ESPN – Braves vs. Marlins Box Score, July 1 2007 – MLB
As I think I’ve mentioned several times, I hate it when you rally in a game only to lose.
Weird game. Carlyle and Willis looked strong, but a deluge stopped the game for an hour and a half between the top and bottom of the fourth and both left. The Vulture, naturally, replaced Carlyle and struck out the first two he faced, then allowed a double, a single, and a homer to make it 3-0. An inherited run charged to him made it 4-0 after six.
Andruw hit a solo homer in the seventh to make it 4-1. The Braves rallied off of Armando Benitez again in the eighth, getting two runs to cut it to 4-3 with two on, nobody out. But Andruw hit into a double play and Francoeur flew out to end it.
In the ninth, the first two were retired but Thorman walked. The pitcher threw a wild pitch, then intentionally walked McCann, then threw another wild pitch. In a long AB, Escobar worked it to 3-2 then lined to right. Orr, running for McCann, scored to make it 5-4.
Wickman, however, allowed a solo homer on the second pitch of the bottom of the inning to tie it. (Miguel Olivo kills Wickman; even if Bobby wanted to show confidence it would have been a good idea to at least let Yates or Soriano face him.) The next man reached on a infield single but Wickman got out of that.
The Braves had two on in the top of the tenth, but failed to score. Soriano, however, allowed a single, then threw a bunt into center field (he could have gotten the runner, but take the out!) then allowed another single to end it. It happens.
Wow,I’m glad I turned off the game after the vulture gave up 3 runs. That sounds like one hell of a frustrating loss.
Hey, at least the mets lost.
Tough loss. I wish this was one of the many games I couldn’t get on TBS. Too bad I had to watch this because I probably won’t get another game to watch until like Thursday or something. Boo.
Damnit, Renty didn’t make the All-Star team
McCann made it.
And so did Smoltz.
Renteria may have been a casualty of Freddie Sanchez being the Pirates rep. Wish they’d chosen Ian Snell instead.
That was a really sucky loss. I hope it doesn’t carry over into the Dodgers’ series.
sansho,
Grozelanny deserved it more then both of those guys from the pirates, it’s a shame he isn’t going.
BTW, Ripken and Gwynn? Francoeur and Andruw in fifteen years.
That double play in the eighth by Andruw Jones was so typical. Why is a hitter with a batting average under .200 in July cleaning up?
And Renty isn’t even in the 5 you can vote in. I hate the All Star game.
If the allstar game is going to count for world series home field advantage the fans shouldn’t have a vote period. If they want the fans to vote then take away homefield.
One thing positive to take from this game is from Esocbar: whatever your point of view on his future with the Braves, he had a great at-bat–which is good for the Bravives if he stays with them, and is good for the Braves because it helps his trade value, at least marginally.
I hate Olivo.
The loss sucks, but still 2 out of 3 helps in the big picture of things. I’ll take 2 out of 3 in almost any series.
It looks like Wickman is finished. I was hoping he would at least make the All-Star break.
As glad as I am that McCann and Smoltz are All-Stars, I was really hoping they wouldn’t be, because both aren’t 100% healthy and could use a three day rest. Why couldn’t a healthy player have been chosen? I really don’t want Smoltz warming up and pitching to a couple of hitters when he could be getting a long rest to help gear up for the rest of the season.
Robert, as long as Wickman is not pitching in Florida (especially not facing Olivo), I think he is fine. As I have said, Wickman is cursed in Miami.
According to AJC:
“The Braves’ closer departed Florida with little regret. In four appearances at Dolphin Stadium this year, Bob Wickman is 0-1 with two blown saves and a 13.24 ERA.
Miguel Olivo, whose ninth-inning homer tied the game, is now 5-for-5 lifetime with two home runs against Wickman.
“I’ve never had a guy rough me up this bad all year” Wickman said. “After a while, it’s probably time to look at the drawing board. I seem to pitch well to him at home but for some reason, here I’ve not just been able to bury the slider like I want to.”
In 27 appearances elsewhere, Wickman has converted 14 of 16 saves with a 3.33 ERA.”
@17
rissa’, i was thinking the same thing. i’m happy for them, but i’d rather they be by the pool relaxing.
@19
i thought pete said that olivio was 12 for 12 against wickman with 6 homers and a few doubles.
the drawing board say walk his ass wick!
beedee, whether is 5-5 for 12-12, the conclusion is the same!!!
Why are the Tigers suddenly interested in acquiring failed Braves pitching prospects? They just traded for Jose Capellan. Now they have Minor, Colon, McBride, and Capellan!!!
