Show #180: The Braves Dominate with Bats and Starters

April 22, 2012

Show #180: The Braves Dominate with Bats and Starters

The 5 – 2 week. Hudson’s return. And the back end of the bullpen.

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117 Responses to “Show #180: The Braves Dominate with Bats and Starters”

1
carlos Says:
April 23rd, 2012 at 12:00 am
I say they go 3-3 this week.
Worried about Kemp and I can already see JJ hanging one on the first pitch…ahhH!

Pirates are pesky but we’ll get some wins.
2
Walker Says:
April 23rd, 2012 at 1:07 am
I am feeling so confident with this offense. Even without Chipper and Heyward we were able to score some runs against a Kennedy, who was a Cy Young nominee last year. Looking ahead against the Dodgers and Pirates, we are facing some league average to slightly above league average starters. Names like Harang, Lilly, Capuano, and Bedard don’t scare me. These are all #4 or #5 starters. We should be able to go 6-0 or 5-1.

Also, Fredi’s reason for not starting Heyward was puzzling. Jason is not working at Applebees or Walmart. You don’t reward good performance and hard work with a day off. You reward it with more playing time because playing pro baseball should be more like fun instead of work.
3
DAP Says:
April 23rd, 2012 at 1:01 pm
jim powell is a very talented broadcaster and does a good job. don sutton has a lot of goo dstuff to add, but i think he comes up short on play by play. all in all, the radio broadcast is very good.

i dont have a problem with getting heyward a day here and there. the braves havent had a day off in awhile, and heyward just had his hitting streak broken. day game after a night game, seems like a good day for a rest for heyward.
4
David Says:
April 23rd, 2012 at 2:20 pm
Regarding Fredi’s decisions, I think it’s best to look at things from a longview. You guys have weekly broadcasts (which I LOVE) and have a pretty focused perspective, so I think it can be hard to look at things — like benching/resting Heyward yesterday — for their full value.

For example — right now, many of us are wondering why in the world Fredi would ever want to bench Heyward, the future face of our franchise and our starting RF. Perhaps we shouldn’t make the call until later in the season. Who knows? If we’re in mid-September and Heyward is an MVP candidate, then perhaps a key part of that is Fredi resting him once every 10-15 games in order to keep him fresh?

On the other side of the coin, I have very little confidence in Fredi being the manager to oversee Heyward’s development. From day 1, he hit Heyward in the #6 spot after he was in the top 3rd of the lineup from mid-May to October the year before. He benched him in favor of Constanza. Fredi doesn’t give him his due in the press. I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again — if Heyward doesn’t turn out to be the behemoth that he was hyped as, I think that Fredi will have had some part in preventing Heyward from reaching his full potential. And if Heyward does reach his full potential, it’ll be in spite of Fredi!
5
David Says:
April 23rd, 2012 at 2:25 pm
Also — I just got done listening to the podcast. Great job as always, and I had an idea.

You guys finish each show with your weekly predictions, and I really enjoy hearing ‘em. So much so, in fact, that I think y’all oughta let us message board dwellers in on the fun too!!

Do y’all think it’d be possible to get some kind of game on the site where we all make our weekly predictions? Say, they have to be locked in one hour before the start of Monday’s game? You could have a) the prediction for the upcoming week’s record (4-2 or 3-3, for example) and so many points for that, AND/OR b) let each person predict the outcome of each game — for example, “W, L, W, W, W, W,” and I would get a point for each one that I got right….does that make sense?

What do y’all think, Steve, Curt, and Ham? Or, a la O’Ventbrel, “Curvilton?” I know it’d take a little bit of work — more time than y’all probably have, and more than I’ve got — and if it is too much time, perhaps there’s someone here that could get that kind of thing going?
6
Shaun Says:
April 23rd, 2012 at 2:29 pm
Powell is by far my favorite. Joe Simpson is okay but I liked him a lot more with Boog Sciambi.

It is odd that the Braves and Fredi seem to be keeping Heyward’s plate appearances down. He has the highest OPS+ but is 6th in plate appearances.

The only regulars that have fewer are McCann (a catcher), Chipper (an old player with a bum knee) and Pastornicky (a rookie shortstop who isn’t all that good a major leaguer yet).

