GDT 10/3/13: Dodgers (Kershaw) @ Braves (Medlen) - NLDS Game 1 - 8:30 PM

[The Chosen One]

I'm only sad because if there was one guy I trusted most this series it was Medlen.

With Minor not pitching as dominant as he was early in the year, and Teheran being a rookie who could easily get shaken in a road game, Medlen is pretty much the "veteran" guy that I thought would put up a stronger performance.

Granted his defense didn't do too much to help him out today, but still. And man I really really miss Hudson. 38 year old Huddy would've dueled with Kershaw tit for tit until someone on our defense blundered and blew his performance.

[The Chosen One]

I'm optimistic we're going to win today (or tomorrow for your west coasters).

Reason? It's ChopCountry's official 3 month birthday today.

[bravesnumberone]

Recent NLDS history for us says we should win tomorrow.

[The Chosen One]

Recent NLDS history for us says we should win tomorrow.

Recent? Dating back the last 11 years.

Recent NLDS history also has us having a heartbreaking loss and losing the series in 4 games.

[The Chosen One]

One of the biggest losers tonight was Carlos Tosca and his defensive shifts.

Andrelton got screwed a few times on balls he would've gotten to on normal shifts. Also, a few questionable Heyward throws as well.

[bravesnumberone]

Recent? Dating back the last 11 years.

Recent NLDS history also has us having a heartbreaking loss and losing the series in 4 games.

From 2002-2005 and in 2010, we won game 2 in each of those years. However, the only time we won game 3 was in 2002.

[The Chosen One]

From 2002-2005 and in 2010, we won game 2 in each of those years. However, the only time we won game 3 was in 2002.

2005 our heartbreaking loss was 18 inning affair.
2010 our heartbreaking loss was Conrad 9th Inning after Hinske's pinch hit homerun.

Both times we blew leads.
We had a 5-1 lead on Houston we blew via Farnsworth, and we had a 2-1 lead that Kimbrel unfortunately couldn't close (maybe Bobby took him out too soon IDK).

[CyYoung31]

Recent? Dating back the last 11 years.

Recent NLDS history also has us having a heartbreaking loss and losing the series in 4 games.

That's most recent. Going back 11 years, it has us losing Game 5 at home.

[bravesnumberone]

I was at the game in 2010, and Kimbrel got squeezed badly by the umpire. And yes, he was taken out too soon.

Anyway, if we don't win game 2, we're done.

[CyYoung31]

2005 our heartbreaking loss was 18 inning affair.
2010 our heartbreaking loss was Conrad 9th Inning after Hinske's pinch hit homerun.

Both times we blew leads.
We had a 5-1 lead on Houston we blew via Farnsworth, and we had a 2-1 lead that Kimbrel unfortunately couldn't close (maybe Bobby took him out too soon IDK).

There were also a few missed calls in that Houston game that screwed us, which everyone seems to forget.

[The Chosen One]

That's most recent. Going back 11 years, it has us losing Game 5 at home.

Yeah.

I honestly would rather get swept in the NLCS than have to suffer another heartbreaking elimination game at home in the NLDS.

Let's not forget aside from playoffs, a few times the last few years with Bobby and of course 2011, we blew the Wild Card leads at home in the final week of the season.

2012 lost elimination game at home.
2010 lost elimination game at home.
2005 lost Game 4 in 18.
2004 lost elimination game 5 at home.
2003 lost elimination game 5 at home.
2002 lost elimination game 5 at home.
2001 thrashed by D'Backs at home in NLCS.

[Diesel]

Medlen was too amped up. That clearly cost him location and he threw a lot of meatballs up there. However, Kershaw gave Justin 4-5 pitches in his wheelhouse to hit....and just fouled them off. Late. His problem all year as been getting to the ball late.

I'm worried about Minor because his problem lately has been the same issue that Medlen had last night. Too many pitches wind up over the middle of the plate. It's his first postseason start, so we'll see what he is made of.

[ProbationDeac]

Recent NLDS history for us says we should win tomorrow.

I thought about this driving into work this morning. For all our post-season struggles in losing game 1, we've more often then not rebounded to win game 2.

