glaus’s ops is still horrible, however his obp is .326 and his defense at first has been, at the least, acceptable.
sansho1
on May 2, 2010 at 8:40 am
I wouldn’t be in favor of any rule change that would lessen the impact of speed on the game. The NL is on pace to have its most SBs since 1999 and its fewest HRs since 1997. To me, this is a great development — thanks to the combined effects of steroids and the stats revolution in the prior decade, baseball was becoming less exciting to watch.
Before anyone accuses me of being Chip Caray, I don’t necessarily consider the speed game to be “the right way to play” and all that. I just like a balance. The Three True Outcomes guys might represent a more efficient way to score runs, but a creeping dullness had been the unintended consequence of too many teams actually realizing this.
How else are Braves baserunners supposed to advance if there is no balk rule?
stupup74
on May 2, 2010 at 10:07 am
Baseball would be better if the umpires just called the game by the rules. Any move to decieve the runner, or not stepping off the rubber to throw to a base, or not coming set, is a balk.
On that note, when did blocking a base become legal? How about calling the strike zone by the definition?
The umpires have butchered the game. I feel like the game would be more fun and more free flowing all the rules were enforced correctly.
#1 – ryan c, yeah its still pretty ugly stat wise, but when lookinf at all factors (offense, defense, and cost) is he a better value than our other corner infielder? Chipper, I think, is done folks
Adam R
on May 2, 2010 at 11:47 am
DOB says Schafer to A ball for rehab Monday. Our long national nightmelk may soon be over…
Stu
on May 2, 2010 at 12:18 pm
How are my fellow Nashville and Middle Tennessee peeps doing? It’s insane out there. We’re in a little bubble in South Davidson (right next to Brentwood) that’s stayed relatively dry, but I know there’s a lot of havok elsewhere. Stay safe!
Brian J.
on May 2, 2010 at 12:21 pm
The Astros’ entire team is batting 231/ 281/ 325. Think of an entire TEAM of Troy Glauses, minus half the walks.
Simulwatching: How big a lead will the Hawks build before blowing it?
Dan
on May 2, 2010 at 1:01 pm
The “resurgence of Troy Glaus”? He had one good game yesterday, Chip.
Hope he is right though.
mraver
on May 2, 2010 at 1:03 pm
How the heck was that just a single?!
Weldon
on May 2, 2010 at 1:05 pm
And Glav calling out Chip. Feels good man.
Dan
on May 2, 2010 at 1:06 pm
Jesus Chip.
mraver
on May 2, 2010 at 1:07 pm
Wow. I hates me some Chip Caray. He made that one sound like a no-doubter.
c. shorter
on May 2, 2010 at 1:07 pm
swing and a drive!
ryan c
on May 2, 2010 at 1:08 pm
so, if heyward played in philly, he might have 11 hrs at this point.
and chip caray is some kinda stupid.
braves14
on May 2, 2010 at 1:09 pm
Chip exploded in his pants on that flyball.
Weldon
on May 2, 2010 at 1:17 pm
I thought that one had a chance, too. Can’t blame Chip too much…
c. shorter
on May 2, 2010 at 1:25 pm
His grandfather used to do the same (on pop ups barely hitting the outfield grass). My brother and I used to make fun of him for it. Yet, with Harry it was endearing… because he was Harry. With Chip? Just annoying.
ryan c
on May 2, 2010 at 1:25 pm
you can blame him b/c he shouldnt be sexually climaxing on every braves fly ball no matter if he thinks its got a chance or not. it’s not a requirement.
mraver
on May 2, 2010 at 1:29 pm
It was a well-hit ball and looked good coming off the bat. But by the way he sounded, I thought we were talking 20 rows up or something. It’s the man’s job. He should be able to figure this stuff out.
Grst
on May 2, 2010 at 1:31 pm
Yea, I thought he got under it from the get go, and Chip’s enthusiasm just confused me. It’s one thing to be excited because it looked like it might have been gone, but it’s another to make a warning track shot sound like a no-doubter. He’d really be terrible on radio.
