Down to 24 now. But I have 3 favorite teams, so I'll start the threads in order. The other two will have to wait for another night.

I'm not a fair weather Braves fan, by the way. My fandom goes back to the last place teams with Dale Murphy, Bob Horner, Glenn Hubbard, and the like.

But back to the present.

I like what the Braves have done with their limited payroll over the offseason.

Big keys: JD Drew, a Cardinal castoff for his inability to stay healthy an entire season. John Thompson, Jaret Wright, Will Cunnane, the AA twins (Almanza and Alfonseca), and other castoffs need to come together under Leo Mazzone's tutelage to form another decent pitching staff. The offense will not be as deep as last year, but I have a feeling Mark DeRosa will surprise with his numbers in a full-time role.

I used to go to ball games with my Dad when I was a kid back at Fulton County Stadium back in the days of Dale Murphy and Bob Horner. Actually met Bob Horner once! Good memories.

I'll be interested to see how the Braves fare this season. Every year, we hear about how they won't win another division title, but somehow despite pay cuts and losing key players, the Bravos keep that train rolling. This year more than any other, though, I feel as if maybe the ride will come to an end.

I hope I am wrong. And, win or lose, I'll be pulling for the Braves every game. I'm happy with the acquistion of J.D. Drew and Mark DeRosa as a full-time player should indeed prove a valuable asset. Whenever he has extended opportunities to play, he tends to put in good performances.

I'll miss Javy, though. frown

Gaby, today While I was volunteering time for Georgia Equality, I happened to run into Hank Aaron in the hallway on a break. He wan in the building seeing someone else. I can say he looked to be in better shape than I've seen him before, and he was also more pleasant this time too. In the past he treated me with a bit of disdain, and I always wondered if he still held a grudge against the white supremist that sent him death threats when he was chasing the homerun record.

Longtime board members will know that I loathe the Braves for their choking ways in the playoffs and their corporate attitude in the management area, but the fact that they didn't name their ballpark "Aaron Field" is the most disgraceful aspect of that loathing. Every time--every. time.--I see that clip of him hitting #715 I get tears, because it was so freakin' amazing.

When are they going to fire Bobby Cox?

Why should they fire Bobby Cox, simply because you loathe the team?

Yeah, that's as good a reason as any!

How many times does this guy's teams have to flame out in the playoffs before he gets the boot? He's been there for ages, maybe it's time for a change.

[ March 07, 2004, 06:35 PM: Message edited by: Jim Allen ]

Bobby Cox is the most underrated manager in the major leagues. He has done an incredible job since turning the Braves around in 1991 and I don't think he's going to be fired anytime soon. It's a lot more difficult to win consistently for an entire season year-in and year-out than it is to have a hot streak in October. Sure, it would be nice if the Braves had done better in the playoffs during the run of division titles, but that doesn't take away from the accomplishments that the Braves have achieved under Bobby Cox. And anyone who plays for Bobby will tell you how much they respect, admire, and enjoy him.

Wade -- cool story! :cool:

What's the Braves starting rotation going to be? Smoltz, Hampton and Ortiz, of course, but who else?

Smoltz is going to stay a closer, I believe.

The starting rotation last I heard would be Ortiz, Hampton, Horacio Ramirez, and John Thomson.

D'oh! Of course Smoltz is the closer. Yikes.

I think Smoltzie still wants to be a starter, actually, but between his injuries and his loyalty to Atlanta has come to terms with his role as the Braves' closer.

But, heck, I didn't know if maybe I hadn't heard some big news. Desperate times, as they say ...

When Jim Allen hates ya, ya must be doin' something right. Keep on hatin', Jimmy Boy.

Are you the former AU Tiger in LA? Does that mean that Los Angeles has one less bumpkin living here? [Mr. Burns voice] Exxxxcccelent.

In the latest SI there's an article about JD Drew, his devout Christianity, his problems with injuries, The Passion of the Christ, and how they're all intertwined somehow. I'm all for religion, expressing one's beliefs, etc, but I think it's odd for somebody to be so adamant about anything. JD claims he has never smoked, never drank, and was a virgin until he married the missus. Perhaps he could change his name to Sandra D. Drew.

