30 Jul
Who the hell put a team in Miami anyway game thread: July 30, Braves at Marlins
It rains all the time, nobody goes to the games, and every few years they win the World Series, then sell all their players.
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It rains all the time, nobody goes to the games, and every few years they win the World Series, then sell all their players.
Spruill sent to GCL
Bizarre. The kid was pitching well at Rome.
July 30th, 2009 at 2:10 pmIs there a need for an opening somewhere because of signing someone?
Usually GCL is only for failures and injuries if a guy is already at low A. MAYBE they want him to “add a pitch” (changeup or whatever he doesn’t have, but may need). Otherwise I agree with sdp.
Bizarre.
July 30th, 2009 at 2:20 pmI don’t think we should blow up the team this year. We’re playing well, we’ve got a shot at a playoff spot, and a team that can do some post-season damage.
I still think this team is primed for 2011, pending further development of Jair and Hanson.
My main hope the past offseason and into this season has been to avoid doing anything that handcuffs our flexibility going into 2011.
That means don’t needlessly tie up money in a bad contract that extends past 2010 that will curtail financial flexibility. That also means, don’t trade any prospects that could be contributing in the majors in 2011. The more options we have, the better, and then when we see who of our prospects are actually going to stick and make the team better, we can then deal the remaining pieces to address MLB roster weaknesses.
Right now, I’d stand pat unless we can get a mega bat with a contract that expires after the 2010 season.
July 30th, 2009 at 2:22 pmFrom previous thread, I think against lefties McCann can be dropped to the 5 or even 6 hole until he figures out the issue. A .263 slugging pct just is not cutting it. I hope it’s not due to the eye issue.
July 30th, 2009 at 2:30 pmon a side note, did yall know that jose rijo is running for mayor in his hometown the the dominican republic, and the person he’s running against is……………(drumroll please….) our very own Raul Mondesi…
how has this not gained more attention? there’s comedy, and then there’s jose rijo running against raul mondesi to be mayor of San Cristobal, DR.
July 30th, 2009 at 2:33 pmSpruill sent to the GCL? Must be an injury.
July 30th, 2009 at 2:36 pmNationals Journal – From Scandal, a Politician Emerges
Mondesi would have my vote.
July 30th, 2009 at 2:51 pmIt used to be that when friends would bring up to me the idea of a computer calling balls and strikes, I would be steadfastly against it. But I think I’m with hankonly from the last thread, the more I think about it. It is truly getting ridiculous, and there is absolutely no reason why that weren’t work. Hell, there’s Pitch f/x technology in every ballpark now. They use it on the MLB Gametracker and it contradicts the actual umpires half the time, for God’s sake. And it would be far more cost effective. And it would not f— up half the freaking calls. It’ll never happen, but it damn well should.
I didn’t watch the game last night, but I did just look at the video clip of the ejection sequence, and that umpire is the biggest schmuck on the planet. Talk about needing his ego stroked! In both this case and the one in Boston, he’s OK unless someone dares question his piss-poor call. Then he vindictively tosses everyone on the freaking team. What the hell was he doing with the lineup card when he hadn’t tossed McCann yet? Can anyone figure it out? The only thing I can figure is he was trying to tell Bobby, “If you’re out here, it better be to make a double switch” in the most asshole way possible. But he had basically called Bobby out of the freaking dugout, so if that was it, that whole conversation was his fault anyway.
I will say I don’t see much in the fist pump. I’m pretty sure it was just a show of sportsmanship by the catcher telling the umpire, “Good game.” I do think it was pretty hilarious after all that went on the inning before, but I don’t think there was anything in it. I mean, think about it: if the umpire did actually fix the game and the Marlins were in on it, why in the hell would they fist pump in public like that? I refuse to believe anybody is that stupid. That whole acknowledging the officials thing doesn’t happen very often in American sports, so it looks weird when it does, but in international soccer, many times people will go up afterwards and shake the referee’s hand. I really don’t have a problem with it. In fact, I think it should happen more often. It’s far better than the officials immediately slinking off the field, I think.
July 30th, 2009 at 2:57 pmI’d write in Jose Guillen.
July 30th, 2009 at 2:58 pmwe neeed to turn it around quick starting tonight, believe it or not the melts are sneaking back up and are 1.5 games behind us
July 30th, 2009 at 3:06 pmTonight be one of those “must wins” in terms of momentum. We still have 2 months left, but this seems like one of those games.
July 30th, 2009 at 3:10 pmNew poll.
July 30th, 2009 at 3:11 pmQuestions for you attorneys out there:
If Plax had wandered into the club in, say, Georgia or Texas and tried to shoot his appendage off, wouldn’t he just have been:
• horse-laughed
• fixed up
• sent home with a bill for the fixin’?
and that’s it?
July 30th, 2009 at 3:14 pmYathink there’ll be any
“BOSTON ROID SOX”
signs at Yankee Stadium next time the Sawx show up?
July 30th, 2009 at 3:16 pmCan the Yankees really throw stones?
July 30th, 2009 at 3:19 pmI have tickets for the next Sawx game in The Bronx. Should be interesting. Lotsa glass houses there.
July 30th, 2009 at 3:19 pmAnd Ortiz celebrates by hitting a 3-run HR today.
July 30th, 2009 at 3:28 pmIt was true when it was said the first time and it’s true now: I doubt anyone could legitimately throw stones.
Certainly won’t stop Yankee fans from firing away, though – will it? Besides, there’s TWO Red Sox.
