If Kawakami hasn’t developed a complex after today, he’s got a stronger mental fortitude than most. It’s like fate is determined not to let him get a win this year.
ryan c
on May 9, 2010 at 11:27 am
kawakami is on pace to go 0-27.
jash
on May 9, 2010 at 11:28 am
I’m now convinced that Cox has lost it. Melky batting third? Hinske is out of the lineup after coming up with that big double yesterday? This is ridiculous!! I’m sure the rest of league already considers our offense a laughing stock, but this is truly a new low. Our 3rd place hitter has a slugging percentage of .221? Come on Bobby, I mean, really. This is just too much, even for you.
Melky has never started a game batting third, fourth, or fifth before in his major league career.
timo
on May 9, 2010 at 11:40 am
Oh man, the one game i can watch during a week and they’re sending out the replacements? This really really sucks! Cole Hamels no-hitter – pretty possible.
Kurkjian was just on ESPN saying that “for the first time” he thinks that Chipper might really retire after this season. He also mentioned something that I hadn’t heard, that Chipper has a problem with his hip that hurts swinging righthanded.
Seat Painter
on May 9, 2010 at 12:03 pm
O/U on the Braves first hit?
I’d say one out in the 6th.
braves14
on May 9, 2010 at 12:20 pm
Melky batting 3rd? Wow.
RobBroad4th
on May 9, 2010 at 12:20 pm
There is no good reason to bat Melky third. Ludicrous.
Frank
on May 9, 2010 at 12:30 pm
I think there’s some research (but I’m too lazy to look it up now) suggesting that batting order doesn’t have much effect on run production. That said, the old man’s gone completely bonkers putting Melky in the 3rd hole. Diaz has struggled this year, but he’d be my choice especially with his record of raking lefties.
Mike N.
on May 9, 2010 at 12:31 pm
Haha, Infante leading off, Conrad at third, Melky batting third, and Glaus cleanup in front of McCann. Go get ’em Shredder!
Frank
on May 9, 2010 at 12:34 pm
Chip and Joe blathering about Melky being a switch hitter so it won’t matter if the Phils start making switches (meaning to RH reliever). Yeah, guys, that’s because he sucks from both sides!
It’s too early in the season to be this grumpy about baseball.
FUWren
on May 9, 2010 at 12:34 pm
Lol…some of us have been begging to get Chipper out of the 3 hole forever…but this is *not* really what we had in mind. Why isn’t Hicks starting somewhere today…couldn’t he play first or maybe catch? C’mon, this still isn’t the most intentionally sub-optimal lineup that Bobby could field…he’s got a little bit of room for dis-improvement.
With our only .300 hitter (and for that matter, last .250 hitter)? Of course he’d strike out when he had just one strike left.
oldtimer?
on May 9, 2010 at 12:44 pm
Everyone needs to be fired.
braves14
on May 9, 2010 at 12:44 pm
Fail.
Brian J.
on May 9, 2010 at 12:45 pm
Hey, dumb baserunning tricks! With all the lousy hitting, we haven’t had a chance to remember how bad this team is running the bases. Thanks for reminding us, guys!
I know it’s for a good cause, but those bats look like they were dipped in Pepto-Bismol.
Frank
on May 9, 2010 at 12:46 pm
Normally sending Infante there is a terrible choice–hit to shallow right, Werth has a good arm, McC due up–but with this team that might be the best odds on scoring a run.
Tom
on May 9, 2010 at 12:46 pm
The bozos are putting on quite a show so far. Great time to be a Braves fan!
oldtimer?
on May 9, 2010 at 12:46 pm
Hmmm, the Braves or a National Geographic Special about ICeland.
tough choice today.
Adam M
on May 9, 2010 at 12:47 pm
Most impressive that half inning was how Hamels gave up two hits and struck out a batter all the while making only 12 pitches.
No he definitely got it out of his glove. He took a good 5 steps instead of throwing it home.
