Greg Norton is playing way too much game thread: Marlins at Braves, June 3
Greg Norton has started the last five games in a row. I don’t know how to check this, but I have to guess that’s pretty rare for Norton, a player who has only once topped 335 plate appearances in a season. Anyway, what’s remarkable is that he’s, well, not very good. In particular, Norton is (1) a very, very bad outfielder, and (2) a very, very bad hitter from the right side.
The most dangerous type of ballplayer to have on your ballclub is the guy who can theoretically do something he actually can’t. If a guy just can’t play, he’s not that dangerous, because sooner or later he’ll stop playing. But Norton is good enough to stick around in a limited role. “Regular leftfielder” is not a limited role, and it stretches Norton’s abilities to the breaking point. You can live with the defense if he could really hit, but Norton can’t. Against righthanders, he’s marginal; against lefthanders, he’s hopeless.
CAREER
VS RHP .257 .343 .444
VS LHP .226 .312 .335
The line against righthanders isn’t great, but you could live with it if he was a first-class glove, which he isn’t. The line against lefthanders you wouldn’t live with unless he was a great shortstop, and is completely unacceptable from a corner outfielder. Are the Braves seriously telling us that they can’t find a righthanded outfielder to hang around and crush lefties? These guys are a dime a dozen.
Okay, last time I posted this video we beat the Marlins 13-2.
Does this mean Norton is in the lineup tonight?
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:08 pmLineup hasn’t been posted, but I’d bet on it.
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:10 pmWhat about Jason Perry? Well, with the obvious (and I suppose critical) flaw that he’s lefthanded. I could not find his splits, but he’s killing the ball at AA this year:
http://minors.baseball-reference.com/players.cgi?pid=11318
I do not recall seeing any of the minor league gurus on here talking about him; he’s obviously old for AA so he’s not a real prospect, but it seems like maybe he could best what Norton is giving the Braves…
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:16 pmAfter those first 2 pinch hits, Norton is no longer a folk hero. Come back, Matty Diaz…
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:18 pmYeah, Perry is not a prospect and he was acquired a couple of weeks into the season. He’s in AAA now, facing guys more his age.
Also, this year his BA has taken a pretty big hit against lefties, but his power has not.
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:22 pmOK, let’s dream.
For this year, who would you like to add to the outfield?
Anybody at AAA Kansas City we might want?
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:23 pmFor one year? I kinda liked the Raul Ibanez idea.
Just turned 36, makes $5.5 mil. Not sure how long the contract runs, though.
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:32 pmPerry has been flat out raking it in AA. He’s come back down to earth at AAA, but it’s still respectable.
Actually, I would bring Brandon Jones up and let him impress some people (a platoon of Jones and Lilli in LF would be interesting if only to gauge their value on the Trade Front) to see if we can get Beane to waver on Blanton.
then I would bring Perry up to see what the guy can do.
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:33 pmThe last time Norton started 5 games in a row was September 17-22 of last year, but of course he was DH for the Devil Rays, so I’m not sure that counts.
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:38 pmIs Anderson worse that Norton? How can he be? He at least has the rep of a good fielder and base runner. If he is worse than Norton, why is he on the roster?
Norton might be a little acceptable as in the Julio role (of course, he is not Julio.) But I agree.. no reason to play Norton in LF with Anderson on the roster and B Jones in the system. Heck, put Tim Hudson out in left and he can do better than that!
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:51 pmNorton makes me miss the old, used-up version of Brian Jordan. And that’s just sad.
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:53 pmIf he is worse than Norton, why is he on the roster?
That is an excellent question. However, there are no easy answers.
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:54 pmWhat would it take to get Milton Bradley?
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:56 pmBobby being tranquilized.
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:58 pmI think Perry’s played like 3 games in AAA. That makes it hard to gauge that he has come back down to Earth.
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:09 pmDont corner outfielders that hit .250/20/70 grow on trees? Someone has to have a glutton of OF’s that they would part with for something. Its just sad to see Norton trotted out there every night. And to be honest, Diaz wasnt hitting all that well before the injury.
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:23 pmI only remember Norton from the WGN broadcast of the White Sox game…..His best year with the Sox….255ba 16HR, 50 rbis…..and this guy is batting 7th. But he is a “professional hitter” (eyes still rolling).
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:25 pmJust reading some other sites, it says Bill Hall is available. I would like to see the Braves make a move for him. It would give us a stable LF, and a backup option at 3B. He’s lost playing time and should be available cheap. Maybe the Brewers would throw in a SP for the right package…..
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:28 pmIf I have anything nice to say about Norton, it is that he takes a good amount of pitches most of the time. With the way Diaz was hitting (or rather, not hitting), I’d rather see Norton than him.
However, I think it’s ridiculous to not let Anderson play, or go get someone, because Norton is obviously subpar. I just think that Diaz isn’t much of an improvement.
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:30 pmI believe Bill Hall has pushed for a trade. He has some pop… but he can’t get on base.
