I want to go to the World Series. Against the Yankees. Not just because I want to go to the World Series, but because I’d want to see game three, when all the Yankee fans gasp in horror at what they see when Melky waddles out onto the field.
Game thread.
let’s go boys. let’s go get a win
Mac, it’s your baby, and I know you don’t control the ad stream, but those ads for Trade Tang counterfeit guitars are pretty grim.
/oh and if we could scratch out a W tonight it would be huuuuuge. Go Braves.
Mac,
Could he then hit a game tying home run off of the one (hanging) breaking ball that Rivera’s ever thrown?
Melky hitting a routine grounder that Tex boots for a world series win would be incredible
From the last thread…
Not as absurd as Melky hitting fifth.
Melky vs. righties: 2010, .266/.320/.365; career, .273/.330/.389
AGony vs. righties: 2010, .260/.302/.456; career, .250/.295/.404
It’s pretty close, man. Neither has any business that high in the order. Even this order.
Headline: “Melky wins World Series MVP; signs long-term deal with Braves.”
Marc, now you’ve gone too far
How about a broken bat grounder to Jeter with a runner on third and one out where Tex cant field the throw from short because the butt end of the bat shattered his cup and he’s lying on the ground in pain in front of the bag because he was playing shallow in case of a play at the plate and then Melky stomps on his sack on the way to the bag where he is safe and it doesn’t even matter that he is safe because the run scores and the Braves win the World Series and Melky goes and sulks with who he thinks are his teammates?
Woooooo first playoff game thread in 5 years. I am pretty pumped up right now.
Interesting, Mac. The same what I want but no comments about Melky. Actually I do like the yanks. Just don’t want to see Jeter at yanks. Even I don’t understand the ladies have been crazy about him. Whatever!
6–
That would mean the Braves win the world series. But it would also mean Melky is here to stay. So. Much. To Process…
Jeter is rich. That explains why any girl has ever let him near. Except for Mariah. She is bat-shiat crazy. That explains why she let him near her.
It’s either that, or they simply feel safe around him and like to get his advice on things like fashion and boys.
“Melky is fat” is the new “Francoeur sucks.”
combine them and its “Francoeur sucks Melky’s Fat” which would explain so much.
There are lots of rich guys in the world. Hahaha, you Dix, make me funny. I don’t mind he is rich or not. Definately he is not to my taste. Sorry to Jeter however there is someone who is not addicted to him and his money in the world. HA!
@14
That made Coca-Cola shoot out of my nose. Just awesome.
Buck Martinez is crediting Jeff Francoeur for the relaxed mood amongst the Rangers.
I’m starting to think that Jeffy gives away free pot and that’s why everyone likes him.
Stu, I’m going to ignore the statistics you cited and instead point and laugh at you, because I insulted Melky Cabrera and you defended him. That makes you a stupidhead.
Dix, brilliant.
anyone going to the game tonight? i’m in the left field bleachers. go braves!
I was going to go but I haven’t landed a job where I fly wherever I want in a corprate jet yet. Maybe tomorrow.
that jet would be a nice alternative to only getting to see the braves out here once a year
It’s weird. Unlike any other year we’ve been to the post-season, I have no expectation of this team advancing at all. It’s oddly freeing.
Go Braves. At least I can watch at work.
#24 – Yeah my expectations are at rock bottom too…but I would still be pretty disappointed if the team choked away this series like Tampa is right now.
I sort of expect the worst but it would be great if the team at least showed up.
I see Bobby isn’t taking game one serious enough to start Melk-tober. I guess he feels we got this one
Tex leads series 2-0. My friend smiles from ear to ear.
OMG, No one tells me Francoeur is a rangers. #$%%^&**(. HEHEHE.
Today, I’ve heard too much bad words, which the teenagers who were sitting next with me said mother ##$^&*(^@. Im scared of them. #$%&()_&^%@.
Go Braves. AJA AJA!!!
@27, Just wait until the playoff home opener. Melktober starts Sunday.
Who’s fatter? Melky or Chino Cadahia?
Melky isn’t starting tonight because Delta was going to make him buy two tickets, but LM didn’t want to spring for the extra seat.
@31 Hee, I like the double diss.
Guys I just had a terrible thought..
What if there’s a Rangers-Phillies World Series? Phillies on one side, Jeff Francoeur on the other.. Can such a thing as horrible as that truly exist in this world, or will the universe itself prevent such a thing from occurring?
More turrible:
A Braves vs Rangers world series and we lose when Neftali Feliz induces Alex Gonzalez to ground out to Elvis Andrus at short to close out the bottom of the 9th at home in game 6.
