Show #189: Ups and Downs On the Road in the AL East

1

Nate Says:
June 25th, 2012 at 1:26 am

Yacht Rock is the bomb.

2

Walker Says:
June 25th, 2012 at 4:18 am

If Heyward continues to be hot and Fredi still doesn’t move him up I really don’t know what to say. Its scary a MLB manager can’t make adjustments. With his OBP Heyward should be hitting 3rd. Fredi didn’t hesitate to stick Freeman in the 3 hole why not with heyward. With Bourn, Prado, and Heyward getting on base the offense will be even better. Have to make a mid season adjustment. I also want Fredi to stop constructing his lineups strictly LRLRLRLR. I say construct your lineup to the SP instead of the late relievers. Put two lefties back to back like LRLLRLL.

Also

Send Minor down. Put Medlen in. Im still hoping Tehran can be the next Pedro Martinez(fingers crossed) so try him out too.

3

David Says:
June 25th, 2012 at 10:14 am

2 — I agree regarding Heyward. And y’all hit on it on the show, but it’s asinine that Fredi’s not batting Heyward any higher in the lineup. The only reason for him not to would be that the rest of the lineup is clicking on all cylinders. Let’s take a look at guys’ averages in June:

Bourn: .341
Prado: .279
McCann: .209
Uggla: .179
Freeman: .212
Chipper: .189
Heyward: .391 (THREE NINETY ONE)
Simmons: .329

We used to have black holes in the bottom third of the lineup. Now, for the last several weeks, they’ve been in the middle. And Fredi has no plans to change that.

In June, Heyward’s slash line is .391/.417/.754 in 19 games. And he has 12 rbi. TWELVE. And 5 of those are from when he’s driven himself in via HR. He’s had 14 extra-base hits this month. How many have come with men on base? 2. Thank you, Fredi Gonzalez Lineup Construction.

4

Anne Says:
June 25th, 2012 at 10:49 am

It’s Monday and the Bank of Steve guarantees we won’t lose tonight.

5

Mark in Memphis Says:
June 25th, 2012 at 12:48 pm

@2,3

Wonder if he is afraid of the “Heyward does well in a ‘lower pressure’ spot and won’t do as well higher in the order – doesn’t JHey have some past experience?

6

Mark in Memphis Says:
June 25th, 2012 at 12:49 pm

Definitely send Minor down. So far it looks like it worked for JJ.

7

Mark in Memphis Says:
June 25th, 2012 at 12:51 pm

Simmons looks good at the plate. With that flat swing, the bat stays in the hitting area for a long time. His “power” is so far looks like he doesn’t miss “hangers”… Which I think is GREAT! The power guys do miss a lot of hangers. The guy who is trying to get on base will “run into” a few more if only by accident.

8

Corky's Mom Says:
June 26th, 2012 at 10:00 am

Who needs pitching when you can have catching?? If only for the beard action, check out my boy: http://www.wdrb.com/story/18761566/corky-miller-keeps-big-league-dream-alive

9

Leah Says:
June 26th, 2012 at 10:47 am

Oh Corky. I think you’re awesome!

10

Curt Says:
June 26th, 2012 at 12:05 pm

Liberty Media just won $950 million in a lawsuit.

Dear Whomever:

We need some parts.

Thanks,

Braves Fans

11

DAP Says:
June 26th, 2012 at 12:19 pm

i think sending all these guys down to AAA that arent performing well is not the answer. jonny venters needs to pitch up here, in lower leverage situations. scoring some runs would help, give him a cushion. hes is having issues, but he doesnt need to be sent down at this point, because there isnt anyone better than him at AAA to take his spot.

same thing with minor, although i dont feel quite as strong about it. no doubt kris medlen is getting misused, but id let minor work this out. he might be a trade piece if he can put together some good starts.

if im the braves, i continue to the all star break with hudson, hanson, jurrjens, delgado, and minor. make kimbrel, o’flarety, durbin and medlen your high leverage relievers, with venters easing back into that. varvaro and martinez for low leverage spots. leave it alone and lets see what we’ve got, because i still dont think we know for sure.

12

Steve Says:
June 26th, 2012 at 1:41 pm

Corky is his given name?!?!?! Seems impossible.

DAP – I really disagree on both. Minor is hurting the team. And don’t you think successful starts in AAA vs. meltdowns on the big club would help his trade value more (not that I’m advocating trading him)?

