ESPN.com – MLB – Box Score – Padres at Braves
Not only did we have the same score as last night, it followed pretty much the same script, albeit with a couple of grizzled veterans instead of rookies in the leading roles. Smoltz was strong; Maddux was stronger. Like old times, albeit with Greg in the wrong uniform. Smoltz allowed solo homers in the second and third innings, plus five other hits, but didn’t walk anyone and struck out seven. Maddux, meanwhile, had pretty much shut down the Braves into the fifth, when the team of Woodward (playing shortstop and hitting eighth again) and Harris (in the 2-spot) struck to cut the lead to 2-1.
Andruw reached in the sixth on an “infield single” that was pretty clearly an error by Maddux, who apparently took his eye off the ball. You win all those Gold Gloves, I guess they’re reluctant to charge an error. Andruw stole second (Greg still doesn’t hold runners) and went to third on a groundout, at which point Maddux was pulled, apparently by his own choice, having thrown only 72 pitches. He got a standing ovation.
Cla (Y Not?) Meredith came in and got Francoeur on the first pitch and Thorman on the second to end the inning, then stayed in the game. He got the first two, Woodward and the pinch-“hitter” Orr. But KJ pulled a single past Marcus, and Harris did the same, then Chipper hit a ground-rule double to score KJ and tie the game. (There was some grumbling that Harris would have scored had the ball bounced over, but I like the rule; let’s not give the umpires any judgment calls we can avoid.) Then Joe Simpson had a religious experience when Andruw singled to dead right field to score Harris, though Chipper had to be held up because the ball was right at the right fielder.
From then on, it was the Automatic Lefty (foulout, strikeout, 1-3 groundout) and the Automatic Righty (strikeout, foulout, strikeout), Braves win.
Another great comeback win. As Matt B said yesterday, 21-12 is certainly better!
Matt B Says:
May 9th, 2007 at 9:12 am
20-12, not bad at all.
21-12, even better!
I mean earlier today…yesterday’s thread.
Both games clocked in at 2:13.
it’s nice to be on the winning side of one run games so far this year
21-12.
Hmmm, is tomorrow’s video theme obvious? Or am I just showing my age?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jm08ZO9fZqw
http://auburn.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2347429144
Facebook now has a Willie Harris fan club group thingy.
I don’t understand why he’s Cla Meredith and not Clay Meredith. It’s so weird. But great win. I love the grittiness this team shows….the team feels special.
I am not a Rush person.
Can we give Harris some love now?
Mac,
Neither am I. I told you my Geddy Lee story. I’m in favor of Rush ridicule.
But 21-12 is worth celebrating somehow.
I want this video for Skip Caray. It’s probably cheesy and it might have been done already but whatever…
Actually, I set up the game thread for tomorrow right after tonight’s game.
I like Harris and there is no reason to not pull for the guy
what about one for KJ…
I was saving that for Andruw.
fair enough
Wait, Ububba, what’s your Geddy Lee story?
Why was Thorman ruled out in the eighth? Did he not make contact with the ball? If it’s over the catcher’s head (and it was), it’s a dropped foul pop, still strike two. If it’s not, it’s a dropped foul tip, still strike two.
Maybe it hit the glove and took that odd angle. Only way it could have been a dropped third strike, throw to first, unless maybe some kind of interference was called. Still looked like contact to me…
It’s No. 3.
http://www.braves.net/bravesjournal/?p=2226
Sweet game tonight. Turner Field was electric. Nice standing ovations for Maddux. The 8th and 9th innings are so much easier to watch this year.
One thing I want to point out. My favorite moment from the game (not counting the win, of course). After the game, when the pitchers ran from the bullpen to the dugout, Bob Wickman stopped to shake every security guard’s hand. He is an absolute stand-up guy.
Now, dare I ask for 22-12?
I joined the Willie Harris group, but I have every intention of leaving it when he no longer is the “spark plug” of the Atlanta Braves. It’s inevitable that he’ll go down to being a league average left fielder, which I suppose will be better than Langerhans.
Speaking of Langerhans, he’s 2-7 with a double for Washington.
I’d forgotten that story, ububba. What a hoot.
I’ve never been a big Rush fan, at all, but I gotta fess up to not totally cringing at their new single. Certainly not the worst thing I’ve heard this week. How’s that for a left-handed compliment? Amazing what you stumble across on Canadian music blogs…
Every day that Willie produces from this point on is gravy. I hope he keeps it up forever.
If Smoltz wins his next game against the Nats, then his first crack at 200 wins would come against Boston at Fenway. That would be pretty cool.
I’m hyped for the series at Fenway.
Oh well. I get to see my first game this year at PNC on Saturday, hopefully watching the bats come back to life against the Pirates.
If there’s a team to play to get your swing back, it should be the Pirates.
Thankfully, Ohioans have a few chances a year to catch the Braves. Especially with the Cleveland interleague series coming up in June.
I’ll be catching a rematch of the ’95 series on Saturday, June 16th as well.
I’m interested to see who the Braves will DH.
How does everybody feel about interleague play?
I’m agin it.
It sure is nice having an automatic anything.
But KJ pulled a single past Marcus, and Harris did the same,
Then Chipper hit a ground-rule double to score KJ and tie the game!