That would be worse than a Phillies vs Francoeur matchup.
What if the reason the Rangers are winning is a go-ahead homer by Francoeur?
And then during the Rangers celebration on the field, Francoeur tries to run and jump on the pile at home plate (because he was obvs in the dugout on the bench), but being Francoeur he misses and lands on McCann who is walking from second back to the Braves dugout, destroying McCann’s knee and ending his career.
Does anybody know what channel the Braves will start on if the Yankees game runs long on TBS?
this umpire behind the plate is hoping that he can get escorted to his car tonight. That missed strike 3 on Berkman is huge now
a good pregame read.
http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2010/10/7/1732972/bobby-cox-braves-tribute-mlb-playoffs
I agree csg
I don’t have cable and so I’m losing count of how many Octobers there are. Does Dane Cook count Melktobers too?
I just hope I can get Melk-tober into the BJ almanac or on TBS.
Wow, the Twins can’t buy a break. Not letting Jeter’s slow roller go foul have led to a stolen base and another run. Oh and Rivera is warming up.
just me or does Delmon Young look 10 years older this year than he did last year?
33-37: None of these would be worse than a Yankee sweep of the braves and having to listen to whoever-the-announcer-is vocally masturbate while calling the final at-bat in game 4 when pinch-hitter Mekly faces Sabathia as he finishes out a perfect game.
I’d rather the Yankees sweep the Braves than the Phils or Rangers. In fact, I’d rather baseball be canceled forever than for the Phils to win the WS.
Well…here we go!
In terms of which team to see winning the 2010 World Series:
Braves > Reds > Twins > Rays > Giants > Yankees > Phillies > Rangers
I really do not want to see Failcoeur getting a ring before McCann.
Wow. Matt Diaz makes the lineup against a RHP. Maybe Bobby’s noticed Melky stinking it out.
anyone else think that cal ripken jr looks like a helmetless darth vader?
http://tinyurl.com/37vuv92
“when all the Yankee fans gasp in horror at what they see when Melky waddles out onto the field.”
My guess it’ll be kinda like http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rI6-JzxV-_M
I’m fired up, you guys!
Actually, I think http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36WEn-9zs1U&feature=related is more appropriate.
“He chose… poorly.”
Dick Stockton’s may be the worst dye-job I’ve ever seen. On a male, anyway.
Why is Diaz starting?
.269/.327/.382 (.312 wOBA) against righties in his career. I would rather have seen Hinske or McLouth, frankly.
I am allowed to say this: Dick Stockton has chemo head.
Ok, I’m ready. Old school tonight. David Justice jersey I bought in ’93 over my t-shirt celebrating the ’95 WS. That’s my best effort.
I hope the August Lincecum shows up
55- I think Diaz’ defense makes up the difference by, unusually for this team, not being completely awful.
Edit: And now that I’ve had Robin Williams inflicted on me, victory is not negotiable.
Robin Williams is a tool
I got my Smoltz jersey on! I hope we don’t get blown out quick.
Robin Williams is a tool
Robin Williams is Canadian. WTF? Are we going to have Elton John firing up the crowd on Sunday?
Gotta love TBS using their basketball announcers to do baseball, though Brenly is somewhat tolerable.
Canada sucks, and so does Robin Williams, and so do the Giants.
Prado
Heyward
Chipper
Lee
BMac
Infante
Diaz
Ankiel
would be nice
He’s been going to Giants games for decades, I think, as he’s lived in SF a long time. I remember meeting his kid at a party once… he was weird.
Let’s do this.
Smitty, you owe me a coke my friend
I wish Infante were as willing to take a pitch on a 3-1 count as he is on the first pitch of every. single. PA.
EDIT: OK, I’m glad he swung at that one.
Nice start, Omar!
nice job Omar
That’s a nice start.
Omaaaaaaaa!
ALL STAR!
ha ha ha.
Good AB Infante
Make Lindsey throw some pitches. Work the count, then rake a double.
That was an effective AB by Omar
Nice start, Omar.
OMAH!
Hits are ok too.
All-Star
Watching on GameDay. Lincecum looks a little wild so far. Only like 6 pitches in, but still..
Downeaster- the 3 balls to Omar were overthrown and not close.
Stranding that runner on second would be way too reminiscent of the regular season…
Would have been nice to get him to third
Mystery Science Theater’s Mike Nelson is actually riffing on the Twins on Twitter.
We need to capitalize before Lincecum settles down.
We’ve already done better than Cincy.
And… he swings at ball four.
ball four
That was a nasty pitch, though.
Damn, what is McCann waiting on?
