29 Sep
Joe Boever vs. Manny Acosta. Also, game thread, Marlins at Braves
Joe Boever Statistics and History – Baseball-Reference.com
Seasons with Braves: 1987-1990
Notable Stats: 4.24 ERA, 70% save percentage
Notable Achievements: I still don’t know what a “palmball” is. Most-similar pitcher is Jim Acker, which seems about right.
Versus:
Manny Acosta Statistics and History – Baseball-Reference.com
Seasons with Braves: 2007-2009
Notable Stats: .294/.388/.565 allowed in high leverage situations
Notable Achievements: Released by the Yankees as a minor leaguer.
oh, the old palm ball…
September 29th, 2009 at 2:08 pmMac,
A palmball is a pitch otherwise thrown like a fastball, but not off the fingers. last point of release is the palm. It produces a straight change up (not that you didn’t already know that, you sly devil).
September 29th, 2009 at 2:10 pmCan we not get all wound up over a missed call in Colorado? Yeah, it looks like Barmes missed the play but faked it well enough to get the call. That’s the game. I guarantee you that Yunel Escobar or Martin Prado would have tried the same thing, and if they had gotten away with it no one would have been too terribly upset by the “cheating.”
If the Braves want to make the playoffs they need to win the next six games and let the rest of it fall where it may. Clint Barmes is not the focus here.
September 29th, 2009 at 2:10 pmSchuerholz interview today on Fox Business News- http://tinyurl.com/yculgd3
September 29th, 2009 at 2:11 pmIs this a team of density? (cue Huey Lewis and the News, Power of Love).
September 29th, 2009 at 2:14 pmSpeaking of Acker, I’m not sure why I didn’t include him. His ERAs are decent, I suppose that’s why, but on the other hand he was 7-27. That’s the worst record of anyone in the period with more than a handful of decisions… I hadn’t realized that Acker was a first-round pick of the Braves whom they lost three years later on a Rule 5 pick. How do you give up on a first-rounder after three years? Then four years later they traded to get him back…
September 29th, 2009 at 2:15 pmIf we still had Kolb or Paronto, or if McCann had worked out a little less this past offseason, then maybe we’d be a team of density.
September 29th, 2009 at 2:22 pm@3
It doesn’t matter…hope is dead. Much easier that way.
September 29th, 2009 at 2:23 pm@Sam:
+1
September 29th, 2009 at 2:24 pmRight now, the Rockies odds of making the playoffs is 72.1%.
If the Rockies win and the Braves lose, the Rockies’ odds shoot up to 92.1%.
But if the Braves win and the Rockies lose tonight, the Rockies’ postseason odds plummet to 47.8%.
September 29th, 2009 at 2:28 pm&@#$ yeah!
September 29th, 2009 at 2:29 pmhttp://tiny.cc/wkSRE
I like this…”Whether it’s pitch selection, mechanics or plain old execution, Marquis is struggling these days. He has a 6.49 ERA in his past six starts, during which the Rockies are 1-5, and has given up five earned runs in four of those”
September 29th, 2009 at 2:35 pmthe next line is even better where it basically says “Marquis OPP BA is .300″
September 29th, 2009 at 2:35 pmRE: Barmes catch.
Yeah, I slomo’d that like 100 times as it happened and tried to convince my wife he didn’t catch it and it ticked me off that no one mentioned it. LaRussa looked like he was coming out to talk to the home plate ump afterwards, too.
I saw that the ball had transferred to his bare-hand during the roll and was convinced it had to have hit the ground, but the video evidence didn’t back me up.
September 29th, 2009 at 2:36 pmIf only Ned Yost was still managing the Brew Crew, we’d have an ex-Brave leading the way to increase the Brewer insenity against the Rockies.
September 29th, 2009 at 3:03 pmLooks like Mauer is going to catch 19 innings today.
September 29th, 2009 at 3:09 pmDan, that last probability seems a bit low considering that the Rockies would still be a game ahead. Where did you get those numbers?
Go Brewers and Go Astros!
September 29th, 2009 at 3:19 pm16—My in-the-championship fantasy team thanks him for his commitment.
September 29th, 2009 at 3:29 pmthat last probability seems a bit low considering that the Rockies would still be a game ahead
It’s the Nationals effect.
September 29th, 2009 at 3:30 pmYeah, there are two reasons: the Braves’ schedule is easier (and all at home; the Rockies finish at LA), and the Braves’ statistics are better than the Rockies’, especially post-Jeffy.
September 29th, 2009 at 3:55 pm@ 7 – Don’t forget big Bob Wickman!
