05 Jun
Let’s get back on track game thread: Marlins at Braves, June 5
A blowout win would be nice.
I noted this in comments yesterday, but check out the difference in Manny Acosta’s pitching in high leverage situations versus the rest of the time. I am generally reluctant to explain such performance differences as psychologically caused, but wow.
Phillies just don’t seem to want to lose right now – I guess we’ll have to take care of that this weekend.
June 5th, 2008 at 2:01 pm10 picks down and only 2 pitchers taken; that should be good news for the Braves as we could need to restock arms below Rome….
June 5th, 2008 at 2:07 pmAt least we will not see Cole Hamels…who is busy shutting out the Reds. Man we need a shutdown ace. Edison Volquez shutout the Phillies in Philly last night…I think that guy might be a pitcher.
Thanks for the info Mac…
June 5th, 2008 at 2:08 pmThere are several high school pitchers from Georgia; I figure we’ll take one when we finally get to pick.
Here’s something interesting, from Bill James Online: Yunel Escobar’s Leadoff Man performance. (Meaning all innings in which he was the first batter.)
Yunel Escobar
2008
Innings Led Off: 57
Team Scored: 45 Runs .79 per inning
Reached Base Leading Off:
24
Team Scored: 29 Runs 1.21 per inning
Did Not Reach:
33
Team Scored: 16 Runs .48 per inning
Other Innings for Team:
June 5th, 2008 at 2:09 pm473
Team Scored: 238 Runs .50 per inning
Some familiar names in the top ten, which he just missed — one a real head-scratcher:
Team Runs Per Inning Led Off
June 5th, 2008 at 2:10 pm2008
Player Runs/Inning
Jayson Werth 1.09
Jerry Hairston 1.00
Juan Uribe 1.00
Rafael Furcal 0.96
Julio Lugo 0.95
Gerald Laird 0.88
Ian Kinsler 0.85
Andruw Jones 0.83
Chipper Jones 0.80
Shane Victorino 0.80
I’d say Hairston and Laird are both rather head-scratching, but at least Laird’s clearly an artifact playing in a stacked lineup with career years from both Bradley and Hamilton.
June 5th, 2008 at 2:22 pmMy sarcasm detector is faulty today, but I’m talking about the guy in eighth place.
June 5th, 2008 at 2:23 pmVery interesting, yes — only the two college guys, Crow and Matusz, and everyone else is a hitter.
June 5th, 2008 at 2:24 pmI understand where he was coming from but its funny that Steve “Kazmir for Victor Zambrano” Phillips was harping on and on about how he thought it was better for a player’s development to go pro after high school rather than attend college…ironic that 12 of the first 13 draft picks have been college players. Why E!SPN employs that man is beyond me.
June 5th, 2008 at 2:25 pmToo bad you can’t trade draft picks like you can in the NFL.
June 5th, 2008 at 2:28 pmI don’t care about yesterday anymore. STOCKMANIA IS RUNNING WILD IN THE BULLPEN AGAIN BROTHERS!
June 5th, 2008 at 2:32 pmI understand where he was coming from but its funny that Steve “Kazmir for Victor Zambrano” Phillips…
It was Jim Duquette who traded Scott Kazmir for Victor Zambrano.
June 5th, 2008 at 2:41 pmYour reasoning there is faulty, bamachum. A lot of those guys turned down big money to diddle around in college for three years. But there are even more guys who chose to go to college instead of signing deals for 6 figures that aren’t going to be drafted at all today. Those are the ones that are relevant to the discussion. Sure, you can go to college and move from 2nd or 3rd rounder into the first round. But you could also move off board entirely, and then you got nothing.
If you sign a deal, the worst-case is you pocket the dough, play ball for 3-6 years, and then go to college on MLB’s dime. (Full college tuition is guaranteed as part of any minor league contract a player signs.) It strikes me as needlessly risky to go to school rather than take $500k when it’s offered to you.
June 5th, 2008 at 2:43 pmI guess I’m just not sure that list is all that useful, then. Furcal and Jones are teammates, Kinsler and Laird are teammates, Werth and Victorino are teammates. Basically, it says, these guys play in big lineups, and are neither the good hitters nor the guys who hit in front of the pitcher.
June 5th, 2008 at 2:45 pmIt’s alright. Phillips made his fair share of moronic decisions.
June 5th, 2008 at 2:48 pmI am waiting for someone to draft Andrew Cashner who the Braves drafted twice as a Draft and Follow player, but failed to sing. Cashner went to TCU and thrived as a reliever.
Josh Fields should be coming up soon as well….
Still we ought to be able to collect some quality arms….
June 5th, 2008 at 2:49 pmIke Davis–son of Ron Davis–with the pick the Braves gave up for Glavine….
June 5th, 2008 at 2:51 pmmraver,
Again, what Phillips was saying essentially made sense, it was just funny that as he was saying “its better to go pro straight out of high school, all but one pick had been from college.
BTW, he was saying it while I thinkAlfonso (1B from Miami) was being picked…he went from 16th Round out of HS to #7 overall , I’d saying going to Miami (FL) was a good choice.
June 5th, 2008 at 2:52 pmMets picking a replacement for Delgado? or for Tex after they sign him to a 4 year contract next year?
June 5th, 2008 at 2:52 pmHere are some things Stevie P did do:
1997: Traded Carl Everett for John Hudek
June 5th, 2008 at 2:54 pm1999: Traded Jason Isringhausen and Greg McMichael for Billy Taylor
2000: Traded Melvin Mora and three other players for Mike Bordick
2001: Traded Endy Chavez for Michael Curry
2001: Traded Robin Ventura for David Justice, then traded Justice for Tyler Yates and Mark Guthrie
2001: Traded Kevin Appier for Mo Vaughn
2002: Traded Jason Bay and two other players for Steve Reed and Jason Middlebrook
Well, AAR, I was just throwing it out there. What’s mainly interesting to me is that with all the complaining many people, including myself, have done about Escobar in the leadoff spot, when he’s led off innings the Braves have done well.
