A win is more like it. Even if it took eleven innings to get there. The other great news is that the Braves took over the Wild Card lead from the Padres. It feels weird, but I guess I have to thank Carlos Zambrano for shutting out the Pads. That other NL East team did something called 'clinch' last night. We won't talk about that.
The Braves will send Tim Hudson to the mound tonight on short rest. A move they seem to be forced to make due to the recent destruction of their starting pitching staff. Jair Jurrjens might have more wrong with him that just a slight tear in his knee, and Mike Minor is clearly fatigued to the point of being ineffective. We are all of a sudden left with a fourth starter named Brandon Beachy and no fifth starter to speak of.
The vets are going to have to carry the load the next two days. Hudson and Derek Lowe (who will start Wednesday) will both do so on three days rest instead of the usual four days rest. Hudson has made three career starts on three days of rest and done pretty well. He made one in 2005 and two in 2006, all as a member of the Braves. Certainly that's not enough data to extrapolate any sort of pattern from. Lowe has four career starts on three days of rest, with okay results. They have both started on three days rest before and should know how to prepare themselves, so that would be the best thing they have going for them -- experience.
After this series and the off-day on Thursday, all the pitchers should be back on regular four-days rest with Beachy going against Philly on Friday, then Tommy Hanson and Tim Hudson. Unless, of course, the Braves decide to skip Beachy and bring Hanson, Hudson, and Lowe back on three days rest to face the Phillies. I'm sure we won't know that answer until Friday.
***************************
One of our favorite artists is back this year with a brand new print for our brand new Braves superstar. Chris Speakman, an MLB licensed 1940s-style propaganda artist, gives us the latest in his series of posters of great Braves players. The Jason Heyward poster is available at his site, Sports Propaganda, and Talking Chop readers can get 20% off unframed prints by using promo code 5088. Each limited edition screen print is signed, numbered, and dated by the artist. This is a truly unique gift for any Braves fan. If the Braves make the playoffs he's promised more prints of other players. So yet another reason to root for the Braves to win these last five games.
0 recs | 111 comments
That picture looks more like Cuba Gooding Jr.
Sparhawk - September 28, 2010
Before I saw the name at the bottom I thought why is Lee batting lefty?
vooodooo - September 28, 2010
Same
I admire the work, as mine would be a stick dude, but it really doesn’t look like Heyward at all.
Richard R - September 28, 2010
Haha yeah I thought it was Lee at first too.
redwards95 - September 28, 2010
And I thought...
“not an accurate drawing of Heap”.
Mr. Sanchez - September 28, 2010
If that’s what they wanted, they have my number.
TheLetter2 - September 28, 2010
I thought it looked like AGon
I wish it were more Heyward like because this would have taken care of a few names on my Christmas list……
HEYJUDE - September 28, 2010
I actually
thought it was Rafael Furcal… haha
KamikaziMelon - September 28, 2010
That was my first thought.
Having said that, it’s still cool as hell.
Sam Jethroe - September 28, 2010
I thought it was Rafael Furcal and was very confused.
dutchschultz - September 28, 2010
Furcal
Thought it was Furcal too, really bad rendition
granman29 - September 28, 2010
I thought
it was furcal too! guess i should have read this before i posted up above :0
KamikaziMelon - September 28, 2010
Before I even looked at the picture, I assumed it was McCann. Maybe I just assume he’s the one that leads us to victory.
McGriff the Crime Dog - September 28, 2010
I thought
It was Furcal at first and was like WTF.
sag969 - September 28, 2010
I thought so as well.
LEastCoastBears - September 28, 2010 via mobile
CGJr
That’s who I saw too.
NCChopper - September 28, 2010
Tonight is Tim Hudson’s time to stand and deliver like the Champion he is.
fandave - September 28, 2010
Our fifth (sixth?) starter is Kawakami isn’t it? But for some reason that has to go beyond just how mediocre he’s been, the Braves won’t pitch him. Which is fine with me really. Give me the top 3 (how weird is it that Derek Lowe is now one of our top 3 pitchers?) on short rest. If the Braves sweep the Marlins, then maybe give Beachy one more start.
redwards95 - September 28, 2010
I think Beachy starts Friday...
