ESPN – Braves vs. Diamondbacks Box Score, July 27 2007 – MLB
All together now: “I really hate it when the team rallies from way down only to lose anyway.” Down 7-0 and being no-hit through four, the Braves tied up the game with two out in the ninth, only to lose in eleven because Bobby, apparently needing to go to bed, brought in Fredo Ledezma, who promptly allowed a home run to end the game. He is so awful, but this is what happens when you’re so desperate to get rid of a guy that you trade him for anything.
Jo-Jo Reyes got shelled, allowing seven runs on seven hits, including three homers, and getting pulled after four. That might have been too late. But the bullpen, the poor, overtaxed bullpen, kept it together. Paronto did an inning. Yates was good in the sixth, but loaded the bases in the seventh without getting an out. Moylan came in and got out of that, then pitched a shutout eighth, helped by a strikeout-throwout double play.
The Braves had gotten back into the game, meanwhile. KJ tripled in a run in the fifth, then came in on a single by Julio. McCann hit a ground-rule double in the sixth to make it 7-4, then Julio followed with another double that made it 7-6.
It stayed that way until two out in the ninth. Yunel Escobar’s heroics didn’t wind up winning the game, but they’re worth nothing. He drew a 3-2 walk, then while everyone was wandering around not paying attention, stole second without a throw. Willie Harris brought him in with a bloop single, but was thrown out trying to steal in a similar manner — I am pretty sure he was actually safe.
Soriano got through two innings pretty easily, just walking one, but the Braves went down 1-2-3 in turn, and Bobby brought in Fredo, who as I mentioned sucks. All the Braves’ regulars had hits except, oddly enough, Chipper.
Hopefully we don’t have yet another full game Woodward sighting (today)tomorrow because of the long game tonight.
… I’m starting to think Seat Painter might be right. That’s how deflating this loss is to me right now. I think SP is right. Can someone please knock some sense into me?
Dave O’Brien from the AJC reporting that the Angels “pulled out” of the trade tonight…
Gah. What a weak loss. Had then reeling and couldn’t find the knockout.
Oh well, get a good nights rest and we’ll get them tomorrow.
The 4.0 games doesn’t bother me as much as being tied with the Phillies for some reason.
So are the Braves the only ones left or what when it comes to Teixeira?
I hate how the atlantabraves.com website skews game recaps. The one that’s bothering me now is “Carlyle unravels late as Braves fall”. He’s really a #5 starter and has been good for us lately, and in this game only allows 4 runs in about six innings. Blame the problem: an anemic offense that somehow always comes up a run or two short, or a bullpen that always blows Hudson’s wins, etc. Why rip on somebody turning in a damn good recent series of starts when we have gaping problems elsewhere (ahem, Druw, 1B, overtaxed bullpen, LEDEZMA)
obviously it’s not the best source. still. stupid ledezma.
Owch.
I think you meant Escobar’s heroics were worth *noting*, not nothing. (Even if that was the result.)
Blame this one on me: I shut the game off after the second homer off of Reyes, and turned it on again in the 7th inning. If I could have kept myself from watching for another inning, we’d have won.
Ledezma is not very good. We knew it when we got him and we knew it putting him in tonight. I would have much rather seen Villareal out there (he was available, right??).
Well at least that was an entertaining way to lose. One of the most frustrating things about this team is the way they make the other team’s 11th or 12th pitcher look great. Tonight it was Edgar Gonzalez who entered the game in extras with an ERA near five and a half. Against us? Six up, six down, and a W.
I pretty sure Frenchy leads the league in ‘pitches swung at that bounced in front of the plate’.
Tough Lost well its a good thing i went partying didn’t get to get my heart shattered for another day in a row. COme on Braves we need to gain some ground on the METS! the phillies are a scary team even without Utley so we better watch out. Make a Move JS.
2 more losses this week-end and maybe we switch to sellers and not buyers at the trade deadline? With the excellent young core of players here now, how good could we be in 2008 if we flip Smoltz for 3 great prospects and Renteria for some other great prospects?
Anybody care to revise his opinion on how we must not include Reyes in a deal for Tex now? Reyes=Davies.
In financial terms, Ledezma is a sunk cost. He’ll likely never have any value to the team and we should cut him loose before he costs us more. We made a mistake and lost a decent prospect for him – hopefully there is a lesson learned there.
We need a left handed reliever, but the value in having one is that he should be able to get out lefties better than RH pitchers. This is definitely not the case with Fredo. The only reason we got him is b/c we thought he could start one day. Let’s DFA him to Richmond and possibly give him a chance to start. If he gets claimed when he’s put on waivers, hopefully a contender will be dumb enough to pick him up – nah!
