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One thing I notice is that I now have to refresh the homepage myself to see an updated number of comments or a new thread, whereas it used to update automatically.
In Blanco, we have a guy whose only real skill seems to be getting on base, usually with a single or a walk. That skill is wasted a little in the 8th spot, as it is very unlikely that the pitcher, who is hitting behind you 75% of the time is going to bring you around to score.
I would prefer Blanco to be on with Yunel, Chipper, and Tex coming up.
Also, in response to Marc from the previous thread, I think you are right. This problem with the roster could be fixed by a righty masher in left field, I think.
Are there any out there?
I also think wew will eventually see a need for a mid to top of the rotation starter.
I think Blanco should move to the top of the order. Now, I’m not usually for a lesser hitter at the top of the order, but hear me out.
I don’t think Blanco is optimal in the 7 hole. He doesn’t have a slugging percentage to speak of, and his main hitting skill is getting on base a lot by walking. So, in the 7 hole, he’s getting on base for the black holes at the bottom of the order. If Escobar or Johnson moved to the 7 spot in the order, I think that they would have a better chance of cleaning up what’s left on base of the batters before them than Blanco would. This might be a small part of the problem why we have so many people left on base.
I’ve just reactivated the spam filter. If it blocks you (that is, you comment and it doesn’t show up) write me (bravesjournal at gmail dot com) so I can try to fix it.
Blanco is doing what Willie Harris did last season. Guy was a marginal, fringe prospect forever. I sincerely doubt Blanco is a .400 OBP in-a-full-season guy.
Regardless, I don’t like a guy with no power to speak of getting the most at-bats.
Ugh, not well. We just collapsed down the stretch. Eliminated (both losses, actually) by the one team considered to be the least deserving of its spot in the entire field. Looking forward to having more pitching depth next year, though.
Dan, Blanco was looking like a pleyer that might have potential as our centerfielder last year and in the Winter Leagues. I think it is more than an unexpected Wille Harris type contribution.
Based on Bobby’s philosophy, the 8 spot is the best spot for someone like Blanco. He can get on via the walk, be bunted over by the pitcher, and then the top of our order is right there to kick off the 2 out rally.
If Blanco batted second, then Bobby would be required by force of nature to have Chipper bunt him over and Bobby at least has the sense not to allow that scenario to unfold.
It’s not that Blanco just gets on base. It’s that Kelly or Yunel has a better chance of knocking in Teixiera or McCann (or, in rare cases, Francoeur). Less men LOB.
Harris’ career minor league line is .283 .363 .415. Blanco’s is .274 .371 .377. There’s certainly a resemblance, and if anything Harris looks a little better. I’m glad that Blanco is getting a chance, but I am not counting my chickens yet.
At this point, I just wanna see Yunel move back to the No. 2 spot. I’m not sure why, but his plate approach is becoming Francoeur-like.
Just heard an oustanding radio interview with Fay Vincent on WFAN. He’s pushing a book he just did, proceeds going to the Hall of Fame, where he interviews a slew of older ballplayers.
A couple gems:
Vincent said that Warren Spahn had the “best baseball mind” he ever knew. In his interview with Spahn, he asked, “Warren, who taught you how to pitch?”
His answer: “The hitters.”
Asked by the radio hosts if there was one thing he’d change about baseball, he replied, “I’d get rid of the DH. People always say that you can’t do that because you’re punishing older players & I always say, ‘Look at Johnny Mize—he could hit when he was in his 40s.’ Baseball teams will always find a place for guys who can hit.”
Boy, I wish he was the independent commissioner today.
If my math is correct, Harris’ minor-league line through age 24 was .281/.353./394. He began to pad the stats as he started being really old for his level. (The dude played a lot of minor league ball at ages 25-28.)
So that’s a .747 OPS for Harris and a .748 OPS for Blanco, with Blanco’s being more OBP-heavy (and therefore better). Blanco looks to be legitimately better than Harris, although damning with faint praise if I’ve ever seen it.
I’d still like to see him get a shot leading off for a while.
Bottomline if Tex or Francouer would have been hitting just a little bit the Braves would probably be about 5 games ahead right now. As much as Chipper, Yunel, Kotsay and KJ have been on base in front of them…Tex especially should have about 50 RBIs.
Also McCann needs to start hitting on the road:
At home:
.376 .433 .667 1.100
Away:
.263 .336 .505 .841
Russell Martin has surpassed McCann hitting .321, while McCann is down to .318. Looks like those two will battle it out for years to come. I think Martin has the edge on the average b/c his swing is so short and compact and he can has excellent speed. McCann will have better power numbers.
Having never had any, McCann’s game won’t suffer for any decrease (unless he gets so slow that he actually causes time to collapse upon itself skewing the time/space continuum wherein Skip can actually be right for once when he claims a failed attempt to bunt a runner to second would absolutely have resulted in a run on subsequent single).
Just up from the clubhouse: Yes, Smoltz is activated and Stockman sent back to Richmond.
Bobby Cox said if there’s a closing situation tonight, Smoltz is getting the call. They’re going to evaluate on a daily basis and use Smoltz, Soriano and Acosta to close for now. But tonight it’ll be Smoltz.
BOYER’s MRI was fine, just a bit of fluid on a bursa sac in the knee, doc said he could pitch today long as the discomfort is tolerable. Boyer said he feels good today.
HUDSON doesn’t think his hammy is a big deal at all and would be very surprised if he can’t make his next start. Bobby said Braves would probably have someone on standby from minors (Charlie?) just in case, but he, too, believes Hudson will be ready.
KOTSAY isn’t doing any better, has pain running down a leg, etc.
I REALLY hope Morton doesn’t get held out of his next start as Huddy insurance. This is of course because I’m going to see him pitch!
Morton and the R-Braves are in Durham this week, and if I counted correctly, Morton should be pitching tomorrow night, and I’ve made plans to be there. So after that game, you’ll all be treated to my (probably irrelevant) thoughts on him.
I’m actually really excited. I’ll also watch Lillibridge and B. Jones closely; I was in the “really excited about those two” camp going into the year, so their year-to-date performances have been a bit of bummer for me.
*stream of obscenities* Why did it have to be Stockman? If they keep killing off my favorite characters I’m not going to follow this POS soap opera anymore.
With Carlyle already on the roster (and never in use), why would they need Morton or any other minor leaguer on stand-by for Hudson’s spot in the rotation?
I’m pretty sure Morton’s on the same pitching schedule as Hudson. So if Hudson’s on for his next start, Morton should be starting the same day in Richmond.
I am so frustrated that Stockman was really never used.