June 5th, 2008 at 2:56 pmCashner chosen before Fields…what a shame we couldn’t keep him after 2006…
June 5th, 2008 at 2:57 pmIn fairness, Mac, Endy Chavez sucks.
June 5th, 2008 at 2:57 pmso there goes Fields at #20
June 5th, 2008 at 3:00 pmSome others: The Braves have scored .66 runs an inning when Kelly Johnson leads off. When Gregor Blanco leads off, they’ve scored .32 runs an inning — far below their average of .55. With Teixeira, it’s .56 runs an inning, just about their average. It’s .51 when McCann leads off, largely because he hasn’t reached base much in those situations — just 9 out of 47 times. They’ve averaged a paltry .27 runs an inning with Francoeur leading off, which is obviously not a big surprise. Since #5 hitters lead off more innings than anyone but leadoff men, this can be a problem.
June 5th, 2008 at 3:01 pmAnd let’s not forget that time that he demanded MLB confiscate Gary Sheffield’s elbow pad, thereby pissing off a previously dormant Sheffield to such a large extent that he basically laid a nuclear bomb on the Mets for the rest of the series.
June 5th, 2008 at 3:02 pmAnd I doubt this stuff represents any skill but OBP and speed. But here’s a possible lineup:
Escobar
June 5th, 2008 at 3:03 pmChipper
Teixeira
McCann
Johnson
Norfante
Blanco
Francoeur
Its a pity that we could not sign Fields last year–that was one of JS’s dances with Boras….
Still lots of decent starters left–I really hope that the Braves can collect 5 quality arms and one position player with their picks in the first 5 rounds….
June 5th, 2008 at 3:04 pmI don’t think they have that many picks in the first five rounds.
June 5th, 2008 at 3:06 pmRe the low number when Blanco leads off–that might be an artifact of having him batting 8th most of the time. Hence innings he leads off have the pitcher (who in the Braves case can’t even pull off a sac bunt with regularity, much less provide real hitting) batting second and using up one out.
June 5th, 2008 at 3:08 pmI think that the Braves got one pick for not signing Fields and two for Mahay. Now, none of these picks are particularly high, but they add up.
Basically, we have a chance to have a draft like 2003, where the Braves did not have a first round pick, but collected Salty, Romak and lots of arms. Unfortunately, most of the arms did not pan out and a few had their careers end quite badly.
June 5th, 2008 at 3:15 pmBy my count, the Braves pick 40th, 64th, 70th, 96th, 130th, and 160th.
June 5th, 2008 at 3:16 pmLooks like the Phillies drafted a Joshua Burris type…I hope he goes to Vandy…
June 5th, 2008 at 3:25 pmThis is embarrassing, but will someone please explain “draft-and-follow” for me?
Thanks!
June 5th, 2008 at 3:25 pm#32–Yeah, thats 6 picks in the first 5 rounds–the Braves could have a productive draft with these picks.
No Dennis Dixons please!
June 5th, 2008 at 3:26 pmhankonly, other people can better explain draft-and-follow than I can, but it is no longer permitted.
June 5th, 2008 at 3:27 pmYou used to be able to draft a player, let him go play out the season, and then sign him before the draft. That’s “draft and follow” and it’s no longer allowed.
June 5th, 2008 at 3:27 pmI think you can now (after last season) have drafte and follow until August 15–which is essentially meaningless. A player is not much better in August rather than late May.
The loss of draft and follow is actually a big blow for the Braves as they used this tactic more than any other organization. In fact, many–if not most–of the Braves top prospects (depending upon the list) were draft and follow types.
I am very curious to see what the Braves do after about the 14th-15th round….
June 5th, 2008 at 3:32 pmHere’s a draft tracker:
http://tinyurl.com/6c3nm2
June 5th, 2008 at 3:41 pmThe Braves usually start drafting players with ironic or humorous names later in the draft, since they usually don’t sign or are a million to one shot of making it.
June 5th, 2008 at 3:43 pmAlso, football players.
June 5th, 2008 at 3:47 pmDidn’t they draft an Adam Parliament (who they did sign) and a Joe Lieberman who didn’t? I think that it was 2005…
June 5th, 2008 at 3:48 pmBaseball Draft: 2007 Braves Picks in the June Draft – Baseball-Reference.com
Some of these are pretty good.
June 5th, 2008 at 3:52 pmFor names I liked Wohlever–a good name for a future Braves pitcher.
I was hoping that Casey Kelly would be there at #40…
June 5th, 2008 at 3:56 pmStephen, it was 2004.
Baseball Draft: 2004 Braves Picks in the June Draft – Baseball-Reference.com
Note who they drafted between Parliament and Lieberman — someone with the comical name “Flowers“. Obviously, they weren’t taking this seriously.
June 5th, 2008 at 3:57 pmHey, my last name is Flowers, jerk.
June 5th, 2008 at 3:58 pmHey, my first name is “McCutcheon”. Talk about comical.
June 5th, 2008 at 4:00 pmMcCutcheon, lol
June 5th, 2008 at 4:01 pmMac, Escobar only has 2 ABs not hitting first or second, while Johnson has 40. I’d say that stat is at least as much a measurement of the guys hitting behind you as it is of your own scoring ability.
June 5th, 2008 at 4:05 pmspeaking for former Braves’ draft picks…what’s the deal the younger Rasmus’ kid (Cory) that we took in ‘06? It seems like I heard he is having/had arm troubles and is moving to Catcher?
