ESPN.com – MLB – Box Score – Braves at Brewers
What a depressing experience. Smoltz left with one out in the fourth with apparently minor injuries (reinjuring his pinky and possibly a muscle strain in his arm, reports differ) and the game tied 3-3. The Braves had led 3-0 after one, as Willie Harris of all people hit a two-run homer and Andruw singled home Renteria. But they couldn’t capitalize on other opportunities and Smoltz — who was off even before he left — let the Brewers tie it up.
The Vulture did a pretty good job as the first man out of the pen, but Moylan didn’t have it and wound up charged with two runs, one earned, on three hits. The second run — for the winning margin — occurred when McCann tried to catch a runner trying to steal second with a strikeout and threw it into center field, which is bad enough when there isn’t a runner on third base. There was this time. Just dumb.
McCann got one run back on a Thorman sac fly in the seventh, and should have gotten the second back in the ninth. He walked, Andruw (who was 3-5) grounded out with McCann getting to second. Bobby couldn’t run for the catcher because he’d used Saltalamacchia earlier, which cost him when Francoeur singled to center, a hit that probably scores Prado if he’s running. Then Thorman struck out, followed by Diaz, to end it. Bad baseball. The Braves had fifteen hits, and you have to score more than four runs when you’re getting a hit and two-thirds an inning.
What is this about Alex being a lunatic ?
he’s not, people just dont like his opinion. They’ll get over it
time to move Diaz or Salty to 1st
Suffered through both the Braves loss (which should have been a win) and Mets win (which should have been a loss) tonight. It’s a long season, it’s still relatively early, etc. etc. But I’m starting to think it might not happen for my Braves this year.
Starting to feel a lot like 2006 this month. Looking objectively, our pen is weak (aside from the closers), hitting is inconsistent and the starting pitching…well we all know how that is currently. A bad mix.
It’s time, in the off season, to start bringing in some free agents until the farm system catches up. Liberty Media should grant JS another 10 to 15 million to do so. I don’t see any other way out of this.
Anyway, another glum night, but at least we’re not the Astros.
or the Yanks
A very bad loss. I was feeling pretty good when we scored 3 in the 1st off Sheets. My feeling is that Smoltz will only miss a start at most. I really think he’s extremely cautious and knows when pitching with a minor injury can cause a major injury. I hope I’m right.
Harris looked good at 3rd and continues to hit like crazy. If Chipper is out tomorrow (I think he will be), an infield of Harris, Renteria, Johnson and Salty may be a good thing.
Memo to Scott Thorman: Getting pissed off after every AB doesn’t make you suck any less.
Didn’t get a chance to see the game tonight. Kind of glad, actually. I’m afraid to say this, but I think we’re probably playing for the wild card, at this point. Which is OK. I see no reason why we shouldn’t get it, especially if we can acquire a reputable third starter.
As it much as it pains me to say it, I’m afraid we’ve lost any reasonable chance of winning the division over the last five games.
I just cant believe how lucky the Mets have been. I mean come on 2 balks and a hr in the 12th. Sosa, Maine, and whoever else they put out there are overperforming. Oh well, cant worry about them. We have to start playing better. Huddy has only really had one bad outing this year, I dont count his last start. He was unlucky there. We need a strong outing from him tomorrow and a good update on Smoltz
Is this game enough evidence that one of our crappy extra infielders (pick one) needs to go so Pena can come up? If Pena was up, Bobby coulda pinch-ran for McCann and maybe that tying run scores in the ninth. It just hamstrings us so much to have this slugging switch-hitting bat off the bench, who happens to be our only real backup at C and 1B (I’m not counting Woodworthless as a backup 1B), and we’re danged if we use him and danged if we don’t. If you do use him, you can’t pinch-run later for B-Mac, or if B-Mac gets hurt you’re left with Diaz catching. If you don’t use him, you left a big bat languishing on the bench. Plus what team needs 3 utility infielders?
Obviously this is not the only problem facing the Braves right now, but this just strikes me as dumb and easily fixable, and I don’t understand it.
It’s a little early to say we’re out of the race…we’ve come back from 10 game margins after the All-Star Break before for crying out loud. Sulking about a slump in May is a little ridiculous.
