San Diego Padres vs. Atlanta Braves – Box Score – August 14, 2012 – ESPN.
The Braves bounced back, and so did Tim Hudson, who had a catastrophic five-run inning in his last start against the Phillies (only for the Braves to rally for a comfortable win). The Padres only once had the go-ahead run on board (on a two-out walk in the first) and after the Braves took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first only once had the tying run on (in the fifth, and he didn’t get past first).
Michael Bourn led off the bottom of the first with a triple. Martin Prado fouled out, but Freddie Freeman scored Bourn on a groundout. Neither team would have another baserunner until Chipper Jones’ two-out double in the fourth; he was stranded.
In the fifth, Dan Uggla hit a solo homer. Prado, Freeman, and Chipper hit consecutive singles in the sixth to make it 3-0. After a one-out single, just the second hit off of him, Hudson left the game in the seventh. Jonny Venters allowed a walk but struck out the other two men he faced.
Singles by Paul Janish and Bourn in the bottom of the inning set up Prado, who hit a homer to put the game more or less away, 6-0. Luis Avilan gave up one hit in the eighth. Grossly overqualified to hold a six-run lead for one inning, Craig Kimbrel allowed a leadoff single before striking out the side.
Off-topic: a buddy of mine is competing at the National Scrabble Championships this week (three games left and he’s just outside the money in Division 2). Yesterday the event was rocked by a cheating scandal!
http://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/group-scrabble-player-caught-1499574.html
What the article doesn’t mention — the kid would palm the blank tiles at the beginning of the game and drop them in his shirt pocket. During one game his opponent counted the remaining tiles and discovered that one was missing. He called the director over and the kid tried to toss the tile under his chair and claim ignorance, Joe Niekro-style.
Is there no honor in the world of spelling?
1,
He’s an idiot if he thought he wouldn’t get caught. Even I know that there’s only 2 blanks in scrabble, and I haven’t played the game in 4 years.
Spellin ain’t easy.
Nats players questioning decision to sit Strasburg. This could get interesting.
http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/8270168/washington-nationals-players-question-club-plan-sit-stephen-strasburg
Kimbrel actually recorded a flyout in his one inning of work to go with the expected two strikeouts.
I’m refusing to believe that Strasburg won’t pitch in the postseason. I don’t see how they would sell another ticket if they lost and he didn’t pitch.
@7,
You haven’t watched the Redskins play recently have you?
Janish sure is making it easier to not rush Andrellton.
Nice pickup, Wren. (Now about that Lowe trade …)
(Now about that Lowe trade …)
You dont want him back do you?
“Janish sure is making it easier to not rush Andrellton.”
Really? Who wouldn’t eager to replace a player hitting .204/.284/.245 (Janish) with a player hitting .296/.336/.452 (Simmons)?
Janish’s 2012 slugging percentage is below that of Tim Hudson’s .263.
Phillies need to go 46-0 the rest of the way to finish 2 games back of their 2011 record (102-60).
The front office doesn’t have to be popular. It’s their job to make unpopular decisions and get out in front of it, then get the field manager and coaching staff on board.
I don’t think Simmons will OPS .788 for the rest of the year.
Anyway, Janish is doing a great job for an 8th-place hitter who shouldn’t be a starting player. He isn’t giving us anything like what Andrelton could give us, but he’s giving us WAY more than Pastornicky gave us at the beginning of the year, and he isn’t taking away from the team. So I’d just let him play until Andrelton is super duper ready.
I agree, Alex. The offense is doing fine, so Janish is performing Job One (reliable and rangy defense) with aplomb.
Good old Dave…
12:08
Comment From Tim
Im starting to think the Braves are the best ALL Around team in the national league. I trust their offense more than Washington and the Reds, and arguably just as good of pitching once Strasburg hits the shelf for the year. What do you think?
12:08
Dave Cameron:
I think you’re overrating the Braves.
Janish is a major upgrade over Pastornicky and Wilson. When does Andrelton have to be on the active roster by in order to be on the playoff roster, August 31st or Sept 1st? Or does the DL stint keep that from mattering?
I think they have to be on the active roster or the DL on Sept. 1 to be eligible.
If others get injured after that date, they can be replaced with players that do not meet that qualification.
