Game 83 Recap: Braves 2, Cubs 1
by gondeee on Jul 7, 2009 11:14 PM EDT
in Braves Game Recaps
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PrintWhat's this! We won a game in which Javier Vazquez started! We won a one-run road game! Unbelievable!
Yes, the Atlanta Braves once again reversed their latest losing streak behind their ace Javier Vazquez. The power pitcher struck out 6 batters through 7 strong innings while only allowing 1 run on 5 hits. Vazquez labored through the second inning, throwing around 30 pitches, but the Cubs helped him out the next few innings by swinging at everything and helping Vazquez escape with around 30 pitches combined in the third, fourth, and fifth.
The offense was provided by Brian McCann who collected two 2-out RBIs, one each in the first and third innings. Despite getting a runner on in each of the first 7 innings, the 2 runs were all the Braves could score, but it was enough to walk away with the win thanks to a bounce-back bullpen effort from Mike Gonzalez, and a strong ninth inning from Rafael Soriano.
Vazquez got some great defense behind him as well. Brian McCann had a great play on a bunt, just getting the runner at first. McLouth had a great basket catch going back on the ball early in the game, and Escboar and Conrad made some great diving stops up the middle.
Jeff Francoeur was back in the lineup, and went 1-for-4 (an infield hit) with a strikeout and 2 runners LOB. Funny how they lost three in a row when they benched Frenchy -- despite his replacment going 4-for-11 -- but they win the game in which he returns -- despite his complete lack of contribution. Really, it has nothing to do with Francoeur, and keeping him out of the lineup right now is the right thing to do.
Chipper Jones was a late scratch from the lineup due to a nagging groin pull he apparently suffered late in last night's game. He will be reevaluated tomorrow, and will probably miss the afternoon game and be back on Thursday in Colorado.
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Pretty exciting game. Love seeing Soriano shut down the 9th. I really like the way Conrad is playing as well. Very scrappy. A little pop in his bat and some speed. Filling in very nicely.
Yeah I am quickly becoming a fan of Conrad. they should just keep kelly on the dl
by Heyward is the next crime dog on Jul 7, 2009 11:24 PM EDT up reply actions
gotta love no batting gloves and wiping you hands in the dirt between pitches.
2009 Atlanta Braves Motto: We ♥ leaving RISP.
by Scott Coleman on Jul 8, 2009 1:24 AM EDT up reply actions
It’s like he’s a white Vlad Guererro
No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.
The more I watch Brooks Conrad play, the more I like him. Old school with the bare hands on the bat and he just seems to be enjoying every second he’s on a big league field and taking full advantage of it. He can also run pretty fast for a dude almost 30. Passion still has a place in this game and it’s fun watching him play.
"Well behaved women rarely make history" ~ Laurel Ulrich
Farm Action
Don’t know if this has been posted yet, but WOW. Tonight at Rome Zeke Spruill pitched 8 innings allowing 3 hits and no walks while striking out TEN. He lowers his season ERA to 3.02. Of course, he left after 8 with the score 0-0 and the bullpen coughed up a run in the bottom of the 9th so he didn’t get a win (hey, it’s the Braves, they prepare their pitchers for reality). But what a performance. He’s about earned a promotion to Myrtle Beach.
Slugfest tonight in Danville. Beat Pulaski 23-7. Riaan Spanjer-Furstenburg went 3-5 with a double and 2 walks. Puts him at .474/.508/.754. Unbelievable start to his professional career. Derek Wiley gets his 2nd and 3rd hits of the season going 2-6 with 2 HR and is officially on the map. Mycal Jones goes 3-4 with a walk and a homer. Cory Harrilchak goes 5-7, all singles. Robert Hefflinger goes 2-5 with a double, a homer, and two walks and is now hitting .297/.361/.594. The Danville club hit 12 singles, 5 doubles, 5 HR, and drew 7 walks. Every one of Pulaski’s pitchers gave up between 3 and 7 runs. They used 5 pitchers.
" (hey, it’s the Braves, they prepare their pitchers for reality). "
Sad, but soo true. Great line. Maybe Javy V, our ACE, wouldn’t mind mentoring the kid for a few years to let him know how it feels to throw 8 shutout innings, just to lose 1-0 in the 9th.
