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Aug

26

NL East Daily Recap from 8-25-09

Filed Under (Daily Recap) by mrose on 26-08-2009

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the walk off for the rook!

the walk off for the rook!

Andrew McCutchen had said he wanted to make amends for a play in the top of the ninth inning that allowed the Phillies to take the lead in the game.  He was able to do that, as he hit a two run home run off Phillies closer Brad Lidge to win the game for the Pittsburgh Pirates and redeemed himself by a score of 6-4.  The Pirates also added home runs from Ryan Doumit and a two run shot by Stephen Pearce in the game, and Brandon Moss had an RBI single in the ninth before McCutchen to tie the game.  Ross Ohlendorf went 6.1 innings allowing only two runs for to the NL leading Phillies but ended up with a no decision.  Matt Capps(3-7) recorded both his fourth blown save of the year and then got the win as he went one inning and was charged with two runs and three hits.

Even Jimmy Rollins hot streak couldn’t help the Phillies in this one.  Rollins hit home runs in the first inning and another solo shot in the third inning and until the ninth, that was all the Phillies could do.  In the ninth, Ben Francisco doubled home the tying run and Shane Victorino was credited with a triple on the misplay by McCutchen scoring the go ahead run.  Brad Lidge(0-6) though could not even record an out in the ninth as he gave up three hits and three runs, including the home run to McCutchen and it only took five pitches to do that.  Phillies Phandom will have more on this game and Lidge’s struggles.

Eckstein with the winner

Eckstein with the winner

On a rare night when Heath Bell blew a save, the Padres were able to pick him up later in the game.  Heath Bell in the ninth gave up a run to tie the game at 1, as he allowed two hits and a walk as well in the inning.  Later in the game though, David Eckstein doubled home Nick Hundley to score the game winning run, making it 2-1 in the twelth inning.  Joe Thatcher(1-0) got the victory as he worked 1.1 innings of hitless relief and Edward Mujica got his second save of the year.  Adrian Gonzalez drove in the only other Padres run in the third inning with a solo home run.

The Atlanta Braves got great pitching throughout this game, but ran into similar tough pitching on the other side of the game.  Jair Jurrjens went 7.2 inning and allowed only five hits, four walks and only allowed a solo home run, but ended with a no decision.  Adam LaRoche came through big time again for the Braves as he singled home Reid Gorecki in the bottom of the ninth and sent the game to extras.  Unfortunately Kris Medlan(3-4) gave up the eventual winning run in the twelth and took the loss for the Braves, dropping them another game back in the wildcard lead and putting them back in a tie with the Marlins, check out The Braves Baseball Blog for more.

Sean West shuts down the AAA Mets

Sean West shuts down the AAA Mets

Marlins pitcher Sean West was probably happy to be able to pitch to a minor league team again. Last night, West(5-5) went six innings allowing only six hits and one run and only needed 82 pitches to do that as he faced a depleted Mets squad.  He was supported by an RBI ground out by Uggla in the fourth and a Ross Gload single in the fifth to win the game 2-1.  Leo Nunez recorded his 15th save of the season and the Marlins gained a game on the Phillies in the East and kept up with the Rockies in the wildcard race as well.  FishGuts will have more on the Marlins.

Nelson Figueroa had a spot start for the Mets, who learned of Johan Santana needing surgery earlier in the day.  Figueroa(1-3) pitched well through five innings allowing only four hits and two runs, but one earned but taking a tough loss.  Fernando Tatis got the Mets on the board with an RBI single in the fourth, scoring Jeff Francouer, but the Mets could not do anything else in the loss, check out The Real Dirty Mets Blog for more.

Mets fans, remember this face?

Mets fans, remember this face?

The Washington Nationals either shocked the Cubs fans last night, or just made them angrier, not sure which one.  The Nationals won the game by a score of 15-6 last night and the offense exploded.  Josh Willingham hit two home runs, a solo shot and a three run shot as well and a grand slam from Elijah Dukes as well.  Garrett Mock(3-5) went seven innings and allowed only four runs while striking out six to get an easy victory.  CenterfieldGate has more information on this game and what to expect going forward.

The Chicago Cubs are just playing horribly, with no real excuse for what is going on.  Carlos Zambrano(7-5) could only get through 4.1 innings and was charged with huge numbers, eight runs, seven hits and only four strike outs.  The rest of the relief wasn’t much better as out of five relievers, three gave up runs in making this even more lopsided.  Zambrano tried to help himself as he hit one of a trio of Cubs homeruns, others were by Milton Bradley and Jake Baker in the game.

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Aug

25

NL East Series Preview 8-25-09 through 8-27-09

Filed Under (Series Preview) by mrose on 25-08-2009

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Phillies Logo VS Pirates Logo
The Philadelphia Phillies(72-50, 1st in NL East) were able to stay hot this weekend as they visited the ailing New York Mets, not such a surprise.  They now have a seven game lead over the second place Braves as they travel to interstate rival Pittsburgh for a three game set.  There are not many holes to find right now in the Phillies, and they will hope to stay healthy on their march towards the playoffs.  Phillies Phandom will have all the information on this series you need.

The Pittsburgh Pirates(51-71, 6th in NL Central 19GB) took two out of three games this past weekend in Cincinnati after sweeping the Brewers last week.  They are still running out a young and exciting team on a daily basis and hope to keep showcasing next year’s stars against the Phillies this week against the defending champs.

Probable pitching matchups are below:
Tuesday @ 7:05PM EST – Blanton,PHI(8-6,3.86 ERA)vs. Ohlendorf,PIT(11-8,4.15 ERA)
Wednesday @ 7:05PM EST – Hamels,PHI(7-8,4.78 ERA) vs. Maholm,PIT(7-7,4.74 ERA)
Thursday @ 7:05PM EST – Happ,PHI(10-2,2.59 ERA) vs. Morton,PIT(3-6,5.21 ERA)
Padres Logo VS Braves Logo
The Atlanta Braves(66-58, 2nd in NL East 7GB, 4.5GB of wildcard) come off a successful week of play within the division.  They started by taking two of three games from the New York Mets in New York and then in a critical series for the battle of second, they overtook the Marlins.  They went into the weekend tied for second and are now alone in second by one game but have a big uphill battle to the playoffs that they hope to start this week . The Braves Baseball Blog will have more on the Braces and this series.

The San Diego Padres(52-74, 5th in NL West 22.5GB) continue to play out the string, what else can you say?  They did manage to hurt the reeling Chicago Cubs last week taking two of three games, but then the Cardinals reminded them of their place over the weekend.  They continue to march towards another offseason with question marks about their organization and who they will trade, but will have to face the Braves first.

