30 Sep
Brad Komminsk vs. Dave Gallagher. Also, game thread, Marlins at Braves.
Brad Komminsk Statistics and History – Baseball-Reference.com
Seasons with Braves: 1983-1987
Notable Stats: .217 BA, .319 SLG
Notable Achievements: The greatest failed prospect of all time.
Versus
Dave Gallagher Statistics and History – Baseball-Reference.com
Seasons with Braves: 1994
Notable Stats: .224 BA, .296 SLG
Notable Achievements: Used to platoon with Ryan Klesko despite there being no evidence that Klesko needed to be platooned.
An interesting fact (to no one but me): In the past 10 games between the two teams, Ole Miss has scored 253 total points, and Vanderbilt has scored 248 total points, for an average point differential of 0.5 over the past decade.
September 30th, 2009 at 2:10 pmI mean absolutely no disrespect to P. W. Hjort, who is deserving of recognition for a great and informative site, but how in the world is Capitol Avenue Club linked at Neyer’s blog while this place is not?
September 30th, 2009 at 2:23 pmYou enjoy my misery to much Stu. I just have to keep reminding myself. “But even State beat them.”
September 30th, 2009 at 2:24 pmYou enjoy my misery to much Stu. I just have to keep reminding myself, “But even State beat them.”
September 30th, 2009 at 2:24 pmI don’t know how I posted that twice. I guess its because my hands are shaky due to the fear of losing to Vandy for the third straight year.
September 30th, 2009 at 2:31 pmAs someone on the VU message board I frequent said earlier, in response to my recitation of this fact:
September 30th, 2009 at 2:31 pmMark Richt’s Dawgs vs LSU: 3-2
1-0 in Athens
1-1 in Baton Rouge
1-1 in Atlanta
Let’s stay ahead of the curve, fellas, and hang onto the ball for one day.
September 30th, 2009 at 2:35 pmJoe Posnanski on Chipper and the Braves.
September 30th, 2009 at 2:45 pmStu @2:
Well, while this is easily my first and only Braves site for the fan interaction and Mac’s writeups are wonderful, PWHjort offers some great analysis and a great deal of statistical info. A link referencing our 64 worsy Braves should be in order, though.
Just want to be clear, I love both and I spend most of my time here, but the posts at Capital Avenue Club do seem more “link-worthy.”
September 30th, 2009 at 2:47 pmI know CAC’s posts are link-worthy; I just dispute the notion that Mac’s contributions aren’t. Yeah, there are a lot of recaps, but even those—most of them, anyway—display Mac’s insight and analytical chops.
I’m sure it doesn’t bother Mac at all, and I know Neyer knows and likes Mac, anyway, but it bothers me.
September 30th, 2009 at 2:54 pm#8 yeah good stuff. I hope Chipper rebounds next year and has a few more good years left.
September 30th, 2009 at 2:54 pmI never expected much from Gallagher when he came over but Komminsk was supposed to be the second coming of our savior. I voted for Komminsk because of the disappointment!
September 30th, 2009 at 2:55 pm@8 That’s a really nice article, thanks for sharing the link.
September 30th, 2009 at 3:06 pmStu,
I think we agree, I was just saying you’ll probably never see Neyer link to a recap no matter how well they are written (and Mac’s are by far the best on the web).
And everyone should check out CAC if you haven’t, it’s linked on the right.
September 30th, 2009 at 3:07 pmhttp://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/K/brad-komminsk.shtml
How could Komminsk be so good in the minors but suck in the majors. Though he didn’t ever really seem the same after the 82 season. Did he get hurt?
September 30th, 2009 at 3:08 pmI can’t quit voting for Komminsk.
Boog Sciambi on WFAN in NYC this morning:
September 30th, 2009 at 3:16 pmhttp://tinyurl.com/yecxhd7
I didn’t realize he was still playing in the minors in 97! He had an 18 year career in baseball while never being more than a good AAA player, amazing!
September 30th, 2009 at 3:16 pmI read Posnanski’s article which is excellent.
Chipper Jones rank among the top five switch hitters in ML history. In no particular order:
Mickey Mantle, Eddie Murray, Frankie Frisch, Chipper Jones and Pete Rose. Of course, there is some dude playing in Houston right now who is also in the top ten (Lance Berkman).
Komminsk was a massive bust, arguably the biggest tank job of them all. But he is working his way back to the majors as a manager in the minors.
