LIVE BLOG: Can Braves find some offense (and defense)?
The Braves are hoping for different scene tonight in San Francisco. (AP photo)
SAN FRANCISCO — Hello. We begin this evening with some good news, Braves fans. Tim Lincecum is not pitching. So the rest should be easy, right?
OK. Maybe not. The Braves and their depleted lineup aren’t much of a threat against most pitchers, let alone a two-time Cy Young Award winner. But if they have any hope of winning this National League Divisional Series, they’ll have to be far more patient at the plate tonight against Matt Cain than they were in Thursday’s series opener against Lincecum, who had 14 strikeouts and allowed only two hits in a complete-game shutout.
Here are the Braves taking batting practice. We'll find out if it helps.
Hitting coach Terry Pendleton clearly believes the Braves could have done better. When the word “great” was used in a question about Lincecum, Pendleton responded: “The guy [Roy Halladay] in Philly the other night was great. That’s a no-hitter. That’s great.”
This much is certain: There’s a ton of pressure on every Braves pitcher, knowing one run can decide it. Derek Lowe and four relievers allowed the Giants only one run and five hits, but Lincecum reduced them to an afterthought.
Just a few other things about tonight:
♦ Tommy Hanson will start for the Braves, as expected. You may have heard or read that he was hit in the eye by a batted ball in batting practice Thursday and immediately went to the clubhouse to be examined. Obviously, he’s fine. (But if he walks out to the mound with an eye patch and a parrot on his shoulder, we’ll know something is wrong). Hanson has allowed only one run in his last three starts (18 2/3 innings).
♦ Manager Bobby Cox made only one lineup change – Melky Cabrera replaces Matt Diaz in left field and will bat fifth. The batting order:
1. Omar Infante (5). 2. Jason Heyward (9). 3. Derrek Lee (3). 4. Brian McCann (2). 5. Melky Cabrera (7). 6. Brooks Conrad (4). 7. Alex Gonzalez (6). 8. Rick Ankiel (8). 9. Tommy Hanson (1).♦ Many readers continue to wonder why Troy Glaus is not getting into the lineup. To repeat, Glaus’s knees are so shot that he can’t play in the field and there’s not much left of him at the plate, either. But here’s something else that our David O’Brien dug up. Glaus is only 13 for 80 (.163) with one homer at AT&T Park. (He’s also 1 for 10 in his career against Cain.)
Finally, as mentioned in this space last night, I don’t believe the Braves lost the series opener because of a blown call but because they couldn’t hit or field. If they score a run off Lincecum, it doesn’t come down to one run. And if Omar Infante can knock down a ground ball in the fourth inning, Buster Posey never scores. That said– yes, baseball needs to expand its use of instant replay.
That’s it for now. I’ll check back with you shortly.
Do you believe the Braves can get out of here with a split?
♦
Instant re-blog
♦ Poll time: Does blown call reaffirm need for replay?
♦ Lincecum shuts down Braves; so what’s next Plan B?
♦ Weekend Predictions: Dogs win (it’s the ice cream talking)
♦
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1,958 comments Add your comment
Randal Patrick McMurphy
October 8th, 2010
10:41 pm
@Stan – how very Draconian in a land where free speech is supposedly such a treasured value… hrmm…. And what about us baseball fans that really like both teams? Or even other teams? Sorry Brutha… grit yer teeth and live it…
WG Dawg
October 8th, 2010
10:41 pm
I would rather have Chipper with crutches than have Gonzales batting.
preston
October 8th, 2010
10:41 pm
lol…….this brave bunch is driving me crazy……..2 of their 3 hits tonight have come with two outs…..lolol
Lil' Barry Bailout
October 8th, 2010
10:41 pm
Can o’ corn.
miranda007
October 8th, 2010
10:41 pm
Dude dont be mad that all of you tried to gang up on me..sayin foolish racist things and didnt expect I would respond with facts as any great debator would
Steven
October 8th, 2010
10:41 pm
warning track power tonight
bravesfansince66
October 8th, 2010
10:41 pm
How many pitches outside the strike zone are we going to swing at?
Jason
October 8th, 2010
10:41 pm
Almost warning track – that was exciting
Alex. Don't forget to swing
October 8th, 2010
10:41 pm
oops I hit it.
Billy Howard
October 8th, 2010
10:41 pm
Jeff why does Melky continue to get the 5 hole. He is terrible and I would much rather have a guy with a deep threat like Gonzo in that spot. Can you shed some light on that for me?
NRBQ
October 8th, 2010
10:41 pm
Jeff, if you don’t ban Miranda, you got no cojones. Sure, you need blog hits, but she’s disgusting in her personal attacks and and worse in her racial innuendo. And no, I don’t care if she’s a Phillies fan, so to speak
Eddie Cook
October 8th, 2010
10:42 pm
Time to get a bowl of cereal.
IlliniBrave
October 8th, 2010
10:42 pm
Wonder what the TBS producers are thinking? And the ad account execs? They are probably crapping their pants. This is not what they wanted. And then there are the homer announcers, just blathering on, fawning all over the Giants. Well, this will be a loss-leader for TBS!
heywood...
October 8th, 2010
10:42 pm
jeff, did u know that baby-sittying now pays 12 bucks an hour?
considering its tax free, maybe u ought to consider it.
miranda007
October 8th, 2010
10:42 pm
so phils in 3???? what u guys think??
