ESPN – Rockies vs. Braves Box Score, August 3 2007 – MLB
Yuck. A dispiriting loss. John Smoltz didn’t have it, and he didn’t get any help. He had a shot to get out of a jam in the first, but Teixeira committed a two-out error allowing two runs to score. In the second, Smoltz gave up a two-run double.
The Braves had first-and-third, none out, in the fourth, but Andruw hit into a double play, scoring a run but killing the rally. In the sixth, Escobar and KJ led off with singles, but Chipper and Teixeira struck out and Andruw grounded out. That was essentially the game. Smoltz’s three-run homer allowed in the next inning was just icing.
Renteria was put on the DL before the game, and Devine was called up and actually pitched, putting a scoreless eighth but needing 28 pitches to do it. Cormier, who pitched the ninth, continued to suck, giving up two runs. Teixeira hit a meaningless homer in the ninth, giving him three games in a row with one.
PS: Oh, it was going to be “Woodward Delenda Est” but then I decided that he is, as they say, Mostly Harmless. Cormier is much more dangerous.
Mac, if Cormier isn’t going to do it, who do you think should be the fifth starter? Giving Dan Smith a try or Oscar?
Tonight aside, I’ll give Cormier one start this time up before passing judgement (he’s done fairly well in Richmond since he surfaced last in Atlanta). I still vote for the Mets to be delenda est, because they are really the ones who must be destroyed.
I wouldn’t mind giving Villareal a start or two…but after a few games in Richmond to build up his arm strength.
Does Villareal have options, Rissa? The idea is fine, though I’m not sure there’s enough time for him to go down, build up arm strength and then help out the team by solidifying the rotation.
Oh well, despite the last two nights, this team should make a run at the division title and provide us with some nice entertainment along the way.
Back from the game. There was no energy at this game whatsoever; and, to make matters worse, it was really hot and humid. I figured there would be more people at the game being the first weekend game with Teixeira in town. However, there were only 37,000+ people and they were all taken out of the game after the 2 runs scored in the first.
Oh well, hopefully it was just some “rust” left over from last night’s loss. Tomorrow night is Disco Night!
Predicted it moments after the extra inning heartbreaker — there was no way the Braves were going to win Friday’s game. Even though they are entitled to play flat after Thursday’s tilt, the Mets somehow keep finding ways to win and taking advantage.
We’re in the ugly middle folks. Still.
I can understand Reyes struggling mightily in his first call up to the majors and his AAA stats not coming close to what they are in the big league – hopefully that will change. However, Cormier is a puzzle. I mean he’s had at least some success in the major leagues. It seems he loses all momentum and stinks up the place everytime he’s called up. An ERA of 15.58 is something Kolb or Reitsma couldn’t accomplish at their worst.
Braves needed a black cat to run past the Rockies dugout like the Anderson Joes got against the Aiken Foxhounds on Friday, heh heh.
The game was tied 3-3, left fielder Blake Gailen is on first and this black cat runs on the field in front of the visitors dugout and runs off the field. Gailen then stole a base and came around to score on Brandon Carter’s walk-off single!
That was great.
If Cormier isn’t effective as a starter, the Braves really have no choice but to go to Villareal. Their only other effective AA/AAA starter lately has been Matt Harrison, and he’s no longer with them. Dan Smith has an ERA of over 6 at Richmond and the other stellar performers include Jonathan Johnson, Kevin Barry and Trey Hodges. None of them deserve a shot considering their lack of success in the minors. Actually, Corky Miller didn’t deserve a shot due to his lack of success, so who knows?
I must say that Rob Cope cracks me up. Trying to be all contrary. I don’t have a problem with Chip! I don’t have a problem with Teix’s error! I don’t have a problem with losing Renteria!
He’s trying so hard. It’s cute. He’ll probably call me snarky again.
I miss the good Braves of 2 days ago!
We can’t use Oscar as a starter because we have to have him as a long reliever since only Hudson and Smoltz seem capable of going more than 5 innings consistently. I expect Cormier will get 3 or 4 starts to show what he can do in the rotation.
This could be the pivotal week of the season. Bad showings vs the Mets and Phillies could for practical purposes put an end to the team’s postseason hopes.
“This could be the pivotal week of the season. Bad showings vs the Mets and Phillies could for practical purposes put an end to the team’s postseason hopes.”
Ron, I understand while you feel this way.
But I’m not sure that wins and losses will be the way to measure it, although 1-5 W-L would dig a big hole.
The key to success for MLB players is competitiveness. Even giving up seven runs, in obvious pain early, Smoltz continued to grind. That’s what being a pro’s all about. Everybody’s tired. Almost everyboy’s hurting. On every team.
I think if the Braves can hold their ground and show the other two division foes that they’re not going away, the Braves will rock on right through Sept.
I fear a Hall and Oates video may be lurking.
Stu, what are you trying to start? Do you enjoy starting stuff with people?
