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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
2,442 comments Add your comment
AlabamaBrave
July 20th, 2009
9:37 pm
Gonzo should just pitch from the stretch and dump the wind up
John
July 20th, 2009
9:37 pm
The Strip !!
Jman
July 20th, 2009
9:38 pm
I hate Bama with everything I’ve got, but I’ll never forget that play… Wow. They were unbelievable back then…
Epinephrine
July 20th, 2009
9:38 pm
Also, if Soriano gets trotted out there, get the pitchforks out.
Kurdt Kobain
July 20th, 2009
9:38 pm
Someone remind Bobby Cox after the game that he cant’ use Gonzo tomorrow.
Steve from OH
July 20th, 2009
9:38 pm
Craig Kimbrel struck out 5 in two innings for Myrtle tonight…nice. Hope he’s overcome his case of Steve Blass disease.
Heath (Cleveland)
July 20th, 2009
9:38 pm
Carroll -
Just to keep the good vibe going, make sure you go talk to Escobar again tonight. And, don’t forget to talk to Church.
Gil In Mechanicsville
July 20th, 2009
9:38 pm
Actually, it is a good idea to have Gonzales work in some of these blow out situations right now until the Braves can determine the soundness of his elbow.
Jman
July 20th, 2009
9:39 pm
Yunel Escobar is my HERO!!! lol
CrimeDog
July 20th, 2009
9:39 pm
Medlen up in th epen.
BravesFanChris24
July 20th, 2009
9:39 pm
The hitting continues!
glord
July 20th, 2009
9:39 pm
What if Bobby needs Gonzo tomorrow in the eighth? Three times in a row again? I dont get Gonzo in the eighth in a 6 run game. I just dont get it.
BravesFanChris24
July 20th, 2009
9:39 pm
LOL Giants!
Jman
July 20th, 2009
9:39 pm
And they still almost threw Kotchman out… lol
Paul Lentz
July 20th, 2009
9:39 pm
PWHjort……………..actually when Hanson was pitching in the top of the 7th, Peter Moylan and Eric O’Flaherty were warming up.
Look at Diaz, ripped a fastball up the middle.
Diaz is just not a good bunter. He more than makes up for it with his clutch hits.
AlabamaBrave
July 20th, 2009
9:39 pm
The golden wheels of Kotchman!
the real Andy
July 20th, 2009
9:40 pm
i have never called for bobby’s head. but using gonzalez there was criminal – the guy just sat 10 days because Bobby overused him, so sure why not bring him in for a second consecutive day of work in a 6 run game. un-effing-believable. that’s borderline senility there. absolutely inexcusable.
Braves Paisan
July 20th, 2009
9:41 pm
Good evening Braves Beat Blog Denizens:
Yuni is the MVP of this team. NO ONE is in second place.
TnBrian
July 20th, 2009
9:41 pm
I think Rowand said he couldn’t throw
Doc Holiday
July 20th, 2009
9:41 pm
You people are sick……….bringing Soriano in the 9th is a no brainer ……….dont listen to them Bobby!!!!!!!!!!
Paul Lentz
July 20th, 2009
9:41 pm
RECCOSSHS………….I question why Gonzalez was warming up to begin with? Might as well bring in Moylan or O’Flaherty to pitch the 8th.
Aaron Rowland is a tough player. He must be really hurt for him to come off the field like that. Potentially good news for the Braves for the rest of the series.
Joe Schmoe
July 20th, 2009
9:42 pm
Are any of us suprised at Boobies overuse of anyone in the bullepen?
jed
July 20th, 2009
9:42 pm
amazing how some people on this blog seem to constantly criticize non-white players. vehemently demanding escobar be traded one night, and then when escobar wins player of the week, they shut up about him and move on to acosta and gonzales. i mean, i dont know you personally, my man, so it may be unfair to conjecture about your motives, but still, one cant help observing the obvious.
Heath (Cleveland)
July 20th, 2009
9:42 pm
All:
Gonzalez was already warmed up long before the offensive explosion in the inning. The theory, like it or not, is that once he is warmed up, you pitch him because it will basically have the same effect.
CrimeDog
July 20th, 2009
9:42 pm
the real Andy-
If you have ever pitched before, which it sounds like you haven’t, you would know that warming up in the bullpen puts about as much strain on your arm as actually pitching. Essentially, Gonzo was already “used” when he warmed up when the game was still close. No sense in not actually going in to pitch, or they would have had to “use” another pitcher.
