NLDS Game Thread: Braves @ Giants

October 8, 2010 by Mike Axisa 117 Comments

In case you missed it, Tim Lincecum schooled the Braves in Game One last night. Atlanta took 55 swings as a team, and missed 31 freaking times. That’s insane. Anyway, tonight’s matchup features Matt Cain and (Cyborg) Tommy Hanson. Game starts at 9:37pm ET and can be seen on TBS.

Beyond the game, use this as your open thread to talk about whatever.

first time lawng time

It’s on TNT at the moment.

Ew. They cut off Titanic for this.
first time lawng time

In case you missed it, ~~Tim Lincecum schooled the Braves in Game One last night. Atlanta took 55 swings as a team, and missed 31 freaking times.~~ Melky didn’t play. That’s insane.
http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com bexarama

I cannot get over Melky batting fifth. FIFTH. IN A PLAYOFF GAME AAAHHH
- first time lawng time
  
  Don’t be dissing the Melk Man!!!
- first time lawng time
  
  He’s going to singlehandedly win this game for the Braves. Just watch.
- http://twitter.com/Brad_Toughy Brad Toughy
  
  You haven’t been paying attention to the Braves, have you?
  
  They’ve lost Chipper Jones, Martin Prado and as bad as Melky is, take a look at the numbers from guys like Eric Hinske and Troy Glaus lately. Awful. Matt Diaz is terrible against RHP.
  
  The Braves aren’t a terribly deep team and lost the middle of their order to injury. The Yankees lineup gets a whole lot less imposing if A-Rod and Nick Swisher are out of the lineup.
  - http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com bexarama
    
    I know about their injuries and that they’re not all that deep offensively. Can’t say I know stuff like Matt Diaz being so bad against RHP, but doesn’t Hinske crush RHP?
    - http://twitter.com/Brad_Toughy Brad Toughy
      
      Wouldn’t say he crushes it, especially not this year (.246/.332/.427).
      
      Plus, Bobby Cox values OF defense, especially in SF, which has a very spacious outfield. Lumbering is the best word I’d use to describe Hinske in the outfield this year.
      - http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com bexarama
        
        Thanks. All true. I do know that outside of Heyward Atlanta’s OFs are pretty dubious, right?
        
        http://twitter.com/Brad_Toughy Brad Toughy
        
        Ankiel is decent. Pretty good range, great arm. Jumps and reads are a little iffy at times. McLouth plays a nice centerfield too.
        
        It’s LF that’s been an issue. Diaz and Hinske are an adventure. Melky’s the de facto best defensive LFer for them.
        
        I’m not going off anything except the eye test—I live in Atlanta and watch most Braves games.
        
        http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com bexarama
        
        Gotcha. I more meant offensively, because I know McLouth and Melky at least have been totally terrible this year in that manner. I don’t watch too many Braves games in full but Ankiel misplayed that Buster Posey triple terribly yesterday (I shouldn’t judge on one play though). I see Melky play poor defense a bunch and I remember Hinske being pretty bad out there from last year.
        
        http://twitter.com/Brad_Toughy Brad Toughy
        
        Yeah they’re all pretty inept offensively. The Braves would be a perfect fit for Carl Crawford this offseason, but I haven’t heard much of that match.
        
        Melky’s pretty much the same guy he was with the Yankees. Makes some spectacular, heads-up plays and then makes some boneheaded ones.
Zanath

I don’t get the cyborg thing for Hanson, but that’s hilarious.
Zanath

Looks like the Reds game is taking affect on the Giants.
http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com bexarama

Love all this crisp playoff baseball. smh
- Kit
  
  What does smh mean? (I’m reading it as “so much heart” for no reason and I feel that it is wrong.)
  - first time lawng time
    
    Shaking my head. It can’t be “so much heart” because the Sox aren’t in the playoffs silly!
    - Kit
      
      This is precisely why I sensed it was wrong.
      - Kit
        
        And thank you, forgot to add that.
  - http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com bexarama
    
    shaking my head :)
    - Kit
      
      Thanks.
first time lawng time

He’s gona hit one out…
- Zanath
  
  …to second base
  - first time lawng time
    
    Next time. Just wait.
    - Zanath
      
      If he does they should play a clip of Sterling’s home run call.
Hall and Nokes

McCann might not have to bring a bat to the batters box.
first time lawng time

The Giants home uniforms that they wore last night remind me of oreos.

Agree/Disagree?
- Zanath
  
  And the uniforms they are wearing tonight remind me of cheetos. And they are awful.
Kit

Learn how to call the ball, people. Not that difficult.
Devil In A Blue Cap

I hate alternate uniforms most of the time, including the painfully orange Giants one and the painfully boring Atlanta one. Does that make me a snob or just a person that shouts “get off my lawn” too much?
- Kit
  
  I don’t think you sound like a snob, but I may be biased because I agree. I’m not a fan of orange, and the Braves just look like they’re wearing funeral colors, and as much as I love wearing black and dark colors, the navy blue doesn’t seem fitting for some reason.
  - Devil In A Blue Cap
    
    It’s the navy blue letters on the navy uniform that ruin it. It used to be red letters on navy uniforms…much better.
  - Devil In A Blue Cap
    
    Two days and three managers tossed: the umps are already ahead of schedule.
    - Devil In A Blue Cap
      
      Wow, reply fail as firefox reloads.
- http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com bexarama
  
  I don’t think you’re a snob at all. Some alternate uniforms are okay, but the Giants and Braves have really bad alternate uniforms. The uniforms they had last night were really nice IMO. These are awful. :(
Zanath

Pat the Bat!

