ESPN – Braves vs. Padres Box Score, July 7 2007 – MLB
So, Jo-Jo Reyes didn’t exactly set the world on fire his first outing. I’m not too worried — I get nervous whenever a prospect pitches too well out of the gate. Exhibit A, Kyle Davies. Reyes looked good through three, making one mistake, a solo homer to Khalil Greene. In the fourth, he completely collapsed, allowing four runs and not retiring a man, turning a 3-1 lead into a 5-3 deficit.
He didn’t take the loss, though. The Vulture did his job, keeping the game in play (he allowed one inherited run). Andruw tripled in two runs in the seventh to tie it up. But that’s all they got, and Yates — who is completely worn out at this stage, suffering from the same overuse I’ve seen in too many middle relievers who pitched well for a couple of months — couldn’t do anything in the bottom of the inning. Paronto, unlike Villarreal, couldn’t contain the damage, though he wasn’t helped by a bad throw from Escobar (trying to get an unturnable double play) to Renteria, which ultimately allowed the Padres to score two more runs. With their bullpen, that’s the game. Only one of Yates’ three runs was “earned”, which is stupid; the man gave up a hit and two walks, where’s the error? Again, I hate the unearned run rule.
Francoeur hit a two-run homer in the third to give the Braves the lead. David Wells, as is his wont, bitched about balls and strikes which had led to the homer and got tossed. While this hurts the Padres, it really didn’t hurt them in this game, because you’re actually better off using a lot of relievers than one starter most of the time. The value of a middling starter, like Wells is at this stage, is that he saves your bullpen, not that he can outpitch it. Doug Brocail, who relieved Wells, pitched three innings, much better than Wells’ three-plus, and was in line for the win.
Once again, the Braves outhit their opponents in a loss, 10-8. However, Braves pitchers issued seven walks, which was the killer.
Maybe a trade for Otsuka isn’t such a bad idea.
won’t happen…
seems like we should trade andruw to the angels for a bat (wood) and an arm or two
he aint helping us as much as he should now
Jose Bautista even thinks Yates is ineffective due to overuse at this point. Feel free to name old Brave X that was overused now …
I think the funniest thing I saw both last night and this afternoon was the couple of people at the park wearing Woodward jerseys. I’m sure they must have been related to him or something, but somehow I just don’t see myself donning his jersey for any reason. Too many walks today and a couple of botched plays. Notwithstanding JoJo’s short outing we should have had a better chance at winning it.
And the king of walks pitches for the Braves Sunday. Perfect….
If Andrew was hitting his usual .260 (which I would not pay more than 12 for) we would have 2 – 3 more wins. Tied and maybe a hot streak on the way. He is the problem!!
Echoing someone’s Fox’s hate:
I mentioned how I was going to Texas Roadhouse in the game thread. My parents live in Keystone Heights, FL, roughly 30 miles away from Gainesville, FL (wonder why I’m a Gator fan?). After being probably a total nuisance to get a seat near a television, I ask my waitress to ask the bartender to put it on Fox. Of course I would be able to catch the last couple innings on Fox, right? Right? WRONG! 30 miles away, FARTHER SOUTH, Fox is covering Yankees/Angles. WHY?! I wasted the host’s time, the waitress’ time, and the bartender’s time because of Fox. Good thing they have good political commentary on their news station.
That last sentence should piss someone off… 🙂
“Former MLB pitcher Jimenez tested positive for anabolic steroids”
http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/news/story?id=2929220
On his birthday too! What are the odds?!
Tough crowd. Even with a pretty good road trip going and the day of a clutch game tying triple, Andruw is still catching heat.
‘Blame Andruw’ has always been the default setting around here I guess.
Andruw’s waking up. Look where he’s hitting the ball.
I wasn’t bashing Andruw, but a triple isn’t going to remove the season’s worth of ineptitude Andruw has graced us with. I don’t care what he did today, if he’s on his norm this year, this team is a lot better. 2-3 win improvement if he was at his norm isn’t a stretch.
I think people have been extremely generous to Andruw considering he’s had the worst BA in the NL for much of the 1st half. He has put together a few good games in a row, so I’m hopeful that he’ll turn it around. I’m not complaining about his game today.
When Andruw leaves after this year, I have a feeling that Franceour will be blamed by some for everything the Braves do bad for a long time. Frenchy has shown more plate discipline this year (admittedly in spurts), is hitting for a much higher average, is driving in a lot of runs, but his homers are down and some want to criticize every move he makes. I’m not saying Franceour is a top tier player yet, but I’m encouraged that he’s improving (I think the homers will come).
All I’m saying is, wait till next year. If you think guys have been hard on Andruw, from the criticism of Franceour so far, you ain’t seen nothing yet when AJ leaves.
Rob, what happened has happened. I only hope Andruw will heat up in the second half to take this team to the playoff.
Rob,
Your point is well taken. I’m just saying that I think the worst of Andruw’s slump is over. He’s hitting the ball more up the middle and to right-center instead of pulling everything, and he’s taking a few more walks. I look for a much better second half from him.
