Both teams have off-days tomorrow. Why is this a day game?
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Yunel needs to have a Julio Franco or even Eddie Perez in the dugout to tell him to quit acting like an ass. I think Eddie would be a great bench coach.
At this point I have nothing else to say in regards to Francouer. It is becoming just a sad case.
Corky Miller is an embarassment to the Braves organization. He cannot be that great at handling pitchers to have his .103 on a major league roster. Just dumb.
When are Kotsay, Diaz, and Prado scheduled to return?
“We’re not going to find a better defensive SS — who can also hit — than Escobar (tonight notwithstanding), especially for the money.”
This post from the last thread is correct. This kid has produced from the get-go in trying circumstances.
I spent three years in Japan, speaking just enough Japanese to ask basic questions but not enough to understand the answers. I had the luxury of working in an English-speaking environment.
Yunel doesn’t. He’s performing as well as most major league shortstops, but the language barrier alone has to frustrate him.
He’s also Cuban and plays the game with flair. His innate hot dog has irritated some umps at home plate, and he’s had numerous balls called strikes in retribution.
He snapped. So what? He plays hard, usually smart and loves the game. He can play on my team.
Good point, Tony. He’d make a great mentor for Yunel.
Is Eddie Perez so valuable in the pen that he can’t sit next to Bobby? I’d much rather he be the heir apparent than TP, although I do think highly of him also.
I’ll add that Yunel had a friend on the team who served in that role, and that the Braves dumped him to keep the Hamster. Yunel was doing fine before Pena was DFAd.
just decent baseball being played would help. We’ve made 11 errors in our last 7 games and the offense is getting shut down by almost every starter. I think fans have the right to be negative when the team is playing like this
its just funny to read this. Like he has a clue right now. Did you hear Joe talking about his vision? Its 20-20 in the right eye and 15-20 in the left. Hey thats about as perfect as it can get. I wonder what his swing looks like left handed
@3. Why would you be ready to proclaim that Brandon Jones might not be the answer. After a cold streak of like 15 at-bats. I’m not saying he definitely is, I’m just saying there is aboslutely no way of knowing at this point. And with him being the No. 4 prospect coming into this season, I’m willing to give him the at-bats the work out the kinks at the major league level.
Jones was hoping to pinch-hit in the seventh inning after Francoeur singled with two outs. But Brandon Jones ended that inning with a strikeout. Instead of using Brent Lillibridge to begin the top of the eighth, Cox sent Chipper Jones to the plate and then sent Lillibridge in the game to serve as his pinch-runner.
After allowing Teixeira’s homer, Torres, who has converted each of his 12 save opportunities since Eric Gagne went on the disabled list, surrendered a single to Brian McCann, who was immediately replaced with a pinch-runner. After a sacrifice bunt, Francoeur groundout and intentional walk to Brandon Jones, Miller carried his .103 batting average to the plate with the hope of providing a good ending.
Instead, he put an end to an ugly night that only briefly had a chance to memorable.
“It’s one game,” Morton said. “Nobody likes to lose. But there are going to be days like this.”
I took in the ChiSox 6-1 win over the Dodgers last night. Good night for the ChiSox former Braves–Dye hit a key 2-run homer (just think how RF would have been with him over the past decade) and D. Wise was 3-4. Jones and Furcal didn’t play–today’s LA Times has an article pointing out the Dodgers have a .563 win pct with Furcal and a 17-27 record without him. It also has an article on lame deals made by the Dodgers–the picture with the story in Andruw.
ChiSox 2B Ramirez made a sportscenter play ranging to CF to take a hit away from Martin and then doubling Kemp off first. Pierzynski is a bum–he didn’t run on two plays to first–Derek Lowe, by contrast, busted it down the line.
One of life’s coolest sights is LA at night from the Dodger Stadium parking lot–no wonder Jim Morrison called it the “city of lights.”
I’ll add that Yunel had a friend on the team who served in that role, and that the Braves dumped him to keep the Hamster. Yunel was doing fine before Pena was DFAd.
This almost makes me wonder if Pena was DFA’d because the Braves wanted to break them up. In the long run, Pena isn’t going to be around to help him. Just the other day, I heard someone about getting her nephew who has just move to the US from Mexico into out of his English classes. The problem was that he was around other kids who spoke Spanish (that’s why they were all there), so the English classes were actually hindering his assimilation. In the short run, we are going to see some bumps, but in the long run he might be better off.
Still, it’s frustrating, especially when the replacement is Corky. Seriously, I recall Eddie Perez leaning in to take one for the team when necessary. Corky moved as nimbly as I’ve ever seen him to get out of the way of two pitches last night, before Francoeuring his 3-0 count.
Francoeuring — 1. To swing at pitches out of the strike zone after securing a hitter’s count.
2. To reach base on a weakly-hit infield ground ball.
3. To mis-play a ball on defense without being credited with an error. (syn. Prado)
The umps have turned on Yunel in the past few weeks… It’s not fair, but you have to keep your cool. But the whole team deserves a slap in the face, and Yunel wasn’t the worst offender by a long shot.
Blanco has what… two hits from the leadoff role? I really like the kid, but he’s been bad lately, and not just with the bat. It’s tough… do you stick with him, or bring up Anderson instead? And what about B. Jones?
Infante has been hitting well lately, so the bunt call was a tough one. Frenchy killed yet another rally.
I know we didn’t lose any ground, but I look more at the way the team is playing than the standings. This is not a playoff team, I don’t care how bad the division is. What good is making the playoffs if you’re just going to get clobbered once you get there?
With all the problems this team is having, it’s baffling that Yunel Escobar, who is hitting above average at SS and has been pretty decent in the field, should earn so much ire. Negativity is one thing; calling someone out for being from Cuba is quite another. Is Wren’s inability to acquire a league-average (right-handed) corner outfielder because he’s from Florida? Escobar is young and he’ll be fine. He’s among the least of the Braves problems right now.
Can I point out how it is we had Pena, Corky, AND Javy in spring training competing for our backup catcher job and the one we went with is Corky?!?!?! I’d rather have Javy up there on occasion, being older, probably only hitting .200, but occasionally knocking one out and being a throw-back Brave than seeing Hamster out there with his .100 average *grumble, grumble, Wren!, grumble*
Oh, and Kotsay and Diaz both may be back next week I think (if I recall what I read right). Here’s hoping Kotsay can stay healthy when he gets back and Diaz can return to 06-07 form.
JC–Your explanation about Bryan Pena’s release is the first that has made any sense…Until the Braves believe that Sammons has had enough ABs at Richmond, I am afraid that we are stuck with Corky….
I understand it’s a long season and they can’t get too down after a single loss, yada, yada, yada, but I’m sort of tired of the Braves treating every loss as if it’s no big deal. At some point, it’s not early and you can’t make up all the games you keep pissing away. Now, I realize Morton is in no position to show ire but the Braves, as they have done in recent years, seem to keep hiding behind the mantra that it’s a long season–until it’s not. Chipper is the only one that seems to recognize any urgency. Of course, one thing that encourages that is that all the teams in the division keep losing so they never lose any ground but at some point, you have to start playing some decent baseball. There seems to be an attitude on the team that we have so much talent that eventually we will turn things around.
#20 – Charles I think they said they were just now (later this week) getting Diaz in a different brace where he can at least start baseball activities again. I think he’ll be more around the break before we see him again. Seriously though, in the meantime, just call the Giants and tell them we’ll take Randy Winn and his full salary. No way they can expect anything in return on that one. I cant believe I’m saying this, but put Infante in CF and Winn in RF. Do something, whatever it is
Thanks csg, I had to hunt down where I’d read their timeline and wasn’t sure on it… AJC says:
The Braves hope to have Mark Kotsay back from the disabled list next week and left fielder Matt Diaz back in a couple of more weeks.
Matt’s cleared to run and is apparently ready to come back.
“I know Kotsay and me aren’t going to cure the outfield,” Diaz said. “It’s got to be a team thing. When Chipper [Jones] is down, other people have got to step up … I can’t wait to be a part of that. You forget how much you love baseball until you can’t play.”
I would like to suggest we promote Braeden Schlehuber from GCL to replace Corky… not so much because he’ll be good (probably won’t, but would also probably be better than Corky), but because it’ll be fun to hear the guys in the booth try and say his name.
It is a beautiful day in NJ and I am off today, I hate the fact I will be sitting inside here watching the Braves.
they better win dang it.
I Like Yunel but he IS a hot dog, he complains about balls and strikes a lot and the bat flip costs him many close calls.
This is a bad trait for a young player to have, i believe it was also a big problem for him in the minors.
I saw that yesterday. I find it hard to believe that people around the football program didn’t know what he was into. From some people who go to school there it was well known what JJ did.
If Francoeur is to turn things around this season, he needs to tune out his critics who believe his fatal flaw is his aggression as a hitter. As a young developing hitter, he is best off staying true to himself by maintaining his aggression and gradually learning more plate discipline as he gets older and more experienced.
Also known as the Terry Pendleton plan that has been in effect for three years. Why not just suggest sticking a Q-Ray bracelet on the guy?