…regardless of the situation. I don’t think we want to run all three out there on the weekend on short rest (and Hanson being a young fireballer does not make him a good candidate for short rest) and since we have give up on KK, we don’t have any other options.
cavebird - September 28, 2010
Remember when he borrowed Cox's car?
Maybe he ripped the floorboards or something.
Sam Jethroe - September 28, 2010
I'm pretty depressed about this whole Prado thing
golfballs03 - September 28, 2010
Yeah it sucks, but on the other hand he’s been hitting pretty badly for the last month at least due to injuries. Replacing injured Prado with healthy Conrad could actually help the offense and get the Braves into the wild card.
redwards95 - September 28, 2010
Need him to be healthy for the playoff if we can get there. He needed some rest.
LEastCoastBears - September 28, 2010 via mobile
There is another option...
His name is Kenshin Kawakami.
But, I guess Bobby thinks Hudson on 3 day rest > Kawakami.
sag969 - September 28, 2010
Sinker pitchers tend to be better on short rest.
nuftjedi - September 28, 2010
There is a reason why KK doesn't pitch
He’s been labeled as uncoachable and not a clubhouse favorite!!!
Braves12 - September 28, 2010 via mobile
No
I think its more that Cox really, really doesn’t like him. Not sure its clubhouse or on the field related, but either way its sad waste of $10 million. Yet people will bitch more about Lowe :-\
sag969 - September 28, 2010
Where?
Mr. Sanchez - September 29, 2010
Yeah, I have to admit that to me it also doesn’t seem to look a lot like Heyward, but I really like the look of the poster.
Zontar - September 28, 2010
A white Heyward? I guess that fits for 1940s-style propaganda.
joshmaurer - September 28, 2010
I would have pitched KK here
And pushed Huddy and Lowe back. We need some good SP against the Phils when they come to town. KK then Minor one more time and then have Huddy, Lowe, and Hanson against the phils. Marlins don’t scare me at all.
murph35 - September 28, 2010 via mobile
but, every win count as one, regardless against Marlins or Phillies
and right now we need to win
joshant - September 28, 2010
No need
We have to win games. Period. The Phils clinched so there is no reason to fight them specifically. Send out the best and ensure some wins.
boilerjr88 - September 28, 2010
Here's my thinking..
I forgot we had an off-day Thursday. Oops. That means for the final series we’d have Beachy, Hanson, and Hudson. I’m OK with that. Go Braves.
murph35 - September 28, 2010 via mobile
I think it looks just like Cliff Floyd...
michaelcooksey - September 28, 2010
second that
Kineticist - September 28, 2010
Padres
We must win to keep at least the .5 games ahead of the Padres. Sending out KK and a looks tired Minor would be insane at least right now when these last games are of most importance.
Walker Wallace - September 28, 2010
i was reading some comment about the poster. For me that´s not look like Heyward
so i searched some pics of their suggestions.
For me. it looks more like Furcal, but i have the feeling that i saw that face in some movie. It looks like a latino.
joshant - September 28, 2010
I thought it looked like Beltran.
J-Freak - September 28, 2010 via mobile
me too...
sddbaker - September 28, 2010
Really?
Beltran wishes he looked that cool.
Sam Jethroe - September 28, 2010
Beltran wishes he
looked that coolcould wear that uniform.dragonhawk26 - September 28, 2010
That, too.
Sam Jethroe - September 29, 2010
Heyward looks like 50cent here
Sir Veza - September 28, 2010
you’re all racists.
10-4 - September 28, 2010
Jose Lima perhaps
bravesguy311 - September 28, 2010
Contrast the artsy card with this
carpengui - September 29, 2010
Our magic number is 6.
Tonight could be the effective end of the Wild Card chase. If we put the Pads 1.5 back with 4 to play, knowing that we will see the Phils’ 4th and 5th starters in that last series (or does anyone think that won’t be the case? I’m just going off my own deductions here), we can start reading up on the Reds and setting our DS rotation.
SS451 - September 28, 2010
we’re 1/2 game up in the wild card with the best team in the nl left to play. This thing is far from over.
telemakhos - September 28, 2010
The best team in the NL...
Who has already clinched and will be resting starters and sending out the back end of their rotation to face us. In other words, not actually the best team in the NL.