Jman
July 20th, 2009
9:42 pm
http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090720&content_id=5960944&vkey=news_atl&fext=.jsp&c_id=atl
Dont know if you guys have seen this story yet or not. Sheds some light on Yunel and actually makes me kinda regret hating him… that and the fact that he’s raking right now. lol.
PWHjort
July 20th, 2009
9:42 pm
Paul Lentz,
At one point in the bottom of the 7th, it was still tied. I’m sure Gonzalez was warming up then.
The Blogger Formerly known as Billy
July 20th, 2009
9:43 pm
maby gonzo is getting shopped and the Braves are showing him off
FEAR
July 20th, 2009
9:43 pm
why do we use our mop up guys in close games and our set up and closing guys in blow outs?
NO MORE BOBBY
July 20th, 2009
9:43 pm
I love the way Yunel is making all the haters look stupid.
Jman
July 20th, 2009
9:44 pm
Atta baby Church! Can I get a witness!?!?!?!
Mixxo
July 20th, 2009
9:45 pm
There ya go Ryan!
BravesFanChris24
July 20th, 2009
9:45 pm
Church! Again!
Jman
July 20th, 2009
9:45 pm
Now is it safe to use Acosta? lol
Heath (Cleveland)
July 20th, 2009
9:45 pm
Well, that makes it 102 runs scored in this 19-game stretch (including tonight).
spolarbear72
July 20th, 2009
9:45 pm
MARC
Today on XM radio Bernie (I think, horrible with names) had a caller asking him what he thought about the Brave’s offensive improvements. His response was “What improvements? The Braves a team built around pitching, other than Mclouth they haven’t improved anywhere. Do you think Prado is an upgrade over Johnson? Cause I don’t”
It was Terry Mc. His dad used to be the GM for the Mutts awhile back. Hes on the show with rob dibble.
FEAR
July 20th, 2009
9:46 pm
church is putting the FEAR of god into them
BravesFanChris24
July 20th, 2009
9:46 pm
Nate!
Heath (Cleveland)
July 20th, 2009
9:46 pm
Sorry…make that 103 runs scored in this 19-game stretch.
glord
July 20th, 2009
9:46 pm
Jed – Did you see the abuse that KJ and Frenchy took on here. I did my part. Martin Prado is hispanic and I heard a collective hooray when he got his shot. The only non white I have seen get hammered is Yunel when his head is up his butt and GA when he is not hustling.
Im white. I love Esco,Soriano, Gonzo and Prado.
letsgetrich
July 20th, 2009
9:46 pm
refresh my memory didn’t bobby get mad a Yunel tagging up to go home in a blow out game one time?
Rodney Derrick
July 20th, 2009
9:46 pm
Casey can really fly from third on a sac fly. They really did not try to throw him out. Church or Frenchy would have had him.
bravesgrl4life
July 20th, 2009
9:46 pm
Lovin what the boys are doing tonight. Hoping they won’t do what they did between Friday night and Saturday and use it all up tonight, tho.
abwright
July 20th, 2009
9:46 pm
Looks like the Braves are about to be chasing Colorado in the Wild Card race. Hopefully SD beats the Fish so that the Braves make up ground on somebody in the division.
Paul Lentz
July 20th, 2009
9:47 pm
Heath (Cleveland)…………as I said before, why was he up to begin with? Moylan and O’Flaherty were already warmed up in the top of the 7th. Wny not bring them in to pitch the top of the 8th, instead of sitting them down and having Gonzalez warm up?
Looks like Church is starting to warm up. He has a good swing.
I picked Prado to be my fantasy baseball 2B tonight. Hit the ball hard tonight, nothing to show for it.
Jman
July 20th, 2009
9:47 pm
Anyone that thinks Kelly Johnson is better than Prado does not watch the Braves… or baseball for that matter. What a stupid comment.
Doc Holiday
July 20th, 2009
9:47 pm
We have to thank McLouth for all those runs tonight. All this after he missed the ball in the sky…….Thanks Nate, you started the rally with your glove on and not the bat.
Heath (Cleveland)
July 20th, 2009
9:48 pm
Why am I using this current 19-game losing stretch? Coming in to the first game of this current stretch is when the Braves were at their lowest poing in the season – 6 games under .500.
keylargo
July 20th, 2009
9:48 pm
Marteen is due for a little correction. That’s 5 for 23 in his last 5 games.
Jeffro
July 20th, 2009
9:48 pm
Amazing how our offense looks without #2 and #7. Imagine how many wins we would have if Bobby would have realized they can’t hit earlier in the season.
