The Braves had a terrible game yesterday, as they were shutout by the Brewers 4-0. Atlanta only had two hits, doubles by Martin Prado and Brian McCann. Nate McLouth was 0-4 in his Braves debut. The two teams play at 710p tonight. Javier Vasquez will pitch for the Braves against Jeff Suppan for the Brewers.
In the NCAA baseball tournament, Cal-State Fullerton, Arkansas, Ole Miss, and LSU won. All 8 super regionals play today, with the 4 above mentioned teams playing for a spot in the CWS.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Friday, June 5, 2009
NCAA Baseball Super Regional Predictions......plus, a tough loss.
The NCAA baseball super regionals start today, so here are my picks:
Texas over TCU
Florida over Southern Miss
Clemson over Arizona State (upset)
North Carolina over East Carolina
Cal-State Fullerton over Louisville
Florida State over Arkansas
Virginia over Ole Miss (upset)
LSU over Rice
In high school baseball, the Brownsburg Bulldogs had another disappointing sectional loss, this time to Decatur Central. The final score was 2-1. Brownsburg was down 2-1 in the fourth inning when they had runners on first and second with no outs. The inning came to an end quickly when the runner was picked off second followed by a pop out and a ground out. The offense did not have a good game, striking out 8 times and only getting 3 hits. The pitching was great for the entire sectional, only giving up 3 runs in 19 innings, including Dalton Wentz's 13 strikeout performance against DC on Thursday. You would think that if your tourney ERA is 1.11, you would win the sectional, but you have to have some offense to back that up. If you take away the first game, the Dogs only scored 5 runs in 2 games. I'm not sure what the problem is, but we haven't won a sectional since the undefeated state championship season of 2005. Of course, I could have coached that team to a state title, considering they had 6 Division one players, including two possible major leaguers. So, once again we had a 20+ win season and bowed out of the sectionals with a loss. It's very frustrating.....
Texas over TCU
Florida over Southern Miss
Clemson over Arizona State (upset)
North Carolina over East Carolina
Cal-State Fullerton over Louisville
Florida State over Arkansas
Virginia over Ole Miss (upset)
LSU over Rice
In high school baseball, the Brownsburg Bulldogs had another disappointing sectional loss, this time to Decatur Central. The final score was 2-1. Brownsburg was down 2-1 in the fourth inning when they had runners on first and second with no outs. The inning came to an end quickly when the runner was picked off second followed by a pop out and a ground out. The offense did not have a good game, striking out 8 times and only getting 3 hits. The pitching was great for the entire sectional, only giving up 3 runs in 19 innings, including Dalton Wentz's 13 strikeout performance against DC on Thursday. You would think that if your tourney ERA is 1.11, you would win the sectional, but you have to have some offense to back that up. If you take away the first game, the Dogs only scored 5 runs in 2 games. I'm not sure what the problem is, but we haven't won a sectional since the undefeated state championship season of 2005. Of course, I could have coached that team to a state title, considering they had 6 Division one players, including two possible major leaguers. So, once again we had a 20+ win season and bowed out of the sectionals with a loss. It's very frustrating.....
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Big shake-up in Atlanta
The Braves lost to the Cubs last night 3-2 in 11 innings, and that was the fourth biggest story of the day for the Braves. Before the game, 305-game winner Tom Glavine was released. He had pitched 6 scoreless innings at Class A Rome, but the Braves decided it would be better for him to be released than pay him the $1 million that he was due if he was placed on the 25-man roster plus the remaining salary perks that he would require. I think it was the best thing for the Braves, they don't need to pay all that money for a 4th/5th starter and he lost all of his "home-town" compassion when he bolted for the hated New York Mets in 2003. I hope he had fun in New York, because I'm glad Atlanta strung him along until you were just about to make it back to the bigs and then they cut him loose.
