So this game was a royal ass-kicking. Derek Lowe couldn't locate any of his pitches, the Braves offense was its usual inept self, and Yunel Escobar made another bone-headed play.
I really liked Derek’s comments after the game. He knew he pitched horribly and he’s big enough to admit that. I like a guy that takes the team’s success as his responsibility. McCann has often said things to that effect, too. But, you know, as badly as Lowe pitched (which was really surprising), I’m going to go out on a limb and say the entire thing wasn’t his fault. Sure, we would have lost anyway, and a loss is a loss. But our defense was as sloppy as I’ve ever seen it. And our offense couldn’t help a guy out. The whole team was off today, so I don’t want to pin all the blame on Lowe’s back.
Errors cost runs…runs cost games. I’d gladly give up the hits they add for no errors in the infield. Escobar is slow, and gives half-hearted attempts at playing baseball. But..he swings a good bat most of the time, so trade him to someone who needs his bat plus KJ for a BIG bat in the outfield.
Let Prado play 2nd when Kotchman gets back, and Diory can handle the defense at SS better than Escobar anyway.
"Diory can handle the defense at SS better than Escobar anyway"???
That’s ridiculous. And strikeouts do not a good pitcher make. Jorge De La Rosa and Garret Olson are in the top 30 in strikeouts, and I wouldn’t want them over anybody in our rotation.
Bobby made some unusual comments about esco’s bone head plays today…..
From AJC:
"I thought we should have turned a double play in the first inning," Cox said. "They get no runs. And [it] wasn’t heads up on the rundown either. We pride ourselves on doing things right and being in the game [mentally] and don’t do things lackadaisically. I just felt we should have turned a double play easy. I’m not saying it cost us the game, but it cost us three runs in the first and you don’t know what’s going to happen in the second."
I bet Esco will not be on this team in 10’ or maybe even at the Trading Dealine if we can get fair value in return….
Boston? Lowrie + Bard/Declarman for Esco?
Just make for another interesting situation for FO and Co. have to deal with…
Well I think they would want a SS in return but not saying that lowrie is the answer for the future but if we can get our hands on Declarman/Bard than we can trade Soriano and Gonzo for a longterm SS and a decent powerbat. Lowrie is atleast good enough to be the place holder till we can develope/trade for a long term solution at SS.
You right Hernandez is a sissy little hitting girl but he could do if we had corner OFers that can hit and produce atleast replacement value than Hernandez would be easier to accept his NO hitting all Def SS production. Infante could do as well once he is 100% healthy…
Than we could have Medlen in 8th and Bard/Declareman in 9th and use the extra cash to go get holliday/Bay type in RF in FA. Keep the rotation next year with Lowe/JJ/JV/Hudson/KK and a 1yr deal with Wagner as the insurance policy in the pen.
He's been solid thus far and not making the same bone head plays Escobar has been making
Plus its like an equation
we have
1. McLouth
2. Escobar
3. Chipper
4. Mac
5. Kotchman
As our best hitters with lack than luster performance coming from
1. GA
2. FYF
3. Kelly
If we trade Escobar for a corner OF bat we actually will balance out.
Replace one of GA or FYF in the field with someone like Ryan Ludwick and we are possibly better off than where we started and I say that simply because I believe Kotchman will out produce Esco in the #2 Spot any day.
Then all you have to worry about is Kelly and FYF. with FYF you can put Diaz out there and call it a day or later in the season if Schafer is doing good call him back up.
What’s wrong with Chipper? 6 games ago, he looks like he’s on the verge of setting Turner Field on fire Crime Dog style. Now he’s two hitless ABs from his longest drought in his career.
Was he sent to some horrifying lab and implanted with Failcoeur DNA?
Bobby is an Idiot for taking out Esco, his play wasn’t bone headed he was focused on the runner in front of him. His team mates should be at fault as well they should have been yelling as soon as the runner took off. Honestly I think this sends the wrong message to Esco. You bench him for that play but you continue to put Frenchy in the starting line up. Esco is one of our best hitters but you take him out, bad move!!!
