As lead dwindles, so do Ankiel’s stats against lefties
MIAMI – On a night when Kenshin Kawakami was getting knocked around for five runs and five extra-base hits in three innings of a desultory 6-1 Braves loss to the Marlins, it was easy to overlook Rick Ankiel’s 0-for-4, four-strikeout game.
Rick Ankiel has struggled since a July 31 trade from K.C. to the Braves, particularly against left-handed pitchers.
But wearing the figurative Golden Sombrero was just the latest indication that starting Ankiel against left-handed pitchers seems like a move to made only when there are no other options.
Not that Ankiel has exactly torn it up against any pitchers since he and Kyle Farnsworth came from Kansas City in a July 31 trade that sent Gregor Blanco and relievers Jesse Chavez and minor leaguer Tim Collins. Ankiel has hit .221 with six extra-base hits, seven RBIs, 31 strikeouts and a .309 OBP in 28 games since the trade.
But at least the combination of his terrific outfield arm and decent production against righties makes him a viable platoon center fielder. For the season, he’s hitting .272 and slugging .488 with 15 extra-base hits (five homers) in 125 at-bats vs. righties. Not bad at all.
Against lefties, however … yikes. Ankiel has hit .170 and slugged .189 with one extra-base hit (double) and 22 strikeouts in 53 at-bats against left-handed pitchers this season.
He has an .821 OPS vs. righties, and a .456 OPS vs. lefties. Yes, a .456 OPS vs. lefties.
Uncle.
♣The latest odds: Since some have asked me how the cooldstandings.com postseason odds were affected by last night’s loss, I’ll share that info here for all to consider. Again, these are not my odds, I have no idea if they’re accurate now or have been in past seasons, etc.
That caveat out of the way, I can tell you that Atlanta’s loss last night, which trimmed their lead to just one game over surging Philly in the NL East, reduced the Bravos’ playoff chances only slightly — from a 95.1 percent chance of making the postseason down to 91.1, and from a 76.6 percent chance of winning the division down to 69 percent today.
Kawakami got rocked for five extra-base hits, five runs in three innings of Friday's 6-1 loss at Sun Life(less) Stadium.
The Phillies now have a 75.2 percent chance of making the postseason and a 30.4 percent chance of winning the division, according to the site, which runs computer simulations of the season after each day’s games, and takes into account strength of remaining schedule, home/road differential, run differential, etc.
If you’re into this sort of thing, or just curious, you can follow the daily fluctuations at www.coolstandings.com.
♣ Phillies doing it with puny offense: What’s remarkable about the Phillies’ current 7-1 surge is how they’ve done it with so little offense.
They’ve hit .209 in that eight-game stretch, and scored three runs or fewer in half the games (they went 3-1 in those four games, winning by scores of 3-2, 3-1 and Friday’s 1-0 win over Milwaukee).
The key has been their recent pitching dominance – a 2.19 ERA over the past eight games, holding the opponent to one or no runs in half of them.
By the way, the first seven games of that 7-1 Phillies run came on the road.
Meanwhile, the Braves have gone 4-8 in their past 12 games away from home, with a .236 batting average and 4.90 ERA. They’re doing nothing very well on the road, and can do no wrong most nights at home.
Roy Halladay leads a Phillies staff that's carried the team during its current surge.
The Braves have lost five of their past six road games, and allowed at least five runs in all six games in that stretch.
In its past 11 games overall (home and road), Atlanta is 5-6 with a 4.74 ERA.
♣Waiting on Lee’s bat: Since being traded from the Cubs to the Braves, Derrek Lee has hit .200 (9-for-45) with four doubles, no homers, seven RBIs, six walks and 11 strikeouts in 13 games, and the team is 6-7 in those games.
More than half of his hits came in consecutive games Monday and Tuesday against the Mets, when he went 5-for-8 with two RBIs in a pair of wins.
Lee said last week that his entire season has been rough, never getting into a sustained period of driving the ball and getting results he’s accustomed to getting. I talked to him Friday and asked if he felt like he was getting in any sort of little groove in those consecutive multi-hit games against the Mets.
“I’m not in a groove,” he said. “I’m just trying to battle, basically. When you’re in groove, you feel like you’re going to do some damage every time up. But I do feel better.”
Bobby Cox said Lee has been playing hurt, with the back issue first and lately with a side strain. I asked Derrek about it Friday, and he said the back – he had an epidural for a bulging disc two days before the Aug. 18 trade – hasn’t been the problem in the past week.
“My back’s all right,” he said. “I’m a little banged up, but I’m all right.”
And he remains optimistic that he can go on one of the tears he’s been known for in the past, when he crushes balls and carries an offense for a while and forces pitchers to focus on him.
“Yeah, I really want to get in that groove where I’m driving the ball out of the park, and driving it to the gap,” he said. “To find my swing where I’m really comfortable [and can influence the game a lot more].”
