Atlanta Braves vs. Chicago Cubs – Box Score – August 21, 2010 – ESPN.
Tommy Hanson just doesn’t know how to have his teammates not play like little leaguers behind him. After one of the most pathetic displays of defense I’ve seen from a Braves club post-1990 (they were charged with three errors, which only goes to show how borderline a concept the error really is) they almost came back, but not quite.
Hanson wasn’t his sharpest, for certain — five innings, 94 pitches, 56 strikes, four strikeouts, four walks — but the five runs he allowed were hardly all his own fault. In the first, the leadoff man got credited with a double after Matt Diaz bobbled a routine single, then scored on a two-out single by Aramis Ramirez, Braves Assassin, who went to third on an actually charged error on Martin Prado. He then scored on an infield single that was a textbook Prado, one where Derrek Lee simply jumped over the ball rather than field it or even knock it down.
The Cubs got three more runs in the third after Hanson walked two men with one out, then allowed three singles, none of them hit hard. The walks, his fault, the singles, just one of those things that happens. To him, a lot.
The Braves, meanwhile, were doing their “Let’s not hit with runners on” routine. They had two on with one out in the first, and did nothing. (Lee flew out on what looked like a home run swing; I don’t like to say that people are pressing, but I think he’s pressing.) Alex Gonzalez led off the second with a walk and was standing at first at the end of the inning. Jason Heyward was the same after a one-out infield single in the third, and David Ross was stranded after a two-out double in the fourth. In the fifth, Infante reached on a bunt single and Prado had a two-out double, but he didn’t score, and Lee flew out again. You get the idea. Finally in the sixth Diaz and AAR AAG had back-to-back doubles leading off to score a run, but AAG was, again, still standing at second when the inning ended.
The Cubs actually had a 1-2-3 seventh, then the Braves loaded the bases with one out in the eighth. Melky Cabrera, hitting for yesterday’s hero Rick Ankiel against a lefty, struck out, but Brooks Conrad, Folk Hero, rebounded with a double over the centerfielder to clear the bases. (The last run, Ross from first, was scored “unearned”. Riiiiight.) Omar was intentionally walked and Heyward hit by a pitch (suspensions forthcoming, I’m sure) but Prado grounded out with the bases loaded to end the threat. In the ninth, Lee reached on a walk, but he then got to find out what it feels like to stand at first base while your teammates strike out. For the record, the Braves left men on in eight innings, almost all of them either runners in scoring position or those who reached first with none or one out.
I appreciate the credit, but I believe that it was AAG who hit the RBI double.
Go Strasburg!
Howard is back? Ugh.
Jayson Stark says that Strasburg is throwing changeups in the low 90s.
I don’t know if it’s a fast gun, but he hit 91 with a changeup.
When I was watching the game, I wondered if Infante not scoring on that double would come back to haunt us.
Go Nats!
5-0 Natinals
At times, the 2010 Braves defense is worse than most good high school teams. Just abysmal.
Yep, that’s his normal changeup. His 4-seamer is 96-100, change is 88-92, curve is 78-84.
Nats are leading 5-1, but Strasburg just grimaced after a pitch and is coming out of the ballgame with one out in the fifth. Hoo boy.
That looked just like the Huddy/Medlen sudden forearm tightness. TJ for STrasbourg?
thats a $50 million dollar arm/elbow…better fix it right
how long before the Nats pen blows it
That didn’t look good for Strasburg.
Freeman hit #17 tonight
Utley pops out and Howard strikes out with men on first and third. Still 5-1 Nats, going to the 7th inning.
I get the feeling Strasburg’s changeups won’t be in the low 90s next time we see him. About this time next year.
I’m getting rather of the team turning into a bunch of fools every time Hanson pitches.
Maybe it’s laughter. Perhaps Tommy’s just hilarious before the game, and it takes a few innings for them to settle down.
Cards lead Giants 5-1 late.
I like it better when the Philles couldn’t hit
They’re not hitting much right now. Nat Power!
NAT POWER! 8-1 Natspos
so, how will mike hampton get hurt next? hangnail maybe?
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2010/08/dbacks-sign-mike-hampton.html
Bernadina HR off of Durbin makes it 8-1 Nats in the 9th.
24- Frostbite.
I hope Howard hit a line drive off Utley’s face.
Utley doesn’t really deserve that. A liner back to the on-deck circle that nails Victorino in the balls.
And the game’s over. Our lead stays at 2.5.
Nats win! Nats win!
YES. I like not losing games in the standings.
Vive les Expos!
And the Magic Number goes to 38.
They’re saying “strained flexor tendon in forearm” for Strasberg. And I’m saying, “90 percent of forearm injuries are actually elbow injuries or turn into them.”
Id say the Nats shut him down for the year
I’m pretty sure the strained flexor in the forearm was the same injury Tim Hudson had.
Well, Strasberg is considered the best pitching prospect since Mark Prior.
Oh, and the Mets suck.
Mac,
There’s no one left on the team from Montreal. Should we refer to the Milwaukee Braves?
Padres lose to the Brewers, and the Rockies lose in Arizona. Of the NL contenders, only SF won today (Cincy’s still playing).
Oops- I meant St. Louis won today.
The players leave, but the overall Expososity remains.
Gentlemen (and ladies)!
I’m 2.5 lbs lighter (big stinkin appendix I had). We’re 2.5 games ahead. And I’ve drank 2.5 bottles of red wine tonight. You are in luck! (just like my beloved wife).
Just kidding about 2 of the three (my appendix was about half a pound).
Celebrated my 4th wedding anniversary tonight at both Seasons 52 and McKendrick’s in the Perimeter area. Fine, fine stuff. Like the 2nd better than the 1st. Althought I was a bit disappointed with the steaks at McKendricks.
While we waited out the NOrth GA rain a bit…I got to listen to the Folk Hero rope one in the 8th…and the Braves (post-Lee) not do squat in the 9th.
Home now watching Cool Hand Luke for the 67th time. Glad to see the Natties beat someone other than the Braves for a change.
And waiting for Derek Lee to start causing some damage in the lineup.
great news about the successful surgery.
derrek lee has struck the ball well, but has nothing to show for it. they’ll start falling sooner or later.
hinske’s going on 3 months of a sub 700 ops. YOUCH!
SUCCESS FOLLOWS HINSKE!
MiLB.com says Glaus still plays for the Cards.
We need to get Jason Marquis too, just to be sure of the playoffs.
#10 and Mac @#16
It’s a strained flexor tendon. That’s NOT TJ. I bet the Nats shut Stras down for the year and rest him and he’ll be one of the top-5 pitcher in baseball for the next decade.
Game thread is up.