Gamethread: Red Sox @ Braves, June 28, 2009 (75/162) WIN

[ATL2123]

Boston

D. Pedroia 2b
J.D. Drew rf
K. Youkilis 3b
J. Bay lf
D. Ortiz 1b
J. Varitek c
J. Ellsbury cf
N. Green ss
B. Penny p

Atlanta

G. Blanco cf
K. Johnson 2b
C. Jones 3b
B. McCann c
G. Anderson lf
C. Kotchman 1b
J. Francoeur rf
D. Hernandez ss
T. Hanson p

[ATL2123]

Couple of notes: Hanson supposedly has flu-like symptoms and may not last the game. Plus, Yunel's out of the game and it may be due to his immature behavior that we have talked about on this board before according to the AJC

http://www.ajc.com/braves/content/sports/braves/stories/2009/06/27/braves_yunel_escobar.html

[ATL2123]

Hopefully that HR gets Chipper going, 1-0 Braves

[randyb]

Was wondering if anyone was gonna call the game!

[ATL2123]

Really need Yunel's bat back in the lineup, Braves leave two on base

[Wahoo]

Couple of notes: Hanson supposedly has flu-like symptoms and may not last the game. Plus, Yunel's out of the game and it may be due to his immature behavior that we have talked about on this board before according to the AJC

http://www.ajc.com/braves/content/sports/braves/stories/2009/06/27/braves_yunel_escobar.html


If this kid is wearing a Braves uni next year, I'll be shocked.

[Wahoo]

Wow, a runner on for KJ and Bobby has him bunting, which doesn't work, and now there is one more out, still a runner just at first for Chipper.

[Wahoo]

KJ swipes second, and then Chipper promptly grounds to short. Man, this team is hard to watch!

[ATL2123]

Hanson gets out of trouble and a GA homer makes it 2-0 Braves

[Wahoo]

More evidence of Francoeur's lack of baseball intelligence, when he, leading off second, takes off for third on a ground ball hit to the shortstop, that passes directly in front of him.

[hoosjon]

And I was SO psyched about us running on Penny. and then Frenchy wastes it by ignoring a rule that Little Leaguers know.

[MSbravefan]

back-to-back blunders by Kelly and Frenchy give Boston runners at 1st and 3rd with 1 out. These guys are horrible

[Dreamscape]

Good job, Aussie!

[argentina brave]

Good job, Aussie!

wasn't expecting to come out of that unscathed! go braves!! i know i've been a big cox sycophant over the years, but man, he really needs to go break a chair in the clubhouse, or overturn a couple tables full of catered hooters hot wings in front of chipper and all these other numbnuts.

he should make them watch tape of the red sox playing 'base ball' and start laying down ultimatums...

[Dreamscape]

Not possible. The Red Sox play smart baseball and the Braves hate that kind of ball.

[argentina brave]

Not possible. The Red Sox play smart baseball and the Braves hate that kind of ball.

that's my point...

[Dreamscape]

But I'm not so sure Cox also doesn't hate smart baseball.

W00t, a KJ walk. So rare nowadays.

[argentina brave]

But I'm not so sure Cox also doesn't hate smart baseball.

W00t, a KJ walk. So rare nowadays.

c'mon dreamscape, that's irrational... things like GA not taking his hands off his knees, while the sawks runners advance an extra base, frenchy not backing up kjohnson, etc.. i know we're not privy to what goes on behind closed doors, but i can't imagine that **** makes cox happy.

for some reason, escobar seems to catch his wrath, when there are several that deserve it (not even talking about the hitting, lack thereof)

[hoosjon]

But I'm not so sure Cox also doesn't hate smart baseball.

W00t, a KJ walk. So rare nowadays.

Nearly as rare as a Braves steal. or two ... by the same player? and another by Frenchy?

Now if we could just "get our defense on"?

