Write your own recap if you'd like. I'm so sick of this. I just wish, for once, someone would man up and do something.
At this point, I'd rather just lose the rest of our games than keep this crap up. Lose 2 out of 3 at home against the Nationals? Lose a 7 game lead in the NL East, and now (probably) trail by 3? I tried to keep the faith. I really did. But this is really one of the last straws, and we don't have time to waste any more games. We have an 11-day, 9-game road trip coming up, which is arguably our biggest trip in the last 5 years, and we're playing like this. In Bobby Cox's final season. That just blows my mind.
10 hits, 3 walks, 2 runs.
1-for-11 with RISP.
Pretty much sums up the Braves for the last few weeks.
Mike Minor was pretty solid, except for the grand slam he gave up in the 2nd. He gutted through five innings and struck out six. Both Martin Prado and Matt Diaz had solid days at the plate, but their efforts weren't enough to bring the Braves a win. One positive note was the bullpen. Moylan, Saito, Venters and Kimbrel all looked great, and I don't think there's any doubt about how great they've been since Day One.
Anyways, we now have 48 hours to think about this, and then we play the Mets in New York. I don't think I'll be watching. If you do, well, props to you for sticking with this team.
0 recs | 452 comments
I think one thing to blame is the constantly changing lineup. We can attribute a lot of this to injuries.
I think it’s hard to get into a rhythm when Bobby constantly changes the lineup to play the percentages. I’ve always hated how he does that, and now, it may be biting him in the ass. He’s even pulled lefties who crush lefty pitching out of the lineup just because it makes sense to him.
Bobby is also stubborn. For some reason, he keeps our hottest hitter in December (Jason) at 2nd, just because. And he keeps Prado at 3rd, just because. And he keeps playing Lee instead of Glaus, just because. All of this despite having one of the worst Septembers of any team playing for the playoffs.
Loved you Bobby, and I’ll miss seeing you in the dugout. But I am so, so tired of your ways.
ryantex - September 15, 2010
Make up your mind.
In the first paragraph you want Bobby to keep the lineup the same.
In the second you want him to change it.
parish - September 15, 2010
What I mean
Is that the lineup has changed daily throughout the season, while I attributed to injuries.
The changes I proposed I want to be more permanent (not changing back and forth every day). In other words, I want him to put Prado BACK in leadoff (when our offense was actually good) every day Heyward at 3rd every day. That’s all.
I don’t want this rotating Diaz, Melky, Ankiel, McLouth, Hinske merry-go-round, with guys moving up and down the lineup daily.
ryantex - September 15, 2010
I agree
If you’re going to go deep in the playoffs you have to at least have 1-6 figured out by now. You can play with 7 and 8 all you want.
king of games - September 15, 2010
Exactly
And since Chipper got injured, I have never understood why Bobby put Prado batting 3rd.
Prado was our team MVP while he was in the lead-off spot. Why would you change that?
ryantex - September 15, 2010
Who would you bat third instead?
Before you get first choice, let me throw your logic back at you: Heyward has been killing it in the second spot. Why would you change that? Infante has been great in the lead-off spot. Why would you change that?
Bronn - September 15, 2010
Because overall it's not working
I would like to see Heyward hitting 3rd, and have wanted that since the moment Chipper went down.
Infante has been great, but I want Prado leading off. He was on fire, and the team MVP, in the leadoff spot.
ryantex - September 15, 2010
2nd place hitter is more important than 3rd
kbertling353 - September 15, 2010
Wait you actually want Bobby to play Glaus more despite the fact he can’t move at all, sucks at 1B, and hasn’t hit a lick since June??? Um okay….
redwards95 - September 15, 2010
Here's why
Because the alternative isn’t good either, but I agree that this decision is VERY debatable.
Lee hasn’t hit a lick since he came to us. He has a bad back.
Freeman is too young to play him every day.
ryantex - September 15, 2010
Then Jason should not play every day because he is 21 as well. That logic does not make sense. Try the kid out more than an at bat every three days
FreddieFreemanTime - September 15, 2010
Here's logic
Jason is a much better player with much more potential than Freddie. Two different players entirely. That being said, Freddie should be a really good player for many years to come.
Freddie was thrust into the lineup mid-season.
I’m just saying that it’s a lot to ask of a young guy coming up mid-season. That’s logical.
ryantex - September 15, 2010
Jason has had almost a whole year to figure things out which he has. By just saying Freeman is too young than you basically say Freeman can’t handle the pressure or the ML because of his age. Which Jason was the same age. Freeman will be a great player. I say play Freeman because Lee and Glaus have done nothing these past few months. Get Freddie ready for next year and I think he will suprise everyone here that he is legit
FreddieFreemanTime - September 15, 2010
I am just frusterated with this team. I think we need to switch things up and stop putting out the same guys which continue to produce the same results
FreddieFreemanTime - September 15, 2010
Lee hasn't been horrible.
He’s just not been consistent. Started off with a couple bad weeks (saw the same thing when Gonzalez came over), then was on a week-long tear, and has since cooled off again.
I think the biggest mistake was making a move so late, rather than the move itself. It takes some people awhile to adjust to new surroundings. That’s time we just don’t have at the moment.
If the move was made a month earlier (and I’m not saying it could have been), I think we’d be seeing a different Derrek Lee right now.
-C
cthabeerman - September 15, 2010
Not true that Lee hasn't hit a lick.
FitzFan - September 15, 2010
As a Brave he has one homer and is hitting .241. His OBP is marginally up over his Chicago numbers as is his tendency to hit doubles, but I think a rock solid case can be made that Lee has not delivered what the Braves needed out of him.
Zontar - September 16, 2010
Yes, he’s that good.
10-4 - September 16, 2010
P.S.
Anyone else break their remote today? I slammed mine on the ground, and it’s in about 8 pieces right now.
Scott Coleman - September 15, 2010
No but my girlfriend is getting really annoyed with me.
TradeAndruw - September 15, 2010
Yeah, my girlfriend will probably drop me if the braves continue to lose.
If we end up not making the playoffs she will hate me.
BravesFanScout - September 15, 2010
Welcome to the club. lol
Chief Noc-A-Homa - September 15, 2010
One of the good times to be in a long distance relationship... shit
jcparr - September 15, 2010
haha works out perfect
Didnt think about that. My girl will be here just for tonight and tomorrow morning. If i can go that long without pulling a Brett Myers Im in the clear for another 2 months, and there won’t even be a game on while she’s here.
15ks - September 15, 2010
That’s why it’s good to be married. They can’t drop you…they just nag uncontrollably. I’ve gotten really good at tuning certain thing out now.
However, I don’t watch many games on tv cause it gets a bit boring. Much better live.
Sparhawk - September 15, 2010
Engaged works too.
Andy Braves Fan - September 15, 2010
this
She already knew my baseball habits and prepared for them in advance.
Sir Veza - September 16, 2010
No, only because I already destroyed it during the Cowboys vs. Redskins game Sunday night.
bpk228480 - September 15, 2010
i hear that
i had that huge in my pool
15ks - September 15, 2010
Yea
I almost did the same thing then…both my frickin teams, man
k2spitfire88 - September 15, 2010
Honestly...
please don’t do any more series previews, etc. Your loserness is getting undeniable.
Mr. Sanchez - September 15, 2010
thank heavens no, but then again, i would have broken my netbook. Which i almost did. I asked my friend to turn it off before BMac struck out so i wouldnt throw it across the room. He didnt. Talk abotu restraint.
traphicg - September 16, 2010
By the way, there is now a very low chance we make the playoffs.
For those of you who say Chicken Little, blah blah blah, try to convince me otherwise.
Playoff teams play like the Phillies and Rockies have been playing in September.
ryantex - September 15, 2010
Playoff teams have the best records
Which we currently do. We very soon may not, but the whole, “playoff teams don’t look like this” or “playoff teams don’t do this” business doesn’t hold water.
If your point is, if we keep playing the way we are playing, the way we are playing, we probably won’t make the playoffs, that is true.
But how you play in September is overrated. We are scratching and surviving today just as much because we lost 9 in row in April as because we can’t beat the Nationals today.
The Goche - September 15, 2010
My point being
No matter how bad we look today, if we just win a couple games we’ll be fine. Now we have to play much better to do that, but we’re aren’t dead yet.
That’s not to say I’m super confident we’ll all the sudden start to play better, but I know we can do it.
The Goche - September 15, 2010
Yes
I’m just pissed off.
ryantex - September 15, 2010
+1
get swoll yunel - September 15, 2010
.....
We’re leading the wild card?
SuperNewb - September 16, 2010
SP sucks + Offense sucks = Painful Lost
Way to Win
SP should pitch 8 shutout innings
joshant - September 15, 2010
Our pitching has carried us all season. If it continues to suck we will be out of this race real fast
BravesFanScout - September 15, 2010
i know that. That is because of why i am here
joshant - September 15, 2010
Were the Nats 2-for-2
with RISP?
I guess they were at one point, but they left the bases loaded later, so I know they made at least one out with RISP.
parish - September 15, 2010
I really don’t know what to say? I am trying soooo hard to be positive! Thank goodness for this off day! They really haven’t done us a lot of favors with our scheduling. I know there are lots of folks on here who defend Melky(Really hate to single him out cause he is not the only problem,) but man, even when he does get a hit it just really doesn’t seem like he has a plan up there?
jdmarine - September 15, 2010
This
He always seems lost, and his hits seem to be more luck than skill.
king of games - September 15, 2010
did i hear that right
the guy who hit the grand slam is 3-4 with bases loaded with 3 salamis?
bluelg - September 15, 2010
idk but isnt he like a .180 career hitter?
15ks - September 15, 2010
3 slams, not sure how many chances
Starting today: .132 avg this year, .204 career
15ks - September 15, 2010
Yes, he’s 3 for 4 with 3 slams.
TonyAlmeyda - September 15, 2010
I just can’t stand seeing Chopper after Chopper after Chopper!
jdmarine - September 15, 2010
Actually we were 18-11 in August
This shit really started around the COL series.
DreamWithinADream - September 15, 2010
Fixed it.
Scott Coleman - September 15, 2010
An ATL team that made the playoffs and Championship
the WNBA Dream! haha. Women’s basketball is brutal at times, but I would rather watch them play right now than the Braves.
BravesFanScout - September 15, 2010
I'd rather watch the Pirates than the WNBA
SuperNewb - September 16, 2010
the magic is gone...
gone… gone didilly on… stupid flanders…
HansonManCrush - September 15, 2010
Fuck this
I battle Atlanta traffic 50+ times this season and spend thousand on the Braves for us to look this uninspired in the heat of a pennant race at home in mid-september. I’m with you, I don’t think I’ll be watching this weekend. I don’t know how many more losses like that my sanity can bear. I sure do hope we have a late stretch run left in us, but it’s hard to be positive with how we’ve played on the road this season, though.
Go Braves.
kauf67 - September 15, 2010
There's a chance the Braves are losing focus
I was at the game today, so I don’t know if you saw this on tv….but everyone forgot that there’s only 3 outs in the fourth inning.
Bronn - September 15, 2010
Me too
They were all just standing there and I had no idea what was going on.
kauf67 - September 15, 2010
That was incredible
What were they thinking? Completely lost that there had been 3 outs.
bighop - September 15, 2010
Lollygaggers!
parish - September 15, 2010
Sometime a single player will forget, and it's bad
It’s upsetting when 9 guys do it. Okay, Minor at least stepped toward the dugout, but he hesitated when no one else even twitched. Apparently he was the only one to remember the strike out at the beginning of the inning.
Bronn - September 15, 2010
Looked like he went and asked the umpire to be sure, since nobody else was headed for the dugout.
bighop - September 15, 2010
Part of me thinks the Braves are missing Chipper Jones
They’re getting tons of baserunners-13 today. They left the bases loaded once, left two men on a couple of times. They just need someone to get the big hit. The big opportunities aren’t always finding Heyward, who’s often on base for those big ABs. It would help to have one guy in there who we all know can deliver in the clutch.
Bronn - September 15, 2010
We’re still leading the Wild Card.
I’ll be pulling for the Dodgers, tonite.
…..I am glad I didn’t take the day off. I’d just assume see the losing score, as opposed to watching them lose. Fuck the Nats and their fucking spoiler mentality. ok, that’s all I’ve got left.
Chief Noc-A-Homa - September 15, 2010
I put 20 bucks on it that we have to face Livan again. That’s just the way this month is going.
Chief Noc-A-Homa - September 15, 2010
the fact that we're talking about it like it is a problem
shows how bad the Braves are right now. Livan sucks. But it doesn’t matter who the Braves face right now. Any second rate loser can shut them down right now.
DreamWithinADream - September 15, 2010
They should just pretend it’s ’08 (especially JJ)
We were nowhere near contention, but we were taking names on the road, the entire year.
Chief Noc-A-Homa - September 15, 2010
JJ should pretend it's '09
If we had ‘09 pitching right now, we probably wouldn’t be struggling. JJ was masterful last september as was Vazquez. Hanson was good as well.
DreamWithinADream - September 15, 2010
I fucking hate the Nats now too... that lil shit nigel morgan already had me pissed
now this bullshit!
jcparr - September 15, 2010
i'm sure MLB will hand him his suspension before he plays Phillie. cuz that's how they roll
Chief Noc-A-Homa - September 15, 2010
I probably hate Florida more than anyone else in our division, right now. Loathe, would be a better word.
