Braves Journal

Whipping Boy needed

22 May

Let’s get Willie Randolph fired game thread: Mets at Braves, May 22

Also, let’s deck someone. I’m not saying that their pitchers are throwing at our guys… but they aren’t trying very hard to not hit our guys.

And remember to Vote Kranepool.

221 Responses to “Let’s get Willie Randolph fired game thread: Mets at Braves, May 22”

  1. 1
    'Rissa Says:

    Mac,

    Thanks for posting when a new thread is up. That really is helpful. And, we have a long way to go to get Kranepool closer to the top…

  2. 2
    Remy Says:

    “Vote early and vote often.”

    –Al Capone

  3. 3
    Mac Thomason Says:

    Generally, the game threads will be posted at 2 PM (CT) for a night game and 8 AM for a noon or noonish game. If it’s a west coast game it would go up around 5, maybe.

  4. 4
    Mac Thomason Says:

    And I’m not always online (these things are written ahead of time) so I may not always be able to say “game thread up”, particularly when it goes up in the morning.

  5. 5
    ububba Says:

    A perfect video for many, many reasons.

    On the Mets site, I voted for Mr. Met, actually.

  6. 6
    Smitty Says:

    How did HO JO not get on that list?

  7. 7
    Douglass Says:

    http://server3.uploadit.org/files/Satchel-metslol.jpg

  8. 8
    bwarrend Says:

    In a division where every game counts, any retaliation will probably happen late in today’s game. You don’t want to risk having Hudson tossed, and you don’t want to give the Mets an opportunity to injure one of your players. If they are up in the top of the 9th, there’s gonna be a Met going prostrate after a pop to the kidneys.

  9. 9
    Another Alex R. Says:

    Vs. left-handed starters, we’re 8-10; vs. right-handed starters, we’re 17-11.

  10. 10
    Stu Says:

    Yeah, Robert noted that toward the end of the previous thread, AAR. It’s actually not as bad as I would have guessed.

  11. 11
    Another Alex R. Says:

    I missed that, Stu.

    By the way, since Mac noted the relative ERA+ leaders, here are the OPS+ leaders: our team OPS+ is 120, while the Cubs’ is 115, the Cards’ is 114, and the Diamondbacks’ is 103. In all of baseball, we’re second only to the Red Sox, whose OPS+ is 121.

  12. 12
    MGL Says:

    Great comment from Metsblog –
    “Wow… they scored seven runs and held the Braves to twenty three. Great effort fellas.

    The didn’t lose three to the Braves. They were jumped, beaten, robbed, urinated on and left in the gutter for death.”

  13. 13
    ububba Says:

    Well, we got one shake left.

  14. 14
    Robert Says:

    The question is, as Braves fans, do we want Randolph fired? If they get rid of him they might accidentally stumble into someone good.

    I don’t want to run into another Steve Lavin situation here. Lavin held UCLA back for years and years but then when those Gutty Bruins finally bottemed out, they went out a got Ben Howland.

  15. 15
    Cliff Says:

    I don’t think Willie is the Mets problem. He probably could be a good manager in a stable situation.

    Minaya, on the other hand, for what he has spent and what he has traded and gotten back in trades and the length of these contracts. Whew!

    Pedro Martinez, Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado, Paul Lo Duca (how much they paid, and how little they got),. Bannister for Burgos. It goes on and on.

  16. 16
    Cliff Says:

    Continuing on our “staying power.”

    As of about a week ago, the difference in our OPS gained and OPS allowed was almost 100 points. That is moving into what I see the “stat heads” call “third order statistics”. Meaning wins and losses are based on runs scored and runs allowed. Runs scored are based on offensive ops stats (net of “base running”) and runs allowed are based on strike outs, walks, homeruns.

    I wonder if anybody here knows how to find this stuff. But I believe a 100 point OPS differential mean a lot more than a 100 win season (like our “second order” pythag projection).

    All that to say, this team’s “parts” are awfully good.

  17. 17
    Cliff Says:

    Offensively, I had Esco, McCann, Kotsay, and Chipper below where they have been. I think Esco, McCann, and Kotsay are sustainable at their levels. I hope Chipper is, but I had him for a 1.000 OPS anyway, but less games.

    I had Frenchy, Teix, Diaz, (KJ slightly) below where they have been.

