Show #95: Our Interviews with Billy Wagner and Tommy Hanson
Spring Training interviews with Billy Wagner and Tommy Hanson. Plus, Derek Lowe named Opening Day starter and the mounting praise for Jason Heyward.
213 Responses to “Show #95: Our Interviews with Billy Wagner and Tommy Hanson”
Pages: « 1 2 3 4 5 [6] 7 8 9 » Show All
Pages: « 1 2 3 4 5 [6] 7 8 9 » Show All
March 5th, 2010 at 1:27 pm
Hammy – six up and six down for Lowe. You’re lucky, mister.
March 5th, 2010 at 1:30 pm
Did you guys realize that even if Chipper and Glaus both get hurt at the same time, our line up is better than last year’s first half?
McLouth
Prado
Escobar
McCann
Heyward
Diaz
Infante
Hinske
Not great, but could hold the fort.
March 5th, 2010 at 1:32 pm
Hey Steve, Curt, & Hammy:
I’ve really been enjoying the shows as of late…due to the chaos of life my interaction here has been dormant. Couldn’t be happier w/ how our pitching staff is shaping up. With one exception…Please no Jo-Jo Reyes!!! PLEASE!!!
-BluesMan
P.S.- Did anyone notice that our old ‘friend’ ‘Blind Bill’ Hohn is officiating behind home plate @ today’s game against the Nats??
March 5th, 2010 at 1:35 pm
1. Braves won more ST games last year than any other year in their history. Remember all through the 90s how average they were in ST. I don’t know what it all means other than ST means nothing.
2. Look at the Lincecum deal and think about the difference in a guy coming up at the beginning of the year or squeezing another year out of him with a later call up. He got called up in May when Russ Ortiz got hurt. So dude was scheduled to make 400k this season or something and comes up for arbitration and the Giants have to poney up $23 mill instead. Think the Braves could withstand a hit like that? It’s horrible and cynical that this is the way it operates, and the Giants are printing money right now, but that’s the business of it all. Think if the Braves had to absorb an extra $11 mill this season into their payroll. Who’s getting cut or traded? Remember, we had to dump a young Kevin Millwood when Maddux accepted arbitration. I’m totally with you that I want the best team out there on day 1 to jump out to a fast start and have us clicking all season long instead of having to wait until June to see Heyward in the lineup, but sadly, I can see the other side too. If you are going to treat a team like a business investment, you are going to lose. And so are the fans. You can’t get into sports franchises with the sole purpose of making money. So few of them do.
You know guys, candle sticks make a nice wedding gift.
March 5th, 2010 at 1:36 pm
Welcome back BluesMan.
March 5th, 2010 at 1:49 pm
BluesMan – welcome back, indeed. I did see that Hohn would be behind the plate today. That fist bump is still incredibly galling when I think about it. Carroll Rogers had a funny mention about it today saying that she’d never seen a manager thrown out of a ST game, but it could happen today.
March 5th, 2010 at 2:02 pm
Line drive single for Heyward. Steals second. Ho hum.
March 5th, 2010 at 2:03 pm
OH NOES! Heyward gunned down trying to steal thoid.
March 5th, 2010 at 2:10 pm
Saito/ Wagner getting the Chavez treatment.
March 5th, 2010 at 2:36 pm
Oh, Freddie…
March 5th, 2010 at 2:40 pm
Poor fella…
March 5th, 2010 at 3:05 pm
Chavez getting the Chavez treatment today.
March 5th, 2010 at 3:10 pm
The Freddie base running blunder is INSANE. And, while it’s early, Chavez is pitching himself out of the bullpen so far.
March 5th, 2010 at 3:17 pm
Blogger, “unbelievable” reminds us that EOF had an awful spring last year.
March 5th, 2010 at 7:43 pm
Postedy post.
March 5th, 2010 at 8:32 pm
Hammy, I say play him on opening day. Boom! Fast start! Let the next owners resign him.
March 5th, 2010 at 8:51 pm
Here’s to the next owners
March 5th, 2010 at 10:09 pm
Weren’t some of you people really down on Heyward starting opening day just a few weeks ago? It seems like there were many comments similar to this one, “I think JH will be a stretch for the opener…” etc. If there were valid arguments then, are there none now? Also, I know J. Hey is doing great but as Curt, I think, pointed out it’s easy to hit 450′ homers in bp. I definitely want to win and win big this year but I’m pretty sure I’ll want to win just as badly in 2016. I’m a bit grouchy so I may not be thinking clearly.
