GDT #34: 5/9/14 Cubs (Hammel) vs Braves (Teheran)

[nsacpi]

Braves
1. Heyward
2. J Upton
3. Freeman
4. Gattis
5. Johnson
6. BJ Upton
7. Simmons
8. Teheran
9. Pena

Cubs
1. Bonifacio
2. Kalish
3. Rizzo
4. Castro
5. Schierholtz
6. Valbuena
7. Olt
8. Baker
9. Hammel

[clvclv]

Would much rather see Pena in between B. J. and Simba for better balance. Don't care for the fooling around with hitting the Pitcher 8th - personally think it's rather stupid, but oh well.

[nsacpi]

Pena/Pastornicky will be batted 9th because it makes Uggla feel better.

[rico43]

1. Bonifacio CF
2. Kalish LF
3. Rizzo 1B
4. Castro SS
5. Schierholtz RF
6. Valbuena 2B
7. Olt 3B
8. Baker C
9. Hammel P

[stpeteirish]

Jeez, if that star studded Cubs lineup beats us...

[nsacpi]

Pena is going to have a huge game.

[NinersSBChamps]

How is Olt doing this season? He was supposed to be pretty good if I remember?

[rico43]

Holding down third until Bryant is ready. Based on what I saw last week, and what he's done since, that might be June.

[tvsportscaster]

Would much rather see Pena in between B. J. and Simba for better balance. Don't care for the fooling around with hitting the Pitcher 8th - personally think it's rather stupid, but oh well.

Never fails, every game, there's always a complaint about the lineup regardless of who's in there.

[NinersSBChamps]

At least if we get rained out we can't lose tonight.

[bravesnumberone]

Good God, ump.

[mossy]

Squeezing.

[Five]

Umps zone tighter than a frogs ass....jeezus

[bravesnumberone]

Need to score early and often. 17 runs in the last 10 games.

[bravesnumberone]

Umpire is putrid.

[mossy]

this k-zone is a joke.

[Five]

BJ Rules.

[bravesnumberone]

More of the freaking same. :facepalm:

[jsebe10]

Lol fcker sucks.

[jsebe10]

Just cracks me up that Uggla is on the pine and everyone knows, from Liberty all the way to the toothless fan in Buford, GA, that BJ needs to be right there next to him.

[NinersSBChamps]

Let me guess? It was the umpires fault that BJ struck out with the bases loaded?

[bravesnumberone]

Let me guess? It was the umpires fault that BJ struck out with the bases loaded?

It's almost impossible for this umpire to ring anyone up. Small zone. Apparently our guys fail to realize this, with the exception of Freeman.

[NinersSBChamps]

It's almost impossible for this umpire to ring anyone up. Small zone. Apparently our guys fail to realize this, with the exception of Freeman.

Just wanted to make sure. According to some people here BJ has never actually struck out.

[bravesnumberone]

Another home run given up. Pathetic.

[Five]

Who asked about Olt? Play the Braves you'll find yourself. What a joke.

[mossy]

Ballgame.

[NinersSBChamps]

Try and get em tomorrow, fellas.

[bravesnumberone]

That's awful, Heyward. Sit the hell down.

[bravesnumberone]

One consistent, good hitter on this team.

[bravesnumberone]

What's this?

[zitothebrave]

BABIP!!

[stpeteirish]

no looking back now. winning streak begins.

[bravesnumberone]

Every time I see a grounder hit to second, and it's not Uggla there, I smile.

[jsebe10]

That's awful, Heyward. Sit the hell down.

What did he do ? I missed it

[TomahawkCult]

^ swung at a 58 footer. Looked like a batsman in cricket doing so.

[bravesnumberone]

Couple of much needed quick innings there from Julio. Score some damn runs, please.

[stpeteirish]

Score some damn runs, please.[/QUOTE]

Maybe this should be permanently affixed to the top of the page. Team wide, season long problem.

[Runnin]

What did he do ? I missed it
You missed nothing.

[jpack1]

Teheran is just a complete pitcher now. Such a joy to watch. I bet he is learning a lot from Ervin Santana.

[jsebe10]

How do you swing through a. 91 MPH fastball!!!???!!!???!??!?!?

[bravesnumberone]

Teheran coming up big tonight.

[TURBO]

I hope Julio gets another another inning,

[bravesnumberone]

Sigh.

[bravesnumberone]

Bad walk there.

[TURBO]

JT a bad man.

[bravesnumberone]

Awesome work from Julio sans the homer. It's a shame he's had to pitch almost perfect to have a chance at a win. But he was up to the task.

[jsebe10]

God I love hearing the boos for that sorry bastard.

[bravesnumberone]

What a surprise. Another failure. Come on Kimbrel:tchop:

[nsacpi]

#releasethekimbrel is trending

[jsebe10]

#releasethekimbrel is trending

I wish #releasethelostmanupton would start trending.

[Millwood1Hitter]

God I love hearing the boos for that sorry bastard.

Whose being booed?

[bravesnumberone]

Had him 0-2.

[nsacpi]

Is that pinetar on Kimbrel's cap?

[keithlaw]

Teheran coming up big tonight.

scrubs got juliowned

[Julio3000]

JT is averaging 7 IP per start so far this year. That's pretty huge for a team with bullpen concerns.

[bravesnumberone]

Stop nibbling around.

[keithlaw]

#releasethekimbrel is trending

and eat the whole contract?

[bravesnumberone]

Listen at all the Cubs fans. This crowd needs to get in the damn game.

[Five]

This team ****ING BLOWS!!!!!

[bravesnumberone]

Sorry ass closing.

Sorry ass Upton in left.

Sorry ass offense missing opportunities.

Sorry ass team.

[TURBO]

ugh. what a letdown

[jsebe10]

Whose being booed?

BJ

[Runnin]

effing strike

[Runnin]

2 missed strikes

[NinersSBChamps]

It sucks to see Craig be a bad closer. I remember when teams actually feared him. Now they can't wait to tee off on him.

[jsebe10]

Feel bad for Julio.

[jsebe10]

It sucks to see Craig be a bad closer. I remember when teams actually feared him. Now they can't wait to tee off on him.

50/50 guess on what's coming...

[bravesnumberone]

If he had actually attacked hitters earlier, we wouldn't be worrying about what was a strike to Castro.

[Millwood1Hitter]

So basically we're telling our starters......you need to pitch a 9 inning shutout or at best your going to get a no decesion

Yeah, there's no pressure on them. I feel for them because if we had any type of offense at all there records would be outstanding....like everyone should be 6-1 or 5-2.

[NinersSBChamps]

50/50 guess on what's coming...

???

Not quite sure where you are going with this? Sorry.

[cajunrevenge]

JT is averaging 7 IP per start so far this year. That's pretty huge for a team with bullpen concerns.

The rotation as a while has pitched deep into games. Last time I looked the braves starters were averaging 6 2/3rds innings which led the majors.

[USMA76]

Tomahawk choke.

Teheran gets a no decision--just awful

[PurpleBrave]

Well, this is kind of stuff happens when your offense averages less than 2 runs a game.

[CyYoung31]

Walk this off and forget about it.

[CyYoung31]

It sucks to see Craig be a bad closer. I remember when teams actually feared him. Now they can't wait to tee off on him.

Shut the **** up.

[TURBO]

Shut the **** up.

GDT are rough these days. Niner/Milwood tag team of doom is brutal.

[bravesnumberone]

Had a hitters count and swinging out of his shoes trying to hit a 600-foot homer.

[Five]

Walk this off and forget about it.

While I agree with you 100%, this **** is not easily forgettable and becoming frustrating beyond belief.

Like Simmons' helicopter swing for the fence on ball 4 bull****.

[CyYoung31]

While I agree with you 100%, this **** is not easily forgettable and becoming frustrating beyond belief.

Like Simmons' helicopter swing for the fence on ball 4 bull****.

All I care about at this point are wins. We can worry about the rest later.

[NinersSBChamps]

Shut the **** up.

Wha wha

[Five]

And they better find some bench help too cause doumit sucks.

[bravesnumberone]

Worthless. Hope the rest of our bullpen does well tonight.

[PurpleBrave]

Well at our current rate we'll score a run around the 16th inning. So if we can shut em out for 7 more innings the game is ours

[AerchAngel]

Had a hitters count and swinging out of his shoes trying to hit a 600-foot homer.

