Disqus - Latest Comments for Bud

Re: Good Days of '08: Game 1

Bud — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 23:13:22 -0000

Ah yes, remember this game well, since I sat through it at Turner Field . Nady was unstoppable -- man, he got off to a heck of a start to the season. The schedule-makers did Atlanta no favors, as they had played in Washington's stadium-debut on Sunday Night Baseball the night before.

One-run loss, after losing by one the night before ... kinda set the tone for the Bravos' horrid season.

Great blog you have here. Look forward to checking it out during the offseason. Maybe 2009 will be a reprise of the NLCS matchup in 1991 and 1992 ... with the Braves winning, of course!

Take care,

Bud.
http://braves.today.com

Re: Doesn’t This Team Remind You of The “Good Ol’ Days”?

Bud — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 08:41:55 -0000

I wish I could say I don't remember the 1987 team, but I've been following this franchise since the late 1970s. My memories really kick in starting around 1979 (when I attended my first game in person) and 1980, a pretty good team that finished one game above .500 if memory serves correct.

The mid and late 1980s were dreadful, but you could see the young influx of talent coming in, cutting their teeth at the big-league level. Gant, Glavine, Blauser, Lemke, Justice, Smoltz, Avery ... and then it all came together in 1991.

Baseball tends to go in cycles (a nod to Mark Kotsay and our main man Albert Hall). You could almost say the Braves were due for a season like this, but the ridiculous amount of injuries and one-run losses makes this a season like no other.

With that said, the Braves aren't that far away, in my opinion. I see promise out of Morton (three good starts in his past four). Reyes starts Tuesday; his numbers at Richmond have been good, and he's shown he can pitch effectively at this level. Just gotta command that fastball and pitch with confidence.

It's a process, and I think in the long term, this season -- as bad as it is -- won't be the forerunner of a return to the dark, dark days this franchise slogged through in the late 1970s and the mid-to-late 1980s. It stinks to be 12 games under and 12 games out, and looking toward next season with so much ball left. And yet, it's part of the life of a baseball franchise.

Hang in there, folks. I really think the salad days will be back ... sooner than the pessimists think.

Bud.
http://braves.today.com

Re: Doesn’t This Team Remind You of The “Good Ol’ Days”?

Bud — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 08:41:55 -0000

Re: Remaining Braves to Have Season Ending Surgeries

Bud — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 08:12:46 -0000

Forget surgery ... just pass me the morphine to help me forget about this woeful campaign.

Another stellar offensive performance yesterday. Seven hits, no runs. Seven losses in the past eight. Ugh, is it 2009 yet?

Bud.
http://braves.today.com

Re: Remaining Braves to Have Season Ending Surgeries

Bud — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 08:12:46 -0000

Re: Where Did It All Go Wrong?

Bud — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 22:39:01 -0000

JB, very well done. For what it's worth, to me the KJ pop-up-drop was the turning point, if you have to point to one moment. That started a horrendous week that ended with Jeff Ridgway hitting a batter with the bases loaded to force in the game-winning run in extras at Wrigley. KJ and Ridgway, the bookends to a six-game losing streak where the cart began careening down the cliff toward nowhere.

Indeed, I believe baseball runs in cycles, and I still remain optimistic this downturn won't last too long. Too much talent in place, but gotta go add some key pieces to the puzzle to make sure the Braves don't suffer through this type of season in 2009 ...

Wait. There will NEVER be another season like this, not with all the injuries, not with all the one-run losses (another one tonight, on the road of course). This team has invented about 15 new, agonizing ways to lose close games. It's been tough to watch.

Makes you appreciate 1991-2005, doesn't it.

Again, great post. Very well written and spot-on.

Bud.
http://braves.today.com

Re: Where Did It All Go Wrong?

Bud — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 22:39:01 -0000

Re: Off the Subject For a Moment…

Bud — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 06:34:33 -0000

JB: You're doing a great job, man. Keep it up and hang in there. It's been tough on all of us who have covered this team this season, but through it all, you've grown your site and I like where you're at with this. Great stuff.

Bud.
http://braves.today.com

Re: Off the Subject For a Moment…

Bud — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 06:34:33 -0000

Re: Off the Subject For a Moment…

Bud — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 06:21:38 -0000

I know it doesn't mean much for this season, but man, what a win last night! It was fun to watch the Braves get up off the deck and fight back, show some heart and get the victory.

Encouraging to see Frenchy swinging the bat well; lotta good hacks from him last night. Good nights all around for the offense. Prado has settled in pretty nicely at first base. Tough outing for Jurrjens, but the sticks never gave up.

Fun way to end a soggy night.

Bud.
http://braves.today.com

Re: Off the Subject For a Moment…

Bud — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 06:21:38 -0000

Re: The Best and Worst of Braves Marketing

Bud — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 07:59:55 -0000

JB: Great, creative post. I gotta tell you, I love the big scoreboard, although I found it a bit distracting the first couple of games. My wife just started at it for the entire night the first time she saw it.