    I had Infante, Blanco, etc. about where they have been collectively.

    This team should actually score more runs than they have so far. That could offset a mild pitching regression.

  18. 18
    Mac Thomason Says:

    The two defining moves of the Minaya regime were the Delgado trade and the Beltran deal. Both were obviously short-term thinking with long-term consequences at the time they were made. They didn’t give up much of anything to get Delgado, but the size of his contract and his age and body type made it, well, not inevitable but extremely likely that they would be playing a boat anchor at first base by 2007. (As I never tire of pointing out, I was mocked for saying this in 2005 — “He isn’t like Mo Vaughn at all!” — but who’s laughing now?) And while Beltran is a great player who had one great year for them and one good one, he’s going to be 34 at the end of his contract and his skills are obviously eroding — not as fast as Andruw’s, but he’s getting there. His style of play made this, again, not inevitable, but likely. So as soon as they get rid of Delgado, they’re probably going to have to deal with another highly paid player in decline.

  19. 19
    Stu Says:

    I’d say the Pedro signing is an equally defining move of the Minaya regime, Mac, but the flaws associated with that one are just like those of the two transactions you mention.

  20. 20
    Mac Thomason Says:

    Well, since Pedro came after Beltran, it’s not a “defining” move, but it’s true that it’s another potentially crippling contract. In this case, it was for a still-valuable player who was clearly in decline already, and an injury risk, a deal that made no sense unless it won you the World Series now.

    From 2006:

    They keep signing old guys. Yeah, they’re good old guys, but the thing is that old guys tend to stop being good in a hurry. Carlos Delgado is a terrific player, but he’s a similar physical type to Vaughn and is a year older than Vaughn was when his career collapsed. They only have one really good pitcher, and he’s fragile. Maybe they make it through the season, but I wouldn’t count on it, and after 2006 the team will be right back in the same hole, a bunch of old guys they’ve made long-term commitments to dragging down one or two players still in their prime years.

    They made it through the season, barely, and then collapsed in the postseason. The next year, they collapsed down the stretch. They’re just getting it out of the way early this year is all.

  21. 21
    Mac Thomason Says:

    Furthermore, they already had a player who was 90 percent of Beltran in center (Cameron) and a hot prospect to replace him (Milledge); the signing of Beltran was more about making a splash and Minaya’s Latin Plan than the needs of the team.

  22. 22
    Lunatic96 Says:

    Speaking of overpaying, does anybody think Johan Santana is going to be worth 20+ million a year in 2013?

  23. 23
    Dan Says:

    Who here believes that batting order realistically effects a player’s preformance? I see now today that DOB has adopted the Joe Simpson line in regards to Kelly Johnson batting seventh instead of leadoff.

  24. 24
    drewdat Says:

    I think it can if you let it change your approach. A leadoff hitter might be encouraged to take more pitches, for instance. Of course, KJ does that anyways, but maybe he prefers less responsibility lower in the order.

    Or, he might have just been slumping before, and now he’s seeing the ball well.

  25. 25
    ububba Says:

    I’ve actually had Robert’s question on the brain a little bit today. “After Willie, what?”

    And, to borrow a phrase, “Is it good for the Braves?”

    While it’s possible that a new Mets manager could improve their fortunes, it may not be something worth worrying about.

    Why? I’m not sure that team (as currently constituted) is good enough to go far, even if they had John McGraw kicking them in the pants every day. The Mets should contend, yes; but a scary team that should run away with the division? No way.

    And then there are the real-world “intangible elements,” to borrow a worse phrase. The manager, GM & ownership are not on the same page. There’s a genuine division in the clubhouse between players. Some of the players can’t stand Willie.

    Then there’s the angry fan element, which is the most vicious thing I’ve ever seen up here. Going to Shea these days is nothing approaching “fun at the ol’ ballpark.”

    Since last September, the Met fan remains steaming mad. They’ve taken it all too personally. Right now, they’re looking for people to take it out on. Right now it’s Willie and, if they don’t improve after he gets canned, it’ll be Omar.

