Braves 7 Marlins 2
This is really something. Once again the Braves get an unexpected sterling performance from a starting pitcher -- tonight it was Ramirez having to convince Cox that he was healthy enough to start after the strained groin he suffered last time out. He came through with a second straight "good Horacio" start -- 7 IP, 5 H, 3 BB, 2 K, 1 ER. Squint hard enough and he looks like Glavine; lots of junk outside, with the strategic "show me" fastball in on the hands now and then.
It must be said that every decision McKeon made blew up in his face. Twice in the fourth inning he played the infield back with a runner on third, looking for a double play. LaRoche and Estrada each grounded weakly to second -- the runner on third scored each time. Then, the truly inexplicable. Andruw at the plate in the eighth, one out, Furcal on second and Giles on first. They pull off a double-steal, and McKeon elects to intentionally walk Andruw. Sensible move, right?
Ordinarily I'd agree. But the count at the time of the steal was 2-2. I don't care how hot Andruw is -- to intentionally pass anyone after two strikes is just plain wrong. Cox proceeds to outmaneuver McKeon by pinch hitting Julio against the lefthander brought in to face LaRoche:
LaRoche vs. RHP: .267/.330/.466
Franco vs. LHP: .308/.390/.500
Franco, in the words of Brave-O-Matic buddy Jim Kallerman, pokes a long fly with the bases juiced to salt this one away. The Marlins ground crew punctuates the incompetence by proving themselves completely unable to manipulate the tarp over the infield during the eventual rain delay, and the game was called.
Rule clarification: The Braves were awarded the victory despite the fact that the Marlins didn't get fair ups in the bottom of the eighth, because the Braves were already leading 3-1 when the inning started. If the score had been, say, 1-1 after seven, and the Braves took the lead in the eighth, the game would have been suspended and completed tomorrow. All stats count.
Furcal had a helluva game -- double, triple, SB, and several fine plays in the field, especially throwing out Castillo with two outs and a runner on third in the seventh with the score 3-1. His failures still grate, but with the rest of the lineup producing we can absorb his iffy hitting. I could see dropping him to seventh or eighth in the batting order and recasting him as a modern-day Mark Belanger -- good field, no hit. That way his occasional successes at the bat can be viewed as a bonus. Just a thought.
It must be said that every decision McKeon made blew up in his face. Twice in the fourth inning he played the infield back with a runner on third, looking for a double play. LaRoche and Estrada each grounded weakly to second -- the runner on third scored each time. Then, the truly inexplicable. Andruw at the plate in the eighth, one out, Furcal on second and Giles on first. They pull off a double-steal, and McKeon elects to intentionally walk Andruw. Sensible move, right?
Ordinarily I'd agree. But the count at the time of the steal was 2-2. I don't care how hot Andruw is -- to intentionally pass anyone after two strikes is just plain wrong. Cox proceeds to outmaneuver McKeon by pinch hitting Julio against the lefthander brought in to face LaRoche:
LaRoche vs. RHP: .267/.330/.466
Franco vs. LHP: .308/.390/.500
Franco, in the words of Brave-O-Matic buddy Jim Kallerman, pokes a long fly with the bases juiced to salt this one away. The Marlins ground crew punctuates the incompetence by proving themselves completely unable to manipulate the tarp over the infield during the eventual rain delay, and the game was called.
Rule clarification: The Braves were awarded the victory despite the fact that the Marlins didn't get fair ups in the bottom of the eighth, because the Braves were already leading 3-1 when the inning started. If the score had been, say, 1-1 after seven, and the Braves took the lead in the eighth, the game would have been suspended and completed tomorrow. All stats count.
Furcal had a helluva game -- double, triple, SB, and several fine plays in the field, especially throwing out Castillo with two outs and a runner on third in the seventh with the score 3-1. His failures still grate, but with the rest of the lineup producing we can absorb his iffy hitting. I could see dropping him to seventh or eighth in the batting order and recasting him as a modern-day Mark Belanger -- good field, no hit. That way his occasional successes at the bat can be viewed as a bonus. Just a thought.
posted by Sam Bass | 10:27 PM
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