Guillermo
on May 9, 2010 at 12:59 pm
Why are we still starting Melky?
Frank
on May 9, 2010 at 1:01 pm
What’s the point of McDowell going out to chat with a pitcher who doesn’t speak English? Maybe the translator should go to the mound.
Weldon
on May 9, 2010 at 1:01 pm
So…serious business, what was Melky doing there?
timo
on May 9, 2010 at 1:03 pm
I really disliked Garret Anderson last year. Melky annoys me even more.
spike (back in the USA)
on May 9, 2010 at 1:07 pm
This team is not even good enough to hate. They are doing the worst thing possible – making me just not care about baseball. I never would have thought it possible.
Phils announcers on XM were bashing Melky for not throwing home, guess its a good thing I missed it – I already knew he sucks though, to bad Bobby hasnt figured that out yet
Well, that’s what happens when you let Smelky bat third.
Tom
on May 9, 2010 at 1:24 pm
This team is not even good enough to hate. They are doing the worst thing possible – making me just not care about baseball. I never would have thought it possible.
Then there’s two of us.
c. shorter
on May 9, 2010 at 1:26 pm
I just tuned in and saw Melky come up after Prado. I thought it was strange to see Prado down a little further in the lineup. Nope… Bobby’s just on crack.
Adam M
on May 9, 2010 at 1:26 pm
I too have read that managers, in the long run, can have little or no effect on offensive production by messing with the batting order. And it makes sense–the statistical evidence is pretty certain.
And yet nobody has ever been so audacious as to bat Melky Cabrera third. I’m not sure the models ever considered that to be an option.
Jeremy
on May 9, 2010 at 1:27 pm
If I did something as stupid as batting Melky Cabrera in the 3 hole at my job I would probably be fired.
Brian J.
on May 9, 2010 at 1:28 pm
TBS is interviewing Terry Pendleton. They’re not asking the only relevant question: How the hell do you still have a job?
And Bakayaro Kawakami serves up another tater.
sdp
on May 9, 2010 at 1:28 pm
Melky strikes me as one of those guys who was so defined by the NYY culture that he can’t excel (nay, just be average) anywhere else. He’s not this bad of a player.
braves14
on May 9, 2010 at 1:37 pm
Who is worse, Lowe or Kawakami?
c. shorter
on May 9, 2010 at 1:37 pm
80 — A friend once joked that to get fired from a state job, you basically have to set fire to the building. On purpose. Perhaps it’s on par with this lineup…
reaganman
on May 9, 2010 at 1:40 pm
Can we just go back to the Yankees and redo the whole Melky for Vazquez trade. It seems that Melky is better in NY and Vazquez is better in ATL.
Brian J.
on May 9, 2010 at 1:42 pm
Diaz with the Atlanta Hit.
Brian J.
on May 9, 2010 at 1:47 pm
Two on, no outs, no runs, and no surprise. Honestly, how did it ever get to be like this?
timo
on May 9, 2010 at 1:48 pm
baaaaahhhh!!!
Andrew B
on May 9, 2010 at 1:49 pm
i realize that baseball isn’t played in a vacuum, so its hard to say that if you change something in an inning, the rest of the inning would play how the same.
however, to me, the most troubling thing from this game is the braves lack of execution when making outs.
if prado gets the bunt down or gets the runner over, infante scores from third on glaus’s hit. if kawakami gets the bunt down, then mclouth scores in on infante’s hit, and if diaz doesn’t strike out, a run scores on conrad’s fly to left.
that to me is what kills me watching this…it isn’t the sheer number of outs the braves make, its how worthless they are.
You know, Iceland looks like it kind of sucks, what with the volcanoes and the herring and the economic collapse and the Bjork.
FUWren
on May 9, 2010 at 1:53 pm
How about not bunting at all when you know before the game starts that you’ll need 6+ runs to win? If I were a manager I would never practice bunting and never call for a bunt. You get 27 outs…making outs on purpose is stupid. Our problem is that we’ve got 9 guys that are awesome at making outs period.
timo
on May 9, 2010 at 1:57 pm
The volcano sucks more than the Braves. Got stuck in Italy three weeks ago and this week will be a mess again.
