Chop Chick

By geekboy

March 31, 2008 7:57 AM | Link to this

The Braves strike out too much. And they have to learn to work the pitcher like Escobar did in his first at-bat. After that, Chipper made an out in one pitch.

You can’t let pitchers off the hook that easy if you want to win. Elite pitchers will abuse you … also-rans like Perez will just beat you.

And Kotsay is a clown. It’s time to pack up a minor-league starter, reliever and outfielder for a REAL center fielder. Blanco and Kotsay are NOT the answer.

By rekkidbraka

March 31, 2008 8:23 AM | Link to this

[small voice] I like the new alt-blue road unis. [/small voice]

“Washington’s Nick Johnson, not known for his blinding speed…” — BWAH HA HA HA HA! CC, you owe me a new computer monitor. I can’t get the coffee spew off of this one.

Totally with geekboy on the Tomahawks’ lack of patience at the plate. When will this team learn to, as you say, “work the pitcher”? One of the simplest concepts in baseball that so many batters (and teams) just don’t get. Force a pitcher to throw more than he’d like. Wear him down. Allow your teammates to see what he’s got. Can’t get any easier than that.

By Glen

March 31, 2008 8:37 AM | Link to this

Its just one game…Whoever said Mark Kotsay is a clown after 4 at-bats has absolutely no idea of what baseball is about. Its a 162 game season not a one game do or die, lighten up folks. We one the 1st game of the season the last 3 yrs, Has that done any good ? I think there were a lot more positives than negatives to take from this game. And I also definitely agree the Braves must get sounder on the basepaths, they ran themselves out of a couple of chances.

By Da Mick

March 31, 2008 8:41 AM | Link to this

Jeese Louise, the guy’s (Kotsay) been with the Brave’s all of one game, and he’s a clown? I will remind you my most precocious Geek, that Kotsay has enjoyed a long career as one of the leagues more prominent center fielders before coming to the Braves. He looked great in spring games, and frankly, except for popping the ball up every at bat (which most of the rest didn’t do much better), I don’t see where he did a thing wrong. So far with the Braves, he’s made some brilliant catches, and gotten to just about everything one could reasonably expect. But perhaps on this blog the concept of being reasonable is the key question.

In any case the wait is over; the season’s started; the Nats looked good, and it was fitting that they should have a bang-up finish for their special night. When the game was over I smiled, becuase, other than the Braves’ flaws that The Chick pointed out, it was a good one. The Braves rallied, tied, and got beat — fair and square — in spectacular fashion. Let’s chalk it up to getting the engine going, not blow things out of proportion and freak out, and move on. Whadayasay?

Mick

By mountain man

March 31, 2008 8:46 AM | Link to this

It was frustrating to watch the lack of hitting last night. But we gotta give the team more than one game before we can make any judgments.

I hope TBS is doing well with their decision to minimize Brave’s broadcasts. I for one don’t see how they make any money off their lineup of tired old reruns. But of course the American public isn’t really known for their viewing discernment, now are they?

By braves goil

March 31, 2008 9:03 AM | Link to this

Totally agree w/the CC on the Brian McCann baserunning error (which is what it was…an error in judgment on his part.) That was not smart. I don’t hate the look of the alternate uni, I hate the CONCEPT of the alternate uni. It’s a plan designed by marketing guys to sell more stuff, pure and simple. All that said, I like this team and think they’ll do well. Last night’s game wasn’t a total exercise in frustration but it left me sort of …meh shrugs.

By richbrave

March 31, 2008 9:03 AM | Link to this

Agree with geekboy and rekkidbraka:

Lack of patience probably allowed the Washington starter off the hook early and cost them the game. I blame the hitting coach for that lack of discipline. Where’s Don Baylor when you need him? Jones had a career year under his tutelage(1999), but of course, had to change his style somewhat which Chip resented. Consequently, Baylor’s history and TP is in. Not good for the team in my estimation.

By atlbravesfan44

March 31, 2008 9:16 AM | Link to this

To Geekboy: Did you watch the game? After Escobar walked in the first, Chipper got a first pitch fastball right down the middle. He missed his pitch. You can’t fault him for taking a shot. Working the count can be overrated. It’s good to take/foul off some pitches if they are not the one you want…but belt high down the middle is the one you drive.

I gotta say, even though the end result was not good, I saw some good things. Hudson looked dominant. Half the lineup hit the ball well (Kelly, Chipper, Tex, BMac). Even Moylan looked good. I mean honestly he got beat by a good hitter who pulled his hands in and drove a pitcher’s pitch out of the yard. GO BRAVES!

