.500! Something we never saw last year!
If we’ve learned anything in the very young season, it’s that our lineup does not have league-leading power, but the pitching staff is going to keep us in most ballgames. Facing Noah Syndergaard and Jacob DeGrom, two of the best, the Braves offense did nothing. In 16 innings, the Braves had not scored one run. The good thing is our own guys, Julio Teheran and Bartolo Colon, matched them pretty well. Colon’s outing this time was particularly strong: 6 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 1 R, 6 K, his only blemish a wall-scraping home run by Jay Bruce. Otherwise, he was everything you thought a heavy-set 43 year old would be…
Matt Kemp was mostly our offense, finishing the night with three doubles, including the go-ahead 2-run double in the 12th inning. He has started the year with four straight doubles, with Nick Markakis the only other hitter tonight with an extra-base hit. We’re going places.
The star of the show was the bullpen, who was dominate from beginning to end. Ian Krol and Arodys Vizcaino contributed scoreless innings apiece, and in an interesting set of moves, both Jose Ramirez and Jim Johnson contributed two scoreless innings. Ramirez had some trouble with getting some runners on, but Johnson was his old self, registering 3 K’s and putting the Mets down. Aside from 7th inning in the first game, the bullpen has contributed 8 IP with no runs so far.
Jaime Garcia vs. Matt Harvey tonight. Get ’em.
thanks, Rob.
Friends passing
two smiles
Bartolo, you knew, no notion of guiles
De Grom, surely no, wild hair, all virility
contain it? he tried, did not have the ability.
Well done, Rob. Go Braves.
Great recap, Rob. Your optimism is enjoyable and almost infectious.
Had to laugh at your caveat at the end: “Aside from 7th inning in the first game…”
Just realized Evan Gattis has 102 career homers. That happened fast.
Peanut reports that we’ve signed Ryan Howard and sent him to purgatory, i.e. extended spring training.
Looks like Ryan Howard isn’t done killing the Braves yet.
6 — I laughed out loud at my desk. But now I’m weeping.
I’d rather have Howard come off the bench than some of the guys currently there.
Not bad signing Howard imo. Given his total lack of versatility I would have to think this will mean an end to the 8 man bullpen if we bring him up. Works for me.
Anybody see Iverson’s Sun Trust commercial? Just… stupid. Unnecsssary. Confusing. Struggling to find words. So bad.
If they signed Howard for no other reason than to keep him off of other rosters on which he might continue destroying the Braves (and only the Braves), it’s a big win.
@11, exactly my first thought. Post-apocalyptic-zombie Ryan Howard could still OPS 1.000 against these Braves.
@10: We talkin’ about commercials? Not a game. Not a game. Not a game. We talkin’ bout commercials.
Howard could manage at least a .750 OPS with some pop against right handed pitchers (never use him against a southpaw!). If so, he would be a far preferable pinch hitter to anyone the Braves can offer up now.
Well, we DFA’ed Uggla and then he hits a game-winning homer against us. I like the way you think, Stu.
Plus, if he can run into a fastball a few times this year, he’s already better than all other options for the 25th spot on the roster.
@6
funny!
Bravos are pickin’ it tonight.
Our offense is named Matt Kemp.
That was a healthy swing in the heart of Gotham.
Chip has called New York “Gotham” several times in this series and it’s starting to get on my nerves.
@18, I use it ironically to get a dig in on Matt “I Am Batman” Harvey, who started to get on my nerves a very long time ago.
But, yes, pretty everything that comes out of Chip’s mouth winds up grating.
6 runs on 8 hits in 3 innings so far from Blair in AAA tonight…hope the old guys stay healthy
Tim Tebow HOMERS in his first MiLB at-bat.
Well, Garcia was hanging in there for a good while.
Matt Kemp has a useful skill.
Nothing cheap about that one either. Go Kemp.
Good thing we decided to keep Roe and O’Flaherty.
Roe sucks
Fried was removed tonight after an apparent injury. no details, but doesnt sound very good. obviously
And I was like…
Fried injury might be a blister or something non-scary. He wasn’t holding his arm or anything like that.
All four Braves teams lost tonight. Sweet.
Bowman tweeted that it was lower back tightness.
Mama said, Rob.
@31 abundance of caution, one hopes
Luiz Gohara had a good start in Orlando. (Or Kissimmee?) 5 IP, 4 H, 0 BB, 7 K, 0 R.
According to Twitter, Gohara got up to 98-99, sat mid-90s, and says he throws 3 different sliders. That’s a prospect.
Folty’s pitching on a 1:05pm start. It’s a good day.
Recrapped.