The Braves didn't show up to the park today, and it was pretty damn embarrassing to watch them in the field and at the plate. They didn't give much of an effort, and I'm not going to in this recap either. Call me crazy, but I really don't feel like writing about this team right now.
Stephen Strasburg was scratched just minutes before the game with shoulder inflammation and he was replaced by Miguel Batista. It should be an easy game, right? We miss the phenom and we get a 39-year old right-hander with average stuff. Wrong. Batista shut down the Braves for 5 innings and only allowed 3 hits while striking out 6.
Tommy Hanson pitched pretty well on Tuesday despite a slow start, but the defense behind him really let him down. Hanson went 6 innings and allowed 3 runs, only 1 of which was earned, and struck out 8. A positive on the night was Hanson didn't walk anyone. Jonny Venters worked two scoreless innings in relief of Hanson.
Nyjer Morgan scored the first run of the game for Washington. After stealing 2nd, he attempted to steal 3rd on the next pitch. McCann threw the ball into LF and Morgan scored easily.
The Braves defense failed in the 2nd. On a possible double play ball, Chipper Jones threw one into right field and allowed both runners to move into scoring position. Ian Desmond singled, and it was 3-0.
That was it on Tuesday. The Braves didn't have any real chances to score, besides a runner on 2nd with two outs in an inning or two. Overall, it was pathetic game to watch. I'm glad I didn't have to watch it live. I found myself fast forwarding through most of it on my DVR.
The Phillies and Mets won, so our NL East lead is now down to 3.5 and 6.5 games.
The Braves and Nats will play tomorrow night at 7:05.
0 recs | 145 comments
Rough game
But Huddy will restore order tomorrow night
medlenisking - July 28, 2010
He might
but will the offense? After being shutdown by Miguel Batista and Co., I’m kind of worried.
We really need Glaus to start hitting again.
Scott Coleman - July 28, 2010
Seriously
Since the ASB:
.211/.367/.289 with 0 HR and 3 2Bs and 3 RBI… only 3 XBHs from Troy isn’t gonna cut it. We really need him to step it up.
BigG1392 - July 28, 2010
I've started calling him out...
seemed to work well last time.
Mr. Sanchez - July 28, 2010
Yeah...Ha...
Maybe his slump will make him more affordable to resign? Just thinking positively…I would rather him heat up and leave (if that is the other option)!
Jman781 - July 28, 2010
Curse of the fanshot
Already a lock?
“Braves have such a nice lead now that the Mets and Phils are going to have to play over their heads. If the Braves play .500 ball the rest of the way, the Mets have to go 40-28 (.594) and the Phils 41-28 (.600) to catch them, both well over their current W%. If the Braves maintain this .590 WPct, the Mets will have to go 47-21 (.688) and the Phillies 48-21 (.693), a terribly hard percentage for any team to maintain.”
This was 6 days ago!
Jay212033 - July 28, 2010
Phils are on a 6 game winning streak. This doesn't happen all the time. They're a 2nd half team but so are we.
We had the best record in baseball 2nd half last year (at least in the NL east), didn’t we?
EyePod - July 28, 2010
I take comfort in the fact
That even though we’ve given up 3.5 games in 5 days that its mathematically improbable to give up a 7 game lead in July. Pacgnosis said so, so it must be true!
fphjr01 - July 28, 2010
As a Phillz fan
I’ve watched the bats go from unstopable to silent. I think I speek for most fans when I say I don’t know what this team is. Halladay is a monster, Hamels seems to be comming into mid season form and some of the bats have came to life. But, there was a streach for about a month and a half that they couldn’t put 3 runs on the board.
sowhatifitisasportste - July 28, 2010
This
I would also add comments like: This team sucks we will stomp them. This pitcher is terrible, we will score a ton of runs off of him. Their BP sucks, etc., often come back to haunt us.
I hate to see them in the OT, because more often than not, they seem to jinx us.