I really don’t understand why we don’t bring up Sammons already, and I’m normally on the opposite side of this “Why don’t we bring up the kids” argument. But in most instances, the person we’re replacing isn’t hitting .050 or whatever the hell Corky is hitting now.
There’s no way we keep Sammons anyway. He’s completely blocked by McCann, so he’s pretty much guaranteed to be traded. And now he looks like he’s stagnating somewhat in Richmond. Bring him up and let him show what he can do as the backup catcher.
Also, pinch-hitting Chipper with the tying run still on-deck is one of the worst decisions I’ve ever seen Cox make. That a spot where we actually needed him came up in a game-breaking situation and we didn’t have him and had to use Corky freaking Miller was all too predictable. Bobby played for the one-run loss and what did we get? A one-run loss. Imagine that.
Apparently, Johns managed to somehow keep his identities as talented but somehow useless football player and crimelord separate. So while his activities as the latter were well known to the powder cocaine circuit up on fraternity row, the other players were… well, it’s hard to believe unaware, but unacquainted with how much he was actually doing. He didn’t hang with the other players at all, from what I hear.
The writer doesn’t investigate the fact that Frenchy’s power has disappeared, but it’s implied with the shrinking slug-%.
A couple key passages:
“Unfortunately, the injury-depleted Braves don’t have anyone better in their system to replace Francoeur.”
“As of this writing, Francoeur is only hitting .228 with a .267 OBP and a .367 SLG with RISP. That is very unusual for Francoeur. For his career, in 558 plate appearances with RISP, Francoeur has batted .315 with a .364 OBP and a .508 SLG.”
The passage above is the main reason we could put up with his flaws previously & now we can’t. That’s it in a nutshell. Before this season (558 PAs), Frenchy rose to the occasion; this year, he’s been bad at everything and, crucially, he’s now a Rally Killer Supreme (TM).
I have no sympathy for that idiot. Like Mac said, he’s going to jail for at least a decade on 5 different felony’s. He choose his own path, he had a free education and possibly some type of professional football in his future (arena, canadian). What a dumbarse!
Good. We need to rest Chipper as long as possible. Since the East is as a whole is struggling right now, the Braves really aren’t losing any ground. However, a win today would be nice.
#14
Frank,
That moment you mention from the Chavez Ravine parking lot…I had the exact same experience the first time I visited Dodger Stadium. I looked up, saw the view & “LA Woman” began to play in my head. (Now it happens when I’m flying into town.)
First game at Dodger Stadium was April 1991 and it was a Braves game. They were off to something like an 11-8 start, which felt hopeful, but was really just plain amazing! Little did I know what kind of thrills I would get that year.
I scored a ticket outside about 5 rows behind home plate. Braves lost, Kal Daniels hit a GSHR for LA and Deion Sanders hit a so-what solo shot later, but I’ll always remember that experience. And, yes, the Dodger Dogs are awesome.
“Also, pinch-hitting Chipper with the tying run still on-deck is one of the worst decisions I’ve ever seen Cox make.”
he didnt even do that. He wasted Chippers bat yesterday. It was a 4-1 game with no one on and no outs. Then he had to burn Lillibridge to run for him. You let Lillibridge hit there and run for himself and save Chipper just in case there is a situation to drive in some runs
Well, Dodger stadium is indeed awesome. Before I got married I used to go to games all the time, now I only go to Braves games. Three games I remember best:
1. Mike Piazza becoming only the second player to hit a home run completely out of the stadium link
2. Ismael Valdes throws a one hitter. link
Wilton Guerrero starting shortstop! The Dodgers were in a bit of a middle infield dry spell.
3. The Gary Sheffield game. link
So this game was a spur of the moment decision, so I only could get a ticket in the left field pavilion. That’s still a good seat and only like $8 bucks at the time. Anyway, Sheffield hits a homer in the third a few rows over my head which was pretty cool. Then in the eighth he hits another rocket which, from the moment it leaves his bat, is clearly coming right at me. So I put my scorecard down, stand up, and…step to one side allowing the ball to clang of the bench seat where I was sitting and into the hands of the folks behind me. A little embarrassing to be sure, but you remember the way Sheffield hits the ball, this thing was a laser and I don’t take a gl0ve.
The writer doesn’t investigate the fact that Frenchy’s power has disappeared
His ISO is about the same as it was last year, and (amazingly) his XBH% is quite a bit higher — 38% this year vs. 31% last year. He’s hitting less singles.
Then he had to burn Lillibridge to run for him. You let Lillibridge hit there and run for himself and save Chipper just in case there is a situation to drive in some runs
Nah, it’s the eighth, the bottom of the order probably isn’t getting up again might as well get him in there. That high leverage situation may never materialize. I’d rather use him too early than not at all. If there was a mistake it was not using a pitcher to run for him and keeping Lilli available for later. Not that he would have been a better option than Corky.
Escobar’s whining doesn’t bother me nearly as much as Francoeur griping about balls and strikes.
Ditto, Mac.
Most of all, yesterday, I was disappointed with errors.
I like Escobar. He was Mr. consistency in the lineup. I was very excited at that time when the Braves drafed him. As is often the case with Hispanic or Latino, I think he is a man of passion. I prefer this because he is professional. HAHAHA…
IMO, each national has its own peculiarities. Here is my story. I’ve had a lot of German classmates. They were too serious. They did speak english fluently but did speak German except for class. On top of that, they got along with themselves. Of course I have German friends. Generally my spanish friends were serious too. Both of them rarely smiled and often made contortions of the face. I know persons are different depend on personalities. But I realized that is a national trait. I’m not a chatterbox and I am a little shy. Thankfully they walked up to me and then we spent a good days. At first, I was afraid of leaving message here. Nevertheless I did. I think Escobar’s language problem is not a big deal because we are the Braves.
This blog makes me feel a wave of nostalgia when I was infatuated with blogging. I rarely find this kind of Mac’s blog in western cyberspace. Music is always my friend. I enjoys all kinds of music. Even I listened reggae when I was in Sydney and Auckland. But I prefer Brit-Pop like Oasis, Blur, Radiohead,,,etc. Stirred memories of a simpler time. Cheers, Mac.
Nursing the injury or is Bobby pissed at him? Another not-bad lineup, considering what we’ve got to work with, although I’d of course switch Francoeur and Jones.
BTW, what are the estimates as to what Ben Sheets and Adam Dunn will command per year this offseason?
If they each command $15 million per year, we could sign both of them, re-sign Teix at $20 million per, while having our payroll increase from roughly $90 million to roughly $100 million.
In 2009, that would give us a rotation of Sheets/Hudson/Jurrjens/Reyes/Campillo;
a lineup of
Yunel/KJ/Chipper/Teix/Dunn/McCann/Francoeur/Schafer;
a bullpen of
Soriano/Gonzalez/Moylan/Boyer/Ring/Bennett/Acosta;
Stu, I would be shocked, shocked if Dunn stood to get as much as Tex, and frankly I’d rather have him. (Despite the much lower BA, Dunn actually has a higher career OBP.)
I’d guess Dunn could be had for 7/$120, Tex for 6/$120, and Sheets for 5/$85. (I’m thinking Sheets will get a Burnett-like deal, factoring in a little more inflation.)
4 of our 8 position players are the back-ups today… it really is amazing we’ve not dropped more games than we have with as few of our “regulars” as we’ve been able to trot out regularly for a while now.
I like our rotation and pen, our middle infield and our catcher. Chipper’s best in the bigs when healthy.
Assuming Glavine, Hampton, Teixiera, and (please let me be wrong on this) Smoltz are gone or done, how much payroll have we obligated for 2009; and how much do we have to spend?
My only worry with someone like Dunn is that we’ll end up like the Dodgers with Andrew. Dunn would be a nice addition as he is now, but what if he regresses? He also doesn’t have any defensive skill to speak of.
Bethany, that’s a good point — Dunn does have prototypical “old player” skills, and those guys don’t age well. I’d imagine that he’d start to fall off in a hurry once he gets into his early 30′s. But he’s only 28, and he probably has another 5 seasons of very good production.
Tell me gameday is wrong it wasn’t an injury delay… did we lose another player? At this rate we’ll be playing all AA guys by the end of the year and Schaefer will get his shot.
At this point Bobby gets to manage like an AL manager, because there’s no concern of waiting till the pitcher’s spot comes up. Everybody who isn’t a pitcher is hurt, or is hitting as bad or worse than one. So just pull the pitcher when you feel like it and put in another one to hit for him, doesn’t make any difference.
How sad is it that I know the trainer is Jeff Porter without looking it up, just because I’ve seen him come on the field so often in the last few years? (this of course assumes they didn’t change trainers sometime that I missed).
Someone needs to be fired. Several people need to be fired.”
Considering the vitriol that spews forth from the mouths of men here, that I would consider otherwise to be perfectly reasonable men, I would say the fact that this team is essentially playing .500 baseball is a testament to Bobby’s clubhouse.
If you think you’re frustrated, imagine how the players feel? We’ve got 3/5ths of our starting rotation out, starting 3b, starting ss, starting lf, starting cf, TWO utility IF’s out.
But they go out and play and tread water, and if they pouted half as much as we do, they’d be 25-50 right now.