Hey MAC , I owe you an apology. Last week when that post of mine disappeared for a few hours I was pissed and mistakenly took it out on you. I was wrong to do so and I’m very sorry. Hope you don’t hold it against me as I really appreciate your blog
September 30th, 2009 at 3:17 pmKomminsk was a bust of Dolly Parton proportions.
September 30th, 2009 at 3:31 pmThat’s okay, Coach.
September 30th, 2009 at 3:35 pmProps for the apology, Coach.
September 30th, 2009 at 3:43 pmThe Posnanski article is great — thanks for the link. This nugget captures for me exactly my take on Chipper, although I could have never found these words on my own:
“He is like a superstar from a different age, Musial in a minor key.”
September 30th, 2009 at 3:51 pmfrom the last thread, regarding “power bat” and the thought of acquiring holliday:
“Holliday is primed to be way overpaid in two years. If the market for him is reasonable, take a shot. But if he’s in the 5/60 range pass and call Bobby Abreu.”
do you guys realize we have our own matt holliday in left field already? matt diaz is one hell of a ballplayer and has put up eerily similar stats to holliday this season.
look at this. if matt diaz would have kept the same production that he has put up this year in the same amount of bats as holliday, here’s how the 2 would compare:
matty d: 21 hr 94 rbi .315 .392 .884 ops 19sb
holliday: 24 hr 105 rbi .313 .391 .910 ops 14sb
when playing strictly left field, diaz is a better defender. there’s no need to spend 12 mil per year on holliday. we have him already and will only be a fourth of the cost.
September 30th, 2009 at 3:55 pmKomminsk, This guy just never ever looked good. I mean, not even one game did he look good. I just hated that chop-down swing of his. Komminsk just might go all the way in this poll.
September 30th, 2009 at 3:56 pmSorry. Gallagher took at bats away from Klesko. Never loathed a player more than him. Cox’s fault; but it hurt Klesko in the long run.
September 30th, 2009 at 4:38 pmThe main thing about Komminsk is that ATL got Dion James for him, who was actually quite serviceable as a brave.
September 30th, 2009 at 4:50 pmWin the next 5. At worst you’ve won 91 games which is insane considering where the team was at the end of June. And just maybe it’ll be enough to force a playoff on Monday.
September 30th, 2009 at 5:09 pmGoing from 90 losses to 90 wins, who takes the blame for that? Heads must roll.
September 30th, 2009 at 5:25 pmIf the difficulty of finding 3 tickets to tomorrow night’s game is any indication, it should be pretty full. Only seats available for 3 people are the dugout, terrace, or Hank Aaron seats, which are all at least 36 dollars, a bit too much for me and my friends. As far as I know, can’t get 3 tickets together anywhere else.
September 30th, 2009 at 5:26 pm@28
But what you fail to understand is that if the manager wasn’t senile and suffering from Alzeihmer’s this team could have won 120 games! All they needed was some guy from the internet who could Google up VORP rankings on demand!
September 30th, 2009 at 5:30 pmwell, i guess we gave up:
gorecki
September 30th, 2009 at 5:56 pmconrad
prado
norton
infante
ross
laroche
church
31,
What? ESPN isn’t showing that.
September 30th, 2009 at 5:59 pmI must be a complete idiot, because I fell for that for a second.
September 30th, 2009 at 6:00 pmRic Flair’s Limo, Fancy Suits Were Key To Gamecocks Upset – Pro Wrestling – Deadspin
September 30th, 2009 at 6:01 pmMcLouth CF
September 30th, 2009 at 6:17 pmPrado 2B
Chipper 3B
McCann C
Anderson LF
Escobar SS
LaRoche 1B
Diaz RF
Vazquez P
Maybe the Webels should have called Hulk Hogan to combat the Nature Boy.
September 30th, 2009 at 6:22 pmGenerous strike zone tonight.
September 30th, 2009 at 6:36 pmOh, Chipper…
September 30th, 2009 at 6:50 pmCrap.
September 30th, 2009 at 7:00 pmWe look tired and awful.
September 30th, 2009 at 7:06 pmPrepare for 2010.
September 30th, 2009 at 7:10 pmRoss Gload again. This team is loaded with annoying guys.
I’ll give this to the Marlins—they’ve played end-of-the-year spoiler 3 consecutive seasons. Just ask the Mets.
September 30th, 2009 at 7:33 pmEvery Brave has struck out.
September 30th, 2009 at 7:40 pmMore than that – it is 9 in a row. Has to be record, doesn’t it?
September 30th, 2009 at 7:45 pmWe have no answer for Ryan Howard, we have no answer for Dan Uggla, and we have no answer for…Ross Gload?!?!?!