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:34 pmbut hall’s splits against lefties are pretty good. i’m pretty sure he doesn’t want to platoon, though.
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:36 pmHall’s another phony pinch-hitter, but one who’s much better from the right side, where he’s hit .282 .361 .500 for his career and .408 .474 .673 this year. I’d trade for him, but he wouldn’t like it because as far as I’m concerned he’s a platoon player.
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:37 pmHonestly I’ve never been a fan of Diaz..except as a pinch hitter…everytime he was given a chance to be the everyday leftfielder…he failed. When was the last time the Braves had a legit leftfielder other than when Chipper cried everytime he went out. Ron Gant???
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:43 pmOK I got it Mac you meant switch-hitter instead of pinch. Bill Hall strikes out way too much. Not impress.
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:44 pmYes, phony switch-hitter, like Norton, but from the other side.
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:45 pmFunny, I heard a Mets fan on WFAN today pining for Bill Hall.
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:49 pmThat’s brilliant. You have a player who’s really only useful at third base or center field for a team whose two best players are a third baseman and a center fielder.
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:51 pmI’d take Bill Hall. But then I’m a fan because he’s from Nettleton, MS. A town about 25 minutes from my home town.
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:52 pmThe only thing really tempting with William is that he can hit the ball out of the park….
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:54 pmNL All-star voting, third base:
1. Chipper Jones, 708,515 votes
2. David Wright, 461,330 votes
http://tinyurl.com/4yk8r8
Chipper still beating (and badly) the golden boy.
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:56 pmI don’t think Bill Hall is a switch-hitter. Pretty sure he’s just a righty.
June 3rd, 2008 at 4:00 pmPythagoras: UT is a bunch of bean-eating losers.
June 3rd, 2008 at 4:04 pmI can’t understand why the Braves (or maybe it’s Bobby) continually fall in love with guys that can’t play, like Norton or Pete Orr. It’s like Bobby sees himself in guys like Norton and just ignores their obvious limitations; at the same time, they seem to consciously avoid getting situational players that can actually play. With all this talk about the talent on this Braves team, they are now reduced to playing Greg Norton every day?
June 3rd, 2008 at 4:04 pmKlesko just retired. Do you think old, washed up Klesko is better than the current Norton?
June 3rd, 2008 at 4:07 pmPretty good read:
June 3rd, 2008 at 4:10 pmhttp://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/draft2008/news/story?id=3423039
Great point Marc….
Klesko retired. Javy has retired. Giles is no where to be seen at the age of 30. No Sosa. No Bonds. Pudge Rodriguez is the last holdover from the Texas Rangers steroid factory. Damn the post steroid baseball era is wreaking havoc.
June 3rd, 2008 at 4:12 pmAt this point in the year, according to THT, the Phillies have only had to use five different starting pitchers (their original five) and seven different relievers.
Can we share some injuries with them?
June 3rd, 2008 at 4:14 pmDid Javy not want to be a backup? Wouldn’t he have been at least as good as Corky Miller?
June 3rd, 2008 at 4:15 pmWe optioned him to Richmond, and he said no thanks and retired.
June 3rd, 2008 at 4:16 pmThe Braves wanted Javy to hang around in Richmond, with the possibility of a callup, but he wasn’t interested. Corcqui Miller was JUST THAT GOOD, I guess.
June 3rd, 2008 at 4:17 pmjavy needed to retire, he was so sad to watch at the plate this spring. maybe we could trade for salty. (ha)
June 3rd, 2008 at 4:37 pmWe need that Japanese guy from Major League II.
June 3rd, 2008 at 4:40 pmI’d take Yu Darvish.
June 3rd, 2008 at 4:46 pmActually, I think that obtaining Milton Bradley would require Milton Bradley to be tranquilized.
June 3rd, 2008 at 4:58 pmDid anyone end up claiming Pena off waivers?
June 3rd, 2008 at 5:00 pmIndeed…it is a sad state of affairs when Greg Norton is on your team, and even sadder when he is starting anywhere.
Boog mentioned last night that Luis Gonzalez was looking for a job this past offseason. He can’t throw, but a guy like that would have certainly been a big improvement over the collection of stiffs manning LF for the Braves this year. I guess they thought Diaz was going to play every day and produce, but I had doubts due to his free-swinging Francouer-ish AB’s.
June 3rd, 2008 at 5:02 pmI’ve been thinking about how we can get around our 1 run loss problems. Solution: petition MLB to institute “deuce” a la tennis.
June 3rd, 2008 at 5:04 pm46- We also knew we had Brandon Jones if we had to fall back on a platoon.
Adding Kotsay and Josh Anderson, with Jordan Schafer waiting in the wings, the Braves probably did not conceive of a need for more outfielders.
June 3rd, 2008 at 5:17 pm@ 45
Yes, Kansas City claimed him, and then they put him on waivers and are hoping he clears so he can play for their Triple A team.