The Tomahawk Team is kinda annoying ... but they are kinda hot, so it's all good.

My big problem is how the folks at Turner Field go way over the top with the sound effects during the game. I can't stand some of the things you hear not only between at-bats, but DURING at-bats, between pitches. Horrible. I can see getting the crowd involved and catering to the non-passionate fan (heck, when our kids go, we spend two or three innings at Tooner Field, which I really like from the parents' standpoint ... and the TVs in there allow you to keep up with the game).

But it's just like at spring training ... the game itself is almost an after-thought. It's annoying, to say the least.

I say pull the cow down. Nothing good has happened for this team since it took its place above the left-field stands. Ugh. Slaughter that bad boy, I say, and let's have all the dedicated Braves fans come out for a "cookout" at season's end.

Bud.
http://braves.today.com

Re: The Best and Worst of Braves Marketing

Bud — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 07:59:55 -0000

Re: 10 Teams Actually Worse Than the 2008 Atlanta Braves

Bud — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 09:50:10 -0000

When played right, baseball is a beautiful thing. When it's not ... it can be downright butt-ugly.

The Braves this season have been horrid to watch. Part of it comes from the fact a whole generation of Braves' fans has never experienced a season like this ... if you're 21 or 22 years old, you don't recall a season where the Braves lost 90 games and were buried in the standings by the dawn of August.

The Braves have lost 90 or more games 10 times since moving to Atlanta in 1966 -- 1975-1979, highlighted (or lowlighted, if you will) by a 101-loss campaign in 1977; 1985; and 1987-1990. In Boston, the Braves lost 100-plus games in 1905-06, 1909-1912, 1922-1924, and the aforementioned 1935 season.

Something I never realized until yesterday was the franchise never finished under .500 in Milwaukee, its worst mark in Beer City an 84-78 record in 1963.

It's been a bad season, but a little history makes us realize it could be worse ... hopefully, we've seen the worst, and things will swing upward in 2009.

Bud.
http://braves.today.com

Re: 10 Teams Actually Worse Than the 2008 Atlanta Braves

Bud — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 09:50:10 -0000

Re: Baseball Marketing-The Loyalty Factor

Bud — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 07:38:17 -0000

JB: Fine post, and a good idea. I visited Miami during my newspaper days and I can tell you, for whatever reason, they just come out to the ballpark. Scheduling an afternoon game in Florida on a Wednesday with the kids already back in school didn't make much sense either, although it was getaway day for both teams.

I think you have so much to do in South Florida, so much competition for the entertainment dollar, that unless the Marlins are in first place or playing in October, it's going to be a very tough sell. It shouldn't be, given the Latino presence in South Florida, but it is.

Of course, comparing the Cubs and Marlins is a little tricky. One is a franchise that's been around for more than 100 years, plays in a great baseball city, and has had its games broadcast nationwide for going on 30 years. Of course, the younger franchise in the trendy (read: busy) city also has two more rings in the past 11 seasons than the older franchise has in 100!

Bud.
http://braves.today.com

Re: Baseball Marketing-The Loyalty Factor

Bud — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 07:38:17 -0000

Re: Braves Win Two in Row Behind King Kelly’s Bat

Bud — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 22:40:02 -0000

JB: I really am happy to see this team start playing better. Does it mean anything for now? No. Does it mean anything for next season? Absolutely. Instead of rolling over like they did in June, July and August, the Braves are showing some resiliency. When something goes wrong or they lose the lead, they are just going back to work instead of just dying right there and then. I like that. Gotta keep this up and finish the season strong. IF they can win, say, 11 out of 15, that would be a great boost heading into the offseason. That also would finish them up at 76-86, avoiding the 90-loss plateau.

Bud.
<a href="http://braves.today.com " target="_blank">http://braves.today.com

Re: Braves Win Two in Row Behind King Kelly’s Bat

Bud — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 22:40:02 -0000

Re: Braves Say Goodbye to Shea

Bud — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 08:10:59 -0000

JB, solid post, brought back some good and not-so-good memories. The first game after 9/11 speaks for itself, and Piazza's homer was one of those moments you have to appreciate and applaud, even if it comes against your team.

Remember Karsay being enraged about something in that inning. Can't remember if it was ball/strike calls or not.

That Game 5 in 99 was something else. We were putting out our newspaper that night and the ... game ... just ... wouldn't ... end. Of course, we were ready with all our Braves win the pennant stuff, which got shelved for a couple of days (until AJ drew the walk off Kenny Rogers in Game 6 in the middle of the night).

And you're right: No Shea list is complete without Game 6 in 1986. I still can hear Vin Scully's voice calling that fateful grounder to Buckner at first.

