Game 58 Recap: Pirates 3, Braves 2

by gondeee on Jun 11, 2009 8:49 AM EDT in Game Recaps Comment 29 comments

For the third straight day the Pirates and Braves played a one-run game, but this time the Pirates came out ahead. The Braves offense scuffled most of the day. The black hole(s) at the bottom of the lineup went 0-for-10, and the Pirates caught everything Chipper Jones hit their way. The bottom three in the lineup, Greg Norton, Jeff Francoeur, and Kelly Johnson, are really dragging this team down. I never realized how much we were going to really miss Casey Kotchman, or Martin Prado for that matter.

Francoeur is now hitting .160 this month, Johnson is hitting just .152, and Norton is 0-for-June. These guys have to pick it up. In the case of Johnson I think he'll eventually turn it around, though I'm starting to doubt he will ever turn the corner and be a premier offensive player. In the case of Norton, perhaps it's time to cut him loose, and as for Francoeur, I really don't think the Braves can wait any longer for him to become even a decent offensive player. Francoeur's approach to the plate right now seems to be "try not to fail," and he's not even living up to that.

Jair Jurrjens pitched another good game, though he wasn't very efficient. Still, it was a quality start in which he only gave up two runs -- the Braves should have won this one, especially since the Pittsburgh starter, Charlie Morton, had to leave the game after the first inning with an injury (or two).

The AJC blamed the loss on a lapse at second base by Yunel Escobar, but he may have been shielded by the umpire and/or runner on that play, so I wouldn't put it all on his shoulders. The offense only scored one run through eight innings. Garret Anderson made it interesting with a solo homerun in the ninth with two outs to make it a one-run game, but then the black hole of Greg Norton came up and flied out.

Wednesday night was also the first use of replay at Turner Field, and the first use of replay in any Braves game. Check it out here.

Final - 6.10.2009	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Pittsburgh Pirates	0	0	2	0	0	0	1	0	0	3	6	0
Atlanta Braves	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	2	6	0
WP: Jeff Karstens (3 - 4) SV: Matt Capps (14) LP: Jair Jurrjens (5 - 4)

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DOB was saying that Escobar ducked out and avoided any questions after the game, saying he had somewhere to be. I hope thats true, otherwise thats pretty crappy to avoid questions. Although, i’m sure he’ll hear about today from Chipper.

"Ohhhh Shit."-Bobby Cox, 3/28/09

by 10-4 on Jun 11, 2009 8:54 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Actually, Chipper does that all the time too.

by gondeee on Jun 11, 2009 10:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Looking back, it was a bonehead play by Yunel for not paying attention, but why did no one yell earlier that the runner was coming home? Also, it was a completely stupid play by the baserunner. I mean, the ball doesn’t leave the infield and he doesn’t even slow down when rounding third? 99 times out of 100 doing that, the runner gets thrown out at home and the Pirates would have blown a scoring opportunity with a bonehead running play. Credit him for taking a risk—it was so stupid that it caught the Braves offguard and turned brilliant.

by ghost of tom thobe on Jun 11, 2009 9:00 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Braves hitters couldn’t even get one walk???? WTF…..FIRE TP!

by BravesFan on Jun 11, 2009 9:10 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I’m serious. Terry Pendleton needs to go ASAP.

by BravesFan on Jun 11, 2009 9:27 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You can't take walks...

If the pitchers are throwing strikes. Over 33 ABs, Pirates pitchers only threw 33 balls. And 7 of those were from Capps in his 1 IP.

Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.

by MichaelProcton on Jun 11, 2009 10:00 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Swings count as strikes though. No matter where they are.

A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.
~Earl Wilson

by BeantownVol on Jun 11, 2009 10:13 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

And FYF swung at a lot of balls. Frenchy loves swinging at balls. He just loves balls in general.

by Sparhawk on Jun 11, 2009 10:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

real post about Frenchy

what are peoples for real ideas about Frenchy? He obviously wont command a trade of much value, nor will he progress offensively – thus minor leagues dont seem to be a great idea.

What the hell do you do with a guy like this? DFA? Wait out the season?

by traphicg on Jun 11, 2009 9:24 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Release him or platoon him with a left-handed bat until we can fill that black hole that is right field for the past 2 years. He can’t play everyday, especially against righties.

by BravesFan on Jun 11, 2009 9:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If he can't bring anything back of value in a trade...

… the Braves need to seriously consider shipping his ass to A-ball. Plenty of players have done it before. If he bitches, fine him a hefty sum of cash. If he complains, suspend him for three games without pay. The Braves own the rights to his contract and he is required to do as they instruct if he wants to earn his check.

In most cases, it’s bad operational method to just release a guy because you’re tired of him.

Francoeur believes there is a spot on a ML 25-man for him out there. Francoeur believes his just a couple ticks from his “usual” form. He’s delusional. He still thinks he’s a superstar and he thinks he’s worth every penny the Braves give him and more. I’ve advocated cutting ties before, but I’ve recently come to think it would be best if the Braves just rock his world.

Oh, Bobby.

by sdp on Jun 11, 2009 9:35 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs

+1

In Dimitroff we trust

by Bonhoffer on Jun 11, 2009 9:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

gawd, that would be so awesome

by StottsEra on Jun 11, 2009 9:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

My thoughts are:

Frenchy: The Braves’ brain trust is as good as any in baseball and even with Bobby Cox’s seemingly unlimited patience in the case of our RF, they will definitely will at some point pull the trigger and do something dramatic. And assuming he continues to so woefully slough along, the only question is how soon. I’m thinking it’s likely any day now, but whenever it is, absent a package deal trade (and trading at the lowest possible point – or DFAing – is bad business), I expect a demotion, probably to Gwinnett.

