Another version - Trouble

Elder Lindsey is still great, unbelievable guitarist.

Braves are in Trouble

My favorite song, Lindsey Rocks!

Braves Designate Bob Wickman for Assignment

Bobby made this decision, "I just want to try something else, try something new," Cox said.

Andruw said the truth behind this move,
"If it's not a save situation, he was not happy about it," Andruw Jones said. "It's not fair to the team. It's not fair for the manager. The way he was going about this business, separate from everybody.

"We're a team. Everybody has their own attitude. Everybody's got their own feeling about each other. Everybody's got their own way of going about their business. But when we put a uniform on and we're all together, we're all as one. And we need guys who want to go out there and perform."

Surprised, no idea about this move yet. Perhaps I'd call this move a kick-ass. Bobby clearly made a sign, play 100% or fuxk yourself elsewhere.

Reference: AJC Braves cut ties with Wickman

Teixeira Tribute Song

Teixeira, who has seven homers and 19 RBIs in 17 games since being traded to the Braves. Two Auburn students from Alabama and longtime Braves fans made a song to Mark Teixeira. TBS' Chip Caray and Joe Simpson played this song during Tex's second at-bat of today's game.


Reference: Teixeira song is a hit

Bobby sets record with 132nd career ejection

Bobby Cox, who had managed to go 43 consecutive games without an ejection, has been tossed by 79 different umpires.

All-Time Ejection Leaders

Bobby Cox	132
John McGraw	131
Leo Durocher	124
Earl Weaver	97
Frankie Frisch	86

Cox said that this is not a record to be proud of. But I like his attitude in the field for trying to protect his players.

最近的比賽不管贏或輸、表現好或壞，真他馬的越來越好看了，今天的比賽又殺死一堆細胞 (Recap)。I almost gave up this game after Wickman's poor performance, but wait ..... Chipper hits a game winning double after 10 minutes.

依慣例附上今天的 Game Graph (referred to FanGraphs)。

Braves WPA leader: Yunel Escobar .376 ( runner-up: Matt Diaz .134)
Goat: Bob Wickman -.189 (runner-up Jeff Francoeur -.132)
Most decisive play: I'll give credit to Yunel Escobar for his nice catch in the ninth inning, he saves at least a run.
Most decisive pitch: Every pitch Bob Wickman made in the ninth inning!!
Total contribution by the hitters: .537
Total contribution by the pitchers: -.037

John Smoltz 七月 4 GS、27 IP、2.33 ERA，被 Soriano BS 一場，只拿到 1W-1L；八月繼續他的壞運氣 3 GS、19 IP、4.74 ERA，被 Mahay & Wickamn 各 BS 一場，拿到 0W-1L。七場有三場被牛棚搞砸 .....
BTW, perhaps Andruw should be benched or put on DL for a while, he needs more rest or adjustment for Braves sake.

推薦閱讀： 我愛賽伯計量學：霸氣, 這玩意真的存在?
我看過國外報導最接近「霸氣」的單字是 "intimidating"，這是個形容詞。如果討論棒球捨棄那麼多的技術層面不去探討，卻使用這種沒有邏輯的形容詞來比較球員，實在是很可笑的一件事。

for FUN: Barry Bonds Signs

Current state of Braves' farm system

Braves 為了取得 Mark Teixeira 一下付出五個新秀，尤其失去了 Jarrod Saltalamacchia、Elvis Andrus 這二個評價最好的新秀，現在勇士農場的狀況如何，相信是關心球隊未來的球迷想要了解的。

常逛的一個 blog: Chop-n-Change 在 8/8 就有一篇 Chat with Bryan Smith 談到這個問題，Bryan Smith 是 Baseball Prospectus 負責寫小聯盟的專欄作家，藉由這個訪談，可以瞭解很多勇士目前農場客觀的狀況。原文請點閱上列連結。
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1) 勇士農場在交易 Teixeira 後大失血，現在的評價如何？

