GDT: DBACKS VS BRAVES

[bravesfanforlife88]

Surprised no one has a thread up yet. Blair gave up a hit in the first but got out of it just fine. Greinke got 2 quick outs

Markakis FR
Garcia LF
Freeman 1B
K.Johnson 2B
AJP C
Brignac 3B
Aybar SS
Blair P
Smith CF

[UNCBlue012]

Freddie continued his tear!

[USMA76]

Garcia displaying GG quality defense in LF. smh

[dak]

Aybar's defense has looked a lot better recently. He's bound to have a hot stretch with the bat sooner or later too. Meanwhile, Garcia's routes in LF have not been good.

[UNCBlue012]

Man. Garcia's defense is just so bad.

[USMA76]

Man. Garcia's defense is just so bad.

The word "brutal" comes to mind.

[UNCBlue012]

Great word. I can't wait until we'll have Mallex over there full-time.

[thewupk]

....

[UNCBlue012]

That's just horrible. Poor Blair.

[Enscheff]

Are we done "seeing what we have" with Garcia? Can we agree he is bad and they need upgrades in LF and 3B?

[USMA76]

That run should be charged to Garcia, not Blair.

[Garmel]

That should be an unearned run but it's not.

[Braves1976]

There was a play at second if AJP could hold on to the ball. It's too bad young Blair has to throw to him tonight.

[dak]

Wow, play at the plate and Garcia's attempt to throw home ends up near mound. Feel bad for him. He's gotten his shot, but is just a man without a position.

[UNCBlue012]

Go ahead and ship Garcia off to an AL team.

[USMA76]

Are we done "seeing what we have" with Garcia? Can we agree he is bad and they need upgrades in LF and 3B?

You'd think a lot of teams in the AL would want him as a DH. Problem is that his stock is so low I wouldn't see us getting much in return

[UNCBlue012]

Wow, play at the plate and Garcia's attempt to throw home end up near mound. Feel bad for him. He's a man without a position. Sadly, he's Gattis - though he could sometimes catch well.

[Russ2dollas]

Prob is neither gattis nor Garcia are better than avg hitters. Only valuable while pre arb

[Enscheff]

You'd think a lot of teams in the AL would want him as a DH. Problem is that his stock is so low I wouldn't see us getting much in return

I doubt many clubs are going to line up to trade for a DH with a .700 OPS. Pretty sure they would rather just rotate their position players through the DH slot to give them rest like they all pretty much do now.

There are 3 position players on the roster that have any place on a contending team: freeman, Inciarte and Markakis. Flowers, KJ and Castro are decent bench players. Everyone else need to go. Simple as that.

Sorry, Mallex is probably a decent option for a contender too

[Braves1976]

No one helping Blair so far.

The pickoff failed scores next pitch, lol.

I rather save super two status than watch Blair throw to AJP and get charged runs like this in MLB.

[Braves1976]

What the... AJP couldn't hold on to that? He cannot hold on to anything, and boy no defense at third either.

Flowers makes that play at home, makes both IMO (one for an out at second).

[Garmel]

This **** is ridiculous. Blair deserves a better fate.

[USMA76]

I'm so sick of AJ dropping anything thrown at him from the outfield.

[msstate7]

Poor Blair... Not one plus defender helping him

[atl717]

It would be nice if Blair got more swings and misses. Not going to succeed if he doesn't start racking up Ks.

[Russ2dollas]

Can we put lipka in lf? Throw wren a bone and let his first round pick see majors. He'd play great d in left and hit like aybar

[thewupk]

This team defense is garbage. lol

[Braves1976]

I'm so sick of AJ dropping anything thrown at him from the outfield.

If his name were Gattis our announcers would have thrown him under the bus like they are Garcia every mistake made. We're such a joke all around. I have never seen catching as bad as AJP so far this year, never. He drops every pop up, misses all big plays on throws, cannot frame, cannot throw out runners. Just terrible.

[Garmel]

Inciarte is having a nice night at Gwinnett and will probably be here tomorrow. If Fredi benches Mallex I'm done watching this crap.

[USMA76]

With this team, down 3-0 to Greinke may as well be 13-0. Like an idiot, though, I'll watch hoping for the impossible.

[Braves1976]

Inciarte is having a nice night at Gwinnett and will probably be here tomorrow. If Fredi benches Mallex I'm done watching this crap.

If Mallex stays up he'll likely start as he should, if he goes back down he obviously won't.

[dak]

I'm increasingly nervous they won't option Mallex down tomorrow as a result of Garcia's showing tonight in LF. Hope they do the right thing for the team's future. This is why I wasn't a fan of Mallex being called up in the first place.

[Braves1976]

I'm increasingly nervous they won't option Mallex down tomorrow as a result of Garcia's showing tonight in LF. Hope they do the right thing for the team's future. This is why I wasn't a fan of Mallex being called up in the first place.