Go Giants! Giants are prolly my favorite National League team.
JerseyDutch

Bring the pain, Giants.
Cy Pettitte

Pat Burell wow
http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com bexarama

Not what you wanted to do, Tommy. :(
Zanath

Oh, what a play by Uribe!

/Kay’d

Though was that more Umpire fail there? Hard to tell.
- tom
  
  If we’re taking a vote, I thought he kept his toe on the bag for the first second he had possession.
  
  But this is why the whole “Instant replay or bust” movement is silly, because alot of these calls (incl. yesterday’s trio) are so close, there’s going to be judgment involved anyway.
  - kunaldo
    
    so if someone throws a flag on that play, it would be ruled inconclusive and the ruling on the field would stand…
Carlosologist

Pat Burrell: Feared (but not nearly as much as Bernie). Hanson hasn’t thrown a fastball in the zone since the homer.
TechN9ne

Giants baseball is simply fucking unstoppable ! Feel the pain from Cain!
- TechN9ne
  
  Got to love Melky ! UZR + 1500000000000 ! He is the living embodiment of suave ,grit , clutch, and danger all at once.
  - first time lawng time
    
    LOL. Don’t make fun of Melky. He’s a little angel.
    
    /not really’d
Zanath

Mo can do everything. Except act.
- Kit
  
  Was just thinking that. =/
  - Zanath
    
    To his credit, he was better than Joe. But that isn’t saying much.
    - Kit
      
      I actually think the opposite, but it may just be that he has more lines to redeem himself with.
- All Star Carl
  
  Yeah because that was a major role he was featured in. I mean I’ve seen way better Taco Bell commercial actors than him.
  - Zanath
    
    Sarcasm duly noted
- All Star Carl
  
  He didn’t have that look in his eyes like he wanted to attack that Taco like he would, say, an Albert Pujols with the bases loaded in the 9th inning.
Dream of Electric Sheep/ still haven’t register /too lazy

Melky is true to the game. I wish we still had him !
- first time lawng time
  
  I actually do. But not because he’s “true to the game.”
  - Dream of Electric Sheep/ still haven’t register /too lazy
    
    Melky was a beast in the NYC club scenes , Rico Suavesque ,with an UZR of +2000000 in the erogenous zone.
    - first time lawng time
      
      You know, I don’t appreciate the sarcastic remarks about Melky. LOL.
      - Dream of Electric Sheep/ still haven’t register /too lazy
        
        I was a Melky fan , more for his antics though. He did have a few memorable hits for us as well.
        
        first time lawng time
        
        Oh. Ok then. I didn’t know that. I apologize. Yeah, I though he was enjoyable to watch in the dugout. lol
first time lawng time

Fact: Giants pitcher, number 18, really pulls off the high socks.

It’s David Robertson-esque
- Dream of Electric Sheep/ still haven’t register /too lazy
  
  FACT : that’s an opinion and is not a fact.
  - first time lawng time
    
    So you think he can’t pull off the high socks?
    - Dream of Electric Sheep/ still haven’t register /too lazy
      
      I opined YES.
      - first time lawng time
        
        Well then. I disagree.
- Jon in CUO
  
  I think Roy Oswalt looks similar to David Robertson on the mound.
JerseyDutch

Giants wearing these uniforms in anticipation of Halloween?
- first time lawng time
  
  Yeah. Lincecum wore a mask last night.
  
  Either that or he’s just reeeeeaaaaaally ugly.
- Dream of Electric Sheep/ still haven’t register /too lazy
  
  Nah, they always wear those after a team Bong hit started by Capt. Timmy.
Dream of Electric Sheep/ still haven’t register /too lazy

The Giants basically got Ross, Burrell and Guillen for nothing while we had to give up Zmac for Kearns.

More justice about orders of waiver claims , I have the same gripe with MLB amateur drafts, good team gets punished for no fucking good reasons. Let’s make it random!
- Dream of Electric Sheep/ still haven’t register /too lazy
  
  *injustice*
- V
  
  I would make it more like fantasy baseball. Waiver priority based on prior season standings, but once you use a waiver claim, you drop to the end of the list.
  - V
    
    A -successful- waiver claim, that is.
  - Dream of Electric Sheep/ still haven’t register /too lazy
    
    I think in fairness to all the teams , I would make it a lottery system. Everyone can draw to get their order for the next year.
    
    I don’t buy the logic of rewarding the worst team with the highest pick thingie.
JerseyDutch

Please tell me that the Giants fans are at least waving hankies and not pom-poms.
- Ray the Anti-Handle
  
  Ugh, I’m glad they don’t do that shit at Yankee Stadium. The only thing you should be waving are your hot dog and beer. And garlic fries.
  
