Open Thread, May 23, Braves vs. the Les Nessmans
There’s no such thing as a must-win in May, of course. But tonight qualifies as a sure-would-be-nice-to-win. Four-game sweeps are not fun. 
I suspect Hanson will pitch well tonight. Chipper’s still out. McCann’s back in the lineup and Hinske’s playing right. Hinske has good numbers vs. Arroyo, and I guess Fredi decided J-Hey could use an off day. (Damn, McCann scratched again.) I have a feeling the Bravos are going to return to smacking the ball tonight. Playing sans Chipper hurts, but we knew he’d miss his share of time.
Heyward has been puzzling so far this year. I keep thinking he is about to break out and go on a tear, but it doesn’t happen. I have seen him have pretty lousy at bats and terrific at bats in the same game. When he connects he can really bruise the ball, but he hasn’t made consistent contact and I have no idea why not.
I am glad we kept Kimbrel in the pen so Martinez could groove a fastball!
That ballpark is such a crapshoot. In most major league stadiums that was just a loud out. I see a certain logic in sparing Kimbrel a few innings here and there in the Spring so that he still has some hop on his fastball in September. But Martinez is no closer. I think we should pitch Medlen the last three innings of games from time to time.
I have hard time blaming Martinez when he gave up only the 2nd run of the game. If he had walked two batters and then given up a line drive double, that would be another story. But that HR is the third out in most parks. It’s our offense that’s struggling. Not sure why our hitters have found no success in Cincy.
I agree with wuky. Offense has been the problem. But we’re just a half game out of first. No catastrophe. I would’ve preferred having Medlen in the game rather than Martinez, but hard to fault a guy for giving up a 355-foot fly ball. Here, that’s maybe on the warning track.
I had a flashback to Liebrandt giving up that Game 6 homer to Puckett. I have never felt so badly for an athlete as I felt for Leibrandt.
I thought Cincinatti would be our cue to go on an offensive binge, but their pitching apparently is much better than I thought.