June 3rd, 2008 at 5:17 pmSIAP, but why after using Josh Anderson late in the game last night…did Bobby not put him in LF for Infante?
June 3rd, 2008 at 5:18 pmJorgbacca – Pena was claimed by KC on the 30th of May. He was then DFA’d on the 31st of may and Kyle Davis was recalled. Not sure what that deal was about with Pena unless they hope he does not get claimed this time and thet can stuff him in AAA. Seems to be a poor thing to do to the kid.
June 3rd, 2008 at 5:18 pmLineups…Norton batting 5th, Corky in and batting 7th ahead of Blanco
SS Yunel Escobar
2B Kelly Johnson
3B Chipper Jones
1B Mark Teixiera
LF Greg Norton
RF Jeff Francoeur
C Corky Miller
CF Gregor Blanco
P Jorge Campillo
Marlins
SS Hanley Ramirez
June 3rd, 2008 at 5:27 pmRF Jeremy Hermida
3B Jorge Cantu
1B Mike Jacobs
2B Dan Uggla
LF Luis Gonzalez
CF Cody Ross
C Matt Treanor
P Burke Badenhop
That is one fugly lineup.
June 3rd, 2008 at 5:28 pmMaybe Bobby thinks that if Corky is in the seventh slot he will bat like Kelly.
June 3rd, 2008 at 5:30 pmMaybe the Braves are planning to acquire Bradley, because Bobby is clearly on something. Six starts in a row for Norton! When was the last time he made six starts in a row in the field?
June 3rd, 2008 at 5:30 pmIf Norton has to play, I think this one would have been more optimal:
CF Blanco
June 3rd, 2008 at 5:30 pmSS Escobar
3B Chipper
1B Teixiera
2B Johnson
RF Francoeur
LF Norton
C Miller
P Campillo
Norton 5th?!?
June 3rd, 2008 at 5:31 pmOut of position, no less.
June 3rd, 2008 at 5:31 pmI think Anderson at least deserves a chance to start, playing center with Blanco shifting to left.
June 3rd, 2008 at 5:33 pmI mean start once in a while
June 3rd, 2008 at 5:33 pmBadenhop was part of the Cabrera/Willis swag, and is 1-3 with a 6.75 ERA this year. We scored six in five innings against him in April. (That was the game when McCann tripled.) So I figure three-hitter.
June 3rd, 2008 at 5:34 pmNorton is 5th so that he gets some protection from Francoeur. Sheer genius!!
June 3rd, 2008 at 5:37 pmNorton is going to go 3-4, HR, 4 RBI tonight
June 3rd, 2008 at 5:37 pmWhy does Campillo have to be pitching this one? If it were anybody else on the hill I’d just skip this one. Could we organize some kind of boycott of Corky Miller’s games?
June 3rd, 2008 at 5:38 pmI actually like our pitching matchup, but the second-half of our lineup tonight…yikes.
And let’s go Barry Zito!
June 3rd, 2008 at 5:40 pmAndrew Miller’s the main player they got back in that deal. It seems like he’s been rushed though, basically skipping Triple A.
June 3rd, 2008 at 5:41 pmWhy is McCann not playing?
June 3rd, 2008 at 5:44 pmDay off, I guess.
June 3rd, 2008 at 5:45 pmMe in 2003:
“At this rate, in five years the Braves’ reserve catcher will be a hamster.”
If Corcqui doesn’t have at least one hit tonight, his new nickname is “The Hamster”.
June 3rd, 2008 at 5:47 pmBraves14 – for what it’s worth, I like your lineup better than Bobby’s. But surely Bobby must know something we don’t know.
Right?
June 3rd, 2008 at 5:49 pmIs it considered knowledge if you think you “know” something that is patently untrue?
June 3rd, 2008 at 5:55 pmmy hamster is offended
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:03 pmBut surely Bobby must know something we don’t know.
Right?
No question. Not about tonight’s lineup though.
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:03 pmScrew you MLBRadio. As if the scam Sports Illustrated subscription and lifetime renewals weren’t bad enough, now I have to watch ads before I get the game.
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:07 pmWhy is McCann sitting today against a right handed pitcher?
Is Corky Miller Campillo’s personal catcher?
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:08 pmBill Hall is an awfully expensive platoon player–IIRC from mlbtraderumors he’s signed through 2010 at about $4-5m per year.
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:09 pmBobby wants McCann to play in tomorrow’s day game.
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:10 pm“Johnson starting at second tonight. That’s different. Infante getting some rest.” -Joe Simpson
Does Simpson know who the Braves’ everyday second baseman is?
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:11 pmI can’t believe I used to like Joe Simpson. I feel all grody now.
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:13 pmbunt time!
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:19 pmLook at Kelly selfishly padding his stats instead of advancing the runner to second with a bunt. SICKENING
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:22 pmI like Herr Badenhop so far.
