9/23 News, Links, Discussion: Braves-Phillies, Simmons Starts, Medlen Bumped Up
September 23, 2012 at 11:59 am by David Lee under Atlanta Braves
Braves lineup: Reed Johnson (CF), Martin Prado (3B), Jason Heyward (RF), Freddie Freeman (1B), Dan Uggla (2B), Jeff Baker (LF), David Ross (C), Andrelton Simmons (SS), Tim Hudson (P).
Phillies lineup: Jimmy Rollins (SS), Juan Pierre (LF), Chase Utley (2B), Ryan Howard (1B), Carlos Ruiz (C), Domonic Brown (RF), John Mayberry (CF), Kevin Frandsen (3B), Cliff Lee (P).
Game 3 vs. Phillies
The Braves won with authority Saturday as Freddie Freeman and Jason Heyward combined for six runs driven in against Roy Halladay in one inning alone, and Halladay was knocked out in the second shortest start of his career, evening up the series.
The rubber match features Cliff Lee and Tim Hudson. While the Braves might be getting to Halladay this season, they still have plenty of troubles against Lee. He is approaching 200 innings for the fourth straight full season, recording a 3.27 ERA and 3.12 FIP. His emergence as a high-profile strikeout pitcher in 2010 has continued this year, sporting a 24.1% strikeout rate while maintaining a 3.7% walk rate.
Everything about Lee has remained in line with his four-season trends except home runs allowed, which has been upped to 1.04 HR/9 this year. He owns a career 8.5% HR/FB rate, but it’s at 11.5% this season. The trends say it’s a mini-fluke, and with Lee’s pitch usage staying the same, I would tend to agree. Best bet is his home run total will return closer to his career mark sooner than later.
Hudson has been a bit up and down lately, which could be the result of September fatigue effecting his sinker command. He gave up four runs in five innings last time out, including no walks and no strikeouts, against the Marlins.
Hudson gave up just four home runs through his first 15 starts but has seven allowed in his last 11 outings. As I said, best bet is tiredness with age slowly creeping up in these fatigue months, but Hudson has still had his solid starts over the past couple months.
Game time is 1:35. Atlanta: Fox Sports South. Philadelphia: PHL 17.
MLB.com preview
STATS preview
More Links
Braves.com recap for Saturday’s win.
AJC quotes following Saturday’s win. Fredi Gonzalez on Roy Halladay: “He’s not the same Halladay I’ve seen. I don’t know if it’s that scapula or shoulder blade, but he didn’t look the same the last couple of times we’ve faced him. Nevertheless, he’s probably gotten us more than we’ve gotten him.”
In case you missed it yesterday, the Braves aligned their rotation so Kris Medlen can start the wild card game. Medlen will start Tuesday at home against the Marlins, Paul Maholm will be switched to Wednesday and Tommy Hanson should start Thursday.
The Braves felt Andrelton Simmons needed one more day on Saturday, and he is in the lineup today.
Hanson will remain in the rotation. Meanwhile, if Fredi decides to give Hudson extra rest, he could start one of Ben Sheets, Julio Teheran or Randall Delgado down the stretch. One would think Sheets might get that call if it happens, considering Teheran and Delgado haven’t pitched in a game in weeks.
Ken Rosenthal reports the Braves tried to acquire Greg Dobbs from the Marlins at the trade deadline.
Around the NL East
Because of milestones and whatnot, Gio Gonzalez became the first 20-game winner in the majors this season. More importantly, his 200 strikeouts is the highest total for a Washington pitcher since Walter Johnson in 1916.
Bob Brookover’s interpretation of the Phillies’ 2013 plans: “Listen to manager Charlie Manuel, and you can envision a team with Chase Utley at third base, Freddy Galvis at second base, a big-ticket free agent playing center field, and at least one quality free-agent addition to the bullpen.”
Mets reliever Frank Francisco is battling elbow tendinitis.
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Phillies “big ticket free agent playing CF” could very likely be Bourn. That’s fine, they can over pay for him. Might bite us back for 2 years, but back end of the contract could look terrible.
That’s been my thinking for a while. Either the Phillies or Nationals, but I’m fairly confident he stays in the NL East. As you said, the back end of a Bourn deal could be nasty.
Any idea why Juan Francisco’s playing time has fallen off the map?
It seems like Chipper has been playing more. Could be my imagination. But maybe all of the scheduled rest days early in the year were put in place to save him for the stretch run.
Probably because it seems Chipper’s off days coincide with there being a lefty on the mound for the opposition, and therefore having Prado at third and Baker or Reed Johnson in the field instead of Francisco at third.
I like Bourn, but it has been really tough to watch him in the second half. I don’t think Bourn will be worth what people will pay for him. He has maybe one or two above-average years left. Should have plenty of money to spend on FAs if we don’t spend big on Bourn.
“Meanwhile, if Fredi decides to give Hudson extra rest, he could start one of Ben Sheets, Julio Teheran or Randall Delgado down the stretch. One would think Sheets might get that call if it happens, considering Teheran and Delgado haven’t pitched in a game in weeks.”
And Sheets has pitched in a game in weeks? That’s news to me. Sheets has no business on the postseason roster (nor is there really a need for Delgado and Teheran). But the other 2 are expected to be the future of the franchise, so it would make much more sense to give any spot starts to one or the other of them.
Not that they ever would, but I would like to see a shortened season and longer playoff series. Bump the season down to 150 games or so and make all the playoff series 7 games. (And if they want to keep the dual WC, then make 3 games)
Or hell, cut the season even more and have half the teams make the playoffs like in hockey and have 4 7-game series.
1 and done is so wrong for baseball.