13 Apr
Finally a home game thread: April 13, Brewers at Braves
Don’t most teams get a game at home in one of the first two series?
Braves News (Official)- Braves News (AJC)
- Atlanta Braves: Sizzling Freeman doing his best Kelly Leak
- Atlanta Braves: Braves scoring, winning despite leadoff deficiency
- Atlanta Braves: After 2 months of struggling, B.J.'s got it going
- Atlanta Braves: Braves' Gattis keeps making it look easy
- Atlanta Braves: Much ado about bats, but Braves' pitching has been key
Cleveland just got Johnny Damon, who last year put up an OPS+ higher than any outfielder wearing an Atlanta uniform in 2011, for one year, $1.25 million.
Or as the Braves call that, “Livan and Durbin money.”
April 13th, 2012 at 1:04 pm“Livan and Durbin money”–thats pretty good and the reality if quite sad. Its even worse that it happens when Atlanta has a surplus of young pitchers who could get experience, make contributions and possibly raise their market values….
April 13th, 2012 at 1:08 pmI like to call it “less than what we are paying Matt Diaz”.
April 13th, 2012 at 1:30 pmIt is truly an awful thing that we are employing Livan, Durbin, and Diaz. That said, Johnny Damon wasn’t a good fit for us, anyway. He’s lefthanded, can’t play CF anymore, and isn’t going to carry us to a division title in the event Prado and/or Heyward repeats 2011. And I’m sure he wants to be a starter so he can get to 3000 hits.
April 13th, 2012 at 1:42 pmI feel there’s a lot more things to worry about than whether or not we got Johnny Damon to play LF for us.
And how does Damon address the Braves’ seeming need for a RH power hitting middle of the order bat anyway?
April 13th, 2012 at 1:47 pmAlso, read on Jayson Stark’s ESPN column that the Rays have “been diligently following Braves catching prospect Christian Bethancourt.”
If the Rays want him that’s good enough for me that we need to pull an Orioles on them and make ridiculous demands – Longoria AND Hellickson maybe?
April 13th, 2012 at 1:48 pmThe only way we should trade Betancourt is if we got something ‘ridiculous’ in return….
April 13th, 2012 at 1:52 pmBourn
April 13th, 2012 at 2:09 pmPrado
Jones
McCann
Uggla
Freeman
Heyward
Pastornicky
Hanson
@6, Stu’s big chance to acquire Mikie Mahtook…
@4, Yeah. I thought I read that Damon has an out clause for when Grady Sizemore returns, but it seems like there’s some informal agreement that he’ll get traded if Sizemore can ever manage to stay healthy. I’m fine hoping for a bounceback from Prado as a starter.
April 13th, 2012 at 2:13 pmI would wager we’ll be seeing Betancourt as the starting catcher in Atlanta pretty soon.
April 13th, 2012 at 2:53 pmMy point is just that there are useful players to be had with your budget’s last 1-2 million, even recognizing the valid objections to Damon in particular. Our FO just seems habitually in favor of spending that slice of the budget on negative-utility players. It’s just annoying to watch competence bought for the same price.
April 13th, 2012 at 2:55 pmI have heard that the Braves actually use some form of advanced statistical analysis but it’s hard to see where.
April 13th, 2012 at 2:59 pmBourne has a .309 OBP as a Brave. Ugh.
April 13th, 2012 at 3:03 pmI think they do on defense.
April 13th, 2012 at 3:04 pmFor those of us who like to needlessly worry about the June draft here is a useful link:
http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/draft/2012/02/2012-aggregate-bonus-pools/
At this point, my prediction is that the Braves will avoid HS players and go with signable college players–even if their ceilings are much lower…..
April 13th, 2012 at 3:11 pmYes, their defensive analysis is pretty in-depth. It goes like this:
“Can he play (second/catcher/third)?”
“He hit 25 HR (last year/the year before/three years ago).”
“But can he play (second/catcher/third)?”