HEYJUDE - July 28, 2010
So, this was pretty much the most boring game I’ve seen all year. We got down early but were never out of striking distance, so I was forced to watch every inning. We were never much of a threat offensively, just a demure and tame offense all night. There was not a single hint of distress or discomfort from the Washington pitching staff all nigh. Lets face it, we laid an egg tonight guys. Lets try again tomorrow.
!Vive la Francoeur! - July 28, 2010
Why is it so stinking HOT in April. No wait, it’s July. Deja Vu I guess, every site I visit is sticking a fork in the Braves. If I am reading everything correctly, the Phillies will never lose another game and the Braves won’t win any more.
bighop - July 28, 2010
well duh
Philadelphia Tonight was going crazy on ESPN. Herrrre come the Phillies.
Scott Coleman - July 28, 2010
well, they kinda are. Coming, that is.
10-4 - July 28, 2010
I was at the game with a no affiliation fan, and I was too embarrassed to stay. We left during the seventh inning stretch.
Side note: I don’t think I’ve heard a louder boo during a sporting event than I did when they announced that Bautista was starting over Strasburg. They sold probably around 25 thousand more tickets than they would have. I was so disappointed that they braves were so bad, and it wasn’t even Strasburg.
This team better get their act together, and quickly, because Philly couldn’t be hotter right now, and they have no reason to cool off in the forseeable future.
oVecKid - July 28, 2010 via mobile
I think the boo was absolutely ridiculous. Bautista ended up pitching a fantastic game and it appeared that the Braves were fired up to play against Stras. After the announcement that he was not pitching it just felt like the team wanted to go home and didn’t care.
Throwing error aside, Chipper’s D get underrated I feel. He has great reactions when charging the ball and usually makes that play look easy.
Pavy848 - July 28, 2010
horrible game.
jdeuel3868 - July 28, 2010
New sig :)
Scott Coleman - July 28, 2010
No. I dont believe it. This has to be a scam of some type. Its almost as if someone wrote this with the intention of being immortalized (temporarily), safe in the knowledge that their combination of knee-jerk reaction, faulty grammar, and God-awful spelling would gain them recognition of some type. Nope, I aint falling for it, Sir. Nice try.
!Vive la Francoeur! - July 28, 2010
Weldon - July 28, 2010
+1
!Vive la Francoeur! - July 28, 2010
I want a Holty~Panthers~Fan sig
but he’s/she’s actually been pretty decent in recent weeks.
Scott Coleman - July 28, 2010
That is classic.
justincredubil02 - July 28, 2010
Were they all bummed out about Nate?
I can deal with losing but that zombie act out there was really grating.
Sam Jethroe - July 28, 2010
Hey, we beat the Marlins. You can thank me later. Preferably with generous checks.
TheLetter2 - July 28, 2010
WTF is going on?!?!!?!
If we stand pat at the trade deadline I’m becoming a Pirates fan so i can never be let down. And what the hell is wrong with Troy Glaus?
ATLBRVS_19 - July 28, 2010
Deuces in the wind potna!
We don’t need fans like you anyway!
Jay212033 - July 28, 2010
Something tells me that you aren’t a real fan anyway.
Consider your fanhood officially challenged.
justincredubil02 - July 28, 2010
LOL ok
ATLBRVS_19 - July 29, 2010
The same thing that was wrong with him in April – NOTHING.
It’s called a slump. It happens to players from time to time.
justincredubil02 - July 28, 2010
Shocking, right?
eaheckman10 - July 28, 2010
Seriously.
justincredubil02 - July 28, 2010
but...
dont they get paid??
traphicg - July 28, 2010
Janitors get paid too, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t break a light-bulb or miss a clogged toilet from time to time.
justincredubil02 - July 28, 2010
I lol'd
HEYJUDE - July 28, 2010
With the way he's moving around...
the leg injuries and such, I think this is different from April.
