The Braves come away with another series win, taking 2 out of 3 from the Diamondbacks. Pretty much all I ask is that we keep winning series. Game one was an exercise in a comeback victory, and one that seemed almost in the bag before the ninth inning even started. It was almost as if the Braves were just waiting to face that Arizona bullpen.
That approach may have doomed them in game 2, as they tried to wait out Rodrigo Lopez, but he was up to the task of pitching a brilliant game, and our bullpen let the score get out of hand before we had a chance to try and come back.
Game 3 was a good old fashion little league game (as Tom Glavine kept saying on the telecast). Lots of hitting from Atlanta, even from the pitcher. After being dominated by the D-Backs in game-2, the Braves turned the tables and dominated them in game-3.
The Martin Prado leadoff experiment was a raucous success. He was 6-for-14 with 6 RBI. His only two runs scored of the series were his own homeruns, but he got on base and the lower part of the order who was getting on in front of him -- ironically it was the old leadoff guy, Nate McLouth, who scored three runs in the series.
Here are some more good things from the Braves during the D-Backs series:
The not so good from the D-Backs series:
Overall it was an excellent series for Atlanta, and a good way to keep momentum going after the sweep in Milwaukee.
0 recs | 73 comments
Just keep on winning
2 of 3 and it will be a great year.
DawgB - May 17, 2010
Which recent year was it that we won a crap load of series in a row?
Was it 2005 when the Baby Braves arrived?
bwellnjonesco - May 17, 2010
it was 2004
behind our outfield of andruw gary sheffield and chipper
CoxXx - May 17, 2010
Sheff’s last year was 2003
ATLandUNC - May 17, 2010
04
Had Drew
eaheckman10 - May 17, 2010
Pretty much.
Mr. Sanchez - May 17, 2010
On the back
of Andruw Jones
Nova Scotia Steve - May 17, 2010
I miss that guy.
justincredubil02 - May 17, 2010
Yeah Doug, ya told us
Mr. Sanchez - May 17, 2010
I don’t. Maybe the 96-05 version.
Dude got jerk-happy a little too much. (yes, TWSS)
UMDBHIK - May 17, 2010
his
2010 version isnt to bad so far.
drumzalicious - May 17, 2010
Big Games Coming Up
I tried of this under .500 baseball…Let’s get the record even and move on up. I’m looking forward to the Reds mini-series. But let’s take out the Mets…Need a solid performance from Lowe again tonight!!! C’mon boys…let’s string together another 4 or 5 in a row!
Nova Scotia Steve - May 17, 2010
Chavez
This kid really needs to be sent down….
Time to capitalize on these 2 game series!
War_Drum - May 17, 2010
Naturally, the two Braves on my fantasy squad.
JDMaker1 - May 17, 2010
Mine too.
Pavy848 - May 17, 2010
Heyward
Should have been 2-2 on steals but hesitated slightly. It’s nice to see him more aggressive in general. He’ll make the right adjustments for the #2 spot. But he continued making contact in almost every at bat.
Pavy848 - May 17, 2010
It’s gonna be a tough adjustment since pitchers will continue to pitch around him to get to Chipper. I’m not a big fan of him being there but I can’t argue with results. Can’t change what is best for the team right now.
MTSU11 - May 17, 2010
Heyward will more than likely have to deal withave to being pitched around for the majority of his carrer. Something he will have to learn to adjust to
dhumpkm - May 17, 2010
I disagree with you assessment that teams are pitching around Heyward. He is getting plenty of opportunities to hit the ball. What game or AB did the pitcher blatantly walked him to get to
Chipper during the Arizona series?
romone_braves91 - May 17, 2010
Agree with dhumpkm…he will have to deal with that his whole career. And teams are definitely pitching around Heyward, that’s pretty easy to see. He’s gonna get first pitch strikes because he doesn’t swing at the first pitch. After that, he’s lucky if there’s another strike. I think he goes through these slumps because he swings at bad pitches because they won’t throw him anything. He’s so patient that pitchers just wait it out. If you’re a pitcher in the major leagues right now and you don’t at least think about pitching around Jason Heyward to get to Chipper Jones, you’re crazy.
MTSU11 - May 17, 2010
I remembered that one time he was pitched around and that was when he was batting in front of Melky and not Chipper. You can not say people are pitching around Heyward to get to Chipper because this weekend was the first time that he has batted in front of Chipper. And as I recall from watching the games, he was getting stuff to hit. The results from most his ABs were just unlucky but hard ground outs. I like Heyward but you are giving him way too much credit in that pitchers are not pitching to him. Not pitching to him would consist of throwing nothing but breaking balls outside the strike zone constantly. Heyward has been seeing his share of fastballs not counting first pitch strike one. He gets some 3-1 and 2-0 count fastballs to hit. One day, pitchers will pitch around him but not right now.
romone_braves91 - May 17, 2010
This.
People, Heyward is not God. The sooner we reaize this, the better off we’ll all be.
