29 Apr
Dead ball game thread: April 29, Cards at Braves
Thought of the day: Casey Kotchman is basically a dead-ball era first baseman. He might as well be Frank Chance.
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Thought of the day: Casey Kotchman is basically a dead-ball era first baseman. He might as well be Frank Chance.
But we’ll never refer to Kotchman as our “Peerless Leader.”
April 29th, 2009 at 2:11 pm“These are the saddest of all possible words,
April 29th, 2009 at 2:13 pmYesco to KJ to Kotch…”
Better Frank Chance than Hal Chase….
April 29th, 2009 at 2:25 pmour gonfalon bubble is being ruthlessly pricked
April 29th, 2009 at 2:31 pmtalk about doing it all yourself
Gallardo’s line
7IP 1H 0ER 1BB 9K, 1-3 1RBI on solo hr
Mil up 1-0 on Snell in the bottom of the 7th
April 29th, 2009 at 2:33 pmRoss 2 run single marlins up 4-3 in 8th
April 29th, 2009 at 2:39 pm#5
Wow, that’s right up there with the Rick Wise game.
April 29th, 2009 at 2:47 pmI can’t do it. I can’t root for the Mets even when they’re playing teams ahead of us.
Does anyone know what’s really wrong with McCann’s eye?
April 29th, 2009 at 2:47 pmI think we are taking a real “Chance” by having Kotchman play first base.
April 29th, 2009 at 2:51 pmI think his Lasix surgery got “reversed” however that happens, and now he either needs new surgery or time to adjust to his new contacts….
April 29th, 2009 at 2:53 pm#7
I can’t either, I just don’t have it in me. Once they’re out of the race and playing spoiler (if that happens), I can root for them. But only then.
April 29th, 2009 at 3:00 pmOn Lasik,
I havehad one of the best eye refractin specialists in the world look at one of mine. Between the lines on what he would say.
Typically the eye adjusts after surgery. The WORST problem is if the cornea thins or msshapes at one area (kerataconus). At some point, the thinning rules out any further Lasik type procedures. Therefore, althought it is unlikley, a problem like McCann’s CAN be big.
IF the problem is like a keratconus, the corrective action is to use a gas permeable semi soft lens (it holds its correct shape rather than the eye’s incorrect shape). Those irritate the front of the eye much more than the “soft lens” out there.
My guess is he is wearing a “gas perm” to stabilize and adjust for slight keratconus. The “worse at night” is consistent with that. The back of a car looks like a Christmas tree.
April 29th, 2009 at 3:04 pmthere’s no way I could pull for the Mets either.
April 29th, 2009 at 3:09 pmGallardo had 11 k’s and hit a HR for the only run in a 1-0 duel against Snell today.
Gotta love it when the pitcher helps his own cause (well, unless you’re rooting for the other team… that just sucks).
April 29th, 2009 at 3:11 pmYou wouldn’t believe what’s being said on Metsblog right now. I’m not prude, but it’s really vile. I fear that one of these people will go on a shooting rampage at CitiField one of these days.
April 29th, 2009 at 3:12 pmThis Canizares looks like a hitting machine. I cannot believe some combination of platooning him and replacing him in the inning after he has an AB with Kotchman, if defense is that big a deal. If you have one hitter in your OF (Schafer), you need a bat at 1B. Casey just isn’t they guy, in the context of MLB 1B; he is doing everything he can and playing to his ceoling, and has an OPS+ of 98 (still below average for all MLB hitters).
April 29th, 2009 at 3:13 pmI missed the game thread being up… so I’ll repeat.
Well… I hope whoever is closing for the Fish can get his 3 outs today… Fish up on Mets 4-3 going into the bottom of the 9th and I’m headed home from work. If this were a Braves game (even though I have faith in Gonzo), I would be expecting to somehow lose it after I left work and come home to a heartbreaker.
April 29th, 2009 at 3:15 pm“The key to whole 9th inning is David F***ing Wright,no way around it.Now someone come on here and try to defend him!!!”
I’d take him off their hands…
we should publish a book of uplifting comments by metsblog commenters.