SS451 - September 28, 2010
the braves just lost 2 of 3 to washington. I wouldn’t write off the phillies’ backups so quickly
telemakhos - September 28, 2010
You're right, I know.
I’m just getting excited! My Braves-related mood swings are very sudden and unpredictable. Today, I’m envisioning the Bravos in the World Series and looking ahead. I admit, I’ll be pretty crushed if they miss the playoffs, but it could easily happen.
Hope it doesn’t!
SS451 - September 28, 2010
yea I wouldn’t count on beating up on the Phillies backups either. This is the same team that re-arranged their rotation just to put their 3 aces against the bottom of the Braves rotation. I wouldn’t be shocked at all if they run out their full line-up to try and knock the Braves out. Even if they don’t, the Phillies don’t seem to be able to lose any games, regardless of who they run out there.
alxn - September 28, 2010
That makes no sense.
The Phils don’t dislike the Braves. They care more about winning the World Series than they do about eliminating us for spite. The only way this could make sense is if we thought the Phillies preferred to face the Padres instead of the Giants, but I see no reason why that should be the case—they’re basically equivalent teams.
SS451 - September 28, 2010
They obviously play the Braves with a different mindset than they do other teams. How many teams have pushed an ace back just so he can pitch against a certain team. I don’t think Bobby Cox has ever done something like that.
I never said they disliked the Braves (even though it is entirely plausible that a division rival would). I just said I wouldn’t count on them benching everyone and letting us limp into the playoffs. It is debatable about whether rest would even help them win the World Series anyways. They probably feel that they owe it to the integrity of the race to not roll over and die for the Braves on the final weekend.
alxn - September 28, 2010
It's not about rolling over and dying.
The most important factor is that they’ll probably only be starting one of their three big starting pitchers. This is 100% standard practice for teams who have clinched their postseason spot. So is resting starters. And no airy notions about “the integrity of the race” are going to keep the Phillies from putting themselves in the best possible position to take their first series.
And as to lining up starters before (which is not that weird: you’re right, Bobby wouldn’t do it, because that’s because he’s hidebound and proud, not because it’s a bad idea): that was then, this is now. Then, we were a divisional rival; now, we aren’t. We’ve been eliminated. Then, they were looking to clinch their postseason spot; now, they already have. All the pressure (for them) is off. And all the incentive to bring their A game to the last series, if that would in any way interfere with bringing their A game to the NLDS (which it would) is also gone.
SS451 - September 28, 2010
I expect the Phillies to start their guys in normal order, so long as it doesn’t disrupt their playoff set-up. They might pull the pitchers after 5 innings, but they won’t get them out of their usual routine. Same for the position players, maybe a day off for the weary here and there, but they will keep their guys sharp.
bighop - September 28, 2010
Their normal order...
Would have Halladay starting on the last day of the season. I guarantee you, that will not happen.
SS451 - September 28, 2010
I guess that’s what I meant by " so long as it doesn’t disrupt their playoff set-up". I hear we may see Blanton on Sunday.
bighop - September 28, 2010
The move
To have their best pitchers going against the Braves was brilliant in my opinion. They saw they were facing the 2nd place team in the division at home, and had a chance to put their best three pitchers out for it without much work and effectively put the nail in the coffin. That’s exactly what happened.
The worst part is that we put two rookies against the Phillies rather than changing our rotation…and then Hudson couldn’t beat the Natinals. That’s what really hurt.
sag969 - September 28, 2010
I can think of three reasons why I’d prefer to face the Padres over the Giants: Lincecum, Cain, and Sanchez.
Yakker - September 28, 2010
back end?
if they kept their order it would be Kendrick, Hamels and Halladay.
not really the “back end”
however, with Game 1 of the NLDS being on Wednesday (likely) you’d think we won’t be seeing Halladay in the series so he is rested to go for Game 1. Oswalt is also likely out since he is pitching tonight. I would think though we’ll likely still catch Hamels (even if it is only an abbreviated start) so he doesn’t go too long between starts.
If anything I’d expect them to rest someone tonight – tends to happen the day after a clinch – which doesn’t help us at all.
plus looking at their roster I’m not even sure who they would give a start too. Robertson looks to be the only starter they aren’t using. Moyer just pitched his first bullpen session since July the other day of 20 pitches so it’s extremely unlikely he’d get a start. I guess Worley could get another start.