June 5th, 2008 at 4:05 pmI will be naming my firstborn son McCutcheon Flowers.
June 5th, 2008 at 4:06 pm“Dock Doyle”, that’s instant win.
June 5th, 2008 at 4:06 pmBaseball Draft: 2003 Braves Picks in the June Draft – Baseball-Reference.com
Good draft for one without a first rounder. They got Reyes in the second, Matt Harrison in the third, and Brandon Jones in the 24th.
June 5th, 2008 at 4:06 pmSo you’re planning on having your firstborn beaten up a lot? I suppose whatever doesn’t kill him will make him stronger.
June 5th, 2008 at 4:07 pm“I suppose whatever doesn’t kill him will make him stronger.”
As long as he doesn’t name him Sue.
June 5th, 2008 at 4:12 pmShooter, now THATS a name to be proud of.
June 5th, 2008 at 4:13 pmOkay, I don’t have Flash at work, and ESPN isn’t listing anyone past #30. Has the supplemental round started yet, and if so, has anyone been taken?
June 5th, 2008 at 4:13 pmThe 2003 draft looked good for several years–but Jake Stevens (who in 2004 was the hottest pitcher in A ball in the minors) melted down, Paul Bacot never overcame personnel issues and Asher Demme had trouble staying healthy. Bacot went to my old high school, so I was disaappointed when he left baseball.
June 5th, 2008 at 4:15 pmDoes anybody name their son “Mitchum”? If not, why the hell not?
Can you honestly think of a more masucline name?
June 5th, 2008 at 4:16 pm“Okay, I don’t have Flash at work, and ESPN isn’t listing anyone past #30. Has the supplemental round started yet, and if so, has anyone been taken?”
Next up is the Brewers at 35.
June 5th, 2008 at 4:17 pmYeah–Steven Hunt, Odorozzi and Brad Holt have been drafted….
June 5th, 2008 at 4:17 pmSo effective, you could skip a day.
June 5th, 2008 at 4:18 pmSo is it basically a lock we’ll take Spruill if no one else does?
June 5th, 2008 at 4:20 pmSo who is for Atlanta? We are up in 4 picks…
June 5th, 2008 at 4:20 pm‘02 Draft turned out fairly well in Brian McCann; Dan Meyer—centerpiece in Tim Hudson deal; Chuck James; of course Francouer and also Charlie Morton.
June 5th, 2008 at 4:20 pmPalozzone or Spruill (not sure of the spellings)?
June 5th, 2008 at 4:21 pmI think the 2005 Braves draft class wins in the names category.
Broadway, Startup, Monk, Musselwhite, Schwarzenbach and last but not least Ryan Littlejohn.
June 5th, 2008 at 4:22 pmWe’re up….
June 5th, 2008 at 4:23 pmBraves picked Brett DeVall.
June 5th, 2008 at 4:23 pmI was hoping we could get Lynn….
Brett DeVall….nice pick!!
June 5th, 2008 at 4:24 pmBaseball Prospectus says…
38. Brett Devall, LHP, Niceville HS (FL)
What He Is: As advanced as any high school arm in the draft, with outstanding control and a deep arsenal.
What He’s Not: A power arm.
In A Perfect World He Becomes: A fourth starter.
Backup Plan: Some kind of big leaguer.
Open Issues: Can the fringe-average fastball set up the secondary stuff? Does his ceiling justify his price, or is there such a thing as a safe high school arm?
June 5th, 2008 at 4:25 pmThat 2004 draft looks like it might turn into a bunch of garbage.
June 5th, 2008 at 4:26 pmJust what we needed. Another back-of-the-rotation arm with no ace potential.
June 5th, 2008 at 4:27 pmHere’s Sickels’ take, a bit more charitable: “Brett DeVall, LHP, Florida HS: Good size at 6-4, 215. Fastball average at 87-90, but could project more in time and he’s the best high school pitcher in the tough Florida ranks. Mixes in a solid curveball and changeup. Mid-to-late first round pick depending on bonus demands.”
June 5th, 2008 at 4:33 pmIts hard to get a quality power arm with the 40th pick.
June 5th, 2008 at 4:34 pmConsidering he’s 6′4, 215, I’d imagine that fastball could pick up a couple MPH as he gets older. If he can command that change and curve well, that would be more than adequate.
June 5th, 2008 at 4:35 pmI hope so.
June 5th, 2008 at 4:39 pmI think Mac’s right, the radar gun probably underrates a non-power arm like him. Two problems: he’s from Florida, so his arm probably has more miles on it than you’d think, and if he can’t get a firm feel on that lovely curve of his, he basically doesn’t have a future. But it’s a really nice looking pitch in that draft video.
June 5th, 2008 at 4:40 pmAAR–Thanks for the info. I just hope the Braves can sign him. There is no guarantee that any player will become a star, but at least DeVall has some significant upside.
June 5th, 2008 at 4:41 pmhow many rounds will they complete today?
June 5th, 2008 at 5:04 pmHere’s Baseball America. They’re a bit more optimistic about his upside:
33 BRETT DeVALL, LHP, Niceville (Fla.) HS
From Florida, a Team USA Junior Olympic team alum and a participant in the East Cobb League, Devall has been on the scouting radar for a long time. DeVall was an Aflac All-American in the fall and has distinguished himself this spring as the top pure high school lefthander in this draft. DeVall, at 6-foot-4, has the ideal pitcher’s build and has an advanced understanding of how to pitch. His delivery and arm action are sound as he repeats his mechanics, leading to his plus command of three pitches. The velocity on his fastball typically stays between 88-89 mph but can touch the low 90s. His curveball has the makings of an average pitch at the very least and his changeup is advanced for a high school pitcher. While he has feel for each of his three pitches, none of them is presently labeled as an out pitch. DeVall is projected as a third or fourth starter at the big league level. With the development of a plus breaking ball or an increase in velocity on his fastball, DeVall could be a No. 2 guy in a major league rotation. He is committed to play baseball for Georgia.
