Morning Chop: Braves 8/18
Aug 17, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Washington Nationals manager Davey Johnson (5) reacts in the dugout after he and starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg (37) (not shown) were ejected from the game against the Atlanta Braves during the second inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Instant analysis: Nats 8, Braves 7 (15)
Game in a nutshell: Tensions were high when this game began, with everyone at Turner Field wondering if Stephen Strasburg would retaliate for Bryce Harper’s repeated plunkings by Braves pitchers. Only two batters in, he answered that question, drilling Justin Upton in the left hip with a fastball. Umpire Marvin Hudson immediately issued warnings to both dugouts and Upton quietly took his base, so that should have been the end of it. Except Strasburg completely lost his command in the bottom of the second, throwing seven straight balls, the last three of them wild pitches, the last two of them behind Andrelton Simmons’ back. Hudson had no choice but to eject both Strasburg and Davey Johnson, leaving the Nationals in a real bind. Tanner Roark, though, came through with four huge scoreless innings of relief. The Nationals lineup pounded out seven runs and 15 hits off Braves pitching, with Jayson Werth reaching base four times to lead the way.
Strasburg, Johnson ejected after wild pitches
[Editorial Comment: I was at the game last night, and I have to say that I have never seen anything like what Strasburg did. If I have, I certainly cannot remember ever seeing a pitcher with Strasburg’s acumen throwing two consecutive pitches behind a batter. Stephen was ejected, but it seems to me that he either wanted to be ejected, or may have been hurt, or perhaps the ball was just wet. I don’t know, but a pitcher like Strasburg, if he wants to hit a pitcher, generally does. Strangest thing I have ever seen, not to mention the total marathon of soggy baseball. I loved it, despite the fact that we lost. Can’t win em’ all!]
ATLANTA — Stephen Strasburg exacted some revenge for Bryce Harper’s recent plunkings. Then the Nationals ace lost all semblance of command and wound up getting himself and his manager ejected.
One night after Harper was hit by a Braves pitcher for the third time in the last three games between the two clubs, Strasburg fired a 97 mph fastball into Justin Upton’s left hip in the bottom of the first inning. Upton quietly took his base, and plate umpire Marvin Hudson issued warnings to both dugouts, which should have ended the whole affair.
Except one inning later, Strasburg suddenly couldn’t find the strike zone. He walked Jordan Schafer on four pitches, then uncorked three consecutive wild pitches to Andrelton Simmons, the last two sailing well behind the Atlanta shortstop’s back and allowing Schafer to score.
Braves give back at Miracle League skills clinic
ATLANTA — An unseasonably cool and rainy August afternoon did not dampen the spirits of the 57 children from local Miracle League teams who participated in a skills clinic put on by the Braves and the Baseball Fantasy Camp for Kids on Saturday at Hunter Memorial Park in Douglasville, Ga.
Pitchers Alex Wood and Anthony Varvaro, infielder Paul Janish and strength and conditioning coach Phil Falco were on hand to offer instruction and encouragement as the players moved from station to station honing their hitting, fielding and throwing skills.
Anthony Varvario commented on the event….
"It’s always fun to give back. It’s a small group, the weather really wasn’t that great, but we got a chance to get out there for about an hour and a half or so and just work with the kids, interact."
Really? MLB says replay will speed up pace of games
[Editorial Comment: If you keep up with baseball, this is old news for you by now. It’s also not Atlanta Braves’ news, but it certainly may affect our beloved team. There will be those that argue against it, and those that argue had some of these rules been in place this year (and certainly in the past), that things could even be better than they currently are for the Braves. I’ll let that debate to you, for now, but the debate will rage on.…]
COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — Hello, 21st century, Major League Baseball finally is coming your way.
Baseball, which has largely resisted the technological advances of TV cameras, announced Thursday that it’s ready to embrace all-encompassing instant replay, adding it for the start of the 2014 season on nearly every questionable play but the strike zone.
SELIG: ‘Historic’ day for baseball
Who knows what’s next in store, but the initial phase already is baseball’s most sweeping technological change since its first night game in 1935.
“It’s historic, there’s no question about it” Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig said after the conclusion of the owners’ meetings here. “We did it in my usual slow process, but a good one.”
REACTION: Managers, players just want the right calls