That. Kicked. Ass.
In a game that promised from the get-go to be the kind of stomach-punch loss that we Braves fans know only too well – they get lucky; we do a handful of stupid things; they get lucky some more – somebody, at some point, rewrote the script.
First thing’s first: Mike Minor outpitched Chad Gaudin today, though you never would have known it from results alone. Both pitchers gave up 4 earned runs. Yet while the Braves’ ace struck out 7 in 6 innings, walking only 1 and avoiding the long ball, Gaudin struck out no Braves – seriously, how do you strike out no Braves? – while serving up 2 homers. For the afternoon, Minor posted a 1.23 FIP; Gaudin, an ugly 8.86 mark.
And yet Gaudin left the game with the lead. After looking absolutely wretched at the plate through two innings, the Giants plated three runs in the third on the back of some clutch (read: lucky) 2-out hitting and horrific Chris Johnson defense. They should have scored once at most in the inning. But that wasn’t all for the Giants. In the top half of the fifth, the Giants scored twice more after BJ Upton chased a Buster Posey fly ball up the center field wall, only to feel it hit him in the back as he looked for its path above his head. And that came after an Andrelton Simmons error, the first of 2 the suddenly shaky shortstop committed. After a Hunter Pence sac fly, the Giants found themselves with 5 runs through little agency of their own.
The Braves scored their runs with less… divine goodwill. BJ Upton hit a 450-foot monster in the first, and then helped manufacture a run in the fourth, as he stole second with two outs and scored on a Chris Johnson single. Not content, evidently, with those accomplishments – after all, he did arguably cost Minor a couple runs in the fifth – Upton then hit a 2- run homer in the sixth to chase Gaudin. I’d say he’s got the timing thing down again, and is primed for some second-half redemption.
Still, the Braves trailed to the very end. Both bullpens stabilized things a bit, even as luck began to favor the home team. The Giants managed to get at least one hit in each of the last four frames, but situational hitting is a fickle thing, and before you could explain the laws of probability to Joe Simpson, the Giants suddenly found themselves decidedly un-clutch: after stranding runners in each of the previous three innings, they managed not to score despite a single, double, and walk in the ninth. It was as if the teams switched jerseys.
They hadn’t, and the Braves won the game in the bottom of the ninth with a nice blend of patience, luck, and skill. After Sergio Romo struck out pinch hitter Ramiro Pena, better-pinch hitter Evan Gattis walked, Andrelton Simmons somehow coerced Joaquin Arias into committing an error, Jason Heyward singled, and Justin Upton watched ball four, only this time it was actually called a ball and the game was tied. And then Freddie Freeman hit a walk-off single.
I loathe the Giants. I dislike their fan base, their players, and their management. I hate that they have won 2 of the past 3 World Series; that their owner is preventing the A’s from building a stadium anywhere in the Bay Area; that Posey was, and remains forever, out. I particularly resent the fact that the Braves got their asses handed to them in San Francisco earlier in the year. Now, however, the Braves can win this series. All they have to do is have some patience, utilize their skill, and wait for the luck to turn towards them. It always evens out, or so they say.
Minors highlights…
Mejia hit his 16th HR tonight and now has an .889 OPS. Too bad a guy like him will be the baseball equivalent to a stocking stuffer for his professional career.
Salcedo went 3/4 with a double and HR for Mississippi.
Kubitza hit his 8th HR tonight and is now up to an .885 OPS on the year.
Needless to say we needed this win today. Congrats to BJ. Great walk by Gattis in the 9th. It would’ve been easy to expand the zone hoping to tie the game.
I didn’t think we had a chance of coming back today. That’s usually when this team proves me oh so wrong.
I didn’t mention it last thread as I should have, but La Belle Dame Sans Merci – well done indeed.
Greetings from Atlantic City…
Caught game’s end in a hotel elevator. Sorry, if I offended anybody (not really).
Still… boy, did we ever need that one.
Agree with the recap. I loathe the Giants. Posey, the fat panda, and crap. Every time we play them, I think we should dominate because it’s those two guys and a pack of scrubs ..yet they somehow score runs. This win was sweet.
Also, for the record, the out call on the SB attempt in the top of the 9th does not make up for THIS
Destroy these assholes tomorrow Julio
Another reason to loathe the Giants: Barry Bonds.
I loathe the Giants in large part for another reason. They’re a solid team that’s built on having great starting pitching, yet somehow found itself on the ropes in the postseason. If Posey was rightfully called out at second and if Conrad didn’t make those errors, they probably would’ve lost in 2010, and if Rolen didn’t make that error in the NLDS last year, they most likely would’ve lost that series as well. They by all means should’ve been eliminated in the first round in both years if not for lucky breaks that were out of their control. But those things happened, of course, and given another breath they were able to get off the ropes, find a second gear, and ride a hot streak all the way to the championship. Makes me wonder what could’ve been if a certain other team that was built on having great starting pitching but was on the ropes in the postseason could have gotten a lucky break to go their way like that.