I am not sure they were even planning to but it would be stupid to make such a judgement like that when not caring about others doing as bad or worse on defense (AJP is the biggest joke in MLB right now). Whatever the case, I'd send him back down long enough for the extra year, then recall him in a few weeks if needed. I don't want to lose a year of control on him when he only needs two more weeks in the minors to get that extra year, not in a throwaway season. Plus he can play CF every day in AAA whereas here Inciarte should be in CF IMO.

[Braves1976]

I want to trade Markakis at some point because I believe overall Inciarte will bring as much or more value, and very likely more going forward as I've showed in comparing the two. Plus Inciarte costs very little and Markakis is established enough that he could bring back similar value in a trade anyway. There are teams in the AL that will need, and already need, a good left handed bat like Markakis. He should be who we trade next IMO.

[bravesfanforlife88]

AJP thrown out of the game thank god and Fredi went out there to argue after probably won't get thrown out

[CrimsonCowboy]

Well, that's one way for A.J. to get benched

[Garmel]

I don't blame AJ. Blair isn't getting the same pitches for strikes.

[Braves1976]

LOL @ the Braves have just lost AJP. Thanks ump, doing us a favor there! Now Fredi defends a player, figures it would be him.

[USMA76]

AJ was right. Two of the strikes called on him were balls when Blair was pitching. The only problem is he got tossed a couple of innings too late.

[CrimsonCowboy]

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[bravesfanforlife88]

As called Fredi not here's enough to get thrown out

[nsacpi]

Excellent grit, veteran leadership, maturity and clutchness there.

[Braves1976]

Thanks Goldy.

[USMA76]

We've gotten two double plays tonight on line drives that were absolutely scorched.

[Braves1976]

Nice pitch frame, got a K finally thanks to it too. If Flowers were catching he'd have a few more and less walks I bet.

[nsacpi]

We've gotten two double plays tonight on line drives that were absolutely scorched.

Our luck is turning. Slowly but surely.

[msstate7]

0 k's for Blair... Did he strike guys out in MiLB?

And of course, he k's a guy haha

[Julio3000]

Saw that AJ got tossed. Way to take one for the team, buddy. What happened?

[Braves1976]

0 k's for Blair... Did he strike guys out in MiLB?

He had a big strikeout game before his call up, but he is a groundball machine and purposely pitches to contact too. He will get more K's in the future, he is a smart kid and good young pitcher.

Nothing to worry about IMO.

[Braves1976]

Man, every game pinch hitting for our starters early. Blair could have a quality start with just one more inning and only at 92 pitches. Plus with some defense he could have zero runs across too.

[USMA76]

Close play...Aybar was only out by about 10 feet.

[CrimsonCowboy]

Well, that was a brilliant idea.

[bravesfanforlife88]

Saw that AJ got tossed. Way to take one for the team, buddy. What happened?

Arguing balls and strikes when he struck out looking

[Braves1976]

Close play...Aybar was only out by about 10 feet.

Haha, not being as fast might explain his lack of range at short now too. He use to have plus range at short, won a gold glove due to it. That was then and this is now.

[Julio3000]

Arguing balls and strikes when he struck out looking

Auditioning for the manager gig. That's veteran leadership right there.

[Braves1976]

Good move Fredi, removing Blair early worked out already. :)

[USMA76]

Haha, not being as fast might explain his lack of range at short now too. He use to have plus range at short, won a gold glove due to it. That was then and this is now.

Story of this team--a lot of "used to be" instead of "are now." AJ, Aybar, etc.

[Braves1976]

Auditioning for the manager gig. That's veteran leadership right there.

Maybe he heard Bowman's speculation about Monday and auditioning for an interview. :)

[Julio3000]

Wait, Brandon Drury has 6 HR?

[Braves1976]

Story of this team--a lot of "used to be" instead of "are now." AJ, Aybar, etc.

Yea, JJ stinks again like with the Dodgers too. He lasted just long enough to include as a small piece in the Olivera trade, but man he's awful now. I didn't get re-signing him, but I know he was Hart's favorite closer back when he worked on MLB Network so that probably explains it.

[bravesfanforlife88]

They were talking on the radio on my way home about how many guys we have that were released from other organizations this season....recipe for success

[Braves1976]

Wait, Brandon Drury has 6 HR?

Yep, he'd look good at third for us right now.

[USMA76]

Yep, he'd look good at third for us right now.

Hell, I'd look good at third base right now for the Braves and I'm in my 60s.

[Braves1976]

Mallex got a break there, pop up should've been caught in foul territory. Next pitch, base hit. Good job taking advantage of the missed catch.

[Braves1976]

Good job Markakis, improve that trade value buddy and hopefully someone offers Braves enough to trade ya.

[Braves1976]

Ouch, off his face and a bullet at that.

[CrimsonCowboy]

Now that's what you call a bad hop

[USMA76]

Now that's what you call a bad hop

BABIP, baby

[Braves1976]

Now that's what you call a bad hop

Did they say it hit off the plate to start too? Might be part of it. Great, DP ball sucks.

[Braves1976]

Nice job Flowers, good hustle and almost a great play to steal it.

[Garmel]

Tyler with the RBI.

[buck75]

That grunting Greike can't handle the speedy Flowers.

