Talking Chop

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eo9hMO-p6-U

Got back just in time to see the walk-off

Nice, another series win. Crappy to hear about the no-no though

UltimaParadox - April 18, 2010 reply

Crazy game.

Frankly, no matter about the umpires, a team can’t expect to win a game where they walk 11 batters. That it had to happen in that way is unfortunate, and they very nearly stole it from us. However, Morales became unglued and regained his composure a couple of pitches too late.

That Rockies team is going to be good all year, though. If Jeff Francis can come back in any form as to what he was a couple years ago to shore up the back end of that rotation then they will be one of the leaders for the NL crown.

soup du jour - April 18, 2010 reply

Such a sweet victory, it deserves a song

League leader in WPA

Kind of awesome.

This was an incredibly even series

Run differential of one, decided on the last pitch, could have (mayhaps should have) gone the other way. Historic pitching, historic hitting. If the Rockies do face the Braves in the playoffs, it could be a wild ride

I like how Rockies fans act like the game was over after Glaus was called safe at 1st. All Morales had to do was get a slumping Yunel Escobar or a left handed Jason Heyward out and the game was over. It’s not like the game tying run scored because of the missed call at 1st.

Was it a bad call? Probably. But so was the pickoff call against Chipper in the 7th when McCann had a 2-0 count. If the ump doesn’t mess up that call, who knows what happens.

I’m just tired of Rockies fans crying about the call. I know you necessarily aren’t, but some of the shit written on Purple Row and by some of your trolling fans like “how much did you little fucks pay the umpires?!” is just stupid, if not pathetic.

Scott Coleman - April 18, 2010 via mobile reply

I personally like the one where Heyward is called a "muggy little C-Bomb"

Because when I think of Jason Heyward, I think of someone without humility….

What’s a C-Bomb?

alligatorimpersonator - April 18, 2010 reply

The Rockies shouldn't complain about a thing

remember last year during the heat of the wild card race when the second baseman made that great catch and doubled up Pujols…oh wait, replays and pictures show that ball hit the ground. Umpire calls even out over time.

PSA

To everyone in the OTs, if we do get some really inflammatory trolls, be sure to flag them as you see fit. Make all the jokes you want, but I do check on a fairly regular basis.

seriously

I went to purplerow today to see how they felt and wasnt surprised to see they were angry. I mean lets face it Glaus was out. Still the Rockies walked 11 and really set them selves up for the loss. I was, however, surprised to see all of the hatred directed towards us as Braves fans. I mean the ump makes a bad call and all of the sudden we become “the most sports ignorant fans” in the country? I have always had a lot of respect for Rockies fans because they stuck witht their team through thick and thin and saw them to a WS in ‘07. But the stuff on that blog was ridiculous, where do they get off saying we are such bad fans when less than 24 hours before that the fans in Atlanta gave their pitcher a standing ovation after pitching a brilliant no hitter. I’m sure a lot of it was just venting after a tough loss, but still, reading the posts and comments on that blog make me appreciate the fans on TC and the respect we have for the game, its fans, and players, even when we lose. Apparently some fans on purplerow dont feel the same way and its a shame because the Rockies are a great team with a good fanbase and I really doubt a few angry bloggers fairly represent the Colorado fan base.

i like how they gave us shit

for liking Yunel more than Tulo. Esco is on the freakin Braves. What do you expect from a Braves blog? For us to kiss Tulo’s feet and talk about how wonderful of a player he is?

Comeon now…

Scott Coleman - April 18, 2010 reply

I think you'll find the vitriol directed at Braves fans came from a distinct minority

Every team has fans as such. Don’t let it poison things

This is true.

That is always the case, really. I don’t hold any of that against Rockies fans in general… I just hope that those bad citizens can be a bit better in the future.

Oh im not

I said in the post that The Rockies have a good fanbase. But it just struck me as odd. Really I think what each of us like about our our own teams, we see that in the other. There are assholes on every site/city/stadium. Believe me I’m not judging the Rox fanbase based on those comments, I’m just judging those who made them. Reall there is no need for Rox and Braves fans to bicker, us Braves fans already do that enough with the Mets fans.

