ESPN – Braves vs. Cardinals – Box Score – August 22, 2008
Yes, the Atlanta National League Baseball Club is now officially the FAIL until I think of another insult. What a colossally bad club. It’s like a whole team of Francoeurs. Adam Wainwright started for the Cards — it was like they were rubbing it in.
Charlie Morton was horrible and didn’t make it out of the second. The only out he recorded was on a bunt — really, I think that LaRussa was rubbing it in — and he wound up charged with four runs on five hits and five walks. You really can’t be much worse, and he was terribly lucky to allow only four runs.
The parade of horrors: Nunez allowed two runs. The prize booby was Matt DeSalvo, who allowed six runs on eight hits in one inning of work. Boyer came in because some of his arm is still attached and gave up three runs. Bennett actually pitched a scoreless inning, but Tavarez came in to give up three more runs in the eighth.
Norton didn’t start, inflicting another dose of Prado: First Baseman upon us, but had a pinch-hit homer for the only run the Braves would get before the ninth. They got a couple of even more pointless than usual runs in the ninth, KJ singling in Infante, and Brandon Jones (who is suddenly on the team now, perhaps because they’re clearly a AAA affair) doubling KJ in in turn.
DEAR GOD IN HEAVEN I HATE THIS TEAM.
Would Matt DeSalvo’s nickname be The Atlanta Strangler?
The Atlanta Choker.
Also, you’ll notice that the weather conditions to the left may seem odd. This is because the FAIL have a new permanent home.
Mac,
Is this rock bottom for you? or do we still have epic fail to look forward to?
At least the Braves put Brandon Jones in RF….I wouldn’t mind if they let him play there for the rest of the season….
God has nothing to do with this team, for that matter neither does Satan as I’m sure he’d field a competitive ball club.
Whose roster spot did Brandon Jones take?
As I wrote in the game thread, every time you think they’ve reached the bottom, this team digs a hole.
http://tinyurl.com/5gy996
schafer really coming on hard.
That’s what she said.
kotchs’ mama is sick. he is on berevement leave.
Corky Watch:
Corky wasd 4 for 5 with a HR for Richmond….Going back to an earlier thread the Braves are now 6-21 without Miller….
Is a September call up on the cards?
After all “every time you think they’ve reached the bottom, this team digs a hole.”
That’s right. Thanks CourtneyC.
More “trade Chipper” talk I see on other sites. It’s the new “move Chipper to first” apparently.
You can argue about if you want to do it or not, but it is pointless. The Braves won’t trade Chipper and Chipper won’t accept it as a 10-5 guy.
In fact, I’d be willing to bet money the Braves sign Chipper to an extension this offseason (right now he is only locked up through the end of ’09.)
Too bad. We were only one good trade away from taking it all this year!!!! Sigh.
Frank Wren, time to impress people.
Somewhat happy to say, I missed the entire debacle. I’m outta language for this bunch, at least until I have something else to steal my attention. (Dawgs 7 days away.) I think the phrase is “mercy killing.”
Went for an evening in Sunnyside, Queens, for Thai chow & Irish bar night caps.
Rob,
Next time. I gotta turn you onto this Thai joint. It’s unreal.
Did anyone see Bobby Cox shout “That’s idiotical!” when Dave O’Brien asked him if the the team had lost its focus the other night? I didn’t see it and was curious to know if it was actually aired by SportSouth or not.
Well, at least I have my football club Arsenal and my alma mater to look forward to. You guys realize OU is going to the National Championship right?
Suddenly the Hawks might be the best professional sports team in Atlanta this year (and they aren’t even a .500 team). Sucks to be us fans.
Did people read DOB’s latest?
“Francoeur, a player the Braves were counting on for big production in the middle of the order, has struggled to such a degree that his future as a franchise cornerstone — perhaps even his future with the team, period — no longer seem assured.”
http://www.ajc.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/ajc/braves/entries/2008/08/22/these_arent_bra.html
with the way things are going, we’re going to get a top 5 selection in next june’s draft. if so, then here is a list of the top 5 talents.
1. Stephen Strasburg, RHP, San Diego State
Tony Gwynn has got himself a golden arm in Strasburg and USA Baseball agrees. He recently was picked to go to the Olympics to be a starter for the USA Baseball Team. He’s got everything you want in a pitcher and is a good bet at this point to be the number one pick.