Braves lineup Saturday
- Infante 2B
- Heyward RF
- Prado 3B
- McCann C
- Lee 1B
- Cabrera LF
- Gonzalez SS
- Ankiel CF
- Jurrjens RH
♣ Freddie’s first road trip: There was no early-morning bus ride to the airport for a commercial flight (not like Triple-A trips), and the posh Westin Diplomat on Hollywood Beach is quite an upgrade over hotels where his teams stayed on minor league trips.
So, yeah, you could say that first baseman Freddie Freeman was enjoying his first major league road trip Friday afternoon, before the series opener against the Marlins.
I mean, hey, they don’t provide Chick-Fil-A snacks on minor-league bus or plane trips. That was the snack offering before the regular meal on the charter flight from Atlanta to Fort Lauderdale.
“We never had that on the plane, so I had to take advantage of that,” said Freeman, who couldn’t help but smile and laugh. “That was the snack. I really didn’t even look at the dinner, because I was kind of full after Chick-fil-A.”
Freeman, 20, rooms with his close friend Jason Heyward in an Atlanta-area house the Braves’ rookie right fielder bought. So far, Freeman said he’s only had to pay for groceries, since his minor league salary this year was just a fraction of Heyward’s $400,000 major league-minimum.
Freeman is hoping Heyward lets him keep skating by on grocery bills next season, though that seems unlikely. After all, Freeman could be making a major league salary from opening day next season, and besides, it’s not like the two of them are buying many groceries or cooking big meals.
“We never cook much anymore,” Freeman said. “He likes bacon and stuff, so he cooks bacon on pans. I don’t know how to do that. I guess I could watch him.
“I know how to work a toaster.”
Freeman said the groceries usually consist of cereal, waffles, “and we’ve got to get the Mayfield i birthday cake ice cream. That’s our favorite. We get after that. It is amazing.”
And Heyward’s bacon. He said Heyward was quite specific about which type of bacon he wants purchased.
“I finally bought the right one last time,” Heyward said, chuckling again. “It’s always a certain package, and I get it wrong. I get the right brand, but it’s never the right thing he wants. I finally got it right this time.
“It’s Oscar Mayer, that’s all I know. It’s not the thick one. I just know the package. I don’t even look at what it says, I just look at the package.”
OK, gotta get to the ballpark. Let’s close with one from the Drive-By Truckers, which you can hear and see them do live on this video.
“TORNADOES” by Drive-By Truckers
The clouds started forming at five o’clock pm
The funnel clouds touched down
five miles north of Russellville
Sirens were blowing, clouds spat rain
and as the things came threw, it sounded like a train
♦
“It came without no warning” said Bobbi Jo McLean
She and husband Nolen always loved to watch the rain
It sucked him out the window, he ain’t come home again
All she can remember is “It sounded like a train”
♦
Pieces of that truck stop, litter up the highway, I been told
And I hear that missing trucker ended up in Kansas
(or maybe it was Oz).
The Nightmare Tour ended for my band and me
the night all the s–t went down
♦
A homecoming concert, the night the tornadoes hit my hometown.
The few who braved the weather were sucked out of the auditorium
I can still remember the sound of their applause in the rain
as it echoed through them storm clouds, I swear, It sounded like a train.
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1,569 comments Add your comment
Trey
September 4th, 2010
2:40 pm
Good article.
JasonInFL
September 4th, 2010
2:42 pm
JJ (our version) is going to pitch 7 innings of 1 run ball. We win 3-1 today.
Trey
September 4th, 2010
2:42 pm
Thank you DOB. Hopefully the stats are right, as they continue to roll in Braves favor.
CSpin
September 4th, 2010
2:42 pm
I’m worried.
Trey
September 4th, 2010
2:45 pm
CSpin, I am not worried just yet.
Inquiring Minds Wanna Know
September 4th, 2010
2:45 pm
Phillistein
The Braves however LOST to a picher who was 1-8 in Double A ball this year. with an ERA over 6.00
___________
Um, you don’t get to make stuff up, Phillistein. The pitcher the Braves faced last night had a 4.50 ERA and Kawakami had a 4.75 ERA going into the game.
Not that that is any excuse for the Braves’ lousy performance last night. Their problems went far beyond pitching.
My point was that your team wasn’t at all impressive playing, at home, against a team far lesser than the Marlins. I’d be the one sweating, if I were you, rather than being here talking smack.
DiamondJim
September 4th, 2010
2:48 pm
Thanks to Jed and Trey regarding MLB Network on Directv.
Trey
September 4th, 2010
2:49 pm
Anytime, DJ.
JasonInFL
September 4th, 2010
2:53 pm
Don’t know why, but I would like to see FF and Nate get a start tonight.
