Show #175: The Braves Spring Training Turnaround

March 18, 2012

Show #175: The Braves Spring Training Turnaround

The winning begins, Chipper’s comments, the SS battle, and Kris Medlen.

Show #175 Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

91 Responses to “Show #175: The Braves Spring Training Turnaround”

1
Steve Says:
March 18th, 2012 at 11:05 pm
Bub – Just saw your comment #66 from Show 174. Awesome.
2
BluesMan Says:
March 19th, 2012 at 2:08 am
Loved the show guys! I didn’t know it was DOB that Chipper was implicating in that rant. That wasn’t cool that Chipper was being an old grouch. I’m on Curt’s side on the issue of Medlen, ‘if’ in some alternate universe I was GM of the Braves. I’d put JJ on the DL so he can sort out his command/mechanics issues, Medlen would break camp as a starter, Delgado would go into Medlen’s role when Hudson comes back, & by June…when Moylan will also be back into the fold. I’ll be putting out feelers and trade a pitcher (or two) away for cash & or prospects (power hitting prospects that is…).
3
Leah Says:
March 19th, 2012 at 8:12 am
Steve- it’s the butter slathered toasted buns combined with a wedge of lettuce that makes me love a Double Double. But i always ordered no sauce (thousand Island) add mustard. If you like grilled onions you should try one animal style (I can hear snickering).

Fair on Medlen in the pen. Lack of reliable long relief killed us last year and exhausted O’Ventrembrel.
4
Steve Says:
March 19th, 2012 at 8:45 am
Leah – funny you mentioned animal style. I received that same recommendation a number of times on Twitter the night I posted my middling review.
5
DAP Says:
March 19th, 2012 at 10:02 am
i agree with y’all on chipper. he shouldnt have said what he did about DOB, and i am a big time chipper supporter. chipper could have aeasily recanted without throwing anyone under the bus.
6
Leah Says:
March 19th, 2012 at 10:24 am
Or not recant at all…I’m not nearly as old as he is, I haven’t played a grueling sport for most of my life and my body complains every morning when I get outta bed!

I mean I guess I get it but personally, his initial comments didn’t seem like THAT big a deal to me. One can watch him play in any given game and know dude is old and in pain.
7
Anne Says:
March 19th, 2012 at 3:58 pm
Also speaking of animal style, (and I should listen to the podcast before I ask stuff like this), but do we get some Scott and Ballpark Frank anytime soon?
8
Steve Says:
March 19th, 2012 at 4:25 pm
Hey Anne,

No plans for Scott and Ballpark in the near term. Scott is buried at school and Frank needs a headset.
9
Nate Says:
March 19th, 2012 at 5:27 pm
Great show. I’m with Ham. I like that they’re playing better, but this still feels like last year’s team.

IMO, Meds should be a starter. This is like when Martin and Infante used to hit .280-.300 off our bench while guys like Kelly Johnson started in their place. Also, by putting him in the ‘pen you are assuming Fredi will use him properly and not put his career at risk by pitching him on too many consecutive days.
10
Bubdylan Says:
March 19th, 2012 at 10:26 pm
About to listen to the show and clean the apartment. That’s become kind of a past time for me; anyone else?
11
Bubdylan Says:
March 19th, 2012 at 11:12 pm
Good show. Needs to be longer, though; I have dishes left.

Still have a pretty low opinion of the team, but you have to love Dan Uggla. I think he’ll have his best year in the majors this year. It’s very refreshing to hear him be so aggressive to get better when he’s already got his contract. Opposite of Teixeira who didn’t even sweat his early slumps when he was going for a contract.

Chipper’s a real schmuck for using a tv broadcast to deflect his own screwup onto a beat writer. I’m glad it was unanimous that this was a bad move. I won’t obsessively rant this time, but I’d set the over/under of classless Chipper Jones press comments, before he retires, at about seven. He’ll just get more defensive as his body frustrates the claims his mouth makes. Gonna get ugly. We ain’t seen nothin’ yet.
12
Bubdylan Says:
March 20th, 2012 at 1:37 am
I don’t have a link or source for this, have no idea if it’s true, cut it off a Phillies blog:

The New York Times analyzed data from 2003 to 2010, and found that there is some direct correlation to winning games in spring training and having success in the following season. Teams have gained confidence from winning, found unsung players and the confidence and organization created has carried over. The correlation measures out to 0.22.

