ESPN.com – MLB – Box Score – Nationals at Braves
Smoltz was dominant, the offense was explosive, and Francoeur was stupid, all things that happen about every fifth day, except for the last which is more of an ongoing process. Smoltz went eight, took a perfect game to the fifth, and allowed just three baserunners — oddly, all on doubles. The one run he allowed came in the seventh on a sac fly after a leadoff double. He struck out seven and needed only 95 pitches. Wickman allowed t he Natspos’ only single in the ninth but was otherwise unscathed in getting the Atlanta Save.
Pedro Astacio, who dominated the Braves in Washington, had nothing, and was jumped on for four runs in the first. McCann drove in Marcus and Chipper with a bases-loaded double, Francoeur singled home Andruw, and McCann scored on a sac fly on which Francoeur attempted to go to third with two out and the pitcher due up next. He was out. I suppose he could have been running to draw the throw and make sure McCann would score, but he might just have been being dumb.
The Braves loaded the bases again with two out in the second but couldn’t get anything, then chased Astacio with two in the third. The offense went into hibernation mode after Marcus (who seems to like the leadoff spot well enough now) doubled home Langerhans in the fifth. But in the ninth, Robinson brought in our old friend Kevin Gryboski. Chipper hit a two-run homer, and LaRoche doubled home Andruw to make it 10-1.
The Braves drew eight walks in the game and scored at least four runs off them (Andruw and Langerhans were hitless but drew five walks between them, and scored four runs). Marcus had three hits. L’il Tony came in for Renteria in the middle innings and Edgar could be nicked up or something. Francoeur’s other Really Stupid Moment came when he ran into Nick Johnson in the sixth when Johnson was trying to catch his popup. It worked out okay since he would have been out anyway (he was called out for interference) and Johnson left the game. It was still stupid and he should look where he’s going. Someone should give him and Diaz a class in that.
1st post again. Sweet!
Good game today, had offense and defense going at the same time (Gasp).
Too bad this isn’t May or I’d like our chances.
I’m starting to wonder how’ll Smoltz will do in the NL Cy Young voting, maybe third behind Brandon Webb and Carlos Zambrano? Maybe better if he keeps it up? Who knows.
1988 Update:
Los Angeles Dodgers 94-67 (-)
Cincinnati Reds 87-74 (7.0 GB)
San Diego Padres 83-78 (11 GB)
San Francisco Giants 83-79 (11.5 GB)
Houston Astros 82-80 (12.5 GB)
Atlanta Braves 54-106 (39.5 GB)
Game for August 26, 1988:
Chicago Cubs: 000 000 000 LP: Sutcliffe (10-11)
Atlanta Braves: 002 020 00X WP: Smith (7-12)
Complete game 5-hit shutout for Pete Smith for his seventh win. Out of his seven wins, five came via complete game shut-out.
1988 Update. Hahahahahaa.
Georgia beating Oregon in the little league world series on ABC. I really hope Georgia, a state I have lived in my whole life, wins.
I like the ancient updates, but I do want to point out I would have signifigantly more interest in a 1988 update. Keep em comin.
I would rate the Cy race as follows: 1) Webb 2) Carpenter 3) Zambrano 4) Smoltz and if the bullpen wouldn’t suck as bad as it does, Smoltz would have legimate shot at 20 W’s. Too bad
Georgia wins and I think, someone correct me if I’m wrong, will represent America now in the series. They’re the American champions.
You are correct, Dan. They play the international champions, who will be either Japan or Mexico I believe, for the world championship.
From the upper deck behind home plate, it looked like Francoeur ran into Nick Johnson on purpose.
I would rate the Cy race as follows: 1) Webb 2) Carpenter 3) Zambrano 4) Smoltz
I agree, though I might put Arroyo in a 4th place tie w/ Smoltz. Smoltzie has a real chance to pull it out — there aren’t any truly dominant pitchers this year. Clemens, amazingly, is still the best in the league.
But Smoltz leads the league in IP, second in Ks (4 behind Zambrano), and leads the league in K/BB ratio (edging Capuano after today). Our playoff chances being nil, we’re down to pulling for individual accomplishments. Here, in approximate descending order of coolness, are some of them:
1) Smoltz for Cy Young
2) Batting title for McCann
3) Batting title for Chipper
4) 30 HR for LaRoche
5) 100 RBI/517 outs for Francoeur (which would break the record for most outs in a 100 RBI season (Soriano, 2002))
Arroyo? Why? He’s got a higher ERA than Smoltz, less wins, and has been certifiably mediocre the second half.
One could point out that Josh Johnson is 11-6 and the current ERA leader. I would probably vote:
Zambrano
Webb
Carpenter
Smoltz
Harang
Right now. But things will shake out, and if Smoltz keeps pitching like this he’ll certainly be in the discussion. Also, there’s a good chance that we’re going to set some sort of record for lowest win total by a win leader in a non-strike season. Nobody’s going to win 20 and only Zambrano and Webb have a chance at 18. 18 is the lowest win total by an NL leader in a full season, by Sutcliffe in 1987.