I don’t see it being Kendrick, scrub, scrub though.
nuftjedi - September 28, 2010
They won't keep the order.
As you say, starting Halladay on the final day of the regular season in a meaningless game is completely out of the question. We will not see him.
I think we’ll probably see Hamels, Kendrick, and Blanton, not necessarily in that order. Kendrick is mediocre, and Blanton is bad.
SS451 - September 28, 2010
False
In fact completely opposite. We will most likely see the Big 3 again: Hamels, Halladay, and Oswalt. Why? Because it sets up the Phillies rotation perfectly for the playoffs. Hamels will pitch on Oct 1 and then be available to pitch in the Phillies first playoff game on Oct 6 on regular rest.
DreamWithinADream - September 28, 2010
You seriously think...
They aren’t going to have Halladay start Game 1, and then be available to start Game 4 on short rest? You’re wrong.
SS451 - September 28, 2010
This
The Phils will run Halladay, Hamels, and Oswalt out to start the NLDS. Whatever they have to do in our series (pitch Hamels for 5, skip Doc, etc.) they will do. But they will go into the postseason with H2O in that order.
Yakker - September 28, 2010
NO. We will do no such thing as read up on the Reds and set rotations for diddly. We have not clinched. And we’re not going to jinx ourselves again by talking about postseason rotations and such prematurely.
What we ARE gonna do is root like hell for the Braves, Diamondbacks, and Cubs tonight and wait to see what happens.
J-Freak - September 28, 2010
This!
HEYJUDE - September 28, 2010
we sure have a bunch of crazy posters around here lately
fandave - September 28, 2010
Not only is this entire logic flawed
If we do make the playoffs, we are actually more likely to face the Giants/Padres than the Reds.
DreamWithinADream - September 28, 2010
For some reason
I thought the Reds had the second-best record. Ok, so we’d play the Giants.
Anyway, explain how the logic is flawed.
SS451 - September 28, 2010
If my math is right
H2O (Halladay, Hamels, and Oswalt) are slated to start all three games. I wouldn’t put it past Manual starting them. He’s not the kind of manager to really bench guys before playoffs.
sag969 - September 28, 2010
what's the lineup gonna look like...
…without Prado? Is J-Hey gonna get moved to the 3-hole?
ledge2 - September 28, 2010
Infante – 4
Heyward – 9
McCann – 2
Lee – 3
Cabrera – 7
Gonzalez – 6
Conrad – 5
Ankiel – 8
Hudson – 1
ByrneSupremacy - September 28, 2010
Well looks like we ain't gonna see J-Hey in the 3-hole this year
And why the HELL is Melky hitting 5th??? Dear lord…
BravesDawg16 - September 28, 2010
it might be different when Nate starts, as he could bat lead-off and then Bobby could just move everyone down one spot… but yeah it looks like J-Hey’s stuck hitting second
ByrneSupremacy - September 28, 2010
What is Melky doing fifth?
Well, umm, our 5-8 hitters have OBP’s of .305, .313, .316, and .318. Might as well draw the order out of a hat, does it matter?
cavebird - September 28, 2010
Bobby, you're killing me.
Scott Coleman - September 28, 2010 via mobile
Sometimes the worst lineups work the best….(crossing my fingers)
Joseph_C - September 28, 2010
LOL
so whats the real lineup?
bpk228480 - September 28, 2010
OT
For those who don’t check the Fanposts. I have thrown out there the idea of a TC Meet-N-Greet. If interested see:
http://www.talkingchop.com/2010/9/28/1717357/talking-chop-meet-n-greet-oct-1-2-and-3
Sir Veza - September 28, 2010
Playoffs!!?
We barely won last night with Hanson pitching an absolute gem. We lost Prado for probably the rest of the season. I know everyone is excited about last night’s win, but I think we’ll be lucky to win two more games.
mdhenshaw - September 28, 2010
Buzz Killington has arrived...
