ESPN – Diamondbacks vs. Braves Box Score, August 19 2007 – MLB
So, after the mysterious events of yesterday (which never happened) the Braves came back to salvage one game of the series with the Diamondbacks, who appear to be the best team in the league even though nobody can really figure out how. Smoltz got in trouble in the first, allowing a one-out double to give Arizona the lead. But Mark Teixeira countered with a two-out, two-run homer (KJ had doubled earlier in the inning) to give the Braves the lead.
Smoltz should probably have gotten out of trouble in the third, but McCann had a brainlock, throwing to second on a stolen base attempt with first and third, two out, leading to the D-Backs getting a run on a double steal; Smoltz then struck out the batter. After that he locked down and kept things in check, striking out twelve over eight innings.
Teixeira answered again with another two-run, two-out homer, scoring KJ again, giving the Braves a 4-2 lead. Escobar hit a solo shot in the fourth, and KJ’s second double scored Harris to make it 6-2. Wickman made it entirely too exciting, again, loading the bases in the ninth (Moylan was up to bail him out, assuming he didn’t give up a homer to tie it) but Bob got a groundout to end it.
PS: Jeez, I forgot to mention that Smoltz passed Niekro for the franchise career strikeout record during the game. He already had the Atlanta record, but Niekro had some in Milwaukee.
that was a good game. Braves had to win and they came through.
oh, and I was at a bar watching the game and this guy told me this hilarious joke:
Wickman
I have no confidence when Wickman enters the game. I don’t care what his numbers say.
After the atrocity in Atlanta, nothing short of a four game sweep will redeem the Braves against the Reds. (I’m from Ohio, it was a rough week, especially after the 14 inning game).
Also, being from Ohio, the local FSN affiliate has the Wednesday game for a noon start time. The Braves site, as of this morning, had the game as a 7 start. Can anyone clarify?
Boy, we owe the Reds a sweep…and a 4 game win streak…or any damn win streak at this point…is almost a must.
Geez, this smells like last year. Waiting…waiting…waiting for that last big push.
Still waiting…
pirates took the lead in the 7th. it’s now 5-4.
now 7-4. hold on bucs!!
Good to have you back, Mac. I was afraid we’d lost your for good after the game never-to-be-mentioned-again.
The Mets, I’m sorry to say, seem to be starting to pull away. If we can get it back to three or so games for our series with them, maybe we have a chance, but I still kind of doubt it.
On the other hand, the wild card (which still exists…just a reminder before anyone says we’re “doomed”) is imminently winnable, and at worst we’ll be 1.5 back in that after today, at best 0.5. I still think we’re in pretty good position, especially if we go on a little run, which we haven’t really done since April, and which this team is definitely good enough to do IMO.
Gameday says there’s another rain delay in Pittsburgh. If that’s so, hopefully it’s an all-night rainstorm.
Smoltz came back pretty strong today…I guess his shoulder has to get loosen up before he looks like the normal dominating Smotlz…
Earlier I thought it would fall off…That guy is a damn warrior…
Smoltz came back pretty strong today…I guess his shoulder has to get loosen up before he looks like the normal dominating Smotlz…
Earlier I thought it would fall off…That guy is a damn warrior…
I can’t give Smoltz enough props. I will weep openly when he retires.
I will also weep openly the next time Wickman comes in a game. How incredibly frustrating.
Big Bob got the job done, so I won’t complain. We need a great road trip to have any chance in the East and to make progress towards the wild card. Going .500 vs these bad teams even though it’s on the road won’t cut it.
Great game… but I must say, McCann is looking more and more like an average, actually below-average catcher defensively. Whatever, the kid can hit.
Hey, maybe Santana watched the ESPN guys debate over Beckett and Bedard the other day… dude’s the best pitcher in the league and hasn’t been challenged by anyone for that crown for several years now.
Clearly they should just call the damn Phillies-Pirates game already, heh.
Gotta start reeling off series wins with a sweep here & there. If we’re gonna be any good, we gotta play like it.
I’ll take 3/4 from Cincy. Just keep winning & see where it shakes out.
Phillies lose and the Padres win. 1.5 back for the Wild Card.
This upcoming road trip is really big. The way the matchups break up, we’ll be gaining ground on somebody. Just gotta win.
Harang pitched today so I’m thinking he won’t pitch in cincy
Focus on the wild card.
The only way we should think about the Division is if the Mets gift us a shot at it, and they haven’t been looking too generous lately.
Even though we took one today, I’m still fuming about Saturday’s nonsense. I just hope the offense can get on an insane roll to cover up the lack of quality in the 3 to 5 spots in the rotation.
