20 Jul
Guy who pitched a no-hitter last time game thread: July 20, Giants at Braves
“Hola, I’m Giants pitcher Jonathan Sanchez, and tonight is all about me! Me me me!”
Braves News (Official)- Braves News (AJC)
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The answer to the trivia question that we want no part of is:Johnny Vander Meer
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Vander_Meer
July 20th, 2009 at 2:06 pmYeah, I was about to say: The chase of Johnny Vander Meer continues. That is one of my favorite records, incidentally (or feats or whatever it is…I guess it is the record for most consecutive no-hitters, technically). The concept of back-to-back no-hitters is just so borderline absurd, and the fact that it was accomplished by a guy whose name would otherwise not have been mentioned anytime in the last 50 years is really cool, in my opinion. I know absolutely zero about Johnny Vander Meer other than the consecutive no-hitters.
Also, in response to the end of the last thread, if Johnson had options left, maybe you could leave him down in Gwinnett and keep Conrad up for a little while. But I don’t see any way you can leave Conrad up if it means DFAing KJ. You just can’t do it. His potential is just too great to dump him for a journeyman AAAA backup infielder. I’m not against trading him or something, but you can’t waive him and take Brooks Conrad instead.
July 20th, 2009 at 2:22 pmClassic Rock Radio Anthems: I’ll always take “Won’t Get Fooled Again” over “Stairway to Freebird.”
For some reason, I never get tired of that one. Of course, seeing that video always helps. Thanks, Mac.
July 20th, 2009 at 2:25 pmSomewhat eerie, perhaps unsettling, fact: One of the two no-hitters came against us…well, to be more accurate, it came against the Boston Bees, which is what the Boston Braves changed their name to for four years, for some reason. It was the first no-hitter though, not the second.
July 20th, 2009 at 2:29 pmOkay, we did what we had to do against the Mets; now we need to take 3 of 4 vs. SF. We are behind them; we are chasing; the wild card looks more and more as the much more likely play-off shot we get. Assuming a Lincecum loss (not impossible to win, but a tough match-up for us), we have to beat the weaker starters in the other 3 games, including winning tonight. We luck out a little in not getting Cain, but we don’t get to use Javie this series either. Sanchez has bad control, so the McLouth/Church/Chipper contingent have to be patient, and hopefully we can string enough hits together from the rest of the guys.
ER given up by our starters this week-end:
0-JJ
1-Vasquez
2-Kawekami
3-Lowe
That is pretty darn good; it sure keeps you in every game.
July 20th, 2009 at 2:29 pmgo braves
July 20th, 2009 at 2:31 pmNo disrespect to Mr. Sanchez but pardon me if i,m not awed by his pitching abilty…he no hit the padres…THE SAN DIEGO PADRES!!!!!!!
July 20th, 2009 at 2:33 pmAt what point does ESPN at least shuffle Joe Morgan down to the B-team? You can’t attempt to commence to think about making the argument that he brings anything other than the laffs (unintentional) to the product anymore. It’s not just the world-renowned hatred of evidence and numbers and stuff, either, it’s *everything*. Used to be his defenders could point to telling you how to hit a curveball as a reason to keep him around, but he can’t even name pitches on the replays anymore.
FWIW, ESPN has always been willing to shuffle their college football announcing crews around, putting guys who need it out to pasture. (Sorry, Big 11 fans, your mid-level teams reek and thus deserve the indignity of Pam Ward.) Who wants Joe Morgan on SNB anymore, really?
July 20th, 2009 at 2:34 pmNo-hitting any Major League team (or any team period, really) is a feat. Now, it may be a feat where luck helps a great deal along the way, but you still have to pitch one hell of a game to throw a no-hitter. For instance, the Mets were awful this past series…awful. Like, one of the worst offensive series I’ve ever seen by a team. And we didn’t really come close to no-hitting them once in the series. Jurrjens only gave up two, I guess, but the first one came in like the second inning.
July 20th, 2009 at 2:38 pmWith the three they have in the booth, it’s as if ESPN is testing fans to see how much they really love watching baseball.
July 20th, 2009 at 2:39 pm@10
“With the three they have in the booth, it’s as if ESPN is testing fans to see how much they really love watching baseball.”
It’s not the incompetence and buffoonery that bothers me, either, it’s that Morgan doesn’t care. And he’s pretty obvious about this. Why would you want your supposed #1 analyst to make it clear that he doesn’t watch games on the side, doesn’t make any attempt to learn about new players, etc.? Why is that good for baseball?
July 20th, 2009 at 2:41 pmVander Meer had a losing record in his career. A lot of that is that he walked a whole lot of guys. You can walk a lot of guys and pitch no-hitters. Ryan led the league in walks eight times.
Morgan showed last night that he was essentially unfamiliar with four-time All-Star Brian McCann, and that he hadn’t paid attention Garret Anderson in several years. These are not obscure players he’s ignorant of.
July 20th, 2009 at 2:45 pmI was trying to think of someone with the authority (warranted or not) of a hall of famer, who has insights into how the game is played AND who thinks about the game, who is at least willing to consider metrics beyond avg/hr/rbi, and who has at least a modicum of on-air personality. I guess hitting all of those qualities isn’t realistic…
July 20th, 2009 at 2:48 pmI used to like Morgan’s broadcast. He brought some old school sensibilities and perspective to the game, and I was always a fan of his play. However, I’ve noticed he’s really slipped this season, and last night was just horrible. Maybe that’s why they have been using Phillips and Sutcliffe to augment the booth. Miller is slipping too, though I was never a fan. He made a number of sloppy mistakes with names, counts, plays, etc. He just wasn’t very crisp, and I would think ESPN would want a cleaner broadcast on their main baseball event of the week.