THE LIST is just wrong on so many levels.
July 30th, 2009 at 3:28 pmI thought this was a braves board. All I hear is Yanks/Sox talk and something about football…
July 30th, 2009 at 3:31 pmIt’s hard to hate the Mets when they are this bad. But all the teams on the poll can talk a long walk off a short cliff.
July 30th, 2009 at 3:33 pmNo Francoeur option in the new poll? Wtf!
July 30th, 2009 at 3:37 pmI think we need to distinguish between a good team, a very good team, and a great. Good and very good teams can make the playoffs. They can even win the World Series (statistically they normally do, its just taht great teams have a chance to win the WS year after year after year.) Atlanta fans were spoiled by a run of truly great teams for over a decade, followed by a couple of mediocre teams, followed by a truly bad team last year. We’re a little spun on what to expect any more. Here’s my take.
As of right now, we have a good team. This team could get on a tear and make the playoffs, at which point the pitching could concievably carry them to the WS. But to do so, they would have to play above their heads for a length of time (and other teams would have to play poorly.) Consider this the Rockies 2007 model.
If the team doesn’t do anything foolish (like trade real talent for a band-aid that wouldn’t really improve the team’s chances this year or next) they will be set up to be a very good team in 2010. Quite possibly the division favorite, depending on how quickly The Manchild is promoted/adjusts to ML pitching. They’ll still have some holes – a weak middle of the pen (with Moylan and EOF moving into one of the closer roles), questionable production from 1B, the open question of Anderson/Diaz/Church in LF, , what to do with Schafer, and of course who plays RF until The Manchild eats them alive. But they will also be more fundamentally sound for the entire season by not Mentos The Outmaker in RF all year and potentially have Hudson or something in return for Hudson fill one of the other holes. They won’t be great, but they’ll be a little better than this year. That’s a divisional contendor.
In 2011 the team should be loaded for bear. Heyward and Schafer should both be contributing. Freeman should be really close. Adam Milligan (who would be the talk of the farm for his work in Rome, except that Manchild guy is going Andruw on our asses.) Hell, they may have even taught the South African how to field by then. Or traded him to a DH team for something useful. With Hanson and Jurrjens anchoring the rotation, probably Vasquez resigned and Medlen pushing Derek Lowe for fourth starter rights, the only down side is that Chipper is pushing 40. That’s a squad that, by all rights at least should be able to wear the same Tomahawks that Maddux/Glavine/Smoltz, Dave Justice, Javy Lopez and Andruw Jones made legend.
And that is what the Braves should be focused on. You don’t tank this year just to get a questionable arm in return for Garret Anderson (or whatever), but you don’t blow up the talent pipeline that’s making 2011 look a good deal like 1991 all over again.
July 30th, 2009 at 3:44 pm@13
A black man with a gun in public, in Georgia or Texas? Bad news, dude.
July 30th, 2009 at 3:45 pmRon, Francoeur is a Met now.
July 30th, 2009 at 3:46 pmI voted for Snitker out of principle. If he wasn’t there I’d have picked the Red Sox.
July 30th, 2009 at 3:50 pmIf “Red Sox fans” were an option, that would have made my choice tough. As it is, Mets in a landslide.
July 30th, 2009 at 3:51 pm“It’s hard to hate the Mets when they are this bad. But all the teams on the poll can talk a long walk off a short cliff.”
sad thing is, their record isnt much worse than ours…
July 30th, 2009 at 3:54 pm27,
July 30th, 2009 at 3:56 pmTheir record drastically understates their dysfunctionality.
PWH, totally agree..anyways DOB says KJ is playing tonight
July 30th, 2009 at 4:12 pmIs there anyone else on the Pirates we could use? I mean they have traded away McClouth, LaRoache, Sanchez, Wilson, Hinske, Snell and are about to trade John Grabow and Tom Gorzelanny to the Cubs.
July 30th, 2009 at 4:17 pmNot afraid of the Mets. I hope they win the second game, too.
Sawx/Yanks
No matter the dirty PED histories on both sides, Ortiz will just be the latest thing to tweak Sawx fans. At those games, it’s gotten to the point where it’s not just about baseball to a lot of these people.
I’d imagine there may be an interesting T-shirt or two—hopefully, it’ll be something better than the always-charming “Boston Sucks” shirt.
Been to a ton of these games over the years—I was at the Game 7′s in ’03 & ’04—but what was once just a great baseball experience has gotten beyond stupid. I’ve never been to a Yanks/Sawx game at Fenway, but I gotta say that there are few things in professional sports more obnoxious (or confrontational) than Sawx fans in Yankee Stadium.
So when they get arrested by NYPD, get refused at the beer lines or get pummelled by equally drunk sheetrock guys from Hicksville, I just give them a look that says, “What did you think was going to happen?”
(Notice I say pro sports, because I have seen Red-&-Black-clad grandfathers on their hands & knees barking on Bourbon Street.)
The Plaxico Thing
July 30th, 2009 at 4:18 pmIt really has more to do with NYC’s unique laws concerning guns than anything else.
If you’re a BJOL subscriber, James has a piece on centerfielders, some in the Hall, some candidates. I’m the “Mac” whose question/comment is in there.
July 30th, 2009 at 4:19 pmFive Reasons Crooked Umpire Bill Hohn Should Be Tossed From Baseball | Bleacher Report
I should have made “Bill Hohn” a possibility on the poll, but then he’d surely win. Jackass.
