Talking Chop

you were a trip last night btw.

Oh dear....

That is what comes of housesitting in a palatial mansion with a very well stocked bar.

I was thinking hunger strike first....

….baby steps, y’know??

El Soro - April 28, 2010 reply

Ah, the all powerful hunger strike...

“How come you look like Cesar Romero?”
“Because you don’t know what Cesar Chavez looks like.”

Aaaaaand, how are we feeling this morning?

Actually...

surprisingly well.

Thanks for asking! ;-)

Glad to hear it.

Singles POWAH

A well timed HR thrown in the mix would do wonders for our team.

/begin rosterbation. . .I know I’m crazy, but Carlos Pena sure would look good manning 1B for the next 5 or 6 years.

Shark Judge - April 27, 2010 reply

You're getting the floor sticky.

Think of the children!

J-Freak - April 27, 2010 reply

I’d settle for a few more doubles …

Lennox - April 28, 2010 reply

well if our ace can't even get a win we might as well just end the season now

…but heyward, man, colorado was ages ago

bpk228480 - April 27, 2010 reply

no kidding.

Scott Coleman - April 27, 2010 reply

Yeah....season over.

D. Lowe, super ace, losing? That’s unpossible!

And Colorado does seem like ages ago….so does that first game of the Phillies series.

Starting to get Ugly

Not sure if there is an answer for this team. The entire outfield is not hitting

I know its tough to look at stats, but we are fans we have to

Atlanta Braves NL Ranks (16 teams for those with little math skills)
Average (AVG) 16th
Slugging (SLG)13th
On-Base Percentage (OBP) 9th
Stolen Bases (SB) 14th
Strikeouts (SO) 7th
Walks (BB) 1st
Total Bases (TB) 15th
Home Runs (HR) 15th

Its going to take a few good weeks to break these numbers up

Combine These with our middle of the road pitching so far

And the situation we are in makes more sense

"Middle of the road pitching" ?

I think our pitching has been there for the most part. As bad as the skid has been, the pitching has kept us close enough to lose by a run or two.

The stats dont lie so far

The pitching has been very middle of the road

Grantes its early in the season

I am just saying at this point in the season (Only 20 games)

The stats are only middle of the road because of the 17 runs given up to San Diego....

and half of that was Jo-Jo Reyes…

slams manhood in car door...

… then looks at box score.

It’s not so bad this way! Try it!

Bubdylan - April 28, 2010 reply

So Close but Braves still have BO

Man the team has a strong funk of stench going on and it sucks. I hope tomorrow we can break the skid and play enough ball to win again. Let’s ____ Go Braves!

It wasn't that bad

We had some bad breaks. Did you guys see some of them calls by the ump? Maybe JHey had a poor outing but he did walk once and almost hit a homer. Glaus was walked twice and Melky did quite well. We are waking up. They didn’t win tonight because their getting used to it, after all they haven’t won a game since forever, or was it just last week. The Braves are going to go on a tear and when they do, remember what a bunch of negative Nellies we’ve all been. The Braves will get it together, please have a good thought, also by the way, it wouldn’t hurt anything if you added them to your prayers.

+1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXRVX1AKAew

I still believe we are hitting right at a fielder. Our long fly balls will eventually fall into holes. I’m still not worried yet. I’ll get worried once it’s June and we are still on the bottom of the standings. The bad teams always seem to start off hot anyways – they just lack the ability to maintain the hot starts.

Pavy848 - April 28, 2010 reply

so give me coffee and tv… I’ve seen so much I’m going blind, and I’m braindead virtually.

Chief Noc-A-Homa - April 28, 2010 reply

Oh man.

Great song and video. Thumbs up.

Damn, Bobby kinda called out Heyward to the media tonight

It wasn’t bad, but was saying Heyward had to be more agressive when he steps in and needs to be ready to hit on every pitch.

Scott Coleman - April 28, 2010 via mobile reply

He should have called out Chipper for not turning that double play. That is the point when the floodgates let loose.

He does

He’s too patient at the plate. He takes strike 1 way too often and many times he’s K’d on pitches right down the middle.

