We have a chance to take 2 out of 3 from the Mariners–ought to be easy, but it almost seems like an epic struggle.
On the nice side, maybe Lillibridgg (who is from WA) get his first big league hit against Seattle….
Coop
on June 22, 2008 at 10:03 am
JJ pitched well despite the total collapse behinf him, and Frenchy got hit in the clutch.
Coop
on June 22, 2008 at 10:20 am
Spellcheck is a useful tool.
Brian J.
on June 22, 2008 at 10:35 am
Thank you for the lesson in semantics, Coop.
Again, it’s hard to believe that we’re just 5 games behind the Phillies, but that’s where we are. There’s more than enough time for the Braves to win the division, if everyone gets healthy and starts playing the way they have in previous years. (I know what you’ve said about Hope, Mac, but indulge me.)
Stephen
on June 22, 2008 at 10:39 am
Agreed–Until the Phillies (or another team)run away with the division or the Braves completely collapse there is every reason to hope for the best. If the Cardinals can win the World Series with 84 regular seasons wins, the Braves can at least stay competitive for awhile….
phil
on June 22, 2008 at 10:57 am
The only “hit” frenchy can get in the clutch is HBP.
Bench-y Frenchy!
basil
on June 22, 2008 at 11:06 am
Between innings late in the game last night, they played Sussudio on the loudspeakers at Turner Field. And then we won the game. Is there anything the music of Phil Collins can’t do?
Dave
on June 22, 2008 at 11:08 am
Jeff’s not in the line-up today…
Dave
on June 22, 2008 at 11:09 am
Blanco cf
Infante ss
KJ 2b
Tex 1b
BMac c
Norton rf
Gotay 3b
Jones lf
Huddy p
A.West
on June 22, 2008 at 11:25 am
Awesome about Frenchy not being in the lineup. Too bad Norton is the best alternative. I wonder if it’s because of the injury, or the injury is the excuse Cox is using to do what he should have done many times before – sit Frenchy.
phil
on June 22, 2008 at 11:28 am
I hope he got injured. He needs to go on the 60 day dl for this team to have a chance.
Nick
on June 22, 2008 at 11:30 am
Well, he’s taken Norton out of the middle of the order and Brandon Jones is in the lineup instead of Francoeur. This is pretty much the best lineup that it is possible for us to field with the people we have available at the moment. Only minor quibble is that perhaps Jones should be hitting sixth.
Dan
on June 22, 2008 at 11:38 am
That lineup is as good as you it’s going to get with Chipper and Escobar out. Any time your best hitter (Chipper) and either third or fourth best hitter (Escobar) is out, it’s going to look at least a little ugly.
O’Brien says this was a “scheduled” off-day for Francoeur. I don’t believe. Bobby knows he’s been awful. Put him on the DL with “inability to hit”.
Adam M
on June 22, 2008 at 11:43 am
Is there any word on Chipper’s availability for next week? I ask for fantasy-related purposes mainly…
csg
on June 22, 2008 at 11:43 am
seriously though 5 of the 8 starters we’re not an opening day starter for us. Silva sucks so why dont we get Huddy some runs, he deserves a win
after last nights game, I had to buy a McCann shirt
Rob Cope
on June 22, 2008 at 11:54 am
I’m wondering the same thing, Adam M. Though I do have Evan Longoria waiting on the bench. The great thing about Chipper is that he’s a fantasy stud, but you gotta have a back-up 3B. My 3B and CI are pretty solid: A-Rod, Chipper, and Longoria.
Adam M
on June 22, 2008 at 11:58 am
That’s crazy. I have Longoria too and have to make this decision by tomorrow at noon. Anyway, if you have A-Rod that might be a logjam.
Smitty
on June 22, 2008 at 12:04 pm
I love the Braves Live (!) excuse why Frenchy isn’t playing. “It is a schedualed off day for Jeff. He did get hit in the hand and the foot.”
Too bad he didn’t get hit in the head. Frenchy’s head isn’t a vital organ.
So for three entire years he doesn’t take a day off, and suddenly, the day after getting hit in the hand, he has a scheduled off day. Riiiiiiiiight.
Rob Cope
on June 22, 2008 at 12:08 pm
Well, there hasn’t been too many weeks this year where I’ve had to make a decision. Longoria didn’t get called up until a couple weeks in, and then A-Rod was injured, Chipper has been injured a bit, and Longoria was in a slump. For all but a couple weeks, it was an easy decision who to start, especially since there are lineup spots for a corner infielder and 3B.
I really blew it with Jair this week. I think he was a two-start pitcher, but I was worried he wouldn’t make his starts, so I sat him. That didn’t turn out too well.
