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by Voice of Reason Raisins
We discuss needs/possibilities mostly from a vacuum, looking at our needs and finding possible matches. I’d like to offer a little different perspective…
IF the Phillies add Roy Halladay for their stretch run, I believe the Braves should become sellers and build for next year. Does that make me a quitter? No – it makes me practical. The Braves are struggling just to reach .500, for crying out loud. What justifies any real playoff aspirations? The system, though, is set up to begin providing great pieces possibly as soon as next year. Keith Law believes the Braves are set up better than any other NL team for the next decade. Uh, that’s long time, folks. I don’t have any desire to disrupt that for a failed attempt to make a very iffy run at a playoff spot in ’09 with a very flawed team..
The reality is that the Phillies are MUCH more talented offensively, but lack the front line pitching to push them over the top. Add Halladay to their mix, and the balance tips generously toward the City of Brotherly Shove.
I have no desire to become perpetual rebuilders, but to admit that this year is a stepping-stone to greater success in the near future isn’t bailing on the season, it’s preparing for the next decade. And the real prospects go deeper than the familiar names of Jason Heyward, Freddie Freeman, Cody Johnson and Jordan Schafer. A quick google of pitchers Brett DeVall, Julio Teheran, Cole Rohrbough and Zeke Spruill not to mention J.J. Hoover, Randall Delgado and Jacob Thompson will make even the most negative of fans smile a little. Then there are pitchers Scott Diamond, Eric Cordier, Edgar Osuna, Craig Kimbrel… I could go on…
Now the fielders: move past OF Heyward and1B Freeman
and you get 1B Riaan Spanjer-Furstenburg (a mouthful to say the least)
and OF Adam Milligan.
Those two are the next wave of Heyward and Freeman. Big time talents. SS Brett Hicks is disappointing this year, but has impressed every year prior. We already have Martin Prado and Brooks Conrad, who has proven to me that he can be a viable everyday major-leaguer. The only real hole is at 3B. But that is where depth elsewhere bails you out, right? One fact many people overlook is that a minor league system is for two purposes: supply the major league team, and swap excess to fill need.
Think of this lineup:
1. McLouth, LF
2. Escobar, SS
3. Chipper, 3B
4. Heyward, RF
5. McCann, C
6. Freeman, 1B
7. Prado, 2B
8. Schafer, CF
9. pitcher
It’s not that far away, gang. That’s a young lineup aside from Chipper, and the pipeline is still full behind it.
Yep, I want the Braves to succeed every year including this one, but I’m realistic enough to recognize their shortcomings. We sorely need a LF… we sorely need a RF… we sorely need a 1B. We aren’t filling all 3 spots before July 31. Just can’t do it. Anything short of that still leaves a flawed team.
Now 2010… that’s different…
~Raisins~
Braves & Stuff 
Just terrific, Raisins! MANY THANKS!!!
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Good job, Raisins. Quite the line-up of the (very-near) future!
The future is now…the game is the teacher.
(Continuation of my prior rant! :lol:)
Well-timed new blog is one way to shut me up! 😛
Sorta!!!
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This IS the place to rant, Salty!! 😆
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Great opine Raisins… While I like Kotchman, his greatest value may be as a trade chip. There are several teams who need a slick fielding first baseman more than a big bopper. He does after all make some great plays on some pretty ugly throws to first base.
I love Chipper Jones but the dude is getting old… Does Wren drop the old “yellowhammer” on Hoss and trade him for some real talent? I mean, didn’t anyone else notice how much better the Braves got after they traded away Dale Murphy? Dale was still a marquee player but past his prime. Wren has shown that he is willing to cut ties with the past. As much as I loved Smoltz and Glavin and Frenchy, you can’t argue that the replacements are better…
Now, game time….
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Hooboy… It’s really raining here… not before seeing the Braves waste scoring opportunities though.
Rain is out of the east. Unusual for us unless it is the remnants of a hurricane.
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TV back on, Kotchman reading the blogs again.. becomes a bopper…
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Nice win. I like good pitching and big run games as long as the Braves have both. 😀 Braves are hitting on all cylinders lately.
Good lead Raisins. You make good points… and a month ago I would’ve agreed (did agree) to be a seller, but with the recent surge, I gotta let it ride a bit. With our good pitching, just ONE single addition we could contend. Just one… a bopper.
For now I’d let Norton walk. As far as I’m concerned, the trade bait we have are maybe at their peak, and those are Medlin, Moylan, Diaz, Kotchman, Church, Anderson and KJ… although if I thought Kelly would have enough games like he did today I’d put him in the outfield… but somehow I don’t.
Anyway, I think we’ve got enough trade bait to get something going for a big bat. That, and we can bring Hayward up to see what kind of damage he can do. We may already have a LF star.
So, I’m a buy or hold for now, in terms of not writing this year off. That could change if we get beat up by the fish and fall further back than we are now. I’d keep the powder dry until this Thursday.
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Very good blog V! I’m with you, if the Phils get Halladay, it’s over…at least the AL East.
I once again am on a roll, missed the whole game, to see we had won again! I am truly great! 😉 Instead of seeing the last few innings, I did get to see a swell show on mobster Sam Giancanna. 🙄
Saw the post game show. When Kotchman muscles up, he can hit the ball a long way. Wish he’d try that more often.
Got scared when I saw KJ was one of the 4 text message choices for the braves who had the best game. Hopefully, just trying to build up some trade value.
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Yep, Braves looked pretty stout today, even with Chipper out and Kelly in… Funny game baseball… Did everyone suddenly learn how to hit?…. Nope, I think it is tired arms catching up with folks. Or maybe that should be, bats catching up to tired arms.
Nate played pretty good defense today in center. The Braves still lack a guy who loves the lead-off spot but somehow seem to overcome it.
Now a day off and then time to fry some fish…
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if the Phils get Halladay, it’s over…at least the AL East
It’s over for Boston or Yanks ’cause the Phils get Halliday?
C’mon guys, put down those white flags. 😯 If the Phils get Halliday they do have the NL east wrapped up… on paper. But the games still have to be played on the field. The Phils could have an injury. They could get mired in another slump. Rollins could go back into lala land and quit hitting. Halliday could have a handful of bad games getting used to the new mound, the new scenery, the new hitters in the NL, the cheesesteaks, the hot pretzels, etc.
Or the Braves could go on a tear and peel off about 6 or 8 in a row. They’re playing great right now. Too bad we’re not playing the Phils next so we could see how we match up with them now. We’ve swept them, remember?
Hey, until July I was right there calling for a sub .500 season, but the Braves have started clicking. maybe it’s the French factor or maybe they’re playing over their heads at the moment, but they could contend.
By next Friday trade deadline we won’t we’ll know more about our chances this season. If the Phils keep winning and we lose a few, then I’ll jump on your bandwagon.
It’s a roll of the dice as far as trades go at the 11th hour, but I’m sure all GM’s have their trades discussed and their needs assessed and ready to pull triggers pretty quickly… whether buying or selling. Tough call for Wren right now on holdin’ or foldin’ 09. Much will be learned in the weeks following the deadline. By then it’s too late to do anything big.
Don’t screw the pooch just yet.
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By next Friday trade deadline we won’t we’ll know more about our chances this season.
Well, that’s about as clear as mud. 😳
Meant to say, by next Friday trade deadline we we’ll know more about our chances this season.
Fingers can’t keep up with the brain sometimes. Or maybe it’s the other way around. 😆
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well… that didn’t come out right either. Oh well.
I won’t I will worry about it ’cause I won’t we won’t will know more or less.
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Family Circus! 😆
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I won’t I will worry about it ’cause I won’t we won’t will know more or less.
Well put, SG…as only you can! 😛
Actually, that’s unfair. I am more than adept at putting all the words I need in a sentence. The order, however, leaves much to be desired…and I worry for those who still figure out what I meant! 🙄
2HR/14 RBI’s…326 AVG…SLUG/OPS way up. The wonders a new hitting coach can make? Or…simply JF’s change of scenery. Of course, then there’s KJ’s performance…rather makes one wonder, does it not (in me best cockney…which ain’t so good! 😆 ).
Heyward! Heyward! Heyward! Heyward! Heyward! Heyward! Heyward! Heyward!
Hey, if it took 10 years-plus for the league to figure out Andruw Jones, I’m willing to roll the dice again! 🙂
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I’m persistent…and I don’t give in easily either! On top of that, I’m stubborn!
But I mean well!
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I love it! 😆
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I like that future lineup, VOR. A lot. Not sure about being sellers just yet. Phillies rejected Jays’ first proposal so we shall see how this plays out.
What I really want a picture of is Spanjer-Furstenburg’s back in uniform. Do the letters start at his belt?
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What I really want a picture of is Spanjer-Furstenburg’s back in uniform. Do the letters start at his belt?
Hadn’t even thought of that, FBG! Can’t imagine how they’ll handle it! 😆
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We just had a massive thunderstorm roll through, I am really surprised the electricity is still on. Anyway, since I am up….
Some thoughts on Casey Kotchman… Casey must feel a bit like the Rodney Dangerfield of first baseman to most Braves’ fans on the blogs. He plays great defense, saves a ton of throwing errors for Chipper and Yunel and Kelly, hits for average and has some pop in his bat but all you read and hear about is how much we need a big bopper at first base.
The reason most big boppers play first is because they can’t play anywhere else. Even then they are a liability. Add a bat if you must but put him in left field and then pray he can hit the cut-off man 90% of the time, or that the ball doesn’t find him….
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FBG, that’s a darn good question! Perhaps they will go around his chest as well???
Gil, you are correct…to a point! 😛 All true points about Kotchman…great fielder, he does hit for average, but as I am about to show,(Thank God for Yahoo’s baseball page, or I wouldn’t have more than a hunch) not much better than the average 1st baseman. In fact, it looks to be just average.
Its a bit hard to see why some folks, such as Adam Dunn, Ramon Martinez and Chris Duncan are even listed as 1st baseman, as they rarely play there.
Oh yeah, here’s the ranking of 1st basemen.
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/stats/byposition?pos=1B
I can’t find a real first baseman with less RBI’s.
Ok…I can. Weird, just clicked on RBI link and all of the sudden, more players show up! Dangit!
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/stats/byposition?pos=1B&conference=MLB&year=season_2009&qualified=1&sort=7
Ok, Travis Ishikawa, Mike Jacobs and Chris Davis have fewer RBI’s(though they all have more Homers) Travis Hafner only has 28 RBIs, but then again, he’s only played in 49 games.
As for Homers, he’s near the bottom of regular 1st baseman as well.
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/stats/byposition?pos=1B&conference=MLB&year=season_2009&qualified=1&sort=6
If we were say the Phillies, yeah…you could get by with him with the rest of their offense. But..if say the Pirates wanted him after trading LaRoche…I wouldn’t cry too much. Though they have a former braves minor leaguer Garrett Jones with 10 Homers in 21 games needing a place to play(Why did the braves release him at the age of 21 anyway???)
Then again, if that great hitting coach of the braves could someone convince him to swing hard like he did yesterday…he can become our big bopper! 🙂
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I just sold a cd via amazon, to a Mr. Tickle…which tickled me as well! 😀
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Berigan, you are being one dimensional looking at only offensive stats. Just saying…. Sure, wouldn’t we love to have a “Big Cat” or a “Fat Albert” playing first base but those guys are pretty rare. Otherwise, you just call up Barbaro and teach everyone to make better throws to first.
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Barbaro. Every time I see that name, I think of the horse.
“Call up Barbaro…” and I went “huh?” 😆
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Well, they are the same CL… But Different… 🙂
Okay, morning chores done, honest, I got a little over three inches of rain last night. No need to water the crape myrtles today…
I still have about 1 1/2 acres of lawn to mow but now it is just too wet… Maybe this evening if it doesn’t rain again.
As much as I hate to, I am rooting for the Mets tonight. Somebody needs to slow down the Rockies. Funny thing the wild card, it keeps a lot of teams not named the Nationals in it…
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Work is killin’ me, y’all…
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Former Braves farmhand in the news:
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/royals/story/1347413.html
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Berigan, you are being one dimensional looking at only offensive stats.
Well, I am a one dimensional kinda guy! 😛
Barbaro sounds like an island to me! 😉
Gil, I really dislike Bud Selig, but one thing he was right about was the wildcard….Poor Nats… braves have scores 422 runs, the Nats 406. Overall records aren’t as close though, are they??? But, the Nats pitching will likely be much better next year. If Strausberg is as good as Hanson, he will be a huge upgrade alone.
Next year, there may be 5 teams in the east with a .500 or better record.
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Sorry about that V! Hopefully it means business is picking up at least????
Interesting article on Pena. If you have a good arm, why not??? Don’t know what happened to his bat.
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Ber, Tony always worked on his glove, never the bat. Great guy in the field though. I hope he makes the conversion. One thing for sure, he could field his position if he becomes a pitcher… 🙂
Raisins, someone has to pull this economy out of a recession and I can’t do it all by myself… Somebody has got to sell the soap.. (Uh, old Amway joke there… ) 🙂
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Until senile Donk the manager and TP are put out to pasture, the Braves are unlikely to win much of anything in the future. Great article and playing for 2010 has been what Wren has been up to most of the season. I hope the Braves refrain from giving up any future just to be one and done in the playoffs as a best case scenario.
Pray that perhaps the worst in-game tactician in the history of baseball will go away quietly after the season. Bye, Bye Eeyore.
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Has the ol’ B&S been graced with a visit from Robert? 😯
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Can it possibly be??? 😆
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That was my thought too, VOR.
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Was just reading about Hudson’s rehab start with Gwinnett. Sounds like he’s making steady progress. The thing that amused me was that they played a team named the… Iron Pigs. Seriously.
How exactly does one arrive at a name like that for their ballclub? 😆
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Pennsylvania steel town…
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‘Graced’? Not the word I’d use.
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Salty, the only thing I can figure is Bobby must have either slapped his momma or owes him money, hard to fathom that much hate otherwise…
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As the non-waiver trade fast approaches with only 4 days remaining (4:00pm Friday), it appears that teams are now beginning to focus on specific targets. Yanks are focusing on Bronson Arroyo, Angels are focusing on Cliff Lee, BoSox are focusing on Victor Martinez, Dodgers are focusing on George Sherrill…
Business as usual for the highest payroll teams. Just add on more $$$… no biggie.
Meanwhile, Pittsburgh is having its annual fire sale. Washington would, if they had anybody to sell. Cleveland, Toronto… the list goes on.
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If you’re happy and you know it clap your…
No, wait. Wrong blog. Sorry. Uh, naval lint? Donk? 1+1=R?
Reminds me, what is a Hula Hoop with a nail in it? A Naval Destroyer. 😆 Why was the belt arrested? Holding up a pair of pants. 😆 I laugh at my own silly jokes.
Enough of that childish humor. Where were we? None of your bee’s wax. Whoops… that just slipped. On to baseball. This is serious.
someone has to pull this economy out of a recession and I can’t do it all by myself… Somebody has got to sell the soap.. (Uh, old Amway joke there… )
Speaking of selling soap, if you are a small business with the current regime in Washington showering you with regulations and soaking you with new taxes, you’d best not drop the soap (uh, old locker room shower joke there). And then…
Meanwhile, Pittsburgh is having its annual fire sale. Washington would, if they had anybody to sell.
It’s all becoming clear. There is nothing much left in Washington worth keeping except what is left, and that ain’t right.
Now baseball… really. Mean it.
It’s unanimous, nobody here wants to give up our future for an also ran this year. Being an late September Bridesmaid is not a goal. However, if we win the next 2 or three games this week and the Phils lose just one, I gotta roll the dice, up the budget a tad, lose Norton, KJ and Diory, rent a bopper and see what happens. Could make a go of it. Could be a Cinderella. Could be fun.
I’ll call Wren now. Liberty has the money. Time for rent-a-bopper.
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Boy! Y’all got off some good lines this morning! THANKS for the smiles!
(Mother’s aide of the last 3+ years quit last week – got a better job – didn’t tell me until the last minute, so I’m trying to deal with getting/training new aides…..) Ask me how happy I am! On second thought, don’t…..
😦
Next item of business: WHO IS WRITING THE NEXT LEAD???
GIL! Git back here! Don’t you go slippin’ out that back door!!
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‘mornin’, SG…
I think the team has the parts now to make a playoff run, but I don’t think they’d go very deep. For me, they could use one more big bat. And I’d like to have it in right field. A big bat would offset Kotch’s power shortage at 1B – although there has been a power surge there of late. That guy can flat out hit, tough, and that’s more than I can say for many. Even the stiff in LF has started to hit as advertised.
Our real needs?
Big boppin’ bat… see above.
One more pen arm, though I think we can survive with what we have. Don’t forget how invaluable Buddy Carlisle was before his illness. He’ll be back soon. I think Medlen is improving with every appearance. Liek all rookies, he has some learnin’ to do, but he is a talented guy. If Acosta could show some consistency, the pen might be just fine as is.
I think KJ will be moved. He became surplus with the emergence of Prado, and the effective “cup of coffee” of Brooks Conrad. No doubt Diory will exit as soon as Infante is back. Norton is still a mystery to me, but I believe once the roster is somewhat set – after the traded deadline – Norton may be gone.
What I’d do if I had the power? Trade KJ while his value has revived. Recall Brooks Conrad. Drop Norton, find something for RF that is not the Diaz/Church platoon. They are best used off the bench. Add Infante bak as sson as possible and send Diory back.
One more thing… the question of what to do with Huddy when he returns. I read this across the street, and it surprisingly made alot of sense to me. KK has not proven to be able to go more that 5 innings, Huddy probably won’t be able to do much more, and will need to be careful not to overdo. Why not combine them in starts? Let KK start and go 5, Huddy come in for the last 4? If it worked, you could give most of the pen a day off once through the rotation. Obviously you can’t count on 5/4 every time out, but probably most.
OK… gotta at least look like I am working for a little bit…
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CL!!!! Well, that sucks! 😦 That is really poor to quite with that short of notice…especially after that long. Did you count all the silverware? 😕
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Braves only have to pick up one game per week in the standings to catch the Phils, 1/2 game a week for the wild card. Both are do-able.
I think the big bopper thingee will not occur until the off season. There is just no one out there right now who fills the bill and is available. If you want a guy of Texieria quality you are going to have to pay Texieria money…. Just the facts of the game now.
And Francouer is now bopping… who knew?
Lead? Lead? Uh-oh….
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Top ‘o the mornin’ back Raisins.
CL, sorry to hear about your “surprise”. In business and healthcare, surprises are often not good.
Hold on Stuffville, before lighting the torches… there might be one good man worth saving from the Palookaville Nationals, the team that shares its name with the dubious political den of thieves in the Capital of Iniquity:
Josh Willingham.
KJ, Norton, Diory, Garrett and cash for Josh. Let Huddy share the 5 spot with KK and let nature sort it out.
I’m calling Wren.
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Gil writes good leads.
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Bear rites gud leeds.
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Raisins rights wrongs. 😆
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Salty seasons all four, um, all year. 😀
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I agree, Gil, that there is not the bopper available out there that we need. We need it though. As for the offseason, we may already have him. He’s in AA right now. Tearin’ it up, too.
