It’s funny in a game that went 19 innings and 6:39:00, we are only talking about 10 seconds of it.  For the Braves, the other 6:38:50 could change the course of the season.  Atlanta has to feel fortunate that this game happened before the trade deadline because Brian McCann, Jordan Schafer, and the bullpen all took a hit last night.

In the middle of what could be a MVP season, Brian McCann left the game with the injury of the year a strained oblique.  The Braves placed him on the day disabled list before game’s end.  McCann carried the offense to this point in the season, and losing him in the line up could change Atlanta’s opinion of getting Carlos Beltran.  The Mets outfielder was not optimal for the Braves with McCann, Dan Uggla, and Freddie Freeman all hitting, and Beltran is not a true center fielder.  Taking McCann out for at least 15 days while Chipper Jones is again injured makes Beltran more attractive.  At the time of this post, it is reported that San Francisco is close to a deal with the Mets for the outfielder, and center field option Colby Rasmus has been traded from St.Louis to Toronto.

Going after Beltran would be more likely if Jordan Schafer were healthy.  Schafer had eluded to possibly going on the DL before the game with a chipped bone in his middle finger.  He then worked 9 innings in which he was hit on that finger during an at bat.

In a game full of scary moments, Martin Prado went 0-8, and Scott Proctor was forced to pitch three innings.  This goes to show the need for another bullpen arm and another top of the order bat.  Nothing like playing a 19 inning game to find your weaknesses!

Not even close!  All I am going to say on that matter is Jim Joyce and Don Denkinger.  As my dad used to say to me every time I tried to dispute an umpire or referee’s call, “What did they call?  Then that’s what it was.”  Is it always correct, not by a long shot?  His point was that you deal with what is, not what should be.  Until there is instant replay, we are stuck with the judgement of a guy that working behind the plate for 6:39:00.  Yes, that says six hours and thirty-nine minutes.  We should be more bothered by how bad he was when he was fresh.  You could argue that had Jerry Meals called even a descent game, we would have all been asleep long before he decided that Michael McKenry do not actually touch Julio Lugo with his swipe tag. » Continue reading “The Worst Call Ever……”