GDT #41: 5-17-14 Braves (Harang) @ Cardinals (Miller) 2:15 EST

[UNCBlue012]

Projected lineup:
Heyward RF
Justin Upton LF
Freeman 1B
Gattis C
CJoh 3B
BJ CF
Simba SS
Harang P
Pastor 2B

It's about time the pitcher is out of the 8th spot, it just looks dumb. haha I liked the hitting last night, but we just couldn't get it done and it doesn't help that Santana had an awful outing. We still have two more to take and keep going. This team has been pretty dang bad lately, but somehow we are still in first. The offense has to get going and the pitching just keep us in the game. We're on a tough stretch of games in which the offense is getting a few runs, but the pitchers give the leads up and then the offense acts as if it's impossible to come back. The guys need to suck it up and play better, they're a good team. But, as always... GO BRAVOS!

Cardinals lineup:
Matt Carpenter 3B
Kolten Wong 2B
Matt Holliday LF
Allen Craig RF
Yadier Molina C
Matt Adams 1B
Jhonny Peralta SS
Peter Bourjos CF
Shelby Miller P

[CJC]

We have got to get a real MLB Hitter at 2B. Our lineup sorely needs it.

[nsacpi]

Miller has pronounced splits. In his career he has given up a .609 OPS to righties and .767 OPS to lefties. It would make a lot of sense to have Schafer in center and Pena at second today.

[bravesnumberone]

Our lineup sorely needs the guys getting paid actual money to get off their ass and start producing on a consistent basis. As in, our leadoff hitter should be doing more than getting hits 2 out of every 10 at bats and drawing a couple walks here and there. I could go on down the list.

[bravesnumberone]

BTW, isn't this GDT 41?

[stpeteirish]

Our lineup sorely needs the guys getting paid actual money to get off their ass and start producing on a consistent basis. As in, our leadoff hitter should be doing more than getting hits 2 out of every 10 at bats and drawing a couple walks here and there. I could go on down the list.

I thought the problem was Uggla..guess not.

[Julio3000]

I thought the problem was Uggla..guess not.

I read on another thread that it's Frank Wren.

[TDlxANDER]

Andrelton Simmons' bobblehead looks black. WHICH I'M TOTALLY OK WITH.

[bravesnumberone]

Well, that was a cluster...

[TDlxANDER]

I heart you, black Andrelton

[Runnin]

BJ makes that catch but misses the easy one yesterday. ?

[stpeteirish]

Freddie with that matador defense there.

[Garmel]

Hey, we had a shut down inning!

[tomahawkchop10]

Man, Justin is bad right now. Someone needs to tell him it's April.

[Runnin]

Freddie must be having contact troubles again.

[bravesnumberone]

Freddie must be having contact troubles again.

It may be time for him to face the facts that's he isn't cut out for them. Needs glasses that don't mess with his vision.

[UNCBlue012]

Swinging at that crappy high fastball. No discipline man.

[stpeteirish]

three straight K's and now BJ is up, ehh

[bravesnumberone]

I hope the umpire told CJ it was OK to swing at that meat ball he watched go by.

[tomahawkchop10]

It's is nauseating to watch this offense right now.

[bravesnumberone]

Sigh, should have been a double play.

[bravesnumberone]

Lol clowns.

[UNCBlue012]

Wow. That was embarrassing. Jason needs to take that.

[UNCBlue012]

The decision making on this team man. That wasn't even close to being deep enough if Jason takes it.

[tomahawkchop10]

How was pastor ever a ss?! With his noodle arm he has to get himself in a position to throw before he makes the catch. Also Heyward should have called him off. Very frustrating.

[UNCBlue012]

Dumb.

[bravesnumberone]

Run Goddamnit.

WTF was that?

[The Chosen One]

We suck at everything right now except striking out.

[UNCBlue012]

That wasn't fair.

[The Chosen One]

lol Fredi. Coming back for seconds. :rock:

[tomahawkchop10]

We're playing like crap and the umps have to pile it on?!