Frank
on May 9, 2010 at 1:58 pm
Bjork or Melky … pick your poison
Speaking of the Melkster, he’s on deck just waiting to ground into a DP.
edit–a gift from Utley or Melky would have delivered the DP
Brian J.
on May 9, 2010 at 1:59 pm
I’m sure Bjork’s the better hitter and Melky’s the better singer.
Dan
on May 9, 2010 at 1:59 pm
I’d trade Melky Cabrera for Jeff Francoeur.
Brian J.
on May 9, 2010 at 2:01 pm
Melky tries to fail (hitting a shouldabeen DP grounder) and can’t do it thanks to a bad bounce. Um, thanks?
timo
on May 9, 2010 at 2:02 pm
Woah, Brian!! @94.
Brian J.
on May 9, 2010 at 2:06 pm
I hardly believe that I’m saying this, but attaboy, Troy!
Frank
on May 9, 2010 at 2:06 pm
Prado knows–he better try to score when he has the chance.
putter
on May 9, 2010 at 2:13 pm
The pink bats are very fitting for most of this lineup
Weldon
on May 9, 2010 at 2:13 pm
@89 – and as soon as you post that…would have taken a double play from McCann in that situation. Anything but a strikeout.
csg
on May 9, 2010 at 2:17 pm
Im getting sick of these guys taking the good pitches and swinging at the crap. Another K looking for McCann
mravery
on May 9, 2010 at 2:19 pm
That inning was… quick.
Parish
on May 9, 2010 at 2:20 pm
Alright, KK. 8 pitch inning.
Way to put the “offense” right back out there.
csg
on May 9, 2010 at 2:21 pm
I dont care how bad Mitch Jones is or could be at this level, but I couldnt hate him as much as I do Melky
csg
on May 9, 2010 at 2:22 pm
have we hit a HR in this series?
Brian J.
on May 9, 2010 at 2:29 pm
That’s a negatory, csg.
c. shorter
on May 9, 2010 at 2:29 pm
Heyward’s been out. So, no.
csg
on May 9, 2010 at 2:33 pm
little league field and Hinske had the only deep fly ball that I can remember
Brian J.
on May 9, 2010 at 2:35 pm
The Braves’ last HR was by Infante in the second inning of the win against Washington, 41 innings ago.
In fact, the Braves’ only other HR in May were two solo shots by Heyward (May 1 against Houston, Tuesday against Washington).
Dan
on May 9, 2010 at 2:37 pm
And the Braves’ 3-spot hitter tries to bunt for a single.
Tom
on May 9, 2010 at 2:40 pm
And the Braves’ 3-spot hitter, BEING SLOWER THAN MCCANN ON ONE LEG – tries to bunt for a single.
Brian J.
on May 9, 2010 at 2:47 pm
And Victorino snuffs any chance that we could tie it by scratching together one run.
c. shorter
on May 9, 2010 at 2:50 pm
If only the Braves can keep it close enough that the Phils bring in Lidge…
braves14
on May 9, 2010 at 2:51 pm
Kawakami is on pace to lose about 25 games.
Chip talking about MVP candidates in May. Moron.
Frank
on May 9, 2010 at 3:00 pm
Chip talking about MVP candidates in May. Moron.
ryan c
on May 9, 2010 at 3:03 pm
i told everyone on this board way before the season that we’d hate melky as much as we hate francoeur. i’m getting close to being right.
Frank
on May 9, 2010 at 3:07 pm
O’Fl. just demonstrated why, as a Braves fan, I’m glad the Phils are on the hook for 5 years/$125m for Howard.
mravery
on May 9, 2010 at 3:14 pm
This team can’t even hit HRs off Brad Lidge!
