5/20/15 Rays @ Braves

[Garmel]

Rays
1. Kevin Kiermaier (L) CF
2. Steven Souza Jr. (R) RF
3. Evan Longoria (R) 3B
4. James Loney (L) 1B
5. Logan Forsythe (R) 2B
6. David DeJesus (L) LF
7. Asdrubal Cabrera (S) SS
8. Rene Rivera (R) C
9. Jake Odorizzi (R) P

Braves
1. Jace Peterson (L) 2B
2. Alberto Callaspo (S) 3B
3. Freddie Freeman (L) 1B
4. Nick Markakis (L) RF
5. Todd Cunningham (S) LF
6. A.J. Pierzynski (L) C
7. Andrelton Simmons (R) SS
8. Cameron Maybin (R) CF
9. Williams Perez (R) P

[nsacpi]

Williams Perez is gonna be huge tonight. Baby Harang.

[Garmel]

Williams Perez is gonna be huge tonight. Baby Harang.

He might be bigger than Harang. Well, at least around the waist he is. :)

[WaitingFor2017]

Can we please send Bethancourt down to AAA if he is not going to get playing time up here? Fredi is starting to get the picture by starting Jace and Maybin every game, but he is still clinging to AJ.

[CyYoung31]

If Perez performs he could be a massive upgrade to our rotation.

[CyYoung31]

Perez keeps leaving it over the fat part of the plate.

[Braves1976]

Perez keeps leaving it over the fat part of the plate.

He also threw nothing but sinkers that whole inning up till that last batter. He needs to mix in other pitches more.

[WaitingFor2017]

Can't fall too far behind; their starting pitcher is a stud.

[Millwood1Hitter]

Can we please send Bethancourt down to AAA if he is not going to get playing time up here? Fredi is starting to get the picture by starting Jace and Maybin every game, but he is still clinging to AJ.

I'm not going to disagree but what has Beth down to warrant getting any playing time, he has shown nothing offensively, and is pretty much proving that going forward he is nothing more than a career backup, Henry Blanco style. We aren't going anywhere this year, but going forward we really need to improve at this position if we are going to contend. I'm afraid that it's even pointless giving Beth a chance to show what he can do everyday besides defense, and it will further overexpose what we already know and might ruin his confidence. Sending him down also really accomplishes nothing. It would have been nice to trade the guy when he was highly thought of and had some value, but that seems to have evaporated at this point in time.

[dak]

@mlbbowman
A scout told me Perez frequently tips his pitches. From the first inning, I gathered that when he winds up, he's throwing the sinker.

[USMA76]

Perez on the mound and Callaspo hitting second...maybe the Rays will just forfeit the game to save themselves the embarrassment.

[Julio3000]

Perez keeps leaving it over the fat part of the plate.

He's going to have to chew through the meat of the order if he's going to succeed.

[Braves1976]

@mlbbowman
A scout told me Perez frequently tips his pitches. From the first inning, I gathered that when he winds up, he's throwing the sinker.

No need to tip when all you do is throw the same pitch a whole inning outside of that one curveball to the last batter to get ahead 0-2.

[CrimsonCowboy]

They just mentioned the Rays first base coach Rocco Baldelli. Shame that injuries hurt him so much. Had a chance to be a real good player.

[Braves1976]

Now he's mixing in a change-up with his sinker, so at least it's not just sinker everything now. The change-up led to a strikeout too.

[dak]

Wow, that curve looked pretty impressive on the K from Perez. A little more of that, please.

[Julio3000]

Nice inning from the big fella.

[Braves1976]

Perez has some pitches to do the job, he just needs to not tip them and mix them better unlike that first inning minus the last batter. He did much better that inning, good sinkers and change-up's too.

[Garmel]

Perez has great movement on his pitches. I can see why they are high on him.

[Braves1976]

Wow, that curve looked pretty impressive on the K from Perez. A little more of that, please.

Yea, he can throw some good sinkers, change-ups and break off some good curveballs too. Just needs to do better at not tipping and mixing them up like he did that inning.

[Garmel]

Looks like the Braves are not going to see many runs tonight.

[Braves1976]

Perez looking much better now, loved him following up that sinker with his change-up to get the lead-off hitter to ground out to second. And then great finish to the inning for the strikeout.