現在大概是倒數前10名，這對你們來說應該不會感到意外。但我相信你們農場改造的速度比其他墊底的球團要快，更何況農場也並沒有完全被掏空，在高階農場裡你們還有 Brandon Jones 和 Brent Lillibridge，這兩個明年球季就可能對球隊有所貢獻；而低階農場裡則有不少好投手，像 Tommy Hanson、Cole Rohrbaugh、Jeff Locke、Steve Kent ... 等。還有一些介於以上二者之間的球員像 Jordan Schafer, Cody Johnson 和 Eric Campbell，以及今年很不錯的選秀新人 (Jason Heyward..)，我認為在一、二年內勇士農場又會回到前半段的等級。

2) Brent Lillibridge 今年開季的慢熱曾引起一些懷疑，但下半季又回復以往火熱的身手，他未來在大聯盟的表現大概會是如何？

我想 Lillibridge 未來會是位先發游擊手。他的長打 (power) 加上速度 (speed) 的組合對一個游擊手來說還不錯，而且對大聯盟的左投具有一定的殺傷力。我想他一開始的問題來自更換球團的不適應，而目前在 3A Richmond 就回復到當初 John Scheurholz 選進來所預期的水準。

3) 誰會是 Braves 未來的游擊手，Yunel Escobar 或 Brent Lillibridge？

在持續的研究下，我認為未來的 SS 應該是 Lillibridge。我認為你們在防守上損失的一小部份所交換回來的好處是較好的長打率 (slugging percentage) 和跑壘 (baserunning)。我了解球迷喜愛 Yunel 的原因，但是幾個令人印象深刻的精彩畫面並不代表他就一定能獲得這份工作。我想也有機會看到這二位球員同時在球場上，例如 Lillibridge 負責 CF，或者 Yunel 繼續佔住 SS 直到證明他不能勝任為止。但我個人會毫不猶豫的在 2008 球季開始的那一天將 SS 交給 Lillibridge。

4) Kala Ka'aihue 似乎是個讓人又愛又恨的球員，你對他未來的看法？

我並不那麼看好 Kala。我知道看他的長打能力 (power) 和耐心 (patience) 會讓人興奮，但一位 TTO (Three True Outcomes) 的球員就只有這麼多的價值 (but a Three True Outcomes player only has so much value)，Ka'aihue 很難成為像 Adam Dunn 那樣的球員。他揮空的次數太多 (wings through way too many pitches)，他在打擊區沒什麼方法 (bad approach at the plate)，而且我認為他在 2A 所展現的可能只是一個期待 (a thing to come)。如果 Scott Thorman 因為擊球的問題 (contact problem) 而不能在大聯盟生存，那麼 Kala Ka'aihue 也絕對沒辦法在大聯盟生存。

5) 你對 Jason Heyward 的看法？他可能發展成為一位優秀的打者嗎？

就像故事書結尾一樣 Braves 選到他們想要的 Heyward，老實說我很訝異他在今年的選秀落到這麼後面 (14th overall pick in the draft)，我大概會將他排在第八到第十，所以 Atlanta 選到他算賺到了。他一簽約就會是 top prospect，而且他可能成為勇士未來的第四棒。我喜歡他的揮棒動作 (swing)，我喜歡他在這個年紀所表現出來的耐心 (patience)，我喜歡他在防守位置上的運動性 (athleticism)。無論他未來擔任的是 LF、RF 甚至 1B，他都會在打擊上表現得不錯。Braves 的球迷應該會因為這個年輕人而感到很興奮。

6) 過去二年誰是比較好的第 22 輪 draft-and-follow 選進來的新秀：Tommy Hanson 還是 Cole Rohrbough？

我不喜歡這個問題。因為 Braves 很幸運能同時擁有這二位球員，所以誰比較好有什麼重要？這二個都很不錯，但我想你會看到 Hanson 的排名在今年冬天時會比較高，因為他的身材比較好 (a larger body of work)。他在 High-A 的控球不太好，導致被擊出一些全壘打和過多的保送，但是我喜歡他的身材 (body) 和球威 (stuff)。我曾拿他和 Adam Wainwright 做比較並得到類似的結果。至於 Rohrbough 可能排名在他之後，但我認為他有高於 Hanson 的發展上限 (ceiling)，因為像他一樣既有不錯的曲球、又能投出 mid-90 速球，還加上第三種有效球路的左投並不多，他是個比剛丟出去交易的 Matt Harrison 好很多的潛力新秀。若你要我從這二位中選一個比較喜歡的，我想我大概會選擇 Rohrbough，但這二個都不會讓你失望。