DJ
September 4th, 2010
2:53 pm
Enter your comments here
JasonInFL
September 4th, 2010
2:54 pm
Convert Ankiel back?
Trey
September 4th, 2010
2:55 pm
Jason, Ankiel can’t do much worse as pitcher than KK did in his last start.
Daybed Wagmoe
September 4th, 2010
2:59 pm
“I finally bought the right one last time,” Heyward said, chuckling again. “It’s always a certain package, and I get it wrong. I get the right brand, but it’s never the right thing he wants. I finally got it right this time.
DOB — I swear that I’m not trying to point out a typo or play gotcha or anything, I’m asking this as a serious question — was it Heyward or Freeman that said this? Cause in context with the rest of the article, it seems like Freeman…
Trey
September 4th, 2010
3:00 pm
I just hope we find a real replacement for Lowe’s next start. I heard that Lowe plans to make his next start depsite a bone chip in his arm.
rob
September 4th, 2010
3:00 pm
At this point we have to root for the Giants and Cards to lose so we can find a way to hold on to our wild card lead. The Oswalt trade will be the difference in the NL East. They added Oswalt who has been lights out and we still run Lowe/KK every fifth day and lost Medlen.
Buzz Kill
September 4th, 2010
3:01 pm
Lee again? Doesn’t he need a day off to deal with those “bangs”?
I shudder every time he comes up to bat, watching the expectant looks on the base-runners’ faces, but knowing the next out (or two) is coming to end the rally.
EmptySeats
September 4th, 2010
3:02 pm
@Inquiring minds,
Why would Phillies fans need to sweat when they are the ones supporting a team that can win on the road (34-32) and is a major league best 11-6 in extra innings and 23-14 in one run games?
THAT right there sounds like a team that is built for success in the playoffs. Better yet, they’ve already proven themselves on that stage.
Jinx
September 4th, 2010
3:03 pm
A Bacon blog! EPIC!
Dog
September 4th, 2010
3:10 pm
I smmmmmmmmmelllllllllll BACON!!!!!
Trey
September 4th, 2010
3:11 pm
Empty Seats, I actually have faith in the Braves.
My Name Is Earl
September 4th, 2010
3:12 pm
I think Heyward is smoking hot at the plate, but that did look like a rookie at bat last night with the bases loaded. Just reminds me that he is, as good as he is, still a rookie.
Ryan
September 4th, 2010
3:12 pm
WOW another night of Ankiel I say at least two K’s he just isnt worth watching.
Inquiring Minds Wanna Know
September 4th, 2010
3:13 pm
Keep bragging about what you haven’t achieved Phillies fans. You’ve already shown your lack of class by even being here.
BTW, EmptyBrains, I don’t remember addressing you, so butt out.
Gary O
September 4th, 2010
3:16 pm
One thing that hasnt helped the Braves in their road games is their defense. Even if it wasn’t an error, they have been unable to take advantage of some key plays.
As for today’s game, the Phils are playing at home, and they have their #1 pitcher (Roy) going for them, so there is a strong possibility that they will win.
Braves need a win.
Playoffs!!!!
September 4th, 2010
3:20 pm
Sure would like to see Glaus get another chance to start (maybe not tonight vs. Josh Johnson). He put up good numbers at Gwinnett and then in this first AB since he’s been back–he smacks a single to left last night.
I think at this point, you have to go with the hot hand.
@Glausosarus
September 4th, 2010
3:21 pm
Put me on first base, Coach.
Couch Tater
September 4th, 2010
3:21 pm
Tell Freeman Oscar Mayer makes a really good pre-cooked microwave bacon. 20 or 30 seconds. No fuss. No grease. No burn scars. I was a skeptic, but now conventional cooking is toast.
ExBraves Fan
September 4th, 2010
3:28 pm
The Braves season is officially OVER. They have crawled through with a beat up line up, broken down, over the hill players, non performing players, rejects from KC, Pitts, Seattle, and Timbucktoo. They are done. Football season, the NFL, THE REAL sport is now here. College football, HS football, Pro football. We can officially put the lousy Braves too sleep like an old, injured dog. Just do it quietly and don’t worry about it. It is the humain thing too do. The bum they started last night, Lee, Broke Ankle, Gonzo I left my HR bat in the AL, Glossed-over, 2d time around Farnie-is-worthless, yada, yada, yada. You can now see that all those GREAT MOVES have failed. None of the rejects have performed for the Braves. Enjoy the fall and COLD winter Braves. Bobby goes out as he came in, a loser.
Brava
September 4th, 2010
3:29 pm
I’d like to see Glaus get a chance, too. Especially since Lee is “banged up”. Why not let Glaus have a start at 1B? Or, 3B, and let Martin play 2B with Infante in LF? Couldn’t hurt to try something different, shake things up a little. Might light a spark.
Playoffs!!!!