That said, some changes definitely need to be made. JS knows it and I think he’ll come through for us. As Marc Bowman said, EVERYONE is looking for starting pitching.
And as CSG said, the likes of Sosa and Maine are overperforming and the likes of McCann and Andruw are UNDERperforming. It will even out.
And yes, Pena needs to be called up so Salty can play more or AT LEAST pinch hit without worrying about replacing McCann later in the game. Not having the pinch runner for McCann may have cost us, but it would have been one hell of a close play at the plate, even with a fast guy.
I’d like to think he had a joke, Justin.
We don’t need to agreed on everything, right?
There are some Alex on here. Alex is a common name to me, though ^.^ Ahem,, I’ve never met Alex….. But he is honest & passionate at heart. He seems to be pure on the board in my eyes. I like them, though.
I think it’s useless things if you lost your control at every words by yourself. Especially when you are in front of computer.
The pen is mightier than the sword.
He just can say his own opinion. I’m all ears. Cheer, Alex dear.
By the way, it’s awful game. I hope Smoltzie is OK.
Why all the hate for Thorman? The guy has started 65 games in the big leagues.
As for Salty being ready now, sure he’s off to a good start, but I seem to recall Frenchy kicking ass when he first came up, too.
And Alex R., lunatic or not, you’re okay in my book.
The Braves are only 5.0 games back with something like 110 games left. I think there is time. That said, they need to start winning more consistently and fast if they want to make a shot at the division or fend of a team like the Phillies (3.0GB of Braves) or Marlins (4.0GB of Braves) for the wildcard.
Thorman has to put the ball in play there. Sheesh.
Also, on Thorman: he was facing Cordero, who has 31 k’ in 21.0 IP with a .090 BAA and a 0.43 ERA. Thorman’s not the only guy having problems against him.
Thorman needs to cut down his swing with two strikes, no matter who he’s facing, that simply cannot be debated. The Braves didn’t need a 3 run HR there, just put the ball in play somewhere and see what happens.
Not being able to run for McCann cost the Braves the ability to tie the game, plain and simple. Anybody other than McCann there scores, sure the ball was hit hard, but Bill Hall isn’t throwing anybody out at the plate, in my opinion. I was thinking during the game that the next guy I see Bill Hall throw out at the plate will be the first and he has has two assists this year, for what that’s worth. Pena up for Prado needs to happen. We all know Bobby loves having three catchers, so why doesn’t he ??
I agree that we need a 3rd catcher in the worst way and Pena is probably our best option. Right now Salty is probably our #2 pinch hitter (behind Harris or Diaz, whoever doesn’t play), and using him or McCann early in the game causes problems. Unfortunately our bench is so weak that this is a must.
I’m all for freeing Yunel Escobar and bringing up Pena. Pena is hitting poorly in Richmond – small sample size – but our other catchers (Franco, Miller, Sammons, …) are really stinking it up. Wooward and Orr need to go and Harris needs to be played in the infield more.
One other thing from last night’s game. Except for one pitch, Carlyle looked good in relief. If he can keep from throwing homerun balls, he may be a good long relief option and we can give the Vulture a chance to start.
Thorman after a K reminds me of the Billy Beane as a player caricature from Moneyball.
Isn’t Diaz our emergency catcher? A 3rd catcher would be a waste of a roster spot. What we need is somebody off the bench who can actually hit unlike Orr and Woodward.
As long as Smoltz doesn’t miss starts due to last night’s injuries, the Braves still have time to make a playoff run. Cormier coming back should help. I’d like to see Bobby give Salty starts at first vs lefty pitchers just so we have a chance to see how well he can field the position plus he’d surely hit better than Thorman vs southpaws. If Willy Harris can play 3rd, he should do that full time until Chipper returns. Woodward is useless.
I thought the same thing JC…
i never thought i’d be excited to see cormier in the starting rotation, but according to dob’s blog he’ll start on June 5. i hope he can hold it together for a couple of solid starts.
This is not about the braves but very interesting .
Hill steals home.
I think Thorman has a few more days to show he can handle playing everyday.
chop-n-change reports that andruw may be re-signed for $16m per year. thoughts?
I’d do it, depending on the length of the contract.
I’d rather see that $16m invested in pitching.
