Atlanta Braves vs. Chicago Cubs – Box Score – August 25, 2011 – ESPN.
Much better. The Braves blew a lead — then came back to build a bigger lead and win easily.
The Braves went up 3-0 in the first on a homer by Brian McCann, who had been slumping a bit. But Brandon Beachy allowed a run in the bottom of the inning, though it wasn’t really his fault — an infield single, a stolen base, an error, and a groundout. What can you do?
The runs in the second, that’s a different matter. A homer by Marlon Byrd, followed by a triple, scoring to tie the game on a groundout. Back to where we started.
But the Braves came back in the third, getting two runs out of a bases-loaded none-out situation, a walk by Dan Uggla and a single by Freddie Freeman. In the fifth, Uggla scored on a sac fly by Jason Heyward after singling and going to third on a Freeman single and an error. In the seventh, McCann’s second homer was a solo shot. And Michael Bourn singled in Jose Constanza in the eighth.
Beachy went six for the minimal quality start. He allowed six hits and didn’t walk a man, while striking out eight. Arodys Vizcaino pitched a perfect seventh. Eric O’Flaherty had two strikeouts and allowed a hit in the eighth. Cristhian Martinez hit a batter finishing things up in the ninth.
I forgot today’s game was so early, but it’s still nice to see the result.
Greetings from Austria and Go Braves!
Second question by me:
Hey Bill | Bill James Online.
It wasn’t quite a minimal quality start because only two of the runs he allowed were “earned”, but it was pretty close.
I have more confidence in Beachy than any of the other starters. He’s probably our ace right now … right?
@3
First, thank goodness “Hey Bill” has returned. I was jonesing for a while there.
My guess is that ROY voting is not as subject to the split vote phenomenon as is MVP voting, because the voters would be less likely to view rookie performance through the prism of team success — they would be more likely to just assess the individual performances.
Lastly, BJ’s answer to the question below yours includes one of my favorite movie quotes of all time….
Grüss Gott!
I would say Huddy is the ace right now, followed by Beachy.
@4: An “ace” needs to go more than six innings a start, which he has managed only three times this year. Beachy’s pitch counts are way too high for him to go deep in ball games (especially at this point in his development). I will say that I was at the game today, and he showed a ton of composure recovering from his early troubles though. Can’t say the same for Garza.
Fun fact: If you add Ross and Conrad’s stat lines together, you get Hinske’s stat line.
Let me also add that I’ve been really impressed with Fredi’s handling of the bullpen in recent weeks. There, I said it. Feels good.
The Yankees have now hit three grand slams today.
Would it be smart to start Martinez in NY if rain was likely to stop game?
#9
Funny, I had Yankee tickets today (my birthday), so I took the day off work.
But the rain was so awful at gametime, the other guy who had tickets with me was driving in from Long Island, didn’t wanna wait thru the delay & decided to blow the game off.
I figured, “What the hell? Braves are on TV.”
Of course, history happens. Oh well…
Happy 21st Jim – My how time flies.
Ha, you’re telling me… thanks. Time for some proper pints.
Anybody gonna try to make it to Citi Field tomorrow? Calm before the storm…
When rosters expand, would it be a bad idea to let Delgado/Teheran spot start for Beachy/Minor? They can watch innings better that way.
Great series, makes up for that crap in the ATL
O Nails
Beachy and Minor may have to pitch several games in post season. Hanson, Lowe and JJ are question marks.
I stand by my statements that McCann is a lousy catcher. It doesn’t make me some ingrate to mention it.
He’s a fantastic hitter, probably our best hitter, and obviously a huge net positive.
But he’s lousy behind the dish, and he’s going to give back some of what he gets you, on stolen bases, missed catches, and passed balls.
He doesn’t have the athleticism to play anywhere else and it does create roster problems when your best hitter requires 40 days off a year, and doesn’t look like he’ll age well.
For that reason, I doubt we watch him grow old in a Braves uniform like Chipper. That’s a bummer, knowing that the right thing, some day, will be to let him walk, probably with a few good years left.
