Talking Chop

That picture says a thousand words (with four of them being present in the picture).

I feel a win today.

It looks like Bobby is trying to improve defense today, without sacrificing offense....

1. Swapping Infante and Conrad
2. No McLouth no-throws
3. No Melky

The problem is

Ankiel is nearly as brutal as McLouth and Melky in the OF, though for different reasons. Since we traded Gregor Blanco, it’s just been a horrorshow in CF. I said it then and I’ll say it again: I’d rather have Blanco than Ankiel.

The Infante/Conrad switch makes perfect sense though, given Brooks’ apparent inability to make the 3B to 2B throw.

Jacob Peterson - October 3, 2010 reply

Nearly"....but not "as

Ankiel may not be a defensive wonder, but he doesn’t run in circles like Melky, and he’ll actually make a strong throw in, unlike McLouth. It may only emphasize how terrible our CF defensive options are, but Ankiel has to be considered the best out of the three.

I just hate watching Ankiel swing

It’s by far the ugliest I’ve seen in a while.

Even with all his strike outs, he’s still be a better hitter than Melky the past month or two. :(

Does anyone know if today's game is nationally televised?

I don’t know but I’m hoping they play it on TBS.

Braves24 - October 3, 2010 reply

TBS, ESPN or MLBN…..those are my only hopes.

one more than me

ESPN or TBS

Braves24 - October 3, 2010 reply

THOSE , THEM AND THEIR YANKS/SAWKS LOVING *!!!!!!!!

I just looked it up.

MLBN is showing Padres/Giants
ESPN is showing NASCAR
TBS is showing…..wait for it……Yankees/Red Sox.

THEM!!!! THEY CAN ALL GO DIE IN A ****** ******* FIRE!! I HOPE THEY ******* SUFFER, THE ******* **** ****** ******* *******!!!!!!! **** THEM ALL!!!!!

but, Padres/Giants game is at 4:05PM our is at 1:35PM

They’re doing MLB Tonight and a pre-game show before that.

Besides, they would never schedule a game with less than a 4 hour block. Too many people would be pissed off if they cut away early to go to another game, or if they preempted part of the game with the later starting time.

MLB Network is doing a version of their nightly show from now til the West Coast game, so they’ll probably do some live lookins.

EastFallowfield - October 3, 2010 reply

I think the offense (and defense) has been pressing all month, but especially this series. In less charitable words, they’ve been choking. This isn’t a great offense with the injuries, but it’s a hell of a lot better than they’e been playing, and from watching them, it really does seem like the combination of “trying to make the playoffs” and “trying to send Bobby out on top” is just too much for many of them (the end-of-season tiredness can’t help, either). It’s sad, but that seems to be the most likely scenario.

I hope Hinske and Moylan do something crazy in the clubhouse today to lighten the mood. They need it.

Jacob Peterson - October 3, 2010 reply

Maybe Moylan will dance naked to techno music like Chipper was saying

They need something to loosen up the clubhouse…. Oh wait, WINNING would do that.

E-Lizz - October 3, 2010 reply

Dancing naked to techno music.....

Wait…..what…!?

Yeah....

I’ve seen Bobby laugh more this season than in seasons past… whether it was David Ross reminding him before every game that this is, indeed, Braves Country… or Peter Moylan in the weight room dancing in his birthday suit to techno music…. Sorry Peter, I had to do it!

E-Lizz - October 3, 2010 reply

Hmmm half my comment was erased?

Anyway, this was what Chipper said in his speech yesterday.

E-Lizz - October 3, 2010 reply

Why!? Actually, do I really even want to know why Moylan was dancing naked? No, I really don’t. Forget I asked.

This has been one of my favorite Braves teams. It’s almost a during end for Cox. We’ve had so many good teams who have ended in heartbreak. It always happens in the playoffs though. Somehow we’ll get it done today.

mdhenshaw - October 3, 2010 reply

i'm about to head down to the ted for this one

hopefully i won’t have to break anything on my way back

lingsched - October 3, 2010 reply

If the Braves lose….break Melky, Ankiel and McLouth on your way out.

will do

kids around me might have to earmuff it if we make another error

lingsched - October 3, 2010 reply

should have broken Melky 6 months ago

then we wouldn’t be in this mess

Not prolong the suffering? Are you serious? Does anyone not want this team to make the playoffs, even if we would get swept in the first round? C’mon guys

eaheckman10 - October 3, 2010 reply

glad we only have 2 good hitters in september. thanks for showing up guys.

Braves Biceps - October 3, 2010 reply

2 would be ok

but it’s never even 2 in the same game

They have to alternate….

Trades/Injuries has made the team in September way different from the one

that won so much in May-August.

The Reason for the September fall is

This isn’t the same team we had from April-August. We an almost completely different team in September.
The April-August lineup had a lot of: Glaus, Escobar, Hinske, Chipper, Prado, Blanco
The September lineup has a lot of: Lee, Gonzalez, Ankiel, McLouth, Infante

The fact is we ARE a different team in September. A lot of it is due to injuries, but trades have killed us too. We should have kept with Blanco in center and just let Freeman do his thing at first when Glaus started struggling. Also, Hinske hasn’t broken the starting lineup hardly at all this month… We used to be a team with a high OBP, now we are a team full of impatient guys that strikeout a lot.

what thing is freeman doing exactly?

yeah, he has played sparsely… but he isn’t hitting consistently. that is what the braves were afraid of. plugging him into a pennant race is just more unnecessary pressure. the kid is going to be great but i don’t disagree with that decision at all

lingsched - October 3, 2010 reply

It's hard to say a guy has been inconsistent when he has only started a couple of games.

