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I hadn’t realized this, but just last year, the Chicago Cubs drafted… Dan Lockhart. Yes, as in Lockhart Lockhart. If anyone could have inherited the Pictures, it would be him.
Don’t like the matchup in St. Louis: Jackson vs. Wells. That should be a W for the Cards. Minor and the offense better be hot today. I don’t think we can take more than on game from the Phillies (they are due for some wins) so an absolutely must-win game today.
BTW, cant play matchups. We werent suppose to beat Strasburg. Here’s the deal, if this team hits for the next 4 games then they will be in the playoffs. The Phils have lost 8 straight so yes, they can be beat also. Offense needs to come out and prove something.
I am really looking forward to the game today. Even though I could do without the stress of the current situation, I have to say, this is really exciting for me. Go Braves!
Yanks have taken the lead on the Red Sox… as Saltalamacchia couldn’t transfer the ball from his glove to his hand to try to throw out Jeter stealing second. Again, be glad that Boston’s crumbling has given us cover, or the media attention would have been far worse.
I would like to trade Derek Lowe to the Nationals and pay his entire ’12 salary for F.P. Santangelo. We’d not only get to face D-Lo 5 or 6 times next year, but we’d have a damned good color guy for Braves broadcasts.
Popup by Bourn, double play machine cocked and loaded for Prado.
Here’s where our inability to hit sac flies bites us in the ass. Can’t Larry Parrish teach these guys how to hit popups deeper than short left and short right???
With runners in scoring position, the Braves get 454/ 1433 = 0.317 run per PA, and the NL gets 7870/ 25152 = 0.313 run per PA. So by that measure, this offense is average; it just has the tools to be so much better.
I also note that the Braves seem to have fewer PAs with RISP than league average. So we don’t get as many chances and don’t do as much with them. We make up for it with bases-empty HR (112 vs. NL average 82).
71: Ain’t it great? You’d love to get Medlen some game action, but are we in a position to? No. And this stuff about getting Tommy Hanson a start so he could possibly make a difference in our postseason? Does anyone think this isn’t going to go until the last day and perhaps a one-game playoff? For all we know, Hanson’ll be ready to rock and roll in the postseason, but will we even allow ourselves the luxury of finding out?
Yeah, I do love how everyone’s applying the laws of momentum against us for predictive purposes, but is totally ignoring it for the Phillies in our upcoming series.
Well, the Phillies are better than we are without momentum. They suck right now. We suck right now. Therefore, after momentum… they’re still better than we are. (Or what Stu said.)
I don’t think momentum has anything to do with anything. The Braves just kind of suck right now. They make good teams look great, and bad teams look good. Perhaps the Phillies are a bad team too right now, but those starting pitchers, in a short series, are a great equalizer. The Braves don’t boast anyone that good anywhere on the diamond.
On the plus side, the Cubs are still up on the Cardinals.
I always get the feeling that if I tried to listen to Chip’s call without video, it would feel like a completely different game. He made that double sound like a ground rule double.
For an annoyingly optimistic comment, just for a change of pace, if both games wind up going our way, we’ll have clinched a tie. So, like, let’s get on it here.
What the hell kind of team is this? To respond to a comment on the previous thread, yes, I think the Phillies will sweep and the Cardinals will win at least 2 out of 3. Do you honestly think this team has the ability to win a game? The Phillies now need to win to get some momentum.
So, how soon after the Braves are eliminated do they start blaming the injuries? Or, will Fredi just say, “you have to tip your cap to Chris Capuano, Ross Detwiler, etc.. And, by the way, these things happen sometime.”
Agreed, Marc. Did anyone ask these guys if they wanted to go to the playoffs? Because if they don’t, and their performance today makes it clear that they don’t, then they could just forfeit the rest of the schedule, wish the Cardinals luck, and go home where they really want to be.
It’s sad that the best we’ve been able to do is root for the Mets and Cubs. I’m honestly ambivalent about the Braves making the playoffs. In theory I want them to get in, but in practice I’m wondering if I really have better things to do with my time than watch the LOBs mount up while we get outclassed by a better team.