MrSwings,
I agree. If you’re already subscribing & paying for the MLB service, you shouldn’t be forced to endure further ads. It should be like HBO.
But, of course, that much decency is way too much to ask for these days.
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:22 pmWhy isn’t Chipper bunting? He could put two runners into scoring position!
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:22 pmIn response to Dip Caray’s ridiculous “expand the strike zone to speed up the game” idea: Because, you moron, they don’t want to send batting averages down to .230.
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:23 pmChipper for President.
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:23 pmChippah!
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:24 pmI’m starting to think Chipper might like to hit against this year’s crop of Marlins. My goodness.
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:24 pmun f’n believable! chipper lives!
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:25 pmI’m loving this Burke Badenhop.
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:26 pmMy God, these two are idiots. I’ll use large print.
DEAR IDIOTS: IF YOU EXPAND THE STRIKE ZONE YOU’LL JUST WIND UP WITH .230 TEAM BATTING AVERAGES AND LOTS AND LOTS OF STRIKEOUTS AND REALLY BORING GAMES LIKE WE HAD IN THE SIXTIES. IF YOU WANT FOR EVERY GAME TO BE 2-1 OR 1-0 GO WATCH SOCCER. IDIOTS.
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:27 pmI’m just glad we have this Norton character to put the Fish away early. I mean I’m much more comfortable with him than the dessicated remains of Brian Jordan (not that I want to see that again, mind you).
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:27 pmMaybe they should raise the mound back up while they’re at it?
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:28 pmI challenge anybody throughout the night to try and find a worse hitter in any game who’s hitting fifth. The only one I have found so far that’s even close is Aaron Boone, but he’s hitting over 100 points higher than Norton, so it’s not even that close.
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:28 pmI challenge anyone to find a worse hitter hitting seventh.
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:30 pmJason,
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:30 pmThey could also go back to using one ball for the entire game and allowing the third baseman to spit tobacco juice on it repeatedly.
Maybe it’s just me, but I personally prefer umpires with big strike zones…as long as they’re consistent with it.
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:30 pmHey Corky is batting less than either of the Olson Twins weighs–that’s really, REALLY bad. But then, you already knew that so I’m just revealing my firm grasp on the obvious.
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:31 pmmaybe we’ll get lucky and have Corky tossed for arguing balls and strikes
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:31 pmCorcqui came in holding H-A-M-. That’s an S. All he needs is T-E-R.
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:31 pmMr. Swings,
Keep a close eye on your credit card statements. Last year, I subscribed to MLB audio, and I found a subscription to SI charged to my card even though I declined the offer. More recently, my girlfriend tried the video package for a month, but decided to wait before taking the plunge. (We’ve got XM Radio, and she works during the days here on the west coast, so she’d miss most of the games. I’m happy with radio.) However, MLB charged her card anyway.
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:32 pmIs it me, or is Fredi Gonzalez the long-lost Latino twin brother of Mark Grace?
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:32 pm5 to 9 in this line-up isn’t really going to scare even young pitchers.
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:32 pmAn inauspicious start for Joba Chamberlain vs Toronto: He got out of the 1st inning only down 1-0, but he threw 38 pitches, including 3 walks & a balk. He’s only due to throw 65-70 pitches.
Guess he was nervous. Today, all the baseball talk around here was Joba & Pedro.
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:32 pmRaise the mound, move it back to fifty feet (instead of 60 feet and 6 inches) and decriminalize the spitball.
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:33 pmJeff M,
I’d like to see that, if only for the look on the face of a kid who catches a foul pop-up in the third inning, only to have an usher take the ball back and throw it back to the home plate umpire.
Mac,
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:33 pmIt’s not possible to find a worse hitter hitting seventh, because I’m not convinced there’s a worse hitter currently employed by a Major League team.
And, by that, I mean “does anyone else besides me think Fredi Gonzalez is the long-lost Latino twin brother of Mark Grace”, not “who is the long-lost Latino twin brother of Mark Grace, Fredi Gonzalez or me”….
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:33 pmCan we get a “No Politics” rule for the Braves’ TV broadcasts?
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:34 pmNot the Campillo we saw in his first two starts.
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:35 pmFrancoeur would be a HOFer under Simpson’s proposal. His stats would be just as thry are now.
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:36 pmI hate that the Extra Innings package doesn’t show Peachtree games, even though way back when in the beginning of the season they showed one.
I also hate the Marlins announcers home run call, “His name is DAN UGGLA.” Worse than Ken Harrelson.
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:36 pm#107: It could be worse:
http://www.bravesjournal.com/?p=1670#more-1670
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:37 pmMac, for seventh hitter, I nominate the recently called up Kory Casto.
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:39 pmFrom DOB for you B. Pena fans “Just talked to a scout who told me he anticipated B. Pena could be in “limbo” for some time, because several teams are likely to do what KC did — claim him off waivers, then try to get him through waivers themselves so they can get him to Triple-A.
