Kevin C. Cox - Getty Images
David Ross is the man.
The Braves played a near-complete game on Friday night, despite battling the rain all night long. Derek Lowe pitched for the Braves and was excellent. He pitched 7 strong innings and allowed only 1 run on 4 hits and a walk. The Pirates are certainly no offensive juggernaut, but Derek Lowe delivered yet another encouraging start. If he can keep this up, combined with the return of Jair Jurrjens, the Braves could easily have the best pitching in the NL.
The Braves scored early and often on Friday night. After nearly a 90-minute rain delay, the Braves put up a 4-run 1st inning against Zach Duke, a lefty who has basically shut the Braves down last Sunday. Troy Glaus drove in Martin Prado with a single to RF and David Ross delivered a huge 2-out, 3-run double into LF to put the Braves up by 4. Chipper Jones then drove in Derek Lowe (who had doubled) in the 2nd inning with a soft fly ball to RF.
The Pirates got on the board in the 4th when former-Brave Garrett Jones drove in Neil Walker with a deep sac-fly to RF.
Despite a few threats by the Pirates, Chipper Jones essentially clinched the game for the Braves in the 6th. He ripped a single into left-center field that scored Derek Lowe and Martin Prado. Similar to the David Ross 3-run double, Chipper swung at the first pitch and drove the ball well. Is it me, or do the Braves seem to be a bit more aggressive at the plate? They were all over Ricky Nolasco last night and a big reason for that was not allowing the opposing pitcher to get into pitcher's counts.
And by the way...where did all the "fire Terry Pendleton" talk go once the Braves started scoring? Weird how it all just ended magically.
Eric O'Flaherty struggled in the 8th and gave up 2 runs when Andy LaRoche and Neil Walker hit back-to-back RBI doubles. Panic was starting to set in a bit, but EOF promptly got out of the inning with a 6-4-3 double play. Another long rain delay came in the 9th, but Jonny Venters worked an impressive inning with 2 strikeouts to end the game.
Braves win 7-3!
The Good, Bad and Ugly after the jump:
The Good:
1. Derek Lowe - 7IP 4H 1ER 1BB/2K; That'll do.
2. David Ross - 3-for-4, 3RBI double in the 1st; Best backup catcher in the league. And it's not even close to being close.
3. Grandpa Jones - 2-for-5, 3RBI; His average is up to .234 and he's been driving the ball much better as of late.
4. Marteeeen Prado - 3-for-5, 2R; Stud. He'll have 200 hits by late August or early September at this pace.
5. Jason Heyward - 2-for-3, 1BB
The Bad:
1. Yunel Escobar - 0-for-4, 6 LOB
2. Nate McLouth - 0-for-4, 3K; Jordan Schafer, where the hell are you?
3. Eric O'Flaherty - 1IP 3H 2ER 1BB/0K
The Ugly:
1. Zach Duke - 5.1IP 12H 7ER 2BB/4K; Ouch.
2. The Rain - Please don't stick around. The Braves have 5 games left in the current homestand and rain is in the forecast every day. Someone get Heyward to fix this.
Open Thread Comment Count: 1,375 -- WEAK! That's all you got? I demand 3,000+ tomorrow night or TC will be closed for-ev-er.
GO BRAVES!
0 recs | 82 comments
MARTEEEN UR LOVE IS MY DRUGGG
nick9314 - May 29, 2010
SU AMOR ES ME DRUGA!!
nick9314 - May 29, 2010
man
with Chip and Mac heating up our #1-6 just got a lot more intimidating. Just hope Glaus and Hinske keep up their hot hitting
drumzalicious - May 29, 2010
also
can we go ahead and extend David Ross? Thanks Wren
drumzalicious - May 29, 2010
This!
Hinske as well while we’re extending folks…
leedawg - May 29, 2010
Ross is no fool
he knows he’ll get a starting spot somewhere next year. I doubt he’s back in 2011. I’ll sure miss him though.
Scott Coleman - May 29, 2010
Signed
Buzz McBuzzkillington
J-Freak - May 29, 2010 via mobile
I don't know...
…He may want to keep playing for the defending world champions!
sddbaker - May 29, 2010
I like the way you think.
Scott Coleman - May 29, 2010
So do I
HEYJUDE - May 29, 2010
Jason Heyward
now has an OPS of 0.991.
He leads the league in OPS.
Number one. Numero uno.
atl192485 - May 29, 2010
yep
thats right. Leading the NL in OPS as a rookie. Kinda crazy.
drumzalicious - May 29, 2010
Daaaamn. That is freaking crazy, even if 4 AL guys are ahead of him (including Justin Morneau, AKA 2002 Barry Bonds… Seriously, a .493 OBP and a .677 SLG? Where did that come from?).
By the way, I’ll give everyone a hundred guesses (no peeking) to pick the only NL player ahead of Heyward in wOBA. It’s about the last player I expected.
Jacob Peterson - May 29, 2010
I really wish we could have traded for that guy last year.
Smoltz's Beard - May 29, 2010
what would we have had to give up?
Mr. Sanchez - May 29, 2010
I picked him up about two weeks ago.
Turned out really well.
Tim Goad - May 29, 2010
I drafted him
Just to show how smart I am.
Bronn - May 29, 2010
Head Scratcher as a draft pick
Tim Goad - May 29, 2010
So you say
But he’s been the 12th best outfielder so far this season in fantasy. I feel like I draft really well.
Bronn - May 29, 2010
I didnt say it hasnt panned out
But his value wasnt apparent, IMO.
Tim Goad - May 29, 2010
There was a story on Fangraphs, back in the offseason, about how Jason Bay was only slightly better than Willingham. The Nationals were willing to trade him, and they were saying he could be a consolation prize for any team who missed out on Bay. Right now, Willingham could play left field for anyone.
Bronn - May 29, 2010
Fire Terry Pendleton talk suddenly stopping?
Is this 2009 or 2010? Deja vu. Correct me if I’m wrong, but haven’t the braves scored more runs then any team in the league in the month of May? What the hell, fire him anyway. Cut that Heyward guy too. He had a cold stretch in April. Unacceptable!!
Frozen Fan - May 29, 2010
as long
as he isnt our manager im fine.
drumzalicious - May 29, 2010
After that performance in Miami the last few days
I can’t imagine anybody is still too hot to have Fredi back here. That is not how I want to see the Braves bullpen utilized in the future.
Sam Jethroe - May 29, 2010
His bullpen management can’t possibly be worse than Bobby’s. It can’t be. Ragnarok would have started already if it were.
J-Freak - May 29, 2010 via mobile
Hey, I'm a Cox bullpen skeptic...
I’ve been raked over the coals here by the Bobby Is God faction.
Cox screws up by overworking guys that he has confidence in but I’ve never, ever seen him hang a guy out to dry like Fredi did both Meyer and Sanches.
Sam Jethroe - May 29, 2010
Fredi Gonzalez and Dan Meyer
I have to agree with you. There was no excuse for Fredi to just sit on his hands and let Meyer get clobbered and suffer through wildness. Fredi knew he would DFA him at that point, but why embarrass Meyer? Just a thoughtless thing by Fredi.
vernbickford - May 29, 2010
How is it different from letting...
Jojo pitch like crap for 3 innings to eat innings and then sticking him on the DL the next day?
Mr. Sanchez - May 29, 2010
Yeah
that seems exactly the same to me, too.
Jacob Peterson - May 29, 2010
I don't see that.
Cox had Reyes take one for the team. Gonazlez left a guy who was struggling out there to let a game they might have been able to come back in get completely away from them.
Sam Jethroe - May 29, 2010
Well....
It is possible to manage a bullpen worse than Bobby. Have you forgotten about Dusty Baker?
EricGreggWasPaidOff - May 29, 2010
This.
NCChopper - May 29, 2010
I was replying to this comment:
NCChopper - May 29, 2010
I agree
HEYJUDE - May 29, 2010
I love that man. I really do. I will likely shed tears when he takes a 6-8mil/year contract as a starting catcher with some other team.
Odarp is on fire. Not even the rain can cool him down.
Yeah – my bad. I wasn’t able to watch the game tonight, so the comment count was a bit low…..minus 50-100 for comments from me, then however many there would have been in replies to my comments.
EricGreggWasPaidOff - May 29, 2010
I've missed all the GTs this week
So I guess I shouldn’t “criticize”, but I should be back for both games this weekend…assuming I get my new laptop setup and working in time.
Scott Coleman - May 29, 2010 via mobile
So you're a hypocrite on that issue?
at least you admit it.
Mr. Sanchez - May 29, 2010
We’ve missed you too. I didn’t get to the thread until late in the 8th inning I believe.
You’ll all have to endure me tonight (Sat) though.
NCChopper - May 29, 2010
Hardly.
UMDBHIK - May 29, 2010
Braves having best pitching staff when Jurrjens returns
I cringe when I hear someone talk about the Braves having the best pitching staff.
