[Image: Yahoo! Sports]
Pretty good game last night, bats showed up big, Chipper was back, pitching was good enough. A good game.
Campy didn’t have his best stuff, the good part… It didn’t matter. He went 6.1 innings, giving up five runs on eight hits. After that, the game was handed to the pen, who did a pretty good job. Ohman got his only batter out, striking him out. Tavarez did the same. Bennett pitched two innings, giving up only a run.
Chipper returned to the lineup in a big way, three hits, three runs scored, and 2 RBI. Oh, he also hit a home run. Escobar also notched two hits and two runs. Kotchman seems to be starting to feel at home in Atlanta. He had three hits, two runs scored, and two RBI. The last good bat of the night belonged to Prado, three hits, three RBI.
Braves win, 11 - 6.
Today’s game, 8:10 PM. Not nationally televised.
Think Chipper can stay hot and make a late run for the MVP?
If he didn’t miss all that time I’d feel more confident about that but I’m not so sure any more.
Campy wasn’t exceptional but it’s nice to watch him get wins. I think he’s earned a spot in next year’s rotation. I’ve enjoyed watching that awesome curveball of his this year.
I still want the DBacks and not the Dodgers to win the West so I have slightly mixed feelings about these “spoiler” games.
Comment by JB — August 9, 2008 @ 1:08 pm
I’m not sure about MVP, solely because he’s missed too much time and this team loses too much, but he might be able to get a batting title (that’s for batting average, right?).
I agree about Campillo. I’m sold on him, Jurrjens, and maybe Hampton (assuming he doesn’t catch ebola or something) for next year, and whoever else might decide to join the team (Smoltz? Glavine? Morton?).
Can’t say I’m a fan of the D’backs, though, although I don’t like anyone who isn’t the Braves (exception: KJ).
Comment by BenMurphy — August 9, 2008 @ 11:45 pm
And another big performance from the bats Saturday night. Finally starting to see the solid hitting, the good at-bats, from this team we all expected coming out of spring training.
Jurrjens was plenty good enough, and that sixth inning was wild. Sucks that the Snakes may have lost Hudson for the year with that broken wrist. Juan Cruz threw it around the diamond the way he used to throw it for the Bravos: Wild.
Bud.
http://braves.today.com
Comment by Bud — August 10, 2008 @ 7:48 am
I say put Smoltz in the pen and get three new starters. Maybe give Morton a chance but definitely pick up a new ace starter for the rotation.
You’re right about Chipper. Just wishful thinking really.
Great season when he was playing though. His batting title run and McCann are probably the only bright sides of the dreary season.
JB
TheLaunchingPad
Comment by JB — August 10, 2008 @ 12:42 pm
…and Jurrjens and the surprise of Campillo
Comment by JB — August 10, 2008 @ 12:43 pm