Braves have a chance to get above .500 for the first time since the first Brewers series.
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John Rocker is self-publishing his memoir. It’s good to see that we are seeing an upsurge in good literature. I understand that next, Jeff Francouer plans to write his own book “Why They Don’t Put OBP on the Scoreboard.”
In 2002, the Braves were 19-21 sfter 40 games and ended up winning 101. I’m not suggesting this team will do that, but it’s pretty early to be talking needing a “culture change.”
Marc @4 – yeah, you’re probably right, but someone around here has to stay in High Fret or we’ll all get complacent.
I think I’m just mad that the Phillies can win at Ruthian levels without three or four of their key pieces and we’re healthy as we’ve ever been and are struggling to play .500.
I’m also mad that Francouer seems to be coming through in the clutch for someone else and I’m downright furious that Melky lost weight and is making PoD-level catches in someone else’s outfield. What are we, chopped liver?
I walked over and saw Delgado pitch today. While I was there, he was dominate. Heater in the mid 90′s. His breaking stuff was on. He changed speeds well. Very few three ball counts.
One one ball was hit hard and the firstbaseman just missed catching it. It was the only hit he gave up in the five innings I watched.
Watching R.Delgado here in Chattanooga and he looks really good so far. 1h thru 6 w/3Ks and 1bb. The hit was a soft liner off the 1b’s glove that could’ve been caught.
The Braves must have a consistent org philosophy, as I watched them use the #3 hitter to bunt with the speedy Pastornicky on first and no one out. Of course the bunt didn’t work and they got the lead runner.
11-it was probably on between. I didn’t think it was hit hard but I’m sure I sold it a little short. Pastornicky drilled a 3-run HR to straight away cf over a 15 foot wall so that was nice to see. Delgado got in a little trouble in the 7th with a walk and some hard hit balls but wound up getting the CG win going 7 with 1r on 2h. I guess they only play 7 when theres a doubleheader.
Yeah Smitty, we’ll have to catch a game sometime. I usually only go when the M Braves come to town, which is only once a year usually. I wanted to go Friday as Hoover is pitching but we are going to watch my wife’s students (Ringgold High) as their playoffs are starting. It’s the first school event since Ringgold was devasted by the tornados, so it should be an emotionally charged atmosphere. Ringgold also has a couple of dynomite pitchers (Crownover who’s a Clemson committ I think and Kafka) and the team went to the state Championship last year so they’re fun to watch.
May go Saturday but I think it’s just Gustafson pitching and I don’t really care to see him.
People noted that Marek’s on the DL on the last thread, but I saw that Bowman reported they almost called him up instead of Gearrin:
Before the Braves promoted Gearrin on April 22, they thought about giving the nod to Stephen Marek, who didn’t allow a run in his first 9 1/3 innings this year. Marek allowed runs in consecutive appearances for Triple-A Gwinnett this past weekend and was placed on the disabled list with an inflamed right elbow.
I grew up in Chattanooga. What was the damage like there? I read that there were storms there and a lot of damage but I didn’t realize a tornado actually hit. I know Ringgold is a little outside of Chattanooga. When I lived in Chattanooga, we always felt protected from tornadoes by the mountains. This sounds like much worse than anything I remember growing up. Glad you guys are ok.
If Moylan is unable to return, the Braves might ask Scott Proctor to fill the void once he is eligible to join their roster on May 15. Proctor struggled in Spring Training and was released. But he quickly re-signed with the Braves and has since prospered while working with Triple-A Gwinnett pitching coach Marty Reed.
The Braves signed Proctor last year when he was injured, let him pitch a few innings of 6.35 ERA baseball with them in 2010, inexplicably gave him a major league contract last offseason when no other team would, resigned him after dumping him after a pitiful spring training and are now thinking of bringing him back to the majors.
Just makes no sense why they’re falling all over themselves to accommodate this guy.
Ringgold and Apison/Cleveland area were the hardest hit. In Ringgold the Middle school, and the football field and baseball field at the high school were mostly destroyed as well as a great deal of the actual town which is pretty small. I think at last check the Chattanooga area sustained 30+ casualties but mostly in those outlying areas. Lots of property damage all over and some folks still without power.
I had always thought the same thing about Chattanooga being protected by the mountains but I guess it didn’t work out that way this time.
Not to sound like Bobby, but Uggla has been hitting the ball awfully hard. I am worried that a continued slump will get into his head and feed on itself, though.
I can’t find anything in the rulebook that says you have to take a bat to the plate. Instead, Rule 4.02 specifies that “The players of the home team shall take their defensive positions, the first batter of the visiting team shall take his position in the batter’s box, the umpire shall call “Play” and the game shall start.”
