Gamethread 07/29/2010 - Atlanta Braves @ Washington Nationals

[Chris_Moderato]

I'm well aware that this thread has the "wrong" date on it. I'm starting it a day early because, for the first time in four years, I'm actually going to a Braves' game.

Thursday, my brother and I will be four rows back on the first base line, the visitors' side I think, hurling insults at Nats' fans and rooting on the good guys. Woo!

[Hobbes]

for the first time in four years, I'm actually going to a Braves' game.
Cool beans.

[Lauren T.]

Congrats, Chris! How exciting! :)

[Garydee]

I really like our chances in this game. Lowe's been decent recently and Scott Olsen, the National's pitcher, is pitching his first game since coming off the DL. His rehab starts in the minors were atrocious. Hopefully, our offense can pick him apart tomorrow.

[Lauren T.]

And don't forget - today's game is at 12:35 ET. 12:35.

[luvdembravos]

I'm well aware that this thread has the "wrong" date on it. I'm starting it a day early because, for the first time in four years, I'm actually going to a Braves' game.

Thursday, my brother and I will be four rows back on the first base line, the visitors' side I think, hurling insults at Nats' fans and rooting on the good guys. Woo!

Chris, I'm also attending the game and would like to meet you. I'll be wearing a blue braves jersey, white shorts and braves hat and will gladly buy you a beer at the beer stand closest to the first base dugout after the Braves bat in the third inning. Free beer - do it!

[Middle Man]

Wow, could have been like a family reunion or something as I had every intention of going to this one too. Unfortunately, life sometimes throws you a curve and I won't make it. I'll try to catch some of it on the TV though. Have fun.

[Lauren T.]

4-3 Nats, and we're in a rain delay. I hope Chris & luvdembravos enjoyed MattE's home run and Rossy legging out that triple!

[Chris_Moderato]

4-3 Nats, and we're in a rain delay. I hope Chris & luvdembravos enjoyed MattE's home run and Rossy legging out that triple!

The Diaz homer was very satisfying. He hammered the hell out of it.

I didn't check the site this morning, luvdem, or I'd have gladly met up with you. Maybe next season!

We stood around for a good while in the rain before bailing. I had a long drive home, unfortunately.

[Garydee]

This series showed why many of us believe we need another good bat in the lineup.:banghead:

[Agent-X-]

This series showed why many of us believe we need another good bat in the lineup.:banghead:

I would say it's time for Bobby Cox to reevaluate the lineup. As much as I hate to admit, Troy Glaus has worn down over the long haul. He needs a break. CF needs a fresh face. There's not enough offense coming from the other positions to make up for the lack of a true, dedicated power threat. We are, at the moment, very light on offense. We can pull through, but it would be nice to have any voids in the lineup like at 1B and CF.

[luvdembravos]

Chris, I did a quick "drive by" the beer stand in the middle of the third but I figured I posted way too late for you to see my post. Maybe next year. [BTW, if you departed during the rain delay, you were smart because it took forever to leave the city.]

I watched every inning of the Nats series and wasn't impressed with the Braves' offense. We haven't done much since the all-star break. Prado and Infante had some good bats against the Nats but the rest of the team looked bad. Let's face it, if it wasn't for one big inning against the Marlins on Saturday and Hudson's outstanding peformance last night, we would have been swept the last 2 series. Glaus and Chipper aren't hitting and the bottom three in the order (Gonzalez-Melky-P) have been automatic outs.

Six runs in three games against Nats pitching is pathetic...and the Phillies just landed Oswalt.:furious:

[Lauren T.]

...and the Phillies just landed Oswalt.:furious:
But they had to give up JA Happ for him, and if memory serves, Happ kicks our butts on the regular. I'm glad he's out of our division.

[Hobbes]

And the net difference between Oswalt and Happ is really all the Phillies gained, which isn't that significant an improvement. Oswalt is certainly more of a known commodity than a youngster like Happ, but he is also heading into the downside of his career.

It's not a guarantee that they'll be any better off with Oswalt then they would have been with Happ.

[Dreamscape]

And the net difference between Oswalt and Happ is really all the Phillies gained, which isn't that significant an improvement. Oswalt is certainly more of a known commodity than a youngster like Happ, but he is also heading into the downside of his career.

It's not a guarantee that they'll be any better off with Oswalt then they would have been with Happ.
Bingo. This deal would have provided much more of an impact in the offseason or May at the earliest. At this point, it makes them far more dangerous if they get to October, but it doesn't become that huge of a move right now.

In fact, the argument is that overall, because of Happ's future being team-controlled for several more years, Happ will end up providing more to the Astros than Oswalt.

I dunno...I come away feeling the same way I did with the Halladay deal. So what? Do the Braves need to make a deal? Yes, but they needed to before this trade and it does nothing to make that need any greater. The Braves need to acquire a Luke Scott player and probably another good arm for the pen. Without those deals, I don't have much faith in them making a deep run into October anyway, regardless of what the Phillies, Reds, Cardinals, Padres, or Giants do.

[Hobbes]

Philthies won yet again tonight. That's eight straight.

We picked a bad time for a mini-slump.

[Chris_Moderato]

Chris, I did a quick "drive by" the beer stand in the middle of the third but I figured I posted way too late for you to see my post. Maybe next year. [BTW, if you departed during the rain delay, you were smart because it took forever to leave the city.]

Yeah, we left about an hour into the rain delay, about 3:00 or a little after, and it took us (with the train and the traffic) until 6:30 to get back to my brother's place in Fredericksburg. Next year, I'm going to stay in the city overnight if I go to a game I think- avoid all that madness.

Sorry I missed you, though.

[Dreamscape]

Let's face it, if it wasn't for one big inning against the Marlins on Saturday and Hudson's outstanding peformance last night, we would have been swept the last 2 series.
I don't agree with this. The Marlins series should have been a sweep had Wags not blown his second straight and McLouth not been, well, McLouth in the third game. Losing 2 of 3 to the Nats really hurts, especially the letdown against their B-team after Stras couldn't get ready, but I'm not overly concerned. The Braves had won some games they shouldn't have earlier this season and things even out over a 162 game schedule.

Now, if the Reds take two of the next three at home against Atlanta...I'm a little more concerned.

[luvdembravos]

Whether you viewed the Marlins series with your glass half-empty (me) or half-full (Dream), you can't dispute the fact that we sucked offensively against the Nats.

We're 6-7 since the all-star break and need to reverse that trend starting this weekend.

[Lauren T.]

We always suck against the Nats. I'm not worried about it. We'll get it going again now. :)

[Dreamscape]

Whether you viewed the Marlins series with your glass half-empty (me) or half-full (Dream), you can't dispute the fact that we sucked offensively against the Nats.

We're 6-7 since the all-star break and need to reverse that trend starting this weekend.
That may have been the first time you accused me of viewing things with the glass half-full in regards to anything outside of politics.