  Now, if people at Yankee Stadium would stop doing the wave. Yuck.
  - http://theyankeeu.com Matt Imbrogno
    
    Seriously; it seems like the only teams w/o some sort of cheering gimmick of late are the Yankees and Sox. Last year, I’m relatively certain they were the only playoff teams who didn’t have some bullshit like that.
  - JerseyDutch
    
    People doing the wave at YS should be escorted out of the park by security and given a free ticket to Citifield.
sleepykarl

Who would Rowand defensively replace? Also, the Giants pen is funny when it had the two Sox rejects(Lopez and Ramirez) side-by-side.
http://www.twitter.com/deanezag Zack

I like Brian Wilson, but he looks ridiculous with that thing on his face
- http://theyankeeu.com Matt Imbrogno
  
  And the outrageously tight shirt.
  
  And the unbottoned shirt.
  
  And the hairdo.
  
  Seriously, Brian, you’re making yourself look stupid.
  - http://www.twitter.com/deanezag Zack
    
    I could probably deal with one of the four, but not all four.
Hall and Nokes

Well here it is. Melky’s placement in the lineup is certainly factoring here.
Hall and Nokes

nice at bat!
Carlosologist

lol Melky.
http://theyankeeu.com Matt Imbrogno

Bunting when down by two and no outs?

BRILLIANT.

Fucking National League.
Hall and Nokes

good god, the National League.
http://www.twitter.com/deanezag Zack

Get ready for the Alex Gonzalez: Winning Player articles
- Hall and Nokes
  
  Naw, wasn’t a cheap homer down the line.
Geoff

does the SF bullpen pass out Macho Man Randy Savage beards?
http://www.twitter.com/deanezag Zack

Kimble has 40k in 20 IP? I should start paying attention to the NL more
- http://www.twitter.com/deanezag Zack
  
  Or Kimbrel
Ray the Anti-Handle

Whoa, I look away for 15 minutes and it’s tied? Heh, Romo with the undefined ERA!
Dream of Electric Sheep/ still haven’t register /too lazy

Kimbrel’s real name is actually Melvin Croussett for those you who don’t know.
All Star Carl

Does Billy Wagner choke?
All Star Carl

Ahhh he’ll just end his career n/m
Hall and Nokes

Another career ending injury caused by bunting.
Hughesus Christo

THE EXPERIENCE!
CBean

My brother is a huge Braves fan and while I’m not rooting for them, I’m actually a little worried about him after this. I know if my win were dependant on Farns, I’d be in a bad place.
Lance

Nice to know that Krazy Kyle is still the same.
http://www.yfsf.org AndrewYF

Farnsworth may lose the game, but damned if he isn’t going to take a few Giants down with him.
http://www.yfsf.org AndrewYF

Oh Enter Sandman is playing, is Rivera coming in?
CBean

Wait are they playing Enter Sandman? That seems wrong.
sleepykarl

Farnsworth has done what he knows best, hit a guy and walk a guy.
http://www.yfsf.org AndrewYF

Epic ineptitude by the Giants.

Whatever, no one’s getting past the Phillies.

When was the last time a non-Yankee team appeared in three World Series in a row?
- http://www.twitter.com/deanezag Zack
  
  Oakland right? Reds, Jays and Braves went back to back only
http://www.twitter.com/deanezag Zack

Hey Glaus- the guy on 3rd was the freaking winning run, he’s priority #1
Hughesus Christo

Next time someone complains about Girardi’s managing, direct them to watch this performance by Bochy.

#illogical
- http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com bexarama
  
  Hugheus… Christo… defending… Girardi… I… Between this and Farnsworth getting Posey to GIDP, THE WORLD MAKES NO SENSE ANY MORE
  - http://twitter.com/firstheart42 seimiya
    
    JORGE POSADA ACTUALLY GOT A HIT RECENTLY TOO, BEXY.
CBean

So who closes for the Braves now?
- http://www.twitter.com/deanezag Zack
  
  Kyle, although I might trust Ankiel more.
  - CBean
    
    The very thought makes me want to clutch our bullpen hard and never let go. We are so lucky.
Ray the Anti-Handle

Wow, Farnsworth tossed 1 2/3 scoreless? Impossible.
- http://www.yfsf.org AndrewYF
  
  I can’t believe Cashman let this guy go. Let’s see anyone in the Yankee bullpen get 5 outs in a one-run game. When will we get a real baseball person as the Yankee GM? Omar Minaya may have made a few missteps, but at least he came from a scouting background. What does the Teflon GM have going for him?
  
  /Lombardi’d
  - http://www.yfsf.org AndrewYF
    
    And before anyone makes the claim that Cashman is some great trademeister, look who he traded Farnsworth for: Ivan Rodriguez. Hoo boy, talk about getting something for nothing, huh?
    
    /May be overdoing it’d
Esteban

I know Ankiel’s not a great player, but imagine the talent it takes to make the majors as a pitcher AND as a hitter. That’s impressive shit right there.
Big Stein

Giants are one blown call in game one from being down 0-2.