Hell, Heyward isn’t even Chipper Jones yet.
justincredubil02 - May 17, 2010
facepalm
ATLandUNC - May 17, 2010
We’ve had the discussion.
In fact, didn’t you say that opposing pitchers fear a 20 year old with 1 month of MLB experience over one of the greatest switch hitters of all time?
justincredubil02 - May 17, 2010
I have no idea why you keep saying “of all time”, as if that has bearing on the .224 hitting Chipper Jones of present. The same Chipper who in his past 4 months has a SLG% of
.371
.351
.393
.324
Fear inducing, indeed.
ATLandUNC - May 17, 2010
curious, what do you suggest the team do with the lineup?
romone_braves91 - May 17, 2010
I have plenty of ideas
But the only applicable one that has any chance of Bobby actually doing is a pretty simple switch.
2. Chipper
3. Heyward
Heyward has a TON more power than Chipper at this point, and he would be better fitted to hit as close to the middle of the order as possible. The 2 spot would allow Chipper to use his OBP, without his lack of power affecting run production.
ATLandUNC - May 17, 2010
You don't pitch against history...
if you did, we should just let the old man out of the front office and stick him in right. As of right now, if I was pitching against Atlanta, you’re damn right I’d be more concerned with Heyward than Chipper. One has actually shown significant power, the ability to make big plays happen out of nothing (see yesterday’s error/double, steal and score), and has made a HUGE impact on numerous games so far this year.
We’re not talking history, or what a player might do throughout the year in some hypothetical prediction. As of right now, you’re a fool if you think our most dangerous and productive hitter is anyone other than the rookie.
Mr. Sanchez - May 17, 2010
I still think pitchers are more scared of Chipper Jones than 20 year old Jason Heyward with all of 1 month of MLB experience. Heyward for sure has more power than Chipper, but Chipper can still hit.
If pitchers are pitching around anyone, it would be Chipper Jones.
justincredubil02 - May 17, 2010
This This This
eaheckman10 - May 17, 2010
But why would they pitch around a guy with a BA so low and so little power? This makes no sense at all.
ATLandUNC - May 17, 2010
THIS to Mr. Sanchez
This isn’t history.
I may get stoned for saying this but people are putting way too much stock into Chipper. Yep…he’s my favorite player of all time. Yep…he’s one of the greatest switch hitters of all time. However, he’s old. He’s slow. He’s still a great hitter but he’s not the Chipper I grew up loving to watch. Give me Heyward.
MTSU11 - May 17, 2010
Even accepting that that may be true, you seriously have to be blind to not realizing they are pitching around Chipper. He is getting nothing to hit
eaheckman10 - May 17, 2010
Because a lot of people realize that batting average alone is not really indicative of how good a player really is. Chipper has an insanely low BABIP right now, yet his OBP is still near his career average. That tells us one thing – Pitchers are not giving him pitches to hit.
Look beyond a simple HR total or batting average, for Pete’s sake, and use some simple logic here.
I am as big a Heyward fan as the next guy, but calling him a better hitter or more feared hitter than Chipper Freaking Jones is ridiculous.
justincredubil02 - May 17, 2010
My two cents
It will be just a matter of time for their bats to get back to normal (at least Heyward). I did not expect these guys to be above .320 hitters, so I anticipated mini slumps. They still have high OBP, meaning they are still seeing the ball well and helping out the team in other ways. I’m just glad the others players (Hinske and Glaus) can pick up the slack when these guys have slumps. The team is finally displaying offensive balance.
romone_braves91 - May 17, 2010
huh?
you don’t expect Heyward to be an above .320 hitter?
actually, all scouting projections point to him being a .325/.420/.520 hitter on average.
apoxonbothyourhouses - May 17, 2010
The scouting projections of .325/.420/.520 are very ambitious and rather high for a rookie player. Do no get me wrong, Heyward is a phenominal player but those are Pujols rookie numbers (.329/.403/.610). I am being realistic in my expectations. I was thinking Heyward would be a .300 hitter with above ave. power.
romone_braves91 - May 17, 2010
Maybe we could send Melky and Chavez somewhere for someone.
We really don’t need them. Wren’s probably coiling into striking mode.
Chief Noc-A-Homa - May 17, 2010
I never seem to be watching when Chavez implodes...
but it seems like we may have Manny Acosta II here.
DeadlyWalrus - May 17, 2010
Move Heyward to where he used to be – the seventh spot, the sixth, even the fifth! He’s not doing well in the 2 spot, and this is the first time I’ve seen him in “the bad” in the series recap.
MBL1 - May 17, 2010
Agreed. Now with Yunel back in the lineup, bat him 2nd, and Heyward 6th.
justincredubil02 - May 17, 2010
Why are you giving up Heyward at the 2 spot when we haven’t fully seen what he could do yet (he has had only 3 games in the spot)?
romone_braves91 - May 17, 2010
Because hitting him 6th makes more sense to me.