And Venters needs to straighten out his mechanics and confidence. Neither seem to be improving on the big club right now.

13

DAP Says:
June 26th, 2012 at 1:55 pm

Steve, I think our differences probably come from our views of Medlen and Tehran. I don’t see those guys in the rotation right now. If I though they both could pitch better than Minor, I’d be willing to try one of them, but I’m not sure that is the case.

Venters’ confidence might take a bigger hit if he is sent down. Getting major league outs is what he needs to be doing, just my opinion.

I agree with you guys that the team seems a bit stuck…not really a clear cut way to improve the team. A starter needs to be a guy like Garza, Hamel, ect. Not sure if we want to trade the guys it will take to get them. Some bench help to replace Fransisco, Hinske, Wilson wouldn’t be bad, but you take a chance of upsetting the team balance and having a player who is even worse than who you let go. I think a couple of veteran bullpen arms would be nice.

14

DAP Says:
June 26th, 2012 at 1:56 pm

By the way, now that we are out of the teeth of June, I think this team is going to get much better results.

15

Steve Says:
June 26th, 2012 at 4:34 pm

Heyward batting 2 and Prado 3. Madness. But an improvement.

16

Bubdylan Says:
June 26th, 2012 at 4:40 pm

http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=of&stats=bat&lg=nl&qual=y&type=8&season=2012&month=0&season1=2012&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&players=0&sort=20,d

Braves OF’s are #’s 2, 3, and 4 in WAR among NL OF’s. We finally got an OF about the time we lost our rotation. That’s life on a budget, I suppose.

(originally posted on MLB.com message board by … I forgot.)

17

Walker Says:
June 26th, 2012 at 5:04 pm

Losing Beachy is just so unreal and unfair. I don’t know why its just now hitting me. Tommy Hanson needs to step up and be even better. I know he’s been good but we need great. Hudson should be solid. Other than those two there are nothing but question marks. I say Matt Garza should be seriously looked at.

18

Bubdylan Says:
June 26th, 2012 at 6:23 pm

I wouldn’t make a big trade with any significant pieces of the farm. The schedule will get easier starting tonight. Accept our fate as an offense-first team and play ball.

tonight’s line up is sexy. I hope we do well so our poo-brained manager will keep it.

19

Leah Says:
June 26th, 2012 at 8:53 pm

My sister, brother in law and nieces are at the game. Right behind Marteeeen. Life is so unfair.

20

Steve Says:
June 26th, 2012 at 10:35 pm

#18 – I’d say you got your wish. Hell of a game. And Uggla even managed a hit by pitch.

21

Walker Says:
June 26th, 2012 at 11:23 pm

Has everyone noticed Uggla’s OBP? He may not be hitting but he definitely hasn’t been hurting the team offensively.

22

Bubdylan Says:
June 27th, 2012 at 12:01 am

Nice game, Bravos. Good Heavens ain’t it nice to be done with the AL East…

Always nice to tax the opponent’s pen in game one, especially while saving every important arm in your own. Feel a good run coming on.

23

Bubdylan Says:
June 27th, 2012 at 12:03 am

Walker, I’m not worried about Uggs. He built up a lot of credit at the Bub Bar with his early performance. The guy carries his load, imo.

24

Steve Says:
June 27th, 2012 at 8:57 am

This blown call is spectacular: http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=22614397

25

Bubdylan Says:
June 27th, 2012 at 12:01 pm

I am 100% in favor of automated umpiring on every level in which it can be achieved without much delay. Including balls and strikes. We can send a man to the moon, but we can’t get the games out of the hands of nimrods. Grumble, grumble.

Automated umpiring is logical. Do it already. Yeah, it’s been part of the game for years. We used to ride horses to work, too.

26

Leah Says:
June 27th, 2012 at 12:10 pm

I hate the thought of epanded replay. I’m an ole fuddy duddy…known fact. I don’t think that call needs automatic umpiring. Check the guy’s glove. Make him show you the ball. Don’t be a complete idiot!

27

Bubdylan Says:
June 27th, 2012 at 12:21 pm

Yeah, of course you don’t need replay to make that call, just don’t be a complete idiot. But they keep being complete idiots, therefore you need replay to make that call. Ya know what I mean? Just cuz it’s physically possible to umpire pretty well doesn’t mean they’re going to. They’re getting worse.

Don’t fret, though, baseball won’t go to automated refs. Too many fuddy duddys.