Yeah, it doesn’t bother me that he was the one sent down—who else was it gonna be?—but it still bothers me that he wasn’t made use of while he was around. Some of those low-leverage innings could’ve been placed on someone other than Boyer’s shoulder, for example.
I suspect that Stockman will prove to be a much better reliever than Acosta…
I dunno about that. I really like Acosta, particularly in the long run.
Why did this team hate Joey Devine? Why does it hate Phil Stockman now?
It seems there are some players that this team just absolutely refuses to give any real shot. Meanwhile, the team remains totally fascinated with Corky Miller and Buddy Carlyle.
Mother of Fuck! I totally forgot that Carlyle was still raising the CO2 levels in the pen. I often wonder what team with 3 HOF starters in the rotation for 10 years could have accomplished with some intelligent management.
I’d send both Stockman and Carlyle down. Stockman isn’t pitching at all, and Carlyle sat in the pen all week and only got to pitch because Boyer hurt himself. It’s absurd. Bring up Canizares or Timmons to give the bench some righthanded pop.
I’d love to see Canizares get a shot at some point. It took the guy four tries to get out of Cuba, he’s a hitting savant, and he’s blatantly lying about his age. What’s not to like?
Idea: Acquire a Triple A outfielder who is having a strong season to help out in LF. It doesn’t have to be a high-ceiling guy or a high prospect, just someone who can give us close to league-average offense.
You know, Kelly looks like the kind of guy that could sell some jeans. I wonder what the deal is. I bet it’s due to him not accepting coaching to fit in better with the organizations no-plate-discipline stance.
Yes, we’re platooning KJ. We platooned him last year — I learned this from reading the comments section at the Braves Journal website. Fortunately for Kelly, “platoon” evidently now means you get 600 plate appearances per season.
Is there any reason to put Greg Norton, and his .226 .312 .335 career batting line righthanded, in left field just because he’s putatively a switch-hitter? When was the last time Norton played this regularly? This is five starts in a row. At least he’s working the count.
Joe said that McCann had some complaint with Hairston dating back to the last series, something about Hairston complaining about a play from the dugout.
See also # 76. Norton can’t hit lefties and never could, and his “switch-hitting” is purely nominal. Wren screwed up this offseason getting all these lefthanded outfielders and no righthanders. He couldn’t have known about Diaz, but he must have known that Kotsay’s not very good against lefties.
So assuming Jo Jo gets through the 7th in good shape, do you pinch hit for him to lead off the bottom of the inning? He’s only at 70 pitches through 6th, so there’s a reasonable shot he could go 8.
Have we learned nothing? Don’t stretch these guys — if there’s any evidence that they’re losing it, get them out of there. This whole rotation is full of fine-line pitchers.
Nice work by Acosta. Although walking Jacque Jones on four pitches and then punking Hanley Ramirez is a sequence of events that will never happen again.
If I was all-powerful, and could change one thing about this team, it would be to instruct the PA guy to announce “Yunel Escobar” the same way that the Pistons PA announcer says “DEEE-troit BAS-ket-baaaaallll”. Wouldn’t that be cool?
here comes another one run game…………………great video mac………….the coolest thing the ump could’ve done was to ignore the situation, walk over to the dugout and come back with a catchers mitt.
I’m surprised more managers don’t do it. It could buy them some extra time or get a hitter messed up. It’s inevitable that someone will adopt the tactic, but I think it was just that the pitcher was messed up.
I just heard Francoeur’s at-bat music: “You Give Love a Bad Name.” Really? I’ve checked out of the game, obviously, and am focusing on much more important things.
They can’t hit or field! Of course, neither of them is actually an outfielder… so I remain confused as to why either of them is playing the outfield. If it was Adam Dunn, fine. But why are backup infielders out there? Seriously, someone answer my question. There are like hundreds of AAA-type outfielders, and we happen to have the ones who hit and field like – excuse me – are infielders.
Good job Braves, good job. And if Smoltz has to pitch like that, he might as well hang them up now. His pitches from that arm angle have no movement to them.
I’m damn sorry ryanc, but if you can’t see it with this team, you never will.
As for the one-run game question… The Mets lost 37 one-run games in 1968, but I doubt that’s the record, it’s just the most I can find in a short search.
Is there any possibility that Corky and Coxy could be involved in some kind of gay sex scandal that ultimately results in their firings? I think that is the most humane thing I can come up with. I can’t really hope for death or injury cause this is just baseball. But with this, two guys discover the joys of sweet, sweet buttsecks and the Braves fans are rid of the scourge of their presence on the team.
I wasn’t a huge fan of the Ohman acquisition (I figured he’d just be a LOOGY and not much else), but he’s actually been a pretty integral part of the pen thus far, and perhaps more surprisingly, he’s been very, very effective.
44 is more than 41. I’d guess that’s the record. The AL in 1968 was the lowest-scoring environment in modern history, the third-lowest in major league history after the 1907-08 NL, which I checked. There are obviously more one-run games to lose in a low-scoring environment.
I think this might become a legitimate late-inning strategy — tell your star to bunt, then take the bunt off after a pitch and watch them hit a walkoff. It certainly worked for Dusty with Encarnacion and Dunn.
I honestly can’t think of a situation where bunting is a good idea. Maybe ‘acceptable,’ but in that situation… give your guys three chances to get ‘em home. I wonder how many games the Braves would have won if they stopped bunting altogether…
Everyone saw Amezaga hit the wall, right? Because that was hilarious. Remember, he was the outfielder who crashed into the wall full speed to give McCann his first and only triple. Also hilarious.
The best part was after the wild pitch. Joe gleefully said “Now he can bunt him to third!”
Uhh….I don’t hate bunts as much as y’all do, but after Escobar hurt himself earlier this year and failed miserably last week…I don’t see it as a good idea. And yet, we’ve all been burned by double plays.
Mac,
You beat me to it.
http://tinyurl.com/3ohtbg
June 2nd, 2008 at 2:03 pmMac, re: the software update…
One thing I notice is that I now have to refresh the homepage myself to see an updated number of comments or a new thread, whereas it used to update automatically.
June 2nd, 2008 at 2:03 pmHope is cruel. Still, …
Go Braves!
June 2nd, 2008 at 2:04 pmStu you need to post more, you’re not in the top 10 yet this month.
June 2nd, 2008 at 2:05 pmfrom the previous thread…
In Blanco, we have a guy whose only real skill seems to be getting on base, usually with a single or a walk. That skill is wasted a little in the 8th spot, as it is very unlikely that the pitcher, who is hitting behind you 75% of the time is going to bring you around to score.
