Braves Crumble Late to Fall to Cardinals 4-3
by moorebraves on Sep 10, 2011 12:25 AM EDT
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PrintOn a night when Craig Kimbrel's scoreless streak came to an end at 37.2 innings, the early Braves lead finally disappeared in the ninth, allowing the Cardinals to walk-off with a 4-3 win in the tenth.
The Braves wasted no time in getting their scoring started for the night. In the top of the first inning, Michael Bourn managed to get on base with a hit that flagrantly should have been an error on second baseman, Skip Schumaker. McCann then sent the speedy center fielder across the plate from first with a deep drive that struck the base of the right center field wall. Freddie Freeman ran into some luck, landing a flair just in fair territory in front of Matt Holliday that sent McCann across the plate to give the Braves an early 2-0 lead.
The Cardinals tried their best to even the score in the bottom of the first, and the rest of the night for that matter. Furcal got on base with a walk and advanced to third thanks to a peculiar hit and run call on a 3-0 count to Pujols. Holliday grounded out to Chipper to score Furcal and draw the Cards to a closer 2-1 deficit.
As George Costanza would say, yada yada yada, the score was still 2-1 in the top of the ninth. There were a whole lot of opportunities for both sides between the first and the ninth. The best chance for the Braves came when they put runners of first and third with no outs in the top of the fourth. Prado struck out prior to a Heyward walk, and then with Jack Wilson and Randall Delgado up next, Edwin Jackson had no trouble striking out the remaining two batters to end the threat.
Atlanta extended their lead to 3-1 in the top half of the ninth inning behind an RBI triple from Michael Bourn, who had four hits on the night. Kimbrel came on to close the ninth, but with one man on and two men out he walked two batters before Pujols came to the plate. Albert slapped a ball down the first base line that scored two to tie the game and take the game to extras. With nothing doing in the top half of the tenth, Scott Linebrink came on to pitch the bottom half. With the bases loaded and one out, Nick Punto hit a fly ball that was deep enough to score Matt Holliday and send the Cardinals to a 4-3 win.
Randall Delgado went five innings, giving up three hits, three walks, and one run and was handed no decision in the game. This game was a heartbreaker, plain and simple. Kimbrel will bounce back and in my honest opinion, I think that the blown save might help him grow and come to ground himself as the Braves move toward the postseason.
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You could almost feel the strike zone shrink
to the size of a saucer when Kimbrel was pitching tonight. He just couldn’t buy a strike…
by TBuzz on Sep 10, 2011 12:36 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
I don’t think Fredi saw Pujols squibbing a slider he absolutely got fooled on down the 1st base line either…
by TBuzz on Sep 10, 2011 12:49 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Meh…Kimbrel was due for a bad game. With Linebrink, it’s expected.
Twitter: @TAlmeyda
by TonyAlmeyda on Sep 10, 2011 12:50 AM EDT up reply actions
With 8 games on the road in 7 days, he eventually has to pitch someone not named O’Flaherty, Venters, Kimbrel, or Vizcaino.
by TBuzz on Sep 10, 2011 12:52 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I’d rather have Martinez or Varvaro out there. Linebrink should be the absolutely LAST option out of the pen. He has been the most ineffective reliever outside of Proctor.
Twitter: @TAlmeyda
by TonyAlmeyda on Sep 10, 2011 12:56 AM EDT up reply actions
You're right...
Fredi fucked us yet again. He should have brought the non-premium guys he pitched during a DH in NYC the night before over someone who’s rested.
Argument over. Fire Fredi. 61 losses thru mid-September is just not acceptable…
by TBuzz on Sep 10, 2011 1:03 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Besides, he was going to be stuck using one of them or O’Flaherty anyway had Linebrink miraculously escaped that inning. I damn sure don’t want him throwing TWO innings, let alone one.
Like I said, Linebrink should be the LAST option out of the pen. Heck, I’d throw the bullpen security guard out there before Linebrink.
Twitter: @TAlmeyda
Sorry for the belligerent tone, but this blaming Fredi everytime we lose because his guys don’t execute is getting old. It was old in May. I think we get it by now, most people here hate Fredi, and any personnel decision he makes is scrutinized to the Nth degree.
No I didn’t say Linebrink is a premium guy, he’s in the stable of non-premium guys (considering he makes $5MM that’s sad). He was the freshest pitcher in the pen after the DH yesterday. At the end of the day his job is the same as every other RP…to keep the score where it is.