If he was better defensively, or more athletic, you could live with him as he ages, ala Chipper, and we could afford to be somewhat sentimental at contract time, ala Chipper.
Watch Ryan Doumit attempt to frame a pitch and you might gain some appreciation for one aspect of catching that McCann does very well.
@17 The only thing I agree with you is that it’s indeed unfortunate that McCann can’t play any other position and the Braves will need to be smart on how to handle McCann’s next contract, but that’s couple years down the road and is not a top concern at the moment. For now, let’s just enjoy watching the best catcher in baseball plays…or in your case, hit.
#16 – exactly. Letting them skip a start between now and the playoffs may keep them fresh.
Melky with his 17th dinger today. One less than Freddie, 4 more than Heyward. 120 OPS+. Atlanta must be way too much fun relative to KC.
It’s funny how the Braves went an amazing number of games without a sac fly and it seems lately that they’re getting one every few games.
Just watched Simpson and Hudson’s pitching tutorial prior to the rebroadcast. It’s awesome. Highly recommended.
21 – Smelky (3.2 fWAR) and the Kotch Rocket (2.6 fWAR) are tearing up the superior league this year.
Kotchman did post an impressive 174 Listlessness Index with the Braves, though. And Melky posted a 284 LBs+, relative to other CF’s.
To be fair, Casey just wasn’t a good fit in the Braves’ clubhouse. And Melky wasn’t a good fit in any uniform the Braves could find him.
I am certainly in no way advocating that the Braves should have kept either player, in fact those two are among my least favorite Braves of all-time. I just have become increasingly annoyed over the years when certain writers point out every time a decent player comes over to the NL and has a good year and it’s chalked up to playing in the ‘inferior’ league when there are numerous examples every year of crappy players going to the AL and doing the same thing and nobody seems to mention it.
26: I hear that mostly in the context of pitchers, where it’s obviously valid (although you can argue about the degree).
I also hear it often in the context of a specific division–the AL East. Like, commentators will say, “He’s pitching well for the Dodgers, but he’d get torn to pieces in the AL East.” Also valid, IMO–there really are stronger and weaker divisions, and the AL East, by virtue of having not one but two 900-pound gorillas, is definitely the strongest.
So, that said: AL Central, this season, possibly the worst division in baseball. So, yay for Melky, but I doubt he’d be doing as well back here.
I was mostly mocking their sad-sack, obese experiences with the Braves.
What’s Kotchman’s BABIP now? Has he broken .400 yet? Unless he’s added world-class speed to his extensive repertoire (alongside grounders to second and moping), then that shouldn’t be possible, even allowing for random chance and luck. I suspect foul play on someone’s behalf.
27 – I agree, it’s mainly used in reference to pitchers, but it’s not like a guy like Edwin Jackson or even today’s starter Matt Garza just changes leagues and tears it up like some would have you believe. Maybe I’m just annoyed because Melky previously played in the mighty AL East and Kotchman is now putting up his BABIP inflated numbers in the mighty AL East. Nobody disputes that a non-DH league is easier to pitch in, I just think that a lot of mediocre pitching gets a pass in the AL because it’s the ‘vastly superior’ league.
8 – Fredi’s bullpen management lately (using The Lisp and Vizcaino) actually gives me hope that when Moylan comes back he can be used properly with Sherrill to ensure that O’Ventbrel have their arms attached come playoff time, which I was unsure of a couple of weeks ago.
Are the Braves making any plans to leave NY early because of the hurricane? Has Sunday’s game been postponed?
Leaving NY on Saturday (if possible) would make a lot of sense.
I hate Frenchy, I hate Melky, I hate Kotch. They suck. They deserve to play for losers…wait, the Rays are not losers…how on earth can they still have a winning record? That’s amazing.
People tried to make the strength of leagues argument with the Kelly-Hill/McDonald trade saying Hill will hit better in the NL West.