Still, I’d imagine that if you could possibly send a guy up without a bat, Bill Veeck would have tried it at least once.
That was pretty nice work. Wouldn’t be a terrible idea to let EOF pitch at least part of the next inning since he may not be available for game 2 anyways. Definitely should just use one more guy to finish if possible.
Good win. Good start by Hanson, and as the radio guys speculated, taking him out may also have to do with pitching him or Timmy on short rest for the next start.
ESPN has 4:10 and 7:10 for start times
May 4th, 2011 at 10:11 amJohn Rocker is self-publishing his memoir. It’s good to see that we are seeing an upsurge in good literature. I understand that next, Jeff Francouer plans to write his own book “Why They Don’t Put OBP on the Scoreboard.”
May 4th, 2011 at 10:22 amI didn’t realize this, but Andrelton Simmons is hitting .337 in the Carolina League. That’s pretty exciting news.
May 4th, 2011 at 10:24 amReference to last thread:
In 2002, the Braves were 19-21 sfter 40 games and ended up winning 101. I’m not suggesting this team will do that, but it’s pretty early to be talking needing a “culture change.”
May 4th, 2011 at 10:38 amJohn Rocker’s memoir should be called “You’re Fucking Out, I’m Fucking In.”
May 4th, 2011 at 10:45 amMarc @4 – yeah, you’re probably right, but someone around here has to stay in High Fret or we’ll all get complacent.
I think I’m just mad that the Phillies can win at Ruthian levels without three or four of their key pieces and we’re healthy as we’ve ever been and are struggling to play .500.
I’m also mad that Francouer seems to be coming through in the clutch for someone else and I’m downright furious that Melky lost weight and is making PoD-level catches in someone else’s outfield. What are we, chopped liver?
Not that I’d want the bitches back, mind you …
May 4th, 2011 at 10:54 amI walked over and saw Delgado pitch today. While I was there, he was dominate. Heater in the mid 90′s. His breaking stuff was on. He changed speeds well. Very few three ball counts.
One one ball was hit hard and the firstbaseman just missed catching it. It was the only hit he gave up in the five innings I watched.
May 4th, 2011 at 11:50 amWatching R.Delgado here in Chattanooga and he looks really good so far. 1h thru 6 w/3Ks and 1bb. The hit was a soft liner off the 1b’s glove that could’ve been caught.
The Braves must have a consistent org philosophy, as I watched them use the #3 hitter to bunt with the speedy Pastornicky on first and no one out. Of course the bunt didn’t work and they got the lead runner.
May 4th, 2011 at 11:55 amIt’s completely disgusting outside—chilly, steady rain—and I got a ton of work to do.
Time to crank up the WCNN radio feed at MLB.TV and… let’s play two!
May 4th, 2011 at 11:58 am@6,
Hank,
I’m with you. I find it unusual to be the optimist.
May 4th, 2011 at 12:08 pmGotta hate those hard hit soft liners. Tricky little buggers.
May 4th, 2011 at 12:24 pm11-it was probably on between. I didn’t think it was hit hard but I’m sure I sold it a little short. Pastornicky drilled a 3-run HR to straight away cf over a 15 foot wall so that was nice to see. Delgado got in a little trouble in the 7th with a walk and some hard hit balls but wound up getting the CG win going 7 with 1r on 2h. I guess they only play 7 when theres a doubleheader.
May 4th, 2011 at 1:00 pmI should have hooked up with you dusty.
It wasn’t the hardest hit ball ever, but it was the hardest hit ball he had given up to that point. It could have been an error.
May 4th, 2011 at 1:09 pmI like Pastornicky. I am not sure what kind of prospect he is, but I still liked watching him
May 4th, 2011 at 1:12 pmYeah Smitty, we’ll have to catch a game sometime. I usually only go when the M Braves come to town, which is only once a year usually. I wanted to go Friday as Hoover is pitching but we are going to watch my wife’s students (Ringgold High) as their playoffs are starting. It’s the first school event since Ringgold was devasted by the tornados, so it should be an emotionally charged atmosphere. Ringgold also has a couple of dynomite pitchers (Crownover who’s a Clemson committ I think and Kafka) and the team went to the state Championship last year so they’re fun to watch.
May go Saturday but I think it’s just Gustafson pitching and I don’t really care to see him.
May 4th, 2011 at 2:13 pmPeople noted that Marek’s on the DL on the last thread, but I saw that Bowman reported they almost called him up instead of Gearrin:
May 4th, 2011 at 2:39 pmI grew up in Chattanooga. What was the damage like there? I read that there were storms there and a lot of damage but I didn’t realize a tornado actually hit. I know Ringgold is a little outside of Chattanooga. When I lived in Chattanooga, we always felt protected from tornadoes by the mountains. This sounds like much worse than anything I remember growing up. Glad you guys are ok.