I guess I can understand wanting to give Heyward rest and wanting to keep pressure off him. But I think an argument could be made for making sure he gets plenty of reps against major league pitching.

It’s also weird how the Braves seem to overrate Prado. He had an OPS+ of 88 last season and is at 108 this season.

Even Uggla, if you take last season as a whole and this season so far, hasn’t been all the great as an Atlanta Brave.

At some point I think they have to reevaluate their players and make sure the right guys are getting the most plate appearances.
7
ham Says:
April 23rd, 2012 at 2:53 pm
#5 David, I love the idea of everyone getting in on the weekly action, but not as much as I love “Curvilton” (if only because I get 5 letters and Steve only gets one – it also has a great baseball nickname to it). I don’t know if our site can handle that kind of game, but maybe our FB site could. We’ll look into it.

At any rate, what are everyone’s predictions for this week?
8
Walker Says:
April 23rd, 2012 at 3:13 pm
@Shaun

Its just a case of this franchise not being sabermetrically inclined. Prado needs to be hitting 7th and Jason needs to be hitting 2nd. I guess since Jason isnt a small middle infielder type then he can’t hit 2nd.
9
Walker Says:
April 23rd, 2012 at 6:34 pm
I guess Jack Wilson is our new starting SS.
10
Adam Says:
April 23rd, 2012 at 7:19 pm
I want to say 5-1, but I’m going to play it safe and say 4-2. Matt Kemp scares the bugeebus out of me.
11
carlos Says:
April 23rd, 2012 at 7:43 pm
Tonight’s lineup is a JOKE.

how does fredi expect us to win when JHEY is hitting so low in the lineup? Cisco is sitting after hitting three homeruns in limited time. Wilson back in the SS position so thats an out. I’m okay with Rossy getting the start but where’s Cisco and why JHEY so low in the lineup???
12
Steve Says:
April 23rd, 2012 at 8:01 pm
Fredi cannot let an opportunity go past where, if Chipper’s out and there’s a lefty on the mound, that he puts Diaz in the lineup. It’s really Fredi’s signature move.

As for Heyward low in the lineup, yeah. It’s pretty crazy.
13
Steve Says:
April 23rd, 2012 at 8:02 pm
Although, in all fairness, the team did a bunch of winning last week with Heyward in the 7. I’m not saying it’s right, but I’m also not assuming an L for tonight and going to bed at 9:30.
14
Steve Says:
April 23rd, 2012 at 8:04 pm
David. 1 letter!?!?!? I may have to ban you from the comments board the remainder of the week.

And, on top of the slight, Stevurliton is the obvious way to go.
15
Steve Says:
April 23rd, 2012 at 8:05 pm
#5: Great idea, by the way. Just not sure how to deliver it. But, as Hammy said, we’ll think about how it could be done.
16
Curt Says:
April 23rd, 2012 at 8:25 pm
Clearly the name should be Curtetal
17
David Says:
April 23rd, 2012 at 9:41 pm
#14 – Hey, O’Flaherty has only one letter in O’Ventbrel! Seriously – no disrespect intended…just couldn’t come up with something better at the moment. Maybe it should just be Stevestevesteve?

I’ll go 4-2 for this week. Is it bad that I’m already chalking up tonight’s game to a loss, considering that JJ is pitching and Kemp isn’t on the DL like Chris Young? I have confidence in Beachy and Minor to continue their good work, and I think that we take the Pirates series as well. When do we face Burnett? For some reason, I think he beats us, but we take the other two games.
18
Leah Says:
April 23rd, 2012 at 9:58 pm
And Kelly Johnson becomes our first nominee for PLAY OF THE YEAR: http://t.co/0EcZXQQA