Plus Chipper and Helton are friends

Doesn’t that count for something?

They go hunting together dont they?

Plus..

Helton is a Vol!

Everyone has vices

There is probably a little latent resentment in the community

from John Kruk proclaiming the Braves the Wild Card favorites last year, even when Colorado was well ahead. Misplaced, but it’s a guess.

Kruk...

only cares about the Phillies. Plus he sweats perfusley during every BTN broadcast

He did really like the Braves last season though....

But doesn’t everyone like the Braves? :)

I'll take your word for it

I usually watch MLB network, it just gives every team beter coverage that BTN doesnt have the time to.

I only watch MLB Network as well when I can help it

I travel a lot, so BBTN is my only option Mon-Thu

It seems smart of him

Braves outperformed both the Phillies and Cardinals in WAR and run differential, and only finished 0.8 WAR behind the Rockies.

All that counts in the standings, though, are the W’s and the L’s.

I was petrified of the Braves in September

I agree,

Complaining about the umpiring to that degree is unseemly. It’s all well and good to whine a little bit—it’s only natural, in fact—but to say that we got more than our share of calls (or insinuate even worse) is just demonstrably untrue. Also, they still had a lead after that call, and 2 outs. That Morales did not retire 4 of the 6 batters he faced is his fault, not the umpires’. The ump is not the villain. And even more to the point, Braves fans are not the villains.

I challenge you to flip the teams in the game

Don’t you think you would be upset if the game was over, your team won a hard fought road series, but then you didn’t? Sure, Morales should have shut the door, and the call didn’t change the game from 100% win to 100% loss, but you lose one third of the games that umps turn from 100% win to 67% win.

I know the Rockies walked 11 and Morales was uneven in the ninth. We didn’t deserve to win the game, but you could argue that Atlanta didn’t either with all those stranded base-runners. There is a lack of execution in every game on both sides, but that doesn’t mean a team doesn’t deserve to win a game. As I posted on Purple Row, I’ll agree that “we could have executed better” is valid in 99% of bad calls by umpires, but not it comes at the end of the game and takes a win away from one team, even if that team still could potentially win.

I would feel the same if the scenario was flipped, though I’d obviously feel relieved and not angry

I see your argument

But we’ve been through worse. You remember (shudder) Bill Hohn. I’d venture to say ge was worse. Granted that you have a legit argument but we have been in that other position. At least for you it was one game. Hohn has scarred me forever. Still sucks though and I’m sorry we needed an assist from the umps to get the game won

GoBravesNY - April 18, 2010 via mobile reply

OMG

You just made me remember Bill Hohn and those two games v. the Red Sox.

-100

I don't get why people dislike him

I mean, it’s perfectly normal for umpires to give catchers fist-bumps after making a call.

So that's why Chipper was so mad veins were bursting from his neck...

He was just upset he didn’t get a fist bump too…
It all makes sense now….

Other teams have had problems with Hohn as well. I think there was an incident with Bruce Bochy last season where Hohn clearly missed a call and when Bochy tried to argue with him he was tossed. Just a really bad ump

It wasn't just one call with us

It was the constant shitty strike zone that was blatantly anti-braves, the ejecting of Bobby (2x?) and Heap for no reason at all and the fistbump. He just flat out hates us

GoBravesNY - April 18, 2010 via mobile reply

I remember him getting really ejection happy once

Threw out McCann, threw out Bobby before he made it out of the dugout, and threw out Hampton (who was, unsurprisingly, on the DL at the time). All at the same time. Might have thrown another player later in the same game, too.

If Bill Hohn were to get severely beaten up by a player on the field would that be a bad thing? ;)

JadedMayberry - April 19, 2010 reply

As I said in the article above

If I were a Rockies’ fan, I’d have been livid. At first. But honestly, as mad as I’ve been at some umps (every team has a game like this), that anger has always faded very quickly. Soon after a call, you have to just move on. Even if you just got completely and royally jobbed, there’s no point in reliving that or ratcheting up the anger to anything more than a “Stupid umps!” level.

