04 Oct
San Francisco Giant facts
- The Giants were originally stationed in New York, but were ejected in 1957 for lewd behavior and disgusting personal habits.
- While Tim Lincecum is a well-known pothead, in fact all of the Giants’ starting pitchers are drug users. Barry Zito eats peyote, Matt Cain uses oxycontin, and Jonathan Sanchez drinks a bottle of Robitussin before every start.
- Speaking of drugs: Barry Bonds.
- Celebrity Giants fans include Phil Collins, Mark David Chapman, OJ Simpson, Ted Bundy, Pol Pot, and Shane Victorino.
- This last is hard to believe, but Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval is even fatter than Melky. However, San Francisco has many excellent restaurants and Melky will try to catch up by Friday.
Mac–Its good to see that you are in playoff mode….
October 4th, 2010 at 1:53 pmMVP- Most Voluptuous Player
I picked Melky.
October 4th, 2010 at 1:54 pmMac, great way to start off the playoffs!
October 4th, 2010 at 1:57 pmDock Ellis shoulda played for San Francisco.
October 4th, 2010 at 2:02 pmHow about Bobby and Barry….
October 4th, 2010 at 2:07 pmIt’s got to be Hudson or McCann. No one else is really that close. Well, maybe Prado.
Also, the poll currently reads “Omar Infante (-1%)” right now, which makes sense neither mathematically nor in baseball terms.
October 4th, 2010 at 2:15 pmMVP- Most Voluptuous Player
I believe I’ll be taking Dotti Hinson. Mee-yow!
October 4th, 2010 at 2:23 pmSandoval isn’t as good as he was last year nor as bad as he is this year.
2009 .350 BABIP 2010 .291 BABIP. He is a big un.
Dang, I’m excited.
I just hope our defensive play as of late doesn’t sabotage our chances.
October 4th, 2010 at 2:45 pmbob brenly and dick stockton will be the announcers for our series against san fran. joe will be doing the phils/reds matchup, smoltz and ernie will be doing the twins/yankees matchup.
October 4th, 2010 at 2:54 pmMy random, no-thought-put-into-it predictions for the series:
Game 1- Braves win 4-2
October 4th, 2010 at 2:59 pmGame 2- Giants win 3-1
Game 3- Braves win 4-3
Game 4- Braves win 5-2
Braves MVP?
That’s not easy at all, to be honest.
Can’t give it to the whole bullpen, so I’m afraid I gotta lame-out here & go for co-MVPs.
When I think of MVPs, names like Pujols, Votto, A. Gonzalez & C. Gonzalez come to mind. So generally speaking, you wouldn’t think a guy with 307/356/454, 15 HR, 66 RBI & OPS+ of 119 would be one of them.
But there were times this season when it seemed like Martin Prado was the only guy on the team who could get a hit. And he got plenty, so props to Prado.
And Huddy. IMO, no explanation needed, really. Save that September stretch, he was great all year.
October 4th, 2010 at 3:00 pmDoes anyone know our record in games where McLouth got a start? I bet it’s around .333.
How in the world can Bobby not see that Diaz in left (regardless of who is pitching) is the better choice?
If we simply must put a lefty in LF against RHPs, let it be Hinske.
Melky shouldn’t even make the trip.
——————
At some point, don’t you have to admit that Les Miles’ Madness is a part of his winning method?
I mean, it’s kinda like Loyola-Marymount basketball back in the day – you got swept up in their craziness and before you knew it, you were doing crazy things, too – it’s just that Loyola was used to it.
October 4th, 2010 at 3:02 pmGame 1: Giants
October 4th, 2010 at 3:02 pmGame 2: Braves
Game 3: Braves
Game 4: Giants
Game 5: Braves
So, the way I see it, there’s not room on the roster for 6OFs, which means one of Hinske/McLouth/Melky/Ankiel won’t be on the roster. Looking at the game logs, it seems likely that Melky will be one of the guys that makes it. I say that simply because he’s played more than those others have, even recently. Personally, I’d dump Melky and start Diaz/Hinske with whichever of McLouth/Ankiel doesn’t start coming off the bench late(ish) in games when we were up to play defensively. More likely is Melky starting 4 out of 5 games (depending on how many there are), at least one of them in SF in CF, no doubt leading to a triple by Pablo Sandoval.
October 4th, 2010 at 3:16 pmGiants probable lineup:
1) Torres .268/.343/.479 — CF
2) F. Sanchez .292/.342/.397 — 2B
3) Huff .290/.385/.506 — 1B
4) Posey .305/.357/.505 — C
5) Burrell .266/.364/.509 — LF
6) Uribe .248/.310/.440 — SS
7) Guillen .266/.317/.375 — RF
8). Sandoval .268/.323/.409 — 3B
Key reserves
IF Fontenot .282/.329/.310
October 4th, 2010 at 3:26 pmOF Ross .288/.354/.466
SS Renteria .276/.332/.374
C Whiteside .238/.299/.397
I’d like to add that the entire city is near a crack in the earth that will one day open up and swallow it.
The city’s most famous serial killer probably died of old age after getting bored getting away with murders there.
The sight of the Golden Gate Bridge makes people want to leap off of it.
They wear the color orange and look like Halloween decorations.
Barry Bonds.
Barry Bonds.
Barry Bonds.
October 4th, 2010 at 3:29 pm14 — I agree, I would definitely prefer a Diaz/Hinske platoon in left. That is our best option to get any offense from that position, and it is unclear to me that McLouth/Melky are even defensive upgrades in left. Diaz has looked better defensively than either of them to me, and I never saw any problems with Hinske.
October 4th, 2010 at 3:32 pm@12
Except it’s not any type of controlled madness, it’s just idiocy. Most of the time, his idiocy works out anyway because he has better players (sometimes it’s just sheer luck, like the other day), but idiocy is never a viable strategy IMO.
October 4th, 2010 at 3:34 pmI’m afraid that Melky will get lost in CF in SF going after a ball and will never be found. Or maybe I’m hoping that’s what happens.