I just don’t see how the AL East has better pitching than the NL West.
Our bullpen will be even better next year with this guy in it…
“Since returning to AAA in relief J.J. Hoover has tossed 9.2 scoreless innings allowing just two hits, three walks and striking out twenty.”
16 — I would think our playoff rotation at this moment would be Hudson, JJ, Beachy, and possibly Lowe barring any injuries (particularly JJ).
So the game tonight isn’t in question, right? Just tomorrow’s?
Tomorrow, the hurricane will be in North Carolina (where I will scoff at it as it passes us folks in the Raleigh/Durham area by). So the real concern is about Sunday’s game. Saturday’s shouldn’t be effected.
@33 – Whoever is running the bullpen at Gwinnett knows a little something about teaching relief pitching.
Lowe has pitched more than 6IP in only 4 of his 28 starts. He had a good April, but unless he returns to that form it would be difficult trusting him with a playoff start. He has pitched good against Mil and Philly this season. He did pitch pretty good against SF last year also.
@37
It sure seems that way. Here are the some eye popping relief pitchers’ ERAs for Gwinnett:
Hoover: 0.00 (as reliever)
Varvaro: 2.89
Chapman: 2.82
Asencio: 1.46
Abreu: 2.25
Gearrin: 1.69
Proctor: 1.61
Vizcaino: 1.29
What’s even crazier is every one of those guys are averaging over a strikeout an inning.
@38
He only has to go five with this pen.
Sunday’s game cancelled, Saturday moved to 1 PM per DOB.
Guess we’ll make up the game Sept 8th between Philly and Stl.
There was some talk of making it up during the Mets series here, which is a great idea but i don’t think it will go anywhere. I suspect teams would rather just lose the home game (which there is a very good chance it won’t be made up) rather than have to give the money to another club.
How does everyone feel about the likely NLDS against the Brewers? Granted their record is inflated because they play almost half their games against the worst division in baseball but at home they have a ridiculous record and it would certainly not be an easy series. Gallardo and Wolf are two guys that the Braves historically struggle against, and they have Grienke and Marcum who are no slouches either. I felt better about this when Hanson was healthy but as it looks increasingly unlikely he’ll be available for the post season the odds that Derek Lowe gets a post season start go up drastically which is not good.
Take away the Brewers record against NL Central and they are decent team, but not scary.
@42, also, if it does need to be played, it’s worth a lot more to the Mets as an elimination game for the Braves.
@42
The idea of possibly making up the game at the end of the season is a little maddening (not that it will ever come to that). The most likely scenario where the game would matter would be us being within 1/2 game of Philly at the end of the year. Would we then play the game and screw up the postseason rotation? Or when both teams make the playoffs anyway, do they just forego the extra game and give the division to the team with the 1/2 game lead?
Wouldn’t the Mets lose out on the gameday revenue if they don’t play the game at all? Would MLB compensate them for that?
@46
I know that they don’t have a playoff game if the Wild Card and Division Winner are tied at the end of the season. By analogy. it seems hard to believe they’d play a game that was otherwise superfluous to possibly bring that situation about. See http://www.baseball-reference.com/about/division_ties.shtml
It would only be played if there was an impact on the wildcard.
Jim Thome traded to the Indians? Wouldn’t it be great if he could get them into postseason?
Yeah Mac, it could be like 1995 all over again. Wonder if they’ve given Baerga a call?
52 – Yes. And it’s even better that they blocked the Phillies from adding him.
That’s a pretty big bat to add after the deadline.
Thome had a no-trade… but obviously he waived it for Cleveland.
Still, their chances of making it to the post, let alone the WS, are slim. But a great move nevertheless.
Lance Berkman cleared waivers. I know one way we could end this Constanza/Heyward talk.
Lance Berkman cleared waivers. I know one way we could end this Constanza/Heyward talk.
Trivia question: Who among Lance Berkman and Jose Constanza has the most home runs and RBI for the month of August?