Over that period of time, the five best team’s and the five worst team’s spring training records were evaluated. Over that eight year period the top three teams were 3 times more likely to make the playoffs. Over the last three seasons it has been even more true. Source;… “NY Times blog “Bats”

Of the 14 teams who finished in last place in either the Cactus League or the Grapefruit League since 2003, none have made the playoffs. Five have finished at better than .500, and five finished last in their division. Course;..”National Journal”…(Adam Kilgore)
13
Will Says:
March 20th, 2012 at 5:59 am
dont let facts get in the way of a good story…
14
ham Says:
March 20th, 2012 at 7:09 am
Bub – great stuff. (and by “great” I mean “extremely depressing”)
15
Nate Says:
March 20th, 2012 at 10:15 am
I watched the replay of yesterdays game on MLB network. Delgado looked pretty sharp. He locates his pitches better than Teheran. If Teheran ever learns how to consistently locate his pitches he’s going to be a monster. He makes hitters look silly when he’s on, but he also looks like he could use some more time at Gwinnett.

I’m anxious to see JJ today. The reports on him have been a little worrisome.
16
Bubdylan Says:
March 20th, 2012 at 10:58 am
Someone could make a few bucks if they came up with a complex way to rate Spring Training performances that better predicted April results. It doesn’t really seem like it would be that hard to a fangraphs-type mind.

You’d just need to weight everything. Give a little weight to the win-loss record of the team, for psychology, confidence and what not. But then turn to match ups. Weight heavily the hitting and pitching performances of projected starters facing off. So that a AAA batter facing a AAA hitter weighs nothing, or nearly nothing. An ace versus a clean-up hitter weighs a lot.

And of course, weight the earliest performances, when timing is off and pitchers are just finding their fastballs, very lightly, but let results weigh more as they come near the end of Spring Training.

If a fella (or fellette) had the time & spreadsheets, I bet you could come up with a point total that would be do a fair job of predicting early season results. Maybe even further out.
17
Mark Says:
March 20th, 2012 at 12:27 pm
Steve is on target with In-N-Out vs. Five Guys. In-N-Out only wins on amount of hype. Five Guys kills it with fries, especially.
18
Nate Says:
March 20th, 2012 at 2:52 pm
JJ just looks bad.
19
Leah Says:
March 20th, 2012 at 3:59 pm
Back to depression and doubt.
20
Bubdylan Says:
March 20th, 2012 at 4:24 pm
Leah, if you never leave the doubt, you won’t have so much depression. Doubt is your friend. Feel the doubt, breathe it in; BE the doubt.

BTW, noticed Fredi was up to his old tricks with an ill-advised hit-and-run yesterday. Good, good.
21
Curt Says:
March 20th, 2012 at 4:33 pm
So JJ over Medlin? Seriously?
22
Leah Says:
March 20th, 2012 at 4:52 pm
I really hate to say this but Curt may have been right.
23
George Says:
March 20th, 2012 at 6:00 pm
I still say Minor’s comment makes me feel he is the Second best competitor on Braves team behind Tim Hudson. That includes Chipper. Hinske & Ross are great competitors, but Minor’s comments show confidence…I disagree with his comments as arrogant, but as “matter of fact.” I wish Fredi was more like that.
24
George Says:
March 20th, 2012 at 6:06 pm
I would be ASTONISHED if Simmons makes the team over Pastornicky. Frank Wren will make the prudent decision, while the media continues to pontificate.
25
Steve Says:
March 20th, 2012 at 8:15 pm
Sooooo unhappy about JJ. I suppose it’s good that he says he feels good physically. There’s no room for better performance when you’re on a bum knee. But, seeing his comments after today’s game he’s clearly in his head AND not trusting his knee and mechanics. That’s a lot to overcome, too. Hanson just got more important (if that’s possible).
26
Steve Says:
March 20th, 2012 at 8:18 pm
George (#23), for what it’s worth, I don’t think the opinions have to be mutually exclusive. I like that Minor is competitive and showing some fire. It was missing from his makeup last year. I also think it was arrogant (within the context of his time and stature on the team).
27
Steve Says:
March 20th, 2012 at 8:21 pm
Back to the starting pitching. Teheran just isn’t ready. So we’re looking at JJ, Hanson, Beachy, Minor and Delgado. I’d bank on that. And that’s a bunch of pitchers who haven’t show they can go more than 5 or 6 consistently. I would hate if JJ was so bad we were forced to start Medlen. I feel even more strongly that we need him to make up for the short starts that are on the horizon.