Norton: DFA now! Bring up Canizares! This is a no-brainer. Canizares is at .344 avg, .945 OPS, and gives a RH stick that we don’t have but urgently need. Is he the answer: No. Can he help now and in the short term: Yes. In fact, if he shows he can hit at the ML level, he could be significant trading piece.

Kelly: Bobby’s got to sit him down again for at least a couple of games and I guess play Diory at 2B. He is entirely too solid of a hitter to be stuck in this type slump.

by fandave on Jun 11, 2009 10:13 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The problem with Kelly is…how does riding the pine help get him out of his slump?

I’m now on board with bringing up Canizares in favor or Norton. Kid deserves a shot.

by Smoltz's Beard on Jun 11, 2009 10:26 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He’s pressing and stuck in a rut. In my profession, when that happens, I take a few days off at hiking on a mountain or splashing around at a beach somewhere. In his, a player sits and trys to regroup.

Canizares is no kid. He’s a 29 and 1/2 year old Cuban veteran, defected in 2006.

by fandave on Jun 11, 2009 10:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It’s a figure of speech…no need to get testy.

And I respectfully disagree, simply sitting and regrouping isn’t enough. He needs playing time to get back on track, and it doesn’t help when Bobby is constantly starting/sitting him and bouncing him all over the lineup.

by Smoltz's Beard on Jun 11, 2009 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Testy? I thought I was being all sweetness and light.
If you’re referring to the “kid” issue, my point is Canizares has tons of seasoning given the quality of the Cuban national teams. He is a fully grown-up baseball player and he is ready.
You may be right about Kelly, but he’s surely not looking so good right now.

by fandave on Jun 11, 2009 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Haha, I had something much more insulting typed out instead of testy, but I took a deep breath and changed it…I’m learning!

Yeah, I still call Heap “kid” sometimes…just a figure out speech.

by Smoltz's Beard on Jun 11, 2009 4:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think Kelly is utterly depressed that Bobby views him as someone who needs to bat lower than Francouer in the lineup.

"Ohhhh Shit."-Bobby Cox, 3/28/09

by 10-4 on Jun 11, 2009 11:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

...and who could blame him for that?

Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.

by MichaelProcton on Jun 11, 2009 11:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Actually....

I expect to hear any day now that KJ has gone postal on the right fielder — I mean, come on, how can he not resent the patience they show a player whose output is so inferior to his own?

"IIt breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone." A. Bartlett Giamatti

by sddbaker on Jun 11, 2009 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well Norton got a DL (instead of DFA) and Canizares has been called up

by Slee on Jun 11, 2009 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i hear that

aside from all the emotions attached and the punitive measures we’d want taken on him just b/c his continued D-Baggery, that seems to be a way that could ACTUALLY affect his ego.

He’s probably a couple ticks away from his usual form, i’d believe that, but he’s gotta start believing his usual form is a type-C player.

by traphicg on Jun 11, 2009 10:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

trade him for whatever you can get

Trade him. A trade value of “not much” is still more than “nothing.” Take the “not much” you can get from the Royals, Red Sox, or anybody else and be thankful he’s no longer your problem. Then start looking around for somebody to take his spot. Diaz can hold the position down adequately until the Braves find one or until Schafer looks ready.

by redwards95 on Jun 11, 2009 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

There is a lot that went wrong with this game. Yunel falling asleep and allowing the runner to score. I don’t know if the ump was blocking his path or not, but he had no play at first so regardless of his teamates yelling or not, he needs to look for the runner at third. Yunel is great, but damn does he make a lot of bonehead mistakes…especially running on the basepaths.

When I saw Garrett up again with 2 outs and McCann on second, I was pleading for Bobby to sub for a right handed hitter. Not sure who was on the bench, but f*ck I hate seeing Garrett and FYF in the lineup at the same time.

About Frenchy, wtf is wrong with this guy? Has he not learned after three years to take a pitch and not swing at everything? I’m just amazed that he hasn’t learned to wait for your pitch to hit. I would think after sucking for over 2 years that he would rethink his aggressive approach. How can you not learn by watching how Chipper takes an at bat. I’m putting a lot of blame on TP for not beating Frenchy’s face in every time he swings at a bad pitch. TP really needs to go.

I guess I’m just having a bad week cause I don’t really like to complain, but the offense is just terrible.

The top of the lineup is good and Kelly is much better than he’s been playing. Not sure what will solve the Braves problems, but I’d start by firing TP and getting a new hitting coach.

I really feel for our starting ptiching. They throw nothing but quality starts and then it’s either the bullpen or offense that f*cks it up for them.

by Sparhawk on Jun 11, 2009 10:39 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

He took the 3rd pitch in his second AB, which was the fifth pitch he saw of the night.

"Ohhhh Shit."-Bobby Cox, 3/28/09

by 10-4 on Jun 11, 2009 11:06 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Really?

You want our hitting coach to chew out every hitter who takes bad swings in the dugout for all of the cameras and an (eventually) national audience to see? You don’t think that sort of thing goes on behind closed doors in the clubhouse and the cages? As he said, “Eventually, a guy just has to step up.”

Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.

by MichaelProcton on Jun 11, 2009 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yeah...

There’s no love lost between TP and the right fielder, and I have to believe there’s more to that than Pendleton getting his feelings hurt because the RF went to an outside hitting coach.

by sddbaker on Jun 11, 2009 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs