Atlanta @ Philadelphia GameThread, May 15, 2008 7:05 PM EDT

Braves at Phils: Everyone wear a rubber game

by gondeee on May 15, 2008 8:53 AM EDT in Open Threads

Atlanta @ Philadelphia

Tom Glavine did his best Chuck James impersonation last night -- breeze through the lineup a couple of times then completely lose the ability to throw strikes while whittling away a seemingly unsurmountable lead. But hey, he still got the win, but man was that a nervous game, especially at the end. Boyer looked like a true closer -- making it closer than it needed to be.

The afore mentioned Chuck James is on the hill tonight. Let's see if we can break the longball out for him while he does his best to keep his longball pitch neatly tucked away.

I'm becoming a fan of hitting Kelly Johnson in the seventh hole, and I can't believe I'm about to say that Kotsay seems to fit really well in the two-hole.

Next Game

Atlanta Braves
@ Philadelphia Phillies

Thursday, May 15, 2008, 7:05 PM EDT
Citizens Bank Park

Chuck James vs Cole Hamels

Complete Coverage >

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Chuck James

At Citizens Bank….hope our offense shows up!

1- 35,667
2- Chipper
3- 15+ runs scored (both teams)

by WienerDog on May 15, 2008 9:17 AM EDT 0 recs

picks, no pic

1. 42,194
2. Chippa
3. Chuck James 8 ERs but still gets a W.

Sorry I missed the game last night, I’ll be away for a few days so carry on at TC with out me. Helluva game last night! And I say that not endearingly because anytime you are up 8-0 and the winning run comes to the plate…

Lets beat Camels tonight!

by jug on May 15, 2008 9:23 AM EDT 0 recs

Picks.

Never realized this before, but Kotsay has compiled more PAs from the #2 hole than any other spot in the lineup for his career. He has a career .754 OPS but in over 2000 PAs as the #2 hitter it is raised slightly to .766 OPS. We’ve already discussed KJ at length this season, and in his short stint of career 116 PAs in the #7 hole he has a 1.097 OPS! While that’s tremendous, it’s inflated by a BABIP of .446!? That will certainly cool off. Yunel also performs better as a #1 hitter than a #2 hitter. In 181 PAs as the leadoff hitter he has a .876 OPS, as opposed to an .809 OPS in the #2 slot. It’s safe to say that Kotsay is the guy who makes these lineup moves work. He shouldn’t struggle, seeing as how he’s hitting in front of the hottest hitter in baseball (besides that goofy looking guy in Houston).

1. 39,990
2. Francoeur
3. Kotsay has more attempts than Kelly.

by Smoltz's Beard on May 15, 2008 9:26 AM EDT 0 recs

Here’s to tonight’s game being a little less nerve-wracking than last night. Freakin’ a.

1. 38,111
2. Kotsay
3. Combined 5 HRs minimum for both teams

It worked last night, so I’m doing a haiku again:

Boyer equals nerves
Our boys break out the big bats
two of three we hope

by VegasAces on May 15, 2008 9:26 AM EDT 0 recs

Deja Vu Night

1. 38,211
2. Matt Diaz
3. A dragon awaits
Chuck James pitch, says fat man
E-S-P-N sucks

In other words… Braves will strike early against Cole Hamels, and Chuck James will give it right back. Chris Berman will orgasm on Baseball Tonight because he gets to use his “Chuck James, PITCH” line for every homer Chuck gives up. But the Braves will convert some clutch tonight, and SLAYETH THE DRAGON known as Cole Hamels in the end.

real men, don't wear small.

by royhobbs on May 15, 2008 9:40 AM EDT 0 recs

Picks

1. 34,872
2. SK
3. Game is close until the 6th when the Braves blow it open. Win by 5.

by musicman on May 15, 2008 9:54 AM EDT 0 recs

picks

1. 37,948
2. Killa
3. Frenchy hits into a 1-4-3 DP

by traphicg on May 15, 2008 9:59 AM EDT 0 recs

picks.

