Seriously: Mets, LOL.
This will probably serve as the game thread for tomorrow.
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Seriously: Mets, LOL.
This will probably serve as the game thread for tomorrow.
Use code “Journal” for a 5% discount.
Balkoff
@1, Love it.
Awesome recap.
Can’t improve on it at all.
great recap….there’s no point in talking about anything else. Great game from Chipper, Heyward, and Schafer.
A little wordy, but it gets the point across.
Bless the Mets.
Less is more, baby.
What a stupid game tonight. Great recap Stu because this game deserves a recap like that. Wait, I am writing more than your recap already…
Perfect recap. How would one summarize a game like this anyway? Clutch homers, blown calls, AAG swinging at every ball he saw no matter where it was, Uggla continuing to suck, Schafer with five hits, Minor imploding, Proctor Proctoring, Fredi sleeping at the wheel, a shaky Venters appearance, Chipper hurt, etc.
And all of those sound routine compared to the balk-off.
I did want to point out that the team starting a Vanderbilt alum beat the team starting a Tennessee alum.
oh, and Randall Delgado is starting tomorrow. Im glad I was no where near the stadium tonight. I might have a limb fall off or something.
Does Heyward get credit for game winning non at bat?
I left for dinner when the score was 6-2. Did I miss anything?
Oh, my worst fear is realising…I have predicted JJ will have a great season and I was afraid Hanson will be hurt for this season…oh well…
@13 Nothing.
What happened to Chipper?
strained abductor muscle running 1st to 3rd…day to day
Smart of Fredi to take CJ out and let Brooks hit homer and to leave Diory in to win game. Some times it is better to be lucky than good.
@18 Can’t rely on luck though.
Has Schafer discovered a better approach by hitting to opposite field?
Chipper got a shot in the upper thigh/groin according to DOB. He doesnt think its a DL situation. I guess if he does have to go on the DL then he might as well go ahead and get that right knee scoped too.
Did McLouth have five hits in all of last year?
@19 Sometimes luck comes by trusting subs to do the job. Diory and Brooks did.
McLouth had started to produve this year after slow start. Prado may have to go to 3B with McLouth in LF or CF
Blogs like this one serve a valuable purpose sometimes: miss a game and still learn everything you need to know about how it would have felt to watch it live by reading the condensed real-time reactions of others who did get to watch. And so by reading the previous thread I learn that tonight’s game – save for the final outcome – was for the most part unwatchable. Hard to imagine an unwatchable win, but I am now strangely glad I missed it.
Still a win is a win, and things could be a lot worse. The Cardinals, for instance, appear to be in free fall mode. Oh well, at least they have a catcher who is highly skilled at catching balls thrown directly at his glove. I hear that’s such a rare talent in the game of baseball.
Do you realize that we’re more than halfway to the NL record for extra-inning games in one season? The record is 27, and this was our 15th of the year. The record holders include the 1943 Boston Braves, 1967 Dodgers, and 1990 Astros. (The MLB record is 31 by the 1943 Red Sox, and we may catch them too.)
@23 I really think Diory can be the next Prado. At least his bat is actually not that bad if you look at his minor league stats. His defense is of course another story. It’s great we have two backup infielders who can hit but can’t field, and another one in Hick who can field but can’t hit. Can we somehow consider Diory and Hick as one player?
Hicks really isnt that impressive defensively, at least not what ive seen in his limited time. It appears he doenst really have any skill set.
@27, 28 You guys both make good points. Hicks does field the ball well, but he throws like Furcal circa 2001, and he hits like the Lockhart of the same period.
I didn’t see it, but if the batter swings at the ball, the catcher should at least block it unless the batter has just consumed blotter acid.
——-
Re: the recap – Hemingway would be proud. And drunk.
I was at the game – I’ll be taking a trip to Birmingham tomorrow to visit Dr. James Andrews for elbow injuries sustained during excessive tomahawk chopping. What an absolutely ideal way to beat the Mets.
