I've been rough on the Braves' offense lately, and they did their best to get me to shut up tonight. Matt Diaz continues his torrid hitting, collecting 3 more hits, making him 19 for his last 27. Matty D rocked Cliff Lee for a home run, as did Garret Anderson and Yunel Escobar. That trio combined for 8 hits and 6 RBI. Chipper Jones joined the home run part as well, but remains mired in a slump as he went hitless in his other 4 at bats. Rookie Reid Gorecki contributed as well, playing center field and scoring twice.
Cliff Lee had been utterly dominant for the Phillies since being picked up from the Indians, but the Braves were able to pound out 10 hits and 6 runs in 5 innings, sending the lefty to his first loss as a Phillie. For his part, Atlanta starter Derek Lowe was able to support his offense's outburst, stymieing Philidelphia for just 1 run over 5.2 innings, collecting his 13th win in the process.
Atlanta gains a game on Philadelphia, putting themselves 7 games back in the Eastern Divison race. They also gained a game in the Wild Card standings, now sitting just 3.5 games out. The Wild Card leading Rockies have lost 2 straight to San Fransisco, who now sit just 1 game behind them in the Wild Card standings. If the Giants can complte the sweep tomorrow, the two teams will be tied. It's worth noting that, after this weekend, Colorado and San Francisco still have three more head-to-head games, which could go a long way in hepling the Braves quest to win the Wild Card.
0 recs | 91 comments
its good to see cliff lee and the phillies look mortal for once…
tired of hearing always about how unstoppable and great they are…
shaqfor3 - August 30, 2009
That’s all you’ll hear tonight from the ESPNitwits.
John Holton - August 30, 2009
you workin late tonight CB?
Scott Coleman - August 30, 2009 via mobile
I’m a night owl, bro. I can’t ever sleep. Especially last night, it was bad.
cbwilk - August 30, 2009
Me too
But I’m on the west coast so it’s only 12:15. Gotta love the midnight version of BBTN.
Scott Coleman - August 30, 2009 via mobile
What's the word on Adam LaRoche?
Only caught the recap because of work this evening, but saw he’d left the game with something hamstring related… any news?
The Keith Lockhart Era - August 30, 2009
In his postgame comments from DOB’s blog he said it just tightened up on him and he couldn’t run at all. He didn’t know if or how long he would be out.
Scott Coleman - August 30, 2009 via mobile
Today's AJC
sez: Rochey aggrevated a painful hip and is day to day. also, Nate re-injured hamstring in AA rehab game and is to be evaluated today.
fandave - August 30, 2009
McLouth
More here
fandave - August 30, 2009
Hahahah
I think I got kicked out of TheGoodRetard.com… I mean, TheGoodPhight.com. All I did was tell them to lay off BMac and that Citizens Bank Bandbox really is a high school field, and now I get kicked out! Just shows how great TalkingChop is.
Scott Coleman - August 30, 2009 via mobile
Well at least you did something to irk them
I’ve been banned from the Angels site Halos Heaven and I never posted or even replied to someone on that site! All I ever do is read it to see how the Angels are doing, I’m still a fan,but I guess I pissed someone somewhere off.lol
not2wired - August 30, 2009
Did you post something as clever...
…as the retard bit?
I mean, who wouldn’t want to read such insight?
EastFallowfield - August 30, 2009
Good
You shouldn’t be on there anyway.
esadb - August 30, 2009 via mobile
i know i know. i just like to have fun every once in a while. i know ima bad guy..
Scott Coleman - August 30, 2009
Wow. I actually have some respect for them now for not banning me for bringing up opposing viewpoints. I just assumed banning was something that could only be done by SBNation titans of industry.
danielmobo - August 30, 2009
Lowe is the perfect pitcher to square off against the phillies. The ground ball specialist versus the team that relies solely on the HR, good to see us win and keep our wild card hopes alive. This coming week will decide the braves season
McCann's the Man - August 30, 2009
That win felt great.
blitzerlover - August 30, 2009
Amen to that. Now, let’s get the Win for the Series tonight.
NCChopper - August 30, 2009
I’m not seeing anyone coming out and saying “Goodbye, postseason,” after this win… where are those people? I miss them raining on my parade.