That said, I don't see why it took till the last batter in the first for AJ to call anything other than the sinker..

[WaitingFor2017]

Get him over and in.

[USMA76]

Unproductive at bat from Maybin.

[dak]

Atta boy Fat Albert!

[USMA76]

When Peterson came to the plate, Odorizzi had only thrown about 24 pitches. IMO this inning was set up by his long at bat that finally led to a walk.

[Braves1976]

Ordrizzi has nasty pitch that looks like a splitter. Good AB's by Peterson and Callaspo to get it tied. Not so much by Freeman though.

[Braves1976]

When Peterson came to the plate, Odorizzi had only thrown about 24 pitches. IMO this inning was set up by his long at bat that finally led to a walk.

Yea, he fought off some nasty pitches too. That splitter 3-2 before the walk I thought he'd strikeout on but he somehow got a piece of it. Great AB, what was it 10 pitches or so?

[Braves1976]

Great curveball to strikeout Longoria by Perez there.

[jpx7]

Ordrizzi has nasty pitch that looks like a splitter. Good AB's by Peterson and Callaspo to get it tied. Not so much by Freeman though.

Artist's rendering:

http://middlesexhospital.org/images/dmImage/SourceImage/8492161.gif

[UNCBlue012]

We just tied it up. Come on dude.

[Braves1976]

Perez in trouble now but it came after he stopped mixing his pitches again. No more change-ups or curveballs after the strikeout.

[UNCBlue012]

DP!

[Braves1976]

There ya go Perez, good job! Fat boy was excited too. :)

[Garmel]

Great pitching by Perez.

[USMA76]

Freeman may be clueless at the plate right now but he did a great job starting that double play that got us out of a major predicament.

[jsebe10]

Damn good pitching! Probably earned himself a beaming with the celebration, but who cares. Love the emotion.

[nsacpi]

Baby Harang!

[Braves1976]

I certainly see the potential Hart sees in Perez as I like his pitches, he seems to get in trouble mostly when he either tips his pitches or doesn't mix them up which amounts to the same thing. He has a good sinker with movement when he throws it low and for strikes.

[jsebe10]

Que the Heyward comparisons..........now

[Braves1976]

Nick sure is slow, a lot of outfielders catch that ball he just missed as it stayed in the air a long time.

[Garmel]

Nick cost us there.

[Garmel]

I'm so damn tired of everything the Rays hit on the ground finds a hole. So damn agitating.

[UNCBlue012]

I love watching this dude. His off speed is better than his FB. Lol he's yet to really establish it.

[Braves1976]

Nice finish by Perez, good game as that is likely it for him since he had been pitching in the bullpen.

[nsacpi]

I'm so damn tired of everything the Rays hit on the ground finds a hole. So damn agitating.

Baby Harang doesn't get agitated.

[Braves1976]

Baby Harang doesn't get agitated.

He sure gets fired up though. I like that about him too. :)

[thewupk]

Colon is crashing back to earth tonight

[sturg33]

Perez has some sick movement on his pitches

[UNCBlue012]

Jesus. Get Tampa out of here. And no, stupid Fredi. Keep Perez in. I don't care what this dude does.

[WaitingFor2017]

Hate wasting pinch hitters this early. With 2 out and no one on, you may as well let Perez hit, and then yank him if you are going to yank him. It's a tie game which could go to extras when you need bench guys.

[Braves1976]

And no, stupid Fredi. Keep Perez in. I don't care what this dude does.

Perez was on a pitch count shorter than normal since he had been pitching in the bullpen. So not really stretched out for starting, he should be able to go deeper next time though.

[sturg33]

Hate wasting pinch hitters this early. With 2 out and no one on, you may as well let Perez hit, and then yank him if you are going to yank him. It's a tie game which could go to extras when you need bench guys.

I'm not sure if Fredi knows what extra inning games are... he's probably just gets confused and assumes the scoreboard operate messed up

[WaitingFor2017]

Jesus, Fredi...you don't trust Avilan to get a soft hitting catcher out, and you will waste another reliever here?

[nsacpi]

I'm not sure if Fredi knows what extra inning games are... he's probably just gets confused and assumes the scoreboard operate messed up

We do have Stults if it is a long game.