Chief Noc-A-Homa - September 15, 2010
Fat Lady is warming up...
First home series loss since April 20-22. Been a good run boys.
I will be watching all the way until they are mathmatically eliminated and still have my Bobby Cox night ticket, but it definitely looks grim.
Then I see things like the entire team forgetting the inning is over and I just figure they’ve given everything they’ve had, one too many injuries in the rotation (how huge was losing Meds) and I think they’ve just worn out all together.
CharlotteChop - September 15, 2010
first home series loss since April can’t be too bad of a thing. I mean, we’re usually playing in front of a sea of blue. Could be much, much worse.
Chief Noc-A-Homa - September 15, 2010
Hopefully
Now that the Braves suck at home as well, they’ll pick their heads up out of their asses and start playing well again.
But you have to start wondering if the true talent level of the team isn’t what it is right now.
DreamWithinADream - September 15, 2010
Well, September call-ups usually mean a bunch of kids getting a glimmer at the bigs.
HOWEVER, we just brought up a bunch of guys that got sent to Triple A (and probably would have been cut, if it was any other team)
So, I was dreading that, to begin with. The one thing that surprised me was that all of Nate’s shots haven’t been groundouts to 2nd.
Chief Noc-A-Homa - September 15, 2010
But look at the true talent level of the team
2B Infante- he’s a utility guy. He’ll get some singles but hits for no power.
RF Heyward- he’s legit with a .400 OBP, but is not (yet) the power hitting threat he will become
3B Prado- he’s genuinely good, but he doesn’t have a ton of power for a guy hitting 3rd and doesn’t walk much
C McCann- best catcher in the NL, but he wears down down the stretch and is not a 30 HR guy to begin with
1B Lee- old, broken, and tired. bad trade.
CF McLouth- looks better, but it doesn’t really matter with Lee hitting ahead of him and the guys hitting after him
SS Gonzo- walk off HR aside, he’s not a good hitter. Poor OBP skills. Not much discipline. He flashes some power, but not nearly the amount in Toronto (which was expected)
LF Cabrera- he’s trash
Too many black holes in the lineup, and there were even more when Ankiel Auto-K was playing. Essentially, the true talent level is worse than it was when we were winning in May. Terrible trades by Wren combined with the loss of Chipper.
DreamWithinADream - September 15, 2010
Despite all this, if A FEW GUYS can start clicking, we can win the WC, get hot again, etc.
Chief Noc-A-Homa - September 15, 2010
But you're asking
a bunch of below average players to play above their heads all at the same time.
DreamWithinADream - September 15, 2010
that many All-Stars can’t be below average. Just saying. I see that you’ve lost all hope; that’s fine. I just think there’s still a chance of bouncing back.
Chief Noc-A-Homa - September 15, 2010
i haven't lost all hope
i’m just stating what i’m thinking. there’s a chance always of getting back on track and they very well could, but the odds are against us.
DreamWithinADream - September 15, 2010
Talk about going overboard. All those guys are not below average.
There is a difference between superstar & good player that can help you win. Omar is a good player. The braves have had hot stretches during the year with those so called below average guys. Why the heck can’t it happen in the final weeks?
FitzFan - September 15, 2010
not all of them
i was more or less talking about Cabrera, Gonzalez, and Lee (now) specifically while noting that Mac generally wears down during the end of the season. omar is a good singles hitter, but not much else. they can definitely get hot, but doesn’t mean they aren’t below average.
DreamWithinADream - September 15, 2010
hehe i like how u just described Melky as trash lol
Albert K - September 16, 2010
Bad pitching and bad hitting
Difference with the Phillies is, when their offense is shut down, their pitching steps up (usually this is when Halladay, Oswalt, or Hamels is pitching). When their pitching isn’t great, the hitting is (usually when Blanton or Kendrick is pitching).
They find ways to win, one way or another.
DreamWithinADream - September 15, 2010
Choke
Last year the Braves choked in the last week of the season. I guess it’s progress that this year they’ve gotten their choke on a few weeks earlier.
redwards95 - September 15, 2010
Screw this team. No heart and no effort.
taney71 - September 15, 2010
You sound like...
you may be an idiot.
But of course, I have no way of actually knowing.
sddbaker - September 15, 2010
when a team in the thick of a playoff race goes out there against a last place team and simply “goes through the motions” to the point where the entire team forgets how many outs there are in an inning, then comments like this are completely warranted
That was pathetic today. All around. Empty stadium. No heart. No life. No effort. No sense of concern. It’s the middle of September, and we are in a tight sandwich between the NL EAst and WC. It would be an insult to the glorious sport of baseball for the team I watched today to be in the postseason.
DCP916 - September 15, 2010
If anyone could succeed by just trying harder, baseball players wouldn’t be getting payed millions of dollars for what they do. Sorry, but the team is slumping right now. That has nothing to do with how hard they are trying. How would you like it if I walked up to you and said they you were a miserable excuse for a human being because you had no heart or effort, even if you knew it wasn’t true. Don’t make assumptions about things that you can’t possibly have any way of actually knowing.
alxn - September 16, 2010
what is the difference right now with the rest of the season?
We are in pennant race because of the Pitching. Our pitching staff has been great during all the season.
Our offense has been sucking all the season except May.
Our pitching staff is sucking right now, so add it the slumping offense, you will have a lot of losses.
Great Pitching Staff + No Offense = 75% win
Bad Pitching Staff + No Offense = 10% win
that is what happening right now.
joshant - September 15, 2010
agreed
Mr. Sanchez - September 15, 2010
Is it fair to look at that Yunel/Gonzalez trade now?
Yunel since the trade: .307/.357/.401
Gonzo since the trade: .262/.318/.413
I didn’t like it at the time…I still don’t like it.
Bronn - September 15, 2010
It was a dumb trade to begin with
we should be happy Gonzalez has done as well as he has. A .318 OBP is amazing for him.
DreamWithinADream - September 15, 2010
that wouldn’t have mattered. that trade was probably for the better. Yunel had everything but the right attitude.
Chief Noc-A-Homa - September 15, 2010
With the "win now" moves, though
Don’t you usually take the bad attitudes with the good numbers, then try to move them in the offseason?
Bronn - September 15, 2010
I wish that's what we were getting from him
We got bad attitude and bad numbers from Yunel.
Sam Jethroe - September 15, 2010
But generally, common wisdom told us that he was the odds-on favorite to perform better over the course of the season, since his career numbers are drastically better.
Bronn - September 15, 2010
If he were 23 or 24
I might buy that, but he’s getting older, his body isn’t getting any better and I don’t think he has a high upside.
Even a year ago, he was probably my favorite position player. I defended him hither and yon against any slurs on his game or character. I predicted he’d hit 25 homers this spring. I stopped reading Bowman’s blog because I was sick of his obvious personal bias against Yunel.
All of that changed this year. Gradually but irreversibly. We’re better off without him, especially in the medium and long term.
Sam Jethroe - September 15, 2010
Players generally don’t decline at 27. It’s not like he’s old and his health is failing. I think I’d kill for that extra player with a .350ish OBP. Alex Gonzalez, at 33, is a more likely candidate to be in the decline phase than Yunel.
It’s funny how, when Yunel was hitting .299/.377/.436 last year, I heard no one complaining about his attitude. For all we knew, he was a model citizen. It’s when he encountered some struggles that he turned into this villainous presence that was sapping the life from our dugout. The fact is, we had a very good record with Yunel playing for us, even his bad numbers, partially because he was pulling off some defensive wizardry. Since he left, we’re a fairly average team.
Bronn - September 15, 2010
People were complaining then.
It was muted but it was there. Go back and read Bowman and Mark Bradley at the AJC and what they were writing at the time. I know they’re both full of shit but I’m just citing them to prove that the rumblings were there. As I thought I outlined above, I wasn’t on that wagon then. I would’ve thought that fact would give me a bit of credibility on this matter.
As for that last bit, post hoc ergo propter hoc has never impressed me and it still doesn’t.
Sam Jethroe - September 15, 2010
whatever
It’s not a completely post hoc argument since I made it at the time of the trade. I expected that we were downgrading both offensively and defensively (slightly) at the shortstop position, and it’s been true. Okay, there have been other differences in the team, most notably the fact that we lost Chipper for the year at a point after that trade, but it certainly hasn’t helped that we’ve got a crappy OBP from our shortstop, compared to a fairly decent one even before the trade. And if you’re being completely objective, you simply can’t tell me that Alex has been as good defensively as Yunel was prior to the trade. As a whole, I’ve been generally unimpressed with Gonzalez’s defense.
Bronn - September 15, 2010
It's a post hoc argument
In the sense that you’re saying, or at least implying, that we tanked because of the trade. That’s the “ergo”
I know you didn’t like it then. There’s a caucus of you guys here and I respect your consistency, but I don’t really buy many of your arguments.
Sam Jethroe - September 15, 2010
Then you’ve not been paying attention, as a whole.
He’s been excellent since those first couple weeks. Took him awhile to adjust, 7 errors in his first 11 or so games, just one since.
-C
cthabeerman - September 15, 2010
There’s more to defense than the number of errors you commit, obviously. That ball he dropped today, for example-not easy, but it was make-able, or at least, there’s a shortstop somewhere who could have made it.
Bronn - September 15, 2010
Yunel's attitude...
Has been a well-known problem for the majority of the time he was with Atlanta. People don’t complain as loud when those type of players produce, but once they fall off, it’s generally off with his head.
Yunel’s stats in Toronto in no way reflect how he might have played in Atlanta. He’s a mediocre Manny Ramirez, without the steroid issue. His career path will likely be the same. Play above average ball, become a problem, decline, get traded. Wash, rinse, repeat. I hope his attitude in Atlanta (and his subsequent decline) is an anomaly, but I will not be surprised if it holds true.
-C
cthabeerman - September 15, 2010
Co-sign.
Sam Jethroe - September 15, 2010
The fact that Yunel’s Toronto line looks remarkably similar to his career line tends to strengthen my argument that he would revert to his career numbers though, doesn’t it?
Bronn - September 15, 2010
Can any one of you guys explain
Just what the hell was wrong with him here this season, without resorting to Euclid or something?
Sam Jethroe - September 15, 2010
Well that’s just it, I’m not sure there was anything “wrong” with him. He definitely was struggling a bit with generating a ton of pop-ups, but that was a minor problem with his swing that he just needed time to work through. Those are caused by missing slightly with the bat so that you get under it. He wasn’t flailing away at the plate and striking out a ton by swinging at crap, and he wasn’t rolling over everything and pounding it into the ground. He didn’t have the same kind of velocity off the bat on his ground balls and line drives, so perhaps he wasn’t finding the sweet spot as often.
His power didn’t just evaporate due to the tangy smell of Bobby Cox’s cigars, so I tend to think it was mostly correctable problems that he just needed time to work through. And it would appear that he has.
Bronn - September 15, 2010
What I'm getting at
Is that maybe he was sick of being here just as much as people were apparently sick of him. Maybe he’s (re)blossomed in Toronto because he’s more comfortable there.
Those kinds of things are ignored, or dismissed, in far too much of what makes up baseball analysis today.
Sam Jethroe - September 15, 2010
They’re ignored because they’re inherently unprovable. You say you don’t like the post hoc arguments, but those are the arguments that exist to explain those situations since there’s no measurable effects. Generally, I’d have to think that if Yunel can’t function with Bobby Cox as a manager, he probably can’t function as a baseball player.
If you have an explanation that explains how he was a perfectly capable hitter (in fact, above average) in 2009 with the same team, surrounded by many of the same players and the same manager, but in 2010, he suddenly became unable to deal with it, I would like to hear it.
Bronn - September 15, 2010
I didn't say that I did
And just because they’re unprovable using a physics-level standard of proof doesn’t mean they don’t exist.
Baseball is as much sociology and anthropology as it is physics and statistics.
Sam Jethroe - September 15, 2010
So what you’re saying is that you have no reason to explain Yunel’s struggles this year, and no reason to believe that they would continue, and that all of that still doesn’t matter because you have an idea that you not only can’t prove, but not even provide evidence to support it.
I have an opinion, and I’ve offered evidence to back it up, and it’s been supported pretty well by what’s actually happened. Perhaps it’s not a holistic approach, but honestly, since we can measure everything that happens on a baseball field, I don’t really care what happens off the baseball field as long as players aren’t committing felonies. We’ve gotten to the point that the sample size isn’t tiny, and we can begin to say that, hey, this trade really does look like a (big f-ing) mistake. I’m upset about it, and I’m more upset about it on days like today when I watched Alex Gonzalez muff a make-able play and go 0-4 at the plate. I certainly haven’t used every opportunity to compare the two-in fact I’ve barely mentioned Yunel since the trade prior to the today.
Bronn - September 15, 2010
Even if I'm the moron you think I am
It’s all irrelevant. He’s gone and he’s not coming back.
At the very worst, that trade was a mistake. My standards for “big fucking mistake” are a bit higher. Like trading two 20 year old all stars for a year’s rental of a selfish, clueless hump.
