Gamethread: Mets @ Braves, July 17, 2009 (90/162) WIN

[sdp]

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/5703/mets.png
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New York Mets (42-46) vs. Atlanta Braves (44-45)
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Series Matchups (Braves lead, 1-0)
> Thursday: Braves 5, Mets 3 (W: Acosta; L: Feliciano; S: Soriano) - Recap (http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=5582331&c_id=atl) | Box Score (http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2009_07_16_nynmlb_atlmlb_1) | Gamethread (http://www.chopnation.com/boards/showthread.php?t=200)
> TONIGHT: Mike Pelfrey vs. Jair Jurrjens, 7:35 PM EDT on PTV
> Saturday: Johan Santana vs. Kenshin Kawakami, 4:05 PM EDT on FOX
> Sunday: Fernando Nieve vs. Javier Vazquez, 6:05 PM EDT on ESPN

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Starting Lineup
Nate McLouth, CF
Martin Prado, 2B
Chipper Jones, 3B
Brian McCann, C
Garret Anderson, LF
Yunel Escobar, SS
Ryan Church, RF
Casey Kotchman, 1B
Jair Jurrjens, P

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Link Roundup


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Upcoming vs. San Fransisco
Monday, July 20th: Jonathan Sanchez vs. Tommy Hanson, 7:05 PM EDT on SPSO
Tuesday, July 21st: Ryan Sadowski vs. Derek Lowe, 7:05 PM EDT on PTV
Wednesday, July 22nd: Tim Lincecum vs. Jair Jurrjens, 7:05 PM EDT on PTV
Thursday, July 23rd: Barry Zito vs. Kenshin Kawakami, 1:05 PM EDT on SPSO

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July 24th-26th: Braves @ Brewers; July 28th-29th: Braves @ Marlins
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Go Braves!

[ATL2123]

Supposed to be a packed house tonight with Maddux getting his number retired and inducted into the Braves Hall of Fame

[Hobbes]

Does anybody know if they are still doing the MLB Extra Innings preview tonight?

[Dreamscape]

Preview is through the 22nd.

[Hobbes]

It was nice to see the ceremony for Greg Maddux, my favorite all-time player.

[ATL2123]

It was nice to see the ceremony for Greg Maddux, my favorite all-time player.

Ditto, one of my favorite players also, brought many memories of his outstanding years with the Braves

[Hobbes]

I wonder if the Cubs will retire his number. I would think not based on his career with Chicago, but given his stature they just might.

[Hobbes]

Prado just continues to hit.

[ATL2123]

B-Mac gets us on the board with a 2-run double

[RiknTN]

Really good write-up about Maddux by Mark Bradley

"Terry Pendleton: “We were in Cincinnati one night and Bret Boone kept fouling off fastballs, and I went to the mound and said, ‘You could get him with a slider.’ And Doggie said, ‘Yeah, but I want to save that for when runners are in scoring position.’ ”....ajc.com

http://blogs.ajc.com/mark-bradley-blog/2009/07/17/greg-maddux-is-nothing-but-a-big-phony-i-tell-you/

[Dreamscape]

Freakish storm knocked out my Direct TV.

Of course, the week I have MLB Extra Innings, we actually get a storm.

[Dreamscape]

Oh, McCann is starting to hit the ball again.

Maybe Francoeur's failures were dragging him down via sympathy struggles.

[Dreamscape]

Ya know, Greg, this does feel like the old days...

[Dreamscape]

Jair is really confused. By the time the Braves score six runs for him, he's usually into his third no-decision or loss.

[Hobbes]

Really good write-up about Maddux by Mark Bradley

"Terry Pendleton: “We were in Cincinnati one night and Bret Boone kept fouling off fastballs, and I went to the mound and said, ‘You could get him with a slider.’ And Doggie said, ‘Yeah, but I want to save that for when runners are in scoring position.’ ”....ajc.com

http://blogs.ajc.com/mark-bradley-blog/2009/07/17/greg-maddux-is-nothing-but-a-big-phony-i-tell-you/

Thanks for the link Rik. Great read. What a great player.

[Dreamscape]

Pretty dumb discussion in my mind. Velocity might be part of stuff, but the biggest part in my mind is movement and Maddux had incredible movement. Major league hitters will abuse 95 mph fastballs that don't move.

[BraveFan]

OT: R.I.P Walter Cronkite

The Braves look great and the offense has come out during this series.

[Dreamscape]

Alright McCann, now we just need the triple.

[Dreamscape]

It took seven runs, but Jerry Manual has decided that Pelfrey just doesn't have it tonight.

[wordslayer©]

Random thought of the night.......

3rd base, historically, is probably the most difficult position to fill, and there are teams in history that go years without ever having a decent one.

The braves have had more great 3rd basemen than any other team in baseball, and you could make an argument that they have had three of the top ten 3rd basemen in history.

Horner would probably make a top 50 list of greatest 3rd basemen.

[Dreamscape]

Sheff just hurt his hammy.

As if the Mets weren't having a bad enough night.

9-0.

[Hobbes]

Sheff just hurt his hammy.

As if the Mets weren't having a bad enough night.

As if they're not having a bad enough season.

[Wahoo]

God, I love kicking the Mets' asses.

[Dreamscape]

Random thought of the night.......

3rd base, historically, is probably the most difficult position to fill, and there are teams in history that go years without ever having a decent one.