By RC35

March 31, 2008 9:21 AM | Link to this

I have been concerned about this offense all Spring. The Braves rarely scored a high number of runs, particularly as the opposing pitching improved. Texiera had a horrible Spring at the plate, and Kotsay hasn’t given any visible evidence that he is likely to surpass last year’s .214 with 1 HR.

No matter how you slice it, 5 hits on opening night against Odalis Perez does not send the right message for Opening Day. I hope I get to eat these words while watching the Braves soar to first and win the Series, but right now, I want to see them win A series.

By log48

March 31, 2008 9:35 AM | Link to this

Anyone else notice they ran twice on Frenchy”s arm in the first and made it both times - a portent of things to come??

By log48

March 31, 2008 9:37 AM | Link to this

Anyone else notice they ran twice on Frenchy”s arm in the first and made it both times - a portent of things to come??

By log48

March 31, 2008 9:37 AM | Link to this

Anyone else notice they ran twice on Frenchy”s arm in the first and made it both times - a portent of things to come??

By GORAVES

March 31, 2008 10:05 AM | Link to this

LAY OFF OF BRIAN MCCANN!!!!!!!! OK so he got thrown out at second, but he got a bad break!!! He hit the ball every bit of 2 ft shy of a homer, and the right fielder caught a lucky break on the bounce off the wall… IF the ball had fell any other way Brian would have been safe. SO it is not an error in baserunning, it is in error on the coach to send him, but more than that it was a lucky bounce by the NATS!!! I for one am proud of the ATL braves to be able to get the chance to open the newest ballpark, and in front of the president, that is an honar to be ask!!!! I am not disappointed in our loss, we shut down 24 batters in a row… I am glad that the Nats won there home opener, and it was a great game… SO FOR ALL YOU ANTI this and that just shut up!!!!! GO BRAVES

By Terry Pendleton

March 31, 2008 10:09 AM | Link to this

Maybe if Frenchy would stop swinging at the first pitch and popping up or grounding out to short stop we could get some things going.

I dont know what they teach at the Parkview, but Jeff must have been out sick when coach talked about plate discipline.

By Roger McDowell

March 31, 2008 10:14 AM | Link to this

atlantabravesfan44

Explain to me how a pitch that was supposed to be on the outside corner, but instead drifted back to the middle of the plate (belt high no less) would be considered a “pitchers pitch”

he made a mistake and Zimmerman punished him….like good hitters do when pitchers make a mistake.

By Zerevon

March 31, 2008 10:53 AM | Link to this

Kotsay is a JOKE…!!!! you can’t even get to O.Perez…what the hell is going on here for crying outloud..wait till we face the real pitchers..3rd place at best. Nationals..come on the Braves made them look like a WS contender last night.Bobby it is time to go and take Kotsay with you pathetic..!

By lin

March 31, 2008 10:55 AM | Link to this

like new uniforms shame only going be worn once in a while. as for game last night i was surprised way braves played and loss. thats the braves for you full of surprises wonder what next months surprises be in store for all of us to see? time will tell. right now i put braves from spring training watch up to last night 3rd. give you more in 2 months where put them. overall i say 2nd for now or 3rd. sorry do not have to agree with me.

By curiouser and curiouser

March 31, 2008 11:06 AM | Link to this

relax, children. they didn’t even get to practice at that ballpark previously — the Sunday game was rain-delayed and finally cancelled. We’ve been playing our kids all spring long, of COURSE the starters are going to be a bit rough. Combine that with the lucky bounces the Nats got (broken-bat singles are lucky) in the first, and one missed pitch for Moylan? Nothing to worry about. Sometimes teams don’t hit, especially teams that just got off the road, DIDN’T get to practice, and are going to have to get back on the road right after the game to come back to Atlanta.

Perspective! Seriously.

By West Cobb Dad

March 31, 2008 11:11 AM | Link to this

Hmmm…does anyone here realize that the Bravos were down by 2 runs and ended up tying it up in the top of the ninth? If this team was as bad as some on here are making it to be, the score should have been 18-0, not 3-2.

By geekboy

March 31, 2008 11:11 AM | Link to this

Yes, I watched the game. I was the plate umpire!

If Kotsay bats over .250 for the year I will eat his shorts. The Braves love taking chances on rejects, but this one ain’t gonna pay off.

