Monday, May 28, 2007

Chuck James leaves me confused once again

I just don't know what to say about Chuck James, sometimes he comes out to pitch like a mad man, throwing strikes, getting outs and just all-around pitching lights out and other times, like his last start for instance, he pitches like, well this guy. It's very infuriating not knowing which guy will show up, come to think of it that's how a lot of our pitchers are, Kyle Davies, Chad Paronto and Tyler Yates to name a few. But today we were honored by the presence of the GOOD Chuck James as he went 6 very strong innings, striking out 8 batters and walking only 2. He did however allow 5 hits but only one of which was an extra base hit and it was a solo homerun by Prince Fielder, it also the only run James would give up on route to a 2-1 win. If he could just do this consistently then we would we have three solid starters heading into the postseason(if all goes well that is).

The game was pretty much a pitcher's dual until the fourth inning when the slumping(serious understatement) Andruw Jones broke through with a ridiculous homerun. I'm not shitting you, the ball was way outside and parallel to Andruw's head but yet he was able to put a great swing on it and muscle it out for his eighth on the year. The Braves' second run came in the 5th inning when Kelly Johnson hit an RBI single that scored Chris Woodward and to be honest if it wasn't for a dumb decision by Fielder Woodward wouldn't have scored. Corey Hart unloaded a cannon right at home plate that would've gotten Woodward out by at least 15 feet, but Fielder decided to cut off the throw and throw it to third in time get James out but the runner at home had already crossed the plate before the out was recorded therefore we scored, HA!

Rafael Soriano pitched today and he came equipped with his sweet chin hair and filthy heat. He pitched 1.1 innings while striking out two and allowing no runs or hits. Bob Wickman made his triumphant return as the closer and he earned his eighth save on the season as he set the Brew Crew down in order with relative ease. He looked to be 100% healthy and that's a great news seeing as how we lost Mike Gonzalez for....oh a year and a half or so.

WP: Chuck James(5-4)
LP: Chris Capuano(5-4)
SV: Bob Wickman(8)

HR: ATL- Andruw Jones(8) MIL- Prince Fielder(16)

Side Note:

ATL- Chipper Jones missed his fifth consecutive game with a sore hand and Braves' manager, Bobby Cox, said the team is contemplating placing the All-Star third baseman on the DL.

MIL- Chris Capuano lost his fourth straight game today, tying a career high. Although he has been struggling with his command of late, the Brewers have been held to a single run in each of those four losses.

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