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Talking Chop

Spring Training Open Thread: Braves at Cardinals

The Braves finish up the overnight trip to Jupiter by taking on the Cardinals today at 1pm. No television today (sad). We'll have to wait until Tuesday on the World Wide Leader for a televised Braves game. Tim Hudson gets the start for the Braves, followed by Kris Medlen, Jo-Jo Reyes, and Jeff Lyman.

I'll once again be in Minor League camp getting some interviews. Yesterday I talked with Cody Johnson (at length, he's a talker) and Brett DeVall (which should be on FoxSportsSouth.com later), and I did a little "communicating" with Edward Salcedo, who by the way, looks awesome at everything he does on the field.

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Comments

Salcedo...

Great to hear he’s looking good in the field. can you tell us more about the “conversation” with him? was he personable? Get any vibe from the guy?

I’m interested on the early ideas about where Eddy Salsa fits on the prospect ladder. Each succeeding snippet I’m hearing sounds more intriguing than the last.

Looking forward to a lot of minors coverage...

so many players to be discussed—Bethancourt, Milligan, RSF, Gerry Rodriguez, the plethora of Ps.

It’s gonna be a good year.

the mix of young and old on the big league roster...

the load of talent coming up from the low minors, it’s a good time to be a Braves fan.

It sure is....
Lyman

hope he has a good relief appearance today. I hope to see him in our pen next year as a middle relief guy or maybe a swingman in 2012 if Meds gets a spot in the rotation.

Lineup:

Cabrera
Prado
Chipper
Glaus
Diaz
McLouth
Infante
Ross
Hudson

We’ll see how McLouth responds to being lower in the order and possibly having men on base…

How about for them?

No Heyward. Boo! (Yeah, I know he should get his rest days, but I am selfish.)

Sweet!

I’m going sunday… so if hes getting a day off here, it increases my chance of getting him

McLouth

hitting 6th!

I wouldn’t classify what McLouth is doing as “hitting”. I’d say he is the 6th person to walk towards the batters box

Ziiiiiiiing!

Rich Hill to start on the hill for the Cards.

I’ll start doing PBP again for the first 5 innings or so… the rest of you can work Color :D.
I’ve got the Cards radio feed via XM183. Should be able to that and keep tabs on the Florida/BYU hoops game already in progress. BYU currently on a run – bummer.

Rich Hill is a Lefty. Was signed to a minor league deal – no idea how he’s doing so far.
Albert is 3 of 10 for the (limited) spring games he’s had.
Weather is no concern at all today – the radar is clear. Game is in Jupiter – just north of W. Palm.

Lineup for the cards (5-7):
Schumacher (2B), Lopez (SS), Pujols (1B), Rasmus (CF), Ludwick (RF), Craig (LF), Molina ©, Freeze (sp? 3B), Hill (P).
65 degrees to start. Ahhhhh – Florida in early Spring.

Snapped this on the way to the airport Tuesday

Photobucket

I can't wait!

i’ll be there! so pumped!

Melky is up… Strike one. Game underway. Roger Dean stadium. Ball 1.
Next pitch tapped foul. 1-2.
Ball 2. Ball 3… Hill working fast.
Grounder to Lopez at short – Out at first.

Strike one to Prado. Curve for a strike two. Ball one, ball two. Ball three.
dang – I can’t keep up!

Fly to left field line… Craig gets it for Out 2.

Chipper. Ball one low. High, 2-0. 3-0… swinging foul, 3-1.
Big cut.
Chipper walks (batting righty). Glaus up.

good job Chipper

11 for 21 so far for Glaus. 0-1.
0-2. fastballs. Ball 1.
Pop up on the infield – Pujols takes it.
Chipper stranded – 3 out.

you weren’t kidding, Rish is working fast

Thanks for the play-by-play!
Bottom of the First

My pleasure… Schumacher / Lopez / Pujols scheduled.
Huddy starts with a groundout… 3-1 in the scorebook, Huddy covering.
BYU 35, Gators 33 at halftime.

