Simmons, Braves ready to take on Brewers
(Staff writer Carroll Rogers is filling in for David O’Brien this series.)
Milwaukee – So it’s Monday, Sept. 10 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and you know what that means? Andrelton Simmons is scheduled to rejoin the Braves lineup. All indications are the dynamic young shortstop from Curacao will be back in the lineup tonight for the series opener at Miller Park.
His bat has been a pretty good indicator of his readiness too. Simmons has hit .320 (8-for-25) with two doubles, two home runs and six RBIs in six games during his minor league rehabilitation assignment. And this is a guy who hit only one home run all last season while playing in the Carolina League.
But this season Simmons had taken his offensive progression to new heights, reaching the major leagues at the end of May and then winning National league rookie of the month in June at a time when he was being counted on mostly for his defense.
Simmons hit .296 (34-for-115) with seven doubles, one triple, three home runs and 15 RBIs in 33 games for the Braves overall.
Last we saw Simmons in a game was July 8 in Philadelphia, a little more than two months ago, when he slid into second base head first, earning a hustle-double but also a fractured fifth metacarpal. Simmons actually stayed in the game in the bottom of the inning before coming out.
But he’s been chomping at the bit for much of the past two months, and I’m sure he’s beyond excited about tonight. His enthusiasm has been running high, just to get back playing in games. He had designs on winning a championship ring while he was down in Lynchburg, his third stop in three minor league levels during his rehab assignment (he played one game for Double-A Mississippi and one for Rome.)
Simmons helped the Hillcats complete a 2-1 series victory over Wilmington in the first round of the playoffs when he hit one of their two solo home runs in a 2-1 win on Friday. They split their first two games in the best-of-five Mills Cup series before he left the team on Sunday. Simmons DH’d on Sunday, most likely to protect his legs on his final day of rehab, and went 2-for-5 with two doubles and one RBI.
Simmons has been quite the road warrior this week, traveling from Mobile to Rome to Lynchburg to Winston-Salem to Milwaukee from one Sunday to the next. Good thing he’s 23 years old and has a lot of spring in his step! I’ll catch up with him this afternoon and post a note.
Brewers update
So the Braves open this three-game series against yet another team that’s pretty hot, considering its plight in the overall scheme of things. That’s what the Braves faced in the Padres, who’d won seven in a row when they played the Braves. Same thing with the Phillies, who’d won eight of 12, the Rockies, who’d won 10 of 14, and now the Brewers, who have won 15 of 20.
The Brewers very nearly swept the Cardinals in St. Louis over the weekend. They tied the game 4-4 in the ninth when Norichika Aoki hit a two-run home run with two outs off Cards closer Jason Motte, but the Cardinals rallied with a run in the bottom of the 10th.
That loss dropped the Brewers back to six games behind the Cardinals for the second wild card spot, tied with the Phillies and trailing the Dodgers and Pirates. It’d be tough but they still have some hope, and the Brewers have won 14 of their last 16 games at Miller Park, including their last six in a row.
Ryan Braun (sore wrist) and Corey Hart (sprained ankle) both had to leave Sunday’s game and are considered day-to-day.
The Brewers, who traded Zack Greinke at the deadline when things were spiraling for them, called up four of their prospects in September including the one pitching tonight Wily Peralta against Mike Minor. Peralta was considered the Brewers’ top pitching prospect to start the season. He’s made his first major league start Wednesday against the Marlins, and had a quality start, giving up three runs in six innings to record the win in an 8-5 victory.
On the aggressive
The Braves are 81-60 through 141 games. Through 141 games last year, the Braves were 82-59. So they are just one game off the pace they were on in early September, when things were still on the up-and-up. Judging by what Fredi Gonzalez has been doing of late, the Braves are not going to sit back and wait for things to happen for them (or to them) this September.
DOB did an astute job of explaining this in his game story from Sunday’s win in New York, but basically the way I see it, this time around Gonzalez has a) a better-rested bullpen b) he benched Dan Uggla for a three-game stretch, which seems to have rewarded Gonzalez in the long haul as Uggla came back out of the layoff on the attack.
C) He used Craig Kimbrel for a four-out save on Wednesday, then came back Sunday and pitched him in the ninth inning of a tie game on the road, because he saw breaking tradition a small price to pay to handle the key matchups of the game. D) He’s also used Martin Prado at shortstop in four of the past five games, looking for an offensive boost where Paul Janish hadn’t offered much in that regard.
So we’ll just have to wait and see what’s in store as we go but we’re learning to expect the unexpected.
Frick Award and more
Tallies from the first round of voting on the fan nomination for the Ford C. Frick award were released this morning and both the late great Skip Caray and Pete Van Wieren were both among the 41 top vote-getters out of a possible 200 broadcasters.
Voting resumed today and will continue until 5 p.m. on Oct. 5. The top three vote-getters will appear on the ballot along with seven finalists chosen by the Hall of Fame committee. The winner will be chosen by a 21-member panel, including 15 former Frick award winners, and announced at the winter meetings. Fan votes from the first round don’t carry over to this round, so if you want to support Skip and Pete,go to www.facebook.com/baseballhall.
Major League Baseball will commemorate the 11th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks with on-field tributes on Tuesday, and players, coaches and umpires will wear American flag patches on the side of their caps for their games on Tuesday.
Braves lineup:
1. Bourn CF
2. Prado LF
3. Heyward RF
4. Jones 3B
5. Freeman 1B
6. Uggla 2B
7. McCann C
8. Simmons SS
9. Minor P
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982 comments Add your comment
Andy
September 10th, 2012
3:58 pm
Excited for Andrelton’s return, but let’s remember that the guy is a (barely) 23-year-old who had never played in AAA a few months ago. Hoping for the best, but outstanding defense, a .240 BA and no power would be more than sufficient from him.
Ron H
September 10th, 2012
3:58 pm
Nice new blog!
Weaseal
September 10th, 2012
3:58 pm
Yeah Carroll !!! Go Braves
CSP
September 10th, 2012
3:58 pm
Welcome Back Andrelton!!
nolie
September 10th, 2012
3:59 pm
almost hoping for a loss yesterday just to show how stupid that bullpen approach is…
nolie
September 10th, 2012
4:02 pm
Thank you carroll
raleighbravefan
September 10th, 2012
4:04 pm
Cue the DOB bashing…”by George”
Venice Jim
September 10th, 2012
4:04 pm
Thanks, Carroll!
Venice Jim
September 10th, 2012
4:05 pm
Atlanta Braves @Braves
Tonight’s lineup at MIL (8:10, SPSO/680AM/BRN): Bourn 8 Prado 7 Heyward 9 Jones 5 Freeman 3 Uggla 4 McCann 2 Simmons 6 Minor 1
raleighbravefan
September 10th, 2012
4:10 pm
I like the lineup.
raleighbravefan
September 10th, 2012
4:11 pm
I like the lineup for tonight.
Outta here. I guess I’m not very clutch.
raleighbravefan
September 10th, 2012
4:11 pm
I like the lineup for tonight.
Outta here. I guess I’m not very clutch.
raleighbravefan
September 10th, 2012
4:14 pm
Sorry for the “triple clutch”. I’m having trouble getting the darn thing to go.
ChattTownBrian
September 10th, 2012
4:21 pm
O’Brien is on a vacation AGAIN?!
MiaBchBravesFan
September 10th, 2012
4:22 pm
This may sound batty, but given it’s the Brewers, I would spot-start Ben Sheets in one of the three games. As I said yesterday, I would spot-start Sheets down the stretch to keep him in the loop for a possible playoff run, and thus provide starters with an extra day of much-needed rest. Of course, all of this is predicated on the soundness of Sheets’ shoulder, which may be fatigue more than anything else.
RC
September 10th, 2012
4:26 pm
almost hoping for a loss yesterday just to show how stupid that bullpen approach is…
I actually thought that was a really good move with the bullpen yesterday. If the concern is that Moylan almost gave up the game in the 10th, don’t you think it’s more likely he would have given the game up in the 9th, when the middle of the Mets lineup was up, and he would have to face left-handed batters (and 1 run would lose the game, not simply tie it)?
Chris from the Rock
September 10th, 2012
4:29 pm
I know I sound like a jerk for saying this, but I wouldn’t mind if Braun and/or Hart miss this series.
nolie
September 10th, 2012
4:31 pm
almost hoping for a loss yesterday just to show how stupid that bullpen approach is…
JMO, but no, not really, and it’s not like it had to be Moylan.
I am not a fan of that approach, never have been.
I think there is a reason that it has never been used much in real games
RC
September 10th, 2012
4:31 pm
I know I sound like a jerk for saying this, but I wouldn’t mind if Braun and/or Hart miss this series.
I don’t think that’s a “jerk” thing to say. Saying you hope they get hurt would be a jerk thing to say. Or even saying that you are happy that they are hurt. But hoping that they take their time to heal and don’t rush themselves back to action for a non-playoff bound team? You are just looking out for their well-being (and if the Braves benefit, so be it)
.
DiamondbackMac
September 10th, 2012
4:31 pm
MiaBchBravesFan
I think they may be holding Sheets back for a playoff rotation adjustment.
Dan Uggla's Swing
September 10th, 2012
4:32 pm
@Andy dont understand your comment. Simmons was hitting nearly .300 when he got hurt, and looks like he hasn’t missed a day so far in AAA. I guess low expectations can always bring surprises, but I expect him to come back stronger.
ncbravesfan90
September 10th, 2012
4:32 pm
Brewers lineup 9/10/12
1. Norichika Aoki (L) RF
2. Carlos Gomez (R) CF
3. Ryan Braun (R) LF
4. Aramis Ramirez (R) 3B
5. Rickie Weeks (R) 2B
6. Martin Maldonado (R) C
7. Travis Ishikawa (L) 1B
8. Jeff Bianchi (R) SS
9. Wily Peralta (R) P
Billy Beaneater
September 10th, 2012
4:34 pm
I too have to tip my cap(begrudgingly) to Freddie for yesterday’s win and his recent managerial prowess. Go Braves.
RC
September 10th, 2012
4:35 pm
JMO, but no, not really, and it’s not like it had to be Moylan.
I am not a fan of that approach, never have been.
I think there is a reason that it has never been used much in real games
I just don’t get why it’s viewed as a “bad” idea. If pitchers got saves for keeping games tied in the 9th or later, and instead of being the “closer” Kimbrel was simply referred to as “the best relief pitcher”, then I feel like putting him in the 9th in that situation would be a no brainer. Just because he didn’t get a “save”, doesn’t mean Kimbrel didn’t save that game right there.
Murph
September 10th, 2012
4:38 pm
So glad to have Simmons back, although Janish did a great job filling in… along with the added bonus of making Jack Wilson 100% expendable.
RC
September 10th, 2012
4:38 pm
Brewers lineup 9/10/12
1. Norichika Aoki (L) RF
2. Carlos Gomez (R) CF
3. Ryan Braun (R) LF
4. Aramis Ramirez (R) 3B
5. Rickie Weeks (R) 2B
6. Martin Maldonado (R) C
7. Travis Ishikawa (L) 1B
8. Jeff Bianchi (R) SS
9. Wily Peralta (R) P
If we can just get through those 1st 3 in the order, things should be a lot easier.
Unless of course the Ghost of Aramis Ramirez remembers that he used to destroy Braves pitching. If that happens all bets are off.
ncbravesfan90
September 10th, 2012
4:41 pm
“Unless of course the Ghost of Aramis Ramirez remembers that he used to destroy Braves pitching. If that happens all bets are off.”
This year Ramirez is hitting .297 22 homeruns and 90 RBI, not to mention he is hitting .500 lifetime against Minor….
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 10th, 2012
4:41 pm
Like the lineup tonight…. with Uggla and BMac looking better the last few days, no need to jump Simba over them…
Saw the tweet, VJ. I like it! Get Greinke so we have both of those superstars next year! What a 1-2 that will be.
Jayson Stark @jaysonst
Kris Medlen’s season is ridiculous. Allowed TOTAL of 5 ER in 1st 8 starts. Only pitcher to do that since Fernandomania (’81): Greinke in ‘09
the Ghost of Chipper Jones
September 10th, 2012
4:42 pm
We swept the BREWERS when they were in ATLANTA April 13 thru tax day, so I’m sure the BREW-crew are looking for some retributioin at home. Let’s not give them the satisfaction. 2-3 guys, let’s go BRAVES.
RC
September 10th, 2012
4:42 pm
So glad to have Simmons back, although Janish did a great job filling in… along with the added bonus of making Jack Wilson 100% expendable.
Amen to that. Ways that Janish is superior to Jack Wilson:
1) Just as good on defense
2) At least as good a hitter
3) Cheaper, and should remain so for at least another season
4) Younger
5) Looks like Jimmy Kimmel instead of Gollum from “Lord of the Rings”
6) Has a creative nickname (J-Soft) instead of the most boring name this side of John Smith.
Please feel free to add, this was all I could come up with off the top of my head.
John Leonard
September 10th, 2012
4:44 pm
We need 2 out of 3 real bad.If we can take 2of3 from the Brewers,I believe we, will sweep the Gnats.I hope lighting does’nt strike me,but Shaun is right about the mutts offense,and I could see them taking 2of3.If the above happens I believe we take the division.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 10th, 2012
4:44 pm
Simba better be able to hit! Otherwise, he’s not much of an upgrade over Janish
While it’s amazing what he’s done with the bat this year, I don’t expect it to continue… his swing is too much like Frenchy’s. Lots of holes. However, while it’s working, enjoy!
RC
September 10th, 2012
4:44 pm
This year Ramirez is hitting .297 22 homeruns and 90 RBI, not to mention he is hitting .500 lifetime against Minor….
Holy cow, when did that happen? Given I haven’t paid much attention to Milwaukee this year, but I last I heard he was doing terrible….although now that I think about it that was probably in April.
Seems the rumors of his demise have been greatly exaggerated.
brian
September 10th, 2012
4:45 pm
great – we are facing another pitching prospect with 1 start under his belt…………….
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 10th, 2012
4:45 pm
So glad to have Simmons back, although Janish did a great job filling in… along with the added bonus of making Jack Wilson 100% expendable.
Indeed. Jack Wilson wasn’t a big piece on this team… really just a pinch bunter and a guy who had 3 more steps of range than Rev. Not that special on D.
the Ghost of Chipper Jones
September 10th, 2012
4:45 pm
98.6
brian
September 10th, 2012
4:47 pm
we know simmons will play outstanding defense. It will nt take much offense from him to be an upgrade at the plate now while he is trying to find his groove.
RC
September 10th, 2012
4:47 pm
While it’s amazing what he’s done with the bat this year, I don’t expect it to continue… his swing is too much like Frenchy’s. Lots of holes. However, while it’s working, enjoy!
I disagree that his swing is like Frenchy’s….he makes WAY too much contact for that to be the case. Frenchy had more of an Andruw/Uggla swing, hitting it hard when he made contact, but not making a lot of contact. To me Simmons’ swing is more like Infante’s; lots of contact, but sometimes not enough power to get the ball out of the infield. Also a little TOO good at making contact with pitches off the plate, resulting in slow tappers and weak fly balls.
the Ghost of Chipper Jones
September 10th, 2012
4:47 pm
PERALTA is he LH’d?
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 10th, 2012
4:50 pm
Seeing on Fox5 that Grimes is done for the year… Achilles injury. Not good for Falcons fans at all. Robinson back to #2 corner, yikes! And Franks is 3…. Lordy, we can’t escape the injuries.
the Ghost of Chipper Jones
September 10th, 2012
4:52 pm
DOWN ON YJE FARM
LYNCHBURG
Travel day in the CAROLINA league. Best of five Championship resumes tomorrow with WINSTON-SALEM and the HILLCATS knotted up at 1-1.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 10th, 2012
4:54 pm
rich: I’m seeing that he is a right-handed thrower. That gives us hope!
the Ghost of Chipper Jones
September 10th, 2012
4:55 pm
Is my man EL SID doing any good at DE?
the Ghost of Chipper Jones
September 10th, 2012
4:56 pm
TOBF:
Indeed it does.
cowdogit
September 10th, 2012
4:57 pm
Canstanza’s not in the lineup – No stress on the pitchers – Big swingers like McCann, Jones,Heyward and Uggly will not get the job done tonight.
Gustopher
September 10th, 2012
4:57 pm
Great blog Carroll. I am looking forward to seeing Andrelton play. I met his family, very nice people and very proud of their son.
ncbravesfan90
September 10th, 2012
4:59 pm
“Holy cow, when did that happen? Given I haven’t paid much attention to Milwaukee this year, but I last I heard he was doing terrible….although now that I think about it that was probably in April.
Seems the rumors of his demise have been greatly exaggerated.”
Haha yeah he had a terrible start to the year but really turned it around in the summer months….also Weeks is starting to hit very well of late…
Gustopher
September 10th, 2012
4:59 pm
So good I said it twice
Train Wreck Bystander
September 10th, 2012
5:19 pm
So… are the Brewers giving Chipper a few kegs to take back to the 404?
Mikey
September 10th, 2012
5:25 pm
With McCann apparently healthy and Uggla suddenly not pull happy, it is a pretty exciting bottom third of the lineup with Simmons returning. Like the fact that our “big swingers” will be swinging against right handed pitching all series.
ps. Braves lead ML in walks
kelevra
September 10th, 2012
5:28 pm
last week’s earned runs given up
monday – 0
tuesday – 3
wednesday – 0
thurseday – 0
friday – 0
saturday – 3
sunday – 2
thank you pitching for getting this team back on track
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 10th, 2012
5:28 pm
ps. Braves lead ML in walks
Walks are a good thing. They lead to runs. OBP is king.
And with that, I’m out. Take care all, Braves win tonight, Minor with 6 strong. Heyward and Simba go deep.
Go Braves. Peace.
Efrim
September 10th, 2012
5:30 pm
Thanks for the blog, CR. Go Braves!
Brava
September 10th, 2012
5:36 pm
Carroll,
Thank you for the blog. I tried clicking on the link to vote on the Frick award and it redirects to a blank AJC blog page that states, “comments are closed”.
Mikey
September 10th, 2012
5:43 pm
Chipper’s walk was the winning run last night. Love BB and high pitch counts.
ps. Joey Voto is the only player in ML with a better walk/k ratio then our one and only 40 year old Chipper (Larry) Jones.
Venice Jim
September 10th, 2012
5:48 pm
Well, it almost was…
Carroll Rogers
September 10th, 2012
5:48 pm
Brava, thanks for letting me know. I’ve re-inserted the link several times and for some reason it’s not working….but to vote go to http://www.facebook.com/baseballhall……there’s a tab to “Frick 13″ under the photos at the top of the facebook page. sorry for any confusion!
billy bob baseball
September 10th, 2012
5:54 pm
Glad to see Prado is in LF and the .300 hitting Reed Johnson is on the bench in order to “keep running danny out there.” Because, as we have seen uggla’s back! I can only wonder, back to what? We’ve all seen .200 hitters go an a temporary tear and hit like Dimaggio for 3-4 games before they come back to earth and hit like Mendoza again. I hope I am wrong, but uggla’s recent tear, rather than being an indication of “I’m Back,” is instead just proof of the axiom that “a blind squirrel finds an acorn every now and then.”
ACE
September 10th, 2012
5:56 pm
Put a beat down on the brew crew
ACE
September 10th, 2012
5:56 pm
Put a beat down on the brew crew
Mikey
September 10th, 2012
5:56 pm
V.J.: Sir you are correct! MVP; Mr Prado was/is the man.
Brava
September 10th, 2012
6:00 pm
You’re welcome and thanks, Carroll. I’m not on Facebook, so I guess I can’t vote.
BravesWin
September 10th, 2012
6:03 pm
DOB is cool, but Carroll, you deserve your own byline! Never a bad write! AJC, are you listening?
JHarber
September 10th, 2012
6:04 pm
Brava–I went to Talking Chop. Com went to media tweeps, Mark Bowman he has a good link
ACE
September 10th, 2012
6:07 pm
Thanks Carroll
ACE
September 10th, 2012
6:08 pm
Murray up a set if anyone is concerned about the tennis match
Brava
September 10th, 2012
6:09 pm
Thanks, JHarber. I tried that, and it still appears you have to be a member of Facebook to vote. You have to “Like” the Baseball Hall of Fame to even get to the ballot.
George_George
September 10th, 2012
6:09 pm
I like Carroll and thank you for new blog. I jusu cannot understand why DOB cannot cover two series in a row. If CHIPPER missed as many games as DOB the fans would be up in arms.
ACE
September 10th, 2012
6:10 pm
What a weekend for Atlanta sports. A braves sweep, A dawg win, A tech win and A falcons win.
George_George
September 10th, 2012
6:10 pm
ACE
September 10th, 2012
6:08 pm
Good
ACE
September 10th, 2012
6:11 pm
George, Carroll does a good job.
jimiz
September 10th, 2012
6:11 pm
Enter your comments here
George_George
September 10th, 2012
6:13 pm
ACE
September 10th, 2012
6:10 pm
And USC and SF 49ers won for cab.
George_George
September 10th, 2012
6:14 pm
ACE
September 10th, 2012
6:11 pm
Yup I said I liked her.
JHarber
September 10th, 2012
6:15 pm
Sorry Brava, I had no trouble.
ACE
September 10th, 2012
6:16 pm
A good time all around. unless you are a packers and steelers game.
SeATLite
September 10th, 2012
6:16 pm
Carroll, the Frick link is still broken. Thanks for the blog!
“Fact check”:
- Janish is hitting in the .180s. There is no human way Simmons won’t be an offensive improvement.
- Nolie and other traditionalists have every right to express discomfort with the notion, but the fact is that the data support bringing in your best reliever earlier than the 9th in a high-leverage situation. The reason it hasn’t often been done isn’t because it doesn’t work — it’s because it FEELS counter-intuitive. For most of baseball’s 170-plus years no one had the numbers to crunch whether saving that reliever for the last inning actually made sense. It does in many cases, but now we have the crunched numbers and they tell us there are exceptions. Being on the road in a tie game with the opposing team’s best hitters coming up is the prime example.
Kudos to Fredi for being open-minded. Watching him evolve this year has been one of the joys of watching the team. We often forget that these guys — players, coaches, all of them — aren’t finished products (except maybe for Chipper); they’re all constantly learning, adjusting, and hopefully improving at what they do. Here’s hoping they never stop.
Welcome back, Simmy! Go get ‘em, Mike!
ACE
September 10th, 2012
6:17 pm
should have said fan
George_George
September 10th, 2012
6:18 pm
Brava
September 10th, 2012
6:09 pm
Pray tell, what is Frick award for? I know who he was but don’t know the award.
raleighbravefan
September 10th, 2012
6:20 pm
George – I just cannot understand why DOB’s schedule bothers you. I just can’t.
JHarber
September 10th, 2012
6:20 pm
George, Don’t give DOB too hard a time. You may regret saying that at a later date. Life happens sometimes we don’t want the world to know about it.
George_George
September 10th, 2012
6:21 pm
SeATLite
September 10th, 2012
6:16 pm
FREDI was right yesterday, kudos to him.
cabravesfan
September 10th, 2012
6:21 pm
George_George-
Do you actually think DOB creates his own schedule? That he just works when he feels like it?
jimiz
September 10th, 2012
6:24 pm
Braves pitchers look pretty good lately. I like the way we held down teams with pitching. Reminds me of the old days a bit. But we have to get consistent on offense and pitching at the same time to do any good in the playoffs. I just wanted to thank Paul Yanish he did a great job in relief at short stop. He did alot for us when he was playing and i don’t want him to forget how much we appreciate him and i hope he stays with us. We can sure use a guy like him. Anyway thanks again Paul awesome job. Good luck in the future i would put you on my team for sure if i had one…lol GO BRAVES get those Brewers Mikey.
George_George
September 10th, 2012
6:28 pm
cabravesfan
September 10th, 2012
6:21 pm
Hi cab
I think he must have a Angel on high at the AJC.