Mr. Sanchez - July 28, 2010
I haven’t been able to see much since May, so I can’t speak intelligently to that.
justincredubil02 - July 28, 2010
Trust me then...
he doesn’t look 100%, and as I’ve said before, I think giving him 15 days on the DL might be a good idea. You’ve got Hinske and Infante (at 2B with Prado to 1B) to fill in, and it opens up a few more at bats in the OF for Diaz and Blanco/Clevlen.
Mr. Sanchez - July 28, 2010
Well
Not sure opening up AB’s for those guys is a great thing. But getting Glaus healthy, I approve.
Andy Braves Fan - July 28, 2010
Getting Glaus healthy is the primary concern, yes...
but considering Diaz has missed some time, and we’d probably need Hinske and Infante to come through off the bench down the stretch, keeping them sharp and regularly getting at bats isn’t a bad idea (see Greg Norton 08 vs. Greg Norton 09).
Mr. Sanchez - July 28, 2010
good point. Hinske, Diaz, and Infante are different than Blanco and Clevlen though.
Andy Braves Fan - July 28, 2010
True...
I just hate having an almost completely man on the roster (ala Hicks, KK). I’d expect one of those two to split time with Melky in CF though, especially Blanco to see if he can sustain what he showed earlier this year.
Mr. Sanchez - July 28, 2010
almost completely UNUSED man
Mr. Sanchez - July 28, 2010
Wow
Troy looked bad
Erihury - July 28, 2010
Photo would have been even better if you'd cropped the bat out
And make a joke about invisible bats.
Bronn - July 28, 2010
So, I think I know what the problem is. So far, in Afghanistan, AFN (Armed Forces Network) has shown 3 Braves games – none of which are live, of course. Every game that they have shown, the Braves have lost. For example, on TV right now is the Nats/Braves game. 2 days ago, I got to see one of the Marlins’ walk-off wins.
AFN, STOP SHOWING THE BRAVES!!!
justincredubil02 - July 28, 2010
I was thinking
It was McCann’s clutch homers that kicked in the Loss Protocol™
I guess that was disproven tonight.
Sam Jethroe - July 28, 2010
Ugly ass game
eaheckman10 - July 28, 2010
Nats Announcers
Mentioned that in the past 97 meetings, the Braves have won 50, the Nats 47 (now 48).
I’ll just assume that’s true (unless I hallucinated it) as it’s such a miserable thought I don’t want to even look it up.
WienerDog - July 28, 2010
Terrible, terrible ballgame. Most of my sentiments have already been expressed by you fine folk, so i won’t rehash them. Terrible, terrible ballgame.
10-4 - July 28, 2010
Is it wrong that I read your comment in a Charles Barkley voice?
Rhyno18 - July 28, 2010
+1
poormrtoad - July 28, 2010
Strasburg could’ve earned his first no-hitter last night.
joshmaurer - July 28, 2010
I suppose if we are going to struggle...
Now’s the time to do it when (a) we potentially can do something about it via trades (not saying we will) and (b) we have a decent lead. Despite our poor play, we’re still up 3.5 games. Now that won’t last long if we continue on this futile pace, but it is still a solid buffer. Philly will lose again eventually, right?
Jman781 - July 28, 2010
Teams are running on Hanson, A LOT lately. What about using Ross when Hanson pitches? McCann gets regular time off and Ross throws fewer balls into the outfield.
bighop - July 28, 2010
Seriously
I don’t keep up with stats like balls thrown into the outfield, but it seems that McCann has done that many, many times this season. Is that normal for him?
Jman781 - July 28, 2010
For all of his offensive glory, Heap isn’t that great at defense. I don’t think he is Piazza bad, but he is not Molina brother.
justincredubil02 - July 28, 2010
first of all...
NO one is a Molina aside from Molinas and Mauer…
Secondly, BMac seems to have regressed a bit in defense. He wasnt ever stellar, but I remember for a spell his throws were sharper and he even tried the “Molina-snap-throw” trick a few times. I wouldnt forget, b/c my roomie in St Louis never lets me forget the time Mac tried to imitate Yadi….
