Tomahawk Chops: Daily Atlanta Braves News Clippings For Thursday, September 15th
by gondeee on Sep 15, 2011 8:01 AM EDT
in Tomahawk Chops
Email
Print| Braves Wild Card Magic Number |
Odds Of Braves Making Playoffs |
| 9 (-1 change) |
96% (+0.5% change) |
Your one-page daily morning overview of Atlanta Braves news:
Braves quotes after Wednesday win over Marlins | Atlanta Braves
Fredi Gonzalez: "Great game today. Nolasco just made one bad pitch. He kept us off-balance and he threw a pitch to Gonzo, who’s been smoking hot since we gave him those three days off in St. Louis. "Delgado kept us in the ballgame, then the bullpen … what did they give up, one hit the rest of the way? They covered four innings, and we put up a big number there in the seventh inning to get the series win, which is what we shoot for." [...] "We turned it over to O’Ventbrel and they did a helluva job. You’ve got to be happy with the pitching today."
Chipper ready to get out of No. 2 spot in lineup | braves.com: News
"I understand why [Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez] is doing what he is doing with the lineup right now," Jones said. "He's trying to get the best on-base percentage guys at the top. But once guys who ordinarily hit at the top of the lineup start hitting again ... The bottom line is I'm not a table-setter. I'm not a guy who is going to go up and see six or seven pitches."
Medlen could return by season's end | braves.com: News
When the Braves decided to shut down pitcher Kris Medlen for six weeks earlier this summer, it didn't appear as though the right-hander would be able to make it back in time to pitch this season. But Medlen -- who underwent Tommy John surgery last August -- has shown enough improvement in recent days that the Braves are thinking about giving him a chance to pitch in the season's final weeks after all. "I'm super excited," Medlen said. "[General manager] Frank [Wren] sat right next to me and told me what the plan is and I said, '[Heck] yeah, let's do this.'"
The Braves can win without Jurrjens, but not without Hanson | Mark Bradley
There’s a chance Jair Jurrjens has worked his last inning of 2011, and that doesn’t augur well for a team that stands to play beyond the 162nd game. But the Braves can win the Division Series without Jurrjens if — and this is a mammoth "if" — Tommy Hanson is OK.
Hanson takes another positive step forward | braves.com: News
"My shoulder feels good," Hanson said. "Everything feels good. I feel really strong. I was probably throwing about 90 percent, and then toward the end, I started acting like I was facing a hitter [by] throwing hard. It felt really good."
Interleague inequities continue in 2012 - CBSSports.com
The Royals have ex-Braves as general manager (Dayton Moore), manager (Ned Yost), and players (including Jeff Francoeur). The Braves have a club president (John Schuerholz) who first made his name as the Royals GM, and checks the schedule every year looking for a trip back to Kansas City. In 15 years of interleague play, the Braves have never been there. Make that 16, because they're not going there in 2012, either. But they will play home-and-home series with the Yankees.
Braves nominate Tim Hudson for Clemente Award | braves.com: News
"Giving back and helping children is something that my wife, Kim, and I have enjoyed doing throughout most of my big league career," Hudson said. "We know how fortunate we are, and the importance of giving back. It feels good to be able to help kids and families who are going through things many of us could never truly understand."
58 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Interleague is great if you have a historic or inter-city rivalry with another team (i.e., NYY-NYM, CHW-CHC, LAD-LAA). Seeing quality teams in different leagues play against each other is great.
But at the expense of an unbalanced schedule, that is wrong…
So for 5 or 6 matchups, let's do it for all 32?
it’s a bad set up, and screws with scheduling so the current wild card and divisional races are impacted by who gets lucky. I wish it’d end, but it sells more tickets, so they won’t end it.
http://sportsandgrits.com/
Alternately—move Astros (or some other team) to AL West.
Interleague becomes a season-long thing, with no specific interleague weeks or whatever.
Balance interleague schedules so there’s no “getting lucky” in terms of team matchups. Blam.
If people complain that their better-attended interleague matchups might get moved to non-summer weeks due to year-round interleague, it’s not hard to just make sure that the marquee matchups people care about are still maintained in June/July/August.
by Ivan the Great on Sep 15, 2011 10:00 AM EDT up reply actions
I agree with you...
And disagree with you.
I love being able to see players and teams from the AL, for what are my other options without traveling?
I love being able to see the Yankees, Red Sox, Tigers, Rangers, etc. roll through Turner Field.