@45: That will never happen. Melky will start game 4 and will be batting higher than 9th.
McCann, on the other hand, takes the first two right down the middle.
McCann is waiting for a ball to chase. Omar doomed us!
The braves cannot waste leadoff doubles in this series.
Of course they do it all the time, why would now be any different.
Yep. Swung at ball four as well.
Terrible ab McCann
Ugh, McCann. Unlike Lee’s ball-four, that one never looked like a strike.
Ugh.
its fine to take a base
Two straight swings at ball four to strand a runner at second. This rings bells I’d hoped that we had deadened.
That was ugly, but typical.
that slider should be outlawed.
Ouch. That hurts.
Exactly what could NOT happen for the braves just happened.
Not a good start at all.
ugh
Good Lord. Both Lee and McCann fall behind 0-2, watch three balls in the dirt go by and then decide to swing at the small ball in the dirt when it would have been ball four.
No patience. I miss the first half Braves.
What pisses me off was taking two gofer balls.
@ 100
If you walk too much you get traded to Toronto.
Why did he take the previous three pitches that were also in the dirt? Ballplayers think too much.
good point…
and of course next inning the really impatient guys bat.
20 pitches, though. That’s good.
Don’t worry, he’ll throw seven to get the next three guys out.
Niiiice.
That will work.
Wow! A double play ball that we actually turned into a double play!
nice turn Brooks-AAG
Nice start Brooks!
Stockton can’t say the word “error.”
Hopefully we’ll see a lot of those this series
That’s because when Stockton started out, the concept of the “error” had not yet been invented.
122
I think we will…..from both teams
that didnt look high to me
The braves having a runner on second with no outs is like other teams having two outs and no one on.
That was strike three.
Love that human element.
I cannot believe you guys are complaining about the play by play guys. It was like 4 days ago when we were all forced to listen to chip.
good work Dlowe
dang, throw that ball to 1st
Every ground ball is an adventure with this group.
Anybody else terrified now when whoever’s on third goes to second with 2 out?
Seriously, why don’t they throw to first with two outs? I’m sincerely asking.
Apparently Hanson was hit in the eye by a ricocheting foul ball during BP..
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/playoffs/2010/news/story?id=5660518
My guess is that it is because it is the shorter throw.
Plus I guess the RF is in a good position to back up an errant throw.
@131
especially nervous with throws like that. You really hope they would learn to throw to first.
wow, a pitch even AAG wouldn’t swing at.
AAG just swung at a pitch way above the zone
Lincecum isnt close right now
That was pathetic, not that I expected better.
So why Diaz and not Hinske?
That might be the worst at bat I’ve ever seen.
He is so damn bad.
AGon is not perceptive.
Against this lineup Lincecum will strike out 20.
Hack, hack, hack, hack, hack.
Control problems or not, that is a nasty slider.
we take good pitches and swing at this crap, unreal
To be fair, the bottom half of the lineup swings at everything.
It really shouldn’t be this difficult to not swing at pitches a foot off the plate.
Eff you, Tim Lincecum.
Ridicule me all you want, but Diory needs to be starting at SS. At the very least maybe he’ll just be so terrified that he won’t swing at anything and might accidentally draw a walk.
Stop swinging at that pitch already.
Timmy’s going to set a record tonight.
Did Bobby tell the hitters, “Just go out there and swing at everything like you’re shooing flies”? If so, to what possible end?
How many outs would Lincecum have gotten if we’d just taken every pitch, so far?
Melky is the Chalupa Closer for the Braves, of course.
I remember thinking yesterday that I was relieved somebody other than the Braves got embarrassed, and that all anyone would remember would be the no-hitter. But now I’m not so sure. I’m legitimately nervous that Lincecum will strike out a number in the high teens.
Stu, we’d still be in the 1st inning
Agony and Diaz have no chance.
You’d think Lincecum was a left hander with this lineup.
Lee is so good at first.
Juan Uribe looks even fatter than Melky in his Gameday picture.
cant say that Lee trade hasnt helped
Every Infante throw causes a skipped heartbeat.
Obviously, the Giants know Infante sucks at third; I’ve seen offensive strategies that were less likely to work. Like the Braves’ tonight, for instance.
is Pablo fatter than Melky?
Yes, for now.
DLee looks like the best defensive first baseman ever compared to Glaus’ first base exploits.
That was a Jeffy at-bat by the Panda.
of course, we’ve had 5 jeffy at-bats in a row.
Courtney C, was just going to say that. The Panda’s plate discipline is very Francoeurian.
Could Glaus possibly be worse throwing the ball at third?