The Giants (even with Lincecum struggling) have better pitching. The Cardinals are pretty solid. The Phillies have a good staff. Josh Johnson anchors the Marlins and Johan Santana is rock solid with the Mets.
Derek Lowe seems to just win, win, win and I will give him credit, but Tommy Hanson has struggled recently; Tim Hudson has pitched well, but Kawakami is a mess. There is no real ace.
vernbickford - May 29, 2010
No Ace???
Hudson is the ace. Just look at his numbers. Hansen is coming around. Everyone struggles here and there. Lowe is coming aroun and does seem to win somehow, even when he gives up a bunch of runs (The D-Lowe win). JJ, KK and Medlen round it out. From 1-5 or 1-6, it would be the best staff in the NL. Not necessarily the top 5 pitchers, although right now I wouyld put Hudson in there, but the best STAFF.
DawgB - May 29, 2010
I still like the Giants staff better
Has to be a nice problem to have to be Tim Lincecum and struggling and still have an ERA of 3. The Padres have been excellent too, with Clayton Richard and the latos intolerant guy although it’s hard to imagine Garland continuing as well as he has. Not a bad problem to be second-best behind the Giants if you can hit much better than the Giants.
Hey-Maker - May 29, 2010
That deal would look good for the Padres right now if it was just...
Peavy for Richard straight up, let alone the others added. He has had a pretty nice start to his career.
Mr. Sanchez - May 29, 2010
I Can't Disagree More Actually
I would throw Hudson, Hanson, Jurrjens or Lowe at anyone in a 3/5 or 4/7 series against any other teams top 3 or 4 starters and feel preety darn good. And please – Philly – after “Doc” that pitching staff is as good as a coin toss… and one of the reasons there is more parity in the NL East. Other teams improved and Phillies pitching is very suspect IMO….Kendrick, Moyer, Blanton and Hammels???? C’mooonnn Hammels hasn’t been consistent in 2 years sine his WS MVP so i think they have one and MAYBE two would be seriously decent starters – at the present time – i think Philly’s top need besides a better closer is another front line starter!
Nova Scotia Steve - May 29, 2010 via mobile
So say we do make the NLCS against the Phils....
now, purely, completely, totally hypothetical on all rounds. But say it’s us and Phily in the NLCS, with just one of Hudson or Hanson available for game 1. They have Halladay going, who do you start? Would you start the other from Hudson/Hanson, or start Lowe/KK/JJ to take the likley L Halladay gives you, saving your two studs to go against Hamels, Moyer, etc in games 2 and 3?
Mr. Sanchez - May 29, 2010
Assuming JJ is back by then and in form and Lowe continues to do well, I would let whoever is on his regular rest go. Any of those 4 ona any given day against any pitcher does it for me.
DawgB - May 29, 2010
I’d start Lowe, because he knows how to winz. He’d find a way to steal game 1 from Halladay.
EricGreggWasPaidOff - May 29, 2010
I cringed when I read your comment. Are you saying the Phillies’ staff is better? Johnson “anchors” the Marlins? Johan Santana is “rock solid”? So? You want one ace or a staff?
sddbaker - May 29, 2010
Yeah, his whole post kind of rambled on making vague mostly false statements that didn’t have much to do about the overall quality of a staff.
bbxxj - May 29, 2010
+1
Smoltz's Beard - May 29, 2010
Last three starts: 3.35 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP
Yes, a total complete mess.
Before that blowup against the Reds (in which Tommy was pitching sick) Hanson’s ERA had been UNDER THREE after each of the previous seven starts. And the last game since the sickness blowup he tossed a quality start.
bbxxj - May 29, 2010
The cardinals
have a great top 3, but their last 2 guys are AAA fill-ins now. If you had said the Cardinals have the best staff a week ago, I wouldn’t have argued. But right now, no way.
The Giants’s staff is definitely better than ours, although all of our guys are better than their #5 (we have no Lincecum, though).
The Marlins, Mets, and Phillies have better SP ERAs right now, but our ERA is bloated by a few anomalous crushings (particularly the 8-run games of JJ and Hanson). I’d take our staff (with a healthy JJ) over any other team’s in the division.
You left out the Cubs’ staff. I think it might be better than ours, too, assuming that they kick out Carlos Sliva soon. So I’d say we’re in the 2-4 range in the NL, which is plenty good combined with our rejuvenated offense.
Jacob Peterson - May 29, 2010
well, Carlos Silva is 6-0 with 3.52 ERA and 1.21 WHIP
Kobe:The Legend - May 29, 2010
Classic case of the old “ace syndrome”. Since Johan is on the team, their entire staff is better than ours…it makes so much sense!