Chris Carter anyone?
http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=carter001ver
Like that K-Rud ‘pulled a Chris Ray’ and pointed up at the home run Conrad hit as if it was a routine popup.
That’s not the Chris Carter who played for the Mets and was a marginal prospect for Boston… that ones a lefty.
The one you linked I think is still seen as a bit of a prospect. I don’t think he’ll be given away for nothing.
Whoops.
@26, thanks for the heads up on that. I totally would have thought teams from the low-scoring 60s (like the ’67 Dodgers) would be at the top of the charts. The ’90 Astros are particularly surprising.
Of course, this is a pretty crazy low-scoring year, and you might expect a team this year with awesome pitching and light hitting to challenge that kind of record.
Good catch.
For some reason, as much as I want to, I can’t join the parade here. Sure, the Braves won and that’s good, but we sucked tonight in so many – if not all – aspects of the game that the performance completely overshadows the outcome. I would rather suck and win than play good and lose, sure, but don’t expect me to dance after a game like that.
Just watched it on mlb.tv again. Wow, that was one ugly mother. I’ll take it though.
If you read the espn.com recap, it tells you everything you need to know about the Braves season:
It really felt like Heyward knew instantly what was going on, but it took the rest of the team about 40 seconds.
Sure, maybe it’s because the Ump was soft-spoken, and Heyward was right next to him. I am willing to entertain the thought that he’s that much smarter than Fredi and Diory.
Heyward as player-manager? Make it happen, front office.
Heyward probably knew there was a balk immediately because he was the batter, and thus intently staring at the pitcher the entire at bat. Like the umpire. Unlike every other player on the field or in the dugouts.
The most alarming thing is that Fredi had put on a steal sign for Schafer. He said he was watching for Schafer to run and thats why he couldnt see the balk take place. Couple of questions?
1. Why would you try and steal 2nd with two outs and the winning run already at 3rd base?
2. Why would you want Schafer to steal 2nd which would open 1B and them immediately walk Heyward?
We have a complete tool for a manager. He may be a nice guy or whatever, but he’s clueless when it comes to managing a baseball game.
I was in the stands last night and wow, what an amazing roller coaster of a game that was. So many highs and lows – Schafer, Chipper, McCann, Conrad and Kimbrel were great, while AAG had one of the worst games I’ve ever seen (unexpected), Uggla was just about as bad (very expected), and Venters was not himself (very very unexpected). One of the only bad parts about being at the game is the lack of video replay for close/contested calls, like Schafer’s SB attempt and Chipper’s errant throw on Pagan’s grounder. In fact, may fans stood watching the highlights on the TV monitors after the game to figure out what happened on the balk (not many people in the crowd appeared to pick it up when it happened).
All in all though, great and crazy game – doubt I’ll ever end up at another with as many emotional highs and lows. Go Braves!
I don’t agree with (2). Since Diory is the only run that matters, if they wanted to walk Heyward, they’d do it whether Schafer’s on first or second.
However, (1) is spot on. As a personal exercise, I’m trying to minimize my use of the word “retarded,” so it’s getting awfully difficult to describe the decisions of Fredi Gonzalez.
@42, 44 – the Mets were basically giving Schafer 2nd base if he wanted to take it. True, Schafer’s run didn’t matter, but I think the reasoning is that a steal of 2nd would remove the force play at 2B. Then again, that would allow the Mets to walk JHey and pitch to the next hitter (Conrad).
The Moneyball trailer:
http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1810166670/video/25625800
Are we showcasing Delgado tonight?
I know Conrad hit a HR in his only other at-bat, but in that situation, he’s the one I make beat me.
If the Mets hadn’t thought of it yet, Schafer stealing second would have called their attention to it.
Someone who knows more than me please refute this:
At the game last night, before it started, I was commenting that if Jordan Schafer could get his batting average to hover around .250 and keep his walk rate pretty constant, I’d be happy keeping him as the starting CF next year given the alternatives, because his defense and speed are a nice breath of fresh air into the team. After his abundance of seeing eye hits last night, I went to see if it what he was at was just due to complete luck or not.