Saw these numbers across the street, and am blatantly borrowing them for this discussion. If the Phils play roughly .500 ball the rest of the way (33-32), not really likely, the Braves have to go 39-24 (.619) to catch ’em. That could happen, but the Phils are not likely to play just .500 ball.
Now my own extrapolation: the Phils are playing at a .588 clip. That projects out to 95 wins. The Braves would have to win 44 of their remaining 63 games to catch ’em. That’s 44-19 the rest of the way. That’s a tall order for a complete team. The Braves are not a complete team. And as well as they have played over the last month or so, they are still 7 games out in the East.
That said, I never say never…
A 4 game sweep in Miami would go long way toward reaching any postseason goal…
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CL writes right. 😀
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I’m a gonna keep on callin’ Wren ’til he gets us a boppah.
Chippah needs a big bayat ‘tween him an tha Big Mac whoppah. An that ain’t frainch frahs.
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Mr. Wren, sen me one a those there steak an shakes.
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SG.. Just as long as she doesn’t write Wright…
A four game sweep would be wonderful but taking three out of four would be pretty stellar too….
Playing in Miami in July and August, all I can say is HYDRATE…. Well, that and SF50…
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Gotta get back to work now lest I be grabbin’ soap. 😯
Latah tatahs and gatahs.
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A 4 game sweep in Miami would go long way toward reaching any postseason goal…
Is there a double-header scheduled?
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Not 4 in Mi-hammy?
Hmmm… yep – only 3 on the schedule. That’d make a 4 game sweep all the more impressive!!! 😀
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According to FOXsports:
The Braves are trying to add one more reliever. They are one of the many clubs that inquired on A’s right-hander Michael Wuertz, but are in heavier pursuit of a more under-the-radar, unidentified option, according to major-league sources.
Under the radar? Unidentified? Isn’t that journalist code for “We really think they might try to acquire somebody, but we have no friggin’ idea who it may be”?
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Only three game huh? Well, I guess I will have to settle for 2 of 3 then. Obviously I was misinformed… A lot like misremembering but without the PEDs…
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Or.. who are the Royals trying to unload????
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Thanks for the bring down V! 😛
Sometimes the truth hurts.
You know, if I were the Phils, as much as it would be nice to have Halladay, they won the WS last year. Ibanez is better than Burrell. They didn’t have Happ last year(Yet they weren’t really HAPless last year 🙄 )
The Phils manager compared Drabek to Tom Seaver…so they should hold on to them. Maybe they will weaken and trade both of them. But then they would have Halladay. Drat.
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They didn’t have Happ last year(Yet they weren’t really HAPless last year 😆
They really do not need Halladay at this point. Maybe another starter that would cost alot less, like Jarrod Washburn or bronson Arroyo, but not Halladay. Especially since he’s on record as saying he’ll go FA after ’10.
Of course, if they want to damage their farm system for a rental, it’s OK by me…
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California: Land of Fruits and Nuts
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Yep, the problem is there are slaves on the east coast… What is scary is these folks are allowed to vote….
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However, would like some of that free land… Mean old landlords…
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That was a brilliant presentation of, like, valley girl solves all the world’s problems and could be, um, like a really rad California politician and, like, you know, like, uh, give away fruit and lower rent and everything. Those pesticides gag me with a spoon. 😆
Now, back to the east coast:
Halladay, Schmalladay, Happ, Schmapp… the Phillies are our nemesis and we will overtake them. Their chemistry is gonna suffer with all this Halladay talk, their Ph is gonna get all out’a whack, Rollins is gonna go wacky… again, Ryan Howard is gonna whack and wail miss… again, Utley is gonna have to rest that hip after whacking himself into the ground going after a hard grounder, Victorino is gonna whack himself into the wall one too many times, Hamels is gonna go wacky… again, Jamie Moyer is old and will get whacked around, Lidge is gonna whack-out and we’re gonna whack’em.
Don’t ask me how I know these things. Much like dimpled chads, only, you know… like, um, it sound wacky, but still, we can take, like, a good whack at them with a big bopper.
Never say die. Go Braves.
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2night’s lineup:
1. N8, CF
2. Marteeen, 2B
3. Chipper, 3B
4. Mac, C
5. GAnderson, LF
6. Yunel, SS
7. Kotch, 1B
8. Churchmouse, RF
9. JJ, P
This is gettin’ kinda predictable… finally.
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Vegetable trees????
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Yep, the ol’ veggie trees. Now, if we could only find the egg vines.
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Looks like the Red Sox are about to pluck Cliff Lee from Cleveland. I’m thinking they aren’t real content with Smoltz’ 1-4 record and his 7.04 ERA.
Just sayin’…
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SG is….. whack! 😉
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I bet she would believe that eggs come egg plants! And who knows what else! 😆
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How much you want to bet that she has had extended conversations with a cantaloupe.
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Gil, 😆 😆 😆
Oh, how I needed that!!!
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Dammit.
Pardone. I was without electricity last night (hot) and without internet todsy (even hotter). Got the game about one minute before Garrett’s HR. Figured we’d win. Not to be. Many excuses. Raffy rusty, jerkish umpire… whatever. Soriano needs to be ready. I don’t buy rusty.
Braves HAVE to win the next two. Jair is visibly miffed, as he should be. If Braves lose either of the next two games I’m a seller. And their a cellar.
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without internet todsy
😳
Todsy shoulda been today. Their, they’re… that is the questchun.
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Watching the post-game show was depressing. The players know what this week means. Letting last night’s game slip away was painful.
If they can’t win the Florida series it’s going to be hard to contend. As I said last night, Jair was miffed and visibly frustrated but I should add that he maintained composure, came off very professional and didn’t say anything stupid or diss the team in any way. He’s got game on and off the field. Mature beyond his years. But it has to be maddening to pitch so well and have so few wins to show for the effort.
He (and his agent) have to be thinking about maintaining focus until he goes for the gusto and move to his next team not owned by a media owned franchise. No doubt a big market, big budget, perennial winner.
The Braves are an enigma. They beat the best and struggle with inferior and equal teams. They have talent but, aside from a few players they lack spark. They have a manager that is not equipped to deal with a young team. They have a few players that don’t seem to get it going with any consistency until they are benched or when it becomes glaringly obvious that they’re holding the team down. It’s gotta be confusing for players to have watched the Jeff and Kelly show go on for so excruciatingly long. Now French is hitting. Go figger.
So, somehow, some way, the team… the players, have to find it within themselves to scratch out wins without the strategic, motivational or instructional help from a manager that should have retired at least 3 years ago or his coaches that should either be in the minor leagues or sitting by a pool somewhere in the Bahamas.
Win this series… otherwise, go ahead and blow up the team this week before trade deadline and build a 2011-12 team. Maybe we’ll have a new owner and a new manager by then. Tough call. Braves are only missing a few pieces, but those pieces make all the difference in the lineup.
Lose one more and I’m going with Raisin’s strategy unless Wren does what I don’t expect and get a big bat at first and a high average outfielder.
sigh…
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Shouldn’t have let that one get away for sure. It was wrapped up nice and tidy for our closer, who may have just pitched himself onto another team. Think about it. He’ll make at least $10MM next season in FA, and the Braves may not be able to match it. If we lose another to the Fish, falling farther back in both the NL East and WC, the “For Sale” sign may come out for all to see. Seriously. This series is it. Only 2 more games, both with the Fish, before the 4:00pm non-waiver deadline on Friday.
Things to think about if the Braves suddenly shift their focus from “Now” to “Next Year”:
Closer – both Soriano and Gonzo are FA’s after this season. Can’t afford them both, maybe can’t afford even one. At least one will be traded.
Starters – Lowe is wrapped up and staying here. JJ and TommyH are youngsters under salary control for a few years. KK is wrapped up for another 3 years – not a real tradeable contract. Javy has another year left at $11MM – it is a tradeable contract. Huddy has an option for $12MM – it can be bought out. One will probably not be back. If the focus shifts from “Now” to “Next Year”, Javy may be dealt. Huddy could be dealt, but more likely at the waiver deadline of Aug. 31 after making a couple of appearances (probably from the bullpen), and he won’t bring near the return of JV. Javy could bring back some good, young prospects.
Veterans – Norton will be gone so that a youngster can get some experience. GAnderson could be dealt to a team in need of a veteran bat. If healthy, Schafer could be back. September will have a younger feel than in many years. Audition time, boys. We may even see the future outfield of Nate, Schafer and JHey.
Bullpen – JJ and TommyH will probably throw fewer innings over the rest of the year, meaning that the ‘pen will go through alot of arms – some capable, some not. It could get ugly.
Of course, this is a “doomsday” scenario, but if we get swept at the Landshark… well…
Shouldn’t have let that one get away last night… 🙄
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Hmmm… apparently I forget to close my italics. Hate when that happens.
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😐
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SG, you and V put me in a unique position here. Being the positive one! 😉
8 games out in the east pretty much means we can forget winning the east, unless Chase, Ryan, and Hamels all run into each other at full speed trying to catch a pop up!
But, only 3 back in the wildcard race, and you know the braves ain’t gonna be sellers that close….Even if the bravos were swept in Fill in the blank park in Miami…that’s only 5 back at the trade deadline. Though I am hearing from my sources(you know, Gammons, Olney, that other guy) that the deadline is not going to be what it has been in the past. With the poor economy, teams will be much more wary trying to claim a guy off wavers to keep another team from a rival, they may get stuck with him,and his high salary!
Ok, lets say we become sellers even after the deadline. Whom do we sell??? SG, you have not been for trading Javy, but he’d have to be our biggest chip, wouldn’t you say??? Hey, who wants a young, slick fielding first baseman, Yankees??? Red Sox??? Cubs??? No???? Padres after they trade Adrian Gonzalez to the Rangers???? I honestly don’t see a team needing him, short of the Pirates or Padres, and they ain’t gonna give up young players.
Kelly Johnson??? At this point, he might slip through waivers and still end up back in Gwinnett. (Though as an aside, after a 3 for 4 day, why hasn’t he at least pinch hit yesterday, cuz Ol’ Norton is so hot???)
G.A. is 37, and though he has his average up to .295, I think most teams seeing 38 RBI’s in 271 ab’s are not going to give much. Gonzo??? Even missing a ton of games of late because of injuries , he’s still on pace for 83 games this year….
I imagine the Yankees would pay a lot for him or Soriano. But, with both being free agents at the end of the year, they may bring less. And we sure have to keep one of them to close, don’t we??? Or do you really roll the dice, trade both, and hope you can sign one of them in the offseason????
Who am I forgetting??? Yunel is back out of the doghouse for now, right??? Church, Diaz are not going to give you anything…Hmmm, I wonder what McCann would bring???? 😛
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I took so long writing that, V got in several posts…weird, I am the kinda…sorta optimistic one. Then again, I only saw the early innings of the game, and only after a really late diner did I find out Soriano blew the save. Hey, it happens though. He has been almost untouchable of late. Lefties love low inside pitches.
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Incredible story with photos:
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2560871/Beluga-whale-saves-drowning-divers-life.html
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And he perhaps wouldn’t have blown the save if the offense wasn’t so hit or miss of late.
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CL, WOW!!!!!!!
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B, the blown save was the direct result of not being able to throw a strike. 1st batter walked on 4 pitches – although the 4th ball sure looked like a strike to me. Was 2-1 (I think) on Gload and grooved one right down the middle after another questionable “ball” call. Right down the middle. Never a question as to whether it would go out. It was walk-off from the swing.
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And B, I’m not saying last night’s loss is the impetus (1st on blog?) for a seller’s mentality, but another… or 2 more? Swept at the Landshark could certainly flip the switch.
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And idiots across the way are actually blaming Bobby for the loss saying he should have intentionally walked Gload…
Blind haters will say anything…
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Even I wouldn’t blame him for not walking a guy. I think it’s a huge mistake to intentionally walk a guy, after someone else was walked by the same pitcher. Then managers wonder why a guy can’t strike someone out.
All I know is Bobby et al don’t give up(Which is a good thing) and being down only 5 game at the beginning of August, and from what I have seen from management in the past means no way will they be sellers this soon, this close in the wildcard race. (How far out of it were we last year at the end of August???)
It’s not like we have a Tex to trade away anyway… Well let me back off…since Bobby for some unknown reason stopped using Gonzo as a closer(Soriano has been better, but usually you don’t take a guy out of the position unless he is failing every other day) perhaps they would trade him for something good…But, he might not ask for as much as Soriano…then again they may both ask for a lot as a free agent.
IF the braves are, say 8-9 out of the W.C. by the middle of August, they might trade them then…
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Hmmm, didn’t know that you could pull up last years standings(or even further back)on a certain date…cool! 😀
at the end of Last July, the braves were 9 1/2 games back…
http://espn.go.com/mlb/standings/_/type/wild-card/date/20080731
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Hmm, Freddie Freeman hasn’t exactly been overwhelmed by AA either. Check out how infrequently he strikes out as well!
http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=freema002fre
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CL or Gil, stuck in the filter again…help! 😦
Oh, I keep forgetting to mention this, but I though you all should know that if there is a big lots near ya, they may have some really good films and tv shows, dirt cheap!
Lots of 30’s and 40s MGM/Warner bros’s films for only $3.00!
TV shows like Dallas, Dukes of Hazzard, E.R. for $6.00!!!
But, not every store has good stuff…
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Ber, your fine has been paid and you are a free man once again!
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Bobby for some unknown reason stopped using Gonzo as a closer
Not entirely true… Bobby has been alternating when to use Gonzo/Soriano based on the L/R matchups. That’s why Gonzo was in last night in the 7th inning… tough lefties at the plate.
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Typical political move. If you can’t handle a problem, shove it off on someone else:
http://www.ajc.com/news/nyc-to-ship-homeless-103278.html?cxntlid=homepage_tab_newstab
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Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says the Bucs have traded Jack Wilson and Ian Snell to the Mariners for decent prospect C Jeff Clement plus minor leaguers Aaron Pribanic, Brett Lorin and Nathan Adcock and sad excuse for a major league 2B Ronny Cedeno, who is hitting .167 with just 4 hits in his last 36 AB’s.
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Press release on deal:
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20090729&content_id=6126262&vkey=pr_pit&fext=.jsp&c_id=pit
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The .167 hitting Cedeno becomes the Bucs’ regular every day SS. How inspiring for Pittsburgh fans…
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My gut tells me that Frank will stand pat at this year’s deadline. Maybe a KJ deal, but only maybe. Don’t know why exactly, but I just feel it…
I think what we have is what we have. 😐
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Rosenthal:
The Phillies are not getting Roy Halladay. But the pitcher they are getting just happens to be the reigning American League Cy Young award winner.
The Phillies have reached agreement on a trade that would bring them left-hander Cliff Lee and outfielder Ben Francisco from the Indians for Class A right-hander Jason Knapp, Class AAA right-hander Carlos Carrasco, shortstop Jason Donald and catcher Lou Marson, according to major-league sources.
Ouch…
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Great deal for the Phils… they keep Happ and Drabek, and get a top line pitcher… 😦
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Not a signed deal yet, but close enough. Here’s Rosenthal’s story:
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/9866900/Sources:-Phils-reach-agreement-for-Indians%27-Lee
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Now that the Tribe has punted, who can we loot them for?
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Does Cleveland have any lumber at all? Shin-soo choo?
When I hear his name, why do I just wanna say, Gazunheidt?
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Well, they have Victor Martinez, who is a boppin’, switch-hittin’ first-baseman (and catcher). He’d cost a mint, though. He’d also fit the bill nicely. Don’t see it happenin’, though.
The Bosox are hot on his trail, and you can bet they’ll get a deal done if they really want to. They have both the $$$ and prospects to satisfy Cleveland.
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Wow!!! Just amazed the Phils got Cliff Lee and they didn’t have to give up either Happ or Drebek. How would you like to be an Indians fan right about now?(funk soul brother)
Last year, they gave up C.C. Sabathia, because they weren’t going to pay him the market rate. They got a good prospect, but he hasn’t done anything at the ML level, more than a year after the trade.
Now they give up Cliff Lee, who had a 2.54 ERA last year, and 3.14 this year. Eats tons of innings. And just get minor league guys, no ML ready folks. And now they may trade Victor Martinez, a 300 + hitting catcher, signed cheaply???
Good grief.
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2night’s lineup:
1. N8, CF
2. Marteeen, 2B
3. Chipper, 3b
4. Mac, C
5. The Hitter formerly known as Loaf, LF
6. Yunel, SS
7. Kotch, 1B
8. Churchmouse, RF
9. KK, P
Bobby is playing Prado even though he is 0-7 against Johnson, and KJ is 4-10 including a dinger. Surprising. I’m glad, but surprising. If ever he had an excuse to start KJ, that’d be it.
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Taxpayers could be on the hook for $700 million if a measure to put wild horses back home on the range passes Congress.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/07/29/critics-worry-measure-save-wild-horses-taxpayer-drain/
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“The Hitter formerly known as Loaf, LF”
Raisins, you crack me up! 😆
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My oh my… That was a looonnnggg homerun by Josh Johnson…
Time to switch over to our regularly scheduled programing… 😦
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Once again, afternoon thunderstorm, some wind and rain and we lose cable and power. Adding insult ti injury, it came back on in time to watch KK melt down. This is a hard game to watch.
Wellalrightythen… looks like we’re either sellers or .500 club teasers the rest of this season. Condolences to Braves Nation. Deja vu all over again.
At the very least, I hope we send Kawakami somewhere else before friday. Anywhere. Hopefully one of our rivals. Then we can watch him turn in Cy Young performances against us. Throw Medlin back out there the rest of the year. Sell Garrett Anderson now that he’s hitting. Send Norton away too. Far away.
Looks like the Mets got the better end of the Church trade. Lose a Jeff, gain a Kelly. I’d also send KJ packing. Bring up a few of the kids.
And so it goes.
Wait… GA just hit another monster dinger. Maybe we can sneak back into this game. I have all the faith in the world that we can. 😆
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And the 2 hit afterward sounded on the radio to be monster shots…
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Bleh! Oh well, could be worse. We could be Pirates’ fans. I feel for them.
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Yeah. What she said. Bleh! x-(
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Good morning all…. What she said….
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Yep, Pirates fans should be somewhat accustomed to losing. Watching our team this year (and the last 3 or 4 years) reminds me once again how good we had it for so long.
It’s hard going from 14 straight to Loserville. It takes a rare fan or more than a few years to adjust to low expectations. That’s one thing. The other thing is, fans of teams like the Pirates, Reds, Padres, Royals, Orioles, etc. have been a long time without hope. Wonder if they’re used to losing? How many fans dropped away?
Thing three: Braves fans have it rough because our team is good enough to win games but not good enough to get to the playoffs. Missing a few key ingredients is the ball and chain of this club. Even one addition of a big bat could change the equation, effect how the entire lineup is pitched and turn our season around. But we don’t see that happening. Maybe it will? Probably not.
Besides, if a big bopper is available and has a chance to come to Atlanta or go to, say, Boston, New York, Philadelphia or LA and contend, why would they come to Atlanta? Only substantially more moola would get them to head south. The chance to play for Bobby as incentive? I think not… unless they want to turn it down a notch, go along, get along, and go through the motions and coast to retirement.
Maybe losing for a while is good for the soul and restores what is right about the game of baseball. Maybe we appreciate all the little things if we don’t expect to win. Maybe watching a mediocre team is good for our health due to lower stress level while watching. Maybe being a fan of a losing team is good for family values, getting yard work done, spending more time thinking about things other than baseball. Maybe we actually enjoy the game more when we are just happy to see good play on the field.
