We’re LIVE from Braves (who beat up the bottom feeders)
Don't know why -- I just felt like posting a picture of the Brooks Conrad, grand slam, postgame celebration again. (Curtis Compton/AJC)
If we still can’t be certain how good the Braves are this season, at least this much seems clear: They know how to bank victories against the teams they’re supposed to.
Just did a little calculating before tonight’s game against Pittsburgh. The Braves are 15-4 against the bottom six teams in the National League. That includes the Pirates (3-1), Florida (2-1), Chicago (2-1), Milwaukee (3-0)., Arizona (2-1) and Houston (3-0).
Against the others? Not so great.
Just subtract 15-4 from the Braves’ overall record of 26-22 and you’re left with an 11-18 record against the other teams. This is noteworthy because after finishing this series against Pittsburgh, the Braves play 14 of their next 17 games against Philadelphia (27-20), Los Angeles (27-21), Minnesota (28-20) and Tampa Bay (33-16).
In short, we will get a much better feel for the Braves’ postseason chances by mid-June when that difficult run is complete. This is likely to be central to an expanded column that I work on later.
General manager Frank Wren said he believes the 11-18 record is overstated because of the Braves’ early offensive problems during a nine-game losing streak. But he doesn’t completely discount it.
“I think part of that is skewed because when we were going through that nine-game losing streak we were playing the best teams,” he said. “We were just not playing very good baseball. But I think we match up well with teams. If we’re going to have a good season, we’re going to have to play well against those teams as well, and I think we will.”
Moving Martin Prado to leadoff and Jason Heyward to the two hole obviously has helped the lineup. In the last nine games, the team has scored 54 runs, an average of 6.0 per game. They shouldn’t take a step back tonight. Pirates starter Brian Burres has an earned run average of 5.40. In his last three starts, he has lasted only a combined 13 2/3 innings, allowing 14 runs (12 earned) and 19 hits.
So how do you feel about the Braves right now? Are you comfortable with their lineup as it stands?
I’ll be blogging live if you’re not too busy grilling to ask questions.
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178 comments Add your comment
Jeff Schultz
May 29th, 2010
7:46 pm
DaveinNEPA — They think Escobar has been swinging the bat better lately. Just passing that along.
Jeff Schultz
May 29th, 2010
7:46 pm
JJM — Are you trying to get banned?
UGA_2001
May 29th, 2010
7:47 pm
Heyward has no chance of being in the home run derby. Dumb question, even dumber followup comment from JJM.
J.J.M
May 29th, 2010
7:49 pm
not really it was a joke
J.J.M
May 29th, 2010
7:50 pm
how is that a dumb question?
RJ in KS
May 29th, 2010
7:50 pm
I’m going to throw you a slight curveball here but who is the best announcing team or even best play-by-play guy you’ve heard?
Jeff Schultz
May 29th, 2010
7:50 pm
JJM — Just making sure. What was your question — doing 3 things at once here.
Jeff Schultz
May 29th, 2010
7:52 pm
RJ — Vin Scully. Hands down. Dick Enberg a close second. Grew up in L.A. and was fortunate to hear both growing up — Scully on Dodgers and Endberg on Angels and Rams.
J.J.M
May 29th, 2010
7:53 pm
I was just wondering if theres a chance Heyward will participate in the home run derby?…I mean it would be a good stage for the world to notice him but then again braves may not want to risk injury
Real UT
May 29th, 2010
7:53 pm
I bet McOut hates when Huddy and Meds pitch because there both their batting averages are higher than his. Then again, that’s probably true for a couple other guys on the team too.
DaveinNEPA
May 29th, 2010
7:56 pm
J.S. Re: Your post about Escobar getting better swings lately, it seems to me that right now and today, Ross is swinging the more reliable bat.
IMO leaving Escobar in the 7 hole with less pressure might be the better way to get him out of his slump because his first AB tonight, he didn’t look very good.
Real UT
May 29th, 2010
7:56 pm
Don Sutton is singing Beach Boys tunes on the radio. All I can say about his singing voice is YIKES!
Jeff Schultz
May 29th, 2010
7:58 pm
J.J.M — Great question. Answer: Don’t know. Anybody in All-Star game is eligible. Looks like he’ll be in All-Star Game. My guess is baseball officials would LOVE to have Heyward in game. What we don’t know is if Braves or Heyward would want to be in the HR contest just because this season may be so physically wearing on him.
Jeff Schultz
May 29th, 2010
7:59 pm
DaveinNEPA — I understand your point. Counterargument is having him low in order ticks him off. It’s a fine line.
J.J.M
May 29th, 2010
8:00 pm
Thats pretty much what I was thinking….I cant remember the last time a rookie was in the home run derby
Jeff Schultz
May 29th, 2010
8:02 pm
Real UT — Could be hit the high notes?
Jeff Schultz
May 29th, 2010
8:05 pm
Heyward only hit a double his second time up. Kid’s going down hill fast.
Real UT
May 29th, 2010
8:06 pm
Jeff, not at all. On another note, Heyward is a MANBEAST.
