Since being acquired by Atlanta from Kansas City, many have been aggravated with how Rick Ankiel has performed. He has not hit for much power nor has he gotten many hits, it has been a rough first few weeks in Atlanta for pitcher-turned-outfielder. Today was a much different story, as Ankiel came through with a bases clearing triple in the top of the ninth, with two outs, and two strikes against one of the top strikeout pitchers in all of baseball in Carlos Marmol. Ankiel was waiting on slider and put it into right field to give thmesleves the lead as they won the opener of a three game set in Chicago.
Ankiel had another hit earlier in the game and made a tremendous throw to second when Koyie Hill tried to stretch a single into a double. The throw was incredible and right on target -- Ankiel really had himself a game today.
Derrek Lee went hitless in his Braves debut, although he did have two liners that were hit right at the fielders. He struck out in the ninth after Martin Prado lead off with a walk. After Lee's strikeout, both Brian McCann and Alex Gonzalez walked. Melky Cabrera struck out and then came Ankiel with the big hit. Earlier in the game, Omar Infante hit a home run and Gonzalez had an RBI double.
Jair Jurrjens was definitely not his best today but he lasted seven innings and gave up just three runs. Jair allowed nine hits and a walk while striking out two, and a lot of the outs he recorded were line outs right at the defensive players.
Ryan Dempster pitched a masterful eight innings, striking out seven and allowing just six base runners. He handed it over to a usually dominant Marmol but he was unable to finish the game with a lead in tact. Aramis Ramirez hit his 18th home run and had an RBI double, scoring Marlon Byrd after he hit a triple.
Tomorrow, Tommy Hanson takes the hill against Tom Gorzelanny, a sturdy left-handed starter. Hopefully, the Braves can get Tommy a win and beat up on a left-hander.
0 recs | 134 comments
That melky strikeout in the 9th was one of the ugliest I’ve seen
epatl - August 20, 2010 via mobile
Agreed.
Every swing was late, downward, completely defensive. You especially don’t want to swing like that with runners on! Asking for a GIDP.
joshmaurer - August 20, 2010
I was in a movie for the 8th/9th
All I saw on gameday was that Marmol had no control, walked three batters…
And Melky came up and struck out swinging on three balls.
SuperNewb - August 20, 2010
Way to start a winning game thread
with a negative comment:(
We won the game and I am Happy! :)
HEYJUDE - August 20, 2010
+100
UpstateNyBravesFan - August 21, 2010
Prado’s K would like to be considered for the position too.
justincredubil02 - August 21, 2010
My God. Will you shut the fuck up?
“In the mean time, and as always, go fuck yourself.” – Les Grossman
Chief Noc-A-Homa - August 21, 2010
Wow. That was unnecessary.
justincredubil02 - August 21, 2010
Yeah, what a terrible L….oh we won
MBL1 - August 21, 2010 via mobile
I missed the part where anyone was complaining…
justincredubil02 - August 21, 2010
another game....another hero
awix - August 20, 2010
Rick definitely made the Melky at bat right before a lot better. Don’t understand why he was free swinging when Alex Gonzalez had just walked on four pitches. Rick started bothering me too, but thank God he actually connected on one. Would have been painful otherwise.
But this was a good game! I really think this team is magical. It’s great.
Sarahbeth - August 20, 2010
My thoughts
I was at the game and I thought I would weigh in with what I saw
- Derrek Lee got a great reception and the Cubs fans love that man
- JJ looked ok, but was constantly falling behind hitters
- Moylan and Wags looked great
-Melky looked terrible. Just a bad game.
Overall, good win and can’t wait to see them get the Tommy Gun a win tomorrow.
mj10catchit10 - August 20, 2010
From phillies site "thegoodphight
joshant - August 20, 2010
In their defense, Ankiel is known for striking out a time or two.
UMDBHIK - August 20, 2010
I was 100% sure he would strike out.
BullManUGA - August 20, 2010
yeah those last two swing and misses were awful. Lucky Marmol left a hanger and Socks did not miss it.
romone_braves91 - August 20, 2010
Me too. I even said it out loud whem Marmol threw the pitch – and then, I immediately started cheering.
justincredubil02 - August 21, 2010
Savvy?
