Nobody really knows anything. Minor, when drafted seventh overall in last year’s draft, was considered a signability pick, a low-ceiling, polished lefthander who might be in the majors quickly but was nothing more than a back of the rotation starter. Well, they were right about him getting to the majors quickly.
Minor actually signed for above-slot money and was assigned to Rome, where he allowed one run in fourteen innings at the end of last season. A first-round pick out of college probably should do that to the Sally League. At any rate, Minor made some adjustments, with the presumed help of Braves coaches, and added a lot of velocity. After a bit of a speedbump in Mississippi, he pretty soon had the Southern League figured out, and was moved to Gwinnett. In six AAA starts, he went 4-1 with a 1.89 ERA, striking out 37 in 33 1/3 while allowing just 19 hits.
Minor’s career minor league strikeout rate is 10.9/9. That was unexpected, to say the least. There was a little loss of control when he made the adjustments, but worth it… Hitless in 20 career minor league PA, and from what I can tell didn’t even come to the plate in college.
Mike Minor Minor League Statistics & History – Baseball-Reference.com.
Mabye this guy can be the next Chuck James. 😉
With so much young talent, it’s hard not to be excited about the future of this team.
I’d take the second coming of Kent Mercker at this point, with a progression to the second coming of Steve Avery.
To Marc from previous thread-
That was a much, much better way for us to talk on the Andruw issue. That nice approach always works. I promise.
I might say that Andruw’s last 2 years were bad all the way around, but certainly, the last year was dreadful on all fronts. Like I said, when even Mac is pointing out his defensive slippage, there’s a problem.
I’m at a standstill with Stu on Ankiel’s defense. Again, Ankiel at his best is nowehere close to Andruw’s defensive best – again, when Andruw was in his prime, it’s arguably the best defense in center field of all time. (yes, maybe even above Mays).
But, and maybe this is a better way to compare, Ankiel LOOKS like Andruw compared to what I’ve seen from Melky and McLouth.
Keith Law, for what it’s worth:
“Throwing harder – a good 2-3 mph harder – with the accompanying drop in command. The questions are: Can he improve his command without giving up the newfound velo? And can he maintain the velo for a full season? If the answers to both are ‘yes,’ his ceiling would jump to that of a [number two] starter.”
re: Edmonds. The lefty thing matters, true, but he’d instantly be our best defensive outfielder and among our two best hitting outfielders. He’s having a great year. I’d love to put Edmonds in center, and I’m surprised, if the Braves had any interest, that they wasted their time on Ankiel at all.
Melky lugging that chunky body around center field actually has caused damage to my retinas. I can’t stomach watching him chase a ball down…I am out of breath just sitting on my couch.
Re: Mike Minor
His numbers in Gwinnett are outstanding. If McDowell ever leaves, we need to promote whomever the pitching coach in Gwinnett is.
I’m excited to see Minor pitch tonight, even if it’s just the Astros. Frankly, just the fact that he’s a lefthander adds a little more balance to the rotation. But unless he’s unhittable the rest of the way, we’ll still be all righties come post season rotation.
Minor’s actually a year older than Avery was in 1991 — more than a year.
CourtneyC,
I hope that’s sarcasm, but if not:
Mike Minor went to Vanderbilt.
Mike Minor has not broken both of his wrists trying to jump into a pool from the top of a roof.
Mike Minor went to Vanderbilt.
Mike Minor has not been bitten by a Copperhead snake and refused to seek medical treatment.
Mike Minor went to Vanderbilt.
Mike Minor, in his short career in pro-ball, has shown the ability to make adjustments to his pitching in order to be more effective.
Mike Minor went to Vanderbilt.
Mike Minor can throw more than two pitches.
Mike Minor went to Vanderbilt.
Mike Minor is not missing two lobes from his brain.
Am I missing anything?
Yeah, but can Mike Minor install windows during the off-season?
Cody Johnson was sent to Myrtle Beach. Not looking good for him. Saturday, he was DHing for Mississippi — and hitting eighth.
Tonight’s lineup for Mike Minor’s Major League debut: Infante 4 Heyward 9 Chipper 5 McCann 2 Hinske 7 Glaus 3 Ankiel 8 Gonzalez 6 Minor 1
Edit: Shocking that Wakamatsu got fired. I think I’d take him before all of the candidates listed the other day by Mac.
from previous thread: thanks to all for the waiver explanation.