Answer: Do I even have to tell you the answer?
Graduating Freeman and Heyward the past 2 years really put a dent into our positional player farm system depth, but here’s a quick update on some pretty impressive numbers in the farm (from actual prospects):
1. Pastornicky: AA-AAA .315/.360/.416 7HR 27SB
2. Myke Jones: AA .265/.375/.396 7HR 15SB in 88 games
3. Joe Terdoslavich: A+ .285/.343/.519 17HR
4. Andrelton Simmons: A+ .306/.366/.401 22SB
5. Adam Milligan: A+ .291/.345/.557 12HR (hasn’t played since Jun 18th)
6. Evan Gattis: A .322/.380/.609 22HR
7. Tommy La Stella: A .318/.386/.907 7HR (53 games)
8. Brandon Drury: ROK .352/.370/.906 8HR
9. William Beckwith:ROK .298/.411/.565 11HR
10. Kyle Kubitza: ROK .327/.410/.480
No Salcedo?
@59
It’s not his fault guys aren’t getting on base in front of him.
John – we all know that home runs kill rallies.
@63
csg, that is a blast from the past.
@61
Salcedo has fallen off a cliff the past month and a half. His OPS is down to .728 and he’s made 42 errors.
I’m interested in whether Drury or Beckwith have legitimate chances to become major league contributors–and if so, what their ceilings are.
re: Salcedo, I think he just hit a wall over the past month. Hopefully next season he’ll be able to produce for a full season in Lynchburg. That, in any event, is where I assume he will play.
Saturday’s game cancelled. One-game series. No idea if they’ll make them up.
Apparently, the mayor cancelled the games—no mass transit starting at noon Saturday.
67: I thought it kind of insane the idea of playing on Saturday. Would set a pretty horrible example to people who really ought to start finishing their preparations by Saturday afternoon and hunkering down.
63, 64: Who has said this? Kinda hilarious.
triple header!
@70
Frenchy. He once said a grand slam was a rally killer
As noted, Sept 8 could be a makeup date, perhaps a doubleheader. No official word yet.
Drury is in his age 18 season, so he could shoot up the prospect rankings soon, right?
@69, and 72, it’s been a bit of baseball “wisdom” since the game’s inception.
@68 Speaking of New York
Minka Kelly back on the market!
Can you leap tall buildings in a single bound?
So the Braves are going to get an All Star Break in late August (off Monday too). The rest should help the pen and the rotation, though it’s kind of bad timing as we are scorching hot lately-hate to break up that momentum.
Too bad that the best part of pen has been rested lately. It would be tough to get a plane out of NYC Saturday or Sunday.
77—And squeezing in a double-header at a later date is going to be absolutely brutal, if that’s what they do.
#79
Could be, but it doesn’t have to be.
We can play a game with scrub pitchers & call-ups and not worry about the outcome. (It’s not like we’re in a dire situation regarding the post-season.) I remember we did that once for a late-season DH at Shea in the early decade.
I remember when we played a double-header with nothing but scrubs back in the late Seventies. Oh, wait …
So LSU finally found a way to get Jordan Jefferson off the field. A little surprised that Jarrett Lee and not Mettenburg is to be the starter.
Wouldnt it just make more sense for the series to be moved to Atl and have the Braves reimburse the Mets for the 1,000 people that wouldve shown up there? Seems ridiculous to travel to NY for one game and then face a double header in the middle of Sept.
Oregon 58, LSU 10.
The Braves would be traveling from Philadelphia, where they play Sept 5-7. It would be relatively easy to do it.
I believe that Sept 8 is the only mutual off-day.
It’s official: Sept 8 will be a single-admission doubleheader at Citi Field, beginning at 4:10 pm.
@84, the one damn time I want LSU to dominate. Stupid kids.
Yeah, was actually looking forward to that game.
I’m sure it’s not breaking Bama’s heart that LSU’s starting QB could be going to jail.
Not breaking my Auburn one either, but they could have waited a couple of weeks, for the sake of our conference superiority complex.
