Gamethread: Phillies @ Braves, July 2, 2009 (78/162) WIN

[sdp]

http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/2859/phillyatatlanta.png

J.A. Happ (5-0, 3.00) vs. Javier Vazquez (5-7, 3.04)

[BraveFan]

I'd really like to see a Blanco/Francoeur platoon if we dont' make a trade for a right fielder.

[BigWorm]

Blanco's been good the last two nights but let's not get ahead of ourselves. He had 10 bad games before Tuesday night. Gosh I hate being negative nancy.

[BraveFan]

Blanco's been good the last two nights but let's not get ahead of ourselves. He had 10 bad games before Tuesday night. Gosh I hate being negative nancy.

he hit the ball well a lot before in those 10 games but couldn't get the ball to fall in so he wasn't that bad.

[Dreamscape]

Esco returns.

Filthydelphia
Rollins, SS
Victorino, CF
Utley, 2B
Howard, 1B
Werth, RF
Dobbs, LF
Feliz, 3B
Ruiz, C
Happ, P

Atlanta
Greg White, CF
Pradolonco, 2B
Larry, 3B
McGoggles, C
Mr. Official Scorekeeper, SS
Magellan, LF
The French Prince, RF
Kotch Rocket, 1B
The Other Guy Who Doesn't Get Run Support, P

[hoosjon]

Ok, hate to ask, but I "got" all of them except Magellan. Is that cuz he's all over the place in the field trying to get to a ball? Does he wear a large hat in his off time?

[Dreamscape]

It's actually a nod to his original chopnation nickname when he joined the Braves. He would take the oddest routes to a ball, but somehow catch it.

[Hobbes]

Filthydelphia
How did you know what we call it up here? :D

[Dreamscape]

Solid first frame from Vazquez. Two easy out and after Utley battles, Vazquez K's him swinging on a changup on the outside corner.

[Dreamscape]

Beyond a two out single by Chipper, not much working for the Braves in the first.

[slowride]

NIIIIICE bunt by Diaz!!

[Dreamscape]

After the Phils can't take advantage of a two-out double by Dobbs in the top half of the second, Mr. Dynamite starts the bottom half with a double. Little Matty Diaz follows with something that kills Gameday. Thanks, Matt!

Oh, it was a bunt single. Must have confused the computer.

[Dreamscape]

Hey, there's a surprise. Francoeur struck out swinging.

But he did force the pitcher to throw more than three pitches so it's almost as good as a hit.

[Dreamscape]

A one out walk by Kotchy loads them for the ever fearsome, Javier Vazquez.

[Hobbes]

D'oh. Bases loaded and we come away with nothing.

[slowride]

de ja vue

[Dreamscape]

And nothing out of the bases loaded, one out situation.

How...typical.

[hoosjon]

Yunel makes a NICE catch! Would Diory have made that?

[hoosjon]

Crap! I was REALLY enjoying J-Roll's hitless streak. At least the hit went for naught and he was stranded.

[Dreamscape]

Another scoreless inning for Vazquez. Bottom of the fourth and both offenses in Official Shutdown Mode (copyright Derek Bell)

[Dreamscape]

Good start to the bottom half as Matty singles and The French Prince takes a first pitch for a ball. I know, I was really surprised with the latter, too.

[Hobbes]

Nice play Krotchy!

[Dreamscape]

Holy crap, for one at-bat, Casey Kotchman remembered first basemen are supposed to have power.

2-0 Braves.

[Hobbes]

Holy crap, for one at-bat, Casey Kotchman remembered first basemen are supposed to have power.
Twould be nice if he would remember it often.

[Dreamscape]

Phils get a mini two-out rally going, but Javy gets bored toying with them and Victorino lines out to Esco to end the top of the fifth.

[JanShan12]

Great catch and effort by Yunel!

[slowride]

Javy pulled after 5 1/3 with runners on 2nd and 3rd; one out.

Come on guys. Lets get him a damn win!

[JanShan12]

Javy pulled after 5 1/3 with runners on 2nd and 3rd; one out.

Come on guys. Lets get him a damn win!

He deserves it... plus a few more!

[slowride]

Short dream...

[slowride]

I really thought at 3-1 he'd pitch around to get to Happ.

Oh well. Solid outting from Moylan.

[JanShan12]

2 ground balls, both for outs. Great job, Moylan!

2-2 Bottom of the 6th

[slowride]

I must be seeing the same thing Frenchy is; because it looks like he's hitting the ball....but the catcher keeps catching it.

