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what they do!
August 30th, 2009 at 2:06 pmJoe Morgan was caught with Jon Miller’s ____ in his _____ and Steve Phillips’ ____ in his ___.
August 30th, 2009 at 2:08 pmSeems like another impending joy-or-despair post-game reality. Let’s see if we can keep that rollercoaster clinking back to the top.
BTW, The O’Jays rule.
August 30th, 2009 at 2:15 pmI’m working tonight, so I’ll be following online. No Morgan for me!
August 30th, 2009 at 2:17 pmIt’s Joe for me on espn360. But it’s not just Joe… Miller and Phillips push it even further over the top. Good times.
Over/under on number of times Joe refers to the Braves as “Chipper and the guys” because he doesn’t know the name of anyone else on the team? Set at 5?
August 30th, 2009 at 2:24 pmLove that song – Saw Elvis Costello do an amazing version in 1980.
Say where’s stupup? I’ve been waiting for him to back up his post for a while now.
August 30th, 2009 at 2:25 pmTonight, I find out how much lag there is between the iPhone MLB app audio feed and the ESPN television feed.
August 30th, 2009 at 2:40 pmCody Johnson hit his 31st and 32nd HR’s last night
August 30th, 2009 at 2:57 pmGame importance. This probably only matters to me, but I thought I’d share.
I have that pure pythagorean monte carlo, and I modified it to “stick” certain results. So I ran the season 200,000 times each with every possible result of every single game. If you define the importance of a game as the difference between the chance of making the playoffs when you win and the chance of making the playoffs when you lose, here’s the importance.
The game tonight. (Difference of 7.3%)
Each of the PHI @ ATL (7.1%)
Each of the STL and FLA away series (6.6%)
The FLA home series (6.4%)
Both Mets series and the Nats away series (6.2%)
HOU and CIN series (6.1%)
Nats home series (6.0%)
The Rocks home series (except STL?) (4.2%)
Rocks at SDG and ARI (4.1%)
STL at COL (3.9%)
COL @ LA (3.8%)
COL @ SFN (2.6%)
The rest of the Giants games (1.1-1.5%)
The rest of the Phillies games (0.6-1.0%)
The rest of the Cubs games (0.3-0.4%)
Ignoring the result of intervening games (like the Rocks), tonight’s game leaves our chances at 18.8% if we win and 11.5% if we lose.
August 30th, 2009 at 3:00 pmfrom previous thread:
robert said:
“#21 – there’s a winning post.
The idea that Bobby should have magically given Diaz at bats in place of Francoeur at the beginning of the year is ridiculous. Diaz was given an everyday job last season and was sub-Francoeur horrible before getting hurt.
And the organization didn’t decide to pay Francoeur’s multimillion dollar arbitration bill to have him backup a guy who had a OPS+ of 50 last year.”
robert, no one…NO ONE said diaz should have had the job in right field at the beginning of the season. read the damn post. it says, imagine what he could have done with those bats that were given to francoeur. you’re such a bobby homer that you try to make up arguments to defend him.
sam said:
“The fact that Jeff Francoeur was not qualified to start every day is not an argument that Matt Diaz is qualified to start every day. The one has nothing to do with the other. That the Braves wasted three years on Francoeur in RF does not support nor undermine the case for Diaz.”
werent they on the same team at the beginning of the year? if one is more qualified than the other, then there is a completely valid argument. that makes no sense.
take it out of baseball context: 2 workers, of the same company, are up for an assistant manager position. neither of them are great, but one is better than the other. the company doesnt have the money to keep both guys and hire someone fresh, so who is the company going to promote? the better worker is named matt. there is a valid argument that matt should get the job. then, maybe he gets fired if he doesnt perform.
August 30th, 2009 at 3:34 pmi think JoeyT needs a girlfriend………….quick.
August 30th, 2009 at 4:11 pmGiants / Rockies knotted at 1 apiece after 4 innings.
Weird stat. Jason Hammel has thrown 31 pitches in 4 innings against the “swing at anything” Giants. One K, No BB.
Even weirder, if you are as bad offensively as the Giants, wouldn’t you want to take a chance that MAYBE the guy might walk you?
Fish beat Pads, so we need to keep this thing going and keep winning.