Did the Astros drop it/not attempt to catch it on purpose to get the DP?
spike (back in the USA)
on May 2, 2010 at 2:01 pm
Nice article, Ryan.
JoeyT
on May 2, 2010 at 2:04 pm
Great article, #43. I guess the rule needs an actual amendment, not a clarification.
stupup74
on May 2, 2010 at 2:11 pm
43
Nice post with good info Ryan. There was stuff on there I did not know, or had misinterpreted.
Edit: My favorite parts of braves games are when Heyward bats.
Ben
on May 2, 2010 at 2:12 pm
That is one slow set of loaded bases.
JoeyT
on May 2, 2010 at 2:12 pm
Heyward will not swing at this first pitch.
JoeyT
on May 2, 2010 at 2:13 pm
Oops. I was wrong. 0-1
JoeyT
on May 2, 2010 at 2:16 pm
That was hilarious.
Brian J.
on May 2, 2010 at 2:17 pm
OK, how did McCann think he was going to score from second on an infield single?
JoeyT
on May 2, 2010 at 2:19 pm
@52, because the ball was thrown away. It made sense.
Brian J.
on May 2, 2010 at 2:19 pm
Wow, Melky is simulating usefulness.
stupup74
on May 2, 2010 at 2:19 pm
If the ball had hit the pad instead of the bottom, McCann would have scored.
One of about a zillion things I love about Heyward, he can score from 1st on a double. Not many on this team can do that.
spike (back in the USA)
on May 2, 2010 at 2:20 pm
Back to the DP, did the Astros have the presence of mind to drop/not catch the ball on purpose?
mraver
on May 2, 2010 at 2:20 pm
Can we just play the Astros for ever?
Nathan
on May 2, 2010 at 2:21 pm
Spike,
Yeah, they did. It was a pretty good play, actually; Lowe didn’t run, and if they’d tried, they might’ve had a triple play.
mraver
on May 2, 2010 at 2:23 pm
On the double play, Lowe popped a bunt up good and Berkman let it fall, fired to 2nd for the force and threw to 3rd to tag out Melky.
Also, I don’t have a problem with Mac trying to score there. Norris threw the ball way away, and on a different carome, he scores easily.
csg
on May 2, 2010 at 2:23 pm
everyone in the lineup is showing some decent signs, well, except for our 3B
Grst
on May 2, 2010 at 2:23 pm
Baseball is fun again.
csg
on May 2, 2010 at 2:25 pm
pretty sure that even on the bunt an infield fly shoudlve been called, runners couldnt move and Berkman had time to get under the bunt and even decide to let it fall
An INFIELD FLY is a fair fly ball (NOT INCLUDING A LINE DRIVE NOR AN ATTEMPTED BUNT) which can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort, when first and second, or first, second and third bases are occupied, before two are out. The pitcher, catcher and any outfielder who stations himself in the infield on the play shall be considered infielders for the purpose of this rule.
(emphasis added)
Grst
on May 2, 2010 at 2:29 pm
I like pulling Lowe here. Let him come out with a solid performance and gain some confidence. No reason to push your luck with a guy that has been pretty inconsistent and could easily give up a big inning and throw the game back into play.
Ben
on May 2, 2010 at 2:29 pm
@63
-Agreed
He’s only at 84 pitches and Medlen threw a lot on Thursday.
I’m guessing Bobby wants to make sure Lowe doesn’t mess up his own day. He got through five and was able to trim a lot of points off his ERA. Maybe Bobby wants him to take that and use it to build confidence for the next start, rather than risk it with another inning.
joelk
on May 2, 2010 at 2:32 pm
@64 thats one of the reasons I love baseball!
stupup74
on May 2, 2010 at 2:34 pm
I think, regarding the the DP play by Berkman, that ‘ordinary effort’ is probably not defined as charging in on a bunt. He made the play, only after charging in.
The ordinary effort clause in the rule probably refers to the fact that the IFs can drift a couple of steps onto the OF grass to catch the ball.