“He hit 25 HR (last year/the year before/three years ago).”
April 13th, 2012 at 3:12 pmChipper scratched? Needs his knee drained.
April 13th, 2012 at 4:13 pmI still have a cold, which I guess is actually a sinus infection. Anyway, I’m still in early-to-bed mode. I may stay up for the end of the game, but I will be dosed on too many things to write.
April 13th, 2012 at 5:03 pmMatt Cain is pretty good at pitching.
April 13th, 2012 at 6:12 pmWith Chipper scratched for his liquid knee, does that push Prado to third and Diaz to left?
April 13th, 2012 at 6:15 pmWho’s carring the game tonight?
April 13th, 2012 at 6:20 pmHey ya’ll, this is why we chop.
April 13th, 2012 at 6:31 pmfeel better, chipper and Mac.
I see the game on peachtree.
April 13th, 2012 at 6:34 pm@23, Not if you’re on Dish Network. Braves.com says it’s also on FSSO, but not at my house. This is bullshit.
April 13th, 2012 at 6:39 pmI like seeing Jair hitting 92 right away.
April 13th, 2012 at 6:40 pmWhere is KK when you need him??
April 13th, 2012 at 6:42 pmSo the infield grass was torn up and replaced, but the outfield remains the same. The effect is a two-town mess just beyond the infield dirt into the outfield. It would have made sense to replace it all, but that was probably beyond ownership’s budget, thus, there are probably 50 high-school fields in Georgia that look better than Turner Field.
April 13th, 2012 at 6:42 pm@24
April 13th, 2012 at 6:43 pmDoes Dish offer the MLB Extra Innings package? If so, they’ve got a free preview going right now and the Braves are on one of the channels.
Game may be on MLB network depending on your region.
edit: It is on MLB network in my region (NYC)
April 13th, 2012 at 6:43 pmnice start JJ.
April 13th, 2012 at 6:46 pmIt’s on MLB network here too. I’ve got the game on two channels.
April 13th, 2012 at 6:47 pmThat was the definition of a beam.
April 13th, 2012 at 6:56 pmWay to go BMAC!
April 13th, 2012 at 6:56 pmThanks for the tips, but no dice here.
April 13th, 2012 at 6:58 pm“@23, Not if you’re on Dish Network.”
Try channel 152.
April 13th, 2012 at 7:02 pmdrat
April 13th, 2012 at 7:04 pmAright, that’s hilarious.
April 13th, 2012 at 7:04 pmWTF?
April 13th, 2012 at 7:05 pmAGony, like Livan, still a Braves-killer.
April 13th, 2012 at 7:05 pmThat’s about right. That about sums up Braves fandom, right there.
April 13th, 2012 at 7:05 pmWell this has taken a turn.
April 13th, 2012 at 7:05 pmShould have traded JJ when he was on fire last year. Hindsight is 20/20.
April 13th, 2012 at 7:06 pmJj morphs into Marc redmann
April 13th, 2012 at 7:07 pmI’m surprised fredi lent hit Hayward 9th
April 13th, 2012 at 7:08 pmSo do they realize there is a game going on, or are we gonna talk about sandwiches?
April 13th, 2012 at 7:12 pmI’m not trying to be funny but that guy was HUGE!
April 13th, 2012 at 7:18 pmI hate Alex Gonzalez.
April 13th, 2012 at 7:24 pm@35, “Channel not available for viewing in your area.” Thanks anyway. It’s radio for me tonight, I guess.
/Go Braves!
April 13th, 2012 at 7:25 pmCamera shot: Bunch of empty seats.
Chip: Standing room only tonight, folks!
April 13th, 2012 at 7:36 pmCrawling our way back in it. We’ve barely missed two homers tonight.
April 13th, 2012 at 7:40 pmHindsight is 20/20.
It was foresight for many.
April 13th, 2012 at 7:47 pmR. Wolf caught stealing, pitcher to second
Brewers should know better than to try and tame a Wolf.
