Atlanta Braves vs. Chicago Cubs Series Preview
by moorebraves on Aug 12, 2011 11:02 AM EDT
in Series Previews & Recaps
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PrintAtlanta did pretty darn good down there in Florida. Let's hope that they can keep the momentum going in the upward direction on the homestand. The Braves come home to honor Bobby Cox at Turner Field by retiring jersey #6 before kicking off a three game series against the Cubs. This will be the first time that the Braves see the 2011 Cubs, the last club that they are yet to face left on the schedule.
The Cubs will have to go another year without breaking their World Series drought, but Chicago isn't playing too poorly right now. Though their record sits at just 51-67, they just came off of a series win against the Nationals and have won nine of their last eleven. The Braves would like to take care of the Cubs this weekend, because their next two series are against the Giants and the Diamondbacks. Both of these NL West teams are hungry for playoff baseball and have the Braves standing solidly in their way.
Dan Uggla will have an opportunity to extend his streak to 34 games over the weekend at Turner Field. It is highly likely that Jose Constanza continues to play over Heyward during the series, as he has continued to shine at the big league level. Constanza has been nothing but a tremendous surprise since he was called up, hitting .413 with an OBP of .438. Unfortunately for the Atlanta crowd, it looks as though there is no chance of seeing Brian McCann return to action during the weekend series, as was considered. He will be rehabbing down the road in Gwinnett, likely until the Giants come to town.
The Cubs currently rank second-to-last in the National League in team ERA and have converted just 29 of 46 save opportunities. The pitching just isn't getting it done for Chicago this season, though Starlin Castro, Aramis Ramirez, and Marlon Byrd are doing their absolute best to make up for it at the plate. Castro at the shortstop position, has, however, had a major hand in the Clubs last place fielding percentage. If he develops into at least a marginally decent defensive shortstop, he will be a stud in the league for years to come.
Pitching matchups after the jump...
Friday Night:
Mike Minor will face Big Z in his second start for Jair Jurrjens. Zambrano always does damage at the plate as well as in the clubhouse, but hasn't been handling batters like his old self for a couple of seasons now. In 2011 he holds a respectable 9-6 record but a not-so-hot 4.46 ERA. The Braves have beat him around for a 5.43 ERA in his 12 career starts against Atlanta.
Saturday Night:
Of course, Lowe's earned run average is actually worse than Zambrano's, but is coming off of a solid start against the fish. He went six innings and gave up just two runs on the night on his way to a win. Randy Wells is a right hander that the Braves' bats should mash hits against, though he holds a 2-1 record and a 2.88 ERA against Atlanta in four career starts.
Sunday Afternoon:
Beachy is coming off of a great start against the Marlins, going six and two thirds and giving up two runs on just three hits. Facing off against Beachy will be Matt Garza, making Sunday's game the premier pitching matchup of the series. Garza was great with the Rays and has been solid for the Cubs this season. Despite some early season struggles, he has settled into a manageable rhythm of inconsistency for the Cubs, giving up large run totals only every third or fourth time out.
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I think if the Bravos can get through tonight's game
with a W, then the series should be smoothe sailing from there on out. Maybe a little bump in the road, named Garza, but the Braves and Beachy I believe will get the job done.
I’m looking at a series sweep, hopefully it’ll hold true as this team needs as much momentum as they can get going into two crucial series after the Cubbies.
Sometimes I wake up grumpy; other times I let her sleep.
by chicagobullies on Aug 12, 2011 11:35 AM EDT reply actions
Game one / J-Hey
Hoping to see Heyward get some playing time. Maybe snap out of his funk by going yard on Zambrano like he did opening day 2010. The shot heard around the south. Would be a nice retirement gift for Bobby.
"People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring." Rogers Hornsby
imo, he should have been sent to the minors a week ago to get it back.
What we have working right now is just that: working.
"It looks like The Hound of the Baskervilles out there." - Steve Stone
"...I'm reminded of Wuthering Heights." - Harry Caray
~
"Wang, my third at-bat, he threw me a 1-0 fastball that I fouled straight back, and he came back with another heater, which surprised me." - Freddie Freeman
by Chief Noc-A-Homa on Aug 12, 2011 1:32 PM EDT up reply actions
Yep, gotta go w/what's working
Just wishing Heyward was a part of it.
"People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring." Rogers Hornsby
Sure. Same here.
Kung Fu Panda didn’t make the playoff roster for the Gigantes, last year.
"It looks like The Hound of the Baskervilles out there." - Steve Stone
"...I'm reminded of Wuthering Heights." - Harry Caray
~
"Wang, my third at-bat, he threw me a 1-0 fastball that I fouled straight back, and he came back with another heater, which surprised me." - Freddie Freeman
by Chief Noc-A-Homa on Aug 12, 2011 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions
It does make me cringe a little that...
Lowe has a better shot of making the post season roster than Heyward
Got to give Lowe credit
He got his act together last year & was effective toward the end of the season & in the playoffs. Wouldn’t mind seeing that version of Lowe re-emerge.
"People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring." Rogers Hornsby
My guess is that’s what happens again.
Led by Uggla, this team has hella-confidence right now. Even Lowe mentioned specifically that Dan has inspired him to reach that level, again.
"It looks like The Hound of the Baskervilles out there." - Steve Stone
"...I'm reminded of Wuthering Heights." - Harry Caray
~
"Wang, my third at-bat, he threw me a 1-0 fastball that I fouled straight back, and he came back with another heater, which surprised me." - Freddie Freeman
by Chief Noc-A-Homa on Aug 12, 2011 2:30 PM EDT up reply actions
In a postgame interview with Lowe. Take my word for it. That’s more-or-less what was said.
"It looks like The Hound of the Baskervilles out there." - Steve Stone
"...I'm reminded of Wuthering Heights." - Harry Caray
~
"Wang, my third at-bat, he threw me a 1-0 fastball that I fouled straight back, and he came back with another heater, which surprised me." - Freddie Freeman
by Chief Noc-A-Homa on Aug 12, 2011 2:33 PM EDT up reply actions
Wow what a quote by Lowe
You hit it essentially on the money Chief…
"I actually looked to him for motivation, because I’m in the same spot myself, struggling. He never hung his head and kept grinding, finding a way. I’m trying to do the same thing myself." -AJC DOB
I'm getting a little misty eyed here.
Also feeling a little convicted for all those things I muttered under my breath toward Dan when he was whiffing earlier in the season.
"People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring." Rogers Hornsby
Who makes it instead, Wilkin Ramirez? Heyward will make the roster because we have no better choice.
Furthermore, Heyward will start.
Why? Because Constanza is a minor league journeyman who, in one of those great baseball stories, happened to have a ridiculous hot streak when he first came up to the majors. It isn’t going to last for another seven weeks and into the playoffs. When the luck god turns off the lightbulb on Constanza, Heyward will more or less play every day.
Constanza was having a pretty nice year in AAA before the callup, it’s not unreasonable to expect him to put up good numbers for the rest of the season.
If we can land [Stephen Drew], I will give FW a bj.
~justincredubil02
by king of games on Aug 12, 2011 5:21 PM EDT up reply actions
Not really.
Constanza had a .712 OPS at Gwinnett, and this was pretty much in line with his career minor league numbers. One would expect that at the major league level it will eventually go below that. This year, in his horribly down year, Heyward is OPS’ing .709 at the major league level. I would expect this to improve. If both played full time the rest of the way (if say, Chipper got hurt or something) I would definitely expect Heyward to be the better player.
Talking Choppers...
I am here to tell you what will happen so you can skip the series and enjoy your weekend.
1) The Garza game will be tough but I have a feeling Beachy will be an Ace when we need our staff to step up…
2) We will beat up the Cubs bullpen.
3) I feel another sweep in the cards. I just really hope we can beat Big Z tonight.
4) A roster move will happen this series that may not be very pleasant, but necessary.
Have a great weekend and hopefully I’ll be able to catch up in a GT one day this weekend. It would be fun.
Miss you guys and I’ll catch you around.
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
like a deck of cards
"It looks like The Hound of the Baskervilles out there." - Steve Stone
"...I'm reminded of Wuthering Heights." - Harry Caray
~
"Wang, my third at-bat, he threw me a 1-0 fastball that I fouled straight back, and he came back with another heater, which surprised me." - Freddie Freeman
by Chief Noc-A-Homa on Aug 12, 2011 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions
You better be in tonights GT sir!
You shouldn’t sip liquor.
-justincredubil02
no, Jack Daniel is whiskey.
-ChopMaster
"Welcome to the show, Brandon Beachy. I think you’re going to stay a while."
I stayed up for a bit. It's too late. :(
Must sleep… For whatever reason, i’ve been wakin up tired. :( Here’s to a GREAT night’s sleep… Vodka/Malibu and OJ will help… after my half bottle of Moscato. :-)
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 Aug 12, 2011 4:47 PM EDT up reply actions
Well goodnight kind sir
You shouldn’t sip liquor.
-justincredubil02
no, Jack Daniel is whiskey.
-ChopMaster
"Welcome to the show, Brandon Beachy. I think you’re going to stay a while."
wait wait...
before you go Mr. prime Minister…. will that someone call me on saturday to give me the thing im expecting….? and if so, should i do the other thing….?
the exponent in the equation is a matter of preference and "fit" it can vary depending on what the user believes to yield the curve that best predicts a team’s ability to win games.
by Ivan the Great on May 20, 2011 12:31 PM VET
you will not be called on saturday. You should definitely plan on the other thing… better yet, man up and call someone yourself. Take some initiative.
