There's no place like home, especially if you're Toto or the Braves. Returning from a brutal road trip, the Braves immediately jumped all over Johan Santana, scoring three runs in the first inning. The big blows were an RBI double by Matt Diaz (who had two more hits against his favorite pitcher) and a two-run single by new Brave Rick Ankiel.
The Braves offense kind of fell asleep for the rest of the night (with some help from Johan Santana), but those three runs were more than enough for Tim Hudson and the Braves bullpen. Hudson struggled somewhat with his control, walking three men and throwing 40 balls out of 107 pitches. That led to some extended innings, despite the fact that he really only had one hard-hit ball off of him. The only line drive was a rocket double by Carlos Beltran in the fifth that scored Jose Reyes for the Mets' only run. It wasn't a vintage Hudson performance, but he certainly still got the job done: 6 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 3 K, 10/21 ground balls (48%), and a 0.197 WPA.
The Braves' relief trio of Jonny Venters (perfect inning, K), Takashi Saito (scoreless inning), and Billy Wagner (perfect inning, K) shut down the Mets the rest of the way.
The Braves struggled a bit with runners in scoring position again. In particular, they had leadoff doubles in three different innings (2nd inning by Hudson, 3rd inning by Diaz, and 6th inning by Ankiel) and did not score in any of those innings. Some of the blame/credit for that has to go to Mets starter Johan Santana, though, who struck out 11 and looked very good after the first inning. The only run the Braves scored after the first was on a Chipper Jones solo homer in the seventh. Still, you usually don't need many RISP hits when Tim Hudson is on the mound, and today we had enough. Santana's final line was 7 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 1 HR, 2 BB, 11 K, and a -0.180 WPA.
Tonight was a great way to start the series. Now let's see if we can get Derek Lowe a DLW tomorrow against knuckleballer R.A. Dickey.
MVPs
Tim Hudson (also went 1/2 with a double and a 0.022 WPA hitting)
Rick Ankiel-- 2/4, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 K, 0.147 WPA
Matt Diaz-- 2/4, 2 2B, R, RBI, 2 K, 0.128 WPA
Honorable Mention
The Bullpen (Venters, Saito, and Wagner)-- combined 0.128 WPA
Turner Field
LVPs
Johan Santana (also went 0/3 with a -0.079 WPA hitting)
David Wright-- 0/4, -0.125 WPA
Jeff Francoeur-- 1/4, -0.095 WPA
MVP in a Losing Effort
Carlos Beltran-- 1/2, 2 BB, 2B, RBI, K, 0.110 WPA (the only Mets starter who had a WPA above 0)
Clutch Play
Ankiel's 2-run single in the first (0.146 WPA)
Unclutch Play
Alex Gonzalez hitting into a FC at home with runners on 2nd and 3rd and one out in the 1st (-0.074), although that was partly Chipper's fault for hesitating so long before breaking to the plate
0 recs | 101 comments
Good news: We won today.
Bad news: Glaus + Lowe = Automatic loss tomorrow.
Buffalo Braves - August 2, 2010
That is some fuzzy math you've got working there.
Jacob Peterson - August 2, 2010
How are you posting from April?
BraveSaluki - August 2, 2010
S/he went back in time
MBL1 - August 2, 2010 via mobile
You do understand they have both been worse recently than April, right?
Buffalo Braves - August 3, 2010
you sir
are why posts like this are deemed necessary
jman07 - August 3, 2010
From one Jman to another...
I agree!
We’re all frustrated when we lose, but goodness. Why is the first post on a night when we beat Santana (the guy who has the best 2nd half winning percentage in MLB history…according to the broadcast last night) a negative one?
Crazy.
As far as DLowe: He hasn’t given up more than 4 runs in a game in the 9 starts…If anything, he hasn’t been putting in enough innings, but it’s crazy to say that when he pitches, we are automatic losers…especially since 3 of the losses by the team in that stretch were by scores of 0-2, 1-3, and 0-3….
Glaus is a concern, but we’ve been scoring plenty of runs without him. How’s he going to turn it around if he’s never out there???
Jman781 - August 3, 2010
“He hasn’t given up more than 4 runs…”
Is that really something to be proud of? He hasn’t been pitching well lately, plain and simple. If he pitches well tonight I will be in the thread saying he did a good job. But I am not a blind follower, I am not going to try spin stats to try to make him look good. If he has sucked I am going to say he sucked, if he has pitched well I am going to say he pitched well.
