Just thought I would ask....What would it take to get us into a winning streak? Yes, Yes, large question but I think there is a simple "Brave" answer. A really great pitching performance!

Of course some are going the route of Fredi's Head on a stick (leading a mob lit with torches) to chant us to see more numbers in our win column and to some of their points I agree. I might point out to most of them that they probably were quite happy for him to replace Bobby in that they thought he would be a lot like him..apparently he isn't, so get over it..but every manager is different and the good ones learn a lesson every game (hopefully he is on track there).

So, as a long time Braves supporter (and seen really crappy years), I believe the first priority is for the team to have a winning season! It is the first thing on my mind before the first crack of the bat (or wiff as has happened so far). With the season just started and after giving my answer above, GOOD PITCHING! I search for insight as to how my beloved Braves can kick it into gear?

Last year I read the most wonderfull bit on this site on where to go when going down to Spring training. I believe "CB" was the writer? I had set my plan in motion but because of my ongoing injury I did not think I could go and injoy myself...and opted to make sure I was at ATL on opening day! (God bless you Heyward!)

Well, Seeing that that time is upon us with the pitchers and the Chipster reporting in another week It would be nice to see an updated version of that post as I will again plan on making at least a weekend journey down I 95.

As I remember the jest of it here was some rules to follow that might allow you the best chance for some signings/sightings

1. Visit away stadiums....I think the top of the list was the Astros? (followed closely by Detroit?)

2. Rent a kid to take with you or a woman that might be mistaken as a _____ (fill in the blank).

3. Know their fricken name...(have a roster cheat sheet if your memory is fried)

4. Know where the bus pulls up at away games

5. When at WWoS Braves hang out in the back area where the Bullpens is are to catch famous former players and soon to be's

6. When meeting them have something original to say...."oh you are my most favorite player" might not not lead to getting more than one thing signed....


If there is anymore to the original post please do an update......Or if anybody else can offer up some points I know there will be willing ears!

thanks, BT

Hey just read some input about our (and some of our competitors) players on the Phoenix desert dogs team....

"Cory Gearrin was the first out of the pen for Phoenix, and he’s funky enough to stumble into Major League success. A true sidearmer, Gearrin has a plus frisbee slider that should be enough to get big league right-handed hitters out. But he needs better command with his 85-88 mph fastball than he showed today."

The total link;

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/afl-thoughts-mesa-at-phoenix/

It was written by a Bryan Smith who seems creditable in my book for an earlier blog that reasoned why do teams project a #5 starter when to him there is never a true #5 but a "fill-in the blank starter....hmmmm

enjoy!

I myself could not make out what they were saying when Heyward was at bat but my friend said they were saying; "Posey's better". I WILL have a sign on Sunday saying something to this....Help...don't want to just say "No Heyward's better"

I will try to lead section 414 in a very loud Jason Heyward chant...my little boy loves to scream it! I may let him hold the sign so, maybe some sign that might reflect on that?

GOOOOOOO BRAVES !!!!!! thanx

I Was just catching up on my TC reading after returning from Atlanta today after seeing Saturday's extra inning madness and the first thing I saw was there had been no fan posts in a couple of days. I thought HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM. A mystery needing solving?

I wondered if EricGregsbeenpaidoff''s post lambasting anybody presenting anything negative, which he covered just about everything, (with the exception of possibly the WTF performaces some of our top starters are starting to turn in)  had turned everyone into weenie men/women non bloggers?

I can not help but be alarmed at this....how do any of us no life, beer guzzuling, hasbeens releave our burdened souls?

So, with that in mind my question is....I wonder if our latest (suspected) slump is due to the over usage of our arms (starting or Bullpen) or is it the possibility of inexperience? Only two of our starters with the exception of Lowe and Hudson have been in a pennant race (and two in the Bullpen) is it starting to rattle our young ones when they see Lowe, who up to his last decent start had to take time off for arm/elbow soreness and the #1 starter start to serve up outfield souvi-balls adding run counts up to numbers that make even Conrad want to stay on the bench....but....