Chief Noc-A-Homa - August 20, 2010
Fixed.
I know Melky’s been much better since about mid-May, and I’ve really tried to hold back any lingering Yankee-hate for him, but when he does fail, he does so in the grandest fashion. Like using J-Hey as a cutoff man.
J-Freak - August 20, 2010
I think Ankiel must've picked up Melky's game winning bat and Melky took Ankiel's strike out bat bye accident.
Pavy848 - August 20, 2010
+1
dragonhawk26 - August 21, 2010
Part of the issue
is that Melky really isn’t that good. We just don’t have anything better. He’d be excellent as a fourth outfielder, since he’s serviceable in CF and a plus defender at the corners, but his bat makes him a fringe regular outfielder. The other options to put in CF, though, are Ankiel and McLouth, and they’ve both been terrible. Since Hinske was dominating in the early part of the season his bat has really gone cold, so we don’t have great options for LF either, lately.
If only he or McLouth had played up to their projections.
Bronn - August 20, 2010
How can you be down on the Melk Man?
Melky’s been clutch on many occasions recently.
BravesFTW - August 20, 2010
Because he and Gonzo have this odd little quirk- for every big clutch moment they have, they have a mind-blowingly stupid error (or in Melky’s case today, a needless strikeout) that just quite simply shouldn’t be made at this level. The kind of stuff that tends to happen to a team once or twice a year those two have been doing once every couple of weeks.
J-Freak - August 20, 2010
In defense of Melky
He did take Damon’s job in center in his rookie year. He has shown ,at times, to be a really good player. But then he seems to overthink things and just sucks. He is consistantly inconsistant. At least he doesnt half-ass it when he is terrible he goes all out.
bmac#3 - August 21, 2010 via mobile
My aunt brought up that maybe the collision with Gonzalez got to Melky a little bit. She said he looked at the ivy as if it scared him at one point, haha.
Sarahbeth - August 20, 2010
I might buy that if this were the first time he’d looked like an A-ball rookie out there, but it’s not. In fairness, he’ll chain together a few solid games from time to time, but then once every week or ten days or so he has one of those games where it looks like the term “baseball” is foreign to him. And those abysmal performances piss me off a lot more than his usually “meh”/occasionally clutch performances make me happy. I’ve been having the same problem with Gonzalez (who in fairness I thought was a pretty bad pickup to begin with), he of the “I hit a homer! Quick! I have to blow the game with an error!” mentality. He blew two games that way inside a week, and would have blown a third a few days later if Brooks hadn’t bailed him out. I’m just asking for a little consistency- I’ll trade back a few of their hits if the two of them will also stop acting like little leaguers.
J-Freak - August 20, 2010
You call that a mentality?
ATLforlife - August 20, 2010
FWIW
Gonzalez hasn’t had an error in the last nine games, so maybe he’s starting to feel a little more comfortable in the field.
-C
cthabeerman - August 21, 2010
Why I'd like to dismiss Ankiel's first week and a half of stats....
The Braves players have been saying for years that the lights at Turner Field are very hard to get accustomed to. Obviously it’s a small sample, but after the adjusment week, ankiel has put up some pretty impressive numbers. Over his last 7 games, Rick has went 8-21 with 4bb.
ryan c - August 20, 2010
How do you explaing the rest of his mediocre career?
justincredubil02 - August 21, 2010
Nice, have a cookie!
Lennox - August 20, 2010
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ipEflG4lxc
KJDH2154 - August 20, 2010
From David O’Brien
So, after tonight Wagner must be tied? (He had two) That is, unless I missed some K’s at the Nats games.
Joseph_C - August 20, 2010
yes
Wagner is currently tied
saipol - August 20, 2010
This was my first game at Wrigley..
What a game to go to! Sitting in the bleachers with all the Cubs fans on their feet, cheering. Two outs and two strikes on Ankiel in the 9th… and he clears the bases! I told my cubbie friend that we had Marmol’s number (April last year). I must’ve leapt in the air 10 times! Three Braves fans in front of me started doing the Chop! What a game to be at!!! And the people were great!
KnoxMC - August 20, 2010
Happy you were able to celebrate a Braves win at Wrigley!