28

Bubdylan Says:
June 27th, 2012 at 12:25 pm

But, Leah, keep in mind I would make the following changes to baseball if I was in charge (yes, I’m being dead serious).

1. Pitchers would throw underhanded, fast-pitch style.

2. Spit balls, scratched balls (heh), and all manner of other manipulations of the baseball would be permitted.

3. Not only would there be a DH, but the entire batting order would be DH’s, and the fielders would be designated fielders, the slickest, fastest fielders in the world and the biggest, baddest sluggers in the line up.

4. I’m not sure I wouldn’t pad the walls more and put a bunch of trampolines on the warning track.

29

Adam Says:
June 27th, 2012 at 12:39 pm

I’d watch that ^

30

Bubdylan Says:
June 27th, 2012 at 4:35 pm

Played the show, finally. Good show.

The “you know it’s coming” part of Minor and Delgado’s failures are arguments for keeping them up. It points to mental struggles, i.e. youth. I’m for Medlen in the rotation, but I do believe running these kids out there is the way to get them over the hump. In short, I agree (blech) with Fredi.

Agree with Steve that Delgado is within range of just ordinary rookie-with-promise struggles. Minor is falling out of that range superfast. But it wouldn’t surprise me if suddenly both of these pitchers put up a batch of good games. We’re just gonna have to hit our way through the bad pitching.

Heyward’s connecting with the inside pitch. Seems like he’s very likely to be coming out of it, maybe permanently. Good feelings there.

I thought it was a jerk move to stretch Meds out and then pull him back, but now that he’s in the BP, I’m not anxious for him to leave it. Especially if we’re going to commit to even two of JJ/Minor/Delgado in the rotation. The reason being that we’ll be hoping for their starts to be sporatically good, so we’ll need Meds in the pen when they’re bad. It’s a gamble, but you gotta gamble somewhere and that model seems to offer the most hope. But if they DO promote Medlen, he ought to be a starting pitcher for the Braves for at least a year before – barring a total disaster – before they consider moving him again. Meds could be a real starter; I don’t know why the Braves don’t think so.

31

Bubdylan Says:
June 27th, 2012 at 4:36 pm

#30, contradicted self on Meds. Oh well. Take whichever of the opinions you agree with and compliment me on my point.

32

Leah Says:
June 27th, 2012 at 4:42 pm

Well if there are trampolines can we add random water ballon fights? It’ll help with super hot summer day games. Win win!

33

Walker Says:
June 27th, 2012 at 7:23 pm

I’m glad ballpark Frank wasn’t our GM. Trading a struggling 22 year old with limitless potential. Yeah that would be a great move (sarcasm).

34

Mark in Memphis Says:
June 27th, 2012 at 7:24 pm

Time to sell high on this Heyward guy?

35

Walker Says:
June 27th, 2012 at 7:25 pm

I say trade Heyward for Francouer. Straight up.

36

Bubdylan Says:
June 27th, 2012 at 8:50 pm

Jones!

37

Bubdylan Says:
June 27th, 2012 at 9:47 pm

Nice to (pretty much) dominate games you’re supposed to, a difference from playing down the competition.

38

Steve Says:
June 27th, 2012 at 11:42 pm

Another good one tonight. And Heyward continues to hit. Two straight decent to excellent starting pitching performances. Like you said, Bub – good to win the ones you should.

39

Nate Says:
June 28th, 2012 at 12:28 am

@37, this all day. The Braves are playing like a playoff team again. I’ll hold off my excitement until we make it through the oncoming JJ/Minor/Delgado portion of the rotation.

It’s so great, as a Braves fan, which we all are, to see Heyward playing at a very high level. The wait has been worth it if it continues. Yeah he’s young, but it’s time for him to be doing what he’s been doing in June. Now let’s see it in July, August, September, and even more so in October. That is what is expected from players with his talent. That’s not to say he’s tradable, that’s to point out that he has as much talent and ability as any outfielder in the game, now let’s see the production. That’s why I hate the view of “he has unbelievable talent so we shouldn’t knock him.” Hell no. It’s a job. We all have them, and your performance is probably determined by production in terms of ability. In that regard, he has underperformed for the majority of his career. Some people just have to get over that, and that is why some of us still give Heyward criticism when he goes through his LONG slumps. My gosh, yeah, he’s hitting. Great. Let’s see him do it for the rest of the year before he’s crowned the golden god of baseball again, please. A player with his athletic ability should be stealing bases and playing great defense. The hitting is where he earns his money in future contracts, imo. Anyone with his athletic gifts should be an amazing defender/baserunner. Those are probably the easiest parts of the game given his physical tools. Do we need to keep crowning him because he has better DNA than everyone else. Do it at the plate, then you will get praise from everyone, not just the stat nerds.

