Morning Chop: Atlanta Braves News 4/18/14
Tomahawk Take Editorial Note: Check out yesterday’s Atlanta Braves’ boxscores for both batting and pitching, courtesy of Baseball Reference…
| Batting | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | BA | OPS | Pit | Str | PO | A | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jason Heyward RF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .136 | .526 | 10 | 8 | 0 | 0 | |
| B.J. Upton CF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .190 | .535 | 16 | 10 | 1 | 0 | |
| Freddie Freeman 1B | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .389 | 1.162 | 17 | 7 | 11 | 2 | |
| Justin Upton LF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .304 | .944 | 17 | 9 | 1 | 0 | |
| Chris Johnson 3B | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .259 | .657 | 12 | 9 | 0 | 4 | |
| Dan Uggla 2B | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .212 | .615 | 14 | 9 | 2 | 3 | |
| Andrelton Simmons SS | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .333 | .909 | 14 | 10 | 2 | 3 | CS |
| Gerald Laird C | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .200 | .517 | 12 | 8 | 7 | 0 | 2B |
| Alex Wood P | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | .000 | .100 | 17 | 10 | 0 | 1 | |
| Team Totals | 30 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 8 | .133 | .354 | 129 | 80 | 24 | 13 |
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | ERA | BF | Pit | Str | Ctct | StS | StL | GB | FB | LD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Wood, L (2-2) | 8 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 1.67 | 29 | 103 | 72 | 40 | 10 | 22 | 15 | 6 | 5 |
| Team Totals | 8 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 1.12 | 29 | 103 | 72 | 40 | 10 | 22 | 15 | 6 | 5 |
Feeling Blue
Tomahawk Take Editorial Note: Personally, I don’t know why grown men get caught up on uniforms, care one way or the other, or are the least bit interested in fashion, but to each his own. Here’s what they think over at Uni Watch, about the Braves’ blues, among other things…
"As you know, many MLB teams let the starting pitcher choose the jersey for each game. That includes the Braves, at least for their road games. (Their jersey choices for home games are scripted — whites on weekdays, creams on weekends, red flag-descrations on five designated dates.)That has prompted reader Robert Kittle to do a bit of numerical analysis:"
Revere’s sharp effort at the plate lifts Phillies over Braves
Tomahawk Take Editorial Note: The Atlanta Braves’ went for the sweep, but alas it wasn’t to be, as Ben Revere has something to say about it, and the Braves just couldn’t, again, hit what we think of as generally mediocre pitching. Check out what they have to say on this at Philly.com…
"IT IS PROBABLY overstating things to say Ben Revere was playing for his job yesterday afternoon. He went through something like this last year and eventually cemented himself as the Phillies’ everyday centerfielder.Still, you don’t want to give the guy behind you too many chances, and, over the previous week, Tony Gwynn Jr. had not just been getting those chances, but making the most of them, as well."
Braves fall to Phillies despite Wood’s CG
Tomahawk Take Editorial Note: Wood has been very good, and while maybe not (in this writers’ opinion), as good as Santana or Teheran or even Harange (I’d put him as a 4th guy so far), he has been very, very good! With that, it’s a shame he didn’t get run support from the Braves yesterday, and thus got the loss. Here’s what Talking Chop has to say about that…
"For the second straight day the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies were locked in a pitchers duel until the very end, but this time it was A.J. Burnettalong with Antonio Bastardo and Jonathan Papelbon who outlasted the 23-year old southpaw Alex Wood for the 1-0 victory to wrap up the series at Citizens Bank Park.The former UGA standout was very close to following Julio Teheran‘s shutout performance the night before, but let up an RBI-single to leadoff hitter Ben Revere that scored Domonic Brown for the only run of the ball game. Revere was one of the few to have success at the plate for either side. The lefty-on-lefty matchup didn’t seem to phase him, as he finished 3-for-4 while only seeing nine pitches at the plate."
Braves’ system an unsung model for success
Tomahawk Take Editorial Note: Do you think of the Atlanta Braves’ organization as a great model for a successful baseball team? Some do, some don’t, but read what Joel Sherman thinks about that…
"When the subject of model franchises arises, we gravitate to the Cardinal Way or the Moneyball A’s or whatever statistical jujitsu the Rays are doing to remain high-level contenders despite low payrolls.But since 2009, the Yankees have MLB’s best record (484-341). The second best belongs not to the Cardinals, A’s or Rays, but to the Braves (466-359).The Yankees have invested roughly $1.24 billion in that time, the Braves less than half that, about $552 million.Yet, despite at least 86 wins in each of the past five seasons and a strong start this year, Atlanta remains the hidden model as the Braves arrive at Citi Field for a three-game series."