  26. 26
    Dan Says:

    my sense, from a lot of people, from fans to people in media to people in baseball, is that, if the Mets lose tonight and end up being swept by the Braves, willie will be in serious, serious trouble…honestly, i have not talked to any one in the know since Monday, when most discussions centered on his comments, not his job security – so i have no idea where he stands…my hunch, though, is that he’ll get at least through Memorial Day

    http://www.metsblog.com

  27. 27
    Another Alex R. Says:

    I’m gonna go ahead and defend Omar Minaya for a moment. He’s not the greatest GM, but he’s been pretty good. He was told to go spend money and build a World Series contender, and he spent money and pretty quickly built a league contender, one that should have gone to the Series in 2006 and had the playoffs all but wrapped up last year.

    Delgado is hurting them now, but he gave them some good PT, and all he costs is money at this point. Obtaining John Maine for Kris Benson was brilliant, and Oliver Perez appears to have been a very good pickup as well. Old guys like Orlando Hernandez have been good for them when healthy, as has Moises Alou. And, of course, Johan Santana was a steal, though that was mostly Bill Smith’s incompetence rather than Minaya’s brilliance. Billy Wagner has been very good for them, at least on the field.

    The trouble is that even though many of these old guys don’t cost anything — Luis Castillo, say — they wind up playing anyway, and doing terribly. And the farm system is bone-dry. Still, this is the best sustained run the Mets have had since the turn of the century.

  28. 28
    Stu Says:

    Still, this is the best sustained run the Mets have had since the turn of the century.

    Ha. You make it sound like that’s a long time.

    To paraphrase: This is the best 3-year stretch the Mets have had in the past 8 years.

    I mean, I guess that’s good, and I agree that Minaya has overall been relatively good for the Mets, but he hasn’t been much above average, IMO.

  29. 29
    Stu Says:

    I guess that’s rephrasing, not paraphrasing.

  30. 30
    j-rod jones Says:

    Anybody remember Soriano last year or this past offseason stating that he either wanted to be a starter or be the closer? I know he came up as a starter with the Mariners. With Smoltz’ move to the bullpen and the overall good performance we’ve seen from the guys already there, anybody think that it wouldn’t be a bad idea to give him some starts in the minors and get his endurance up to possibly join the rotation at some point this year or next?

  31. 31
    The Second Spitter Says:

    I had thought about that too, but if he’s having elbow problems, throwing 70-100 pitches every 5 days may not be the best thing for him. Closing, he might only throw 20-30 pitches every 2 or 3 days.

  32. 32
    The Second Spitter Says:

    Good news from DOB:

    The OTHER BIG NEWS: Smoltz threw to hitters on the field, Kotsay and Norton and 3-4 other guys. Very impressive from the three-quarters arm slot. His slider has a different look from there, as does the change-up. And he was throwing plenty hard.

    Gonna see how he feels tomorrow, Cox said, before deciding anything else.

  33. 33
    ububba Says:

    Speaking of relying on older players: Mets put Moises Alou on the DL (again) today.

  34. 34
    Dan Says:

    Chipper playing today, Omar Infante still at shortstop and leading off for some reason, and Kelly Johnson batting eighth.

  35. 35
    barrycuda Says:

    are you sure that was Moises?……….first time i saw him last night, i thought it was Felipe.

  36. 36
    Smitty Says:

    Is Ryan Church playing?

  37. 37
    Robert Says:

    Say what you will about Willie but at least he understands the idea of batting your best hitters at the top of the lineup. We’ve got Infante and Kotsay vs a lefty.

    Moving Kelly down has worked so well, let’s hit him eighth! Maybe against Randy Johnson we can bat him ninth.

  38. 38
    Robert Says:

    No he’s not. The Mets corner outfielders are again Endy Chavez (.157/.218/.176) and Marlon Anderson (.184/.216/.286). By comparison we’ve got Bonds and Aaron out there.

  39. 39
    ububba Says:

    Low-scoring game tonight?

    Just listened to a Mets radio interview with Chipper.

    He said he’d like to get some mementos of Shea Stadium before they tear it down, maybe a few seats from the place, and, as a Florida Gators fan, he’s always enjoyed an orange-and-blue motif anyway.

    Guess I can’t hold that against him.

  40. 40
    Dan Says:

    The Braves’ outfield; with Francoeur, Kotsay and Diaz/Blanco, may hit 30 homeruns combined by the end of the season.

  41. 41
    Robert Says:

    Chip Carey again! Awww, C’mon!