If we are fans of a losing team for long enough, the lines between winning and losing become blurred. Losing loses its bite and winning is a nice little surprise. Either way, once you are settled into the comfort of watching a team from Palookaville, it makes no difference the outcome of the game itself.
Right? Sound reasonable? WRONG!!! We need a dadgum bopper and win this doggone thing THIS YEAR! Losing is for Losers.
I’m so conflicted. 😆
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Have to admit, watching the continued bad attitude and wandering strike zone of the plate umpire last night… and this morning, reading about Cliff Lee going to the Phillies, is like adding salt and pepper to a wound.
We are about to find out what kind of GM Frank Wren is. Mercifully, we’ll know what we’ve got by Friday. My vote is buy… or sell. Either one shows progress. Standing pat would be tortuous and the worst case scenario for the team and for serious fans.
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Off to Braves town… y’all be good.
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I think I’m ready to see the young’uns play. Good or bad. It’ll at least have entertainment value. Plus the feeling of hope. Hopefully… 😀
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Nice article on Brooks Conrad:
http://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-braves/conrad-hopes-for-another-103697.html
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Great quote from KK:
“Giving up a home run with two outs to the pitcher isn’t just disappointing, but pathetic to me,” Kawakami said through his interpreter.
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Positivity:
Kotchman has discovered his power stroke; GA has rediscovered his hitting prowess.
Negativity:
These umpires suck.
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ajc:
[Omar] Infante is expected to begin an injury-rehab stint next week and rejoin the Braves around Aug. 15.
[Tim] Hudson is scheduled to make his fourth rehab start Friday night for Class AAA Gwinnett in a home game against Rochester. The right-hander is nearing the one-year anniversary (Aug. 8) of the ligament-transplant surgery and is expected to make at least two more rehab starts after Friday.
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Uh… that’d be August 8. 8’s and parentheses don’t play well together.
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Interesting:
Bobby Cox came in at No. 46 in a Sporting News ranking of the “50 greatest coaches of all time,” to be included in the next issue of the magazine.
Legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden topped the list, selected by a wide-ranging panel of 118 people that included players from various Halls of Fame and championship coaches.
I’ll be willing to bet that Robert, SG and Ber were not on that panel…
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OK… break’s over. Back on my head….
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You’ve heard that joke too eh Raisins? 🙂
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I’ll be willing to bet that Robert, SG and Ber were not on that panel…
Thanks for lumping me in with those 2 hatas! 😛
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Report: Ramirez AND Ortiz Tested Positive in 2003….
Sigh… 😦
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4366335
And why do names keep leaking out of a private report???
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I’d tell you what I think of Hohn but I don’t use that sort of language.
😦 Ber, that makes me really sad. I love Papi. And who the heck has this list? Either release the whole nasty mess or destroy it like you were supposed to, but get it over with. I’m ready to move on.
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One question:
http://js.polls.yahoo.com/quiz/quiziframe.php?poll_id=46067
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“lawyers with knowledge of the results told The New York Times.”
Lawyers? Why do that??
************************************************************
“The lawyers did not name the substances Ramirez and Ortiz tested positive for, The Times reported.”
Why not?
************************************************************
Ramirez, now with the Los Angeles Dodgers, recently came off a 50-game suspension for violating baseball’s drug policy. The specific violation was never announced, but sources have told ESPN that testing during spring training this year revealed elevated levels of testosterone that had come from an artificial source.
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Had to share…
The stone cold truth of our great friendship.
When you are sad — I will help you plot revenge against the sorry sack of dung who made you sad.
When you are blue — I will try to dislodge whatever is choking you.
When you smile — I will know you are thinking of something that I would probably want to be involved in.
When you are scared — I will rag on you about it every chance I get until you’re NOT.
When you are worried — I will tell you horrible stories about how much worse it could be until you quit whining..
When you are confused — I will try to use only little words.
When you are sick — Stay the heck away from me until you are well again. I don’t want whatever you have…
When you fall — I will laugh at your clumsy butt, but I’ll help you up.
This is my oath… I pledge it to the end. “Why?” you may ask; because you are my friend.
***Friendship is like wetting your pants, everyone can see it, but only you can feel the true warmth.
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Raisins, I’m copying that and putting in my Save file! THANKS!!
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Did you all here Boog talk about the rumor of the Marlins possibly being in on a trade for Adrian Gonzalez and Heath Bell???? 😯 Hope that doesn’t come true!
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Braves grant Bennett his release. Why does that not upset me?
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And Javy is pitching his butt off tonight.
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Eric O’Flaherty hasn’t played since the 3 walks on the 25th. Has anyone heard that his back is still acting up, or is this punishment for a bad game???
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Can Brooks Conrad come back up now???? 😡
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KJ needs to buy McCann dinner, some beers, perhaps a car! 😛
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BMac saved the Braves bacon for sure tonight…
Yep, Kelly was one out away from exile to the end of a long bench…
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Maybe even Pittsburgh…
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Agreed, Ber! He owes Mac bigtime.
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Did y’all know….
Andy Marte is finally hitting like he was supposed to all along(at the AAA level mind you) and is going to start in Cleveland??? Did ya know after all this time, he is still only 25???
Dia ya know that the pirates, after trading away Freddie Sanchez and Jack Wilson the day before, traded John Grabow and Tom Gorzelanny to the Cubs???
Also, Tom Gorzelanny had a 2.48 ERA in 15 starts in AAA, so naturally, he goes to a team that really doesn’t need a starter. All those teams whining about needing starting pitching should really be kicking themselves over not getting him.
Does anyone know the Pirates. Left Fielder??? Right fielder??? SS??? 2nd baseman??? 1st baseman???
If anyone does, can you tell me???
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Eric O’Flaherty hasn’t played since the 3 walks on the 25th. Has anyone heard that his back is still acting up, or is this punishment for a bad game???
Actually, prior to the 3 walk game, EO’F stepped on a ball in BP and twisted his ankle. He pitched with a heavy wrap on, which he later said was very uncomfortable – hence the 3 walks. So his absence is due to the ankle discomfort, not any punishment…
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I didn’t see any of last night’s game. How did KJ do? There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that he was in the lineup for one reason alone, being a showcase for a trade.
So Bennett was released? Freeing up a spot on the 40-man roster, perhaps? What other reason for the timing?
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Hmmm… AP says his “representatives” asked for and were granted his release. Why would they do that?
Does that make sense to anybody, or am I missing something?
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ajc:
Bennett broke a bone in his left (non-pitching) hand June 24 when he angrily punched a wall near the dugout between innings of a loss against the New York Yankees. He was placed on the disabled list and had surgery a few days later.
The Braves didn’t announce it at the time, but they suspended his pay beginning June 25. He filed a grievance with the players association and continued his rehab, including two recent minor-league appearances.
When the grievance was heard, the Braves were directed to either “cure the default” by giving him his back pay for the period he was suspended, or allow him to become a free agent. Braves media-relations director Brad Hainje said Bennett requested the team release him from his contract, which they did.
Ah… OK then…
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VOR – There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that he [KJ] was in the lineup for one reason alone, being a showcase for a trade.
ajc – Prado was struck near the left ankle by a line drive in batting practice and hobbled off. He was also diagnosed with a contusion. “I’m so glad it missed the bone,” said Prado, who scoffed when asked if he might play by Monday.
Who you gonna believe, me or some newspaper? 😀
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Good morning Raisins, First on Bennett… The Braves suspended his pay after he broke his hand, in arbitration, the Braves were given the choice to reinstate Bennett’s back pay or grant him his release, Bennett asked for his release, the Braves granted it.
On Kelly, during batting practice Martin was struck by a batted ball in the ankle. (Matt Diaz) ans it swelled up so he was unavailable last night.
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I would have answered sooner but was on the phone with Medicare… Bah.. government run health care…
For those who remain clueless about what Obamacare will mean, I give two shining examples of what it would look like.
Medicare and the VA….
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Medicare and the VA…
Dumb and dumber…
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Well, a mere 5 hours to go before the non-waiver trade deadline, and all is quiet in Atlanta. I have mixed feelings about it…
On the one hand, I do not honestly believe the Braves have the guns to make a serious run this season, and don’t want them to sacrifice anything of the future for a futile attempt at the post-season. not saying they can’t make the PS as the WC, but will it matter? Can they get past round 1? Hard to say.
But when I look at all of the other WC contenders doing something to improve themselves – Giants get Sanchez and Garko, Cubs get Grabow and Gorzellany, Fish are actively angling for Nick Johnson, Brewers discussing first Halladay, then Washburn, and on and on – while the Braves are “standing pat”, it makes me angry. Oh,yeah… I hear the “We’re getting Hudson and Infante back. That’s like two big acquisitions right there” argument. no it’s not! We already have them! They are losses about to return. That’s a WASH, not a GAIN! I call BS!!!
If the truth is simply that Liberty Media is not willing to fork over any $$$ for improvement, call it that way. Just say, “We are not willing to add any payroll to the current structure” and be done with it. At least we’ll all know where we stand. But to say, “We’re standing pat. We know we have holes, but we think we have a team that can compete” while everyone around us is filling holes is ridiculous. It’s frustrating.
I say call it one way or another. ______ or get off the pot. Play for this season, or play for next, but make clear your intentions.
Heck, if they really just want to fool everybody they should just run for Congress…
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Washburn goes to the Tigers. At least they’re nor vying for the NL WC…
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Bowman:
While it currently seems far-fetched to imagine Heyward would end this season in the Majors, there’s certainly a chance that he could at least make his way to Triple-A Gwinnett within the next couple of weeks.
http://markbowman.mlblogs.com/archives/2009/07/heyward_making_bid_for_promoti.html
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Patience grasshopper…
Only move I can see the Braves making would involve the release of Norton and the trade of Matt Diaz and or Kelly Johnson.
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Gil… I tend to agree. Our LF situation has cleared itself up – the guy is raking right now. And what about Kotch? Check his locker… he has found the power stroke at the right time. RF is still kida weak, but can’t complain about 1B and LF right now. Need another short reliever though. Ron Mahay maybe?
It is kinda maddening to watch the competition getting better though, isn’t it?
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I guess the question that needs to be answered is who is out their and available who would be a game changer? Who is really better than someone who the Braves already have? I think the Braves already have all the necessary pieces, just need the right folks to put them in the proper places to be successful.
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Speaking of Matt Diaz… Love the guy’s heart. Hate that funky upper cut swing of his…
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I love Diaz… coming off the bench. I have no particular attachment to Church one way or another. He was a throw away of the Mets. ’nuff said.
That being said, there isn’t a game changing RF available. At least Church plays a decent defensive RF. I guess you could call up Blanco or BJones or even Brian Barton. Expectations would be about the same.
The reality is that RF is the #8 spot in the lineup. It’s gonna stay that way. My biggest concern is the bullpen arms, and the continued wear. Maybe getting Hudson and Carlyle back address that, but who knows? Somebody has to step up and prove they can be a one inning lock down guy. Acosta has the “stuff”, but has not shown any consistency at all over the last 2 seasons. Logan? Eh… hard to say. It’s also hard to say what Medlen can do. At times he looks unhittable. Other times he looks overmatched. Maybe a defined “role” and consistent use would go a long way toward changing that, but who knows? I’d hate to bank my WC chances on so much bullpen guessing…
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USA Today’s Bob Nightengale via Twitter: The Red Sox are about to acquire first baseman/catcher Victor Martinez from the Indians.
And the rich get richer…
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I think the bullpen problems could be linked to tired arms and assorted aches and pains.. except for Acosta, he has always been inconsistent. Good Manny, bad Manny.. depends on the first batter and the definition of the strike zone by the umpire. Why swing at the ball if it’s not going to be called a strike? See Soriano’s woes the other night…
I think the real problem might be Bobby’s lack of confidence in the guys he has so he over uses certain guys until their arms fall off…
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V, how can you say the rich get richer??? Of course they will probably have to release Adam LaRoche, after getting him, like they did with Mark Kotsay, who really wasn’t doing that badly. And remember, they didn’t get Adrian Gonzalez, they are settling for Victor Martinez, who only has 67 RBI’s…
😕
At least the Yankees are acting like they need teams to pay the rest of the salary of players they take on. Poor, poor Yankees. Double 😕
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Well, like Joe Bidden says… “You have to spend money to keep from going bankrupt”
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V, thanks for the 411 on O’Flarei…O’Flara…I can’t spell his name without looking it up every ____ time! 😡 Eric!
I don’t know if you saw what SG and I saw on tv that night, but Bobby really was griping on the hill to McCann after his outing. Perhaps he thought he could pitch, and clearly couldn’t.
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Gil, I can personally attest to what Biden saying being way wrong! 😳
Ok, what is wrong with GM’s like the dopes in Toronto and S.D.???
Yeah, sure you want to get some good prospects for your stud you are trading. But, the Jays were trying to get the Phils 2 best starters and a blue chip outfielder! Now, they will get nothing, and like it. I really don’t want to see Halladay blow out his arm now, but what if he ends up like ???
And I had read that the Padres were asking for even more than the Jays were with Halladay for Gonzalez.
and now according to MLBtrade, they were asking the Marlins for Cameron Maybin and Miller for Heath Bell! Are you kidding me??? for a closer??? I bet they couldn’t get one of the guys for him.
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Ok, before I have to get busy… V, the guy that does the games with Don Sutton(Will I ever learn his name?) made a good point the other day about how the braves made a move, it’s just that it was months ago for McLouth.
And while it would be nice to see some sort of move, how would you like to be a Brewers fan, with all those studly young hitters, not make any moves of any kind to improve their rotation??? Not even a Doug Davis???
The Braves have a roughly 96 Million budget (10 teams above us) The Brewers have a budget 16 million less than us, and still didn’t make a move! Don’t want to give up prospects. Of course the reason they don’t want to give them up is because they aren’t going to pay Prince, a princely sum and will either trade him, or let him walk. They didn’t make a serious offer for C.C. last off season.
They draw fans like crazy, but have the Selig cheap ill fitting suit way about them still.
Now, can you imagine how their fans must feel watching the Cubs and Cards make such huge improvements, and not getting even a #5 starter???
My main gripe with the Braves was once again coming into a season trying to fill outfield holes with ???? again…
If we had gotten Ibanez, or even Bobby Abreu, we would be a LOT closer to first place, with Ibanez, perhaps in it!
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From my 2:30 post…
Now, they will get nothing, and like it. I really don’t want to see Halladay blow out his arm now, but what if he ends up like ???
Brain just ain’t firing on all cylinders yet…couldn’t think of Peavy or Sheets’ names.
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Umm, we just traded Kotchman for Adam LaRoche! 😯 😯 8)
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No, I didn’t mean sunglasses…Kotchman is much younger, and was just starting to show some pop! Kotchman is just going to be a bench player now!
Good grief!
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Sometimes you have to be careful not to be caught up in the fray.. I see it all the time at auctions… Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.
And Berigan, I should have raised my sarcasm alert for my Bidden quote.
Anyway, I think the deadline has passed. Did the Braves make any moves at all?
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We did what????
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And DOB is offically a sissy boy! Well, I should watch what I say…if someone is sick in his family, or he has issues, that’s one thing…but Carrol is on this weekend, the trade weekend???? He is forever taking days or weeks off…during the season!
and that stupid blog there is on so many pages now! 8 pages! Someone named Bill Shanks(You have to be a member to read the forums? no thanks) was mentioned and he said Kotchman was not a happy camper, and was likely to be non-tendered…anyone hear this before?????
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Damn brother… I don’t think I would have doe that….
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uh… done…
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Anyway, I like Casey, great glove… Of course, he did not have a hunting (land) partnership with Chipper…
Good luck to Kotchman, I’ll bet he does well in Boston.
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Well, I guess sissy boy is working today, after all! 😉
http://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-braves/braves-trade-kotchman-for-105483.html
Barbados or whatever his name is, is up for the game tonight. He will probably get 3 hits, then go right back down, while Norton stays.
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And did you all see this story about a fist bump between a lousy ump and the Marlins catcher??? 😯
http://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-braves/chipper-rips-umpire-over-104780.html
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Ber, Chipper raised quite a stink about it, can’t say I blame him. Now every time the ump works a Braves game, his actions will be suspect… Not like they weren’t already.. but still.
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😯
I step away for a couple of hours, thinking that there’d be nothing that would affect the Braves before 4:00pm, and danged if they didn’t go out and do something.
You know what? I like it. I think LaRoche is a good fit here. He DOES have some pop. Heck, he’s almost a bopper. And if he stays true to past seasons, he heats up alot in the second half. I’ll also bet he’ll feel alot more comfortable back here than in Bahston. One interesting aspect of this, though, is that he’s in his walk year. I know of nobody that thinks Freddie Freeman will be ready in ’10.
Oh, well. I guess we’re thinking of ’09, and not ’10.
As long as I know…
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And from the “if at first you don’t succeed” department:
White Sox trade for Jake Peavey again, this time for keeps.
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Wha??? Gee, they didn’t mention that just a few (10?)minutes ago…
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and I just put channel 437 (Sports south for those without DISH network) and saw braves vs Marlins 3 pm to 6 Pm, and thought, whoa, I didn’t know the game was a day game…on a friday….hey, wait, aren’t they playing the Dodgers today??? Well, my eyes can’t be wrong. Wow. Javy pitching again today! He’s a stud!
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I guess the Braves are think 2010 will take care of itself….
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It’s yesterday’s game Ber… re-broadcast. Uh, you might not want to watch the 8th inning…
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It keeps getting better…
ajc: The Braves also receive cash from Boston to cover the difference between the remaining money owed LaRoche, who has a $7.05 million salary this season, and Kotchman, who’s making $2.885 million.
Even in an off year for Adam, he’s put up better power numbers than Kotch. LaRoche has 13 HR’s/43 RBI, Kotch has 6 HR’s/41 RBIs. And I’ll be willing to bet the RBI total rate will rise with guys getting on base in front of him, unlike in Pitt.
So we actually did add some power, without giving up any prospects. And in all honesty, Kotch was not in the Braves’ plans after 2010 anyway.
Now, only one real order of business left – Norton. Maybe if Barbaro gets a couple of hits tonight, they’ll just keep him on the bench and send Norton to the moon.
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V, might want to though Gil! Seeing KJ screw up an easy play, once again… then he would want to see him DFA’ed as well! 😡
but, I think like someone said on some blog, mlb.com or ajc, Prado can play first against lefties. Which means KJ might start at 2nd those games…sigh. he actually has been hitting lefties better than righties this year. Which is why he was on the bench against lefties. 😕
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V, it could work(LaRoche) this year. But next year??? If he’s like he is has the first half, like he did between 2006-2008 .247, then we aren’t going anywhere next year, either.
But, that’s next year, right? 😉
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I still believe KJ could go in a waiver deal before August 31. You can bet your last dollar that KJ will be sent through waivers ASAP, and that he’ll get through. His days as a regular in Bobby’s lineup are over. Bobby sticks along time, but when he’s done, he’s done.
I still like the Roachey move. As someone across the street said, when you make a mistake to Kotch, he hits a single or double. Make a mistake to Roachey, and the ball flies a long way. Yeah, he strikes out more frequently, but he also hits into fewer DP’s. I think his presence gets Chipper and Mac better pitches to hit.