Longoria is .200/.292/.350 in his last six. Hitting around .250 for the month, but his isolated discipline and power are up. Tough decision.
Frank
on June 22, 2008 at 12:11 pm
Put him on the DL with “inability to hit”.
LOL!
Smitty
on June 22, 2008 at 12:11 pm
I read that we might be in the Ryan Freel market. Thoughts?
Frank
on June 22, 2008 at 12:12 pm
I’d pass–the only thing Freel upgrades is the expense of putting a bunch of mediocre players on the field
Godot
on June 22, 2008 at 12:12 pm
That was scary, seeing Jones, LF without Jones , 3B in the lineup card.
And Mac playing the day game after a long night game? Arghh. Stupid Corky.
I’d say Tex is the best with the glove on the field right now. (I say that without looking at any stats.)
And as I speak, he homers again
Douglass
on June 22, 2008 at 1:34 pm
McCann make it back to back!
braves14
on June 22, 2008 at 1:35 pm
Back-to-back!
mraver
on June 22, 2008 at 1:35 pm
I mean, I guess one at a time isn’t so bad. 😀
Godot
on June 22, 2008 at 1:35 pm
I don’t want to defend TP, but Frenchy apart, this team hits pretty patiently. Silva is a guy you hit or not. You are not going to run the pitch count up on him, as all he does is throw strikes.
Tex? really..Maybe Boras told him Seattle was a possible suitor.
According to Plus/Minus, Teixeira is the eleventh-best defensive first baseman in baseball, while KJ is the 22nd-best second baseman. So yeah, you’re probably right. Yunel and Chipper are by far the team’s best defensive players…
Douglass
on June 22, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Yeah, but wouldn’t you rather have Khalil Greene than Yunel?
Just a personal thing… Can we not call McCann “Mac”, call him “Heap” or something else? ‘Cause I scan all these comments and it confuses me when my name pops up.
Hah, I know this Mac. I was referencing a spat I had on hear with Bethany last week when I made the exact claim you just made and had Bethany attack me because “she hates him” and “didn’t believe” my stats.
Dan
on June 22, 2008 at 1:43 pm
I think the team is rallying knowing their rally-killer is on the bench today.
Douglass
on June 22, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Guess I should add that when I pressed her to say who she would rather have Khalil Greene (LOL) was the name she came up with.
Godot
on June 22, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Yunel is ahead both by +/- and RZR. UZR had him in front by a mile too.
braves14
on June 22, 2008 at 1:44 pm
Khalil Greene? Clemson, blaaahhh
mraver
on June 22, 2008 at 1:44 pm
Adrian Beltre is like the only good signing Bavasi made. Ever.
Douglass
on June 22, 2008 at 1:45 pm
As a very sarcastic person, sometimes I forget how difficult sarcasm can be to detect on the internets.
Just for amusement’s sake, selections from Baseball Prospectus:
[T]he shortstop job belongs to Escobar, but it’s not clear he’s good enough to hold it… batting average will be closer to .280… Escobar is not a superior defensive player, either. Brent Lillibridge could pass him by August.
“Also, Chipper Jones should be in left field.”
mraver
on June 22, 2008 at 1:47 pm
I think you get into sample size issues when you look at any statistic over half a season, but I imagine defensive ones in particular could get pretty exaggerated. Not saying they’re not accurate in this case, but Tex has always had a strong defensive reputation, and IIRC has done well on defensive metrics in the past, so I’d be surprised if he suddenly became mediocre.
Douglass
on June 22, 2008 at 1:47 pm
I dunno Mac, I think Lillibridge still might pass him by August.
(unless we make a move for Khalil Greene)
(see? sarcasm.)
Jason
on June 22, 2008 at 1:48 pm
Figures that the rain down here would knock out DirecTV during a game in which the Braves were actually playing well.
Heh. Yeah. I asked Sheehan about it in a chat earlier (indirectly), and he pointed to the slump that Escobar was in at the time. It is accurate that the power numbers aren’t there like you would like from Escobar, but his walk rate is up over last year, so even though he’s taken a BABIP hit, his OBA has improved.
The defense has been fantastic, though, for Escobar, and while he’ll never be a top-teir guy offensively, he’s looking like he should be better than the proverbial “futility infielder”.
braves14
on June 22, 2008 at 1:53 pm
Another promising thing offensively for Yunel is the much improved walk rate — even batting right in front of Chipper much of the time.
Smitty
on June 22, 2008 at 1:56 pm
Ah, a former Vol.