  42. 42
    Smitty Says:

    Oh this is bull shit! I’m not getting the game beacause of the SEC Tournament. Who fucking cares about SEC baseball?

  43. 43
    Dan Says:

    Great. Now I can hear “fisted” twenty times tonight and, if I’m lucky, hear about Hudson or Santana’s no-hitter in the third inning.

  44. 44
    Stu Says:

    I do, Smitty.

  45. 45
    Smitty Says:

    Well, outside Stu.

  46. 46
    Smitty Says:

    To let you all know. I have 2 CSPAN’s three spanish stations, two Cathloc networks, 2 shopping networks, and TBN.

    All this and no Brave tonight and No NFL Network.

  47. 47
    Stu Says:

    Oh, UT fans care when their team’s any good. It’s just been a while, so you may have forgotten.

  48. 48
    Mac Thomason Says:

    No Braves here either. It’s obvious — who could care about a Hudson-Santana matchup?

  49. 49
    Robert Says:

    That looks like the good Hudson to me.

  50. 50
    Mac Thomason Says:

    We’ll take your word for it, Robert, since you’re the only person not at the game who can see it.

  51. 51
    Mac Thomason Says:

    And apparently the Mets are willing to fail bunting just like we do!

  52. 52
    Mac Thomason Says:

    And it’s not often you see a game in late May where the pitcher’s average is higher than three other players in the lineup. The Mets are awe-inspiring!

  53. 53
    oldtimer? Says:

    huddy looked good.

  54. 54
    ububba Says:

    I get SNY here in NYC, so I’ll be able to see it when I get home.

    Let’s make Johan work.

  55. 55
    Robert Says:

    He ran all the way over there, you’d think he’d try to catch that.

  56. 56
    Robert Says:

    Wow, Marlon is an adventure out there.

  57. 57
    basil Says:

    Hit it to left field, boys, and I think we’ve got a chance.

  58. 58
    Dan Says:

    I can see it. I get PeachTree TV.

  59. 59
    Frank Says:

    Anybody else noticed the Mets unusual defensive technique–run really hard for a ball then let it drop right next to you? Exhibit A (for this game)–Marlon Anderson going after the foul pop.

  60. 60
    oldtimer? Says:

    oh oh, are the DP’s coming back?

  61. 61
    basil Says:

    @ 59:

    And did you notice the expression on Willie’s face in the dugout afterwards? Disbelief, I believe is what that’s called.

  62. 62
    jea Says:

    Say what you will about them, but Joe and Chip were funny about Anderson running over to the foul ball and watching it drop in front of him.

  63. 63
    ububba Says:

    Beltran always kills Hudson.

  64. 64
    oldtimer? Says:

    bombed that one.

  65. 65
    oldtimer? Says:

    s.o.b.

  66. 66
    ububba Says:

    Um, let’s have that sinker sink, Timmy.

  67. 67
    Dan Says:

    Tim Hudson looks bad. 2-0 Mets.

  68. 68
    Robert Says:

    Ok, so the Good Hudson only lasted one inning.

  69. 69
    jea Says:

    Evidently, Delgado kills Hudson too.

  70. 70
    Brick Tamland Says:

    To paraphrase Meat Loaf, three out of four ain’t bad.

  71. 71
    Frank Says:

    something we know already–Huddy’s got to keep the ball down or he has trouble

  72. 72
    csg Says:

    wonderul

    ESPN at 6:30 – Sportscenter 12th time today

    ESPN 2 – NFL Live

    TBS – rerun Everybody loves Raymond

    SportsSouth – In My Own Words

    Fox Sports South – ACC Tournament

    Hudson vs Santana – no where to be found except on Peachtree TV of course. Maybe 10-15 people outside the stadium will be able to watch this matchup – good planning guys!!!!!

  73. 73
    Douglass Says:

    both of those homeruns were the dreaded hudson fastball up in the zone…let’s hope this trend doesn’t continue.

  74. 74
    Mac Thomason Says:

    Do you think CSS understands sarcasm? I just sent them the following:

    Thank you SO very much for pre-empting the May 22 Braves game in order to show college baseball. I know that if I had the choice between unskilled amateurs attempting to play baseball using improper equipment and the best professionals in the world in a key matchup of division rivals, I’d choose the former every time!

  75. 75
    Robert Says:

    Well, Santana busted it down the line. Maybe that will help us.