October 4th, 2010 at 3:35 pmSo the highlight of my trip to Dodger stadium was easily the Mike Hampton sighting. In a game that the D-Backs took great pains to avoid playing anyone anybody had ever heard of, Kirk Gibson turned to Hampton when someone named Leo Rosales got himself into a bases loaded, one out jam in the seventh.
The result: Andre Either ripped a ringing double of the wall in right (looked like a grand slam but didn’t get high enough). This being the Dodgers, somehow only one man scored and the runner from second was thrown out at the plate. Hampton IBB’d Kemp, then got Loney on a grounder. So a good outing for Hampton – assuming we use the standard Hampton grading system of ‘any appearance that doesn’t end with him walking off the field with the trainer’ = ‘good outing’.
Dodger fans were weirdly respectful of Ausmus’s last game. Big ovation before his first at bat, big standing ovation after the single on his last at bat as he was pinch run for. Nice sentiment from the fans for a nice career I guess, he obviously doesn’t leave much of a Dodger legacy.
Forgot how awesome Dodger Stadium is. Highly recommended if you ever have the chance.
October 4th, 2010 at 4:17 pm#19 – dont be afraid of that
October 4th, 2010 at 4:20 pmone of Nate/Melky shouldnt make the team, but both will. Bobby likes Melky being a Switch hitter (who sucks from both sides of the plate) and Nate could be a good pinch runner
October 4th, 2010 at 4:30 pmvia DOB:
“Derek Lowe was named NL pitcher of the month after going 5-0 with a 1.17 ERA in 5 starts, 29 strikeouts and only three walks in 30 2/3 IP”
good job lowe. dont think we get in without ya.
October 4th, 2010 at 4:46 pmThe orange is important. You have to assume that anyone who wears orange is probably a Tennessee or Auburn fan.
October 4th, 2010 at 4:51 pmSeeing a game at Dodger Stadium is a really underrated experience. Considering that it opened in 1962, it’s a pretty perfect ballpark.
Getting into & out of that place can really suck, but it’s never stopped me from going. I always look forward to my visits.
October 4th, 2010 at 4:55 pmJust checked the TV schedule, and it has one ALDS/NLDS game at 10:30pm on Sunday. That better not be the Atlanta game. I’m scared, because we’re playing a West Coast club.
October 4th, 2010 at 4:59 pm#19 How can an object that large get lost?
October 4th, 2010 at 5:02 pmBecause no one would try to find it.
October 4th, 2010 at 5:13 pmJason Hayward is the Braves MVP in my view. Except a (yes extented) stretch where he was hurt, he was basically carrying the offense. But Prado, Huddy and McCann are right there, too.
October 4th, 2010 at 5:23 pm#26, more likely to be the Phillies @ Reds, due to the timezones, although I wouldn’t at all be surprised to see our game at 4 and that game at 7 or 8.
October 4th, 2010 at 5:34 pm26- No, Braves are in Atlanta on Sunday. Must be Tampa visiting Texas. Although even that wouldn’t make much sense, starting at 9:30 local.
October 4th, 2010 at 5:36 pmI know it’s in Atlanta, I have tickets.
I’m scared that I’m going to have to show up for a game that isn’t much before my bedtime so that people on the West Coast can see it.
October 4th, 2010 at 5:41 pm#26
Barring rain, Sunday is the only possible day that all 4 division series could have games. And if there’s a sweep in either ALDS, you won’t have 4 games.
I’d guess that if all 4 games happened you’d see the Eastern Time Zones scheduled first, so Pha@Cin, then SF@Atl. Yanks are almost always prime-time, so you’d see TB@Tex last.
October 4th, 2010 at 5:41 pmAlright, I’m all booked for ATL Sunday morning. Hope to run into some of you Forum folks when I’m down there.
October 4th, 2010 at 6:12 pmYou can’t spell “San Francisco Giants” without the letters S-A-T-A-N.
October 4th, 2010 at 6:19 pmUbubba –
Sunday is the day of the Drive-Invasion down at the drive in not far from Turner Field. I am playing, along with headliners Jason and the Scorchers and the Fleshtones, and a car show, plus movies. It goes from 11am til late, so a trip after the game or before, depending on game time is quite possible. otherwise, I’ll catch you for lunch before or a drink after.
http://www.starlightdrivein.com/
October 4th, 2010 at 6:29 pmSo… you’re opening for “The Legend of Billy Jack”? Nice!
Will definitely hit you up.
October 4th, 2010 at 6:33 pm@12 I looked into the McClouth factor. His just being on the roster lowers our winning percentage.
October 4th, 2010 at 6:38 pmIf you ask me, the team MVP is between Hudson and Prado, advantage Hudson.
October 4th, 2010 at 7:14 pmIf a hotdog contest breaks out during the game, I vote we put Melky to counter Kung Fu Panda. Melky my be behind, but he is poised for a come back
October 4th, 2010 at 7:20 pmIt’s really hard to dislike the Giants. I mean, I know, they’re the other team. Everyone, including me, hopes they lose. But really, they’re a likable team, excepting that weird died beard thing from the relievers.
Their top two starters, and all of the best relievers are RHP. That means Hinske almost certainly makes the squad, and Ankiel is more valuable than he would otherwise be. There’s no way Diaz doesn’t make the team, so it comes down to McLouth vs Melky. Probably Melky wins that one.
October 4th, 2010 at 7:52 pmDyed, not “died.”
October 4th, 2010 at 8:01 pmI just wanna say, even if it makes me a horrible fan, that it’s more fun when Clemson loses. This guy punched a trash can!
October 4th, 2010 at 8:13 pmvia The Alphabetical, Week 5: Really, Let’s Just Talk About The End Of Tennessee-LSU – SBNation.com.
October 4th, 2010 at 8:15 pmI will be for game one Thursday night. Go Braves!!!