“18 is the lowest win total by an NL leader in a full season, by Sutcliffe in 1987.”
Kind of ironic that he’s in today’s 1988 update too, as the losing pitcher.
As I wrote in #3, my personal list would be Webb, Zambrano and Smoltz. If I went to five I’d go with Carpenter and, maybe, um….there doesn’t seem to be a really deserving #5.
Columbus plays some REALLY good baseball, esp for their population. They don’t have half the numbers or money that East Cobb does and theyre still just as good.
The #1 HS team in the country this year (Seale Co, AL) was half cherrypicked from Columbus HSs.
Wasnt that the first inning Francouer has taken off this year?
How about Smoltz for MVP?
“100 RBI/517 outs for Francouer”
That would be cool for you?
I found this…
Per Rotoworld:
Alex Escobar has a dislocated shoulder as a result of his dive back into first base tonight and is likely out for the season.
How hard was his dive? Or maybe it was a pick-off take-out slide.
Na… he got too far off the bag and Jeff caught the ball and threw it in… when he dove back his lower body sorta rolled funny …he didn’t like roll over… his arm didn’t give… his arm was pushing off the bag and his lower body the other direction… hard to explain… it jammed it funny …you could see it in the replays pop out
@
@
(whoopsie)
@16
Nope, he was “benched” after that three-pitch, bases-loaded K against Francisco Cordero.
Is it true this will be TBS last year broadcasting Braves’ games?
Frenchy might miss tomorrow’s finale.
Good.
This is from AJC:
The Braves got a scare in the sixth inning when Jeff Francoeur hit a pop-up and collided with first baseman Nick Johnson as he moved beneath it on the baseline.
“I looked down after I popped it up, and next thing I look up and we were on a collision course,” said Francoeur, who left the game an inning later with sore ribs. “I tried to get out of his way then, but we were too close.”
Cox said Francoeur would probably miss Sunday’s series finale, although Francoeur was more optimistic.
“I’m going to try to play,” said Francoeur, the only Brave who’s started every game this season. “We need to take the series, and I want to play.”
Francoeur, a former high school All-America defensive back at Parkview, said he didn’t see Johnson until it was too late. Francoeur was out on player interference.
He called and spoke with Johnson in the Nationals clubhouse to make sure the 230-pound first baseman was OK. Johnson had a cervical strain and was listed as day-to-day.
We still have next season Petros. After 2007 it stops
Has anyone heard about this
http://www.ajc.com/braves/content/sports/braves/stories/0827minors.html
Yea… I read that the other day…
it seems like all the guys keep getting hurt lately
yep
So the Braves whip the Nats, and the Patriots just annihilated the Redskins. I figured out my schedule for this year, and the GA Little Leaguers are the US champs. Yup, it’s been a good day.
“100 RBI/517 outs for Francouer”
That would be cool for you?
Hey, it’s last on the list of descending coolness. But yeah, a freakishly weird player should have a freakishly weird record.
Arroyo? Why? He’s got a higher ERA than Smoltz, less wins, and has been certifiably mediocre the second half.
All true, although their ERAs were a wash before today. He gets a few extra points from me for pitching half his games in a pinball machine. My original post was written before Arroyo got beat up a little bit, so if they were even before today, then Smoltz would now be ahead.
Josh Johnson has been very good, but the other pitchers in the discussion have thrown +- 50 more innings.
see everyone at tomorrows game.
@30
Ka’aihue’s out for the season? Damn. I had the pleasure of seeing two of his homers this year in Greenville. That boy has some pop.
Thanks for 1988 update–it was also Smoltz’s first year (I am proud to say that I witnessed his debut at Shea 18 years ago) in the majors.
Clearly a photo finish is in the offing for the Cy Young and a fine finish by Smoltz would go along way to salvaging the season.
With respect to the batting title will McCann have enough at bats to qualify?
It speaks volumes about our bullpen (and the injuries which the Braves have experienced) to have Smoltz in contention for Cy Young, Chipper and McCann competing for a batting title, LaRoche and Francoeur having productive years, and the playoffs (including the Wild Card) are nowhere in sight.
The Francoeur play was so comical that I even go to see it in the UAE
All baseball writers care about are wins, so whoever leads the league in wins will most likely get the most votes for Cy Young. Add an extra bonus for being on a winning/playoff team. Figure Carpenter to repeat as Cy Young.
If Cox goes with the same usage pattern that he has since the beginning of July, McCann would be right on the number needed (502). However, if he’s just short on PAs but happens to have the highest BA, they will add whatever number of hitless PAs necessary to bring him up to 502. If he’s still leading, he’s the batting champ. Tony Gwynn won over Ellis Burks in ’96 via this method.
Jeff was looking where he was going, he saw Johnson, he kept running.
Jeff’s new nickname is both Forrest and Gump.