GDT: July 20, 2014: Phillies (Kendrick) @ Braves (Wood)

[NinersSBChamps]

Phillies lineup
Bunch of old guys

Braves lineup:
BJ Upton (8)
Simmons (6)
Freddie (3)
Justin (7)
Jason (9)
CJ (5)
Tommy Gun (4)
Fat slob (2)
Wood (1)

[NinersSBChamps]

Kendrick should get hit hard, but he does own the Braves.

[Julio3000]

I expect Laird to make a hefty contribution today.

[NinersSBChamps]

Was pulling for Sergio, but he had too much of an uphill climb coming into today.

[stpeteirish]

Kendrick should get hit hard, but he does own the Braves.

Reallyhasn't owned us this year, and the rest of the league is pounding him. He's 4-9, for crissakes, we should get him good.

First inning is the key(ERA is 11 something). I'm looking at you, Melvin.

[NinersSBChamps]

Can we trade for Grady? Just so we don't have to face him.

[Tapate50]

Seems like Wood has lost a few mph, but it could be the conditions.

[NinersSBChamps]

Alright so a double header when Philly comes back down to Atlanta?

[NinersSBChamps]

Cool.

[TURBO]

Booom.

[NinersSBChamps]

CJ>

Automatic out zomg!!!

[bravesnumberone]

Encouraged by CJ. Some great swings lately.

[NinersSBChamps]

Encouraged by CJ. Some great swings lately.

He has no power and is an automatic out.

Signed,
75 percent of the board.

[The Chosen One]

He has no power and is an automatic out.

Signed,
75 percent of the board.

You do realize up until a few weeks ago he only had 2 homers the entire season right?

[Julio3000]

Nice to see Wood rise to the occasion and get a shutdown inning.

[GovClintonTyree]

You do realize up until a few weeks ago he only had 2 homers the entire season right?

I do. Guys ebb and flow. He looked bad early in the year. Then he got to where he was hitting again. Now he's really putting some good swings on the ball.

His "power" is diminished by the fact that he has to keep it gap-to-gap. Not a lot of 311 foot shots just inside the foul pole. I expect he'll have a lot of 380-foot doubles over his career.

He's a very good hitter.

[GovClintonTyree]

Nice to see Wood rise to the occasion and get a shutdown inning.

Sturdy. He really has a chance to go deep into this game.

[Tapate50]

You do realize up until a few weeks ago he only had 2 homers the entire season right?

That makes a great case for looking at his career numbers before making conclusions.

[GovClintonTyree]

Encouraged by CJ. Some great swings lately.

He really has an exquisite swing. Great path. A little long, which means he has to recognize/guess quicker, which leads to Ks. But it works for him.

[Tapate50]

Freddie has been lost this series.

[CrimsonCowboy]

Chance to do some big time damage

[NinersSBChamps]

You do realize up until a few weeks ago he only had 2 homers the entire season right?

Remember when everyone was whining about him a few weeks ago and I said he will hit .280?

[TURBO]

BAPIP got unlucky?

[CrimsonCowboy]

Dang. Bad luck

[Julio3000]

I do. Guys ebb and flow.

I'd go with "rise and fall" here.
/Alex Wood

[GovClintonTyree]

Hit the dog**** out of that ball.

[GovClintonTyree]

I'd go with "rise and fall" here.
/Alex Wood

Dang. Missed opportunity.

[TURBO]

Tommy Gun. I love Not Uggla.

[bravesnumberone]

Hellz yeah Stella.

[CrimsonCowboy]

Man, La Stella is good

[GovClintonTyree]

Tommy!

[TURBO]

Man watching Jason go from 1st to home is fun.

[MadduxFanII]

Watching Heyward score from first on a La Stella double warms my heart.

[Julio3000]

TLS may never hit a HR, may still be a baller.

[NinersSBChamps]

Is that three bases clearing doubles from TLS?

[GovClintonTyree]

I don't care how ****ing good Peraza might be, I love this guy. And his defense is better than fine.

[NinersSBChamps]

TLS may never hit a HR, may still be a baller.

I hope he never does. That would be awesome. Get like 55 rbi and not hit a homer.

