Talking Chop

Hopefully we'll play better tomorrow night.

Let’s do better with RISP please.
The whole mood and outcome of the game may have been different if we had taken advantage of the 2 men on base in the first inning.

NCChopper - May 25, 2010 reply

seriously, I went from really excited about tonight after JHeys single in the first….then Chipper hit into the Vidro and the mood was set for the rest of the night

bpk228480 - May 25, 2010 reply

I sure wish he would kill a few rallies the old fashioned way, with a HR.

Mountngrown - May 26, 2010 reply

+1

lol, that image is hilarious

HAHAHHA

It is great – I enjoy this one quite a bit too!

Sure, the Braves were rather pitiful tonight. But what really bothers me, is Chavez. Why is he still pitching? Those eighth inning runs killed the Braves. Had it not been for them, the game would’ve been won 4-3, Braves win. But, I guess what goes around comes around. This drops us to third….I really hope we take the next two.

Joseph_C - May 25, 2010 reply

First off, stop scoreboard watching in a division where all 5 teams are seperated by like only 4 games.

It’ll save you some stress, seriously.

Secondly, I feel kinda bad for Chavez since he shouldn’t have been pitching in that situation. You don’t use your (mainly) garbage time reliever in a close situation and if you do you put him on a short leash. I was even fine with keeping Chavez out there in the 8th until he had two baserunners on. This WAS the correct time to use Moylan and yet Bobby didn’t. All and all kinda strange.

Off to watch the giants. Jesus christ, this is going to mean I’ve spent 10 hours of the days (passively) watching baseball. My name is dogdaysofsummer, and I have an addiction.

On second thought, there is something redeeming to take from this game.

Bobby knows he is overworking part of the pen and is trying to correct it. Not necessarily the right situation to do it in, but at least that does show some promise.

I think the more important question would be

WHY is Chipper still batting 3rd in the lineup? Yes he still has a nice obp, but other than that he has not impressed thus far into the season. It wouldn’t be ideal, but even if Bobby wanted to keep sending the same lineup out there, atleast then replace Chipper’s bat with Conrad’s for atleast a week.

take chipper out the 3 spot

plz

JasonHeywardisGod - May 25, 2010 reply

That's been needed

For Awhile

This

So much this.

Rational thinking:
Let the guy slugging .580 with 35 RBI bat 3rd.

Bobby’s thinking:
Let the 38 year old batting .226 with a .360 SLG% bat 3rd.

Someone remind Bobby that its not 1999 anymore.

ATLandUNC - May 25, 2010 reply

Someone remind Bobby that its not ~~1999~~ 1899 anymore.

FTFY

J-Freak - May 26, 2010 reply

You’d think that the fact that Chipper even went to Bobby and said he’s all for a switch would have been all that was needed.

Don’t let Justin see that.

TonyAlmeyda - May 25, 2010 reply

I'm A Chipper Support To The End

But his performance last night made me sick…

*Supporter

Dear Team,

Up yours.

Sincerely,

Kenshin Kawakami

This

Pavy848 - May 25, 2010 reply

rec

the way this offense is hitting

We are going to have to change the lineup on a weekly basis.

Suggested lineup for tomorrow:

Cabrera LF
McLouth CF
Prado 3B
Heyward RF
Hinske 1B
Infante SS
McCann C
Conrad 2B
Pitcher

drumzalicious - May 25, 2010 via mobile reply

I still say my lineup would be best

Prado
Chipper
Heyward
Glaus
McCann
Hinske
Escobar (I think Yunel gets until June 10th or so to figure it out.)
McLouth/Melky

Scott Coleman - May 25, 2010 via mobile reply

I agree with this lineup more than Drum's

lol I mean

If everyone plays to their potential then that lineup should be superior however right now:

Cabrera is hitting very lucky/good
Mclouth is heating up
Glaus, Chip, and Mac had bad weeks.

I did say weekly changes lol

drumzalicious - May 25, 2010 via mobile reply

What happens to escobar after June 10?

Braves24 - May 25, 2010 reply

If he’s still not hitting, he’ll hopefully sitting next to FUPA on the bench.