That said, Minor pitched pretty well today. C-Mart did, too, save for one hitter. And Medlen looked fantastic. Throw in a genuinely world class play by Zimmerman at third and at least I saw some good baseball today.
@148 – “Awesome” is just about the last word I’d use to describe the Braves these days, but hey, we are still 1 game ahead in the WC race with 3 games left in the season. If before the season started I was told the Braves would have the WC lead going into the final series of the year, I would’ve happily taken that. It’s too bad that I have a hard time believing this team can get anywhere in the playoffs – but then again, anything can happen. We have a bunch of talented hitters who are just sucking right now.
I hadn’t realized this, but just last year, the Chicago Cubs drafted… Dan Lockhart. Yes, as in Lockhart Lockhart. If anyone could have inherited the Pictures, it would be him.
Run! Run for your lives!
September 25th, 2011 at 8:23 amSo I see out long national nightmare is over. I’m pretty sure this is the 3-4 site he has been banned from.
September 25th, 2011 at 9:34 amI this can’t help us, nothing can. Go Phil! Go Braves!
Diaz starts, Heyward sits, and Gonzalez is pending.
September 25th, 2011 at 10:07 amYour patience is incredible, Mac, but I’m glad to see the guy go. Every time he posted it turned into a thread about him, which gets old pretty fast.
September 25th, 2011 at 10:53 amDon’t like the matchup in St. Louis: Jackson vs. Wells. That should be a W for the Cards. Minor and the offense better be hot today. I don’t think we can take more than on game from the Phillies (they are due for some wins) so an absolutely must-win game today.
Oh, and the headline should be “now Emma-free”
September 25th, 2011 at 11:12 amEmma doesnt deserve that priveledge.
BTW, cant play matchups. We werent suppose to beat Strasburg. Here’s the deal, if this team hits for the next 4 games then they will be in the playoffs. The Phils have lost 8 straight so yes, they can be beat also. Offense needs to come out and prove something.
September 25th, 2011 at 11:22 amGlad to see McCann getting a break
September 25th, 2011 at 11:34 amPer Bowman:
September 25th, 2011 at 11:38 amHamels was scheduled to start for the Phillies Wednesday. But it now looks like they’ll go with a bullpen game.
DOB
Hanson is throwing a bullpen session today in Florida in Instructional League, could start Wed. if goes well and if #Braves have clinched 36 mins ago
September 25th, 2011 at 11:46 am5- Our departed colleague doesn’t deserve that honor. Gone and soon forgotten. Who was I talking about again?
7- Agreed. McCann was really laboring out there.
September 25th, 2011 at 12:15 pmGood riddance. Thank you, Mac.
I am really looking forward to the game today. Even though I could do without the stress of the current situation, I have to say, this is really exciting for me. Go Braves!
September 25th, 2011 at 12:16 pmYanks have taken the lead on the Red Sox… as Saltalamacchia couldn’t transfer the ball from his glove to his hand to try to throw out Jeter stealing second. Again, be glad that Boston’s crumbling has given us cover, or the media attention would have been far worse.
September 25th, 2011 at 12:27 pmAndruw has slowly put together an okay season for the Yankees.
September 25th, 2011 at 12:32 pmphew.
September 25th, 2011 at 12:55 pmFeel free to make future innings less interesting, Mike.
September 25th, 2011 at 12:57 pm24 pitches.
Hey, Medlen, how’s your arm feeling?
September 25th, 2011 at 12:57 pmWhat a catch!
September 25th, 2011 at 1:14 pmI agree. That was pretty impressive.
September 25th, 2011 at 1:15 pmI would like to trade Derek Lowe to the Nationals and pay his entire ’12 salary for F.P. Santangelo. We’d not only get to face D-Lo 5 or 6 times next year, but we’d have a damned good color guy for Braves broadcasts.
September 25th, 2011 at 1:26 pmWow. He walked Minor on four pitches. So, um, let’s get some runs?
September 25th, 2011 at 1:26 pmInteresting.
September 25th, 2011 at 1:27 pmHe’s lost all command. We need to capitalize.