I agree completely, Remy. At first, I couldn’t tell if you were being sarcastic considering so many people think Joe Simpson is wrong for saying Andruw needs to change his approach from pulling everything. But you’re right; I think there are improvements that Andruw has made.
Beltran just made the catch of the year in the 14th to send it to the 15th; 3-3 Mets and Astros.
Astros had 1st and 3rd, 2 out. Ball crushed to center, Beltran runs up the goofy hill and catches it over his right shoulder at the top of it.
Eh, I’ve done that.
I think people have been extremely generous to Andruw considering he’s had the worst BA in the NL for much of the 1st half.
Good point. Between the lineup proposals that having him batting eighth, the calls for him to be benched all together, the personal attacks of his weight, work ethic, and being a slave to his agent, I think generous is just the right word for the attitude around here towards Andruw. Either that or noxious. One of the two.
Nice job by Garner there taking the bat out of his best hitters hands. Brilliant.
And the Astros don’t score. I am shocked – shocked! – that genious piece of strategy didn’t work. Sure Ensberg hasn’t hit in two years, but that just means he’s due.
reports saying Buehrle contract extension talks have fallen through in Chicago.
To the 17th.
This is setting itself up for a Beltran homer.. or something good for them.
Beltran singles, 4-3.
I say that we give the Braves Journal Sarcasm Award to Robert. Congratulations.
Stupid Beltran…
5-3. Nice job having all your infield in Phil.
Small ball sucks. *laughs*
i thank the baseballl gods everyday that the braves are in the national league. as long as the braves show up there is a chance that we will still be in the post season and that’s all i can ask for. if jobu wants to send a few clutch hits our way awesome, if liberty media wants to go buy some players even better.
i thought jo-jo was the same kid i saw here chattanooga, and i thnk he would have gotten the win today if wells wouldn’t have gotten himself thrown out of the game. the braves have hit consistantly against him.
andruw is finally not striking out every-time he goes to the plate and that really helps. now if some of the other guys like frenchy and b-mac can string together a few more hits we’ll be just fine.
our poor bullpen is worn out and we really need three or four consecutive good starts out of our rotation. davies has been the only guy who has consistantly killed us, smoltz and huddy have had some bad luck.
at the break we’re about where i thought we’d be and i’d give the team a C overall on performance.we’ve gotten some great first half performances out of renty, harris, salty and escobar and most of the bullpen. hopefully there is more to come down the stretch.
GO BRAVES!
Cormier started again on July 5th
4.2IP 10H 6ER 2BB 3K
he’s getting worse
how long before Startup replaces Ledezma? Also how do they figure that he’ll be better as a starter
Hey, good news, I think. Looks like Buehrle and the White Sox are on the fast train to Tradeville.
Chicago rejected Buehrle’s offer to drop his no-trade clause request for some trade protection on the back end of the contract. See below.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2929267
I still think Buehrle straight up for Yunel Escobar as a cheap, effective replacement for a $7 mil free agent second baseman, Tadahito Iguchi, is a fair deal. Maybe we can get something done, even if it requires an arm as a sweetener.
The Mets have said they won’t trade a top prospect (i.e. Lastings Milledge) for Buehrle, so that improves our odds.
Also, the White Sox have absolutely nothing in the middle infield in the minors. It’s a natural fit!
I heard on TV that, of the 58 pitches Reyes threw, he only had one swing and miss. Another great Braves pitching “prospect.”
Andruw deserves blame for his struggles, but he seems to be slowly coming out of it. Of course, the whole team hits much better on the road, so the question is will he and they be able to carry over any of the offense when they come home.
In all honesty, the Braves are about the same team they were last year, minus a truly disastrous (and fluky)June. The bullpen is obviously better, but take away June and last year’s team is probably an 85-86 win team and that looks about the same for this team. The rotation is in shambles–what does it say when Buddy Carlisle is the most effective starter–and they have holes in the lineup. The point is, the Braves have become pretty much the Phillies, I’m afraid.
If we get Buerhle, do we sign him to an extension?
By the way, he has no strike-out rate to write home about either. How does the White Sox home park play, as a pitchers park?
Some numbers to ponder:
Salty’s OPS (.846) is higher than D. Young’s lifetime OPS (.827). No way JS makes that trade-a downgrade in offense for 6 million more in salary and a fat guy on the downside of his career?
Kelly Johnson’s OPS this year is higher than AJ’s lifetime OPS. I am not dumping on AJ. It does occur to me that he has never been an elite hitter; just an elite HR hitter. I do feel that getting his 16 million off the books makes us a better team next year, if we indeed spend it.
bfan, yep we’ll spend it directly on Hudson and Smoltz’s increases. Their is no salary room for us unless we get insurance money for Hampton to use or if Liberty increases payroll. However, Im afraid the insurance money will apply to someone that we’ll trade for for a half year. Keep in mind Soriano, Yates, Gonzalez will all get arb raises and Im sure Francouer will get some kind of a contract also.