Jorge Campillo was placed on the DL and the Braves called-up Tommy Hanson. Hanson will start on Sunday against the Brewers. He is the Braves top prospect and had a 1.49 ERA in 66 innings at AAA Gwinnett. He had 12.2 K/9 and a WHIP of .86, I think he is ready to show us what he can do at the big league level.
The Braves traded for Nate McLouth from the Pirates to shore up the outfield. Atlanta gave up Charlie Morton (a 4-A player, at best) and two minor leaguers (Gorkys Hernandez and Jeff Locke). I think that this was a great deal for the Braves. McLouth's contract isn't too bad ($13 million over the next three years) and he is better than any outfielder that we have put on the field this year. This may be a deal that could lead to a trade of Jeff Francoeur or a release of Garrett Anderson or something that I can't even think of yet.
All in all, a good day for the Braves even though they lost. This shows that GM Frank Wren is looking at winning this season while still able to keep the core team intact and staying fairly young as a roster. The Braves are 5.5 games behind in the NL East, but let's give this team a month to see how they can get back on track.
Jorge Campillo was placed on the DL and the Braves called-up Tommy Hanson. Hanson will start on Sunday against the Brewers. He is the Braves top prospect and had a 1.49 ERA in 66 innings at AAA Gwinnett. He had 12.2 K/9 and a WHIP of .86, I think he is ready to show us what he can do at the big league level.
The Braves traded for Nate McLouth from the Pirates to shore up the outfield. Atlanta gave up Charlie Morton (a 4-A player, at best) and two minor leaguers (Gorkys Hernandez and Jeff Locke). I think that this was a great deal for the Braves. McLouth's contract isn't too bad ($13 million over the next three years) and he is better than any outfielder that we have put on the field this year. This may be a deal that could lead to a trade of Jeff Francoeur or a release of Garrett Anderson or something that I can't even think of yet.
All in all, a good day for the Braves even though they lost. This shows that GM Frank Wren is looking at winning this season while still able to keep the core team intact and staying fairly young as a roster. The Braves are 5.5 games behind in the NL East, but let's give this team a month to see how they can get back on track.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Chipper, Danielle, and Rain
The Braves only competed for 5 innings on Tuesday, but thankfully it was innings 8 through 12 as they defeated the Cubs 6-5. Atlanta was one-hit through 7 innings and down 5-0 when Garrett Anderson led off the 8th with a homer followed by an error, three walks, and a sac fly to make the game 5-3. Brian McCann flew out for the first out of the ninth, then Anderson struck out but gained first on a passed ball, and Martin Prado flew out to center for the second out. Fittingly, Jeff Francoeur (4 for 26 over the last week) was now at the plate. He hit a dramatic two-run homer to tie the game. Neither team scored until the bottom of the 12th when Yunel Escobar singled, stole second, and was singled home by Chipper Jones. It was a good win for the Braves, but they are still 4.5 games behind the surging Phillies in the NL East. The teams play tonight at 710p. Derek Lowe will pitch for the Braves and Ted Lilly will pitch for the Cubs. Since both of these pitchers are on my fantasy team, I really hope the Braves win 1-0.
In the Women's Softball World Series last night, Washington defeated Florida 3-2 to take home the title. Danielle Lawrie pitched well again, as she was named the tourney's most valuable player to go along with her National Player of the Year award. Lawrie threw over 700 pitches in the 6 WCWS games and showed some signs of tiring last night, but gutted out the victory. Florida ended the season 63-5 and has won 133 games over the last two years, but does not have a championship to show for it.
The baseball super regionals start on Friday at 4 sites and Saturday at the other 4 sites.
The Brownsburg sectional game was postponed due to rain in the bottom of the third inning with the Dogs behind 2-1. The game will be started from there at 7pm tonight.
In the Women's Softball World Series last night, Washington defeated Florida 3-2 to take home the title. Danielle Lawrie pitched well again, as she was named the tourney's most valuable player to go along with her National Player of the Year award. Lawrie threw over 700 pitches in the 6 WCWS games and showed some signs of tiring last night, but gutted out the victory. Florida ended the season 63-5 and has won 133 games over the last two years, but does not have a championship to show for it.