C’mon John, pull that trigger!
You don’t have to worry about your legacy. It will be unchallenged for decades. You needn’t be cautious. In this muddled and muddy league, the prudent GM can look good at the end of the year even if his team was mediocre.
Where is the swashbuckler, the bold leader? You can tell stories of George Brett, but there’s a million fans now that never saw him play. You can tell how you traded for McGriff and put tohether a team that had to win 103 games to take the pennant. You stole Maddox from the Yanks and cemented a team for a decade.
But what will you say about your last five years? We were hell on wheels when Chipper wasn’t hurt?
Tex, and probably Marte, John. Shit or get off the pot.
amazingly enough, the Miss. Braves did something equally frustrating lastnight. braves pitcher, Bueno threw batting practice for the first two innings giving up 8 runs, but wellman kept him in there until the seventh. in the 3rd the braves put up 8 to tie it up, and then tack on a run both in the 5th and 6th. Morton comes in the 7th and promptly gives up a HR, then Jose Ascanio let’s the lookouts score two in the bottom of the 8th to secure the loss. for all the scoring the game was boring and sloppy, and there wasn’t one guy playing last night that i’d hope to see in ATL anytime soon.
GO BRAVES!
Ledezma–sounds like a skin disease; its beginning to feel like an itch which won’t go away….
Reyes sucks. Ledezma sucks at relieving. Send Reyes down and try Ledezma as a starter maybe?
I fear that Reyes is being ‘devined’; he probably should have had another half season at Richmond. Still, I like both this track record and future potential.
I would not be surprised to see Ledezma wind up as our #5 next season….
Ron, I’m not saying that I dont agree. Reyes isnt here and Ledezma isnt very good, but what makes him look like he can be a #4-5 starter? i dont see anything in this guy. however, he has no value as a reliever. Sned him to Richmond and hope he’s lights out, then get rid of him before he losses all value as a starter also
mlb rumors
Stark believes Mark Teixeira to the Braves or Angels is “almost certainly going to happen.” The Angels’ willingness to offer Joe Saunders instead of Ervin Santana is seen as a big plus. Meanwhile the Braves want the Rangers to tack C.J. Wilson onto their trade but Texas is resisting. Stark’s update counteracts Will Carroll’s latest; Will recently wrote: “It’s looking more and more like Mark Teixeira is going to stay a Ranger.” You decide.
here’s more from a different rumor at mlb rumors
Teixeira may now be left to the Braves, Dodgers, and Red Sox. I still expect a deal to be made. The sticking point for an Atlanta appears to be John Schuerholz’s demand to get a solid reliever back with Teixeira if he is to include Elvis Andrus.
csg, I think that’s exactly the point which is holding up the deal. I believe JS proposed Salty, Harrison and Andrus or Tex and CJ Wilson. Now, John Daniels is trying to get a better deal from someone else.
whats really keeping Ledezma on the team right now? Why not call up a lefty from Richmond or just bring up Ascanio again and make due
kc, I think your right. JS isnt going to get fleeced and give away our top 3 prospects for one player. I dont blame him and I wouldnt give in to Daniels demands at all
If we can get Wilson from this deal, then I am very happy with the trade.
Hey, it may end up being a Salty/Harrison/Lillibridge package, and we keep Andrus. Still seems like too much, though.
Andrus or Lillibridge, we are still giving up a lot. However, I think it’s the deal the team has to make. Remember, the Braves also gave up three prospects for McGriff back in 1992.
Chipper looked like he was missing a step last night…I hope its nothing. Out of spite, he pretty much has to play if Smoltz pitches, right?
I love Tex – just not spelling his name. Do we have any chance in hell of resigning him after 2008 or is this a year and a half rental?
CJ, I think there is a chance because I believe only McCann is signed beyond 2009. If Liberty Media increases payroll, it’s up to the management to decide.
I would be happy to give up Lillibridge instead of Andrus; giving up Harrison would not bother me as much as it might have at the beginning of the season. I would not be surprised to see JS peddle Matt Esquivel in a deal with Texas….
The season is still not lost… we have to make this trade.
The 3 for 2 deal is the way to go. Get it done. If the Rangers can’t see it, then we may just have to look elsewhere.
Elvis Andrus is an 18 year old A shortstop with career stats of .260/.335/.353. This year he’s hitting .237/.325/.326. Why does anybody care whether we trade him when we have Renteria and Escobar? He’s not our future.
Ron,
What everyone is freaked about is the p-word: potential. But as I pointed out, this trade would likely not bite us in the butt (if Andrus is any good) until about 2014.
