AJC > Blog > Archives > 2006 > May > 18 > Entry
Frenchy fries ‘em
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Ninth inning: Three sweet outfield snags by Langerhans (center), Diaz (left) and Frenchy (right) to SWEEEEEEEEP the Fish out of town. Apparently it was Broom Day at the Ted. Hee. FINAL SCORE: Sharks 9, Minnows 1
Eighth inning: I think tonight marks the series finale of “That ’70s Show.” Other things getting long in the tooth include this game and Braves reliever Chad Paronto’s counts to the Fish. Wrap it up, dude. Two on, two out. Paronto’s looking eerily like Dan Kolb right now. Oh, lord. Grounder to Chipper ends that. Thankfully. Sorry… Stuff happened here at the office. Is this inning STILL happening? Oh… um… GO WILSON BETEMIT! Yeah. Really, good hit there. McCann at second, Betemit at first, Giles batting with nobody out for those scoring at home. Or at work. We won’t tell The Man. K for Giles, Renteria hits into DP. Bummer.
Seventh inning: The Boss is reconsidering his earlier statement on Sosa. Just so you know. And… Sosa’s gone so there that went. TBS has obviously gotten way bored with this game because they’re tracking windblown potato chip bags across the field on-camera. And it has been a long game. Frenchy’s developed a five o’clock shadow since this thing started and… he just bopped another homer, this time solo, to now lead the team with 10. Oh, and Diaz got to third on an outfield error. Is it bad form to giggle? Sharks 9, Minnows 1
Sixth inning: 1-2-3, Sosa retires them. Meanwhile, The Boss wondered out loud what the highest jersey number retired in the Baseball Hall of Fame is so I’m trying to look that up online. Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?
Fifth inning: Dang… Sosa is posting Ks? And this guy, Dan Uggla, already has two of them today. I bet Uggla never got teased in school with that last name. Add a flyout to Uggla’s 0-fer day so far. Another 1-2-3 set ‘em down for Sosa. Feels weird, typing that. Base hit for Renteria that bonked off second base - literally - and Chipper’s laughing at the plate with Edgar and Giles at first and second with one out, respectively. Well, it was kinda funny. And this double he just hit that scored both those guys? OK, I laughed but nobody in the Fish Camp probably is. Frenchy’s homer to left just blew it WIDE open. The Boss: “Even Sosa would be hard-pressed to cough this one back up.” Before I could say “Don’t bet the farm, Boss,” Diaz nailed his own dinger. Cinch Knots 8, Neck Feathers 1
Fourth inning: OK, is there ANYTHING Diaz can’t do? Sweet gun-out of some Fish named Jacobs trying to stretch a LF single into a double. Note to Jacobs: See Frenchy hit. See Frenchy run. See Frenchy double. Double, Frenchy, double. That’s how it’s done, dude. Frenchy scores on Jordan’s flyout to right. Didn’t even have to slide. Trawlers 3, Bait 1
Third inning: Ummm… Can Sosa, like, NOT put guys… Oh, forget it. I dunno why Yes We McCann is batting in the 8-hole but dude can flat-out hit anywhere so it’s all good. Ummm… Can Sosa, like, NOT screw up the bunt? Oh, forget it. The Boss, no baseball slouch himself, puts it best: “If Sosa nails the bunt, with Giles’ double, McCann’s scored a run.” Yep. A-B-C ball. The Boss also said “You S**K, Sosa!” Yep. Renteria walks, bases loaded and one out for Chipper, who just tied it with a long flyout to center. Wild pitch and Giles books home from third. Whee! Simon Peters 2, Stinky Fish 1
Second inning: Ummm… Can Sosa, like, NOT put guys on base? And, like, NOT bleed hits? We’re just wondering. Oh and hey TBS - here’s my “Know How” Question of the Game: I’d like to know how Sosa is STILL IN THE STARTING ROTATION. Frenchy, Frenchy, Frenchy… One pitch, one popout, no knowledge gleaned for the next at-bat. Yep, the TBS crew nailed that, analysis-wise. sigh
First inning: Sosa gives up what The Boss called “this You Shoulda Seen It 420-foot” homer. Nice way to start the game, fellah. OK, it’s Marcus Giles’ birthday and his present to himself is his 10th double of the season… which was promptly followed by three Ks. Blah. Guppies 1, BroomBearers 0
Permalink | Comments (66) | Post your comment | Categories: Chop Chick
Comments
By Sophia
May 18, 2006 01:39 PM | Link to this
Whoaaaaaaaah? Brian McCann batting 8th? What happened?