His BABIP is .290, and that’s factoring in a relatively high IFH% of 13.8. He has a low popup rate, a line-drive percentage that compares favorably to Chris Young or Shane Victorino, and his GB% is substantially higher than his FB%, which I would THINK is a good thing because he’s the type of player who would seemingly beat out a lot of infield hits and seeing eye squibs. (His HR/FB ratio is also very low, but I’m not terribly concerned about that given his pretty all-encompassing lack of power)
Is the answer to this pretty much still “sample size?” And if it is, at what point does it stop? I know his minor league stats give no evidence to this being sustainable, I’m just curious.
46—Too bad Paul DePodesta wouldn’t let them use his name.
Looks like ol’ Billy Beane wrote a pretty decent screenplay, though.
Hey all, longtime lurker, big time Braves fan (going back to 1982) and all time Mets hater (going back to when I was in the womb) and part-time entertainment writer at a pop culture blog.
Thought you might indulge me with a link to my piece on the infamous walk off balk:
http://starcasm.net/archives/106576
I couldn’t stop watching that video when it popped up on my Facebook feed from the Braves. It combines Braves victory with humiliating Mets defeat and does so with hilarity.
BTW: If anybody has the pictures of Fredi having sex with gay fish (they’re rumored to exist), my website will run them.
27-9: Hicks’s ceiling is a better defensive Brooks Conrad.
I still don’t really know what to make of Diory. The Prado comps are nice, but Prado is something of an outlier as far as player development goes. It seems a bit of a stretch to assume subzero makes that leap. Their minor league numbers are similar though.
@50- To be fair, I’d imagine most peoples first pick to play them in a movie isn’t Jonah Hill.
#49 – You may get some different opinions on Schafer here. However, I’ll stick to what Ive said from his 1st start this season. I dont care about his batting avg. all that much. However, for him to contribute and be productive for this team he needs to have an OBP around or above .350 from that leadoff spot.
Keep in mind, his OPS jumped from .597 to .671 in last nights game alone.
We still have a small sample here, but I dont know what he’s capable of just yet. His minor league numbers dont have me optimistic.
If Fredi were smart enough to not bat him first, he wouldn’t need an OBP that high. With his defense, and considering the alternatives, .330 would be good enough to keep the job, IMO.
Somebody’s got to bat first until Prado gets back, anyway. Considering that really, no manager would put a high OBP slugger first, Schaf’s probably as good as you are going to get, regardless of who’s in the dugout.
Yeah, that’s true.
#56- I agree, especially since Schaefer can actually steal a base it makes it less likely that Fredi will call for the bunt when he’s on first with a leadoff walk or hit. Which is a good thing.
Also, even when Nate comes back, as long as at least one of Prado and Chipper is out, there should be regular playing time available for Schafer if he can hit enough to take it.
@49 – Anyone who gets 5 hits in a night has very probably been the beneficiary of some good luck, if only for that one night. There is no player who gets only no doubt hits – everyone benefits from seeing eye singles and the like, it’s just a matter of to what degree, and in the sample of the season to date, Schafer has maybe been a little less lucky than the average hitter, at least based on the .290 BAbip and the fact that speedy guys (especially ones hitting from the left side) should have a higher BAbip than most. Even with that, he’s been nearly an average hitter so far. Combined with his so-far-stellar defense, that’s made him really, really valuable. He’s basically been ’09 Franklin Gutierrez so far, with less power but more walks. If the BAbip goes up a little and all else remains equal, he’d be the most valuable player on the team. But, the defense will probably regress too – he’s been off the charts, no-way-anyone-is-that-good good so far.
If Schafer really and truly has committed to plate discipline and getting on base, I would support him staying in CF this year and beyond – the only limitation is that, like Gregor Blanco, pitchers will pound the strike zone and force Schafer to put the ball in play if he doesn’t even show gapper power.
Fredi says he’s contemplating letting Nate bat 9th when he returns and the pitcher in the 8th spot. How should I feel about this?
