Braves Offense Fails Again, Lose To Reds 5-1
by TonyAlmeyda on May 28, 2011 12:05 AM EDT
in Braves Game Recaps
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PrintThis (lack of) offense continues to be amazing.
Despite having runners all over the place, the Braves only managed a single run against Mike Leake, losing 5-1.
The Reds gave Leake an early lead to work with. In the second inning, Fred Lewis hit a one-out double to score Scott Rolen who had reached on an infield single.
Early signs indicated the offense was going to struggle yet again. Jordan Schafer drew a leadoff walk in the first, but was erased on Martin Prado's double play groundout. Chipper Jones and Brian McCann both followed with walks, but Eric Hinske flied out on the first pitch he saw.
Another chance presented itself in the fourth. Chipper Jones drew his second walk and McCann singled with Hinske and Dan Uggla behind them. Unfortunately, Hinske flied out again and Uggla lined into a double play. The Braves put two more runners on base in the fifth, but again came up empty.
Atlanta's lone run came in the sixth. Dan Uggla came to the plate with two on and one out and hit a deep fly ball to center. Everyone thought it was a home run, but Drew Stubbs caught it against the wall and Uggla had to settle for a sacrifice fly.
Their best opportunity to bust their collective slump came in the eighth. Chipper Jones drew his third walk of the game leading off and with two outs, Uggla singled and Freddie Freeman walked to load the bases, but Alex Gonzalez grounded out to end the inning. Altogether, the Braves left 11 runners on base and were only 1 for 7 with RISP.
The Reds were able to take advantage of some crucial mistakes against Tommy Hanson. Following a one-out walk to Fred Lewis in the fourth, Ramon Hernandez hit a pitch right back to Hanson, but Hanson threw the ball wide of second base to allow Lewis to reach third. Paul Janish drove him in with a squeeze bunt. They scored their third run of the game when with two outs and runners at first and third, Jay Bruce grounded a ball up the middle that Alex Gonzalez would have fielded cleanly, but reliever George Sherrill deflected the ball, allowing Brandon Phillips to score from third easily.
Ramon Hernandez tacked on two more with a ninth-inning home run off Craig Kimbrel.
Although the Reds scored five, they were only 2 for 17 with RISP and left 14 runners on base.
Lowe vs. Arroyo on Saturday.
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Watching Tommy pitch is unnerving! I have no idea how he’s gotten away with using so little body and sooooo much arm with his pitches. It would seem like somewhere along the way a pc or doctor would tell him he needs to start using his legs to drive more toward the plate instead of cocking his arm back like that.
It's always an ongoing issue with me. I can never truly decide if it's easier on my sanity to make the playoffs consistently and lose every time? Or would it be easier to just tap out by the All Star break?
by Nate Schroeder on May 28, 2011 12:35 AM EDT reply actions
B-Mac almost looks like he's dancing in that photo.
My buddy and I just decided that the braves would be set if we could get Matt Kemp, Jose Reyes, and Albert Pujols.
by willlinn on May 17, 2011 2:13 PM EDT
McCann has a loud mouth. Isn’t that the pic where he screamed FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF***?
by PhuckthePhillies on May 28, 2011 5:45 PM EDT up reply actions
If this team starts playing lousy defense...
We’re all in for a long, nasty summer.
"Part of me wants to give him this huge hug, and part of me wants to kick him in the groin because he made it look so easy." - David Ross, commenting on McCann's two homer game.
This game was fun to watch.
No wait, the opposite of that.
Q: If not us, who? If not now, when? A: The Batman. And "when you least expect it."
Braves team hitting for May
The results actually surprised me on this. There are a few stats we’re in the bottom few of the NL, but mostly we’re still in the mid to upper rankings according to FanGraphs.com.