7) 選一個我們應該持續關注，並在明年球季會有很大突破的 Braves 新秀。

今年開始把 draft-and-follow 這種選秀方式取消之後，未來不再有 22 輪後持續追蹤再簽約 (follow-throughs) 的情況。但再提一次，Braves 在這次選秀中段順位的選擇非常棒，勇士球迷開始看到 Brandon Hicks 在低階小聯盟展現過人的運動天份 (athleticism)；雖然 Cory Gearrin 碰到一點小挫折但仍然能夠三振對手，他應該也會很快升上大聯盟。而我最想推薦的是第七輪選進來的南卡羅來納球員 Travis Jones，他沒有像 Hicks 那麼好的運動性但也不差，而且擁有優異的耐心 (patience) 和對二壘手來說不錯的長打能力 (power)，他的體型讓人想起站守二壘的 Josh Barfield，我認為他明年球季真的將會有所突破。另外，我並未將 Eric Campbell 完全排除在潛力新秀之外，如果他明年離開 1A+ Myrtle Beach 後並開始打出一些漂亮成績時，我也不會訝異。

Reference:
MLB Official: Braves sign No.1 pick Heyward on Sunday (8/12)
FOX Sports: O's in danger of losing top pick

New home run king (*)

San Francisco Giants Barry Bonds hits his 756th career home run in the fifth inning of their baseball game against the Washington Nationals in San Francisco, Tuesday, August 7, 2007.

Bud Selig 未親自出席，打了通電話給 Bonds，隨後發布一份聲明：
"While the issues which have swirled around this record will continue to work themselves toward resolution, today is a day for congratulations on a truly remarkable achievement," Selig said in a statement, released after he spoke to Bonds by telephone.

Hank Aaron 也如同之前說的沒興趣參加，但 Hammer 還是有份事先錄好的恭賀：
"It is a great accomplishment which required skill, longevity and determination," Aaron said in his message. "Throughout the past century, the home run has held a special place in baseball and I have been privileged to hold this record for 33 of those years. I move over now and offer my best wishes to Barry and his family on this historic achievement.

"My hope today, as it was on that April evening in 1974, is that the achievement of this record will inspire others to chase their own dreams," he said.

自己的紀錄被打破時 Aaron 在做什麼？

A woman who answered the phone at Aaron's home in Georgia shortly after Bonds' homer said that Aaron was asleep.

Hank Aaron is damn cool!

More articles:
Terence Moore Aaron explains message to Bonds
AJC Dale Murphy: Bonds 'terrible example for our kids'
John Donovan Bonds holds the home run record, but he's no hero
Scott Miller Home Run King still a magical title?
Mark Kriegel Bonds' historic journey too good to be true

Glavine Wins Number 300

Leo Mazzone's 1995 staff of (from left) Glavine, Steve Avery, Kent Mercker, Greg Maddux and John Smoltz won the World Series.

Glavine got his 300th win today, bitter sweet.

I had expressed my upset about his leaving. I respect his achievement, but Tommy had been retired from my heart after 2002.

8/2 Astros (12) @ Braves (11)

Rafael Soriano 第八局被 Mike Lamb 轟了一支追平滿貫砲，歷史馬上回溯到 2005 年的第一輪季後賽，十八局的痛苦記憶又回來了，雖然最後以輸球收場，但仍然是一場非常精采的比賽 (Box Score)。Jo-Jo Reyes 在賽後被派到 3A Richmond，取代五號先發的則是 Lance Cormier。如果 Braves 能擠進季後賽，Smoltz and Hudson 掛頭牌、Chucky or Carlyle 頂三號，先發投手只要保持健康，沒什麼大問題；但目前排名還落後的情況下 everygame count，必須爭取每一場獲勝的可能，希望最後不是因為五號先發的崩盤，成為季末飲恨的決定性因素。

近來習慣把延長賽的 Game Graph 自 FanGraphs 轉錄過來，原因除了比較精彩刺激外，所謂的 high leverage 情況也會特別多，看著如同心電圖的 Winning Probability，希望自己能看到 MLB.TV 或 Recap 外更清楚的比賽狀況。