  76. 76
    Douglass Says:

    You guys should talk to your cable operators and get them to patch through peachtree tv during the braves games only on a local access channel.

    I live in Alabama, and get all the peacthree games this way, commercial free.

  77. 77
    Bethany Says:

    Bleh, I can’t see the game either.

    Looks like Hudson is coming off of his early season high. Seems like the past few years he gets worse as the season goes.

    Nice, an error by the Mets!

  78. 78
    Douglass Says:

    Frenchy misses tying it up with a HR by less than 3 feet. D’oh!

  79. 79
    Dan Says:

    Diaz: 8 for 13 with one homerun vs. Santana now.

  80. 80
    Bethany Says:

    COME ON KELLY!!!

  81. 81
    jea Says:

    Wow. Randolph is going to get fired before the game is over if they keep making plays like that.

  82. 82
    Brandon Says:

    What just happened there?

  83. 83
    Robert Says:

    Well, that was an interesting way to play it.

  84. 84
    Bethany Says:

    Wooooo!!!

  85. 85
    Dan Says:

    Good job Kelly.

    Luis Castillo….four year deal…ouch!

  86. 86
    Douglass Says:

    Braves benefit from an absolutely moronic play by Castillo.

  87. 87
    basil Says:

    That looked like little league ball!

  88. 88
    MikeM Says:

    Hahahaha! Thank you Mr. Castillo.

  89. 89
    Frank Says:

    Castillo must want to keep the goat horns another day. He sucks. Schneider didn’t even try to get Tex at home.

  90. 90
    Bethany Says:

    Well, we got one.

    @76 I’m in Alabama as well, what is this magical channel you speak of?

  91. 91
    Frank Says:

    The Mets and Yankees must be trying to top each other in bad signings … I’ll see your Farnsworth and top that with a Castillo … but we signed Giambi for 8 yrs and 120m …

  92. 92
    Dan Says:

    Chip Caray goes out on a real limb, says he has recently come to think of Jose Reyes as the “most exciting player in baseball.”

  93. 93
    Bethany Says:

    Well, when you are bleeding money, it’s easier to be careless and make bad deals.

  94. 94
    jea Says:

    at 92: I thought he said “in the National League.” Now that Chip’s covering AL games also, I wonder if he has a new crush.

  95. 95
    Dan Says:

    Infante: leadoff blackhole.

    Joe Simpson still would rather have him bat leadoff than Johnson.

  96. 96
    Stu Says:

    I’d love to see some Lando sarcasm soon…

  97. 97
    Stu Says:

    Darn.

  98. 98
    sansho1 Says:

    An example of Chip Caray logic — to support his contention that Frenchy is a great run-producer with two outs, he mentions that 12 of his 30 RBI have come with two out. What’s so great about 12 out of 30? You’re going to have more runners on base with two out than none out (because with none out, you’re often leading off). So 12 out of 30 is probably on the low end of what you’d expect.

  99. 99
    sansho1 Says:

    On the other hand, he’s able to say that Ron Santo should be in the HOF as though it’s common knowledge and not worth discussing further. Which it is.

  100. 100
    Robert Says:

    It may be worth further discussion, but not by Chip and Joe.

  101. 101
    Mac Thomason Says:

    KJ two-for-two in the eight hole. Is it time to move him to ninth?

  102. 102
    Piers Says:

    I don’t know if anyone has posted these here, but I found this interesting:

    Francouer’s stats (by count):
    (AVG, OBP, SLG)

    Count 0-0 .323 .323 .419
    Count 0-1 .286 .273 .524
    Count 0-2 .143 .143 .190
    Count 1-0 .333 .333 .533
    Count 2-0 .000 .000 .000 (4ABs)

    After (0-1) .299 .347 .494
    After (0-2) .293 .326 .537
    After (1-0) .203 .278 .344
    After (2-0) .111 .304 .167

    He’s basically best when swinging at the first pitch (either putting it in play or going down 0-1) – I also find that After (0-2) stat incredibly odd as Chipper’s current line there is .222 .263 .389…

  103. 103
    Robert Says:

    It is. Clearing the pitcher’s spot is a lot less valuable when you bat your worst hitter first.

  104. 104
    Dan Says:

    Kelly Johnson is so going to get benched in favor of Infante in the first Braves’ game vs. a lefty with Escobar back.

