Gamethread: Atlanta Barves @ Los Angeles Dodgers 6/6/10

[Lauren T.]

http://i45.tinypic.com/28888cl.jpg

Let's go Barves! Let's go Barves!


ETA: Erm, obviously Hanson isn't pitching today. That's from MLB.com, so I'll update when they do?

[Agent-X-]

I hope there's not a west coast block out today. Looks like there won't be, and I just linked my PS3 with my MLB.tv subscription. This is looking really sweet.

Go Barves Go!

[Lauren T.]

Joe Torre and Bobby Cox are taking out the lineup cards, and the Dodgers are going to do some sort of tribute to Cox in third inning.
source (http://twitter.com/ajcbraves/status/15576353094)

[Lauren T.]

On Braves Live (pre-game show), they're asking the Braves about some of the celebrities they've run into. Some had good stories, like Chipper calling Lasorda "Tommy Lasagna" and saying "it's okay for me to call him that; he likes me". Most of the guys cited hot girls they've run into, like Rossy and Jennifer Love Hewitt and Moylan and Courteney Cox. Moylan backtracked and said his girlfriend is the one who saw Courteney Cox, but he got a picture with her, then said the most famous person he's seen in LA is Chipper. You know, from the Braves? :rolleyes:

[chicagobrave]

I am still trying to figure out what the heck happened with my tivo last night. I recorded the Braves broadcast. I got the 1st inning of the Braves broadcast. Then I got a blank screen and ended up with parts of the 7th and 8th inning of the Dodgers broadcast. I was not home at the time and the game information showed up correctly on the play list. I had to find highlights on ESPN. Hope the Braves can take this series today.

[Dreamscape]

Good start by Prado as beats out a grounder.

[Dreamscape]

Ely missed his spot and Infante singles. The banged up Heyward with a shot to get something going.

[Dreamscape]

Jeez, Chip. That wasn't hit that hard.

Flyball gets Prado to third.

[Dreamscape]

Well, the 3-4 hitters...really didn't do much with that threat.

[chicagobrave]

It would have been nice to score some runs. Mac hits into the DP to end the inning.

[Lauren T.]

Jeez, Chip. That wasn't hit that hard.

Flyball gets Prado to third.

http://i46.tinypic.com/2a6s41y.jpg

[chicagobrave]

Quick and efficient 1st inning for Hudson. Come on guys get up there and start scoring some runs.

[Dreamscape]

Ely K's Glaus to open things.

[Dreamscape]

Good job by Melky to, at worst, clear the pitcher. Chance for Hudson to keep it up.

[chicagobrave]

Good at bat for Escobar. Come on Hudson help yourself here.

[Dreamscape]

Infante hustles a double, though he slid into that bag really hard.

[Dreamscape]

RBI single for Jason and it's 1-0!

[chicagobrave]

Darn weather just killed my satellite signal. What did Glaus do?

[Dreamscape]

Dodgers get their first runner and get robbed of that runner.

[Dreamscape]

Huddy's control seems to just leave him an inning every game. This may be that inning.

[Dreamscape]

Darn weather just killed my satellite signal. What did Glaus do?
Weak grounder to end things.

[chicagobrave]

Thanks my signal is back now. I hate it when that happens in the middle of an at bat.

Good work by Huddy to get through a difficult inning without giving up any more runs.

[Dreamscape]

Hinske attempted a bunt, but was gunned down. Yunel followed by working the count and hitting a single. After Melky lined out to center, Hudson steps in and pops it up Ganderson.

[CanadaBravesFan]

Getting to listen to Vin Scully call this game is a real treat. The guy can talk about 200 different topics during a game, and yet not miss one pitch. He is truly amazing!

[chicagobrave]

Huddy seems to be having another difficult inning. Hope he can get through this one without giving up any more runs.

[chicagobrave]

Solo home run from Prado give the Braves back the lead.

[chicagobrave]

Home run for Mac. Now 4-1 Braves.

[Hobbes]

Nice job by Prado and McCann to put a few runs on the board after the Dodgers struck back.

[Hobbes]

Solo home run for Mac. Now 3-1 Braves.
It's actually 4-1, as Heyward was on base for McCann.

[Hobbes]

Getting to listen to Vin Scully call this game is a real treat. The guy can talk about 200 different topics during a game, and yet not miss one pitch. He is truly amazing!
Agreed. I love Scully.

He gave a nice little talk about today's anniversary of D-Day while giving a thorough play-by-play.

[chicagobrave]

There goes my satellite signal again. Did we score any more runs after Mac's HR?