Frank
on May 9, 2010 at 3:15 pm
Schafer 0-4 today. Masters 1 run in 8 IP with 4H, 1BB, and 1K.
braves14
on May 9, 2010 at 3:16 pm
Horrible team.
Brian J.
on May 9, 2010 at 3:16 pm
And that’s that. Hey, Brewers, ready to win a few games?
Use code “Journal” for a 5% discount.
Lovely line up — Infante, 6; Prado, 4; Cabrera, 9; Glaus, 3; McCann, 2; Diaz, 7; Conrad, 5; McLouth 8; Kawakami, 1
I guess Hinske didn’t earn another day in the lineup.
@1, Bobby Cox was like “How the hell did we win last night?? Let’s see them try to win with THIS lineup! Muh hahaha!”
On the plus side, it looks like there will be plenty of pinch hitters available for when Kawakami has to come out in the fifth inning.
I missed it. What’s wrong with Chipper? I mean specifically. Today.
Hinske is completely useless against LHP. Not that half the line up isn’t also useless against LHP (or RHP), but I understand why he’d sit Hinske.
Well, at least he’s sitting in favor of Melky, who is capable of sucking from both sides of the plate.
Glaus batting clean-up? WAT?!
Strained groin for Chipper. Guess he saw Heyward’s sweet deal and decided he had to get him some of that.
I suppose its possible Chipper REALLY is hurting, and maybe cant play, but I suppose thats just cynicism on my part.
This may be a new low for Bobby. Conrad at third? Melky batting third?
I … just … Good luck, KK!
And now starting for the Gwinnette Braves………
Also notable is how awful McLouth has become: how can anyone possibly bat 8th in that lineup and still look himself in the mirror?
I think Bobby lets Furman Bisher make out the lineup on days Kawakami pitches.
Call your mamas, guys.
i was going to stick around and watch this game but after seeing this lineup, i’ve decided to stick my head in the oven instead.
If Kawakami hasn’t developed a complex after today, he’s got a stronger mental fortitude than most. It’s like fate is determined not to let him get a win this year.
kawakami is on pace to go 0-27.
I’m now convinced that Cox has lost it. Melky batting third? Hinske is out of the lineup after coming up with that big double yesterday? This is ridiculous!! I’m sure the rest of league already considers our offense a laughing stock, but this is truly a new low. Our 3rd place hitter has a slugging percentage of .221? Come on Bobby, I mean, really. This is just too much, even for you.
Melky has never started a game batting third, fourth, or fifth before in his major league career.
Oh man, the one game i can watch during a week and they’re sending out the replacements? This really really sucks! Cole Hamels no-hitter – pretty possible.
Kurkjian was just on ESPN saying that “for the first time” he thinks that Chipper might really retire after this season. He also mentioned something that I hadn’t heard, that Chipper has a problem with his hip that hurts swinging righthanded.
O/U on the Braves first hit?
I’d say one out in the 6th.
Melky batting 3rd? Wow.
There is no good reason to bat Melky third. Ludicrous.
I think there’s some research (but I’m too lazy to look it up now) suggesting that batting order doesn’t have much effect on run production. That said, the old man’s gone completely bonkers putting Melky in the 3rd hole. Diaz has struggled this year, but he’d be my choice especially with his record of raking lefties.
Haha, Infante leading off, Conrad at third, Melky batting third, and Glaus cleanup in front of McCann. Go get ’em Shredder!
Chip and Joe blathering about Melky being a switch hitter so it won’t matter if the Phils start making switches (meaning to RH reliever). Yeah, guys, that’s because he sucks from both sides!
It’s too early in the season to be this grumpy about baseball.
Lol…some of us have been begging to get Chipper out of the 3 hole forever…but this is *not* really what we had in mind. Why isn’t Hicks starting somewhere today…couldn’t he play first or maybe catch? C’mon, this still isn’t the most intentionally sub-optimal lineup that Bobby could field…he’s got a little bit of room for dis-improvement.
