Of course, the Braves are going to lose. But how?
This time, they will rally back from 7-0 down to 7-6 in the ninth inning. Adam LaRoche will hit an apparent game-winning two-out, two-run homer. However, when rounding second, pinch-runner Pete Orr will be devoured by a pack of wolves that will run onto the field. LaRoche will be called out for passing him and the game will end.
In last nightās recap thread, jenny asked the following poll question:
“Poll: Which is the bigger problem right now?
A) Offense
B) Pitching
You have to pick one or the other. No equivocating. Just for fun.”
The responses were mixed with most picking offense, so the excellent question inspired me to look.
Believe it or not, our W-L record is identical over the first 34 games (15-19 from April 3 – May 11) and the last 34 games (15-19 from May 12 ā June 16). Over the first 34 games our RS-RA record was 176-161, while it has been 157-193 the rest of the way. Thatās -19 RS and +32 RA in the last 34 games compared to the first.
We can debate what āright nowā means in the poll question. If we use a first 34 games v. second 34 games comparison, you could say itās both offense and pitching given that both have worsened significantly. But, since jennyās rule is no equivocating, Iād have to go with B) pitching. We’re giving up almost an extra run a game over the last 34 games. Ugh.
Well remember before this 3-15 stretch we’re currently on, we were 15-5 in our last 20 games.
The offense has had some problems here and there, but for the most part has been good enough to win games. The pitching though has been consistantly bad this year.
— Bravesfan1
I’m having problems today when i sign in here with Firefox.. Everything gets messed up.
Using I.E. now and everything is fine…anyone else having this prob??
I’m curious to know the last time the Braves had a stretch this bad. Was it 1988?
Firefox is running fine on my machine. Occasionally, the page will look scrambled, but then I refresh and everything’s okay. If that doesn’t work, try closing your browser and opening it again.
Good luck!
I’ve done it all…i’ve closed it, deleted cookies, cache..cleared the saved forms.. but still doesn’t help.
It’s only on this thread…all the other threads are fine. When I try to sign in to post on this threat..everything messes up, and I can’t see the comments, nor post.
Oh well..guess it’ll be I.E. for the rest of the afternoon.
Oh…nevermind. It’s suddenly ok again.
Mine’s working fine.
If anyone is on MLB.TV and getting screwed by FOX blackout rules because their televised game is something reginal (like here I’m getting the Yankees game), I can post instructions for a proxy server IP to get around it. Just let me know.
And I meant “regional.”
chipper sits betemit in batting 3rd and playing 3rd. lineup otherwise is same. giles, renty, betemit, druw, mccann, francoeur, laroche, diaz
I don’t think I remember what winning feels like anymore…
I was reading the Prospect Retro written by John Sickels on Russ Ortiz…I didn’t realize Ortiz started his career as a closer in his minor league career…
Bobby’s playing McCann??….heh,what’s wrong with him today
Jenny, many times i am screwed by MLB.TV please post instructions on how to get around that, MUCH THANKS !!
Today it’s Chippers turn to “rest” to keep Betemit’s bat in the lineup.
If you’re on Firefox, go to Tools, then Options, then Connection Settings. Click Manual Proxy and under HTTP type in 203.23.234.40, and it’s port 8080. Click OK all the way out, then go back to MLB.com and log in again. It may make your connection run a little slower, so if you get tired of that, you can turn it off once the picture is streaming. If you’re on IE, it should be pretty much the same but I think it’s under LAN settings or something like that.
That’s pretty kewl Jen..
Jenny, I tried that but it’s still giving me the :
“We’re sorry! Your data indicate that you are prevented from watching this game LIVE due to national live broadcast restrictions. During national TV broadcasts, fans in the US, Japan, US Virgin Isls, Guam and S. Korea are blacked out. These games are indicated on the schedule with a grey icon”
I didn’t think you could ever watch any FOX Saturday afternoon games because Fox puts a national blackout on them.
I’m from NM, so this means I should be able to do that to watch the Braves when they play the D-Backs and Rockies right ?? (for some reason they are blacked out here)
Either way, I really appreciate the help.
Ken Rosenthal just said on Fox that the Braves are trying to move Langerhans for a reliever
Rosenthal says a lot of things.
Hmm, not working for me today either. Odd. It worked last week. Oh, well.
No, actually, it just started working. Yay! Did you log out and log back in? Are you on IE or Firefox?
I am on Firefox … I’ll give it another shot
Yeah, restarted and everything. No dice. It’s still giving me the blackout message.
That didn’t take long.
oooo, this is going to be ugly.
Sorry, jj, I don’t know what it is. It’s working fine for me.
Nice, Jeff. Not.
Jenny, I changed my SOCK on my Connection settings to 4 instead of 5, I have no idea what that actually does, but it made it work !!! You are pure genious !!! It does make my connection go slower, but I don’t care, I can watch the game (even if I’m not sure that I can witness much more of Cormier as a starter). Thanks again !!!
