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I wasn’t alive in the 70s, so I accept blame for nothing.
July 26th, 2009 at 10:41 amFrom the previous thread:
I really think Heyward starts 2010 on the Atlanta roster, but I do not expect him to get a September callup.
Regarding Andruw, I think the “rumors” are just speculation based on his precipitous dropoff in hitting ability at an early age. Made it seems like he both peaked and declined about 4-5 years ahead of time.
Maybe, it was just Terry Pendleton.
July 26th, 2009 at 10:43 amProbably it was the wear and tear of playing nearly every game for a decade along with a lack of conditioning.
Unless Heyward finishes at like .360 or higher with a lot of homers at AA, I really don’t want to see him start 2010 in Atlanta. We all saw Schafer this year. I’d rather him come up in June 2010 with just a couple more months of seasoning. Don’t want to rush him and screw him up.
July 26th, 2009 at 10:48 amI loved “Happy Days” until all those ’50s characters started growing ’70s hair on the show. Pottsie with the blow-dried look just didn’t work for me. He should’ve stayed dweeby.
That, of course, and the “Jump the Shark” episode. By then, they’d certainly run out of ideas.
Off the Yankee Stadium (to see the legendary Sergio Mitre). Go Braves…
July 26th, 2009 at 11:02 amThe Braves will handle Heyward the same way they handled Hanson this year to avoid giving Heyward the super-2 status.
July 26th, 2009 at 11:07 am3- What does Schafer have to do with Heyward? These are two different players with different skill sets. Look at the plate discipline throughout their minor league careers. Also, consider that Schafer was primarily a pitcher 3.5 years ago and served about a half a year suspension in the interim.
I was in favor of starting Schafer in the minors this year. I feel differently about Heyward.
5- I also see the Hanson and Heyward situations as quite different. We have a plethora of options in the starting pitching department. Suffice it to say that is not the same case in the outfield.
I also think Heyward is more likely to get a contract buying out his arb years. Pitchers’ futures are less certain than position players’ because of injury. This makes avoiding the earlier year of arb less important.
July 26th, 2009 at 11:19 amAt the end of this season, Parish, how many games will Heyward have played above A ball? 50? Do you really think it’s worth the risk over just 2 more months of seasoning?
July 26th, 2009 at 11:53 amJason Heyward is the Riaan Spanjer-Furstenburg of the Southern League.
Fun fact: Heyward is actually younger.
July 26th, 2009 at 12:13 pmNate McLouth, CF
July 26th, 2009 at 12:16 pmMartin Prado, 3B
Yunel Escobar, SS
Brian McCann, C
Garret Anderson, LF
Matt Diaz, LF
Casey Kotchman, 1B
Kelly Johnson, 2B
Derek Lowe, RHP
7- Seriously, how much do you think the risk goes down in 2 months?
I will repeat that Heyward’s skills are much more advanced than were Schafer’s. Even Andruw’s, in my opinion. The guy may be ready right now.
I suppose if decent options are available his debut could be delayed. That should not include a longer term contract or trading decent prospects for a rental.
Do you think we should extend Garrett Anderson for the purpose of getting Heyward 2 more months in the minors?
July 26th, 2009 at 12:21 pmSeriously, how much do you think the risk goes down in 2 months?
I think it could be very valuable. Actually, I would prefer to leave him in the upper minors for an entire season, but we don’t really have that luxury.
Do you think we should extend Garrett Anderson for the purpose of getting Heyward 2 more months in the minors?
Schafer will probably need more time at AAA too next year since he hasn’t played much there this year. So, we’d have a platoon in one corner and a hole in the other to begin the season, until Schafer’s ready to move McLouth over from center. I would be open to signing Anderson for another year if there aren’t any better cheap options.
July 26th, 2009 at 12:32 pmI don’t think Schafer is a valid comparison, considering he was injured the whole time he was up with Atlanta.
July 26th, 2009 at 12:32 pmMy point lies not primarily with the Schafer comparison, but that in general it isn’t a good idea to have guys in the majors after inadequate experience in the upper minors.
July 26th, 2009 at 12:37 pmI don’t think the words “in general” apply to Jason Heyward.
July 26th, 2009 at 12:59 pmDavid O’Brien is the President of the Baseball Writer’s Association. He’s sitting on stage in Cooperstown, impressive. So who covering the Braves?
July 26th, 2009 at 1:04 pm15,
July 26th, 2009 at 1:06 pmHis pinch-writer, Carrol Rogers.
Need to show more patience Martin.
July 26th, 2009 at 1:10 pmI had a feeling KJ would get some ABs today.
http://tinyurl.com/m2jyz7
July 26th, 2009 at 1:16 pmlooper picked off escobar, but i didnt see him step off the mound.
