I am excited to see that the Braves have chosen their next manager. It is going to be Fredi Gonzalez. You might recognize that name. He was the Braves 3B coach from 03-06 before taking the Marlins job. Gonzalez has shown he wont take any BS and I think with the Braves getting younger this is a good move. Bobby Cox was to busy being everyone best friend that it seemed at times that the Braves lacked accountability. Doggin it to first? Dont worry, Bobby has your back. Mistakes on the basepaths? Fugetta bout it. Fredi got fired as the Marlins manager bc he told Hanley Ramirez to hit the showers and that he wouldnt play again until he apologized to the team and fans. Since superstars run the sport the Marlins turn around and fire Gonzalez for pretty much no reason. Im going to go bold on this one. Fredi Gonzalez is going to win more World Series titles than Bobby Cox did before he is done managing the Braves.
The Braves are actually pretty well built but lack 1 major thing and another not to major component that if filled, could lead us to a very good year next year and years to come.
First: We need some kind of power hitting OF. I dont know what kind of money the Braves are going to have but with Chippers, Lowe and Hudson's contract expiring within the next few years they could backload a few contracts to get what we need. In an ideal world the Braves would sign Carl Crawford to play center and Adam Dunn to play left. Dunn is a defensive liamility but who cares. He is a gauranteed 35+ HR guy with an OBP of close to .400. Crawford is just a stud. hes only 29 and averages 14 HR, 14 Triples, almost 30 doubles, steals 38 bases a year and hits just below .300 every year. He would add speed and would help solidify our outfield.
Second: We need to add some speed. If Crawford is signed then that addresses the speed issue. The Braves of the last decade and a half really dont steal that much. I know that has alot to do with the way Bobby Cox managed but teams that have a threatening base stealer can manufacture runs without having to sacrifice outs. Example being stealing second as opposed to sacing him over. I know 1 guy coming over isnt going to all of a sudden make us this base stealing machine but it certainly helps. I know when we play teams like the Phillies (rollins,victorino), Marlins (bonifacio), Mets (reyes) and so on I get so nervous late in games when 1 of those guys gets on. I know they are a threat to swipe a base at any time.
I think we should excercise our player options on Alex Gonzalez and Infante. Resign Hinske and see if their is any trade value to Nate McLouth (i know everyone is laughing). Ankiel, who easily has the best nickname on the team-The Nature Boy) should be told to go and kick rocks. Let Freeman play first and tell Troy Glaus to go raise the bars on everyone's cell phones somewhere else. Resign David Ross if he isnt already. Bring in some kind of veteran for the BP since Wagner is gone and Kimbrell is the new closer. Seriously consider making Venters the closer if your not liking what Kimbrell is doing.
Pitching staff:
Hudson
Lowe
Hanson
Medlen
Minor
Jurjjens: Honestly try and trade Jurjjens. You are not going to get rid of Hanson and i think we could get a serious outfield bat for him. Of course, if we sign Dunn there is no need. I think the Dodgers would take him for Matt Kemp and that would be a great fit for us.
BP:
Moylan: Australian for sucks
Venters
Kimbrell
O'Flaherty
Dunn
Martinez
Kawakami ??
Starters:
C: McCann
1B: Freeman
2B: Prado
SS: Gonzalez
3B: Chipper, Infante
LF: Dunn/Hinske/Infante/Diaz/Kemp
CF: Crawford
RF: Heyward
Bench:
Ross
Hinske
Infante ?
Diaz
McLouth ?
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
College Football polls are already crap, Bobby Cox's final game and a few things that drive me crazy!