Like this gem: “excuse while i go vomit…what a bunch of pathetic losers..carlos delgado i have no respect for you..you better not be able to walk you fucking panzy. This team is shit.”
That cheered me up when I saw that.
April 29th, 2009 at 3:27 pmMarlins win 4-3. Mets had first two guys on in the 9th with walks; Wright struck out with runners on 2nd and third and pinch hitter popped up with the bases loaded. Not a happy time for Mets fans!
April 29th, 2009 at 3:27 pmBobby woulda won that game by having Wright bunt.
April 29th, 2009 at 3:29 pmI can’t even cheer for the Mets when they play the Yankees.
April 29th, 2009 at 3:43 pmThe Mets should have scored 8 runs with their offensivve production in that game. They had a HR, 2 triples, 11 hits 5 walks and a HBP and only scored 3 runs. You really have to try to limit yourself that few runs with that amount of offense.
April 29th, 2009 at 3:43 pmDavid Wright had 11 men LOB or something, that’s Francoeuresque to double up on french suffixes.
April 29th, 2009 at 3:57 pmKotchman is currently slugging higher than Teixeira. At least we have that.
April 29th, 2009 at 4:07 pmAlways nice when the Mets lose a game Santana starts.
The Met moaning about Wright has been going on since last September. He actually got booed the other night. It’s way early, of course, but right now he’s on pace for 200+ Ks.
And the only time I root for the Mets is if they’re out of the race & they can do our bidding. Of course, watch ‘em go down to Philly now & beat ‘em up.
April 29th, 2009 at 4:10 pmNor is Kotchman still a douche
April 29th, 2009 at 4:10 pmLet’s reserve judgment on that until Huddy weighs on the issue
April 29th, 2009 at 4:16 pmWell played, Frank!
April 29th, 2009 at 4:17 pmWright is killing the fantasy team…
This is why I semi-hate fantasy sports. My brain fights itself.
April 29th, 2009 at 4:24 pmWright’s not killing my team, but he’s not living up to his price tag, that’s for sure.
April 29th, 2009 at 4:26 pmEthan, know your roots man. A met on a fantasy team is nothing more than trade bait.
Im fine with having a below avg slugger at 1st. He’s giving us good defense, good obp, and a solid average. Kotchman doesnt look near as bad if KJ, Mac, and Frenchy are producing. We are expecting something out of Kotchman that just isnt there
April 29th, 2009 at 4:38 pm@29
Compared to what his backup, Mike Lowell, has been doing…the opportunity cost of playing him has been pretty high so far.
EDIT: csg, I know, I know… I was stuck with the third pick and felt forced to do it. Once the trade value is up a little though…he’s gone
April 29th, 2009 at 4:39 pmDigging the White Stripes excerpts Mac – another reason to root for a win streak!
Also really enjoy his work with the Raconteurs.
April 29th, 2009 at 4:39 pmJack White is a BAMF.
Ethan,
My league’s got room for two 3Bs—there’s a CI roster spot—and I’ve got a shallow bench, so Wright’s not stealing a better performer’s spot.
Wright and Jimmy Rollins are (by far) my most expensive players, and they’re both awful—but I’m in first place after 3 weeks.
April 29th, 2009 at 4:45 pmAwesome, another segue into a music discussion.
On an unrelated note, religion is bull.
April 29th, 2009 at 4:45 pmGuess we won’t be hearing any “This is Brian McCann for Woodhams Eye Clinic” ads anytime soon …
This has a chance of becoming really not funny.
April 29th, 2009 at 4:48 pmStu should have traded David Wright for Kosuke Fukudome.
In other news, Chone Figgins loves Mark Lemke and Jeff Blauser.
In a related development, I now like Chone Figgins.
April 29th, 2009 at 4:48 pmStu,
Yeah, I looked the other day. Kinda shocking how bad Rollins’s line is. My team has pretty much been carried so far by Manny and Adrian Gonzalez.
Kelly was hot…but now, well, we know how that story goes
EDIT: Just checked. Two more jacks today. Adrian Gonzalez is a bad, bad dude
April 29th, 2009 at 4:50 pmHilarity.