Brava
September 10th, 2012
6:29 pm
It’s an annual award presented by the Baseball Hall of Fame to a selected baseball broadcaster, George.
Carl Farvman
September 10th, 2012
6:30 pm
“George – I just cannot understand why DOB’s schedule bothers you. I just can’t.”
Yeah, I thought the same thing. Never in my 30+ years of following sports while living in several markets have I paused to contemplate the schedule of a sports beat writer. Weird stuff,man.
Brava
September 10th, 2012
6:30 pm
jimiz, I second your comments about Paul Janish. He really stepped up for us.
ncscoots
September 10th, 2012
6:33 pm
Nolie and other traditionalists have every right to express discomfort with the notion, but the fact is that the data support bringing in your best reliever earlier than the 9th in a high-leverage situation.
Perhaps you might enlighten us on the data of which you speak. What exactly does the data say? How was that data collected? And so forth. I’m certainly open to the idea, but I haven’t seen anything that is close to being conclusive abut the notion. And I’ve read plenty on the subject.
But if there’s something I haven’t seen, please share it with us.
George_George
September 10th, 2012
6:34 pm
Brava
September 10th, 2012
6:29 pm
Hi Brava
Thank you, who do we need to vote for? I am sorry I did not read CArroll’s blog.
Puma
September 10th, 2012
6:37 pm
Anyone else think Phillies have a shot at the playoffs…they are scaring me lately. We really need to win division, I don’t like our chances in 1 game playoff format. Kind of blows that whole season can come down to 1 game. I think I’d rather at least see 2 of 3 or something.
Brava
September 10th, 2012
6:39 pm
George, Skip Caray and Pete Van Wieren are on the ballot.
Brava
September 10th, 2012
6:41 pm
Puma, the Phillies certainly are on a tear and, it’s a longshot, but I could see them getting the other WC slot.
George_George
September 10th, 2012
6:43 pm
Puma
September 10th, 2012
6:37 pm
AGREED, I have been saying it all season long.
ACE
September 10th, 2012
6:45 pm
Murray won the second set for those keeping score
George_George
September 10th, 2012
6:48 pm
Outta here for a bit, Good to have SIMMONS back. LETS KEEP THE WINS COMMING.
tony austin
September 10th, 2012
7:07 pm
You mean you can’t stay on the blog for the entire game George_George? It must be nice to leave during the game. If Chipper left during the game he’d be tarred and feathered.
abeeeewright
September 10th, 2012
7:08 pm
I’ve already called Nats versus Phils in the play in game (last blog). Get with the program!
AZBravoFan
September 10th, 2012
7:10 pm
This blog cracks me up. Go back to one of those extra inning road games that we long and how many people cursed Fredi for not using Kimbrel? I thought it was really good managing. He essentially challenged the heart of his order to win the game now, and they did. If Moylan gives up a run there then it’s tied again and the game rolls on. If he pitches the ninth and leaves one up to Davis or Duda the game is over and people are cursing Fredi again for leaving his best pitcher on the bench.
74bravesjersey
September 10th, 2012
7:12 pm
I recall andrelton won a batting title or two in the minors & was hitting pretty decent before the bravos called him up earlier this year, & he was clutch several occasions even while everyone else was slumping before he got hurt. I’d say the kids gotta pretty good idea of the strikezone. He’s young, but pretty good poise at the plate. He’ll spark em’ up again, or bring added spark.
REMLEY
September 10th, 2012
7:20 pm
Is JJ in permanant exile?
Efrim
September 10th, 2012
7:21 pm
34 qualified starting pitchers in the National League have an ERA of 3.98 or lower.
19 qualified starting pitchers in the American League have an ERA that mark(3.98) or lower.
HellBilly
September 10th, 2012
7:30 pm
Enter your comments here
HellBilly
September 10th, 2012
7:36 pm
good to have simmons back!…..but congrats to janish for is solid playing he saved us quite a few runs with his D so from all us braves fans Thanx…..looks like the team is startin to gel at just the right time.
The bats are making contact,the starters are makin qualty starts,and the bullpen has been lights out! i say dont setle for the wild card lets go win the east! {its still possiable.}
nolie
September 10th, 2012
7:39 pm
it’s because it FEELS counter-intuitive.
not so sure I would call myself a traditionalist because I disagree with some of the modern thoughts. I was using OBP as a scout B4 there was really even a name for it.
In this case, it’s because you never know which will be the toughest outs till they have all appeared.and you numbers guys can not see any psychological difference between setup and closing even though there have been any number of pitchers who were great relievers but flopped as closers.
I’m pretty sure the saber-guys approach will not catch on in the near future if ever other than in isolated circumstances. and what you call proof, I call simulations, which really “prove” nothing
Efrim
September 10th, 2012
7:45 pm
I’d say there is enough proof out there about the difference between getting those final 3 outs only up one run. Some guys can’t pitch in high leverage situations – that’s a fact. I’d say there is a difference.
Murph
September 10th, 2012
7:46 pm
Last year it was KK who was sent to rot in the minors… this year it’s JJ.
Who’s next? MM?
JHarber
September 10th, 2012
7:49 pm
Murph Have you watched any games since All-Star break?
nolie
September 10th, 2012
7:51 pm
we are really back to the “clutch” debate Efrim, whether it is as a hitter or as a pitcher. THe thing is, like DOB, has said B4 you won’t find very many guys who have played high level sports who don’t recognize that some players handle stressful situations better than others do,
optimist
September 10th, 2012
7:52 pm
Nolie,
The psychological angle vs. simulation makes sense. But I gotta believe that Fredi’s move there, whether it is ever done again instead of in this most crucial September after the collapse of 2011, had to have a “plus” mental effect on the team as well, don’t you think? One of several messages that seem to have been sent – not business as usual, but rather we will fight tooth and nail for every single game now no matter how it might look.
I like it – after seeing so many years of what appeared to be “same as usual” when it came to playoff time.
nolie
September 10th, 2012
7:53 pm
should be LL , Murph
jeffrey d
September 10th, 2012
7:56 pm
Lois Lane
nolie
September 10th, 2012
7:57 pm
perhaps in that aspect. Optimist. you might well be right..
but what if it had failed as it almost did?
but although I don’t think it is a good idea on any kind of regular basis, I gotta give Fredi props for using it, cause he left himself open to a huge amount of second guessing.
JHarber
September 10th, 2012
8:00 pm
I have to give him credit for being creative
Capt.Mudd
September 10th, 2012
8:00 pm
@Efrim….7:25…..This may be the reason you are blogging on a National League team’s site/blog.
nolie
September 10th, 2012
8:00 pm
The thing is that Bill James, the original guru, has come out the last few years and said that he has second thoughts about clutch, and he is no longer certain that he denies its existence
Efrim
September 10th, 2012
8:01 pm
Agreed, nolie.
JHarber
September 10th, 2012
8:02 pm
nolie, who is LL?
nolie
September 10th, 2012
8:04 pm
nobody I know of JHarber, I was just foolin’ around. JJ, KK…LL
JHarber
September 10th, 2012
8:04 pm
OK, Had me lost.
Efrim
September 10th, 2012
8:05 pm
CaptMudd, just sort of pointing out that it’s harder to pitch in the big boys league – AL.
nolie
September 10th, 2012
8:08 pm
Ef, you mean “the Nine Hitters” league??
Brava
September 10th, 2012
8:10 pm
Go Braves!!!
Simba
September 10th, 2012
8:12 pm
basehit bourney !!
DiamondbackMac
September 10th, 2012
8:12 pm
nolie
How about II?
nolie
September 10th, 2012
8:12 pm
makes Tommy look positively svelte….
Capt.Mudd
September 10th, 2012
8:14 pm
Bianchi…..Be Yankee……oh I get it Chirp!!!
Venice Jim
September 10th, 2012
8:16 pm
Nice job, Jason! (both Chip and the Brewers’ announcer said “muscled”)…
Efrim
September 10th, 2012
8:16 pm
Nationals winning again…..3-0.
Venice Jim
September 10th, 2012
8:16 pm
Sigh…
nolie
September 10th, 2012
8:16 pm
not really even close
Fredo
September 10th, 2012
8:17 pm
meh, good throw
Capt.Mudd
September 10th, 2012
8:17 pm
@Efrim///No question where the balance of power is in MLB….the free swingers are, well, “swingers.”
Efrim
September 10th, 2012
8:20 pm
Jason at 70.3% in SB attempts. Of course, he was 8 for 8 through April and is now 11 for 19 since May 1st.
Efrim
September 10th, 2012
8:22 pm
What does everyone think about Carlos Gomez? Another name out there as a CF replacement for Bourn.
Capt.Mudd
September 10th, 2012
8:22 pm
Aoki…..Night?
nolie
September 10th, 2012
8:22 pm
Like to see Jason get 20 this season, but in general I am not a fan of guys his size with his pop running a lot
Efrim
September 10th, 2012
8:25 pm
Totally agree, noles. Don’t really care for it – just continue to be a great baserunner as he is. SB’s lead to injuries, especially for a man his size.
Efrim
September 10th, 2012
8:27 pm
nolie, you see Chris Young could be traded this winter? Your two favorites – Bossman Junior and Chris “I only hit in Zona” Young.
Capt.Mudd
September 10th, 2012
8:29 pm
That costs us….c’mon now scoop—scoop
Venice Jim
September 10th, 2012
8:29 pm
Nice job, Mike!!!
Fredo
September 10th, 2012
8:31 pm
long inning for Mike, almost 30 pitches and they only put one runner on base
nolie
September 10th, 2012
8:31 pm
difficult choice there Efrim…
George_George
September 10th, 2012
8:33 pm
Heck of a tennis match going on. GO BRAVES.
nolie
September 10th, 2012
8:33 pm
place is dead when they are on a good streak. Sad
Efrim
September 10th, 2012
8:34 pm
Upton, Victorino, Bourn, Pagan…..Gomez, DeJesus, Stubbs, Jay, Fowler, Young, Crisp, Bourjos, Cain, Span, Brantley, Rasmus…. – okay list….that’s why I’d expect Wren to get someone completely out of our radar, which may be good or bad.
Venice Jim
September 10th, 2012
8:34 pm
Enter your comments here
Venice Jim
September 10th, 2012
8:35 pm
Moron…
ncbravesfan90
September 10th, 2012
8:35 pm
Running ourselves out of it thus far….
Efrim
September 10th, 2012
8:35 pm
60 walks for Freeman. Well done.
Venice Jim
September 10th, 2012
8:35 pm
Not just me, apparently…
nolie
September 10th, 2012
8:35 pm
bases are killing us…
Capt.Mudd
September 10th, 2012
8:36 pm
Good dang morning Freddy—scouting report on catcher available!!!
Fredo
September 10th, 2012
8:36 pm
meh good throw … again
Venice Jim
September 10th, 2012
8:36 pm
nolie – I was thinking the same thing about the lack of realists being here…
Wake Up Jeff! (and Freddie)
September 10th, 2012
8:36 pm
think we have established that the Brewers catcher isn’t to be trifled with.
Venice Jim
September 10th, 2012
8:37 pm
Andy Murray up 2 breaks in the 5th…
Capt.Mudd
September 10th, 2012
8:37 pm
Slow Poke can’t wander
Wake Up Jeff! (and Freddie)
September 10th, 2012
8:37 pm
Wendy’s girl has Bozo colored hair.
Kat
September 10th, 2012
8:38 pm
Thanks for the new blog Carroll.
abeeeewright
September 10th, 2012
8:38 pm
Lex Luthor sent Lois Lane to rot in the minors?
nolie
September 10th, 2012
8:39 pm
fence posts should stay planted, not wander around
Efrim
September 10th, 2012
8:39 pm
How can folks not be rooting for Murray…..great story.
Everyone know he grew up in the town where they had that grammar school shooting Scotland? Sad story.
George_George
September 10th, 2012
8:40 pm
Outta here to watch game and sneak a peek at tennis. Nite y’all.
Wake Up Jeff! (and Freddie)
September 10th, 2012
8:40 pm
Freddie looked a bit foolish on that pickoff. Don’t think it’s a problem for Freddie. He seems to be like a goose who has a short memory and wakes up in a new world every day.
Capt.Mudd
September 10th, 2012
8:40 pm
Weeks is uggla? C’mon Joe give the guy a break
Venice Jim
September 10th, 2012
8:41 pm
Up one break in the fifth…
Bat Masterson
September 10th, 2012
8:42 pm
One realist present and a counted for here.
Venice Jim
September 10th, 2012
8:42 pm
Capt – Brewers announcers making same comparison…
nolie
September 10th, 2012
8:42 pm
MM not sharp so far, not a good thang….
Wake Up Jeff! (and Freddie)
September 10th, 2012
8:42 pm
If Mike doesn’t stop nibbling, his pitch count will have him out in the fourth!
George_George
September 10th, 2012
8:42 pm
GO MURRAY, GO BRAVES.
nolie
September 10th, 2012
8:45 pm
just cause a guy has little command does not necessarily mean that he is nibbling, he’s just not putting it where he wants to. you can see he has missed the mitt a lot so far. same thing with Tommy often
Wake Up Jeff! (and Freddie)
September 10th, 2012
8:45 pm
“Is JJ in permanant exile?”
Yes
abeeeewright
September 10th, 2012
8:45 pm
Has Sheets already thrown his sim game? If MM can’t make it through the fourth, Sheets could get his sim start against his old mates.
nolie
September 10th, 2012
8:46 pm
there was a good’un
Capt.Mudd
September 10th, 2012
8:47 pm
ISHIKAWA….ishikawa…kawa…kawa; I can’t stop this feeling, deep inside of me…..girl you just don’t realize what you mean to me……..
abeeeewright
September 10th, 2012
8:47 pm
I wonder if JJ’s permanent exile is permanent midnight.
the Ghost of Chipper Jones
September 10th, 2012
8:47 pm
May cash in early tonight, pretty tired. BUT………..GO BRAVES, bring one home for me.
Venice Jim
September 10th, 2012
8:49 pm
Way too many pitches…
nolie
September 10th, 2012
8:49 pm
How is Mrs Ghost tonight, rich?
Venice Jim
September 10th, 2012
8:49 pm
But, good…
brian
September 10th, 2012
8:50 pm
Very nice minor.
Capt.Mudd
September 10th, 2012
8:50 pm
@VJ….that’s ironic…..don’t have ‘em on…..I go withour guys for audio and visual vis-a-vis Fox Sports South [exclusively].
Mark
September 10th, 2012
8:50 pm
Gonzos “feet first torn ACL” slide, serves as more proof that not all slides that result in injury are head first!
Bat Masterson
September 10th, 2012
8:54 pm
Take care, rich. Best wishes for your wife’s health.
nolie
September 10th, 2012
8:56 pm
poor Mac. Turtles are such an apt icon for McFann
Kat
September 10th, 2012
9:07 pm
Anyone else having connection issues with the blog?
Hugo Z Hackenbush
September 10th, 2012
9:08 pm
I’ve had issues the last couple of weeks, Kat.
Brava
September 10th, 2012
9:08 pm
I am, Kat.
Train Wreck Bystander
September 10th, 2012
9:08 pm
Minor keeps finding ways out of the jam jar!
Bat Masterson
September 10th, 2012
9:08 pm
Crazy blog these days. I’m watching the game online but can’t “connect” to the blog.
Carroll Rogers
September 10th, 2012
9:09 pm
Bat, I was having problems too….just able to log back in. not sure what’s going on, but i alerted the powers that be
Venice Jim
September 10th, 2012
9:09 pm
Well done, Andy Murray!
Mark
September 10th, 2012
9:09 pm
Yes Kat
Almost to the point i’m about done
Venice Jim
September 10th, 2012
9:11 pm
Capt – as I efforted to say, have Brewers’ broadcast on TV (no choice), muted Braves’ broadcast on TV and listening to Jim and Don (since they are ahead) – tennis was on cab’s computer, but flipped to TV to watch the end…
Wake Up Jeff! (and Freddie)
September 10th, 2012
9:12 pm
Maybe it has something to do with the GoDaddy Denial of Service that Anonymous launched today.
ChattTownBrian
September 10th, 2012
9:12 pm
Brewers have to be low on money – they can’t even afford clubhouse barbers.
Venice Jim
September 10th, 2012
9:12 pm
‘Teen!!!
Kat
September 10th, 2012
9:13 pm
My connection can be spotted sometimes, just wanted to make sure it wasn’t just me. thx
Carroll Rogers
September 10th, 2012
9:13 pm
i think it might be related to the new system we’re using for our website. hope y’all will bear with us. sorry about this.
Venice Jim
September 10th, 2012
9:14 pm
AAaaargh!!!
Fredo
September 10th, 2012
9:14 pm
meh, good throw .. for the third time
ChattTownBrian
September 10th, 2012
9:14 pm
Aoki is gettin’ on my nerves!
ncbravesfan90
September 10th, 2012
9:14 pm
And we’re still running ourselves out of the game….Geez. Unless you have the Yankees offense you can’t do that.
phil
September 10th, 2012
9:15 pm
Bench Prado…..fat and slow.
njbraves
September 10th, 2012
9:15 pm
Baserunning is a mess tonight.
Bat Masterson
September 10th, 2012
9:15 pm
Oh good, give ‘em heck, Carroll.
Wake Up Jeff! (and Freddie)
September 10th, 2012
9:15 pm
Saw that coming when Prado rounded second. Aggressive baserunning good sometimes. Sometimes not. Braves have looked silly on the paths tonight.
Veer
September 10th, 2012
9:15 pm
pathetic base running by the braves today. Costing themselves outs.
Venice Jim
September 10th, 2012
9:15 pm
Heyward should stay at first even if Chipper hits the ball…
Venice Jim
September 10th, 2012
9:16 pm
CHIPPER!!!
Wake Up Jeff! (and Freddie)
September 10th, 2012
9:16 pm
Shame, cost the Braves a run.
Fredo
September 10th, 2012
9:16 pm
yay, 1-0!!
…..
phil
September 10th, 2012
9:16 pm
Attaboy, Chipper!
Capt.Mudd
September 10th, 2012
9:16 pm
OK….Ok…Let’s cook now guys
Mark
September 10th, 2012
9:17 pm
Teeen is a great ball player. Wish he was a little quicker afoot though!
phil
September 10th, 2012
9:17 pm
1-0? No
ncbravesfan90
September 10th, 2012
9:18 pm
Well baserunning costs us a run that inning…oh well
Veer
September 10th, 2012
9:18 pm
Freeman will never be a superstar with swing like that
Venice Jim
September 10th, 2012
9:18 pm
So, there are people here who think a runner should always hold up at 2nd on a single towards the right field line?
phil
September 10th, 2012
9:18 pm
Fat Freddie….sigh.
Fredo
September 10th, 2012
9:18 pm
well at least they still manged to strand their first runner in scoring position for this series
M.V.P.Heyward
September 10th, 2012
9:18 pm
Freddie Freeman has struggled.
Mark
September 10th, 2012
9:19 pm
We strike out too blame much!
I hate Ks – When we are hitting. Big fan when in the field.
Capt.Mudd
September 10th, 2012
9:19 pm
Aoki……Artichoke
Wake Up Jeff! (and Freddie)
September 10th, 2012
9:19 pm
Braves having a suck contest tonight. Freddie, picked off at first and k’s on 3 pitches with runner on third. But lets not forget Martin continues to think he is Usain Bolt. He isn’t. In fact, his speed is average at best.
Wake Up Jeff! (and Freddie)
September 10th, 2012
9:19 pm
Braves having a suck contest tonight. Freddie, picked off at first and k’s on 3 pitches with runner on third. But lets not forget Martin continues to think he is Usain Bolt. He isn’t. In fact, his speed is average at best.
Capt.Mudd
September 10th, 2012
9:19 pm
Enter your comments here
phil
September 10th, 2012
9:19 pm
Nailed by a good throw….it happens.
Venice Jim
September 10th, 2012
9:19 pm
Let’s cook now guys
I was going to wait a half hour, but I suppose i could…
ncbravesfan90
September 10th, 2012
9:19 pm
“So, there are people here who think a runner should always hold up at 2nd on a single towards the right field line?”
If it actually is to the right field line, heck no, go to third, but if it is pretty much directly to the right fielder then yes you hold up, especially with the 3-4 hitters coming up.
ChattTownBrian
September 10th, 2012
9:20 pm
Freddie does have a mighty uppercut going on there.
tony austin
September 10th, 2012
9:21 pm
It might be me but it seems like Freeman fouls one off to the right in every AB.
brian
September 10th, 2012
9:21 pm
Why do the braves struggle so much against these young and inexperienced pitchers
tony austin
September 10th, 2012
9:22 pm
I meant to the left.
ChattTownBrian
September 10th, 2012
9:22 pm
I was fixing to “BALLGAME” on that one.
phil
September 10th, 2012
9:23 pm
Prado ain’t swuft….
Veer
September 10th, 2012
9:23 pm
Minor is lucky to have given up zero runs. Brewers have missed a couple of homeruns by inches and by fouling it off.
Capt.Mudd
September 10th, 2012
9:23 pm
Thank you VJ…and give my regards to Cabravesfan too.
ChattTownBrian
September 10th, 2012
9:24 pm
Man that catcher’s face doesn’t match his body. Like Jaun Pierre.
Mark
September 10th, 2012
9:24 pm
Rather he would have made it but it took a perfect throw to get him. Ball was hit behind Teeen so he is doing what the 3rd base coach calls for there.
I’m old school – Never make the 1st or 3rd out at 3rd but in that spot and with it being the second out I would have brought him to third also. Of course, the way it turned out, I’d gotten him thrown out too!
phil
September 10th, 2012
9:24 pm
Freddie wants us to lose…
ChattTownBrian
September 10th, 2012
9:25 pm
I mean his head doesn’t match his body like Pierre.
Capt.Mudd
September 10th, 2012
9:26 pm
Mistake by us again
phil
September 10th, 2012
9:26 pm
See? Wavin at air…..
Veer
September 10th, 2012
9:27 pm
Todays game is BS Runner at 3rd was out for Brewers and no call. Now the runner was picked off at first no call. BS!!
While we get runners picked off and thrown out.
tiger297
September 10th, 2012
9:27 pm
man tough breaks on the bases both ways for the braves tonight…
Wake Up Jeff! (and Freddie)
September 10th, 2012
9:27 pm
“So, there are people here who think a runner should always hold up at 2nd on a single towards the right field line?”
Why is this country all about hyperbole? No one says the runner should ALWAYS hold at second in that situation. If he has average speed and the fielder is picking up the ball when the runner hits the bag, he’s probably gonna be meat if he runs. (like Prado) Lets turn it around on you. Suppose a ball is hit down the line and fielded with Brian “piano on his back” McCann running. Should HE always go because the ball was hit down the line?
Hugo Z Hackenbush
September 10th, 2012
9:28 pm
A “lucky” strikeout, there.
the Ghost of Chipper Jones
September 10th, 2012
9:28 pm
BRAVES losing this game on the base-paths
HEYWARD attempted steal of 2B
FREEMAN Picked Off 1B
PRADO out at 3B
Bat Masterson
September 10th, 2012
9:28 pm
How about helping Heap out a little guys.
Mark
September 10th, 2012
9:28 pm
We need to do some little league “1 and cover” kinda a stuff and show our guys to get to the base to receive throws to make tags on runners rather than having to reach and not make tags. Thats 2 tonight
ChattTownBrian
September 10th, 2012
9:28 pm
Minor is solid. He is turning into something I don’t think many of us thought he’d be. He does know how to pitch.
Hugo Z Hackenbush
September 10th, 2012
9:29 pm
The United States of Hyperbole?
Wake Up Jeff! (and Freddie)
September 10th, 2012
9:30 pm
yep
Hugo Z Hackenbush
September 10th, 2012
9:30 pm
Dan Uggla, your all-star 2nd baseman.
ncbravesfan90
September 10th, 2012
9:32 pm
And finally some base running pays off…
Mark
September 10th, 2012
9:32 pm
Swap Freddi and Mac and leave Uggs between them. Freddi wiffing too much lately and looking really bad doing it. When not wiffing – popping up!
