Talking Chop

Who plays second, then?

Conrad

Kobe:The Legend - October 2, 2010 reply

Ummm.....

People are bitching about Conrad’s defense at 3B, and you want him to play 2B?

Yes.

Throws are shorter and Gonzalez can scream at him when he forgets what planet he’s on. There’s no problem with Conrad’s range or even his glovework. It’s when he gets the ball in his right hand that he’s on the verge of disaster.

Sam Jethroe - October 3, 2010 reply

Mark Lemke

with Fred McGriff at first!
or Heyward at second.

MBL1 - October 2, 2010 via mobile reply

glass half full – we’re tied for 1st
glass half empty – Diaz and Melky sit on a bench somewhere…

I don't care if it's half empty or half full

is anyone going to drink that?

MBL1 - October 2, 2010 via mobile reply

certainly not.

PhuckthePhillies - October 2, 2010 reply

What happens if Braves and San Diego win? Who would get the wild card? What if both lose, who gets it then?

I hate to do this but Bobby, why the HELL WOULD YOU LEAVE VENTERS IN?? He is struggling major!! Can’t believe this is actually happening!!!!!!!!!!!

They come here

For a one gamer on monday.

I both the neves and padres win then tomorrow then there’s a playoff game between the giants and pads to determine the nl west champion and then we play the loser in one game to determine the wild card winner.

If both the braves and the padres lose tomorrow we have a one game playoff with them.

epatl - October 2, 2010 via mobile reply

Neves = braves and scratch that first "then"

epatl - October 2, 2010 via mobile reply

If the Braves and Padres win, it will be SD vs. SF in a one game playoff to see who wins the division. The Braves would play the loser of that game to see who gets the wild card.

If they both lose, it would be a one game playoff for the wildcard, with the Padres coming to Turner field.

StapleGun - October 2, 2010 reply

Ah, yeah

That’s right. Sorry.

I’m a little discombobulated right now.

PhuckthePhillies - October 2, 2010 reply

Well I like those chances but THE BRAVES NEED TO WIN TOMORROW. Stop all this non sense, learn to hit and play some atlanta FUCKING Braves baseball tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

there was a fan losing his mind next to me at the game because of the decision to leave venters in…i was questioning it myself, but what the guy next to me failed to mention, conrad made a huge error…if that error doesn’t happen the game could’ve gone much differently…

Nothing is different...

WE DIDNT SCORE ANY RUNS!!!!

Nathan Lowery - October 3, 2010 reply

our team looks like we expected the phillies to let us roll over them and win

we have everything to play for and we play like that? embarrassing…make us forget it tomorrow boys…we need to do this…not even for bobby…just out of pride…

SouthernPanther - October 2, 2010 reply

its not over mr site manager. The offense comes and goes. but i sure wish we woulda taken one more from the natty lights

15ks - October 2, 2010 reply

Oh Bobby, I'm sorry the team couldn't muster up a win for you, today of all days.

NCChopper - October 2, 2010 reply

I feel like crying.

Scott Coleman - October 2, 2010 via mobile reply

Take comfort in knowing that Pendleton will be sleeping like a baby, tonite.

So will Cox

Like he has so many days before.

Have you figured out who your scapegoat is going to be next year? Could you give us a heads up? I’m breathless with anticipation.

I'm just saying, man.

It’s not any one person’s fault. Injury plays into alot of this. But still…

They should have made a change in that department (and cut loose McOu) 2 months ago. Nate is Bobby’s last Norton.

You've blamed Pendleton every single day of this season.

From the April slump up until five minutes ago.

I can tell you this much about Terry Pendleton: if he was the skipper of this team, we wouldn’t have a bunch of guys standing around with their thumbs up their asses. They always say Cox’s role model is Ralph Houk. It’s actually Chip, from Animal House.

lol

Next season, the scapegoat is Hickman, officially.

This would be a choke if we can't win tommorow

Magic Number of 2 and we face Kendrick and Worley? Who the hell is Worley? Apparently we can only muster 1 hit of him though

Now we got Hamels tommorow…shit

KINGSLYTUT - October 2, 2010 reply

Hamels is actually their one guy we could possibly beat. Provided we can score a run. So, lol..

if we win tomorrow, everything will be fine

AND if San Diego loses.

TonyAlmeyda - October 2, 2010 reply

*if we win tomorrow and the padres lose, everything will be fine

abraves - October 2, 2010 via mobile reply

Jonny Venters should NEVER pitch more than one inning. Forget the offense sucking big time, leaving Venters in to start the seventh was just a bad idea. Kimbrel pretty much shut the Phillies down once he entered and should’ve been the one to start the inning.

TonyAlmeyda - October 2, 2010 reply

absolutely correct

as much a venters has been used this year he is a one inning guy. that s/b an easy one. If its a tight game tomorrow – bet we see him again tomorrow. Offensively we suck. think we see Mclousy tomorrow? dont see us going deep into the playoffs even if we get there.

Four of the guys who started today...

Should not be starting for any major league team. Namely Infante, Conrad, McLouth, and Ankiel. And it’s only Lee’s recent hotness and the fact that Gonzalez is an ok-fielding SS that keeps it from being six replacement level killers.

When you start a lineup that’s half full of AAA-level hitters, you will not beat good teams.

Because Infante has done absolutely nothing this year.

MBL1 - October 2, 2010 via mobile reply

yeah. Infante shouldn’t have been included in that. He had an off-day. He’s hitting over .300.