By Jen
May 18, 2006 01:49 PM | Link to this
Um, can Chuck James become a starter sooner rather than later?
By TennesseePaul
May 18, 2006 02:11 PM | Link to this
We have to break this game wide open by the 4th. If we keep it within 7 runs, Sosa will find a way to blow it. We need about a 10 to 15 run lead to be safe.
By josh
May 18, 2006 02:41 PM | Link to this
I think we just did
By David C
May 18, 2006 02:42 PM | Link to this
Keep the hate in TN
By josh
May 18, 2006 02:42 PM | Link to this
break it wide open
By TennesseePaul
May 18, 2006 02:43 PM | Link to this
What’s the score now?
By josh
May 18, 2006 02:47 PM | Link to this
8-1 atl
By TennesseePaul
May 18, 2006 02:50 PM | Link to this
GO BRAVES!!
By josh
May 18, 2006 02:53 PM | Link to this
chop chick, i have a question for ya. do you think that terry pendleton will ever be a manager? (possibly being groomed right now for the braves?)
By Chop Chop
May 18, 2006 02:55 PM | Link to this
Nice to see Sosa get some runs to play with before he could implode. I say that with the utmost affection…uh, yeah. Maybe he’ll give us seven strong today. The bullpen has been abused to some extent the last three days.
8 Ks for Sosa through six.
By eric the elder
May 18, 2006 02:59 PM | Link to this
Is it even remotely possible that Sosa is solving some of the Braves’ rotation dilemma? I know it’s just Florida, but the dude is throwing low strikes.
By Chop Chop
May 18, 2006 03:00 PM | Link to this
By the way, numbers aren’t retired in the Hall of Fame, but I would guess that Carlton Fisk’s #77 that he wore with the White Sox has got to be close to being the highest number ever consistently worn by a Hall of Famer.
By josh
May 18, 2006 03:01 PM | Link to this
that ump has a wide strike zone
By TennesseePaul
May 18, 2006 03:02 PM | Link to this
He must of got wind that his days are numbered
By Larry Jones
May 18, 2006 03:04 PM | Link to this
Sosa is pitching like he is capable of. Hopefully he can keep this up - and silence the critics like Tennessee Paul.
By Chop Chick
May 18, 2006 03:04 PM | Link to this
Good question about TP. I could someday see him managing a club. The Braves? Maybe. The Cards? Maybe. IMO, there are a couple of potential future Braves coaches around now: Eddie Perez and Brian Jordan come to mind. Think I wouldn’t have BJ or EP on my staff as a bench coach or base coach? Think again. Jordan would fire up any young kids in a dugout; he’s a Brave through and through and we’re lucky to have him here, gutting it out. That’s just my opinion b/c I love the man’s heart - heart like a lion, he’s got.
By TennesseePaul
May 18, 2006 03:07 PM | Link to this
It’ll take more than one game for that! But I will be very pleased to have him silence me with a season long run of quality starts.
By Chop Chop
May 18, 2006 03:10 PM | Link to this
One good start from Sosa with eight runs to play with isn’t nearly enough to convince me that Sosa is “back on the right track”. In my mind, he’d have to put together five or six good starts before he could convince me otherwise.
At least he pitched well today, though.
(gives Sosa polite applause as he leaves the mound)
By josh
May 18, 2006 03:13 PM | Link to this
yall need to give the man a break. he will have quality starts this year. today was the first.
By Sophia
May 18, 2006 03:13 PM | Link to this
I agree with Chop Chick. Brian Jordan maybe on the verge of retirement at the end of this season but he’s got fire and excitement in him like a 21 year old. I can definitely see him coaching with the Braves. Eddie Perez too.
By josh
May 18, 2006 03:15 PM | Link to this
i can see bj and ep coaching yes, but i was more interested in seeing if tp would be a head coach(manager)
By TennesseePaul
May 18, 2006 03:23 PM | Link to this
Well, I suppose I could say I “called” it… I mean, last night I did say “He’s due”. You can check the blogs if you like. It was around 3AM. I was faded. The Braves had just come back in extra innings again.
But seriously I wasn’t banking on it. This is a nice surprise. Why the pessimism? The guy has left 6 games on the down side. Early too. One game is nice, but he hasn’t averaged out anything yet.
