Catcher’s Blog

I saw Lauren T. do this and thought it might be fun to do. That and I was a bit bored, so here you go. I hope that you find out more about me than you already knew about me. Read the rest of this entry »

I was going to post yesterday before last night’s game, but decided I wouldn’t. I was slightly disappointed after that really bad loss because of all the excitement that had built up from waiting for the season to actually start. Can we just say that one didn’t count? No? OK, didn’t think so.

Still with all the mishaps, Huddy settled down and threw pretty well after first inning troubles. The offense and defense was another story. I’m not sure if the guys actually showed up or not, or were just trying too hard to do things to win. I think it’s more of the latter, but for some reason, the Nationals had the edge the entire night. If the Nats want to do the same thing next year, I say we recommend them ask someone else to play a one-nighter in their new ballpark, only it won’t be so new.

Hopefully, the Home Opener tonight will be better than last night’s. I don’t think tonight’s Opener can be any worse than last year’s with Mark Redman facing Brave-killer, Oliver Perez. Yikes, that was bad. At least this season, Glavine is on the right team again and will hopefully prove to be the asset we believe he will be throughout the season. And unless the Pirates have the same voodoo the Nationals did last night, I think we’ll fair a lot better.  

The game starts at 7:10 pm and is being broadcast on the new Peachtree TV. Glavine faces Ian Snell as we take on the Pirates for three games. Tomorrow is a weird off-day, so no baseball, but Wednesday we resume the Pirates’ series until Thursday, then in come the Mets for the weekend on Friday. I think it will be a fun week to be watching Braves baseball.

I think this might be a new feature on the site from now on. A lot of times I’ll come across a great site that I think is worth mentioning, so I thought I would feature Braves blogs/sites that I think are really caliber sites from time to time. This is something different and it gives other sites a link back. Maybe by doing this, you’ll find blogs/sites that you’ve never checked out before.

For my first post of this new feature, I’d like to take this time to introduce a new site that’s just recently launched, though it’s not entirely brand new. The Tomahawk is a new Braves site created and maintained by Kyle James. The Tomahawk itself is a Braves blog site like no other out there on the World Wide Web, at least not that I’ve seen. Kyle’s innovative idea to create a site to include multiple sites into one was a genius move.   

Some people, like me, tend to have a lot of Favorites/Feeds of sites he or she browses and sorts through each day. The Tomahawk is here to save you that extra space on your computer/web browser. The Tomahawk is actually a syndicated blog with many of the better known Braves blogs/sites rolled into one. When visiting, readers will have at least six different Braves blogs at their fingertips and on their screen to read until his or her heart is content.

Another thing that is helpful with The Tomahawk is that it will allow many readers to visit your site if you own your own blog and become a member. It gives you a plug to your site every time you make a post to your blog. Of course, blogging isn’t all about visitors, but they do help. Not to mention, you could meet new people while reading each of these Braves author’s sites and save time while doing it. Here is what Kyle has to say about The Tomahawk:

Hi my name is Kyle James (http://doteduguru.com) and I have created a new website for Atlanta Braves fans.  With the start of the news season tonight this site will hopefully help you keep up with the Braves one what looks to be an exciting season!  This new site, The Tomahawk (http://the-tomahawk.com), syndicates multiple blogs (including this one) about the Atlanta Braves into one location.  This great resource allows fans to visit one website, or pull one RSS feed, to get all the latest braves news.  Because the sources are blogs pulled from are some of the most passionate Braves fans you will also be getting multiple unique perspectives on trades, injuries, and games that the official sites might not want you to know. 

Come visit The Tomahawk (http://the-tomahawk.com) today and let me know what you think.  If there is anything else that you would like to see added to the site I’m looking for suggestions.  This site is created by a fan for the fans so we can more easily and quickly find out about our favorite team, the Atlanta Braves!

Oh the site also syndicates the latest official Braves news from mlb.com so you won’t be missing the official word either.

I know Kyle wants to accomplish even more with this site and I believe there are a lot more features to come. The final look of the site is still yet to come, but the temporary layout version isn’t bad either. So, if you’re looking for a really good Braves blog site, I’d recommend The Tomahawk as your best bet to find a lot of great Braves info and the opinions of bloggers that are just as big of fans as you.

Braves finally announced their tough decisions later last night after the game. Among the cuts were Josh Anderson, Brent Lillibridge, Joe Borchard, Clint Sammons, and Jeff Ridgway. The five backups kept for the bench were Brayan Pena, who still could be traded before the day is out, Corky Miller, Ruben Gotay, Martin Prado, and Gregor Blanco.

The only decision that needs addressing is who makes the bullpen as the spot starter/longman, Jeff Bennett or Buddy Carlyle. Bennett is said to have an edge thus far, but I expect him to get the job over Carlyle since Bennett has faired a lot better in Spring. This won’t have to be decided until Smoltz comes back from the DL next Sunday on April 6. Chuck James is also starting on the DL, but is getting prepared to start if Smoltz cannot go the 6th for whatever reason. But lets not even think about that right now.

I’ve decided not to finish the Where We Stand series because it’d be kind of pointless now. I still might finish the bullpen’s part, but the bench has already been decided and I’ve already covered the two that are still vying for the last spot after Smoltz returns. If I decided to this again next year, it will be done in a more timely manner and will get finished if I indeed start it. I hate not finishing it, but what’s the point now? There is none. I’m sorry, I’ll try better next time. I just ran out of time and hope to do a better job next year, if I even do it. Also, I will try to finish the Nickname page this weekend.

Today the Braves face the Indians yet again for the last time this year at 1 pm. Hampton gets the start today and will face Jake Westbrook. Maybe we’ll fair better than last night. After today, we head up to D.C. for the Opener against the Nationals tomorrow night at 8 pm. Opening Day is only a day away and it still seems like an eternity. Baseball season is almost here, folks.   

Most of the roster moves have been made or decided, but there’s still the backup catcher, fifth starter, and backup outfielder to determine before Saturday. Here is my (short) predictions on who wins what and what the lineup will be like.

Backup outfielder: Gregor Blanco

While I like Josh Anderson, Blanco has had an edge late in spring. He’s proving why he deserves to be on the roster after being in the minors for a few years and being a unliked player for so long. He’s proved he can handle the big leagues and he’s changed up his attitude. Even Bobby likes him now, so he must have done something right. If for whatever reason something happens to either Francoeur or Diaz, or Blanco doesn’t perform like we all think he will, we bring up Anderson to do his job.

Backup catcher: Corky Miller

While Clint Sammons and Brayan Pena have the skills to be the backup, I think it’ll go to Corky. Pena is more than likely to be traded, unless he’s kept over Scott Thorman, because his trade value is higher than the other players with no options, with the exception of maybe Royce Ring, but the Braves would like to keep him if at all possible.

Fifth starter: Jair Jurrjens

While Jurrjens doesn’t have a lot of major league experience under his belt, he’s still the best option for the fifth starter job, at aleast until Chuckie can catch up to the rest of the pitchers in his minor league/DL stint. Jurrjens has proved, even while a bit rocky in Spring starts, that he can get major league batters out and that’s what we need him to do. I just don’t see them giving this job to Buddy Carlyle.

My lineup (pretty much what is probably already known, but slightly different):

1. KJ
2. Escobar
3. Chipper
4. Teixshy
5. McCann*
6. Frenchy*
7. Diaz
8. Kotsay
9. pitcher

* - can be interchangeable with different pitchers.