ESPN.com – MLB – Box Score – Mets at Braves
This sucks. I’m not going to panic, it’s way too early for that, it’s just depressing watching this team right now.
John Smoltz pitched well enough to win, allowing three runs in seven innings and striking out ten, but threw 122 pitches in those seven innings. I don’t know if Bobby was thinking that this game was that important or just that John was pitching well, but it was a bit of a stretch. He did score one of the Braves’ two runs though.
The Braves fell behind in the first, the result of walking Jose Reyes, who is not a good player but gives some of the Braves’ pitchers problems. He later tripled in a run, and Wright made it 3-0 with a homer in the fifth.
The Braves’ only runs came on a two-out Chipper homer in the sixth, after Smoltz had led off with an infield single. That was all they’d get.
But I blame Reitsma. You know that Billy Wagner is in the bullpen, but you have Renteria (finally back) and the Joneses coming up, so you have a chance to tie the game up. Not, however, if you use Reitsma, who sucks, and allowed two runs, including Wright’s second homer. I hate him. The Braves actually loaded the bases in the ninth, and “would have” scored the tying run if it had been 3-2, but Pratt struck out to end the game because Bobby still doesn’t believe McCann can hit lefties. I know it’s Wagner, but come on; McCann’s hitting .290 and Pratt .200.
The Braves had only six hits, to go with eight strikeouts. I know it’s Pedro, but it’s a pretty sorry effort. Renteria kept his punctuated streak going with a ninth-inning single.
I agree Mac. Reitsma sucks, he is completely worthless. He is closing in onto the Kolbb suckness territory.
As I have mentioned on the previous thread, Andruw was hit tonight on the elbow by Wagner. Hope we will see some homerun explosion from him in the next few games.
Ok, I was studying for a test all during this game, so I didn’t pay a whole lot of attention to detail, but was Wilson Betemit available to pinch hit at the end? Had he already been used? I had to assume that he had been used when I saw Pratt going to the plate. If he had NOT been used, what in the CRAP was Bobby thinking? Please tell me Beta-Meat had already been used. I don’t want to think Bobby is that stupid.
I belive Wilson was still available…
I have no idea why he put Pratt in for McCann… I thought I was seeing things when I first looked at the tv!
So, I am not even online tonight and I am told I have head my head up my ass? Classy.
I will gladly put my Braves knowledge up there anytime someone wants to challenge me.
Anyway, yes, I was out at dinner and a movie with my wife & father in law but will gladly back Matt about Cox. He blows more and more games every year and Cox is the reason people like Brian Jordan have Major League jobs.
That said, I am with kc & Mac…Reitsma sucks. There’s no Braves I despise more then Adam LaRoche but Reitsma is a close second. Adam plays everyday but Reitsma has been handed a more important job that he doesn’t deserve–it’s hard to decide who I hate worse but knowing that Reitsma was Reitsma tonight….arggggg!!!!!
Can we please get a closer and a first baseman already?
Enough of this shi-.
And 122 pitches for Smoltz? Good God.
Ok maybe my studying has me behind on EVERYTHING tonight, but did anyone else see where the Texans have already signed Mario Williams, making him the No. 1 pick tomorrow? To me, this is huge. I really thought they were just bluffing when they were negotiating with him. Maybe the Texans really think that this Reggie Buch scandal may turn into something more. Who knows? Wow.
I think they feel that Williams is more of a sure thing, but mostly it’s a financial thing; Bush believes that he can make just as much money as the second pick and wouldn’t sign at their terms.
Domanick Davis is a good RB. I would have traded down if I was going defense though.
John has a seven-day rest coming in. So, we know for sure Bobby is going to kill John’s arm to death tonight.
Bobby is Bobby. He has been managing like this for the last 15 years…sigh.
Reitsma…I honestly had high hope on him last year. Seeing him coming back strong after the tough 2003 playoff, I think he has the character and mental toughness to be a very good reliever. However, not only he has not improved, but he has gotten worse. He taught Boyer to be aggressive, but he always seems to be aiming his fastballs. He can’t freaking locate his fastball and always gets behind in the count. Then hitters are sitting on his changeup. He always gets himself into trouble, and it’s time to kick that “unlucky” label into the garbage can. Reitsma sucks, period.
I don’t so much mind pulling McCann for a righty, but Todd Pratt? That at bat didn’t go too well for him.
Fun fact about my favorite non-Brave: Albert Pujols hit his 13th homer of the year. For the year, he has 27 hits, 13 homers, 23 walks, 25 runs, 31 RBI, and 7 strikeouts. Wow.