Good evening Sir, my name is Jeff. I come from a rough area. I used to be addicted to crack but now I am off it and trying to stay clean. That is why I am playing right field for the Atlanta Braves.
JJ, I admit that I spew a fair amount of vitriol. Maybe you’re right that simply playing .500 baseball is an impressive achievement considering all the injuries we’ve suffered. For some reason, though, I feel it’s unacceptable that we’ve committed 9 errors in the past 5 games. Major league ballplayers, no matter how fringy, shouldn’t do that. That was the reason for my vitriol in that particular argument.
im under the impression that Jeff Porter is still around. Strength And Conditioning is a different title from Head Trainer. I don’t recall the name of the man who was fired.
AAR – Oh don’t get me wrong, I scream the screen like any self-respecting sportsfan. I just didn’t yell on that one. He was handcuffed, and just came in the game cold. (His first on-field action since he got he from Richmond, I believe.)
Infante kicking the ball around lately, Francoeur kicking the ball around, those plays really set me off.
But Lilly, I don’t think stood a chance there, playing up on the grass like that.
Obviously, our expectations are still high because of the run of success. The fact is, the Braves now are just another team that will have some good years and some bad. Right now, the Brewers seem to be coming on, they have a good young core and are simply a better team–certainly better than the team the Braves have been forced to put out on the field recently.
But mediocrity is boring. Maybe Bobby does deserve credit for being .500. As a fan, though, it sucks.
JJ, that’s fair enough. I didn’t see the play. But our radio guys said that, though it was hit hard, it was something that he could have made a play on.
By the way, getting to watch the Phillies lose 6 in a row has helped me keep my peace… I take heart by thinking “We’re trying to tread water until we get our pieces back. The Phillies are just LOSING.”
I’ll be honest with you, I love his game, I do, I’m a Jeff Francoeur fan. For my money, it doesn’t get any better than when he swings and misses at a slider 2 feet off the plate.
Lillibridge is still without a hit… he looks even younger than I imagined. Wonder if he needs a fake ID….
I like how they gave him the number 1, which somehow makes him look even smaller. I guess the commish’s office wouldn’t approve giving him 1/2 or 1/3 for a number.
wasn’t Prado using #1? … what are the rules on changing your number halfway through the season? (that’s if the Braves actually want Prado back on the active roster)
Jeff Francoeur : You see Bob, it’s not that I’m lazy, it’s that I just don’t care.
Bobby Cox: Don’t… don’t care?
Jeff: It’s a problem of motivation, all right? Now if I work my ass off and the pitchers throws a few extra pitches, I don’t see another dime, so where’s the motivation? And here’s another thing, I have eight different teammates who hit better than I do right now.
Bobby: Eight?
Jeff: Eight, Bob. So that means when I make a mistake, I have eight different people coming by to tell me about it. That’s my only real motivation is not to be hassled, that, and the fear of losing my job. But you know, Bob, that will only make someone work just hard enough not to get nontendered.
Parish, they’re saying Infante’s day-to-day, but our guys imagined that Infante probably wouldn’t be playing tomorrow considering the way he grabbed his leg.
Do you think Jorge Campillo could play outfield on the days he’s not pitching? I heard that worked for another guy named George.
I was watching a game on peachtree tv with skip and joe (I think this was friday’s game) and they cut away to a commercial and I still heard joe and skip talking. Joe immediately started calling something in the CF area of the ballpark “crap” and they cut to birdseye views of Turner rather quickly. Skip also hated on the ESPN magazine for an inning.
It would be cool if the Hamster never had another pinch hit appearance as long as Hudson, Jurrjens, Campillo… or pretty much any pitcher was available. I’m quite sure they’d all give a better chance at actually getting a hit/avoiding a double play.
We have 13 men left on base (cumulative counting)… and I’m not surprised we left them on, I’m just surprised we had that many guys on in the first place with the line-up we sent out.
I swear, I heard Chip say, “… And if I’m reading Ned Yost’s lips right, they’re going to walk Francoeur and pitch to Brandon Jones” and I spun around in my chair, shrieked “WHAT?!” and dribbled a mouthful of Diet Coke onto my shirt.
Do we really need another util infielder? Doesnt Norton play 3rd and 1st also? I would like to see Perry or Anderson get called up. Can Diory play 3rd anyways?
Wait…why exactly did Chipper pinch-hit for Brandon Jones? I don’t understand. Or did Gameday get the order wrong? Did they announce Chipper before Mota was brought in?
The negativity around here is getting to be rather much.
June 25th, 2008 at 8:06 amA win today would certainly help matters….
June 25th, 2008 at 8:22 amYunel needs to have a Julio Franco or even Eddie Perez in the dugout to tell him to quit acting like an ass. I think Eddie would be a great bench coach.
At this point I have nothing else to say in regards to Francouer. It is becoming just a sad case.
Corky Miller is an embarassment to the Braves organization. He cannot be that great at handling pitchers to have his .103 on a major league roster. Just dumb.
When are Kotsay, Diaz, and Prado scheduled to return?
Brandon Jones…maybe is not the answer.
June 25th, 2008 at 8:30 amA day game so fans have the evening to get over another loss and don’t have to lose sleep.
I think the negativity is sort of justified. Record is 201-202 since beginning of ’06.
June 25th, 2008 at 8:30 am“We’re not going to find a better defensive SS — who can also hit — than Escobar (tonight notwithstanding), especially for the money.”
This post from the last thread is correct. This kid has produced from the get-go in trying circumstances.
I spent three years in Japan, speaking just enough Japanese to ask basic questions but not enough to understand the answers. I had the luxury of working in an English-speaking environment.
Yunel doesn’t. He’s performing as well as most major league shortstops, but the language barrier alone has to frustrate him.
He’s also Cuban and plays the game with flair. His innate hot dog has irritated some umps at home plate, and he’s had numerous balls called strikes in retribution.
He snapped. So what? He plays hard, usually smart and loves the game. He can play on my team.
Selah.
June 25th, 2008 at 8:30 amEscobar’s whining doesn’t bother me nearly as much as Francoeur griping about balls and strikes.
June 25th, 2008 at 8:32 amGood point, Tony. He’d make a great mentor for Yunel.
Is Eddie Perez so valuable in the pen that he can’t sit next to Bobby? I’d much rather he be the heir apparent than TP, although I do think highly of him also.
June 25th, 2008 at 8:34 amI’ll add that Yunel had a friend on the team who served in that role, and that the Braves dumped him to keep the Hamster. Yunel was doing fine before Pena was DFAd.
June 25th, 2008 at 8:36 amjust decent baseball being played would help. We’ve made 11 errors in our last 7 games and the offense is getting shut down by almost every starter. I think fans have the right to be negative when the team is playing like this
June 25th, 2008 at 8:36 am“Francoeur griping about balls and strikes.”
its just funny to read this. Like he has a clue right now. Did you hear Joe talking about his vision? Its 20-20 in the right eye and 15-20 in the left. Hey thats about as perfect as it can get. I wonder what his swing looks like left handed
June 25th, 2008 at 8:39 am@3. Why would you be ready to proclaim that Brandon Jones might not be the answer. After a cold streak of like 15 at-bats. I’m not saying he definitely is, I’m just saying there is aboslutely no way of knowing at this point. And with him being the No. 4 prospect coming into this season, I’m willing to give him the at-bats the work out the kinks at the major league level.
June 25th, 2008 at 8:42 ameven Peanut doesnt understand…
Jones was hoping to pinch-hit in the seventh inning after Francoeur singled with two outs. But Brandon Jones ended that inning with a strikeout. Instead of using Brent Lillibridge to begin the top of the eighth, Cox sent Chipper Jones to the plate and then sent Lillibridge in the game to serve as his pinch-runner.
After allowing Teixeira’s homer, Torres, who has converted each of his 12 save opportunities since Eric Gagne went on the disabled list, surrendered a single to Brian McCann, who was immediately replaced with a pinch-runner. After a sacrifice bunt, Francoeur groundout and intentional walk to Brandon Jones, Miller carried his .103 batting average to the plate with the hope of providing a good ending.
Instead, he put an end to an ugly night that only briefly had a chance to memorable.
“It’s one game,” Morton said. “Nobody likes to lose. But there are going to be days like this.”
June 25th, 2008 at 8:45 amJason Perry now has 18HR’s in 224AB’s. Throw him in the outfield mix and let him have a shot. He cant be struggling anymore than the rest of our OF’s
June 25th, 2008 at 8:49 amI took in the ChiSox 6-1 win over the Dodgers last night. Good night for the ChiSox former Braves–Dye hit a key 2-run homer (just think how RF would have been with him over the past decade) and D. Wise was 3-4. Jones and Furcal didn’t play–today’s LA Times has an article pointing out the Dodgers have a .563 win pct with Furcal and a 17-27 record without him. It also has an article on lame deals made by the Dodgers–the picture with the story in Andruw.
ChiSox 2B Ramirez made a sportscenter play ranging to CF to take a hit away from Martin and then doubling Kemp off first. Pierzynski is a bum–he didn’t run on two plays to first–Derek Lowe, by contrast, busted it down the line.
One of life’s coolest sights is LA at night from the Dodger Stadium parking lot–no wonder Jim Morrison called it the “city of lights.”
