If I had to pick a low point of the season for the Atlanta Braves, I would say this is just about it. I guess I should be happy that we scored as many runs today as we have in the past two games, but I'm not. It seems that no matter what the Braves do right now it's not going their way. They get the lead for Tim Hudson, who had a great outing, and then Mike Gonzalez gives it right back.
It was also the little things in the ballgame that became big things. Despite some good defense from around the infield, Nate McLouth looked like he had a chance to throw out the runner trying to score in the third (the runner was the pitcher), but instead he just tossed the ball into the infield. That run, any run right now, is a big run.
Kenshin Kawakami, coming out of the bullpen in the 11th, had a good first inning of work, but he loaded the bases in his second inning of work and ended up hitting Micah Owings in the head to push in the go-ahead run. Owings went down and stayed down for a while in a scary moment. A sac fly pushed the Reds lead to 2, and with shadows between the pitcher's mound and home plate in the bottom of the 12th, the Braves batters struck out 1-2-3 against Francisco Cordero's 97 mhp heat.
If there is a silver lining to this game, it's definitely the outstanding start by Tim Hudson. He looks as good as he did at any point last year, and that should give the Braves some good options going into the off-season -- like trading for a BIG BAT!!!
0 recs | 40 comments
I was so bummed out watching this I'm going to go get some beer.
jimmontg - September 6, 2009
nothing like a sweep by non-contenders....
to dash our postseason dreams…..
traphicg - September 6, 2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuZ5Xbt8-00
bravos1984 - September 6, 2009
I could have sworn I watched
Soriano pitch the 9th and 10th innings but every box score I check has Moylan in the 10th? am i going crazy?
sscvegas - September 6, 2009
Moylan in the 10th
jimmontg - September 6, 2009
omg
i have been on vaca for 3 or 4 days and didnt know any of this has happened…the depression is starting to settle in now
Doghnut - September 6, 2009
Sooo...
Is it time for the winter meetings yet?
Scott Coleman - September 6, 2009 via mobile
I voted a 4 in the poll this week. Lowest I’ve voted all season.
TennKen - September 6, 2009 via mobile
I voted 4, also.
And it’s too bad that the vote is just about right lately. Like Joe pointed out, even if we go 19-6, the Rockies can go 12-13 and we’d still only be tied with them.
What we need is a colossal winning streak a la CO a couple years ago. STAT!
Jareth Cutestory - September 6, 2009
Where is that bat going to come from and which pitcher is going to get traded. Are we going to try and Rochy, who play second base next year. Fuck im glad im not Wren!! O yeah who closes next year???
That a boy - September 6, 2009
You drunk?
esadb - September 6, 2009 via mobile
I hope we’re looking at Dan Uggla and either LaRoche or Troy Glaus as the new right side of the infield next year. That’s all the power we’ll need with the swap of GA in favor of Heyward. With that offense and our pitching staff we can piece together a bullpen, closers are terribly overrated
McCann's the Man - September 6, 2009
What the fuck
Has happened the last five games…
SuperNewb - September 6, 2009
Not good. Not good at all. I don’t think the Braves will make the playoffs even if they win the remainder of their games. I realize that there’s still a chance, but if the Braves can’t beat the Reds, for cryin’ out loud, what are the chances that they’ll be able to beat anyone else? I think it’s time to rest some of the regulars and see what the rest of the team can do. Not that I expect Bobby Cox to do that…
My expectations are considerably lower than they were in August. Right now, if they break even on the season, I’ll be satisfied. Not happy, but satisfied.
John Holton - September 6, 2009
if they win the remainder of their games they would almost certainly be in the playoffs… obviously thats not gonna happen and you were speaking in hyperbole so its inconsequential… but still
Swo12bv - September 7, 2009
In more important news
Heyward went 2-4 with an RBI and a SB today in Gwinnett.
BigG1392 - September 6, 2009
the pitching is there
but the batters have seem to given up earlier this week
all our our guys are healthy right now but doing absolutely nothing
the offense has thrown away our season this week
I dont kno who we’re going to get or lose in the offseason but we need to make something happen to get a BIG power man in our line up, we need something, anything to make us better, cause right now i’d rather watch the AAA Braves
bravesfan1047 - September 6, 2009
Good luck finding that big bat through trade
And if you think dealing away our strikeout leader in Vazquez is something that will help this team, you’re insane. The infield defense lacks the range necessary to deal with the amount of ground ball pitchers we have. Lowe, Hudson, Jurrjens, and Kawakami have K/9 rates below 7.00. Lowe and Hudson constantly have rates around 5. Need to have range in the infield.
