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
GT Falcon
October 8th, 2010
9:14 pm
This game better hurry up…I hope TBS has a plan like ESPN to show the other game on one of thier other stations like TNT….
Katherine
October 8th, 2010
9:15 pm
That’s what I was thinking gt falcon
Dawgdad (The Original)
October 8th, 2010
9:16 pm
I guess it is too late for this year, but I would like to see a manager and hitting coach who had a rule that if you took a called third strike you were fined. Watching DLee take three down the middle to end the game last night was frustrating to say the least. If you honestly don’t think you can hit the guy tell the manager and let him send someone else up there. I just don’t get watching three pass by, if you are a homerun threat and it is a one run game.
Terry Funk @ GT Falcon
October 8th, 2010
9:16 pm
I’ve gotten beat up for that question…the Braves game will be on FX if need be…
Katherine
October 8th, 2010
9:17 pm
lol i have no idea what channel fx is on
GT Falcon
October 8th, 2010
9:18 pm
Very nice…TNT it is
RichieRich86
October 8th, 2010
9:18 pm
the begining of the Game will be on TNT
Russ, the Temporary Mascot
October 8th, 2010
9:18 pm
Even a little dog about to be let go knows how critical tonight’s game is. As far as a parrot on his shoulder . . . that would be Chino.
RichieRich86
October 8th, 2010
9:19 pm
Katherine,
FX is only the best channel on cable!!!
RichieRich86
October 8th, 2010
9:20 pm
I like how TBS announcer said Jason Heyward and the Braves are going to tie the series Next!
cheshire
October 8th, 2010
9:20 pm
Katherine, agreed. Every year i’m finding it harder and harder to stay interested in baseball, because it seems like the one sport where the bad guys ALWAYS win and where horrible fanbases are rewarded. I’m afraid it is going to be Yanks-Phils again, which i think would be horrible for baseball. They are both such unlikeable teams.
Katherine
October 8th, 2010
9:21 pm
Cheshire…I agree. I love baseball….but until there is some kind of equality among payrolls it will always be the same…and kind of boring.
Katherine
October 8th, 2010
9:23 pm
Well, in case anyone was wondering…i have charter cable and tnt is on channel 29
Dawgdad (The Original)
October 8th, 2010
9:26 pm
Texas beats the Yankees! The Frenchy effect? He will be putting the hex on the Yankees from the bench.
NRBQ
October 8th, 2010
9:26 pm
The headline’s an interesting question, Jeff.
And optimistic, when you consider we’re starting two scrubs in the outfield, an injured used-to-be at first, a poor-hitting third baseman at second, a second-baseman at third who admits he’s not comfortable there, a catcher who can’t throw anybody out, and a shortstop in a 2/40 slump who never talks a walk.
I’ve been a passionate fan for may years, but take out Heyward and McCann, and that looks like a beer-league team.
cheshire
October 8th, 2010
9:27 pm
You’re preachin’ to the choir Katherine…. I couldn’t agree with you more. The sport is an absolute mess and they are losing SO much $$$ because of it. This is why the NFL is infinitely more popular and profitable, and why football has eclipsed baseball and basketball as the favorite sport of most Americans. On opening day in baseball and basketball, almost every team is already out of it. In the NFL, you never know.
And the dumbest argument you’ll ever hear is from teams like the Yankees saying “well if teams wanted to win they should spend more $$$”. What they forget is that the only reason they have more $$$ is because they play in a city with more people and therefore more revenue. Their ability to spend more $$$ is a direct function of which city they play in, not some overwhelming desire to win.
Jeff Schultz
October 8th, 2010
9:29 pm
Mr. C — I will go out on a limb and say yes — the Braves will have more hits than errors tonight.
Katherine
October 8th, 2010
9:29 pm
Cheshire..that’s why I love college football and basketball too…you just never know.
Katherine
October 8th, 2010
9:30 pm
This is getting painful to watch….i feel bad for the reds
Katherine
October 8th, 2010
9:31 pm
game is on tnt finally
Jeff Schultz
October 8th, 2010
9:31 pm
Paul Emmel — Right now the feeling is they’ll go w/Lincecum if they’re down 2-1 or with Bumgarner if they’re up 2-1.
cheshire
October 8th, 2010
9:31 pm
NRBQ, good post.