Also, we barely touched on Vizcaino on the show. And now the worst is confirmed. He’s a big ol’ loss in the bullpen. He was primed to have a huge year and take pressure off the other guys.
28
BluesMan Says:
March 20th, 2012 at 8:35 pm
http://youtu.be/CEb4diOgNvw
Here’s a video (that’s kinda funny, but NSFW language), where an Arizona news anchorwoman spits out a four letter word expressing frustration over not getting a big name free agent…Although this video doesn’t have anything to do with baseball, my question is; when do you see or hear sportscasters/news people (not including Curt, Ham, or Steve of course), get noticeably mad or upset out of being a fanboy/girl of the Braves? Should there be more fire amongst broadcasters, journalists, & commentators?

Can’t wait to see the ’30 Clubs in 30 Days’ about the team @ 11 p.m. tonight. If JJ doesn’t get his stuff together, I think the front office would be out of their ever loving mind not to throw Medlen in the rotation so Jurrjens can be given time to work his stuff out.
29
Walker Says:
March 20th, 2012 at 9:22 pm
@28

She actually said “I just lost a BUCK!!”

not “F**K”

Now back to our regularly scheduled program.
30
Walker Says:
March 20th, 2012 at 9:25 pm
With the injury to Vizcaino, no way should Wren allow what happened in the bullpen last year in 2012. We need depth, so O’ventbrel won’t be overworked and I’m not sure about Gearrin.
31
Kate Says:
March 20th, 2012 at 9:35 pm
If Wren doesn’t want O’Ventbrel overworked then he should fire Fredi now. Just because we have depth doesn’t mean Fredi is smart enough to use it.
32
BluesMan Says:
March 20th, 2012 at 9:52 pm
@ 29

I stand corrected, I couldn’t hear that until I listened to it w/ headphones on. Sorry guys…:(
33
Bubdylan Says:
March 20th, 2012 at 9:58 pm
Woo Hoo! The womenfolk calling for firing Fredi. Now we’re talking!

What say ye, Leah?
34
Leah Says:
March 20th, 2012 at 11:14 pm
It’s hard ya know…I just had such high hoes after Bobby. Does it really matter? He could trot out Bob Dylan everyday to pitch and they wouldn’t fire him.
35
Leah Says:
March 20th, 2012 at 11:14 pm
Haha! “hopes”! I meant Hopes!
36
Walker Says:
March 20th, 2012 at 11:25 pm
Lol. We all know hoes in high places.
37
Walker Says:
March 21st, 2012 at 12:14 am
This 30 clubs in 30 days got me excited again. I swear this Spring training has been a seesaw of emotions. But we really have a good balanced team minus the bench, which Wren did not improve. But the main weakness of this team is in the dugout.
38
Curt Says:
March 21st, 2012 at 8:10 am
And the ownership box
39
Bubdylan Says:
March 21st, 2012 at 8:49 am
And at 3B.
40
Steve Says:
March 21st, 2012 at 8:58 am
And at SS.
41
Kate Says:
March 21st, 2012 at 11:31 am
Here are a couple of tweets from Buster Olney about the SS battle.

@Buster_ESPN: My strong sense is that there is split between ATL on-field staff and front office over SS situation:Uniforms want Simmons, FO Pastornicky.