Everyone is waiting in suspense for the first release of the "BcS" rankings. All the talk is that Boise State is going to be the #1 team followed by Oregon and then Ohio State. It is an absolute sham that both TCU and Nebraska are higher in EVERY poll than Alabama. Who the hell has TCU played? Oregon State?!?!?! Big freaking woop. Nebraska? Washington? Please dont make me laugh. Alabama has played Penn State, Florida, Arkansas and South Carolina. TCU wont play that many quality teams in 3 years. Bama has played them in 5 games. The other travesty is Auburn. Another SEC squad who is behind both TCU and Nebraska. Did you know that its possible Nebraska doesnt play a ranked opponent all year until they would face Oklahoma in the Big 12 title game? Auburn has played and beaten South Carolina, Clemson, Kentucky (much better than people give them credit for) and Miss state (another team much better than people give them credit for). Here is the issue. You are rewarding teams who have terrible schedules JUST bc they started the season ranked higher! Boise doesnt have a single tough game left. Dont even try and tell me Nevada is good. They could play any of the top SEC schools at a neutral site and would get drubbed by 30+. The system is 100% flawed and we need to figure out some kind of 4 or 8 team playoff. The biggest money maker in college athletics is March Madness. Could you imagine having an 8 team playoff to determine the champion?!?!? It would be insane. The revenue that would be generated would trump March Madness. Wake up NCAA and get it done. Your about to have potentially 5 undefeateds and a few 1 loss teams from the SEC.
The Braves played a game last night im not sure if most of you knew that. It was Bobby's last game since the Braves got shutdown once again by a rookie who hasnt pitched in 2 weeks. DLOWE was on the mound and looked like a hot knife going through butter for the first 4 or 5 innings. Up comes Cody freaking Ross! the biggest Braves Killer outside of Chris Reitsma. BANG! Solo shot to left. Bye Bye Hideki No No and by bye lead. McCann comes right back and hits a bomb to put us back 2-1. Thats when the braves of old come out. Lowe gets into some trouble in the 7th. Cox comes out to take him out of the game but Lowe talks him into it. What a great players manager. Lowe walks the guy on 5 pitches and Bobby comes right back out to bring in Moylan: Australian for sucks. Moylan does what he does and gives up an infield hit to Juan Uribe which scores a run. Tie ball game 2-2. In comes Venters who strikes out Rowand for a huge out! SHIT! Here comes the hitting version of Chris Reitsma. I just new he was going to get a hit. Right on cue Ross singles to left and Matt Diaz is playing so deep he was eating a hotdog with some kid in section 132. Thank God Pat Burrell was running. He makes McCann look swift of foot. So now were down 3-2 with an inept offense. Im thinking, we better score in the 7th or 8th bc Blackbeard wont give up a run. We go down like a sweet muffin in both the 7th and 8th. Onto the 9th! Who do we have leading off? My boy Brooks Conrad. If their is ever a guy who needed something good to happen to him it was Conrad....annnddd can of corn to center. 1 out. Here comes the Nature boy. He walks bringing up back tat. Could we have another 2 run bomb? Nope. He walks. 1st and 2nd with 1 out. At this point I am starting to get excited again. I mean, we do have a ton of come from behind wins. Up comes Infante who goes down swinging. 2 outs and our season rests with Melky Cabrera. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA now i def. know its over. He hits a chopper to third and is thrown out. Game over. I would be lying if I said I was not somewhat sad for Bobby Cox. I like Bobby Cox. Always have. While i disagree with the way he handles a bullpen, the way his teams flounder in the playoffs, and the fact that I think he is overrated I still wanted to see him go out differently. I thought what the Giants did was very classy and shows a respect for the game.
A few things I read that make me crazy. There was a story out of Cincinatti where Pacman Jones was issued an apology by the Polic Chief for being questioned when he drove up on the curb to get around some pedestrians or something. He wasnt involved and did nothing wrong. Some folks snapped photos on theier camera phones saying Jones was getting arrested. Why the hell are they apologizing? The dude surrounds himself with trouble! Everywhere he goes something bad seems to happen. What does he expect? He came out and said he was dissapointed with the way it was portrayed. Sorry bro but how else would it be portrayed??