A double header in September won’t be so bad with the expanded rosters. The thing a double header taxes most (the bullpen) happens to be the strength of our AAA team. We could conceivably get two 6 inning starts, win both games, and not have a single reliever appear in both games.
It ain’t braggin’ if you can back it up. But I believe Les Miles’ pixie dust is running out.
Fifty pairs of shoes? FIFTY?
What is Craig Kimbrel’s current closer music? Welcome to the Jungle? Anyone else want to see that switched to MMJ’s Victory Dance? Thoughts?
It ain’t braggin’ if you can back it up.
Hey, I’m a believer.
/Fifty pairs of shoes? FIFTY?
No kidding. It’s like Imelda Marcos playing the role of Tony in West Side Story
Doubleheader on the eighth.
Projected lineup for Game 2 of said doubleheader:
1 – Constanza (CF)
2 – Lugo (SS)
3 – Conrad (2B)
4 – Hinske (1B)
5 – Helms (3B)
6 – McLouth (LF)
7 – Boscan (C)
8 – Delgado (P)
9 – Heyward (RF)
My bold prediction for that lineup is Helms at first and Hicks at third.
#92
“Victory Dance” is cool (and I’m digging the new MMJ record), but don’t you think “One Big Holiday” is more stadium-ready rock?
It has that opening/build-up that would work for a closer. Of course, something tells me that Craig Kimbrel has never heard of My Morning Jacket.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEgkgCgRFII
@95
and we’ll still beat the mets.
95—You got your funny back, sansho!
Toronto is really in it to win it.. now they’ve picked up Dewayne Wise.
He’s the scrub lineup referred to in post #80:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ATL/ATL200409282.shtml
Roman Colon blew the save and got the win, God bless him.
97 – Love OBH. Ever since I saw Storytellers and their explanation of the song and being on the road, I’ve felt a little different about the song. Still one of my faves though.
They were in town last week with Neko Case (Kelly was here too, Ububba) but I had a gig 🙁
Mastadon laughs at you two and your sad little emo-country rock.
And Mastadon is laughable.
Not a big Jacket fan either way, but Neko and Kelly are golden. I like Mastodon too – good guys and hometown boys.
Kelly was just window dressing for the Rock*A*Teens. Lopez was the real talent there.
Just stumbled across this and really, really recommend it:
http://www.grantland.com
Kelly had a career long before (Jody Grind – fabulous) and long after the Rock*A*Teens. That you would say something like that – well, it just suits you.
Schafer off to a nice start in Houston – .353/.389/.529 1HR 2SB
Kelly… that girl could always sing.
Yeah she could –
Jody Grind “Behind the 8 Ball” – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUiCTmXY8_w
you’ll see some familiar (and sadly departed) faces and places in this.
Wow, some serious memories there.
Always loved Deacon Lunchbox. Will never forget the first time I saw him do his thing.
It was between bands (Opal Foxx opening for the Skin Pops at the 40 Watt) and this construction worker guy in drag hops onstage & grabs the mic. I thought Pat the sound guy was going to have a stroke.
But he started with that “Lewis Grizzard I’m Calling You Out!” poem/rant & the whole place just began to lose it. I never missed another show after that.
And yeah, The Jody Grind was something else.
Off to Citi Field… Go Braves.
This doesnt sound promising…
•#Braves will have announcement about Tommy Hanson’s shoulder situation later today. They didn’t elaborate about reason for delay. 53 mins ago
108, thank you for sharing. What a great site! This (from the “top the baseball quotes of all time”) is pure gold (and I don’t mean the actual quote):
8. “The trouble is not that players have sex the night before a game. It’s that they stay out all night looking for it.” — Casey Stengel
Roger Maris used to stay out longer at night than Babe Ruth, actually.*
*He did it during daylight savings time, though, so he had more darkness to work with.