Putting Linebrink in to pitch isn’t an indication of willfully putting the game at risk.
by TBuzz on Sep 10, 2011 8:56 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions 1 recs
Dude
Linebrink is an above average reliever. This was one of the best offenses in all of baseball. The man has not been as bad as you are making him out to be, period.
And I
would have felt better if Kimbrel had not blown the save, but he did. Linebrink did his best to hold down one of the best offenses in all of baseball, a feat that our best reliever…hell, maybe the best reliever in the majors…couldn’t do either. He faltered, but not many pitchers wouldn’t have against an offense with that kind of clout and momentum.
Kimbrel is going to falter
it is inevitable, he is only human, while I am sure Linebrink did his best i am not convinced we did not have better options in the bullpen.
Um, yes
You’re basically saying that it’s ok for Kimbrel to have an off night, but not Linebrink. That is a double standard.
Guys with much better upside get more leeway. I don’t see a problem with that. Everyone is going to have problems at some point.
It’s just not worth sending Linebrink out there to work through his struggles in key situations unless it’s the last option available.
It’s just not worth sendingLinebrinkHeyward out there to work through his struggles in key situations unless it’s the last option available.
This is really the same argument we’ve been listening to for the past couple months, disguised.
-C
It’s rough to sit through these games and not have someone that can’t hit a Ball?
Proctor had a good ERA for a while too at one point, even though everyone could tell he was awful.
I think Linebrink was ok for us before coming off the DL. Since then you can tell he’s just been flat out bad. And I feel kind of polite putting it that way.
The man has not been as bad as you are making him out to be, period.
In his last eight games:
6 runs, 11 hits, 4 walks
Twitter: @TAlmeyda
Yeah, but Venters has been one of the best relievers in baseball...
…..while Linebrink has consistently given up hit after hit all year, and in a number of crucial situations.
He’s not the worst reliever in baseball, but his ERA is a little misleading. He’s the same pitcher he was in Chicago. Gives up too many HR, has very little movement on his fastball, can’t locate his off-speed stuff, and a high line-drive%. The only things he’s even average at is walks and strikeouts, and his K rate this season is the 2nd-lowest mark of his career.
The only role he’s gonna bring any sort of value to is long-relief.
by Undocorkscrew on Sep 10, 2011 1:50 AM EDT up reply actions
I am not arguing that Linebrink is the greatest option there.
just that he’s not the complete disaster that people are making him out to be. I’m not sure how you can say that his numbers are “misleading”…they are what they are.
The reality is that we got beat by a team that has done this exact thing to us before, this season in fact. Kimbrel blew a 3-2 lead against these guys on April 29th, and they beat us in extra innings with Cory Gearin taking the loss.
And speaking of Gearin, wasn’t it just last week that so many people here were railing against Fredi for bringing in an inexperienced rookie in a close game? The man can do nothing right by some of the people here, and apparently neither can Linebrink.
Or
anyone else with more than a single season under their belts.
by Aaron Meier on Sep 10, 2011 2:20 AM EDT via iPhone app up reply actions
Actually it is
From 2001 through 2006 his ERA was 3.02
From 2007 to 2011 his ERA is 4.01
And I didn’t say his ‘stats’ were misleading, just his ERA. His WHIP is close to 1.500 yet his ERA stands at just 3.56 due to an unsustainable 84% strand rate. Point being, he’s been pretty lucky.
He’s not a complete disaster, but he’s a pretty bad pitcher riding a streak of luck.
by Undocorkscrew on Sep 10, 2011 2:21 AM EDT up reply actions
And yet
he was above average in ERA in 8 of his 11 seasons in the majors. So which is more likely, that he’s had 8 lucky seasons or 3 unlucky ones?
by Aaron Meier on Sep 10, 2011 2:38 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
who else are you going to use?
Linebrink has to be used to try to prove to Fredi that he should be a part of the postseason roster, or as his performance today showed, NOT be a part of the roster
by LEastCoastBears on Sep 10, 2011 2:11 AM EDT up reply actions
Kimbrel blew the game on purpose
MLB sent him a letter telling him that if he kept up his perfect streak, they would have no choice but to assume he is not human and therefore ban him from the MLB. He did it for the good of the team in the future. No worries.
Pete Rose ignored this same letter from MLB…
by TBuzz on Sep 10, 2011 1:14 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
The Vance Worley supporters just got a boner
This had to happen eventually. He was on an astonishing streak. He just didn’t get the majority of the borderline calls tonight…..He looked exactly the same as he always does.