Scott Coleman - May 25, 2010 via mobile reply

FUPA...

LOLZ

Benching!

ATLforlife - May 25, 2010 reply

A sub .250 hitter batting 2nd?

I’m sorry but just a high obp does not warrant a hitter to get to bat 2nd in the lineup. I know Bobby still holds him on a pedestal, but right now I want my best hitters batting in the top half of the lineup. So with that said, this would be my lineup…..
Prado
Heyward
McCann
Glaus
Hinske
who
really
cares

huh?

Are we watching the same Brian McCann? I love Mac but he should really be our #5/#6 hitter

drumzalicious - May 25, 2010 via mobile reply

Exactly.

He’s not a good 3 hitter, not a great 4 hitter, but is an excellent option for the 5-hole. In my opinion, at least.

What both those guys said

I was thinking the same

But then that would push Heyward down to the #3 hole which I am fine with. Problem is that I don’t know if there is anyone else that is capable right now batting at the top of the lineup with Prado.

Chipper needs to be hitting 2nd

Having Prado and Chipper getting on and putting runners on base for Heyward, Glaus, and McCann to drive in. It seems Chipper just is no longer capable of being a run producer and batting 3rd, but his OBP is still high enough that he can set the table for our 3-4-5 hitters

honestly

Chip should prob stay out of the #2 spot because of his slowness. I don’t want him hustling from 1st only to be out for a month with a groin strain

drumzalicious - May 26, 2010 via mobile reply

In an ideal world (if a certain former Pirate was playing to his capabilities)

Then a lineup looking like this would be quite nasty, agreed?
McLouth
Prado
Heyward
Glaus
Chipper
Mac
Ecobar
Hinske

Switch mac with chipper and hinske with escobar and I concur.

Although it would be quite amusing to have chipper and escobar bat together with Hinske behind him because its almost like having another 1-2-3 lineup in your order.

W Robertson pitching tomorrow, I would like to see

1. 2B Prado
2. 3B Jones
3. RF Heyward
4. 1B Glaus
5. C McCann
6. LF Infante
7. SS Escobar
8. CF Cabrera
9. P Hanson

Also might consider starting David Ross behind the dish tomorrow and flopping Infante to the 5 spot

Does anyone know what chips hitting with WISP?

I coulda sworn it was sub 2, but i think they said last night it was 380? i cant remember many hits with WISP. Regardless of what it is, he needs to move out of three hole..

bluelg - May 26, 2010 reply

No way...

Prado 2B
McLouth/Cabrera CF
Heyward RF
Glaus 1B
McCann C
Hinske LF
Chipper/Conrad 3B
Escobar/Infante SS

I think this will work much better. Also I think we should give Infante and Conrad more chances at playing 3B since Chipper is strugglin + he needs the rest. He might heat up later in the season and we want him to be fresh.

jvvenez - May 26, 2010 reply

mostly Infante though

jvvenez - May 26, 2010 reply

Holy cow

Check out the minor league recap tonight. Why are our scouts so fucking brilliant?

Scott Coleman - May 25, 2010 via mobile reply

That’s like asking… why can’t KK win a game?

Mindboggling.

ATLforlife - May 25, 2010 reply

you’d think there would at least be a few more no-decisions

System set up by Schierholtz, Mazzone, and Cox.

It works.

You're Welcome

J-Freak - May 26, 2010 reply

Welcome, indeed.

TheLetter2 - May 26, 2010 reply

Chipper is killing me. He seems to be swinging fine, but he’s not getting good contact on any ball. I hate seeing the end of a career of any player, especially one of my favorites.

Pavy848 - May 25, 2010 reply

it does feel that way, doesn’t it?

TheBravestWay To Block A Decent Prospect - May 25, 2010 reply

Soft-tossing lefty spells trouble.

Thankfully we have some gum pitching tomorrow night.