@62, just like Fredi sometimes does things for the sake of doing them, he also says things for the sake of saying them. It will never happen.
@62 That is what the Nats are doing. Anyone else thinks Hinski is getting tired playing every day? Schafer has changed his approach by going to left field. Pitcher are throwing him strikes and he has adjusted. Will pitchers adjust now?
@ 47,
I think so too
It’s not a showcase. He’s just the best pitcher who’s able to pitch on schedule.
Well, close to on schedule. He was supposed to pitch last night in AA.
I’m glad the Braves won, but the balk rules are pretty stupid. If the intent is to prevent the pitcher from deceiving the base runner, most balks have little to do with it. Carrasco’s “balk” was a technical violation (and correctly called given current interpretation), but he obviously wasn’t trying to deceive the runner. And, actually, many pitchers balk throwing to first and are not called. I think the rule (or the interpretation) needs to be changed to prevent balks being called for meaningless actions (except, of course, when it’s the Mets).
@68, Well…..sort of, (in my opinion only). The runner has to time his break. If he can’t rely on the pitcher following the rules, it makes it impossible for him to get the his lead and time his break properly, so events like a wild pitch or passed ball become harder to score on. In this case, it was correct and just to make the call and award the base, from where I sit.
Schafer’s BABIP is probably about where it should be given the types of balls he puts in play. For a speed guy, he hits an awful lot of fly balls. Most of the time he puts it on the ground (at least from my perspective) it’s on a bunt. His swing has a fair bit of uppercut to it, which means that we shouldn’t expect this trend to reverse itself, but until it does, he’ll keep hitting balls in the air where he speed doesn’t factor into whether or not he gets on base.
Now, I liked what he was doing yesterday, taking the ball the other way. Grounders to the left side of the field will often result in base hits for him, batting lefty and having good speed. (That was my bread-and-butter in little league.) I also like his defense in CF. I expect he’ll see plenty of playing time going forward, but once everyone is healthy, it’ll be damn near impossible to keep six OFs on the roster (Nate, Heyward, Hinske, Schafer, Mather, Prado), and as far as I can tell, Schafer will be the first to go.
I’m assuming, though I didn’t see the inning in question live, that the Mets were not holding Schafer on. So Fredi was merely trying to get him to take the free base to avoid the force out. If he was actually trying to get him to steal, that would indeed be stupid.
I personally still think it’s the wrong move. If the Mets are willing to pitch to Heyward in the current situation, I’m not going to mess with it. You can’t know what they’re thinking, but you can bet if you steal and take away all force-outs, they walk Heyward, and pitch to Conrad with a force at every base.
I know the book says take any base they’re giving. The book also says winning run on 3rd, walk ’em loaded to give yourself a force.
@70
Other than being right handed, why would Mather stay up over Schafer? At least Schafer appears to have a couple of redeeming qualities, like speed and good defense in CF.
I’m still trying to figure out what exactly Mather is good at.
#73 – only reason would be for Schafer to continue to get AB’s instead of sitting here. With all the injuries Im sure theyll be able to keep him up and playing.
I think an IF would go down when Prado comes back. @72, Walk bases load with less than two outs. There is a force at second. There would be chance of a walk off walk.
#73 – Agreed. Schaefer at the very least provides defense.
Does anyone use the mlb.tv app on an Ipad?
@71
Oh, it’s certainly still debatable, but it’s not a “stupid move”. People on here just kind of jump right to the stupidest thing Fredi could possibly do without stopping to think that the scenario would also require the Mets manager be doing something equally, if not even more, idiotic.
@75- I meant if Schafer stole. If Schafer steals second, there is no longer a force at second.
@77- I agree.
#76 Johnny, I do. It’s awesome. Almost the sole reason I bought the ipad in the first place.
@69,
I certainly think the balk rule makes sense with regard to runners at first. But it’s not really relevant with a runner at third. And, what he did was not going to fool a runner into leaving early.