[Braves1976]

That grunting Greike can't handle the speedy Flowers.

He can grunt with the best of them, lol.

[USMA76]

Gotta say that Cervenka has been one of the best surprises of this otherwise @#$% year.

[Braves1976]

Gotta say that Cervenka has been one of the best surprises of this otherwise @#$% year.

Yea, he can pitch and isn't just a lefty specialist. He can handle a full inning, only issue I've seen is occasionally walks too many.

[USMA76]

Horrible AB by Castro.

[Braves1976]

Man, Aybar needs to stop running. Wow.

[USMA76]

Between Aybar and Mallex Smith this year, it looks like we can't steal a base unless the ball goes to the backstop.

[Braves1976]

Between Aybar and Mallex Smith this year, it looks like we can't steal a base unless the ball goes to the backstop.

In Mallex defense, he was likely safe two of those out calls whereas Aybar was out easy both times tonight including a ball in the dirt where the catcher had to reach around the batter to make the throw.

[striker42]

Albies and Swanson will be ridiculous upgrades over Aybar and Castro. I can't wait

[USMA76]

In Mallex defense, he was likely safe two of those out calls whereas Aybar was out easy both times tonight including a ball in the dirt where the catcher had to reach around the batter to make the throw.

You're right in that I thought we were screwed on a couple of replays involving outs on Smith's steals.

[Russ2dollas]

Drury was the throw in I that trade and he looks like the best player

We still dominated that trade.

We still have a shot at our package for jup being better than what they got. Fried is the key but mallex has a shot too

[Braves1976]

Albies and Swanson will be ridiculous upgrades over Aybar and Castro. I can't wait

Castro's defense is his calling card, should be a decent back-up but not a starter IMO. Aybar is just a former starter in decline that shouldn't be starting anymore.

I agree those two will be big upgrades of course. Just saying.

[buck75]

Gosselin takes forever to get in the box. I guess it works for him.

[Braves1976]

Gosselin takes forever to get in the box. I guess it works for him.

I hear he's a wrestling fan, so maybe his version of the sleeper hold? :)

[Braves1976]

Oh man, EOF got a DP ball and goes through anyway. EOF has looked better of late, velo has been higher than his earlier bad games too. More 92 mph sinkers I've noticed, whereas before a lot of 88-90 mph sinkers.

[CrimsonCowboy]

Braves defense:
http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_md7dowxqq51ri9yduo1_250.gif

[USMA76]

Last two plays for Kelly Johnson--GIDP and lets a potential double play ball play him into a two base error. Look up "journeyman" in the dictionary.

[CrimsonCowboy]

Someone sign that fan to a contract

[USMA76]

Someone sign that fan to a contract

He can catch the ball which disqualifies him from being on this Braves roster.

[Braves1976]

EOF looking like his old self all of a sudden. Despite that base hit, error hurts again. He got the ground ball there, not hit that hard either just no shortstop there.

[Runnin]

I wonder how many scoreless innings EOF has had this year.

[buck75]

Hard to watch this team (understatement of the season).

[bravesfanforlife88]

This is a more talented team than last years. :JSIDK:

[Braves1976]

Per Fredi press conf., Braves not sending Smith down, instead Garcia goes down for Inciarte who will join the team tomorrow.

[msstate7]

Per Fredi press conf., Braves not sending Smith down, instead Garcia goes down for Inciarte who will join the team tomorrow.

Good deal

[buck75]

Per Fredi press conf., Braves not sending Smith down, instead Garcia goes down for Inciarte who will join the team tomorrow.

Hopefully they'll move Aybar to 2B and play Castro at SS. Let Flowers catch. How should play 3B?

[bravesfanforlife88]

Per Fredi press conf., Braves not sending Smith down, instead Garcia goes down for Inciarte who will join the team tomorrow.

I can live with that

Inciarte LF
Markakis RF
Freeman 1B
Flowers C
K Johnson 2B
Castro/Brignac 3B
Aybar SS
Pitcher
Mallex CF


God our lineup just sucks any way you try to put it together lol

[Braves1976]

Hopefully they'll move Aybar to 2B and play Castro at SS. Let Flowers catch. How should play 3B?

Brignac isn't an MLB player IMO so certainly not him. Right now KJ is our best option there but maybe Beckham starts there as soon as his rehab ends replacing Brignac. Castro likely gets some starts there too.

Let's face it, our options at third stink right now.

[bravesfanforlife88]

Well I don't expect Brignac to be here long. Wasn't bonofacio coming up tomorrow as well? That puts bonofacio at 2b and Garcia/KJ at 3b

Mallex
Inciarte
Markakis

Freeman
AJP/Flowers
Aybar
Bonofacio
KJ/Castro

[cajunrevenge]

Drury was the throw in I that trade and he looks like the best player

We still dominated that trade.

We still have a shot at our package for jup being better than what they got. Fried is the key but mallex has a shot too

I dont regret that deal the slightest bit but this is why I like to get some quantity when we make trades. You never know what prospect could turn into Dallas Keuchel.