Now, I am not going to run to the hills shouting "The sky is falling", (and after watching Big Reds Saturday's effort restored my partial sanity) but I can not help but wondering if there is a problem...... on how the pitches are being called.....like Pujoes 2nddigger tonight... going inside to him with high heat does not work with him unless you are  clocking the gun at 97 plus....Tim still had his sinker going...he missed getting the call on one earlier...why give up on it to a person that you want to keep on the ground? Anyway, I am going to call out McCann's name on this one...and to say I am not so happy with his dropping % of throwing out base runners is not going to factor because the chain of events of them being out there seems directly related to the "E"s that are starting to creep up at 3rd and 2nd.

Last but not least how are we the armchair mgrs going to fill our line up card out when EricGreg comes up with....
........"We need to start leveraging Conrad for 4 runs per game. Every time the bases get loaded, as they inevitably do, pinch hit Conrad for whoever is coming to the plate. Those 4 runs are more important than whichever player gets removed".
 note; also add to this that Nate "the Achybreak (as in heart?) kid, Mclouth is pushing to be moved up in the order I hope that someone will venture to give a suggestion of how this might work....

Well, there you have it..again beware of the negative police they may bash you with a thousand tongue lashing comments...hopefully some other brave soul will venture a post. As it is with surviving a bear attack....You don't have to be faster than the bear just faster than your fellow "blogger" that is running with you...

enjoy...and of course GO BRAVES!

..hee hee 

Two parts to my Story

1. Diaz's surgery was scheduled for the first of this week. If anybody knows the outcome please provide details. The Teams website gave some background on the injury and did not spare any gruesome details...I quote "But with his thumb oozing blood and puss after every recent at-bat, he knew that he was reaching a point where he had to put the team in front of his pride." When I was at the game on Saturday I was wondering why he was not starting and why Hinske was starting...(and who was this unknown [not ranked?] prospect  that was on the roster?)

This raises another question, since Hinske was Troys back up at first, (and Troy is Chippers 2nd after Conrad backup) why not bring up Freddy for a taste? With Omar able to fill almost every position why bring up a Langerhans type/looking player for a cup of coffee.....We have several players that play other positions it would have been nice to keep our attendance numbers up (I heard we had a good weekend) by showcasing some of our future.

Judging by the Teams Website we could even consider Minor as a spot starter during our curent crunch time (Medlin starts tonight). Personally I do not think he should but in the article they point out that the pitcher we passed on to pick him starts against up on Wednesday and he has 4 wins!

2. Did anyone else read the MLB new about the "falling out" between Hanley R and Freddy? I like Freddy as a possible replacement for Bobby C. The question now is, How much power does Hanley have and can he get Freddy fired? 

Yes, this is a broad statement that could lead to many discussions....But.....Here it goes....

Over the past few seasons our record against lower half clubs has been average at best. Just last year when we needed to step it up at the end of the season, to play on after said season, we fell to the Nats.

Having watched a little of the Pills vs Pin stripes today I can see the power of that team and see us needing every win we can produce to beat them (which we showed with our series last season we could beat the Pills) but what can be done to offset the "letdown" that we experience against teams like the Nats and to some extent the Fish?

I can see that some of those losses to these lower teams came at the hands of spot starters hot off the farm. I can only guess that our scouting on those players tended to be a little incomplete. I think we need to treat them the same way, Bring up a pitcher or a position player (a hot one preferbly) for a cup of coffee and a spot start. In that way add a spark or at least a distraction for the other team.

I am not talking about doing it all the time but at the right time. One time I may suggest is after a long hard road trip or after a few games that went extra innings.

If there are any suggestions as to whom and when I am interested.....game on!


ps planning on being there on opening day...how about a "meet up"?

This just in.......(this weekend).....The Red Sox are putting Tim Wakefield back in their Starting rotation. His Age, 45 and he will turn 46 before the season is out. Like our own Phil Niekro the hands of time have stood still to allow him to throw a vastly dieing pitch.

Yes, there is still some throwing it, or at least some variation as the Knuckle curve but largely the pitch is not one of choice. I wonder if there is any teaching in place to see if any of our pitchers are a good candidate for it? You would think that giving the rewards for it there would be at least some interest.

Prerequisites:

Tough skin- Sometimes the pitch will float past the strike zone

Good Defensive skill- some batters will make bad contact...hint lot of "slow rollers"

good fastball (placement) - believe it or not Phil had an excellent fast ball..the pitch that caught them "napping"

Delivery of either a one finger or two finger knuck is more like pushing the ball so the delivery motion of the fastball is readily noticed because the pitch is more over hand. It becomes very important for the placement of that pitch. This placement is dependent  on the batters hitting style. Niekro used a fastball as his out pitch but often threw in a curve as well.