Also, I know its nice to ponder it, but there is no way we will sweep the Reds. The Braves are too much of a .500 club to do something like that. I would love 3 out of 4, however, I fully expect another patented split.
6 and 6 in our last 12.
Based on quotes from Chipper earlier in the week, I think that’s what they’re doing, Parish.
I agree that that’s probably the way to do it. I know it goes against the whole tradition of winning the division and whatnot, but a playoff spot is a playoff spot. Secure the playoff spot then worry about the division.
Well, whatever small amount of optimism I have is guarded behind lock and key.
I have no qualms whatsoever for rooting for the wild card. Four out of 16 teams in the NL make the playoffs. That’s a fair deal.
Langerhans was designated for assignment. By the WASHINGTON NATIONALS. I would say Langerhans has now been destroyed beyond a reasonable doubt. In 106 games he threw up a sub-Simpson .156 average. Burn.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20340898/
Wildcard or Division, I don’t care. I just want to see the Braves win as many games as possible, isn’t that the point? Forget the standings, forget what the Mets and Padres are doing, and go out there and win.
It’s sort of crazy to think that just a few short months ago we had Craig Wilson (.172), Ryan Langerhans (.136), and Andruw in the #4 spot (still hitting around .215). The team now has the problem of which .315+ player to put in LF on any given day and how to get Yunel Escobar into games.
It feels like a different season altogether.
Different season, same results.
“It’s sort of crazy to think that just a few short months ago we had Craig Wilson (.172), Ryan Langerhans (.136), and Andruw in the #4 spot (still hitting around .215). The team now has the problem of which .315+ player to put in LF on any given day and how to get Yunel Escobar into games.”
and back then we had a #3 and #4 starter we could rely on, and a pen that wasnt overworked. hopefully, the kinks will work out, but for now the kinks just changed positions.
Smoltz wanted a chance to extend the record even further, but Cox removed him from the game after eight innings and 122 pitches, the most Smoltz has thrown in a game since April.
“I tried [to stay in the game],” Smoltz said. “We’ve always talked about the danger pitches, when you get over 115 pitches. I just wanted to do it, because I was feeling so good, but [Cox] made the wiser choice. I can tell you that somewhere down the road, I’m going to pitch a complete game.”
“I didn’t want to take a chance with him,” Cox said. “We’ve come this far, fighting everything, and there was no sense. He would have started the inning with almost 120 pitches. Down the road, he may have to throw 135, we’ll see. He knows me well enough that I’m not going to let him start an inning with 120 pitches.”
We are in a tough spot. If we have a chance at the wildcard, we have to get James and Carlyle pitching well and/or Cormier/ name any 5th starter putting in some solid games. It’s almost impossible to win 3 or 4 in a row when our pitching breaks down after Smoltz and Hudson. If we don’t win 3 or 4 in a row on a regular basis, we’re in trouble. Call me crazy, but now that the Dodgers seem to be out of their slump, they scare me the most.
It would have been nice if we could have traded for a good starting picher, but the fact is, we didn’t have many choices. The ones I heard mentioned (Arroyo, Wells, Garland, …) would have had a minimal or even negative impact.
At that point of the season, ryan, before Wilson was DFAd and Langerhans was traded, our “fourth” starter was Redman. At what point did you rely on him (Or the fifth starter, Davies)?
The bullpen overworked, yes, but the problem is easily ramifiable, if Bobby will just give Yates/Soriano/Wickman some rest. I would honestly be comfortable spending the next month with Moylan as the closer and Mahay, Acosta and Devine logging some of the significant innings. Yates and Soriano were incredible early in the season, but obviously aren’t getting it done now (Yates moreso, incredibly) and need to be DL-ed for tired arm once Dotel gets back. Wickman has always been like this, though, and Cleveland fans can vouch. He’ll scare the hell out of you (like tonight) , but he’s generally going to get the job done. He’s allowed 2 runs in his last 10 appearances (9.1 IP), and should not have realistically allowed the run against SFG, as the umpire missed strikes 3,4, and 5 against a hitter whose name I can’t remember.
Interesting note: of the top 6 WC teams, the 1st 4 (SD, Ph, Atl, LA) are 5-5 over their last 10. The next two (Col & Mil) are 4-6 and 3-7 respectively. St Louis is in 7th and is 6.5 games out, but theyr’e 7-3 over their last 10. It looks like nobody wants to step up. Here’s hoping the Braves take charge starting with Cincy.
Another .500 week for a .500 team. Big surprise.
As predicted, the Mets have finally gotten their shit together but we do have a reasonable shot at the wildcard simply because the NL is so thoroughly mediocre.
Well, whatever small amount of optimism I have is guarded behind lock and key.