Probable pitching matchups are below:
Tuesday @ 7:00PM EST – Latos,SD(4-3,4.82 ERA) vs. Jurrjens,ATL(10-8,2.99 ERA)
Wednesday @ 7:00PM EST – Stauffer,SD(1-6,3.95 ERA) vs. Kawakami,ATL(6-9,3.97 ERA)
Thursday @ 7:00PM EST – Richard,SD(7-3,4.42 ERA) vs. Vazquez,ATL(10-9,3.14 ERA)
Mets Logo VS Marlins Logo
The Florida Marlins(65-59, 3rd in NL East 8GB 5.5GB of wildcard) are in a bit of a slump, a week after they looked great.  A week ago, they were coming off winning two of three from the Rockies and were two back of the wild card itself.  Now, they lost two of three to the Astros and then the same to the Braves on the road and are in third in the division and fell behind in the wild card as well.  Lucky for them, the Mets are coming to town to let them get healthy against the pained Mets.  FishGuts has more on the series.

The New York Mets(57-68, 4th in NL East 16.5GB) wonder what can possibly happen next.  This weekend they may have lost their ace, Johan Santana, their right fielder Jeff Francouer and they lost a game on a triple play.  The team on the field is absolutely unrecognizable to a Mets fan, and as a Mets fan, I can’t wait until the offseason. The Real Dirty Mets Blog is your place to go for more information on the Mets.

Probable pitching matchups are below but also check out Chatter Up! between these blogs:
Tuesday @ 7:10PM EST – Figueroa,NYM(1-2,6.30 ERA) vs. West,FLA(4-5,4.70 ERA)
Wednesday @ 7:10PM EST – Pelfrey,NYM(9-8,4.67 ERA) vs. Johnson,FLA(12-3,2.99 ERA)
Thursday @ 1:10PM EST – Redding,NYM(1-4,6.10 ERA) vs. Sanchez,FLA(2-4,4.97 ERA)
Nationals Logo VS Cubs Logo
The Washington Nationals(44-81, 5th in NL East 29.5GB) seem to be back to the Nationals of early in the season with Manny Acta again.  Bad defense, bad pitching, and now losing six of seven games.  A few weeks ago, Riggleman looked like a shoe-in to get the permament job, and now i’m not so sure! CenterfieldGate has more information on the Nats, be sure to check them out.

The Chicago Cubs(62-60, 2nd in NL Central 8GB, 7.5GB of Wildcard) are having a dismal second half of this season.  After the all-star break, it was promising that they would be able to take the NL Central, but after this past weekend, they are now eight games out of the division and almost the same from the wildcard.  The Dodgers took three of four from them immediately after losing two of three to the Padres all on the road.  They hope they can take some games from the last place Nationals this week.

Probable pitching matchups are below:
Tuesday @ 8:05PM EST – Mock,WAS(2.5,5.10 ERA) vs. Zambrano,CHI(7-4,3.35 ERA)
Wednesday @ 8:05PM EST – Martin,WAS(2-3,4.76 ERA) vs. Harden,CHI(8-7,4.04 ERA)
Thursday @ 2:20PM EST – Lannan,WAS(8-9,4.03 ERA) vs. Wells,CHI(9-6,2.84 ERA)
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Aug

