Juan Cruz also has a RIDICULOUS slider. When you have a second pitch it makes the hiiter concious of it, even if you aren't throwing it in that particular AB.
Yeah, there are pitchers that primarily throw the fastball. (Jair Jurrjens being one of them) But he has ungodly movement. Same with B. Webb, same with Tim Hudson and Greg Maddux etc. If you throw 98 mph straight as an arrow right down the middle, Major League hitters are just going to swing earlier. Plain and simple. Juan Cruz was awesome for us BTW. We just couldnt afford him for the role he was being used.
We have to find a way to win these close games. Hudson gives up the lead in the 8th over 120 pitches. Our pen has been solid lately. Would be nice to see us get a couple in the 9th and turn around these road woes...
These close loses on the road are getting a bit beyond ridiculous. Did Hudson look tired? Should Bobby have pulled him?
Yeah he probably should have pulled him after Hardy singled in the first run with nobody out. Although Huddy's stuff was still looking good, he was over 100 pitches and wasn't locating as well. I would like to have seen Boyer or Acosta finish off the 8th and the other start the 9th. Maybe Bobby was giving them a break because they've been used so much lately? Anyways Jeff Bennett allowing Bill Hall to walk into 3rd last night set up the GW sac fly. Pretty big mental mistake....
Why can't they win on the road? This is unbelievable. They can't manufacture enough runs to beat a struggling team and they have their ace on the mound. And I also don't see why you don't pull Hudson after seven.
Is the Duck Billed Platypus still endangered? Maybe you could find a Dodo bird or Coelacanth. That'd break this road streak for sure.
Chipper leads D. Wright for 3rd baseman in the NL All-Star voting! My campaigning has garnered Chip a 120,000 vote lead
So if you didnt catch the game and are reading this take a guess as to how it ended up. I will wait............................................................. Yes You are correct, another one run loss on the road... ****!!!
Un-freaking-believable I'm not sure about a few moves Bobby has made. You have Hudson being left in last night. You have Kelly and Yunel being switched in the order (Yunel's OBP is 100 points lower in the leadoff spot). And then you have Kelly bunting Yunel over with 1 out, leaving 1B open for them to walk Chipper. Tex reaches on an error and for the second consecutive at bat McCann doesn't get the 2 out RBI. Its like nothing we do works.
This doesn't even surprise me anymore. So Reyes obviously pitches a nice one and the lineup can't even produce a single run.
Another good pitching performance today. We are tied for the lead in team ERA. That's amazing considering all the injuries. Speaking of injuries Diaz went on the DL and Soriano came off of it. And Chipper is now hitting .420. His OBP is right around .500.
Up to the minute stats. Chip is showing no signs of slowing down. Chipper Jones #10 3B» 2008 STATS BA HR RBI OBP SLG .422 12 35 .502 .674
I started thinking about this today; Basically anyone who hits in front of Chipper is going to have better numbers. That 2 spot is like gold. Kotsay, Johnson and Escobar have all hit well there because pitchers dont want to put them on in front of Jones. Yunel is finding out the leadoff spot is a little tougher without a guy behind you hitting .400. Personally Id rather have Kotsay batting leadoff and have Yunel hittting in the 2 hole (maybe switch the two with a lefty on the mound) as Mark has hit for a better avg. than Johnson. What really makes this lineup dangerous is Tex. If he starts hitting (looks like hes heating up) this puts even more pressure on the opposing pitcher. I actually thought Bobby shouldve hit Mac cleanup while Tex was struggling, although Cox has always been one to let a guy battle thru till he finds his stroke. Just a thought(s) though...
Teixeira has always been a slow starter, he's basically been close to worthless in April and half of May his whole career, then takes off from there. The Braves line up is pretty dangerous if everyone is healthy.
You're probably right about Yunel and hitting in front of Chipper. And I agree about Tex. You can't start walking both him and Chipper. Definitely puts the pressure on the pitchers.
i know bro. at least you have my boy beckett in your sig............. loved him since that marlins series.......
Date Update Team May. 30 News:9:52 AM Smoltz (shoulder) threw two scoreless innings for Class A Rome on Thursday, demonstrating his new "10 o'clock" delivery, reports the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. If everything goes well during his next rehab assignment on Saturday, he could return to the Braves bullpen on Monday.
So this Campillo guy is looking alright so far. It would be huge for him to become a reliable starter.
Its funny how last year our 3-4-5 starters were nearly the worst in baseball, now they can do no wrong. To get back to back performances like this out of Reyes and Campillo is amazing. Once the offense picks up the rest of the league is in trouble. Ironic that both pitchers have had some blister problems, although neithers' looks too serious.
is the mini picture neccesary??? I think we know what john smoltz looks like.....and if not.....who cares?
Yes its neccesary. This is the Braves thread Sir, we hold it to a higher standard. You want basic and bland you stick to the Marlins thread