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2010 is a year away. We now know we’re worrying about 2009. I can appreciate that, as you know from my earlier rant.
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I heard somewhere that the Braves were not going to tender Kotch next year. Don’t know if that’s true or not. I do know that the Braves improved in 2009.
Another thing… The Braves added Adam LaRoche. The Fish added Nick Johnson. Which would you rather have? I’d rather have Adam. Also, everyone seems to forget that Adam is a sterling defender as well. Very little lost there if anything.
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Frank Wren is scheduled to be on local sports station 680theFan at 5:30pm.
You can listen live online here: http://www.680thefan.com/
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gee, I see the link and have a chance to listen! Thanks!
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Well, about what I expected tonight with half of the offense not playing.
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Yep Gil, that game last night could have been even uglier without being a surprise. With Prado and Yunel out and with Barbero not swinging very well at all, it could’ve been a huge blowout. Driving home and ‘seeing’ most of the game on the radio, it just seems that Mac or Bobby are going back to the slider well too many times with Hanson. Fast ball was working but just too many sliders called for. One in particular hung right there like a tee-ball and… got crushed. Hopefully Adam is in tonight, along with Yunel and Prado. Also hope that Kelly is on the bench.
Soooo… Turns out we’re not buyers, not sellers and we didn’t stand pat. We’re swoppers.
No boppers in the deal, but in a side-by-side matchup, I’ll take Roachey over Kotch. This is not the kind of trade that will catapult us to October and most likely not give us the team it would take this year to even make the playoffs, but it’s ok. Better than trading the future (especially with what was available out there) and it’s better than standing pat.
I’ll ditto Raisins on the sentiment about Adam. Not a big bat but on occasion he’ll crush one. He’s certainly more of a long-ball threat than Kotchman. That, and Adam’s a good guy, second half threat, has good team chemistry, has a great nickname and can field dress a deer with Chippah.
Kotchman never seemed to be a solid Brave. Maybe it’s just perception watching the games or some things I read somewhere along the line, but he never seemed to click. Nothing negative or bad, just wrong chemistry or something. From all accounts a solid good guy and I wish him well.
Maybe he’ll go on to be the Bosox’s first base version of Wade Boggs or like the Yanks first baseman Don Mattingly (who he kinda favors), but I seriously doubt it.
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With Youklis on the team, Bosox would be hard pressed to keep Yuke off of first base. Only if he can and wants to and is comfortable and productive at third would anyone else be given a chance, unless they acquire a true big bopper that can only play first… and that ain’t Kotch by any stretch. Yuke is the face of the future in Boston.
Well, reading the Boston news, looks like Smoltz got his second win, but, having given up 5 runs, that was more offense and defense than pitching. Smoltz is not having an easy time of it up there. I’m glad he’s doing what he’s doing in the AL. Can’t imaging the hate he’d be getting if he were in Atlanta struggling like that with a fraction of the run support.
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I want this shirt, for some reason
http://www.david-hinkle.com/blog/tag/use-stairs-in-case-of-emergency/
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Speaking of the philthies….wasn’t it swell fun seeing Cliff Lee throw a complete game, first time out??? 🙄
I forget, does anyone have a complete game for the Braves??? Javy perhaps???
Sigh…DeRosa was the big bopper we needed. he just doesn’t seem like a bopper, but he has 20 HR’s and 61 RBI’s now.
Does it not tell us where “we” are today that our 1st baseman up til yesterday is now a late innings defensive replacement for boston(And may get sent down to AAA for a bit) and our current 1st baseman was traded to us because the Sox really had no use for him after getting a much better hitter???
I don’t think the whole NL is AAAA but the braves sure feel that way.
I guess this is all payback for the years the braves just threw their gloves on the field(it felt) and won the division.
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I just checked, I thought we would be 5 out, but I guess since the Giants lost, only 4 games back in the wildcard race.
But, are we better than the 5 teams in front of us, that all (except for Colorado) improved themselves???
Houston and Milwaukee are behind us by a game, but thank goodness they have really cheap owners that didn’t allow their GM’s to improve their teams.
I just can’t feel excited by this team. And if we don’t have players who will left, right or 1st in 2010, why play them now??? Oh right…what I said a few days ago. Braves always think they have a chance, and will run the usual suspects out there till the bitter end, while Freeman and Heyward get plenty of swell AA experience. 😡
Man o man I sound bitter….come on guys, give me reasons to believe we can make a race out of the wildcard yet!
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And if we don’t have players who will Be playing
left, right or 1st in 2010, why play them now???
Time to rest….
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Bear, the Braves move for Roachey ain’t exactly gonna set fires in the stands like a Crime Dog trade, is it.
The Braves are obviously in a rebuilding year. Thing is, it appears to be a long (3-6 year) plan as opposed to being “buyers or sellers” now to attempt a 2-4 year plan.
That’s my guess anyway. Slow, cautious, thrifty… maybe getting the balance sheet to improve while waiting on an owner. There is no way the Braves make blockbuster trades with Liberty having the franchise up for sale.
The times, they are a changin’.
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4:10 game today… if anyone is interested.
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Wow!!! Randy Wolf stupidly tries to keep LaRoche close, and misses the first baseman glove, then the speedy LaRoche, is sent home after the single by Diory, and instead of being out by, oh I don’t know 20 feet, Martin misses the perfect throw and he scores! Then Norton singles in Diory!!!
Perhaps LaRoche is a good luck charm! 😀
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I had the Yankees gane today on Fox so I watched (napped through) the Nationwide race. Did try to keep up with game day however. Was good to win…
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Good game today. Nice to see Roachy out there. He looks a little older, more battle tested. He had a good game.
Fox HAS to be THE worst broadcaster in all of sports. They just can’t seem to get it together with their feed, losing it throughout the game, mostly in critical moments it seems. The camera work is lousy, etc. etc.
I’m too lazy to go bopping around to find out… what happened to Yunel? Injured?
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Between innings I jumped back to the MLB Channel and watched the crucial game 6 or the Giants, Angels WS. Once again it was great to see Bonds all smirky in the beginning of the 7th out there in LF when the Giants were up five to nothing.
Then watching him flub that ball GA plunked into left and crawl around trying to pick it up, dropped it, picked it up and threw way late with a runner going to third. Of course the Angels won. Watching Bonds lose was a favorite pastime.
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Got Rays/Royals here. I read.
Good to see Adam contributing right away.
SG, I was at the “fire” game. Got the ticket stub somewhere around here.
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SG, Yunel got plunked by an inside pitch by the Marlins on Wednesday night. No faking on this one, he has been unable to flex his right wrist to be able to make a throw.
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FBG, that must’ve been an exciting game to attend. Hope you weren’t too close to the booth. Ahhh, remembering the exciting days of Crime Dog and the invincible Braves… regular season invincible anyway.
Thanks for info Gil. That’s the kind of injury that can last a season. Hope not but it doesn’t sound good. Braves need Yunel at 100% with the bat and we need his gun at SS.
A series win tonight against the NL’s best would be nice before hitting the road. Would give ESPN something to talk about.
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Wow!!! Randy Wolf stupidly tries to keep LaRoche close, and misses the first baseman glove..
D’Oh!! I somehow thought Wolf threw over, but it was Martin the catcher trying to pick him off! 😳
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Yeah Ber, He also missed the throw from Ethier that would have nail Adam at the plate in the same inning…
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Roachy is somewhat like Sid. Thundering herd and all…
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Testing Firefox. Looks good. Type is bigger. Fonts are more clear and readable. I may just switch.
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wow!!! Many times faster upload too.
I’m a Firefox guy now.
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SG, how many years ago was it that I told you about Firefox?? 😆
OK – you may have seen this before, but I still LOL every time I read it!
DURING HIS CHILDHOOD, EBERT “SONNY” WALTERS WAS COUNSELED BY HIS TOUGH OLD COWBOY GRANDFATHER FROM MONTANA THAT IF HE WANTED TO LIVE A LONG LIFE, THE SECRET WAS TO SPRINKLE A PINCH OF GUN POWDER ON HIS OATMEAL EVERY MORNING.
HIS FAMILY SAID EBERT DID THAT RELIGIOUSLY EVERY MORNING. HE OUTLIVED HIS WIFE IONA BY 52 YEARS, HE DIED LAST THURSDAY AT AGE 104.
EBERT LEFT BEHIND 14 CHILDREN, 30 GRANDCHILDREN,
45 GREAT-GRAND-CHILDREN, 25 GREAT-GREAT-GRAND-CHILDREN, AND A 15 FOOT DEEP HOLE WHERE THE CREMATORIUM USED TO BE.
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CL, I may be slow…
But…
I’m a techno-idiot too. 😆
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15 foot hole 😆
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D’Oh!! I somehow thought Wolf threw over, but it was Martin the catcher trying to pick him off!
Like Chance Gardener, one can learn a lot by watching.
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Yep SG… Just like Firefox… 🙂
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😆
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Love seeing Furcal…
do u-turns at first.
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If the Braves win tonight, I will have hope, against all hope, against all odds, that they might possibly, however improbable, nearly impossible… have a chance at climbing the highest mountain, swimming the shark infested sea, that the Phillies melt or we climb over three or four wild-card teams to once again, at long last… make the playoffs. Kinda. Sorta. Maybe. If all goes well. With any luck.
But that little microscopic shred is all I need to be sure. 😀
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How is your hope feeling now SG??? 😛
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Hopeless? Less than Hopeful???
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Is it too late to be sellers??? Dodgers could use a starter…I guess. Lots of players will pass thru waivers this year.
I was wondering why Will Ohman wasn’t in the game. Seems he has had a lot of arm troubles this year. First his shoulder, then his elbow. Gee, I wonder if being in 83 games last year hurt him
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Greetings and salutations good people of Stuffville! Long time, no see! I hope all is well with you. The past months have been mighty unsettling here. I’ve been working three jobs and helping attend to my sick father and not really had the energy to say anything interesting. I have sort of been following Braves baseball this year but not really. Hey, did y’all hear the Bravos traded for that McLouth kid from Pittsburgh? Pretty cool stuff!
Anyway, not sure if anyone noticed my absence but I wanted to let you know that I have not (yet) assumed room temperature. Still around and kicking. I hope to get Klobber’s Knob Creek Saloon back up and running (profitably) soon. I know it’s in a shambles with the way SG has been running it so there’s lots of work to be done.
Go Braves!
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That was rather ugly.
Off to Tiger in the morning (5 am. My dad is a sadist). 3 weeks of Braves on radio & fun with the ol’ laptop.
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CHRIS!!!! We missed you, big brother! (((hug)))
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Howdy FBG! How ya been?
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Pretty good. Business is kinda slow for Sugarplums Sweets though. Spent 6 weeks in Tiger this spring doing loads of yard work. Dad & I planted about 50 azaleas.
Sorry to hear about your dad.
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Thanks FBG. Dad’s going to be fine. He fell down my front steps and broke his wrist. He’s had balance issues for a few years now which are getting worse. He’s had to have four surgeries in the last six weeks to put a plate in, clean out infections and do skin grafts. He’s spent a total of about ten days in the hospital. I’ve been spending a lot of time at their house doing things to make it safer for him there.
Sorry to hear about Sugar Plums being slow. Do you have a website? That’s a great way to get business!
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No website. I’m not that “official” yet. Mom keeps saying she’s going to print business cards for me. When I did that big cheesecake catering order this spring, guests kept asking for cards.
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Let me now when you want a website. That’s what I’m selling now. I’ll make sure you get the “friends” rate!
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I hate to leave now but I’m getting up at 4:30. 😦
So glad you’re back, Chris! Talk to y’all tomorrow night.
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I’ll think about it & we’ll discuss later. ‘night!
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Have a good trip!
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Chris! You blankety blank! 😉 Bought time you showed up!
Sorry to hear about your Pa, glad he seems to be healing up!
Yes we missed you, but you wouldn’t know, cuz you didn’t see you being missed! 😛
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Oh, that game last night was not so much ugly as it was a sad reminder of what the Braves don’t have… hitting. JJ picked a bad time to have control problems. The pen didn’t help.
OK… now my hope is thinner than a microscopic thread if that is possible. Yes, it’s possible but it’s a pretty thin thread. As fine as a frog hair split four ways.
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Klobber was in the house! Hey, stranger. Sorry about your dad. Sounds like he’ll be fine though and you are a good son to take good care.
Three jobs? I didn’t realize Klobber was in the Bahamas all this time. 😆
I’ve been keeping up the saloon, going by on occasion and making sure the juke box was running and stuff. By the way, the petty cash drawer was out of quarters (and paper money), so I found out how to stick a straw in the coin slot to hear free music. Pretty cool, huh?
The ‘ol place is getting pretty dusty. Here’s what we need. Klobber’s checklist:
1. Thorough dusting and cleaning.
2. More straws for the juke box.
3. A net to catch the pigeons.
4. Some peanuts and those little yummy goldfish and pretzels. Oh. almost forgot… pecans, cashews and macadamia nuts. May as well go a little upscale, eh? So please pick those up too.
5. Naps, coasters, ice, mixers, light bulbs, paper towels and such. All out. Oh, also out of TP (uh, not Terry… the other tp). We’re down to the sports section of the NY Times. The Editorial section, um, went first.
6. New bar stools. The other new ones broke. They just don’t make’em like they used to. They didn’t even last a month all stacked up on top of each other to hold up that corner of the saloon that, uh, caved in when somebody ran into it with the truck. Cost me $500 bucks to fix that back bumper. Does the saloon have insurance?
7. Did I say beer and liquor? No? Well, you’re all out. Can’t have a saloon without booze, right? Too long to list, so I just left the empties on the floor behind the bar so you’d know what to get.
So, Klobber… hate to say it with you being so busy and all, but the old place is getting a bit run down, supplies are depleted and there’s no place to sit, so you’ll need to stop neglecting your fourth job.
Can you do carpentry and masonry? Need that too. Jobs five and six. And new records for the juke box. Those are getting old. Maybe a big screen HD TV too. Every good saloon needs a few of those of those. The new one that you had in there only sold for 50 bucks. Had to restock the rooskie makin’s a few times. It was no trouble, really.
Hope this helps. No need to thank me for lookin’ after the place and making the shopping list was no trouble at all. You should know… the customers were real happy while the liquor lasted. To build up the clientele and get the word out, all drinks were free. I’m sure they’ll all pour back in when the lights are back on and the beer is flowing. Rowdy bunch, but real nice. Oh, that reminds me… add glasses and mugs to the list. They just vanished out of thin air.
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No TV in Tiger? 😯
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G’morning… tired today. Big weekend.
And, school started back around here this morning. Mrs. Raisins is back to teaching, young lad Raisins to 8th grade, young lass Raisins to 1st grade. The dog and I are now rattling around this very quiet and empty house like a couple of BB’s in a shoebox.
I miss ’em…
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Howdy, klobber!!!
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Buster Olney:
The Phillies landed the biggest pre-deadline prize in Cliff Lee, and Detroit might’ve acquired the biggest difference-maker in Jarrod Washburn, but Atlanta may have done the best overall work in summertime deals so far. The Braves have reshaped their offense by acquiring Nate McLouth and Adam LaRoche, and only four teams scored more runs than the Braves in July. They already have outstanding starting pitching, of course; only the Giants’ and Cardinals’ pitchers have lower ERAs. As of Sunday morning, the Braves are four games behind the Giants and Rockies in the wild-card standings, and they are dangerous.
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CHRIS!!!! WOW!!!! I can’t tell you how GREAT it is to see you again!!!
Didn’t know you’d be missed??!!! You kiddin’ me???
I am a happy lady!!
Role reversal with parents is a bit hard to get used to, isn’t it? I’m really glad your Dad had you there! Salute, my friend!
OK – my Midnight Adventure:
So, there I was! Sound asleep. When suddenly something went
<SPLESSSSHHHSSSHHHHSSSSHHHHSSSSSHHHHSSSSHHHHSSSSSHHHHSSSSSHHHHSSSSH!
Jumped up way too fast, nearly fell, dashed to the bathroom door to find water, under high pressure, spraying everywhere!
I turned the water supply knob as far OFF as I could and it reduced the stream by about 98% but wouldn’t stop it completely.
The place where the water supply line enters the bottom of the toilet tank is where the failure is.
Built a dam of towels across the front of the door, but the carpet in the bedroom is soaked.
Believe me! You cannot find a plumber on a late Sunday night!
A plumber is enroute now… 9 1/2 hours later. How many gallons is that?
Can I cry now? 😥
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Before going back to the treadmill (or was that grindstone or salt mine?), I’ll throw out an idea to improve Braves offense. Move Chipper to cleanup. Move Yunel to the number 3 slot. Keep Mac behind Chipper.
With his extended slump, the threat of Chipper is greater than the performance reality of Chipper’s hitting. And his HR production has all but disappeared. Yunel would see good pitches due to the threat of our heralded bopper and drive in Nate and Prado.
When Chipper gets his stroke back, then maybe flip it back, but for now I think that would work.
I’m calling Wren. 😀
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Oh CL!!!! That’s terrible! 😦 You ought to ask the guy, or call back if he has left(you’ve paid enough money) to find out where the outside shut off for the water is.
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V, Buster must have written that yesterday, we are 5 out…Marlins are 3 back, Cubs 2 back and Giants and Colorado are in a tie for the WC.
I really think our up and down optimism depends on seeing a game or not. Seeing that game made me feel like they are done. Not seeing it??? I see the standings showing they are only 5 back with 2 months to play.
We do have very good pitching. Its just that right field platoon hasn’t exactly set the world on fire, we don’t know what the 1st baseman is going to do…and if GA is just having a hot streak, or will drive in some runs the last 2 months of the season…we shall see, won’t we???
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You know, Ber… the only thing we know for sure with this team is that you can’t really know anything for sure. They are SOOO inconsistent.
Just a theory, though… last couple of series looked kinda rough. But Chipper just ain’t Chipper at the moment, and I think thre is a direct correlation. When he comes around, and he will, the offense should be back on track. And I still like the LaRoche move. Kotch’s many singles/few K’s didn’t drive in as many runs as Roachey’s more HR’s/more K’s/. And the power threat in the lineup at spots 3-6 gives Chipper, Mac and GA better pitches to hit.
Now, I’m not so delusional as to think our lineup is now suddenly gangbusters, but the fact does remain, as Olney said, only four teams scored more runs than the Braves in July.
Once Chipper, regains his form and Yunel gets back (no small detail there), the lineup will be strong 1-7. Yep, RF could be better, but it is the 8 hole.
Just a thought… since it is the 8 spot we’re talking about, I wouldn’t mind seeing Schafer back when his wrist is fully healed and he gets a few rehab games behind him. Send Diaz/Church to the bench; R/L pinch hitters between the 2 instead of the switch-hitting Norton, who goes fishing permanently. Schafer would have far less expectations, and would be no worse offensively and much better defensively. (Schaf in CF, N8 in RF.) Just a random thought…
Anyway, I still believe they can make a run at the WC, but have to get Chipper back on track. As we’ve said for years, as Chipper goes, so go the Braves.
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Where everbody go???
V, not a bad idea at all! I don’t know what Schafer has been doing in the minors, but at this point, why not try him in CF?
