Filed under: Game Discussions, On the Road | Tags: Campillo, Francoeur, Johnson, Teixeira, Wives
Okay, maybe a harsh header.
Winning the game against the Milwaukee Brewers today 8-1, the Braves saw excellent clutch hitting come from Mark Teixeira, Jorge Campillo, and Kelly Johnson. 4 can be accredited to Teixeira, two to Campillo and two to Johnson. Not to mention Chipper went 2-4, keeping his average at .420.
Tonight the Braves travel to Cincy, where the Reds are 25-28, and were swept the last time they met up with Braves, albeit it was in Atlanta.
I wonder how all of the Braves’ wives are doing on this trip. In a radio show with Berts Show earlier last week Jeff Francoeur said his wife didn’t go to as many games now that they were actually married, so leaves me wondering if the wives are shopping during games or in the stands…I know where I would be hah.
Filed under: Game Discussions, On the Road | Tags: Jo-Jo, Struggles away from home
Sadly, I am so apathetic about Braves losses away from home at this point. One after another, I’m feeling myself reaching a point of almost desensitization (is that even a word, probably not). I hate that during the pre-game show while we’re rounding out all of the points of why it’s going to be a good contest, who to watch, in the back of my mind I’m already preparing for a loss. Call me a bad fan, but at least I’m still watching and still blogging. I mean I could just skip traveling sessions completely, but I don’t.
Anyway, props to pitching today, yes even to Jo-Jo. I really don’t know what to say except that the Braves should have executed better. Like last night we left too many men on base, eight to be exact, and in a low scoring game of 1-0, eight opportunities are too many passed ones. At least now Soriano is healthy and pitching, and maybe a Kotsay return could help infuse the dragging team again. I just don’t know what I’ll do if we get swept though, by the Brewers at that.
By the way for those of strong stomach, we’re now 6-18 on the road, read it and weep.
Filed under: Minor League Prospect, On the Road | Tags: Soriano, Chipper, Kelly Johnson, Teixeira, Gregor Blanco, Hudson, Joe Simpson, Jo-Jo Reyes, Diaz, DL, Infante
Braves have started the road trip off right with not only a loss, but a one-run loss at that.
On the slightly brighter side though, it wasn’t a bad game for the Braves. Hudson did pitch well, going as deep into a game as he has this season and holding the Brewers to two runs. Braves left several men on base, however; and had the Braves taken advantage of RISP perhaps the outcome would have been different. The only two runs scored by the Braves came off of two solo homers by KJ and Blanco.
I loved the blip on Kelly Johnson by Joe Simpson on the broadcast. Apparently when asked why Johnson’s offense had changed so drastically in, oh say the last thirteen consecutive games where he has found hits, the only straight answer that Simpson could get from him was that for the first two months of the season Johnson said he didn’t have drapes on the windows in his bedroom; so maybe the light waking him up so early was depriving him of sleep. So glad to hear he’s on the up swing, now I can wear my Johnson shirt without jeers.
In addition, kudos to Gregor Blanco, or George White as Hudson calls him. Blanco hit his first career home run in his first at bat. Who knew Blanco would be this useful during the season back in Spring Training?
Tonight the Braves will face right-hander Jeffrey Suppan, lead by Jo-Jo Reyes. Suppan’s era of 4.47 is partnered with a 2-4 record. Fairly similar is Reyes sitting at 2-2, having had a very disappointing last appearance for the Braves against the Diamondbacks allowing seven runs in five innings. Hopefully the team can pull it together, and who knows, maybe this will be the game where Soriano will reappear in the bullpen.
Matt Diaz, was placed on the DL after crashing into the wall down the left field foul area, creating room for Soriano. In Diaz’s absence, in combinations with Kotsay missing sizeable time for a stiff back Bobby said that Omar Infante could be seeing a great increase in playing time and Blanco could be seeing an everyday starting position.
Let’s all hope that tonight Jo-Jo comes in ready to go (notice I ignored the temptation to say go-go) tonight and pitches stronger than his last outing and gets the Braves back on track!
Filed under: On the Road | Tags: Atlanta Braves, Chipper, Kelly Johnson, Tom Glavine
Tom Glavine found his first win with the Braves this past evening since 2002, and coincidentally the win this night and the last win were both over the Philadelphia Phillies.
With eight runs coming from the Braves offense during Glavine’s time on the mound, Braves fans are left to wonder if the production is truly the hitters staggering out of their away-slump or if it was just one more evening of excellent scoring to be followed by more games of close losses and struggling at the plate.
Kelly Johnson appeared comfortable at the plate going 2-3, with a walk, and a homerun. Meanwhile Chipper’s presence was felt with just one more homerun, but with him these days what else can you expect?
All in all, it wasn’t the game I predicted, but these Braves are making it hard to know what’s going to happen next. Let’s just hope that this is a revitalized team that is just now showing the initial signs of building back strength, not another blip on a slowing dying monitor. With only one more away game left, soon we’ll be entering a home-stretch that will last almost two weeks at least.
Maybe I spoke too soon, and too harshly about Kelly. He did garner a hit before the end of the game, and perhaps the move down the batting order will allow him to calm down, relax and get comfortable again….only time will tell unfortunately….
Brad Lidge’s nine game, 0.00 era was shattered luckily by a fly ball just over the fielders head by Brian McCann, to score Mark Kotsay, bringing the Braves within one in the ninth inning. With two outs, it was just one more page in the book of Craig Norton to watch him walked to first by Lidge, obviously a bit uneasy after the double by McCann.
Francoeur showed his weakness once more, swinging at two interesting pitches in the ninth, yet flied out on the fourth pitch to end the game losing 5-4.
That’s 9 one-run losses away from Turner Field, of a total 11. I think we need to step it up a little. No harsh words for Francoeur though, only a grimace on the team’s behalf.
Here’s to tomorrow…
Today Jair Jurrjens (4-2) will take the mound for the braves, hopefully finding a win for the Braves in their series against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Jurrjens, a right-handed pitcher will be faced by Zach Duke (1-2) who enters the game with a 4.6 era.
The Braves were plagued with poor offense in last night’s game hitting into multiple double-plays, pulling the total to 35, the second most double-plays that a team has hit into in the National League. Key player Kelly Johnson was opted off of the line-up shortly before the game, replaced by Omar Infante.
Johnson has provided the team with a consistent hitting presence in the lead-off spot which was noticeable in his absence. Time will tell if Infante or Johnson will receive the start today.
Hoping to increase their road record to 5-13, a win today will depend on the team’s ability to produce at the plate, and the capability of Jurrjens to continue the excellent pitching he displayed in his last three starts where he has finished 3-0. Jurrjens has been the only starting pitcher on the Braves roster to consistently last in the game past five innings.
Chipper Jones’ spectacular batting average has slowly been on the decline, it’s repair reliant on his performance today and in the ensuing road series at Philadelphia.
So here’s to hoping that the Braves find friends in their pink bats.
And here’s to hoping the Braves can find a way to give Jurrjens the support at the plate that he needs.