Unless you literally JUST became a Braves fan, you know what I’m referring to. The Giants should be in the same boat–a solid team that could never seem to get it done in the postseason–but because of things that they didn’t even have control over, they’re baseball’s hallmark of success right now.
To be fair, they did play extremely well once they got to the World Series. But they needed strokes of luck to get there in the first place.
from the game thread…
Andrelton’s worn down, be fair…how often does he sit?
Pena hits well against RH pitchers. Better D than C Johnson and passable at SS. It is a long season and he should start 2 or 3 times a week.
@7 You nailed it.
I was at the game, with my 9 year old daughter, for an early Father’s Day present. Gorgeous, albeit hot as blazes, day and packed with over 47,000 in attendance. Couldn’t have capped it off better than that come-from-behind ninth. Only disappointing aspect was the defense – should have been scored as more than two errors in my opinion.
I hate the Giants because they’re not the Braves, and I root for the laundry.
@12 You know that in a few years some guy who knows less about baseball than she does will take your daughter to a game and will try to explain it to her. If she likes the guy she will smile and tell him how smart he is.
@14 Ah, so THAT’S what I’ve been doing wrong.
Thanks, Adam M.
Far as I can tell, Bethany, you do nothing wrong.
@15 You do not tolerate idiots. Best thing in long run. The observation came from a friend who played softball in HS. Fortunately for me it was about another couple in the stands.
She was the same girl who told me not to look at Susan Anton in Richmond’s Tobacco Company while she was in town for the Tobacco Festival. She knew I would likely make a fool of myself.
Mansplainers are everywhere, but nowhere more than at baseball games.
Amazing win. I’ve been MIA lately because I just moved back to Northern CA after living on the east coast for seven years. The Giants’ fervor over here is downright nauseating. Still, I wish we had their announcers…
For young people like Bethany. Susan Anton took over Edie Adams roll as spokewomen for Muriel Cigars:
“Why don’t you pick one up and smoke it sometime?”
Completely off topic. In DC, visiting my grandchildren (9 and 6). Creating a music playlist for them to listen to on a longish car ride and ask them for their favorite songs to put on it, expecting some mix of preteen idols and Top 40 rot. Instead I get “Forest Whitaker” by Bad Books as their favorite song. I was not expecting to learn anything about new music I liked from a six year old. (OK, there was Icona Pop’s execrable “I Love It” as well, combined with a singalong which elided the ‘bad words,’ including the explanation that in this song, “the s word just means stuff” from the 9 year old).
The Braves have allowed fewer runs than any other team in MLB.
@24
Just imagine how deep we’ll be when Beachy gets back. I’m confident the FO will make the right decision and that player will embrace their role.
The more I think about it, the more I think it will be Medlen. I know he’s not a fan of it, but it makes the most sense.
Remember in the offseason when we were thinking Medlen was our ace? That seems like forever ago.
Chicks need guys to explain baseball. Otherwise they’d knit the doilies wrong.
The more I think about it, the more I think it will be Medlen. I know he’s not a fan of it, but it makes the most sense.
I would LOVE to know how this makes the most sense. Over the past 30 days, Kris Medlen has posted a 2.6 ERA and 2.8 FIP, with a swinging strike rate back to where he was in 2012. He has a K-BB ratio over 5 during that span as well. Basically, he has been the Braves second-best pitcher for the past 5 weeks, and has the ceiling – as we all now know – to be one of the best pitchers in the majors. Moving him to the bullpen would deal a serious blow to the team’s chances at a world series.
He’s also one of our 8 best offensive players. Need his bat in the lineup.
@26 Bethany could knit your doilie 3 sizes too small.
Until Brandon Beachy throws a baseball over 90 MPH without having “setbacks” in his rehab games, it’s a moot point.
I don’t see why both things can’t be true. Medlen is the best suited to go to the ‘pen, and it’s also a terrible use of resources to be avoided at all costs.
I’m hopeful it’ll resolve itself differently. If Wood can keep it together in his spot start, Maholm may be out the door for a RP.
Why would you trade Maholm rather than make him a LH reliever?
vs RHB: 272/342/431, 1.95 K/BB
vs LHB: 169/233/193, 4.20 K/BB
Just send Maholm to the pen as the LOOGY. That way, if something happens to a starter, you have Paul Maholm in your pen ready to jump back in and fill that need, rather than needing to dredge up AAA filler.
The Nats had the bases loaded with no outs in both the 6th and 7th inning and managed to not score. You’d almost think it was the Braves playing.
@32
I agree, but Fredi would never use him as a LOOGY. Indeed, I doubt the Braves would send Maholm to the pen at all, despite his being the team’s worst starter for the past couple months. They’ve bought more time on this in the meantime, however.
