Gamethread: Braves vs Brewers - 4/15/12

[BFH]

Originally Posted by Freddy_Ballgame

If the Braves needed to give Durbin one more shot to prove he's past it, please Braves - LET TODAY'S EFFORT BE ALL THE PROOF YOU NEED! Cut this guy and bring up some talent!
Nice win! 4-4, back to even. How far can the winning streak go?

That would be 5-4, sir.

[Andy G.]

Originally Posted by BFH

I'm going to tentatively agree, but hope he manages to pitch decently enough for the next couple of months. I don't want to see Gearrin...I'm sorry, but I just don't believe in Cory's ability. Hopefully he proves me wrong.

I do, however, believe in Moylan...and I'm going to cross my fingers and hope he makes it back as quickly as he believes he will (which I read his explanation of his ETA was "absolutely" before the allstar break).

What makes you so weary of Gearrin? Just curious. All he does is dominate AAA hitters. He hasn't had a real chance to prove himself in the majors, but even in his short time with Atlanta last year he struck out 25 guys in 18.1 innings and put up a 2.59 FIP. I'm just curious what has you so certain that he's can't be serviceable in the major leagues.

[Garydee]

Originally Posted by BFH

I'm going to tentatively agree, but hope he manages to pitch decently enough for the next couple of months. I don't want to see Gearrin...I'm sorry, but I just don't believe in Cory's ability. Hopefully he proves me wrong.

I do, however, believe in Moylan...and I'm going to cross my fingers and hope he makes it back as quickly as he believes he will (which I read his explanation of his ETA was "absolutely" before the allstar break).

I admit I don't have much faith in Cory right now but I think he's better than Durbin. Cory produces well against right handed batters and he will improve against lefties with the changeup he's developed. From what I've seen of Durbin this year I have to say he has nothing to offer. Most of his pitches stay in the 80s with little movement. He might be as bad of a pitcher as Proctor, maybe worse. At least Proctor had a decent fastball. As for Moylan, I agree. He can't come back fast enough for me.

[bravos4evr]

Originally Posted by Andy G.

What makes you so weary of Gearrin? Just curious. All he does is dominate AAA hitters. He hasn't had a real chance to prove himself in the majors, but even in his short time with Atlanta last year he struck out 25 guys in 18.1 innings and put up a 2.59 FIP. I'm just curious what has you so certain that he's can't be serviceable in the major leagues.

Gearrin would at least have value as a ROOGy at worst. Durbin doesn't seem to have much value even as a warm body.

[Wahoo]

Medlen pitches 1 inning again. GDYF.

[BFH]

Originally Posted by Andy G.

What makes you so weary of Gearrin? Just curious. All he does is dominate AAA hitters. He hasn't had a real chance to prove himself in the majors, but even in his short time with Atlanta last year he struck out 25 guys in 18.1 innings and put up a 2.59 FIP. I'm just curious what has you so certain that he's can't be serviceable in the major leagues.

It's not that I'm certain he'll fail. I just don't see anything special about him in those innings I've seen him throw. In him, I see a guy whose gotten by because he's different. Minor leaguers don't do well with guys who are different, IMO. Most times it's guys with control over a changeup...but a non-standard delivery fits the bill as well.

Sure, he's quirky with the sidearm delivery...but there's a lot more to pitching at the big leagues than just being quirky. I'm sure that's why he worked so hard to develop the changeup to be able to retire lefties with frequency.

Like I said....I hope I'm wrong and he's great for us, but what I see in Gearrin is a righty-specialist. He'd be much better than Durbin at this point...but I feel he'd still just be a place-holder for Moylan's return. I'm just not at all confident he'll be that much of an upgrade...not that the bullpen really needs one with Medlen and the three-headed monster at the back end.

[bravos4evr]

I was actually surprised CM didn't get the 8th and 9th today. Give medlen a break. Or at least Livan followed by Martinez.

But ,then again, if a 7-1 game isn't safe for Durbin, what is?

[BFH]

Well, let's all think of it this way.

It was a non-competitive inning that turned into one....but it didn't matter.

We got 1 inning out of a useless arm we have here to use and abuse until Moylan comes back.

We can moan and groan about it...but Durbin did exactly as he needed to--closed out the win in an inning that we didn't want to use a more important arm in. He served his exact purpose today, even if it was ugly.

I'm not condoning he be used more...but I'm just glad Martinez didn't get the call in that inning. He and Medlen have greater uses than to mop up a game that we've more or less sealed.

[bravos4evr]

True enough..... I think that, as fans, we sometimes get irritated by the score rather than the result. It somehow feels like a better win 7-1 rather than 7-4, even though it still counts as a win.

Totally illogical of course, but then again, we are humans!!

[BFH]

Most definitely. A 7-1 score looks a hell of a lot better than 7-4...but for me, as long as the tally is in the win column I'm happy.

Now...if Durbin had turned a 7-1 lead into a 9-7 loss, I would have been supremely upset.

[BFH]

I'm going to go ahead and really tick off some folks and say I'm really concerned about Freddie Freeman.

Yeah, yeah....only 9 games into the season, patience is needed. Everyone slumps. Yada yada yada. I'm well aware that I am looking at a microscopic sample size. I know.

I said I know. Shush.

What's itching my concern switch, though, is the K's. I know he's not all that much a high contact rate guy...but he's on pace for 230+ K's. It wouldn't concern me if he were making contact and driving the ball straight at people or even just getting under a few or topping a few. That's just a matter of squaring it up. Swinging and missing is just not good.

I mean....I guess if he's striking out he's at least not grounding into double plays. Suppose that's a positive. So 'tis not all bad.

[bravos4evr]

It IS a bit troubling, last year in Apr- his K rate was 16.2% his BABIP was .236 and his wOBA was .306 (in 27 games)

this year his K rate is 37.1% , his BABIP is .300 and his wOBA is .201


Those are so out of whack with each other it's got to be just something flukey going on.... just in the midst of a slump, maybe they should move him down to 7th take some heat off of him?

[Garydee]

An interesting stat I saw on DOB's twitter. Durbin has allowed a homerun in his last seven appearances dating back to his time with the Indians. Wow!

[Middle Man]

Originally Posted by Garydee

An interesting stat I saw on DOB's twitter. Durbin has allowed a homerun in his last seven appearances dating back to his time with the Indians. Wow!

Wow, I almost feel guilty that the Braves will get all the credit for such an impressive streak that was actually started on a different team.

[BFH]

Originally Posted by Middle Man

Wow, I almost feel guilty that the Braves will get all the credit for such an impressive streak that was actually started on a different team.

What a tragedy.