Braves 4, Pirates 2 (11 innings)
May 25, 2011 at 4:13 pm by Capitol Avenue Club under Atlanta Braves
Another win? What’s going on? At least today they got back to their bread and butter, extra-innings games.
Mike Minor was solid in the spot start, going 5 and 2/3 innings and allowing 1 run on 7 hits and 2 walks (one of them being one of the most idiotic IBB’s we’ve seen from Fredi this year) with 5 strikeouts. He got 7 groundouts, 3 flyouts, and 2 lineouts. Not bad. The Pirates got their run off Minor in the 3rd when Tabata reached on an infield single, stole second, and came home on a single by something called a Steve Pearce (don’t ask me, I have no idea). He left with 2 out in the 6th after surrendering two ground-ball singles, one to Matt Diaz and one to Lyle Overbay. Scott Proctor relieved even though with a 2-1 lead this was likely to be one of the most important plate appearances of the game. Luckily, it was only Ronny Cedeno, their #8 hitter–who Fredi had intentionally walked earlier in the game to clear the pitcher for them–and he grounded out to 1st. Proctor was probably the better option than Minor at that point, third time through the order and all.
The Braves had gotten single runs in the first and sixth. The one in the first came after Jordan Schafer–again batting leadoff–doubled over Matt Diaz’s head to lead off the game (Diaz misplayed it, but the ball was well-hit) and Alex Gonzalez hit a bloop single barely over Neil Walker’s head, advancing Schafer to 3rd. Chipper singled Schafer home which put runners at 1st and 2nd 3rd, but Brian McCann (who is now hitting .274/.340/.393) popped out and Eric Hinske, batting 5th because Dan Uggla is terrible, grounded into a double play. Their second run was a solo shot by Big Damage, and it was a bomb.
With a 2-1 lead, Eric O’Flaherty–who has become the default 7th inning guy–was summoned to pitch his usual inning. Only this time he showed why he should probably not be pitching to righties in high-leverage situations, allowing a single to Tabata and a homer to Pearce. It’s lucky that Tabata was caught stealing before the homer, otherwise Atlanta probably would’ve lost this one.
The Braves almost got the run back the next half-inning. Jordan Schafer led it off with a bunt single, went to second on a hit-and-run groundout, and went to third on a wild pitch with 2 outs. Brian McCann walked to put runners at the corners, but Hinske was caught looking at a third strike to end the threat.
Venters pitched the 8th and 9th. In the 8th Dan Uggla made an error, but Venters covered it up with a double play and a strikeout. In the 9th Venters walked the leadoff man, the next guy reached on a really dumb error by Alex Gonzalez, the Pirates sacrificed the runners to 2nd and 3rd, Fredi issued another intentional walk, and Venters induced a 5-2-3 double-play to get out of the inning.
The Braves did nothing in the 9th or 10th. George Sherrill pitched the bottom of the 10th and faced three hitters that were batting right-handed. He got them all, one groundout, one strikeout, one flyout. Are we sure this rapture thing isn’t real?
In the 11th McCann hit a 1-out single and was pinch-run for with Wilkin Ramirez. I guess that’s going to be his role now because he can’t do anything else. Brooks Conrad hit for George Sherrill and hit a 2-run homer to right center to give Atlanta a 4-2 lead. Uggla then struck out for the third time today and is now hitting .180/.250/.335 and Freeman struck out to end the inning, but the damage was done.
Kimbrel pitched a 1-2-3 11th with 2 pop-outs and a groundout.
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Moylan tweeted opinion that error wasn’t Gonzalez’s fault – it was actually his bag, but he initially charged the ball off of the bat, so Uggla was trying to cover to help out. Just one of those things, glad we pulled it out anyway.
Big Damage really hit the crap out of that one. You usually know immediately with him.
The Legend of Brooks Conrad continues – Go Braves.
Are the hitters ever gonna break out of this rut they’re in? Had a great chance in the first to get multiple runs with a runner at third and no outs, but Heap popped out and Big Damage GIDP. It’s unreal that this stuff just continues. Thank goodness for pitching.
Is Uggla gonna end up hitting about .100 for the year? He is just messed up mentally. Seems like he never makes adjustments. Everybody is getting him out w/low and away breaking balls. He gets behind in the count by taking good pitches and swinging at bad pitches. He has been just flat terrible.
Anyone else see the catcher stand up for the third strike to Freeman? The pitcher put it there and Freddie swung at it. The Braves have several hitters that are prone to swing at pitches at their eyes or above. AGon and McLouth are 2 more.
Venters now has an active streak of 12+ hitless innings. This dude has to be considered one of best reliever in the league.