No, he had an on-couple-of-months

And now he’s slumping hard. I’m not saying his true talent level is his execrable last couple weeks, but what I’m saying is that he has no secondary skills and was never as good as he seemed when he was getting all sorts of batted-ball luck. He should not be starting.

We're injured. What are you gonna do?

He’s an All-Star, and he’s hitting over .300 in October. I get your whole thing. My hat still goes off to Infante.

Maybe if Conrad would give him a decent feed. Remember yesterday after the game, when he said, “I feel terrible. I let everyone down.” ?

Well, hopefully today, he feels really terrible.

He's an All-Star because Charlie Manuel is stupid

Or maybe because Selig decided to make the All-Star Game less exciting. Take your pick.

And I don’t think there is anything to do. Obviously, Wren and Cox understood that Infante and Conrad were not real starters, and so they started Chipper and Prado. And then Chipper and Prado went down, and they were stuck with a terrible infield. Not really anyone’s fault; the team was deep, but not deep enough to absorb the loss of two very good offensive talents at premium defensive positions.

Completely agreed on Conrad, though. He’s killing us in the field. I don’t know that any of the proposed solutions are much better, though.

Of course they started Chipper.

Why, not because Infante and Conrad weren’t good enough, but because it’s Chipper Jones.

MBL1 - October 2, 2010 via mobile reply

I don't understand what you're saying.

Are you claiming that either Omar or Brooks is better than Chipper? In what respect? Making outs? Making errors?

no.

I’m saying it’s not like Omar and Brooksy and Chipper were all fighting for the 3B spot and bobby said “Omar and Brooks aren’t good enough, let’s stick Chipper in there”
You said that wren and bobby knew that brooks and omar weren’t good enough so they went with prado and chipper instead. That’s not why they went with chipper. They went with chipper cuz he’s chipper.
Now I realize that my comment wasn’t neccesary.

MBL1 - October 2, 2010 via mobile reply

You're probably right that Chipper's history played some role.

But I have to think that a big part of the thought process was also, “Chipper is clearly a better player than any of the available 3B replacements.” And that was totally correct.

You are beyond wrong. If you know ANYTHING about Bobby it's that CHipper would start no matter what unless hurt.

Chipper is no wonder in the field either & Omar was hitting better than him. Omar is a solid player can & would start for some other teams. If you think our line up is bad, then look around the league.

Also you diss Omar’s good hitting as just luck, witch is also BS. He had more than a good couple of months. It’s more like years. He’s had his 1st slump of the year, get off his back.

I'm not sure how you can be so wrong about everything.

Briefly:

1. Chipper’s no Evan Longoria, but he was a respectable defensive third baseman.

2. Omar’s never been hitting better than Chipper, except maybe when Omar had like 50 PAs very early on and Chipper was slumping, which I would hope even you can understand is utterly meaningless.

3. The “step forward” Omar took this year which sent his BA into the 340s was almost entirely luck. His BABIP shot up while his LD% declined. Players like that always see their BABIPs fall back to earth and their BAs plummet accordingly, sooner or later.

4. No, Omar has never put together a few good years. The highest OPS+ he’s posted prior to this year was 114 in 75 PAs with Detroit his rookie year. When he had his first full year (2004) he was barely league average on offense, and he’s been quite a bit worse than league average since then.

He has no secondary skills: no plate discipline, no power, little speed. The man is just a very mediocre hitter. And what we’re seeing here is no slump: it’s his true talent level reasserting itself.

Omar hit better than Chipper all year....

ATLandUNC - October 3, 2010 reply

Good grief

Again with that All Star bullshit?

Omar's selection was the bullshit.

Most of the criticism of that selection has been completely fair.

rabble rabble rabble

MBL1 - October 2, 2010 via mobile reply

lol

Ok, so he hates Omar the way I hate McOut/TP. Hopefully, I’m not that matter-of-fact aboot it….

ahem…..haha

I don't hate Omar at all.

I just recognize that he shouldn’t be a starter. I hope we keep him around as a utility infielder; he has a lot of value in that role.

No your hating on the guy is what is bullshit.

The All-Star game should be about recognizing the game's best players.

Omar Infante probably isn’t in the top 100 position players in MLB. So it was absurd to select him.

Really.

Pretend there is a rolleyes smiley here. We’ve had many problems this year. Omar Infante ISN’T one of them.

What he has done...

Is a BABIP-fueled luck binge. The guy has no plate discipline, no power, and indifferent speed. He’s a singles hitter who has been getting an abnormal number of hits to fall in. What we’re seeing from him is a regression towards his true talent level.

To be clear: I think the guy’s still a useful major leaguer. As a backup/utility infielder. He should not be starting.

You sound dumb.

MBL1 - October 2, 2010 via mobile reply

You sound like a dude...

Who is fooled by small sample size BA numbers. In other words, incredibly stupid. Omar Infante isn’t a good enough hitter to play every day. That’s just a fact.

This is Sabermetrics at it's worst

Telling people that they didn’t see what they’ve just seen and if they think they did, they’re delusional.

Look, here are some facts:

Omar’s 2010 BABIP is .313, and his 2010 BABIP is .354, after about three weeks of fairly ugly regression to the mean. His career line drive percentage is 21.4%, and his 2010 line drive percentage is 18.9%. This is the one of the more obvious cases of complete and utter good fortune without any change in the underlying skillset in the history of baseball. The dude did not just figure it all out this year. He was getting lucky, and now his luck has run out. Next year, he should be benched.

That's your interpretation of statistics.

Maybe that’s a good argument or valid position, but it’s not a fact. The batting average and other numbers he accumulated this year are facts. Your conclusions about them are opinions. Those are two different things.