Real UT
May 29th, 2010
8:07 pm
Heyward should wear MANBEAST on the back of his jersey above the 22.
Jeff Schultz
May 29th, 2010
8:11 pm
Real UT — I’m sure that jersey would sell well at the souvenir stands.
Jeff Schultz
May 29th, 2010
8:19 pm
Medlen is throwing a lot of strikes — but not the good strikes, if you know what I mean. We’re in the fourth inning and he’s already given up seven hits and the Pirates entered the game hitting .238.
buick59
May 29th, 2010
8:19 pm
Medlen= No starter. Good for 1-2 innings middle relief.
LuisG
May 29th, 2010
8:20 pm
That’s what Chipper Jones said back when the team was struggling so badly. He said the Braves were going to have some bounces go their way when playing against those weaker teams. This upcoming schedule is going to be crucial, having to face those teams (Phillies again, Dodgers, Twins and Rays) while carrying the momentum they have right now.
JacketFan
May 29th, 2010
8:29 pm
Anyone else notice CPJ sittin behind home plate? Awesome!
Jeff Schultz
May 29th, 2010
8:31 pm
Jacketfan — Really? I can’t see him from up here.
JacketFan
May 29th, 2010
8:32 pm
Saw him when McClouth was up to bat – blue shirt, white GT hat.
Jeff Schultz
May 29th, 2010
8:32 pm
That’s eight hits — most of them hard. Braves should be getting somebody ready in the bullpen.
Real UT
May 29th, 2010
8:34 pm
Doesn’t sound like Medlen’s having his best outing. I’m guessing location has been the issue.
Jeff Schultz
May 29th, 2010
8:34 pm
Back in Little League we called that a happy birthday catch.
JacketFan
May 29th, 2010
8:35 pm
That was a helluva play!
Real UT
May 29th, 2010
8:36 pm
On the radio all the balls sound like they’re being hit really hard off of him. I still can’t believe the Braves have only scored one on Burres.
DaveinNEPA
May 29th, 2010
8:36 pm
J.S. Medlen got the DP. Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good.
Jeff Schultz
May 29th, 2010
8:38 pm
OK readers — call the shot.
DSP
May 29th, 2010
8:38 pm
Jeff-How is Schaffer doing? Is he back or still rehabbing the wrist?
Jeff Schultz
May 29th, 2010
8:39 pm
DSP — In Gwinnett playing but not close to coming up.
Jeff Schultz
May 29th, 2010
8:39 pm
Let . . . down.
DaveinNEPA
May 29th, 2010
8:40 pm
A real treat tonight. Pete Van Wieren sitting in with Don Sutton in the radio booth.
JacketFan
May 29th, 2010
8:41 pm
Jeff, tell the TV guys to get us a close up of CPJ.
Real UT
May 29th, 2010
8:46 pm
GLAUSSY!
Jeff Schultz
May 29th, 2010
8:46 pm
Huge 2-run double by Glaus ties it. He has 32 RBI now, behind only Heyward’s 36.
Jeff Schultz
May 29th, 2010
8:48 pm
About the earlier comment of Escobar supposedly swinging the bat better: He’s 0 for 3 with a strikeout and 2 week ground outs.
todd grantham
May 29th, 2010
8:50 pm
Jeffrey, i saw your response about Vin Scully. he has a honey voice, but in the national games (non-dodger) i’ve heard him do he seemed either boored or not enjoying being an impartial broadcaster.
Jeff Schultz
May 29th, 2010
8:50 pm
Important update: Fans have voted for “Living on a Prayer” for between innings song.
Real UT
May 29th, 2010
8:51 pm
Yeah, Escobar is entering McOut territory w/ his AVG…. Actually, he’s probably already there.
Jeff Schultz
May 29th, 2010
8:52 pm
Todd — He’s old.
Real UT
May 29th, 2010
8:52 pm
Dave, that was a nice change of pace. I need to get that book.
The Realist
May 29th, 2010
8:53 pm
Jeff,
Good points!
This is the same Braves team that was no hit, lost 9 consecutive games, and is managed by a guy who is the worst post season manager in ML history (1-14 record in the last game of the postseason). As I said before this season started, when Bobby Cox decided to get a little fatter riding the bench for one more season I knew it was a good year to devote the summer to the family, get ready for some football., and focus on the spring of 2011 when hopefully we will have a manger with the brains and courage to know that Chipper Jones wouldn’t be batting 3rd for any other ML manager than Bobby Cox.
In the end…
it will not matter…
with Bobby Cox…
as the manager
todd grantham
May 29th, 2010
8:53 pm
Enberg with his emphatic “Oh, My!!” was the best national broadcaster I’ve ever heard.
Real UT
May 29th, 2010
8:53 pm
Geez, has Medlen had a 1-2-3 inning?
todd grantham
May 29th, 2010
8:54 pm
Jeff, I’m 50 and i’m talking about the nfl and major league baseball games from the “70’s and 80’s actually.