For instance, if the Braves had lost, I would have been fairly steamed about the terrible call on the pickoff of Chipper. That one was much more clear-cut than the Glaus call, and could have had a big effect. (Obviously it wasn’t in quite as critical of a situation, but still.) That call would not have been the primary focus of my ire, though. That would have been reserved for the offense. In the same way, if I were in your shoes, Morales would be my main culprit.

I would have to disagree that the ump is not the villain

That call should have been made, regardless of the eventual outcome of the game (or the events leading up to the call). It was shameful, and MLB should absolutely do something about the absolutely terrible umpiring we’ve all witnessed this year.

Really?

That call was very, very close. You try making it. Seriously, how can you blame a guy for missing a call that even in super slo-mo is not a 100% certain call? That’s just silly.

I agree that the umps are a disgrace, but that play should not be your test case.

Agree....

I’ve seen some bad calls in my life, and I’m willing to say a call is bad, even if it benefits my team. This was not such a call. It was very close and would be a very difficult call to make for any umpire.

sddbaker - April 19, 2010 reply

It wasn't certain live

but he was out, fwiw.

Just as Jeff Nelson was “ready” to call a balk on Morales due to his reputation, I’m surprised he wasn’t “ready” to call Glaus out on a GIDP, since he beats out one once every seven years.

I have disciplined that guy for that personally

Thanks.

I know we have our disagreements, but you’ve been a classy citizen on TC and I appreciate that.

It's the only way to be

+1

Nothing makes SBNation look better as a conglomerate than when fans of different teams can co-exist on each others’ territory without there being any problems. As far as I’m concerned, you’re always welcome here.

royhobbs - April 19, 2010 reply

Kum ba yah

I agree

These are two very evenly matched teams, without a doubt. Both have good pitching and good lineups (I’d say the Braves are a bit better in the former and the Rockies a bit better in the latter), and once the Rockies get Huston Street back, they’ll both have fierce bullpens too. I think both these teams do make the playoffs, and it will indeed be one heckuva series if they meet there.

Great game

He had the bases loaded at two critical points in the game, and produced in both of them. I kindof feel bad for the Rockies fans, but at the same time I’m still upset about the pickoff call on Chipper. He was clearly safe on multiple replays, and having him on 2nd with McCann at the plate with one out is a huge difference than McCann at the plate with two outs and nobody on. So, while the Rockies may have been screwed with the Glaus call, it more than evens out after the horrible Chipper call. Either way, the umps had a horrible day, and probably had a decent influence on the final outcome, for better or for worse.

sag969 - April 18, 2010 reply

the balk turned out not to matter

I call Butterfly Effect on that one. Morales doesn’t get nearly as frustrated and flustered if that balk isn’t called. He still should have executed, but it wasn’t altogether meaningless.

I am going to agree with you.

Gage23 - April 18, 2010 reply

What the Rockies fans need to understand is every team in the majors will get screwed by a call this year. What do they think? that the umps are playing favorites with us? Think for one second about who our manager is, and then ask yourself if an ump were to play favorites would Bobby Cox be one of them? come on, look the Rox are really good this year and will probably win that divsion ( my guess is it will be a dog fight between them and SF.) Hopefully the Rox can go beat up the Nationals, cause theyre looking kinda good right now.

wait

We didn’t pay the umpires????

I did buy one of them a double cheeseburger.

Just try to cover your tracks better next time

I think all of our money

went into buying royhobbs some t-shirts.

The Nationals have a staff ERA of about 7.00 - I'm not too scared

I don’t think that anyone actually thinks there’s a conspiracy against the Rockies, and no one has truly lost sight that everyone gets screwed at some point. But just as you would in the same situation, it’s incredibly frustrating to have a hard-fought road series go from a huge win to a loss and .500 record due to a missed call.

