Show #192: Our Interview with Craig Calcaterra
Craig Calcaterra of hardballtalk.com talks Janish, Sheets, starting pitching acquisitions and the DH in the NL. Plus Chipper in the All Star Game.
236 Responses to “Show #192: Our Interview with Craig Calcaterra”
Pages: [1] 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 » Show All
Pages: [1] 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 » Show All
July 16th, 2012 at 3:18 am
Great interview guys. I’m excited about the team right now. And I agree with you guys about Chipper. Here you have a Number 1 draft pick, 6’3 switch hitting stud who who spends 20+ years with 1 organization and becomes an all time great HOFamer. It’s an extreme, EXTREME rarity. Especially nowadays. People are starting to realize that. And it will be so weird not to see him listed on the roster next year.
On another note, back to that Teixeira trade. The only problem I have with that trade is that Schuerholz traded BOTH Feliz and Harrison. Yunel was blocking Andrus, McCann was blocking Salty. However, giving away two blue chip pitching prospects instead of one was over the top. But we had had the potential to have Teixeira for a year and a half but it just didn’t turn into a championship. Mostly because of our bad pitching.
I posted the Chipper video with his boys. Here is the link again:
http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=22977235&c_id=mlb&topic_id=vtp_asg_sponsor
July 16th, 2012 at 7:07 am
@1- Walker. Thanks for posting that video. Everyone, stop what you’re doing right now and watch it.
July 16th, 2012 at 8:38 am
I agree on Hanson. He’s been here over three seasons with some improvement but I still get that tinge of doubt everytime he takes the mound. Too many air-outs vs. ground outs makes me nervous alone. Like I say, he’s much better these days but I still get that uncomfortable feeling when he climbs the hill for some reason.
July 16th, 2012 at 11:50 am
@1 – even I loved the Chipper n Sons video. “My laundry” shall become my new non-curse phrase.
July 16th, 2012 at 1:08 pm
Greinke’s BABIP is .338. The Brewers are next to last in Defensive Efficiency (percentage of balls in play converted in to outs) and they are somewhere between below average and near the bottom in nearly every other telling defensive metric.
In July Greinke’s BABIP is. 378. Of the 20 hits he’s given up in July, 3 have been homeruns, 4 have been doubles and 1 has been a triple. He’s struck out 15 and walked 6 in 14 innings.
The Brewers’ defense looks like a significant factor in Greinke’s recent struggles.
I’m with Calcaterra. I wouldn’t give up more than one of Teheran, Delgado or Minor but I would give up one plus some lesser prospects for Greinke.
The Braves, by the way, are above average in Defensive Efficiency and lead the league in Defensive Runs Saved and UZR and UZR/150.
July 16th, 2012 at 1:20 pm
Two lefties & Vogelsong against SF & Nats…tough week.
July 16th, 2012 at 2:03 pm
@5 – Shaun – have you seen the news today that they are skipping Greinke’s next start and haven’t announced when he’ll start again? Troubling.
July 16th, 2012 at 2:32 pm
Steve @7, you never know. Could be just because he started last Saturday, last Sunday, then again on Friday. I know he got ejected very early in his start last Saturday, but he still went through all the warm-ups, etc.
July 16th, 2012 at 2:35 pm
@8 – I’m accused of being the half glass full guy on the show, but I buy none of that. They are concerned about something.
July 16th, 2012 at 2:41 pm
First pitcher to start 3 straight games since something like 1917. Here’s betting that guy threw a lot more innings than Grienke did in his 3 starts.
July 16th, 2012 at 3:48 pm
At this point I suspect the Brewers are being overly cautious because of how much trade value Greinke has. If they can assure teams he’s not injured, you have to figure their caution may actually reassure teams and help increase his value just a tiny bit. Then you factor in that pushing him back could give him an extra start with his new team he wouldn’t otherwise make.
But of course I wouldn’t be surprised if we learn about an injury later.
July 16th, 2012 at 4:01 pm
This may come as a surprise to no one but I also wouldn’t mind the DH in both leagues. Interesting to hear Craig’s thoughts. I think arguments on both sides are purely about personal preference. And I, for one, even though I grew up on National League ball watching the Braves, prefer watching 9 players who can hit to a certain standard over watching 8 hitters and 1 guy who is paid to pitch to a certain standard, regardless of how bad he hits.
July 16th, 2012 at 4:14 pm
@12 – Sorry Shaun, but that makes you a bad person. Just kidding (mostly).
July 16th, 2012 at 4:32 pm
The DH is coming. It’s inevitable. Enjoy it while you can Steve. After 15 years of watching Major League baseball I am slowly growing tired of these non competitive at bats at the end of the batting order.
July 16th, 2012 at 4:51 pm
Steve @13, I’ve been called worse. I’m a bad person for a multitude of reasons.
July 16th, 2012 at 5:46 pm
If we had the DH in the NL it would make me feel a lot better about giving Mac a big contract.
July 16th, 2012 at 5:55 pm
Best quote of the week “A dead man threw 6 shut out innings.”
July 17th, 2012 at 3:19 am
I swear Bobby Valentine an Ozzie Guillen are freaking nut jobs. LOL
I still love you Ozzie. Not you Bobby.
And I wouldn’t hire either of them.
July 17th, 2012 at 12:56 pm
Been out of the loop, finally got to listen to the show: one of the best shows ever, in my opinion. Probably my favorite guest you’ve had.
My favorite part: Craig says, “It’s usually manger-driven”
Steve lets out the most loaded “mmmm” in the history of podcasts.
DH ought to be instilled in the NL. It’s the way the game should have been drawn up to begin with.
“Why should pitcher’s bat? They can’t hit.” Exactly.
Curt, really enjoyed your comments on Kansas City.
In Zito’s 5 games against Atlanta, he has put up a ridiculous .184 batting average against, but a .188 baBIP seems to be the culprit. 2.45 ERA against us. Plus this Braves offense is pretty potent. For what it’s worth, I’ve never seen a pitcher with less of a lefty-righty split. Batting average, OPS, K/BB, all that stuff is almost exaclty the same for his career. We haven’t faced him since 2010 unless I’m overlooking it on baseball ref. In that game he K’d 10 Braves and gave up 2 runs on 4 hits in a no-decision.
July 17th, 2012 at 12:58 pm
^ that last paragraph is wonky because I was doing two things at once. Sorry if it made anyone’s eyes cross.
July 17th, 2012 at 3:16 pm
@19 – Thanks, Bub. It was one of those shows that felt really good as we were doing it. And yeah, Craig is great.
July 17th, 2012 at 5:57 pm
“Show felt good as we were doing it.” TWSS. Monday came and went, and we didn’t lose. GO BRAVES!!!
July 17th, 2012 at 5:57 pm
That and he agrees with everything I have been saying about Medlen.
July 17th, 2012 at 7:41 pm
I know it’s only the 2nd inning, but let’s get a freaking hit. Looks like a Monday out there.
July 17th, 2012 at 7:58 pm
Letting Posey beat us is a no no. Cmon JJ.