HEYJUDE - August 20, 2010
at the last nats game I went to, some fans successfully started the chop and you could see people all down the baseline doing it.
telemakhos - August 21, 2010
Omar Infante has hit in 20 of the last 21 games.
Somebody get this man out of the lineup PLEASE! I am tired of seeing production.
romone_braves91 - August 20, 2010
Bench him.
Chief Noc-A-Homa - August 20, 2010
Yeah … he SUCKS!!!
fandave - August 20, 2010
TRADE HIM
FOR CODY ROSS
Erihury - August 20, 2010
I agree
He is hitting so much above his head, the human element is going to give out and he is going to suck!!!
/s
sag969 - August 20, 2010
I would echo the general tone of the snark here
But I’m still coping with learning about Santa.
Sam Jethroe - August 20, 2010
but (time to critique)
It is great that his bat is finding the ball…and mostly driving it to right! BUT I see this…it seems the plays that I had seen Prado make look easy…I just don’t see it from him…It seems on defense he is half a tool shorter than him…..(wink wink)
evidence; As seen today an in person, liners seem to get over his head that appear with some professional effort (ie fall on the ground trying if you don’t get the ball) I have not noticed that he has that ability. It seems a half decent effort could be caught ….his range seems a foot or two less….especially the over the head bloop rundowns or up the middle or in the 2nd/1st base whole.
I am hoping that Prado will return there…got to love what he has done with the bat since returning!
Great come back win today!
bravestatoo - August 21, 2010
I know it sounds sappy..
but I’ve been watching the Braves since they moved to Atlanta…
and this team is MAGICAL.
Somebody up there is smiling on Bobby Cox!!!
HalleyGator - August 20, 2010
Should have used this as your game pic.
BullManUGA - August 20, 2010
That’s what I saw at work. I was bummed for a minute, while the scoreboard was changing over, and I was assuming we had lost, and then I saw the Braves’ score change to 5. I went nuts in the office. It was at like 4:56 or something. Good times.
Chief Noc-A-Homa - August 20, 2010
I get a text message with the score and I got it that we had lost. They never resent it either. First time that has ever happened.
murph3 - August 20, 2010
That's why I go to Braves.com for the game feed!
Have had good luck knock on wood!
UpstateNyBravesFan - August 21, 2010
FREAKIN AWESOME GAME
I totally expected Rick to K but when he didnt i fell out of my chair
Erihury - August 20, 2010
great win
this ought to shut up most of the whiners for at least a day. shoulda woulda coulda DID. let your crying towels dry out and enjoy the win. GO BRAVES!
williejay1 - August 20, 2010
No such luck:(
HEYJUDE - August 20, 2010
way to go
Final at bat win #22
Clap, clap, clap-clap-clap, clap-clap-clap, clap, clap
hawves - August 20, 2010
actually we struck out final AB :(
MikeTrain - August 20, 2010
Last at-bat victory means the last team at-bat, as in the last half of an inning that the team was batting.
BenDuronio - August 20, 2010
And still, EVEN now, Yahoo insists the records are 71-51 and 51-72 in the box score.
Wtf?
Fonce - August 20, 2010
stupid yahoo
MBL1 - August 20, 2010 via mobile
Marmol gets no coffee
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIreofCO6zg&feature=related
KJDH2154 - August 20, 2010
Something I find odd
I looked over at the Cubbies SBN blog and noticed that they have over 120 comments in their recap. Over here, we’re right aroudn 30 when we win, but when we lose it is through the roof.
Up in New York, the papers and radio shows speak about the Mets twice as much as they do about the Yankees, who are one of the top teams in baseball once again.
It seems like sports fans love talking about losers and not winners, for whatever reason it is. This is probably why the steroid witch hunts are so publicized and spoken about.
BenDuronio - August 20, 2010
loveable losers I guess?
MBL1 - August 20, 2010 via mobile
I think it’s that people love picking on losers or ripping on players and managers more than praising good performances.
BenDuronio - August 20, 2010
One of the things I notice about myself that I don’t have a perfectly good explanation for is that when I miss a game (which happens like, 5 times in a season, much to the chagrin of, hey, everyone I know…), if the Braves win, I’m like “Good work, boys” and read a recap and am content. If they lose, I scour multiple recaps for as much info as I can get, feeling the need to understand why we lost.
