We didn't get the sweep that we had hoped for, but we won the series which is a hallmark of what the Braves try to do during the season. If they can keep winning series, then they'll be in it at the end. Here are some bulletpointed good and bad things from the Braves recently completed series with the Cubs:
Good
- Our rookie right fielder has re-energized baseball fans in Atlanta, and hopefully that enthusiasm will stay with us all year.
- Martin Prado had more than twice as many hits as anyone else (7-for12); he's sad to see the Cubs leave town.
- Eric Hinske is stroking everything right now... perhaps he deserves some more playing time.
- Our bullpen has yet to allow a run, tossing 10.2 scoreless innings.
- Our pitchers currently have the 2nd-best ERA in baseball and have allowed only 16 hits in 27 innings pitched... The best staff in baseball? The one we're about to face in San Francisco.
Bad
- Our leadoff hitter was only 1-for-13 with 2 walks, a .200 on-base percentage; and he consequently only scored 1 run. My concern about Melky Cabrera is not overblown.
- Troy Glaus has struck out 6 out of the 13 times he's come up to bat... not good.
- We scored 16 runs in one game... and only 3 the next two games.
- The worst starting pitching performance resulted in a win, the best starting pitching performance resulted in a loss... sounds a little like last year.
- Before Thursday night's game, the Braves had scored 19 runs, but with only 17 hits, which tells me they're really not hitting that well, but they are taking advantage of run-scoring opportunities... until of course, last night.
- We've struck out 24 times as a team, and only walked 14 times.
Series Hero: As good as Jason Heyward did, I have to give this to Martin Prado, who hit just about everything that was thrown his way. The entire bullpen should get an honorable mention here, actually the entire pitching staff sans Derek Lowe.
Series Goat: It's a close one between Troy Glaus and Melky Cabrera. I'm going to give it to Cabrera, who is supposed to set the table and couldn't do that all series. Glaus is a close second, though, for his failure to come through in run-scoring situations.
Melky
Time to put Diaz in left !!!
ggotch - April 9, 2010
This
J-Freak - April 9, 2010
Double This!
Sparhawk - April 9, 2010
all this
and a box of choclates, w/ a bag of doritos on the side!!! Diaz is the F!@#ing man! Put Nasty Nate back up top, or even give Odarp a try.
ROBravo - April 9, 2010
Post game concerns
Even though it is one series there were some concerns, Melky and Glaus being the main culprits. If after a week they are still struggling something will need to be done nad the lineup juggled. Any news on Chipper? I am worried about today’s day game in Frisco, it’s a long flight after a night game for an afternoon game. MLB did not scheduling favors for the Braves on this trip…..
USAFCCF - April 9, 2010
I would hope that we don’t panic after only a week.
justincredubil02 - April 9, 2010
To early to start calling him Troy Loss?
joshmaurer - April 9, 2010
Yes.
justincredubil02 - April 9, 2010
joshmaurer, How about Troig Loss? I’ve already started referring to our leadoff hitter as Meh-lky.
Tokyokie - April 9, 2010
add to the bad
Chipper is out 3 games
nathan rothschild - April 9, 2010
Spring Training patience at the plate?
Where did it go? I’m actually more bothered by our batting approach in game 2 than last night.
Game 2 was a LOT of whiffing at bad pitches. Last night we just ran into a buzzsaw of superior pitching and odd strike zones. When we did get a bat on the ball, it was likely a grounder, so that was just a matter of an opposing pitcher doing his job. But game 2 was a bunch of swing-for-the-fence nonsense.
Gotta get back to waiting for the right pitch and letting these guys on the mound beat themselves….
skymuse - April 9, 2010
Left Field
Bench Melky. Start Diaz. Diaz has earned that spot. Diaz can hit.
Grey Rider - April 9, 2010
Fixed!
redwards95 - April 9, 2010
He’s actually equal to Melky against righties if you look at their career lines, although he does indeed slaughter lefties.
Fixed.
J-Freak - April 9, 2010
And McLouth can't...
so with McCann likely getting rest today, and a lefty on the hill so Infante over Hinske (maybe Hinske gets a start or two at 3rd or maybe for Glaus this weekend against Hellermeyer or Lincecum).
But lineup for today maybe
Infante
Prado
Heyward/Esco?
Glaus
Heyward/Esco
Diaz
Melky or McLouth
Ross
Mr. Sanchez - April 9, 2010
How can you have a list of Bad without Chipper’s injury? All the rest of that can be chalked up to small sample size for now but if Chipper has another season of oblique problems that could kill the Braves’ hopes for a playoff spot.
redwards95 - April 9, 2010
Best staff in SF, sure.