Anybody else double dipping and listening to the braves while watching the Tourney?

Yeah, and some one needs to tell Nova to play some ball!

yea they barely won

Lopez – ball 1 low. Strike 1.
Grounder to Glaus. 3 unassisted. Two down very quickly.

Pujols – grounder to short on 2nd pitch. We’re done on 6 pitches!

Glad to get out of the 1st without giving up runs, we haven’t done that much lately

awesome

let us know if they say anything about how good Huddy looked that 1st inning

2nd seed Villanova is behind by 5 with 3:32 left in the first half.

RM is playing very well and Nova is playing awful

the curse of the Obama pick (for final four).

he picked well last year though

Best Work Day Ever! Play by play baseball and March Madness. Not getting anything done today.

pure awesome, like National signing day

My work sucks today.

I actually have to get a lot done. This is tough. :(

oh what a difference a year makes...

in politics and sports…

It reminds me of when I was a kid. I was so excited the first time I ever cut the grass. It was like “hey, dad thinks I can handle it! Cool!” and it quickly turned into “Son of a gun, just landscape with rock!”

Top of the 2nd

Diaz / McLouth / Infante
Ball 1 low, ball two. ball inside… strike — He Walks.

Nothing much about Huddy — he hasn’t broken a sweat yet!

The Cardinals guys are hammering McLouth hard

Two bunt attempts…. 0-2 for Nate.
Fouled to the right side.
Another foul… strike three called. ouch.

Infante with one on… ball one… Stolen Base for Diaz.

would love to see a lot of that this year
q

Maybe a ball. Let’s go with 2-0 now.

3-0. Hill is nibbling…. getting a lot of pitches so far.
3-1… a curve on 3-0.
Pop-up right side. Ludwig gets it for second out in RF.

Ross is up. Ball one – announcers thought a strike, but they aren’t calling it.
Ball 2. Ball 3… 3-0 again.
Swinging strike on a fastball. Curve now for strike; 3-2.
WALK – Ross on with Diaz on second.

Huddy up.

1-0 Curve to the pitcher.
Strike 1 fastball. .170 lifetime hitter is Hudson.
Strike 2.
Ball 2, 2-2.
Curve – strike three swinging. End of half inning.

Villanova down by 6 at halftime to the 15 seed.

Bottom of the Second.

Rasmus (CF), Ludwick (RF), Craig (LF) scheduled; Molina in the hole.

I've got BYU -FL game on.

BYU up by 2, very close game thus far.

Strike one to start. 0-2. 1-2 inside. 2-2. Strike Three Swinging.
Ludwig now up.

3BB thru 2IN for Hill

Hopefully those walks will catch up to him soon!

3-0 on Ludwig once they opted to tell us about pitches. Strike 1.
Pop foul back, 3-2.
Strike Three Swinging. Two down.

Hudson sounds good today

Swinging strike one. 1-1. Tapped foul, 1-2.
outside, 2-2.
High drive to deep-ish LF. Diaz makes the catch for the 3rd out.
End of inning.

Huddy through 2 innings:
3 simple groundouts on 6 pitches; 2 K’s, one flyout. 16 pitches.

afternoon, ya'll

man, i wouldn’t have expected cody to be a “talker”

He kinda looked that way at Heap’s softball game in November; just kinda chatting and smiling with anyone he came in contact with.

i’m actually glad to hear that. some folks just have a serious-looking default expression, i guess.

ha ha, guilty here.

Top of Third Inning. Top of order for Atlanta

Melky to start. BYU leads Fla by 5 arrggg.
Pop-up into the crowd. 0-1. Ball high, 1-1.
Through the hole at short — first hit for Atlanta.

I'm so glad we have this guy

He could be a huge surprise for us this year

Prado up. One on, none out. 1-0.

stalling… watching Melky.
throw to first. Prado backing out… meeting at mound,. etc
another to first.

