When all else fails, use reverse psychology. I hope you guys knew I was kidding with my exalting preview of tonight's game, and apparently, the ruse worked. ZACH DUKE couldn't even convert four outs, and Derek Lowe earned his money tonight, as the Braves unleashed all the hits that eluded them the previous two nights, and clobbered the Pirates by a score of 9-3 to prevent the sweep, and end this abysmal road trip on a positive note.
Unfortunately, the Phillies did some clobbering of their own, and don't be fooled by the final score, they mauled the Marlins, 10-6, so they remain in first place by 0.5 games. The Phillies have an off-day tomorrow, and it's off to hostile New York, so it's technically feasible for the Braves to reclaim first place, albeit via tie, if we can get the job done at home-sweet-home against the Cardinals, whom we're starting a pivotal four-game series with tomorrow.
Anyway, as elated as I am to have seen the Braves finally get their offense going, the most positive thing about the entire evening was the performance of Derek Lowe. Questioned, whether or not he was even going to pitch today, he silenced all doubters (including a lot of us, myself included), and silenced the Pirates in six efficient innings. Only in the first and fifth innings did Lowe see any difficulty, with the latter inning one run actually plating, but he staved off any real damage by inducing ground ball after ground ball. In the end, Derek Lowe had induced 12 ground ball outs, one GIDP. That's how you know a sinker is really on that day. Relievers Scott Proctor and Mike Dunn pitched perfectly in the 7th and 8th innings, both getting two strikeouts apiece. Cristhian Martínez had a poor outing, and forfeited two earned runs on four hits and a walk, which caused Bobby to relieve him in place of Billy Wagner, who needed to get some work in to finish out the game.
The Bobby Cox Compliment (DER(R)EK) Sandwich: Ehhh, you really gotta tip your cap to Derek Lowe tonight, he pitched real well. He had the sinker going as well as I've ever seen it. Despite the great offensive outburst, there's always one guy who doesn't always get in on the fun, and it was Brian McCann, who went 0-4. Ehhh, it was good to see Derrek Lee have a good night too, he's been hitting the ball real well since joining the team, he's just been unlucky hitting them right at people, but tonight he was finding the holes, and got some big RBI hits.
But seriously, it was nice to see the offense actually get the monkey off their back tonight. Six Braves finished the night with multi-hits. I'm also relieved that the team didn't necessarily need to rely on the long ball either, and was getting the job done with key hitting and patience. Some might still look at the 13 LOB on the night as a sour mark, but considering the rate in which the Braves were putting runners on, it's a little more acceptable.
Enjoy tonight's win, but not for too long. There's no off-day for us, and it's back home, to host the Cards for four, with tough Adam Wainwright taking the hill first for the Red Birds. Home may be where the heart is, but it's hard for me to count any team with Albert Pujols on it as anything but a difficult task.
0 recs | 58 comments
If Derrick Lee can get going
Then we will be in a great position offensively because he had been a black hole in the middle of the lineup since his arrival. It would also be nice to see a little lineup shakeup.
Infante 2B
Prado 3B
Heyward RF
Lee 1B
McCann C
Gonzalez SS
McLouth CF
Diaz LF
Although in an ideal world Glaus could play 3B and Infante would be in LF.
drumzalicious - September 9, 2010
I see what you’re doing alternating lefty and righty, but that’s not as important as the fact that McLouth sucks. If he plays at all, it should always be 8th.
redwards95 - September 9, 2010
Whoever you put in CF is going to suck, unless you can manage to stick Infante out there, which would be insane.
Broccoman - September 9, 2010
I wish we had a guy with half the talent of Andruw Jones in CF
taney71 - September 9, 2010
Nobody with that much talent currently exists on this planet. The Braves need to start pumping some funds into the outer space scouting program.
king of games - September 9, 2010
..I laughed, I cried, I went to bed happy
but not before noting that I saw a different Derick’s tonight….wouldn’t be magical if their success was not an aboration/illusion?
bravestatoo - September 9, 2010
Fir...st things first.
Great win. Great showing by Lowe. Great job putting your collective pedals to the metal, offense.
Now kick some cardnail butt!!! Even against wainwright and carpenter, the games are at Turner, meaning we can score. Let’s go do it
PS: Phuck the Phils.
That is all.
oVecKid - September 9, 2010 via mobile
Dbacks won
WC lead at 2 for those keeping score at home
nuftjedi - September 9, 2010
There is a God, and he has a plan for us after all!
thenightstallion - September 9, 2010
Hey TC reading Operations Professor
do you read comments too?
Xshare - September 9, 2010
If you're asking me
Then yes, i do.
royhobbs - September 9, 2010
This weekend is HUGE
Not only is our series with the Cardinals absolutely important, the Padres start a series with the Giants tomorrow. Although I will be cheering whole heartedly for a sweep of the Phils in New York, gotta pull for the Padres to put some games on the Giants. Even if the Phils win a couple against the Muts, I would love to see us gain some ground on the only Giants and Rockies in the wild card. Hopefully here’s to a weekend of a Braves wins and the Giants and Rockies giving us some room.