They're all intertwined! THAT explains why Jesus proclaimed on the cross, "My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken J.D.?"

I think one of the most exciting plays in sports deserves recognition! Congratulations to the Braves for completing the first triple play of the season! In the top of the eighth inning today, Kerry Robinson of the Padres grounds to third base. The Braves' Mike Hessiman steps on third base, throws to shortstop Jesse Garcia, who steps on second base, and then throws to Adam LaRoche at first. Padres' Ramon Hernandez out at third, Ramon Vazquez out at second, Kerry Robinson out at first. By the way, the Padres won 7-3.

I'm having a hard time following the Braves. I feel like my team's been dismantled and, while I'm catching the games when they're on TBS or ESPN, I often have trouble putting my heart into rooting for them. This .500 ball that they're playing right now is frustrating, too ... I wish they'd snap out of their mediocrity and really take it to the opposition.

Maybe it will be better when Chipper gets back ... I think that's possibly as soon as tomorrow!

Still, the triple play is pretty damn cool.

The Braves may be victim of a perfect game by Big Unit (who's on my Sportsline team) .... 8 innings down, 1 to go.

Between this, 24 and Bolts-Flyers, my remote may just go out before 9.

DR, that's why God invented TiVO.

Yeah , like I'm getting that ...

anyways Unit Did it ... 27 up, 27 down, 13 Ks 37.5 pts.

Larry Jones (aka Chipper) thinks Randy Wolf hit him on purpose on Friday night. Apparently it's just because he's only been hit about 12 times in his career and Wolf's done it twice. What a moron. Wolf was very wild the first 2 innings.

Shut up, Larry Jones!

[ May 29, 2004, 09:43 PM: Message edited by: Joe in Philly ]

hey! You leave my future ex-husband alone! wink

Just posted a nice piece on a fan's reax to Smoltz's gay marriage comments.

John Smoltz: just another reason to root, root, root for the fightin' Phils. wink

Less than a month ago they were 6 1/2 games out. Today they awake to find themselves in sole possession of 1st place. Fans from Philly to New York are probably moaning, "Ohhhh nooooo. Not again?!?"

I too gave the Braves up for dead. But it wasn't four weeks ago. It was immediately following the loss of Maddux, Lopez and Sheffield.

There is absolutely NO reason why the Braves should be slightly competitive at this point. Given all the talent Time Warner has forced them to let slip away because of sleazy profits, this team was gutted and hung up like a dead fish in a smoke house.

On paper, I figured them to be a few games under .500 this year, and they looked a good fit for that in June.

But as hot as they've played, this team still needs a solid pitcher in its rotation. They must go out and grab someone before the deadline. Converting Smoltz this year is a bad idea, but I do think it should happen in 2005 after he proves himself in long innings via spring training.

This race could be interesting. I really don't see the Marlins continuing to hang close. I'd bet that it will dwindle to a 2 team race by late August, and I'd also bet that it turns into a Braves-Phillies affair.

I woke up this morning, the sun was shining and the birds were singing. Then I saw the National League East standings and Atlanta was atop the list. All is right with the universe once again.

[ July 20, 2004, 06:06 AM: Message edited by: Gaga4Gaby ]

I'd say fans nationwide are appalled. wink As for getting another pitcher, what I've read is that the Braves are unlikely to add to their payroll this year, as they're finally near a break-even point after years of losses.

Before the season began, I said that if Bobby Cox were to make a run with this team, I would finally give him credit for being a great manager. Never in my mind did I think he would do it.

Congrats to Bobby and the boys.

D'oh! Tied atop the National League East again. Stupid Phillies. :mad:

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the most interesting divisional race in baseball - the NL East.

A little nip and tuck among four teams. And its late July. I think this has the makings of something unique by late August, so long as we still three teams chasing the title.

This is the most even the division has been in quite some time. Exciting, no?

Well I take that back. Suddenly this is looking exactly like the last several years. If the Braves keep up their pace for another two weeks then this will cease to be a race. The rest of the division is a dogfight.