing patriot. I love this country more than life itself and that’s why I go into a psychotic rage when it’s values get compromised. The rest of you watered down sheep (no, not all of you, but you know who you are) ought to look in the mirror before you call me a socialist and reflect on what you REALLY believe first. You might just find I’m leading the charge back to a time when everyone here could look at a waving flag, stare into the eye of the eagle and feel a tear in the eye not because Toby Kieth was selling you a ^%$#-ing Ford truck but because you are a member of the greatest nation the world has ever seen and you don’t NEED a god-%$#@ Ford commercial or a Fox news segment to validate your heritage. Act like you’ve got a pair; the founding fathers would appreciate it.
I’m gone; anyone who cares knows how to get in touch with me.
Wouldn’t you know it… I fell asleep and missed the come back. Oh well, hopefully there will be more.
I am not even going to try and step into the discussion between SG and The Grinch…. Other than to say good stuff…. My own level of cynicism has been honed by years of dealing with folks who believe lying is a birthright to advance their own agenda.
And more baseball…. I don’t think Infante is going to win any Gold Gloves this year as a shortstop…
Oh come on Grinch… No one is ridiculing you or doubting your patriotism or even the level of your passion… The only way a problem is ever solved is for the free flowing discussion of opposing ideas. Yes it takes longer to find the answer rather than an answer but then it often takes many failures to learn what it is to be successful.
Your commentary is always welcome and yes, I like The Most Dangerous Catch too…
SG, my last post came up about half an hour before yours came up; not sure how that’s possible. Very, very strange. Yours must have been caught in the filter. Anyhoo, I say any further talk should be over raw oysters and martinis. Cool?
Now as soon as I post that there’s one from Gil. YET ANOTHER REASON TO DO THIS IN PERSON.
Syracuse, NY – The Richmond Braves beat the Syracuse Chiefs 7-5 Saturday at Alliance Bank Stadium. The Braves erupted for a season high seven runs in the second inning to end a four game losing streak.
The Braves sent 10 men up in their seven run second inning. Enrique Cruz knocked in two with a double and scored on Mark Jurich double. Diory Hernandez chased a run home with a sacrifice fly. Scott Thorman bashed a three-run homer to cap the outburst. Syracuse began their comeback with a run in the fifth on an RBI single by Wayne Lydon, ending a string of 18.2 consecutive scoreless innings by Braves pitcher Chuck James. The Chiefs broke through against James in the sixth to score four times. Kevin Melillo knocked in three runs with a bases-loaded triple and scored on Russ Adams sacrifice fly. However, Braves relief pitchers worked four scoreless innings.
James earned the win. Jorge Julio tossed two innings of shutout relief to record a save. David Purcey took the loss. Josh Anderson had three hits for Richmond. Melillo had three hits for the Chiefs.
There are a lot of new faces on the Richmond team…
Last year there were 184 roster moves by the Richmond club. That door was not just revolving but spinning like a top….
I will go for the martinis but gave up on raw oysters many years ago… Of course I could really be brave and have sliced tomatoes…
Okay.. time to give it a rest… Later folks.
Raw oysters on saltines with some tabasco and ice cold vodka…yummy stuff.
Proof yet again that once someone has consumed enough vodka they will eat just about anything…
Come to think of it, it also enables one to have plausible denial…
Grinch, certainly didn’t mean to offend or give crap. More like inform and debate. Thought since you threw in the old, “Now, oil. For some reason, Y’all don’t seem to want to educate yourselves about what’s available for us to use. you might appreciate some thoughts I had on the subject or want to see some of the research I’ve done. Anyway, I find it interesting although I’m sure it would put most folks to sleep. I’ll be glad to forward some stuff if you’re interested or just curious.
Oysters and martini’s does sound good. Well, not for breakfast but in general. No worry Gil, the tabasco kills most of the bad stuff and the martini covers the rest. Had some raw oysters just the other night. Mmmm…
I’d like to watch the 9th inning of last nights game again. Our monkey may still be there clutching onto our back cackling and all, but man, that was sweet.
‘Twas a good night for baseball last night. It’s gonna be fun to watch UGA in the college finals. Hopefully UNC will be there too.
Sunday music.
Ohhh, my head…
The Chiefs broke through against James in the sixth to score four times.
I see that Chuckie’s up to his old tricks.
Chris, I think Chucky had 2-3 good starts to boot right before that game…I never, NEVER hear if he has worked on another pitch. Heck, I’ll show him how to throw a slider….mine wasn’t nearly as good as my curve, but what the heck, another pitch to look for at least!
Yes Grinch, your head! No one wants it now, after what you did to it last night!
I love this story. On CNN.com’s home page, they have a link to a story on Golf.com (a cnn/si.com website).
Golf.com Analyst apologizes for ethnic remarks
Here’s the link to the article: http://www.golf.com/golf/tours_news/article/0,28136,1816967,00.html
Miller clearly said some things that were not appropriate, even though they might be true. What infuriates me is people trying to make more of this than it is, INCLUDING CNN. How are those comments “ethnic”? RIDICULOUS!!!@!
Chris, that’s rediculous! If he said he looked like your typical Italian mobster or something, that would be different….he will be afraid to open his mouth from now on….
Gil-I say this as a (mostly) Democrat and is not directed to the more conservative types here, personally-Lord knows, many of them did their best to get me to come back to the blog after I left (which had nothing to do with partisan politcs, anyway). I say it mainly to show the mindset of “the other side” (some of y’all would say “The Far Side”) so to speak.
I’ve had it in spades with the Republican Party-for a number of reasons. First and foremost started during the Reagan admin. when I was running a clothing store in Clearwater. I made the mistake of talking political issues with a young couple shopping at the store. They looked at each other (and I swear by all that is Holy that this is true), put their hands to their respective cheeks (in unison) and said “Oh My God. He’s a (gasp) LIBERAL,” as if I were a lower life form (and if I hear a comment on THAT one, y’all can go ….and I’m gone for good).
The situation became progressively worse throughout the Gingrich revolution (what a flipping joke) and successive Republican led congresses and The (GASP) two W admins, which were and are a total joke (though far from humerous) for numerous reasons.
Much of what Grinch says is true-at least I agree with him-about the loss of fundamental rights-hell, I got an email from CL this morning talking about how Congress (and don’t kid yourselves this is because we supposedly have a Dem congress the past two years-it’s still admin. driven) wanted to track our EBay purchases-a definite intrusion on our privacy. Not liking the policies, thereof does not make us unPatriotic, peacemongers or anything other than concerned citizens that truly care about our friends, family and neighbors and how we’re treated by our government. No one expects y’all to agree with everything we believe-I sure as hell don’t agree with everything Y’ALL believe-but I still send syrup and art to many of you. Just keep in mind that the next one who calls me unpatriotic, delusional or an enemy of this country better damn well be ready to have a flagpole shoved up their…..Well, y’all are smart enough to figure it out. Chill the F### out. The Other Party (yours) ain’t nothing to write home about, either, and as is more than likely, most of us believe some from both camps and not much from either.
Where the hell did that Smiley face come from? I sure didn’t put it there.
Miller, afraid to open his mouth? Naw, never going to happen if for no other reason than to take his foot out of it…
And Chuck is working on a slider to go with his change up…
And on raw oysters… It’s just I have objection to trying to swallow the same food more than once trying to keep it down…
And on Tiger… Most of the characters he brought to the game can go away as far as I am concerned…
Lew, both parties suck. They aren’t looking out for the good of the people or the country, they’re looking out for their own best interests.
Lew… Are you taking umbrage at me? I am one of the most middle of the road people you have ever met….
Gil, glad to hear Chuck is working on one…I just never saw it in print. I read the story you posted on Pilates, or however that’s spelled. He seems to be trying to improve himself…and up to that last start, sounded like a guy turning it around….one bad start isn’t the end of the world….
Gil-Not taking umbrage at anyone. You need to read closer. “Tis merely an explanation of how others view political life in this country. Thought that’s what I said. Merely added your name because your response to Grinch was the last I saw.
Chris-I agree. I just think the Dems will screw it up less than the Republicans will. We may be doomed either way, quite honestly. I really need to rule the world-I just don’t want to. Way too much trouble and I’d have to deal with way too many And Idiots.