Youth baseball coaches tend to have a hard time with that rule, especially when you call it against them. 🙂
Also Maddux used to that alot when he was with the Braves, except he had a really bad habit of overthrowing second base.
csg
on May 2, 2010 at 2:35 pm
look at what houston can do for some averages
Glaus from .190 to .241
Heyward from .239 to .275
Melky from .189 to .215
Chipper missed the memo from .241 to .209
mraver
on May 2, 2010 at 2:37 pm
Martin’s been waiving at a lot of sliders lately.
Bethany
on May 2, 2010 at 2:38 pm
This might be a good opportunity to get Medlen stretched out in case he has to start for JJ next weekend.
Chipper looks done.
stupup74
on May 2, 2010 at 2:42 pm
I got a sneaking idea that as soon as escobar comes back, Chipper is going to miss a couple of games. I think that hip is bothering him pretty good. Yunnel being out hamstrings the club a little.
Hinske should spell Chipper for about a week anyways
td
on May 2, 2010 at 3:06 pm
I was wondering when Proctor would get the call – so far the results aren’t good. 1-2, 11.25 ERA, 2.50 WHIP. Obviously it’s a small sample size, but still it doesn’t look promising so far.
Smitty
on May 2, 2010 at 3:23 pm
Did they just say Wagner is done after this season?
jordan schafer starting rehab assignment in rome. things are going to get really crowded in gwinnett for mitch jones, clevelen, young, and blanco. http://tinyurl.com/336z3gf
Bob V
on May 2, 2010 at 5:03 pm
79,
good that means schafer can come up and melky can get sent down…
would melky even start in gwinnett? or would a trade or DFA make more sense
Under what circumstances do you think Schafer will be brought to the big leagues? Could he possibly be brought up to replace Nate if he continues to struggle? This is all assuming Jordan does well when his rehab is finished, or that he’s even ready this year.
Use code “Journal” for a 5% discount.
glaus’s ops is still horrible, however his obp is .326 and his defense at first has been, at the least, acceptable.
I wouldn’t be in favor of any rule change that would lessen the impact of speed on the game. The NL is on pace to have its most SBs since 1999 and its fewest HRs since 1997. To me, this is a great development — thanks to the combined effects of steroids and the stats revolution in the prior decade, baseball was becoming less exciting to watch.
Before anyone accuses me of being Chip Caray, I don’t necessarily consider the speed game to be “the right way to play” and all that. I just like a balance. The Three True Outcomes guys might represent a more efficient way to score runs, but a creeping dullness had been the unintended consequence of too many teams actually realizing this.
How else are Braves baserunners supposed to advance if there is no balk rule?
Baseball would be better if the umpires just called the game by the rules. Any move to decieve the runner, or not stepping off the rubber to throw to a base, or not coming set, is a balk.
On that note, when did blocking a base become legal? How about calling the strike zone by the definition?
The umpires have butchered the game. I feel like the game would be more fun and more free flowing all the rules were enforced correctly.
Kind of overkill, really.
I really need to get to know this Bethany person.
After I clean up my spit-take, of course.
3 – Well done, Bethany.
For a city that seems to have trouble supporting it’s professional sports, do we have to schedule the Hawks and Braves at exactly the same time?
Of course, I will be at the Gwinnett game as those other two are playing out.
Braves lineup: 1. McLouth CF, 2. Prado 2B, 3. Jones 3B; 4. McCann C, 5. Glaus 1B; 6. Heyward RF; 7. Cabrera LF, 8. Infante SS, 9. Lowe RH
per twitter
#1 – ryan c, yeah its still pretty ugly stat wise, but when lookinf at all factors (offense, defense, and cost) is he a better value than our other corner infielder? Chipper, I think, is done folks
DOB says Schafer to A ball for rehab Monday. Our long national nightmelk may soon be over…
How are my fellow Nashville and Middle Tennessee peeps doing? It’s insane out there. We’re in a little bubble in South Davidson (right next to Brentwood) that’s stayed relatively dry, but I know there’s a lot of havok elsewhere. Stay safe!