Katherine
October 8th, 2010
10:43 pm
Whatever…I guess just ignore it
bravesfansince66
October 8th, 2010
10:43 pm
Miranda007 can’t even spell debater…
mexican brave
October 8th, 2010
10:43 pm
hey Jeff Schultz, i would like your input on how much blame does t. pendleton deserve for the lack of offense this series?
Kwajbraves
October 8th, 2010
10:43 pm
We have 3 hits tonight at this pace we may score a run on Sunday.
CBBrave
October 8th, 2010
10:43 pm
@Billy Howard we don’t have a deep threat. i honestly can’t remember the last time the braves hit a HR
al for president
October 8th, 2010
10:44 pm
melky is so bad.
miranda007
October 8th, 2010
10:44 pm
im a MAN…HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO EXPLAIN THIS…GEEZ YOU FOOLS ARE SO DISRESPECTFUL…BAN ME?? 4 WHAT??? IM NOT CHANGING MY NAME AND POSTING AS “KATHERINE” OR SOMEONE ELSE LIKE OTHER PEOPLE ARE DOING TO ME
bravesfansince66
October 8th, 2010
10:44 pm
Sunday next year?
Stan
October 8th, 2010
10:44 pm
I see Miranda and her facts can not name 2 hip restaurants near UPenn…so her being a student there is a LIE….She also can explain why 2 of her teams stars clled the fans out for being Frontrunners….because she is either a coward or just stupid
CBBrave
October 8th, 2010
10:45 pm
At least Stockton is pronouncing Infante’s name correctly tonight! that is about the only thing that has gone right so far in this game for the Braves
Terry Funk @ heywood...
October 8th, 2010
10:45 pm
you must have a 3 and 4yr old that aint potty trained
Tomahawk Choke Artists
October 8th, 2010
10:45 pm
Interesting you defenders of the Chokers are worried about a Phils fan. Yanks handled them last year. Bow to the Yankees you losers. We hold 27 titles.
Teabagger Johnson
October 8th, 2010
10:45 pm
Call to Action, the Braves fans would be better off taking a stand against the Braves this off season. The fans should demand that the Braves actually spend money on the team; and not be a distant 3rd in the division, with a payroll closer to the Nats and Marlins than the Phillies and Mets . . .
Jeff Schultz
October 8th, 2010
10:45 pm
JSS — It changed some of America. Just not enough.
680 buck says
October 8th, 2010
10:45 pm
No matter what happens it is never Bobby Cox’s fault. Ever move he has ever made is brillant and he is the best manager in the history of baseball. If you do not believe me just ask anyone at 680 the fan.
miranda007
October 8th, 2010
10:45 pm
DONT BAN KATHERINE PLZ!!!
WG Dawg
October 8th, 2010
10:45 pm
Get a bat Chipper!!
Rick
October 8th, 2010
10:45 pm
Okay so they batted .0700 in the first game.
Tonight so far they are batting a little better at .200
But it will likely be about .150 by games end. So they will be batting around .100 or 1 hit every 10 at bats. This has to be the worst offense ever.
0 runs in 14 innings.
Why did we send the AA Braves?
October 8th, 2010
10:46 pm
Just curious… but I would have sent the AAA team?
root4au
October 8th, 2010
10:47 pm
I think most high school teams hit better than the braves. They are down right terrible.
Lil' Barry Bailout
October 8th, 2010
10:47 pm
Chipper’s saying that it’s tough to string together base hits against the Giants pitching staff…wasn’t the Braves pitching staff supposed to be pretty good too? Opposing teams don’t seem to have any trouble stringing hits together against the Braves.
Outpitched again.
Stan
October 8th, 2010
10:47 pm
Miranda is trying to avoid me….and I am exposing her for being a double FRONTRUNNING fraud!
bravesfansince66
October 8th, 2010
10:47 pm
Chipper for hitting coach!
miranda007
October 8th, 2010
10:47 pm
STAN…COPAS & MAD MAXX ARE MY FAVE LATE NITE HANGOUT SPOTS AT UPENN…DONT BE MAD CUZ I’LL ALWAYS BE LOOKING DOWN UPON YOU FROM THE MOST RESPECTED IVY LEAGUE INSTITUION!!!
al for president
October 8th, 2010
10:48 pm
sign chipper up for hitting coach TONIGHT.
david s
October 8th, 2010
10:48 pm
Can Freddie Freeman play the outfield?
miranda007
October 8th, 2010
10:48 pm
and NO my parents didnt go to UPENN, I had to earn my way in hater
Jeff, have you already written the article for tomorrow?
October 8th, 2010
10:48 pm
Wanted to know if we could get an early peek at the AJC Braves story tomorrow.
Have you tried Bluto’s off of Lombard Street when in San Fran?
heywood...
October 8th, 2010
10:48 pm
dude.
btw, i loved the clean tebow replica comment in w/e predictions!
Katherine
October 8th, 2010
10:48 pm
They still have a chance…lets get something going!
061293
October 8th, 2010
10:49 pm
miranda007 – If you had another brain like the one you’ve got, you’d still be a half-wit.
jake delhomme
October 8th, 2010
10:49 pm
cheer up….you play me this weekend!
Headley Lamar
October 8th, 2010
10:49 pm
Friday night and your trolling on a Braves blog.
Can you say LOSER. Wow you really failed at life.
JSS
October 8th, 2010
10:49 pm
@ Jeff Schultz…
I’ll give you that much… Good luck with this bunch!!!
bravesfansince66
October 8th, 2010
10:49 pm
Sure took Miranda a while to Google the gathering spots @ UPennn.