Wow…
19
Leah Says:
April 23rd, 2012 at 10:37 pm
I do not have a good feeling about this game. Or this series.
20
Walker Says:
April 23rd, 2012 at 10:43 pm
Seriously Wren or higher management needs to talk to Fredi about using Ross to pinch hit more. I mean he could really start for somebody.
21
Curt Says:
April 23rd, 2012 at 10:48 pm
Not to constantly belabor a point, but another city that would never be called out for its fans, a 1st place team hosting one of the hottest teams in baseball, tens of thousands of empty seats. I’m sure Sportscenter will point that out tonight.
22
Pure Says:
April 23rd, 2012 at 10:51 pm
Oh JJ…
23
Curt Says:
April 23rd, 2012 at 10:56 pm
He is really adding nothing to the cause
24
Mark in Memphis Says:
April 23rd, 2012 at 11:08 pm
I keep hearing “put the best players on the field” and yet you gig Fredi when he puts into the line-up the person on the team with the second best career batting average against Caqpuano… Diaz (.333, 6 hits in 18 AB)

Francisco is a lefty who has never faced him and Henske (another lefty) has two AB and a .000 average.

So who did you want him to play?

He is already playing:
Bourne (.222), Prado (.111), Freeman (.000, 6 AB), Uggla (.188), Heyward (.000, 0 AB), Ross (.300, 10 AB), Wilson (high man on the team against Capuano with .370, 27 AB)

I appreciate he is trying something to “change out luck” against this guy… Capuano vs. Braves (career) 2-0, 1.26 ERA, 3 games pitched, 2 games started, 1 HR, 2 BB, 19 SO, .163 BAA

Fortunately, Freeman is so locked-in right now, it just doesn’t matter who he hits against…
25
Mark in Memphis Says:
April 23rd, 2012 at 11:12 pm
Either JJ still has a knee problem or he is afraid of getting out over the knee…

Send him down to pitch till he has confidence that he can do it without hurting himself and live w/ Delgado’s “interesting inning each game”, or live with games like this…

Which do you think is best?
26
Leah Says:
April 23rd, 2012 at 11:35 pm
Bring in Meds.
27
Leah Says:
April 23rd, 2012 at 11:35 pm
Uh-gah-lee
28
Mark in Memphis Says:
April 23rd, 2012 at 11:40 pm
Would you rather that Livan was selling cartoon balloons in town?
29
Mark in Memphis Says:
April 23rd, 2012 at 11:48 pm
I think maybe Freeman’s dad must have left the stadium…
30
David Says:
April 24th, 2012 at 5:07 am
JJ OPTIONED TO GWINNETT.

I’m shocked and proud that they actually did it.
31
Nate Says:
April 24th, 2012 at 5:28 am
#30, seems like a no brainer to me. He has destroyed his trade value. The best thing for the Beaves is to see if he can get right in Gwinnett. He’s looked really bad all year.
32
Nate Says:
April 24th, 2012 at 6:31 am
#31, “the Beaves”, nice. Thank you, tired brain.

I get what you guys were saying on the show about it not being a Braves move, but Delgado gives us a better chance to win right now. Hopefully JJ can get his act together and be back soon in his old dominant form.
33
Leah Says:
April 24th, 2012 at 7:45 am
Wowzers! Wren found his big boy pants!
34
David Says:
April 24th, 2012 at 7:59 am
#32 — I agree that Delgado gives us a better chance to win now. And I also think that the prospect of Delgado having a big inning in 5-6 innings is much better than Jurrjens having several “small” innings in a 3-4 inning start that puts strain on the bullpen. I saw none of last night’s game, but it looks like Livan came through in a big way last night, and we were fortunate that JJ’s short start didn’t cause us to use too many relievers.
35
Nate Says:
April 24th, 2012 at 9:04 am
JJ was hard to watch last night. I really felt bad form him.
36
Nate Says:
April 24th, 2012 at 9:06 am
*for him.
37
Shaun Says:
April 24th, 2012 at 11:14 am
Wow. Didn’t expect a demotion, at least not at this point.
38
Mark in Memphis Says:
April 24th, 2012 at 11:28 am
Amazed when I read about JJ this morn… I believe it to be the right move, but I just didn’t think they would do it…
39
Adam Says:
April 24th, 2012 at 11:53 am
I really want to see Medlen get a chance to start a couple games now. His numbers as a starter are too good to have him in the bullpen all year.
40
Frigatedoc Says:
April 24th, 2012 at 2:04 pm
I said it last week that if Delgado pitched well when Hudson came back that they should demote J.J. Steve had it as one of the “fair or foul” questions. They, and I NEVER thought this would happen. Now that is has happened, I am happy AND sad. Sad, because I feel bad for the guy, but happy because it was a wise and gutsy move by the Braves. Look at it this way, at least he has tried to pitch. Hampton hardly never pitched and he was paid a gazillion dollars. Let him go to the minors to get his mojo back and either pitch him or trade him. Either way his days in a Braves uniform is numbered. He may never be back. It sucked seeing him alone on the bench. I think he knew what was coming. Maybe there is something else that we do not know?

