Not a bad day to be an Atlantan

[wilson]

Falcons notch their first W of the season, looking quite solid all the way through, and barring a miracle, the new york mutts will miss the playoffs (mutts down 8-1 in the 9th, phillies up 6-1 in the 8th).
Also, it's a glorious day outside.
wilson is smiling today.

[wilson]

And it's official. The mutts are making tee times. Here comes the onslaught of "biggest choke job ever?" columns/panels/etc.

If my boys can't win, I'll take a nice tall glass of schadenfreude any day.

Go Cubs!

[throatybeard]

Any day the last Braves telecast on TBS airs, I'm sad.

[wilson]

Me too, but it's been clear for quite a while that TBS doesn't care about the Braves (at least not as much as they care about airing Everybody Loves Raymond 19 times a day).
I'll still be able to watch all the Braves games with the advent of Peachtree TV, the new local net they've created to fulfill TBS' original role. But my grandma in Asheville (and expat Braves fans everywhere) are gonna be none to happy about missing those 55 or so games a year (unless they pony up for DirecTV).
"Very funny," indeed.

[throatybeard]

Can you get ExtraInnings though cable or Dish?

[wilson]

Not sure. I know there was a big stink a few months back about how it looked like out-of-market MLB games were about to become the exclusive domain of DirecTV. After considerable fan backlash, I'm not sure whether baseball ever officially reneged, or what the current state of affairs is.
For now, I'm just glad I live in Atlanta and don't have to worry about it for a while.

[YmoBeThere]

Any day the last Braves telecast on TBS airs, I'm sad.


Do you remember the Dale Murphy/Bob Horner era Braves? Was anyone really sad to see those seasons end?

(Wow, I'm coming across as a bit mean spirited today...maybe my elimination from Survivor football is clouding my thought processes?)

[jimsumner]

And the Hawks tip off any day now.

[Lavabe]

wilson

And it's official. The mutts are making tee times. Here comes the onslaught of "biggest choke job ever?" columns/panels/etc.

How soon we forget G'town vs the Tar Holes! Just to remind you, look up "Choke (sports)" on wiki, and look at paragraph 3 on use.

GTHC, GTH!!

Cheers,
Lavabe

P.S. Schadenfreude is especially nice when it occurs at the expense of the Mutts... but I was hoping for another day of baseball.

[jimsumner]

I think the '64 Phillies still top the list. But the '07 Mets are now in the mix.

[wilson]

wilson

P.S. Schadenfreude is especially nice when it occurs at the expense of the Mutts... but I was hoping for another day of baseball.

There will be an extra day of baseball, Rockies vs. Fathers in the Wild Card playoff to determine the NL's final sacrificial lamb, er playoff team.

[mapei]

wilson
How soon we forget G'town vs the Tar Holes! Just to remind you, look up "Choke (sports)" on wiki, and look at paragraph 3 on use.


Hey Lavabe, you really know how to brighten up a guy's web surfing. Sheesh. What pours salt into the wound is that it is now celebrated as "Michael Jordan's game-winning shot" when it should come with a big asterisk.

At least Freddie redeemed himself two years later, and we took care of the Heels, too, last year.

[dkbaseball]

Hey Lavabe, you really know how to brighten up a guy's web surfing. Sheesh. What pours salt into the wound is that it is now celebrated as "Michael Jordan's game-winning shot" when it should come with a big asterisk.

At least Freddie redeemed himself two years later, and we took care of the Heels, too, last year.

Cheer up. I think he's talking about the Holes' collapse last season.

[devildeac]

I think the '64 Phillies still top the list. But the '07 Mets are now in the mix.

ARGGHH!!!!! Curse you jimsumner!!!!! Last week you remind me of some of my darkest memories of Duke hoops(72-76) and now you bring up nightmares from my childhood, the '64 Phillies who truly choked away a pennant by blowing about a 6 game lead with 12 games to go. Gene Mauch pitched Mahaffey-Bunning-Short on not enough rest for about 2 weeks straight-argghh. Next thing you know, you will be reminding me about, oh, never mind...:(

[mapei]

Cheer up. I think he's talking about the Holes' collapse last season.

Oops - I think you're right. Old memories die hard.

Last year, once the refs started calling the game more evenly, the Heels were overmatched. JWall for threeeeeeeee! They never did have that big a lead, remember.