Hold on a second.. i just looked at Sherrill’s splits and his numbers are almost better vs RHB than LHB. AVG, SLG are significantly lower against righties, but his SO/BB ratio is much better against lefties.
I have been mostly listening to the games on the radio recently so I haven’t seen him pitch, but.. that’s pretty damn good, right? And he has only let one inherited score all year? Really?
RAPTURE IS REAL
After watching Cedeno struggle to get down a bunt and watching us bunt what seems like 100 times this year, could bat manufacturers come up with a bat specifically designed for bunting situations? Or maybe just carry a 36 ounce bat to the plate with a bigger barrel and if you get 2 strikes just pretend it is broken?
I really….honestly….just don’t know how much longer I can watch Dan Uggla. For a while I had hope but now I just cringe every time he comes to bat and every time a ball is hit in his direction, or really, any time he’s involved in any type of play.
Anyone listen to this game on the radio?
Thoughts on Lemmer’s play-by-play?
I was furious when Sherrill got the call to face three non-lefties in the 10th. Obviously it worked out, and he’s actually been impressive recently. Not enough to remove my mental block that he’s a terrible pitcher, but he’s making some headway.
Regarding O’Flaherty in the 7th, I’m not sure who else we can trust in those situations. If we’re resigned to the fact that Venters and Kimbrel won’t pitch before the 8th, there isn’t a RHP in our bullpen that I’d like to see in a high-leverage situation. I’m hoping Proctor can change that and Gearrin will come back and earn Fredi’s trust, but for now, that’s a pretty awesome 7-8-9 combo.
Don’t mean to knit pick, but Chipper’s single was actually a hit and run situation that put Gonzalez on 3rd. Seems like that was one of the few times that actually has worked for them. Fredi put it on again later in the game (I can’t remember which inning) and Chipper stood and watched the pitch for a strikeout. Either that wasn’t a hit and run or signals got crossed, but I feel like i’ve seen that too often with the Braves this year. Too many missed signals.
Anyone know whats the record for extra innings game in a season? Whatever it is we must be on course to beat it!
We need an updated “Fredi G Pitching Flow Chart” to include dumbass intentional walks by your (arguably) best reliever.
And while we are at it, whats the record for stupid bunt attempts in a season?
We probably didn’t deserve to won this game, but it makes up for one of the nightmare losses we suffered in Arizona, I guess.
I’m a big fan of Mike Minor, and he pitched well today. He is so much more ready to start in the major leagues than Teheran is: if we need more spot starts in the weeks to come, Minor should get the ball.
Schafer continued to impress today: got an extra-base hit, scored, then bunted his way on base and used his speed to get to third before our anemic offense left him stranded there.
We deserved to lose for batting A-Gon second, for not putting the knockout punch on the Bucs in the first, for not getting Schafer home from third in the seventh, and then for walking the leadoff batter to start the ninth. But Venters is so good and/or lucky that he pitched his way out of certain disaster, and then Brooks Conrad and His Magic Bat won the game.
Perhaps Dan could bat left handed? Just an idea!
Reminds me of a quote from Artie Lange’s Beer League.
::Dave swings and misses at a slow-pitch softball pitch::
Artie Lange: “You know, Dave, you might be a lefty”
Regarding O’Flaherty in the 7th, I’m not sure who else we can trust in those situations.
Exactly. As I’ve been saying, it’s a roster construction problem rather than a management problem.
Venters now has an active streak of 12+ hitless innings. This dude has to be considered one of best reliever in the league.
I think I’ve said this before, but Venters is THE BEST reliever in the game.
The home run off EOF wasn’t a bad pitch at all, I actually don’t know how he managed to keep it fair and it only just got there anyway. EOF is a key man with Moylan out and the other mainly crap options we have around.
Wren is gonna take some heat if Uggla doesnt step it up….in a hurry
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=caple/110525_MLB_owners&sportCat=mlb
Atlanta’s owners rank 13th of MLB team ownership groups. Jim Caple didn’t exactly have anything to say about it though.
@7 (shouldbeworking_not) – Lemke is godawful at play-by-play, but he’s pretty decent when he’s doing the color and Jim Powell is calling the plays. His play by play makes me think of some old guy in the 1920s sitting in Buffalo, NY reading play-by-play remotely from a ticker tape. Nothing in his voice indicates that he’s actually watching the game or aware of the relative significance of events. His color commentary sounds much more relaxed and natural, plus Powell might be the best play-by-play guy I’ve ever heard, so he brings the quality of everyone around him single-handedly.
What do you do with Uggla? He looks lost and confused and one of the biggest rally killers I can remember. Bat him 8th?
Agree 100% that Lemke is terrible at play-by-play, but actually sort of decent in the colour role. I actually enjoyed his and Powell’s extended riff on the bunting prowess of Brett Butler.