But look who they faced. Yeah, the hapless Astros. Not saying that they aren’t good (which they clearly are), but they definitely got some help.
soup du jour - April 9, 2010
If we win 2 out of 3 from everybody, we would finish 108-54…keep it up!
Scott Coleman - April 9, 2010 via mobile
This.
justincredubil02 - April 9, 2010
My thoughts exactly
DawgB - April 9, 2010
Positive thinking on a Braves blog. We don’t need that here.
Sparhawk - April 9, 2010
Glaus had 29 AB last year...
…and ST is not long enough to readjust to Major League pitching. Traditionally, he has shown that if he stays healthy, he produce. Granted, you can’t wait forever, but it’s still very early to start beating up on him.
Also, the Phils “only” took 2 of 3 from the Nats. The Cubs are a better team than the Nats; and with the exception of the Padres series, this month will tell us plenty about how good we really are. Hopefully Chipper isn’t out for long, the rest of the team stays healthy, and they measure up to the hype.
That said, flip Prado and Cabrera against RHP.
El Soro - April 9, 2010
People need to just shut the hell up about Glaus for the time being. It’s really just showing your complete and utter ignorance. He’s had several years in the past where he got off to a slow start (if you can even call this a start, it’s 3 fucking games) and ended up just fine.
In 2000 the first 3 games he went 2-8 with 3 K (although he did have 6 BB), and ended up with 47 HR, 102 RBI, and an OPS over 1.000
In 2002 the first 3 games he went 3-12 with 3 K (1 BB), and ended up with 30 HR, 111 RBI and an OPS of .805
In 2008 the first 3 games he went 2-11 with 3 K (1 BB), and ended up with 27 HR, 99 RBI, and an OPS of .856
Now these stats are obviously cherry-picked, but it’s done to prove a point. A guy doesn’t have to get off to a blistering start to the season to have a good year. If Prado has a 3 game span sometime in July where he goes 3-11 with 6 K and 2 BB is everyone going to start calling for his head? I should hope not, because it’s idiotic. 3 games now are no different than any other 3 game span later on in the year.
You people need to act like you’ve watched a baseball season before. Be happy that we took the series, and let’s give our boys some support for what looks to be a tougher series starting tonight.
Smoltz's Beard - April 9, 2010
I should also say that the same thing applies to Melky, but I’m less inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt as he has less of a track record to go on and I simply just don’t really like him hitting leadoff in the first place (or starting for that matter).
Smoltz's Beard - April 9, 2010
Major props
I’ll just add my agreement to all of the above, I don’t think there’s anything to add.
J-Freak - April 9, 2010
I don't think the panic is warranted but
I can understand it.
I mean, Troy had a major major injury and I don’t see it as ignorant to question whether or not he is the same player that he was in his prime (2000,2002) or pre surgery 2008. Not that he has to be that good, most would anticipate him to not match those #s.
The Prado comparison really isn’t valid because you are supposing he has some sort of success and then goes into a 3 game slump and in this case, the panickers have only seen Glaus in a negative context.
But you’re right. It’s too early to panic. I would also throw in that joining a new team it’s easy to try too hard and that may be contributing to the shaky play. He does have a few hits to hang his hat on, so let’s wait a couple weeks before we start calling for his head.
Cracker! - April 9, 2010
The comparison is completely valid because, again, these people who are complaining supposedly have watched a season of baseball before. Slumps happen (although I wouldn’t consider 3 poor games a slump, and last night Glaus looked fine so it’s really just 2 poor games), whether it be at the start of the season, the middle, or the end.
As far as the injury goes, I can understand people being skeptical about it but our training staff apparently signed off on him being okay before we added him to the club and he looked good in ST. However, there’s a big difference between being skeptical and people saying, without any sarcasm, that Freeman needs to get called up soon.
Either way, pretty sure the two of us are on the same page and you bring up a good point about Glaus being new to the team.
Smoltz's Beard - April 9, 2010
Has there really been a panic, though?
I mean, count me in for being disappointed in his performance for the series. I think he could have done better, and I know what kind of hitter he is and am glad he’s on the team. But I haven’t seen much in the way of ‘get him off the team now!’. Maybe I give too many people credit, but I would hope that they aren’t basing their opinion off a player for three games.
soup du jour - April 9, 2010
It’s not a tidal wave of panic, but there are comments peppered throughout all the threads on here honestly asking when Freeman is going to be ready, people commenting on how he strikes out too much, etc.
I’m sure you’ve seen it though, so I don’t need to tell you.
Smoltz's Beard - April 9, 2010
Aft cannons rearmed for 2nd warning shot across their bow, cap'n!
…Fire when ready.
soup du jour - April 9, 2010
well said, !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
bluelg - April 9, 2010
Glaus K'ing doesnt get to me..