I completely understand the frustration on your end, you guys kept us at bay all game and the game would have ended if not for a blown call. it was a huge turning point and I dont really enjoy winning games that way, but for the sake of our record I’ll tak it since we have the Phils coming up. As far as the Nationals go, just hit the ball to Adam Dunn and Josh willingham, haha jk. Maybe you guys can get a sweep, 9-6 aint too shabby.

Shoert - April 19, 2010 reply

also....

I hope my original post didnt come across as too harsh, again I like the Rockies and their fans a lot, I was just a little disapointed, thats all. I think you do a good job writing at Purplerow.

Shoert - April 19, 2010 reply

I can understand the frustration, too

But that wasn’t a blatantly bad call. It was tough-it wasn’t nearly as bad as Chipper getting “picked off” at second base." We’ve seen worse calls go against us already this season.

Many, many worse calls.

Though none at nearly as pivotal a moment.

EricGreggWasPaidOff - April 19, 2010 reply

Yes, many...

Like in the San Francisco series.

It's a four game series at the Nats

So a sweep would be even better

Hm. Well, yes.

Perhaps I should have said it “turned out not to matter very much.”

Calling a moratorium on all the gifs.

Oh, sorry. Do they cause a problem with some systems or just too much bandwith?

bbxxj - April 18, 2010 reply

Especially

In Open Threads, they slow things down moreso, after there’s 1000+ comments. And often times elsewhere, it’s like a rash – one person posts a completely irrelevant gif, and then others start doing it in response creating this landslide of annoying.

!Vive la Francoeur! - April 18, 2010 reply

Okey dokey. Didn’t mean to contribute to the slowness of the threads.
I can certainly see how it would slow things down with all the increased activity.

NCChopper - April 18, 2010 reply

You just broke Bubb Rubb’s spirit.

10-4 - April 18, 2010 reply

Well, he comes in at the end of the game, so surely he can be an exception ;)

Gage23 - April 18, 2010 reply

No Bubb Rubb?

The TalkingChop nation will rise as a single, righteous entity and march apon the house of royhobbs, eyes burning with the indignant fury of an oppressed people, and our voices strengthened by our collective resolve, “We shall overcome! We shall overcome!”

And with the burning passion of a thousand suns we will scream

“WOOO WOOOOOO”

DogDaysofSummer - April 19, 2010 reply

Also

When some of us are following on our phones. Takes my Blackberry forever to load the thread after about 500 posts.

BravesCPO - April 19, 2010 reply

THE RAINBOW LLAMASAURUS is disappointed

but abides.

BraveSaluki - April 18, 2010 reply

He's saying no Heyward gifs

considering the last time someone made a heyward gif….well let’s just say Heyward proved he was mortal.

DogDaysofSummer - April 18, 2010 reply

Were only talking about gifs right, not pictures. So NC K pictures and etc are still OK right?

McCann and McWill - April 18, 2010 reply

Yeah, there’s no problem with that. Static images don’t really cause much slowness as un-optimized gifs.

When I first read that...

…I thought it said “gifts”. I wondered if people were trying to buy you off or something.

I guess

Being at the game, I didn’t really notice the umps as much as everyone watching on television did. I had no idea to really tell how safe Chipper was, but the mystery balk in the 9th was certainly just that, since most balk calls are done before the pitch is actually delivered. I couldn’t quite tell how safe Glaus was or wasn’t.

But it certainly sounded like the umps had a field day, and that the rash of umpire firings done this off-season might have been a little too premature, considering that the obvious replacements still aren’t anywhere near ready yet.

Regardless a win is a win, and it was certainly something to witness Heyward come through in the clutch; I was hoping for a walk-off grand slam, but beggars can’t be choosers.

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/get-to-know-wpa

This might be a dumb question, but what exactly is WPA? And how is it calculated?

BravesFanScout - April 18, 2010 reply

For those of you who were asking

This is Riley, my dog who was bitten earlier today by a rattlesnake. I mentioned it in the game thread and all of you were great and showed love for me and Riley. I really really appreciated it.