May 4th, 2011 at 3:09 pmIs anybody getting the game on TV?
May 4th, 2011 at 3:12 pmI’m watching on Fox Sports South in Nashville.
May 4th, 2011 at 3:14 pmWatching intermittently on the iPhone app, listening on the radio.
Tommy seems OK, so far.
May 4th, 2011 at 3:15 pmI found it on dish 453
May 4th, 2011 at 3:17 pmAngels and ministers of grace, defend us.
May 4th, 2011 at 3:21 pmPeachtree TV in ATL
May 4th, 2011 at 3:27 pm22—Why must there be so many things that cause me such pain?
May 4th, 2011 at 3:29 pmWhy does Scott Proctor keeping looming around?
The Braves signed Proctor last year when he was injured, let him pitch a few innings of 6.35 ERA baseball with them in 2010, inexplicably gave him a major league contract last offseason when no other team would, resigned him after dumping him after a pitiful spring training and are now thinking of bringing him back to the majors.
Just makes no sense why they’re falling all over themselves to accommodate this guy.
May 4th, 2011 at 3:58 pmIs Hanson the worst bunter in the Majors? Would Mather be the worst non-pitcher?
Nevermind. He some how gets a bunt single after missing the ball for strike two.
May 4th, 2011 at 3:59 pm#22 — When does the hurting stop?
Boy, Tommy Hanson is a lucky SOB. He managed to lay down a good bunt on an 0-2 count, and then the Brewers decided they didn’t want to take the out.
May 4th, 2011 at 4:00 pmWell, that worked out. Thanks, Prince.
Martin!
May 4th, 2011 at 4:00 pmPoor pitch to swing at by Heyward, and he didn’t put a great swing on it, either. But at least he advanced the runners.
May 4th, 2011 at 4:03 pmOh, Jason. If you’re going to swing at that, don’t try to pull it.
May 4th, 2011 at 4:03 pmGotta grab the lead here.
May 4th, 2011 at 4:03 pmNot sure why everyone’s insisting on swinging at ball-fours, but Chipper should’ve been called out on that 1-2 pitch, anyway.
May 4th, 2011 at 4:06 pmWay to pick ‘em up, B-Mac.
C’mon, Struggla, surprise me.
May 4th, 2011 at 4:06 pmYeah, Brian!
Too bad Tommy didn’t just stay put on Chipper’s groundout.
May 4th, 2011 at 4:07 pmMarc
Ringgold and Apison/Cleveland area were the hardest hit. In Ringgold the Middle school, and the football field and baseball field at the high school were mostly destroyed as well as a great deal of the actual town which is pretty small. I think at last check the Chattanooga area sustained 30+ casualties but mostly in those outlying areas. Lots of property damage all over and some folks still without power.
I had always thought the same thing about Chattanooga being protected by the mountains but I guess it didn’t work out that way this time.
May 4th, 2011 at 4:07 pmStrike two to Uggla was bull — he hasn’t given that pitch to Hanson all game.
May 4th, 2011 at 4:08 pmLately, I find myself muttering “I can’t believe we gave this guy five years” more than once a game.
May 4th, 2011 at 4:09 pmOK, so on any ball to the left side, the Brewers are going to concede the run with the pitcher running at third. Wait, what?
May 4th, 2011 at 4:09 pm36—Well, I’m confident that Uggla would’ve made an out, anyway.
37—Yeah, I’ve been muttering that pretty much every day since the day the extension was signed.
May 4th, 2011 at 4:09 pmWell, that didn’t last long.
May 4th, 2011 at 4:13 pmCrap. Looked like an ok pitch, but still…
May 4th, 2011 at 4:14 pmI’ll bet there haven’t been too many times when that pitch, in that location, ended up as a homer.
May 4th, 2011 at 4:15 pmNot to sound like Bobby, but Uggla has been hitting the ball awfully hard. I am worried that a continued slump will get into his head and feed on itself, though.
May 4th, 2011 at 4:15 pmGotta love the tight strike zone in the first game of a double header.
May 4th, 2011 at 4:22 pmThat slider to Lucroy — which was called ball 3 — went to the exact same place as strike two to Uggla that I bitched about.
May 4th, 2011 at 4:22 pmWhat an asshole behind the plate!
May 4th, 2011 at 4:22 pmYou know, I always liked this Alex guy.
May 4th, 2011 at 4:28 pm“Tough one to lay off.”
HAHAHA
May 4th, 2011 at 4:31 pmOh god, squeeze play?
May 4th, 2011 at 4:32 pmDon’t get cute now, Fredi.
May 4th, 2011 at 4:32 pmMy thoughts exactly.