Douglass
on June 22, 2008 at 1:56 pm
Plus, Boog and Joe says he’s just getting his ‘man strength.’ So he’s got that goin for him, which is nice.
mraver
on June 22, 2008 at 1:59 pm
Knuckleballers are funny.
mraver
on June 22, 2008 at 2:00 pm
For those of you worried about Kyle Davies, he got bombed today. >_<
Smitty
on June 22, 2008 at 2:00 pm
I’d send McCann here
Smitty
on June 22, 2008 at 2:01 pm
A check swing double. Silly Norton
braves14
on June 22, 2008 at 2:03 pm
This is nice.
Smitty
on June 22, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Gotay is playing very well
mraver
on June 22, 2008 at 2:03 pm
I’m liking this game!
Douglass
on June 22, 2008 at 2:04 pm
Indeed.
Smitty
on June 22, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Maybe that come back win last night has put some life in this team. Or maybe it is that Frenchy is on the bench and can’t hurt the team
Phillip
on June 22, 2008 at 2:08 pm
McCann should have “B.A. Weasel” on the back of his jersey.
Use code “Journal” for a 5% discount.
We have a chance to take 2 out of 3 from the Mariners–ought to be easy, but it almost seems like an epic struggle.
On the nice side, maybe Lillibridgg (who is from WA) get his first big league hit against Seattle….
JJ pitched well despite the total collapse behinf him, and Frenchy got hit in the clutch.
Spellcheck is a useful tool.
Thank you for the lesson in semantics, Coop.
Again, it’s hard to believe that we’re just 5 games behind the Phillies, but that’s where we are. There’s more than enough time for the Braves to win the division, if everyone gets healthy and starts playing the way they have in previous years. (I know what you’ve said about Hope, Mac, but indulge me.)
Agreed–Until the Phillies (or another team)run away with the division or the Braves completely collapse there is every reason to hope for the best. If the Cardinals can win the World Series with 84 regular seasons wins, the Braves can at least stay competitive for awhile….
The only “hit” frenchy can get in the clutch is HBP.
Bench-y Frenchy!
Between innings late in the game last night, they played Sussudio on the loudspeakers at Turner Field. And then we won the game. Is there anything the music of Phil Collins can’t do?
Jeff’s not in the line-up today…
Blanco cf
Infante ss
KJ 2b
Tex 1b
BMac c
Norton rf
Gotay 3b
Jones lf
Huddy p
Awesome about Frenchy not being in the lineup. Too bad Norton is the best alternative. I wonder if it’s because of the injury, or the injury is the excuse Cox is using to do what he should have done many times before – sit Frenchy.
I hope he got injured. He needs to go on the 60 day dl for this team to have a chance.
Well, he’s taken Norton out of the middle of the order and Brandon Jones is in the lineup instead of Francoeur. This is pretty much the best lineup that it is possible for us to field with the people we have available at the moment. Only minor quibble is that perhaps Jones should be hitting sixth.
That lineup is as good as you it’s going to get with Chipper and Escobar out. Any time your best hitter (Chipper) and either third or fourth best hitter (Escobar) is out, it’s going to look at least a little ugly.
O’Brien says this was a “scheduled” off-day for Francoeur. I don’t believe. Bobby knows he’s been awful. Put him on the DL with “inability to hit”.
Is there any word on Chipper’s availability for next week? I ask for fantasy-related purposes mainly…
seriously though 5 of the 8 starters we’re not an opening day starter for us. Silva sucks so why dont we get Huddy some runs, he deserves a win
after last nights game, I had to buy a McCann shirt
I’m wondering the same thing, Adam M. Though I do have Evan Longoria waiting on the bench. The great thing about Chipper is that he’s a fantasy stud, but you gotta have a back-up 3B. My 3B and CI are pretty solid: A-Rod, Chipper, and Longoria.
That’s crazy. I have Longoria too and have to make this decision by tomorrow at noon. Anyway, if you have A-Rod that might be a logjam.
I love the Braves Live (!) excuse why Frenchy isn’t playing. “It is a schedualed off day for Jeff. He did get hit in the hand and the foot.”
Too bad he didn’t get hit in the head. Frenchy’s head isn’t a vital organ.
So for three entire years he doesn’t take a day off, and suddenly, the day after getting hit in the hand, he has a scheduled off day. Riiiiiiiiight.
Well, there hasn’t been too many weeks this year where I’ve had to make a decision. Longoria didn’t get called up until a couple weeks in, and then A-Rod was injured, Chipper has been injured a bit, and Longoria was in a slump. For all but a couple weeks, it was an easy decision who to start, especially since there are lineup spots for a corner infielder and 3B.