A lot of people just lost a lot of bets.
Bunting in the top of the first, Bobby?
This is insane.
With our only .300 hitter (and for that matter, last .250 hitter)? Of course he’d strike out when he had just one strike left.
Everyone needs to be fired.
Fail.
Hey, dumb baserunning tricks! With all the lousy hitting, we haven’t had a chance to remember how bad this team is running the bases. Thanks for reminding us, guys!
I know it’s for a good cause, but those bats look like they were dipped in Pepto-Bismol.
Normally sending Infante there is a terrible choice–hit to shallow right, Werth has a good arm, McC due up–but with this team that might be the best odds on scoring a run.
The bozos are putting on quite a show so far. Great time to be a Braves fan!
Hmmm, the Braves or a National Geographic Special about ICeland.
tough choice today.
Most impressive that half inning was how Hamels gave up two hits and struck out a batter all the while making only 12 pitches.
I’m DVRing the Iceland thing and watching during commercials and Melky at-bats.
Good strategy.
The Phillies have a better player than us today at every position except for catcher and shortstop.
Close contact between Infante’s Glove of Stone and the volcanoes whose name looks like someone sneezing in a bowl of alphabet soup.
I’m sorry but “Chase Utley swinging a pink bat” just sounds like nothing so much as porn ad copy.
Why were we playing for 1 run in the top of the freaking 1st? Bobby must have a really really really good gut feeling about Kawakami today.
Slam time.
Ballgame.
Game over. Good night, everybody.
I was wrong yesterday when I said this, but I’m sure I’m right now:
Ballgame.
God I hate giving away baserunners to a team as good as the Phillies.
What was that, Melky?
Melky can’t even take the ball out of his friggin glove.
Iceland time.
WTF Melky?!
Melky = smelky
Melky with the Braves assist
No he definitely got it out of his glove. He took a good 5 steps instead of throwing it home.
Why are we still starting Melky?
What’s the point of McDowell going out to chat with a pitcher who doesn’t speak English? Maybe the translator should go to the mound.
So…serious business, what was Melky doing there?
I really disliked Garret Anderson last year. Melky annoys me even more.
This team is not even good enough to hate. They are doing the worst thing possible – making me just not care about baseball. I never would have thought it possible.
I might have to take a Braves break until Heyward returns.
Fire Pendleton.
Everybody sucks.
Phils announcers on XM were bashing Melky for not throwing home, guess its a good thing I missed it – I already knew he sucks though, to bad Bobby hasnt figured that out yet
By the way, what the hell was Bobby doing having Prado bunt in the first inning?
remember Nate’s walkoff that made them 8-5? seems like last season, no way this team is better than .500
Kawakami out there giving his best Derek Lowe impression.
This is so bad. WOW!
Wow. Total Fail.
Well, that’s fitting.
What’s Japanese for “You suck”?
Oh great, now Melky is up. Thanks Cox.
There’s “you’re an idiot”: Bakayaro.
Well, that’s what happens when you let Smelky bat third.
This team is not even good enough to hate. They are doing the worst thing possible – making me just not care about baseball. I never would have thought it possible.
Then there’s two of us.
I just tuned in and saw Melky come up after Prado. I thought it was strange to see Prado down a little further in the lineup. Nope… Bobby’s just on crack.
I too have read that managers, in the long run, can have little or no effect on offensive production by messing with the batting order. And it makes sense–the statistical evidence is pretty certain.
And yet nobody has ever been so audacious as to bat Melky Cabrera third. I’m not sure the models ever considered that to be an option.
If I did something as stupid as batting Melky Cabrera in the 3 hole at my job I would probably be fired.
TBS is interviewing Terry Pendleton. They’re not asking the only relevant question: How the hell do you still have a job?
And Bakayaro Kawakami serves up another tater.
Melky strikes me as one of those guys who was so defined by the NYY culture that he can’t excel (nay, just be average) anywhere else. He’s not this bad of a player.