Kind of glad he’s not carrying that streak into the playoffs anyway. Just hopes he doesn’t let this shake him, I imagine he might’ve gotten a big head for his work this season…..and really, who wouldn’t? He’s been historically good. Hopefully he sees it for what it is, a small bump, and goes about dominating…..
Kimbrel’s record breaking year has sealed the NL ROY, Vance Worley needs to throw a no-hitter or two before the year is over to possibly overtake Kimbrel
by LEastCoastBears on Sep 10, 2011 2:12 AM EDT up reply actions
I don’t know any Phils fans who actually believe Worley has any shot at ROY over Kimbrel or Freeman for that matter
3/9/9 and counting...
I've heard them say it lately
And I posted a fanshot earlier today involving an article on Worley’s chances. It’ll come down to how much stock the voters put into win/loss records…..
Kimbrel’s definitely the front-runner, but if he blows a couple of more saves it would be a little difficult to justify voting for a closer with 8 or so blown saves.
by Undocorkscrew on Sep 10, 2011 2:24 AM EDT up reply actions
Wins are overrated, but still, Worley would have to win at least 3 of his last 4 starts and maintain his numbers to enter the conversation…even then I’d vote for Kimbrel. Here’s a crazy Worley stat…the Phils have won his last 14 starts and he has a chance on Sunday to match the club record of 15, held by Steve Carlton….which would be like Uggla approaching Joe D
3/9/9 and counting...
...match the club record of 15, held by Steve Carlton….which would be like Uggla approaching Joe D
That is a horrible analogy.
by atlbravosfan on Sep 10, 2011 7:30 AM EDT up reply actions
why is it the closer we get...
…the more it feels like the 07 Mutz? Please start winning meaningful games.
I hope Chipper doesn't get the day off tomorrow
He seems due for one, and he played in both games in the double-header yesterday but I want him in there against Garcia. I know he’s struggled since the break, but we all know how the Braves hit when a lefty is on the mound…..Let Chipper play tomorrow and give him Sunday off. I expect one of McCann and Freeman to get the night off, so they need Chipper in there.
I obviously hope it doesn’t happen, but I hope people don’t hit the panic button if the Cardinals sweep. That puts them 4.5 back, and it would still be very unlikely that the Cardinals overtake the WC.
Offense needs to start stringing some hits together. I can’t even remember the last time they won by a good margin. With our starters not going deep into games, the offense needs to pick it up to lessen the pressure on the pen.
Should we be concerned? The vaunted duo of Venters and Kimbrel has blown 2 saves in the last 4 games.
Venters has not been shaky in his last couple of outings. Kimbrel today could not find the strike zone causing the blown save. He could have lost the game outright had Theriot not made a base running mistake. Of course, this is just one game for Kimbrel so his next outing would be telling if today was just a fluke.
Kimbrel got a bit lucky in game 1 of the Mets series
he certainly hasn’t been real sharp (but the guy is human after all) lately
still enough time to get this turned around…just a regular season series and the Braves are still the one in control
no need to hit the panic button just yet
by LEastCoastBears on Sep 10, 2011 2:14 AM EDT reply actions
There's no real need to even think about pressing that button at this point
by Undocorkscrew on Sep 10, 2011 2:25 AM EDT up reply actions
Just throwing this out there...
At what point DO we start thinking about hitting the panic button?
by Tomahawk45 on Sep 10, 2011 4:51 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I think its crazy too...... luck is part of the game
It is very specious for someone to to say a pitcher’’s stats are “Unsustainable” at this moment or in the past. Because it will have to everyone in every position, luck, comes and goes . The way some of you chop up the number if games only to include only the length of games that that will prove your point is also specious.
I think Fredi knows more than most of us about the situation at the time and he has to make a decision…. luck has something to do with balls in play and luck has something to do with the string of the number of decisions a manager has to make during the course of one game, or 162 games. He isn’t any more likely to have a perfect score than Kimbrel is to never blow a save until the end of ……… .
The point is to have the balance at a certain standard by the end of the season or career. That’s what gets you into the HOF. In my book Fredi has a track record that is credible for me to believe he is a superior manager. Just like a .300 life time batting average. One would think missing 7 out of 10 is not good, but we know over the course of the history, .300 is a kind of gold standard.
He whose words outnumber his deeds, know that his death is better than his life.
Cards vs Kimbrel
Does anybody know what kimbrel’s stats are against St Louis? To me it seems like they have his number… Also Delgado did good, the new lineup works, Venters needs to get his stuff together and attack, same with Craig and Linebrink sucks!
