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
al for president
October 8th, 2010
10:19 pm
Hanson is SCARED
Eddie Cook
October 8th, 2010
10:19 pm
It’s about time we get some breaks.
miranda007
October 8th, 2010
10:19 pm
HEY STAN…DONT BE MAD!!! IVE BEEN A PHILS FAN SINCE MARK PORTUGAL WAS OUR “ACE” CHUMP..STICK IT
Pete
October 8th, 2010
10:20 pm
miranda, please learn how to use the word’s there and their. You are a complete moron.
IlliniBrave
October 8th, 2010
10:20 pm
ah, miranda – you revealed how and why you cannot spell!
fred
October 8th, 2010
10:20 pm
whats Leo got to do with this blog?
Katherine
October 8th, 2010
10:20 pm
Miranda….you have no idea what color I am,,,and where I am from. LOL what an idiot
tree rollins
October 8th, 2010
10:20 pm
Something stinks and I already had my daily constitutional this morning – oh, I guess it’s the Braves in postseason again!
FloridaStateinDC
October 8th, 2010
10:20 pm
The season ended when Chipper and Medlen went down…..They really had no business being in the playoffs. It should have been the padres not the braves
todd grantham
October 8th, 2010
10:20 pm
I hope Emmel drives off a cliff with my mother in law in the car.
GT Falcon
October 8th, 2010
10:20 pm
Already changed it……..UConn Rutgers is a close game on ESPN
Eric C.
October 8th, 2010
10:20 pm
I know the Braves are easy pickings right now for the philthy fans on this blog…but I’m really proud of this team either way. It’s really been a special year to get into the postseason despite a 9 game losing streak and a 35-46 road record and more injuries than we can count. Cox should get a huge ovation at home if it ends there. Anyway, this team should be pretty stacked for the next few years…here is to looking ahead.
miranda007
October 8th, 2010
10:20 pm
Katherine…you’ll still be an unwitty simpelton..win or lose kathy..ha ha!!! we cant be stopped
count_schemula
October 8th, 2010
10:20 pm
If the Braves can hold them for 7 innings, and score 5 runs…
Stan
October 8th, 2010
10:21 pm
Katherine….ignore FRONTRUNNER Miranda…..the Phillie do
Eddie Cook
October 8th, 2010
10:21 pm
That pitch didn’t even touch the black.
FloridaStateinDC
October 8th, 2010
10:21 pm
Is this the worst team to ever make the playoffs? I am calling it now, they will be swept in 3 and not score a single run this entire series…Wren did a piss poor job at the deadline….should have kept blanco and not traded for the dud Lee
Randal Patrick McMurphy
October 8th, 2010
10:21 pm
Is there any way this team could put up some kind of a fight?!? It’s really sad to watch this… perhaps this is where/when the young kids “learn how to lose”. There are certainly lessons to be learned here for management, too. It’s almost surreal…
todd grantham
October 8th, 2010
10:21 pm
i hate the thought of bringing instant replay routine plays, but this sucker emmel’s performance demands it, or his firing.
o-me
October 8th, 2010
10:21 pm
If thats the case PETE 85% of people in US are idiots.
Steve, call a dog a dog, please.
October 8th, 2010
10:22 pm
We are all fans. We like the team. Like the players. Want the best. Hope for the best. Believe for as long as we can believe.
But this is crap. This team has all the excuses for why they are flopping at the end and in the playoffs.But someone… ahem media… needs to call out this team.
Where is McCann? Who is the leader of this team? Alex and D Lee… can you do something productive? Brooks – pick up the Darn ball? Rick can you develop any plate discipline?
No more excuses. Either play or shut up. Have some heart. These Braves are the not the same Braves who showed heart and fire and magic in the middle of the season.
These Braves are done. They got into the playoffs because of the other Braves who are now hurt, shelved, etc.
I hate the other media as they never address our excellent pitching. They only talk about Phillies, Giants, Yankees. But I have to admit it…. our team is weak and weaker.
So Steve, call a dog a dog. Have some gumption to call out these players… most will be gone in a few days any way. There will be no repercussions for your truth.
Katherine
October 8th, 2010
10:22 pm
FloridaStateinDC
October 8th, 2010
10:20 pm
The season ended when Chipper and Medlen went down…..They really had no business being in the playoffs. It should have been the padres not the braves
Apparently not…since the braves won more games and earned a playoff spot….
Eddie Cook
October 8th, 2010
10:22 pm
We can get to Cain.
jeff
October 8th, 2010
10:22 pm
Thank Goodness its Hockey Season.. goodnight folks … haha just embarrassing and what a joke this Braves Team is… 3 and done.. Bye Bye
playmeortrademe
October 8th, 2010
10:22 pm
thinks the concession stand lines won’t be that long on sunday.