ADDED: Is KJ starting for Prado, or is the latter moving to third base? Hohn will be the third base umpire tonight, unless MLB comes to its senses and suspends him. And Chipper is apparently about to strangle the bastard.
July 30th, 2009 at 4:32 pmI am pretty sure discharge of a firearm in Georgia leads to very serious consequences, as does (or rather did) concealed carry in a nightclub.
July 30th, 2009 at 4:36 pmThe laws in NYC call for mandatory sentences that are harsher than most places.
July 30th, 2009 at 4:41 pmSurely having a hole in one’s leg is enough punishment?
July 30th, 2009 at 4:43 pmWouldn’t be enough for me. It’s pretty close to reckless endangerment (full disclosure – gun owner). He just as easily have put a hole in somebody else’s leg or head for that matter. I have no problem with harsh penalties for pre-meditated stupidity that results in innocent lives being put at significant risk.
July 30th, 2009 at 4:48 pmI agree Spike, gives us responsible people a bad rap.
July 30th, 2009 at 4:52 pmPlax is a moron though, dumb is dumb.
If we’re going to add BoSox fans to the poll, then I vote we put Philly fans on there as well. Those BooBirds would boo their own mothers.
July 30th, 2009 at 4:54 pmThe Pirates are beyond embarrassing.
July 30th, 2009 at 5:04 pmMy girlfriend is a Red Sox fan.
Pray for me.
July 30th, 2009 at 5:05 pm#22 – that’s certainly the rose colored view of things. Until they figure out why the farm can’t consistently turn out major league pitching, ‘good’ is pretty much the ceiling. It’s great Hanson made it through but he’s the first since Millwood and no one else is banging on the door. The pitching staff we have now was put together because the Mariners, White Sox and Tigers all decide to give us an above average pitcher for stuff we were throwing out anyway. That’s probably not a repeatable, long term strategy.
I would say that this team looks to be 85-win competitive for next season, which is something.
July 30th, 2009 at 5:14 pmSounds like Sam agrees with me. Blow it all up and pray for Heyward.
July 30th, 2009 at 5:14 pm@43 – No Dix, I am not of the “blow it up and pray for Heyward” contingent. I am of the stand pat and build it the way you have to – slow and methodically – contingent. 1991 was not built in 1990, it was built when (the evil idiot moron who knows nothing at all about baseball) Bobby Cox came back with a five year plan in 1986.
@42 – The pitching staff we have now was put together because the Mariners, White Sox and Tigers all decide to give us an above average pitcher for stuff we were throwing out anyway.
The pitching staff of the 1990s was built on one (1) player developed by the Atlanta Braves farm system – Tom Glavine. John Smoltz arrived because the Tigers “decide[d] to give us an above average pitcher for stuff we were thorwing out anyway.” On top of Glavine and Smoltz the Braves signed free agent Charlie Liebrandt as a innings eater until snagging Greg Maddux in the winter of ’92. They developed Steve Avery as a quality fourth starter, rode him like a dog until his arm fell off, then replaced him with Pittsburgh’s ace (back when the Pirates not being able to afford to keep their players was new and different.) That’s the first half of the decade, through 1996. They replaced Neagle with Millwood, the first guy they developed internally since Glavine (and half of Smoltz, if you want to give them that credit) but continued to fill the back end of the rotation with the likes of Dennis Martinez and John Burkett.
It’s your nostalgic rememberances that are rose-colored, my friend.
Derek Lowe = Charlie Liebrandt
Jair Jurrjens = John Smoltz
Tommy Hanson = Tom Glavine (only with John Smoltz’ arm)
Javy Vasquez != Greg Maddux, but NOBODY = Greg Maddux
This is the same working plan as the 86-90 rebuild, only with fewer holes to fill and better foundational talent than the teams of the mid-80s were working with. Will they turn this into three HOF starters and 14 straight divisional crowns? No. Both of those events are singular in nature, unique. But there’s a really good chance that Jason Heyward will be better than David Justice (really) and the more human prospects project well too. I’ve yet to see why Kris Medlen couldn’t post something akin to Avery’s numbers, and of course there are more free agent pitchers on the market to fill out the back end as well.
This team is primed to be *very good* in 2010, and *great* in 2011-16.
July 30th, 2009 at 5:46 pmWhy blow it up? If we had had the current lineup all year instead of wasting 2 months on an injured Schafer and 3 months on the corpse of Jeff Francoeur’s career, we’d be right there with the Phillies competing for the division. Add Heyward and a healthy Schafer next year plus Hanson pitching a full year instead of having random AAAA pitchers like Jojo Reyes, Chris Medlen, and James Parr taking turns in the rotation and there’s no reason this team can’t compete in 2010.
July 30th, 2009 at 5:48 pmyou could blow it up (which I would take as trading Vasquez or KK, GA, Soriano, and Gonzo) because our chances of winning the wild card isnt all that great and most likely these guys wont be back for 2010 anyways. You do have to move a starter before next season and I doubt you want to pay KK $7 mil to pitch from the pen. Id prefer to keep Vasquez but he may net us a young corner OF’r and maybe a closer at the same time. You could move Soriano and Gonzo becuase someone would overpay for them. They would bring us plenty of nice position prospects Id like to think
You could also hold onto what you’ve got and take the draft picks and continue to build for the future.
Braves have plenty of options that they choose which route to go with. I dont see Wren overpaying for anything and he’ll more than likely just stand pat till the break. Its Probably the best option
July 30th, 2009 at 5:55 pmSo the Pirates have traded their starting 1B, starting 2B, starting SS, starting CF, and two starting pitchers. Holy crap.
