ESPN.com – MLB – Box Score – Diamondbacks at Braves
We have to get the guy in the pickup to pay a visit to the rest of the Braves, because the only guy who really had a good game today was Reitsma (who pitched a 1-2-3 ninth). Obviously, I didn’t see the game, because nobody in North America saw it except for Skip Caray, but the accounts suggest that nobody on the Braves was particularly interested in playing and that Bobby had the right idea when he got himself ejected in the first. Myself, I’m disgusted.
Smoltz struck out ten and didn’t walk anyone. Unfortunately, he allowed two homers and four doubles, more than enough to lead to four runs. After going down 2-0 early, the Braves tied it at 2 in the third on Marcus’ single. It’s not much of an exaggeration to say that at that point, they stopped trying. Or stopped succeeding. At any rate, they apparently began swinging at everything, perhaps in an attempt to fan themselves, and generally began doing their best to get back to the clubhouse to rest up for the second game.
I could say more, but why should I exert myself any more for these jokers? Consider this the game thread for the second game.

Does anyone know if Merv Rettenmund is still available? Terry Pendleton has to go.
It appears we need to trust other teams to keep us in contention.
Go Giants!
Go Dodgers!
As for the other game, Thomson vs. Vargas (spelled right?), I’m pessimistic.
Claudio Vargas has been up and down his whole career. Here’s hoping tonight he’ll suck. At least he’s a former Expo.
Most disturbing to me is the fact that Jorge Julio has 2 saves against us in this series.
Also, we’re currently 1-4 on this homestand. I’m despondant.
What’s disturbing to me is that a Cleveland blowout was on television while the Braves were in the middle of a competitive game.
I don’t know if it’s a flaw in the rights agreements or if Fox just hates good baseball, but something like that needs to be fixed.
Well, you summed up the game well. I actually saw it on the internet here in Belfast, ireland. What a waste of a month of mlb.com fees. Unles they redeem themselves tonight.
Well, it’s kinda simple really. Fox has exclusive rights to Saturday afternoon baseball from late May to the end of the regular season (just like ESPN has exlusive rights to Sunday night baseball for the whole season.) Therefore, no American television network can broadcast Major League Baseball on Saturday afternoons other than Fox.
Our game wasn’t on their schedule for this afternoon. Their lineup, I believe, was Giants-Mets and Angels-Indians. So since our game wasn’t in their lineup, it didn’t get shown. Had they known that we were gonna be playing at 1 p.m. earlier, they might have added it…who knows? But it was a little too late to do it on 15 hours notice.
Why was it too late? There was clearly some feed of the game; it was on international mlb.tv. If Fox had the rights to it, there was no reason for them not to show it once Cleveland scored 10. It doesn’t take much planning to take your announcers from the rain delayed Mets game and sit them in front of a television with some microphones.
It could be that Fox didn’t have the rights to it, that it was still a “Turner South” game, but that it couldn’t be aired because of the Fox exclusivity. In that case, something can be fixed contractually.
Ugh, ESPN getting ready to do another “Mets rule” or “Braves suck” or combination type story.
If the Braves don’t win this division, then please let it be the Phillies, or maybe even the Nationals. Dear God anyone but the Mets.
I want to second the recap/game thread’s statement: I too am disgusted. And as much as I hate FOX, I’m somewhat relieved I didn’t ‘get’ to watch the Braves strike out 361 times against another anonymous set of pitchers.
I am a long-time Braves Journal lurker and have something to throw out there:
Can we try to be more positive and analytical of what happens during the games? While I obviously have no clue about what’s going on in everyone’s personal life it seems that lately people are unhappy and just hating on the Braves. The theme has been that they are lucky when they win and they are terrible when they lose.
I as much as the next guy want to see them go out and go 162-0 but its just not going to happen. This is baseball not football. If they win 95 games they will lose over 41% of their games and still likely be amongst the best in baseball. You and I both know they go out every game and try their best, especially Smoltz. Losing a few games in a row or even going 2-8 over ten games isn’t necessarily someone’s fault or proof that something has to be done. Lets try and look at the bigger here. I know that a lot of you have read Moneyball and Bill James and are fans of different types of ‘thinking-mans’ baseball literature so lets not act like the casual fan in the stands.
So obviously the onus is on me to throw something out there. What about Chipper? He is hitting for average but, as he has stated, he wants to hit for more power. One thing I’ve considered a lot is that he has a great-eye (the best on the team) and gets a lot of walks in key situations. Do you think we should greenlight him on 3-0, 3-1 with a runner in scoring position and 1-2 outs? Has he been electing to take the walk more often than years past? Could that account for his decrease in power numbers? While it makes sense to get another runner on base for Andruw in general, is it worth ‘wasting’ a hitter’s count? Also, has anyone noticed how Chipper seems to be running better lately? Andruw too. They both seem to beating out throws at first w/ more frequency than I remember.