I wonder if the hitting coach is teaching them anything.

They all need to go to be honest. They are collecting a paycheck they are not earning on our dime.

[bravesnumberone]

THAT is an at bat. Take notice, Atlanta.

[Millwood1Hitter]

I don't see how we can stand pat, there's some offensive talent on this team, albeit not the greatest blend of hitters to make a lineup, but this is just brutal. I don't know if I've ever seen an entire lineup have such a consistent bad approach game after game.

Whose responsible for that? Well it's unusual for everyone to have the same bad approach on the roster, thus the buck stops at Fletcher-Walker.

We've got the best pitching coach in the game that is great at game planning and developing youngsters, and taking relative unknowns or projects and making them useful, even if it be for a short period of time.

Fletcher- Walker is the direct opposite. What's there success stories? Either the hitters are who they are like Gattis-Freeman-McCann, Jupton, Johnson, or underperform to relative expectations like Heyward, or go into a career long slump like Uggla and BJ.

[bravesnumberone]

Good work from Wood. That's why he has to be in the pen for now.

[bravesnumberone]

Need to put Heyward in motion here.

[The Chosen One]

Good Job J-Hey.

The strike zone has been all over the place.

[bravesnumberone]

Woo. Caught a break. Come on Upton. Be somebody.

[The Chosen One]

WOW!

What a play by Heyward. Got lucky there but I'll take it.

[bravesnumberone]

This is completely stupid. Thanks, Cubs. Come on Freddie.

[Five]

This is baffling to me. Why walk JUp?

[The Chosen One]

LET'S GO HOMEEEEEE WOOOOO

[zitothebrave]

WOW!

What a play by Heyward. Got lucky there but I'll take it.

I love that he's running again. Must have been injuries or concern over his jaw or something that caused him not to run last year, took a big piece of his game from him. Once the hits start falling for himhe's gonna be the ideal leadoff man for us.

[bravesnumberone]

I'm glad we can almost always count on Freddie. Will take the W any way we can get it!

[Julio3000]

LOL at IBB to get to Freeman.

[zitothebrave]

Lul cubs. Fredi ain't scared of a lefty.

Nice win!

[Five]

One manager dumber than Fredi.....I will take that all day...but man was that a brutal decision.

[TURBO]

http://li.c-b.co/is/image/LandOfNod/Letter_Giant_Enough_W_234214_LL/$web_zoom$&wid=550&hei=550&/1308310656/not-giant-enough-letter-w.jpg

[Krovahn]

MVP.

[jpack1]

Let's go streaking.

[tvsportscaster]

What a dumbass decision by the Cubs, let's walk a man to pitch to the teams best hitter. Brilliant.

[Julio3000]

http://i1239.photobucket.com/albums/ff511/poinsett/84235576-69a8-489e-8ff4-315329bf1804_zps7d5d95d7.jpg

Staved off elimination one more day.

[The Chosen One]

Did Medlen throw any water?

If he did, hope it was at CJ again. lol

[The Chosen One]

On the bright side, we've won 2 out of our last 3 games. WOOOOOOOO

[thewupk]

Only got to watch the last inning. All that was needed I guess.

[mossy]

A win is a win!!! Good to start the series with a W.

[Julio3000]

http://i1239.photobucket.com/albums/ff511/poinsett/mordor__zpsb1bebb6c.jpg

[PurpleBrave]

Wins like this can break the hex. Lets hope this is the start of something good

[Five]

Only got to watch the last inning. All that was needed I guess.

This might be good advice.

[Julio3000]

On the bright side, we've won 2 out of our last 3 games. WOOOOOOOO

FMI bumped by .25.

[Julio3000]

FMI bumped by .25.

Or, in Chip's case, by an eighth of an ounce or so.

[The Chosen One]

Alex Wood gets an easy win... only had to work 1 IP for the victory!

I bet he likes that better than 8 IP and no run support with a loss. LOL

[mossy]

One manager dumber than Fredi.....I will take that all day...but man was that a brutal decision.

This crap never gets old to read either.:mad0182:

[mossy]

http://i1239.photobucket.com/albums/ff511/poinsett/mordor__zpsb1bebb6c.jpg

LOVE this.