I had heard that John Smoltz had worked on one during one of his comebacks I wonder if he is thinking about it now?

My thoughts only but if you have information on anybody to watch this spring who might be trying it...just chime in

thanx

    I know that the subject of Barry Bonds return to Baseball is dead (and it should have been buried) but when I saw the story about Barry Bonds missing Brunch in La La land I clicked on it. (So blame yahoo sports for bringing it up again not me)

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew.

What I saw was an comparatively "in shape" (from my point of view, round is a shape too) Barry...behaving...(by his standards) quite civil to fans of another team (right, he does not have one that he is on).....out side a restaurant in LA.

In my true confessions I feel so dirty even allowing the thought of him becoming a Brave (but I bet there are others) but I can not get this greed of wanting him on our team slipping into my head.

 I look upon the shear insane judgment on his part to do the bad  things he has done being more than just a weakness of his character. It also must be viewed as a product of how the business of sports was being run, then and to some part now. Seeing now that some big names are now coughing up the truth that they were guilty of the same thing, Barry's evil is not as bad as it once seemed....at least not to me. 

 I can not help to think that he still has time for a comeback. Depending on his legal struggles, he could (judging by this recent photo) probably still play the game good enough to not only make a team but contribute in a big way to win games (think older PH..like we have had before).

There have been soooo many other incredulous (I was going to say "worse" but went with a big word because what Barry did was pretty bad on two levels) people that have made a comeback from worse situations than his. In the world of professional sports and celebrity domain there have been acts by some that included up to murder that make his (I like to say his were messing with his own body and lying about it in federal court) acts seem small. I guess you have to add cheating to his list of "acts" which is more of a baseball infraction but is sometimes a good thing because Gaylord Perry is in the hall and he admits to cheating.

As Barry has done these things he will have to live with it but I would have to say I would not be so negative if he joined our team (and I guess I will now have to forgive Pee Wee Herman too because his crimes were the same as Barry's. Say, did you see Pee Wee on Conan's final Tonight show?)

I am curious how others feel about this and I will refrain from making a poll but since it is still off season why not take a moment or two to write.

     Recent articles at MLB.com have Identified some of baseball's best Trades and Free Agent signings (one of each)for a few selected teams. Of course our team tops the list with the Fred McGriff trade and our free agent steal of the great Greg Maddux. Which I think limited us because we have had more than our fair share of steals/deals which I am sure everyone knows a least a couple more.

Also, coming in the backside as a counter debate is a Yahoo sports blog from Jeff Passon on "The Ten Worst Baseball contracts of the 2000's". Only one involved us directly,  Mike (man who "slips" in Hot tub)Hampton. I am sure the time limitation of "from 2000 avoided what I feel was our worst deal....Butler for Barker. (Note: it also listed Andruw Jones but I would say it mostly affected the Dodgers)

So, before the "Tex" for a team subject comes up let me ask the rest of TC nation for comments on who they think was our best....and our worst deals/steals...

I am so glad that the Braves have finally come to life. We are now exceeding the 4 runs per game average that I an others have said we would need  to enable us to be competitive in the NL east. I don't know what the stat for that is (wins when we score at least 4) but I know back in June it was quoted that we won at least 90% of those games.

 After our afternoon game with the Giants it is off to face the Brewers. They have slid backwards the past month. They can still generate runs and just filled a need of a true lead-off hitter in acquiring Lopez from Arizona (he is hurting a little with a slightly pulled hammy) but if the Braves are to continue in the race they will need to keep the throttle open and keep Fielder inside the yard. Then not to look to far but after swimming with the fishes...we have a true test of our metal...the Dodgers

It is good to see more people coming in to join our discussions. I will not throw out the "Bandwagon" word but only welcome them with open arms....(hint I am one of the more positive bloggers and will often defend the right of speach if one of the more negative bloggers attacks),

In the last couple of weeks some of the talk has involved the trade deadline and other has involved the advancement of some of our farm club's prospects. I will take a moment to cover this......

