Gamethread: Braves @ Cards, 9/11/09 (No Chipper, No Problem)

[Dreamscape]

Chipper gets the day off because his foot fell asleep so we have this lineup.

N. McLouth cf
M. Prado 3b
G. Anderson lf
B. McCann c
Y. Escobar ss
A. LaRoche 1b
O. Infante 2b
R. Church rf
J. Jurrjens p

Cards respond with two guys, the Machine, Holliday, former AAAA guy, Rasmus, DeRo, Mr. Molina #2, and Joel Pineiro.

So...lots of grounders to come.

[Dreamscape]

And there we go. I have Gameday going with my radio tuned into the Lynchburg Hillcats Game Three of their Carolina League playoff game. Go 'Cats! And the future Pirates/players traded to the Braves!

[Dreamscape]

8 pitches to McLouth...he K's. One pitch to Prado...he takes a seat. And the Ganderson Project steps in.

[Dreamscape]

Oh, getting the start for the Hillcats is Jeff Locke, traded to the Pirates for McLouth.

[-Dr. Brave-]

The red caps look... different.

[Dreamscape]

Jair gets Pujols looking.

Because that's just how awesome he is.

[Dreamscape]

McCann is the game's first baserunner as he singles to second to open the second. ...that sounds weird when you say it.

Anywho, Esco steps in and follows with a ground-rule double. Wow, he got under something from Pineiro.

[Dreamscape]

After dummy LaRoche strikes out, Omar Infante puts the Braves on the board after Pujols drops a throw. Runners on the corners, one out, 1-0.

[-Dr. Brave-]

Great job by Jurrjens to get out of a first-and-third, no-out jam with no runs scoring.

[-Dr. Brave-]

Pujols isn't looking like a gold glover tonight.

[Dreamscape]

Pujols with his second error. Two errors and a caught-looking K? Did he get laid last night or what?

[Dreamscape]

Oh, boy. Jurrjens is poking the bear. He walks Brendan Ryan to face Pujols.

[-Dr. Brave-]

Is Adam LaRoche's glove made of Swiss cheese? That's twice this week he's whiffed on a ground ball.

[Dreamscape]

Can you imagine being a Braves starter?

If you don't keep the other team from scoring, you won't win. Jurrjens ERA is sitting at 2.86...yet, he's 10-10.

Russ Ortiz is snickering somewhere.

[Dreamscape]

Jurrjens puts Pujols/Holliday on...and no one else as he pitches through the trouble.

[-Dr. Brave-]

Church throws out Holliday at home for the second out, and a brilliant play by Prado at third for the third out.

[-Dr. Brave-]

Can you imagine being a Braves starter?

If you don't keep the other team from scoring, you won't win. Jurrjens ERA is sitting at 2.86...yet, he's 10-10.

Russ Ortiz is snickering somewhere.

SportSouth posted this graphic earlier in the game.

Jurrjens' run support in his 10 wins: 10.1 (?) runs per game
Jurrjens' run support in his 10 losses: 1.6 runs per game

I don't see the Braves scoring 9.1 runs between now and the 9th inning.

[-Dr. Brave-]

Now pinch-hitting for (edit: Ryan Church) in the 7th:

Chipper Jones

Bases loaded, 1 out. I like it. :)

[-Dr. Brave-]

Well, ain't that lovely?

Chipper grounds out sharply to first and reaches on a fielder's choice as the out is recorded at home.

Jair Jurrjens is retired with the bases loaded for the third out in the 7th.

Still 1-0 Braves.

A little insurance would've been nice.

[Dreamscape]

A little insurance would've been nice.
You mean it wouldn't have hurt?

[Dreamscape]

My Hillcats playing a lot like my Braves. They are 2 for 26 in their three playoff games with runners in scoring position, including 0 for 3 in the top of the ninth of a scoreless game after the leadoff hitter had tripled.

Wow, my teams hate scoring runs.

[-Dr. Brave-]

You mean it wouldn't have hurt?