Caleb King was arrested for not showing up to court for unpaid parking tickets. Is this serious? You play football for one of the most highly recognized schools in the country and now your screwed bc you didnt go to court. Another story comes out (dont know if its true yet) that hes blackmailing this chick whom he borrowed $500 from. Apparentally he has naked pictures of her and promised to post them online if she asked him for the money again. He sounds like a real good dude. If this is true then he should be kicked off the team and someone should take him out back and kick his ass. Who does he think he is?
Brett Favre is texting his schlong to anyone who wants it. Once again, is he that dumb that he doesnt think someone is going to save the photo and turn him in? Does he really think he is going to get away with that? Brett Favre might be the biggest fraud in sports. The guy tries to act like hes this regular dude just chilling in my wrangler jeans. Your the biggest creep ever. Get over yourself and retire already. Stop leaving young chicks voice messages trying to use your southern charm. Your married bro! and now you have been exposed.
The Braves played a game last night im not sure if most of you knew that. It was Bobby's last game since the Braves got shutdown once again by a rookie who hasnt pitched in 2 weeks. DLOWE was on the mound and looked like a hot knife going through butter for the first 4 or 5 innings. Up comes Cody freaking Ross! the biggest Braves Killer outside of Chris Reitsma. BANG! Solo shot to left. Bye Bye Hideki No No and by bye lead. McCann comes right back and hits a bomb to put us back 2-1. Thats when the braves of old come out. Lowe gets into some trouble in the 7th. Cox comes out to take him out of the game but Lowe talks him into it. What a great players manager. Lowe walks the guy on 5 pitches and Bobby comes right back out to bring in Moylan: Australian for sucks. Moylan does what he does and gives up an infield hit to Juan Uribe which scores a run. Tie ball game 2-2. In comes Venters who strikes out Rowand for a huge out! SHIT! Here comes the hitting version of Chris Reitsma. I just new he was going to get a hit. Right on cue Ross singles to left and Matt Diaz is playing so deep he was eating a hotdog with some kid in section 132. Thank God Pat Burrell was running. He makes McCann look swift of foot. So now were down 3-2 with an inept offense. Im thinking, we better score in the 7th or 8th bc Blackbeard wont give up a run. We go down like a sweet muffin in both the 7th and 8th. Onto the 9th! Who do we have leading off? My boy Brooks Conrad. If their is ever a guy who needed something good to happen to him it was Conrad....annnddd can of corn to center. 1 out. Here comes the Nature boy. He walks bringing up back tat. Could we have another 2 run bomb? Nope. He walks. 1st and 2nd with 1 out. At this point I am starting to get excited again. I mean, we do have a ton of come from behind wins. Up comes Infante who goes down swinging. 2 outs and our season rests with Melky Cabrera. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA now i def. know its over. He hits a chopper to third and is thrown out. Game over. I would be lying if I said I was not somewhat sad for Bobby Cox. I like Bobby Cox. Always have. While i disagree with the way he handles a bullpen, the way his teams flounder in the playoffs, and the fact that I think he is overrated I still wanted to see him go out differently. I thought what the Giants did was very classy and shows a respect for the game.
A few things I read that make me crazy. There was a story out of Cincinatti where Pacman Jones was issued an apology by the Polic Chief for being questioned when he drove up on the curb to get around some pedestrians or something. He wasnt involved and did nothing wrong. Some folks snapped photos on theier camera phones saying Jones was getting arrested. Why the hell are they apologizing? The dude surrounds himself with trouble! Everywhere he goes something bad seems to happen. What does he expect? He came out and said he was dissapointed with the way it was portrayed. Sorry bro but how else would it be portrayed??
Caleb King was arrested for not showing up to court for unpaid parking tickets. Is this serious? You play football for one of the most highly recognized schools in the country and now your screwed bc you didnt go to court. Another story comes out (dont know if its true yet) that hes blackmailing this chick whom he borrowed $500 from. Apparentally he has naked pictures of her and promised to post them online if she asked him for the money again. He sounds like a real good dude. If this is true then he should be kicked off the team and someone should take him out back and kick his ass. Who does he think he is?
