(and with the Bobby Cox explanation)[and the Cliff commentary]
1. CF: Infante (he needs some work out there)
2. 2B: Prado (he swings a good bat and needs some work out there)
3. 3B: Norton (Greg can play lots of places and help us a lot and Chip needs a day off to rest the bruised thumb).
4. C: McCann (We’ve had a lot of off days) [and no way Bobby gives him a day off now]
5. 1B: Kotchman (He just needs a few more at bats to get it going.)
6. LF: Schafer (Kid has really been swinging the bat)[and since Bobby is carrying 8 relievers, we only have 3 “real” outfielders.]
7. RF: Francoeur (The kid is a gamer and is really coming around} {although he does look better, it is still a pretty sucky OPS]
8. SS: Escobar (We figure not making him high in the order will let him rest a little) {Bobby forgot that for Infante to play outfield, there isn’t another shortstop and he had already written thte other 8 places].
I’m guessing Prado will spell Kotchman today. He was working out at first base during infield practice yesterday. Sammons gets a rare start, and Chipper gets pulled early.
I know it’s early, but I think Escobar is a good candidate for 200 hits…Speaking of that, who was the last Brave to do that…I know Marquis Grissom did back in 1996, but was there anybody since then?
Diaz has looked good, even against RH. If he could turn back into the .320 hitter he was a couple years ago, with some walks and some power against lefthanders, that would help our OF situation a lot.
Huh. KJ was hit by a pitch in his last AB, maybe he’s feeling the effects today.
I won’t be able to watch the game, I’m afraid, and (as noted) there is no Braves Radio in Alabama anymore, so the recap will be completely off the box score, and probably a little late.
I didn’t know anything about yesterday’s game until I got on the train to go to a Flamenco show. Fortunately, they were showing Kawakami’s MLB debut. Problem was, they focused on his performance and didn’t bother to mention the outcome of the game.
According to some of the people on DOB’s blog, his dropped pop-up against the Phillies cost the Braves the division last year. The Braves only finished 20 games out of first….
Second, I dont agree with benching Kelly today, he has been hot. Frank at 14 said it best, give him a day off when he is in a slump. He has been hot of late. With Prado and Infante and Francouer in the lineup today, Im nervous. We need good pitching nad Chipper nad Mac to really carry us, a sweep is big, it gives us a 5-1 start, which will really help us out. Sad part is, we should be 6-0
Dan, I agree with you. There’s not a chance in the world Prado makes that pick. He’d stab at it and muff it, and the error would get charged to the fielder.
He looks awesome up there! The sad part is, this guy has an era coming into the game in the 20’s lifetime its 7 against the braves, or somewhere in that general area, and we will hibernate and give him an easter basket of bad swings and timely outs
Drat. Schafer had a little checked-swing tapper up the middle, and looked like he might have had an infield single, but Prado made contact with the second baseman as he was going for the ball, and they called him out for interference.
Joel, I’m actually in Indiana, and I can only get the Mets and Marlins on TBS so i’m on gameday “watching” the Braves. But I can get the Nationals locally on cable in VA
So Jared, hows that working out for you having a wife that’s a *!*#$!* Yankee’s fan? How are you going to ensure that your child to be is a Braves fan?
Was that really interference on Prado? Contact came after 2b caught the ball, so it could not have been interference with fielding the ball.
The collision ocurred after the ball was fielded
Joel, She’s not a @$!%@ Yankee’s fan, her best friend from High School is, but it didn’t rub off. If anything she would be a Cubs fan, but she has more Braves gear than anything else… Don’t worry, baby will be a baby brave, but if you want to be sure, Braves gear is always welcome 🙂
Stu, considering that Carlyle pitched 3 innings the other day, and Moylan, Soriano, and Gonzo have all worked a bunch of games, it’s basically Bennett, Boyer, and Campillo for the rest of the afternoon.
Oh my God – two Shriners are singing “God Bless America” in unison for the 7th inning stretch. As Adam Sandler once said, “Who were the ad wizards who came up with that one?”
