Game 146: Braves 5, Nationals 4
September 16, 2012 at 2:00 am by David Lee under Atlanta Braves
Source: FanGraphs
Game MVP: Jason Heyward, .170
Least Valuable Brave: Michael Bourn, -.068
Most Valuable National: Eury Perez, .162
Least Valuable National: Steve Lomardozzi, -.197
Big plays:
1st – (WAS) Adam LaRoche two-run homer for a 2-0 Nationals lead, .200
2nd – (WAS) Error scored two runs for a 4-0 Nationals lead, .128
6th – (ATL) Jason Heyward two-run homer for a 4-4 tie, .290
8th – (ATL) Chipper Jones walk to load the bases with one out, .112
8th – (ATL) Andrelton Simmons hit by pitch to bring home a run for a 5-4 Braves lead, .156
9th – (WAS) Eury Perez stole second and advanced to third on an error, .162
9th – (WAS) Steve Lomardozzi struck out with the tying run on third and one out, -.198
9th – (WAS) Tyler Moore struck out to end the game, -.117
The 2012 Braves: Finding new ways to win every day.
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Braves match their win total for all of September last year. Can we finally let last September go?
Can we put an innings limit on Hanson… at about 8 games ago. The first 4 innings looked ugly in person and I could see from section 105 that Tommy was in his head from the first pitch.
After two innings I was resigned to us losing and my loathing of Tommy Hanson had reached a new low. But like they often do when Tommy digs them a hole, the Braves overcame the early deficit.
I feel like this series win will give the Braves a lot of confidence heading down the stretch and into the playoffs.
On the other hand, we can’t expect to win on errors, walks, and hit batsmen (or all the other ways we won in the Rockies series). When is someone going to come up with that big hit that gives us a lead late? I keep waiting for someone to step up.;
Jason has stepped up plenty when we’re down to either bring us closer or tie a game. The fact of the matter is, that it doesn’t really matter how the run is brought it, just as long as it comes in. In my mind, Simmons did step up. He didn’t make rookie mistakes of being overly excited and swinging at the every pitch trying to get the run in. He was patient and worked the count.
Have all the wins been perfect? No way. Does that really matter? Not in the least. There are other ways that players can step up. It doesn’t have to be with some kind of big RBI, game winning hit.
I understand that a win is a win is a win. However, the way we are winning is not sustainable (see Milwaukee series), and if we can’t drive in more runs we will exit the playoff picture quite early.
I was thinking about Hanson’s future last night. As bad as he has been this year, it still seems unlikely that he will be non-tendered. Is there any real historical precedent for a guy like him in the arbitration process? I mean someone with elite or near elite rate stats for his first two years who subsequently falls off the cliff? If he went on the FA market this winter, his offers would reflect the significant injury concerns and dramatically declining velocity more than his past potential and success. How do arbitration panels evaluate those concerns?
The Nats have won many ways similar to our last 4 wins. As it was said it is not how you win. As Al Davis said, “Just win baby”.
wow – the Nats are human after all