July 20th, 2009 at 2:50 pm@ 9 i,m not saying he isnt talented, clearly he must be if he no hit the san diego adrian gonzalez’s and made it to the majors, but its not a fearsome lineup they are running out there..the bravos arent exactly hitting like the yankees but we are a farrrrrr more talented team than the padres. his road stats are 0-7 with a 6.62 ERA in seven starts,issuing 30 walks in 35 1/3 innings. so i dont expect a no hitter tonight
July 20th, 2009 at 2:52 pmJust thank your lucky stars they don’t do the playoffs anymore. Incidentally, their radio crews continue to be so much better than their TV crews that it doesn’t really even classify as funny anymore. Just shocking. Gary Thorne/Dan Schulman and Dave Campbell should be on Sunday Night Baseball…period. I also don’t have a problem with the other Dave O’Brien, although Rick Sutcliffe is kind of an idiot. But if they threw that crew on Sunday Night Baseball, that would be an improvement as well, because at least Sutcliffe (when he’s sober) is not quite as idiotic as Morgan, and O’Brien is far less annoying than Jon Miller.
In general though, national TV baseball announcers are some of the worst in any sport. I mean, think about it, the major crews are Jon Miller/Joe Morgan/Steve Phillips, Joe Buck/Tim McCarver and Chip Caray/Ron Darling. They are all just awful. Almost unbearable, even. And I can only point to a couple of secondary crews that are really any better. If I told you the quality of national TV baseball announcing was almost as bad as the quality of American soccer announcing, you probably wouldn’t believe me, but it really is almost that bad.
July 20th, 2009 at 2:56 pmCan you blame Miller for slipping a little? If Joe Morgan is acceptable, what reason is there to work on your craft other than personal pride which can only take you so far. I’m with the guy who wonders who actually wants to hear Joe Morgan? I’ve never heard anyone admit to liking him or even being ambivalent to his call. He is universally reviled. Pretty much the very same thing can be said about Tim McCarver. Have there been no polls or focus groups about this? They probably bring in the valuable idiot-who-doesn’t-like- people-to-talk-about-things-he- doesn’t-understand group. TRUCKS, BEER, USA!!!!!1111
July 20th, 2009 at 2:58 pmLuck and some good defense are the only differences between a no hitter and a complete game giving up 2-3 hits. Both take a quality ML pitcher having a great outing.
July 20th, 2009 at 2:59 pmDarling isn’t bad, he just falls into Chip’s vortex of suck… I think Hershiser is probably the best of ESPN’s lot, though that’s not saying much.
July 20th, 2009 at 3:02 pmI’m not a Joe Morgan guy and ESPN will never move him, but geeze this board has really been a big bitch fest for some time. Let’s get some possitive stuff going here. Our team is playing well and in a playoff race!
July 20th, 2009 at 3:03 pmharold reynolds…worste baseball personality EVER!!!!!
July 20th, 2009 at 3:03 pmHarold Reynolds….worste baseball personality EVER!!!!!
July 20th, 2009 at 3:05 pmBTW, why not Don Sutton? He has HOF authority and when it comes to pitching he knows what he’s talking about.
July 20th, 2009 at 3:05 pmAgree on Darling…he’s very well versed and is easy to listen to.
I have also been surprised by Mitch Williams on MLB. He speaks a lot more intelligently than he looks or played. Maybe he’s just older and wiser? I dunno…I may be way off base with that one.
July 20th, 2009 at 3:06 pmWhat about Harold Reynolds & his suckass-ness?? he stinks up the MLB network..ot is this strickly just ESPN personalities??
July 20th, 2009 at 3:07 pmI think that the people have spoken, and that I may have to break out Road from Bristol II (at last) this offseason.
July 20th, 2009 at 3:08 pm#20
Blogs, by their nature, seem to be vent venues.
There’s always PgDn, if one finds it less than interesting.
July 20th, 2009 at 3:08 pmTim McCarver use to be good, he has just stayed around too long. Joe Buck use to be good, then he got full of himself. Now as a team, they suck.
You know I like as a play-by-play guy…Darren Sutton. I think he does a really good job. Thom Brenneman is okay. I agree Dave O’Brien use to be good. Now he sucks. Jon Miller use to be good in his Oriole days, now he just seems fake.
I can’t defend Joe Morgan any longer. He comes off as a know it-all.
July 20th, 2009 at 3:09 pm@21
Likely too cerebral for the aforementioned “TRUCKS,BEER,USA!!!!1111″ crowd. Although I certainly agree.
There are so many people that could make these broadcasts better, many of them right under the networks noses, that they just bypass. For instance, Fox’s broadcasts could’ve been made so much better if they had replaced Tim McCarver with Bob Brenley when they had him. Because Brenley is much less of a dork (for lack of a better word) than McCarver, Buck would be forced to adjust his announcing style a bit and it would raise the level of the whole thing. Buck isn’t nearly as annoying as an NFL announcer paired with Troy Aikman, because Aikman isn’t a complete fool.
Hell, the situation probably would’ve been made better by shoving Brenley into the booth with both McCarver and Buck. But they didn’t, and now Brenley works for the Cubs and Fox is worse than ever.
July 20th, 2009 at 3:13 pmSmitty, I hear ya. But you have to admit this year has been a bitch fest type of year.
But positives? Ok here goes.
Our pitching staff is terrific.
Martin Prado is the man.
Yunel Escobar is one of the best SS in the NL.
Frank Wren is a FREAKING genius!
The guy that I said I wouldn’t wise crack about looks damn fine in Mets blue and orange.
I like watching Nate McClouth play.
Ryan Church will at least take a walk.
Garret Anderson must be a Vulcan.
Yup lots of stuff to like, now we have to put together some wins.
July 20th, 2009 at 3:14 pmDon Sutton is entertaining to listen to here in Atlanta; he’s doing much better than I had thought he was gonna do with the added exposure.
The guy they brought in from the Brewers doesn’t do it for me though.