Call me crazy, but I still don’t like putting a 20 year old at the center of the offense just yet.
justincredubil02 - May 17, 2010
I agree that Heyward is young but the guy has a high OBP to get on base for out power hitters plus he has enough base running threat ability to keep pitchers off focus a little while making their pitchers to our batters.
romone_braves91 - May 17, 2010
I wouldn't say he was "put" there...
like say we kept putting FUGA in the 5 hole last year. Heyward’s production has warranted him moving up as others have faltered, and Bobby did have him hinting 2nd quite a bit in spring. If he could burn that bunting with his 2 hitter page out of the book, we’d be fine.
Mr. Sanchez - May 17, 2010
The first couple of hitters are supposed to get on base, and the next few are supposed to drive in runs. Why are we putting Heyward somewhere where you’re supposed to get on base when he’s leading the team in RBI? Put him somewhere where he can drive in more runs. I’m not giving up on him – I just want him to be in a spot where he can produce more runs.
MBL1 - May 17, 2010
now the question is less ABs for potential RBI producing? I rather have more ABs for Heyward instead of potentially hitting for RBI later on in the lineup. (People getting on base in front of you is luck anyway) Besides, if the 8 spot hitter can get on with less than 1 out, Heyward will have an opportunity to drive him in batting 2 spot. Also, Prado gets on base a lot due to being a great contact hitter. Heyward will get his chances to be a RBI machine in the two hole.
romone_braves91 - May 17, 2010
I think another bit of the equation here is that Hinske is now in the sixth spot and is hitting well enough to drive guys in. If he isn’t there we may not be able to have this lineup as it is now.
bbxxj - May 17, 2010
Heyward
has the highest OBP on the team behind Hinske. He is getting on base. All that needs to happen is that some of Chippers hits just need to fall his BAIP is terribly low right now. Once that happens it will be a great line up.
I see the other side of it as well with him driving in runs however Hinske is doing just as good as Heyward was lower in the lineup so its not like we have a black hole down there. There is no one else to really put 2nd. Maybe McLouth if he heats up but Escobar has been terrible with 10% of his hits being line drives TEN every thing else is a GB waiting to happen
drumzalicious - May 17, 2010
Logic and reason and stats to support? GTFO!
justincredubil02 - May 17, 2010
this
Sure the lineup looks better with Heyward in the 2 spot but I don’t think he is as comfortable there. Put him back in the sixth/seventh spot where he can drive in more runs, seemed to work the first month.
Braves24 - May 17, 2010
There are so many ridiculous comments in this thread that my brain just froze out.
yondaime4 - May 17, 2010
Agreed.
jdluke - May 17, 2010
You must be new here…
Smoltz's Beard - May 17, 2010
Have you ever seen Comedian?...
With Jerry Seinfeld rebuilding his stand up routine? Your comment made me think of by far my favorite part of that movie/documentary, when Seinfeld is starting back out and really struggling to put a set together, he’s telling a joke, forgets the punch line, and out of the audience you hear a british female voice, “Is this your first gig?”
Mr. Sanchez - May 17, 2010
I have not, but I will definitely check it out.
Smoltz's Beard - May 17, 2010
If you like Seinfeld, his parts are great stuff...
but the other guy, Orny Adams, not so much.
Mr. Sanchez - May 17, 2010
Agreed.
That guy annoyed the hell out of me.
10-4 - May 17, 2010
Loved the show Seinfeld. Loved the one standup DVD of his I saw. Not sure if he has more.
Smoltz's Beard - May 17, 2010
I've got the standup, "I'm tellin ya for the last time"...
I think is the name. This follows that routine, as he discards the old act and rebuilds from scratch. Definitely recommend it considering our seemingly identical tastes.
Mr. Sanchez - May 17, 2010
Personally
I dont mind Heyward in the @
drumzalicious - May 17, 2010
THIS
yondaime4 - May 17, 2010 via mobile
for some reason my brain reads this as “Heyward in the ass”
I mean I love Heyward, but idk about that….
ATLandUNC - May 17, 2010
twss
and she never walked right again.
Mr. Sanchez - May 17, 2010
+1
eaheckman10 - May 17, 2010
Wahoo, I'm now up to 137 on the internets...
what does that get me?
Mr. Sanchez - May 17, 2010
20 years in the slammer…
GoBravesNY - May 17, 2010
DAMN YOU CHRIS HANSON!...
I swear, I was just coming over to help her study for a geometry quiz. Oh, this 6 pack of zima, ounce of weed, and Sam’s Club size pack of condoms? They were on the counter before I got here, honest.
Mr. Sanchez - May 17, 2010
LOL
you had me there. nicely done
GoBravesNY - May 17, 2010
Oh, and Yunel promises he didn’t touch that girl. Really, he does!
GoBravesNY - May 17, 2010
You’ve already been in Disgusta too long.
Lizziebeth - May 18, 2010
Heyward for 3 hole
chipper for 2!
JasonHeywardisGod - May 17, 2010
It doesn’t matter. It is absolutely not worth getting this worked up about about what seems to be a one-player switch in the batting lineup.
eaheckman10 - May 17, 2010
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