Jay212033 - April 28, 2010 reply

heyward will learn, he needed to get called out. Once he snaps out of it, we’ll start raking

Bobby shouldn't say that in public should he?

TheBravestWay To Block A Decent Prospect - April 28, 2010 reply

Are you kidding me?

That’s same shit they tried to get KJ do. Cut down on looking Ks. Taking pitches is not a bad thing.

It is when you let 1-0 and 2-0 fastballs coast down the heart of the plate.

I’m not saying he should swing at everything, but man he just watches some juicy ones go by.

The Devil Wears Prado - April 28, 2010 reply

I perhaps agree with Bobby, depending on Heywards approach.

He needs to pick a zone where he’ll swing, and if its outside of that (even if its a strike), he doesn’t swing. That zone expands with every strike. He has been leaving some meatballs on the table, and while patience is good, those are the pitches you’re suppose to be patient FOR, rather than watch go by and getting yourself in a bind.

soup du jour - April 28, 2010 reply

Finally proof that Bobby is a bad manager. The reason Heyward is in the big leagues at age 20 is because of his plate discipline. Even with his recent struggles his OBP is still around .350. Bobby should shut up and stick to what he is best at: putting together bizarre starting line ups and randomly bringing in relief pitchers to situations they are poorly suited for.

redwards95 - April 28, 2010 reply

Love this post

our lineups are crap and bobby should shut it till he realizes this.

pharmongsu - April 28, 2010 reply

Seriously?

Finally proof that Bobby is a bad manager

I hope this was a joke post and something designed to agrivate fans like me. I won’t get into an argument about whether he is a good manager or not because he is a great manager.

Plate discipline is not taking pitches, its not swining at BAD pitches. Watching strike 3s is not good plate discipline. I agree that he needs to be more aggresive…. not swinging at bad pitches but more agressive.

Where's TP on this one???

Not his job to call out a player maybe? But isn’t this TP’s department.

Nova Scotia Steve - April 28, 2010 reply

KK going today

Pujols probably didn’t sleep last night he’s so excited to destroy this guy and his looping breaking balls.

Nova Scotia Steve - April 28, 2010 reply

I thought bobby lost that game for us. Was late to pull D-lowe. I would have taken him out after that RBI double. Way to let him get shelled. He pitched a great game, just ran out of juice.

Also Chipper’s defense might be the worst in league at 3b? anyone dissagree?

That’s what I was thinking. I wouldn’t have let DLowe finish the 6th. I knew that would be trouble.

Chief Noc-A-Homa - April 28, 2010 reply

Well leaving pitchers in for to long is kinda Bobby's thing isn't it?

Chipper wasn't a great defender last year either

honestly...

i think it’s kind of a manager thing. don’t all managers do that?

Yes you are pretty much right, just that Bobby is a little more slow to pull pitchers than average, it seems.

this really bothers me about cox and managers… how many games are won and lost when a pitcher begins to tire? like 40%? or 50%? i mean we have a great deep bullpen, why let a lead die when it doesn’t have to?

I said something similar last year about Bobby leaving pitchers in too long

It is something he does and sometimes he is kind of extreme about it. I remember 1 game where Lowe barely got out of the 5th inning, but Bobby put him right back in the 6th and left him there till he loaded the bases . Then, he finally called the rooky Medlen in to lose the freaking game.

You're right,

but there’s a flipside to that coin. Namely, you don’t want to tire your bullpen too much. You get lesser returns on your pen if you use them too often (as we often complain around here, in fact).

In a perfect world, your starter doesn’t tire until the 7th inning and you’ve got the bullpen guys to take it the rest of the way. Unfortunately, our starters keep tiring in the 5th and 6th. I don’t blame Bobby too much for wanting to get a bit more out of them, even if in this case it was clear that Lowe was done.

Also

Bobby (IMO) has been too quick on the bullpen trigger with certain pitchers, Hanson being the first one that comes to mind. D-Lowe is supposed to be the horse… that’s what the Braves are paying him for at least. This game seems to be because of questionable umpiring, but Bobby should be able to normall count on D-Lowe for 6-7.

