Braves 4, Phillies 3
Atlanta Braves vs. Philadelphia Phillies – Box Score – July 8, 2012 – ESPN.
The baseball gods giveth and they taketh away. This time, the thing they tooketh is arguably the thing we cannot do without: Andrelton Simmons, out for a while with a broken pinkie, which he sustained on an otherwise awesome hustle double on a single that went right to their lollygagging center fielder. He slid headfirst into second base, which was blocked by Dark Lord Chase Utley. First Heyward, now Simmons: the Braves really need to start fining their minor league phenoms $1000 every time they attempt a headfirst slide into second base. We simply can’t afford the body count.
Other than that it was a lot like yesterday. Jair Jurrjens looked rather shaky, giving up three runs including a homer — all of the Phillies’ runs were driven in by Jason Pridie, for some ungodly reason — but JJ finished up strong, and perhaps most promisingly he had four strikeouts against just one walk in seven innings.
Dan Uggla and Brian McCann both homered, which is great. It was McCann’s fourth straight game with a homer, so I think we can declare his slump over. I’m not sure we can say the same for Uggla, but a two-run jack is a two-run jack, and I’m certainly not complaining.
It’s wonderful to sweep the Phightins, especially in their own stupid stadium, and if there weren’t such a pall cast over the game I’d probably indulge in more harmless insults, like I did yesterday, pointing out that the last filly in the Kentucky Derby was Eight Belles, who finished 2nd in 2008 (the year the Phillies won the World Series) and then broke her ankles after the race; or pointing out that the Phillies is easily the least-imaginative nickname in all of sports history, even worse than the Houston Texans, New York Americans, Boston Americans, New Jersey Americans, or the Buffalo Buffeds; or that the Philadelphia Phillies are 10-25 since June 1; or that this is the third time this year that the Phillies have gotten swept at home: May 7-9 vs. the Mets, June 4-7 vs. the Dodgers (4 games), and now July 6-8 vs. the Braves.
But that’s probably why the baseball gods were angered in the first place, so I won’t.
Got JC’ed.
The metacarpal bones are about halfway down the hand (if not farther), so I don’t think a simple finger splint is going to be it.
I know this because I broke one once.
July 8th, 2012 at 4:03 pmMuch like Sylvester Stallone in Victory, I’d gladly break one of my bones if it helped the team.
July 8th, 2012 at 4:32 pmSo, use this time to acquire a real utility infielder and have him play SS until Simmons is back.
July 8th, 2012 at 4:36 pmWe’re back in playoff position, at least. ITSET, Braves at Reds, winner at Nationals, Dodgers at Pirates.
July 8th, 2012 at 4:37 pmThose check swing strikeouts of Howard and Ruiz in the 9th by Kimbrel were awesome.
July 8th, 2012 at 4:46 pm1 — As I said it’s going to depend a lot on exactly where any fractures are located and how bad it is of course. Fredi said something like “a fractured knuckle” on the post game radio show.
Obviously you can’t just splint any pinky fracture and be ok to play, but depending on how bad it is it might be possible.
Also speaking as someone who has both broken and dislocated a pinky
July 8th, 2012 at 4:46 pm@3
Omar comin’ (back)?
July 8th, 2012 at 4:47 pmIf Prado could play short, I guess we’d have seen him there, but how much worse is he than Pastornicky?
July 8th, 2012 at 4:53 pmI guess this is just going to be the season where the Braves are confronted with injuries big & small.
Just gotta buck up, and probably make a move or two. We’re still in better shape (standings-wise) than most.
July 8th, 2012 at 4:54 pmFact: we have seen him there. Martin Prado replaced Yunel Escobar at short on April 25, 2008, after Yunel shattered his fingernail on a bunt attempt in the first inning, and he played the rest of the game. Then, he was the starting shortstop on May 4, 2008 and played seven innings before being replaced by Yunel.
So, yeah, he’s only played 15 innings there in his big league career — and only 8 games in his minor league career, 7 in 2007 and 1 in 2008 — but he actually has played there.
You wouldn’t put him there for a month, but he could do it for a day.
July 8th, 2012 at 5:06 pmGet Willingham and play Prado at short for now! Willingham’s offense offsets the lost defense and everyone is happy.
July 8th, 2012 at 5:13 pmTyler Pastornicky is doing a happy dance.
July 8th, 2012 at 5:15 pmHey, guys, I’ve got a connection again (for now).
I’d say that what we could least afford is to lose Hudson for any length of time. Does anyone have any faith in any Braves starter but Tim?
Don’t forget your World Football League champion Birmingham Americans.
July 8th, 2012 at 5:19 pmI don’t have faith in Hanson, exactly, but he’s been perfectly cromulent right now. Otherwise, agreed. At this point Hudson is our most irreplaceable player.
July 8th, 2012 at 5:22 pmAlso, it’s great to see you, Mac! Hope you don’t mind what I’ve done with the place.
