AJC > Sports > Braves > Blog > Archives > 2007 > August > 08
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Braves win in sweaty cauldron of Shea
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Raise your hands if you’re sure, if you feel confident. Not so fast, Mets fans. And I’m not just talking about that mere 3-1/2-game lead in the standings. It’s hot here in New York. And sticky. Not too pleasant on that subway.
But anyway … a big series-opening win for the Braves last night in the soup otherwise known as air at Shea Stadium, which made even the recent muggy days in Atlanta feel like San Diego by comparison.
OK, exaggerating to make a point. But you get my drift.
After the Braves improved to 7-3 against the Metropolitans last night, Jeff Francoeur called unheralded Buddy Carlyle the “MVP” of the team because of what he’s done for the Braves to shore up the back of the rotation and his wins against tough teams including at San Diego (eight strong innings) and last night in front of more than 52,000 in a highly anticipated series opener at Shea.
He only went five innings last night, but well-rested and recently bolstered bullpen handled the rest with ease, allowing one walk and no hits over the final four innings, including another perfect inning from Peter Moylan, after the Braves weren’t even sure he’d be able to avoid the DL because of his back.
The back was fine yesterday. The Aussie continued his stunning “rookie” season (yes, Moylan is still a rookie). The ‘pen was solid. And Buddy … whew.
While he’s not the MVP — that’s still got to be Edgar, Chipper or possibly Huddy, with Frenchy making a late push — Carlyle has been absolutely huge for these Braves. So big that I will refrain from calling him journeyman until further notice.
He’s 6-1 with a 3.21 ERA in his past eight starts. Doesn’t have a lot of strikeouts (28 in 47-2/3 innings) in that stretch, but who cares? He gets ‘em when he needs ‘em, or he induces double plays.
Opponents are hitting .263 against him in that stretch, but with only four homers, and they’ve scored more than four runs against him just once in those eight starts. Giants got four against him out there, and that’s it, all others three runs or fewer.
The Braves love playing behind Carlyle because he works fast and goes right at hitters, doesn’t screw around and put the defense on its heels. And they’ve rewarded him with tons of run support, coincidental or not. Braves have scored nearly nine runs per nine innings Buddy’s pitched in those eight starts, including five or more runs while he’s been in six of those eight games.
By the way, you think John Smoltz could use a bit of that run support? Smoltz is 2-2 in his past six starts despite a 2.79 ERA. He’s 1-2 in five starts since July 1, and the Braves scored only one run while he was in the game in three of those five starts. They lost all three of those games.
David Wright on Braves: The Mets third baseman told reporters after last night’s game, “[The Braves] are a good team. There’s a reason that they’ve been beating up on us all year.”
One other reason is Wright, who is 5-for-41 (.122) with one homer and 15 strikeouts in 10 games against the Braves this season.
In his past 17 games against them, he’s hit .179 with more errors (four) than extra-base hits (three) or RBIs (two).
Mets RF Shawn Green had this to say of the Braves: “It’s a great lineup. It seems like most of them hit over .300.”
Since the Fourth of July. Here’s how NL contenders or would-be contenders have done since fireworks day: Braves (17-12, .307 team batting average, 3.81 ERA), Mets (17-13, .280, 4.18); Phillies (17-11, .308, 4.09); Dodgers (10-18, .288, 4.75); Cubs (16-14, .263, 3.91); Padres (14-16, .249, 4.72); Diamondbacks (16-13, 2.36, 4.14); Rockies (17-11, 2.83, 3.78); Brewers (12-19, .249, 5.00); Defending World Series Champions (14-16, .286, 4.94).
If I left anyone out, sorry, but my brain is soggy from heat/humidity.
Crazy lefty thing: It’s inexplicable, really. A fluke thing. No way else to explain how the Braves have more than 1,500 at-bats against lefties this season, and no other major league team has as many as 1,300. In the AL, only one team (Cleveland) even has 1,200.
Just FYI, here’s the Braves’ best vs. lefties so far: Yuni Escobar .356 (32-for-90; have I mentioned the rookie is really good?); Edgar Renteria .355 and .951 OPS (Braves are 3-1 since he went on DL, which is pretty impressive); Diaz .350 (he’s got three homers in his past five games, by the way); Francoeur .312 (with a .370 OBP and .500 slugging percentage; kid’s twice the hitter he was last year); Chipper .309 (Hoss has hit for much higher average vs. righties, but has seven homers in 136 at-bats vs. lefties).
By the way, Teixeira is only 1-for-8 vs. lefties since coming to Braves, but he’s hit .349 against them for the season. Yet another reason it was a huge pickup for Braves, given the ridiculous number of lefties they face.
Pitchers beware this weekend: I don’t think I’d want to be a pitcher in the upcoming weekend series at the Philly bandbox, considering how the Braves and Phillies are hitting.
Those two teams lead the NL with averages of .309 (Braves) and .305 (Phillies) since the All-Star break, and the Phillies have hit 35 homers and posted a whopping .904 OPS in that span (Braves have 27 homers and .856 OPS in 24 games since the break).
Oh, and very few NL pitchers give up as many fly balls as Chuck James.
Last word on Francoeur surge: He’s hit .332 with a .369 OBP and one error in 62 games since May 29.
He’s hit .386 with a .426 OBP and 1.005 OPS and 29 RBIs in 35 games since June 27.
And in his past eight games, Francoeur has hit .500 (18-for-36) with six doubles, two homers, seven RBIs, nine runs, three walks and four strikeouts.
For the season, he’s hit .310 overall and .353 (47-for-133) with runners in scoring position.
Was that too upbeat? Ok, then let’s finish with some beautiful sadness from a singer-songwriter I consider a criminally underrated genius.
”TATTOO” by Joseph Arthur
I miss the days when you were in my world
It seems like it was a lifetime ago
We said our goodbye with tears
And promised to not let the years get away
But that’s something you just have to say
In my pain/Is where I’ve tattooed your name
Was it a dream/Was it a dream
Going round and round and round and round your heart
Jeremy said he saw you out on second Ave
And you looked like you could use some sleep
You told him you sobered up
But now you are giving that up
‘Cause sometimes
Love isn’t stronger than wine
In my pain/Is where i’ve tattooed your name
Was it a dream/Was it a dream
Going round and round and round and round your heart
I wonder
What you must think about me
What I heard
Is you consider me dead
I guess that’s fair of you
I never was good to you
I’m ashamed
For making you feel all my pain
When I sleep/Sometimes I still think we speak
Is it a dream/Is it a dream
Going round and round and round and round your heart