On not trying to get Jim Edmonds:
Well, we had/have a CF named Nate McLouth. In the pre season there was no reason to pursue a CF. I may be the only one but I’m pulling for McLouth to make a comeback. If he is his good self he is > Rick Ankiel.
Actually, the pool and snake incidents were quite endearing. Snakes on a plane!
If Minor turns in an Aug/Sept performance reminiscent of very-early-era Chuck James and/or Damian Moss, I’ll take it.
Watching Melky in the OF at the game yesterday was painful… and nobody in our OF looked like they were going to get to ANY of the balls in the first few innings… I was genuinely surprised when somebody got to the ball.
Last time I saw Minor he was 89-93 w/ good tail, plus change, fringe-average curve. I’ve never seen him throw the slider but that’s supposedly the better of his two breaking balls. He should be a good one if he can stay healthy.
Ain’t nothing like good tail.
11- Mac, you’re such a pessimist. Everyone knows that 114 strikeouts in 233 at-bats is a sure sign of future greatness. If everything goes right, he could be the next Mike Hessman! Wasn’t that worth a first-round pick?
Ankiel hasn’t looked good in the outfield at all. He’s taken some horrible routes to a few balls. It’s a small sample size and I’m willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, but I wouldn’t say he’s a defensive upgrade over anybody (except for Melky, who should be in a bowling league eating chicken wings.)
Cody Johnson could be out of the system in a year.
With the pitching depth the Braves have developed of late, it’s time they start paying for hitting–after Freeman it looks pretty bare until you get to the low minors. The Braves will have holes at 3B, SS, CF, and LF at least, so hopefully they can figure out how to fill some or all of them better than they have these past couple years (especially in the OF).
Joe Poz’s worst everyday players…
http://tinyurl.com/26xtu9e
17—I’ve been curious, PW; what scouting training do you have?
Cody Johnson is absolutely horrific. He had a stint in the GCL earlier this year in which he amassed eight strikeouts in six games!
Until his demotion from Mississippi, he was averaging 2.03 AB/SO. That includes a 4.56 SO/BB ratio and 34 more strikeouts than total bases!
Those numbers have to be historic.
Yeah, but other than all that, he’s really promising.
Well, he’s been hurt all year and he’s only 21. Let’s see what he does next year before we totally write him off, but right now it doesn’t look good.
Anyone want to offer a bet for what Stu’s wife would have to do to get him to miss Mike Minor’s first start?
@27,
I think it involves duct tape and chloroform.
Kinky.
Given our DVR, it wouldn’t involve a whole lot in the way of 29 to get me distracted.
PS: My wife knows and likes Mikie, too, so she’ll be watching with me.
we’re scoring double digits tonight against bud norris. he strikes out quite a few, but gives up quite a bit of walks and hits.
@31, Sounds like you have a good wife. My lady tries to like baseball too, though I have a feeling she’d rather be watching something else.
23,
I have a few friends that are scouts, learned a lot from them and from talking to scouts in Rome and at Spring Training over the past several years. Then I took a 12-hour class on scouting last summer. It was very basic and I didn’t really learn much I didn’t already know, but it was fun nonetheless.
My wife tries too. Bless her heart she still remembers Zane Smith. Invariably she’ll ask ‘Is that really ugly guy still pitching for the Braves?’ Sigh.
@35, LOL. Priceless.
My mom still looks for Javy Lopez, Furcal, Maddux, etc., on the chance occasion that she watches the Braves these days.
Speaking of Chuck James, he’s been pretty dominant for the Nationals’ upper minors teams. Surprised they haven’t called him up to at least be a reliever — it’s not like they have San Diego’s pitching staff. Is he hurt?
Non-baseball related thought before the game starts:
I’m watching this “Ultimate Warrior” on Spike and they’re trying to decide who would win between a Spartan and a Ninja. Watching it makes me feel good about how much of a nerd I am (I DVR’d a documentary about Samurai last night.. I’m a pretty big nerd), because these guys are ridiculous. There’s like 5 grown men spending an hour going “Nuh-uh my guy beats up your guy because he has this super awesome armor!”
Why do I get the feeling that no one has out-kicked their coverage more than our favorite Vandy lawyer?
————
Just finished the late, great Michael Crichton’s “State of Fear”. Recommend it highly.