[Braves1976]

Jesus, Fredi...you don't trust Avilan to get a soft hitting catcher out, and you will waste another reliever here?

Fredi eats up relievers and spits them out, he knows no other way to do it.

[thewupk]

We do have Stults if it is a long game.

which means the game will end pretty soon if we use him

[USMA76]

No surprise that Fredi was kicked out of chess club in high school.

[WaitingFor2017]

Cunniff's day is likely done after 2 pitches.

[Braves1976]

which means the game will end pretty soon if we use him

Eric "I give up a lot of homeruns" Stults :)

[Braves1976]

Cunniff's day is likely done after 2 pitches.

If so he better count his blessings, that's a day off in Fredi's book. :)

[USMA76]

If so he better count his blessings, that's a day off in Fredi's book. :)

Has Fredi's book been completely colored in?

[WaitingFor2017]

Wow, Souza misplayed that horribly.

[WaitingFor2017]

Cunniff could easily pitch the 8th with only 8 pitches through 1.1 innings. Since his spot is up this inning, he won't. Johnson time.

[Julio3000]

Good effort tonight.

[The Chosen One]

Someone let me know the answer to the trivia question. I was going with 2012 Prado Bourne Heyward.

[USMA76]

So Geltz was a minor league juicer...interesting.

[UNCBlue012]

Holy Jace.

[Tapate50]

HELLUVA AB Jace!

[thethe]

Happy with Perezs outing tonight. Hopefully he build off this and gives us another long term option in the rotation.

[USMA76]

Happy with Perezs outing tonight. Hopefully he build off this and gives us another long term option in the rotation.

His steady diet of offspeed/junk pitches have great movement which means his "fastball" essentially becomes his changeup.

[CyYoung31]

Someone let me know the answer to the trivia question. I was going with 2012 Prado Bourne Heyward.

2004 Braves is my guess.

[Garmel]

Perez came up huge for us tonight.

[USMA76]

Perez came up huge for us tonight.

Literally and figuratively.

[nsacpi]

Perez came up huge for us tonight.

Baby Harang

[chop2chip]

Jim Johnson continues to pitch well.

[The Chosen One]

Watching Cedeno his stretch and delivery are just like Mariano.

[Garmel]

Grill Cheese time!

[stpeteirish]

Watching Cedeno his stretch and delivery are just like Mariano.

team is seemingly incapable of "adding on". Has cost us more than once this year.

[USMA76]

No margin for error here; hope Grili's up to the task.

[Braves1976]

Good job by Perez and the bullpen tonight.

[WaitingFor2017]

19-20 and back to the top of the rotation.

[nsacpi]

Yeah. A well pitched game on both sides. Williams Perez was huge.

[bravesnumberone]

Nice win. Let's see if Julio and Woody can get it together.

[nsacpi]

Nice win. Let's see if Julio and Woody can get it together.

If they can't we can always send em down and call up Cody.

[Braves1976]

Yeah. A well pitched game on both sides. Williams Perez was huge.

Baby Harang can now have huge post-game meal. :)

[chop2chip]

This is the type of games a lot of thought the Braves would have to win this year if they were going see any success.

[thethe]

Good win. Get them where you can.

[Julio3000]

Two good bullpen nights in a row.

[nsacpi]

Baby Harang can now have huge post-game meal. :)

Just hope the rest of the team doesn't have to starve like it did last year.

[Garmel]

If Stults had pitched this game we probably would not have won it. I hope Perez can get us some more tough wins like this.

[CyYoung31]

Just hope the rest of the team doesn't have to starve like it did last year.

We did have a feast or famine type team last year, with Harang and Laird doing most of the feasting.

[Runnin]

Almost .500, baby.

http://rack.1.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzA3LzA1LzBhL2V4Y2l0ZWRiYWJ5LjlhZWY3LmdpZg pwCXRodW1iCTEyMDB4OTYwMD4/f01f5d34/cc5/excited-baby.gif

[nsacpi]

4 and 1 with The Todd in the lineup.

[CrimsonCowboy]

http://i.imgur.com/P6x0U.gif

[AerchAngel]

Just hope the rest of the team doesn't have to starve like it did last year.

Between him and Laird, was there actually any food left?