Batting average in a vacuum is a bad stat.

And no, Omar Infante is not the exception to all of the advanced research on offense that has taken place over the past couple of decades. He does not have a true talent BABIP higher than Ted Williams, Ichiro Suzuki, or Pete Rose. That’s an “opinion” in the same sense that saying Tim Hudson isn’t a better home run hitter than Hank Aaron is an “opinion.”

It's probably a bad stat to measure ability and predict future performance

It’s a good stat to tell what has actually already occurred on the field. Those are two dispirate, but related, things.

The relevant question as to who should start for a team...

Is what can be expected going forward. So citing Omar’s good luck this year is not relevant to deciding whether he’s a starting-caliber player.

Okay, fine

But that’s not how this all started. You lumped him in with a bunch of obvious humps, as if he had been a smiliar drain on the lineup this year. Several of us objected to that because he hasn’t.

He may look much more like a sub next year, but that’s a different argument, one that I haven’t really tried to engage in. I’m concerned only with what he did this year and on that basis, you’re wrong to associate him with those yo-yos you grouped him with.

I grouped them together on the basis of a single characteristic:

Suitability to start for a major league team. And to the extent that that’s a binary condition, I am right to put Omar on the “no” side of the line on the basis of the underlying performance metrics, as opposed to the luck-inflated results.

You can't chalk up every hit to luck.

He is much better player than Milky & Ankiel .So Omar has been lucky for 3 straight years? You know that not every ML starter is a superstar right? There plenty of guys starting worse than Omar, some on our own team.

Better than Melky and Ankiel, sure.

But none of the three of them (nor Conrad) should be starting.

And as for “3 straight years”: last two years he’s been exactly league average on offense, which isn’t good. The year before that, he was quite bad (.271/.307/.355(!)) Empty average is not a good hitter’s profile.

She's not a dude, dude.

sigh.

MBL1 - October 2, 2010 via mobile reply

the pitching has been the strength

of this team this year- especially the bullpen. but Venters has been used too much. you are right about the four. leaves too many holes in the hitting lineup. Have to give Philly credit for trading for Roy O. he has certainly been a real plus for the team and strongly contributed to their late season sucess. Lets see- we got Lee,Ankiel,Farnsworth. those trades were net zero trades as far as helping the team.

Yeah. I don't know where to lay the blame.

The midseason “moves” were uniformly terrible. But part of that had to do with the bad market for bats; and part of it may be Liberty’s fault, for handcuffing Wren with a salary cap that made it impossible for him to play with the big boys. If the latter is true, it’s pretty shitty that they would do that to Bobby in his last season.

your right

but unfortunately its a business. several weeks ago when we were leading the division by a couple of games we could only get 18,000 fans to a weekend game. Thats bad- from an ownership position. we need a position player that can hit next year. nothing in the minors beyond freeman for a couple of years. do have a lot pitching talent – gotta give SOME of it up if need to.

I think that's about where we stand.

Teheran should be untouchable, but Vizcaino, Delgado, maybe even Minor and Beachy should be on the table if it will get our outfield back to respectability.

you bet

you have to look that scenario and see what you can get. It has to be a clearcut plus for the team.

hey look

Someone else who agrees with me about Infante.

drumzalicious - October 2, 2010 via mobile reply

Umm.....not to make things worse.....

….but the Phillies just announced that both Hamels and Oswalt will be pitching tomorrow…..

We already knew that. But thanks anyway.

MBL1 - October 2, 2010 via mobile reply

Ahh, passive aggressiveness

I scanned through this thread and didn’t see it, so just assumed it hadn’t been said.

it's okay

I’m just glad we don’t have to face halladay

MBL1 - October 2, 2010 via mobile reply

Huddy will have a shutout in the sixth

And Cox will pull him for surprise guest pinch hitter Greg Norton.

“I just had a gut feeling…” the perplexed ex-manager will say after the game.

Philly

is going balls to the walls to win tomorrow.

NOOO EVERYBODY FREAK OUT

if PACGNOSIS doesn't do that pre game write up tomorrow i will expect a loss....

don’t you guys realize he is the reason for our wins???? (I’m jk, but seriously)

didn't expect this

i can be critical of the braves organization, but i didn’t think they’d have this much trouble wrapping up the wild card. now i’m worried.

i still think they are better than the padres, and i’m almost certain the giants are better than the padres, so things look alright. of course, when it comes down to 1-2 games, anything can happen.

we can console ourselves in knowing that none of these teams has much of a chance of beating the phils. they are the clear class of this race.

jerryclore - October 2, 2010 reply

They were better than the '96 Yankees, too.

And the ’97 Marlins, ’98 Padres, ’93 Phillies…

“class” and “phils” shouldn’t be in the same paragraph

MBL1 - October 2, 2010 via mobile reply

so what

if we dont make the playoffs I gues its alright because we have CLASS.

nobody got vommited on tonite.

the end.

+1

If we don't make the playoffs....

…it would suck, yes. But I like where this team is headed. They just seemed to have run out of gas at the end, could’ve happened to any team.

but it didnt

it happened this year to this team.

Umm.....not yet

And if it happens, it happens. Again, could’ve happened to any team…

Look at the Braves current lineup, mate. Doesn’t exactly inspire confidence…

Well

I want to win but I’d really, really rather do it with players who are better people than Werth or Jim Leyritz.

If that makes me a loser, well…there we are.

There really is no problem with the Phillies organization

With the occasional overconfident comment by Rollins, I really have no problem with any of the players or anyone in the front office. The Yankees though… there’s an organization that has lost all the class it once had. Now they’re a bunch of whiners.