April 29th, 2009 at 5:01 pmBy the way, I know how we feel about MetsBlog and Mets fans in general, but I think we’ve all felt the way Matt Cerrone feels:
April 29th, 2009 at 5:11 pm@38
Brilliant.
re: Jack White
Jack White and Alycia Keys on the Quantum of Solace theme was really good. Jack White is a baller.
April 29th, 2009 at 5:17 pmI kind of can relate to what Whatamets says:
April 29th, 2009 at 5:17 pmCan we please find a true cleanup bat?
Or can Kotchman at least just swing for the gaps…not the fence?
April 29th, 2009 at 5:24 pmI’m not a guitarist, but I know some of the “theory” of guitar work. And Jack White is on the list of “how the heck does he do that?” guitarists.
April 29th, 2009 at 5:52 pminfante leading off. kelly sits. how long will it take the braves to realize schafer’s speed is being wasted? this lineup needs a jump start. schafer has shown patience and is getting on base. kj is just too streaky to bat leadoff, or maybe he’s just not meant to lead off. i would like to see a lineup where chipper hits 4th until mccann gets back.
April 29th, 2009 at 5:56 pmIn honor of the Braves pitcher tonight:
Tyler Flowers 2009 Stats:
.431/.610/1.041 with 4 HR in 59 AB
woot
April 29th, 2009 at 6:11 pmGreat Odin’s Beard! It’s “the Lemmer”! Is Don Sutton ok? Nothing makes me appreciate mediocre announcing like the voice of Mark Lemke.
April 29th, 2009 at 6:15 pmI’m online tonight, so can anyone fill me in on any Yunels or Prados that take place or other things that don’t come across in descriptions?
April 29th, 2009 at 6:20 pmSuggested new nicknames: Diaz & Francoeur = “Crash & Burn”.
April 29th, 2009 at 6:30 pmBobby is taking the small ball thing to heart. That’s two hit-and-run plays in two innings. Diaz almost Yunelled at 2B.
April 29th, 2009 at 6:33 pmour 8th hitter has a .484OBP
April 29th, 2009 at 6:35 pmyou’d think Brandon Jones would be useful for our club, esp in RF right now
April 29th, 2009 at 6:35 pmThe inability of this team to execute the little things is infuriating!
April 29th, 2009 at 6:37 pmYunel hates Chipper hitting with people on base
April 29th, 2009 at 6:40 pmIt would be nice if we could keep a lead for more than few minutes.
April 29th, 2009 at 6:51 pmSo, I guess Kelly better find soft spot on the bench. I don’t think he’s played since he was pulled mid-game on Monday.
April 29th, 2009 at 6:52 pmVasquez has got to handle his emotions better. The run was cheap, but no excuse to lose focus and throw meat balls to Rasmus like that.
That sort of stuff has hurt him in the past.
April 29th, 2009 at 6:53 pmYunel is a moron. Omar gets up there and has a great at bat and drives in a run, then Yunel goes up and swings at the first freaking pitch. He needs to be benched for a day or two.
Ha! A gift! That’s the only way Kotchman can score from second on a single.
April 29th, 2009 at 6:55 pmI still think we should have drafted Rasmus instead of Joey Devine.
April 29th, 2009 at 6:57 pmThe Braves must have bought the idea that the Angels have been good because they are “agressive” on the base paths. WTF
April 29th, 2009 at 6:58 pm@ 59 Well, it’s working tonight.
April 29th, 2009 at 6:59 pmScratch that. Way to go Jeffy! *spits tobacco*
April 29th, 2009 at 6:59 pmFrenchy showed a quick burst on that scamper home. The team looks focused and sharp tonight.
April 29th, 2009 at 7:07 pmthey play really good defense.
April 29th, 2009 at 7:23 pmHawks knocked Wade out of the game
April 29th, 2009 at 7:29 pmSingle to center… single to center…
April 29th, 2009 at 7:38 pmnice collapse Javier.
April 29th, 2009 at 7:38 pmVazquez is falling in love with the breaking ball. When he nibbles with that he gets hit. It has been his MO his whole career.