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Where did everybody go?
CL has been drying out carpet with a gi-normous shop vac! Many, many gallons!
The throne room now has a new throne and a new water supply line.
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Wow, serves me right for abandoning my business for so long. Klobber’s Knob Creek Saloon is a dump. I would have poured myself a drink but not only is there no Knob Creek, there is NOTHING left. No well vodka. No beer. No chardonnay. Not even any peppermint schnapps. The place is a wreck. Broken glasses, bottles, tables and chairs everywhere.
CL, sounds like we both need a clean up crew. Maybe we could get a quantity discount.
Folks, thanks for all the kind words. I have missed being here but as I said last night, I’ve not been paying much attention to baseball this year and really haven’t had much to add to any conversation. Remember my love for minor league baseball? I haven’t been to a single game this year. The last few years I’ve averaged over 30 games a season. We have about a month left in this years season and I’m not sure if I’ll be able make it down there.
Things in my life aren’t right yet, but they are more right than they’ve been in a while. For the first time in a long time I feel like things are moving in the right direction. Keep your fingers crossed for me. I need every bit of goodness I can get!
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No TV in Tiger, SG. We’re not here long enough at a time to justify the cost of satellite hookup.
CL, I’ve had that very thing happen. What a mess.
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CL, ok…you have a good excuse!
Chris, I haven’t been to a game in 2 years! I still manage to flap my gums incessantly ! 😉
Seriously, doesn’t have to be much more than a hi fellers, at least that’s what I think…don’t you think we put expectations on ourselves that others don’t have???
If you are pressed for time, that’s different. But we all need our escape, and reading and talking baseball for a few minutes, a couple times a week seems like a good release from the real world….
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Chris, when you’re able you need to check out Gwinnett. The ballpark is really nice.
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So help me, I thought the braves had the day off!
I will be falling out before this game ends, only slept 4 innings…hours…no joke I didn’t do that as a joke…anything I said today…don’t pay too much attention to it!
Nite!
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Chris, just seeing you here makes me very happy! 😀
You and yours will continue to be in the prayers of many here! We’re with you!!
Um, seems as if a certain gentleman from Savannah has some ‘splainin’ to do!!! Guess I’ll have to dip into our funds, huh? It’s up to about 90 bazillion now, so we can afford it!
FBG, it sure ain’t fun!! I betcha I have the cleanest bathroom floor in the county, though! 😆
I’ve learned that it’s not the things that go BUMP during the night. The sounds of Old Faithful are the ones you really have to watch out for!!
BTW, where is Hillbilly?? He’s been AWOL far too long!
Salty is also MIA.
Okay – gonna go tuck myself in! ‘Night, y’all!!
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Ber, my life has been a mess for a while. Just now trying to get things straight. My work schedule has been very odd. As I mentioned, I have been working three jobs. Two of them are part time but they have weird hours. One is very early in the morning; the other, rather late. That has made for some rather funky sleep schedules and reduced energy levels.
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CL, as always, thank you for the kind words. You truly are a Carolina Lady! You surely know how to make a guy feel welcome.
FBG, I’ve heard the new park is nice. Haven’t had much time to get out of town lately but I’d surely like too. Have you been up there yet? Tiger doesn’t look like it’s too far from Greenville, SC where the Red Sox have an affiliate. It’s a new facility and from what I’ve heard it is absolutely gorgeous. You should check it out sometime. Of course, Rome isn’t far either and I hear they have a really cool park too.
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Been to Gwinnett twice. Haven’t been over to Greenville since Chipper & Javy were playing there. It’s kind of a roundabout drive from here.
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Both trades — Francoeur for Church and Kotchman for LaRoche — might have seemed lateral moves, both being an exchange of similar players who manned the same position, but they really weren’t. LaRoche gives the Braves a home-run threat the rest of this season, and his down-the-road contract isn’t a concern because he doesn’t have one. And if Church isn’t apt to have the highs Francoeur had, neither will he suffer the same funks.
Neither of these Braves’ July trades yielded an All-Star, but that wasn’t the intent. The idea was to clear the air in the 2009 team’s clubhouse — Kotchman wasn’t hugely popular among Braves, and Francoeur needed a change of venue — and to clear the deck for the next wave of ballyhooed prospects. Because this organization has much invested in Freeman and Heyward. Like, say, the next 10 years. – Mark Bradley, ajc
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CL, how did I miss your last post when mine was after it? Sorry to hear of the indoor water park adventure. Hope you got some help getting everything back in working order and dried out. Fans and dehumidifiers work wonders on wet stuff that can’t be removed.
Um, seems as if a certain gentleman from Savannah has some ’splainin’ to do!!! Guess I’ll have to dip into our funds, huh? It’s up to about 90 bazillion now, so we can afford it!
Well CL, in my quest to keep the place up for Klobber, I spent many hours there, making sure nothing got stale and such, keeping the patrons happy and all. It was quite a difficult job but was the least I could do for our good Bahamian barkeep. I’ll be glad when Klobber gets the tarp over that leaky roof and the TARP funds from Stuffville to clean everything up and restock. Need a bartender too. It was getting old, having to, uh, serve myself drinks every night. 😆
Yes, CL… like Biden said, sometimes we have to spend more to avoid, uh, you know. A saloon bailout will stimulate the economy. Free drinks all around will stimulate Stuffville! 😆
Boy, I’m glad I didn’t stay up late last night to watch that slug-fest. I’m not talking the kind of slug-fest that typically connotes lots of hits and runs scored. Nope, looking at the wrap and the box, it was slugly. But the Braves PR department always has a bright outlook and some uplifting interviews to fall back on in times (years) like these.
Braves intent on winning…
All I can say to that headline writer is, the road to Palookaville is won with good intentions. Here’s a quote from Roachy:
“It’s a good change for me,” said LaRoche, who was with the Braves when they last visited the postseason in 2005. “I’ve missed the playoffs for too long.”
Has anyone told Roachy that, uh, we’re 7.5 games back in the division and trailing no less than 5 teams in the wild card? Has anyone let him know that we haven’t seen the playoffs in a while? This next one is from Roachy’s huntin’ buddy, Chipper:
“We’re shooting for the top,” Jones said. “I think if we aim high and don’t get there, then maybe the Wild Card will be a byproduct of not winning the NL East. We’re not going to worry about winning the Wild Card. We’re going to worry about winning the division and going out each and every day and trying to play as solid as we can.”
From one who also is an avid deer hunter, it sounds like Chipper may need to go out to the shooting range and sight-in his rifle. Scopes can be pesky and need adjustment from time to time throughout the season. He should take along his dad when he goes. Maybe kill two birds with one shot, so to speak.
Not withstanding last nights loss to the second worst team in the NL, it’s nice to see such confidence from Chipper and the Braves and it’s good to hear that Roachy and McLeadoff are happy to be in Atlanta, but I have to wonder if the Braves PR team is swapping out the clubhouse Gatorade with something more, uh, Kool.
I’m always hopeful but that frog hair is getting split mighty thin. If the Braves keep this up, it won’t be long before we hear those dreaded words, from the pig’s own mouth.
Now, enough rattlin’ on. Time for another cup ‘o joe and back to the drawing board.
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Right, SG! Sounds like you did a – uh – really -uh- fine job there! Will about deplete the town’s funds to get it back in the shape it was before Chris’ sabbatical!
CHRIS, I AM SO HAPPY YOU’RE BACK!!!!! 😀 😀 😀
Man! Now maybe I can get a nice cold Diet Coke once in a while!!!
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Don’t worry, CL. With a little arm twisting, I’m sure you can get an additional $2,000,000,000 thrown in to fund your
vote buying program, er,pet project, er, necessary directive.LikeLike
FOXsports.com:
[Chipper] Jones’ batting average has dropped to .286 as he struggles to smooth his mechanics. He is also spending a lot of time in the video room with hitting coach Terry Pendleton, not looking at his own video, but helping teammates with theirs.
I have no utterable words to express what I really think about that statement…
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Interesting numbers from FOXsports.com: and my own commentary.
–3B Chipper Jones’ batting average is lower than he’d like (.286), but he hits when it counts: His average with runners in scoring position is .364. He’s had 10 hits in 22 opportunities with runners in scoring position since July 1. He IS clutch.
–SS Yunel Escobar was back in the starting lineup after missing three games with a sore right wrist, courtesy of being hit by a pitch. The Braves score a full run more when he is in the lineup: 4.6 runs with him, 3.5 runs without him. Any question that he’s this year’s team MVP?>
–1B Adam LaRoche did what he was brought back to do: hit a home run. In his previous two games with the Braves, LaRoche was 4-for-6 with a walk. Casey was a nice guy and a “nice” player. Adam makes more of an impact.
–2B Martin Prado is the only player in the lineup batting over .300 after Sunday’s game, although another .300 hitter, SS Yunel Escobar, was back Monday. Prado continues to play with a sore groin and badly bruised left ankle. Maybe not team MVP, but pretty dang close.
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oops… 😳
screwed up the ol’ italics thang…
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V, I am starting to wonder about the nice guy, Kotchman. Bowman was unusually tactful in the comment you posted above. He said… “Kotchman wasn’t hugely popular among Braves” That’s not the first time I have read a comment like that. Perhaps he wanted to still be playing for the Angels. His replacement, Kendry Morales, is hitting .299 23 69. He might not be a regular there anymore, either.
V, remember how we were a wishin’ for Juan Rivera???
.316 18 60, and he has missed about 15 games this year…sigh…
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If you see anybody publicly opposing President Obama’s plan to implement a government-centric overhaul of the health care system, the White House wants you to report that person
Here’s the link: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/Facts-Are-Stubborn-Things/
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😆
Mark Bowman, referring to the bruise on Norton’s leg:
The bruise extends from ankle to knee and I’d detail some of the colors present if I’d actually seen them before. Believe me when I say it’s harder to look at Norton’s calf than it was to watch Jeff Bennett attempt to keep inherited runners from scoring.
😆
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Raisins, 2:56 – 😆 great use of words by Bowman!
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V, that is pretty funny! 😉 I checked his site, but he didn’t mention how he got hurt…must have been a pitch, eh???
Also from Bowman’s blog….
Minor League Rehab stints: Both Omar Infante and Buddy Carlyle will play for Class A Rome on Tuesday night. Carlyle, who believes he could return to the Atlanta bullpen soon, will pitch the first two innings. This will mark the beginning of a Minor League rehab assignment for Infante, who has been out since May 20 with a broken left hand.
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Sigh…one of the sets I bought at big lots(you may recall me mentioning some cool, cheap TV show sets) was Dallas. I put up several seasons, and got quite excited to see one season (season 8) was bid up to $66!!! Then that voice in the back of my head said…why did someone bid it up that high??? Shoot, why did someone else bid it up to $65??? Well, I got a message back after my second invoice to him.
A future head of industry no doubt….
im not going to get this its noq $66.00 i can buy it for 30.00 at the store i want to know why its this high?
I really bit my tongue and tried my darnest to explain it was an auction, and he bid it up to that price…sigh….
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How Norton got hurt:
Fouled a pitch off his leg. It’s reportedly the hardest ball he’s hit this year.
OK, that was just wrong… 😳
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Bad V, bad V!
😉
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Raisins – 😆 😆
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I think the only time I was ever at umpbump, it was to see photos of Mark Kotsay’s beautific wife….anyway….
LaRoche trade is about 2010?
http://umpbump.com/press/2009/08/01/laroche-trade-is-about-2010/
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How’d we score the second run? The radio station keeps cutting to commercial in the middle of innings.
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I had an unfortunate encounter with a yellowjacket today. Owie. 😦
Anybody know what eats hostas from underground & how to get rid of it?
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Everything likes to eat hastas. Sounds like nematodes or a virus if you don’t see signs on the leaves. Not sure which poison, but I’m sure any garden store has some stuff to get rid of them. Google can help.
Yellowjacket stings can put a damper on the day, unless you immediately apply soggy tobacco. I keep some around just in case. A true friend will chew it for you. 😆
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Good to see a Braves win. Reading the box, with a 3 run homer and hitting into 3 DP’s, seems Diaz is on his way to a highly inconsistent season… again. Walking enigma.
Also note that everyone got a hit except for Mac and Chippah. Mac is no doubt mid-season tired from, along with our SP’s, carrying the team on his shoulders. Probably pressing a bit too.
Chipper needs to rest a game or two. While he’s doing that he should be watching his own videos, talking to his pop and laying off coaching others… and staying as far away from TP as possible. I still think Chipper needs to be moved to the cleanup spot, his perceived threat being greater than his current threat and all. Alas, I repeat myself. WWMBS?
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Correction: Mac had one hit.
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Ber, the world is full of idiots.
That Chipper is not working on HIS swing but rather helping his teammates is noble, but foolish. What the hell are they paying Pendleton for anyway?
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Maybe Chipper is coaching TP on how to coach hitters. Of course, being around TP that much is enough to screw up anyone’s swing, even Chipper’s. My advice is to stay far, far away.
That said, 9 runs with little contribution from Chipper and Mac is noteworthy.
I missed all of the game last night. School started back here in J-town this past Monday, so my schedule has shifted back to the Ben Franklin-esque early to bed early to rise. I may miss all of the West Coast swing. Of course, missing 4 in LA may not be such a bad thing. 😀
I have now shifted my thinking toward extending JV. The guy is just nasty. I like what Roachey said – he can throw any of 5 effective pitches on any count. For those who say we have to choose between Huddy and JV… I hope not. But JV is the better pitcher at this juncture – comparing a healthy Huddy. When Huddy’s sinker isn’t sinking, he’s in trouble. If one of JV’s pitches is off, he just concentrates on his others.
A staff going forward of Lowe, JJ, JV, Hanson and KK is pretty darn good. And don’t give KK too hard a time. He’s our 5th best option right now, and is better than most #5 guys. Of course, he’s getting paid like a 3 or 4, but there’s nothing we can do about that now. But how’d you like to get into a 5 game series and trot Lowe, JJ and JV out there? Add Hanson in a 7 gamer. I think the Braves could surprise folks if they could get in.
6 1/2 out in the East, 2 1/2 out in the WC. Either will work…
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Buster Olney’s current blog talks about JHey in glowing terms. Unfortunately, you have to be an “insider” to read it all. I’m not… 😦
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More Olney numbers:
The top 8 payrolls in the majors belong to the Yankees ($206MM), Mets ($139MM), Cubs ($138MM), Tigers ($130MM), Phillies ($128MM), Red Sox ($123MM), Angels ($117MM) and Dodgers ($109MM). And 7 of those 8 could qualify for the playoffs. And the 8th is the Mets, who can’t get past themselves to accomplish anything.
Yanks should get in, Tigers should, Phils should, BoSox should, Angels should, Dodgers should.
Sad correlation, if you ask me. Now I believe some of the mid-payroll teams might slip in, but even if only 6 of the 8 playoff teams are in the top 8 in payroll, what does that say about the true integrity of the game?
So, I can’t throw out the problem without offering a solution, can I? All I can say is that the NFL is by far the most competitive pro sports league in existence, and probably the most successful. The NFL is a salary cap league. Of course, we all know that the uber-powerful Players Association will never approve it. And to be honest, I don’t know if I’d like it in baseball. I do believe, though, that teams should have a minimum. Teams should NOT be allowed to trim their entire payroll to within ear-shot of A-Rod’s individual salary. It’s just wrong.
Perhaps a version of revenue sharing would make the difference to some of the “smaller market” teams. We all know that the Yanks, Sox, Mets, etc. have their own regional cable/TV deals that pour millions into their coffers. Shouldn’t opposing teams have access to some of that? After all, you can’t have a game without both teams. That’s just my thoughts, anyway…
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2 1/2 out in the WC….
I wish!
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OK… this probably wrong, but here it is. Here’s the text of Olney’s piece on Heyward, copied from a source who copied it from someone who is an “insider”. (I don’t think ESPN will miss a couple of dollars, do you?):
The conversations between the managers and the opposing third basemen occur organically in the minors, because the manager is often in the third base coaching box and there is time to kill between innings, between pitches. But over the last month, a handful of third basemen in enemy uniforms have turned to Mississippi Braves manager Phillip Wellman and said the exact same thing: “He’s 19? That’s unbelievable.”
The player they’re referring to is Jason Heyward, the 6-foot-5 inch left-handed hitting outfielder who is wrecking Class AA pitching as if he were a major league All-Star on a minor league injury assignment. Heyward, who turns 20 on Sunday, is batting .422 in 27 games since being promoted from Class A, including 11 doubles, two triples and four homers. He has an on-base percentage of .505, and an OPS of 1.227.
But at the core of his extraordinary potential is his plate discipline. Heyward is such a good prospect that he probably could get away with being a free swinger, Wellman mused.
“But he has a tremendous approach at the plate,” said Wellman. “He doesn’t swing at bad pitches.” As a result, Heyward has 15 walks and only 10 strikeouts.
“I feel very, very fortunate to be the manager who keeps an eye on him every day,” said Wellman. “He’s some kind of special. I keep sitting back and waiting to find some sort of weakness, and I don’t see it.”
He can throw. He can play defense. He hits for power. He hits for average. In the first game of a doubleheader earlier this week, Heyward was on second base and a swinging bunt was hit in front of Montgomery third baseman Chris Nowak — a do or die play for Nowak. He rushed it, reached down — and it got past him, no more than four or five feet. But that was enough for Heyward to round third and sprint home and cross the plate without a throw.
Heyward didn’t start in the second game of the doubleheader, but when he entered the game as a pinch-hitter, he smashed a line drive right up the middle. It hit the pitcher’s glove, Wellman reported, went straight up, and was barehanded. “I think the ball caught him,” said Wellman.
Wellman had gotten the message to do this interview early Tuesday afternoon, and before returning the call, he thought about a question that he assumed I might ask him: Who does Heyward remind Wellman of?
He was right. I did ask him. But before he answered, I told Wellman that I had seen Heyward play an exhibition game for the Braves in spring training and thought he strongly resembled a player from the past. “But I’m not going to say who, because I’m curious to see who you think,” I added.
Wellman paused. “I tell you what, in terms of the tools and talent, the fact that he can run and he’s big, he reminds me of somebody I saw a long time ago. Darryl Strawberry.”
Exactly, I responded that’s exactly who Heyward reminded me of, because he’s so tall and left-handed and so angular in his strength. “But I think Jason is bigger than (Strawberry) was,” said Wellman. “He’s not quite as long and lean and skinny as Strawberry. He’s bigger.”
He also, at a young age, already possesses the kind of presence that Strawberry had, the kind of aura that caused other players to stop and watch him take batting practice. When he and teammate Freddie Freeman were promoted to Class AA, Wellman sensed that the entire Mississippi team began drawing some adrenaline from the young slugger, some confidence. “The whole ballclub feeds off those guys,” said Wellman. “We’d been struggling in the first half, and they changed the whole complexion around the team, the whole environment. Everything became better.”
Heyward’s personality has a lot to do with that, Wellman believes. He is the son of two Dartmouth College graduates, and his manager finds him to be humble, understated. “It’s obvious his parents did a tremendous job with him,” said Wellman. “He’s very mature for his age. He’s as humble as can be, and I hope he stays that way, because he’s an absolute pleasure to be around.”
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2 1/2 out in the WC….
I wish!
