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Talking Chop 2010 Annual
The Talking Chop 2010 Baseball Annual is now available, and smartly priced at just $12.95. Go here to purchase this first-of-its kind Braves annual from the authors who bring you this website.
The View From Your Seat
Throughout the 2010 season, send me a picture of your seat at a Braves game (Major League or Minor League, any ballpark, as long as the Braves are playing). Don't try to get too fancy, just take a picture once the game starts and email me. It can be a view of the field, the scoreboard, the stands, or whatever strikes your fancy while sitting in your seat at a ballgame. Make sure you include the when and where the picture was taken and what half of the inning it was taken in. Your photo will then be posted on Talking Chop. By sending your photos, you grant Talking Chop full rights to publish and edit them as we see fit. The email address to send these photos to is martingandy at gmail dot com. Every photo will be considered, but not all will be used.
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Four-A... Get the Book
Talking Chop co-blogger C.B. Wilkins has written his first book, Four-A, available here.
"In a story as much about life as baseball, Four-A follows relief pitcher Bry "Hummer" James over the course of a season, as he bounces between the highest levels of professional baseball, stuck in between, at an unofficial level called Four-A."
Atlanta Braves Postseason Pace
by gondeee on Sep 22, 2010 8:03 AM EDT
117 comments
For the rest of the season we'll keep a daily tally of the Atlanta Braves chances of making the postseason, along with daily commentary. Also consider this a daily open thread for general chatting.
| NL East | W | L | PCT | GB | STRK | Magic Num | Playoff Odds |
| Phillies | 91 | 61 | .599 | - | W9 | 6 | 99.9% |
| Braves | 86 | 66 | .566 | 5 | L2 | 16 | 78.2% |
I spent much of last night just shaking my head. This team is really beginning to frustrate. Big games lately seem to elude them somehow. It was a shame watching Mike Minor struggle because I know that's not the kind of pitcher he is. His velocity is clearly down several miles per hour and that has become a big part of his game. The Braves need to shut him down for the rest of the year and save his arm.
The Braves also lost ground in the Wild Card race as San Diego won.
The Padres are precariously close to us now. The Braves need to be winning games to stay in the Wild Card lead, not to try and overtake the Phillies. Similarly, the Braves are going to have to find a way to beat the Phillies by the time they come to Atlanta, or it could be a miserable end to the season.
Tommy Hanson needs to be a stopper tonight.
Braves Fall In Game Two To Phillies 5-3
by BenDuronio on Sep 21, 2010 11:56 PM EDT
in Braves Game Recaps
62 comments
Mike Minor did not deliver against Roy Halladay in the Phillies, which resulted in him lasting just 2.1 innings. Minor looked fatigued and seriously off of his game, so I would not expect him to get another start down the stretch. The Braves needed this game if they wanted to win the division. It's going to be extremely difficult to make up five games over the remained of the season.
The rest of the Braves pitchers pitched well, aside from Michael Dunn, who gave up his first set of earned runs this season. The Braves held the Phillies enough to stay in the game, but couldn't capitalize against Ryan Madson or Brad Lidge in the final two innings of the game.
Freddie Freeman blasted his first career home run, which is about the only positive to take away from this game. Derrek Lee went 2-3 with an RBI single. The rest of the Braves lineup was relatively quiet with at most one hit a piece.
The Braves really need to come back in game three. Tommy Hanson is on the mound against Roy Oswalt, which is a matchup that still favors the Phillies. If Hanson is on though, he can be dominant. Hopefully that Hanson shows up to the field tomorrow night.
Open Thread 9/21: Braves at Phillies
by BenDuronio on Sep 21, 2010 6:15 PM EDT
in Open Threads
1069 comments
In terms of division standings, this is probably the biggest game of the year. A loss would make it even more unlikely that the Braves can take over first place, but a win would give them a slim but possible chance. Unfortunately, Roy Halladay is standing in the way. The Braves have a solid lineup backing Mike Minor, the second rookie to start in this series. With Minor and four left-handed pitchers in the pen, it is doubtful that Ryan Howard or Chase Utley sees any right-handed pitching tonight.
Atlanta Braves Postseason Pace
by gondeee on Sep 21, 2010 7:59 AM EDT
91 comments
For the rest of the season we'll keep a daily tally of the Atlanta Braves chances of making the postseason, along with daily commentary. Also consider this a daily open thread for general chatting.
| NL East | W | L | PCT | GB | STRK | Magic Num | Playoff Odds |
| Phillies | 90 | 61 | .596 | - | W8 | 8 | 99.8% |
| Braves | 86 | 65 | .570 | 4 | L1 | 16 | 86% |
What did I say yesterday? "Experience counts" in these kinds of games. Cole Hamels was up to the task. I appreciated the effort from Brandon Beachy, and I actually think he was pulled from the game a bit early, but maybe he was on a pitch count. The Braves wasted some good run scoring opportunities, something they'll have to rectify when they face even tougher pitchers tonight and tomorrow night.
