Gamethread: Phillies @ Braves, August 15, 2009 (116/162) WIN

[JanShan12]

Sorry, no flair in the title or game thread today. Just wanted a place to talk about the game.

[JanShan12]

Chipper made a great catch over the railing to start the game. Hopefully a sign of good things to come.

[JanShan12]

Braves Lineup:

McLouth
Prado
Chipper
McCann
Escobar
Garret
Diaz
LaRoche
Kawakami

[Wahoo]

I see that stupid schmuck, Terry Pendleton, got in the ears of our hitters just before game time as both McClouth and Martin Prado made two quick outs early in the counts. Now that Francoeur is gone, Terry Pendleton may be my most hated "Brave." I wish we would just can this guy and get it over with.

[JanShan12]

McLouth and Prado retired quickly, but Chipper walks... bringing up McCann.

[Wahoo]

What the hell kinda song is McCann coming out to? Is that his ode to Francoeur?

[JanShan12]

What the hell kinda song is McCann coming out to? Is that his ode to Francoeur?

LOL I was wondering the same when I posted my last comment. Very odd.

[Wahoo]

Nice job by McCann in having a good AB to make up for the crap that was Nate McClouth and Martin Prado. Regardless of the result, he's made Hamels work a bit.

[JanShan12]

McCann works a full count after being down 0-2...

[JanShan12]

Here comes pitch #11 to McCann...

make that pitch #12...

#13 he fouls out to the 3B on, but what a battle. That's what we need to do to Hamels today!

[Wahoo]

See THIS is what Terry Pendleton should be preaching. I hope they are making a tape of this.

[Wahoo]

That'll go down as a weak out, but that was a helluva AB by McCann. I think Hamels ended up throwing near 20 pitches in that inning thanks to McCann.

[argentina brave]

well....it's 11:29pm in sofia. go braves!

[JanShan12]

Wow! Diaz with a single and a stolen base to move into scoring position for LaRoche, but there are 2 outs. Come on, Adam!!!

[JanShan12]

LaRoche walks, but Kawakami grounds out to end the inning. At least McLouth will leadoff the 3rd.

[Chris_Moderato]

well....it's 11:29pm in sofia. go braves!

A true fan. Battling it out with the Braves in the Balkans. Good stuff.

[argentina brave]

A true fan. Battling it out with the Braves in the Balkans. Good stuff.

listening to the allman brothers, sipping hefeweizen, and praying that kawakami keeps it up!!!

[argentina brave]

oh hell yes!!!!! mccann with a 2 run bomb!!

[JanShan12]

BMAC!!! 2-0 Braves!!!

[argentina brave]

esco came oh so close, but victorino pulled it in at the track (see a theme developing!) 2-0 bravos heading to the 4th

[Lauren T.]

What the hell kinda song is McCann coming out to? Is that his ode to Francoeur?
Mac's new song is Kings of Leon "Use Somebody". I don't like it either.

[argentina brave]

you can look it up....but GA just made a helluva diving play to save a run and record an out!!!!

[argentina brave]

2-1 bravos....t.williams shift gets the out, but the run scores.

[argentina brave]

heading to bottom of the 4th, 2-1 good guys. we were lucky to escape with only the one run after victorino tripled to begin the inning. good job kawakami!

[argentina brave]

we need some runs, or at least run up that pitch count!!

[wordslayer©]

if we can win this game here, then I really like our chances to win the series with Vasquez pitching tomorrow. Going to be a fun stretch drive.

[argentina brave]

head to 5th. 2-1 braves. feel like the bullpen is going to shut em down today.

[argentina brave]

fiddlesticks. 2-2 and a man on 3rd. no outs. it's not looking good, folks.

[argentina brave]

somehow we escape the top of the 5th tied. chipper made a nice snag and throw to nab rollins. let's get the damn lead back boys!!!!:thumbsup:

[argentina brave]

....and it's approaching 1am here in bulgaria. viva los bravos!!

[Wahoo]

Mac's new song is Kings of Leon "Use Somebody". I don't like it either.


Dammit. Now that crappy band is infecting our finest young player. They must be stopped!

[argentina brave]

mccann strikes out to end the 5th, but he has seen something like 35 cole hamels pitches. he is single-handedly keeping us in this one. go bmac!

and, um, c'mon kawakami, get thru this inning, and let's score some f'ing runs!!:thumbsup::thumbsup:

[Wahoo]

mccann strikes out to end the 5th, but he has seen something like 35 cole hamels pitches. he is single-handedly keeping us in this one. go bmac!

and, um, c'mon kawakami, get thru this inning, and let's score some f'ing runs!!:thumbsup::thumbsup:


Yes, that would help.

