Gamethread Phillies @ Braves

[quick]

At game one and Yunel just left the game with no announcement. Have they said on tv what happened?

[Lauren T.]

I said this on the Escobar thread, but he didn't run out a play that would have extended the first inning and it looks like he's been benched as punishment. The announcers said he's not talked with or sat with the trainers, so they assumed it wasn't injury-related.

[Chris_Moderato]

God, I wish we'd just STOP PITCHING TO RYAN HOWARD!

[quick]

With you; we can't get Howard out.

[Hobbes]

God, I wish we'd just STOP PITCHING TO RYAN HOWARD!

:banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead:

[Chris_Moderato]

Case in point...he hits his second home run of the night. WALK HIM!!! WALK HIM YOU IDIOTS!!!

[Hobbes]

Infante thrown out at first for a double-play, but the replay shows he was clearly safe.

[quick]

Howard. Ditto. 2 homers. 3 to 1 Phils, 7th inn

[quick]

medlin to Logan to acosta = 5 to 1 Phils

[Hobbes]

McCann homers!!

[Hobbes]

Bleah.

[Hobbes]

Nunez is getting spanked in his first major-league appearance.

[Chris_Moderato]

That's how you do it, baby! Get yourself back in the game, then hand the ball to a scrub! Now we have ZERO chance!

[Hobbes]

Braves lose.

[Johndeerebrave]

And there goes the winning streak! Stop pitching to Howard! The shift doesn't do any good if he keeps hitting it out of the park every single stinkin' time! Also you could've used your bum relievers Tuesday and Thursday against the Mets. You have to try to use your best against the best and I understand Gonzo was hurt, but Moylan, while used a lot this season, had not pitched for two days in a row! GEEEEEEZ!!!

[Lauren T.]

Nunez is getting spanked in his first major-league appearance.
That was Nunez' first appearance for the Braves this season, but certainly not his first major-league appearance. Matter of fact, he appeared in 23 games for us last year and 252 total (http://mlb.mlb.com/stats/individual_stats_player.jsp?c_id=mlb&playerID=136727) MLB career games.

[Hobbes]

That was Nunez' first appearance for the Braves this season, but certainly not his first major-league appearance. Matter of fact, he appeared in 23 games for us last year and 252 total (http://mlb.mlb.com/stats/individual_stats_player.jsp?c_id=mlb&playerID=136727) MLB career games.
That makes sense, as I thought I knew him. But I thought the announcers said it was his first appearance. They must have meant his first appearance this season.

[jlcct]

I don't see most of the games but I do catch a lot of the gameday pitch by pitch and so my observation is different as compared to most here I'm sure. What stands out to me is pitch location. Nunez wouldn't have a one legged drunk guy off balance. How did he look live? And why was he still in there after walking two guys to begin the ninth or was it the eigth? I think it was the ninth. lol, could've been the 1st I was sleepy.

To me this is the playoffs. Not really a time for following the 162 game slow and steady schedule. I don't want to hurt anyone on the mound but we need a sharper game plan. I don't want to kick this dead horse any more but I say we trade Lowe for Tony LaRussa. He's an ass but he's an executive I'd go to war with any day. I don't care who it is really. I'd have some of you guys manage before I'd run Bobby out there any more. We should promote him to mascot.....I still love you Bobby...b u t...

[warefreak]

Howard should be getting the Barry Bonds treatment from us for the rest of his career. The guy just nails our pitchers. I truly hope they don't let him beat us today.

[JanShan12]

Is this being used as the game thread for tonight's game as well?

[JanShan12]

If so, the Braves somehow got Howard to fly out to deep LF to end the 1st.

[Dreamscape]

Hell, we may as well go to series threads instead of game threads.

[JanShan12]

Garret Anderson with a lead-off double.

[JanShan12]

Escobar follows with an opposite field single to put runners at the corners with no outs.

[Hobbes]

Diaz with a 2-run homer! 6-0 Braves.

[-Dr. Brave-]

Hell, we may as well go to series threads instead of game threads.

Bah!

[Hobbes]

Soriano gives up yet another homer to Howard. Luckily we had a 6-run lead at the time.

[Hobbes]

Soriano can't get anybody out. After the 2-run homer he put two more guys on base and still nobody out.

[Hobbes]

Soriano gives up 4 runs and makes it very interesting, but in the end he closes it out.

Braves win!

[sdp]

Glad to win that game. Need to take the series tomorrow.

[jlcct]

okay game 3. Victorino just got ejected from center field according to gameday. Anyone see what happened?

[-Dr. Brave-]

Victorino tried to steal second and was called out. He was tossed for arguing. Replays seemed to show that he was safe.

After a 2-hour rain delay, Hanson was lifted after five innings trailing 4-1.

[-Dr. Brave-]

McCann with a pinch-hit RBI single in the ninth, but the Braves lose 4-2.

Back to the football games.

[KB 34]

The good news is the Braves are 14.5 games above the Mets. (everyone take a moment to laugh at the Mets and laugh at how freaked out people were when they signed Santana) The bad news is who isn't doing better than the Mets? The Braves are 5.5 games out of the Wild Card. If 8 teams got in instead of 4 from each league like the NBA things would be looking a lot better but it isn't the NBA.

[Chris_Moderato]

The good news is the Braves are 14.5 games above the Mets. (everyone take a moment to laugh at the Mets and laugh at how freaked out people were when they signed Santana) The bad news is who isn't doing better than the Mets? The Braves are 5.5 games out of the Wild Card. If 8 teams got in instead of 4 from each league like the NBA things would be looking a lot better but it isn't the NBA.

I'm not willing to laugh at the Mets. They sucked this year because half their team spent the season on the DL. Frenchy batted fifth for them. 'Nuff said. They'd have been a contender if they hadn't spent the season under the knife. We (and the East) got lucky as far as New York goes this season.

[KB 34]

Years ago the Braves routinely got hammered with injuries and still competed whether it be the dynamic Gerald Williams leading off, Eddie Perez taking over for Javy Lopez, Furcal rising to take over for Walt Weiss, Damiam Moss pitching well for a season, or whatever. The Mets have found ways to lose the last few years and it makes me happy. Yes, the Braves also have but for less money which is a minor victory....VICTORY I SAY. Francoeur sucks and is playing for the right team!

[-Dr. Brave-]

Francoeur sucks and is playing for the right team!

A month ago I would have agreed with this, but now I'm wondering if we should have been putting the blame on a certain hitting coach.

[KB 34]

It might be TP's fault that Francoeur batted like a little leaguer, him acting like one was a separate issue. Looking at his stats I'm not overwhelmed. He became the player he was in 2007, whoopdee. $4 million could come in handy this offseason.

[Dreamscape]

...so the Braves are going to non-tender Ryan Church? Otherwise, the $4M claim would largely go to Church, right?

Seriously, I'm too downtrodden about the Braves to get any pleasure out of the Mets' horrible season. If they had been healthy and still sunk to this bottom, then maybe that would make me smile. But you lose almost half of your offense to injury, there's no amount of depth that can overcome that.

[Chris_Moderato]

If they had been healthy and still sunk to this bottom, then maybe that would make me smile. But you lose almost half of your offense to injury, there's no amount of depth that can overcome that.

My point exactly. It was a lost season for the Mets this year.

[luvdembravos]

Yes, the Mets had a lost season but going forward, I think that team is in trouble. Their starting pitching is a mess and they don't have much depth in their farm system. They've got the second highest payroll (~$150M) and one has to wonder if the Mets' ownership is willing to throw good money after bad in order to get some starting pitching. Dropping Delgado will free some decent money to get one pitcher but that's about it.

They have a big decision to make this winter: either return next spring with the same roster and HOPE things work out or consider trading Reyes, Wright and/or Beltran to get some pitching or minor league depth. No matter what they do, I think they're destined for 4th or 5th place next year ... Omar Minaya's days are numbered.