97—I know who’s available. (You’re forgeting O’Flaherty.) I’d rather see all of the other options before Bennett, although he’s been less terrible than expected.
Joel, Happy Easter! We might be finding out tomorrow whether we’re having a boy or girl, I’ll keep you posted! Go Braves! (Should be the only undefeated team in the Majors…)
(and with the Bobby Cox explanation)[and the Cliff commentary]
1. CF: Infante (he needs some work out there)
2. 2B: Prado (he swings a good bat and needs some work out there)
3. 3B: Norton (Greg can play lots of places and help us a lot and Chip needs a day off to rest the bruised thumb).
4. C: McCann (We’ve had a lot of off days) [and no way Bobby gives him a day off now]
5. 1B: Kotchman (He just needs a few more at bats to get it going.)
6. LF: Schafer (Kid has really been swinging the bat)[and since Bobby is carrying 8 relievers, we only have 3 “real” outfielders.]
7. RF: Francoeur (The kid is a gamer and is really coming around} {although he does look better, it is still a pretty sucky OPS]
8. SS: Escobar (We figure not making him high in the order will let him rest a little) {Bobby forgot that for Infante to play outfield, there isn’t another shortstop and he had already written thte other 8 places].
#1
Just nutty enough to be plausible.
I’m guessing Prado will spell Kotchman today. He was working out at first base during infield practice yesterday. Sammons gets a rare start, and Chipper gets pulled early.
I know it’s early, but I think Escobar is a good candidate for 200 hits…Speaking of that, who was the last Brave to do that…I know Marquis Grissom did back in 1996, but was there anybody since then?
Anybody want to trade Kelly Johnson now?
Leftwich is the Bucs new QB? BWAHAHAHAHAH !
No — Andrew had 199 in 2000
Here’s the list:
1966 – Felipe Alou, 218 hits
1968 – Alou, 210
1971 – Ralph Garr, 219
1973 – Garr, 200
1974 – Garr, 214
1996 – Marquis Grissom, 207
Happy Easter everyone
Weird stat of the day:
Matt Diaz has drawn more walks (4) in 14 plate appearances than he did last year (3) in 140 PAs.
1. Schaefer – CF
2. Escobar – SS
3. Prado- 3B
4. Johnson – 2B
5. Diaz – LF
6. Francoeur – RF
7. Norton – 1B
8. Sammons – C
Diaz has looked good, even against RH. If he could turn back into the .320 hitter he was a couple years ago, with some walks and some power against lefthanders, that would help our OF situation a lot.
He has looked good — except for the at-bats where he doesn’t get a hit, where he (as usual) looks like he’s never played baseball before.
What a weird player. But I like him.
And the answer is:
1. Infante, 2B
2. Escobar, SS
3. Chipper, 3B
4. McCann, C
5. Francoeur, RF
6. Diaz, LF
7. Prado, 1B
8. Schafer, CF
9. Jurrjens, RHP
Huh. KJ was hit by a pitch in his last AB, maybe he’s feeling the effects today.
I won’t be able to watch the game, I’m afraid, and (as noted) there is no Braves Radio in Alabama anymore, so the recap will be completely off the box score, and probably a little late.
So…
I didn’t know anything about yesterday’s game until I got on the train to go to a Flamenco show. Fortunately, they were showing Kawakami’s MLB debut. Problem was, they focused on his performance and didn’t bother to mention the outcome of the game.
Sh!t.
Hate to see KJ sit during one of his hot streaks … let him rest in May when he’s in the middle of a 1 for 30 run.
Curious to see what Prado’s swing will produce today.
Hoping to see JJ go at least 7…the pen sure could use it.
Surprised that Bobby is playing Chipper and McCann today.
Love to see the Nats lose…in fact, I hate all of the NL East.
Anybody want to trade Kelly Johnson now?
According to some of the people on DOB’s blog, his dropped pop-up against the Phillies cost the Braves the division last year. The Braves only finished 20 games out of first….
First of all happy easter everyone.