September 25th, 2011 at 1:27 pmOr we could go for a popup and the inevitable Prado DP.
/reversejinx
September 25th, 2011 at 1:29 pmPopup by Bourn, double play machine cocked and loaded for Prado.
Here’s where our inability to hit sac flies bites us in the ass. Can’t Larry Parrish teach these guys how to hit popups deeper than short left and short right???
September 25th, 2011 at 1:29 pmFucking goddamit. Sorry, but watching Bourn let Detwiler off the hook was just fucked up.
September 25th, 2011 at 1:29 pmNo DP, but no run either. Chipper, bail us out.
September 25th, 2011 at 1:30 pmMy loyalty to this team is, again, being tested.
September 25th, 2011 at 1:30 pmThis is ridiculous. Bases loaded, no outs, a guy who can’t hit the strike zone and just walked the pitcher.
Now: Two outs, no runs. Ick.
September 25th, 2011 at 1:30 pmThis is ridiculous…
September 25th, 2011 at 1:30 pmDo it, Chipper.
Edit Ridiculous
September 25th, 2011 at 1:30 pmPathetic.
September 25th, 2011 at 1:31 pmUgh.
September 25th, 2011 at 1:31 pm@28 – Don’t forget that he went 3-0 to Bourn too. Then, after a strike, the Braves swung three times in four pitches.
September 25th, 2011 at 1:31 pmFrom now on, these guys should just take until there are two strikes.
September 25th, 2011 at 1:31 pmScrew these guys. I hope they miss the playoffs.
September 25th, 2011 at 1:31 pmGarbage.
September 25th, 2011 at 1:32 pmScrew these guys. I hope they miss the playoffs.
My sentiments exactly.
September 25th, 2011 at 1:32 pmIf Minor had walked the bases loaded with 0 outs, the nats would’ve wound up with at least 3 runs…………..what the heck!?
September 25th, 2011 at 1:33 pmIf this was a one-time thing, no big deal. But this kind of crap has been a defining trait of this offense all year. Who wants to root for that?
September 25th, 2011 at 1:35 pmMinor settling in nicely. That’s important after the last inning.
September 25th, 2011 at 1:37 pmSpoke too soon, Timo.
September 25th, 2011 at 1:40 pmNYY 5, BOS 1
TB 4, TOR 1
Sorry, Brian, I did.
September 25th, 2011 at 1:40 pmYou could automatically give the Braves a free runner at third to start the inning for all nine innings, and they’d find a way to lose 6-5.
September 25th, 2011 at 1:42 pmThe Braves are the World Champions of not scoring runs with runners in scoring position and nobody out. So we have that going for us.
September 25th, 2011 at 1:43 pmThere goes that lefty-killer Matt Diaz once again.
September 25th, 2011 at 1:50 pmBraves batting with runner on 3rd, less than 2 out: 154 runs in 275 PAs (56%)
NL batting with runner on 3rd, less than 2 out: 3151 runs in 5052 PAs (62.4%)
Wow, it really is that bad.
September 25th, 2011 at 1:50 pmWith runners in scoring position, the Braves get 454/ 1433 = 0.317 run per PA, and the NL gets 7870/ 25152 = 0.313 run per PA. So by that measure, this offense is average; it just has the tools to be so much better.
I also note that the Braves seem to have fewer PAs with RISP than league average. So we don’t get as many chances and don’t do as much with them. We make up for it with bases-empty HR (112 vs. NL average 82).
September 25th, 2011 at 1:55 pmThis game is depressing.
September 25th, 2011 at 1:57 pmOf course, that’s only an average…
September 25th, 2011 at 1:57 pmWell, the Braves have to score at some point anyway, right…
September 25th, 2011 at 1:59 pmYeah, but now they have to score twice.
September 25th, 2011 at 2:00 pmNice play by Ross.
September 25th, 2011 at 2:01 pmSingle by Ross. They’ve got us right where they want us.
Edit: And now Wilson? Oh, we’re so hosed.