July 30th, 2009 at 5:56 pmIt’s your nostalgic rememberances that are rose-colored, my friend.
Yes because I’m making up Steve Avery, Kent Mercker, Mark Wohlers, Pete Smith, Greg McMichael, etc. in my mind. You’re going to say I’m setting the bar too low but those guys all had a few seasons of cheap usefulness. The farm hasn’t even been able to generate those types of players in the last decade.
July 30th, 2009 at 5:56 pmLINEUP
1. McLouth
2. Johnson
3. Chipper
4. McCann
5. Anderson
6. Escobar
7. Kotchman
8. Diaz, RF
9. Vazquez
Jeff Bennett has been released.
July 30th, 2009 at 5:58 pmwhy am i not seeing prado??
July 30th, 2009 at 5:59 pm@48
I see little distinction between Steve Avery/Kent Mercker and Kris Medlen. Mark Wohlers and Pete Moylan. Greg McMichael and, well, any fungible reliever. I suspect were we really differ is your focus on “developing” those sorts of players. I don’t really care if we “develop” Raffy Soriano or trade for him. I don’t care if we develop Freddie Freeman or if we convert Chipper’s contract into Albert Pujols when he goes free agent. All I care about is the quality of player on the team, and this team has quality players at most positions. It has quality players in the pipeline to contribute significantly over the next five years. You’re a little too Chicken Little for my tastes.
July 30th, 2009 at 6:08 pmPrado got hit with a line drive on the ankle while practicing turning a double play. He ventured just beyond the protective screen and BLAMMO!
July 30th, 2009 at 6:14 pmUgh. That sucks.
July 30th, 2009 at 6:15 pmMercker was better than Medlen & Avery was way better than Medlen.
July 30th, 2009 at 6:19 pmSmith was acquired in trade from the Phillies, and McMichael was a minor league journeyman. And the farm certainly has managed to produce a few pitchers who were useful and cheap for 2-3 years, like Chuck James and Horacio Ramirez.
July 30th, 2009 at 6:19 pmSo, when Hohn ejects Chipper, will Prado be able to play or will we have to suffer with Diory?
July 30th, 2009 at 6:21 pmI see little distinction between Steve Avery/Kent Mercker and Kris Medlen. Mark Wohlers and Pete Moylan.
Then you aren’t looking hard enough. Far too high on Medlen, he’s hasn’t done anything.
I suspect were we really differ is your focus on “developing” those sorts of players. I don’t really care if we “develop” Raffy Soriano or trade for him.
It’s true that once a guy is on your team it doesn’t matter how he got there. The point is if you can’t rely on you farm system to fill out your pitching staff and instead have to rely on other teams being dumb, you’ll never have the depth of talent to be great. Having a guy come up from the minors and pitch decent middle relief on the cheap for a few years is very valuable whether you acknowledge it or not.
July 30th, 2009 at 6:22 pmSomebody please tell me why the Fish own us, AKA Marlins> Braves?
July 30th, 2009 at 6:23 pm#46, why do you say the Braves have to move a starter? Unless I’m missing something, they can just decline Hudson’s option can’t they?
July 30th, 2009 at 6:26 pmAnd the farm certainly has managed to produce a few pitchers who were useful and cheap for 2-3 years, like Chuck James and Horacio Ramirez.
Well, at least they were cheap. I understand the point but eating innings around league average for 1+ seasons is about as good as we’ve gotten recently.
July 30th, 2009 at 6:27 pmI’m surprised Hohn didn’t call him out.
July 30th, 2009 at 6:27 pm@61–ditto
edit–but douche Hohn will probably find some excuse to call McC out on Kotchman’s double–maybe something like failed to touch second base while running from 3rd to home
July 30th, 2009 at 6:29 pmObviously I am just as excited at the thought of Heyward and Freeman as everyone else but at this point it is just as likely that the 2011 team will be no better than this one. There is an excellent chance that Hudson will not be back next year, let alone resigned for 2011; that Vazquez will have left in free agency; that Lowe will be in steep decline and Chipper will have already collapsed; that Kawakami will still be here and have one year left on his contract; that Escobar-Cox tensions will have finally reached a boil and we’ll have a gaping hole at SS; that Schafer will fail to develop and McLouth will have to man CF leaving a perpetual hole in LF; that the bullpen will be a disaster.
July 30th, 2009 at 6:29 pmWoo-hoo!
Let’s KO these guys early.
July 30th, 2009 at 6:31 pmJames’ ERA+ was 118 in 2006, 100 in 2007. Horacio was 30-22 with a 104 ERA+ as a Brave. These are certainly above-average pitchers. The organization also produced Odalis Perez, Jason Marquis, and Adam Wainwright in those years. You can’t blame the farm system for them being traded.
July 30th, 2009 at 6:31 pmGreat running by Esco.
July 30th, 2009 at 6:32 pmExcellent swing.
Jason Schmidt did okay too.
July 30th, 2009 at 6:35 pmEsco hurt?
July 30th, 2009 at 6:36 pmDiory in for Esco, who got hit by a pitch on his throwing hand.
July 30th, 2009 at 6:37 pmWill someone please teach the Marlins not to throw at Yunel? Oh, how I wish Matt Garza was a Brave…
July 30th, 2009 at 6:37 pmGreat, when Hohn ejects Chipper, Norton will have to play third.