The Braves lost ground in the Wild Card race by "virtue" of the other teams having an off-day. Oh well.
Enough about the game. On to the side-show of last night and the splendid job that Matt Diaz did:
Maybe the Braves can knock the Phillies, and not just their fans, down in tonight's game.
Braves Lose 3-1 In Series Opener
by BenDuronio on Sep 20, 2010 10:07 PM EDT
in Braves Game Recaps
121 comments
The Braves offense and defense did not come to the park in support of rookie Brandon Beachy tonight. The young right-hander pitched well in 4.1 innings but earned a loss in his first career start. Bobby Cox opted to let him hit with Alex Gonzalez at second in the top of the fourth. In the bottom half of the inning, Jason Heyward committed a three base error and Placido Polanco drove him in with an RBI ground-out. Beachy stayed in to face Utley but after he singled he was removed from the game.
Heyward's error was the key play of the game, which shifted momentum in the Phillies favor. The Braves did have opportunities though, especially in the second inning. After Brian McCann doubled in Derrek Lee, Matt Diaz singled right behind McCann. Brian had to wait to see if the ball got through and held up at third base. With runners on the corners and nobody out, Alex Gonzalez struck out. Melky Cabera followed that poor effort by grounding into a double play to end the inning. The next opportunity was the fourth when Cox elected not to pinch hit for Beachy.
The fifth inning was just a poorly played and managed inning overall. Cox brought in Eric O'Flaherty to face Ryan Howard and Chase Utley stole second base. Martin Prado forgot to catch the ball which gave Utley the opportunity to advance to third. O'Flaherty, the LOOGY, immediately walked Howard and then walked Jayson Werth before finally recording an out against Raul Ibanez, but a run scored on his ground out.. Peter Moylan relieved O'Flaherty and pitched very well in 1.1 innings pitched. Michael Dunn and Kyle Farnsworth also pitched scoreless innings.
Offensively, Jason Heyward and Derrek Lee were really the only productive players, aside from McCann's lone hit in his RBI double. Lee had two singles while Heyward had an infield single and a walk. The Braves need to hit and play better defense, but they also need their manager to make better decisions throughout the game. He also needs to not play a guy like Melky Cabrera because he can bat right-handed, especially not against a pitcher who's best pitch is a changeup.
The best part of the game was Matt Diaz tripping a red-suited fan who ran onto the field.
Tomorrow, Mike Minor faces Roy Halladay. The best news about this is that two of the Phillies three best hitters are left-handed, so Howard and Utley will likely only face southpaws tomorrow night. Let's get them tomorrow.
Open Thread 9/20: Braves at Phillies: Brandon Beachy's MLB Debut
by BenDuronio on Sep 20, 2010 6:00 PM EDT
in Open Threads
1487 comments
Jair Jurrjens has tweaked his knee, making him unable to start tonight's game against the Phillies. This means rookie Brandon Beachy will be making his Major League Debut in one of the most anticipated series the Braves have been involved in over the past five years. Beachy had 1.73 ERA, 148 strikeouts, and just 28 walks over 119.1 innings between Mississippi and Gwinnett this year. He's got some incredible stuff according to some scouts, and he's also been one of the best stories of the year, considering he was once an undrafted free agent.
Braves Lineup:
1. Omar Infante, 2B
2. Jason Heyward, RF
3. Martin Prado, 3B
4. Derrek Lee, 1B
5. Brian McCann, C
6. Matt Diaz, LF
7. Alex Gonzalez, SS
8. Melky Cabrera, CF
9. Brandon Beachy, P
Braves will use 3 pitchers w/ a combined 59 games of MLB experience, while Phillies will use 3 pitchers w/ 803 games of MLB experience.
From my tweet
The Braves will also use 3 pitchers under 25 years of age, the Phillies will use 3 over 25 years of age, with 2 of them over 32.
This might be a long series for Braves fans. Experience matters in these kinds of games.
Brandon Beachy Replaces Jair Jurrjens In The Braves Rotation Tonight
by gondeee on Sep 20, 2010 3:36 PM EDT
163 comments
Atlanta Braves right handed starting pitcher Jair Jurrjens tweaked his knee last Friday during a bullpen session. That injury has apparently not healed to a point where the Braves feel comfortable sending him to the mound to face the Phillies tonight in the opener of a crucial three-game series in Philadelphia. In his place the Braves will call on rookie Brandon Beachy.
Beachy is an undrafted free agent from a small college in Indiana. He rocketed through the system this year, and now finds himself starting one of the biggest games for the Braves this season. He's a standard three-pitch pitcher, with a plus fastball, plus curve, and an above average change-up. His location is also described as a plus skill. Here is a link to a piece we did on him earlier in the year.
While the Phillies will throw three ace starters against the Braves in this series -- Cole Hamels, Roy Halladay, and Roy Oswalt -- Atlanta will now start two rookies, including Mike Minor in tomorrow night's game.
Beachy will wear uniform number 37 for Atlanta.
Here is a video interview Beachy did two months ago. It should introduce him to everyone very nicely.
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