Sam Jethroe - September 16, 2010
If you want to go the sociology route, I hear Francouer and his pom-poms are available. Let’s stick to what we know:
Yunel has had a much, much better career than Gonzalez. He is also 27 and still under team control. Therefore, unless he threatened Bobby Cox’s life, he would be much better to have on the team.
This organization seems to target guys that Wren or Bobby don’t seem to like (see KK).
kbertling353 - September 15, 2010
Do not
Associate me with Jeff Francoeur. That’s a low blow.
Sam Jethroe - September 16, 2010
Not necessarily.
His numbers in Toronto should actually exceed his Atlanta numbers by a pretty decent degree, due to the ballpark he regularly plays in.
The OPS+ are similar, tho, even with his horrid 2010 first half dragging his Atlanta stats down.
-C
cthabeerman - September 15, 2010
It's not like he went to Colorado.
Toronto’s Park factor only slightly favors hitters this year, while Turner Field only slightly favors pitchers. It’s a pretty small difference, not enough that it should affect his number “to a pretty decent degree.”
Bronn - September 15, 2010
since they will each play...
half a season in one park and half in the other, just wait until the season is over and compare their overall stat line.
That will account for park factors, opposing pitchers, etc.
Oh, and be sure to look at RBIs
DCP916 - September 15, 2010
lol rbis
kbertling353 - September 15, 2010
Not Coors, but close.
Check the ballpark statistics. The HR ballpark factor is 1.385 in Toronto vs. 1.495 at Coors, 1.000 being an equal hitters-pitchers park. It’s fourth, and the rest of the pack is pretty well behind. 2 of his homers are there, the other is in Camden, which is the fifth most HR friendly park. Then look at his doubles…5 of the 7 since moving to Toronto have come in doubles-friendly parks as well.
There’s a lot of evidence that any and all of his slugging is done as a result of the parks he’s played in.
Then look at his production in general. The five AL East ballparks rank 2nd (Yankees), 5th (Baltimore), tied for 7th (Toronto and Boston) and 30th (Tampa). NL East ballparks: 10 (Florida), 11 (Philly), 18 (Atlanta), 20 (Washington), and 25th (Mets).
Like I said, his OPS+ is still over 100, but you’d be foolish to believe that the non-ballpark factoring statistics he’s put up as a Blue Jay is indicative of his return to career averages.
-C
cthabeerman - September 16, 2010
I'm still wondering what horrible stuff the guy did? Sorry, don't think YE is mediocre. If he is than AG is horrid.
FitzFan - September 15, 2010
everybody hated him
coaches, players, etc.
I have a friend who is a very close friend of one of the players. They don’t talk outside the lockerroom, but it was guaranteed to me at the end of last season that Yunel would be traded and that wouyld be “the happiest day of the year in the Braves lockerroom”.
We’ll see how he manages in Toronto. Older posters might recall Bobby Bonds and Dick Allen – two very talented players who constantly bounced around the league (pre- free agency) because everybody hated them so much.
DCP916 - September 15, 2010
barrybobby bonds?SF became the league’s bitchiest team b/c of that cancer on their team.
traphicg - September 16, 2010
And Gonzo has everything except hitting ability.
justincredubil02 - September 16, 2010
This shows your complete unwillingness to actually analyze his play.
His stat line drops quite a bit with no one on base, as he’s trying to be aggressive at the plate and get things going for the team. With runners on, his average and OBP are considerably better.
For where he’s batting in the lineup, this is basically optimal. It’s his job to advance and score runners in front of him. When there’s no runners in front of him, a single isn’t going to be as valuable because he generally has the 8th and 9th slots behind him.
-C
cthabeerman - September 16, 2010
What about a career .295 OBP shows an ability to hit?
justincredubil02 - September 17, 2010
Told you it'd be higher here
through the end of the year.
Mr. Sanchez - September 17, 2010
But it did regress from his first half.
And hopefully, it would be higher than .295. That’s just a horrible OBP. It’s lower than Francoeur!
justincredubil02 - September 17, 2010
whatever,...
I said he’d be around .320 for us this year, and he is.
Mr. Sanchez - September 17, 2010
I'm not getting into this argument with you again.
But you are a moron for clutching at that particular straw.
-C
cthabeerman - September 17, 2010
And you are obviously a genius for thinking that he is a good hitter.
justincredubil02 - September 17, 2010
These guys are doing exactly what we thought they would.
Didn’t we all reach a consensus that the move was made because Yunel had become too big of a “clubhouse cancer”?
get swoll yunel - September 15, 2010
If you can explain to me how we were a worse team with Yunel (despite being 52-36 prior to the trade compared to 34-31 since), then I will completely sign off on that explanation. Apparently he wasn’t enough of a clubhouse cancer to sabotage the team.
Bronn - September 15, 2010
Err wait, that’s 31-28 since the trade. Still not that exciting.
Bronn - September 15, 2010
THIS!
Seriously, if Yunel were such a cancer, the team had a nice way of covering it up. This just shows how overrated clubhouse chemistry is. Chemistry doesn’t win games – talent does. Yunel is a vastly more talented player than Alex Gonzalez.
justincredubil02 - September 16, 2010
the team had a palpable excitement after Yunel left. I thought that was unanimous. However, Yunie going to Toronto did NOT cause Chip, JJ, Lowe, Meds, JHey, and anyone else who spent a stint on the DL to get hurt.
There were several articles mentioning the chemistry of the team and how much fun they were having throughout the bulk of the year once Yunel left.
traphicg - September 16, 2010
There were also articles last year about how much fun the team was having – WITH Yunel on it. There were articles from ST talking about the same thing. There were articles during May with quotes from players saying how they feel this is the best team Atlanta had put together in a loooong time.
justincredubil02 - September 16, 2010
And not one of those articles
Mentioned Yunel as a reason that team chemistry existed.
-C
cthabeerman - September 16, 2010
Which negates the fact that they exist?
justincredubil02 - September 17, 2010
See, this is not correct. These guys are doing exactly what SOME of us thought they would do.
Most people around here thought (and still think) that Gonzalez would be a great hitter because he had 17 HRs and was batting 60 points above his career average. The few of us who could rationally look at this realized it was a big freakin mistake.
justincredubil02 - September 16, 2010
How DARE you bring that up???
But, since you did, I just want to point out that Gonzo killed at least 2 rallies yesterday all by his lonesome.
1st pitch pop-up with 2 on and no out.
GIDP with 2 on and 1 out.
But hey, he HITZ DINGGERRZZZ!!!
justincredubil02 - September 16, 2010
every player does this
it’s not like Albert Pujols was an option.
We needed someone to drive in runs from the bottom of the order (aka the black hole). We also needed someone who could replace Yunel’s contributions on defense. We didn’t have any money to spend or many prospects to trade.
Alex was the perfect option – cheap, healthy, reliable veteran with playoff experience who is good with the glove and can drive in runs and who was swinging the bat well this season.
We already have guys at the top of the order who can be picky and draw walks and get on base. What we needed was someone to drive them in swinging the bat. Yunel has 35 RBIs this year, Gonzalez has 81. No contest, imo.
DCP916 - September 16, 2010
Every player DOES do this. Correct. Gonzalez just tends to do it more than most players, since he is a below average hitter.
He is not, nor was he ever the “perfect” option. The perfect option was keeping one of the best young ss in the game, who was about 4x as cheap as Gonzalez and letting him get a year with Fredi Gonzalez to see how things worked out. Yunel was not hurting the team on the field, even with his dumb plays and loss of power. His D more than made up for it.
Also, by using RBI to support your claim, you lose most credibility.
justincredubil02 - September 17, 2010
I really think it's over
The magic is gone. We don’t get timely hitting we’ve relied on all season anymore. Its like every time I think they need to be more aggressive at the plate, they stare at pitches looking for a walk. Every time I think they need to be patient, they swing at the first pitch in the dirt.
The pitchers are giving up a lot more HRs, and we’ve been pretty unlucky to go along with it (the David Ross DP today for example). It’s driving me insane and I’m ready to throw in the towel. This team frustrates me more and more each day.
tdoublem23 - September 15, 2010
I can't give up on the Braves...
Considering that they will still lead the WC at the end of the night.
However:
Unfortunately, the Braves need to turn it around, and I have little faith that they will do so on a 10-game road trip. There has been no indication from recent play that this team can win consistently on the road (see: Colorado, Pittsburgh, and Florida). Losing 2 of 3 to the Nats at home is simply icing on the cake.
Will they suddenly catch fire? Maybe. The Rockies did, but I don’t like our chances. If you do, please explain your rationale.
Maybe we’ll limp our way into the playoffs, but does any Brave fan truly think that our SPs will dominate lineups like the Reds or Phillies or that our hitters will be able to hit stud pitchers? I don’t.
Thus, why bother with the WC when I have a feeling we’d just win one game in the first round? Hooray.
Jman781 - September 15, 2010
We won't have a chance to limp into the playoffs
You can be sure the Rockies and Giants will take advantage of our suckitude.
DreamWithinADream - September 15, 2010
We are Playing like Crap, but seriously, nut up fans
Ohhh… this is so bad, it’s so awful, I didn’t pay my hard earned money to see a team only be 19 games over .500 and be in control of their own destiny for a Wild Card berth in mid-September.
Really, with the Phillies series we are in control of our own destiny for the division too.
I mean, I’m just as pissed off watching awful games like that today, and I’m not super confident in the team right now.
Honestly, we probably overachieved this year given how our offense is pretty mediocre at best.
I too hate watching Melky do anything baseball related while wearing and A on his hat.
I was screaming for a legit righty hitting outfielder, preferably CF, and am still bothered that we never did get one when it was such a glaring need.
But seriously, quit bitching.
So we only have like 4 legitimate hitters in our lineup right now, we still can win ball games if our awesome pitchers just start pitching awesome again.
As much as watching a game like today’s sucks, I’d much rather just hope we do better (even if it means I’ll be disappointed) than to cut bait now and come running back when (if?) we win a few.
Do I totally believe we will pull it out? Absolutely not.
Do I totally believe we can? I absolutely do.
You guys are like the fans who leave games early, even when we’re close, but the weird thing is, WE STILL HAVE THE LEAD (at least for the WC).
Is the threat of being disappointed for 2 weeks really so great that you’ll just give up on the possiblity, however thin, that we’ll do something awesome.
The Goche - September 15, 2010
I mean seriously
We aren’t 6 games out, we’re 2.5 back in the division and 1 up in the WC.
Did the team bus get hit by a meteor or something? Because otherwise, it doesn’t seem to be hoping for a miracle to believe this team could make the playoffs.
You guys aren’t even the people who only root for good teams. Are you seriously unable to root for a team that might not make the playoffs?
The Goche - September 15, 2010
Are you male?
And are you single?
sddbaker - September 15, 2010
Yes,
and no
Tough break kid, but no worries. There’s some not totally crazy Braves fan out there for you.
The Goche - September 15, 2010
You just might not want to look for them on this particular blog on this particular day, hahaha.
The Goche - September 15, 2010
Agree
But I am still very, very frustrated.
I would still never leave a game early. Never have. Dealing with traffic is infinitely better than missing a walk-off.
I’m still flying up to Atlanta for the last series, even if we are 10 games out.
But I’m still pissed. Good post though.
ryantex - September 15, 2010
Great post
and I agree completely.
Cayla - September 15, 2010
I agree.
The problem is that most of us don’t see this team suddenly turning it around. It is definitely possible. The Rockies do it every year.
You hit the nail on the head with the pitching. Our offense has been spotty all season long, but our pitching has failed us of late. We need our pitchers to dominate not be mediocre.
We’ll see, but the facts are as follows:
Since the All Star break the Braves are only a few games over .500, and on the road the Braves, for the entire season, are 31-41. I don’t see us making the playoffs playing .500 ball, so a team that is playing .500 ball over the entire second half and has a .431 road record over the entire season will some how turn it around and play great baseball against the Mets, Phillies and Nationals (a team that just beat us at home) on the road?
Yes we have the lead NOW, but what about this team makes you think that we will have the ability to go 7-3 (or better) on this road trip?
Jman781 - September 15, 2010
Excuse me.
6-3. We have an off day thrown in, I believe.
Jman781 - September 15, 2010
we wont....!!!!!!!!!!!!
we can’t beat the friggin pirates or even the nationals….!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! how do you expect them to even make the playoffs….?
Hektor DiPaula - September 15, 2010
This was the most accurate analysis I have seen… and I think you are right
SuperHeyward - September 15, 2010
You don't have to convince me we've been playing crappy
You don’t have to convince me to be quite concerned about this road trip.
I’m just saying, that it’s weak to start giving up just because we happen to be playing badly.
I’m not telling you to bet on the team. I’m not telling you not to die inside a little bit everytime you see Melky’s name in the lineup.
People have every right to write this team off now, and only come back if we’ve won 3 or 4 games come Tuesday morning. I’m just going to choose not to be a frontrunning loser.
I’d just rather (and this is my personal preference) keep believing through a few heartbreaks just to know that when we do pull off some September heroics (be it this September or in 10 Septembers), that I never gave up on the team, no matter how many times they made me want to.
The Goche - September 15, 2010
Exactly...