I could careless about class....

….and the Yankees have fans with class, every organization does. There’s just more Yankees fans and it magnifies it.

I don’t have a problem with the Phillies. Amaro and Manuel have done a tremendous job with that organization. I just don’t want them to continue increasing payroll year after year. As a fan of a team who has a chance to be very good soon, I certainly don’t want that.

I was more talking about the organization itself than the fans

Every fan seems classless to a fan of another team.

And I agree, I don’t want them increasing payroll for the sake of us being able to compete.

I could care less about class

They needed a starting pitcher and got Roy O. Thats a CLASS move wouldnt you say. Look what Roy has done for them. What kind of attendance do they get at their games?

Yeah......I'd rather ANY team be in the WS than the Phillies....

……so I won’t be consoling myself.

With my luck

It’ll be that biker gang against the Bronx IBMs, again.

I can't agree

If we don’t go, and the Phillies do and they play the Yankees again, I’m rooting for Philly.

However, my American League team I’m rooting for in the playoffs is the Twins, I’d love for them to get there and beat the Phills.

I never got the extreme hate for the Yankees

When you’re a fan of an NL team. Yes, they have a lot of money and buy championships……but the Phillies are a division rival and the last thing that needs to happen is even more revenue for that team.

F_ck the Phillies.

Basically, its more what the Yankees stand for

The ridiculous amount of money they spend, the bitching and moaning when things don’t go their way. Give me a team thats put the pieces together with the help of the farm system and goes about their business the right way. I hate the Phillies, but I honestly cannot root for the Yankees. Ever.

but its the phucking phils

i understand

and i know this is the worst case scenario (phils v yanks), but i would have to mirror last year and begrudgingly cheer on the yanks…i just hate the phils too much

Braves vs. Whoever…..Braves sweep

OR

Rays vs. Phillies…..Rays sweep.

Let me strike a note of positivity, for a change.

Has anyone found a definitive complete list of the ex-players and coaches there today? (And please, do us all a favor and don’t start a bunch of posts naming the 12-13 you saw.)

Speechless

HansonManCrush - October 2, 2010 via mobile reply

If the Braves win……91-71
If the Padres win …..91-71
If the Giants lose…..91-71
If the Reds win………91-71

Is there a scenario where the Braves could actually play the Reds instead of the West winner? I understand the Padres vs Giants on Monday and the loser vs the Braves on Tuesday. But how would the playoffs be set if all this happened?

Reds already won their division...

abraves - October 2, 2010 via mobile reply

Right

But who would they play if they have the same record as the West Champ? It doesn’t matter who clinches 1st.

I had the same question.

I don’t know how seeding works if two division leaders have the same record. Season series as a tiebreaker, maybe?

Cin loses to SD 2-4 for the season
Cin loses to SF 3-4 for the season

I’m just guessing, but if that happened we would play the Reds and Philly would play the West Champ

I'm a dumbass

I’m backwards, Philly would get the Reds

Oh haha sorry, I read it wrong. That’s an interesting scenario, but all I’m thinking about is the braves winning tomorrow.

abraves - October 2, 2010 via mobile reply

We've yet to be swept at home all year, correct?

That would certainly suck if this were the first time, considering all they basically had to do this time around was NOT get swept.

They’re gonna win tomorrow.

just jinxed us

Honestly

do you guys really believe in jinxes? It’s not like you can just make something happen by saying it.

MBL1 - October 2, 2010 via mobile reply

Today I said to my father: "I got a great feeling about today. We're gonna win it for Bobby!"

And thus my career as an analyst was over before it even began.

No. I honestly don't. But it's fun to believe in them.

I'm sure

One of the most depressing games I've ever been too

The team seemed lifeless. The crowd, after Bobby’s ceremony had ended, seemed lifeless as well.

They had nothing to cheer about. Where i was sitting the fans were on the edge of their seats

waiting to cheer for something…. The braves gave them nothing. This game and last nights game shows that fans coming or not coming to games doesn’t mean shit. I don’t want to hear them complain about fans not showing up anymore. It obviously means nothing to this team.

Not knocking the fans

Conrad’s error last night sucked the life out of the crowd in the later innings. And today was just sad.

You’re not kidding. Honestly, it was hard not to cry.

I agree.

I was on the verge of tears the last three or four innings.

Me too, and then people don’t even want to be around me. I hate being so emotionally invested in this team.

Yeah me too

At one point my dad asked me why I was in such a bad mood. Ummmmmmmmmmm?!!!

Haha.

But there IS crying in baseball.

;)p

only happy crying. there’s a difference. man up. lol

I recall a certain Indians pitcher crying in the dugout after we won it all in 95

So there!

Well, the Indians are nothing more than Braves wannabes. Literally. Figuratively. Whatever. lol. It just hit him all at once, is all.

lol this sounds like my mom. I ended up moving to another seat because I didn’t want to deal with her anymore.

moms are crazy like that.

It’s true. At least my dad understands!

This

kauf67 - October 2, 2010 reply

I had an awful feeling after last night… and obviously, it’s only gotten worse.

The game was a horrible experience as well. People in front of us couldn’t figure out where they were supposed to be sitting, so I couldn’t see, and the team just seemed dead the whole time. Just terrible.

The players ask for fans to show up to games and the past 2 nights they have....

sucked it big time. I was at the game today and the fans today were on the edge of their seats all game waiting for something to cheer about and the Braves laid an egg. How can you suck it so hard with so much excitement in the stadium?

