NL East Race Watch

[PC]

lots of moves in Miami:

A shakeup of the lineup, what an odd concept?

CBS Sports:

Mike Rizzo is a very, very bad general manager.

[PC]

Chip Caray about Chase Utley – “I know he plays for the Phillies.  I know he plays in the division and the Braves want to beat him and I do too but I love watching him hit.”

Disgusting homerism.

[Baseball is Life]

But he's right. They play with grit. They feel like they're never out of it.

Mind fact alert...the Nats have come back from behind more than the Barfs this year.

[Vega]

A shakeup of the lineup, what an odd concept?

CBS Sports:

Wow. Displacing an entrenched center fielder (With a huge contract.) in favor of a hot hitting prospect? Hmm. What a fascinating concept...

[Slateman]

They're getting productionn from their current second baseman and nothing out of CF.

[RobDibblesGhost]

freak the Braves. Another comeback.

[spidernat]

Is that you SF?

[rileyn]

Say what you want about the Braves, but they are never, ever, ever out of a game.  They grind like only dream of us doing.

[RobDibblesGhost]

Say what you want about the Braves, but they are never, ever, ever out of a game.  They grind like only dream of us doing.

Exactly.

[RobDibblesGhost]

1 out triple for Freeman in the 10th so we're about to be 1.5 games back.

[mach1ne]

1 out triple for Freeman in the 10th so we're about to be 1.5 games back.

Luckily the Barves offense is terrible and you are wrong for now

[RobDibblesGhost]

So for those who question Williams' moves, look at Fredi Gonzalez tonight:

Down 1-0 in the bottom of the 9th, the first two batters reached. With runners on first and second and no outs, Tommy La Stella should have been bunting but instead he flew out. The next batter singled and that could have won the game if the sacrifice had been executed.

In the 10th, the Phillies intentionally walked Evan Gattis resulting in runners on first and third with one out. Gonzalez pulled Gattis, one of the team's best hitters, for a pinch runner. However, that run meant absolutely nothing as the runner at third represented the winning run. So Fredi burned two bench players (pinch runner and then the replacement catcher) for no reason.

Just throwing this out there...

[PC]

When the Braves get that strike call, they're not going to lose this game.  The homeplate umpire won't allow it.

[sportsfan882]

6-1 Phillies over Braves in the 13th

[jhuterp]

Marlins lose in extras

[sportsfan882]

The Braves and Marlins both lost to last place teams at home tonight.

The Nats can follow suit tomorrow night.

[sportsfan882]

Braves are 8-12 over their last 20 games. Opponents in that span: Boston, Miami, Seattle, Arizona, Colorado, Anaheim, and Philly.

David Hale who was very good as a starter earlier in the season is now a gascan out of the bullpen for Atlanta.

David Cameron ‏@DCameronFG  44s
Last two outings for David Hale: 3 innings, 6 hits, 5 walks, 0 strikeouts, 10 runs scored.

[Slateman]

The bottom line is that the Barves bullpen outside of Kimbrel sucks balls. The goal of any team playing them should be to get the starter out by the sixth.

[Dschmiel]

In the 10th, the Phillies intentionally walked Evan Gattis resulting in runners on first and third with one out. Gonzalez pulled Gattis, one of the team's best hitters, for a pinch runner. However, that run meant absolutely nothing as the runner at third represented the winning run. So Fredi burned two bench players (pinch runner and then the replacement catcher) for no reason.

Just throwing this out there...

I was following that game on ESPN gamecast and was wondering the same thing - why on earth, when you only need one run to win, would he pinch run for the TRAIL runner on first?  If that was the lead runner on 2nd, OK different story. 

[Dschmiel]

The Braves and Marlins both lost to last place teams at home tonight.

The Nats can follow suit tomorrow night.

85 wins will take the division.  Book it.

[Natsinpwc]

I was following that game on ESPN gamecast and was wondering the same thing - why on earth, when you only need one run to win, would he pinch run for the TRAIL runner on first?  If that was the lead runner on 2nd, OK different story.

If he had bunted the runners over in the 9th, the single would have won the game.  I believe he also pitched to a hitter in the 13th with the pitcher on deck.  That pitcher was the Phillies next to last pitcher and no one was warming up.  Makes one wonder also just who their bench coach is.  If the manage misses these things then isn't the bench coach there to remind him.  Or maybe he just doesn't listen?

[PC]

If he had bunted the runners over in the 9th, the single would have won the game.  I believe he also pitched to a hitter in the 13th with the pitcher on deck.  That pitcher was the Phillies next to last pitcher and no one was warming up.  Makes one wonder also just who their bench coach is.  If the manage misses these things then isn't the bench coach there to remind him.  Or maybe he just doesn't listen?

Fredi is not a good manager.

[mach1ne]

The bottom line is that the Barves bullpen outside of Kimbrel sucks balls. The goal of any team playing them should be to get the starter out by the sixth.

Simmons has performed well but its a small sample size. Carpenter and Avilan are looking to be one season wonders.

[Canada]

Say what you want about the Braves, but they are never, ever, ever out of a game.  They grind like only dream of us doing.

Give me a break. How many games have we come from behind to win from the 6th inning on?

[Slateman]

Give me a break. How many games have we come from behind to win from the 6th inning on?

FP?