I would prefer Blanco to be on with Yunel, Chipper, and Tex coming up.
June 2nd, 2008 at 2:06 pmAlso, in response to Marc from the previous thread, I think you are right. This problem with the roster could be fixed by a righty masher in left field, I think.
Are there any out there?
I also think wew will eventually see a need for a mid to top of the rotation starter.
June 2nd, 2008 at 2:08 pmI wrote this 2 days ago:
June 2nd, 2008 at 2:09 pmDix, I’ve worked hard on getting a life for the summer.
But I’ve failed, so you’ll see me in the Top 10 soon enough.
June 2nd, 2008 at 2:09 pmbraves14 – I am convinced.
June 2nd, 2008 at 2:11 pmRe: Top 10…Small sample size!
June 2nd, 2008 at 2:12 pm7-21 on the road, 2-16 in 1-run games. I’m not convinced that this team is much better than a .500 team, but the splits are ridiculous.
June 2nd, 2008 at 2:16 pmI’m fighting idolatry.
June 2nd, 2008 at 2:34 pmI’ve just reactivated the spam filter. If it blocks you (that is, you comment and it doesn’t show up) write me (bravesjournal at gmail dot com) so I can try to fix it.
June 2nd, 2008 at 2:39 pmPatience, grasshopper.
OT, how did Vandy do?
June 2nd, 2008 at 2:40 pmBlanco is doing what Willie Harris did last season. Guy was a marginal, fringe prospect forever. I sincerely doubt Blanco is a .400 OBP in-a-full-season guy.
Regardless, I don’t like a guy with no power to speak of getting the most at-bats.
June 2nd, 2008 at 2:41 pmUgh, not well. We just collapsed down the stretch. Eliminated (both losses, actually) by the one team considered to be the least deserving of its spot in the entire field. Looking forward to having more pitching depth next year, though.
June 2nd, 2008 at 2:42 pmDan, Blanco was looking like a pleyer that might have potential as our centerfielder last year and in the Winter Leagues. I think it is more than an unexpected Wille Harris type contribution.
June 2nd, 2008 at 2:45 pmYeah, Blanco’s 24 and Willie Harris was 29 last year. Not exactly apples to apples.
June 2nd, 2008 at 2:47 pmBased on Bobby’s philosophy, the 8 spot is the best spot for someone like Blanco. He can get on via the walk, be bunted over by the pitcher, and then the top of our order is right there to kick off the 2 out rally.
June 2nd, 2008 at 2:54 pmIf Blanco batted second, then Bobby would be required by force of nature to have Chipper bunt him over and Bobby at least has the sense not to allow that scenario to unfold.
June 2nd, 2008 at 2:55 pmWell, I would rather see the pitcher bunting a runner over than the #2 hitter.
I still think we get more out of the whole lineup with Blanco leading off.
June 2nd, 2008 at 3:00 pmAnd that strategy would work better if our 1-2 spots weren’t black holes 75% of the time.
June 2nd, 2008 at 3:01 pmIt’s not that Blanco just gets on base. It’s that Kelly or Yunel has a better chance of knocking in Teixiera or McCann (or, in rare cases, Francoeur). Less men LOB.
June 2nd, 2008 at 3:02 pmHarris’ career minor league line is .283 .363 .415. Blanco’s is .274 .371 .377. There’s certainly a resemblance, and if anything Harris looks a little better. I’m glad that Blanco is getting a chance, but I am not counting my chickens yet.
June 2nd, 2008 at 3:18 pmAt this point, I just wanna see Yunel move back to the No. 2 spot. I’m not sure why, but his plate approach is becoming Francoeur-like.
Just heard an oustanding radio interview with Fay Vincent on WFAN. He’s pushing a book he just did, proceeds going to the Hall of Fame, where he interviews a slew of older ballplayers.
A couple gems:
Vincent said that Warren Spahn had the “best baseball mind” he ever knew. In his interview with Spahn, he asked, “Warren, who taught you how to pitch?”
His answer: “The hitters.”
Asked by the radio hosts if there was one thing he’d change about baseball, he replied, “I’d get rid of the DH. People always say that you can’t do that because you’re punishing older players & I always say, ‘Look at Johnny Mize—he could hit when he was in his 40s.’ Baseball teams will always find a place for guys who can hit.”
Boy, I wish he was the independent commissioner today.
June 2nd, 2008 at 3:19 pmNothing reported on the injuries to Hudson and Boyer yet, and nothing on the possible activation of Smoltz either.
June 2nd, 2008 at 3:24 pmIf my math is correct, Harris’ minor-league line through age 24 was .281/.353./394. He began to pad the stats as he started being really old for his level. (The dude played a lot of minor league ball at ages 25-28.)
So that’s a .747 OPS for Harris and a .748 OPS for Blanco, with Blanco’s being more OBP-heavy (and therefore better). Blanco looks to be legitimately better than Harris, although damning with faint praise if I’ve ever seen it.
I’d still like to see him get a shot leading off for a while.
June 2nd, 2008 at 3:33 pmBottomline if Tex or Francouer would have been hitting just a little bit the Braves would probably be about 5 games ahead right now. As much as Chipper, Yunel, Kotsay and KJ have been on base in front of them…Tex especially should have about 50 RBIs.
Also McCann needs to start hitting on the road:
At home:
.376 .433 .667 1.100
Away:
.263 .336 .505 .841
Russell Martin has surpassed McCann hitting .321, while McCann is down to .318. Looks like those two will battle it out for years to come. I think Martin has the edge on the average b/c his swing is so short and compact and he can has excellent speed. McCann will have better power numbers.
June 2nd, 2008 at 3:46 pmThe internet told me that we should bat the pitcher 8th and put Blanco 9th.
June 2nd, 2008 at 3:50 pmRussell Martin’s speed won’t last.
Having never had any, McCann’s game won’t suffer for any decrease (unless he gets so slow that he actually causes time to collapse upon itself skewing the time/space continuum wherein Skip can actually be right for once when he claims a failed attempt to bunt a runner to second would absolutely have resulted in a run on subsequent single).
June 2nd, 2008 at 3:57 pmWell Pudge Rodriguez can still run in his mid 30’s….
June 2nd, 2008 at 4:08 pmSmoltz activated.
Guess who was sent down.
June 2nd, 2008 at 4:20 pmCox would never bat the pitcher anywhere other than the nine-hole. Pitcher Babe Ruth would bat ninth on this team below Corky Miller.
June 2nd, 2008 at 4:25 pmBoyer’s MRI is fine and he is available to pitch. Not sure who was sent down to activate Smoltz.