21

Chatter Up! Marlins @ Braves 8-21-09 to 8-23-09

Filed Under (Chatter Up) by mrose on 21-08-2009

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Marlins Logo chatterup Braves Logo
Welcome to our second Chatter Up! of the day, busy weekend at NLEC!  Today we bring back Rab of FishGuts for his second appearance representing the Fish and a newcomer from The Braves Baseball Blog, Connor Tapp to discuss their respective teams.  Lets get to it.
DirtySanchez(TRDMB): Do the Marlins have any intention of bringing back Nick Johnson as he has definitely solidified that lineup?
Rab B(FG): I highly doubt it. Nick Johnson has obviously been incredible for the lineup but he’s been asking for a two-year deal and with our payroll, his injury history, and the expected arrivals of Logan Morrison next season and super-prospect Mike Stanton possibly next June, there might not be room for him.
DirtySanchez(TRDMB): Is it talent or Fredi Gonzalez that make this team work?
Rab B(FG):Well, it’s a mixture of the talent and the front office. Fredi is really just a hand of the FO. One big thing that was added last year was actually bench-bat Wes Helms. A big problem in 2007 was the lack of discipline. Coaches can only do so much, there’s a big difference when it’s a player. The younger players on the team, like Chris Coghlan and Brett Carroll, actually call him “Uncle Wes” and he’s reportedly been a huge influence on them. By adding things like that the FO is who makes this team work.
DirtySanchez(TRDMB): Do they plan on keeping Hanley at SS?
Rab B(FG): I’m going to start by saying that Hanley Ramirez is a good defensive shortstop. He actually made the turn for the better last year. He did lead all SS in errors but he was still went from -28 to +3 by The Fielding Bible’s +/- system, meaning he made 3 more plays than the league average shortstop. This year he’s had a huge cut down on errors as well, half as many as last season, and is rated +5. So I don’t think the Marlins have any thought of moving him for short, as that’s always been something discussed mostly from outside sources. Might he eventually have to make the Cal Ripken/Alex Rodriguez move to 3rd base? Possibly, but I don’t think that’s not going to happen any time soon.
DirtySanchez(TRDMB): Which players do they see still being there (besides Hanley) for their new stadium?
I really don’t know the answer to this. A few guys like 2B Chris Coghlan, CF Cameron Maybin are likely. SPs Sean West and Chris Volstad should probably also still be here. As for someone more established, I actually fully expect the Marlins to go against the grain and sign Josh Johnson to a long term deal. Ricky Nolasco has a shot at being here as well, so does John Baker. As for others, like Cody Ross, Dan Uggla, Jorge Cantu, Jeremy Hermida, Matt Lindstrom, et al, I don’t see there is any chance for them being here then.
Mark(CFG): The Marlins play hard, stay in contention, and build and rebuild. But no one in Miami seems to be paying attention. What happens if the Marlins’ attendance at their new ballpark stays at the same level as it is at Land Shark stadium? Are we talking Memphis Marlins?
Rab B(FG): The Marlins signed a non-relocation agreement with the Marlins and Major League Baseball as part of the Ballpark Agreement with the City of Miami and Miami-Dade County that says they can’t leave for 35 years after the stadium opens, meaning they are the Miami Marlins until at least 2047. Will attendance get better? Maybe, maybe not, but relocation won’t be an option. And as far as no one noticing, it’s worth noting that the Marlins have always had good TV ratings, last year ending up with the 7th best in all of baseball according to SportsBusiness Journal. As someone who goes to a lot of Marlins games it’s easy for me to understand why not many people go in person. If it’s not burning in plastic seats at 100° it’s raining. This year alone there have been 3 rainouts (I was at two of them) and 27% of all home games this year have been affected by rain. A new ballpark should at least give people less reason’s to consider staying home and watching the game on FSFlorida instead of showing up.
Thanks Rab, Connor Tapp of The Braves Baseball Blog is next.
DirtySanchez(TRDMB): Does church fit into the braves mold?
Connor T(BBB): To answer that question, you’d first have to define what the Braves’ “mold” is, and I don’t know if I can quite do that. But hey, we’re all just so happy to have Jeff Francoeur gone that we’ve had little time to find fault with Church’s playing style or demeanor. And according to Baseball Prospectus’ calculation of Wins Above Replacement, Church has been about half a win better than Francoeur since the swap. That works for me. Is he a long-term fixture? Absolutely not. But he makes for a cheap, workable stop-gap to carry us to the Schafer/Heyward era.
DirtySanchez(TRDMB): Is it true that although bobby cox(i believe) holds the record for the most ejections, he is one of the most supportive managers in baseball?
Connor T(BBB): It’s true. Bobby Cox became the all-time ejections leader in June of 2007 and has spent the past two seasons padding his margin. This is often cited as a reason that he’s the immaculate “player’s coach”, always sticking up for his team – getting himself ejected, rather than letting his players get ejected. But in my opinion, Cox could stand to be a little more stern. For instance, it wouldn’t hurt to have someone stand up and explain to Chipper that the past five years of attempting to play through nagging injuries hasn’t exactly worked.
DirtySanchez(TRDMB): With the success of Tommy Hanson, where does he fit into the rotation next year?
Connor T(BBB): I don’t think there’s any question that Tommy Hanson is at least the third-best starter on the Braves’ staff right now, so I don’t see any reason he doesn’t begin 2010 as the number three, behind Vazquez and Jurrjens. If I were Bobby Cox, I might think about pairing Hanson with Kris Medlen, limiting Hanson to four or five innings every third or fourth start, and then bring in Kris Medlen for long relief. This would protect Hanson from overuse and allow Cox to get more work out of Medlen, who has been absolutely nasty over the last couple of months.
DirtySanchez(TRDMB): Do you think the braves have enough to make a run this year?
Connor T(BBB): Yes. But the season is getting shorter, and the Braves are still just as far back as they were a month ago despite being one of the hottest teams in the league since the All-Star Break. They’ll need to take some calculated gambles, such as letting Vazquez go on three days rest while skipping Kawakami and not letting right-handed relievers pitch to Ryan Howard with men on base (gah!), but anything is possible.
Mark(CFG): Nate McLouth was supposed to be the second coming, now he’s hobbled. It’s clear he’s not a Mantle, or Mays — or even Victorino. Who takes his place — and what are the long term prospects of the Braves filling their outfield holes?
Connor T(BBB): Anyone that thought Nate McLouth was or is going to be the “second coming” has, quite simply, overestimated the value of Nate McLouth. His acquisition was definitely a win-now move, but I don’t think it could be said with any certainty that the Braves will win the trade in the long run. If nothing else, Gorkys Hernandez is going to be a phenomenal defensive ceterfielder for the Pirates, while McLouth ought to be eventually moved to left, where the value of his bat will be significantly diminished. That said, McLouth’s performance with the Braves has been very similiar to what it was with the Pirates. I don’t think it’s reasonable to expect much more of McLouth than what he’s given so far. Besides, everybody knows Jason Heyward is the second coming. My 2011 outfield (heck, maybe even my 2010 outfield) would look like this: McLouth in left, Schafer in center, Heyward in right.

Please feel free to email any recommend questions or comments about the segment to mrose@nleastchatter.com or go to this forum topic and post a reply.

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Aug

20

NL East Daily Recap from 8-19-09

Filed Under (Daily Recap) by mrose on 20-08-2009

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Roy who?

Roy who?

Cliff Lee has been absolutely outstanding for the Phillies since being traded in late July.  Lee(4-0) turned in his fourth straight solid, or in this case terrific outting as he threw a complete game while allowing only two hits and one run while striking out eleven while winning 8-1.  His ERA in the National League is now 0.82 in his four starts, and the Phillies must have no regrets about not picking up Roy Halladay.  Ryan Howard and the Phillies supported him with eight runs, including a three run home from Ryan Howard, two solo shots from Jayson Werth and a two run shot from Chase Utley.  Since the Marlins lost,  they added a game to their lead in the division, Phillies Phandom will have more on this.

The Diamondbacks sent their ace to the hill in this game as well, and the game didn’t have the magic that everyone expected.  Danny Haren could only last five innings and he allowed six runs and nine hits.  Haren(12-8) has now given up five or more runs in three of his past four starts, raising his ERA from 2.19 at the end of July to 2.74 now.  For the second straight night, the D’backs only managed a single run and Stephen Drew produced it, this time on a sacrifice fly.

Couldn't get the big hit

Couldn't get the big hit

The Houston Astros managed to get the win 6-3 last night, despite using six different pitchers throughout the game.  The offense took the lead in the bottom of the first though and never looked back, happy that Lance Berkman got back in the swing of things with an RBI double to tie it early.  Starting pitcher Yorman Bazardo only lasted 4.2 innings and gave up only two runs in the first but left with runners on and a high pitch count.  Sammy Gervacio(1-0) got his first win while recording the final out in the fifth inning and using only five pitches.  Jose Valverde got his 17th save of the season in the 6-3 win.

The Florida Marlins once again did get more than ten hits a game, extending the franchise record and getting closer to the National League record.  Too bad hits don’t always turn into runs though, as they could only muster three runs and one after the first.  Jorge Cantu and Dan Uggla contributed RBI singles and then Ross Glaud capped the Fish scoring in the sixth with an RBI double.  Sean West(4-5) lasted only four and gave up three earned runs and four total and left after only 62 pitches.  FishGuts has more on this Marlins loss and their push to the playoffs.

Ouch

Ouch

The Atlanta Braves were able to return the favor the Mets gave them on Tuesday night with their own eight run inning.  The Braves scored eight in the second and the game was more than over at that point on their way to a 15-2 victory.  Brian McCann hit a three run home run and Adam LaRoche and Matt Diaz joined him in that homer party.  Diaz finished with four RBI and Infante added three RBI as well.  Jair Jurrjens(10-8) didn’t have to work hard for this win and got six innings done with only two runs and allowed eight hits.  The Braves Baseball Blog is the place to go for all Braves info as well.