I'm saying that it would have been fortuitous. For us.

[-Dr. Brave-]

Holy siht. Sorryano is throwing in the Braves bullpen. I don't think I can take this twice in one week.

[-Dr. Brave-]

Soriano gets the first out on three pitches, reaching 96 twice.

And now he gets the second out on one pitch.

One out to go.

[Freddy_Ballgame]

Quick! What's the difference between Chipper and Greg Norton?

Sigh.....I couldn't come up with one either.....

[-Dr. Brave-]

A flyout to right wins it for Jurrjens.

[-Dr. Brave-]

Quick! What's the difference between Chipper and Greg Norton?

Sigh.....I couldn't come up with one either.....

Chipper doesn't talk out of his ass.

[Dreamscape]

Hey, cool, Good Raffy pitched.

[Hobbes]

Braves win.

yay.

[-Dr. Brave-]

Good to see the Braves offense coming to life. :rolleyes:

Jurrjens' ERA is now 2.81.

[Freddy_Ballgame]

Chipper doesn't talk out of his ass.

Does Norton? I don't know that I've ever heard him speak! Chipper, on the other hand, may become more interesting if he did talk out of his ass! Dude's monotone is enough to put anyone in nodsville.
:)

[chicagobrave]

It was nice to see the Braves win last night. I wished we had scored more runs but a win is a win. I am in St. Louis and will be going the game this afternoon. I hope the Braves can pull off another win. I will still be wearing my Braves gear today even though I am going to the game with hubby who is a Cards fan. I hope I am good luck for the team again. Go Braves!!

[sdp]

Jair Jurrjens has been masterful this year. Only once (ONCE!) has he given up more than four runs and that was when he gave up five in a win against the Diamondbacks. Incredible. Frank Wren and his scouts deserve some insane praise for getting Jurrjens from the Tigers for essentially nothing.

[luvdembravos]

Jurrjens --- one of the best pitchers in MLB that many baseball fans outside of Atlanta still don't know about.

[JanShan12]

What a game! So glad it worked out. Like I said before, I was at the game with my brother, girlfriend, and our close friend is who is being deployed to Iraq tomorrow. Braves played great... especially pitching and defense.

We got to downtown STL way too early, so we had lunch at Hooters, went and had a drink at Mike Shannon's restaurant (across from the stadium), checked out the Cardinals team store (way too overpriced and very few items), and then had a drink at Patty O's on the other side of the stadium before getting in line. We were the 3rd people into the stadium. Ha!

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/JanShan12/th_Braves9-11-09011.jpg (http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/JanShan12/?action=view&current=Braves9-11-09011.jpg)

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/JanShan12/th_Braves9-11-09021.jpg (http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/JanShan12/?action=view&current=Braves9-11-09021.jpg)

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/JanShan12/th_Braves9-11-09024.jpg (http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/JanShan12/?action=view&current=Braves9-11-09024.jpg)

We got a great spot at the corner of the Braves dugout and the field. As we walked up, Mike Gonzalez was already standing there (like he was waiting for us) so I got my pic with him and an autograph. David Ross tossed me a batting practice ball and we got Brian Snitker's autograph. I was almost lucky enough to get Chipper's autograph, but a guy who already had him sign 3 things would not move out of the way and kept trying to hand him more. Completely ridiculous. Especially since I was wearing my "Got Chipper?" shirt. Ha!

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/JanShan12/th_Braves9-11-09019.jpg (http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/JanShan12/?action=view&current=Braves9-11-09019.jpg)

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/JanShan12/th_Braves9-11-09034.jpg (http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/JanShan12/?action=view&current=Braves9-11-09034.jpg)

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/JanShan12/th_Braves9-11-09027.jpg (http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/JanShan12/?action=view&current=Braves9-11-09027.jpg)

Anyway, it was a great night and so glad the Braves pulled out the victory. Hopefully they end the season on a positive note and we'll make some smart decisions over the winter (i.e. get rid of Garret Anderson) and the Braves will be back in the playoffs.