Curve strike, 1-1.
fastball low strike, 1-2.
fouled.
low, 2-2.

Patience is good…
Pickoff attempt thrown to the RF corner.
MELKY SCORES from First.

That must have been a really bad throw!

1-0 Atlanta, top third.

Another foul ball. 3-2 count to Prado. Yadi talking with Hill.

nice work on the PBP sir

much appreciated

Foul on a curve. Inside – 4th WALK of the day.
Prado on; none out; Chipper up.

1-0. 1-1 now.
Melky gets a stolen base – they would have had him picked off.

HOMER CHIPPER.

HEY-OH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Atta boy, Chip!

3-0 Atlanta.

Ball made quick exit!

yeah, the announcers said there was no doubt about it from the second it left his bat. I’m excited to see the video when they post it on MLB.com tonight

Good job Larry

1-0 (what else?) to Glaus.
Popup behind home into the crowd. 1-1.
Still nobody out.
Curve high – 2-1… another curve 2-2 now.
Curve for a ball. Doesn’t trust his fastball anymore… or at all.
Curve inside. FIVE walks for Hill now.

Diaz up.

great for chipper, but i’m really glad to see melky doing well, too

0-1 foul to RF – out of play despite ‘strong wind’.
1-1. Curve, strike two.
Swinging strike three. One out.

Now the adventure of Nate at the plate.

1-0. 1-1 – knees strike.
2-1 on a check swing.
Curve… strike called, 2-2.

Give Nate his credit....

….a lot of Wren’s decisions have been panning out really well lately, Nate’s just trying to let us know he’s still human.

Swinging Strike three on a reached curveball. 2 outs.

Color me officially worried about Nate. I can’t help but think it’s the contacts.

Does he have his contacts in backwards or something.

Infante with Glaus on first.
1-1 count, outside ball 2.
Fouled down 3 base line. 2-2.
Lined out to Schumacher at 3rd. End of the half inning.

Gators down 6; ’Nova down 4.

Bottom of the Third; Atlanta up 3-0.

Hudson gets the bottom third of the order: Molina / Freeze / pinch hitter for Hill.

0-1 to Molina. Brooks Conrad is in for Chipper – his work is done today.
0-2.
Line drive to RF – single to Melky. First hit for Cards.

Freeze up. 1-0.
Mark ‘Schiori’ (no idea – cards minor leaguer) on deck for Hill.

Fouled – 1-1. Grounder to short… Easy Double Play 6-4-3.

  1. up for St. Louis. Bats Left. 1-0. 1-1 check swing strike. Foul tip, 1-2.
    Strike 3 taken.
    End of inning on 10 pitches.

Dang substitutions — the last batter had number 93 on his jersey.

Tough to figure spelling on some of these guys names, I did PBP the other day, not easy with minor leaguers

Top of Fourth Inning. Atlanta leads 3-0.

Ross / Hudson / Melky scheduled. Gators are fading fast; Villanova is scraping closer.

Fernando Salas now pitching for the Cards.
Ross up.
2-1 pitch. 5 Walks and 4 K’s for Hill… two of those by Nate.
2-2. fouled down RF line.
Now foul the other way.
Swinging strike 3 on a breaker. One out.

Hudson can swing for the fences.
1-0.

I like that Braves pitchers are going more innings than anybody we face. Going to be ready come opening day.

1-1 on a foul… just missed it.
1-2 on another foul… he’s trying, I’m sure.
Ohhhhh….. called strike three. Hudson thought it was low.

Melky with 2 outs.
1-0. Drive to R-Center field. His Second Hit today.

Martin Prado. 0-1 slider strike.
0-2 – bad guess on the pitch.
1-2.
Low, 2-2.

Fly to RC field. Ludwig(?) dives, slides and catches. Prado robbed! 3 outs.

Bottom of the 4th Inning.

Braves pitchers are being very economical – around the plate, few walks, getting lots of grounders. That will help everybody – fielders included.