Once again, what is to say about the Mets game?  Luis Castillo made a mental error and didn’t cover second on a double play ball and Bobby Parnell never recovered.  Parnell(3-5) got through three innings and allowed nine runs on nine hits and two walks a far cry from his previous gem of a game.  Angel Pagan had an RBI double and Luis Castillo also drove in a run, but this one was over early and the Mets even replaced many of the starters to save them from the looming injury cloud on the team.  The Real Dirty Mets Blog is the place to go for all Mets info.

on fire!

on fire!

Last night Carlos Gonzalez once again got the big hit for the Rockies, as he hit what would be the eventual winning home run in the eighth inning for the Rockies.  Clint Barmes also hit his second homer in as many days and the Rockies went on to win 5-4.  Jason Marquis(14-8) worked six innings allowing nine hits and three runs and only striking out one and once again Huston Street got the save, his 31st, but not without a problem as he gave up a solo shot.  The Rockies go for the sweep tonight.

Colin Balester(1-3) was awful for the Nationals last night, he only got through 1.1 innings and allowed three runs only three hits but five walks.  Ryan Zimmerman stayed hot, going 2-3 with a walk and two RBI’s on a double and a triple in the game.  Josh Bard contributed a solo shot in the ninth inning to bring the Nationals within a run, but they could not get closer.  Centerfieldgate has more info on the Nationals and what is going on with their team.

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Aug

18

NL East Series Preview 8-18-09 through 8-20-09

Filed Under (Series Preview) by mrose on 18-08-2009

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D'backs Logo VS Phillies Logo
The Philadelphia Phillies(66-49, 1st in NL East) had a good weekend against the Braves and put a slight bit of distance between those two teams now.  The Marlins also won two out of three games, so the Marlins still stand 4.5 games back, so the Phillies still have a fire lit under them.  This week, they begin by welcoming in the Arizona Diamondbacks who they took two out of three from late last month.  The Phillies are coming off a strong week, going 5-1 with a series victory this weekend and a sweep in Chicago last week.  They hope that Pedro Martinez can give another solid outting and the rest of the offense will begin to help Ryan Howard throughout this series. Phillies Phandom will have all the information on this series you need.

The Arizona Diamondbacks(54-65, 4th in NL West 16GB) re playing well of late, except for a series sweep in Washington last weekend.  They beat the Mets two of three games last weekend and then even took two out of three from the division leading National League West Dodgers this past weekend.  They lost a makeup game to the the Braves and  will make a trip to Houston to end the week.

Probable pitching matchups are below:
Tuesday @ 7:05PM EST – Garland,ARI(6-10,4.28 ERA) vs. Martinez,PHI(1-0,5.40 ERA)
Wednesday @ 7:05PM EST – Haren,ARI(12-7,2.50 ERA) vs. Lee,PHI(10-9,2.86 ERA)
Thursday @ 7:05PM EST – Davis,ARI(7-10,3.59 ERA) vs. Blanton,PHI(7-6,3.88 ERA)
Marlins Logo VS Astros Logo
The Florida Marlins(63-55, 2nd in NL East 4.5GB, 2GB of wildcard) had a successful weekend at home, taking two of three from the wildcard leading Rockies.  This was immediately after a week in which they came off a sweep of the Phillies and followed that for three of four from the Astros at home.  This combines to give them a 8-2 since being swept by the Washington Nationals.  They have a favorable schedule coming up to gain ground in the division and wildcard coming up, starting with three at the Astros this week. FishGuts will have more on the Marlins and this defining series.

The Houston Astros(57-61, 4th in NL Central 10GB) are now back to being sellers and playing for next year.  Just a few weeks ago, it was possible they could make a run for the wildcard and very possibly the division, but this has changed.  Losers of five of seven games, the Astros have even recently traded away catcher Pudge Rodriguez to the Rangers for two minor leaguers.  One bright spot is that they did recently get Lance Berkman back from the disabled list.

Probable pitching matchups are below:
Friday @ 8:05PM EST – Nolasco,FLA(8-8,5.44 ERA) vs. Norris,HOU(3-0,3.00 ERA)
Wednesday @ 8:05PM EST – West,FLA(4-4,4.57 ERA) vs. Bazardo,HOU(0-0,5.06 ERA)
Thursday @ 8:05PM EST – Johnson,FLA(12-2,2.85 ERA) vs. Rodriguez,HOU(11-7,3.05 ERA)
Braves Logo VS Mets Logo
The Atlanta Braves(62-56, 3rd in NL East 5.5GB 3GB of wildcard) had a rough weekend against the Phillies after climbing back into both the divisional and wildcard races in the National League.  They were hurt by Ryan Howard against the Phillies as he produced all four runs last night and hit the eventual winning home run on Friday.  They still only stand 6 games back of the division and 3.5 back of the wildcard.  They were able to then rebound and take the only game against the Diamondbacks in a makeup from May.They now head to NY to face the Mets and  The Braves Baseball Blog has more on both series.

The New York Mets(55-63, 4th in NL East 12.5GB) can not get a break this season when it comes to injuries.  This past weekend in a very scary moment, David Wright was hit in the head with a pitch in an eventual loss against the Giants.  They were able to rebound and win one for him the next day but could not finish off a series win last night.  The Mets will continue to play out the string, even as the Disabled list rises and a victory now means “no new injuries” to them.   The Real Dirty Mets Blog is your place to go for more information on the Mets.

Probable pitching matchups are below:
Tuesday @ 7:10PM EST – Lowe,ATL(12-7,4.08 ERA) vs. Perez,NYM(2-3,5.97 ERA)
Wednesday @ 7:10PM EST – Jurrjens,ATL(9-8,2.99 ERA) vs. Parnell,NYM(3-4,3.50 ERA)
Thursday @ 7:10PM EST – Kawakami,ATL(5-9,4.13 ERA) vs. Santana,NYM(13-8,3.10 ERA)
Rockies Logo VS Nats Logo
The Washington Nationals(43-75, 5th in NL East 24.5GB) were able to turn around a small losing streak of three games after an eight game winning streak.  This was new thing to see out of this Nationals team.  They were able to take the final three games against the Reds and the offense seems to have restarted itself.  They now will go into a pretty big test for a team that may have found its way, facing the wildcard leading Rockies.  There are a couple teams in the division though that will be big Nats fans this week, hoping the Nats can do them a solid. CenterfieldGate has more information on the Nats, be sure to check them out.

The Colorado Rockies(63-53, 2nd in NL West, 1st in Wildcard) look to use this matchup against the last place Nationals to gain back the game they lost this weekend in the wildcard standings.  The Rockies took two of three and exploited the Rockies pitching while gaining a game on them in the wildcard and not allowing them to put any distance with others as well.