@Buster_ESPN: To be clear: Differences of opinion between on-field staff and front office are not unusual, and part of the evaluation process.
42
Curt Says:
March 21st, 2012 at 11:52 am
Read at your own peril:

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/7712503/stephen-strasburg-bryce-harper-rise-washington-nationals

This line was my favorite: “The Phillies are aging, the Braves are underachieving and run with a corporate ethos that values profits over winning…”

Wait…what? I’ve never heard that!
43
Steve Says:
March 21st, 2012 at 12:25 pm
#41: the Buster stuff is pretty fascinating. I hope the field guys win out.
44
Bubdylan Says:
March 21st, 2012 at 1:07 pm
I’m for Simmons over Reverend Nicole, but I doubt it happens. And I also doubt either will bat over .240, but may as well have a hot glove between Legless & the Hulk.
45
Walker Says:
March 21st, 2012 at 1:40 pm
Reverend Nicole?

For me Pastornicky defense needs to improve. Uggla and Chipper’s defense is already suspect.
46
Steve Says:
March 21st, 2012 at 2:49 pm
Great start from Hanson today. Thank goodness.
47
Curt Says:
March 21st, 2012 at 3:51 pm
Warning: I am about to tweet the same thing.

If Constanza makes this team over Parraz, I quit.
48
Bubdylan Says:
March 21st, 2012 at 4:24 pm
Reverend Nicole = Pastor Nicky. Work with me here.
49
Bubdylan Says:
March 21st, 2012 at 10:42 pm
I just watched Days of Heaven on Blu-ray. Most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. I almost proposed to my tv.
50
Steve Says:
March 22nd, 2012 at 10:00 am
This was just sent out by the Braves:

Chipper Jones Announces He Will Retire at Conclusion of 2012 Season
Third baseman to retire after 19 big-league seasons LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Atlanta Braves third baseman Chipper Jones announced today that he has made the decision to retire at the end of the upcoming 2012 Major League Baseball season. The Braves and Jones have expressed interest in rejoining the organization in a yet-to-be-determined capacity after 2012. The No. 1 selection in the 1990 Major League Draft, Jones has played his entire career in the Braves organization. He currently leads all active players with 18 years of service with the same Club (Derek Jeter, 17-NYY; Mariano Rivera, 17-NYY; Todd Helton, 15-COL).Since the Braves moved to Atlanta in 1966, Jones ranks as the franchise leader in nearly every offensive category. He owns a .304 career batting average, with 454 home runs, 526 doubles and 1,561 RBIs in 2,387 games. Jones and Anaheim Angels first baseman Albert Pujols are the only two active players to hit at least 400 career homers and still have more walks than strikeouts (Jones has 1,455 walks and 1,358 strikeouts).Jones finished second in the National League Rookie of the Year voting in 1995 and went on to earn the league’s Most Valuable Player Award in 1999. He has been named to seven N.L. All-Star teams and has been voted into the Game as a starter four times, most recently in 2008. He played for the United States team in the first two editions of the World Baseball Classic in 2006 and 2009.He won his first career batting title in 2008, with a .364 average. It marked the second-highest single-season average ever for a switch hitter. Mickey Mantle hit .365 for the New York Yankees in 1957.Jones is the only switch hitter in Major League history to post a .300 career average with more than 300 homers, and his career batting average ranks second all-time among switch hitters. Hall-of-Famer Frankie Frisch batted .316. Jones’ home run total ranks third among all switch hitters, behind Hall-of-Famers Mantle (536) and Eddie Murray (504). The Braves will hold a press conference today at Champion Stadium on third-base side of the fourth (press) level of their spring training complex at ESPN’S Wide World of Sports at 11:30 a.m. ET.
51
Leah Says:
March 22nd, 2012 at 10:26 am
Is it true? Can it be? Dare we believe it?
52
Mark in Memphis hates the DH rule Says:
March 22nd, 2012 at 11:58 am
So, what do you think?

