Editorial
Look who has a shot at the playoffs...
25/09/07 10:00
I was checking the Brave Cave site this morning and I was shocked. The Bravos are only 3 games out in the wild card with 6 games left to play. The Braves have a really good shot at the wild card.
San Diego has 6 road games left; 3 against the Giants and 3 against the Brewers. San Diego's road record is barely above .500.
Philadelphia has 3 games against the Braves and 3 games against the Nats.
Colorado has 3 games against the Dodgers on the road and 3 at home against the Diamondbacks.
If the Braves can sweep the Phillies, we have a real shot at the playoffs.
Good things happen when a team wins 8 out of 10 games.
If the Braves get into the playoffs, it would be at the perfect time. The Braves seem to be peaking now.
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Mets/Braves aftermath
03/09/07 12:49
Andruw Jones and the 1999 Miami Dolphins
27/08/07 01:02
In 1999, the Dolphins
were at a crossroads. Dan Marino couldn't effectively
play quarterback yet Miami simply couldn't cut him.
Jimmy Johnson wanted to cut him but management
wouldn't let him. After all, how can a team bench Dan
Marino, arguably one of the top five quarterbacks of
all time. He was a fan favorite and 80% of Marino is
still better than 100% of just about any other
quarterback. The Dolphins tried to make the best of
it and Marino's career came to a humiliating end when
he was replaced in the second half of a 62-7
thrashing by the Jaguars.
I believe Andruw Jones' incredibly low offensive output is killing the Braves. Yes, we have other troubles and starting pitching is easily at the top of the list. Andruw's batting average is .223 and that is going up. His batting average before the All-Star break was .211 and after is only .243. Sure, he has 83 RBIs but just think how many "all or nothing" swings he has taken. Think how many players had to have been on base for Andruw to drive in 83 batting .223. Think how many RBIs someone batting .280 or higher would have produced. Think how many rallies Andruw has singlehandedly stopped. Think of how many times Andruw has struck out in the ninth with the game on the line.
I don't care about his defense anymore. I don't if he does save a run every other game with his defense and that is debatable now more than ever. Ever since Andruw was robbed of his MVP title, he has swung for the fences no matter the inning, situation, or game. Defense are giving Andruw the entire right side of the park and he continually swings for the left corner post. He tries to hook every pitch and major league pitchers are not stupid. They know don't need to throw Andruw a strike. Throw that pitch down, away, and off the plate and Andruw will create an out.
Andruw needs to be benched no matter the public outcry and Cox needs to start an outfielder that will keep the innings moving and the Braves in big innings. I believe we have absolutely no shot at making the playoffs if Andruw stays in our lineup.
The only good thing from this situation is I think it may have "scared straight" Jeff Francoeur. I think Jeff saw himself heading down the same path as Andruw and decided to do something about it.
I believe Andruw Jones' incredibly low offensive output is killing the Braves. Yes, we have other troubles and starting pitching is easily at the top of the list. Andruw's batting average is .223 and that is going up. His batting average before the All-Star break was .211 and after is only .243. Sure, he has 83 RBIs but just think how many "all or nothing" swings he has taken. Think how many players had to have been on base for Andruw to drive in 83 batting .223. Think how many RBIs someone batting .280 or higher would have produced. Think how many rallies Andruw has singlehandedly stopped. Think of how many times Andruw has struck out in the ninth with the game on the line.
I don't care about his defense anymore. I don't if he does save a run every other game with his defense and that is debatable now more than ever. Ever since Andruw was robbed of his MVP title, he has swung for the fences no matter the inning, situation, or game. Defense are giving Andruw the entire right side of the park and he continually swings for the left corner post. He tries to hook every pitch and major league pitchers are not stupid. They know don't need to throw Andruw a strike. Throw that pitch down, away, and off the plate and Andruw will create an out.
Andruw needs to be benched no matter the public outcry and Cox needs to start an outfielder that will keep the innings moving and the Braves in big innings. I believe we have absolutely no shot at making the playoffs if Andruw stays in our lineup.
The only good thing from this situation is I think it may have "scared straight" Jeff Francoeur. I think Jeff saw himself heading down the same path as Andruw and decided to do something about it.
I have come to praise Wickman, not to bury him...
25/08/07 14:54
As just about everyone
know by now, Wickman was DFA'ed
by the Braves
Friday. There have been reports
that Wickman was
unhappy in pitching in anything other than a
closing role. The bad news was that lately the
Braves haven't needed a closer. Either they blow
the other team out by 6 runs or they lose.
Personally, I always thought Wickman was a good guy. He would pitch every day and he always gave 100% on the bump.
Wickman gave the Braves hope at the end of last year and he helps out the Braves next year. Next year you ask?
Don't forget what Big Bob did last year during negotiations
In fact, Wickman was offered a two-year contract by the Braves. Players simply don't turn down additional contract years in normal circumstances, but Wickman did in this case. That decision tells you something about Wickman, who does not put his personal interests before those of the organization.