Despite where we end up, at least we are fighting and clawing and have some improvements to like and be proud of.
August 30th, 2009 at 4:16 pmNever thought I’d say it, but Greinke looks like Maddux in his prime today
August 30th, 2009 at 4:48 pmNo Ryan, it doesn’t make a difference. Or, to be more specific, the difference it makes is not the difference being argued (at least not back in the other thread where I posted originally.)
If Diaz is a better player than Francoeur is relevant if the question is “should Matt Diaz play ahead of Jeff Francoeur?” Obviously so. Without getting into the details of whether a reasonable observer should have thought with any certainty that Diaz was better or worse than Francoeur as a starting option at the start of this season, the question obviously hinges on the differences between Diaz and Francoeur’s relative skill sets.
But that’s not the question we are posing now.
Our current question has nothing to do with Jeff Francoeur. Our current question should read “is Matt Diaz good enough to be a full time starter on an OF corner in MLB?” Diaz could be three times greater than Francoeur and still not be a capable full time starter (if Francouer is more than three times worse than replacement level, for example.)
If you’re asking a historical question – should Diaz have started ahead of Francoeur – then the comparison is valid. Me, personally, I don’t care about Jeff Francoeur any more. He’s a Met. I am not concerned about the Braves players the rest of 2009 and beyond. So the only question I’m concerned with is “is Matt Diaz a full time player or not.” Jeff Francoeur isn’t part of the equation.
August 30th, 2009 at 5:12 pmThe Moving Finger writes; and, having writ,
August 30th, 2009 at 5:56 pmMoves on; nor all your Piety nor Wit
Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line,
Nor all your Tears wash out a Word of it.
… and all your money won’t another minute buy…
August 30th, 2009 at 6:09 pmThe saddest words of Tongue or Pen
August 30th, 2009 at 6:09 pmAre those that write “What Might Have Been”.
Don’t look back in anger, I heard you say.
August 30th, 2009 at 6:15 pmI thought the saddest of possible words were “Tinker to Evers to Chance.”
August 30th, 2009 at 6:15 pm“Or Bruntlett times three.”
Spike,
Were you referring to an Elvis Costello show at the Fox Theater in Atlanta?
I saw him do “The Backstabbers” there in 1982 on the Imperial Bedroom tour.
I can’t remember what I ate yesterday, but for some reason I remember all the EC shows I’ve seen.
August 30th, 2009 at 6:17 pmcolorado lost, need to take advantage and win tonight
August 30th, 2009 at 6:29 pmA photo from tonight’s pregame
http://bit.ly/DfWWt
August 30th, 2009 at 6:32 pm#22 – Anderson may be too lazy to pull that off also
August 30th, 2009 at 6:33 pm“thought I’d something more to say …”
August 30th, 2009 at 6:37 pm22,
The Phillies cheerleaders have nothing on the Braves’ girls.
August 30th, 2009 at 6:41 pmWith a win tonight, 2.5 out of the WC.
August 30th, 2009 at 6:46 pmGood Guys:
Diaz
Prado
Chipper
McCann
Anderson
Esco
LaRoche
Gorecki (CF)
JJ
Bad Guys:
Rollins
August 30th, 2009 at 6:48 pmVictorino
Utley
Howard
Werth
Ibanez
Feliz
Ruiz
Cy Blanton
Raul Ibanez Post-ASB:
.221 .301 .407 .708
August 30th, 2009 at 6:50 pmDaniel, do you have Jason Bay’s Post-ASB numbers by chance?
Both players put up MVP type first halfs, but have definitely returned to Earth.
August 30th, 2009 at 6:52 pmLooks like Adam is well enough to play! Good man.
Not Gorecki again…
August 30th, 2009 at 6:54 pm@29
Jason Bay is actually doing better post-ASB
Post-ASB: .250 .392 .525 .917
Pre-ASB: .260 .380 .527 .908
However, his hot streak ended much earlier than the ASB
August 30th, 2009 at 6:58 pmThanks Daniel.
August 30th, 2009 at 7:00 pmHappy to see former Bravo Renetaria help us out big time today with a huge grandslam to beat the Rocks. Speaking of long lost Braves – watching Wainwright today makes me wish we’d never dealt him for one year of J.D. Drew. He’s an ace.