And if you tune in to the Braves game, looking for the inning/score…you never get it. That is the most aggravating thing about the new local announcing team.
July 20th, 2009 at 3:19 pmVan der Meer had a big advantage in the second no-hitter–it was a night game and in those early days the lights weren’t very good.
I don’t think any of the baseball analysts are very good and part of the reason is they seem afraid to really talk about what it’s like to play. They want to be analytical but at the same time they don’t believe in stats so they end up pretty much recycling hoary baseball cliches.
I would love to see a baseball equivalent of John McEnroe who will talk about players choking and give an idea of what it’s like out there. Someone like Jim Bouton, for example, would be great. The baseball analysts are unwilling to do that and they are so bland it’s pathetic. For example, I would love to hear a player talk about what it’s like facing a guy who throws 97 and is wild. Is there fear? To me that would be much more interesting than talking about when a team should bunt. I think the mental part of the game is interesting but with this crop of announcers it pretty much comes down to “hitting in the clutch.” Well, if that’s so, how do you approach “clutch” situations.
Absent that, I would rather not have an analyst and just listen to play-by-play guys. I heard Curt Gowdy and Harry Caray (not his granson, thank God) broadcast Game 1 of the 1968 World Series on MLB Network and I didn’t miss a color analyst at all.
July 20th, 2009 at 3:27 pmDon Sutton … I can’t stand listening to him on the radio. When he’s doing the play-by-play he will analyze the play as it’s happening before telling you what happened! Incredibly aggravating. Everything is like this:
“And there’s a deep drive to left-center field. Great approach by Kotchman on that swing, it was a slider down and away and he went with it and hit it with some authority. Didn’t try to do too much, but still managed to split the gap. He’ll end up on second, McCann scores the go-ahead run.”
July 20th, 2009 at 3:30 pmMaybe we should add a Braves Cheerleaders only forum to the menu along with the Talk politics politely page and the talk NCAA football forum. Here is something positive. I generally like what the Braves have done with their broadcasting crews. I like the dynamic of having one newschool guy along with one oldschool guy. I think this arrangement would work even better if the newschool (Powell, Sciambi) guys weren’t so deferential to the oldschool (Sutton, Simpson, the MF Lemmer) guys. It would also work better if Lemke were gone forever and if Sciambi would ask Simpson to please quit telling us the same crap over and over again. However, I think it’s generally a decent arrangement.
July 20th, 2009 at 3:31 pmFirst entry for the BCO forum:
July 20th, 2009 at 3:32 pmGo Braves!
Sutton is not very saber friendly, but he does have great insights into pitching, a good voice, and a pleasant style (personality). He seems to really enjoy that he gets paid to do that (if it is fake, he is really a good faker).
My Dad played dead ball era style ball in the 30′s and 40′s and Joe Morgan was one of his favorite players (and mine). Did a lot of things to contribute.
However, Morgan is embarassing himself and ESPN. Miller has becomes a buffoon. Phillips proved himself a buffoon when working for the Mets. They can really do a lot better easily.
Hell, I used to do radio play by play and I am better than that crowd.
July 20th, 2009 at 3:33 pmInternet message boards are tailor made for bitch-fests. Can you imagine what the people we encounter in person every day would do/say to us if we persisted like this in our interactions with them?
I personally would have been discharged, divorced, disowned, and disemboweled by various entities in my life by now, and that’s just from Braves related need-to-bitch.
July 20th, 2009 at 3:36 pmWhen it comes to baseball TV announcers, I don’t care. I have the volume down much of the time anyway. I don’t need them—it’s TV.
For baseball on the radio, which I love, I gotta say I’m more of a just-the-fact-ma’am minimalist with a little flavor, but not too much.
Bob Murphy was great at that, even though he got a little cranky with age. Vin Scully remains stellar, with no cranky. Skip Caray, I certainly miss his acerbic humor.
Currently, Braves radio is alright, kinda bland, but alright—at least I know what’s going on. Yankee radio is a challenge to follow—too many ads & the worst play-by-play man in the history of baseball.
In my time in NYC, Mets radio has always been the best, IMO, from Murph to Gary Cohen to Howie Rose. Superb & truthful with just the right amount genuine passion/anxiety that all Met fans feel.
July 20th, 2009 at 3:40 pmI like Sutton a lot. Ron Darling and Steve Stone are both okay, if a bit bland — they call the game and don’t get in its way too much. Apparently people around here think Dibble sucks less than he used to, which I find hard to believe. Al Leiter’s the real hot prospect in this field, as I recall.
Brian Bannister would make a monster playoff color commentator.
July 20th, 2009 at 3:40 pmPersonally, I’m too combative to PgDn. A bitch-fest without an argument would just look like a goth kids scene on South Park. Doom. Fire Bobby. Gloom. Cox sucks.
No tension — wouldn’t work. Although it is kind of funny.
July 20th, 2009 at 3:46 pmI like Hersheiser well enough too.
Listening to Sutton is ok. It always strikes me as odd that when a Braves player will hit one to the gap, Sutton says: “That’s trouble.” Maybe he’s trying to be objective or maybe he’s always looking at the game from the pitcher’s point of view. It just sounds funny to me. Speaking of sounding funny to me… Lemke’s voice still cracks me up.
Back when I used to have cable and watch Baseball Tonight, I thought Orestes Destrade was pretty good … just for having a smooth flow on camera (don’t even remember if he brought much extra knowledge). Jeff Brantley was another that was better than I would have expected.
July 20th, 2009 at 3:47 pmI don’t know if I’m the first to make this observation, but holy crap, Jonathan Sanchez looks nearly identical to this guy: http://www.getthebigpicture.net/storage/pics/jesusq.jpg
July 20th, 2009 at 3:50 pmAAR, was thinking the same about Bannister.