I don’t know why we are surprised. The Braves take us on this rollercoaster ride every year. It always ends in disappointment (except for 95’)

Johnny Venters shouldn’t have been in their for that second inning of work. He will have no arm next year.

I'm a bit worried about Venters as well.

and if the game tomorrow

is close – bet he will be in it.

I'm thinking it will be

With Oswalt/Hamels vs. Hudson, I can’t see this being a high scoring game. I hope Huddy pitches the game of his life because this offense will do its best to lose it for him.

Incorrect.

The offense will do nothing to help win it for him. The defense will do its best to lose it for him.

Ah

This sounds about right.

YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WE'RE IN 1ST PLACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

;)

?

MBL1 - October 2, 2010 via mobile reply

tied for 1st, anyways. the wild card. umm. race. yeah.

Ffffffffffuuuuuuuccccccccckkkkkk this team doesn’t play with any desire to fucken win the hole team is playing like a bunch of Ankiel"s and melkys fuck!!!!!!!

cali viking - October 2, 2010 reply

And ironically Melky didn't play today.

Quality analysis

kauf67 - October 2, 2010 reply

Swear to god

I just saw Nate mclouth in target. His wife is hawt.

-InsertWittyNameHere- - October 2, 2010 via mobile reply

argh!!!

that bastardo!!!!

(see what i did there?)

Lol, why didn’t you punch nate in the face?

MBL1 - October 2, 2010 via mobile reply

I really really wanted to but I honestly got a little star struck.

-InsertWittyNameHere- - October 2, 2010 via mobile reply

This annoys me

I was depressed all the way home and I imagined the players to be depressed as well. Instead they’re going shopping.

lol

I don’t think Nate has given a shit for quite a while now, actually. And he basically gets rewarded for it. He’s like, “Hey, let’s go to Target, babe.”

I see how it is....

He’s too good for Wal-Mart, eh?

haha

I guess I would be too if I saw an MLB player in public.
Did you REALLY see him? It’s hard to believe people on the internet sometimes. (sorry but people on the interwebzz lie a lot.)

MBL1 - October 2, 2010 via mobile reply

My dad still swears he saw Terry Pendleton at Epcot, during spring training. I was like… oh okay.

I REALLY saw him 100%. I have no reason to lie. He was just a douchey in person.
Actually his wife noticed my braves hat and that I recognized him and she stared at me to make sure I wouldn’t do anything. Like he gets assaulted in public a lot. Actually that’s believable.

-InsertWittyNameHere- - October 2, 2010 via mobile reply

Its weird he has a wife

My friend and I always joke that he’s asexual. Guess that joke has to be put to rest now.

You're right

if you were lying you’d say you saw Heyward.

MBL1 - October 2, 2010 via mobile reply

lol'd

OMG!

I totally saw John Smoltz, Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine together at…..ummm……my house…..here in Maryland…..today! No lie.

That is complete crap

Because I totally just hung out with ALL of them at my house this past week.

Yeah, that was last week. They told me they visited you. They said my house is better, though.

Ah, but I made gourmet food

You can’t beat that.

I made cookies for Freddie and Jason. They loved them.

MBL1 - October 2, 2010 via mobile reply

Oh yeah? I’m watching the Georgia game at Heyward and Freddie’s apartment…what now?

MBL1 - October 2, 2010 via mobile reply

Smoltz said you’re a liar. He’s on the phone with Heyward right now.

Well I’m on skype with Chipper and he believes me!

MBL1 - October 2, 2010 via mobile reply

Pffftttt.....

Like that’s something to brag about. McCann told me that Chipper is a Skype Whore. He’ll skype with anyone.

Well Prado said to not believe McCann, he’s a liar….I’m IM’ing Prado right now

MBL1 - October 2, 2010 via mobile reply

Oh snap! I’m telling McCann that Prado called him a liar. There’s gonna be a lobster knife fight in the clubhouse before the game tomorrow.

My bad....lobster knife fight canceled.

Heyward said that Melky ate all the lobsters. That’s why he’s at White Castle right now.

hopefully it will fire up the team.

MBL1 - October 2, 2010 via mobile reply

I love how you guys are all somehow talking with the Braves

Weird b/c Heyward, Freeman, Smoltz AND Chipper and I are hanging out in my room playing video games…

LIES!

Smoltz is at my house, and Chipper is “skyping” with MLB1. Also, Smoltz is on the phone with Heyward and said he’s at White Castle right now. You can have Freeman, though.

LIES!

Jason and Freddie and I are watching the Georgia game while I’m skypeing chipper and IMing Prado. They’re eating my amazing cookies and we just ordered pizza.

MBL1 - October 2, 2010 via mobile reply

I think you’ve been duped. The “Jason” and “Freddie” at your place are clearly impostors. They’re taking advantage of you to get free cookies.

well

have u considered that heyward can be in several places at once if he wanted to?

Yes, but Freddie can’t. :(

true

LIAR!
Freddie is obviously with me and E-Lizz at the same time.

MBL1 - October 2, 2010 via mobile reply

Real Heyward confirms that Real Freddie is with E-Lizz. You’re obviously with Fake Freddie and Fake Heyward. Sorry. I feel bad for you, but you got swindled.

I've been telling you guys this all along!

Next time you’ll think before you doubt me, huh?

I call shenanigans!

There’s no white castle in GA.

-InsertWittyNameHere- - October 2, 2010 via mobile reply

Correct.

Heyward can be wherever he wants to be, though. He wanted White Castle, so he willed himself to the west coast.

Ah of course

My mistake. May Heyward have mercy on my soul.

-InsertWittyNameHere- - October 2, 2010 via mobile reply

Are you lying?