Andy Braves Fan - April 28, 2010 reply

That’s not a new thing. Bobby’s been doing that with Braves pitchers for twenty years.

Mr. Glavine #47 - April 28, 2010 reply

Wait, I thought it was he used his bullpen too much….can’t have it both ways guys…

dunnytwogloves - April 28, 2010 reply

seriously.

He uses certain bullpen guys to much.

FitzFan - April 28, 2010 reply

If there’s a silver lining, the Phillies haven’t been playing so hot, either, so we’re still within striking distance.

Nobody has been too hot which is good

But we have to start hitting! And helping out our pitchers.

Jay212033 - April 28, 2010 reply

Mets have been playing good ball.

Granted, they played US, but still…

soup du jour - April 28, 2010 reply

lol

Gage23 - April 28, 2010 reply

rough to watch live

My roomate made an astute observation after seeing Glaus tonight: a cardboard cutout could essentially do the same. 2k 2BB. At least he hustled and scored a run but my point is the middle of the lineup is rough.

When Chip, Mac, Glaus, and Heyward are not producing what they need to (ok Chip had an ok game) the confidence is shot. Its feels like doom instead of joy that we SHOULD be shouting.

In the end, damn, it is COOL as hell to see Heyward from 30 feet away.

traphicg - April 28, 2010 reply

a 2K, 2BB game

is good. Don’t knock on getting on base. One of those walks led to a run, remember. All the walks are offense is getting are a excellent. It’s not the walkers fault that the guys after them can’t get a hit (much less an extra-base hit).

But is that the best we can hope for?

Especially considering that that stat line is coming out of the cleanup spot.

Zach Towery - April 28, 2010 reply

every time i think we can pull it out

omething crazy happens and we lose by a run. Remember how many 1 run games we lost last year? We need a spark, and that spark is a lead-off hitter who can make contact and batters being more aggressive. I need some wins so I can get my braves swagger back.

BigSkee - April 28, 2010 reply

Last year we were good in 1-run games

it was the 2 years before that in which we lost like 80% of them.

Did Anyone have Peachtree TV Tonight?

Because Smoltz and Joe were calling the game and I’ve got to say Smoltz is pretty doggone good. His insight on the pitching was very good. He called a lot of the pitches before they were pitched. I really like him and Joe together. Better than anyone else I’ve seen call the Braves, plus he can be funny too!

Of course I coud be wrong, I'm just a simpleton after all.LOL

He’s not PeteSkipJoeDon, but he’ll do.

BullManUGA - April 28, 2010 reply

Well no one is.

I think after Smoltz runs out of baseball stories, he might be insufferable. The large majority of his announcing is stories from his playing days (good) and his jokes (bad, very bad).

Mr. Glavine #47 - April 28, 2010 reply

He played for a loooong time, though.

I think he has enough baseball stories to last for at least a few seasons as an announcer.

I wasn't talking about his baserball stories or his corny jokes. Just his insight into the game with the emphasis on pitching

He was a lot better than Herschiser. BTW he said he wasn’t going to tell anymore jokes till the Braves started winning.

So he didn't tell a lame joke tonight?

No he didn't

Baserball? meant baseball sorry I can't remember how to spell Herchiser as I'm too lazy to look it up.

Smoltz said he wouldn’t tell another joke until the Braves win. Almost makes me wish the Braves stay on the losing streak.

Mr. Glavine #47 - April 28, 2010 reply

He actually said that he wouldn’t tell any more jokes until the Braves start winning again.

John Holton - April 28, 2010 reply

Well this sucks

It might be the weekend before we hear one of his awesome jokes then. sigh

bashby20sh - April 28, 2010 reply

Hate to beat a dead horse but...

We really had no business scoring 4 runs in this game. I mean we get a hit from derek lowe to score one, and rely on an error to score 2 more. This game was alot closer than it should have been, and when you get breaks like we did tonight, you have to find a way to win.

Theyll break out. I just hope its not too late when they do.

"We really had no business scoring 4 runs in this game."

…….huh?

uh yeah

uh no

that’s just dumb

It’s baseball…that shit happens.

So, seeing eye singles and check swing bloop hits should count as outs as well?

Pitchers do get hits, you know

And before Tommy’s hit a couple days ago, we hadn’t had any. It makes sense that we’d get some. And after all the runs we’ve allowed to score on errors, it’s nice to get a couple that way.

This is baseball. These things happen.

I tried, I really did....

I told myself that I wasn’t going to watch tonight’s game. I figured the Braves would win on a night I didn’t watch. I think I turned the tv on around 11:00pm EST (I don’t remember the exact time), but Troy Glaus was batting with a runner on, full count, 2 outs in the 9th with the Braves down by a run. He immediately hit a fly ball to make the final out of the game. I blame myself. :(

With regards to Moylan's two bad outings in a row...

Maybe he’s just getting the inevitable bad ones out of the way now, so he can be lights out for a good long winning streak?

Every pitcher is going to have "Off" outings

Hell just look at Carpenter tonight,he didn’t do to well did he? Everyone said he’d stop our clock,but he didn’t. Moylan will be fine as long as he stays healthy don’t you think?

I don't think anyone has mentioned it

…and I hate to keep piling on the guy, but Melky trying to catch that fly with his elbow didn’t help much. That and Chipper’s screw up on the DP chance were both pretty glaring.

I’ve defended Chipper’s fielding over the years against that canard that he’s always been bad, but at this point, his body just won’t do what his mind wants it to, at least not consistently.

Sam Jethroe - April 28, 2010 reply

I think you're being unfair to Melky there

He had a good game.

Chipper’s fielding is fast approaching abysmal levels, though. Maybe it’s time to switch him and Glaus? Might make both of them more comfortable, at least for a while.

Chipper has no experience at 1st...

if he’s hurting and needs to sit, it’ll be Infante or Hinske filling in. Both can play 3rd, or if Bobby thinks it’s better defensively he can use Hinske at 1st flipping Glaus back to his familiar hot corner.

You know, I don’t think that’s a bad idea. I don’t think it’s going to happen, but it’s something that should be considered.

Gage23 - April 28, 2010 reply

Chipper has publically stated at least once, if not multiple times...

that he will not consider a switch to 1B. Doesn’t think his legs can handle it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSreSfiKPu8

Well, let him sit and heal,

and put Glaus at 3rd, and Hinske at 1st.

HEYJUDE - April 28, 2010 reply

or vise-versa if they want to keep getting Glaus 1b time.

Pavy848 - April 28, 2010 reply

I’ve been wondering for some time if the reason the Braves signed Glaus was in the event that Chipper went down for an extended period of time or called it quits. It certainly seems like putting Glaus at third would be the answer. Who knows, Troy might start hitting as well. Might it be time to bring Freeman up to play first?

John Holton - April 28, 2010 reply

Granted, it was just one play, and he’s looked a bit better lately, but it was one really ugly play.

Sam Jethroe - April 28, 2010 reply

Heyward

looks as though Bobby moved Heyward up a little too soon. He cooled off considerably after that move up in the line up.

drumzalicious - April 28, 2010 reply

Hey on a positive note I found this video of Homer (our mascot) at a Hawks game.

He has some awesome dance moves and I would like to see them displayed at Turner Field.

BravesFanScout - April 28, 2010 reply

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSreSfiKPu8

BravesFanScout - April 28, 2010 reply

Here is the vid. Sorry.

BravesFanScout - April 28, 2010 reply

Please, lets not rag on JHay till at least the end of May

The Kid has a lot of promise. I’m just not to sure of how he’s being coached. I’m kind of sold on the idea that it aint TP’s fault. But the worst is yet to come. I think it’s Bobby’s fault, simple as that! He’s the CO and he’s the one who will not take pitchers out when they are starting to meltdown at critical parts of the game. Don’t forget his trotting Norton out there for no effect at best all last year. I can think of at least a few games that we might have won, except for his incompetence. And I don’t like to be mean,

Heyward

needs to be send down, if only so his confidence is not destroyed prior to sending him down. He just looks so overmatched out there, not knowing when to swing, then swinging at pitches that bounce in front of him

It will improve the OF play as well, If Diaz, McLouth and Cabrera plays everyday, at least Diaz and McLouth might start hitting

a hay - April 28, 2010 reply

How did you come up with that?