Roving minor league hitting instructor (my bet A)?
Hitting coach for one of the monor league teams (maybe, but unlikely)?
Assistant hitting coach for the Braves (somewhat unlikely IMHO)?
Hitting coach for the Braves (unlikely IMHO)?
Yet un-named front office position (my bet B)?
Advance scout (unlikely IMHO)?
Scout (unlikely IMHO)?
???
53
Nate Says:
March 22nd, 2012 at 12:30 pm
How badass would it be to have Chipper Jones as a hitting instructor? I hope he gets to work with the younger players in the organization. Regardless, this is a great move by Chipper and the Braves to go ahead and get this out of the way. I hope we see some magic like we did in 2010 with Bobby’s last year.
54
Anne Says:
March 22nd, 2012 at 2:55 pm
I love the Chipper news. Totally like him (and I mean this in a good way) to get this out of the way before the season starts. He can rest up for a year, and I agree with Nate he’d make a tremendous hitting coach.
55
Curt Says:
March 22nd, 2012 at 9:10 pm
This is a nice little piece

http://espn.go.com/mlb/spring2012/story/_/id/7723234/chipper-jones-retire-2012-season
56
BluesMan Says:
March 22nd, 2012 at 9:41 pm
I’m glad Chipper got this out of the way so the national press will just shut up (at least w/ that question). Hopefully he mended fences w/ DOB. I’m glad that shows that we have that much more payroll to throw around in the offseason. Forget Bourne, I vouch for Josh Hamilton. I can definitely see Chipper being the Braves Hitting Coach in the next 5 to 7 years. I think he would be a great hitting coach.
57
Steve Says:
March 23rd, 2012 at 11:03 am
I agree that this was the best possible retirement scenario for Chipper. No questions about ’13 throughout the year, Chipper gets a big ol’ farewall tour and the FO knows more about the ’13 budget.

All of that said, I am extremely nostalgic for Chipper already. To me, it’s more unthinkable to be watching a team without Chipper than anyone else from the ’90′s.
58
Shaun Says:
March 23rd, 2012 at 11:06 am
For those who think Chipper Jones stuck around too long or think the Braves overpaid him the last few seasons:

According to FanGraphs, Chipper was slightly more valuable in 2009-2011 than Ryan Howard, the man who won the 2006 NL MVP, who has finished in the top 10 in MVP voting every year since 2006 and was ages 29-31 during 2009-2011.

According to Baseball-Reference Howard was less than one win better than Chipper over that span.
59
Curt Says:
March 23rd, 2012 at 12:39 pm
More platitudes

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/cliff_corcoran/03/22/chipper.jones/index.html?xid=siextra_032312
60
will Says:
March 23rd, 2012 at 2:20 pm
When is the ABT Chipper interview?
61
Steve Says:
March 23rd, 2012 at 3:01 pm
Yeah, when is the ABT Chipper interview? Anyone out there have any connections we could use to get him?!?!
62
Steve Says:
March 23rd, 2012 at 3:02 pm
DOB’s latest blog on Chipper is must reading. Posted this morning.
63
Walker Says:
March 23rd, 2012 at 6:37 pm
Im sure you could get him if you were really determined to. I am so ready for real baseball.
64
Bubdylan Says:
March 23rd, 2012 at 7:15 pm
You could get him for an interview unless he listens to the last broadcast to see what we’re all about. Broadcasting from your mom’s basements, the lot of you.