I don’t have a problem with Chip. I don’t have a problem with Tim McCarver. I have a very little problem with Joe Morgan. There are so many gray areas of knowledge in baseball where even though we disagree with an announcer, we may very well be wrong and they’re the ones right. Now, some of the guys are dead wrong sometimes, no doubt about it, but so are we many times as well. So with that said, I don’t have a list of announcers I hate. I do have a list of announcers I like though.
Teixera is a Gold Glover. He’s entitled to an error every now again. When was the last time you won a Gold Glove, Mr. Stuart?
Losing Renteria sucks, but Escobar is pretty freaking good too. So while there was doom and gloom and people jumping off buildings at the news of his injury, I’m ok. Escobar is a good hitter, and he’s probably better defensively, and that’s coming from one of the few people that defended Renteria’s defense vehemently earlier in the season.
Why do you do this dude? Is your life not busy enough that you need to do this? Aren’t in law school? Aren’t you married? Don’t you have stuff to do?
Is this thread live, or are the gloom despair and agony taking over?
I’d say it was a predictable pall. The team was “rolling” so to speak with a 3 game lead, a certain 4th and renewed optimism from the Texeria acquisition. Then we lost a sure win on Thursday, got a few players dinged up and the team just seemed to sink back into their familiar malaise. It didn’t help matters that Smoltz was struggling a little, and his defense let him down. Francis was also tough, and it is obvious to all the Braves have trouble with lefties who can change speeds.
I WANT A WINNING STREAK.
I have a problem with Joe Morgan. Gray areas or not, that man is an idiot. Otherwise, I do appreciate the occasional positive comment amidst a sea of negativity.
All that being said… the Braves need to win the next two against a mediocre Rockies team.
Mac,
I apologize if this was discussed during the game thread I was at the M-Braves game last night were Ascaino pitched poorly in the ninth and lost the game but what do you know about the Ryan Drese guy we signed yesterday.
Are we expecting him to give us some help in the 5th starter spot in a few weeks?
I know he was involved in the trade, along with Einar Diaz, that sent Travis Hafner to Cleveland. He once won 14 games, I believe in 2004 when he pitched for the Rangers.
I guess he’s the most cost-effective option. I just want a win tonight, that’s all I care about.
I was watching the game with my brother, and we both thought, last night would have been a great opportunity to give Lance Cormier a start in John Smoltz’s turn. Save Smoltzie for the Mets series, and give him 5 extra days to rest that injured shoulder, im scared if we make the playoffs we wont have Smoltzie, so we MUST acquire a pitcher at the August Deadline.
Mets fans are beating up Texiera for the errors, but Saltalamacchia is 1-13 so far in texas, we need another starter asap,
Imagine if we had a healthy mike hamton all year?
nj,
Hampton would have been about as good as Chuck James, I believe, and the Mets fans have no business ripping Teixeira because he’s doing a hell of a lot better than Delgado, isn’t he?
The fact is the Braves are probably stuck with this rotation for the rest of the year.
Who cares what Met fans think? They’ll get to see plenty of Tex next week.
Anybody else going to Shea? At the very least, I’ll be at the Wednesday night game.
I hope Tex continues to hit a bomb in every Atlanta game he plays. Let’s see what Mets fans say after that.
I just realized what I said. A Chuck James-ish Hampton would be loads better than the Fifth Starter Shuffle. I’d even be happy with Shane Reynolds.
When I read Shane Reynolds I almost vomitted in my mouth….
I’d be happy with Albie Lopez. Whoa, I can’t believe I just said that…
is zane smith available?
or pete smith for that matter?
A couple years ago, I had to go to Philly on a quickie business trip, so I picked the night of mid-week Braves game at the old Vet.
Of course, as the date drew nearer I realized that Shane Reynolds would be on the mound & I cringed a little. And, of course, he got bombed early—one of those 4IP-9H-6R kinda games. Bobby gets tossed early.
It’s hot & sticky. The place is a condemned dump. I’m surrounded by miserable, Pepsi-slurping Phillies fans with remnants of funnel cake stuck to their faces. What a party.
Braves rallied to tie, but lost in the 9th. The whole way up the turnpike I’m cursing Shane Reynolds.
But with all that, he’s still not as bad as Mark Redman. However, I think Reyes is certainly approaching Shane Reynolds territory.
Not sorry I missed this one. Yikes.
For those who watched, did the team just look tired from the previous night? I expected them to be, but it’s still somewhat discouraging that we keep falling farther behind the Mets.
I’m with RobBroad4th—I wouldn’t mind seeing a little winning streak in the near future. Just to prove we can have one.
ububba,
I actually feel pretty bad for Reyes. He was obviously rushed. Hopefully, he’s mentally tough enough to right the ship in the minors.
I’m just amazed at how people keep whistling past the graveyard. I wish I could be that much of an optimist. The win-loss record doesn’t matter? The Braves will roll through September? I’m not trying to be snarky but what is the reason for the optimism other than blind faith? And before people talk about the “mediocre” Rockies, remember their record is about the same as the Braves and over the last few weeks is much better. For that matter, so are the Nationals, which everyone here likes to make fun of. May I venture to say that it’s the Braves that are mediocre?