BMac needs to start reading some lingerie catalogs or something….. or just stop playing like Salty….
traphicg - July 28, 2010
despite all his throws to the outfield
his CS% is better this year than at any time in his career.
BrockSamson - July 28, 2010
Was about to mention this
he will still have bad games like this. But it wasn’t all his fault.
Andy Braves Fan - July 28, 2010
Last night aside
He’s looked a lot better this season. Ross has been a good influence on him.
Sam Jethroe - July 28, 2010
Teams are running on Hanson
because he is SLOW to the plate. I don’t think even a Molina could throw out a runner with Tommy on the mound. He is just very slow to the plate. While Tommy throws hard, its the time it takes for him to get to the release point that hurts. Morgan was probably 2/3 of the way to second by the time Heap got ready to unload.
cmdpsu15 - July 28, 2010
As Bobby said after the game
“Mac has no chance on those. No chance.”
Hanson is so slow to the plate.
BrockSamson - July 28, 2010
yeah...
He should of held the ball.
sddbaker - July 28, 2010
true
BrockSamson - July 28, 2010
Shitty, sucky ass night all around
When the MLB.TV wasnt malfunctioning, it was excruciating to watch this damn game, and had to see the effing Mutts put up about a million off of Wainwright.
I dont think more than 6 words were spoken in this apartment after those shitty losses last night.
traphicg - July 28, 2010
OH COME ON
First of all:
Next:
A lot of you people make me want to cry myself. Come on. It’s ridiculous to grovel around and say "ooohhh I love this team….ahhh…glausosaur says take that haterzzzz…etc, etc… when things are going almost perfectly, then, with one really bad game in a losing road trip to suddenly go to accusing them of “not giving much of an effort” and being “embarrassing to watch”. If you all of a sudden think this team doesn’t give effort or you are embarrassed to be a fan, then get the hell off the wagon now, because I for one don’t want your sorry butt on here when we win the division, acting like a real fan. It’s fine to say it was a terrible, boring game. It was. But come on, I think a few of you need to man up and quit whining and figure out that in a baseball season you are going to have times like these, and the good teams are the ones who fight on through it and don’t get discouraged. They need fans who do the same…..
sddbaker - July 28, 2010
This
Do you by chance publish a newsletter that I could subscribe to?
Rhyno18 - July 28, 2010
What a beautiful post, perfect and timely. Reading comments this week reminds me of April, and oh how wrong they were in April.
bighop - July 28, 2010
Rec'd it!
Well said. Now’s not the time to give up on them. They could destroy the Nats by double-digit points tonight and then everyone could feel good about them again. You never know. These little slumps happen. Let’s not lose our heads until at least they lose the division lead. Then it may be time to panic.
David "Satch" Kelly - July 28, 2010
green it up, I added a rec
bighop - July 28, 2010
All these beautiful words, and not one mispelling that wasn’t done on purpose. Well done.
10-4 - July 28, 2010
Well, shucks, thank you! Spell-checker and preview button are my friends.
sddbaker - July 28, 2010
:) WoooHooo
mvandonsel - July 28, 2010
You
are always out there lurking around, aren’t you, Mr. Eskimo? ;-)
sddbaker - July 28, 2010
Yes, yes I am...
Lurking….
mvandonsel - July 29, 2010
I like this post. Suddenly, people think we have “no chance of catching the Phillies”? come on. We’re way better than the Phils this year.
Dear Philly
Enjoy your hot streak while it lasts, because it won’t last long. In the meantime, have fun in second place.
Hate,
Atlanta
MBL1 - July 28, 2010 via mobile
Amen, Amen, and Amen.
Joseph_C - July 28, 2010
this
You deserve a standing ovation
Braves24 - July 28, 2010
So as fans, we're not allowed to get frustrated with our favorite teams?