July 30th, 2009 at 6:38 pmI thought tonight might end our chances for the wild card, but I didn’t think it would happen like this.
July 30th, 2009 at 6:38 pmWe need Hudson back, he’d plunk Hanley for that.
July 30th, 2009 at 6:38 pm71,
July 30th, 2009 at 6:39 pmThat is why you keep Conrad up.
True or false: The prominent advertisement for a local UHF Univision station’s news program is yet another sign of the Marlins’ general minor league mentality.
July 30th, 2009 at 6:41 pmI gotta say – I love seeing Bobby standing there with that glove in his hand lately. He’s definitely into these recent games.
July 30th, 2009 at 6:48 pmVandenHurk could bunt for the Braves.
July 30th, 2009 at 6:55 pmHow did it take that long to come up with John Smoltz? Has someone hit Joe on the head recently?
July 30th, 2009 at 7:00 pm@75: True in the vast majority of the MLB markets; false in Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, Houston and San Diego.
July 30th, 2009 at 7:00 pm…And the crack Fox broadcast crew cuts to commercial in the middle of the inning.
July 30th, 2009 at 7:09 pmMaybe they can dub in audio from commercials every time that Simpson opens his trap. Just leave the video alone.
July 30th, 2009 at 7:14 pmBoog says theres a rumor that the Marlins are getting Adrian Gonzalez and Heath Bell for Mike Stanton, Maybin, and Andrew Miller
Hanley and Adrian back to back??
July 30th, 2009 at 7:23 pmper mlbtr, Bennett asked for his release and we’ve granted that to him
July 30th, 2009 at 7:25 pm@76 Well I know he is excited today, b/c he will probably get to use Norton.
July 30th, 2009 at 7:25 pmYou’re welcome, Jeff!
July 30th, 2009 at 7:25 pm“Bobby, is that glove for catching foul balls, or are you just glad to use Norton?”
July 30th, 2009 at 7:26 pmDiaz….damn.
July 30th, 2009 at 7:30 pmand with Captain Mustache umping 3rd tonight there’s no need for McC to check his swing
July 30th, 2009 at 7:36 pmThe second base umpire calls him safe… and Hohn races over from third base to call him out!
July 30th, 2009 at 7:37 pmlol ACHE doesn’t even hold the bat over his shoulder on a IBB
July 30th, 2009 at 7:38 pmHothead Bill Hohn is to these Braves what Jack Madden was to the Dominique-Era Hawks. Trouble.
July 30th, 2009 at 7:40 pmIntentionally walking Garret?!?
Oh, right.
(I realize he’s hitting now, etc. Still bitter.)
July 30th, 2009 at 7:41 pmToo many outs in the lineup….the 2 spot, the 6 spot and the 8th and 9th spot.
July 30th, 2009 at 7:41 pmJoe: “we kind of picked on Billy a little bit, and well, we meant to”
Your best line all year Joe
July 30th, 2009 at 7:42 pmIt doesn’t help that Subzero is batting 6th.
July 30th, 2009 at 7:43 pmJim and Don on the radio talking about Subzero being “a good little player”. You just know that phrase is positive talk for “stinking up the joint/being just about useless”.
July 30th, 2009 at 7:43 pmThey meant “a good little league player”.
July 30th, 2009 at 7:45 pmI wonder if we could get TJ Pena back from the Royals for him.
July 30th, 2009 at 7:49 pmSubzero is 10 for 71 with 4 walks.
July 30th, 2009 at 7:52 pmWhy do the Braves make Vanden Hurk look like Seaver?
July 30th, 2009 at 7:53 pmgood job nate
July 30th, 2009 at 7:57 pmHAHA, that’s why RBI isn’t a good statistic for evaluating players. Broken-bat bloop single runner on 2nd 2 out and he gets an RBI. Like he was trying to do that.
July 30th, 2009 at 7:57 pmI could see if Diory had some speed, but he doesn’t. Which brings me to my next question: What’s up with the lack of speed in the Braves organization?
KJ…you got to get Chipper to the plate in that situation. Damn he sucks hitting at the top of the lineup
July 30th, 2009 at 8:02 pmJavy Vazquez is a badass.
July 30th, 2009 at 8:11 pmck is the best defensive 1st baseman in the league.
July 30th, 2009 at 8:12 pmHmmm….that might be it for Javy.
July 30th, 2009 at 8:22 pmCommando Cody kills us.
July 30th, 2009 at 8:23 pmIf there is one thing I can conclude from this series…the Marlins don’t miss many meatballs right down the middle of the plate.
July 30th, 2009 at 8:23 pmBobby might be riding this horse a little too long.
July 30th, 2009 at 8:26 pm@108 and the umpires hate us
July 30th, 2009 at 8:26 pmWho does Bobby have confidence in?
July 30th, 2009 at 8:28 pmWe’re going to lose.
July 30th, 2009 at 8:30 pmWes Helms inexplicably kills us.
July 30th, 2009 at 8:31 pmWhat is the deal with the 0-2 breaking balls in the zone?
July 30th, 2009 at 8:31 pmDamn…please don’t hit the man.
July 30th, 2009 at 8:33 pmmike gonzalez has forgotton how to get people out.
July 30th, 2009 at 8:34 pm97…me no thinks.
July 30th, 2009 at 8:34 pmUnbelievable.
July 30th, 2009 at 8:35 pmSaid it before, and I’ll say it again: I will shed no tears when Gonzalez leaves.
