1. Chipper Jones Was More Valuable Than Ryan Howard in 2009-2011

    Chipper Jones hasn't had a season worthy of MVP consideration since 2008. But for those who think Jones's retirement is coming a few years too late, consider that he has actually been more valuable than Ryan Howard, who is viewed as a star...

    Shaun Payne Written by Shaun Payne about 1 year ago 344 reads 15 comments

  2. Atlanta Braves Spring Training: Andrelton Simmons vs. Tyler Pastornicky

    The Atlanta Braves went into the 2000 season knowing that they were a bit lacking at the shortstop position. Walt Weiss was coming off a 62 OPS+ season in 1999 and, at 35, was certainly a step slower on defense and really showed his age...

    Shaun Payne Written by Shaun Payne about 1 year ago 1,065 reads 4 comments

  3. Phillies and Ruben Amaro Could Learn from Amaro's Career Stats

    Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro suggested, to writer Bob Brookover , that scouts shouldn't rely too much on statistics when scouting the minors: Amaro said statistical analysis should not be a big part of minor-league scouting...

    Shaun Payne Written by Shaun Payne about 1 year ago 1,048 reads 2 comments

  4. Chipper Jones: A Class Act for Avoiding Performance-Enhancing Drugs?

    Chipper Jones believes he did things "the right way" because he did not use performance-enhancing drugs. Jeff Schultz, in a blog post on the ajc...

    Shaun Payne Written by Shaun Payne about 1 year ago 468 reads 4 comments

  5. Bryan LaHair: What to Expect from the Cubs' Opening Day First Baseman

    The Cubs are giving Bryan LaHair, 29 and a career minor leaguer, his shot as a major league regular in 2012. The first base job is LaHair's to lose going in to the season...

    Shaun Payne Written by Shaun Payne about 1 year ago 1,675 reads 5 comments

  6. Tim Wakefield: The End of One of Baseball's Most Interesting Careers

    On Friday February 17, 2012, the game of baseball saw one of the most intriguing pitchers of past years leave the mound as Boston great Tim Wakefield has officially retired...

    Shaun Payne Written by Shaun Payne about over 1 year ago 302 reads 0 comments

  7. Fan's Guide to Using Statistics to Evaluate Minor League Baseball Players

    With all the prospect lists coming out, it's a good time to discuss how we as fans can and should evaluate prospects. For the typical avid baseball fan, it's difficult to actually see even our favorite team's prospects, much less other top prospects...

    Shaun Payne Written by Shaun Payne about over 1 year ago 126 reads 0 comments

  8. Jason Heyward: Did Atlanta Braves Bench Him Too Often in 2011?

    Based on the comments of the AJC's David O'Brien on the Atlanta Baseball Talk Podcast , it seems there are some misunderstandings about those who thought Jason Heyward should not ...

    Shaun Payne Written by Shaun Payne about over 1 year ago 814 reads 20 comments

  9. Genius of Beane, "Moneyball" A's: Awareness over Ingenuity

    There is a common perception out there that Moneyball —the book about the Oakland Athletics written by Michael Lewis and soon to be released as a major motion picture—is mostly ...

    Shaun Payne Written by Shaun Payne about over 1 year ago 223 reads 0 comments

  10. Atlanta Braves: What Does Dan Uggla's Roller-Coaster Season Mean Going Foward?

    Dan Uggla caught fire starting around late June/early July after a horrible start to the season. Before the hot months, it looked as though Uggla was in deep decline...

    Shaun Payne Written by Shaun Payne about over 1 year ago 852 reads 2 comments

  11. Why Atlanta Braves Should Continue To Play Jason Heyward

    There have been complaints on Braves message boards and the like that Jason Heyward needs to be benched regularly or even sent to the minors. Fredi Gonzalez started Jose Constanza on Tuesday and Wednesday in place of Heyward...

    Shaun Payne Written by Shaun Payne about almost 2 years ago 533 reads 7 comments

  12. MLB Trade Deadline: Atlanta Braves Should Target BJ Upton over Hunter Pence

    BJ Upton, for his career, has put up above-average production offensively, is a plus defender in center field, and is only 26...

    Shaun Payne Written by Shaun Payne about almost 2 years ago 1,045 reads 10 comments

  13. St. Louis Cardinals Trade Rumors: Why a Colby Rasmus Deal Is Unlikely

    A Colby Rasmus trade continues to be a hot rumor . Rasmus trade rumors started months ago, when Colby's father, Tony, started acting up, criticizing the Cardinals organization for the way they coach his son ...