Bud.
http://braves.today.com

Re: Braves Say Goodbye to Shea

Bud — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 08:10:59 -0000

Re: Down on The Farm

Bud — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 08:08:04 -0000

Nice job. Always good to see what's going on down on the farm ... especially when the events at the big-league level aren't so pleasant (like last night's bullpen meltdown, for example).

Minor-league baseball is awesome.

Bud.
http://braves.today.com

Re: Down on The Farm

Bud — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 08:08:04 -0000

Re: Grading a Player’s Real Value

Bud — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 09:04:43 -0000

JB: You nailed it at the end, man. Not being on the hook for a monster salary at first base allows the Braves to spend money in other places, where they HAVE to address holes if they want to be competitive in 2009.

Kotchman is every bit as good as Tex in the field. He doesn't hit for power, but given his lengthy -- and understandable -- absence during his mom's illness, it's hard to really look at his numbers with the Braves. He's starting to hit now, and I think he'll develop into a guy who hits 15 homers a year or so. He's a much better hitter than he showed during his first three weeks as a Brave.

Good trade; had to do it. Tex just didn't carry this team for long-enough stretches that makes him worthy of a monster deal. Giving him a monster deal would've tied this team's hands for years to come, and the Braves did offer him a large -- yet unreported -- offer in spring training, which Tex and Boras declined.

Bud.
http://braves.today.com

Re: Grading a Player’s Real Value

Bud — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 09:04:43 -0000

Re: Grading a Player’s Real Value

Bud — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 07:50:36 -0000

To Danny's point above, I think most of us envisioned Tex having the same impact McGriff and Galarraga. Both of those grabbed a hold of this franchise -- from the offensive standpoint -- and were leaders. McGriff was stoic and quiet; Galarraga was more emotional and vocal. But both of them were, without a doubt, in the center core of the team's leadership.

I never got the sense Tex had that type of impact. He hit something like five homers in the first three games, if memory serves, but even though he smoked the ball pretty well in the final two months last season, I never sensed the team gravitated toward him they way they did to Freddy and Big Cat.

Bud.
http://braves.today.com

Re: Grading a Player’s Real Value

Bud — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 07:50:36 -0000

Re: Phillies/Braves Conspiracy Leaked

Bud — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 07:39:32 -0000

Guess now that the conspiracy has been leaked, the Braves decided to start playing, ha ha!

Seriously, good signs from this team the past two nights, other than Jo-Jo stinking up the joint once again. Egads! A good win, and what a blast from Chipper!! That sews up the batting title, folks.

And the Mets are gagging again. And is there any doubt the Braves need to make a run at Sabathia? Dude struck out 11 on three days rest in a must-win game last night for the Brewers. Don't know if the Braves can afford him, but geez, you gotta try!

Bud.
http://braves.today.com

Re: Phillies/Braves Conspiracy Leaked

Bud — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 07:39:32 -0000

Re: What’s Next?

Bud — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 07:52:05 -0000

I'll go with the BoSox, Twins, Dodgers and Phils in the first round. Dodgers and Boston to win the pennants. Boston to win the Series, as Manny leaves the field to take a whiz during Game 7 of the World Series, ha ha!

Is it opening day 2009 yet?

Bud.
http://braves.today.com

Re: Welcome Back, Furcal

Bud — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 09:46:28 -0000

Morning JB. Yeah, big news indeed. This opens the door for a big trade for a starter. I hate giving up Escobar, because I think the sky's the limit with him, but if that's what it takes to land a top-notch ace (Jake Peavy, you ready to come to the A now, pal?), then I say do it.

Furcal is a game-changer, a leadoff hitter with speed who plays hard and plays great defense. He'd be just fine at second base, too, and a DP combo of Esco and Fookie would be hard to beat.

Gonna be an interesting next few days, for sure.

Bud.
http://braves.today.com

Re: Mission accomplished, Braves sign Derek Lowe

Bud — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 12:50:23 -0000

Great deal. Plain and simple. I've been wanting Lowe for weeks, and now he gives the Braves EXACTLY what they need at the top of the rotation: a durable veteran presence who throws one of the best sinkers in the game.

-- 12+ wins each year since 2002.
-- 182+ IP each year since 2002 (199 1/3+ in six of those seven years).
-- An ERA that's dropped each of the past four years.
-- A career 3.35 ERA in the postseason.
-- Led NL in starts last season (34) and in 2005 (35)
-- 1.92 BB per nine innings fourth in NL last year
-- 7-3 with a 2.38 ERA in his 14 starts after the All-Star break.
-- 3-0 in final five starts with an 0.59 ERA as L.A. pushed to the West title.

He'll have a very good defensive infield playing behind him. He knows how to win, has big-game experience, and throws with an easy motion (which is why I don't have a problem with four years).

Great addition. This rotation now stacks up very well in the NL East.

Just need a power bat ...

Bud.
http://braves.today.com