September 30th, 2009 at 7:47 pmNPHE
September 30th, 2009 at 7:56 pmTITS&ASS!
September 30th, 2009 at 7:57 pmIn five days, we won’t have Greg Norton to kick around anymore.
September 30th, 2009 at 8:00 pm34 — I saw that last Thursday, it’s still hilarious
September 30th, 2009 at 8:04 pmWell, as well as the Braves have played, they did benefit from playing the Nats and Mets a lot. They didn’t do so well against the Phillies (later in the year) and now the Marlins, whom they have struggled with all year.
September 30th, 2009 at 8:10 pmSince the Braves added a third catcher, Dave Ross hasn’t been used as a pinch hitter.
September 30th, 2009 at 8:13 pm28, glass half full kind of guy are you?
Word to the wise, the glass should be full and running over.
September 30th, 2009 at 8:17 pmFor some of you may have forgotten how great a player Chipper has been…
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/joe_posnanski/09/30/atlanta.braves/
September 30th, 2009 at 8:21 pmIt’s nice to see that Medlen is out of the doghouse. At least until Bobby uses him 4 days in a row with predictable results.
September 30th, 2009 at 8:29 pmThe truth of it is that we were not supposed to really compete this year. No one thought we had a WS winner on our hands at season’s start, and most of us just hoped we’d see some growth from the past few years of “malaise”, some sense of a real rebuilt team – and we have. The realistic goal at this point of the season has to be those 90 wins – who thought we had a shot at that even a month ago? (Though I agree with ububba that 91 would get us that tie and would be sweet.) I remain positive at least at the thought that these guys could get it done, but striking out 16 times in a must win game doesn’t give me much hope that this offense could go very far in a postseason anyway. I’d love to see what this pitching staff could do in October, as great as it has been this year, but at this point any “hope” is for gravy, really. It’s been a good year!
September 30th, 2009 at 8:38 pmPWHjort thanks for the link to the Posnanski article. Great stuff about Chipper but also kudos to the Braves way. Much like the great 49er teams in football the Braves weren’t afraid to turn the team over. Teams built around a core of great players usually complemented with good ones. Not all the acquisitions or trades worked out but the plan worked for 14 years.
I lived in Findlay just north of Lima OH for 5 years. Komminsk was still a legend there. But I remember watching him play. His bat was slow and Randy you are right but to me the swing looked like it had an extreme upper cut to it. I remember Joe Morgan commenting on the holes in Komminsk’s swing when doing color commentary on a game. Joe Torre caught hell for ‘ruining’ Brad Komminsk.
September 30th, 2009 at 8:41 pmLet’s play a game called “What Does Your Braves Journal Handle Mean?” Who wants to start?
September 30th, 2009 at 8:46 pmMy first name is Johnny.
September 30th, 2009 at 8:52 pmHere’s what I think: 1)sign a power RF bat. 2)call up Heyward and Freeman. If we do those things, we have a playoff team in 2010.
LF Heyward
CF McClouth
RF Power Bat
1B Freeman/The Roach
2B Prado/Pardo
SS Escobar
3B Chipper/Infante
C McCann/Ross
PH Diaz
SP’s: Hanson, Hudson (maybe), Vazquez, Jair, and Lowe.
Long Relief: Kamikaze or Merlin (Medlen) if we don’t sign huddy.
Relief: Gonzo, Soriano, Moylan, etc. This is a playoff team.
The problem with this year is we didn’t get the right players on the field until after the all star break. we have it now.
This is my first post ever, but have been a big fan of this site for a long time now. Mac: you rock! But you have never pointed out two important things. 1)Ubaldo Jiminez is actually Obama twenty years ago. 2)If they ever decided to make a documentary about Vicente Padilla, they would paint Chris Kattan and tell him to eat Ryan Howard (not only to gain the wait, but also so that Howard won’t do any more of those subway commercials.)
September 30th, 2009 at 8:56 pmKeep Hope Alive!!!
September 30th, 2009 at 8:59 pmWeldon is my first name. It’s also my mother’s maiden name, but I did not graduate from a private school.
September 30th, 2009 at 9:03 pmThe name in parentheses is my original handle on here, a reference to Alex R., who was on here before me. My actual name is actually Alex Remington.
Thanks, Wesley.
September 30th, 2009 at 9:03 pmHey, I got hung with my mother’s maiden name too.
September 30th, 2009 at 9:03 pmsdp are my initials
September 30th, 2009 at 9:05 pm/bites nails
September 30th, 2009 at 9:06 pmBe Patient Prado
September 30th, 2009 at 9:07 pmJeremy is my first name, though I go by something else.