[GovClintonTyree]

Watching Heyward score from first on a La Stella double warms my heart.

Like a gazelle, isn't he?

[CrimsonCowboy]

David O'Brien ‏@DOBrienAJC 43s
La Stella has been up for 2 months and already has 3 bases-loaded doubles for #Braves

[Julio3000]

Man watching Jason go from 1st to home is fun.

That's one of my favorite things about JHey. 1st to home on a double, always.

[MadduxFanII]

And hey, everyone in that inning put together a good at-bat! BJ worked a walk after going down 0-2, Andrelton moved him over, Freddie...OK, Freddie got a little lucky, Justin got hit, Heyward worked a walk, Johnson hit the ball hard and La Stella worked the count before smacking his double.

[GovClintonTyree]

Kendrick is the definition of fringy. Nibble, nibble. Force him to throw strikes, then tee off. BJ actually started that.

[NinersSBChamps]

Tommy has 21 RBI and Jason has 39 I believe. Oh and Tommy has almost 250 less plate appearances.

[Julio3000]

Glad to see the Braves treat Kyle Kendrick like Kyle Kendrick. Or Kenshin Kawakami.

[keithlaw]

That's one of my favorite things about JHey. 1st to home on a double, always.

I wonder if he makes race car noises while he runs

[GovClintonTyree]

I wonder if he makes race car noises while he runs

I hear them.

[drewdat]

Tommy has 21 RBI and Jason has 39 I believe. Oh and Tommy has almost 250 less plate appearances.

Heyward has already passed last season's total.

I think La Stella is now 6 for 7 with the bases loaded.

[GovClintonTyree]

Spike curve there, Chip. Nasty.

[Julio3000]

I hear them.

I hear that.

It's downright scary to see a dude that big move that fast, with that degree of certainty.

[Gary82]

A competent second baseman. I thought it was only fantasy.

[MadduxFanII]

I hear that.

It's downright scary to see a dude that big move that fast, with that degree of certainty.

I remember reading that Heyward's parents didn't let him play football as a kid. Wanted him to focus on baseball.

Probably a good thing for all the high schoolers in his area. That's a hell of a tight end right there.

[NinersSBChamps]

Heyward has already passed last season's total.

I think La Stella is now 6 for 7 with the bases loaded.
Yeah it wasn't a knock on Jason, but a comparison. Crazy how Tommy delivers like almost all the time.

[NinersSBChamps]

I remember reading that Heyward's parents didn't let him play football as a kid. Wanted him to focus on baseball.

That's a hell of a tight end right there.

It sure is.

[Julio3000]

Tommy has 21 RBI and Jason has 39 I believe. Oh and Tommy has almost 250 less plate appearances.

If there's one thing I love about this board, it's the occasions where we can't praise one Braves player without contrasting him to another.

[GovClintonTyree]

I hear that.

It's downright scary to see a dude that big move that fast, with that degree of certainty.

Yeah. He ran over Pastornicky last year. We know how that turned out.

Didn't he run over a CF? Jordan, maybe?

Lucky for other Schools his parents forbid him from playing football. He'd have have been one of those stand up DE who destroys QBs. Or a Hall of Fame TE.

[GovClintonTyree]

I remember reading that Heyward's parents didn't let him play football as a kid. Wanted him to focus on baseball.

Probably a good thing for all the high schoolers in his area. That's a hell of a tight end right there.

Wow. Mediocre minds think alike.

[Julio3000]

I have my doubts that Jason Heyward even loves football.

[GovClintonTyree]

Yeah it wasn't a knock on Jason, but a comparison. Crazy how Tommy delivers like almost all the time.

I get the feeling his skills are very repeatable. Pressure, weather, day/night, R/L (in fact, I noticed he's hitting about .390 against lefties). Just a nice player.

[GovClintonTyree]

I have my doubts that Jason Heyward even loves football.

Nice.

[MadduxFanII]

I have my doubts that Jason Heyward even loves football.

Give him enough crack and he'll love anything.

Anything.

[MadduxFanII]

Yeah. He ran over Pastornicky last year. We know how that turned out.