October 4th, 2010 at 8:20 pmI have a parking pass for the (possible) Monday game if anyone wants it. I purchased it by accident. I asked about a refund, but the reply was nonsensical. Instead of dealing with them, I’d rather give it to a Braves fan who would prefer to park at the game on Monday.
It’s for the Blue lot. It’s a PDF you print. If anyone wants it, first email posted after this comment gets it.
October 4th, 2010 at 8:21 pmI want it!
October 4th, 2010 at 8:48 pmWhere do I send it?
October 4th, 2010 at 8:51 pmjared.stillman@gmail.com
October 4th, 2010 at 9:00 pmJ-Bone, it should be in your email.
Sorry, Rob Cope. I didn’t know where to send it.
October 4th, 2010 at 9:29 pmIt’s all good. My bad.
October 4th, 2010 at 9:45 pmAny New York people who want to get together to watch on Sunday, either Brooklyn or Manhattan, write me off-list and let’s line something up. TheBourbonCowboy@hotmail.com
-Nevin
I hate orange teams.
October 4th, 2010 at 10:00 pmThey wear orange because of the fog that rolls in and causes players to collide in the field. All they need is some reflective piping.
October 4th, 2010 at 10:03 pmSignificant post-chemotherapy step: I need a haircut.
October 4th, 2010 at 10:27 pmYay, here comes hippiedom…
October 4th, 2010 at 10:52 pmI will agree with ububba on Braves MVP, I think you could give it to Heyward, as far as hitters go, but Prado is where I would go. That’s why it hurt so much when he went down, but it really hurt when he stopped hitting after he got hurt. He was clearly gassed. I hope he gets a full season of health next year, he’s certainly worked his ass off to earn a starting job.
As Mac points out, Sandoval is fatter than Melky, but at least the Giants have enough sense to not play him in the outfield, let alone center field.
As we all know anything can happen, maybe a couple of hitters will get hot. Let’s take one on the road and take care of business at home. This year’s Braves certainly wouldn’t be the crappiest team of all time to win a series in the playoffs, but if they had to be seeded 1-8, of course they would be 8th.
I think two things have to happen for the Braves to win the series: getting the lead early and keeping it one of the two games on the road and keeping Torres (who doesn’t look healthy/comfortable to me at all since he’s been back, .161/.161/.357 with a sweet .518 OPS in Sept in 56ABs) and Fontenot/Sanchez off base at the top of the order.
I have watched a lot of Giants games in the second half, and I’m not really all that impressed with the bullpen. Romo and Wilson are legit, no doubt, but guys like Ramon Ramirez (0.68 ERA as a Giant), Javier Lopez are due to come back down to earth at some point.
I think it’s safe to say that without the Septembers of Lowe and Lee, the Braves are sitting at home, so maybe they both have a little ‘veteran October magic’ left. That’s the great thing (or head-slamming crazy) about October baseball, Youneverknow and even if the Braves don’t win this year, I’d sure as hell rather be playin than watchin.
October 4th, 2010 at 11:07 pm@52- What an awesome email adress. I am jealous.
October 4th, 2010 at 11:41 pma “friend”(someone whom I enjoy but will never really trust because they root for the phillies) claimed that Halladay was the second pitcher in history, after Cy Young to twice have 200IP+ with fewer walks than starts. I did a little research (Man do I miss MadDog):
Greg Maddux did it FIVE times,
1995 – 209IP 28GS 23BB
1996 – 245IP 35GS 28BB
1997 – 232IP 33GS 20BB
2001 – 233IP 34GS 27BB
2003 – 218IP 36GS 33BB
In 2004 Maddux had as many walks as starts (33) in 212IP and in 2007 he issued 25BB in over 34 starts over “only” 198IP.
October 5th, 2010 at 12:25 amAm I the only one that secretly hopes the Mets will bring back Bobby Valentine in some capacity?
October 5th, 2010 at 1:26 amNope, a lot of Mets fans actually want him to return as manager.
October 5th, 2010 at 1:38 amI don’t want Valentine anywhere near the division. If he manages the Mets next year, they might actually have a winning record, and I don’t want to have to deal with that.
October 5th, 2010 at 1:46 am@59 Valentine is actually a pretty decent manager. Why would you want that?
October 5th, 2010 at 4:34 am@58, I think your friend misquoted from a Verducci story on his awards picks:
“Halladay (2003, 2010) joined Cy Young himself (1904, 1905) as the other pitchers to twice have more starts than walks while striking out 200 batters.”
FWIW, Verducci picks Heyward over Posey for ROY
October 5th, 2010 at 6:34 am@54
October 5th, 2010 at 6:49 amMohawk!
You have to, it’s practically an ill omen for our team if you don’t.
Melky Cabrera right now has more votes for Braves MVP on the poll here than Johnny Venters.
October 5th, 2010 at 7:13 amSpike, that’s the coolest. I caught Jason & the Scorchers here in Arlington VA, and they’re as great as ever — Warner Hodges is, like, a golden god. And the Fleshtones are so freaking great; I’m so annoyed I’m going to miss them when they’re in DC with Southern Culture on the Skids. Have a blast, dude.
Mac, may I suggest The Dice?
October 5th, 2010 at 7:39 amBraves are 6-1 when I wear the lucky shirt. Safe to say it is going to see a lot of action in the coming days.
October 5th, 2010 at 7:59 amLucky shirt + treadmill = World Series title?
I wish I could grow a mohawk.
October 5th, 2010 at 8:04 amBethany, you’re our Charles Victory Faust!
October 5th, 2010 at 8:07 ami wich for once that the braves would say “screw loyalty” and go with the best 25 men they have. that would mean that melky and farnsworthless would be left at home while martinez and freeman would get the last 2 roster spots. this is obviously not going to happen.
October 5th, 2010 at 8:14 amDon’t think it has anything to do with loyalty, just a lack of trust in “less proven” players.