September 29th, 2009 at 3:58 pmAlso, in the case of a one-game playoff, the Braves would be the favorites, since they’d host the game and are statistically better.
September 29th, 2009 at 4:00 pmI sure hope this is a team of density. If not, they’ll just fade into bolivian.
September 29th, 2009 at 4:11 pm22,
September 29th, 2009 at 4:30 pmAnd the match-up, provided neither the Braves or the Rockies alter their rotation, would be Vazquez vs. Jason Hammel (Aaron Cook could conceivably start on short rest).
http://rowlandsoffice.wordpress.com/2009/09/29/free-braves-tickets/
September 29th, 2009 at 4:51 pmActually, isn’t muscle denser than fat? So for the team of density, it’d have to be Ron Gant and… uh… That’s all I got.
September 29th, 2009 at 4:54 pmSeriously people (in the ATL area.) Off yer asses and downtown!
September 29th, 2009 at 5:03 pmGant and Franco – old dude was ripped.
September 29th, 2009 at 5:05 pmAnyone gets down there and wants to meet, email me at samh then the at sign then the Bellsouth then the dot then the net.
September 29th, 2009 at 5:08 pm@ 28-
Good call, I guess Brian Jordan would have to count too.
September 29th, 2009 at 5:10 pm@28,
I haven’t seen it on here, but Julio was managing a Mets lower level farm club (GCL?) and got fired.
I didn’t get anything on the “why”, though.
September 29th, 2009 at 5:13 pmIf I were in the ATL, I’d be there, Sam.
September 29th, 2009 at 5:13 pmBeing as how we are increasingly choking at the bat, that Josh Johnson is starting for the fish and that we presently are more lucky than good on offense …
I am predicting the Braves get no-hit tonight yet win 1-0. Notice no wave or sunami metaphors on this occasion.
September 29th, 2009 at 5:47 pm#33, Let’s go with a Norton pinch hit sacrifice bunt being thrown into right field to bring home the winning run.
September 29th, 2009 at 6:07 pmWell, doesn’t look like Tim is missing up, even if that was not an optimal first inning.
September 29th, 2009 at 6:22 pmI was thinking more along the lines of Uggla being a power hitting Pete Orr and booting 2 in 1 inning.
September 29th, 2009 at 6:23 pmJUMP ON HIS ASS, BRAVES!
My stomach is churning.
September 29th, 2009 at 6:26 pm@23 – at least the odds aren’t a brazilian to one any more…
September 29th, 2009 at 6:33 pmThis is Tim Hudson circa 05-06. Too much up in the zone, too many fly balls.
September 29th, 2009 at 6:33 pmHuddy just needs to settle down. I think the cold temps in Atlanta are adversely affecting his pitching.
September 29th, 2009 at 6:39 pmThank you, Matty!
September 29th, 2009 at 6:40 pmI freakin’ HATE Johnson.
September 29th, 2009 at 6:41 pmWhy didn’t Hudson just throw straight strikes and let Johnson sacrifice bunt? He is giving you an out.
September 29th, 2009 at 6:43 pmI thought you left Coach?
September 29th, 2009 at 6:44 pmWell, Freddie Gonzalez definitely out managed Cox by having his pitcher swinging away but the Braves executed a perfect relay throw to home plate, and nailed what would have been the second run of the inning with the tag. The Braves are fortunate to only be down 1-0.
September 29th, 2009 at 6:45 pmAlas, #34 and I were both wrong (although his scenario was better). We are going to have to work pitch counts like crazy ’cause we ain’t going to hit this big bastard. Fish have soft underbellies and the Marlins’ is their bullpen.
September 29th, 2009 at 6:46 pmLike Brett Favre, I unretired.
September 29th, 2009 at 6:47 pmhuddy did throw a strike and Josh Johnson hit it. Wow, Escobar just stole second on his own.
September 29th, 2009 at 6:50 pmSpeaking of Josh Johnson, the big 6-7 horse is dealing. Our Braves are in deep doodoo if they can’t keep the score close.
September 29th, 2009 at 6:53 pmWow, that was one hell of a throw from B-Mac to nail the runner at 2B trying to steal. His defense behind the plate is getting better everyday.
September 29th, 2009 at 6:59 pmAnd Huddy is starting to get his groove on.
September 29th, 2009 at 7:00 pmQuestion: is Brian McCann the best position player the Braves’ minor league system has produced since Andruw Jones, or the best player the Braves’ minor league system has produced since Chipper Jones?
September 29th, 2009 at 7:03 pmOk, see, when there’s 3 balls you can move out of the way.
Edit: lame.
September 29th, 2009 at 7:07 pmThat is the second time in two nights that Prado has swung at the first pitch when the batter before him has walked.