Mac;
You’re channelling “Casey At the Bat” again!
Matt B.;
You go right on predicting, brother.
GO Braves!
Hate interleague play. Hate the unbalanced schedule more.
Dang, I should look at the schedule closer. Braves at Cleveland huh? At least I should be able to watch on TV.
I absolutely love interleague play. It should’ve been put in place 50 years ago. Heck, I like it so much that I think the 94 strike was worth it (well, almost) just so MLB would finally put it in place.
This year we get a chance to play the Sawx, Twins, & Tigers; I can’t wait to watch those games. Maybe we can get a little revenge for ’91.
I don’t like interleague play. I feel it waters down the World Series. It used to be that not only had the World Series teams not played each other, but they had never played any teams who played any teams who played each other. There was no point of reference, and no way to judge one league against the other. It also makes the All Star game kind of pointless.
I do, however, like the wild card. I was against that at first, as I loved pennant races (especially the Last Great Pennant Race against the Giants), but it’s won me over.
I love our pair of closers, too. Great stuff.
I’m not convinced about the Wild Card. It’s neat that it makes things fun at the end of the season. But I really don’t like the best-of-5 division series. And I generally don’t like anything that leads to a playoff format in which the 2006 St. Louis Cards or 2005 Houston Astros can ever win anything, let alone any team named the Marlins.
I’m against the wild card, interleague play, unbalanced schedule, and don’t even get me started on the all star game actually meaning something…
The wild card is one of the best things Selig ever did. In fact it may be the only thing he ever did.
I also like Interleague play. I’m not sure how much it really waters down the World Series. To me the NBA finals and SuperBowl don’t get watered down because the teams have played in the regular season. I also love seeing the Braves play the Red Sox or the Yanks.
The All Star game “meaning something” is one of Bud’s worst ideas ever. Totally a piece of crap!!! All Star games don’t have any meaning and that is an O.K. thing.
After going to the game last night and seeing Andruw hit his second consecutive game winning RBI single to right field, I’ve stopped feeling so bad about missing Halley’s Comet in ’86.
Great game to win. At the exact moment that Thorman didn’t run on that 3rd strike, my friend and I were blasting Laroche. Its like we cursed Thorman into having a Larochean moment. However, he checked his swing and the Ump took forever to make the strike call. If the Ump had been quick with the call he would have advanced to first.
I’m not a fan of the 5-card WC series, either.
However: here’s one interesting option that would keep the 8-team playoff format but still keep the regular season relevant:
http://baseballanalysts.com/archives/2006/10/replacing_the_w.php
I like the wild card too. I think we forget what it was like pre-wild card when hardly anyone made the postseason. The wild card makes for much better baseball come August & September when teams that were previously out of it under the old system still have a chance to play.
Two things:
1. In terms of hitting, Willie Harris isn’t even a league average shortstop (and has never been), much less a league average left fielder.
2. Terrible, terrible at bats by Francoeur and Thorman with a man on 3rd. Going down (weakly) on the first 2 pitches versus a young guy with a funky delivery (Meredith) who just came into the game, when they were down 1 run and there was a runner on 1st with 1 out. Even if they had gotten hits, that was a really bush league approach at the plate in that situation. This kind of poor discipline at the plate is a big reason the Braves have frequently struggled in the playoffs, helping pitchers out rather than making them throw strikes.
Above: “1st” –> “3rd”
The All Star Game! Yeah hate that thing too. I don’t even watch it anymore. Selig screwed that one up. I’m neutral on the 3 division with a wild card format. As long as they don’t go NHL/NBA on us and let everyone in the post season I’m ok with it.
Don’t get me started on the DH though.
I hate the 4hr home run derby more than anything. The 1st round is somewhat exciting, but thats it
I like interleague play a lot. It gives fans, like ones on here, chances to see their favorite teams when they otherwise wouldn’t. When the Braves play the D-Rays, I have an even better shot at seeing them play since I’m 2 hours away from Tampa, 6 from Atlanta.
I can’t say I like the unbalanced schedule, but I don’t hate it. I’m glad our team doesn’t have to fly out west anymore than they do now, and we still play those teams atleast 6 games.
Wild Card, heck yeah. Makes the playoffs more exciting. Gets more teams involved.
DH? Get rid of it. If you can’t play the field, get off the field.
All-Star Game meaning something? Even worse. Any team that had Mike Williams and his 6 ERA on it doesn’t deserve to impact anything in the WS.
Let me briefly change the subject to supply a link to good story on Hank Aaron and Mobile by George Will (no, I am getting political here):
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07127/783965-109.stm
For my 2 cents worth: I liked Interleague Play better than I thought I would, but the Wild Card is disaster because it has the effect of devaluing the significance of regular season play. Still, it hard keeps me from watching it…
I love this line….
Redmand 20IP 34H 24ER
Which two of the three are sent down when Cormier is ready. Davies, Redman, Lerew?
If Davies shows better control, 18BB in 26IP, he’ll probably stay
Redman is released and Cormier to the bullpen with Barry going back to AAA.
Of Course I just pulled that out of thin air as I have no inside sources…
Mac, Any comments on Lerew’s performance the other night? I was pleasantly surprised. I think he’s in the mix for a rotation slot, and has a good chance to stay with the club.