June 5th, 2008 at 5:48 pmSome of you basbeball america folks post about Robert Stovall, our pick at 64.
June 5th, 2008 at 5:50 pmSpruill at 70.
June 5th, 2008 at 5:52 pmSpeaking of Braves draft pasts, what’s become of James Jurries ?? I was thinking about him as one of the guys that used to be around to play left, and used to be on the juice, but I can’t find anything anywhere about the guy. Is he out of baseball or in Japan or something ?
June 5th, 2008 at 5:55 pmBA on Stovall:
55 TYLER STOVALL, LHP, Hokes Bluff (Ala.) HS
The top high school pitching prospect from Alabama, Stovall is a projectable lefthander who has dominated competition. Stovall set the Alabama state record for wins (18) and strikeouts (227) in 2007, and he already had 12 wins and 170 strikeouts this season. He is a U.S. Junior National Team alum and is committed to play at Auburn. While his fastball sits between 89-91 mph, Stovall’s go-to pitch is his curveball. He also has an advanced changeup. While his curveball is a plus pitch, he sometimes uses it too often. Scouts would like to see Stovall pitch more off his fastball, and if he doesn’t, scouts could see him settling into merely a setup or relief role as a pro. However, with added velocity and reliance on his fastball, Stovall could be a starter in the big leagues. His makeup is a plus, and academically, he will graduate at the top of his high school class.
Sounds to me like he’s very similar to DeVall.
On Spruill:
66 ZEKE SPRUILL, RHP, Kell HS, Marietta, Ga.
Another Georgia native with the benefit of displaying his skills in the East Cobb League, Spruill impressed scouts last summer and has continued the trend this spring. Spruill has a fluid delivery that is clean and repeatable. He has been up to 93 mph and pitches at 91-92. His fastball has life with sink and is a plus pitch. Commanding all three pitches, Spruill also throws a curveball with slurvy action and a changeup. At 6-foot-4 and 184 pounds, Spruill has a pitcher’s body with athleticism and projection. Scouts feel he could pitch closer to 93-94 by the time he reaches the big leagues. A Georgia commit, Spruill is known as a competitor and a winner with plus makeup. Spruill, along with Martin, has separated himself as one of the top two high school pitching prospects in Georgia.
Again, similar mode, except he’s a righty. Seems a bit more projectable, too. I really like this tact. Early on, it was all hitters and college players. Seems like the Braves might be getting some of the better HS pitchers by going against the trends.
I’m just hoping Xavier Avery (super-toolsy OF) is still around later on.
June 5th, 2008 at 6:00 pmWell thats no good.
June 5th, 2008 at 6:11 pmGreat start.
June 5th, 2008 at 6:11 pmHas there ever been a worse outfield than Anderson-Blanco-Francoeur?
June 5th, 2008 at 6:14 pmWren better be lighting up the phones.
Guess who is back at AA with a vengeance?
Oh but how can we add him to the major league team? He will destroy the chemistry and Hank Aaron won’t approve of him.
June 5th, 2008 at 6:16 pmAnd, of course, we have no signal from the game.
June 5th, 2008 at 6:17 pmKimbrel (96th overall pick) is less-highly-regarded than the other picks (at least by Baseball America). He didn’t make their top 200, but he was the top guy in Alabama outside that top 200. Here are their thoughts:
Craig Kimbrel leads the list of junior college players in the state. At 6 feet, Kimbrel is an undersized righty with a lightning-quick arm, producing velocity in the mid- to upper 90s. Kimbrel has worked as a starter and closer and profiles to pitch out of the bullpen at the pro level. His slider is still developing as is his command. Kimbrel has overmatched juco hitters this spring, and with each strong performance it became less likely he’d be following though on his commitment to Alabama.
June 5th, 2008 at 6:22 pmDoes anyone have the game?
June 5th, 2008 at 6:27 pmI have it on radio. Frenchy grounded out second pitch to end it. Surprise!
June 5th, 2008 at 6:30 pmTotally off-topic, but I just saw Pete Rose take out Ray Fosse for the first time. I mean, I knew about it, but this was the first time I ever saw the video. Anyway, it almost looked to me like Rose stumbled as he was getting ready for one of his patented head-first slides, and that’s why he stayed on his feet and ran over him instead. Anybody else ever see that and feel the same? Just wondering if Rose was a little unfairly vilified for that one…
June 5th, 2008 at 6:33 pmChip saying that Frenchy feels he’s just about to break out of the slump. Right on cue he tries to hit a pitch at his feet.
June 5th, 2008 at 6:34 pmJurrjens seems to have lost it since the report of the blister. Giving up HRs and BBs.
Skip and Pete kvetching about the Batman and Robin, and Blind Date promotions
June 5th, 2008 at 6:36 pmI’ve got the game on TV/
June 5th, 2008 at 6:41 pmWhy is Gregor Blanco swinging at the first pitch?
June 5th, 2008 at 6:42 pmfor those without picture:
Hanley crushed a fastball that just a had a little too much off the plate on the very first pitch…he is Hanley after all.
Hardest hit ball of the inning was Kelly’s lineout to Hermida.
Tex’s rbi sinbgle was weakly hit but right in the whole on the right side of the infield.
Frenchy’s ground out was even more soft and pathetic than usual.
