Braves Game Discussions

I wish we would send Norton down and get conrad up here. Surely someone in the Infield could play outfield and get another bat in our line up..

any predictions on the game today? I feel we have a good chance of winning but these 2 teams match up so well against each other, 3 in a row seems like such a stretch.

As I stated earlier I can't watch the game but apparently Diaz homered to right with 2 outs in the 2nd, Vazquez struck out the side in the first. going good so far..

so...the Phillies aren't looking as far out ahead anymore....if we hold on onto the lead, we will be 4.5 back.

[quote name='amarant00' post='109626' date='Aug 9 2009, 06:06 PM']so...the Phillies aren't looking as far out ahead anymore....if we hold on onto the lead, we will be 4.5 back.[/quote]



Yep. If Lidge was in full form the Phillies would probably be 8 or 9 games better, but he's been AWFUL.

Lidge still doesn't account for their seemingly lack luster offense since the break but if you do the if's I mean you could easily say that if our Offense was just a tad above average, with all the quality starts gone for losses the Braves could easily have 10 to 15 more wins, I mean it says a lot that we are 7-2 against the Phils, handled the Giants fairly well and the Phils had trouble and then now we are playing at the exact same level as the Dodgers which all the games but todays was decided in the final inning of play and today was bad because the Dodgers just called up their pitcher who is mediocre at best this year anyway to replace Schmidt in their rotation. Schmidt is the only game I really thought didn't look that even on paper but watching the game I didn't see how we didn't win, he was getting hit hard batter after batter but the ball just wouldn't carry and then Jair made the bad pitch to Ethier in the 5th and that was the game...I have a feeling the division will be looking pretty crazy by the beginning of September. I had given up all hope after this bad stretch but hadn't realized the Phillies haven't been succeeding either.

The Braves come into the series having took 3 of 4 from the Dodgers without Chipper or McClouth in the lineup for the final two games of the series. The bullpen gets 2 days off for sure this week before the Phillies come to town this weekend. Bobby Cox is expected to shuffle the starting pitching up to prepare for the Phillies weekend series, so It is unclear at the moment who will be starting this series.



The Braves enter this series with Washington having a 5-4 season record against them while the Nats took 2/3 the last 2 series from the Braves. The Nats also enter Atlanta on the back of an 8 game winning streak. The Braves ideally need to take both games of this 2 game series and not lose any ground on the Phillies as they are as close as they have been since July 5.

The pitching matchup at a glance looks very well for the Braves as they will send Tommy Hanson out to face John Lannan however in the past 5 starts Lannan has been pitching much better than Tommy Hanson.



I think the key to getting to the Nats is doing whatever possible to get the Nats to call on their bullpen for work. We also need Hanson to come out with a brilliant performance tonight. Our bullpen should be fairly rested with the day off yesterday and should be available for strong outings as we have Thursday off awaiting Philadelphia to get to town.



This is the point in the season where I will be seriously looking and developing whether Cox has enough let to run this team. We cannot lay down here. We could very well go into the Phillies series within a game at best or at worst we go in more than 5 games back. The next 2 weeks are going to prove the most important games of the season.

So far it seems to me that Hanson isn't really checking on the baserunner much at all. Morgan ends up with huge leads and already having stole second, he could probably take 3rd with the huge leads he is getting. Tommy just doesn't seem like he has that much control, but then again this is just the 3rd batter he has faced. Hopefully he will settle down.

Didn't Hanson pitch like 7 IP 1 ER last time against the Nats. Just the solo shot from Dunn?

yeah, he faced John Lannan in that start too. He has already given up a run though. Maybe he will get it together tonight. I expect he will have quite a few K's tonight. I just hope he can keep the hits and scoring down.

he has to check these runners a lot more. Its ridiculous the leads they are getting cause he isn't checking them.



1st steal in over a year for Zimmerman.

Hopefully Lannan won't do as good as last time either then.

3ks, 2 hits, 2 stolen bases, 1 run. Mixed review on that inning.

The nats kinda reminded me of the first 2 series the Braves played this year. They would get a runner on and then steal a base or something to get things moving.

I feel I have let you guys down as I failed to get the line up and inform you that Infante is in the line up tonight. Great for him to be back.

Braves trying to get a rally going in the 2nd. Bases loaded no outs. Diaz up.

It would be lovely to have Pujols right now, just for the one at bat

Tied the game on the double play.

Now Infante's first at bat...since his surgery.

I was hoping...that would have been a great return if he got all of it. Instead just a line drive to end the inning.

Morgan called out trying to steal 3rd for his 3rd SB of the game but was called out. Replay showing he was safe.

Nats hitting instructor tossed after lying about who was barking at the 3rd base umpire after Guzman singled over Escobar's head.

Braves winning 6-1

Phils losing 2-0

Fish losing 6-2



looking good so far

if all can continue this again tomorrow...In a way I would ideally like to see the Marlins win though, just to keep another team up there to keep pressure heavily mounted on the Phils.

My thinking is that if the Braves can't win the east, I at least hope Florida or Washington takes out the Mets or Phillies.

just another quick thought here. What if the Braves and Marlins were to pass up Philly? I mean did they not give up like 4 of their best young players to get Cliff Lee or am I thinking of another team trading away a lot of young players? I mean if I am correct, would that not mean they shot their future for an immediate effect that didn't happen and blew a 7 game lead at that?

Cox should have left him to work through his trouble. Now I have seen this several times this year and the sporadic bullpen gives up the runners he left on hurting his or other starters stats. Maybe with yesterday off, they will come out firing tonight.

Tommy Hanson goes 6 and 2/3 7 hits 1 run 9 strikeouts.



Braves scored 8 runs on 10 hits. Nate McClouth nor Nate McClouth were missed in the starting lineup tonight. Great to take advantage of the 2 days off and having the ability to give a couple guys the days off.



Its too bad Acosta got into trouble and forced the Braves to put Gonzo up in the bullpen he really needs some rest for this weekend, but a wonderful job of coming back strong after he got into trouble.



Hopefully the Cubs get out of their jam, and get a run or 2 on the Phillies to help us get to 3.5 back.

Tonights pitching matchup, hoping the Rain holds off, will be Craig Stammen(3-6 5.40 era, and 1-2 7.95 era over the last 5) against Derek Lowe (11-7 3.94 ERA and 3-0 3.26 ERA in his last 5).



Lowe is 0-2 with a 5.02 ERA but tonight is a must win. They has a sub-par pitcher going up against our ace. He has to get over the hump and pull out a good outing against the Nationals tonight. If we win tonight that puts added pressure on the Phillies to have to sweep the Cubs so they won't lose any ground.



I am still hoping the Marlins can keep pace with us to help give added pressure that the Phillies could get shuffled down to 3rd Place. Pedro takes the mound tonight against the Cubs, so lets hope he still has lots of rust on his arm. I think Lee goes tomorrow night for the Phillies so he won't be available for the Braves series, making it all the more better for the Braves.