Also, Hudson should be ready to go for his next start.
June 2nd, 2008 at 4:27 pmThe above was according to DOB.
June 2nd, 2008 at 4:28 pmNaturally, Stockman was sent down.
June 2nd, 2008 at 4:29 pmas we all figured…stockman
June 2nd, 2008 at 4:31 pmhttp://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080602&content_id=2823393&vkey=news_atl&fext=.jsp&c_id=atl
David O’Brien:
Just up from the clubhouse: Yes, Smoltz is activated and Stockman sent back to Richmond.
Bobby Cox said if there’s a closing situation tonight, Smoltz is getting the call. They’re going to evaluate on a daily basis and use Smoltz, Soriano and Acosta to close for now. But tonight it’ll be Smoltz.
BOYER’s MRI was fine, just a bit of fluid on a bursa sac in the knee, doc said he could pitch today long as the discomfort is tolerable. Boyer said he feels good today.
HUDSON doesn’t think his hammy is a big deal at all and would be very surprised if he can’t make his next start. Bobby said Braves would probably have someone on standby from minors (Charlie?) just in case, but he, too, believes Hudson will be ready.
KOTSAY isn’t doing any better, has pain running down a leg, etc.
http://tinyurl.com/6knpz8
June 2nd, 2008 at 4:31 pmStockman was sent down.
June 2nd, 2008 at 4:32 pmI REALLY hope Morton doesn’t get held out of his next start as Huddy insurance. This is of course because I’m going to see him pitch!
Morton and the R-Braves are in Durham this week, and if I counted correctly, Morton should be pitching tomorrow night, and I’ve made plans to be there. So after that game, you’ll all be treated to my (probably irrelevant) thoughts on him.
I’m actually really excited. I’ll also watch Lillibridge and B. Jones closely; I was in the “really excited about those two” camp going into the year, so their year-to-date performances have been a bit of bummer for me.
June 2nd, 2008 at 4:35 pm*stream of obscenities* Why did it have to be Stockman? If they keep killing off my favorite characters I’m not going to follow this POS soap opera anymore.
June 2nd, 2008 at 4:39 pmWith Carlyle already on the roster (and never in use), why would they need Morton or any other minor leaguer on stand-by for Hudson’s spot in the rotation?
June 2nd, 2008 at 4:40 pmI am so frustrated that Stockman was really never used. He was “Devined.”
I suspect that Stockman will prove to be a much better reliever than Acosta…on anotther team.
June 2nd, 2008 at 4:44 pmMan you guys have made my day at work very enjoyable talking about B Cox and the Braves. Dan that was very funny.
Poor Stockman…he must kicked Bobby’s dog or something…
June 2nd, 2008 at 4:45 pm@ 38
I’m pretty sure Morton’s on the same pitching schedule as Hudson. So if Hudson’s on for his next start, Morton should be starting the same day in Richmond.
June 2nd, 2008 at 4:46 pmNo, I’m wrong. Disregard the last post.
June 2nd, 2008 at 4:48 pmThat’s the million dollar question of the hour, Stu.
June 2nd, 2008 at 4:49 pmA friend of mine who works at Turner Field saw a couple of Smoltz’s workouts & said he threw a lot of pitches that were very close to sidearm.
Hope he can close better than Soriano did this past weekend.
June 2nd, 2008 at 4:49 pmI am so frustrated that Stockman was really never used.
Yeah, it doesn’t bother me that he was the one sent down—who else was it gonna be?—but it still bothers me that he wasn’t made use of while he was around. Some of those low-leverage innings could’ve been placed on someone other than Boyer’s shoulder, for example.
I suspect that Stockman will prove to be a much better reliever than Acosta…
I dunno about that. I really like Acosta, particularly in the long run.
June 2nd, 2008 at 4:50 pmWhy did this team hate Joey Devine? Why does it hate Phil Stockman now?
It seems there are some players that this team just absolutely refuses to give any real shot. Meanwhile, the team remains totally fascinated with Corky Miller and Buddy Carlyle.
June 2nd, 2008 at 4:51 pmMother of Fuck! I totally forgot that Carlyle was still raising the CO2 levels in the pen. I often wonder what team with 3 HOF starters in the rotation for 10 years could have accomplished with some intelligent management.
June 2nd, 2008 at 4:54 pmI’d send both Stockman and Carlyle down. Stockman isn’t pitching at all, and Carlyle sat in the pen all week and only got to pitch because Boyer hurt himself. It’s absurd. Bring up Canizares or Timmons to give the bench some righthanded pop.
June 2nd, 2008 at 5:00 pmThis lineup is going to piss everybody off…remember, it’s against a lefty, so Kelly sits, and Infante bats second!
SS Yunel Escobar
June 2nd, 2008 at 5:04 pm2B Omar Infante
3B Chipper Jones
1B Mark Teixeira
RF Jeff Francoeur
C Brian McCann
LF Greg Norton
CF Gregor Blanco
P Jo-Jo Reyes.
Timmons has a .371 career minor league OBP and can play second base. I’m just saying. When is Prado getting back?
June 2nd, 2008 at 5:08 pmBraves lose…5-1. Tex and Franco struggles continue. Solo HR by Norton…lol
June 2nd, 2008 at 5:10 pmI’d love to see Canizares get a shot at some point. It took the guy four tries to get out of Cuba, he’s a hitting savant, and he’s blatantly lying about his age. What’s not to like?
June 2nd, 2008 at 5:12 pmI thought Prado was going to miss like 6 weeks.
June 2nd, 2008 at 5:13 pmWell, Canizares is only 33 now, we wouldn’t want to rush him. Meanwhile, Wes Timmons’ web page.
June 2nd, 2008 at 5:15 pmBring up Canizares or Timmons to give the bench some righthanded pop.
Timmons is 28 and has a .342 SLG at AAA. What am I missing?
June 2nd, 2008 at 5:15 pmAnd it’s been about 4 weeks for Prado.
June 2nd, 2008 at 5:15 pmI posted this in the last thread:
Just change that miscellaneous outfielder to a right handed guy.
June 2nd, 2008 at 5:18 pmNobody seemed to like that idea, then, though.
June 2nd, 2008 at 5:18 pmI like Timmons already. He’s a certified teacher
June 2nd, 2008 at 5:20 pmYou know, Kelly looks like the kind of guy that could sell some jeans. I wonder what the deal is. I bet it’s due to him not accepting coaching to fit in better with the organizations no-plate-discipline stance.
June 2nd, 2008 at 5:28 pmHe’s from Texas, so he doesn’t get preferential treatment.