1. 39,245
2. KJ
3. Chuck has a QS and goes at least five innings striking out at least three and walks only two.

Catcher's Blog - Braves blog by a huge Braves fan.

by mccannfan on May 15, 2008 10:15 AM EDT 0 recs

make that...

2. McCann instead.

Catcher's Blog - Braves blog by a huge Braves fan.

by mccannfan on May 15, 2008 12:19 PM EDT up 0 recs

picks

1. 36,386
2. Chipper
3. Diaz has 2 hits

by 10-4 on May 15, 2008 10:16 AM EDT 0 recs

change

Make my #2 Tex, i still may be better with Chipper on the bench.

by 10-4 on May 15, 2008 6:37 PM EDT up 0 recs

very true

by Smoltz's Beard on May 15, 2008 7:04 PM EDT up 0 recs

Our Outfield Should Play Deep...

1. 36,513
2. Diaz
3. The Phillies will leave more runners on base than the Braves! <—That’s Bold

by pett-man on May 15, 2008 10:16 AM EDT 0 recs

Picks

1. 44,101
2. Chipper Jones
3. Chuck gets a no-decision

-RETIRE, BOBBY COX!-

by sdp on May 15, 2008 10:30 AM EDT 0 recs

Picks

1. 40430
2. Jeff Francouer
3. Jeff has his first homerun since that 2 homer game, braves still lose due to Chuck on the hill

by SeligSucks on May 15, 2008 10:41 AM EDT 0 recs

picks

1. 41,748
2. chipper
3. francoeur throws a runner out at home

by jc25 on May 15, 2008 10:59 AM EDT 0 recs

Mine

1. 34,249
2. Yunel
3. Chipper 4-4

by secondbass on May 15, 2008 11:23 AM EDT 0 recs

Make my #3....

.....Frenchy 4-4

by secondbass on May 15, 2008 6:22 PM EDT up 0 recs

picks

1) 38,951
2) Chipper
3) Hamels lasts longer than Chuck

Chuck and fucking suck
How is this guy on a team?
Should be Triple A

by bigjoe on May 15, 2008 11:34 AM EDT 0 recs

Did you know...

...in games where Royce Ring comes in to face 1 batter, not only has he not allowed a run…he has not even allowed a hit. There was one instance where he came in to face Ryan Church and walked him, but then got Delgado to pop out. In his other 3.2 IP of LOOGY work he has faced 11 batters with 7 strikeouts and 0 hits or walks. 0.00 ERA.

The reason his ERA is thought the roof is when Bobby puts him in to face more than 1 batter. There are 3 instances where he faced more than 1 batter (other than the one mentioned above):

April 5 vs Mets – 1 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 5 batters faced.
April 15 vs Marlins – 0.2 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 batters faced.
May 14 vs Phillies – 0.2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1 HR, 3 batters faced.

Ohman has been very good as the lefty who can throw an entire inning. What do you guys think happens if Gonzo comes back and is pitching like he was before he left?

by Smoltz's Beard on May 15, 2008 11:34 AM EDT 0 recs

When Gonzo comes back, someone’s gone from the current pen – I’m guessing Ring, since Ohman could probably take the duties of LOOGY, and be as effective. When Soriano and Smoltz come back, that probably means DFA for I’m guessing Towel and probably Buddy.

A ‘pen of Bennett, Acosta, Boyer, Campillo, Ohman (LOOGY), Gonzalez, Soriano, Smoltz sounds pretty good to me. Glavine wouldn’t have to make a QS every time, and has something to lean back onto if he keeps running into these late-inning walls. And it gives the JoJos and Jurrjens something to fall back onto as well.

real men, don't wear small.

by royhobbs on May 15, 2008 11:44 AM EDT up 0 recs

You would be correct, good sir...

...in soley the games were Ohman faced 1 batter his line is:

2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 3 K, 6 batters faced

by Smoltz's Beard on May 15, 2008 1:04 PM EDT up 0 recs

You are underestimating the

power of Ring’s beard, which is taking on deep and philosophical dimensions, and appears to have the potential to conquer and annex his entire face.

by Hot Cup Joe on May 15, 2008 1:38 PM EDT up 0 recs

Doesn't Ring's beard also...