Lincy velocity is way down….
Bob Brenly is right. The Braves hitters just aren’t that good.
now he finds the strike zone. when we stop swinging.
He has no range so odds are he wouldn’t even get to the ball.
I think the real question is could Glaus be so bad at third that replacing Gonzalez in the lineup with him and moving Infante to SS is a bad idea?
Runs please.
What was that, seven pitches?
I would rather have Glaus in the field/lineup than Conrad, and probably Gonzalez as well.
Nice 7 pitch inning.
Just forfeit you bunch of literal hacks.
in what universe is Glaus a better hitter than Gonzalez right now? Besides, that defense would have more holes in it than Glenn Beck’s logic.
Glaus .331 wOBA
Gonzalez .319 wOBA
Also, the key to this game is getting Lincecum out of the game. He needs to throw more pitches. Gonzalez is a walking two-pitch out.
Anyone else concerned by this inning?
Gonzalez in the fifth spot is a disgrace.
i am not a sabernerd. what does wOBA mean?
fastball to the jaw would get Timmy out of here…
@179
In the May/June and “maybe two months off did him some good” universe.
I can’t take this…every time Infante fields a ball, my heart skips a beat.
Anyone who didn’t see that coming, raise your hand.
ugly
Weighted On Base Average. Its like OPS but with slightly more weight to the on-base side of things, as that is the more important of the two.
In any event, my problem is with Conrad more than with Gonzalez. Gonzalez is at least an above-average defender. Even with his hacktastic ways, his defense and power make him useful.
And… there’s Conrad.
Fail.
Starting to hate Folk Hero.
That was not Folk Heroish.
Go die, Conrad.
You can’t put him in the lineup.
For God’s sake, Conrad…..
Like clockwork.
Conrad can’t even handle routine dribblers any longer?
I’m sorry…but we ALL saw that coming. Goodness.
How did we fail to screw up that rundown? And as it was, we let their runners go all the way to second and third.
The DiMaggio of Errors.
That was a lot of work for no real change in circumstances.
there was no reason for McCann to throw to third there with the runner advancing. We have already been burned by that mistake once this year.
Go Braves! You can do it
BMac, you have to chase that guy back to 3rd so the other runners don’t advance. Not the first time he’s done that.
So Conrad is in there over Glaus because of… defense?
do that pitch every time please
Nice job, DLowe.
well done, Lowe.
Lowe gets us out of it, but he’s got to pitch as if the infielders behind him all put money on the Giants.
My fingernails are gone and this is just the 1st game.
Confidence in Lowe.
Nice work, Lowe. Starting to (gulp) love him.
Why does the announcer keep talking about major divisions of geological time? What is this Conrad Era he speaks of, and was it before or after the dinosaurs?
At least Lowe showed up.
great job Lowe
There’s a reason Conrad’s a 30-year-old rookie…
You said it Ububba…
By the way Dick Stockton, Matt Diaz is 32, not 35.
Glaus cannot move, let alone play third. Please stop clamoring for him, it’s ridiculous.
I’ll see your ridicule and raise you to absurdity: Conrad can’t hit or field, and he moves… not that well.
Conrad had a higher isolated power this year than Jayson Werth, Mark Reynolds, or Ryan Howard.
you almost have to start Diory somewhere. Our INF defense is worse than anything Ive ever seen, esp with Lowe and Huddy on the mound
I wouldve like to have seen Timmons at 3B down the stretch
Send Jason ?
Maybe Heyward showed them how to take some pitches.
222 – yes at least a hit and run, something
I agree CSG…
ISO fluctuates highly until 500 PAs or so. He’s been effective in limited at bats, but he’s being exposed. Dude also has a .294 career OBP.
225- Me too.
Send him with the lefty up now.
There is no way Conrad belongs in this game as a starter. And yet, Conrad would be markedly better than Glaus in every facet of the game.
Bmac clears AAG at least
Crap. Maybe AAG will hear the criticism and respond!
A few years ago I got so fed up with Edgar Renteria’s defense that I said that the Braves should start Tony Pena Jr. I was overreacting, and so are you guys.
Nope. Nevermind. At least he didn’t strike out, I guess.
Mac, Diory has hit at AAA at least once and doesn’t cause palpitations when he fields a ball at second or third. At some point, the two-error-a-day act from Conrad and Infante has to be stopped.
All this complaining about Conrad makes A LOT of sense when our other two options are Glaus at 3rd and Hernandez, who hits like a pitcher.
Why would you hit that guy fifth. FIFTH.
Because your outfielders other than Heyward are incompetent.
I wonder what Melky is doing right now?
I’d hit… McLouth 5th? yeah I don’t know. Playoffs!
I’d rather hit Hinske fifth.
“…who hits like a pitcher.”
Like nearly the whole team right now it feels like.
I think my giddiness of the wild card played tricks with my mind. I forgot how hopeless our offense is.
240—Me, too.
238—Snacking.
240 — Me three.
how bad is Hinske at 3B?
I think the outfield is too big to play Hinske in left…
every SF baserunner makes me think it represents the game winning run
With Lowe on the mound, that’s not as important, Tony.
241- Well, Bobby is a crafty manager, but he can’t pull George Brett out of his ass. The lineup out there now is the best possible linup (except mabye Hinske for Diaz).
how was Posey safe?
nevermind, he wasnt
Bad call, ump.
Uh, he was out.
looked out
Posey was out.
He was out.
Oh, snap. Posey was out at second.
He was out.
Tagged him high, but he was out.
Posey was OUT!
Posey was out. Oh well.
Posey was out at 2nd
Not a single announcer notices over the course of those 5 replays that he was out?
Yep…he was out.
Posey looked out to me.
That was a little scary.
Well, Bobby is a crafty manager, but he can’t pull George Brett out of his ass.
That explains so much.
Juan Uribe is giving me chest pains everytime he swings
Uribe’s hitting it hard both at bats.
this game gets tough when you have to get 4 outs every inning, keep it up Lowe
Yay for overmanaging.
God, I hate IBBs. Walk Sandoval to get to Ross? Ick.
We are giving Commando Cody more runners on base???
Intentional walk already?
walk Pablo for braves killer Ross? im not a fan of that
No, Bobby.
I would go ahead and walk Ross, too.
bobby knows 1 run ends the game. playing the 4th inning like the 9th
I hate to say it but as my dad used to say, this one isn’t a matter of who, but how much.
I think thats what Brian just told him.
Intentionally walk a guy you struck out the first time on what, three pitches ?
Ballgame. Why did Cox issue that IBB?
Worst defense ever.
Umps screwed them.
Bad umpiring, bad managing, bad defense. Tough for Lowe to overcome all of that.
my god…get ur glove down
Well we ALL saw that coming…Lord HELP us!!
I miss Chipper.
Well that’s the game
As I was saying. Ugh. Infante, come on.
Bobby apparently hasn’t been paying attention the 174 times the Braves have played the Marlins the last couple of years.
thats on Omar
Bobby’s logic: “Well, Cody Ross has killed us all year. He is due for an out.”
Yep, walk the free swinger to pitch to the patient guy, works every time.
When did we sign Roger Dorn to play 3rd base.
Gotta knock that one down.
the defense is embarassing.
In fairness to Bobby, it should have been an out.
Buster Posey was out at 2nd, we shouldve pitched to Pablo, and Omar cant field a grounder
sorry Lowe, thats too much for you
Bad umpiring, bad managing, bad defense. Tough for Lowe to overcome all of that.
True, oh so true.
I take it back. Even Glaus could’ve fielded that.
There’s the 6th out of the inning.
Oh Bobby….
Man I feel bad for Lowe.
Always good to have a ground ball pitcher on the mound when half the infield can’t field a ground ball.
Strange how in 4 different playoff contests a bad call immediately impacts the game.
I figured he walked him so there would be a force out at every base. With our defense, the fewer/shorter throws needed, the better. Of course, you gotta catch the ball first…
Derek Lowe is starting. Where is his usual five runs?
One run truly does seem insurmountable with our offense and Lincecum pitching.
really, I havent seen Hinske at 3B, is he that bad too?
Lincecum velocity is down and he is wild. I don’t see a shutout.
A very uninspiring inning…yeah, one run looks like a huge challenge….
The ball doesn’t carry there at ALL. It’s crazy how dead the balls are there.
come on, Brooks… Folk Hero the hell out of that ball.
304- Why not? Our hitters have decided which pitches to swing at well before Tim throws them.
So true at #302, so true.
the longer timmy goes the better he’s gonna get tonight. I smell a CG.
I don’t see how we can score
at least we got our hit early
we’re swinging like we’re holding one of those big orangish-pink bats that kids use when they play wiffle ball.
Yep. He’s settling in.
You have a point 307.
I can’t say this is unexpected.
Nah, you could make contact with those.
this really is the worst “pitch selection” team (2nd half) that Ive ever seen. This is worse than the Frenchy, Schafer, KJ bottom of the order last year. Far, Far worse
Two quick impressions after four and one-half innings: Home plate umpire is doing a great job; Bob Brenly is by far the best color commentator of any of the playoff announcers.