September 4th, 2010
3:30 pm
DOB, When the Braves are on the road, do they have a curfew? In other words, after a night game do they have to be back in their hotel room any certain time–midnight, 1 a.m? Or maybe 2 hours after the game ends.
And if so, do the Braves strictly enforce it? Just wondering?
Trey
September 4th, 2010
3:31 pm
ExBraves Fan
September 4th, 2010
3:28 pm
The Braves season is officially OVER. They have crawled through with a beat up line up, broken down, over the hill players, non performing players, rejects from KC, Pitts, Seattle, and Timbucktoo. They are done. Football season, the NFL, THE REAL sport is now here. College football, HS football, Pro football. We can officially put the lousy Braves too sleep like an old, injured dog. Just do it quietly and don’t worry about it. It is the humain thing too do. The bum they started last night, Lee, Broke Ankle, Gonzo I left my HR bat in the AL, Glossed-over, 2d time around Farnie-is-worthless, yada, yada, yada. You can now see that all those GREAT MOVES have failed. None of the rejects have performed for the Braves. Enjoy the fall and COLD winter Braves. Bobby goes out as he came in, a loser.
First, a real Braves fan would not give up on the Braves, so it is obvious this is a Phils troll. Second, who are you to decide what would be humane about putting a dog to sleep? How is that any more humane than putting a sickly, dying person to sleep? It’s not. So, take your nonsense somewhere else.
Phillistein
September 4th, 2010
3:31 pm
Inquiring Minds Wanna Know
September 4th, 2010
2:45 pm
Phillistein
The Braves however LOST to a picher who was 1-8 in Double A ball this year. with an ERA over 6.00
___________
Um, you don’t get to make stuff up, Phillistein. The pitcher the Braves faced last night had a 4.50 ERA and Kawakami had a 4.75 ERA going into the game
*****************************************************************************************************************
My Bad. the info I had was before his last two minor league starts.
This from the Miami Herald……………………
Since spiraling toward the end of the 2009 season with the Marlins, Miller has been abysmal in the minors. In 21 starts between Single A Jupiter and Double A Jacksonville, he was 2-9 with a 5.35 ERA
I stand corrected
Inquiring Minds Wanna Know
September 4th, 2010
3:32 pm
ExBravesFan
Please, go enjoy your football, Debbie Downer. You’re the biggest loser to grace this board today. Even the Phillies fans have you beat.
Playoffs!!!!
September 4th, 2010
3:32 pm
Ex-Braves Fan—OK, fine. Now can you go find a football blog somewhere.
J-Hey
September 4th, 2010
3:34 pm
vs. Josh Johnson and being on the road I’d say there’s a 91.1% chance of them losing the game (and scoring less 2 runs or less)
I think they might win tomorrow to avoid the sweep though
Trey
September 4th, 2010
3:34 pm
Inquiring Minds, I honestly think that is a Phillies fan.
brian
September 4th, 2010
3:35 pm
will Kawakami make another start as an Atlanta Brave??
UKUGA
September 4th, 2010
3:35 pm
A big couple of days coming up . . .
Trey
September 4th, 2010
3:37 pm
UKUGA, you can say that again.
Mr. Turnip-Green Jeans
September 4th, 2010
3:37 pm
Ankiel should be a late-innings defensive replacement in the outfield. That’s all. A starter he ain’t.
Inquiring Minds Wanna Know
September 4th, 2010
3:38 pm
Probably is, Trey. I can’t imagine why anyone would be an “ExBravesFan” after the year they’ve had so far.
Phillistein
September 4th, 2010
3:38 pm
Trey
September 4th, 2010
3:31 pm
ExBraves Fan
September 4th, 2010
3:28 pm
The Braves season is officially OVER. They have crawled through with a beat up line up, broken down, over the hill players, non performing players, rejects from KC, Pitts, Seattle, and Timbucktoo. They are done. Football season, the NFL, THE REAL sport is now here. College football, HS football, Pro football. We can officially put the lousy Braves too sleep like an old, injured dog. Just do it quietly and don’t worry about it. It is the humain thing too do. The bum they started last night, Lee, Broke Ankle, Gonzo I left my HR bat in the AL, Glossed-over, 2d time around Farnie-is-worthless, yada, yada, yada. You can now see that all those GREAT MOVES have failed. None of the rejects have performed for the Braves. Enjoy the fall and COLD winter Braves. Bobby goes out as he came in, a loser.
First, a real Braves fan would not give up on the Braves, so it is obvious this is a Phils troll.
****************************************************************************************************************
Sorry Trey – I did a quick headcount and all the trolls are accounted for. This guy is a legit former Braves fan.
jim
September 4th, 2010
3:38 pm
We can’t wait for D Lee to go on a tear. The only tear he has had this season was the weekend the Braves scouts were there. I will be pleasantly surprised if he dosen’t K at least 2 times tonight against their JJ. Freeman was hot in AAA, and Glaus deserves the chance to play against lefties. Unfortunately I don’t see many hits in the last 5 spots in te order, not much patience = few walks, and little chace of bunching hits together.