He aint locating the fastball either. He has had some dumb luck go against him and he has pouted about it out there tonight.
Not good signs
April 29th, 2009 at 7:39 pmI’m not actually watching the game, but when you see five singles in an inning, it’s usually at least half defense.
April 29th, 2009 at 7:40 pmFudge! 4 run inning, were doomed!!!
April 29th, 2009 at 7:41 pm67—It’s the fastball they’re hitting.
Kotchman just Pradoed. They had Pujols at the plate; no idea why he cut it off.
April 29th, 2009 at 7:41 pmThe last run was probably on the defense — Kotchman cutting off an on-target throw from Francoeur to Ross, allowing Pujols to score.
April 29th, 2009 at 7:43 pmSomebody rape Kotchman if we lose this one by one run.
April 29th, 2009 at 7:43 pmSomeone should rape people that think casual use of the term “rape” is acceptable.
April 29th, 2009 at 7:46 pmBarden’s range at short is Burrell-like. Both hits this inning would have been outs with even an average defensive SS out there.
April 29th, 2009 at 7:49 pmDear Braves: If the guy with five walks and one strikeout beats the guy with one walk and five strikeouts, there’s something wrong. If you lose, you’re going against any rational analysis of baseball.
April 29th, 2009 at 7:54 pmThe Braves have had, what, 12 baserunners so far in 5 innings?
April 29th, 2009 at 7:55 pmThat pitch was filthy.
April 29th, 2009 at 7:57 pmat least go down swinging
April 29th, 2009 at 7:58 pmGotta foul that off
*update* Hawks up 13 halfway through 2nd qtr
April 29th, 2009 at 7:58 pmUnbelievable.
April 29th, 2009 at 7:59 pmUmm…why wasn’t Vasquez hit for there?
April 29th, 2009 at 8:05 pmUm, why did Vazquez hit for himself there?
April 29th, 2009 at 8:05 pmI probably would have hit for him, but he’s pitching well. He gave up a whole bunch of singles, but that’s just one of those things.
April 29th, 2009 at 8:06 pmjinx
April 29th, 2009 at 8:06 pmIf I were a Cards fan I’d be wondering why LaRussa hasn’t pulled Wainwright.
April 29th, 2009 at 8:07 pmAnother thing… Vazquez has only thrown 74 pitches.
April 29th, 2009 at 8:08 pmEscobar is in the Braves Journal Doghouse right now.
April 29th, 2009 at 8:09 pmWell, at some point, the Braves are going to have to score some runs.
April 29th, 2009 at 8:09 pmCox has to get Escobar out of that 2 hole. He is killing them in that spot. Chipper is not getting to hit with anyone on base.
April 29th, 2009 at 8:10 pmWhat is the record for most double plays hit into by one person in a single season? Escobar has to be on pace to beat it.
April 29th, 2009 at 8:12 pmI would pay $1,000 to get Chip Caray fired.
April 29th, 2009 at 8:12 pmJosh Smith has never fouled anyone, ever.
And I think Al Horford just blew out his right knee, and he’s gonna shoot the free throws anyway before he goes out of the game.
April 29th, 2009 at 8:16 pmJim Rice holds the record — 36 — and second place — 35. Yunel has now grounded into four, the same number as Francoeur. That’s a 31 GIDP pace, which would be a Braves record and tie for a spot in the top ten all time. Andruw was ahead of Rice’s pace for a long while one season, but wound up with 24…
April 29th, 2009 at 8:17 pmhttp://www.firechipcaray.blogspot.com/
It says “updated often” but hasn’t been so since June 2007.
@93: thanks for the information.
Yunel has now grounded into four,
Only four? I thought it was like, eight.
April 29th, 2009 at 8:17 pmVazquez, despite the one six-single inning, looks to be pitching pretty well by the box score, and he only has 85 pitches through 7, despite 7 strikeouts. I probably want a guy pitching like that to stay in.