I didnt see JO JO having a good strikeout pitch. He had several batters o-2 and 1-2 and couldnt put them away. They say he has 4 pitches, I only saw fastballs and a few curves from him. He touched 95 on the gun a couple of times, it was his first appearance and it was in front of a lot of family and friends, Ill give him a break on this one. Next time he gets the Reds
I cannot believe we will need 16 million for raises for smoltz and hudson, but maybe I am an optimist.
We should have Wickman’s fat salary (and ass) off of our hands next year as well, right?
bfan, it’s already done, although the true amount is $13 million more, not $16 million. Smoltz goes from $8 million to $14 million, and Hudson goes from $6 million to $13 million. So, in a way, your optimism has already been rewarded!
Kelly Johnson’s OPS this year is higher than AJ’s lifetime OPS. I am not dumping on AJ. It does occur to me that he has never been an elite hitter;
Willie Harris’ OPS this year is higher than George Brett’s lifetime OPS. I am not dumping on George Brett. It does occur to me that…
Robert-my point was not that KJ has proved himself a better hitter than Andruw (give that about nother season to take hold). My point was that no one (outside of his immediate family and his fiance) would think that KJ is having the season for the ages, yet as a middle infielder he is doing better than an Andruw Jones typical year.
The more you look at AJ’s career, the more you get to what the writer said-a nice player, but monstrously over-rated. Andruw has played 2 WS home-runs at age 19 and great fielding in his early 20’s into a myth of a career.
I do hope Andruw gets “hot” this second half, posts a .280 average (hot for him-check the records), and nudges his season average above .240.
“Andruw has played 2 WS home-runs at age 19 and great fielding in his early 20’s into a myth of a career.”
you must be forgetting his plethera of gold gloves, a 35 hr 100+rbi average line, and he’s a center fielder for heaven’s sake. i would beg to differ that most people know andruw as the 19 year old who hit 2 home runs in a world series. he’s having a bad year but he’s still one of
the top 2-3 centerfielders in the game today, factoring in offense and defense. he is a great player and when his career is all said and done, he will go down as one of the best center fielders of all time. how can that be overrated? frustrating? yes, but not overrated.
would anyone consider reggie jackson overrated? reggie is probably in the top 50 of all time greatest players? if andruw plays another 10 years, their offensive careers will probably be very similar. then, factor in andruw’s defense.
http://mlb.mlb.com/stats/historical/individual_stats_player.jsp?c_id=mlb&playerID=116439
I’m not dissing Andruw here (I think he is HOF material, personally) but the problem with the comparison of Reggie and Andruw is that they are from different offensive eras.
Andruw’s worth is that while he has been a good offensive player (not an elite HOF like A-Rod, Pujols, and others), he has also been a defensive virtuoso at a key defensive position (like Ozzie Smith as SS). The combination makes him a special player.
The plethora of gold gloves were 3 deserved in his early 20’s, and his reputation for the last 6. I am sorry, but the year Raphael Palmiero won a gold glove at 1B playing 30 games at the position ended my believe that gold gloves mean much, once your reputation is established. I know you know AJ has dropped in his PO’s by 100+ the last several seasons-it has been well documented. He was great in his early 20’s; he got heavy, lost several steps and just has not been, for the last 4 years, the same CF.
Astros beating the Mets 8-0 behind Roy Oswalt in the fifth inning.
If you take any stock in fielding runs, Andruw was an elite center fielder up until 2004, then he fell off a cliff, literally. He hasn’t had a positive FRAA rating in a full season since then. He has 1 FRAA right now this season.
Andruw’s rankings in outfield putouts in his career at the centerfield position:
’98- 1st in mlb
’99- 1st in mlb
’00- 1st in mlb
’01- 1st in mlb
’02- 3rd in mlb (1st in nl)
’03- 5th in mlb (2nd in nl- behind pierre who should never be a gold glove candidate)
’04- 3rd in mlb (2nd in nl behind podsednik)
’05- 8th in mlb (3rd in nl behind clark and beltran, but blew them out of the water in assists)
’06- 4th in mlb (2nd in nl behind the no-armed wonder pierre)
’07- 3rd in mlb (1st in nl)
an argument can be made in ’05, but reputation alone? really? please answer me and let me know which year, besides ’05, he should have not been a gold glover. also, if he goes to the al, i bet his po’s rise a 20 or so just factoring in the dh plate appearances. and by the way, he is on pace for about 450 po’s this year.
Atlanta pitching staff-ranked in strike-outs (NL) only
02-10th
03-11th
04-12th
05-16th
06-12th
Position players are getting 300-400 more outs a season, vs. the top strike-out team. Guys smarter than me can factor those things in, but Aj’s list above has to be understood in the context of a low strike-out pitching staff, correct?
then you have to factor in ground ball pitchers to fly ball pitchers, because you cant assume the outs that werent strikeouts were fly outs and vice versa. i am not disagreeing with you that andruw has lost a step. youre right, he has, but his jumps on the ball and his amazing ability to read the ball at the crack of the bat still makes him a gold glover yearly, and, one of the best all time (top 2 or 3), which is why i say there is no way he can be deemed overrated. if someone were to make an argument that his offensive #s are overrated, then i would probably agree, but his d is still the best. maybe not as good as it was, but still incredible.