July 20th, 2009 at 3:50 pmRoad From Bristol II might be fun, Mac. I have to say though, you did such a good job the first time that I pretty much stopped watching…
July 20th, 2009 at 3:53 pmPWHjort and others: you be the judge.
July 20th, 2009 at 3:55 pmRob Dibble has improved greatly from the beginning of the year. His candor is refreshing.
Vin Scully is amazing and still a pleasure to listen to. I wish Tony Kubek was still doing color.
July 20th, 2009 at 4:00 pm@40
Not once we get through f@#%ing with him. Whoo!!
July 20th, 2009 at 4:01 pmIf “The Jesus” bowled left-handed I’d think it was Sanchez.
July 20th, 2009 at 4:02 pmNobody looks like the Jesus. Doing so would be considered fucking with him, and nobody does that.
July 20th, 2009 at 4:16 pmUbubba, right on, the MEts crew is consistently good, Yankees, go awful, just a horror show to listen to.
July 20th, 2009 at 4:17 pmJohn Sterling’s parents were too permissive. He clearly needed to be taken in hand.
July 20th, 2009 at 4:25 pmI could listen to Scully broadcast my neighbor mowing his lawn.
Harold Reynolds, Eric Young and Mark Lemke probably have the worst broadcasting voices i’ve ever heard.
Talk about a characature…John Sterling. He used to talk about Rick Mahler’s “change-up curves” back in the 80′s. Thank God he’s in New York now.
Sutton and Powell are pretty sold team on Braves radio. They are easy to listen to, and seem to work well and play off each other.
July 20th, 2009 at 4:34 pmMy buddy is a Braves usher and said Zito was sunning himself pregame. I don’t know what to do with this information.
July 20th, 2009 at 4:35 pmI can’t stand Eduardo Perez and Orestes Destrade on Baseball Tonight.
July 20th, 2009 at 4:36 pmWe are 12-6 over the last 18 games. Over that stretch, we have scored 91 runs and allowed 60 (so the results are very close to the Pythagorean projection). This represents just over a 2 run improvement in per game differential than over the previous 74 games, with about half being contributed by improved offense and half from improved pitching/defense. So that’s the good news.
The bad news is that we will have to continue playing at close to the level of the last 18 games to have a good chance at making the post season. We have to go 44-28 to finish with 90 wins, which means we have to play like we are a 99 win team. Have the recent changes suddenly transformed the team from a .500 to a .600 club? Don’t know about you, but color me skeptical. I will enjoy it while it lasts, but I’m not getting my hopes up.
July 20th, 2009 at 4:41 pmI actually like Orestes Destrade.
Maybe I was too young, but I use to love John Sterling when I was a kid. Now he is a joke.
July 20th, 2009 at 4:43 pmI love it when they go to the mini diamond on the baseball tonight set. It gives so much more authority to their inane ramblings.
July 20th, 2009 at 4:45 pmI met Orestes Destrade at the Marlins first spring training, they were at the Cocoa Expo, and I was doing a story for my highschool paper (shows my age) Nice guy, he thought he could be a 20-30 homer guy for the Marlins, but didnt work out. He had some good years in Japan, but it just didnt translate.
July 20th, 2009 at 4:48 pmI’m going to second the love for Orestes Destrade, he’s pretty good, and the only former player on espn that’s decent, although Sutcliffe (is he still on?) was pretty good. It would be nice if the Tigers didn’t make the playoffs, because Granderson is really really good.
July 20th, 2009 at 4:53 pmOh yeah, and Eric Young is the worst!
July 20th, 2009 at 4:53 pm@53
I believe the offensive side of that equation is sustainable, given that we’ve made three major upgrades from the opening day lineup (two of those being “major” in that a pretty good player replaces a sinkhole), and only Prado is hitting at an unsustainable level. At least, I think it’s unsustainable, unless he really is a right-handed George Brett.
The pitching side of things might be a little dicier. Vazquez has never been THIS good, KK seems to skirt disaster on a regular basis, and Hanson is a rookie. But even there, we have Hudson in our back pocket. We have four good relievers, which is better than a lot of teams.
With all hands on deck, this looks like a 90+ win roster to me (if we’d had this team on April 1, that is).
July 20th, 2009 at 4:55 pmHarold Reynolds, Eric Young and Mark Lemke probably have the worst broadcasting voices i’ve ever heard.
WTF, second base?
July 20th, 2009 at 4:56 pmDoes anyone know where I can get a live stream audio/visual for tonites game? I dont feel like watching the Marlins
July 20th, 2009 at 4:57 pmhttp://www.myp2pforum.eu/mlb-baseball/40821-baseball-today-monday-july-20th-streaming.html
you need to download tvants
July 20th, 2009 at 4:58 pmHarold Reynolds= d-bag!!!!!
July 20th, 2009 at 4:59 pmI have a friend (a big Met fan, FWIW) who lives in north Jersey, same town as John Sterling (born Harold Moskowitz, BTW) & he tells me he’s run into him in the grocery store and says he’s the nicest guy in the world.
I hate when that happens.
July 20th, 2009 at 5:00 pmMe too. Actually, I’m going to pretend you didn’t say that.
July 20th, 2009 at 5:02 pmi pray to god the phils dont get roy halliday..ill cry no question about it
MLB network is making it sound like the Braves have no chance of catching the phills
July 20th, 2009 at 5:03 pm@60….and Joe Morgan!
July 20th, 2009 at 5:06 pmSI’s Jon Heyman reports that Omar Minaya & Jerry Manuel have been told by Mets brass that they will return next year.
July 20th, 2009 at 5:12 pm@68 crack open the bottles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
July 20th, 2009 at 5:13 pmububba,
July 20th, 2009 at 5:15 pmAny word on Jeff Francoeur?
Sweet, so we’ll have up through the start of next year to trade Diory for something useful.