July 30th, 2009 at 8:36 pmdo you guys think mike’s problem might be he gets a little too emotional?
July 30th, 2009 at 8:36 pmDEAR GOD IS THE INTENTIONAL WALK STUPID.
July 30th, 2009 at 8:36 pmWell, at least that makes the Ramirez decision easy….or it should.
July 30th, 2009 at 8:36 pmBring in Moylan.
July 30th, 2009 at 8:37 pmGonzo with the bases loaded. Who’s confident?
July 30th, 2009 at 8:37 pmNormally, I agree with you, but not in this case. 2 out, best hitter on opposing team? Why is this stupid?
July 30th, 2009 at 8:37 pmBecause now the tying run can score with a walk. Cantu’s OBP is higher than Ramirez’s BA.
July 30th, 2009 at 8:38 pmWhy Is McCann setting up so far inside? He’s going to hit him…
Well that was not expected.
July 30th, 2009 at 8:39 pmComplete BS hit. Of course.
July 30th, 2009 at 8:39 pmYeah, that worked really well.
July 30th, 2009 at 8:39 pmShit.
July 30th, 2009 at 8:39 pmThat was a hit? Oh c’mon.
July 30th, 2009 at 8:39 pmGoddamnit
July 30th, 2009 at 8:39 pmHow do you get an infield single with the bases loaded?
July 30th, 2009 at 8:40 pmGreat IBB, always works out for us.
July 30th, 2009 at 8:40 pmDoes that make 2 POS’s in critical situations this week?
July 30th, 2009 at 8:40 pmI swear. When’s the last time someone on this team had a huge off of junk like that?
I recall the ex-’Spos doing that to Smoltz all the damn time. Ridiculous.
July 30th, 2009 at 8:40 pmDon’t get mad now Gonzo. Damn I’m sick of his shit.
July 30th, 2009 at 8:41 pmOh please Mac – he got a ground ball. The fact that it’s not an out doesn’t validate the decision one way or another.
July 30th, 2009 at 8:41 pmWhat bothers me most is that we lose to these f&^#ers on bull$#!* that never happens against anyone else. The lights-out closer grooving a pitch. A three-run blast to an opposing pitcher. Infield dribblers that inexplicably kick up 35 feet in the air. An umpire with an agenda, and that trend goes back a dozen years. Selig should have contracted this franchise when he had the chance. Would have saved me a lot of time and an ulcer or two.
July 30th, 2009 at 8:43 pmHanley’s batting average is higher than Cantu’s OBP… Hanley is batting .346 Cantu’s OBP is 339.
July 30th, 2009 at 8:44 pmMaybe Donnelly will accidentally hit Diory’s bat with the ball.
This team kills me. As soon as they look like they might be putting something together, they fall on their faces. This series has been a trainwreck.
July 30th, 2009 at 8:44 pmSubzero is beyond horrible. Infante cannot return fast enough.
July 30th, 2009 at 8:45 pmDoes Diory just automatically start with an 0-2 count?
Sad.
July 30th, 2009 at 8:45 pmand it all starts when we bring up kelly johnson, send down conrad and keep norton.
July 30th, 2009 at 8:46 pmGood news: trade deadline tomorrow, and we’re not changing a thing.
July 30th, 2009 at 8:46 pm@141
The only people not choking all over the place are Kotchman and Anderson. The rest of team has a history of choking.
July 30th, 2009 at 8:46 pmMaybe Donnelly will accidentally hit Diory’s bat with the ball.
No pitchers have that kind of control.
Well, at least evidently they don’t.
July 30th, 2009 at 8:46 pmCan we please not pinch hit Greg Norton. Bring in Ross… I know he is the backup catcher. I don’t care.
July 30th, 2009 at 8:46 pmHaha, Norton on deck? Why isn’t Church goin up there?
July 30th, 2009 at 8:46 pmGrab a bat, Norty.
July 30th, 2009 at 8:47 pmDiaz has no clue against righthanders.
July 30th, 2009 at 8:48 pmI really think Norton is due. Wait, does Donnelly throw faster than 75 MPH?
July 30th, 2009 at 8:48 pmLet Gonzalez hit. He couldn’t do any worse.
July 30th, 2009 at 8:48 pmcan we all agree that norton will get out?
July 30th, 2009 at 8:49 pmswtiched to the mets broadcast for fantasy baseball purposes, and i swear their TV announcer just said this:
(after a 2 out single by wright, francouer coming to bat)
“there is no one the mets would rather have coming to bat in a situation like this than jeff francoeur”
July 30th, 2009 at 8:49 pmGreg Norton you are so freaking bad
July 30th, 2009 at 8:51 pmHelpless.
July 30th, 2009 at 8:51 pmOutside of definitively suck, what is it exactly that Norton does that Barbaro couldn’t do?
July 30th, 2009 at 8:51 pmDonnelly’s hanging sliders and 89 mph fastballs make him look like freakin Drysdale to Diaz and Norton. Good grief!
July 30th, 2009 at 8:51 pmWow, Norton struck out. What a surprise!
July 30th, 2009 at 8:51 pmScouting Report on Norton:
Throw fastballs down the middle.
July 30th, 2009 at 8:52 pmIs at his best when he doesn’t swing.
I have a distinct feeling this is NOT going to extras.
July 30th, 2009 at 8:52 pmWhen you give up a hit before the “AT&T Call to the Bullpen” promo comes up, it’s never a good sign. This should end quickly.
July 30th, 2009 at 8:53 pmCody Ross walkoff? Anyone?