When you are a one-trick pony like Lowe and that one trick isn’t working very well anymore, that is not a good sign.
Buffalo Braves - August 3, 2010
I replied to that post as well, masking weaknesses by chanting “first place, first place!” is not smart.
Buffalo Braves - August 3, 2010
New Formula
May I correct you, sir:
Lowe + Glaus = Ugly win despite mediocre pitching and lots of double plays. Have you not been watching Lowe pitch this year? He’s our golden child.
ryantex - August 2, 2010
lowe's last 10 starts: 2-5
WHY IS LOWE NOT WINNAR ANYMORE?
atl192485 - August 2, 2010
He’s been terrible lately, hasn’t gone 6 innings since July 5th. The Braves have lost 6 of the last 7 games he has started. He isn’t a golden child.
Buffalo Braves - August 3, 2010
yes
because judging a pitcher off how many games the team wins when he starts is the best way.
drumzalicious - August 3, 2010
I thought we were talking about KK for a second.
ATL_BUC - August 3, 2010
Who said it was the best way? Look at all the stats, they aren’t good enough right now.
Buffalo Braves - August 3, 2010
If we are considering Wins and Losses
Of your six losses by the team
One was the blown save by Wags in Florida. And 3 of the other losses were by scores of 0-2, 1-3, and 0-3, as mentioned above.
Is he dominant? No. But it’s ignorant to say that he’s not given our team a chance to win in his most recent starts. In fact, since he gave up 7 runs against Zona on June 7th (a place where sinking pitches go to die), only ONE of those games we lost were by more than 2 runs (that’s over 9 starts)…
Jman781 - August 3, 2010
4 in 5, 2 in 7, 2 in 5.1, 3 in 5.1, 4 in 5.2, 4 in 5.0
In my opinion only two of those starts are acceptable for anybody, especially so for an “$15,000,000 ace” in the year of the pitcher.
Listen, I want him to turn it around just as much as anybody else but to say he is pitching well lately just isn’t true.
Buffalo Braves - August 3, 2010
Where in my posts...
Did I say he was pitching “well”? Neither. I am merely responding to your assertion that when he pitches and Glaus plays, we will have an
Your’e right; he’s not pitching like a $15MM ace. I was merely pointing out that we were in practically every game he pitched and could’ve won a handful of them if our offense put up a few more runs or if Wags didn’t blow that one game.
And I will put my neck out there to say that he’s had some decent games over the past 10 games, including a decent game against the Mets.
Jman781 - August 3, 2010
Glaus not in the lineup today, we have a chance!
Buffalo Braves - August 3, 2010
Matt Diaz
looks like he’s swinging at a wiffel ball…whatever works
foxrobe - August 2, 2010
That's why we call him Captain Caveman
Bronn - August 2, 2010
why oh why steal the line about Johnny Damon w/ the Red Sox?
GT_Thrashfan - August 2, 2010
I missed the thread last night until mid-way. But, I was watching on TV.
Here’ s my tribute to our CAVEMAN that I couldn’t post earlier.
I say….bring us another lefty to slaughter!!!
NCChopper - August 3, 2010
Great!
I missed not seeing it last night.
HEYJUDE - August 3, 2010
Johan got 4 or 5 Ks on some questionable, at best, calls
JFP - August 2, 2010
at least
the ump was fairly consistent. he called similar ones against the Mets, too.
abraves - August 2, 2010
Yeah
Wally had a bit of a sidecar on his zone tonight but he was pretty consistent in calling it that way.
Sam Jethroe - August 2, 2010
Give Johan some credit
He adjusted to the ump and painted that outside corner pretty well. Even if the calls were generous, he adapted better than the hitters did. Hudson got a few generous calls himself. Its all good though, since the Bravos won, just need to find a way to win outside of the Ted
Shoert - August 2, 2010
this
Johan is a master of adjusting to the umpire, much like Glavine and Maddux were. There’s a reason why they say “get ’em early” for those kinds of guys. Once they learn the umpire’s zone, they exploit it to great effect.
This umpire had a big zone, but unlike some that we’ve seen lately, it was consistent. And we won, so I’m happy.
Jacob Peterson - August 3, 2010
All true, all true.
He doesn’t have the devastating stuff he once had but he’s adjusted and pitches well, making the most out of what he has. It speaks well to his intelligence and maturity. Some guys can’t cope with the inevitable decline of their stuff and get an early exit from the game. True pros learn to cope and thrive.