Too bad Fredi wasn’t around to manage Butler back in the day – Butler would have been the perfect player for Fredi’s I-must-bunt-at-least-once-an-inning managing style.
Bold prediction… Uggla will be the national league player of the month for the month of June… yes he looks awful, hell, even the sound when he actually makes contact is funny, but something will click in the next few days. That’s right, I said it! Now bow your heads and join me in prayer…
I think it would take a 7 day fast for Uggs to turn it around in a few days… He looks like an out before he steps into the box. I hope your right with the bold prediction, we need him bad!
I continue to be impressed by Brian McCann’s defensive improvement. He has risen from below average defensively to become one of the better defensive catchers in the game.
That block he made on the Jonny Venters sinker in the dirt with the winning run on third was outstanding. Very tough pitch to get in front of. And then he follows it up with a great turn on a 5-2-3 DP, which is always a tricky play.
I’m inclined to give David Ross some/a lot of credit for working with McCann.
Thinking about Fredi . . . remember that it is important to swing at ball 4 so you can get a single. That way you have a runner on base to bunt over to second.
You would think that the braves were in last place by ten games with all of these negative comments. I thought as fans you were supposed to cheer for team and wait for it believe in your players. I cheer for danny boy every time he comes up, i yell for kimbrel to strike out the side. We are 2.5 games out of first place with 2/3 the season left to play. I think we are doing great with the best pitching 1-12 in the NL and an offense that can only get better(almost impossible for them to do worst…..see Twins offense). I think this team is capable of winning a ring with a dominant bullpen, strong 1,2,3 starting punch, and clutch hitting(i know not lately but we have clutch hitters mccann, conrad, hinske, heyward, prado).
@28
The reason for the somewhat negative comments is that there are some real concerns with the offensive approach of the Braves hitters right now. It hasn’t cost them to this point as they are only a couple games out of first, but the Braves can’t continue to play like this if they want to make the playoffs. If the Braves want better results, the process needs to be better. It’s hard to get great results if the process is flawed. All the readers here are somewhat concerned that this process will continue, and thus will not get the desired results.
@28 I understand your points and they are mainly valid and correct. All these negative comments are just pointing out what is glaringly obvius to a lot of people, things have to change or the season will be lost. You are correct in that we are only 1/3rd through and we are still close but a continuation of the offense’s total lack of production, a reliance on a small number of relief pitchers on a daily basis, a obsession with bunting along with a series of mindboggling managerial decisions will in the end cost us. People are frustrated at the talent being wasted and the great pitching each day getting little reward. I am sure everyone would rather be talking about braves winning each day and how good Dan is.
He didn’t earn the name Clutch Conrad for no reason.
Conrad may be the luckiest baseball player ever… dude’s hitting like a buck fifty, is useless from innings 1-7, sucks in defense, but when he gets a hold of bone it always comes in a situation like this, so the legend grows… however, he has failed in the same situation many times this year, but whatev, he came through today, Brook’s the man!
Clearly I meant “gets a hold of ONE”. Sorry.
Fredi is at least bringin the laffs as manager. It was never as funny when clowning on Bobby, cause that was like shittin on your own grandfather. Fredi is like G W Bush as president: awful decisions, awesome jokes.
I think we are crushing Fredi Gonzalez for an intentional walk that, upon further review, made a lot of sense. With fewer than two outs in the bottom of the ninth, and runners on second and third, Venters would have had to face Pearce with the potential winning run on third in almost any scenario. Fredi chose to walk a guy who is batting .333 in his last ten games (braves.com) so that Venters could pitch to Pearce (which he was going to have to do anyway) with the double-play in effect. If Jonny pitches to Tabata and strikes him out (which he very well may have done) then he still has to face Pearce with the winning run on third. Would you rather give them two cracks at a game winner with no double play in effect of one shot with it in effect? Again, Tabata has been swinging it well lately and had two hits in the game.
FW signing uggla to that contract has to be one of the worse gm moves in the last decade. Even disregarding his recent struggles, signing a 2B who fields as bad as be does to that much money, at the expense of starters like JJ or Hanson is inexcusable.
Well, to play devils advocate for a minute and defend Frank Wren… Uggla’s defense (present day excluded) has been remarkably better than had been advertised and he was a very consistent power hitter before coming to the Braves and falling apart (like so many players seem to do).
sorry I meant to say “or” one shot with (the double play)…
I do enjoy watching Venters and Kimbrell pitch. This is a recent post at Beyond the Boxscore caled “The Most Extreme Pitchers of 2011.”
http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2011/5/22/2183159/the-most-extreme-pitchers-of-2011-so-far
Venters is called a “ground ball machine” and Kimbrell a “preventer of balls in play” with these descriptions:
“Venters has had only 3 line drives and 6 fly balls hit off of him, out of 95 batters faced. That’s just ridiculous.
