Braves postgame comments after Monday’s win vs. Mets
(Many thanks to Chris Vivlamore who helped me run quotes after the game.)
MATT DIAZ
On his numbers against Johan Santana:
“Over the years I’ve gotten some to fall in there. I’m sure he would say he made some mistakes against me. I’m sure the two-strike pitch in the first inning he’d like back. I’ve been fortunate. He doesn’t make a ton of mistakes but I’m lucky when he does, I’ve been putting good wood on it.”
On doing it consistently:
“I thought we were going to jinx it talking about it a couple years ago but it didn’t happen. At their place I laughed because I hit a routine flyball to second. But they had some weird shift on where it landed on the clay and I got a hit. It’s one of those things I’m not going to question. I’m going to roll with it. It’s funny, there are guys I feel a whole lot more comfortable that I don’t get hits off of. He keeps you off-balance. How I looked the last two at-bats is how I feel every at-bat.”
On early hits with runners in scoring position:
“It’s been huge. We’ve been leaving the guy on base. I’m not going to lie when I got 0-2, or 1-2 with a runner at third and less than two outs, I’m like, ‘No, Matte don’t be that guy again, get the guy in. Then Rick had the huge two-out hit that kind of set the tone for the game. We know the rule when you give Huddy a three-run lead he’s fine.”
On hitting in the cleanup spot for first time this season:
“I won’t get too comfortable there, but it was fun.”
CHIPPER JONES
On the Braves’ success at home:
“We’re winning, we’re in contention, there are butts in the seats. There’s electricity in the air, and the team has responded well.”
On the early offense:
“While we only put four on the board, we did bum-rush Santana there in the first inning and that was a big jolt. You know you’re not going to get too much off him. It allowed Huddy to go out there and know that one single pitch wasn’t going to be disastrous.”
On winning the first game of the series:
“It’s huge. We got Santana out of the way. Now we’ve got to go to work on the other guys, Dickey has been awfully tough. We know how tough Pelfrey can be. Getting this first one after the road trip we had was a big confidence boost. This next couple weeks will be big for us. We’ve played well here all year, hopefully if we can continue to do so hopefully we can put a little distance between ourselves and second place.”
On the first inning:
“Guys came out and threw up some good at-bats. Matty Diaz continues to kill lefties, really sparkplug the team. Rick Ankiel with the big knock there in the first inning to get his feet wet here in Atlanta, It’s huge for Huddy’s confidence, the rest of our confidence. The trend continues here at home.”
TIM HUDSON
On the early three-run lead:
“When you have a nice lead you can be a little more aggressive in the strike zone and trust your stuff and let those guys behind you make plays.”
On his outing:
“They put some great at-bats on me all night. It was tough. It was a battle out there for six innings. They got my pitch count up. They were putting some really good at-bats on me all night. I feel fortunate to come out on top in this game. It was one of those games where the results were better than I feel like I really did.”
RICK ANKIEL
On his bases-loaded hit in first AB as Brave at Turner Field:
“It was good to get that first one out of the way. Fortunately for me there were runners on. It put us ahead early and give Huddy a chance to pitch his way through it.
BOBBY COX
On winning the series-opener:
“It was imperative I think we got off to a good start. We beat a real tough pitcher tonight in Santana. Huddy was on top of his game. I think the double and taking leads at second base, and the humidity was 80 percent tonight, took it out of him. A lot of pitches early. Not normal for him.”
On Diaz’s night vs. Santana:
“Matte swung the bat great. He’s hit Santana pretty good in the past, so we thought we’d try that and Rick Ankiel is a pretty darn good ball player. I like him a lot. He had the big double, scored two runs. He’s a fleet outfielder too, he gets great jumps on the ball.”
On the hunch to hit Diaz fourth, given his success vs. Santana:
“There’s something to it; guys can hit certain guys. Maddux had some guys he couldn’t get out, believe it or not, probably two or three in all the years.”
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55 comments Add your comment
Jimmy Beam, you are my friend
August 2nd, 2010
11:35 pm
Wow. #1 2 in a row. Go Braves!
Brave4life-1995 all over again??