With the lack of catching out there right now, plenty of teams want some catching depth. Just aren’t willing to give up anything of value to get Pena….”
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:39 pmI’m in pain
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:40 pmWas that a 2 run error by Norton? I was on the phone…stupid job.
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:40 pmOK I’ll just say this — if Crist and Perdue go out to dinner tonight, who pays for the mussels?
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:42 pmThis is an obscenity. Republican or Democrat, this sort of blatant campaigning has no business on a sports program.
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:42 pmA big boooooo! to Peachtree TV for mixing baseball and politics.
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:42 pmOoooohhhh are the politicians in the booth? If so, where is Fred McGriff?
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:43 pmAt least it’s not Limbaugh like it was back then.
Okay, back to baseball.
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:43 pmSince when was Sonny Perdue named as a likely VP pick?
It’s not just baseball Chip Caray knows little about.
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:43 pmBrandon I have Peachtree TV on MLB extra innings. It is on channel 723 on Directv.Is yours blacked out?
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:44 pmIt’s Crist that’s being courted as a VP.
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:44 pmDan, I’ve heard it said. It makes demographic sense, anyway…
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:44 pmWhat Dan said. I’m slumping.
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:45 pmCrist is from Florida…Perdue from GA
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:45 pmThey should go with Katherine Harris since she can deliver Florida regardless of the way the silly Floridians vote.
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:45 pmOh fuck. I’m sorry. Please delete that. Back to the ballgame.
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:46 pmBut Florida’s more of a “battleground state.”
Back to the game . . . .
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:46 pmDan, I’ve heard it said. It makes demographic sense, anyway…
And what would that be? Sonny Perdue is an old southern white man. And Georgia is not exactly a swing state.
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:48 pmWaiter: Can I get you gentlemen an appetizer?
Perdue: We’ll have a double-helping of mussels.
Waiter: Great — would you like tap water or Evian?
Crist: Tap, please, and keep it coming!
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:52 pmUhhhhhhhhhhhhh…how bout them Braves?
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:55 pmCampillo gives up a leadoff hit to the pitcher.
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:56 pmHanley walks
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:58 pmCantu gets Campillo out of the jam.
June 3rd, 2008 at 7:03 pmTimely double play.
June 3rd, 2008 at 7:03 pmSonny, Fob, Jimmy, Joe Frank, Zell—I often have a lot of explaining to do around here.
June 3rd, 2008 at 7:04 pmExplaining?
June 3rd, 2008 at 7:07 pmI live in New York & we have about as many Joe Franks as Southerners have Vinnys.
June 3rd, 2008 at 7:08 pmSomebody once told me that all New Yorkers are named Tony because the boat said TO NY. OMGLOLBRB
June 3rd, 2008 at 7:10 pmActually, there are a lot of Joe Franks, but they usually go by one or the other.
June 3rd, 2008 at 7:11 pmThis is Perdue’s fault.
June 3rd, 2008 at 7:13 pmI’ve seen enough of Dan Uggla, thank you.
June 3rd, 2008 at 7:14 pmDan Uggla is on the juice.
June 3rd, 2008 at 7:14 pmExplain a benign politician like Sonny Perdue to the people who elected Eliot Spitzer?
June 3rd, 2008 at 7:15 pmWait, what’s that guy’s name ?
June 3rd, 2008 at 7:15 pm…Joe Simpson on the mental aspects of hitting…
June 3rd, 2008 at 7:16 pmCampillo was due for a bad outing.
June 3rd, 2008 at 7:16 pmHe’s just talking about their names.
June 3rd, 2008 at 7:16 pmIs Chipper intentionally butchering balls to solidify his Gold Glove case?
June 3rd, 2008 at 7:18 pmSomething tells me this outing is closer to the real Jorge
June 3rd, 2008 at 7:18 pmSosaCampillo.Good. One down, three to go.
June 3rd, 2008 at 7:19 pmsansho, I was referring to Dan Uggla. Nevermind.
June 3rd, 2008 at 7:19 pmI know, jj — I was responding to Dan.
June 3rd, 2008 at 7:20 pmDan,
Sonny Perdue as benign politician or anything else is not on anyone’s radar north of the Mason-Dixon line—or perhaps the South Carolina border. Northerners just think it’s funny when Southern politicians have good ol’ boy names.
I have to explain to them that those kinds of names aren’t that out of the ordinary and then ask, “C’mon, you never met anyone named Jimmy Joe? Or John Jack?”
June 3rd, 2008 at 7:20 pmOh, okay. I misunderstood.
June 3rd, 2008 at 7:26 pmMac, if you give [our backup catcher] another name, by my count, he’ll be up to four: Corky, Abe (which you previously vowed to call him), Corqui (which you then vowed to call him), and then “hamster.” I don’t think he should have more nicknames than hits this year.
Instead I’d prefer we brainstorm nicknames for players I actually like, such as “Skidmark” Johnson (because he’s streaky), “Hayes” McCann (because he hits like Mays, and runs like Hayes), and “Dakota” Jurrjens (because he’s precocious).