“No, the lemur.”
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/The_Simpsons/Season_13#I_am_Furious_Yellow
@32 and @34, unfortunately, I agree with both of you.
I didn’t watch the game but I read the game thread, and the sense I get is that we won a game that no one would have thought we had a chance of winning. Those are extra nice.
Nationals lose, 2-0. We’re not the only team with problems.
So, with Beachy unable to start one of the Wednesday doubleheader games, it sounds extremely likely that Alex Wood will get that start. I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do!
Has Wood got his glasses situation worked out yet? They mentioned he was having trouble seeing at night.
Also, Simmons is leading off again.
39- Don’t worry. He wears his sunglasses at night.
I agree with Alex that both points are true. In a vacuum, Medlen does not make sense, but within the context of all the other factors, including how the organizatiion makes decisions, Medlen makes the most sense.
Beachy will eventually be back, so it won’t be a moot point soon. I personally would love a world where our starters put in 6 or 7 innings strong, and Medlen pitches two innings, and then to Kimbrel. Ballgame. Doubt that happens though.
Medlen’s best value is as a starter. If not for us, for somebody.
Personally, I like Sam’s idea (and reasoning). I love the promise of Alex Wood, but would rather have Maholm and Avilan as our lefties in the pen.
Full lineup:
Simmons ss
Heyward rf
J. Upton lf
Freeman 1b
B. Upton cf
McCann c
C. Johnson 3b
Pena 2b
Teheran p
No Gattis again.
Perhaps we should trade Evan for a player Fredi will use. Gattis is obviously of no use to the Braves.
Maholm has been a starter his entire career. Don’t forget that these are highly paid, very temperamental athletes. They don’t like role changes, and many of them refuse or resent demotions and role changes. For instance, last month it was being floated that BJ could be sent to the minors, but he could refuse the assignment. That was probably just to get his attention that if he doesn’t get his act together, changes would be made. However, the reality is if players don’t want to do something, they really don’t have to. BJ never went to the minors, and probably never will.
There are unwritten rules for major league players, and I’m sure one of them is that a veteran starting pitcher will never be sent to the minors (it at least doesn’t happen very often; probably a reason for that). Whether that’s fair/sensible/correct/best-for-the-team is irrelevant; it is what it is. I severely doubt Maholm or Hudson goes to the pen, even though they make the most “sense” (Maholm being a lefty option and Hudson being the poorest performer). The most likely scenario is Medlen gets sent to the pen because he’s the odd man out. He doesn’t have tenure, he’s not the highest performer (Minor and Teheran), and he’s been there before, so they know he can do it. Hudson and Maholm have not pitched out of the bullpen before, and there’s at least a fair degree of likelihood that they cannot adjust.
I would also argue that Medlen’s best value may be in the pen and still in the organization. If any starter goes down, then Medlen is right back in the rotation. Trading him away would be a short-sighted and potentially damaging situation.
Wow! What great problems to have. I wish, in some other universe, you could trade Medlen’s value as a starter relative to being a reliever to increase Uggla and BJ’s value. That’d be ideal.
Gattis still leads the team in WAR, by the way.
Have you seen any truth to analysts saying that Gattis’ simple presence on the bench has any impact on how pitchers and managers make decisions? For instance, even if you never use Gattis, his presence means that the opposing manager may not bring in a lefty, the opposing pitcher will give the #8 hitter better pitches to hit because the pitcher’s spot is due up, and Gattis could easily be called on to pinch-hit.
Has anyone seen a clear example of this in a game? I’ve seen where Fredi has essentially been given a free baserunner because he knows Gattis will be walked if he pinch-hits. That’s definitely valuable. When there were runners on first and second, and a wild pitch meant that Gattis was then intentionally walked definitely would not have happened with Pena or Schafer at the plate. I suppose that’s one example.
Think what it’d be if he started two games in five, Bethany.
Due to the overlapping of good players currently on the roster, there are numerous players that I think the Braves should shop at the deadline for the sake of the future. Set the price at unreasonable and settle on high taking major league ready infield prospects in return. I’ve grown weary of seeing Gattis sit in place of McCann while McCann could legitimately get us a top prospect in return. Packaged with Maholm, the sky is the limit for a return. I can already hear the rebuttal explaining why it’s a stupid idea, but looking at arb numbers the next few years, we are going to need cheap, major-league ready talent these next 2 years. It’d stupid to shop McCann if Superman wasn’t his backup. I dislike the cautious approach and I’d rather see some risk taken at the trade deadline than to see the Braves franchise start to crumble in 2016.
I read the game thread, and the sense I get is that we won a game that no one would have thought we had a chance of winning.
To be fair, this describes any Braves win in which we trail at any point.
@46, Not to mention a not insignificant part of the fanbase is very enthusiastic about him and likely coming to the park to see him play. To not even see him pinch-hit must be disappointing.