Second, I dont agree with benching Kelly today, he has been hot. Frank at 14 said it best, give him a day off when he is in a slump. He has been hot of late. With Prado and Infante and Francouer in the lineup today, Im nervous. We need good pitching nad Chipper nad Mac to really carry us, a sweep is big, it gives us a 5-1 start, which will really help us out. Sad part is, we should be 6-0
csg,
Same to you. How’s your boy?
The first Sunday lineup will include Infante and Prado at the expense of Prado and KJ, respectively.
I will certainly miss KJ, but I am interested to see how Prado performs at first. I was hoping we would actually see him there.
Well, maybe Prado does very well, we can always hope. Kotchman hasnt lit the world of fire, I suppose, here is to the sweep!
I just really like the fire our new centerfielder brings, I think he has the team fired up by watching him
Hopefully JJ is a little more economical with his pitch count today!
Kotchman has played some good and surprisingly relevant first base defense.
Anyone think Prado could’ve scooped that one throw from Escobar last night at first like Kotchman did?
Dan, I agree with you. There’s not a chance in the world Prado makes that pick. He’d stab at it and muff it, and the error would get charged to the fielder.
You know what I like? 1-2-3 innings, that’s what.
atta baby!!!!
The top of the 1st went very fast.
That was not helpful, Yesco.
Its ok, Im hoping JJ is lights out and we can win a low scoring game without much help from our bullpen
Looked like Jurrjens struck Dunn out, to me.
A walk and there goes that low pitch count!
Can we commence the DFA Francoeur campaign?
MLB Gameday Premium says Prado hates to face curveballs as well as loves to face curveballs…
He looks awesome up there! The sad part is, this guy has an era coming into the game in the 20’s lifetime its 7 against the braves, or somewhere in that general area, and we will hibernate and give him an easter basket of bad swings and timely outs
Braves, Redwings, and Masters all on TV at once…what a great Sunday!
Two 0-2 counts, 2 base runners.
I can’t believe he lost Bard after going 0-2.
That’s the call he didn’t get against Dunn. Must be a half strike. Two of those equals one called strike.
Josh Johnson is no-hitting the Mets but Chip Caray mentions it every chance possible so that it is definitely jinxed by now.
Ha, Chip Caray definatley means to do that too.
JJ did a nice job getting out of that jam!
Is it officialy hibernation mode ye?
I also noticed in that Mets games that if an outfielder muffs a fly ball behind Santana, they actually call it an error.
It sure feels that way.
I think the Braves just like to make Washington pitchers feel like they belong in the Major Leagues which, a lot of them don’t
Also, Don Sutton just proposed that Adam Dunn could be a leadoff hitter because of his high on-base percentage.
No, really.
Caray just celebrated the Mets first bloop hit…
I think im spoiled, I just wanted an easy third game sweep, take the day off tommroow and get to work tuesday. Be 5-1 with some purpose.
Man — I thought both the Kearns and the Zimmerman flyballs were going out, off the bat. I guess they got under them?
Is there a lot of wind in Atlanta right now or something?
We are really going down like lambs today. C’mon, Chip…
8 in a row retired = hibernation mode.
It just occured to me that the Nationals didnt start Scott Olsen today, but rather, the Ghost of Walter Johnson
Hah — Brian McCann just stole off Scott Olsen!
They weren’t holding him at first, and though the throw from the catcher got away from the 2B, he was legitimately in there.
Got to 9 in a row.
B-Mac, the speedster. He should have gotten to 3rd on that.
And it’s the Braves 1st steal of the year?
I’ve officially seen it all…Brian McCann just stole a base.
The hilarious Nats broadcasting duo:
play by play guy: “Rob, does it make any sense that they weren’t holding McCann?”
Dibble: “Well, obviously we KNOW Brian McCann doesn’t possess a lot of speed.”
Great baserunning there.
Edit: Nice hustle, boys.
Matty! A ground ball with eyes, and McCann scores — Diaz to second on the throw!
Now THAT’S a manufactured run.
Awesome, Matty-D.
Frenchy! Wow, a triple!
Frenchy with a 3-bagger!