Hope my comments are perceived well.
The second-game lineup is Orr, Betemit, CJones, AJones, Langerhans, Francoeur, Jordan, Pena, Thomson.
My heart fills with dread at this lineup.
I would rather have Pena than Orr leading off. Or Betemit. Or Langerhans. Pete Orr sucks.
Figures Retisma pitches well when it doesnt mean anything…..
BWT, does the page look odd to anyone else? Its really small print, hard for an old foggie like me to read
I think I just threw up in my mouth a little.
What, is Giles 42? Why can’t he play a doubleheader?
Also… who’s playing catcher?
Oh, sorry… for some reason I was thinking Minor League Lil’ Pena. Never mind.
I know it’s hard to believe… but it’s the bottom of the first and we’re not losing!
Yet.
Because I sort of share a name with him, I kinda pity Brayan Pena. He’s only 24, and is likely to be at worst a strong backup, maybe a starter. But he’s got McCann in front of him and Salty behind him, both of whom are younger and better hitters than he is (Salty’s struggles in Mississippi notwithstanding), so he’s doomed to be trade bait.
Mac, if an offense can score -1 run, Orr and Betemit can do it.
Excellent work, Pete. That is the worst hit in baseball history.
How in the hell do you give Orr a hit on that?
MY GOD, WHEN WILL BASEBALL DO SOMETHING ABOUT ALL THESE THROWS TO FIRST BASE?
Sorry, but I’m sick of this crap.
I hate you with a passion, Pete.
HI IM THE NU OFISHUL SCOER!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Does Frenchy ever not overthrow the cut-off man??
James,
I think what you’re seeing is frustration, that’s all.
Wanna be frightened? Kolb’s ERA with Milwaukee this season is 3.06. Less than half of Reitsma’s before today. His peripherals are frightening (11 BB, 6 K in 17.2 IP), but he’s keeping opponents off the board.
Have they changed the scoring on the “hit” yet?
I don’t think changing the hit to an error is the biggest problem at the moment.
How deep is the bottom?
The bottom is deep; somewhere near it you’ll hit a city on the Kansas-Missouri border. The Braves have a ways to go before they get there, but they ain’t moving in the right direction. And this is a homestand!
Yeah, after a great roadtrip we are in danger of losing 5 out of our first 6…
Well, this was predictable.
God I hate Arizona and that smug look on their faces.
Kolb is one of the weirder pitchers in the last few years. When he’s successful, 2004 and this season so far, he still doesn’t have good peripherals
I am checking the stats against western division in the mlb official site, but can’t find them this year. Oh, it’s so shame.
The game’s the stifling atmosphere, that’s too bad.
I remember Zito gave an imitation of Eric Byrnes past fan fest. Frankly speaking, Zito looked like a blabbermouth. And he made a great fuss about trifles. Anyway it was very funny.
BETEMIT!!!!!!! WOOHOO!!!
c’mon guys! 6 more! lol
Chipper’s on!!! C’mon Andruw!!
You won’t believe what happened. I was in Chattanooga and I just happened to talk to Smitty’s barber. He told me about this imminent trade:
Braves’ lineup gets: Wilson Betemit
Braves’ bench gets: Marcus Giles
Wilson Betemit is the secret child of Mary Magdalene and Santa Claus.
YES! 2 on now!
c’mon Langy!!!
Fortunately for Ryan Langerhans, Arizona has no left handed pitchers.
well thanks for nothing.
Unfortunately for Jeff Francoeur, Arizona has no left handed pitchers.
Keep the secret, Alex! Someone may plots against life, LOL
well… we threatend
We should have just converted Johnny Estrada into a reliever.
so much for confidence of getting on the board…
I swear.. .this is just… man… nothing is working lately
well… we have two people on again…
Pena > Pratt
Pena has done very well lately!
Andruw’s on deck.. oh wait.
grrrrrrrr
LaRoche!!!
Fortunately for Adam LaRoche, Arizona has no left handed pitchers.
gotta give props to roach. that was a helluva ab.
Roachy!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOHOO!!!!
c’mon Bravos!
Pretty clutch AB there…
Let’s get some more.
more scores, please
Wait, Arizona has a left handed pitcher? When did this happen?
Pure genius not bringing him in to face LaRoche. And you think Bobby Cox is bad?
Marcus!
Go Marcus.
Man, this manager pissed away their lead. Awesome.
GILEY!!!!!!!11111111111111111
MARCUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YES YES YES YES YES
Their 2B & SS helped piss away the lead, too.
I would have to say Hudson and Counsell are the culprits here. They both could have had DPs each.
Giving up that many runs in one inning is a team effort, ububba.
Yeah, no doubt, but inning shoulda been over with zero runs if Hudson doesn’t kick that DP ball.