@49 – It isn’t always better to acquire a prospect rather than a draft pick. But it usually is.
It is, however, better to win the god damn World Series than just about any other thing I can think of.
No Gattis again? What the hell!?
Put him in LF, for crying out loud. At least he won’t look at strike three.
You’re going to trade McCann for one of two things, and you have to decide which one is better: at the deadline (or before) for a prospect or at free agency for a draft pick and a better chance at the 2013 World Series. I think both scenarios are pretty balanced. I’d learn towards holding onto him, getting Gattis more playing time (Heyward’s improved play does make that more challenging), and having a stud DH in the World Series and during interleague play. That’s significant value that you waive if you trade McCann. There are some really smart, World Series-winning managers who heavily value roster flexibility.
Does anyone think there’s any chance Gattis becomes less effective if used permanently? There have been plenty of players who come down to earth as every-day players. Any chance that happens with Gattis?
Sure would have loved to have the pick that landed Mike Trout rather than a summer of Casey Krotchman.
If you’re in first place, or if you within striking distance of it, you aren’t trading any major pieces for prospects. If you do, you, and all your associates should be fired, and they ought to sell tickets to watch your execution in shallow centerfield.
You trade prospects to win Major League games. You don’t trade STAR major leaguers to rank higher on offseason organizational rankings on Baseball America.
The fact that I’m writing this just makes my head hurt.
You trade stars for prospects when you have no use for them, not just because it’s PROBABLY better than a draft pick, but not definitely.
Talk about taking a called strike three..
@45, that’s sort of true until it isn’t. Look at John Lannan, for example. He was arguably the Nationals’ ace for at least a couple of seasons after they moved to Washington — and then they sent him to the minors and unceremoniously dumped him, because ultimately all he is is a slop-tossing lefty who’s fringy on the best of days and frequently looks like he’s about to get killed. Maholm is better than Lannan, but not by much.
You’re absolutely right that political considerations matter, but If Maholm got bombed in a couple straight starts, it would be much easier for the Braves to tell him that he’s moving to the pen to be a sixth starter/long relief/LOOGY.
Anyone arguing Medlen’s best value to the Braves is in the bullpen should be ignored.
@55 I think he’s earned the chance to see what happens, but I’m not the manager.
Is it a given that McCann will net us a draft pick when he walks?
@jj your “passion” is 2nd to none 😂
What JJ said. The point is to win the damned World Series. You don’t play to accumulate praise from Keith Law.
Carlos Marmol gives up 4 in the 9th for a Muts walkoff. I’m so glad I’m not a Cubs fan as my disgust for Marmol would be like taking my disgust for Reitsma, Francoeur, and Kolb and multiplying it by 10.
@Sam
Yes, that’s my whole reasoning behind my statement. It has absolutely nothing to do with keeping a mid-market team competitive for years to come.
The Braves have a good chance to play deep into the playoffs in 2013. You don’t punt Brian McCann for prospects when that is the case. No prospect is going to contribute more to the goal of a World Series title than will Brian McCann.
Pastornicky went deep today and now has a .314/.356/.437 slash line.
Terdo also went deep, his 14th of the year and now has his OPS back over .900
Gah, I really wish Terdo could learn to play third. A real shame.
Adam, I don’t think I’ve read anyone saying that his best value is in the bullpen. What I am saying is in the collection of the 6 options to the bullpen, Medlen is the most likely person to go. It’s based on several factors that have nothing to do with whether or not Medlen “deserves” to be in the bullpen or where he’s best. I think it’s going to boil down to what is “best for the team,” based on the criteria the Braves employ. I’m trying to predict the future, not tell Fredi how to manage his club.
I also agree the organization could be proved right if a soft-tossing lefty implodes. It would also be easy if Maholm doesn’t pitch well to tell him he has to go to the pen. But until then, I think Medlen is in the pen. Doesn’t make it right.
Feeling down? Open a second browser window and play Yakkity Sax while watching the video highlights of the Mets-Cubs game today. It synches up, like, perfectly, dude!
I think there’s a better debate to be had regarding the relative virtues of trading any potential free agent for prospects versus taking the draft picks, than this debate of this specific player on this specific team.
Keep in mind that draft budgets now are based on the actual picks you have. More, better picks means a bigger budget to spread out.
When you look at how close those propositions are, (a single $20 scratch off ticket, versus twenty $1 scratch offs) the decision to try to win the World Series instead of just making the playoffs and crossing your fingers, is just so obvious.
Being competitive has never been the point. The Dbacks are competitive. The Giants win World Series. THIS is the chance you’ve been building for. THIS is a championship caliber team, this is what you would be HOPING to develop with those prospects. You already have it.
You can’t take your foot off the gas because you’re already in a position to place. You stomp it to the finish and try to win it. That’s all there is.