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 Aug 12, 2011 4:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Thank You...!
wrap him in a blanket and throw him in the river it is…..!
the exponent in the equation is a matter of preference and "fit" it can vary depending on what the user believes to yield the curve that best predicts a team’s ability to win games.
by Ivan the Great on May 20, 2011 12:31 PM VET
I'm guessing
he’s alluding to Heyward possibly getting sent down.
"People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring." Rogers Hornsby
It's not going to happen, folks.
We are in a penant race and he is one of our best 25 players.
I just said it'd be unpleasant but necessary. I was not specific.
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 Aug 12, 2011 4:44 PM EDT up reply actions
I want a sweep because I hate the Cubs.
I mean, I really, really hate the Cubs. Half the Cubs “fans” I have ever met would struggle to correctly name five teams in the American League. (This statement does not apply to the genuine baseball fans I know who happen to be Cubs fans and agree with just about everything that I have written after this sentence.) I knew one “die hard” Cubs fan from Chicago, and all she ever talked about was getting really drunk in the bleachers. There has never been anything “loveable” about their years of losing when the Tribune Company didn’t have a lick of incentive to field a winner because Yuppies flocked to Wrigley to get knee-walking drunk at the world’s largest outdoor beer garden that just happened to have a baseball game going on in the middle of it. And during the most epic collapse in a post season game this side of the 1986 World Series, they blame the guy who went for a foul ball. Never mind that Dusty Baker can’t manage his way out of a paper bag in a playoff game. Never mind that throughout his whole career, Dusty Baker has never known when a pitcher was gassed, and that everyone and his brother could see that Mark Prior had nothing left in the tank and was struggling to keep anything in the strike zone. And never mind the easy double-play ball that was booted that really got the rally going. No, let’s blame some poor schmuck based on a temper tantrum from a petulant diva who peed on his own hands before games. And forget that there was still a game seven at the aforementioned yuppie beer garden with another stud pitcher going the next night. Oh, wait, you mean he was arm dead because Dusty Baker can’t manage his way out of a paper bag? Sure, it was all Bartman’s fault. And worst of all, their fans turn out like cockroaches to the stadium when they are in Atlanta. So, please, if you are in Atlanta, go to the games, be loud, and let’s please get a sweep of the lowly Cubs.
Look up ‘infamy’ in any dictionary…. you’ll see a shot of the Cubs logo.
"It looks like The Hound of the Baskervilles out there." - Steve Stone
"...I'm reminded of Wuthering Heights." - Harry Caray
~
"Wang, my third at-bat, he threw me a 1-0 fastball that I fouled straight back, and he came back with another heater, which surprised me." - Freddie Freeman
by Chief Noc-A-Homa on Aug 12, 2011 1:34 PM EDT up reply actions
As Harry Carry use to say on the Kimmer show on the old WGST...
CUBS SUCK! CUBS SUCK! CUBS SUCK!
Ah…. memories from 10 years ago….
looking ahead...
Bumgarner / Sanchez / Cain / Lincecum are the probables for the Giants series next Mon-Thurs.
"Just take out the whole Tim McCarver part of the broadcast and boom, the director has freed up a whopping 45 minutes of airtime." - Rob Iracane of Yahoo! Sports, 7/13/11
This might sound bad, but I'm actually
more worried about those first two games; more so, than I am worried about the last two. That’s based on their starters, not ours.
Hopefully our new lineup can get the best of those two lefties; because if we cannot win those two games, we got Minor vs. Cain and Lowe vs. Timmy. I have faith though that Minor will keep us in the third game and Lowe will have his sinker and slider going in game four, although, to say the least, it will not be easy.
Sometimes I wake up grumpy; other times I let her sleep.
by chicagobullies on Aug 12, 2011 1:56 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Thanks for the list of victims
who will suffer at the bat of Mighty Dan Uggla. And just for good measure, I hope Dan has a walk-off HR against “The Beard” so Wilson can add another chapter to his Epic MLB commercial.
"People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring." Rogers Hornsby
So tonight will be JustinWatch 2011, he says he is sitting on the 3B side directly across from the tarp, wearing a brown Braves hat and and “Old School” Blue Braves jersey.
You shouldn’t sip liquor.
-justincredubil02
no, Jack Daniel is whiskey.
-ChopMaster
"Welcome to the show, Brandon Beachy. I think you’re going to stay a while."
How about this for divisional rivalries......?
For this weekend….
GO Mets
GO Marlins
Go Gnats
"It looks like The Hound of the Baskervilles out there." - Steve Stone
"...I'm reminded of Wuthering Heights." - Harry Caray
~
"Wang, my third at-bat, he threw me a 1-0 fastball that I fouled straight back, and he came back with another heater, which surprised me." - Freddie Freeman
by Chief Noc-A-Homa on Aug 12, 2011 1:48 PM EDT reply actions
If there's going to be a Phillie's implosion
let it begin w/our favorite thorn in the side, the Washington Nats. I hope Ankiel has a 2 homer night.
"People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring." Rogers Hornsby
most guys would love to absolutely rec' that
All while Fredi is surrounded by a bunch of orangutans, trying to teach them how to bunt the rocks and coconuts that angry 300 lb gorillas are throwing at them,
by royhobbs on Jul 29, 2011 11:20 AM PDT
by Santaklose11 on Aug 12, 2011 4:02 PM EDT up reply actions
Kimbrel vs. Wilson
Next to wins
What I want to see more than anything else is Brian Wilson blow a save and Kimbrel dominate the Piants
Chipper up, Heyward down.
"Just take out the whole Tim McCarver part of the broadcast and boom, the director has freed up a whopping 45 minutes of airtime." - Rob Iracane of Yahoo! Sports, 7/13/11
Heyward
Since Fedi doesn’t want Heyward to work out and play through his problems, ala Dan Uggla the first half of the season. Why not let Heyward spend a week in AAA to work on his hitting mechanics. I doubt he will get much better with the erratic playing time that’s he’s getting now.
Tomahawk Chop The Competition
Constanza's helium...
…will dissipate soon enough and Heyward will be back in there every day.
Listening to the constant comments about Constanza and “he will fall back to earth soon enough” is starting to make me think some of you are just plain rooting against him. I dont know why, he is kicking ass. Yes he HAS been a career minor leaguer but thats just because the Indians were apparently too stupid to realize what they had, he has had a decent minor league career, and is taking full advantage of being up here. Let him take advantage of it and be happy for him. Its a good story. Sucks it has to be at Heywards expense, but if Heyward had been batting .280 or better all season, it is a story we would never have gotten to see.
Yeah, and while he’s on this run, I have been (also) suggesting that some AAA reps for Jason are probably needed… he ain’t gonna be able to work things out from the bench.
"Just take out the whole Tim McCarver part of the broadcast and boom, the director has freed up a whopping 45 minutes of airtime." - Rob Iracane of Yahoo! Sports, 7/13/11
But that ignores the 10-day rule.
We are in a penant race, we want our best hitters available at the major league level. No, Mikey, I am not rooting against Constanza at all, but facts are facts: despite Constanza’s good year at AAA, his OPS there was just .712 and his career OPS in the minors is .720. So, no, I don’t think his 1.000+ major league OPS is sustainable at all. Remeber, even in his horrible year, Heyward’s major league OPS (.709) was just about the same as Constanza’s AAA OPS.
I have no problem riding the hot streak, but we have to be ready for it to come to an end as it likely will. At that point, I want Heyward ready to come in, not stuck in AAA for another 8 days because we sent him down two days earlier.
As for whether this wouldn’t have happened if Heyward were batting .280, for starters, it would have, because Constanza started playing with Heyward in the lineup because Chipper was out. Beyond that, I have no idea how to answer a point based on batting average. All the reasons why that is a bad way to judge a player have been made ad nauseum and I have nothing to add to them.
Saw this
If Houston’s going to field a triple-A team, they should update their uniforms.
You shouldn’t sip liquor.
-justincredubil02
no, Jack Daniel is whiskey.
-ChopMaster
"Welcome to the show, Brandon Beachy. I think you’re going to stay a while."
OT: Am I the only one thirsty for NesTea?!
Stupid subliminal advertising. I’m suing.
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
We gonna have an OT for the Bobby Cox ceremony?
starts in half an hour right?
You shouldn’t sip liquor.
-justincredubil02
no, Jack Daniel is whiskey.
-ChopMaster
"Welcome to the show, Brandon Beachy. I think you’re going to stay a while."
I'll do it if you wont =)
You shouldn’t sip liquor.
-justincredubil02
no, Jack Daniel is whiskey.
-ChopMaster
"Welcome to the show, Brandon Beachy. I think you’re going to stay a while."
i saw this on scott's twitter, surprising fact
tonight is michael bourn’s home debut. that was a really long road trip, so glad to be back at home
"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 Aug 12, 2011 5:58 PM EDT reply actions
No pressure kid
You shouldn’t sip liquor.
-justincredubil02
no, Jack Daniel is whiskey.
-ChopMaster
"Welcome to the show, Brandon Beachy. I think you’re going to stay a while."
BOBBY COX Ceremony thread..
If an official ones is posted by the Mods, I’ll delete mine.
~ "The NL - where our pitchers do more than just play with their balls." ~
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