I was about to post that; ironic that ^ did considering Yates' middle name.

We still have a bunch of players who are out of options and not many roster spots left. Thorman, Pena, and most all our relievers other than Soriano, Moylan, Acosta, Ohman, and Gonzalez.

3/27/2008 4:11:32 PM

^I think Thorman is gone. Pena can play catcher or first i read somewhere which ups his stock tremendously.

3/28/2008 3:33:14 AM

was watching Best of Mike and Mike... and Peter Gammons just picked us to win the East and go to the World Series. He was really high on our role players and talked about our pitching staff going 6 deep with Jurrjens and James on the back end and possibly 7 if Hampton can stay off DL.. fat chance

..just thought I'd share.. surprised to hear anyone pick us to win East.. much less go to the World Series

..sure as hell hope he's right


[Edited on March 28, 2008 at 1:34 PM. Reason : s]

3/28/2008 1:31:32 PM

There a lot of things I really like about this team and I think the East is pretty much a crapshoot between us, the Mets, and the Phils. The Mets aren't a juggernaut but they definitely have the pre-season edge. The Phils could win 100 games or lose 90 with that pitching staff. Should be a hell of a season.

3/28/2008 1:38:43 PM

Ken Rosenthal likes our chances also

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/7951230/Braves-have-the-goods-to-be-October-surprise

3/28/2008 4:02:23 PM

obviously they're not in the same division but I think the Brewers are coming out of the NL this year

3/28/2008 4:10:05 PM

I know we have picked up a lot of pitchers. No clue how good they are though.

What is the talent level of the guys we got from Detroit for Rentaria?

3/28/2008 4:27:32 PM

^ wow dude just read through the thread some. We basically got Jurrens for Renteria and right now he is penciled in as our #3 to start the season. That should tell you how good he is.

Anyway I am surprised by all of the media love. I don't know how people can pick against the Mess with Santana, Pedro, Perez, Maine, and El Duque as a rotation. I guess the Braves are pretty deep, but there are a lot of questions and if Smoltz is not healthy then the season is over.

I am guessing too that people expect Franceour to break out this year with Chipper and Tex around him and McCann will get back to 1st half form. Honestly with Kotsay in CF though, the Braves have a huge, huge weakness.

I am high on Johnson/Escobar playing well and Diaz hitting 300+.

3/28/2008 4:55:27 PM

Why you got to claim Goatboy off of waivers? I wanted him to clear and be sent to AAA just in case...

Jair and Jo-Jo... a match made in heaven.

[Edited on March 29, 2008 at 5:01 PM. Reason : btw.. for those interest mlb.tv premium is badass this year... great quality.]

3/29/2008 5:00:59 PM

work got season tickets, not bad seats, right at 3rd, 20 rows up... I got em for opening night Monday

3/29/2008 7:00:55 PM

^ Hook a brotha up. We usually go down for a game a year.

Hadn't been the last few years though.

3/29/2008 7:04:40 PM

perhaps... let me know when

3/29/2008 7:07:04 PM

I don't know what use Gotay will be but he's a better-than-average waiver wire pick-up. Jurrens gets the final rotation spot. Ridgway made the roster too, presumably as a garbage man, Carlyle, Anderson, Borchard, and Lillibridge were all sent to Richmond. That means we'll start the season with two backup catchers, Pena and Miller, at least until Infante heals up. I'd assume that Pena is still very much on the trading block. Also, Thorman cleared waivers; we'll never get rid of this guy.

[Edited on March 30, 2008 at 12:29 AM. Reason : ]

3/30/2008 12:28:42 AM

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/preview08/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&id=3320120

Jayson Stark picks the Braves to win the World Series.

Also, predictions from everyone at ESPN. Take this for what it's worth...

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/preview08/news/story?page=08expertpicks

3/30/2008 1:32:49 PM

well if we were flying under the radar.. we aren't really anymore even though most people are probably still picking the Mets

good to see people have confidence in what the Braves are building but I'd rather they pick someone else and leave us under the radar

[Edited on March 30, 2008 at 3:10 PM. Reason : a]

3/30/2008 3:09:55 PM

I think the Braves are breaking out their new uniforms tonight.

3/30/2008 7:04:17 PM

ahah wtf is this singing

3/30/2008 7:09:11 PM

haha Bush booed at the game...awesome

3/30/2008 7:13:37 PM

I like the new blue unis

Better than those awful red ones they had the past few years

3/30/2008 7:17:11 PM

I think those jerseys are sweet

3/30/2008 7:21:00 PM

i like that hat


http://www.lids.com/pid/20047126


[Edited on March 30, 2008 at 7:23 PM. Reason : fail]

3/30/2008 7:23:01 PM

the unis look like some spring training shit. Me want Grey unis on the road.

3/30/2008 7:26:28 PM

..pull hudson..

3/30/2008 7:43:55 PM

The blue unis are road alts, just like the reds are home alts. More importantly, check out KJ's baller stirrups.

3/30/2008 8:02:08 PM

weird no seeing Andy out there

3/30/2008 8:05:43 PM

bush isnt a very good booth guest...not really making any interesting comments

and the braves can't seem to stay at 1st base

3/30/2008 8:05:43 PM

he's drunk

3/30/2008 8:09:09 PM

Quote :

"weird no seeing Andy out there"

I really hope you aren't referring to Andruw Jones because I have never heard anyone call him Andy.