[hoosjon]

c'mon dreamscape, that's irrational... things like GA not taking his hands off his knees, while the sawks runners advance an extra base, frenchy not backing up kjohnson, etc.. i know we're not privy to what goes on behind closed doors, but i can't imagine that **** makes cox happy.

for some reason, escobar seems to catch his wrath, when there are several that deserve it (not even talking about the hitting, lack thereof)

I know we're not "privy", but if he's doing "it", then "it's" not working.

Maybe that Hooters wings thing? I bet he hasn't tried THAT yet.

[argentina brave]

I know we're not "privy", but if he's doing "it", then "it's" not working.

Maybe that Hooters wings thing? I bet he hasn't tried THAT yet.

if he isn't, he should...

a little billy martin goes a long way sometimes.

[Dreamscape]

Cox's spanish is probably poor and Esco said something like "how's the weather?" and Cox thought he said "your mother smells like cheese."

Cox doesn't seem to do a lot of managing nowadays so asking him to suddenly try to be the little Billy Martin is a bit much.

[Dreamscape]

Oh no, we only win if we don't give up a run and one just scored.

[hoosjon]

C'mon, Bravos, finish them off! Who's the fan on the field, anyone we know? Leo Mazzone?

[hoosjon]

Cox doesn't seem to do a lot of managing nowadays so asking him to suddenly try to be the little Billy Martin is a bit much.

Ya know, we're facing 3 good teams in a row with 3 managers that I really respect.

BRAVES WIN!!! and the 4 game slide snaps!

[ATL2123]

Horrible defense by KJ at the end, but the Braves salvage the last game

[Chris_Moderato]

Kelly just sort of showed that he isn't a second baseman on that one. That was a mistake high school players get benched for.

Of course, they should've nailed Yankilis in that rundown too, so...

[argentina brave]

Ya know, we're facing 3 good teams in a row with 3 managers that I really respect.

BRAVES WIN!!! and the 4 game slide snaps!

very true....red sox/yanks/red sox is a tough way to go...if we had any hitting whatsoever, we'd have won more than we lost.

for me, the critical moment in this last week was when medlen had to come in for kawakami (who had the yanks reeling) and he started walking folks, then bennett came in and threw that dumb slider to a-roid, when he couldn't keep up with the heater. from then on, it's been tough going....

nice win today though...we really didn't deserve this one.. kudos to hanson for all-of-a-sudden becoming our stopper, flu and all....

[luvdembravos]

Kelly just sort of showed that he isn't a second baseman on that one. That was a mistake high school players get benched for.

Of course, they should've nailed Yankilis in that rundown too, so...

Can't understand what he was thinking, especially with Big Papi running to first. Just turn the damn DP! :wall:

But nice finish by Gonzo who kept his composure after that bonehead play.

[argentina brave]

i used to cringe at gonzo's antics, but you know, we could really use about 4-5 more guys like him. he amped it up after the bonehead play by kelly, and really bore down and, this may sound corny, but that was a show of 'playoff baseball' by him.

[hoosjon]

Yeah, I'll be the first to admit that I've been rough on Gonzo and Sori ... and they've been seriously upping their game.

[wordslayer©]

I'm pumped. Don't look now, but I can sense another winning streak coming on!

go braves

[slowride]

I think if the rest of the team had half the passion of Gonzo or Soriano we'd be over .500.

GA not attempting to throw out the runner at 3rd today.....I mean my Lord.....every single game he reiitterates how he just doesn't give a crap. It's insulting.

He got a HR which turned out to be the game winner, so for most I guess all is forgiven. But, I want him gone. He might make a decent DH in the AL, but his defense and lack of hustle would be laughable if he didn't play for the Braves. Instead, it's just insulting.

[Chris_Moderato]

I'm no Garret Anderson apologist, but some of y'all take his apparent "attitude" way too personally.

[RiknTN]

maybe...........but you know I'm about as easy going and forgiving as anyone here.......but his non-chalance (sp?) just gets to me for some reason......standing there with his hands on his knees on a blooper behind SS..........geez.........and I know h has a candy arm and runs about as fast as I do........but he could HUSTLE........he could try to hurry his throws back to the infield so someone with an arm might have a chance to make a play........but he doesn't even try to do any of those things......He's hitting now...so I give him credit for that.........it's his defense that completely sucks......not because a lack of talent but because of a lack of hustle and seemingly giving a sh*t.....

