11 Apr
Not winless game thread: April 11, Braves at Astros
We don’t seem to do too well against Wandy, though.
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
Not sure what to expect from Delgado tonight. Anything from slightly-above-average to Albie Lopez wouldn’t surprise me
April 11th, 2012 at 2:38 pmDale Murphy is going to do some Braves games this year on SportsSouth.
April 11th, 2012 at 3:23 pmBeing optimistic hasn’t worked out well for me so far this year, so I won’t do it.
April 11th, 2012 at 3:30 pmThat new SS has some power but not enough singles. That old man filled in well so Franciso could get an off day.
April 11th, 2012 at 3:38 pmAny reason Wilson is starting tonight over Pastornicky?
April 11th, 2012 at 4:32 pm@5-
(Quote taken directly from CAC):
“His line against Wandy Rodriguez is .308/.357/.500 over 26 plate appearances.”
April 11th, 2012 at 4:50 pmI would assume that if there’s a bench player who’s had a lot of success against that day’s starter, we’ll probably see him in the starting lineup. Fredi likes giving his bench players occasional starts, and his starters occasional days off.
April 11th, 2012 at 5:38 pm@6, 7 even if the results date from 2009?
http://www.baseball-reference.com/play-index/batter_vs_pitcher.cgi?pitcher=rodriwa01&batter=wilsoja02#gotresults&batter=wilsoja02&pitcher=rodriwa01&min_year_game=2005&max_year_game=2009&post=1&ajax=1&submitter=1
April 11th, 2012 at 5:45 pmSeriously, nice sample size.
April 11th, 2012 at 5:50 pmThey’re complaining about sample size over at CAC, as well, but if Fredi’s gonna give bench players starts, I’d rather it be based on this than the dart board method. Also, I thought the plan was to ease Pastornicky in. Seems a little early to abandon that plan.
April 11th, 2012 at 5:51 pm@6, 7 even if the results date from 2009?
So, the guy that no one wanted on the team in the first place gets a day off against a really tough LHP, in favor of the backup who has had success against that LHP in his career, and we still complain? I swear to god, Fredi Gonzalez could cure cancer and bring peace to the Middle East while fucking Jennifer Love Hewitt and you boys would find something to whinge about.
April 11th, 2012 at 6:08 pmDo you kiss your mama with that mouth?
April 11th, 2012 at 6:13 pmAmong other things, yes. I curse in ways that would make sailors blush, in general. I’m *way* toned down for Mac here.
April 11th, 2012 at 6:16 pmWe are clearly in your debt. Thanks for keepin’ it real.
April 11th, 2012 at 6:20 pmI’m fine with Wilson starting. It’s a perfectly defensible decision.
April 11th, 2012 at 6:22 pmDouble post.
April 11th, 2012 at 6:22 pmWe are clearly in your debt. Thanks for keepin’ it real.
Welcome, Spikesey! *heartsparkdollarsign*
April 11th, 2012 at 6:27 pm@15, I agree. I think founding that decision on Wilson’s performance v Rodriguez would be a stretch, that’s all, and I have no evidence that Fredi’s done that in any event.
April 11th, 2012 at 6:31 pmI still have a cold, so it’s powerful cough medicine and an early bed for me. Morning recap.
April 11th, 2012 at 7:14 pmWhat are you going say to Wilson? “I’d rather you never started, but I need to give the kid some off days–might as well be today.” Of course not. You say, “Jack, you’ve had success against this guy–I’d like you to start tonight. You’ll give the team a better chance to win.” The truth value of the statement is beside the point. Just like I tell my kids, “Be good or Santa won’t bring you any presents.”
April 11th, 2012 at 7:19 pm“I swear to god, Fredi Gonzalez could cure cancer and bring peace to the Middle East while fucking Jennifer Love Hewitt and you boys would find something to whinge about.”
Yeah. That he was boning JLH and I wasn’t.
April 11th, 2012 at 7:22 pmYES!!!!
April 11th, 2012 at 7:24 pm@20
Exactly! If you’re gonna start bench players, you might as well do it against pitchers they’ve had success against. On paper, the sample size is too small, but in reality, they’ll have confidence, which can’t hurt, at the very least.
April 11th, 2012 at 7:35 pmIs Bethany the only one more interested in the game and not JLH?