BTW (in honor of the guys) I wil say it…. .”This was a very “unBobby’ish” move by the Braves.
41
David Says:
April 24th, 2012 at 3:29 pm
It seems like most people are glad that JJ was sent down, just shocked either that they did it so soon or that they actually did it.

One thing that comes to mind is the Francoeur demotion in 2008, but I think that was a completely different situation for several reasons. First, the Braves have another player (Delgado) forcing their hand and making the Braves make a decision on whether or not JJ should stay. Delgado’s not pitching lights-out, but he’s definitely doing a lot better than JJ. With Francoeur, there was nobody else knocking at the door — no other outfield prospects in the minors that were tearing it up, and so Francoeur’s job security wasn’t really threatened. Does anybody remember the name of Francoeur’s replacement? I had to look it up – Jason Perry. Our other starting outfielders that year were Gregor Blanco and Mark Kotsay; Brandon Jones was a 4th outfielder for a bit that year, and he wasn’t tearing it up either.

I think that some might be surprised that JJ’s demotion happened so quickly — only 4 starts into the season and they send him down. But with the timing of Hudson’s return and JJ’s poor second half last year, I think that they gave him plenty of opportunities to improve, and with Delgado pitching well, they couldn’t keep giving him chances and expect for him to succeed.
42
David Says:
April 24th, 2012 at 3:43 pm
One more thing (for now) about JJ:

Going back to the start of Spring Training, he has had two good starts — both against the Astros’ AAA split squads. All of his other starts against major league hitters have not gone well, which I think raises the question: if he does well in a few starts in the minors, how will we really know if he’s fixed his problems?
43
Frigatedoc Says:
April 24th, 2012 at 4:28 pm
I agree David….that is why I think he will not be back….unless something bad happens…
44
Shaun Says:
April 24th, 2012 at 5:14 pm
David, well, it’s just like any other player. Got to look at the performance and what is behind the performance to determine whether it would translate to the majors.

I would be kind of surprised if the Braves aren’t looking to move him for something of value, hoping some team is willing to take a shot on a pitcher who may have some injury issues and who never missed a ton of bats to begin with. We’ll see if there is such a team out there.

Maybe we will see something like a Francoeur-Ryan Church deal. I could get behind that. Church was a very useful player at the time. Good on-base guy with occasional pop.
45
Frigatedoc Says:
April 24th, 2012 at 6:05 pm
Ryan Church?? Ouch man! That was a horrible trade!! He did nothing for the Braves.

I think he hit like .260 with a couple of homers? It helped Jeff out…not the Braves…..
46
Walker Says:
April 24th, 2012 at 7:23 pm
One of the most valuable offensive players in the game is batting 7th again guys. I love Prado but C’MON MAN!!!
47
Walker Says:
April 24th, 2012 at 7:31 pm
Tuesday’s 7th place hitters

Matt Carpenter
Darwin Barney
Jack Hanahan
Humberto Quintero
Emannuel Burris
Ryan Ludwick
Michael Saunders
Alex Avila (.244 Average)
Gabby Sanchez (.212 Average)
BJ Upton (.250 Average)
48
Curt Says:
April 24th, 2012 at 8:53 pm
I have to be at work at 6:00 AM tomorrow. Not sure I am getting much out of this game
49
David Says:
April 24th, 2012 at 9:25 pm
Before his demotion, I’d been thinking that if Jurrjens can put together a few starts, Boston might be interested in him. If they’re not desperate for pitching yet, they will be soon. Talk about a team that is imploding.

However, I don’t think that they’d give up anything of value at all until he actually shows that he can pitch effectively against major league teams, and considering the amount of strong hitters in the AL East and press in Boston, I doubt that they’d be interested in him.