The braves have had more great 3rd basemen than any other team in baseball, and you could make an argument that they have had three of the top ten 3rd basemen in history.

Horner would probably make a top 50 list of greatest 3rd basemen.
I look forward to the blog post "Top 50 Third Basemen of All-Time" in your award-winning blog.

[JanShan12]

Am I the only one who doesn't feel bad at all that we're beating the Mets 9-0? I don't even feel bad for Jeff. Damn. I must be in a mood or something. Ha!

[Dreamscape]

BREAKING NEWS: The Braves have just announced they will retire a number for every remaining home game this year.

[Dreamscape]

Am I the only one who doesn't feel bad at all that we're beating the Mets 9-0? I don't even feel bad for Jeff. Damn. I must be in a mood or something. Ha!
I feel a little bad for Sheffield...

But that's about it.

I probably shouldn't say this, but I take enjoyment in the fact that Francoeur can suck for another team. When I watch a big swing turn into a pop-up to short or a little grounder, I think "that used to murder the Braves...not anymore...*evil grin.*"

[wordslayer©]

I look forward to the blog post "Top 50 Third Basemen of All-Time" in your award-winning blog.

I'm doing it on the top 50 "braves" third baseman. You'll love my Jerry Royster analysis. I have him now as our 4th best 3rd baseman. I am a sucker for power.

[BraveFan]

BREAKING NEWS: The Braves have just announced they will retire a number for every remaining home game this year.

It will start with number 7 tomorrow night ;)

[Dreamscape]

Chip just made me laugh.

[Dreamscape]

I guess Francoeur is the Mets' new cleanup hitter.

...yeah.

[Hobbes]

Chip just made me laugh.
With his impression of his dad?

[Dreamscape]

Yes, that, and the "Starting time is 4:10, but that's a lie because it's on Fox Television." Was really spot on.

[Hobbes]

Francoeur continues to blow.

And the Braves announcers continue to defend him.

[Dreamscape]

Well, he's a great human being.

[Wahoo]

Francoeur continues to blow.

And the Braves announcers continue to defend him.

Maybe some day they'll be willing to call a spade a spade.

[Hobbes]

Braves win!

They are now back to .500 on the season (for the first time since June 12th.) :thumbsup:

[CanadaBravesFan]

6 straight at home

[Dreamscape]

I like this whole...winning thing.

It's not the worst thing in the world, I guess you could say.

[Andy G.]

I wonder if the Cubs will retire his number. I would think not based on his career with Chicago, but given his stature they just might.
If I'm not mistaken they already retired his number earlier this year. I thought it was pretty lame for them to do that.

[-Dr. Brave-]

If I'm not mistaken they already retired his number earlier this year. I thought it was pretty lame for them to do that.

That would be like the Braves retiring Graig Nettles' number.

Oops, I probably shouldn't divulge anyone in slayer's Top 10.

[Hobbes]

If I'm not mistaken they already retired his number earlier this year. I thought it was pretty lame for them to do that.
Yeah, I realized that later. His Cubs career was hardly distinguished or lengthy enough to merit retiring his number.

[wordslayer©]

Their most famous cub is Don Zimmer. Who can blame them for trying to latch on to Maddux?

What a sorry organization they are.

[vailfiregirl]

I was at the game tonight. I took some video of Maddux's ceremony and of the new coke bottle in action, but they're still uploading. They had little clips between some of the innings with Bobby, Glavine, Chipper, and Schuerholz talking about Maddux. They were really cool, but I didn't catch those to record them.

A few pictures:
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a258/veefs/101_1089.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a258/veefs/101_1090.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a258/veefs/101_1095.jpg

The new Coke bottle after McCann's home run - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnnX_DWPcSI
Maddux's Ceremony - oops, I forgot that was over 10 minutes. I'll have to cut it in half tomorrow.

[Hobbes]

How appropriate was it that on the day they retire Maddux's number Jurrjens pitches a Maddux-like gem and the Braves wallop the Mets? Nice.

[KB 34]

I haven't looked at any data but my suspicion is the offense has been way better now that Prado is really hot. Really nice game there. Let's point and laugh at the Mets and how badly they suck and wonder how they're going to choke this season again.

[vailfiregirl]

Here's the video I took of the ceremony -
Part 1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezxAaD8xaQI)
Part 2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEcLrcdEHbY)

[Lauren T.]

Thanks, girl! K has her ticket and is going to meet H and I there (and we're taking Jey, too!) today. :)

[ChopTime]

Francoeur: 0 for 8 in this series, and I couldn't be happier.

[JanShan12]

Looks like everyone else enjoyed this game as much as I did. I was shocked to find out today that today's game will be on FOX (and shown in the STL area) and tomorrow's game is on ESPN (another National broadcast). At first I thought the Braves were getting some national media coverage love, but then realized it's because we're playing the Mets. Blah! Hopefully a sweep is on the way!

[BraveFan]

I know Santana is throwing for the Mets but there lineup is just awful and with Sheffield out there lineup now makes the Braves look like the 27 Yankees'. So I expect a Braves victory.

[BigWorm]

With a Kawasaki in the garage, you never know if it's going to start.

[JanShan12]

We have beat Santana before, but I'm always nervous sending anyone besides JJ to the mound. The longer our bullpen is sitting today, the better.

[Chris_Moderato]

With a Kawasaki in the garage, you never know if it's going to start.

:rimshot: