were yall as impressed with Wagner as I was? He was really bringing it. His slider was biting real hard, and he was locating his fastball very well. If he can keep that 97-98 MPH range the whole year, and have thatslider somewhere around 13-16 MPHslower than the fastball,we will be in really good shape saving games this year. Good win tonight after a rough middle of the game. Medlen did well, and Chipper really came through in the clutch. Getting really wooly about this team.
For you Braves fans out there...
- Thread starter mstatefan88
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were yall as impressed with Wagner as I was? He was really bringing it. His slider was biting real hard, and he was locating his fastball very well. If he can keep that 97-98 MPH range the whole year, and have thatslider somewhere around 13-16 MPHslower than the fastball,we will be in really good shape saving games this year. Good win tonight after a rough middle of the game. Medlen did well, and Chipper really came through in the clutch. Getting really wooly about this team.
Seems that elbow is fully healed. I still have mixed emotions about him being on the team simply because he made his career being a Braves killer with Houston, the Mets, and Philly for so long. But I'm damn glad we don't have him pitching against us anymore. JJ deserved to get the W. That damn Glaus has looked awful the first 2 games. Good to see us win a close one, considering our struggles in that department the last couple of seasons. I won't lie, I may shed a couple of tears when Chipper retires.
On a side note, the booth of Ernie, Joe, and Smoltz was damn enjoyable. Can we do that booth every night and get rid of Skip Caray? Otherwise I may slit my wrists by the AS Break.
On a side note, the booth of Ernie, Joe, and Smoltz was damn enjoyable. Can we do that booth every night and get rid of Skip Caray? Otherwise I may slit my wrists by the AS Break.
That whole car joke he made with Chipper was hilarious, and it was like they picked right back up like Smoltz had never left. Guys who have successful careers can go 1 of 2 ways. They can go the Joe Morgan way and be really uptight and kinda obnoxious and act like a lead guy, or they can go more of the color type route where they add their knowledge to each situation, don't overpower the guy running lead, and stay within the scope of whats going on in the game. Smoltz is personable and knowledgeableenough to do color without having any broadcasting skills. I'm not sold on Ernie Johnson yet, but he was probably confused on how to deal with normal people instead of having to deal with Chuck and Kenny on a nightly basis.
Listening to a baseball game with Skip was like shooting the breeze witha guy sitting next to you. It was so easy for him, and he loved Braves baseball. That's why I hate the nationally televised announcers like Joe Buck and Joe Morgan.You don't get the personal feeling about the games like you dofrom the team announcers. I love listening to the guys who have done it forever. When Pete Van Wieren, Joe Simpson, and Skip Caray were all doing games for the Braves, it was the best lineup of radio broadcasters in all of baseball. </p>
They called the Rangers games when I lived in Ft. Worth in the late '80s. Holtz had one of the best play-by-play voices ever and Eric was a knowledgeable color guy. They were very good together.
was horrible Sunday night. Its like he wasn't even listening to Johnny Miller a few times. Miller would say something like "I wonder why A-Rod would take that pitch" then Morgan would say "A-Rod took that pitch...I don't know why" happened a few times. Miller would politely point out that he just said that but after two or three times I thought he sounded kinda pissed.
I thought the adding of Hersheiser to the team was refreshing...he interacted well with Miller. Maybe Joe knows his time is coming....
One thing I love about the MLB package is getting to listen to all the teams various announcers. Love Josh Lewin and Tom Grieve (although I am a huge Rangers homer). For the most partall the announcersare knowledgable and its cool how they bring different viewpoints to the games. And they are all paid homers, which is fun, although some are too extreme. The NESN guys are horrible...Mariano Rivera can throw a fast ball down the heart of the plate and they will start bitching at the ump for the called strike.
I thought the adding of Hersheiser to the team was refreshing...he interacted well with Miller. Maybe Joe knows his time is coming....
One thing I love about the MLB package is getting to listen to all the teams various announcers. Love Josh Lewin and Tom Grieve (although I am a huge Rangers homer). For the most partall the announcersare knowledgable and its cool how they bring different viewpoints to the games. And they are all paid homers, which is fun, although some are too extreme. The NESN guys are horrible...Mariano Rivera can throw a fast ball down the heart of the plate and they will start bitching at the ump for the called strike.
I enjoyed listening to the team last night as well. I think once
Smoltz gives the signal that he's officially done he has a job in the booth for a long time to come. I wasn't near as impressed with Glavine this past weekend. He was very robotic and sounded at times that he had to be prodded to say something. With that being said, I think Brian Jordan and Gant no longer have to worry about announcing because their replacements are here.
Smoltz gives the signal that he's officially done he has a job in the booth for a long time to come. I wasn't near as impressed with Glavine this past weekend. He was very robotic and sounded at times that he had to be prodded to say something. With that being said, I think Brian Jordan and Gant no longer have to worry about announcing because their replacements are here.
Any combo of the Skip/Don/Pete/Ernie/Joe era works for me.
I wish Ted would buy the team back and go nuts again.
I wish Ted would buy the team back and go nuts again.
Ever since Time-Warner took control, it has not been the same. I was hoping that Arthur Blank would buy them when Time-Warner was trying to sell them, but instead they went to another corporation who is moreconcernedwith the bottom line. As a Saints fan, I dont much care for Blank, but he is a damn good owner.
