Jul 23 2008
Slow fade continues: Braves one-hit in loss to Fish
By Bud L. Ellis
braves.today.com
Marlins 4, Braves 0
Top of the Order: One night after opening a critical road trip with a solid victory, the Braves took another step toward waving the white flag on 2008, mustering just one measly hit in an uninspired loss that plunged Atlanta seven games out of first place in the NL East.
The Good: Let’s start off the field, because there wasn’t much on it to praise on this night. Before the game, both Mike Hampton and Tom Glavine threw bullpen sessions. We’ll start with Hampton, who not only didn’t hurt himself, but said he could join the rotation next week. Of course, that’s provided Hammy doesn’t tweak, pull or strain anything during a bullpen session Friday in Philly. Glavine said he felt fine after his session and plans two more this weekend. Omar Infante was activated from the disabled list (Brent Lillibridge sent to Triple-A Richmond to make room on the roster). Charlie Morton didn’t pitch bad, allowing two hits and four runs with four walks and five strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings. Rafael Soriano, making his first appearance since coming off the DL, pitched a perfect inning of relief and looked great, striking out two. Julian Tavarez pitched his third consecutive outstanding outing, going an inning and striking out one. Chipper Jones had the lone hit, dropping his major-league leading average to .371. But hey, without that, the Braves would’ve been no-hit …
The Bad: Facing a pitcher (Rick VandenHurk) sporting an ERA over 11, the Braves nonetheless were as punchless as a fighter with two hands tied behind their back. Atlanta left six runners on base, half of that total coming in the top of the fourth when the Braves loaded the bases with no outs on three consecutive walks, only to fail to get the ball out of the infield. Morton got too much of the plate on a pitch in the bottom of the fourth and Mike Jacobs hit it out for a three-run homer. Ballgame. Royce Ring allowed an inherited runner to score in the sixth for good measure. Bobby Cox wasn’t around to see it; he was suspended by Major League Baseball for “excessive arguing” during Sunday’s game. Come to think of it, not seeing this garbage performance can’t be classified as a bad thing.
View from the Sports Garage: For those of you clinging onto the last vestige of hope, I submit for your review the top of the fourth. Three straight walks, and the Braves have the bases loaded with no outs in a scoreless game. This USED to be the exact type of situation where the Braves of old would pounce on the opposition and take control. This version of your Braves, eh, it’s not quite the same as your older brother’s Bravos. Jeff Francoeur swings at the first freaking pitch he sees, after watching the three hitters walk before him. Absolutely ridiculous. Time to send Frenchy and his .231 average back to Mississippi so he can further mull the issue of betrayal – hey Frenchy, maybe you should wonder why the heck your swing has betrayed you, instead of blaming the franchise for betraying you by sending your sorry butt back to the minors. Ah, you just KNEW this team was going to do this, didn’t you? Sure you did, even if you didn’t want to admit it, even if you looked in the mirror Tuesday morning after watching Monday’s solid road-trip opening victory and said, “this time, it’s going to be different.” It’s like watching an addict wake up from a bad trip, shake off the haze and say, “this time, it’s going to be different.” Then, the next night, he or she is back at it again. The Braves were back at it Tuesday, taking one more step down the cliff. Wonder if Mark Teixeira was sneaking a glance at rentals in Boston or Los Angeles between innings? If not, he should be, and he probably should tell Will Ohman to have some empty boxes and packing tape sent to his house, too. Seven games out. Six games under .500. Either win the final four games on this trip, or else the countdown to 2009 begins.
On deck
Braves at Marlins
7:10 p.m. today, Dolphin Stadium
The Skinny: The ace of the staff toes the slab, his team in desperate straits. Tim Hudson (10-7, 3.31 ERA) is having a splendid season despite a lack of run support. That script was flipped in Huddy’s first post-All Star break start Friday, as Timmy allowed five earned runs but the Braves scored enough to give Hudson his 10th victory. He’s 4-1 lifetime at Florida, that one loss coming in that ugly three-inning stint back on April 16 when he allowed six runs. For the Marlins, right-hander Ricky Nolasco (10-5, 3.78 ERA) lost to the Braves June 5, but hadn’t lost since until falling to the Phillies on Friday, winning five of his eight starts. He gave up four runs in seven innings against the Phils.
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the higher the ERA the worse the Braves are against them. I have yet to see them light up any pitcher with an ERA over 5 the entire year. AT this point there is no reason in sending Francoer back to the minors as it is too late and this team isn’t going anywhere anyways what difference does it make. Maybe a little more major league embarassment at his ineptness will do him some good.