[The Chosen One]

Fredi back for THIRDS. :eusa_dance:

[tomahawkchop10]

Fredi back for THIRDS. :eusa_dance:

Shocking but I like it!! Lol

[UNCBlue012]

The umps are giving the Cards this win. Seriously. That play didn't even look good. The idiot needs to be fired. Good for Fredi going out there

[bravesnumberone]

It's hard enough to get Fredi to come out for firsts, let alone three times.

That umpire should be suspended for baiting him.

[goldfly]

that was a terrible call

[Runnin]

OY! From that angle it's obvious.

[tomahawkchop10]

If freddi actually does something you know it was a truly bad call.

[jpx7]

I ****ing hate the Cardinals.

[Krovahn]

Fredi was just mad that they didn't call it an infield fly.

[stpeteirish]

our offense is impotent. One run, essentially given to us, heading for double digit K's again. We really need to address the strikeouts. Teams don't even need to play defense against us.

[bravesnumberone]

Why does this team constantly do stupid ****? Hitting Carpenter with a curve ball.

[bravesnumberone]

So Slow.

THROW THE ****ING BASEBALL.

[UNCBlue012]

You guys want to try and play the bunt or...? This team man. Stupid plays.

[stpeteirish]

its the 6th inning, here's where it falls apart again today. Can't hit, so the defense and pitching has no margin for error.

[bravesnumberone]

Even that fly out...nearly a collision.

This team has no clue how to do anything right now. It's putrid.

[UNCBlue012]

There goes the game. Hahahah I feel like they're seriously stupid right now. Man.

[bravesnumberone]

And then Gattis throws one further than most of the team has been hitting the ball. What a bunch of clowns.

[goldfly]

wow

[Russ2dollas]

Gattis has been a TERRIBLE defender for at least a week now. Starting to think KLaw is right about Gattis.

[UNCBlue012]

It's hard not to laugh and just go with it. We've been doing this for a while. I don't get it, but I can't do anything about it. Haha

[tvsportscaster]

Here we go again with more 6th Inning nightmares. You know you're offense is terrible when you're down by 2 runs and figure you have no chance whatsoever of winning. This is as bad of a stretch that this team has played in longtime. They really suck right now.

[bravesnumberone]

So to recap.

- Batter gets hit on the foot with a curve ball.
- Cardinals put down yet another bunt that the Braves don't even bother to defend.
- On said bunt, Freeman flips a lollipop to first, like it's Brian McCann running.
- Near collision in the outfield because of lack of communication.
- Gattis air mails one, basically allowing two runs to score.

[USMA76]

Cardinals are just toying with us. Bunt for multiple hits, hit and run, score on a sac fly to the second baseman, get a double play on a ball that never gets to home plate--sure no problem, it's the Braves.

[stpeteirish]

Even that fly out...nearly a collision.

This team has no clue how to do anything right now. It's putrid.

only way to fix it when the whole team has its head up its ass is to fire the manager. He's expendable anyhow. Shake up needed.

[UNCBlue012]

I would put money on the fact that the guys have lost their top 2 leaders in Huddy and BMac. I almost bet that they were the ones that guided the team through struggles. Still don't get why Huddy is gone.

[stpeteirish]

are any of our catchers any good?

[bravesnumberone]

only way to fix it when the whole team has its head up its ass is to fire the manager. He's expendable anyhow. Shake up needed.

Maybe he needs to light a fire under them. I don't really want to get into blaming Fredi.

But this team is lying down right now. No fire. No intensity. As I type, yet another strikeout looking. It's going to take someone being a leader on this team. They're nowhere to be found.

[stpeteirish]

BJ back into the black hole of continuous strikeouts.

[bravesnumberone]

Doumit is worthless. Why did we even bring him in?

[BravesBlock]

If they fall out if first place then somebody has to be fired. Manager, hitting coach, demotion of a player, release of a player. Something has to be done. A message needs to be sent that this poor execution will not be permitted.