April 29th, 2009 at 8:19 pmHawks up 22
April 29th, 2009 at 8:20 pmATLANTA BRAVES
SEASON
GIDP YEAR GIDP
April 29th, 2009 at 8:21 pm1 Sid Gordon 1951 28
2 Joe Torre 1964 26
3 Frank Bolling 1961 25
T4 Yunel Escobar 2008 24
T4 Dale Murphy 1988 24
T4 Del Crandall 1959 24
T4 Andruw Jones 2004 24
8 Hal Lee 1936 23
T9 Vinny Castilla 2002 22
T9 Joe Adcock 1961 22
T9 Hank Aaron 1964 22
T9 Vinny Castilla 2003 22
T9 Joe Adcock 1953 22
T9 Joe Torre 1967 22
T9 Joe Torre 1965 22
T9 Fred McGriff 1997 22
T9 Javier Lopez 1998 22
After Skip died, I figured the Braves would let Chip go frolic with TBS and Ron Darling for good. Guess I was wrong.
Shucks.
April 29th, 2009 at 8:24 pmMan Joe Torre sucks at everything
April 29th, 2009 at 8:24 pmTonight’s Home Depot “Know How” Question of the Game: “What does OPS mean?”
“In baseball parlance, a lot of times, most people—and Moneyball came up earlier from Chip—slugging percentage was always a very important measuring stick for a guy and how much power he had; on-base percentage, usually something that was applied to guys who led off—how often were they on base?—OPS is a combination of those two statistics: on-base plus slugging. O-P-S. Those two together.”
-Joe Simpson
Amen.
April 29th, 2009 at 8:26 pmIt’s too bad Vasquez had that dink and dunk inning because otherwise he’s been great. Our offense still sucks though, they’ve got to get something going.
April 29th, 2009 at 8:28 pmI’m tempted to start writing emails to them with the dumbest questions possible. “What is batting average?” “Do you have to run the bases counterclockwise every time?” “How many outs are there in an inning?”
April 29th, 2009 at 8:29 pmBut wait, I thought it was essential to have a guy that puts the ball in play in the 2nd spot in the order. What gives? Surely putting the ball in play can’t be a bad thing. Does not compute.
April 29th, 2009 at 8:29 pm“HEY, SKEEE-IP! AM I ON THE REDDIO? HELLO? HELLO? CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE INFIELD FLY RULE!?”
God, I miss those days.
April 29th, 2009 at 8:30 pmWhat would you guys think about referring to Simpson as “Clueless Joe”?
April 29th, 2009 at 8:31 pmAnyway, if Yunel and/or Francoeur have 15 or more GIDP at the halfway point, I’ll start a Sid Gordon Watch.
April 29th, 2009 at 8:31 pmWe should send emails like What does Chip mean when he says “Fists one through the hole?”
April 29th, 2009 at 8:31 pmDamn, it’s looking like no Blaine Boyer at all.
April 29th, 2009 at 8:31 pm“Chip, we loved your dad, but you suck. Would your mother be the worst announcer who ever lived?”
April 29th, 2009 at 8:32 pm@ 102
In honor of Skip: “My boy plays little league, could you explain the infield fly rule?”
April 29th, 2009 at 8:33 pm@107: +1
April 29th, 2009 at 8:33 pmVasquez was pretty decent tonight. Lot of dink and dunk in the 4 run inning. My problem was the fastball he threw to Ankiel after a steady diet of slop. I can see showing the fastball but he basically grooved it with a 2-strike count. No idea why Kotchman then cut the throw on Ankiel’s single, and he almost compounded it by throwing it down the left field line. I had a brief vision of Chipper pulling his hamstring trying to chase down Dave Duncan Jr. That would have capped off a really sucky inning.
This one is once again on the offense. Anemic once again.
April 29th, 2009 at 8:35 pmI’m tempted to start writing emails to them with the dumbest questions possible. “What is batting average?” “Do you have to run the bases counterclockwise every time?” “How many outs are there in an inning?”
This.
If you’re serious, I suggest the next Peachtree game making the request at the beginning of the game thread, above the video, with the e-mail. Maybe they’d get 20 dumb questions and answer one.
(Oh good, Greg Norton.)
April 29th, 2009 at 8:35 pmSchafer’s OBP is now over .400. Good thing he’s batting seventh.