I understand now.
Next time I do a post, I’ll be nothing but positive. I’ll completely ignore the facts that we didn’t have more than 2 base runners on base at any time and the defense was asleep last night. I don’t want to come off as a “bad fan” because I show my frustration with my favorite team on occasion.
Scott Coleman - July 28, 2010
Frustrated?
Sure. I was frustrated too.
This whole first paragraph just irritated the heck out of me:
I think that’s pretty extreme for one bad game. But, I guess you can call me crazy, too. You’re allowed to post a recap going off on the team, and I’m allowed to state my opinion of said recap. Fair enough?
sddbaker - July 28, 2010
That’s fine. Last night was incredibly frustrating, and I find myself not wanting to write when I’m frustrated. I worry that I’ll say something that I’ll regret.
Scott Coleman - July 28, 2010
Can't lay this one on poor pitching.
Most of the time, this kind of performance should be good enough to get a Win. I hate it for Tommy because he did settle down and pitch a good game. Our pitchers held ‘em scoreless after those first 2 innings. Too bad our offense didn’t help them out at all.
Our offense… if they can’t get up for the gift that was handed them last night with missing Strasburg – then what can they get up for?
Something needs wake this team up and soon – because the Phillies and Mets are not going to lay down and give us the NL East pennant, they’re playing winning baseball right now.
I say, let’s start TONIGHT and play like we’re capable of.
NCChopper - July 28, 2010
If our bats don't score some runs between now and the deadline...
does a little desperation set in with Wren and make him more willing to part with some of our high caliber pitching for a bat?
Mr. Sanchez - July 28, 2010
I read where Wrenn is reluctant to do a major change. We’ll have to wait to see what happens between now and Saturday.
I for one, would rather the team we have step it up like I know they can. I think we have a pretty good mix, if the bats do what they were doing earlier.
NCChopper - July 28, 2010
And I can't say I disagree with that reluctance...
just saying that if we continue to struggle scoring runs the next few days, I wouldn’t be surprised if it reduces that reluctance. Of course, getting hot right quick and having a couple 5+ run games could also easily happen and strengthen his reluctance.
Mr. Sanchez - July 28, 2010
It’s a quandary indeed. I’m reluctant to try and guess what he may do.
Money and available options (or lack thereof) may dictate more than actual performance over the next few days.
NCChopper - July 28, 2010
Like you, and I'm sure the powers that be too...
I like our bats when they are playing well. The question becomes though (and of course $ and availability/demanded return are important factors), but how much do we trust our bats to play well. Glaus seems to be having health issues, can we expect him to hit like, not May but at least June, down the stretch? Chipper is always suspect in health. McCann is also always suspect since after a full season of catching his body will be less than fresh (even with Ross). Our LF are good, but not exactly desired in the post season. CF is the same. Gonzalez has done well, but has his issues (obp). Heyward and Prado are great, and I think they’ll keep playing at a high level, but we’d need more than just those two in the playoffs.
As I’ve said before, I can see the logic behind anything Wren does, be it stand pat with what we got, make a big move, make a small move, or even sell off a starter for some prospects, or possibly more likely, just seeing what can be done in the waiver period of August. With what we have in the system, we could do damn near anything, provided the financial stuff isn’t prohibitive and the offers floated aren’t unreasonable.
Mr. Sanchez - July 28, 2010
One thing's for certain...
These next few days will be quite entertaining…
Jman781 - July 28, 2010
Another thing is for certain….
Whatever Wrenn does (or does not do) he’ll be crucified by some, celebrated by others.
And yes, entertaining for sure. :-)
NCChopper - July 28, 2010
Very true
Mr. Sanchez - July 28, 2010
This
:(
HEYJUDE - July 28, 2010
I am torn on this...