😳
I am not a typist! 😳
Of course, that should have read 5 1/2 out in the WC… 😳
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V, I want Heyward playing right field…NOW!!!! Make it so! 😀
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Well, Salty and Chris are here, but where is Gil???
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Baseball Prospetcus’ Kevin Goldstein:
MLB’s decision to slash slot recommendations by 10 percent this year has further impeded an already inexcusably drawn-out process:
For top three picks Stephen Strasburg (Nationals), Dustin Ackley (Mariners), and Donavan Tate (Padres), nothing more than a last-minute deal was expected, but for picks that are seemingly obvious slot selections, the lack of talks is a bit frustrating. “I can understand a lot of these guys sitting around,” exclaimed one team official, “but if you are a guy like Mike Minor or Mike Leake, what the [heck] are you waiting for?”
What they might be waiting for is simply a deal that matches last year’s slot, as opposed to the ten percent reductions, which in the cases of Minor and Leake are differences approaching $250,000, not exactly a trivial sum of money. Still it’s enough to create either a situation with there is a stalemate between the team and the player, or in many cases, there may already be a deal in place, but Major League Baseball will not recognize it until late in the signing period, for fear of a domino effect of over-slot bonuses, which of course will happen anyway.
What a hilariously inefficient system. So, in those cases where the player is happy to quickly settle for 2008 slot money but cannot because the league will not sign off on it until right before the signing deadline, both parties basically squander two months for no other reason than to satisfy the league’s impractical desire to depress draft signing bonuses, which is an exercise in futility unless a hard slotting system is installed.
Sounds like a government operation…
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FOXsports’ Ben Maller:
Who’s more disappointing, [the Mets’ Jose] Reyes for being injury prone or David Wright who can’t hit homers at the Mets’ new ballpark?
Ouch! 👿
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Wow… did I ever mess up that smiley or what?!?
Shoulda been 😈 or even :mrgreen:, but not 👿
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And remember, it’s a 3:35pm EST start today…
Yep, a 2 hour drive up the coast warrants an early start. A cross country flight – losing 3 additional hours to time zones – is cool by ESPN, though. Their arrival time in SD was almost 6:00am EST, which is what the Bravos body clocks were on Monday morning. No wonder they were so lethargic Monday night.
Evil ESPN! 🙄
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OK, I’ve rambled enough. And it’s thundering here. I better go and cut my grass before it becomes tall enough to lose the dog. I work during the day, it rains in the late afternoon. Bad combination. Work will have to wait today…
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Greetings all, No need to send Bill Clinton.. I have escaped….
I have been somewhat busy the past couple of days, today I went over to my mom’s place to check on the house and mow her lawn… I guess I felt I did not have enough of my own grass to cut.
Braves played much better last night. Diaz drives me crazy, last night he hit into 3 DPs and struck out once but then hit a 2 run homer. he is hitting much kike Frenchy, only different.
And it is good to see Chris stop in for a bit. It’s always good when old friends come to call.
Ber, my Lexus is driving me crazy… I think I may have held onto it a couple of month too long. The tune-up cost me $485 and now I think the fuel pump has gone bad… I will now have to drive it for another 5 years to recover the cost of my investment.
Okay, time to get ready for the game. Later ya’ll
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Mow that lawn, tote that barge, lift that bale
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Gil, yikes! Bet it’s fun to have a car you can’t personally work on without being a rocket scientist! 😉
What year is it???
My Dads best friend finally sold his, a 1999 (I think) it had almost 300K on it, and just never gave him a single problem. I was really hoping he’d just give it to us, to be nice and all :p …but his mechanic gave him a lot…for a car with those kind of miles.
Got another used one, a 2006 I think???
Well, off to see if washington mutual…err, I mean Chase is still open til 6 PM or not. They may have improved things by closing earlier….
Still haven’t turned on the game! Keep forgetting! Slept thru the game last night…
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Wow… interesting numbers just flashed on the broadcast. NL leaders in HR’s since the break:
1. Arizona – 28
2. Chicago – 27
3. Atlanta – 26
Amazing…
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Ber, it’s a ’92 SC400 with 149000 mile, just barely broke in for a Lexus. There is always the possibility I just got some bad fuel but the symptoms have all the inklings of it being the fuel pump.
yes, it is frustrating to have to pay out the yingyang for someone else to do work I was once capable of but I now I have have to be content with doing my own work on the lawn mowers.
Braves about to finish off the Padres. Up by four with Sorineto pitching.
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Braves are an enigma. Days like today, they seem like a formidable team. And to look at the lineup, it’s a pretty good one. Can it carry over to LA? Maybe we’ll really know if there are any playoff hopes after the next 4 games…
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V, yep! The next 4 games will tell us a lot. But, that seems to be the case every week, doesn’t it???
Not that anyone asked, but a good series against either the best, or 2nd best team in the NL is splitting the series.
But, if the team doesn’t run off 8 out of 9 wins soon, we are a .500 team, and that won’t get you the WC, will it???
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Yeah Raisins, what Ber said…
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The Russians are coming! The Russians are coming!
Swapping a Georgia for a Georgia?
😯
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Newly elected radio HOF’er, Neil Boortz:
Ok, so just to get this straight .. I wanted to make sure that we are all on the same page. If you oppose Barack Obama’s healthcare plan, you can consider yourself the following:
-A right-right extremist
-An unruly member of a mob
-A person who is not expected to dress respectably
-Desperate to destroy Barack Obama
-Unwilling to change
-Unwilling to “seize the moment”
-And you don’t like change. In fact, you probably don’t even change your underwear.
😆
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Very interesting article reveals that Frank Wren is on the road to see the Braves this week… Oh, did I fail to mention he’s watching the AA Mississippi Braves? (There is even mention of a certain Braves prospect in the piece.)
Wonder why that could be? B)
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20090806/COL0504/908060348/1287/SPORTS
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Uh… B) was supposed to be 8)…
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😡
OK… B) was supposed to be 8) space …
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“We’ve had players, such as Andruw Jones and Rafael Furcal, who have made the jump and been successful at the big league level at that age before,” Wren said. “Some players can handle it and be successful at a younger age than others.” 😯
Maybe the light’s been on all along…or maybe he’s a B&S lurker and we’ve turned Wren! 😆 Still, on his examples…can we confirm Furcal was 19? There seems to be some debate!
My gut says Heyward’s coming…the future has arrived. Yes, he’ll struggle…nature of the game, not his age. His head’s on straight.
Freeman…almost certainly a September call-up…but if there’s an injury…sooner. If the team can make the run, who do you want on the roster?
Hey, Klobber! Welcome home,son!
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Until now, I would have whole-heartedly believed that we wouldn’t see JHey before next spring. Now, I’m almost convinced they’re gonna bring him up. All the signs seem to point that way. I am convinced it was the underlying impetus for the Frenchman trade. No doubt in my mind whatsoever. The Diaz/Church platoon is just not major league quality. Church is a fine and versatile bench player, but not a starter. (Bye, Norton?)
Could it be true that Wren is there to make a first hand judgment on whether JHey’s ready?
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Braves get a deal done with 1st rounder Mike Minor:
http://www.tennessean.com/article/20090805/SPORTS0602/90805084/1002/SPORTS/Mike+Minor+gets+big+deal+from+Braves
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V, I imagine ol’ Boortz getting into the radio Hall, must cheese a lot of folks off! 😉
Is it really possible the JHey kid(Tweaking your idea a bit, making it all mine! 😛 ) is on his way??? Wren must read this blog! Once he saw we were all for it, how could he not??? 😀
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The Rookies are coming! The Rookies are coming!
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Russians, Rooskies, Rookies… natural progression. 😀
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SG, LOL!
Now for some breaking news.. the war on terror is over.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/aug/06/white-house-war-terrorism-over/?feat=home_headlines
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Sad news from our friend Scribe –
His Dad left for a MUCH better place on Tuesday.
We can get a very good idea of the measure of Dad by knowing his terrific son.
We’re with you, Scribe!
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Scribe, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family…
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Scribe, very sorry to hear of the loss of your Father….
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Scribe, you have my most sincere condolences.
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Scribe, our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
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These west coast games are just too tough to stay up for. I’d record it but wouldn’t be able to watch until this weekend. Even the Saturday game is on at 10. Guess it’s online game wraps and box results until the game Sunday at 4:00.
We should be going for the sweep in that game. 😀
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I’m shutting work down for the day. Now I can say…
The Rooskies are coming! The Rooskies are coming! 😀
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Scribe, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
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I feel for anyone that stayed up late and watched the game last night. Had it won until Soriano coughed up another walk-off 3 run dinger. Makes his over-use in the previous games, the last one while leading by 4 runs, another example of… you know, the old playbook. Can’t have the same closer and the same setup man in every single game, especially with a four run or greater lead. Very frustrating. Hard to watch.
The Braves are the teaser, heartbreaker team of 09. They will look strong, win a few, hope will return and then they’ll snatch defeat from the jaws of victory before tumbling backwards.
Frustrating thing is, the Braves have the talent and in a short playoff series with Lowe, JJ, Javy starting with Hanson ready to come in we could win the darn thing… but they will be mismanaged out of it long before October. Failing due to being overmatched bothers me far less than failing due to stubborn, incompetent management.
Tough to be a Braves fan these days.
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Makes his over-use in the previous games, the last one while leading by 4 runs, another example of… you know, the old playbook.
That’d be the game that he appeared in after 4 games off? Gotta keep ’em sharp. If he had not appeared in that game, Bobby’d get blamed for Soriano being rusty.
But then, Bobby’s gonna get the blame anyway, so what’s the difference?
Funny thing… the Yanker fans had the same regard for Joe Torre – game had passed him, he couldn’t manage a bullpen, etc. – before pushing him out of town. The LA fans seem to like him there where he has the best record in baseball.
I know, I know… we’ll never agree on this one. But I have to say something, don’t I? You’d be disappointed if I didn’t… 😀
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Well, I went to bed at 11 something last night, that goodness I didn’t have to see that ending!
I just wonder if Soriano is suffering from the dog days…he was only in 14 games last year. I just don’t know how exactly that effects a pitcher the next year.
Torre and Cox are usually very similar in how they use a bullpen, pitch them till their arms fall off! :p It works for the most part…Looking at Soriano’s numbers, it looks like he is the one guy Cox has been careful with, still he is projecting to 74 games this year, a career high.
16 out of 19 saves is not exactly great, but he has been so unhittable this year, 50 innings, 30 hits???
Remember a couple years back where he was just flat out terrible, giving up a homer almost every outing for a week or so??? Wasn’t that in August as well????
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some of these are pretty easy, but a couple will make ya think!
I got 20 out of 25, can you beat a souper smart feller like me??? 😉
http://www.oldjoeblack.0nyx.com/thinktst.swf
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Raisins, I’ll always take your word about stuff as you are an honest man and more often than not, correct in your reasoning about baseball… including your statement that Soriano resting 4 days before his last game in SD. If that’s true, I’ll apologize for getting my days/games mixed up. I’ll also retract Bobby’s pen misuse in last night’s game. Been hard to follow lately (and retain all the particulars), especially when not seeing the games, resorting to box reports, wraps and such.
However, your comment of “Bobby taking the blame anyway, what’s the difference” is a bit more of an insult than you might imagine. There are some that will find any reason to blame Cox for a loss. I don’t do that, never have and disregard those who do. Personally, I’d much rather believe that Cox was a great manager, but I’d have to ignore reality to do that.
Still, I don’t obsess and I don’t look for reasons to blame Cox, nor do I obsess over the man. I just watch the games. I see what I see. When Bobby does something that doesn’t work out, well, that’s just baseball. When he pulls an illogical, boneheaded move or does,nt seem to be ‘with it’, it drives me nuts. On occasion I’ll mention it.
And I’d trade Cox for Torre in a split second. Funny, but everyone that I know that knows baseball and knows the Braves intimately believes that Cox should be put out to pasture. Half of them believed that in the 90’s. The other half felt that he was a superb regular season manager and a poor post-season manager. Regardless of his winning in the 90’s, every single one of those Braves fans believe that he’s a terrible manager today. Not a majority, not a few, EVERY single one. I’m included in that. None of them hate or obsess. Nor do I.
Now, I hope you know that just because a majority of people believe something, that I don’t automatically jump on the bandwagon and believe it because of that. Cox is what he is and it is what it is. If you believe that Cox is a good manager, fantastic. So we’ll disagree on it. That’s fine and I’ll respect you even when we don’t agree.
Must be nice seeing through those Pollyanna designed glasses.
Ok, you knew I couldn’t leave without throwing that in. Just kidding. Peace bro. Now, it’s the salt mines for me. 😆
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Peace, my brutha…
your comment of “Bobby taking the blame anyway, what’s the difference” is a bit more of an insult than you might imagine
Please don’t take that personally, SG, as that was not directed toward you individually. That was a statement addressing what is an already large and growing sentiment amongst many Braves fans. And one I quite frankly do not understand.
(To be clear, this rant is not directed toward SG or any other individual, rather toward the whole group ready to see Bobby retire to the farm.)
I believe the restlessness is born out of the frustration of suddenly observing teams that aren’t talented enough to compete with the heavies, while still feeling the sense of dominance we had for so long. In actuality, the same sentiment that continues to grow here in Atlanta was the same sentiment that Torre had in NY – which led to his dismissal – and that LaRussa faces in St. Louis. Yep, even Professor Tony gets ripped in the mecca of fandom. Sometimes it’s hard to see the big picture from inside the frame.
I believe, (notice I am making a statement of opinion), that while the Braves have certainly had a 4 year playoff drought, without Bobby it’d be a couple of years longer. I’ll expound…
In 2005, the last playoff year, Smoltz returned to the rotation, which was lead by newly acquired Tim Hudson and filled out with the likes of John Thomson, Horacio Ramirez and Jorge Sosa. Not exactly all-stars. Dan Kolb was brought in to be the closer, but couldn’t close the fridge and lost his job to Chris Reitsma. No real door-slammers there. The season started with Raul Mondesi in LF and Brian Jordan in RF. ’nuff said there. That was the Frenchy call-up year where he played the final 67 games in RF, and KJ played the second half in LF. So it started with two washed up has-beens and ended with two rookies, one who was an infielder throughout his entire minor league career. In between, Andruw managed to hit 51 bombs, thank God. The big trade deadline acquisition was Todd Hollandsworth… let that one sink in a second. That was probably Bobby’s finest job managing ever. That was a nowhere team somehow finding its way to 90 wins and its last division title. (And Bobby was deservedly MOY.)
And ’04? Check out this rotation: Russ Ortiz, Mike Hampton, John Thomson, Paul Byrd and Jaret Wright. Bleh! At least they did have Smoltz coming out of the ‘pen. The OF at season’s end was JD Drew, Andruw and Charles friggin’ Thomas. Mike Hessman saw action at both 3B and 1B that season. Let that one sink in a second. The opening day 3B was Mark DeRosa, who sucked like an Electrolux and was replaced by LF Chipper mid-season. Again, Bobby managed to guide this floundering group to 96 wins and the East title. (And Bobby was deservedly MOY.)
Incidently, 2004 was the year the payroll was trimmed for the first time from an all-time high of $106MM+ in 2003 to just over $90MM as the team went up for sale. It dropped to $86MM+ in 2005. This year’s payroll is just over $96MM.
Those ’04 and ’05 teams should not have contended, yet they did – due IN PART to the leadership of Bobby Cox.
It’s admittedly easy for me to sit here and point the finger of blame at individual player performances from the comfortable position of hindsight, just as easy as it is to use the same perspective toward our manager. That is a fruitless venture. Conversely, it is a fruitless venture to speculate that someone else can do the job better. Maybe they can, maybe not – but we won’t know ’til someone else is standing on the top step. And it will happen. Probably sooner than later. Bobby has been working under a series of one year deals since 2004, and has annually re-upped by now. He hasn’t done so this season, so this could be the last one. I just hope that the next manager is half the baseball man BC is. He’ll have mighty big spikes to fill.
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Forgot to mention…
From ’06 until ’08, the team has been a mix of old veterans and young upstarts. The problem is, with the exception of Mac, the youngster failed to “start”. Mac and KJ are the only remaining “baby Braves” – the “next wave” of talent for the Braves. Well, we know how talented that wave was, don’t we? We just waved bye to the chosen one, and KJ is trade fodder now. Mac is the only one who excelled. And a combination of old veterans – Edgar Renteria, Mark Kotsay – mixed with less than stellar young’uns – French bread, anyone? – mixed with injured stars – Chipper, the entire rotation – is a recipe for failure. I would challenge Connie Mack and Casey Stengel to win with those teams.
One last thing… Like everyone else, I see the way the bullpen is used. Bobby’s tendency to overuse his bullpen is a maddening trait also shared by the aforementioned Torre and LaRussa. They seemingly view the bullpen arms as expendable, and will use them up and call out for more. Know what else they share? They also share being #’s 1, 3 and 6 in a June 2009 nationwide poll ranking the best all-time managers. It’s funny how these fellas get more respect outside their own cities than they get inside. I guess it is all about perspective…
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Whew! 😯
Glad to get that out of my system.
We now return you to your regularly scheduled programming… 😀
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Wanna know something weird? I actually would not mind seeing Bobby retire at season’s end. Just not because he can’t do it anymore, but because he’s ready to enjoy his farm. He is pretty dang old, and the grind of the season has to be tough on him.
I guess I’d just like to see him step away on his own accord, and not b pushed away by a restless fanbase.
On that, I think a certain fella from the coast and I probably agree…
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Shifting gears:
Smoltz last night – 😦
8 earned runs in 3 1/3 innings against the rival Yankees.
Not good…
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Nick Cafardo, Boston Globe: “In the end, the Braves were probably right in their decision to not re-sign Smoltz…”
Andy McCullough, Newark Star-Ledger: “Afterward, [Terry] Francona couldn’t find many positives. He said he was unsure what to do with Smoltz’s spot in the rotation going forward.”
Sean McAdam, Boston Herald: “Now that plan is out the window. Instead of being the Red Sox’ October savior, Smoltz actually is standing in the way of the team reaching October. If the Sox keep giving Smoltz the ball every fifth game, they’re hurting – not helping – their postseason chances.”
Daniel Barbarisi, Providence Journal: “At what point is enough enough?”
Dan Shaughnessy, Boston Globe: “Everybody loves Smoltz the way Everybody loves Raymond. He’s a Hall of Famer. But it looks like it’s over.”
Wow…
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Wife of Monkee Micky Dolenz arrested in NYC
The wife of Monkees vocalist Micky Dolenz was arrested Friday on charges that she defrauded an affordable housing program in New York City.
Not just a Pleasant Valley Friday…
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Just curious: was a new law passed that requires a maximum of 18 hours between PresBO’s TV announcements, press conferences, whatever?
Wonder what would happen if more than 18 hours passed without another appearance?
🙂
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Ouch!
Gordon Edes of Yahoo!sports says Smoltz looked like a “pitcher turned pinata” last night…
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Bowman:
Buddy Carlyle will be activated from the disabled list on Friday and optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett to get some more innings over the next week or so. The Braves haven’t set a timetable for the right-handed reliever’s return to the Atlanta bullpen.
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I am so sorry that Smoltz is having such a terrible time! With his warrior’s heart, you know it has to be taking a huge toll on him!