Good matchups for the Dodgers series. We have Smoltz and Hudson lining up directly against Lowe and Penny. Good stuff.
Jul 2 J. Smoltz vs. D. Lowe
Jul 3 K. Davies vs. R. Wolf
Jul 4 C. James vs. M. Hendrickson
Jul 5 T. Hudson vs. B. Penny
KC–Good observation: i am sure that we can trade them some more. I wonder what we would get for Blaine Boyer, Trey Hodges, Anthony Lerew and Kevin Barry…
@22
and capellan just broke someone’s face. literally.
we really dodged a bullet there.
@21
kc, i must have missed that part of your post…wasn’t call’n you out…and couldn’t agree more.
Smoltz should consider skipping the All Star game since he’s hurting some. He certainly deserved the honor of being named, but then someone younger and worthy like Tom Gorzelanny could go.
McCann won’t really have to do that much as the backup catcher (maybe catch an inning or two), so he’ll still get some rest.
I remember watching last year some, and I swear McCann caught for like half the game as the backup. Maybe I’m just making that up.
You are probably right about that, Boomer. Guess I was just being hopeful.
I’m less concerned about McCann anyway.
Stupid La Russa…Fuentes and Freddy Sanchez?! It should have been Edgar/Rollins and Ian Snell.
Fuentes got demoted from the closer role on the same day he was selected to the All-Star team. That’s gotta put a damper on the experience, I would think.
McCann is a very good catcher and may very well end the year at .300 with 20 homers and 80+ RBI, but right now he doesn’t deserve to be on the All-Star team and he could use the extra couple of days off more. I wonder if he and Smoltz might pull out citing injuries.
Oh, dear!
Are we going to have to give the closer’s job to Kali?!
With each passing year I have come to resent the All Star Game a bit more. There are many reasons for it, but these selections are getting me warmed up. I really like McCann, but Renteria really deserved it and I don’t understand Ian Snell’s omission at all…..
Apparently, these are the players’ selections, not LaRussa’s. Edgar really got screwed. I don’t understand McCann at all.
Every time the Braves look like they are getting something going, they blow a game like this and lose the momentum. Being 3-0 going to LA and San Diego would have put them in a good position for at least a winning road trip; now it will be much tougher, especially if they have to face both Penny and Peavy. To be a good team, you have to put wins together; for the last two years, the Braves have been unable to put together a sustained period of good baseball. It’s very frustrating. And did anyone have any doubt that Andruw was going to hit into a DP in the 8th? Of course, it was Sunday and the Braves never win; maybe they should just forfeit Sunday games and get the rest.
Tough game to watch. I thought we had it in the bag.
The all-star game is a joke. Renteria should definitely be on the team. Hopefully Smoltz goes to the game, but doesn’t pitch, while McCann gets an at bat or two and only catches a couple of innings.
So, do we have the ‘honor’ of facing Penny on Thursday and Peavy on Friday?
Yeesh.
Peavey’s turn would be on Thursday so if the Padres have a game that day, we would miss him. If they have an off day, it’s Penny, then Peavy. Brother! That’s why the game yesterday was such a bad loss.
FYI:
“If the Astros approached Oswalt about waving his no-trade clause, he’d at least listen if, say, the Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Cardinals or Atlanta Braves wanted him. To be clear, though, he would never request a trade.
“If they came to me and they thought it was better for the future of the organization if they traded me, I’d do whatever’s best for the future of the team,” said Oswalt. “The key is if that’s what the organization wants and thinks is best for the team to get better.”
Ron,
Brian is going to the allstar game, he is not going to pull out. Neither is Smoltz. I’m happy for any player who makes the team. And those two guys got voted in by the PLAYERS so that makes it much more legit.
Edgar didn’t get voted in is a joke! That being said Atlanta Braves fans should have done a better job voting for him, only 600,000 votes when chipper got a million. Something isn’t right there!
Also people worried about McCann and Smoltz being injured have nothing to worry about. The allstar game is basically a big party and very relaxing. The city who hosts it does a great job of catering to the players and their families as they realize they could be vacationing somewhere. It makes the players want to come back. All the perks and free stuff they get really is cool!
I can’t recall a situation since Ray Fosse where people got injured. It’s like playing in the World Baseball Classic.
Oh, wait, people blamed that for injuries. XP
I would guess that the only reason that McCann is there is because a backup catcher is needed. And lets face it: there aren’t any catchers in the NL besides Russell Martin and McCann. Maybe Olivo has joined the group with his feasting off of Wickman, but that still ain’t much!