Anyways...the breakdown was:
Escobar bunted poorly, even worse hustle (pathetic), and was thrown out.
Diaz hit the ball to 3rd base, had great hustle, and was thrown out.
Francoeur got ahead 2-0 and the struck out swinging on three consecutive pitches.

[hoosjon]

Escobar bunted poorly, even worse hustle (pathetic), and was thrown out.

I noticed that, too. You shouldn't bunt, if you're not gonna run. Was he just hoping for a throwing error?

[slowride]

I think he was hoping for a better bunt, but once again his attitude and immaturity showed through.

You'd think sitting his lazy ass on the bench for 5 days would help, but it didn't.

Sidenote: Tough break on Moylan not getting that strike 3 call. He went; albeit by an eyelash.

[Dreamscape]

Not sure how you don't use a double switch with O'Flaherty, knowing you will use a lefty against Howard, too. A bit of a wasted use of the bullpen.

[Dreamscape]

I really, really hate the offensive player used as a pinch bunter. I know, I know, if the guy falls behind 0-2, at least you can take the bunt off and hope the guy gets a hit, but it's such a terrible waste of your bench.

...I'd start a chat room called Cox Haters, but I know it'd only be filled with sabermetric guys and lesbians.

/Elliott Reid'd

[slowride]

I ALMOST got the sense that Prado was pitched around in preference of Chipper! Happ seemed scared of him.

[BigWorm]

I really, really hate the offensive player used as a pinch bunter. I know, I know, if the guy falls behind 0-2, at least you can take the bunt off and hope the guy gets a hit, but it's such a terrible waste of your bench.

...I'd start a chat room called Cox Haters, but I know it'd only be filled with sabermetric guys and lesbians.

/Elliott Reid'd

Did Coxy woxy take away your KJ play toy?

[Dreamscape]

No, he just has no idea how to manage a game.

No biggie, I guess. I guess I could go back to not expecting managers to manage games. They are there just to say "come on, kid!" and throw temper tantrums from time to time, right?

[BigWorm]

Howard just missed with a bomb to right, now a one out walk. Gonzo is making me nervous.

[Hobbes]

Out at home plate! Boy did we just get lucky.

[BigWorm]

Breaks are starting to go our way. Matty Diaz with a huge RBI double.

[Hobbes]

Braves take the lead!

[BigWorm]

Diaz swipes third!!!! Wowsers.

[Hobbes]

Garrett!

[Dreamscape]

First, Kotchy, and now Anderson?

What, did they bump their heads and think they were in Anaheim?

[BigWorm]

Folks, our Braves have just played themselves back into the NL EAST race. Only 2 games back of Florida/Filthydelphia if this holds.

[Hobbes]

Great catch by Prado. Braves win and sweep!

[Hobbes]

Quite a difference this year. Last year around this time the Phillies were sweeping us at home, and this year we sweep them. Nice!

[BigWorm]

They saved the homestand. Cubs, Yankees, Red Sox, and Phillies and we go 6-4. Nice!

[argentina brave]

garret = lonnie?

[slowride]

garret = lonnie?

LOL...Smith? Haven't thought about that guy in awhile.

What a sweep! We are right back in the hunt.

Not to be a downer on such a high note, but I do want to point (yes, again) Escobar's lack of hustle/giving a crap. The first bunt he loafed on he was most likely going to be out...but that doesn't give you the excuse to speed walk down the line. The second bunt, if he would have actually run...he'd have been safe. And Diaz wouldn't have had to steal third, because Escobar would have already been there.

I'm hoping we can deal this guy. I'd rather see Infante out there.

and GO PRADO!!!!!!! You da man!

[BigWorm]

LOL...Smith? Haven't thought about that guy in awhile.

What a sweep! We are right back in the hunt.

Not to be a downer on such a high note, but I do want to point (yes, again) Escobar's lack of hustle/giving a crap. The first bunt he loafed on he was most likely going to be out...but that doesn't give you the excuse to speed walk down the line. The second bunt, if he would have actually run...he'd have been safe. And Diaz wouldn't have had to steal third, because Escobar would have already been there.

I'm hoping we can deal this guy. I'd rather see Infante out there.

and GO PRADO!!!!!!! You da man!

I think Escobar's injury might be slowing him down a bit. I thought he played a good game. Had some key bunts, and played nice in the field. This is celebration time, rip on Escobar some other time.

[IkeWagner]

What a great series.

[sdp]

screw the phillies

[hoosjon]

ssssSSSSHHHHHHHWWWWWPPPPPPTTTTT!