June 2nd, 2008 at 5:42 pmHey, I don’t live in Atlanta and am having trouble with MLBTV tonight, anyone else having trouble?
June 2nd, 2008 at 6:03 pmMcCann should definitely do this at some point.
June 2nd, 2008 at 6:07 pm#66, i’m having trouble. i keep getting this same radio shack ad.
June 2nd, 2008 at 6:13 pmFive pitches for Joseph in the first, all strikes. More of this, please.
June 2nd, 2008 at 6:15 pmAre we platooning KJ? Oh, common, Bobby. KJ’s surely a better hitter to have in there than Greg frickin Norton. Or Blanco for that matter!
June 2nd, 2008 at 6:18 pmYes, we’re platooning KJ. We platooned him last year — I learned this from reading the comments section at the Braves Journal website. Fortunately for Kelly, “platoon” evidently now means you get 600 plate appearances per season.
June 2nd, 2008 at 6:24 pmAnd, with a swing of the bat, Frenchy silences his critics.
June 2nd, 2008 at 6:29 pm[JOKE]But there he goes swinging at the first pitch again![/JOKE]
June 2nd, 2008 at 6:29 pmNot to be too complimentary, but that’s his 4th homer in the past 12 games.
So maybe he is turning things around.
June 2nd, 2008 at 6:29 pmI should also have said, nice job, Frenchy!
June 2nd, 2008 at 6:30 pmIs there any reason to put Greg Norton, and his .226 .312 .335 career batting line righthanded, in left field just because he’s putatively a switch-hitter? When was the last time Norton played this regularly? This is five starts in a row. At least he’s working the count.
June 2nd, 2008 at 6:32 pmBlanco to second–on a bunt!
June 2nd, 2008 at 6:32 pmre: KJ, I guess he started against Doug Davis, but he’s been riding the bench for the past two consecutive LHPs.
June 2nd, 2008 at 6:32 pmAnd FWIW, I kinda enjoy it when we try to bunt for hits (though moreso with Blanco than with KJ)
June 2nd, 2008 at 6:34 pmjohnny damon + 40 pounds = corky miller. i didnt know major leaguers took glamour shots.
June 2nd, 2008 at 6:34 pmhttp://tinyurl.com/54tjte
I’m online — should Blanco have gotten a hit there?
June 2nd, 2008 at 6:34 pmHenceforth, it’s spelled “Corcqui”.
June 2nd, 2008 at 6:35 pmA hit and an error on the throw, I think.
June 2nd, 2008 at 6:38 pmSorry, I’m on radio. Got it late.
June 2nd, 2008 at 6:38 pmIs Fredi stupid? Why is Uggla hitting fifth? You have two good hitters and you put three guys between them? How is this team winning?
June 2nd, 2008 at 6:39 pmJoe said that McCann had some complaint with Hairston dating back to the last series, something about Hairston complaining about a play from the dugout.
June 2nd, 2008 at 6:45 pmSo, why isn’t Omar bunting? Him, I could understand.
June 2nd, 2008 at 6:47 pmOkay, so what’s a rookie doing mouthing off like that?
June 2nd, 2008 at 6:47 pmRookie? Huh? Are we talking about Hairston? ‘Cause he’s been in and out of the majors since the late 90s.
June 2nd, 2008 at 6:50 pmMy goof. (I’ve been making a lot of them lately.) He’s free to mouth off, then.
Back to the game . . . .
June 2nd, 2008 at 6:52 pmanybody having issues with mlb.tv?
June 2nd, 2008 at 6:55 pmgreg norton needs to make me believe again.
June 2nd, 2008 at 6:58 pmMac was ready to throw down there by the look of it…
June 2nd, 2008 at 6:59 pmGameday is having issues too. Did they ealk McCann?
June 2nd, 2008 at 6:59 pmNow they say HBP. Okay. Really, Brian needs to take out his frustrations on someone, and still say the umpire. See # 67.
June 2nd, 2008 at 7:00 pmOlsen drilled him in the kidneys…he gave Olsen a stare..ump got in between.
Whatever, Norton is as useful as an amputee panda bear.
June 2nd, 2008 at 7:00 pmhit him in the back…greg norton =burlesque show.
June 2nd, 2008 at 7:00 pmYay for LOB.
Still, looks like we should be getting Olsen out of the game pretty quickly.
June 2nd, 2008 at 7:00 pmSee also # 76. Norton can’t hit lefties and never could, and his “switch-hitting” is purely nominal. Wren screwed up this offseason getting all these lefthanded outfielders and no righthanders. He couldn’t have known about Diaz, but he must have known that Kotsay’s not very good against lefties.
June 2nd, 2008 at 7:02 pmGreat, a leadoff triple.
June 2nd, 2008 at 7:02 pmAdd another name to McCann’s rapidly growing enemies list.
June 2nd, 2008 at 7:04 pmJay Bruce just homered against the Phillies. WTF is with that guy?
June 2nd, 2008 at 7:04 pmHe’s not human. Actually, that gives me an idea. Poll in 2 minutes.
June 2nd, 2008 at 7:05 pmGotta love our outfield…
Wouldn’t have thought before the season started that I would actually miss Kotsay, once he would get injured, but i do.
And Kelly should play today and Blanco (as bad as he looked there it’s still miles better than Norton) and Infante could be the outfield.
June 2nd, 2008 at 7:05 pmThere you go.
June 2nd, 2008 at 7:06 pmHow much of this inning is the outfield’s fault?
June 2nd, 2008 at 7:08 pmNo-hitter through 3, then four hard-hit balls in the same inning….
June 2nd, 2008 at 7:08 pmThe trivia question today is most doubles in a season by a catcher. That has to be Pudge, doesn’t it?
June 2nd, 2008 at 7:09 pmI would guess Ted Simmons.
June 2nd, 2008 at 7:12 pmOops, it was the NL record. Terry Kennedy, of all people.
June 2nd, 2008 at 7:12 pmYou suck, Omar.
June 2nd, 2008 at 7:23 pmTex!
June 2nd, 2008 at 7:25 pmCrushed.
June 2nd, 2008 at 7:25 pmWith Chipper pretty much a singles hitter from the right side, we really need Teixeira to keep hitting for power against lefties.
June 2nd, 2008 at 7:26 pmFrenchy’s ABs are always disconcerting, ’cause half the time they’re over before I realize they’ve started.
June 2nd, 2008 at 7:26 pmKeep throwin’ strikes, Joseph Albert.
June 2nd, 2008 at 7:32 pmSo assuming Jo Jo gets through the 7th in good shape, do you pinch hit for him to lead off the bottom of the inning? He’s only at 70 pitches through 6th, so there’s a reasonable shot he could go 8.