    Shaun Payne Written by Shaun Payne about almost 2 years ago 1,425 reads 6 comments

  14. Atlanta Braves: Hitting Coach Parrish Isn't Getting Results

    Is it time for Larry Parrish to go as Braves' hitting coach? The Braves have taken a step back offensively from previous seasons...

    Shaun Payne Written by Shaun Payne about almost 2 years ago 575 reads 3 comments

  15. Atlanta Braves: Trading for Mike Napoli Would Be a Bold, Creative Upgrade

    Peter Hjort, over at Capitol Avenue Club, wrote about where the Braves could look to upgrade on offense ...

    Shaun Payne Written by Shaun Payne about almost 2 years ago 1,121 reads 14 comments

  16. MLB: Roles for Relief Pitchers, Save Statistic Makes Baseball Less Enjoyable

    This idea that relievers have to be tied to very specific roles is the most ridiculous aspect of baseball right now. Most major league relief pitchers should be able to, and probably can, come in in any situation, in any inning and get a few outs...

    Shaun Payne Written by Shaun Payne about 2 years ago 143 reads 0 comments

  17. MLB: If Done Right, Expanded Playoffs Could Be an Improvement

    A few weeks ago, Bud Selig expressed his desire to expand the Major League Baseball playoffs to 10 teams—five in each league—in time for the 2012 season...

    Shaun Payne Written by Shaun Payne about 2 years ago 229 reads 2 comments

  18. Atlanta Braves: Is There Something Wrong with Jason Heyward?

    What's wrong with Jason Heyward ? He hasn't reached base in his last four games. Wednesday night against the Dodgers he struck out three times. However, the short answer is that nothing's wrong...

    Shaun Payne Written by Shaun Payne about 2 years ago 1,457 reads 12 comments

  19. Atlanta Braves: Fredi Gonzalez's Defense of His Batting Order Simply Falls Short

    Before Wednesday's Braves - Marlins game, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution asked Fredi Gonzalez about the Braves' batting order , specifically about batting Jason Heyward sixth in the order...

    Shaun Payne Written by Shaun Payne about 2 years ago 1,135 reads 20 comments

  20. Craig Kimbrel or Jonny Venters: Who Is the Atlanta Braves' Go-To Closer?

    During today's 2-0 Atlanta Braves ' win over the Washington Nationals , Fredi Gonzalez went with Jonny Venters in the eighth inning and Craig Kimbrel in the ninth for the save...

    Shaun Payne Written by Shaun Payne about 2 years ago 483 reads 1 comments

  21. Baseball and the Value of Sabermetrics: An Author's Perspective

    Author Alan Hirsch was kind enough to answer and respond to questions and criticisms of his new book, The Beauty of Short Hops : How Chance and Circumstance Confound the Moneyball Approach to Baseball ...

    Shaun Payne Written by Shaun Payne about 2 years ago 2,706 reads 4 comments

  22. Atlanta Braves: Open Letter to Fredi Gonzalez on Less Than Ideal Batting Order

    Dear Fredi Gonzalez , We beg of you, please do not hit Jason Heyward sixth in the batting order. Heyward may be the Braves ' best all-around hitter. He got on base at a historically high rate last season, for a 20-year-old rookie...

    Shaun Payne Written by Shaun Payne about 2 years ago 1,471 reads 14 comments

  23. Walks Are Important: Why Batting Average Is Less Than Enough in Today's Game

    There is still a slight knock on on-base percentage in some circles that it is a sabermetric or "Moneyball" phenomenon...

    Shaun Payne Written by Shaun Payne about 2 years ago 116 reads 2 comments

  24. Players' Personalities and Demons Hidden But Shouldn't Be Ignored

    With the recent troubles of Miguel Cabrera , the question of what the Tigers are to do, inevitably comes up...

    Shaun Payne Written by Shaun Payne about 2 years ago 111 reads 1 comments

  25. Atlanta Braves: Fans and Media Are Paying Too Much Attention To Nate McLouth

    Nate McLouth is getting too much attention from Braves media and fans. Even without McLouth improving drastically, the Braves will quite possibly be as good as they were last season...

    Shaun Payne Written by Shaun Payne about over 2 years ago 660 reads 13 comments