October 5th, 2010 at 8:17 am@54, good for you Mac, please return your club jacket and membership pass to the bald brotherhood at the door though (depending on how short you go)
October 5th, 2010 at 8:24 amYeah, for better or for worse, I don’t think you’re going to see Bobby Cox deviate from his extremely well-established norms. On the other hand, I have some hopes that you’re going to see a little more fire in the bellies of some of the players to win one more for Bobby, and counteract some of the usual “one game at a time” malaise. I want to put the Giants in the hurt locker, stomp all over their hopes and dreams, and make Peter Magowan cry.
October 5th, 2010 at 8:25 am@70, While I agree that I’d rather not see Farnsworth on the postseason roster, and I think there are better pitching options, I really don’t know if there are better options than Melky. I doubt the Braves are going to carry 5 OF, especially with Hinske able to play in left. With Heyward a lock, they have to pick three of McLouth, Melky, Ankiel, and Diaz. I don’t know if Ankiel is better than Melky. Neither are great options, but it’s kind of a toss up. I would not fault the Braves for including him in the first round 25-man.
October 5th, 2010 at 8:37 amAAR,
I spent some of this afternoon over at The Good Phight. I’d rather not engage in any stomping of hopes and dreams after that experience.
October 5th, 2010 at 8:44 amYou’re a better — or at least more prudent — man than I, billy-jay.
Hey, this is cool: SI conducted a poll of 284 players and asked them which team they’d most like to play for, besides their own.
The plurality picked the Braves.
Atlanta Braves 14%
New York Yankees 11%
Boston Red Sox 10%
Los Angeles Angels 8%
Chicago Cubs 7%
The text at the bottom of the poll reads: “Winning matters: Each of the top seven vote-getting teams has reached the playoffs at least once in the past three years… Location matters more: Outside of Chicago, the Midwest received little love. Cincinnati, Cleveland, Detroit, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Minnesota, and St. Louis received a combined 9% of the vote… And money conquers all: The three biggest spenders in ’10 (NYY, BOS and CHC) accounted for a quarter of all votes.
October 5th, 2010 at 8:48 amHudson
Hanson
Lowe
Beachy/Jurrjens
Wagner
Saito
Venters
Moylan
Kimbrel
Dunn
Martinez/Beachy
McCann
Ross
Boscan
Lee
Hinske
Glaus
Conrad
Gonzalez
Hernandez
Infante
Diaz
McLouth
Ankiel
Heyward
That’s my best guess, depending on Jurrjens’ health. If it were up to me, they’d only have 10 pitchers, and Melky would make it, too, but I know they won’t do that.
I don’t think Melky makes the roster unless Cox decides to go with only 2 catchers. And I don’t think he’ll do that.
EDIT: Hmm, I forgot about Freeman. I don’t think he makes it over any of the above — nor should he — but I’d probably take him before taking Melky.
October 5th, 2010 at 8:49 amHeyward is a lock, Diaz and Hinske are our two best PH options now, they are a lock. There really is no point in carrying Nate, Melky, and Ankiel. Pick two of these scrubs. Ill take Ankiel just because of his strong arm in CF and he wont kill you batting 8th.
Freeman really needs to be on the team just in case something happens with Lee. Glaus hasnt played the field in a month, but I want his bat on the bench also
Id rather have a good backup 1B over a 3rd catcher
October 5th, 2010 at 8:50 amFreeman looks like a hump, acts like a hump, sittin’ there, playing with his toy furniture. But he’s a natural first baseman.
October 5th, 2010 at 8:58 am@76,
AAR, I wonder if that will change after Bobby leaves. All the players seemed to want to play for him (not as much as they want to get paid, of course) and I doubt Freddi Gonzalez will have the same pull. I’m surprised about St. Louis because I always hear how players love playing there. And, let’s face it, if you’re making a gazillion dollars, you can always find a nice place to live. Of course, the players are probably concerned about the quality of the schools.
BTW, I saw that Albert Pulols hit for his lowest B.A. this year at .312. That’s absurd. He’s obviously on the downside of his career so the Cardinals would probably be willing to give him up cheap, right?
And then sign Jason Werth (in order to increase the Jason quotient on the the team). Ok, Wren, if you are such a good GM, make it happen! (Note, sarcasm).
October 5th, 2010 at 9:02 am78—Well, if we had a manager who would play the second of two catchers, I’d agree with you. But carrying a third catcher means freeing Ross to pinch-hit. I think that’s more valuable than having Freeman as a pinch-hitter. (I trust Ross more, and he’s right-handed.)
Also, we presumably already have two other back-up first-basemen in Hinske and Glaus. You’re strictly talking about pinch-hitting.
October 5th, 2010 at 9:03 amForgot about Hinske playing 1st, good point. I was just thinking about how awful our defense would be with Glaus/Conrad/AAG/Infante and Melky/Nate in LF.
Ross/Diaz/Glaus does give us some bench power RH
October 5th, 2010 at 9:08 amWe can get by with only three starting pitchers in this round. Lowe can pitch game 4 on a three day rest, and Huddy will pitch on the normal four day rest if there is a game 5. I think that’s what Bobby will do.
October 5th, 2010 at 9:11 amI think Beachy will get a spot in the pen, I dont think there is any chance he starts game 4. Also, I really hope Farnsworth doesnt have the opportunity to blow more games for us.
October 5th, 2010 at 9:19 amAAR,
If I had any sense I wouldn’t have waded into that cesspool to begin with.
October 5th, 2010 at 9:19 amI’d say Stu is right on. I would carry Boscan so I could use Ross to hit. Though, I fear, the last spot will come down to Ainkel and McClouth. We know Hinske is in, so what is the point of having three left handed outfielders? I think Melky bumps McLouth and Freeman might bump Boscan. But Freeman would probably bump McLouth too.
So I think McLouth is the odd man out.
October 5th, 2010 at 9:33 amI think McLouth is, by far, the most likely of the Suck Trinity to make the roster. He’s is a good baserunner and has been playing pretty much everyday, recently. He’s in.
October 5th, 2010 at 9:42 amI think Bobby will be very aggressive in this postseason. He would only carry two catchers and he would use Ross for pinch hitter when the situation calls for itself.
