This Atlanta Braves team continues to baffle me. Now they decide to play inspired baseball? Hey, I'm not complaining, I'll take it. It's been eons since we actually swept a club, and we decide to sweep the best team in the NL in their own park -- neat.
Javier Vazquez was Ridiculous today (capitol R, Ridiculous). He made the best team in the NL look worse than the cross-state last place Royals. He struck out 8 Cardinals batters, all of them swinging and missing. He had some impressive stuff working out there. Javy ran into some trouble in the 9th inning and lost the shutout, but at least Bobby left him out there to try and finish his own game.
The Braves offense had an inning to remember. It all started after two were out in the third inning, then the Braves collected 6 straight hits with a walk sandwiched in to score 6 runs -- quite impressive. Cardinals starter Chris Carpenter hadn't allowed 6 hits in any of his previous four starts against the Braves. Atlanta added extra runs in the 6th, 8th, and on a solo homerun by Adam LaRoche in the 9th.
Carpenter is one of those guys on the short list for the NL Cy Young this year, and Javier Vazquez out-pitched him all afternoon. Too bad the Braves offense couldn't have scored some more runs for Javy this season, or we might see him on that short list as well.
0 recs | 52 comments
The Cardinals scores 2 runs in the 9th
Scott Coleman - September 13, 2009 via mobile
Yeah, oops, I’ve corrected. I started writing it before the ninth, so I guess it was wishful thinking.
gondeee - September 13, 2009
Did Javy have to throw a lot of pitches? Because if he did, Bobby may legitimately be retarded.
acie4mvp - September 13, 2009
depends on what you consider a lot. But no, he threw 94.
yondaime4 - September 13, 2009
No
he was at 80 or so going into the 9th
Scott Coleman - September 13, 2009 via mobile
let me get this straight…we have a pitcher who throws a complete game, had a 3 hit shut out going into the 9th, with a 9-0 lead, and you STILL want to find something to fuss at Bobby about???
justincredubil02 - September 13, 2009
I don’t know which gets on my nerves worse, the complainers, or you complaining about the complainers.Jeez….
HEYJUDE - September 13, 2009
this young lady speeks the truth
Scott Coleman - September 13, 2009
Definitely...
the complainers. You gotta admit that it’s a little bit much to say Cox is retarded for letting a veteran pitcher pitch a complete game.
sddbaker - September 14, 2009
I agree, it’s just the everyday, overly dramatic way in which he does so, that bothers me.
Nothing personal, I like the guy…….
HEYJUDE - September 14, 2009
I’m sorry. I know I can get annoying at times, but these people who make posts like this (and every other “KJ sucks, KK sucks, Prado is god, Cox is retarded” just drive me friggin nuts.
Sometimes I want to show them the stats that prove they’re wrong, other times, I just want to make them look stupid…
justincredubil02 - September 14, 2009
No biggie, those kind of comments drive me nuts also!
HEYJUDE - September 15, 2009
DO. NOT. WANT. TO TRADE. THIS. GUY.
sdp - September 13, 2009
YEAH. OR. SOME. GUY. NAMED. JJ.
:). seriously, I don’t want to trade either. they are way to good
GoBravesNY - September 13, 2009
i feel kinda torn
if its a personal decision, i’d wanna keep Huddy and trade another pitcher (like JJ or Javy).
but if its a baseball decision, I’d wanna trade Huddy. JJ and Javy are just too good.
In a perfect world, we could trade KK or DLowe, but i don’t see that happening.
Scott Coleman - September 13, 2009
Huddy’s has an option for next year. I heard a bit of an interview with him yesterday where he said that he wouldn’t be against declining the option and resigning with the Braves at a discount.
musicman - September 13, 2009
I respect Huddy not only for what he does on the field, but also off the field. Tim and Kim give back so much of what they’ve been given to those not as fortunate…… They get it…..
That said, I realize on the business side of baseball, this probably counts for nothing. Whether the Braves decide to keep him on our team or not, Huddy will continue to have my utmost respect whatever he goes……
HEYJUDE - September 13, 2009
where ever not whatever…..Duh…
HEYJUDE - September 13, 2009
We MUST trade one of them because we DESPERATELY need this:
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
A BIG bat
That is what alot of people are asking for right?
bravos1984 - September 13, 2009
I’m so reusing that pic.
gondeee - September 13, 2009
haha, nice
kinda ironic, because in the past couple games we could also use this:
a big glove to not make so many errors. also kinda funny because I was there recently- great place. True statement we desperately need a big bat
GoBravesNY - September 13, 2009
Dammit, my ESP is not working today. Where is there/that? Can you get one from IKEA? :)
Lizziebeth - September 15, 2009
My vote is for Dan Uggla
McCann's the Man - September 13, 2009
Yesss. I loveee Uggla
nick9314 - September 13, 2009
ick
sddbaker - September 14, 2009
alright
so how do we get Uggla, surly not a 1-1 deal?!?