UMDBHIK - May 25, 2010 reply

mclouth in the 2-spot

what do you guys think of mclouth in the 2-spot, behind prado? mclouth didn’t hit 1 or 8 in pittsburgh, and he did pretty well with some protection. it seems like he doesn’t feel comfortable in the 1 or 8 spot, but he’s been hitting some doubles lately without protection in the 8 spot. i think mclouth could become the old mclouth anywhere besides the 1 or 8 spot, and with that uppercut swing of his, we won’t have to worry about double plays when prado is on first.

atl192485 - May 25, 2010 reply

I wouldn't mind it

I think he could be successful in the #2 hole. I might get some flack for this but I think in that case Chipper should bat lower. Like

Prado
McLouth
Heyward
Glaus
McCann
Chipper
Hinske
Escobar

drumzalicious - May 26, 2010 via mobile reply

I agree,

IIRC, Nate commented last season that he didn’t feel comfortable in the lead-off spot.

HEYJUDE - May 26, 2010 reply

Randall Delgado line tonight:

7IP 5H 1R 12K 0BB

Hurray for silver linings!

Jacob Peterson - May 25, 2010 reply

So glad the whole team rested against Pittsburgh

Not only gave away a win, but the team looked so fresh and rested today. Hope the boys can take the next two.

Frozen Fan - May 25, 2010 reply

Tough loss. We’ve got to start winning a few of these division games. I’m extremely confused by Bobby leaving Chavez in for so long. I can see trying to get him through a second inning, but you must have someone up and throwing in case he gets into trouble. Jesse is not used to going more than an inning on a regular basis; it’s not that hard to see that he might become less effective. Yet no one was even throwing until 2 runners were on base.

And then to have Martinez as the guy who finally comes in to back him up? That’s just weird. We had an off day yesterday, and at least a few of the more reliable guys should have been well rested. We could have won that game in the late innings.

Also, I’ll ask again— why the heck is Christhian Martinez in the big leagues? Sheesh.

Jacob Peterson - May 25, 2010 reply

I agree

We had an off day yesterday so I was expecting to see the back of the bullpen in this game. Heck even Venters would have made more sense there.

And Martinez is here because bobby judged Kimbrel off of pitching every 5 days and used his slow delivery as an excuse to send him down

drumzalicious - May 26, 2010 via mobile reply

Games like tonight are the reason why when you look up a pitchers stat, they should include pitcher’s run support. It should be right next to ERA. Plus, they need to add a stat for when a pitcher has ND due to bullpen collapse. KK can not be blamed for this loss but he will be.

romone_braves91 - May 26, 2010 reply

I wonder how many teams would love a 5th starter that gives up 3 runs in 6 innings

drumzalicious - May 26, 2010 via mobile reply

Every team in the NL at least.

romone_braves91 - May 26, 2010 reply

The only negative about KK is the salary. We’re paying our #5 as a #3 or #4. That’s the only downside.

Scott Coleman - May 26, 2010 via mobile reply

I've thought, for a long time

That pitchers should be responsible for the runs they allow, and those only. The Braves getting the 4th run should have taken Ken off of the hook and put whoever allowwed the eventual losing run on it.

It's such a shame

“Chipper Jones had all sorts of problems at the plate tonight. He grounded into a double play to kill a rally in the first inning. He grounded into a force out with a runner on second in the third, and he lined out weakly with the bases loaded for the final out in the seventh inning. They he grounded out again for the second out in the ninth inning. All told, he left eight men on base while going 0-for-5. I love the guy, but why is he still batting third?” – Gondee

“I’m extremely confused by Bobby leaving Chavez in for so long. I can see trying to get him through a second inning, but you must have someone up and throwing in case he gets into trouble. Jesse is not used to going more than an inning on a regular basis; it’s not that hard to see that he might become less effective. Yet no one was even throwing until 2 runners were on base.” – Pacgnosis

This whole place is just filled with armchair managers and second guessers! I’m outraged! Outraged, I tell ya!

Keep in mind...

The team had played nine games in consecutive days (Sunday was the 10th in a row) before the Pirates series finale.

Baseball is a grind. That day off may not show up in our play today, but it will later this week and further on in the season.

It feels like Bobby rested the order on Sunday, and the bullpen today. Going into the eighth inning, we were in both these games.

Execution didn’t play out and we lost both, but we got our entire team an extra day of rest. If that pays off in the final two games of this series and we can go back home with two away series victories, we’ll be sitting awfully pretty.