And people thought I was crazy for paying $49 for him in my auction.
I think the Texans are doing a smart thing. Bush is just too much of a trouble.
Maybe Bobby figured Pratt would have a better chance of hitting Wagner since he used to catch him?
Kyle, I always want that second spot in the fantasy baseball draft so that I can draft Pujols. I had Pujols on my team for one year and it was a dream. He gives the team such a consistent supply in every offensive category (except SB of course).
I just don’t understand why pitchers still pitch to him.
Yeah, David, that’s pretty much the “Bobby’s logic”, which is far away from the actual truth.
Maybe Bobby figured Pratt would have a better chance of hitting Wagner since he used to catch him?
Then he would have seen the sliders coming. But he didn’t, and I think I’m still feeling the draft (not a bump draft, thanks Southern Sports Report, and good night, please, I insist).
So was Betemit available or not?
good game braves fans. We now we are even. I know it’s early but the next couple of games could have a huge effect on the rest of the season. If the mets win they will continue to stay on top of the division and the “fear” of the braves will be over. If they win this series in atlanta it will be huge. If the braves win this series I think the mets will be haunted by them the whole year. And maybe it will be just what your team needs to get out of their funk. I know it’s early but this is kinda a big series. Again great pitching tonight and I look forward to next game. It feels good to be even with you guys I will tell ya that much.
Cheers
Dan
Chris Reitsma is perhaps the worst closer…excuse me, worst person who is attempting to fill the role of closer in baseball history. He is certainly the worst this year. He sucks unmercifully. It is a miracle when he gets through an inning without giving up a run. On the cosmically rare occasion when he actually gets a 1-2-3 inning, I run outside, drop to me knees, cast my eyes skyward and thank every deity that humankind has ever worshipped.
I understand the dislike of LaRoche, but I think maybe you’re going just a little overboard here, Alex. LaRoche doesn’t single-handedly cost us nearly every game he plays in. Reitsma, on the other hand, does single-handedly cost us almost every game he pitches. It has absolutely got to stop, and I mean right now. While Reitsma doesn’t, on the surface, appear as hopeless as Kolb was last year, it is even more retarded to continue with Reitsma as our closer this year than with Kolb last year. Why? Because we already went through it last year. I will not tolerate this horseshit for three months this year like I did last year. We should know better because we already went through the nightmare. If they don’t boot his worthless ass either to middle relief (fine) or off the freaking team (better), and do it soon, I’m liable to go apeshit.
Let’s all pretend, because we’re upset, that Bobby Cox’s questionable decision to hit Pratt costs us the game. It seems like the fashionable thing to do.
Let’s not blame the hitters for actually failing or even considering their injuries as a reason for rustinees.
This most helpful and constructive thing to do in this situation is to continously call Cox stupid, an idiot, a moron, and invoke phrases like “Bobby’s logic.”
The more we heap tons of BS on Bobby Cox, the more we’ll feel happy and secure about our Braves.
What’s wrong? Why SO much cyncism? We’re the Braves! I still don’t see how the Mets are going to beat us. Tonight wasn’t exactly a clinical win for NY and they threw their best pitchers available in all situations. And our tender team almost pulled it out.
Oh, wait. That was until Bobby Cox destroyed everything. God he’s such a freakin’ moron…
And yes…Betemit was available.
That’s the difference between NY and Atlanta MYMETS. You’re already placing WAY too much importance on this seriers. They’re still be 13 games after this series for the Braves to make a point.
That doesn’t even account for the summer fallout that the Mets WILL experience at some point without playing the Braves.
Raoul, Bobby is a great baseball manager, but that doesn’t mean he is good in everything. In-game strategy is his one weakness which is so obvious based on 15 years of evidence. However, that does not mean he is not the reason for the team’s success.
kc, thank you. I think you’re wrong about 15 years of continuous mistakes.
But you managed to phrase your criticism of Cox in a repsectable manner. I can’t respect anyone who calls him stupid, a moron, etc.
You have to be a really stupid MF to actually think and say these things about Cox.
Raoul, did you ever see me calling Cox stupid or moron?
Never. That’s why I thanked you. My message wasn’t meant for you at all. I like talking baseball with you.
There are plenty who frequent here and use that rhetoric against Cox.
It’s so unfounded and backwards that I find myself wanting to kill these other Braves fans.
Not literally, of course, but in language.
ok, sorry, I mis-read your message Raoul.