September 25th, 2011 at 2:02 pmBrian, they’re just teasing us again…
September 25th, 2011 at 2:03 pmGreat. Bourn and Prado with two runners in scoring position … again.
September 25th, 2011 at 2:04 pmWow Bourn. Up twice with runners at second and third with fewer than two outs. 0 runs. You rule.
September 25th, 2011 at 2:05 pmHonestly, maybe we should play Constanza in center tomorrow.
Edit: Goddamn you too, Prado.
September 25th, 2011 at 2:06 pmOur offense sucks and Jonny Gomes is an idiot.
September 25th, 2011 at 2:07 pmSome kind of awesome, this team.
September 25th, 2011 at 2:07 pmOf course.
September 25th, 2011 at 2:07 pmSheesh.
September 25th, 2011 at 2:08 pmCubs runners on 2nd and 3rd, 1 out…
September 25th, 2011 at 2:08 pmI honestly don’t know what else Bourn was supposed to do there.
September 25th, 2011 at 2:08 pmI kind of hate Martin Prado.
September 25th, 2011 at 2:08 pmBases loaded.
September 25th, 2011 at 2:08 pmThis team deserves to blow it all and not be in the playoffs.
September 25th, 2011 at 2:09 pmGeovany Soto, not being a Brave, hits a sacrifice fly to bring in a run. 1-0 Cubs.
September 25th, 2011 at 2:10 pm1-0 Cubs
September 25th, 2011 at 2:10 pmThis team is so frustrating to watch. They do whatever it takes to lose it seems. I do not HOPE they’ll miss the playoffs, but I don’t care anymore.
September 25th, 2011 at 2:11 pmCubs 1, Cards 0
September 25th, 2011 at 2:12 pmMartinez up, not Medlen.
September 25th, 2011 at 2:12 pmWell, even if the Braves somehow make it to the playoffs, there is no way they could beat the Phillies… or even the Brewers.
September 25th, 2011 at 2:13 pmThe Phillies are playing as badly as the Braves right now. Arizona and Milwaukee, on the other hand…
September 25th, 2011 at 2:14 pm71: Ain’t it great? You’d love to get Medlen some game action, but are we in a position to? No. And this stuff about getting Tommy Hanson a start so he could possibly make a difference in our postseason? Does anyone think this isn’t going to go until the last day and perhaps a one-game playoff? For all we know, Hanson’ll be ready to rock and roll in the postseason, but will we even allow ourselves the luxury of finding out?
Pathetic.
September 25th, 2011 at 2:15 pmWhy is Minor coming out?
September 25th, 2011 at 2:19 pmBecause Fredi.
September 25th, 2011 at 2:19 pmYeah, I do love how everyone’s applying the laws of momentum against us for predictive purposes, but is totally ignoring it for the Phillies in our upcoming series.
September 25th, 2011 at 2:20 pmI dunno about ignoring. It’s just that when two ice-cold teams meet, you’d expect the one with more talent to prevail.
September 25th, 2011 at 2:22 pmWell, the Phillies are better than we are without momentum. They suck right now. We suck right now. Therefore, after momentum… they’re still better than we are. (Or what Stu said.)
September 25th, 2011 at 2:22 pmI don’t think momentum has anything to do with anything. The Braves just kind of suck right now. They make good teams look great, and bad teams look good. Perhaps the Phillies are a bad team too right now, but those starting pitchers, in a short series, are a great equalizer. The Braves don’t boast anyone that good anywhere on the diamond.
September 25th, 2011 at 2:28 pmCards threatening.
September 25th, 2011 at 2:30 pmCards runners on 1st and 2nd, 1 out.
Now loaded.
September 25th, 2011 at 2:30 pm“1-0 Cubs”
Isn’t it fun how every day it seems like involves watching the Cardinals’ score because Lord knows the Braves aren’t going to do anything?
September 25th, 2011 at 2:31 pmCards tie it up on Jackson sac fly.
September 25th, 2011 at 2:33 pmOn the plus side, the Cubs are still up on the Cardinals.
I always get the feeling that if I tried to listen to Chip’s call without video, it would feel like a completely different game. He made that double sound like a ground rule double.
