09 Sep
SEC Picks, Week 2. Also game thread
Home teams in Italics.
Alabama 23, Penn St 6
South Carolina 28, Georgia 23
Kentucky 17, Cent. Michigan 12
Auburn 45, Miss. St. 43
Ole Miss 14, So. Illinois 13
Arkansas 77, New Mexico 16
Florida 55, UAB 0
UConn 13, Vandy 12
LSU 45, NW St 0
Cincinnati 3, Tennessee 2
JC’d –
Of all major league SS’s – only Betancourt walks less and only Desmond strikes out more than AAG. He’s got the 4th lowest WAR of all SS also. You know Wren/Fredi will keep him around because they love cheap options.
However, if we are going to win this year Fredi has to start hitting for AAG when there is RISP. There’s not much drop off between AAG and Wilson in the field so why worry about it?
AAG 2011
RISP – .230/.256/.317
RISP 2 outs – .151/.194/.269
Bases loaded – .118/.158/.176
Pinch hit for him. 64 OPS+?? awful
September 9th, 2011 at 2:25 pmSpeaking of “awful”, isn’t it strange how little has been said of Prado’s season, as a corner outfielder?
.264/.309/.389
Usually when a player is this bad, you can’t escape the vitriol on DOB’s blog, the posts here, the announcers talking about the player’s struggles, quotes from the manager about needing to step up. And yet, none of that. Prado’s season has been worse than Heyward’s at the plate, but Heyward is the one getting the flack and being benched.
Prado is having a terrible season and it feels like no one notices.
September 9th, 2011 at 2:39 pm@1
It remains my dream that Hinske and Conrad are used as pinch hitters in every meaningful game–one for a pitcher, the other for AAG when he comes up late in the game with men on base. Diaz and Constanza are also better hitters than AAG and could warrant consideration. Just take the bat out of his hands when it matters most.
September 9th, 2011 at 2:40 pm@1 – I don’t know how many at bats, but how do you hit .118 when they have to throw you a strike?
September 9th, 2011 at 2:40 pm“but how do you hit .118 when they have to throw you a strike?”
Because you don’t have to throw a strike to get Gonzalez to swing at it.
September 9th, 2011 at 2:45 pm@2 It gets worse. Here is his second half triple slash: .248/.292/.333.
September 9th, 2011 at 2:46 pm@2 I’m guessing part of it is that most know that Prado is miscast as a corner outfielder because of the budget. The expectations just haven’t been that high. He’s also got a tough job as Chipper’s supersub, often moving from LF to 3B (or vice versa) in the middle of a game. Moreover, while his numbers are down from last year, certainly, they are attributable in part to injuries. That’s my take on why he has gotten a pass from people (as opposed to AAG and others). I am glad that he’s batting lower in the lineup now, though.
September 9th, 2011 at 2:49 pmFun fact: Francoeur (.802 OPS) leads the AL in doubles, with 44.
September 9th, 2011 at 2:54 pmDan said in previous thread: “Amen. Cannot stomach another season of Gonzalez at shortstop. Gonzalez has become probably my least favorite Brave since I started following the team regularly late in the 2004 season. So “congratulations” to former #1: Norton.”
I remember Andres Thomas. Didn’t get worse than Andres Thomas, I’m tellin’ ya!
It remains my dream that Hinske and Conrad are used as pinch hitters in every meaningful game–one for a pitcher, the other for AAG when he comes up late in the game with men on base.
This should be more than a dream, it should be policy. Conrad’s role is not to play defense or (at this point) spot start, it is to hit. Wilson’s role is not to hit, it’s to play defense. There’s no excuse for not exploiting this dynamic at each opportunity. Conrad/Wilson are made to order to pull A-Gon from the lineup late in the game. Start doing it, Fredi.
September 9th, 2011 at 3:30 pmWe have lineup:
1. Bourn CF
2. Jones 3B
3. McCann C
4. Uggla 2B
5. Freeman 1B
6. Prado LF
7. Heyward RF
8. Wilson SS
9. Delgado P
No, DOB says, A-Gon has not been benched.
September 9th, 2011 at 4:48 pmYou make me so sad, Mac.
September 9th, 2011 at 4:50 pmcsg @ #1
Chip and Joe were saying that, for some strange reason, AAG hits for a significantly higher average with RISP and one out. Do you have that stat?
Thanks!
September 9th, 2011 at 5:47 pmRemy, sorry I dont. All of his stat lines are brutal so Im sure it cant be that great. It is typical for Joe and Chip to only talk about batting average though.
The man has a sub .200OBP with bases loaded and/or with RISP with 2 outs. He should be pinch hit for at every opportunity.
September 9th, 2011 at 5:56 pmChip and Joe were saying that, for some strange reason, AAG hits for a significantly higher average with RISP and one out.
Well next time he comes up with two RISP and nobody out, we need somebody to get picked off so we can play to his strengths!
September 9th, 2011 at 5:58 pmScoring first. Yes!
And more scoring! Double yes!
September 9th, 2011 at 7:20 pmHey, remember when the Cardinals traded Colby Rasmus for Edwin Jackson?