October 5th, 2010 at 9:55 am@68, I rocked a mohawk back in ’82 while at the Loveliest Village.
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-ash1/v645/185/49/1425784141/n1425784141_30195284_9186.jpg
Now, sadly, I can only manage a reverse one.
October 5th, 2010 at 10:09 am@79 – Excellent Wire reference there. Very nice.
October 5th, 2010 at 10:10 am#89
October 5th, 2010 at 10:16 amNo punk like an Auburn punk. There was only a handful back then.
@89:
When it was ’82, it was a very good year.
October 5th, 2010 at 10:17 am“It was a very good year for buying my booze
October 5th, 2010 at 10:19 amWith a fake ID
That said I was twenty three –
My name was Willie Magee
When I was seventeen….”
@89, I had a mohawk for one class period back in fall of ’92… and as it was at an SDA boarding academy (High-school) it only lasted through biology class before they called me into the office to tell me to cut it off. After my hair grew back (and I graduated) I had a long mohawk I just never had “up”… was too much work to get it to stick up. It lasted for less than a year though. In ’95 when I was headed over to the UK for my sister’s college graduation I shaved it off and haven’t had hair longer than 1/2″ since then (originally it was choice… but quickly, and expectedly, I too went the way of “reverse” as my only option).
October 5th, 2010 at 10:20 amI think Bobby will manage this post-season the same way he’s managed baseball games for 30 years.
October 5th, 2010 at 10:26 amMan, I love this place.
October 5th, 2010 at 10:28 am@94, Egg whites and Knox unflavored gelatin. Mine got pretty long for a while – Dyed it with an American flag design for the Rock against Reagan in DC – when I woke up the next morning, it looked like a DeKooning.
October 5th, 2010 at 10:29 am@91 – two, to be precise. We used to catch a lot of grief, and that was when the going was easy.
October 5th, 2010 at 10:31 amWhat do they call that flat mohawk look? I think Mac should rock that just because he can.
————-
Is it just me? Why in the world would we start anyone but Diaz in left when our options appear to be Melky or McLouth? Hinske, maybe (if he has good stats against the Giants righties).
————-
Gregor Blanco would look good on this playoff roster. We have no one with his skill set and it might come in handy.
October 5th, 2010 at 10:41 amI’m afraid the Braves’ defense will really haunt them in the playoffs. It hasn’t been great all year, but it’s worse now, and in a series where runs are likely to be at a premium, I think defense could be decisive.
October 5th, 2010 at 10:53 amreally cool poll from 284 players about what other team would they like to play for….
October 5th, 2010 at 11:02 amhttp://www.talkingchop.com/2010/10/5/1731768/braves-are-the-envy-of-opposing-players
76 & 101—Not surprising, but I wonder how much the results would change if players were re-polled just next year, post-Bobby.
October 5th, 2010 at 11:12 amI could probably make the case against (inexperience, star players are not often good managers, etc.), but can anyone make the case that any of the available managerial candidates would be better than Chipper?
October 5th, 2010 at 11:37 am@103
How many pro gmaes has he managed? How many line up card has he filled out?
I’m not saying he couldn’t do it and I am sure he has seen things Bobby has done, but I would want to send him to the minors to manage for a while first. Let him see the game from that view point, then maybe become a bench coach before a manager.
While he is a smart hitter, but I have read some of his quotes and I will go out on a limb to say there are a lot of people on this board who would hate some of the moves he would make and some to the batting orders he might trot out there.
There is a reason there aren’t player managers anymore.
So, as of today, I’ll take Freddi over Chipper
October 5th, 2010 at 11:54 amGame time for Sunday’s Game 3 Braves-Giants at Turner Field will be 4:37 p.m. Game 4 if necessary, Mon at 8:37 p.m. Game 5 Wed in SF 9:37 pm
October 5th, 2010 at 12:04 pm@89
I assume from the Rock Against Reagan reference that you were/are into hardcore. Who’d you get to see while you were in Alabama?
October 5th, 2010 at 12:12 pm#103, Chipper has said he doesn’t want to manage. He wants to take 2 or 3 years out and become a hitting coach.
October 5th, 2010 at 12:26 pmFor what it’s worth, I’m still plenty bald up top. Kind of a Ben Franklin effect, only my hair’s still brown.
October 5th, 2010 at 12:30 pmMan, I love this place.
Seconded.
Ryan at #101, I posted that poll at #76. So this blog technically scooped Talking Chop
October 5th, 2010 at 12:31 pmOh, and Chipper won Bill James Online’s “Brooks Robinson Tournament”, which isn’t surprising because he was by far the best hitter in there. Chipper’s one of the five best third basemen ever; the only question is his location among the five.
October 5th, 2010 at 12:31 pmDOB tweets that Cox won’t carry three catchers. So, it comes down to Melky and Freddie…
October 5th, 2010 at 12:37 pmI can’t believe people thought we were going to carry Boscan or whatever his name is. Cox has gone with two catchers before. The idea that Melky won’t make the team after playing all year is similarly bizarre.
McCann, Ross, Lee, Glaus, Infante, New Guy, Conrad, Diory, Hinske, Diaz, Melky, McLouth, Ankiel, Heyward
Lowe, Hudson, Hanson, JJ, Dunn, Moylan, Venters, Kimbrel, Saito, Farnsworth, Wagner
October 5th, 2010 at 12:45 pm@110
October 5th, 2010 at 12:48 pmi think it’s more complicated than that and i dont think melky is in the “ifs” at all.
@111
robert rarely does this happen, but i regretfully agree with you. i think freeman’s going to be left off, but not because of melky.
however, i dont see the braves carrying jj in this first series.
edit: DOB tweeted that it will be beachy, not jj, to fill the #4 spot.
October 5th, 2010 at 12:50 pm110—Well, if Melky isn’t an “if,” I’m betting it’s not very complicated, at all. Melky’s pretty clearly the last choice among the outfielders.