July 30th, 2009 at 8:55 pmJim and Don: “Norton is due to get a big hit.”
July 30th, 2009 at 8:55 pmReality: “Norton is past his due date.”
At least we all agree. With the Phillies playing the Giants, the Braves will either be 9 out in the East or 5 back in the wildcard.
July 30th, 2009 at 8:55 pmNorton should be playing on whatever craptacular independent-league team is employing John Rocker nowadays.
July 30th, 2009 at 8:56 pmIntentionally walking Hanley was the right move.. but leaving Mike Gonzalez in to face Jorge Cantu was not–where’s Soriano at that point??!!
Cantu vs. lefty (M. Gonzalez) .306avg/.376obp/.510slg/.886ops
Cantu vs. righty (R. Soriano) .277avg/.324obp/.418slg/.742ops
That was a huge 2-out at-bat to get out of the inning with the lead. That should be Closer time.
July 30th, 2009 at 8:56 pmGreat Diory. You contribute nothing.
EDIT: Ugh. Kelly, you too
July 30th, 2009 at 8:56 pmI am not sure a good throw even gets the DP.
July 30th, 2009 at 8:57 pmWhat’s the over/under on when Mike Gonzalez sees Dr. Andrews?
July 30th, 2009 at 8:57 pmDear Mr. Wren,
What the f@#& is Greg Norton doing on your team? Please cut him because this is bullshiiiiiiiiiiiiii.
Thanks,
Hiawatha
July 30th, 2009 at 8:58 pmWhat the hell is McCann doing? All he is going to do is throw the ball into rightfield.
July 30th, 2009 at 8:58 pmfacepalm.jpg
July 30th, 2009 at 8:59 pmWow. Just, wow.
July 30th, 2009 at 8:59 pmI want Prado and Yunel back.
July 30th, 2009 at 9:00 pmThe look on Bobby’s face was priceless.
July 30th, 2009 at 9:00 pmDoop doo doodle doodle doop dee doo doo
Anyone want to friggin’ play on this team? Anyone? Oh well, let’s just go home. Orange slices for everyone!
July 30th, 2009 at 9:00 pmWOW…can we get this bad karma, bad luck asshole off the team? KJ sucks.
July 30th, 2009 at 9:00 pmits has happened again….i hate this team
July 30th, 2009 at 9:00 pmKJ with the defense! Dumbass.
July 30th, 2009 at 9:00 pmKelly Johnson’s defense involved in this year’s season defining game, just like last year?
Stats aside…he’s just not very smooth out there.
Edit” he made a dam good turn on THAT dp
July 30th, 2009 at 9:00 pmSeason over.
Double play? Oh, just prolonging the inevitable.
July 30th, 2009 at 9:02 pmOuch KJ. Very ouch.
July 30th, 2009 at 9:02 pmFinally
July 30th, 2009 at 9:02 pmDemote KJ. Demote Diory. DFA Norton. Promote Conrad. Promote Barbaro. Find a warm body for the other slot; any one of us here would suffice, work cheaply and couldn’t do any worse. For the love of God, Bobby, please. It’s obvious by the horrified look on your face after that blown DP that you can’t take this anymore. Neither can we.
July 30th, 2009 at 9:04 pmOne for three on double plays, that needs to be somewhat better.
July 30th, 2009 at 9:04 pmhey it only took three double plays to get out of the inning
July 30th, 2009 at 9:04 pmHopefully Kelly only gets the chance to make one out this inning. We got rid of Laroche for not having his head in the game, right? Why do we still have KJ?
Chipper’s due for a big hit. Hopefully he’ll give us something to cheer about.
July 30th, 2009 at 9:05 pmJust extra pitches Moylan had to make all b/c the choke artist can’t field.
July 30th, 2009 at 9:06 pmi hope this is one of those pivotal games where we win, kj sucks, and bobby learns a lesson.
July 30th, 2009 at 9:07 pmMan, GameCenter had my blood pressure rising. Kelly swinging at the first pitch and out(s) recorded. I’ve never been so happy to see a sacrifice bunt.
July 30th, 2009 at 9:09 pmGood. He didn’t make two outs.
July 30th, 2009 at 9:09 pmB MAC
July 30th, 2009 at 9:13 pmAt some point they’re going to stop walking Chipper to pitch to the better hitter.
July 30th, 2009 at 9:13 pmAbout time….
What the hell is Diory clapping for? His ass should be in Rome.
July 30th, 2009 at 9:13 pmyes!
also: lol @ cody ross
July 30th, 2009 at 9:13 pmMaaaaaac!!!!
July 30th, 2009 at 9:13 pmB-MAC!!!!!!!
July 30th, 2009 at 9:13 pmwoo!
July 30th, 2009 at 9:13 pmBoys, Im back!
Did Bill Honn throw McCann out for hitting that homer?
July 30th, 2009 at 9:13 pmBMac should have stuck out his tongue rounding 3rd.
July 30th, 2009 at 9:13 pmDoesn’t KJ’s career major league line = Conrad’s career minor league line? Or close? Maybe KJ isn’t suited for coming off the bench or starting when we have Prado rolling, but something like that would be the only reason to swap them. Trade KJ for value or non-tender if you don’t want him next year, sure.
July 30th, 2009 at 9:13 pmBMac to the rescue.
July 30th, 2009 at 9:14 pmYessss. Suck that one Hohn
July 30th, 2009 at 9:15 pmThis is the Luis Ayala I remember from the Nationals.