BRING BACK LANGERHANS!

By Mike in GA

March 31, 2008 11:24 AM | Link to this

The Braves were not ready to play last night. Sure, there were bright spots, like Hudson’s settling down, and a homer and some doubles, but working the count and baserunning were poor, along with two poor throws from Frenchy, one of which also escaped Brian. But the season is a marathion, not a sprint. I do worry about hitting after seeing what the two Cleveland aces did to us, then a ham ‘n egger like Perez….

By Penny

March 31, 2008 11:25 AM | Link to this

Was that a ball game? I thought it was the “Joe Morgan” name dropping show. I did see a pretty good game between his bragging though. I think the Braves were too hyped up, and will calm down and do fine. Love those Braves!

By Murphy

March 31, 2008 11:35 AM | Link to this

Stop Swinging at the FIRST PITCH. AUGHHH. This drove me crazy last year and will this year if these guys cannot stop swinging for the fences.

By Ronald

March 31, 2008 11:43 AM | Link to this

well here we go again? those no hearted Braves in for another fall it took only one game and you can see what to expect, the Braves brought back Tom Glavin he’s not the ansewer. a great picther and a study hitter that can produce? not what they have, if so another losing season?

By FJR

March 31, 2008 11:47 AM | Link to this

Jesus H. Christ you people overreact. It’s one game of 162! Baseball is what it is.

One thing that nobody is talking about is how unproductive the RH batters were against a soft tossing lefty.

Somehow Kotsay is the scapegoat for a single loss, when he is a lefty. Yet Frenchy, Escobar and Diaz, who had one single between them against a pitcher they should eat up get a free pass? Those three have to produce against lefties if our lineup is going to score runs.

That being said, it was freaking cold and we were a few broken bat hits dropping in from having huddy throwing a shutout. Chalk that one up to bad breaks and move on.

By FJR

March 31, 2008 12:01 PM | Link to this

I’ve never seen so many people freak out about a lefthander going 0-3 against another lefthander as people are here about kotsay.

Heck, Diaz went 0-3 and he’s a righty, lets bring back Langerhans and platoon them, good idea?

By McNasty

March 31, 2008 12:26 PM | Link to this

Langerhans? Didnt he have problems with hitting as well and keeping it above the mendoza line or even con

By McNasty

March 31, 2008 12:26 PM | Link to this

Langerhans? Didnt he have problems with hitting as well and keeping it above the mendoza line or even conecting

By MP

March 31, 2008 12:50 PM | Link to this

A few quick observations:

Peter Moylan is a very good pitcher. Any pitcher can give up a solo homer. He will prove to be a winner after 10 outings.

I grew up with Joe Morgan, great player, horrible commentator. Very selfish and self centered.

Any game you lose 3-2, 2-1, 1-0 is a game you lost on the offensive side. You really shouldn’t look at pitching or defense as your problem. Gotta score at least 4 to win most of the time!

Do I need to adjust my set? The jerseys looked black to me but I hear they are navy.

By geekboy

March 31, 2008 12:55 PM | Link to this

The diff between Kotsay and Diaz is Diaz hit 340 last year and Kotsay hit 220. That, Einstein, is why I rag Kotsay, and why I do not rag the other hitters who have proven in recent times they are COMPETENT.

By richbrave

March 31, 2008 12:55 PM | Link to this

Langerhans. Slow bat with no way to speed it up. Not ML material for an outfielder.

By roman88

March 31, 2008 1:20 PM | Link to this

lighten up, some venters seem to almost in panic mode, face it washington had their little magical night, but huddy threw great, yeah and deserved a better fate. the hitters were too pumped and who wouldnt be, all will be fine, starting tonight.

By Josh H

March 31, 2008 1:31 PM | Link to this

Wow guys, its not college football. One game in a 162 game season.

I think it was Carrol Rodgers who said that Odalis Perez has a knack for the dramatic. It was a big scene, and he pitched well. Some of our guys had a decent time at the plate. Kelly Johnson, minus his basepath blunder. He at least hit the ball hard twice, once a single, other a fly out the center. Chipper, who weakly flied out on Perez’s first mistake pitch, and punished him when he threw it there again. Texeira missed a homer by a few feet, and so did McCann. I also agree, that it was not a baserunning blunder by McCann. How many times does an OF play a ball of the wall in his glove? It usually hits the ground first…

Escobar seemed to be the one to me who was trying to do too much. After his first at bat, he hit a few weak grounders to the left.