Team G AB PA H 1B 2B 3B HR R RBI BB IBB SO HBP SF SH GDP SB CS AVG
Reds 272 850 953 219 151 41 3 24 112 103 79 10 163 10 5 9 10 11 6 .258
Cubs 243 748 829 217 156 43 4 14 108 97 56 1 154 15 3 7 22 4 4 .290
Cardinals 268 784 922 206 143 46 3 14 106 103 104 11 145 9 9 16 26 9 6 .263
Rockies 274 812 915 200 133 33 7 27 98 93 77 5 156 8 7 11 21 8 9 .246
Brewers 261 791 889 183 108 45 7 23 95 89 76 8 170 7 4 11 11 20 4 .231
Marlins 249 788 892 199 139 33 2 25 94 88 75 7 168 8 8 13 17 12 7 .253
Padres 268 775 859 192 137 33 5 17 94 89 61 5 183 4 9 9 18 18 3 .248
Diamondbacks 263 807 911 191 126 41 1 23 94 88 81 10 190 9 4 10 8 22 10 .237
Nationals 262 782 868 182 119 39 5 19 93 87 62 4 212 9 8 7 13 21 4 .233
Braves 262 791 889 203 140 42 0 21 90 86 75 10 185 2 7 13 22 3 4 .257
Pirates 237 690 785 168 113 35 3 17 84 82 80 5 159 1 6 8 18 14 6 .243
Phillies 277 815 918 191 131 35 6 19 84 82 75 12 150 8 8 12 14 13 3 .234
Astros 257 778 864 192 132 43 3 14 81 79 66 4 188 7 10 3 11 18 4 .247
Mets 250 739 858 180 119 40 7 14 79 76 103 16 163 0 6 10 17 21 4 .244
Giants 261 764 863 185 124 49 2 10 73 66 71 9 174 12 5 11 14 17 7 .242
Dodgers 264 759 845 172 128 30 0 14 64 60 68 10 150 7 2 9 13 11 1 .227
It's always an ongoing issue with me. I can never truly decide if it's easier on my sanity to make the playoffs consistently and lose every time? Or would it be easier to just tap out by the All Star break?
by Nate Schroeder on May 28, 2011 12:53 AM EDT reply actions
ewww, that’s ugly. the ugly post is sorted for runs scored as of Friday.
It's always an ongoing issue with me. I can never truly decide if it's easier on my sanity to make the playoffs consistently and lose every time? Or would it be easier to just tap out by the All Star break?
by Nate Schroeder on May 28, 2011 12:55 AM EDT up reply actions
I see our avg is 257, better than most teams, but we’re also tied for the most gidp’s. We seem to get on but, we can’t get home. Defense tonight was not good.
Senator, we have another old saying,"Don't piss down my back and tell me it's raining." Fletcher
Also our ops so far this year is only .689, not the worst, but certainly not the best.
Senator, we have another old saying,"Don't piss down my back and tell me it's raining." Fletcher
4th
best in the NL!
"Welcome to the show, Brandon Beachy. I think you’re going to stay a while." - Dave Cameron
Damn you West Coasters...
Posting at 4:30 a.m. EST!
"Insert witty and/or funny quote here" ~ The Person Who Spoketh Said Quote.
The thing is, for this to have any value, we need to filter out the first week, as we scored 5+ runs in almost every game that week except 1 or 2.
It’s been since then that we can’t score runs to save our life.
by Ivan the Great on May 28, 2011 10:47 AM EDT up reply actions
Everyone has a different approach. Chipper will be working the count and making the guy throw while other guys will be swinging at the first pitch. Leake was either wild or serving up meatballs. I saw him make one good pitch to Freeman and that’s it. If we don’t fire Larry Parrish, we are basically forfeiting this season. Terry was a 10x better hitting coach.
Never though I’d hear people clamoring for the good ole’ TP days. If I remember correctly, everyone was calling for TP to be fired for like the past five years.
Does the hitting coach matter? Sure. Though comparing the approach this year to last year, I really don’t see that much difference. Chipper and Mac are patient and usually swing only at their pitch. The same generally holds true for Prado. Agon is what he is: an impatient hitter with some pop. Uggla’s overall approach (i.e. waiting for his pitch) has generally been okay. He just can’t seem to hit anything. Nate’s appraoch has certainly been better than last year though that’s not saying much.
The only guys I can really find fault with are Heyward and Freeman. Both seem to have the same problem: getting jammed on pitches way inside and rolling over on pitches outside. Since Heyward seemed to have the same problem last year, I don’t know how much we can pin that on Parrish and how much it may be a product of his inexperience, the same being true for Freeman.
saying this game was hard to watch would be a massive understatement
"My everything, or nothing. My everything, or nothing. WE gonna fight, til we can't fight no more. We gonna lie down, and bleed a while. Gonna get up, and fight again." -Tashard Choice
by SouthernPanther on May 28, 2011 1:52 AM EDT reply actions
I don't think this was mentioned in the recap but let me make sure it stands out...
Mr. Jordan Schafer, who I happen to be a fan of, had 2 hits and a walk in the leadoff spot.
I will also point out Linebrink pitched 2 harmless innings of baseball (1 H, 1 BB).
What more can you ask for from our rookie CF? He’s getting it done early so far.
Don’t worry about older women until you turn 22. It’s called the Saltalamacchia.
by bwellnjonesco on May 19, 2011 4:13 PM PDT
But Jordan Schafer sucks because he struggled at the plate in AAA after breaking his wrist…..
"That mvhsbball really is an insufferable schmuck." - FuquaManuel
Twitter: @scottcoleman55
by Scott Coleman on May 28, 2011 4:48 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
sometimes I love you... but i'm not giving you my bud light.