Venice Jim
September 10th, 2012
9:32 pm
MAC!!!
M.V.P.Heyward
September 10th, 2012
9:33 pm
Good situational hitting.
Veer
September 10th, 2012
9:33 pm
Pinch hit for Minor with his high pitch count with chance to score runs
phil
September 10th, 2012
9:33 pm
THAT’S hitting!
Attaboy, mac
the Ghost of Chipper Jones
September 10th, 2012
9:33 pm
GO deep MAC
Venice Jim
September 10th, 2012
9:34 pm
Kevin McAlpin @KevinMcAlpin
Fan in the stands at Miller Park: “Hey Uggla…you’re ugly” Creative sir. I bet he’s never heard that one before, well played!
Mark
September 10th, 2012
9:34 pm
Show us what we been missing AS
brian
September 10th, 2012
9:34 pm
Have to score a run here
Venice Jim
September 10th, 2012
9:35 pm
Acceptable, I suppose…
brian
September 10th, 2012
9:35 pm
Not what I had in mind for the run but I will take it
phil
September 10th, 2012
9:35 pm
Simmons with the run scoring DP…
Send his butt back to somewhere!
ACE
September 10th, 2012
9:35 pm
Great win for Murray. First by a britsh man since 1936
the Ghost of Chipper Jones
September 10th, 2012
9:35 pm
AL SOMMONS comes thru!
M.V.P.Heyward
September 10th, 2012
9:35 pm
GIDP with a run.
Hugo Z Hackenbush
September 10th, 2012
9:35 pm
Speaking of Jerry, where’s his big mouth now that Uggla has scored?
Mark
September 10th, 2012
9:36 pm
At least he put it in play and got us a run.
Mldtown
September 10th, 2012
9:36 pm
DP … Terrible. Such a momentum killer.
Venice Jim
September 10th, 2012
9:37 pm
Janish would have hit a sac fly, undoubtedly…(or. perhaps not)…
tony austin
September 10th, 2012
9:37 pm
Not ideal but I’ll take it. At least he didn’t pop up or K with Minor coming up.
phil
September 10th, 2012
9:38 pm
Al Sommons? Lol
Mark
September 10th, 2012
9:39 pm
I’m just glad we scored and have the lead because I’ve been worried since I saw the lineup.
No Georgie – No good luck charm – Whats Freddie G thinking?
phil
September 10th, 2012
9:39 pm
Fat Freddie with cat-like reflexes…
Bat Masterson
September 10th, 2012
9:40 pm
Nice catch, fence post.
phil
September 10th, 2012
9:41 pm
Maestro Minor…..nice
phil
September 10th, 2012
9:42 pm
Aoki makes me nervous….like a japanese Harper…fidgety but good.
Carroll Rogers
September 10th, 2012
9:44 pm
99 pitches for Minor through five
Bat Masterson
September 10th, 2012
9:45 pm
Isn’t aoki some kind of crap. Pout, pout fish. Bulb, blub, blub
Bat Masterson
September 10th, 2012
9:46 pm
Whoa, not crap CARP
I may be an ass but not that big of one.
Capt.Mudd
September 10th, 2012
9:47 pm
@VJ…..I trust you at least have the potatos peeled by now?
Veer
September 10th, 2012
9:49 pm
Cant go with Minor to the bottom of the 6th inning given his high pitch count and power for the Brewers. It will be a mistake to send him out there. He will probably be in effective and pitching change would be needed anyways with runners on base. So lets not face that situation and take Minor out.
Mark
September 10th, 2012
9:49 pm
Teeeen
2 sorry looking cuts but kept the 2 strike approach and got a hit the other way!
Wish some of our other guys would try and learn to be better hitters with 2 strikes.
Bat Masterson
September 10th, 2012
9:49 pm
Atta boy, Prado.
Come on, jason
phil
September 10th, 2012
9:52 pm
Carp, crap, tarp, trap…..
Just words.
Mark
September 10th, 2012
9:53 pm
Veer
I hear you but I’d send him out once more to try and get to his spot in the order.
phil
September 10th, 2012
9:53 pm
Wayward…..sigh
Kentavo
September 10th, 2012
9:54 pm
Hey Carroll, Mr. Simmons helped knock Myrtle Beach out of the playoffs, not Wilmington.
Bat Masterson
September 10th, 2012
9:55 pm
Better to be caught in a carp trap than a crap tarp.
Veer
September 10th, 2012
9:55 pm
Here comes Freeman. Watch him put up another patehtic at bat and run us out of the inning
Mark
September 10th, 2012
9:56 pm
Green Light here
nolie
September 10th, 2012
9:56 pm
Chipper got robbed on that pitch
phil
September 10th, 2012
9:56 pm
Yes.
Capt.Mudd
September 10th, 2012
9:56 pm
Bo bo call again…dang Ump took base away
nolie
September 10th, 2012
9:57 pm
I am really getting sikk of 1-0 games
DiamondbackMac
September 10th, 2012
9:57 pm
Aoki = 青木 = blue tree
phil
September 10th, 2012
9:58 pm
That ump can kiss my big ole foot….that 3-0 pitch wasn’t even close. I wonder sometimes what the hell these guys are looking at.
nolie
September 10th, 2012
9:59 pm
all those baserunning outs are gonna bite us
Hugo Z Hackenbush
September 10th, 2012
9:59 pm
The over/under on this game is 8.5 runs? Hahahahaha…
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 10th, 2012
10:00 pm
uh -oh Mac….
cabravesfan
September 10th, 2012
10:01 pm
Don’t hurt Mac!!
phil
September 10th, 2012
10:01 pm
Can a carp on a tarp play a harp….during a rain delay?
Mark
September 10th, 2012
10:01 pm
Bad 3-0 call for sure.
Sorry umps should just wait and see what Chippers reaction is. He calls it better than the umps.
3-0 he was about to flip the bat and take his walk. the 3-2 he crossed the plate heading to the dugout before the ump called it.
Kentavo
September 10th, 2012
10:02 pm
Geez, c’mon ump, if you’re giving it to Brew Crew, gotta give ‘em to us too.
Bat Masterson
September 10th, 2012
10:02 pm
Blue tree. Kind of sad.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 10th, 2012
10:02 pm
I am really getting sikk of 1-0 games
Me too… too scary
phil
September 10th, 2012
10:03 pm
Time for cinammon life cereal…..the dang stuff took 200 points off my triglyceride count.
No kidding.
Hugo Z Hackenbush
September 10th, 2012
10:03 pm
Do you suppose the Brewers bloggers are moaning about “Cy” Minor?
Mark
September 10th, 2012
10:06 pm
I’m worried about this lead tonight. No Georgie – No lucky charm
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 10th, 2012
10:06 pm
Sherwin Williams PAINT!
tiger297
September 10th, 2012
10:06 pm
toss his punk azz
tiger297
September 10th, 2012
10:07 pm
good job mikey..
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 10th, 2012
10:07 pm
Good work Minor, great job. Better than Hanson
nolie
September 10th, 2012
10:07 pm
good pitch, and the ump even called it right
phil
September 10th, 2012
10:07 pm
Probably so…lol
He did a fine job.
ncbravesfan90
September 10th, 2012
10:07 pm
If Braun is arguing that pitch then the call on Chipper was 2 foot outside….
Capt.Mudd
September 10th, 2012
10:07 pm
Well earned ‘hand’ rendered there for Mike.
Brava
September 10th, 2012
10:07 pm
Sit down, Roid.
Mark
September 10th, 2012
10:08 pm
Umps not feeling the love of the MVPs in the game tonight. Of course out MVP didn’t have his sample sabotaged!!
Brava
September 10th, 2012
10:08 pm
Great work by Mike tonight.
phil
September 10th, 2012
10:09 pm
Best score a few…
Brava
September 10th, 2012
10:09 pm
Neither did theirs, Mark.
Carroll Rogers
September 10th, 2012
10:09 pm
Line on Minor: 5 2/3 IP, two hits, two walks, eight strikeouts….115 pitches (73 strikes)
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 10th, 2012
10:09 pm
LOL Brava.
I’m really starting to like Geariin… that handsome little face, the way the cap contrasts with his head… It’s kinda cool. Kinda like my love for Rev…
Mark
September 10th, 2012
10:09 pm
Why take him out there with 2 out and nobody on base and his spot coming up soon next inning?
nolie
September 10th, 2012
10:10 pm
Sorry, but Gearrin scares me
Mark
September 10th, 2012
10:11 pm
Nope
Just throwing his defense out there.
Crap, Minor coulda done that
phil
September 10th, 2012
10:11 pm
Gearrin’s stupid grin bugs me….
Throw strikes!
Citifield Jones
September 10th, 2012
10:12 pm
Yeah, I don’t get why you take out a pitcher in the 6th who’s given up zero runs and only 2 hits.
Fredo
September 10th, 2012
10:12 pm
“Why take him out there with 2 out and nobody on base and his spot coming up soon next inning?”
that pitch count thing that scares managers
Wake Up Jeff! (and Freddie)
September 10th, 2012
10:12 pm
Gearrin has looked like smoke and mirrors all season having pitches tattooed right at someone. Maybe tonight is the night they get him.
Wake Up Jeff! (and Freddie)
September 10th, 2012
10:13 pm
<<<<< not a Gearrin fan here either.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 10th, 2012
10:13 pm
Oh yeah! Gearrin.
Mark
September 10th, 2012
10:13 pm
He let him throw 8 or 9 pitches to their best hitter though.
A freddi puzzler to me!
tiger297
September 10th, 2012
10:13 pm
nolie – does jonny still scare you? or a different question- how many of our relievers don’t scare you (I mean they are reliever 4 a reason and all)
Wake Up Jeff! (and Freddie)
September 10th, 2012
10:13 pm
Exhaling now, but not feeling good about it.
phil
September 10th, 2012
10:13 pm
Whew
nolie
September 10th, 2012
10:14 pm
I think it was more the left/righty thingy than the pitch count thingy
Citifield Jones
September 10th, 2012
10:14 pm
What was Minor’s pitch count? Didn’t even think about that…
tiger297
September 10th, 2012
10:14 pm
ok dangit I was trying to get that snarky post up that while he was still pitching…after the K it just comes across as mean
Brava
September 10th, 2012
10:14 pm
WTG, Cory.
Capt.Mudd
September 10th, 2012
10:15 pm
I don’t have confidence in a transmission with loose Gearrins
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 10th, 2012
10:15 pm
Yeah, I don’t get why you take out a pitcher in the 6th who’s given up zero runs and only 2 hits.
High number of pitches (115) and he’s labored every inning.
ncbravesfan90
September 10th, 2012
10:15 pm
115 Pitches for Minor
phil
September 10th, 2012
10:15 pm
Haters…
nolie
September 10th, 2012
10:15 pm
jonny, not so much tiger . don’t really trust anybody other than the top 4 or so thoough
Hugo Z Hackenbush
September 10th, 2012
10:16 pm
Bitchers keep bitchin’, Gearrin keeps pitchin’…
Veer
September 10th, 2012
10:17 pm
Freeman no good
Mark
September 10th, 2012
10:17 pm
Nolie
I tried to give him the benefit of the doubt on that but he let him pitch to righty Braun and took him out for Grarrin to pitch to righty Ramierez?
Capt.Mudd
September 10th, 2012
10:17 pm
I see they are honoring Mike’s performance tonight {read: BIg “M” behind homeplate}
ncbravesfan90
September 10th, 2012
10:17 pm
Freeman really scuffling of late…
phil
September 10th, 2012
10:17 pm
Freddie Uggla…..sigh
nolie
September 10th, 2012
10:17 pm
Freddie needs to sukk it up or become the new Uggla….
Mark
September 10th, 2012
10:19 pm
Uggs first shift AB I’ve seen although I’ve questioned why they haven’t in the past
phil
September 10th, 2012
10:19 pm
Good one, Hugo….
And the real uggla induces another sigh….
tiger297
September 10th, 2012
10:20 pm
green light him…
nolie
September 10th, 2012
10:20 pm
I’m not sighing about 7 for the last 14
phil
September 10th, 2012
10:20 pm
Buffet Brian with the walk….
And on comes Andrellton Aleu.
Citifield Jones
September 10th, 2012
10:21 pm
Damn, didn’t realize he was up to 115.
tiger297
September 10th, 2012
10:21 pm
ohhh missed his pitch there…
nolie
September 10th, 2012
10:21 pm
might be right Mark,
phil
September 10th, 2012
10:21 pm
.500 is for sissies….
DiamondbackMac
September 10th, 2012
10:22 pm
Bat
Blue tree. Kind of sad.
I thought so too.
Mark
September 10th, 2012
10:22 pm
Why oh why is he on deck???
phil
September 10th, 2012
10:23 pm
Overpaid….sigh.
Hasn’t he struck out looking each time up with us?
Veer
September 10th, 2012
10:23 pm
If Overbay gets a hit here He will be in the post season roster. If he doens’t he won’t be. He is playing for roster spot with this at bat
nolie
September 10th, 2012
10:23 pm
be nice if Lyle would finally get a hit
nolie
September 10th, 2012
10:24 pm
how can he be overpaid? He is costing next to nothing to us
phil
September 10th, 2012
10:24 pm
Yes, Veer….lol
Mark
September 10th, 2012
10:24 pm
This is why we should not have taken out Meds with 2 out and nobod on. Reliever goes 1/3 of an inning and now we pinch hit for the reliever.
tiger297
September 10th, 2012
10:24 pm
maybe we should bring back jack wilson to take lyle’s roster spot?
BFChris27
September 10th, 2012
10:25 pm
Prayers going to Jerry “The King” Lawler right now.
Apparently he has suffered a heart attack during tonight’s RAW broadcast.
Mark
September 10th, 2012
10:25 pm
Not Meds – Sorry – Wishful thinking
Minor
nolie
September 10th, 2012
10:25 pm
thats silly Veer, he has 20 games left
Sopheee
September 10th, 2012
10:26 pm
Lyle Lyle, crocodile did something.
Fredo
September 10th, 2012
10:26 pm
come on bourn, get your first hit of the game
phil
September 10th, 2012
10:26 pm
He isn’t overpaid….but what else goes with Over?
Mac costs us another run with his girth.
Capt.Mudd
September 10th, 2012
10:26 pm
I think we should not wait a Lyle before letting this Overbay guy hit again.
nolie
September 10th, 2012
10:26 pm
GD it .
tiger297
September 10th, 2012
10:26 pm
mark – expanded rosters we have 38 people in the pen need to get them some work (ok maybe not 38 but plenty)
now nolie throws something at me for ensuring extra innings
Veer
September 10th, 2012
10:26 pm
Overbay moves ahead of Hinske for LH pinch hitters spot for Post season
Mark
September 10th, 2012
10:27 pm
Holy crap!!!!! Overbay got a hit.
Good job
Brava
September 10th, 2012
10:27 pm
Wow.
Wake Up Jeff! (and Freddie)
September 10th, 2012
10:27 pm
Lyle finally got that hit. Unfortunately for he and the Braves, Mac was on second.
phil
September 10th, 2012
10:27 pm
Boras blows another one…
tiger297
September 10th, 2012
10:27 pm
cue KL and his mac is slow/fat/out of shape in 3….2….1…
Fredo
September 10th, 2012
10:27 pm
guess i expected to much
nolie
September 10th, 2012
10:28 pm
. what a buncha crap,can not get a break on the basepaths tonight
Capt.Mudd
September 10th, 2012
10:28 pm
No wheels=no go=no runs
Hugo Z Hackenbush
September 10th, 2012
10:29 pm
Gee, I’m surprised nobody’s referred to him as “Overfed.”
Mark
September 10th, 2012
10:29 pm
Still bugging me because regardless of how many we have down there, we only have 3 I feel pretty good about!
phil
September 10th, 2012
10:29 pm
Lyle GameOver?
Nah….
Tomahawk Mafia
September 10th, 2012
10:29 pm
Pitiful at bat with the bases loaded following one of those hits with runners in scoring position that actually scores nobody.
DAM
September 10th, 2012
10:29 pm
Is Ross unavailable? Unless that’s the case, we should have had Constanza running for McCann and then brought in Ross defensively.
tiger297
September 10th, 2012
10:29 pm
after his throw to nail prado at 3B dont think they would have sent man of the braves there…maybe bourn/constanza/heyward/simmons
or maybe that is a reflection of our overall team speed
ChattTownBrian
September 10th, 2012
10:29 pm
Bourn is a bum!
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 10th, 2012
10:29 pm
McCann’s lack of foot speed hurt us there…
not sure
September 10th, 2012
10:30 pm
Isn’t Bourn’s value starting to go down?
Capt.Mudd
September 10th, 2012
10:31 pm
Please Chirp…no jinx us dummy
T-Dawg
September 10th, 2012
10:31 pm
I guess the aberration is when his team hits…..at all.
Venice Jim
September 10th, 2012
10:31 pm
McCann’s lack of foot speed hurt us there
Not sure the list of people who would have scored on that hit is long…
phil
September 10th, 2012
10:31 pm
Ross was unavailable as that thought never crossed FG’s mind to begin with.
Of course, Fredi knew Boras would make an out for sure anyway.
nolie
September 10th, 2012
10:31 pm
ok so now Jonny scares me….
Bronke
September 10th, 2012
10:32 pm
Bourne and Freeman really struggling. Need to come up with the big hits. How long can this team walk the tightrope?
ChattTownBrian
September 10th, 2012
10:32 pm
Jonny might be the worst fielder in baseball.
phil
September 10th, 2012
10:33 pm
We can’t keep winning 1-0 games….
Bad feeling.
tiger297
September 10th, 2012
10:33 pm
might not be so comfortable on this next bunt attempt…
tiger297
September 10th, 2012
10:33 pm
might not be so comfortable on this next bunt attempt…
ChattTownBrian
September 10th, 2012
10:33 pm
Game is about to go bad real quick
tiger297
September 10th, 2012
10:33 pm
might not be so comfortable on this next bunt attempt…
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 10th, 2012
10:33 pm
This is the old Jonny, I’m afraid. Gotta be sharp man, it’s only a 1-run lead. This is almost a must-win, Washinton won.
NorCal Brave
September 10th, 2012
10:33 pm
Can someone explain how Freeman’s gone from RBI machine to out machine? Yet there he is right in the middle of the order. Another 0 for RISP in the works tonight.
tiger297
September 10th, 2012
10:34 pm
Enter your comments here
nolie
September 10th, 2012
10:34 pm
BALLGAME!!!!! all them missed opportunities sukk
ChattTownBrian
September 10th, 2012
10:35 pm
I have a feeling Jonny is a bit of a head case.
Fredo
September 10th, 2012
10:35 pm
no need to make this game any more interesting
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 10th, 2012
10:36 pm
Geez…. Come on, man. The play is at 1st there.
Wake Up Jeff! (and Freddie)
September 10th, 2012
10:36 pm
What a head case.
Sopheee
September 10th, 2012
10:36 pm
That wasn’t so smart.
tiger297
September 10th, 2012
10:36 pm
who the hell yelled 3 there dangit..
nolie
September 10th, 2012
10:36 pm
Like I said
Hugo Z Hackenbush
September 10th, 2012
10:36 pm
rats.
ncbravesfan90
September 10th, 2012
10:36 pm
Wow. That’s why its not good when you have 8 hits and 1 run to show for it. Got to add on when you have chances….
Venice Jim
September 10th, 2012
10:36 pm
Very bright…
phil
September 10th, 2012
10:36 pm
Ooopsie
Mark
September 10th, 2012
10:36 pm
Just take the out they are giving you!!
GEEEZ
Trey
September 10th, 2012
10:37 pm
Not good.
tiger297
September 10th, 2012
10:37 pm
that was a bad throw but chippers still gotta catch that ball…
njbraves
September 10th, 2012
10:37 pm
Venters is just brutal. I have zero confidence in this guy.
JC Brave
September 10th, 2012
10:37 pm
Missed opportunities always come back to bite them.
ChattTownBrian
September 10th, 2012
10:37 pm
Wow is he just a terrible fielder in all aspects. Thanks a lot dude.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 10th, 2012
10:37 pm
who the hell yelled 3 there dangit..
Probably Mac, he is the “crew chief” on the infield… bad decision there though. At least it’s just 1-1. Hold them here, come back later.
Wake Up Jeff! (and Freddie)
September 10th, 2012
10:38 pm
Good throw doesnt get him. Wrong base in the first place. Pressure due to walking the second hitter. If they want to give you an out, take it!
I repeat, head case.
phil
September 10th, 2012
10:38 pm
The run is unearned and thus meaningless…
kerryb
September 10th, 2012
10:38 pm
Johnny Venters has been a worthless bag of crap all year. No way he should have ever tried that play. He had no chance at all of making it!
Halbert
September 10th, 2012
10:38 pm
Well that’s that. The wins lately have been nice, but was only a matter of time before the pitching stops masking this dreadful offense. Can’t win 1-0 all the time.
Capt.Mudd
September 10th, 2012
10:38 pm
Comical and very sad to have it go that way with the run scoring on a 90 mph zinger to 3rd
Tomahawk Mafia
September 10th, 2012
10:39 pm
Venters is an awful fielder. First, the lead off man should have been out if Venters actually could field his position. Second, there never should have been a walk to Segura. Third, Venters had no play at third on the bunt. Terrible.
not sure
September 10th, 2012
10:39 pm
ugh
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 10th, 2012
10:39 pm
Where’s Kimbrel, dangit!
tiger297
September 10th, 2012
10:39 pm
think I might squeeze on the first pitch here…
Pete*
September 10th, 2012
10:39 pm
Just me or anyone else notice JV smiling after that brutal throw? Very cool
TBbravesfan
September 10th, 2012
10:39 pm
monday
phil
September 10th, 2012
10:39 pm
Chipper?
No one catches that ball…
Bronke
September 10th, 2012
10:39 pm
Ugh! Venters total meltdown !
Bat Masterson
September 10th, 2012
10:39 pm
Now I’m a little blue, DbMac
Venice Jim
September 10th, 2012
10:40 pm
that was a bad throw but chippers still gotta catch that ball…
No offense, but that is ridiculous…
Capt.Mudd
September 10th, 2012
10:40 pm
can’t win 1-0 if the damn score is now 1-1……pick another set of numbers please
T-Dawg
September 10th, 2012
10:40 pm
This is the same JV as before. He has very little control. You just have to hope opposing hiters swing at the sinker in the dirt. Everyone did in his 1st year….not so much now.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 10th, 2012
10:40 pm
If they want to give you an out, take it!
^^^
ray k
September 10th, 2012
10:40 pm
Just turned on the game. 8 hits and 1 run, huh? Typical Braves line.
How many did we leave in scoring position tonight, 100?
tiger297
September 10th, 2012
10:41 pm
vj – piss off dude
phil
September 10th, 2012
10:41 pm
JV often smiles like that…..a nervous nellie…gearrin does that crap too….andruw did it.
Tomahawk Mafia
September 10th, 2012
10:41 pm
We complimented Fredi and his decisions over the past week and then he brings Durbin into a high-leverage situation.
nolie
September 10th, 2012
10:41 pm
that is the scenario way too often with this team, missed opportunities early and late losses because of it.
I hate waiting to the last innings to lose
ray k
September 10th, 2012
10:41 pm
We all knew Venters was a head case. I had no idea he was a moron, too.
ncbravesfan90
September 10th, 2012
10:41 pm
0-2 to a walk….not good
Fredo
September 10th, 2012
10:42 pm
well this inning hasn’t been fun
TBbravesfan
September 10th, 2012
10:42 pm
undone
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 10th, 2012
10:42 pm
that was a bad throw but chippers still gotta catch that ball…
Nope… Chipper wasn’t catching that… not even Bourn if he played 3rd. You can’t throw a ball that badly and expect it to be caught. Also, the ball should have never been thrown there.