Ron Gant thinks the reason our last road trip sucked was because of pitching. Do he and Jordan actually watch the games?
The Hooters waitress marked the beginning of the end of my mom’s Braves fandom. As the other old names drifted away and it gradually became Chipper’s team, she had less and less to do with them.
According to Joe, Minor made his college debut in the Juice Box too. That is cool.
Just saw the Lisp warming up in bullpen
Also Chip is getting a massage from some heavy-set woman in her late 40’s while he fiddles on his iPad
And according to Chip, the fact that a pitcher named “Minor” is starting a game on Heyward’s 21st birthday qualifies as irony.
And happy birthday to Bad Henry County!
Good to see Larry Sr. at the game
Hunter Pence and Michael Bourn headline my personal ‘guys I always sort of thought were the same guy but are actually two different guys’ team. Also, Dodger relievers Ronald Belisario and Ramon Troncoso.
I didn’t recognize half the names on that Astro lineup card.
32- Ryan, I think you’re being a bit too optimistic. This is the same cough-boiling offense that has struggled for the last month.
Carlos Lee has really fallen off a cliff.
The one flaw in McCann’s game is his throw to second. But, he does have a good slider.
Who was the last lefty starter for the Braves prior to Minor? Hampton?
Jo-Jo.
Jo-Jo lol
Ah, the old ‘turn the wrong way jump catch’ move by Ankiel. Works every time.
Joe is becoming quite the grumpy old man.
Way to go, Mike. Nice first inning in the bigs.
Wouldn’t you if you had to work with Chip 120 times a year?
i had forgotten how much i hate this stadium. i hate this stadium…hate hate hate
Not exactly a dominant first inning, but, hey, no runs!
(Mikie, get the ball down in the second, please.)
BTW, the Chuck James refrence was sarcasm. I just like saying “Chuck James”
I just figured out who Rick Ankiel looks like. I shall henceforth refer to him as Rick Diamond Ankiel.
What about “Rick Diamond Kenny Chesney Ankiel”?
FrankenGlaus with another base hit? Did Igor go out and steal a couple of knees?
Even Glaus’ hits suck.
Don said that if they would just “leave ed Wade alone” he could fix this team. The mind boggles.
AAG!!
Astros are terrible.
Coldplay Fans and Gentlemen, your Houston Astros!
Nice speed, I’ll give him that
Well, that was something.
FUCK YOU CHIP!
LOL. Memorable first AB.
DAMN!
it looked like he had to slow down to aviod running into the 1st basemen. oh well.
If I were Minor i’d drill Pence in the ribs.
Jeremy, what did Chip say this time?
Minor’s ball was the only hard hit ball of the inning. I’ll take a run for that.
Chip’s call of that play might be his worst ever.
And that’s sayin’ something.
Minor probably would have been safe if he didn’t have to slow down to avoid crashing into the first baseman.
Minor apparently is unaware of the rules of baseball. Upon getting thrown out he asked first base coach “Does the run count?”
Was it “Line drive, base hit!”?
Minor’s got that at ’em ball working.
Chip is so dumb. I hate him so much.
Shawn,
He was orgasming over Minor’s first hit, until Minor got thrown out at first. Anyone watching the play could see what was going to happen. It wasn’t even that close at first.
@83 Yea, as soon as I saw where the outfielder was playing I knew he was going to first. But it helps if you actually understand baseball, which I’m not sure Chip does.
rewound it… the actual call was:
“and Minor with a hit to right. That’s gonna plate a run I think. No they got him at first”
Wallace is really starting to piss me off.
I’m glad I don’t have to listen to him as much as you guys- he’s much more entertaining when you tell me what he says than actually hearing him.
Did that ball really hit Wallace?
“minor’s getting all of his firsts out tonight…” – chip
its the 2nd inning of his ML debut….ya think chip?
I feel bad for Minor. Good second inning, except for the clip.
Great pitch sequence on the K. And no way that ball hit the batter.
What percentage of hit-by-pitch’es are called strikes for not trying to avoid the ball, 0.01%? I’ve seen one this season (Brandon Phillips) and that’s more than I can remember from any other year really.
JASON!!!!!!!!!!!
Happy Birthday Jason!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
yessss
HEYWARD!!!!
it’s about time that worthless right fielder does something good.
did chip just call heyward “baby?”