The problem is that a lineup with so many weaknesses makes good hitters like McCann and Heyward completely sterile. Why should a pitcher be afraid of letting McCann get on if he knows a double play machine like Alex Gonzalez is coming up right after him? Having 2 good hitters in a lineup isn’t really better than having 0 good hitters.
Of course making it worse is the fact that our 2 best hitters completely freeze in the rare situations they do have a chance to drive anyone in, so it doesn’t make much of a difference.
I’m just stunned looking at this lineup. I don’t ever remember seeing such a weak collection of hitters playing in the postseason.
Willy
October 8th, 2010
9:32 pm
The Braves will lose tonight, win 2 in ATL and then go down in SF.
Katherine
October 8th, 2010
9:32 pm
I swear..these announcers are horrible…they know nothing about the braves..can’t even pronounce their names properly. blah
Russ, the Temporary Mascot
October 8th, 2010
9:32 pm
Rice-a-Roni is the San Francisco treat.
RichieRich86
October 8th, 2010
9:32 pm
NRBQ,
That beer league team is in the Playoffs. If you don’t like em when they are struggling then you don’t deserve them at the best! Quit your complaining and be a yankees fan!
Jeff Schultz
October 8th, 2010
9:32 pm
Alan — Thanks but I don’t set up that bracket (it’s a national company. I’m national!).
Dawgdad (The Original)
October 8th, 2010
9:32 pm
Chessire: I agree with most of what you said, but one thing that makes it fun is to pull against the fillies, Bronx Bombers, and Red Sox. The Marlins and Rays give us hope, it can be done.
Kwajbraves
October 8th, 2010
9:33 pm
Reds are possessed by the Braves’ spirit. 4 errors, 3 hit batmen … Yikes!
kaminari
October 8th, 2010
9:34 pm
Reds totally self-destructed. With all those big bats, the great starting pitching performance, all of it meant nothing after the apparent missed call on the steal, the missed fly ball, the hits batsmen. Really shows you how a good team capitalizes on mistakes, induces the other team to make more mistakes & wins the game. Man.
Katherine
October 8th, 2010
9:35 pm
I really despise teams in orange lol
Jessie
October 8th, 2010
9:36 pm
Man I was watching Titanic and they put this game on? Rrrrr
Alan
October 8th, 2010
9:37 pm
I figured that but wanted to make sure! They should be fired! How dare they mess up a game at the big house!
Katherine
October 8th, 2010
9:37 pm
I’ll never let go! then she lets go…there I told you the ending jessie
miranda007
October 8th, 2010
9:37 pm
Why we unlikeable??? WE TH BEST!!!!!!!!!!!
Katherine
October 8th, 2010
9:38 pm
oh lord…its the guy with the girls name who can’t spell
Jeff Schultz
October 8th, 2010
9:38 pm
Infante starts it with a hit 2 nights in a row. This is where it fell apart last night.
NRBQ
October 8th, 2010
9:39 pm
Rich:
Being a fan doesn’t mean closing your eyes and clicking you heels together in hopes of base hits.
I suspect I’ve followed every Braves game since before you knew who they were. Facts is facts. Several teams who didn’t make the post-season have a lot more potential than the Braves.
Jessie
October 8th, 2010
9:39 pm
Hehe Katherine. I’ve seen it before but it’s been a while. I like the braves too and was surprised to see the game pop up.
Dawgdad (The Original)
October 8th, 2010
9:39 pm
No bunt again?
Katherine
October 8th, 2010
9:39 pm
don’t jinx it jeff
Andy
October 8th, 2010
9:40 pm
Wow what a collision
Jeff Schultz
October 8th, 2010
9:40 pm
Ouch.
Andy
October 8th, 2010
9:40 pm
Concussions??
Dawgdad (The Original)
October 8th, 2010
9:40 pm
Panda molestation.
NRBQ
October 8th, 2010
9:40 pm
My apologies for forgetting Infante. He’s a ballplayer.
miranda007
October 8th, 2010
9:41 pm
the reds have succumbed to the philly pressure
WG Dawg
October 8th, 2010
9:41 pm
It’s InfanTe, with a T, you idiot. Not InfaNe.
Brian SC
October 8th, 2010
9:41 pm
Aweseome!!!! Posey and Sandoval collide down the third-base line. That was great!!!
Jerry
October 8th, 2010
9:41 pm
Heyward pops up way too much