I think that this might be our meltdown night from the pen… we’ve been so good lately, too good.
kerryb
September 10th, 2012
10:42 pm
I’m sick of watching Venters walk guys all over the place and making fielding errors. He is not the same pitcher since August 2011. They were trying to give him an out and he walks the F’n guy to start this mess. It’s become his usual outing.
Venice Jim
September 10th, 2012
10:42 pm
tiger297
September 10th, 2012
10:41 pm
vj – piss off dude
Disagree with you once and you say that? Wow – you are immediately unfollowed…
Fredo
September 10th, 2012
10:43 pm
strikezone must be MIA
Tomahawk Mafia
September 10th, 2012
10:43 pm
Ridiculous how Durbin walks a guy after jumping ahead 0-2 inexcusable. Put him away.
tiger297
September 10th, 2012
10:43 pm
nolie – my grandmother used to watch the game like that…after the throw by venters she would have said – tiger turn the durn tv off…they make me so mad.
Venice Jim
September 10th, 2012
10:43 pm
What a baby…
Sopheee
September 10th, 2012
10:43 pm
I didn’t think that was catchable either. He dove and still didn’t come near it.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 10th, 2012
10:43 pm
Damn….
kerryb
September 10th, 2012
10:43 pm
Thank you Johnny!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11 You piece of garbage.
tiger297
September 10th, 2012
10:43 pm
still nobody out
ncbravesfan90
September 10th, 2012
10:43 pm
That’s why adding a bullpen piece or two at the dead line would have been nice……….was saying that all through the month of July but even many folks on here said there was no need for it….
ray k
September 10th, 2012
10:44 pm
The Braves had bases loaded top of the 7th and didn’t score?
LOL – this offense is brutal. Just brutal.
TBbravesfan
September 10th, 2012
10:44 pm
that is the way you do it
T-Dawg
September 10th, 2012
10:44 pm
Falling apart at just the right time. We really need our bullpen to collapse like this. Good thinking.
tiger297
September 10th, 2012
10:44 pm
yeah big man there -
nolie
September 10th, 2012
10:44 pm
This is the same JV as before
B4? You mean B4 as the two seasons that he totally dominated the NL?
M.V.P.Heyward
September 10th, 2012
10:44 pm
Durbinator is not an answer, period.
Mark
September 10th, 2012
10:44 pm
Literally a “BULL” pen tonight
phil
September 10th, 2012
10:44 pm
The japanese version of Harper…..
Dude makes me nervous for good reason.
And this IS Durbin pitching….oh well, we can’t win em all as so many always say.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 10th, 2012
10:44 pm
Aoki scared me there… he proved it.
Hopefully we can attack the Brewers’ “weak” pen… unfortunately, their pen has been much stronger lately.
Venice Jim
September 10th, 2012
10:44 pm
Seriously tiger – you really think Chipper should have caught that? Explain how he can dive 5 feet to his right as hard as Venters throws the ball…
not sure
September 10th, 2012
10:45 pm
Congratulations on wasting a magnificent effort by Minor!
ncbravesfan90
September 10th, 2012
10:45 pm
Braves- 1 run on 8 hits
Brewers- 3 runs on 4 hits
Something wrong with that picture right there…..
Tomahawk Mafia
September 10th, 2012
10:46 pm
Durbin has been terrible lately. No way he should have been pitching to Aoki. O’Flaherty should have been pitching to him. Poor bullpen management in that situation to along with wasted scoring opportunities.
njbraves
September 10th, 2012
10:46 pm
You can thank Venters for this mess. He can’t field his position and he walks way too many guys.
nolie
September 10th, 2012
10:46 pm
nobody including Minor has had muck if any control tonight
Mark
September 10th, 2012
10:46 pm
Nolie
Correct
We are never going to see the B4 Venters again. He was as untouchable as any reliever for a while but unfortunately he is that no longer – since end of last year
Semper Fi Braves Fan
September 10th, 2012
10:46 pm
Best way to loose a ball game???? Have JV walk a couple guys and bring in Durbin behind him.
I said on here a few days ago Jonny needed a different role than 7th inning guy. He already lost the set up role to EOF, he needs to loose that 7th inning job. Hell Martinez would be a better option.
TBbravesfan
September 10th, 2012
10:46 pm
load um up again burdin
Wake Up Jeff! (and Freddie)
September 10th, 2012
10:46 pm
Can’t excuse Venters and Durbin’s inability to find the plate then having to make fat pitches, but lotza folks here right about the offense. No offense puts a lot of pressure on the pitching staff.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 10th, 2012
10:47 pm
Guys, seriously, the bullpen had to have a bad night at some point. They were unhittable for much of August, and practically all of September so far. They saved us quite a bit last week in those 1-0 (and any other 1run) games. Just hope that they keep it close enough.
I just feel sorry for Mike M. He pitched too well to not get a win, and to have the team possibly get a loss out of it.
kerryb
September 10th, 2012
10:47 pm
I hope we never see JV again this year. He completely sucks now.
Fredo
September 10th, 2012
10:48 pm
that Durbin inherited runners stat taking a bit hit this inning
ChattTownBrian
September 10th, 2012
10:48 pm
nolie will concur with this … BALLGAME!
TBbravesfan
September 10th, 2012
10:48 pm
sometimes it takes us 3 games to get 4 runs
phil
September 10th, 2012
10:48 pm
Good nite all….
Play nice.
Mark
September 10th, 2012
10:48 pm
What can we really expect – No Georgie – much less chance of a win!
Tomahawk Mafia
September 10th, 2012
10:48 pm
Safe to say that Durbin has regressed toward the mean. He has become his old terrible self again. Worthless bullpen work tonight from Venters and Durbin.
David
September 10th, 2012
10:48 pm
They keep screwing Minor with zero run support. Has Michael Bourne packed it in for the year cause he’s guaranteed out with risp?
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 10th, 2012
10:49 pm
He was out…
nolie
September 10th, 2012
10:49 pm
they all have bad games, JV has actually been pitching pretty well lately. have to see if this is a fluke, like I said nobody has thrown well tonight
tommykk
September 10th, 2012
10:49 pm
Minor did not pitch a brilliant game.He didn’t even get through six
Capt.Mudd
September 10th, 2012
10:50 pm
What the heck can Roger say right now to Disturbin? And, instead give Venters directions to Neo-Planet.
Pete*
September 10th, 2012
10:50 pm
Neither Graig Nettles nor Brooks Robinson would have caught that ball
ijonathan
September 10th, 2012
10:50 pm
Braun looked reallly explosive diving back to first…
tommykk
September 10th, 2012
10:50 pm
Just focus on the wildcard.The division is gone
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 10th, 2012
10:50 pm
What can we really expect – No Georgie – much less chance of a win!
Haha… I bet Georgie would’ve fixed our pitchers’ control today!
tiger297
September 10th, 2012
10:50 pm
what I think nolie is saying is too much beer & brauts for the boys last night
kerryb
September 10th, 2012
10:50 pm
When a pitcher makes that stupid move to third then first I want to walk out there myself and slap him.
nolie
September 10th, 2012
10:51 pm
right. Minor was pretty lucky tonight. very poor command for what he has been like recently
Wake Up Jeff! (and Freddie)
September 10th, 2012
10:51 pm
I could say the team was due for a stinker, but they have had lots of offensive stinkers lately but were fortunate enough to win ‘em!
Pen and rotation have been good. Offense has not. Can’t win ‘em all and tonight is one that goes in the loss column.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 10th, 2012
10:51 pm
he (Venters) needs to loose that 7th inning job. Hell Martinez would be a better option.
Ummm, no. Look at the stats, dude. Martinez is not a good reliever. Get hit much too hard and often.
David
September 10th, 2012
10:52 pm
Want to beat the Braves? Just load the bases and they’ll take care of the rest.
Venice Jim
September 10th, 2012
10:52 pm
tiger – answer the question – are you really serious that Chipper could have dived five feet to his right to catch the ball thrown as hard as Venters throws? Or did you perhaps get a bit too touchy in your vitriolic comment to me?
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 10th, 2012
10:52 pm
Geez Freeman…. that was bad. We’re sure down on ourselves tonight…
Capt.Mudd
September 10th, 2012
10:53 pm
And in Chipper’s defense on that throw from JV; you know that thing had to have some kind of funky spin on it too
TBbravesfan
September 10th, 2012
10:53 pm
wish our pitchers would just pitch to the plate.
Mark
September 10th, 2012
10:54 pm
FF has had a heck of a night!!! Really contributed to the effort!!!
Wake Up Jeff! (and Freddie)
September 10th, 2012
10:54 pm
If you’re going to stink it up, stink it up good and get it out of your system. Basepaths follies tonight, both offensively and defensively.
Tomahawk Mafia
September 10th, 2012
10:54 pm
Freeman has looked stupid in all facets of the game lately.
ncbravesfan90
September 10th, 2012
10:54 pm
Might as well leave him in there now….
kerryb
September 10th, 2012
10:54 pm
Freddie can’t decide what he wants to do. Hey, just leave the guy in that’s walking everyone.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 10th, 2012
10:55 pm
Just focus on the wildcard.The division is gone
Not yet dude… wait a few more games.
I could say the team was due for a stinker, but they have had lots of offensive stinkers lately but were fortunate enough to win ‘em!
Tonight was a bullpen stinker… and unfortunately, our offense is still in the toilet.
tiger297
September 10th, 2012
10:55 pm
vj – you are a condescending douchnozzle and I really have no desire to disccus your perspective of the play…so piss off
or not
cabravesfan
September 10th, 2012
10:55 pm
Actually, Fredi was waiting for the pinch hitter to be announced before he changed pitchers..
TBbravesfan
September 10th, 2012
10:55 pm
can’t you see all that respect the braves show toward fred
Tomahawk Mafia
September 10th, 2012
10:55 pm
Durbin is awful.
not sure
September 10th, 2012
10:55 pm
Time for Freeman to sit out a few games, I think.
David
September 10th, 2012
10:56 pm
Looking ahead, Brewers have a horrible bullpen. August Braves would still have a chance. September Braves?
Venice Jim
September 10th, 2012
10:56 pm
tiger – wow – very mature…why did you not attack phil for saying the exact same thing?
Mark
September 10th, 2012
10:56 pm
Hate to lose but the blog is much more humourous after asn inning like this.
kerryb
September 10th, 2012
10:56 pm
These clowns are walking people trying to not throw the ball across the plate. Medlin throws strikes over the plate and he does alright. The Bullpen guys act like they are scared to throw strikes.
PTBNL
September 10th, 2012
10:57 pm
Pitiful game.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 10th, 2012
10:58 pm
Whew… the nightmare is over. 4 walks, 2 errors, and only 2 hits allowed. 4 runs scored. Yikes!
not sure
September 10th, 2012
10:58 pm
Wasn’t this all with two out?! Freeman bad at bat and in the field tonight.
Goodnight, all!
Burgess
September 10th, 2012
10:58 pm
All this started because Freddi didn’t run for McCann in the top of 7th. We would have scored another run and they wouldn’t have been bunting.
And then Venters is NOT in fielding position after making pitch and that’s how their big inning started.
Venice Jim
September 10th, 2012
10:58 pm
tiger – seriously – what did I do that was so horrible? We have a great relationship – why can I not disagree one time?
tiger297
September 10th, 2012
10:58 pm
man I think I owe someone an apology
Fredo
September 10th, 2012
10:58 pm
1 run on 8 hits / 4 runs on 4 hits …. someone is taking advantage of their opportunities tonight (and some really bad pitching)
JC Brave
September 10th, 2012
10:59 pm
Just pack the equipment, take a shower and head to the hotel.
tiger297
September 10th, 2012
10:59 pm
mark – you may be correct we might want that arm back before its over LOL
Mark
September 10th, 2012
10:59 pm
Fire Venters – Ruined last year
Fire Durbin – Never seen him pitch well enough to declare him ruined.
Tomahawk Mafia
September 10th, 2012
10:59 pm
That inning should have progressed much differently. That was painful.
kerryb
September 10th, 2012
11:00 pm
not sure
September 10th, 2012
10:58 pm
Wasn’t this all with two out?! Freeman bad at bat and in the field tonight.
Goodnight, all!
_________________________________________________________________________
Most of this happened with no outs. They tried to give us an out but Venters refused to take it.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 10th, 2012
11:00 pm
always nice to see fighting….
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 10th, 2012
11:01 pm
Wasn’t this all with two out?! Freeman bad at bat and in the field tonight.
Goodnight, all!
Started with no outs… they tried to give us an out, and JV didn’t want to take it.
Nice start, Prado. Let’s go!
Sopheee
September 10th, 2012
11:02 pm
I forgive you.
Venice Jim
September 10th, 2012
11:02 pm
I’m not fighting – just horribly confused…
NorCal Brave
September 10th, 2012
11:02 pm
Fredi needs to make some moves again. Sit Freeman and move Durbin to the end of the bench in the ‘pen.
PTBNL
September 10th, 2012
11:03 pm
Games not over, but they sure have not helped themselves so far.
Mark
September 10th, 2012
11:03 pm
“douchnozzle” is a new one for me. But I can see where it would be a good one at times. Similar to peckerhead but newer and with a twist!
San Antonio Brave
September 10th, 2012
11:03 pm
TheOnlyBravesFan:
Guys, seriously, the bullpen had to have a bad night at some point. They were unhittable for much of August, and practically all of September so far. They saved us quite a bit last week in those 1-0 (and any other 1run) games. Just hope that they keep it close enough.
I just feel sorry for Mike M. He pitched too well to not get a win, and to have the team possibly get a loss out of it.
Well said
TBbravesfan
September 10th, 2012
11:03 pm
that’s how you stop rally’s.
DiamondbackMac
September 10th, 2012
11:04 pm
Bat
Now I’m a little blue, DbMac
You’re not alone.
Caseyatthebat
September 10th, 2012
11:05 pm
Fredi just can’t accept that this isn’t Venters 2011.
ncbravesfan90
September 10th, 2012
11:06 pm
Braves relievers come in with sub 3.50 ERA and get hit hard and Brewers bring in relievers with ERA’s above 4 and we can’t score….have to take advantage of opportunities.
Mitchell
September 10th, 2012
11:06 pm
It might be nice to a see a team that has high hopes for the playoffs be able to overcome an exceedingly rare bad bullpen performance with some late runs.
San Antonio Brave
September 10th, 2012
11:06 pm
Burgess:
All this started because Freddi didn’t run for McCann in the top of 7th. We would have scored another run and they wouldn’t have been bunting.
And then Venters is NOT in fielding position after making pitch and that’s how their big inning started
Agreed. Put pastornacky in for Mac at 2nd. He’s off on contact and has a chance to score. What the heck? We’ve got 2 catchers on the bench. Dumb non move by Freddie. My 11 year old nephew could’ve made that call
Mark
September 10th, 2012
11:06 pm
Freddi – Cut the crap and just pencil in Georgie tomorrow so we can win the freakin game!
Gene
September 10th, 2012
11:07 pm
At least Fredi is learning to take pitchers out when they obviously don’t have it. He still waits too long, however.
Mitchell
September 10th, 2012
11:08 pm
Can we get one run?
Mark
September 10th, 2012
11:08 pm
FF looks like crap at the dish
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 10th, 2012
11:08 pm
Prado, again! Geez….
M.V.P.Heyward
September 10th, 2012
11:08 pm
When Freddie hits the other way, He would be on a roll.
Remember ARIAZONA series?
Mitchell
September 10th, 2012
11:08 pm
Jesus Christ.
WTF
ncbravesfan90
September 10th, 2012
11:08 pm
You really have got to be kidding me……Please tell me I was watching something my DVR recording earlier in the game…..
tiger297
September 10th, 2012
11:08 pm
wow again…
Wake Up Jeff! (and Freddie)
September 10th, 2012
11:08 pm
Moreeeeee baserunning follies! lol
Sopheee
September 10th, 2012
11:09 pm
No eee’s for that Martin.
tiger297
September 10th, 2012
11:09 pm
guess we end the 9th with the tying run getting thrown out at the pl8?
JC Brave
September 10th, 2012
11:09 pm
Good one, Prado.
ncbravesfan90
September 10th, 2012
11:09 pm
Is there not some rule not to make the first or last out at third? I mean that would be the tying run coming to the plate right there……GEEEEEZ!!
Tomahawk Mafia
September 10th, 2012
11:10 pm
The Braves are playing stupid baseball right now.
Mark
September 10th, 2012
11:10 pm
NEVER EVER MAKE THE THIRD OUT AT THIRD.
Hate to say it but I gotta believe Teeen was doggin it. That should not have been close with 2 outs. Ball was in the air way too long!
TBbravesfan
September 10th, 2012
11:10 pm
we aren’t playing a little league team.
Sparks
September 10th, 2012
11:10 pm
Evidently Prado isn’t as fast as the thinks he is…
Capt.Mudd
September 10th, 2012
11:10 pm
Nice chuck…luck?
ncbravesfan90
September 10th, 2012
11:10 pm
I wonder what this blog would be like if that was Uggla who just made another base running mistake?? Haha it would be a lot different tone than it is now….
Wake Up Jeff! (and Freddie)
September 10th, 2012
11:11 pm
I told ya earlier….Prado thinks he’s Usain Bolt! The reality is he’s about as fast as Freddie Freeman!
Prado was thrown out at the plate yesterday trying to score from third on a groundout. I love Martin but his baserunning is the weakest part of his game.
DAM
September 10th, 2012
11:12 pm
Don’t say this very often, but very poor baserunning there from Prado.
Venice Jim
September 10th, 2012
11:12 pm
tiger – do you not have the guts to answer a question that has been asked nicely? I am baffled by the hatred you have thrown in my direction…
DO YOU THINK REALLY THINK CHIPPER SHOULD HAVE CAUGHT THAT?
extremus
September 10th, 2012
11:14 pm
The Braves have been running themselves out of innings the entire game. Not one but two outs for Prado at third, Freeman caught at first base, Heyward taking the bat out of Chipper’s hands in the first…not to take away from the Brewers’ defense (particularly Maldonado), but this many outs on the basepaths just screams “sloppy”.
tiger297
September 10th, 2012
11:14 pm
braves playing very aggressive baseball tonight and it has not paid off…sometimes it just bees that way
Capt.Mudd
September 10th, 2012
11:14 pm
Overzealousness on the part of the Bravo runners….got to score to win/on the other hand, the Brewers know that too–and they’re going to try and keep you from scoring–you know–it’s late and I’m getting darn irritated with this stupid decision-making; I’m gone!
NorCal Brave
September 10th, 2012
11:14 pm
Need to make this game into a video on how to give away a baseball game. Laughable and deplorable, but mostly deplorable.
lee maye
September 10th, 2012
11:15 pm
Speed or the lack thereof, and poor relief pitching by Venters and Durban cost Braves the game tonight. Prado ran into 2 outs at 3rd, McCann’s slowness cost us a run, and FF gets picked off 1st. FF needs a rest of a game or two. Expect Overbay to be at 1st in tomorrow’s game. Prado needs to learn that his speed is average.
Fredo
September 10th, 2012
11:15 pm
the braves low scoring offense may have finally found it’s match … themselves + the other team
TBbravesfan
September 10th, 2012
11:16 pm
10 hits 1 run that stinks
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 10th, 2012
11:19 pm
Uggla with a hard hit ball… right at someone.
Still wonder why Prado was in a “hurry” to get to 3rd… Uggla is getting hot, no need to force it!
PiersonBrave
September 10th, 2012
11:19 pm
I don’t care if it is Monday. Wouldn’t matter if it was Friday, with this terrible base running tonight no team can overcome stupid mistakes like what we are seeing tonight. Just awful.
Mark
September 10th, 2012
11:19 pm
Finally get two slumpers hitting and one of the other ones have to tank it!
Geez
JC Brave
September 10th, 2012
11:20 pm
So much life.
Inconsistency… Inconsistency everywhere.
Venice Jim
September 10th, 2012
11:21 pm
That was an annoying game…
ncbravesfan90
September 10th, 2012
11:21 pm
Well a game to forget in all aspects but especially the offense. 10 hits on just 1 run….unbelievable….
Mitchell
September 10th, 2012
11:21 pm
This team just never says die.
This team often says die.
Tomahawk Mafia
September 10th, 2012
11:21 pm
Frustrating game tonight.
Fredo
September 10th, 2012
11:21 pm
well here’s hoping Huddy can pitch deeper and make the 1 run the offence might score hold up
Mark
September 10th, 2012
11:22 pm
I wish they’d show Teeen going from 1st to 3rd. Again, no way that should have been close even with his speed. The ball jammed FF and I believe Teen thought it was routine and seen it wasn’t too late. Sorry ball there by an otherwise really good player.
tiger297
September 10th, 2012
11:23 pm
the brewers made 3 perfect throws (on heyward & prado-freeman was just caught cheating a bit) on I think 3 attempts
not sure if the outfield arms are that good or if they just happened to make a few awesome throws in a row –
difficult to adjust from a team that wasnt hitting and needed to take every extra base to a team that is killing it and can be a little less agressive
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 10th, 2012
11:23 pm
Disappointing…. poor Minor. He’s gonna have to be perfect from here on out if he wants to have a winning record, something he’s done in his previous 2 stints in the Majors.
Poor baserunning and JVs blunder cost us greatly today. And the gNats won… not a good day to lose. Get ‘em tomorrow, hope the Nats lose to make up this ground. We need to be within 6 games by the time they get into ATL. That way, we have a chance to make it interesting down the stretch.
Burgess
September 10th, 2012
11:24 pm
Braves lost this game when Freddi didn’t run for McCann in the 7th. Cost the Braves a big run
DiamondbackMac
September 10th, 2012
11:25 pm
VJ
Annoying is the perfect description.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 10th, 2012
11:25 pm
Minor was the only Braves who really did well tonight. Everyone else was just average. Hope for a better start tomorrow, Huddy starting I believe.
Mark
September 10th, 2012
11:25 pm
Caught some tough breaks tonight on the bases and did nothing to overcome those by playing smart.
Hate to blame guys for losses but its discouraging to watch guys scrap and claw then see a reliever or 2 come in and just flub it up after sitting around the other 6 or 7 innings doing nothing.
Kinda like a place kicker. Guys out there bleeding and breaking bones the whole game and a little dweeby kicker comes in for 3 seconds and blows it.
Oh well!
Kentavo
September 10th, 2012
11:26 pm
Venters and Durbin were terrible – have a feeling that duo will cost us in the playoffs.
Mitchell
September 10th, 2012
11:26 pm
I didn’t even want to care but I just remembered what day it is.
F*ing embarrassing.
3-16?
Who are we, the f*ing Astros?
Mark
September 10th, 2012
11:28 pm
Its a Monday and FG still didn’t play Georgie
Holy Crap we never had a chance
John Leonard
September 10th, 2012
11:30 pm
Mark:Never thought of relief pitchers that way.Very interesting.
uga-brave
September 10th, 2012
11:30 pm
the braves managed 10 hits, three walks and 0 RBI.
all hits tonight of the single variety. very difficult to keep the line moving that way.
tiger297
September 10th, 2012
11:32 pm
when its sleepy time down south…
Venice Jim
September 10th, 2012
11:32 pm
Sleep well, tiger…
Mark
September 10th, 2012
11:35 pm
John
I agree with something Hershiser said a while back. Relievers should never win the Cy Young because any teams top 3 starters could be dominant relievers. If they were very good, they’d be starters.
There are exceptions of course but any time we take Medlin, Hudson, Minor or Mahomie out of the game we are going to an inferior pitcher with the exception of Kimmy.
Mark
September 10th, 2012
11:37 pm
Wonder how much Brian Jordon and Ron Gant get paid for that deal they do after a game? Wish that stimulus money would run out because they are bad!
Capt.Mudd
September 10th, 2012
11:37 pm
Footnote…….”Mystery things?” Lack of run support; a result of “One of those mystery things?” by Ron Gant, Braves Post-Game Report…….I am glad I’m hitting the hay now….wow, you have got to be kidding me…….what a stupid Bravos night.