Gage23 - August 30, 2009
+1
fandave - August 30, 2009
Flowery Branch.
Yakker - August 30, 2009
Just 3.5 back.
Hey, with 33 games left to play, does this mean we may perhaps have a faint heartbeat of a tiny little chance?!
fandave - August 30, 2009
Rockies only have 32 remaining so we will have to play .700 ball if the Rockies play .600 ball like they have been late in this season so it’ll be tough.
crime_dog - August 30, 2009
Always tough
to chase down a team that you’re not playing. If the Braves had taken care of business against Philadelphia better, both Friday night (when the weather wasted a dominant match-up advantage) and in the previous series, we’d still have a chance to catch them. As it is, that probably isn’t happening.
Bronn - August 30, 2009
Whoa
Don’t forget the Braves will also need to jump SF, and hold off the Fish and the Cubbies. It’s really a 5-team race right now.
Yakker - August 30, 2009
the cubs are done, that team is so dysfunctional
McCann's the Man - August 30, 2009
Yeah, forgetfulness is such a bitch.
As a fan, I have hope – notwithstanding the soulless mathematical probabilities – that the Braves will storm through the remaining 33 games and the Rockies and Giants falter just enough for us to squeak into the playoffs. And since we will necessarily have to put up an impressive winning percentage for there to be any possibility of this happening in reality, I am focused on the teams in front of us, rather than those behind us.
However, the facts are that the Braves are in the race, have excellent pitching and enough hitters to score some runs with some regularity, and have a realistic possibility of pulling it off.
Therefore: My hope is alive.
fandave - August 30, 2009
Cubs have a 0.1% chance of making the playoffs
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/statistics/ps_odds.php
danielmobo - August 30, 2009
Misread that
0.1% = Brewers
Cubs = 6.26%
danielmobo - August 30, 2009
Baseball's highest OPS in August belongs to
Matt Diaz., at 1.172. And today is the last day. Ryan Zimmerman is right behind him at 1.171, and Adam Dunn is at 1.152. But who’s that in 4th? Adam LaRoche, at 1.143.
Bronn - August 30, 2009
He should get player of the month.
Chief Noc-A-Homa - August 30, 2009
At the very least
He should get serious consideration. Not to mention, he has to have been player of the week last week-he was ridiculous. He hit something like .600.
Bronn - August 30, 2009
Diaz has been great but Zimmermann has been just as good, probably better (better wOBA)
McCann's the Man - August 30, 2009
Too bad Zimmerman is shooting blanks over there.
Chief Noc-A-Homa - August 30, 2009
My fav 'Matt Diaz' quotes from last night....
~Matt Diaz doesn’t hit home runs; when a pitcher sees him coming, he just turns around and throws the ball over the outfield wall.
~Chuck Norris checks his closet every night for Matt Diaz.
~Matt once told Chipper to hit a pitch, and Chip got a home run.
~If Matt Diaz had created the heavens and the earth, he wouldn’t have taken the 7th day off.
~Michael Jordan once scored 63 points in a game. Matt Diaz’s response was, “So what?”
Chief Noc-A-Homa - August 30, 2009
Chief Noc-A-Homa - August 30, 2009
those
were funny
hopefully Diaz will give us reason to come up with more of those tonight!
Titansfan9 - August 30, 2009
Come up with?
Or steal from mattwietersfacts.com?
danielmobo - August 30, 2009
Chief Noc-A-Homa - August 30, 2009
lol, weird. must have inadvertantly typed in code or something…..
“number 2 and 4 are mine…”
Chief Noc-A-Homa - August 30, 2009
....
Matt Wieters Attended A Yankees/Red Sox Series Wearing His O’s Jersey. Both Teams Lost.
lol
Titansfan9 - August 30, 2009
Conor Jackson possibly going to be non-tendered after this season
I wouldn’t say no to him at first base. He wouldn’t be the power guy that you ideally want at first, but the Braves will also have Heyward’s power in right next season to counter that.
was385 - August 30, 2009
If he can get healthy, he’d be a valuable addition, but he is seriously ill.
Yakker - August 30, 2009
Games that matter:
Padres 3 Marlins 5 (Top 5th)
Mets 0 Cubs 1 (Top 2nd) P.S. WTF are the Cubs doing?