I don't understand the specifics, but they completed the sale solely by swapping stock, which somehow netted both huge tax breaks. Liberty Media has never cared about actually owning the team, which is why they have imposed such idiotic, strict payroll constraints.
than we ever did under TW, don't you? The sale to LM, while not great, was definitely an upgrade. Yeah, it's not Ted Turner, but very few teams have owners capable of spending that kind of money. We're competitive and improving through youth. But if we miss the playoffs this season, I'm going to be pissed. This team looks to be playoff good early. Of course, you always have to worry about injury.
http://www.bizofbaseball.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1141&Itemid=42
"In total, the cash-rich split-off will see approx. $770 million in taxes saved between Time Warner and Liberty Media."
<p class="aaa">"Odds are that Liberty will not hold onto the Braves any longer than they have to. They will be locked in till at least 2011. </p><p class="aaa"><span class="template"><span class="body">"They have committed to 4 1/2 years ownership, minimum, which frankly is more than we get guaranteed from anybody else," Selig said to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution."
"They will have to own the club for at least several years in order to avoid paying taxes on the sale, but beyond that, Liberty would seem to have little interest in owning the Braves. While Liberty continues to gobble up regional sports networks, and now owns the majority of DirecTV (another cash-rich split-off to avoid taxes), the direct ownership of a sports franchise breaks with their portfolio. "
(This probably explains why Peachtree TV games are on DirecTV).
"As reported earlier today , provisions are in place that guarantee that player payroll will remain at least at the same level as it has in the past three seasons (about $80 million) and a commitment that current Braves president Terry McGuirk would remain in control of the team for Liberty."
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/06/sports/06iht-base.4492634.html
</span></span></p>
"The job, however, could become a little easier than it has been the past few years if Malone lets Schuerholz add to the payroll that Time Warner has limited. The Braves' payroll climbed every year they finished first, reaching a high of $104.6 million in 2003, until Time Warner cut back in 2004."
</p>
"The economy has affected all of us," said Atlanta Braves President John Schuerholz, whose team lowered its payroll from a year ago to $84.4 million, a 13% decline. "It's a fact of life."
</p>
http://content.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/salaries/teamresults.aspx?team=16
note, that what i was referring to was that payroll was being decided by accountants without regard to the situation, and IMO this holds that up. Keep that precipitous drop for this year in mind everytime you see Glaus fall to catch up to a high fastball this year, while LaRoche could have been had on a one-year arb deal for ~5M more. The low median salary in 2008 also shows that the jump that year was due to existing contracts that they couldn't get out of, and they filled up the roster as much as they could with scrubs making the minimum.</p>
"In total, the cash-rich split-off will see approx. $770 million in taxes saved between Time Warner and Liberty Media."
<p class="aaa">"Odds are that Liberty will not hold onto the Braves any longer than they have to. They will be locked in till at least 2011. </p><p class="aaa"><span class="template"><span class="body">"They have committed to 4 1/2 years ownership, minimum, which frankly is more than we get guaranteed from anybody else," Selig said to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution."
"They will have to own the club for at least several years in order to avoid paying taxes on the sale, but beyond that, Liberty would seem to have little interest in owning the Braves. While Liberty continues to gobble up regional sports networks, and now owns the majority of DirecTV (another cash-rich split-off to avoid taxes), the direct ownership of a sports franchise breaks with their portfolio. "
(This probably explains why Peachtree TV games are on DirecTV).
"As reported earlier today , provisions are in place that guarantee that player payroll will remain at least at the same level as it has in the past three seasons (about $80 million) and a commitment that current Braves president Terry McGuirk would remain in control of the team for Liberty."
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/06/sports/06iht-base.4492634.html
</span></span></p>
"The job, however, could become a little easier than it has been the past few years if Malone lets Schuerholz add to the payroll that Time Warner has limited. The Braves' payroll climbed every year they finished first, reaching a high of $104.6 million in 2003, until Time Warner cut back in 2004."
</p>
"The economy has affected all of us," said Atlanta Braves President John Schuerholz, whose team lowered its payroll from a year ago to $84.4 million, a 13% decline. "It's a fact of life."
</p>
http://content.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/salaries/teamresults.aspx?team=16
note, that what i was referring to was that payroll was being decided by accountants without regard to the situation, and IMO this holds that up. Keep that precipitous drop for this year in mind everytime you see Glaus fall to catch up to a high fastball this year, while LaRoche could have been had on a one-year arb deal for ~5M more. The low median salary in 2008 also shows that the jump that year was due to existing contracts that they couldn't get out of, and they filled up the roster as much as they could with scrubs making the minimum.</p>
but it was only after Nick Johnson signed a 1-year deal with the Yanks. There was no reason to expect LaRoche to have to sign for only a year, so the Braves moved on pretty quickly because of Freddie Freeman.
was pitiful. Soriano and Gonzalez both ended up loading the bases in their respective halves of the 9th. The Rays are supposedly not very happy with Soriano either, as he came in with his own throwing plan, telling them he would only pitch exactly 6 times for exactly 6 innings in spring training (or something like that) then didn't work out much with the team, etc. After doing all of that, he came out struggling, and that didn't sit well.
LaRoche was arbitration eligible. The Braves declined to offer arbitration. That made LaRoche a FA. IF they HAD offered arbitration, LaRoche had the option of taking the MANDATORY 1-YR DEAL, or declining. If he declined, the Braves get a draft pick from whoever signed him. As it is, the Braves got nothing.
If the Braves had offered and LaRoche declined, i wouldn't be harping on it. But given that they wanted a 1-yr rent-a-player (bc of Freeman), that they didn't even offer shows all you need to know about the management and payroll.
If the Braves had offered and LaRoche declined, i wouldn't be harping on it. But given that they wanted a 1-yr rent-a-player (bc of Freeman), that they didn't even offer shows all you need to know about the management and payroll.