DOB – you seem to be very negative about Ankiel, but reluctant to be critical of Lee. From the day Lee joined the Braves, compare Akiel’s and Lee’s stats. Neither is good, but which is worse?
Innocent Bystander
September 4th, 2010
3:38 pm
We will gain a game back this week
Trey
September 4th, 2010
3:40 pm
Inquiring Minds, I honestly do not know. He said put them down like a dying dog is the only humane thing to do, with a misspelling of humane. I do not see putting down any dying animal as humane.
Trey
September 4th, 2010
3:40 pm
Phillistein, if he was a legit fan then he’d still be rooting, as a legit fan would be a real fan and not a fair weather fan.
Trey
September 4th, 2010
3:43 pm
Where did the “ExBraves Fan” go now?
Largo
September 4th, 2010
3:44 pm
I know things about baseball and I can tell you that Cox makes some wise decisions and some not so wise. Putting Ankiel in against left hand pitching was not a SHINING MOMENT for Cox. Now, I suppose managers have the right to be stupid but last night Bobby abused the privilege.
Inquiring Minds Wanna Know
September 4th, 2010
3:45 pm
But, Trey, “it is the “HUMAIN” thing to do”. “We can officially put the lousy Braves TOO sleep…”
To be honest, it sounds like willieg to me.
Trey
September 4th, 2010
3:47 pm
Does willieg have poor grammar, Inquiring Minds?
Phillistein
September 4th, 2010
3:47 pm
Trey
September 4th, 2010
3:40 pm
Phillistein, if he was a legit fan then he’d still be rooting, as a legit fan would be a real fan and not a fair weather fan.
*****************************************************************************************************
Couldn’t agree more.
Few things worse than a fair weathered fan. Escpecially when your team is still in it.
However, i didn’t say he was a legit “Braves fan”.
I said he was a legit “Ex Braves fan”
NO MORE BOBBY
September 4th, 2010
3:47 pm
Would any other team play losers like Ankiel and Kawakami in a pennant race? PLAY THE PROVEN WINNERS!! Melky and Hinske know from experience how to win down the stretch. Hello? It’s no longer May Bobby so stop these crazy lineups.
Time is running out…………
Phillistein
September 4th, 2010
3:50 pm
Goodness, you people sure put a great deal of importance on proper grammar and spelling.
Therefore, in the spirit of full disclosure – I did not capitalize the “i” in my last post.
Trey
September 4th, 2010
3:52 pm
Phillistein, that’s why you are better, because you are supposed to not like the Braves.
Trey
September 4th, 2010
3:54 pm
Phillistein, not really. I don’t care if someone has bad grammar, but if they show up being disrespectful, I will call them out on grammar, as will many other fans.
Inquiring Minds Wanna Know
September 4th, 2010
3:54 pm
Phillistein,
I know it’s been a long day, but weren’t you the one who started correcting everyone’s grammar this morning?
Trey
September 4th, 2010
3:55 pm
I mean, if you do not know the difference between “too”, “to” and “two” and you come on insulting people or an entire organization, you will have that used against you.
Mudge
September 4th, 2010
3:57 pm
That was the bukoo (correctly beaucoup) discussion. Phillistein plead (also pled) Lithuanian.
Phillistein
September 4th, 2010
3:57 pm
Inquiring Minds Wanna Know
September 4th, 2010
3:54 pm
Phillistein,
I know it’s been a long day, but weren’t you the one who started correcting everyone’s grammar this morning?
****************************************************************************************************
Actually
No
It was Trey who pinted out that I had written “your” instead of “you’re”. Even though I used “you’re” correctly in the following sentence.
So, your wrong!!
Oops
Inquiring Minds Wanna Know
September 4th, 2010
3:58 pm
Oh, yes, Trey. willieg has horrendous grammar, misspelling, and his posts are always very negative. Much like ExBravesFan.
Navigator
September 4th, 2010
3:59 pm
Hey Trey, I’m a Brave fan and have been most of life. That doesn’t mean you support bad play, bad trades, and bad management (Wren and Cox). The Braves have set about to give away their young talent for veterans that aren’t getting the job done, and fans more than anyone else deserve a chance to express their opinion. I said consistently since 1991 that the Braves would let Cox blow chance after chance to win World Series with the greatest pitching staff in the modern era. We watched the Braves bring up a whole host of young players in the 1990’s that Cox pushed to trade for over the hill veterans. His dislike for Latino players rivals Alvin Dark, he doesn’t say it, but look at this record with many that have come and gone in his regime. They have given away players that proved to have a lot more than potential, and cottled ones that should never have been signed or resigned at extravagant salaries. I’ve watched the Marlins build two World Series champions from within their organization, but the Braves don’t seem to be able to keep there’s. I would like to see Wren leave with Cox, but I doubt that will happen.