August 2nd, 2010
11:35 pm
nice work DOB
coach p
August 2nd, 2010
11:37 pm
our lineup construction is brutal…. why is heyward hitting 2nd??? diaz at 4 was actually good move….. chipper is not a 3!!!!!!!!,
JR
August 2nd, 2010
11:52 pm
“Matte” would be pronounces “mayt”
To say “Mat-E” spell, “Matty”
ilive4 pennant races
August 2nd, 2010
11:53 pm
good solid win to start the home stand. this is the stretch of the season we can put this thing away. hey coach p, is it just me or did that 3 hole hitter hit a homerun tonight? hmm.
The Stuck
August 2nd, 2010
11:59 pm
Please give the Hetward /Chipper flipflop in the order a rest for one night and enjoy the win for a change. I firmly believe that Ankiel is a productive player when healthy, I am really rooting for the guy. He went down to the Minors w the Cardinals and recreated his game. How many athletes could show that level of dedication especially now when the media and bloggers just kills players when they struggle. I have to admit I was frustrated on Saturday with what appeared a lack of effort to acquire a big bat, guess that’s why they pay the guys in the Front Office the big bucks. Go Braves back to the postseason where we belong.
The Stuck
August 3rd, 2010
12:06 am
* Heyward
phil fan
August 3rd, 2010
12:20 am
yall got lucky to get RICKY ANKIEL yhat was a good trade but it still not better than our trade with BIG ROY O we will b in first by the end of the week GO PHILLS
Dan
August 3rd, 2010
12:35 am
3B – Infante
2B – Prado
RF – Heyward
LF – Diaz
C – McCann
CF – Ankiel
1B – Freeman
SS – Gonzalez
What do you say, Bobby?
The Stuck
August 3rd, 2010
12:35 am
Don’t forget Farnsworth, I bet he can beat up your roy Oswalt. Haha, it should be some great pennant race. It’s good to be a NL East fan.
Phillies Suck
August 3rd, 2010
12:40 am
Yeah phil fan, how did Oswalt’s first start for y’all go again?
Keith
August 3rd, 2010
12:50 am
Great quotes from a great win.
What did I say Huddy would do? Nothing short of a bounceback start and win.
Ok, now for Dickey….if we sweep the Mets, we might just come close to burying them from being in contention.
Educated Idiot
August 3rd, 2010
12:52 am
Roy Oswalt….
More like Roy Lolswalt.
tyler nj brave
August 3rd, 2010
12:58 am
Dan, stop with the nonsense….first of all look at your splits there Right, Right, Left, Right, Left, Left, Left, Right…making the opposing managers job pretty simple at the end of a ball game. Freeman has to stay put and get some more seasoning. You have to look at more than just the numbers…he’s 20 years old, I know Heyward’s 20 but he has the personality/maturity of a 30 year old. Glaus will come around and you don’t want to chance anything messing up the clubhouse. By that I mean if you sit Glaus against all righties he won’t be too happy, then you’re limiting Hinske’s role at 1b and pinch hitting. That spells disaster in the clubhouse. Glaus will come around.
Infante is an awesome bat, I agree. He is an all around player though, he is much more valuable coming off the bench/ making spot starts. Matty D is comfortable raking against lefties. Everything is fine as is, if anything tweak the lineup a bit and move Chipper to 5 n Heyward to 3.
1. Prado
2. Gonzalez (more fastballs for a fastball hitter)
3. Heyward
4. McCann
5. Jones
6. Glaus
7. Ankiel
8. Cabrera
9. Pitcher
tyler nj brave
August 3rd, 2010
12:59 am
Roy Oswalt will be a bust, J.A. Happ will dominate!
Dan
August 3rd, 2010
1:15 am
I can live with Freeman getting more seasoning, but the idea that someone is more valuable off the bench when they put up numbers is silly to me. That’s the same logic that’s kept Diaz on the bench the past four years under Cox. Cabrera hasn’t earned a starting position while Infante and Diaz have gotten the job done. I don’t like McCann at cleanup unless he’s playing a position or if Hinske is in the lineup when McCann rests to bat cleanup. Moving people in and out of the 4 slot isn’t a good idea. Also, I can’t live with Gonzalez at #2. That’s not a place for someone who strikes out 100+ times and walks less than 30 and isn’t a good bunter. What do you think would happen for Prado with Infante’s .370 OBP and Heyward behind him driving in 120? Prado would hit 25HR and probably drive in 80+. With tools like McCann and Glaus if he ever returns to form and situational guys like Diaz and Hinske that lineup would tear it up.