It’s not really a desire to pick on or tear into anyone, not for me, anyway. It’s just a way to come to grips with an undesirable event by dealing with it in a public way.
Of course, bad things always bring on the trolls because it’s easier to goad an upset populace than a content one… so that could be it too.
Ivan the Great - August 20, 2010
Also the Game recap came a little later than I was expecting… I was ready to praise earlier, now I’m thinking about Friday night!
SuperHeyward - August 20, 2010
Sorry about that
That’s my fault, but I had work right at 5pm, literally the worst time to start when there’s a game starting at 2:20.
BenDuronio - August 20, 2010
I think
that with a losing team, there’s more to discuss & criticize.
Brian. - August 21, 2010
Can I ask why anybody has ever used Yahoo for sports coverage?
I mean I had no idea the coverage was as bad as it apparently is but… Why wouldn’t you just go to ESPN or MLB.com?
SuperNewb - August 20, 2010
Yahoo is so much more streamlined and easy to use
MikeTrain - August 20, 2010
MLBs gameday is way better IMO.
Tim Goad - August 20, 2010
it is...
but it makes my old computer go nuts when it plays the ads…like espn’s…
forgotten_glory - August 20, 2010
Yahoo! fantasy is probably the best overall and most user friendly. That could be a reason some use it.
BenDuronio - August 20, 2010
wait a minute
We have 40 games left and we only need to win 28 to make Bobby the manager with the most 100-win seasons ever. Am i missing something?
saipol - August 20, 2010
really?
i didnt know that
drumzalicious - August 21, 2010
37th come from behind win
the most in the majors, according to Jim Powell on Braves radio .
I’m going keep saying it:
fandave - August 20, 2010
Hrm
Its 22 wins in the last at bat. But I guess there is a difference there.
sag969 - August 20, 2010
If you are behind any time during the game
and end up winning, it’s a come-from-behind win.
sddbaker - August 20, 2010
+10 of Destiny!!!
cali viking - August 20, 2010
I love how the Phillies fans think we’re getting lucky LOLOLOL. (I like lurking on opposing team’s blogs when I’m bored.)
MBL1 - August 20, 2010 via mobile
Which blog, I want to stalk for a few minutes as well.
BenDuronio - August 20, 2010
The Good Phight.
Sorry guys, you don’t get into first by luck. Doesn’t happen. I’m guessing that’s an excuse, but what do I know. ;)
MBL1 - August 20, 2010 via mobile
Great win.
Got to love this team’s never quit attitude. I can’t believe how few hits, Derek Lee has despite hitting line drives and that apparently persisted today. I’m sure things will start to come around for him though if he can continue making solid contact (like those 2 line outs today).
One small concern for me, has got to be the overusage of the core guys (especially the setup guys of Venters and Moylan). With the team being able to come back this often, Bobby obviously feel the need to use those two guys (and Eric O’Flaherty) even with a small deficit. Unfortunately, Farnsworth has proven to be untrustworthy. With how good the Braves are playing and how these guys being gamers, I hope they don’t get overused and only get rest because they can’t go.
LEastCoastBears - August 20, 2010
Easy Solution...
Let the starters pitch until the 8th inning (I am looking at you Lowe. I don’t care if you throw 150 pitches. You are “Innings Eater” do you freaking job.). The age of 100 pitch count is killing the bullpen instead of the starters. Quite a conundrum IMO.
romone_braves91 - August 20, 2010
Good news!
Halladay is out of the game, and the Phillies only have a 1 run lead. Still plenty of time for them to Lidge it up.
Bronn - August 20, 2010
If the National manage to give up only 1 run to the Phillies and still not win... Man I don't like either of these teams
SuperNewb - August 20, 2010
Nats had plenty of chances to score
0-10 RISP
11 LOBS, so far
just Bernardina have 6 LOB
joshant - August 20, 2010
*has
joshant - August 20, 2010
Nats still alive
taney71 - August 20, 2010
it was so close to a HR!
