tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11175154.post3956171410109318755..comments2024-03-22T05:48:26.129-05:00Comments on Braves & Birds: I Have Come not to Bury Bob Wickman...Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08365733949431139562noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11175154.post-57862276374059585472007-06-15T23:16:00.000-05:002007-06-15T23:16:00.000-05:00Salty's the only backup catcher; taking him out le...Salty's the only backup catcher; taking him out leaves no safety net should McCann get injured. (credit to Dave O'Brien's AJC blog)Steve Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03370246866069199463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11175154.post-751722189098012532007-06-15T10:04:00.000-05:002007-06-15T10:04:00.000-05:00Agreed ld.Agreed ld.peacedoghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15474788565660706482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11175154.post-64427423725948660052007-06-15T09:42:00.000-05:002007-06-15T09:42:00.000-05:00I wouldn't mind burying Wickman, but we'd need a p...I wouldn't mind burying Wickman, but we'd need a pretty big backhoe.<BR/><BR/>Seriously. There is no reason why Soriano isn't the closer. His stuff is electric. Wickman's numbers portend failures like last night on frequent occasions. HE's been lucky to not have a half-dozen or more blown saves.<BR/><BR/>I think the offense will perk up once Chipper gets back into the swing of things (he already looks OK) and we can truly move Francoeur down the order a few pegs. <BR/><BR/>And does it need to be said that it's still BS that the Braves play Boston (twice), Detroit, Minnesota and Cleveland (combined winning percentage right now, when you count Boston twice, .589) in interleague? There is no doubt in my mind that the unbalanced interleague schedule will come into play in the pennant/wild card race (besides the unbalanced intra-divisional schedule).<BR/><BR/>Winning percentage of interleague opponents (regular/counting rival twice) for divisional and WC rivals:<BR/><BR/>Division:<BR/>Atlanta: .589<BR/>NY Mets: .534<BR/>Philly: .494 <BR/>Florida: .474<BR/>Wash.: .506<BR/><BR/>Other NL teams (in order of current record):<BR/>Padres: .526<BR/>Dodgers: .536<BR/>D-Backs: .495<BR/>Brewers: .469<BR/>Rockies: .483<BR/>Giants: .546<BR/>Cubs: .447<BR/>Cards: .505<BR/>Pirates: .500<BR/>Astros: .483<BR/>Reds: .550<BR/><BR/>Basically, if the Phillies beat the Braves in the Wild Card by a single game, here's what we can point to. To me, this is a joke. The season is long enough to have a balanced schedule.LDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08416468186977171781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11175154.post-54356431882431433432007-06-15T08:22:00.000-05:002007-06-15T08:22:00.000-05:00"As for Salty, I might alternately posit that he h..."As for Salty, I might alternately posit that he hasn't gotten to be in many (any!) situations like this as a fielder, so leaving him in isn't a bad idea. If he's going to be the regular first baseman at some point, he's not going to be a guy you sub for."<BR/><BR/>I can respect this, and certainly it will be more true as time goes on, but it was his first start at the position...in a close game on the road. Thorman should have been out there. There is no shame in bringing in a late-inning defensive replacement for the kid while he is learning a new position.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11175154.post-75955043961104504822007-06-15T08:18:00.000-05:002007-06-15T08:18:00.000-05:00As for Salty, I might alternately posit that he ha...As for Salty, I might alternately posit that he hasn't gotten to be in many (any!) situations like this as a fielder, so leaving him in isn't a bad idea. If he's going to be the regular first baseman at some point, he's not going to be a guy you sub for.<BR/><BR/>Yes, we're still above .500 and we can potentially capture a wild card spot (the division isn't out of the question, but hope fades quickly). We certainly aren't in a position where the outcome of the game is irrelevant. I don't hink it was an unreasonable move on Cox's part, though.<BR/><BR/>OTOH, maybe he looked up, mubled "when did Bream shave his mustache?", and then slipped back into a stupor; a sign of encroaching senility.peacedoghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15474788565660706482noreply@blogger.com