Gators making a run… down by 3. ’Nova down by 2 in the bracket-buster game.

I’m pretty sure I picked a perfect bracket, so ’Nova better win!

Ball 1 to Schumacher… Grounds out to Conrad… AHHH!

Okay, Conrad was at third. Now at 2nd.
Thurston at third now???

2-1 to whoever-the-heck-is-up now… Lopez? 2-2.

Bob Eucker ain’t got nothing on you!

Anybody watching Robert Morris.

HOLY WOAH

41- 34 11 minutes left, about to finish off a 4 point play

Oh, my! Nova now down SIX in that game.

all three games are good actaully

Lopez rolls one to Thurston (yes, him!) who tries a barehand throw.
Not in time – pulled Glaus off anyway. Infield single.

Pujols up.

Old Dominion up 2 on Notre Dame...

…less than 1 minute to go.

My brackets suck every year

I have Nova in the final four and Notre DAme in the sweet 16. The tournament has barely started and already I’m in danger of having it all busted.

I run my office pool...

…because I am the fair arbiter—-I am never in the running for anything but the $1 prize for last place.

I can lose all 3 too, but none going that far on mine

No wonder I'm struggling

They just said Harangody has finally scored his first basket.

Thurston had a DP grounder… could not get going; had to settle for one at first.
Lopez to 2nd. 2 outs.

Lopez is gonna score…. Colby rams one down the 1B line for a triple as the ball hits the short side wall.
3-1 Atlanta.

Ludwig up. Pop up down RF line. Melky grabs it to End the Inning.

1 run… 2 hits. Still a quick inning.

At this point, I’m reminded of an all-star game some years ago, when I thought I’d try to Score the game. Around the fifth inning, Bob Costas comes on and starts with “If you’re scoring at home, STOP NOW.”

Well you’ve gone above and beyond, its much appreciated!

Top of the Fifth Inning (and my last one), Atlanta leads 3-1.

Gators tied BYU with 2:53 left.

Conrad leads off – foul – 0-1. Fernando Salas still pitching. 1-2 now.

15th see Robert Morris still leading by six. Fla now up 71-70.

Nova will come back

They’re a good FT shooting team and they’re in the bonus.

Wait a second… I missed an out, I think. Glaus is up, and I missed Conrad’s fate.

He popped out to shallow left I believe.

Thanks for the PBP

0-2 to Glaus… Thanks much. Must have zoned out for a sec.

1-2, another foul.
2-2 I think – this guy is tough to interpret at times… kinda like Harry Carey in the late innings, if you read me.

would you eat the moon if it was made out of ribs???

“If you were a hot dog, and you were starving, would you eat yourself? I know i would. I’d smother myself with relish and onions. I’d be delicious.”

Then I’d polish it off with a tall, cool Budweiser

3-2 pitch… strike out looking. 2 outs. 3rd for Salas today.

Curve high to Diaz, 1-0.
Grounder to 3rd — he’s out…. quick inning for Salas.

41 seconds left – Gators by one.
About 8 minutes left; Villanova has recovered to just 3 down.

Notre Dame loses.

I’m not perfect anymore

11th seed winner in ODU.

Gators/BYU tied with 26 seconds to go.

Bottom of the 5th, Atlanta 3-1.

Hudson back out there…

Braves are stretching out their starters

compared to their opponents, thus far. At least, in terms of innings-I’m sure the pitch counts aren’t that different.

Craig is up. 2-1 outside…. 3-1. Ground foul. full count.
Salas is done for the day.
Another foul.

Extra bases — Double for Craig.

Blanco in RF; missed the new LFer.

Thank you – some ballpark noises covered the announcement!
0-1 to Molina; Freeze next.
1-1…. 2-1.
Grounder to first…. missed, by Conrad gets it. Score that 3-4-1 as Hudson covers.
Craig to third, one out.

Overtime: BYU/Florida.

