Show #74: Looking to Continue the Winning Ways
The Nats and Phillies series. Soriano’s woes. What to do with Hudson? And reveling in the new look lineup.
158 Responses to “Show #74: Looking to Continue the Winning Ways”
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August 17th, 2009 at 3:31 am
I’ll hear the podcast first thing after I get up. Before I go to sleep though I just want to say that I hope Ruben Amaro had the courtesy to give Jon Miller, Joe Morgan, & Steve Phillips a towel after they gave Philadelphia such a good ‘service.’ I HATE ESPN. I don’t care if the Braves are playing on ESPN now and then…I won’t tune in. I’d rather follow the ballgame via the ‘Gameday’ feature through mlb.com. They can all kiss my @$$, to hell with ‘em.
August 17th, 2009 at 11:10 am
Sitting at breakfast in the SF east bay attempting to read the Chronicle praying that my mom will shut up and go water her garden or something…I say, “Oh. The Braves lost. Stupid Phillies.” She hauls out with: “I taught Jermaine Dye, you know.” I’m like…whaaaaaaaaaaaaa??? No way. Yes, way. Get the frak outta town. Mom is full of surprises. I haven’t had a chance to full-on google the possibility, but he hails from about an hour north, so maybe he did spend some childhood time in Oakland learning something from my mom. Trust me, she didn’t teach him to catch. She probably taught him to run, though…
August 17th, 2009 at 11:57 am
I’m a little encouraged after the podcast but sooo down after last night’s loss. I know Javy pitched well with the exception of two high fast balls served up to RH but the bases loaded/nothing doing inning crushed me! Chipper needs to heal and “Big Mac” needs to rest. I’m curious where your hope meter is after losing the rubber match. I’m with Hammy…I think Huddy needs to go to the bullpen for a stint. Bub, where are you? We need a laugh!
August 17th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
What if the Braves tried a scenario where when Hudson comes back where they make the 5th starters spot a hybrid “Hudson/Kawakami” spot. Let Hudston start the game, and keep his innings lower, maybe 4-5 and then bring in Kawakami to finish the game if possible. This could help the bullpen get an extra day’s rest and get us out of Sept. until we can possibly make a trade move to straighten out rotation situation. This would also keep Hudson’s innings low as he comes back from TJ surgery. I’m not sure if anyone has tried this approach, but I think it has some merits that should be explored.
August 17th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
Leah, I told Steve when that game was concluding that I was a 2. No shocker coming from me, but if I am a Phillies fan right now I’m pissed that we gave away game 2. Bobby was talking today that the Braves could have won all 3. Coulda, shoulda. They were lucky to win 1. They gotta keep plowing ahead. Get to 10 games over and you give yourself a chance.
Taylor, I was thinking about the same thing. A hybrid deal like that. I just think it sends a bad signal to KK that he is demoted when he has not been that bad.
On another note, Braves pretty much announced that they are not going after Smoltz. The Rangers and Cards are two teams mentioned most prominently.
August 17th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
Anne – that is crazy cool.
Leah – I was down last night as well (but not as much as Friday night, somehow). It’s not how it was supposed to go, no doubt. And 4 games out instead of 6 would feel much more possible. But I take solace in the fact that there’s no great meaning to be taken from this 2 of 3. Friday night was a hard fought game. We kept pressure on Saturday and it payed off. And Sunday our best pitcher got beat by one of the best hitters in the game. And, would it be absolutely inconceivable if we gained 2 or 3 games by the end of the month in time for our next Phillies series. I say no. There’s lots and lots of baseball to be played. Things could look a lot brighter and different in a matter of days. But I’m worried about us not showing up for this afternoon’s game. We need this one.
Taylor – welcome to the board. My issue with the splitting the game in 2 approach is that if the starter is cruising, the last thing you want to do is to take him out. And if he’s getting crushed and KK, for example, is your new long man in the bullpen, he’s going to come in anyway. I prefer the 6 man rotation. I realize no one does it and baseball players are psychotic creatures of habit. But I feel like the extra rest would be good for everyone.
August 17th, 2009 at 1:39 pm
Taylor, Don Zimmer did a similar type of thing when he managed the Red Sox in the ’70′s, although in his case he was trying to use relief pitchers to fill a hole in his starting rotation.
I don’t like the idea of demoting KK. If we really need to find out what Hudson has in order to better plan for 2010, then it can easily be done by giving him Acosta’s role. There will be a number of opportunities over the next six weeks to pitch in situations where we’re ahead or behind by several runs. He can eat up innings. He’s coming off of surgery and will be inconsistent at best. You don’t replace a perfectly good starter with that while you’re contending for the post season.
Besides, yanking around KK isn’t going to help us gain new recruits from Japan. It’s not fair to him to be the mop up man. He’s pitched well and won big games.