Outside of the walk, I don’t think Jair looks as bad as he did last outting, just based on how his stuff looks to me. Reason to be optimistic? maybe.
June 5th, 2008 at 6:43 pmI apologize for a few typos in that post.
June 5th, 2008 at 6:44 pmI got the game on now too. Peachtree TV.
June 5th, 2008 at 6:45 pmNolasco doesn’t seem to be missing many bats, got to hope that will hurt him in the short term.
June 5th, 2008 at 6:46 pmIt’s finally on here. Francoeur sucks.
June 5th, 2008 at 6:47 pmBraves 4th round pick coming up.
June 5th, 2008 at 6:47 pmC Braden Schlehuber
June 5th, 2008 at 6:48 pm130th pick, Braves takes Braeden Schlehuber. We are dipping into the awesome names already.
June 5th, 2008 at 6:49 pmIt’s way too early to be taking players with funny names.
June 5th, 2008 at 6:50 pmEscobar is leading the NL SS defensive ratings, isn’t he?
June 5th, 2008 at 6:50 pm“Kelly to his right in the outfield…he’s been playing there a lot this year against lefthand pull hitters”
It’s called a shift, Chip.
June 5th, 2008 at 6:51 pmIn the Fielding Bible Plus/Minus he is, and by a ton:
Shortstop
June 5th, 2008 at 6:51 pm2008
Rank Player +/-
1 Yunel Escobar +15
2 Orlando Cabrera +6
3 Troy Tulowitzki +6
4 Erick Aybar +5
5 Cristian Guzman +4
6 Hanley Ramirez +3
7 J.J. Hardy +3
8 Adam Everett +2
9 Miguel Tejada +1
10 Cesar Izturis +1
YUNEL!!
June 5th, 2008 at 6:54 pmYuni!
June 5th, 2008 at 6:54 pmMan, I love those rare times when Esco turns on one.
June 5th, 2008 at 6:54 pmHe can hit a little, too.
Chipper is the only other Brave in the top ten at his position, third (+7) among third basemen.
June 5th, 2008 at 6:54 pmYunel didn’t swing at the two first pitches (both curveballs) which makes it even nicer.
June 5th, 2008 at 6:57 pmI think I’d have to take Hanley’s offense, but Yunel’s the second-best shortstop in baseball right now.
June 5th, 2008 at 6:57 pmMan…I think Joe just jerked it to that replay of Chipper’s single.
June 5th, 2008 at 6:59 pmI miss Boog.
June 5th, 2008 at 7:00 pmOkay, it’s bad enough that Joe goes on and on about hitting to the opposite field and productive outs and all the other BS, but he doesn’t even know the difference between The Hulk and The Thing? Idiot.
June 5th, 2008 at 7:03 pmI want to see all the Braves superheros now. I don’t want to hear Joe try to identify them
June 5th, 2008 at 7:03 pmHere comes the GIDP.
June 5th, 2008 at 7:04 pmChip is pun-tastic tonight.
June 5th, 2008 at 7:05 pmBobby already cheering McCann on before the Tex popup was in Cantu’s glove. Heh.
June 5th, 2008 at 7:05 pmWhile we’re listing things we want, I want someone to snipe Chip Caray from the Skyfield, but we just can’t always get what we want.
June 5th, 2008 at 7:05 pmTake one for the team, Jeff!
June 5th, 2008 at 7:05 pmAnd obviously, not lifting weights did wonders for your career, Joseph.
June 5th, 2008 at 7:06 pmBall 3
June 5th, 2008 at 7:06 pmJust had to laugh- stat for Francoeur after a 3-1 count so far this season? 1 for 3. Ha. I think he had 4 walks too. That’s insane this late in the season…
June 5th, 2008 at 7:08 pmFrenchy tries to help, but Marlins defence plays good host
June 5th, 2008 at 7:09 pmWell, Jeff tried to hit into the double play.
June 5th, 2008 at 7:09 pm…if not for the marlins pathetic infield defense, that would’ve been a vintage frenchy dp.
June 5th, 2008 at 7:09 pmerr…good guest.
June 5th, 2008 at 7:09 pmYou suck Jeff.
June 5th, 2008 at 7:09 pmjeff saved by a bad throw.
June 5th, 2008 at 7:10 pmAlright, a 7-pitch AB & an RBI. Coulda been worse, fer sure.
June 5th, 2008 at 7:10 pmSad to watch Jeff right now. Never looked like getting a hit.
June 5th, 2008 at 7:11 pmWhoa, luck. Should have been a double play.
June 5th, 2008 at 7:11 pmThis umpire is incompetent.
June 5th, 2008 at 7:12 pmIt was an RBI only because of the stupid “can’t assume a double play” rule. It was an obvious mistake that goes down as a Prado because of that. Francoeur sucks.
June 5th, 2008 at 7:13 pmNew tagline. I didn’t want to, but he left me no choice.
June 5th, 2008 at 7:15 pm“Was Junior a number one pick?”
“ARod wasn’t a number one pick. . . I don’t think.”
Die. Seriously. Just die.
June 5th, 2008 at 7:16 pmChip is trying to kill me, I’m convinced.
June 5th, 2008 at 7:17 pmHave I mentioned that Uggla is almost as frightening as Utley?
June 5th, 2008 at 7:17 pm160th pick, Jacop Thompson, RHP. Boring name.
Just missed out on Maverick Lasker and Tyler Pastornicky.
June 5th, 2008 at 7:18 pmThis is brutal. I’m switing over to the Marlins guys, who are annoying homers.
But I’d rather take an ice pick to my eardrum than listen to Chip any longer.
June 5th, 2008 at 7:18 pmJacop?