[luvdembravos]

I just read that the Braves are 24-0 this year when scoring at least 5 runs in a game. So let's get one more and call it quits for the weekend.

[chicagobrave]

Can someone please do some sumarizing at the ends of the innigs. I hate game day since it is slow and I think my signal will be down longet this time. Thunderstorms moving through.

[Lauren T.]

Not trying to be snotty here, but there are tons of other websites besides MLB.com's gameday that offer constant, quick updates to a box score.

[chicagobrave]

I'll try to do play by play as I did last night, but my wireless signal is weak since I'm not at home.

Game is tied right now, though. 4-4. Dodgers have come back and Hudson's trying to work himself out of the 5th.

Thanks. My signal keeps cutting in and out.

[chicagobrave]

Not trying to be snotty here, but there are tons of other websites besides MLB.com's gameday that offer constant, quick updates to a box score.

What decent free sites are there? I usually try Mlb or ESPN? You are not being snotty.

[Lauren T.]

Off the top of my head, Yahoo Sports, AJC.com, Twitter. If I'm away from a computer and checking on my phone, Yahoo Sports usually causes me the least trouble (quick to load, always accurate), but if I'm at home I keep Twitter open all the time anyway. Many people I follow are updating on a regular basis.

[chicagobrave]

My singal is back. Glaus should have been able to make a play there. Cime on Hudson please settle back in without giving up any more runs.

[Lauren T.]

I really want to know what the distraction is. There was something similar going on at a game I went to recently -- Nate was complaining about someone behind home plate to the umpires and then to security, but nothing ever happened.

[Hobbes]

Nice job by Brooks there.

[Hobbes]

Infante got a heater right down the middle, but missed it.

[Hobbes]

That's two pitches that almost got by the catcher.

[Hobbes]

Predictably, Broxton wins the battle.

[luvdembravos]

Broxton is nasty.

[Lauren T.]

I think Conrad is uber-sexy.

And Broxton doesn't think so. He buzes him with a fastball up and in. 2-1 count.
Broxton would think so if he saw this picture (http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd105/Braves_Love/2009%20Braves%20rookie%20hazing%20pics%20from%20Lizziebeth/2009-09-20BravesvsPhilliesRookie-1.jpg), from Rookie Hazing last year. Just saying.

Anyone else think Venters is being groomed to be our closer next year? Just me?

[Dreamscape]

Did some painting and come back to the 11th inning. Awesome.

[Hobbes]

Anyone else think Venters is being groomed to be our closer next year? Just me?
I don't know about being groomed, but he has certainly been impressive thus far, and shown some qualities of a good closer. If he keeps this up he could certainly be our closer next year.

[Dreamscape]

Prado tries to get something going here in the 11th by pulling a base hit. Infante at the dish and hopefully, the Braves can keep it going.

[Dreamscape]

Infante battles back to 2-2 after the count was 0-2.

[Dreamscape]

Not a pretty at-bat for Heyward. To the bottom of the 11th and the Jesse Chavez Experience takes over.

[Dreamscape]

As is expected for Mr. Chavez...walk to start things.

[Dreamscape]

And Dewitt gets the bunt down. Winning run at second, one out.

[Dreamscape]

Dodgers win and for some reason, Jesse Chavez has a job.

[sdp]

Why Chavez and his 7.33 ERA is still on this team is beyond me.

I think it's high time that he got the boot.

[Lauren T.]

I don't know about being groomed, but he has certainly been impressive thus far, and shown some qualities of a good closer. If he keeps this up he could certainly be our closer next year.
I've heard Wags is taking Venters under his wing -- that's what I'm going on. He's got good stuff, and I certainly have more confidence in him than in Chavez. :thumbsup:

[Lauren T.]

Dodgers win and for some reason, Jesse Chavez has a job.
I just IMed a friend, "Chavez blows. Seriously, he's clearly blowing SOMEONE or he wouldn't still have a job." Ugh.

[sdp]

These kind of losses make my blood boil.

[sdp]

Breathe. Still two games up. Breathe.

[jlcct]

Yunel had two more hits today. I'm pushing for him real hard. Glaus can't keep this up forever so we will certainly need Yunel and Nate to start participating. Maybe a couple more games and I'll be ready to say we've got the old Yunel back. Also Timmy didn't have a hit and I think he had a pretty good streak going. He's hitting .258 which is better than Melky and Yunel. Oh and Martin Prado had yet another multi hit game today going 3 for 6 with a dinger. He's hitting .323 against righties and .324 against lefties. I think he's got an 11 or 12 game hitting streak going.

