Kevin C. Cox - Getty Images
We'll miss ya Brooksy!
Ken Rosenthal tweets us more news about Atlanta Braves players signing elsewhere:
Brooks Conrad is a name that every Braves fan should know. He wasn't a starter for the team, but it seemed he came through in the clutch more than anyone else. He became famous and then infamous in 2010, first with his late inning heroics, hitting .300/.364/.688 with seven home runs in the seventh inning or later. His infamy came in the 2010 postseason, when his errors in the field cost the Braves dearly.
Even with that black mark against him, his reputation as a team player and a great guy helped rally players and fans to his side as they empathized with the unfortunate fielding at the wrong time. The Braves brought him back in 2011, and while he did have three late inning home runs, he just wasn't the same Clutch Conrad.
The Braves non-tendered Conrad back on the 13th of December, and I wrote just before then that it seemed Raw Dog was going to get a Raw Deal with the direction the Braves were going with their infielders this off-season -- towards defense and away from offense. At least the Braves allowed Conrad to seek out another team who wanted his services, and the Brewers have been collecting former Braves infielders this off-season -- having earlier signed shortstop Alex Gonzalez.
I wish Raw Dog the best of luck. His power might play really well at Miller Park. Rosenthal also tweeted this about the interest in Conrad:
0 recs | 37 comments
Good for Brooks.
Here’s hoping he makes the team (I think he will as things stand now) and does well. I’ll always have a soft spot for the Raw Dog.
Jacob Peterson - January 7, 2012
I hope
I hope his plane to Milwaukee isn’t grounded…
or he will miss it.
HalleyGator - January 7, 2012
Happy for him.
But since I’m in Nashville and make it to quite a few Sounds games(Brewers AAA), I hope he spends a little time here.
CHill33 - January 7, 2012
Over/under 1.5 game winning HR hit against us the rest of his career?
But seriously, a great guy who showed his character in his perseverance after his trying postseason. We’ll miss him.
Beachy Keen - January 7, 2012
don't you mean the 2010 World Series MVP Brooks Conrad? without his errors, the Giants don't make it to the series.
I hope the Giants got him a ring and playoff share for his efforts
nolesbroncos3456 - January 7, 2012 via Android app
I assume....
since he didn’t SAY that he didn’t MEAN that. One person does not win or lose a series.
sddbaker - January 7, 2012
I hate to see Conrad go, but he clearly didn’t fit into the Braves’ future. I wish him the best in Milwaukee.
Cornutt - January 7, 2012
same
dank7 - January 7, 2012
Best of Luck
We’ll miss you Rawdog, hope you make their team.
Bedhead514 - January 7, 2012
The GS against Cincy will forever be ingrained as one of my favorite Brave’s memory. I wish Brook’s all the best in his MLB endeavours. That is unless he’s playing against the Braves.
adc62 - January 7, 2012
At first I was like
Aww man, I’m gonna miss him
Then I was like, oh yeah, that’s right…
ATLandUNC - January 7, 2012
Too soon. And dammit if that doesn’t still hurt.l
GumpBrave - January 8, 2012
I'm gonna miss you, Brooksey
sddbaker - January 7, 2012
Good Luck Brooksey!
True, without him, the Giants probably wouldn’t have won the World Series……BUT, without him we don’t make the playoffs in 2010. His late game heroics will always be remembered by true Braves fans. As Bobby Cox said he played the game the way it was meant to be played. That is giving 110% effort on every play.
rxadam - January 7, 2012
Meh
It’s like Charles Thomas leaving…I’m really disinterested.
justincredubil02 - January 7, 2012
Going to miss the raw dawg. Also going to second the nashville statement, as I hope to see him play a few games there before being clutch for the brew crew.
chrisdaugherty - January 7, 2012 via iPhone app
Best of luck to him. Hope he makes the team and does well (except against the Braves, of course).
John Holton - January 7, 2012
other than the CIN/ATL GS..
I remember clearly when he hit a go-ahead grand slam against the Marlins & how Hinske and Brooksie punched their chests at home plate. I wish the best for him in Milwaukee.
jrodisjust2cool - January 7, 2012
He is a man, baby. As has been mentioned earlier, the guy plays the game the right way. Really hope that things work out for him at every opportunity besides when he plays the Braves. And in those instances I hope he sucks.