Have to win tonight to get to 2.5. The Rockies have lost 5 in a row and that probably isn’t going to happen again.
@29 the problem for Bay hasn’t been .avg/obp/slug it’s injuries and limited RBI chances since June. He had 20hr and 72rbi in the first half – 86 games, but has only played in 36 games in the second half with 9 hr and 20rbi.
August 30th, 2009 at 7:04 pmPrado!
August 30th, 2009 at 7:12 pmLet’s have another blowout, boys.
FWIW, McCann has crazy numbers vs. Blanton.
EDIT: So now he’s 6 for 11.
August 30th, 2009 at 7:13 pmAnyone elses ESPN broadcast screwy? I should probably be thankful there’s no sound, but the random comcast commercial in the middle of the inning is a bit annoying.
August 30th, 2009 at 7:21 pmCan beat that first inning from JJ.
August 30th, 2009 at 7:23 pmTrue, but couldn’t help but think oh @#$% when utley hit the ball
August 30th, 2009 at 7:26 pmReid Gorecki = Ryan Langerhans
August 30th, 2009 at 7:28 pmChurch is a big bitch. Who cares, though. Francoeur is gone.
August 30th, 2009 at 7:29 pmChurch riding the bench is better than Francoeur in the lineup.
August 30th, 2009 at 7:32 pmGorecki or Blanco? I think Gorecki is up because he’s a righty and the Braves’ putative outfield is full of lefties. Gregor will be up Tuesday, I’m sure.
August 30th, 2009 at 7:38 pmThe blogger who called out Ibanez is properly sounding more credible by the day.
August 30th, 2009 at 7:38 pmany news/guesses about other folks we might see Tuesday?
I think Acosta’s coming back to dazzle us with his ability to retire batters.
August 30th, 2009 at 7:43 pmThe reports were that Acosta would be back, but I’ve no idea why. I’d think that Conrad will be back.
August 30th, 2009 at 7:44 pmBeginning of the end for Chipper Jones….well he has a nice run.
August 30th, 2009 at 7:45 pmNice swing chipper. Nothing like joe blanton making bravesjournal’s fav player in chipper jones look like a fool
August 30th, 2009 at 7:47 pmHow much more haplessness do some of u have to see before you realize chipper is on the decline.
August 30th, 2009 at 7:50 pmIt doesn’t matter as long as he knows how to win
August 30th, 2009 at 7:51 pmI’m guessing there may be one more arm–maybe Valdez. I’d like to see Brandon Jones back. Bringing up Sammons would allow Ross to ph. Some recalls may not happen until Gwinnett finishes its season, though that’s sort of stupid with the big league club being in a playoff chase.
August 30th, 2009 at 7:52 pmAcosta, Valdez, maybe Jo-Jo, Conrad, Sammons, Barbaro, maybe Blanco
August 30th, 2009 at 7:55 pm@49
Thanks joe morgan haha
August 30th, 2009 at 7:55 pmGwinnett’s in a playoff race, too. Actually, they seem likely to win the wildcard…
I think Blanco, B-Jones, or Crab Man, one of them, has to be called up with the major league outfield so shorthanded.
August 30th, 2009 at 7:56 pmAcosta can’t come up until 10 days after his demotion.
August 30th, 2009 at 7:57 pm… though you could reinforce Gwinnett by promoting Heyward.
August 30th, 2009 at 7:57 pmI don’t think that the ten-day thing applies after roster expansion.
August 30th, 2009 at 7:58 pm@54–if only that were true
August 30th, 2009 at 7:58 pmI think Joe Morgan’s sidekick (not the Met GM) just said Blanton should be scared Gorecki
August 30th, 2009 at 7:59 pm56,
August 30th, 2009 at 8:00 pmIt does.
53,
August 30th, 2009 at 8:03 pmWhy didn’t they just call up crab man instead of Gorecki? I mean, they probably both suck, but crab man has the advantage of already occupying a 40-man roster spot.
I’d like to see crab man get a shot.
August 30th, 2009 at 8:03 pmGorecki was playing better.
