Post by Mike
I keep getting hammered by folks telling me spring training is irrelevant and not to worry about our offensive struggles So I did a little research.
The Miami Marlins finished dead last in runs scored during spring training in 2016. They finished the season with a 79-82 record and at third place in the NL East. For the record the Braves finished 24th in runs scored and wound up 69-93 and dead last in the division.
In 2017 the Nartionals finished dead last in runs scored with 128 and obviously won the division with a 97-65 record. The Braves finished 29th in runs scored with 133 and finished 72-90 and at third place in the division.
So it is true... spring training isn't a good indicator of how the season will develop. However, the Braves haven't won the division since 2013, and that was the last year the team finished in the top half of the MLB pre-season run scoring class.
BRAVES RANKING OF RUNS SCORED IN SPRING TRAINING.
2015 - 20th
2014 - 17th
2013 - 13th - Last Division Title
Wednesday, February 28, 2018
Tuesday, February 27, 2018
Potent we ain't.
Post by Mike
Look... I get it... It's spring training... It's only four games... yada yada yada... still no one can deny the Braves desperately need offense, and this stat is disturbing.
For reference, the Braves finished 2017 spring training at 29th in runs, but improved to 20th in the regular season.
My post earlier this year pointed out that the team Run Differential (RDIFF) needs to swing by 156 runs this season for a shot at the second wild card spot. RDIFF SWING LINK
Acuna could catch fire, Camargo as well, Dansby could learn to hit breaking balls, or Austin Riley and/or Alex Jackson could arrive early and provide some pop. Clearly something has to change to boost the offense.
Look... I get it... It's spring training... It's only four games... yada yada yada... still no one can deny the Braves desperately need offense, and this stat is disturbing.
For reference, the Braves finished 2017 spring training at 29th in runs, but improved to 20th in the regular season.
My post earlier this year pointed out that the team Run Differential (RDIFF) needs to swing by 156 runs this season for a shot at the second wild card spot. RDIFF SWING LINK
Acuna could catch fire, Camargo as well, Dansby could learn to hit breaking balls, or Austin Riley and/or Alex Jackson could arrive early and provide some pop. Clearly something has to change to boost the offense.
Monday, February 26, 2018
It could be worse... we could be San Diego.
Post by Mike
I know it is only 3 games, all on the road and Freeman, Flowers, Markakis et al haven't been in the line up. I know it is spring training. So I'm not panicking... yet.
http://mlb.mlb.com/stats/sortable.jsp#elem=%5Bobject+Object%5D&tab_level=child&click_text=Sortable+Team+hitting&game_type='S'&season=2018&season_type=ANY&league_code='MLB'§ionType=st&statType=hitting&page=1&ts=1519654880131&timeframe=&playerType=QUALIFIER&sportCode='mlb'&split=&team_id=&active_sw=&position=&page_type=SortablePlayer&sortOrder='desc'&sortColumn=avg&results=&perPage=50&last_x_days=&extended=0
I know it is only 3 games, all on the road and Freeman, Flowers, Markakis et al haven't been in the line up. I know it is spring training. So I'm not panicking... yet.
http://mlb.mlb.com/stats/sortable.jsp#elem=%5Bobject+Object%5D&tab_level=child&click_text=Sortable+Team+hitting&game_type='S'&season=2018&season_type=ANY&league_code='MLB'§ionType=st&statType=hitting&page=1&ts=1519654880131&timeframe=&playerType=QUALIFIER&sportCode='mlb'&split=&team_id=&active_sw=&position=&page_type=SortablePlayer&sortOrder='desc'&sortColumn=avg&results=&perPage=50&last_x_days=&extended=0
Saturday, February 24, 2018
Fix it!
Post by Mike
Everyone knows college athletics has a dirty underbelly, but college basketball exist a little lower on the landscape.. in a disgusting, unwashed area.
AAU travel teams for 15 year old players, cash payments from shoe companies, hookers, gift grades... you name it and it is growing in this petri dish. Still... as disgusting as the process is, March Madness is one of the best sporting events of the year and college basketball deserves to be salvaged.
The scandal is going to upend March Madness this year. Michigan State, Duke players and many other programs have been named in the scandal: Michigan State's Miles Bridges, Duke's Wendell Carter among dozens of players named
From CBS:
Based on Friday's report, and documents obtained therein, schools that could potentially face NCAA repercussions include: Alabama, Clemson, Creighton, Duke,Iowa State, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, LSU, Maryland, Michigan State, NC State,North Carolina, Notre Dame, Seton Hall, USC, Utah, Villanova, Virginia,Washington, Wichita State Texas and Xavier.
