We’re LIVE, as Braves try for something new — an early win
Melky Cabrera, the Braves' latest hero, is somewhere in the middle of the mob. (Curtis Compton/AJC)
I’ve made it to Turner Field for the start of tonight’s Braves’ game. But I figure I could’ve waited out the traffic for a few hours.
True story: I turned on Monday night’s game just in time for the ninth inning rally against Los Angeles, which ended with Melky Cabrera’s two-run single to give the Braves a 4-3 win. So I’m thinking: What was the rush to get here?
This team’s resolve and flare for the dramatic has been well-chronicled. The win over the Dodgers was their majors-leading 20th win of the season in their final at-bat. How significant is that? Well, Philadelphia is second overall with 18 final at-bat victories. The Braves lead the Phillies by only 2 1/2 games in the National League East. Do the math: Two fewer late-game rallies and the lead is a half-game.
The Braves’ good news doesn’t end there: Martin Prado is back. The Braves’ unofficial MVP will be activated off the disabled list (fractured small finger) for tonight’s game, and his return answers two questions: Who will start at third base (Prado) and who will bat third in the order (Prado). Manager Bobby Cox decided not to mess with Omar Infante, who is playing solid at second base and is hitting .372 over the last 18 games. Infante also will bat lead off.
This is a good chance for the Braves to go on a little run. They’ll be facing two teams (Washington and Chicago) with losing records in the next two series. At least, that’s the way it’s supposed to work. The Braves have losing records against only four teams this season, and the Nationals (4-5) are one of them. Offense has been the biggest issue, with only 12 runs scored in the last five meetings.
Last thing: You probably know this by now but a rumor has been floating around that the Braves might be interested in acquiring Chicago Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez in a waiver trade. David O’Brien did a fine job shooting this down for all of the obvious reasons: Ramirez is hitting .229 and will be owed a ridiculous amount of money — $31.6 million for two more seasons — if the Cubs deal him. He has a player option (sure to be exercised) for next year and a 2012 team option that automatically triggers in case of a trade.
These are the kind of trade rumors that generally get started either by someone with an agenda or someone under the influence of hallucinogens. Or possibly both.
OK, that’s it’s for now. Mike Minor makes his second start against Washington’s Scott Olson, who is 1-0 with a 2.03 ERA in two starts against the Braves this season.
I’ll check back shortly. Or in the ninth.
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495 comments Add your comment
Mr Charlie
August 17th, 2010
9:11 pm
Bat, same reason we signed McCann early, because we want him here a long time…Bet Francoer wished he took that 25 mil way back when.
lojak777
August 17th, 2010
9:11 pm
Glauss has 3 k’s. I hope I can say this…he is a turd
bob
August 17th, 2010
9:12 pm
Glaus three times to the plate….three strikeouts
BRAVES FAN
August 17th, 2010
9:12 pm
September cant get here quick enough, Freeman Glaus is keeping your base warm for ya! Glaus makes me miss Greg Norton!
Katherine
August 17th, 2010
9:12 pm
John…chill out you might have a stroke. I realize Glaus is doing horribly….but he did carry this team for at least a month…so i’m just hoping he gets that back. It might be unrealistic…but idk.
Katherine
August 17th, 2010
9:13 pm
farnsworth..now he makes me nervous….i just have visions of houston and I don’t like him.
bucky oneil
August 17th, 2010
9:13 pm
Melky’s a Hoss!
Mr Charlie
August 17th, 2010
9:14 pm
Jeff, do an article about how bad we have effected the other teams phyche that they walked Melky. That is up there with rolling up in the fetal position.
bucky oneil
August 17th, 2010
9:14 pm
Farnswortrh is scary.
Bat Masterson
August 17th, 2010
9:14 pm
Mr Charlie _ Well maybe they will, but waiting on Prado is not a bid deal to me. I mean they have time and will have bigger problems next year to worry about. IMO
John
August 17th, 2010
9:14 pm
Katherine, Glaus isn’t just in a slump, dear. His knees hurt him so bad that he can’t turn on the ball. He can only hit a low 90’s fastball, thigh-high down the middle…if he knows it’s coming. Glaus will not recover until he has 2 months off, possible arthroscopic surgery to clean out debris, and rehab. He is done for 2010, dear.
John
August 17th, 2010
9:16 pm
Farnsy is usually good for a run. Good thing we’re up by 2. Wish Glaus had bunted, and we might be up by 3.
Mr Charlie
August 17th, 2010
9:16 pm
Baseball is about picking each other up, Glaus put this team on its shoulders when it was needed. Now that everyone else it hitting, it is resting his knees until we need him again. He deserves to be here, because without him, who knows where we would be.
Katherine
August 17th, 2010
9:16 pm
Thanks for the info john, dear….or should I say douche…..so condescending.
Bob Horner had a big fro
August 17th, 2010
9:17 pm
Our bullpen is making the games more interesting than necessary lately.
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater
August 17th, 2010
9:17 pm
maybe Melky is a 2nd half kind of player and we just didn’t know it.
gettig nervous now with a runner on second. c’mon kyle, don’t be fancy, be smart!!!
Tucker T
August 17th, 2010
9:17 pm
Jeff
Here’s your answer on Wigginton. He will NOT play for the Braves this season or any other team for that matter.
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2010/08/wigginton-scott-claimed-will-not-be-traded.html
Mr Charlie
August 17th, 2010
9:17 pm
Bat, I don’t disagree, but he is a keeper. He looks like a mini Albert Pujols.
not so sure
August 17th, 2010
9:17 pm
It is time to sit Glaus for more than just a few games. Gonzalez also looks about the same at the plate. I do not know why Ankiel is even on the roster. Same with Farnsworth. These four guys are preventing this team from being all it can be.
