08 Apr
End of the first series game thread: April 8, Cubs at Braves
Also written in advance. At this point in the season, obviously it’s time either to panic or start printing playoff tickets.
Braves News (Official)- Braves News (AJC)
- Atlanta Braves: Sizzling Freeman doing his best Kelly Leak
- Atlanta Braves: Braves scoring, winning despite leadoff deficiency
- Atlanta Braves: After 2 months of struggling, B.J.'s got it going
- Atlanta Braves: Braves' Gattis keeps making it look easy
- Atlanta Braves: Much ado about bats, but Braves' pitching has been key
The game isn’t even on WGN tonight, dammit.
Oh well I’ll be freezing my ass off at a lacrosse match tonight anyway.
April 8th, 2010 at 2:26 pmLooks like the rain should be gone within the hour, although it is raining quite hard (2 mi from Turner) as we speak.
April 8th, 2010 at 2:30 pmThe rain moved through super fast here last night so I’d expect it to be gone by game time if its already to Atlanta.
April 8th, 2010 at 2:41 pmEd Mangen will save us.
April 8th, 2010 at 2:42 pmJust stopped. That didn’t take long at all.
April 8th, 2010 at 2:48 pmThe game is scheduled to be on MLB Network
April 8th, 2010 at 2:55 pmAtlanta just got a much needed pollen bath this afternoon. Now the rain is clearing out for a little Cub sweepage this evening.
April 8th, 2010 at 2:57 pmA sweep of the cubs would be SWEET.
April 8th, 2010 at 3:05 pmThe game is on MLB network if you get that.
April 8th, 2010 at 3:16 pmFrom DOB’s blog:
“But a few weeks ago at spring training, when Wagner said something about how he’d trade any number of strikeouts for 40 saves, I mentioned that 40 saves would get him past Franco. Wagner answered, ’40 saves will get us to the postseason.’”
I love me some Wagner.
April 8th, 2010 at 3:48 pmFYI, 3-0 Nats in the top of the first with Kendrick on the mound. That means it’ll be the 3rd or 4th inning before the Phillies score the go-ahead run.
April 8th, 2010 at 3:53 pmI’m still working on a perfect season. Zero Braves losses, zero Chip Carey. Enjoyed Ernie Johnson last night. Very professional job.
April 8th, 2010 at 4:25 pmJust reading a little bit on BP, apparently Vizcaino did very well in Spring Training and even exceeded what the Braves thought about him when they made the trade.
April 8th, 2010 at 4:35 pm13,
I heard they thought about sending him to Myrtle Beach, even though he’s never played a full season.
I also heard he has a huge ego.
April 8th, 2010 at 4:41 pm@14: Pro athletes without them are rare. It’s how they thrive.
April 8th, 2010 at 4:47 pmI think I hate the Washington Nationals.
Yeah. Yeah, I do. I hate the Nationals.
April 8th, 2010 at 5:09 pmI’ll have sex with 9 beautiful virgins in one night before the Nationals are a .500 team.
April 8th, 2010 at 5:25 pm17—What kind of odds you willing to give?
April 8th, 2010 at 5:27 pmThe only good thing about this week’s Phils/Nats series is that the rest of the season includes 3 fewer Phils/Nats games.
April 8th, 2010 at 5:40 pm17 – I’ll take the Nats. Nothing personal, though.
April 8th, 2010 at 5:45 pmApril 5, 2010:
“Today is the day, the day when Washington D.C.’s best professional baseball team, the Nationals, commences on its latest six-month journey into sadness and despair.”
http://tinyurl.com/yg8krtz
April 8th, 2010 at 5:57 pmStu -
Ogilvy’s entering the NBA draft?
He’s being advised that he will be a late forst round pick. I am a bit skeptical.
April 8th, 2010 at 6:04 pm16 – If my eyes don’t deceive me, the Nats are up 6-5.
April 8th, 2010 at 6:06 pmTommy is BRINGING it.