46 – I know. It continues to be maddening that our leading OPS player and 2nd in OBP and AVG (behind Bourn in both categories) is stuffed down in the lineup. I love Prado, but he needs to be hitting 7th and JHey needs to be hitting 2nd. And I’m still thinking that since JHey has kinda cooled off since ending his 10-game streak (2-for-13 in his last 4 games).

By the way, did y’all know that JHey’s middle name is Adenolith? What an AWESOME name. I kinda wish that he went by Adenolith Heyward, cause then we could call him Adenolith The Behemoth.
50
Walker Says:
April 24th, 2012 at 10:17 pm
I hate when Prado gives his at bats away by trying so hard to hit to the right side of the infield. I prefer for him to swing like he normally does for a hit. That strategy might be good for a tie games in the 7th or 8th inning. But we should be playing for multiple runs in the 1st inning.
51
Adam Says:
April 24th, 2012 at 10:20 pm
Not a good sign when we start the game 0-3 with RISP.
52
Adam Says:
April 24th, 2012 at 11:29 pm
That should’ve been a bigger inning.
53
Walker Says:
April 25th, 2012 at 12:30 am
Uggla looks horrible defensively.
54
Frigatedoc Says:
April 25th, 2012 at 12:39 am
I hate the camera angle for the bunt
55
Adam Says:
April 25th, 2012 at 12:56 am
PRADO!
56
Frigatedoc Says:
April 25th, 2012 at 7:46 am
Biggest win of the year so far! And it was a one run game.
57
Leah Says:
April 25th, 2012 at 8:42 am
Prado=pure awesomeness. It turned out well but I was concerned when Fredi brought EOF in to get the last out I the 7th. If only he didn’t act like he ha an eating disorder in the mound….I think he’d pitch better.

Go Braves!
58
Curt Says:
April 25th, 2012 at 9:05 am
Nice way to wake up. I was sure that one was a goner when I went to bed last night. Great win.
59
Shaun Says:
April 25th, 2012 at 3:17 pm
The Braves are 7th in the majors in wOBA and are bunched with teams in the 5th-8th range (Braves are at .332, and the other teams in that range are between .333 and .331).

wOBA is Weighted On-Base Average and takes into account the run value of walks, it-by-pitch, steal, caught stealing, outs and each type of hit.

They are also 5th in the majors in total bases.

So the fact that they don’t look all that impressive in terms of on-base and slugging is somewhat misleading.
60
Shaun Says:
April 25th, 2012 at 3:24 pm
wOBA essentially weighs hits and walks more accurately than on-base or slugging. Slugging, for example, treats a double as twice as valuable as a single. wOBA weighs singles and doubles and other events according to their run values.
61
Curt Says:
April 25th, 2012 at 6:01 pm
We need more stats in baseball.
62
Walker Says:
April 25th, 2012 at 6:32 pm
Yeah there’s just not enough information out there to evaluate players and teams.
63
eric Says:
April 25th, 2012 at 6:53 pm
They are all so accurate.
64
Leah Says:
April 25th, 2012 at 11:45 pm
No way I make it through a rain delay.
65
Shaun Says:
April 26th, 2012 at 12:11 am
Wow. 680 The Fan’s Matt Chernoff Tweeted that Beachy is a number four starter. As you can imagine all Twitter hell broke loose. Good stuff.
66
Shaun Says:
April 26th, 2012 at 12:13 am
Curt @61, not more. Just better ones than those that are on the backs of baseball cards.
67
Adam Says:
April 26th, 2012 at 12:50 am
Love seeing our guys rally like this. So clutch.
68
Walker Says:
April 26th, 2012 at 12:56 am
Hell Yeah
69
Adam Says:
April 26th, 2012 at 1:07 am
Huge win to finish off a huge series.
70
Curt Says:
April 26th, 2012 at 7:06 am
Shaun, perhaps true. I just worry that stuff like that allows people to over-think things and situations.