I think Heyward is doing about as well as a rookie could expect right now. He’s been clutch for the Bravos and is learning the way to hit Major League stuff.

No amount of time in AAA ball is going to keep him from looking outmatched at times. He has to learn to adjust and recognize mistakes and do the things he needs to do to correct them.

A rare few guys have come up to the bigs and just instantly settled in and not look so ‘overmatched’ Its a learning process.

WarEagle86 - April 28, 2010 reply

That does not follow.

Heyward is hitting better than any outfielder even now. Our OF play would not improve. I’m also not privy to the inner mind of Heyward, but from what I’ve heard he’s got a great head on his shoulders and won’t lose faith with a cold streak.

soup du jour - April 28, 2010 reply

He's not doing worse than everyone else on our roster right now.

Let him get acclimated, even the best go through some kind of slump during the season. I’d rather have his now, when everyone is struggling early. The pitchers are game planning for him better and he’ll make the adjustments.

Pavy848 - April 28, 2010 reply

My list of people about whom I'm NOT worried:

1. Heyward, Jason

Still only

1 extra base hit last night. and it was a pinch hit. I’m beginning to get disheartened. Our pitching staff is so good… Even Lowe was really sharp last night. But this offense is so frustrating. No clutch hits or “big” hits. The last big hit was Nate’s homer in Philly. We literally haven’t had a hit when we really needed it since. They’re showing awesome patience and getting on with singles, but this team needs to start hitting for power, or we’re going to have to win a lot of games to catch up this summer. What’s even worse, is this is starting to look like the same thing that happened last year. And we were one of the best teams in baseball from June-Sept last year. A shitty May-April can definitely keep you out of the playoffs.

Fatvirus - April 28, 2010 reply

I agree

The Braves aren’t set up as a team that can play “small ball”. The pitching’s great, but the defense is questionable at times. There are no true base-stealing threats, and although they “get ’em on” (though not by leadoff men), they have trouble “getting ’em over” and “getting ’em in”. This team needs extra-base hits to score runs, and they’re barely getting singles. That ain’t gonna cut it.

John Holton - April 28, 2010 reply

i would say that McLouth is a true base-stealing threat (or was before coming to atl) , however, we don’t give him the green light when second base is open, frustrating when the team is struggling to score

MemphisBravo - April 28, 2010 reply

7 games without a win

taney71 - April 28, 2010 reply

At least

I can thank the Braves for keeping me from spending the $$$ for the MLB package on Cox Cable…

Less painful to read about it than to actually watch it.

WienerDog - April 28, 2010 reply

And so much for my prediction about the Braves winning tonight.

Oh well. The Braves did show some positive things.

what was our longest losing streak last year?

bluelg - April 28, 2010 reply

This is the longest

losing streak since we lost 10 in a row in ’06.

Yep...

The longest losing streak last year was six games, and that was at the VERY END of the season. Of course, that was right after a seven game winning streak (which was part of a stretch where we won 16 out of 19 games).

RDRR - April 28, 2010 reply

I still don't see how we are "improving"

Last night’s game was identical to the one the night before.

Man....

I thought something was weird.

You might be the biggest buzzkill ever.

No, I state facts

You guys who berate me are either ignorant or just entirely too positive. We had 6 hits last night. One came from DLowe. 5 fucking hits from our regular starters and you say the 4 runs we scored were well deserved. You guys can keep on polishing terds if it makes you feel better abuot yourselves, but deep down inside I know you know this team has major problems that aren’t going to be solved by all your cheerleading. I don’t know what buzz you are on, but I am certainly not killing it.

Go Braves

Again, that sort of shit happens in baseball. It doesn’t make the runs any less deserved or valuable. The offense sucks right now, no doubt, but saying that the runs were not well deserved is asinine.

Any time a pitcher gets a hit, it is pure luck. You should know that.

Just like it's pure luck when someone hits a rocket shot...

to a perfectly positioned fielder. Some say it balances out, but I don’t believe them.