June 3rd, 2008 at 7:27 pmReason 21122 why Chip Caray is moron — trying to answer a trivia question about switch-hitters, he comes up with Rickey Henderson. Dork.
June 3rd, 2008 at 7:27 pmH-A-M-S-T
June 3rd, 2008 at 7:28 pmCorky showing the speed right there.
June 3rd, 2008 at 7:29 pmI don’t consider “Corcqui” a nickname, it’s just a different spelling.
June 3rd, 2008 at 7:29 pmDo we hit for Campillo if his slot comes up this inning? I say yes–though I’m often wrong about things.
June 3rd, 2008 at 7:29 pmAnd Abraham is his real name.
Okay, that does it. What a fucking moron. Can you release a player during the game?
June 3rd, 2008 at 7:30 pmAlex, another Braves blog (I know, shame on me) came up with Kid Dy-No-Mite for Jurrjens, due to his youth and the JJ initials — I like that one a lot.
Oh, and scratch the “shame on me” — look who I’m talking to!
June 3rd, 2008 at 7:30 pm“That would not have been on Corky Miller’s highlight reel if he hadn’t gotten picked-off right there.” -Joe Simpson
Corky Miller highlights?!
June 3rd, 2008 at 7:31 pm“Corky/Corqui,” “Abe,” and “hamster” make for three nicknames; [our worthless backup catcher] has 2 hits this year.
June 3rd, 2008 at 7:31 pmMeanwhile, Skip and Pete are losing it over Batman and Robin parachuting into Turner Field on singles night. I’ve never heard Pete so animated. Skip’s wheezing and in tears.
June 3rd, 2008 at 7:32 pmWell, what I’m saying is that Abe and Corcqui are half a nickname each, so he’ll just have two.
June 3rd, 2008 at 7:32 pmSansho, I take the Henry Ford approach to other Braves blogs — you can go to any Braves blog other than Braves Journal, as long as it’s Chop-n-Change!
June 3rd, 2008 at 7:32 pmhit for Campillo? I would
June 3rd, 2008 at 7:32 pmBack to trying to hit the first pitch, Mr Escobar?
June 3rd, 2008 at 7:34 pm#167
I’m truly sorry I missed that.
June 3rd, 2008 at 7:34 pmBases loaded. Young rattled pitcher.
And last night’s hero bails him out on the first pitch.
June 3rd, 2008 at 7:34 pmJay Bruce is 0-2 with a K, what is going on?
June 3rd, 2008 at 7:39 pmI’ve always tried to come up with fan club names instead of nicknames, but I’m not very good at it. I’ve received precious little support for the Prado Museumgoers, but even that has proved more popular than the Cork Sniffers. I’ll keep at it, though.
June 3rd, 2008 at 7:43 pmububba–you might want to steer clear of this:
Preparation H, the topical medication used to treat hemorrhoids, reportedly is catching fire as the latest “drug” to hit the New York City club scene.
source: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,362304,00.html
I’ll take explaining a the Sonnys, Billy Bobs, Jim Joes …
June 3rd, 2008 at 7:44 pmWell, at least Norton provides comedy. Maybe he, Corky, and Diaz can take a show on the road next year. “Introducing the Baseball Stooges!”
June 3rd, 2008 at 7:55 pmIf Jim Edmonds makes the play Greg Norton did…it would be a Baseball Tonight “Web Gem.” Good grief why is Norton starting for the 6th time!
June 3rd, 2008 at 7:56 pmAnd that, folks, is why the Braves need a new left fielder.
June 3rd, 2008 at 7:56 pmAt least he knew it was funny as soon as he did it — I’ll give him that much.
June 3rd, 2008 at 7:56 pmAre they praising Norton by playing the Superman theme–or mocking him?
June 3rd, 2008 at 7:57 pmAt least Francouer worked the count full before striking out.
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:01 pmI’m convinced Jeff Francoeur is a guess hitter… He stands in the box and right before the pitcher goes in to the windup he guesses “Swing or Take”
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:03 pmH-A-M-S-T-E
I swear, I’ve never seen a player who so consistently has the ball just die coming off his bat.
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:04 pmMy heart skipped a beat on that foul past third. It looked for a second like it hopped over the bag for what presumably would have been a close-play double.
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:05 pmnice outing by Bennett–much better to use him in this role than for 1/3 of an inning
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:11 pmMAPLE BAT ALERT!
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:11 pmThere’s just no way Javy could possibly have been any worse than Corky, it’s getting ridiculous.
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:11 pmNor was Pena any worse either. But, here’s the Hamste anyway.
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:13 pmI never really believed Pena would get a chance at it, it just seemed like he wasn’t in the plans even as backup.
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:14 pmso which is more ridiculous… Norton hitting 5th or Jose Vidro hitting 3rd for Seattle? And how much are they paying him? And keep in mind that he’s the DH… that’s all he does (which would actually be merciful for Norton, I guess).