Making a 6-man rotation simply reduces the quality of the staff. Hudson is not going to be Hudson of old. Gonzo is still recovering, and he’s six months ahead.
August 17th, 2009 at 1:42 pm
Moylan, the same way.
August 17th, 2009 at 1:59 pm
Yeah, and Ballpark Frank: where was your boy G.A. last night?? 3-0 … harumph!Matty came to win. Your boy, not so much. (I’m sure I’ll stop gloating in a day or two)
August 17th, 2009 at 2:25 pm
You asked for comments….so you shall receive….Your podcast took me some time to warm up to over the past few months, but I am a creature of habit, and since I began listening on Mon/Tues every week, the Braves have been clicking. (Don’t mess with a streak!)
For me, two key points I agree with . . . the remaking of the team during the season with over 1/3 of the order shipped out or to the bench shows that Bobby has become more “flexible” which I never thought would happen, and I appreciated that loyalty for many years since it seemed to work with a “generation” of players, but has needed a tweaking over the past 4-5. Everyone can say “change/adapt/whatever” is a wonderful thing, but it’s a good man to actually do it. Kudos to Bobby and Frank for at least giving it a go.
Second, this 3-gamer with PHL was the microcosm of the “win 1/3, lose 1/3 and see what happens in the last 1/3″. Problem is, which category do you place Sat and Sun? No issue with losing last night, great win on Sat., but it seems the Fri game was the one to me that October ballclubs find a way to win, and PHL did that and we could not overcome it.
Enjoyed it this week . . .
August 17th, 2009 at 2:38 pm
Thanks for the welcome. Long time Braves fan, started following the podcasts for about 2 months ago. Love the show, I look forward to it every weekend. Anyone know how the weather is looking in Atlanta right now? Weather.com showing rain around 6.
August 17th, 2009 at 2:55 pm
McLouth just put on the 15-day DL.
August 17th, 2009 at 3:23 pm
Patrick! Way to make an appearance. Welcome.
August 17th, 2009 at 4:14 pm
Curt, a 2 puts the earth back on it’s axis. Maybe I’m a bad fan deserving of death but I’m having a hard time being optimistic…at all. Especially with McLouth on the DL. Steve’s right…lots of baseball left and it’s so much more fun watching them play this year than in years past. I guess Bub had a point after all in last show’s comments. Hopefully a win today will be a “pick me up”.
I find it amusing that it took Patrick a couple months to warm up to you guys. You must be three cold hearted sons of guns.
August 17th, 2009 at 6:50 pm
I’m not watching TV, I’m watching Gameday on the Web. MIKE GONZALEZ, WTF??????? If this game becomes 9-8 with 2 outs in the top of the 9th, I’m hopping on a plane, flying back to Atlanta early, and keying Gonzo’s motorcycle.
August 17th, 2009 at 6:52 pm
Jeez. I absolutely hate hate hate it when Gonzo raises our collective blood pressure. Well, I should probably speak for myself, but…for god’s sake. Thank you, baseball gods.
August 17th, 2009 at 7:11 pm
Leah, Patrick knows me if that provides an excuse for his reluctance. His kid and my kid are in school together. Hence, Emma’s Dad.
August 17th, 2009 at 7:41 pm
That clears everything up. I thought that was ballsy at least. Now I get it. I’ve been meaning to mention how fun it is for you dudes to give us chicks the time of day. I don’t know about Anne but I get lots of flack for passionately cheering for my favorite team and it’s liberating to state my opinions with as much vigor as I feel.
August 17th, 2009 at 8:02 pm
Leah, they don’t REALLY give us the time of day…they have no choice. It’s their lot, after all…
August 17th, 2009 at 8:21 pm
Anne and Leah, it is now 7:20 pm.
August 17th, 2009 at 8:21 pm
Uh… somewhere.
August 17th, 2009 at 8:43 pm
Oh, Bub. Are there more of you at home??
August 17th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
Sox fans are furious with Smoltzie for refusing to go down to the minors to prepare to pitch in the pen. They think he should show gratitude for the massive contract that Theo gave him. They should just be glad that he has yet to blast the team for disrespecting him.
August 17th, 2009 at 8:58 pm
Patrick – welcome to the board. And I know that “took me some time to warm up to” is just code for “I don’t like Hammy.” It’s cool.
Great win today. Needed it. Today felt like a classic trap game. And the Bravos don’t need to and can’t afford to lose a lot of 2 in a rows at this point. Also, I know I’ve been very positive – but, for the love of God, batting Kelly in the lead off spot?!?!?!?! It’s like Bobby’s punishing us for speaking positively about him last night. Unbelievable.
August 17th, 2009 at 9:11 pm
Add one more day to my “KJ leads the team in number of times as the leadoff batter” tally.