Prado!
All we need is a Schafer home run, and we’ll get the cycle!
This is the Scott Olsen we know and love.
No reason to go for three there, but we’ll take it.
Two-out deluge. Keep it up, boys.
That was a nice swing by Prado.
Nice one, Prado….
I love the opposite field hitting!
Drat. Schafer had a little checked-swing tapper up the middle, and looked like he might have had an infield single, but Prado made contact with the second baseman as he was going for the ball, and they called him out for interference.
Great two out rally there. Didn’t see much of that kinda thing last year. Especially from Diaz and Frenchy.
I know it’s early, but man, we’ve looked like a different team at the plate this year so far!
Can there be a baserunning ‘Prado’?
That was the right call of interference on Prado. Is that scored FC?
Checking in the Marlins-Mets game… the Marlins are just the worst-fielding team I can remember.
They just kicked away a tailor-made DP that would’ve had them out of the inning. Now they’ve got 2 on, one out & Beltran up. See where this is going?
Edit: Ha. Now they turn the DP. Guess you can’t blow 2 gifts in the same inning.
Dix,
Any chance the Wings could face Columbus in the first round of the NHL playoffs? Haven’t paid much attention to the West matchups until today.
Jared, do you have mlb.tv or are you able to watch because it’s on local tv because it’s the Nationals?
Francoeur reputation saved the run. Let’s get an out, JJ.
Nevermind.
Man, I hate giving up runs with 2 outs. But I sure love scoring runs with two outs.
I miss Kotchman.
They are getting really good cuts on JJ.
Dang. Is that a Prado?
Dang. Is that a Prado?
No. It was scored an error.
Great, at least Prado got charged with an error for giving up the tying run. He sure is not good with the glove.
That was a real error.
Prado sucks balls
Joel, I’m actually in Indiana, and I can only get the Mets and Marlins on TBS so i’m on gameday “watching” the Braves. But I can get the Nationals locally on cable in VA
why not play norton at first today? prado is a below average infield glove. His mediocre bat doesn’t make up for his subpar defense
Jair can’t find the plate. This is starting to look ugly.
Woo! Finally, strike three…
Good time for Jair’s 1st K of the game.
That was one pitch away from a full-on disaster. Still in the game. Let’s win it.
Also, Jurrjens is up to 84 pitches. Here’s to an efficient 6th for him.
I was about to say that Chipper didn’t look totally comfortable at the plate… then, of course, he hit an RBI single.
I love him.
McCann, slow roller up the middle!
That shows you why an extreme defensive infield shift doesn’t always work.
More 2-out magic.
C’mon, Jair.
Let’s hold this lead for at least 1 inning.
Can we? Please?
So Jared, hows that working out for you having a wife that’s a *!*#$!* Yankee’s fan? How are you going to ensure that your child to be is a Braves fan?
Was that really interference on Prado? Contact came after 2b caught the ball, so it could not have been interference with fielding the ball.
The collision ocurred after the ball was fielded
@84 – It usually does if the pitcher hits his location. You DO NOT throw an outside pitch when you have your second baseman playing towards 1st base.
Don Sutton sounds like he keeps calling Jurrjens “Zaire”
I’m on board with taking JJ out here.
BTW, it’s always nice to see the Mets waste a 13-K performance from Santana.
For the second straight game, Jurrjens struggled a bit.
Bobby with the hook – I think that’s the right call, even though it’s a tough decision with such a depleted bullpen.
So, we’re gonna keep giving Jeff Bennett the ball, I see.
Joel, She’s not a @$!%@ Yankee’s fan, her best friend from High School is, but it didn’t rub off. If anything she would be a Cubs fan, but she has more Braves gear than anything else… Don’t worry, baby will be a baby brave, but if you want to be sure, Braves gear is always welcome 🙂
Stu, considering that Carlyle pitched 3 innings the other day, and Moylan, Soriano, and Gonzo have all worked a bunch of games, it’s basically Bennett, Boyer, and Campillo for the rest of the afternoon.
Hope you brought the popcorn.