There are various theories on the best way to fix CBB. I think this method is called the NBA. One way to fix CBB.
After hearing Parrish explain this a bit more in depth this morning his proposal does make sense. The market place would foot the bill. College athletes could sign with agents and take loans from their reps. They could also endorse products, sell autographs, make paid appearances... what ever the market demanded.
I'm skeptical this will ever happen because I don't see the money pie growing. I see the players cutting into the pie for their piece which means the current power structure has to take a smaller piece of pie.
How often do humans give up power and money without a death match struggle?
I have another idea of how to clean house and it involves bringing college athletics back to real students.
1 - Make basketball recruits stay in school, or ineligible to be dratted until they are three years out of high school if they begin a college career. Of course the NBA will need to cooperate to enforce this. Do it just like MLB. If a player is talented enough to go pro out of high school, wish him luck and send him on his way. If, however, he goes to play in the college ranks, he stays for three years. In fact, set the same rules for all collegiate sports... football, golf, tennis, hockey... even treatment across the board.
2 - Make every student athlete take a standardized test, issued and monitored by the NCAA to ensure they are actually college level students. Implement this for all NCAA sports... including Alabama football.
3 - Implement a universal stipend to be paid to players in good standing and deposit $20,000 per academic year completed in the name of every athlete in a trust account to be given to the student at graduation.
Everyone knows college athletics has a dirty underbelly, but college basketball exist a little lower on the landscape.. in a disgusting, unwashed area.
AAU travel teams for 15 year old players, cash payments from shoe companies, hookers, gift grades... you name it and it is growing in this petri dish. Still... as disgusting as the process is, March Madness is one of the best sporting events of the year and college basketball deserves to be salvaged.
The scandal is going to upend March Madness this year. Michigan State, Duke players and many other programs have been named in the scandal: Michigan State's Miles Bridges, Duke's Wendell Carter among dozens of players named
From CBS:
Based on Friday's report, and documents obtained therein, schools that could potentially face NCAA repercussions include: Alabama, Clemson, Creighton, Duke,Iowa State, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, LSU, Maryland, Michigan State, NC State,North Carolina, Notre Dame, Seton Hall, USC, Utah, Villanova, Virginia,Washington, Wichita State Texas and Xavier.
There are various theories on the best way to fix CBB. I think this method is called the NBA. One way to fix CBB.
After hearing Parrish explain this a bit more in depth this morning his proposal does make sense. The market place would foot the bill. College athletes could sign with agents and take loans from their reps. They could also endorse products, sell autographs, make paid appearances... what ever the market demanded.
I'm skeptical this will ever happen because I don't see the money pie growing. I see the players cutting into the pie for their piece which means the current power structure has to take a smaller piece of pie.
How often do humans give up power and money without a death match struggle?
I have another idea of how to clean house and it involves bringing college athletics back to real students.
1 - Make basketball recruits stay in school, or ineligible to be dratted until they are three years out of high school if they begin a college career. Of course the NBA will need to cooperate to enforce this. Do it just like MLB. If a player is talented enough to go pro out of high school, wish him luck and send him on his way. If, however, he goes to play in the college ranks, he stays for three years. In fact, set the same rules for all collegiate sports... football, golf, tennis, hockey... even treatment across the board.
2 - Make every student athlete take a standardized test, issued and monitored by the NCAA to ensure they are actually college level students. Implement this for all NCAA sports... including Alabama football.
3 - Implement a universal stipend to be paid to players in good standing and deposit $20,000 per academic year completed in the name of every athlete in a trust account to be given to the student at graduation.
Friday, February 23, 2018
A strong endorsement.
Post by Mike
This morning on 680 AM Buck interviewed Chipper Jones. In the course of that conversation #10 said he thinks Austin Riley can be a big bat with the potential to produce 25 home runs a year.
This morning on 680 AM Buck interviewed Chipper Jones. In the course of that conversation #10 said he thinks Austin Riley can be a big bat with the potential to produce 25 home runs a year.
I love college basketball!