Runs Saved Stat:
Simmons – 289 innings 15DRS
Janish – 258 innings 2DRS
Wilson – 144 innings -1DRS
Pastornicky – 329 innings -15DRS
@16
Well, I think Tim is overrating the Braves too.
@19
Which is another reason why we *should* be anxious for Simmons to come back. Right now you’re playing a replacement-level guy in an-above average–possibly well above average–guy’s spot. The sooner Simmons comes back the better.
“Runs Saved Stat:
Simmons – 289 innings 15DRS
Janish – 258 innings 2DRS”
Is Janish really that great a defender, or is it merely people thinking of Pastornicky and thus any competent short stop looks like a star defensive player?
I love that James Franklin made Sports Center’s top plays by awarding the scholarship to a walk-on player.
It’s a great story. Makes me want to chant, “Ru-dy!”
From a strictly non-stats based observation, I’d say Janish makes almost all of the routine plays and a few “good” plays. Simmons seemed to make almost all of the “good” plays and a few “I can’t believe what I just saw” plays.
@20, I don’t think anyone is saying that Janish is better than Simmons. I think most people, myself included, would rather have Janish over Simmons at 75%. Janish gives us the luxury of not rushing Simmons back prematurely.
Melky popped for 50 games for positive PED test. All is right with the world once again.
Here’s the Melky story:
http://tinyurl.com/cfmj43u
Couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy.
Twitter is wonderful this for things like this.
Some of my favs and forgive me for not giving proper credit but I’m too lazy:
– This time it counts*
– And you suckers thought KC lost the Sanchez trade
– The Melkman juiceth
Hereafter August 15th will be celebrated as a holiday in my household.
Seriously, I am smiling for ear to ear after the way that guy acted in Atlanta.
It’s a pity he didn’t bet on a few games on the side.
“Melky popped for 50 games for positive PED test. All is right with the world once again.”
Best Braves baseball news since Francoeur Trading Day.
Strip him on that All-Star MVP award.
HA HA, Melk Dud busted.
Dont you need 502PA’s to be eligible for the batting title? Karma sucks. Melky is sitting at 501.
They add extra ohfer at bats to get you there.
But they should have waited until after the game with the Nats today.
@25
You mean it wasn’t all those cheeseburgers?
So…many…cheeseburgers…
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.
Ha.
35 – This is a good point.
Check this out, all MLB 3B ranks
Chipper
Avg – 4th
OBP – 3rd
Slg% – 7th
OPS – 3rd
This is amazing news.
@39,
On the subject of third basemen, I recently read a book about the 1957 Milwaukee Braves. If the book is to be believed, Eddie Mathews was a psycho alcoholic who was always looking to get in fights off the field. He would never have gotten away with his behavior today. No wonder he declined so rapidly after 30.
I’m not good at math or rules apparently because I’m wondering…can Melky still play in the postseason?
Good question, does he remain on the active 25 man during the suspension? If not, he’s not eligible.
To quote Mac: presumably Cabrera is now drowning his sorrows in milkshakes.
The suspension carries over to postseason (five games) if the Giants make it, next season if they don’t.
So does he remain on the active 25 man roster during the suspension? Or does it not matter.
50 game suspension is a joke. If they treated juicers as seriously as sports like track & field, the Giants would be banned from the postseason, or, better yet, simply forced to forfeit every game in which Melky played… think Marion Jones’ relay teammates would agree?
That would end juicing in baseball pretty fast!
What Stu said @38.
I almost wrecked my car I was laughing so hard when I heard about it.
Also, for everyone who wanted to bean him, isn’t this way better than that possibly could have been?
Oh happy day.
@47, the Giants would have to leave a post season roster spot open for Melky which, I think, is highly unlikely. Especially since Melky could not get into shape (no pun intended) for the postseason.
@52
Exactly. He would be eligible, but they would have to leave an open spot on their roster for the entire Division Series, which seems unlikely, to say the least. Also, there aren’t a whole lot of places he could rehab to get back up to speed quickly, as all minor league seasons are over by that point. He’s done for the year.
Seriously, if Braves Journal had a poll on what player you’d most like to see get busted for PEDs, it would be Melky, wouldn’t it? This is tremendous. I echo Stu’s sentiments.
If they forfeited every game that they won, would they also have to refund all the money people payed to see games that supposedly counted? That would wreck the franchise. I think that’s pretty draconian. And that would also affect other teams; for example, the Nats would be awarded the game last night. How is that fair to the Braves who need the Nats to lose? (Granted, the Braves would get two additonal wins.) He is going to miss the entire pennant run; it’s quite likely this will result in the Giants not making the playoffs. What else do you want?