MTSU11 - September 9, 2010
Shouldn't Wagner have gotten the save?
I thought that no matter the score, a pitcher is credited with a save when he enters the game with the bases loaded and retires the final batter (wjile maintaining the lead, obviously).
J-Turn14 - September 9, 2010
wjlie=while
J-Turn14 - September 9, 2010
Impossible to record a save if you enter the game with a 3 run cushion or more. Game situation doesn’t change that.
J-Freak - September 9, 2010
Uh, no, that’s not true.
Lennox - September 9, 2010
Meant to say 4 or more, not three.
J-Freak - September 9, 2010
Well I know that isn't true.
Because any time you enter with your team leading and pitch the final three innings you get a save. A couple years ago there was a save recorded by a Rangers pitcher when his team won 30-3.
J-Turn14 - September 9, 2010
You’re right. I forgot about the three inning rule superseding the limitation on your lead. The ONLY way you can come in with loaded bases and still record a save though is if your lead is 5 runs or less, because the rule is the tying run has to be on base, at bat, or on deck. So, it’s not the bases being loaded that makes the save in that scenario, it’s whether the tying run is threatening. Our 6 run lead is still too much, even for that high pressure situation.
J-Freak - September 9, 2010
Technically, if a pitcher enters the game, regardless of the count, with the potential tying run either on base, at bat or ON DECK then a pitcher would get a save. Also, no matter the score, if a pitcher enters a game and pitches the final three innings, you get the save. See Wes Littleton for the Rangers. He earned a save in a 30-3 win.
CharlotteChop - September 9, 2010
Kawakami got one of those 3 innings saves last year.
romone_braves91 - September 9, 2010
No.
You can get a save if you enter the game with the trying run already on base, at bat, or on deck. The Braves had a 6 run lead when Wagner entered the game, the maximum difference that can result in a save (bases loaded) is a 5 run difference.
Lennox - September 9, 2010
Guess I should have read this before posting
Consider my other post a voice of support for this one.
Creek Johnson - September 9, 2010
If the tying run was on-deck when Wagner came in, then he would have.
Alas, it was not.
Creek Johnson - September 9, 2010
We got our winning streak off to a good start tonight!
Go Braves!
HEYJUDE - September 9, 2010
This 4-game series with the Cardinals is huge
Let’s gooooo!
Scott Coleman - September 9, 2010 via mobile
Agree
It’s nice to have some hitting momentum going into this series. We need a minimum of 3/4 games.
Jman781 - September 9, 2010
It'd be nice to win 3 of 4 since they have been struggling...
why does me pessimism say they play great against us?
Mr. Sanchez - September 9, 2010
Back at Turner Field finally. I hope that means we see more of the awesome home version of the Braves instead of what we witnessed on that road trip. 6-1 homestand would be very nice….
redwards95 - September 9, 2010
Glaus
I went to bed in the 7th, I think. Noticed Troy played some thrid. Did he get any chances? And if so, how’d he look?
Fatvirus - September 9, 2010
Your Daily Ozzy
Good win to finish another 2-4 road trip, but here we go:
Times have changed and times are strange
Here I come but I ain’t the same
Mama, I’m comin home!
Go Braves!
CharlotteChop - September 9, 2010
Since the All-Star Break
Braves are 9-15 on the road, with 2 series wins (out of 8). Even if we make the playoffs, I don’t see much progress unless they figure things out quickly away from home. We have a 9 game road trip left on the schedule. A 3-6 on that will torpedo the entire season.
fphjr01 - September 9, 2010
I see a tie for the division in our future. Currently 1/2 game division, so here we go:
Braves 13 home games at .720 winning percentage = 9 wins
9 road games at .430 winning % = 4 wins
Finish 13-9 over last 22 games
Phillies 9 home games at .627 winning % = 6 wins
12 road games at .515 winning $ = 6 wins
Finish 12-9 over last 21 games
Braves pick up 1/2 game = tie for division.
CharlotteChop - September 9, 2010
Who didn’t see this coming?
10-4 - September 9, 2010
Seen in SBNation Power Rankings:
Seriously? Now everyone is sounding like ESPN!
Joseph_C - September 9, 2010
They are right.
We did pull a Mets.
taney71 - September 9, 2010
True—I wouldn’t class Lowe as harshly as “Crappy” though. He’s bad—but a 11-12 (12-12 now) record, is relatively good. Something like Kawakami’s (1-10) isn’t .
Lowe’s been “bad” but not crappy.
Joseph_C - September 9, 2010
Agreed.
Also, the Glaus swipe is a bit much. He was probably one of the best everyday players in the NL during the month of May and into April. The guy carried us. What is to say he couldn’t do it again after resting a bit?
taney71 - September 9, 2010
Come on, W/L record is the absolute worst way to judge the value of a pitcher …
Lennox - September 9, 2010
no, it's not
The object of the game is to win. Standings and playoff spots are determined by wins and losses. If baseball changes the rules to say that playoff births will be determined by which teams have the best xFIP or BB:K, then I’ll start listening to the “wins are meaningless” crowd.