Many here obviously choose to be the “frontrunning losers”
sddbaker - September 15, 2010
There's a distinction between...
Stating facts and rooting for a team.
I will root for this team 100%. As a fan of UGA, the Falcons, the Hawks, the Thrashers, etc. I am used to failure. My love of each team does not waiver with wins or losses. My opinion of them does.
Some on here equate rational analysis to hating on the team. I can root for a team while understanding their limitations. This team is not a championship caliber team. It’s just not. That doesn’t mean that I am not rooting for them to win the WS.
I bet there are Pirates fans that has season tickets and have rooted for the team fervently since 1992. I bet some of them realize their team stinks. Does that make their fandom inferior to those delusional Pirates fans who believe they will win the WS each year? No.
I love the Braves, but these team simply is not very good right now. I have yet to see anyone give reasons to believe otherwise.
Jman781 - September 15, 2010
*that HAVE season tickets*
Jman781 - September 15, 2010
True, the way we are playing right now, I wouldn’t expect them to turn around and win the series (even when we were playing well I wasn’t especially convinced that we would have a great shot to win a WS, especially if the opponent happens to have a LHP starter of even mediocre ability).
But I think that some people believe it’s literally impossible for this team to make the playoffs, or at least to do anything if we did.
Too often people justify their giving up on the team with “rational analysis.” “This is not a playoff team.”
But the whole idea of what a “world series team” looks like is wrong. Obviously our chances of winning the series are quite low. But sometimes a weird team wins the Series. I just think that fans do themselves a disservice when they convince themselves that unlikely means impossible.
Even more so, the idea of a “playoff” team is ridiculous. "We don’t look like a “playoff” team so I’m writing us off." The team that has the most wins after 162 are the playoff teams. I don’t care how crappy we played today or played this week or this month, we CAN win 10 of the next 15, and we have every reason to believe we SHOULD play well enough to make the playoffs.
I’m not saying that we should be talking up how great we are, b/c we aren’t even really good right now. I’m also not saying that people who aren’t excited by some infinitesimal chance of success are bad fans. But we have a much more than infinitesimal chance, especially of at least making the playoffs.
I whole heartedly agree that we do not look to have a great chance to win the WS, and that we aren’t playing well enough right now to expect to continue at the same pace and make the playoffs.
But if we do get it together and make the playoffs, we have a real (if not great) chance in every single series.
People are acting like it’s impossible for this team to pull it together (and in that way justifying their giving up) and I don’t buy that.
The reason you have to believe otherwise is that you are a fan. I mean, you don’t have to bet on it, but we all know what this team is capable of otherwise we wouldn’t be where we are right now. We are capable of winning 9 in a row, and capable of losing 9 games in a row. We could totally blow it or come back and win the East.
Obviously, there are plenty of reasons not to bet that they’ll do any of that. But I’m going to turn on every game believing we can win.
I wouldn’t blame anyone for not getting their hopes up that the a team will make up a 10 game deficit in 2 weeks or something ridiculous right now. But we ARE IN PLAYOFF POSITION ALREADY.
If anyone doesn’t believe we can and should win enough games the rest of the season just to maintain our place, and that fans should be sticking by their team believing we’ll turn it around, then I will say, those fans are pretty crappy fans.
The Goche - September 15, 2010
The '97 and '03 Marlins weren't World Series teams.
Neither were the ’06 Cardinals. They just got hot at the right time, which is (unfortunately, in my opinion), what this current system rewards, as opposed to the past (pre-1969) when the two best teams over the long haul always met up in October, and even the 1969-1993 era when they usually, (but not always) did.
So, basically, your point is accurate and well taken.
Sam Jethroe - September 15, 2010
Yeah, if this was the old two division system
I wouldn’t have much hope.
But I’d still have a little. Because it’s just more fun to have hope than to not have hope.
I mean, what’s the one thing Beck and Obama can agree on: hope.
Just kidding on that one. But it is true, sports are supposed to be fun. Watching today’s game wasn’t a lot of fun, but believing we can still win the WC, the Division, even the WS is a lot more fun than giving up.
The Goche - September 15, 2010
If you can’t believe in an 82-63 team to win the Wild Card when they have the lead, then you must have a pretty low capacity for belief.
To me, all belief really means is, “if we play to our capabilities, we will win” I mean, I don’t think any Pirates fan will tell you that if the Pirates play as well as they can that they would finish much more than .500 if that.
Even if you don’t expect them to do it, there is no reason not to keep your hopes up.
I guess the main idea behind all my posts is, the whole point of being a fan is that you hope they will do something special.
If you lose hope in a situation like this, then I just can’t imagine you get a lot of joy out of being a fan.
The Goche - September 15, 2010
You're missing the point.
People here still support the team. Nobody is giving up on the possibility. I’m sure nobody here is leaving close games early.
The points made/venting sessions are not intended to “bitch” or “give up on the possibility that we’ll do something awesome”, it’s just called being realistic. If we continue our current trend and keep playing shitty baseball while the Phillies/Rockies/other contenders hit their stride and are winning ballgames, the outlook is not good (with alot more emotion involved). It’s that simple.
I can’t speak for others, but you really piss me off. Clearly no one said anything about being unable or not wanting to root for our team down the stretch. Good day.
kauf67 - September 15, 2010
Direct Quote
“I don’t think I’ll be watching. If you do, well, props to you for sticking with this team.”
“Screw this team. No heart and no effort. "
“I really think it’s over”
Good day Sir!
Seriously, I didn’t do a damn thing to you, so chill out chief.
Plus, I said all along, if we don’t play better, we are toast. I think that’s perfectly realistic.
I also think it’s perfectly realistic that a team that is 82-63 can turn it around enough to hold on to a playoff spot. Is it the most likely this point? Probably not.
But jeez, what’s the point of giving up.
The Goche - September 15, 2010
So you are missing the point
And maybe I didn’t articulate it well, but all I ever intended to say is that we are in a playoff race and we have a chance, and that to me is all we can hope for to this point.
That doesn’t mean that we can’t say I’m pissed about how we played today, that doesn’t mean you can’t say I’ll be pissed if we play this way Friday.
More than anything I just wanted to remind people that, we are still in the drivers seat and as awful as it has been to watch lately, it’s not over. No matter how bad the loss today, if we win Friday it will mean just as much.
Theoretically, it was (possibly abrasive unmistakable well-intentioned) encouragement.
I never said one person is being a crappy fan. It was (at least intended to be) more along the lines of buck up, because the people on TC are generally good, educated fans.
As bad as the warning signs look, I still believe that we can do it, and telling people not to forget that pisses you off, if that’s blind enthusiasm then whatever.
The Goche - September 15, 2010
Alright, we are definitely on the same page then. Looked to me from your first post that you were just calling people out on being “fair-weathered”. Go Braves.
kauf67 - September 16, 2010
Your signature...
is excellent.
sddbaker - September 16, 2010
Thank you sir
kauf67 - September 16, 2010
well actually....
I’m a she, not that it really matters here.
sddbaker - September 16, 2010
Haha
Then thank you ma’am
kauf67 - September 16, 2010
rec’d
BMacAttack - September 16, 2010
I miss Casey Kotchman.
RichmondBraves - September 15, 2010
dlee and glaus are pretty bad
kbertling353 - September 15, 2010
Same as last year
Does everyone realize that this is the same old crap; losing to the worst pitchers on the worst teams down the stretch. I hate to be a doom and gloomer but the braves will probably be buried by the end of the road trip. I also hate to be the one to say that the Phillies are now a vastly superior team.
And look at who they added at the trading deadline. Roy Oswalt. Who did we add? Ankiel, Farnsworth and a little later, Lee. A truly terrible hitter, a mediocre reliever, and a washed up former All Star with a bad back.
lebzet - September 15, 2010
BLAH BLAH BLAH
Do you people think they are losing on purpose?
Most of you don’t deserve a winner anyway.
sddbaker - September 15, 2010
BUT THEY'RE NOT WINNING ON PURPOSE EITHER....
Hektor DiPaula - September 15, 2010
This isn't little league.
No. I don’t think they are losing on purpose. I wish they were.
The problem is that they are trying and still losing. This is not little league. I don’t care if the team plays hard, loses, and has the team moms bring the players cookies and pizza after the game.
I can be a fan of a team and frustrated by their performance at the same time. I can root for losers. Do you think that die-hard Mets fans aren’t upset that their team stinks? No. Does it make them feel better that the team tried really, really hard and still failed? Maybe to some, but not most. I am not abandoning my love of the Braves, just my hope for a post-season.
I am not trying to pick a fight. These last few weeks have been a slap in the face. The fact is that this team is moving downward. The division has taken a 9 game swing, in the wrong direction.
Like I said above, it is not impossible for this team to suddenly catch fire, but the statistics and record in the second half reflect that the chances are not good. If we go 7-2 over the next 9 games, I will be the first to admit that I was wrong.
Jman781 - September 15, 2010
neither do you.
no shit you’re single.
Chief Noc-A-Homa - September 15, 2010
Dude...
That’s a little cold, don’t you think?
Jman781 - September 15, 2010
I don’t know how much venting shit she had been reading thru at that point, and don’t really care…..but everyone should take offense to this noise…
“Most of you don’t deserve a winner anyway.”
that’s what you call “Super Bitch”
Chief Noc-A-Homa - September 15, 2010
That's what you call THE TRUTH
which you obviously can’t handle.
sddbaker - September 15, 2010
lol…..
when you talk shit that can be directed at anyone, be prepared for a retort. it’s that simple.
Chief Noc-A-Homa - September 15, 2010
Oh, I'm prepared...
I’ve been called worse by better.
sddbaker - September 15, 2010
I’m sure you have.
Chief Noc-A-Homa - September 15, 2010
Nice.
Adversity isn’t doing a lot of people here any favors.
Sam Jethroe - September 15, 2010
Remember when we were all friends...
The Braves ruining friendships since 1995
SuperHeyward - September 15, 2010
or since 2005 at least
traphicg - September 16, 2010
since Wren was GM
Albert K - September 16, 2010
Some people....
haven’t ever been very nice.
sddbaker - September 15, 2010
Oh please, you take little shots at everyone, collectively, (see above) and then act like you never said it. Those remarks are just as negative as the OP.
Just don’t be so quick to tell everyone else they’re wrong. I mean, we all know you’re always right / the best / etc, but be nice, for once.
Chief Noc-A-Homa - September 15, 2010
I've never acted like I "never said" anything...
That wouldn’t make much sense, would it, since it’s all there in black and white? You just don’t like what I say (it must bother you for some reason..), so you chose to call me names. Your names don’t bother me, because I know they don’t really apply.
sddbaker - September 15, 2010
no, they don’t. i’m just trying to help you get a fellow.
Chief Noc-A-Homa - September 15, 2010
You...
are such a sweetheart! I knew you were up to something.
sddbaker - September 15, 2010
Heart you, baker ;)
Chief Noc-A-Homa - September 15, 2010
Oh yes, I do...
Because I don’t accuse my team of not having “heart” or “balls” or whatever body part just because they don’t perform the way I want.
And I’m not sure what you are implying by your second remark, but whatever it is, you’re going to have to do a lot worse than that to bother me.
sddbaker - September 15, 2010
You're right....
you don’t vent against the Braves. you vent against the fans. The only person even worthy of watching Braves games is you, anyways.
Chief Noc-A-Homa - September 15, 2010
"supposed" fans
sddbaker - September 15, 2010
lol
sorry about my rude comment, earlier. it’s been a rough couple of games. i’m single rite now, too. haha.
can you at least try not to collectively diss the “supposed” fans all the time? please?
Chief Noc-A-Homa - September 15, 2010
Like I said below.
We all just need a nice, timely beat-down of the LOLMets.
Jman781 - September 15, 2010
who do the Phillies play this weekend?
Chief Noc-A-Homa - September 15, 2010
Us
Jman781 - September 15, 2010
wait…..? us?!? this wkend?
Chief Noc-A-Homa - September 15, 2010
ugh. looked it up. Nats. probably Nyjer-less, too.
Chief Noc-A-Homa - September 15, 2010
no...
they play the amazing Washington Nationals.
sddbaker - September 15, 2010
Gah...
It’s a long week ;-) I completely thought today was Monday. Wow. LOL…
Jman781 - September 15, 2010
LOLOLOL
Back up the DeLorean, man. You haven’t quite hit 88, yet.
Chief Noc-A-Homa - September 15, 2010
sorry...
couldn’t resist….
sorry too….
sddbaker - September 15, 2010
Hugs for everyone!
Jman781 - September 15, 2010
One more
Jman781 - September 15, 2010
I can dig it.
Chief Noc-A-Homa - September 15, 2010
It's really going to suck if this season doesn't mean anything...
For the sheer fact that miracles have occurred this season we NEED to make the playoffs.
Also F our baserunning… and when was the last stolen base. We are terrible at that.
SuperHeyward - September 15, 2010
it is all been just a good tease....
Hektor DiPaula - September 15, 2010
so so painful, but I’d take blue balls the rest of the season if someone could promise me we would make the playoffs
SuperHeyward - September 15, 2010
not get laid or actually have blue balls?
i couldn’t have them that long id blow my brains out, an hour if u get interupted or something is bad enough
15ks - September 15, 2010
Guarantee the playoffs and I won’’t get laid and somehow maintain blueballs… all of this is clearly impossible…but I’d do it if I could haha
SuperHeyward - September 15, 2010
hurm....
we might be onto something here….
why don’t we start one of those rally something like the rays did in 08 with the haircuts… maybe NO GETTING LAID TILL THE PLAYOFFS…. ill do it if they start a winning streak….
Hektor DiPaula - September 15, 2010
I was just thinking that… if we could make the news maybe we could inspire the team… I demand it GO ON THE FRONT PAGE… “TALKING CHOP NOT GETTING LAID UNTIL THE PLAYOFFS” -And into them if they keep going
SuperHeyward - September 15, 2010
lets make a facebook group.....
i don’t think doing it here would be a good idea… i mean the way things are around here right now, and with the purists … i think that would be an automatic ban… but its a great Idea…..
Hektor DiPaula - September 15, 2010
There was a good chance that was going to happen anyways, so what do we have to lose?
10-4 - September 16, 2010
Alot of things are adding up, some of it is just law of averages. Pitching is tiring, starters and bullpen. Medlen gone. Jurrjens injured. No Chipper to get a big hit when it must be had. Those things add up. Then you add in 23 or whatever last at bat wins and you figure at some point the luck just runs out. Then you consider all the emotion involved to win those type of games and maybe as the summer fades into fall there just isn’t much left in the tank. The Braves hung together with a few retreads, Prado, McCann and Heyward and great pitching for five months. Pitching wears down, no late inning comebacks, and poof the magic goes away fast.
Even if the Braves don’t pull it out, it’s been a great ride. I’m still hoping for one last 9 out of 10 push, but even the most ardent fan can objectively admit that it is far from likely now. We can only “hope” and that’s not going to cut it at this stage, there has to be proof in the pudding – the other teams are too close and playing too well, and quite frankly are too complete. I’m going to “hope” because I love the Braves, but my realistic side tells me – just enjoy Bobby’s appreciation night and remember all the great memories that made me a Braves fan! Yes, I am sad – no I am not throwing in the towel – just being objective and realistic.
Anyway, GO Braves!
CharlotteChop - September 15, 2010
Will be at the game on Saturday
Braves had better get their act together.
Andy Braves Fan - September 15, 2010
Also
Does this mean you are quitting as an author? Because it is embarrassing to me as a fan to have stuff like the above picked up and made front page news on SBNation’s baseball page, as an example of what terrible fans the Braves have. If this is how you support your team, then I think someone else may do a better job.
sddbaker - September 15, 2010
I agree with ya there.
CharlotteChop - September 15, 2010
i agree with both. but..
i really don’t think he’s quitting, hes just frustrated….. like me…. like most of us…. and one more thing… HEYWARD SHOULD BAT 3RD….!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hektor DiPaula - September 15, 2010
Someone either needs to man up and/or grow up.
Chief Noc-A-Homa - September 15, 2010
I'm a little tired of "just frustrated".
Words mean things, especially published words.
sddbaker - September 15, 2010
Agreed man
I knew last years team was going to be a .500 club. I still watched though, and 2009 was better than I thought. Yeah. If homer can’t handle it he needs to stop publishing here. I read this site everyday. And I also read some other sb sites too. Nothing screams fair-weather more than this headline article… No offense Mvs you do a great job. Just chill out before you write up a post game
Slinkyjoe - September 15, 2010 via mobile
Write your own fucking recaps then.
Or don’t show up. Jesus Christ.
Scott Coleman - September 15, 2010
These people who think that if you’re negative you’re wrong are really getting old. When the team has played mediocre baseball for nearly a month, I believe we can get mad at them for sucking. But nope, we have to be POSITIVE and not point out the crappiness.
BullManUGA - September 15, 2010
What really pisses me off is the "Bandwagon fan" term.
STFU. I’ve been a fan since I was 6 years old. The first item I ever took to Show and Tell was a Greg Maddux figurine. My first game was at Busch Stadium, and it was against the Braves. I’ve watched at least 95% of our games in the last five or so seasons. But apparently, I can’t get frustrated at my team and I’m a bandwagon fan now.
And I know I’m an Author, but does that mean I can’t display my frustration on the main page? What do you guys want me to write? How well we’ve played? We didn’t get one big hit all day long and left countless runners on base? I could do that, but I’d just be fooling myself and everyone else on here.
(This isn’t directed at you BullMan. I just needed to vent.)
Scott Coleman - September 15, 2010
Exactly. If you don’t show blind enthusiasm, you’re suddenly a bandwagon fan. I had people jumping on me in the game thread today because I dared to be unhappy with the team. After that grand slam I made some comments and got slammed because of it.
BullManUGA - September 15, 2010
As a lifelong Duke fan (/ducks for cover)
I sympathize. I put up with shit year after year when we were getting bounced in the first 2 rounds of the Tourney and then all of a sudden everyone is a Duke fun after they win the title. But that will fade away. I’m also a lifelong Braves fan and our loyal suffering will make success so much sweeter. I get pissed at this team so much, but neither you nor I nor a ton of these other guys can be called bandwagoners because we’ll keep coming back to them, no matter how much they piss us off.
Anthony Pace - September 15, 2010
I have been a Dukie my whole life too
And I did not see bandwagoners come out, I just saw the haters keep trying to hate haha
MikeTrain - September 15, 2010
I think you do a great job with everything you write for this site and I appreciate it. I get access to the site for free and contribute absolutely nothing to it.
But you posted on the front page, “I really tried to keep the faith. I really did. But I’m done.” Now it doesn’t say the “I’m done” part up there anymore, and for good reason. “I’m done” is bandwagon language. I don’t really think you meant it, but it sucks to come and see that up on the front page, especially when we would still make the playoffs even as of now, and it’s ridiculous for anyone to say that criticizing that language is equivalent to saying that you can’t say anything about the way the team is actually playing. Coming back and telling people who have a problem with it to STFU after you’ve taken that language out of the recap isn’t really fair.
And yeah, I do think it makes a difference that you’re the Author. It was an awful game and we’re playing like crap right now, but I think that there is a heightened responsibility to steer clear of the “I’m done” approach when representing a major Braves fan site. Maybe it would make sense if we’d missed the playoffs, but we would still qualify as of right now. Way to early to turn the front page into Braves Vent.
Sir Stealth - September 15, 2010
I changed it
because I shouldn’t have put it in the first place.
It’s hard though. Try keeping it positive in every recap. You guys know what the Braves record is when I’m covering them. It’s not easy to cover all those losses.
Scott Coleman - September 15, 2010
you're the KK of authors, haha
kbertling353 - September 15, 2010
I really am.
Perhaps I’ll see if Gondeee wants to cover the last series for me. He has a winning percentage of like .700 this year.
Scott Coleman - September 15, 2010
there's a difference between "keeping it positive"...
and the extremely reactionary stuff you put up after hard losses. I hope this doesn’t come across the wrong way, but the fact you’re a college aged kid shows in the work (not all, but certainly some).
Mr. Sanchez - September 15, 2010
I’ve said multiple times on TC that I’m nowhere near any of our other authors in terms of their writing abilities.
Scott Coleman - September 15, 2010
It's not writing ability though...
I don’t want to call it immaturity. Maybe you just live and die with the daily performance more than the others (not that there is anything wrong with that). But you do put up some pretty good stuff too, so it’s certainly not your ability.
Mr. Sanchez - September 15, 2010
There's nothing wrong...
with calling it immaturity. That’s not an insult, it’s a reality. Some things just come with age, and not all of them are good, but some are. I agree that the writing ability is there; I enjoy his writing a great deal, but I also think there’s nothing wrong with expressing my opinion when I disagree or when I feel like what he’s saying is not representative of me as a Braves fan.
sddbaker - September 15, 2010
This. His writing is terrible.
ChrisK562 - September 16, 2010
I agree 100% with everything you wrote here.
I got warned for saying what I said, did you?
sddbaker - September 15, 2010
I assume...
you are talking to me, since you also sent me a warning saying the same things.
Saying you are “done with this team” sounded like a bandwagon fan to me. But for some reason it’s been edited out or your post. But yeah, warn me for reacting to something, then take it out. Sounds right.
sddbaker - September 15, 2010
I edited my post
because of people like you bitching at me since the recap went up. Want me to re-edit my edited post? Will that make you happy?
Scott Coleman - September 15, 2010
I'm not unhappy.
I’m just pointing out that is a little strange to jump on me and give me an official warning because I reacted negatively to something you said, then go back and edit out what you said which I reacted to. It’s almost like you realize you were wrong or something.. or maybe changed your mind? And yet I’m still the bad guy.
sddbaker - September 15, 2010
It wasn't for that
it was for the FanPost, where you basically called everyone on the site a Bandwagon Fan or whatever and criticized them for being upset with their favorite team.
Scott Coleman - September 15, 2010
"You know who you are"
was the TITLE of the FanPost. It was in no way calling everyone on the site a Bandwagon fan. It definately was criticizing anyone for being “upset”. What I’m criticizing is a far cry from “upset” I’m upset with my favorite team, but I’m not “done” with them. Big difference.
sddbaker - September 15, 2010
Gotcha.
Scott Coleman - September 15, 2010
And srry for the warning
it’s not like it’s a big deal though. You’ve been on the blog for much longer than I have, and it’s not like i banned you or something.
Scott Coleman - September 15, 2010
Apology accepted.
And appreciated. It’s been a hard day for Braves fans. We all need to take a deep breath and get back to business on Friday.
sddbaker - September 15, 2010
should be "wasn't criticizing anyone"
sddbaker - September 15, 2010
Being in game threads as much as you are...
I’d assume you’d see at least some that’d be directed at. Personally, I thought of a few of those that seem to only show up at bad times in game threads more than anything else when I read her fan post.
Mr. Sanchez - September 15, 2010
Is what made me think it was directed at me. Should’ve clarified first I guess.
Scott Coleman - September 15, 2010
That...
was the original target of the crybaby, although it was more for those who would show up and make rambling extremely negative fanposts after a loss.
sddbaker - September 15, 2010
Ya know Bobby could put a positive spin on almost anything. I think you have it in you mvhsbball.
BeatTehMets - September 15, 2010
You got a warning for that? Seriously?
justincredubil02 - September 16, 2010
yeah...
But all is well now.
sddbaker - September 16, 2010
“Write your own recaps” is getting old.
kbertling353 - September 15, 2010
Write your own recap.
Scott Coleman - September 15, 2010
got me
kbertling353 - September 15, 2010
Sorry man. I have no right to call you fair-weather. I’m sure you’ll watch the mets and phils series. Good or bad.
Slinkyjoe - September 15, 2010 via mobile
Give her a try...
it’d be like calling up Minor and sending KK (aka you) down.
Mr. Sanchez - September 15, 2010
You stay classy.
justincredubil02 - September 16, 2010
This.
justincredubil02 - September 16, 2010
by the way
this is fun, waking up overseas and commenting freely on everyone else’s posts while they remain in slumber….
traphicg - September 16, 2010
hahaha.,..I feel so Procto.
justincredubil02 - September 16, 2010
i feel like a dude sneaking around a party after everyone’s passed out putting little post it notes on them
traphicg - September 16, 2010
Post it notes? I want to pass out at YOUR parties. Nothing like waking up with a penis sharpied on your face, or hangers sticking out of your ass….
justincredubil02 - September 16, 2010
penis sharpied…. almost dropped my netbook laughing
traphicg - September 16, 2010
At least
Those weren’t reversed.
Sam Jethroe - September 16, 2010
Punk A$$ Braves
I still hold out hope that we will take the Wild Card. This team really needs to step up and do something though. Right now they’re playing like they don’t want to win anything and send Bobby a great going away present. The starting pitching has to pitch better and our hitters need to start doing the little things to score, because we don’t have any big hitters in our lineup.
deewill23 - September 15, 2010
Chipper should call a meeting and seriously rip the team a new one. I’d love for Chipper to be the Braves manager at some point, and I think he needs to step up and get this team focused. It’s Bobby’s last season, we can’t go out fading into nothingness!
Sparhawk - September 15, 2010
Thats the damn thing about baseball… you fire up a football team it’s going to help… you fire up a baseball team… they might try too hard… which is what it looks like we are doing right now
SuperHeyward - September 15, 2010
Mvhsbball is getting bashed as a fair-weather fan—something which he isn’t. Anyone who isn’t disgusted by the September Braves is afraid of the truth. The Braves are 6-9 in September, and the Phillies are 11-3. It’s evident who will make the playoffs if this keeps up.
The Braves have been playing way under par. I’m with Mvhsbball when it comes to being fed up with this team, and I hope they can turn around. But It’s likely too late. Nonetheless, I’ll hope for the best.
Joseph_C - September 15, 2010
The problem isn't just
That we’re 6-9, for those 9 losses include 7 to the Mets, Nationals, Marlins, and Pirates. It’s disheartening. If we were losing close, hard-fought battles with the Phillies, Reds, Padres, Rockies, or Giants, it would be one thing. To lose many games to bottom feeders is alarming.
Jman781 - September 15, 2010
Maybe he isn't....
but he certainly SOUNDS like one.