July 20th, 2009 at 5:16 pmI have two friends who played at a D-II NAIA school named Mt. Vernon in Ohio who faced Sanchez when he was at Ohio Dominican. Last Saturday I saw them, right after he threw the no-no, and I was told, and I quote, “We could hit him.” I think “Glory Days” was playing.
They said that he threw 10 miles per hour slower in college. I have no idea at all if that is true.
July 20th, 2009 at 5:20 pm@68, great news!
@59, just seems more likely to me this is a marginally above average team on a hot streak, rather than a good team finding their true performance level. However, a finish above .500 would certainly be a step in the right direction.
July 20th, 2009 at 5:22 pmStu,
Frenchy staying for next year, you mean? Nah, haven’t heard anything.
I mean, why would they say anything at this point? Make him play for his contract. (IMO, he’ll be non-tendered after the year.)
But who knows? Maybe he puts together a month’s worth of cheap RBI singles, hustles in an obvious manner (NY fans love that), throws out a few people on the bases & has people thinking he’s worth keeping.
Personally, I’d love to see him have a relatively big second half (against every team but Atlanta).
July 20th, 2009 at 5:30 pmYeah, I was joking. Having him in RF for 2010 would be about as nice as Minaya in the FO and Manuel on the bench.
July 20th, 2009 at 5:33 pmSay what you want about Harold Reynolds but at least he can speak in complete sentences and has a grasp of the English language.
Why ESPN continues to hire guys like Eric Young and Emmit Smith, guys that simply cannot translate their thoughts into coherent statements, baffles me. It is TV guys, your analysts need to be able to speak!
July 20th, 2009 at 5:33 pmhaha listeing to Emmit Smith’s post game commentary makes my head hurt trying to understand what the hell he is saying
July 20th, 2009 at 5:36 pmAnderson hitting 5th with Yunel 6th, against a lefty. :/
July 20th, 2009 at 5:37 pmFrenchy will be starting in RF for the Mets next year – count it. Too many other problems for them to fix.
July 20th, 2009 at 5:42 pm@73
Maybe. Our marquee players might pale in comparison to those on some other teams, but if we can at any point get KJ and Infante back in place of Norton and Diory, we’ll have the deepest roster in the league. That’s sort of a hidden advantage, but it’s a real one. Similarly, we might be lacking in HR power, but our pitchers allow even fewer than we hit, and we’re leading the league in doubles. Anderson, Kotchman, and Church aren’t great players, but if they’re your 6-7-8 guys, that’s a lineup you can turn over. Nobody has fewer bad players than us, and that’s worth a few wins right there.
July 20th, 2009 at 5:46 pmIn the immortal words of Emmitt Smith, “You can’t change the stripes of a leopard.”
July 20th, 2009 at 5:51 pmThough I’m glad he has no chance this year, I like Manuel. He has a good sense of humor—can’t really say that about his counterpart in The Bronx, who’s a bit of a robo-personality.
July 20th, 2009 at 5:51 pmDifferent camera angle than usual from center.
July 20th, 2009 at 6:10 pmWhen did Sportsouth switch to a view from directly behind the mound??
July 20th, 2009 at 6:12 pmEvidently tonight is the first time. Good eye!
July 20th, 2009 at 6:13 pm“They don’t hit and score much, and they don’t get on base much either”
Those things are closely related, Joe.
July 20th, 2009 at 6:17 pmFYI: If you have Comcast Digital Cable, they are offering free MLB Extra Innings through the 22nd. Look for the game in the 700s if you aren’t in Atlanta.
It’s nice to see Hanson got a haircut… mullets are not cool unless you’re Randy Johnson
July 20th, 2009 at 6:18 pmhahah they said molena couldnt run out of sight in 2 days on the radio hahaha
July 20th, 2009 at 6:19 pm@ 87 thank you sir!!!
July 20th, 2009 at 6:20 pm#87
It’s not Comcast that is offering the free MLB Extra Innings, it’s MLB that is doing it. Whatever Satellite/Cable service you have, if they offer MLB Extra Innings you will be getting it free until Wednesday.
July 20th, 2009 at 6:22 pmLove, love, love the camera angle. It was about time.
July 20th, 2009 at 6:23 pmChipper is doing a good job filling Francoeur’s role
July 20th, 2009 at 6:27 pmeffectivly wild night?
July 20th, 2009 at 6:35 pmdepends on what you call effectively–walking the pitcher doesn’t qualify imho
July 20th, 2009 at 6:39 pmThis is some strike zone, what the hell?
July 20th, 2009 at 6:41 pmTommy Hanson pitches with entirely too many baserunners.
July 20th, 2009 at 6:41 pmRandy Winn owns us…
July 20th, 2009 at 6:44 pmBomb.
July 20th, 2009 at 6:49 pmdidnt hanson get that called a ball? we got one of THOOOOSE umpire’s tonight
July 20th, 2009 at 6:51 pmWell, Vander Meer’s record is safe for a little while longer.
July 20th, 2009 at 6:51 pmACHE
July 20th, 2009 at 6:55 pmThe Phreaking Phillies lead 5-0 over the Cubs.
July 20th, 2009 at 7:01 pm1-18!!! go nate
July 20th, 2009 at 7:03 pmTed Lilly always does the opposite of what I want him to do. Pitches well against the Braves, pitches poorly against our rivals, is generally successful, sucks for Team USA, continues breathing…
July 20th, 2009 at 7:05 pmCHIPPA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
July 20th, 2009 at 7:07 pmChippah!
July 20th, 2009 at 7:07 pmChipper!
July 20th, 2009 at 7:08 pmPhew, I thought he caught that one.
July 20th, 2009 at 7:08 pmCHIPPER! He’s still got it.
July 20th, 2009 at 7:08 pm3-1 is a home run count. Fact. Chipper!
July 20th, 2009 at 7:08 pmChipper’s the best.
Eric Young’s voice sounds like a male Joey Lauren Adams. This does not work well for play-by-play.