I never understood the benefit of having teams in a sport never play each other, other than meeting in the World Series. I’d hate never seeing the Falcons play the Steelers, other than in the Super Bowl.
I would be beyond bummed if MLB simply did away with interleague play.
That said, I hate the disparity. MLB could, and should, devise a system where there is less imbalance. As it is now, we get arguably the most difficult interleague slate next season, but this season ours was relatively weak.
Also, as mentioned above, a simple rotation, a la the NFL, would make things marginally better. Have each NL East team play the same AL teams. Why is this so difficult?
"Don't go ninja'n nobody that don't need ninja'n!" ~ Kung Fu Hillbilly.
All you have to do to see players from the AL play in the NL is wait a few years until free agency. Players move around so much it makes the idea of interleague play ridiculous. It would have been neat in the 50s.
I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it:
http://www.amazon.com/Four-C-B-Wilkins/dp/1449578454/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257720610&sr=1-1
www.dropoutproductions.com
Effin' Interleague scheduling
The AL East Gauntlet next year will be… interesting
And no Braves @ KC for the past 15 years (16 next year)? Considering GMs, Presidents, players, etc that have moved between the two organizations, you’d think they’d play more often. A lot of my family, including the parentals, are from the KC/Eastern KS area, so personally, it’s a series I’d love to watch. When the Royals played in Atlanta last year, I went to 2 out of the 3, including the Greinke matchup (before the trade). Here’s hoping it doesn’t become 17 years.
Morton hit Heyward with an offspeed pitch. Early indication is that the baseball survived the impact.
Meds is coming back!
There will be some choices to be made for our playoff pitching staff…
Mark it
Hanson will come back dominant. The mullet is growing back, and Samson will be strong again.
PS: Interleague sucks
No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.
Interleague is fine. MLB’s disproportionate fairness in scheduling isn’t.
by TBuzz on Sep 15, 2011 8:49 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
there is no way to schedule it fairly
but it sells more tickets, so it’s no going anywhere, unfortunately.
http://sportsandgrits.com/
Another issue
is that MLB feels the need to play the intracity/natural rivalry series every year. This was a nice hook when interleague play was first initiated. Not now, though. They need to implement a system where the AL and NL divisions rotate playing each other every year. I haven’t looked into it, but there has to be a way that this can be done fairly
by aaaaandTheBravesWin on Sep 15, 2011 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions
Yes, there is a way...
it’s doubtful MLB would use it, but I’m sure there’s a way.
http://sportsandgrits.com/
by Mr. Sanchez on Sep 15, 2011 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions
There is no fairness
There isn’t even any rhyme or reason to it. You can say NL division vs. AL divison all you want, but it’s still mixed up for no apparent reason; this year was NL East vs. AL West, but the Braves still get series against the Orioles and Blue Jays, and don’t play the Athletics. The Braves haven’t seen the Cleveland Indians since 2007, but have played the Blue Jays three out of the last four years, with another series next year. I kept thinking I had it understood, but then the schedule comes out, and I’m proven completely baffled again.
In the NFL, once the regular season records are finalized, you can 100% accurately figure out next year’s opponent list based on standings and the pre-arranged rotation of Interconference matchups minus knowing which games are home/away. It’s not rocket science.
No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.
The problem is having 30 teams. Prior to expansion in ’99, the NFL had the same issues with unbalanced scheduling because there was no symmetry with divional games and out of conference games.
Either MLB has to go back to the 2 division per league format or expand/contract by 2 teams. But Interleague isn’t going away, kind of like the competitive sham that is the All Star Game…
by TBuzz on Sep 15, 2011 9:32 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Okay...
So you’re simpy against the schedule imbalance.
That makes sense.
I’m curious if there’s anyone who hates the NL playing the AL at all. If so, why?
"Don't go ninja'n nobody that don't need ninja'n!" ~ Kung Fu Hillbilly.
If anything, AL fans should hate it more than NL fans
Especially when they have to watch their teams go into NL parks, lose their often-powerful/effective DHs, and constantly fret about their pitchers having to take at-bats, and possibly hurt themselves on the basepaths.
I don’t like it, because so often times, they’re unnecessary games, driven by the pursuit of profit. 162 games is a lot of games as it is, and I wouldn’t complain in the least bit if the 12-15 Interleague games were shaved off the schedule outright, the season reduced to ~150 games, and there be no more risk of the regular seasons ending in October. Players get a little more rest, fans don’t have to fret about Brian McCann running out of gas, or all the September sob stories of players being banged up, and division races not being affected because an NL West team happened to run into a ridiculously hot AL East division.
