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
todd grantham
May 29th, 2010
8:55 pm
how about “Losing my religion” for the song between innings?
jesse james
May 29th, 2010
8:56 pm
Hey Jeff I saw Coach Johnson. I heard he is recruiting Heyward.
todd grantham
May 29th, 2010
8:57 pm
Or McLouth’s at bat song could be “Somethin’ Stupid” by Frank and Nancy.
todd grantham
May 29th, 2010
8:58 pm
an easy one: i guess jeff francour’s at bat song is New York, New York.
Jeff Schultz
May 29th, 2010
8:59 pm
If nothing else, Medlen has shown a great pickoff move. Either that or the Pirates just aren’t very good baserunners. Or both.
todd grantham
May 29th, 2010
9:00 pm
Chipper’s song should be “Precious Memories” by Bill Monore.
todd grantham
May 29th, 2010
9:01 pm
maybe a better song for chipper would be “one tin soldier”
Jeff Schultz
May 29th, 2010
9:01 pm
Real UT — no, but only 3 pirates came to plate that inning because of the pickoff. Also 3 previous inning because of double play.
todd grantham
May 29th, 2010
9:03 pm
Melky Cabrera: his song is “He’ll have to go” by Jim Reeves.
Real UT
May 29th, 2010
9:04 pm
He’s still pitching better than 1/2 of D-Lowe’s starts and most of KK’s starts. Lets get some more hits!
JacketFan
May 29th, 2010
9:04 pm
@Jesse – I’d like to see Heyward in the Triple Option …
DaveinNEPA
May 29th, 2010
9:08 pm
J.S. Not only has Escobar gone 0-3 so far but he’s stranded 5 runners. Even one basehit in those 3 ABs and this would be a different ballgame.
Real UT
May 29th, 2010
9:10 pm
OMAR! C’mon buddy.
Real UT
May 29th, 2010
9:11 pm
Does it irritate anyone else when Hinske and Omar come off the bench batting better than about 78% of the lineup.
Real UT
May 29th, 2010
9:11 pm
DAMN!
jesse james
May 29th, 2010
9:13 pm
Escobar looks like he has no plan when he goes by to the plate. I really like his stance and swing but he needs to take a lesson from Heyward and let the ball travel. He will continue to hit weak ground balls as long as he swings around the ball.
jesse james
May 29th, 2010
9:15 pm
Real UT – I agree with you. It is sad when guys get labeled. Brooks Conrad has 3 homeruns. With more AB how many would he have. But you do judge baseball over a period of time and I guess Bobby and them know who will get it don over time. You have to trust them.
Real UT
May 29th, 2010
9:15 pm
McOut has as many stolen bases as Chipper. That’s sad. Radio guys said Halladay has a perfect game through 8.
gunter
May 29th, 2010
9:16 pm
I feel good about our pitching, i do wish Bobby would leave the starting pitchers to complete their ballgame when they have low pitch counts. Complete games are a lost art. I don’t feel good about our shortstop and left field situation. Again I do not understand why Bobby does not put both Escabar and Cabarrer on the bench and play Henske in left and Infante at short.
buick59
May 29th, 2010
9:17 pm
still say Omar should be starting somewhere on this team. He can hit and his defense is pretty good AND he hustles.
Real UT
May 29th, 2010
9:20 pm
I wonder if the Hawks have been watching this Lakers-Suns series and learning what can happen when a team plays like a team….
Jeff Schultz
May 29th, 2010
9:22 pm
DaveinNEPA — yep. had 2 on and 1 out in first, 2 on and 2 outs in third and one on with one out in fifth. in each case had runner in scoring position.
Real UT
May 29th, 2010
9:24 pm
lol, Sutton just did a Vin Scully impersonation.
Real UT
May 29th, 2010
9:27 pm
Johnson just lost a game w/o giving up an earned run. Halladay was perfecto.
Real UT
May 29th, 2010
9:32 pm
Yunel .188, McOut .189. YIKES!
Jeff Schultz
May 29th, 2010
9:33 pm
Real UT — Yeah, but McLouth went up. He was at .184.
The Girl From Epanema
May 29th, 2010
9:33 pm
Jeff, your eyes do look great!
DaveinNEPA
May 29th, 2010
9:40 pm
The Phils won tonight (Halladay perfecto no less) so the Braves really need to win this one.
Be humane, trade Chipper
May 29th, 2010
9:40 pm
Trade Chipper to Texas, so he can have a nickname befitting the only offensive skill he has left:
Walker, Texas Ranger
Jeff Schultz
May 29th, 2010
9:41 pm
The Girl From Epanema — Are you related to the Hooters Waitress … (By the way, isn’t it Ipanema with an I?)
Real UT
May 29th, 2010
9:46 pm
McOut called out on strikes. Shocking…
Real UT
May 29th, 2010
9:47 pm
Ron Artest, out of nowhere, drops 17 on the Suns in the first half.
Frank
May 29th, 2010
9:47 pm
Chip Carey – thanks for the nod to your late father with the “a little insurance can’t hurt” comment. You sounded just like him. Made me look up from my laptop . . .
The Girl From Epanema
May 29th, 2010
9:49 pm
yes, Master you are correct about the spelling.
Stratocaster
May 29th, 2010
9:49 pm
Mclout reminds me of Brett Butler, except Butler could hit and run and field….
The Girl From Ipanema
May 29th, 2010
9:49 pm
please Sir, may i have another??
Walker, Texas Ranger
May 29th, 2010
9:50 pm
I resemble that remark
Josef Stalin
May 29th, 2010
9:51 pm
By the way Comrad Schlutz, Prezident Roozevelt did not sell you out at Yalta.
Jeff Schultz
May 29th, 2010
9:52 pm
That should do it. Can we clone Martin Prado?
Real UT
May 29th, 2010
9:53 pm
MARTEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEN!!!! Will Wags ever get a save opportunity again, lol?
Stratocaster
May 29th, 2010
9:53 pm
Prado must be Spanish for ‘clutch’
todd grantham
May 29th, 2010
9:53 pm
Jeff, what is the score for us poor folk in the woods?
Jack Lemmon
May 29th, 2010
9:55 pm
I feel sorry for people that don’t drink because when they get up in the morning that’s as good as they’re going to feel all day.
todd grantham
May 29th, 2010
9:56 pm
is prado’s name pronounced Marteen?
Be humane, trade Chipper
May 29th, 2010
9:56 pm
Trade Chipper to Texas, so he can have a nickname befitting the only offensive skill he has left:
Walker, Texas Ranger
Get it? The old TV show with Chuck Norris? Chipper reduced to a bases-on-balls machine? Texas Rangers?
Tough crowd. Tough, tough crowd.
Jeff Schultz
May 29th, 2010
9:57 pm
It’s pourrrring!!!!
Chipper Jones
May 29th, 2010
9:58 pm
tough crowd! tough crowd! the last time i got any respect was when i tore up my knee and the nurse said at least it wasnt my elbow.
Real UT
May 29th, 2010
9:58 pm
Another 9th inning Rain Delay?
Jeff Schultz
May 29th, 2010
10:00 pm
Todd: Braves 6-3. And rains just came as Wagner came in to pitch the ninth. And I’m NOT happy because this could be a while.
Chuck Norris facts
May 29th, 2010
10:00 pm
Little known fact: A baseball has 108 stitches in it, because that’s how many stitches it took to repair Hall of Fame pitcher Albert Stalling’s face after Chuck Norris gave him a spinning back kick for daring to throw him a spitball.