July 20th, 2009 at 7:09 pmno Francoeur imitation that AB!
July 20th, 2009 at 7:09 pmConsidering the way we’ve been launching ‘em against Sanchez, I think we can say the following.
AL : NL :: NL : San Diego Padres
July 20th, 2009 at 7:10 pmChipper!
July 20th, 2009 at 7:10 pm@ 113 bwhahahaha
that was a bad call by the ump but we will take it
July 20th, 2009 at 7:11 pm@108
I was thinking the exact thing
July 20th, 2009 at 7:12 pmhanson is helping my fantsy team tonight
July 20th, 2009 at 7:14 pmTommy’s velocity is up with the extra rest.
9 Ks in 4 innings.
July 20th, 2009 at 7:15 pmI think Sandoval and Molina is the fattest 3-4 combo I’ve ever seen. And Molina one of the more unlikely cleanup hitters. As a rule, you would prefer your cleanup hitter get on base more than 28 percent of the time…
July 20th, 2009 at 7:15 pmStriking out the side. I do believe Hanson’s found his rhythm.
July 20th, 2009 at 7:16 pmHanson owes Chipper dinner for picking him up after walking the pitcher.
July 20th, 2009 at 7:16 pm113,
July 20th, 2009 at 7:16 pmThat’s cool because it works as a 1-2 or a 1-3 analogy.
I’m guessing either Ryan or Niekro on the trivia question.
Oh, Wilhelm, yes, I would have guessed him.
July 20th, 2009 at 7:18 pmHoyt Wilhelm, of course!
Hanson is going to be really really good.
July 20th, 2009 at 7:19 pm“Going to be”?
July 20th, 2009 at 7:20 pmYunel needs to work on his sliding.
ADDED: I hate it when Joe and I are thinking the same thing.
July 20th, 2009 at 7:21 pmBoy Esco is just ticking over like a swiss watch these days.
Edit: posted before I saw the CS
July 20th, 2009 at 7:22 pmYunel has to work on everything that doesn’t involve hitting and fielding.
Those two are really important skills, but boy oh boy does he suck at baserunning and not pissing people off.
July 20th, 2009 at 7:23 pmwhy do they keep playing the song from winnie the poo?
July 20th, 2009 at 7:25 pmThe organist is playing “Winnie the Pooh” for Randy Winn.
July 20th, 2009 at 7:25 pm@117
Yeah, me too. Though he’s killing my WHIP.
July 20th, 2009 at 7:26 pmTonight at Gwinnett Carlyle pitched a scoreless inning with 2 K’s to begin the game and Kelly Johnson has hit a 3-run home run.
July 20th, 2009 at 7:27 pmThe thing with Esco is he has the hardest parts of the game down, everything else are things that can be corrected. That slide was pretty bad though.
July 20th, 2009 at 7:27 pmAssuming his age is right, there are very few players I would trade Escobar for, given his contract status. He is going to be very good for a long time.
July 20th, 2009 at 7:30 pm134,
July 20th, 2009 at 7:31 pmI agree. You’re talking about a 6-tool SS. An all-star in the making for sure.
@134: THIS.
July 20th, 2009 at 7:32 pmWow, Hanson.
July 20th, 2009 at 7:42 pmWow, yeah, forget going to be.
July 20th, 2009 at 7:43 pmThat Hanson kid looks like a keeper too.
July 20th, 2009 at 7:43 pmMy goodness, Tommy has 11 strikeouts. He was shaky early, but he’s frightening right now.
July 20th, 2009 at 7:43 pmMr. Hanson is an ace. Of course, the Giants’ lineup isn’t Murderers’ Row, but still.
July 20th, 2009 at 7:44 pmChannelsurfing.net link if you don’t get SportSouth.
July 20th, 2009 at 7:44 pmDamn. Fils are beating the Cubs like a drum. Will they ever lose?
July 20th, 2009 at 7:46 pmYeah, my wife and I are at the game and Tommy looks great. Were in cf right next to where chippers HR went out. Don’t know how he didn’t catch it.
It looked like Esco was safe on the steal from here. Was it a bad slide?
July 20th, 2009 at 7:48 pmYes; the umpire made the correct call.
July 20th, 2009 at 7:51 pmIt was a terrible slide. He started too early and barely made it to the base.
July 20th, 2009 at 7:51 pmOuch, Nate.
July 20th, 2009 at 7:52 pmThe official scorer is going to call that a “triple,” and he will be wrong. That was a popup that Nate McLouth lost in the lights.
July 20th, 2009 at 7:53 pmThey called that a triple.
July 20th, 2009 at 7:53 pmWuzza huh wha?
July 20th, 2009 at 7:53 pmFor those of you playing along on the radio or Gameday, that was a routine pop fly that McLouth simply lost, then allowed to lie on the ground long enough for ACHE to make it over and pick it up off the ground and throw in. It’s just about the worst play I’ve ever seen that didn’t involve Bob Horner.
July 20th, 2009 at 7:54 pmThat was as ugly a play as I’ve seen in awhile
July 20th, 2009 at 7:55 pmCoincidentally, an idiot two rows behind me started the wave and Nate turned to look just before he lost the ball.
July 20th, 2009 at 7:55 pmAs much as I like Nate, what the hell was with just letting it sit there?
July 20th, 2009 at 7:56 pm142 you are the MAN! Thanks.
July 20th, 2009 at 7:56 pmHey, nice catch there at least.
July 20th, 2009 at 7:57 pmOooooh, he made a routine play look exciting. Seriously, get Church in center and move him to right already.