June 5th, 2008 at 7:18 pm/deep sigh
June 5th, 2008 at 7:19 pmSo Chip just claimed that Rick Monday, for saving the American flag from being burnt in 1976, was the ‘most valuable pick in the history of our sport.’
I’m giving serious thought to offing myself soon if someone doesn’t make it stop.
June 5th, 2008 at 7:19 pm… “Jacob” of course, bad typing skills.
June 5th, 2008 at 7:20 pmThat lead didn’t last long.
June 5th, 2008 at 7:22 pmOh for Christ’s sake.
June 5th, 2008 at 7:23 pmLet the record show that this inning would be over with a Braves lead if they’d just thrown the ball over the damned plate to Nolasco.
June 5th, 2008 at 7:24 pmI swear, I want to go to Atlanta, pull the ball with a maple bat, slide into first base head first, then head into the booth and hit these guys over the head with the maple bat.
June 5th, 2008 at 7:25 pmwhat kind of goat rodeo is going on, I only have Gameday?
June 5th, 2008 at 7:26 pmJair has had some terrible luck this inning.
June 5th, 2008 at 7:26 pmThe Chip Caray Crusade against Maple Bats will endure!
June 5th, 2008 at 7:26 pmHoly moly what a stupid inning.
June 5th, 2008 at 7:26 pm#153 – beautiful. I’ll chip in for gas money.
I think I may have blacked out for a while when Chip asked with a straight face if the batter is required to swing on a hit-and-run play.
June 5th, 2008 at 7:27 pmBad, bad defense. Of course, Jurrjens will get the blame, but it’s all singles.
June 5th, 2008 at 7:27 pmOperation Maple Freedom
June 5th, 2008 at 7:28 pmCOME ON!
June 5th, 2008 at 7:28 pmAnother lucky hit.
June 5th, 2008 at 7:29 pmIf you’re online… None of the balls this inning was hit hard. Most of them were ground singles or flare singles. Jurrjens doesn’t have a great strikeout rate, so this sort of thing is going to happen, but it wasn’t his fault, and with better defense he would have been out of the inning a long time ago.
June 5th, 2008 at 7:31 pmSee, I complain about aggressiveness, and you don’t want to risk the out at third base… but that’s the kind of aggressiveness that works, because outfielders have gotten lazy and learned to not expect the triple.
June 5th, 2008 at 7:32 pmGood hustle, Josh.
June 5th, 2008 at 7:35 pmThat inning seemed like death by a thousand cuts, at least online. I’m sure that fans of “manufacturing runs” out there are rejoicing.
June 5th, 2008 at 7:35 pmThat didn’t look like a good call to me, Joe.
June 5th, 2008 at 7:36 pmesco doesnt flip his bat on a homer, yet OVERLY flips his bat on a double play.
June 5th, 2008 at 7:40 pmWhat is the score at the end of the 4th? Gameday is stuck at Josh anderson.
June 5th, 2008 at 7:40 pm5-4. Joe was so busy praising Ramirez for starting a double play he called it a “good call” at first base when Jacobs was inches off the bag when he caught the throw at first base.
Now they’re hitting Jurrjens hard.
June 5th, 2008 at 7:42 pm5-4. Marlins have 2nd and 3rd with no out in the 5th.
June 5th, 2008 at 7:43 pmThanks J
June 5th, 2008 at 7:44 pmJurrjens has allowed 11 hits in 4 innings. That’s some effing bad luck.
June 5th, 2008 at 7:44 pmDP to get out of it.
June 5th, 2008 at 7:46 pmdo you all really still think anderson isnt worth a shot in the leadoff spot?
Anderson
June 5th, 2008 at 7:48 pmEscobar
Chipper
Tex
Mccann
Francoeur
Johnson
Blanco
190th pick, Adam Milligan, Outfielder. Boring name again.
Missed out on Tyreace House.
June 5th, 2008 at 7:48 pmYes. 2,679 minor league at-bats say otherwise.
June 5th, 2008 at 7:50 pmOh Jesus Christ Chip Caray stop talking
June 5th, 2008 at 7:51 pmChip Caray is a clown.
June 5th, 2008 at 7:52 pmAnd by “head”, I meant I’d hit Chip in the jaw.
June 5th, 2008 at 7:52 pmMCCANN
June 5th, 2008 at 7:53 pmThe worst part about Chip, however, is what he does to Joe, who is good with just about everyone else. But I have to admit, I think my favorite team this year was Jon and Ron.
June 5th, 2008 at 7:53 pmHOLY SHIRT!!!!
June 5th, 2008 at 7:54 pmActually, if someone can compile a list of this year’s announcing teams (TV only; Pete and Skip would win easily) I’ll make it a poll.
June 5th, 2008 at 7:54 pmI’m glad the Braves are back on top. Nolasco’s been hit hard virtually the whole night, while it sounds like Jurrjens has really been victimized by some poor defense and junk singles.
June 5th, 2008 at 7:56 pmanyone know if the other carey boy is more like his father or grandfather? i’ve heard he’s a pretty decent announcer.
June 5th, 2008 at 7:56 pmBrian Boom!
June 5th, 2008 at 7:56 pmI thought Gant was legendarily bad.
June 5th, 2008 at 7:57 pmIn case you’re interested, since Joe didn’t mention it, 120 of Bonds’ walks that year were intentional. This is obviously a record; in fact, it’s more than twice as many as anyone but Bonds has ever had in a season and would be good for 76th all-time for a career.
June 5th, 2008 at 7:57 pmOur top 5 hitters are our infield. Our bottom 4 hitters are our outfield and pitcher. I’m guessing this is probably rare.
June 5th, 2008 at 7:58 pmJon and Joe
Jon and Ron
Chip and Joe
Joe and Skip
is that it?
did Brian Jordan do any games?
