Gamethread: Braves @ Cubs, July 6, 2009 (82/162) LOSS

[sdp]

http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/6712/neww.png

Jair Jurrjens (6-6, 2.73) vs. Randy Wells (3-3, 2.43)

[Dreamscape]

For all that has been said about Hanson, Randy Wells right now has to be in the running for Rookie of the Year as well. Beating him up would be a nice secondary prize to actually, ya know, winning games for Hanson.

[Dreamscape]

Four former Braves starters in action tonight.

Smoltz (BOS) faces Oakland, Hampton (HOU) against Pittsburgh, Millwood (TEX) in Anaheim, and Marquis (COL) at home against the Nats.

I say Smoltz and Marquis win, Millwood loses, Hampton gets ND'd.

[Dreamscape]

Atlanta
McLouth, CF
Prado, 2B
Chipper, 3B
McCann, C
Anderson, LF
Escobar, SS
Kotchman, 1B
Diaz, RF
Jurrjens, P

Chicago
Fukudome, CF
Theriot, SS
Lee, 1B
Bradley, RF
Ramirez, 3B
Soriano, LF
Soto, C
Fontenot, 2B
Wells, P

I always feel better when I don't see the French Prince in the lineup.

[BraveFan]

Soriano must be sucking if he is batting that low in the lineup.

[KB 34]

Francoeur on the bench again? It's Christmas in July for Braves fans!

[slowride]

Atlanta

I always feel better when I don't see the French Prince in the lineup.

Hater.

[Dreamscape]

Well, there won't be a no-hit bid by Wells this time. McLouth singles to center on the second pitch of the ballgame.

Wait...the Braves won that game with the no-hit bid...

DAMN!

[Dreamscape]

Not much else after the single by McLouth. How sad.

[Dreamscape]

No no-hit bid from Jurrjens either.

[Dreamscape]

Jurrjens, don't give up a run. I don't want Bobby to think the sacrifice bunt works every time.

[ATL2123]

That was just an awful pitch...

[JanShan12]

Braves quickly down 2-0 on a Lee home run.

[Dreamscape]

And 2-0 on a Lee homer.

Chip: The Cubbies strike again!

/can't hear him, just guessing.

[BraveFan]

When you blow someone away with a fastball you don't throw a changeup the next pitch. McCann sometimes calls horrible pitches.

[Dreamscape]

Actually, you can call a changeup. The hitter gears up for the fastball so the change keeps them completely off base. But it's all about location and that location was poor.

[Lauren T.]

I totally thought this game started at 8pm...just switched to ESPN. :/

[bravestud]

I swear, opposing pitchers are hitting about .400 against us this year.

[bravestud]

Great job proving you were snubbed for the All-Star Game, JJ.

[Dreamscape]

Bad Jair showed up at the stadium today.

That's not so good.

[ATL2123]

Phillies are already up 7-0 in the 1st inning

[ATL2123]

Scratch that, actually up 10-0

[BraveFan]

going into that series with the phillies the braves were 5 games back and after tonight we will be 5 games back again.

if the braves aren't playing the mets or phillies they play with no motivation.

[Dreamscape]

Well, I think it's more, in any given series, anything can happen. Hell, any given week. But when a team suddenly has a good week, you don't go crazy, expecting things have changed. They didn't suddenly become unbeatable after three months of being an average team, or for that matter, slightly below-average.

[chicagobrave]

Well I hope the offense gets things going tonight. Hopefully JJ will start locating his pitches better. I really hope things improve for this series since I will be at the game on Wednesday. I am usually good luck when I am at games.

[chicagobrave]

Braves on the board now. Come on Matty good time for a homerun.

[BraveFan]

nice job Espn showing and talking about Francoeur so Diaz obviously Ks with the bases loaded.

[Dreamscape]

Jurrjens really not having much luck with his location tonight. I don't think I've seen him completely out of sync like this in awhile.

[Chris_Moderato]

nice job Espn showing and talking about Francoeur so Diaz obviously Ks with the bases loaded.

That AB there is why I just can't ever make myself a total Matt Diaz fan. I can't stand hackers. I just don't like watching hackers swinging at every pitch. I mean, Diaz gets his fair share of hits, but they usually seem cheap and accidental.

I guess I shouldn't complain, but I just don't care for his approach to hitting.

[Dreamscape]

BIRDS!

Sorry, the Braves provide little excitement...but...BIRDS DO!

[Chris_Moderato]

Poor fundamentals strike again!

[ATL2123]

I don't like that bunt call down 2 runs, especially your best power threat at bat:confused:

[BraveFan]

I don't like that bunt call down 2 runs, especially your best power threat at bat:confused:

Cox didn't call that, I think he was bunting for a hit.

[slowride]

Cox was calling the bullpen to get McMichael warm when that decision was made...

[Chris_Moderato]

We suck. Cubs win 4-2.

[BraveFan]

back to stupid baseball all around. When you aren't hitting you have to do somethings you might not want to do when you have guys on base. Two times the Braves had 3-2 counts with a runner on first and one out and both times Cox didn't send the runner. The first time Francoeur was on first and while he isn't a great base stealer we had Prado up who doesn't strikeout much and prado hit into a force out where he would have had an infield hit had Francoeur taken off on the pitch. The second time in the 8th inning the Braves had Yunel on first with Kotchman up. Now you tell me which is much more likely a Kotchman strike out or a Kotchman groundball.

[BraveFan]

I'm getting tired of this team sitting around a waiting for a 5 run HR. During our 5 game hit streak the Braves were bunting, stealing some, and hitting and running. Now during our three game losing streak the Braves have gone back to doing nothing but playing base to base BS.

[BigWorm]

Oh the agony

[wordslayer©]

Wow.

Another streak

[KB 34]

Rational responses folks. This team is being really streaky and playing around .500 baseball after all the streaks average out. The only things not streaky right now are Francoeur's OBP and Moylan's daily pitching outings.

[argentina brave]

Rational responses folks. This team is being really streaky and playing around .500 baseball after all the streaks average out. The only things not streaky right now are Francoeur's OBP and Moylan's daily pitching outings.

we're streaky like frenchy's turkey underoos

[hoosjon]

we're streaky like frenchy's turkey underoos

now THAT made me laugh.

[FrankEC]

we're streaky like frenchy's turkey underoos

This team has really hit the skids.