I have no problem with stating the truth. They are playing badly. They look lifeless. If they don’t play better, they will lose the division and the wild card. You can say all those things without needlessly bashing your team and questioning their makeup and will to win.
sddbaker - September 15, 2010
Anyone who is “disgusted” by the Braves play of late takes baseball way too seriously.
Even if we go winless here on out, that is no reason to be affected in your normal life. It’s a game people. Try to enjoy it for what it is.
justincredubil02 - September 16, 2010
"Disheartened"
Is the term I would probably employ.
As you write, it’s important to keep perspective about these things. I always thought Glavine handled the reaction to his last start in Flushing correctly and I’ve always thought the reaction of Mets fans and the WFAN types to it said much more about them than it did about him.
Sam Jethroe - September 16, 2010
I appreciate the passion, but the main post and a lot of the posts here belong more on the ajc.com blogs. The “we suck I’m done” thing is definitely not the kind of tone that attracted me to Talking Chop and coming back to the page 50 times a day. Things have sucked lately, but if the playoffs started today we’d still be there. Would anyone still be “done” if the playoffs started today and we were the wild card team? Did anyone really think we would just cruise in after losing Chipper Jones? This kind of play won’t cut it and they should do better, but this team has played above it’s head for most of the season. We don’t have to like it when they stumble, but the Braves are still in good position as of now and we can do better than this as fans. It’s not my blog and I rarely post, but I’d still prefer that Talking Chop be a public beacon of positivity and non-bandwagon jumping in a world that generally mocks Braves fans as being fair-weather.
Sir Stealth - September 15, 2010
You know what will help?
A timely sweep of the Mets. That would shut some of us up ;-)
Jman781 - September 15, 2010
Sweep?
HELL YES, SWEEP!! JINXES BE DAMNED!!!
TonyAlmeyda - September 15, 2010
Damn jinx...
I meant a timely sweep BY the Mets. Yes. That’s what I meant!
Jman781 - September 15, 2010
lol. i love this guy.
Chief Noc-A-Homa - September 15, 2010
I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m certainly not giving up just yet. I still think the Braves can give the Phillies a run for their money with a dominant series against the Mets.
If it’s any consolation, the Phillies have lost FIVE series at home and are only 7-5 against the Nats, whom they play this weekend. They won’t have Halladay or Hamels pitching, so with a good series, the Braves can hopefully get back into at least a first place tie for the Phillies series.
I’m really tired of all the negativity lately. Last time I checked, the season didn’t end on September 15. This is still a playoff team in my opinion, and there’s still plenty of time to pull off an epically awesome comeback
I’m just as disgusted with these losses as the next guy, but moping and moaning about them isn’t going to help anyone. Just suck it up and move on.
TonyAlmeyda - September 15, 2010
they do know how to close the season
and win important games.
Kobe:The Legend - September 15, 2010
It’s actually too bad that the season doesn’t end on September 15. In what may be a surprise to those who have given up on the season, we would actually be in the playoffs.
Sir Stealth - September 15, 2010
I want Chipper to drop a Kobe, curse like a badass in the locker room and fire up this team, and scream at them for not playing like they want to play!! we need that, what happened with Kobe and the Lakers? they came from behind and won the Championship, this could get this team fired up and on a good run for the playoffs.
Kobe:The Legend - September 15, 2010
how did kobe do without shaq or gasol?
kbertling353 - September 15, 2010
nothing, he carried them to the playoffs, but he was completely alone
besides Odom that was not putting all star numbers… besides? what does that have to do with the Braves?
Kobe:The Legend - September 15, 2010
braves, lakers comparison is kinda bad
lakers have elite players and money to spend
we are a mid-market team with a lot of above average players, and a few terrible players
kbertling353 - September 15, 2010
i'm not comparing both
I’m just saying that Chipper needs to fire this team up like Kobe did.
Kobe:The Legend - September 15, 2010
we may not have enough talent
even if we are sufficiently “fired up”
kbertling353 - September 15, 2010
we can still keep fighting. Not giving up by losing against the Pirates and Nationals.
Kobe:The Legend - September 15, 2010
Given Up
I agree with the author. Giving up is the only way to bring order to the chaos. And I can’t emotionally handle the chaos anymore.
mrsgritoli - September 15, 2010
I'm doing the Gramsci thing
I’m going to be a pessimist of the intellect but an optimist of the will.
Sam Jethroe - September 15, 2010
Boycotting
the Braves and baseball for a day, maybe two. Which is weird becase my birthday is on Friday too. And I don’t know whether I can handle the Braves.
bravesforever16 - September 15, 2010
Look at it this way: at least you aren’t a Cups fan, rite?
Check out the game Friday. I expect big things. From the Mets. (lol)
Chief Noc-A-Homa - September 15, 2010
Yup,
We might as well lose the rest of the games if we aren’t gonna make to the playoffs. I’m sure we could get into the higher 20’s
bravesforever16 - September 15, 2010
I still think we take the division. Or the WC.
We suck against the Nats. Always. Hopefully not next week tho, lol.
Chief Noc-A-Homa - September 15, 2010
Hopefully, I will regain faith like you once we sweep the Mets.
I don’t think we will take the division though, the Phillies are very tough. Thankfully their window is closing while the Braves window is opening, just wish we could (and still can) win one for Bobby.
bravesforever16 - September 15, 2010
Whoops
higher 20’s in draft position
bravesforever16 - September 15, 2010
I have in no way given up on this team, but since August 20th, the team has played 2-games under .500. The starters’ ERAs are over 5. The hitting is hit and miss (ha!). The team makes errors all over the place, and it isn’t confined to one position. It’s EVERYONE.
So yes, I am going to be pessimistic and angry when the team continually fails to win the games they should be winning with poor defense and little hitting. The rare times we have guys on base with fewer than two outs we can’t do anything.
We need to turn around or else the Braves will be playing golf in October.
BullManUGA - September 15, 2010
Agree
The vital difference:
We have sucked (the last little while)
BUT
We do not suck…
except Melky…he does suck.
The Goche - September 15, 2010
problem is...
far too many trades for below average or below replacement level players
it’s a little scary that wren keeps making these mistakes (and may even actually think they are “win now” moves)
kbertling353 - September 15, 2010
That's not the problem
We really made OK deals on most of those trades.
The problem is, we were trading minor league flotsam for major league jetsam.
I’m not concerned by the fact that the trades happened, but it was a bit disappointing when we decided that was enough.
The Goche - September 15, 2010
collins + lopez + yunel + vazquez
kbertling353 - September 15, 2010
Vazquez, really?
We did not trade Vazquez for Melky. We traded Vazquez for Vizcaino, Dunn and budget space.
I’d rather have Vizcaino than all four of those guys in the long run.
Why did we take Cabrera, I do not know. I would have rather not from the start, but if you think the Vazquez trade is unbalanced against us, you need to check your scales.
Yunel was sucking here. Was he better than that, YES. Was he going to play better than that for us, who knows? Was Alex Gonzalez overvalued at the time? Yes. Did I think we could get better for Yunel? Yes. Could we actually have gotten anything better for him? I don’t know.
Would we be better off today if we didn’t make the trade? I doubt it. Because if Yunel didn’t turn it around, he would have even less value than before.
Yunel is clearly better than A.Gonz, but I’m not sure he would have been better for us, whether this year, or ever. We just really weren’t in a good bargaining position on Yunel and everyone knew it. And as much as it sucks, that’s not Wren’s fault.
As for Collins and Lopez, yeah, they are nice prospects, but I’m not going to fire Wren over a couple of relief prospects.
Those trades were made not with the idea that the guys we got would be all-stars, but that they would be better than what we had. I thought they would be. So far they really haven’t. I can’t blame him for taking a flyer on some guys.
But like I said, I do wish we had made a couple trades that were more of a sure thing to actually contribute rather than all guys that were maybes.
If it’s a habit for Frank, then it would be a firing thing. But I think he was just trying to balance trying to win now, with not mortgaging the future for Bobby’s sake. He did a poor job, but I understand what he was trying to do.
The Goche - September 15, 2010
budget space in the vazquez deal = 4 MM
don’t forget we wouldn’t be in the situation had we not signed lowe or KK (who actually isn’t that bad but we just don’t use at all)
it’s not one terrible move … it’s a TON of moves that consistently (albeit in a small amount) weaken our organization. wren hasn’t shown me he understands basic concepts of baseball
kbertling353 - September 15, 2010
Vazquez made $11.5 million this year
so I’m not sure where the $4 MM figure comes from.
We picked up Melky’s salary of $2.6 in the deal ($3.1 – $500,000 from Yankees) but we had to add an outfielder anyway
DCP916 - September 15, 2010
This
Vazquez – $11.5M
Logan – $0.6M
Total: $12.1M
Melky – $3.1M
Dunn – $0.4M
Cash – -$0.5M
Total: $3.0M
By simple math, it looks like that deal saved us $9.1M
-C
cthabeerman - September 16, 2010
I guess I’m just happy he has really protected our farm team so far.
I probably am giving him too much credit just b/c of that.
Truly, the Ankiel trade hasn’t worked and probably never had much chance.
The Lee deal had me cautiously excited and I still think it was worth the risk, even though it obviously hasn’t worked out great for us (and that’s what he’s judged on in the end).
The Yunel trade, I don’t like giving up the talent, something had to be done and we’ll never know if it was the best option, but obviously he needs to get a few right to make up for people seeing Yunel probably do quite well in the future.
I like the Vazquez deal b/c I really like Vizcaino, even though I do so hate Melky.
The Lowe and KK deals have clearly not worked out value-wise. Not total flops, but certainly missteps.
I guess I’m saying, no, I haven’t been especially impressed with much that he’s done since the Jurrjens deal and the Ohman/Infante deal, and we have no way of knowing how much of that was him and how much was JS (at least with the Jurrjens deal). But still, he was officially the GM so benefit of the doubt that those were his doing.
Since then he’s tried to be a little too game-manager, and maybe not enough gunslinger. And he definitely will need to make a deal soon both because the team needs it, and his rep needs it.
If he continues to fail to make the move (whether big or small) that fills our big holes, then I will get sick of him before too long.
But I also don’t think it’s quite to the Fire Frank Wren time yet.
The Goche - September 15, 2010
Hey, at least he's not Dayton Moore.
kbertling353 - September 16, 2010
I think we need a new front page post open up THE SWEEP THREAD
The Goche - September 15, 2010
And the Phils score 3 quick ones...
awesome
MikeTrain - September 15, 2010
Fuck the Fish, seriously.
Hanley is probably getting them to throw the game.
and Phuck Phillie. lol
Chief Noc-A-Homa - September 15, 2010
Go Dodgers!
BeatTehMets - September 15, 2010
Cliche time.
Just a small town girl
Livin’ in a lonely world
She took the midnight train goin’ anywhere
Just a city boy
Born and raised in south Detroit
He took the midnight train goin’ anywhere
A singer in a smoky room
A smell of wine and cheap perfume
For a smile they can share the night
It goes on and on and on and on
Strangers waiting
Up and down the boulevard
Their shadows searching in the night
Streetlight people
Living just to find emotion
Hiding somewhere in the night
Working hard to get my fill
Everybody wants a thrill
Payin’ anything to roll the dice just one more time
Some will win, some will lose
Some were born to sing the blues
Oh, the movie never ends
It goes on and on and on and on giggity giggity giggity goo!
Strangers waiting
Up and down the boulevard
Their shadows searching in the night
Streetlight people
Living just to find emotion
Hiding somewhere in the night
Don’t stop believin’
Hold on to that feelin’
Streetlight people
Don’t stop believin’
Hold on
Streetlight people
Don’t stop believin
Hold on to that feelin’
Streetlight people
UMDBHIK - September 15, 2010
it's irrational to believe
kbertling353 - September 15, 2010
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=barLaHrtvoM
TonyAlmeyda - September 15, 2010
Rec’d.
justincredubil02 - September 16, 2010
Would be interested to see our record when on Peachtree TV. I bet it’s really good ha
Taylor Masters - September 15, 2010
you're all turning against each other, like rats
muahahahaha!
;o)
lpfist - September 15, 2010
(the ;o) is supposed to show I’m being facetious. believe me, I’ve been right where you are plenty of times this season)
lpfist - September 15, 2010
The enemy is here, quick kill them!
Taylor Masters - September 15, 2010
I'm always here.
I just don’t ever say anything.
lpfist - September 15, 2010
phascinating
Chief Noc-A-Homa - September 15, 2010
The opposite of Justin...
Very rarely here, but always says something. :)
Scott Coleman - September 15, 2010
WTF?
justincredubil02 - September 16, 2010
Alright big guy
calm down.
Scott Coleman - September 16, 2010
I’m not mad. Just extremely confused. What you posted makes no sense at all…
justincredubil02 - September 17, 2010
I'm pretty sure what mvhs is saying is...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EheLN-MDzrA
Mr. Sanchez - September 17, 2010
sleeper cell
Taylor Masters - September 15, 2010
I'm a sa fan tonight :-(
I just watched the game on DVR and it was not the outcome we needed.
I read ALL the above and I must say that in one way or another…I agree with it all.
Yep, feeling a bit Sybil-like.
I pray the evening and day off will help the team refocus and then take ALL of September’s disappointments out on the Mets.