And Wagner is in the dugout, sitting next to McDowell?
April 8th, 2010 at 6:15 pmHanson’s hitting 98 according to the stadium radar gun.
April 8th, 2010 at 6:16 pmThe Peachtree TV announcers have been a treat thus far.
April 8th, 2010 at 6:22 pmPitch count’s a touch high, though.
April 8th, 2010 at 6:22 pmTommy got a couple of borderline calls against Ramirez.
April 8th, 2010 at 6:23 pmA few thoughts:
1- to pile on, I’ve enjoyed the booth as well
April 8th, 2010 at 6:39 pm2- Colvin smoked that one
3- Hanson might need to bring the beard back. I mean, he doesn’t *need* to, but wouldn’t it just add to the 98mph on the gun tonight? Or maybe just a mustache for Mustache May.
Jason Heyward looks to be pressing just a touch at the plate, but still he is a monster.
That slider away looks to give him a touch of issues.
April 8th, 2010 at 6:46 pmFormer Sex Pistols manager McLaren dead at 64 – CNN.com.
April 8th, 2010 at 6:50 pmAbout the announcers… Joe in particular depends upon having the right guy or guys next to him. Chip just reinforces his worst instincts, while EJ is one of the best in the business.
April 8th, 2010 at 6:52 pmgamecast is showing that Hanson is getting squeezed on the corners, is that correct, or is gameday just screwed up again?
April 8th, 2010 at 7:05 pmTo me, it looks like a pretty good zone. I think Hanson got a couple of close ones in the first.
April 8th, 2010 at 7:06 pm3 games in and Im more than ready to flip Nate and Melky in the order. For that matter, switching Diaz and Melky in LF seems like great idea also
April 8th, 2010 at 7:07 pmI hear what you mean Mac, about Joe. But I do get the impression that sometimes Joe is even a bit embarrassed by Chip.
I like the way Ernie calls long fly balls. I guess it’s the basketball announcer in him, but he just levels his voice, increases the pace at which he’s speaking, and that leaves him open to get loud about a homerun or tail off if it’s caught.
His ‘Long fly ball, right field, Heyward is back, and it looks like he’s going to have room,’ could just as easily be a point guard on the dribble, pass to the perimeter, to the center in the post, broken up.
April 8th, 2010 at 7:08 pmYep, Prado’s for real, guys.
April 8th, 2010 at 7:08 pm#37 – yep
April 8th, 2010 at 7:09 pmMan, wouldn’t this be a GREAT spot for Heyward and not Glaus? Uggg.
April 8th, 2010 at 7:14 pmBases loaded, one out, and a sinking feeling in my stomach.
April 8th, 2010 at 7:14 pmGlaus is killing us.
April 8th, 2010 at 7:15 pmGlaus….sigh
April 8th, 2010 at 7:15 pm… and it was justified.
April 8th, 2010 at 7:16 pmGod he’s slow and horrible. It’s like Francouer never left…he just got old and fat.
April 8th, 2010 at 7:16 pmThis is exactly one of the things I WON’T miss when Cox finally retires. Continuing to torture us with the wrong guy in the wrong lineup spot until we all can’t take it anymore.
April 8th, 2010 at 7:17 pmCount me as somebody who thinks the strike zone is bad: both guys are above 60 pitches after three innings, and both seem to have decent control (except for that Wells at bat).
What happened to Chipper?
April 8th, 2010 at 7:18 pmNot a good at bat. You knew he was F***** the second that Wells got the strike one call.
April 8th, 2010 at 7:18 pmShit, Chipper is out of the game.
April 8th, 2010 at 7:18 pmwhy is chipper out?
April 8th, 2010 at 7:19 pmWhy is Troy Francoeur still batting fifth?
April 8th, 2010 at 7:19 pmTwo points, Alex:
1. It’s only three games, so moving him would be a kneejerk reaction and more than a bit premature.
2. At least he didn’t hit Glaus cleanup, as was generally projected this offseason.
Chipper apparently tweaked something on a swing.