Also worth noting, KJ went hitless in his rehab/new permanent stint with Gwinnet tonight.
The Jay Hey kid also went 1-3 with a 2B and walk. He has a .400+ average and has 4 or 5 XBH already. Great success.
2009 Atlanta Braves Motto: We ♥ leaving RISP.
by Scott Coleman on Jul 8, 2009 1:28 AM EDT up reply actions
Frenchy
I agree that holding Frenchy out right now is the proper thing for Cox to do. I am just concerned about Diaz’ production against RHP. While Diaz has the same amount of ABs against lefties and righties, his K ratio is much higher against righties (1 K per every 3 ABs). Still, its not any worse than Frenchy is.
Really pleased to see McCann bust out of his semi slump tonight. We need the middle of that order to pick it back up.
Also if FYF is gonna just sit. Why not trade him to the Royals if they covet him so much. See if we can get DeJesus out of them.
Yeah, I think his 2 RBI hits will do tons for him mentally. He had started looking pretty frustrated with his swing of late and you could see his disappointment having to discuss it in interviews. It may have been a huge relief for him last night to come through not once but twice for the team when we needed him to.
"Well behaved women rarely make history" ~ Laurel Ulrich
All though a win is a win, this win doesnt feel good. The Braves did not execute once again with RISP. And the offense lacks extreme confidence and Bobby Cox is not helping by Bunting every inning.Small ball can be great but geesh the surprise element is gone for the Braves. Javy did what he has been doing all year, but it just seems like he increased his trade value even more. I feel like I did last year watching the Braves and thinking this might be my last chance to see Tex in a Braves Uni. Good news is we can win this series tomorrow and it will hopefully be an offensive explosion with Kevin Hart going.
Baseball is my life
Great win!
But the facepalm of the night goes to Cox for pinch hitting with Diaz-and asking him to bunt, thus blowing a scoring chance after getting 2 on and no out in the 8th.
"Ohhhh Shit."-Bobby Cox, 3/28/09
Ugh...
don’t remind me of that one!
"Actually, Justin was right."
by bigjoe on May 15, 2009 9:04 AM PDT
by justincredubil02 on Jul 8, 2009 8:47 AM EDT up reply actions
Absolutely the bonehead move of the night hands down. I was screaming at my TV!
The 1-7 with RISP is something we must address sooner or later or we’ll have no hope of seriously being a contender.
"Well behaved women rarely make history" ~ Laurel Ulrich
I had to laugh...
when I read this comment on the Braves site about last night’s bunt:
Texas44 wrote: If the “book” says bunt, Bobby will bunt even if Hank Aaron were at the plate.
nodding head
"Well behaved women rarely make history" ~ Laurel Ulrich
top 7th
what I wouldnt give for Frenchy to have an AB like some of those we had in the top 7th last night…… seriously though, they should rework his contract and make intense incentives for reaching 5+ pitch counts. I’d give the guy my life savings if he made it to 8.
D-Fence
That was some of the best D I’ve seen the Bravos play all year. Mac, Esco, and Conrad all making very good plays. Definately aided Javy’s confidence throughout the game.
It was the first thing he mentioned afterward in the clubhouse interview too.
He was very grateful for the plays made behind him last night.
"Well behaved women rarely make history" ~ Laurel Ulrich
This is always good to read:
“I just think we stink right now, we’re just not very good,” Wright said after the Mets’ sickly 8-0 loss to the Dodgers.
finally bobby tried to move risp. if he would have done this years ago . he would have more rings on his fingers.this team does not hit many hr any more, so you have to move runners over somehow. check out reds – phils game. phillips no. 4 hitter for reds sac bunt to move runner to 2nd. next batter singled, run scored. thats good fundalmental baseball. plus phillips was 2 for 3 with 2 hrs prior to coming up to bat. reds did win the game. ive said it before [getem on getem over getem in]
To use your name...
NO WAY. Sacrifice bunting is one of the dumbest moves you can do in baseball. Your chances of scoring that run go down dramatically when you bunt. Giving away outs is never a good thing unless it directly scores a run (ie, sac fly).