DS1
September 10th, 2012
11:38 pm
OK
Win a few games in a row, then play a lousy game and poor Mitchell has to be embarrassed again.
Except for the 11 run game on Saturday, our offense is still not clicking yet. We’ll be OK, but we are not catching the Nationals.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 10th, 2012
11:40 pm
got a little greedy there RT @supes23: @ajcbraves what was venters thinking!!?? He had no play at 3rd!!
A little? Very very very greedy…
monty
September 10th, 2012
11:45 pm
I had that feeling that JV would throw the ball away on a bunt play. Man’s like a bull in a china shop, absolutely no finesse. He had been pitching well lately as Nolie said, but I’m not really seeing the same devasting movement he had last year. Look on Chippers face said it all on that wild throw.
monty
September 10th, 2012
11:46 pm
Minor solid again. Team just refuses to hit with men on base.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 10th, 2012
11:49 pm
Later folks, y’all take care. Don’t jump off of any bridges, it’s just 1 loss. We’ll be perfectly fine. 7-3 in September, much better so far than what we did last year.
Go Braves. Peace.
GoNatsGo
September 10th, 2012
11:50 pm
Looks like Simmons isn’t the savior after all. Meanwhile the Nats’ lead is back up to 6.5 games….
7576DAWG
September 10th, 2012
11:51 pm
Gonzalez lost another with poor management decisions. I even know, when Venters come out and walks the first guy he faces you take him out of the game. I pitch until I was 21 and I can tell you after all the years Venters has been pitching it is very easy to know if you have control or not when you are warming up. From the first pitch you could tell Venters had no idea where his pitches were going. We have a very capable bullpen and Gonzalez should have a very short leash on Venters .
Venice Jim
September 10th, 2012
11:53 pm
Kevin McAlpin @KevinMcAlpin
Venters: “this loss is on my back. I didnt do my job and I let my team down”
ACE
September 11th, 2012
12:19 am
Martin MLT. Most likely to get throwed out at third. Never make the first or third out at third.
ACE
September 11th, 2012
12:21 am
Cue Phil Collins. I missed againnnnnnnnn Oh oh I missed again. Opportunties that is.
Venice Jim
September 11th, 2012
12:21 am
Jon Morosi @jonmorosi
#Pirates load bases in top of 14th — with none out — and do not score. They do not appear to be a playoff team.
ACE
September 11th, 2012
12:22 am
TOBF, without a doubt a much better Sept. So far.
Capt.Mudd
September 11th, 2012
12:22 am
How you doing Ace…..I got back up to wash my whatever away with some Earl Grey?
ACE
September 11th, 2012
12:25 am
Back to the Venters throw. Lots of blame to go around on that. Unless Jonny acted on his on going to third. The throw was off line. If Chipper comes off the bag sooner could he have caught the ball? Who knows but a bad decision followed by a bad throw.
ACE
September 11th, 2012
12:27 am
Hello Capt. All is well here. Have to go after them tomorrow.
Capt.Mudd
September 11th, 2012
12:27 am
@Ace…Bravos did not ace that game
David O'Brien
September 11th, 2012
12:27 am
we are really back to the “clutch” debate Efrim, whether it is as a hitter or as a pitcher. THe thing is, like DOB, has said B4 you won’t find very many guys who have played high level sports who don’t recognize that some players handle stressful situations better than others do, — nolie
I’m officially done with the “clutch” debate. No sense arguing with someone so entrenched in their views as Shaun on a subject he knows nothing about. So it’s all good, whatever he or Efrim or anyone else wants to offer on the subject. But personally, I get no satisfaction out of the repetitive “discussion.” So I’ll abstain.
ACE
September 11th, 2012
12:28 am
How is it going in your kneck of the woods.
Carroll Rogers
September 11th, 2012
12:29 am
Venters said this loss is on his back….and other Braves postgame quotes.
http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2012/09/11/braves-postgame-quotes-after-mondays-loss/
COOPER
September 11th, 2012
12:33 am
I also blame Minor for this lose. Minor does the same thing every game. He go’s to a 3-2 count on every player instead of challenging the hitter. I hate to watch Minor and Hanson pitch because they don’t have the control they should have. The Braves shouldn’t even have used their bullpen tonight, except maybe the ninth inning. When pitchers constantly make it only to the fifth inning it is time to trade for someone who knows how to pitch. I would give Minor a little longer but Hanson would have already been gone. I pitched for 21 years and it is not very hard to throw the ball anywhere on the plate you want to if you practice enough controlling your pitches. Beachy and Medlen don’t have any problem with it.
Capt.Mudd
September 11th, 2012
12:33 am
They looked like some lost souls out in the fields in that 7th….and, McCann rounded third and retreating was just not happening…..and Snitker could have just as well had his smoking jacket on while all this coo coo behavior was ensuing…..maybe better if we get Mr. Hefner out there so our bunny tails would get noticed…..enough for me [again] slurp my tea now beddy bye; take care.
ACE
September 11th, 2012
12:35 am
Thanks for the quotes.
Have a good one Capt.
John Leonard
September 11th, 2012
12:38 am
I think to get Venters back to where he was,we have to pitch him like every day Johnny again.Some guys lose the feel if there not throwing alot.
nolie
September 11th, 2012
12:39 am
Minor was not all that great tonight, was lucky he got away with a number of pitches that were not near where they should have been. The difference during his excellent surge has been his command, lets hope it comes back next game.
nolie
September 11th, 2012
12:40 am
I have always thought that Jonny needs to pitch real regularly. Getting him too much time off is not doing him a favor IMO
ACE
September 11th, 2012
12:42 am
Without a doubt some players handle stress better. They want to be the one at bat with the game on the line etc. Or they come through with that unexpected great play.
ChattTownBrian
September 11th, 2012
12:44 am
Basically just ride this thing out and hope for the best with the Braves. Such an up and down team that you have no idea what’ll happen next. Just hope for the best, expect the worst.
Venice Jim
September 11th, 2012
12:47 am
Chipper Jones @RealCJ10
Minor pitched great again! Thats about it!
John Leonard
September 11th, 2012
12:47 am
nolie,its worth a try,because you don’t know what your going to get with him now.
John Leonard
September 11th, 2012
12:48 am
Now we win the next 5 and we will be in good shape.
ChattTownBrian
September 11th, 2012
12:49 am
Give Overbay and then Hinske the next two games at 1st base. FF probably needs a breather. Bourn probably could use another day and Reed in CF isn’t a bad thing at all.
Carroll Rogers
September 11th, 2012
1:04 am
http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2012/09/10/brewers-snap-braves-five-game-win-streak/
final gamer is up.
Nite all…
Carroll Rogers
September 11th, 2012
1:07 am
Kentavo, Lynchburg played Myrtle Beach, then Wilmington.
http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t481&gid=2012_09_07_wilafa_lynafa_1&cid=481&t=g_box
ACE
September 11th, 2012
1:28 am
Have a good nite Carroll.
cowdogit
September 11th, 2012
2:28 am
On line number one at 4: 57 p m I predicted the reason the braves were going to lose tonight. The braves are so predicable, thats why the gamblers love them.
Ward
September 11th, 2012
2:47 am
We still have the Wild Card lead by 6 1/2 games, so no need to panic on anything, and Braves need to focus on keeping the Wild Card. Nats will win the division. What matters is the Braves will be in the Playoffs, and in the hunt. Winning the Division doesn’t always pan out.
Ward
September 11th, 2012
2:48 am
and, Hello eveyone! The Wild Card is whats important.
Ward
September 11th, 2012
2:57 am
Give it some patience, because the Braves shouldn’t get swept. Braves need to keep it close like they are doing. Huddy is pitching tomorrow, so like our chances.
Veer
September 11th, 2012
3:02 am
Venters is garbage. Avilan moylan and Gerrain are all better option than him in the post season. I don’t want to see this guy pitching in any meaningful games. Guy can’t throw strikes. Guy can’t take easy outs when given to him. Guy can’t field. Guy is garbage.
John Leonard
September 11th, 2012
3:08 am
Ward: You just aren’t the same since Agon left,peace be with you.
Ward
September 11th, 2012
3:10 am
All have a good one! Talk tomorrow some time, and hang in there, be tough. Peace my friends, and “Go!!!!!Braves!!!!!”
Ward
September 11th, 2012
3:13 am
John Leonard – Since Agon has been gone. I’ve really had nothing to bitch about, and I’m keeping cool. Trying not to bitch about every game. Instead I’m enjoying it, and havinga better season. Baseball is fun, not supposed to be life threatening. Peace Out, and be cool……”Go!!!!!Braves!!!!!”
nolie
September 11th, 2012
3:52 am
Veer and Cowdogit together. Can it get any better than that??
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 11th, 2012
6:01 am
11 years ago, on this day, 19 faceless cowards hijacked 4 planes and crashed them into 3 major buildings. The 4th plane never reached its destination because of the heroism of the passengers on board. Never forget what happened that day. America came together, with no regards to a person’s color, religious beliefs, or political affiliation. Let us do the same today. Also, remember all the soldiers who have died or were injured defending our freedom.
I lost a family member and a close friend of my parents on 9/11. It’s always been hard on me. So also, do remember the families and friends of all those who died on 9/11, as well as the families and friends of the soldiers who have died.
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/223155_382757441797778_1601471264_n.jpg
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/318444_436253783087043_342334062_n.jpg
phil
September 11th, 2012
7:02 am
Sympathies and remembrances to all affected directly and otherwise today….
phil
September 11th, 2012
7:02 am
Sympathies and remembrances to all affected directly and otherwise today….
George
September 11th, 2012
7:22 am
Same o – Same o – Do not know how to WIN.
Pressure – Pressure.
Brian from SC
September 11th, 2012
8:11 am
Best baserunning and defensive team in baseball makes costly mistakes in both areas. Hard to win that way. Not likely to repeat.
Brian from SC
September 11th, 2012
8:12 am
Guy can’t throw strikes. Guy can’t take easy outs when given to him. Guy can’t field. Guy is garbage.
Guy has a 2.20 career ERA.
ncscoots
September 11th, 2012
8:14 am
Venters is garbage.
since the break, Venters had made 18 appearances before last night, giving up a run in exactly one of them. He gave up eight hits total in those appearances.
The guy had a bad night last night. He may be human, but he’s far from garbage.
Brian from SC
September 11th, 2012
8:15 am
Braves made at least four outs on the bases last night that I can remember. Need lots of hits to overcome that.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 11th, 2012
8:22 am
John Kincade @JohnKincade
Braves Magic Number to clinch a playoff berth is 15
It’s gonna happen folks, just a few more games before we can officially clinch.
Brian from SC
September 11th, 2012
8:26 am
The Braves still need to win 2 of 3 in Milwaukee, then sweep Washington. So, another 5-game winning streak is in order.
JRW
September 11th, 2012
8:29 am
The Braves have to prove they can beat the Phillies and the Brewers in September. I truly believe one of those two teams will be the opponent for the Wildcard play in game. They are two of the hottest teams right now and the Cards, Pirates and Dodgers are taking on water fast. I don’t want to face either of those teams for that one game. With the exception of Chippers miracle the Phillies should have swept. and the Brewers keep being a thorn in the Braves side also. The Phillies next 9 games are against Marlins, Astros and Mets, The Brewers next 8 is against the Braves Mets and Pirates while the Cardinals and Dodgers face each other 4 times this weekend. The Phillies and Brewers could easily be within two games of the wild card by Sunday.
DonofAcworth
September 11th, 2012
8:43 am
Hate that we wasted another one of Minor’s quality pitching performances. Perhaps someone needs to say before the game….”okay fellows, it Minor time but I don’t mean
just give up and stop hitting and fielding alltogether! Hey, how about sneaking him into the game after scoring 2-3 runs in the first inning.
Hillbilly
September 11th, 2012
8:46 am
Braves made at least four outs on the bases last night that I can remember. Need lots of hits to overcome that.
Yeah and I can live with that aggressiveness as long as it’s not stupid baserunning. Braves have run the bases pretty well all season, so I hope the Brewers’ little gunslinging performance doesn’t make them gunshy about taking an extra base.
Brian from SC
September 11th, 2012
8:48 am
Prado did OK trying to go first to third in the fourth inning (?). Aoki made a good play. But there’s not much reason for him to try it late in the game, down by three runs. Probably wishes he had that one back.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 11th, 2012
8:49 am
It’s approximately the time of the first attack…. Never forget.
Jeff R
September 11th, 2012
8:55 am
Minor was at 99 pitches after only five innings, though, so it would be a short night, despite the fact that he extended his scoreless streak over his past two outings to 12 2/3 innings.
The arbitrariness and tyranny of pitch counts.
Philly Phanatic
September 11th, 2012
8:56 am
JRW hit the nail on the hood. IF we hadn’t choked up the last Braves game. You don’t pitch to Chipper in that situation. He thrives on those and unless I’m terribly wrong it’s against the Phil’s. They lost a game against the Reds ( only 2 in last 10) with the bases loaded Sherholz hit a liner that was trapped and they called catch so everybody was halfway and he tripled them up. They lost the game 2-1. What am I saying? Nobody is going to catch the Braves obviously burt the Phil’s are finally playing well and you don’t want to play them if they get in. Right now they’re 5 behind Cards. If they play I hope you pitch Hidson over Medlen because he’s their ace, face it.
Hillbilly
September 11th, 2012
8:57 am
Well I guess with Hanson’s improved performances over his last two starts, there won’t be any thoughts of skipping him for the Washington series.
Medlen vs. Detwiler
Hanson vs. Jackson
Minor vs. Gonzalez
Brian from SC
September 11th, 2012
8:57 am
I only watched the first 4.5 innings (went to bed when the Braves took the lead) but Minor wasn’t real sharp. Did a good job battling through, though.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 11th, 2012
8:57 am
Well, we’ve got Huddy going for us tonight, so you’ve gotta feel good about that. Need to score some more runs though. Minor did a great job last night, and look what happened. The bats need to contribute.
Bat Masterson
September 11th, 2012
9:05 am
He may be human
Ah, the old “he’s only human excuse.” The next thing you know people will be playing the old “injury excuse” followed by Matt Chernobyl ringing a bell while jumping naked through a first floor window of a crack house in a desperate attempt to end it all.
Efrim
September 11th, 2012
9:08 am
Since June 19th, the 7 year, $126 million dollar man Michael Bourn, has hit .247/.339/.349 in 74 games and 341 plate appearances.
Jeff R
September 11th, 2012
9:12 am
Since June 19th, the 7 year, $126 million dollar man Michael Bourn, has hit .247/.339/.349 in 74 games and 341 plate appearances.
Market value heading………….. down.
John Leonard
September 11th, 2012
9:16 am
Plus he has so 136 times, Jhey 139 and Uggla 151 times
Trader Jack
September 11th, 2012
9:17 am
Toss Up
Who would you rather have the Braves play in the one game shoot out, and why? Also, who wouldn’t you want to face and why?
Brian from SC
September 11th, 2012
9:17 am
Wow. Cleveland has lost 32 of their last 41 games.
Brian from SC
September 11th, 2012
9:18 am
Actually 33 of 42.
Jeff R
September 11th, 2012
9:18 am
Well I guess with Hanson’s improved performances over his last two starts, there won’t be any thoughts of skipping him for the Washington series.
Management won’t, but the Nats are much tougher opponents than the Braves have faced recently. We’ll see how much Hanson has stabilized himself.
phil
September 11th, 2012
9:23 am
Sigh…..
The inevitability of what’s to come for us just gets me down. We could go 15-5 or so the rest of the way, but come the wildcard game, you just know in your gut that we’re going to lose it. And there’s not one single dadgum thing we can do to stop it. It’s like watching a tsunami come ashore.
I hate this format. At least under the old one, assuming we even made it in, you had 5 games in which to maybe get something done. Not now. 1 and done, as sure as the tide comes in…..
So how’s that for some salt in your cereal this morning?
Brian from SC
September 11th, 2012
9:24 am
you just know in your gut that we’re going to lose it.
Speak for yourself.
Efrim
September 11th, 2012
9:24 am
Wow. Cleveland has lost 32 of their last 41 games.
They have a bad farm system and no pitching to speak of. It’s really bad there and I think it’d make a lot of sense for them to sell shop big time – Masterson, Choo, Perez, and maybe even Brantley and Cabrera.
Efrim
September 11th, 2012
9:26 am
Market value heading………….. down.
I still think the floor for Bourn is five years, 75 million. Can’t see him getting anything less than that.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 11th, 2012
9:27 am
Hanson for Shin-Soo-Choo!!! They need pitching, and Hanson would be the one of the top 2-3 on their staff…
Efrim
September 11th, 2012
9:27 am
The Phillies and Brewers are now 5 games back of the Cardinals for the last Wild Card spot. Still think they won’t make it, as they’d have to jump the Pirates and Dodgers as well.
Brian from SC
September 11th, 2012
9:28 am
Coolstandings gives the Phillies a 1.5% chance of making the playoffs. It’s possible, but five games is a lot, and jumping three teams at that.
phil
September 11th, 2012
9:28 am
I guess I say what I say because I get so damn tired of the excuses we hear every single year about one of our teams or another, and it almost always goes like this….
“Wasn’t much we could do. Just met up with a foe that got hot at the right time. It’s all random, you know. Nothing we could do.”
I hate that bs. We’re already seeing the Brewers and Phillies making pushes for the playoffs, and if one of em somehow makes it, cue the above excuse when one of them whips our ass in that game.
Just once, I want to hear something like I don’t give a crap if so and so has won 15 in a row. We intend to go out there, play our game, play it hard and win the damn thing, whatever it takes! No hat tips and other stupid concessions to the might and worth of the opponent. Go kick some butt.
There. I feel momentarily better.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 11th, 2012
9:29 am
If I had to choose, I’d take the Pirates, TJ…. but that ain’t happening, so…. Dodgers best bet of who’s left. Just pray that Kershaw doesn’t start.
Efrim
September 11th, 2012
9:29 am
They should trade Choo for prospects or 0-3 guys. Not Hanson.
wowOwow
September 11th, 2012
9:30 am
Is it normal for me to be nervous about that play in game for the wild card barf to play the nationals? It seems to much like a story book write up, we play the Cardinals in it and maybe get some revenge for last year and them beating us? Or do you all think that we lose to them again.
Brian from SC
September 11th, 2012
9:30 am
Also, the Phillies don’t play any of the teams they need to jump going forward. They’re one of the better teams in the NL right now, but they dug a hole too big earlier in the year.
Jeff R
September 11th, 2012
9:31 am
The Phillies and Brewers are now 5 games back of the Cardinals for the last Wild Card spot. Still think they won’t make it, as they’d have to jump the Pirates and Dodgers as well.
The right combination things would have to occur for the Phils to make the playoffs. A torrid finish for one. But, boy, the Phils are playing really well.
phil
September 11th, 2012
9:31 am
Brian from SC
September 11th, 2012
9:24 am
you just know in your gut that we’re going to lose it.
Speak for yourself.
************
i am, but you’ll feel better come Oct. 5th if you allow for the possibility.
It’s what we do.
phil
September 11th, 2012
9:33 am
Until we man up and actually WIN some big games, I fully intend to remain doubtful….
Why not?
Brian from SC
September 11th, 2012
9:34 am
i am, but you’ll feel better come Oct. 5th if you allow for the possibility.
Who said I’m not allowing for the possibility? I know there’s a chance the Braves lose that game. You seem to think the Braves have zero chance to win it. I disagree with that.
Bat Masterson
September 11th, 2012
9:34 am
So how’s that for some salt in your cereal this morning?
Do y’all remember when Ward had “high hopes”?
Next time you’re found, with your chin on the ground
There a lot to be learned, so look around
Just what makes that little old ant
Think he’ll move that rubber tree plant
Anyone knows an ant, can’t
Move a rubber tree plant
But he’s got high hopes, he’s got high hopes
He’s got high apple pie, in the sky hopes
So any time you’re gettin’ low
’stead of lettin’ go
Just remember that ant
Oops there goes another rubber tree plant
阴阳
Efrim
September 11th, 2012
9:34 am
Bourn is hitting .232/.328/.323 in the 2nd half.
Brian from SC
September 11th, 2012
9:35 am
Until we man up and actually WIN some big games,
What made last night a big game, but the five games before it weren’t?
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 11th, 2012
9:35 am
They should trade Choo for prospects or 0-3 guys. Not Hanson.
Agree… Hanson doesn’t even help their pitching staff that much. Not that good.
Braves @ 99.2% for playoffs, Cards are 2nd at 61%. Dodgers are at 26%.
Telling ya right now, barring a great run by the Dodgers (beginning with a sweep this week, and beating all their other opponents, they have the harder schedule), the WC teams will be the Braves and the Cards, in Atlanta.
phil
September 11th, 2012
9:41 am
Excuses, excuses, excuses…..
Win or go home, Brian. THOSE games. Not last night or the 5 before it. They’re all pretty big all year long, frankly, but the win or go home games are what I’m talking about. I want to see some foaming at the mouth and some ass kicking.
I’m sick and tired of losing. Sorry if I don’t subscribe to the “they got hot at the right time” mentality. It’s a cop out and a bunch of crap. It’s the Falcons mantra now days….
phil
September 11th, 2012
9:42 am
We had a great season….
Well big dang deal! Win some playoff games!
Trader Jack
September 11th, 2012
9:44 am
The Nationals can have a say in who the Braves face, as their last 16 games are all against wild card contenders. Does Davey Johnson play some teams tough, while laying down to another ?
Efrim
September 11th, 2012
9:45 am
Agree… Hanson doesn’t even help their pitching staff that much. Not that good.
You’re bordering on MFin with regard to Hanson, TOBF.
CB
September 11th, 2012
9:45 am
phil eating his normal gruel this morning. We love you,phil.
phil
September 11th, 2012
9:47 am
Johnson should do what’s best for his team to win. Period. If that means helping screw the Braves some way, why not?
We should be doing the same thing and are, I hope. Then again, with cap tipping FG manning the dugout, who really ever knows. The man has yet to win a single playoff game, or even reach one.
phil
September 11th, 2012
9:48 am
Add CB to the list of those content with just showing up….lol
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 11th, 2012
9:50 am
Sorry, Efrim… I just don’t see how an average NL starter can be of much use in the AL. That league even makes some Aces look bad. For Hanson to be valuable and good, he needs to stay in the NL. And that’s all I’ll say… don’t want to sound like I hate Tommy.
Bat Masterson
September 11th, 2012
9:57 am
And that’s all I’ll say… don’t want to sound like I hate Tommy.
That ship has already sailed.
Place your bets.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 11th, 2012
10:02 am
Jayson Stark @jaysonst
Today’s @MikeandMike trivia: If Mike Trout wins the MVP he’ll be only the 4th active player to win it as an OF. Can you name the other 3?
Jayson Stark @jaysonst
Let’s end the @MikeandMike trivia suspense. The 3 active players who were MVPs as OFs: Braun, Hamilton, Ichiro. Lots of right answers!
Jayson Stark @jaysonst
Most common wrong trivia answers: Albert & Chipper (didn’t win as OFs), Kemp (2nd last year), Berkman (3rd twice), Beltran (4th once)</em.
phil
September 11th, 2012
10:09 am
I don’t personally hate Tommy.
I just despise him when he pitches like crap.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 11th, 2012
10:10 am
Tommy’s first 4 years in the Majors have him putting up some stats roughly similar stats to James Shields’ first 4 years. James pitched in the AL East. Shields has a better WHIP, BB/9, and K/BB ratio, and averaged about an extra 2/3 of an inning per start than Tommy did.
Now I’m done!
Bat Masterson
September 11th, 2012
10:12 am
Raise your hand if you bet BS.
Hand raised here.
JRW
September 11th, 2012
10:14 am
The Phillies and Brewers are now 5 games back of the Cardinals for the last Wild Card spot. Still think they won’t make it, as they’d have to jump the Pirates and Dodgers as well.
————————————————————————–
Last 10 – Phillies 8-2, Brewers 7-3, Cards, 4-6, Dodgers, 4-6, Pirates 2-8.
