Game Thread: Marlins @ Braves 9/28/09

[JanShan12]

Braves sending out....

CF McLouth
2B Prado
3B Chipper
C McCann
LF Anderson
SS Escobar
1B LaRoche
RF Diaz
P JJ

...against the Marlin's, who are pitching Anibal Sanchez.

It's nice to be finishing the season at home!

[-Dr. Brave-]

Go Braves

[-Dr. Brave-]

Braves lead 2-0 after 1.

[Middle Man]

Crowd looks pretty spotty. They must not have heard that the Braves are headed to the playoffs.

[luvdembravos]

Spotty crowd...pathetic:(

[Middle Man]

Chip puts one off the RF foul pole. 3-0 Braves.

[warefreak]

I don't know if this is the truth or not as I'm not from Atlanta (actually from Seattle area) but in the article about Heyward when he comes up he will become the face of the franchise because of the population being primarily african american.

If that's true, than I can't wait for him to come up because we need all the attendance we can get!

[JanShan12]

Did it rain in Atlanta today? The field looks a little wet and there aren't many in the stands. A 3-0 lead is nice though. Got the game on mute while I watch my Cowboys!

[-Dr. Brave-]

http://www.roanokevalleyweather.com/posted/believe.jpg

[warefreak]

I love Jurrjens. The kid is absolutely incredible. I hope we lock him up for a long time...

[warefreak]

Escobar just struck out with a guy on first and 3rd and one out. I guess that's better than grounding out but comeon!!! At least hit a sac fly mang!

Laroche then hits the fly ball that we needed one out earlier. Oh well. We're ahead 3-0 and I'm thinking we'll be 2 games behind CO when the night is over!

[warefreak]

Marlins are threatening with a guy on first and 2nd with no outs.

If somebody is watching this on TV then help out. Yahoo is killing me!

Edit - Hanley strikes out on a full count. Whewww

Comeon Cantu... you CAN ground unto a double play TOO!

[Hobbes]

Jurrjens gets two outs. One more JJ.

[warefreak]

Marlins copy the Braves. Leave two stranded... one on first and one on 3rd. I can breathe again.

On another good note the Astros are leading the Phillies.

Not that I have hope of catching the Phillies... but it's still good news!

[Hobbes]

Nice to see JJ get out of the trouble.

[-Dr. Brave-]

After giving up eight walks in five innings, Sanchez is done.

Renyel Pinto in for the Guppies.

[-Dr. Brave-]

Matt Diaz strikes out on a pitch a foot outside in his last at-bat, then takes two in the strike zone and is called out looking in this at-bat.

[-Dr. Brave-]

On to the 7th, Braves still lead 3-0.

Jurrjens still pitching.

[Hobbes]

JJ in early trouble again in the 7th as the first two hitters reach.

[Hobbes]

And again he gets two straight outs. One more again JJ.

[warefreak]

Time to go to Moylan, Gonzo, Soriano.

Jurrjens barely escaped the 6th unscathed... and the 7th doesn't look good.

[warefreak]

and I speak too soon. Come on J.J.!

[Hobbes]

And he gets out of it again!

[Middle Man]

JJ playing with fire the last two innings. On to the bottom of the 7th. Braves still up 3-0.

Better go to the pen in the 8th Bobby. Great job by JJ with less than his best stuff tonight.

[warefreak]

That's what I am thinking. Lets get Gonzo or Moylan up there followed by Soriano for the save!

[warefreak]

Once a brave always a brave... right Meyer? I know you have no hard feelings about the Tim Hudson trade! We won't mind if ya let some thru right down the middle for us...

[Middle Man]

Once a brave always a brave... right Meyer? I know you have no hard feelings about the Tim Hudson trade! We won't mind if ya let some thru right down the middle for us...

He's had a great year but I think the Braves have roughed him up once or twice.

edit: but not tonight - 123
Chipper's back is buggin' him

[Hobbes]

Braves go down quietly in the 7th.

[warefreak]

Well if he keeps hitting a home run when his back is bothering him than I'm ok with that... but if he goes down it'll be HORRIBLE timing for this club.

[Hobbes]

Bases loaded baby!

[Middle Man]

bases loaded one out for Infante. how about a rerun of yesterday Omar?

Never mind

[Hobbes]

He walks in a run!

[Hobbes]

Soriano in to close it out.

[JanShan12]

Soriano pitching well...

What a run our Braves are on.

[sdp]

Braves win!

Two games back with six to go!
:D

[Hobbes]

Braves win!

[JanShan12]

BRAVES WIN!!!

[JanShan12]

It's going to be tough to pass the Rockies or even tie them, but it can be done. Just the hope of that makes it worth being a fan.

[Middle Man]

Big win. 2 games back. This first win was critical - I guess they're all critical now - but whatever lingering hope the fishies may have had is now extinguished. Hopefully they'll be suitably demoralized for the next two games.

[Chris_Moderato]

I believe, God dammit! I believe!

[sdp]

Getting the first out of the way against the pesky Fish was huge. If we can beat Josh Johnson tomorrow night, I like our chances to finish this season on a 13-game winning streak.

