Page 1 of 60 1231151 ... LastLast
Results 1 to 20 of 1193

Thread: Getting An Early Start - GDT 10/4/2013: LA (Zack Stinky) @ ATL (Mike MAJOR!) Game 2

  1. #1
    Approaching Buddy Hernandez Territory Mrs. Meta's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Posts
    1,042
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    2,209
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    338
    Thanked in
    173 Posts

    Getting An Early Start - GDT 10/4/2013: LA (Zack Stinky) @ ATL (Mike MAJOR!) Game 2

    ...so I can't sleep and I can't even really blame the last game. Either way I'm still awake, and as a nod to my favorite GDT poster of all-time (thedeathlesshorsie) I just have a few thoughts.

    As ya'll know, I (and anyone who grew up with the mid to late 90's Braves) kinda got used to--and took for granted--the yearly trips to the postseason followed by the usual disappointment. Fast forward to 2013, and getting out of the first round has truly become my own sorta World Series for the Braves this year. I'm sure in a way that kinda thinking is rather silly, if not a psychological coping mechanism, but here we are. I was in fact questioning myself thinking this way until I ran across this post on the Mets' Scout board (morbid curiosity after the game? Hah!):

    Man do I love watching Atlanta just crumble EVERY SINGLE YEAR. If it's not at the end of the regular season in historic fashion, it's during their annual "one and done" playoff appearance.

    For as "AWESOME" as so many who don't know any better make them out to be, I'm STILL saying they aren't anything special and by the time the Mets are better than they are, the Braves won't have won anything but a few division titles in a horrible division. As far as playoff series wins go, they'll have few if any more than we do.
    I dunno, I read that and afterwards kinda felt a sense of relief for myself. Obviously it's rather ironic (and lol) that a Mets fan would talk about crumbling at the end of the regular season, but I realized something; we (as Braves fans) have at least had the opportunity to crumble, choke, etc. Meaningful games in September? You can nearly always count on that. The Mets (and a whole other schmorgasm of the MLB)? Not so much.

    So yeah, we're down a game and get to place our fates in the left-hand of one Mike Minor (was kinda hoping Julio would get the call in game 2, but then realized that even at 1-1, Minor would be pitching in a pivotal game anyway). And here's the thing (for me), given our recent playoff history, I don't even know how comfortable I'd feel even with a game 1 victory. So lemme tell you some things I do know (or at least believe, at 2 in the morning).

    "Streaks are streaks," Bobby Cox once said (in 2004 or 2005) when we beat the Astros on a game-ending double play off the bat of Jeff Kent; this ended the Astros' streak of home wins, which was well into double digits at the time. The streak we are unfortunately on is a bad one; it's just that we've been losing games in the playoffs, but how we've been losing them that's particularly galling. And this totally calls for a gameplan, amirite?

    Smoltzie also once said something that stuck out to me. In gist, he said that he preferred pitching in the playoffs because he was able to use the hitters' aggression against them.

    Mikey, I know you're not Smoltzie, but I know ya can give us 6 or 7 out there on the mound with maybe 3 (hopefully) earned runs. If the offense can't support that kinda effort, then ya really will have had nothing to lose in your postseason debut.

    One pitch at a time, one at-bat at a time, and one game at a time.

    I do think we got this.
    "Water seeks its own level, and that will be the case with Francoeur." ~50PoundHead

  2. The Following 5 Users Say Thank You to Mrs. Meta For This Useful Post:

    Dalyn (10-04-2013), jpx7 (10-04-2013), Julio3000 (10-04-2013), NYCBrave (10-04-2013), The Chosen One (10-04-2013)

  3. #2
    Making Atlanta Great Again!
    #MAGA!

    Promises MADE, Promises KEPT!
    The Chosen One's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Location
    School of Hard Cox
    Posts
    25,337
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    8,593
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    9,752
    Thanked in
    5,746 Posts
    I am right there with you.

    I'd be thrilled if we got swept in the NLCS if it means we actually got out of the NLDS.

    Ok maybe I wouldn't be thrilled, but I can really really see the monkey on the franchise's back with the 1 and done early exit thing. I know these guys with the exception of McCann and Hudson were not there when we kept choking at home, but you can see the weight on some of our guys just out there pressing. The pressure of not only the playoffs, but to bring the Braves back to the NLCS let alone World Series is getting to them.

    You can see guys out there being too aggressive because they feel if they don't make something happen that somebody else won't.

    McCann had two swings for the fences today, Andrelton worked counts but K'd on full counts, Gattis surprisingly walked twice. Justin worked great counts against Clayton, he just couldn't deliver anything.
    Forever Fredi


  4. #3
    Making Atlanta Great Again!
    #MAGA!