The other day Carrol Rogers made a comment about Damian Moss and his last start, don’t be fooled, he is not going to be a factor in the Braves plans as far as I can tell, he has many more bad outings than good ones. He reminds me of a buffet where the food is awful but the upside is there is lots of it… He gives you innings but few quality starts…
Besides, if I ruled the world there would be no more time for artwork. Of course, I could promise maple syrup for all-not quite a chicken in every pot (or Pot for every chicken), but then again, my wife is a vegetarian.
Scroll up Lew… Scroll up… I feel like I was just caught in a crossfire…
By the way… The wife is interested in a Brian McCann rendering…
Okay, time to get ready to go visit Mom… We placed her in a nursing home this week and it is a lot like sending a child away to camp.. Lot’s of kicking and screaming but if she would just try to assimilate she might find she could enjoy it. Certainly lots more to do than just watching TV and other folks to talk to. Sigh… I think she just want so try and make me feel guilty for not dedicating my life to her whims…
Not much for people to get excited about from either party it would seem.
I just wish there were more old fashioned Dems running for office. If Truman or JFK came back from the dead, I’d vote for them in a second. Plus, if they came back from the dead, I’d be scared not to vote for them!
At least I knew with those guys, they weren’t going to take any crap off of anyone! Today??? A guy Obama is likely to make the next National Security Adviser, Richard Danzig(Was the Naval sec under Clinton) he said a few days ago, “Winnie the Pooh seems to me to be a fundamental text on national security.” Really!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/uselection2008/barackobama/2139573/Barack-Obama-aide-Why-Winnie-the-Pooh-should-shape-US-foreign-policy.html
Meanwhile, we have Iran working towards nukes, and their president says things like the solution to the Middle East crisis is to destroy Israel!!! Here, Mahmoud, before you go any further, read this Winnie the Pooh book, I think you will want to hug a Jew after reading it!
That’s what worries me. Not having the most liberal senator in the white house, but what people like Obama and friends really think are solutions to our problems…..
Not much baseball news on a Sunday morning, is there????
Gil, sorry about that!
Sounds like what I hear from other people I know when they have to put Mom or Dad into a home….
I’ve started to write something 4 or 5 times, have thought better of it each time and have erased it. Don’t want to cause ill feelings. Still, my thoughts are just as valid as those of anyone else.
Don’t misunderstand. I send emails about ISSUES that our GOVERNMENT is doing/trying to do to US. I am very angry at the Republicans as I am at the Democrats. I adamantly disagree with more of the Dem positions than I do with the Rep, specifically on abortion, homosexuals, taxation, give-away programs on top of more give-away programs, ILLEGAL immigration, the North American Union, etc – and I do not agree with most of the things that the current president has done. I’m totally against NAFTA, the multi-billions of foreign aid we ‘give’ to the world, government intrusion, the fake trumped-up doctrine of so-called ‘political correctness’, the North American Union, and many other things. If that offends, it offends.
Gill, “I think she just want so try and make me feel guilty for not dedicating my life to her whims…” That is 100% true! I live with it every day and it makes a total prisoner out of you and sucks the life right out of you. Damned if you do and damned if you don’t. I’ll kill myself before I’d put my family through any of this. It is the ultimate selfishness.
Gil-Sorry you feel that way. I explained myself. I have no other explanation.
Ma’am-Re: your email about Congress and the EBay thing. I agree, which is why I mentioned it. When you send things I consider too far to the other extreme for my views, I’m quite capable of deleting it-or ignoring it. You’ll notice never asked you to cease and desist with the sending, thereof-and I still send syrup!!!
Lew, it is why I said scroll up… I did not start that string, I was just trying to keep Grinch from leaving again…
Anyway… Forget I said anything, it’s just another distraction we don’t need.
Hey! Games on!!! Frenchy is resting!!!! I told ya Bobby eventually gets the idea we all have had for a few weeks…perhaps TP finally said something????
Berigan, are they wearing those awful red jerseys?
Berigan, Frenchy is sitting? Cox must have taken a blow to the head!
Chris, yep the Red ones! Tex just hit a homer high off the fair poll, bouncing right into Suzuki’s glove !!!!
Chris, if it was a blow to the head, let’s hope it keeps him razor sharp all year!