That was a piss poor AB.
September 29th, 2009 at 7:09 pmAlso, when two of the last 3 guys have been walked, don’t swing at the first pitch.
September 29th, 2009 at 7:09 pmwell damn
September 29th, 2009 at 7:12 pmFreddie Gonzalez has his pitcher swinging away and they get a run. Cox has his pitcher bunt and we come up empty. Some things never change.
One strategy is aggressive and risky. The other is passive and sound baseball doctrine.
Can you say Dan Uggla, crap!!! I wish he were a Brave.
September 29th, 2009 at 7:14 pm52, AJ is arguably the best defensive position player I have ever seen in a Braves uniform.
September 29th, 2009 at 7:16 pmJohnson was bunting until he got two strikes, wasn’t he?
September 29th, 2009 at 7:16 pmThank you to Garret for not completely screwing up.
And the Fillies lead 5-1 against Houston, damn their hides.
September 29th, 2009 at 7:26 pm52,
September 29th, 2009 at 7:26 pmA chance to be better than Andruw, sure. Remember, though, Andruw, like McCann, played a premium position and was a plus plus defender there.
And Andruw was with us for 10+ years, almost all of them very good to outstanding. McCann’s been an excellent catcher, but he’s got a long way to go to catch up with Andruw’s value.
September 29th, 2009 at 7:28 pmOh, crap.
September 29th, 2009 at 7:37 pmNggg.
September 29th, 2009 at 7:37 pmI was about to say, Boog, I’m pretty sure Hudson gave up more than 1 HR in 2008.
September 29th, 2009 at 7:39 pmDammit.
September 29th, 2009 at 7:40 pm4-1 Marlins, ballgame and season likely in the damn tank.
September 29th, 2009 at 7:40 pmHope doesn’t get you runs.
Hell, eleven walks barely got us any runs.
September 29th, 2009 at 7:43 pmThe Braves really bombed tonight.
I’d rather have had Kawakami out there tonight.
September 29th, 2009 at 7:46 pmNPHE is up.
September 29th, 2009 at 7:46 pmI knew we were doomed when they launched the ‘Believe’ campaign. I was in St. Louis when they did that exact thing for the Rams before the start of the ’07 season. They’ve won all of 5 games since.
September 29th, 2009 at 7:47 pmGreg Norton reminding us that there is one thing for the hopeless to look forward to after Sunday: no more Greg Norton.
September 29th, 2009 at 7:48 pm69, ditto.
September 29th, 2009 at 7:48 pmi see you greg norton. best possible result.
September 29th, 2009 at 7:49 pmWeren’t we winning when Coach wasn’t here?
September 29th, 2009 at 7:49 pmuh, don’t we have half the game left?
September 29th, 2009 at 7:50 pmChipper needs to go yard here.
September 29th, 2009 at 7:53 pmGet ‘em Brian…
September 29th, 2009 at 7:56 pmLETS GO BRIAN!!!
September 29th, 2009 at 7:58 pmWell crap.
September 29th, 2009 at 7:58 pmThat sucked.
September 29th, 2009 at 7:59 pmFreaking pitiful.
September 29th, 2009 at 7:59 pm3-1, bases loaded, and we get a popup. Ferchrissake, why can’t we get a big hit tonight?
September 29th, 2009 at 7:59 pmat least johnson will be gone at the very least. but dang brian…
September 29th, 2009 at 7:59 pmsigh
September 29th, 2009 at 8:00 pmMan, Kawakami’s putting it exactly where he wants it.
September 29th, 2009 at 8:02 pmThe Brewers had the bases loaded against Marquis in the first and didn’t score.
Luck’s run out.
September 29th, 2009 at 8:02 pmWell, here’s KK, an hour and fifty minutes late.
September 29th, 2009 at 8:03 pmThis line up blows.
Hudson blows.
And the Braves blow.
NO HOPE
September 29th, 2009 at 8:07 pmthis hope thing is causing negativity, weve won 15 of 17 and people are saying the Braves suck, unreal
September 29th, 2009 at 8:08 pmHey, Brewers tied it.
September 29th, 2009 at 8:09 pmNorton remains at 1/2 of the Mendoza line as LHB. Plus, his sorry ass has hit the boxscore and he is sitting on the bench. This has been very good for us lately in the karma department. Hang in there KK. We are down, but not out yet. I must admit the bats are choking big time. No one really looks very good. How far from the Ted is Heyward right now?
September 29th, 2009 at 8:09 pmAdam hasn’t hit a home run in a while.
September 29th, 2009 at 8:10 pmLet’s get it going! Come on, Bert!