June 25th, 2008 at 8:53 amSheets and Sabathia in the offseason.
June 25th, 2008 at 8:54 amThis almost makes me wonder if Pena was DFA’d because the Braves wanted to break them up. In the long run, Pena isn’t going to be around to help him. Just the other day, I heard someone about getting her nephew who has just move to the US from Mexico into out of his English classes. The problem was that he was around other kids who spoke Spanish (that’s why they were all there), so the English classes were actually hindering his assimilation. In the short run, we are going to see some bumps, but in the long run he might be better off.
Still, it’s frustrating, especially when the replacement is Corky. Seriously, I recall Eddie Perez leaning in to take one for the team when necessary. Corky moved as nimbly as I’ve ever seen him to get out of the way of two pitches last night, before Francoeuring his 3-0 count.
Francoeuring — 1. To swing at pitches out of the strike zone after securing a hitter’s count.
June 25th, 2008 at 8:56 am2. To reach base on a weakly-hit infield ground ball.
3. To mis-play a ball on defense without being credited with an error. (syn. Prado)
The umps have turned on Yunel in the past few weeks… It’s not fair, but you have to keep your cool. But the whole team deserves a slap in the face, and Yunel wasn’t the worst offender by a long shot.
Blanco has what… two hits from the leadoff role? I really like the kid, but he’s been bad lately, and not just with the bat. It’s tough… do you stick with him, or bring up Anderson instead? And what about B. Jones?
Infante has been hitting well lately, so the bunt call was a tough one. Frenchy killed yet another rally.
I know we didn’t lose any ground, but I look more at the way the team is playing than the standings. This is not a playoff team, I don’t care how bad the division is. What good is making the playoffs if you’re just going to get clobbered once you get there?
June 25th, 2008 at 9:00 am“Securing” is probably the wrong word, JC. As you know, no hitter’s count is secure with Jeff Francoeur.
June 25th, 2008 at 9:00 amWith all the problems this team is having, it’s baffling that Yunel Escobar, who is hitting above average at SS and has been pretty decent in the field, should earn so much ire. Negativity is one thing; calling someone out for being from Cuba is quite another. Is Wren’s inability to acquire a league-average (right-handed) corner outfielder because he’s from Florida? Escobar is young and he’ll be fine. He’s among the least of the Braves problems right now.
June 25th, 2008 at 9:06 amCan I point out how it is we had Pena, Corky, AND Javy in spring training competing for our backup catcher job and the one we went with is Corky?!?!?! I’d rather have Javy up there on occasion, being older, probably only hitting .200, but occasionally knocking one out and being a throw-back Brave than seeing Hamster out there with his .100 average *grumble, grumble, Wren!, grumble*
Oh, and Kotsay and Diaz both may be back next week I think (if I recall what I read right). Here’s hoping Kotsay can stay healthy when he gets back and Diaz can return to 06-07 form.
June 25th, 2008 at 9:07 amFrancouer wouldn’t secure a hitter’s count against Rick Ankiel.
June 25th, 2008 at 9:09 amJC–Your explanation about Bryan Pena’s release is the first that has made any sense…Until the Braves believe that Sammons has had enough ABs at Richmond, I am afraid that we are stuck with Corky….
June 25th, 2008 at 9:20 amI understand it’s a long season and they can’t get too down after a single loss, yada, yada, yada, but I’m sort of tired of the Braves treating every loss as if it’s no big deal. At some point, it’s not early and you can’t make up all the games you keep pissing away. Now, I realize Morton is in no position to show ire but the Braves, as they have done in recent years, seem to keep hiding behind the mantra that it’s a long season–until it’s not. Chipper is the only one that seems to recognize any urgency. Of course, one thing that encourages that is that all the teams in the division keep losing so they never lose any ground but at some point, you have to start playing some decent baseball. There seems to be an attitude on the team that we have so much talent that eventually we will turn things around.
June 25th, 2008 at 9:22 am#20 – Charles I think they said they were just now (later this week) getting Diaz in a different brace where he can at least start baseball activities again. I think he’ll be more around the break before we see him again. Seriously though, in the meantime, just call the Giants and tell them we’ll take Randy Winn and his full salary. No way they can expect anything in return on that one. I cant believe I’m saying this, but put Infante in CF and Winn in RF. Do something, whatever it is
June 25th, 2008 at 9:26 amoh and Sammons has definitely cooled off, he’s down to .244 now. Still just having Corky off the team will give me more hope
June 25th, 2008 at 9:27 amCampillo going today, we’ll probably get at least 7 innings of the hamster again
June 25th, 2008 at 9:29 amIt’s a day game after a night game. Of course the Hamster will start. The only question is if McCann hits for him in the eighth or the ninth.
June 25th, 2008 at 9:31 amOh, I added “Hamster” to the Glossary. Anyone want to peek over there and see if I’m missing anything?
June 25th, 2008 at 9:32 amThanks csg, I had to hunt down where I’d read their timeline and wasn’t sure on it… AJC says:
Matt’s cleared to run and is apparently ready to come back.
http://tinyurl.com/4wxab3
June 25th, 2008 at 9:36 amI would like to suggest we promote Braeden Schlehuber from GCL to replace Corky… not so much because he’ll be good (probably won’t, but would also probably be better than Corky), but because it’ll be fun to hear the guys in the booth try and say his name.
June 25th, 2008 at 9:43 amLineup Update:
Chipper is out. McCann is in.
June 25th, 2008 at 9:53 amI’m honestly glad Chipper is getting another day off, and I’m even more glad that McCann is playing. Thanks for the update, Jake.
June 25th, 2008 at 9:59 amNo problem. Brian was told about it last night so he has been prepared for it.
Also, I watched Kotsay and Prado on the field during BP yesterday. Kotsay looked very good while Prado looked very rusty.
June 25th, 2008 at 10:07 amlets start Corky delenda est
June 25th, 2008 at 10:07 amsomeone outside of ATL is paying attention…
“What to do with the hometown hero?”
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/8276144/Braves-face-difficult-choices-with-struggling-Francoeur
June 25th, 2008 at 10:14 amIt is a beautiful day in NJ and I am off today, I hate the fact I will be sitting inside here watching the Braves.
June 25th, 2008 at 10:17 amthey better win dang it.
I Like Yunel but he IS a hot dog, he complains about balls and strikes a lot and the bat flip costs him many close calls.
This is a bad trait for a young player to have, i believe it was also a big problem for him in the minors.
csg, that is a very good article.
June 25th, 2008 at 10:21 amYou have got to be kidding me.
June 25th, 2008 at 10:23 amI saw that yesterday. I find it hard to believe that people around the football program didn’t know what he was into. From some people who go to school there it was well known what JJ did.
June 25th, 2008 at 10:25 amAlso known as the Terry Pendleton plan that has been in effect for three years. Why not just suggest sticking a Q-Ray bracelet on the guy?
June 25th, 2008 at 10:26 amI really don’t understand why we don’t bring up Sammons already, and I’m normally on the opposite side of this “Why don’t we bring up the kids” argument. But in most instances, the person we’re replacing isn’t hitting .050 or whatever the hell Corky is hitting now.
There’s no way we keep Sammons anyway. He’s completely blocked by McCann, so he’s pretty much guaranteed to be traded. And now he looks like he’s stagnating somewhat in Richmond. Bring him up and let him show what he can do as the backup catcher.
Also, pinch-hitting Chipper with the tying run still on-deck is one of the worst decisions I’ve ever seen Cox make. That a spot where we actually needed him came up in a game-breaking situation and we didn’t have him and had to use Corky freaking Miller was all too predictable. Bobby played for the one-run loss and what did we get? A one-run loss. Imagine that.
June 25th, 2008 at 10:27 amApparently, Johns managed to somehow keep his identities as talented but somehow useless football player and crimelord separate. So while his activities as the latter were well known to the powder cocaine circuit up on fraternity row, the other players were… well, it’s hard to believe unaware, but unacquainted with how much he was actually doing. He didn’t hang with the other players at all, from what I hear.
Even with cocaine, where did he find the time?
June 25th, 2008 at 10:29 amWell, I don’t have too much of a problem with the pinch hit situation because we had the top of the order coming up.
I’d love to see Sammons, is there any way he could be worse than Corky? Miller’s defense is not that good, so I say give him a shot.
June 25th, 2008 at 10:31 amAlso, sorry to hear about Johns, you never want to see a person fall into that crap. I hope he can turn it around.
June 25th, 2008 at 10:33 amHe’s looking at several decades in prison, so I don’t think turning it around is in the cards.
June 25th, 2008 at 10:35 amcsg,
Pretty fair Frenchy article.
The writer doesn’t investigate the fact that Frenchy’s power has disappeared, but it’s implied with the shrinking slug-%.
A couple key passages:
“Unfortunately, the injury-depleted Braves don’t have anyone better in their system to replace Francoeur.”
“As of this writing, Francoeur is only hitting .228 with a .267 OBP and a .367 SLG with RISP. That is very unusual for Francoeur. For his career, in 558 plate appearances with RISP, Francoeur has batted .315 with a .364 OBP and a .508 SLG.”