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:15 pmShould have just left Bennett in for the bunt.
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:17 pmWhat does the fact that we’re giving regular playing time to Norton and Miller this year say about the prospects of any major free agent upgrades this offseason? Furthermore, what does it say about the potential that Teixeira is still wearing a Tomahawk on his shirts next season?
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:17 pmBill Hall wants the brewers to trade him. Do you guys think hemight solve our LF problem?
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:17 pmWow — are you telling me you couldn’t send Bennett up there to lay down a bunt and pitch another inning? Bobby sure is a wily old fox…….NOT!
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:18 pmFisted toward Rameriz….
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:20 pmHawkeyeFan,
Have you seen Braves pitchers try to bunt?
I think the bigger question is, how can a guy like Josh Anderson fail to get a bunt down? Doesn’t that have to be a big part of his game?
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:20 pmOkay, I’m going to be bold and call for a KJ run scoring double here followed by a Chipper single to score KJ and get the lead (which we keep).
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:22 pm@194,
I’m not at all convinced Bill Hall would be a true solution. He was worse than league-average last year, at least insofar as OPS+ is concerned, and is actually a tick worse this year. Add in the facts that his defense in the outfield has never been fantastic and he’s owed ~5 million a year through 2010, and it doesn’t seem like a gamble worth taking. I’d figure that Anderson/Lillibridge/Jones could do as good a job if not better for a fraction of the price.
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:23 pmBobby will probably replace Johnson with Infante…
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:23 pmOk, we just need Pinto to throw two wild pitches and it’s tied!
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:24 pmWell, that’s one.
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:25 pm“Ok, we just need Pinto to throw two wild pitches and it’s tied!”
There is one…
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:25 pmPut a Coke in the tip jar, Dan.
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:26 pmseth mcclung (RH pitcher for milwaukee that hits lefty) has 2 hits off of the big unit tonight. maybe he could play LF.
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:28 pmMarlins announcers appropriately noted that it’s puzzling that Kelly sits against many left-handers, when he is hitting .339 against them.
Then ruined it by noting his lack of power from ‘this side of the plate.’
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:31 pmYou know, Mac, you often talk about this so-called “Hibernation Mode,” but I’m not sure I believe in it. Where’s the proof?
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:31 pmBah, I must have jinxed the second wild pitch away by typing it out.
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:32 pmWho is worse Norton or Langerhans?
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:37 pmI don’t generally believe in intentional walks, but I’m fine with walking Dan Unholy Uggla.
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:37 pmRyan Braun just hit a shot about 937 feet off Randy Johnson. That ball was absolutely ignited. I had forgotten that outfielders could do that, occasionally.
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:41 pmyeah… just saw it. it was a bomb.
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:42 pmthat kid’s got 50 hrs in just over his first year of play.
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:42 pmWell, Ryan Braun’s originally an infielder.
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:43 pmChipper with a leadoff hit
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:43 pmDoes anybody else think this is basically the game right here?
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:43 pmThe combined distance of the next 3 braves will probably be less than the Braun HR.
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:44 pmI’d like to say I’m confident we’ll score, but I would be lying.
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:44 pmNorton!!
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:44 pmChipper should bat lead-off
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:44 pmNORTON
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:44 pmHopefully this is the game.
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:45 pmWell, I’ll be. Way ta go, Greg.
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:45 pmWell, I don’t think any of us saw THAT coming.
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:45 pmAAR, ha. Guess I deserved that.
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:46 pmSmoltz time!
For those that can watch, keep us updated on how he looks.
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:46 pmHad mine own eyes not seen it…
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:46 pmUnfortunately this means that he’ll probably start for a couple more days…
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:46 pmLet’s get some insurance
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:47 pmOh thank goodness, McCann is on deck
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:47 pmSo, no R tonight. Next time.
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:47 pmRafael Soriano, not Smoltz, warming up.
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:47 pm@228
Perhaps Bobby just wanted to get Norton’s bat going and he’ll now concentrate his attention on Anderson.
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:48 pmWell, I think all of us saw THAT coming.
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:48 pm228 — couple of days? that hit’s playing on a loop in bobby’s mind already… he’s set for a month. heh heh.
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:48 pm
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:48 pmInfante instead of McCann?
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:48 pmIs Joe saying that Omar should sacrifice Norton to third?
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:49 pmIf we win, Ohman gets the decision… But a round of applause for Bennett, please.
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:49 pmBecause of his hit, I will leave Norton alone tonight, but rest assures that he will be back. Oh yes, he will be back.
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:50 pmPete made it sound like it was a makeable play for the 1B on that Norton hit. Witnesses?
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:50 pmFrancoeur is a black hole on my fantasy baseball team. It just destroys all life forms that come near it.