[bravesnumberone]

Zimmerman to LF?????

[bravesnumberone]

Piece of lard.

[Julio3000]

FIRE EVVVVVVVERYBODY!

WE SHOULD FIRE ALL COACHING STAFF AND DEMOTE ALL PLAYERS TO AAA EXCEPT UGGLA AND BJ WHO SHOULD BE THROWN INTO THE RIVER SEWN UP IN A BAG WITH A ROOSTER, A SNAKE, AND A DOG.

[TXBravesFan]

Zimmerman to LF?????

I'd laugh, but I just saw that play from Justin.

[kendiz]

This team has zero fundamentals. CJ should stand even farther away from the bag next time. Good grief.

[bravesnumberone]

Disgraceful. Laters.

[Russ2dollas]

first mlb game I've seen in my life won on bunting....3 or 4 bunt base hits.

[Runnin]

I hope our boys are taking notes because they're being schooled.

[tomahawkchop10]

It's the bad news braves! Scary to think how bad this skid would be if the lowly cubs hadn't have came to town last week.

[bravesnumberone]

Are we actually going to do something here?

[jpack1]

When the Uptons go bad, they just fall apart.

[bravesnumberone]

Nope. "MVP" jumps on the first pitch and doesn't even hustle down the line. Quitters.

[jpack1]

You can't play worse than this team is right now. Terrible.

[USMA76]

On a suckitude scale of one to 10, we're about a 16 right now.

[TXBravesFan]

Well that figures.

Pathetic.

[tvsportscaster]

Who didn't see that result coming. Nice patience there by Fredi. This team is a freakin disgrace right now. You don't even get excited when they get baserunners on.

[bravesnumberone]

The Cardinals moan and complain about everything, and they are the very last team that needs to be arguing any call.

[gcbraves]

I suggest a game thread boycott tomorrow. No thread, or comments. Maybe that will reverse the hex. We gotta try something...

[bravesnumberone]

Braves have more strikeouts than hits on the year.

LULZ. #justaslump

[jpack1]

Some kind of shakeup needs to occur. This is long enough of sucking.

[CyYoung31]

I suggest a game thread boycott tomorrow. No thread, or comments. Maybe that will reverse the hex. We gotta try something...

I tried something like that before, and we won. Let's do it.

[jpack1]

We got Uggla on the bench now BJ needs to be close behind.

[tvsportscaster]

At the very least tomorrow, I'd like to see them hit Pastornicky 1st, and Andrelton Simmons 2nd, see if they get on in front of Freddie. Then move Justin and Jason down the lineup, with Laird likely catching this is the lineup I would use tomorrow.

1. Pastornicky 2b
2. Simmons SS
3. Freeman 1B
4. Johnson 3B
5. JUpton LF
6. Heyward RF
7. BJ Upton CF
8. Laird C

[PurpleBrave]

It's just a slump, I'm sure the gang wil break out of it soon

[drewdat]

At the very least tomorrow, I'd like to see them hit Pastornicky 1st, and Andrelton Simmons 2nd, see if they get on in front of Freddie. Then move Justin and Jason down the lineup, with Laird likely catching this is the lineup I would use tomorrow.

1. Pastornicky 2b
2. Simmons SS
3. Freeman 1B
4. Johnson 3B
5. JUpton LF
6. Heyward RF
7. BJ Upton CF
8. Laird C

Laird has to be 5th. Pitcher 8 Heyward 9 IMO.

[The Chosen One]

Laird leadoff. Feast on the pitcher early.

[AerchAngel]

Braves have more strikeouts than hits on the year.

LULZ. #justaslump

are you serious?

[rico43]

Here's a thought: let Uggla make out the lineup. Anything goes except playing himself.

[zitothebrave]

We're gonna start hitting eventually. Luckily for us, the rest of the division sucks.

[bravesnumberone]

are you serious?