Ron, its because he’s 18. He really should be playing his sr. year of high school ball. He wil continue to get better, but all you can do is speculate on him at this point. My outlook is that we can draft more SS if he’s traded, we’ll be fine
Yeah, Ron, the key stat there is his age—18. He’s younger than everyone against whom he’s playing, and he has been throughout his professional career. There’s a reason the scouts are so enamoured with him, your distant judgment based on nothing but his stat line notwithstanding.
With that said, I’d completely be in favor of that 3-for-2 deal. And still pretty uneasy about the 3-for-1.
BTW, I’m officially a Yunel fan after last night. I won’t be silly enough to argue that he’s better than KJ or that he should be counted on as our SS of the future, but he’s an asset to the team.
Yep, I agree. Escobar and Kj are both ball players and could be in the lineup and produce everyday. However, the platoon looks like a great idea, because I wouldnt trade Renty just to make room for one of them.
I think Hubbard should get a lot of credit for what happened last night. You could see him talking to Escobar right before he took off. Good job by everyone last night except for Reyes, Ledezma, and some of Bobby’s decisions.
And officially in favor of chaining weights to Willie’s legs once he gets on base, to prevent him from killing any more potential momentum-swinging innings.
And my feelings on Ledezma go without saying. Eh, I’ll say them anyway—he’s completely useless except as an instrument of our opponents, and I agree with the sunk cost analysis. What a truly awful trade.
Vick’s troubles just got a little worse. This guy is suing him for $63 BILLION, with the B.
http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/falcons/stories/2007/07/27/vickbrite_0727.html?cxntlid=homepage_tab_newstab
Says Vick stole his dogs to sell them on Ebay and use the proceeds to buy Missles from the Iranian Govt…
Hubbard may have helped, but I don’t really think so, csg. The guys in the dugout absolutely swarmed Escobar after he scored, and in a way that didn’t look like, “Way to listen to Coach!”. And I think the dugout would’ve known if Hubbard sparked it.
Either way, awfully fun to watch.
Ron–I agree that age is important here–most of the players in the Carolina league are at leat 4 years older.
However, even if that were not the case, Andrus’s numbers are bit better than they may first appear: his averages does not look so bad when one considers that Myrtle Beach is probably the most pitcher-friendlly park in the Carolina League. It is notorious–all you have to do is look at Eric Campbell’s stats this year to see its impact.
Andrus is hitting more than 100 points higher on the road than at the Beach. Add the fact that he is 23/30 stealing and you have a player with immense potential.
I really don’t see him going with Salty unless the Braves get lots back–which means more than
Texiera for a year and a half….
I think someone mentioned this the other day, but with a decent defense behind him,. Morris wouldn’t be a bad pick up if we could get him on the cheap. I’d still rather Vazquez if Chicago’s still offering. Both come with a price, but would certainly help stabilize the rotation.
If we do the proposed deal with Texas, what do we have left over to get a starter? Surely JS is looking around.
I guess the question to be asked is – are we done dealing if we land Tex?
Willie Harris on the basepaths has been worse than Ledezma…
I wouldn’t go quite that far, Stephen, but the fact that it’s even arguable says enough.
Coz,
I don’t think so. A starter or reliever is still needed.
The latest from the Angels’ camp:
The Angels essentially abandoned their pursuit of Texas slugger Mark Teixeira because of the Rangers’ steep asking price Friday, leaving them very few options to bolster their offense before Tuesday’s non-waiver trade deadline.
According to baseball sources, the Rangers wanted three players from the Angels for Teixeira, and the teams apparently agreed on the first two, first baseman Casey Kotchman and left-handed pitcher Joe Saunders.
Texas spent a day or two scouring the Angels’ farm system this week, and the Angels were hoping the third request would be for a mid-level prospect or major league reserve such as Terry Evans and Nathan Haynes, both outfielders.
The Rangers gave the Angels a list of four names to choose from Friday. On that list were infielder Brandon Wood, the organization’s top position-playing prospect, double-A right-hander Nick Adenhart, the organization’s top pitching prospect, starting second baseman Howie Kendrick, who is on the disabled list because of a broken finger, and recently demoted right-hander Ervin Santana.
The Angels’ response: No way.
A source indicated there is a slim chance of trade talks being rekindled, but only if Texas lowered its demands or were willing to take only Kotchman and Saunders for Teixeira, who wouldn’t become a free agent until after 2008.
The Dodgers, Atlanta Braves and Boston Red Sox are also interested in Teixeira, the 27-year-old switch-hitter who entered Friday with a .299 average, 13 home runs and 49 runs batted in after averaging 35 homers and 112 RBIs in his first four years.