This reminds me of the scene in Fever Pitch when Ben sees the Red Sox eating dinner while down 3 games to none against the Yankees.

Nope.

He was on his cell phone the whole time while he made his wife push a huge grocery cart full of stuff. Sounds about right.

-InsertWittyNameHere- - October 2, 2010 via mobile reply

He sounds like a gentleman.

The only way this could be worse

Is if he had Melky in the cart, up in the kid seat.

The mental image… lol thank you for making me laugh! You’re the first one who’s been able to do that tonight.

Did he have A Clue™ in his basket?

Haha

Well played.

-InsertWittyNameHere- - October 2, 2010 via mobile reply

Why do they sell batting lessons cause he sure can’t fkn hit and fck I hate Philly !!!

cali viking - October 2, 2010 reply

I saw

Frenchy in a Target once. Haha

kauf67 - October 2, 2010 reply

I miss Prado. :( He was the heart of this team.

On a brighter note...

Chipper’s speech today was awesome. I miss him.

If the Padres, Braves and Giants all tie, who would you want pitching for us in the one-game playoff for the WC?

MBL1 - October 2, 2010 via mobile reply

Maddux

Good choice.

MBL1 - October 2, 2010 via mobile reply

we're done....

it doesnt matter

You

are a loser.

sddbaker - October 2, 2010 via mobile reply

thanks man....

i know

Venters, of course.

He should start.

Hudson

But since he can’t pitch on zero days rest, Lowe.

Believe it or not, for some reason I’m most comfortable when Lowe is on the mound right now. Of course now that September’s over, I might not necessarily need to feel that way.

Sarahbeth - October 2, 2010 reply

What an absolute punch to the face our team gave Bobby tonight.

You can’t tell me that they are so exhausted from this season that they can’t put all their effort into 1 game. You wanted to honor Bobby all year and on the official day you get stomped like Little Leaguers?

Fatigue shouldn’t be a factor because if they make the playoffs (barely) then the first round will be ugly.

You break my heart Braves. Pull yourself together because it is crunch time.

Pavy848 - October 2, 2010 via mobile reply

Loser

sddbaker - October 2, 2010 via mobile reply

Ouch.

Loser really?

I haven’t complained all year and was totally looking forward to this game. I was utterly disappointed and you retort to my minor whine as Loser? Thanks, I’m touched.

By the way, I’m not one of those that only comes out after losses.

Pavy848 - October 3, 2010 via mobile reply

Don't take it seriously

He was calling everyone a loser. Most deserved it but your post didn’t. I agree with what you said.

Thanks. I understand the really ridiculous “THE WORLD IS ENDING” posts but mine was like a nice little combo.

Pavy848 - October 3, 2010 reply

scenarios

Got this from another sports website:

—If the Giants win, they take the NL West crown.

—If the Padres win and the Braves lose, the Padres and
Giants would tie for the National League West title, but the
Padres would get the NL West’s top seed in the playoffs by
virtue of their 13-5 head-to-head edge this season over the
Giants, who would be the wild card. The Padres would also have
the home-field advantage in the first round of the playoffs
against the Cincinnati Reds because the Padres held a 4-2
regular-season, won-loss advantage on the Reds.

—If the Giants win and the Braves win, Atlanta would take
the wild card and San Diego would be on the outside looking
in.

—If the Padres and the Braves both lose, San Diego would
travel to Atlanta for a one-game playoff Monday to determine
the NL wild-card winner.

—And the most complicated scenario of all: If the Padres and
Braves both win, meaning all three teams end the season with
the same record, the Padres and Giants would battle it out in
San Diego on Monday for the NL West title. The loser would
then travel to Atlanta for a game Tuesday to determine the
wild-card winner.

BravesFTW - October 2, 2010 reply

lol

Why does Hinske never break the starting lineup anymore?

Seriously, the reason this team has struggled so much in september is because it isn’t the same team that we had in August and a lot of that has to do with injuries, but also because of trades.

Just think. Most regular
lineup from April-August was:
Prado,
Heyward,
Chipper,
McCann,
Glaus,
Hinske,
Escobar,
Melky….
The lineup for most of September has been..
Infante,
Heyward,
Prado,
McCann,
Lee,
Gonzalez,
Ankiel,
McLouth

The Braves lost their identity. The id of the team from April-August was OBP. The team in September has a OBP that ranks 18th in the MLB. The patience is gone at the plate.

I think a big mistake of ours, IMO, was trading Blanco. He was a solid hitter and a nice outfielder. He ended up batting .280, with a .359 OBP, and .721 OPS

Nate’s .192 Avg, .295 OBP, .620 OPS
Ankiel’s .230 Avg, .314 OBP, .701 OPS

Blanco was better than both of those guys. AND Farnsworth hasn’t been that great.

We all know the Gonzalez-Escobar trade was a push… but really this isn’t even the same team that went streaking (with series wins) through May to August.

That's all true, and it begs the queston...

Who makes up the lineup every day? How many times have any number of people shown up here and growled in frustration when that night’s lineup has been posted?

Exactly. I love Bobby. He is a great players manager, but he isn't the best strategical manager.

He falls in love with guys to easy and he refuses to take them out of the lineup when they prove that it isn’t working. He also over uses bullpen arms. Johnny Venters arm may never be the same after this year. He also over played Prado down the stretch. Prado was obviously dying with injuries and he never game him a break. I love Bobby but sometimes change is a good thing.

But i also need to say that a lot of those moves were on Frank Wren as well. Trading Blanco for two mediocre players was not a good move. I didn’t like it when it happened and I still don’t like it. Blanco was solid. We are lacking “solid” in center field.