To FYF’s defense he hasnt really dropped balls and not hustled out there and not made some heads up plays. he is doing pretty good in the field and has actually been doing better as of late than the beginning of the season
I really liked Derek’s comments after the game. He knew he pitched horribly and he’s big enough to admit that. I like a guy that takes the team’s success as his responsibility. McCann has often said things to that effect, too. But, you know, as badly as Lowe pitched (which was really surprising), I’m going to go out on a limb and say the entire thing wasn’t his fault. Sure, we would have lost anyway, and a loss is a loss. But our defense was as sloppy as I’ve ever seen it. And our offense couldn’t help a guy out. The whole team was off today, so I don’t want to pin all the blame on Lowe’s back.
Gage23 - June 14, 2009
Beard, are you alive?
bigjoe - June 14, 2009
i’m officially worried.
mvandonsel - June 14, 2009
If I actually had gotten my phone back today, I’d call him. But yeah…still nothing!
bigjoe - June 14, 2009
You didn’t get your phone back? Did you call that guy again?
mvandonsel - June 14, 2009
I got it back this morning
bigjoe - June 15, 2009
Congrats!
mvandonsel - June 15, 2009
Did he not show up or something?
sddbaker - June 14, 2009
I made it back to my hotel room somehow!
Smoltz's Beard - June 15, 2009
Thank god for that. We got worried when we were looking for you on Sunday and couldn’t find you
bigjoe - June 15, 2009
Yeah, my bad…I should have called you when I decided to leave Sunday morning.
Smoltz's Beard - June 15, 2009
My phone was gone. Hahahaha
bigjoe - June 15, 2009
YOU'RE ALIVE!!!!!
YAY!!!!!
mvandonsel - June 15, 2009
How’d you enjoy my drunken incoherent ramblings on the walk to the liquor store? I was in rare form.
Smoltz's Beard - June 16, 2009
Dude, it took you like 5 minutes to tell me what you do for work! You kept starting and starting.
mvandonsel - June 17, 2009
Also, I saw a dude wearing a Failcoeur shirt. WHICH ONE OF YOU WAS IT!??!?!
bigjoe - June 14, 2009
Just one more reason we CANNOT trade Vazquez or Jurrjens
Let’s face it. Vazquez is our real Ace. No other Braves pitcher even comes CLOSE to his 105 strikeouts.
Audi - June 14, 2009
Our real trade bait
…should be Escobar and Kelly.
Errors cost runs…runs cost games. I’d gladly give up the hits they add for no errors in the infield. Escobar is slow, and gives half-hearted attempts at playing baseball. But..he swings a good bat most of the time, so trade him to someone who needs his bat plus KJ for a BIG bat in the outfield.
Let Prado play 2nd when Kotchman gets back, and Diory can handle the defense at SS better than Escobar anyway.
Audi - June 14, 2009
Why did Escobar get pulled so early today?
bigjoe - June 14, 2009
"Diory can handle the defense at SS better than Escobar anyway"???
That’s ridiculous. And strikeouts do not a good pitcher make. Jorge De La Rosa and Garret Olson are in the top 30 in strikeouts, and I wouldn’t want them over anybody in our rotation.
MichaelProcton - June 14, 2009
Esco in the DOG HOUSE
Bobby made some unusual comments about esco’s bone head plays today…..
From AJC:
"I thought we should have turned a double play in the first inning," Cox said. "They get no runs. And [it] wasn’t heads up on the rundown either. We pride ourselves on doing things right and being in the game [mentally] and don’t do things lackadaisically. I just felt we should have turned a double play easy. I’m not saying it cost us the game, but it cost us three runs in the first and you don’t know what’s going to happen in the second."
I bet Esco will not be on this team in 10’ or maybe even at the Trading Dealine if we can get fair value in return….
