101 thoughts on “Dodger-blue peril game thread: Sept. 2, Dodgers at Braves”

  1. I’m even more concerened by the dismissive attitude about sleeping with Alyssa Milano.

    In the 90s, banging Alyssa Milano was like hitting 20 HRs. Everyone that laced up a pair of spikes had even odds to get it done in any given year.

    I’m a little perturbed by the list of “greatest Mets” that doesn’t include Mike Piazza.

  2. Oh, and by the way, Constanza is no longer hot, and any time he plays going forward it will be to get a regular rest, not as a regular himself.

  3. Bill Simmons makes a good case for Verlander for MVP in his mail bag. The Tigers are a .500 team when he doesn’t pitch. That is a hell of a stat.

  4. @7: But he doesn’t pitch 4 out of every 5 games. What kind of team would they be in those games without Miguel Cabrera?

  5. I suppose I should clarify that if Alyssa Milano asked me for sex I’d have to be a gentlemen and oblige the lady. I mean, a man has to do what a man has to do.

  6. When I was young, my infatuation was with Cindy Crawford. In high school, it turned to Alyssa Milano. College, I was stuck on Jessica Alba. Now, I can’t stop looking at Mila Kunis.

    Weird thing is, my wife is blonde and basically every girl I’ve ever dated is also blonde.

    Lineup tonight is as purty as Mila Kunis.

  7. That first Mazzy Star record is just perfect.

    Speaking of hot brunettes and food (what?), uh, my amazing, beautiful and incredibly talented wife has a kickass new ebook out. A Year Of Georgia Food is a years worth of her local food columns in our barely-a-paper newspaper. Lots of food history that makes you go “wow”, killer seasonal recipes that couldn’t be easier, and stories from the past year on our farm.

    Kindle, Nook, etc. Sample chapters at the link.

    /pimp

  8. Braves have been DeLugofied — outright release. Presumably Wilson will be activated from the DL in his place, or already has been. This according to DOB, who also says that Delgado will start Sunday.

  9. So could Hicks, Diory, and or Wilson all be eligible for the postseason roster? Or would Wilson/another player have to be DL’d for the other two to make it?

  10. Medlen’s DL will allow someone not on the 25 man or 15-day DL to be on the postseason roster. I think Wilson will be eligible anyway.

  11. Hey thanks, Mac. Hope you dig it. Of course I’m biased, but I honestly think she’s a truly amazing writer. It’s one of those kinds of books where you can read a single column or devour chunks of text about food. And since it is a Southern seasonal cookbook you can just skip to muscadines, peppers, okra or whatever else is in season in Bamalama right now.

    And shoot, if you like the morbid, she’s working on a book about the blitz, British grandfather and all. Heavy stuff.

  12. 26 – Give it another month. He’ll be back below a 650 OPS before it’s all said and done. Mark it down.

  13. Give it another month. He’ll be back below a 650 OPS before it’s all said and done. Mark it down.

    I know, he’s no Georgie!

    So I was just looking at Strasburg, who pitched his last rehab game and will be back with the Nats to finish out the 2012 season with them. He made 6 starts in his rehab assignment, but what was curious to me was that they were for 4 of Washington’s affiliates: A-ball Hagerstown, A+ Potomac, AA Harrisburg and AAA Hagerstown. Why would they shuffle him around all over the place. What’s the point in that? I’m sure there’s a reason, possibly even a good one! Anyone?

  14. Livan Hernandez will be pulled from the Natinals rotation after Sunday’s game and serve as a coach/mentor for the rest of the season. He’ll be teaching a clinic on “Throwing Junk, Beating the Braves.”

  15. @9 “Pitcher can’t win”? Sort of a weird label for the argument that a player who only plays 35 times out of 162 games is the most valuable on the team.

    The point is that Verlander shouldn’t get a bonus because the rest of the Tigers pitching staff is dreadful but then have his teammates’ offensive contributions ignored. Their offense is 3rd in the AL in OBP and 4th in OPS. This isn’t a scrub team by any stretch of the imagination.

    If any pitcher deserves the award this year, however, it would be Roy Halladay. He actually leads the NL in WAR, and the next highest guy on a decent team would be Upton at 5th, with a full win less than Halladay’s total. Verlander’s FanGraphs WAR is only 4th in his league, under Bautista, Pedroia, and Ellsbury. He isn’t even clearly the best pitcher by WAR, as he is tied with CC Sabathia.

    If you don’t buy it, though, you don’t buy it, fair enough.

    In any case, Simmons’ article is nonsensical, as per usual. Yankees and Red Sox players this year can’t win because their team is loaded, but Pedro Martinez deserved the MVP award in 1999 when the runner-up in WAR (0.3 less) was on his team? What? Is there a principle here, or are Simmons’ arguments merely gut impulses (backed up by his anecdotal observations in Red Sox games) rationalized with post hoc statistical observations?

    His arguments from precedent are also worthless because we understand so much more about the game today than the voters did in the 1930s-1990s. There is no reason to defer to past decisionmakers who used improper criteria.

  16. I guess I should mark John R. off the Christmas list too.

    I’m fat, an agnostic, and Alyssa Milano is carrying my baby. Not sure I fit your criteria for Christmas cards. I do believe in the Oxford comma, though!