Dan
August 3rd, 2010
1:21 am
How can you justify Infante, Diaz and Hinske not being in this lineup? The gross salaries the failing current starters get are the only reason, I suppose, because these guys deliver and do it in the clutch. This has always been Bobby’s biggest weakness, not wanting to start guys for fear of losing them from the bench (followed closely by relieving a pitcher an at bat or two too late.) I’d rather have those three for four at bats a game rather than one every two games.
big brave
August 3rd, 2010
2:05 am
we will win the world series
Charlie Lau
August 3rd, 2010
2:10 am
Troy needs to sit a week, not because of his slump, but because he is beat up and needs to get healthy for the last 6-7 weeks of the season. He won’t complain but it hurts the team. Sit him and then let him tear it up again like May.
Not a Bandwagon Fan
August 3rd, 2010
2:20 am
Trade away Happ and Lee? Maybe for Haliday and David Price, but certainly not Ole Roy Boy. Insane. Thank you for making the East a little easier Philly.
Quagmire
August 3rd, 2010
5:41 am
Chris Vivlamooooreee, scorin’ brownie points with tha pretty laady
srandyt
August 3rd, 2010
6:03 am
Yay. Notice Chipper is talking more and more like a manager!!!
jt
August 3rd, 2010
6:35 am
Where is Robert??? Mitchell??? Oh yeah, I forgot. The Braves won.
Jonathan Simeone
August 3rd, 2010
6:58 am
Went to my first Braves game last night; it was really cool! Very much looking forward to going tonight.
joe
August 3rd, 2010
7:22 am
now we need to find some guys that Chipper and Troy can hit…..
vermont 39
August 3rd, 2010
7:37 am
GO BRAVES!!!
Chipper’s HR was nice…but academic…and it’s the METS…could have used that in either of his 2 previous ABs to cinch the lead early.
Joey
August 3rd, 2010
7:43 am
I’m with you, tyler, Glaus will come around. Until he does, however, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to move him to the 7th spot. He did get a sharp single last night with a runner at second that should have drove in a run, but that jackass 3rd base coach stopped the runner at third.
jt
August 3rd, 2010
8:02 am
vermont39- You’re joking, right?
Jake
August 3rd, 2010
8:35 am
Gonzo is not a two hole hitter. Heyward is fine there for right now and if he isn’t hitting there, its because we have a better option at leadoff and Prado can hit 2nd. Heyward gives you that lefty bat that’ll give the lead off hitter a chance to go first to third. He has the speed to beat out a DP. If he is on first with one out…he can steal second. Etc. Gonzo can’t do those things. He is a pull hitter that gives us no strategic advantage in the leadoff spot. Plus his OBP is only .300.
The whole gap in the lineup right now is because GLAUS IS NOT HITTING. Chipper hasn’t hit all year but his OBP and ability to hit gaps makes him valuable. He hasn’t gotten “HOT” yet this year so I’m waiting on that, but he continues to get on base via the single and walk, and Glaus gets hot…we’ll be fine. Its just a matter of that and that alone
On another note. The situational hitting lastnight was atrocious and If I were Bobby, I would fine every player that didn’t get the runner to 3rd with less than 2 outs when we had those lead off doubles. If we get two of those, we have an EASY game. Three leadoff doubles….ZERO runs.
crymeariver
August 3rd, 2010
8:54 am
I think that the Braves will win again tonight.
crymeariver
August 3rd, 2010
8:56 am
Glaus will start hitting again.
Freddie is not ready. He will not be in ATL, until after the regular season starts next year. It’s a money thing.
Bob Knows All
August 3rd, 2010
9:20 am
This team is good. We hit a little dry spell there on the road trip and it’s time to get hot again. You can’t win them all…600% winning percentage will get you to the playoffs and we are on pace. Braves SHOULD continue there homefield domination and put the Phillies a few more games back heading into September.
Braves fans…The Braves have a .730% winning percentage at home. We play 18 of 27 games at home this month. We should ALL be off the blog and at the Ted. These guys are playing their best at home and we should be there to give them an extra boost.
Howard will be down (maybe DL) for a few days or more. Now is the time to stretch this lead back to 7 games and hold on and rest some guys.