Probable pitching matchups are below:
Tuesday @ 7:05PM EST – Jimenez,COL(10-9,3.47 ERA) vs. Stammen,WAS(3-6,5.24 ERA)
Wednesday @ 7:05PM EST – Marquis,COL(13-8,3.55 ERA) vs. Balester,WAS(1-2,6.00 ERA)
Thursday @ 7:05PM EST – Hammel,COL(7-7,4.73 ERA) vs. Mock,WAS(2-4,5.27 ERA)
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Aug

14

NL East Daily Recap from 8-13-09

Filed Under (Daily Recap) by mrose on 14-08-2009

Tagged Under : , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Howard breaks out of a slump

Howard breaks out of a slump

The Phillies did something yesterday they had not done since 1984, sweep the Cubs in Chicago.  In the fourth inning, Ryan Howard broke out of the longest home run drought of his career, depositing a three run homer that would provide all the runs the Phillies needed with Cliff Lee on the mound.  Cliff Lee(3-0) went eight strong innings and only allowed six hits and run run, but did walk three to get his third win in as many tries and he is now undefeated in the NL with a 1.12 ERA.  Pedro Feliz also hit a home run in the fourth inning a few batters after Ryan Howard and drove Howard in for an insurance run in the sixth.  Phillies Phandom has more on the Phillies sweep.

Ryan Desmpter started out well for the Cubs as through the first three innings he looked virtually unhittable.  Dempster(6-6) ended up going six innings and gave up all six runs and eight hits in taking a loss for the Cubs.  Ryan Theriot produced the only run for the Cubs as he drove in Jake Baker in the fifth inning.

Cantu with a blast to start it off

Cantu with a blast to start it off

Jorge Cantu hit a two run home run for the Marlins and that was the start of another win, and series win for the Marlins.  They never relinquished that lead and they exploded once starter Mike Hampton left after the fifth against the Astros relief.  Ronnie Paulino contributed a solo home run in that inning and Hanley Ramirez had a two run single as well.  Sean West(4-4) went six innings and allowed only one run and was able to cruise to the victory after the sixth inning outburst.  FishGuts has more information on this win for the Marlins and their march to get closer to the playoffs.

Mike Hampton started yesterdays game with a slightly bum leg.  Hampton(7-10) lasted five decent innings and left with his team having a shot at the game after allowing six hits and three runs, but allowing two home runs.  The Bullpen imploded and only Hampton’s RBI single and Darren Erstad’s single in the ninth put a dent in the scoreboard for the Astros.

Gomes hits three straight bombs

Gomes hits three straight bombs

Jonny Gomes had a humongous games yesterday for the Cincinnati Reds as he went 3-4 with three runs scored and five RBI on THREE straight at bats with a home.  The Reds did not need much more offense to win this one but Ryan Hanigan also homered and Brandon Phillips had an RBI double late to lead the Reds to the 7-0 win over the Nats.  Bronson Arroyo(11-11) went the distance while being virtually unhittable giving up only two hits and one walk against the suddenly hapless Nationals.

The Nationals, as CenterfieldGate mentions, have now only scored three runs in their past three games and the offense has completely shut down.  Ryan Zimmerman did extend his hitting streak with a single, but Christian Guzman’s has ended, with the entire lineup looking terrible.  Colin Balester(1-2) did not help much either as he only went five innings and allowed five runs and two walks while giving up three home runs.  CenterfieldGate covers this game and more for all the Nats fans.

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Aug

11

NL East Series Preview 8-10-09 through 8-13-09

Filed Under (Series Preview) by mrose on 11-08-2009

Tagged Under : , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Phillies Logo VS Cubs Logo
The Philadelphia Phillies(61-48, 1st in NL East) have actually not been very good since they acquired Cliff Lee at the deadline.  Cliff Lee is 2-0 and J.A. Happ has one win, but that is all as the Phillies were most recently swept by the Marlins.  Some of the bigger news out of Philly was the controversial ejection of Shane Victorino from centerfield and Pedro Martinez making his 2009 debut as Jamie Moyer goes to the pen. Check out Phillies Phandom for more on both of these issues and the series at hand.

The Chicago Cubs(58-52, 2nd in NL Central 3GB, 3GB in WildCard) were shot down pretty hard this weekend as they lost three out of four to the Rockies to lose ground in both the wildcard and divisional races.  The final two games they lost by a combined score of 22-10 and even though the Phillies lost three in a row, this isn’t a welcome matchup for the Cubbies.  They will hope to gain ground in both races, as they are an equal amount out in each.

Probable pitching matchups are below:
Tuesday @ 8:05PM EST – Happ,PHI(8-2,2.74 ERA) vs. Harden,CHI(7-7,4.41 ERA)
Wednesday @ 8:05PM EST – Martinez,PHI(0-0,- ERA) vs. Samardzija,CHI(1-1,6.29 ERA)
Thursday @ 2:20PM EST – Lee,PHI(9-9,2.95 ERA) vs. Dempster,CHI(6-5,4.04 ERA)
Astros Logo VS Marlins Logo
The Florida Marlins(58-53, 2nd in NL East 4GB, 3GB in WildCard) reassured their fans that they don’t plan on fading out of this race after a dismal showing in Washington last week. The Florida Marlins went into the city of brotherly love this weekend and swept the Phillies to pull back within four games of the lead. They did this with solid pitching, timely hitting and by finally getting to their nemesis, Jamie Moyer. They will hope to get closer to the division and wildcard this week as they welcome in the bubble riding Houston Astros for a four game set. FishGuts has all the info on this series and more.

The Houston Astros(55-56, 3rd in NL Central, 6GB of wild card) continue to flounder in between competing and playing for next year. Just when you are about to count them out, they will take a series and play well enough to be considered a contender. They currently come into this series six games back of both divisional and wildcard races after an up and down week, ending by taking two of three from the division rival Milwaukee Brewers to pull into a third place tie with them.

Note: At this point Mike Hampton is scheduled to make his start on Thursday despite a torn meniscus in his knee, so this could change.

Probable pitching matchups are below:
Monday @ 7:10PM EST – Marlins 8 Astros 6
Tuesday @ 7:10PM EST – Oswalt,HOU(6-4,3.61 ERA) vs. Volstad,FLA(8-9,4.48 ERA)
Wednesday@ 7:10PM EST-Norris,HOU(2-0,1.69 ERA) vs. Nolasco,FLA(8-7,4.86 ERA)
Thursday @ 7:10PM EST -Hampton,HOU(7-9,5.30 ERA) vs. West,FLA(3-4,4.88 ERA)
Nats Logo VS Braves Logo
The Atlanta Braves(58-54, 3rd in NL East 4.5GB, 4GB of Wild Card) head into the series with the Washington Nationals in a way which many probably did not expect.  The Braves have won five of six while on a west coast string against the Padres and finally four against the Dodgers.  They played great against the Dodgers and may actually have a tougher task in front of them, in the Washington Nationals.  The Braves were also able to gain ground on the Phillies this weekend as the Marlins helped their cause in sweeping them. The Braves Baseball Blog will have more information on the Braves for you.