Didn't he run over a CF? Jordan, maybe?

Lucky for other Schools his parents forbid him from playing football. He'd have have been one of those stand up DE who destroys QBs. Or a Hall of Fame TE.

I demand royalties for this post.

[GovClintonTyree]

Give him enough crack and he'll love anything.

Anything.

Surprising we get anything at all out of a shiftless negro.

[GovClintonTyree]

I demand royalties for this post.

Check's in the mail.

[MadduxFanII]

That was some Caminiti-esque footwork from Mayberry.

[Dalyn]

I go away and come back and fish dicks are all over the place. What happened?

[Bama9507]

Heyward would miss 6 games a year in NFL. Soft.

[jason27nc]

Heyward would miss 6 games a year in NFL. Soft.

Really? How many times has he been on the DL since being in the MLB's?

[The Chosen One]

I know we just came off the all star break and people are readjusting back into the groove but 6 innings and no Wood puns yet?

[rico43]

They've played only three innings in Gwinnett, and Gosselin is already 3-3 with a double. Gattis two hits, two RBIs.

Eight-run inning. Wonder what that's like.

[rico43]

I know we just came off the all star break and people are readjusting back into the groove but 6 innings and no Wood puns yet?

Is that a knock?

[MadduxFanII]

I know we just came off the all star break and people are readjusting back into the groove but 6 innings and no Wood puns yet?

My passion for Wood puns is softening.

[MadduxFanII]

RAIN DELAY!

[Lville21]

I'm glad to see Wood stand up today after last night's tough loss. 6 innings of good Wood is enough.

[rico43]

Really? How many times has he been on the DL since being in the MLB's?

There was broken jaw, appendix, had to reattach a thumb, compound fracture, seemed like there was a through-and-through gunshot wound also, but maybe that was spring training.

[GovClintonTyree]

I know we just came off the all star break and people are readjusting back into the groove but 6 innings and no Wood puns yet?

Julio and I each had one. They were a little weak. Didn't catch fire.

[Garmel]

I'm glad to see Wood stand up today after last night's tough loss. 6 innings of good Wood is enough.

Yep. It's always fantastic when the Wood goes deep.

[Bama9507]

Really? How many times has he been on the DL since being in the MLB's?

Like seventy times

[Dalyn]

Wood needs a raincoat.

[MadduxFanII]

I bet Jason Heyward isn't even saluting the troops right now.

[Gary82]

I bet Jason Heyward isn't even saluting the troops right now.

I just burst into laughter at this.

[Bama9507]

He won't run into the wall on purpose and cringes when he has to get dirty on a slide. Not my kinda ball player.

[Julio3000]

He won't run into the wall on purpose and cringes when he has to get dirty on a slide. Not my kinda ball player.

Is this for real?

[stpeteirish]

They've played only three innings in Gwinnett, and Gosselin is already 3-3 with a double. Gattis two hits, two RBIs.

Eight-run inning. Wonder what that's like.

My math says we can recall Gosselin Weds. Hope they do. Barring a trade Beth goes back to AAA tomorrow. Like to see creative use of the DL so CB is around to spell Gattis and late inning defense.

[Julio3000]

My passion for Wood puns is softening.

If you ax me, the Wood puns just aren't cutting it.

[Tapate50]

I hope the boys take Wood out to get delayed tonight.

[thethe]

TLS with 10 doubles already. Would be awesome if he could be a 370 OBP 40+ 2B hitter. Peraza, welcome to CF.

[TURBO]

Any ETA?

[Bama9507]

Is this for real?

He's no David Justice

[MadduxFanII]

Looks like we're starting up again in a couple minutes.

[jsebe10]

Sorry ass fckn Bewers

[MadduxFanII]

Mario Hollands on the mound for Philly. I always thought the Dutch versions of those games were really crummy.

[MadduxFanII]

Hollands pitches around Laird. Good move. Discretion is the better part of valor.

[TURBO]

Soriano blows save for Nats.

[MadduxFanII]

Hollands doing exactly what you want a pitcher to do after a lengthy rain delay: walking everyone.