NCChopper - September 15, 2010 via mobile
so… Beat teh Mets?
BeatTehMets - September 15, 2010
Oops: I'm a sad fan tonight :-(
Hate commenting via my phone.
NCChopper - September 15, 2010 via mobile
I am strangely confident, actually
we can’t get any worse
TradeAndruw - September 15, 2010
This is kind of the way I feel
If we had won ten in a row or something, and were still 3 games back, I’d feel like we couldn’t sustain the pace and we’d fall off. So I’m hoping it’s the opposite and we’ll start back on the upswing. Hopefully it will be enough to keep the wildcard, and who knows, maybe get the division. I’m trying to stay optimistic, though it’s been difficult.
Cayla - September 15, 2010
TC I need your help
Why must my roommate turn his stereo up so loud he can hear it while he showers?
BeatTehMets - September 15, 2010
communication is the key to roommate success.
Braves Biceps - September 15, 2010
So the fifteen times I’ve asked him to turn it down should be enough?
BeatTehMets - September 15, 2010
Toss it in the shower: message received.
P.S. Don’t actually toss his stereo in the shower.
The Goche - September 15, 2010
Well...
It would get the message across.
sddbaker - September 15, 2010
I’ve already stuffed his sub woofer full of old rags…
BeatTehMets - September 15, 2010
here's my recap of the nats series
[fart sound]
Braves Biceps - September 15, 2010
Your recap...
is actually quite good and accurate.
sddbaker - September 15, 2010
haha
brndn - September 16, 2010
Well I don't know about the rest of you...
but I’m watching the rest of the games and then I will respond appropriately at the end.
kp.atl - September 15, 2010
im with you bro....
even if it means a lifetime ban…. saving it all till the end……
Hektor DiPaula - September 15, 2010
Give me a World Series or
give me a permabanned!
kp.atl - September 16, 2010
football
is the cool saving salve which is taking away the hurt from this disastrous season. i’d prefer a completely shitty season than one where they make you think they are great and then crush your hearts at the end. cruel.
nfierstos10 - September 15, 2010
I just want to say
FUCK the Marlins for tanking SIX straight games against the Phillies this week.
They honestly didn’t send one decent pitcher to the mound. Not one. Guys making their first start, etc.
Given that they refused to honor Bobby Cox, I wouldn’t put it past their bastard ownership to screw us on purpose. They make J. Johnson pitch against us with a sore shoulder and they roll out the bush leaguers for the Phils. Jeez.
DCP916 - September 15, 2010
+ 1,000
sddbaker - September 15, 2010
Bobby defended his friend and he will live with consequences.
BeatTehMets - September 15, 2010
I agree
The fish can suck it.
But give the Phillies credit for not epic failing against bad pitchers.
DreamWithinADream - September 15, 2010
Fuck the Fish
Chief Noc-A-Homa - September 15, 2010
This is a team that fired Girardi and Fredi.
So it’s kind of a case of they are so incompetent I wouldn’t put any amount of failure beyond them.
The Goche - September 15, 2010
good scouting, bad ownership
kbertling353 - September 16, 2010
And Washington is beating us on purpose because we made fun of their cake that said “Bobby Cocks” Screw them too!
(I know congressmen actually did the cake, but they work in Washington, so it counts)
10-4 - September 16, 2010
Gathering up all of our dreams
Going to search for our desires
Compasses only cause delays
Filled with excitement, I take the helm
If we can prove the dusty old treasure map,
Then it’s not a legend anymore!
It’s alright if our personal problems
Get on someone else’s nerves
Because we think about them too much
BeatTehMets - September 15, 2010
Off day
Maybe. MAYBE the off day is what is need. Bobby should do some shit in the clubhouse like removing the last few weeks from the calendar. The calendar starts now. We face the Mets as our first series. Bobby should come in with some kind of speech ending with:
“You make sure they remember FOREVER the [September] they played the Braves.”
DreamWithinADream - September 15, 2010
Bobby needs to put up a cutout of Bobby Cox
Ever time we lose, he peels a piece off.
After 6 pieces, Bobby will be totally nude.
That’s 93-79 guaranteed right there. Because nobody wants to see that.
The Goche - September 15, 2010
+2
But then -1 for the math fail. But it was a witty enough response that it’s still positive :)
DreamWithinADream - September 15, 2010
Oh this season wasn't 172 games long?
Could have fooled me
The Goche - September 15, 2010
Maybe including the playoffs?
DreamWithinADream - September 15, 2010
I was counting the losses to the National twice.
Because they are doubly frustrating.
The Goche - September 15, 2010
Which still doesn't actually add up.
Good lord I hope we don’t finish with 10 losses to the Nats.
The Goche - September 15, 2010
You used a formula
of Losses where Total Losses (TL) = normal losses (losses to non-last place teams) + DBacks Losses*1.333 + Nats Losses*1.5 + Pirates Losses*2.6667 because those losses hurt that much more.
DreamWithinADream - September 15, 2010
This team needs some sort of fire lit under its butt. I don’t know what will do it but it needs one.
In April it was us moving Prado to the lead-off spot. I personally was hoping that with McLouth starting to hit again that he would bring some more spark to the lineup but it just hasn’t happened.
The bullpen is as usual quite superb with exceptional performances from Kimbrel his last few times out. The Starting Pitching is obviously tired. Minor really should be shut down about now, Hudson should be shut down as well being just one year removed from TJ surgery and only pitching about 5 starts last year. Hanson is in his sophomore season which leaves Derek Lowe and Jurrjens as the only two starters we could really be leaning on right now but unfortunately Jurrjens despite missing half the season has been looking more worn than anyone else.
The Derrick Lee trade is looking like a complete bust. It could be that he doesn’t have an Aramis Ramirez player hitting behind him to get him better pitches to see but whatever the reason is he hasn’t brought anything really to 1B except for about a week of good games.
I think Bobby needs to go back to what worked in May/June with our lineup. Infante has been great however I think he would be better at the bottom of the lineup. He could use his “Auto-Single” power to be on base for the pitcher to bunt him over. I think Prado being back in the lead-off spot where he is comfortable would do wonders as far as getting him back on a roll.
So in the end I propose skipping Minor’s starts unless we truly need him and changing the lineup.
Prado
Heyward
Lee
McCann
Gonzalez
McLouth
Diaz
Infante
Pitcher
Gonzalez
drumzalicious - September 15, 2010
Really not feasible
to shut down Minor, Hanson, AND Hudson. Maybe give them extra days off is feasible.
Get Beachy up and go with a 6-man rotation or something.
I don’t like Lee hitting 3rd but I do think a lineup change is necessary.
DreamWithinADream - September 15, 2010
I didnt say shut down Minor, Hanson, AND Hudson
I said skip Minor’s starts and I said Hanson and Hudson were both probably wearing down.
drumzalicious - September 15, 2010
DreamWithinADream - September 15, 2010
yea i said he should
but never suggested that he actually be shut down.
drumzalicious - September 16, 2010
o...k?
DreamWithinADream - September 16, 2010
but i thought we were supposed to pitch venters, moylan, minor, and medlen
until their arms fell off, while not using KK, beachy, or kimbrel
kbertling353 - September 16, 2010
I miss the Minor League Recaps...
Scott Coleman - September 15, 2010
This is one depressing blog
There is so fighting on this page that it seems like it’s a bunch of low-life Philadelphians fighting with all of us. People, we are on the same side. Chill the f- out.
Yes, the recap was over the top. It was reactionary. At some point, he’ll probably regret writing it. But he’s a real fan, despite the words he wrote. It was massive frustration. I hope he wasn’t serious and that he will continue to stand behind this team and keep watching. I’m sure he will.
And that goes for the rest of you. This entire blog underscores what has gone on for years in Atlanta. I also agree with sddbaker, as far as frustration of our fan base goes. I’m as frustrated as anyone (as my random, possibly misguided posts above will demonstrate), but I’m not going anywhere. Lose ten more straight, and I’m still watching every inning. I’m not saying I’m the best fan in the world, but I will NEVER abandon my team. Not for a second do I think the players don’t care. Do you really think that these guys feel good about a loss like today? They care, trust me. They are just playing horrible baseball right now.
In the late 90s, I attended some playoff games in Atlanta, and the place wasn’t sold out. Not even close. Isn’t that embarrassing? We have some great fans, but the reality is that we do have some fair-weathered fans. Don’t give me the lame ’we’re a college football town,’ or ‘traffic is bad,’ or ‘the stadium doesn’t have MARTA,’ or ‘the stadium is in a bad part of town’ crap. Those are all weak excuses. You are either a fan, or you aren’t. I hate the Phillies. I hate them. I hate their city. However, I envy the energy they have. I hope we can have the same energy during the last homestand. I think it’s disgusting that the Nationals series was so poorly attended. I don’t live in Atlanta; if I did, I would have gone to every game, because this team needs support. The last six games of the year better all be sell-outs.
Let’s face it – we’re all great fans. That’s why we’re all on this page posting a bunch of nonsense (myself included). Let’s just stop bickering, sack up, complain some, but still support the team. Sorry this is so long.
ryantex - September 15, 2010
I have no problem with the length of your post
Which almost certainly means it was too long.
(Point being, I write long posts).
The Goche - September 15, 2010
I was actually going to reference your posts for speaking some (very good) sense.
ryantex - September 15, 2010
Eh I was probably over the top too. It might have been a little disingenuous not recognizing how pissed I was the with team.
You ever think you get pissed at others for giving up just to keep yourself from doing it.
Because seriously, 2 ugly games in a row.
But, as the philospher (George Michaels) once said…
You gotta have faith
(faith)
(faith).
The Goche - September 15, 2010
And at least the last two games are already sell-outs
I know because I had to totally overpay for tickets on StubHub
The Goche - September 15, 2010
I felt the same way about the Mets when they were up.
There is a dichotomy in Braves fandom because there are a lot of us who are fans because of TV and don’t live very close to Atlanta. The attendance problems, the blah crowds, the nights when the place is 60% full of Cubs or Red Sox fans…those all reflect on us when we are asked who our favorite team is or wear our Braves stuff somewhere.
Sam Jethroe - September 16, 2010
Hey, All
I won’t stick around as nobody wants to here from me. Just wanted to apologize on behalf of Phils Phans for the Trolls that popped up in the game thread and recap. I read this blog (like I read all the NL blogs) because I love the game and want to know as much about opposing teams/players as I do about the team/players I root for.
Showing up to gloat or antagonize is pointless and petulant and we discourage it over on our side of the bar as much as possible, so it was disheartening to see it happening over here.
So on behalf of those douchenozzles, you have my apologies.
Chutley's Impressed by Mac's Speed - September 15, 2010
you´re only being nice ´cause you´re on first place.......
Hektor DiPaula - September 15, 2010
Classy
Are you sure you’re a Phillies fan?
Really though, that’s cool. As much as we crap on most Phillies fans (you know for throwing up on people and stuff), there are certainly some good ones. (My grandparents being a couple good ones, 79 years old and they stay up even for the West Coast games, which I think is awesome).
No need to apologize though. If you act right that’s all you can do.
The Goche - September 15, 2010
Props to the Grands
And brief defense: That vomiter was from
Dirty Jersey, as were the two field-runners and the dude that killed a guy in a drunken brawl in the parking lot last year. Swear to Christ, I wish we could set up some kind of Gaza-like checkpoint system on the Ben Franklin, Walt Whitman & Commodore Barry Bridges during Phils home games.The reason I (and many fans) apologize, though, is because the media focuses on everything negedelphia when they are the outliers. Yes, we can be assholes. Yes we will mercilessly chant any previous criminal offenses/steroid use/domestic violence… hell ANYTHING humiliating we can at opposing players… but that’s because we want do anything – no matter how minor or ineffective – to help give the team some kind of edge. YES we’ll bust balls on visiting fans… But most of us (if the visiting fans take it the right way) will strike up a good baseball conversation with them immediately afterward.
We do have bad fans… but that’s the negative side effect of having a VERY passionate sports fan base. Cubs have ‘em… You guys have ’em… The Muts have nothing BUT them. We’re used to the press coverage, and I make no apologies for booing, but when it comes to regular, real baseball fans of other teams, I at least want to make an effort to correct the record is all.
I’d also be saying the same thing were we in 1st or Last Place: I friggin’ hate the Bravos… but that doesn’t mean I don’t respect them and it certainly doesn’t mean I hate you guys for rooting them on. To the contrary, I’d expect nothing less. Cheers, all. (and sorry for the long post)
Chutley's Impressed by Mac's Speed - September 16, 2010
Oh, and also
The real phans immediately beat the living shit out of the mad puker the moment it happened*
Chutley's Impressed by Mac's Speed - September 16, 2010
I completely disagree. The Phillies fans go way overboard. It’s not something the media came up with. There are enough legit stories, youtube videos, etc to support it. The bottom line is that the Phillies fans try to intimidate. They throw beer and whatever else on fans who come in their stadium. Listen, the only reason I would ever want to come into that city is to watch baseball, but I never will because I will stand up for myself and will end up in jail. I’m not going to put up with a bunch of Philly/Jersey/whatever trash that wants to intimidate me.
You may be one of the nice ones, and I’m sure there are many. But the problem is that even the good Phillies fans, you included, try to justify the behavior.