Ditto.
off topic:
ubbuba,
i was cruising your site for some study music, and was thrilled to find motor. just needed something new with no lyrics to discombobulate my innformation intake.
thanx
The fact that we can only take 2 out of 3 against the Giants, one of the worst teams in the majors with or without Bonds, is cause for worry.
Whee! I attend a game and the Braves win! Now I don’t have to decide whether or not to honor my vow of not going to any more games if the Braves had lost today. (They’re now 3-7 in games I’ve attended at the Ted.)
I’ll admit I was worried when the only autograph I was able to get today was Kali’s. Thought it was some sort of terrible sign or something.
It was a good day–seats in the shade, watching Smoltz show everybody how it’s done, while listening to Skip and Pete on the radio, and keeping score, too. (Instead of amusing myself with long division problems like I did during last night’s debacle. No joke.)
Here’s to getting back on track in Cincy.
Oh…don’t know what has been said about Renteria, but he was on the field before the game, jogging/sprinting/going side-to-side. He looked pretty good to me, but what do I know.
Big D.,
They were saying on the game that he felt some discomfort running laterally and Bobby wants to be sure before putting him back in the lineup. Sounds like they’re shooting for Wednesday.
I will say I have confidence in Hudson, and rightfully so, so this evening’s game shouldn’t be bad. The other three, I’m certain will probably be bad if bunches of runs aren’t put on the board.
I gotta say, I’m *really* looking forward to seeing Tex bat in that ballpark. The ball is gonna to be in the air-a.
/strummy strum strum
Isn’t it funny how things change? I and a lot of others here wanted to trade Hudson after last season. Now he’s our co-ace. I’m looking for at least 7 wins on this road trip. Get it done, Bravos!!!
In the last thread, someone called Bob Wickman “Butterbean.” I think it’s a great nickname!
Go Braves!
From Brad Evans’ Fantasy baseball column:
Banged-up Brave Edgar Renteria suffered a setback with his sprained ankle on Saturday and likely won’t be activated until at least Friday. According to Bobby Cox’s detailed description, Renteria inflamed the injury during a “figure-eight running” exercise. Thankfully Renteria didn’t try a dangerous triple-axle pirouette. Flexible middle-infielder Yunel Escobar, hitting .260 since Renteria was shelved, will trot out to short and bat eighth every day again this week.
If we don’t pick up some ground this week on the Pads or the Mets, then it is over. (the Mets are playing the Pads)
This is a big strech for us
@42
Actually, Padres and Dodgers are playing Mets and Phillies Tuesday through Sunday. If we win, we gain ground on somebody every day. If we lose, we lose ground on somebody every day.
I went to the Friday and Sunday games here in DC with the Mets. It was like being at f***g Shea Stadium with all the obnoxious Mets fans. But, as much as we would like to deny it, the Mets are good, especially with Beltran in the lineup and they play with a kind of verve that seems to be missing from the Braves. I can’t see making up six games on the Mets with 38 to play.
The WC, of course, is a different story, but they simply HAVE to win 3/4 from the Reds–sweeping is probably unrealistic considering the pitching matchups and the fact that Cincy is throwing two lefties and 3/4 is probably stretching it too. But, if they are serious, they have to go at least 7-3 on this road trip.
Smoltz is fabulous. You know his arm is being held on with baling wire but 12 strikeouts is incredible. We need to hurry up on that human cloning.
On Mike&Mike, Smoltz claimed his shoulder is feeling fine now. He said he has a bit of a lower back problem and was unhappy with his mechanics in his past few games, but thought he had gotten them straightened out midway through yesterday’s game.
Someone may have mentioned this on a previous thread, but Micah Owings (Babe Ruth reincarnated the way he played Saturday) has a brother in the Braves minor league system. He’s an outfielder playing for Rome:
http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?n=Jon%20Owings&pos=&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=449156
@49 He’s got some pop, but can he pitch?!?!?!? 😉
If the Braves aren’t fired up against the Reds after the Reds came into Atlanta and swept them…then I don’t know what it will take.
However, after Hudson…I don’t know how we get Griffey and Dunn out. James pitching in Cincy is already giving me nightmares. Hopefully the homers he will give up will be solo shots.
Offensively, we probably need 10 runs on after tonite’s game.
beedee,
We got a million of them.
I do agree that we need to win against weaker teams, and not just 2 of 3. the problem is that right now, it seems that we can only win games started by Smoltz or Huddy. Chuck James needs a credible start this week; with this line-up, we really need to be better than .500 with our 3rd starter.
We are better than .500 in Chuck’s starts.
13-12
Not much better, but it is better. ;D
According to BRef, the Braves are 19-7 in Huddy’s starts.
14-10 in Smoltz’s starts, 9-6 in Carlyle’s starts and 1-3 in Cormier’s starts.