[bravesnumberone]

Marlins and Nats both losing.

[The Chosen One]

Fredi should've never put Kimbrel in the game. Should've rode Teheran for the CG.

/Irrational Fredi Hater

[NinersSBChamps]

This crap never gets old to read either.:mad0182:

Well it is better than saying he is worst manager in baseball.

[Julio3000]

Funny how the knock on Julio was that he couldn't pitch deep into games. 7 starts, 50 IP now.

[The Chosen One]

Funny how the knock on Julio was that he couldn't pitch deep into games. 7 starts, 50 IP now.

He and Wood are really up and coming rising stars.

[Five]

This crap never gets old to read either.:mad0182:

Sorrrrrrry.

How can I make it better? One manager not quite as intelligent as Fredi?

And listen, I'm not here to argue, especially with you mossy, you're alright. But Fredi Gonzalez is at best bottom five worst managers in the game.

[thewupk]

Darvish got jewed again.

[thewupk]

Sorrrrrrry.

How can I make it better? One manager not quite as intelligent as Fredi?

And listen, I'm not here to argue, especially with you mossy, you're alright. But Fredi Gonzalez is at best bottom five worst managers in the game.

No way is that accurate.

[CyYoung31]

On the bright side, we've won 2 out of our last 3 games. WOOOOOOOO

Stole my line.

[Five]

No way is that accurate.

I'm interested, name four who are worse? If you make a valid point, I will tip my cap and praise Fredi for a week.

[The Chosen One]

I'm interested, name four who are worse? If you make a valid point, I will tip my cap and praise Fredi for a week.

You like many on here, already have a bias against Fredi... so it won't matter.

[Julio3000]

Darvish got jewed again.

Really?

[bravesnumberone]

I've seen Fredi make plenty of awful decisions, but what Renteria did was an entirely new level of sh!t.

[nsacpi]

Gibson, Mattingly, Williams, Ventura, Collins, Sandberg...maybe a few others....Fredi is middle of the pack

[mossy]

Sorrrrrrry.

How can I make it better? One manager not quite as intelligent as Fredi?

And listen, I'm not here to argue, especially with you mossy, you're alright. But Fredi Gonzalez is at best bottom five worst managers in the game.

Dude, I'm not saying he' frickin Albert Einstein, and I don't always agree with his style. But the bigger problem right now is the entire team underachieving, which I don't think can be squarely blamed on anyone person.

Just gets old to read over and over over and over over and over over and over over and over over and over that Fredi is an idiot. Doesn't enhance my gamethread experience. But I won't tell you what to do. :)

[thewupk]

I'm interested, name four who are worse? If you make a valid point, I will tip my cap and praise Fredi for a week.

Name 25 that are better. Generally all managers will manage the actual game the same way. They are all mostly former big league players that 'go by the book'. This is the case with 95% of managers. Managing the clubhouse is way more important then your decisions during the game. And Fredi, by all accounts, excels at that.

[thewupk]

Really?

Lost his no hitter with 2 outs in the 9th

[Julio3000]

Kirk Gibson. Matt Williams. Don Mattingly is a **** manager. There are a lot of new guys who are unknown commodities.

[Julio3000]

Lost his no hitter with 2 outs in the 9th

Did Ryan Braun break it up?

[Five]

You like many on here, already have a bias against Fredi... so it won't matter.

SAV, I'm not this whole gung ho Fredi hater douche. I've read some things that have been way outlandish, like for instance your quote about how he shouldve kept JT in for the CG, that's ridiculous. I'm sure there are people who feel that way. That's not me. I don't dislike everything he does. For instance, the JHey steal, great move. Even better on first pitch, I like that. I just believe his overall body of work is terrible, he's just not a good manager. Sorry, I hold grudges too, I'm still livid he didn't bring in Kimbrel last year.

[Julio3000]

Maybe we should move JT to the 'pen. He might get a win that way.

[thewupk]

Did Ryan Braun break it up?

no, Big Papi. Somehow he hit it through the shift. I just like using the word jewed.

[drewdat]

no, Big Papi. Somehow he hit it through the shift. I just like using the word jewed.

So you're saying that if the shift were armor, Ortiz found a ch... wait I don't work for ESPN.