April 8th, 2010 at 7:19 pmI know its early. But I’m already tired of glaus. He reminds me of garret anderson and brian jordan and raul mondesi and julio franco ect ect ect
April 8th, 2010 at 7:19 pmBobby is going to have to move Glaus down to the 7 spot, move Yunel to the 5 and Heyward to the six hole.
Of course bases loaded situations find Glaus (and they also found Franceour) like the ball finds a guy who has just booted two in a row.
April 8th, 2010 at 7:20 pmballgame
April 8th, 2010 at 7:21 pmMLB broadcast team just said the word was that it is a “sore right side”… whatever the hell that is. This game turned ugly real quick
April 8th, 2010 at 7:22 pmOf course Glaus will keep finding bases loaded situations to ruin because he’s hitting behind Chipper & McCann.
April 8th, 2010 at 7:23 pmCount me in the wait a couple of weeks before getting exercised about Glaus. If (and it ain’t over yet) someone offered me two of three to start the season I’d have taken it all day long.
April 8th, 2010 at 7:23 pmMac,
I didn’t need 3 games to tell me that Glaus is this year’s lineup cancer. I knew he was when Frank Wren wasted $$$ on him in the offseason.
April 8th, 2010 at 7:25 pmProbably only one more inning of Hanson tonight, which hopefully will get him out of the game before his next scheduled gopher ball.
April 8th, 2010 at 7:25 pmSadly as glaus grounded into a double play francouer hit an rbi double. Doubly sickening
April 8th, 2010 at 7:25 pmPer DOB:
Chipper left the game in the top of the fourth with a sore right side. He is day-to-day.
April 8th, 2010 at 7:26 pmThe thing I don’t get about Glaus is this. It has been generally stated, even by Joe Simpson, that it was going to take Glaus a couple of weeks to get his timing back.
Well, if that is the case, why bat him 5th?
I guess the options were not all that great, but gee whiz.
April 8th, 2010 at 7:28 pmChipper’s been “day to day” since 2001.
April 8th, 2010 at 7:28 pmThe braves are pull happy the last two days.
April 8th, 2010 at 7:29 pmstupup74,
The options are aplenty: Escobar, Prado or even McClouth. ALL better options batting 5th.
April 8th, 2010 at 7:30 pmSomeone just asked me how Chipper got hurt, so I said: “Well, he was swinging a bat.”
The come back: “Isn’t that, like, his job?”
Well played.
April 8th, 2010 at 7:30 pmHansen gets beyond Fukudome.
/bad pun. Sorry.
April 8th, 2010 at 7:36 pm#32
I have to say, I am REALLY REALLY enjoying the EJ/Smoltz/Simpson team. If somehow Chip Carey can just get dropped down a well somwhere, this trio would be great for all games.
April 8th, 2010 at 7:38 pmI’ve done a bad job keeping up with this stuff: is Ernie Johnson going to be doing PBP all year on Peachtree, or is he just filling in? I’m guessing he won’t during the NBA playoffs, at least.
April 8th, 2010 at 7:38 pmAlex,
I don’t disagree, especially with Yunel, but McLouth was 1 for Spring Training for the longest time, Heyward had not yet become J-Hey and Prado is needed in the two hole.
I’m going to give it a week or so before I pull my hair out.
April 8th, 2010 at 7:38 pmOk, offense, let’s go.
April 8th, 2010 at 7:39 pmWell, at least Hanson’s getting the bat on the ball now. I’m still surprised Cox let him bat, but I can see the argument.
April 8th, 2010 at 7:40 pmErnie Johnson Jr. = someone who makes his daddy proud and is not a disgrace to his legacy
Chip Caray, the opposite.
April 8th, 2010 at 7:41 pm73, you mean Chip, right?
April 8th, 2010 at 7:42 pmChip, you mean.