I have serious reservations about any type of mortgaging the future for a team counting on Uggla, BJ, and Heyward.
Don’t really like the idea of weakining this team now for the future. You play to win now, not next year. Ask Washington how tht is working out for them.
Why would you trade Maholm rather than make him a LH reliever?
I was thinking about the cost savings from trading him, if we need to fill other needs. But looking it up, that’s not all that much, and Maholm, as bad as he’s been, is still likelier to help us win than whoever comes up if Alex Wood can’t do the job.
Jason Heyward, BJ Upton, and Dan Uggla are the only players on the team that have a lower BABIP than Evan Gattis. So what we’ve seen from Gattis thus far has been a slump. Yikes!
When JUpton (or Freeman or Heyward or BUpton)’s not hitting, it would be nice to give Gattis a start or three.
Also, I’m glad to see Pena getting the start tonight for Uggly, although I wish he were hiting leadoff rather than my favorite player Andrelton.
Bethany, I was finally able to visit my PO Box after a long trip to Texas and found my Eephus League scorebook waiting for me. It’s a thing of beauty and has made a wonderful Father’s Day gift for my dad. Thank you!
So glad you got it and in time for Father’s day, John! I hope he enjoys it.
Got to break it in with a nice Teheran K.
Better frame that scorecard. Rare is the game in which Andrelton draws a walk.
Man, Jason scorched that.
Damn, thought Justin had that one.
You’ve got to be kidding me. The past two games have been exactly like this.
Burn in hell, Blanco.
Freddie does it again!
But Freddie eases our pain.
And there’s a run. Nice job Freddie!
Way to go, Freddie. It would have been criminal not to get something from three impressive swings this inning.
And an Upton has to stare at a called strike three (although it did look a bit outside).
I have grown weary of the Upton brothers looking at strike three then whining about it to the umps.
Yes, ma’am.
Feels great to be back watching the Braves with the good folks here on Bravesjournal. I thought this summer was going to slow down and I’d be able to watch a lot of games. Silly me for thinking.
@75/76: Oh, man, I haven’t gotten mine yet! Can’t wait! (And those E shirts are the bomb, Bethany.)
I’ve had a pretty busy last couple of days and haven’t been able to watch the games or post here, so I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone for saying such kind things about my Braves Journal debut the other day. I had butterflies, so that felt extra nice. 🙂
@55: I’m probably in the minority, but yeah, I’m not yet ready to say for sure that we should write Oso in as next year’s starting catcher and wave a fond Sayonara, Dude to BMac. SSS and all that; we don’t yet know what would happen if Gattis were given a starter’s playing time.
At the moment I’m still a proponent of making a serious good faith effort to re-sign Brian. I think we shouldn’t underestimate the appeal to a local boy of following in Chipper’s footsteps for a while longer (last season he talked constantly of the impression on him seeing Jones finish his career with the team that drafted him had). I’m not suggesting McCann is likely to do that, given his position and age, but I’m guessing he’s not quite ready to leave his hometown team just yet. (And I have it on good authority from a mutual friend that he plans to make his best friend his agent before he starts negotiating.) I’m not saying it’s a slam dunk, but to my mind, if he continues to play as well this season as he has thus far, a three-year deal for decent money or a four-year deal for less per year, with a reasonable fraction deferred makes some sense. I’d love to see the Braves keep both players for a while longer.
I love McCann, but I have serious reservations about how he’s going to age, and I don’t think i’d want to pay him the big bucks for longer than 2-3 more years after this one, which of course isn’t going to cut it. He needs to go to the AL where he can be a DH.
@92 Yeah, I don’t really disagree. For me a fourth year would have to involve substantially less average money per year. I don’t see Brian settling for a two-year deal, though. Maybe they can make a three-year deal work.
Chris Johnson keeps the pumpkin at bay!
BABIP!!!
Pena puts them in scoring position for the second best hitter on the team, haha.
WTF is Schilling talking about?
Also, tonight would have been a good night for Uggla to play, considering the Lincecum’s wildness.
Oh, and Simmons sucks. Fredi is brain dead.
Simmons practically hit that one off the ground.
There are few things you can count on in this day and age. But one thing you can always count on is, Andrelton Simmons will try to do too much.
95 on that fastball.
@100 Perhaps, but I think that within a year or two, Simmmons will be a very valuable hitter (in addition to his obvious defensive contributions).
Really like Teheran throwing this 2 seam at 95.
95 Fastball
82 Change Up
Thanks Frank for holding on to this one.
@102 – You just might be right, and I hope you are. But so far he’s been Yunel Escobar without the walks, and the walks are a huge chunk of Yunel to be missing.
He’s got a couple of things in common with Escobar, really. He’s a great defender who everyone expects to hit, and when he’s on the bases, he’s the dumbest player on the field, and he’s convinced he’s the smartest.
Do you guys think Justin is hurt?