3/30/2008 8:53:10 PM

Bobby Cox calls him Andy

3/30/2008 8:53:33 PM

Bobby Cox calls him Andy

3/30/2008 9:05:54 PM

I'm willing to wager that Bobby Cox calls him Andy.

3/30/2008 9:08:44 PM

haven't been able to string any hits.

Hudson was downright dominant after that first inning. Good to see.

3/30/2008 9:23:14 PM

useless ass hampton

3/30/2008 9:24:14 PM

w00t passed ball


p00t zimmerman game winning HR

[Edited on March 30, 2008 at 9:48 PM. Reason : ]

3/30/2008 9:36:44 PM

fuckin zimmerman

3/30/2008 9:48:16 PM

ahh fuck

3/30/2008 9:49:10 PM

I dunno if you could tell or not, but it seemed like a fan reached over the wall to get that HR.
*shrug*

3/31/2008 6:00:10 AM

Well, if that's the way the season is going to go, I'm not terribly disappointed. Missed the first few innings, so I didn't see how Huddie gave up the 2 in the first, but he was outstanding the rest of the way. Moylan was as well, save the one pitch he got a little higher than the rest. The way his pitches come to the plate, a decently located ball looks huge to a hitter. Overall a very entertaining game. Just got to get the bats moving.

3/31/2008 6:57:57 AM

The first inning wasn't all that bad.

Guy got on 1st. Hudson tried to pick him off but threw it into the OF. Runner went to third. Nick Johnson then got a hit driving the first run home and turned a single into a double. Next batter up drove him in with a double.

The rest of the game Hudson was on fire. In fact after the first inning, the Nats didn't even get a hit until the walk-off HR.

3/31/2008 8:13:01 AM

Both of the first two hits off Hudson were both broken bat hits, with Johnson extending his to a double.

3/31/2008 8:17:28 AM

Quote :

"I dunno if you could tell or not, but it seemed like a fan reached over the wall to get that HR. *shrug*"

Nah, not even close. That thing was just on a line. It was barely even sinking yet... Hudson looked good... but it would be more scary to me if Hampton looks good.

[Edited on March 31, 2008 at 9:38 AM. Reason : oh and fuck you and your stiffness Cordero... my fantasy team wanted that SV]

3/31/2008 9:38:11 AM

^From what everyone's saying, Hampton looks really good. Now, whether or not that transfers to him being a significant factor (ie, injury-free) remains to be seen. I was really impressed with how Hudson looked though. Sharpest I've seen him in some time.

3/31/2008 9:48:24 AM

Why has no one (on television or TWW) commented on the poor fielding in the first? Hudson's pick-off throw was attrocious so I'll give Tex a pass. However, on Johnson's single Frenchy made a decent throw (not by his standards, but still pretty good) that beat Johnson to the bag, albeit admittedly up the line, but Yunel tried to 'ole the catch and swipe, forcing Diaz to make a good back-up play in left. Then when Johnson was going home Frenchy made another throw that was considerably worse than the first and on the 1st base (ie - Wrong) side of the plate that McCann tried to catch and swipe before actually catching it. While the throw was not perfect, the piano that Johnson carried from 3rd gave McCann a chance to make the play if he had actually caught the ball. While both were tough plays, at least one the the two could (and the one at second SHOULD) have been made. Just thought it warranted mentioning.

3/31/2008 10:47:23 AM

look for me tonight, behind 3rd, 20 rows up, wearing a blue hat with an A on it

3/31/2008 10:52:11 AM

damnit. there goes the dream 162-0 season...

3/31/2008 11:12:03 AM

Disappointed in last night's game, but the Braves just did not get any breaks. Both McCann and Tex missed HRs by a few feet and the Nats got three broken bats shit hits in the 1st inning to get them their two runs.

Escobar looked great in the field last night, but Frenchy's throws were bad and his ABs were even worse. Not a good start for him.

Schedule makers did the Braves no favors by making them play a one game road series in a emotional setting and then having them start a series today at home. I would not be surprised if the Braves are sluggish today.

3/31/2008 1:17:24 PM

does anyone know if the game is televised tonight.....I heard that raleigh was picking up the braves on FSN instead of the Orioles is that true?

3/31/2008 1:48:13 PM

^ Check out the schedule, http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/schedule/index.jsp?c_id=atl

I didn't realize the game last night was a one-game series, wtf

--

Apparently tonight's game is on Peachtree TV, the local Atlanta station. Last I heard PTV was trying to work a deal where games would be simulcast by cable carriers outside the PTV viewing area; don't know how close that is to reality though.

[Edited on March 31, 2008 at 5:05 PM. Reason : ]

3/31/2008 5:04:06 PM

^ I thought that turner south got the local tv contract is PTV new

3/31/2008 5:29:46 PM

PTV is broadcasting about 70 games I think, the rest are split between FSN and Sportsouth. I think Sportsouth used to be Turner South, but I'm not sure, we never got it in Raleigh when I lived there.

I'm not sure how new PTV is but they're basically taking TBS's share from last year.

[Edited on March 31, 2008 at 5:36 PM. Reason : ]

3/31/2008 5:36:00 PM