    Promises MADE, Promises KEPT!
    The Chosen One's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Location
    School of Hard Cox
    Posts
    25,337
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    8,593
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    9,752
    Thanked in
    5,746 Posts
    While I'd love to compliment this team on how good we are despite being so young, I don't really care about next season or the future. As of this moment, I want to
    BEAT LA! BEAT LA! BEAT LA!
    Forever Fredi


  5. The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to The Chosen One For This Useful Post:

    Julio3000 (10-04-2013), Mrs. Meta (10-04-2013), NYCBrave (10-04-2013), ProbationDeac (10-04-2013)

  6. #4
    Gwinnett Bound
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Posts
    663
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    7
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    39
    Thanked in
    32 Posts
    This is a winnable game but Minor has to throw zeros until we score with this offense against grienke we can not create a hole for us to dig ourselves out of. Offensively, and I'm not sure if we can, stop swinging for the fences go 1st to third on a single steal some bases and hopefully stay out of double digit strikeouts for the game. Grienke is tough but he's not Kershaw and his postseason record is nothing to write home about and god do we have to get to Ryu and nolasco maybe we don't have to face Kershaw again.

  7. #5
    Fredi Gonzalez Supporter Dalyn's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Location
    Your mom
    Posts
    14,077
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    6,446
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    5,802
    Thanked in
    3,408 Posts
    Need to try something new.

    This.

    Means.

    WAR!


  8. The Following User Says Thank You to Dalyn For This Useful Post:

    Mrs. Meta (10-04-2013)

  9. #6
    It's OVER 5,000! Runnin's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Posts
    12,769
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    5,396
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    2,946
    Thanked in
    2,064 Posts
    The 1st inning has been Minor's nemesis lately. If he can get off to a good start I think we will score for him.

    I'm looking forward to seeing what they can do.

  10. #7
    Shift Leader thethe's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Posts
    69,579
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    5,507
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    5,179
    Thanked in
    3,898 Posts
    Liked the way our hitters looked yesterday. Kershaw is just an all time great. If we come to play like we did last night we will win!
    Natural Immunity Croc

  11. #8
    Expects Yuge Games nsacpi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Posts
    47,433
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    2,704
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    11,384
    Thanked in
    7,533 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by thethe View Post
    Liked the way our hitters looked yesterday. Kershaw is just an all time great. If we come to play like we did last night we will win!
    Agreed about the hitters looking pretty good yesterday. We need Minor to come up big.

    Also the pen did well last night. Fredi did a good job spreading the work. No threw over 20 pitches, so they can all come back today.
    Last edited by nsacpi; 10-04-2013 at 06:56 AM.

  12. #9
    Connoisseur of Minors zitothebrave's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Location
    DANGERZONE
    Posts
    24,622
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    1,428
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    3,432
    Thanked in
    2,463 Posts
    So we have a long time til gametime, because I'm off today and will be bored most of the day as I have to clean (YAY) It's time to post random get you pumped music.

    To start the day is the king of all pump up music used as introductions for everything from the lowest sports to the highest, For Whom the Bell Tolls

    Stockholm, more densely populated than NYC - sturg

  13. The Following User Says Thank You to zitothebrave For This Useful Post:

    Dalyn (10-04-2013)

  14. #10
    High School Draftee ProbationDeac's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Location
    Walkertown, NC
    Posts
    95
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    15
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    12
    Thanked in
    12 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by thethe View Post
    Liked the way our hitters looked yesterday. Kershaw is just an all time great. If we come to play like we did last night we will win!
    Agreed, if can get some quality at bats and draw a few walks like we did last night I think we'll capitalize if Minor keeps us close.

  15. #11
    Awaiting a Promotion Dunit24's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Posts
    555
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    10
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    113
    Thanked in
    75 Posts
    I said when the Dodgers first got hot that they were the best team in baseball. Kershaw was tough, and Greinke will be as well. I'm still confident we can win the series, but we need to win tonight.

  16. #12
    Arbitration Eligible NYCBrave's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Location
    New York City
    Posts
    3,271
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    1,151
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    720
    Thanked in
    526 Posts
    Excellent post, and I'm glad everyone is pumped and not too down after last night. Our hitters didn't look horrible last night, and I think we have a great chance to come back and take it out on Greinke tonight.

    Greinke has made 3 career post season starts and has given up 15 runs (12 earned) in 16.1 innings pitched. With his anxiety issues, we need our crowd to be fired up tonight to get in his head.

  17. #13
    Danville Rookie Teheran_49's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Location
    Lake Oconee
    Posts
    308
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    156
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    30
    Thanked in
    25 Posts
    I was not a fan of the Dodgers match up. Kershaw is almost a guaranteed win and will shut down any offense no matter who it is but unfortunately this team just isn't built for the play-offs right now. The line up is very feast or famine and is one of low averages and low OBP which doesn't bode well come play-off time when you have to manufacture runs. Also, we have good starters but we don't have that dominant starter that most teams have who win a WS. You know the Cliff Lee,Kershaw, Adam Wainwright(Thanks JS for never focusing on the future in your last few years) variety.