Post by Mike
The action gets hotter this weekend. #5 Duke and Syracuse at 4:15 Saturday, and then we will find out who is hotter, or stronger #7 Texas Tech or #8 Kansas. Top 25 Action
The action gets hotter this weekend. #5 Duke and Syracuse at 4:15 Saturday, and then we will find out who is hotter, or stronger #7 Texas Tech or #8 Kansas. Top 25 Action
Wednesday, February 21, 2018
This is a bad sign.
Post by Mike
If we are reaching back to Moylan as our "bull pen work horse", the situation is bad.... real bad.
Spring training notes.
If we are reaching back to Moylan as our "bull pen work horse", the situation is bad.... real bad.
Spring training notes.
Sunday, February 18, 2018
Early reports from Orlando.
Post by Mike
Acuna is expected to be right field for a large portion of the season and bring some young power and speed to the line up. However another name keeps popping early and often. Catcher Alex Jackson
came over from the Mariners who had been asking him to convert to the outfield.
The Braves moved him back behind the plate where he has apparently rediscovered his swing and is hitting Gattis level shots in early BP reports.
Acuna is expected to be right field for a large portion of the season and bring some young power and speed to the line up. However another name keeps popping early and often. Catcher Alex Jackson
The Braves moved him back behind the plate where he has apparently rediscovered his swing and is hitting Gattis level shots in early BP reports.
Saturday, February 17, 2018
Friday, February 16, 2018
Thursday, February 15, 2018
The miserable state of College Basketball in Georgia!
Post by Mike
The Kirby effect spills over. Now Bulldawg Nation is no longer satisfied with mediocre basketball and cries are growing for the firing of Coach Mark Fox. However it may surprise many to find out that UGA is the best college basketball team in the state.
That's right... UGA ranks 69th in the RPI standing that measures strength of schedule among other metrics. I know you think I'm joking, but check it out. RPI STANDINGS
RPI RANKINGS OF MEN'S BASKETBALL IN GEORGIA
UGA - 69
Georgia State - 146
Georgia Tech - 157
Georgia Southern - 167
Mercer - 202
Gross! That has to be a reflection of the basketball talent in the state... right?
Now that was funny!
Of the top 5 teams in the RPI there are 9 players from Georgia.
1 - UVA has 2 players. UVA Roster
2 - Xavier has 2 players. Xavier Roster
4 - Auburn has 5 players. Auburn Roster
It is understandable that players might leave the state to play for Duke (Roster) or UNC (Roster) as those are the premier programs in the sport, but Xavier? UVA?
Any program that can keep talent in state will be a top tier March Madness team.
The Kirby effect spills over. Now Bulldawg Nation is no longer satisfied with mediocre basketball and cries are growing for the firing of Coach Mark Fox. However it may surprise many to find out that UGA is the best college basketball team in the state.
That's right... UGA ranks 69th in the RPI standing that measures strength of schedule among other metrics. I know you think I'm joking, but check it out. RPI STANDINGS
RPI RANKINGS OF MEN'S BASKETBALL IN GEORGIA
UGA - 69
Georgia State - 146
Georgia Tech - 157
Georgia Southern - 167
Mercer - 202
Gross! That has to be a reflection of the basketball talent in the state... right?
Now that was funny!
Of the top 5 teams in the RPI there are 9 players from Georgia.
1 - UVA has 2 players. UVA Roster
2 - Xavier has 2 players. Xavier Roster
4 - Auburn has 5 players. Auburn Roster
It is understandable that players might leave the state to play for Duke (Roster) or UNC (Roster) as those are the premier programs in the sport, but Xavier? UVA?
Any program that can keep talent in state will be a top tier March Madness team.
Wednesday, February 14, 2018
Opening day lineup.
Post by Mike
My prediction for the March 29 opening day line up and their 2017 stats. Try not to get too excited.
CF - Inciarte - AVG .304; OBP .350; RUNS 93; HR 11
RF - Markakis - AVG .275; OBP .354; RBI 76; HR 8
1B - Freeman - AVG .307; OBP .403; RBI 71; HR 28
C - Flowers - AVG .281; OBP .378; RBI 49; HR 12
LF - Adams - AVG .275; OBP .339; RBI 20; HR 5
3B - Camargo - AVG .299; OBP .331; RBI 27; HR 4
SS - Swanson - AVG .232; OBP .312; RBI 51; HR 6
2B - Albies - AVG .286; OBP .354; RBI 28; HR 6
P - Teheran - AVG .140; .167; RBI 6; HR 0 - 11 Wins, 13 losses - 4.49 ERA
This lineup will hold for the first three weeks or so until Acuna is called up and placed at the 5 spot for Adams.