Good news on Chipper, though. Along with Gwynn, the smartest hitter I ever watched closely (haven’t seen Pujols that much). And even though he’s the Brave I love to hate for waffling on his claims in the press, even I don’t think he’ll back out of this announcement.
65
Bubdylan Says:
March 23rd, 2012 at 7:16 pm
^What I mean is … because you all agreed Chipper was wrong to fling DOB under the bus.
66
john j Says:
March 23rd, 2012 at 9:42 pm
Chipper was right and his opinion/comments are much more highly regarded nationally than any writer or commentator. Which writer can put themselves in Chipper’s shoes? Give any writer or blogger a soapbox and they know (think they know) more than a HOF player. Bottom line, outside of a few folks in Atlanta, who gives a **** about DOB?
67
BluesMan Says:
March 23rd, 2012 at 9:57 pm
@ 66 Well, I live in TN…and even though I didn’t discover DOB until 2 or 3 years ago when I discovered this podcast. Although I wasn’t in the locker room when all that stuff was said/quoted/misquoted/whatever. Chipper had a moment, he’s human after all…any Hooter’s waitress will agree with that. But on a more serious note, although DOB is human too, I still have a hard time believing that DOB was in the wrong.
68
Steve Says:
March 23rd, 2012 at 10:29 pm
The timing feels unfortunate that our last big Chipper conversation before the retirement announcement was criticizing his “may not make it through tomorrow” reversal and calling out DOB (which I still completely stand by). Chipper’s outspoken nature and the lifetime achievement award contract he signed a couple of years ago + the recent injury history make him a target, but I’m a HUGE Chipper fan. Sure, he has an ego, but all he’s really ever done is kick ass and do whatever was best for the team.
69
Bubdylan Says:
March 23rd, 2012 at 10:52 pm
john j, I don’t see how being a HOF baseball player makes them “know more” than anyone else. I mean, unless the discussion is how to face a pitcher, etc, which it wasn’t.

And while you may not give a **** about DOB, that has nothing to do with whether he was right or wrong in a circumstance. I can’t believe you seriously equate baseball fame with rightness on this level. Manny Ramirez pushed an old man down. Nobody knows the old man.

The writers wrote a perfectly logical piece given the words that came out of Chipper’s mouth.
70
Curt Says:
March 23rd, 2012 at 11:14 pm
DOB at his best:

“And he’s about as smart a baseball mind, and as candid, honest and entertaining an interview as any athlete I’ve covered, even if he occasionally finds a reporter to be a bit overzealous.”

And if anyone is a real Braves fan looking for insight on the team, I would challenge them to do better than reading David O’Brien. So they should give a crap about him.
71
will Says:
March 23rd, 2012 at 11:38 pm
in hindsight, if Chipper was this close to making this decision he might have been a bit more jumpy or stressed than usual and just blasted a barrel at DOB. So maybe he gets a pass, no definitely he gets a pass, in the grand scheme.

why do i always love beating the mets, even if it doesnt count.
72
Nate Says:
March 24th, 2012 at 10:32 am
The SI prediction might be accurate if the Venters shoulder soreness turns out to be something bigger and crappier
73
Leah Says:
March 24th, 2012 at 10:56 am
#Braves 3B Chipper Jones will have arthroscopic knee surgery, tore meniscus on Thursday.
74
Kate Says:
March 24th, 2012 at 12:18 pm
#Braves Chipper Jones has taken about 16-18 days to recover from similar knee procedures in past, so he’s hoping to be back for home opener.
75
Bubdylan Says:
March 24th, 2012 at 1:20 pm
Curt, that really is DOB at his best. He can be pretty graceful for a guy with such a tempermental(sp?) streak. That was a perfect handling of it: brief, backing off without compromising, and staying out of the way of the actual story. Can’t see another AJC writer handling it that well.
76
Pure Says:
March 24th, 2012 at 3:46 pm
When I first saw this link, I was worried that Minor was traded!
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/03/minor-moves-white-sox-braves.html
It turned out to be “minor”, not “Minor”.
77
Bubdylan Says:
March 24th, 2012 at 4:48 pm
Has Capitol Avenue Club’s readership fallen off or what? They have the benefit of being the Braves blog linked by ESPN, but most of their biggest articles get 10 or 15 comments these days. Chipper’s retirement article has like 8 comments. Anybody know what’s up with that? I’m not a big Peter Hjort fan, but they have a few decent writers.
78
Walker Says:
March 24th, 2012 at 4:58 pm
Is it me or does Jeff Nelson take alot of subtle shots at Chipper in this video? Jealousy maybe?