June 2nd, 2008 at 7:39 pmHave we learned nothing? Don’t stretch these guys — if there’s any evidence that they’re losing it, get them out of there. This whole rotation is full of fine-line pitchers.
June 2nd, 2008 at 7:40 pmNobody answered my question earlier, so here it is in revised form — how badly is Norton playing in left field?
June 2nd, 2008 at 7:41 pmHeh. So much for that idea.
June 2nd, 2008 at 7:43 pmHe looks pretty bad out there, Mac. Very little range.
June 2nd, 2008 at 7:45 pmHard to say if a better LF gets to some of those balls tonight though. They weren’t cheapies.
June 2nd, 2008 at 7:47 pmI think he is really bad with no range but the one clear mistake so far today was Blanco on the triple.
June 2nd, 2008 at 7:47 pmchrist really wanted a dp there…
crunch time now. this game, series, just feels like a must win and another one run loss… that will just be too much…
June 2nd, 2008 at 7:49 pmUgh. We’re screwed.
June 2nd, 2008 at 7:53 pmNasty pitches to get Han Ram.
June 2nd, 2008 at 7:55 pmFinally someone who is not red hot against us.
June 2nd, 2008 at 7:56 pmNice work by Acosta. Although walking Jacque Jones on four pitches and then punking Hanley Ramirez is a sequence of events that will never happen again.
June 2nd, 2008 at 7:57 pmTrent,
June 2nd, 2008 at 7:58 pmIf He did, He’d have gotten it.
why is Gotay on this team?
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:00 pmTrent, are you saying Jesus Christ couldn’t hit a curveball?
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:01 pmInfante is dreadful.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:01 pmIf I was all-powerful, and could change one thing about this team, it would be to instruct the PA guy to announce “Yunel Escobar” the same way that the Pistons PA announcer says “DEEE-troit BAS-ket-baaaaallll”. Wouldn’t that be cool?
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:01 pmHey, good thing that Hanley Ramirez sucks at fielding.
Oh, and nice to see you all again. I couldn’t bring myself to post during that awful road trip.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:02 pmLater, somebody explain to me why we didn’t double switch Anderson and Acosta when we made the pitching change. I’m sure there is a good reason.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:02 pm#133
I just snorted.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:03 pmLoaded for Jeffy.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:04 pmour 6-9 batters are 0 for the night.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:08 pmare all of these balls???
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:08 pmSwung at ball 4
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:08 pmMoron.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:09 pmThat was ball four.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:09 pmAnybody seen Lando?
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:09 pmabout a full foot outside. jeff……sigh
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:09 pmgawd
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:09 pmOkay, that’s it. I’m grabbing a spork from the nearest Taco Bell and stabbing Jeff Francoeur directly in the brain.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:10 pmDon’t think we’ll se Lando tonight…
Dumbest player in MLB? Any other candidates?
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:11 pmHe’s thick, all right. Ball four, up and away.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:12 pmsomebody has to fill ‘druw’s shoes
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:14 pmI would have nominated David Justice, because I can’t think of too many things dumber than cheating on Halle Berry.
But in terms of actual stupid, I think Jeff and Chuck are running neck and neck, and lapping the rest of the field.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:16 pmWe walked a guy to pitch to Uggla?
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:16 pmFrancoeur looks and acts way too eager to swing in those RBI spots.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:17 pm“Eager” = “would still be in double-A if he didn’t look like a cover boy”
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:21 pmat least soriano is still afraid to step on the chalk line
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:21 pmOkay, that was probably harsh.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:21 pmhere comes another one run game…………………great video mac………….the coolest thing the ump could’ve done was to ignore the situation, walk over to the dugout and come back with a catchers mitt.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:25 pmWho is warming up?
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:25 pmHey, Gregor finally did something good, and Bobby decided not to let the pitcher hit!
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:25 pmSmoltz is warming.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:27 pmEsco!
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:29 pmYesco!
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:29 pmA la sansho…
YOOOOO-neellllllll ESSSSSScoooobarrrrr!
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:30 pmYES.
I’ve missed those.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:30 pmINFANTICIDE!
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:31 pmC’mon Chipper!
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:31 pmOkay, third time’s the charm (with the bases loaded).
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:32 pmnice gift there walking Infante to get to Chipper–downright Kolb-like
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:32 pmI really hate that play and reiterate that it should be a balk.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:32 pmFrom dany:
hey frnak taht snot fare. i wud nevir ealk omar finfante 2 pich 2 chipir jones. im not stuped.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:34 pmWait…are the Marlins making a pitching change mid at bat? Is that the next level of LaRussaization that we’ve all been waiting for?
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:35 pm#162
I’m telling you, it gets him fired up!
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:35 pmgod i hate how slow gamecast is
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:35 pmThere’s no rule against it, but actually it wasn’t mid-AB as no pitch had been thrown.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:35 pmCan we win a one-run game?
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:36 pmThat’s even worse. How LaRussa is it to have your pitcher do the balk to third balk to first to waste time for your other reliever to warm up?
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:38 pmis smotlz coming in?
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:38 pmThis will be nervewrecking for a lot of reasons.
Come on John!!!
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:38 pmI’m scared of that arm angle. Hope he makes it through the whole season.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:39 pmHmm. That’s more three-fifths than three-quarters. Maybe even four-sevenths.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:39 pmWow, that’s a fierce delivery.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:39 pmis he really throwing 95?
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:40 pmandruw woulda had it
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:40 pmandruw woulda had it
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:40 pmI need a visual. I was never good at fractions.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:40 pmI’m surprised more managers don’t do it. It could buy them some extra time or get a hitter messed up. It’s inevitable that someone will adopt the tactic, but I think it was just that the pitcher was messed up.
If Wes Helms hits a homer here I will scream.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:41 pmThe Turner Field radar gone is always generous.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:41 pmAndruw would have had that.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:41 pmKotsay would have had it.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:41 pmRemy, he’s coming from more like 2′oclock, maybe 2:20 than 1:30.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:41 pmThis isn’t going well.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:42 pmCrap.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:42 pmOh boy. This is a new one.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:42 pmThis is not good. No way we can double up Hanley. I’m not too optimistic
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:43 pmThat slider ain’t sliding.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:43 pmThrow was bad, Amezaga would have scored.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:43 pmJust one more, just one more….
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:43 pmthis makes me sad
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:43 pmSmoltz always has trouble the first time out. This would be an unfortunate time for that to happen.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:43 pmcome on
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:43 pm*$(*@$(*@$(*@$(*@%(*@%
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:44 pmGod damn it anyway.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:44 pmthat throw was out of control from Jeff.