July 8th, 2012 at 5:23 pmI’m just glad that someone can housesit for awhile. I only now got a connection and an unfettered pair of typing hands.
July 8th, 2012 at 5:31 pmIt’s been complete chaos, Mac! AAR powertripping all over the place! J/K he’s done a really good job.
Good to hear from you
July 8th, 2012 at 5:34 pmI have faith in Tommy…to be decently above average.
July 8th, 2012 at 5:35 pmUnder no circumstances should we put Prado at shortstop. He won’t be able to do it.
July 8th, 2012 at 5:47 pmGlad you’re recovering, Mac. How are you feeling?
July 8th, 2012 at 6:05 pmI mean, even if he were remotely capable, why would you want to screw around with someone having a great year by sticking him at the most demanding defensive position without warning in the middle of the season? I’d rather see Wilson or Pastor out there than do that to Prado.
Oh yeah, welcome back Mac!
July 8th, 2012 at 6:06 pmWelcome back, Mac. AAR’s going into politics, so we really need your steady hand on the rudder.
I have as much faith in JJ as in Hanson, but I agree Hudson’s the pitcher we can least afford to lose.
Hopefully, Andrelton will heal quickly.
July 8th, 2012 at 6:09 pm@19 I agree.. But would he be any worse than Pastornicky?
July 8th, 2012 at 6:19 pmMaybe one of Andrelton’s many skills includes a Wolverine like healing ability.
July 8th, 2012 at 6:20 pmProbably not, but why turn Prado into Pastornicky? Just leave him alone, he’s doing fine. It’s not like they don’t ask a lot of him as is.
July 8th, 2012 at 6:36 pmFREEDOM IS SLAVERY! WAR IS PEACE! AAACCKACKACAKCAKACK
July 8th, 2012 at 6:49 pmWhen I was a teenager, I foolishly punched a bookcase and fractured my 5th metacarpal. It was immediately evident I had done so, as my hand was sort of collapsed where the knuckle should be. My recovery time was about six weeks wearing a removable cast with a clamp device. The fact that Simmons went out and played the bottom of the inning gives me hope that his injury is perhaps not too bad. Someone over at Capitol Ave pointed out that David Wright fractured his pinkie in April and missed a total of three games.
July 8th, 2012 at 7:20 pm“Someone over at Capitol Ave pointed out that David Wright fractured his pinkie in April and missed a total of three games.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KX5jNnDMfxA
July 8th, 2012 at 7:24 pm@28
I guy can dream.
July 8th, 2012 at 7:38 pmAndrelton is so good that he can throw 90mph fastballs with only four fingers.
July 8th, 2012 at 7:56 pm“Gonzalez has come to appreciate the hustle by Simmons, though he’d prefer not to see so many head-first slides. That’s something the Braves will continue to address.”
Wow, I can’t believe Fredi is agreeing with us.
July 8th, 2012 at 7:59 pmIf he is out for three weeks, it won’t be bad. One of those weeks is the All Star Break.
I am with Mac, losing Hudson would be the worst. Followed by Borne, Prado, McCann, then Andrelton, Heyward and Freeman.
July 8th, 2012 at 8:01 pm@32 I would prefer we don’t need to discuss the order of that at all. We honestly can’t afford to lose anyone.
July 8th, 2012 at 8:08 pmThe position players we can most afford to lose are Hinske, Wilson, Franciso, Diaz, Ross and Chipper.
July 8th, 2012 at 8:13 pm@34 I will just take it as a joke. Especially the part on Chipper and Ross.
July 8th, 2012 at 8:26 pmNL All Star CJ is good even playing 2 out of 3 games.
July 8th, 2012 at 8:51 pmMac, I loved the WFL. They played their TV game on Thursday nights, when there was absolutely NO GAMES on Thursdays except Thanksgiving. The action point was fantastic (no kicking) tds 7 points, I’d love to see the NFL do this with a 1 pointer from the 3 and a 2 point try from the 10. I hate kickers.
July 8th, 2012 at 8:57 pmI like that now that Bourn has made the AS team, Chip and Joe have moved on to whining that Prado got snubbed.
July 8th, 2012 at 9:00 pmThe NFL should just adopt all the XFL rules, imo.
July 8th, 2012 at 9:06 pmHey Mac!
Since you were laid up for a few weeks there, you might not have caught this post Dave Cameron did about Heyward’s batted ball profiles:
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/jason-heyward-different-but-still-really-good/
July 8th, 2012 at 9:15 pmI wonder if we’ll ever explore the option of moving Pastornicky to CF.
July 8th, 2012 at 9:16 pmIf everything breaks right, Pastornicky could be a supersub type, like Brent Lillibridge or Joe McEwing, capable of fitting his hand into 6 or 7 gloves even if he can’t hit much.
Of course, if he spits out the bit like he did the first couple months of this season, then there won’t be much use for that.
July 8th, 2012 at 9:32 pmI recall watching the WFL as a kid. What I most remember:
It was the league that effectively ended the Miami Dolphins’ short-lived dynasty. Larry Csonka, Jim Kiick & Paul Warfield bolted, scoring paydays the NFL wasn’t giving out back then.
It was the first league that I recall that had team nicknames that weren’t plural. (Eg. – Teams called the Shreveport Steamer & the Philadelphia Bell.) I always found that slightly annoying, so I still wince when the Heat & Thunder play. (And don’t get me started on the Utah Jazz.)
No fair catches. This crazy idea soon had us neighborhood kids playing an adaptation—a front-lawn, Nerf-ball game called “punt returns.” It usually didn’t end so well for the “returner.”
July 8th, 2012 at 9:52 pmI don’t recommend doing a search for Shreveport Steamer.
July 8th, 2012 at 10:04 pmThe Chicago Fire GREAT NAME!
July 8th, 2012 at 10:31 pmYankees-Red Sox hitting the four-hour mark again. Monday morning baseball!
July 8th, 2012 at 11:05 pmAny NY-area folk interested in seeing Albert Pujols later this week?
I have 3 Yanks/Angels tickets in Sec. 422 for Friday the 13th, but I’m going to be away.
July 8th, 2012 at 11:20 pmAndruw Jones hit another one today. He’s quietly doing an awfully nice job of filling in for Gardner.
July 8th, 2012 at 11:22 pmAndrew McCutchen strikes me as one of the dudes in the black pornos with the eighteen inch willies.
July 8th, 2012 at 11:43 pmHe has some seriously strong dreads. But my God, what a ballplayer.
July 8th, 2012 at 11:47 pmProspectheads, need your input. Who has the higher ceiling, Danny Hultzen or Tyler Skaggs? Which one would you be more inclined to deal in a trade? Thanks.
July 9th, 2012 at 7:37 am@44 – LOL!
I remember the dicker rod (I think thats what it was called), the device the WFL used in lieu of chains to measure down and distance.
I am glad to see that both Mac’s are back. A good second half would alleviate some fear I was having that BMac was starting the nose dive decline other Braves have experienced.
Yeah Mac, Alex has been doing a great job here at Remington’s Journal.
July 9th, 2012 at 8:11 amIf AAR is going to run for office, the opposition will, of course, blame him for Simmons’ injury; after all, it happened on his watch. Also, they will show him knocking McCann just before McCann hits a grand slam, showing what poor judgement he has. AAR, the negative campaigning starts now.
BTW, I don’t care what people say. If I ran an organization, I would ban head first sliding.
July 9th, 2012 at 8:28 amNow this is awesome –
http://espn.go.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/8141966/boston-red-sox-vicente-padilla-says-new-york-yankees-mark-teixeira-better-women-sport
July 9th, 2012 at 9:29 amSounds like Simmons could miss 4-6 weeks. More if surgery is needed.
July 9th, 2012 at 9:38 am@mravery, is that some report from the Braves organization?
July 9th, 2012 at 9:52 amAAR
July 9th, 2012 at 9:57 amYou are one helluva writer.
Glad you’re back, Mac, and thank you for leaving this gem in such capable hands.
#54
Oh, poor Tex…
Padilla even looks the part as a heavy. Maybe I watched too many Westerns as a kid, but I always thought he came right out of central casting (as the brooding bandito). Sam Peckinpah would’ve loved this guy.
http://tinyurl.com/86275hk
July 9th, 2012 at 10:09 am@56-
Not from the Braves. It’s speculation by BP based on the injury (broken pinky finger) and typical recovery times for it. Obviously the specifics of it may have an effect one way or the other, but I think that’s a pretty good ballpark for what to expect.
July 9th, 2012 at 10:38 am@59 It takes a while for swelling to go down and get good images of injury. Doctor knows better that BP writer.
July 9th, 2012 at 10:49 amAt least losing him this week doesnt hurt that much. Like someone else said, wright played with a broken finger. I dont remember if it was his throwing hand or not. Weve lost prado, heyward, and now simmons over the past few years due to head first slides. Prado multiple times. Not sure why these guys think they get their faster sliding head first.
July 9th, 2012 at 10:53 amThere
July 9th, 2012 at 10:55 amThanks, Kevin. New thread posted. Mac can use our help.
July 9th, 2012 at 11:24 amI mean, if you slide feet first, you can sprain your ankle, especially when someone is blocking the bag with their foot. It was an awkward position, and Utley wasn’t doing him any favors. I frankly would’ve prefered he went in spikes first to Utley’s leg, but as a rookie, that’s probably frowned upon.
July 9th, 2012 at 11:24 amHey everyone-
I just chatted again with Mac this morning and he has perked up in a really big way with everyone’s continuing generosity with the donations – thank you guys. It says something about our Braves community a lot. I am sorry I am on here as much as I used to be, but happy to report back how happy you guys are making Mac. This is quite impressive!
Alex.
July 9th, 2012 at 2:41 pm