en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/609726 Comments by KentCovington http://www.bravesblast.com/2011/04/28/despite-a-4-game-deficit-braves-are-nl-east-favorites/#IDComment146897592 Oh, can't believe I didn't mention this in the podcast... per Peter Moylan (via Twitter), Craig Kimbrel has switched his entry song, after much team pressure, to Welcome to the Jungle! PERFECT entry song. And as Peter said, it's been long enough since Gagne. OK to use it again. If he comes bolting out just as the guitar starts slamming, it'll bring the house down at the Ted! (He was using a Shinedown song. Don't remember which one, but it was entirely wrong for this purpose) Thu, 28 Apr 2011 17:26:28 +0000 http://www.bravesblast.com/2011/04/28/despite-a-4-game-deficit-braves-are-nl-east-favorites/#IDComment146897592 http://www.bravesblast.com/2011/04/04/2011-atlanta-braves-first-impressions/#IDComment139902542 Well, Heyward was on pace for a 30 HR year 1/3 of the way into last season. The hand injury derailed him. I don't think anything different has to take place for him to hit for power. Just stay healthy. I agree with everything else. Well said. Mon, 4 Apr 2011 15:33:20 +0000 http://www.bravesblast.com/2011/04/04/2011-atlanta-braves-first-impressions/#IDComment139902542 http://www.bravesblast.com/2011/03/31/atlanta-braves-2011-season-kickoff/#IDComment139198575 Thanks!!!! Fri, 1 Apr 2011 21:10:57 +0000 http://www.bravesblast.com/2011/03/31/atlanta-braves-2011-season-kickoff/#IDComment139198575 http://www.bravesblast.com/2011/03/28/the-braves-roster-is-complete-and-its-good/#IDComment138147560 Well, if you go back to the "Understanding the Importance of Uggla" post and look at those numbers... the Braves led the NL in runs scored for 1/3 of the season. During that time, they got virtually no run production from Chipper at all. Half of that time, they got nothing from Heyward (1 of those 2 months was washed out with the injured hand). They got absolutely nothing from Nate McLouth. And they didn't get much from LF (which is essentially the position that Freeman is replacing in the lineup). But when they had that big right handed power bat in the middle, the lineup clicked. Uggla likely provides over a full season what Glaus could only give the Braves for 6-8 weeks before his knees gave out. THAT will make a tremendous difference. Is Chipper's durability a question? Sure. Is Nate a question mark? In my opinion, not anymore, but I'll humor those who are still reserving judgement. Is Freddie Freeman a question mark? Only to the extent that ANY rookie is... and hitting 8th, there's not much pressure on him. We know Chipper represents an above avg injury risk. And it appears Heyward is more susceptible to nagging injuries than the average 22 year-old. But beyond that, everyone else here has a pretty good track record in terms of durability. This lineup has exchanged Diaz/Melky for Freeman. Glaus for Uggla. And it certainly appears... the '10 McLouth for something closer to the '08 McLouth. That's a pretty substantial improvement (with or without Chipper) to an offense that already finished 5th last year in runs while playing in a pitcher's park. Barring MAJOR injury trouble, "good" is the FLOOR for this offense. Not sure where the ceiling is. We'll have to wait and see. Mon, 28 Mar 2011 17:07:46 +0000 http://www.bravesblast.com/2011/03/28/the-braves-roster-is-complete-and-its-good/#IDComment138147560 http://www.bravesblast.com/2010/12/15/how-do-the-braves-match-up-against-the-phillies-now-better-than-you-think/#IDComment116097953 Thank you for that thoughtful rebuttal! Thu, 16 Dec 2010 06:21:42 +0000 http://www.bravesblast.com/2010/12/15/how-do-the-braves-match-up-against-the-phillies-now-better-than-you-think/#IDComment116097953 http://www.bravesblast.com/2010/12/15/how-do-the-braves-match-up-against-the-phillies-now-better-than-you-think/#IDComment116097713 