(hushed PGA tour clap) Nice Sosa. Good to see you show up to win.
By josh
May 18, 2006 03:28 PM | Link to this
tennesseepaul ur confusing. i still dont know what u think about sosa
By Sophia
May 18, 2006 03:32 PM | Link to this
I wish I could’ve seen this game. I hate weekday day games.
By TennesseePaul
May 18, 2006 03:41 PM | Link to this
I don’t trust Sosa. He hasn’t really proven that he is trustworthy. Even last year I didn’t trust him. He walks too many. Allows too many hits. Gets high pitch counts and comes out of games too early. He wears down the bullpen doing all that and until today, has consistently left us in a losing position by the time he exited the game.
Having said all that… I would absolutely love it if he came out there and turned it all around. You see, I want to trust him. He’s a Brave. But he has to earn it. And so far he hasn’t earned it. He did earn a win today and for that I applaud him.
By josh
May 18, 2006 03:44 PM | Link to this
fair enough
By Chop Chop
May 18, 2006 04:01 PM | Link to this
Good job by the Braves today to get up over .500. 21-20 and only 3.5 games behind the Mets. I sure as hell can’t complain about the homestand. Let’s hope the Braves can carry this good vibe out on the road.
By josh
May 18, 2006 04:10 PM | Link to this
I’m with ya on that chop chop
By Crystal
May 18, 2006 04:12 PM | Link to this
Great to see Jorge throw well. Even better to see the Mets lose. 2.5 back now, right?
By brewerfaninATL
May 18, 2006 04:14 PM | Link to this
This just in: Brewers 5, Phillies 4!! A clean sweep of the Phillies and after taking 2/3 vs. Mets it makes me wonder why the Brew Crew can’t touch the Dodgers with a 10-foot pole…oh well, some teams have certain hexes over others. Anyway, good job Braves, now it’s VERRRRRRRRY interesting in the East! Time for my Brewers to kick the crap out of the Twins! Good luck in Arizona!
By ncscoots
May 18, 2006 04:19 PM | Link to this
I’m guessing that Jorge might have taken notice that Chuck James will be going back down to the minors for the express purpose of lengthening his arm out and building up pitch counts. That’s about as in-your-face-if-you-dont-shape-up as it gets. Another blogger made mention of noticing a lower arm angle for Sosa earlier this year, and, if Roger fixed that up to give us what we got from Sosa today, he deserves kudos. I didn’t see the game, but Jorge’s line looked pretty good.
By josh
May 18, 2006 04:22 PM | Link to this
crystal, braves are 3.5 back now
By john
May 18, 2006 04:25 PM | Link to this
So where are all you fair weather fans now that were wanting Frenchy sent back to the minors,bet you are hanging your head and crying from your stupidity.
By Tony
May 18, 2006 04:29 PM | Link to this
Tennessee Paul,
Frankly I don’t think Sosa is all that concern with you trusting him…matter of fact I can guarantee you that he isn’t concern about you trusting him. Baseball is a long season, players are going to have their ups and downs. Sosa stuff is still better than Davies or Ramirez. So I hope he is able to build on this outing. As far as far as you not trusting Sosa last year, well I think you know where I’m going with this….
By TennesseePaul
May 18, 2006 04:31 PM | Link to this
Thanks Tony.
By gobraves06
May 18, 2006 04:34 PM | Link to this
I think Frenchy has broken out of his slump. Way to go Home Boy!!!
By uga4ever
May 18, 2006 04:48 PM | Link to this
For all of the fair weather fans- WELCOME BACK. All the Bobby Cox bashing, sending Francouer back to the minors, Braves are done with comments. NEVER DOUBT Braves as long as Bobby Cox is managing. They will always be around!!!!!!
By Braves Suck
May 18, 2006 04:51 PM | Link to this
Atlanta fans - thats a real oxymoron.
By Can't Ban Da Snowman
May 18, 2006 05:15 PM | Link to this
Mets! Here We Come!
By Ron Roberts
May 18, 2006 05:32 PM | Link to this
Braves have done precisely what I said they’d have to do, back on May 7th (and again) on May 9th in two of DOBs blogs. It was reasonable then as now, to see the Braves go 7-3 or 8-2 in that 10 game Marlins/Nats/Marlins stretch we just wrapped up, and lo and behold, it happened. I knew the Mets would struggle a bit with the Phillies and Cardinals series, and true to form, they’ve dropped 7 of 11. Now we’re 3.5 games back, and only 1.5 back of 2nd and the Phillies.