  105. 105
    Bethany Says:

    Kelly’s numbers against lefties have been fine all year, haven’t they? He just wasn’t hitting them for power, but anything is better than Infante.

  106. 106
    sansho1 Says:

    I don’t think there’s much to that, Piers. BA with a 0-0 count just means you’ve put the ball in play on the first pitch — most hitters will hit .300 or higher when they put the ball in play.

    Conversely, every strikeout happens when you’ve already got two strikes…

  107. 107
    Jeremy Says:

    Hangin’ changeup and Chipper just missed it.

  108. 108
    ububba Says:

    Santana has only 59 pitches thru 5 IP.

  109. 109
    csg Says:

    same for Huddy also

  110. 110
    Jeremy Says:

    Runs, please.

  111. 111
    Jeremy Says:

    Lotta hard hit balls not finding holes.

  112. 112
    Jeremy Says:

    Infante butchers another.

  113. 113
    Stephen Says:

    Lets get some runs and a sweep…

  114. 114
    Jeremy Says:

    Good start. KJ 3 for 3.

  115. 115
    Stephen Says:

    KJ!

  116. 116
    AreJay in KS Says:

    No wonder the Mets are plunking people. The pitchers are hacked off that the fielders aren’t making plays.

  117. 117
    Bethany Says:

    Damn Kelley, will you marry me?

  118. 118
    Mac Thomason Says:

    Kelly must be benched now. There’s no way they can let this stand. Maybe they should use Corky to pinch-hit for him next time up.

  119. 119
    blake Says:

    sorry, but who does brian schnieder think he is? i hope we get a chance for a play at the plate so someone can just flatten him and laugh in his face

  120. 120
    Mac Thomason Says:

    A successful bunt! Astonishing!

  121. 121
    Catz Says:

    wow, we got a bunt down? ON 2 STRIKES?! what’s next, winning a one-run game?

  122. 122
    Jeremy Says:

    Get that run home.

  123. 123
    Bethany Says:

    What did Schnieder do?

  124. 124
    Jeremy Says:

    Bloop!

  125. 125
    Stephen Says:

    Infante!!

  126. 126
    Brandon Says:

    Best 1 for 20 against a pitcher ever.

  127. 127
    Mac Thomason Says:

    Man, Omar, you’re going to make Joe mad. You know you’re supposed to make a productive out in that situation!

  128. 128
    Dan (but not that Dan) Says:

    Bethany – he tried to play the tough guy and get in front of Hudson when Johan nearly beaned him.

  129. 129
    Mac Thomason Says:

    Actually, can some of you detail the Mets’ defensive miscues? Again, I can’t see the game.

  130. 130
    jea Says:

    Joe says Omar is a baseball player. That is good to know.

  131. 131
    Mac Thomason Says:

    I thought he was a welder!

  132. 132
    Bethany Says:

    Ugh, what an ass. Well, tie ballgame now, let’s get Santana out of there!

  133. 133
    jea Says:

    The Castillo miscue was a ball Johnson hit to deep second: he and Delgado went for the ball, and Santana covered first. Castillo, from the ground, chucked it home and the ball was far up the line, so the Braves scored their first run.

  134. 134
    Mac Thomason Says:

    What exactly does Schneider do, anyway? He can’t hit and he can’t field. Why is he playing?

  135. 135
    jea Says:

    They also showed a replay of Santana looking at Castillo, not believing where Castillo threw the ball.

  136. 136
    Bethany Says:

    Nice job Marky Mark!

  137. 137
    Jeremy Says:

    Well, if Davey Gold Glove Wright goes back to third on Hudson’s bunt, they have the runner by 10 feet. It was a hard bunt and Santana was on it in a hurry. Bad play by Wright.

  138. 138
    brule™ Says:

    GO SWEEP!! Captain Oh!! Our captain~~~

  139. 139
    Dan (but not that Dan) Says:

    Yay Chipper.

  140. 140
    Jeremy Says:

    Chipper is awesome.

  141. 141
    Jeremy Says:

    Nice catch by the Gold Glover at third.

  142. 142
    Stephen Says:

    Chippah!!

  143. 143
    Bethany Says:

    Woooo! And good job by Kotsay to get to third.