LOL.
September 9th, 2011 at 7:21 pmThe Cards’ outfield has to be the worst defensive outfield in history.
September 9th, 2011 at 7:24 pm@2 – Well, for one, Prado’s season at the plate has been slightly better than Heyward’s, by the measures you chose. (Unless 4/1000 of a point is statistically significant.)
Prado .264/.309/.389
Heyward .223/.312/.393
But I agree they are similar enough to group together.
To me the difference is that Prado has a longer track record of hitting, and an assignable cause why he might not be hitting at the moment, but could work through. (Out 5 weeks with a staph infection.) I believe Prado is going to hit.
We probably both agree that our only good hope is to run both of them out there and hope they get going.
September 9th, 2011 at 7:26 pmSomehow I think we are going to need more than 2 runs to win this game.
September 9th, 2011 at 7:29 pm@9 I’m older than almost all of you. Check out Marty Perez, 1971-1973 if you want to see a pathetic shortstop. And that was 3 YEARS. And PS… his defense wasn’t that good either.
September 9th, 2011 at 7:42 pmHey, a call!
September 9th, 2011 at 7:42 pmHas anyone else had trouble with MLB.TV lately? It’s been awful this past week. It’s not the browser and it’s not the connection speed, which is plenty fast.
September 9th, 2011 at 7:46 pm#20
September 9th, 2011 at 7:57 pmCraig Robinson was actually worse offensively. Decent defender, as I remember, though.
Exactly, ububba. But Robinson only played short for one season, and in that season they actually moved Perez to 2nd where his offensive failings were ven more apparent.
All I’m saying is that Perez makes AAG and Wilson look like the young Miguel Tejada.
September 9th, 2011 at 8:01 pmI’m not really digging this “make sure you put Furcal on base for Pujols every time,” strategy.
September 9th, 2011 at 8:15 pmQuite an at-bat there for Prado.
September 9th, 2011 at 8:25 pmThat was an AAG type of at-bat from Prado.
September 9th, 2011 at 8:25 pmWe have so many crappy hitters.
September 9th, 2011 at 8:31 pmYuck.
September 9th, 2011 at 8:33 pmWilson just ensured that we’re stuck with a few more weeks of AAG squandering runners on base.
September 9th, 2011 at 8:34 pmWhat’s the opposite of tipping your cap? Whatever that is, I wanna do that to the Braves last inning.
September 9th, 2011 at 8:35 pmGrabbing your crotch.
September 9th, 2011 at 8:38 pmTrivia question is remarkably easy.
EDIT: And, of course, Chip and Joe blew it.
September 9th, 2011 at 8:41 pmYou’ve got to grab your crotch to the Braves for that last inning.
September 9th, 2011 at 8:42 pmIs this a completely new stance for Chipper from the left side?
September 9th, 2011 at 8:52 pmTrivia question is remarkably easy.
What was the question?
September 9th, 2011 at 8:52 pmChipper and Berkman are two of the four active NL switch-hitters who’ve hit 30 homers in a season — who are the other two?
September 9th, 2011 at 8:55 pm@31 – Crapping in a sock. Definitely.
September 9th, 2011 at 8:59 pmIs Delgado done for evening?
September 9th, 2011 at 9:03 pmbeltran?
September 9th, 2011 at 9:07 pmBeltran and who? I’m stymied on the other one.
September 9th, 2011 at 9:09 pmWas hoping Jack Wilson would go all Georgie on us for a few weeks.
September 9th, 2011 at 9:13 pmJack Gonzalez? or Alex Wilson?
September 9th, 2011 at 9:13 pmGeorge is good lead off PH
September 9th, 2011 at 9:24 pm41—Rollins, in his MVP year.
September 9th, 2011 at 9:25 pmMaybe Bourne can steal now and not get doubled up
September 9th, 2011 at 9:45 pmAntoan Richardson is now third on the all-time stolen bases list by Bahamians with 1.
September 9th, 2011 at 10:16 pmBourn!
I know this will sound like second-guessing (thought of it before the AB, I swear!), but shouldn’t we have pinch-hit for Wilson when the bases were loaded? Could have busted it open rather than walking a tightrope all night.
September 9th, 2011 at 10:19 pmBut you forget… we’d have pinch hit with AAG.
September 9th, 2011 at 10:20 pmSurely Hinske vs. a RHP? If Fredi had the wherewithal to PH for a position player in the 4th, then surely he’d use a decent option. Total fantasy here to be honest, though.
September 9th, 2011 at 10:27 pmonroto.com says AAG is going to be out for a couple of days due to his back.
September 9th, 2011 at 10:28 pmWell this game got exciting all quick like.
September 9th, 2011 at 10:30 pmAbysmal.
4th inning comes into play.
September 9th, 2011 at 10:32 pmGame tied. Scoreless streak over. Inning over.
Weirdness.
September 9th, 2011 at 10:32 pmThats what happens when you can’t throw a fucking strike
September 9th, 2011 at 10:32 pmEvidently the Sports Illustrated jinx is not confined to the cover.