Bobby obviously has his reasons behind all his decisions. It just happens that I don’t agree with his more critical and important ones. That’s all.
That’s cool, I disagree with you.
I can see how the langauge could be misinterpreted, so you’re cool. Tone is hard to express specifically sometimes in text.
For what it’s worth, I wouldn’t have hit Pratt either. I don’t think Cox has made a rash of bad decisions, though. I don’t even think the Pratt decision is that cut and dry. How do we know that time as a battery mate isn’t enough to propel Pratt over Betemit in that situation? I didn’t like it, but I think my opinion and those of other fans matter a lot less than his.
But I am pretty sure the chance of Beta-meat getting a hit off Wagner is better than Pratt. I just think Bobby doesn’t want Betemit to just pinch hitting in case the game goes to extra inning…but for our sake, tie the game first!!!
Better to lose while giving it your all than lose with options still left.
Why didn’t the Texans trade down if they were going to draft Mario Williams? I can understand wanting him, but I don’t understand that. They could have gotten him plus some other stuff. But I guess there’s a reason they’re drafting first: they suck, and suckitude is usually pervasive.
I think it’s just getting frustrating to watch our guys lose. Let’s take it out on Chris Reitsma and stupid Mets trolls, not on each other.
To put things in perspective, though, being a baseball fan in general is still pretty fun these days. It’ll be neat to be able to tell my grandkids that I used to watch Andrew Jones and Albert Pujols in their primes, the modern-day Willie Mays and Lou Gehrig. One of these years, Pujols might just bat .400–I’m rooting for him.
I was at the game tonight (though I didn’t get there until almost the 3rd inning – freaking Atlanta Friday night traffic – which is our fault for leaving late, but, still…) and it was mostly a lot of fun. When the Braves got 2 on for Francouer, I thought that would be a nice chance for some redemption (maybe he could hit a game-tying homer). The single was nice – if he’d take a walk that would be nice, but it’s good to see him not swing at every pitch, at least. When Andruw got hit by the pitch I said the same thing to my wife about him going on a home run tear – which I really hope holds true, because the offense needs a boost in a huge way. And when Pratt came out to pinch hit, there was actually a bit of concern on the Mets fans faces – they remember he hit some big, late inning home runs for them, and you could at least see that in the back of their minds (not that it ended up being a successful play of course).
And don’t get me started on how obnoxious Mets fans are – but they really are a special brand of unsufferable.
There was a nice hand for Julio when he came up to pinch-hit – it was pretty cool actually. Made even better by the fact that he grounded into an inning-ending double play.
Like Mac said, it is too early to panic, but…there are some real weaknesses on this team, and JS & CO need to find some answers (which I still do have confidence he will do).
Went to Yankee Stadium tonight & saw Toronto beat the Yanks 7-2. Listened to the Braves game on the radio. When Wright hit his 2nd HR, 2 Mets fans in full Met garb (like what the hell were they thinking?) got up in an attempt to make a display.
And for the second consecutive visit to Yankee Stadium this year, I saw a Met fan (in this case two) get abused by Yankee fans & get escorted (really, forced) out of their seats by NYPD.
The Yankee fans had no idea why they were whooping it up, but they didn’t like it and started pelting them with anything they had.
Didn’t really make me feel better, but it made me think that this pathetic breed of dipshits must be stopped and hopefully it starts tomorrow.
Well I guess we can look forward to tomorrow. We should have Jordan, Pratt, and Diaz playing since Glavine is pitching. Is our bench depth the worst in MLB. All three of these guys have looked horrible and we should expect Bobby to keep playing them. Is Startup or McBride ready to come up – this crap is getting old!
For the record, it is now April 29.
Who is pitching for the Mets tomorrow? Zambrano or Glavine?
I think we have seen the two extreme of the offense in the first month. I am sure the offense will be ok. The fundamental problem of Reitsma being the closer, which has hidden nicely behind the other problems in April, will eventually be the main cause which will haunt the Braves during summer.
Tomorrow is Glavine/Thomson, then Sunday is Trachsel/Davies.
Right now the main problem seems to be that we’re only scoring 2 runs a game. Reitsma is a convenient whipping boy & he may well blow some more games & it’ll surely make us nuts, but he had very little to do with the last 4 losses. Gotta get more than 2 runs…
Here’s a fun fact for you Braves fans.