VENEZUELA
July 20th, 2009
9:48 pm
DOB, have a Q, If a guy has tendinitis why use him on back-to-back days when your team has a large lead?
Is that a good manager move? really? r we all crazy questioning bobbys moves???
Heath (Cleveland)
July 20th, 2009
9:49 pm
Did I say losing streak? AH… you know what I mean.
(By the way, they will be 13-6 after tonight in there 19 games.
BravesFanChris24
July 20th, 2009
9:49 pm
Poor Prado
It’s alright though. He’s been the spark. So having an off night is alright with everyone picking him up.
The Blogger Formerly known as Billy
July 20th, 2009
9:49 pm
lol, finally have the courage to put Prado in my lineup and goes o-fer…oh well. Benched zimmerman for him…
FEAR
July 20th, 2009
9:49 pm
nice nate
J williams
July 20th, 2009
9:49 pm
This is a game in which Bennett would be perfect to close it out.
Driver8
July 20th, 2009
9:50 pm
I think we all agree we ain’t expecting huge things from Church but I do like the way he works the count and really challenges the pitcher to throw HIM what he is looking for.
It seems this whole lineup has been a bit more like that in recent weeks.
Nice to see Braves…I’m really liking this!
CrimeDog
July 20th, 2009
9:50 pm
Paul-
Because in a tie game going into the 8th inning, Gonzo is who Bobby preferred to use? Because that’s his spot?
Doc Holiday
July 20th, 2009
9:50 pm
This is just in…………
Ibañez and Howard collided on a pop up and they are both lost for the season………
OK OK………hard to swallow that one……..:-)
PWHjort
July 20th, 2009
9:50 pm
So apparently I’m wrong and Kelly Johnson does have options left.
Jman
July 20th, 2009
9:51 pm
Save some for tomorrow fellas…
BravesFanChris24
July 20th, 2009
9:51 pm
Chipper did it again! Runners 1st and 3rd.
abwright
July 20th, 2009
9:51 pm
Didn’t they say at the beginning of the game that the Giants had one of the best bullpen ERAs in the league? Guess that’s not going to be the case after tonight.
Heath (Cleveland)
July 20th, 2009
9:51 pm
Paul -
Gonzo was warmed up because he is the 8th inning guy. It looked like the Braves were going to score a couple…turns out they score more than a couple. That’s all.
Doc Holiday
July 20th, 2009
9:51 pm
Save some for the freak boyz!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rob from SC
July 20th, 2009
9:51 pm
Damn, The rockies miss Haren
Joe Schmoe
July 20th, 2009
9:51 pm
JMAN, good link. I can give a rats ass if he can speak english, or ever talks to the media. Media is over rated. Bunch of premadonas. As long as he swings the bat and fields like an all star, then that is all that matters to me.
John
July 20th, 2009
9:52 pm
Kelly Johnson …another hit….another RBI…now 2HR’s and 7 RBI tonight…so far…hmmm…
Heath (Cleveland)
July 20th, 2009
9:52 pm
Brooks Conrad pinch-running….probably gonna play 2B and move Prado to 3B.
Steve from OH
July 20th, 2009
9:52 pm
I saw that, PWH. Still no excuse to not recall him when his rehab is up though IMO.
Rob from SC
July 20th, 2009
9:52 pm
The freak (Mr. Mullet) pitches Wednesday
RHR
July 20th, 2009
9:52 pm
Hey rob? Guess who the hitting coach was the over the last 5 games where we scored 35 runs (and counting)? The same guy who was jeff’s hitting coach. Seriously lay off tp for not being jeff’s psychologist.
FEAR
July 20th, 2009
9:52 pm
if we beat that long haired jobber lincecum….i’ll be happy
jed
July 20th, 2009
9:52 pm
glord–no, what i’m talking about is specific to one blogger. i didnt name him so as not to embarrass him. i’ll leave it at that.
Jman
July 20th, 2009
9:52 pm
Gammons just said Braves are looking for a bat… Mentioned Vazquez to Rangers though…
glord
July 20th, 2009
9:52 pm
Martin hit two right on the screws. Thats all you can do and it tells you he is still in a grove seeing the ball well. More importantly Nate bounced back tonight. The Braves need him.
Driver8
July 20th, 2009
9:53 pm
Jman no more of that talk …. I know what you are thinking but we need to stop that and start thinking of how many MORE we can rock this SF staff. That I know is a tough thing in itself.
Lets get the mojo working here for tomorrow!