GumpBrave - January 8, 2012
Good Luck Brooks
Enjoyed watching him play. Enjoyed the raw enthusiasm, enjoyed reading about the human side of dealing with the bad times.
bighop - January 8, 2012
See you at the home opener, Popeye! Hopefully…
michaeldlee1480 - January 8, 2012
aahhh Brooksie
Loved his late inning heroics from time-to-time, but his series against the Gaints still burns…..Glad he gets more ABs with the Brewers, but can’t say I am angry the Braves let him go….Bottom line is other teams are making moves and the Braves aren’t. We can’t even make a move to replace Conrad. If Atlanta thinks this team can compete in the playoffs/World Series “as-is”, then we all got a long season awaiting us.
EricT. - January 8, 2012
Why can’t we make a move to replace Conrad? Just because they haven’t doesn’t mean they can’t/won’t.
Someone like Conrad – the 25th man off the bench – is easily replaceable.
justincredubil02 - January 9, 2012
Speaking generally.....
you took the words right out of my mouth…Ugh, the thing is, they HAVEN’T made ANY opening day roster moves worth mentioning….What, Derek Lowe? Ha…..I love the Braves team and prospects, but that doesn’t mean I like this team this year……..
In any case…Go Braves.
EricT. - January 11, 2012
Addition by subtraction. We got rid of the worst players on the team. That alone makes us so much better.
justincredubil02 - January 11, 2012
Not neccessarily
it depends on who backfills that spot. We could always bring back Scott Proctor, or Bob Wickman.
Mr. Sanchez - January 11, 2012
Good Riddance
This should have been done a year earlier.
ChillyMutt - January 9, 2012
Unlike the Greg Norton debacle of 2009 which I place 100% of the blame on Wren for not being man enough to pull the plug and just release him no matter what Cox thought, I don’t blame the Braves for giving Conrad one more chance but clearly he was done in Atlanta and there was no need to keep him around for 2012. I wish Conrad the best and have no ill will towards him, but this was a bit overdue, yeah.
Zontar - January 9, 2012
Wait, so it’s irresponsible to give one of the best PHs in the game the previous season a roster spot, but it’s understandable if they want to give the goat of 2009 another chance?
justincredubil02 - January 10, 2012
Greg Norton 2009 wRC+ .. 54
Brooks Conrad 2011 wRC+.. 99
So, yes. If we had more positional flexibility Brooks would still be a good fit on this team. It’s difficult to find someone who can sustain even league average numbers as a pinch hitter. Conrad provided that along with plus base running at league minimum. Not much to complain about.
YakuzaFro - January 10, 2012
I misunderstood your statement
I thought you meant that it was a mistake for the Braves to bring back Norton in 2009 after his awesome 2008.
I guess you are saying that they should have cut dead weight well into the season in 2009…I can’t disagree with you there, although, even with a terrible AVG, Norton still got on base at a respectable clip via the BB in 2009.
justincredubil02 - January 10, 2012
And as I said at the time
we should have sent Norton down for a month or two of consistent, every day at bats that year. The way we used him, less than a dozen plate appearances over a month, I don’t think any hitter could be successful when getting that sporadic of action.
Mr. Sanchez - January 10, 2012
I agree 100%
justincredubil02 - January 10, 2012
Go and be good Broosky!
I’ll always smile when I remember his throwback bare handed batting as he grabbed the dirt at the plate for grip.
He could make you scream with excitement when he came through in the clutch… (or)… yell things at your TV that you would never say otherwise when, well – ya know.
I do wish him well (on and off the field) because no matter his baseball skills, he seemed to be a really good guy.
NCChopper - January 9, 2012
You would appreciate a man grabbing his bat with his bare hands….
:)
justincredubil02 - January 10, 2012
You may know me too well Justin ;-)
NCChopper - January 10, 2012
Nyuck, nyuck, nyuck!
justincredubil02 - January 10, 2012
You must Login with your SB Nation account and be a member of Talking Chop to post a comment.