Oh my God — Don just called him Logan Schafer again.
Geez – We can not get Dunn out.
Geez – Bennett can not get major league baseball players out.
Fixed.
Hey — double play!
Nice work for Martin Prado!
Thanks, now I know exactly what to get the newest edition to the Kauffman clan!
They’re just mixing him up with the Brewers’ Logan Schafer.
http://tinyurl.com/c4spdj
A Prado-started DP. What do you call that?
Oh my God – two Shriners are singing “God Bless America” in unison for the 7th inning stretch. As Adam Sandler once said, “Who were the ad wizards who came up with that one?”
We may see Hanson sooner than expected. Glavine left his rehab start today with left shoulder discomfort.
97—I know who’s available. (You’re forgeting O’Flaherty.) I’d rather see all of the other options before Bennett, although he’s been less terrible than expected.
Is Boyer our closer today?
Stu, you’re right. How could I possibly forget Eric?
Infante just ducked below a pitch that went behind him. C’mon, Omar, take one for the team!
I seem to have been mistaken. Omar doesn’t need to take one for the team, because he can always hit one off the center field wall.
So, Infante’s had a good game.
Yunel!
Escobar is batting like .750 with RISP…I am definitely digging the insurance runs today.
I’m really liking our bench so far!
And 5×5 w/ RISP in this series.
Way to go, Esco. Let’s tack on a couple more. We may need ’em.
7-4!
They’re giving Chipper a base hit on a ball that Guzman Pradoed.
Chipper Jones is great.
Well, if we were wondering if we could score runs without homers… the answer is yes.
At least if Scott Olsen’s on the mound.
@116 – I think Parish is the official scorer.
OFlaherty
yipee
A 3-run lead in the 8th means we throw strikes. How does our pen not get this ?!?
That was a strike.
Color me not an O’Flaherty fan.
The best thing about O’Flaherty is that he’s not Bennett or Moylan, so we haven’t had time to get sick of him yet.
Of course, more innings like this will change that fast.
Tying run to the plate. Ugh!
All im gonna say is, I dont think we have overblown our worries about the pen, its really that bad
Yeah, Jordan! Way to haul it in.
I dont think we have overblown our worries about the pen, its really that bad
I doubt it’s 9.25 ERA bad like it was going into last evening.
great catch
Thank you, Adam Dunn.
Whew.
We’ve done a good job bunching our hits today. That’s why we’re winning.
7-for-7 with RISP?
Frenchy gets a triple for that?
Wow.
Let us dispense with the 9th-inning save situation. Another crooked number, please…
How can you call that a triple? Kearns was there, and he lost it in the lights, and it fell a foot from him.
Frenchy + Kotchman = instant offense
😯
who knew?
Impressive defensive showing today by the Nationals.
EDIT: (and no, that was not a triple)
He didn’t touch it with his glove so it can’t be an error.
Right… but, logically, he was there. How can the scorer possibly say he didn’t err?
Kotchy Caseman, way to go.
Cox sends up KJ as a lefty pinch hitter facing the lefty Ledezma. Maybe he’s learning…
Here comes the save opportunity… shame it’s not an Atlanta Save, but what can you do?
Right. In reality, he erred.
But as far as official scoring goes, Frenchy gets a gift triple.
So would the “didn’t get a glove on it but should’ve” scenario we’re discussing qualify as a Prado?
@143 – Yes, an outfield Prado.
Jordan — very nice running catch.
Is Boyer hurt?
And that’s that. Well done, Rafael. Bring on the Marlins!
Win… win… win…
Joel, Happy Easter! We might be finding out tomorrow whether we’re having a boy or girl, I’ll keep you posted! Go Braves! (Should be the only undefeated team in the Majors…)
#106, hopefully we’ll see Jo Jo or Morton first.
According to FSN/SPSO commerical spots, Brian Jordan and Ron Gant are “Braves legends.”
Recap is up.
#146,
no, bad.
Boyer got booed big time when he was introduced on-field on Friday night.
Jared, congrats!
Okay, NOW the recap is up.