Glaus needs to sit for 1 week and maybe go to the DL. I’d like to wait until Prado comes back before we make this move to give us another glove at 1B. Glaus will come back. Don’t get down on him now like everyone did in April. We know what he did in May and 1/2 of June.
Bobby will go out a winner. I see a deep playoff run for this team. When we go down to a 3 or 4 man rotation with this bullpen we will be really good.
Go to the TED now and don’t wait until October.
Braves Fan For Better or Worse xo
August 3rd, 2010
9:40 am
“Phil fan”, go write to your own paper… BRAVES WIN BRAVES WIN! Huddy and Matty you rocked! Ankiel, we folks down here in Port Saint Lucie are cheering you on! Make us proud! GO BRAVES!
Melky Way
August 3rd, 2010
10:02 am
I do agree that Glaus needs to go on the Dl,his legs are hurting so bad that you can see it in his face.If they would rest him agaist right handers,I think he would be Ok with that,then put him on the 15 day DL when Prado comes back.we really need him to get healthy,and rest is the only thing that will do it!
NickGranite
August 3rd, 2010
10:10 am
For the folks that keep saying Freddy isn’t ready; how do you know he isn’t ready until you see him play in the bigs? Does Glaus seem ready in any month other than May? I believe I read in AJC.com that he is batting .206 in the other 3 months. Are you telling me Freeman can’t do better that? Did you see Glaus trying to catch that pick off throw from Huddy down low. He moved like a sleestak. Glaus earned his million bucks in the month of May and I’m glad we had him but now it’s time to bring up Freddy.
Los Bravos
August 3rd, 2010
10:21 am
Everyone needs to back off Glaus. Remember if it wasnt for him and J-Hey then we would have been out of this race in May. They both carried us through that month, so if wants to take a break, then so be it. Thats what the other seven guys, excluding the pitcher, are for in the lineup. Also, our hitting with RISP is horrible, but we dont need a lot of runs with our bullpen. I dare anyone to find a better bullpen than ours, now that Chavez is gone.
Los Bravos
August 3rd, 2010
10:22 am
Also, the Oswalt deal for the Phils was a good move, if you are a Braves fan.
shadetree
August 3rd, 2010
10:37 am
When we had the streak going earlier and playing good ball we were doing different things. Playing small ball I mean. It seems now that Cox is waiting for the 3 run homer. The 3 lead off doubles is an example as mentioned previously. Cox has lapsed into a coma. I not criticizing, I’m just saying. Cox has done this longer than I have. I would just like to see a little more hit and running. Do you remember earlier this season everytime someone got on Cox was bunting them over. He did that all the time and now he’s not doing that at all. It would help I think if we studied our own tendencies.
If me being a 54 year old long time Braves fan can see this then the other guys can also.
Of all the stats the most important to me is the average with runners in scoring position. If that is high then we will win.
Once healthy I believe we should see
Prado
Ankiel
Heyward
Chipper
McCann
Glaus/Hinskie
Diaz/Caberra
Gonzo
Not a lot of pop but can string together some runs.
If we’re not built for the long ball then don’t play long ball.
Ankiel could be a big surprise.
Bob Knows All
August 3rd, 2010
11:03 am
Ankiel doesn’t need to be in the 2 hole. He like A-Gon strike out too much. You need your 2 hole hitter to be able to hit all sides of field, bunt, hit for contact and have a high OBP. Heyward is a good fit for now.
When everyone is healthy:
Prado
Heyward
Chipper
Glaus
McCann
Diaz
A-Gon
Ankiel
When everyone is healthly, this is the best lineup.
Shaunn
August 3rd, 2010
11:23 am
Even in the Cincy game….Ankiel has SMOKED some balls……just very unlucky in the Cincy game…..
Mutts
August 3rd, 2010
11:23 am
phil fan: It was the Braves that were lucky your Phils got Roy Oswalt. His 6-13 record this year as your number 2 starter is going to help us put some distance between The Braves aqnd the Phils. “Young Roy” was a dominant pitcher, but the guy the Phils got is “Ol Roy” and that’s just a brand of dog food at Walmart.
BUBBA GUMP
August 3rd, 2010
11:24 am
Did “Bones Jones” put one out of the park like I knew he would!!