Really sorry I missed the bulk of the last two games. Stupid job and my stupid early show up times.
71
Anne Says:
April 26th, 2012 at 8:50 am
Great sign of the week: FANTASTIC road trip. When’s the last time we had such a great west coast? GO Braves!
72
Leah Says:
April 26th, 2012 at 9:36 am
Now I’m no Major League manager. But if my closer takes a line drive to the face I’m pulling him. I don’t care how fine he says he is. Mercy!
73
Shaun Says:
April 26th, 2012 at 10:34 am
Curt @70, I see your point. However, perhaps some more thinking needs to be done so that we don’t, for instance, judge individual players on stats like pitcher wins and RBI.

Now, to get sort of philosophical…

Hopefully people dig into what stats are actually measuring to get a sense of how useful they are or are not. I don’t think the folks that do such things should avoid trying to construct better, more telling stats in order to keep people from over-thinking.

There’s always the danger that bringing in more stats will open the door to those who want to quote batting average against LHP on Wednesday day games on natural grass.

If one doesn’t want to dig into the meaning behind certain stats, probably best to use no stats than the wrong stats, i.e., “baseball card” stats.
74
will Says:
April 26th, 2012 at 12:19 pm
great ball game

lets sweep the Rats.

losing a series against weak/marginal teams killed us last year…
75
Nate Says:
April 26th, 2012 at 12:57 pm
Watch out NL, the Braves are playing like a complete team.
76
David Says:
April 26th, 2012 at 3:41 pm
Wait, Curt, I thought this was your job. You mean you do something else?!?!

All this talk about stats — Shaun, to go along with your points, Prado’s batting average is .254, but he’s doing well in moving runners over. For example, when Bourn is on second, it seems that Prado always tries to hit it to the right side to get him to third. The result is a lower batting average that helps the team score that run — simply put, smart baseball.

I’m assuming that there’s already something along the lines of a MRO stat (Moving Runners Over), and furthermore, probably a MROTES stat (Moving Runners Over That Eventually Score). I’m sure it’s not abbreviated like that, but the batting average line doesn’t reflect that; neither do RBI or sacrifices.

Anyway — I get what you’re saying. For a lot of baseball fans (like me), that stuff is waaaaaaaaaaaaaay too esoteric and mind-numbing that it sucks all fun out of the game. There are tons of factors in play during each and every pitch of a ballgame, and rather than look at numbers that analyze each of those situations, I’d rather just sit there and either a) furiously shake my head and curse the universe if the Braves lose or b) decide that this world really isn’t such a bad place as long as the Braves win.
77
Shaun Says:
April 26th, 2012 at 5:50 pm
David, I remember a playoff game a few years ago when the Angels got a runner on first with a walk or a single, the next guy hit a double to put runners on second and third, the next guy got a hit or a sac fly or something to drive in the guy from third, and the inning ended without the guy who hit the double scoring a run. So the most valuable event of that inning was probably the guy that got the double, yet he gets no RBI and doesn’t score a run.

Offense is gaining bases and avoiding outs (slugging and on-base). Run distribution in terms of which players happen to pick up the RBI in their own stat lines, isn’t necessarily telling as to which players did the most to create runs.

The unfortunate thing is that batting average, homeruns and RBI became THE stats a long time ago and now, even though it would be better to have no stats than those stats, those are what a lot of casual fans look at because that’s what they’ve been spoon fed by tradition.

I can understand the concern about being bogged down with stats but I’m not sure what the solution is other than people trying to come up with better stats, since the game has been about flawed stats (in the sense that they don’t tell us much of anything useful about individual players) for so long.

In my writing, I do my best to keep it simple. This player does or doesn’t get on base, avoid outs and slugs well, he does or doesn’t swing and crushes hittable pitches and he lays off bad pitches.

I heard Kevin Goldstein say in an interview one time that his view of sabermetrics is that once you are “enlightened” by them, you really don’t need them.

I think he meant something like that once you understand that the game is about getting on base, slugging, advancing and avoiding outs, throwing strikes, preventing walks, missing bats and keeping the ball in the park, you really don’t have to know the nitty gritty of sabermetrics to have a better understanding of baseball. You will be better off than when you saw the game through the lenses of batting average, homers, RBI, runs, pitcher win-loss and ERA.
78
Walker Says:
April 26th, 2012 at 7:23 pm
@76
I actually dont like when Prado swings just to hit a dribbler to 2nd base. Especially in the early innings. I wish he would swing for a base hit and try his best to avoid an out. Hitting to the right side early in the game is slightly overrated.