40

Nate Says:
June 28th, 2012 at 12:53 am

The stuff on Teheran not being as good as advertised is hilarious. He’s a 21 year old kid ready to be challenged against MLB hitters. He put up video game numbers in AAA, why does he need to do it again? Ever been 21, I’d be pissed if I were him, too. Give him as many starts as Minor has had so far and you’d get more production and a kid competing for a front of the rotation spot in the next year or so. The guys calling the shots are looking bad right now.

41

Nate Says:
June 28th, 2012 at 1:16 am

I think a skeptical perspective on Teheran is practical. However, I think he could be doing what Delgado and Minor are doing, and his upside is much higher. Last year I felt some of our AAA pitchers would outperform Lowe, and late in the year they did. Baseball is just so afraid of change in every aspect from rules to personnel. I guess what Julio did last year is complete hogwash now given Redmond and Carlyle’s great almost 1/2 season in Gwinnett. I’m not sold on the journeymen over blue chip prospects for a starting spot argument, which means nothing, it’s just my opinion. I think you make the journeymen long relievers.

Sorry just catching up on the show and some Braves.

42

Walker Says:
June 28th, 2012 at 1:23 am

Nothing fills my heart more than to watch the Phillies struggle. HA HA

Anyway, lets finish this sweep.

43

Anne Says:
June 28th, 2012 at 8:04 am

Math is hard, but I think if we win 2 of the next 3 games (i.e., the games remaining this month), we’ll have won 14 games/month so far this season. Which makes…regularity. Sorta.

44

Bubdylan Says:
June 28th, 2012 at 10:24 am

If you think watching Craig Kimbrel end games is akin to hearing Beethoven’s 5th for the first time each night, your senses ain’t fooling.

“He’s faced 106 batters this season, and of the 49 that managed to put the ball in play, only 7 were hit hard enough to be considered a “line drive”. That means batters square up Craig Kimbrel about 6% of the time.

In 28 appearances this season, he hasn’t allowed more than one run in any appearance.

He hasn’t allowed more than one HIT in a single appearance.

He has yet to give up a home run.

He’s only failed to strike out at least one batter in 4 appearances.

He’s K’d 2 batters in 11 appearances

He’s K’d 3 batters in 6 appearances …which means he’s more likely to strike out the side than allow a run.”

(Stats courtesy of Not_so_sure at mlb.com)

45

ham Says:
June 28th, 2012 at 11:33 am

#44 gives me one of those open toothed grins that makes me drool. Sort of like when you come back from the dentist after oral surgery . . . except that in this case, it’s awesome.

46

Walker Says:
June 28th, 2012 at 11:57 am

Kimbrel is just so sick. If we make the playoffs I just hope Fredi doesn’t hold back and unleashes that kind of weapon before the 9th. I mean seriously Wren and Schuerholz need to sit Fredi down and explain. I dont care if its on the table or not. What we have in our Bullpen with a guy like Kimbrel is a automatic stopper. I just want somebody with the balls to say how this guy should be used. I wont talk about it anymore.

47

Anonymous Says:
June 28th, 2012 at 7:36 pm

That outfield assist by Heyward got me more excited than a lot of his homeruns. I love seeing amazing defense that saves runs.

48

Adam Says:
June 28th, 2012 at 7:37 pm

47 was me

49

Bubdylan Says:
June 28th, 2012 at 8:30 pm

#47, agreed, Adam. Homers are awesome, but that was so exciting. It’s a highlight on gameday and I watched it five times. Love the last few feet of it in slow motion. Baseball players are pretty amazing sometimes.

50

Bubdylan Says:
June 28th, 2012 at 9:09 pm

I’ll say this much for Jair’s 6th inning:

The 6 pitch walk to Upton, he just barely missed the zone, and appeared to be putting the ball right where he wanted, but missing by an inch.

Then the double.

The four pitch walk to Montero was bullsh**. Two of those were strikes.