Do you think we’re all not painfully aware that we’ve lost 7 straight, and looked horrible at times along the way? I assure you we all are. I would say with with great certainty that alot of us cuss, groan, or hit something when things don’t go the way we would like in a game. You say that our “terd polishing” doesn’t solve any problems, well guess what: neither does depressing or angry one-liners. Frank Wren and Bobby Cox are not reading this board and seeing someone’s post and saying “hey, thats a good idea”, or “he’s right, we’re not playing good right now”.

If you want to break it down, not one single thing that happens on this blog affects the play of the Atlanta Braves. We come here to socialize with other Braves fans, and most of us actually enjoy each others company. If you scroll through a game thread, you’ll notice that the most entertaining parts are when some little off-topic conversation gets going. You’ll see it go on and on with each little reply box getting smaller and smaller. Compare that to angry little one liners about how so and so sucks that get overlooked and forgotten. People want to be around and interact with positive people, its just a fact of life. Thats why piss parties are usually poorly attended.

Green

Yellow and Blue

I’ll drink this Kool-aid. rec’d.

Lizziebeth - April 28, 2010 reply

well put

Andy Braves Fan - April 28, 2010 reply

+1

this

I have stayed positive throughout this debacle

This all got started because I said we were lucky to have scored 4 runs yesterday. I know shit happens in baseball, I have more experience with the game than 99% of the people on this board. But if you go back and watch the game, how can you possibly dispute my original statement?

Okay, I have to ask

I have more experience with the game than 99% of the people on this board.

Justification?

Beat me to it.

Anyone remember that guy last year who thought he was the shit and kept on saying he knew more about baseball cause he played in AAA for like 3 years…but neither milb, baseball-reference, etc. had any info on him? I miss his comedy.

Scott Coleman - April 28, 2010 via mobile reply

I wasn’t here before August 2009, so I don’t think I even saw him.

I miss

The guy that said he worked for the Kansas City Royals, and when he was called out, he flipped out, crossed the line a few times and had to be ultimately banned. I think he just worked at the park for one of their single-A affiliates.

Link.

Playing MLB2K10 on

XBox 360 doesn’t count as baseball experience

does playing in the best baseball conference in the country count as experience?

just checking.

So you played collegiate, D-I baseball for a Big 12 or ACC school?

SEC

But I thought you said "best"

Kidding, since LSU has like a million titles. But come on, you’re not going to fess up to if you’re the best pitcher for Auburn, or the walk-on guy designated to be the pinch-runner late in the game for Vanderbilt; I’m pretty sure you’re not the only member out of 2,000+ non Hong Kong spambot members to have played D-I baseball who happen to like the Atlanta Braves here.

Okay, in all fairness, I can’t disagree with your initial post, wholly. Things aren’t necessarily getting that much better. Whereas at the start of the season, the pitching was solid, the bullpen was solid, but the offense was getting blanked. Now, the offense is somehow putting up 3-4 runs, ugly as they may have been created, but the starting pitching can’t get past the sixth, and the bullpen is allowing the nails to be punched into the coffins. And yes, we’re still not hitting nearly enough as necessary to win.

But the simple fact that the offense actually responded to a Cardinal rally by gaining back two, albeit hideous runs (runs are runs), shows a modicum of improvement from the night prior, when the Braves had the lead, lost the lead, and then died a pitiful collapsing demise. Even you had to have noticed that. As negligent as you may believe it to be, I consider it a tiny improvement.

Anyway, as was stated by 10-4, we’re all aware of the seven-game losing streak, and naturally, everyone’s a bit testy due to the situation. If you haven’t noticed there are lot of people trying their damnedest to keep their chins up, and don’t like being told the obvious. Wait until we do reel off our 4-5 wins that will inevitably happen, the tune will most certainly change for the better, and suddenly people might want to actually hear some cool stories you might have from your D-I experiences.

I agree they showed a sign or 2 last night

And I know as quickly as we got into this funk, we can come out of it. I for one am tired of the hostility between the “eternal optimists” and the “realists”. Hopefully tonight that will end.