The baseball super regionals start on Friday at 4 sites and Saturday at the other 4 sites.
The Brownsburg sectional game was postponed due to rain in the bottom of the third inning with the Dogs behind 2-1. The game will be started from there at 7pm tonight.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Pitching, pitching, pitching
The Braves had the day off on Monday and take on the Cubs today at 710p. Kenshin Kawakami will pitch for the Braves. Atlanta was swept in all 6 games against the Cubs last year being outscored 49-18.
The super regional field is set for the NCAA baseball tourney. 13 of the 16 number one seeds made it through. The only #1s to not make the next round were Georgia Tech (beaten by Southern Miss), UC Irvine (Virginia), and Oklahoma (Arkansas). The super regionals start on Friday. In softball, Washington defeated Florida 8-0 as the Huskies got to Florida pitcher Stacy Nelson for four earned runs in 5 innings. Nelson's ERA is now 0.58. Washington's Danielle Lawrie pitched a 2 hit shutout to set the Huskies single season record for shutouts with 41. Lawrie's ERA is now 0.97. Ashley Charters led the offense for Washington with 3 hits, 2 runs, and 2 RBI. Game two of the best-of-three series is tonight.
Brownsburg beat Avon last night 4-1, ending a nightmarish run of losses in the tourney to the Orioles. Matt Duncan had a no-hitter through 6 innings, but ran out of gas as the first three Avon batters of the inning all singled. Dalton Wentz came in to relieve Duncan and promptly stuck out the next three hitters. Mitchell Burton, Andrew Martin, and Alex McGowan all had multi-hit games to lead the offense. The Bulldogs will play Decatur Central in the sectional finals tonight at 6pm. This game has 2 of the last 4 state champions (BBurg 2005, Decatur 2008).
The super regional field is set for the NCAA baseball tourney. 13 of the 16 number one seeds made it through. The only #1s to not make the next round were Georgia Tech (beaten by Southern Miss), UC Irvine (Virginia), and Oklahoma (Arkansas). The super regionals start on Friday. In softball, Washington defeated Florida 8-0 as the Huskies got to Florida pitcher Stacy Nelson for four earned runs in 5 innings. Nelson's ERA is now 0.58. Washington's Danielle Lawrie pitched a 2 hit shutout to set the Huskies single season record for shutouts with 41. Lawrie's ERA is now 0.97. Ashley Charters led the offense for Washington with 3 hits, 2 runs, and 2 RBI. Game two of the best-of-three series is tonight.
Brownsburg beat Avon last night 4-1, ending a nightmarish run of losses in the tourney to the Orioles. Matt Duncan had a no-hitter through 6 innings, but ran out of gas as the first three Avon batters of the inning all singled. Dalton Wentz came in to relieve Duncan and promptly stuck out the next three hitters. Mitchell Burton, Andrew Martin, and Alex McGowan all had multi-hit games to lead the offense. The Bulldogs will play Decatur Central in the sectional finals tonight at 6pm. This game has 2 of the last 4 state champions (BBurg 2005, Decatur 2008).
Monday, June 1, 2009
There's the offense
The Braves punished the DBacks yesterday, 9-3. Atlanta had 7 doubles and 2 homers to jump out to an 8-0 lead after 4 innings. Kris Medlen got his first win of his career, giving up 1 earned run in 6 innings. Kelly Johnson and Yunel Escobar each had three doubles while Chipper Jones had a homer and 4 RBI. The Braves have the day off today before hosting the Cubs on Tuesday. Atlanta is 25-25, 4 games out of the NL East lead.
Ten teams punched their ticket to the super regionals yesterday in the NCAA baseball tourney. 8 #1 seeds made it through so far, along with 2 #2 seeds (Arkansas beat #7 overall seed Oklahoma and Virginia beat #6 overall seed UC Irvine, both predicted on this blog earlier in the week). There are 6 games today that will fill out the bracket for the super regionals.