  144. 144
    Mac Thomason Says:

    And Willie Randolph’s managerial career fades away…

  145. 145
    basil Says:

    Most recent miscue: Kotsay would have been out at 3rd, but David Wright boots the throw.

  146. 146
    basil Says:

    the catch, I meant

  147. 147
    Dan (but not that Dan) Says:

    Yay Tex.

  148. 148
    Jeremy Says:

    Tex! Keep pouring it on!

  149. 149
    jea Says:

    Earlier, Beltran booted a ball, and they scored it a double for Johnson.

  150. 150
    Mac Thomason Says:

    I say pitch around Teixeira, try to get Francoeur to GIDP.

  151. 151
    Mac Thomason Says:

    Should have listened to me, Willie. I’ll miss you.

  152. 152
    Dan (but not that Dan) Says:

    Boo Frenchy.

  153. 153
    Brandon Says:

    That was a hell of a play by Santana.

  154. 154
    csg Says:

    yeah real happy I cant watch this one

  155. 155
    Jeremy Says:

    Francoeur is so clutch.

  156. 156
    Douglass Says:

    Man. I just did my happy dance after that inning.

    An absolute thing of beauty. Kelly gettin it started. Hudson’s 2-strike bunt. Kotsay runnin to third on the throwing error. Tex and Chipper coming through. Just beautiful.

    Now let’s finish these douchebags off!

  157. 157
    Mac Thomason Says:

    Seriously, I should have a consultant’s job or something. That was obvious.

  158. 158
    Bethany Says:

    So predictable.

  159. 159
    basil Says:

    And for those who didn’t see it, Hudson was visibly pissed when Santana threw up and in on Hudson’s bunt attempt.

  160. 160
    Stephen Says:

    Great play by Santana; better inning for the Braves.

  161. 161
    Mac Thomason Says:

    Two innings to go. Hudson at 87 pitches. Our bullpen is… well, they’ve done what they can, but they’re not in the best of shape right now. The only relievers I have any faith in right now are the LOOGYs, and they’re pretty much only useful against Delgado. So it’s still a ways to go.

  162. 162
    Douglass Says:

    Great play Tex there to bail out Hudson on that play for out one.

  163. 163
    HawkeyeFan Says:

    Whatever Frenchy is getting paid, he’s getting paid too much……he couldn’t just let Santana throw a few more pitches before grounding into the DP? Santana STILL has only thrown 90 pitches through 7 innings — let’ s hope Huddy has a little gas left in the tank.

  164. 164
    Bethany Says:

    I see a plunking in the very near future.

  165. 165
    Jeremy Says:

    Acosta’s warming up.

  166. 166
    Mac Thomason Says:

    Let’s just say that I hope we get a smart arbitrator for Francoeur’s case.

  167. 167
    Frank Says:

    a dp and a pop out for Frenchy–only needs a K for the trifecta–maybe time for another night off

  168. 168
    Mac Thomason Says:

    Anyone seen Lando?

  169. 169
    Stephen Says:

    Despite the way he pitched last inning, I am happy to see Santana go…Church continues to be a pain.

  170. 170
    Dan (but not that Dan) Says:

    Castillo doing his best Frenchy impression…

  171. 171
    Stephen Says:

    Huddy!!

  172. 172
    csg Says:

    100 pitches, let him finish it

  173. 173
    basil Says:

    Nicely turned double play.

  174. 174
    Bethany Says:

    Nice! We’ve turned some clutch DPs tonight.

  175. 175
    Mac Thomason Says:

    That was pitch 100, and probably the last. Good way to go out. Remember when Castillo was fast? I say Ohman should pitch the ninth.

  176. 176
    Stephen Says:

    Castillo will have to produce a lot of batwind to look like Frenchy

  177. 177
    c. shorter Says:

    wright will lead off next inning. can’t we have resop come in for one pitch?

  178. 178
    Mac Thomason Says:

    Okay, Acosta to Wright, then Ohman.

  179. 179
    Frank Says:

    no Boyer, Mac? :-)

  180. 180
    Dan Says:

    Tim Hudson for complete game.

  181. 181
    brule™ Says:

    Wow…I thought Double Play….

    I was writing this comment “Can Hudson make DP, PLZ? ” before castillo make it.

    I have a presentiment 100% came true until now :-)

  182. 182
    Stephen Says:

    Now that was a Frenchy imitation….