Lucky there.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:44 pmFREE BRANDON JONES!
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:44 pmcrap. this sucks
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:45 pm&#$%!
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:45 pmHow totally believable.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:45 pmThis game is over with half-decent left field play, right?
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:45 pmmy heart is in my ass.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:45 pmEven after knee surgery, Andruw would have had it.
Andruw could stop ground balls too.
God bless Braves fans everyone.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:45 pmI sense another one-run loss. We find a new way every time dont we
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:45 pmsigning off now…………….my tv is too tempting……………think i’ll go find something worthless to smash.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:45 pmIt’s like having some combination of Klesko and Lonnie Smith out there. Sweet merciful crap.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:45 pmi guess my mosaic is behind.
this is horrible.
and horrible fielding
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:46 pmHow has Brandon Jones been doing in the minors?
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:46 pmSo this side-arm thing… not working so good?
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:46 pmThat didn’t go as planned.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:46 pmJust one out away.
Game could still be tied with a decent left fielder.
Now instead of feeling good, it’s another heartbreaking new way to lose.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:47 pmJones is doing crap in the minors. I think his BA is sub-.250. At least he’s hitting some doubles….
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:47 pmFuck Norton and Infante
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:47 pmSmoltz was rusty, but outfield play really has sucked, hasn’t it?
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:47 pm#189
Thanks, Mac. Good thing I didn’t come of age in the digital age.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:48 pmThis game will have been lost by Infante. Period.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:48 pmWhy on earth would he be in there in the late innings, so frustrating, is Josh anderson available?
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:48 pmTurds.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:49 pm2 HR in 11 AB is pretty good. Gives me hope.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:49 pmHey, no worries – after all, we know this team has the heart and guts to grind out a comeback win (or an extra-inning win!)….
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:50 pmLonnie and Klesko could hit.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:50 pmI just heard Francoeur’s at-bat music: “You Give Love a Bad Name.” Really? I’ve checked out of the game, obviously, and am focusing on much more important things.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:51 pmThey can’t hit or field! Of course, neither of them is actually an outfielder… so I remain confused as to why either of them is playing the outfield. If it was Adam Dunn, fine. But why are backup infielders out there? Seriously, someone answer my question. There are like hundreds of AAA-type outfielders, and we happen to have the ones who hit and field like – excuse me – are infielders.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:51 pmI would rather have Glavine play left
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:51 pmI’m sure it’s been covered on this site, but what, again, is the record for one-run losses in a season?
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:51 pmSure, now he takes the pitch.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:52 pmYes, Infante sucks. But maybe we shouldn’t have left the bases loaded three times.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:52 pmHeap’s due.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:52 pmBrian McCann could be my new favorite Brave
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:52 pmJosh Anderson on deck to PH for Smoltz.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:52 pmWow, Frenchy actually walked.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:52 pmI’m calling a GIDP here.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:52 pmKen Camminetti’s corpse is better than Infante and 9x’s better than Norton
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:53 pmWhere the fuck is Deion Sanders?
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:54 pmGood job Braves, good job. And if Smoltz has to pitch like that, he might as well hang them up now. His pitches from that arm angle have no movement to them.
I’m damn sorry ryanc, but if you can’t see it with this team, you never will.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:54 pmThe really remarkable thing is that Infante was in for defense.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:54 pmCome on Anderson. You can earn your starting time right here, right now.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:54 pmOf course. Now we see Josh Anderson.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:54 pmHouston was 16-41 in one-run games in 1975, so… at least there’s that.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:54 pmCorky’s in the game if it goes to extras.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:55 pmJosh Anderson is in the game nine innings too late
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:55 pmNice job by Frenchy on that.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:55 pmJurrjens in to run for McCann.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:55 pmYou know, you could probably blame the Astros’ jerseys for that, too.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:55 pmFrancoeur’s flop extends the game.
As for the one-run game question… The Mets lost 37 one-run games in 1968, but I doubt that’s the record, it’s just the most I can find in a short search.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:55 pmC’mon Blanco! Please get a hit!
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:56 pmWe need a wild pitch, or a crazy squeeze bunt
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:56 pmCan Yunel do it again?
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:56 pmI called it again!
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:57 pmYES!
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:57 pmSafe!
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:57 pmWhew!
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:57 pmThat’ll work!
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:57 pmWell, that was weird.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:57 pmWow
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:57 pmNo one can predict wild pitches like me! Good hustle by Frenchy
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:57 pmGod, I love hearing Skip call a close game!
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:57 pmWOOOOOO!!!! RUN FRENCHY RUNNNNN
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:58 pmgeez…blek…..sshhhhhiiiiIIIIITTTTT YESSSSS!!! CORKY TIME!!!!
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:58 pmcan i get an update? gamecast still thinks its the top of the 9th
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:58 pmDamn if the guy is a 1/2 an inch shorter, we win
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:58 pmFor the Sportsouth listeners we were able to hear Joe ask for a second wild pitch.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:59 pmyou called it smitty!
Finally some luck!
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:59 pmOh no, extra innings.
The Braves are still winless in extras this year.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:59 pmoui! oui!
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:59 pmHey, we’ve got them right where we want em. We’ll get this.
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:00 pmAvery,
Tex grounded out,Frenchy walked, McCann Walked, Anderson hit into a fielders Choice, a wild pitch scored Frenchy. Blonco bounced out to the pitcher
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:00 pmIn fairness, I think Skip asked for a second wild pitch too.
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:00 pmwho pitched the 9th for the Marlins? i cant get any updates anywhere online
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:01 pmA’s lost 40 one-run games in 1908.
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:01 pm228 — jea, the fact that frenchy comes to bat to bon jovi is one of my favorite things about him. heh heh.
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:01 pmPinch running for McCann is a bad idea because it means Corky Time.
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:01 pmI think Abe might be the only catcher that sports the Reebok chest protector.
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:01 pmDid Anderson not stay in to play left?
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:01 pmGregg pitched the ninth.
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:02 pmI know this is a little late after all the LF bashing, but who would you take out of this group to play LF: Norton, Infante, or Resop?
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:02 pmavery: Kevin Gregg, the Marlins’ closer, pitched the 9th.
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:02 pmI think Resop could provide a quality arm for left field
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:03 pmBill James on one-run records.
New leader: White Sox, 44 in 1968.