Long Time Braves Fan
August 3rd, 2010
11:35 am
Vermont39 A player can not hit a HR every time he wants to LOL. Glad Chipper got one last night GO BRAVES
Chuck
August 3rd, 2010
11:57 am
Seems like when Diaz and Infante play, we win – and I think that’s because they are good baseball players.
AustinBrave
August 3rd, 2010
12:19 pm
I have to agree that Cox can be a little slow moving a hot or cold hitter. He has a lot of faith that players will change, and sometimes they just don’t.
But you know, the ‘flavor of the week’ batting lineups and ‘Cox is an idiot because he won’t put $HOT_HITTER into the lineup’ that you see around here are just silly. Some of you seem to think that a batting lineup should be driven entirely by recent stats with no consideration for how the player has actually been swinging the bat or whether those stats are in any way reflective of what they’ll keep doing. According to these geniuses, Cox should have started Conrad in the cleanup spot as soon as he hit his grand slam against the Reds. “He’s averaging 4 RBIs per at-bat!”
This isn’t a video game. There are more factors than the numbers. Good managers also look at how the player is actually swinging or throwing. You know, in real life. Where the game is actually played.
G Braves Fan
August 3rd, 2010
12:22 pm
I miss very few G-Braves games unless the A-Braves are home. Freddie is ready – Glaus needs to go on the Injured list for 15 days to heal, then if he doesn’t hit, bench him for good – make a DH out of him if we get that far. May not matter if Freddie comes up and gets hot – everything is hit hard, BA doesn’t tell the story, he mashes everything. Freddie, we’ll miss you at Coolray but we’ll see you in the post season.
Tom
August 3rd, 2010
12:31 pm
Heyward should bat 2nd because of his speed, his power with doubles and homeruns has not been fully developed yet. If we can get our #1 and #2 quick/speedy guys on, #’s 3,4, and 5 should be in a position to drive them in. Something bad I saw at last nite’s game. Several times we had a runner double to lead off the inning, none of them eventually scored. The next batter popped up, grounded out or struck out and did not advance the runner to 3rd base. I do not care who the next batter is(name wise), he should be willing to sacrifice the runner to third with the bunt. A runner on 3rd with one out has several ways to score that inning. If the manager or coach will not call it, the batter should do it on his own. One other observation, Ankiel swings hard and quick, the ball will jump off his bat or he will suffer some K’s. What do other fans think???
phil fan
August 3rd, 2010
12:50 pm
everybody turn on your tv we got both BIG ROYS going tonight an tomorrow so thats 2 an 0 an back to first place GO PHIILYS
OldeFan
August 3rd, 2010
1:17 pm
How come Ankiel, as Player of The Game on TV, didn’t get a facefull of shaving cream last nite, during his after-game interview? I was surprised. Kind of looks like maybe he wasn’t welcomed into this Clubhouse…
Shane
August 3rd, 2010
1:26 pm
everybody turn on your tv we got both BIG ROYS going tonight an tomorrow so thats 2 an 0 an back to first place GO PHIILYS
that would be kind of hard considering you are three games back.
Shane
August 3rd, 2010
1:27 pm
How come Ankiel, as Player of The Game on TV, didn’t get a facefull of shaving cream last nite, during his after-game interview? I was surprised. Kind of looks like maybe he wasn’t welcomed into this Clubhouse…
Or maybe they decided to act like grownups.
bravos
August 3rd, 2010
1:27 pm
Should have asked Chipper what the heck he was doin in the 1st inning on the basepaths??!
Roy Ooopsswalt
August 3rd, 2010
2:36 pm
Roy Oswalt has been pounded his last few outtings. The T-ball field the Phils play in isnt going to help with that.
Bob Knows All
August 3rd, 2010
3:06 pm
Olde Fan, are you serious? You got that impression? Would be slightly different if it wasn’t a single and in the 1st inning. I’m sure Frank/Bobby wouldn’t have traded for Ankiel if he was going to have any interference with the clubhouse culture here.
Outside of Heyward and Conrad, who else has gotten one?
bravefaninok
August 3rd, 2010
5:55 pm
Several players have been injured during postgame celebrations this season,Kendry Moralis(cost angels their season)Coglan(The fish couldn’t trade away Ross)……Please save the celebrations for after Game7 of the series.