October 5th, 2010 at 12:51 pmjj, kk, lisp or beachy, and freeman wont make the 25 man
Bobby loves post season experience type guys. Melky and Farnsworth will make the team
October 5th, 2010 at 12:52 pmBTW, do we expect a sellout for the Sunday game? A 4:30 game on Sunday should be an easier draw than 4:30 during the week, I assume.
October 5th, 2010 at 12:52 pm25 Roster – Thoughts?
October 5th, 2010 at 12:54 pmNo Position Name Status
1 Pitchers Kyle Farnsworth Definite
2 Pitchers Tommy Hanson Definite
3 Pitchers Tim Hudson Definite
4 Pitchers Derek Lowe Definite
5 Pitchers Peter Moylan Definite
6 Pitchers Jonny Venters Definite
7 Pitchers Billy Wagner Definite
8 Catchers Brian McCann Definite
9 Catchers David Ross Definite
10 Infielders Brooks Conrad Definite
11 Infielders Alex Gonzalez Definite
12 Infielders Omar Infante Definite
13 Infielders Derrek Lee Definite
14 Outfielders Rick Ankiel Definite
15 Outfielders Melky Cabrera Definite
16 Outfielders Matt Diaz Definite
17 Outfielders Jason Heyward Definite
18 Outfielders Eric Hinske Definite
19 Outfielders Nate McLouth Definite
20 Pitchers Brandon Beachy Probable
21 Pitchers Michael Dunn Probable
22 Pitchers Craig Kimbrel Probable
23 Pitchers Mike Minor Probable
24 Infielders Freddie Freeman Questionable
25 Pitchers Cristhian Martinez Questionable
26 Pitchers Jair Jurrjens Questionable
27 Pitchers Scott Proctor Questionable
28 Pitchers Takashi Saito Questionable
29 Infielders Troy Glaus Questionable
30 Infielders Diory Hernandez Questionable
31 Pitchers Kenshin Kawakami Doubtful
32 Pitchers Eric O’Flaherty Doubtful
33 Catchers J.C. Boscan Doubtful
@115, I would guess Beachy’s slot comes down to how healthy Jurrjens is. I would just label one roster slot the Jurrjens/Beachy slot for the #4 starter. I would think that they need a number 4 in case Lowe works deep on Thursday and can’t work on short rest.
In fact, that’s probably why they haven’t announced the roster yet. They want to see if Jurrjens is healthy.
October 5th, 2010 at 1:00 pmDOB already said Jurrjens won’t make this roster. Beachy’s in. Assuming O’Failurety is still dizzy, I think the only question among pitchers is Martinez vs. Farnsworth.
October 5th, 2010 at 1:01 pm@117, Diory is definitely in, regrettably. He is the only backup MI.
October 5th, 2010 at 1:04 pmI thought about that after the post – You are right Spike. You have to keep Diory at expense of one of the OFs. I do not recall watching Diory take a glove this year, could he play 1B in emergency? McClouth and Ankiel are the same. One of those guys has to go. My bet is Nate is off the roster.
October 5th, 2010 at 1:11 pmNate can run. He’s been playing everyday and has shown at least a little bit, once or twice. Peanut has also been talking about what a “great fit” McLouth, with his running, would be on the postseason roster for well over a month, even before he was playing everyday.
Ankiel is obviously Bobby’s favorite defensive player of the Suck Trinity.
I don’t think there’s any chance that either is left off the roster.
October 5th, 2010 at 1:13 pm@122, Ankiel and McLouth are both Lefties, and Melky’s a switch hitter. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Melky. Sanchez is a lefty, and Bobby’s probably going to start Melky and Diaz in that game.
October 5th, 2010 at 1:17 pmWell, I’m not going to be surprised to see Melky, either, but I’d be surprised to see him on the roster instead of the other two.
Which is not to say that, if I were making the roster, I wouldn’t include him. I’d probably drop Ankiel, of those three.
October 5th, 2010 at 1:20 pmI’m about to own this roster thing:
Hudson
Hanson
Lowe
Wagner
Venters
Moylan
Kimbrel
Farnsworth
Dunn
Minor
Beachy
Infante
Lee
Conrad
Gonzo
Glaus
Hernandez
McCann
Ross
Heyward
Diaz
Hinske
Ankiel
Melky
McLouth
If he goes with 3 catchers (which he won’t) either Minor or Beachy will be off. The only other change to the above might be Martinez over Minor or Beachy. That one’s 50/50 in my mind.
You may not want to belive this, but Melkey, McLouth and Ankiel are all on the roster. It’s true. Start dealing with that reality now. The same goes for Farnsworth and Glaus. We all know those guys all suck, but Bobby has obivously shown that he thinks they add to the team by his constant playing them.
I don’t see Freeman making the roster. He had a poor September in a limited role and there are too many 1st base options to justify putting that kind of pressure on him.
I hope you enjoyed the education and enlighenment.
October 5th, 2010 at 1:32 pmNo way Minor makes the roster. He’s been bad, he’s publicly taked about how tired he is, Cox has acknowledged that he’s looked tired, we don’t have a desperate need for another lefty, etc. They’ll rightly shut him down.
October 5th, 2010 at 1:34 pmI think Melky makes it over Freeman because of his switch hittingness. Hinske and Diaz can both play first.
October 5th, 2010 at 1:37 pmTIM HUDSON NL Comeback Player of the Year.
October 5th, 2010 at 1:39 pmI’m seeing tweets to that effect, but nobody’s posted a news story saying Hudson won.
October 5th, 2010 at 1:44 pmWhy are people arguing for Freeman on the postseason roster? I like the kid as much as anyone, but he’s not hit much since the call up and that spot would be better used by a more versatile defender, in my opinion.
October 5th, 2010 at 1:49 pmDOB says that Saito won’t be on the postseason roster.
October 5th, 2010 at 1:53 pm@127- There’s no way Melky doesn’t make it. He has the 2nd most at bats of all the outfielders. However, he does lead the team in cheeseburgers eaten, outfield mistakes, and dreams shattered.