Doc Holiday
July 20th, 2009
9:53 pm
We would be in 1st place had the phillies not signed up Ibañez
letsgetrich
July 20th, 2009
9:53 pm
People please stop talking about Kelly Preston… err..Johnson. He is not the future here.
Jeffro
July 20th, 2009
9:54 pm
John….thats good for Kelly….I just don’t think he should be up with the big club. No need to mess with the offensive chemistry we got going on.
FEAR
July 20th, 2009
9:54 pm
Jman – Gammons just said Braves are looking for a bat… Mentioned Vazquez to Rangers though…
I hope not
Heath (Cleveland)
July 20th, 2009
9:54 pm
103 runs over 19 games = 5.42/game. I’ll take that for the rest of the season.
rich brave
July 20th, 2009
9:55 pm
I’m sorry to see an ongoing attitude problem with ESCOBAR. Than quick conversation i had with him over the RICHMOND dug-out continues to be TROUBLING to my mind. Hopefully, things will work out. He has a multitude of talent and knows it. I don’t know if ATLANTA is a big enough stage for him or not, but if that’s ultimately the case and he continues to play like this, we should get a boatload of major and minor league talent for him in a trade. I’m not advocating for a trade. Just sayin’.
CrimeDog
July 20th, 2009
9:55 pm
Joe-
You realize the media is how you, a fan, learn what is going on with the team right?
Paul Lentz
July 20th, 2009
9:55 pm
keylargo…………….i under your correction angle concerning Prado, however it wasnt like Prado was getting a bunch of dinky hits like Francoeur gets, lol. Prado may be 5 for his las 23, however he is still raking the ball. Some of them are just not falling in.
PWHjort
July 20th, 2009
9:55 pm
I tend to agree. He’s more useful than Diory Hernandez or Greg Norton. Plus he’s hit 2 HR tonight and a single (7 RBI (!) ).
Rob from SC
July 20th, 2009
9:55 pm
Vazquez would Veto that.
Nelson Cruz has come crashing back down to earth
Steve from OH
July 20th, 2009
9:55 pm
People please stop talking about Kelly Preston… err..Johnson. He is not the future here.
And Brooks Conrad is? Greg Norton? That’s looney talk!
The Braves Beat ... with Rick Springfield
July 20th, 2009
9:55 pm
This just in … Braves up by 8 … get Soriano up in the ‘pen
McFann :Ô:
July 20th, 2009
9:56 pm
Why is he only hitting .267 with runners in scoring position/2 outs??
Arg…guess we didn’t need that run anyway…but he could have walked!!
glord
July 20th, 2009
9:56 pm
Jed – Got it.
the real Andy
July 20th, 2009
9:56 pm
also, any pitches you can save gonzalez at this point are precious. any pitches.
Jman
July 20th, 2009
9:56 pm
just reporting what the man said. I wouldnt trade Vazquez unless I got mucho, primo talent in return.
McFann :Ô:
July 20th, 2009
9:56 pm
Nah, I guess he couldn’t have…only 3 pitches out of the zone and e took all three of them.
Braves Paisan
July 20th, 2009
9:56 pm
As someone who loves the game, splits a season ticket, and supports my home team as loyally as one could possibly do, for fifty years I have had two simple requests of my team’s players: play hard, and play smart.
When GA doesn’t run hard to catch a pop-up in foul territory at a game I was at, he was not playing hard. When Escobar sulks about an error call instead of getting his head in the game at shortstop, he is doing neither. When KJ didn’t run hard out of the box on a nubber in front of the plate with men on base, he did neither. These are suitable grounds for criticism.
As was said many years ago, a simple adage still obtains: if you can’t run hard four times a night in a baseball game, you are in the wrong profession.
Bay Area Steve
July 20th, 2009
9:57 pm
Chop Chop,
nice find on the Esco article. Your thoughts on his comments about not going for free-agency and ending up in Atlanta with “no other options?” Any chance he regrets this choice and that’s the reason he’s seemingly become too big for the ATL?
Either way: forget Peavy, Save Yunel. Oh wait, Peavy’s hurt…just Save Yunel.
And, shout-out (really, did I just say shout-out) to my boy McCann: excellent job ball-blocking tonight.
Couch Tater
July 20th, 2009
9:57 pm
Nice article on Yunel, Ms. Rogers.
Rob from SC
July 20th, 2009
9:57 pm
Texas can have Vazquez if we can have Hamilton
Roja
July 20th, 2009
9:58 pm
Let’s see if Medlen can protect an 8 run lead
the real Andy
July 20th, 2009
9:58 pm
hmm… the blog ate my previous post. oh well