LOL

I come to Atlanta, we can’t win a game, my Gators are getting thrashed, what a shitty sports weekend.

bpk228480 - October 2, 2010 reply

Go play beer pong with yourself. You’re guaranteed to win.

Scott Coleman - October 2, 2010 via mobile reply

Fox Sports South is replaying the Bobby Cox ceremony at 10:30 EST

For anyone who hasn’t seen it.

MBL1 - October 2, 2010 via mobile reply

thanks

Awesome

I completely forgot to set my DVR for when it aired live.

Sarahbeth - October 2, 2010 reply

Get me a team that cares....

these guys have no heart. Chase Utley stealing 2 basebs with his team up by 5 runs (as douchy as that is) is a player who cares. Only Chipper and Boby have heart anyomore, and I’d be surprised if they laced up and played tomorrow. They’d been saying they wanted to win for Bobby all season, now I know they are all talk. Thanks guys.

If they have no heart

how are they still alive? I mean except for Heyward of course. He defies science.

MBL1 - October 2, 2010 via mobile reply

I read Science Jounral every week, and they had an article about Jason Heyward. Saying that he in fact was created in a lab by the government who wanted to create the perfect baseball player

I saw that too! Apparently he can breathe fire…who knew?

MBL1 - October 2, 2010 via mobile reply

So...

Get lost. Go be a Filly fan. Loser.

sddbaker - October 2, 2010 via mobile reply

what's a Filly?....

sounds fun

I’ve been following MLB for more years than I’d like to say, and have been a Braves fan during all of them; even before I moved to Atlanta, and I must say, this is the worst effort I have ever witnessed. This Braves team appears to have lost its heart . Laid back doesn’t get it now. Good locker room chemistry and camaraderie will get them front row seats in front of their home television wide-screens for the rest of October. Each major athletic championship team has a wellspring of player tenacity. This team does not.

must be ready for vacation....

and they can have it now. Fucking Brooks Conrad is a major league player and he can’t even field his position, can we call Joe Thurston to play tomorrow?

Please go away.

You are an embarrassment

sddbaker - October 2, 2010 via mobile reply

you sound like my ex girlfriend....

Hahaha

Maybe you’re not so bad

thanks...

I was only venting earlier and dint mean any harm. We’re still alive, and the giants can still help us out a little.

Understood

It happens to the best of us.

Idiot.

sddbaker - October 2, 2010 via mobile reply

I like you

MBL1 - October 2, 2010 via mobile reply

Who the hell are we talking about here?

I agree with you fellers

I like him too.

-InsertWittyNameHere- - October 2, 2010 via mobile reply

uh oh…..

This post is the textbook definition of stupidity. Congratulations on wasting all of our time reading your drivel.

UMDBHIK - October 2, 2010 reply

Drivel is a terrible thing to waste. (not to mention your valuable time)

I am now dumber having read this idiotic post.

-InsertWittyNameHere- - October 2, 2010 via mobile reply

Sorry, I think I might have started this thread somewhere in the not-too-distant past. Sure didn’t mean for it to lead to the dimunition of your IQ. I can only pray for a rapid return to its normal fragile state. Please accept my insincere apologies.

-InsertWittyNameHere- - October 2, 2010 reply

That's cute jackass

Just read the comments

Oh oh, Name calling; one of the first symptoms of irreversible deteriation of intellectual capacity. Take my advice on this one, it might help. Go back to your cell and assume the fetal position till game time tomorrow (game of your choice) and pretend the rest of the day that you’re not fourteen.

So you want a pissing contest

What do you do for a living?
Where did you go to school and what was your major?

I,m a professional pisser offer. (who needs to use spell-check more often)That’s all you need to know.

Translation

I couldn’t even finish high school.

I can see why you have invited anyone who reads your comments to insert a witty name for you. It must be tough being creatively challenged with neither wit nor humor, not a charming combination. But if this is all you got, I need to move on to less boring targets. BTW I used spell check on this reply so if you detect a misspelled word, take it up with Google.

Ok anyway

Your original post was very ignorant and misinformed and I’m certainly not the only one who thinks so. Take your negativity to the AJC where people might actually want to hear it. You are not welcome here.

Oh oh, backing up your positions by way of reference to the fickle finger of other “unknown posters”. You forming a juvenile gang? Very uncivil. At any rate, the next time I choose to post on this blog I’ll first check the welcome list, and if I find I’m not on it,——-I’ll just post anyway. BTW, I’m still holding out hope for your IQ; I see you used a five syllable word in your last reply. Keep up the good work, and I’ll recommend that you move up in your remediation class, but unfortunately you’ll still need to continue your therapy.

Everyone over teh interwebz

is a tough guy these days.

Thank you!

No matter how many people tell them they’re completely wrong, in one way or another, they still insist upon themselves.

People

This isn’t the place for fighting. Seriously.

TC’ers know the saying: “Don’t feed the trolls.”

Jess is a troll. He/she may be fun to kick around but feeding it only makes it stick around longer.

Done and done

Dear sir,
Be careful crossing bridges.
The troll

BTW guys, I’m not fightin’; I’m funnin’. Man, everyone’s so sensitive! Hopefully the Braves will win tomorrow, get into the playoffs and you poor chaps will lighten up a tad and again enjoy a little sardonic repartee. And always remember; “There are no thumb suckers in baseball.” (Hey, I like that one. I think I’ll copy write it).

copyright*

FTFY ;)

FYI

Dimunition is not a real word.