October 5th, 2010 at 1:53 pmDana Demuth, Paul Nauert, Paul Emmel, Mike Winters, Jerry Layne, and Ed Hickox assigned to our series.
October 5th, 2010 at 1:54 pm132—Well, then … Hello, Farnsworthless! And a big role for Kimbrel.
October 5th, 2010 at 1:54 pmMan, that sucks about Saito…
Also, watch the first video, and look at Heyward about 3 minutes in http://www.talkingchop.com/2010/10/4/1729724/braves-celebration-time#storyjump
He has muscles on muscles.
October 5th, 2010 at 1:55 pmI love this exchange on Twitter:
CapitolAvenue: The CEO of Liberty Media, the company that owns the Atlanta Braves–Gregory Maffei–was paid $87.5 million last year. — http://is.gd/fMvN5
CapitolAvenue: Thatsa lotsa money.
fauxfrankwren: @CapitolAvenue He paid himself our team’s payroll. Let’s hope he pays himself 100m next year.
October 5th, 2010 at 1:58 pm“Stories of corruption, crime and killing:” 5 Drive-By Truckers songs that would make great movies | Music | The A.V. Club Blog | The A.V. Club Milwaukee.
October 5th, 2010 at 1:58 pmHudson, Liriano win 2010 MLB Comeback Player of the Year Awards | MLB.com: Official Info.
October 5th, 2010 at 2:01 pmGranted, the roster list above is not the roster I want to see in the post season. But, I am an objective, realilistc Braves fan who can’t spell and is too lazy to use spell check.
If I were manager, I would go back in time and trade Melky to San Fran. I would even throw in a top prospect to sweeten the pot. Then I would hire goons to kidnap Bruce Bochey’s daughter and force Bochey to play Melky in centerfield every game of the series.
After that, I would hire the same goons to break Roy Holliday’s kneecaps and put a beehive in the Philly’s locker room.
October 5th, 2010 at 2:04 pm@120
October 5th, 2010 at 2:07 pmi understand the mindset, but with infante and brooks being interchangeable and infante’s ability to play short, is there any real reason to have diory on the team? i mean, if brooks gets hurt, move infante to 2nd and hinske/glaus to 3rd. if aag gets hurt, move infante to short and hinske/glaus to 3rd.
This is apropos of nothing, but I would love it if there were another player with the nickname “Cha Cha.” How about Cha Cha Freeman?
October 5th, 2010 at 2:10 pmryan c. at 141,
Do you really want to see the defense if Infante got hurt?
Also, late inning / extra inning double switches?
Despite the shortcomings, Diory should probably be on the roster.
The killer decision was having 11 active pitchers on 8 / 31. All you need is 3 starters and 1 long man and 6 relievers: 10.
October 5th, 2010 at 2:10 pm137—He also appears to be a very tender, caring hugger.
Best part of that video, IMO, is when an already-drunk Melky wanders by at around 2:35.
EDIT: DOB says that neither Freeman nor Minor will be on the postseason roster. With Saito and Jurrjens also being out, that pretty much settles it, right?
October 5th, 2010 at 2:12 pmMinor and Freeman aren’t making the trip, per DOB.
October 5th, 2010 at 2:14 pmRotation:
Lowe
Hanson
Hudson
Bullpen:
Wagner
Kimbrel
Venters
Moylan
Dunn
Farnsworth
Martinez
Beachy
Lineup:
Infante
Heyward
McCann
Lee
Conrad
McLouth
Gonzalez
Ankiel
Bench:
Ross
Diaz
Hinske
Glaus
Melky
Hernandez
That line-up is so bad.
October 5th, 2010 at 2:18 pmStu: That’s only 24 players. Add the lisp to the bullpen and you’ll have it.
October 5th, 2010 at 2:20 pmWhoops, fixed. Had him in there, originally, not sure what happened.
Fine top 3 starters, nice bullpen, nice bench … seriously awful line-up. Maybe Bobby will start Hinske in left again? Infante/Heyward/McCann/Lee/Hinske/Conrad/Gonzalez/McLouth is about the best we could hope for.
The Giants should really throw only Sanchez, Bumgarner, and Zito, and just rest Lincecum and Cain for the NLCS.
October 5th, 2010 at 2:24 pm#138
Thanks, really cool idea there.
And “Let There Be Rock” would make a great flashback episode for a yet-to-be-produced HBO series about the post-Dazed & Confused generation. For good or ill, it’s the story of many lives. (Thanks, url.)
http://tinyurl.com/27zkaow
October 5th, 2010 at 2:28 pmYou never know, mabye there will be a major earthquake and all the games will have to be played in the ATL.
October 5th, 2010 at 2:31 pmAww, too bad about Freeman. Oh well. Kid’ll have more postseason opportunities in his future.
October 5th, 2010 at 2:42 pmDOB – Jurrjens is pitching tonight in Fla. in instructional league. Could be added to roster but more likely Braves wouldn’t go to him until NLCS
October 5th, 2010 at 2:47 pmMatt Murton, who I always thought would be a good fit here, just reached his 211th hit this season in Japan. He broke Ichiro’s record, in more games though
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=5650587
October 5th, 2010 at 2:54 pmYeah, I never understood why we didn’t take a flier on Murton, but we certainly weren’t the only ones. Never understood why.
October 5th, 2010 at 2:55 pm@142: One of my favorite stories on the ’66 Braves wasn’t Cha Cha, but close — Chi Chi Olivo. When he just missed making the team in 1967, manager Bobby Bragan told him: “Don’t worry, you’ll be back.” The infinitely wise Chi Chi (correctly) reported to the media: “THey say I be back, but I no come back.”
October 5th, 2010 at 3:04 pmDo they wear their Sunday red jerseys in the playoffs? I’d rather see them in their normal home jerseys.
October 5th, 2010 at 3:09 pm@156
Yep, they will
October 5th, 2010 at 3:20 pmNooooooooo!