Shaun would you agree?
79
Curt Says:
April 26th, 2012 at 7:59 pm
Shaun, I’m with you. And to add to the meaningless stat and or number, pitch speed. I know someone pointed it out early comparing Farnsworth and Hoffman. I think this obsession with pitch speed has screwed with JJ. He’s mentioned it in his dejected postgame comments. It’s messing with his confidence that people are so hung up on that. Mark Bradley or Jeff Schultz wrote an article about this and pointed out that Greg Maddux never threw it through a wall and told him at some point to go stand on a highway and to tell him which cars were going 70 and which were going 75.

Despite how lucrative the ABT shop has been, I still have to go into work every day.
80
Shaun Says:
April 26th, 2012 at 9:44 pm
Curt, I think pitch speed matters. The faster the pitch, the harder to hit. But I’m with you that a pitcher doesn’t have to throw 95+. And also a guy throwing 95+ isn’t necessarily a good pitcher because major league hitters are good if it’s straight and they have an idea it’s coming.

I really think Jurrjens’s problems have mostly to do with his knee injuries. When a good, still young player performs poorly for no particularly obvious reason it’s almost always injury. The question is are his knee issues chronic. I just don’t know about that.
81
Steve Says:
April 27th, 2012 at 1:26 pm
Hi all. Been buried in work like crazy and just coming up for air.

Great, great series in LA. Coming from behind like that does really make us like a complete team.

And JJ being replaced by Huddy makes me so confident in this starting pitching staff that’s it’s ridiculous. JJ was the black hole all year, and it’s just magically gone. And if he can get his stuff figured out it would be nothing short of unbelievable to the staff.

Can’t wait for the series this weekend. Another good measuring stick for the Braves. This time around, measuring if they’ll play down to their competition as they’ve done in the past.
82
Curt Says:
April 27th, 2012 at 2:47 pm
Watch out for that pitching staff
83
Walker Says:
April 27th, 2012 at 6:28 pm
@81
Huddy is a question mark too. Hopefully his back is ok.
84
Anne Says:
April 27th, 2012 at 7:33 pm
A Pittsburgh friend is giving me grief and says Burnett is “the real deal.” Whatever that means!? Watching the game tonight at a decent hour. Haven’t seen Glavine in the booth yet this season. Go Hanson, Go Braves!
85
Anne Says:
April 27th, 2012 at 7:41 pm
PLEASE keep showing Clint Hurdle chewing gum and magically moving his hat in unison
86
Anne Says:
April 27th, 2012 at 7:49 pm
Pirates 1B rocking a SERIOUS beard. (feel like I’m live-tweeting now; I’ll stop)
87
Anne Says:
April 27th, 2012 at 8:25 pm
Anybody else miss seeing Chino Cadahia on the dugout bench?
88
Anne Says:
April 27th, 2012 at 10:01 pm
It would be lovely to see some more runs here. Go Braves!
89
Anne Says:
April 27th, 2012 at 10:04 pm
Uggs!!!
90
Steve Says:
April 27th, 2012 at 10:30 pm
Not happy about this McCann injury.
91
Ham Says:
April 27th, 2012 at 10:48 pm
What a dominant, dominant win. The Mac injury sucks, but damn we looked good.
92
Leah Says:
April 27th, 2012 at 11:12 pm
We’re going to have to deem all inner core muscle pulls “Mac’s” if he keeps it up. Sad but D Ross is awesome. Great game. Did anyone else notice after Uggla and the Rev collided Uggla tried to high five the Ump? The Ump was showing a big out with his fist and Uggs put his hand in the air like he was going to give him 5. Funny!
93
Anne Says:
April 28th, 2012 at 7:59 am
“Three inning save” confuses me a bit (anyone surprised? hands up? what? moving on…) in that I figured the save happens if it’s what, 2 runs or more apart? I guess it’s a thing because the pitcher not only keeps the save but guts through even more innings? Kawakami aside, Medlen’s great.
94
ham Says:
April 28th, 2012 at 11:15 am
Isn’t the save stat essentially based on if the tying run reaches the on deck circle? Therefore if we have a five run lead, Medlen only needs to face 4 batters to get the save? So he could have gotten a two inning save, but he pitched 3. (why FreGon made him pitch three is not so obvious).