Sam Jethroe - August 3, 2010
what about callling up barbaro?
arent we still a man shrt
dc_allday - August 2, 2010
i would love to see barbaro in atlanta
he’d make a great DH when we play the yankees in the WS
atl192485 - August 2, 2010
I just love his name. I have a thing for weird baseball names.
MBL1 - August 2, 2010 via mobile
Chipper
I was really happy to see Chipper hit that home run tonight. He has always been such a clutch player it would be cool to see him get hot the rest of the year and end his career in style.
JimH - August 2, 2010
only thing im worried about with this team
is venters getting severely overworked. dude works an inning about every game and sometimes 2; hopefully when we get EOF back bobby will give him a break and use farnsworth to save his arm a bit
Logan Allred - August 2, 2010
It may not be as bad as it seems.
Venters was primarily a starting pitcher in the minors, so he’s used to long innings.
abraves - August 2, 2010
That was
A big reason for Farnsworth’s reimportation.
Sam Jethroe - August 2, 2010
Yeah I know
It doesn’t hurt. Farnsworth can also ease Saito’s workload. Just saying Venters threw over 150 innings last year in the minors.
abraves - August 2, 2010
I agree
I probably should have appended that to Logan’s original post. I was responding more to him than anyone else.
The guys were absolutely right about Saito. He works best when he’s used a little sparingly. We should have an easier time of that now.
Sam Jethroe - August 2, 2010
Honestly, thinking about next year would people like to see Venters close, be the primary set up man, be the go to lefty specialist or even a starter???
PhuckthePhillies - August 2, 2010
Close.
Sam Jethroe - August 2, 2010
It'll be interesting
but I can definitely say not a starter haha. Too many good ones in the minors. Wags just needs to unretire and remain as closer. :)
abraves - August 2, 2010
All of the above
MBL1 - August 2, 2010 via mobile
a lefty set up man/part time closer? He seems to do well in lat einning situations. Plus isnt there talk about Kimbrel closing?
Shoert - August 2, 2010
indeed
all of the above.
He’ll just throw complete games every start
drumzalicious - August 3, 2010
Starter
I’d love to throw out the 95 mph lefty sinker every 5 days.
BrockSamson - August 3, 2010
Good win. I hate the Mets. :)
MBL1 - August 2, 2010 via mobile
this
RichmondBraves - August 3, 2010
Good, Good win. Good to see hitting come around and a good pitching preformance
GoBravesNY - August 2, 2010
Sweet win tonight
Nice to see us score some runs!
HEYJUDE - August 2, 2010
in other news
Julio Teheran and Tyrelle Harris combined for a no-hitter for Mississippi
atl192485 - August 2, 2010
That is so awesome
MBL1 - August 2, 2010 via mobile
Important question
Who is Tyrelle Harris?
Bronn - August 2, 2010
this...
SidGlaus - August 2, 2010
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?pos=P&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=572906
he’s pretty good, at least his numbers are. look at that K/9 rate….
atl192485 - August 2, 2010
A big time sleeper candidate.
Jacob Peterson - August 3, 2010
!Viva los Bravos!
Chief Noc-A-Homa - August 2, 2010
Melky who?
Good game. It pushes the Phillies 3 back and the Mets into fourth place.
TonyAlmeyda - August 2, 2010
Venters
I like what Wags said about Venters. If he can maintain what he’s doing, he needs to close next year. How nasty was he tonight?
I think this game shows us that the Mets have no chance this year to make the playoffs. Their offense is pitiful. It makes me hate them (a little) less.
ryantex - August 2, 2010
Agreed
Let kimbrel stay in the minors alil longer so he can get his walk rate down and let venters do his thing if wags is really done at the end of the season. Than if he cant seem to figure it out trade him to the royals or tigers for there top prospects lol.
SkipTOoMyL0U_ - August 3, 2010
Even with Venters in the closer's role next year,
Kimbrel will still probably be in the major league bullpen.
J-Turn14 - August 3, 2010
u think??
Even with the amount of hitters hes walked this year. I dont know the number per game but it has to be kinda up there. I feel like probably like everyone else when i say that we have the best bullpen in baseball and other than saito n wags everyone should be back no?