Only half of the batters Kimbrel has faced (44/88) have put the ball in play. He’s gotten very unlucky on ground balls, as fewer than half of them have been turned into outs; that’s why his ERA is so much higher than his FIP.”
The Voice of Reason,
1) 10-game samples should never, ever, EVER be considered when making a decision as to whether or not to walk a guy (or about anything).
2) The intentional walk loaded the bases, so then any non-out wins the game as opposed to just a hit. I’m pretty sure Pearce’s least-error projected OBA is higher than Tabata’s least-error projected batting average.
Doing something based on how you want it to turn out as opposed to how it’s projected to turn out is a great way to screw up.
Speaking of ridiculous errors… at least we don’t have to watch Edward Salcedo try to play 3B at Rome. He made 4 errors in today’s game to bring his total to 20 for the year so far.
See? Uggla is not THAT bad defensively…
Come on, guys, work with me here… I’m trying to remain optimistic about the guy. $62m breeds necessary optimism.
I don’t agree with a guy, who attempted to push his price up during the off season, saying that he feels pressure to live up to his new big contract. If you pushed for those dollars, you should live up to it.
I have a hard time believing this is all we see out of Uggla. His hitting will return, though hopefully sooner rather than later.
CAC @40 -
I think you are oversimplifying the scenario just a bit. First off, it doesn’t just take a hit to score the runner from third – A ground ball to second or short would also have a good chance of scoring the runner in that scenario. Also, I think you have to factor in the current pitcher into the equation to see the tendencies of the batters against. For example, as stated earlier, Venters has only allowed 3 line drives and 6 fly balls out of the 95 batters he has faced. This means that the likelihood of someone hitting a ground ball against him is greatly increased (as well as the chances of a double play). That being said, I think it was a calculated risk – not simply hoping something would turn out the way he had hoped. I think in this situation it was a defensable call and it surely worked out as planned.
I agree with “voice of reason” to an extent. I just think he’s going about the argument for the IBB in the wrong way. CAC said: “I’m pretty sure Pearce’s least-error projected OBA is higher than Tabata’s least-error projected batting average,” but that’s not an accurate way to look at the situation either.
The trade-off is as CAC says for the 1st out, BUT after the walk, we went from a insignificant chance at a DP to a very significant chance at one. Venters is getting groundballs at a 54% clip this year (based on the link in 39). I have no idea what % of groundballs w/ bases loaded and <2 outs are converted into DPs, but for a VERY conservative arguments sake, lets say its only 20% (though I would guess since we're only looking at groundballs in the optimal DP scenario, the real % is much higher. I just don't have any data on that).
.54*.2=.108, meaning that just increased our chance of only needing to face 1 batter instead of 2 by 10.8% (again, assuming there's no chance at a DP without the bases loaded). So the question becomes, did we hurt ourselves by more than 10.8% by making it so that any non-out wins the game. I'd argue that with Venters on the mound (not a lot of BBs or HBPs), we did not.
Someone posted they like watching Kimbrell & Venters pitch, so do I and you can tell their something out of the ordinary by the way the other teams players watch from the step of the dug-out. Venters stuff is sick and when Kimbrell realizes he belongs here, he’ll only get better. Both will get seriously paid someday soon.
Re: Dan Uggla
When the Braves made the Uggla trade, I referenced an urban legend I’d heard regarding his dating game involving ‘the naked man’. My theory concerning his struggles on the field coincide with his ability to pick up women. I bet he’s having a hard time translating his South Florida dating skills to the Old South. What we’re seeing at the plate is nothing more than sexual frustration. So for God’s sake somebody get him to the Clermont Lounge, re-open the Gold Club, or have a Topless Tuesday at the Ted. Then Uggla too can get a hold of bone!
I’m just saying think about everything that could possibly happen, not just what you want to happen. I didn’t bring this up.
“Only half of the batters Kimbrel has faced (44/88) have put the ball in play. He’s gotten very unlucky on ground balls, ”
I could make an argument, halfway seriously, that the aspect of his game that Kimbrel needs to work on is not his pitching but his fielding. Two of his losses came on ground balls up the middle that he missed. One of them was a pretty hot shot, but Greg Maddux would have made the kick-save.
“10-game samples should never, ever, EVER be considered when making a decision as to whether or not to walk a guy (or about anything).”
Perhaps I’m misunderstanding, but it sounds like you’re saying that managers should never factor how hot a hitter has been in his last several games. I agree that Tabata’s .333 is not very significant, but if a player came in with 20 hits in his last 30 at bats, you don’t think for a second about changing your approach?