[argentina brave]

kawakami pitched well in that frame, retiring the side....and a tough one at that! he looked like asian right-handed tom glavine from 10 years ago :D

[Wahoo]

Nice. Konami with another fairly quick inning, and he's through 6 with less than 70 pitches. C'mon offense, let's not sh*t on another quality pitching outing.

[Dreamscape]

Come home to a nice inning by Konami.

[Dreamscape]

McLouth hurt again? Prado out?

[Wahoo]

This just isn't the same Cole Hamels as last year. His stuff looks pretty average right now. And he gets lucky that fatass Howard catches a liner off the bat of Yunel. Ugh!

[Wahoo]

Thank you, you worthless piece of Dung, Garrett. After a nice 5-pitch AB, you swing at the first pitch, and weakly ground out.

[Wahoo]

Our offense with another stellar inning. G'ah!

[argentina brave]

Thank you, you worthless piece of Dung, Garrett. After a nice 5-pitch AB, you swing at the first pitch, and weakly ground out.

the dung man did make a really nice run-saving dive earlier in the game. for what it's worth...maybe he's tuckered out and wants to save his swings.

[Wahoo]

Eff him. If he's that damn tired we shouldn't be starting him.

For what it's worth, Konami finally buckled, and surrendered a homer and now a double. Phils are about to put us out to pasture.

[argentina brave]

mother f'er. 3-2 phils. home run by *******s. damn it, we need some ****ing runs

[Wahoo]

Whew! Konami nails the leadrunner at 3rd, so we're now 1 out with a runner at first instead of third.

[Wahoo]

Which is huge, because Konami just gave up a double to Carlos effin' Ruiz. Mother effer.

[argentina brave]

o'holdity comes in and puts out the farking blaze. let's score some goddamn runs already!

[argentina brave]

whaddya know?! victorino missed one. laroche on 1st, no outs. norton the destroyer up.

[argentina brave]

ummm. correction, vasques up.

[Wahoo]

whaddya know?! victorino missed one. laroche on 1st, no outs. norton the destroyer up.

I noticed that. Quite frankly, he should have had that ball. Way to go doucherino.

[Wahoo]

Side note, I wish we had someone better on bench, then we wouldn't have to play for the one run, because with LaRoche on 2nd, it's going to take a long single/double to get him home.

[bmitm76]

Man, we have been so clutch lately too. Well the big guns are up next inning.

[Wahoo]

Man, we have been so clutch lately too. Well the big guns are up next inning.

Our last chance to steal this one.

[Wahoo]

Mike Gonzalez has the weakest pickoff move I've ever seen. And it screws us.

He walks Victorino on 4 pitches, then allows a stolen base, and throw gets by Escobar. Runner on 3rd, nobody out.

We're falling apart at the seams.

[Hobbes]

Nice start Chipper!

[Wahoo]

Gonzalez escapes without allowing a run. Chipper leads off with a single to left-center.

[Wahoo]

Rats. B-Mac grounds into a double play.

[Hobbes]

Ugh, McCann's lack of speed hurts as he still gets doubled-up even after the Rollins bobble.

[Dreamscape]

We're falling apart at the seams.
I wouldn't say that...

The Braves offense has contracted Derek Bell and his patented Operation Shutdown.

Probably not the best way to make noise in the division, though.

[Wahoo]

Well, that should do it.

[JanShan12]

Let's get that tomahawk chop going for a big rally here.

I feel like it's last night all over again.

[Hobbes]

Lidge has struggled all year. Time for us to take our turn touching him up.

[JanShan12]

Base hit Garret!!!

[Hobbes]

Utley helps us out with a sloppy play.

[Dreamscape]

Thanks Utz!

[Hobbes]

TIE GAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[JanShan12]

TIE GAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Lauren T.]

Wow, I haven't heard the crowd that loud over the TV in a long time! Way to play, MattE!

[JanShan12]

That was weird, Hobbes... the exact same post. :) Great minds think alike. :)

[Hobbes]

We got fortunate with the bounce off the tarp.

[JanShan12]

I was just getting ready to gripe that Matt was bunting since he is 2 for 3 with 2 home runs against Lidge. Whether or not it was the right call, I'm happy as can be right now! :)

[Wahoo]

Holy shiz! I went out to walk the dog, thinking the game was over. Came back, and saw that we were AB, and that Garrett was hitting and figured I'd stay to watch the last three outs before heading to the store. I'm glad I did!

[Hobbes]

That was weird, Hobbes... the exact same post. :) Great minds think alike. :)
I had one more exclamation point than you. I guess we know who is the bigger fan. :p

[Dreamscape]

MATTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Wahoo]

Come on..Norton try not to be completely useless in this situation.

[Dreamscape]

No, you guys don't understand. Diaz willed the error to happen.