Inquiring Minds Wanna Know
September 4th, 2010
3:59 pm
I do remember that, now, Phillistein. I stand corrected.
I Miss Ted Turner (formerly I Love Derrek Lee)
September 4th, 2010
4:01 pm
Too many utility players and has beens on this roster. No shot at a World Series title with this group. Back to college football…
Phillistein
September 4th, 2010
4:02 pm
Mudge
September 4th, 2010
3:57 pm
That was the bukoo (correctly beaucoup) discussion. Phillistein plead (also pled) Lithuanian
********************************************************************************************************
Gesundheit
Inquiring Minds Wanna Know
September 4th, 2010
4:03 pm
Navigator, this really stood out at me:
“His dislike for Latino players rivals Alvin Dark, he doesn’t say it, but look at this record with many that have come and gone in his regime.”
All I’m going to say is have you looked at our roster? Unbelievable!
Mudge
September 4th, 2010
4:04 pm
Phillistein
September 4th, 2010
4:02 pm
Mudge
September 4th, 2010
3:57 pm
That was the bukoo (correctly beaucoup) discussion. Phillistein plead (also pled) Lithuanian
********************************************************************************************************
Gesundheit
*************************************************************************************************************
Danke.
pdt
September 4th, 2010
4:08 pm
Lee and Ankiel are both busts. So is Farnsworth. And Gonzalez hasn’t been too impressive of late, either. So much for efforts to improve the team. I would NEVER bat Lee cleanup. At this point Freddie has to be an improvement at first. Lucky for us the terrific trio at the top plus McCann and sometimes Diaz and Hinske are tearing it up. Go Braves!
jim
September 4th, 2010
4:08 pm
Ankiel played CF last night because the only other CF is the lefthand hitting McLouth. It is a big CF area and Melky can’t cover it. Were people watching him play CF Thursday?
jim
September 4th, 2010
4:10 pm
Folks,
Ankiel played CF last night because the only other CF is the lefthand hitting McLouth. It is a big CF area and Melky can’t cover it. Were people watching him play CF Thursday?
Rob from SC
September 4th, 2010
4:10 pm
Can we enjoy being in the playoff hunt…It has been 5 years….I am nervous right now, but I believe we can do this….
jim
September 4th, 2010
4:12 pm
Sorry about the double post. There seemed to have been a problem with the original post.
Brava
September 4th, 2010
4:13 pm
I’m enjoying it, Rob, but also am a bit nervous. Still, I BELIEVE!!
GO BRAVES!!!
Salty Dawg
September 4th, 2010
4:13 pm
The Braves season is officially OVER. They have crawled through with a beat up line up, broken down, over the hill players, non performing players, rejects from KC, Pitts, Seattle, and Timbucktoo. They are done. Football season, the NFL, THE REAL sport is now here. College football, HS football, Pro football. We can officially put the lousy Braves too sleep like an old, injured dog. Just do it quietly and don’t worry about it. It is the humain thing too do. The bum they started last night, Lee, Broke Ankle, Gonzo I left my HR bat in the AL, Glossed-over, 2d time around Farnie-is-worthless, yada, yada, yada. You can now see that all those GREAT MOVES have failed. None of the rejects have performed for the Braves. Enjoy the fall and COLD winter Braves. Bobby goes out as he came in, a loser.
And yet, despite all of the misfortunes you pointed out, the team is in first place. Even if they lose tonight and the Phillies win, they will be tied for first place. That’s a bit of a conundrum for all of you “fans” who spend your time talking about all of the reasons this team won’t win. And yet, they keep winning. I wonder if there has ever been a team in any sport that has won without even the slightest bit of adversity. And if there has been, why would you root for that team? That’s like going to Vegas and cheering for the House to win. Yes, the Braves have had some injuries and some under-performing players and some trades gone bad, but they keep winning. Are they winning every game? No, of course not. But then again, they don’t have to. They just have to win more than the next closest team. So rather than nitpicking every pitch and ever at bat and every game, how about sitting back and enjoying the game. How about rooting for your team to win, if you ever were really a fan. My guess is you weren’t. A fan doesn’t jump ship in the middle of the season because some things haven’t gone our way. That’s what a bandwagon jumper does. So, if the Braves make the post season you’ll be back and probably still b***hing about this and that.
AdirondackDave
September 4th, 2010
4:13 pm
Good to see Canizares in the line-up. Oh, wait… that’s the Gwinnett line-up.
Salty Dawg
September 4th, 2010
4:16 pm
In other news, Go Dawgs!
Phillistein
September 4th, 2010
4:18 pm
Listen you guys……….gotta run. (Hold the applause).
