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
Seth
October 8th, 2010
10:13 pm
LMAO
Emmel has umpired the All-Star Game (2002); three Division Series (2002, 2003, 2006); and the 2007 American League Championship Series. Emmel also umpired the 2010 National League Division Series between the San Francisco Giants and the Atlanta Braves. As the second base umpire in Game 1 he blew a crucial call on a stolen base leading directly to the Giants only run on a two out hit in a 1-0 win.[1] He also blew a call on first base in Game 2, leading to Bobby Cox’s ejection. This umpire is currently under review by Major League Baseball for corruption.
tree rollins
October 8th, 2010
10:13 pm
Game over boys!! As a result, down 2 games to none the SEASON is also over! Academic game back in Atlanta but this series is already over! Thanks for the memories Bobby! And thanks Braves for what was a mildly entertaining season. Go FALCONS!!
bravesfansince66
October 8th, 2010
10:14 pm
Why does he hang the ball on his breaking pitches?
Bobby=MORON
October 8th, 2010
10:15 pm
Is miranda really a guy? Wow. That sucks. If I were a yankee fan I’d give up ALL my world championships for another name.
playmeortrademe
October 8th, 2010
10:15 pm
Tommy will be done before the 5th
todd grantham
October 8th, 2010
10:15 pm
Emmel, grandson of Husband E. Kimmel, who let the Japanese destroy the US fleet at Pearl Harbor.
bravesmb
October 8th, 2010
10:15 pm
come on bills, i mean braves!!
miranda007
October 8th, 2010
10:15 pm
PLEASE take joe simpson, he is awful, and obviously rootin against the phils..wonder y???
Terry Funk @ Eric C.
October 8th, 2010
10:15 pm
ummmm not sure Eric could have sworn Dick did the play by play and Pat O’Brien was in the studio…(no clue who did color analysis next to the Dick) this blog has many genious’s maybe someone will educate me…or maybe not though with the Braves being down there will be a mass exodus of bloggers forthcoming…
Eddie Cook
October 8th, 2010
10:15 pm
Bobby needs just one more ejection to reach 162 – the number of games in the MLB season.
bravesfansince66
October 8th, 2010
10:15 pm
We are so screwed with the offense being as pitiful as it has been lately and now Tommy not showing up. Now to cap it off give the pitcher a hit! WE STINK!
aj
October 8th, 2010
10:15 pm
At least Braves have as many hits after two innings than last night through
nine. Wish there was something to be positive about. Scoring at least four
runs to win seems like a tall task. Been following the Braves since the early
60’s and never seen such a poor offense.
WG Dawg
October 8th, 2010
10:15 pm
done
Katherine
October 8th, 2010
10:15 pm
apparently miranda is a common name for guys in philly…they must watch a lot of sex and the city
Kashi
October 8th, 2010
10:16 pm
second inning already 35 pitches and 1 out …..daaaaamit. What is happening to us?
miranda007
October 8th, 2010
10:16 pm
hey katherine…how ya feel now smart mouf??? ha ha ha!!!
Jeff Schultz
October 8th, 2010
10:16 pm
Ugh. The pitcher? THat just can’t happen.
count_schemula
October 8th, 2010
10:16 pm
A tip of the hat to the tip of the cleat. oh, 4-0 now.
Sue
October 8th, 2010
10:16 pm
A hit by the pitcher? U have to be kidding. Good bye.
Paul Emmel
October 8th, 2010
10:16 pm
Really? Matt Cain? A single up the middle? Really?
todd grantham
October 8th, 2010
10:16 pm
i really, really hope that Bobby got his money’s worth calling Emmell the worst !@#$%$#@#$%^&^^%$#)(*&^&*( umpire on earth
Stan
October 8th, 2010
10:16 pm
Fellow bloggers, I am a native Atlantan living in Philly….in case you are wondering…miranda007 is what is referred to as a front runner….see it is easy to root against the idiot phil fans up here…because their OWN players….Victorino (once) and JRoll (Twice) called the Philly fans FRONTRUNNNERS!!!!!!!!!!!!! See philly fans on this blog…..even your own players call your stupidity out.
Bobby Cox
October 8th, 2010
10:16 pm
I’m in the clubhouse! Go Giants!!!!!!!!!!