July 26th, 2009 at 1:18 pmI think Yunel has a point on that one. Looper did not really fake towards third like he’s supposed to — he looked more like he was going home.
July 26th, 2009 at 1:18 pmWell, it looks like it cost us a run, in any case. Hopefully we can continue to make Looper work so that it does not matter.
July 26th, 2009 at 1:21 pmYeah that was clearly an attempt to deceive the baserunner, the textbook definition of a balk, but of course baseball allows umpires to make up their own definitions so it wasn’t called.
July 26th, 2009 at 1:23 pmYet more evidence that the balk rule is completely absurd, of course, but Yunel needs to find a way to stop making outs on the basepaths.
July 26th, 2009 at 1:25 pmBack to the play, I think Bobby had Yunel running to stay out of the double play. I guess.
July 26th, 2009 at 1:27 pmsmoltz getting roped again. man, something’s just not right.
July 26th, 2009 at 1:28 pmPrince really needs to eat some meat.
July 26th, 2009 at 1:28 pmIs there something wrong with Chipper? Why is he out of the lineup?
July 26th, 2009 at 1:30 pmJust a routine day off.
July 26th, 2009 at 1:30 pmGameday has this ump as having a super-funky strike zone. There have been a couple obviously-outside strikes, and had the first two balls to Diaz as being on the corners, and there have been several of those kinds of calls.
July 26th, 2009 at 1:32 pmUmp has been pretty good.
@25 It’s really sad seeing Smoltz getting lit up everytime out.
KJ back up to his old tricks…
July 26th, 2009 at 1:37 pmChipper rests on Sunday day games regularly. Ryan Church is out with hyper extended elbow. KJ is in because Looper gets hit hard by lefties.
July 26th, 2009 at 1:39 pmThe song, “More Beautiful You”? This segment has gotten absurd.
July 26th, 2009 at 1:44 pmIt’s Ryan Church.
July 26th, 2009 at 1:45 pmYou sure it’s not Jeff Porter?
July 26th, 2009 at 1:51 pm32- Pretty sure it’s Matt Diaz’s brother Jonny. I believe there was an article in the AJC a couple days ago. It’s up to #1 on the Christian charts these days.
July 26th, 2009 at 1:51 pmYou know, a looper.
July 26th, 2009 at 1:52 pmI was wrong. Got deked.
July 26th, 2009 at 1:53 pm37,
July 26th, 2009 at 1:58 pmWho was it?
Has anyone called Prince Fielder “Tofu Panda” yet?
July 26th, 2009 at 1:59 pmIt was Matt Diaz. It’s his brother’s song. I heard “Christian rock” and just assumed it was Church.
July 26th, 2009 at 2:00 pmFat man just missed that one…
July 26th, 2009 at 2:00 pmSandoval isn’t called Kung Fu Panda because of his body shape, specifically. It was because of a play at the plate.
July 26th, 2009 at 2:02 pmI know, but it’s really an easy extension.
July 26th, 2009 at 2:03 pmFair enough.
July 26th, 2009 at 2:05 pmChurch hurt, Francoeur homers again with rival Mets.
Fire Frank Wren.
July 26th, 2009 at 2:09 pmI think I need to keep track of plays that Yunel makes that Diory wouldn’t have. There’s one.
ADDED: Please don’t feed the Francosaur.
July 26th, 2009 at 2:12 pm45 settle, it will all come crashing down….
July 26th, 2009 at 2:13 pmLowe’s on course to pitch another 7 or 8 innings. This rotation is really really nice after the wrecks we’ve sent out there the last couple years.
July 26th, 2009 at 2:16 pmGo Francouer….
Just terrible at-bats by Matt and Diaz with RISP
EDIT: And Prado
July 26th, 2009 at 2:20 pm48,
July 26th, 2009 at 2:23 pmTo think that in 2007 we thought we could win with a rotation of Hudson, Smoltz, Chuck James, Buddy Carlyle, and Kyle Davies. With the all but incredible rotation depth of Jeff Bennett, Jo-Jo (and he was certainly all-Jo-Jo in 2007) Reyes, Mark Redmond, Lance Cormier, and Anthony Lerew.
#30…………..just think how sad it would be if he was wearing a braves uni.
July 26th, 2009 at 2:24 pm@51 Exactly.
July 26th, 2009 at 2:26 pmChipper’s absence really weakens this lineup. Opposing pitchers must appreciate it.
July 26th, 2009 at 2:26 pmMan,Mark Redmond, was thinking of him the other day, he was atrocious! I actually felt bad for him.
July 26th, 2009 at 2:27 pmWow…the other team screwed up the bunt for once.
To set up the double play…nice.
July 26th, 2009 at 2:27 pmWhy is a foul-tip into the catcher’s glove always an out?
If it’s just barely popped up it is an out, seems it should be a foul-out too.