There we go. We need J-Hey with that power stroke back.
That was a rocket.
Watching that home run I thought two things:
(1) That’s awesome! Happy Birthday!
(2) Thank goodness my mute button is on.
Not to pick on Chip but the baby at the end was totally awkward.
He just can’t do anything right.
I have slight delay on my PS3 broadcast so …..
YEAH!!! there’s the power stroke!!!
92 — AAG swung and missed at a ball that hit him in the foot the other day. Though that’s not really a “called” strike.
Chip was just finishing up a Virginia Slim when the ball went over the wall.
Heyward’s birthday is 8/9/89. Today is 8/9/10.
Cue twilight music.
He also has his 12th homer on his 21st birthday.
@99
Yes he did. He’s awful.
12 is also the number of letters in his first and last names. Whoa!
105, yeah, those they are calling pretty consistently. It’s more the ones where you somehow can’t manage to avoid getting “hit” by a slow curveball I mean.
Well, lets not get ahead of ourselves. The homer WAS against the Astros.
Chip’s just now catching on to Jo-Jo being our last lefty starter.
Woo-hoo, Heyward now has more home runs than Francoeur this year again!
That’s gotta be Avery.
Jason Heyward rearranged spells Harden Yo Jaws! … fool!
They can’t seriously not know the answer to the trivia question, can they?
Minor’s making this look easy.
Chip on Bourn: “He hit a line drive his first time up between Chipper and Alex”
How could the apple fall so far from the tree?
@106 – LOL.
Someone has already pointed it out but Chipper since all star break is like 90% of the Chipper we know and love. Maybe some baseball in the old guy after all. But his home/road splits are positively KJ like.
According to game day Mike is pounding the zone.
Lilliquist and Mercker are good thoughts, both top 10 1st round picks and lefties. I’m surprised they’ve come up with as many good guesses as they have.
The answer is easy, don’t want to overthink it.
Chip Carey, obviously adapted.
117 — Sometimes I wonder if Joe has Alzheimer’s. He forgets answers to simple Braves’ trivia questions he was there for.
Somewhere some scout is watching the game and smirking a bit at all the people denouncing the Minor pick as a reach back at the draft.
Did Chip just call that routine fielder’s choice Ankiel hit into the key play of the game?
@125: They’ve all been fapping about that. Gant, Joe, Chip, etc.
@125 Like I said, I’ve got the game on mute. But didn’t he do that a couple days ago as well?
124 easy fella. just one game…. against the bad assss tros
Ankiel didn’t even advance the runner on that play. Are they suggesting that it’s the key play because he didn’t ground into a double play? Really?
Serious question: If you could choose to have the Braves miss the playoffs this year, but Chip would be fired and never work for Atlanta again, would you take that deal?
I would.
glaus would not have scored from first
Well, no way Troy would have scored on the double.
Ah, I see. That’s… still a weird argument.
Hell, Troy might not have scored from second.
130 — I wouldn’t go that far. I’d just mute him.
Yep…i’d just mute him…heck I do that now at times.
128,
the bad Astros actually has the 8th highest team OPS in the majors over the last month. I’m not saying he’s going to be an all-star, but he is showing (and has been in the minors) some stuff not many thought he had.
Wow. That’s one cheap double. Tough break.
@125 Like I said, I’ve got the game on mute. But didn’t he do that a couple days ago as well?
Yeah, but that at least got the runner to third – a productive out if you will. Everybody gets over excited about those (the next guy hit a home run, I’m pretty sure the runner scores either way).
This was just a force out a second.
Serious question: If you could choose to have the Braves miss the playoffs this year, but Chip would be fired and never work for Atlanta again, would you take that deal?
I’d take it. The fun game to play is how much would you pay to banish him from the Braves for life. If I knew his replacement would be someone palatable, I think I could rationalize $1000.
What a ridiculous hit.
I’ve seen guys named Magnus drag semi’s faster than Glaus ran after that foul ball.
139—I’m willing to match your contribution.
Watching Glaus chase these pop-ups makes my knees hurt.
130 nope. Bobby’s last season. Possibly Chipper’s. And we haven’t been to the post season for a while.
What a cheap way to give up your first MLB run.
Watching Glaus run after that foul ball was painful! He’s got major arthritis going on in his knees, I know that run from experience!