I know it’s terribly annoying when I come here. However, Phillies fans tend to be somewhat passionate about the team Goodness knows we’ve waited long enough. The Phillies are 2nd in MLB attendance (Braves are 14th). And it’s not just blogs……we visit other cities in record numbers….
This from a San Diego writer……………….
“Phillies fans, whether coming from near or far, found their way to Petco in large numbers. Red was the primary color behind the visiting dugout and down the third-base line for all of the three games.
Hundreds of Phillies fans made more noise than thousands of Padres fans, reminding everyone that shouting comes naturally to Philadelphians.”
So much for the Braves being America’s team. You can usually spot the Philly contingent; they’re the ones in red throwing up on people.
Look at it this way; it adds a little spice to a pennant race. And there’s always a chance we may have to eat crow. Here’s the deal….if the Braves win the Series I’ll come back and let you beat up on me. I’ll take it like a man.
Rob
September 4th, 2010
4:18 pm
The latest odds: Does anyone realize that these stats don’t take into account the fact that the Phillies have all of their players back and that most of these players have not played together in the previous games to compile real simulations based on season to date? What about the Braves 4th and 5th starters being hurt? How will Lowe pitch with a bone chip?
Right On Time
September 4th, 2010
4:21 pm
Abkiel cant hit.
Gonzalez cant hit.
Lee cant hit.
Unless Bobby can figure out how to get Heyward and McCann to hit twice each in the lineup…
the season may be lost.
Trey
September 4th, 2010
4:22 pm
“Hey Trey, I’m a Brave fan and have been most of life. That doesn’t mean you support bad play, bad trades, and bad management (Wren and Cox).”
To the Braves fan that said this statement. Where did I say to support bad plays? No one supports bad plays, but I did say that if you are not going to be a Braves fan anymore, just because you don’t like how they play then you are not a real Braves fan.
Trey
September 4th, 2010
4:24 pm
Oh, yes, Trey. willieg has horrendous grammar, misspelling, and his posts are always very negative. Much like ExBravesFan.
Then it probably was Willie G, who I asked if was related to Willie B after some of his horrible remarks last night.
Trey
September 4th, 2010
4:26 pm
Poor ol’ Willie B, kept in the zoo and he didn’t know what to do, but at least he did not die of the flu.
Salty Dawg
September 4th, 2010
4:26 pm
Man, Rice is giving Texas all they can handle in the 1st half. Tied 3-3 in the 2nd quarter.
Salty Dawg
September 4th, 2010
4:27 pm
Man, Rice is giving Texas all they can handle in the 1st half. Tied 3-3 in the 2nd quarter.
Scratch that. Guess I spoke too soon.
Inquiring Minds Wanna Know
September 4th, 2010
4:30 pm
See ya, Phillistein. You’re more civil than most Phillies’ trolls, I’ll give you that.
May the best team win.
Chop Chop
September 4th, 2010
4:30 pm
The Braves’ run differential will see them through.
No need to show up for the last 27.
It’s in the bag.
Bartholomew (Bat) Masterson
September 4th, 2010
4:31 pm
The Phillies are 2nd in MLB attendance (Braves are 14th). And it’s not just blogs……we visit other cities in record numbers…. _ Phillistein
Willy Wally
September 1st, 2010
1:31 pm
The Braves have drawn 2 million or more fans in a season 20 years in a row.
The longest streak of drawing 2 million or more fans in a season for the Yankees is 15 years (1996-2010).
The longest streak of drawing 2 million or more fans in a season for the Mets is 13 years (1998-2010).
The Braves have drawn 3 million or more fans in a season 6 times. The Mets? 5 times.
The Yankees have drawn 2.3 million or more fans in a season only 21 times. The Mets have drawn 2.3 million or more fans only 17 times. The Braves have done it 18 years in a row. This will be the 19th season in a row
The Phillies have drawn 2.3 million or more for six years in a row ……………… OY!
Plate Appearance
September 4th, 2010
4:35 pm
A NEEDED SHAKEUP
I agree with the comments made about shaking up the lineup and getting Glaus back in there!
Let Glaus at least try 3B. His leg did look like it was improved in Gwinnett — and he said he felt much more comfortable at third than first.
Put Infante in LF. Then platoon him with Glaus at 3B, giving Hinske and Diaz some starts in LF.
Move Melky over to CF and just give Ankiel an occasional start against righthanders.
And at least platoon Freeman with Lee.
Bobby’s got to do something now to shake things up — with the lead now at one game. But lamentably the lineup today again looks all too similar. But at least he moved Lee down to the 5 hole.
It does seem that Wren was more hopeful than realistic in trading for Lee and Ankiel, based on their stats earlier in the season. Clearly neither has “bounced back” to the kind of stats they’ve had in previous years.
Trey
September 4th, 2010
4:35 pm
Bat and to think, they did not start drawing that until they were winning. The Braves attendence has been consistant over the years.