Marc,
I think we all know the Braves are mediocre. In fact, I’ve said a couple of times in the past few days that the trade for Teixeira should have never been made.
We just 2 games out of the Wild Card. Except that’s battling like 50 other teams, and half of them are winning each night.
So that’s it. We should just give up. That’s what I’m about to do.
And don’t worry. I’m leaning more toward that position than anything else and only setting myself up to be right. I don’t feel good about the overall team at all. The only way this perception can be shattered is for the Braves to go on a hot streak.
I mean, yes, we’ve got the first base problem fixed, but relying on the offense isn’t going to get us anywhere when the bullpen is gassed because the starters can’t go more than six.
I guess what I’m trying to say more than anything else right now is that I think the things that can go wrong outweigh the things that can go right. I don’t want things to go wrong, obviously, but it’s hard to argue how things can go right with the current state of the team.
Sam,
The starters only go 6 on a good night.
In all seriousness, though, the main reason for optimism is the state of the NL. As mediocre as this Braves team may be, there are only 1 or 2 teams in the league that aren’t. I agree that this team has been maddening to watch this season—it always seems like we’re so close to turning things around—but we’re still in the race.
kyle davies just gave #500 to a-hole. he’s now losing 4-0 in the first.
Poor Kyle. Definitely should’ve been left in the minors.
Fifty pitches in two innings. Poor Davies, indeed.
Wow, I do feel sorry for Davies too.
Marc;
I’m always optimistic in the morning. Genetic defect. Of course, wins and losses matter. But I don’t think next week is do or die.
My source for confidence: Plate discipline. Thought the hitters did a good job midweek of getting to the other guy’s bullpen.
Biggest worry: That Bobby won’t figure out how to get rest for his relievers.
I’ll agree the starting pitching, on average, is mediocre, at best. But I’m hoping the hitting can compensate. I think JS did the best with what was available.
I think the big problem is the bullpen! We have lost too many 8th and 9th innning games when we been up 2+ runs. If we are out of the playoffs this season, go back and see if we won those games if we would have been in the playoffs. That has been the Braves achilles heal for years!
You better worry about Renteria! He is one of the top #2 hitters in the league!
For a few days, I thought this team had turned the corner and was about to go one of the patented 2nd half runs to the playoffs we saw so often in the ’90s. Then Thursday happened followed by Friday. The wild card is still a very real possibility, but I question whether this team can elevate its play enough to win the 88-90 games that will be needed to earn a playoff berth.
I’m watching the Yankee game & Davies is pitching exactly the same as he did for Atlanta. Walks & hard-hit balls all over the place. He’s up to 70+ pitches and he’s in the 3rd inning.
Ball 1…
Ball 2…
Line drive somewhere.
Betemit owns Davies.
Speaking of line drives, Davies just gave up an RBI single to Betemit, a BB to right.
He can’t be long for this game.
Also on the pessimistic side–Renteria is now out for 2 weeks.
I’m not all gloom and doom–I think the chance of winning the division or getting the WC is about 1/3. Not great odds but not an impossible feat either. The starting rotation makes it hard to be more upbeat or optimistic, I’ll keep watching and pulling for the Braves.
Mac – If you are going to reference Douglas Adams, at least pick something less painful. After the brilliance of the earlier work, “Mostly Harmless” was like Keith Lockhart pinch hitting for Rogers Horsnby. Delenda est is less of an insult.
Are the Braves medicore, yes. But the NL is also incredibly mediocre and does not have a single great team. While it is a little disheartening the Braves have been playing about the same as the Royals and Nationals, you have to think the new additions are going to help improve their play. If they can get into the playoffs, there’s hope as the Card’s proved last year. So while i’ll concede the team is mediocre, they could still heat up late in the season and make a run for the WS because no other teams are good enough to pull away. This has been illustrated thus far in the season. If the Braves can put together a 11/15 they will probbaly be no worse that 3 games out of the NL East and a game or so out of the WC. Will it happen…maybe/maybe not…but it certainly could.
The Braves have the 2nd best offense in the NL, and their team ERA is 7th in the NL. For fear of sounding too argumentative, I will merely say that I believe this team is not mediocre, and with the acquisitions of Teixera, Dotel, Mahay, and Ring, this team will be even better.
Hey, if this team has one good hot streak in them (or 2), they can make the post-season.
The NL has parity, it sucks, whatever. None of the .500-area teams are dramatically better than any of the others.
I know what this team is and what this team isn’t. I’m optimistic in the sense that it’s possible to make the post-season. That’s what keeps me going & keeps me interested.
I can’t say I was staying home to watch too many games the middle to end of September ’06. I think this stretch drive will be different.
Davies out after 3 innings. ERA now over 6 for the year.
Oh, and by the way, Davies gave up A-Rod’s historic 500th homerun today. I knew the Braves would help him make history…but I never thought trading him to the Royals would do it.
New thread, peeps.
Thanks Davies! Now the Yankees are right back into things!