No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.
I am likely in the minority...
By far, but I don’t care for divisions at all.
The only way to truly be “fair” is to have balanced schedules across the board. That way, maybe the Orioles or Blue Jays would have a shot…
Thus, I propose the following unlikely and crazy scenario:
1. Move Houston to the AL.
2. Then, each NL squad plays every other NL squad 8 times. 112 games.
3. Then, each NL squad plays each AL squad 3 times. 45 games.
4. Take the top six from each league and play like the NFL, with the top two teams in each league having a BYE. (I wouldn’t be opposed to keeping the current format with a 1 v. 4 and the 2 v. 3 scenario).
The above would be the most “fair”, for all teams would play other teams equally and fans could see every team every two years.
The problem, and ultimately why this would be unpopular: no rivalries. Many love the Mets/Braves/Phillies divisional rivalry, the Sox/Yankees divisional rivalry, etc. This would eliminate those, for we wouldn’t face Philly 18 times a year…
Personally, I don’t care.
"Don't go ninja'n nobody that don't need ninja'n!" ~ Kung Fu Hillbilly.
I think you're on to something
Unfortunately, none of our ideas would ever come to fruition, but it’s fun to think of them regardless.
I would start with moving HOU to the AL west too – 5 team divisions across the board. I would then go with an NFL style scheduling, best explained through example, and with the Braves:
1. Braves play all division teams 18 times (9 home, 9 away)
2. Braves play rotating AL (East) team in example year 6 times each (3 home, 3 away)
3. Braves play rotating NL (Central) in example year 6 times each (3 home, 3 away)
4. Braves play one rotating NL (West) team, based on matching standing from prior year 6 times (3 home, 3 away)
5. Braves play one rotating AL (West) team, based on matching standing from prior year 6 times (3 home, 3 away)
6. Braves play one rotating AL (Central) team, based on matching standing from prior year 6 times (3 home, 3 away)
150 games, divisional rivalries retained, logical rotating Interleague play, and some semblance of exclusivity since some NL teams won’t face other NL or AL teams, is gained.
No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.
by royhobbs on Sep 15, 2011 1:04 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
scheduling
I know we’re just throwing out ideas and not worrying about practicality, but a schedule with all 3-game series doesn’t work. You have to have some 4 game series; otherwise there are too many off days. Even if you went to the 150 game schedule suggested by Roy, that’s 25.5 weeks (6 games per week, except for ASB, when there are 3), which wouldn’t even shorten the season (current sched is 25.5; reducing the # of games without gaining some time back in early Apr or late Sep seems to kind of defeat the purpose of shortening).
Not if you played...
The three game series back-to-back-to-back. You would lose the traditional weekend series always being Friday – Sunday, but it could work.
I like royhobbs’s suggestion, for it would appease (almost) everyone. The schedule would be “fair” because the teams in a given division would largely play the same schedule, with the only variance being the “similar” team from the other divisions int he 4-6 above.
Thus, we’d face, in this NL West example, the Giants, the Phillies would face the Diamondbacks, the Mets would play the Dodgers, the Nats would play the Rockies, and the Marlins would draw the Padres, which would be fair for the teams are similar record-wise.
Sure, there will always be a suprise team, but this would be fair, unlike us getting stuck playing the Yankees, Red Sox, and Rays for 12 games next year…
Also, I would still be able to see all teams (eventually), including the AL squads.
Rec’d for awesomeness.
"Don't go ninja'n nobody that don't need ninja'n!" ~ Kung Fu Hillbilly.
This.
Rec’d.
What’s the argument for never playing AL teams, schedule imbalance aside?
Seriously, why should I never have a chance to see the Yankees? Because the AL has a DH?
"Don't go ninja'n nobody that don't need ninja'n!" ~ Kung Fu Hillbilly.
Braves definitely need Tommy to be back dominant.
The article says the next step will be decided Friday – either another side session or a rehab start in the FLA Instructional League. So, my thought is the timeline for him to get some ML innings and for sure be ready for the playoffs is becoming pretty tight. We only have 12 more games and the season will be over on Wednesday, September 28th. For example, as a best case scenario, if he got a 2 or 3 inning rehab start in the next 3 or 5 days, he could perhaps get 2 ML starts, next Thursday or Friday and then one of the last 2 games of the season.
Hanson and Bradley
Bradley also mentions that in the ideal scenario, Tommy has to be back strong enough to pitch on 3 days rest, if the Braves want to use a 3-man rotation for the DS. Not true.