My prediction for the March 29 opening day line up and their 2017 stats. Try not to get too excited.
CF - Inciarte - AVG .304; OBP .350; RUNS 93; HR 11
RF - Markakis - AVG .275; OBP .354; RBI 76; HR 8
1B - Freeman - AVG .307; OBP .403; RBI 71; HR 28
C - Flowers - AVG .281; OBP .378; RBI 49; HR 12
LF - Adams - AVG .275; OBP .339; RBI 20; HR 5
3B - Camargo - AVG .299; OBP .331; RBI 27; HR 4
SS - Swanson - AVG .232; OBP .312; RBI 51; HR 6
2B - Albies - AVG .286; OBP .354; RBI 28; HR 6
P - Teheran - AVG .140; .167; RBI 6; HR 0 - 11 Wins, 13 losses - 4.49 ERA
This lineup will hold for the first three weeks or so until Acuna is called up and placed at the 5 spot for Adams.
Tuesday, February 13, 2018
His arm ain't the problem.
Post by Mike
Folty has a World class arm, but a $0.05 psyche. His frail mindset is the only thing keeping him from becoming a dominant pitcher and this article shows exactly what I'm talking about.
"It would have been nice if someone from the Braves were actually there,” Foltynewicz said Monday as pitchers and catchers reported to spring training. “I took a couple of days out of my schedule to go out to Arizona and go sit there. The world knows it wasn’t a big amount of money we were fighting over, but it would have been nice if they would have been there to sit with their lawyers and tell me why we don’t deserve this contract and this raise. It would have been nice.
“I took time out of my day, and almost missed my son being born. It’s just a respect thing. But at the end of the day, we’re here (at spring training), no worries, business is business. Just focus on getting out there, getting better and getting wins for the Braves.”
Folty has a World class arm, but a $0.05 psyche. His frail mindset is the only thing keeping him from becoming a dominant pitcher and this article shows exactly what I'm talking about.
"It would have been nice if someone from the Braves were actually there,” Foltynewicz said Monday as pitchers and catchers reported to spring training. “I took a couple of days out of my schedule to go out to Arizona and go sit there. The world knows it wasn’t a big amount of money we were fighting over, but it would have been nice if they would have been there to sit with their lawyers and tell me why we don’t deserve this contract and this raise. It would have been nice.
“I took time out of my day, and almost missed my son being born. It’s just a respect thing. But at the end of the day, we’re here (at spring training), no worries, business is business. Just focus on getting out there, getting better and getting wins for the Braves.”
The only thing he got correct was the business is business part. Other than that I see an extension of his head hanging after giving up a long one. That has to change or he will simply be a potential star that gets rattled with adversity.
Story by DOB: Folty talks about arbitration.
And the bad news is...
Post by Mike
... we have to build a starting rotation using only this.
... we have to build a starting rotation using only this.
I guess it could be worse. We could be faced with this: Find a way to put a round peg in a square hole... rapidly.
Friday, February 9, 2018
And the best basketball team in the SEC not currently under investigation by the FBI is....
Post by Mike
If you're like me you begin to pay closer attention to CBB this time of year. I'm shocked, shocked I say... to see Tennessee is the best non-felon program in the SEC.
Thursday, February 8, 2018
Billboard material for October 22, 2018
Post by Mike
Dano is trying to conjure his inner Spurrier.
Dan Mullen on UGA: "Listen, winning one SEC Championship Game doesn't make you a dominant program, you know what I'm saying? In two of the last three years, we've been to the SEC Championship Game. So even a blind squirrel finds a nut every once in a while."
Dano is trying to conjure his inner Spurrier.
Dan Mullen on UGA: "Listen, winning one SEC Championship Game doesn't make you a dominant program, you know what I'm saying? In two of the last three years, we've been to the SEC Championship Game. So even a blind squirrel finds a nut every once in a while."
Wednesday, February 7, 2018
Humble yourself!
Post by Mike
Ok... great advice... for tomorrow... but today all I wanna say is... Suck it Bama, Auburn and Florida!
Link to full rankings.
Ok... great advice... for tomorrow... but today all I wanna say is... Suck it Bama, Auburn and Florida!
Tuesday, February 6, 2018
The Gus bus will be very expensive to fire.