Tomahawk Chop The Competition
by deewill23 on Sep 10, 2011 5:34 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
Could have just been that the kid has pitched a ton this year and was due for a not so perfect inning. Pujols was fooled on that slider and got lucky. Freeman is injured and can’t move like he used to. Period.
by drumzalicious on Sep 10, 2011 6:17 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Kimbrel has had below average night during his streak but got away with it. Today, his lack of command got the better of him. He should be fine next time out, which could be tonight. However, with how much work he has gotten lately, I hope the Braves can win in a rout.
by LEastCoastBears on Sep 10, 2011 6:24 AM EDT up reply actions
Cory Gearrin
As worn down and over-used as the Braves’ bullpen has been and still is, why the hell did we not recall Cory Gearrin for additional depth? He had been superb in Gwinnett after his demotion.
This seems very highly bizarre and inexplicable to me.
Deeper into games
this is why you need starting pitchers to go deeper than 5 innings. when it comes to crunch time, it hurts your chances when you have to rely on multiple guys in high pressure situations.
And with the cards 6.5 back, this is quickly approaching crunch time.
True. I couldn’t believe that they didn’t score with it being: 1st and 3rd, no outs, and Prado up & three on base with one out.
That was really awful because it they couldn’t even manage a flyball or hit and they had Jackson on the ropes. K’s, groundouts, infield pop ups, and pop ups on foul grounds are annoying.
by Philly Bravo on Sep 10, 2011 9:14 AM EDT up reply actions
Braves wasted to many chances
With bases loaded the Braves wasted to many chances and should have been scoring runs? End of story.
Bases loaded, 0 outs and we swing at 9 straight pitches to strike out 3x in a row and get NO runs out of that.
All this blown saves, Linebrink discussion may have been avoided if our offense could just execute SITUATIONAL hitting.
Our inability to make contact with a man on 3rd base has been our Achilles heel all year and once again it has bit us in the keester.
~ "The NL - where our pitchers do more than just play with their balls." ~
Dangit, I really shouldn't try and use memory... here is what actually happened:
Top 4
1. Dan Uggla reaches on fielding error by second baseman Skip Schumaker.
2. Freddie Freeman singles on a soft line drive to left fielder Matt Holliday. Dan Uggla to 3rd.
3. Martin Prado strikes out swinging.
4. Jason Heyward walks. Freddie Freeman to 2nd.
5. Jack Wilson strikes out swinging.
6. Randall Delgado strikes out swinging.
~ "The NL - where our pitchers do more than just play with their balls." ~
Losing a game on a SacFly - the ONE thing this team has failed miserably to do all year.
I believe we are LAST in all of MLB in scoring from 3rd with less than 2 outs.
I for one, am hoping all these painful lessons of letting pitchers work through difficulty with the lead/game on the line from Fredi is coming to an end. I know it’s going to happen and is necessary, but most other teams are gaining momentum for the playoffs right now while we continue to sputter and spit for offense. It’s OK to go and pull a pitcher mid inning, to preserve a lead, especially on the road.
If we don’t as a team start doing whatever is necessary to win games in Sept.then we may look up in a couple of weeks and wonder where our WC lead went.
The way we’re playing right now – we may not make it past the first round because the Mets won’t be there.
~ "The NL - where our pitchers do more than just play with their balls." ~
WOW, I'm still shocked
I turned the game off after the 8th (it was 6 am in my part of the world) and wake up to find out we lost.
All year our strength has been the pen and the last two games we’ve lost with our two top relievers in, something like that you just gotta tip your cap.
That said you do have to wonder if all the innings are catching up finally.
Well we NEED these next two, hope the team has a short memory…
GO BRAVES!
Just one win over the Cardinals would be huge
Braves really need a W tonight. Knocking the Cardinals back to 7.5 back with 16 left to play and lowering the magic number to 10is what is needed.
At this point, every loss by the Cardinals (7 back in NL Central, 6.5 back in the NL Wild Card with 18 left to play) is a backbreaker.
The Cardinals (10-4 in their last 14) are definitely playing like a team hanging on for deal life and fighting until the final out. The Braves are playing with no killer instinct whatsoever.
With a 3-1 lead, 2 outs, and a runner on 1st, Kimbrel should have thrown nothing but “here you go, hit it” heat to Rafael Furcal. No killer instinct whatsoever.
by AnEternalEnigma on Sep 10, 2011 4:27 PM EDT reply actions
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