I wouldn’t put much stock in W/L for relievers but starters still have enormous control over the outcome of a game.
DCP916 - September 9, 2010
Yes it is
Win-loss is a horrible determinant. A pitcher can give up 10 runs and get a no-decision, if his team comes through later in the game and scores enough runs to cover.
Likewise, a pitcher can give up 0 ER over nine innings and pick up the loss.
In both cases, the pitcher had an enormous amount of control over the outcome of the game, and the decision is in no way indicative of how they pitched. These are extreme cases, to be sure, but there are MANY games throughout a season where a starting pitcher gains an unearned win or loss on their record (or gets an unearned no decision as well).
It’s not a freak anomaly, it’s a common occurrence. Given within the context of a 10-20 career, sure, it evens out. But over the course of the season, it’s far too unreliable to trust as a success indicator.
-C
cthabeerman - September 9, 2010
10-20 year career*
-C
cthabeerman - September 9, 2010
you got to be kidding me
Braves24 - September 9, 2010
You can pitch 9 innings, give up 0 Earned Runs and get a Loss. Another guy can pitch 5 innings, give up 7 earned runs, and get a Win.
So, yes, it’s the absolute worst way to judge the value of a pitcher.
Lennox - September 10, 2010
Trolls.
That’s all; they’ve been biding their time, waiting for a chance to diss the Braves. They think the time is now. They are wrong. They are pathetic.
sddbaker - September 9, 2010
Your "reverse psychology" FTW ;-)
Lowe stepped up and pitched great last night. It was so nice seeing the bats get hits and crooked numbers on the scoreboard.
Now, let’s take this momentum to Atlanta and handle the Cardinals.
NCChopper - September 9, 2010
Love....
the compliment sandwich.
sddbaker - September 9, 2010
FACEPALM
These kind of comments don’t surprise me anymore.
TonyAlmeyda - September 9, 2010
Braves 49-19 at home
Cardinals 29-41 on the road
So yes, favorable match up.. for the Braves.
redwards95 - September 9, 2010
I don’t care if we are playing this game in Iran and Tony LaRussa takes a dump on a picture of Muhammed before the game. There is no such thing as a “favorable matchup” when you are facing Adam Wainwright.
DCP916 - September 9, 2010
This for truth
And this for analogy.
royhobbs - September 9, 2010
LOL
They get like 1/4th of the page views and visits that TC gets. Our Saturday’s are bigger than their Monday’s. Jealousy is a bad taste, I guess.
Scott Coleman - September 9, 2010 via mobile
Glad to be part of this 'crappy blog'
Upcoming series is HUGE. Losing ground while at home (even against the Cardinals) would be very, very bad.
We must, MUST win 3 or 4 games in this series.
And, for the record, the Braves have not ‘pulled a Mets’ quite yet. Yes, we lost two in Pittsburgh, but the Phillies lost FOUR to the Astros at HOME. Does this go unnoticed by the j-offs at SBNation? How about the fact that there are still 22 games left, and we are only 1/2 game out, and still leading the wildcard?
ryantex - September 9, 2010
1/2 game is nothing. It’s not our fault that a minor blip on the radar makes collective nay-sayers’ pants bulge.
DuPu - September 9, 2010
Oh, and rec’d. :]
DuPu - September 9, 2010
It is a little uncalled for
For them to make that kind of assertion, but when the editorial staff of SBN’s general site are all respective bloggers with respective favorite teams, it’s easy for them to take jabs and potshots, and to not necessarily believe an unbiased account.
That kind of remark insinuates that no other team in the history of baseball has ever lost a division lead in early September, which isn’t fairly a benign thing to say, and it’s not officially pulling a Mets unless we too make little fight in getting the lead back. And as much as I hate to defend the Mets, in 2008, when they “pulled a Mets,” they did so with zero head-to-heads left on their schedule to really get a chance to get the division back. Considering that they handled the Phillies pretty well (11-7) that year, things might’ve been different if they had six tries to gain some real ground directly after September 8th.
royhobbs - September 9, 2010
I recommend using reverse psychology for the duration of the season. The ‘feigned optimism’ and exaltation of opposing flop pitchers is much easier to endure than doom-and-gloom forecasts.
DuPu - September 9, 2010
Also:
I don’t think losing a 7 game lead in 6 weeks is all that dramatic. Read CAC’s recent blog post and marinade in his observations for a moment: http://capitolavenueclub.com/?p=3037
I’m cautiously optimistic that we’ll play our hearts out for the remainder and grab a playoff spot. And if we don’t? Then it’s been a fun season to watch, and I think Bobby Cox will be more than pleased with the Braves efforts regardless of the outcome. I’m just thankful to not relive the 2007 or 2008 seasons every year.
DuPu - September 9, 2010
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