It’s a cruel sport. Melky would never get on base if not for those bloops.
Why isn’t Troy on the DL? He’s limping back from these pop-ups like an old man.
I think the first base umpire was asking Glaus if he needed a cane or a walker.
@137, had to go there, didn’t you?
Well, dang it. Bad luck and bad defense.
Sheeyit.
Well, this sucks.
I remember this happening to Hanson in his first start, too- just losing his rhythm when bad things happened, and things got worse and worse. At least Minor’s kept it in the yard.
Apologies all around 🙁
There have been a couple ropes too. In the first couple innings the line drives were at fielders, now the luck has turned. He seems to have trouble putting guys away, but then again–so do most of our starting pitchers.
See, I wrote that so he’s K his way through the rest of the inning.
At least he hasn’t walked anyone.
156—Very true, but *this inning* could very easily have been scoreless.
157- Well done, Adam. Now predict us some runs.
Yeah, he scores points from me for attacking the strike zone. Whatever he calls that breaking ball needs some work though.
Well, to be fair, the last two hitters’ batting averages combined are less than Infante’s. So there’s that.
Norris can be beaten yet. Have faith.
Minor’s got a good eye.
Losing to the Astros would be gross.
79, 82, 82 there. Very nice.
And back to 92 now.
The way Chipper’s going right now, he might play next year.
Okay, Chipper, settle down and get comfortable, you aren’t going anywhere.
Yeah, baby.
BMAC
HEAP.
LONG. DEEP.
MCCANN! And now Minor knows how to win again.
Or, you know, not.
Nice way to pick up the rookie.
Way to go Chipper and Brian!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nice to see the boys unloading on this guy.
Kaboom.
did glaus at least hit the ball hard?
Minor has hopefully gathered that pitching to contact only works for Jack Morris
You know, Ankiel’s been really bad so far.
Can of corn, Johnny.
Chipper hit a rope, then McCann hit a bomb to right-center. Then Hinske took it to the warning track for a long fly-out. Then Glaus popped on to shallow CF for an easy out. It was really disappointing. Ankiel hit it kinda hard, but right at the pitcher, so it was easy for him to knock it down and toss to first.
179 – thanks.
@149–a cart like those at the airport to get him back to the dugout
Glad to see BMac get Minor off the hook. The kid’s done ok and doesn’t deserve to lose his debut on a couple of Melkys.
What a shame Pence stole 2nd there – Lee hit a perfect DP grounder.
The aagony of defeat.
Defensive SS, Alex Gonzalez.
What a great defensive shortstop we have.
Good glove shortstop, my butt.
Dammit AAG.
That was a poor Walt Weiss in ouston imitation by Gonzalez
Man I’m sick of him. Just go away.
Fundamentally sound SS.
AAG: You suck.
Pathetic, AGony.
@185-187, 191 – No doubt. I wonder how many errors he’d make if he officially sucked.
More Baghdad Bobby:
“Bobby Cox tells MLB.com’s Steve Gartner that Alex Gonzalez has been excellent on defense since the Braves acquired him for Yunel Escobar last month.”
hxxp://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2010/08/odds-ends-dunn-reds.html
Uggh…the Astros have scored the greasiest 4 runs i’ve ever seen. Minor deserves better than this.
While the Braves defense has been bad, Minor looks like ‘just a guy’ to me. And yes I know he’s 21-22.
He doesn’t make a ton of errors but he has a knack for making the clutch error.
Gonzalez may be able to turn a smooth double-play once in a while but his glove seems to be made of lead just as often. Any time I see him drive in a run or two, he gives it right back with his “excellent” defense.
Does that run become “unearned?”
200- Looks like it.
@198- Robert, that’s a good way to put it. I know the guy doesn’t consistently suck but his misplays usually figure into the outcome of the game.
We are still ok here. I like our chances in a battle of the bullpens with the Astros.
I think Minor’s location looked great. Didn’t see much in the way of his stuff, but what do you expect from his first start?
He was getting the ball up too frequently, but he pounded the zone and had velo on his fastball, along with that plus change. The breaking ball definitely wasn’t there. Still, a pretty darn good debut. I’m proud. (So is my wife.)
Yeah, I can see why gets the low ceiling rap. His stuff doesn’t really blow you away. But he’s a lefty, throws pretty hard and pounds the strike zone. He should do fine.
