OMG the BRAVES are on FIRE. OMFG. they are SOO hot right now.

[LeeTJ]

It's amazing.

HTF do they go from 4 - 8 to only 1 game behind the Giants for the best record in the NL.

they have won 15 of their last 17 games. they are THE HOTTEST team in baseball.

against arizona tonite, in Schillings first start back, the braves have loaded the bases with no one out.


oopps, andruw jones just strikes out.

 

[bootymac]

I'd hit it

 

[LeeTJ]

oh well, schilling gets out of the inning with no runs.

still, games not over yet. it's only the bottom of the 1st.

 

[sohdahere]

Yankees are the best in the majors and sorry they will win this year.
Not trying to piss any one off, just being realistic.
Their pitching is doing amazing and the lineup too with Giambi playing horrible and Jeter out.

 

[raptor13]

The Braves, so hot right now. The Braves.

 

[PoPPeR]

Originally posted by: sohdahere
Yankees are the best in the majors and sorry they will win this year. Not trying to piss any one off, just being realistic.

The Yankees better win, their payroll rivals our budget for Iraq right now. I'm a huge Braves fan, I've enjoyed their current streak. For once, the Braves offense is one of their strong points instead of holding them back.

 

[LeeTJ]

Originally posted by: PoPPeR

Originally posted by: sohdahere
Yankees are the best in the majors and sorry they will win this year. Not trying to piss any one off, just being realistic.

The Yankees better win, their payroll rivals our budget for Iraq right now. I'm a huge Braves fan, I've enjoyed their current streak. For once, the Braves offense is one of their strong points instead of holding them back.

what's amazing is what the braves have been able to do on a limited budget. their payroll is what like 1/2 that of the yankees??

 

[PoPPeR]

Originally posted by: LeeTJ

Originally posted by: PoPPeR

Originally posted by: sohdahere Yankees are the best in the majors and sorry they will win this year. Not trying to piss any one off, just being realistic.

The Yankees better win, their payroll rivals our budget for Iraq right now. I'm a huge Braves fan, I've enjoyed their current streak. For once, the Braves offense is one of their strong points instead of holding them back.

what's amazing is what the braves have been able to do on a limited budget. their payroll is what like 1/2 that of the yankees??

150 million compared to 105 mill according to CNNSI

 

[LeeTJ]

Originally posted by: PoPPeR

Originally posted by: LeeTJ

Originally posted by: PoPPeR

Originally posted by: sohdahere Yankees are the best in the majors and sorry they will win this year. Not trying to piss any one off, just being realistic.

The Yankees better win, their payroll rivals our budget for Iraq right now. I'm a huge Braves fan, I've enjoyed their current streak. For once, the Braves offense is one of their strong points instead of holding them back.

what's amazing is what the braves have been able to do on a limited budget. their payroll is what like 1/2 that of the yankees??

150 million compared to 105 mill according to <a class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/2003/salaries/braves.html" target=blank>CNNSI</A>

WOW

i didn't realize the braves had climbed soo high. last year, i thought they were like 8th on the list.

but the hampton deal, they don't actually pay the whole 13 mill even tho it is credited to them.

 

[hdeck]

too bad it won't last

 

[LeeTJ]

Originally posted by: hdeck
too bad it won't last

it won't last???

9 NLCS in the last 11 years.

5 WS in the last 11 years.

1 WSChampionship..

that's really their only weakness, they only have a 20% success rate in the WS.

to have won 5 of 9 NLCS is pretty amazing.

to have made the postseason every year for the last 11 years is amazing.

only the truly shallow judge ONLY by winning the whole thing.

 

[m2kewl]

count on the braves to always choke come world series.

go yankees!

 

[Joyride]

Braves rule

Spankees drool

 

[thawolfman]

yay.

go redsox!

 

[wfbberzerker]

Originally posted by: raptor13
The Braves, so hot right now. The Braves.

you know, todd.

 

[Parrotheader]

Originally posted by: LeeTJ

Originally posted by: hdeck
too bad it won't last

it won't last???

9 NLCS in the last 11 years.

5 WS in the last 11 years.

1 WSChampionship..

that's really their only weakness, they only have a 20% success rate in the WS.

to have won 5 of 9 NLCS is pretty amazing.

to have made the postseason every year for the last 11 years is amazing.

only the truly shallow judge ONLY by winning the whole thing.