2. Dustin Ackley, 1b/OF, North Carolina
Since tearing up the ACC in his freshman year, Ackley has been near the top of every 2009 Draft list. He makes great contact and has solid power. His glove is solid at first base as well.
3. Mychal Givens, SS/RHP, Plant HS, Fla.
It is harder to judge the high schoolers this early, but Givens is a stud. He’s got all 5 tools and plays both ways. Mid 90s fastball on the mound, outstanding fielder.
4. Matt Purke, LHP, Klein HS, Texas
Purke is currently the top high school pitcher on my board. The lefty features great command of his pitches and runs his fastball up in the 91-93 range.
5. Donovan Tate, OF, Cartersville HS, Georgia
Tate is another top 2 sport star but baseball may be his game. He projects well in every aspect of the game, although the football aspect has to be considered.
6. Alex White, RHP, North Carolina
The Tar Heels have produced numerous first round draft picks in recent history, including Marlins lefthander Andrew Miller and Red Sox farm hand Daniel Bard. Matt Harvey was a projected 1st rounder out of high school and 2008 4th rounder Tim Melville is on his way. Alex White figures to be the next top gun from UNC. He throws in the mid 90s with a sharp slider and developing change. His command is a little shaky at times, but you could call him “effectively wild.” He has a bright future ahead of him.
7. Kyle Gibson, RHP, Missouri
Gibson would have been a Friday starter anywhere in the country this year, except at Missouri where he pitched behind Aaron Crow (Nationals #1 Pick). Now Gibson steps into the spotlight and will handle it well with his low to mid 90s fastball, good offspeed pitches, and solid command. He knows how to pitch and will now be able to show off his stuff on the national stage.
8. Ryan Jackson, SS, Miami
Jackson was a big part of the Miami offense that carried the team deep into the postseason. He will stick at shortstop due to great feet, athleticism, and a quick set of soft hands. His bat is just as good as his glove, as he was hitting over .370 well into the postseason. He has decent power and could develop into a 15 or 20 home run kind of guy.
9. Chris Jenkins, RHP, Westfield HS
Jenkins is one of the bigger pitchers in this class at 6-6 and rockets his heater in there at 93-96. His secondary pitches have potential but are not developed. It is the frame and arm strength of this kid that has people drooling.
10. Michael Zunino, Catcher, Mariner Cape HS, Coral, Florida
Zunino is currently the number one catcher in the 2009 Draft class and will make it two top prep catchers from Florida in the last two years. No one dares run on him, as he has outstanding footwork around homeplate and a cannon for an arm. At the dish he makes solid contact with good power. He profiles as a .280-.320 hitter in the major leagues with 20-40 home run power. It’s always hard to say when talking about high schoolers.
11. Jacob Turner, RHP, Westminister Christian Academy, Missouri
Turner is a big, project-able right hander, 6-4, who throws in the low to mid 90s. He has a good loose arm action with above average, developing offspeed stuff. A classic, high end high school arm Turner figures to rise up draft boards as he gains another year of experience.
12. Grant Green, SS, Southern Cal
Green has exploded the last year, especially this summer in the Cape Cod League. He has an above average arm with good accuracy and above average range as well. At the plate is where he thrives. He handles the bat very well and his discipline is sensational. He has above average power right now, but that will probably increase as he develops.
13. Luke Bailey, Catcher, Troup HS, Cartersville HS
Bailey is a part of the loaded catchers class and a loaded Georgia high school class, Fellow Georgia mate Donovan Tate is the number 4 rated prospect in the class. Bailey meanwhile, holds his own with solid power and the ability to make contact. He’s good behind the dish, but his arm strength isn’t elite.
14. Austin Maddox, Catcher, Eagle’s View Academy, Jacksonville, Florida
Yet another stud catcher from this class, Maddox has incredible power. His swing is perfect for a power hitter and his body is ideal as well. He is a little raw with regards to the ability to make contact, but that should develop in the years to come. Behind the plate, he may have the strongest arm in the class. He also pitches well enough to make him a legit 2 way prospect.