Smoltz's Beard - May 29, 2010
This is a ridiculous statement.
The reasons why have already been detailed fairly well below. It just seems that you value a single great pitcher (ie: Lincecum or Halladay) over an entire staff of guys who are mostly no worse than #3s by their career numbers. And Hudson is most definitely an Ace this season.
EricGreggWasPaidOff - May 29, 2010
*below = above
EricGreggWasPaidOff - May 29, 2010
Thee is no way in this world
That the Phillies or Mets have a better staff than the Braves. They are each an ace and a bunch of fill ins. We’ve got far more balance.
Sam Jethroe - May 29, 2010
If you compare the “top 2”, the Braves are quite a ways down the line after the Giants, Rockies, Phillies, and Cardinals. But 1-5 I like our rotation against anyone.
The problem is that the Braves cannot match up quite so well in a short elimination series in October when the rotations get cut down and you have to face the likes of Halladay/Hamels, or Jimenez/Francis, or Lincecum/Cain multiple times.
If I’m putting together a playoff rotation, it’s likely Hudson/Hanson/Lowe/Jurrjens. I have Lowe 3rd simply due to his postseason experience.
UMDBHIK - May 29, 2010
Agreed
Your analysis and prescription, both.
Sam Jethroe - May 30, 2010
VOTE FOR PRADO!! NL ALL-STAR.
BigG1392 - May 29, 2010
and Heyward
atl192485 - May 29, 2010
FIRE PENDLETON
SouthernPanther - May 29, 2010
I haven't forgot April and I still would like to see Pendleton leave.
Only because I don’t think the Braves hitting streak is his doing. Can’t prove it though. I’m just worried we might be as streaky as last year and Pendleton has never demonstrated that he can help this team not go into or get out of a team wide slump. Just my opinion, besides I don’t like the way he looks.lol I’m worried about Nate right now, everyone else seems to be coming alive but him. Hope he can stop swinging at those inside balls, the opposing pitchers seem to have his number and just hammer him inside. The big surprise is Melky doing as well as he’s been doing the last 2 weeks, here’s to hoping he can sustain it. I would love to see the Braves get into 1st place and stay there and for the 1st time this season I’m thinking we might have a shot at just that! Go Braves!!
jimmontg - May 29, 2010
Great. Fire Pendleton because your hunch says he sucks.
You mean how we were offensively challenged and on fire the second half of the year? Wouldn’t qualify that as streaky – streaky implies a back and forth between prolonged hot and cold streaks.
Because Pendleton is 100% responsible for team slumps all the time. Oh, but you can’t prove it, though.
WTF is this supposed to mean? Are you a racist, jimmontg? I can’t prove it, but you’ve never demonstrated that you’re not, and it sure seems like you’re racist, by the way your comment looks. I don’t like the way your comment looks and sounds. I haven’t, and won’t forget about this comment, and I would like to see jimmontg leave.
So Pendleton gets the blame for the slump, but now that our bats have heated up, he should still be fired. Right.
Now, I’m not advocating that Pendleton should or shouldn’t be fired. I’m sure a lot of Braves fans were frustrated by our April offensive showing, and a lot of fans wanted Terry Pendleton out, and I’ll admit there was a time when I thought a Pendleton firing would be good to light a fire under the hitters’ asses. But Bobby would never let Pendleton be fired, and now that our offense has turned it around, Pendleton is here to stay, whether anyone likes it or not. If Pendleton is fired or pushed out while our offense is hot, what message does that send to the players? And which hitting coach do you propose comes in and fills in?
atl192485 - May 29, 2010
I'm The Grandfather of 4, count them 4 black grandchildren
I love everyone of them. I highly resent being called a racist, It was simply a joke and nothing more and how did we end last year? Oh yeah, with a 6 game losing streak. I know TP isn’t going anywhere while the team is doing well. Also the 2nd half of last year had more to do with losing some poor players and gaining a few good ones. I’m just worried that we will be streaky this year as one could argue we were last year.
jimmontg - May 29, 2010
the "racist" part was in jest as a joke
and a bad one at it, and i apologize if i offended you.
you’re right, there is always the possibility of a poor streak or a hot streak. no doubt about that. but i think we’ve shown that we can overcome cold streaks. also, it seemed like the offense didn’t really “wake up” until the second half of the year, whereas this year we’ve had a great may.
atl192485 - May 29, 2010
I accept your apology I'm sorry I didn't get the joke part.