Good fundamental baseball is getting a hit when you are required to. Laying down a bunt is stupid.
"Actually, Justin was right."
by bigjoe on May 15, 2009 9:04 AM PDT
by justincredubil02 on Jul 8, 2009 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions
justincredubil02
thats fine and where are the braves. below 500 ball because of it.
not at all
they are below .500 because of a couple of bullpen implosions and people like FYF, Johnson, Chipper, Anderson, Kotchman, Lowe and others struggling at various times thoughout the season, not because of the inability to lay down a bunt.
"Actually, Justin was right."
by bigjoe on May 15, 2009 9:04 AM PDT
by justincredubil02 on Jul 8, 2009 2:49 PM EDT up reply actions
well justin we disagree. every team in the league sac, whether bunt , sac fly, trying to hit to the right side of the infield to move runners, squeeze play. they all do it . so lets play your style and no sacs at all if you say it is stupid. ive seen 2 ws champs 57 and 95 and if we play justins way we will never see 1 again
and the Chart
The book tells the method behind the madness and the chart shows run expectancy (based on thousands of games and situations that actually have happened). You have a greater chance of scoring with a runner on 1st and no outs than if you have a runner on 2nd and 1 out.
"Actually, Justin was right."
by bigjoe on May 15, 2009 9:04 AM PDT
by justincredubil02 on Jul 8, 2009 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions
hey justin give that book to lou [cubs manager] he just did the same thing to try and score a run. i dont think i am all that stupid.
I never said you were stupid. I said that the numbers show that teams statistically have a better chance of scoring with a runner on 1st and 0 outs than a runner on 2nd and 1 out. You cannot argue against that. It has been examined, tried and proven.
Just because managers who are old still play old-school ball doesn’t mean they are correct. Sure, bunting is an accepted practice in the game. That doesn’t make it right.
Funny you told me to give that book to Lou, because I was reading today in a Sports Illustrated (with the 09 season preview in it) how many teams are jumping on the sabermetrics bandwagon. Take the Boston Redsox for example. They are all about modern metrics and sabermetrics. The Tampa Bay Rays built their World Series team based on UZR and other sabermetrics (If you don’t believe me, just look it up).
Believe what you want. You manage a team and give away an out. I’ll play the odds that are historically in my favor and just swing away.
The only time a sacrifice is worth an out (IMO) is when it scores a run – sac fly, suicide squeez, etc), or when your P is up to bat in a crucial situation.
"Actually, Justin was right."
by bigjoe on May 15, 2009 9:04 AM PDT
by justincredubil02 on Jul 8, 2009 9:18 PM EDT up reply actions
I think there is a time and a place for the sacrifice bunt. Such as this game, McClouth got on base in the first. Prado sacrificed him to 2nd. This give our TWO BEST HITTERS, a chance to put a run on the bored. With a guy like Javy on the mound, one run may be enough to win the game. I realize that the run expectancy will go down, but what about the variance or standard deviation of the amount. We are more likely to score more runs if we don’t sacrifice, but I think we are more likely to score a run with a sacrifice.
NOTE: This is just my gut telling me this, I don’t really know where I can get the numbers, or even have the time to look at them. If I could get the numbers, I may try to post something about it.
Sure, it gave our two best hitters a chance
but it took the bat out of our hottest hitter to do so.
The numbers you are looking for are in the link I posted above.
"Actually, Justin was right."
by bigjoe on May 15, 2009 9:04 AM PDT
by justincredubil02 on Jul 8, 2009 9:19 PM EDT up reply actions
I agree with the fact we can’t wait on the elusive 3-run homer anymore, but if Bobby is going to suddenly decide to practice fundamentals of bunting with RISP he should make sure the players know how to do it. I watch through my fingers whenever I see anyone on our team attempt a bunt these days.
Personally in that situation with 0 outs and Matty at the plate, I would have tried for a hit before giving up a sure out right away, especially the way we’ve been leaving men on 3rd base lately.
"Well behaved women rarely make history" ~ Laurel Ulrich
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