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In much the same way that I feel about Bobby, I don’t want to see Smoltz pushed out of the game. It will be a real tragedy if last night’s reaming in NY is his final time walking off the mound.
If he is in fact released by the Bosox, the Braves should bring him back for one game, ala Niekro, let him throw one pitch at the Ted and walk off the mound to the ovation he deserves. Whatever the circumstances around his departure from Atlanta, whatever rancor did and does exist, he is and always will be a Brave.
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100% agreed, Raisins! That would be the classy thing to do. Don’t know if that still exists in the organization any more, though.
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V, you are passionate about Bobby, and loyal to him as well, two very admirable traits! 🙂
And you are correct, seeing the garbage we had for a team in 2004, and 05, he did a very good job.
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Yep, sad as it makes me to say it, Wren was right in not re-signing Smoltz. He still could have treated a guy that has pitched in a TON of pain, for less than he could have gotten with the Yankees, with much more respect.
You know what’s weird though??? Smoltz is throwing in the 90’s. From the “highlights” last night,(And the new Yankee stadium is a joke-Kotchman and the first 2 yankee homers were in the first row, and would have been outs anywhere else) I only saw 91-92, but I have seen 93 from other games. He just doesn’t have much control, and his breaking pitches seem flat.
I bet it has something to do with the labrum…something just isn’t allowing him to get the same range of motion…but, he still can get it over 90, so, like everyone else, I don’t get it.
I hope they will at least consider him for the bullpen. He got thru 3 innings last night giving up only one run.
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Did anyone try the little memory test game????
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He got thru 3 innings last night giving up only one run.
Uh, Ber, he was charged with 8 earned runs last night…
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first 3 innings I meant to say…
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e got thru 3 innings last night giving up only one run.
Yes… one run at a time until eight were scored. 😆
Did anyone try the little memory test game????
I can’t remember a memory test. 😆
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actually SG, he gave up a 3 run homer to Cabrera :p
Well, a moot point, he has been DFA. 😦
If/when the braves drop out of the race, which team with a huge budget shall a root for??? 😕
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and for some reason, the Red Sox acquired Chris Woodward!
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Smoltz DFA’d… that just doesn’t sound right… 😦
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I was harshly critical of Smoltz following his departure from Atlanta, but this is a very sad day for me. As long as Smoltz donned the Tomahawk, he was my very favorite Brave. For years, his competitive spirit and warrior attitude were the qualities I wanted my son to emulate. The same competitive spirit most likely contributed to the outspokenness with regard to his leaving Atlanta. I didn’t care for the way he repeatedly trashed the Braves when given the opportunity – which were many – but understand his bitterness nonetheless.
All that being said, the warrior deserved a better way to exit the game. I don’t know what can now be done; I just hate how it has transpired.
He’s no longer a Brave, thus no longer my favorite Brave. But he is still one of the greatest ever to wear the A.
I hate it… I just hate it…
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Raisins, your 12:01 was lead-worthy. Here’s the thing: I’ve noted on more than several occasions the last few years that Cox is a HOF manager due to his number of wins. Until his, uh, deteriorating in-game strategy (with which he has never excelled) right after our last pennant (the year he managed brilliantly), he was a great manager overall… one of the best in the business. By overall I mean that his player relationships, letting the boys work out of slumps and his talent recognition and recruiting were his finest skills.
So, even without ever possessing great in-game tactics and strategy, he more than compensated with player development, hiring the right coaching staff and giving the players a calm, professional, stable clubhouse environment. That was a recipe for success, as we had great coaches and were blessed with the finest rotation in baseball.
Yet, while it may be coincidental that Cox started losing and missing playoffs when Maddux left, Glavine left and Smoltz was injured for so long or when Bobby’s trusted coaching staff left, one by one… his weaknesses were more evident. Granted, no manager in baseball could’ve managed to victory with last year’s injuries. Add to that his age and natural slippage, he’s struggled.
I’ll never prove or even try to prove it, but I’d say Bobby has accounted for at least 10 losses a year with his odd moves. I’m not counting the times he made a move and it didn’t work out or the hitter didn’t hit or the pitcher got hammered. Sometimes those are the breaks. I’ve even accounted for the unknown, like not playing a certain player in a situation even though they would’ve been the logical, rational choice given all the givens. Sometimes that stuff happens in the clubhouse with a sore back, arm, a flu bug, upset stomach, etc.
Even with a reasonable benefit of doubt given, only the games where I watched every detail every day would I judge his move as not well reasoned. And I’m not just talking about his overuse of certain pitchers in the pen (as you say, even as other successful managers do). With those ten losses back and better in-game strategy, what might have been? More rings? More pennant wins? A few more pennants since 2005?
On top (or alongside) my view of Bobby’s management skills that have declined, I’ll admit to having a respect issue with the man. Not hate, not cardinal, but troubling with a few things he’s done over the years. I temper that with, none of us are perfect.
So, while I’ll agree with a great deal of your points about Cox, I’ll always believe that he has or had certain great skills and when combined with 3 HOF pitchers and a stellar coaching staff, magic happened unlike any in the history of all professional sports. Without those… not much. And he’s over the hill. Time to go.
Yes, we agree completely on your 12:47. In fact, I’ve posted the same exact thing… last year and the year before that. Cox does deserve to go out on good terms (not necessarily his own), and enjoy his time in the sun as a HOF manager. Even if he doesn’t want to “go to the farm” with wife and family.
Maybe I should just go back and find a reasonably glowing post I wrote way back when about Coxs’ good, unique qualities.
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Not just a Pleasant Valley Friday… 😆
She’s now on the last train to Clarksville.
Just curious: was a new law passed that requires a maximum of 18 hours between PresBO’s TV announcements, press conferences, whatever?
Yes CL, the law of, repeat a lie often enough and it becomes the truth, law. It’s been used successfully before. However, their success was shortlived however… with the exception of Castro. The truth eventually wins. Sometimes it takes a battle to win back the truth.
Whatever the circumstances around his departure from Atlanta, whatever rancor did and does exist, he is and always will be a Brave.
Yep, sad as it makes me to say it, Wren was right in not re-signing Smoltz. He still could have treated a guy that has pitched in a TON of pain, for less than he could have gotten with the Yankees, with much more respect.
Smoltz DFA’d? Hate that. Personally, I think that he was mistreated and misled, which is why he was so vocal about his departure. It wasn’t that he was released or not signed, that could be argued by reasonable people on both sides at the time. Now, it looks like the right move was made. But it was that he was not handled fairly and honestly and the communications by Wren were atrocious and embarrassing to Smoltz. He is a warrior and a Brave for life. Hopefully he’ll get himself back to Atlanta and get involved with the club that he helped build.
Boy, am I opinionated today or what? 😀
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No surprise, Smoltzy is getting hammered by the Boston sports fan blog idiots.
Yes Raisins, let him put on the Braves cap and pitch one more in Atlanta and retire where he belongs. Whether it’s one pitch, one out, one inning or see how far he can go without giving up one run… let him retire in a Braves uni and get a standing O from the home crowd.
They would cheer, right? ❓
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They’d better! Or I’d have to go down there and bust some heads!!!
In a very lady-like manner, of course!
😆
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I can just hear it now:
At the Ted, just after singing the most passionate, sincere and beautiful National Anthem and receiving a 5 minute standing ovation, the esteemed Carolina Lady quiets the crowd with a hand signal, thanks the crowd and, before introducing John Smoltz, proceeds to instruct everyone in the stadium to give Smoltzy a big cheer, ’cause he’s a Brave again tonight.
Then she lowers her voice, gets that serious, matronly, Maggie Thatcher look, clears her throat and says in a soft yet firm tone to a packed stadium where you could now hear a pin drop… “now y’all are gonna show our warrior Smoltzy the love he deserves on his last night here, right?”.
After a stunned, silent few seconds, the entire stadium utters in a whispered tone that, together, reverberated throughout downtown Atlanta and sounded like, “yes’m”.
Then as John walks out to take the mound for the very last time as a Brave and the last time ever as a baseball player, the 50,000 fans, still standing, let out a roar not heard since Sid slid…
YAAAAYYYYYYYYYY SMOLTZY!!!!!!
It’ll be quite an event. All of Stuffville will be there right in the Ted-Jane seats. I’d go on but it might spoil the ending ’cause it hasn’t happened yet. 😀
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Well, I had a very nicely written little bit about Smoltz getting dumped by the Sox, but unfortunately firefox must not have thought as much of it as I did and it dumped it. Oh well, Smoltz, sorry to see you go, especially the way it happened. Hope to see you in the HOF in 5 years with Tommy G.
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Bear is prolly asleep’n.
Raisins is busy a raisin’ those rais’uns.
Gil is getting a massage after all the yard work.
Carolina Lady is making sure the girls are all fed, settled and tucked in.
Klobber is working in the Bahamas.
Salty is watching the History Channel.
Mrs. Guy is getting showered and PJ’d up after cooking a great dinner.
Mr. Guy is multi-tasking. He’s watching, dare I say it… Hannity, running his mouth and jabbering as usual while wondering how long our citizenry is going to put up with the shenanigans in the capital. Mobsters and such… count me in.
Oh, and Max the cat is sprawled, legs wide open, flat on his back, comatose in my recliner, causing me to move to the couch. I may not be long… couch is inviting me to, relax and set a spell.
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Klobber!!!
Restocked the Skyy and Kahlua yet by chance? Got skim?
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Somebody in Savannah truly has an overactive imagination!!
serious, matronly, Maggie Thatcher look WHAT??!!!
Public Service Announcement:
Gentlemen, take notes here! The one word that NO woman EVER! wants to hear is: matronly! Never! Remembering this one point will possibly save you much regret and smarting!
SG, may I have a word with you, please??
Klobber, wordpress does that with maddening frequency! I be sorry!
May I have a nice cold Diet Coke, please! I sure have missed them!!
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😯
Whoopsie daisy… CL, it was all meant as a compliment! I LOVE matronly attitude in a woman. You know, the Florence Nightingale, Lauren Bacall with Bogie type of matronly. But, I’ll edit that word out if you don’t like it. 😳
But, you did, uh, will do… a GREAT job with our National Anthem.
Doghouse for me?
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No doghouse if you’ll tell Savannah Gal that you like how MATRONLY she looks! 👿
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‘sides, I don’t know where the key is! 😆
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No, wait!! Don’t do that, SG!! Never mind! Just DON’T!
You’re forgiven!
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Whuh’oh… I really stepped in it this time…
I plead innocent, but I guess I should remember the modern connotation of some words. I’ll tell Mrs. SG and see if she slaps me. But she won’t ’cause she knows I’m just an innocent that says dumb stuff sometimes. 😀
Guess I’ll remember the instructions on the back of my man card that reminds:
After bluting sump’in that offends just say…
Yes, I understand.
😆
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still up!!!
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Funny watching Savannah Guy backtracking like a fiddler crab on the hot beach!
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SG, you DID see that part about DON’T, didn’t you??!
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I hope SG isn’t responding because he’s watching the game….
I’m turning in for the night – hope morning finds a certain someone still in good health!
Chris, the saloon is looking GREAT!!! You do a terrific job!!!
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CL, I am absolutely exhausted. Spent the entire day cleaning, repairing, fixing, upgrading and scouring. The toilets obviously hadn’t been cleaned since I took sabatical. All the bathroom sinks were ripped off the wall. The bar top was pockmarked by cigarette burns and what I can only imagine were broken bottles and glasses. All the upholstery on the chairs and booths is torn or has cigarette burns. The place not only looks bad it smells bad. I’ve got a lot more work to do! It’s a good thing you’ve got $90 bazillion. I’m gonna need most of it to get the old bar back up to speed.
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Smoking??
Wow! You got back just in the nick of time, Chris! I’m sure glad we have the funds to get everything back real nice like you had it before! If we need more, I’ll just tap some of those ‘stimulus’ funds the Chicago mob is handing out!
😆
‘Night!
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Chris, I am innocent, I have a beer about once every 3 months…
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Ber, I always knew you were a wild man! 🙂
CL, yes. Smoking. In MY bar! I’m glad to hear that the Chicago mob money is available. Will I have to pay that back or can I just wait until my kids and grandkids are old enough to pay for it?
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Oh, no, Chris! The money never has to be paid back! See, the more you spend the richer you’ll be! Or that’s what they say….
It’s like having blank checks. As long as you have checks, go ahead and write them! I have packs and packs of checks so I’m good for ’bout most anything, right?
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Well, that’s great news CL! Perhaps we should open multiple locations all over the country! That way “you know who” can only run one of them into the ground at any given time! As long as the money is free why not?!
Speaking of free money, I saw that AIG posted their first profit in two years last quarter. Thank you America.:-(
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Just open one in Savannah. That oughta do it! 😆
Now I’m really going to bed! Been a LONG day! My faithful little Sable is back in the shop again. Transmission again. Hope to get it back Monday. sigh….. It never ends, does it?!
But, long as I got you guys, I’m good! We can never do without our friends!!
See ya tomorrow if the Good Lord is willing!
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Oh good grief!!!! Are the umps on the take??? McCain just made the best throw of his life, to get the jerk Furcal out, but the ump after signaling a strike with his hand,somehow changed the call, and instead it was a walk, and not a caught stealing….Joe Simpson is a bit incredulous
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CL, I’ll need to open more than one in Savannah. Gotta open a bunch to cover the losses for that one. Vodka, Kahlua and milk are not cheap. Neither are new digital tv’s, bar stools, windows, neon signs. Thankfully there is plenty of free money to be had! Wonder if I can get some Cash for Clunker money to help out? Shouldn’t be too hard to fool the feds into thinking that the saloon is a gas guzzler!
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the Braves just got ROBBED!!!!! Bobby Cox got thrown out but didn’t make a big enough stink imo. Home plate ump Eric Cooper just screwed the Braves for three runs. Lovely.
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Chris, Robbed for sure! if braves don’t come back this one is really going to hurt!
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ber, i don’t understand why umpires very rarely reverse their calls even when it is obvious they are wrong. that pitch WAS a strike. furcal should have been out.
JJ was actually ejected from the game tonight after he was lifted. I hope he gave that idiot ump a big piece of his mind.
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It shouldn’t even be legal to throw a guy out, after he is lifted…he can’t come back.
Arm went up, don’t know if you are watching sports south or not. Simpson can’t stop talking about it, and no wonder!
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ber, i AM watching. ump’s arm went up. the pitch was clearly a strike. he needs to be reprimanded for being a tool.
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Chris, they can fine an ump, or reprimand him, MLB, correct???
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I don’t know that they can fine him but he can be reprimanded I believe.
One of the great things about baseball is the human element. I’m all for that. I don’t like Questec and I don’t particularly like the home run review. However, when things are sooo obvious I’d rather see an ump admit to a mistake than to have what happened tonight. Admit your mistake and move on.
Nice lick by KJ!
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These late games are killing me. Didn’t even turn on the laptop last night, just went to bed.
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well, glad they tied the game, but going to 11th, and I am going to bed earlier of late…up since 7:30 am…go braves!!!
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well, woke up and had to see the score! Ryan Church is offically a brave! 😀 Happened too late for baseball tonight,will have to see if its on sportscenter….later….
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Braves win in 12. 😀
Sorry I missed the game after taking a very long 7th inning stretch… in the bed. Good thing I didn’t stay up and see the ump once again screw things up royally. Is it really a stretch to think that some of those guys either hold grudges or are actually on the take? Makes me wonder sometimes when it’s so blatant. Darn… I didn’t even record it.
Also sorry I didn’t stick around to enjoy the crowd out on the town in Stuffville. So Klobber’s Saloon is getting bailed out! Yay! Sorry about all the damage Klobber. Those people told me they’d take good care of the place. They just needed a home until they could find work. Then they just up and left in the middle of the night. Didn’t know until afterwards that it was a bunch from Acorn. Hope and Change posters all over the place. I discarded those. Note to self: do not let groups of people stay in either of Klobber’s Saloons in Savannah.
Oh, and better double stock the two saloons down here. Savannah drinks a lot. Need lots of snacks too and HD TV’s. Must be the humidity.
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So, after pushing CL’s hot-button and receiving her instruction, I went to Mrs. Guy and said, “if I refer to you as matronly would you hold it against me?” 😀
She said, sure sweetie, I’d be happy to be next to you … but I don’t care for the matronly description”. Uh… so I said, “why not?” She explained, that’s not a good word to use when referring to a lady. When I explained that Webster defines matronly as nothing but positive and honorable, motherly, respectable, ladylike and so on. Mrs. Guy just shook her head and said, “Don’t you remember those TV ads in the 80’s? The ones for plus-sized skirts and apparel?”
Huh? OK, I’m an ad guy from way back but methinks Madison Avenue really screwed up a fine word there. Right or wrong, I decided right then and there to never use ‘that’ word around ladies again. I’ll resort to the synonyms instead.
So I counted my blessings, shut my mouth, made popcorn and snuggled in for the night. All was good in the world and I didn’t even get slapped. 😆
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Tried to get to the box score and, once again, the MLB site is messed up. Just watched all the clips of the two-out magic last night. That was an impressive comeback with repeated clutch hitting. I think the Braves are PO’ed at the umps for taking games from them. Good. That could be a pivotal game right there. Confidence builder for sure.
Then I read the article about Chipper. “Might miss a few”, he says. Seems Chipper is out a lot in big games the last few years. This time it’s a strained oblique. Growing older has its price. But after looking at other pics of him from the last few days, the old boy looks tired, puffy faced… even groggy. What’s up with that? Hope he’s ok.
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I have spent my morning catching up on all of the posts, which are happily many, since my last post yesterday evening.
I have had the best time reading all of the great exchanges! 😆
You guys are awesome…
PS: SG, I know you and I have different opinions about Mr. Cox, but I honestly know I would love to sit down over a few drinks (non-alcoholic for me) with you and just shoot the breeze. That’d be great!
Oh – and great game for the Braves last night. I went to sleep when we were a run down and woke up just in time to see the go ahead run and Church’s bomb. Timing is everything…
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It would be a pleasure Raisins. There’s a cup ‘o joe somewhere with our name on it.
Note to self: record these late games before my snooze button goes off.
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Don’t tell Chris but I bought a terrific new coffee machine for his Saloon. It also makes expresso and cappuccino! Y’all enjoy!
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Wait a minute! Something just clicked. (Yes, I am slow, but I DO get there!)
Vodka, Kahlua and milk are not cheap. You actually mix that together??! Doesn’t it curdle?? 😯
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Hmmm… White Russians or Russian Qualudes. Missing the Frangelico, though.
Memories from my former life… 🙄
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CL, vodka, kahlua and milk are the ingredients for SG’s favorite cocktail, the white russian.
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Only 4 more hours til game time! I am now going to a car cruise on a sweltering August day…
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Chris: oh. 😯
Thanks for furthering my education! 😆 😯
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Yep, love me some rooskies. Pre-Big Lebowski I’ll have you know. 😆
Actually CL, the white russian would be considered a light drink. Would be frowned upon in some redneck bars… but then they only serve longneck Buds so, when in Rome…
Typically rooskies are made with cream, but that’s way to sweet and fattening, so I prefer just a little splash of skim. So it’s somewhere between a white and black russian. Mix in a glass with ice and voila… good stuff. No curdling…
Caution, there are rules to imbibing: 1) drinking alcohol is not recommended to those that don’t drink or 2) those too young to drink. 3) or those that can’t handle their spirits, or 4) those that can’t drink one or two ’cause it leads to an all-nighter. 5) Booze is not recommended for those that get mean or ornery. 6) If so inclined, a rooskie is better than dessert. 7) Just don’t drink too much… or 8) you’ll wish you’d followed rule one.
