Atlanta Braves 2013

[JONAS]

14

[ucahogfan]

Very, very sad day at Turner Field after hearing about the fan who fell and passed away last night.  Thoughts and prayers to his family.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/9564269/atlanta-braves-fan-was-standing-alone-fatal-fall-turner-field-police-report-says

In other news, Uggla is going on the DL for Lasik just like McCann has done.  Hopefully he comes back a changed hitter.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/9564572/dan-uggla-atlanta-braves-goes-dl-corrective-eye-surgery

On a lighter note, Chris Johnson taped his mouth shut on Sunday after being ejected by Jim Joyce on Saturday for arguing balls and strikes.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/9563180/atlanta-braves-chris-johnson-tapes-mouth-ejection

[ucahogfan]

Looks like that HR Harper hit off Teheran lit the fire on a new rivalry.  The little d bag shouldn't have did what he did after he hit it though.  It's like he took the Domingo Ayala video to heart:

[OnTheHillHogFan]

Looks like that HR Harper hit off Teheran lit the fire on a new rivalry.  The little d bag shouldn't have did what he did after he hit it though.  It's like he took the Domingo Ayala video to heart:

Braves got some payback today...Kimbrel struck out Harper to end the game. 2-1 Braves win.

[ucahogfan]

Pyrrhic victory today against the Mets as we lose J-Hey for 4-6 weeks with a broken jaw.  Hopefully he will be back for the postseason.

[HROHog]

Sheesh...and he's been really hot since the break. Braves are running out of depth, thank goodness at least
we have a big lead in the division.

[OnTheHillHogFan]

Not a good weekend so far in St Louis...hopefully we can salvage 1 win tomorrow.

[ucahogfan]

Scary stat about Kimbrel.

He has only allowed 6 ERs this season, 5 of which came in his rough stretch of 3 blown saves from April 24 to May 7 in 4.2 IP.  In the other 53 IP outside of that stretch, Kimbrel has only allowed 1 ER (July 4 to the Fish).  I don't think we have even seen his best.  I don't care what he costs, he is the best closer in the game by far and is worth every single penny.

[AirForceHog]

magic number is down to 8. This why we Chop!

[ucahogfan]

First division title since 05!  Now time to lock up home field as we are money at Turner Field this year.

[TheRazorback500]

All right! Lookin' good! Now let's get healthy.

[gutshot]

Step 1...check.

Step 2 is crucial, in my opinion. Home field Advantage.

[ucahogfan]

Carlos Gomez will get what is coming to him in the future.

[HogCaller13]

Thanks Braves for the help yesterday. Go Cards!!!

[gutshot]

I don't know if I've ever watched anything as awesome as what I watched last night....Mac blocking the base path. 

[attachment deleted by admin]

[jbell96]

So Braves fans, what is the latest on Heyward?

[gutshot]

So Braves fans, what is the latest on Heyward?

Latest is he is 3 for 3 with a homer and two doubles tonight...and it's the 3rd inning.

[jbell96]

Glad to see him back, don't want you guys having excuses when you guys fall short in the postseason.

[gutshot]

Ive been the humblest of Braves fans for almost 30 years so I'm not biting on the trolling, sorry.

By the way, Heyward is now 4 for 4 with a homer and 3 doubles in the 5th.

[gutshot]

And an infield single makes him 5-5. Great night for Heyward. Just what this struggling offense needs.

[ucahogfan]

And an infield single makes him 5-5. Great night for Heyward. Just what this struggling offense needs.

This offense was clicking when J-Hey was healthy.  We would have probably won 100 games if the freak incident at Citi Field didn't happen.  He is a new breed of leadoff hitter.

[jbell96]

Ive been the humblest of Braves fans for almost 30 years so I'm not biting on the trolling, sorry.

By the way, Heyward is now 4 for 4 with a homer and 3 doubles in the 5th.

It was all in good fun, not trying to start anything. Nothing wrong with a little friendly trash talk.

[ucahogfan]

It was all in good fun, not trying to start anything. Nothing wrong with a little friendly trash talk.

Always love some trash talk.

J-Hey is beyond important to this team.  In his 94 starts this year, the Braves have won 64 of them.  In the 65 games he didn't start, the Braves have only won 30.  So, the Braves basically win over 2/3 of the time J-Hey starts and are the Giants the rest of the time.  Don't think you will ever find that kind of split with one player ever again.

[gutshot]

It was all in good fun, not trying to start anything. Nothing wrong with a little friendly trash talk.

No worries.  I've come to notice a lot Cardinal fans on this board don't make it fun at all, so I just try not to engage.  No offense. 

[gutshot]

Game of the year tonight. Medlen didn't back down from Cliff Lee not one inch.