September 29th, 2009 at 8:12 pmWell here’s ANOTHER chance to get in it…
September 29th, 2009 at 8:12 pm88,
No one said that.
September 29th, 2009 at 8:14 pmMATTY DIAZ
September 29th, 2009 at 8:15 pmDIAZ!
September 29th, 2009 at 8:15 pmChrist on a freakin’ crutch, can’t we get one “big hit”?
September 29th, 2009 at 8:15 pmMATTY D!!!!
September 29th, 2009 at 8:15 pmMATTY!!!!!!!!!
You saved our season, Matt!
Imagine the groans in Denver and Philly when they see this!
September 29th, 2009 at 8:15 pmYes!!!
September 29th, 2009 at 8:15 pmWHOOOO!!!!
September 29th, 2009 at 8:16 pm88
Meh I dunno. I guess I just had my heart broken by this team too many times as a youth. And whenever I bad mouth them they seem to do better.
September 29th, 2009 at 8:16 pmwoohoo
September 29th, 2009 at 8:16 pmThis is unbelievable. I love this team.
September 29th, 2009 at 8:16 pmAsk and you get, I guess.
September 29th, 2009 at 8:16 pmwow.
September 29th, 2009 at 8:16 pm#94 – read #87
September 29th, 2009 at 8:16 pmBeautiful!
97,
Careful, I’ve offended a lot of people on here for lesser comments.
September 29th, 2009 at 8:17 pmWow. Matty Diaz. Beautiful.
September 29th, 2009 at 8:17 pmLook how red the pitcher’s face is. I don’t know if it’s always like that, but it fits.
September 29th, 2009 at 8:17 pmWow, when Matt Diaz struck out in his last at-bat I thought, “he’ll do something awesome next time, because that’s what he does after doing something pathetic.” Thank you Matt! I love being right!
September 29th, 2009 at 8:18 pmDiaz is just terrible against Fla
September 29th, 2009 at 8:18 pmMATHEW FUCKING DIAZ!!!!!!!
September 29th, 2009 at 8:18 pmMARLINS KILLER!!
September 29th, 2009 at 8:19 pm108 Right – forgot about the ban on that sort of thing.
September 29th, 2009 at 8:19 pmOk, now we have to start another rally.
September 29th, 2009 at 8:20 pmRyan Braun has hit 2 ground rule doubles tonight with a man on first. Both times they’d have scored standing up had it stayed in the park and both times Prince Fielder has been IBB’d.
September 29th, 2009 at 8:22 pm107,
Yep, that’s it.
September 29th, 2009 at 8:22 pmMIL has bases loaded with 1 out
September 29th, 2009 at 8:22 pmhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDY2I5pni90
September 29th, 2009 at 8:23 pmbrewers load ‘em up again. I still have no hope.
September 29th, 2009 at 8:23 pmMarquis pitching terribly. Walked in a run.
September 29th, 2009 at 8:25 pm2-1 MIL
September 29th, 2009 at 8:25 pmMarquis walks in a run. He doesn’t look like he’ll last long in this game.
And then Mike Cameron grounds into a double play.
September 29th, 2009 at 8:25 pmThe Brewers own Marquis
September 29th, 2009 at 8:26 pm@121 and twice Cameron has squandered the bases loaded.
September 29th, 2009 at 8:27 pmWell this will all make the inevitable loss tonight that much more soul crushing.
September 29th, 2009 at 8:28 pmMarquis flat sucks. Letting him off with only 2 runs would be criminal on the Brewer’s part.
September 29th, 2009 at 8:28 pmbetter find a way to keep him from scoring
September 29th, 2009 at 8:28 pmgod damnit Mike Cameron
This should be more than 2-1 with how bad Marquis has been struggling
But let’s just win
September 29th, 2009 at 8:29 pmMarquis has walked 4 and struck out 1 in 3 innings.
September 29th, 2009 at 8:33 pmDamn it, found a hole.
September 29th, 2009 at 8:33 pmI had turned off the (internet) radio… I quit on the season once again. Then Matty brought me back.
And now another run surrendered. Argh…
September 29th, 2009 at 8:33 pmAh dammit. Well, we’ll just have to get that one back too.
September 29th, 2009 at 8:33 pmWe have the 2-3-4 spots coming up next inning.
September 29th, 2009 at 8:35 pmI’d ask if the IBBs will come back to haunt us but I already know the answer.
September 29th, 2009 at 8:35 pmThis might be our setup guy next year. I’m okay with that.
September 29th, 2009 at 8:38 pmOnly 9 outs left, we have to SCORE!
September 29th, 2009 at 8:42 pmFucking Kawakami.