July 20th, 2009 at 7:57 pmWhat does McLouth rank in plus/minus? That one certainly added to the minus.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:00 pmKelly Johnson hit another home run for Gwinnett. 2nd of the night.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:01 pmI think Boog is high or something, he seems a little different tonight.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:02 pmHanson’s tired, the control’s going away.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:02 pmThis year, McLouth has only cost his teams 3 runs in CF. A drastic improvement from the big fat -21 he put up last year. And yeah, that’s runs, not plays. Still 29th in MLB at CF this year.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:03 pmI’m surprised Hanson is still in there. I know this isn’t his fault — he’s already gotten four outs this inning — and you know they want to get him the win, but he’s getting well over 100 pitches.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:03 pmNice job Tommy.
Maybe 5 outs, check swing to Winn.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:04 pmAll right. Now let’s get him some runs.
That’s three runs until tonight, where he cost us a pretty big one.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:04 pmI guess Bobby figured that a tired Hanson is better than Moylan/O’Flaherty.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:05 pmNeed some runs for Tommy here.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:06 pmDid Joe Simpson really just say “You can go doggy with him” on the air?
July 20th, 2009 at 8:06 pmYeah, Nates future is not in CF, but I like him as a player.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:07 pmwe have a hell of a core for the future with Hanson, JJ, McCann, Ecsco and Nate. Even Kotch is young and an excellent fielder.
Let’s hit another homer here, ACHE.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:08 pm“Barrelled one up?” Is this some sort of secret word thing? I have never heard that phrase before tonight. The only hit on Google is for something involving guns.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:08 pmOkay, Matt, let’s knock them in.
Argh. No, Bobby, Diaz sucks at bunting.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:10 pmIf there is such a thing as a good sacrifice situation, this is it, except that Diaz can’t bunt.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:11 pmDiaz is not barrelling up here.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:11 pmGreat bunt call Bobby!
July 20th, 2009 at 8:11 pmJoe: “Matt is normally a good bunter.”
No, Joe, he is not.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:12 pmFuck yeah! Fuck bunting! Viva El Diaz!
July 20th, 2009 at 8:13 pmDIAZ!
July 20th, 2009 at 8:13 pmSure is a shame he couldn’t get that bunt down.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:13 pmthat’s why Diaz shouldn’t bunt
July 20th, 2009 at 8:13 pmOK, there’s the barrel.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:13 pmWoo-Hoo!
July 20th, 2009 at 8:13 pmWoohoo, stop bunting with Diaz.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:13 pmYou see what happens when you don’t give away free outs?
July 20th, 2009 at 8:13 pmIs that barrelling up?
July 20th, 2009 at 8:13 pmMake that two dinners for Hanson.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:14 pmA little insurance couldn’t hurt.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:14 pmKotchmania!
July 20th, 2009 at 8:14 pmHistory’s worst hitting streak continues! Watch out, DiMaggio!
July 20th, 2009 at 8:14 pmHow many more hits until Kotchman gets his name back?
July 20th, 2009 at 8:14 pmKotchrocket! Still nobody out.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:15 pmI think Romo just fumbled the hold situation.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:15 pmI think the Diaz triple is only going to encourage Bobby to keep on bunting
July 20th, 2009 at 8:15 pm“worst hitting streak” Now thats classic, we should have like a Kotch-o-meter to see how close he is to Rose/Dimaggio!
July 20th, 2009 at 8:15 pmJESSICAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
July 20th, 2009 at 8:15 pmDo a barrel roll!
July 20th, 2009 at 8:16 pmMattty!!!!!!!!
Never, never, never, never, try to bunt again
July 20th, 2009 at 8:16 pmMatty!
The next time someone searches for “barrelled one up,” I reckon this thread will be pretty near the top.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:16 pmJeffy just went yard 2 run style
July 20th, 2009 at 8:16 pmLet’s get enough runs so that we don’t have to use Soriano.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:17 pmCHURCH
July 20th, 2009 at 8:18 pmCHURCH!
July 20th, 2009 at 8:18 pmAnti- Francoeur!
July 20th, 2009 at 8:18 pmLOL, if @199 was serious, Church just answered.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:18 pmRYAN! NOT JEFFY!
July 20th, 2009 at 8:19 pmI have concluded that Church is better than Francoeur.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:19 pmGreat job by Bobby there staying with Diaz and saving Church for the pitcher’s spot. Perfect.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:19 pmI think the Braves are rallying here because Hanson knows how to win.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:19 pmYES! to quote the iron shiek, F the Jeff Francouer….
Church will be ok!
July 20th, 2009 at 8:20 pmWow, you’re going out on a limb there, AAR. lol
July 20th, 2009 at 8:20 pmNot yet, Mac. Let us know when it happens.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%E2%80%9Cbarrelled+one+up%22&aq=f&oq=&aqi=
July 20th, 2009 at 8:20 pmThe new Coke bottle is creepy
July 20th, 2009 at 8:21 pmIf we hold on here, and the Rockies lose as well, then the Braves will be within 3.5 games of the WC lead.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:22 pmI think we should still bring Gonzalez in for his 2nd straight night since he has already warmed up which is exactly the same as pitching in a game.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:23 pmPrado, unlucky.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:23 pmCrooked numbers are pretty.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:24 pm142 — awesome. Thanks. Does this site show every game? Can that be legal? Just curious.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:24 pmmaybe this team is turning the corner a couple weeks ago, I would have figured this one was over when they tied it up, now we strike back for a bunch, could it be?! The turning point?
July 20th, 2009 at 8:25 pmBobby definitely better not use Soriano again with a 6 run lead.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:27 pm@217
I think it’s just a free trial deal, MLB Extra Innings is supposed to be free through Wednesday too.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:27 pmWe were completely incapable of doing this in the first half. If Bobby uses Gonzo or Soriano tonight (assuming he hasn’t already warmed one of them up), then people will have a legit case for questioning his bullpen management.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:27 pm220 — That makes more sense. Thanks for the link.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:28 pmMedlen and/or Logan for the last two please, Bobby. Thanks.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:28 pmAnyone know who’s up in the pen right now?