The Astros’ entire team is batting 231/ 281/ 325. Think of an entire TEAM of Troy Glauses, minus half the walks.
Heyward is dangerous.
Lowe vs. the Astros. Otherwise known as Resistable Force, meet Movable Object.
Depressing paragraphs abound in DOB’s little blogs:
“Cox also said that if Escobar was placed on the disabled list that Brandon Hicks could be promoted from Class AAA Gwinnett.
“Hicks is a great infielder and he can really catch it,” Cox said.
Hicks is hitting .163 (13-for-80) in 24 games for the G-Braves this season. He has two doubles, a home run, five RBIs and four stolen bases.”
Lowe sucks.
Simulwatching: How big a lead will the Hawks build before blowing it?
The “resurgence of Troy Glaus”? He had one good game yesterday, Chip.
Hope he is right though.
How the heck was that just a single?!
And Glav calling out Chip. Feels good man.
Jesus Chip.
Wow. I hates me some Chip Caray. He made that one sound like a no-doubter.
swing and a drive!
so, if heyward played in philly, he might have 11 hrs at this point.
and chip caray is some kinda stupid.
Chip exploded in his pants on that flyball.
I thought that one had a chance, too. Can’t blame Chip too much…
His grandfather used to do the same (on pop ups barely hitting the outfield grass). My brother and I used to make fun of him for it. Yet, with Harry it was endearing… because he was Harry. With Chip? Just annoying.
you can blame him b/c he shouldnt be sexually climaxing on every braves fly ball no matter if he thinks its got a chance or not. it’s not a requirement.
It was a well-hit ball and looked good coming off the bat. But by the way he sounded, I thought we were talking 20 rows up or something. It’s the man’s job. He should be able to figure this stuff out.
Yea, I thought he got under it from the get go, and Chip’s enthusiasm just confused me. It’s one thing to be excited because it looked like it might have been gone, but it’s another to make a warning track shot sound like a no-doubter. He’d really be terrible on radio.
chipper is now 1 for his last 26. that hurts.
As a lifelong Hawks fan (back to the Hudson/Maravich Era), I’m hopelessly conditioned for shocking post-season calamity.
Atlanta should win this game by 30, but a big part of me is still kinda nervous.
Heyward is unreal.
Carlos Lee makes Melky look like a gazelle in LF
I mean, seriously, how did he get a double out of that?
How is that not an infield fly?! That makes no sense at all.
Lowe should be slapped for that.
Wow. The infield fly rule is really supposed to take care of that. The whole point of that rule is to prevent exactly that play.
15 MM/YR
Get off your ass Lowe!
#37
Agree, but have you ever seen the Infield Fly Rule called on a pop-up bunt? I’m not sure I ever have.
Well, Heyward’s awesome double ended up mattering. Go him.
J-Hey on pace for 47 HR and 148 RBI … unreal
#39, no, I haven’t. The rule needs a clarification point. What’s the point of the infield fly rule if it doesn’t cover situations like that?
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCI/is_4_67/ai_n25379621/
Did the Astros drop it/not attempt to catch it on purpose to get the DP?
Nice article, Ryan.
Great article, #43. I guess the rule needs an actual amendment, not a clarification.
43
Nice post with good info Ryan. There was stuff on there I did not know, or had misinterpreted.
Edit: My favorite parts of braves games are when Heyward bats.
That is one slow set of loaded bases.
Heyward will not swing at this first pitch.
Oops. I was wrong. 0-1
That was hilarious.
OK, how did McCann think he was going to score from second on an infield single?
@52, because the ball was thrown away. It made sense.
Wow, Melky is simulating usefulness.
If the ball had hit the pad instead of the bottom, McCann would have scored.
One of about a zillion things I love about Heyward, he can score from 1st on a double. Not many on this team can do that.
Back to the DP, did the Astros have the presence of mind to drop/not catch the ball on purpose?