BravesDawg16 - September 28, 2010
line up
1. Infante 2B,
2. Heyward RF,
3. McCann C,
4. Lee 1B,
5. Cabrera LF,
6. Gonzalez SS,
7. Conrad 3B,
8. Ankiel CF,
9. Hudson
WTF with this lineup. i see black hole in the middle of the lineup and in the bottom of the lineup
joshant - September 28, 2010
Hudson can hit pretty well :P
nuftjedi - September 28, 2010
Maybe he should have batted 5th
The Goche - September 28, 2010
No. 5 hitter tonight, Cabrera, has hit .229 with 1 HR, 16 RBI, a .296 OBP and .333 slugging percentage in 49 games since July 29
mdhenshaw - September 28, 2010
How about this:
1) Infante
2) McClouth
3) Heyward
4) McCann
5) Lee
6) Gonzalez
7) Ankiel
8) Hudson
9) Cabrera
Sir Veza - September 28, 2010
Not bad.
But perhaps we could slot a bat boy into the 9th slot. And the 7th spot.
SS451 - September 28, 2010
and who plays 3rd?
joshant - September 28, 2010
Oh shit
Heyward. He can play 3b and RF at the same time.
Sir Veza - September 28, 2010
subsitute
Ankiel with Conrad and put Ankiel behind Hudson
Sir Veza - September 28, 2010
substitute*
Sir Veza - September 28, 2010
Would have liked to try Glaus
at third, for a game or two, about three weeks ago, but its way to late to experiment with that now.
Kineticist - September 28, 2010
That experiment was an epic fail in AAA in August!!! Error city and no range!!!
Braves12 - September 28, 2010 via mobile
Why aren't the postseason odds updated yet?
Also, it would be great if SF loses tonight, being ahead of both teams come Friday would be HUGE, as they play each other to end the season. If we had a 1 game lead over each team going in then we would be guaranteed the wildcard with only 1 win against the Phillies.
StapleGun - September 28, 2010
Tonight's lineup is.... ugly
s.r.j - September 28, 2010
good thing it's not a beauty contest
nuftjedi - September 28, 2010
Heyward batting 2nd...
I guess we’ll have to live with this until Cox isn’t the manager anymore.
mdhenshaw - September 28, 2010
What's so terrible about Heyward hitting second, exactly?
Doesn’t the second hitter have the most influence on scoring?
SS451 - September 28, 2010
He is the rightful heir to Chipper’s spot in the batting order.
BeatTehMets - September 28, 2010
I’ve been wondering about this too. Seems like a good spot for him given his patience.
Yakker - September 28, 2010
The picture of Heyward
Getting back to what who we thought the picture represented, I thought it looked like Gregor Blanco.
Tomahawk Mafia - September 28, 2010
Todays Lineup
Infante
Heyward
McCann
Lee
Melky???? (WTF)
Gonzo
Conrad
Ankiel
Hudson
This lineup makes me wonder WTF Bobby Cox thinks when he throws something like this together. I mean this is awful. Heyward needs to be batting third and I would put Conrad batting 2nd. That seems like a real lineup.
It should be this:
Infante
Conrad
Heyward
McCann
Lee
Gonzo
Melky
Ankiel
Hudson
But Cox continues to amaze us with the trashy lineups he keeps putting out there.
BravesFanScout - September 28, 2010
I just don't understand Melky batting in front of Gonzo or Brooksy
he has just been turruble the last 2 months…. although we did have a black hole production-wise from our 5 hole last night and still found a way to win. I guess that’s bobby’s “logic”
leedawg - September 28, 2010
Heyward isnt white
nick9314 - September 28, 2010
Diaz should be playing tonight, not Melky. Diaz kills the Marlins.
MBL1 - September 28, 2010 via mobile
his numbers against Anibal Sanchez aren't overly impressive
2 for 8 with 4 k’s…. with that being said, I think I’d still rather see him in there instead of Melky
leedawg - September 28, 2010
I'd rather have
than Melky
nuftjedi - September 28, 2010
i just bought
4 tickets to our first NLDS home game
lingsched - September 28, 2010
Lineup
What I think is wild is thought thought we would be in the playoff running without a Chipper, Yunel, Glaus, or McLouth playing, plus talking about a Beachy… Lowe being a go to guy, and wondering who is going to bat 5th(Melky or any of our other options)
Go Braves
BraveFanInTennessee - September 28, 2010
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