Depressed in Atlanta

post from Atlanta Baseball Talk on 07 September 2011 11:37:19 PM. © Atlanta Baseball Talk

HELP! I usually have some idea for a blog that turns into an analogy about something happening with our Atlanta Braves. Most of the time, it?s brilliant (ok, that?s a self assessment?but it?s an assessment none the less). I then…[...]

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Carpenter 4-hits Brewers in 2-0 win (AP)

post from MLB News Blog on 07 September 2011 11:27:30 PM. © MLB News Blog

Chris Carpenter looked more like a Cy Young award winner than a .500 pitcher against the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday night. Carpenter (9-9) pitched a four-hitter to record his 14th career shutout in the St. Louis Cardinals’ 2-0 win. Rafael Furcal provided the offense with a solo home run but Carpenter needed just 2 hours, [...]

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Giants Enter Youth Movement as Season Slips

post from The Giants Baseball Blog- A San Francisco Giants Blog and Fan Website on 07 September 2011 11:01:15 PM. © The Giants Baseball Blog- A San Francisco Giants Blog and Fan Website

The Giants are 7.5 games out of first in the NL West as I type this, and depending on what the D-Backs do tonight, they could fall a season-low 8 games below. But that's not the only reason the Giants have gone into a September youth movement, they're simply beat up physically.

I'm on one of the weird computers again, so I'll keep my post short and sweet, but today I wanted to talk about the young Giants, both those getting a look at the Major League level and those still down in the minors and prepping for the Fall League. First off, as far as the young guys who are here, Brett Pill and Darren Ford need to be playing daily. Torres is pretty much toast for the year in center, so why not role with D-Ford, who at the very least, could prove himself more valuable than Torres when it comes to roster spots in 2012. Not to mention, Ford seems to swing it better in the bigs than he has in the minors this season, and scores virtually every time he's on base. Not saying he's a savior in center field, but with all the holes the Giants have in their outfield in 2012, Ford should be firmly in the mix. Speaking of outfield, it looks like the Giants are also into the idea of playing Belt in left field possibly full-time in 2012 splitting time with Huff at first, until Huff's deal runs up after next season. I fully expect the Giants to explore the free agent market big time in the outfield this winter (we'll talk that in a later post) but it's looking like Belt could have one of the spots locked up. That would leave center and right as spots to potentially upgrade. I think the club views Schierholtz as a 4th outfielder and won't want him as a starter entering 2012.

As far as some other players, I'm a bit surprised the Giants haven't resorted to using Hector Sanchez more and more often and easing him into the mix. I'm sure that the Giants would love to have his bat behind Buster next season if he can handle the pitching staff, but we won't know unless we see. Unlike Sanchez, Brandon Crawford has no question about his defense, but his bad could ultimately keep him from becoming even a utility guy. He needs a big fall league and Spring Training to make this roster in 2012. The same can't be said for Eric Surkamp. He's looked like he was in for a rough one vs. the Pardres yesterday, then held his own, completed the five innings and got his first big league W. It wasn't his best outing, but he showed already that he can pitch when he lacks his elite stuff. I keep saying it and saying it, but I'm very stoked the Giants pocketed this guy at the deadline. I don't want to say Wheeler becomes the next Tim Alderson (last top Giants pitching prospect dealt who hasn't amounted to much in 3 seasons in Pittsburgh) cause I think he actually is going to be a good ML starter, but so is Surkamp, and at least the Giants hung onto one of em. Who knows how htis Kyle Crick will be, who Giants scouts are going gaga over, so after Surkamp, the cupboard's pretty bare. There are some guys with lights out stuff, but nobody who's succeeded above A-ball. With Barry Zito's time very possibly done in San Francisco, Surkamp could and should be (barring an unforeseen signing) the #5 going into spring 2012

Speaking of A-Ball, again, in high-A San Jose, the Giants produced an offensive powerhouse. Outfielder Gary Brown had a tremendous year, .336/14/80/53, and could start helping as soon as the 2nd half of 2012. Another outfielder ready to help is Francisco Peguero, the reason the Giants felt OK with dealing Thomas Neal. Peguero's developing power and speed and reminds m of a slightly less powerful Delmon Young. Tommy Joseph (.270/22/95) had a terrific second half after a slow April/May.

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Philadelphia Completes Sweep Over Atlanta With A
3-2 Win.

post from Talking Chop on 07 September 2011 11:01:13 PM. © Talking Chop

Raul Ibanez killed the Braves yet again.