[Lavabe]

Oops - I think you're right. Old memories die hard.

Last year, once the refs started calling the game more evenly, the Heels were overmatched. JWall for threeeeeeeee! They never did have that big a lead, remember.

Mapei,
I would never rub salt in wounds, and I would NEVER revel in Hole success. I was talking about the cause of ol' Roy's crying this year.

If you'll recall, G'town was down 10 with 7 minutes to go, forced OT, then slaughtered UNC. ...and exactly HOW many points did UNC score in OT?:D Only a 3-point jumper w/8 seconds left. G'town scored 15 in OT.

AHH... SCHADENFREUDE! :D
Cheers,
Lavabe

[JasonEvans]

I thought the Yankees failing to close out the Red Sox after leading 3-game-to-zip was the biggest choke?

Still, this Mets choke is a big one.

--Jason "is Jose Reyes the biggest baby in MLB or what?" Evans

[wilson]

What exactly did Jose, Jose Jose Jose do to earn that distinction?

[JasonEvans]

What exactly did Jose, Jose Jose Jose do to earn that distinction?

He thinks that running to first base after you hit a grounder is optional.

Article on Jose's fade in September. (http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/2007/10/01/2007-10-01_jose_reyes_hitless_in_mets_season_finale.html)

I have friends who are Met fans who say Reyes was a real problem in the clubhouse in September and that he is a total crybaby when things are not going his way.

--Jason "I wonder if the sour taste of this final game will push Glavine to flee NY... the Braves want to re-sign him for one last playoff push next season" Evans

[wilson]

He thinks that running to first base after you hit a grounder is optional.

--Jason "I wonder if the sour taste of this final game will push Glavine to flee NY... the Braves want to re-sign him for one last playoff push next season" Evans

Andruw Jones is a card-carrying member of that club too. Since it's basically a done deal that he never plays for the Braves again, I'll be interested to see who throws $100 mil or so at him during this offseason, and what kind of production they get in return.
On a related note, I wonder who plays CF for the Braves next year. Willie Harris was a fun guy to have around, and surprisingly productive for most of the season, but he swooned badly during the season's last six weeks or so, and I'm not sure he's the long-term answer.

[throatybeard]

The name you keep hearing kicked around for Braves CF is Mike Cameron.

[wilson]

I hadn't heard anything about Cameron. I must admit, my initial reaction is a resounding "meh."

[Channing]

something I have been wondering for a while - the Braves have an absolute glut of middle infielders, namely second basemen in their system.

What about moving one of them to the outfield? I would rahter not go pick up a guy like Cameron who is not a consistent presence at the plate and have to pay a lot for him.

just an idea.

[Channing]

He thinks that running to first base after you hit a grounder is optional.

Article on Jose's fade in September. (http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/2007/10/01/2007-10-01_jose_reyes_hitless_in_mets_season_finale.html)

I have friends who are Met fans who say Reyes was a real problem in the clubhouse in September and that he is a total crybaby when things are not going his way.

--Jason "I wonder if the sour taste of this final game will push Glavine to flee NY... the Braves want to re-sign him for one last playoff push next season" Evans


Wasnt Reyes signed to a long term extension before the season?

nice.

[JasonEvans]

Wasnt Reyes signed to a long term extension before the season?

nice.

Yup, something like 4 years, at $23+ million.

Make no mistake, the guy is one of the great SS talents in the game right now. He was looking at his 2nd straight .300 season before his meltdown in September and he is the most dangerous base stealer in the game today. Plus, he has a cannon for an arm.

But, I think we have learned by now that he is aware of all these things and it has gotten to his head. He loafs and counts on his talent to carry him through, not hard work. In some ways, the big contract may have been a bad thing as it would probably be better for him to be playing for early-career peanuts and working hard to get to those big mid-career contracts instead of hitting it big so early. He's only turned 24 years old in June and is in his 5th big league season. He has at least 7-10 more years still ahead of him.

Is it just me or is SS becoming one of the easiest positions to find good players lately? Heck, the Braves are pretty much willing to give away their starting SS to make room for a cheaper youngster.

--Jason "the Mets really need some starting pitching" Evans

[Channing]

does the way you just described Reyes describe Furcal about 4 years ago?