September 25th, 2011 at 2:34 pm1-1
September 25th, 2011 at 2:34 pmThe Cardinals are also not the Braves and thus get a sac fly after loading the bases. 1-1.
September 25th, 2011 at 2:34 pmUgh. The Cubs aren’t even up on the Cardinals. What a crummy day so far. Still time to turn it around, though.
September 25th, 2011 at 2:35 pmCubs got out of the inning tied.
September 25th, 2011 at 2:37 pm85: I’m enjoying listening to the Nats crew on MLB.tv. (I’m in Florida visiting family.)
September 25th, 2011 at 2:38 pmWill Fredi put Heyward in for Diaz now?
September 25th, 2011 at 2:39 pmFor an annoyingly optimistic comment, just for a change of pace, if both games wind up going our way, we’ll have clinched a tie. So, like, let’s get on it here.
September 25th, 2011 at 2:42 pmDude brings the heat.
September 25th, 2011 at 2:43 pmSo, Ross can’t hit 100 mph, evidently.
September 25th, 2011 at 2:44 pmRoss drops a foul bunt, noticing what happens when he gets a hit. So ordinary fail instead of epic fail.
September 25th, 2011 at 2:44 pmThis is just awful baseball.
September 25th, 2011 at 2:44 pmHuh?! Ross?
September 25th, 2011 at 2:44 pmSure. Why not?
September 25th, 2011 at 2:55 pmAnd with that, we are left hoping the Cubs can pull ahead.
September 25th, 2011 at 2:55 pmOh man.
Then again, the Braves would not score today anyway.
September 25th, 2011 at 2:55 pmLeadoff double Marlon Byrd.
September 25th, 2011 at 2:59 pmGroundskeepers at Turner Field:
http://tinyurl.com/3s7p4w4
September 25th, 2011 at 3:01 pmI wish we could actually find players that can hit for more than 2 months out of the season.
September 25th, 2011 at 3:02 pmApparently the Cubs don’t want to win, leaving the pitcher in to bat with runner at second one out in the 7th.
September 25th, 2011 at 3:03 pmAnd now Bourn hits a long fly out. Where was that earlier?
September 25th, 2011 at 3:04 pmNats have a pretty awesome back end of the bullpen. So, game over.
September 25th, 2011 at 3:04 pmParrish has to go.
September 25th, 2011 at 3:04 pmYeah, fire somebody.
September 25th, 2011 at 3:05 pmCubs 2, Cards 1
September 25th, 2011 at 3:05 pmSTARLIN! Singles in Byrd. 2-1 Cubs.
September 25th, 2011 at 3:05 pm2-1 Cubbies!
September 25th, 2011 at 3:06 pmMedlen! Yay! At least this game isn’t a total loss.
September 25th, 2011 at 3:06 pmHey, Medlen sighting!
EDIT: I forgot how athletic Medlen is – I’d put him up in the same league as Huddy in that respect. He’s fun to watch.
September 25th, 2011 at 3:06 pmThere’s no way Parrish will survive this offseason, right?
September 25th, 2011 at 3:06 pmNice to see you back, Kris. Can you hit?
By the way, I didn’t mention it at the time, but it was awesome to see ‘Rissa commenting on the board again. I haven’t seen her here in forever.
September 25th, 2011 at 3:06 pmI have missed Kris Medlen.
September 25th, 2011 at 3:07 pmRight away, Medlen has that hook working.
September 25th, 2011 at 3:08 pmLove me some Medlen.
September 25th, 2011 at 3:08 pmMedlen is a centerpiece of our ten man rotation.
September 25th, 2011 at 3:09 pmWhat the hell kind of team is this? To respond to a comment on the previous thread, yes, I think the Phillies will sweep and the Cardinals will win at least 2 out of 3. Do you honestly think this team has the ability to win a game? The Phillies now need to win to get some momentum.
So, how soon after the Braves are eliminated do they start blaming the injuries? Or, will Fredi just say, “you have to tip your cap to Chris Capuano, Ross Detwiler, etc.. And, by the way, these things happen sometime.”
September 25th, 2011 at 3:10 pmSox lose 6-2, knocking their lead down to one.
September 25th, 2011 at 3:11 pmGuys, we’re done.
September 25th, 2011 at 3:12 pm@120, ja, i don’t expect to hear anything different from Fredi.
September 25th, 2011 at 3:13 pmWe’re not done as long as the Cardinals are still losing.
Here’s to running out the clock!
September 25th, 2011 at 3:13 pm“There’s no way
September 25th, 2011 at 3:14 pmParrishGonzalez and crew will survive this offseason, right?”In the playoffs, anything can happen. Thanks to the Cubs, we’re still in line for a playoff spot. Nothing is done.
September 25th, 2011 at 3:14 pmCards HR ties the game.
September 25th, 2011 at 3:14 pmCards 2, Cubs 2
September 25th, 2011 at 3:14 pmCards tie.
September 25th, 2011 at 3:14 pmWell, Yadier Molina just tied it up, so the Cardinals are no longer losing. I hate the Braves. But most of all, I hate the Cubs.
September 25th, 2011 at 3:15 pmAgreed, Marc. Did anyone ask these guys if they wanted to go to the playoffs? Because if they don’t, and their performance today makes it clear that they don’t, then they could just forfeit the rest of the schedule, wish the Cardinals luck, and go home where they really want to be.
And Yadier Molina just homered. 2-2.
September 25th, 2011 at 3:15 pmZimmerman just made a simply sick play. Wow.
September 25th, 2011 at 3:16 pmGold Glove play by Zimmerman. Damn.
September 25th, 2011 at 3:16 pmMy fear at this point is that the Cardinals will lose out and I’ll find myself compelled to watch this disastrous team get embarrassed in the NLDS.
September 25th, 2011 at 3:18 pmIt’s simply wrong to pin your hopes on Randy Wells.
September 25th, 2011 at 3:18 pmWhat a turd of a game. This team looks great on paper but shitty on field.
September 25th, 2011 at 3:19 pmOne run in the past 18 innings. Way to want it, Braves.
September 25th, 2011 at 3:19 pmGo Cubs.
September 25th, 2011 at 3:20 pmAnd Tampa Bay wins, so the Red Sox’ lead is now half a game.
September 25th, 2011 at 3:20 pmJust look in the dugout, those guys look finished.
September 25th, 2011 at 3:20 pm2-2 going into the 8th
September 25th, 2011 at 3:21 pmIt’s sad that the best we’ve been able to do is root for the Mets and Cubs. I’m honestly ambivalent about the Braves making the playoffs. In theory I want them to get in, but in practice I’m wondering if I really have better things to do with my time than watch the LOBs mount up while we get outclassed by a better team.
That said, Minor pitched pretty well today. C-Mart did, too, save for one hitter. And Medlen looked fantastic. Throw in a genuinely world class play by Zimmerman at third and at least I saw some good baseball today.
September 25th, 2011 at 3:25 pmDamn, Pena just missed one. Can get nothing right, today?!?
September 25th, 2011 at 3:25 pmFurcal of all people!
September 25th, 2011 at 3:34 pmYep, Furkey homers. 3-2 Cards.
September 25th, 2011 at 3:35 pmSome ex-Braves figuring in this thing: Infante, Vazquez, Furcal. How ’bout, let’s see some current Braves doing some damage?
September 25th, 2011 at 3:43 pmOh, they did plenty of damage. To us.
One game.
September 25th, 2011 at 3:46 pmStill in line for a playoff spot with three games to play. Awesome!
September 25th, 2011 at 3:47 pm@148 – “Awesome” is just about the last word I’d use to describe the Braves these days, but hey, we are still 1 game ahead in the WC race with 3 games left in the season. If before the season started I was told the Braves would have the WC lead going into the final series of the year, I would’ve happily taken that. It’s too bad that I have a hard time believing this team can get anywhere in the playoffs – but then again, anything can happen. We have a bunch of talented hitters who are just sucking right now.
September 25th, 2011 at 4:02 pm