Now is not the time to push the panic button.

-C

Agreed.

Now is the time to stop doing things that don’t work and look for things that do instead of continuting to do those things that aren’t working.

Putting Hinske in LF has paid off several times, make some more semi-permenent changes and get some near-automatic outs out of the line up. Escobar usually responds to his benchings. Give him a week of bench/pinch hitting.

bighop - May 26, 2010 reply

It's amazing how you can agree...

And follow with a statement completely contradictory to the message.

Give our guys until Memorial Day, at least. That’s one third of the season. If they’ve not shown signs of life at that point, then we can consider making some changes.

-C

I want some minor adjustments

Not wholesale changes.

Infante for Escobar for a few days might help both players.

bighop - May 26, 2010 reply

I agree

HEYJUDE - May 26, 2010 reply

To be fair, I just want Escobar to get this week. If you have a player more or less set as a perennial starter in your lineup (Esco, Chipper would fall under this category, Diaz would not), giving him until Memorial Day to find his groove isn’t too much to ask. Same goes for Chipper in the 3-spot…

Bobby’s not been one to give up on his players early, and I like that. At the same time, you have to go with what works. Hedging those two is a tight subject. I’d rather end up trading away a guy for little or nothing after he’s built a proven track record (ala Franceour) than give up on someone early and see them blossom elsewhere.

-C

My radical 2 cents

Chip leads off… Still has a great OBP and if he’s not trying to drive the ball out, he can shoot the ball to all parts of the field.
Chip
Prado
Heyward
Glaus
Mac
Hinske
Escobar
McLouth

if escobar can’t turn it around, plug infante into the 7 hole OR leadoff and drop chip into the 6/7 hole. I honestly dont think chip has enough pop to hit 3rd anymore. I’ve witnessed more than a few long hit fly balls that die 30 ft from
the warning track that look liked he tagged pretty well.

murph35 - May 26, 2010 via mobile reply

Wow, this thread needs some prozac

And a bottle of scotch.

Bronn - May 26, 2010 reply

It just needs our shortstop to stop being worthless and a franchise icon to start hitting, that’s all. But I’ll take a double Dewar’s on the rocks anyway…

Weldon - May 26, 2010 reply

Escobar is a week removed from the DL, give him some time to get back into it. It takes some players time to find their groove.

Chipper is a little confounding, or maybe he really is in decline. Time will tell.

-C

I agree with those two propositions, completely

So…no worries about the rest of the post.

Not necessarily in that order.

TheLetter2 - May 26, 2010 reply

Damn the marlins annoy me

Why do these clowns play us so tough year after year? They allways seem to hand us our ass, then lay down and die for whatever dogshit team they play next. At least the phils and mets have fans and owners that spend money. The marlins just throw out 11 year old kids that they will dump as soon as there salary costs more then McDonalds value meal. But there they our year after year, giving us hell to the delight of there fan(s). They are like a zit inside your nose.

Frozen Fan - May 26, 2010 reply

lol.

the marlins do succeed year after year fielding a pretty decent team with virtually no money spent at all. The real reason the marlins enjoy some success is the fact that we play well inside the division. Im just waiting till the next Marlins WS title, then we’ll have a firesale and be back where we started.

Gatorfan4life - May 26, 2010 reply

you also have a pretty darn good manager who I hope will be a Brave in the near future. No offense.

adc62 - May 26, 2010 reply

Nose zits..

…no doubt, they’re the worst.

Bobby is not going to move Chipper out of the 3 hole until Chipper mans up and tells Bobby that it’s time for him to pass the torch to Heyward and step aside. The thing is, even though Chipper has said he’s up for this, I don’t think he will actually stand up and say “we need to make a change” to Bobby.

Dave_D - May 26, 2010 reply

Maybe...

because he knows that’s not his decision and he has respect for his manager. He told Bobby he was willing to hit anywhere in the order. Bobby knows. It’s his decision. Chipper has already “manned up” more than any ballplayer I’ve ever known of, so get off his case already.

10-4 - May 26, 2010 reply

well done

Mr. Sanchez - May 26, 2010 reply

Know what this number is? 2-0-2-0-2-3-0-4-2.
It’s the run support Kawakami has gotten in each of his starts this year.

