Thursday, August 23, 2007

Wickman Finished?

Wickman struggled again. Chip and Lemke were defending Wickman on the pregame, saying he had just given up the first earned run at home all year…that the fans should cut him some slack. It was a save situation, and it was a Cox like move to put him back out there the night after he struggled, but I thought he could’ve used some rest. Chip was right that if one or two things go bad for Wickman he doesn’t collapse, but is still tough mentally. I don’t know if he always falls behind hitters, but that’s what he was doing Tuesday night.

The Braves crowd seemed into the game against the Giants…when Cox was thrown out, and Klesko, and when they got on Angel Hernandez when Ortiz tossed over to first after the two balks. Nice that Andruw came through once, and he hit the ball hard a few other times…pulling it each time. Angel Hernandez looks like that actor who gets lots of bad guy roles…like the Harrison Ford / Jack Ryan movie set in Central America involving drug cartels.

I really like Diaz. Weird, but I think they're letting Harris steal too much...he keeps getting thrown out. At least Cox finally came to his senses and dropped Andruw in the order...were he to sign with the Yankees, Red Sox, Angels, Cubs, White Sox, Dodgers, or Astros (big money teams) - Andruw wouldn't be batting 3 or 4 or 5th in the order. Seems like the pressure of being in a contract year is getting to him. Sounds like Chuck James has a tired arm.

The AJC said the Braves' bullpen catcher says Moylan has some of the best stuff of anyone he's ever caught. Reid does have a point about 5 pitchers having to be on (hopefully the starters goes at least 6, so it is more like 4). Just remember, that most other managers do the same thing...it's the exception for any MLB reliever to go more than an inning. Cox has pitched that new Mahay guy >more than one inning more than once. Interesting reading about when Hank was breaking the HR record...when he hit 714 on opening day, Niekro pitched a couple of innings in relief. The 715 game had starter Buzz Capra pitching a few innings in relief.

Since the kids went to SF, where we ate was influenced by them. It turned out to be cheaper places overall, and many choices were based on where we were at the time, and what we could find. Had it just been me and Ceil, we would've hit more corner cafes and such.

Yes, Vick appears to be guilty of a lot of things, including having the wrong friends. He should've hung out with Warrick Dunn more.

According to Uni-Watch, Frenchy had his name misspelled on his jersey the other night - http://jmcweb.sjsu.edu/craig/baseball/francouer.jpg One thing about the Office…not really that big of a deal about the comments…quite often posts come and go without anyone commenting.

It was just time for a brake job on the Civic…it was just a different sound than I was used to, and it sounded like it was coming from a different place. In Orlando this week...the BoSox and A’s are in Tampa, but that’s such a long trip I don’t know that I’d make it again…perhaps there’s a minor league game closer, but those seasons are wrapping up.

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