Had to look it up huh? Man I really got to you didn’t I? BTW You’re right , but it sounds much better than the proper term—-it should be! Thanks

well

i put my 4-0 record on the season on the line tonight…it wasn’t enough unfortunately :(

Jesus, my sports life is just getting worse

UGA is now 1-4. I don’t even know what to do anymore. Thank God for the Falcons is all I have to say…

Mark Richt is on his way out

I, on the other hand, am happy about this.

The Giants are completely & utterly useless! What a shock!

I work @ SFO & all these bandwagon Giants “fans” walking around in their sparkly new hats & shirts w/ creases in them. What phonies man.

Going to by beer now for tomorrow...

It’s going to take some serious stuff to get me through this.

SuperNewb - October 2, 2010 reply

Anybody know what kind of liquor is good to mix with sweet tea?

This question is essential.

SuperNewb - October 2, 2010 reply

Blech

I would say nothing. But if I had to pick one: vodka. Maybe lemon flavored vodka would be good but probably not enough to make it through an entire Braves game. Especially tomorrow.

-InsertWittyNameHere- - October 2, 2010 via mobile reply

*strong enough

-InsertWittyNameHere- - October 2, 2010 via mobile reply

Dirty Arnold Palmers...

and if the Braves do clinch we can have Champagne. Either way…….

oooo that's a good idea....

I believe it's called a John Daly :D

Vodka

or just go with Firefly

Bravely going forward - October 3, 2010 reply

bourbon

*Buy

SuperNewb - October 2, 2010 reply

I have a small feeling

the gamethread will be rather busy tomorrow.

Scott Coleman - October 2, 2010 via mobile reply

We're doomed. DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMED

Just kidding. Its going to be busy with a lot of bipolar people, thats for sure

The Braves have definitely drifted into

“Don’t deserve to be there” territory regarding the playoffs. Talk about a choke job. So disappointing that this is how we are sending Bobby out. He’s been the manager pretty much my entire life. Seeing his ceremony before the game today brought a tear to my eye. Hopefully the Braves can muster up some magic tomorrow and find a way to win.

WarEagle86 - October 2, 2010 reply

At the rate Conrad is playing defense could Glaus be any worse?

drumzalicious - October 2, 2010 reply

Gonna be at the game tomorrow

Bought me a Heyward shirt and new Braves cap.

If anyone wants to meet up an hour before the game, check the Fanposts about the Meet-N-Greet.

Lets win this and move Bravely into the Postseason!

Tomorrow...

Man oh man I’ve said I can’t handle this several times this year but tomorrow is going to be a whole new ballgame.

Curious SportsNation poll....

Whoever said Phillies fans and Braves fans couldn’t agree?

That

is hilarious. You can’t make this stuff up.

Real question is...

What’s up with Vermont?

Idk

But at least the Atlantic and Indian Oceans are on our side.

California?

you’d think they would vote the Braves out

Hmmm, this is true

But look at GA

so...

they are as pessimistic as us.

Dodgers fans and Giants fans are both going to vote against San Diego before the Braves.

Lennox - October 3, 2010 reply

duh....

its late and today’s game sent my mind past the point of coherency

no I live in Cali you would be suprised how many bravo fans are out here I go to every brave game in SD every year at petco and I would say about 60% of the fans there are braves fans!!!

cali viking - October 3, 2010 reply

Judgement day for the Braves

win and the season continues in one way or another

LEastCoastBears - October 3, 2010 reply

phillies starters

While hamels and oswalt are both pitching Sunday, each will have limited innings. I think each is expected to go 2, leaving 5 innings for the Braves to feast on the underbelly of the bullpen.

Charlie Manuel would never do it, but if the Phillies are leading in the 9th, I’d walk in enough runs for the Braves to win just to increase the likelihood of a three team playoff bonanza, which would burn through starters of whatever first round opponent the phiillies get.

Selig would have kittens, of course, but the starting 9 and the pitchers used Sunday may speak volumes about what scenario the Phillies would prefer to see.

So, um, go Braves! At least on the final day of the regular season.

RememberthePhitans - October 3, 2010 via mobile reply

Props to you

for being a Phillies fan who doesn’t sound like a complete jackass. That post got a laugh out of me, and I haven’t been laughing much today.

Scott Coleman - October 3, 2010 reply

In all honesty, if I’m the Phillies, I think I would WANT the Braves in the playoffs right now.

carpengui - October 3, 2010 reply

It wouldn't really be that bad

If we win and San Diego wins. That’d would guarantee a one-game playoff after SanFran and SanDiego use up their best pitchers just to make it into that game. We could rest up Monday as the other team has to take a cross-country flight. Then, we’d be flying up to Cinci to beat up on the Reds.

Of course, I’d much rather have the friggin Giants handle their bi’ness and win ONE game. If they do that, it doesn’t matter what we do. Then again, lets just handle OUR bi’ness and win.

See ya at the game!

Just one more...

comment. Go Braves,lets get in to the playoffs.Just do it!

If not, I will lick a few wounds for a day or so,and then look to the promise of next year,or the year after. Big Mac, Heyward,Freeman,Prado,Hanson and a bunch of young kids on the farm.A new Manager(Freddi or TP work for me)and a whole new era of Brave baseball.In the meantime,Thank You Mr Cox for something that many of us will never see again…14 straight championships.

mikie baseball - October 3, 2010 reply

Oh yeah, I almost forgot...

can pacgnosis do the OpenThread today? He’s a WINNAR (seriously, I dunno what’s up with him and wins but it seems everyone else is a curse).

this.

I’m willing to try anything for a win (no offenses to BenDurino.)