July 26th, 2009 at 2:29 pm@56: Why isn’t I mean.
Redman sucked.
July 26th, 2009 at 2:33 pmEscobar and Prado could use the day off tomorrow. What is it now…11 games straight since the All-Star break?
July 26th, 2009 at 2:33 pm56,
July 26th, 2009 at 2:34 pmBecause the groundhog says so.
Please go to rightfield Matt.
EDIT: Thanks.
July 26th, 2009 at 2:35 pm@57
Because writing the rule that way would make outs far to easy to come by. Any foul tip being recorded as an out would lead to routine extra inning 1-0 games.
July 26th, 2009 at 2:37 pmA Kotchbomb.
July 26th, 2009 at 2:38 pmSHOCK!!!
July 26th, 2009 at 2:39 pmWooo, Kotch!
I’m glad to see we broke it open after not getting the run in from third twice.
July 26th, 2009 at 2:39 pmKotchmaniarocketbomb!
July 26th, 2009 at 2:40 pmKotchman has 5 HR this year. Only 1 Barely Enough. 2 No Doubters. And 2 Plentys. (Using the language of hittrackeronline.com)
July 26th, 2009 at 2:42 pmHell freezes over.
July 26th, 2009 at 2:42 pmUh, bullpen?
July 26th, 2009 at 2:54 pmmmm-k…I think Lowe’s done. When Jason Kendall, who reminds me of a small town motel clerk, takes you deep, you need to go.
July 26th, 2009 at 2:58 pmBoy that sinker was just sitting up there the whole inning for Lowe…he was lucky McClouth was playing center…
July 26th, 2009 at 2:59 pmWhew, I thought that was finding a gap. Good job Nate.
July 26th, 2009 at 3:00 pmBMAC
July 26th, 2009 at 3:04 pmWow, Mac hits a HR but just foul, then takes a pitch, then crushes one
July 26th, 2009 at 3:04 pmI love it when Mac breaks out of a “slump”.
July 26th, 2009 at 3:06 pm88 mph fastballs from Gonzo, nevermind next one was 92
July 26th, 2009 at 3:11 pmNow if Mac could only figure out lefthanders….
July 26th, 2009 at 3:13 pmWhere are the Cox bashers? One of our expensive relievers pitched in a game, so I’m sure someone is pissed off about the mis-use and abuse.
July 26th, 2009 at 3:18 pmNorton timeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
July 26th, 2009 at 3:20 pmKJ getting that trade value up, I like it
July 26th, 2009 at 3:20 pm#77 – you think Gonzo shouldve been used there? I dont, I just didnt say anything about it
July 26th, 2009 at 3:21 pmnorton is just not catching up to fastballs and looks dumb on all other pitches.
July 26th, 2009 at 3:22 pmConrad/Barbaro >>> Norton
July 26th, 2009 at 3:22 pmAre you implying your a Cox lover Sam Hutcheson?
July 26th, 2009 at 3:22 pmYou have a chance to blow the game open, you have Chipper Jones on the bench, and you send up… Greg Norton. Who not only isn’t hitting his weight, he isn’t hitting his systolic blood pressure, and is rapidly approaching his diastolic.
July 26th, 2009 at 3:23 pmI have nothing but respect for Bobby Cox. I certainly approve of testing out Gonzalez’ stuff after the liner off his arm in a less than zero-tolerance atmosphere.
July 26th, 2009 at 3:23 pmsam, every time you provoke this argument, i will just simply post the proof of abuse. maybe you’ll see it enough to come around, although i dont mind gonzo pitching today.
http://tinyurl.com/l58qpg
July 26th, 2009 at 3:25 pmYou don’t use Chipper there. You hold that bullet in case the Brewers come back and you need a big hitter/HR in the ninth.
July 26th, 2009 at 3:25 pmThat right there is why the Brewers haven’t had a Gold Glover since 1982.
July 26th, 2009 at 3:26 pmA reverse Prado? an inverse Prado? bizarro Prado?
July 26th, 2009 at 3:26 pmSave your best hitter in case we blow a 4-run lead? Dumb.
July 26th, 2009 at 3:26 pmRyan, I don’t consider usage charts to be proof of poor management decisions. When you only have three and a half reliable relievers and you’re in a lot of close games, those guys will get used a lot.
July 26th, 2009 at 3:27 pmthey wouldve walked Chipper with 1B open anyways, but Im always in favor of using anyone over Norton
July 26th, 2009 at 3:29 pmwhat about when the games are not close games?
July 26th, 2009 at 3:30 pmI’d rather take the flier on Norton getting lucky and give Chipper the full day’s rest, at least with a decent size lead.
July 26th, 2009 at 3:31 pmIt’s anti-hibernation mode, I can get used to this.