The Phillies opponents trough next Wednesday Marlins (2), Astros (4), Mutts (3). If the current trends hold up for another week the Phillies will have a much higher percentage to make the Playoffs than they do today. I think they could easily be with in two games and have only the Dodgers left in front of them.
Murph
September 11th, 2012
10:14 am
Raise your hand if you bet BS.
I don’t even know what we’re talking about here, but I’ll go ahead and raise my hand too.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 11th, 2012
10:15 am
I just despise him when he pitches like crap.
That’s been much of the year, unfortunately… .290/.366/.514/.879 oppo. line, with a 5.36 ERA in 15 starts from May28 to Aug29. Pitched 84 innings (5.2 a start) allowing 96 Hits, walking 38, and K’ing 75. Allowed 15 HR in that time.
Somehow, the Braves went 11-4 in that time, with Tommy getting 7 wins and 4 losses to his record. The bats were showing him the love….
Bat Masterson
September 11th, 2012
10:18 am
Murph_
Good choice. Puts you on the winning side.
ncscoots
September 11th, 2012
10:18 am
No hat tips and other stupid concessions to the might and worth of the opponent.
Bubba, please. Some posters here live their whole lives thinking that anybody but the Braves is always better than the Braves. They’re in constant cap-tip mode.
You can see it this morning, even. Some here think that the Phillies can jump over several teams and make up six games, no sweat. But mention that the Braves might overcome the same deficit to one team, the Nats, and those same folks howl at the impossibility of it. That’s not realism, or even pessimism; it’s just pure give-up.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 11th, 2012
10:21 am
That’s not realism, or even pessimism; it’s just pure give-up.
I prefer to call it idiocy.
Jeff R
September 11th, 2012
10:22 am
You can see it this morning, even. Some here think that the Phillies can jump over several teams and make up six games, no sweat. But mention that the Braves might overcome the same deficit to one team, the Nats, and those same folks howl at the impossibility of it. That’s not realism, or even pessimism; it’s just pure give-up.
It does amaze me that a constant thread on the blog attributes so much more to Braves’ rivals.
And I’m amused more than amazed by those who think that clearing Fredi from the dugout would go a long way to solving any problems or challenges the Braves have.
Jeff R
September 11th, 2012
10:26 am
I’m sick and tired of losing. Sorry if I don’t subscribe to the “they got hot at the right time” mentality. It’s a cop out and a bunch of crap. It’s the Falcons mantra now days….
Well, phil, the Braves lost a playoff series in ‘10. They outright collapsed in ‘11, which should have angered fans. This season, despite ups and downs, and some setbacks in terms of injuries, the Braves are leading the pack for one of the wild card slots. They’re in the thick of contention. The problem is….?
Murph
September 11th, 2012
10:28 am
Some here think that the Phillies can jump over several teams and make up six games, no sweat.
I personally don’t think the Phillies are going to make the playoffs, or even make it all that close (even though I’ve been telling you all for months that they were still dangerous, despite the constant ribbing I took for saying so)… but….
The world works in mysterious ways. I don’t know what to call it, but somehow the unthinkable has a crazy way of coming true. Look at that Tampa Bay game last year… one of the most amazing comebacks/game endings I’ve ever watched.
There is going to be an amazing story that’s going to unfold over the last 2 or 3 days of the season. Things are already in motion. I don’t know who it’s going to be, but some team is going to secure a playoff spot in an uber-dramatic way that’s going to leave us all with our jaws on the floor.
I just hope it isn’t a team overtaking the Braves. Again.
Jeff R
September 11th, 2012
10:31 am
And while I’m on a roll… what’s all the beefing about the one-game elimination between the wild card finishers? I get that a one-game “sudden death” isn’t what anyone wants, but it is what it is.
And what’s with the thread that regularly assumes that the Braves don’t stand a chance in a one-game elimination match?
Man, plenty of people on this blog peer into crystal balls or read tea leaves or chicken entrails. I’m not putting my money on crystal ball reading, thank you.
Jeff R
September 11th, 2012
10:35 am
I personally don’t think the Phillies are going to make the playoffs, or even make it all that close (even though I’ve been telling you all for months that they were still dangerous, despite the constant ribbing I took for saying so)… but….
It would be improbable for the Phils to slip into the wild card. But they are playing some dangerous baseball lately, and I do think that they finish above .500, for what that’s worth.
ncscoots
September 11th, 2012
10:35 am
I get that a one-game “sudden death” isn’t what anyone wants
…except for me, remember, LOL?
Jeff R
September 11th, 2012
10:36 am
Indeed, scoots!
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 11th, 2012
10:36 am
I just looked into my crystal ball… It says that Jeff is a smart man!
Jeff R
September 11th, 2012
10:37 am
TheOnlyBravesFan… must be another Jeff.
ncscoots
September 11th, 2012
10:38 am
But they are playing some dangerous baseball lately
Heck, I hope they stay dangerous. They have six with Nats, right?
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 11th, 2012
10:42 am
Yes, they do scoots. They play in Philly Sep. 25-27, then finish the season in DC. Would be nice if the gNats actually have to play for something those last 3 games. Phillies playing spoiler like last year would be greatly appreciated.
Jeff R
September 11th, 2012
10:42 am
The Phils do, indeed, have six games remaining against the Nats.
ncscoots
September 11th, 2012
10:59 am
Well, that certainly could be a dicey nine-game stretch at the end for the Nats, on the road at Philly and St. Louis and finishing at home with Philly. But I’d hope the Braves can take care of a little business long before then. Got to get within striking distance for that last nine to mean anything.
lee maye
September 11th, 2012
11:07 am
Medlen’s remaining starts:
Sept 14 Wash
Sept 19 at Miami
Sept 25 Miami
Sept 30 NY
Oct 5 Wild Card St Louis or LA
Schedule already set up perfectly for Medlen to pitch WC game in Atl on Oct 5
ACE
September 11th, 2012
11:07 am
Where is George?
Jeff R
September 11th, 2012
11:11 am
More importantly, where’s Lew? We need his acerbic wit this morning!
Veer
September 11th, 2012
11:15 am
2 wildcards is the biggest scam ever. We will probably finish 7 games better than the next wildcard and end up losing the 1 game playoff. This is BS. Our team is built to play series not 1 game. Even the Astros can beat the Nationals in a 1 game playoff.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 11th, 2012
11:18 am
Where is George?
Hopefully not taking a day off!
Jeff R
September 11th, 2012
11:26 am
2 wildcards is the biggest scam ever. We will probably finish 7 games better than the next wildcard and end up losing the 1 game playoff. This is BS. Our team is built to play series not 1 game. Even the Astros can beat the Nationals in a 1 game playoff.
Of course, a good team can have a bad game and a bad team a good one.
But again, so what? The post season scheme is set – unless someone has Selig’s ear.
And the Braves are sure losers in a one-game elimination? Why, of course! And I predict the Braves’ record will be 79-83 in 2087.
Brava
September 11th, 2012
11:27 am
Just purchased my tickets for the NL Wild Card Game and NLDS Home Game 1.
Go Braves!!!!!!
George_George
September 11th, 2012
11:30 am
ACE
September 11th, 2012
11:07 am
I am here, wasn’t that DISGUSTING last night? Our guys just can’t deliver key hits when needed. Ten hits all singles, just a waste of good starting pitching.
Brava
September 11th, 2012
11:33 am
George, it was a weird game. Hopefully, we don’t have any more like that one. Watching it gave me a sense that the Brewers were pre-ordained to win it. I know that’s silly, but that’s how it looked.
George_George
September 11th, 2012
11:35 am
wildcards is the biggest scam ever. We will probably finish 7 games better than the next wildcard and end up losing the 1 game playoff. This is BS. Our team is built to play series not 1 game. Even the Astros can beat the Nationals in a 1 game playoff.
***********************************************
AGREE AGREE AGREE
Powder Blue
September 11th, 2012
11:40 am
If this team collapses again, Fredi must go.
Brava
September 11th, 2012
11:41 am
What the heck, I went back and purchased NLDS Home Game 2, as well.
I’m a believer.
ncscoots
September 11th, 2012
11:42 am
If this team collapses again, Fredi must go.
They’re playing .700 ball in September, fercrissake.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 11th, 2012
11:42 am
Fredi ain’t going anywhere… we’re not collapsing. Not even close right now.
Brava
September 11th, 2012
11:43 am
Agree fully with that, Powder Blue.
Haven’t seen you around in a while. Welcome back.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 11th, 2012
11:43 am
WTG Brava!!!
Powder Blue
September 11th, 2012
11:44 am
Brava,
Been a busy summer at work, so I haven’t been around much. Thanks.
Brava
September 11th, 2012
11:44 am
Exactly, scoots. That’s why if they do collapse, he must go.
I don’t think it’s going to happen, or I wouldn’t be buying tickets to the post-season, believe me.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 11th, 2012
11:45 am
I’s got mine too, though I’ll probably make it to just 1 game…. dang fall ball.
Lew
September 11th, 2012
11:46 am
I had bad feelings last night asd soon as Fredi took Minor out of the game. We’ve got to start scoring some damned runs or Fredi will wear out the pen yet again. I’m surprised actually, that he didn’t run EOF and KImbrel out there again for the fifth time in six days. He never should have put Venters in to begin with.
Can’t keep scoring one run and expecting the pen to pick up all the slack – there’s always going to be a point of diminishing returns. We saw it last year and I sure hope we don’t see it agin this year, too.
Brian from SC
September 11th, 2012
11:48 am
Big 3-run homer by Chipper to win a game against Philly.
In all other at-bats in his last 17 games, he is hitting .207 with one extra-base hit (a double) and 2 RBI.
Murph
September 11th, 2012
11:48 am
I don’t think it’s going to happen, or I wouldn’t be buying tickets to the post-season, believe me.
You get your money back if they don’t make it though, right? Not exactly a major leap of faith…
Jeff R
September 11th, 2012
11:50 am
Can’t keep scoring one run and expecting the pen to pick up all the slack – there’s always going to be a point of diminishing returns.
Agreed. The pitching staff has carried the load masterfully, but the offense needs to step up.
Yes, the bullpen stumbled last night, but, overall, Braves’ pitching has been major league-leading – or close to it – during the team’s recent good stretch.
I n fact, I’d say the Braves’ offense lost last night’s game more than the pen.
Brava
September 11th, 2012
11:51 am
No, Murph, from what I’ve experienced in the past, they don’t refund the games that aren’t played, they credit it toward the next season. So, in a way, I guess you do get your money back, but you’re out the Ticketmaster convenience charges.
Efrim
September 11th, 2012
11:51 am
BASEBALL AMERICA
Braves Shortstop Nick Ahmed Shines At Lynchburg
By Andrew Krause
September 11, 2012
ZEBULON, N.C.—At first glance, Braves shortstop Nick Ahmed’s performance for high Class A Lynchburg this season hardly seemed revelatory. In 506 at-bats he hit .269/.337/.391—right around the Carolina League average on all counts—but the 22-year-old balanced that offensive output with a wide array of tools and off-the-charts makeup.
An above-average runner, Ahmed led the Carolina League with 40 stolen bases (in 50 attempts) and 84 runs.
“He’s aggressive and wants to learn,” Lynchburg hitting coach Bobby Moore said. “He picks up (pitchers’) moves, timing to the plate, and takes advantage of it.”
Ahmed had also been reliable defensively, showcasing plus range and arm strength, if not as much flash as some of his league-mates. He led all CL shortstops in fielding average (.963), assists (457) and every other counting statistic, while only Myrtle Beach’s Hanser Alberto recorded more assists per game.
“His defense at shortstop is great,” Moore said. “I think some of the errors that he has made have come on balls that normal shortstops cannot even get to.”
Though scouts don’t project much more than gap power down the line for Ahmed—he shared the CL lead with 36 doubles—they believe he’ll maintain a healthy batting average given his selectivity and feel for contact.
Renowned for a tireless work ethic during his college career at Connecticut, Ahmed has brought a take-no-prisoners attitude with him to the professional ranks. That helped the 2011 second-rounder make the sizable leap from the Rookie-level Appalachian League a year ago to Lynchburg this season.
“It’s through the roof—excellent, excellent, excellent makeup,” Moore said. “The kid comes to work every day. If you tell him he does something good, he wants to do it better. He expects more from himself. I think it comes from his background.”
Down, But Not Out
Ahmed and fellow Connecticut stars Matt Barnes (now with the Red Sox) and George Springer (Astros) were determined to help Connecticut take the next step as juniors in 2011. The Huskies missed the NCAA postseason during Ahmed’s freshman year in 2009, then bowed out to Oregon in regionals during his sophomore campaign.
Though UConn did break through to super regionals, winning the Clemson regional, the 2011 season wasn’t without its trials. Ahmed suffered a collapsed lung in an April 25 game against Quinnipiac, knocking him out of action for a month.
“It was kind of a freak injury,” Ahmed said. “I hit a ball and ended up colliding with the first baseman. I went down and thought that I had knocked the wind out of myself.
“I got up and regrouped and ran out to play shortstop the next inning, and I just could not breathe very well. I knew something wasn’t right and ended up having to come out of the game.”
At first Ahmed and UConn trainers thought that he sustained a collarbone or rib injury, but an X-ray found that Ahmed’s lung had collapsed and 80 percent deflated. As if the diagnosis weren’t bad enough, the original procedure to re-inflate Ahmed’s lung was carried out incorrectly, so he had to be transferred to another hospital for a second procedure.
When all was said and done, Ahmed had spent 15 days in two different hospitals. He returned to the field within two weeks of his release from the hospital and played in Connecticut’s opening-round game of the Big East Conference tournament on May 25.
As one of the team’s leaders and key contributors, Ahmed felt it necessary to make a quick return.
“It was probably a little bit too soon to be playing,” he said. “But we were in the conference tournament and I wanted to get back out there.”
Ahmed played well following his speedy return and attracted the interest of the Braves with his tools, physicality, toughness, and gamer mentality. Atlanta selected him 85th overall and signed him shortly after Connecticut’s postseason run ended with a loss to eventual College World Series champion South Carolina in super regional play.
Putting In The Work
Though he recovered from his collapsed lung, Ahmed struggled to regain his pre-injury strength. He batted .262/.346/.379 with four homers in 248 at-bats for Rookie-level Danville.
“I lost about 20 pounds from being in the hospital,” he said. “Everything was fine with the actual lung, but I guess that I played with my weight down quite a bit.”
Last winter, Ahmed dedicated much of his time to putting that weight back on in order regain his functional strength.
“I had a good strength coach and we worked hard to get a lot of that strength back so that I would be ready for a long, full season,” Ahmed said. “I think I’ve done a good job to maintain that strength, by staying on top of my nutrition, weighlifting and conditioning.”
Unsatisfied with his performance at the plate, Ahmed also put in a significant amount of work to revamp his hitting mechanics and overall offensive approach.
“I’m trying to be more balanced at the plate,” he said. “I’m also working on the mental game and being ready every single pitch. Just paying attention to pitchers’ tendencies and sequencing and knowing when I have the opportunity to really drive a pitch.”
The hard work had paid off.
“When he first came here he tried to pull the ball more,” Moore said. “Focusing on using the whole field is the key with him (because) it allows him to have a more consistent swing path. I think that we’re beginning to scratch into that power.
“The sky is the limit for him. He’s got all the ability, tools and a good head on his shoulders with a strong work ethic.”
Brian from SC
September 11th, 2012
11:51 am
Bourn has only score 5 runs in his last 21 games.
Efrim
September 11th, 2012
11:54 am
Nick Ahmed is a perfect trade candidate from our farm system, imo. Just sayin….
Shaun
September 11th, 2012
11:54 am
Of course, a good team can have a bad game and a bad team a good one.
But again, so what? The post season scheme is set – unless someone has Selig’s ear.
A good team can have 4 bad games within a 7-game period and a bad team can have 4 good games within a 7-game stretch.
My problem is not with the one-game playoff. A 5-game series and a 7-game series are crap shoots as well. My problem is that having two wild cards play a one-game playoff and having three divisions rewards teams in weak division to too strong a degree and punishes teams in strong divisions to too strong a degree. In plenty of seasons the best wild card is going to be better than at least one division winner. So essentially baseball is punishing and rewarding teams based on their geography.
Efrim
September 11th, 2012
11:57 am
Bourn has only score 5 runs in his last 21 games.
.203/.341/.216 in that span – 91 PA’s.
I’ll say it again, I can’t think of a worse idea for the future of the Atlanta Braves than to invest 20% of our payroll in Michael Bourn over the next 5-7 seasons.
ncscoots
September 11th, 2012
11:58 am
Nick Ahmed is a perfect trade candidate from our farm system, imo. Just sayin….
Trade ‘em all. I’m done huggin’ until I see who plays LF next year.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 11th, 2012
11:58 am
Nick Ahmed is a perfect trade candidate from our farm system, imo. Just sayin….
Agree… thinking that Frank might’ve tried to package him with Delgado and someone for Greinke… he’s better than Segura in my opinion. If Frank did make an offer, it’s hard to see how the Angels beat us.
Powder Blue
September 11th, 2012
11:58 am
“I’ll say it again, I can’t think of a worse idea for the future of the Atlanta Braves than to invest 20% of our payroll in Michael Bourn over the next 5-7 seasons.”
I can think of one: the investment they made in Dan Uggla.
Efrim
September 11th, 2012
11:59 am
I think Ahmed is going to the Arizona Fall League as well. Salcedo too. Be nice to see Salcedo kill the ball in that league. Of course, everyone does. But it’d be nice to see that from one of the younger players in the league.
phil
September 11th, 2012
11:59 am
Jeff R
September 11th, 2012
10:26 am
I’m sick and tired of losing. Sorry if I don’t subscribe to the “they got hot at the right time” mentality. It’s a cop out and a bunch of crap. It’s the Falcons mantra now days….
Well, phil, the Braves lost a playoff series in ‘10. They outright collapsed in ‘11, which should have angered fans. This season, despite ups and downs, and some setbacks in terms of injuries, the Braves are leading the pack for one of the wild card slots. They’re in the thick of contention. The problem is….?
**********
We’re staring at another quick exit, that’s the problem. Why? Lack of consistent offense.
Brian from SC
September 11th, 2012
12:01 pm
FWIW, Bourn is still 3rd in the NL in WAR according to baseball-reference. Very large chunk of that is defense.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 11th, 2012
12:01 pm
.203/.341/.216
Nice OBP… he’s taking walks!
Efrim
September 11th, 2012
12:01 pm
Trade ‘em all. I’m done huggin’ until I see who plays LF next year.
He’s going to have to. I don’t see Bourn, Swisher, Greinke as options through free agency – and I hope they aren’t, to be honest.
Maybe Bossman Junior. Maybe…..
nolie
September 11th, 2012
12:01 pm
I guess I say what I say because I get so damn tired of the excuses we hear every single year about one of our teams or another, and it almost always goes like this…phil
oh just grow a pair and deal with it……..
Bat Masterson
September 11th, 2012
12:04 pm
Agreed. The pitching staff has carried the load masterfully, but the offense needs to step up.
With every game that goes by without the offense getting on a roll it becomes more likely they will be on one when the playoffs start. Providing they make it.
Efrim
September 11th, 2012
12:05 pm
Bourn is a nice player. But not near worth $18 million a year at his age. Especially for a team like Atlanta. I hope Wren understands this. And I do get that you have to overpay once and a while, but this is not the time – even if we’re “all in” over the next couple seasons.
phil
September 11th, 2012
12:05 pm
Boras hasn’t been very good lately. But doesn’t he generally collapse down the stretch most years anyway, like Buffet Brian? Mac had a good weekend, yes, as did Uggly, but what will we get the rest of the way, especially now that Chipper and FF are falling off a cliff? Can Simmons produce a little? Prado? He looked sore and slow last night, like a week off might do him some good.
Can’t think of anything else to whine about at the moment….whine thou I may, our hitting HAS been god awful.
Efrim
September 11th, 2012
12:07 pm
I’d still like to see a trade that involves Evan Gattis, Joey Terdoslavich and Todd Cunningham going for one player.
Who wants our older, hyped, position prospects?
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 11th, 2012
12:07 pm
I don’t see Bourn, Swisher, Greinke as options through free agency – and I hope they aren’t, to be honest
If we’re gonna get a stud SP this year, Greinke might have to be a target. I don’t think that FW is gonna trade major prospects to get both an SP and a LF, and possibly a CF as well. He’s gonna need to fill one of those via Free Agency, and SP/CF are the only two with some decent guys in the class.
Chickens or Eggs
September 11th, 2012
12:07 pm
Lately the Braves have been winning ugly and losing ugly.
As long as the ugliness can stay at about .500 the rest of the way, I think they are gonna make the post-season. Lots of factors that I feel will contribute to NOT collapsing again this year.
>Mac and Uggla haven’t been producing until the last few games (forget yesterday) yet the Braves are still staying above water.
>Medlin
>Pen more rested
> Many more options at SS
> Last, but not least. Fredi determined he ain’t gettin’ fired for nobody and is willing to do whatever it takes to win even at the risk of pizzing players off. He isn’t going to be patient anymore. To me, that is the most relevant factor in not repeating the collapse.
Shaun
September 11th, 2012
12:11 pm
FWIW, Bourn is still 3rd in the NL in WAR according to baseball-reference. Very large chunk of that is defense.
Yes, I think that’s the area where Bourn’s value is understated and his offensive value is overstated, though he’s been very good offensively in 2012. Going forward, during his next contract, I would bet that Bourn will not add much value to a team on offense but will add plenty on defense. Even in his best offensive seasons, he hasn’t been a great offensive player.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 11th, 2012
12:12 pm
Ken Rosenthal @Ken_Rosenthal
Anyone want second NL wild card? Current ruts: #STLCards 4-9, #Dodgers 7-12, #Pirates 5-14. #Phillies, #Brewers five back.
No, they don’t want it…. afraid to play the Braves cuz they know we’ll cream them!
Efrim
September 11th, 2012
12:13 pm
I guess we could stick with Hudson, Medlen, Minor, Maholm, Hanson, sign Upton and trade for a power bat in LF(Willingham?). Deep O – Prado, Heyward, Freeman, Willingham, McCann, Uggla, Upton, Simmons – or something like that.
Murph
September 11th, 2012
12:13 pm
Bourn is becoming just a tad more affordable every day
Arkansas Transplant
September 11th, 2012
12:14 pm
This team won’t collapse. They will make the playoffs. Now, how far they go… we’ll just have to wait and see.
Jeff R
September 11th, 2012
12:15 pm
Nick Ahmed is a perfect trade candidate from our farm system, imo. Just sayin….
Or Nick Ahmed, future Braves’ second baseman?
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 11th, 2012
12:15 pm
Guess we could, but wonder who’s traded… Delgado? It’d be disappointing if yet again he or Teheran can’t win a spot in the rotation.
Jeff R
September 11th, 2012
12:16 pm
We’re staring at another quick exit, that’s the problem. Why? Lack of consistent offense.
phil, the offense is a problem, admittedly. But I’m not sure what happens in a one-game match up. Who can be?
George_George
September 11th, 2012
12:16 pm
Brava
September 11th, 2012
11:51 am
No, Murph, from what I’ve experienced in the past, they don’t refund the games that aren’t played, they credit it toward the next season. So, in a way, I guess you do get your money back, but you’re out the Ticketmaster convenience charges.
********************************
WOW, credit for next year does not seem fair [ what if team is really bad next year and you don't want to go to games?] I thought they had to refund.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 11th, 2012
12:17 pm
Or Nick Ahmed, future Braves’ second baseman?
What about Tommy LaStella? I thought he was most likely to become our future 2B?
Shaun
September 11th, 2012
12:18 pm
Bourn is becoming just a tad more affordable every day
I doubt it. Barring some sort of major injury (God forbid), some team will pay him like a dynamic leadoff hitter and great centerfielder. (And that may be okay for a few teams with large budgets, because it’s hard to find an elite or near-elite defensive centerfielder that offers decent offensive production.) But most teams would be wise to not value him the same way as some of the larger-budget teams.