July 20th, 2009 at 8:28 pmGonzalez is/was up during this past inning.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:30 pmI really don’t like this stupid Arby’s commercial which they’ve been showing ad neuseum.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:30 pmEvery time we have a big inning, they throw inside on Yunel. I’m not saying they’re trying to hit him, I’m just saying they don’t care if they do.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:32 pmWell, Gonzo will/should be unavailable tomorrow.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:32 pmGonzo?
I guess he was already warmed up.
Hope it’s not close tomorrow.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:32 pmGo away Bobby. Please go do something else. Maybe the Mets will let you coach for them so you can be close to your boy.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:32 pmI’m okay with Gonzo coming in if he was already warmed up, but I sure hope he’s unavailable tomorrow.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:32 pmI think Bobby just assumes we’ll lose to Lincecum/Cain
July 20th, 2009 at 8:33 pm231,
July 20th, 2009 at 8:34 pmYessir. My thoughts exactly. And if he brings in Soriano in the 9th. I don’t even know….
lead off walks. grrrr
July 20th, 2009 at 8:34 pmI won’t be too angry unless he uses Soriano, since Gonzo was already warming up.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:34 pmWalking Molina? That’s a bad Gonzo.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:34 pmWhat the hell was that? Gonzalez hasn’t thrown that pitch all year. His breaking ball has always been a slurvy-type. That one had tight, sharp break on it and not as much tilt.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:35 pmEscobar is red hot on defense and offense right now.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:36 pmWhy is Gonzalez pitching when we’re up by six?
…
Why am I asking? The logic of Cox passeth beyond all understanding.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:36 pmWhy is Gonzo of the Tired Arm out there with a 6 run lead in the 8th?
July 20th, 2009 at 8:36 pmI bet we see Moylan for the 9th since the lead will be too large for Soriano and Moylan “needs work” and is the 2nd ranked right hander in the pen.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:37 pmMedlen up in the pen
July 20th, 2009 at 8:37 pmGonzo was warming up when the game was tied, which is why he was put in the game.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:38 pmkj getting hot: 3 for 4 2hr 7 rbis.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:38 pmLooks like we’ve given whatever the Mets have to the Giants.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:40 pmBad night for the Giants, now Rowand has to come out.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:41 pmMaybe he was tired of watching their bullpen?
July 20th, 2009 at 8:42 pmOw. That looks Tommy Johnish.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:42 pmi leave to pick the boy up from football & come back to this wonderful score
July 20th, 2009 at 8:43 pm@243
I understand that is the “reasoning” but it makes no sense. By that logic, why not have him pitch two innings since he has already been burned? Warming up is not the same as pitching in a game.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:43 pmYeah, I think this Church guy’s a keeper.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:45 pmgood for you Church, show Manuel he was an idiot.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:45 pmMoreover, there was plenty of time for him to cool down after Church’s homer — remember, the first five runs scored with none out. Heck, in a video game, Gonzalez would have left his best stuff in the bullpen.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:45 pmI don’t know what to tell you. They all do it.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:46 pmRemember when they enforced the rule about pine tar? George Brett, Martin Prado thanks you.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:47 pmthe Braves keep getting offense like this we may just make it to the playoffs..we are keeping pace somewhat with the phils & putting distance between us & the fish
July 20th, 2009 at 8:48 pmI’m telling you, like I said earlier, that’s George Brett out there.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:49 pmsign of the apocalypse Joe Simpson is talking about the importance of walking and OBP
July 20th, 2009 at 8:49 pmGoofy Booby Cox does it again … guy suffers from tired arm and he pitches him 2 straight nights in games with big leads … I dont get it !!!!!!!
July 20th, 2009 at 8:50 pmGood thing this game isn’t close, because this umpire sucks.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:50 pmsign of the apocalypse Joe Simpson is talking about walks and OBP
July 20th, 2009 at 8:50 pmSo apparently we’re wrong and Kelly Johnson does have options left.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:51 pmIt is no coincidence that our offense has caught fire minus Stenchy. It’s like the McGriff trade again.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:52 pm@263 its always been better to have 9 guys come up to bat rather than 8 batters & an automatic out
July 20th, 2009 at 8:54 pmsoriano time!
July 20th, 2009 at 8:54 pmAll this lineup needed was absence of suck!
July 20th, 2009 at 8:56 pmIt’s refreshing to see Medlen out there
July 20th, 2009 at 8:57 pmIs there any chance that the Mets could trade Francoeur to the Phillies now that his mission has been accomplished in New York?
July 20th, 2009 at 8:58 pmOh no! Get Soriano up now!
July 20th, 2009 at 8:58 pmI actually saw a comment on a Phillies blog saying they wished the team would trade Mayberry for Jeffy.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:59 pm268 The conficker virus of ball players.
July 20th, 2009 at 9:01 pmNow that was fun!
July 20th, 2009 at 9:01 pmLove seeing a pitcher not nibbling with a big lead, but just going after hitters. Well done, Kris.
July 20th, 2009 at 9:01 pmnice win tonight for the Bravos
July 20th, 2009 at 9:02 pm@270
Forgive them, for they know not what they
July 20th, 2009 at 9:02 pmdowish for. Maybe Jeffy will have a future as a Braves cult hero after all by dragging down teams competing with Atlanta (or their minor league affiliates) for the rest of his career.Keep the offense rolling.
Go Braves!
July 20th, 2009 at 9:03 pmFourteen strikeouts by Braves pitchers tonight.
July 20th, 2009 at 9:04 pmdrewdat, thanks very much for the link, man.
very cool to see the win tonight.
Mac, i broke the pledge. As of tonight Frenchy remains the Bete Noir
July 20th, 2009 at 9:05 pmBlue Jays are offering Roy Halladay to the Mets…..
July 20th, 2009 at 9:10 pmRecap is up.
July 20th, 2009 at 9:13 pm