Like a jock strap on a cold day, Javier Vazquez felt the warm embrace of run support as the Braves put up nine runs behind his strong effort on the mound. Vazquez went 7 innings allowing only 2 runs on 4 hits and 2 walks while striking out 6 -- another quality start for Javy.
The offense tied a season-high record with 17 hits. This, despite Matt Diaz tying a franchise record by grounding into 3 double plays -- he redeemed himself by homering in the sixth. Adam LaRoche is all kinds of hot right now as he went 4-for-4 (all singles), and has had a hit in every game he has started for the Braves since being re-acquired last week. Martin Prado and Garret Anderson also added 3-hits a piece. Even Vazquez had a hit. The only regular without a hit -- Chipper Jones.
Chipper is now just 6-for-his-last-32, a .188 average. This begs the question, "is something wrong?" He doesn't seem to be hurting or favoring anything. Perhaps he's simply not getting any good pitches to hit, and he's pressing to try and make something happen. Whatever it is, if we can get him going like the Chipper Jones of last year, then we really might have a chance.
0 recs | 32 comments
It’s more then lack of pitches for Chipper. He hasn’t been catching up to fast balls, and his contact has not been great on alot of pitches he should be hitting.
He is too good for this to be anything other then some kind of nagging injury, in my opinion. Lets hope it clears up soon.
Sid Bream's Moustache - August 5, 2009
You could see him last night in the dugout – I think it may have been one of his last at bats – talking to someone (coach I can’t name) none too happy and it was like he was mimicking holding the bat and swinging with his hands. You could tell he was frustrated about something.
NCChopper - August 5, 2009
There’s got to be something wrong with Chipper and he’s keeping it a secret because he knows if he goes on the DL for 2 weeks or more this team is done.
redwards95 - August 5, 2009
As opposed to the huge boost they get by seeing him go 0-4 with a walk every night.
MichaelProcton - August 5, 2009
yeah because we're deep in 3rd baseman
RichmondBraves - August 5, 2009
Prado, question mark?
Infante will be back inside of a week, too.
MichaelProcton - August 5, 2009
Great game to watch, even greater to come away with a win because it’s not easy to hit into 3 DPs (2 by the 4th inning) and still get enough offense to over come leaving that many on base (9)…especially the ’09 Braves.
Javy pitched great last night -a joy to watch.
I’m hoping Hanson has a stellar performance tonight to make it 2 in a row. There really is no excuse to lose this series to a 44-64 team if we hope to be competitive in the playoffs, even if it is in their park. A much tougher test starts tomorrow.
NCChopper - August 5, 2009
LaRoche
Interesting Tidbit on the Braves site about last night:
NCChopper - August 5, 2009
Forget trying to trade Javy…we should try to work out an extension past next season. Dude’s our ace.
beeswax - August 5, 2009
...for now
MichaelProcton - August 5, 2009
one of the many (potential) ace(s)
(I count our current aces as Huddy and Vazquez and future aces as Hanson and JJ)
beeswax - August 5, 2009
Which is exactly why tying up more money in a starter might not make the most sense.
MichaelProcton - August 5, 2009
Welcome, brother.
justincredubil02 - August 5, 2009
I bet he’d bite on it too. From what I’ve read he loves playing in Atlanta & playing for Bobby Cox and he’s clearly excelled from being back in the NL.
Unless we plan to trade him for a first baseman for next season, I think we should try and keep him around.
beeswax - August 5, 2009
Those are my thoughts exactly…It kind of makes sense to trade him for a 1B/3B hybrid who will play 1B until Freeman is ready, then slide over to 3rd when Chipper hangs it up for good.
Ugh, I just made a mess on myself…
justincredubil02 - August 5, 2009
maybe swap
Javy for Youkilis. It’s not like they need him up there with VMart anymore. I know this isn’t realistic but wouldn’t it be great for Youk to play first until Freeman’s ready and then slide over to 3rd?
BlueVol03 - August 5, 2009
I have a feeling Martinez is going to get quite a bit of time at C...
Varitek is not exactly aging like a fine wine.
MichaelProcton - August 5, 2009
And Lowell's getting up there too.
MichaelProcton - August 5, 2009
It's too bad LaRoche's second-half hitting isn't repeatable.
He sure is gonna turn out to be a hell of a cock tease.
MichaelProcton - August 5, 2009
I mean, I don't expect him to hit .548 for us the rest of the year...
But we all know the second half splits, and it’s not like it’s been a month here and there. The sample size is his career and I would be more shocked if he’s hitting .250 at the end of september than .270-.280
The Keith Lockhart Era - August 5, 2009
I know.
I’m with you. That was a shot at the folks who said that second-half splits are a myth and LaRoche was going to hit no better than Kotchman over the rest of the year.
MichaelProcton - August 5, 2009
Word.
The Keith Lockhart Era - August 6, 2009
That, ladies and gentlemen, is pure poetry.
Rhyno18 - August 5, 2009
lol
soup du jour - August 5, 2009
I’ve been trying to imagine what that must feel like all day.
NCChopper - August 5, 2009
Man, this team is all kinds of bi-polar. I’d rather see more consistent offensive output rather than efforts of 0/1/9/0/9/etc like it seems we’ve been doing lately. Our pitching is good enough to carry us, we just need to get them more run consistently.
soup du jour - August 5, 2009
Exactly, I’ve been watching the Braves this year and there just isn’t a simple explanation for the on again off again offense of this team. I mean if it was off most of the time you could blame it on lack of talent or the coaching,now I don’t care for T.P.‘s coaching style but it’s not his fault. There just isn’t any 1 thing I can definitively point to and say this is the problem. They have some really good talent, but fail to turn it on consistently. I’m no baseball analyst, but just mystified, any ideas?
jimmontg - August 5, 2009
this
MichaelProcton - August 5, 2009
That laRoche trade looks brilliant right now, Everything wren touches turns to gold!!!
That a boy - August 5, 2009
Hey, Thataboy, I wouldn’t call the Church for Frenchy gold, more like trading some tin in exchage for pot metal,LOL
jimmontg - August 5, 2009
We also have no idea how bad his elbow's been bothering him.
But his OBP is still higher than Francouer’s since the trade. By over 80 points!
MichaelProcton - August 5, 2009
I know thats sarcasm but just the simple fact he was able to trade Frenchy for anything let alone a major leaguer is brilliant.
That a boy - August 5, 2009
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