Don’t worry about older women until you turn 22. It’s called the Saltalamacchia.
by bwellnjonesco on May 19, 2011 4:13 PM PDT
by Klemson Krash on May 28, 2011 7:35 AM EDT up reply actions
AND, he walks with a strut!!!
"Hard work beats talent, when talent doesnt work hard"
by Hudson's Soul Patch on May 28, 2011 3:43 PM EDT up reply actions
Linebrink was effective
despite his best efforts to not be. The fact that he didn’t give up a run does not speak to how bad he looked. His second inning on the mound was hard to watch. His defense bailed him out yet again and it’s only a matter of time before he really puts a game out if reach.
If a woman has to choose between catching a fly ball and saving an infant's life, she will choose to save the infant's life without even considering if there are men on base. ~Dave Barry
by -InsertWittyNameHere- on May 28, 2011 8:23 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Really puts a game out of reach again.
by Ivan the Great on May 28, 2011 10:48 AM EDT up reply actions
Linebrink was effective despite his best efforts to not be.
Proctor immediately contacted his attorney after the game and sued Linebrink for copyright infringement. That’s his schtick.
"Part of me wants to give him this huge hug, and part of me wants to kick him in the groin because he made it look so easy." - David Ross, commenting on McCann's two homer game.
braves offense
we can sit here all day and talk about how heyward and uggla arent doing anything. while that is true, outside of one game mccann isnt doing a single thing either. i know hitting can be contagious, i know when heyward is healthy he can hit ( i really am starting to lose faith in uggla (a la mclouth ) but mccann isnt doing anyrhing chipper is doing alright but if no one is hitting in front of him or behind him then he has no protection and no one will pitch around him. time for uggla to step up or get the f**k out
it seemed to me like Uggla hit the ball well yesterday, every at-bat was a good at-bat, he only got one hit but got the sac fly that was very close to being out and he lined out. He also worked the count much better than in the past
I <3 RUNZ
McCann went 2-for-3 with a walk and a double, hitting our only extra-base hit and scoring our only run last night. He is pretty much not the problem in any way, shape, or form.
by Ivan the Great on May 28, 2011 10:50 AM EDT up reply actions
Scary thought
I thought Uggla looked like he had been working pretty hard on adjusting a thing or two. Looked to me like he was a bit closer to the plate. His 1st AB had some hard hit balls, the double play was line drive straight to 3rd, the RBI fly ball almost got out of the park and he got a hit between SS and 3B.
Just guessing, and it’s a skinny limb I’m climbing out on, but I’m thinking we may have seen his batting average bottom out and start the long climb back up.
"Bunting's my favorite." Fredi G
Someone buy this man a medal...
I am immediately putting you in charge of the Promotions Department of “The Administration”.
While I say that in jest, I am dead serious. Thank you. Thank you for finding the positive in at least one thing… With all of the struggla’s of the Braves, at least they’re not sitting on their laurels and waiting for good things to come to them because they feel entitled… They are working harder and making adjustments and continuing to try.
You sir, are certainly not a deuce. :-) Let me know if you’re interested in the position.
Don’t worry about older women until you turn 22. It’s called the Saltalamacchia.
by bwellnjonesco on May 19, 2011 4:13 PM PDT
by Klemson Krash on May 28, 2011 7:39 AM EDT up reply actions
I had to hold my nose leaving the park. 3 errors by the pitchers lead to two of the runs. Hansen really needs to work on his fielding and throwing to base. Remember last year when he dropped the ball during a run down?
Freeman dropped a ball out of his glove.
Uggla is being too aggressive covering second and is messing up Gonzalez.
Why would a closer come in when it is 3-1 in the top of the ninth? What about extra innings?
Martinez was warmed up.
The Braves give new life to pitchers with ERA’s over 5. 8 shutouts in the first 5 innings of the Braves by pitchers with ERA’s over 5.
Tommy doesn't see alot of ground balls...
So when he had the chance to see one he was like maybe I sould throw it to the outfield…
by UpstateNyBravesFan on May 28, 2011 8:03 AM EDT up reply actions
I guess Tommy was sending a message to the coaching staff
“Give me more ground balls or I’ll keep doing that!”
Breaking News
Prado just hit into another double play.
Now I know why he’s been leading off: less Vidro chances. I love Prado, but it seems he is averaging a DP a game over the last two weeks. His first inning DP set the tone for the entire game, in my opinion.
I think we need a pep talk from Fred McGriff; he can bring his Tom Emanski VHS tapes with him.
If we lose back-to-back games to Leake and Arroyo, I’ll cry. (Not really, but I’ll do a mighty facepalm.)
As my fellow UGAers would say: GATA!
"Insert witty and/or funny quote here" ~ The Person Who Spoketh Said Quote.
I didn’t get to see the game, but I’m wondering how Schafer looked.
Were his 2 singles well hit? Infield hits? Bunts?