That's what Chip said.

[jcc03004]

I don't even know what to make off this offense we can not keep having to throw shutouts to win i never thought I would look back and say tp got better results as the hitting coach then walker and fletcher. We are getting much better pitching this year then we had at this point last year these starters outings can not continue to be wasted like this. I mean god harang has been a god send but we can not score. I would go as far as say this whole expirement of having everyone swing for the fences has been a utter failure we are making mediocre pitching look like the next coming of Walter Johnson

[zitothebrave]

are you serious?

Last year we struck out more than we had hits.

[keithlaw]

Laird leadoff. Feast on the pitcher early.

he'll eat up a lot of pitches

[The Chosen One]

he'll eat up a lot of pitches

Exactly. Want to chew up the pitch count and make it full every time. Force the pitcher to hand it on a silver platter. Don't let him carve it on the plate. Don't let him eat up the strike zone.

[UNCBlue012]

At the very least tomorrow, I'd like to see them hit Pastornicky 1st, and Andrelton Simmons 2nd, see if they get on in front of Freddie. Then move Justin and Jason down the lineup, with Laird likely catching this is the lineup I would use tomorrow.

1. Pastornicky 2b
2. Simmons SS
3. Freeman 1B
4. Johnson 3B
5. JUpton LF
6. Heyward RF
7. BJ Upton CF
8. Laird C

This is literally what I thought earlier. It won't happen, but it should.

[rico43]

Exactly. Want to chew up the pitch count and make it full every time. Force the pitcher to hand it on a silver platter. Don't let him carve it on the plate. Don't let him eat up the strike zone.

Just stop. You're setting a bad table, uh, example and it's getting very, very stale, uh, old.

[thethe]

This team isn't going anywhere. I've been as big of a Wren supporter as anyone on this board but he constructed this teams offense horribly and deserves all the blame for its performance. The idea that strikeouts didn't matter was always silly. This team isn't going anywhere. We might luck into a wildcard or division title (unlikely) but no way do we stand a chance against good pitching.

[Powder Blues]

This lineup is so bad, I can't even offer any suggestions. I just don't understand how almost the entire team can can be having problems all at once. Our hitters are taking bad approaches and swinging at awful pitches throughout the at bat. Maybe its time we look at our hitting coaches and bring back Chipper!

[nsacpi]

I don't know how much difference it would have made, but given Miller's splits, we should have had a couple more lefty hitters in the lineup.

[jason27nc]

Serious question here. When do they start looking at the guy in charge of hitting? If I go to work and everything I do is a total fail then I will get fired. Oh and don't tell me the hitting coach has anything to do with it either. He is the guy that sets the tempo. This guy can change the entire approach of the team and individuals at the plate.

Also, what has to happen for Fredi to get fired? Is there a scenario where both are shown the door?

[Russ2dollas]

This team isn't going anywhere. I've been as big of a Wren supporter as anyone on this board but he constructed this teams offense horribly and deserves all the blame for its performance. The idea that strikeouts didn't matter was always silly. This team isn't going anywhere. We might luck into a wildcard or division title (unlikely) but no way do we stand a chance against good pitching.

I think this is over dramatic. Lately the defense....especially your man Gattis, has been giving up runs.

This team did very well last year with the same team. What we need is two more high OPS guys to go along with FF. Need to get that from 2b and need Heyward to be heyward.

What Wren should be in trouble for is his FA signings.

[zitothebrave]

I think this is over dramatic. Lately the defense....especially your man Gattis, has been giving up runs.

This team did very well last year with the same team. What we need is two more high OPS guys to go along with FF. Need to get that from 2b and need Heyward to be heyward.

What Wren should be in trouble for is his FA signings.

And Justin.

Justin Upton has to be the Rodney Dangerfield of this team. I can't recall seeing over and over the offensive contributions of a player being ignored as highly as Justin's have so far. His K rate is a concern, but he is crushing everything right now.