AJC > Sports > Braves > Blog > Archives > 2008 > August > 21
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Braves face Pedro and possible sweep
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
New York _ Just got back from a walk around midtown Manhattan and about to head back out to Shea Stadium, where I’m gonna go out on a limb and predict we don’t have another complete game last night.
Then again, Mike Pelfrey never threw a complete game before accomplishing the feat last night with his three hitter, making him the winningest pitcher (10-2) in the league since May 31, by the way.
But Pelfrey had obviously been pitching quite well and deep into games. Tonight we’ve got Pedro Martinez and Mike Hampton toeing the slab, and neither has pitched more than seven innings in 18 starts between them this season.
Pedro’s pitched seven innings once in 13 starts, Hampton once in five starts.
Anyway, the battle of former, quite-a-while-ago 20-game winners - Martinez did it in 1999 and 2002, Hampton in 1999 - will determine whether the Braves lead NY with broom marks on their backs after being swept, or if they can salvage something in this series between two teams headed in opposite directions.
Braves have lost nine of 10 while batting .235 with just three homers and a 6.62 ERA; Mets have won eight of nine, and 11 of 14 while batting .269 with 17 homers and a 3.31 ERA. Doesn’t get much clearer than that.
Not going to get a lot easier in St. Louis, next stop for the Braves. Cardinals are 5-2 with a .316 team average, eight homers and a 2.76 ERA in their past seven games before today, including series wins at Florida and Cincy.
A sign of hope for Braves: The Cardinals are only 4-8 in their past 12 home games, including four one-run losses.
Hey, wait: Does that mean the Braves might finally put an end to their major league-record streak of 26 consecutive one-run losses in road games, which has lasted a remarkable one year and 11 days?
Only way to find out is to stay tuned to the ol’ blog here (well, or turn on your TV or radio, but that’s not as much fun, is it?)
Chipper’s pursuit: One other reason to watch the series in St. Louis is the head-to-head confrontation of Chipper Jones and Albert Pujols, currently 1-2 in the NL batting race.
Hoss’ lead is down to 14 points, from 22 points a couple weeks ago. He’s hitting .362 and the much-hotter Pujols is at .348, followed by Colorado’s Matt Holliday (.344) before a big dropoff to Lance Berkman (.329).
Since July 7, Chipper has hit just .269 (21-for-78) with three extra-base hits (one homer) and 12 RBI in 23 games, with a .379 OBP and .333 slugging percentage.
In that same period, Pujols has hit .345 (51-for-148) with 21 extra-base hits (eight homers) and 31 RBI in 39 games, with a .430 OBP and .595 slugging.
And Colorado’s Holliday, since July 7, has hit .347 (50-for-144) with 22 extra-base hits (11 homers) and 24 RBI in 39 games, with a .450 OBP and .653 slugging.
This thing ain’t over yet, folks.
OK, running out of time: Didn’t give myself enough time to do scout box and blog after taking a walk at lunch and stopping at Virgin Records in Times Square. By the way, the scenery is tough to beat on a gorgeous, 78-degree afternoon in Manhattan, walking along Fifth Avenue. And I ain’t talking about the view of Rockefeller Center or St. Patrick’s Cathedral, people.
Picked up a few CDs at Virgin, including new ones by The Walkmen, the Gaslight Anthem (a garage-rock sounding band from Brooklyn), the Caesars and Glen Campbell. Yes, Wichita Lineman Glen Campbell. He’s got a great new covers album out, with tunes like These Days. Cool, over-the-top stuff with an orchestra.
Also got the just-released George Jones duets album (another one by the Possum and friends), that has, among others, him and Keith Richards doing Burn Your Playhouse Down and him and Tammy Wynette on Lovin’ You, Lovin’ Me. Oh, and an old blues CD by Bukka White, B.B. King’s uncle.
”SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL” by the Rolling Stones (Richards/Jagger)
Please allow me to introduce myself
I’m a man of wealth and taste
I’ve been around for a long, long year
Stole many a man’s soul and faith
And I was ‘round when Jesus Christ
Had his moment of doubt and pain
Made damn sure that Pilate
Washed his hands and sealed his fate
Pleased to meet you
Hope you guess my name
But what’s puzzling you
Is the nature of my game
I stuck around St. Petersberg
When I saw it was a time for a change
Killed the Czar and his ministers
Anastasia screamed in vain
I rode a tank
Held a general’s rank
When the Blitzkrieg raged
And the bodies stank
Pleased to meet you
Hope you guess my name, oh yeah
What’s puzzling you
Is the nature of my game, oh yeah
I watched with glee
While your kings and queens
Fought for ten decades
For the Gods they made
I shouted out
“Who killed the Kennedys?” When after all
It was you and me
Let me please introduce myself
I’m a man of wealth and taste
And I laid traps for troubadors
Who get killed before they reached Bombay
Pleased to meet you
Hope you guessed my name, oh yeah
But what’s puzzling you
Is the nature of my game, oh yeah, get down, baby
Pleased to meet you
Hope you guessed my name, oh yeah
But what’s confusing you
Is just the nature of my game
Just as every cop is a criminal
And all the sinners saints
As heads is tails
Just call me Lucifer
‘Cause I’m in need of some restraint
So if you meet me
Have some courtesy
Have some sympathy, and some taste
Use all your well-learned politesse
Or I’ll lay your soul to waste, um yeah
Pleased to meet you
Hope you guessed my name, um yeah
But what’s puzzling you
Is the nature of my game, um baby, get down
Woo, who
Oh yeah, get on down
Oh yeah
Oh yeah!
Tell me baby, what’s my name
Tell me honey, baby guess my name
Tell me baby, what’s my name
I tell you one time, you’re to blame
Ooo, who
Ooo, who….
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