One more: We are a truly weak playoff team.
The Braves’ at bats are going by very quickly….
I would like to wish the Giants luck against the Phillies.
#318–I am just glad that I don’t have to hear Chip….
It will be up to Omar, Heyward, Lee and McCann…so basically we have only two chances to score.
We are still in this game
#317, don’t forget Casey Kotchman!
Go get that foul ball Heyward
ah, Yes…still worse
A red thong, OMG. LOL.
Quick inning for D Lowe. Go get some runs
the problem is now we have to score at least twice
Damn already 11am, the way the Braves offense is going…I still may make it to bed by 12am
Could we be the first team in postseason history to be held scoreless for a series?
possibly, however, the Rays have only scored 1 time
Lincecum is throwing garbage. What’s the problem, guys?
IMO, he doesn’t look good at all, its just that we are BAAAD.
The Rangers hold the record with single runs against the Yankees in 1998 and 1999.
straight fastball at 92mph
Linececum is good. To say other wise is stupid
This is one of the hardest kinds of games to watch. Rob is right, Lincecum is all over the place.
Heyward is going to have to learn to handle that pitch above the belt if he is going to be the hitter we need him to be.
Lincecum is good, but he has been better than tonight. The Braves are just not a good hitting ballclub. Let’s be honest, they are lucky Cole Hamels was lifted on Sunday.
He has no control and his ball is NOT electric. But our hitters don’t seem to notice, LOL.
Lincecum at 77 pitches, so we won’t get him out before he goes 8.
Exactly. Our hitters relaxed when Omar got his hit. They are more worried about being embarrassed than actually winning.
Ball game
That ball is a HR in every other park in MLB.
A decent center-fielder catches that ball. And, yes, I know Ankiel is the best we have to offer.
wow even our outfield defense is pathetic.
oh, how i’ve missed playoff baseball.
Unbelievable.
It is Melk-tober time
Ankiel should have had it.
Ankiel whiffing on the pickup led to the triple.
What putrid defense.
That dugout is foul. Wow that thing is grungy.
Has anyone organized guys in 70s hair, tight jeans, and paddles to greet Lincecum at a vistor’s ballpark. It seems like a missed opportunity if not.
dont u walk Uribe to set up the DP with Pablo?
Id walk Uribe
tim lincecum was in dazed and confused.
Posey>Heyward. Man, he looks good, and he’s a catcher that can throw. I had forgotten what that looks like.
Do the Braves score…this series?
Can you imagine if Lincecum pitched in Philly looking like that? Neither can I….
They’re waiting to get Uribe out so that they can IBB Sandoval to get to Ross again.
EDIT: Or, they’re going with Venters. I’d rather leave Lowe in there to get the DP, but oh well.
Venters coming in
364- Agreed. There’d be pieces of him in seven states.
Lowe pitched a fine game. Got no help from his defense or manager.
Oh lord, here comes Venters.
That’s it for me, I have to be up at 5. GO Braves!
368—Agreed. Or second-base umpire.
how can you have any faith in our if turning a double play (note I didn’t say getting a dp ground ball)
I miss Gregor Blanco.
I hate to say it but I predicted to Stu earlier today that we’d score zero runs in a 3 game sweep. I suck.
I’m really not too confident in Venters right now….
Ok good job Venters. Wow emotions shown by Lee.
373—No, you predicted zero hits in a 3-game sweep.
Attaboy, Jonny!
Lowe looks pretty pissed
I don’t believe this- we got a DP!!
Everyday Jonny!
how about that….something actually worked
Well, that works.
I have faith when it’s hit right at ’em. Just like Bobby drew it up.
The reverse kiss of death! yes!
Photo evidence of the Braves getting Joyced
http://desmond.yfrog.com/Himg821/scaled.php?tn=0&server=821&filename=mrnz.jpg&xsize=640&ysize=640
Huge DP
Lowe did all he could do…can’t fault him at all.
At least Blanco could bunt, take a walk and even get a hit. And he had speed. This team is a one base at a time machine…with no power.
ok braves: those wooden things Bobby makes you carry to the plate, those are called “bats”. Their puropse is to make contact with that fast moving white thing that grunge rocker is trowing at you. You can do it!
#383 – yeah, I didnt really think replay was needed for that call. However, the announcers after watching it in slow mo didnt even mention that he was out
D. Lowe gave us all you can really expect. He looked like he was rushing tonight, but he pitched very bravely.
Yeah, can’t expect much more out of Lowe than that. Pitched well enough that a decent hitting team would have a chance.