September 30th, 2009 at 9:07 pmI was born in the Indian desert (Punjab) and lived in the (well, I’m actually not sure what it is called) desert in Mesquite, NV for my high school years. Incidentally, I really don’t like the desert.
September 30th, 2009 at 9:08 pmCoz is short for Cosby, as in the great Bill Cosby and also an especially great N64 player back in the day. It’s a normal handle of mine.
Go Braves! (See…I can’t help it.)
September 30th, 2009 at 9:08 pmThis is slow torture…just don’t make an out, Martin. They practically handed us this game on a platter, now make them pay for it!
September 30th, 2009 at 9:09 pmWell, did you graduate from a private school?
Are the Braves playing tonight?
September 30th, 2009 at 9:09 pmnevermind….
September 30th, 2009 at 9:10 pmGoddammit. What a way for the season to end…
September 30th, 2009 at 9:10 pmFuck me.
September 30th, 2009 at 9:10 pmParochial school, I’m afraid.
September 30th, 2009 at 9:10 pmholy effin baserunning blunders batman!
September 30th, 2009 at 9:11 pmWhat happened?
September 30th, 2009 at 9:11 pmHahaha, oh man. Between this and the Rockies game last night, man.
September 30th, 2009 at 9:11 pmIncidentally, I apologize for blaspheming. No disrespect intended. I’m just mad as hell.
September 30th, 2009 at 9:11 pmdid we just get snitker’d again? he was way down the line…
September 30th, 2009 at 9:12 pmMatty D picked off third.
September 30th, 2009 at 9:12 pmWhat happened is there was a wild pitch that got away from Paulino but not too far away — Matt Diaz came about halfway down the third base line but then thought better of it, and Paulino found the ball in time to throw Matt out at third.
It may have been the first time a player actually Snitkered himself.
September 30th, 2009 at 9:12 pmWOW
September 30th, 2009 at 9:12 pmWow.
September 30th, 2009 at 9:12 pmThat was brutal. Diaz is the goat, which is especially hard to take. :<
September 30th, 2009 at 9:12 pmDiaz got caught in no man’s land. The baseball Gods hate us.
September 30th, 2009 at 9:13 pmDiaz does some stupid crap sometimes.
September 30th, 2009 at 9:13 pmdesert,
September 30th, 2009 at 9:13 pmI’ve been to Mesquite quite often. Were your parents blackjack dealers or something?
Is the spam filter acting up tonight? I had a comment that didn’t post.
September 30th, 2009 at 9:14 pmThat sucked about as bad as it can suck.
September 30th, 2009 at 9:14 pmPrado threw up the stop sign, and I think that’s what caused Matt to hesitate. Tough split-second decision.
September 30th, 2009 at 9:15 pmWow, what Miserable Braves Loss Type is THIS ****? One thing you can’t accuse this team of is lack of creativity.
September 30th, 2009 at 9:16 pmIt wasn’t Snitker, I don’t think. Prado seemed to be calling him home, didn’t he?
You would think there was nothing that could make this loss worse, but then they cued up the damn “Looooad up the baysez” promo. Shit.
Mac, well, it’s not a bad thing. It’s just a percentages thing.
September 30th, 2009 at 9:17 pmWas Diaz dead at home if he had just gone for it?
September 30th, 2009 at 9:17 pmI’m gonna go kill the fat lady now, she’s singing way too loud for my taste.
September 30th, 2009 at 9:17 pmThe braves spazz out worse than my cat when there is anything to play for.
They were rocking along until they got within shouting distance then they started playing tight. The second the ‘believe’ signs came out they Braves spinkters got tight enough to turn coal into diamonds. They were squeezing the saw dust out of the bats.
The braves have to do something before next year. Matt Diaz/Adam LaRoche are having career years, but neither are long term answers. The bullpen has to be rebuilt, only having 3 or 4 guys who throw strikes consistently is not enough.
Gonna be tough to get better with 30mil sunk into Chipper and Lowe for the next 3 years.
September 30th, 2009 at 9:18 pmYeah, he would’ve been safe if he’d kept going.
September 30th, 2009 at 9:18 pmJeremy,
No, my mother is completely against gambling. She work at Mesquite Medical, where she’s a pediatrician.
September 30th, 2009 at 9:18 pmRecapped.
September 30th, 2009 at 9:20 pmi’m pretty sure he would have made it.
September 30th, 2009 at 9:21 pmI think the MBLT index needs updating after this one.
September 30th, 2009 at 9:22 pm