The passage above is the main reason we could put up with his flaws previously & now we can’t. That’s it in a nutshell. Before this season (558 PAs), Frenchy rose to the occasion; this year, he’s been bad at everything and, crucially, he’s now a Rally Killer Supreme (TM).
June 25th, 2008 at 10:35 amBethany,
I have no sympathy for that idiot. Like Mac said, he’s going to jail for at least a decade on 5 different felony’s. He choose his own path, he had a free education and possibly some type of professional football in his future (arena, canadian). What a dumbarse!
June 25th, 2008 at 10:38 amI didn’t say I felt bad for him, it’s just a shame to see potential wasted.
June 25th, 2008 at 10:40 amIt is a shame, as an educator I see potential wasted daily.
June 25th, 2008 at 10:42 amWhich brings us back to Francoeur…
June 25th, 2008 at 10:42 amBigger issue: Chippers health.
June 25th, 2008 at 10:44 amGood. We need to rest Chipper as long as possible. Since the East is as a whole is struggling right now, the Braves really aren’t losing any ground. However, a win today would be nice.
I say Escobar comes out swinging today.
June 25th, 2008 at 10:45 am#14
Frank,
That moment you mention from the Chavez Ravine parking lot…I had the exact same experience the first time I visited Dodger Stadium. I looked up, saw the view & “LA Woman” began to play in my head. (Now it happens when I’m flying into town.)
First game at Dodger Stadium was April 1991 and it was a Braves game. They were off to something like an 11-8 start, which felt hopeful, but was really just plain amazing! Little did I know what kind of thrills I would get that year.
I scored a ticket outside about 5 rows behind home plate. Braves lost, Kal Daniels hit a GSHR for LA and Deion Sanders hit a so-what solo shot later, but I’ll always remember that experience. And, yes, the Dodger Dogs are awesome.
June 25th, 2008 at 10:52 am“Also, pinch-hitting Chipper with the tying run still on-deck is one of the worst decisions I’ve ever seen Cox make.”
he didnt even do that. He wasted Chippers bat yesterday. It was a 4-1 game with no one on and no outs. Then he had to burn Lillibridge to run for him. You let Lillibridge hit there and run for himself and save Chipper just in case there is a situation to drive in some runs
June 25th, 2008 at 11:10 amWell, Dodger stadium is indeed awesome. Before I got married I used to go to games all the time, now I only go to Braves games. Three games I remember best:
1. Mike Piazza becoming only the second player to hit a home run completely out of the stadium link
2. Ismael Valdes throws a one hitter. link
Wilton Guerrero starting shortstop! The Dodgers were in a bit of a middle infield dry spell.
3. The Gary Sheffield game. link
June 25th, 2008 at 11:19 amSo this game was a spur of the moment decision, so I only could get a ticket in the left field pavilion. That’s still a good seat and only like $8 bucks at the time. Anyway, Sheffield hits a homer in the third a few rows over my head which was pretty cool. Then in the eighth he hits another rocket which, from the moment it leaves his bat, is clearly coming right at me. So I put my scorecard down, stand up, and…step to one side allowing the ball to clang of the bench seat where I was sitting and into the hands of the folks behind me. A little embarrassing to be sure, but you remember the way Sheffield hits the ball, this thing was a laser and I don’t take a gl0ve.
The writer doesn’t investigate the fact that Frenchy’s power has disappeared
His ISO is about the same as it was last year, and (amazingly) his XBH% is quite a bit higher — 38% this year vs. 31% last year. He’s hitting less singles.
June 25th, 2008 at 11:21 amThen he had to burn Lillibridge to run for him. You let Lillibridge hit there and run for himself and save Chipper just in case there is a situation to drive in some runs
Nah, it’s the eighth, the bottom of the order probably isn’t getting up again might as well get him in there. That high leverage situation may never materialize. I’d rather use him too early than not at all. If there was a mistake it was not using a pitcher to run for him and keeping Lilli available for later. Not that he would have been a better option than Corky.
June 25th, 2008 at 11:24 amEscobar’s whining doesn’t bother me nearly as much as Francoeur griping about balls and strikes.
Ditto, Mac.
Most of all, yesterday, I was disappointed with errors.
I like Escobar. He was Mr. consistency in the lineup. I was very excited at that time when the Braves drafed him. As is often the case with Hispanic or Latino, I think he is a man of passion. I prefer this because he is professional. HAHAHA…
I think Escobar’s language problem is not a big deal because we are the Braves. 
IMO, each national has its own peculiarities. Here is my story. I’ve had a lot of German classmates. They were too serious. They did speak english fluently but did speak German except for class. On top of that, they got along with themselves. Of course I have German friends. Generally my spanish friends were serious too. Both of them rarely smiled and often made contortions of the face. I know persons are different depend on personalities. But I realized that is a national trait. I’m not a chatterbox and I am a little shy. Thankfully they walked up to me and then we spent a good days. At first, I was afraid of leaving message here. Nevertheless I did.
This blog makes me feel a wave of nostalgia when I was infatuated with blogging. I rarely find this kind of Mac’s blog in western cyberspace. Music is always my friend. I enjoys all kinds of music. Even I listened reggae when I was in Sydney and Auckland. But I prefer Brit-Pop like Oasis, Blur, Radiohead,,,etc. Stirred memories of a simpler time. Cheers, Mac.
June 25th, 2008 at 11:32 amEscobar is out of the lineup today.
Cf Blanco
June 25th, 2008 at 11:58 am3b Gotay
2b Johnson
1b Teixiera
C McCann
Ss Infante
Rf Francoeur
Lf Jones
P Campillo
Nursing the injury or is Bobby pissed at him? Another not-bad lineup, considering what we’ve got to work with, although I’d of course switch Francoeur and Jones.
June 25th, 2008 at 12:00 pmThey’ll probably use the nursing the injury as the PA excuse, but the real reason I bet is the ejection last night.
June 25th, 2008 at 12:03 pmThat’s a long breather for the pitcher once you get past McCann until someone even mildly menacing comes up again.
June 25th, 2008 at 12:05 pmBTW, what are the estimates as to what Ben Sheets and Adam Dunn will command per year this offseason?
If they each command $15 million per year, we could sign both of them, re-sign Teix at $20 million per, while having our payroll increase from roughly $90 million to roughly $100 million.
In 2009, that would give us a rotation of Sheets/Hudson/Jurrjens/Reyes/Campillo;
a lineup of
Yunel/KJ/Chipper/Teix/Dunn/McCann/Francoeur/Schafer;
a bullpen of
Soriano/Gonzalez/Moylan/Boyer/Ring/Bennett/Acosta;
and a bench of
Diaz/Infante/Blanco/Prado/Sammons
or something similar.
I’m just saying.
June 25th, 2008 at 12:06 pmBrule, you had a lot of German classmates? Ah! Das deutschen klassenzimmer!
June 25th, 2008 at 12:12 pmStu, I would be shocked, shocked if Dunn stood to get as much as Tex, and frankly I’d rather have him. (Despite the much lower BA, Dunn actually has a higher career OBP.)
I’d guess Dunn could be had for 7/$120, Tex for 6/$120, and Sheets for 5/$85. (I’m thinking Sheets will get a Burnett-like deal, factoring in a little more inflation.)
June 25th, 2008 at 12:17 pmMan, our outfield really does stink.
June 25th, 2008 at 12:20 pm4 of our 8 position players are the back-ups today… it really is amazing we’ve not dropped more games than we have with as few of our “regulars” as we’ve been able to trot out regularly for a while now.
June 25th, 2008 at 12:23 pmAAR, who else is out there waiting for Liberty’s money?
June 25th, 2008 at 12:24 pmWe won’t sign a big ticket free agent, but if we did it would have to be someone like Dunn who’s value isn’t well understood by all.
June 25th, 2008 at 12:25 pmI like our rotation and pen, our middle infield and our catcher. Chipper’s best in the bigs when healthy.
Assuming Glavine, Hampton, Teixiera, and (please let me be wrong on this) Smoltz are gone or done, how much payroll have we obligated for 2009; and how much do we have to spend?
June 25th, 2008 at 12:29 pmMy only worry with someone like Dunn is that we’ll end up like the Dodgers with Andrew. Dunn would be a nice addition as he is now, but what if he regresses? He also doesn’t have any defensive skill to speak of.
June 25th, 2008 at 12:29 pmBethany, that’s a good point — Dunn does have prototypical “old player” skills, and those guys don’t age well. I’d imagine that he’d start to fall off in a hurry once he gets into his early 30′s. But he’s only 28, and he probably has another 5 seasons of very good production.
June 25th, 2008 at 12:31 pmI’m all in favor of Stu’s proposal.
Sign Sheets
June 25th, 2008 at 12:33 pmSign Dunn
Sign Teix
Fix the glitch that still sends out Francoeur’s biweekly paycheck.
“Just a second there, Professor. We, uh, we fixed the glitch. So he won’t be receiving a paycheck anymore. So it’ll just work itself out naturally.”
“We always like to avoid confrontation whenever possible. The problem is solved from here on, then.”
June 25th, 2008 at 12:34 pmSomebody hates us.