  183. 183
    Dan Says:

    Sweep these Metrosexuals right out of town.

  184. 184
    Brandon Says:

    What happens first, Stockman gets in a game, or he gets sent down to make room for one of the 3 DL’ed closers?

  185. 185
    Dan Says:

    If the Braves blow this, I blame Cox for removing a cruisin’ Tim Hudson.

  186. 186
    Mac Thomason Says:

    You suck, Manny.

  187. 187
    Brandon Says:

    Look who’s warming up…

  188. 188
    Dan (but not that Dan) Says:

    That was the luckiest thing I’ve ever seen.

  189. 189
    Bethany Says:

    Have I mentioned how much I hate Acosta?

  190. 190
    mraver Says:

    OMFG!

  191. 191
    Stephen Says:

    I hear a sweeping noise….

  192. 192
    Mac Thomason Says:

    How hard was it hit?

  193. 193
    Dan Says:

    Bobby Cox has before even worse than Tony LaRussa with the bullpen lefty-vs.-righty matchup thing.

  194. 194
    csg Says:

    Ill take luck on our side any day

  195. 195
    basil Says:

    Latest Mets miscue: Wright gets doubled up off of first on a liner by Beltran!

  196. 196
    mraver Says:

    And Ohman is the RIGHT move here (well, maybe Ring, but the LOOGY is the right play).

  197. 197
    Piers Says:

    Haha, DP – beautiful.

  198. 198
    Mac Thomason Says:

    Meanwhile, the freaking Marlins just won’t lose. It makes no sense.

  199. 199
    CourtneyC Says:

    so that’s supposed to be 2 hits off of Acosta but it’s 2 outs. (not that i’m complaining, but luck got the job done there, not Acosta)

  200. 200
    Dan Says:

    Before should be “become” in #193.

  201. 201
    Dan (but not that Dan) Says:

    basil – that was no miscue, it was a rocket

  202. 202
    CourtneyC Says:

    Is this a save situation?

  203. 203
    Dan (but not that Dan) Says:

    and Kotsay with a diving catch to end it. What a game.

  204. 204
    Mac Thomason Says:

    I really will miss Willie.

  205. 205
    mraver Says:

    Bahahahah!!!

  206. 206
    Stephen Says:

    SWEEP!

  207. 207
    Piers Says:

    Meanwhile, Mets fans are fed up with injuries and want to sign Barry Bonds….

  208. 208
    CourtneyC Says:

    How does the save rule work? Is it tying run in the batting box or tying run at the plate?

  209. 209
    mraver Says:

    Wow. This is the kind of series that would just kill me if I was a fan of the losing team. Especially that 9th inning. Should’ve been first and second, one run in no outs. Instead, OVER!

    Sweet win for the Braves!

  210. 210
    Piers Says:

    And the next Mets visit is in September – odds on Willie still being manager then? 5%? 10%?

  211. 211
    ububba Says:

    Sweep.

    Sweet.

  212. 212
    Mac Thomason Says:

    Tying run on deck, it’s a save.

  213. 213
    basil Says:

    @ 201

    Maybe ‘misfortune’ would be more accurate. It was beautiful to see, regardless. :)

  214. 214
    csg Says:

    Hamilton, btw, has 53 rbi’s and its still may. Geez!!!

  215. 215
    Phillip Says:

    Probably the best game all year & it’s the one time I can’t see it on TV. Thanks CSS!

  216. 216
    CourtneyC Says:

    Will Ohman… your new accomplished closer.

  217. 217
    Catz Says:

    Yeah… earlier this season I complained to the cable provider about not getting peachtree TV and now, they show braves games on C-span 2 whenever it is on peachtree tv. Who even watches c-span anyway…

  218. 218
    mraver Says:

    Almost makes me wish I’d started Ohman in the fantasy league!

  219. 219
    Robert Says:

    Very refreshing to see a manager manage as if the save rule and closer role don’t exist. That’s how it should be, go for your best chance to win not to accumulate stats.

    Big props for Bobby on the bullpen this year.

  220. 220
    Catz Says:

    You should see all the whining people over at Metsblog.com, a site which i’m sure you’ve all heard of…

  221. 221
    Mac Thomason Says:

    Recap is up. People who saw the game, feel free to fill in the gaps.

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