I know one thing for shizzle…Prado is having a great ST.
March 5th, 2010 at 10:21 pm
“Chavez got off his mark,” Braves manager Bobby Cox said. “He’s got a real good arm. He’s got to throw some more strikes.
He’s got a gift my friends.
March 5th, 2010 at 10:27 pm
Conrad he looks effing good, no? What do we think about him?
March 5th, 2010 at 10:38 pm
Princess Leah, I can’t conceive of leaving Heyward down now. And here’s why:
1. Bobby and Wren have been all over the papers acting unreservedly about how awesome he is. They’ve said repeatedly that if he wins the job, he breaks camp. If suddenly one day, Wren goes “oh crap, I completely forgot we could get an extra year out of him if we delay a little. Wish I hadn’t said all that stuff,” then we have an inept general manager. To back out of that rhetoric now and hold him in AAA would be embarassing for the organization.
2. Keeping Heyward at a lesser salary for an extra year doesn’t just save Atlanta money, it also keeps money out of Heyward’s pocket. If we want to maintain even a semblance of looking out for our homegrown players, we have to send a message now and again that every penny isn’t hoarded. If Heyward turns into a superstar, I can’t see him here in 7 years anyway. But IF we want to entertain the idea of keeping him and players of his ilk at home, we can’t build a reputation of absolute stinginess. Especially not with this 172 day loophole business. To deprive yourself of a player for half a year a la Hanson 2009 at least shows the give and take, the risk and payoff, in a fair way. But this deal seems like a punch in the gut. The rule shouldn’t even exist. Best not to use it.
3. This is potentially a magical year for ATL. Spring Training’s got that “feel it in the air” thing going for it even more than usual. And the #1, primo, absolute top dog of all those giddy feelings is Jason Heyward. Subtracting him from even the Chicago and San Fran series could let the air out of the bubble in such a big way. We’re going up against Zambrano, Lily, Dempster, Lincecum, maybe Cain. Offense is going to be hard to come by. Momentum will be at a premium. And Heyward’s got that momentum-causing aura all around him. You think Big Z won’t have his feathers ruffled by one of those crackling laser line drives the rookie can hit?
Remember the loss to Philly in that awful comeback? First series of the year last year? I have never shed the conviction that it played a top role in our season falling short. Early success is so vital.
4. You were so wrong about Damon that you should basically concede every point to me for a year.
It would be lame, lame, lame to hold Heyward out of opening day if he shows he can survive both left handed pitching and major league curve balls in spring training. What a disappointment, and what a public relations hit in the year after we took so many PR hits.
If he can handle the lefties and Uncle Charlie, let’s put the man in right field.
March 5th, 2010 at 10:46 pm
#2 is my favorite and it scares me. It’s my fave because I don’t want to take money out of J. Hey’s pocket. I hope he has a lovely bride and 2 babies that would rival the cuteness of Matty D.’s angels by then to spend it on. I hate the thought of losing him EVER! I love the Chippers and the McCanns. My least favorite aspect of baseball is all the trade business. I’d rather grow em up in the farm and keep ‘em. I’m ignoring #4 because I don’t want to go all “grouchy and in a bad mood” on your ass.
Will, I was just thinking the same thing about Brooks Conrad.
March 5th, 2010 at 11:28 pm
Just listened to the beginning of a “Lost” podcast and snooooozeeeeer. It reminded me of what a great job you guys do. You make it seem so easy others who try sound like morons.
Also, my apologies to Wiley…you’re the Ga Tech season ticket holder with good advice not MattChu. MattChu must have thought I was off my rocker. I figured that out trying to find more “J-Hey won’t be ready but it’s ok” comments to throw in people’s faces. Told y’all I was grouchy.
March 5th, 2010 at 11:34 pm
Bub, I think you are right on a number of fronts. I think he will start in Atlanta. There are ways to avoid handcuffing yourself with salaries. They did it with McCann. They might get killed the next time around with him, but they saved themselves a lot by tying him up early. They will move to do the same with JJ. And then it will be Escobar’s turn. Then Hanson’s. So they have a lot to deal with before they have to worry about Heyward. But these guys are going to be the heart of this team, and they have to commit to them to have any hope of success going forward.
March 6th, 2010 at 12:11 am
*does the Validation Dance*