[Tapate50]

Helluva AB by Beej

[MadduxFanII]

Takes a lot of work to walk Laird, Schafer, BJ and Andrelton in back-to-back-to-back-to-back PAs.

[nsacpi]

This team is a walking machine.

[Tapate50]

Holland is good for the team OBP

[TURBO]

This is helping out the run differential. Lets keep scoring.

[MadduxFanII]

Pastornicky is hitting for Good Upton? That seems like bad news.

[TURBO]

Wheres J Up?

[Tapate50]

What the sh!t is Chip talking about ?

[Tapate50]

Not the best approach Rev, this guy hasn't thrown many strikes.

[jsebe10]

Not the best approach Rev, this guy hasn't thrown many strikes.

That applies to the golden boy in RF too.

[CyYoung31]

He won't run into the wall on purpose and cringes when he has to get dirty on a slide. Not my kinda ball player.

What?

Wat

wut

[Tapate50]

Hale had been rock solid for us.

[Dalyn]

Hale had been rock solid for us.

http://31.media.tumblr.com/e1f4e4444b530cc91b0e9740caebc292/tumblr_mitdx5xaSP1s2yegdo1_400.gif

[Tapate50]

Stella looking good. Don't really care if he ever goes yard as long as he keeps this up

[Dalyn]

Stella! looking good. Don't really care if he ever goes yard as long as he keeps this up.

:tchop:

[Bama9507]

Like I said Heyward afraid of the fence.

[Tapate50]

Heyward... Ouch.

[thethe]

Stella looking good. Don't really care if he ever goes yard as long as he keeps this up

biggest improvement any contender has made all year so far.

[jsebe10]

Freeman's looked like a pile of ass this series. Better straighten up

[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

[MadduxFanII]

Umps were being a little picky for the ninth inning of an 8-2 game.

[tvsportscaster]

A couple of post game notes, JUp left the game because his triceps tightened up on him after being hit earlier in the game, and Fredi says barring a setback, Gattis will be activated tomorrow.

[The Chosen One]

Fredi is a genius.

No idea how he can get anything out of BJ especially after the Gammons tweet leaked.

[CyYoung31]

Fredi is a genius.

No idea how he can get anything out of BJ especially after the Gammons tweet leaked.

You know, Chip actually retweeted that, and I'm pretty sure he follows BJ on Twitter.

[Heyward]

Heyward's a softie, and other complaining, cool thread.

Good win, tough loss Saturday but Hamels is a monster, wish he was a Brave :)

TLS is pretty good too.

[rico43]

Stella looking good. Don't really care if he ever goes yard as long as he keeps this up

As a kid, I learned the rare $4 gold coin was called the Stella. This ought to have some spark to a publicity campaign!

http://www.mining.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Stella.jpg

[The Chosen One]

Oh would you look at that, the Braves are tied for the best record in the NL and most Wins.

#AWFULDIVISION
#AWFULSENIORCIRCUIT

[TomahawkCult]

Oh would you look at that, the Braves are tied for the best record in the NL and most Wins.

#AWFULDIVISION
#AWFULSENIORCIRCUIT
Other than Oakland and LA Angels, the AL is on the parity plan as well.

[50PoundHead]

Other than Oakland and LA Angels, the AL is on the parity plan as well.

I knew those two are in a dogfight that will likely continue through September, but I was shocked when I saw how badly Texas has been faring. I guess Jon Daniels isn't a genius after all.

Note: Starting next season, the Elvis Andrus contract will rank among the least team-friendly in all of baseball. Of course, the Braves will still likely score first and second place in that respect.

[nsacpi]

Parity by division will go a long ways to determining the divisions from which the wild card teams will come.

In the AL, the West has two very poor teams, the weakest ones in the league. This means that three playoff teams could well come from that division.

In the NL, the Central teams have it tough because there is only one weak team in that division, while there are three in the East and three in the West. I would expect 1 wild card team each from the East and West in the NL.

[57Brave]

One mans parity is another mans pennant race

[NinersSBChamps]

Oh would you look at that, the Braves are tied for the best record in the NL and most Wins.

#AWFULDIVISION
#AWFULSENIORCIRCUIT
Dodgers have 55 wins.