Post by Mike
Details of the Malzhan extension can be found here: Gus gonna get paid... win or lose.
By my math Auburn will owe him a $31-million buy out after he loses to Georgia and Alabama again next season.
If they manage to hold there trigger finger until 2020, the figure drops to $24.5 - million.
No way he makes it 3 more seasons so I won't even bother with the math.
Details of the Malzhan extension can be found here: Gus gonna get paid... win or lose.
By my math Auburn will owe him a $31-million buy out after he loses to Georgia and Alabama again next season.
If they manage to hold there trigger finger until 2020, the figure drops to $24.5 - million.
No way he makes it 3 more seasons so I won't even bother with the math.
Monday, February 5, 2018
The fault line.
Post by Mike
If Kirby is truly going to knock Satan off the top, we will see it first on the recruiting trail, and the fault line couldn't be more clear than in Cordele, GA as the battle for Quay Walker plays out.
This is from Senator Blutarsky's page:
If Kirby is truly going to knock Satan off the top, we will see it first on the recruiting trail, and the fault line couldn't be more clear than in Cordele, GA as the battle for Quay Walker plays out.
This is from Senator Blutarsky's page:
The Kirby Smart factor is hard to ignore in this whole dynamic.
One of Alabama’s best recruiters in his eight seasons as defensive coordinator, Smart was a big reason the Tide did so well just east of the state line. Back in 2012, Alabama signed eight from Georgia. Since Smart took over in Athens, Alabama hasn’t signed more than one per class from Georgia. The Tide’s lone commitment for this class, Quay Walker, is now classified as a “soft commit” with Tennessee and Georgia gaining ground in the fight to flip the four-star linebacker.
Thursday, February 1, 2018
Renewed optimism!?
Post by Mike
It would be very easy to fall into the pit of misery ... "Dilley Dilley"... after a 2017 Super Bowl collapse, a putrid season of Braves baseball, and watching the Great Satan pull a Hawaiian QB out of his ass to top the Dawgs.
But I'm not going there. We are going forward and over the next few months we will all enjoy March Madness, the Masters, then ... the Braves. Enjoy might be a stretch on that last one, but personally I've decided to approach this year with low expectations.
It would be a wildly successful season if the Braves managed to claim the second Wild Card in the NL. Last season Colorado grabbed that spot with a 87-75 record and a +67 run differential (RDIFF). Every team in the National League that was over .500 for the season had a positive RDIFF.
The top five finishers had RDIFF that looked like this:
Division winners -
Dodgers +190
Nationals +147
Cubs +127
Wild cards -
Diamondbacks +153
Rockies +67
The Brewers (+35) and Cardinals (+56) were the only other NL teams to have a plus side RDIFF.
I can hear you screaming the questions? The answer... the Braves finished 72-90 with a -89 RDIFF.
Yeah... we couldn't score or stop the others guys from scoring. So to make the second Wild Card spot theoretically we have to pick up 15 wins and swing our RDIFF by 156 runs. Almost 1 run per game.
That's a tall order folks! This might be a good year to do more fishing.
It would be very easy to fall into the pit of misery ... "Dilley Dilley"... after a 2017 Super Bowl collapse, a putrid season of Braves baseball, and watching the Great Satan pull a Hawaiian QB out of his ass to top the Dawgs.
But I'm not going there. We are going forward and over the next few months we will all enjoy March Madness, the Masters, then ... the Braves. Enjoy might be a stretch on that last one, but personally I've decided to approach this year with low expectations.
It would be a wildly successful season if the Braves managed to claim the second Wild Card in the NL. Last season Colorado grabbed that spot with a 87-75 record and a +67 run differential (RDIFF). Every team in the National League that was over .500 for the season had a positive RDIFF.
The top five finishers had RDIFF that looked like this:
Division winners -
Dodgers +190
Nationals +147
Cubs +127
Wild cards -
Diamondbacks +153
Rockies +67
The Brewers (+35) and Cardinals (+56) were the only other NL teams to have a plus side RDIFF.
I can hear you screaming the questions? The answer... the Braves finished 72-90 with a -89 RDIFF.
Yeah... we couldn't score or stop the others guys from scoring. So to make the second Wild Card spot theoretically we have to pick up 15 wins and swing our RDIFF by 156 runs. Almost 1 run per game.
That's a tall order folks! This might be a good year to do more fishing.
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