Okay, so this seems to be working. Well, E$PN wanted us to start doing this blog thing but they also weren’t sure about doing it on the official site. So they set up this thing for us to get our feet wet. Karl, Peter, HR and everyone else will be here soon — I got nominated to kick this thing off (funny since I’m too fat and slow to be a lead-off man hahaha). So I wanna talk about Danny Kolb.

I keep hearing people say the Braves screwed up by getting Danny Kolb from the Brewers. That Bobby Cox and Leo Mazzone have lost their touch. All these Moneyball people just keep on talking ‘ERA ERA ERA,’ trying to make a big deal out of the fact that Kolby’s ERA is over 8.00 right now. But let me say this to the statheads: you statheads talk about numbers, but I have a number for you: 8-2. That’s Atlanta’s record when Danny Kolb comes into a game. The Braves record when he doesn’t? 4-7. I’m sick of hearing folks talk like he’s not a gamer. You don’t get over 30 saves in a season without being a gamer.

I talked to Kolby the other day about his treatment by the media and those dweebs on their little computers. I asked him, “How do you feel about the Braves being 7-2 when you make an appearance in a game?” This was before he picked up a hold last night against the Mets. And you know what he told me? He said, “I feel good about that, John, but I’m still not pitching my best.” You hear that? This guy’s a gamer. His team’s 8-2 when he comes into a game, and he still isn’t happy. This is a hungry guy. Boy do I know what that feels like! Hahaha! You play for a team like the Brewers long enough, and you just want to win. That’s it. Screw the numbers. Show me a win.

Right now, Kolb is in my top five for the NL Cy Young. Of course he won’t win it, because too many computer geeks out there get to vote, and those computer geeks don’t know what it takes to win. (Even though I’m using a computer I am NOT a computer geek!!!!!) They’ll probably talk about someone like Roger Clemens because his ERA is so small it reminds them of their. . . Well, this is a family blog, so I’ll leave that to your imagination. But the Astros are only 1-3 in their starts, and the Rocket has yet to win a game. And I don’t want to belittle Roger because he’s one of the greats, but after winning so many Cy Youngs and championships, you start to lose that hunger. That competitive edge. And I think that’s what we’re seeing with him right now. Sure, those numbers look great, but how has it helped the Astros as a team?

Anyway, what it comes down to is that if I were making my perfect team, Danny Kolb would be on it. Mariano Rivera has blown more saves than him this year, and everyone agrees that he’s a first-ballot hall of famer. Now you tell me, what does that say about Danny Kolb?