ESPN.com – MLB – Box Score – Braves at Red Sox
I was thinking about going with “Falcons 14, Patriots 0”, but let’s be realistic.
The Braves bounced back mightily with a win that was if anything more convincing than the loss in the first game. Chipper gave them a 1-0 lead in the first with a homer over that big wall in left field (it’s kinda like the one in Florida, but green; does anyone know if it has a nickname?), setting the tone for much to come. Smoltz had a little bit of trouble in the bottom of the inning, allowing a double and a walk and throwing a wild pitch, but got out of it and was never seriously in trouble again.
Diaz made it 2-0 by doubling in Thorman in the second, and 3-0 with a solo homer over the big wall in the fourth; actually, before the seats were added out there I think it would have made the street. Harris came in to make it 4-0 when KJ doubled over Manny’s head. The Sox pulled their rookie starter after that inning and the floodgates opened. Well, it was raining the whole time. The figurative floodgates.
McCann doubled with one out in the fifth, then barely scored on a double by Francoeur. (It was clearly a double; Jeff’s just that much faster than Brian.) He went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a groundout by Thorman to make it 6-0. KJ hit a two-run homer in the sixth to make it 8-0. In the seventh, Saltalamacchia doubled in a run to make it 9-0, then KJ hit a two-run triple. They added three runs in the ninth largely on sloppy defense. The only sour note was that KJ missed the cycle by the single. Albert Hall lives!
Smoltz went seven, striking out seven and allowing just three hits; after walking Ortiz in the first he didn’t walk another. Villarreal and Moylan pitched perfect innings to finish… Renteria was the only hitless Brave on the night, and the only one not to score a run, the team combining for 18 hits, twelve for extra bases. McCann had three doubles.
Andruw was to hit sixth in this game, McCann and Francoeur both shifting up one, but was scratched citing a sore back. Some were suspicious that he was sulking but that doesn’t seem like Andruw and frankly watching the swings he’s been taking recently hurts my back. Harris shifted to center, Diaz to left, and Saltalamacchia DHed. Incredibly, Bobby did not put Jarrod in defensively and lose the DH, a tradition in these series.
Smoltz is definitely the man. I’d take him any day over Clemens & his $500,000,000 contract.
Fo sho. What a sweet, sweet thumpin’.
Albert Hall lives!
Nicely done.
Switching the starting pitchers around to have two good games would have been nice.
Apparently Lerew’s elbow is bothering him and has been for before he was even called up. If Lerew goes on the DL, which they are saying he might, Redman will get more starts. They are saying now that Redman might pitch next Saturday’s game. Of course, the game I’m going to, of all people Redman is projected to pitch. I’d rather see the bat boy pitch for us than Redman.
But if Lerew doesn’t go to the DL, Redman might be released. Maybe we can celebrate with the rest of the team when that happens?
From Braves Notes.
yeah, Mac, I’m not superstitious either but…I’d stick with the ESPN Box scores for awhile
im just stumped as to why redman is repeatedly given shots? can anyone answer that?
He must have The Pictures.
Elsewhere in baseball, HoRo is getting the better of Maddux tonight.
I think that one of the reasons Lerew was called up was because they thought he would last longer than other options in the minors. If he was concealing an injury, some people will be pretty angry with him. The mlb article makes it sound like he was, but I would be surprised if that was the case. I wouldn’t be surprised however for him to be DL’d. The same goes for Paronto.
If that’s the case, we’ll probably have to endure Redman for at least one more lousy start. I have a strong suspicion that Redman will be gone within two weeks – enough time for either Cormier to get off the DL or Harrison or Dan Smith to be called up.
Joey Devine, Startup or Stockman will probably replace Paronto if he’s DL’d. I’m hoping that we’ll keep Rheal Cormier in the minors for a while, but don’t be shocked if he’s called up. Let’s just hope the Redman train to nowhere is stopped soon!
I keep asking myself the same thing. Apparently Bobby has no clue why either. He said he saw what he usually see from Redman. That’s a new one Bobby and very unencouraging.
“Lance Cormier gave up four runs and four hits in three innings in his rehab start Saturday for Class AA Mississippi, including a home run by Tennessee Smokies pitcher Mark Holliman.
He retired the side in order in the first and third innings, but in the second gave up a double, two singles and the homer. Cormier had two strikeouts and no walks and threw 38 pitches. He’s scheduled to make two more rehab starts.” – From AJC.
Please get better and fast Cormier and save us from seeing Redman again.
It’s funny. People who were saying that Redman would give us what Mike Hampton would’ve given us didn’t know how right they were.
#199 for Smoltz. Sure would be nice to see his 200th win at Turner Field against the Mets.