Should the Braves fans remind Chase Utley of the (alleged) rumors that Jayson Werth slept with his wife to gain an ‘edge?’
ryantex - September 16, 2010
You say “legit stories” or youtube vids… Honestly… Come to a game. People will say shit to you, but it will be with a smile. If you fire back (again, with a smile), don’t get smug or self-righteous, you’ll end up in a good conversation.
As for Utley – go ahead. Everyone knows that was a blog joke that was referencing Lebron’s mom. Hell, Utley is as much of an untouchable god character as this town as known (seriously, he gets a pass for EVERYTHING because of how hard he plays the game… and he should) and WE still joke about it all the time.
As I said, we’re tough. No denying it. We’re even proud of it. But the majority of us are not evil. We’re just a (sometimes a little overzealous) bunch of ball-busters. You ever decide to come to a game at the Bank, let me know. I’ll make sure the seats are in our section and you’ll see what I mean.
Chutley's Impressed by Mac's Speed - September 16, 2010
It’s okay. We will invade your board after we win the division.
BeatTehMets - September 15, 2010
This
This is good
BravesDawg16 - September 15, 2010
Im willing to bet
the struggles started when Chip Caray said some stat about how well the Braves were doing. The ultimate jinx.
DreamWithinADream - September 15, 2010
To be honest
ever since we had like 3 “What if Playoff…” type FanPosts, we’ve been playing like crap.
Scott Coleman - September 15, 2010
I had a bad feeling that was going to happen
But why doesn’t that happen to the Philthies when their “phans” do the same :(
BravesDawg16 - September 15, 2010
BECAUSE DEY GOT TEH ESPN ON DEY SIDE
DreamWithinADream - September 15, 2010
You have to preface every “What if” playoff discussion with an “IF they play well and are lucky enough…” caveat to appease Baseba’al… as vengeful a god as there is.
And now I’m really done. I’ll leave you guys be. Peace.
Chutley's Impressed by Mac's Speed - September 16, 2010
thats actually true
I was worried. This team seems to be easy to jynx
drumzalicious - September 15, 2010
You know what we should do
We should go to the Phillies blog and tell them “YOU HAVE A TREE GAME LEAD” kinda like those douches at games when they yell at a pitcher that he has a no hitter. Maybe, just maybe that will jinx ’em!
BravesDawg16 - September 15, 2010
im actually
just going to make a thread to try and reverse the jynx
drumzalicious - September 16, 2010
IMO
we started losing when Gondee put that Postseaon Race post in the frontpage.
Kobe:The Legend - September 16, 2010
Yeah
What was our percentage when it first went up? Like 95% or something. Down to 68% now, yikes.
Cayla - September 16, 2010
I'm kicking myself
for not flying out to Vegas and betting everything I could on the Braves not making the postseason when there were 20:1 odds against.
When I first saw those projections, I thought “what?”
It’s like people hadn’t noticed that the magic had worn off, or that the Phillies had gotten healthy and added Roy Oswalt. And that 68% or whatever number is still bogus for the same reason. I don’t think any intelligent baseball fan would even give us even odds at this point.
DCP916 - September 16, 2010
Are you serious?
sddbaker - September 16, 2010
You are saying...
that if I even think we have a 50/50 chance of making the postseason, I’m not an “intelligent baseball fan”? Is that correct?
sddbaker - September 16, 2010
You know fellow TC'ers
I keep thinking to myself that we will all look back at this post in a few weeks and just laugh at how ridiculous many of us acted. Believe me, I am just as frustrated as you all about this team right now, but they have also proven time and time again this season that they react well to adversity. Their is something special about this team. They are not going to roll over and give up without a fight. Every extended suck fest they went through, they responded with a week or two of awesome baseball. Luckily, I count 15 games left. Thats more than enough time the good guys. We can do this. BELIEVE and GO BRAVES!!!!
BravesDawg16 - September 15, 2010
Some great (read awful) Joe Morgan commentary on ESPN right now
Apparently the Giants fighting for their playoff lives in a 0-0 game in the 7th is not interesting enough for old Joe.
But it’s cool, it turns out, he has some feelings about Barry Bonds.
The Goche - September 16, 2010
And Reggie Bush
BravesDawg16 - September 16, 2010
He had a perfect FJM quote tonight
“If you remember right, the Giants’ guy was really Nick Johnson, but he went to the Yankees instead. Then they signed Aubrey Huff since no one else wanted him. Now we don’t know if Johnson would’ve put up the same great numbers that Huff has if he stayed healthy, but I don’t think he would have.”
LOL. Nick Johnson can’t do anything but take a walk. Aubrey Huff has been one of the most valuable players for 2010 when you look at his contract.
Scott Coleman - September 16, 2010
to be fair,
huff’s season came out of nowhere
kbertling353 - September 16, 2010
we need a godsend or our season is over...
maybe it will be mclouth…or derek lowe… or even baby jesus heyward.
But seriously, someone needs to epically step up, put the team on his shoulders, and carry the team into the playoffs because no one is motivated to win right now.
gtbravesfan - September 16, 2010
Wait... I'm sorry...
Which team in the NL leads the wild card race?
SuperNewb - September 16, 2010
for right now us
but i think you should check up next week
gtbravesfan - September 16, 2010
I think you should stop acting like you're some god sent oracle
SuperNewb - September 16, 2010
Hey don't talk about Joe Morgan like that!
oh wait…
BravesDawg16 - September 16, 2010
maybe you haven't watched this team in the last week, pee pee pants
nfierstos10 - September 16, 2010
lol
“pee pee pants”
DreamWithinADream - September 16, 2010
OH MY GOD YOU CALLED ME PEE PEE PANTS YOU WIN!!!
Wow… what utter genius.
SuperNewb - September 16, 2010
i automatically win
because it appears you root for notre dame
nfierstos10 - September 16, 2010
You continue to be filled with reason.
SuperNewb - September 16, 2010
makes sense
DreamWithinADream - September 16, 2010
Pelican
BravesDawg16 - September 16, 2010
We seriously so need to dominate on this road trip.
Not for the sake of the playoffs, just mostly because 31-41 on the road is embarrassing.
The Goche - September 16, 2010
Would love to be 40-41 for the season
ryantex - September 16, 2010
sounds great
SuperNewb - September 16, 2010
as recently as last year
braves were 46-35 on the road. below .500 at home actually.
So sweep the Mets, sweep the Phils, sweep the Nats? Git er dun.
DreamWithinADream - September 16, 2010
1-0 Giants in the 7th :(
BravesDawg16 - September 16, 2010
wow didnt realize
kemp was sporting a mediocre .744 OPS this season
DreamWithinADream - September 16, 2010
Shoot
Mike Fonte-not-very good put the Giants in the lead.
The Goche - September 16, 2010
Eithier is clearly just teasing...
SuperNewb - September 16, 2010
*Ethier
SuperNewb - September 16, 2010
Yep
SuperNewb - September 16, 2010
Giants win
DreamWithinADream - September 16, 2010
.5 game lead
DreamWithinADream - September 16, 2010
"We threw eight shutout innings. We outhit them. We doubled them in hits. Our bullpen was great," Cox said. Trouble is, the Washington Nationals won and not the Braves. – Yahoo News
This is why the team is in trouble. As much as the players love Cox, I am so eager for him to retire.
rubbles88 - September 16, 2010
Wisdom
I think the players may have finally blocked him out, too. Not purposefully, but you can only hear the same old bromides so many times before you start to hear the teachers from Peanuts.
I get in enough fights around here without writing what I feel about Cox every day but I am pretty much literally counting the days. I hope, so desperately, that there is a three or four week extension before it starts, but I am decidedly looking forward to the post-Cox era.
Sam Jethroe - September 16, 2010
Speaking from experience...
You’ll miss him when he’s gone.
Growing up in Nebraska, we had an old football coach by the name of Tom Osborne. Despite never having won less than nine games a season during his entire coaching head career of 20 years, many Cornhusker fans said year after year, “He can’t win the big one. He’s good but not good enough. He makes too many mistakes. He doesn’t get the big-time recruits. He doesn’t play the right style of football,” and so forth.
Well, eventually he won the big one. Then he won it again, and again. Even after all that, there were plenty of people breathing a sigh of relief when he finally retired. They were happy to see the end of his reign. Time for something better, they said.
Well, something better was Frank Solich, and he did alright. Even took the team to a national championship game. But, even then, people started to say, “He’s not as good as Tom was, this program is heading towards mediocrity,” and so forth. He got fired after a nine-win season.
Then it was Bill Callahan’s turn, and he definitely wasn’t Tom Osborne. He all but trash canned the tradition, said he could do better. He didn’t, and the team and its fans wallowed in misery for his entire tenure with the school.
Now, with Bo Pelini leading the team, and Osborne manning the AD position, Nebraska is finally back. But it took 13 years to get to that point (less if you count Solich’s better-than-average seasons). During that time, it became quite clear that those fans that were calling for Osborne’s head had theirs firmly planted above the fence, watching the greener grass on the other side.
The moral of the story is this: You’re obviously entitled to your opinion, but don’t be surprised if you find yourself wishing for the old days 10 to 15 years down the road. Oh, and never trust Bill Callahan. He will fuck your hopes and dreams.
-C
cthabeerman - September 16, 2010
sddbaker - September 16, 2010
I went through the same thing with Joe Gibbs.
If Bobby is replaced by the baseball equivalent of Norv Turner and Steve Spurrier, I will regret it and so will the Braves.
Even if that were to happen, it doesn’t mean Cox didn’t consistently waste what he was given to work with.
Sam Jethroe - September 16, 2010
holler fellow nebraskan
Tommy Osbourne is NE deity…
traphicg - September 16, 2010
wait
how is the fact that we did not hit with RISP the fault of Bobby Cox?
How is the fact that Minor gave up a Grand Slam to a terrible hitter the fault of Bobby Cox?
I could have sworn the lineup was
Infante
Heward
Prado
Glaus
Diaz
Gonzalez
Cabrera
Ross
Minor
NOT
Bobby Cox
Bobby Cox
Bobby Cox
Bobby Cox
Bobby Cox
Bobby Cox
Bobby Cox
Bobby Cox
Bobby Cox
drumzalicious - September 16, 2010
The lineup you posted
Is the actual lineup that took the field today and is substantially similar to one that has done so for weeks now. It’s not producing very well. Bobby Cox has the power to try something different. Not only hasn’t he done that, he seems completely incapable of realizing that he should. This is not a new issue with him.
Sam Jethroe - September 16, 2010
This is the worst and most depressing thread ever
A while back we had this problem again, and its really going overboard. I thought at first it would be nice to see so many comments after a tough loss, but there was very little real content or anything worth reading in this entire thread. Grow up everyone.
Mvhsball you’re doing fine. Its hard to be an author on this blog with naysayers and negative people. Its probably way harder to write a recap on a team that is struggling at the exact time they need to be raking. Hats off to you for still having the balls to come out here and write what you feel, knowing that you’ll be blasted. Shit, gondee obviously picked you to write, so everyone should shut up with the personal attacks on you.
The more and more you all write about bandwagon and shit like that, makes me realize how little baseball you all must watch, know, and read about. Fact is, baseball is a game where if you lose alot. A LOT. Its extremely hard to watch our team squander a huge lead and put fear in the hearts of all of us, BUT LOOK AROUND AND LOOK AGAIN – DOES THE WILD CARD NOT MEAN ANYTHING TO ANY OF YOU???
I dont get it. Its hard enough to watch a game like that. Then to come on here and have to read immature, idiotic posts repeating themselves over and over again, just makes it even worse.
This blog used to be an information-heavy site where many people posted quality comments, info, stories, etc… and sure, our losses were grieved together. But now, i havent come across a decent thread with anything worth reading and commenting on for a while.
Please, please, please, grow up everyone and perhaps, just maybe, if the content gets back to a respectable level, some of the personalities we miss on this blog might actually show up. Do not ruin this blog b/c you cant handle watching your team lose. THAT is bandwagoning. I hate that term and shall never use it again.
I’m starting to wonder why i fought to get myself unbanned after all this.
traphicg - September 16, 2010
At least we have football now.
Tim Goad - September 16, 2010
There a good reason for pessimism
The Braves haven’t performed well on the road all season. Even when things were going well we were only winning series on the road. Have we swept a team on the road all season?
Over the last two months all the magic has been at home. We’ve won tons of games we probably shouldn’t have won, and they’ve been at home.
There’s really nothing to suggest that the Braves are about to turn it around. This last homestand was that moment and it just passed.
mdhenshaw - September 16, 2010
-1 “there’s a good reason…”
mdhenshaw - September 16, 2010
I figure this is a good time to try...
Anyone want to sell me their tickets for the Philles series ? Friday preferred. I would also like to add that the braves have never lost when I’ve been to a game (I’m responsible for 4 wins this season alone)… so, if you want the braves to make the post season I suggest you cough up your tickets.
Do it for Braves Country… Do it for Bobby.
BMacAttack - September 16, 2010
They have $6 tickets on Stubhub for that game. That might be the cheapest route.
E-Lizz - September 16, 2010
sddbaker - September 16, 2010
Yeah Chip’s mad lol
Albert K - September 16, 2010
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