June 5th, 2008 at 7:58 pmDid Skip and Chip do any games this year?
June 5th, 2008 at 7:59 pmwhy is jurrjens hitting?
June 5th, 2008 at 7:59 pmRelatively rare, but not for us.
Gant was really bad in the past and he still had some whoppers — but he and Jon meshed well. Part of it was that Jon seemed less prone to defer to him and said some things that indicated he had actually read books.
Oh, come on, you have to hit for him.
June 5th, 2008 at 7:59 pmNo to Jordan
June 5th, 2008 at 7:59 pmNo to Jordan
June 5th, 2008 at 7:59 pmI hate double posting
June 5th, 2008 at 8:00 pmthis is another stupid move by bobby.
June 5th, 2008 at 8:00 pmMaybe I’ll make it the best non Skip-and-Pete team and include Pete and Lemke.
June 5th, 2008 at 8:00 pmDoes Pete work with anyone else on the radio? I don’t get to listen too often.
June 5th, 2008 at 8:01 pmThat 8 man bullpen say to themselves, “I sit on my ass and earn millions without even pitching!”
June 5th, 2008 at 8:02 pmDan Uggla delenda est.
Hmm… Skip doesn’t travel with the team, so when the Braves are out of town, Lemke is sometimes the guy with Pete.
June 5th, 2008 at 8:03 pmwilly aybar now hitting over .300 for the devil rays.
June 5th, 2008 at 8:03 pmExcuse me — I think Chip might also work with Pete, other than Skip and Lemke. But I’m not sure.
Also, apparently our only PHs are Infante and Gotay, what with Corky being our backup catcher and all.
June 5th, 2008 at 8:03 pmI still predict the Joe and Skip option, weighted by our affetion for Skip, will probably run away with it. Even though, Skip hasn’t been the same old Skip on the few tv broadcasts he’s been on this year.
I’ve really enjoyed Jon and Joe the past couple years. They’ve got good chemistry. I really like boog, and the only thing that ever pisses me off is Joe Simpson’s relentless sunshine pumping and homerisim…but hey, that’s better than pulling a Chip Caray (regularly getting excited for the other team).
June 5th, 2008 at 8:04 pmAt least, that’s what Carlyle and Stockman can say. (referring to my 201 comment)
June 5th, 2008 at 8:04 pmPete works with Chip now and then. And I thought Lemke did a game on radio too.
June 5th, 2008 at 8:04 pmRyan, true, but he didn’t play a single game from April 9 to May 29.
June 5th, 2008 at 8:05 pmI like the Boog/Joe team
June 5th, 2008 at 8:05 pmSkip: “Each team has committed an error… that has been charged.”
June 5th, 2008 at 8:06 pmOr in Acosta’s case, “I earn millions for pitching well unless it’s important!”
Or in Ring’s case, “I earn millions for pitching to one batter!”
June 5th, 2008 at 8:07 pmOkay, the poll is up. Six options and I’ll add any I missed.
June 5th, 2008 at 8:08 pmwhy, was he smoking crack? sorry, couldnt resist.
June 5th, 2008 at 8:08 pmActually, Ring makes $397,500 and Acosta makes $392,500. Nice work if you can get it, but not exactly millions.
June 5th, 2008 at 8:09 pmyou have pete and skip on the non-skip and pete poll.
June 5th, 2008 at 8:10 pmJust six figures.
June 5th, 2008 at 8:11 pmOoops.
June 5th, 2008 at 8:12 pmI deleted that entry. Sorry.
June 5th, 2008 at 8:12 pmI voted for Pete and Skip. You can’t take them off.
June 5th, 2008 at 8:12 pmWell, what’s your second choice? I’ll add it.
June 5th, 2008 at 8:13 pm400.
June 5th, 2008 at 8:14 pmI don’t have MLB.tv, so I don’t really know any of the TV teams, unfortunately…
CHIPPER!
June 5th, 2008 at 8:14 pmChippa
June 5th, 2008 at 8:14 pmWay to go, Chipper! Congratulations!
June 5th, 2008 at 8:15 pmCongrats Chipper, you are first ballot all the way.
June 5th, 2008 at 8:15 pmChipper Jones is God
June 5th, 2008 at 8:15 pmYou know, I think this is the year that both Chipper Jones and John Smoltz solidified their Hall of Fame candidacies. Smoltz got 3000 K’s, and Chipper got 400 homers, and has been flirting with .400.
Prior to this year, people regarded them as probables. I think at this point people regard both of them as more or less definite — and we’ve seen the change happen in the last couple months.
June 5th, 2008 at 8:16 pmnew poll: best jones’ brave, besides chipper:
chipper jones
andruw jones
brandon jones
get your votes in!
June 5th, 2008 at 8:16 pmChipper hitting .415
June 5th, 2008 at 8:17 pmWow. Heckuva night for Jacobs.
June 5th, 2008 at 8:17 pmMike Jacobs is not a particularly good first baseman.
June 5th, 2008 at 8:17 pmKilled that one. Fitting 400th home run.
June 5th, 2008 at 8:17 pmBe nice.
I was thinking… Is Chipper now the Greatest Atlanta Brave? When I did the list in the 2006-07 offseason, I had him third behind Aaron and Maddux. Aaron would still rank #1, because I included his Milwaukee years, but Chipper pretty clearly has the greatest hitting accomplishments of anyone counting Atlanta only. So, him or Maddux?
June 5th, 2008 at 8:18 pmReplacement poll, everybody vote again.
June 5th, 2008 at 8:20 pmJust bunt it at Jacobs now, pretty sure he’s going to kick it into the dugout.
June 5th, 2008 at 8:21 pmI think you still have to give it to Maddux, but Chipper’s in the conversation, certainly, and still adding to the resume.