GoBravesNY - September 13, 2009
by using our prospects beyond our top 3-4 guys. So by using guys like Cody Johnson, Zeke Spruill, and some of our other arms not named teheran (probably not r. delgado either). Uggla isn’t going to command a lot in a trade because there won’t be much of a market for him so he seems like an ideal candidate for us
McCann's the Man - September 13, 2009
why are we so set on Uggla? just wondering
Scott Coleman - September 13, 2009
I’ve been there.
sddbaker - September 14, 2009
As much as i love Hudson
We gotta keep JJ, hanson, and Javy. And lowe and KK arent going anywhere.
esadb - September 13, 2009
If Hudson is willing to go 8M per year for 2-3 years then we can keep all six
McCann's the Man - September 13, 2009
I would rather not do that.
esadb - September 13, 2009
What’s your reasoning?
Gage23 - September 14, 2009
I meant I don't want to keep all six
I know an injury could happen at any time, and having another good starter would be great, but we need a good young hitter.
esadb - September 14, 2009 via mobile
its simple
Make Lowe the closer. Start Heyward right out of ST.
You guys forget that for almost the first half of the season we still had a slumping KJ, FYF, and Schafer in the lineup. If we drop GA for Heyward not only does our offense get better but so does the OF defense
drumzalicious - September 14, 2009
I am completely on board with making Lowe the closer. It saves money (because he is already under contract) and it solves the “too much” pitching delima anyway…besides, he is the worst of the 6 starters at this point.
justincredubil02 - September 14, 2009
BTW
congrats to Ichiro with his 200th hit this season. thats nine in a row.
esadb - September 13, 2009
He’s such a great hitter.
Scott Coleman - September 13, 2009 via mobile
SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!!!
the birds got swept!!!!
shaqfor3 - September 13, 2009
complete game !
The way Cox has been managing the pen, our last best resort is the complete game. Javier Vazquez must stay! Hanson will also be delivering some also next year.
Jurrjens is inexpensive for the moment (and damned good), so we must keep him.
Lowe and Kawakami aren’t necessarily guys we’re stuck with for the length of their deals. KK is not a complete game pitcher, but he pitched well enough against top competition that we wouldn’t be in bad shape with him as a #5. He’s also much less expensive than Lowe.
Wouldn’t Texas love to have Lowe right now? Even at his salary, Lowe is a guy who could be useful to any team with postseason designs. I believe waiving him is something the Braves may well do, or trade him and most of his deal for a prospect. If Lowe moves on, then we can re-up Hudson if our experts feel he is a better option.
Otherwise picking up Hudson’s option is could put us in a salary bind, and extending him, even at a discount, becomes problematic. Hudson has now given us one very good start in three outings, and another okay one compromised by some bad fielding. His future may depend upon how he does the rest of the year.
The only way we can afford to add a proven really big bat, almost certainly a left fielder (like the Phillies did with Ibanez) would be to not pick up Hudson, and to deal Lowe as well, without paying any of his deal. I’d be okay with that because the gi-normous bat pictured is on the way without costing us anything, namely Heyward.
JimK - September 13, 2009
Still another good win tonight...
Even though we refuse to build any legit momentum. Happy to see ol Nater get 4 hits tonight.
The Keith Lockhart Era - September 13, 2009
Trade Lowe and prospects to Texas for Cruz
Lemke4790 - September 14, 2009
i hate when
people just say “and prospects” to a deal.
nothing personal man, but and prospects could be:
Freddie Freeman
Julio Teharan
Adam Milligan and
Craig Kimbrel
or it could be:
Clint Sammons
Diory Hernandez
Stephen Marek
JoJo Reyes
I just wish specific prospects would be listed..
Scott Coleman - September 14, 2009
I wish things like trade Lowe wouldnt be said. Lowe is going no where but 75 south to tuner field for the next 3 years.
That a boy - September 14, 2009
that too.
Scott Coleman - September 14, 2009
I was in St. Louis for all 3 games and it was awesome. Jurrjens was great on Friday and Hudson wasn’t bad on Saturday. Vazquez went into the 9th only throwing about 80 pitches he was doing great.
jack dein - September 14, 2009
likewise
I didnt actually end up getting to go to any of the games (douchebag friend douched me at the last minute sunday) but some dude at an ice cream stand tried to charge me 500 bucks for a cone b/c of the sweep. Great baseball city. The Braves love STL
traphicg - September 14, 2009
Offense has so many holes to fill >.<
CJ’s status is uncertain. Assuning he is back next year, we can’t count on him being the offensive punch he used to be. McCain is great (although streaky), but he is the catcher and prone to wearing down. (Maybe thats a reason his numbers are declining lately) I’d prefer McCain batting 5th.
Needs are:
1) a clean-up hitting, homerun smacking jauggernaut
2) someone to bat leadoff with speed and a good OBP
3) a lefty or two
Can all these holes be filled while keeping our rotation in tack?!?
Trek - September 14, 2009
McCain?
WienerDog - September 14, 2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vIAfBqWOL4
bravos1984 - September 14, 2009
Great games to watch in 2 road series and to come away from St. Louis with a ...
..is beyond sweet!
Instead of speculating about who to trade, who to keep etc. immediately after such a great complete game win by Javy….I’m simply gonna bask in the glow of the success we’ve enjoyed over the past week.
It’s obvious around here who cuddles and who doesn’t . ;-)
NCChopper - September 14, 2009
This^
HEYJUDE - September 14, 2009
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