http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=20249015&c_id=mlb
79
Bubdylan Says:
March 24th, 2012 at 5:07 pm
Eh, I thought the guy with Nelson put him in a bad spot. But I do think he’s wrong if he doesn’t think Chipper will get a ton of ovations at away games. I think the Mets will give him a standing ovation for sure. And probably big time baseball towns like Chicago and St. Louis.
80
Bubdylan Says:
March 24th, 2012 at 5:09 pm
Glad Kelly Johnson & Yunel could romp us 9-0.
81
Steve Says:
March 25th, 2012 at 8:34 am
I’ve been feeling pretty good about the Bravos this last week, but this Chipper news, plus the Venters news and Delgado trouncing has left me rattled. I think it’s mostly Chipper’s knee though. He’s clearly mor fragile than I allowed myself to believe.

Bub, no idea about CAC. Given their ESPN link tho, seems their readership would be only growing.
82
Leah Says:
March 25th, 2012 at 2:03 pm
Guess who’s moving to North Georgia and way more available to attend games at the Ted?
83
Bubdylan Says:
March 25th, 2012 at 2:37 pm
There goes the neighborhood.
84
Leah Says:
March 25th, 2012 at 3:05 pm
Bub, promise to share your season tickets with me? Are your seats still directly behind home plate?
85
Bubdylan Says:
March 25th, 2012 at 4:45 pm
Nah, I usually just sit in the dugout. Unless Chipper’s in a chatty mood. Gets a little old with his “do you think I should do this, do you think I should do that” blah blah.

And about his retirement, you’re welcome.
86
Walker Says:
March 25th, 2012 at 5:48 pm
@ Steve

I am rarely negative but the way O’venbrel were worked, it is almost inevitable one of those three will end up having Tommy John.
87
Bubdylan Says:
March 25th, 2012 at 7:44 pm
Y’all know Venters has already had one TJ surgery, right? If he has a second Tommy John, the odds of him ever seeing a good contract drop way, way down. That was one of the most disgusting parts of watching Fredi send him into those 4 and 5 run games last year.
88
Bubdylan Says:
March 25th, 2012 at 9:50 pm
Mannnn…. leaving for Spring Break tomorrow & won’t get to hear the show unless I stay up late tonight. Hope I don’t get back & find out it was too positive. Be tough, Curt. Counting on you to keep it doomy; don’t let these guys get happy about beating some Astros (though the MPH for JJ is definitely a plus).

The Dan Uggla change of approach thing this spring is awesome, but it’s also a reminder what a farce it is that we assume ballplayers “are what they are” and in general don’t benefit from radical changes in approach. They do. And though you can’t over-react and overhaul approaches every time there’s a slump, there are enough long, ongoing Braves tendencies to justify really shaking things up. Get Fredi out of there. Develop a team hitting philosophy. Don’t just sit there and hope it gets better on its own. Uggla didn’t.
89
Steve Says:
March 25th, 2012 at 11:11 pm
Bub, hang in there for 20 minutes and it should be up.
90
Walker Says:
March 25th, 2012 at 11:18 pm
Very impressed with Uggla and Prado. Two wesknesses from last year are gonna have good years. Pastonicky is getting hot.
91
john j Says:
March 26th, 2012 at 4:45 pm
#69 Bub, thanks for taking the time to not let this die. I should know better than to take a position different from someone who has so much time on their hands that they average every third post on this site. I am so happy that you know more about what Chipper meant than he does. That is really logical. Thanks for your wisdom; without you, no one here would be able to follow the Braves in a logical manner.
How long have you been reading minds and how long did you play in the MLB? I want to fully appreciate your posts. The Braves are also missing out on your hitting expertise; I am surprised they haven’t put you under contract.

All “joking” aside, I really don’t think you know anything about baseball. You are reading ideas on one site and posting them as yours on other sites. That is MY thoughts on what YOU say. I think I know more about what you think than you do just like you know more about what Chipper thinks than he does. Doesn’t seem logical but who cares?

See all 6 of you in another life.

Show #175: The Braves Spring Training Turnaround

91 Responses to “Show #175: The Braves Spring Training Turnaround”

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