No matter, let’s not let this one get away.
Well, the Braves are still behind, and one run games have not been kind this year.
Jordan is in CF??? You gotta be kidding me.
Hey man, Jordan’s money. He has surprised the crap out of me this year.
Go back Oakland , Eric Byrnes. Argh
He looked like Willie Mays out there. Ok, I’m kidding this time.
Let’s get a pair here & bring in the Death Ray…
LMAO
Yeah, I was surprised at frist to see Jordan in Center rather than Frenchy, but I guess they need his cannon in Rigth rather than Center.
Giants & Mets go to extras. Bonds hasn’t yet played in Game 2…
Wait, did our CATCHER just try to bunt for a hit?
Does Pena’s swing remind you of Ichiro’s? It’s that left-handed, slasher swing that you don’t see much today.
Horrible Matt.
It is so incredibly stupid to make Diaz give a strike away by asking him to bunt.
I don’t care much about the little ball that they’re prattling about. I care that the Braves can’t do big ball well.
So, if it gets back to the pitcher’s spot in the Braves lineup next inning, is there anyone here who WOULDN’T pinch-hit HoRam instead of Pratt?
How about Jorge Sosa and his 2 HR this season?
It’s pretty stupid to try to bunt a guy into scoring position when Petey Orr is on deck.
SF used Bonds to PH in the 10th. He grounded out, and they’re off to the bottom half tied at 2.
Why not bunt with Orr there? He can’t hit, and he CAN bunt–at least, better than Diaz–so why not put him in scoring position for The WB?
Does anyone know what kinda wheels Pena has?
He runs very, very well for a catcher. Smoltz said when interviewed during a game about a week ago that he was about the third-fastest guy on the team.
How much are we paying Chipper again? That was terrible.
weak, Larry.
You can’t ask for much more than Chipper up with runners on.
Sigh.
NYM/SF go to the 11th…
A LaRoche-Pratt-Francoeur ninth does not inspire me. If we get closed out 3 games in a row by Jorge Julio, I’ll probably have to break my TV.
So, the Braves are overloaded at catcher (once McCann comes back) and on the left side of the infield. They’re really, really weak in the bullpen.
The situation just screams trade.
The man in the bowler hat speaks the truth.
I wondered why they never would give us any clips with McCann mic’d up… haha… he wouldn’t ever say anything! That was priceless!
Conor Jackson has spectacular eyebrows.
Ballgame…
OMG… did I just see that???
Can you believe that?
Damian Easley has 3 HR and 7 RBI. Is this one of the signs of the apocalypse?
He’s got our number.
Welcome to the rest of the bullpen, Ken Ray. I hate games like this.
In the immortal words of John McEnroe: You cannot be serious!
UGH!
Not if he’s a Christian…
This really stinks. Huge rally, get within one, and Damion freakin’ Easley puts it away.
That guy earlier said don’t be so negative and analyze the team.
Well, barring major unforseen changes, this team is no better than 3rd place in the East. This is the worst Braves team in 15 years.
Damion Easley did 7 RBIS(including 3 HOME RUNS) even though he is slender. Look, Closer is a laborious task.
Let’s just hope the Mets lose and the Braves don’t lose more ground.
Mets bases loaded nobody out in the 11th…
I may have spoken too soon . . . .
Suddenly 37 penguins land in Shea and the game is called off to be resumed later from the top of the 11th.
Floyd pops out to 3B, one away, bases still loaded.
Just jammed Cliff Floyd and got him to pop out.
Randy Winn throws like a girl.
I hate this
Mets win on a very short SF by Woodward. Terrible throw from RF allowed Millege to score.
Is it my imagination, or has LaRoche been hitting more balls to left?
Jorge, please Kolb this.
Thomson’s e.r.a. is ballooning like Mo Vaughn
Yay back to 500 and sucking ass again! Fire Pendleton and replace him with Tony Gwynn and gut the bullpen and we can get back to winning.
The possibility of a four game sweep isn’t really putting me in a good mood right now..
Do you realize that if our bullpen hadn’t allowed any runs we would have won this game by one run?
Scoring nine runs in a game should be enough to get the win, so I don’t think firing Pendleton is the answer. And the Braves cut down on strikeouts in the second game, which made a big difference. Like I said earlier, LaRoche seems to be hitting more to the opposite field, as are other players, and the Braves hitters, generally speaking, are doing better with two strikes, so I think Pendleton is making improvements, however slowly.
The problem is that the Braves can’t seem to put a balanced team on the field consistently. Some aspect of their game always seems to be missing.
The hitters have been up and down all season, with the exception of Renteria. Pendleton is the guy who is supposed to fix these things. So I disagree.
The aspect of winning seems to be missing
Remy,
I concur. It’s one thing or another. Very rarely have we seen a complete effort from all phases.
Need a big one from Sosa tomorrow.