The Atlanta Braves jumped to an early lead, and Manny Bananas shut the Natspos down. Then we had to play the second and the third. At the end of the third, Washington led 7-1.
After the first, Manny Banuelos was not good. Neither was the Braves defense. For the second game in a row, a Braves centerfielder misplayed a routine fly ball. Two different Braves third basemen made errors.
The Braves neither hit nor pitched nor fielded well. That they lost is no surprise. However, …
• The Braves’ Nicks have played well. Swisher may be at least a partial answer to next year’s left field question, and Markakis will do in right.
• AJP is the best catcher we have. It sounds like he wants to come back next year. That’s okay by me, as long as he’s backing up somebody not yet on our roster.
• Matt Wisler and Peter Moylan pitched well in relief. Sugar Ray Marimon had two balls booted behind him, but he was okay I guess. Edwin Jackson gave up two hits but got out of the eighth unscathed, so I guess he gets a pass.
The Marlins beat the Mets on old friend Martin Prado’s walk-off sacrifice fly. Miami understands the role of spoiler. The Braves are (pick one) inept, unapt, feckless, useless, pitiful, miserable, all of the above.
The Big Question: Can the Braves leave Philadelphia with the top pick in the 2016 draft in hand?
Re: krussell from the last thread
“I think the experts need to rethink the type of record a “replacement-level” team would have. I think we’re proving that a team full of AAA scrubs and washed-up vets is more than capable of playing .200 ball.”
Most of our players are not remotely replacement level. A replacement level pitcher is like 2015 Julio Teheran. A replacement level position player is like Kelly Johnson was for us this year.
You could argue, however (and I would agree), that the standard for replacement level used in pitching is too high.
Game Of Throneberrys.
That is perfect, spike.
As Casey Stengel once said of the ’62 Mets: “Can’t anybody here play this game?”
I’m glad that feckless made the cut.
@2 – Marvelous.
@2
{slow clap}
There are many current Braves with a great chance to be 30.
Two questions for the remainder of the season.
1) Has management made a decision about Fredi in 2016?
2) If not, could we lose enough for the remainder of the season that he would get canned? If so, what does that number look like?
I would imagine that, at some point, Fredi is going to need some wins by the end of the season. I’m honestly not sure if this team is just this bad, or if Fredi is at the helm of another collapse. This season’s been so hard to evaluate.
@7 – The front office has very clearly announced through their actions that they aren’t trying in the 2nd half, and I don’t see why Fredi should be held to a different standard than the people who created the situation.
I agree with those who think Fredi survives and that his extension sets him up as the fall guy when we punt ’16 as well. The only way I see Fredi getting canned in ’15 is if the aftermath of the fire sale was miscalculated by the front office and that they feel that for public relations sake that some useless and futile gesture be done on somebody’s part.
@1, yeah all I’m saying is that our 2nd half is the very definition of acquiring “replacement” players. You might argue that we didn’t try all that hard in our replacement effort, given the goal of losing at an epic pace, but still – I think this is pretty much how a AAA team would do in the majors. The bar is set too high for the stathead version of replacement-level.
@7, there’s not really much explanation for why he’s still here, other than Bobby Cox likes him. If that’s the case, then he’ll be here when WFF opens, barring a major shakeup at the very top.
As every businessperson can attest, when a management initiative fails you say you’re sorry and fire the janitor. I agree the plan was to fire him in 16, but there’s no way you can completely concede your attendance for next season and beyond if this keeps up much longer. They aren’t losing 4-2 every night – they are getting blown out and playing bad baseball while doing it. Personally,I don’t think the risen Christ could win with these bums, but there’s just too much pressure building to hold someone accountable for the poor product.
The vast majority of the fanbase wanted him out after the Dodger playoff series. It’s way too late to try to placate the fans. The fans are gone until we win again.
The scapegoat will be John Hart (if 2016 reveals that the pieces from the firesale are all useless).
Ryan Weber being promoted (demoted?) to the “big club”…
@10 – Agreed, the question that I don’t know the answer to is did the FO miscalculate how badly things were going to go, or were they expecting this, with an eye to the top draft pick? If the former, Fredi could take the fall, if the latter, then I suppose they stay with the plan.
I wonder if they still think that all this has been worth a couple of fringe guys and Olivera.
At 12, finally our sauces and seasonings partner will be available at the ballpark.
I think the stats are finally right on this stuff. The AP can’t get any of it right. It looks like they have the longest streak since the 1977 season with 15 in a row. I think I’m right that the longest in franchise history is the 1906 Boston Beaneaters with 19.
Dykstra’s on a tear in Rome. I shouldn’t be surprised. He was the best f****** player in the draft, and he should have been paid like it.
@16. Dykstra’s ‘tear’ is all BABIP. Wake me up when he can take a walk or hit the ball out of the park.
Damn Phillies won’t ever win.
@ 16/17
his BABIP
tends to flatter, to a degree
but his DNA
suggests they’ll soon put him away.
It’s still a tear, even if it’s unlikely to continue. He is still young and doesn’t strike out much.
I mainly just wanted to paraphrase what his dad said before signing as a mid-round draft pick.
Luke Dykstra
With the bat, a maestra
Or is it a maestro?
I suck at Italian, donchaknow.
Indians tweet: “The Indians SP started the frame by walking the bases loaded on 12 pitches, making him the first pitcher to do that since John Maine in 2010. “
Ted Turner’s still available to manage on Friday, right?
Who’s ready for the two titans (Braves and Phillies) to clash?
Gattis had 9 triples this year! 0 SB. Got to be some kind of record.
Not quite, I think the record is in the mid-teens.
Johnny Mize had 16 triples and no steals in 1938.