I think it is hard for anyone to come off the bench and get hits and that is almost all Freeman has been used for.

Lee has been on fire

eaheckman10 - October 3, 2010 reply

The only trade that there’s a legitimate complaint about is Blanco for Ankiel. The rest is all due to injuries, or players suddenly not playing well (Infante, Hinske, Melky).

I agree. I'm just saying that is why this team has struggled. We aren't the same team.

But I do think Hinske should have seen more time in the lineup that he has gotten over the past few weeks.

The reason he saw his playing time reduced is because he was slumping badly. He got overexposed from playing too much in the first half. Opposing pitchers started finding the holes in his swing. There is a reason why he’s never been a full-time player.

But i would have still liked to see him in there occasionally than seeing Ankiel and McLouth

*Ankiel and MELKY

FTFY

The problem with Blanco is that he’s a singles hitter with speed on a team that doesn’t run. He was a really poor fit for a Cox managed team. Ankiel has been awful, no doubt, but if Blanco was still here everyone would be bitching about how he has no power and questioning why he was playing when every other OF on the team at least had a chance to hit a few homers.

Zontar - October 3, 2010 reply

Wait......don't we always win with Ross in the lineup?

And since it’s a lefty on the mound…..

There are 2 Opening day starters on the lineup...

Two

Anybody know who holds the tiebreakers in the TB/NYY race? They’re still tied. I’d love for the Yankees to get the crappy wildcard again.

BullManUGA - October 3, 2010 reply

Rays

Phillies Lineup

1. Rollins SS, 2. Polanco 3B, 3. Utley 2B, 4. Howard 1B, 5. Werth RF, 6. Ibanez LF, 7. Victorino CF, 8. Ruiz C, 9. Hamels P

great to see their regulars getting rest. I don’t wish injury on anyone, but you’d think with them continuing to temp fate that I wouldn’t have to wish it for it to happen.

liked this quote

ajcbraves
Manuel has told reporters Hamels will go two innings and Oswalt one. …Bobby Cox wasn’t exactly buying it. But it would be nice for ATL

I’m with Bobby, I don’t buy it either. not after seeing their hitters still in the game in the 8th inning when it was already over.

Phillies have their A+ lineup in there today.

We are going to have to win it fair and square

I've gotta say I respect Manuel for this...

Some people would say it’s because he’s being an asshole, I’d say it’s because he respect the integrity of the game.

I've gotta say I wish Manuel would DIAF for this...

I hope at least two Phillies players have season ending injuries today.

im with you

those being dicktorino and utley

I’d be happy with any two out of: Rollins, Dicktorino, Utley, Howard, Werth.

Werth… we could sign him in the offseason :)

Check that...

Hamels and Oswalt.

nice

Not ever rooting for it, but wouldn’t that really be something.

Or if they’re all so tired they end up getting swept in the NLDS because Country Charlie didn’t give them a break.

Yakker - October 3, 2010 reply

OPINIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How about over the offseason the Braves work on Ross at 1B? He’s already signed and in the event that Freeman struggles against lefties……..wouldn’t that be a decent offensive platoon partner?

Technically, one of Prado or Infante could play 1B. Hinske can play 1B. Glaus might stick around for cheap (if we want him). Diaz is supposedly already working on 1B. There are definitely options.

I want more AB's for Ross...

…..he just looks like he can hit any and every lefty on a consistent basis. I know there are options, but Prado definitely needs to be at 2B. And Diaz…….[sigh]

Why Manuel is playing starters

Isn’t possible that Manuel is simply playing his starters to keep their bats fresh? After today they are off until Wednesday. I heard an ex ball player say that he would lose some
of his bat timing during the short all star game layoff so………

IMSCREWBALL - October 3, 2010 reply

That sure happened to the Braves during their playoff run. Manuel is doing the smart thing, keep them playing for wins. Braves just have to overcome that and beat the durn Phillies.

bighop - October 3, 2010 reply

I have no problem with him playing them some

but to have them in all three games for most of the game is more than just about any other manager in baseball would do in the same situation.

I mean today it makes sense since it is the last game, but that doesn’t explain letting them in the game for almost all of the first two. if he is THAT afraid of their bats getting cold, then they have some serious issues.

Well, they were incredibly inconsistent on offense.....

……for most of the year.

I watched what seems like half a dozen Braves teams get put out of the NLDS after clinching early and resting. 100+ wins teams. There is something to be said for trying to win every game. The Phils have dealt with tons of injuries this year, keeping the team going makes sense to me. I hate them, but I certainly respect them.

bighop - October 3, 2010 reply

Posted on the Thanks Bobby Facebook page

Bobby and the ’91 team watch the Dodgers lose on the big screen on October 5th and celebrate a division win.

Is that Vinny Castilla I see?

Had no idea he was on the 91 team….