Also:
“Adam LaRoche continues his resurgence, as he is hitting .357 in his last 13 games after batting just .132 in his first 26.”
Go LaRoche.
I think even Hampton could do better than Redman even while injured.
Why should we think Cormier will do better than Redman and Lerew?
I don’t think Lerew is hiding an injury. He said he has skipped throwing between starts in the minor, so the organization should have known the injury. I think the Braves are just hiding the injury from the media.
I don’t think Lerew was hiding an injury either. However, if the Braves knew his elbow was tender and they needed someone to give them at least 6 strong innings per start to save the wear on their bullpen, why call up Lerew?
td, I don’t think there is another option down at Richmond. Would you like to see Buddy Carlyle, Jonathan Johnson, Trey Hodges, or Kevin Barry getting a start?
I am pretty sure they were working McBride back as a starter, but the “injury” of Gonzo ruined the plan.
I refuse to pin my hopes–even any relative hopefulness–on Lance Cormier, on the basis of one great ST.
Will Startup?
I’m just saying that Cormier can’t be any worse than Redman.
Leah, I don’t think that’s a safe assumption…
Right now, that’s true. I hate to say it, but it’s true. Smoltz and Huddy are about the only reliable and consistent starters we have.
I hate to say it, but I think Salty is with the team right now to increase his trade value. I will not be surprised if Salty will be traded for a good, younger, a year or two away from FA starter before the trading deadline.
That’s easy to say — but who? It’s not like good starters grow on trees, and most of them are on good teams, which is not a coincidence. There are only a couple of top starters on teams that are out of it — Willis in Florida, Harang and Arroyo in Cincinnati — and those guys are very unlikely to be traded.
Someone mentioned that the Braves should trade for Matt Belisle. I agree, and I think that they should send Kent Mercker to the Reds in exchange. Yes, I’m still a little bitter about that trade.
I don’t think Belisle would have gotten a chance with the Braves. I have a feeling that Belisle would have been treated like Kevin Barry. Of course, maybe I am wrong.
My gut feeling is to trade for someone similar to Harden. I am not sure if he is available anymore, and I am not sure if the Braves want to take an injury risk like him. However, Harden is the pitcher I had in mind when I wrote the last message.
“I hate to say it, but I think Salty is with the team right now to increase his trade value. I will not be surprised if Salty will be traded for a good, younger, a year or two away from FA starter before the trading deadline.”
That sounds more like your wishful thinking.
What about Odalis Perez? I mentioned him earlier. The Royals are allegedly shopping him around. He’s pitching much better than his ERA indicates — he has a 4.19 FIP, which is better than any starter on our staff not named Smoltz or Hudson.
From what I recall he didn’t leave on bad terms and even expressed an interest in returning.
I think that we will see either Hodges, Barry or Carlyle. I have been heartened that Jonathan Johnson has been hit hard recently–but otherwise he would be on the list. Anyone of these pitchers would be better than Redman (and possibly Lerew), but then that is a pretty low threshold…
I’ve been thinking that Saltalamacchia would be traded to.
Traded to whom?
Sorry, couldn’t resist.
Lance Cormier got hit pretty decently last night:
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_05_19_tenaax_msbaax_1
I wish I know who is available!!! I guess JS is waiting for trade opportunity to come up in July while building up Salty’s trade value at the same time. Is it my wishful thinking? Honestly, I personally would love to see the Braves keeping Salty, but the team obviously needs one more professional starting pitcher to compete. Belisle?! I don’t think he will come cheap either…
I don’t think Salty will be traded. What’s the point for giving a top prospect away just to make a run this year? It’s the kind of trade you could regret for years. I hope they don’t do it just to make the playoffs this year unless it is someone like Willis. And, other than him, as Mac says, there really is no one out there. Unfortunately, the Braves are doing a much better job producing position players than pitchers. So far, we have seen Davies, James, and Lerew come through the system and none of them exactly seem to be the answer. I still think Davies could become a good pitcher and James could be ok at the back end of the rotation. It’s May–they shouldn’t be making rash trades this early when they are still in pretty good shape.
I only trade Salty for a long term fix as well. Dont reach for a trade with a hitter who has a strong upside for a .500 pitcher with a 4.75 era, not worth it. If you are going to send him out, package him for a true starter, a #3 at the least and then move James to 4.
No matter how we look at it we need one more real starting pitcher and we will have to pay for him, fairly steeply, so Salty will be gone, just a matter of when.
Mac,
Why has Andruw given you ANY evidence EVER that he wouldn’t be the sulking type? He seems EXACTLY the type to sit & sulk.