Game 1 (Sat 10/1) Hudson
Game 2 (Sun 10/2) Hanson
Game 3 (Tue 10/4) #3
Game 4 (Wed 10/5) Hudson (3 days rest)
Game 5 (Fri 10/7) Hanson (4 days rest)
Hanson Samson was fine until Fredi made him trim the beard. That’s literally when everything fell apart.
Don’t become “the Yankees,” Fredi….. You’ve got some facial hair, too.
"It looks like The Hound of the Baskervilles out there." - Steve Stone
"...I'm reminded of Wuthering Heights." - Harry Caray
~
"Wang, my third at-bat, he threw me a 1-0 fastball that I fouled straight back, and he came back with another heater, which surprised me." - Freddie Freeman
~
Gaby Sanchez - 1, Nyjer Morgan - 0
by Chief Noc-A-Homa on Sep 15, 2011 10:05 AM EDT up reply actions
I wonder another injury from JJ will hurt his trade stock. When do you think JJ gets traded, offseason or by next years trade deadline?
And it's now my sig
by Bronn on May 17, 2011 4:56 PM EDT
He stays if he wants to resign before arbitration for a sum competetive with his Arb-2 status. Since he’s a Boras client, I doubt he’ll do that.
by TBuzz on Sep 15, 2011 9:44 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
You guys sure that we want Chipper as skipper in 5-10 years?
You'd think I was Travis Tritt struttin my FINE ASS on down to Florida
Was just thinking the same thing. Possibly the dumbest thing I’ve heard Chipper say. He sees more pitches than most players in the league.
I think he meant that’s not his primary hitting approach. While he has good OB skills he seems more the type to try to get in the pitcher’s head and jump on certain pitches. His goal is not to take pitches but to find a good pitch to hit, which sometimes results in a walk.
Sgt.: Pointed stick? Oh, oh, oh. We want to learn how to defend ourselves against pointed sticks, do we? Getting all high and mighty, eh? Fresh fruit not good enough for you eh? Well I'll tell you something my lad. When you're walking home tonight and some great homicidal maniac comes after you with a bunch of loganberries, don't come crying to me! Now, the passion fruit.
You don’t get a career .403 OBP by not taking “six or seven pitches” on many at bats. Chipper needs to shut up. This is one thing Fredi has gotten right. Let’s not screw it up by having the “veteran call out the new skipper” resulting in our best OBP threat being put in the 5 hole.
I think you're missing his point
a 2 hole hitter takes pitches almost without question. Meat ball down the middle on the first pitch? Take it if you’re hitting 2nd (or at least that’s the traditional idea). That’s not Chipper’s style. Yeah, he takes walks and has a great eye, but the impression I got from his comment was that he likes to attack the at bat without much restriction, and being in the 2 hole restricts him from swinging freely when he likes his first pitch. As we’ve seen before, Chipper does NOT like being told to take the first pitch.
http://sportsandgrits.com/
by Mr. Sanchez on Sep 15, 2011 11:53 AM EDT up reply actions
Says who?
The old school laws of baseball? BS that the thinking is that it’s mandatory for a 2 hole hitter to take the first pitch. Where a player hits in the lineup should not change his approach.
And if Chipper has enough gall to call out Fredi for batting him 2nd, then he should be completely fine with ignoring the take sign.
Chipper is looking for a good pitch to hit, as he should, he’s pretty damn good with a baseball bat. And the best way to utilize skills with a baseball bat is not being able to pick balls from strikes, but from capitalizing on hittable pitches. That is, in certain ways, at odds with what a 2 hole hitter should do. Chipper crystallized this point perfectly by referring to “table-setters.” Table-setters very rarely are looking for good pitches to hit for a 2 (or in Chipper’s case) a 3 run HR, and that really isn’t there job. Nor should the 2 hole hitter be trying to hit doubles, the more likely result from good contact from a powerful hitter.
Sgt.: Pointed stick? Oh, oh, oh. We want to learn how to defend ourselves against pointed sticks, do we? Getting all high and mighty, eh? Fresh fruit not good enough for you eh? Well I'll tell you something my lad. When you're walking home tonight and some great homicidal maniac comes after you with a bunch of loganberries, don't come crying to me! Now, the passion fruit.
Whats with the picture
and the missing title for it and whatnot?