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:03 pmLuis Gonzo owns Ohamn
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:04 pmINFANTE CAUGHT IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:05 pmIs there any possibility that Corky and Coxy could be involved in some kind of gay sex scandal that ultimately results in their firings? I think that is the most humane thing I can come up with. I can’t really hope for death or injury cause this is just baseball. But with this, two guys discover the joys of sweet, sweet buttsecks and the Braves fans are rid of the scourge of their presence on the team.
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:05 pmLike I say (#275), the 1975 Houston Astros lost 41 one-run games.
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:05 pmInfante is still playing left?
Guess we don’t want to lose that bat in the lineup, am I right?
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:06 pmI wasn’t a huge fan of the Ohman acquisition (I figured he’d just be a LOOGY and not much else), but he’s actually been a pretty integral part of the pen thus far, and perhaps more surprisingly, he’s been very, very effective.
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:06 pm44 is more than 41. I’d guess that’s the record. The AL in 1968 was the lowest-scoring environment in modern history, the third-lowest in major league history after the 1907-08 NL, which I checked. There are obviously more one-run games to lose in a low-scoring environment.
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:08 pmTime to finish this. Now.
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:08 pmIsn’t Otis Nixon still in town. He could play left and lead off. It might help get a crack dealer off the streets
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:08 pmGood job KJ
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:09 pmI guess it is time to bunt
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:09 pmBonds couldn’t really be worse in left field than Norfante.
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:09 pmHe is soooooo bunting right here.
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:10 pmDoes Escobar know how to bunt?
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:10 pmI bet smoltz could play LF.
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:10 pmWell now you do have to bunt and hope Infante doesn’t puss out
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:11 pmJoe, screw you. Just because the only thing you could do was make outs doesn’t mean that that’s the object of the game. “Everyone should bunt” my ass.
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:11 pmDidn’t see yours before posting mine, Mac. Sorry.
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:11 pmEsco!
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:12 pmWith Bonds OBP he would be great at leading off.
ESOCO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
FUCK THE BUNT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:12 pmYUNI!
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:12 pmThat’s why you don’t bunt. Yunel!
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:12 pmEsco!
Braves win!
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:12 pmyeah baby!
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:12 pmWOW, WE WIN!!!!
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:12 pmIt’s no one-run win though….
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:12 pmHe really should have bunted.
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:12 pmWheeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:12 pmYAAAAAAYAYYYYYYAYAYAYYY!
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:12 pmJoe was right…should’ve got the bunt down.
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:13 pmDoesn’t help the one-run win thing … but it’s huge nonetheless. Mazel tov.
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:13 pmOf course we win by 2 so our record in one-run games remains terrible.
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:13 pmWas it 3-0?
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:13 pmAwesome ending. That’s rather ironic that the first extra innings game still isn’t a one-run win.
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:13 pmYESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
bunting my ass indeed!!!
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:13 pmyeah, it figures that we manage to win so that it isn’t by one run
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:14 pmA win is a win.
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:14 pmI think this might become a legitimate late-inning strategy — tell your star to bunt, then take the bunt off after a pitch and watch them hit a walkoff. It certainly worked for Dusty with Encarnacion and Dunn.
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:14 pmNo bat flip by Yunel.
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:14 pmWell, I didn’t see yours before posting the A’s total, so we’re even.
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:14 pmSo I guess it’s the home uniforms that are lucky? Can we wear those on the road?
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:15 pmI honestly can’t think of a situation where bunting is a good idea. Maybe ‘acceptable,’ but in that situation… give your guys three chances to get ‘em home. I wonder how many games the Braves would have won if they stopped bunting altogether…
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:15 pmIt was a 3-0 count.
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:15 pmCan we play all our games at home?
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:15 pmYUNEL THE CARTEL!
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:15 pm“Buttsecks”…LOL.
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:16 pmEveryone saw Amezaga hit the wall, right? Because that was hilarious. Remember, he was the outfielder who crashed into the wall full speed to give McCann his first and only triple. Also hilarious.
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:17 pmYUU-nel ESSSSS-co-baaaaar!!!
….and chief nocahoma fades back into the woodwork, surely to be heard from again another day….
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:18 pmGotta love the guy that caught the homerun ball. It looks like he reached up and grabbed it from a girl and her father.
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:18 pmBlanco translating for Escobar. I do wonder if getting rid of Yunel’s buddy and translator in order to keep Corcqui Miller was a good idea.
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:18 pmRed Wings just tied it up
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:19 pmMac–I don’t wonder–I know it was a lousy idea
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:20 pmTo quote Esco in his postgame interview, “Mi casa, mi casa.”
Well said, sir.
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:20 pmWe need a back up catcher. McCann can’t play 150 games
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:21 pmNOw the Red Wings have taken the lead
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:22 pmI don’t know what was my favorite line in that interview, “Mi casa, Mi casa.” or Jerome’s “Gracias”
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:22 pmI guess things do even out on occasion.
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:23 pmJulio Franco on Baseball Tonight!
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:24 pmHockey in HD, awesome.
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:24 pmTHe Red Wings are crazy good
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:27 pmPS: Smoltz gets the win and I love it.
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:28 pmHas baseball tonight shown the Braves’ highlights? I just switched over.
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:29 pmOh god jerome… I miss the days of TBS (like… every night)
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:29 pmJulio Franco is great. He doesn’t feel the need to talk.
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:29 pmI think Ohman got the win
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:29 pmWait, wouldn’t Ohman get the win
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:30 pmGuys,
Julio is going to have an all time Julio team of guys Julio played with. I bet Babe Ruth makes it
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:31 pmBeat me to it
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:31 pmI forgot to activate Smoltz from my fantasy bench, but we don’t have wins as a stat, so it isn’t a huge deal. Going to activate him right now.
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:31 pmOh yeah. You’re right, Smitty. I’d follow these things better if I got more than 1.5 games a week on TV.
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:32 pmThe best part was after the wild pitch. Joe gleefully said “Now he can bunt him to third!”
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:32 pmUhh….I don’t hate bunts as much as y’all do, but after Escobar hurt himself earlier this year and failed miserably last week…I don’t see it as a good idea. And yet, we’ve all been burned by double plays.
Overlong recap is up. Is everyone who’s signed up getting the notifications?
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:33 pmTonight worked out well:
1) Braves win in extra innings.
2) Looks like the Stanley Cup will be presented (my favorite moment in sports).
3) And the Dawgs complete their mini-sweep of the North Avenue Trade School by—yes, folks—a football score.
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:35 pmSpoke too soon there. Great goal.
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:40 pmWow, 30 seconds left.
OT now. A Wings goal wins the Cup. A Pens goal & we suddenly have a series.
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:43 pm