RE: The Balk
The pitcher knows the rule. It has been the same rule all of his life. He clearly started and stopped. He screwed up. No excusses.
Whats happened to Hanley?
.205/.301/.305/.606
he misses Uggla?
@82- He wants me never to win at fantasy baseball.
This has got to be a joke, right?
And, what he did was not going to fool a runner into leaving early.
The exact reverse of my point – it would certainly make him stay late if he can’t be assured the pitcher must behave according to the rules.
I guess they miss each other. It’s charming, but they’ve committed serial fantasy homicide.
I get what spike is saying… you can see it’s unfortunate because he made a mistake, he was certainly not trying to deceive the runner… but if there wasn’t SOME rule, then you’d have pitchers doing double and triple fakes before they delivered. And so there’s a rule. And they have to call it everytime.
Pop-up! Call it guys!!!
Thats awesome! Can we get a pic of his dumbfounded look after it landed about 5 rows deep?
I guess he didn’t know the power of a Folk Hero
Has anyone ever hit more clutch homeruns off the bench than Conrad for the Braves?
@88, Perhaps that ball would’ve been right at the wall at Citi Field? Nah, he’s just a dumbass.
I wish BMac’s had cleared the wall. Nothing wouldve been better, then BMAC could do some of those stupid “air” high fives the Mets love to do.
Schafer
Uggla
Heyward
Bmac
Freeman
AAG
Hinske
Conrad
Delgado
Hanson to the DL
Hicks to Gwinnett
Delgado called up
Asencio called up
Hansons MRI showed no structural damage only inflammation. According to Bowman.
Doubt we’ll see Hicks back any time soon – I’m sure he’s a better player than he showed, but damn he really didn’t play well in his limited playing time.
We’ll need another spot starter next Wednesday vs Toronto then. You’d like to think Beachy would be back soon sometime after that.
Fat line of t-storms cropping up. Could get a bit ugly.
It was storming pretty bad here about an hour ago, hope that’s not what heading to Atlanta.
Has anyone ever hit more clutch homeruns off the bench than Conrad for the Braves?
Hurricane Hazle?
When is McLouth finished at Gwinnett? Tonight?
97 — According to DOB, Beachy may come back for that start.
88,
KRod likes to thank God for his saves, this time he was pointing his finger upwards in blame for the blown save.
100- Actually, no. All of Hazle’s home runs for the Braves in 1957 were in games that he started.
Also, only three might qualify as clutch: a 2-HR, 6-RBI performance on August 25 as the Braves beat the Phillies 7-3, and a 10th-inning homer in Wrigley to beat the Cubs on September 22. Two more were in losses and two in laugher wins (13-2 and 8-1).
“Sometimes a hitter’s nose can smell a hit.”
I miss Chip. Also Brooks is a terrible defender.
AGony is playing some terrible baseball lately.
Freeman hasn’t hit much since the homer in Houston.
Roric Harrison
Fun inning (minus the doubles), now let’s get some runs.
How is it possible that Ron Gant is just as annoying as Chip Caray?
Is it just Gameday, or is the strike zone microscopic tonight?
110 — It’s Jordan tonight.
“It’s Jordan tonight.”
That just adds to the list.
Brian Jordan: Chipper Jones is important to the Braves.
How insightful.
Chip tweets: “How ironic, that Delgado, the creature with 9 lives, flies out to right in first MLB at bat”
I don’t even understand what he tried to say. I mean, I understand that he’s making “Delgado” sound like “el gato”, but how is that ironic? Doe he know what that word means?
I’d rather that the Braves simply simulcast the Powell/Sutton radio broadcast on the TV feed. Liberty Media would go for that, since it would save them some cash.
115- A little too ironic, I really do think.
Man, am I glad I’m not getting this broadcast. You make it sound even worse than usual.
@116, Me too.
Chip’s not announcing tonight, that was his tweet. Not that Joe and Jordan are any better.
.170: The Uggla Line
Is Ernie coming back anytime soon? He’s a perfect foil for Joe.