Can we just play the Astros for ever?
Spike,
Yeah, they did. It was a pretty good play, actually; Lowe didn’t run, and if they’d tried, they might’ve had a triple play.
On the double play, Lowe popped a bunt up good and Berkman let it fall, fired to 2nd for the force and threw to 3rd to tag out Melky.
Also, I don’t have a problem with Mac trying to score there. Norris threw the ball way away, and on a different carome, he scores easily.
everyone in the lineup is showing some decent signs, well, except for our 3B
Baseball is fun again.
pretty sure that even on the bunt an infield fly shoudlve been called, runners couldnt move and Berkman had time to get under the bunt and even decide to let it fall
What? Why pull Lowe here?
From the official MLB rules, available at: http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/official_info/official_rules/definition_terms_2.jsp
An INFIELD FLY is a fair fly ball (NOT INCLUDING A LINE DRIVE NOR AN ATTEMPTED BUNT) which can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort, when first and second, or first, second and third bases are occupied, before two are out. The pitcher, catcher and any outfielder who stations himself in the infield on the play shall be considered infielders for the purpose of this rule.
(emphasis added)
I like pulling Lowe here. Let him come out with a solid performance and gain some confidence. No reason to push your luck with a guy that has been pretty inconsistent and could easily give up a big inning and throw the game back into play.
@63
-Agreed
He’s only at 84 pitches and Medlen threw a lot on Thursday.
I’m guessing Bobby wants to make sure Lowe doesn’t mess up his own day. He got through five and was able to trim a lot of points off his ERA. Maybe Bobby wants him to take that and use it to build confidence for the next start, rather than risk it with another inning.
@64 thats one of the reasons I love baseball!
I think, regarding the the DP play by Berkman, that ‘ordinary effort’ is probably not defined as charging in on a bunt. He made the play, only after charging in.
The ordinary effort clause in the rule probably refers to the fact that the IFs can drift a couple of steps onto the OF grass to catch the ball.
Youth baseball coaches tend to have a hard time with that rule, especially when you call it against them. 🙂
Also Maddux used to that alot when he was with the Braves, except he had a really bad habit of overthrowing second base.
look at what houston can do for some averages
Glaus from .190 to .241
Heyward from .239 to .275
Melky from .189 to .215
Chipper missed the memo from .241 to .209
Martin’s been waiving at a lot of sliders lately.
This might be a good opportunity to get Medlen stretched out in case he has to start for JJ next weekend.
Chipper looks done.
I got a sneaking idea that as soon as escobar comes back, Chipper is going to miss a couple of games. I think that hip is bothering him pretty good. Yunnel being out hamstrings the club a little.
http://deadspin.com/5377549/fisting-chip-caray
Hinske should spell Chipper for about a week anyways
I was wondering when Proctor would get the call – so far the results aren’t good. 1-2, 11.25 ERA, 2.50 WHIP. Obviously it’s a small sample size, but still it doesn’t look promising so far.
Did they just say Wagner is done after this season?
http://www.sportingnews.com/mlb/article/2010-05-01/braves-closer-billy-wagner-will-retire-after-season
Well, 21-4. Pretty good weekend beatdown.
jordan schafer starting rehab assignment in rome. things are going to get really crowded in gwinnett for mitch jones, clevelen, young, and blanco.
http://tinyurl.com/336z3gf
79,
good that means schafer can come up and melky can get sent down…
would melky even start in gwinnett? or would a trade or DFA make more sense
Can’t really expect anything like this from Melky over the long haul, but in his last 6 games he’s 8 for 20 with 3 walks.
Under what circumstances do you think Schafer will be brought to the big leagues? Could he possibly be brought up to replace Nate if he continues to struggle? This is all assuming Jordan does well when his rehab is finished, or that he’s even ready this year.
80,
Melky is out of options.
82,
Schafer will be the every day center fielder (at least against right handed pitching) as soon as he’s ready.
82, for that to happen someone has to go. Who are you suggesting?
Recap is up.