A few other points-

A)Was really hoping Medlen would pitch better then he did. I know his defense let him down on a couple of occasions but he really didn't pitch like an ace other then the first inning. He's still young and hopefully with more playoff experience he'll pitch better.

B)Even though the empty seats were noticeable, I actually thought the crowd sounded great when they were able to get excited which wasn't much other then the first inning. I saw on twitter that our 43K crowd would have been a sell out in 16/30 stadiums. Hopefully we'll have a full house tonight.

C)Gattis is a bench player and back up catcher. He's not a left fielder and he's been exposed. The unfortunate part is there isn't a perfect replacement to the left field position. BJ is better defensively but awful at the plate.

D)McCann had a couple of strong at bats, hopefully he gets it going tonight.

[The Chosen One]

BJ looked absolutely lost in his lone bat.

That's easily the worst I've seen him all year.

[thethe]

I thought about this driving into work this morning. For all our post-season struggles in losing game 1, we've more often then not rebounded to win game 2.

A few other points-

A)Was really hoping Medlen would pitch better then he did. I know his defense let him down on a couple of occasions but he really didn't pitch like an ace other then the first inning. He's still young and hopefully with more playoff experience he'll pitch better.

B)Even though the empty seats were noticeable, I actually thought the crowd sounded great when they were able to get excited which wasn't much other then the first inning. I saw on twitter that our 43K crowd would have been a sell out in 16/30 stadiums. Hopefully we'll have a full house tonight.

C)Gattis is a bench player and back up catcher. He's not a left fielder and he's been exposed. The unfortunate part is there isn't a perfect replacement to the left field position. BJ is better defensively but awful at the plate.

D)McCann had a couple of strong at bats, hopefully he gets it going tonight.

Gattis actually looked better at the plate yesterday. Even his out was a line drive and he took some close pitches. He just isn't a major league starter leftfielder but he is absolutely a major league starting catcher.

[zitothebrave]

BJ looked absolutely lost in his lone bat.

That's easily the worst I've seen him all year.

After watching Gattis and Justin not get to balls that Justin and Jason would have, I think it's time to go with a Bossman/Schafer CF platoon. Gattis is clearly the better hitter but we lost several runs yesterday that starting Bossman likely saves.

Also I hope Elliot starts hitting. We cannot have a total blackhole with him and that's what's looking will happen.

[zitothebrave]

Gattis actually looked better at the plate yesterday. Even his out was a line drive and he took some close pitches. He just isn't a major league starter leftfielder but he is absolutely a major league starting catcher.

I think Gattis was fine at the plate. Have no clue why he's hitting over McCann but I guess Fredi is obsessing over L/R balance which is important but not that important.

[ProbationDeac]

After watching Gattis and Justin not get to balls that Justin and Jason would have, I think it's time to go with a Bossman/Schafer CF platoon. Gattis is clearly the better hitter but we lost several runs yesterday that starting Bossman likely saves.

Also I hope Elliot starts hitting. We cannot have a total blackhole with him and that's what's looking will happen.

Agreed, I would like to see Scahfer get some at bats tonight since he's hit .455 off Greinke (granted not a huge sample size).

[50PoundHead]

One of the biggest losers tonight was Carlos Tosca and his defensive shifts.

Andrelton got screwed a few times on balls he would've gotten to on normal shifts. Also, a few questionable Heyward throws as well.

I thought the same thing. Puig took the ball up the middle a couple of times when Simmons was playing him to pull.

Game of inches. Gattis and Upton made great efforts on A.J. Ellis' doubles. I don't know if any RF gets Ellis' ball to right, but someone more experienced in LF probably gets the ball that handcuffed Gattis. Can't fault the effort though. Better 2B makes the play on Crawford's hard-hit ball. Medlen made a bad pitch to Gonzalez and paid. Other than that, it wasn't like they were roping it off him.

Playoff baseball is different. Sure, it's a crapshoot, but guys adjust. During the regular season, Puig probably goes up there hacking. Last night, he just tries to drive it up the middle.

[The Chosen One]

Game of inches. Gattis and Upton made great efforts on A.J. Ellis' doubles. I don't know if any RF gets Ellis' ball to right,

There is a RF who could've gone to Ellis' ball that Justin missed. Ironically he was playing Centerfield for us.