With the lineup the Mets put on the field tonight, the Braves should have had an easy afternoon of it. But you have to take into account the pitcher who was on the mound for the Mets -- Johan Santana. And it's not that the Mets really scored any runs on their own in the early part of the game -- Braves starter Kenshin Kawakami walked in a run and then gave up a second run on a force out.
I was going to talk about more of what went wrong today, be it Yunel Escobar once again missing a sign, or making a funny pun on Manny Acosta's name (Manny it'll cost ya!), but the game can be summed up thusly -- we didn't get any key hits. We loaded the bases in the seventh and eighth innings and got nothing to show for it -- that was the game right there.
Yuck.
0 recs | 69 comments
Yuck does sum it up
We didn’t execute and we brought in Manny Acosta in a close game. Disgusting game.
nick9314 - July 18, 2009
IT WASNT YUNEL'S FAULT.
Even tho bobby had his little hissy fit, that ball almost hit him. Sure he coulda hit…if he took 2 steps outside the batters box.
Tough loss, but i dont really blame it on Yunel.
Scott Coleman - July 18, 2009
It is his fault
When you get the hit and run sign, you swing.
esadb - July 18, 2009
It was stupid to have the hit and run there anyways. Why force your hitter to swing when the pitcher can’t throw a strike?
eaheckman10 - July 18, 2009
it was a stupid call. and there’s no way Yunel hits that ball.
Scott Coleman - July 18, 2009
And it was definitely too far inside for Escobar to do anything. He was jumping out of the way
eaheckman10 - July 18, 2009
there was a better chance of me hitting one of KK’s 14 bouncing fastballs than there was of Yunel hitting that ball.
Scott Coleman - July 18, 2009
That’s not the point. The point is that he missed the sign. He had NO idea of what he was supposed to do.
bravos1984 - July 18, 2009
well even if he got the sign, he still couldnt do anything about it. he could’ve walked to third base, asked Snitker himself, and STILL not hit the pitch.
Scott Coleman - July 18, 2009
on a hit and run
It is your job to protect the runner. On bad pitches it is th batters job to swing through the ball. The objective is to keep the catcher back and make it much harder for him to come out throwing. Its easy to play monday morning quarterback. Most cases on 2-0 you are going to geta good pitch to hit and he easily could have gotten a fastball and drove it the other way.It was a bad pitch, I agree he couldnt have hit it, he should have stayed in their and either swung through it to protect the runner or lean into it.
littlethings - July 19, 2009
I agree that he probably did. But he was jumping out of the way, how could he have swung?
eaheckman10 - July 18, 2009
Well if he was gearing up to swing for a hit and run he might have gotten the bat on it some how or gotten a HBP. But because he didn’t read the sign, he was probably just waiting for a strike to be thrown.
bravos1984 - July 18, 2009
The ball was inside. His instinct was to jump back. If someone offered him a million dollars before that pitch was thrown just to swing the bat, it wasn’t happening
eaheckman10 - July 18, 2009
Yeah INSTINCTS because he failed to understand INSTRUCTIONS.
bravos1984 - July 18, 2009
Yunel Hater alert!!!
That a boy - July 18, 2009
are you Bobby Cox’s brother or something?
Scott Coleman - July 18, 2009
No. Are you Frank Wren’s cousin?
bravos1984 - July 18, 2009
what does frank wren have to do with anything?
Scott Coleman - July 18, 2009
What does Bobby’s brotehr have to do with anything?
bravos1984 - July 18, 2009
brother*
bravos1984 - July 18, 2009
Bobby Cox hates Yunel Escobar…and you’re pretty much blaming the entire game on him.
Scott Coleman - July 18, 2009
where did you acquire this inside knowledge that Bobby hates Yunel?
Swo12bv - July 18, 2009
did you not see him after esco didnt swing?
Scott Coleman - July 18, 2009
No. I’m commenting on the excuses being made for him. 6 LOB in the last 3 innings lost this game.
bravos1984 - July 18, 2009
please…..
bravos1984 - July 18, 2009
Its so many things that went wrong in this game and all you can do is focus on a missed sign, in which even if yunel swung at that pitch that was way inside he still misses and Diory’s slow ass still gets thrown out by a foot.
That a boy - July 18, 2009
I’m not focusing on that play….I’m just commenting on excuses people are making for Yunel.
Even if he does miss he might screen the catcher in some way. Anything is better than giving the catcher a clear shot.
bravos1984 - July 18, 2009
But I suppose, regardless of what happened with him, he didn’t have 5 LOB like a certain leadoff hitter.
bravos1984 - July 18, 2009
or swing and miss at 2 fastballs right down the middle like a certain pinch hitter who’s hitting .103 did.
Scott Coleman - July 18, 2009
This game can not be blamed on Yunel at all. Nate 0-5 tonight missed chances with the Bases loaded twice 2nd time by Norton. We had runners in scoring position all night. And Yunel is just being used as a scapegoat half the time. It was so many things that went wrong in this game where do you begin.
