Archive for September, 2010

According to the AJC, Martin Prado will miss the remainder of the season and the postseason (if they get there) with a hip pointer and torn oblique. Considering he was already dealing with a bad hand and groin, I’m not surprised he couldn’t walk out of the box. Despite a lack of hitting from him lately, missing Prado will be huge, if just for his presence in the lineup. Brooks Conrad will take over starting duties at third base, and considering there isn’t much left to the season, I don’t think it’s too big of a deal. However, his extended [...]

Tim Hudson showed heart in six strong innings and Eric Hinske provided the blow with a go-ahead homer in the seventh, giving the Braves their second straight win over the Marlins, 3-2. The first six innings belonged to the Marlins. A double and two straight infield singles led to a Florida run in the third. They held that lead through six, with neither team really threatening except a play at the plate in the sixth in which Brian McCann was thrown out. Though Melky Cabrera was up next with two outs, it was obvious McCann needed to be held up [...]

Tuesday, September 28 – 7:10 (SportSouth) Florida Marlins (77-79) vs. Atlanta Braves (88-69) Anibal Sanchez (3.60 ERA, 4.28 xFIP, 3.26 BB/9, 7.11 K/9, 9.1 SwStr%, 45.1 GB%) (Career vs. ATL: 12 GS, 4-6, 4.50 ERA, 32 BB, 50 K) vs. Tim Hudson (2.80 ERA, 3.83 xFIP, 2.88 BB/9, 5.51 K/9, 7 SwStr%, 64.6 GB%) (Career vs. FLA: 18 GS, 9-3, 2.91 ERA, 33 BB, 98 K) Braves vs. Sanchez: Brian McCann: 9-25, 2 2B, HR, 8 RBI, 3 BB, 4 K Omar Infante: 3-15, 2 RBI, BB, 2 K Nate McLouth: 0-9, 3 BB, 3 K Eric Hinske: 0-10, 3 [...]

The Braves got another great start from Tommy Hanson, and despite no offense, they managed to take the win in 11 innings 2-1. Hanson pitched seven shutout innings on three hits. He entered the eighth at 86 pitches, and despite no signs of slowing down entering the inning, I was hoping he would be on a short leash. But there’s no point in ever hoping for that. Hanson’s final line was one run on five hits in 7.2 innings, no walks and three strikeouts. It was one of Hanson’s best outings, as he was constantly ahead of hitters, and at [...]

Monday, September 27 – 7:10 (SportSouth) Florida Marlins (77-78) vs. Atlanta Braves (87-69) Alex Sanabia (3.99 ERA, 4.67 xFIP, 2.20 BB/9, 5.79 K/9, 7.5 SwStr%, 35.4 GB%) (Career vs. ATL: 2 GS, 0-0, 5.79 ERA, 4 BB, 9 K) vs. Tommy Hanson (3.51 ERA, 4.13 xFIP, 2.56 BB/9, 7.77 K/9, 8.4 SwStr%, 40.1 GB%) (Career vs. FLA: 5 GS, 3-1, 3.64 ERA, 14 BB, 27 K) Braves vs. Sanabia: Jason Heyward: 3-5, BB, 2 K Martin Prado: 3-6, 2B, HR, RBI Brian McCann: 0-4, RBI, BB, K Alex Gonzalez: 3-4, 2B Nate McLouth: 1-4, RBI, K Omar Infante: 1-3 Marlins [...]

The Braves put a halt to a four game losing streak and in the process gave Manager Bobby Cox his 2,500th win of his career. The victory temporarily puts them back in a tie with the San Diego Padres for the wild card lead. The Padres play the Cincinnati Reds later on today and will either be a half a game ahead or behind the Braves once the day ends. The Braves got five shut out innings from Derek Lowe in which he allowed five hits while striking out four. It was Lowe’s fifteenth win of the season running his [...]

Friday September 24, 2010 – 7:05 PM (SportSouth) Atlanta Braves (86-67) vs Washington Nationals (65-88) What to Watch For: Even with another series with the Phillies looming, the quest to solidify the wild card begins tonight in Washington. Nothing that has happened to the Braves the past week will matter as long as they start taking care of business tonight, this weekend, and next week against the Marlins. The last time the Braves met the Nationals, they lost two out of three at home. The Braves can’t afford a repeat of that performance at this juncture of the season. Tim [...]

Tommy Hanson and Roy Oswalt dueled over six innings and one hit determined the outcome. Unfortunately, the Phillies got the hit. A late RBI double by Raul Ibanez provided the Phillies with the go-ahead run, capping the sweep with a 1-0 win. Hanson pitched six strong innings, allowing just two hits and no runs, walking three and striking out four. He didn’t give up his first hit until a double in the fifth. That was followed by a walk and sac bunt that put both in scoring position with two outs, but Hanson buckled down and got Shane Victorino to [...]

Wednesday, September 22 – 7:05 (SportSouth) Atlanta Braves (86-66) vs. Philadelphia Phillies (91-61) Tommy Hanson (3.62 ERA, 4.11 xFIP, 2.49 BB/9, 7.83 K/9, 8.7 SwStr%, 39.8 GB%) (Career vs. PHI: 4 GS, 1-2, 3.93 ERA, 8 BB, 17 K) vs. Roy Oswalt (2.90 ERA, 3.48 xFIP, 2.36 BB/9, 8.20 K/9, 9.5 SwStr%, 44.7 GB%) (Career vs. ATL: 7 GS, 0-3, 7.58 ERA, 8 BB, 29 K) Braves vs. Oswalt: Derrek Lee: 18-65, 5 2B, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 6 BB, 17 K Nate McLouth: 10-28, 2 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, BB, 8 K Alex Gonzalez: 10-23, 2 HR, 3 [...]

I know this is nothing new, but I figured I’d get it out there anyway. According to David O’Brien, Jair Jurrjens has a slight meniscus tear in his knee and should be able to make his next start. In no way can this help Jurrjens’ struggles, but I would rather take my chances with him than what you already know you’d get from Brandon Beachy or Mike Minor. Speaking of which, I surely hope Minor made his last start of 2010 last night. Whether it is fatigue, not trusting his stuff or whatever, he doesn’t have it and should not [...]