September 9th, 2011 at 10:33 pmTheriot was the potential winning run. Pujols was irrelevant. Why was Heyward throwing to second? Nice reaction by Wilson.
September 9th, 2011 at 10:34 pmWalking two guys to get to Pujols is generally not the best strategy for keeping a scoreless streak alive.
September 9th, 2011 at 10:34 pmUh oh, the dreaded “In play, run(s)”
September 9th, 2011 at 10:34 pm57—He was throwing to second to get the third out of the inning.
September 9th, 2011 at 10:35 pmCards hit Kimbrel. I seem to recall them doing it twice in May.
September 9th, 2011 at 10:36 pmIf he’d done that, the Braves would have lost. Theriot would have scored long before Pujols was tagged out.
September 9th, 2011 at 10:36 pmJason Motte or Jeff Reardon?
September 9th, 2011 at 10:36 pmGot to start scoring some runs and get O’Venterable some rest.
Cardinals did this to us in Atlanta early in the year, they pinged the back end of the pen to death.
September 9th, 2011 at 10:36 pmBlown save…and what a game to do it. Just lost some points in the Rolaids Relief Man Award and may cause the dh sweep against the Mets (picked up an entire game on STL) to be erased.
September 9th, 2011 at 10:38 pmAnd Linebrink warms up. Good night.
September 9th, 2011 at 10:39 pmI feel pretty confident that we’re going to lose this. Can we at least make it as undramatic as possible so as to limit the momentum we give the Cards?
Such as using Linebrink. That would be a great first step. Possibly intentionally walking the first guy and then throwing the ball away and refusing to get it. Or balking three times.
September 9th, 2011 at 10:40 pmI have to go to bed. If recent history holds, I will wake up sometime around 3 AM in which case I’ll recap the latest atrocity then.
September 9th, 2011 at 10:40 pmNo answer. And now the bullpen situation gets very dicey. EOF is unavailable, Martinez probably unavailable, Varvaro probably unavailable…who’s even left but Linebrink?
September 9th, 2011 at 10:41 pm62—No, exactly what happened is what would have happened. It was obvious when Pujols headed for second that they’d either be able to get him or, if Theriot tried to score, get Theriot.
September 9th, 2011 at 10:42 pmLine drive to center. Time for bed. See y’all tomorrow.
September 9th, 2011 at 10:43 pmFreaking Atlanta.
September 9th, 2011 at 10:44 pmOn the bright side, this will keep the fact that Linebrink sucks fresh on Fredi’s mind. We may need a couple more of these before the playoffs, just to be sure he’s left off the roster.
September 9th, 2011 at 10:45 pmLet it not be forgotten that LaRussa just pinch-bunted for a .300 hitter vs. Linebrink.
September 9th, 2011 at 10:48 pmBraves are a terrible baseball team and I hate them and everyone involved with the organization because they’re stupid and incompetent and I hope they cease to exist within the next five years.
September 9th, 2011 at 10:48 pmLowe is pitching tomorrow, right? That should keep the back end of the pen out of the game, at least.
Punto is going to beat us. I feel ill.
September 9th, 2011 at 10:49 pmJust call for the intentional walk, Fredi.
September 9th, 2011 at 10:49 pmWhat is there to say here, Fredi? “Scott, I wish you were a better pitcher.” (Linebrink nods.) “Me too, skip. Me too.”
September 9th, 2011 at 10:50 pmPathetic.
September 9th, 2011 at 10:53 pmChip Caray makes everything worse.
September 9th, 2011 at 10:54 pmYou know, that was pathetic. We’ll wind up winning the wc somehow, but we won’t deserve it.
How can you walk two people in front of Albert Fucking Pujols? Throw the damn ball down the middle of the plate and make them swing the bat.
I’m just fed up with this team right now.
September 9th, 2011 at 10:56 pmLinebrink actually did better than I thought there. I figured the game would be over in 3 batters, and it took FIVE whole batters for him to give up a run.
Walking 2 batters with 2 outs to get to Pujols…freaking ridiculous…
September 9th, 2011 at 10:57 pmCan we just call linebrink “4whip” from now on?
September 9th, 2011 at 10:57 pmIs it too late to release Linebrink and sign Jamie Moyer?
September 9th, 2011 at 10:57 pmOh my god everyone are lead is down to 6 games in the loss column. What are we going to do?
September 9th, 2011 at 11:01 pm@85 Worry about how poorly the team is playing, insofar as it casts doubt on the team’s chances for future success?
Personally, I was off doing stuff and turned on the game just in time to see Linebrink give up the walk-off SF. I’m very glad I didn’t invest any time into the classic disappointment that this game turned out to be.
September 9th, 2011 at 11:06 pmI think they will be fine. Kimbrel was due to blow a game geez. I agree it sucked that he walked two guys in front of Pujols but it happens sometimes. Thats baseball.
September 9th, 2011 at 11:10 pmKimbrel blows a save, Mizzou blows a game-winning drive in the final moments and SportsCenter leads with a wall-climbing catch by Jeff Freaking Francoeur.
For me, at least, this night simply sucks.
September 10th, 2011 at 1:11 amRecap is up.
September 10th, 2011 at 4:02 am