April 2011

Braves Worries

Chipper1.jpgThe Braves started 2011 on a hot streak.  They looked like they were going to be the team to beat.  Now, they find themselves just 1.5 games ahead of the Mets who are in last place in the NL East.  

The Braves have had a lot of close games.  Those 1 run losses that have plagued both the team and their fans for years now.  The almost wins.  The team has had a lot less run production, outside of the 10 they put on the Dodgers, than what would have been expected with their great lineup.  
The pitching has been serviceable.  But the bullpen has gotten very worn down.  Moylan on the DL, Venters on rest.  Calling up Cory Gearrin from AAA to rest the bullpen even more.  Using Martinez three days in a row.  It’s been very taking on the pen for the Braves so far this season.
The team has had some great wins, but it is the losses that stick out most.  The extra inning loss, the 1 run losses.  They have a 9 and 12 record on the season and are 4-6 over their last 10 games.  A long road trip out West has also taken its toll.  
Chipper Jones is experiencing a sharp pain in his right knee, not the surgically repaired left knee.  A pain he admits he has had for the past 10 days or so.  A pain that may keep him out of the Saturday game versus the Giants and Tim Lincecum.  Chipper has been an offensive catalyst for the Braves and they would miss him greatly if he has to miss any time.  Continuing to play on a hurt knee though is just asking for an even longer stretch of lost time if he should injure it even more.
The Braves face off with the Giants on Saturday afternoon with the Tim vs Tim show on the mound.  Lincecum versus Hudson.  Lincecum is throwing hot and has a 1.67 coming into today’s game.  Hudson has performed well, but has struggled in the early innings of his starts.  If the Braves are without Chipper today, runs may be at a real premium and a shaky first few innings from Hudson could prove detrimental.
After last night’s win versus the Giants, the Braves need to continue that in today’s game.  That, however, may be easier said than done.

Winning x2

jurrjens.jpgThe Braves got off the losing side of the ball and back to the winning side by taking the doubleheader from the Mets on Saturday helped by the return of Jair Jurrjens and Hinske finally hitting the ball.

Jurrjens went seven strong innings and Hinske contributed three hits to help the Braves sweep the doubleheader from the Mets taking the second game 4-0.  The Braves took the first game of the doubleheader 4-2 behind Derek Lowe and some nice run production from the middle of the lineup.  
The Braves are now at 7-8 on the season but sitting three games back of the Phillies in the East.  The Braves get the Mets again today with Hanson on the mound.  Tommy hopes to continue his mastery of the Mets.  He is 3-1 with a 1.76 ERA holding the Mets David Wright to 1 for 13 against him and Carlos Beltran hitless in eight at bats.
Chipper Jones is scheduled to sit out of Sunday’s game versus the Mets to give him some rest after the back to back games on Saturday.  The Braves put Peter Moylan on the DL with a lower back strain.  They had been trying to give him a few days rest between outings in hopes of avoiding the DL, but it was not getting any better.  
The Braves head to the left coast on Monday to start a series with the Dodgers.  On Friday, they will head to face the defending world champion Giants.  A long road stretch for the team and hopefully they can get some wins to get closer to the top of the NL East.

Braves Feeling Chipper

Chipper1.jpgThe Atlanta Braves are feeling quite chipper these days.  Both happy and also happy for the Chipper.  The Braves beat their arch rival Phillies and Cliff Lee on Friday night at home and Chipper Jones got his 2500th career hit.

The Braves played well versus the Phillies and Cliff Lee.  In fact, they played so well that Lee exited the game in the 4th inning giving up 6 runs.  Lee had been struggling, for him anyway, with a lot of 3-2 counts and getting his pitch count a lot higher up than usual.  The Braves came roaring back thanks to an outstanding hit and muffed play near the outfield wall.  Lee left the game shortly thereafter.

The Braves went on to win the game but not before Larry “Chipper” Jones got his 2500th career hit in front of an enthusiastic home crowd in Atlanta that included former Braves skipper Bobby Cox.  It was quite a night at the Ted for the Braves and their fans and most are looking forward to even more.

Chipper is three doubles shy of 500, three RBIs shy of 1,500 and 30 extra-base hits shy of 1,000. Only 33 players in history have accumulated 1,000 extra-base hits, and only 34 players have scored at least 1,500 runs (Jones has 1,507) and collected at least 1,500 RBIs.  Chipper became the 93rd player in history with 2,500 hits, and the ninth switch-hitter to reach the milestone.

The Braves have two more games this weekend with the Phillies facing Roy Oswalt Saturday and the struggling Cole Hamels on Sunday.  Chipper may yet add even more to his career numbers stats over the weekend and if the Braves win the next two, the team and fans will have a lot to feel chipper about indeed.

Now That Was A Great Opening Day

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The Atlanta Braves opened 2011 with a win and that is always a great way to start the year.  The pitching looked good.  Jason Heyward hit a homerun.  Chipper Jones looked like a kid again.  The players who are actually kids played well.  All in all, that was a great Opening Day.

Derek Lowe pitched 5.2 innings with 3 hits, 0 runs, 2 walks and 6 strikeouts.  He did throw 105 pitches and he did find himself in many a 3-2 count on the game, but overall he performed extremely well.  The Braves pen of O’Flaherty, Moylan and Venters allowed only 2 hits and 0 runs.  Closer Kimbrel had 2 strikeouts and allowed no hits to end the game for the Braves.
Jason Heyward hit a homerun for the second Opening Day in as many years.  His homerun along with Brian McCann’s RBI bringing Chipper across home plate added up to the Braves 2 runs on the day that were enough to win.  Chipper had 2 hits on the day including a double to set up one of the Braves two runs.  
The Braves had 5 hits and 5 strikeouts on the day.  A total of 7 men were LOB.  It was a great way to start the 2011 season.  Game 1 of 162 was outstanding for the Braves.
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