Rowland's Office

Bobo's musings

That old man and Duane from Forest Park are otherwise occupied, so it's Bobo's time to shine, baby.

Heeey!

First, a question. Which redhead would you rather do, Stefanie Powers or Jill St. John? I done 'em both, but a paisan never kisses and tells. Heeey!

I'm sure you're as outraged as I am about the lack of coverage of what I like to call the miracle in Portland. Jerry has coached the Vikings up to greatness, baby. They're competing for the Big Sky conference title, and not a word in the fishwrapper. I think they're intimidated by Jerry's genius. Heeey!

Scene on the PSU sidelines, cheering on the Vikes: Portland native Isaac Brock, lead singer of Modest Mouse. I don't know the band, baby, but no doubt they innovate, much like Emerson Lake and Palmer. ELP live -- don't get me started. Angel dust and prog rock don't mix, baby. Heeey!

Dodgers or Phils? I don't know and I don't care. I gave up baseball when Bake McBride retired. I was the one who first dubbed him Shake and Bake, baby. But do I get any credit? Of course not. Speaking of Bake, nobody had better weed than John "The Count" Montefusco, baby. Heeey!

Whatever happened to that hot broad who played Mrs. Columbo? If you see her, tell her Bobo said hi. Heeey!

How come nobody wears satin track suits anymore? I still got mine from my endorsement deal with Asahi. When I put that on, I feel as good as I look, baby. Heeey!

Obama or McCain? Neither one, baby. I'll vote the same way I have every year since 1980, only now I have to write his name in. Of course I'm talking about the innovator himself, John Anderson. Heeey! 

Well I got to wrap it up. While you losers are watching baseball, I'll be roaming the sidelines as part of GPTV's award-winning high school football coverage. I hope the coach will talk to me this time. Baby, tough times, for sure, but I'm coming back. Like Matty Wilder said, baby, ain't nothing gonna break my stride, ain't no one gonna slow me down. I've got to keep on moving. Words to live by, baby. 

Heeey! (I gave Henry Winkler that line, just so you know. Bobo imitates no one!)

--CB

Three years and a day ago

The Braves made their last playoff appearance, Oct. 9, 2005.

Joey Devine lost that game but his future looks more promising than ever. The kid was flat out dominant this year, finishing with a 0.59 ERA in 45 innings. He allowed only 23 hits, and his control was much improved: 15 walks and 49 strikeouts. 

Devine is poised to become Oakland's closer next year, and he sure as hell would've made the Braves better in '08 and beyond. You can argue that a change of scenery was necessary, but I don't buy it. Devine was anonymous to most fans, and Bobby is as supportive a manager as there is.

 

Joey wasn't ready in '05. The Braves shouldn't have rushed him. They compounded that mistake by trading him for a one-year rental.

 

Anyone remember the young outfielder we acquired for Kotsay? 

--CB

All that's missing is Bake McBride

Watching the Phils vs. Dodgers is reminding me of my youth, just like a certain theme song:

The Maddox Muff revisisted

One of my first baseball memories was of Gold Glover Garry Maddox misplaying a Dusty Baker liner in the 10th inning of Game 4. That put the eventual winning run on 2nd and remains one of the most enduring miscues in postseason history. 

Of LA's eight LCS appearances, four have come against the Phils. Read SI's coverage of the '78 NLCS here. 

--CB

Time for baseball to give us a diversion

Remember when the Super Bowl always sucked and the World Series was consistently good theater? 

Russ Ortiz was a staff ace the last time we had a compelling Fall Classic. We need some kindness from the baseball gods this year, something to distract us from the plunging Dow and the increasingly ugly presidential race. Might as well start now: 

Dodgers in 6, Rays in 7 

--CB

Memo to Frank Wren: Get Jake Peavy!

Only one thing should stop the Braves from acquiring the 27-year-old reigning Cy Young Award winner, who, along with every other Padre, is on the market. Assuming Kevin Towers doesn't ask for the kind of return Buster Olney says they might seek -- Jair, Tommy Hanson and an outfielder -- Wren needs to make Peavy priority one this offseason.   

As DOB writes, some intangibles favor the Braves.

For one, they have more quality pitching depth in their minor league system that they might be willing to part with (GM Frank Wren said last week that the Braves might be able to make a trade using some of that pitching, without trading top prospect Tommy Hanson). 

Secondly, and this is a potential deal-maker or breaker: It’s quite possible that Peavy might not approve a trade to a New York team. Folks, the dude plays baseball in San Diego and yet chooses to make his residence in Semmes, Ala. The season ends and he leaves sun-kissed SoCal to winter with the wife and kids in ‘Bama. So, you think this country boy just might be more inclined to approve a trade to the team he grew up loving, the Braves, than, say, the Yankees?

For a pitcher of his stature, Peavy's contract is quite reasonable. He's due $11 million in 2009, $15 million in 2010, $16 million in 2011 and $17 million in 2012. There's a $4 million buyout if his 2013 option isn't picked up. That's four years, $63 million guaranteed. 

Compare that to the seven-year, $126 million deal inked two years ago by Barry Zito and you can see why the Braves should do everything possible to get Peavy. I'd dangle Frenchy and some combination of young arms not including Tommy Hanson, though I wouldn't consider the Braves' top pitching prospect untouchable. 

We know Peavy is an ace. We hope Hanson will be a solid starter. Aces don't come cheap, and even if you have the dough they're hard to come by (see the 2008 Yankees).  

The Braves find themselves at a rare advantage to acquire one. It's up to Wren to make it happen.

--CB

The curse of Donnie Moore

Could be -- Moore  went from Atlanta to Anaheim, and, well, you know the rest. 

Bill Shaikin compares the Angels to Rowland's team:

They are the Atlanta Braves for a new generation, an unhappy label not easily removed. ... 

They modeled themselves after the Braves, a team that sustained success by replenishing its roster from the minor leagues rather than splurging on free agents every year. But fans are all about results. When getting into the playoffs becomes routine, bowing out of them better not.

--CB

Brothers in futility

Halfway through Game 4 and the Angels have stranded 42 base runners. They appear headed for another October disappointment after finishing with the best record in baseball. 

Maybe they clinched too early. Maybe they swing too often. Maybe they're just not clutch. Whatever the cause. they've clearly inherited the Braves' mantle of postseason underachievement. It's almost painful to watch. 

Speaking of underachievers ... Has Mark Teixeira ever driven in a meaningful run? His BA may look impressive, but all seven of his hits in this series have been singles, and his AB in the 5th was vintage Tex. 

Two on, two out, scoreless game. Instead of being aggressive in a situation that desperately called for it, Scott Boras' model client took a pitch right down the middle, ending the inning and, perhaps, the Angels' last best chance at playing another day. 

--CB

Skip gets dissed

The timing was right for Skip Caray to get the recognition he deserves, but the bullheaded Hall of Fame instead nominated a colorless Marlins broadcaster and a bland voice of the Pirates as finalists for the Ford C. Frick Award. Ten were nominated, three by the fans. It's beyond farce that Skip wasn't among them.

Of course, this is the same committee that inducted Milo Hamilton into the HOF. Fair to say their judgement is lacking.   

Nothing against Dave Van Horne, longtime voice of the Expos before joining the Marlins, but there's no way he impacted the sport or broadcasting the way Skip, a local icon with a national following, did. No nomination for Pete or Ernie, either. There's clearly a bias here, one I don't understand

Braves fans share some of the blame. I can see Joe Nuxhall leading the fan vote (and thus securing a nomination), but a French Expos announcer and the longtime voice of the Blue Jays getting more mouse clicks than Skip? That one's on us. 

--CB

A homecoming for Jermaine?

Ken Rosenthal reports that, regardless of when their season concludes (looks like it'll be tonight), the Pale Hose are likely to undergo a makeover this winter. 

Jermaine Dye, mentored by Marquis Grissom during his brief stay in Atlanta, turns 35 in January. He appears to have a few good years left, hitting .292 this season with a .885 OPS. And his contract is reasonable (two years, $23.5 million remaining, with the second year carrying a mutual option). 

Rosenthal says the South Siders are looking for a second baseman, with Alexei Ramirez expected to move to SS. Considering their respective salaries and ages, Ken Williams would probably jump at a KJ for Dye offer. 

As tough as we've been on KJ, he seems capable of a real breakthrough next season. I'd  be reluctant to trade him for anyone but a pitcher on the level of Jake Peavy. 

Maybe we could interest the Sox in a package including Martin Prado and Gregor Blanco (they also need a athletic center fielder). That would give Ozzie Guillen a couple of countrymen on his roster. 

If only we could ship them Captain Mediocre (Keith Lockhart) and Michael Tucker. 

--CB