Scott Coleman - August 30, 2009
Why do you think the Cubs matter? Better yet, why does anyone behind us matter? If we are to make the playoffs, we have to win. Losing is not an option.
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/statistics/ps_odds.php
Chances of making the playoffs, as of end of play yesterday
Braves 16.95%
Marlins 3.75%
Cubs 6.26%
danielmobo - August 30, 2009
2-1 Mets lead!
And the Cubs are only 5.5 back coming into today…just like we were on Friday. Im not worried about them, but you never know with baseball anymore. I just posted it to be a sweetheart.
Scott Coleman - August 30, 2009
ugh
Giants offense is so bad. I honestly don’t know how they’ve scored a run today. Only two hits, and a sac fly.
Helton and Tulowitski trying to put this one out of reach by homering back to back in the top of the 5th.
Bronn - August 30, 2009
I mean
Jason Hammel isn’t an elite pitcher. He’s solid. But he’s only thrown 42 pitches through 5 innings. Talk about swing-happy-it’s like the early season Braves (except Chipper).
Bronn - August 30, 2009
the Giants are a horrible offensive team.
Scott Coleman - August 30, 2009
It’s rough. Giants are down 4-1 in the 6th, now, and I’m ready to declare that game out of hand. Giants have less chance of scoring 3 runs in 3 innings than we have of scoring 12 runs tonight.
Bronn - August 30, 2009
the Giants only score
when we want them to lose.
Scott Coleman - August 30, 2009
Here's part of your problem
Fred Lewis is, arguably, the second best hitter on that team (a problem in and of itself). His .350 OBP rocks out compared to everyone except Kung-Fu Panda.
However, he’s not inserted in this game until the bottom of the 6th as a pinch hitter. Maybe there’s a reason-ie, he’s not healthy, or slumping-but he’s not a bad defensive player. The player who seemingly is taking his spot is a guy with even less power, and worse OBP, but a slightly, slightly higher BA.
Bronn - August 30, 2009
Holy Smokes!
Giants scored a run. Actually mounting a rally here in the bottom of the 6th-second and third, no outs, 1 run in.
Bronn - August 30, 2009
Molina strikes out
Sandoval up with first base open-here comes IBB if ever there were a time.
Bronn - August 30, 2009
he’ll still swing
McCann's the Man - August 30, 2009
Sandoval
is actually extremely patient compared to most of the SF regulars. And besides, they seem to be pitching to him. Of course, he’s 1-2 already.
Bronn - August 30, 2009
he’s not patient…at all. One of his goals is to hit a pitch on an intention walk i think
McCann's the Man - August 30, 2009
His 7.1% BB rate is beacon of patience in that line-up. Aaron Roward is at 5.7%, Ishikawa is at 6.9%, Ryan Garko is at 4.7%, Bengie Molina is at 2.8%, Juan Uribe at 5.4%.
It’s sad, but he actually is more inclined to talk a walk than most other Giants. And the pitch he took for strike 3 in that AB should definitely have been ball 4.
Bronn - August 30, 2009
i think it’s more because people actually pitch around him, i mean nobody is going to avoid the strike zone with ishikawa, uribe, etc
McCann's the Man - August 30, 2009
And he strikes out.
Bronn - August 30, 2009
Holy
That was a called strike. Gameday doesn’t think it was close to the strike zone.
Bronn - August 30, 2009
In play, out(s).
Garko, the third PH that inning, ends the rally with a groundout. Giants get runners 2nd and 3rd, no outs, and leave them both there.
Bronn - August 30, 2009
Lineup tonight (LaRoche and Churchy are in there)
Diaz rf
Prado 2b
C.Jones 3b
McCann c
Anderson lf
Escobar ss
LaRoche 1b
Church cf
Jurrjens p
Scott Coleman - August 30, 2009
srsly
7th? why? every day…
esadb - August 30, 2009
i’d switch him and GA if i could.
Scott Coleman - August 30, 2009
Agreed.
Bronn - August 30, 2009
I’m just glad he is in the lineup today.
I also like seeing Diaz get to hit everyday, but gosh, our OF D is HORRIBLE.
justincredubil02 - August 30, 2009
Much, much better
with Church in CF. Assuming he’s actually able to run.