Kelly took written audience requests one night at the Rockfish, back when she sang with An Evening With The Garbagemen. On the theory that she could make anything sound good, we submitted “The Battle Hymn of the Republic”. Without batting an eye, she started right in…”Mine eyes have seen the glory of the burning of the school, we have tortured all the teachers, we have broken all the rules….”
Grantland.com is hit and miss. Some really great writers and some not so great. I love Klosterman. The recent Ric Flair piece was good too.
109: I’m assuming when he said “real talent” he was referring strictly to Kelly’s role in Rock*A*Teens. That was indeed Chris’s band.
However, if that was a backhanded way of insulting her overall level of talent, them’s fightin’ words and I will then want to punch him.
I appreciate The Jody Grind on a theoretical level. The Rock*A*Teens, at their height, with Lopez in full-on gospel revival mode, was a force of nature rarely, if ever, seen outside of those shows.
Not insulting Kelly, per se. It’s just that the chantreuse thing only has so many legs. Loved Neko’s first two albums, but the last few have been sort of meh.
RATS, at the height of Lopez’ career arc, was light years beyond pretty much any other band you can name. It was just another level, the difference between Brooks Conrad and Chipper Jones.
Well, we are starting to speak of very old and dear friends, some of whom are no longer here, so I’ll recuse myself.
No need to step out, spike. Nothing untoward going on here. Old men remembering the glory days. It’s a good thing.
119: I think Rock*A*Teens were a fine band, no doubt about it. But I could just as easily apply “force of nature” status to BOB, King/Kill, DQE… Atlanta had a bunch of great bands in the ’90s. And Kelly is more than just a “chanteuse.” Geez, did she turn you down for a date or something?
Long time lurker, first time poster. Never thought that some of the best Braves discussions would also include some discussion of some awesome local bands that were before even my time. Guess I’ll go back and listen to some of the old cassettes since I won’t have any baseball to watch this weekend.
No. Like I said, I’m not really trying to harsh on Kelly. I *have* become a little tired of the play that Neko and Kelly get sometimes, but that’s probably more to do with being annoyed by DOB than anything else at this point.
I recognize the fact that my dog-like devotion to RATS is probably a lot of personal experience talking, but I do maintain from a position of some distanced observation that Chris Lopez was/is one of the greatest songwriters of the era, and criminally overlooked to this day.
Old men remembering the glory days. It’s a good thing.
That was when we started Kingsized, which was a very good thing, and certainly my personal glory days, I’ll grant you that.
Hanson has a “small tear” in the rotator cuff. Not good.
Is Kingsized going to play at the Candler Park Fall Fest this year, spike?
I suspect we’ve shared barrooms from time to time, spike. Of course, I was always on the floor, not the stage.
but that’s probably more to do with being annoyed by DOB than anything else at this point.
blind squirrel, acorn.
I actually think it is good news that it’s not worse. Paging Dr Andrews.
… that Chris Lopez was/is one of the greatest songwriters of the era, and criminally overlooked to this day.
That’s praise I would apply to Grace Braun (although I loathe the hyperbolic usage of the word “criminal”, but that’s just me).
That was when we started Kingsized,
Wow, Spike. You were in Kingsized? I met and made out with a really hot chick at one of your shows! Thank you!!! 🙂
We may know each other. I was active on the Atlanta scene from late ’95 to ’98. Kingsized was always a fun night out.
I’m really not the worst person in the world.
@127, I left the group after the first 5 years, but they are the headliner on the bill for Sunday.
@131, that would dovetail with my tenure. I played guitar with them.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/photos-ak-snc1/v2104/185/49/1425784141/n1425784141_30222416_3203.jpg
Is Braun still making music these days?
Then that’s where I’ll be. When they played there in ’09, amidst all the familiar (and great) genre songs it was a Flat Duo Jets song that really brought the house down. I couldn’t have been any happier.
Mike always had a knack for finding the mot juste.
134: Yes, although not as much in the last couple years. She was incredibly prolific the last decade, just not a lot of high-profile releases.
Interesting. I’ll have to look it up.