That’s the first I have heard of that. I thought they might offer Frenchy a long term deal first.
Wasn’t Frenchy offered a similar deal to McCann and he turned it down? I think they will address Jeff at the end of the year.
I don’t know what to think of this Andruw news. 16 million for pitching does sound nice, but how much will a CF replacement cost in the free agent market?
How reliable is Chop-n-change? I never frequent that site.
i’d say the report is hear say at best
I didn’t see the game so I can’t specifically comment on the ninth inning, but we had runners on first and third and one out and the hitters couldn’t get the run it. Granted, a faster runner might have scored earlier, but there is no reason you should take a chance in that situation anyway. Blame the hitters for not getting the job done.
Second, face it, the Mets are good. They might have been somewhat lucky in the ninth, but Reyes’s speed clearly had something to do with it. And the home run wasn’t luck. They are a very good team and they have the kind of swagger that the Braves used to have, ie, although we might run out of outs, you can’t beat us. I agree it’s not time to panic, but comparing this team to the ones that put together the incredible second-half runs probably isn’t realistic, if for no other reason than the rotation.
Third, I like Thorman and I don’t see the reason to throw him under the bus. Last year at this time, everyone was ready to execute LaRoche. Thorman obviously has problems with overswinging, but he seems to handle lefties fairly well. The Braves do, however, need another bat and if they have a chance to get one at first base, I would take it. But I’m not convinced that Salty is, at this point, a big improvement day-to-day. One of the problems the Braves have, especially with Chipper out, is that they are very young in the middle of the order other than Andruw.
I don’t see the trades being made that everyone assumes JS will make. I mean they were looking for pitching in spring training and came up with Redman. Unless they are willing to trade Salty for a number three, I don’t see much available. And that is not a trade I want to make even if we don’t make the playoffs this year.
Of course, if Smoltz is seriously hurt, we can kiss the year good by and starting thinking about, not 2008 but probably 2009.
$16 mm might be ok if the payroll increases to $95 mm; if not, forget about it.
lucky or unlucky, good or bad, i hate the mets.
Of course, if Smoltz is seriously hurt, we can kiss the year good by and starting thinking about, not 2008 but probably 2009.
Marc, this is exactly why JS’s previous policy of not negotiating contracts during the season was a good one IMO. We handed $26 million over 2 years to a 40-year-old pitcher with a long history of arm troubles. The fact that his last name is Smoltz doesn’t make that any wiser a decision.
I’m glad we have him and I hope he’s okay, but anything serious now puts at least the next two seasons at risk, as you say.
Smoltz will be fine and is due every penny we owe him. Our money is wasted in arms like Hampton and next year Hudson, who is better, but in my opinion isnt worth $13 mil next year. I dont see us offering Druw $16 mil/5-7 years, unless JS has spoken with Liberty and our payroll will increase to around say 95-100 mil.
Its time to get Pena back up here, we have 4 util infielders and only 1 is half way decent at this point(Harris). If we arent going to let Salty gets many Ab’s he might as well go back down, I still think we see him at 1st today. Orr probably should stay over Prado just for Pinch running purposes. If Harris can handle third , then Prado serves no purpose. If we have anyone left at AAA with any kind of bat they should replace Orr
Smoltz will be fine and is due every penny we owe him.
You can run your railroad on faith, and I’ll try to run mine on wisdom.
Sansho and csg,
Smoltz is smart enough to know that “the suit upstairs” (or however he referred to JS) has re-signed Smoltz twice at less than market and not extended him and taken options on the last few days. All of that was smart front office work. But, it made Smoltz irritated.
I saw this risk staring square in the face. JS had to extend Smoltz to get the deal done for that kind of money. He got exactly the term the Braves wanted. The team can walk after next year. It was a risk, but in this pitching market, it was worth it.
We are getting a payroll adjustment of 10 to 15 million and we are going to start bringing up new people after June 10. If Smoltz hasn’t blown his shoulder up trying to cover for his finger, then we are still in the wild card, outside shot at division (bad Pedro and Main and Perez and whoever come back to earth), and, with one more pitcher of 3 or better, can go all the way.
Let’s get these runners home.
Cliff, FYI it’s Smoltz’s option in 2009 and a club option in 2010 if I’m not mistaken.