Way to go, Braves. Bobby Cox and his calm demeanor has always won out over the course of the last 14 seasons, and those non-believers need to microwave their crow so they can dine tonight.
By eric the elder
May 18, 2006 05:32 PM | Link to this
john and uga4ever, most baseball fans do not think in the long term. We follow our teams day to day, game to game, at bat to at bat. The fact is that Francoeur was stink-for-April, and fans took note of that. We get after the guys who are slumping and cheer on those who are on a roll. That’s not being a fair weather fan, it’s just being a fan. It’s easy to claim that you knew it all along when things turn around, but I hope you will be equally willing to admit it when you were wrong, which, over the course of a long season, you inevitably will be once in a while.
By Tony
May 18, 2006 05:34 PM | Link to this
Uga4ever,
Let’s not get too carried away these were the Marlins. And I still think the leadoff spot is still a liability. Adam is still on the team. Chipper in the lineup on a consistent basis throughout the year is a question mark. And the pitching is still up in the air…so let’s not get too carried away
By Rob
May 18, 2006 05:43 PM | Link to this
We have to send Frenchie down. This guy sucks. A few weeks in the minors will get his head together. I just can’t stand it anymore. I mean the guy made an out today! And it has to be AA, because he’s not even good enough for AAA. In other words, for all of you haters out there, apology accepted. This is why Bobby Cox is headed for Cooperstown, and you doubters/haters will always watch the game from the stands.
By The Truth
May 18, 2006 06:04 PM | Link to this
Pitiful is the only words that you can use to discribe the Braves.
By mnbravesfan
May 18, 2006 06:28 PM | Link to this
to reiterate Sophia’s question… Why is Brian McCann batting 8th again?? Doesn’t he have the best bat in the NL right now?
By Rick
May 18, 2006 06:50 PM | Link to this
The Truth, you obviously dont know what that is.
Yes it was only the Marlins, but this is the same team that the Mets were beating up on the first couple weeks of the season, that helped them to build that lead.
Now we are back in the thick of it all.
All you haters just STFU.
By uga4ever
May 18, 2006 07:17 PM | Link to this
Eric the elder- if you are a baseball fan then you have to think in the long term. The season is 162 games long. True Braves fans would trust Bobby Cox and his decisions. You don’t send a guy to the minors because he is in a 2-36 slump (which is what Francouer was in) A fair weather fan is one who cheers when a team is doing well and trashes the team when times get tough. I follow every game, every at bat… and I cheer them on no matter what.
By Tony
May 18, 2006 07:31 PM | Link to this
Brian McCann batted eight b/c it was a left-handed starter….geez
By josh
May 18, 2006 07:50 PM | Link to this
UGA4ever, I think you are missing the point. Actually when people are wanting a slumping bat to go down to the minors, they are not necessarily bashing the player. They might want the player to go down and get his confidence back and yes that is for the long term. I am very happy about frenchy’s hitting, but dont be calling people fair weathered when they just want to see frenchy or whatever player that might be slumping get back on the right track. Go BRAVES!
By uga4ever
May 18, 2006 08:03 PM | Link to this
Josh- Sending a player down to the minors only hurts his confidence. No matter if he goes to Richmond and bats .350 Sometimes it only takes one game to get a player’s confidence back….hence Francouer’s 2 homer game against Florida. Sending a hitter down to the minors only hurts his confidence. Now, it is different with pitchers. If you knew the business of baseball, you would also know that you can’t just juggle a player back and forth. Contractual reasons prohibit that.
By josh
May 18, 2006 08:12 PM | Link to this
sending a player down once is not juggling a player back and forth if it serves its purpose. I guess the mlb doesnt need affiliations anymore b/c uga4ever says that players shouldn’t ever get sent down. And by the way I work for a minor league team and its not my first. I probably know a little more about baseball than you think
By josh
May 18, 2006 08:16 PM | Link to this
and im not even saying that frenchy needed to be sent down in the first place. “hence homeruns he’s been hitting” I’m just sayin that it’s pretty ridiculus of you to say that fans are fairweathered for mentioning a player goin back down to get better.