I agree. What the Braves have done over the last decade is nothing short of remarkable when you consider the relatively mediocore offensive power they've had. Regardless of whether or not they choke in the playoffs - I honestly don't care. Year in and year out they manage to dominate over the course of 130+ games during the regular season. They might not always have the offensive firepower to be a threat during the post-season, but they're going to give their fans 5+ months of enjoyment in the meantime and put the hurt on a lot of other teams in the process. And by that time football season is in high gear and my attention has long since turned elsewhere.

Obviously the biggest thank you right now HAS to go to Sheffield. That guy is just unconscious right now. But the unheralded reason is Furcal - not just Giles like everyone else is thinking. Whenever he's healthy, the heart of the Braves order suddenly seems to come alive. Hopefully he can manage to stay healthy the whole year this time. because he's also a great defensive player. And all of this is going on with Chipper doing his patented start of the season slump, Lopez still struggling some while losing both Glavine, Millwood and a host of strong relief pitchers from last year. I don't know if they'll be able to keep this up over the entire season, but hopefully they'll once again make the next several months enjoyable ones.

 

[LeeTJ]

Originally posted by: Parrotheader

I agree. What the Braves have done over the last decade is nothing short of remarkable when you consider the relatively mediocore offensive power they've had. Regardless of whether or not they choke in the playoffs - I honestly don't care. Year in and year out they manage to dominate over the course of 150+ games during the regular season. They might not always have the offensive firepower to be a threat during the post-season, but they're going to give their fans 5+ months of enjoyment in the meantime and put the hurt on a lot of other teams in the process. And by that time football season is in high gear and my attention has long since turned elsewhere.

Obviously the biggest thank you right now HAS to go to Sheffield. That guy is just unconscious right now. But the unheralded reason is Furcal. Whenever he's healthy, the heart of the Braves order suddenly seems to come alive. Hopefully he can manage to stay healthy the whole year this time. because he's also a great defensive player. And all of this is going on with Chipper doing his patented start of the season slump, Lopez still struggling some while losing both Glavine, Millwood and a host of strong relief pitchers from last year. I don't know if they'll be able to keep this up over the entire season, but hopefully they'll once again make the next several months enjoyable ones.

actually, give Giles some credit too. he has been very good.

 

[Parrotheader]

Originally posted by: LeeTJ

Originally posted by: Parrotheader

I agree. What the Braves have done over the last decade is nothing short of remarkable when you consider the relatively mediocore offensive power they've had. Regardless of whether or not they choke in the playoffs - I honestly don't care. Year in and year out they manage to dominate over the course of 150+ games during the regular season. They might not always have the offensive firepower to be a threat during the post-season, but they're going to give their fans 5+ months of enjoyment in the meantime and put the hurt on a lot of other teams in the process. And by that time football season is in high gear and my attention has long since turned elsewhere.

Obviously the biggest thank you right now HAS to go to Sheffield. That guy is just unconscious right now. But the unheralded reason is Furcal. Whenever he's healthy, the heart of the Braves order suddenly seems to come alive. Hopefully he can manage to stay healthy the whole year this time. because he's also a great defensive player. And all of this is going on with Chipper doing his patented start of the season slump, Lopez still struggling some while losing both Glavine, Millwood and a host of strong relief pitchers from last year. I don't know if they'll be able to keep this up over the entire season, but hopefully they'll once again make the next several months enjoyable ones.

actually, give Giles some credit too. he has been very good.

Oh I do give him credit, but Furcal is such a strong base runner. It's fun to watch him give pitchers fits. He really takes away a LOT of their concentration.

 

[LeeTJ]

btw parrotheader

i'm not sure that you're aware but the Braves have always had a good offense Not great but Good.

 

[ThePresence]

Originally posted by: thawolfman
yay.

go redsox!

1918 1918 1918 !!!

 

[Parrotheader]

Originally posted by: LeeTJ
btw parrotheader

i'm not sure that you're aware but the Braves have always had a good offense Not great but Good.

I'm well aware. But by playoff standards MOST of their offenses have been average. They seldom had all the bats like the all the Indians teams of the mid-late 90s or the Yankees of (insert date here - the fact that the Yankees don't win it every year is amazing considering all the talent they have; I'd like to see the Braves with that payroll ) Rarely have the Braves had the year where all their hitters were clicking at the same time in the post season. And unfortunately, while the Braves starting pitchers are great over the course of a whole season, guys like Maddux, Glavine, Avery, etc. have never been shut down pitchers who can over power you with their stuff in just one game like Johnson or Clemens can. They're obviously much more placement/finesse-oriented pitchers who rely on their placement, defense and forcing the umpire to make the tough calls to win games. Have a bad outing or an unagreeable umpire in one game in the regular season and it's no big deal - odds are you'll catch them the next game. But have a bad outing or unagreeable umpire in the playoffs and you're done for. That doesn't mean Glavine or Maddux aren't as good, their styles simply aren't as playoff-friendly as the more power-oriented pitchers.