[luvdembravos]

Our starting pitching simply doesn't deserve a crappy line-up that the Braves have assembled. With the exception of Chipper, McLouth and McCann, our position players are borderline AAAA when you take into account their entire game.

But hats off to Vazquez, JJ and Hanson over the weekend. They really pitched well.:thumbsup:

[bravestud]

As great as Hanson has been so far, I don't think we've seen the best of him yet. His K/BB ratio is a lot lower than you would expect it to be given his minor league numbers. Once that starts to normalize we could really be looking at something special.

[argentina brave]

As great as Hanson has been so far, I don't think we've seen the best of him yet. His K/BB ratio is a lot lower than you would expect it to be given his minor league numbers. Once that starts to normalize we could really be looking at something special.

agreed, but there will also be a little bump the other way (more than likely), as the league gets better looks at him a couple times around.

i hope that's not true, and maybe i'm wrong, and this only applies to hitters (a la frenchy several years ago).

[BigWorm]

They interviewed Hanson on MLBTV after his last start and asked him why he's not striking out as many hitters in the bigs, he responded that he didn't care about his stats, and it's much easier to get someone to ground out or fly out then try to strike everybody out. Wise and talented, now that's a hell of a combo.

[Dreamscape]

He knows his cliches. Been watching Bull Durham, I see. He also wants to take it one game at a time and just do whatever he can to help the club.

[BigWorm]

He knows his cliches. Been watching Bull Durham, I see. He also wants to take it one game at a time and just do whatever he can to help the club.

Yeah he's no Kelly Johnson or anything. Tiresome dream.

[Dreamscape]

Yeah he's no Kelly Johnson or anything. Tiresome dream.
lol...surprisingly to you, not to surprisingly to anyone else, everything I say doesn't have to do with KJ. I love Hanson, but I think he's just trying to put on a good face. I think he wants the strikeouts. Strikeouts are money and he is smart enough to know that.

[hoosjon]

He might make a decent DH in the AL,

I disagree. Only on OUR team would his hitting seem acceptable.

[hoosjon]

They interviewed Hanson on MLBTV after his last start and asked him why he's not striking out as many hitters in the bigs, he responded that he didn't care about his stats, and it's much easier to get someone to ground out or fly out then try to strike everybody out. Wise and talented, now that's a hell of a combo.

Heck, he's pitching well, winning games and saying the right things (whether he "wants" strikeouts or not). I'm a HUGE fan.

[quick]

As long as Hanson keeps winning, do we really care what he says to the interviewers? He seems confident without being cocky, and I think this will serve him well....

[Wahoo]

From what I saw yesterday, I think he may be a little prone to the gopher ball, as he tends to leave the ball up a lot. He's walking a few too many batters, but I don't expect that to be a long-term problem with him. He showed pretty good command. His fastball wasn't as good as hyped, but regularly hitting 91-93 on the gun ain't bad.

[quick]

From what I saw yesterday, I think he may be a little prone to the gopher ball, as he tends to leave the ball up a lot. He's walking a few too many batters, but I don't expect that to be a long-term problem with him. He showed pretty good command. His fastball wasn't as good as hyped, but regularly hitting 91-93 on the gun ain't bad.

91-93 mph yesterday, and coming off the flu, and in that heat, ain't too bad. I'll bet he can do a little better normally. Of course, I'm all for his slowing it down a bit if he can still get people out and it helps save his arm from damage....

[Andy G.]

From what I saw yesterday, I think he may be a little prone to the gopher ball, as he tends to leave the ball up a lot. He's walking a few too many batters, but I don't expect that to be a long-term problem with him. He showed pretty good command. His fastball wasn't as good as hyped, but regularly hitting 91-93 on the gun ain't bad.
That's the worst fastball he had since being called up. As quick said, he wasn't feeling well yesterday. In the start before that one he was hitting 95 all the time.