Reading this one on Gamecast, I don’t want to know what actually happened there.
April 13th, 2012 at 7:56 pmClassic Prado PA, right there.
April 13th, 2012 at 8:04 pmI am so, so thankful for Brian McCann.
April 13th, 2012 at 8:09 pmThat works!
April 13th, 2012 at 8:09 pmDing Ding Ding!
April 13th, 2012 at 8:09 pmEnjoy it while it lasts.
“Our organization has always been able to keep our players whom we wanted to keep. And our hope is that we’re going to keep Mac. We hope he’s here for a long time. But I’m pretty sure he and his agent read the papers and watch television. And they may even log onto the Internet now and then. So there are no guarantees.” – JS
April 13th, 2012 at 8:10 pmBrian McCann, best catcher in baseball.
April 13th, 2012 at 8:10 pmgod bless brian mccann
April 13th, 2012 at 8:11 pmWell, whadya know?
April 13th, 2012 at 8:11 pmWhat? What is this? What does it mean when the ball goes over the fence like that?
April 13th, 2012 at 8:11 pmLeave Wolf in, PLEASE!
April 13th, 2012 at 8:12 pmMan, these CGI effects are great – it looked *just* like Matt Diaz hit a HR.
April 13th, 2012 at 8:12 pmFirst homer since August, 2010. Nice timing, Matt.
April 13th, 2012 at 8:13 pmOn mlb gameday “Scout: Randy Wolf has thrown 92 pitches but has plenty left in the tank”
After giving up a triple, walk, homer, single, homer in that inning. I wonder where those updates come from.
April 13th, 2012 at 8:16 pmJim Fregosi.
April 13th, 2012 at 8:17 pmTomas – you forgot the next line:
April 13th, 2012 at 8:18 pm‘and he’s going to need it to drive back to his hotel ahead of the pitching coach.’
Chip is stunned Heyward was running on a 3-2, 2 out pitch.
April 13th, 2012 at 8:24 pmSo many runs. I haven’t felt this feeling in a while.
April 13th, 2012 at 8:25 pmYea I laughed pretty hard when Chip was like “And Heyward is running!”
April 13th, 2012 at 8:25 pmMaking two outs in one inning? That’s a case of beer by our softball team rules.
April 13th, 2012 at 8:25 pm“Making two outs in one inning? That’s a case of beer by our softball team rules.”
Not many hit into double plays?
April 13th, 2012 at 8:28 pmNo, we don’t fine for grounding into a double play. But you make two outs personally in an inning and you get a fine form, filled out by myself and the other manager.
April 13th, 2012 at 8:31 pmFredi is a chubby chaser.
April 13th, 2012 at 8:34 pmNow that it’s a Save Situation, i bet we’re gonna get O’Ventbreled
April 13th, 2012 at 8:36 pmAh, Jurrjens. Braves should have cashed in on him a couple years ago.
April 13th, 2012 at 8:37 pmI’m very grateful for these hard hitting discussion that Chip and Joe have on air. First sandwiches and now retired tony la russa
April 13th, 2012 at 8:38 pmYeah, why is Joe so pissed about this?
April 13th, 2012 at 8:40 pmMedlen the Fireman.
April 13th, 2012 at 8:49 pmMedlen is such a stud.
April 13th, 2012 at 8:52 pmPimpbot 16 is in full effect tonight.
April 13th, 2012 at 8:53 pmSo, that just happened.
April 13th, 2012 at 8:56 pmMcCann lookes like the Hamburgler, stealing that base.
April 13th, 2012 at 8:57 pmO’Grybo not really getting it done so far.
April 13th, 2012 at 9:06 pmGotta make this interesting, don’t we?
April 13th, 2012 at 9:07 pmO’Flaherty is catching a ton of the plate. We needed that DP!
April 13th, 2012 at 9:08 pmWasn’t apparent that O’Failurety didnt have it?