Hide his third arm, that is the one that throws that mean curveball of his to lefties?

real men, don't wear small.

by royhobbs on May 15, 2008 2:19 PM EDT up 0 recs

You could be right

There’s definitely something lurking under that cheek bulge….

by Hot Cup Joe on May 15, 2008 3:45 PM EDT up 0 recs

Also

I could’ve sworn that when Ring was with the Padres that he was a giant fatass. I remember discussing with a friend that the only real difference between Royce Ring and Heath Bell was the arm they threw with, because when either came jogging down from the ‘pen, I couldn’t tell them apart. Kinda like Macay McBBride and Chad Paronto.

real men, don't wear small.

by royhobbs on May 15, 2008 2:20 PM EDT up 0 recs

I didn’t want to bring it up and sound like a broken record, but this is 100% factual. It’s a toss up between him and McCann, but Ring’s is all over the place. The picture does not do is justice.

The team just hasn’t been the same since Smoltzs decided to go with the goatee. Sigh...

by Smoltz's Beard on May 15, 2008 2:57 PM EDT up 0 recs

Minus the “s”...Smoltz….I’m stupid…

by Smoltz's Beard on May 15, 2008 2:58 PM EDT up 0 recs

I'll tell you when the team wasn't the same

It’s when Adam LaRoche decided to attempt to grow the fu manchu and got Marcus Giles, Francoeur to join in, and Chipper had the face pubes, and Andruw had the goofy razored up sideburns to match the increasing amount of ink he’d been getting all over himself.

real men, don't wear small.

by royhobbs on May 15, 2008 3:02 PM EDT up 0 recs

did you notice

he went down right after that? I think.

by sddbaker on May 15, 2008 3:59 PM EDT up 0 recs

Not that I mind the goatee...

but I blame the reappearance of it on Kotsay, at least partially. Smoltz grew the beard back in after spring training, but when Kotsay joined the team and grew his goatee into a beard, Smoltz went back to the goat.

by Lizziebeth on May 15, 2008 6:11 PM EDT up 0 recs

BGID!!!!

anyone know what I’m talking about??

by sddbaker on May 15, 2008 3:36 PM EDT up 0 recs

Hmm

I would have to say the best BGID would have to be either McCann when he went all lumberjack for a little while. That was always amusing. In baseball altogether, I nominate last year’s Dmitri Young. Now that is a freaky scary BGID.

real men, don't wear small.

by royhobbs on May 15, 2008 3:46 PM EDT up 0 recs

so

you are a member of the Claynation?

by sddbaker on May 15, 2008 3:59 PM EDT up 0 recs

Um

Not that I know of. I hope you and I have the same meaning for BGID.

real men, don't wear small.

by royhobbs on May 15, 2008 4:02 PM EDT up 0 recs

Beard

Getting It Done?

by sddbaker on May 15, 2008 4:05 PM EDT up 0 recs

That's what I heard

Have no idea what the Claynation is, though

real men, don't wear small.

by royhobbs on May 15, 2008 4:28 PM EDT up 0 recs

here

is the portal: http://www.sportsline.com/columns/writers/travis

by sddbaker on May 15, 2008 4:30 PM EDT up 0 recs

Right....

I heard the term from another board a year ago. We were discussing the rebirth of Dmitri Young, and how it had to do with his BGID that looked like he cut himself with a pair of rusted kindergarten safety scissors.

real men, don't wear small.

by royhobbs on May 15, 2008 4:37 PM EDT up 0 recs

I say...

carry three lefties. Why not? Gonzo is a former closer, which implies that he is equally effective against LH and RH hitters (I don’t have time to look it up).

by VegasAces on May 15, 2008 11:45 AM EDT up 0 recs

Okay, got it.