I'm not a fan of FIP. That is the practice of trying to take fielding out of the equation. You simply can't. Many pitchers pitch with the entire goal in mind of TRYING to get the batter to hit it to someone behind them...pitching to contact. So we're going to throw out everything that happens when they succeed in their goal? Makes no sense to me. Besides, the logic behind it is the notion that everything that happens behind you, as a pitcher, is luck. Not so. Any fielder will tell you that pitchers who work more quickly get better results from their fielders. And a pitcher's ability to command the ball and get the hitter to hit into the defensive scheme also affects defensive efficiency. Pitching and fielding are symbiotic and cannot be meaningfully separated. As evidenced by the fact that, according to FIP... there were 60 starters better than Tim Hudson this year. And more than 30 starters better than Chris Carpenter and Cole Hamels. I reject the stat. That said, even if we look at more conventional stats, looking at LAST year's stats... yes, the Phillies look significantly better. I freely stipulate that my assertion that the Braves rotation can hang with the Phillies' is dependent upon Jurrjens and Lowe pitching as they're capable. For JJ, that means something a little closer to '09 production. For Lowe, that simply means carrying his late season momentum forward to '11... and performing as he did in the second half of '10. If JJ and Lowe pitch as capable, there won't be a big gap between the two rotations.. Those are IF's, I'll grant you that... though I feel pretty good about both JJ & Lowe. There is more certainty with Oswalt and Hamels than with JJ & Lowe heading into the season... so I too would take Philly's 4. But my point is, if everyone does their job in ATL's rotation, they'll hang right in there with Philly. And I'm firmly convinced that ATL's 'pen numbers will be better than Philly's. Thu, 16 Dec 2010 06:19:39 +0000 http://www.bravesblast.com/2010/12/15/how-do-the-braves-match-up-against-the-phillies-now-better-than-you-think/#IDComment116097713 http://www.bravesblast.com/2010/12/15/how-do-the-braves-match-up-against-the-phillies-now-better-than-you-think/#IDComment116010522 Thank you sir! Wed, 15 Dec 2010 19:20:44 +0000 http://www.bravesblast.com/2010/12/15/how-do-the-braves-match-up-against-the-phillies-now-better-than-you-think/#IDComment116010522 http://www.bravesblast.com/2010/12/15/how-do-the-braves-match-up-against-the-phillies-now-better-than-you-think/#IDComment116002018 Sounds like the Phillies might be trying to deal Blanton... so it may be Kendrick instead of Blanton. That would be a bit of a step down. And to clarify, when I say "...the gap, if there is one at all..." I say that only because I think the Braves could have a substantial edge in the 5th starter slot. 1-4, I do think the Phillies have an edge... just not nearly as great an edge as many believe. Wed, 15 Dec 2010 18:21:22 +0000 http://www.bravesblast.com/2010/12/15/how-do-the-braves-match-up-against-the-phillies-now-better-than-you-think/#IDComment116002018 http://www.bravesblast.com/2010/10/04/nlds-game-1-viewing-party%e2%80%94open-invitation/#IDComment102524941 I think we're going to stick to our plans for Thursday, game 1. However, if there' s enough interest in a game-2, Friday night, viewing party as well... I'm happy to coordinate that. Anyone reading this who would like to attend a game-2 viewing party on Friday night in ATL... let me know. Tue, 5 Oct 2010 19:44:43 +0000 http://www.bravesblast.com/2010/10/04/nlds-game-1-viewing-party%e2%80%94open-invitation/#IDComment102524941 http://www.bravesblast.com/2010/10/04/nlds-game-1-viewing-party%e2%80%94open-invitation/#IDComment102360761 One other person asked about that... I'll try to gather some opinions. Thanks! Mon, 