I’m not even upset about this. I saw it coming before we even made the postseason. And once we didn’t get to Tiny Tim in the first when he was completely wild I knew we were done. With a completely clear head I can say that this is the worst postseason team that I’ve ever seen, I’m not talking about their body of work but the actual 25 man roster that is in this series is the worst I’ve ever seen. As far as our non pitcher roster, I would say that the only teams in baseball we have an edge on are the Mariners, Royals, Indians and MAYBE the Pirates and A’s.
Also keep in mind that Bobby pulled him so that he might be ready for Game 4, if our batters can be bothered to score a run or two.
Lincecum hit 89 with his latest fastball
slider in the dirt, here it comes
And another swing at ball four. Do these guys not understand the concept of a walk?
Edit: If Lee did, we’d have runners at second and third with no outs now, and an almost 10% chance of a run.
Ball 4…
That was one ugly at bat….
That’s 3 walks we struck out of.
Good cut B-Mac
There you go, B-Mac
surprised mccann didnt get waived over to third. good thing we have such a stud hitter behind him.
Let’s not strand him this time. Oh, who am I kidding.
atta boy Bmac….AAG, do something
pinch run for him…
“Fastball up in his eyes, and he missed it.” Nice call. Sigh.
He just missed that one
“He just missed that one”
Haha.
Well, runner to third, not terrible
Wild pitch please.
Wild pitch?
Passed ball?
Balk?
venters threw too many pitches I guess…
Now you gotta hope for contact and an error by Sandoval or Uribe.
Well, AAG got him to third. By this team’s standards, that’s progress!
Well at least Bobby should know how to set the lineup in Game 2.
That’s what Buster Olney calls a “productive out.”
It’s what JoeyT calls an “out.”
I still say my hate for Alex Gonzalez is rational
Yes! First pitching swinging, Diaz. Awesome!
Venters only threw one pitch. Surely he can go out for another.
Just inevitable.
What in the world was Bobby thinking with this line-up?
Just inevitable.
What in the world was Bobby thinking with this line-up?
That, I’m afraid, was the best chance to score. One thing’s for sure, gotta hold them to one.
413–He’s gonna start Melky. Mark it down.
Braves line is 0 2 2. A low-caliber offense.
Diaz can’t hit RHP. Everyone in the world but Bobby knows this.
Actually, Bobby always did know this. He has generally used Diaz well… until he freaked out this week, I guess.
I know when Lincecum and Posey saw this line-up after McCann, they had to at least chuckle, if not bust out laughing.
The Braves offense will next plan to score a run…on Sunday.
Giggle, in Lincecum’s case.
I’m not sure how much damage Hinske could do defensively in left. Pat Burrell manages to piece it together for seven or so innings a night.
lol, Braves.
Diaz is our best option, unless we trot Hudson to left, which I am not against.
Bobby deserves to lose, after filling out a line-up card like this.
Unfortunately, we Braves fans do not deserve this crap.
well if Lee walks on that ball 4, he scores on Bmac’s double
When a ball is hit at Derrek Lee, I have this weird feeling of expecting he won’t screw up the play. It is the only position that elicits that feeling.
430,
Matt Diaz vs Tim Lincecum is not our best option. Gimme a break.
No, Frank Wren deserves to lose, for leaving Cox unable to put together a better lineup card.
430—That’s just not true, when you’re facing a right-handed pitcher and have an extreme ground-ball pitcher going for you.
435—Cox was able to fill out a better line-up card. Easily.
This is the original Venters, the good Venters.
Is anybody else annoyed by the way Dick Stockton pronounces ‘error’?
Smitty- Hudson in left wasn’t something I had considered previously. I am willing to consider it now.
Just filthy.
Jonny Venters has disgusting stuff.
438 — Yep.
hey, we get to see a pinch hitter this inning. As long as it’s not Mekly, I’m excited.
Has Gonzalez batted 5th at all this season? What was Bobby thinking?
Nice work Venters.
Quick observation, unless this 1st games is nerves, the Phillies should starting printing up World Series tickets.
according to dick stockton, the giants are leading 1 to 1.
440—Agreed, if by, “stuff,” you mean, “teammates.”
Folk Hero then 2 PHs I’m guessing.
@434, I’m pretty sure Hinske retired.
So you ugly want Melk-tober or his whipping boy buddy McOut. Bobby isn’t’ trotting Hinske out there for some reason, so those are your picks
Diaz has never hit RHP. What in the hell makes you think that’s our best option vs one of the best righties in the game?
The Braves seemed to survive just fine for a couple months with Hinske playing left field.