20,000 no-shows? anybody?
tree rollins
October 8th, 2010
10:22 pm
Hudson will win his game for pride and so Bobby doesn’t totally limp out of the game.
061293
October 8th, 2010
10:22 pm
miranda007 — No one will ever know that you’ve had a lobotomy, if you wear a wig to hide to the scars and learn to control the slobbering.
Jason
October 8th, 2010
10:22 pm
Called that one foul – guessing it was fair?
paulie
October 8th, 2010
10:23 pm
we just need to shut them down and chip away……..
Eric C.
October 8th, 2010
10:23 pm
FloridaStateinDC…Lee was worth a gamble…don’t think Blanco would have made enough of a difference
miranda007
October 8th, 2010
10:23 pm
STAN…you couldnt even ignore me…y would u expect katherine 2??? your a loser pal…the days of ANDY ASHBY ARE OVA!!! WE THE BEST!!
Eddie Cook
October 8th, 2010
10:23 pm
Good pitch
tree rollins
October 8th, 2010
10:24 pm
Monday’s tickets now going for $1 each on stub hub – get ‘em while they’re hot fans!!
Timbo
October 8th, 2010
10:24 pm
TBS’s baseball coverage stinks . . . almost as bad as ESPN
Jason
October 8th, 2010
10:24 pm
wow the umpires are horrible.
Rural Education
October 8th, 2010
10:24 pm
Have the Braves ever played with any emotion? They just look sad all the time. Put that with a lack of real talent and no stars and you get the Braves. Who cares really?
Paul Emmel
October 8th, 2010
10:24 pm
That pitch to Heyward NEVER had the plate. Never. Now, we are just calling it close.
Kashi
October 8th, 2010
10:24 pm
Heyward out on strick, WTF going on with umpires???????????????
miranda007
October 8th, 2010
10:24 pm
KATHE…EARNED a playoff spot??? MORE LIKE CHARLIE HAD PITY ON BOBBY AND LET U BUMS IN
Pete
October 8th, 2010
10:24 pm
Remember that I told you that Heyward will never be a superstar.
Woodie
October 8th, 2010
10:24 pm
This is an old-fashioned “shell-crackin” delivered by the Giants
Jimmy
October 8th, 2010
10:24 pm
Could we ask for a more worthless pitcher than Tommy Hansen? Every game he starts, he puts us in a hole, at least two runs. What is it going to take for them to realize he needs extra bull pen time (you hear me Roger McDowell) before the game, and if that’s not the problem, cut his a$$ tomorrow. Send him to Single A where he can learn to pitch in the first inning. Disgusted!
JACOB
October 8th, 2010
10:24 pm
Still think heywards great?
IlliniBrave
October 8th, 2010
10:25 pm
@Eric C. – thanks for the positive spin. I completely agree! NOBODY picked this team to get to the playoffs. When the entire team of MLB Tonight went through their pre-season picks, only Dan Plesac picked the Braves to win the WC. And on ESPN, only Nomar had them going to the playoffs. Let’s face it, the Braves shocked the baseball experts. They over-achieved big time. And now, both Cox and Wren are getting serious consideration for post-season honors.
tree rollins
October 8th, 2010
10:25 pm
What time is the Falcons game again? Oh yeah – anybody still watching this baseball? Hah
todd grantham
October 8th, 2010
10:25 pm
Jeffrey, how on God’s green earth can baseball be ruled by Bud Selig, who has such an obvious conflict of interest? Every since Kinnesaw Mountain Landis each commissioner has been exponentially worse than the last.
Kashi
October 8th, 2010
10:25 pm
That pitch to Heyward was yard outside the plate and he ringed him up. This is really messing up our hitters, WTF going on these umpires?
preston
October 8th, 2010
10:26 pm
Infante and Ankiel already has met the Braves quota on hits tonight…….they might muster up another hit on a slow roller hit past the pitcher’s mound with 2 outs in the top of the ninth….the only suspense will be which Brave will hit it………..D. Lee…Cabrerra or GONZO!!!!!
Steven
October 8th, 2010
10:26 pm
At least we are getting our bats on the ball
Stan
October 8th, 2010
10:26 pm
Miranda…..i am on to you….your own players called you a front runner…..you cant even deal with the fact that you root for a team whose players think you are shallow and pretty dumb….not my words…..Jroll and Victorino….thats why you cant argue with being insulted by your own players….you….your mom……your out of wedlock kids are all FRONTRUNNNERRRRSSS!!!!!!