April 13th, 2012 at 9:08 pmYou have got to be kidding me.
April 13th, 2012 at 9:08 pmWell, the offense isn’t scoring any more runs. The bullpen better invent a time machine pretty quick, or this one’s a lost cause.
April 13th, 2012 at 9:09 pmHow many hanging sliders can EOF throw in one inning?
April 13th, 2012 at 9:09 pmHe hasn’t been right all spring. Gotta pull him fredi. He doesn’t have it
April 13th, 2012 at 9:09 pmGeez. Slider down the freakin’ pipe.
April 13th, 2012 at 9:10 pm86—What is Fredi supposed to do? Only your seventh-inning guy can pitch the seventh inning.
April 13th, 2012 at 9:10 pm@90
O’Flaherty pitches the 7th. It’s immutable.
April 13th, 2012 at 9:11 pmUnless Fredi has a serious say in his 25-man roster, I’m not putting this on him. He has a 5-man bullpen.
April 13th, 2012 at 9:12 pmO’Flaherty just ain’t the same pitcher so far… hope he gets it back.
Of course he did face a barrage of righties… Fredi might need to re-think his use. His rightie splits are atrocious.
April 13th, 2012 at 9:12 pmDon’t blame Fredi, blame the flowchart.
April 13th, 2012 at 9:16 pm@93. I was thinking he same thing. Like fredi is rifling through papers saying. Wait a minute. This is like auto pilot. Why do I do
April 13th, 2012 at 9:22 pmEarned runs given up by O’Flaherty:
2011: 8
2012: 4
Seventh game of the season, and he is already halfway to last year’s total.
April 13th, 2012 at 9:24 pmKeep doing that, Freddie.
April 13th, 2012 at 9:39 pmThere you go…
April 13th, 2012 at 9:42 pmFreeman looks a lot like Buzz McCallister.
April 13th, 2012 at 9:43 pm@101: http://totallylookslike.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/buzz-from-home-alone-totally-looks-like-freddie-freeman.jpg
April 13th, 2012 at 9:46 pmYay, we’re 3-4.
April 13th, 2012 at 10:01 pmHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOPE!
April 13th, 2012 at 10:02 pmGood gritty win to keep fighting back!
April 13th, 2012 at 10:03 pmDish Network, FWIW, carries all the Peachtree games on their sports alternate channels. It was on channel 447 tonight. Always check those sports alt channels. Mine are listed channels 444-454.
April 13th, 2012 at 10:13 pmHeyward is sportin’ a gaudy line in the early going.
April 13th, 2012 at 10:47 pmI have to say that Jason looks much better. He had a couple of nice at-bats. And, while I realize Keith Law doesn’t care much about speed, it sure is nice to have someone like Bourn able to fly around the bases. But the starting pitching is awful.
April 13th, 2012 at 10:48 pmI guess it’s always nice to see Randy Wolf.
Speaking of, ahem, beast mode… Brian McCann was 4 for 5, 4 RBI, incl. a 2B & HR, and his one out was a burning liner.
April 13th, 2012 at 10:56 pmGood win. I liked Jason’s Jasons out in the outfield with the hockey masks. Anyone know those guys? Think it was a Friday the 13th only thing, or will they be back? Even if they were planning to just do it once, lets get them back and add Freddy’s Freddys with the Kreuger masks / claws. Combined they can compete with the Chefs and Cans for best pun-themed fan group in Braves history.
April 13th, 2012 at 11:23 pmI feel compelled here to keep alive the memory of Marvin’s Free Men, of which ububba and I were members….
April 14th, 2012 at 5:53 amI too, recall that group, and felt like a spiritual member at the time, if not an active one.
April 14th, 2012 at 8:13 amFrom ububba…
“…a burning liner.”
Sounds like a urinary track infection.
April 14th, 2012 at 8:16 amRecap is up.
April 14th, 2012 at 10:33 am