TM
August 17th, 2010
9:17 pm
Bat- to add to Mr Charlie’s response:
The guy plays right way, plays hard, is clutch as can be, plays multiple positions…
If you let him get to his final year in a contract, he will get HUGE offers from everyone else in the league.
Lock him down now while you got the chance….
Oh, and it also sends a nice message to the other young guys on your team for a nice reward for hard work.
TruthSeeker
August 17th, 2010
9:18 pm
At least John didn’t refer to Katherine as a broad.
bucky oneil
August 17th, 2010
9:18 pm
I like that rubbing your hands in the dirt stuff!
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater
August 17th, 2010
9:18 pm
who wants to put $$ down that glaus will have 4 ks tonight? Schultzie, i know your a high roller, what do you say??
Darryl Blackberry
August 17th, 2010
9:19 pm
I do believe you’ve just been zinged, dear John!
bucky oneil
August 17th, 2010
9:20 pm
Farnsworth scary the OTHER way tonight!
Alabama Brave
August 17th, 2010
9:21 pm
Can we all send a letter to bobby pleading our case for hinske or freeman a chance to play first base. Also if we can get nate back and play him in center start melky in left and hinske at first this ball club could be dangerous
Katherine
August 17th, 2010
9:21 pm
I don’t think he will have another k….I think he will walk, or put it in play
Mr Charlie
August 17th, 2010
9:21 pm
This team was buried, and Glaus took them to 1st place. He deserves to stay.
Jeff Schultz
August 17th, 2010
9:21 pm
Mr. Charlie — Could be a chapter in my memoirs one day.
John
August 17th, 2010
9:21 pm
No need for that Katherine. Wasn’t condescending…just being cordial to the fairer sex.
Mr Charlie, Glaus did win us some games early, but he’s lost us as many since the All-Star break. The Glaus of May is not coming back. The only argument you guys are making for keeping him is that he used to be good, so we should keep him because he deserves a chance for a ring. He will cost us that chance, guys. What does he DESERVE? He’s making millions of dollars (and counting with incentive pay based on plate appearances), and he already has a ring.
Bob Horner had a big fro
August 17th, 2010
9:21 pm
This Comcast commercial is stupid.
NCBravesFan
August 17th, 2010
9:22 pm
LOL @ Katherine @ 9:16. Nicely played.
Mr Charlie
August 17th, 2010
9:22 pm
Maybe they will take Troy out and shoot him like an old glue horse.
not so sure
August 17th, 2010
9:22 pm
Glaus was what he should have been in May. That was almost three months ago, now. He is no longer the hero. It is time for him to sit.
bucky oneil
August 17th, 2010
9:23 pm
Glaus may strike out a lot between now and the 1st of September but, for the most part, as long as this team keeps winning he’ll have the opportunity.
Katherine
August 17th, 2010
9:23 pm
we need to get ankiel going now
Herschel Talker
August 17th, 2010
9:23 pm
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater:
I’ll throw double on your side. 4Ks is a given for Glaus.
HT
Bat Masterson
August 17th, 2010
9:23 pm
Lock him down now while you got the chance….
TM_ I understand you and Mr. Charlie, still they have 3 years. That’s a long time in baseball and a lot can change between now and then. Time will tell, if they do fine, if not, well that makes sense to me.
bucky oneil
August 17th, 2010
9:24 pm
Ankiel is past time.
Katherine
August 17th, 2010
9:24 pm
Charlie…not cool….i like glaus. He has had his troubles at the plate for sure, but he doesn’t deserve that.
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater
August 17th, 2010
9:25 pm
look at ankiel, does have some speed to him on the plus side
Mr Charlie
August 17th, 2010
9:25 pm
There is no logical reason to keep Glaus, but nothing about this team is logical. He reminds me of the catcher on Major League.
bucky oneil
August 17th, 2010
9:26 pm
Boo Charlie!
Alabama Brave
August 17th, 2010
9:26 pm
what does everyone think of this lineup
1. infante 2b
2. heyward rf
3. prado 3b
4. mccann c
5. hinske 1b
6. gonzalez ss
7. ankiel cf
8 cabrea lf
i dont think one more lefty will kill us espicially since glaus is such a casulity
John
August 17th, 2010
9:26 pm
Bucky, this attitude is what bothers me the most. “Glaus may strike out a lot between now and the 1st of September but, for the most part, as long as this team keeps winning he’ll have the opportunity.”
The thinking seems to be, well because our pitching is so dominant it doesn’t matter that we have a horrific first baseman hitting in the heart of our order. No, BECAUSE our pitching is so dominant, we need to make sure we don’t have glaring holes because we have a chance to win it all. You can’t hide Glaus in the playoffs. They will pitch around everyone to get to him.
joe jones
August 17th, 2010
9:26 pm
Troy K laus
Mr Charlie
August 17th, 2010
9:26 pm
They won’t, Glaus has Mojo. This team is 10 game under .500 without him.
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater
August 17th, 2010
9:27 pm
good comparison mr charlie, although i still like my heavier greg norton or leaner corky miller comparison
Sonny Clusters
August 17th, 2010
9:27 pm
We was noticing people talking deer tonight. Somebody should put a deer toe in Glaus’ locker.
not so sure
August 17th, 2010
9:28 pm
Heyward got lucky on that error.