I am not trying to pick a fight. Wholers threw a breaking ball and that was a mistake. Plus…..Wholers Os not our boy KIMBREL. KIMBREL is sooooo much better. IMO.
Most of their strength had left them (strong starting pitching, strong bullpen and lots of HRs), their flaws were then accentuated (easily over matched by pitchers who can throw a breaking ball for strikes, poor average w/ RISP) and they went out to do battle thinking they could rely on their strengths but didn’t realize it was gone till they were deep in the battle and by then it was too late…
Hard to play what if with all this because pitchers get hurt, that’s just what they do, but what if Beachy comes back to stay in the second half, what if Venters and O’Flaherty are healthy this season?
1a. Uggla’s timing was based on guessing where the ball was (i.e. blurry vision), his last 100 ABs were just not enough for him to get used to actually seeing the ball and he comes to spring training locked in…
OR
1b. The Braves are able to part ways with him w/o totally eating his salary (or possibly get a good prospect back WHILE eating his salary)…
2. Brian McCann can put his poor showing in the NLDS behind him, but his desire to prove something to the Atlanta fans moves him to take a “hometown discount” to stay…
3. B.J.Upton can forget about “trying to live up to his contract” and just get back to playing baseball, at least to the level he was before he came here…
4. Eric O’Flattery will sign and be as effective for us as he was before the injury…
5. Venters recovers and is as good for us as he used to be…
6. Beachy recovers and is as good for us as he used to be…
7. Braves can acquire David Price from the Rays for three prospects (maybe two pitchers and a position player? – considering a rotation )for the next two years, at least) of Price. and in no particular order, Medlin, Minor, Teheran and Beachy)
I’m from the SF Bay Area, so excuse my high school friend for being an A’s fan…but something interesting he posted on FB last night:
“As A’s fans we can dream but facts don’t lie. Can’t compete in the playoffs with our payroll. 3 of the four teams left in the are in the top 5 in salaries.
2. Los Angeles Dodgers $216,302,909
4. Boston $158,967,286
5. Detroit $149,046,844
11. St. Louis $116,702,085”
Never? Oh, Steve, where’s the optimism?? This post season has hurt you, Steve. You’re a changed man.
BTW, with the post-Selig era looming…does the baseball world at-large have guesses on his successor?
October 9th, 2013 at 1:39 am
I am not trying to pick a fight. Wholers threw a breaking ball and that was a mistake. Plus…..Wholers Os not our boy KIMBREL. KIMBREL is sooooo much better. IMO.
October 9th, 2013 at 2:04 am
Somewhere….Goose Gossage is texting Bruce Sutter to call Freddie and explain what they had to consistently do to achieve a Save. Ugh
October 9th, 2013 at 7:58 am
@100 is pretty damn funny.
The What Ifs are pretty brutal from this season.
I’d add:
If Uggla and BJ were just bad instead of historically bad we win 3 or 4 more games
If the entire bullpen (minus Kimbrel) didn’t lose it’s mojo in late August we not only get best record but we are much tougher in the playoffs
October 9th, 2013 at 9:50 am
@103
I concur with your comments. Well said.
They were Samson with a hair cut.
Most of their strength had left them (strong starting pitching, strong bullpen and lots of HRs), their flaws were then accentuated (easily over matched by pitchers who can throw a breaking ball for strikes, poor average w/ RISP) and they went out to do battle thinking they could rely on their strengths but didn’t realize it was gone till they were deep in the battle and by then it was too late…
October 9th, 2013 at 9:52 am
Hard to play what if with all this because pitchers get hurt, that’s just what they do, but what if Beachy comes back to stay in the second half, what if Venters and O’Flaherty are healthy this season?
October 9th, 2013 at 12:34 pm
Hope springs eternal…
Here’s hoping:
1a. Uggla’s timing was based on guessing where the ball was (i.e. blurry vision), his last 100 ABs were just not enough for him to get used to actually seeing the ball and he comes to spring training locked in…
OR
1b. The Braves are able to part ways with him w/o totally eating his salary (or possibly get a good prospect back WHILE eating his salary)…
2. Brian McCann can put his poor showing in the NLDS behind him, but his desire to prove something to the Atlanta fans moves him to take a “hometown discount” to stay…
3. B.J.Upton can forget about “trying to live up to his contract” and just get back to playing baseball, at least to the level he was before he came here…
4. Eric O’Flattery will sign and be as effective for us as he was before the injury…
5. Venters recovers and is as good for us as he used to be…
6. Beachy recovers and is as good for us as he used to be…
7. Braves can acquire David Price from the Rays for three prospects (maybe two pitchers and a position player? – considering a rotation )for the next two years, at least) of Price. and in no particular order, Medlin, Minor, Teheran and Beachy)
October 9th, 2013 at 2:21 pm
I like the Price. 🙂 Well said on your thoughts too, Steve.
October 9th, 2013 at 3:10 pm
Flew through Atl to LA. Didn’t see one item of Braves gear. Dodger blue is everywhere. Wrong.
October 10th, 2013 at 4:15 pm
I do think the price for Price will be way too high.
And seriously, the Cards and the Dodgers? I can’t not watch that series enough.
October 11th, 2013 at 7:08 am
I’m from the SF Bay Area, so excuse my high school friend for being an A’s fan…but something interesting he posted on FB last night:
“As A’s fans we can dream but facts don’t lie. Can’t compete in the playoffs with our payroll. 3 of the four teams left in the are in the top 5 in salaries.
2. Los Angeles Dodgers $216,302,909
4. Boston $158,967,286
5. Detroit $149,046,844
11. St. Louis $116,702,085”
October 11th, 2013 at 9:32 am
@110 – Yup. No salary cap (which will never happen) kind of sucks.
October 12th, 2013 at 6:52 am
Never? Oh, Steve, where’s the optimism?? This post season has hurt you, Steve. You’re a changed man.
BTW, with the post-Selig era looming…does the baseball world at-large have guesses on his successor?
October 12th, 2013 at 10:38 am
Joe Torre? J/K, I have no clue. Someone who consistently makes nicey-nicey with the owners.
October 13th, 2013 at 8:53 am
@112. It’s true. A little piece of me died last Tuesday.
I’ve heard Stan Kasten as a possible successor.
October 13th, 2013 at 5:28 pm
A bigger piece of me died after reading that post
October 13th, 2013 at 10:45 pm
Good for Salty.