JasonHeywardisGod - August 20, 2010
c´mon Adam Dunn, what about a HR
joshant - August 20, 2010
2-2..ugh
taney71 - August 20, 2010
that was pathetic
FU DUNN
JasonHeywardisGod - August 20, 2010
At least
He made up for it with his stellar defen…oh, yeah.
Sam Jethroe - August 20, 2010
Strike out. Damn. Oh, well. Braves won.
taney71 - August 20, 2010
Nats lost. 10 hits and couldnt score.
they had bases loaded in 1st inning w/ 1 out.
joshant - August 20, 2010
awesome
Braves gave their basesloadeditis to the gNats.
Sir Veza - August 20, 2010
Well, on the bright side...
we’re still 2.5 games up!
aceiii222 - August 20, 2010
another weierd way to look at it is...
We are 4 games up being in the Playoffs.
romone_braves91 - August 20, 2010
*weird
romone_braves91 - August 20, 2010
I don't think it's weird.
Seems like a lot of people look at the wild card berth with contempt. Obviously I want the braves to win the east, but I wouldn’t lose any sleep over making it as a wild card team. I’ve never seen an * next to a champion because they didn’t win their division. I just want the braves to make it to the dance. I don’t care if they are the best looking one there.
Frozen Fan - August 21, 2010 via mobile
Was anybody else watching MLBN during that first inning? Amsinger nearly shit himself when Halladay, with two on already, threw a ball eight inches off the plate and- gasp- DID NOT get the call.
“HOW do you NOT give that call to Doc IN PHILLY?!?!?” I don’t know, Greg. Maybe because that wasn’t even a borderline strike and he’s already walked one in the inning. Cy Young wouldn’t have gotten that call. I used to the think that ESPN had cornered the market on anchors that verbally fellate the Phillies, but I guess I was wrong.
J-Freak - August 20, 2010
verbally? I wouldn’t be surprised if they went further than that…
telemakhos - August 21, 2010
How about the other night when the Rays and Rangers were facing off!
All i wanted to do was see the highlights in the Braves game but all they would show is "high"lights of Cliff Lee and David Price… Any chance we could get a more bias network! I know the are to really good pitchers but, Big Red and Chad are not crap! Lets spread the wealth man!
UpstateNyBravesFan - August 21, 2010
Wow. Another bullpen win.
We’ve got about a million of those now, right?
TonyAlmeyda - August 20, 2010
Phillies win again...... Sickening!!!!!
Wow… Thanks Nats 10 hits tonight for a whopping 0 runs. And I thought we had a lot of LOB’s.
IslandBrave808 - August 20, 2010
those guys are so lucky….
dkinser86 - August 20, 2010
Good job bravos!!!!
-1 - August 20, 2010 via mobile
DYK
Since the 9-game losing streak*, the longest losing streak the Braves have had was the 3-game sweep by a ridiculously hot (at the time) White Sox? There were seven 2-game losing streaks (not counting the previously mentioned sweep by the Sox).
So, 100 games after that disastrous streak, the Braves have only had 8 losing “streaks” and all, except 1, have been 2 games.
*streak being defined as at least 2 games.
Sir Veza - August 21, 2010
Bad news, guys and gals....
According to the The Good Phight, we might as well throw in the towel:
Apparently actual W/L record isn’t all that important, despite what us silly Braves fans think:
sddbaker - August 21, 2010
He’s right.
We aren’t on the same level as the Phils. We are on the level of Division Leaders and they are on the level of “Wild Card” teams.
justincredubil02 - August 21, 2010
Boom, roasted
KJDH2154 - August 21, 2010
They crack me up. They are so amazed that the 2010 Braves (the worst team in professional sports history) by pure dumb luck, can somehow hold off the 2010 phils (the greatest team in professional sports history).
Frozen Fan - August 21, 2010 via mobile
They don’t look at anything that actually matters, like stats. They watch espn to get their daily fix of unwarranted philly love. They think the braves offense is so terrible, but the braves trail only the phillies, reds, brewers, and rockies in runs scored. Those are quite possibly the most hitter-biased ballparks in baseball. Meanwhile, they think the braves rotation can’t match up with theirs, but the braves trail only the padres in runs allowed. 5th best offense, 2nd best pitching. Sounds like a winning recipe to me.
telemakhos - August 21, 2010
And we have a better run differential than they do, brighter future, better bullpen, better bench, better SP. Heck, the only thing they really have us on is power.
justincredubil02 - August 21, 2010
Don't forget
More guys in their lineup can get a Senior discount at Geno’s.