@102, 105 – Though, to be more fair, Simmons will NEXT year be the age Yunel was as a rookie, so, you just might be right.
105- At least he doesn’t have *frosted tips* or generally make an ass of himself off the field. We can deal with the learning process.
Maybe BJ really is snapping out of it this time!
Finally a rocket lands!!!!! Great job BJ!!!
Nice swing, Bupton.
BJ with a nice hit! And some Justin looking defense out there in left. Nice!
Is that actually a sign of life??
Chris Johnson, make ’em pay!
@105, How is it he thinks he’s the smartest guy on the field?
Dammit Chris.
Pumpkin.
In an alternate reality, that’s a really exciting inning where we put the game away and send Lincecum to the showers!
@108 – He certainly hasn’t flipped off any official scorers, or decided to just abstain from fielding any groundballs, or written any slurs on his face or equipment.
He has said stupid bragadocio stuff to reporters about the Nationals and has posted sexist pictures of women on Twitter. Both of which are not close to the way Yunel acts, but, he’s the only guy on this team that would do either of those things.
He’s not a very likable guy so far. So, I reserve the right to call him my least favorite Brave, even while I acknowledge enjoying his defensive wizardry.
@114 – Rounding bases hard for no reason, throwing the ball behind runners who he clearly has no shot at throwing out, feigning that he’s going to steal a base because no one is paying attention, when in reality time has been called.
He’s that guy who bounces up and down the line when he’s leading off third, and then gets himself thrown out by 15 feet on a chopper back to the pitcher.
Braves have stranded 7 runners through 3. The bottom of the order is killing them right now. (I now consider the lead off spot to be the bottom of the order, since Fredi treats it that way)
Posey must be hitting .180 vs. the rest of MLB. .314 overall.
We just can’t get Posey out.
Andrelton’s Twitter bio reads: “I am that guy who says he can do everything, but that’s just because I can.” It sums up the reason behind most of his mistakes: arrogance in the extreme. Confidence is great, but he needs a dash of humility, since he does not yet understand that there are limits to his skill. I thought his struggles in the wild-card game would provide that lesson, but he has obviously not learned it yet.
jj, you have that right. I will say unequivocally he’s my favorite current brave.
He’s just a kid. Maybe he’ll grow up.
@119, That sounds like a stupid kid expending a lot of energy. Hopefully that’ll get harnessed. But I agree that if he’s giving braggadocio-laced interviews, that’s not a good sign. He really hasn’t done anything yet, though maybe that white hot start he had before his injury has him convinced baseball is an easy game.
Fredi is causing us to nitpick the kid because he’s got him in a situation he has no business being in. Andrelton annoys me a lot but he’d annoy me a hell of a lot less if was batting 8th. He’s a brilliant defender and he’s still got a lot of time to grow, but he’s basically Jeffy at the plate and right now his stats are right in line with Agony, and who in the hell would have hit him leadoff?
Now I actually feel like Alex did lead off a few games while he was a Brave, so I just answered my own question.
@123, “Andrelton’s Twitter bio reads: “I am that guy who says he can do everything, but that’s just because I can.”
Ugh.
JUSTIN!!!!
OMG JUSTIN!
That was definitely not Justin-caliber defense by Justin!
YES! Great catch!
JUp got the memo.
Phew, great catch, Jupton. That one landing and scoring two runs wouldn’t even have been surprising after all the stupid lucky hits lately.
Good outfield defense that inning. Julio was lucky.
@125 – The thing that comes to mind, interview-wise, is even pretty mild. Some reported came to him with the “So, Danny Espinosa says he still thinks the Nats are the better team,” and he said “Well if they don’t think we’re the better team, we’ll just have to keep beating them til they believe it.”
Totally mild. But just, shut up. Don’t give reporters quotes. You’re a kid on this team, and you kind of suck. So, just shut up.
Superb defense all around that inning.
Yeah, that would have been a perfect Giants 2-run pop up. They’re the worst.
@137 – In their ridiculous park, that probably does fall.
At least we’ll clear the 10-hole this inning.
FREE Evan Gattis …
Can I just say that it’s awesome that Chipper Jones watches the games and tweets about them on Twitter? I love that.
Pena sucks too, by the way. The party is over with that guy. This would actually have been the game to play Uggla, what with his walk-rate and Lincecum’s wildness.
Alright Julio, straighten up.
Uggla is 0-13 with 2 BB and 6 K’s against Lincecum. Right or wrong, that’s your answer.
Of course, Tim Hudson is 2-2, so, if you’re apt to that kind of thinking, maybe he should be playing 2B.
I am legitimately scared to face Blanco in this situation. How pathetic is that?
And I’m sure a bunch of those ABs were probably against the guy Tim Lincecum used to be.
