SB Nation User Blog: brndn

Phil Stockman

brndn — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 21:36:55 -0000

So they're sending him down to make room for Gonzalez. Maybe it's just me, but it didn't seem as if this guy received a whole lotta love while he was up with the big club. There were times when he looked down-right filthy, yet, even with our holes in late-inning relief, he didn't seem to get many opportunities. And it seems a couple other guys might do well to spend a little time in triple-A. What's the deal? Maybe I'm missing something -- literally -- I've missed a few games here and there due to work; I probably just don't have the whole story. Fill me in?

How will this year end?

brndn — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 03:49:58 -0000

33-27. Much better than last year. But there are a lot of negative issues, obviously. Some of the issues are specific to the first half of this season -- and hopefully will stay that way -- but there are others that are chronic in nature, malignant symptoms of degeneration that have plagued the braves for sometime now. I'll just mention a few; I know everyone on TC is familiar with these, but a refresh:

Chipper is crucial to our offense. When he's out, we're just not as good, even with the so-far-so-good Escobar. We need a power guy with an average that hovers around 300. Most championship teams have at least one, and Andruw hasn't really cut it up to this point (I feel for him, been a tough one so far).
Hampton's absence is awful. One of our big contract guys, yet I now struggle to remember what his wind-up looks like. On a personal level he probably feels terrible for not being able to contribute. I hope that when he returns he still has his stuff.
Given the state of our rotation, Smoltz's arm is absolutely a must for us to win. But that shoulder situation isn't looking too promising. Those types of injuries don't usually just go away after taking a few days off. I know that he is sort of acting like it shouldn't be a big deal, but these guys always do that out of love of competition. Maybe it really isn't a big deal. We'll see.

My question -- and it really is a question, as I haven't completely decided on what I feel about it yet -- is whether or not this is our potential championship year, the year to make a blockbuster market-place decision in order to make a run for the world series? I just don't know if I want to see us pull a "Yankees" and trade the farm for some old washed-up douche or someone with one year remaining on their contract and a boras/wannabe-boras lurking in the background. I'd rather see us continue a winning tradition for the next 10 years than win this year but lose the next 10 due to lack of farm talent. In other words, when/if we do make the big trade this season, I hope it's not only for the best interest of this year, but for the future as well. I want someone who will assimilate themselves to the team, both contract-wise as well as psychologically, consider himself a brave for sometime into the future -- like Hudson and Renteria have done -- than merely a temporary solution.

Bobby and Redman

brndn — Thu, 03 May 2007 22:28:52 -0000

First, I should say that this is the first time I've blogged here. Maybe the last. I am not a Braves guru. Not even really sure why anyone would want to read this. But, what the hell, on with it... When asked about whether or not Redman would pitch again, Cox had this to say (as seen on atlantabraves.com):

"I hope so. I think there is some pitching still there."

Typical diplomatic Cox answer. This is why so many previously under-valued players rise to a higher level of play under Cox: because he has no problem displaying solid confidence in them, no matter how horrible they've been in the past. A big leaguer is there for a reason: at some point he had to show talent, and Bobby rediscovers that talent. But let's face it, Cox is human -- with normal doubts and fears -- and inside Cox's mind, who knows, we might find an entirely different story -- maybe something more like the following hypothetical scenario, as told from Bobby's perspective:

Redman: Bobby, good news. I've been working out in the basement. Looks like that ingrown toenail is history because I feel great. Just like you said, there's still some pitching left in me. I think I could be ready to go by next week.

Bobby (Oh crap, did I really say that? I thought we got rid of this guy already. Where were you on that one, Schuerholz?): Wow, that's uh.. you really think it's gone? It looked pretty bad.

Redman: Yep, all gone, healed a lot faster than we thought it would.

Bobby: I don't know, Mark, I know a guy who got one of those and, well, he just had to quit baseball altogether. I would say it was a real shame, but just between me and you, no cameras around, there's no shame in quitting when you've got that type of injury.

Redman: Really?

Bobby: Yeah, the ol', uh, nagging ingrown toenail injury. Poor s.o.b. had to get a toenail replacement, and you know how these replacement surgeries go. Toenail didn't fit right, fell off constantly, you can imagine.

Redman: Wow, I didn't know they did that for toenails. Maybe the replacements they use now are a lot more advanced?

Bobby: Nope, unfortunately toenails baffle doctors. Big research gap in the field of toenail replacements.

Redman: Oh. But maybe --

Bobby: -- But maybe you'll be a toenail cripple for the rest of your life? Think about it, Mark. Bad stuff. Anyways kid, I'd lay off for a few weeks and we'll get back to ya.