June 25th, 2008 at 12:35 pmDidn’t the Braves have something like 8 million extra on the payroll this year? Or am I making that up?
June 25th, 2008 at 12:35 pmInfante pulled a hammy.
June 25th, 2008 at 12:36 pmThis is insane.
June 25th, 2008 at 12:36 pmInfante doubles and pulls up limping… sweet mother of mercy.
June 25th, 2008 at 12:36 pmCheers, Alex.
I only know German worlds “Ich liebe dich” , “Danke schon “. hahaha.
Wireless is unstable. Enjoy.
June 25th, 2008 at 12:37 pmhaha! of course!
June 25th, 2008 at 12:37 pmLillibridge looks too young to be in the College World Series.
June 25th, 2008 at 12:37 pmSkip just called Brent Lillibridge “Derek Lilliquist” again — at least he caught himself after doing it the second time.
June 25th, 2008 at 12:37 pmInfante….what next….maybe Lillibridge will have a big game…
June 25th, 2008 at 12:37 pmThis has to be some kind of record.
June 25th, 2008 at 12:38 pmlet’s go Frenchy.. earn your non-tendered contract
June 25th, 2008 at 12:38 pmTell me gameday is wrong it wasn’t an injury delay… did we lose another player? At this rate we’ll be playing all AA guys by the end of the year and Schaefer will get his shot.
June 25th, 2008 at 12:39 pmNice cut by Frenchy, excellent play by Counsell.
June 25th, 2008 at 12:39 pmyes, Infante pulled his hamstring rounding first base on a double
June 25th, 2008 at 12:39 pm@74
I always thought he said “the problem’s solved from your end”
June 25th, 2008 at 12:40 pmLillibridge barely looks old enough to play in the little league world series… MAN that kid looks young.
June 25th, 2008 at 12:40 pmApparently Counsell made a good play on a hard-hit Francoeur grounder that could have been a single.
I still blame him.
June 25th, 2008 at 12:40 pmWell, if nothing else it takes Infante out of the game at SS, where over the past couple of games he has proven to play awful defense there
June 25th, 2008 at 12:40 pmJeff? Ground out to the shortstop?! Impossible!
June 25th, 2008 at 12:40 pmI’m amazed it made it to the dirt
June 25th, 2008 at 12:41 pm@90
yes
@this team
****gobblers!
June 25th, 2008 at 12:44 pmP6
June 25th, 2008 at 12:46 pmLet me get this straight, am I right in thinking our (essentially) rookie pitcher is the oldest guy we’ve got on the field today?
June 25th, 2008 at 12:47 pmAnd a double off the glove of Lillibridge…
Someone needs to be fired. Several people need to be fired.
June 25th, 2008 at 12:47 pmTex-Thats some nice leather…
June 25th, 2008 at 12:48 pmInfante update: right hamstring strain, “day-to-day,” though Skip speculates that he probably won’t be able to play tomorrow.
Also, Chipper will be limited to DH duties in Toronto.
June 25th, 2008 at 12:49 pmI missed the double–should it have been an error on Lillibridge?
June 25th, 2008 at 12:52 pmWho is the trianer? Why is he not being looked at along with TP for demotion or termination?
June 25th, 2008 at 12:52 pmAt this point Bobby gets to manage like an AL manager, because there’s no concern of waiting till the pitcher’s spot comes up. Everybody who isn’t a pitcher is hurt, or is hitting as bad or worse than one. So just pull the pitcher when you feel like it and put in another one to hit for him, doesn’t make any difference.
June 25th, 2008 at 12:52 pmI missed the double–should it have been an error on Lillibridge?
It was hard hit, no one is going to give an error on it. Still, he could have had it.
June 25th, 2008 at 12:54 pmHow sad is it that I know the trainer is Jeff Porter without looking it up, just because I’ve seen him come on the field so often in the last few years? (this of course assumes they didn’t change trainers sometime that I missed).
June 25th, 2008 at 12:55 pmWho is the trainer I mean…
June 25th, 2008 at 12:55 pmcan we have a do-over on the whole season? We weren’t ready, guys. Sorry!
June 25th, 2008 at 12:55 pmWish our regulars hit like Campillo just did.
June 25th, 2008 at 12:55 pmCampillo would have been a better choice to hit last night than the Hamster.
June 25th, 2008 at 12:55 pmHaha, we should have had Jorge hit instead of Corky last night.
June 25th, 2008 at 12:55 pm“And a double off the glove of Lillibridge…
Someone needs to be fired. Several people need to be fired.”
Considering the vitriol that spews forth from the mouths of men here, that I would consider otherwise to be perfectly reasonable men, I would say the fact that this team is essentially playing .500 baseball is a testament to Bobby’s clubhouse.
If you think you’re frustrated, imagine how the players feel? We’ve got 3/5ths of our starting rotation out, starting 3b, starting ss, starting lf, starting cf, TWO utility IF’s out.
But they go out and play and tread water, and if they pouted half as much as we do, they’d be 25-50 right now.
June 25th, 2008 at 12:56 pmAt least Frenchy’s not going to hit into a double play here.
June 25th, 2008 at 12:56 pmGood evening Sir, my name is Jeff. I come from a rough area. I used to be addicted to crack but now I am off it and trying to stay clean. That is why I am playing right field for the Atlanta Braves.
June 25th, 2008 at 12:57 pmBTW two or three weeks ago, they did replace the strength and conditioning coach.
June 25th, 2008 at 12:57 pmHey, that’s what Jeff hasn’t done yet in his quest to prove that he’s not a major league baseball player — hit out of order!
June 25th, 2008 at 12:58 pmSHUT UP ABOUT THE ALL-STAR GAME, YOU WANKERS.
June 25th, 2008 at 1:00 pmOhhhh that’s right jj… looks like it’s now Frank Fultz
June 25th, 2008 at 1:00 pmJJ, I admit that I spew a fair amount of vitriol. Maybe you’re right that simply playing .500 baseball is an impressive achievement considering all the injuries we’ve suffered. For some reason, though, I feel it’s unacceptable that we’ve committed 9 errors in the past 5 games. Major league ballplayers, no matter how fringy, shouldn’t do that. That was the reason for my vitriol in that particular argument.
June 25th, 2008 at 1:00 pmI think you mean bat out of order. He never hits, in any order.
June 25th, 2008 at 1:00 pmIs it me or does Joe sound pissed off today?
June 25th, 2008 at 1:01 pmThanks Robert.
June 25th, 2008 at 1:01 pmim under the impression that Jeff Porter is still around. Strength And Conditioning is a different title from Head Trainer. I don’t recall the name of the man who was fired.
June 25th, 2008 at 1:01 pmFultz was the guy who got fired I’m pretty sure
June 25th, 2008 at 1:03 pmThanks KJ.
June 25th, 2008 at 1:04 pmKELLY!!!!
June 25th, 2008 at 1:04 pmKJ!!
June 25th, 2008 at 1:04 pmI nuv nu, Kelly!
June 25th, 2008 at 1:04 pmYEAH KELLY!!!!!!!!!
June 25th, 2008 at 1:04 pmDid anyone notice how that’s exactly the sort of thing we would do? You know, let the other team start a rally by giving up a hit to the pitcher?
June 25th, 2008 at 1:05 pmNice job Tex….Have we had a lead in this series?
June 25th, 2008 at 1:05 pmAAR – Oh don’t get me wrong, I scream the screen like any self-respecting sportsfan. I just didn’t yell on that one. He was handcuffed, and just came in the game cold. (His first on-field action since he got he from Richmond, I believe.)
Infante kicking the ball around lately, Francoeur kicking the ball around, those plays really set me off.
But Lilly, I don’t think stood a chance there, playing up on the grass like that.
June 25th, 2008 at 1:06 pm#121–Before that hit he sounded quietly disappointed and he may well again….
June 25th, 2008 at 1:07 pmSHUT UP ABOUT THE ALL-STAR GAME, YOU WANKERS.
You would rather they talk about maple bats some more? How could Aaron Heilman be on that conference call?
June 25th, 2008 at 1:07 pmObviously, our expectations are still high because of the run of success. The fact is, the Braves now are just another team that will have some good years and some bad. Right now, the Brewers seem to be coming on, they have a good young core and are simply a better team–certainly better than the team the Braves have been forced to put out on the field recently.
But mediocrity is boring. Maybe Bobby does deserve credit for being .500. As a fan, though, it sucks.
June 25th, 2008 at 1:08 pmJJ, that’s fair enough. I didn’t see the play. But our radio guys said that, though it was hit hard, it was something that he could have made a play on.
June 25th, 2008 at 1:08 pmAlso, I meant to say this earlier: hi, Lando! We don’t see you around here much any more…
June 25th, 2008 at 1:09 pmBy the way, getting to watch the Phillies lose 6 in a row has helped me keep my peace… I take heart by thinking “We’re trying to tread water until we get our pieces back. The Phillies are just LOSING.”
June 25th, 2008 at 1:10 pmMilwaukee 2-6 hitters: 0-10, 5 K
June 25th, 2008 at 1:13 pmMilwaukee 1, 7-9 hitters: 3-4, 2 RBI, 0 K
List of things Lillibridge can do to make himself look older than 18:
1.