SkipTOoMyL0U_ - August 3, 2010
Farnsworth is a free agent,
KK will either be in our rotation or someone else’s. I think either Dunn or EOF will be traded in the offseason… Saito has some kind of option so he might actually be back.
Only guys that will definitely be in the pen next year, though, are Venters, Moylan, and one of Dunn and EOF.
J-Turn14 - August 3, 2010
Saito is eligble for aritration one last time...
before becomming a free agent. No option, but we can keep him if we want.
Mr. Sanchez - August 3, 2010
Also
Dont we have an option on farnsworth and ankiel for next season? I thought i read that somewhere after the trade went thru.
SkipTOoMyL0U_ - August 3, 2010
Plus
Isn’t wagners contract somthing around 12 million this year? If he’s done as he says, we could use some of that to sure up the bullpen if anything.
SkipTOoMyL0U_ - August 3, 2010
Wagner is about half that...
10:$6.75M, 11: $6.5M club option ($0.25M buyout)
http://mlbcontracts.blogspot.com/2005/01/atlanta-braves_15.html
(the above link is a pretty useful resource on salaries).
And yes, the club has an option on both Ankiel and Farnsworth (again, see the above link, scroll to Farnsworth and Ankiel), but neither seem like they’d be worth the price.
Mr. Sanchez - August 3, 2010
Alright and thanks for the link. But i agree on farnsworth, his numbers though this year have been maybe the best he has had in a while, In 37 appearances this year, he has posted a 2.42 ERA and allowed opponents a respectable .240 batting average. Right-handed hitters have batted .225 against him. The jury thought on ankiel is still not out i dont think. Since coming back from the injury on july 22nd, he’s been hiting 367. and if he can return to his 08 form i actually think it might be wise to hold on too him dont u think? Plus i speak for most when i say you got to love that arm in center! :)
SkipTOoMyL0U_ - August 3, 2010
At over $5m a piece? I don't think it'd be wise to keep either...
if Farnsworth could close (and the organization seemed to have felt that way last time he was here before he signed with the Yankees), then perhaps. Otherwise, we’ve got other options, much cheaper options, already around in Moylan, Kimbrel, Venters, EOF, Dunn, Gearrin, Medlen (if he’s back in the bullpen), plus possibly KK or Saito, among others. Spending $5+m for a reliever just isn’t smart unless they are a bonafide, proven dominant guy like Wagner, or even Rafael Soriano. Farnsworth doesn’t have anywhere near their track record, and when addd to other options around is not worth the option. We may keep him, but I’d strongly doubt it is by picking up his option.
And unless Ankiel plays like he did in 07 and 08 with St Louis, I can’t see him staying either. And even that might not be enough considering the team is already committed to Nate McLouth for a similar salary, could retain Diaz or Melky (or both) at lower salaries than Ankiel’s option, and the reported desire to add a right handed slugger to the mix in the OF.
As said above, it’s pretty unlikely that either option is picked up.
Mr. Sanchez - August 3, 2010
Point Taken
I agree on farnsworth, expecially the depth we have our system. As i also agree on the fact that for the money he’s due to get it isn’t worth the value we could probably get equally from our young guys for the price could be spent more wisely towards infante or hinske etc… My concerns are more on ankiel and CF, yeah only if he can duplicate his 07-08 form should he be retained. Only time will tell, but all we could do is hope for the best and see how it all pans out. i feel though nates time is slowly running out, i hope he can get back to his old ways. It seems he is starting to hit better now, guess well jus have to see but for now all we can do is pull for ankiel to keep hiting with and without power while playing solid D.
SkipTOoMyL0U_ - August 3, 2010
I still think Cox is grooming Venters to be our closer next year.
jack dein - August 2, 2010
We can only hope. Words in that which wagner used for describing our beloved rookie shows just the type of potiential he sees in him. Its crazy to think its his first year! And he could possibly even get better over the yearsss.
SkipTOoMyL0U_ - August 3, 2010
first comment since returning from Africa.
even though i’ve been back in the States nearly a week, haven’t been able to catch a game yet. i’m glad to see we’re still in first place and a win tonight.
sanctarian - August 2, 2010
What were you doing in Africa? Just curious.
MBL1 - August 2, 2010 via mobile
filming a documentary at an orphanage
which basically meant hanging out with kids, playing soccer, building a few things they needed, milking cows and letting them show me love in more ways than i could have imagined.
sanctarian - August 3, 2010
that is literally one of the coolest things I’ve heard in a while.
thenightstallion - August 3, 2010
Agreed.