He’s a lab and he’s about a year and a half old. he always wants to play ball and I really do think he gets better jumps on the ball than Chipper does at 3B.

I’m not sure what exactly is gonna happen to him, but he’s resting at the vet now. He needs anti-venom and I pray that it’ll work. It’s expensive as hell, but we’ll be able to cover it. If he needs something more than anti-venom, I’m really not sure what I’d be able to do.

Again, thank you to everyone who kept him in your thoughts. It means a lot to me and I know it would mean a lot to Riley as well.

Go Braves.

Scott Coleman - April 18, 2010 reply

Get well soon, Riley. You have lots of friends thinking of you

BraveSaluki - April 18, 2010 reply

GO RILEY

We need you to fulfill your duties as TC mascot!

Hope he gets better. I used to have a blond lab named Lucy. They are the best dogs, ever.

Aww, poor Riley. I know how close people can get to your pets, so I’ll be praying for yall…

bwellnjonesco - April 18, 2010 reply

What a cutie pie Riley is!

Came to see if you had posted an update Scott – thanks for letting us know.
We’ll be keeping Riley (and you) in our thoughts/prayers.
Keep us posted.

NCChopper - April 18, 2010 reply

awwwwwwww what a cute puppy. So sad to see someone like him get bitten. Get well Riley!!!

ATLforlife - April 18, 2010 reply

Get well Riley, we’ll be thinking of you

GoBravesNY - April 18, 2010 reply

Get back on your feet Riley!

dunnytwogloves - April 18, 2010 reply

Ugh, I’m really sorry to hear that. I hope he’ll be okay. Keep us posted!

coldriver10 - April 18, 2010 reply

I’ll be thinking about him. I know how integral a pet can be as a member of the family, so please know that I can empathize with your situation. I wish both of you the best.

Hope he gets well soon.

Our dog was bitten by a coppehead, and that was bad enough. The sucker’s skin is now hanging in my dad’s workshop now.

AllSaintsDay - April 18, 2010 reply

Looks like a great little Friend!

All the best to you sir and that beautiful pet!

Nova Scotia Steve - April 18, 2010 via mobile reply

Hope he gets better, Scott

and I am glad that the Braves pulled this one out for him.

good luck with all that. I love to play ball with my dog as well and would be really upset if this happened to him. Hope Riley gets better!

McCann and McWill - April 19, 2010 reply

Good Luck bud. I’m sure TC’s new mascot will be up and going in no time. Stick in there man.

Awwwwww. How sweet he looks! I was at the game and didn’t know about this until now (1:41am EST). Hope all is looking up. There were service puppies in training at the Ted today as part of a group selling raffle tix, and many were labs that resemble Riley. I hope everything turns out well.

Lizziebeth - April 19, 2010 reply

Get well Riley!

He’s a good-lookin boy. I’m sure if he needs something else, the good folks here will chip in a little to help you out.

UMDBHIK - April 19, 2010 reply

Meanwhile in the depths of Purple Row

TheBravestWay To Block A Decent Prospect - April 18, 2010 reply

Har!

EricGreggWasPaidOff - April 18, 2010 reply

I missed the game today and just got on to check this....

Go Braves? Although, I’m starting to wonder if I’m the bad luck guy. The Braves have a 3-1 record on games I haven’t watched, but a 4-4 record on games I have watched this season. I’m just going to assume small sample size bias for now, but I’ll keep an eye on it.

In other news, this Heyward kid is pretty good, huh? It’s very fortunate that the Braves decided to take a chance on a player we all had such low expectations for…

You just got optioned to Gwinett

Better than being designated for assignment

Like Mike Jacobs.

Can’t believe they called Glaus safe. lmao. The Braves never get those “close” calls.

EricGreggWasPaidOff - April 18, 2010 reply

I'm amazed that Glaus made it close enough TO get the call.

I watched the replay several times...

and it looked extremely close to me – like “tie goes to the runner” close. I don’t get where everyone thinks he was out.