Who is worse, Lowe or Kawakami?
80 — A friend once joked that to get fired from a state job, you basically have to set fire to the building. On purpose. Perhaps it’s on par with this lineup…
Can we just go back to the Yankees and redo the whole Melky for Vazquez trade. It seems that Melky is better in NY and Vazquez is better in ATL.
Diaz with the Atlanta Hit.
Two on, no outs, no runs, and no surprise. Honestly, how did it ever get to be like this?
baaaaahhhh!!!
i realize that baseball isn’t played in a vacuum, so its hard to say that if you change something in an inning, the rest of the inning would play how the same.
however, to me, the most troubling thing from this game is the braves lack of execution when making outs.
if prado gets the bunt down or gets the runner over, infante scores from third on glaus’s hit. if kawakami gets the bunt down, then mclouth scores in on infante’s hit, and if diaz doesn’t strike out, a run scores on conrad’s fly to left.
that to me is what kills me watching this…it isn’t the sheer number of outs the braves make, its how worthless they are.
You know, Iceland looks like it kind of sucks, what with the volcanoes and the herring and the economic collapse and the Bjork.
How about not bunting at all when you know before the game starts that you’ll need 6+ runs to win? If I were a manager I would never practice bunting and never call for a bunt. You get 27 outs…making outs on purpose is stupid. Our problem is that we’ve got 9 guys that are awesome at making outs period.
The volcano sucks more than the Braves. Got stuck in Italy three weeks ago and this week will be a mess again.
Bjork or Melky … pick your poison
Speaking of the Melkster, he’s on deck just waiting to ground into a DP.
edit–a gift from Utley or Melky would have delivered the DP
I’m sure Bjork’s the better hitter and Melky’s the better singer.
I’d trade Melky Cabrera for Jeff Francoeur.
Melky tries to fail (hitting a shouldabeen DP grounder) and can’t do it thanks to a bad bounce. Um, thanks?
Woah, Brian!! @94.
I hardly believe that I’m saying this, but attaboy, Troy!
Prado knows–he better try to score when he has the chance.
The pink bats are very fitting for most of this lineup
@89 – and as soon as you post that…would have taken a double play from McCann in that situation. Anything but a strikeout.
Im getting sick of these guys taking the good pitches and swinging at the crap. Another K looking for McCann
That inning was… quick.
Alright, KK. 8 pitch inning.
Way to put the “offense” right back out there.
I dont care how bad Mitch Jones is or could be at this level, but I couldnt hate him as much as I do Melky
have we hit a HR in this series?
That’s a negatory, csg.
Heyward’s been out. So, no.
little league field and Hinske had the only deep fly ball that I can remember
The Braves’ last HR was by Infante in the second inning of the win against Washington, 41 innings ago.
In fact, the Braves’ only other HR in May were two solo shots by Heyward (May 1 against Houston, Tuesday against Washington).
And the Braves’ 3-spot hitter tries to bunt for a single.
And the Braves’ 3-spot hitter, BEING SLOWER THAN MCCANN ON ONE LEG – tries to bunt for a single.
And Victorino snuffs any chance that we could tie it by scratching together one run.
If only the Braves can keep it close enough that the Phils bring in Lidge…
Kawakami is on pace to lose about 25 games.
Chip talking about MVP candidates in May. Moron.
Chip talking
about MVP candidates in May. Moron.i told everyone on this board way before the season that we’d hate melky as much as we hate francoeur. i’m getting close to being right.
O’Fl. just demonstrated why, as a Braves fan, I’m glad the Phils are on the hook for 5 years/$125m for Howard.
This team can’t even hit HRs off Brad Lidge!
Schafer 0-4 today. Masters 1 run in 8 IP with 4H, 1BB, and 1K.
Horrible team.
And that’s that. Hey, Brewers, ready to win a few games?
We even make Brad Lidge look good.
Recapped.
119 – Correction: Masters with 10 Ks.