The Washington Nationals(40-72, 5th in NL East 22.5GB) are absolutely on fire.  They have now won eight straight games and their hitting carried them this weekend, and even had some good pitching to boot.  Ryan Zimmerman, Elijah Dukes, Christian Guzman are hitting everything that comes their way and the others on the team aren’t too shabby either.  They may not be in contention for the playoffs, but this late streak at least makes them assured they won’t break the record for most losses this year and hopefully gives Nats fans a warm feeling for next year.  Check out Centerfieldgate for more information on the Nationals.

Check the latest Chatter Up! for a back and forth with the teams!

Probable pitching matchups are below:
Tuesday @ 7:00 PM EST – Lannan,WAS(8-8,3.39 ERA) vs. Hanson,ATL(6-2,3.22 ERA)
Wednesday @ 7:00PM EST – Stammen,WAS(11-7,4,15 ERA) vs. Lowe,ATL(11-7,4.15 ERA)
Mets Logo VS D'Backs Logo
The New York Mets(52-59, 4th in NL East 10GB, 9GB of Wild Card) are enduring yet another grueling west coast trip this year. Sunday’s win in San Diego was their first in their last eight tries against an opponent in California dating back to May. Lucky(or not?) for them, they enter Arizona this week where they are outstanding over the past few seasons, dating back to 2006. They at the least need better results than they received a couple weekends ago when the D’Backs took three of four from the Mets in New York just after the Mets had played a few solid games straight. Check out The Real Dirty Mets Blog for more Mets information.

The Arizona Diamondbacks(50-62, 4th in NL West 17GB) were on quite a roll while entering the Nations capital this past weekend. That all stopped as the Washington Nationals beat them in three straight and left them reeling, defeating even their ace Danny Haren on the way. They do have continued success from Mark Reynolds who now has 36 home runs for the Diamondbacks. The D’Backs hope returning home will help them get back to winning ways.

Probable pitching matchups are below:
Monday @ 9:40PM EST – Diamondbacks 7 Mets 4
Tuesday @ 9:40PM EST – Hernandez,NYM(7-6,5.08 ERA) vs. Scherzer,ARI(6-6,4.01 ERA)
Wednesday @ 3:40PM EST – Perez,NYM(2-3,6.38 ERA) vs. Garland,ARI(6-10,4.33 ERA)

Be sure to check back to NLEC or the team affiliate blog frequently!

If interested in helping the NLEC, please contact mrose@nleastchatter.com

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Aug

10

NL East Series Preview 8-10-09 through 8-13-09 Marlins and Mets edition

Filed Under (Series Preview) by mrose on 10-08-2009

Tagged Under : , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Astros Logo VS Marlins Logo
The Florida Marlins(58-53, 2nd in NL East 4GB, 3GB in WildCard) reassured their fans that they don’t plan on fading out of this race after a dismal showing in Washington last week.  The Florida Marlins went into the city of brotherly love this weekend and swept the Phillies to pull back within four games of the lead.  They did this with solid pitching, timely hitting and by finally getting to their nemesis, Jamie Moyer.  They will hope to get closer to the division and wildcard this week as they welcome in the bubble riding Houston Astros for a four game set. FishGuts has all the info on this series and more.

The Houston Astros(55-56, 3rd in NL Central, 6GB of wild card) continue to flounder in between competing and playing for next year.  Just when you are about to count them out, they will take a series and play well enough to be considered a contender.  They currently come into this series six games back of both divisional and wildcard races after an up and down week, ending by taking two of three from the division rival Milwaukee Brewers to pull into a third place tie with them.

Note: At this point Mike Hampton is scheduled to make his start on Thursday despite a torn meniscus in his knee, so this could change.

Probable pitching matchups are below:
Monday @ 7:10PM EST – Moehler,HOU(7-7,5.23 ERA) vs. VandenHurk,FLA(1-1,4.29 ERA)
Tuesday @ 7:10PM EST – Oswalt,HOU(6-4,3.61 ERA) vs. Volstad,FLA(8-9,4.48 ERA)
Wednesday@ 7:10PM EST-Norris,HOU(2-0,1.69 ERA) vs. Nolasco,FLA(8-7,4.86 ERA)
Thursday @ 7:10PM EST -Hampton,HOU(7-9,5.30 ERA) vs. West,FLA(3-4,4.88 ERA)
Mets Logo VS D'Backs Logo
The New York Mets(52-59, 4th in NL East 10GB, 9GB of Wild Card) are enduring yet another grueling west coast trip this year.  Sunday’s win in San Diego was their first in their last eight tries against an opponent in California dating back to May.  Lucky(or not?) for them, they enter Arizona this week where they are outstanding over the past few seasons, dating back to 2006.  They at the least need better results than they received a couple weekends ago when the D’Backs took three of four from the Mets in New York just after the Mets had played a few solid games straight.  Check out The Real Dirty Mets Blog for more Mets information.

The Arizona Diamondbacks(50-62, 4th in NL West 17GB) were on quite a roll while entering the Nations capital this past weekend.  That all stopped as the Washington Nationals beat them in three straight and left them reeling, defeating even their ace Danny Haren on the way.  They do have continued success from Mark Reynolds who now has 36 home runs for the Diamondbacks.  The D’Backs hope returning home will help them get back to winning ways.

Probable pitching matchups are below:
Monday @ 9:40PM EST – Pelfrey,NYM(8-7,4.75 ERA) vs. Davis,ARI(6-10,3.67 ERA)
Tuesday @ 9:40PM EST – Hernandez,NYM(7-6,5.08 ERA) vs. Scherzer,ARI(6-6,4.01 ERA)
Wednesday @ 3:40PM EST – Perez,NYM(2-3,6.38 ERA) vs. Garland,ARI(6-10,4.33 ERA)

Be sure to check back to NLEC or the team affiliate blog frequently!

If interested in helping the NLEC, please contact mrose@nleastchatter.com

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Aug

07

NL East Series Preview from 8-6-09 through 8-9-09

Filed Under (Series Preview) by mrose on 07-08-2009

Tagged Under : , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Marlins Logo VS Phillies Logo
The Philadelphia Phillies(61-45, 1st in NL East) had a rough weekend as they lost three of four to the Giants, but then rebounded well to take the series from the Rockies. The series did not start out promising as they lost the opener, but lefties J.A. Happ and the newest Philly Cliff Lee hammered down the final two games. They will now look to put some more distance between themselves and the second place Marlins who are reeling. Check out Phillies Phandom for more Philadelphia insight.