 

[bonk102]

Originally posted by: sohdahere
Yankees are the best in the majors and sorry they will win this year.
Not trying to piss any one off, just being realistic.
Their pitching is doing amazing and the lineup too with Giambi playing horrible and Jeter out.

 

[LeeTJ]

Originally posted by: Parrotheader

Originally posted by: LeeTJ
btw parrotheader

i'm not sure that you're aware but the Braves have always had a good offense Not great but Good.

I'm well aware. But by playoff standards MOST of their offenses have been average. They seldom had all the bats like the all the Indians teams of the mid-late 90s or the Yankees of (insert date here - the fact that the Yankees don't win it every year is amazing considering all the talent they have; I'd like to see the Braves with that payroll ) Rarely have the Braves had the year where all their hitters were clicking at the same time in the post season. And unfortunately, while the Braves starting pitchers are great over the course of a whole season, guys like Maddux, Glavine, Avery, etc. have never been shut down pitchers who can over power you with their stuff in just one game like Johnson or Clemens can. They're obviously much more placement/finesse-oriented pitchers who rely on their placement, defense and forcing the umpire to make the tough calls to win games. Have a bad outing or an unagreeable umpire in one game in the regular season and it's no big deal - odds are you'll catch them the next game. But have a bad outing or unagreeable umpire in the playoffs and you're done for. That doesn't mean Glavine or Maddux aren't as good, their styles simply aren't as playoff-friendly as the more power-oriented pitchers.

i totally agree with you regards to Maddux and Glavine. that's why i was really shocked that they signed maddux and traded millwood. i would rather they have signed millwood and let maddux go.

Ortiz, Millwood, Hampton would have been VERY good in the playoffs.

 

[Parrotheader]

Originally posted by: LeeTJ

i totally agree with you regards to Maddux and Glavine. that's why i was really shocked that they signed maddux and traded millwood. i would rather they have signed millwood and let maddux go.

Ortiz, Millwood, Hampton would have been VERY good in the playoffs.

Actually I was glad that they kept Maddux. While I would've loved to kept Millwood around, Maddux has proven year in and year out to be one of, if not THE, most consistent winning pitcher in baseball. He may not be as intimidating in the playoffs due to his pitching style, but you've got to have a horse to ride to get to the playoffs and over the last 10 years, they don't come any better than Maddux in that respect. Plus, Smoltz now gives them that dimension they were missing throughout the 90s as a consistent closer. It's just a shame they had to get rid of Glavine and Millwood. With those guys, the closer they have in Smoltz, and the offense they're getting right now they could've been lethal. As it stands though, it's once again the Yankees to lose right now IMO just based on the talent they have.

Just in case you never saw this Onion article

 

[LeeTJ]

Originally posted by: Parrotheader

Originally posted by: LeeTJ

i totally agree with you regards to Maddux and Glavine. that's why i was really shocked that they signed maddux and traded millwood. i would rather they have signed millwood and let maddux go.

Ortiz, Millwood, Hampton would have been VERY good in the playoffs.

Actually I was glad that they kept Maddux. While I would've loved to kept Millwood around, Maddux has proven year in and year out to be one of, if not THE, most consistent winning pitcher in baseball. He may not be as intimidating in the playoffs due to his pitching style, but you've got to have a horse to ride to get to the playoffs and over the last 10 years, they don't come any better than Maddux in that respect. Plus, Smoltz now gives them that dimension they were missing throughout the 90s as a consistent closer. It's just a shame they had to get rid of Glavine and Millwood. With those guys, the closer they have in Smoltz, and the offense they're getting right now they could've been letha. As it stands though, it's once again the Yankees to lose right now IMO just based on the talent they have.

Just in case you never saw this Onion article

IF and when byrd comes back, i hope they can trade him away again. they have no need for him.

Bong looks like he will be a VERY good starter. Bong, Hampton, Ortiz, Maddux and MB reynolds (to me reynolds and byrd are like the same pitcher).

oh well. it'll be interesting to see how cox manages the team this season. this season will be more about management than about player excellence, there are a lot of pieces (pitching staff wise) that is still not in place yet.

the hitting tho, WOW, it's very good.