I agree

This losing streak is causing some really ugly lines to be drawn right now. Once the winning starts, people will be back to being civil again. Sad, but true.

The SEC has 7 CWS banners, and 6 of them are hanging in the Box. I’d be a little careful claiming that quite so quickly.

AllSaintsDay - April 28, 2010 reply

Good point

But there is so much parity in college baseball it would be hard to point at one conference and definitively say that they are the best.

And define "played"

end of the bench is different from a regular.

Got time on the bump on weekends

If you read my older posts you will see some of my stories (some shortcomings as well haha).

Not unless cb has your autograph.

regardless

you are missing the point. I still believe we are not getting better. That doesn’t mean we won’t reel off 4 or 5 wins in a row here soon, but we did not improve last night from the night before.

Qtips,

How do you know how much baseball or in my case softball experience we have? Just sayin’

HEYJUDE - April 28, 2010 reply

I'm not questioning anyone's baseball knowledge

Most everyone here is real sharp when it comes to knowing the game. I was just using that example to let people know that I am very aware of the fact that “shit happens in baseball”.

Anytime you want to go toe to toe in bird law I’ll be happy to wipe the floor with you.

Everyone here is painfully aware of the team’s struggles right now, but dwelling on failure doesn’t help anyone. Teams go through stretches like this every season and the Braves are fortunate enough that it’s happening early in the season when everyone is still bunched together. Nobody has any need to be a Negative Nancy around here pissing on everyone’s optimism.

If you think those two games were identical

You’re blind.

explain how they were so different

You could make an argument that we played better 2 nights ago

Dirtybyrdatl4life - April 28, 2010 reply

We Improved...

By one frickin RUN!…But we still lost by one DAMN RUN! We need sum clutch hits/runs when they count…

I'm glad

my fiancè doesn’t get Peachtree TV (for some reason her cable provider doesn’t provide that even though we live in Gwinnett). But it just as painful to get the updates on my phone and see what appears to me to be two good games just fall apart.

I'd just like to say

that I wish one of our pitchers would man up, put the team on his back, and throw a shutout. I know they’re under a lot of pressure and none of them are pitching badly, but the offense could really use the boost. I feel like if we could just win a game, even if only 1-0 or 2-1, the pressure would be off and we’d be fine.

I can’t really blame the pitchers too much; it’s hard when your defense sucks an you don’t have much margin for error. But wouldn’t it be great to see one of them go 9 and win a game singlehandedly?

Maybe Jair to the rescue?

He said in the off-season that one of his top goals going into this year was to throw his first complete game. If the offense can finally stay true to what they’ve been doing the last few nights and actually give Jair 3-4 runs on Thursday, maybe he’ll be able to settle into a nice groove to where he could go the distance. I agree that it would totally make my day to see one of our guys go a full 9, and it doesn’t even have to be a SHO as long as we win it.

Nice Saved by the Bell there...

and Jair vs. Hanson, neither has a complete game. Think Bobby will break his streak? And I’d think we’d need 5 or 6 runs, but then it’s damned if you do, damned if you don’t with the old man. Have it be a 1-3 run game, he’ll use Wagner for the save as a fresh arm in a close game. Make it 5-6+, and he’ll use Chavez or another end of the pen guy to rest the regulars for when they might really be needed later in the year.

Either way, I’ve got no hope for a CG from either of our young starters until Fredi G is running this show.

This is very true

though the pitchers shouldn’t have to do that.

Andy Braves Fan - April 28, 2010 reply

Troy Glaus

how come were giving glaus a free pass here??? this guy literally makes my stomach churn when he comes up to bat with risp…..he might be the worst signing of all mlb thus far….im not sure how many more double plays i can take from this guy.

MarkDuce - April 28, 2010 reply

Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen

Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen

WarEagle86 - April 28, 2010 reply

That last out was hit solidly...

unfortunately about 40 feet short.

Still laughing at Joe doing his best Skip and Chip impression: “FLY BALL!!!! DEEP TO THE GAP!!! AND IT IS caught to end the ballgame”

You guys suck.

I guess I’ll be back in a few days. Glaus won’t make you guys happy until he hits .600 with a million RBIs.