The Florida Marlins(55-53, 2nd in NL East 7GB, 5GB in WildCard) came out of the weekend winning two of three in exciting games against the Cubs with confidence. In their sight was the last place Washington Nationals team and they were likely riding high. Apparently they were running too high as they dropped all three games of them, and all were winnable. The Nationals came back in two of the games from deficits and used the home run ball as a huge weapon. The Nationals won’t get any relief from the long ball with the powerful lineup the Phillies bring and being in Citizens Bank Park, but they hope for better results than earlier in the week. FishGuts has all the info on this series and more.

Make sure to check out Chatter Up! Featuring Phillies Phandom and FishGuts.

Probable pitching matchups are below:
Friday @ 7:35PM EST – Nolasco,FLA(7-7,5.00 ERA) vs. Blanton,PHI(7-5,4.02 ERA)
Saturday @ 7:05PM EST – West,FLA(3-4,4.91 ERA) vs. Hamels,PHI(7-6,4.68 ERA)
Sunday@1:35PM EST – Johnson,FLA(10-2, 2.98 ERA) vs. Moyer,PHI(10-8,5.55 ERA)
Braves Logo VS Dodgers Logo
The Atlanta Braves(55-53, 3rd in NL East 6.5GB, 5GB of Wild Card) must have the schedule makers. Just after a rough stretch last week of losing two of three to rival Marlins and then two out of three to the National League leading Dodgers, they finally got to face the Padres. They took two out of three from the Padres, but next, they go up the interstate to play the Dodgers again, but this time for four and on the road. They have a couple days off on the horizon next week, but first they must manage through a grueling set in ending this road trip. The Braves Baseball Blog will have more information on the Braves for you.

The Los Angeles Dodgers(66-42, 1st in NL West) have hit a fairly unexpected rough road on their trip to a division title. Last week they went on a four game losing streak before winning three of four against the Cardinals and Braves to end their week. This week, they welcomed in Milwaukee, and except for a 17-4 victory on Tuesday night, they couldn’t get a “W” next to them. After seeing their division lead slip to 6 games with the hot play of the Giants and Rockies, they look to get back on track against the Braves.

Probable pitching matchups are below:
Thursday @ 10:10PM EST – Dodgers 5 Braves 4
Friday@10:10PM EST-Jurrjens,ATL(9-8,2.85 ERA) vs. Billingsley,LAD(11-6,3.82 ERA)
Saturday @ 10:10PM EST – Kawakami,ATL(5-9,4.38 ERA) vs. Kershaw,LAD(8-6,2.89 ERA)
Sunday @ 4:10PM EST – Vazquez,ATL(9-7,2.99 ERA) vs. Kuroda,LAD(4-5,4.44 ERA)
Mets Logo vs_120x120 Padres Logo
The New York Mets(51-56, 4th in NL East 10GB) are extremely up and down, but at this point, you have to believe they are just playing out the string and praying for no more injuries. After losing three out of four to the Diamondbacks this weekend, they welcomed in the Cardinals for two games. They lost the first game late on a blown save by KRod and came back incredibly strong with a 9-0 mashing of the Cards on Wednesday afternoon. They hope that a west coast trip is just what the doctor ordered to at least get back to .500. They start with four games in San Diego followed by a place they love to play, Arizona. Check out The Real Dirty Mets Blog for more information throughout the series.

The San Diego Padres(44-65, 5th in NL West 22.5GB) followed up a five game winning streak towards the end of last week by losing three out of four. They are currently on a 2 game skid and will continue to send their young and rebuilding team out there to see what they can do. It does seem that they are getting different heroes daily and a Pads fan has to hope for the future.

The probable pitchers are shown below:
Thursday @ 10:05PM EST – Padres 8 Mets 3
Friday @ 10:05PM EST – Perez,NYM(2-3,7.03 ERA) vs. Correia,SD(7-9,4.73 ERA)
Saturday @ 10:05PM EST – Parnell,NYM(2-3,3.74 ERA) vs. Latos,SD(3-1,2.66 ERA)
Sunday @ 4:05PM EST-Santana,NYM(12-8,3.10 ERA) vs. Stauffer,SD(1-3,3.12 ERA)
Cardinals Logo vs_120x120 Nats Logo
The Washington Nationals(37-72, 5th in NL East 25.5GB) are now winners of five straight and have now had streaks of four and five games in the past two weeks.  They also surprised many this week by sweeping the Florida Marlins right out of town and doing it impressively.  They will hope to continue their recent success as the Arizona Diamondbacks come in for three before heading out on a road trip.  Check out CenterfieldGate for more news, information and insight on the Nats.

The Arizona Diamondbacks(50-59, 4th in NL West 17GB) are on their own impressive streak right now as well.  After losing the first two to the Phillies last week, the Diamondbacks have won five straight and seven of eight against the Phillies, Mets and Pirates heading into tonight’s matchup.  Most of those opponents have been subpar, but it must be encouraging for this young Diamondbacks team as they play out the string.

The probable pitchers are shown below:
Friday @ 7:05PM EST -Garland,ARI(6-10,4.26 ERA) vs. Balester,WAS(1-1,3.68 ERA)
Saturday @ 7:05PM EST – Haren,ARI(11-6,2.38 ERA) vs. Mock,WAS(0-4,6.75 ERA)
Sunday @ 1:35PM EST – Petit,ARI(2-5,5.81 ERA) vs. Martin,WAS(0-2,7.16 ERA)

Be sure to check back to NLEC or the team affiliate blog frequently!

If interested in helping the NLEC, please contact mrose@nleastchatter.com

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Jul

28

Chatter Up! Inaugeral Edition – Braves @ Marlins 7-28-09 to 7-31-09

Filed Under (Chatter Up) by mrose on 28-07-2009

Tagged Under : , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Braves Logo chatterup Marlins Logo
Welcome to the first edition of NLEC’s Chatter Up!  This will be a normal occurrence when two divisional teams play each other.  I (or others) will ask questions of the affiliate blogs and their writers for the teams which are going against each other during that series.  These questions can be in regards to the divisional rival or to the state of that team themselves.  I welcome guest questions for upcoming series via email at mrose@nleastchatter.com or just leave comments/questions in the comment section!  We will begin this Chatter Up! with the Braves visiting the Marlins starting tonight, July 28th in South Florida.  The Series Preview for this week has more on the series, but lets get right to the questions.  As in a normal game, the road team will lead off, with the home team getting last licks.Matt R. of NLEC will address Matt Fournier of The Braves Baseball Blog, followed by addressing Wally Londo of FishGuts.
Matt R(NLEC): Lets start with the trade deadline.  What do you feel the Braves need to do this week to give them a shot at a playoff birth?  Given that answer, what WILL the Braves do, knowing the moves they already have made, and do you think the Braves could ever possibly regret the trades made so far?
Matt F(BB): If I’ve said it once I’ll say it again they need a big bat. While McLouth was good then still need some more pop in the lineup. An Adrian Gonazalez type player would be nice (probably not going to happen). It couldn’t hurt to look at another closer. Soriano has done well, but I don’t trust his health.
Matt R(NLEC):Comparatively, the Braves have an “old” starting staff when they trot out Derek Lowe, Javier Vazquez and Kenshin Kawakami compared to the Marlins.  I would imagine those three (Kawakami being unknown) will handle the innings as they pile on, but what do you expect from impressive rookie Tommy Hanson?   Will the Braves look to curve his innings, or go pedal to the metal hoping for a playoff birth?
Matt F(BBB): I think the sky is the limit for this kid. He already is 5-1 with 2.95 ERA and 37 K’s. As far as curving his innings I don’t think they’ll do much of that. I mean he was an MLB ready prospect so therefore they will use him to his fullest. That being said I don’t think they will overwork him. I don’t know if that makes any sense, but it’s the only way I know how to explain it.
Matt R(NLEC): As it seems the way its going for all NL East Teams this year, the hot streaks sometimes give false hope.  Do you really believe this team is a playoff contender this year, or do you see them fading back come September and possibly playing spoiler?
Matt F(BBB): As far as the playoffs this year I’m highly optimistic, but I feel with the way the Phillies are playing and the way some other NL teams are playing that they should look towards next year. Hopefully I will be biting my tongue though. And for them falling back in September I don’t see it happening. I don’t see the pitching fading away, the only thing that worries me is the consistency of the offense. I think they will be able to sustain for the whole year.
Matt R(NLEC): So far this season the Marlins have taken 3 of 5 with 13 to be played in the final 2+ months, with it seemingly being a battle between the two teams for 2nd and for the possible wild card, what do the Braves need to do in this series to begin securing the that place?
Matt F(BBB): They must jump all over the Marlins weak pitching staff early and often. The pitching will be there for the Braves, so it is a must that they exploit the Marlins weak pitching staff.
Matt R(NLEC): What Marlins pitcher and hitter do you feel will be the biggest challenge this weekend?
Matt F(BBB): The pitcher that scares me the most is obviously the ace Josh Johnson. Great pitcher, who scares any team. And for the hitter it would have to be the great Hanley Ramirez.
Thanks Matt! Now, moving on to FishGuts and Wally
Matt R(NLEC): Lets start with the trade deadline.  What do you feel the Marlins need to do this week to give them a shot at a playoff birth?  Given that answer, what WILL the Marlins do, knowing their management and referencing the earlier FishGuts article, why would they think of trading Cody Ross?
Wally(FG): To really make a run at the playoffs, the Marlins need to add either an impact bat or starting pitcher. Roy Halladay is the pie in the sky dream, but that probably isn’t realistic, given the cost in money and prospects for a team that values those two things above all else.
Realistically, the team should at least add Josh Willingham kind of bat, though Larry Beinfest doesn’t seem like the type of guy who will trade back for a guy he gave up on in the offseason.
As for Cody, the only reason you trade him is if you are out of it, because he has more value than anyone else. However, he probably has more value to the Fish than in a trade, so I’d hope they don’t do it. He’s very good offensively and extremely underrated in the field.
Matt R(NLEC): Looking today, the Marlins extremely young and inexpensive pitching staff is 8th in the NL overall, which is very impressive.  Do you expect that throughout the remainder of the season this will take a dive, or do you feel though they are young, they can handle the innings as they pile up and the possible pressure of a post-season run?
Wally(FG): The pitching has actually been infuriating outside of Josh Johnson. Chris Volstad’s home run problems have been stupefying, and Ricky Nolasco, one of the best pitchers in baseball last year, hasn’t been able to put it together for more than a few starts.
If Volstad and Nolasco can get to where they were last year for the stretch run, adding a pitcher might be redundant, because Sean West, Andrew Miller, Rick Vandenhurk, Burke Badenhop and Anibal Sanchez in some kind of order should be able to sustain the back end of the rotation.
I’m an optimist at heart, so I think they’ll actually be better from here on out than they have been up to now.
Matt R(NLEC): As it seems the way its going for all NL East Teams this year, the hot streaks sometimes give false hope.  The Marlins started out the season 11-1, then looked horrible for a few months before their late resurgence.  Do you really believe this team is a playoff contender this year, or do you see them fading back come September and possibly playing spoiler as they do so well.
Wally(FG): There’s really no reason to think the Marlins aren’t at least as good as the Braves, Rockies, and any of the other wild card contenders, they just haven’t been able to get it together. I’m pretty much willing to concede the division, but 3.5 games is nothing in the Wild Card, and if they can put together a good month and a half, they can do it.
Realistically, there’s too many teams to beat out to say I’m confident, but you always have to believe as a fan. Dan Uggla, Jeremy Hermida, Ricky Nolasco, Chris Volstad, and Matt Lindstrom have wildly underperformed, and we could see Cameron Maybin come up soon and catch fire with how he’s been at AAA.
Matt R(NLEC): So far this season the Marlins have taken 3 of 5 with 13 to be played in the final 2+ months, with it seemingly being a battle between the two teams for 2nd and for the possible wild card, what do the Marlins need to do in this series to begin securing the that place?
Wally(FG): Pitch.
The Braves can pitch, but they struggle scoring runs. If we can shut them down, we can score enough to take them down. Chipper and Yunel seem to be the only guys to worry about given their careers against us, so if you can take care of them, you effectively silence their bats.
I do think the Marlins are a more complete team than the Braves, and I think we’ll have a good shot to take at least 8 of the final 13 against them, and hopefully put them away for good.
Matt R(NLEC): What Braves pitcher and hitter do you feel will be the biggest challenge?
Wally(FG): Jurrjens is the guy we go against in the first game and he’s a guy who can give the Marlins, but I’m more worried about Kawakami. We scored 4 against him in 6 innings the first time we faced him, but he’s the type of guy we always seem to struggle against.
Chipper Jones might be getting up there in age, but he is the 2nd greatest switch hitter of all time, and he’s got a .939 career OPS against the Marlins so he’s always the guy you worry about.

I hope everyone enjoyed the first Chatter Up! segment, and as I mentioned, please feel free to email any recommend questions or comments about the segment to mrose@nleastchatter.com or go to this forum topic and post a reply.

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