今天的 Game Graph (referred to FanGraphs)


Braves WPA leader: Matt Diaz .530 (Mark Teixeira .183)
Goat: Chipper Jones -.397 (Rafael Soriano -.352, Jo-Jo Reyes -.341, Kelly Johnson -.250)
Most decisive play: Chipper grounded into double play in the 14th inning.
Most decisive pitch: After Harris made an error, Soriano allowed Mike Lamb to hit a game tying grand slam in the 8th inning.
Total contribution by the hitters: .106
Total contribution by the pitchers: -.606

Rafael Soriano 目前 1.69 HR/9 是 MLB 六年以來最差的一季，其實對手的打擊率並不高 (.179 vs. left, .212 vs. right)，7.88 K/9 和 2.06 BB/9 也算不錯，本季至今 48 局的投球應該也還說不上過度使用，從 MLB.TV 看起來球速還有、但沒什麼 movement，而今天被轟了滿貫砲後又連續解決後三名打者 (2 SO)，Damn, it's hard to observe a reliever.

BTW, from the WPA's point of view, it's Chipper's worst game this season.

Trade trade trade

Braves 在季中交易期限內完成最後的二筆交易
1) Braves sent Kyle Davies to Kansas in exchange for Royals closer Octavio Dotel.
2) Braves sent Wilfredo Ledezma and Will Startup to San Diego for lefty Royce Ring

看來 John Schuerholz 是吃了秤砣鐵了心，今年非打進季後賽不可的樣子，把季中交易市場可能得到的籌碼都弄進來，現在只剩先發投手這塊空缺，不過也沒什麼好貨可以換就是了。
Damn! I like our chances, but dislike to see our high potential prospects leaving. Bittersweet, period.
btw, I think that I really have to understand the logic of "Built to win" over and over again. (Review: Built to Win)

開季以來猛打擺子的 Kyle Davies 還是被交易出去了，顯然他不在 Braves 未來的藍圖裏，我不是他的支持者，不過還是希望他在 Royals 系統裡有好的發展。

Octavio Dotel 近五年的成績：

Yr	W	L	ERA	IP	K/9	BB/9	HR/9	WHIP	FIP	GB	FB
2003	6	4	2.48	87.0	10.03	3.21	0.93	0.97	3.49	73	94
2004	6	6	3.69	85.1	12.87	3.48	1.37	1.18	3.62	52	102
2005	1	2	3.52	15.1	9.39	6.46	1.17	1.37	4.96	9	19
2006	0	0	10.80	10.0	6.30	9.90	1.80	2.90	7.70	15	18
2007	2	1	3.91	23.0	11.35	4.30	1.17	1.52	4.33	28	25

換成圖形來看比較容易，(referred to FanGraphs)
就看三個最直接的表現 SO、BB、HR

很不錯的三振能力、保送有點多、被 HR 高於聯盟平均。
對手平均打擊率約 .264、壘上有人被打擊率約 .157、RISP 被打擊率約 .132。
我沒特別注意過這位球員，所以不能多描述什麼。

** He's making $5M this season, with incentives likely to earn him another $1M or more. Dotel holds a $5.5M player option for 2008, an option the team can void.
$5-6M/Yr 和現任 closer Bob Wickman 差不多，不特別貴、也不怎麼便宜，目前可能和 Soriano 共同擔任 Wickman 的 setup。

前幾天被 DFA 的 Ledezma 加上小聯盟的 Will Startup 換一隻左手牛 Royce Ring (本季在大聯盟 15 局的投球，面對左打 avg .250, 對右打 avg .161)，預計先派到 3A Richmond 等九月擴編才會上來，不特別重要的一筆交易，算是補強牛棚左投的深度。
** Will Startup, a former University of Georgia standout who was 3-2 with a 2.23 ERA in 42 appearances at Class AAA Richmond.

Braves' 2007 non-waiver trade:
Lost: Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Elvis Andrus, Neftali Feliz ,Matt Harrison, Beau Jones, Kyle Davies, Will Startup, Wilfredo Ledezma (DFA).
Got: Mark Teixeira, Ron Mahay, Octavio Dotel, Royce Ring

More articles:
Braves players salute trade deadline moves