August 30th, 2009 at 8:05 pmargh
August 30th, 2009 at 8:06 pmMac, sorry if you’ve already discussed this or if it’s neither the time or the place… but what kind of chances are you giving to VT with the game being in ATL?
August 30th, 2009 at 8:11 pmI think we’ll win, but who knows? I just don’t see how Tech will move the ball, but Beamer might have some surprises.
August 30th, 2009 at 8:15 pmOne prediction: Tech will blitz. A lot. If Alabama can move the ball in the same slow-and-steady way they did last year, the Hokies don’t have much of a chance. They need to create turnovers and third-and-longs.
August 30th, 2009 at 8:19 pmSound about right. Supposedly Taylor is throwing better, but there was plenty of room for improvement.
Turnovers and special teams can certainly make a difference, and that’s usually Tech’s bread and butter. Still, tough to count on those aspects of the game.
August 30th, 2009 at 8:25 pmThis sucks.
August 30th, 2009 at 8:25 pmWith Hudson now starting on Tuesday, are we actually going to go to a 6-man rotation? That would be cool.
Clutch DP there.
August 30th, 2009 at 8:27 pman escape worthy of Houdini
August 30th, 2009 at 8:28 pmgreat recovery. thankfully.
August 30th, 2009 at 8:28 pmThat’s like 3 Houdini’s in a week for the Braves. Not to mention 2 in 2 days.
August 30th, 2009 at 8:29 pmThere have been 29 Houdini’s in the NL this year. The Braves have 3 in the past 5 days.
August 30th, 2009 at 8:31 pm@48 Now you’re moving the goal posts. “On the decline” is a far cry from “done.” What 37 year-old isn’t on the decline?
August 30th, 2009 at 8:32 pmI can’t believe the Phillies didn’t score with the bases loaded and no outs. We totally lucked out with that dp.
August 30th, 2009 at 8:33 pmBlanton’s at 97 pitches. Time to get him.
August 30th, 2009 at 8:44 pmPathetic.
August 30th, 2009 at 8:48 pmCan we be lucky twice, and get out of this too?
August 30th, 2009 at 8:54 pmDammit, Chipper.
August 30th, 2009 at 8:55 pmThat would be a “no.”
Dang it.
August 30th, 2009 at 8:55 pmgreat. they bunt and get extra bases.
August 30th, 2009 at 8:55 pmACHE!
August 30th, 2009 at 8:55 pmJust wonderful.
Just wonderful.
August 30th, 2009 at 8:55 pmACHE doesn’t care… he just wants to get back to the West Coast
August 30th, 2009 at 8:56 pmACHE’s the best.
August 30th, 2009 at 8:56 pmHey Mac… nice play there by your favorite player chipper. Cost us a couple of runs
August 30th, 2009 at 8:57 pmI honestly can’t believe Anderson even got a glove on it. JJ’s teammates have let him down in this one.
On the Chipper front, Jon K is probably assembling his pitchforks and torches.
He beat me to it @ 86
August 30th, 2009 at 8:57 pmWhen Prado hit his home run, I found myself thinking I hope that wouldn’t be the only run we got tonight. Unfortunately it’s looking like my fear is being realized. Jurrjens deserves better than this.
August 30th, 2009 at 8:59 pmOK. Good news. Top of the order’s up.
August 30th, 2009 at 9:00 pmIn this case, the runs are truly unearned. Jon, get a life.
August 30th, 2009 at 9:00 pmYou’re a fool, Jon K. You’ve obviously never played a lick of ball in your life if you think Chipper is an idiot for that play. It’s an incredibly hard play, but the throw was easily within reach anyway. A real first baseman that understands simple physics (a throw made on the run will tail) would have caught it. Your one-note song is getting tired. Take your Ahab-like, factless hate to a Mets forum where people might be stupid enough to buy it.
August 30th, 2009 at 9:00 pmBaserunner!
Redemption?
August 30th, 2009 at 9:03 pmI have been on Chipper’s case lately, but that was a tough play.
Don’t walk the only guy in a worse slump than Chipper and none of that happens.
That is why the runs are earned.
August 30th, 2009 at 9:04 pmHow in the world did they get an earned run out of that? Kill the unearned run rule already.