He has said stupid bragadocio stuff to reporters about the Nationals
What he said was basically the same stuff that we have said. That if the Braves keep beating the Nationals then maybe the Nats will think that the Braves are the team to beat. The “if” in that statement is what made it acceptable rah-rah belief in one’s teammates, rather than unacceptable arrogance.
He makes his share of rookie mistakes, and he’s a sophomore. But he’s still young and a good player who has a good chance to get better. I’m willing to cut him a great deal of slack.
My punk kid plays pretty good defense.
wow! CJ too.
My 11-month old has figured out how to turn down the sound on my home-theatre system. Now I need to teach her how to do this when Chip Caray has made some general offense against the tenets of baseball broadcasting and the English language.
@135: I don’t see how you can say he “kind of sucks.” The kind of defense he’s playing at shortstop right now could punch his ticket to Cooperstown if he were able to maintain it for 20 years.* He can’t hit a lick right now, but you shouldn’t mistake him for anything other than a great young player.
*I don’t expect he will. What separates Ozzie Smith from kids who make a big splash when they first come up then fade away is maintaining the craft for decades.
@147 – Certainly. My problem with it is simply that WE say those things, the players don’t. I think Andrelton is the only player on the team who would give that quote.
That said, I acknowledge that it’s mild. And I’m not trying to sell anybody here. He’s just my least favorite Braves. I don’t think it has to be rational. I’m am Atlanta Braves fan after all I’ve seen. I can’t think of anything rational about that.
Runs, please.
He has a chance to be Ozzie Smith. But Ozzie Smith learned to hit.
Lil Tony Pena was a defensive whiz shortstop with a cannon arm. He instead learned to pitch.
@152, I disagree. Chipper Jones would have said the exact same stuff, for instance. Now, it’s different when a veteran with a reputation for shooting his mouth off says it, as opposed to a young guy. But I don’t think Andrelton was showing up the Nationals. He was basically saying the equivalent of “Scoreboard” — you guys may have won the division last year, but no one in this clubhouse believes that we’re a worse team than you are.
Freeman is a hitting fool
Lovin’ Freddie right now.
I do believe that if Jason had run the whole way to first the way he did when he saw Lincecum was late covering, he would have been safe. No. Excuse. For. Not. Hustling.
I actually imagine Chipper Jones response would be more along the lines of “We feel the same way in this clubhouse.”
Actually, I think Chipper Jones would have said “They have the hardware, they deserve to feel that way. It’s our job to take it from them.”
EDIT: Not that there’s a way to prove what another person would hypothetically say, this is as close as I can come. Chipper on the Phils in 2011:
http://articles.philly.com/2011-03-28/sports/29354300_1_phillies-chase-utley-cole-hamels
We got 99 problems, but Andrelton Simmons ain’t one. What we need Andrelton Simmons do to for us might be a problem. But, we went into this season without a leadoff man by design. So far, we’ve survived.
This is why home runs are important. It’s really hard to string together a bunch of hits. Argh.
Seriously, I think Buster Posey is batting 1.000 against us in his career.
Frickin’ Posey.
I’d yank Julio.
Get ready, pen. Steady as she goes, Julio.
Here goes the lead. Way to capitalize on Lincecum’s wildness, guys.
Our bullpen doesn’t have enough quality to get through four tight innings against a disciplined lineup like this, especially if the Braves want Wood to start Tuesday.
Alright, now gimme a 6-4-3 and let’s hit.
EDIT: Okay, or a 3-pitch K. That works.
One more, Julio.
Teheran still has a little left in the tank. All the same, I’d rather not risk him in the seventh.
Play defense, Simba.
Andrelton has the unique capacity to make an incredibly valuable play and then one that could have been extraordinarily disastrous in the span of 1.5 seconds.
Seriously, “Nick Noonan” sounds like a paperboy in a 1930’s comic strip.
Also, helluva job there by Teheran. Send him to the showers and pat him on the ass, he pitched a great game tonight.
Whew.
Good job, Julio.
Whew.
Nice escape by Julio. Runs, please.
Okay. Lets get it around to Teheran’s spot in the order so Fredi will pinch hit for him, rather than sending him out there for another inning because he’s-just-so-close-I-wanna-pinch-hit-for-him-AHHHH.
EDIT: Surprised we’re getting another shot at Lincecum here. Must be because he too is up first next inning.
Make Bochy pay.
He’s due third, so the PH is likely.
Oh my mistake, I thought he was due 4th. I need one of them scorebooks.
We’ve totally let Lincecum off the hook.
So far.
EDIT: Instant Pena’s gonna get you.
Let’s hear it for lazy left field defense!
OMG LUCK
Hustle, Pena!
Wow. That helps.
Big, big run. Need that run. Gimme that run.
How in hell do you miss that ball…
I was hoping they’d leave Lincecum in and he’d make a mess. Close enough I guess.
Beautiful.
Success!!!!
SUCCESS!!!!
Bunting sucks.