On the one hand, I wouldn’t mind another bat in the OF…While we can debate the merits of a Corey Hart or a Willingham, it’s hard to deny that our lineup would be pretty stacked with a right-hand hitting Hart (for example) in the middle of it…
That said, to get a Willingham or a Hart, with the Giants in pursuit (among others), we’d have to give up something substantial. I just don’t know if I want to do that.
Early rumors were Mike Minor for Hart (which I wouldn’t mind), but now the price is likely higher. I agree with NCChopper. I am leaning sticking with the players we currently have. I wonder what Wren is really thinking…
Jman781 - July 28, 2010
I like Willingham...
but then does he replace Hinske/Diaz in LF, or force Heyward to CF in what would probably be a brutal OF defense.
I believe Grant from McCovey Chronicles said my feelings best on Hart. I’d hate to give up a good young player for him, only to see him flail at slider after slider when he faces good pitching in the post season.
Oh yes, I agree completely with NCChop above. But then our opinions aren’t the ones that matter, just Wren, Fergosi, Scherholz, Cox, etc. Are they confident enough in the bats we got right now, with Glaus having lingering injuries, Chipper always a play away from a DL stretch, McCann likely wearing down as he gets a full season of catching in, etc.
Mr. Sanchez - July 28, 2010
I'm sure...
they just decided not to score any runs last night. Probably had it all planned out. I’m positive they just didn’t want to win. Yeah, they don’t care any more.
sddbaker - July 28, 2010
You know.
I appreciate the sentiment, but how is mocking those frustrated with the loss any worse than venting directly about the Braves?
Jman781 - July 28, 2010
Shame on you for that logical question. ;-)
NCChopper - July 28, 2010
Well...
this would be easier to answer if I were “mocking” anyone. But, on the surface, the answer would be that the Braves are more important to me.
You asked; just being honest.
sddbaker - July 28, 2010
The great thing...
About baseball is that we can all move on from this game tonight after we beat the tar out of the Nats…While I love football, tough losses linger for a week (or more)…
Jman781 - July 28, 2010
yeah..
To me, that’s the worst thing about football.
sddbaker - July 28, 2010
Ha...
Some of those weeks have come after those darn UGA v. UT games of late ;-)
Jman781 - July 28, 2010
Yeah...
and those stupid UT v. Bama ones as well!
sddbaker - July 28, 2010
and those detroit lions games...
pretty much all of them
telemakhos - July 28, 2010
With all due respect....
I think we as fans should be able to respectfully express our frustration or disappointment at a game played below the talents of the team without being scolded like our mother is monitoring the site and having a whiny baby image thrown in our face if we do.
I know some go over the top, but there are some of us here (actually the majority) who have the ability to see the big picture and support this team, yet shouldn’t feel like we have no right to post after a game like last night without being made fun of.
NCChopper - July 28, 2010
With all due respect as well...
I have no problem with pointing out that a game was not well played, and indeed, one would be blind or stupid if you couldn’t see that they stunk up the joint, so I personally see no need to run the obvious into the ground. I just have a big problem with people questioning the team’s effort or their will to win or their ability to “get up” for a game.
I think as your “mother” I have the right to “express my frustration or disappointment” at postings which are below the standards of posters on this site, without being sassed like my kids are monitoring the site. See — it works both ways! I don’t like your post, and I get to say so; you don’t like that I don’t like your post, and you get to say so, and so on and so on….
I wasn’t making fun of anyone. The crying baby is a time-honored tradition here on Talking Chop; it showed up back in the old days when the desperately old ladies like me were here, and a lot of the cool kids weren’t.
sddbaker - July 28, 2010
CAT FIGHT!!!
10-4 - July 28, 2010
Silly boy!
sddbaker - July 28, 2010
rec
RichmondBraves - July 28, 2010
I thought they did that only when Kenshin pitched,...
racists.
Mr. Sanchez - July 28, 2010
I wasn’t surprised by this game at all honestly. When you prepare for one pitcher, and then get another you almost always have problems. Add in that Batista did a great job for the Natspos in an emergency situation.