April 8th, 2010 at 7:42 pmYes I did, wow that was dumb on my part.
thanks everyone.
April 8th, 2010 at 7:46 pmOK, looks like EJ is calling the Peachtree games all year. Situation over.
April 8th, 2010 at 7:47 pmSore side= oblique. I guess it is time for Chipper to take his sabbatical. I hope he has fun at the Masters
April 8th, 2010 at 7:47 pmMaybe he just needs a rest before tomorrow afternoon when the Braves play San Francicso (not a typo).
April 8th, 2010 at 7:51 pmOkay – O’Flaherty just got squeezed pretty good. Hanson looked like he had strike 2 on Lee, also
April 8th, 2010 at 7:56 pmYou can bet the house and the farm we will see Marshall on the mound tonight.
April 8th, 2010 at 8:03 pmDang, Glaus is slow. Good thing Wells threw him a slider.
April 8th, 2010 at 8:03 pmGlaus really IS Francouer…he’s going to tease us with an occasional useful hit.
April 8th, 2010 at 8:04 pmLucky shot
/eyeroll.
April 8th, 2010 at 8:04 pmYunel “GIDP” Escobar up….
April 8th, 2010 at 8:04 pmThat is the longest single I’ve ever seen.
April 8th, 2010 at 8:04 pmSomething’s wrong with Gameday- it claims that Troy Glaus just singled.
April 8th, 2010 at 8:04 pmthose hating Glaus – he is 2-3 today
April 8th, 2010 at 8:04 pmCome on Yunel! The Braves and my fantasy team need this one!
April 8th, 2010 at 8:04 pmDammit Yunel.
April 8th, 2010 at 8:06 pmPredictable.
April 8th, 2010 at 8:06 pmson of a bitch!
April 8th, 2010 at 8:06 pmBeen that kind of night.
April 8th, 2010 at 8:06 pmIn defense of Glaus, he does have two hits tonight and has looked about as good or better than anyone else against Wells. When he hit into the double play, he merely did what McCann almost did before him, and Escobar did in a later inning.
Gotta give some props to Wells, and the Cubs look like they’re going to have a pretty good team this year.
April 8th, 2010 at 8:08 pm@94 “the Cubs look like they’re going to have a pretty good team this year.”
Let’s not get carried away.
April 8th, 2010 at 8:09 pmNice work from O’Flaherty.
April 8th, 2010 at 8:11 pmBoy the pitching by everybody except Lowe has been absolutely lights out so far this year. O’Flaherty looked really good tonight.
April 8th, 2010 at 8:12 pmI think Hanan is right, gotta give it up for Wells tonight, and Dempster last night.
That said, the braves have the same old score a bunch one night, struggle for 3 night issue.
Lineups with holes in it do that, and this lineup has holes in it.
April 8th, 2010 at 8:12 pmwill Moylan keep up the possibility of pitching in 162 games tonight?
April 8th, 2010 at 8:13 pmMcLouth looks like he’s swinging in slow motion.
April 8th, 2010 at 8:16 pmI’m still more worried with Melky Cabrera than Glaus.
April 8th, 2010 at 8:17 pmBobby is my biggest worry and has always been
April 8th, 2010 at 8:21 pmChavez… nice
April 8th, 2010 at 8:26 pmNice inning from Chavez.
April 8th, 2010 at 8:26 pmChavez has earned some respect, too.
April 8th, 2010 at 8:26 pmAt least we really do seem to have the bullpen to stay in these kinds of games. I don’t think last night was a fluke, I imagine us winning a lot of games this year in which we trailed late.
April 8th, 2010 at 8:27 pmI think the Cubs will suck. They were mediocre last year. Zambrano and Soriano are washed up, Ramirez gets hurt every year, Marshall will come back to earth like he always does, and Derek Lee has nowhere to go but down.
Wells did this with smoke and mirrors. It pisses me off, but sometimes it happens.
The Cardinals over/under this year is 88.5 wins and I’ll be shocked if they don’t easily hit it.