Success! with the suicide squeeze! (OK, that’s not something that’s always good to succeed at.)
Success!
I continue to be flummoxed at how opposing managers don’t seem to know that Fredi loves the suicide squeeze.
It’s almost like the Giants are doing what the Braves almost always do when playing the Giants — making stupid plays and letting runs score.
Well done getting a bat on that one, Success!
PLUS, we cleared the 10-hole.
Andrelton torched that ball.
Send him to the showers and pat him on the ass
Note to Fredi: maybe not the best idea to do the above in sequential order, but you get the idea…PH please 🙂
Thank you, Adam R. I needed that.
Incidentally, I was just about to ask why we wouldn’t have pinch-hit with someone capable of hitting a fly ball, but I guess I have my answer. That was an excellent job getting a bat on that ball by Schafer.
I wasn’t really aware that Papelbon’s contract was *that* stupid. Seriously, 13M per year?
@203 The Phillies’ entire contract situation is staggering. They have $97.5M tied up in five players for 2015 and $89M in four players for 2016. Papelbon is among those groups for both years, and his contract is as troublesome as a cloudy day compared to Howard’s, which is a Category 5 hurricane of problems. They need to sell patience while they re-stock their farm, but few fanbases are less pre-disposed to be patient.
Papelbon will be pretty tradable. There are several contending clubs — like Detroit — who feel the need for a “closer.”
Yeah, I bet the Tigers take Papelbon. But I’m not convinced Amaro will be willing to admit that he’s selling.
Ugh, Blanco.
I always liked Gregor, but he’s getting to be a pain.
Aside from Papelbon, the Phils don’t have many pieces that other teams are going to be really interested in – aside from Domonic Brown (who won’t get traded), the only ones which come to mind are Chase Utley ($16M in 2013, then FA) and Cliff Lee (whose contract is pricey enough to significantly dent his trade value – 13:$25M, 14:$25M, 15:$25M, 16:$27.5M club option ($12.5M buyout)).
Chris Johnson flashes the leather.
That’s the best play I’ve seen Chris make.
Time to pour champagne on each other, we got Posey out.
LOL…I’m pretty sure Chris Johnson fielded that with his eyes closed.
EDIT: John Kruk unfamiliar with the concept of us not re-signing McCann, apparently.
Kruk is apparently unaware that McCann is a free agent and that Gattis is a rookie.
Walden for Hanson’s working okay for us. How’s Tommy doing?
I’m still fascinated by the announcers’ shock at the squeeze after Fredi punch hit Schafer, not Gattis, with Pena on third.
I’m pretty sure that {the set all things} is equal to {the set of all things that John Kruk is unfamiliar with}.
I’m still fascinated by the announcers’ shock at the squeeze after Fredi pinch hit Schafer, not Gattis, with Pena on third.
Sorry about the double post – smart phone glitch.
Tommy Hanson is 4-2 in 45 2/3 innings, 3.94 ERA, 5.03 FIP, 6.11 K/9, 2.96 BB/9, 1.58 HR/9. So he’s still living on a razor’s edge and driving people crazy while just barely surviving. Average fastball is 88.3 mph.
I’m never surprised by announcer silliness, but it still blows my mind that managers haven’t caught on yet. Fredi seemingly tries some form of squeeze in about 80 percent of those situations. If I’m an opposing manager, I’m pitching out in those situations…a lot.
No Gattis again.
EDIT: well, unless Pena gets on, which won’t happen.
More pumpkin averting for CJ.
Well, Gattis did make it to the on deck circle, so the fans can’t say they didn’t actually get a White Bear sighting.
Where’s the Bear?
Oh well, at least we get to use Kimbrel in this high pressure save situation.
224- The Literal Genie strikes again: we wanted to see Gattis and we did. Maybe we should specify that we want to see him hit.
Thanks, AAR. I wish him well but am glad not to have to watch him pitch.He wore me out.
Kimbrel is being his beautiful self tonight.
The one thing Hanson had going for him last year, his K rate, has also now disappeared.
Is he going to strike out the side on 9 pitches?
Edit: No. He’s done it before, though.
Kimbrel just hit 99.
Opposing basestealers are 14/15 against Hanson in those 45 2/3 innings. That was always my favorite.
Kimbrel hates the Giants too.
WOOOO! So glad they pulled out the series win.
I’ll take a 2 out of 3 series against the Giants.
Ballgame!
Teheran and the bullpen did the job, and the offense did enough to earn its keep. That’s a formula I can live with.
Good game. Bring on the Mutts. Maybe there will be a Gattis sighting during the series.
Fredi said that Gattis is going to start one of the DH games and also the day after.
Well, Kimbrel was certainly filthy tonight.
Kimbrel rested and ready. Credit the losing streak.
That was the full Kimbrel tonight. Great performance by Teheran, too. Solid win all the way around.