August 30th, 2009 at 9:06 pmNo error on Anderson. They just changed the ruling. I’m not sure about Chipper’s play.
August 30th, 2009 at 9:06 pmGrst
Your a fool. You don’t make that play. When your an old 3B who has decreasing skills you should be smart enough to not force a throw and possibly cost your team runs. Don’t sit here and blame the first baseman.
August 30th, 2009 at 9:06 pmJust don’t kill the rally with a home run.
August 30th, 2009 at 9:07 pmYourrr a foool.
Woot. One back.
August 30th, 2009 at 9:07 pmHow about holding your so called “best player” accountable. Don’t make excuses for this guy… he isn’t getting it done
August 30th, 2009 at 9:07 pm94– Because Joe Morgan said so.
August 30th, 2009 at 9:08 pmThe Prado: 3 hits.
August 30th, 2009 at 9:08 pmEveryone else: 1.
How did Prado not get to third on that ?
August 30th, 2009 at 9:09 pmChipper is one of the best I’ve ever seen at that play. Of course he should have tried to make that play.
Also, wasn’t Prado covering first cause of the bunt? Him running to the base made it pretty difficult to make the catch, but it was catchable.
August 30th, 2009 at 9:09 pmMake that two. Chipper sure sucks.
August 30th, 2009 at 9:09 pmThe commercial with “The Most Interesting Man In The World” running with the fox in his hand is pretty funny.
August 30th, 2009 at 9:10 pmThe Braves have a real problem getting from first to third on hits to right. It’s sad, really.
August 30th, 2009 at 9:10 pmTypical chipper hit right there. That’s what chipper is good for at this point in time, these seeing eye singles from our 3rd hitter. Yeah he just had an rbi single but it’s upseting that this team is still relying on him to be there go to guy. It’d be nice to have a true power hitting 3rd or 4th guy where chipper could be sloted down to 5th or 6th and just knock it through the holes. Chipper is being asked to do wayyy to much with his current skill set
August 30th, 2009 at 9:12 pm@96 Did you really just say not to make that throw? You’re an even bigger idiot than I thought. How about leaving the baseball talk to people that actually know something about baseball. Your previous whining that Chipper isn’t worth his pay has already been empirically disproven, so now you’re left to petty sniping and cherry-picking in your inexplicable quest to prove the impossible.
August 30th, 2009 at 9:13 pmNow that’s what a real rally killer looks like.
August 30th, 2009 at 9:15 pm[DELETED -- MT]
August 30th, 2009 at 9:15 pmThat was abusive, Jon. Watch your language.
August 30th, 2009 at 9:17 pmWay to make up for your misplay, ACHE.
August 30th, 2009 at 9:18 pmTypical.
August 30th, 2009 at 9:18 pmIf Chipper was worth his 22.75 million dollar contract, he would have scored on McCann’s groundout.
August 30th, 2009 at 9:19 pmNot to mention kinda strange. A Mongolian idiot? Is that worse than an American idiot?
And when did Chipper stop being 28?
Oh, right. 9 years ago. Thanks for the update.
August 30th, 2009 at 9:19 pmRobert, I hope I can tell Mac is struggling.
August 30th, 2009 at 9:19 pmJon, your enthusiasm is great, but it is showing up in a very negative way.
August 30th, 2009 at 9:21 pmWhy is Soriano in for the lefties?
August 30th, 2009 at 9:22 pmBecause Bobby wants to see how far Howard can hit one.
August 30th, 2009 at 9:23 pmSince my comment was deleted because I called GRST a slain term for Trisomy 21, I told GRST to go back to his armchair and keep thinking he’s Casey Stengel with his “I know the game” posts. haha your a joke buddy, settle down
August 30th, 2009 at 9:23 pmDon Sutton is making the case for Howard to be the MVP. That’s moronic.
August 30th, 2009 at 9:23 pmI mean, Bobby is the king of matchups. I just don’t get it.
August 30th, 2009 at 9:24 pmWell, he’s looked like the MVP against us, and that’s what Sutton’s seen.
August 30th, 2009 at 9:24 pmDid Ahab really just tell me to settle down? Projection can be ugly.