The Braves are 2-2 versus the Mets this year, both losses having resulted in wins for Pedro, saved by Billy Wagner. Coincidentally, both games ended with Todd Pratt striking out swinging to end the game (and may I add, striking out while looking completely clueless and fooled). I love Cox and all he did for the Braves as much as the next person, but let’s get real here. Pratt was signed for his defense and veteran leadership, not to hit, let alone pinch hit in crucial situations.
It seems to me that Bobby’s two favorite pinch hitters are the two worst right handers available to him: Brian Jordan and Todd Pratt.
I cringe every time I see either of them step up to the plate. And it’s starting to get to the point where I cringe when I watch my favorite team. This is sad, very sad indeed.
AJC
Almost make the team, get off to a slow start, get injured. It’s called Buddy Hernandez disease.
We need an event to take place to light a fire under this team. Like that season where we came from six down to beat the O’s. Or last year when the Nats came to town and we swept them. We need a brawl or something.
Or when the press box caught on fire back in 93… I guess bringing in McGriff that day had something to do with it too.
ah yes… where is Mcgriff? perhaps he can hit better, even now, than LaRoche or Jordan.
Cox is of course a wonderful manager, his players love him and he puts faith in his guys. Over the long season it pays off. Not only do Braves players play hard and never throw in the towel but there is never any clubhouse trouble. And often Cox does make the right decisions during a game. The primary issue, as I see it anyway, is that Cox tends to overmanage; he makes three pitching changes in an inning or two double switches in a game or relies entirely too much upon platoons and Righty-Lefty matchups. In the short term, especially when things aren’t going very well, these things can make fans nuts.
The larger problem for the Braves, though, is structural – their team just isn’t as talented as it was during the 1990s. True, there were always some flaws. But there were also always some areas where they absolutely dominated: like pitching. I’ve lived and died with Atlanta for some time and it’s just sad to see the team without any true strengths… or at least something on which they could fall back. There’s no ‘stopper,’ no ‘closer,’ and except for the Jones boys, no dominant lineup. The defense is fine but not spectacular, at least not in the infield, and as exciting as they can be, the young guys are often too impatient at the plate.
Things will, however improve. The Braves will not fall out of contention and, in time, will make a run – probably a successful one – at the Mets. And that, at least, will be fun. Because the Mets suck and we’ll always have that.
Its time to call up Thorman – Jordan is useless to the team, we have enough veteran leadership to carry this team, and he needs to call it quits. Does Pratt really help McCann all that much, if not, lets bring up Salty at least he wont get caught looking at a fastball over the center of the plate for strike three.
Its getting old watching our pitchers having 0-2 or 1-2 counts on the batters and giving up hits. I think the Mets had 4 or 5 hits last night being behind the pitcher in the count. We have some issues that need to be addressed now rather than later. How much do we already miss Franco in pinch-hit situations? Reitsma – not even worth talking about. Go Braves!!!
First SEC player taken in the draft? None other than Jay “Phone Booth” Cutler.
Well, I do blame the Reitsma for this one. While it was stunning to see Pratt up there to hit, Renteria would have scored on the Francoeur single to tie it if Reitsma had held the game at 3-2. I like the decision to bring in the closer at that point; I just don’t like the closer. The Braves desperately need to get McBride healthy and dominating, and Devine needs to hurry up and get his head back on strait.
where is Devine? The Richmond stats dont show any info on him. Is he on the DL again?
Matt Leinart just lost tons of money. Bet he wishes he’d come out last year. Wow.
I doubt it. He spent a year with no classes, hanging out with celebrities in LA. And he’s still gonna make a ton of money. And he’s in a much better position to succeed, with the weapons he has in Arizona.
Didn’t see the game, so I don’t know what Betemit’s availability was at the end last night, but roster-wise it is disconcerting that the best right-handed pinch hitters we can roll out seem to be Pratt or Jordan. Diaz doesn’t warm my heart, but I’ll hold off on him for the moment.
We sure have a lefty-laden lineup & those left/left closer matchups tilt the opposition’s way when we have to break out those guys.
At some point, I’d love to pick up a veteran fast-ball-bashing right-handed hitter for the bench, a younger Julio perhaps. When Wagner faces the bottom of our lineup, it’s less than inspiring.
So I slept in late this morning, get up turn on SportsCenter, or some other ESPN Met’s loving crap, and what do I hear but. and I quote” Just look at those mets now, they’ve already got a 6 game lead on Atlanta and have been dominating all year, and they’ve got more than 100 games left to build on that lead. So much for the perennial champions of the East.”
not the best thing to wake up to. It’s been one month and they have us in the toilet. Nothing counts in my mind until after the All-Star Break.