Smoltz vs. Jones and athletes faking injuries

Well, I believe the AP writer -- can't remember if it was Newberry or Odum at Friday's game -- interpreted Smoltz's comments the same way.

 

No, evidently he CAN play, because he was pissed enough at Smoltz to tell Cox to put him back in the lineup. He also said he wouldn't miss any more time, and he said Smoltz better not miss a start. Well if he can do all that, why was he sitting out in the first place? I think Smoltz meant it exactly how Chipper took it, I think Smoltz was right, and I think his words had exactly the desired effect of lighting a fire under Chipper's ass.

 

I love it when those hated Braves turn on one another and start gnawing each others' legs off. My Schadenfreude meter is pegged.

 

I've been a Braves fan my whole life, but I will say this: Chipper is a fragile little girl sometimes.

 

Couple of things...

I'm a moron. Meant to write "won" and wrote "one." Idiot.

Also, I think Smoltz knows the Braves need Chipper's bat in the lineup right now with Andruw, Frenchy and McCann all hitting like shit. He thought Chipper was healthy enough to suck it up and be the franchise guy he's supposed to be and bring his team back. Smoltz called Chipper out, and guess what? It worked. They were talking about putting him on the DL, and then all of a sudden, he hits an opposite-field home run. You could see he didn't have much leg drive on the swing, but Chipper's always had some of the quickest hands in baseball. He can turn around any fastball, and he can hit for power to all fields without the leg drive. He has to suck it up and play. If his groin is that bad, then do what you maybe should have regardless, and put him at first and Escobar at third.

 

Precisely.

 

And keep him away from the Hooters in downtown. That is where most of his groin injuries occur.

 

Larry needs to relax.

 

Actually, I think Larry is doing a good job. Again, this didn't have to leave the clubhouse. It did.