Sunday afternoon baseball with Chip and Joe

Some wonderful conversation between Chip Caray and Joe Simpson during yesterday's Braves / Pirates game in Atlanta.

• Edgar Renteria had just stolen a base and it was Atlanta's 19th stolen base in the last 20 games, pretty odd since the Braves aren't really built around speed. Chip wastes no time to mention that he loves the stolen base, loves the "small ball" and that it's exciting and better than waiting around for the 3-run homer. Of course Chip, running yourself out of an inning while trying to steal some bases is a waaayy better option than waiting for your big bats to get a hit. Why did we ever doubt that....

• In discussing which of the soon-to-be free agent centerfielders(Torii Hunter, Andruw Jones, Aaron Roward) they would choose to sign if the money was equal, Joe selected Ichiro. Good choice, only Joe forgets that Ichiro already resigned with Seattle last week, which probably would hinder his free-agent status after the season just a little bit.
  

• While talking possible trades, Chip wondered if Rich Harden was available. Now, I like Harden and I think he has great stuff...but for a team that needs consistent pitching right now, Harden would not really be my first choice.
  

• But then Chip took it a step further. "Would (Oakland) move Dan Haren though?". Hmmm, let's see. He's 26, entering the prime of his career, he's relatively cheap, he's locked up through 2009 with an option for 2010 and he's establishing himself as one of the best pitchers in the game. So, unless the Braves are willing to give up McCann, Saltalamacchia and Francoeur, I doubt that Haren would be obtainable.
  

• When noting that Edgar Renteria has a somewhat low percentage of getting runners home from 3rd base with less than 2 outs, this wonderful analogy popped up. "It's like complaining about Charlize Theron's dress at the Oscars". Easy there unibrow, let's not get all crazy here.

Yes, they actually get paid to do this.