I’m not sure what to attribute the defensive failures to though.
Rhyno18 - July 28, 2010
This.
I honestly believe this was the problem. Everyone was geared up for a Strasburg v. Heyward showdown. Then we get a guy that we (a) weren’t prepared for and (b) does not draw nearly as much excitement. We can debate whether the Braves should’ve been mentally ready for whoever was on the hill, but the psychological reality was that facing Bautista was a huge let-down. I would’ve rather faced Strasburg…
Also, if Strasburg had pitched and we lost 3-0, I don’t feel the fans would be as upset. Let’s go out and win the next 2 and move on as if yesterday never happened.
Jman781 - July 28, 2010
^Batista
Jman781 - July 28, 2010
Why don’t you see more of this? It obviously caused us a great deal of trouble last night, so maybe with a flexible rotation with a 6th potential starter (like Medlen) a team could swap them out at the last minute like the Nats did last night and disrupt the mentality the opposing team came into the game with. Honestly, when they mentioned that Strasburg was scratched, I instantly became worried and you could tell from the start that it just threw our entire team off
gooseneckn - July 28, 2010
Good idea....
HEYJUDE - July 28, 2010
sarcasm? It just made me wonder last night if there was a reason other than rest
gooseneckn - July 28, 2010
I actually thought you had a good idea
about saying we are pitching one pitcher when in reality we are pitching another. I know it’s not right, but it did seem to disrupt our mentality last night……..
HEYJUDE - July 28, 2010
it was just one game.
fans are suppose to stick with their team through the good and the bad. it was one game for god’s sake. the game is over, move on. tonight huddy pitches. i think everthing will return to normal. stop whining! GO BRAVES!!!!!!!!
williejay1 - July 28, 2010
Please stay around.
We need more like you.
sddbaker - July 28, 2010
Agree
But it’s not one game, we’ve lost 3 of 4 and the Phillies are only 3.5 games back. Yes, it is a slump and I feel we’ll get out of it, but are we never supposed to be frustrated with a 3-0 loss to a bad team? A game in which we only had 3 hits? It’s not enough to go ballistic and demand wholesale changes, but nobody should be happy by the performance.
Also, ignoring poor performances can be a problem, too.
That’s why we have message boards. We can vent appropriately and jump back on the horse tonight.
Go Braves!
Jman781 - July 28, 2010
I am pretty sure we had 5 hits last night, the Natspos had 6.
mvandonsel - July 28, 2010
Yeah...You're right...
I had the number 3 on the brain…
Jman781 - July 28, 2010
to be fair, we always lose to the nats. they’re the most maddening team to watch the braves face. maybe it’s the fact that nyjer morgan runs every single time he’s on base or the fact that dunn hits a homer every time he faces the braves or the fact that their rotation is full of soft-tossers, which the braves are terrible against. They really are the (g)nats.
telemakhos - July 28, 2010
Agree...
It makes me remember the two tee-ball teams my very small town had when I was a child, named — who knows why? — the Red Ants and the Black Gnats. I hated those stupid Gnats!
sddbaker - July 28, 2010
They were both very "pesky" teams.....
sddbaker - July 28, 2010
I call you a reverse troll.
MBL1 - July 28, 2010 via mobile
The cyborg puts it best:
10-4 - July 28, 2010
OMG WE ONLY HAVE A 3.5 GAME LEAD! PANIC PANIC PANIC!
why is everyone freaking out? the Phils are only on a hot streak and can enjoy it while it lasts, because it won’t last long.
MBL1 - July 28, 2010 via mobile
Trade Deadline
I 100% agree with you. This is a minor bump in the road. The MLB season ebbs and flows and we’re still the team to beat in the NL East.
The reason I am “panicking” is that I fear that we may make a rash decision this week if we don’t turn it around. Hopefully, cooler heads will prevail, and we’ll only make a move that is truly in our best interest (or none at all).