Brave Hokie
October 8th, 2010
10:16 pm
Hanson joins a long list of post-season Braves “nut-jobs”…
W a f’in loser.
tree rollins
October 8th, 2010
10:16 pm
Somebody tell Leo Mazzone he needs to bone up on his football now so he has something to contribute to the 680TheFan morning show from Monday forward – other than reminding us he lilkes Notre Dame!
Poorbrave
October 8th, 2010
10:16 pm
Hanson pitching batting practice……………..good play milky.
Bobby Cox
October 8th, 2010
10:16 pm
SCREW BRAVES FANS HAHAHA AHHAHAHAA THIS IS BOBBY COX GO GIANTS
ATLNOLE
October 8th, 2010
10:17 pm
Thats a sign alright…
Pete
October 8th, 2010
10:17 pm
This is a freaking joke. The Braves pitchers give up way, way too many hits to the opposing teams pitcher.
jeff
October 8th, 2010
10:17 pm
Hahaha and yet another retarded idiotic boneheaded managerial decision by this so called HOF manager. WHY the hec is Melky Cabrera in ur starting lineup tonight… People This team is Done. Ballgameeeee…… hahahahahaa HIT the Roaddddd Braves and Bobby Cox… ohh yett another moronic decision why Is TOMMY hanson Pitching game # 2 . Helloooo where is TIM HUDSON..?
Innocent Bystander
October 8th, 2010
10:17 pm
I swear we give up more hits to pitchers than any other team
Kashi
October 8th, 2010
10:17 pm
Bad pitch again….come on Hanson, he knows better then this to pitch.
Eddie Cook
October 8th, 2010
10:17 pm
I was about to say it’ll be tough to double up Torres right before he hit into a double play.
Adam
October 8th, 2010
10:17 pm
Cain just increased his season RBI total by 100%.
Evan
October 8th, 2010
10:17 pm
Why again didn’t Huddy throw tonight?
homerun
October 8th, 2010
10:17 pm
So cannot get anything going yet, their pitcher, gets one through lmfao. looks like giants FTW
Bobby Cox
October 8th, 2010
10:17 pm
THE MILK MAN DELIVERS A STRIKE TO FIRST!!!!!!!
count_schemula
October 8th, 2010
10:17 pm
Thank god Hanson has Boras as an agent so he can put a spin on this mess.
TheAntiMe
October 8th, 2010
10:17 pm
This crap reeks.
Eddie Cook
October 8th, 2010
10:17 pm
Okay, let’s get some runs.
Bobby Cox
October 8th, 2010
10:17 pm
THIS IS BOBBY COX I AM HEADING OUT BACK TO ATLANYA TO PLAN MY SORRY LINEUP FOR GAME 3
Jesse
October 8th, 2010
10:18 pm
Stupid announcers, pretty sure-footed play by melky there hunh, save joe simpson from philly bring him here
todd grantham
October 8th, 2010
10:18 pm
Jeffrey, does Emmell’s group go to Atlanta?
TheAntiMe
October 8th, 2010
10:18 pm
Way to make us proud, Bravos.
Randal Patrick McMurphy
October 8th, 2010
10:18 pm
@Katherine – to be thought a fool is one thing, but to open you mouth (and/or post via keyboard) is to remove all doubt…
NCBravesFan
October 8th, 2010
10:18 pm
Kinda smells like we’re done before we got started.
miranda007
October 8th, 2010
10:18 pm
hey katherine…you ever heard of the MIRANDA RIGHTS???? YOU FOOLS IN ATL NEED TO READ A BOOK!!! MIRANDA IS A NAME OF SPANIARD ORIGIN..WHITE FOLKS TRIED TO STEAL IT AS THEY NORMALLY DO AND CONTRIVE IT TO FIT FEMALES
bravesfansince66
October 8th, 2010
10:18 pm
Well here we go…three and done.
ATLNOLE
October 8th, 2010
10:18 pm
Its impressive how accommodating the Braves are at helping throw opposing teams victory celebrations at Turner Field.
Katherine
October 8th, 2010
10:18 pm
Miranda..I already told you I feel fine. I am not an illiterate with a girls name. I’ll still be a braves fan win or lose.