51

Bubdylan Says:
June 28th, 2012 at 9:11 pm

Now Durbin’s getting squeezed. Robot umpires soon, please.

52

Leah Says:
June 28th, 2012 at 9:11 pm

Bub…I like it when you see the silver lining.

53

Bubdylan Says:
June 28th, 2012 at 9:13 pm

Good job, Durbin. And good bp management, Fredi (blech).

54

Bubdylan Says:
June 28th, 2012 at 9:15 pm

Leah, I’m just giddy that JJ is getting MLB outs. I thought he’d recover, but that’s because I thought he’d get his velocity back. He’s all-location now, which is nerve-wracking, but he’s pulling it off for the most part.

55

Bubdylan Says:
June 28th, 2012 at 9:17 pm

We need a bench bat.

56

Leah Says:
June 28th, 2012 at 9:21 pm

Here’s Curt’s favorite starter. Come on Meds!

57

Bubdylan Says:
June 28th, 2012 at 9:29 pm

Meds’s pitch selection makes me feel tingly you-know-where.

58

Walker Says:
June 28th, 2012 at 9:48 pm

We always talk about Fredi but how about Gibson keeps Bloomquist at the top of the order when he has one of the worst OBPs among the starting lineup.

#Fred isn’t the only bad manager

59

Bubdylan Says:
June 28th, 2012 at 10:12 pm

I hate Beethoven.

60

Walker Says:
June 28th, 2012 at 10:21 pm

Jason was just swinging at everything in that at bat.

61

Leah Says:
June 28th, 2012 at 10:25 pm

Win some…lose some.

62

Bubdylan Says:
June 28th, 2012 at 10:27 pm

Yeah. I guess at least all the NL East teams that played today lost by one run to bad ballteams. That’s … somethin’.

63

ham Says:
June 28th, 2012 at 10:59 pm

Totally agree with bringing in Kimbrel there, hope that Fredi doesn’t get cold feet b/c of the outcome. Tough loss, but good game. JJ looked good.

64

Danny Says:
June 28th, 2012 at 11:40 pm

Really thought Meds needed to come in during the sixth. It seemed like JJ lost his composure after not getting those early calls. Why call the fire department after your house burns down?

65

Danny Says:
June 28th, 2012 at 11:43 pm

I am warming up to the thought of robot umps. I think we should start a new league for the trampolines though. Kinda like what football tried to do with arena, etc.

66

Walker Says:
June 29th, 2012 at 1:51 pm

Thank God we have MLB network because Major League baseball just isn’t talked about enough in an in depth way. All espn talks about is Tebow, Lebron, NBA, NFL. First Take acts like baseball doesn’t exist. One hour of Baseball Tonight is all they offer. But I guess its business. I’m finished rambling.

67

Adam Says:
June 29th, 2012 at 8:28 pm

We look like a little league team.

68

Curt Says:
June 29th, 2012 at 9:38 pm

In retrospect, this lineup turns out to be as stupid as I thought it was today when I first saw it

69

Adam Says:
June 29th, 2012 at 10:03 pm

Simmons is my hero!

70

Leah Says:
June 29th, 2012 at 10:03 pm

I’m loving the kid! Poor Pastornicky. I tend to forget about him these days.

71

Mark in Memphis Says:
June 29th, 2012 at 10:03 pm

He just doesn’t miss hangers…

72

Bubdylan Says:
June 29th, 2012 at 10:04 pm

Wow, Simmons.

73

Bubdylan Says:
June 29th, 2012 at 10:06 pm

lol, two posts in 8 hours,

Simmons Boom,

4 posts in 2 minutes.

74

Mark in Memphis Says:
June 29th, 2012 at 10:07 pm

Anybody want to trade Pastornicky and a minor league pitcher for Zach Greinke? Mil is pretty much out of the NL Central, they need a shortstop and have very little in the minors thanks to trading for Greinke…

Kinda looks like Pastornicky might be expendable…

75

Bubdylan Says:
June 29th, 2012 at 10:09 pm

MiM, well yeah. But what that be enough? You’re not talking Teheran, are you?

76

Mark in Memphis Says:
June 29th, 2012 at 10:10 pm

No. Not T. Would you consider Minor, Pastornicky and a high-A or a AA pitcher?