April 8th, 2010 at 8:30 pmLou’s as bad as on his relievers as Bobby is. Haven’t both Marshall and now Grabow pitched in every game of the series?
April 8th, 2010 at 8:33 pmI’m thinking we’re gonna see a cubbie bullpen meltdown tonight.
April 8th, 2010 at 8:36 pmOver/under on CSS’s commercial library: 5
April 8th, 2010 at 8:36 pmPiniella needs to get a win on his way out of town. This is Game 5 of the WS as far as his teams momentum and morale. He’ll empty that pen to get this win. He’ll worry about resting those guys in the next series they play.
April 8th, 2010 at 8:37 pmI’m not very confident that Glaus can get on base against Marmol.
April 8th, 2010 at 8:38 pm@108
I was thinking the same thing.
We need to make Marmol throw strikes here
EDIT: he had the pitch, just fouled it back
April 8th, 2010 at 8:38 pmLet’s see, “Spring Football”, “handsome in a psychopathic way”, SEC baseball, “she’s a keeper.” I’ve only got four.
April 8th, 2010 at 8:39 pmWhat an awful night.
April 8th, 2010 at 8:40 pmT_T
April 8th, 2010 at 8:40 pmWow. Glaus is huge.
/EDIT – He sure was Ethan. That was unlucky.
April 8th, 2010 at 8:41 pmMaybe the Braves can pry Scott Thorman back from the Royals’ organization.
April 8th, 2010 at 8:41 pmIt feels like Glaus has stranded 3,000 runners already.
April 8th, 2010 at 8:42 pmThere are like 3 college baseball commercials, so I think that’s 6 overall.
April 8th, 2010 at 8:44 pmWell, I guess EJ is going away for the next few weeks after all.
April 8th, 2010 at 8:45 pmTwo examples of why ST numbers don’t matter…
Troy Glaus and Jesse Chavez
April 8th, 2010 at 8:46 pmI guess if you want to get technical, “Spring Football” advertises 3 or 4 different games, too.
There we go, Comcast HD and boring golf show. I was way off.
I liked that last one, because the chick sounds like a robot.
April 8th, 2010 at 8:47 pmwell hopefully Chavez/Medlen/Oflaherty have gotten Bobbys attention and his confidence. Bobby needs to give the big 3 as much rest as possible this season
April 8th, 2010 at 8:49 pmOn Ptree TV, when they’re about to cut to a commercial and show who’s coming up, they misspell McLouth. It’s MCLOUTH, not MCCLOUTH. It’s been like this the last two nights and it’s driving me crazy.
April 8th, 2010 at 8:49 pmWelcome to the Show, Jason Heyward.
April 8th, 2010 at 8:51 pmThat’s why Heyward is, and will, hit 6, 7, and 8, and not 3, 4, or 5 until well after the all-star break.
April 8th, 2010 at 8:52 pmGood eye, Nate.
April 8th, 2010 at 8:53 pmHow depressing is it to think that in this spot last year, we would’ve been watching Norton there..
April 8th, 2010 at 8:54 pmWhy is that depressing? Norton’s gone!
April 8th, 2010 at 8:55 pmHinske just missed it.
April 8th, 2010 at 8:55 pmCan’t win them all, I guess.
April 8th, 2010 at 8:56 pmThinking someone is going to get christened “Smelky” pretty soon.
April 8th, 2010 at 8:56 pmBummer. Hinske almost got that one.
April 8th, 2010 at 8:56 pmhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeE1hBjjaGg
April 8th, 2010 at 8:56 pmI can’t even blame Melky. That last pitch was unhittable.
April 8th, 2010 at 8:57 pmI wonder how long we’ll have to wait before McLouth gets moved back to leadoff and Smelky to 8th. Cabrera is 1 for 13, and of course doesn’t have McLouth’s track record.
April 8th, 2010 at 8:58 pmRecapped.
April 8th, 2010 at 9:03 pm