Official Atlanta Braves Thread

[lightsout]

He walked first at bat. And his first strike out was a bad call on an outside pitch that should have been a ball. The pop out was a good at bat. But it is one game. He's been killing it since he came back from injury overall.

I just say he's a monster because if he gets a piece of the ball, its going. Whether its a line drive into the outfield, a homerun, or a pop fly at the track, dude is amazing with a bat.

[Joscott]

From mlb.com's game preview of tonight:

The rookie(Heyward) has reached base via hit, walk or hit by pitch in 24 of his last 47 plate appearances, dating to July 22. He has hit safely in 12 of his last 16 games (22-for-62, .355). He's batting .333 (22-for-66) overall since coming back from a left thumb injury on July 15.

Pretty good for a rookie. Last night wasn't his best game, but that 1 K was a gift. His "slump" looks like it was a result of that thumb and he should have got the rest earlier than he did.

[Johnny Rockets]

He still doesn't seem to have that power that he is "famous" for and showed in the early part of the year. I bet that thumb bothers him for the rest of the season in the power department.

Funny as I was typing my anti - Heyward earlier post my phone was ringing and I let it go to voicemail. It was one of my friends who is a Braves fan who left me this message:

"Don't think your <bleeping> Phillies are going to catch us because Ankiel has come to town and he brought his steroids with him and apparently he gave some to Chipper. Phillies don't stand a <bleeping> chance now." <clicK>

Silly Braves fans.

[Joscott]

Wags is really starting to give a reason to worry. Hasn't looked the same since the break.

Or better yet, 19 left one base, that'll get you somewhere.

[C-A-T-S]

Bad loss tonight, we needed to have used Farnsworth already, I had a feeling he'd be rusty!

[lightsout]

Yeah, loss not good. As close as the Phillies are, I'm on my 7th beer since the game ended. I just don't want to see us piss this opportunity way.

All season though, after we lose a tough game like this, we come back the next night and light it up with the bats. I'm hoping that happens tomorrow. I love seeing us beat the Phillies and Nats, but I HATE the Marlins and Mets. Hate em!

[Johnny Rockets]

Well the Phils will be limping a bit with their 3 (Utley) and 4 (Howard) hitters not playing for at least the next 2 weeks. Braves need to take advantage and try to build that lead back up while they are still out.

I really hope it comes down to that last series of the year when the Phils come to Atlanta. Would be even better to have it come down to the last game of the year on Bobby's farewell game.

[Joscott]

The Braves are going to have some decisions to make pretty soon. With no production coming from 1st, Wren should be watching the waiver wire. If by a grace of God LaRoche or Dunn comes up, he needs to ****** them up.

If not, even though they dont want it yet, it might be time to set him Free...

Prado being out, the heart and sole of the team is also not helping things. When he comes back, this would be my lineup:

Prado 2B

Jones 3B

Heyward RF

McCann C

Diaz LF

Infante SS

Ankiel CF

Freeman/Hinske/Glaus 1B

[lightsout]

The Braves are going to have some decisions to make pretty soon. With no production coming from 1st, Wren should be watching the waiver wire. If by a grace of God LaRoche or Dunn comes up, he needs to ****** them up.

If not, even though they dont want it yet, it might be time to set him Free...

Prado being out, the heart and sole of the team is also not helping things. When he comes back, this would be my lineup:

Prado 2B

Jones 3B

Heyward RF

McCann C

Diaz LF

Infante SS

Ankiel CF

Freeman/Hinske/Glaus 1B

That's not a terrible lineup. I do agree that Heyward should be our 3. I've been thinking that for about a week or so. He's a pretty good 2 out hitter, and with 1 out or no outs, he's even more relaxed.

Here's my problem right now though. And I saw it last night on his last at bat. Heyward looks almost TOO relaxed. It seems like he should be swinging at AT LEAST 1 of the first couple pitches (if they're not in the dirt or WAY out of the strike zone). He has a thing with backing himself up into 0-2, 1-2, counts early. Yeah, sometimes he works the count and gets walked, but we NEED him to be hitting the ball and driving in runs. Between him, McCann, and Glaus, we should be hitting a LOT more HRs. There is plenty of power between those 3.

[Joscott]

I definitely agree with you in that it will eventually have to change, but I don't really have a problem with him being patient at this point in his career. The last thing we need is for him to be a free swinger a la Frenchy. I think part of the problem is his role as the #2, and that his job is to get the runner over and a move to #3 would benefit him more. The way he has been hitting doubles lately could really come in handy with RISP.

I'm not really expecting much more out of Glaus, he carried us in May, but I think his knees are really starting to get to him. He needs a few days off in a row and platoon with Hinske. The problem with that is Hinske has been cold since the break too.

I think we have enough pieces already in the system to win the division, Bobby just needs to let go of some of his lineup traditions to benefit the team more. Chipper can get on base and has shown that, but he's more of a 2 than a 3 right now.

[Mesmer]

I think Glaus could get hot towards the end of the season.

[Joscott]

I hope so.

Adam Dunn was placed on waivers, now if t was the other Adam...

Edit after game:

Braves showed more power tonight with Chip, BMac and Melky all going deep. Chipper and Brian had nice nights.

Have to wait and see how Medlen turns out, could be a torn ligament...KK might be back after all.

[lightsout]

I think Mike Dunn could be groomed so that he can jump into the rotation, at least temporarily. He didn't look terrible. KK bothered me too much all season. Granted, for some reason, when he pitched he didn't get a ton of run support. He still gave up too many.

If we can sweep the Giants (although 2 out of 3 is more likely), we'll be in business. If we can push our lead over the Phillies to 5 games or so, I think we can be OK, at least until the series finale with the Phillies. After nights like last night, its hard to see how many teams can really "beat" us in a 3 game series. Granted, Pelfrey sucks.

Lincecum vs Jurrjens tonight. Should be interesting.

[Joscott]

I think Mike Dunn could be groomed so that he can jump into the rotation, at least temporarily. He didn't look terrible. KK bothered me too much all season. Granted, for some reason, when he pitched he didn't get a ton of run support. He still gave up too many.

Well it appears to be neither will get the start, word is that the starter for Monday vs. Houston will be....Mike Minor!

KK sent to AAA to start and get stretched out if he is needed.

Basically this doesn't look good for Medlen, which sucks. Hopefully its not Tommy John surgery in his future.