Oh, that’s great. No problem.
No surprise that a pitcher with an ERA over 6 gives up a homer to the first AB
Can someone tell me why when I post a comment is says “pending moderation!!”
whew. 27 pitches
It isn’t good when your starting pitcher gives up a homer, 2 walks and a double in the 1st. It is like starting the first with the bullpen. And we all know how good the Braves bullpen is this year
how ’bout taking a pitch or two, marcus?
Wow, this thread is dead today.
What will be higher today..or hit total…or strike-out total?
I’ll go with the K’s…
Theo Epstein just called. He politely requested that we keep Josh Beckett under 70 pitches for the game so he doesn’t get any blisters. Sure thing, Theo. Lookin’ good so far.
I think watching this team play the last 3 weeks has drained our collective hearts and minds..
Hmm, too sad to chat while watching. Enjoy, all.
I made a bet last night that the US World Cup team would outscore the Braves today.
It’s looking good…
Yeah, besides there must be a Royals game on.
Omar Minaya just called..he thanks us for starting Cormier today..
I would watch the Royals play, but I think seeing a real offense could over stimulate me.
I used to work at a sportsbook here.. (it’s legal down here)…and I used to sit with the linesmen and help them out with the lines..
Well, I can imagine how much money there must be on the Sox today..
Sad.. š
Nice.
Theo Epstein just called and said that he felt the need to make a donation to the old timers league.
30-132, here we come. There is no life in this team.
Brad, only way that happens is if this team scores -1 run. Of course, if it can be done, we’ll do it.
Cormier’s giving up runs?? How unprecedented! Can’t get the game on MLB.TV and watching us lose on Gameday would be really depressing. Have a nice Saturday everyone.
Rob, I would suggest that you try the proxy IP, but I’m not sure there’s any point. Enjoy your afternoon.
I’ll be tuning in in about 50 minutes to watch the U.S. play..
But those Italians are tough..I follow Italian football for years now and it’s the toughest in the world..
Ah well..it’s better than watching Beckett work on his no-hitter..
Another first pitch popup.
Maybe time for Pendleton to go.
Of course, as soon as I typed that, I realized the matchup.
Beckett vs. Laroche is about as unfair as it gets.
Lucky for the Braves that Varitek slipped on LaRoche’s bat.
Lou Pinella’s voice is almost as irritating as watching our hitters approach at the plate. Almost.
Why? The only difference it made is that it took another five pitches to get LaRoche out.
Easy there, Diaz. Keep getting on base and Bobby will have you batting 9th soon.
Not that I want to hijack this thread, but the Italian league is not tough, just extremely corrupt. The English and Spanish leagues have been much stronger in recent years …
… God, please help us. This game is depressing – loss 6
Well..I’m watching the Yanks and the Nationals now..and McCarver is sounding like a cross between Ron Gant and Joe Morgan.
Aahh…they pay these guys for this sh*t??
He BUNTED at that pitch? WTF?
I know they’re corrupt John.. they’re as corrupt as Barry Bonds hitting a Hr. of Jason Grimsley in Coors Field..
I just meant that the players play dirty. In England and Spain the quality is much higher..
Anyways..I guess it’s too mcuh to ask of your “pitcher” to lay down a decent bunt..that would mean actually having a runner in scoring position
I don’t know anything much about soccer, except that it’s incredibly boring, but I have heard that the last two Italian championship seasons have been out-and-out bought. Not “Yankees” bought, but “Black Sox” bought.
I was kinda hoping for the perfect game. I mean, we’re not going to win anyway, why not lose in style? Well, we can still get no-hit.
That was a waste. Beckett was starting to lose it and we bailed him out.
And Lou Piniella talks kind of like my dad, the difference being that my dad usually has something intelligent to say.
Each to his own, Mac.
Anyway, this game is the only game of the year when I will be glad to see the bullpen. Except when Sosa is pitching, myabe
We are officially Josh Beckett’s bitch.
Embarrassing. Why do we subject ourselves to this?
A double to Alex Gonzalez and an RBI to Josh Beckett. Just wow.
This is JS at work, calling up a guy who couldn’t get AAA batters out. Good plan, John. Hope you like seeing 75% of the stadium wearing the opposing teams’ stuff.
This is bush leaugue
Fox announcers now explaining how Cormier also can’t pitch against AAA Pawtucket Red Sox, either.
3 Red Sox hitters don’t have hits yet…Cormier should do something about that
There’s the only run of the game for us.
Yay. We scored thanks to a balk. Nice offense.
Yay for Remlinger!
The one spot you absolutely don’t throw to Ortiz, he throws it there. Nice, Remmy.
That pitch to Ortiz from Remlinger must have been Chipper’s fault too.