Unknown,
The All-Star game may be a big party but that doesn’t mean players can’t get hurt, a la Ray Fosse in 1970. It’s not as safe as sitting on a beach somewhere.
… I thought of something right after I posted that. Saltalamacchia may as well be better than Olivo. *laughs*
Marc,
Yeah, but after that, has a player gotten injured? They don’t go all out in those games anymore.
Huge road trip for Chipper, McCann, KJ, Thorman and Harris…with Lowe, Penny and Peavy going, I don’t expect anything from Renty, Frency and of course nothing from the .200 cleanup hitter.
I don’t know, but after a while you sort of get a feel for then the braves are going to blow it. After the jack off Wick, there was no doubt in my mind. Just like the Colorado game earlier this year or the St. Louis game a few years back when David F*&^%$# Eckstein hit the grand slam. There’s just sort of a rhythm to it.
I’m just glad Andruw won’t be in the Home Run Derby. It would be embarrasing for us braves fans to watch him swing & miss on 10 straight batting practice pitches.
i think the braves will be fine this trip, they could take 4 games.
wow, all these 10 o’clock games are gonna be a bit of a change but i’ll be there w/rally cap and foam tomahawk in hand. maybe JS can find us some help over the break, if not the boys are just gonna have to gut out a championship for chipper and smoltz.
I haven’t cared about the all-star game or its rosters in years. I’ve never liked the fan voting or the idea that every team has to have a representative.
But ever since MLB made the game “count” for the extra WS home game, I’ve liked it even less because it’s become a matter of money for me.
Because I’m a Yankee season-ticket holder, the Yanks would charge me for an extra potential post-season game. (Gotta pay for all 11 potential games by Labor Day to lock down your playoff seats.)
Of course, when that post-season invoice shows up this year, I may just laugh & tear it up.
Yea…I haven’t watched an allstar game since..damn I can’t remember. Oh yea…it was on NBC and they were Cal Ripken Jr and Dale Murphy the model of consistency. Awww the 1980s. My childhood. Man I will never forget those stars…Eddie Murray, Cal Ripken, Tony Gwynn, George Brett, Robin Yount, Ozzie “The Wizard” Smith, Andre “The Hawk” Dawson, Dave “The Cobra” Parker, Ryne Sandberg…man what memories.
That should read they were talking about Cal and Dale as the model of consistency…
Go Braves.
Padres do not have any off days this week. So we’ll escape Peavy.
With the Braves’ luck, Peavy will get an ingrown toenail or something and they will move his start back one day.
These next seven games could be very pivotal. At some point, the Braves have to start putting something together. If they can win 4 of the 7 and have a winning trip, it might propel them in the second half. If they struggle, I think you have to start wondering what they really have. Enough with excuses about the schedule or all the good pitchers. It’s time to start winning consistently.
I’d love to shave another game or 2 off the NL East lead before the All-Star break.
Also, as much as I detest the concept of the Wild Card, it’s rather apparent that these games vs. LA are important. We’re closer to them as WC leaders (3 games) than we are the Mets (4 games).
No matter which pitchers we face, we’re not in a position to lose any ground. A winning trip would be wonderful.
The schedule after the break is really weak. If the Braves can go 4-3 to the break, I think they’ll be in good position.
I’m glad Rollins didn’t make the All-Star team.
One less thing for him to run his big fat mouth about.
And I HATE Florida with a passion. Shame on Bobby for pitching Wickman against a tema that obviously owns his giant ass.
And I hate the Mets too.
@58
“The schedule after the break is really weak. If the Braves can go 4-3 to the break, I think they’ll be in good position.”
Yeah, IF.
I’m gonna go to sleep and dream of the early 90’s.
Meanwhile…the Mets play the Rockies and Astros this week. Great.
Tony, you don’t expect anything from Renteria this week? Why is he lumped in with Francoeur and Andruw? He’s been our most consistent hitter this season.
Can’t worry about the Mets, really, unless we play them. Just worry about the Braves playing well.
If we play well for an extended stretch, that’ll take care of a lot of things. As we all should know by now, this is not the ’86 Mets by a longshot.
# 59
I don’t like anybody very much.
#62…Only b/c Renty is righthanded. That’s it…I’m pretty sure he will do ok, just that the Braves will face some tough righties. Hopefully Lowe sinker doesn’t sink tonight…
Tony,
After reading one of your posts where you agreed with something Joe Morgan said, and then the post about expecting Renteria, AKA Braves 2007 MVP, to struggle on this trip, I will now have a tendency to skip your posts.