Sam Jethroe - August 3, 2010
massive props dude.
incredible
unionuniv - August 3, 2010
that’s awesome. I bet the kids really enjoyed that.
MBL1 - August 3, 2010 via mobile
That’s fantastic, man. We need more people like you!
justincredubil02 - August 3, 2010
This
HEYJUDE - August 3, 2010
The reason Chipper hesitated so long
was he was gonna head back to third but diaz was already chugging that way so chipper tried to test his luck.
stumpy8100 - August 2, 2010
on third base w/ 1 out isn't the rule of thumb go on a groundball??
SouthernPanther - August 3, 2010
Yeah
The fault was definitely Chipper’s, but he made it up with the homer.
abraves - August 3, 2010 via mobile
Chipper is old, but I still love him lol
Albert K - August 3, 2010
welcome to atlanta mr.ankiel
I was pretty impressed he did this off of a left handed pitcher expecially one of johans stature. Even if he is a on the decline it seems,i liked what i saw going opposite way both times. For someone whose not suppose to hit left handed pitching well as it is. Keep up the good work and for now looks like an ok deal mr.wren well done.
SkipTOoMyL0U_ - August 3, 2010
I agree. It would be nice if he could get hot and stay. Just felt good to see someone deliver with the bases loaded. Not sure what the stats are, but it seems the Braves haven’t done well with bases loaded. (Conrad excluded). Raw dog loves bases loaded!
Frozen Fan - August 3, 2010
+1000
Soo true it seems like we get plentyyyyyy of people on base but always seem to leave them stranded latley. Unless like u were saying rawdog pinch hits lol. But yeah this win felt overall good. Great pitching from both huddy and the pen, just need to keep it up consistency is the key.
SkipTOoMyL0U_ - August 3, 2010
There's no place like home!
Good win tonight against a tough pitcher. I still can’t wait to see our offense with all of its parts in place.
As far as tomorrow, I ain’t scared of no Dickey!
Jman781 - August 3, 2010
Great Win
How’s .500 taste Mutts? One word to describe your play: MEDIOCRE =]
truheelzfan44 - August 3, 2010
That might be charitable
given their recent plunge from second to fourth.
Jacob Peterson - August 3, 2010
By the way
Please buy some new shoes!! i didnt know they made sacony cleates! Ahaha move your locker next to jhey or prado and check out the footwork! But truthfully if u can keep up raking the ball u could wear w.e im just trying too look out.
SkipTOoMyL0U_ - August 3, 2010
Nice
Was pleasantly surprised to see Ankiel have such a good day tonight against Santana.
Diaz is on absolute FIRE!! I wouldn’t be to opposed to putting Glaus on the DL to rest and using Diaz in LF and Hinske at 1B. Just call up someone like Matt Young for depth in the OF and at 2B.
That way we would have a healthy Prado and Glaus going into September which is going to be a CRITICAL month if we are going to win the division.
drumzalicious - August 3, 2010
Watching the game on replay on ESPN, 3AM here
and the announcer just called Angel Pagan a professional hitter.
So, here it is.
RichmondBraves - August 3, 2010
RICK ANKIEL 2-RUN SINGLE!
Braves lead 3-0!
Scott Coleman - August 3, 2010
They should just say
Here comes FUGA, a BAD hitter.
kbertling353 - August 3, 2010
Great win.
Hudson pitched a solid game. Cavemen continues to destroy left hand pitching and Ankiel had a great game even though he hasn’t been too good against LH pitching. I really hope Chipper Jones stays healthy for the rest of the year because he still can hit and have big impact on this team.
Braves24 - August 3, 2010
Matt Diaz
Cleanup Hitter.
I couldn’t stop laughing from the first to the third inning, but then Diaz hit another double, and I didn’t stop laughing for another two innings.
royhobbs - August 3, 2010
The man is certainly back in stride...
crushing lefties and arguably playng well enough to get more than platoon work. Matty f’n Diaz!
Mr. Sanchez - August 3, 2010
I agree
let the man play full time and see what happens
drumzalicious - August 3, 2010
good game bravos
hudson didn’t pitch his best game monday, but was good enough for the mets. diaz continued his good hitting against lefties and even larry hit a homerun. venters THINGEE was working. saito and billy pitched very well also. great all-around team win. go get em tomorrow. GO BRAVES!.
williejay1 - August 3, 2010
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