But if our inevitable slump leads right up to the weekend, who knows what will happen? Mr. Sanchez mentions this in the comments above…Thus, I don’t like horrid performances, especially when they coincide with a Phillies hot-streak and the rapidly approaching Trade Deadline.
Jman781 - July 28, 2010
Not a panic
but it is concerning because Philly is still a damn good team very capable of extended hot streaks. I would like to see the Braves get it going again to preserve the lead. They had a bad night. It happens. But they have to avoid slumbering or resting on their laurels, because the Phillies are a very capable squad. That’s all.
Andy Braves Fan - July 28, 2010
Their DL will keep them from staying hot for long. At least, I can’t see why it won’t.
Joseph_C - July 28, 2010
depends
There are a number of players in that lineup who can carry a team on their shoulders. If any number of them are healthy, than they can make a run.
Andy Braves Fan - July 28, 2010
True…didn’t think of that.
Joseph_C - July 28, 2010
They're not that good.
At least not anymore. They’re in their decline phase and most of them qualify for senior discounts at Subway (as I do, just in the interests of full discolsure). However, like most such teams, they’re still dangerous and capable of being a pain. All we have to do is focus and play our game (and keep Cox fom having attacks of The Stupids) and we’ll be fine.
I wish this damned road trip would end, though.
Sam Jethroe - July 28, 2010
Our runs scored in the past seven games:
11-4-4-8-6-10-4
Yeah, to get blanked last night by that one guy who wasn’t Stephen Strasburg was pretty embarrassing, but to say they “really need to start producing” isn’t really well thought out.
What we’re seeing during this recent stretch isn’t a total team failure from April, it’s been a couple of Wags blown saves here and a couple of Nate gidps there. It has been no where near the total offensive failure from when this team was actually struggling big time.
ConradsComrades - July 28, 2010
Gee...
why ruin a good group whine with the facts?
sddbaker - July 28, 2010
So what you're saying is that our pitching stinks?
;-)
Jman781 - July 28, 2010
Very true
very different scenario here than it was during that 9 game black hole that they were in earlier.
Andy Braves Fan - July 28, 2010
Fair enough...
but it certainly doesn’t seem like we’ve been hitting that well, and as said above, there might be a benefit to adding a productive bat since some others we have may or may not hold up through September/October.
Mr. Sanchez - July 28, 2010
The team is in a slump, will recover before postseason. Guaranteed. Stop whining, and start watching.
Joseph_C - July 28, 2010
Tough loss
Hanson pitched great and so did Venters. Our offense will get going, starting with Chipper and Troy
Braves24 - July 28, 2010
didn’t McNotGood get optioned to Triple-A… that was the one highlight that i remember from last night’s game? Let me know if I’m wrong, but we’re heading the right way getting him out of there and we have Hudsy going tonight! breath easy my fellow brave lovers… all will be well!
jcparr - July 28, 2010
You are correct, he was optioned to Gwinnett. To his credit he seemed to take it pretty well, much better than when Frenchy got sent down, I have to give him respect for that. I hope he can get his swing together, come back, and contribute to the team.
mvandonsel - July 28, 2010
I loved his comments about trying to mimic KJ from last year...
who was absolutely horrible for much of the year, got hurt, and spent 3 weeks rehabbing with Gwinnett to come back and produce nicely (albeit in a much reduced role). Hopefully he can get his swing right and come back to a decent .250/.350/.450 caliber hitter.
Mr. Sanchez - July 28, 2010
This is the game of baseball
You lose some and win some. Of course, the losses are disappointing, but they are part of this great sport.
We will win again soon, maybe even tonight :)
HEYJUDE - July 28, 2010
We need to invoke Ron Shelton
By way of the late, great Trey Wilson:
“Boys, it’s a simple game. You throw the ball, you hit the ball, you catch the ball. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes it rains.”
Sam Jethroe - July 28, 2010
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