Gonzalez’ career stats presented in BA/OBP/SLG format:

vs RH:.216/.310/.310
vs LH: .197/.289/.266

Obviously a little better against LH but that’s to be expected, but not terrible against RH by any means. Also his sample size against RH (490 PA) is alot greater than against LH (233 PA).

by VegasAces on May 15, 2008 11:53 AM EDT up 0 recs

Picks

1. 40.040
2. Chipper
3. Chipper’s digging the long ball – hits another

by OntheGo on May 15, 2008 12:24 PM EDT 0 recs

Picks

1. 37,987
2. Yunel
3. More runs cross the plate via homerun than any other method.

by Perrinbar on May 15, 2008 1:10 PM EDT 0 recs

picks

1. 35,297
2. Frenchy
3. James goes 6 inn and allows 3 runs

by KC Braves on May 15, 2008 1:54 PM EDT 0 recs

picks

1. 38,088
2. Yunel
3. James gives up 0 runs in 6 innings, gives up 2HR in the seventh, get the W.

by ghos on May 15, 2008 2:27 PM EDT 0 recs

I love

Willie Harris….have you seen the play today against the Mets? I’ll try to get a link.

by sddbaker on May 15, 2008 3:39 PM EDT 0 recs

No…hell of an end to that game, though. 1-0 Bottom of the 9th, Beltran on 3rd with 1 out. Delgado hits a line drive, 1B snags it and doubles up Beltran.

by Smoltz's Beard on May 15, 2008 4:14 PM EDT up 0 recs

Nick Johnson

Is fielding worthy of the Gold Glove. Too bad hardly anyone knows who he is, and probably won’t win it.

real men, don't wear small.

by royhobbs on May 15, 2008 4:29 PM EDT up 0 recs

See…I did not write Nick b/c I thought I heard last night on the news that he was injured. Sure enough, it appears as though Aaron Boone made the play.

by Smoltz's Beard on May 15, 2008 4:43 PM EDT up 0 recs

Yep…torn tendon in his wrist. Out 4-6 weeks. Broken leg last year, and now this. Tough luck.

by Smoltz's Beard on May 15, 2008 4:45 PM EDT up 0 recs

Dear Pujols

And he was playing so well prior to that. What’s even sadder is that Dmitri Young got so out of shape that he can’t even replace the player he’s supposed to replace while out on injury. But there would’ve been no way that Dmitri could have made the same play Boone did.

real men, don't wear small.

by royhobbs on May 15, 2008 4:48 PM EDT up 0 recs

here

is a link to the wrap of the game….

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2008_05_15_wasmlb_nynmlb_1&mode=wrap

by sddbaker on May 15, 2008 4:40 PM EDT up 0 recs

picks

1. 40,000
2. Escobar
3. Braves hit 2 HRS

by brndn on May 15, 2008 4:02 PM EDT 0 recs

Picks

1. 38, 121
2. Chipper
3. Three Homers by the Braves.

by Euruproktos on May 15, 2008 4:09 PM EDT 0 recs

Chipper Out

Chipper out of lineup, that little groin tweak wasn’t little. Chuck better pitch a shutout.

by 10-4 on May 15, 2008 4:46 PM EDT 0 recs

Super.

by Smoltz's Beard on May 15, 2008 5:04 PM EDT up 0 recs

Does Infante shift over to 3B with Thumbs back at 2B?

by Smoltz's Beard on May 15, 2008 5:08 PM EDT up 0 recs

Norton at 3B and Infante still at 2B, leaving KJ to pinch hit and get his grand slam (he’s due for another)?

by Smoltz's Beard on May 15, 2008 5:13 PM EDT up 0 recs

dang it...

I was afraid of this after the last AB last night…

by sddbaker on May 15, 2008 5:11 PM EDT up 0 recs

Pick-e-hoo

1. 35,212
2. Heap
3. Chuckie lasts at least 4 innings, ~~Chipper gets another RBI~~

You guys are much better at the haiku stuff than me, but in honor of the Main Man’s bday:
Happy Birthday Smoltz
Get healthy, come back and close
Our Brave Superman

by Lizziebeth on May 15, 2008 5:07 PM EDT 0 recs