By eric the elder
May 18, 2006 10:04 PM | Link to this
Josh, good comments - - you said what I was trying to say so much better than I did. It’s a shame, really. Chop Chick was just trying to put together a fun gameday blog, and it kind of deteriorated into people being called “haters” and “bashers” and people making claims about how the “knew” certain things would happen and how much better and more knowledgeable fans they are than the rest of us. Sheeesh.
By Del
May 18, 2006 10:35 PM | Link to this
Call me a fair weather fan or any other kind of fan you want, but I and a lot of others will continue to wear our hearts on our sleeve game by game, inning by inning, and pitch by pitch. And we will continue to verbalize our feelings. I still think that is what baseball is all about; the day to day ups and downs. I think it sure would be a dull experience if I had to temper every success and every failure with a 162 game perspective. No thanks, I’ll let my emotions ride with what is actually happening at that moment. For me, that is what makes this game so much fun to watch and to critique. Just MHO.
By Chop Chick
May 18, 2006 10:37 PM | Link to this
This sweep is great. But yes - we did take four from a team we SHOULD own: the Marlins. Let’s hope the winning ways continue on the road swing out West against the D-Backs and Padres, both considerably better clubs.
I don’t recall too many people on this blog saying it was time to full-on send Francoeur to AAA. Most folks agreed that if his slump continued from April too far into May (like towards early June), the team shouldn’t just assume that because he’s a hometown fave he’s too popular to spend time in Richmond as a way to work on his batting. That’s “hating”? I think not.
By Double K
May 18, 2006 10:51 PM | Link to this
What was the deal with the JB Francouer Day signs at the game today? Did I miss something?
By uga4ever
May 19, 2006 12:54 AM | Link to this
Josh- it is almost a waste of my time to point this out to you. Judging by your comments, I know that you don’t work for a minor league team. There is a huge % hit every time you send a player up or down. I am not going to go in to the details. If you really do…. we would like to know your thoughts. John is always willing to listen to suggestions. Please e-mail me at ben_sitton@yahoo.com and we will go from there. Please leave your name and not a ficticious “blog” name.
By Nicholas Irwin
May 19, 2006 11:43 AM | Link to this
It would appear that MLB has officially taken our interleague rival away and handed it to the Phillies, as the Phillies play a home and home series with the Red Sox and we don’t. Maybe we should find somebody we would like as our interleague rival and whine incessantly until we get them.
By Chop Chick
May 19, 2006 01:41 PM | Link to this
Well, you KNOW how heated the Braves’ baseball history with Baltimore and Toronto has ALWAYS been, Nicholas. Those dang bird teams; oh, we hatehateHATE them so. Um… yeah, MLB. Right. (rolling eyes)
By dylan
May 19, 2006 01:48 PM | Link to this
brewers fan I am confused why are you so worried about the dodgers? Am I wrong or arent the brewers in the central division wehre they will only face the dodgers a few times this season? I would think your worries should be overcoming st. louis and the reds.
By dylan
May 19, 2006 01:53 PM | Link to this
As a braves fan I am very happy witht his weekends matchups I would much rather go face the Diamondbacks then have to play the Sox or Yanks I am sure there are a few fans in Philly and New York saying the same thing.
By T Robb
May 19, 2006 02:45 PM | Link to this
Re: Frenchy: I was one of a growing chorus who had decided three weeks ago that his lack of plate discipline would require him to spend time at Richmond.
It would seem that, while improved plate discipline from our boy would be welcome, it may be acceptable for him to work that out with the big club.
I was wrrrrrrooonnnggg.
By Nicholas Irwin
May 19, 2006 06:41 PM | Link to this
When the Marlins move maybe we can call dibs on the Devil Rays and give ourselves six free wins every year.
By Chop Chick
May 19, 2006 10:32 PM | Link to this
Good luck with that, Nicholas, because the way MLB is pulling boneheaded moves these days they’ll be the Salt Lake City D-Rays once the Marlins move to Las Vegas and their oh-so storied rivalry will live on. Such baseball tradition, you know.
By brewerfaninATL
May 20, 2006 02:00 AM | Link to this
dylan,
Oh, I am worried about the Cardinals, but we can at least BEAT them, whereas the Dodgers swept us (they’ve in fact owned us since we moved to the NL). The Reds? Not too worried because they’re starting to come back to reality…you watch, they’re pitching will fall apart soon! The Astros are going to be pretty tough too, but for some reason, the Dodgers just find ways to do us in, ALWAYS…damn you Nomar!!!