Bronn - August 30, 2009
Diaz and Church are actually pretty good, Anderson is god awful
McCann's the Man - August 30, 2009
Diaz is fine in LF but a disaster waiting to happen in RF.
Scott Coleman - August 30, 2009
he’s actually pretty good in LF, but in RF you are correct, it isn’t pretty
McCann's the Man - August 30, 2009
yep. and holy cow
our lineup is slowwww tonight. Chipper, BMac, GA and Roachy cant run for sh*t. Prado, Esco and Church are all have decent speed at best (Church can run a little but his back is hurting him). Our 2 fastest players tonight are our RF and pitcher. How often does that happen in baseball?
Scott Coleman - August 30, 2009
bored, stuck in mississippi, delayed flights
but hey, the m-braves won today, 6-1.
royhobbs - August 30, 2009 via mobile
Edgar Renteria hit a grand slam!
6-5 giants!
Scott Coleman - August 30, 2009 via mobile
Sure would be nice to be 2 1/2 back after tonight.
Go San Fran
esadb - August 30, 2009
Need to win first
blitzerlover - August 30, 2009
6-5 giants on renteria's grand slam
atl192485 - August 30, 2009
UGH, Florida won today. So we really need tonight’s win even more.
and
CONGRATULATIONS to the USA for winning the Little League World Series!!!
NCChopper - August 30, 2009
HEYJUDE
Stopping giving Braves fans a bad name by crapping all over TheGoodPhight. Bringing opposing arguments is cool, but what you do is not.
danielmobo - August 30, 2009
Seriously guys,
Just stop, we are the laughing stock of SBnation.
esadb - August 30, 2009
This is like the fifth time you've said it
And your opinion ≠ fact, without proof.
I agree that it’s kind of juvenile to go air our dirty laundry on another teams’ site, but it’s a free country, and it’s not my place to say who can do what, and discipline them here for their nonsense elsewhere. Please clarify your above opinion, because I am curious to why you continue to state this.
royhobbs - August 31, 2009
I just think its annoying.
I guess we arent really the laughing stock of SBnation, but people are making themselves look like Dbags on other sites. And since so many TCers are going to other blogs, people will start to think all braves fans are like that. That just bothers me. They dont even use good arguements. Maybe im overreacting.
esadb - August 31, 2009
Yeah
When people cross opposing lines to be trolls, it has the capability to make us look bad, but it’s still not necessarily fair for those who are irked to judge all TC users as infantile trolls because of one or two people.
Maybe a little over-the-top, but I do understand your resentment towards people here go elsewhere to act stupid. It’s something that’s difficult to prevent. TC has over 2,000 members, and unless the actions of a user on someone else’s blog directly brings a hostile situation back to our side of the fence, there’s not really any ground to discipline, IMO.
royhobbs - August 31, 2009
I don’t see how you making HEY JUDE look stupid over on their site makes braves fans look any better.
Seriously, did you need to post what you did?
justincredubil02 - August 30, 2009
Yes
Yes I did.
danielmobo - August 30, 2009
I dont think flaming is necessary.
esadb - August 30, 2009
I like to get results
And I believe I have
danielmobo - August 30, 2009
So does a sledgehammer, but it’s not always the best choice for a job.
NCChopper - August 30, 2009
You are wrong. You did not get results.
Because no one cares what you think.
esadb - August 30, 2009
I really don't understand flaming on other team's blogs
It’s not that you’re not allowed to visit rival communities, but generally, doing so without bringing into a discussion is pointless.
Acceptable behavior for visiting a rival blog probably resembles this:
“Is Cole Hamels just having a down year, or was he pitching above his head last year? Or does he appear to be injured?”
“Trust me, the Braves’ offense is better than you’re giving it credit, and here’s some numbers”
If you’re going over there just to mock some comment-that’s flaming and isn’t good. If you’re going there to poke fun at their team/ballpark/city, that’s trolling and is bad.
How many Phillies fans have come over here to start flaming/trolling, despite the fact that they’re 7 games ahead of us? Exactly.
And to be honest, I do visit their site regularly, and I certainly take pleasure at their pains when the Braves beat up at them, but I’ve yet to comment there because I don’t want to be incendiary.
Bronn - August 30, 2009
I approve.
esadb - August 30, 2009
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