We have a bright future. They, decidedly, do not.
Sam Jethroe - August 21, 2010
Fuck Philly!!!!
cali viking - August 21, 2010
The first mistake here was lending any credence to something a Phillies fan said.
Hey, I can tweak statistics to make my club seem more important too. The Braves have 17 AWpC to the Phillies 8. That’s Awesome Wins per Capita. No team in baseball history has ever lost its lead to a team with an inferior AWpC number.
WHOO HOO! Look at me! I just made myself feel better!
UMDBHIK - August 21, 2010
Doesn’t bother me. Cards fans think the Cards are better than the Reds, and vice versa. Rays fans think the Rays are better than the Yankees, and vice versa. Fans think their team is better than the rival team. It’s always gonna be like that.
MBL1 - August 21, 2010 via mobile
Oh, it definitely doesn't bother me, either..
In fact, I find it delicious.
sddbaker - August 21, 2010
Oh...
maybe I should apologize in advance in case it’s weird for me to post something about the Phillies’ blog here.
sddbaker - August 21, 2010
Anyone else notice that
Jair was only throwing 89-91 on his fasball mostly last night instead of how he had been throwing it around 93-95 lately?
bbxxj - August 21, 2010 via mobile
Yeah, I wouldn't worry about it too much
The wind was blowing like crazy at Wrigley today, I’m sure that had a little to do with all the pitchers velocity
KJDH2154 - August 21, 2010
To be honest, it was probably the wind blowing in his face. Until you experience Wrigley Field in person, you never realize how strong the wind can get.
Scott Coleman - August 21, 2010
Hopefully O’Flaherty will have an opportunity tomorrow. But it was real nice to see Venters didn’t have to come in to the game today. And EOF’s return is really going to allow us to rest Venters more, considering of course EOF is back to his dominating form
KJDH2154 - August 21, 2010
And when the rosters expand in a few days, we’ll add Dunn too. He’s obviously not the same talent, but I feel safe with him against a lefty.
Scott Coleman - August 21, 2010
Yeah, Dunn’s control still scares the shit out of me, but he always finds a way to get out of his jams. He has yet to give up an earned run, so that’s saying something
KJDH2154 - August 21, 2010
LOL
Bobby isn’t going to use Venters any differently because Irish is back.
You could give Bobby a bullpen with the 7 best relief pitchers in baseball history all having a career year and he’d still pick out 1 or 2 guys that he’d use all the time and 1 or 2 guys that barely get into games.
Lennox - August 21, 2010
Good to get Win #1 of the series behind us.
These nail biters are giving my heart a workout – who knew a Braves game could be like cardio! LOL
I’m sure Lee was glad to get that first awkward game behind him. I can only imagine how odd that must have felt for he and his former team yesterday. Loved the pregame interview and he seems to be happy to be with us.
Ankiel was the Hero! He’s been putting much better wood on the ball lately and his OF performance has been great. Perhaps he’s finally starting to get into a groove and will be a contributor in these critical final weeks.
I’m glad we’re taking care of business, I just wish someone would find a way to hand the Phils a loss – or two, or three… some breathing room would be more than nice …but I’m afraid it’s going to be up to us to do it.
Not sure if I’ll be home for today’s game – GO BRAVES!! Let’s take the Series today!
NCChopper - August 21, 2010
TWSS
justincredubil02 - August 21, 2010
Check 1
Mr. Sanchez - August 21, 2010
“who knew the Braves game could be like cardio!”
A friend of mine came up with the nickname “cardiac kids” for this team due to said down-to-the-wire heroics.
J-Freak - August 21, 2010 via mobile
original...
how many times has a cox team had that nickname?
Mr. Sanchez - August 21, 2010
The 1980 Cleveland Browns
Disapprove of the stolen nickname
KJDH2154 - August 21, 2010
Wow! Your friend is a brilliant nickname generator!
J-Turn14 - August 21, 2010
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