I’ve got Jack Johnson and Tom O’Leary waiting for ya, right here
I would answer this with real stats and stuff... but i didn't watch the game..
and i’m jamming out to Free Bird while writing my paper… I would like to know the same though…
Don’t worry about older women until you turn 22. It’s called the Saltalamacchia.
by bwellnjonesco on May 19, 2011 4:13 PM PDT
by Klemson Krash on May 28, 2011 9:57 AM EDT up reply actions
His first single was a weak roller near first where Leake didn’t really hustle to the base, and Jordan’s speed let him beat the throw from the first baseman.
His next single was a broken bat liner over second. It wasn’t particularly laced, but it wasn’t particularly poorly hit, either.
by Ivan the Great on May 28, 2011 10:52 AM EDT up reply actions
Thanks
Seems like speed is Schafer’s best asset these days. Even when he’s not hitting the ball hard he can find a way to get on.
If he can find a way to get his SLG% back into the mid 400’s where it used to be, he will be a real weapon.
I’ve got Jack Johnson and Tom O’Leary waiting for ya, right here
Braves ranks over last 2 weeks
- | NL rank | MLB rank
Hits: 102 | 11 | 21
Homers: 8 | T-10 | T-21
Runs: 32 | 16 | 29 (yes, we’ve scored 32 runs in 2 weeks. seriously)
Steals: 2 | 16 | 30
BB%: 8.3% | T-7 | T-14
K%: 20.0% | 7 | 15
ISO: .100 | 14 | 27
BABIP: .283 | 8 | 18
AVG: .243 | 11 | 21
OBP: .306 | 12 | 23
SLG: .344 | 13 | 26
wOBA: .290 | 13 | 27
wRC+: 80 | 13 | 26
Team WAR: 0.4 | 13 | 27
Want to know the only reason we’re not about 10 games back in the division right now? The Phillies’ bats have been actually a tiny bit worse than ours. All of their ranks are about 1 NL and 1 MLB rank below ours. The difference is, they can actually win games when key aspects of the game abandon them. We don’t seem to be able to overcome our shortcomings, except when McCann hits two homers close and late.
by Ivan the Great on May 28, 2011 11:27 AM EDT reply actions
exactly
Senator, we have another old saying,"Don't piss down my back and tell me it's raining." Fletcher
Couldn’t watch the game, but tried to follow on my phone periodically for updates.
Bases loaded in the 8th (only down by 2 runs) and how many pitches did Alex see? I think maybe 2.
It seems our offensive approach this season has been coached by Sybil.
The additional 2 runs given up in the 9th was not good to see. Did Kimbrel settle down after the leadoff walk and homer? If so, I’ve said before that he pitches better mad, so someone in the BP needs to be tagged with the job slapping him before he goes tot he mound. ;-)
Hopefully…tonight will be better.
Glad to see Schafer getting on base. Once he’s there, the opposing pitchers must contend with his speed.
.
"In the happy moments, praise God. In the difficult moments, seek God. In the quiet moments, trust God. In every moment, thank God." - Robert A. Wood
The starting pitching looked good
last night. But other than that, there was not much to be excited about. I was listening to a game earlier this week where they talking about the “Era of the Pitcher” being back, and to get used to low scoring games. I am fine with that, but once in a while we gotta blow someone out! I know its easier to dwell on the bad, but how many times are guys gonna go up after somebody just walked and swing at the first freaking pitch!?
i have to disagree with you
the starting pitching looked bad on both sides
Hanson was getting deep in counts and only lasted just over 4 innings
Leake had a full count on like 6 of the first 7 batters he faced and would have walked like 4 if we didn’t swing at ball 4 so much or the first pitch
People are like at least I'm not that guy on stage. That guy on stage is like at least I'm not that guy in the looney bin. The guy in the looney bin are like at least I'm an orange
DOB number-crunching:
#Braves’ Uggla has hit .115 (7-for-61) in past 17 gms; he has 1 extra-base hit, 2 RBI and .396 OPS in past 15 gms.
#Braves are 9-9 despite 3.24 ERA in past 18 games – they have 56 runs in that span, and 27 runs in last 11 games (6-5 w/ 2.93 ERA)
#Braves have scored 14 runs in past seven games (3-4) and gone homerless in six of past eight
Translated: This offense sucks right now.
Twitter: @TAlmeyda
That sounds exactly
like DOB number crunching.
Why in the world would you give an average over 17 games and OPS over 15 games? That makes no sense. If you are doing number crunching, it isn’t hard to come up with batting numbers over the same period of time…or is it?
If he was really a number cruncher, he would compare that to the rest of the league, as for record, runs and ERA over the past few weeks. The Braves are all he writes about. It is not that hard to do something that would translate into looking like you know what you are doing.
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