Pregame Discussion -- Natspos at Braves

[macth...@gmail.com]

Braves regulars by OPS

McCann .895
Renteria .891
Andruw .890
Chipper .861
LaRoche .800
Langerhans .751
Francoeur .678
Marcus .626

So what I guess I'm saying is LAROCHE IS NOT THE PROBLEM. Lay off the
guy. He's hitting .219 but he's producting a lot more runs than
Francoeur is hitting .245 or Langerhans is hitting .268. Right now the
Braves have four good hitters, three bad hitters, and LaRoche, who
isn't really either.

Talk amongst yourselves. Note that if you have notification of new
comments turned on, you can reply via email (at least if you have
GMail) without signing into the group. Also, if you'd like a GMail
invite, I have lots.

[CSG]

This makes me sick!

http://www.ajc.com/braves/content/sports/braves/stories/0512bravesnotes.html

[Mac Thomason]

To clarify, this is pregame and ingame discussion.  Also, I probably won't be awake by the end of the game (I have to get up in the morning and have been tired all day anyway) so it will be postgame as well.

[matt in boston]

Tonight's Braves Journal Lineup:

Smitty
Stu
Kyle S
Jac H
Mac
Ububba
Jenny
Alex R
Rubber Arm JC

Lets get 'em boys. We need a big night from you Smitty. You've handle
Ortiz in the past.

[JB]

If anyone needs gmail invite and Mac runs dry let me know.

I noticed LaRoche's OPS today as well. His patience surprised me.
Marcus and our corner outfielders are killing us.

Cox just mentioned on pregame that Hudson's start yesterday was his
"best as a Brave". Bit of a headscratcher to me but an interesting
remark.

Hopefully we can generate some positive momentum coming out of this
series.

[Stu]

Chipper really is quite terrible defensively.

[Stu]

McCann: not.

[JB]

Oh good, Andruw got hit. According to Mac's theory this marks the
start of a hot streak.

[Kyle Sturgeon]

Cole Hamels is a PITCHER. He K'd Griffey twice on nasty, nasty pitches.
Sickest changeup this side of Eric Gagne. Damn, I'm not looking forward
to facing him (assuming Matt in Boston keeps me in the lineup).

[Mac Thomason]

Okay, if the game stays 3-2, what happens in the ninth?

1.  Bobby sticks with Smoltz
2.  Bobby brings in reetsmah
3.  Bobby brings in someone else

[Mac Thomason]

Anyway, bed.  I will recap in the morning, use this as the postgame thread.

[JoeyT]

The difference between Dan Kolb in Milwalkee and Dan Kolb in Atlanta?

Dan Kolb in Milwalkee has Turnbow to bail him out of blowing a five run
lead. Check out this play by play from Yahoo:

- D. Kolb relieved B. Hall
- J.J. Hardy at shortstop
- J. Reyes walked
- P. Lo Duca grounded into fielder's choice, J. Reyes out at second
- C. Beltran flied out to left center
- C. Delgado singled to left, P. Lo Duca to second
- D. Wright singled to left, P. Lo Duca scored, C. Delgado to second
- C. Floyd singled to pitcher, C. Delgado to third, D. Wright to
second, C. Delgado scored, D. Wright to third, C. Floyd to second on D.
Kolb's throwing error
- D. Turnbow relieved D. Kolb
- K. Matsui grounded out to second

That's right. Kolb was given a five run lead in the ninth and got the
tying run to the plate. I don't miss him at all.

[Big D]

Classic Terence Moore - "Reitsma Will Be Just Fine"

http://www.ajc.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/ajc/sportscolumns/entries/2006/05/12/reitsma_will_be.html

[Stu]

My favorite is the comment from "Kent Nelson" below that article. Very
funny.

[frenchy bordagaray]

Laroche is the problem. Statistics lie. Laroche has struck out more
than any Brave.

[jcbra...@gmail.com]

Francoeur has generated more outs than any Brave (108)---26 more outs
than LaRoche, that's one out short of a full game.

[Godot]

So I was wondering if anyone has watched Jo-Jo Reyes pitch at Rome this
year?
lefty, 21 yrs old, signed out of high school, was up with Rome in 2004,
but was sent to rookie ball in 2005 ( injury or suckitude? injury i
think)
this year at Rome, he has been pretty good. Following a good start last
night,
38 ip , 46 / 13 K/BB, 30 H.
that looks like a pretty good line to me.

I think Jake Stevens is done. got murdered again this week. So did Dan
Meyer

[CSG]

Kevin Barry had another strong outing yesterday. Over six innings he
gave up 3 hits and had 10 SO's. I think HoRam pitches again tonight

[Kyle Sturgeon]

Anyone else notice Smoltz's low 3/4 delivery he used vs righties? it
seemed very effective. he was also throwing his splitter (despite what
was said in pre-season) and using his slider effectively as a strikeout
pitch.

[Godot]

He has been using the splitter since the Mets game we lost 3-2 in
Atlanta
I think the changeup hasnt made an appearance since :)
so much for a new style of pitching

[jenny]

Is it too early to start tooting my own horn for votes for the All-Star
Game? I believe I'm the best NL catcher out there right now.

Yes, it's too early. But that never stopped anyone before. Tons of
people vote on homerism anyway. So let the campaign begin. So what if
it's only mid-May?

[Mac Thomason]

Unfortunately, Brad Ausmus is now leading the league in hitting (percentage points ahead of McCann) and with his defensive rep would easily win the day, even though McCann is throwing out baserunners better and outslugging him by 100 points even.

In a month, we'll see.  I wouldn't trade McCann for any catcher in baseball.

[jimtr...@msn.com]

This week, ATL 4-1; NYM 1-4. Any week you gain 3 games on the leader is
a good week.

I saw this WAS kid O'Connor pitch vs. NYM a couple weeks ago. He's a
big, lanky lefty. He was given the outside corner all night & he was
smart enough to keep hitting it. Very impressive. Let's hope for the
hot bats tonight, especially with Sosa on the mound.

[Stu]

Yeah, Mac, it is AMAZING how much better McCann has become defensively.
He's, like, really, really, ridiculously good behind the plate this
year. I agree with you. His future makes me smile.