Well half of the city is ready to give up on Oswalt. Can’t imagine why he was hesitant to come here.

It must be bad luck. They hit the ball to where guys weren’t at, and I learned from Cole that it’s just bad luck.

Also, Dobbs sucks. I blame him totally for that botched play at 3rd. He was the only one who didn’t know he was supposed to cover 3rd.

Watrick, thank you for that.

Replace ‘today’ with ‘last night’

Undo – we appreciate you giving us information that I can find at espn. Without you, I’d be utterly lost on all things Atlanta.

@Watrick You sound like a beerleaguer who claim that Happ’s stranding runners at 85% last year was “luck”. nice shutout last night. I’ve said before they never gave this kid a chance, using him as trade bait last year, 12-4, and again this year for a RH, geriatric, with a degenerative disc. Wonder why he wanted his money guranteed???

Wheels’ – you don’t understand sarcasm or baseball. You suck.

@Eric….

Obviously Venters non-suspension isn’t nearly as important as losing the best player on the team.

And I refuse to watch ESPN, haven’t for years. So I assumed we were all the same in that regard, since anybody and everybody that watches it just whines about it non-stop. Wise up, get your baseball news online.

And I wasn’t really trying to ‘inform’ you guys on Prado. I was trying to start a discussion about Prado, naturally. During the time when the site was down I suppose I forgot all the hostility you guys have built up. It’s incredible how such a small amount of users can’t discuss baseball with a non-Phillies fan without getting hostile. Someone here once told me, ‘Don’t you know we’re in a war?’

Seriously? We’re fans of a baseball team, that’s it. We have no say or control over what happens on or off the field in any organization. I know the Phillies are once again ‘the class of the NL’ because they got Oswalt and all, but lighten up.

3.5

@Undo yeah that was me, and i have you in my sights…

Hearing rumors Howard is hurt (fractured foot). He’s definitely not in the line-up. Anyone have more info?

we’re stockpiling weapons and waiting for the opportune time to strike. Oct 3rd??? Retire Cox and Wagner in one game = sweet

@Shamels Raul Wertiz-Brown I spit up my food reading that lol

I read the Philly.com twitter feed thingy, didn’t see mention of an injury.

Tug, you are the man. Hahahaha.

“I was trying to start a discussion about Prado, naturally.”

Undo, I’m not attacking you, I’m honestly curious: what makes you think that anyone here would want to discuss Prado?

@ Undo

Beyond injuries, the problem with the Braves is that, outside of a RIDICULOUS May, they have been a profoundly average baseball team.

April 9-14
May 20-8
June 17-11
July 13-10

The big question is whether they have another stretch of baseball in them resembling what they did in May. I hear a lot about their pitching, and while Hudson (2.40 ERA, 1.121 WHIP) is a legitimate ace, the rest of the staff hasn’t lived up to expectations. Jurrjens (4.37 ERA, 1.257 WHIP) has shown some flashes, but it’s not entirely clear that he’s 100% healthy and his last start against Florida was merely OK. Hanson (3.99 ERA, 1.345 WHIP) hasn’t gotten through 7 innings in a month and a half, and Lowe (4.58 ERA, 1.427 WHIP) looks like he’s cooked. Unless their staff, supposedly their great strength, turns around and produces to its ability, Atlanta isn’t going to remain in first much past the next 2 weeks, regardless of Prado’s injury status. I’m not sure that they have the lumber to get them anywhere if the staff continues to underachieve.

You asked for an honest discussion of the Braves. That’s my two cents.

Uhh Eric, Josh Johnson leads the league in ERA, but I don’t want to discuss him here, either.

Anybody watching Braves-Cincy on Fox? They just flashed a ridiculous stat. On the road, Jurrjens hasn’t won a game on the road all year and has an ERA of 7.88. Wow!

@Mike P…..

Jurrjens actually looked great in his last start against Florida. He had a rough 4th inning, coincidentally the only inning that there was insanely heavy rain. But he did look great outside of that inning.

Their starting pitching has disappointed lately, I agree. But you know as well as I do Hanson is better than what he’s shown. Not sold on Jurrjens, but he does look as strong as he did last year. And he is 100% healthy. His velocity is up, his control is better. He’s showing no signs of being injured at all.

Lowe is pretty much garbage, but everyone knew that going into this season. He’s their #4 or #5 guy, so it’s not all that important.

Medlen has been great and the Braves are 12-1 when he starts.

I’m not worried about the starting pitching. I’m worried about the offense, especially if Prado is out for any extended period of time.

OMG Chan Ho was DFA’d, lets get him too!

Please just tell Baez to go home. It’s better than putting him in the game.

And about Oswalt: He’ll go 8 Shutout innings his next start.

@ Undo

I wrote a long response, but the server rejected it, so I’ll make this one brief.

If you’re looking into the crystal ball, there are two things to be concerned about in the NL East:

1) Are the Phillies the team that mauled everyone in the first month and a half of the season, or are they the team that put Meech on hunger strike? Which team shows up down the stretch?

2) Are the Braves the team that stunk in April, mauled everyone in May, or played profoundly average baseball in June and July? Which team shows up down the stretch?

I really think the Braves need another run like their 20-8 May to put away the Phils, and I really don’t think they have that kind of stretch in them. I also think that the Phils have some winning streaks to come once Oswalt gets settled and Utley returns to the lineup.

@ Greenman!

I don’t know if you’re being sarcastic, but I would totally DFA Baez and pick up Park. Park’s overall stats look like shit, but his splits show that he’s dealing against righties (.237 opponent BA) and struggling against lefties (.328 opponent BA). Get him out of the Bandbox in the Bronx, set him up as a 7th inning guy, allowing him to take the righties and Romero to take the lefties, and he could be very, very successful.

it’s not often you see a 47 year doing a somersault

Why isn’t Howard playing tonight?

He hurt his foot in the shower

Blanton begs for pitches way too often even if he’s right.

BABIP

the only good thing about the Nationals beside Straburg and Dunn is the presidents, I know it’s gimmicky but it makes me laugh.

Great trade, Rube. Should’ve gotten some money from the Bossmens last year. 6 shutout innings would’ve looked good tonight.

Hey guys, I know I blew it, but I totally will be available to the press. See, I try to endear myself to the press and fans. I mean, if I can’t pitch for shit, I might as well interview for shit.

Ahem. Here we go.

I felt good tonight. I mean, I’m almost there. I just need to work on a little something. Like pitching. And once I get that down, we’ll be great.

Questions?

No. I am not in denial.

Sorry–that was supposed to me as Brad. Nevertheless, what an asshole.

DAMNIT LIDGE F U

Release Lidge. Why they trot this disaster out every save is beyond me

Dear Lidge, thank you for 2008. I realize how hard it would be to even come close to repeating such a season. Now stop sucking or give the job to someone else. I’d give Durbin a shot.

And you assholes thought I stole money…………………

HAHAHAHA 12 million dollars!!!! HAHAHAHA 12 million dollars!!!!! ritards…..

I wouldn’t fuck Brad Lidge with Joe Murray’s dick.

Regards,

Amandah

Braves fans don’t get to talk smack when their centerfielder throws the ball into right field and allows a 3-run inside the parker. Oh and how about that faggot Heyward striking out looking as the tying run to end the game?

what’s crazy is that lidge was great in the previous game. But here we are…

WOW you’re back Braves Troll! I missed you! you were no where to be found during our 8 win streak. Get ready to get pounded not by your boyfriend but by the NL Champs. DIE

sprots rulew

the Braves tend to drop the soap in the showed a lot intentionally, I think thats what he was getting at

Starting pitching was not the problem last night. Get it out of your fucking head. Blanton worked 6 efficient innings despite struggling like hell in the first and he kept it close enough for the Phillies to win it. Lidge blew the game, today’s a new day, get over it.

It’s people like you who make fans like me hate hearing about Cliff Lee and Lee certainly deserves more than that after what he did for us LAST YEAR but this year he isn’t a Phillie so shut up.

“I actually shook to get the fastball in on Zimmerman, which is a pitch I’ve had a lot of success against him with. I went back and looked where the pitch was. It was on the inner third, but he was ready for it tonight.”

Nice fucking excuse. I wish that bible thumper would just man up and say “I threw one down the cock and he hit it 600 feet.”

Splitter is supposed to dive down and out of the zone but I know what you meant!

I’d seriously give Durbin a shot. He’s gotten out of tough situations before and he’s easily been our BEST reliever since the ’09 postseason.

Christ. This clubhouse is a goddamned infirmary.

Mavis Beacon, sorry, it was 4am when I posted that, and I was wasted…

So if I was a betting man, my money is on Werth getting hurt next.