Archive for July, 2010

A managerial mistake cost the Braves a win today, as Jair Jurrjens was strong on the mound but was left in too long. The Reds pounded him for four runs in the seventh and evened the series with a 5-2 win. The Braves jumped out to a two-run lead in the first when Omar Infante doubled to lead off the game and scored on an error. After loading the bases, Eric Hinske walked to bring in the other run. Alex Gonzalez followed with a double play to end the inning. The Reds tried to put some runs across early themselves, as [...]

The Braves have acquired Rick Ankiel and Kyle Farnsworth in exchange for Gregor Blanco, Jesse Chavez, and Tim Collins. Ankiel is another left-handed bat that will cover center field for the Braves. We all know him from his first full season as a hitter in 2008, when he hit 25 home runs and posted .264/.337/.506 with a .360 wOBA and .242 ISO. Obviously that’s the best you could expect from Ankiel going forward, but I highly doubt he will ever reach it again. He dropped off to a .288 wOBA and .156 ISO in 2009 and has spent most of this [...]

Saturday, July 31 – 4:10 (FOX) Atlanta Braves (59-43) vs. Cincinnati Reds (57-47) Jair Jurrjens (4.37 ERA, 4.75 xFIP, 3.72 BB/9, 6.63 K/9, 8.2 SwStr%) (Career vs. CIN: 3 GS, 0-2, 6.75 ERA, 10 BB, 7 K) vs. Bronson Arroyo (4.21 ERA, 4.94 xFIP, 2.94 BB/9, 4.34 K/9, 6.4 SwStr%) (Career vs. ATL: 12 G, 11 GS, 5-3, 5.90 ERA, 27 BB, 43 K) Braves vs. Arroyo: Chipper Jones: 11-25, 2 2B, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 5 BB, 3 K Eric Hinske: 11-26, 4 2B, HR, 2 RBI, 2 BB, K Troy Glaus: 5-15, HR, 3 RBI, 3 BB, K [...]

  Reported by the AJC, Martin Prado has a fractured pinky and the guess is 7-10 days. Bobby will let Prado sit a couple days before making the decision on whether to place him on the disabled list. I would have no problem letting him rest on the bench and keeping him off the disabled list as long as Alex Gonzalez comes back healthy in the next day or two, of course assuming Prado would be able to return within a week or so. Omar Infante has proven worthy of filling a starting role for a couple weeks without the Braves missing [...]

Gwinnett 10, Rochester 0 Mike Minor: 7 IP, H, 2 BB, 8 K Wes Timmons: 4-4, HR, RBI Matt Young: 2-4, 2 RBI Barbaro Canizares: 1-3, HR, 3 RBI Freddie Freeman: 2-4, RBI Diory Hernandez: 1-4, 2B, 2 RBI Minor had a pretty good night. He gave up one soft single in seven shutout innings and struck out eight. Obviously it bested any of his AAA performances and it lowered his ERA to 1.99 in 31.2 innings for Gwinnett. He definitely could be useful to the Braves down the stretch if needed, and if the Braves would want to go [...]

In a game that had a postseason feel to it, the Braves and Reds fought back and forth, and two injuries and a stolen homer later the Braves came through with a 6-4 win in ten innings. The Braves picked up ten hits off Johnny Cueto in 5.1 innings, which isn’t the hard part. They got four runs out of those ten hits, and that was the hard part. Jason Heyward doubled in the first and was left. Eric Hinske did the same in the second and was left. Chipper Jones broke the trend in the third with an RBI single [...]

Friday, July 30 – 7:10 (SportSouth) Atlanta Braves (58-43) vs. Cincinnati Reds (57-46) Kris Medlen (3.57 ERA, 3.71 xFIP, 1.74 BB/9, 6.96 K/9, 9 SwStr%) (Career vs. CIN: First start) vs. Johnny Cueto (3.18 ERA, 4.42 xFIP, 2.96 BB/9, 6.43 K/9, 9.2 SwStr%) (Career vs. ATL: 2 GS, 1-0, 2.08 ERA, 3 BB, 12 K) Braves vs. Cueto: Troy Glaus: 2-4, 2B, 3 RBI, BB Omar Infante: 0-3, K Chipper Jones: 0-3, K Brian McCann: 1-3, HR, RBI Martin Prado: 1-2, 2B, RBI Melky Cabrera: 0-2, K Reds vs. Medlen: None What to Look For: Medlen getting back on track. [...]

While the trade rumors swirl as the deadline nears this Saturday, the Braves still have baseball to be played, and it’s a tough series ahead. After losing two straight series for the first time since early May, the Braves end their road trip with a three-game set against the Reds, who sit a half game ahead of the Cardinals in the Central. The Reds have perhaps the best offense in the National League. They are tied with the Brewers for best wOBA at .340 and lead team OPS at .776. They don’t walk quite as much as a leading offense [...]

Gwinnett 13, Rochester 6 Jose Ortegano: 4.1 IP, H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 K Freddie Freeman: 2-3, 3 RBI, 2 BB Barbaro Canizares: 3-5, 2B, 3 RBI J.C. Boscan: 2-4, HR, 3 RBI Nate McLouth: 2-5, HR, RBI Ortegano gave up just one single, yet allowed three runs thanks to Cristhian Martinez, who served up all three after Ortegano left. He actually took a no-hitter into the fifth so it’s a much better performance than we’ve been seeing from him. Gwinnett’s offense went crazy for 17 hits. Besides those listed above, Matt Young went 3-5 with a double. Wes [...]

The Phillies done went and did it, trading for Roy Oswalt, who has agreed to waive his no-trade clause. In return, the Astros receive J.A. Happ, Anthony Gose, and Jonathan Villar. Gose was then flipped to Toronto for Brett Wallace. Obviously this isn’t the haul the Astros had in mind, but it’s a salary dump and it had to be done in their eyes, I assume (or I hope, anyway, because what they got back is awful). The fact that the Phillies were able to keep Jayson Werth and add Oswalt is huge. If Werth was dealt to get Oswalt, [...]