That a boy - July 18, 2009
my point exactly. it wasnt Yunel’s fault. there’s no question about it.
Scott Coleman - July 18, 2009
...
it was the whole team’s fault…with the exception of Chipper, Moylan and maybe KK (all those walks killed us tho).
Scott Coleman - July 18, 2009
I blame jurrjens
yondaime4 - July 18, 2009 via mobile
clearly it was Soriano’s fault… he should have jsut wlked into the game when he is needed… he shouldnt need Bobby to tell him to go in…NEW RULE… from now on any time the game is within 3 runs Soriano automatically enters teh game w.o instruction
Swo12bv - July 18, 2009
Failed execution.
Both at the plate and on the mound.
This is one of those days you gotta try and forget, come back tomorrow night and make them WANT to leave Atlanta.
Oh, and make sure they leave town with a series LOSS.
NCChopper - July 18, 2009
Guys, guys, guys
This whole game is FYF’s fault. Everything is always his fault.
Really though, we just did not execute when we needed to!
SupermanWearsBobSander'sPJs - July 18, 2009
with 3 balls and no strikes why send the runner anyway!
knightman - July 18, 2009
Bingo
eaheckman10 - July 18, 2009
+1
SupermanWearsBobSander'sPJs - July 18, 2009
I believe it was 2-0.
TennKen - July 19, 2009
WAKE UP BOBBY DO NOT LEAVE MANNY OUT THERE FOR MOR THAN ONE RUN!
knightman - July 18, 2009
Bobby Cox Rule
If you start sucking, Bobby Cox will leave you in the game to get ONE out, no matter how many runs you let the game get away from before he will pull you.
Nevermind how out of control the game gets, how badly your confidence gets dinged, by gum, you WILL get at least one out, to prove that you’re capable.
royhobbs - July 19, 2009
We lost the game in the hit a run… who the hell plays a hit a run when the count is 3 and 0… thats pretty moronic of Cox… he is too old for this… fire him and get clint hurdle or someone better who doesnt give the game up for a loss… he thinks francoeur cant hit any ball in the planet… he can hit… he intenionally walked Wright in the third sixth and 9th inning to take on Jeff… what happened? the first worked pretty good but then he did an infield single and loaded the bases which KK walked reed for a run and then gave up another run… in the ninth inning FYF hit a single through the middle for an rbi… we need to play more intelligent baseball and we can be in october contending
JoeyBraves - July 18, 2009
Those infield singles were pure luck. I would walk Wright every time to face Failcoeur
eaheckman10 - July 18, 2009
Why wouldn’t you hit and run with 3-0 count? If the ball is close, you swing. If not, you take it for ball four. It’s not a bad strategy. I don’t know where you get off calling Cox moronic.
dlkinser86 - July 18, 2009
It was a 2-0 count, if it was 3-0, Yunel taking wouldn’t have mattered.
bravos1984 - July 18, 2009
Okay. I didn’t watch the game, or listen to the game, for I was at work. I was commenting on the above comment.
dlkinser86 - July 19, 2009
I think Acosta’s nickname should be “The Escelator”
JFP - July 18, 2009
I laughed out loud at that nickname!
gondeee - July 18, 2009
Great nickname!
HEYJUDE - July 19, 2009
I like mann-Y-ac, because he's a fucking head case
cirela20 - July 19, 2009
Even outside of Yunel’s misunderstanding we still loaded the bases twice and did nothing . . . that is worse IMO. especially in the 7th with 1 out
drumzalicious - July 18, 2009
this^
HEYJUDE - July 19, 2009
Time for Manny to return to AAA
Two of hid last 3 outings have been terrible! Gave up 3 runs both times. One with a 4 run lead. Don’t see how BC can have any confidence in him in any situation other than a blowout.
Braves fan since 1966 - July 19, 2009
I have to say that I agree with you. I don’t have any confidence in Manny when he takes the ball. I just never know what we are going to get out of him when he takes the mound. When he’s good he’s great but when he’s off, he’s terrible.
Bobby knows this and needs to keep him on a short leash!
Not that I am blaming him for the loss. I blame leaving RISP, our problem all year!
Let’s get them tomorrow !
HEYJUDE - July 19, 2009
Is Acosta a Met?
Dammit JIm - July 19, 2009
Maybe we could trade him for a better player. They like to do that.
dlkinser86 - July 19, 2009
I’m in a state of indecision. I understand that we need to rest our bullpen’s arms. That’s something we harp about often in game threads. But at what point do you look past that and see that it is a one run game, our bats have been hitting, we just haven’t taken advantage of opportunities so far. There is a chance that we can make up that one run in the bottom of the ninth the way our lineup has been getting hits. In that situation, do you bring in Soriano, trusting you’d still only have a one run deficit? Or do you save his arm and give the inning to Acosta who has been struggling?