[AirForceHog]

It was an outstanding pitcher duel. Glad the Braves got the win. Now finish it out and get that home field advantage. Go Braves!

[ucahogfan]

Bring on those Dodgers.  Let Choptober begin!

[pigture perfect]

Definitely roting for the Bravo's over the Bum's. Good luck guys.

[gutshot]

Playoff roster is set...It is interesting to say the least.

Starting 8:
McCann
Freeman
E. Johnson
Simmons
C. Johnson
Gattis
Heyward
J. Upton

Bench:
Laird
Schafer
Constanza (Why?)
R. Johnson
Janish
B. Upton

Starters:
Medlen
Minor
Teheran
F. Garcia 

Pen:
Kimbrel
Ayala
Avilan
Hale
Wood
Carpenter
Walden

No Uggla, Terdoslavich, Varvaro, Maholm, Downs.  Quite possibly the weakest bench you will ever see on a playoff roster.  No thump whatsoever. 

So let's hear it.  What are your thoughts?

[HROHog]

I'm not surprised about Uggla. Even after eye surgery his batting continued to slump. After that I'm a bit confused. Garcia was
better down the stretch than Maholm though, and Downs had a rough September. That's my only guess on the latter two.

[gutshot]

Yeah, I totally expected Garcia to get the nod over Maholm.  Downs has been horrible, so that's not too much of a suprise.  Hale over Varvaro kind of shocked me, but I wouldn't call it a bad move.

The main one I disagree with is Constanza over Uggla.  If we need a speedy outfielder off the bench, BJ and Schafer fit the bill.  Same thing with a pinch runner.  I don't see any need in Jose being there.  Uggla would at least be a threat to run into one and put it in the seats.  As it stands, Gerald Laird would be our heaviest hitter off the bench.  Besides that, if Chris Johnson aggravates his shoulder again, Paul Janish is in the game...batting, even.  That's like a nightmare. 

[AirForceHog]

I agree leaving Uggla off the roster may be a mistake. His 22 homeruns justifies a bench spot for the playoffs.

[HROHog]

You both make good points about Uggla's power.

As far as left hand pitching at least we'll have Wood out of the pen for long or short relief.

[gutshot]

Well Game 1 was ugly.  They looked like a team with no playoff experience.  Too many mental mistakes and a flat, life-less offense.   

[HROHog]

Sheesh, no question about that. Hope the bats get going tonight.

[bulldog04]

Big hit by Heyward

[gutshot]

Big hit by Heyward

Sure was.  The double play started by Avilan might have been even bigger.  Headed to Hollywood with their heads held high.  That's just what we needed. 

[AirForceHog]

Well that was crap.

[cubsfan5150]

Braves out again... when was their last World Series?

[AirForceHog]

Why not Kimbrel in the 8th? I just don't get that.

[dhornjr1]

Why not Kimbrel in the 8th?

I imagine a lot of people will ask this. Things have changed so much in the last 30 years. Back then, it was normal for a closer to throw the 8th and 9th. There is too much specialization in pitching these days.

[ucahogfan]

Braves out again... when was their last World Series?

1995.  Need to remember we might be the youngest team in the MLB with any promise and will probably only lose McCann.

[ucahogfan]

Why not Kimbrel in the 8th? I just don't get that.

Don't think he has ever gotten more than a 4 out save.  You never know how he is going to react getting a 6 out save.  Would have liked to see someone other than Carpenter out there after almost blowing Game 2.

Just think, we will get back both Venters and O'Flaherty sometime next year and the best pen in baseball will only get better.

[McKdaddy]

1995.  Need to remember we might be the youngest team in the MLB with any promise and will probably only lose McCann.

Pirates, Braves, and Cards (specifically the lineup anticipated for the Cards in '14) are all ridiculously young.

[HogCaller13]

What happened to the Braves?

[ucahogfan]

What happened to the Braves?

We had to face the two best pitchers in the NL 3 times over a 4 game span.

[HogCaller13]

We had to face the two best pitchers in the NL 3 times over a 4 game span.

Kershaw is a beast. Did You guys beat Greinke in game 2. Correct?

[Pulled(PP)pork]

taken care of by my Dodgers, bring on St. Louie!!


PP

[HogCaller13]

taken care of by my Dodgers, bring on St. Louie!!


PP

The Cards will take care of the Dodgers.

[gutshot]

We had to face the two best pitchers in the NL 3 times over a 4 game span.

Pitching and home runs were the biggest strengths throughout the season and both of those areas failed us in this series.  Medlen, Teheran, Wood, Carpenter, Walden...it was brutal.   

McCann had a disatrous series .000
Heyward hit .167. 
Upton hit .143
E Johnson .071