Remlinger is off tha shizzain
Took some prozac, zoloft, and paxil and thought I’d log back on to see whether the thread had picked up some life. Glad to see it has. I note that both Braves pitchers have given up gopher balls to the first hitter they faced.
Well then…on to U.S.A – Italy..
What does the # of runs you give up matter when you only score 1?
It matters if you don’t give up any.
well when’s the last time that happened?
April..
May 1 v. Colorado (2-0).
I take back what I said earlier…Beckett vs. Pete Orr is the worst possible matchup I can imagine.
Ok, Jeff, thanks. You missed my sarcasm, apparently.
Nope.
You missed mine.
Aah..this is classic. The U.S have a player called Steve Cherundolo. Now, dolo, in our language here means…penis (forgive my language)
The local announcers are having a very difficult time saying his name… it’s priceless..
Atleast that brought a smile to my face..
Come on Edgar!
Renteria tying the game here would be hilarious.
Come on Edgahhhh!
WAHOOOO!!!!
Nice
Walks can be exciting.
Thank god we have one player on the team that knows how to take a walk
Wow..Beckett must have the over on the game..
Come on Wilson!!
Terrible AB, wilson. Why’s he in for chipper and not giles??
poop
Chipper has a bruised thumb or something.
Yeah, the way Beckett has been pitching this inning, you shouldn’t have even swung..
yet alone that swing
Druw’s going yard..
Andruw can’t hit fastballs anymore, game over.
wonderful.
ugh..
I officially declare this season over. We will be lucky to finish higher than last if we keep this up.
I beat you to that a long time ago, Lando.
I don’t think you can use “salvo” like that, but I could be wrong.
Italy takes the lead..1-0
Will we ever win again? I mean we could go with out winning another game
@ Davey.
It’s over. The USA has never won when the opponent scores first, they’re not about to start now.
Heh..the U.S scores…1-1
Braves still striking out
Holy crap..McBride got an elbow to the face…he’s bleeding badly..and the Italian schmuck got a red card..
The U.S. has a chance actually… unlike the Braves..
Holy hell!!! There’s a real surprise!!
McBride bleeding everywhere. Gross. Hope he’s okay. F*** Italy.
McBride’s fine, which is good.
He seems to have a knack for nasty-looking injuries. Remember 1998 when he got kicked in the head and there was blood everywhere and he came back in with this bandage/turban thing on? Wacky.
Look at the other McBride slinging strikes. Very nice.
Nope, don’t remember that one.
I remember something like that…
Diaz just struck out against a guy called Delcarmen… it’s hopeless..
BS red card. At this rate there’ll be 4 players on the pitch at the end.
And Delcarmen is not exactly a scrub.
First half done. Tied 1-1, which is better than nothing.
Excuse me..I’m not really familiar with him..
I just saw an E.R.A over 5 and made an assesment..my bad..
No, I didn’t mean to get on you. He was pitching like a scrub. But he’s a pretty good prospect.
And as usual. Scoring opportunity for naught.
Off Julian Tavarez, no less.
Now i remember why I hate Tavarez so much
Lou Pinella on Gabe Kapler:
“He’s a good looking guy.”
Okie dokey, Lou.
Have you seen the picture of him in the leopard-print thong? At least I think it’s him. I hope that’s not what Lou’s using to judge.
Well, after seeing
craterfaceTavarez, anyone looks goodFortunately I haven’t.
I expected more from Lou. He makes Torborg seem competent.
Yes, looks as if Batshit picks his zits with an ice pick.
Davey,
Su apodo es “cara de piƱa.”
Red card for Eddie Pope…momentum takes a stroll back to Italy’s side.
hahahaha @ Remy..
Davey, that red card was bull shit, much like LaRoche
Those are true words Smitty…
That looked like a good goal to me…McBride was offside..but he wasn’t interfering with the play..
Ah well..
Told myself I wouldn’t even follow the game today, but the fact we’re within two runs gives me some hope.
Come on, Ray…
What sort of disaster happened today, guys?
Well…bases loaded 1 out..we get no runs.. more guys left on base..
Betemit and McCann both 0-4..
Beckett had a hit, a rbi..a walk…
That’s just part of the story..
Yikes. Beckett as in the pitcher?
Diaz against Papelbon in the bottom of the ninth…deja vu.
I can’t even imagine how the Chowder Heads say his name. PAH-pel-BAHN.
Yes..he had more hits then Renteria, Betemit, McCann, Francouer and LaDouche combined
Yes, Rob, as in Josh Beckett.
Well that makes sense. He has lots of opportunities to hit in the American League.
Oh well. I’ll probably see most of you tomorrow. Let’s hope it’s more promising.
Hey how did Stockman look today?
1 ip..2k’s…1bb..0 runs..
ahwell…we only lost by 2..
Not how did he do….how did he look?