I don’t really know what happened in this game, because I wasn’t paying much attention. Paul Byrd gave up two solo homers, including one to Gerald Williams, of all people, and got the loss because the Braves — despite putting up a more-or-less normal lineup — only managed the one run, Chipper doubling home Drew.
The Braves would need a win in the nightcap and one tomorrow for Bobby to get his 2000th win this season in Atlanta. More importantly, they’re only a game and a half up on the Dodgers now, and staring at the possibility of facing the Cardinals in the first round, which we do not want to happen, okay?
A more patchwork lineup in the nightcap, though with four regulars or platoon regulars, so it’s not as bad as it was in the two earlier doubleheaders. (Still, why did Bobby play Julio in the first game against the righty, and now has LaRoche facing Glavine, even though Julio hits Glavine well, or did last year at any rate? Must be seniority.) Wright’s doing his job so far, though the Mets lineup is pretty much David Wright and the Seven Dwarfs. I don’t know yet if I’m going to recap that one today or not. If not, I’d look for it at about 10:30 ET tomorrow morning.
Regarding the 1B reverse platoon tonight — according to Pete and Don, Cox wanted Franco and LaRoche to get a few ABs against their “worse” sided pitchers, because he may not have the luxury of pinch-hitting in the playoffs every time a new reliever is brought in. I don’t think many managers would think of this, and I have to hand it to Cox — I think it’s a great idea.
So far it’s worked out — Julio had a triple off Trachsel, and LaRoche just went deep as I write this off Glavine.
Pete said during the second game that Bobby intentionally went reverse-platoon-split, just for practice. Good thinking, though I doubt it really makes any difference.
The story with the “reverse platoon” is that Bobby is trying to give Julio and LaRoche a different look in preparation for the postseason, essentially giving Adam a chance to hit against a lefty for once. And he did hit a homer off Glavine. . .
Thanks, guys.