Brett Favre is texting his schlong to anyone who wants it. Once again, is he that dumb that he doesnt think someone is going to save the photo and turn him in? Does he really think he is going to get away with that? Brett Favre might be the biggest fraud in sports. The guy tries to act like hes this regular dude just chilling in my wrangler jeans. Your the biggest creep ever. Get over yourself and retire already. Stop leaving young chicks voice messages trying to use your southern charm. Your married bro! and now you have been exposed.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Brooks Conrad step off the ledge its not all your fault
Brooks Conrad is getting absolutely crushed in the "media" and its a total shame. Without this guy your not even in the playoffs. While I am very mad he booted that ball that cost us the game he does not deserve all the blame. The blame has to be split with the "almighty" Bobby Cox. I know, I know, I can't say a single word about Bobby Cox without everyone telling me im a hater, Bobby Cox is the man your an idiot or my personal favorite "You cant hold Bobbys jock."
Let me start by saying that holding Bobbys jockstrap is about the last thing on earth I would ever want to do. Brooks Conrad has shown over the last few weeks that he as a very poor defensive player. Whether its mental, hes hurt or whatever, he hasnt been able to consistantly make routine plays. So up comes back tat who hits the 2 run game changing Bomb down the right field line. Easily the third most clutch hit in Atlanta Braves history. The First being David Justice's bomb to win the World Series and the other being Francisco Cabrera's game winning single to send the Braves to the World Series in 1992. Now that we have the lead we should be doing everything we can to make sure we have the absolute best defensive lineup behind Kimbrell. McLouth is brought in Ankiel but Brooks Conrad remains in to play 2nd. I literally could not believe what I was seeing. No wait! Actually I can. Bobby Cox is showing his "Loyalty" and wanting to prove to everyone that he is smarter than everyone else. This loyalty you speak of, it cost us the series. Their is no way to know whether or not we would of won the game at that point as the game was tied but we sure as hell are about as done as you can be in the series. You dont come back from stuff like that. The emotional high that everyone had after the back tat blast was quickly lost with the 5 hole stunner from Conrad. Is it Conrads fault he can't field? Of course, but at the same time its a managers job to put his players and team in the best situation to win and Bobby Cox did not do that. What is so sad about all of this is that not one person on the radio or in the paper will say anything about Cox leaving him in. He gets a free pass just like he always has. This is so fitting that he is going out this way. Lets not even talk about making the move with Kimbrell. Kimbrell is your closer now. He is the heir apparent to Wagner and everyone in the organization is high on this kid. He throws absolute cheddar. Let him finish the inning. If hes your closer then let him be your closer. Aubrey Huff hits lefties better than he does righties. So for all your numbers guys out there explain that decision to me? You bring in a pitcher that the hitter has proven he hits better. Seems pretty logical to me.
I cannot cite specific examples of bobby doing this over the years but I know it has happened and it has happened at critical times. Everyone is so quick to defend this guy but the second anyone says anything about him your labeled a Braves Hater and a Bobby Cox hater. I dont hate Bobby Cox. I actually like the guy but he deserves to be called out for this. The decision he made put a guy in a terrible position and now he will be remembered as the guy who blew the series when in reality it should have never been that way. Again, without Brooks Conrad we are sitting at home watching reruns of Full House.
I got your back Conrad and I am calling it like I see it. Whatever, call me a Bobby hater but that move is indefensible yet somehow no one has said anything about it. Why? Because this is his last season so that makes it ok? Get out of here. This city lives for mediocrity. You think this flies in NY or Boston? Hell no. People would still be calling for Conrads head but they would call for the Managers as well.
Let me start by saying that holding Bobbys jockstrap is about the last thing on earth I would ever want to do. Brooks Conrad has shown over the last few weeks that he as a very poor defensive player. Whether its mental, hes hurt or whatever, he hasnt been able to consistantly make routine plays. So up comes back tat who hits the 2 run game changing Bomb down the right field line. Easily the third most clutch hit in Atlanta Braves history. The First being David Justice's bomb to win the World Series and the other being Francisco Cabrera's game winning single to send the Braves to the World Series in 1992. Now that we have the lead we should be doing everything we can to make sure we have the absolute best defensive lineup behind Kimbrell. McLouth is brought in Ankiel but Brooks Conrad remains in to play 2nd. I literally could not believe what I was seeing. No wait! Actually I can. Bobby Cox is showing his "Loyalty" and wanting to prove to everyone that he is smarter than everyone else. This loyalty you speak of, it cost us the series. Their is no way to know whether or not we would of won the game at that point as the game was tied but we sure as hell are about as done as you can be in the series. You dont come back from stuff like that. The emotional high that everyone had after the back tat blast was quickly lost with the 5 hole stunner from Conrad. Is it Conrads fault he can't field? Of course, but at the same time its a managers job to put his players and team in the best situation to win and Bobby Cox did not do that. What is so sad about all of this is that not one person on the radio or in the paper will say anything about Cox leaving him in. He gets a free pass just like he always has. This is so fitting that he is going out this way. Lets not even talk about making the move with Kimbrell. Kimbrell is your closer now. He is the heir apparent to Wagner and everyone in the organization is high on this kid. He throws absolute cheddar. Let him finish the inning. If hes your closer then let him be your closer. Aubrey Huff hits lefties better than he does righties. So for all your numbers guys out there explain that decision to me? You bring in a pitcher that the hitter has proven he hits better. Seems pretty logical to me.
I cannot cite specific examples of bobby doing this over the years but I know it has happened and it has happened at critical times. Everyone is so quick to defend this guy but the second anyone says anything about him your labeled a Braves Hater and a Bobby Cox hater. I dont hate Bobby Cox. I actually like the guy but he deserves to be called out for this. The decision he made put a guy in a terrible position and now he will be remembered as the guy who blew the series when in reality it should have never been that way. Again, without Brooks Conrad we are sitting at home watching reruns of Full House.
I got your back Conrad and I am calling it like I see it. Whatever, call me a Bobby hater but that move is indefensible yet somehow no one has said anything about it. Why? Because this is his last season so that makes it ok? Get out of here. This city lives for mediocrity. You think this flies in NY or Boston? Hell no. People would still be calling for Conrads head but they would call for the Managers as well.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Best Coaches in Basketball and Football....college and Pro
Im compiling a list of the best football and basketball coaches...help a brotha out:
Basketball:
Coach "special" K
Tom Izzo
Jerry Sloan (thats for you coach)...but seriously he is good
Phil Jackson (lower on the list IMO...doesnt hurt hes had Jordan and Kobe)...nonetheless still up there
Jim Boeheim
Bob Huggins
Football:
Nick Saban
Urban Meyer
Jim Tressel (lower on the list...too conservative and that ugly ass vest)
Randy Edsall (UCONN is relevant in football)
Mike Smith (Falcons head coach)...I love this guy...hard nosed and doesnt take any BS
Sean Peyton...great play caller...innovative...one of the best in the league
I know there are a lot more...just a small list...feel free to add
Basketball:
Coach "special" K
Tom Izzo
Jerry Sloan (thats for you coach)...but seriously he is good
Phil Jackson (lower on the list IMO...doesnt hurt hes had Jordan and Kobe)...nonetheless still up there
Jim Boeheim
Bob Huggins
Football:
Nick Saban
Urban Meyer
Jim Tressel (lower on the list...too conservative and that ugly ass vest)
Randy Edsall (UCONN is relevant in football)
Mike Smith (Falcons head coach)...I love this guy...hard nosed and doesnt take any BS
Sean Peyton...great play caller...innovative...one of the best in the league
I know there are a lot more...just a small list...feel free to add
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