4 Oct 2010 21:11:36 +0000 http://www.bravesblast.com/2010/10/04/nlds-game-1-viewing-party%e2%80%94open-invitation/#IDComment102360761 http://www.bravesblast.com/2010/09/30/braves-have-missle-lock-on-postseason-baseball/#IDComment101745832 I hope the same... but Hudson will be rested either way. It's likely that he'll pitch game 3, so he'll have plenty of rest. Fri, 1 Oct 2010 04:36:57 +0000 http://www.bravesblast.com/2010/09/30/braves-have-missle-lock-on-postseason-baseball/#IDComment101745832 http://www.bravesblast.com/2010/09/30/braves-have-missle-lock-on-postseason-baseball/#IDComment101741079 Thanks man... I appreciate it. Hope you enjoy it! Fri, 1 Oct 2010 03:47:37 +0000 http://www.bravesblast.com/2010/09/30/braves-have-missle-lock-on-postseason-baseball/#IDComment101741079 http://www.bravesblast.com/2010/09/30/braves-have-missle-lock-on-postseason-baseball/#IDComment101732982 UPDATE... magic number down to 2 with SD's loss tonight! Fri, 1 Oct 2010 02:11:54 +0000 http://www.bravesblast.com/2010/09/30/braves-have-missle-lock-on-postseason-baseball/#IDComment101732982 http://www.bravesblast.com/2010/08/26/the-braves-are-in-the-drivers-seat-down-the-stretch/#IDComment100214666 Typical Philly fan class on display. Tue, 21 Sep 2010 17:16:47 +0000 http://www.bravesblast.com/2010/08/26/the-braves-are-in-the-drivers-seat-down-the-stretch/#IDComment100214666 http://www.bravesblast.com/2010/08/26/the-braves-are-in-the-drivers-seat-down-the-stretch/#IDComment100214219 Bottom line: The Braves WERE in the driver’s seat at the time. That’s why Baseball Prospectus and other publications gave them close to a 90% chance of winning the East at that point. They squandered it. Simple as that. As I said at the end, the Phillies were still very much in it, and it was far from over. But now if the Braves don’t win the next 2 games, it’ll be pretty close to over. Tue, 21 Sep 2010 17:13:04 +0000 http://www.bravesblast.com/2010/08/26/the-braves-are-in-the-drivers-seat-down-the-stretch/#IDComment100214219 http://www.bravesblast.com/2010/09/01/braves-benefit-more-than-most-from-september-call-ups/#IDComment96404680 Thanks man! Wed, 1 Sep 2010 15:23:35 +0000 http://www.bravesblast.com/2010/09/01/braves-benefit-more-than-most-from-september-call-ups/#IDComment96404680 http://www.bravesblast.com/2010/08/26/the-braves-are-in-the-drivers-seat-down-the-stretch/#IDComment95449446 I don't think we'll see the Braves swept again this year. And I don't think we'll see any huge comebacks like that. Not trying to excuse them for it, but I don't think that happens anywhere else but Coors Field. Thu, 26 Aug 2010 23:26:53 +0000 http://www.bravesblast.com/2010/08/26/the-braves-are-in-the-drivers-seat-down-the-stretch/#IDComment95449446 http://www.bravesblast.com/2010/07/20/approach-trade-deadline/#IDComment87805573 After commenting today that Cody Ross seemed an unlikely possibility... turns out the Braves may have serious interest in him. Apparently, the Braves had TWO senior officials in attendance at the Marlins game tonight. After looking more closely at Ross, the one thing he WOULD certainly do for the Braves is FURTHER reduce their vulnerability to lefties. He kills southpaws. So between him and Matt Diaz, Atlanta would no longer dread lefties as they have much of the season. Wed, 21 Jul 2010 03:21:19 +0000 http://www.bravesblast.com/2010/07/20/approach-trade-deadline/#IDComment87805573 http://www.bravesblast.com/2010/07/15/atlanta-braves-trade-show/#IDComment86997698 Ah, thanks for that. I knew there was a connection, but couldn't remember what it was. Fri, 16 Jul 2010 17:34:00 +0000 http://www.bravesblast.com/2010/07/15/atlanta-braves-trade-show/#IDComment86997698 http://www.bravesblast.com/2010/07/07/1766/#IDComment85602936 Sounds good to me! Thu, 8 Jul 2010 21:14:06 +0000 http://www.bravesblast.com/2010/07/07/1766/#IDComment85602936