HAVE YOU SEEN ME?
Just wake up. Oh, Jonny nice.
What’s annoying is that if Hinske does hit, it will be with two out and nobody on base.
Well we know Wilson is pitching the 9th, unless Lincy has a 5 pitch inning, which is possible.
Yes, I’d rather have Melky or McLouth in LF over Diaz vs Tim Lincecum. Shoot me.
448—No, I want Hinske. That should be pretty obvious, based on my comments.
383- sorry it’s little late, but thanks. That pic in on my facebook page.
Conrad looks like he’s swinging at 97 mph.
Folk Hero just had two placed on a tee for him and missed
@435
I’m not going to blame Wren or Cox for being unable to deal with 2 season-ending injuries to their best infielders.
I will blame Wren for not being willing to give 3 million dollars to KJ.
Our guys are making it look like Lincecum is throwing in the high 90s.
Several innings later, the announcers finally noticed Posey was out.
Why is Ankiel hitting here?
hey, announcers actually calling out Posey now….thanks. we all knew that 2 hrs ago
So are the Braves going to lose 1-0 on a run the Giants got because of a non-out call at second?
Brooks has really turned back into a pumpkin.
I think the umpire had a great look at it, he just sucks
Wow Ankiel is a disaster….
How on earth is not seeing the play a valid excuse for fucking up a call?
Wow. Ankiel made contact with a pitch. Good job, Rick, someday you’ll get a hit.
Honestly, are these guys even looking at Lincecum’s pitches? Are they paying any attention to the game actually being played?
I blame Bonds.
Oh my. So why didn’t Hinske start again?
Uhhhhhhhhhhhh, stupid offence
It is a shame, when you consider how much damage the Braves do to themselves, that in the end the umpire does them in. At least the umpiring has been great in the other series this year.
There are no answers. It is a major miracle that the braves are even playing tonight.
Edit: Eric Hinske is not the answer.
Edit: Positioning is part of being a good umpire. The 2nd base umpire was lazy in his positioing on the Posey play. Piss poor.
No, I blame Wren for not acquiring, say, a Cody Ross, some time out of legitimate outfielder who could actually hit.
Or, say, Pat Burrell, who was basically free to the Giants.
Well, he couldn’t acquire Cody Ross specifically.
Really, we just need to win one of the first two.
No, I blame Wren for not acquiring, say, a Cody Ross, some time out of legitimate outfielder who could actually hit.
Who needs Adam Dunn or Pat Burrell when you got Melky Cabrera and Rick Ankiel?
This is an awful feeling. We are down one run and this game seems unwinable.
or not acquiring Alex Gonzalez is where Id start
You know, there is a reason Lincecum has led the league in strikeouts three years in a row. Give him a little credit.
I was going to complain about having to rehash why we didn’t get Ross, Dunn, etc. But Burrell is a good point.
Well…watching Brian Wilson blow a save would be nice.
A dominant Lincecum on the mound tonight isn’t helping matters, though our offense is pretty punchless.
There were several upgrades to the OF that could have been had, but Wren is too lazy or stupid, or hamstrung by those ridiculous contracts to make a move to help the the move obvious weakness of any team in baseball.
He’s throwing 90 mph fastballs out of the strike zone. If the first-half Braves were here, he’d have been pulled in the fifth inning, down 5-1.
Forget Burrell, the Padres basically got Ludwick for a couple of C+ prospects.
#482, it’s okay, we only have 4 hits in 37 at bats against Brian Wilson. We must be due.
I think if they send him back out, we are going to get him.
If we’d gotten Ludwick and he’d hit .211/.301/.311, would that have been Wren’s fault too?
If the 1st-half braves were here, we would have teed off on Edison Volquez at home last night.
#489 – thats what happens when you lose Prado, Chipper, Yunel, and Hinske from the lineup. Even McOut would work the counts.
Our replacements Brooks, AAG, Diaz/Melky, and Ankiel are in a battle with the pitching staff to see who can post the lowest OBP
#489 – thats what happens when you lose Prado, Chipper, Yunel, and Hinske from the lineup. Even McOut would work the counts.
Our replacements Brooks, AAG, Diaz/Melky, and Ankiel are in a battle with the pitching staff to see who can post the lowest OBP
Lincecum was not dominant tonight guys, c’mon now. We know this offense is sad. And now that Omar and Heyward have cooled off…we might not score this series.
If you are a position player in the Braves’ minor league system then you need to quit baseball right now and learn a trade.
@488
look at trades that were made. across the league, none of the offensive trades really worked very well.
Anyone else think that TJ surgery is around the corner for Lincecum?