Kevin C. Cox - Getty Images
Don't worry Old Man, I'm back.
After a wild All-Star Break that included Brian McCann winning MVP of the Mid-Summer Classic and and the acquisition of Alex Gonzalez, it's time for some Braves baseball.
The hot-and-cold Milwaukee Brewers will make their way into Hotlanta for a 4-game series. The Brewers had been struggling before the break, but swept the lousy Pirates to end the 1st half. Two of the wins did come in extra innings against one of the worst teams in baseball, so take the sweep for what it was.
The Brew Crew are currently 40-49 on the season and sit in 3rd place in the weak NL Central.
Here are some basic offensive stats for the Brewers and their NL rankings:
Runs: 418 (4th)
BA: .260 (7th)
OBP: .336 (5th)
SLG: .432 (2nd)
HR: 110 (1st)
SB: 49 (11th)
BB/K Ratio: 0.48 (5th)
As you can see, the Brewers are a very talented offensive club. Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder, Casey McGehee and Corey Hart form a very potent middle of the order and Rickie Weeks is a pretty good leadoff man. They don't get much production from anyone else though. Alcides Escobar isn't hitting much of anything, George Kottaras has been catching lately without much offensive contribution and Carlos Gomez is barely OPS'ing .600.
Now some stats for their starting pitchers:
ERA: 4.63 (14th)
FIP: 4.65 (15th)
Innings Pitched: 500.0 (14th)
K/9: 7.34 (5th)
BB/9: 4.05(16th)
BAA: .275 (14th)
WHIP: 1.52 (15th)
That's horrible, and that's with ace Yovanni Gallardo in the rotation. Gallardo is currently on the 15-day DL and will miss the series. Dave Bush and Randy Wolf have both been decent, Manny Parra is mediocre and Chris Narveson is pretty awful. Both Wolf and Parra are both lefties though, and we all know how the Braves do against those.
And their relievers:
ERA: 5.25 (15th)
FIP: 4.00 (10th)
Innings Pitched: 293.1 (16th); Oh my goodness.
K/9: 8.35 (6th)
BB/9: 3.77 (7th)
BAA: .280 (14th)
WHIP: 1.52 (14th)
Similar to their starting pitchers, the bullpen is pretty bad as well. Their lower FIP suggests they aren't all that bad, but the rest of the numbers are still pretty ugly. Trevor Hoffman is no longer the closer and Joh Axford has done a nice job in the 9th innings for them. Carlos Villanueva, Todd Coffey and Zach Braddock make up their middle relief and they're all decent. Kameron Loe has been a bright spot for them and he's been very good in his stint in Milwaukee.
Pitching Match-Ups:
Thursday, 7:10EST:
Friday, 7:35EST:
Saturday, 7:10EST:
Sunday, 1:35EST:
0 recs | 74 comments
LINEUP!!!!
Prado
Heyward
Chipper
McCann
Glaus
Hinske
Gonzalez
Blanco
Jurrjens
Scott Coleman - July 15, 2010
1. ITS GREAT TO HAVE HEYWARD BACK. He makes this lineup so much more potent.
2. We have a guy with 17 home runs our 7 spot. I repeat, we have a guy with 17 home runs in our 7 spot.
Can’t wait to see our newly formed offense in action.
ATLandUNC - July 15, 2010
zomg! eur seewwwww stooop-ped alice gonszalez cannot possibly evar heet another hoem runzzzz!
15ks - July 15, 2010
which is fine because he’s not the mastermind of a conspiracy to break Troy Glaus’ wrist, right?
VivaLosBravos - July 15, 2010
I
was not on that bandwagon
15ks - July 15, 2010
for some reason
Im the most excited about Blanco in CF
drumzalicious - July 15, 2010
Much better than Melky.
Scott Coleman - July 15, 2010
Sorry, I am afraid it is a mirage.
Blanco’s production that is. Although it is hard to tell. Blanco started out great in 2008 before crapping the bed at the end. Then he put up an OPS of around .600 in AAA last year. That just does not portend for future success. On the positive side, he has speed even though he doesn’t steal many bases, and he is fairly patient, which is a nice quality from an 8-hole hitter.
cavebird - July 15, 2010
this
heap16 - July 15, 2010
Seriously, why not try Blanco at the leadoff spot? He has good plate discipline and speed. And it would allow Prado to drop back down to the 2 hole, and Heyward could hit 5th.
GouldisGold - July 15, 2010
I’d rather not mess with prado in the leadoff spot
telemakhos - July 15, 2010
I hope Prado
has gotten past his mini slump. Go Braves!
HEYJUDE - July 15, 2010
I think he has.
Even during his mini slump, Prado was putting in good at bats. He was hitting the ball pretty hard but the problem was the ball did not fall or land away from the fielders. I think he is good to go tonight. Call it a hunch.
romone_braves91 - July 15, 2010
remember when we had the leadoff problem at the beginning of the season? before we put Prado in the leadoff spot we had him usually hitting second, and he was raking then too. Not saying that I agree with Blanco hitting leadoff, but just pointing out that Prado would be awesome wherever Bobby decides to put him in the lineup.
MBL1 - July 15, 2010 via mobile
true
HEYJUDE - July 15, 2010
he rakes whatever slot he is put in
Braves24 - July 15, 2010
Ride out Blanco's hot streak, but don't move him up in the lineup
this start will end. He’s striking out in almost 24% of his ABs and his BABIP checks in at .429 as of right now. We’ve seen Blanco do this before and that average will regress a lot.
was385 - July 15, 2010
maybe its just bullshit that im spouting but it would seem a grounball hitter like Blanco would suffer from wild fluctuations of BABiP.
Swo12bv - July 15, 2010
he's speedy so his BABIP will be higher than average
but not that high. When the dust settles, he’s a nice fourth outfielder with good on base skills who can play all three outfield spots if needed. A good guy to have on your team but not nearly this good.
was385 - July 15, 2010
no i wasnt saying that he can sustain a high BABiP, although as you mentioned he can…just that a guy who lives and dies on hitting grounballs is gonna have some trouble with luck…sometimes the ball goes through sometimes it doesnt…so he seems more susceptible to wild fluctuations in his BABiP..
Swo12bv - July 15, 2010
probably
just got to ride out those hot streaks and fortunately he has the on base skills to still have some value when his bat is cold
was385 - July 15, 2010
I'm also excited
to see Gonzalez playing tonight. I’m keeping my expectations in check, don’t want to be disappointed if it takes him a few games to settle in and start playing up to his potential.
HEYJUDE - July 15, 2010
He is playing over his head atm
I would like for him to keep this trend up, but if he gets settled in and back to playing over his head I will be most pleased!
TCfromDubVee - July 15, 2010
I realize what his stats say
I’m being optimistic in my thinking. He may just be a “late bloomer”:)
HEYJUDE - July 15, 2010
Oh I agree with your optimistic attitude.
It’s not the HR’s that catch my eye, but also his extra base hits.
I hope he is a late bloomer!
TCfromDubVee - July 15, 2010
This has to be my favorite lineup of the year. Only thing that could make it better would be if Huddy was in the 9th spot (although he could pinch-hit at any moment)
RobWoods - July 15, 2010
LaRussa
would probably bat Huddy 6th
VivaLosBravos - July 15, 2010
Would be disappointed if we don’t win at least 3 of 4.
McLouth Maniac - July 15, 2010
I hate to get ahead of myself,
but this sure does look like a good chance to win 3/4 (or more). If we don’t win Saturday’s game, it had better be because Fielder and Braun hit like 20 homers. Hudson vs. Narveson is the greatest mismatch since their fathers, Hud and Narve, faced off 30 years ago (Hud’s team won 47-1).
Jacob Peterson - July 15, 2010
+1 rec for the LOL
ChrisK562 - July 15, 2010
hahaha nice, recd
heap16 - July 15, 2010
joke comprehension fail
I googled Hudson and Narveson trying to locate their ancestors.
VivaLosBravos - July 15, 2010
hahaha
Nice.
Jacob Peterson - July 15, 2010
I like this matchup
Wolf is the only pitcher on their club that I can see the Braves struggling against, a crafty Lefty. Parra, as a lefty, worries me less because of his control issues. Lets hope the Braves start off the 2nd half well.
Andy Braves Fan - July 15, 2010
Braves Option Brandon Hicks to AAA to make room for Heyward:
http://twitter.com/mlbbowman/status/18628380842
Scott Coleman - July 15, 2010
Why?
We All know Hicks is better than Heyward:)
HEYJUDE - July 15, 2010
he was helping my fantasy team. I had no MI and use him bc i knew he might score a run every once and a while…he has 5 runs scored and an OPS of 1000 for my team (the only PA he got he walked, for me at least)…
now I must turn to Tommy Manzella
Swo12bv - July 15, 2010
Managerial fail.
justincredubil02 - July 16, 2010
ya i should have known that DeRosa was gonna break his wrist and not contrubute at all thi sseason…
Swo12bv - July 16, 2010
Nostradomus fail.
justincredubil02 - July 18, 2010
Ya gotta like the first 3 pitching matchups
VivaLosBravos - July 15, 2010
Does anyone know when Mike Minor pitches this series for Gwinnett?
im visitng Buffalo(family) and will go to a Gwinnett-Buffalo game, but i’d rather go to the game in which Minor pitches…any help would be well appreciated
bflobraves - July 15, 2010
Going to see Scott Thorman tonight in AAA action. Should I go for the ’graph?