July 26th, 2009 at 3:31 pmConsidering the Braves other options – Jeff Bennett, Manny Acosta, etc – I don’t consider 4 runs a “big lead.” I know that’s unpopular around here but for this team, this year anything less than a 5 run lead is something you need to get at least your set-up men into. And I’m a proponent of the “if he’s warmed up use him” theory of management as well.
July 26th, 2009 at 3:33 pmTPJ to be converted to a pitcher:
http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/story/11988417/rss
July 26th, 2009 at 3:33 pmSAFE at first!!
July 26th, 2009 at 3:33 pmhopefully we’ll see medlen in the 9th
July 26th, 2009 at 3:33 pmHey Petey pitching for the 55TH time today, I believe we have a 6 run lead in the 8th. How about Logan, Acosta, or Medlen for the next two innings???
July 26th, 2009 at 3:34 pmSam, you’re not making any sense. The lead is small enough to use the top relievers, but too big to use your best pinch-hitting possibility? I don’t think swinging the bat a few times will hurt Chipper. I have a feeling that he took batting practice today.
No Soriano in the ninth, please.
July 26th, 2009 at 3:37 pmHow long’s it been since Sori pitched?
July 26th, 2009 at 3:38 pmHe pitched Friday. With a big lead.
July 26th, 2009 at 3:39 pmI hate to agree with Simpson but dammit, bend that freakin’ cap bill son.
July 26th, 2009 at 3:39 pmSoriano for the 9th!
July 26th, 2009 at 3:40 pmThen I agree, don’t use him today.
July 26th, 2009 at 3:40 pmFirst game of series
July 26th, 2009 at 3:43 pmThese guys with the straight cap bills are going to look back 20 years from now and want to go back in time and punch themselves in the face.
July 26th, 2009 at 3:43 pmday off tomorrow… u know that Cox is going to pitch soriano. God I hope he doesn’t
July 26th, 2009 at 3:43 pmKJ = TRADE VALUE
July 26th, 2009 at 3:45 pmWow. That’s a pretty good game KJ.
July 26th, 2009 at 3:45 pmKJ CRUSHED that homer.
July 26th, 2009 at 3:45 pmJeepers. Prado’s going to get replaced if he doesn’t look out.
And now Chipper hits… No, pulled back. Still…
July 26th, 2009 at 3:45 pmKelly Johnson has done more in one afternoon than he did in the entire month of June.
July 26th, 2009 at 3:46 pmCan Kelly play right?
No he can’t, forgot.
July 26th, 2009 at 3:46 pmSo I guess Kelly remembered how to hit.
July 26th, 2009 at 3:47 pmWelcome back KJ
July 26th, 2009 at 3:47 pmKelly can play LF and Anderson has a notable reverse split. Won’t happen but it’s nice to see the good KJ back for at least one game.
July 26th, 2009 at 3:48 pmBoys, don’t get overexcited. It’s just one game. Remember Schaefer’s first game?
July 26th, 2009 at 3:49 pmGA is hitting .310 in the last month with 4 Hr’s, Id say he’s fine. We might be seeing Prado spell at 1st and 3rd a little more though. KJ could get moved for a reliever since all of the guys arms are falling off
July 26th, 2009 at 3:51 pmTom is right. Sorry.
Garrett is fine. Church I think is batting like .214 since the trade, hope he can pick it up.
July 26th, 2009 at 3:51 pmKelly Johnson has a little more history as a good ML player than Jordan Schafer.
July 26th, 2009 at 3:51 pmMcLouth-Prado top of the order go 0-7, no Chipper in the lineup and 10 runs on the board, color me surprised.
July 26th, 2009 at 3:52 pmTom, Ill choose to remember the player who posted an 800+ OPS the last two seasons compared to a rookie. KJ can hit and he’s shown it
July 26th, 2009 at 3:53 pmYunel=Gold Glove?
July 26th, 2009 at 3:54 pmMac,
You know it’s been a tough year when your analogies are all about medicine – as opposed to sex, food, cars, etc.
Hang in there, dude.
July 26th, 2009 at 3:55 pmKelly also has a little more history of monthlong sucking than Jordan Schaefer.
Anyway, well done Kelly. Hope you can keep it up.
July 26th, 2009 at 3:56 pmThat’s the one thing that good KJ provides…Xtra base hits.
July 26th, 2009 at 3:56 pmmlbtr says the Dodgers are in serious discussions about receiving Martinez and Lee in exchange for Loney, Kershaw/Billingsley, + prospects
July 26th, 2009 at 3:57 pmKelly may be streaky in the extreme, but with Prado (and Infante), no reason not to ride the hot streak.
Prado also makes the occasional Kelly-in-LF option viable.
July 26th, 2009 at 4:01 pmThat would be stupid on the Dodgers part
July 26th, 2009 at 4:02 pmRecapped.
July 26th, 2009 at 4:05 pm