Salty Dawg
September 4th, 2010
4:38 pm
Don’t know if this will post or not, but here’s a little more info on America’s most popular baseball teams from the folks at Harrison Interactive…
Team
1999 Rank
2003 Rank
2004 Rank
2005 Rank
2006 Rank
2007 Rank
2008 Rank
2009 Rank
2010 Rank
New York Yankees
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Boston Red Sox
8
6
4
4
5
3
3
2
2
Atlanta Braves
1
2
3
2
3
2
2
3
3
Philadelphia Phillies
16
12
6
13
13
18
6
7
4
Rob
September 4th, 2010
4:38 pm
Chop Chop:
I hope the Braves feel “it’s in the bag.” I’m not talking trash, but if I were a Braves fan I would be very concerned. Too many injuries, bad trades and a terrible road record will not help you make the postseason. In addition, while all of those “walk off” wins show the depth of your team’s character, I don’t believe statistically you can count on that happening……..especially when it’s crunch time.
rayK
September 4th, 2010
4:39 pm
those 3 bats Wren acquired are really jump starting our offense. I don’t know who is worse among Lee, Ankiel and Gonzalez.
meanwhile, the White Sox got Manny for nothing and the Yanks got Kearns for a mid level AAA prospect.
and Wren knows what he is doing ?
Lee and Ankiel are real power threats
maybe we’ll win the wild card if the giants and cards play as mediocre as us
Salty Dawg
September 4th, 2010
4:39 pm
Well it didn’t post in a table, but you can see where the top 4 rank. Oddly, the Phillies seem to have become a lot more popular over the last 3 years. Wonder why? Couldn’t be a bunch of bandwagon “fans” could it?
Trey
September 4th, 2010
4:40 pm
Rob, so what would you have traded for this year?
Bartholomew (Bat) Masterson
September 4th, 2010
4:40 pm
Trey_
The Braves started to draw big when they started to win too. The difference is, the Braves have been winning for a very long time. Even the past four years, when the Braves were mediocre, expectations were high and the Braves draw was respectful.
Trey
September 4th, 2010
4:42 pm
Salty, who, Philadelphia with bandwagon fans? No way! Not the Phillies fans as bandwagon fans.
Trey
September 4th, 2010
4:44 pm
Bat, but of course our fan base and attendence has still been far more consistant than Philadelphia. Then again, winning is a new thing for Phillies fans.
Salty Dawg
September 4th, 2010
4:45 pm
Salty, who, Philadelphia with bandwagon fans? No way! Not the Phillies fans as bandwagon fans.
I’m just saying that perhaps the “fans” who shout obscenities at their own players are only in it because they’re winning. Of course, the same could be said for some Braves “fans”, though I think we have a more concrete and wide reaching fan base.
Rob
September 4th, 2010
4:45 pm
Salty Dog, have you ever been to Veteran’s Stadium? In addtion to it being down right terrible, it held over 60K. of course our percentage was down.
As far as trades, while I know Escobar was not well liked and was not hitting, you could have used his glove. I wonder now that Chipper is out, if the Braves would have made the deal in hindsight. No one could have predicted your injuries to your starters, just like how the injury bug has hit Philly. We just are lucky enough to maybe start peaking at the right time of year. If someone asked me before the season started, I would have said Phillies to win the division by 3-5 games over the Braves. I knew the Braves would be tough. I still stand by the 3-5 games. My trip is booked to Atlanta for the Final weekend of the season
Braveheart
September 4th, 2010
4:45 pm
Heyward goes all Raging Bull on Freddie about the bacon:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qp1A-QfIg0k
Heyward: Is it done?
Freddie: No, it’s not done.
Heyward: Don’t overcook it. You overcook it, it’s no good. It defeats its own purpose.
[Freddie gives Jason a stern but nasty look]
Heyward: What are you doin’? I just said don’t overcook it. You’re overcookin’ it, bring it over.
Freddie: You want your bacon?
Heyward: Bring it over. Bring it over! It’s like a piece of charcoal! Bring it over here!
Freddie: You want your bacon?
Heyward: YEAH, RIGHT NOW!
[Freddie stabs the bacon, exits the stove and slams the bacon on his plate.]
Freddie: Okay. There’s your stupid bacon. Can’t wait for it to be done?
Heyward: No, I can’t wait.
Freddie: Good! Okay? Happy? Happy?
Heyward: That’s all I want. That’s all I want!
Freddie: That’s… there! No, more! There!
[Heyward violently upends the table, leaving all things to spill]
Heyward: Botherin’ me about bacon, huh? You’re botherin’ me about bacon?
Ill-a-delph
September 4th, 2010
4:46 pm
america’s team can’t get 20,000 to a game in the midst of a playoff race – pretty sad really – the Phillies are America’s team now my southern friends, get used to it