77

Mark in Memphis Says:
June 29th, 2012 at 10:12 pm

Maybe Zeke Spruill? He looks pretty good, but has a pretty low strikeout rate…

78

Bubdylan Says:
June 29th, 2012 at 10:14 pm

I dunno, Mark. He’d be a short rental. Something tells me Minor’s value during the cheap years of his contract will blow away a half year of Greinke. Braves just can’t afford to do business that way.

79

Adam Says:
June 29th, 2012 at 10:14 pm

Well that lasted 1 second.

80

Bubdylan Says:
June 29th, 2012 at 10:17 pm

There’s the Durbin that Baseball Reference said he was…. what damn night for that to show up.

81

Curt Says:
June 29th, 2012 at 10:19 pm

So bad. And with the back end of their bullpen looming. Just brutal for that to happen 2 nights in a row.

82

Bubdylan Says:
June 29th, 2012 at 10:21 pm

If Venters walks the pitcher here, I’m puttin’ on my Muppet Show DVD’s.

83

Mark in Memphis Says:
June 29th, 2012 at 10:22 pm

@78
He’s not necessarily a short rental… Chipper and Lowe are off the books 2013… Could be possible… That would be the only way I would be interested…

84

Bubdylan Says:
June 29th, 2012 at 10:22 pm

Welp. It’s time to put on makeup. It’s time to light the lights.

Sick of it.

85

Curt Says:
June 29th, 2012 at 10:33 pm

Diaz….
Thanks for the 1 big hit against CC. Now go away

86

Adam Says:
June 29th, 2012 at 10:46 pm

When freeman rounded first I started screaming “NO NO NO”. I was so sure he was going to get thrown out. Glad I was wrong!

87

Curt Says:
June 29th, 2012 at 10:53 pm

suck

88

Adam Says:
June 29th, 2012 at 11:19 pm

We better win the next 2 games or I quit

89

Leah Says:
June 30th, 2012 at 9:55 am

Come on Adam. What if your namesake had given up after the whole snake debacle? None of us would be here!

90

Leah Says:
June 30th, 2012 at 12:36 pm

Hey! Did y’all hear who’s coming out with an album in September? “Free is not your right to choose. It’s answering what’s asked of you.” “…your dreams the catch the world the cage…”

91

Curt Says:
June 30th, 2012 at 1:24 pm

Styx?

92

Bubdylan Says:
June 30th, 2012 at 2:07 pm

Avett Bros? Is it their first since that one you hooked me on?

Also, if Adam’s namesake’s garden was in the ghetto, run by a conglomerate of monkeys that spent all its money on the Mesopotamian Puppet Theatre, and Eve spent all day tipping her fig leaf to the serpent for just being the better creature that day, Genesis would have been a very short book.

93

Jo Bu Says:
June 30th, 2012 at 3:34 pm

106 degrees F according to my thermometer! That’s probably like 125 degrees on the field.

Balls will be flying out of the place today so I hope we come out on top. Especially with Minor going.

94

Curt Says:
June 30th, 2012 at 4:24 pm

Can’t imagine playing on a day like this. The heat is oppressive.

95

Adam Says:
June 30th, 2012 at 4:29 pm

I feel like anytime a team gets a runner on second with nobody out you have to score him. This team frequently struggles with that.

96

Leah Says:
June 30th, 2012 at 4:37 pm

If we win this game I will eat my hat.

97

Curt Says:
June 30th, 2012 at 5:04 pm

I feel like anytime Minor gets a start, we lose. And we haven’t even gotten to the 4th yet.

98

Leah Says:
June 30th, 2012 at 5:15 pm

Oh Struggla! Be still my beating heart!

99

Bubdylan Says:
June 30th, 2012 at 5:16 pm

Uggs!

Now time for Minor to give up 3 more runs.

100

Leah Says:
June 30th, 2012 at 5:17 pm

Oh and you’re the winner Bub! 1st album after the one that should have been titled “crack for your ears”. I’m sure they considered it but it is a bit lengthy.

101

Leah Says:
June 30th, 2012 at 5:36 pm

After telling my 7 yo why we call Simmons the Kid he aske what we call Francisco. I said an empty hole and then he hits a double!

102

David Says:
June 30th, 2012 at 5:52 pm

Nice to see some shutdown innings from Minor — hope he can keep it going

103

Bubdylan Says:
June 30th, 2012 at 6:09 pm

I’m close to being completely over Minor. 5 walks and 5 hits in 5.0 IP. Nothing but pure luck has him ahead in this game. Delgado is, to me, is not even in a category with Minor. 2 or 3 more starts without showing something else besides this garbage and I’ll be fine if I never see him again.