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:50 pmThis makes no sense. And Joe is actually making sense in discussing it. I’d like McCann trying to turn around a fastball than Omar, plus this requires McCann to come in anyway in the stead of Corky, while either wasting Infante or taking Kelly’s bat out.
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:50 pmMr. Swings –
On first look, it appeared to be a Pradoed ball. On the replay, it looked like it was a good shot down the line.
It’s the kind of play that players get down on themselves for not making, though. Oh, and it was hit by Greg Norton.
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:52 pmKyle, if it makes you feel any better, I just benched Frenchy, which in my league requires exposing him to waivers. I feel sorry for whoever takes a flyer on him.
Jeff Bennett really is a terrific long reliever.
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:53 pmJacobs could have gotten it, but it was really hard hit.
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:53 pmAlso, MS@E, the infield was in, or else (as our radio guys pointed out) there’s no chance the ball squeaks through.
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:53 pmAAR – Remember that 7 RBI game? I thought he finally redeemed himself. These last two or three weeks have been brutal.
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:54 pmNice Norton:)
I wanted TRex to go deep. He raised his AVG. And he should hit HR more. There are Escobar, Kelly and Chipper infront of TRex. We need him if hope wins…He knows how to play…C’mon.
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:55 pmGamecast had that strike 3 to Blanco way outside. Is this so?
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:56 pmKyle, I remember. He’s awful the way he gets your hopes up like that.
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:57 pmAs Joe said, it was a “Crossfire Fastball.”
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:57 pmThe day before the Santana/Hudson matchup in ATL Frenchy had a great game, but since then it has been hard times.
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:58 pmThat may be the worst called strike I’ve ever seen.
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:58 pm@250,
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:59 pmIt was a borderline pitch, probably a little outside, but not an egregious call. That 3-1 pitch to McCann, however, was absolutely terrible.
Yunel again with the bases juiced… predictions for the number of pitches he’ll see before he swings?
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:59 pmEscobar can basically wrap up my entire fantasy week for me right now. Oh, and he can wrap this game up too, which I guess is more important
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:01 pmEvenin’ everybody.
Is Greg Norton a folk hero again?
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:01 pmJust in case, I hope Acosta (who has looked a lot better since he moved from the closer role) is getting some stretching in.
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:02 pmI’m shocked Yunel took that first pitch.
And no, Norton is no folk hero — but he’s still comfortably ahead of Corky.
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:03 pmIf McCann pinch hits where Infante did (1 out, man on second, righty on the mound) they woulda just walked him anyway.
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:05 pmA chance for a 1 run win, but I am not confident with Soriano.
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:05 pmhow is soriano’s velocity looking tonight?
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:08 pm@261,
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:08 pmYou’re probably right. And given the way the rest of the inning played out, it’s a moot point, as Infante walked and McCann came up anyway. But the fact is, even if Brian IS walked there, you still have Infante on the bench in case the game goes into extras.
If [our backup catcher] is a folk anything, he’s Dan Fogelberg with a bat and glove.
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:08 pmsounds like good velocity.
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:09 pmit seems like he is throwing gas on gamecast
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:09 pmHere’s to moving to a much more respectable 3-16 in one-run games.
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:10 pmBallgame!
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:10 pmYes!
I did not want to say a word while the inning was still going, but Soriano looked goooood!
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:10 pmWe won a one-run game!
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:11 pm9 pitches –8 strikes, 1 ball. Practical pitching Soriano.
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:12 pmOne run win is awesome stuff, and Soriano looked pretty good, granted not exactly against the meat of the line-up, but it counts.
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:13 pm#271 Alex..
This is Tuner Field Home Game. HaHa…I am sorry let you down.
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:15 pmI’ll take “Ironic Thread Titles” for $2000, Alex.
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:17 pmInfante wouldn’t have made it to extras, because, at that point (7 hole, 1 out) barring a double play, the 9 hole would have batted, and Infante would have batted there.
As it was, he saved Brian for the 9 hole, when he knew the odds were he’d have a chance to do some damage, and he did have that chance. He worked a walk that meant something, moving a runner from 2nd to 3rd and loading the bases. Can’t blame Bobby for Yunel striking out.
We blame Bobby when he does something that doesn’t work out (and I agree, I’m sometimes mystified when he fudges things). But give him credit for making the right move there. Because he did.
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:18 pmHey, a one-run win.
Frank,
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:20 pmI always steer clear of Fox “News,” thanks.
My mistake, it wasn’t guarenteed that the 9 hole would bat. But it was necessary for Brian to hit in it, if it did come up, in order to make it a double switch. And given that, it was a given that the 9 hole, if it came to bat, would have more chance to do damage than the situation in which Infante hit.
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:22 pmRecap up.
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:25 pmLast five games in a row.
Redundant.
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:25 pmdid you catch Chip Carey’s second brilliant idea for “speeding up the game”? Limiting trips to the mound.
he’s a slobbering nitwit.
The best suggestion for speeding up the game is to tape his mouth shut.
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:28 pm