Watching the gnats playing the Giants has made me realize that Washington is a very good baseball team.
“He is going to miss the entire pennant run; it’s quite likely this will result in the Giants not making the playoffs.”
How much impact does one player truly have? The Reds seemed to play better with Votto not in their lineup.
@57,
Maybe not much, but it certainly won’t help the Giants. Do you really think the Reds are a better team without Votto?
Is Harper still the presumptive ROY? He’s pretty much sucked lately.
The Reds seemed to play better with Votto not in their lineup.
Didnt the Braves have an 8 game winning streak without Chipper and immediately lose 7 straight when he returned? Braves are a better team with Chipper.
Best Braves baseball news since Francoeur Trading Day.
July 10th, 2009. I remember the pure joy I felt when I learned that we not only got rid of Jeffy, but also planted him on the Mets. Melky doesn’t come close to that one, but it sure feels damn good. Of all active players, he’s probably the one I hate the most.
Felix Hernandez is pretty good at throwing a baseball.
Also, for everyone who wanted to bean him, isn’t this way better than that possibly could have been?
Well, yeah, but I wouldn’t mind having seen both happen…
Is Harper still the presumptive ROY?
No way. I think Wade Miley is the favorite, at the moment.
He probably doesnt have enough innings, but Id also have Mike Fiers ahead of Harper.
Felix perfect thru 8 w/ 9k’s. Just me or do the Rays get no hit frequently?
Melky’s statement, “My positive test was the result of my use of a substance I should not have used. Also, in 2010 I wasn’t really trying.”
Bahahahaha screw you Melky
3 perfect games in one season. Incredible.
When I was a kid (and by that I mean for my entire childhood) there were seven total perfect games. Catfish Hunter threw the last one in ’68, and that was just the way it was.
I don’t say this often, but: “Woo hoo!”
“Is Harper still the presumptive ROY?”
Thought Simmons had a real chance before the injury.
The Reds have been awesome with Votto out, but that’s largely due to Ryan Ludwick going absolutely crazy. The Giants really, really have an iffy offense beyond Melky, Sandoval, and Posey. Unless Pence decides to do what he did in the second half last year, they’ll have a lot of trouble scoring as many runs as they did before.
Todd Frazier, perhaps?
7 pitches, 6 strikes, 3 outs. That should work ok.
damn edit button “Speaking of the Reds and ROY, Todd Frazier perhaps? .280/.338/.524 14HR, 48 RBI and leading Harper in most offensive categories in 100 fewer PA’s”
Does this mean we won’t get to plunk Melky this year?
Well, that sucked.
Wade Miley on the pitching side looks like a decent choice too – 12-8, 3.02 143 ERA+ (4th)
Too close to take, Freddie.
That pitch to Freddie was not a strike.
I thought it was close, but I couldn’t hit a lick when I played.
Whap!
Juan!
@81 Well I bet you played longer and hit better than I ever did 😉
I thought the pitch was high, especially for a breaking ball.
McCann make me so angry when he sucks.
It’s awful damn hard to squander men on second and third with no outs. Impressive work, guys.
Me too, Bethany. I just traded him to Boston for Salty.
Hahahahaha Melky! This makes me so happy. I’m going to watch the clip of him throwing that ball sideways all night long.
Glass Half Full: That could easily have been two runs if the ump had gone the other way.
Beautiful work, Jason.
That was nice, Jason.
We’re going to blow this AGAIN.
This is just epic, comic squandering.
DAAAAAAAANNNNN!!!!!!
MOST UNLIKELY OUTCOME!!!!
Oh, Danny, I love you again.
Dan hates waste!
I’m worried that, like last year, McCann’s coming back too soon from an injury.
Melky…well, at least there’s a science-based explanation for why he was such an overly aggressive jerk in that last series.
Now that ball was whapped. Danny!
How now, brown cow?
Adam, I’m willing to advance the proposition that both Melky’s aggression and Melky’s positive test are explained by the same root cause:
His underlying personality.
Well done, Sluggla.
Jeez, Louise. Come on, Paul.
At least the Pads are also fans of waste.
That was tense.
Woo!