Boston? Lowrie + Bard/Declarman for Esco?
Just make for another interesting situation for FO and Co. have to deal with…
Hanson-Ace - June 14, 2009
I have no idea who they plan on replacing him with, because Diory hits like an old woman.
bigjoe - June 14, 2009
Well I think they would want a SS in return but not saying that lowrie is the answer for the future but if we can get our hands on Declarman/Bard than we can trade Soriano and Gonzo for a longterm SS and a decent powerbat. Lowrie is atleast good enough to be the place holder till we can develope/trade for a long term solution at SS.
You right Hernandez is a sissy little hitting girl but he could do if we had corner OFers that can hit and produce atleast replacement value than Hernandez would be easier to accept his NO hitting all Def SS production. Infante could do as well once he is 100% healthy…
Than we could have Medlen in 8th and Bard/Declareman in 9th and use the extra cash to go get holliday/Bay type in RF in FA. Keep the rotation next year with Lowe/JJ/JV/Hudson/KK and a 1yr deal with Wagner as the insurance policy in the pen.
Hanson-Ace - June 14, 2009
If, if, if...
If you want to practice starting a brand new squad from scratch, try fantasy baseball.
MichaelProcton - June 14, 2009
Except that Diory isn’t exactly a wizard with the glove.
Lennox - June 14, 2009
He's been solid thus far and not making the same bone head plays Escobar has been making
Plus its like an equation
we have
1. McLouth
2. Escobar
3. Chipper
4. Mac
5. Kotchman
As our best hitters with lack than luster performance coming from
1. GA
2. FYF
3. Kelly
If we trade Escobar for a corner OF bat we actually will balance out.
Replace one of GA or FYF in the field with someone like Ryan Ludwick and we are possibly better off than where we started and I say that simply because I believe Kotchman will out produce Esco in the #2 Spot any day.
Then all you have to worry about is Kelly and FYF. with FYF you can put Diaz out there and call it a day or later in the season if Schafer is doing good call him back up.
drumzalicious - June 15, 2009
Bad game for everyone
including the author of the recap : )
hoboken_wood - June 14, 2009
This game was a shot right in my fanhood.
It hasn’t stung this bad since we blew that third game in Philadelphia opening weekend.
Bronn - June 14, 2009
There goes DLowe's chances at making the all star team
damn. just when he was looking like the best off-season FA signing
Scott Coleman - June 14, 2009
I'll be the one to say it
What’s wrong with Chipper? 6 games ago, he looks like he’s on the verge of setting Turner Field on fire Crime Dog style. Now he’s two hitless ABs from his longest drought in his career.
Was he sent to some horrifying lab and implanted with Failcoeur DNA?
Bronn - June 14, 2009
He's in slump.
It happens to all hitters. None are immune. It doesn’t happen to the good ones as often, but it still happens.
sddbaker - June 14, 2009
Why does Terry Pendleton still have a job, by the way?
Just saying…
Audi - June 14, 2009
He's an Icon.
Although now-a-days it doesnt mean as much since our new GM is pretty cut throat performance wise
drumzalicious - June 15, 2009
Bobby is an Idiot for taking out Esco, his play wasn’t bone headed he was focused on the runner in front of him. His team mates should be at fault as well they should have been yelling as soon as the runner took off. Honestly I think this sends the wrong message to Esco. You bench him for that play but you continue to put Frenchy in the starting line up. Esco is one of our best hitters but you take him out, bad move!!!
That a boy - June 15, 2009
To FYF’s defense he hasnt really dropped balls and not hustled out there and not made some heads up plays. he is doing pretty good in the field and has actually been doing better as of late than the beginning of the season
drumzalicious - June 15, 2009
Noticed in the Monday morning standings that the Braves have scored four fewer runs than the Naitonals this season.
Where would we be without halfway decent starters? If our rotation was as bad as last years, we could be looking at 15-20 wins right now.
kalesi - June 15, 2009
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