To the first subject I say if it "ain't broke don't fix it"! Unlike the last two years the light at the end of the tunnel is not dim. I would not trade J. Vaz with the way he is pitching now...when he starts he eats up innings and gives the bull pen a rest. We are real deep in pitching and not so deep in position player's though...and it would be nice to find a big bat but with the exception of going after Holiday to keep the Phils from landing him I would keep the team as it is....give Hud all the time he needs to rehab and see who might "need" to go on the DL (Just say no to faking an injury) When he is ready.

The second is Bringing up the Baby Braves..."oh, he is sooo young...only nineteen..these are some of the comments about at least two of our rising stars. Not to compare them but keeping in mind every player is different, Andruw was only 19 when he came into the side...and he hit a home run in a World Series...Maybe one of the two most mentioned could do that for us? If these additions could provide steady offense then we could rest Chipper and a few others to keep them fresh for the post season?

Again in closing, I want to say thank you for all those that have voiced their support for me while I support the troops over here in Iraq. I do not claim to be a "Seer of the future" or anything like that but remember I said that my Braves always make it to the post season when I am deployed....looks like I will be here till end of September. GO Braves!

(Note: still accepting bribes uhh gifts to stay longer)

I have been posting here about two months now and have enjoyed this time more than the four years I had been on The Sporting News. There are some very knowledgable people here and though some are a little (mean) too spirited, every subject is approached with good intentions.....on to the subject;

Every Great Baseball team has at it core a prevailing thought, every game is winnable. The coaches convey the strategy before the game in needs. Such as, We need to get at least 4 runs tonight (with the Braves that means they win about 85% of their games) or we need to hold them to 3 runs or less etc etc. I would say that a Youthfull team like the Braves might have a problem maintaining a positive winning attitude but two teams come to mind that would deflate that argument...Last year's Rays and right now Colorado (who have won 11 strait now...???)

What are the above team's reasons for their success? How can the Rocks, who looked like they were up said rocks this year switch gears soooo easy and go on a tare of that many straight? The big confidence builder for the Braves during their long run was being able to run out three #1 starters and clutch hitting in the later innings. A "Never say Die attitude is what they had.

My thinking is there has to be some kind of negative influence in our clubhouse. Is there anything we the fan can do? Short of sending a letter to FyF and Saying "Oh there little fela, you will turn it around" (I think I just threw up in my mouth a little)

Maybe one of our more gifted writers should compose a letter to the team to let them know we stand behind them. One that would speak for all of us. In Winter of 1990 I wrote such a letter to Bobby Cox (with a baseball card for him to sign), telling him that because I was in the Navy and could not get back to Atlanta much, I wanted him/the team to know that they were all in my thoughts and that I wished them a successfull season....(now everyone a collective AHHH). I do not know if he read the letter to the team. He did however write me back (and signed the card) and thank me for my service and the nice words.This team is much like that team. Yes there were one or two vets on it but this team too has about the same makeup. Maybe we can have a positive influence on them? I know it is Monday but maybe we can get together on this one and help pull our team up. The letter that we choose should point out all our positives and downplay our negatives(keep FYF references to a ...well, none).

Sounds simple, I vote we make it happen. Who's in? Vote now, write now!

(Note: I did not want  this to sound too corny and don't worry I won't break off into an "Animal House" Bluto ramble if this gets dumped but while I am grabbing for the side of the pool...humor me throw me a line :-)

This year's team has been erractic in the runs department...I have seen LOB numbers in a lot of the games in the double didgets. I think that in our next foray into the market (when we trade off some young arms) we will need to seriously look at the requested player's  Hits w/RISP avg. David Justice's number were really good... and we should be looking at this....My vote for Next year's free agent will be another one from the rising sun. Yankee's Matsui...it seems everytime I have seen him play in this situation he gets the guy home!

On a continued note; I mentioned that I was taking offers on keeping me overseas for this season....sorry I will not entertain permanent requests LOL...but as I mentioned everytime during my Navy career that I was overseas we played in the world Series...and won one when I was stationed in the middle east (where I am at now) I am retired now so I am hoping that the carma means that I will be able to return to watch them play in the WS. So, I am taking offers (Bribes) to keep me overseas for this season...no money offers please but Braves memerobilia accepted! Also, If anyone has the pull to get me a first pitch throw out at a Brave's game ..I say see you in September!