Heheheheheeeeeee
Janish is one of the most brain-dead base runners I’ve ever watched.
Little bit of bad luck there for Maholm, but I am impressed that he was able to keep his composure. Bottom of the order to be sure, but still.
What proportion of the money should Bourn get?
Hey, all’s well that ends well.
This umpire cannot make up his mind about the bottom of the strike zone.
So, looks like Jason’s slump is over.
@98
Oh yeah, I forgot about that. What a tool.
I love how we keep scoring from first.
The game is getting more enjoyable by the minute.
I think Janish is a pretty good base runner. If he had any power at all, he would be a pretty good player
@117 You want Janish to go all out Melky? J/K
For what it’s worth, Fangraphs has Janish as a -0.5 run baserunner this year, +0.5 over his major league career.
“What proportion of the money should Bourn get?”
All of it, Katie.
Paul’s walking a tightrope, but so far he’s doing good.
True, but one more inning on the wire is about all we should be expected to stand.
I see a real baseball manager is at the game tonight
“Bobby! Bobby! Bobby!”
I was afraid running the bases would tire Maholm.
It’s awesome watching another team do this when facing a crappy lefty. So it isn’t just us.
Wren really did well by getting Yanish, Maholm and Johnson. Imagine what he could do with an extra $10-20 million.
Up 5 at home with your gift 5th starter? He’ll leave him out there for a while, I’d think.
Wren is terrific at obtaining supporting pieces. It’s really an extraordinary talent of his. He is not nearly as terrific at obtaining key pieces, with a few exceptions, like than the Bourn and Vazquez trades.
I’m not sure if I’m happier to see Jason double twice or walk twice.
Just saw the news. Melky…LOL.
Yes, he is still the Melkiest Man on Esrth. At least San Francisco is now getting the full experience.
Aside from Felix Hernandez, Melky Cabrera is probably the happiest man in baseball that there was a perfect game today.
My God, Paul Maholm has been good for us.
By the way, Jason Heyward’s b-ref page now lists his middle name as “Alias,” rather than “Adenolith.” I send a message to them a little while ago pointing out the error.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/heywaja01.shtml
Homer, walks, strikeout; Dan’s now completed his version of the cycle.
Juanderful!
@135:
“Alias” appears to be correct.
http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2010/04/20/jason-a-heyward-the-a-is-for-alias/
No days off until Aug 30. Maholm going 7+ each time out is helping in many ways
It feels like Juan only ever hits mistakes… but if he keeps hitting it’s all fine.
“Wren is not nearly as terrific at obtaining key pieces, with a few exceptions, like than the Bourn and Vazquez trades”
Are you saying Melky Cabrera was a good key piece?
Is it just me, or did B-Mac go from really hot to really terrible really fast?
An important thing Maholm is doing is giving us innings. Seven nine, seven. Our other starters haven’t been working that deep and we all saw last year what that can do to a bullpen.
141- I think AAR meant the trade to GET Vazquez (for Flowers, Lillibridge, and two guys who never made the majors), not the trade where we sent him off for Melk Dud.
Believe it or not, Paul Maholm is about to move to 7-1 with a 1.04 ERA in 67 innings since June 24th.
@142 It’s not just you. He’s had one good month all year.
@142, There was a cortisone shot to the shoulder that, we should all be worried, had something to do with the sudden switch to suck mode.
McCann in July: 296/ 354/ 704, 9 HR, 21 RBI
McCann rest of season (entering tonight): 207/ 291/ 355, 9 HR, 36 RBI
Good game. Glad to see your comments, Mac.
Yeah, the trade to get Vazquez brought us a genuine ace, and the trade to get Bourn brought us a genuine leadoff hitter and top-shelf defender. Other than them, Wren hasn’t been able to get us too many other star-level players from outside.
Good game again, Bravos. Keep rolling.
@143 It looks like we have better depth with relief pitchers and not as many 1 run leads to protect.
Maholm/Sheets, 6-3 13er 61ip 1.91 era. That’s found money right there.
#150 – At least Wren hasnt given up much talent either. He’s basically held onto every top prospect which is good. Vizcaino may be the best piece he’s moved, but Maholm is pitching well and under control for another year.
Minor neat point about the perfect game – it was the mlb.tv free game of the day, so anyone not in Washington or Florida (or wherever those blackout territories are) could see it live for free.
Recapped.