Well

It was very close, but I do think he was probably out. Still, I don’t think it was so obvious that you can really blame the ump too much. I mean, I’d be upset too at first. But hopefully they’ll realize that the umps gave them some breaks in the game too.

Chipper was safe at second.

Unbelievable

That was a great series.

On a negative note, at today’s game when Heyward came to the plate with 2 outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the 9th, I stood up and started cheering, as most other fans did. The guy behind me tapped me on the shoulder and yelled “I can’t see” and I said “well it’s the bottom of the 9th and Heyward’s at the plate” and he responded with “SO WHAT?” I said “So you can stand up” and he snapped back with “and you can sit down”. He was about 40 years older than year and looked like he wanted to kill me so I figured I’d avoid confrontation and focus my attention on the game.

It’s remarkable to me that people like this even come out to the games. Just kinda left me with a sour taste in my mouth. (Which was quickly removed by J-Hey hitting a walk off)

kauf67 - April 18, 2010 reply

You should have stayed standing.

Gage23 - April 18, 2010 reply

You must be an amazingly nice person.

You had every right to stand up in that situation.

You should have stayed standing….just to see how much of an ass he would make himself out to be.

bravos1984 - April 19, 2010 reply

Martin Prado is completely falling apart

Average now down to .426.

OMG

SEND HIM DOWN

From CyborgHanson

AT POSTGAME BAR FORMER BRAVE GANT RON ATTEMPT TO REPROGRAM MAINFRAME WITH FILE C:\SYSTEM\FIND_ATLANTA_AREA_WHITE_WOMAN_TO_BOINK

Amazing.

DogDaysofSummer - April 18, 2010 reply

Wait…..Where are the white women at, exactly? With big booties, please. I hear ya, Ron.

lol

From CyborgHeyward

APPLICATION OF H2O-BASED FOAM TO CRANIAL UNIT HAS CAUSED CRITICAL OVERLOAD OF STRIKEOUT CIRCUITS. REBOOT REQUIRED.

Glaus was actually safe.

Seriously. After multiple replays on my big screen LED in HD on the Braves on Fox Sports it looked like it was a tie………and a tie goes to the runner. I guess it didn’t help that Glavine said something to the effect that the ump missed the call.

KC Ryan - April 18, 2010 reply

Not to be a dick

But there are no tie’s in baseball – you’re either safe or out!But i’m with you i watched it a bunch of times as well- very close and we got the call!

Nova Scotia Steve - April 18, 2010 via mobile reply

That’s correct. There’s also no such rule as “tie goes to the runner.” It’s a colloquialism that took on a life of its own.

Obviously it's not a rule...

but the umpire has to have some standard to go by when it is so close to a tie that it’s not detectable to the human eye in real time whether the runner is out or safe. I know for a fact that “tie goes to the runner” is the standard that is used.. at least by the umpires I have talked to about it.

Actually...

Although it doesn’t say “A tie goes to the runner,” I believe in the rule book, it says that the ball must BEAT the runner to the bag, which means that if they are perceived to get there at the same time the correct call would be that the runner is safe.

J-Turn14 - April 18, 2010 reply

I’m a Braves fan and all, but he was out by a country mile. It wasn’t close.

I'm a braves fan too.

And you’re wrong.

J-Turn14 - April 18, 2010 reply

haha

Yeah, I've got to agree theere.

It was extremely close. I thought he was out, but it was not an obvious call. At all.

"That game wasn’t over. Today the game was over."

Heyward’s quote after the game today…a reporter asked him about his calmness after his first homer and his celebration after the hit today…

bwellnjonesco - April 18, 2010 reply

I have a really bad man crush on him

and it’s getting worse…

I'm surprised

Bobby didn’t have Billy Wagner come out and pitch a fake 10th inning. After all, he hasn’t pitched in three whole days.

hoboken_wood - April 18, 2010 reply

Its a good look for him

ATLandUNC - April 18, 2010 reply

Great picture

Also, nice fellow Anchorman sig.

coldriver10 - April 18, 2010 reply

WHAMMY!