I really blew it with Jair this week. I think he was a two-start pitcher, but I was worried he wouldn’t make his starts, so I sat him. That didn’t turn out too well.
Longoria is .200/.292/.350 in his last six. Hitting around .250 for the month, but his isolated discipline and power are up. Tough decision.
Put him on the DL with “inability to hit”.
LOL!
I read that we might be in the Ryan Freel market. Thoughts?
I’d pass–the only thing Freel upgrades is the expense of putting a bunch of mediocre players on the field
That was scary, seeing Jones, LF without Jones , 3B in the lineup card.
And Mac playing the day game after a long night game? Arghh. Stupid Corky.
Thoughts?
Well, apparently the Braves don’t have very many.
Our lineup looks so much better without Francoeur in it.
is this site really full of badass tough guys??…….or a bunch of sniveling little weasels rooting for someone to get hurt?
I think McCann will die by the end of July
Thanks barrycuda,
I am a bad ass!
Bad-ass weasels.
thats about what i figured
Actually, I just changed the tagline to “Bad-Ass Weasels.”
Back in the USA. Go Braves!
Actually I perfer the term,
“Bad Mother F*#ker”
For the record, I am 100% hulking bad-ass tough guy.
how does your mother feel about that one Smitty?
I’m more like Samuel L. Jackson than Brent Lillibridge!
ol’ Sam L. probably cant hit either.
Pllllaaaaaay baaaaall….
(sorry)
Has Tim been topping 90mph in his last couple of starts? Looks to be 89/90 today.
MLB gamecast says BJones is actually in RF w/ Norton in left. If so, I like that arangement even more.
His velocity is fine. he’s hit 92 on at least 3 fastballst his inning, that’s the norm with 82 changeup, 86 slider….he’s fine.
Why is Hudson pitching like Atrosta?
I am missing the commentary on MLB.com–is anybody else having the same problem? Since it may be Chip, its actually nice…
Joe continuing to bitch about Ichiro having that on the back of his uniform.
:continues rolling eyes:
9 pitches…nice way to save time…
Hell, I remember when Pete Maravich had “Pistol” on his back.
Atrosta…that’s funny
Once, there were Mariners fans who complained that they had a guy with “Simpson” on the back of his uniform.
nice. burn.
The Braves, of course, are the franchise that put nicknames on the back of their uniforms.
“Channel 17”
That’s back when Terrible Ted really was kinda nuts, but we loved him for it.
Atta boy tex!
(Bout time.)
Scott Boras: “That’s another million!”
Tex!
Helluva DP there.
barrycuda,
My mom is fine with it, but your mother LOVES it.
and smitty throws down the gauntlet.
Looks like teams are realizing that Blanco has about a strong of an arm as Danny Wuerffel.
Douglass,
Throwing down the gauntlet is in the Bad Mother F*#cker code.
I like this Ibanez guy. I wonder what it would take to get him
braves 14,
I hate Danny Wuerffel, but at least his arm was acurate.
Blanco’s arm is a gun, without rifling and no powder in the shell casing
It’s an arquebus.
Maybe it is just a super soaker
Francoeur, of course, has a blunderbuss.
Meanwhile, Hudson has thrown 50 pitches through three, while Silva is looking at maybe the mid-thirties.
Mac,
I think you just sumed up our whole season with the pitch count.
I hope TP gets a managerial job this winter
Because of the two hits, he’s up to 40. Still…
We are in danger of ending Silva’s streak of bad pitching….Not that I am surprised at this point….
Nice play, KJ. You know, he’s probably the team’s best defensive player right now. Scary, huh?
Nice DP—Huddy deserves a 6 pitch inning….
Tex does it again!
[BORAS]Another million![/BORAS]
Another million.
I’d say Tex is the best with the glove on the field right now. (I say that without looking at any stats.)
And as I speak, he homers again
McCann make it back to back!
Back-to-back!
I mean, I guess one at a time isn’t so bad. 😀
I don’t want to defend TP, but Frenchy apart, this team hits pretty patiently. Silva is a guy you hit or not. You are not going to run the pitch count up on him, as all he does is throw strikes.
Tex? really..Maybe Boras told him Seattle was a possible suitor.
Mac!!!
According to Plus/Minus, Teixeira is the eleventh-best defensive first baseman in baseball, while KJ is the 22nd-best second baseman. So yeah, you’re probably right. Yunel and Chipper are by far the team’s best defensive players…
Yeah, but wouldn’t you rather have Khalil Greene than Yunel?