I’m Your Girl is a great double album. One disc is acoustic, the other high-energy rock and roll.
133: Yep, I reckonize ya! Saw you guys at the Star Bar and I believe at Variety Playhouse opening for…who? I forget. My memory is pretty piss poor these days.
El Vez, more than likely.
How long are you out with a small rotator cuff tear?
Never mind. Bowman says a few weeks and Dr. Andrews will check him out next week.
See you in 2013!
Oh no… Come on, Tim.
EDIT: Whew.
I broke down and subscribed to MLB.tv to catch the last month worth of games. I’m breaking it in watching the Mets load the bases. Yay!
Relax.
EDIT: See.
And now I am off to tonights gig, to play country music at a BBQ joint. “They’ll pass you by in the wink of a young girls eye” indeed.
21 pitches in the first inning for Huddy. Ouch. Well, that’s alright, we’ve got the All-Star Break starting tomorrow.
The question I suppose, is who do you call up for Hanson’s starts – Delgado or Teheran.
146: In Atlanta? Daddy D’z? Fat Matts?
Why is McCann sitting if we have three days off?
Mets announcers are talking about Freeman like he’s not even a contender for RoY what with Kimbrel’s stats.
UPDATE: After that last swing by Freddie, maybe I agree.
I’d go with Delgado. He’s the one we most recently called up and of the two, the only one who has had an empirically successful (and somewhat dominating) start.
Hottie Hawgs – it’s pretty cool. Like Hooters with better BBQ in SW. I do a Gram Parsons/Buck Owens kinda thing called Whiskey Belt.
Capuano on his way to a perfect game.
This game is not off to a good start.
It’s deadsville in here tonight. Met fans can’t even get it up for the “Larry” chant.
Huddy’s dancing thru raindrops & the Braves seem like they can’t wait to beat the crowd & evacuate this town.
156- Can’t wait to evacuate? Isn’t that the obvious response to finding yourself in New York City?
Down the coast in Baltimore, the Yanks are getting blasted by the O’s (and it’s started raining).
Guys, I’m thinking it’s part of a new managerial strategy to use the first nine outs to truly get the measure of the opponent’s stuff. I mean, if you start rallies and hit grand slams off of him, how can you truly know how good his stuff can be?
UPDATE: I meant to say first 12 outs.
Capuano looking like Cy Young right now…geez
@157 I’ve never seen so much mass hysteria for a category 2 storm.
Much better pitch to swing at Chipper
Can we please not get perfecto’d by freaking Chris Capuano??
no more perfecto chance…good work Uggla
Some days you just have to tip your Cap-uano.
164- Drewdat, I hope you don’t take this the wrong way, but do you have any last words?
My cap is all tipped out after Randy Wells.
Sometimes I try to anticipate Chip Caray’s future gems.
Well, don’t. It’s bad enough hearing them once!
Pagan had to go for 2 with that one. :p
Slop throwing lefty, not exactly surprised by the lacklustre offense.
168: I dunno, it’s a nice parlor game.
A. Pagan singled to pitcher, A. Pagan out at second
Close, Yahoo, but wrong.
Well, f word.
Not surprising after the way the Braves made Randy Wells look like an ace.
Wow, this is one ugly mother.
1. Hottie Hawgs is on Bolton, right?
2. I’d go with Delgado too.
3. A category 2 storm can do a lot of damage if it his NYC broadside. They’re not built for storm surge.
4. NYC is awesome. Anyone who doesn’t love the City just ain’t right.
Mets announcers talking about how the 6th inning is Capuano’s Achilles heel. Brother, tell me something new…
Maybe Beachy really is the ace.
#157
If you’re the fearful, incurious sort, sure.
Chris Crapuano has faced the minimum through six.
I was joking, folks. My mother’s from the Bronx.
She’d probably hit better than our guys tonight, too.
It’s almost as if the Braves are wanting to board a plane or something…
If we lose another chance to gain on the Phillies I’m going to be very upset.