2.
3.
seriously….. anything?
June 25th, 2008 at 1:15 pmunfortunately none of my fantasy teams have Milwaukee’s 7-9 hitters.
June 25th, 2008 at 1:16 pmFirst pitch popup…you are the man Jeff.
June 25th, 2008 at 1:17 pmLillibridge is still without a hit… he looks even younger than I imagined. Wonder if he needs a fake ID….
Way to go Frenchy….
June 25th, 2008 at 1:17 pmI’ll be honest with you, I love his game, I do, I’m a Jeff Francoeur fan. For my money, it doesn’t get any better than when he swings and misses at a slider 2 feet off the plate.
June 25th, 2008 at 1:17 pmSend his ass down already. This is ridiculous.
June 25th, 2008 at 1:19 pmLillibridge is still without a hit… he looks even younger than I imagined. Wonder if he needs a fake ID….
I like how they gave him the number 1, which somehow makes him look even smaller. I guess the commish’s office wouldn’t approve giving him 1/2 or 1/3 for a number.
June 25th, 2008 at 1:19 pmRehabReject, let me take a stab:
1) Paint a menacing scar on his cheek
June 25th, 2008 at 1:21 pm2) Glue on a full beard
3) Pour baby powder in his hair so it looks like it’s greying
wasn’t Prado using #1? … what are the rules on changing your number halfway through the season? (that’s if the Braves actually want Prado back on the active roster)
June 25th, 2008 at 1:22 pmFrom Skip:
The Braves in one-run games: 4-20
June 25th, 2008 at 1:22 pmThe Brewers in one-run games: 17-6
Samir: No one in this country can ever pronounce my name right. It’s not that hard:
Samir Na-gheen-an-a-jar. Nagheenanajar.
Jeff Francoeur: Yeah, well at least your name isn’t Jeff Francoeur.
Jair: You know there’s nothing wrong with that name.
Jeff: There was nothing wrong with it… until I was about 12 years old and that no-talent ass clown became famous and started winning Gold Gloves.
Samir: Hmm… well why don’t you just go by Jeffrey instead of Jeff?
Jeff: No way. Why should I change? He’s the one who sucks.
June 25th, 2008 at 1:23 pmI heard we lost Infante today. Any word on how bad it is?
June 25th, 2008 at 1:23 pmhaha, when is a scar on the cheek NOT menacing?
June 25th, 2008 at 1:23 pmJeff Francoeur : You see Bob, it’s not that I’m lazy, it’s that I just don’t care.
Bobby Cox: Don’t… don’t care?
Jeff: It’s a problem of motivation, all right? Now if I work my ass off and the pitchers throws a few extra pitches, I don’t see another dime, so where’s the motivation? And here’s another thing, I have eight different teammates who hit better than I do right now.
Bobby: Eight?
Jeff: Eight, Bob. So that means when I make a mistake, I have eight different people coming by to tell me about it. That’s my only real motivation is not to be hassled, that, and the fear of losing my job. But you know, Bob, that will only make someone work just hard enough not to get nontendered.
June 25th, 2008 at 1:26 pmWell, Campillo is simply awesome. Feel good story of the year.
June 25th, 2008 at 1:28 pmthe sad thing is, the only people hitting with a higher average than Infante over the last 30 days is Tex, Chipper, and the other Jones
June 25th, 2008 at 1:29 pmParish, they’re saying Infante’s day-to-day, but our guys imagined that Infante probably wouldn’t be playing tomorrow considering the way he grabbed his leg.
Do you think Jorge Campillo could play outfield on the days he’s not pitching? I heard that worked for another guy named George.
June 25th, 2008 at 1:29 pmDix, I bow to you good sir
June 25th, 2008 at 1:29 pmLove him, I can’t even believe it!
June 25th, 2008 at 1:29 pmHow did Campillo get a hit? Did he pull back the bunt and swing away?
Sorry – “watching” via Sportsline.
June 25th, 2008 at 1:30 pmSome shotty defense from the Brewers this inning.
June 25th, 2008 at 1:30 pmDix, a little office space…not bad
June 25th, 2008 at 1:30 pmComedy gold, Dix.
June 25th, 2008 at 1:30 pmHow did Campillo get a hit? Did he pull back the bunt and swing away?
Yup.
June 25th, 2008 at 1:31 pmThanks, AAR and Robert.
June 25th, 2008 at 1:31 pmGotay is really picking up the breaking ball well here..
June 25th, 2008 at 1:35 pmStockman update: now for the season
30IP 10H 2ER 14BB 28K
maybe next year bud. Bobby Cox says “You’re a young kid, you need to pitch somewhere.”
June 25th, 2008 at 1:35 pmguy i jinxed him.
June 25th, 2008 at 1:35 pmguh, rather
June 25th, 2008 at 1:36 pmBobby just sneaked an f-bomb through the peachtree tv folks. Nicely done.
June 25th, 2008 at 1:36 pmDang, Gotay.
June 25th, 2008 at 1:36 pmThe camera was right on Bobby when he dropped that F-bomb. Awesome…
June 25th, 2008 at 1:36 pmKELLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 25th, 2008 at 1:37 pmFrenchy should take tips from Gotay’s at-bat there — that was a really clutch strikeout in a double play situation.
June 25th, 2008 at 1:37 pmJoe, Joe, Joe…
1. When you played, lighting was much worse than it is now.
June 25th, 2008 at 1:38 pm2. When you played, you couldn’t hit under any conditions anyway.
See?
June 25th, 2008 at 1:40 pmI can’t adequately describe how much I prefer having Brian up with the bases loaded to having Frenchy up with the bases loaded.
It’s sort of like the difference between eating ice cream and skinning my knee.
June 25th, 2008 at 1:40 pmCan we have our getaway day blowout now?
June 25th, 2008 at 1:40 pmJoe Simpson, career:
Day games: 611 OPS
June 25th, 2008 at 1:41 pmNight games: 605 OPS
C’mon, B-Mac. Runner home from third was all we needed.
June 25th, 2008 at 1:42 pmUgh. So typical.
June 25th, 2008 at 1:42 pmBrent Lillibridge, first pitch swinging.
I guess we can tell he’s been taking tips from Terry Pendleton!
June 25th, 2008 at 1:42 pmNo, you can not have blowout.
June 25th, 2008 at 1:43 pmI was watching a game on peachtree tv with skip and joe (I think this was friday’s game) and they cut away to a commercial and I still heard joe and skip talking. Joe immediately started calling something in the CF area of the ballpark “crap” and they cut to birdseye views of Turner rather quickly. Skip also hated on the ESPN magazine for an inning.
June 25th, 2008 at 1:43 pmVery disappointing.
Does anyone think that if Lillibridge had a mustache, he would look just like the older brother in Napolean Dynamite?
June 25th, 2008 at 1:44 pmLillibridge was a windmill before he got to Atlanta–but even if he looks 15 he certainly fits in….
June 25th, 2008 at 1:44 pmthe one thing that stood out from going through Joe’s stats is that his GS = 1/2 G
so basically, he was a platoon player when the platoon system hadn’t even been invented yet
June 25th, 2008 at 1:45 pmThe platoon system was invented around 1909. Joe isn’t that old. He didn’t play much because he was no good.
June 25th, 2008 at 1:46 pmBrian, those who are tardy do not get fruit cup.
June 25th, 2008 at 1:47 pmCampillo seems to have watched recent games and decided, “I better go 4 for 5 to have any chance at getting a win”.
June 25th, 2008 at 1:48 pmCampillo can obviously throw, why can’t he be the backup catcher?
June 25th, 2008 at 1:49 pmI gotta say, I like the idea of my starting pitcher getting 5 ABs.
June 25th, 2008 at 1:50 pmIf Infante goes on the DL who do the Braves call up? Diory Hernandez?
June 25th, 2008 at 1:50 pm#189 – he then said I better get two hits, score a run or two and maybe even get an RBI if I need to win
June 25th, 2008 at 1:50 pmJoe Simpson often takes pride in the fact that he was a “big tall player” in his day. That always gets a chuckle out of me.
and yeah Mac, he sucked. Agreed
June 25th, 2008 at 1:50 pmSo he takes two fastballs right down the middle…
June 25th, 2008 at 1:51 pmJeff Francoeur, “in play, no out”? Something must be wrong with GameDay.
June 25th, 2008 at 1:51 pm…and then dribbles one through the right side. Miracle.
June 25th, 2008 at 1:52 pm:ROLLSEYES:
June 25th, 2008 at 1:52 pmMac, how would Campillo catch himself?
June 25th, 2008 at 1:52 pmHe’s out now.
June 25th, 2008 at 1:52 pmThere are still some bugs to work out, but he’d have to be better than the Hamster.
June 25th, 2008 at 1:53 pmWell we have our Frenchy highlight for the day….
June 25th, 2008 at 1:53 pmI’m not going to complain when he gets on base. I’ll be shocked, but I wont complain
June 25th, 2008 at 1:56 pmOh, no, not Atrosta.
June 25th, 2008 at 1:58 pmIt would be cool if the Hamster never had another pinch hit appearance as long as Hudson, Jurrjens, Campillo… or pretty much any pitcher was available. I’m quite sure they’d all give a better chance at actually getting a hit/avoiding a double play.