The Angels could turn their focus to Chicago White Sox outfielder Jermaine Dye or Oakland designated hitter Mike Piazza. They are believed to have called Florida about third baseman Miguel Cabrera, but the Marlins have virtually no interest in trading the slugger.
Link: http://www.latimes.com/sports/baseball/mlb/angels/la-sp-angrep28jul28,1,6591848.story?coll=la-headlines-sports-mlb-angels&ctrack=1&cset=true
I never thought that the Angels would get him, but why the hell do the Red Sox need him?
And another column from the NY Post: http://www.nypost.com/seven/07282007/sports/mets/on_your_mark_mets_joel_sherman.htm
Kevin Youkilis and David Ortiz aren’t enough?
That NY Post column is interesting. Hopefully it’s true and the trade can get done today or tomorrow.
The Sox are probably just scared of the recent Yankees surge. That, and JD Drew isn’t quite living up to expectations. Strange thing is – it looks like Mike Lowell is picking up the slack with 15 HRs and 73 RBI with .306/.357/.506.
Then where does that leave The Greek God of Walks? Because David Ortiz surely isn’t going to be the one moved.
Yeah Rob – this is my favorite part:
“So the Braves are looking to upgrade first base, where they have by far the majors’ worst production (.621 OPS) and were so desperate they brought in 48-year-old Julio Franco.”
🙂
The Red Sox “need” him so that the article will get more hits.
I’m glad to see DOB indicate that we won’t move both Salty and Andrus w/o getting a reliever, and I figure it had better be a reliever that’ll be around for more than one year. I still don’t like the deal from an economic perspective, but if we lose both Salty and Andrus, it would be nice to at least upgrade our bullpen and have something to show for it in 2009 when Salty is hitting .290 with 20 HRs for $420K a year and Teix is doing his .300/35 thing for the Yankees for $25M.
Every rumor says they’d look to move Lowell, Sam. Hard to argue with that.
Well, clearly, he’ll be a decent pinch-hitter once we get a better first baseman. He did damn well last night too.
Sorry–I forgot post Andrus’ stats:
http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?n=Elvis%20Andrus&pos=&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=462101
I hope that JS can now get this done…
And Youk would move to third, and David Ortiz would be the DH.
Shit.
Stu – Just curious, since I don’t really follow the Red Sox too closely – why are they wanting to move Lowell? He looks like he’s given them plenty.
It’s not that they want to move him, but Teixeira is better and they’d do it to make room for him. And they don’t want to move Ortiz for obvious reasons and Youkilis because he’s so much cheaper.
Yeah, that does make some sense. God knows they can afford it.
Plus the Rangers need a third baseman BAD.
Plus, Lowell could presumably net them at least one good prospect, depending on how much of his salary they’d be willing to pay.
I should note that I don’t actually think the Red Sox want Teix—I think they like their top prospects too much to give them up. I suspect they’re feigning interest to spook the Yanks into giving up their own top prospects.
Sam, I don’t know that Lowell would actually be going to the Rangers as part of the deal. More likely Ellsbury and Lester to the Rangers and Lowell to someone like the Twins for Scott Baker.
And if the Yanks DO decide to make a serious run at Teix—meaning the inclusion of Hughes or Chamberlin—the race for that slugger is over.
The theory is that there will b e a pretty good 3b free agent available next year for the Sox to sign, and Teixeira would complement him nicely…
Ugh, this is getting stupid, all of this.
re Andrus at Myrtle Beach
Myrtle is one of the most notorious pitcher’s parks in all of baseball, as many here know. Andrus’ line of .242/.326/.335 breaks down like this:
Home
.176/.262/.235
Road
.292/.374/.411
That’s as an 18-year-old playing high-A ball with a bunch of 20-year-olds. He’s doing just fine. I’m hoping that whatever package we’re offering the Rangers includes Lillibridge instead of Elvis.
Lowell’s a FA after the season, though, so they’ll have money for A-Rod, anyway. With Boston, it looks like it comes down to whether they’d rather have Teix or the prospects + Youkilis, who wouldn’t have a position anymore. I think they’d prefer the latter, which is why I think they’re bluffing.
I’m assuming the Lowell/A-Rod swap occurs after the season under either scenario.
Back to the NY Post article, why would the commissioner not approve the deal?
Ledezma for McBride was bad in itself, but what is so bad is that Ledezma is out of options. He could possibly make a decent 5th starter one day, but he has to clear waivers if we send him to the minors to work on being a starter. We either have to endure him wasting space in the bullpen or we have to put him on waivers and hope no one picks him up. He’s definitely awful, but as desperate as teams seem to be for LH pitching, some misguided club may actually want him. Actually, I’m okay with that – see ya – please!