Didn’t want to jinx it but I was thinking squeeze double play.
May 4th, 2011 at 4:32 pmI think Hanson was ordered not to swing. If so, that’s the right move. He’s absolutely unable to handle a bat.
May 4th, 2011 at 4:34 pmNITRAM!
May 4th, 2011 at 4:36 pmnicely done Prado
May 4th, 2011 at 4:36 pmCautious props for not getting fancy with Tommy. Definitely looked like he was told to not swing at anything.
May 4th, 2011 at 4:37 pmIs there an actual rule that they have to take a bat to the plate?
May 4th, 2011 at 4:38 pmI’d love for Chipper to stop swinging at ball 4.
May 4th, 2011 at 4:43 pmI can’t find anything in the rulebook that says you have to take a bat to the plate. Instead, Rule 4.02 specifies that “The players of the home team shall take their defensive positions, the first batter of the visiting team shall take his position in the batter’s box, the umpire shall call “Play” and the game shall start.”
Still, I’d imagine that if you could possibly send a guy up without a bat, Bill Veeck would have tried it at least once.
May 4th, 2011 at 4:44 pmGuy can’t buy a hit.
May 4th, 2011 at 4:55 pmThat fastball that Fielder swung through was just 92. I can’t remember if Hanson has thrown one above 93 all game. Has he touched 94 once?
May 4th, 2011 at 5:04 pmWill Hanson come out for 7th. Score more runs so secondary RPs can pitch.
May 4th, 2011 at 5:10 pmNope, Raw Dog’s pinch hitting for him.
May 4th, 2011 at 5:11 pmAnd the Folk Hero draws a walk!
By the way, I like the call to pinch hit for Hanson. He’s over 100 pitches, and there’s no need to push it.
May 4th, 2011 at 5:12 pmDid Conrad take bat to plate? Hanson could take 4 pitches
May 4th, 2011 at 5:13 pmWe had to send Conrad up because Hanson would have been required to bunt by the laws of the game.
But, I think it could be a pretty fair result. Bases loaded for J-Hey now.
May 4th, 2011 at 5:14 pmLet’s blow it open here, boys.
Thanks for the help, Brew Crew.
May 4th, 2011 at 5:15 pmNice. Everybody move up one.
May 4th, 2011 at 5:18 pmThere’s one!
By the way, it’s worth remembering: Fredi had an opportunity to call for a bunt, and didn’t. Baby steps.
May 4th, 2011 at 5:19 pmVery nice, Chipper.
May 4th, 2011 at 5:21 pmChippah!
May 4th, 2011 at 5:21 pmChipper!
May 4th, 2011 at 5:21 pmThere’s our rally. Way to go, B-Mac.
May 4th, 2011 at 5:22 pmCanny McCannez with the sac fly. Nice inning.
Doug Uggla, predictable. Approach my modest expectations and maybe you can get your real name back, Doug.
May 4th, 2011 at 5:23 pmHopefully those runs mean we can save Venters/Kimbrell for the second game.
I’m sure I just jinxed us.
May 4th, 2011 at 5:25 pmThat was pretty nice work. Wouldn’t be a terrible idea to let EOF pitch at least part of the next inning since he may not be available for game 2 anyways. Definitely should just use one more guy to finish if possible.
May 4th, 2011 at 5:33 pmWell, wasting O’Flaherty in a 6 run game probably means Fredi will pitch Venters in the 8th and Kimbrel in the 9th, doubleheader not withstanding
May 4th, 2011 at 5:34 pmI think he probably got him up when he pinch hit for Hanson, before we scored all those runs.
May 4th, 2011 at 5:36 pmI assume that he was already warming up when we pinch hit for Hanson, so he was going in regardless. If not, I agree that it was an odd choice.
May 4th, 2011 at 5:36 pmDid I miss anything? Who is this team?
May 4th, 2011 at 5:41 pmYou mean, the one that isn’t in hibernation? I know — weird, ain’t it?
May 4th, 2011 at 5:46 pmSo what kind of lineup do we field against the Greinke Monster?
May 4th, 2011 at 5:58 pmwill Linebrink stay in for a Braves save? He is rested and giving up only 1 run is good work for him
May 4th, 2011 at 6:03 pmThat’s one.
May 4th, 2011 at 6:27 pmGood win. Good start by Hanson, and as the radio guys speculated, taking him out may also have to do with pitching him or Timmy on short rest for the next start.
May 4th, 2011 at 6:27 pmNice win – now let’s do it again!
May 4th, 2011 at 6:40 pmwhat time will the 2nd game start?
May 4th, 2011 at 6:48 pm7:10. Recap is up.
May 4th, 2011 at 6:50 pm