104

Bubdylan Says:
June 30th, 2012 at 6:11 pm

Okay, Meds, in a minute here, these runs will start to be yours.

105

Bubdylan Says:
June 30th, 2012 at 8:06 pm

A win’s a win, but we need a pitcher.

106

Curt Says:
June 30th, 2012 at 8:22 pm

Yes. Time for Minor to go. Even if not for Medlen

107

Adam Says:
June 30th, 2012 at 10:27 pm

tomorrows game is huge.

108

Adam Says:
July 1st, 2012 at 1:42 pm

great start…

109

Bubdylan Says:
July 1st, 2012 at 1:42 pm

Yeah, I don’t think Huddy’s sinker is sinking in this oven. Not looking good.

110

Bubdylan Says:
July 1st, 2012 at 1:46 pm

Watch Ankiel right here.

111

Bubdylan Says:
July 1st, 2012 at 1:48 pm

I thought he might homer. Just a single, and the nightmare continues. An 88 mph sinker that don’t sink is batting practice.

112

Bubdylan Says:
July 1st, 2012 at 2:01 pm

If I was sitting in that heat at Turner Field right now, spending three days’ salary for decent tickets to this “ballgame,” I’d be seriously bummed out.

113

Bubdylan Says:
July 1st, 2012 at 2:03 pm

Good inning, Huddy. But still only 2 groundouts in a sea of squared up pitches. Need runs.

114

Bubdylan Says:
July 1st, 2012 at 2:09 pm

Ben Sheets?

I hate Liberty Media.

115

Bubdylan Says:
July 1st, 2012 at 2:13 pm

wow, a 14 pitch walk. Love this Andrelton kid.

116

Bubdylan Says:
July 1st, 2012 at 2:22 pm

So the pitcher walks ‘em full, including a four pitch walk to Huddy, and then you get 3 balls and SWING at the 3-0 pitch? Why, Bourn?

117

Bubdylan Says:
July 1st, 2012 at 2:43 pm

Atta boy, Jonesy.

Huddy’s getting some grounders finally. Now he walks the pitcher? Yuck.

118

Adam Says:
July 1st, 2012 at 4:14 pm

And another wasted opportunity.

119

Shaun Says:
July 1st, 2012 at 4:15 pm

I get that the All-Star game should be a showcase and should not count for World Series home-field but should people get so outraged? Before all this home-field was essentially random, with the leagues alternating from year-to-year.

I think one could make the argument that having the All-Star game decide home-field is actually a little better, though I would prefer something like league inter-league records plus All-Star game.

Oh, and both Fangraphs and Baseball Reference have Michael Bourn as one of the five best players in the NL.

120

David Says:
July 1st, 2012 at 4:27 pm

I know that when Venters came in, the Braves already were 2 runs behind, so it’s not really his fault if we lose…but man, it feels like he just let this team down a LOT.

121

Adam Says:
July 1st, 2012 at 4:28 pm

We look like we belong in 3rd place

122

Curt Says:
July 1st, 2012 at 4:42 pm

How about the team with the best record gets home-field, just like every other major sport with a ‘best-of’ championship? Not sure why it has to be any more complicated than that? Basketball and hockey don’t seem to have any problems with that format.

123

Bubdylan Says:
July 1st, 2012 at 4:43 pm

Ladies and gents, the Braves are the official slap-around dolls for the Montreal Expos. This doesn’t qualify as fun anymore.

124

Curt Says:
July 1st, 2012 at 4:43 pm

That game sucked, by the way. It seems to me that it will be tough to beat the team in front of you if you can never beat them head to head.

125

Nate Says:
July 1st, 2012 at 4:47 pm

@122, makes too much sense to be something MLB will accept.

126

Nate Says:
July 1st, 2012 at 4:49 pm

To check my earlier comment on Julio, he’s been waxed his last 2 outings, especially the one on the 28th. Maybe Sheets will be the answer..

127

Danny Says:
July 1st, 2012 at 8:39 pm

I like Sheets. Maybe he can glue this rotation together until the postseason. We can get away with three starters at that point. I don’t like the idea of trading our youth for a rental pitcher who will likely be no better than what we’ve currently got.

Show #189: Ups and Downs On the Road in the AL East

127 Responses to “Show #189: Ups and Downs On the Road in the AL East”

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