  18. #14
    A Chip Off the Old Rock Julio3000's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Posts
    15,038
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    6,273
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    9,790
    Thanked in
    5,155 Posts
    It may be irrationally rosy to say it after a game like that, but I think this team has showed a lot of fortitude this season and I think they will bounce back, win tonight, and take the series. All of the comeback wins, responding to injuries, stepping up to throw dirt on the Nats when they had the chance, responding to challenges from serious (losing a veteran leader) to silly (Carlos Gomez?)—this team has got some mettle and, dare I say it, some g-r-i-t. It's a young team. These guys will have short memories.

    Kershaw is as tough as they come, and still, if McCann's ball had snuck over the fence, the outcome of the game might have been different. I hope they stay loose and keep believing.

  19. The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to Julio3000 For This Useful Post:

    Garmel (10-04-2013), Mrs. Meta (10-04-2013), NYCBrave (10-04-2013), The Chosen One (10-05-2013)

  20. #15
    Connoisseur of Minors zitothebrave's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Location
    DANGERZONE
    Posts
    24,622
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    1,428
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    3,432
    Thanked in
    2,463 Posts
    Stockholm, more densely populated than NYC - sturg

  21. The Following User Says Thank You to zitothebrave For This Useful Post:

    ProbationDeac (10-04-2013)

  22. #16
    Anytime Now Frankie... tululush's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Posts
    1,577
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    9
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    225
    Thanked in
    180 Posts
    I was at the game last night and it's always hard to tell but how was the home plate ump? The crowd was on him pretty hard and it felt like everytime a Brave checked his swing he said he went and refused to check with 1st/3rd base ump but when the Dodgers checked, he would check. Justin's first ab sticks out to me.

    Another thing I found to be very interesting was in the bottom of the first the homeplate ump went to the mound and had a conversation with Kershaw. He was on the hill with him for a good minute or two. Did they show that on tv? Not sure what they were talking about but I thought it was a bit odd.

  23. #17
    A Chip Off the Old Rock Julio3000's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Posts
    15,038
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    6,273
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    9,790
    Thanked in
    5,155 Posts
    I thought Kershaw got a couple of calls in the first inning, but I was in a bad place to judge inside/outside.

  24. #18
    It's OVER 5,000! bravesnumberone's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Posts
    17,031
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    3,314
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    2,977
    Thanked in
    2,003 Posts
    I really don't see how we could get much worse. But Minor has got to give us a chance. He can't just give up home runs.

    And we have to score early. Our success on offense depends on Heyward getting on base at the top of the lineup. I understand he was way overmatched against Kershaw, but he HAS to have a big night tonight. And we have got to put a competent defense out there. Don't put Simmons in a shift again, please. Hit cutoff men, know where you're supposed to go with the baseball. We'll have to just live with Gattis in left, but there's no excuse for not being able to catch that ball last night at this level.

    I expect us to bounce back because we didn't win 96 games for no reason.

    While I would be a little more satisfied getting past this series, I will not be able to stomach losing to the Cardinals again. So let's at least get to the WS while we're at it.

  25. #19
    Connoisseur of Minors zitothebrave's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Location
    DANGERZONE
    Posts
    24,622
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    1,428
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    3,432
    Thanked in
    2,463 Posts
    Stockholm, more densely populated than NYC - sturg

  26. The Following User Says Thank You to zitothebrave For This Useful Post:

    Dalyn (10-04-2013)

  27. #20
    High School Draftee
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Posts
    98
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    30
    Thanked in
    18 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by tululush View Post
    I was at the game last night and it's always hard to tell but how was the home plate ump? The crowd was on him pretty hard and it felt like everytime a Brave checked his swing he said he went and refused to check with 1st/3rd base ump but when the Dodgers checked, he would check. Justin's first ab sticks out to me.

    Another thing I found to be very interesting was in the bottom of the first the homeplate ump went to the mound and had a conversation with Kershaw. He was on the hill with him for a good minute or two. Did they show that on tv? Not sure what they were talking about but I thought it was a bit odd.
    The commercial breaks are longer in the postseason, so Kershaw was ready to go well before TBS was back on the air. The umpire was out there explaining that to him. Braves radio was back on the air during this and mentioned it. Nothing odd about it, imo.

Similar Threads

  1. THURSDAY 6/2 WAY TOO EARLY GAME vs Giants
    By rico43 in forum 2023: Celebrating Our 10th Year Here
    Replies: 31
    Last Post: 06-03-2016, 09:49 AM
  2. Mike Foltynewicz likely to start the season on the DL; lost 20 lbs after injury
    By praeceps93 in forum 2023: Celebrating Our 10th Year Here
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 02-02-2016, 10:26 PM
  3. Mike Hampton back in the game
    By Millwood1Hitter in forum 2023: Celebrating Our 10th Year Here
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 11-27-2015, 04:58 PM
  4. Replies: 913
    Last Post: 10-07-2013, 01:34 PM
  5. Mike Minor Skipping Next Start
    By nsacpi in forum 2023: Celebrating Our 10th Year Here
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 08-22-2013, 09:20 AM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •