Braves Game Discussions

So this is all I know at the moment...



Kershaw will be on the mound for the Dodgers and has only given up 3 runs 1 time since early June and that was this past start.



Kawakami takes the mound for the Braves and has started 4 games since the all star break and has an 0-3 record in that time frame. His last outing he gave up 3 in the loss to the Padres.



Chipper Jones says he expects to be unavailable for the next few days as he hurt his oblique yesterday in BP.





I say this one has to go to the Dodgers unless KK just turns around and has a great night. Over this and the last series, the Dodgers and Braves seem to match up really well together, but I feel this is the weak point without Chipper and trotting our worst starter out to the mound. We are in a crucial point in the season and can only afford to lose around 15 or 16 more games if we want any shot at the playoffs.



Yunel took the National League lead in batting average with runners in scoring position last night with his RBI single prior the the Church home run. He is batting .419 with runners in scoring position and only trails Bobby Abreu of the Angels who is batting .426. With a .390 average with 2 outs and RISP he leads the majors.

I have to agree. Kawakami has had some control issues after the all star break, and losing Chipper doesn't help any. Plus, I think the Dodgers are gonna be out to win after last night's close game, and have a lot of intensity. I think Kawakami is gonna get his 4th loss since the all star break tonight

Realistically, this team was a playoff caliber team, they just waited too long to get to work. I mean since the break they are 6th in runs scored, 4th in batting average, I think 6th in home runs, 3rd or 4th in ERA. The pitching staff has been giving up a lot of hits though. I think they rank 14th in opponents batting average. Either we need a team incredibly strong working from the stretch to keep going or we gotta stop the hits. The one thing that helps out quite a bit is the dodgers always pull Ramirez early in the game but Matt Kemp is in the top 3 in batting average after the 7th and we are very familiar with what Ethier has done to us.

Yep. At the start of the season, our pitching was doing well, but our offense couldn't get anything going. It didn't look like our pitching was that good because of our pitchers records, like Vasquez's record. He was pitching good but couldn't get a win without offense. Now, our offense has started to turn it up, but our pitchers have started to cool down.

and we have a mix up in the line up tonight...



Church, CF

Prado, 3B

Anderson, LF

Escobar, SS

Diaz, RF

LaRoche, 1B

Ross, C

Hernandez, 2B

Kawakami, P

[quote name='Jacob Matthews' post='108875' date='Aug 8 2009, 08:56 PM']Yep. At the start of the season, our pitching was doing well, but our offense couldn't get anything going. It didn't look like our pitching was that good because of our pitchers records, like Vasquez's record. He was pitching good but couldn't get a win without offense. Now, our offense has started to turn it up, but our pitchers have started to cool down.[/quote]





Yeah, I contend that Jurrjens and Vazquez should be in the top 10 in Cy Young conversation but I feel that there records will not land either of them there.

The line up seems like we are conceding the game tonight...

so far KK is doing a good job but right now is the point where KK struggles, I would say 3-4-5 is his worst innings.

Thank God, Kawakami got out of that jam

we needed this performance by him...

I don't know why we would have norton coming in here.......



I didn't like Church and he proved me wrong last night....maybe...just maybe..

not even gonna say it

Medlen just killed it!

he was very impressive. you notice that one pitch to Manny where it was close but just high and inside, Manny looked like he turned around really fast like he was getting ready to argue like the ump was going to call it a strike

yep



now we need to score. at least the Dodger's big three won't be up at least for a bit.

still have to face Kemp and he is top 3 in the league in BA after 7 innings.

KM struck out Ethier, then Manny, then Kemp

I assumed since last night Blake was hitting behind Manny he would be there again, I haven't been paying a whole lot of attention, just occasionally looking up at the game however I did see Medlen pitch that great inning..I got concerned after Furcal walked. I just don't know a lot about the Dodgers..

yeah Blake is sitting tonight.

5 Loney, 1B

6 Hudson, 2B

7 Abreu, 3B

8 Ausmus, C



is what we're looking at.

It must be one of my quirky pet peeves but I cannot stand how Medlen wears his hat...

maybe Medlen can give us another great inning

he is looking great tonight...last nights game must have pumped the Pen up...

and he does

and we're going to extras 0-0



Braves have 3 walks, 1 single, and 1 double.

Dodgers have 4 walks, 4 singles.

We still have McClouth and McCann available to hit...maybe that will help us if we need it.

isn't it crazy how well we match up with the Dodgers? I mean every game that I can think of is so close and the teams seem so similar...





and this is the team to beat in the NL

Diaz hit mota pretty hard, maybe Laroche or Kelly can do the same except knock it out..

or McCann...I am really on top of the line ups..

Mac up with guy on 1st, 1 out

[quote name='amarant00' post='109065' date='Aug 9 2009, 01:13 AM']isn't it crazy how well we match up with the Dodgers? I mean every game that I can think of is so close and the teams seem so similar...





and this is the team to beat in the NL[/quote]



Yea, the last two games have both been decided in the last inning of play