NEBravesFan33 - September 6, 2009
Kelly Johnson and Yunel Escobar is a fine tandem up the middle and LaRoche is good at 1B. The only negative defenders in next year’s projected lineup (assuming kj at 2b and adam at first) are chipper (very bad) and mclouth (slightly below avg)
McCann's the Man - September 6, 2009
BUT
Clearly, the issue is the lack of a middle of the order hitter. McCann, as great as he is, is a catcher. Chipper is showing signs of his age. He is better when he only plays 120 games a year as oppose to 145. His defense has been bad this year as well. People say sign Matt Holliday or Jason Bay. No thanks. Tons of money into a player past their prime and having to give up ANOTHER first round draft pick when our farm system has the least amount of position player talent that it has ever had, isn’t a great thing.
NEBravesFan33 - September 6, 2009
I agree with your sentiment but I’d argue that Holliday still has 2 possibly even 3 more years of prime baseball. His skill set, not heavily reliant on slg and power, plays better with age than others. Not saying we should sign him but that is a little bit of a stretching of the truth
McCann's the Man - September 6, 2009
This team bothers me
they were so close, and now they decided to give up…
GoBravesNY - September 6, 2009
call me crazy but,
if Fuga doesnt retire, i want us to resign him.
esadb - September 7, 2009
You are insane
We will have Diaz, McLouth, and Church next year.
Diaz needs to never be in RF and he should not have his AB’s taken away by Garrett Anderson in a platoon.
drumzalicious - September 7, 2009
not as a platoon player with Diaz.
but as a better pinch hitter than Greg Norton.
esadb - September 7, 2009
Even still.
i doubt he re-signs with us as a PH and the last thing we need is Bobby getting tempted to Platoon him.
Next year sometime both Schafer and Heyward should be up and at that time our OF should be DIaz LF, Schafer CF, Heyward RF. Then utilize Church as your 4th OF’er
drumzalicious - September 7, 2009
And you do what with McLouth, hmm?
Chopaholic - September 7, 2009
Nevermind. Just saw your post down the thread.
Chopaholic - September 7, 2009
Does this sum up this game and/or series?
Lizziebeth - September 7, 2009
Yes i think so.
esadb - September 7, 2009
Great Shot!
Ouch! lol
HEYJUDE - September 7, 2009
Lets just bounce back strong
regardless of if we make the post season or not i would like this team to play with some fire. This team plays with very little fire outside of Escobar, LaRoche, Church and Conrad.
About McLouth, he never seems to try and get the runner at home, Schafer did all the time. I said it before and i will say it again. IF and only IF Schafer and Heyward are playing well next year i think we should trade McLouth instead of putting him in LF. Diaz is Cheaper and he keeps our lineup balanced with that RH bat of his.
McLouth is great but if we can save money we should
drumzalicious - September 7, 2009
^"About McLouth, he never seems to try and get the runner at home"^
Did you see Nate throwout Stubs @ the plate in the 11th? Great play!
HEYJUDE - September 7, 2009
Agreed
At this point in time, McLouth > Schafer. Any talk of replacing McLouth with the unproven rookie is a bit premature.
Chopaholic - September 7, 2009
I think that might be the one exception of the season though… typically he just lets them trot on in to score.
Gage23 - September 7, 2009
He’ll make about 3 million more and I can guarantee you he’s worth the extra 3 million over Diaz. He’s also like the only one that can steal
McCann's the Man - September 7, 2009
I missed watching the game as it happened, but later in the evening endured it until it’s bitter end.
Swept. At home. By Cincinnati.
Who woulda thunk it possible just a couple weeks ago.
Poor Huddy, he pitched a gem and was so happy in the dugout when Ross hit that homer to give him the possibility for the win, only to be dashed when Gonzo gave up yet another homer (2nd one this week) to rob our starter of a win.
I don’t know what we’ll do next year to either get offense help or motivate our guys to produce some, but I hope they keep Huddy and Vazquez both.
Infield defense was stellar and backed up our pitchers great. And yes Nate gunned down Stubbs in the 11th, but that first run never should have scored without a play at the plate. He had the ball in his hand as the pitcher was rounding 3rd base…he should have thrown the ball.
At this point, even though our chances for post season play is unlikely – my love for baseball and the Braves will keep me watching. Plus, I know that for some guys, it may be the last time I’ll get to see them taking the field in a Braves uniform so I’ll be here until the last game is played.
Besides… it’s a loonnnng winter and I can hardly wait for April each year.
NCChopper - September 7, 2009
Well said.
rec’d
nmbrthry - September 7, 2009
Braves site recap quote:
NCChopper - September 7, 2009
well as always
a team always improves something against us. whether its a particular player or whatever they always improve something. last week it was the padres pitching and offense this week it was the red’s clutch pitching
drumzalicious - September 7, 2009
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