All while Fredi is surrounded by a bunch of orangutans, trying to teach them how to bunt the rocks and coconuts that angry 300 lb gorillas are throwing at them,
by royhobbs on Jul 29, 2011 11:20 AM PDT
Strong Side / Weak Side: Chipper Jones
http://www.onionsportsnetwork.com/articles/chipper-jones,8431/
by Santaklose11 on Sep 15, 2011 2:28 PM EDT up reply actions
the picture is explained here
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=10101
http://sportsandgrits.com/
Great Story
My point was that why should batting 2nd restrict Chipper Jones from doing what Chipper Jones does? It’s not like he’s being asked to bunt.
It’s definitely more of a systemic issue with batting order philosophies.
What if what he's complaining about is his internal changes...
I agree with you, it shouldn’t change him, but what if he lets it impact his approach? Shouldn’t, but that doesn’t mean won’t. He said similar things when he was flirting with .400 a few years back, how he quit trying to get lift and started going for slap hits when we needed him hitting for extra bases. Right or wrong, I think hitting 2nd changes Chipper’s mindset when he comes to the plate.
http://sportsandgrits.com/
That is priceless
Man, I miss Boog broadcasting the Braves games.
All while Fredi is surrounded by a bunch of orangutans, trying to teach them how to bunt the rocks and coconuts that angry 300 lb gorillas are throwing at them,
by royhobbs on Jul 29, 2011 11:20 AM PDT
Strong Side / Weak Side: Chipper Jones
http://www.onionsportsnetwork.com/articles/chipper-jones,8431/
by Santaklose11 on Sep 16, 2011 2:33 PM EDT up reply actions
This.
My dad taught me how to make meat for sloppy joes and my mom let me turn over hot dogs on the grill.
by ChopMaster on Jun 25, 2011 7:25 PM CDT
by justincredubil02 on Sep 17, 2011 2:19 AM EDT up reply actions
Baseball Prospectus has updated
Braves’ odds of making the playoffs: 95.9%
Cards’ odds: 3.8%
I wish Chipper would shut up sometimes...
That’s just me.
Don’t get me wrong, I love Chipper, but it seems like he’s constantly calling out coaching decisions or other players.
Keep it behind closed doors.
As an aside, I disagree with Chipper. I like him in the 2nd spot the best.
"Don't go ninja'n nobody that don't need ninja'n!" ~ Kung Fu Hillbilly.
I could totally see his recent comments about “not being afraid of the Phillies” causing Victorino or some otehr Phillies douchebag going on a tirade in the locker room before the game about sticking it to us, which they did.
"It looks like The Hound of the Baskervilles out there." - Steve Stone
"...I'm reminded of Wuthering Heights." - Harry Caray
~
"Wang, my third at-bat, he threw me a 1-0 fastball that I fouled straight back, and he came back with another heater, which surprised me." - Freddie Freeman
~
Gaby Sanchez - 1, Nyjer Morgan - 0
by Chief Noc-A-Homa on Sep 15, 2011 11:34 AM EDT up reply actions
Chipper needs to realize that he IS a table setter and a perfect #2 hitter.
My dad taught me how to make meat for sloppy joes and my mom let me turn over hot dogs on the grill.
by ChopMaster on Jun 25, 2011 7:25 PM CDT
by justincredubil02 on Sep 15, 2011 1:27 PM EDT reply actions
Depressing thought
Only 12 regular season games left. I look forward to baseball season all winter long and its over too fast.
Also:
Interleague play sucks
DH rule sucks
umbalanced schedule sucks
Bud Delight suckered
"I Farted" - Me, everday
by HeyMikey on Sep 15, 2011 3:20 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
FG used the term “O’Ventbrel”? I guess that term has gone mainstream but did it not originate here?
"You owe it to yourself to be successful. After that you'll owe it to the IRS."
O’Ventbrel was first seen on ESPN.com, I believe.
BUT, long before that, we were using O’Ventebrel.
My dad taught me how to make meat for sloppy joes and my mom let me turn over hot dogs on the grill.
by ChopMaster on Jun 25, 2011 7:25 PM CDT
by justincredubil02 on Sep 16, 2011 12:58 PM EDT up reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Talking Chop
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Big League Stew - MLB - Yahoo! Sports
- Todd Frazier performs Heimlich Maneuver, saves choking man at lunch
- Roy Oswalt doesn’t need to save the Rangers, he only needs to provide insurance and depth
- James Loney: Umpires should call pitches from behind mound — and be robots with replay
- Magglio Ordonez set to retire after 15 seasons
- Barry Bonds thinks it will be ‘very sad’ if he doesn’t get into the Hall on his first try