August 30th, 2009 at 9:25 pmESPN: Giants sweet Rockies
Keep up the fighting guys… I really feel like a breakthrough is coming when all the misconceived glory will land in the winner’s circle.
August 30th, 2009 at 9:26 pmWhy do the Braves always seem to score after the other team does in these late-and-close tie games?
It’ll go to the eighth inning 0-0 and the opposing team will score four and then the Braves will suddenly score two it seems.
August 30th, 2009 at 9:28 pmWhat is this, the Ibanez Walking Festival?
August 30th, 2009 at 9:28 pm@125 That’s ESPN quality!
August 30th, 2009 at 9:28 pmLaRoche is going to take Lidge deep. (Where’s this coming from? I’m usually a pessimistic fan.)
August 30th, 2009 at 9:30 pmIf Yunel reaches, Bobby will probably have Adam bunt.
August 30th, 2009 at 9:32 pmReally?
August 30th, 2009 at 9:35 pmThis team is a joke… thanks for coming out to watch this team tease us all the way to a 3rd place NL east finish
August 30th, 2009 at 9:35 pm@129 Of course, Gorecki will get our last at-bat. Why is he on our team?
August 30th, 2009 at 9:35 pmnot enough.
August 30th, 2009 at 9:35 pmlosing a game where KJ and Infante dont get any AB’s, but Gorecki and Norton do = unbelievable
thanks Bobby
August 30th, 2009 at 9:36 pmNorton time!
August 30th, 2009 at 9:36 pmNO NORTON!
August 30th, 2009 at 9:36 pmI hate Greg Norton.
August 30th, 2009 at 9:36 pmyes thats Greg Norton the guy who deserves to hit while KJ and Infante dont
August 30th, 2009 at 9:36 pmSo this is how it ends? Not with a bang, but a Norton?
August 30th, 2009 at 9:36 pmJon, you shouldn’t have expected this team to be in a race from the beginning, and your expectation was too high considering this is our rebuilding year. I think that’s why you are so angry.
August 30th, 2009 at 9:36 pmi am seriously a better hitter than Norton. I will take the minimum to at least look good striking out.
August 30th, 2009 at 9:37 pmIt’s comical… this team is truly a comical joke. It’s almost as if they don’t want to make the playoffs. At every point this season when they have had the chance to capitalize in big situations and get key wins they just throw up the white flag
August 30th, 2009 at 9:37 pmOh, perfect. Norton to finish the game!!!
August 30th, 2009 at 9:37 pmRobert, I hope you are watching Bobby’s magic!!!
August 30th, 2009 at 9:37 pmthey can score 2 runs on no hits but we can only get 1 run on 3 hits, pretty much sums it up
August 30th, 2009 at 9:37 pmIm glad Infante was on deck to pinch hit for the pitcher!
August 30th, 2009 at 9:38 pmSo if everyone’s expectations were just to win some games and finish above .500 why are you all on here? Of course I expect my team to make the playoffs, if I convinced myself that they weren’t I wouldn’t watch or come on here and bother talking about them.
August 30th, 2009 at 9:38 pm3 winnable ballgames lost in the last 7 days.
August 30th, 2009 at 9:39 pmYes, clearly they don’t want to win. Playing baseball isn’t competitive at all. No one is trying to stop the Braves from winning just as hard as the Braves are trying to win. Oh no. All a player has to do is WANT to do something, and he can do it without fail! Why didn’t my coaches ever teach me that one?
August 30th, 2009 at 9:39 pm@148 I think we have to be realistic. Of course we all hope we can make the playoff, but it’s obvious from the beginning that we will not have enough weapons to get in.
August 30th, 2009 at 9:42 pmRecapped.
August 30th, 2009 at 9:43 pm@149 That’s all because of our rotation. Our rotation will keep us in every game. That’s why it’s driving us crazy, but we just do not have enough offense.
August 30th, 2009 at 9:43 pmRelease Greg Norton. Today.
August 30th, 2009 at 9:46 pmGrst
I definetly think you should send your resume to the Atlanta Braves front office. Your knowledge of baseball is so vast and expansive, it’s mind blowing! I think you’d be a shoe in to be the next manager.
August 30th, 2009 at 9:47 pmEveryone stop with the personal abuse.
August 30th, 2009 at 9:48 pm