Delgado just struck out Cruz on a 95 MPH fastball.
I think it’s because RF is 9 on the scorecard, although I hesitate to say I may understand him.
Delgado is doing very well, except of the pitch count.
Brian Jordan is worse than Chip, I’m afraid to say. He’s both stupid and is always preaching about how if players would just do x and y, they would be more successful. He comes off as an arrogant know-it-all and it’s unappealing.
The fact that Chip made that Delgado joke on Twitter makes it that much worse. He actually had time to think it over and look up definitions of things, and he still pressed enter. That’s just the worst thing I’ve heard all day.
Colby Lewis learned to bunt at the same place that most of the Braves did.
I think maybe Chip meant that because RF is designated as 9 on the scorecard, and according to folklore cats have 9 lives, and Spanish for ‘the cat’ is ‘el gato,’ which sort of sounds like ‘Delgado,’ that there is some sort of irony in Delgado flying out to right. Which there isn’t, of course, but I have to admire the depth of his convulted pseudo-cleverness.
Chip has the cultural sensitivity of the Frito Bandito.
Way to take care of business there. Delgado looks great. Very good instincts and composure.
Edit: Buh-bye!!!
Woot Woot for the pimpbot!
MCCANN!
Delgado does have cat-like instinx
Ballgame?
Well, crud.
That was a virtual guarantee right? Conrad error followed by 2-run homer?
Good hands, Conrad.
Get Conrad off the field.
Good jorb, Le Tigre. Lots to like about that start.
I too blame Conrad. Ugh.
Well, goodnight all.
The Lisp has lost his luster.
This could get ugly quick…
Nevermind.
Double crud. Guess Jordan’s UZR just came back to earth.
Well after last night anything is possible..
But ballgame.
Delgado did great imo. Nobody on our staff is going to do any better against this lineup. What an epic mismatch. One of the best offensive teams in the game versus our two-man lineup.
For struggling pitchers, the Braves are a collective slump-buster.
So far we’ve established that we can get Colby Lewis out.
And also that we really do suck.
Crap, Bobby Witt. Well, I knew Roric Harrison did something.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roric_Harrison
One thing I did not know, apparently, is that he never pitched for Texas…
Brian Jordan: Knows how to solve all the world’s problems. Including Dan Uggla.
Holy crap, what a play by Lewis.
JC, How do you solve a problem like Dan Uggla? I think the Braves should release him when they go on the next road trip. From the team jet, say half an hour after takeoff.
Well according to Brian, it’s as simple as moving his shoulders a different way.
Who are we to question His Greatness Ser Jordan?
Hey Freddie!
Uggla vs. the Astros in June:
BA: .333 – SLG: .600 – OBP: .444 – OPS: 1.044
Uggla vs. everyone else in June:
BA: .079 – SLG: .184 – OBP: .125 – OPS: .309
We will continue to run up the pitch count with cleverly timed strikeouts. Then will come solo home runs by Uggla, Heyward, Gonzalez, and Hinske.
Well, it’s safe to say that the Braves deserve to lose this game.
I’m pretty pissed at Jason for not running out that ball.
Jason lollygagging there. Gah.
I want to believe Jason is a hustling, driven young man who aspires to be the most professional ballplayer he can possibly be–and a dedicated Braves leader. Given the negative buzz relative to his alleged malingering on the DL, he needs to avoid actions that may confirm that label in some fans’ eyes. “Prima-don-ning” it down to first 3 runs behind is not going to make it. Very disappointing, and Bobby’s way of dealing with Andruw comes to mind.
I wish I was able to make myself not watch the Braves. Pretty sure my wife does, too.
Loafing, dropping balls in the outfield, throwing bats and helmets after making an out. Coach Chipper has got his work cut out for him tonight. I don’t want to see Heyward start repeating this type of performance. Fans can excuse a bad night at the plate, but lazy mistakes and attitude will get old fast.
This team is just not very likable right now.
Another day, another dollar (or 500,000 for our payroll), another loss.
Recapped without feeling.