October 5th, 2010 at 3:26 pmI know. I hate the tomato jerseys, too. I don’t know why they don’t hire someone to redesign them. They’re absolutely horrible, and if Project Runway has taught us anything, it’s that there are countless talented, starving clothing designers in this country who would do excellent work cheaply.
October 5th, 2010 at 3:32 pmIt is a way to pimp jersey sales.
They wore them in game one of the last NLDS they were in and then went back to the white ones for game two. If I remember right.
Edit: That was at home though, I like the red jerseys though, not as much as the blue ones.
The thing I can’t stand is the all blue hat with the gray jerseys. They don’t match.
They were awfully good in the red jerseys this year.
October 5th, 2010 at 3:34 pmBraves went 10-3 on Sunday this season.
October 5th, 2010 at 3:37 pmThere have been worse uniforms.
October 5th, 2010 at 3:40 pmI really hope Bobby comes to his senses and goes back to the Hinske/Diaz platoon in LF. It’s really the only way to get offense from that position right now, and I haven’t seen any defensive deficiency from those 2 compared to Melky/Nate.
Ankiel is really the only guy we can trust to make every routine play in center, so I would choose him over Nate/Melky in CF.
October 5th, 2010 at 3:59 pmThat’s awesome. I wonder what current iconography will have horrible associations in the future.
“Yes, son, NFL players used to wear pink ribbons on their uniforms. Back then, it was meant to symbolize breast cancer awareness. We had no idea the French Canadian National Party would later use it during their genocide.”
October 5th, 2010 at 4:01 pmHate all the alt-jerseys, too.
The blue ones look like batting-practice unis. The red ones should be relegated to spring training.
October 5th, 2010 at 4:01 pm“He doesn’t believe in jinxes, good or bad omens, rabbits’ feet, swastika signs, or all that ancient baseball lore.”
October 5th, 2010 at 4:02 pmI hope none of the Miracle Braves took it to heart and got a tattoo commemorating the good luck cap that spurred their legendary comeback. That would be awkward later in life.
October 5th, 2010 at 4:04 pmAh yes, the Nazi Braves of 1915.
October 5th, 2010 at 4:14 pmIf Bobby starts Ankiel and McLouth at the same time it will prove he is senile.
And Melky in that funky outfield? He’ll throw one into the bay.
Diaz (or Hinske) in LF and Ankiel in CF at least gives us a chance. McLouth and Melky have no business on the field. Are we supposed to act like we haven’t witnessed their performances this year?
Is George Orwell coaching this team?
October 5th, 2010 at 4:28 pmYes, George Orwell is coaching this team. That’s why Chip Caray is impossible to turn off.
October 5th, 2010 at 4:42 pmWe have always been at wart with WestCoastia.
October 5th, 2010 at 5:02 pm@170, nice.
October 5th, 2010 at 5:02 pm“Today, we celebrate the first glorious anniversary of the Information Purification Directives. We have created for the first time in all history, a garden of pure ideology. Where each worker may bloom secure from the pests of contradictory and confusing truths. Our Unification of Thoughts is more powerful a weapon than any fleet or army on earth. We are one people, with one will, one resolve, one cause. Our enemies shall talk themselves to death and we will bury them with their own confusion. We shall prevail!”
October 5th, 2010 at 5:30 pm“You will be hollow. We shall squeeze you empty and then we shall fill you with ourselves.” 1984
“All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others” Animal Farm.
October 5th, 2010 at 5:33 pm“A family with the wrong members in control; that, perhaps, is as near as one can come to describing
October 5th, 2010 at 5:36 pmEnglandthe New York Mets in a phrase.”Dammit, hurry up, Thursday.
October 5th, 2010 at 5:55 pmDiaz (or Hinske) in LF and Ankiel in CF at least gives us a chance. McLouth and Melky have no business on the field. Are we supposed to act like we haven’t witnessed their performances this year?
You seem a little more impressed by Rick’s .210/.324/.328 than I was. Against RHP I would go with Hinske/McLouth, LHP Diaz/Melky.
Talking to a friend from work who’s a Giant fan today. He predicts that this series will have a World Cup feel to it. In that a 1-0 margin will feel insurmountable for either side.
October 5th, 2010 at 6:58 pmI would no sooner let Melky play centerfield than I would invite him to Thanksgiving dinner with an eight-pound turkey.
October 5th, 2010 at 7:31 pmThat’s funny Mac.
Chipper just sent me an email and asked me to buy playoff tickets, so I did.
October 5th, 2010 at 7:44 pmI’m pulling for “Melk-tober!”
October 5th, 2010 at 7:50 pmIf everything works out, I’ll have 3 division-series games in 3 days—one in The Bronx, 2 in Atlanta.
That is, of course, unless we sweep.
October 5th, 2010 at 7:51 pmI just watched the 30 for 30 about the time the Yankees choked. It’s still cool.
October 5th, 2010 at 7:57 pmBobby has to win Manager of the year, right?
October 5th, 2010 at 8:35 pmDefense is critical in this series, Bobby has to start the best defensive outfielders which I personally think should be Diaz and Ankiel right now.
October 5th, 2010 at 8:47 pm@184
Especially in that canyon…I mean park.
October 5th, 2010 at 8:56 pmThey’ll give it to Ron Washington because he admitted to snorting that blow and then won the division this year.
October 5th, 2010 at 8:57 pmRon Washington might win the AL MOY, but I don’t think that he has a chance at NL MOY. I think that you have to go with Bud Black in the NL.
October 5th, 2010 at 9:06 pmI think you have to start Ankiel in CF vs the RHP. He occasionally gets into one against those guys, and he’s far and away the better defensive option. Melky in CF is just frightening.
October 5th, 2010 at 9:11 pmIf Lowe or Hudson are on the mound and the Giants start a lefty (of which they have plenty), you have to go with Melky in center. We have enough trouble scoring runs without just giving away three outs with one of the lefties in center.
October 5th, 2010 at 9:19 pmNew thread.
October 5th, 2010 at 9:47 pm