From Braves-Phils: Can the Bradley live-blog streak continue?
This young fellow always seems to hit when MB's here. (AJC photo by Hyosub Shin)
Strange homestand. The Braves have been shut out twice and no-hit once over these five games. On Sunday they were an out away from losing 3-2, and two nights ago they were an out away from losing 3-0. And yet they’ve won three times in five.
They’ve done it with two bursts of late-inning lightning, sure, but they’ve also done it with pitching. The Braves’ starting pitchers have managed only one win this homestand — that by Derek Lowe against Colorado on Friday in a game he led 7-0 after two innings — but they’ve kept their team close in every game except Saturday’s, which was the night Kenshin Kawakami worked against no-hit Ubaldo Jimenez.
Throw out that game and the Braves’ starting pitchers have yielded 10 earned runs in four starts against two good-hitting teams this homestand. And that is, I submit, what will have to keep the Braves close if they’re going to make a race of it — pitching.
The Braves are hitting .227 as a team. That’s second-worst in the National League. That will improve over time — it has to improve, does it not? — but this lineup isn’t apt to hit .270 all summer. Too many holes, as we’ve noted a time or two before.
But the lesson of three wins in five games is that pitching is the great equalizer. The Braves haven’t hit much this homestand — 33 hits and 17 runs in five games — but they haven’t let the other guys hit much, either. (The Rockies and Phillies have mustered 35 hits and 17 runs between them.) Tonight Lowe starts against Jamie Moyer, and Lowe is 3-0.
And I’ll be here all night, watching and reporting and typing and chattering away. I’d be obliged if you’d join me, and I should note that the four previous games we’ve done this the home team has prevailed. With two walk-off wins. With three wins in the final at-bat. With Jason Heyward having an RBI in all four games. As Kate Smith was to the Philly Flyers, I am to the 2010 Bravos.
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481 comments Add your comment
rob graner
April 22nd, 2010
8:07 pm
going to watch other things while reading the blog….its as frustrating as it can get this guy
todd grantham
April 22nd, 2010
8:07 pm
Well, Mark the radio has gone off. you may have to work play-by-play
Mark Bradley
April 22nd, 2010
8:07 pm
Who knew OzzieVirgilsBeard is also a bard?
kurula
April 22nd, 2010
8:09 pm
well, lowe coughing up runs….you can’t say you didn’t see that coming. but being dominated by a 47 year-old? this line up is really struggling. they have only scored. in two of the last 20 innings. and even then, it was all homeruns. this team doesn’t seem to be able to manufacture ANY runs. this is frustrating to watch.
Mark Bradley
April 22nd, 2010
8:11 pm
Kurula, you make a key point: The Braves have scored four runs in 21 innings this series — all on homers.
The Real UT
April 22nd, 2010
8:11 pm
My boy Eric Berry just became a Chief.
Mark Bradley
April 22nd, 2010
8:12 pm
Well, there’s a hit. Prado.
OzzieVirgilsBeard
April 22nd, 2010
8:13 pm
Aspiring Braves Bard Mark.
Mark Bradley
April 22nd, 2010
8:13 pm
Four runs in 22 innings now.
The Real UT
April 22nd, 2010
8:14 pm
The Braves could still get this one with Moyer out there and the Phils pen issues.
Bravissimo
April 22nd, 2010
8:14 pm
f troop bugler…now theres a blast from the past.
I thought Prados throw looked half way decent but Esco was acting non chalant?
The Real UT
April 22nd, 2010
8:16 pm
Geez, 5 of first 6 all from Big 12
Mark Bradley
April 22nd, 2010
8:16 pm
Braves get a break. Victorino was safe.
rob graner
April 22nd, 2010
8:16 pm
None against a starter too Mark
kurula
April 22nd, 2010
8:16 pm
i think that prado needs to be the batting coach. teach everyone on the team his approach. they should watch hours worth of film of his at-bats. i’d take 6 straight singles over a solo homer or two.
Mark Bradley
April 22nd, 2010
8:17 pm
Prado’s throw was high, Bravissimo. But Escobar should have held it.
Swift
April 22nd, 2010
8:18 pm
This team is pathetic. They are lucky to get even one game considering they were 1 out from losing the first. And without that burst, they would be scoreless in 21 innings against the phils. Get rid of TP. He is imo a big problem. Double plays with the bases loaded. This is the worst team in getting runs home while in scoring position. How old is moyer and he’s making us look like this. What a joke this team is. I feel sorry for Heyward having to play on this crappy team.
Glenn
April 22nd, 2010
8:18 pm
Looks like Bobby needs to put Yunel on the bench again. He has that I could car less look about him.
Mark Bradley
April 22nd, 2010
8:19 pm
A 1-2-3 inning for Lowe. With a little help.
Fan O'Brave
April 22nd, 2010
8:19 pm
When will this team get rid of Terry P. We just can’t hit. Making an old picture look like a Cy Young canidate.
OzzieVirgilsBeard
April 22nd, 2010
8:20 pm
Nice rhyme Bradley with “Braves get a break. Victorino was safe.”
