Talking Chop: FanShots

Saito has a torn ulnar collateral ligament since 08

2010-03-20T22:34:35Z

Saito has a torn ulnar collateral ligament since 08

"Twins star closer Joe Nathan, a rare reliever who's also a team leader, will test his right elbow by playing catch either Saturday, Sunday or Monday in what's being portrayed as a long-shot attempt to avoid Tommy John surgery and save his season. That may be true, but the Twins are not looking at the situation as a lost cause for the year --- at least not yet. Gardenhire, who admits to being perpetually optimistic, said that the Twins have heard from a few doctors suggesting that there's a chance that Nathan might be able to pitch despite his torn ulnar collateral ligament.

"Some say he could pitch through it, others say no,'' Gardenhire said. The list of pitchers who've pitched through the injury doesn't seem to be very long, though. One is Takashi Saito, now with the Braves. The Twins have done a fair amount of research on this. Former Minnesota starter Scott Erickson pitched without that ligament, Gardenhire said."

I was reading Jon Heyman's latest article and came across this nugget of info. How does Saito pitch with that ligament torn??? I have a real bad feeling about this signing.

Brett DeVall Avoids TJ Surgery

2010-03-19T23:30:30Z

Brett DeVall Avoids TJ Surgery

Check out my latest FoxSportsSouth.com piece that's basically a Q&A with Brett DeVall, where he tells us how he avoided TJ surgery... very interesting stuff.

Melky Cabrera will be hitting leadoff tonight, playing CF. Interesting.

2010-03-19T18:23:08Z

Melky Cabrera will be hitting leadoff tonight, playing CF. Interesting.

Cabrera
Prado
Chipper
Glaus
McCann
Escobar
Heyward
Diaz
KK

Fanhouse Team Review

2010-03-19T15:42:06Z

Fanhouse Team Review

The key to another playoff run ... may be young Jason Heyward.

Francoeur talking crap again!

2010-03-19T14:13:39Z

Francoeur talking crap again!

Good luck with stealing 20 bases. Was he on Tool Academy on VH1 yet? Check out this other link a Met fan provided from May 2008 and Francoeur's prediction of 50-60 walks!
http://sports.espn.go.com/fantasy/baseball/flb/story?page=roberts032708

Turner Field seating question

2010-03-19T04:32:38Z

Turner Field seating question

Me and a couple buds from school just bought tickets to travel down for Opening Day, and I was wondering if any nosebleed regulars can help me out with a little quandary- our tickets say they are for section 415L, not just 415. The difference is not identified on the handy little seating chart linked above. Does anyone know what the difference is, or if there even is one? I guess it could also be ticketbastard messing with my head...

30 Clubs in 30 Days: Atlanta Braves Video

2010-03-18T16:30:51Z

30 Clubs in 30 Days: Atlanta Braves Video

In case you missed it or don't have MLBN, here's a page where you can watch the video. It hasn't been uploaded to the page yet, but the page says that it will be uploaded sometime today.

UPDATE: Ok, now it's up.

Do you think Rangers Manager Ron Washington will be tempted by the 1st and 3rd base lines?

2010-03-18T14:36:38Z

Do you think Rangers Manager Ron Washington will be tempted by the 1st and 3rd base lines?

I think that this story is amusing but as a baseball fan I think it just puts another black cloud over the game.

I guess it is understandable when you hear about players with drug abuse (Josh Hamilton) but a manager is just terrible. It's like baseball can't catch a break. The stories circulate from drug problems, to steroid use, back to drugs, and next will be another big steroid admission. I guess we have to stay tuned for that...

We tease Bobby Cox because he has an iPhone and stuff, but I thank god that there has never been a story like this about him. This story only makes me appreciate the legends like Bobby even more.

Who is Dave? Does anybody know why our quirky relief wizard decided to name his changeup Dave?

2010-03-17T18:59:11Z

Who is Dave? Does anybody know why our quirky relief wizard decided to name his changeup Dave?

Nats release Elijah Dukes

2010-03-17T16:02:41Z

Nats release Elijah Dukes

Strange. I was expecting big things from him this year. I'm wondering, do we have a spot for this kid?

Pictures from Braves spring training 2010

2010-03-17T02:14:22Z

Pictures from Braves spring training 2010

Here is a huge mixed up glob of pictures from Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday of both major and minors. Majors practice and vs. the Marlins today, Minors full camp opening day, practices, and a scrimmage against the Astros today. When I have more time and am not exhausted I'll get them all sorted into actual fanposts. I hope you enjoy them!!!

Braves Rally Cry for 2010!

2010-03-17T00:23:00Z

Braves Rally Cry for 2010!

Good video of many of our top prospects.

2010-03-17T00:11:44Z

Good video of many of our top prospects.

Deadspin's Braves Preview

2010-03-16T19:09:31Z

Deadspin's Braves Preview

With a fantastic pic of Bobby at the Playa's Ball of 2009.

Behind the Scenes at Spring Training

2010-03-16T19:00:06Z

Behind the Scenes at Spring Training

My blog post on FSS for today, a lot of great behind the scenes and clubhouse information. Check it out!

D-Lowe's Spring Training rollercoaster

2010-03-16T16:19:55Z

D-Lowe's Spring Training rollercoaster

He has a solid two innings in his first appearance and heaves a huge sigh of relief that the adjustments he made in the offseason worked. His next appearance is disastrous, puts him in a foul mood and has him declaring he's glad it's still spring training so he can work out the kinks. His most recent start was great and he's now ready to seemingly take on the world. What's this next stop on this fun little emotional ride?

My Latest FoxSportsSouth.com Post

2010-03-16T02:27:55Z

My Latest FoxSportsSouth.com Post

Just a reminder that I'm still posting regularly over at FoxSportsSouth.com. They will have the game tomorrow and I'll be in and around the clubhouse. We shot a promo today that they may use on the air tomorrow. It involves me talking to the FSS beat reporter this spring, Pete Williams, and the camera moving around us. I'm wearing the bright blue shirt (and filling it out quite nicely, thank you) with the sun glasses while trying to hide the lovely cold sore on my lip (great time for them to be putting me on TV, right!). Should be a fun game tomorrow, check in here often and on FSS for "insider" info.

Heyman's at it again

2010-03-16T01:52:42Z

Heyman's at it again

Dude is drinking some serious Kool-Aid this time around, pegging the Angels as the top rotation in baseball. Really? Never-done-a-thing-without-Dave-Duncan Pineiro, failed ace Kazmir, and Weaver coming off a career year is the best out there? I don't want to be a homer and declare our rotation is tops necessarily, but you'd have to think that us, Boston, and Seattle would at least be in the conversation more than LAA. Can we just lock this guy in a closet until Christmas?

REMINDER: The Braves will be featured on MLB Network's "30 Clubs in 30 Days" on Wednesday, March...

2010-03-15T18:51:04Z

REMINDER: The Braves will be featured on MLB Network's "30 Clubs in 30 Days" on Wednesday, March 17th. IIRC, MLBN does a real nice job with their season previews. Check it out!

1st Cuts made

2010-03-15T18:08:18Z

1st Cuts made

Minor and Ortegano among others to be cut