I understand he K’s a lot. The thing that has been eating me alive is his LOB totals. That CAN NOT happen if he wants to stay in the 5 hole or even to stay on the team. 6 K’s in 11 AB? No problem. But those other 5 AB need to be driving in runs. Melky is exactly what we thought he was, and McLouth offers little to no upgrade at this point as he cant even center the ball up to get it out of the IF.
murph35 - April 9, 2010
If there's anybody on the team I can see getting 86'd right now...
…it’s McLouth. I have a feeling his best seasons may already be behind him. He seems like a Jack Cust type who had one or two good seasons to hang his hat on, then just can’t get back up to that level. I know he hasn’t even been on the team for a full season, but I just don’t see him getting much better. He can’t get on base, his power has completely disappeared since he’s been a brave, and he can’t even hit for average. This guy needs a major hot streak to get some faith back in him. He’s also caught a case of “chipper-itis” with all these damn hamstring injuries. If he can’t run, he’s worth nothing to us.
Brave Neander - April 9, 2010
word
Mighty Healthy - April 9, 2010
It’s too early to tell obviously, but my gut says that you may be on to something here.
Smoltz's Beard - April 9, 2010
Nate McLouth apologizes profusely for only having a .500 OBP in the whopping 3 games the Braves have played so far….
redwards95 - April 9, 2010
+1
dunnytwogloves - April 9, 2010
That’s it!
Smoltz's Beard - April 9, 2010
I think Glaus will be fine but....
he definitely wins goat of the series in my book. Melky has been terrible the first few games too but Glaus has absolutely killed us with runners on base. He will figure it out and end up having a good season…..but he looks over-matched on pretty much any fastball over 90 MPH. If I were an opposing pitcher I would throw him nothing but fastballs on the inner half of the plate and above the belt. He looks helpless on anything fast and above the belt. I think both Melky and Glaus will hit this year and be at least solid players for us. Three games isn’t important at all but Glaus has been worse both offensively and defensively. Our outfield defense has looked good though. That’s a nice change of pace from last year.
KC Ryan - April 9, 2010
Big Prado startin off how he did during last year thats great to see, not surprised. Like others have said about Glaus just chill out its all good, only been 3 games if its at the end of April and he isn’t hittin then you can be concerned and think he is just slumpin like Tex does early on or he might be another Craig Wilson BUT its very early i think he gets it goin towards the middle of April, the guy is a good hitter and never been much of a AVG hitter anyway so dont expect .300 from the guy, his value is the long ball with a pretty solid .350+ OBP but he should start doin better mid April so im not worried right now.
rockybull - April 9, 2010
Stats from first 3 games:
Mclouth: 3/8 with 3 walks
Glaus: 3/11 with 2 walks
Chipper: 3/9 1 HR 2 walks
Yunel Esco: 3/12 1 2B 0 walks….
Don’t freak about about Mclouth and Glaus. its ok.
Braves Biceps - April 9, 2010
give the devil his due
after the Zambrano implosion & hit fest that was game 1, the Cubs pitching rose to the occassion. If not for Chipper’s heroics & Wags impressive save in game 2 this could’ve been a losing series for the Braves. Not trying to make excuses for the Bravos performance because they had their opportunities but in the end good pitching will usually win out.
The Braves pitching performance is a definite bright spot in this first series. Glaus, McLouth & the rest of the gang will work it out IMO. More concerned about the early injury bug hitting Chipper @ this point.
adc62 - April 9, 2010
DIAZ IN LEFT
Put Diaz in Left !!!! Leave him there !!! He’s the MAN !!!
ggotch - April 9, 2010
This seems to be a theme here, and I agree.
McGriff the Crime Dog - April 9, 2010
Diaz
He’s Earned the spot. All ways hits in the 300 Hundrerds. Other than Chip He’s been there the longest. Don’t complain. Did I say hit. Give the Man his DUE!!!!!!
Grey Rider - April 11, 2010
I love early season posts because only then can 1for 2 be considered “stroking everything” and teams can have the “best staff in baseball” due to their ERA after 3 games. Lots of useful stuff there.
ajones2522 - April 9, 2010
We won the series.
Like Bobby has said, you’ll never get to the World Series unless you win more series than you lose during the season.
That makes us 1 for 1 in that. Pretty good ratio.
NCChopper - April 9, 2010
Not to say "I told you so"
but when is comes to Melky…
Oh, and the ESPN projections for Kelly Johnson have him hitting 108 HR this season with a line of .300/.417/.900/1.317, and Prado hitting 0 homers with a .583/.615/.750/1.365 line, so clearly the Braves screwed the pooch there.
Rhyno18 - April 9, 2010
What did you tell us? Melky has looked pretty fantastic at the plate.
justincredubil02 - April 10, 2010
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