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More than CL ever wanted to know about a cocktail. 😆
Love me some chocolate milk too… cold or hot. For some reason, I’m craving a hot fudge sundae. All day! Can’t get it off my mind. I haven’t had one in several years. There may be one in my near future.
I always believed that if you craved something your body must need it. My body must need a hot fudge sundae with a hot pecan brownie underneath, two big scoops of vanilla ice cream drizzled with hot fudge, sprinkled liberally with walnuts and whipped cream glopped on top with more nuts and a little chocolate syrup to finish it off. Yummy yum. 😀
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Sounds good SG. I wonder if you could get one at Sugar Plums?
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I am now going to a car cruise…
Bear, what is a car cruise? Car show? Joining up with other cars and, uh, cruising together? In single file? Hope so. Around town? Around the countryside? Up and down Peachtree?
Around the Dairy Queen?
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Does FBG make hot fudge sundaes? Mmmm…
How far is Tiger?
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Huge game for the Braves tonight, no Chipper and KK starting. 😯
KK needs to pitch above himself tonight, like he did in Boston.
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Tonight’s lineup:
Church 8 😯 leadoff? where’s Nate?
Prado 5
Anderson 7 😯 third? Are they kidding?
Escobar 6
Diaz 9
LaRoche 3
Ross 2 😯 Mac out? He needs rest but yikes.
Hernandez 6 What?
Kawakami 1
Well, looks like we’re going into one of the biggest games of the year with a second string staff. Strategery? Wear the Dodgers out running the bases tonight and go for the split tomorrow?
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No, not Diory at the 6 position, just a typo from the beat writer and a lazy clip and paste from moi. 😳
Still, Diory at second when KJ hit a homer last night and hits lefties better than righties? Strategery.
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I think tonight’s game is one of those 50 you will likely lose… Weak line up, looks a bit like the Mets…
Anyway, greetings all,
I am officially a bad Braves fan after last night. I turned the game off after the homer by Blake. I did not think the Braves would come back. Should know better by now but then, staying up past 2 AM to watch a baseball game is just not where I am at right now.
Turned out not to be the fuel pump on the Lexus, it was a computer that control the fuel pump. Believe it or not, that saved me about $300. Too late for the clunkers program now… Will just drive it, however, the old gal runs great… Better than in years. Means I will have to use the cruise control more than ever.
Sigh… two more hours until game time. Again, I don’t know how late I will be able to stay with it.
Did anyone notice that the Nats swept the Marlins? Washington has not had any trouble scoring runs, just horrible pitching… At least I am glad it is not just the Braves who get beaten by them.
Ber, saw a really nice ’66 Chevelle Super Sport yesterday… SS396 that was really beautiful.
SG… skim milk? must be a “Light” Russian…
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Uh… don’t look now but the Nationals won their 6th in a row today…. surging Nats…
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Fish swept by Nats. Nothing to lose is a strong position. Now if the Phils would replay their earlier slump we’ll be in business. Taking care of our own biz may not be so easy tonight though.
Lite-Russian. 😆 I like that. Think I’ll have one.
The HFS wasn’t in the cards tonight. didn’t feel like going back out. Tomorrow is the day.
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White Russians…Knob Creek….Ice-cold Diet Coke….
Me…I like scotch…McAllan 12 year….mmmm….mmmm… I’m no heavyweight…I can nurse a finger on the rocks for an hour…easy. One and done…relaxin’ at home! ‘Course…only a couple a nights a week…like I said…I’m a lightweight…er….featherweight. Like beer, but it tends to stop at the waist and linger…don’t want to be a heavyweight! 😯
Howdy, y’all! SG…where did you come up with History Channel? Discovery…’Deadliest Catch’….riveting. No ‘Ice Road Truckers’ for me…too lame! 😆
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Salty, didn’t know what you were doing so I just made it up. History channel just ain’t what it used to be. For that matter, neither is history.
Actually, I watch the history and other educational channels and nature stuff more than anything else. Some cooking shows. Guess I’m mostly a non-fiction kinda guy when it comes to books and TV. Usually scroll around, pick through the weeds and record what looks interesting. That way I’m not subject to whatever happens to be on at any given time. Plus, fast-forwarding thru commercials is very nice. I can hardly watch most ads these days, most are so bad. Occupational hazard maybe.
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I watch Braves baseball! And Discovery…and History Channel…and I really like NCIS…neat show. USA Network has some pretty neat shows…the big three, I can’t tell you what comes on and when.
Game on…
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I used to be a scotch-rocks drinker… still love it. McCallan’s yes, one of my faves too. My every day brand was Dewar’s. Sounds like I’m a lush to say, but I pretty much enjoy the good brands of most all liquors, wines and beers. I’m not as moderate as you describe your own consumption, but moderation is key for me as well.
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gonna be interesting to see how Church does in leadoff.
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I’ve never gotten into NCIS. Seen a few, liked’em. Beautifully shot. Surreal colors. Whatsis name removing his sunglasses and saying something profound. Some of my friends really like it but just hasn’t tugged at me.
Church leadoff double. That’ll work.
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Bear, what is a car cruise? Car show? Joining up with other cars and, uh, cruising together? In single file? Hope so. Around town? Around the countryside? Up and down Peachtree?
Around the Dairy Queen?
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Bear, what is a car cruise? Car show? Joining up with other cars and, uh, cruising together? In single file? Hope so. Around town? Around the countryside? Up and down Peachtree?
Around the Dairy Queen?
Yes.
😉
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Dairy Queen? Ber, could you pick up a hot fudge sundae for SG? I know he’d like one and it just might keep him out of my bar inventory for a minute or two! 😀
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On second thought, never mind. He’ll just want to pour kahlua all over the sundae!
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Chris, think David Ross was just a wee bit upset at Yunel for his very weak reach for that ball that went into center??? 🙄
I have thought Joe Simpson has been too hard on Yunel , but that was pathetic!
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0-0 in the 8th….extras again????
am I the only one still up??? Does FBG know she can listen to the game, and be online? 😛
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Kelly Johnson hits a 2 run homer in the top of the 10th, first runs of the game!!! Prado was about the first one to congratulate him! 🙂
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Man what a finish you sleepy heads missed! Soriano really shouldn’t have been out there, at one point, 89 MPH fastball…no one was up in the bullpen, dodgers had scored a run, Manny was up 2-1 and they just walked him. Kemp hit a shot up the middle that Yunel dove for slid, got up in a split second, and just got Kemp by a hair!
Braves win!
A least a split, but hope they are greedy, and get them tomorrow!
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Wow, great ballgame… worth staying up for. Yes, Yunel short armed that ball from Ross but I guess he made up for it in the 10th. The guy is going to be really good one of these days.
And kudos to Kelly Johnson. The trip to Gwinnett did him a world of good.
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Wow is right!!! A win!!! Just watched the game. Nice surprise on a Sunday morning to see that. Quite a pitchers duel, eh? KK did great and carried the team on his shoulders. His best game of the year. Is that Kershaw kid is some kinda special or what? They both deserved a win.
So many noteworthy plays and contributions all around. That last play by Yunel was a game saving highlight. Medlin had a great outing. KJ’s bash. Yes Gil, seems like the Gwinnett stint did Kelly some good. He’s battling his way back into the lineup, which is good because with Chipper going gimp so much we’re gonna need lots of help at third from Prado the rest of the way it seems.
Today we have Javy in there and Mac’s back, so I like our chances to get out of LA with another win. Now anything can happen. Braves are within reach of the division and the WC and our pitching is getting it done. People, seems these boys got game.
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SG…you’re confuzzling NCIS with the CIS-Miami, NY, Las Vegas editions. Yes, those three are pretty good…interesting camera angles,filters, etc., and David Caruso with the slow moves, delivery gig as he pulls the shades from his eyes. NCIS has Mark Harmon leading a Navy Criminal Investigation Service…faster moving…more for my taste. You remember when Harmon was UCLA’s quarterback? His dad was Tom Harmon (Michigan fame?) and his mom was an actress…name escapes me…who he looks very much like. He’s married to Pam Dawber…over twenty years (is that legal in H’wood?)…you know, of ‘Mork & Mindy’ fame…nanu…nanu! 😆
And thus concludes today’s cinematic history ‘short story’!
Now, in sports….
Braves hang tough consecutive nights…with a AAA+ line-up no less. KK showed true grit…and Medlen with a couple of key ‘hold-em’ innings. Soriano had to gut it out…mop up duty a 6-2 game will get you every time.
Sorry, Raisins…if closers need to be sharp…turn it up a tad in the bullpen…you don’t need game action all the time. Know your upcoming opponent. Four games with the Dodgers should suggest not a lot of runs…so the BP will have to hold in tight situations. Then again, maybe 89 is the key…using a change-up he didn’t know he had! Semi-rant concluded!
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He’ll just want to pour kahlua all over the sundae! 😯
No way Klobber… like my sundaes unadulterated. Now, a nice rum cake with lots of pecans would be nice.
Cruising the Dairy Queen? Back to the late 50’s in an 8-cylinder convertible time machine? That’s some ride ya got there, Bear.
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Oh… that NCIS. 😳
Goes to show how much I watch cop movies. Yep, I’ve seen it a few times and enjoyed it. This is the show with the old Man from Uncle guy, right? If it were not for my job and the other stuff I gotta watch I’d have it on my list. Harmon is cool.
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I watch it on USA Network…that way it’s back to back, if I’m so inclined. Pretty much any show that’s been a series I watch that way…can’t keep up with prime time programming, plus, this way I get my ‘fix’…an hour’s not always enough…doesn’t take me through one scotch! 😆
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Since I don’t have access to the TV any more (like the last four years!) I have discovered that MANY TV shows are available on fancast.net. I LOVE NCIS! Ducky is one of my favorite characters!
And, yes, Harmon IS cool! I remember years back he was a guest on Carson, maybe Leno – and he walked on wearing a beautiful dark suit, white shirt and really, nice tie! What an wonderful refreshing change from the sloppy, dirty, ‘who cares’ attire that most wear on TV.
And don’t even get me started on the women! They are the worst offenders of all! They come across as street trash!
Maybe someday I will tell you how I REALLY feel about it! 😆
(Salty, it’s really good to see you!!)
And – WHERE IN THE HECK IS HILLBILLY?????
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Where IS Hillbilly? I’ve got to tell him about all the deer, turkeys, pigs, and coyotes I’ve been seeing while helping a friend on the 6000 acres of forest that he manages. Very cool stuff!
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Hooboy… going to be a scorcher today. It will be a good day to stay inside and not move around much. I slept this morning until 9:30AM… Man, I hate those late running left coast games.
Salty, I never got into either NCIS or Law & Order. I do watch the original CSI (Las Vegas) but don’t care for the others too much. Way too lame for my taste.
Now baseball, found out that the Nats have actually won 7 in a row, not 6… Hope they can keep it up against the Phillies. Unfortunately, the Braves face them for two games . Zimmerman is playing like he is all world at third for them right now. Who knew that trading Nick Johnson would give them such a boost?
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Man, should one feel hung over after sleeping 7 hours and not drinking??? 😕
CL, you need to have us talk to your 2 children online about sharing! 😉
Gil, how about them Nats??? I couldn’t understand how they could be 120 loss team, they are not the 1962 Mets! Lots of offense, a couple good young starters….at the start of the year, if they had played .500 ball, I wouldn’t have been surprised.
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Ber, they made a big upgrade by dumping Millage and Dukes. Pitching is still the key to a winning ball club, It’s why the Braves are still in it. Lots of baseball yet to be played.
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Salty, isn’t Harmon somehow related to Rick Nelson? First wife Nelson’s sister or something?
Watching back to back… I do the same thing with my shows. We’d record two or three episodes of House or 24, then watch them back to back… or at least two in a row. Otherwise I have to sit through 30 minutes of commercials to watch 30 minutes of show. Amazing how short the shows actually are when you subtract all those commercials.
As a result, my fast forward remote control skills have gotten pretty darn good… fly through 10 ads and stop right on the spot the program picks back up. 😀 Works for baseball too, with those late night games. Innings are fun, the rude interruptions between innings is not.
I remember back a few years, when the HD Braves channel was new, between innings there were no commercials, the bleacher camera just over home plate would be on so you could see the field, warmups going on and occasionally you could hear the announcers talking. Funny thing, sometimes Skip or whoever else was talking didn’t realize the mic was on. Even that stationary camera with quiet, stadium sounds was a vast improvement over 10 ads of, “you had me at Foose”.
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I’ve got to tell him about all the deer, turkeys, pigs, and coyotes I’ve been seeing while helping a friend on the 6000 acres of forest that he manages.
Klobber, where is the land? Lemme know if your friend needs a little help, uh, thinning the herd. For a good cause like game management, I’ll travel up the road. Have gun will travel stuff. 😀 Speaking of, here’s a shout out to Paladin, wherever he is.
Man, should one feel hung over after sleeping 7 hours and not drinking???
Could be all those root beer floats at Dairy Queen?
he walked on wearing a beautiful dark suit, white shirt and really, nice tie! What an wonderful refreshing change from the sloppy, dirty, ‘who cares’ attire that most wear on TV.
Tom Selleck used to shine up pretty good too. We used to watch Magnum PI. Don’t know, but I’ll be willing to bet he’s a CL kind’a guy.
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SG, the property is owned by the Duell family, part of the Middleton’s. They own Middleton Plantation as well as the acreage that I toil away on from time to time. They have a hunt club that will resume activities on Aug. 15 when deer season opens. The pigs are a real nuisance though. They are very destructive when they root around looking for whatever they eat. Sometimes a few of them disappear from time to time though. And that’s a good thing.
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Chris, Middleton Plantation, I assume, is the same as Middleton Place, owned by an old (olde) Charleston family with the beautiful gardens and miles of azaleas. If so, I saw a fantastic Spoleto Festival grand finale there quite a few years ago. The orchestra was setup on a floating platform in the middle of the lake, down below a sloping, terraced lawn. Great spot for the music and the fireworks show afterwards.
Haven’t been to the festival in quite a few years, though I went to the first 6 or 8 when it began. Man, time flies.
Meanwhile, Javy is cooking with gas in the first.
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Arrgghh… bases loaded, no out, Roachy swings at a bad pitch and hits into a dp. Then a KJ popout. One run after all that. We had them on the ropes and let’em off &*%@#$.
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Was a beautifully executed bunt by Matty, but I think I would’ve had him swing away with the way he boppin’ today. Oh well… 3 zip ain’t a bad start.
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We’re at 440+ comments – and it won’t be long before y’all are moanin’ and groanin’ about how s-l-o-w it is loading. Is ANYBODY writing a new lead???? Hmmmm??? 🙄
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Wow! Woke up after a nap to see the braves were up 3-1 in the 9th, and now they have scored 5 more, to make it 8-1!!! I am cautiously optimistic we will win this one! 😉
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you know…7 run lead, in the 9th, 2 hits…and Moylan and Gonzo are warming up??? Joe and Boog are discussing this…Joe is for it, Boog said, it’s 8-1…and I am siding with Boog.
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SG, that is the same land I’m talking about. However, I don’t spend any time on the garden side of the property. I’m as deep as five or six miles back into the forest on the other side of the street. It is beautiful but not in a manicured kind of way like the grounds across the street. The wildlife is unbelievable. Tons of cool birds.
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Sounds very nice Chris!
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That was one heckuva game, y’all. To state the obvious: I believe these Braves are on a roll. Now to Washington. We’d better keep the enthusiasm and energy and hunger up for the Nats, who may be the ultimate spoiler team this year.
Then it’ll be Phillies. Destiny is in the hands of the team. Could be within chopping distance by the end of that series. 😀
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Yep, pretty enjoyable afternoon for a Braves fan. Dodgers are probably wondering where the team they played in Atlanta was.
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CL, I’d write one but I’m slap out’a weekend here with another long week coming. Didn’t we have an extra one in the can?
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CL…didn’t Raisins shoot one to you about the same time I did? I think ol’ man SG ( 😛 ) is right…there’s one in the hopper!
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Hopper = can! New math!
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Upon further review…the one we’re bogging down is the one Raisins sent. Hmmm…so….someone needs to make an emergency start…hmmm.
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I could supply brownies for hot fudge sundaes, SG. I make ’em with a butt-kickingly good fudge frosting.
Sorry I was absent lately. The late games combined with all the painting were wearing me out & Grinch visited this weekend. Made him the Red Velvet cake I’ve been promising for about 3 birthdays now.
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Now Braves… Fantastic road trip for them. I know it may still be a long shot but at least they’re in contention. So much more fun to watch than last year.
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Wow… 4 1/2 out on the East, 3/12 out in the WC. They have surprised alot of people, including me.
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3/12 should of course be 3 1/2… it’s early… need coffee… 😐
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Happy belated Birthday to JHey! He turned 20 yesterday. Now we don’t have to worry about bringing up a 19-year-old kid too early anymore… 😀
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Braves manager Bobby Cox indicated that Omar Infante could be activated from the disabled list on Tuesday. — Mark Bowman
Maybe they can finally put this Norton thing to bed…
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the one we’re bogging down is the one Raisins sent.
Bingo! Salty wins!
Have y’all noticed that since I mentioned those now-dreaded words “new lead” – that our highly esteemed friend Gil has been conspicuously scarce? Can not imagine why! 😆
Gil, you’re up! We’re really beginning to bog down now! 😆
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Well, I wrote a fairly long post about the braves on the jazz forum I frequent, and with some adding and tweaking, it could be turned into…a so-so lead! 😀
Gil should still crank one out so there are 2 for CL, then, no doubt about it, it would be mr. push everyone else’s feet to the flames turn! 😈
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But now I must be going…errands to run, pits to wash. Perhaps I should reverse the order.
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You gotta watch this!!
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Unbelievable…
Not that our government would be so invasive, but that we are this point in history. God help us…
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Okay CL, you’ve got mail….
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White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen is tired of seeing his hitters treated like pincushions and vowed Sunday to retaliate. Three players were hit Saturday, and Paul Konerko has been hit four times in the last eight games. “If I see somebody hitting my players and I know it’s on purpose, two guys are going down,” Guillen said. “I don’t care if I get suspended.” The Sox have been hit by pitches 45 times this season, which ranked fifth in the majors through Saturday. The Indians have been hit 65 times, most in the majors. Though no one was hit on Sunday, Guillen was worried some of his players would get hurt. “If you can’t pitch in or don’t know how, don’t do it,” he said. “It’s getting to the point where they hit us seven times, 20 times in one week, and I hit one, I’m a headhunter.”
Whether or not he has a legitimate complaint, the dude is wearing way thin on me. I am so tired of his bravado…
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Raisins, THIS administration would! All they know is the Chicago-style of mob-strong-arm politics.
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The Grinch makes a cameo appearance!!!
http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-georgia-sports/2009/08/10/atlanta-braves-should-john-smoltz-be-re-signed-to-help-braves-bullpen/#comment-2626
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terrifying………
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NEW BLOG IS UP!!!
THANK YOU, GIL!!!
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