"I was offered a two-year deal here and I said no to it -- we're just going to go a year at a time," Wickman said. "If something happens with my age [38] and stuff like that, I've never had a track record of getting hurt, other than the Tommy John [elbow ligament replacement] surgery, but if I just don't feel good at the end of the season, I'm not going to go through the embarrassment, letting the organization down after signing a big contract. I felt guilty getting hurt when I had a three-year deal with the Indians. But if I'm healthy, yes, 100 percent, I'll keep playing."
I think the combination of Bob blowing a few saves, the tightness in his arm, the stint on the DL, his age and weight finally caught up with him.
When Bobby called him to tell him the news, did Big Bob throw a fit? Nope. His words 'Sorry I let you down.'
I'm sorry to see him go and I wish the best for him and his family.
Personally, I always thought Wickman was a good guy. He would pitch every day and he always gave 100% on the bump.
Wickman gave the Braves hope at the end of last year and he helps out the Braves next year. Next year you ask?
Don't forget what Big Bob did last year during negotiations
In fact, Wickman was offered a two-year contract by the Braves. Players simply don't turn down additional contract years in normal circumstances, but Wickman did in this case. That decision tells you something about Wickman, who does not put his personal interests before those of the organization.
"I was offered a two-year deal here and I said no to it -- we're just going to go a year at a time," Wickman said. "If something happens with my age [38] and stuff like that, I've never had a track record of getting hurt, other than the Tommy John [elbow ligament replacement] surgery, but if I just don't feel good at the end of the season, I'm not going to go through the embarrassment, letting the organization down after signing a big contract. I felt guilty getting hurt when I had a three-year deal with the Indians. But if I'm healthy, yes, 100 percent, I'll keep playing."
I think the combination of Bob blowing a few saves, the tightness in his arm, the stint on the DL, his age and weight finally caught up with him.
When Bobby called him to tell him the news, did Big Bob throw a fit? Nope. His words 'Sorry I let you down.'
I'm sorry to see him go and I wish the best for him and his family.
Idiots (Skip Bayless and Jemele Hill) on ESPN's "First and 10"
15/08/07 17:25
I wish, I wish, that I
had the video from this but alas, I don't. I was
watching ESPN's "First and 10" and Skip Bayless and
Jemele Hill were discussing Bobby Cox breaking the
all time ejections record.
Everything started out well. Skip said that he had spoken with Bobby before and that he didn't seem the type who was prone to anger. Jemele's first words were "He has had issues with domestic violence before." Skip then rips into Bobby for his anger issues and also suggests that a major reason why was thrown out was (paraphrased) "to inject some passion into his emotionless club." Then both of them go into more anger issues of Cox and how stupid and useless the act of getting thrown out of a game.
It is incredibly obvious that neither of these buffoons have ever seen Cox get thrown out of a game. He never loses his temper. He never shows up the umps. He never acts like an ass; ala Lou Piniella. He gets in his say, he usually protects his player from being tossed, and he leaves. Cox, usually, gets thrown out to protect his players and both of these commentators did him a huge disservice by first, commenting on behavior they had never seen, and second, assuming the worst about a person.
Everything started out well. Skip said that he had spoken with Bobby before and that he didn't seem the type who was prone to anger. Jemele's first words were "He has had issues with domestic violence before." Skip then rips into Bobby for his anger issues and also suggests that a major reason why was thrown out was (paraphrased) "to inject some passion into his emotionless club." Then both of them go into more anger issues of Cox and how stupid and useless the act of getting thrown out of a game.
It is incredibly obvious that neither of these buffoons have ever seen Cox get thrown out of a game. He never loses his temper. He never shows up the umps. He never acts like an ass; ala Lou Piniella. He gets in his say, he usually protects his player from being tossed, and he leaves. Cox, usually, gets thrown out to protect his players and both of these commentators did him a huge disservice by first, commenting on behavior they had never seen, and second, assuming the worst about a person.
Andruw Langerhans to sit after MRI?
13/08/07 12:38
Andruw Jones will have
a medical examination today. I'm willing to bet he
sits a while after today whether there is or isn't
any obvious injury. Andruw Langerhans is, and has
been the entire year, a rally killer. True, he does
have 74 RBIs but think about that number for a
second. Andruw has been batting around the Mendoza
line the entire year. Think how many runners were on
base for him to generate those 74 RBIs with an
average @ .210. Now think how many of those runners
he left stranded and how many rallies he stopped.
The Braves had another stellar defensive star who was battling Mendoza and they traded him. Langerhans left and our offense immediately kicked up another notch. I think it is time for Andruw to sit a while, heal that elbow (whether it needs it or not), get that swing worked out, and let's see how our offense responds.
The Braves had another stellar defensive star who was battling Mendoza and they traded him. Langerhans left and our offense immediately kicked up another notch. I think it is time for Andruw to sit a while, heal that elbow (whether it needs it or not), get that swing worked out, and let's see how our offense responds.