Some people can say that it wouldn’t have mattered. We didn’t even muster one run in the bottom of the ninth, so we would’ve lost even if the score was still 2-1. But the game changed when it became 5-1 IMO. The boys were trying to play big ball instead of small ball. And we do that often. The Cubs have their success playing small ball. They are very good at it. They don’t try to go deep when all they need is a sac fly to score a run. I’m frustrated with yesterday’s loss. That was a game we shouldn’t have lost against a team who shouldn’t beat us.
I don’t know the solution that would’ve give us the W, but whatever we did didn’t work.
Gage23 - July 19, 2009
Im pretty sure
had Gonzo been healthy he would have been in at that time. Although im curious as to why Acosta wasnt put in the 7th instead of Moylan seeing as how our LH SU man is out.
You also bring up another point. People can argue the rest factor all day but the point is that Acosta had days off like everyone else. Then one between his two outings and he still wasn’t sharp.
I think if we are going to compete in the late goings of this season we might need another back of the bullpen arm. Valdez is nice but he hasn’t gained my trust yet
drumzalicious - July 19, 2009
We can get 2/3. I hate the red jerseys….
Chief Noc-A-Homa - July 19, 2009
errr…..3/4
Chief Noc-A-Homa - July 19, 2009
Crossing the fence
I thought it was just the booze (I rarely have a DD with me at games), but now sober, I pretty much feel the same way now.
-I no longer have any remaining confidence that Manny Acosta can handle any pressure situation, whether it’s keeping the game close, or preserving a close lead. I would prefer to see Acosta demoted back to AAA in favor of Juan Perez, regardless of the fact that that would give us four lefties in the bullpen.
-I am officially tilted towards the side of the fence that is pro-Bobby Cox should retire now. Often I’ve teetered in the middle, but I’ve got my stance now. Being in the outfield, I couldn’t really tell that the hit-and-run was on (and I was buzzed), but I cringed at McCann being lifted, the repeated burning of players for pinch-runners, and Bobby’s stubbornness to remove an ineffective reliever without one more out. I’m aware that it’s not his fault that McLouth put up another stinker and the rest of the team couldn’t deliver in two key bases-loaded situations, but for some reason I found my frustrations easily aimed towards Bobby on this one, not Yunel.
Moving forward, I’d like to see Acosta and Diory Hernandez sent down to AAA for Chris Burke and Juan Perez. I have faith that McLouth will eventually snap out of this Francoeuresque slump, and then I will feel pretty good about the team as a whole.
royhobbs - July 19, 2009
David Ross running for Kotchman, and letting Norton hit???? Or letting Norton run for Kotchman and let Ross hit with the Basses juiced. It is very possible that Ross would have struck out as well but the moves leaves me to scratch my head, but it happened and Bobby will be here until he says he is finished.
That a boy - July 19, 2009
Norton
How is it that despite ~50 PAs, Norton has done more to hurt the Braves than any bat this year?
http://www.fangraphs.com/winss.aspx?team=Braves&pos=all&stats=bat&qual=0&type=6&season=2009&month=0
Let Ross hit in that spot!
WeNeedDavidJustice - July 19, 2009
I want to know where Brooks Conrad was. He’s done plenty to prove himself at the plate. I don’t see why Norton was up instead of him. And like you said, he could have struck out just as easily, but I would’ve rather put my money on Brooksy.
Gage23 - July 20, 2009
Conrad was used as a pinch-runner at the time, and was unavailable
royhobbs - July 20, 2009
Bobby Cox has always managed like this, I don’t know why people are suddenly acting like it’s because he’s old and needs to retire.
Lennox - July 19, 2009
That is a very good point. He has always tried to give the player the opportunity. The player has to prove over and over that he is incapable of getting the job done. It has been Bobby’s philosophy for a long time. He doesn’t like players looking over their should to see who is getting ready to take his spot on the team. He has always had a very long leash in many situations.
As for some of his playcalling, I guess that could be one person’s opinion.
dlkinser86 - July 19, 2009
Therein lies the problem.
And for the record, I made no reference to his age. Retirement is the suggestion, so he doesn’t pull an Emmitt Smith.
For better or worse, it’s a changed game. Players, or pitchers aren’t nearly as mentally headstrong as they used to be. In the past when a reliever comes in, gives up several hits/walks, loads the bases, and gives up a run, you could practically see them get mad, and use that as fuel to motivate themselves to do better; minimize the damage, and then get pissed in the dugout after the inning.
Nowadays, and quite a few notable instances this season the “I’m gonna get one out you, no matter the cost” mentality has killed the Braves. Relievers, especially younger and/or less experienced ones just can’t be expected to show the composure of older times to get that one out sometimes; it’s more of a luxury if they can demonstrate such. And unfortunately for today’s Braves, the relief corps have shown a bigger propensity to get rattled than minimize damage.
royhobbs - July 20, 2009
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