April 11th, 2012 at 7:39 pmWow. I realize it’s the Astros, but that was impressive.
April 11th, 2012 at 7:44 pmThere’s no textual evidence that Bethany wasn’t thinking of JLH when she shouted “YES!!!”
April 11th, 2012 at 7:54 pmTo clarify, I was enthusiastic over Jason knocking in Uggla. I couldn’t care less who is starting at short.
April 11th, 2012 at 7:56 pmCome on Ross!!!!!!!!
April 11th, 2012 at 8:05 pmGood thing Heyward sits against lefties
April 11th, 2012 at 8:06 pmOkay, so how will we not score here?
April 11th, 2012 at 8:07 pmDon’t like Wilson starts; really don’t like them the day after Pastornicky hits a home run.
April 11th, 2012 at 8:07 pmGOGOGOGOGOGOGOGOGO!!!!!!
April 11th, 2012 at 8:08 pmI love David Ross.
April 11th, 2012 at 8:08 pmRUNS! SWEET, DELICIOUS RUNS!
April 11th, 2012 at 8:10 pmAnd my wife can testify that I called that easy-to-foresee squeeze.
April 11th, 2012 at 8:10 pmFredi has successfully called a suicide squeeze!!!
April 11th, 2012 at 8:10 pmAnd the squeeze works.
April 11th, 2012 at 8:10 pmWow, a squeeze that actually worked
April 11th, 2012 at 8:11 pmAnd they try it again.
April 11th, 2012 at 8:12 pmNot really sure I understand that one, but that’s nothing new I guess.
April 11th, 2012 at 8:12 pmA squeeze that works is very good. A run on the board is better than an out.
April 11th, 2012 at 8:12 pmHahaha, Chip: “He has no play! …except for the out at first.”
April 11th, 2012 at 8:12 pmMore bunts please.
April 11th, 2012 at 8:12 pm@42 – For the record, I will *never* be contrarian and complain about mocking/hating/complaining about Chip.
April 11th, 2012 at 8:13 pmPoor Bourne. Can’t catch a break.
April 11th, 2012 at 8:14 pmYou’d think Bourn would have better luck in his hometown.
April 11th, 2012 at 8:16 pmThat was a fun inning.
April 11th, 2012 at 8:18 pmI see that Freddie is in one of his “strikeout every at bat” streaks.
April 11th, 2012 at 8:18 pmI don’t understand a squeeze with men on 2nd and 3rd… You can’t ground into a double play, which is your worst case scenario… Plus, the pitcher was up next, to hit with a man on 3rd, one out… Maybe take a shot at driving then both in, then let your pitcher squeeze?
April 11th, 2012 at 8:19 pmWhen did FF become Dave Kingman?
April 11th, 2012 at 8:21 pm@40
They were both ideal times for squeezes, especially since they couldn’t have been expecting the second one.
@49
It wasn’t Dan Uggla at the plate, it was Jack Wilson.
April 11th, 2012 at 8:21 pmThank God for the audio overlay on MLB.TV. Powell and Sutton are ten times better than those clowns on Peachtree.
April 11th, 2012 at 8:22 pm49—Jack Wilson cannot hit. That’s why the squeeze was a good idea, IMO.
April 11th, 2012 at 8:23 pmCome on, Delgado.
April 11th, 2012 at 8:30 pmThat’s one way to get a strike.
April 11th, 2012 at 8:33 pm@53, you hush your mouth – I heard somewhere he was .308/.357/.500 over 26 plate appearances against Rodriguez
April 11th, 2012 at 8:34 pmWay to get out of trouble!
April 11th, 2012 at 8:34 pmWhew.
April 11th, 2012 at 8:34 pmI get the Wilson can’t hit part… I’m just saying that with two in scoring position, no out, and no forces available on the bases, most non-k outcomes would equal a run, and most safeties would mean two runs.
I see that the squeeze scored the run, but its no more a guarantee to work than “go hit a flyball” is.. but the “go hit a flyball” technique has more upside.
Mostly I don’t get leaving it up to the pitcher to drive in the other runner. Even with an error and a base on balls following, that man was still stranded at third.
I just don’t like the squeeze and I don’t especially don’t like it with no out and I triple don’t like it with two in scoring position. With the pitcher on deck, I just.. whatever.
April 11th, 2012 at 8:38 pmMostly I don’t get leaving it up to the pitcher to drive in the other runner.
They were playing for one additional run there, not two.
April 11th, 2012 at 8:40 pmI really wish they’d worked Wandy harder than 5 pitches there. But there are runs, so it’s a minor nit I suppose.
April 11th, 2012 at 8:44 pmSweet…Durbin is warming up. I guess Fredi feels like 1 win in this series is enough
April 11th, 2012 at 8:47 pm59 – totally agree. I don’t like bunting in pretty much any situation. Outs are the most valuable commodity in baseball, and giving them away on purpose is almost never a good idea. Certainly there are times where it makes sense, but early in the game isn’t one of those times. Mostly because we *don’t know how many runs it will take to win*. Playing for one extra run towards the end of the game is more defensible.
That said, I don’t think it’s worth whining about too much in this case, only because Wilson sucks and getting one run across with Wilson and the pitcher due up is probably not too bad an outcome. I still don’t like giving up a chance for a big inning though.
April 11th, 2012 at 8:49 pmHow about that?
April 11th, 2012 at 8:52 pmYeah, outs are valuable, but you’ve sort of given up your ability to not make them by sending Wilson up there, in the first place. I honestly felt like a bunt there was the most-likely-successful-run-scoring-attempt with him at the plate.
April 11th, 2012 at 8:53 pmHang the plastic tarps from the ceiling and put on your goggles: it’s Durbin time.
EDIT: Check that. CMart time…still might want to leave the tarps up in case he’s had too much to drink.
April 11th, 2012 at 9:00 pmWell I guess I can’t argue with the “one is enough” theory.
April 11th, 2012 at 9:24 pmStruck Maxwell out twice
April 11th, 2012 at 9:26 pmGeez…maybe Durbin wouldn’t have been a bad choice instead of EOF
April 11th, 2012 at 9:28 pmF***ing Success.
April 11th, 2012 at 9:28 pmSchafer: .364/.417/.500
Bourn: .136/.208/.182
April 11th, 2012 at 9:30 pmI do not feel good about this sequence of events.
April 11th, 2012 at 9:32 pmSnitkered.
April 11th, 2012 at 9:33 pmReal nice O’F*ckery
Edit- whew
April 11th, 2012 at 9:37 pmEOF got off pretty cheap there.
April 11th, 2012 at 9:38 pmThe Braves are treating Carlos Lee like he’s frickin’ Pujols.
April 11th, 2012 at 9:39 pmO’Failerty.
April 11th, 2012 at 9:39 pmYeah…it’s probably good to start trashing our reliever that appeared in 75 games last year and had a sub-1 ERA.
April 11th, 2012 at 9:40 pmEOF now with a few Grybos to start the year.
Don’t care, still one of my favorite Braves.
April 11th, 2012 at 9:41 pmHooray. Maybe he’ll get to be full-time now.
April 11th, 2012 at 9:42 pm*epic sigh of relief*
April 11th, 2012 at 9:42 pmGonzalez’s dreams of more Diaz starts takes a blow.
April 11th, 2012 at 9:42 pmI think Jason Heyward is going to be ok.
April 11th, 2012 at 9:42 pmWow..good ball Jason
April 11th, 2012 at 9:42 pmA J-HEY BOMB!
April 11th, 2012 at 9:42 pmJHEY
April 11th, 2012 at 9:43 pmDoes that mean Jason gets a day off on Friday?
April 11th, 2012 at 9:44 pmJack Wilson’s teeth are a train wreck.
April 11th, 2012 at 9:47 pmHit & run w/ Wilson & Ross. Frediocy!
April 11th, 2012 at 9:48 pmNo one’s going to agree, but hit-and-run was a decent call there, and it was pure bad luck that it didn’t work out. Just gotta shrug your shoulders and move on.
April 11th, 2012 at 9:49 pmIt’s never “bad luck” when Jack Wilson doesn’t successfully hit.
April 11th, 2012 at 10:05 pmAnd tip your cap.
April 11th, 2012 at 10:10 pmThere is a break
April 11th, 2012 at 10:13 pmNo matter how bad it gets, at least we’re not Astro fans.
April 11th, 2012 at 10:13 pmHe lined it to right-center, for God’s sake.
April 11th, 2012 at 10:15 pmBrian Snitker has a posse?
April 11th, 2012 at 10:15 pmAnd I did not say tip your cap.
April 11th, 2012 at 10:17 pmHe floated it to right-center.
He’s Jack Wilson. He should stick to sweet D and timely bunts.
April 11th, 2012 at 10:18 pmI am tired of Jordan Schafer. Kimbrel, please sit him down.
EDIT: Drat.
April 11th, 2012 at 10:22 pmHas something happened to mlb.tv?
April 11th, 2012 at 10:22 pmJason Hewyward has to custom order his jock strap.
April 11th, 2012 at 10:23 pmWe couldn’t do this the easy way, could we Kimbrel?
April 11th, 2012 at 10:26 pmWhere the hell are those?
April 11th, 2012 at 10:28 pm@102, He’s getting squeezed like crazy.
April 11th, 2012 at 10:28 pmNever change, sdp.
April 11th, 2012 at 10:28 pmNice. It won’t look quite as pretty as it did last year, but our ‘pen will still get it done.
April 11th, 2012 at 10:28 pmWow..there ya go. Good work boys
April 11th, 2012 at 10:28 pmStrike six.
April 11th, 2012 at 10:29 pmOk, it counts as a win I think.
April 11th, 2012 at 10:29 pmSo with just the weird hit-and-run call in the ‘bad decision’ pile (up to 10 total if you’re counting at home), Fredi notches another managerial win. I liked the two straight squeezes.
And Delgado was impressive.
April 11th, 2012 at 10:32 pmWe won!!! It would be so funny if Delgado turns out to be the best among the three…
April 11th, 2012 at 10:36 pmYou guys are nuts. If you don’t think that hit-and-run call was OK, then you don’t think any hit-and-run call is OK, as far as I’m concerned. I’m not gonna worry too much about it since we won, but yeesh…
April 11th, 2012 at 10:36 pmWhew. Mets magic number remains at 157.
April 11th, 2012 at 10:49 pmKept up with the game on the wonderful iPhone app. (Creeping back to normalcy, are we?) Nice to get some hits again from our better players. If Heyward keeps raking, we can be good. And Delgado made some great pitches tonight. Kid’s got some poise.
Got to the Bowery Ballroom to see the Alabama Shakes tonight, went upstairs to get a brew at the less-busy bar & realized I was standing next to… Bill Cowher. WTF?
BTW, if you like gritty rockin’ soul & you haven’t checked out the Alabama Shakes (from Athens, yes, but the one in Alabama), do so. Their singer, Brittany, is something else. Really belts it. Super soulful, but not Aretha-like, more greasy grits & gravy. Had the place in the palm of her hand tonight.
http://tinyurl.com/6nk6rog
April 12th, 2012 at 12:27 amGood win! Heyward’s bomb was the highlight for me.
Kimbrel was getting HELLA squeezed there at the end.
April 12th, 2012 at 12:43 am@114, just “discovered” Alabama Shakes this week and got their new album. Love it! Agree, the singer is impressive. Must’ve been a good concert.
April 12th, 2012 at 2:21 amThe Shakes are from Alabama. They may have moved to Athens when they started touring relentlessly with the Drive-by Truckers, but they’re from Alabama.
April 12th, 2012 at 7:12 amRight. Athens, AL, as noted by ububba.
If you don’t think that hit-and-run call was OK, then you don’t think any hit-and-run call is OK, as far as I’m concerned.
I mean, this is a really stupid thing to keep arguing about, granted, but…seriously? No hit-and-run calls? What about hit-and-run calls with guys who can actually hit? ‘Cause those are the kind I’m in favor of. Not sure what’s so hard to understand about that.
April 12th, 2012 at 7:26 amWell, to finish this part of the trip 2-4 after that start, while not encouraging, is not ‘slash your wrist’ depressing.
Heyward showing signs is of IS encouraging.
Now let’s get on a streak!
April 12th, 2012 at 8:10 amububba, what app are you using?
April 12th, 2012 at 8:14 amMissed most of the game, but the posts pretty much can sum it up for me. Im glad Heyward started last night, he pretty much won the game for the Braves. Fredi really needs to start using Ross’ bat in PH situations when he can. Freeman’s K totals are a bit alarming.
April 12th, 2012 at 8:34 amRecap is up.
April 12th, 2012 at 8:42 am