An Opening Sweep

by gondeee on Apr 5, 2007 7:48 PM EDT in Braves Game Recaps

Alternate title: How Sweep It Is

Take your pick of cheesy titles, the Braves made it happen today and put the Phillies and their mouthpiece, Jimmy Rollins, in their place. By all accounts, Chuck James was in Chuck James-esque form. He threw a lot of pitches, especially in the fourth and fifth innings, but he wiggled out of trouble and got some big strikeouts when he needed to.

The bullpen scraps came on and did an admirable job until Macay McBride ran into a bit of trouble in the ninth by walking the bases full. Chad Paronto couldn't completely bail him out and walked two himself, forcing in two runs. But Rafael Soriano came on to get the save - the third save from as many Braves pitchers in as many games.

For the series, almost as impressive as Brian McCann and Edgar Renteria have been, or as impressive as the starters and the bullpen have been, was how we kept the Phillies big RBI men from driving in a single run. Chase Utley and Ryan Howard were shut down in the Ribi department for three straight games. When was the last time that happened? Perhaps we should have Elias look into that.

On the flip side of us shutting down the Phils top two hitters, was how our hitters were in a sense shut down as well. As of this posting, the Braves batters lead the major leagues in strikeouts - a whopping 34 in three games. Perhaps the Phils just had our number, or perhaps our fears about our hitters being strikeout prone were valid. On the other hand of this flip side, we are leading the majors in homeruns. Let's see if we can turn around the former and keep on keeping on with the latter.

Box Score >>

Atlanta 8, Philadelphia 4 at Citizens Bank Park
Atlanta Record: (3-0)
Philadelphia Record: (0-3)

Winning pitcher - Chuck James (1-0)
Losing pitcher - Adam Eaton (0-1)
SV - Rafael Soriano (1)

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Comments

Hacking..

That's one thing I noticed on opening day.

They're going up there and swinging away and not being all that selective about it. And it makes me nervous. Maybe it'll calm down sooner or later, but man 34 in 3 games is not instilling confidence.

by Rain Delay on Apr 5, 2007 11:03 PM EDT reply actions

a lot of K's

Wilson, Frenchy, Thor, Langy, Andruw = lots of strikeouts.

And even Johnson and McCann have gone down swinging.

But honestly, as long as we're winning... I don't care how many K's we rack up.

by wuky on Apr 5, 2007 11:11 PM EDT reply actions

Charlie Manuel

Now, I'm not a 'Team's Losing-Blame the Manager' type. But did anyone else feel like Charlie Manuel blew that series?

In the first game, Myers entered that last inning having through 95 pitches. I think it was pitch 106 that was hit out.

Game two, you can't blame Manuel for Gordon blowing a save.. Flash is supposed to be the guy he can count on.. But he did go back to Madson, who had given up the game winning shot in the first game.. But again, he has few options.

But game three... I can't figure out. Fifth inning, his starter walks the pitcher.. Then gives up a 2-run homer. At that point, he'd thrown I think 88 pitches. Not alarming, but this is his first start of the season, and I'd say walking the pitcher and giving up a dinger is a sign of fatigue...

But he leaves him out there. Chipper gets a single. Leaves him out there. Andruw hits a double... Leaves him out there. Intentional walk to McCann... Francoeur hits an RBI single.. And THAT was the final straw? 103 pitches and a 6-1 score? Sure, the guy he brings in gives up a two-run double to make it 8-1. So you can see why he didn't have much confidence going to the pen. But those two aren't on base if he gets him after the homer. Or after Chipper's single. Or after Andruw's double...

Manuel was scared the bullpen would make a laugher of it, so instead he left his starter in to make a laugher of it.

by jjschiller on Apr 6, 2007 2:04 AM EDT reply actions

It's the 'Pen

That's what happens when you have an awful pen. You leave your starts out there too long, and you don't have much to go to after they're obviously done.

Sounds a LOT like our last year.

by subwindow on Apr 6, 2007 10:21 AM EDT up reply actions

Well

Granted it's theoretically pen. But it's the first week of the season. Brett Myers is his go-to-guy, so okay, you err with him. But Adam Eaton? That was Eaton's first start in a Phillies uniform, first start of the season. I doubt he was stretched enough to throw 100 pitches, and to leave him out there after MULTIPLE signs of fatique.

Manuel let that game become a laugher. Even if a reliever came in after the Johnson homer and got into trouble of his own... I doubt it would have been 4 runs worth of trouble.

It was 4-1 after the walk to the pitcher and the homer. It was 6-1 before he came and got him. And by the time Eaton was off the hook, it was 8-1.

First week of the season, you just have to see what you have out there. How bad can they be? And how can you know already? You can't ride your starters like this all year.. Why start it now when they aren't even stretched out?

by jjschiller on Apr 6, 2007 12:09 PM EDT reply actions

I'm inclined...

...to agree with you. It sure seemed like Myers AND Eaton were left out there way too long. After Eaton walked the pitcher that should have been a HUGE clue. Oh well, let Manuel exhaust the Philly staff which everyone thinks is so strong.

by gondeee on Apr 6, 2007 12:39 PM EDT up reply actions