I’m a bit sensitve about the racism thing as I live in a small town in NC and my grandchidren and son-in-law have had names and even one threat thrown their way, enough that they have moved away and I won’t get to see them as often or watch my grandson play little league anymore. I’m brokenhearted about it.
jimmontg - May 29, 2010
This is sad :(
HEYJUDE - May 29, 2010
Schafer... not the answer
He’s at Gwinnett hitting .186/.250/.256/.506. This is not the droid you’re looking for.
redwards95 - May 29, 2010
Right now it looks like Cabrera is the answer. He has and OPS of .950 over the last two weeks and has a accceptable (for a Braves CFer of late) .734 OPS in May. As long as he keeps hitting like this keep playing him in CF.
bbxxj - May 29, 2010
+1
Melky is a decent player (especially in CF, where his not-great bat is better hidden). Jordan Schafer is not ready to be a decent player in MLB again. Not yet. Hopefully he will be by 2011.
Jacob Peterson - May 29, 2010
That .950 OPS certainly isn’t going to last with a BABIP sitting at .400, but I’m happy to say that I gave up on Melky too quickly. He should be starting full time in CF against RHP for the time being.
Smoltz's Beard - May 29, 2010
I agree with this. He’s doing better on the whole and I’m happy about that, but a higher than average percentage of his hits seem to be really fluky choppers and what-not.
However, I’ll give him big props for sticking with those plays and hustling them out. If nothing else, he’s proving that he’s got the heart to make the most out of his opportunities at the plate.
-C
cthabeerman - May 29, 2010
Agred. Schafer needs to stay in AAA this year to get it back together and to be ready to contibute next year. Barring some catastrophic and multiple injuries, I would keep him in Gwinnett.
DawgB - May 29, 2010
Melky’s swinging the bat better, Nate’s been swinging better lately, Hinske’s been killing RHP and we’ll get Matty D back at some point, and he’ll start hitting like he has against LHP.
I don’t think Schafer’s services are needed unless we lose 2 to lengthy injuries. Give him a shot at Disney next spring.
UMDBHIK - May 29, 2010
Great pitching performance from D-Lowe. Dare I say “dominate”.
adc62 - May 29, 2010
I would say borderline dominate, he had a few small struggles, but he sure didn't get a DLW more like a Huddy win
jimmontg - May 29, 2010
It was nice to see Lowe have a good (and pretty much uneventful) outing.
The diehards of us waited until the 2nd rain delay was over to see the WIN become official. I felt bad for the grounds crew, having to take all that time to redo the infield entirely, including new chalk and then Venters came in and promptly struck out the 2 batters for the win. The new chalk didn’t even get dirty. LOL
It was nice to see Chipper have a 3RBI night and how about Ross with that hit to left field for 3 of them for himself!
And, we got 7 runs without a homer (Ross came mighty close down the right field).
That’s always a good thing.
NCChopper - May 29, 2010
And THIS
is exactly why you do not fire a hitting coach after a bad month. These things nearly always turn themselves around of their own accord. Hitting coaches don’t create slumps (or hot streaks for that matter). Players do.
All the people calling for TPs head were understandably frustrated by the offense’s poor performance, but they were extremely misguided in the direction of their frustrations. TP had very little to do with the hitters’ struggles, and he has very little to do with their success now, too.
A hitting coach at the major-league level just doesn’t have the influence that many fans impute to him. And besides, what little evidence there is seems to suggest that TP has helped more hitters than he has hurt (very slight evidence, but still stronger than any negative evidence). I’m just glad that the offensive resurgence took place under TP’s watch so that people don’t take it as confirmation that he sucks. He obviously does not have any noticeable negative effect on the team.
Jacob Peterson - May 29, 2010
By the way
the Braves hitters as a TEAM have a walk rate of 11.6%. No other NL team is in double digits. That means our team is getting 1.7% more free passes than any other team in the NL. That’s roughly 3 extra men on base every 5 games. Combine that with decent hitting when we put the ball in play, and you’ve got a pretty good offense. Granted, we don’t hit for much power, but that is not too surprising (and getting much better lately).
Jacob Peterson - May 29, 2010
So you’re saying we should wait until the next losing streak to fire TP?
Smoltz's Beard - May 29, 2010
That was a crazy game…
Did yall hear about that Indians pitcher? He was hit in the head by a A-Rod line drive…he was down for a few minutes. David Huff, i think. They had to carry him off on a stretcher.
MBL1 - May 29, 2010 via mobile
You must Login with your SB Nation account and be a member of Talking Chop to post a comment.