[Wahoo]

This team would be unstoppable but for Melky Cabrera and Nate McLouth. Both guys are seeing way too much playing time right now.

[4maddux_cy's]

I hope there's not a west coast block out today. Looks like there won't be, and I just linked my PS3 with my MLB.tv subscription. This is looking really sweet.

Go Barves Go!

yeah i did that as well. the picture quality is great on my tv with the ps3. before i found out that you could do that i would hook my pc up to the same tv and it was no where near the same. loving this. i even watch a lot of other games besides atlanta now.

[sdp]

I hear Cox forced McLouth and Chavez to do a tandem skydive over the Grand Canyon on the team flight tonight.

[Abaddon]

I think it would be a good idea to stretch Chavez out at Gwinnett to give him a lot of innings to work on his secondary pitches against hitters. This would be the best option to get him right. At the same time, call up Resop to take his spot in the bullpen.

Ideally, it may be better to send Martinez down first so that there isn't someone in the pen Bobby will never use. Then send Chavez down when Jurrjens is ready to come back. Either way, Resop should be called up ASAP so there are more quality options in the pen with Saito out.

[Hobbes]

Welcome to ChopNation Abaddon.

[Garydee]

This team would be unstoppable but for Melky Cabrera and Nate McLouth. Both guys are seeing way too much playing time right now.

I wish Infante had the ability to play centerfield. All of our problems would be solved.:)

[Lauren T.]

I wish Infante had the ability to play centerfield. All of our problems would be solved.:)
Omar's played 40 games over his career in CF. He's not a starter, but I think he could fill in if Nate needed a rest for a series.

[Wahoo]

I wish Infante had the ability to play centerfield. All of our problems would be solved.:)


Clearly you haven't seen him play that much. Infante is a bench dude. Serviceable, but in no way good enough to see more than 4-6 ABs per week.

[Garydee]

Clearly you haven't seen him play that much. Infante is a bench dude. Serviceable, but in no way good enough to see more than 4-6 ABs per week.

Clearly I have. He's definitely good enough to be a starter. Maybe not a superstar but good enough to be an everyday player.

[Dreamscape]

Clearly I have. He's definitely good enough to be a starter. Maybe not a superstar but good enough to be an everyday player.
Regardless, Nate McPopup isn't playing like an everyday player either so we may as well see what Infante could do. Over his last 206 games (all with Atlanta), Infante has hit .300 with a .751 OPS. No great shakes, but again, better than Option A (McPopup) and Option B (Melky).

I'd be up to getting him more at-bats out there. Even if Chipper was hurt, I'd be all for putting Infante in center and Conrad at third. Why not?

[Agent-X-]

Regardless, Nate McPopup isn't playing like an everyday player either so we may as well see what Infante could do. Over his last 206 games (all with Atlanta), Infante has hit .300 with a .751 OPS. No great shakes, but again, better than Option A (McPopup) and Option B (Melky).

I'd be up to getting him more at-bats out there. Even if Chipper was hurt, I'd be all for putting Infante in center and Conrad at third. Why not?

Right now it seems like Bobby is giving as many guys as possible as many opportunities as possible to see who is going to get hot and take the majority of at bats. That's a pretty good recipe if someone would finally settle into a good streak.

I've seen signs of McLouth starting to shape up, though. He's drawing walks and has had some good contact. I wouldn't write him off just yet.

[Dreamscape]

Right now it seems like Bobby is giving as many guys as possible as many opportunities as possible to see who is going to get hot and take the majority of at bats. That's a pretty good recipe if someone would finally settle into a good streak.

I've seen signs of McLouth starting to shape up, though. He's drawing walks and has had some good contact. I wouldn't write him off just yet.
Clearly, we are watching different at-bats. Yes, he has been drawing a few walks all season, but it seems every series, he's popping up to shallow left three or four times. He's a pull hitter and I don't think every hitter has to use every part of the field to be successful, but he hasn't been on the ball since he was traded to Atlanta.

[Garydee]

I've seen signs of McLouth starting to shape up, though. He's drawing walks and has had some good contact. I wouldn't write him off just yet.

I noticed that's he's not striking out as much as he was earlier in the year. However, he seems to have exchanged the strikeouts for pop ups. I wish he would learn to hit to the opposite field and quit uppercutting everything (Which is causing the popups). But you're right. I wouldn't give up on him completely because he is a good player and he might snap out of this.

[-Dr. Brave-]

McLouth needs to learn how to hit the ball the other way. Pitchers know he's going to try to pull everything, so they let him get himself out.