Seeing Kyle Farnsworth in this park makes me queasy.
Farnsworth has a barbed-wire tatto. that makes him stronger.
Kyle Farnsworth in Houston. End well, this will not.
ESPN just showed players with HR on their 21st birthdays: Frank Robinson, Ted Williams, ARod, and Heyward.
Can we PLEASE disable him? What is it going to take?
I have seen so many balls get by Glaus on throws to first. He’s so bad.
Mix in Troy Glaus with The Farns and this is a terrible combo
surprised Glaus didn’t implode on that throw from Chipper
Glaus has concrete in his shoes.
Pretty much all of the Astros’ offense in this game has been a combination of Houston’s aggressive baserunning and poor defense by Atlanta, plus a healthy amount of lucky breaks for Houston. This is really frustrating.
jesus christ our defense has been absolutely horrid lately.
So thats that…..again
son of a piece of mother
Yikes…Corky Romano or Captain Ron are starting to look like better viewing options.
What a shitty pitch. Not even close.
there’s no way glaus doesnt go on the dl in the next few days.
This sucks.
This team just isn’t good enough to win while doing all the little things wrong.
Is Farnsworth our new white flag?
by default (i.e. not being awful) Ankiel is the best player we’ve gotten via trade
@224
i’m not calling you stupid, but that is a very stupid statement. what team is?
So Freeman couldn’t possibly worse than the cement shoe wearing Troy Glaus that looks like he is in pain with every move he makes. Why are they still waiting on bringing him up?
Peter Moylan with the bases loaded. What could go wrong?
229
at least it ain’t Devine amirite?
Not too happy with the Professor.
226 — He’s been awful too, going .179/.258/.250 coming into tonight.
Prediction: taylor-made DP ball to second. AAG fumbles the relay, throws late, Glaus misplays it into right field, two runs score runner on second.
They’re gonna bust it open. So it goes.
Way to lay an egg against the friggin’ Astros.
What a bunch of punch n judy slop hits by Houston. This sucks….but I think I will still blame Glaus…and Moylan….I dislike him just about as much
Well, that’s it for tonight. I swear to god if they bring back Farnsworth next season I am boycotting the Braves.
son of a mother loving ric flair
Oh come on. If the Braves doesn’t bench AAG for that they are some two faced SOBs.
Well, at least Venters should get the night off.
They need to handcuff Farnsworth to the bus until they get out of Houston
this one’s a 9.9 on the frustration meter
Ugh. The night started so well.
@227
Not stupid at alll. Teams that possess the capacity to slug their way out of jams are ones that can do the little things wrong and sometimes overcome them. The Yankees and Phillies come to mind. Since Glaus came back to earth, the Braves’ overall margin for error has been slim.
Glaus has to go to the DL soon after this game, doesn’t he?
arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Epic fail.
I want to see Farnsworth throw things at Glaus’ head. He’ll miss most of the time, of course.
LOL
like a bunch of effin little leaguers
is this the Braves or the Bad News Bears?
LOL!!!!!!
@251
The Bad News Bears looked much better than this when they played in Houston.
“Oh come on. If the Braves doesn’t bench AAG for that they are some two faced SOBs.”
Agreed.
Well, this is just abhorrent.
Who’s Worse Farnsworth or Moylan?
Yes, at least Venters, Saito and Wagner will get the day off.
Phillies are off tonight and will gain a half game.
Well, that was a diaster. Cue Yakity Sacks.
How is the play going to be scored. Is there room in the scorebook for all those errors.
Tonight is “that loss”, you know, the one to a team that you are better than that torepedos the season.
This team is awful….Third place by the end of the year.
LOL! Happy Bday Jason!!! We brought you an entire circus to come and dance like complete morons!
And all four of the Professor’s runs score.
Someone want to explain that?
The Astros broadcast was playing the Benny Hill theme music as they cut to commercial.
Pretty fitting actually!
A wise man said it best: “If you promise to patronize our sponsors, you have permission to go walk the dog.”
The whole team might have gone out for Heyward’s birthday last night.
still only 1 out
But hey, we’re in first!
Remember when we used to not be the worst team in baseball?
We may never get another out again. The bullpen is, as they say, regressing of late.
Well at least Minor was kind of fun to watch..
your 2010 Atlanta Braves
LOL!
Seriously, how do you give up four runs on a SINGLE?
Heyward’s gonna become an alcoholic at the age of 21 years and 1 day thanks to this team
We should hire Buttermaker to replace bobby. He taught the Bears to play defence, he can do the say with the Braves.
have we given up an earned run yet?
I just saw it on ESPN. Believing it? That will take a while.
circus and benny hill music is made funnier by picturing pudgy Hinske running to the left field corner in FF
somehow this is all Melky’s fault
LOL! Glaus even dropped the infield warm-up ball thrown at him from the dugout!!! anyone just see that??
the hardest working players for this game are die-hard braves’ fans
Okay, I can’t believe I’m saying this, but if the Braves aren’t going to call up Freddie… Melky for first?
All I want to do is take shots at AGony. But I know, in my head anyway, that this loss belongs to so many others too. Glaus, Farnsworth, Moylan, McCann, etc.
In other news, I looked down for 20 seconds and the Astros recorded three outs. That was, um, impressive.
Chip: the Astros are not a club that’s playing very good baseball. The braves are a club that is playing very bad baseball. Get it right.
This depends on Bobby noticing that there’s a problem. I’m not optimistic.
I can’t take this anymore, I’m going to go watch the Seinfeld rerun.
The thing about the Braves is they have been put together with no rhyme or reason. No power but no speed either. Good pitching but poor defense. It seems that Wren had to sort of mix and match and hope the result was good. For the most part it has but it is not working on the road.
re: 279
I can’t be the only who saw this. anyone with mlb.tv has to have seen this.
_____
will we see Gorkys tomorrow?
Welcome to the bigs, Minor…
Painful.
Get it out of your system tonight, boys.
Marc, the Braves had a good defense in the first half. It was massively downgraded by the July trades (Escobar to Gonzales, Cabrera/ Diaz to Ankiel/ Hinske), Prado’s innjury, and Glaus’ petrification.
Free Freeman!
Lisp sighting
wow.. that guy’s still on the team? thank god for that. i was afaid we were going to have to use one of our good relievers to finish the game.
@290 I agree with this completely. Of course, being the partisan that I am, I think the Escobar swap has been rather devastating, and not just in regards to the awful, soul-crushing, remarkably ill-timed errors. The Braves were also running Hinske (LF) and Melky/McLouth (CF) out there for much of the first half, so there’s no way that the outfield defense was ever that good. But largely, yeah, they have gotten worse while their flaws have gotten exposed.
We still have a chance as long as FHBC is on the bench.
294- Similarly, the Braves had a very clear offensive concept until mid-June- get on base with good plate discipline and hit lots of singles and doubles, and you won’t need too much home run power. This worked until Heyward hurt his wrist and stopped hitting HR, Chipper’s power dropped further, and Glaus flatlined.
The July trades overcorrected for this- trading away a SS who could get on base for one with moderate power and little on-base ability, and acquiring a CF with the same offensive profile. Now, the Braves don’t get on base and still don’t have much power, leaving no way to score many runs.
So Ankiel was .179/.258/.250 going into tonight, and is 0-4 tonight.
How long until McLouth gets another shot?
295- Um, he pinch-hit in the top of the 7th.
AAG has actually been pretty good offensively for us. He’s hitting .260/.333/.455 coming into tonight, which is better than Yunel was doing for us. Blaming that trade for the recent offensive struggles just is erroneous.
Going forward, that point may be correct, but it hasn’t really been the case so far.
298- Noooooooooooooooo!
A fitting end to an awful game.
I hate this team.
@296 I think, though, that it’s overstating the case to blame the trades entirely, especially for the offensive side of the ledger. Your caveat is more the heart of the matter: Glaus (July/August) and Heyward’s (June) slumps, especially in the former’s case, have crippled the offense more than anything. So has some bad luck. There was never much production out of CF, or LF for that matter, and AAG has still hit marginally better than did Escobar during the first half. The problem is structural. The trades–on offense, anyway–merely attempted to put band-aids on gunshot wounds.
the braves lose and the Daily Show is a re-run. Bad night all around.
Recap. Vitriol, no extra charge.
10 to 4 loss to the Astros? WTF?……Isn’t Bud Norris terrible? Melky is one best offensive players on the team right now….pains me to say it, but the braves need to find him a spot.
GLAUS!