???

its not even that, the guy flat out cant hit when we need him to…we brought him here to be our cleanup and hes batting under 200??? thats ridiculous…..at least be productive and move runners over or something…..on several occasions iv seen guys on 1st and 2nd…glaus comes up…the pitcher and catcher have a 4 second meeting…..first pitch he dribbles for a double play…..then he trots to first base..come on

MarkDuce - April 28, 2010 reply

I’m going to laugh so hard at you if Glaus hits at least 20 HR this year.

Seriously, don’t beat the guy up just because of one bad month.

Frankly, I’d be shocked if Glaus DIDN’T hit 20 homers as long as he does not sustain a significant injury.

30’s pushing it and 40? No way, Jose. But 20-25 is legit.

Remeber

he’s only played about 40 games since 2008

If you are going to play the SSS bullshit then so will I

You do realize that last night Glaus probably had the best baserunning the Braves’ have seen so far this season (sad, I know). You do realize that Glaus has been hitting the ball extremely well for the last week and a half even if everything hasn’t been dropping.

At the low point his avg. was about .175. Over the last few days it’s already back up to .200.

You guys just want someone to blame and who better than the new fat guy at first base who started out the year in a slump. Meanwhile, let’s ignore the fact that McCann has been sucking it big time in the cleanup spot (He’s been hitting .190 for the last week).

I agree. Not that I want to turn the attention to McCann or any other individual player, but it kills me that only a couple of these guys are catching flak (Glaus, McLouth, Melky until late). But really, the whole team is in a pretty solid slump. Let’s be fair with the criticisms.

Gage23 - April 28, 2010 reply

That's kinda my point.

Everyone’s quick to pile on those guys because “OMG THEY HAVE SUCKED RECENTLY” but there’s no consistency when it comes to the “loved” players.

Not that I'm saying that people should be piling on McCann mind you.

Just pointing that out is all.

4/16, 5 BBs

Our lineup sucks, our pitching is marginal right now, and the coaching is bleh. We’re the worst team in the NL East right now. Seven in a row is just unacceptable.

Its also scary that everyone is in a slump right now that is just crazy to me.

Magoo12218 - April 28, 2010 reply

Where's the "Don't Worry Be Happy Song" ?

We sure can use one right now. It’s going to be a matter of time before things will turn around. If anybody has notice, we could have easily been in a 3 game winning streak right now. I still think we have a good but not great team. As soon as 3 guys get hot and tear up the baseball (or at least hit the long ball or get some clutch hitting), we will win some ballgames.

If you think Bobby is the problem...

You obviously never watched baseball in the 90s.
Remember, the “Miracle Braves” in 1914 started off 4-18 and went on to win the NL Pennant.
We can still do this! Things will turn around.

HereComesBream - April 28, 2010 reply

Both the ’91 and ’93 team had to overcome some significant deficits to win their divisions. Heck, even at the strike in ’94, the Braves were like 8 1/2 back of Montreal in mid-August.

six games I believe

mdhenshaw - April 28, 2010 reply

it's funny...

that people give Cox credit for coaching when he was blessed with three hall of fame pitchers and yet no one seems to point out we won one World Series with perhaps the greatest staff ever.

mdhenshaw - April 28, 2010 reply

One World Series win is one more than a lot of managers these days will ever get. Three World Series appearances with the greatest staff ever and five overall is five appearances that a lot of today’s managers could only fathom to dream for. Why people belittle Bobby and the Braves for “just one” world championship baffles me to this day, considering there are squads that are decades away from having a chance. At least unlike the Buffalo Bills, the Braves did manage to get a championship out of all those chances.

I always felt

we didn;t get the respect due because of the strike and not being a complete 162 game season, IMHO.

Improving is right. Because .....

…the first 2 games of this series – I actually had hope we ~~could~~ would pull it off.

Looking forward to watching Braves baseball – no matter what.
After all, it will be November before we know it and I’ll be going through withdrawals again.

NCChopper - April 28, 2010 reply

Thank God college hockey (and NHL too, I guess) starts up in October and lasts until April. Otherwise, I’d have to watch the crap-ass NFL.