    Did anyone in the previous thread about Todd Coffey mention that the Dodgers are playing really well right now? 9 out of their last 10 and all?

  17. Beachy 1-2-3. Sounds like a hit pop song from the early ’60s.

    On the occasion of their “Girls Night Out” ticket promotion, the Atlanta Braves Facebook page is asking the question “Who is the dreamiest player on the Braves?” Your choices:

    1. Craig Kimbrel
    2. Dan Uggla
    3. Chipper Jones
    4. Brian McCann
    5. Jason Heyward

    Anyone got an opinion? Glad to see Heyward made the list over Georgie.

    Sam, your “breeders” taunt in the previous thread makes me think you might have an opinion on the matter.

  18. Pretty sure this was discussed a few weeks ago and I think the consensus was Beachy is the best looking.

  19. Bad assumption, but nonetheless, everyone knows the working girls swoon for Dan Uggla’s arms, while the suburban princesses dream of Brian McCann.

  20. 28- It’s called ticket sales, John. Minor league affiliates enjoy the chance to sell extra tickets, and that makes it easier for major league teams to retain them.

  21. 38: I understand that logic. But why would the player be interested in something like that? Why should Strasburg be hopping all over the place to help out minor league clubs with their ticket sales?

    Sounds like Beachy’s in command so far…

  22. 37: You like the stocky types that look like they should be a midshipman in the Merchant Marines, huh? Pull that sleeve up and I bet he’s got an anchor tattoo on his bicep!

  23. 39- I imagine that it’s easier because those affiliates are no more than 120 miles from Washington, except for Syracuse. Pitching at Potomac or Harrisburg involves a day trip rather than going from Atlanta to, say, Lynchburg or Mississippi. As for Syracuse, he really did need to pitch against the best minor leagues before returning to the bigs.

  24. If I remember correctly, Bethany was the only one who agreed with me that Minor was the most handsome starter.

  25. I wasn’t aware the “dreamiest Brave” question had been discussed around here already. So allow me to offer up a new question just for Braves Journal:

    “Who is the dreamiest manager in Braves history?” Your choices:

    1. Fredi Gonzalez
    2. Bobby Cox
    3. Eddie Haas
    4. Joe Torre
    5. Ted Turner

    We already know Sam’s answer…

  26. Off topic: what’s Wilson’s contract status? I assume pending FA?

    Any chance he’s our stop-gap to Pastornicky rather than AAG? They’re basically the same player, but I prefer an offensive blackhole be a little fast, rather than run into a few homeruns.

  27. Just getting home… Mac, The Emperr of Maladies is a great book… but it takes balls to read it in your condition. I wouldn’t even know how to react….

    On another note, my bromance Braves manager is Eddie Mathews. Surly and mean.. that’s what you’re looking for.

  28. 56: Surly and mean does make the heart flutter, doesn’t it?

    After his double, Jim Powell just said “I’m sure it’s coincidental, but as soon as it was announced Jack Wilson was acquired, Alex Gonzalez put together three fantastic at bats last night.” I think I made a joke to that effect, but Jim sounded sincere.

  29. 63: Yeah, and we’re back in O’Ventbrel territory. Yeesh. Beachy needs to get back on track and our offense needs to score more runs! I’ll be peeved if they get to our bullpen before we get to theirs.

    UPDATE: Nice! Boy, I really start to get nervous whenever a pitcher throws to second. Whew!

  30. Greetings from Vegas…

    Looking @ the big board in the Trop sports book & Vandy’s not on it. I was beginning to like the idea of betting on Vandy football. Oh well, guess I gotta get serious about UGA & LSU. Not sure if I can get it up for Ole Miss (plus the spread just dropped).

    Go Braves

  31. While the Cardinals came back from a 5-0 deficit, the Braves blew a 5-0 lead.

    A game the Braves might have won if they had gone with their usual trio starting in the seventh inning.

  32. It’s a shame they made that rule that every pitcher must complete one inning before he can be relieved..

  33. If Kimbrel hadn’t pitched Tuesday night during a seven run deficit, he might be available tonight which would have made EOF available earlier…so glad he needed to get that work in on Tuesday.

  34. With the way the Cards are playing lately, this wild card thing is going to be interesting in a hurry.

  35. Assume we lose and the Cardinals win (tied at present). If we go 13-12 for the rest of the year, the Cardinals have to go 19-5. With what would be a 5 game winning streak after tonight, that would be a 24-5 finish. Color me skeptical (sort of a light ecru).

  36. 84: Getting work in is important. You underestimate it at your peril!

    Hey, the most important thing is that we helped Kuo lower his ERA to under 10.

    Okay, one out single from Uggla, let’s get Chipper to smack a 2-run homer. Maybe we can get Bethany back in this game.

  37. Well, the Braves have avoided Hibernation Mode. Sadly, they’ve also avoided Get Hits With Runners In Scoring Position Mode.

  38. So there were three ground balls to second by Jason tonight. One scored a run, one was a double play, and one ended the game. Throw in a strikeout and a fly to right, and it’s not a great game for the kid.

    Well, the Jack Wilson Era is 0-1 on the year. But the Second Matt Diaz Era is 2-1, so there’s that.

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