September 29th, 2009 at 8:42 pmPrado wasn’t swinging at strikes.
September 29th, 2009 at 8:44 pmneither was Chipper
September 29th, 2009 at 8:46 pmThat was not a strike. That was in the other batter’s box you idiot umpire.
Good thing McCann bailed you out by walking anyway.
September 29th, 2009 at 8:49 pmif only Chipper had taken the 3-2 pitch
September 29th, 2009 at 8:51 pmDamn, damn, damn.
September 29th, 2009 at 8:52 pmWhen will we take a pitch?! Horrible approach.
September 29th, 2009 at 8:52 pmMan, Esco, at least take the first pitch.
September 29th, 2009 at 8:52 pmI really hate first pitch swinging outs.
September 29th, 2009 at 8:54 pmI’m angry at Escobar … but if he’d hit a first pitch single we’d all be cheering.
but since he didn’t, Escobar you !@#$
September 29th, 2009 at 8:54 pmOk, bottom of the order, let’s get it going.
September 29th, 2009 at 9:01 pmI smell hope.
September 29th, 2009 at 9:04 pmI smell choke.
September 29th, 2009 at 9:06 pmHope stinks worse than the sickening scent of mint.
September 29th, 2009 at 9:08 pmKeep hope dead. As I keep texting to my friends who are Rockies fans, “Y’all got this in the bag.” These friends probably want to strap me to the undercarriage of a bison.
September 29th, 2009 at 9:09 pmseriously…infante? down 1 run with 2 outs and nobody on? conrad? kj? ross? they all have a better chance of tying it…
September 29th, 2009 at 9:09 pmBetter than the Virus.
September 29th, 2009 at 9:10 pmHow many homeruns does Infante have? It’s one or two.
September 29th, 2009 at 9:10 pmPerhaps Infante can leg one out, steal second and then you never know … oh, wait, that’s hope. Keep hope dead.
September 29th, 2009 at 9:10 pmWhy is Medlen warming up? If you think Soriano’s your best pitcher in the bullpen, you should use him for the ninth no matter what happens. Well, I mean, if we have a seven-run rally, we shouldn’t, but you know what I mean.
September 29th, 2009 at 9:12 pmMcLouth hasn’t homered in a long time, it seems.
September 29th, 2009 at 9:12 pmShit. Where’s Kevin Gregg when you need him?
September 29th, 2009 at 9:15 pmMedlan? Seems Cox has given up hope too.
September 29th, 2009 at 9:17 pmIt’s easy not to have hope, especially when the Brewers have turned to a pitcher who looks suspiciously like Bob Wickman.
September 29th, 2009 at 9:20 pmIt’s actually Kolb in a Wickman mask.
September 29th, 2009 at 9:21 pmHe has a Kolbian command of the strike zone.
September 29th, 2009 at 9:22 pmColorado looks like it’s gonna blow that game open.
September 29th, 2009 at 9:23 pmChipper, this would be a good time for #19.
September 29th, 2009 at 9:26 pmRockies take the lead, 3-2.
September 29th, 2009 at 9:27 pmChipper wants to go deep right here.
September 29th, 2009 at 9:27 pmCue the Price is Right fail horns.
September 29th, 2009 at 9:28 pm… but there is no good time for that.
September 29th, 2009 at 9:28 pmSeason over.
September 29th, 2009 at 9:28 pmASDFJKLSDAJFLKSADJFLA;
September 29th, 2009 at 9:29 pm169
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ytCEuuW2_A
September 29th, 2009 at 9:30 pmEspecially given the Yakety Sax routine from the Brewers infield just now.
September 29th, 2009 at 9:30 pmHOPE!
September 29th, 2009 at 9:30 pmwell, that wasn’t fun.
September 29th, 2009 at 9:31 pmNota Bene to the Braves and especially their marketing department:
Stop helping us.
September 29th, 2009 at 9:31 pmFun while it lasted
September 29th, 2009 at 9:32 pmWell, it was a good run while it lasted. After tonight, it should be 3 back with 5 to go…complete Rockies collapse is all we can hope for now. If I had hope, that is.
September 29th, 2009 at 9:32 pmSome truly awful at bats in key situations tonight. Not all of the pitchers we face are going to walk in runs.
But as I’ve said numerous times before, it’s been fun and I’m impressed we’ve managed to make it this far.
September 29th, 2009 at 9:32 pmToo many guys swinging like Jeff Francoeur. True pressure did not bring out the best in these guys, sadly.
September 29th, 2009 at 9:33 pmRecapped. Stupid hopies.
September 29th, 2009 at 9:39 pm