VivaLosBravos - July 15, 2010
Absolutely.
McLouth Maniac - July 15, 2010
HA.
Saw him play in Omaha last weekend; Went 0-3 with a pair of walks and a pair of strikeouts. O Royals scored 13 on 16 hits and not a single one from Scotty.
Made a bonehead mistake running the bases – stopped at 2nd on a double in to the left field corner, thought it was foul.
a.may - July 15, 2010
decent numbers this year for Omaha. But the big story is Moustakas’ AAA debut.
VivaLosBravos - July 15, 2010
your in buffalo?
bflobraves - July 15, 2010
nevermind
i forgot hes not in our organization anymore
bflobraves - July 15, 2010
Let's Go Bravos!
Remember, this is Braves Country. 30-10!
romone_braves91 - July 15, 2010
Beware, brew crew
You’re in Braves country.
You’ve been warned.
MBL1 - July 15, 2010 via mobile
might as well start drinking now
VivaLosBravos - July 15, 2010
Heyward goes deep twice in this series..
AT THE LEAST. he’s rested up..and ready.
SidGlaus - July 15, 2010
Auto Tag fail
this was SBN’s link: http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/players/32946/Alex_Gonzalez
VivaLosBravos - July 15, 2010
I really want to kill some time...
Im awaiting the debut of Gonzalez, and Heyward back from the DL.
steeeeezzzzzz - July 15, 2010
Also playing…
Phillies at Cubs:
Moyer / Dempster
Mets at Giants:
Dickey / Lincecum
TonyAlmeyda - July 15, 2010
Like em both
Cammando2317 - July 15, 2010
ohhhhhhhhhh ohh ohhhhhhhh….. oooooohhh ohh ohhhhh. “chopping”
BenDuronio - July 15, 2010
Thier record is bad....
but their bats are not to be triffled with. I never feel comfortable with their midle of the lineup
Shoert - July 15, 2010
any truth
on this other blog they’re saying Buster Olney reporting Braves are close to aquiring Hart. any truth folks ?
summer of 91 - July 15, 2010
Buster Olney says a lot of stuff
Some of it’s right, but a ton of it is wrong, too. Blind squirrels, nuts, blind dogs, bones, broken clocks, deaf musicians, etc.
Bronn - July 15, 2010
please no
kbertling353 - July 15, 2010
olney would tweet something like that first and foremost and there’s been no activity there. mlbtraderumors also has nothing of the sort
telemakhos - July 15, 2010
link?
BenDuronio - July 15, 2010
Im calling
BS..
steeeeezzzzzz - July 15, 2010
yes yes
summer of 91 - July 15, 2010
I like Buster, but is he really saying these things?
Hart may be too much….we don’t need him. but if we get him, I’m on board- swan song
summer of 91 - July 15, 2010
I thought about if we did get a big bat
I would be scared to look at the prospects we would give up…
steeeeezzzzzz - July 15, 2010
We probably win the first three
And lose when Derek starts.
BenDuronio - July 15, 2010
He appears to have lost his DerekLoweWin mojo.
We haven’t scored for him at all lately. Why do we always have 1 guy that we don’t score for? And don’t tell me it’s just dumb luck. That’s such a logical explanation that it can’t possibly be right.
Jacob Peterson - July 15, 2010
gonzo goes yard crime dog style
all we need is a fire in the booth
summer of 91 - July 15, 2010
Against this pitching staff,
I wouldn’t be surprised.
No fires, though, please.
Jacob Peterson - July 15, 2010
i think the staff is underrated…they arent good, but they arent as bas as the stats indicate.
Narveson has a good GB% and yet his BABiP is still 337…his XFIP is in the 4.40s and thats decent enough…the MLW defense is horrible….the only two players with postive UZR are Escobar and GOmez and a bunch of them are legendary bad (Weeks)…and i think the defense is killing the whole team (which is why their ERAs are all above thier FIPs.
Parra has also pitched better than his stats indicate…
we are certainly the better team pitching wise and its close offensively (if they get hot, they might be the best offense in baseball with the top 5 of the order all capable of 30+ HR). And we should certainly win the series, so thats good news..and its great to see a healthy Heyward. and lucky to not have to face Gallardo bc he is a stud.
Swo12bv - July 15, 2010
Buzzkill
justincredubil02 - July 16, 2010
Applauding the photo & caption. Well done.
Lizziebeth - July 16, 2010
You must Login with your SB Nation account and be a member of Talking Chop to post a comment.