15. Tyler Matzek, LHP, Capistrano Valley HS, Mission Veijo, California
Matzek is one of those huge lefthanders that scouts fall in love with. At 6-7, Matzek sits in the low to mid with his fastball and mixes in 3 different offspeed pitches, all of them already average or above average. Matzek is not just a thrower, he understands the art of pitching and should shoot up DraftInfo’s list by the June draft.
6. Kentrail Davis, OF, Tennessee
Davis was one of the nation’s best freshmen in 2008 as he was selected as an All-American by Baseball America, Louisville Slugger, and Rivals.com to name a few. A draft eligible sophomore, Davis led the Volunteers in home runs (13), RBIs (44), batting average (.330), triples (3), total bases (120), hit-by-pitches (15), and one base percentage (.435). He is a member of the USA Baseball program and was selected to be on the 2008 Olympic Trials team. At just 5-9 he doesn’t exactly intimidate opponents. But he takes vicious hacks and has really impressive power for his stature.
17. Max Stassi, Catcher, Yuba City High School, Yuba City, California
Stassi is yet another top high school catcher in an insanely deep prep catching class. He has been on watch lists for the 2009 class for years and the time has finally come for him to get picked. He has a plus bat with decent power potential and a tremendous ability to make contact. He is an outstanding receiver behind the plate with above average arm strength and quick footwork. He is one of only a handful of players to play multiple years on the USA Baseball Youth team, where he hit .423 last season.
18. Alex Wilson, RHP, Texas A&M
Wilson was pegged to be a top 10 talent before his junior year, which ended in the Fall when he had Tommy John Surgery. He then transferred from Winthrop to Texas A&M where he sat out last year. The big right hander featured a mid 90s fastball with a devastating slider and good change up. In the Big South, he was dominating about every team he’s faced and since he left, Winthrop has been knocked down a notch. This is all hinging on him returning to near full strength and if he does, the Big 12 had better watch out.
19. Zach Wheeler, RHP, East Paulding HS, Dallas, Georgia
Wheeler is another top prospect from the home state of the Braves, joining fellow Georgians Donovan Tate and Luke Bailey on this top 20 list. Wheeler is a 6-4 righty with a mid 90s fastball with good sink on it. He also commands two plus offspeed pitches in a changeup and a curveball. Still just 170 pounds, he has a ton of room to fill out and pick up velocity as he ages. Wheeler definitely has some of the most upside in this draft.
20. Brian Goodwin, OF, Rocky Mount HS, Rocky Mount, NC
Goodwin has 4 legitimate tools. He runs exceptionally well, has good arm strength and accuracy from the outfield, makes good contact, and has very good range as well. He doesn’t hit for a lot of power, but he may develop decent power as he progresses. He hit .473 with 4 triples, 15 doubles, and 21 stolen bases during his last high school season. Signability may be an issue as he is committed to the University of North Carolina.
Crazy thing is that 3 of my tarheel brothers are in the top-20…fun…
anyway, who do we pick if we’re sitting at #5?
Reading between the lines…heck, he’s basically come out and said it as well: DOB is signaling the departure of Cox is being discussed. I guess the talking points have been released. All the sudden we’re hearing how Bobby has lost the team. Managers are hired to be fired, I won’t be surprised if Bobby resigns and in all the fanfare of his departure he’ll get the Leo treatment.
@21.
Ackley is going to be a centerfielder. The only reason he was at first for UNC was because he had surgery on his arm.
@21 – Hey look at that, a guy from Georgia who plays both football and baseball well and is an outfielder. This screams Francoeur to me, so you can be sure the Braves will draft him!
Yeah I’d guess with that many ATL area prospects on that list you can guess who we’ll draft. Sigh…
So the Braves had signed Rodrigo Lopez. He is the one guy in Baltimore who complained about Leo’s methods.
“Game” thread is up.
no, i say we draft (in logical order):
1. givens
2. turner (i love that kid’s arm)
3. zunino
4. white
5. jackson
i like ackey alot…but the tj surgery on his arm is disheartening…i think he’s comparable to another UNC alum: bj surhoff…and he had some good years, but i think that givens is a stud and will be another h. ramirez but with better defense, more power, but lower OPS.
I used to have Lopez on my fantasy team. Maddening guy.