0-1 to Freeze. Grounder foul. Strike Three Called down the middle.
Two out! Fourth K today.

I know this comes kind of late

But was today a split squad?

not for the Braves, I don’t think so for Cards

Nope.

Last Sunday’s games were the only split squad games all spring for us.

0-1. Larue batting. foul 0-2.
Hudson may go six innings – nobody warming up.

groundout to short Ends The Inning with no harm done.
Not a split squad (no more this Spring for ATL).

End of 5th — and me! — 3-1 Atlanta. Carry on, ball fans.

Thanks again

McLouth popped out, Infante with a single

glad somebody stepped up, I have no feed at all

No problem, I hate being at work and not knowing whats going on, so I’ll do what I can as long as the radio feed stays up.

Ball one to Ross, Hinske on deck, Huddy’s day is done

1-4-3 Double Play by Ross….inning over

Clevlen in the outfield now, Ross out at Catcher

Bottom of the 6th, Stavanoa (sp?) in for Schumaker, lead off double

Jo-Jo Reyes pitching by the way

and gives up a lead off double? Ugh

Time to target somebody and trade JoJo, hate it, but he’s not making it.

Lopez grounds out, Stavanoa to Third….Pujols up

Gregor Blanco catches Pujols long drive at the wall——then drops it. Run scores, Pujols at second

no comment

Blanco needs to leave with Jo-Jo, imo

Pinch punner…Mather up at the plate 1-0

Robert Morris still up 1, less than 2 minutes left. BYU and Florida headed to overtime #2.

It’d be nice if the audio for the game was working for me…

3-2 count to Mather and he walks him, Runners at first and second, Ludwick up to bat

Huddy’s getting the ‘09 treatment, good job down the drain. At least it’s ST

Double play, great turn by Conrad….Atlanta still leading 3-2

Yay Conrad

they said it was a bad throw, maybe Thurston was trying to make him look bad….haha

Thurston has it in for Conrad, Conrad better watch his back

Also, someone dropped out of the TC Fantasy League so I’m looking for one more person. Draft is on 3/24 at 9pm, reply with your email if you’re interested.

Hinske up, so Reyes is done…thank goodness

Villanova tied with Robert Morris with 25 seconds left, Villanova ball. Robert Morris has to find a way to win in regulation, because if they go to OT, their entire team will foul out.

Walks him on 5 pitches, Gregor Blanco up

Kris Medlen is warming up in the bullpen

Fly out, 1 out. Thurston up with the runner on 1st

Villanova’s attempt to win in regulation is rejected by Robert Morris. Going to OT.

Thurston K’s, 2 out, Brooks Conrad up

Thurston spikes Conrad as they pass going to and from the plate….just kidding

did you ever see that rookie hazing photo of Brooksie’s abs….Thurston should step aside…haha

Single by Conrad, Hinske stops at second, Freddie Freeman up, 2 outs

Is anyone else watching College Hoops??

CRAZY games so far. These 4 days are the best 4 days in sports all year long…unless the Braves are playing in the World Series.

single by Freeman, Hinske scores, Conrad to third, 4-2 Braves. Matt Young up with runners on the corners and two outs.

way to go Freddie!

Single by Young, Conrad scores, Freeman to third 5-2 Braves. Clevlen up with runners on the corners and two outs.

Clevlen K’s, heading to the bottom of the 7th, Braves up 5-2

I love how we can get back any runs our pitchers give up.

I can get use to this.

Run support…what a concept. We missed it last year

Meds is up….oh boy!

Allen Craig the batter, immediately 0-2

BYU over Fla in 2 OT, ’nova leading in OT

florida should have won

quick, QUICK, strike out, John Jay the batter now

John Jay out on strikes, four pitches, two away

David Frees (sp?) the batter, quickly strikes him out on 3 pitches…inning over

That’s what you call efficiency.

read like 3 K’s on 10 pitches….wow

Meds is the shit

I second that emotion

Mott into pitch, Infante the batter, 1-1 the count

Infante with an infield single

Villanova’s 5 pt lead with 40 seconds left turns into a 1 pt. lead after two Robert Morris FT’s, a steal, and a layup…getting interesting again.

Boscan batting now

he strikes out looking, Mitch Jones up now with one on and one away.

Mitch Jones strikes out looking, Blanco up now with 1 on and 2 outs

Infante swipes 2nd….3rd stolen base on the day for the Braves

What's going on...

with these spring training stolen bases, all the patience at the plate and run support?

Looks to be a fun year,

for us Braves fans.

Blanco grounds out to end the inning…8 runners stranded today

Way to go Blanco :(

and Nova squeeks it out

2 outta 3 ain’t bad, the damn Irish got me

too much green beer for them yesterday

LaRue up, 1 pitch, popped it up, Blanco catches it for the out….Medlen is pitching like he has a train to catch.

And right on cue, gives up a homer to Nick Stavanoa….5-3 Braves

Tyler Green the batter now, quickly 0-2. One out in the inning

Tyler Green strikes out, fun fact….that was the first run Meds has given up this spring. Reuben Gotay the batter with 2 away

Conrad with a nice backhand to get him at first….end of 8, Braves leading 5-3

Joe Thurston the batter to lead off, 2-2 count. Nobody warming up yet for the Braves

kudos to all for the updates

yeah thanks. I’m ready for some daily Braves on tv

+71 as justin would say

Thurston grounds out, Conrad up now with 1 away….and preciate it BGF

Thanks for the PBP , thenightstallion
No problem...

….just happy to be here

Conrad grounds out and “Freedman” apparently batting now for Freddie Freeman…starting to get what this guy meant a while back with that Harry Caray reference

Jeff Lyman warming up now

This is who I want to "see".

I’ll try to be more thorough in my updates for you

Freeman draws the walk, Young up with 2 down

way to go "Freedman"!!

Heyward just came out on deck….3-1 count to Young

Young grounds out to end the inning….good thing no one wanted to see Heyward bat…

Mather leading off the inning here as Lyman comes in to pitch the 9th

1-1 pitch, grounded to short, 1 down

I haven't been around much this afternoon

but was McLouth seriously 0-3 w/ 2 k’s?

Hard to believe isn't it?!?
it's starting to really worry me

I know these dont matter, but he’s literally been our worst hitter of anyone. Even Clevlan and Gregor Blanco have been better.

He has replaced last year's black hole in the line-up,

as in Frenchy.

That is a terrible thought….but accurate

well to be fair

Nate isnt paid to tear it up in Spring Training. And as long as he’s hitting in April, we’ll be fine. It’s not really fair to be comparing him to He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named…yet.

There’s truth in that, but if he can’t hit in ST, why can he hit in April? I think he has problems with the contacts. He’s never played/hit with them before and can’t now.

Yes...

…he also left two men on and thoroughly dissapointed his parents

If he gets off to this rough start in the regular season

I say bench him and start Cabrera.

I’d be down for that. At this point, he gets about 10 games to get his shit together in April or he’s benched.

send him to the eye dr now!

Now batting a robust .032

and it was off a bunt too.

Rappaport up, grounds out to second, 2 away for Craig

2-1 to Craig….both balls missed way out side.

strikes him out to end it….Braves win 5-3

Nice win boys...now back to college hoops...
Lyman sounded like he had a good outing,

that’s good news.

Medlen

How long can we afford to keep Medlen out of the rotation? Or can we use him as a super setup guy every other game? The few times he pitched back to back games last year he struggled a lot, if I recall correctly.

Anyone know how he did in spring training last year?

He greatly impressed Bobby Cox with his combination of stuff/control/command/approach last ST.

Probably one of the reasons Medlen was first in line after Jo Jo Reyes faltered.

Well, considering that we would have to remove one of Lowe, Kawakami, Hudson, Hanson or Jurrjens to let him start, I would say that we can afford it for quite a while.

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