This just wasn't the Braves series.

Philadephia completed the sweep over Atlanta thanks to a Ross Gload walk-off single off Peter Moylan.

The Phillies plated only one run against Braves starter Brandon Beachy, as Raul Ibanez homered in the second inning to make it a 1-0 game.

Other than that, Beachy was dazzling. He gave up only two hits and the one run while striking out seven and walking one in 5.2 innings pitched.

Phillies starter Roy Oswalt had a no-hitter through five innings, but Michael Bourn broke it up with a double to center field to start the sixth inning. Two batters later, Chipper Jones singled to center, scoring Bourn and tying the game at one.

Atlanta took the lead in the seventh inning. Jason Heyward singled to start the inning, and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Alex Gonzalez. Freddie Freeman followed with a single that scored Heyward and gave Atlanta a 2-1 lead.

That lead however, was short lived. Jonny Venters came in from the bullpen to pitch the eighth inning, and promptly gave up a single to John Mayberry. Mayberry advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a single from Placido Polanco to tie up the game again.

Peter Moylan pitched the ninth inning for Atlanta. A one-out walk to Ibanez and a single from Carlos Ruiz put runners on first and second for pinch hitter Ross Gload. Gload lined a slider down the right field line for a single that scored Ibanez and ended the game with a score of 3-2 Phillies.

WP: Ryan Madson

LP: Peter Moylan

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Encarnacions 5 RBIs help Jays top BoSox (AP)

post from MLB News Blog on 07 September 2011 10:51:31 PM. © MLB News Blog

Edwin Encarnacion hit a tiebreaking double in the eighth inning and the Toronto Blue Jays rallied to deny Tim Wakefield his 200th career win, beating the Boston Red Sox 11-10 Wednesday night. Toronto trailed 8-6 heading into the eighth against Daniel Bard (2-6), who opened the inning by hitting Brett Lawrie and giving up a [...]

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Gloads hit in 9th gets Phils by Braves (AP)

post from MLB News Blog on 07 September 2011 10:23:30 PM. © MLB News Blog

Pinch-hitter Ross Gload hit an RBI single with one out in the bottom of the ninth and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Atlanta Braves 3-2 Wednesday night to complete a three-game sweep and extend their lead to 101/2 games in the NL East. The major league-leading Phillies (91-48) reduced their magic number to 12 for [...]

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Wednesday Night Crazy Eyes: More Francoeur Splits

post from Royals Review on 07 September 2011 10:01:32 PM. © Royals Review

Jeff Francoeur career splits to enjoy:

vs RHP (2904 PAs): .258/.299/.406
vs LHP (1131 PAs): .302/.348/.498
Leading off an inning: (845 PAs): .280/.321/.473
With zero outs: (1336 PAs): .272/.311/.443
With one out: (1366 PAs): .283/.319/.439
With two outs: (1333 PAs): 255/.308/.412
In a dome: (195 PAs): 226/.287/.390

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Lowly Padres hand Giants crucial loss (AP)

post from MLB News Blog on 07 September 2011 09:30:30 PM. © MLB News Blog

Aaron Harang threw seven strong innings and Cameron Maybin had two hits and an RBI as the San Diego Padres dealt a big blow to the San Francisco Giants’ fading playoff hopes with a 3-1 victory Wednesday night. The Giants, who have 19 games left, came into the game trailing NL West-leading Arizona by six [...]

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Dickey shuts down Marlins, Mets win 1-0 (AP)

R.A. Dickey made an early run stand up, blanking Florida for seven innings and pitching the New York Mets past the Marlins 1-0 Wednesday. Jose Reyes led off the game with a single and scored on a one-out double down the left-field line by Lucas Duda. Dickey (8-11) and relievers Josh Stinson and Manny Acosta [...]

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Houston Astros at Pittsburgh Pirates, Sep 7, 2011
6:05 PM CDT

Current Series

3 game series vs Pirates @ PNC Park

Mon 09/05 WP: James McDonald (9 - 7)
SV: Joel Hanrahan
LP: Henry Sosa (2 - 3)
1 - 3 loss Tue 09/06 WP: Brett Myers (4 - 13)
SV: Mark Melancon
LP: Brad Lincoln (1 - 2)
4 - 1 win

Houston Astros The Crawfish Boxes
@ Pittsburgh Pirates Bucs Dugout