Joe
April 22nd, 2010
8:20 pm
Terry Pendleton, the Paul Hewitt of baseball.
Mark Bradley
April 22nd, 2010
8:21 pm
I’m a poet. But I don’t know it.
Mark Bradley
April 22nd, 2010
8:22 pm
When are you folks going to get off Coach Hewitt’s back?
kurula
April 22nd, 2010
8:22 pm
this team isn’t as bad as they are playing right now (offensively), but with the phillies’ hitting machine…these games matter as much as the ones in september. something has to happen now. if they lose the division or wild card by 5 games or less, these games will really hurt.
Hillbilly Deluxe
April 22nd, 2010
8:22 pm
Just an observation. If a guy is 47 years old and starting for one of the better teams, he probably knows a thing or two about how to get people out. It’s not all about velocity.
MyPatooti
April 22nd, 2010
8:22 pm
I take back everything I said about the Braves after that dramatic 9th inning win on Monday. These last two games cancels that one out completely for me. After you win a game like that, and then you come out the next two days looking like crap!!! It’s nothing more than the SOBs (same ol Braves) this year. I thought it was going to be different but I give up already!!! Where’s their spirt? Where’s their life? It’s even boring. BTW, that error should have been on Escobar. That ball was catchable and close enough to turn two. He just flat missed it. It hit his glove. Bad call !!!!!
Mark Bradley
April 22nd, 2010
8:23 pm
It’s not about velocity, Hillbilly. Although every scout seems to look for the guy who throws 98 mph.
kurula
April 22nd, 2010
8:23 pm
another glausome at bat by troy….
Mark Bradley
April 22nd, 2010
8:24 pm
Here’s the thing about baseball: Momentum is tomorrow’s starting pitcher. (I’m not sure who said that first — maybe Earl Weaver.) The Phillies had Halladay working the day after the epic Braves’ rally. He did his job.
Mark Bradley
April 22nd, 2010
8:25 pm
And here come the Glaus lines … They are irresistible, though.
Hillbilly Deluxe
April 22nd, 2010
8:25 pm
That’s true Mark but given a choice between Moyer and Kyle Farnsworth, who would you take. I’d take Moyer.
worst to first
April 22nd, 2010
8:27 pm
Lowe can not continue to pich like this and hold a job with Medlen being so good. I would like to see Medlen as a starter and Lowe traded before june think it could happen Mark?
Mark Bradley
April 22nd, 2010
8:28 pm
Oddly enough, we were talking about Farnsworth in the clubhouse before the game. Great arm. Just not a good pitcher.
rob graner
April 22nd, 2010
8:29 pm
Mark??????? Why does Bobby think protecting Heyward by sandwhiching him between to sub 200 hitters is going to build up his confidence. Didn’t he bat 3rd 4th and 5th all Spring and we were winning? I do not get what Bobby is thinking
rob graner
April 22nd, 2010
8:30 pm
Hewitt blows
Mark Bradley
April 22nd, 2010
8:30 pm
You’d have to find someone willing to take on Lowe’s contract, worst to first. I’m not sure anybody would.
kurula
April 22nd, 2010
8:30 pm
i think that bobby is setting him up to succeed by batting him 6th. a game-winning and game-tying hit in back to back games shows and the team lead in RBI….seems to be working for him.
Mark Bradley
April 22nd, 2010
8:30 pm
I was a little surprised to see Heyward hitting seventh tonight.
dawginDC
April 22nd, 2010
8:31 pm
Chipper was nuts to think this team can hang with the phillies..The brave should have been swept…Tues was an abberation….They have no offense plain and simple, getting blanked by a nearly 50 yr old man…
Mark Bradley
April 22nd, 2010
8:31 pm
Lowe has settled down. Retired seven straight.
Mark Bradley
April 22nd, 2010
8:33 pm
The Braves have the pitching to do it, dawginDC. The hitting … well, that’s another issue.
todd grantham
April 22nd, 2010
8:34 pm
Mark, you gonna drag out the “I didnt know people got paid for this” line too?
rob graner
April 22nd, 2010
8:34 pm
giving up 5 runs early means lights out for this offense
todd grantham
April 22nd, 2010
8:35 pm
where is Greg whats his name when we need him?
Bravissimo
April 22nd, 2010
8:35 pm
So lat year we handled the phils early on and flopped in the 2nd half. Theyre just reversing that trend this year.
Sons of Rick Matula
April 22nd, 2010
8:35 pm
Escobar is going through the motions. That little troll – Chuddy – or whatever his name is – needs to light a little fuego. Melky had the same rep in NYC. Not a good mix, hombres.
OzzieVirgilsBeard
April 22nd, 2010
8:35 pm
A beast of a man steps to the plate
“It’s a bust”… A Cousin Eddie, some would say
Don’t forget the man who rallied us in game one
But do we forgive the double plays that cost us 5 for that one?
todd grantham
April 22nd, 2010
8:35 pm
Morton
Rick
April 22nd, 2010
8:36 pm
Braves are sorry. They wil never win anything.