WE'VE GOT THIS IN OUR HANDS!

[-Dr. Brave-]

If there is a playoff between the Braves and Rockies, it will be in Atlanta.

[KB 34]

What's gotten into this team? They might just pull it off. Tie things up and I like the chances of a one game playoff. It's not like the Braves will be hurt by having a really good starter unavailable a couple of days they way they're pitching. I can't believe the Braves are making it this close and crazy. Suddenly game threads are rolling again............

[sdp]

http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/atl/images/ticketing/y2009/believe_tomahawk_hdr.gif

[Hobbes]

Since the All-Star break we have the same number of wins as we had before the break (42), and 20 fewer losses (25). :thumbsup:

[KB 34]

This guy is turning into one nice pitcher and deserves more love.
http://nationalsreview.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/jurrjens.jpg

[Freddy_Ballgame]

JJ's been one nice pitcher since he showed up in Atlanta! He's becoming one of those guys the other teams do not want to see.

[KB 34]

Whenever I get in my cynical mode about the Braves remind me the Braves rotation starts with Jurrjens and Hanson. They're special and going to be tough to compete against for a while.

[Middle Man]

If the current rotation holds, Vazquez would be due to pitch on Monday.

Chipper Jones needs two more home runs to set the major league record for most consecutive 20-homer seasons to start a career. He's tied with former Brave Hall of Famer Eddie Mathews at 14. AJC link (http://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-braves/braves-run-win-streak-149200.html)

The crowd tonight was announced as 25,046.

[Hobbes]

Chipper Jones needs two more home runs to set the major league record for most consecutive 20-homer seasons to start a career. He's tied with former Brave Hall of Famer Eddie Mathews at 14.
Unfortunately, that's not going to happen.

The crowd tonight was announced as 25,046.
Pathetic.

[Lauren T.]

I don't know if this is the truth or not as I'm not from Atlanta (actually from Seattle area) but in the article about Heyward when he comes up he will become the face of the franchise because of the population being primarily african american.

If that's true, than I can't wait for him to come up because we need all the attendance we can get!
Yes, Atlanta has a majority African-American population. To quote Wikipedia (which we all know is 1000% accurate! ;)) :
As of July 2006, the Atlanta metropolitan area (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlanta_metropolitan_area) had an estimated population of 5,138,223.[6] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Atlanta#cite_note-msa2006-5) The racial makeup of the city was 56.8% black (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_and_ethnicity_in_the_United_States_Census), 37.7% white (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_and_ethnicity_in_the_United_States_Census), 2% Asian (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_and_ethnicity_in_the_United_States_Census), 0.2% American Indian (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_and_ethnicity_in_the_United_States_Census), 2.3% from other races (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_and_ethnicity_in_the_United_States_Census), and 1.1% from two or more races; 4.7% of the population were Hispanic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hispanics_in_the_United_States) or Latino (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_and_ethnicity_in_the_United_States_Census) of any race.[7] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Atlanta#cite_note-Census_Bureau-6)That sounds about right from what I've seen. Hey, I'm a minority! Yay!

Seriously, though -- there is only one non-Hispanic African-American on the Braves, and certain loud Atlanta citizens are not happy about that fact. (Hint: H.A. #755) #18 shirts are sold in the Clubhouse Store at Turner Field, along with #11 for Kawakami (and all the Japanese people I see at the stadium are wearing one!) and #19 for Escobar.


This guy is turning into one nice pitcher and deserves more love.
http://nationalsreview.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/jurrjens.jpg

From whom? ESPN seems to be talking about Jurrjens every time I turn them on, and he certainly doesn't lack in Atlanta fans.


The crowd tonight was announced as 25,046.
If I'd had the money, I would have been there last night and would be there every night this week. All my supposed Braves fan friends and co-workers are still very down on this team. "They're not going to make it," I hear constantly. Is it that hard to cheer for something or believe in something that's improbable? You all believed in Santa Claus or the Tooth Fairy or the Easter Bunny at some point. When did they disappoint? ;)

[Dreamscape]

You all believed in Santa Claus or the Tooth Fairy or the Easter Bunny at some point. When did they disappoint? ;)
My mom is the Braves?

But...she's a Reds fan!

[Lauren T.]

My mom is the Braves?

But...she's a Reds fan!
Expect the unexpected. ;)

[Hillbilly]

My mom is the Braves?

But...she's a Reds fan!


Well that explains Labor Day Weekend '09.

[Middle Man]

http://blogs.ajc.com/mark-bradley-blog/files/2009/09/slideshow_1285887_braves.0929_CC6.jpg


I love the crowd shots on foul balls. What the heck is the bald guy on the left looking at??

[warefreak]

That's hilarious. I think he was praying that we win and didn't know the ball was coming...

[Hobbes]

http://blogs.ajc.com/mark-bradley-blog/files/2009/09/slideshow_1285887_braves.0929_CC6.jpg
What the heck is the bald guy on the left looking at??
He was professing his love to Jurrjens.

[bravos4evr]

He was trying to grab his toupee that just blew onto the field!!!!!!!