Mike Silva's New York Baseball Digest » Atlanta Braves

Is the Knuckleball an Endangered Species?

Wednesday, April 25th, 2012

On Saturday, I attended a screening of Knuckleball! at the Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival. The documentary, by award-winning filmmakers Ricki Stern and Annie Sundberg, follows knuckleballers R.A. Dickey and Tim Wakefield during the 2011 season. Stern and Sundberg also tell the story about how both pitchers came to embrace and master this unique pitch.  Charlie Hough, Phil Niekro, Jim Bouton  and long-time White Sox […]

R.A. Dickey’s Streak Ends, Looking Back at Doc’s

Thursday, April 19th, 2012

The Braves ended R.A. Dickey’s streak of 14-consecutive quality starts that fell just short of Dwight Gooden’s team record set in 1985. Ironically, it was the Braves that ended Doc’s on July 4th of that season. That was the infamous 19 inning game that ended at 4:00 AM. Dickey’s streak has been over two seasons, […]

Cody Johnson’s Resurgence, The Pettitte Effect, Minor League Recap

Wednesday, April 18th, 2012

Back in 2006, the Atlanta Braves thought they had their slugger of the future in 6-foot-4, 240-pound Cody Johnson. Atlanta spent its first-round pick on the strapping Johnson, luring the native of Panama City, Fla., away from a scholarship at the University of Florida. Johnson did not disappoint. In 2007, playing with the Danville Braves […]

Honoring Chipper, What Do You Think?

Friday, April 13th, 2012

Rumors spread yesterday that the Mets are planning on honoring Chipper Jones this season before a game at Citi Field. This immediately spurned outrage (some of it in the fake format, specifically the radio airwaves) by individuals exasperated the team would recognize a player that has tortured them on the field. When it was first announced that […]

’98 Yankees Overrated?

Monday, April 9th, 2012

The Yankees 0-3 start is reminding everyone of the ’98 squad that won a then American League record 114 games. Allen Barra of The Village Voice points out various reasons why this group isn’t anywhere near the class of that historic team. The good folks at Baseball Think Factory linked up this piece and provided their usual pithy comments. […]

Talking Joba’s Injury, Chipper Retires, and Wilpon’s Victory @ 8pm

Sunday, March 25th, 2012

A loaded Grapefruit Roundup tonight at 8pm Hear me talk about the Joba Chamberlain‘s injury and answer the critics who believe I am off base in my criticism of his judgement. I also talk about Chipper Jones being an all-time Mets killer, and what the Wilpon victory in court means for the Mets. Joining me during […]

Chipper Jones, Sorry to Say Goodbye

Thursday, March 22nd, 2012

It was announced earlier today that Chipper Jones, one of the greatest sports villains in New York history, will be exiting stage right at the end of the season. When you think about some of the prominent villains over the last 25 years Reggie Miller, Michael Jordan, Pedro Martinez, Ken Griffey Jr. and Jones stand out. For as aggravating as […]

Wright’s Future Is in His Hands

Tuesday, February 28th, 2012

More than a week ago, New York Mets GM Sandy Alderson finished his long drive down to Port St. Lucie, FL for spring training. A week ago Saturday he held a gathering with reporters, answering questions on the state of the Mets organization. There was no truth to the rumor that Alderson was late for […]

Nats Set a Bar for Wright that Mets Might Not Be Able to Reach

Monday, February 27th, 2012

The Ryan Zimmerman contract extension sent shock waves throughout baseball. Anytime a player is awarded a deal north of $100 million, its big news. The biggest waves, however, reached the shores of Port St. Lucie, despite the fact that David Wright and the organization downplayed the impact. You know the drill by now. David Wright has a $16 million […]

Nauseating MLB Political Correctness at it Again

Monday, February 20th, 2012

Yesterday I wrote at Sports Media Watchdog about the public overreaction to the ESPN “Chink in the Armor” story; today I came across a story about MLB messing with tradition in the name of political correctness. Last September, the League prevented the Mets from wearing hats honoring first responders during their game against the Cubs […]