Smart people or Curt, am I right about the save? Don’t ask me to explain the hold, that’s above my pay grade.
95
Anne Says:
April 28th, 2012 at 11:25 am
“Smart people or Curt” = good times, Hamilton.
96
Kate Says:
April 28th, 2012 at 12:06 pm
A pitcher earns a save by doing one of the following.
1. Pitching the final inning with no more than a three run lead.
2. A pitcher enters the game with the tying run on base, at bat, or on deck and records the final out. You can’t pitch yourself into a save situation.
3. Pitching at least 3 innings.
97
Walker Says:
April 28th, 2012 at 10:55 pm
It’s not a coincidence, the games Chipper doesn’t start we lose.
98
Curt Says:
April 28th, 2012 at 11:23 pm
Anne, don’t be such a soft audience.

That game bleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeew.

Bedard had pitched really well this season, despite his record. But they missed a bunch of opportunities. Looked like the 2011 Braves
99
Shaun Says:
April 28th, 2012 at 11:24 pm
Wow. No matter what you think of Bryce Harper, he’s must watch. Tonight he’s shown off his 80 power (rocket shot over the head of CF Matt Kemp that hit off the base of the wall) and his 80 arm (guns Jerry Hairston Jr on a perfect throw to the plate but the catcher Ramos can’t hang on).

Could this be one of the best years ever for Major League debuts: Cespedes, Darvish and now Harper?
100
Anne Says:
April 29th, 2012 at 8:46 am
Go Huddy…Go Braves!!
101
Steve Says:
April 29th, 2012 at 10:04 am
Shaun. You left Pastornicky off your list in 99.
102
Shaun Says:
April 29th, 2012 at 10:36 am
Nice, Steve.
103
Shaun Says:
April 29th, 2012 at 10:48 am
I’m already seeing some criticism on Twitter of Harper for knocking his helmet off on that double. Who cares about him knocking off his own helmet, except that we have to see his haircut?
104
Nate Says:
April 29th, 2012 at 11:37 am
Hopefully we get some better defense and situational hitting today.
105
Steve Says:
April 29th, 2012 at 12:26 pm
Must read. http://espn.go.com/espn/story/_/id/7849214/rockies-pitcher-twitter-friendship
106
Nate Says:
April 29th, 2012 at 1:47 pm
Thanks for posting that, Steve. Wonderful story.
107
Nate Says:
April 29th, 2012 at 1:50 pm
Freddie and Uggla never take a slump lightly. Maybe it would help to have a manager who could adjust a lineup accordingly…
108
Nate Says:
April 29th, 2012 at 1:53 pm
Can someone teach our SS how to catch a line drive? 2 games in a row.
109
Leah Says:
April 29th, 2012 at 2:01 pm
105 OMG. Great story!
110
Leah Says:
April 29th, 2012 at 2:45 pm
I dont want Huddy thrown out but I like a little passion on the dimond. That ball was a strike. Glad Huddy glared at the ump.
111
Adam Says:
April 29th, 2012 at 3:03 pm
Pastornicky has really looked good this entire week. He’s putting together some nice ABs.
112
Nate Says:
April 29th, 2012 at 3:42 pm
This game is taking forever, but I love the discipline our guys are showing at the plate.
113
David Says:
April 29th, 2012 at 3:54 pm
Didn’t think I’d ever say this, but wow Durbin!
114
Anne Says:
April 29th, 2012 at 7:18 pm
First place! Go Braves!
115
Steve Says:
April 29th, 2012 at 7:49 pm
First place. So, so good.
116
David Says:
April 29th, 2012 at 8:12 pm
Yes – first place. Love it. Let’s keep it going.
117
Belen Says:
May 22nd, 2012 at 10:44 am
Yes, Ma’am! Nothing like time with our partners/soul-mates, to help rtnjveuaee, re-energize, and rev-up the happy engines! Glad to hear you’re basking in the glow of your wonderful family, as you should!

Show #180: The Braves Dominate with Bats and Starters

117 Responses to “Show #180: The Braves Dominate with Bats and Starters”

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