[50PoundHead]

One manager dumber than Fredi.....I will take that all day...but man was that a brutal decision.

Didn't see the game, but I don't know why walking Upton was a bad move after Heyward stole second. One run wins it, so Upton doesn't matter and it puts the force in order at 3B or 2B.

[Julio3000]

Certainly true about the force, and the lefty matchup. It's just hard to imagine choosing to pitch to the .321 hitter.

[thewupk]

Certainly true about the force, and the lefty matchup. It's just hard to imagine choosing to pitch to the .321 hitter.

Well coming into tonight Freddie was a 278 hitter against lefties. Justin was 333 against lefties. It was the correct match up. Freddie can also be prone to double plays.

[Five]

Didn't see the game, but I don't know why walking Upton was a bad move after Heyward stole second. One run wins it, so Upton doesn't matter and it puts the force in order at 3B or 2B.

While I agree with your reasoning, the man on deck after Justin is by far our best hitter and is starting to get hot. Upton is prone to striking out. After the steal, I pitch to JUp. I have him beat me rather than Freddie.

By the way, valid points made by all. Cap tipped. I'll be nice to skip till we lose again. :-).

Also, just got over having the norovirus, that along with this losing streak almost made me strangle my wife.

[Julio3000]

Well coming into tonight Freddie was a 278 hitter against lefties. Justin was 333 against lefties. It was the correct match up. Freddie can also be prone to double plays.

It's a defensible move. Don't know that I'd have done it under the circumstances, but it was playing the percentages. Wesley Wright isn't that good. I wouldn't choose to pitch to Freddie unless I had a certified hammer on the mound.

[thewupk]

It's a defensible move. Don't know that I'd have done it under the circumstances, but it was playing the percentages. Wesley Wright isn't that good. I wouldn't choose to pitch to Freddie unless I had a certified hammer on the mound.

It's a bad spot either way. Justin kills lefties and Freddie is no slouch against them either. I think you have to walk Justin and hope for the DP.

[CyYoung31]

Is Ryan Braun Jewish?

[NinersSBChamps]

Is Ryan Braun Jewish?
Majority say yes. His mom is a Catholic, but his father is Jewish.

[CyYoung31]

Majority say yes. His mom is a Catholic, but his father is Jewish.

Well, that makes me forget all about the PED use.

[50PoundHead]

It's a bad spot either way. Justin kills lefties and Freddie is no slouch against them either. I think you have to walk Justin and hope for the DP.

That's my thought. You walk Upton and roll the dice with Freeman and if you get him out, the DP is still a possibility.

[50PoundHead]

Is Ryan Braun Jewish?

Under Jewish tradition, he's in a gray area. If a mother is Jewish, any children she bears are considered Jewish. I'm not sure how it works when the father is Jewish and the mother is not.

[thewupk]

And the Braves are back in first

[Julio3000]

no, Big Papi. Somehow he hit it through the shift. I just like using the word jewed.

Maybe it's more to the point to say that the Red Sox got Yu'd.

[NinersSBChamps]

Well, that makes me forget all about the PED use.

Yep all is forgiven.

[thewupk]

Also of note for those still thinking it was a mistake to pitch around Upton last night. His WRC+ against lefties this year is 243 which is the 6th best in baseball. He crushes them.

[50PoundHead]

Also of note for those still thinking it was a mistake to pitch around Upton last night. His WRC+ against lefties this year is 243 which is the 6th best in baseball. He crushes them.

When you're in that situation, you really have to play the odds and put the force play in order. Upton's success against LHP's only reinforces why it needed to be done in that particular situation.

[GovClintonTyree]

Also of note for those still thinking it was a mistake to pitch around Upton last night. His WRC+ against lefties this year is 243 which is the 6th best in baseball.

Also, he gets lots of hits against lefties.

What's a WCR++?

[nsacpi]

Also, he gets lots of hits against lefties.

What's a WCR++?

It is how midi-chlorian counts are measured

[GovClintonTyree]

It is how midi-chlorian counts are measured

Ah. Excellent. Thanks for the assist.

[thewupk]

Also, he gets lots of hits against lefties.

What's a WCR++?

It's what OPS+ is to OPS but for WOBA instead. WOBA is the best offensive stat we have.