And… right on schedule, Jeff strikes out.
June 5th, 2008 at 8:22 pmstill gotta be maddux, but if chipper gives this .400 thing a run, i would have to go chipper.
June 5th, 2008 at 8:22 pmAnother interesting thing is how far Hudson and McCann will climb the top 44 list this year.
June 5th, 2008 at 8:25 pmthat was a nasty little pitch by ring.
June 5th, 2008 at 8:25 pmDan Uggla vs. the Atlanta Braves, entering tonight: 198 PA, 12 HR, 32 RBI, .294./.340/.583.
June 5th, 2008 at 8:26 pmThat Ring guy could pitch more often.
June 5th, 2008 at 8:30 pmI didn’t notice it, and I don’t know if anyone else did, but earlier this week Chipper passed Murphy as the all-time at-bats leader for Atlanta. Last night, he passed Mathews for second on the franchise hits list. He of course holds virtually every major hitting record for the Atlanta Braves now: Hits, Total Bases, Doubles, Homers, RBI (could pass Mathews this year, he’s 50 behind), walks (the only franchise record he’s got a good chance at holding, he’s 110 behind Aaron and 189 behind Mathews; this, of course, is virtually the only major franchise record Aaron doesn’t hold), XBH. He’s at the top of all the percentages as well, and on top of the franchise list in OPS.
June 5th, 2008 at 8:32 pmHe’s only eighth in stolen bases, though.
June 5th, 2008 at 8:34 pmBy the way, our pitching has been pretty good for a while now. Should we stop hating Roger McDowell?
June 5th, 2008 at 8:38 pmRemind me if Jacob Thompson ever makes it that his nickname is Jacop.
Wait, “best pitching coaches in baseball?” You re-hired Leo?
June 5th, 2008 at 8:38 pmI HATE WES HELMS AND ALL HE STANDS FOR.
June 5th, 2008 at 8:42 pmAAR,
You are only jinxing the man. Just don’t say anything when things are going the way they ought to. –end of superstitious rant–
June 5th, 2008 at 8:42 pmJust one more out and then it will be Soriano time in the Marlins 9th
June 5th, 2008 at 8:44 pmI think we should give Acosta another chance.
… wait for it…
NOT!
June 5th, 2008 at 8:47 pmI know you probably had to walk Hanley there, but I hated to see it because that guarantees Uggla will come to the plate again. Really sick of seeing that guy.
June 5th, 2008 at 8:48 pmFISTED!
June 5th, 2008 at 8:52 pmWell, Chipper’s 4-5. Ho-hum.
June 5th, 2008 at 8:53 pmChipper is getting all kinds of crazy.
June 5th, 2008 at 8:53 pmApparently Chipper is reading tonight. He’s now two SB behind Garr.
June 5th, 2008 at 8:53 pmAnd he steals a base there. He must have himself on his fantasy team.
June 5th, 2008 at 8:54 pmI guess Chipper wasn’t happy being 8th on the Stolen Base list…
June 5th, 2008 at 8:54 pmHahahahaha Chip just burned Jacobs.
“…Ball is caught by Jacobs, and that in of itself is a surprise.”
I would go to the press box and hit him with a maple bat.
June 5th, 2008 at 8:54 pmWould you believe .418?
June 5th, 2008 at 8:55 pmWell, I wouldn’t get too excited. He’s still 6 points behind Rogers Hornsby.
June 5th, 2008 at 8:57 pmYou know, today I found out that bamboo is eighteen times stronger than maple. Maybe bamboo (a grass) is the answer? It’s durable, renewable, sustainable.
June 5th, 2008 at 8:57 pmBamboo wouldn’t be legal; the rules say wood.
June 5th, 2008 at 8:58 pmWhy not balsa? It’s not like it’d be more brittle.
June 5th, 2008 at 8:59 pmAll pitches before that slider were fastballs — 93 or 94.
June 5th, 2008 at 9:00 pmA taxonomic technicality. It shares all the other properties of wood. Just a thought.
June 5th, 2008 at 9:00 pmPete: “Right down the middle… for a ball!”
June 5th, 2008 at 9:00 pmHow’s Soriano looking? I can only follow on GameDay.
June 5th, 2008 at 9:01 pm“Right down the middle for a ball,” says Pete. Was that call that bad?
“He is not America’s greatest umpire,” explains Skip.
June 5th, 2008 at 9:01 pmHe hit 96 on the 1-1 pitch, but not on a strike.
June 5th, 2008 at 9:01 pmNICE!
June 5th, 2008 at 9:02 pmBest pitch he’s thrown.
Ball one… well, it probably was a strike, but it was a high breaking ball and those rarely will be called strikes.
June 5th, 2008 at 9:02 pmChip’s right — that bat has way more pine tar than allowed.
June 5th, 2008 at 9:03 pmYes! Well, it wasn’t a blowout, but it’ll do.
June 5th, 2008 at 9:04 pm3-1 series with the Marlins is nice. If it hadn’t been for the Smoltz thing, this would’ve been a fantastic start to the homestand.
Phillies come to town next, yes?
June 5th, 2008 at 9:05 pmHome plate umpire Adrian Johnson is a Minor League Call-up umpire.
This would explain why he is not good.
June 5th, 2008 at 9:06 pmOh, and on the poll, I voted for Pete and the Lemmer, mostly because Pete does all the play-by-play in this situation, so I don’t have listen to anyone who annoys me. At least not as much as I do when Chip or someone is around.
June 5th, 2008 at 9:09 pmgood thing one of our closers® could actually close the game
June 5th, 2008 at 9:09 pmRecap up.
June 5th, 2008 at 9:14 pm