April 29th, 2009 at 8:37 pmThis message board is getting too internetified.
Here is a short list of things this blog doesn’t need (in no order):
1) First!s
2) +1s
3) THIS’s
4) Gadfly
April 29th, 2009 at 8:37 pmThis message board is getting too internetified….Here is a short list of things this blog doesn’t need (in no order):
+1995
April 29th, 2009 at 8:40 pmOMG
April 29th, 2009 at 8:41 pmLOL
ROFL
Things this blog needs more of:
Padma
April 29th, 2009 at 8:41 pmThis blog needs more home runs to cheer about.
April 29th, 2009 at 8:44 pmIf this team had ANYONE who could hit, we would be up 10-5 right now. This is the worst offense I have ever seen.
April 29th, 2009 at 8:45 pmbraves win it in the 9th 7-5…. mark it down
April 29th, 2009 at 8:46 pmVazquez will be waiting in the clubhouse with a taser, backed by Jurrjens.
April 29th, 2009 at 8:47 pmDiaz 0-3 with a walk against a RHP. Brandon Jones must have been called up just to keep KJ company sitting in that comfy spot on the bench.
April 29th, 2009 at 8:49 pm“Most players play as a mirror of their personality. I assume that Jordan Schafer’s personality is…an aggressive player.”
-Chip Caray
$1,500.
April 29th, 2009 at 8:50 pmI bet KJ was rooting hard for Infante to make an out last inning. If Infante had come up big, KJ would would have been disappeared.
April 29th, 2009 at 8:51 pmVazquez will be waiting in the clubhouse with a taser, backed by Jurrjens.
Vasquez gave up five earned runs tonight.
April 29th, 2009 at 8:51 pmHow high do you think this will get Stu?
April 29th, 2009 at 8:54 pmI AM REFUSING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE EXISTENCE OF MODERN BASEBALL ANALYSIS.
April 29th, 2009 at 8:54 pmWhat is more annoying Escobar’s hair or Franklin’s beard?
April 29th, 2009 at 8:55 pmCan Infante start at short tomorrow, please?
April 29th, 2009 at 8:56 pmescobar ur a joke at the plate
April 29th, 2009 at 8:57 pmI figured Escobar would reach, then on a two-out homer to win the game he’d forget to touch third base.
April 29th, 2009 at 8:57 pmI have a motion…I move that Mac bring back the Doghouse for Yunel…do I have a second?
April 29th, 2009 at 8:58 pmI’m actually wishing they traded escobar to the padres for peavy
April 29th, 2009 at 8:58 pmLast night was so much fun…………tonight was the exact opposite.
Message board was funny tonight.
Oh braves14…………I second your motion
April 29th, 2009 at 9:02 pmWhat did yunel do wrong tonight?
April 29th, 2009 at 9:03 pmHe went 0-5 and hit into at least one double play.
April 29th, 2009 at 9:03 pmthen we’d have Lillibridge and not Vasquez. Ill take my chances with the two we have
April 29th, 2009 at 9:04 pmHawks up 17
April 29th, 2009 at 9:08 pmEscobar is a horrible 2-hole hitter.
April 29th, 2009 at 9:08 pmsomeone explain this. We have 5 off days in April and now only 4 till the all star break???
April 29th, 2009 at 9:13 pmI just have to ask
What is Bobby’s fasination with Kotchman in the cleanup spot?
When is a veteran going to punch out Escobar for that sh*t eating grin he wears on his face even after he pulls a ‘Yunel’.
Infante can play a little in LF, right?
Kawakami has shoulder fatigue, can we get some of that 9 mil a year back to buy a bat?
April 29th, 2009 at 9:14 pmRecap time.
April 29th, 2009 at 9:17 pm#142 .. Amen on KK .. I think Wren panicked and jumped the gun a bit with Kawakami .. would have been nice to use that 8 mil on a good right handed bat in LF … or made the trade with St Louis .. slumping KJ for Ludwick .. these Braves have NO NO NO NO pop .. they are weak !!!!!!!!!
April 29th, 2009 at 9:20 pm