July 30th, 2009 at 9:15 pmI say we tempt fate and throw Acosta or Logan here. Maybe put one in LF and reverse the platoon split so Logan faces righties and Acosta the lefties.
July 30th, 2009 at 9:15 pmHernandez delenda est.
July 30th, 2009 at 9:15 pmWe need to score as many as possible.
July 30th, 2009 at 9:16 pmMan… Diory made an out before I could even finish typing something negative about him. He’s efficient!
July 30th, 2009 at 9:16 pmList of reasons Diory Hernandez is on a major-league roster: he can “play” SS. List of reasons Greg Norton is on a major-league roster:………..I got nothing.
July 30th, 2009 at 9:17 pmCould be worse, we could be paying Diory like Yuniesky Betancourt.
July 30th, 2009 at 9:17 pmGo Rick Camp on him.
July 30th, 2009 at 9:18 pmDon’t forget, Moylan was the Babe Ruth of Australia.
July 30th, 2009 at 9:18 pmWhy is Moylan batting…
July 30th, 2009 at 9:18 pmDiaz should have charged the mound, might as well earn the impending ejection.
July 30th, 2009 at 9:19 pmThere are 800,000 reasons Norton is on the roster.
July 30th, 2009 at 9:19 pmDecisions need to be made regarding Norton, Diory and KJ.
Church hurt again? He’s becoming useless…
July 30th, 2009 at 9:19 pmwhat the hell?!
July 30th, 2009 at 9:19 pmSo I guess Cox is content with the three run lead. I hope it works out.
July 30th, 2009 at 9:19 pmOf course Bobby won’t use his only useful, healthy bench player and he’ll let Moylan hit.
July 30th, 2009 at 9:20 pmMoylan hit because the bench tonight was Diory, Norton, and Ross, and the two more useless ones have already been used, and Bobby doesn’t want to lose his backup catcher to pinch-hitting in a three-run game. Moylan’s probably no worse of a hitter than any of the starting pitchers.
July 30th, 2009 at 9:20 pm@215
Church, Prado, and Yunel are hurt…which effectively gives us no bench.
Hell I’d bring up Sammons just so we could use Ross as a pinch hitter.
July 30th, 2009 at 9:20 pmi hope this is one of those pivotal games where we win, kj sucks, and bobby learns a lesson.
Reality:
Cox (thinking): “well, I started Prado two nights ago and we lost. Yesterday I started Prado and we lost. Today I started Kelly and we won. Maybe that’s what we need….oh and let’s trade for Francoeur back.”
July 30th, 2009 at 9:21 pmThough Medlen’s a switch-hitter; he probably would have been your best chance for a hit by a pitcher.
July 30th, 2009 at 9:22 pmWay to go, Defense Boy.
July 30th, 2009 at 9:22 pmAre you fucking kidding me?
July 30th, 2009 at 9:22 pmLOL…WTFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF!!!
July 30th, 2009 at 9:22 pmthat one’s not on KJ
July 30th, 2009 at 9:23 pmwt heck?
July 30th, 2009 at 9:23 pmPlease, please, please give Kotchman an error for this and end the bloody charade of his “flawless” defense.
July 30th, 2009 at 9:23 pmGload doesn’t seem to have a problem with Soriano…. Oops. Scratch that. I see now that it was just more stellar D.
July 30th, 2009 at 9:23 pmWhat’s wrong with using your back-up catcher to pinch-hit
July 30th, 2009 at 9:24 pmtingin a 3-run game?LMAO….guys that was really bad. The Braves needs to trash this stadium before they leave.
July 30th, 2009 at 9:24 pmBetter save Ross in case Mustache Man gives BMac another heave-ho
July 30th, 2009 at 9:25 pmHohn might throw out McCann for looking at him
July 30th, 2009 at 9:25 pmI have no idea what the problem is, though Daniel has a good point. You’d wind up with Jurrjens in right field and Diaz behind the plate.
Kotchman should have gotten an error, but no official scorer in the world would have called it that.
July 30th, 2009 at 9:25 pmI would rather see Moylan pinch hit than Norton.
July 30th, 2009 at 9:26 pmKotch is a good first baseman, but the “errorless” streak is a charade.
July 30th, 2009 at 9:26 pmIt’s too bad about the shitty defense. If it were two outs with Hanley up, I’d have beaned that hell out of him.
July 30th, 2009 at 9:27 pmThere should be some kind of accountability for official scoring. Way too many base hits being given when an error would be much more appropriate.
July 30th, 2009 at 9:27 pmSoriano looks very dominant. He looked like he got pissed after that dumb ass play.
July 30th, 2009 at 9:27 pmI still can’t get over how empty the stands are. It’s kind of silly. Put the team in NYC, and they’re full every night.
July 30th, 2009 at 9:27 pmWhat did Hanley do? I’m not watching…
July 30th, 2009 at 9:27 pm@233, there’s nothing wrong with it, Bobby has just never done that.
July 30th, 2009 at 9:28 pmVery disappointing loss for the Marlins fan.
July 30th, 2009 at 9:29 pmNothing in particular. Just accumulated crap (ie: Baker leaning into pitches) throughout the series…and he’s their best hitter.
July 30th, 2009 at 9:32 pmMuch needed win. Now they need to leave Norton in Miami, dropped Diory off in Rome and get a reliever for KJ.
July 30th, 2009 at 9:33 pmRecapped.
July 30th, 2009 at 9:45 pm