Hudson was great. Ohman looked good against one batter. Moylan probably threw one bad pitch. Unfortunately, it was crushed. No worries about him.

Its a long, long season. No reason to get all worked up about one game.

By VaBravesfan

March 31, 2008 1:41 PM | Link to this

Kotsay will not be around long. He hits like a sissy and is not much better in the field.

By flee hound

March 31, 2008 1:41 PM | Link to this

Anybody that watched that game knows it was a give away game to dedicate thier new ball park.If you can’t see that you must be blind or had your head turned and not watching.Any little leager knows not to throw down the middle of the plate with 2 out bottom of the 9th and nobody on and score tie’ed.

By flee hound

March 31, 2008 1:42 PM | Link to this

Anybody that watched that game knows it was a give away game to dedicate thier new ball park.If you can’t see that you must be blind or had your head turned and not watching.Any little leager knows not to throw down the middle of the plate with 2 out bottom of the 9th and nobody on and score tie’ed.

By mclovin

March 31, 2008 1:54 PM | Link to this

Braves lost last night, which sucks but it’s okay because there are 161 more games to play…but the REAL issue here is the fact that Joe Morgan is a miserable commentator…I’m sure he was a fine player and a nice person but I cannot STAND listening to that man babble for two hours.

Anyone with me on this?

By flee hound

March 31, 2008 2:13 PM | Link to this

MCLOVIN———— I think JOE MORGAN was a great player and one of the best commentators in the game of baseball.

By FJR

March 31, 2008 2:18 PM | Link to this

yes, kotsay hit .220 last year when he was injured. He has also hit over .270 for his career. If he’s healthy, that is what he’s going to hit. You act like his only year was last year. He has a proven track record and if he’s healthy there is no reason to believe he won’t live up to it. If anything he’s more proven than Diaz is.

I’m not saying this to point out matt diaz, I like matty. My point is that when two players go 0-3, one is a leffty against a left and the other is a righty against a lefty and you make the lefty the scape goat. Well, your and idiot.

By Gabe

March 31, 2008 2:39 PM | Link to this

Like everyone else has said, the Braves need to learn how to work the pitcher. Pitchers don’t like throwing more than 15 pitches per inning. Most pitchers either come out after the sixth or after the seventh, and if he has had to throw 15 pitches per inning for 6 complete innings thats 90 pitches; he’s done. If you get him to throw more than that he’s coming out a lot earlier, 20 pitches per inning put him at 80 pitches after four innings

By Jmac

March 31, 2008 3:09 PM | Link to this

By Jmac

March 31, 2008 3:11 PM | Link to this

http://youtube.com/watch?v=WStc3g_-008

By FJR

March 31, 2008 3:11 PM | Link to this

I don’t believe in this “working the pitcher” stuff. You don’t take pitches you can drive just for the sake of upping the pitcher’s pitch count. Chipper’s first AB is an example. Yes, he flew out, but he got exactly the pitch he was looking for and he just missed it. It happens.

What I do believe in is having certain types of pitches you look for in certain counts. For example, 0-0 you might look fastball middle in and take anything else. 1-0 you might do the same, but focus on an even smaller zone, etc.

0-1 you might look for anything you view to be a mistake pitch plus the middle in fastball, 0-2 you look to drive a certain pitch, plus protect and foul off anything off the outside corner.

You can’t fault a hitter for hacking when he gets the pitch he’s looking for and I think that’s what chipper does. With Francoeur, I don’t necessarily want to see him take pitches just to work the pitcher, I want to see him take pitches that he can’t drive consistently and wait for something he can drive almost every time. Problem with Francouer is that he thinks he can drive everything. Its part of the curse of being a decent bad ball hitter. You hit one pitcher’s pitch out and you think you can kill anything that you can reach.

By richbrave

March 31, 2008 6:00 PM | Link to this

atlbravesfan44:

Notice the second time around Perez threw Chip that same fat pitch in exactly the same spot. Atlanta scores!!!! HOME RUN. He didn’t miss it. I think me and the boy were referring to the table setters, Johnson and Escobar, and also Francouer, and Diaz lower down though not necessarily table setters. Depends who’s up leading off, but Perez could have been had early and the Braves really had opening night jitters. They’ll settle down.

By atlbravesfan44

April 1, 2008 10:32 AM | Link to this

to Roger McDowell, looking at K-zone the pitch was up and in. Zimm pulled his hands in to hit it.