That's the Phils gettin' SWEPT in Atlanta. Nice series and shoot yeah, savin' the homestand! Now, let's take this momentum on the road.

I'm gonna say that Yunie's injury kept him from running all out and he had some nice plays in the field anyway. And Martin Prado fittingly closes the final game of the home series (and the final one with the Original Coke bottle).

[slowride]

I think Escobar's injury might be slowing him down a bit. I thought he played a good game. Had some key bunts, and played nice in the field. This is celebration time, rip on Escobar some other time.

On the final bunt he began with the jets, then turned them off, and then (once he realized he wasn't Nostradamus) turned them back on. I highly doubt his injury had anything to do with his play tonight.

[Murphys#1Fan]

Slowride...

Have you ever had a hipflexor strain? Cox has admitted it a little more than a strain now...Escobar has a slight tear of the hip flexor. Believe me man it hurts. We're lucky to have him and his bat out there right now. I like Infante just as much as anyone but we'll be lucky once he comes back if he's even a small portion of what he was before he got injured. I know Escobar has made some bone headed plays this year but he's one of the main reasons the Braves are only 2 back in the division right now. You need to cut him some slack man.

[bravestud]

Enormous series win for the Braves. How many times have we seen this team tease us by winning one or two games that get you excited only to follow it up by looking totally lethargic the next few days? I can't think of think of the last time we made a push when we really needed to make one.

This truly was a make-or-break series. If we had lost it and fallen at least 6 out, there would have been no reason to think we would have made any noise in the second half. Now, it's all still on the table for us.

[argentina brave]

i'm gonna go ahead and 'go there' and ask where the hell is everyone?! we just won an exciting baseball game, swept the 1st place phils, are 2 games out of 1st, and yet, there are 3 or 4 posters on here. what gives?!

[Middle Man]

i'm gonna go ahead and 'go there' and ask where the hell is everyone?! we just won an exciting baseball game, swept the 1st place phils, are 2 games out of 1st, and yet, there are 3 or 4 posters on here. what gives?!

I was washing my hair. ;)

I'm proud of these guys. The pitching is the class of the NL east without a doubt. The hitting could stabilize at a fairly decent level if everyone gets healthy.

[Dreamscape]

To me...the Braves are really good at this. Making you hope that they will compete.

I'm just not falling for it again.

[slowride]

Slowride...

Have you ever had a hipflexor strain? Cox has admitted it a little more than a strain now...Escobar has a slight tear of the hip flexor. Believe me man it hurts. We're lucky to have him and his bat out there right now. I like Infante just as much as anyone but we'll be lucky once he comes back if he's even a small portion of what he was before he got injured. I know Escobar has made some bone headed plays this year but he's one of the main reasons the Braves are only 2 back in the division right now. You need to cut him some slack man.

Again....the way he "turned it on" and then "turn it off" was indicitive of the way he has played the entire season.

To answer your question....no, I have never been diagnosed with a hip flexor strain. But I mean hell....even with a pulled quad I run the bases out. If he can't run, which is what you're alluding to, then he shouldn't be playing. If he CAN run....then he should...oh I don't know.....F'N RUN!

[bravos4evr]

I'm still waiting for someone to rail me for starting the " Throwing in the towel" thread.

I don't think any of us thought that we could be below .500 and only 2 games out of first. That's friggin ridiculous NL west type stuff usually!

[luvdembravos]

To me...the Braves are really good at this. Making you hope that they will compete.

I'm just not falling for it again.

Exactly. Sweep the lowly Nats and maybe I'll start believing.

[Andy G.]

I'm still waiting for someone to rail me for starting the " Throwing in the towel" thread.

I don't think any of us thought that we could be below .500 and only 2 games out of first. That's friggin ridiculous NL west type stuff usually!
I was just about to do that. :D

Kotchman's homerun yesterday was a BOMB. I couldn't believe he hit the ball that far. He pulled it and still hit it over 400 feet.

Diaz tried to fake like he couldn't see the ball yesterday. There was a runner on first, and Diaz had to run in and call Escobar off for the ball. Then at the last second he started acting like he lost it. It wasn't convincing at all, but it was pretty funny.

The Braves went 7-6 in this thirteen game stretch we've all been dreading. We could have easily won 8 or 9. Let's keep it going against the Nats. Go Braves!

[bmitm76]

Last night was as excited as I have been watching a Braves game in a long time. SWEEP!!! We're gonna keep on rolling. You have to have faith. If you don't where's the fun???