Efrim
September 11th, 2012
12:18 pm
Now, how far they go… we’ll just have to wait and see.
You have a coin of some sort in your pocket?
Efrim
September 11th, 2012
12:19 pm
What about Tommy LaStella? I thought he was most likely to become our future 2B?
He played 2nd for High-A Lynchburg as a 23 year old this year – doesn’t mean he can play 2nd for a major league club trying to win 90+ games.
Efrim
September 11th, 2012
12:21 pm
But most teams would be wise to not value him the same way as some of the larger-budget teams.
He makes a good bit of sense for the Giants, Phillies, Nationals, and Rangers(if they lose Hamilton).
Jeff R
September 11th, 2012
12:22 pm
I think Delgado gained significant major league experience in his stretch with the Braves this season. I think Delgado is right on the cusp of being a productive major league starting pitcher.
Tehran, despite a lackluster season, is still a highly regarded prospect.
Returns for either or both in trades need to be excellent.
Jeff R
September 11th, 2012
12:23 pm
What about Tommy LaStella? I thought he was most likely to become our future 2B?
Who’s the better talent with the higher projection, LaStella or Ahmed?
I don’t know.
Brava
September 11th, 2012
12:27 pm
WOW, credit for next year does not seem fair [ what if team is really bad next year and you don't want to go to games?] I thought they had to refund.
George, I can only speak from what I experienced during the 2010 post season. There was a way to receive a refund, but it involved contacting a Braves representative to facilitate surrendering the unused tickets and paying more convenience charges. So, yes, you CAN get a refund, but they try to make it as painful as possible to discourage it and ensure they pre-sell tickets to the upcoming season.
Shaun
September 11th, 2012
12:28 pm
Is the Braves’ offense any more inconsistent than many other teams in the National League? If so, is their offensive inconsistency more troubling than other teams’ inconsistencies in other areas?
The Braves have been consistent enough, as a team, throughout the season to have the 3rd best record and probably the 2nd or 3rd best team in the National League throughout 2012.
I see nothing to indicate the Braves are less likely to succeed in the playoffs than Washington or maybe Cincinnati. And, as Jeff commented, who knows about a one-game playoff? Some team like the Nationals could lose one game to a team like the Astros. So we shouldn’t let any sort of trends indicate what might happen in one game.
If anything, the Braves might be in better shape that most teams in a one-game playoff, depending on who starts that game, because they are one of the better teams in the league at preventing runs.
DAP
September 11th, 2012
12:28 pm
Or Nick Ahmed, future Braves’ second baseman?
What about Tommy LaStella? I thought he was most likely to become our future 2B?
either way, its gonna be pretty far in the future. dan uggla is signed through 2015. he’ll play it out in atlanta.
Jeff R
September 11th, 2012
12:35 pm
DAP… Unless Uggla gets “Lowe-ed” just before 2015.
Shaun
September 11th, 2012
12:37 pm
It’s pretty funny that people are actually pretending any offensive deficiencies will necessarily mean anything in a one-game playoff.
The Houston Astros this year beat the Dodgers in a game started by Clayton Kershaw, they beat the Brewers in a game started by Greinke, they’ve scored their winning run off of Aroldis Chapman.
Does anyone really want to make serious predictions about one game based on something like a perceived inconsistency on offense?
As far as the playoffs as a whole, the Braves aren’t going to win because of their offense. They haven’t won in the regular season because of offense. Their OPS+ is 11th in the league. If they win in the postseason, it will probably be the same way they’ve won in the regular season: with run prevention. They are 3rd in the league in ERA+.
Jeff R
September 11th, 2012
12:37 pm
Shaun is correct at 2:28 pm.
I’m more concerned right now about the Braves’ offense’s impact in securing a playoff spot than I am should the Braves make it to the post season. Pitching can be a huge decider in one game or a short series.
jeffrey d
September 11th, 2012
12:40 pm
Shaun is correct at 2:28 pm.
Can’t wait to see what he says!
Jeff R
September 11th, 2012
12:41 pm
Shaun is correct at 2:28 pm.
Can’t wait to see what he says!
Hey, don’t blow my one attempt at foreseeing the future.
diamondlady
September 11th, 2012
12:41 pm
Brava,
Yes, you can get a full refund if the games are not played. You have the option to apply it to next season, it’s your choice. I’m basing this on what happened last year & the ticket sales people were fabulous.
Tomahawkin
September 11th, 2012
12:42 pm
Veer
September 11th, 2012
11:15 am
“2 wildcards is the biggest (Exepletive) scam ever. We will probably finish 7 games better than the next wildcard and end up losing the 1 game playoff. This is BS. Our team is built to play series not 1 game. Even the Astros can beat the Nationals in a 1 game playoff.”
Perfectly Said, I have been Btching abt the same thing since May!
Brava
September 11th, 2012
12:45 pm
diamondlady, thanks, I didn’t purchase post season tickets last year, for obvious reasons. I hope to not have to worry about a refund, to be honest.
Tomahawkin
September 11th, 2012
12:46 pm
Brava
“George, it was a weird game. Hopefully, we don’t have any more like that one. Watching it gave me a sense that the Brewers were pre-ordained to win it. I know that’s silly, but that’s how it looked.”
Did You watch It All?
I Turned It off afterwe gave up the Bases Loaded Double and started watching Monday Night Football
Miller Park has been a house of horrors for the Braves since 2001
jeffrey d
September 11th, 2012
12:46 pm
You know how you avoid the 1 game playoff? Earn it by winning the division.
Tomahawkin
September 11th, 2012
12:46 pm
Minor gets Screwed again by an inept offense
He should have a .500 W-L record, or Better
Brava
September 11th, 2012
12:47 pm
T, I always watch the entire game, no matter how awful it is.
Oh, and I hate football.
Tomahawkin
September 11th, 2012
12:47 pm
@Jeffrey D
“You know how you avoid the 1 game playoff? Earn it by winning the division.”
Ring The Bell, The Division Race is OVER
Tomahawkin
September 11th, 2012
12:48 pm
FREE MIXXO
Braves are 10-12 since he Got sent to Bozo-land
Brava
September 11th, 2012
12:49 pm
You know how you avoid the 1 game playoff? Earn it by winning the division.
To quote TOBF, “This”.
Tomahawkin
September 11th, 2012
12:53 pm
Brava
“T, I always watch the entire game, no matter how awful it is.”
You are Better than Me, I don’t have the patience… It gets bad during this time of the year, to where I want to go and Kick the TV, I have to resort to just turning it off…
And everytime we hit with RISP and no outs, I change the channel, its too rough to watch K’s and Pop ups during close games this time of the year
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 11th, 2012
12:53 pm
Perfectly Said, I have been Btching abt the same thing since May!
And they’ve changed the format because of it…. oh wait, they didn’t. Just gotta deal with it, dude.
Braves are 10-12 since he Got sent to Bozo-land
Poor Mixxo
he sent himself there. Besides, we’ve had a great September so far, with a 5gm winning streak thrown in.
Ring The Bell, The Division Race is OVER
Not yet… the 1st team WC race is over, but the division isn’t. Give it thru the weekend, then we’ll see.
Efrim
September 11th, 2012
12:54 pm
You know how you avoid the 1 game playoff? Earn it by winning the division.
I’d have serious beef with this statement if I was a Ray or Jay fan…..
George_George
September 11th, 2012
12:54 pm
Brava
September 11th, 2012
12:27 pm
Thanks for explanation.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 11th, 2012
12:56 pm
You know how you avoid the 1 game playoff? Earn it by winning the division.
Division winners kinda screwed too though. Might be better to be a WC. Get the first 2 Division series games at home!
I didn’t purchase post season tickets last year, for obvious reasons.
Wha??? We were leading the WC quite comfortably thru mid-september…
DAP
September 11th, 2012
12:57 pm
shaun is right that the braves will live and die by their pitching and defense. luckily, simmons is back, and medlen has emerged. i like medlen for that one game playoff, personally.
Shaun
September 11th, 2012
12:58 pm
You know how you avoid the 1 game playoff? Earn it by winning the division.
Yes. Or we could ask God to dig up the entire city of Atlanta and move it to the west coast so that the Braves can play in the NL West.
Because clearly the Giants or Dodgers have earned essentially a higher playoff seed that the Braves by being on the west coast instead of the east. They’ve earned their geographic location and no one can take that away from them!
Tomahawkin
September 11th, 2012
12:59 pm
@Jeffrey D
Saw Ur Post abt The King…
Do you still watch Rasslin?
brian
September 11th, 2012
1:01 pm
Minor has been superb for Atlanta – his development has been huge for the Braves this year and huge for our future rotation plans. Granted everyone should have taken Mike trout, but still a darn good draft pick for the Braves
Tomahawkin
September 11th, 2012
1:01 pm
Not yet… the 1st team WC race is over, but the division isn’t. Give it thru the weekend, then we’ll see.—TOBF
The odds are against us, 2 games on National TV against the Curley W’s….
Bet we drop 2 out of 3
toast
September 11th, 2012
1:03 pm
quit whining and man up here for the love of fredi gonzalez. get in the WC game, win the damn thing. i hope it’s the cardinals. payback, i know i will be in attendance that night or day(Oct 5th)
DAP
September 11th, 2012
1:03 pm
shaun, i like divisions because its kind of fun to have the races within the race, but you are so right about it being unfair to good teams in other divisions. maybe it would be worth trying it for a few seasons, just having the top 4 (or 5, the way they are doing it this year) teams make it. if they did it this way, the braves would be #3, set to play the reds in the first round.
brian
September 11th, 2012
1:06 pm
Do the Braves get either Glavine or Smoltz to work with some of our young pitchers? It would be great for Smoltz to work a little with Beachy (when healthy), Delgado and teheran and for Glavine to work with Minor and Gilmartin as well as Maholm. Love to get Maddux back as a guest instructor in spring training as well.
We have Hall of Famers that still work for or with the organization. Take advantage of their expertise. I think they have the street cred to get the kids attention
Shaun
September 11th, 2012
1:07 pm
Efrim, good point. The Rays may be one of the top 2-3 teams in all of the majors. They earned that position. But the White Sox or Tigers could very well earn a higher seed in the playoffs, essentially, because of where Chicago is and where Detroit is in terms of geography.
I’m sorry but I don’t consider where a team is located geographically as an accomplishment worth praising and therefore it being a major factor in playoff seeding.
There will probably be 5 teams in the AL and 3 or 4 playoff teams that are better than the White Sox and Tigers in 2012. Yet the White Sox or Tigers will get the bye in the one-game round over superior teams. If the Orioles don’t make the playoffs, the White Sox or Tigers will be the worst team in the AL playoffs. Yet, they get rewarded instead of quite possibly one of the top 2-3 teams in the league.
ncscoots
September 11th, 2012
1:08 pm
Fortunately, they don’t put OPS+ in the box score. They do, however, put runs scored, and the Braves are 5th in the league in that department. Even with the lackluster RISP stats of recent days.
You can overthink this stuff.
The Braves’ pitching is solid, but not dominant. The depth of their playoff run will depend more on the offense playing to their potential than the pitching exceeding their potential.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 11th, 2012
1:11 pm
Bet we drop 2 out of 3 (to the Nats)
I bet we take 2 of 3, or even sweep.
jeffrey d
September 11th, 2012
1:11 pm
Tomahawkin – I haven’t watched wrestling in about 10 years, but I’ve always been a big Jerry Lawler fan. I grew up in Memphis and rememeber watching his Saturday morning “rasslin” show with my dad
Shaun
September 11th, 2012
1:12 pm
DAP, the problem is that with 3 divisions, there is a good chance a division winner is going to be worse than a wild card.
MLB should have no divisions; or they should have two divisions, the two division winners and first wild card getting first-round byes, and the two worst wild cards playing the one-game playoff.
ncscoots
September 11th, 2012
1:12 pm
quit whining and man up here for the love of fredi gonzalez.
I’ve found a kindred spirit here, after all.
Brava
September 11th, 2012
1:13 pm
Wha??? We were leading the WC quite comfortably thru mid-september…
TOBF, by the time the tickets went on sale, it was pretty obvious to me the Braves were in a tailspin. I was of the mindset that, even if they did manage to eek in by one game, they weren’t advancing. To put it another way, when Alex Gonzalez is your best hitter, you have serious deficiencies.
Jeff R
September 11th, 2012
1:14 pm
Not yet… the 1st team WC race is over, but the division isn’t. Give it thru the weekend, then we’ll see.—TOBF
The odds are against us, 2 games on National TV against the Curley W’s….
The odds are against the Braves taking the division, so should they give up?
Bet we drop 2 out of 3 [to the Nats].
I bet the Braves sweep ‘em. Who in the name of Kawakami knows?
Brava
September 11th, 2012
1:14 pm
eke… oh well, it sounded right.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 11th, 2012
1:18 pm
To put it another way, when Alex Gonzalez is your best hitter, you have serious deficiencies.
True!
Brava
September 11th, 2012
1:18 pm
And everytime we hit with RISP and no outs, I change the channel, its too rough to watch K’s and Pop ups during close games this time of the year
T, I have a much better feeling this season than last. Would I be happier if the offense was clicking on all cylinders? Of course, but we are winning games at a good clip, even if it’s sometimes ugly.
Shaun
September 11th, 2012
1:20 pm
ncscoots, but purely looking at runs scored doesn’t tell the whole story because there are certain ballparks where it’s easier or harder to score runs.
The Padres and the Giants don’t have impressive runs scored totals or per-game averages, especially the Padres. But they are good offensive clubs. They just don’t score as many runs as other clubs because of the offensive environments in which they’ve played.
toast
September 11th, 2012
1:24 pm
you just have to think this possibly could be a different year from past years. i mean, the whole season i’ve felt this team will frustrate the hell out of ya and almost push you towards football exclusivey….. BUT…. not so. something is happening and the braves have 3 weeks to figure it out. whether that’s mccann and uggla just getting stupid lucky or good or both, or medlen just continuing being lights out and huddy finding his groove. it’s playing out for something big. WC game is going to be awesome. i can’t wait to be part of that atmosphere. oh yeah, #10 is hanging them up. this is babe ruth going to the boston braves, chipper will leave the game and this team with a special feeling. may not go to the WS, but this team goes to the NLCS i believe. we win that wildcard game
toast
September 11th, 2012
1:26 pm
guess that should read the babe not going to the braves, but hell u get my drift
ncscoots
September 11th, 2012
1:26 pm
purely looking at runs scored doesn’t tell the whole story
Who said I was looking for “the whole story”? You asserted a single opinion on the depth of a potential Braves’ playoff run, and buttressed it with a single stat that is largely irrelevant to the stated premise. I merely refuted it with a stat that is largely more relevant to the discussion.
Trader Jack
September 11th, 2012
1:28 pm
Shaun
MLB should have no divisions………..
That will happen when pigs fly!
Capt.Mudd
September 11th, 2012
1:28 pm
The kindred workers have always had a high degree of spirituality……@ncscoot; but you know I couldn’t remain positive (high spirited) last night when JV wheeled and dealt us that blow.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 11th, 2012
1:29 pm
The Brewers starter tonight, Marco Estrada has been average for the year, but he’s done better since August. Pitches well against righties, so hope we stay lefty heavy tonight. He throws strikes, doesn’t walk many, and was prone to give up the gopher ball early. He’s gotten better as of late.
(1.189 WHIP, 8.8 H/9, 1.4 HR/9, 1.9 BB/9, 9.5 K/9)
Going back to July 30, he’s put up a 3.20 ERA in 8 starts, allowing just 10 Walks, and K’ing 44. Averaging 5.2 Innings a start. Just 2 HR allowed during this 8 game stretch. Thrown 68% of his pitches for strikes as well.
In 66 PAs against this guy, Braves hitters have combined for a .274/.308/.403/.711 line, with BMac and Prado leading the way against him (combined 9-18).
toast
September 11th, 2012
1:32 pm
last nights game meant NOTHING.
doubters on this board should have been convinced this team is resilient many times over the course of the season. winning the last 2 in SF after looking horrific the two games prior(for two weeks actually) pointed towards better times. thought the whole september swoon talk was friggin laughable and just obtuse
Jeff R
September 11th, 2012
1:33 pm
MLB should have no divisions………..
Ah, the old days. When MLB was for the meat-eaters!
Capt.Mudd
September 11th, 2012
1:36 pm
@Trader Jack……………………”That will happen when Pigs fly.”
The only time I saw pigs in the sky was while I was in attendance at a ’space rock’ concert, yes, it was The Pink Floyd.
George_George
September 11th, 2012
1:36 pm
I hollared early this season about FREDI running MINOR out there every 5 days to get beat up on. Well I was WRONG, MINOR has developed into a fine pitcher. Now it seems MEDLEN, HUDSON, MINOR and pray for rain.
Shaun
September 11th, 2012
1:36 pm
Who said I was looking for “the whole story”? You asserted a single opinion on the depth of a potential Braves’ playoff run, and buttressed it with a single stat that is largely irrelevant to the stated premise. I merely refuted it with a stat that is largely more relevant to the discussion.
ncscoots, I simply stated that it’s likely the Braves will win in the postseason more with run prevention more so than with run production, because they have been one of the better teams in the league at run prevention but haven’t been all that good at run production, at least once we factor in ballparks.
You attempted to refute my assertion that the Braves haven’t been all that good an offensive club by pointing to their runs scored, which doesn’t take ballparks into account and therefore doesn’t really tell us how good an offensive club they’ve been compared to other teams in the NL.
VaBravesFan
September 11th, 2012
1:37 pm
Just having the NL and AL would be great. Top 5 teams from each conference make the playoffs, get rid of the Divisions and so on.
brian
September 11th, 2012
1:37 pm
last night’s game is now meanigless. The only game that matters right now is tonight’s game.
But as we learned last year falling 1 game short of the playoffs – no game is completely meanngless
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 11th, 2012
1:38 pm
but you know I couldn’t remain positive (high spirited) last night when JV wheeled and dealt us that blow.
Hard for me too… that was a dumb play. Thankfully, we haven’t made many of those this year. That was just an aberration.
Scouting report on Estrada:
Estrada is an unheralded career minor leaguer from Long Beach State. </bHis solid minor league ERAs seem to defy his so-so stuff and mediocre ratios. Estrada throws a moving fastball at speeds of 88-92 mph, a straight changeup between 75-79mph, a curveball at 77-82mph, and a cutter at 88-89mph
Unheralded minor leaguer… yet he’s outperformed Hanson in most every category but innings pitched and starts (Estrada has been used as a reliever regularly) *sigh*
Shame that Hanson got hurt
Powder Blue
September 11th, 2012
1:38 pm
So is Hanson a lost cause at this point?
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 11th, 2012
1:39 pm
McFanned
ncscoots
September 11th, 2012
1:40 pm
but you know I couldn’t remain positive (high spirited) last night when JV wheeled and dealt us that blow.
Major suckage, that’s true. Can’t deny it. But no use wallowing in it, either. Baseball is about redemption, and you can’t have redemption without failure. Strap up today and get after it again.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 11th, 2012
1:41 pm
So is Hanson a lost cause at this point?
Nah, just don’t see him back on the Braves next year… time to move on, we have younger options, who might be better.
Murph
September 11th, 2012
1:42 pm
Baseball is about redemption, and you can’t have redemption without failure.
Venters is due some redemption then, ’cause he’s had a season chock full of failure.
SeATLite
September 11th, 2012
1:46 pm
ncscoots –
Sorry I couldn’t answer your question yesterday — I wasn’t online again until now.
Your question about where the data regarding relievers comes from is entirely fair. I’d recommend a book called, interestingly, “The Book,” by Tom Tango, Mitchel Lichtman, and Andrew Dolphin. It basically takes up the question of the huge number of instances in which traditional baseball lore (a.k.a. “going by the book”) says to do X, and crunches the numbers to see whether X is in fact the choice with the greatest possibility of success or whether, in fact, you might actually be better off doing Y or Z. The chapter which discusses how best to use relievers is Chapter 8, “Leveraging Relievers.”
It’s available at Amazon and, I’m sure, a lot of other book retail sites as well. It’s incredibly illuminating and I highly recommend it.
Shaun
September 11th, 2012
1:46 pm
ncscoots, ask the Padres how relevant their ballpark is to their runs scored total. They are 6th in runs scored on the road. They are 14th in runs scored on the road. That’s a pretty drastic difference. Do you actually think they become an entirely different offensive club on the road versus at home or do you think it’s the environments that affect their runs scored?
ncscoots
September 11th, 2012
1:46 pm
’cause he’s had a season chock full of failure.
Because he hasn’t been as lethal as the previous two years? If that’s the bar, then you’re correct.
On the other hand, if you’re comparing him to relievers as a whole, I think it would be hard to characterize him as a “failure”.
Capt.Mudd
September 11th, 2012
1:49 pm
@ncscoots………..thanks for understanding and suggesting the pragmatic; ‘turn the page!’ Now moving on today…….I have ‘em strapped up that’s for sure, however, I have adopted my position on the couch and am having trouble getting out to weed eat and mow. And with the fans expecting results, I have no choice but to get up and hit it with intrepid vigor….if not, I won’t be retained next year and doubt there will be any ‘takers.’ Contract years are tough…..but I’m gonna do it—thanks Scoots!!!
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 11th, 2012
1:49 pm
Unheralded minor leaguer… yet he’s outperformed Hanson in most every category but innings pitched and starts (Estrada has been used as a reliever regularly) *sigh*
For the last 2 years combined…. Forgot to add that
toast
September 11th, 2012
1:50 pm
do your homework people. venter’s prior to last night had given up a run one other appearance since july 4th.
ncscoots
September 11th, 2012
1:51 pm
I’d recommend a book called, interestingly, “The Book,” by Tom Tango, Mitchel Lichtman, and Andrew Dolphin.
Got a first edition, and I’ve read the words off the page, practically. It is not without its merits, but it is definitely not the bible some think it is, in neither methodologies nor conclusions. I thought that perhaps you might have had some new information of which I was unaware, is all.
VaBravesFan
September 11th, 2012
1:52 pm
Relievers are up and down and completely random from year to year. No one should have expected a repeat performance from Venters, but of course we figured he’d be better than this still. Went from elite setup man to just a solid middle reliever. Everyone should expect various production year to year unless your say Craig Kimbrel.
Shaun
September 11th, 2012
1:54 pm
ncscoots and SeATLite, not to jump in, but certainly, at the very least, “The Book” suggests that current managers focus too much on getting certain relievers saves. Just because “The Book” isn’t “the bible” (as ncscoots put it), doesn’t mean this point is negated.
Murph
September 11th, 2012
1:56 pm
On the other hand, if you’re comparing him to relievers as a whole, I think it would be hard to characterize him as a “failure”.
Saying his season has been full of failure and calling him a failure are two very different things IMO.
Venters has not been all that good this season. I don’t know if that’s really up to much debate. Is he the bottom of the barrel as far as relievers go? No. But do you honestly feel comfortable with him getting the ball in a do-or-die situation right now? I don’t.
SeATLite
September 11th, 2012
1:56 pm
ncscoots, I agree — no authority is sacrosanct, especially when you’re talking about baseball strategy. I know I’ve seen other discussions of the subject that might contain information you haven’t seen; I just don’t have them on the bookshelf by my desk like I do that one.
I’ll see what I can track down.
VaBravesFan
September 11th, 2012
1:59 pm
Murph
Yeah, that could be said about every single non-closer in baseball, tho.
DS1
September 11th, 2012
1:59 pm
Shaun
Not sure if I’d say that current managers are trying to get certain relievers saves. More correctly, I’d say that managers in general seem to have a fairly unwavering way of using closers in a tightly defined manner.
Does that make sense?
DS1
September 11th, 2012
2:01 pm
Murph
The way Venters has been pitching the past 2 months, I’d be comfortable with him throwing in any situation almost as much as I would with Kimbrel.
Murph
September 11th, 2012
2:02 pm
do your homework people. venter’s prior to last night had given up a run one other appearance since july 4th.
During that same time span he’s also only had 3 appearances where he didn’t give up a hit or a walk. 3 out of 19 appearances since July 4th where he managed to get out of an inning 1-2-3.
Durbin has had 13 1-2-3 innings over the same period. Hell, even Martinez has had 6.
DS1
September 11th, 2012
2:05 pm
I’m a heckuva lot more comfortable with Venters pitching than I am w/ Durbin or Martinez.
I’d only choose O’Flaherty and Kimbrel over Venters as we speak.
ClarifyShampoo
September 11th, 2012
2:07 pm
do yo ho work cuz!!! We did, that why our wallets don’t look like toast
Shaun
September 11th, 2012
2:08 pm
DS1, fair enough. Managers may not be using their bullpens in such a way to get relievers saves, per se, on a conscious level. But it’s hard to imagine bullpen usage being the same if the save rule did not exist. Maybe it’s not that managers have saves or the save rule in mind, but more that the save rule has created this need to assign the closer’s role to a specific reliever and that is what has affected bullpen usage.
ncscoots
September 11th, 2012
2:09 pm
I’ll see what I can track down.
I appreciate that, but you needn’t bother. At this point, I doubt that there is new data available that would be so utterly different from what I’ve seen over the years.
You seem to be a reasonable man, however. At least, today, LOL.
Murph
September 11th, 2012
2:10 pm
I’d only choose O’Flaherty and Kimbrel over Venters as we speak.
Is that a tribute to Venters or a condemnation of the rest of the bullpen?
chipontheroad
September 11th, 2012
2:15 pm
I think Johnny V would be better with a catcher who could consistantly block his sinker in the dirt
DS1
September 11th, 2012
2:18 pm
Purely a tribute to the work Venters has been doing as of late. I’m not overly concerned with a reliever allowing a runner from time to time. But Durbin still scares the heck out of me every time he takes the mound. I guess I am still gun shy from April.
Plus, JV signed a baseball for me at the April game I attended with tiger and his family. That’s gotta count for something doesn’t it?
Gotta hit the road folks.
Bo Graves!
toast
September 11th, 2012
2:18 pm
During that same time span he’s also only had 3 appearances where he didn’t give up a hit or a walk. 3 out of 19 appearances since July 4th where he managed to get out of an inning 1-2-3.
Durbin has had 13 1-2-3 innings over the same period. Hell, even Martinez has had 6.
so what. he’s still pitched well the last two months and much better than obviously earlier this season prior to being DL’d. love a 1,2,3 shutdown inning but not many kimbrel’s out there. venters is fine.
DS1
September 11th, 2012
2:19 pm
chip
Sorry if I sound like a homer here, but what is wrong with Mac’s game behind the plate. He’s better than most. Much better than most.
DS1
September 11th, 2012
2:21 pm
One last parting shot. If Heyward, Bourn and Uggla could cut down on the K’s a bit down the stretch…………..
phil
September 11th, 2012
2:24 pm
Yeah….if…lol
Not likely. If anything, as the noose keeps tightening on the season, expect the K numbers to rise even more.
Efrim
September 11th, 2012
2:26 pm
Brewers have gotten some real good performance from Mike Fiers and Marco Estrada. Gallardo as usual. Would love to see some home runs from our side. Seems as if we’ve been lacking in that area lately, although it could just be me.
Efrim
September 11th, 2012
2:27 pm
Would be nice to see Venters back to his dominant self so we have the option of trading EOF this winter. Doesn’t look like that is the case though, but it’s okay, a deep bullpen is definitely a nice to have.
abeeeewright
September 11th, 2012
2:28 pm
I don’t see how the Padres’ offense or lack thereof has anything to do with the Braves success or lack thereof in the playoffs.
Padres aren’t making the playoffs.
ncscoots
September 11th, 2012
2:29 pm
Not likely. If anything, as the noose keeps tightening on the season, expect the K numbers to rise even more.
phil has thrown away his spoon and gone IV on his bowl of sad today.
Efrim
September 11th, 2012
2:33 pm
Before last nights game, Chad Durbin’s previous 54 appearances since May 11th – 43 IP, 30 hits, 9 ER, 17 BB’s, 36 K’s, 4 HR allowed, .199/.278/.325 oppo. slash line, 1.88 ERA.
He was a nice find by Wren. But his spot will be the one needing upgrade/change into 2013. Need a RH high leverage reliever to replace Medlen(and what Vizcaino would of been). I think Martinez, Avilan and Gearrin could slot in as the 5-6-7 spots as Kimbrel, O’Flaherty, Venters file in their usual 1-2-3 slots.
phil
September 11th, 2012
2:34 pm
Oh, I tossed that spoon back in April! lol
ncscoots
September 11th, 2012
2:34 pm
Need a RH high leverage reliever to replace Medlen(and what Vizcaino would of been).
Throw Graham into the fire. What the heck.
phil
September 11th, 2012
2:35 pm
I haven’t noticed much concern on here from ACE and George George about DOB’s latest time off.
What gives?
Efrim
September 11th, 2012
2:35 pm
Of course, we can always fast track J.R. Graham and see him throw 97-99mph out of a set-up role……
But I’d be very much against that, as I think he should be tried as a starter until he breaks.
ncscoots
September 11th, 2012
2:35 pm
Oh, I tossed that spoon back in April!
Ha!
Shaun
September 11th, 2012
2:35 pm
DS1 and phil, we should be more concerned with how often a hitter is getting on base and how many total bases plus walks they have and less concerned about how often they make a particular kind of out.
Efrim
September 11th, 2012
2:37 pm
Throw Graham into the fire. What the heck.
Great minds.
Seriously, I really want to see that kid succeed as a starter. Pocket Rocket. What a nickname. 3 sub-6′0” RHP’s in the rotation? Hah!
tiger297
September 11th, 2012
2:37 pm
efrim – so we keep him in the minors for 4 more years and when kimmie hits FA let him walk and bring up graham?
DAP
September 11th, 2012
2:37 pm
does anybody know if you can exchange tickets on ticketmaster, after youve bought them? im going to the game on Saturday, and im wondering if i can get different seats.
raleighbravefan
September 11th, 2012
2:38 pm
For Hurricanes NHL season and playoff tickets…Any games they don’t play (ie lockout games, playoffs that the team never plays)…If paid for, the $$$ is add to my account, to be used for later tickerts….HOWEVER, if I prefer a cash refund, I simply request it, and they refund the $$$.
ncscoots
September 11th, 2012
2:38 pm
3 sub-6′0” RHP’s in the rotation? Hah!
Plus a midget closer, don’t forget. Might start a whole new trend in scouting profiles.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 11th, 2012
2:39 pm
Graham should be starting beginning of 2014 in my opinion…. no need to move him to relief, in my opinion. I like him as a starter.
Efrim
September 11th, 2012
2:39 pm
Eric O’Flaherty’s last 44 appearances since May 8th – 38.2 IP, 30 hits, 3 ER, 12 BB’s, 34 K’s, 1 HR allowed, .224/.291/.284 oppo. slash line, 0.70 ERA.
DAP
September 11th, 2012
2:40 pm
efrim Eric O’Flaherty’s last 44 appearances since May 8th – 38.2 IP, 30 hits, 3 ER, 12 BB’s, 34 K’s, 1 HR allowed, .224/.291/.284 oppo. slash line, 0.70 ERA.
elite.
id shop him.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 11th, 2012
2:43 pm
EOF for Jay and prospects!!!
Maybe by the time Craig is gone, Matt will be ready!
flange1
September 11th, 2012
2:43 pm
More like a bowl of pitiful than sad ’scoots!
Efrim
September 11th, 2012
2:43 pm
Some see him as a reliever long term, but that’s just because of his nasty two pitch arsenal. He’ll work fine as a starter and I think they keep him there to start next year. Perhaps even in Gwinnett to start the year. Like I said, our Triple-A rotation is scheduled to be Teheran, Delgado, Gilmartin, Spruill, Graham/Hale….
Of course, there is no way that’s happening as I’m certain one of those guys is going in a trade this winter. No reason for them not to be.
Efrim
September 11th, 2012
2:44 pm
elite
You and me have a different definition for that word.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 11th, 2012
2:44 pm
FW needs to pick his trades from the list consisting of Delgado, Spuill, Graham, or Hale. Gilmartin is a ‘nole and needs to stay, and Teheran is our “top” prospect.
Efrim
September 11th, 2012
2:46 pm
I’d like em to move Hale to the bullpen. He has a pretty good FB/SL combo. Could work well and play up in the pen. Plus, his ceiling as a starter isn’t very high. He’ll turn 26 in 2013.
Hillbilly
September 11th, 2012
2:46 pm
Throw Graham into the fire. What the heck
You hush that. JRG is a starter.
DAP
September 11th, 2012
2:46 pm
seriously, though. there are sooo many relievers on the free agent marketand there will be alot available for trades. o’flarety will be the most expensive arm in the ‘pen next year, and it would be worth trying to see what we could get for him. i bet he could get us a nice outfielder if we put him in the right package.
brian
September 11th, 2012
2:47 pm
DSI – they would strike out less??
ncscoots
September 11th, 2012
2:48 pm
Some see him as a reliever long term, but that’s just because of his nasty two pitch arsenal.
Long-term, shmong-term. He can work on the changeup in his side sessions. Get that jet-gas and good slider on up here.
ChattTownBrian
September 11th, 2012
2:50 pm
I was about to say the same thing yesterday that Shaun said about how we might be a real tough playoff opponent. Our pitching is strong and so is the defense.
Efrim
September 11th, 2012
2:50 pm
Get that jet-gas and good slider on up here.
4th round. Way to go, Tony D and company.
raleighbravefan
September 11th, 2012
2:51 pm
Shaun @2:35 – I actually pretty much agree with you on that.
Hillbilly
September 11th, 2012
2:51 pm
Speaking of that topic, JJ Hoover sure has put up a nice showing in Cincinnatti, hasn’t he?
2.16 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 27 Ks in 25 innings. 9.7 K/9, 2.7 K/BB.
Efrim
September 11th, 2012
2:52 pm
How is Arizona 69-72? They seem to have tons of talent on both sides of the ball. Serious depth all around too.
ncscoots
September 11th, 2012
2:52 pm
4th round. Way to go, Tony D and company.
Normally a round reserved for polished college lefties, in other orgs.
chipontheroad
September 11th, 2012
2:53 pm
Ilove B Mc too I just think Venters could strike out most batters if he could bounce it with out the passed balls or wild pitches he’s encounterd so often in the past
Brian from SC
September 11th, 2012
2:53 pm
How is Arizona 69-72? They seem to have tons of talent on both sides of the ball. Serious depth all around too.
11-24 in 1-run games.
raleighbravefan
September 11th, 2012
2:56 pm
It would be great if Graham has made it to Atlenta as a starter by 2014…Huddy, Hanson, and Maholm may all be gone. Be nice also to have a power arm, if for no other reason, to shut up the “no one is worth a damn unless they throw 95+” crowd.
Venice Jim
September 11th, 2012
2:58 pm
Thomas Boswell @ThomasBoswellWP
Worry in Cincy:Chapman velo down 4 mph to 94 & W-W-W wild last nite. Reds: “Shoulder fatigue.” 3rd in pitches by closers, 1143. Dusty again?
Closers also in danger of overuse w most total pitches: Aceves 1227, Axford 1226, Chapman & Clippard 1112 (91 mph last nite.) Some r < 900.
Ward
September 11th, 2012
2:58 pm
Hello everyone! Huddy, and Maholm , are pretty much staying. Hanson would be the one out.
ncscoots
September 11th, 2012
2:59 pm
You hush that. JRG is a starter.
Yeah, I know; I’m just messin’ around. They’ll probably trade some young pitching this offseason, anyway, and will need him for starter depth.
I haven’t seen him pitch live, so I have no idea whether he’s coming along on his changeup. If he is, Braves wouldn’t want to retard that progress with bullpen work.
Ward
September 11th, 2012
3:01 pm
I think Braves will lock Maholm up, and once Huddy contracts ends is a big “?”
DAP
September 11th, 2012
3:04 pm
chipontheroad I just think Venters could strike out most batters if he could bounce it with out the passed balls or wild pitches
um…except guys have to swing at those pitches. they arent, this year, because he isnt getting ahead of them.
ncscoots
September 11th, 2012
3:05 pm
Be nice also to have a power arm, if for no other reason, to shut up the “no one is worth a damn unless they throw 95+” crowd.
I won’t deny it, Teheran and Graham breaking in catchers’ mitts would delight me to no end (assuming they could actually pitch while doing it). And, hopefully, Beachy can get back to 93-94 at some point in his recovery.
It’s not so much wanting Verlander x 5 on the staff, just need some guys who can get it up there better than 90 on a good day.
Murph
September 11th, 2012
3:06 pm
I haven’t seen him pitch live, so I have no idea whether he’s coming along on his changeup. If he is, Braves wouldn’t want to retard that progress with bullpen work.
Ah, the ol’ No Changeups In The Bullpen rule. I hate that rule.
brian
September 11th, 2012
3:06 pm
the Braves will likely try to keep either Maholm or Gilmartin as their 2nd lefty in the rotation. The Braves will either trade Gilmartin or let Maholm walk after next year
brian
September 11th, 2012
3:09 pm
Beachy’s velocity should return. It would be nice to have another hard throwing righty such as Teheran or graham to go along with Beachy, Medlen, Minor, and Maholm/Gilmartin long term.
Nice balance in that rotaton – righty/lefty, hard throwers versus finesse/change up pitchers
ncscoots
September 11th, 2012
3:09 pm
Ah, the ol’ No Changeups In The Bullpen rule. I hate that rule.
More the “What The Hell Are You Doing Throwing Your Third-Best Pitch Out There, Son?” rule.
raleighbravefan
September 11th, 2012
3:10 pm
VJ – I wouldn’t let Dusty Baker within 100 yards of my pitching staff. Period!
raleighbravefan
September 11th, 2012
3:11 pm
Ward – Huddy and Maholm will both definitely be back in 2013. Both could be gone in 2014.No one knows about Hanson.
raleighbravefan
September 11th, 2012
3:14 pm
scoots – agreed, it would be nice to have both a Smoltz and a Maddux.
raleighbravefan
September 11th, 2012
3:17 pm
brian @3:09 – I agree, but you can expect TOBF, AT, and the peanut gallery to chirp in about needing Greinke.
ncscoots
September 11th, 2012
3:20 pm
it would be nice to have both a Smoltz and a Maddux.
They don’t have be HOF guys, even. Just regular old merely-elite will suit me fine.
Efrim
September 11th, 2012
3:24 pm
Normally a round reserved for polished college lefties, in other orgs.
We like to do it backwards, apparently…..
DAP
September 11th, 2012
3:25 pm
there are over 100 pitchers set to become free agents after this season. this is before options get picked up. but the point is, there are so many pitchers out there…there are going to be some guys settling for cheap one year deals. and thats just free agents. the braves will have alot of opportunity to round out a bullpen.
nolie
September 11th, 2012
3:29 pm
Braves will try to fit some of their young guys in the pen, at least to begin with. Cost efficient approach to possible quality
phil
September 11th, 2012
3:29 pm
Stinky Greinke isn’t on my Christmas list….
Trader Jack
September 11th, 2012
3:30 pm
scoots
Put me in coach, I was consistent mid 90’s in high school, and senior year touched 100 a few times
phil
September 11th, 2012
3:31 pm
We always sign us a Linebrink or durbin washed up has been type like that….
It won’t change in 2013.
ncscoots
September 11th, 2012
3:33 pm
Trader Jack, what kind of signing bonus you looking for?
ncscoots
September 11th, 2012
3:36 pm
Cost efficient approach to possible quality
And, worst case, they’ll be mediocre more cheaply. Best case, you get a Venters 2011 for the minimum.
nolie
September 11th, 2012
3:36 pm
actually both of those guys did fairly well for the Braves, Nobody has an entire pen full of ‘elite’ relievers
Trader Jack
September 11th, 2012
3:37 pm
scoots
Actually I walked away from organized ball after my senior year, totally burned out, much to the disappointment of a number of scouts.
nolie
September 11th, 2012
3:37 pm
I know I was disappointed, Jack
ncscoots
September 11th, 2012
3:43 pm
Actually I walked away from organized ball after my senior year, totally burned out
Yeah, but think about all the innings you haven’t thrown. Bet that arm is fresh and ready.
If I get the tryout for you, can I be your agent?
DAP
September 11th, 2012
3:43 pm
nolie Braves will try to fit some of their young guys in the pen, at least to begin with. Cost efficient approach to possible quality
the braves have good enough quality that they might be able to try some “filler” at some spots, especially in the ‘pen. we have several guys there now who are scrap heap projects and have been very productive for us.
Trader Jack
September 11th, 2012
3:43 pm
nolie
After talking briefly with a few of them I later came to undersatnd the meaning of the term “baseball man”
Trader Jack
September 11th, 2012
3:44 pm
scoots
No problem – will 10% satisfy you?
raleighbravefan
September 11th, 2012
3:45 pm
Actually, Durbin has been pretty good for a middle relief guy.
Trader Jack
September 11th, 2012
3:46 pm
scoots
Keep in mind during my prime i was 6′4″ and 220#, now I look more like Jonathon Broxton – LOL
Ward
September 11th, 2012
3:47 pm
Within a year from now the Braves will try to add Delgado, but I think Maholm willl stay. Braves will lock him up next year.
keyLargo
September 11th, 2012
3:47 pm
I was looking at Chippers place on the all time hits list and was pretty much astounded to see he is tied with Bill Buckner (if the two list I looked it up on are up to date). How many guesses would it take to come up with Buckner as having as many hits as Chipper?
DAP
September 11th, 2012
3:53 pm
keylargo How many guesses would it take to come up with Buckner as having as many hits as Chipper?
chipper doesnt have as many hits as you would think, but its because of his plate discipline. he may be tied with buncker in hits, but he has more than 3 times the number of walks. part of that is his good eye, and part of it is his power. pitchers tend to stay away from him.
phil
September 11th, 2012
3:54 pm
Well sure, Nolie….
I’ve watched em pitch too, and was able, between sessions of knuckle-draggin, to figure out they did and have done okay….
But in the end, neither is who I truly want out there with a game remotely on the line.
Ward
September 11th, 2012
3:55 pm
Well, all thought I would come on just a bit. Braves have 9 games to reach 90 wins, and I think they can do it. Like to see what Simmons can do tonight again. Why not just bat Constanza 9th again for a few games. That seemed get the offense going. All, have a good one. Braves can do it!!!!!!!!!!!!Peace my friends, and talk after the game……,and “Go!!!!!Braves!!!!!”
Venice Jim
September 11th, 2012
3:57 pm
Kevin McAlpin @KevinMcAlpin
#Braves lineup (at MIL/vsEstrada): Bourn 8, Prado 7, Heyward 9, Jones 5, McCann 2, Uggla 4, Overbay 3, Simmons 6, Hudson 1
Efrim
September 11th, 2012
4:00 pm
Freddie did look like he could use a breather. Hope this kickstarts him again for the final 19 games.
phil
September 11th, 2012
4:01 pm
Fat Freddie to the pine….
Next stop? Instructional League.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 11th, 2012
4:01 pm
McCann in front of Uggla? Guess he’s trying to get him some pitches to hit… Nice to see Overbay in there. Freddie probably needed a day off anyway.
brian
September 11th, 2012
4:02 pm
we do not need Greinke with what we have coming back.
If we can get him for $15 million/year or less than yes I am interested and we can trade off some of our pitching surplus to fill LF or get Headley from SD. He is not a $20 million/year pitcher
Ward
September 11th, 2012
4:04 pm
Before I call ita day. That might be the smartest thing Fredi, has done! Bench Freeman a few games to get him going…..Peace Out, and “Go!!!!!Braves!!!!!”
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 11th, 2012
4:05 pm
Stinky Greinke isn’t on my Christmas list….
Heresy!!!
brian @3:09 – I agree, but you can expect TOBF, AT, and the peanut gallery to chirp in about needing Greinke.
How do you know me so well?
raleighbravefan
September 11th, 2012
4:05 pm
phil – We currently have a top rated BP. NO one has the kind of BP you are talking about…just too expensive, considering other needs.
ncscoots
September 11th, 2012
4:06 pm
Next stop? Instructional League.
phil may be sad, but he’s funny. Redeeming feature.
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 11th, 2012
4:08 pm
<em.If we can get him for $15 million/year or less than yes I am interested and we can trade off some of our pitching surplus to fill LF or get Headley from SD. He is not a $20 million/year pitcher
Agree. I’m not for giving anyone $20mil, unless our payroll is 105mil. Greinke would sway me, but I’d probably say no. I don’t think Greinke is getting 20mil/yr though. 14-17mil is more likely. He does like us, so maybe we get a little discount…
I also doubt we’re getting Headley… it’ll cost waay too much. The Padres wanna keep that dude, it’s gonna cost a lot to trade for him.
Carroll Rogers
September 11th, 2012
4:10 pm
new blog is up!
http://t.co/NHFsY3qz
TheOnlyBravesFan
September 11th, 2012
4:18 pm
My rationale for Greinke is simple. We need a stud SP, a LF, and a CF. We can’t trade for all those. CF and LF are underwhelming in their FA class outside of Bourn. Same with SP. However, Greinke won’t be as bad an investment as one in Bourn would be.
Also, we desperately need a power LF. It’s gonna take quite a few prospects to get that. Try to get Shields or some other top SP, and we’ve done some damage to the farm. Get Greinke, and we can trade for that LF, and use some “pieces” to get a CF. Seems more efficient to me.
If there are any questions about my position, save them for later please. I’ll be back by 6;30. Peace.
ChattTownBrian
September 11th, 2012
4:50 pm
I posted after the game last night I hope Freddie gets a game or two off and good to see they listened … I mean, that they were thinking the same way as me.
Braveone
September 11th, 2012
5:49 pm
From the previous blog which had 840 comments, cabravesfan led the way with 74 posts. There were 94 different poster names. Here are the Top 25:
Rank Poster Frequency
1 cabravesfan 74
2 Mark 45
3 nolie 45
4 Brian from SC 43
5 Brava 33
6 TheOnlyBravesFan 33
7 Venice Jim 28
8 abeeeewright 27
9 Fredo 26
10 ncscoots 25
11 Efrim 24
12 T-Dawg 21
13 Capt.Mudd 19
14 the Ghost of Chipper Jones 19
15 George_George 18
16 Dum-Bass 17
17 DiamondbackMac 16
18 TheOnlyBravesan 16
19 VaBravesFan 16
20 M.V.P.Heyward 14
21 David O’Brien 12
22 FIRE FREDI GONZALEZ 11
23 Shaun 10
24 TennesseePaul 10
25 phil 10
the Ghost of Chipper Jones
September 11th, 2012
10:05 pm
DOWN ON THE FARM
LYNCHBURG
RHSP GUS SCHLOSSER has his second exceptional start in a row in these play-offs winning a tense 1-0 victory for the HILLCATS and putting them on the brink of Championship victory with a 2-1 lead in the five game series.
RHSP GUS SCHLOSSER [W 2-0, 0.00 ERA] 7.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R/ER, 1 BB, 7 SO, 1 Pick-Off [1B].
RHRP RYNE HARPER [H 2, 3.86 ERA] 0.2 IP, no-hits, 1 BB, 2 SO.
LHRP JUAN JAIME [SV 3, 0.00 ERA] 1.1 IP{, 1 H, zeros, 2 SO.
Lead-off LF DAN BREWER [.333 BA] 1-4, 1 RBI [2], 2 SO.
SS NICK AHMED [.261 BA] 1-4, 1 SO.
C BRAEDEN SCHLEHUBER [.263 BA] 1-3, 1 2B [1], 1 SO.
RF DAVID ROHM [.167 BA] 1-3, 1 2B [1].
*** All stats for six play-off games to date.