“It’s almost as if the Braves are wanting to board a plane or something…”
Well
wind and rainthe apocalypse is heading toward New York.Thats right – Hottie hawgs is just off Bolton on Main. Nice folks trying to revitalize the hood. Very attractive wait staff that dances on the bar.
By the time the storm gets to the north east, it may be a tropical storm.
All ready the storm is being blamed for:
– The economy
– The Jets not making the Super Bowl
– 9/11
– Micky Mantle’s drinking problems
– Buckner
– The Stamp Act
– Jefferson Star Ship
– The Mets
I see the Braves offense is taking 4 days off this weekend.
Wow, that called third strike on Wright was way high.
But I’ll take it.
Capuano seems to have filthy stuff tonight. He could just be “on*.” Stranger things have happened.
*Being “on” is the pitching equivalent to having a “hot hand”
Wow, that ball four to Evans was right there.
Dammit.
Capuano was an All-Star in 2006 for the Brewers. He wasn’t mandatory since Derrick Turnbow was also an All-Star.
Capuano: 11-12, 4.03 ERA (1-8 in 2nd half)
Turnbow: 24 for 32 in saves, 6.87 ERA (11+ ERA in 2nd half)
Well, that didn’t take long. Did anyone — other than Sam Hutcheson — not see that coming?
I think Linebrink is still rusty.
That’s probably the Proctor-nail in Linebrink’s coffin.
The lefty-righty match up obsession fails to work, again.
Suboptimal Linebrink usage.
@192 – At some point you might bother reading what I actually contribute to discussions, Juanita.
Why not shoot Linebrink? I mean, I won’t, I don’t have a gun, and not fatally, just enough to put him on the permanent DL.
With three days off, why didn’t Vizcaino or O’Flaherty come in there?
Mets TV guy, responding to chorus of applause as Capuano bats: “Boy, this is something we haven’t heard from a Mets crowd in a long time: the opportunity to give a hand to a Mets pitcher who has gone 7 innings.”
Okay, I’m gonna barf now.
Clearly no one wanted to win tonight.
Who’s Juanita?
I’m sorry, Sam, I guess I just assumed that because we all hate Scott Linebrink you’d be the one to attack our groupthink.
Also, considering how often I’ve personally responded to you, you might realize that I do occasionally read your contributions, Sam. You’ll even notice, Sam, that I call you by your name.
A mere double Grybo. That’s a good outing.
“Clearly no one wanted to win tonight.”
No one on the Braves, anyway.
Nice ‘double Grybo’ for Linebrink.
Linebrink’s a FA next year, right? Yep, just looked his contract up. Think we’re safe on the bonuses:
award bonuses: $0.1M each for MVP, Cy Young, Rolaids, WS MVP; $75,000 for LCS MVP; $50,000 for TSN All Star; $25,000 each for Gold Glove, All Star starter; $15,000 All Star selection
194: Not fair! You said that the last time.
Linebrink is just not a high leverage pitcher anymore (if he ever was). It’s a miracle if he doesn’t give up at least one double per appearance.
Hey, look on the bright side – it only took him 7 pitches to retire the opposing pitcher.
Do not fear, folks. Fredi’s got things covered: Venters is up in the pen!
205- His agent has a good sense of humor.
This is managerial misconduct. Fredi could be fired for cause.
205- I don’t know, that “Rolaids” thing sounds achievable.
And so the scoreless streak comes to an ignominious end.
It’s nice that the Braves hire managers fired by last place teams.
Keith Hernandez ripping Fredi for his Venters usage…
This might be the low point of the season. 12k shutout by the corpse of Chris Capuano followed by 3 days without baseball. Yuck.
Edit: 13. Effing 13k.
Wow, the Braves were just like “**** it, four day vacation coming up.”
Wow, the Braves were just like “**** it, four day vacation coming up.”
*Please delete comment where I misspelled my own name, thanks!*
Does that count as a Mets’ series sweep?
Recapped.