[sdp]

Kotchman's homerun yesterday was a BOMB. I couldn't believe he hit the ball that far. He pulled it and still hit it over 400 feet.


I don't know where in the world it came from, but that was some serious power. Unreal. It's been a long time since I've seen a baseball hit with such authority. That ball was absolutely obliterated.

[argentina brave]

Last night was as excited as I have been watching a Braves game in a long time. SWEEP!!! We're gonna keep on rolling. You have to have faith. If you don't where's the fun???

that is my feeling 100%!!!!!!!!!:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

being a fan (to me) is not thinking about draft picks and conceding in june...ya gotta believe!!!! last night felt like 1991 to me. for the last week, this team has been playing with a fire i haven't seen in years. it really is an exciting time (albeit a week) and i hope it continues. if we can take 2 of 3 from washington before the break, i think we'll be in great shape. we 'made our move' by sweeping the phils, now we need to win some series.

i've come to the conclusion that martin prado is just a good, overall 'ballplayer', and he's a spark plug that needs to be in the 2 slot every day. he seems to really elevate our offense in that slot. in this series against the phils, he played with a fire that i haven't seen in the braves in a loooong time, dare i say since frenchy was brought up from the minors several years ago. it's weird, last night was the first time where i felt that the braves had a hitter that was more dangerous than chipper and mccann. he's just completely locked in right now (in all aspects of his game, baserunning, defense)

at any rate, the last couple of nights, this has been a fun team to watch...i hope it continues.

[bmitm76]

that is my feeling 100%!!!!!!!!!:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

being a fan (to me) is not thinking about draft picks and conceding in june...ya gotta believe!!!! last night felt like 1991 to me. for the last week, this team has been playing with a fire i haven't seen in years. it really is an exciting time (albeit a week) and i hope it continues. if we can take 2 of 3 from washington before the break, i think we'll be in great shape. we 'made our move' by sweeping the phils, now we need to win some series.

i've come to the conclusion that martin prado is just a good, overall 'ballplayer', and he's a spark plug that needs to be in the 2 slot every day. he seems to really elevate our offense in that slot. in this series against the phils, he played with a fire that i haven't seen in the braves in a loooong time, dare i say since frenchy was brought up from the minors several years ago. it's weird, last night was the first time where i felt that the braves had a hitter that was more dangerous than chipper and mccann. he's just completely locked in right now (in all aspects of his game, baserunning, defense)

at any rate, the last couple of nights, this has been a fun team to watch...i hope it continues.

I hear ya Argentina. I'm not sure Martin can keep it up, but having a player who is on fire like this is a heck of a lot of fun. Imagine when we get McClouth back and really have our whole team together again after the break...:thumbsup:

[JanShan12]

This game was so much fun to watch! I was clapping and cheering with the fans at Turner Field from my home. Pretty good crowd on hand too!

This team has been a roller coaster the past few years, but I still jump on for the ride every time. Martin Prado is the big reason for it this year. He seems like a wonderful guy you can't help but root for. I'm actually looking forward to watching the game tonight instead of dreading it like I have felt earlier this season. GO BRAVES!!!

[Hobbes]

Martin Prado is the big reason for it this year. He seems like a wonderful guy you can't help but root for.
He's our own little Craig Counsel. Not much natural talent, but he seems to make the most of it by playing hard.

[JanShan12]

He's our own little Craig Counsel. Not much natural talent, but he seems to make the most of it by playing hard.

I agree. He's playing above anyone's expectations and any added production from anyone in the lineup right now makes a big difference.

[IkeWagner]

He's playing above anyone's expectations.

In my view, what he's doing isn't really that surprising. Maybe the extra power is, but that he's hitting well is to be expected. He is a .307 career major league hitter.

[IkeWagner]

He's our own little Craig Counsel.

Except he's much better than Counsel.

[sdp]

Except he's much better than Counsel.
And he doesn't have a dumbass batting stance.

[BigWorm]

Just wanted to give this thread one more Whoop Whoop

[Lauren T.]

i'm gonna go ahead and 'go there' and ask where the hell is everyone?! we just won an exciting baseball game, swept the 1st place phils, are 2 games out of 1st, and yet, there are 3 or 4 posters on here. what gives?!
I was at The Ted, cheering my heart out. :D

[Lauren T.]

Here are my pics and videos (http://braveslove.blogspot.com/2009/07/game-day-pictures-braves-vs-phillies-7.html) from the game, if anyone's interested.