Joseph_C - May 26, 2010 reply

Pathetic.

This

romone_braves91 - May 26, 2010 reply

heck

i dont know many aces that could hold leads that consistently.

drumzalicious - May 26, 2010 reply

I have 1 question for Bobby -

How many more times do we have to watch Yunel jog to first base on a ground ball?

That play last night, the defender bobbled the ball and Esco would have been safe if he had been running.

Lack of hustle (by him or anyone else) infuriates me.

NCChopper - May 26, 2010 reply

Perhaps another reason to woo Fredi back after Bobby leaves?

TonyAlmeyda - May 26, 2010 reply

lol

Bob keeps a closer eye on Yunel that anybody.

Not defending Yunel, but even with the “hustle factor,” it don’t matter too much. All his speed is in his arm. All of it.

Very few major leaguers

bust it down the line when they’re clearly going to be out. That’s just a fact.

Personally, I’m tired of Escobar being the only one these standards seem to be applied to.

this, Chipper has done it for years

Mr. Sanchez - May 26, 2010 reply

Absolutely.

Chavez = Acosta, part deux

For every good outing, there are 2 bad ones.

Chavez has made 15 appearances

in 8 of them, he’s given up 0 runs, earned or otherwise.

The other 7:

1IP, 1ER
2IP, 5ER
1IP, 1ER
1IP, 2ER
1IP, 5ER
3.1IP, 1ER
1.1IP, 3ER (last night)

All relievers give up runs from time to time. Chavez has given up more than a single run in 4 out of 15 appearances. That’s not great, but its not 1 good : 2 bad.

Never let facts get in the way of a good rant.

fphjr01 - May 26, 2010 reply

So it’s been like flipping a coin with him.

Are you really trying to defend 7.71 ERA Jesse Chavez?

You are aware that “only” giving up 1 run in 1 inning is bad right? If 50% of the time he gives up runs, he’s not a good reliever.

ATLandUNC - May 26, 2010 reply

He’s merely point out that it’s 1:1 instead of 2:1…calm down there.

Despite the Fishies win, I still pity the “Fish Stripes” blog. Even in a loss, we can easily post 200+ comments in our open thread. “Fish Stripes” only had 30 comments.—and they won. The Braves need to win, if only to make the Fish Stripe people comment more!

Joseph_C - May 26, 2010 reply

If it ain’t the Dolphins, or college football, most people that I know from Florida don’t give two craps about baseball, let alone the Marlins.

Who knows, tho…. Those are just the peeps I kno.

Cheer the heck up everybody.

The Fish need Ted Turner. On second thought so do the Braves.

adc62 - May 26, 2010 reply

C'mon

What's The Over/Under

On Chipper hitting 10 Home Runs this season

I’d bet over all day.

-C

Regardless of whose fault it is...

I officially dread it when Ken K takes the mound. Maybe he gets better as the summer progresses, but his stuff isn’t as crisp as it was last year.

The good news, I think a W for him will be right around the corner, but 1-9 isn’t going to look all that hot, either.

That 75 MPH Looper

I cringe every time that man throws it.

He had a nasty change-up he used to throw alot last year. You rarely see it anymore. Just missing spots, all in the zone. Homer. Double. Pop-out that almost was a homer, etc.

Homer. Double. Pop-out that almost was a homer, etc.

LOL

I wish it was funny.

LETS GO BRAVES! BEAT THE FISH GET BACK TO 2ND!

CJ10JHEY22 - May 26, 2010 reply

The sky is still blue, and it’s still above our heads.

The Marlins are NOT the Pirates or Astros. This is a team that can play. I look for a better result with the Big Red One tonight, followed by Mr. Clean tomorrow.

If not, heads will roll.

UMDBHIK - May 26, 2010 reply

"lined out weakly..."

I agree with the analysis except for the line above. Chipper hit that ball hard to third.

mdhenshaw - May 26, 2010 reply

he had no business pulling a low and outside pitch to begin with.

10-4 - May 26, 2010 reply

YUP.

None What-So-Ever

Where does he get the nerve anyway