He's voodoo crazy.

[Dreamscape]

Norton should definitely be bunting.

Or take the walk.

[JanShan12]

LOL

Winning run on 3rd... LET'S GO BRAVES!!!

[Wahoo]

See, this is exactly how you need to approach Lidge...make him throw strikes. He's always had pretty questionable control.

[Dreamscape]

It's nice to see another team's closer suck for a little while.

[Hobbes]

Bases juiced. A walk or hit does it.

Let's be smart up there Church.

[Wahoo]

Norton walks! Bases loaded, and I wish I were. Church at bat...ZERO OUTS!

[JanShan12]

Just about anything would win it right now. Come on Church!!!

[Wahoo]

Geez...way to make him throw a strike Church!


NOT!

[Hobbes]

Church swung at complete garbage there.

[bmitm76]

Make it Happen Omar. Come on Lets get this W, right here.

[JanShan12]

Ugh! Church strikes out.

Let's go, Infante!!!

I hope you are all doing the tomahawk chop at home! :) I'm not embarrassed to say that I am.

[Dreamscape]

If there is a double play, I will hit something really hard with my head.

[JanShan12]

BRAVES WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Hobbes]

OMAR!!!!!!!!


BRAVES WIN!!!

[Wahoo]

Hot damn! Infante takes a slider into left field for an RBI single! BIG EFFIN WIN!

[Dreamscape]

That'll do, Omar. That'll do.

[Hobbes]

Gotta like winning the Hamels start.

[Lauren T.]

Be careful, boys! Don't re-break Omar's hand!! :D

HOORAY!!!! GO BRAVES!!!

[Wahoo]

Just out of curiosity, why is the infield in on that? Infante isn't that fast is he?

[JanShan12]

Once again, Kelly Johnson is the first one to the game winner, Infante. As frustrated as I have been with KJ's play earlier this season, I am really happy to have him on the team.

[bmitm76]

WAHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YEAH BRAVES!!!!

[Hobbes]

That'll do, Omar. That'll do.

http://www.salon.com/ent/movies/reviews/1998/11/src/25babe.gif

[JanShan12]

Just out of curiosity, why is the infield in on that? Infante isn't that fast is he?

Good question. I thought they would be back for the double play.

[HaRdCoReBrAvEsFaN]

nothing better then an opposing closer in the gift giving mood...

[Wahoo]

Good question. I thought they would be back for the double play.


At least I would have only had the corners drawn in and the middle infielders back. I don't understand why you have all four infielders drawn in.

[argentina brave]

wooooo hoooooo!!!! braves win, braves win!!!!! it's 2:08 in bulgaria, and i'm a happy man!!!!!

[JanShan12]

You're exactly right, Wahoo. That's how I would have played it too.

[JanShan12]

wooooo hoooooo!!!! braves win, braves win!!!!! it's 2:08 in bulgaria, and i'm a happy man!!!!!

You can sleep easy now. ;)

[Chris_Moderato]

Big win.

[BigWorm]

Just dropping in to say

Whoomp there it is.

[BigWorm]

Just read the game notes on espn.com
Hate to be negative nancy but there was a note that Soriano was unavailable today due to soreness in his right shoulder. That doesn't sound very good at all. It also mentioned that Prado left the game due to heat. And as we already knew McLouth tweaked his hammy again.

[Chris_Moderato]

Just read the game notes on espn.com
Hate to be negative nancy but there was a note that Soriano was unavailable today due to soreness in his right shoulder. That doesn't sound very good at all. It also mentioned that Prado left the game due to heat. And as we already knew McLouth tweaked his hammy again.

Yeah, that Prado thing was weird. He didn't look well in that at-bat. Hope he's better. Get some water in that kid!

[luvdembravos]

I like the way the team has been playing but concern # 1 for me right now is the Soriano situation...the dude hasn't pitched very well lately and I'm just wondering how we're going to close out games. Gonzo and Moylan??? :confused:

Quite frankly, I don't care if the Braves don't even attempt to re-sign Soriano this winter as long as we get a suitable replacement. Soriano's just a little bit too fragile for my liking.

[HaRdCoReBrAvEsFaN]

I def wouldn't give Raffy big money...If he wanted to come back on a deal...I def wouldn't give him give him much more then the 6 mill he's making this year...If I was GM I'd say you want to stay here we'll give you a 2 year deal @ 6.5 per with a Team option for year 3 @ 7 mill with a buyout for 500k or 1 mill...you could add a 1 or 1.5 mill clause based on health where if he pitches 3 healthy year's then he gets a 3 year deal for a total of 24 mill...That's even a little bigger then I like, but you know he's not going to end up with a pay cut from his 6 mill 09 salary...