June 25th, 2008 at 1:59 pmBraves fan deli owner: What’s the score now, still 2-2?
Me: No, we’re winning 4-2, but Infante got hurt.
Deli owner: You mean that Chipper’s hurt and his backup are hurt now?
Me: Yup. Ridiculous, innit?
Deli owner: Pretty soon, they’re gonna have you & me out there. We have no players left!
BTW, he has a deli sandwich named after Larry Wayne Jones, Jr., called “The Chipper.” A bold move in Metland.
June 25th, 2008 at 2:00 pmI like Campillo. In the MASH unit that the Braves have become, he’s really gone out there and gotten the job done.
June 25th, 2008 at 2:01 pmHell of a day by Campillo. 7 IP, 4 hits, 2 ER, 6 K, 0 BB. If he’s our 5th starter, guys, we ain’t doing too badly.
June 25th, 2008 at 2:02 pmAAR – you’re missing his offensive stats there too
2 for 3 – 2 runs scored
June 25th, 2008 at 2:05 pmCampy is the shit.
June 25th, 2008 at 2:05 pmApparently sunglasses are tested on animals or something.
June 25th, 2008 at 2:05 pmBlanco could not be more helpless against lefties.
If he’s our 5th starter, guys, we ain’t doing too badly.
Starting pitching is the bright spot. Four of the five guys cost nothing.
June 25th, 2008 at 2:05 pmWow, we’ll have to say nice things about McDowell now. Seriously, the performance of Jurrjens, Campillo, and Morton speak well of him.
June 25th, 2008 at 2:07 pmwas Kelly’s almost a HR?
June 25th, 2008 at 2:08 pmanyone know why Campy was taken out?
June 25th, 2008 at 2:08 pmYou know, Lando, I’m with you. I wouldn’t have thought I would ever let another player be called “Campy,” but I think Jorge Campillo has earned it.
June 25th, 2008 at 2:09 pmwas Kelly’s almost a HR?
Not really. Warning track. Easy catch.
June 25th, 2008 at 2:09 pmcsg, close but not that close.
June 25th, 2008 at 2:09 pmthanks, Gamecast showed it past the wall
June 25th, 2008 at 2:10 pmIt’s hot and he’d done a lot of running — I expect he was just out of gas.
June 25th, 2008 at 2:11 pmWhat is the deal with Boyer and the two out situations?
June 25th, 2008 at 2:14 pmWhat is it with Rickie Weeks and triples off of Blaine Boyer?
June 25th, 2008 at 2:15 pmWell, at least he got out of it.
Why would the Brewers even think of hitting Weeks leadoff?
June 25th, 2008 at 2:17 pmPhew, Boyer’s Two Out Curse scared me for a while there.
June 25th, 2008 at 2:19 pmWe’ve absorbed those Brewers XBHs quite nicely.
June 25th, 2008 at 2:19 pmYou guys sound like a Seinfeld opening dialog. I can just here his voice saying
June 25th, 2008 at 2:19 pm“What’s the deal with Boyer and the two out situations?”
3Ks? Off day for McCann… just not a restful sort of “off”
June 25th, 2008 at 2:22 pmWhat’s the deal with Lillibridge and hitting doubles? Congratulations, Brent!
June 25th, 2008 at 2:22 pmholy crap the bat boy got a hit!
June 25th, 2008 at 2:22 pmOh yeah, Congrats Brent!
June 25th, 2008 at 2:23 pmI can honestly say I would rather have seen Hudson, Reyes or Campillo up there last night over Corky Miller.
June 25th, 2008 at 2:23 pmThis is officially hilarious.
June 25th, 2008 at 2:23 pmWhy is Frenchy being ealked?
June 25th, 2008 at 2:24 pmThe ultimate insult. I would rather pitch to you than Jeff Francouer.
June 25th, 2008 at 2:24 pmAnother ealk to Francoeur.
LMAO – and I never use that abbreviation.
June 25th, 2008 at 2:25 pmYou guys may call for Bobby to retire, but he’s not the guy who just had Frenchy intentionally walked.
June 25th, 2008 at 2:25 pmsearching for positives, Frenchy is now 3-10 with his new eyes, only 2K’s
June 25th, 2008 at 2:25 pmHey, Chipper!
Here’s a representation of the Braves’ season so far.
June 25th, 2008 at 2:25 pmWow, Yost is a moron.
June 25th, 2008 at 2:26 pmWe have 13 men left on base (cumulative counting)… and I’m not surprised we left them on, I’m just surprised we had that many guys on in the first place with the line-up we sent out.
June 25th, 2008 at 2:26 pmI swear, I heard Chip say, “… And if I’m reading Ned Yost’s lips right, they’re going to walk Francoeur and pitch to Brandon Jones” and I spun around in my chair, shrieked “WHAT?!” and dribbled a mouthful of Diet Coke onto my shirt.
June 25th, 2008 at 2:27 pmOn another note, it seems like “abbreviation” should be a shorter word.
June 25th, 2008 at 2:27 pmIf Infante has to go to the DL, the Braves would have to move Smoltz or somebody to the 60 day DL to make room for Diory.
June 25th, 2008 at 2:27 pmAnd THAT’S for that strike call on McCann!
June 25th, 2008 at 2:28 pmDoes Yost not have any kind of current scouting/stats on Frankenstein?
June 25th, 2008 at 2:28 pmAccording to Gameday, the two balls on Chipper have both been pretty much down the middle.
June 25th, 2008 at 2:28 pmNah, they were high.
June 25th, 2008 at 2:29 pmYost is crazy for playing it this way.
June 25th, 2008 at 2:29 pmParish, are you saying that the word “abbreviation” is excessively sesquipedalian?
June 25th, 2008 at 2:30 pmNorton in LF?
Hmmm…
June 25th, 2008 at 2:30 pmBut strike 3 wasn’t
June 25th, 2008 at 2:30 pmWow…… how does chipper take that pitch? Crazy.
June 25th, 2008 at 2:30 pmStrike three well outside according to GameDay. Crap.
June 25th, 2008 at 2:30 pmwho’s pitching?
June 25th, 2008 at 2:31 pmAAR – well, I’m going to have to look that up.
June 25th, 2008 at 2:32 pmi ask because gameday is going slow on me
June 25th, 2008 at 2:32 pmLooked pretty darn close. Way too close to take.
June 25th, 2008 at 2:32 pmDo we really need another util infielder? Doesnt Norton play 3rd and 1st also? I would like to see Perry or Anderson get called up. Can Diory play 3rd anyways?
June 25th, 2008 at 2:32 pmis gonzalez in for their 3-4-5?
June 25th, 2008 at 2:32 pmWait…why exactly did Chipper pinch-hit for Brandon Jones? I don’t understand. Or did Gameday get the order wrong? Did they announce Chipper before Mota was brought in?
June 25th, 2008 at 2:33 pmnevermind, it caught itself up
June 25th, 2008 at 2:33 pmDang. Here we go…
June 25th, 2008 at 2:34 pm(Sesquipedalian basically means “a big word” or “someone who uses big words.”)
June 25th, 2008 at 2:35 pmIf they start talking about maple bats again, Aunt Jemima is going to call in a hit.
June 25th, 2008 at 2:35 pmIf someone put out a hit on Jeff Francoeur, would they miss?
June 25th, 2008 at 2:38 pmFrancoeur has certainly assassinated this season.
June 25th, 2008 at 2:39 pmI dont understand all the Frenchy bashing he’s got 3 hits in his last 2 games. (kidding)
June 25th, 2008 at 2:39 pmHey, a win. Yippee.
June 25th, 2008 at 2:40 pmYeah!! Gonzo!
June 25th, 2008 at 2:40 pmGonzo f-ring rocks!
June 25th, 2008 at 2:40 pmWoo hoo! Braves win. We’re still only 4 games out, and one of these days we’ll have our good players back in the lineup!
June 25th, 2008 at 2:40 pmHuzzah.
June 25th, 2008 at 2:40 pmGonzo must have looked good
June 25th, 2008 at 2:40 pmHooray! Thank you, Adam LaRoche!
June 25th, 2008 at 2:40 pmWe won?
We won!
June 25th, 2008 at 2:42 pm[Spoken in a cheesy DJ voice...]
And I wanna give a big shout-out and a big backslap to… Missss-ter… Jorge… Campill-ll-ll-o!
June 25th, 2008 at 2:43 pmGonzo was a little wild with some fastballs, but his slider looked real sharp.
June 25th, 2008 at 2:43 pmGonzo must have looked good
I dont now.. I think he look really weird out there. Looks like he need to go to the bathroom or something
June 25th, 2008 at 2:46 pmSo who is going to be the back-up catcher? Obviously Bobby has figured Corky is garbage….Remember he was suppose to be Campy personal catcher.
June 25th, 2008 at 2:49 pmRecap is up.
June 25th, 2008 at 2:51 pmI can’t see how Sammons could possibly be any worse, it’s not liked Corky has looked like some kind of defensive wiz out there.
And calling the game for Campillo seems to be just alternating curves and change-ups.
June 25th, 2008 at 2:54 pm