Just a personal thing… Can we not call McCann “Mac”, call him “Heap” or something else? ‘Cause I scan all these comments and it confuses me when my name pops up.
Well, if this lineup’s gonna be competitive at all, our good hitters are gonna hafta rake. Let’s tack on some more, boys.
Hits by Norton, Hudson, and Blanco get us another one! Who is this team?
Douglass… Yunel is rated as the best shortstop in the majors, and it’s not close.
Shortstop
2008
Rank Player +/-
1 Yunel Escobar +19
2 Orlando Cabrera +12
3 Troy Tulowitzki +9
4 J.J. Hardy +8
5 Omar Vizquel +7
6 Erick Aybar +6
7 Cristian Guzman +5
8 Maicer Izturis +3
9 Omar Quintanilla +3
10 Cesar Izturis +2
Hah, I know this Mac. I was referencing a spat I had on hear with Bethany last week when I made the exact claim you just made and had Bethany attack me because “she hates him” and “didn’t believe” my stats.
I think the team is rallying knowing their rally-killer is on the bench today.
Guess I should add that when I pressed her to say who she would rather have Khalil Greene (LOL) was the name she came up with.
Yunel is ahead both by +/- and RZR. UZR had him in front by a mile too.
Khalil Greene? Clemson, blaaahhh
Adrian Beltre is like the only good signing Bavasi made. Ever.
As a very sarcastic person, sometimes I forget how difficult sarcasm can be to detect on the internets.
Just for amusement’s sake, selections from Baseball Prospectus:
“Also, Chipper Jones should be in left field.”
I think you get into sample size issues when you look at any statistic over half a season, but I imagine defensive ones in particular could get pretty exaggerated. Not saying they’re not accurate in this case, but Tex has always had a strong defensive reputation, and IIRC has done well on defensive metrics in the past, so I’d be surprised if he suddenly became mediocre.
I dunno Mac, I think Lillibridge still might pass him by August.
(unless we make a move for Khalil Greene)
(see? sarcasm.)
Figures that the rain down here would knock out DirecTV during a game in which the Braves were actually playing well.
I am not impressed by Suzuki.
Heh. Yeah. I asked Sheehan about it in a chat earlier (indirectly), and he pointed to the slump that Escobar was in at the time. It is accurate that the power numbers aren’t there like you would like from Escobar, but his walk rate is up over last year, so even though he’s taken a BABIP hit, his OBA has improved.
The defense has been fantastic, though, for Escobar, and while he’ll never be a top-teir guy offensively, he’s looking like he should be better than the proverbial “futility infielder”.
Another promising thing offensively for Yunel is the much improved walk rate — even batting right in front of Chipper much of the time.
Ah, a former Vol.
Plus, Boog and Joe says he’s just getting his ‘man strength.’ So he’s got that goin for him, which is nice.
Knuckleballers are funny.
For those of you worried about Kyle Davies, he got bombed today. >_<
I’d send McCann here
A check swing double. Silly Norton
This is nice.
Gotay is playing very well
I’m liking this game!
Indeed.
Maybe that come back win last night has put some life in this team. Or maybe it is that Frenchy is on the bench and can’t hurt the team
McCann should have “B.A. Weasel” on the back of his jersey.
Ryan Rowland-Smith, of the Sydney Rowland-Smiths…
Who fed Teixiera his wheaties?
[BORAS]That’s a two-millioner.[/BORAS]
Another million!
Well I think Tex just won the player of the gmae honors over Hudson
If this guys keeps hitting, we might have something…
Angels up 3-1 in Philly in the 7th
well Frenchy, get a pinch hit
Yes.. now its the time to trade Tex.. Tex for Looney and Kemp!!… do it Frank.. do it do it
I was expecting a ground out. At least Jeff’s keeping me on my toes.
His strike out form is good though
Why not Carlyle for two innings?
Oh wait that would make sense.
I bet Boyer pitches the 9th
Why? Gonzalez hasn’t pitched in the series.
Phillies got a run. Utley K’ed leaving the tying run at 2nd
Holy smokes, we could be 4 GB. We’re not even .500
Jerome Jurenovich is Sonny Crockett.
OMG, I thought I was joking about Gonzalez.
Lovely.
Ichiro sucks
Gonzo doesn’t quite have his fastball back yet
93 is good, but not letter high
Going to the 9th in Philly. LAAoASCUSANANHEMW 3 Philly 2. K-Rod should come in.
Ron Gant is a clown.
Recap is up. Francoeur sucks.
Don’t know if anybody else noticed or cares, but since Gerald Laird got hurt, the Rangers called up Max Ramirez to back up Salty.