Where has the pitching gone in college softball? In a sport that used to be dominated by good pitching as the tourney rolls on, it has been the bats that have taken over. The weekend games averaged over 11 runs between the two teams. So, while the finals may seem like a pitcher's battle between Florida's Stacy Nelson (0.41 ERA) and Washington's Danielle Lawrie (0.84 ERA), it may come down to whatever team can score 6 runs first. Game one of the best-of-three series is tonight.
Ten teams punched their ticket to the super regionals yesterday in the NCAA baseball tourney. 8 #1 seeds made it through so far, along with 2 #2 seeds (Arkansas beat #7 overall seed Oklahoma and Virginia beat #6 overall seed UC Irvine, both predicted on this blog earlier in the week). There are 6 games today that will fill out the bracket for the super regionals.
Where has the pitching gone in college softball? In a sport that used to be dominated by good pitching as the tourney rolls on, it has been the bats that have taken over. The weekend games averaged over 11 runs between the two teams. So, while the finals may seem like a pitcher's battle between Florida's Stacy Nelson (0.41 ERA) and Washington's Danielle Lawrie (0.84 ERA), it may come down to whatever team can score 6 runs first. Game one of the best-of-three series is tonight.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Free baseball
The Braves continued their west coast slide, losing to the DBacks 3-2 in 11 innings. Atlanta held a 2-0 lead through 6 innings, before Javier Vasquez got hit hard a few times and was pulled from the game. He threw 6 1/3 innings, striking out 8 hitters and only giving up 1 earned run for his 4th quality start in his last 5 outings. While the pitching was good, the offense was back to its normal ways. They have scored 19 runs in the last 6 games, and that includes the 10-run game on Friday. take that game out at they have scored 9 runs in the other 5 games. That will not get it done at this level. The final game of the series is today at 410p. Kris Medlen gets the start for the Braves.
Speaking of free baseball, the Texas/Boston College regional game went 25 innings last night. The game started at 6pm and lasted over 7 hours, ending at 105am this morning. In my regional predictions, I had BC beating Texas and even though it is still possible, it would have been nice for the Eagles to pull this one out.
In the Louisville regional, IU got shut-out by Vanderbilt 10-0. Matt Bashore gave up 8 runs in 4 1/3 innings while Vandy freshman Sonny Gray threw 8 innings of shutout ball and struck out 10 Hoosiers. IU was eliminated from the NCAA tournament.
In high school ball, the Brownsburg softball team lost to Ben Davis 8-1, ending their season. In baseball, the Dogs beat Manual 15-0 in 5 innings. In other action at the Decatur Central Sectional, Ben Davis beat Pike 5-4 in 8 innings and Avon beat Tech 16-6 in 5 innings. On Monday, Decatur Central will play Avon at 5pm and Brownsburg will play Ben Davis in the second game.
Speaking of free baseball, the Texas/Boston College regional game went 25 innings last night. The game started at 6pm and lasted over 7 hours, ending at 105am this morning. In my regional predictions, I had BC beating Texas and even though it is still possible, it would have been nice for the Eagles to pull this one out.
In the Louisville regional, IU got shut-out by Vanderbilt 10-0. Matt Bashore gave up 8 runs in 4 1/3 innings while Vandy freshman Sonny Gray threw 8 innings of shutout ball and struck out 10 Hoosiers. IU was eliminated from the NCAA tournament.
In high school ball, the Brownsburg softball team lost to Ben Davis 8-1, ending their season. In baseball, the Dogs beat Manual 15-0 in 5 innings. In other action at the Decatur Central Sectional, Ben Davis beat Pike 5-4 in 8 innings and Avon beat Tech 16-6 in 5 innings. On Monday, Decatur Central will play Avon at 5pm and Brownsburg will play Ben Davis in the second game.
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