Always Brave! - An Atlanta Braves Franchise!

[IXI DECAY IXI]

Welcome to my blog featuring the 2013 Atlanta Braves. I have been debating back and forth whether I would try and run a blog featuring my Braves, because this is the franchise in which I will attempt to play all 162 games.

So therefore, the blog will pick up with the season heading into the middle of May as we get ready to close out our 4 game series with the Giants. More on that will come later.

The franchise is being run on MLB 13: The Show using the OSFM rosters, and using Armor & Swords slider set. I only control the Braves, so what the computer does is what they do. If you have any questions on background information from the dynasty then don't hesitate to ask.

I have played every single game up to May 11 so far in which we will pick up from that point on.

[IXI DECAY IXI]

Season Recap

With the franchise being picked up from May 11, I wanted to provide you guys with a little recap of how the season has gone thus far.

Entering May 12, the Braves currently hold a 1st place spot in the NL East with a 6.5 game lead over the Phillies. The Mets are sitting in 3rd 7.5 back along with the Nationals, while the Marlins find themselves 10 games back.

The Braves posted a 19-7 record in the month of April, and currently find themselves sitting at 26-11.

Brian McCann has been the story of the season so far as he leads all of baseball with a .425 average. In 31 games, he has 8 home runs as well as 25 RBI's.

The Braves bats have not been short on power. With the additions of Justin and B.J. Upton, the Braves are tied for 3rd in baseball with 47 home runs as a team. Leading that list is Dan Uggla and McCann with 8 and Freddie Freeman with 7.

The Starting rotation has been pretty consistent for Atlanta. With 24 quality starts in 37 games, the starting pitching has been a big reason for the Braves success so far. Leading the Braves rotation so far has got to be Mike Minor. Minor is sporting a 4-0 record with a 2.78 ERA. He has thrown 5 quality starts in his 7 appearances so far this season.

Craig Kimbrel has also been lights out so far this season as he has recorded 16 saves already.

The Braves are getting ready to wrap up a 4 game series with the Giants in which they took game one with a 3-2 win. The Giants bounced back in game 2 with a 5-3 win, but the Braves won game 3 due to Paul Maholm throwing a complete game shutout.

Kris Medlen who is 4-1 (3.38 ERA) will take on Tim Lincecum who is 5-1 (2.96 ERA) in what is sure to be a stout game 4.

[KingFry]

This seems like it'll be fun to follow.

[crains13]

Definitely following man, followed you over on dynasty nation...I know you'll have this thing looking good.

[IXI DECAY IXI]

Medlen Plows Through Giants in Series Finale!

A pitchers duel is described as two pitchers who are consistently and continuously getting batters out without many or any runs scoring.

As the Giants hosted the Braves for the final game of the 4 game series, the pitching match up looked as if it was going to be a good old fashioned pitchers duel and the fans got exactly what they thought they were going to get.

The Braves were able to get on the board early with a sac fly from pitcher Kris Medlen in the top half of the 2nd inning. The Braves were also able to add another run in the top of the 5th with another sac fly from Brian McCann.

Tim Lincecum did earn his 2nd loss of the season but he definitely did his part on the mound. In 6 innings of work, Lincecum only allowed 4 hits, 2 walks, and the 2 runs coming from the sac fly's.

Kris Medlen however was the story of the game as the Braves received another quality start and more from their ace. Medlen improved to 5-1 on the season as he turned in 8.1 innings of work allowing only 4 hits and 2 walks while striking out 6.

The Braves will prepare to head out to Arizona next after winning 3 of the 4 in San Francisco.

The expected pitching matchups are Mike Minor (4-0) vs. Wade Miley (2-1) in game one. Brandon Beachy (4-2) vs Patrick Corbin (0-5) in game two, and Tim Hudson (3-2) vs. Brandon McCarthy (3-3) in the final game three.

The Diamondbacks are one of the best teams in baseball and will look to improve their 22-16 record against the Braves as they try to close the 1 game gap they have behind the Giants in the NL West.

Atlanta Braves at San Francisco Giants
May 12, 2013	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Atlanta (27-11)	0	1	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	3	7	2
San Francisco (23-15)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	2
W: Kris Medlen (5-1) L: Tim Lincecum (5-2) S: Craig Kimbrel (17)

Atlanta Braves
HITTERS	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	HR	AVG
B.Upton	4	0	0	0	1	1	0	.291
J.Heyward	3	1	1	0	1	1	0	.256
J.Upton	5	1	1	0	0	0	0	.294
F.Freeman	4	0	2	1	0	1	0	.317
B.McCann	4	0	0	1	0	1	0	.411
D.Uggla	4	0	0	0	0	1	0	.236
B.DeWitt	4	1	2	0	0	1	0	.340
A.Simmons	3	0	0	0	1	0	0	.238
K.Medlen	3	0	1	1	0	0	0	.187

San Francisco Giants
HITTERS	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	HR	AVG
Pagan	4	0	1	0	0	0	0	.250
Blanco	4	0	1	0	0	0	0	.278
Posey	4	0	0	0	0	1	0	.335
Sadoval	4	0	0	0	0	1	0	.217
Pence	2	0	0	0	2	1	0	.384
Scutaro	3	0	0	0	0	1	0	.264
Belt	4	0	2	0	0	1	0	.254
Crawford	4	0	0	0	0	2	0	.269
Lincecum	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	.363
Sanchez	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.189
Arias	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	.238

Atlanta Braves
PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
K.Medlen	8.1	4	0	0	2	6	0	2.89
C.Kimbrel	0.2	0	0	0	0	2	0	1.83

San Francisco Giants
PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Lincecum	6.0	4	2	2	2	4	0	2.96
Kontos	0.2	1	1	0	0	1	0	7.36
Affeldt	0.1	0	0	0	0	0	0	2.17
Casilla	1.0	1	0	0	1	0	0	6.00
Lopez	1.0	1	0	0	0	1	0	4.11

[KingFry]

Quote: Originally Posted by IXI DECAY IXI

Medlen Plows Through Giants in Series Finale! A pitchers duel is described as two pitchers who are consistently and continuously getting batters out without many or any runs scoring. As the Giants hosted the Braves for the final game of the 4 game series, the pitching match up looked as if it was going to be a good old fashioned pitchers duel and the fans got exactly what they thought they were going to get. The Braves were able to get on the board early with a sac fly from pitcher Kris Medlen in the top half of the 2nd inning. The Braves were also able to add another run in the top of the 5th with another sac fly from Brian McCann. Tim Lincecum did earn his 2nd loss of the season but he definitely did his part on the mound. In 6 innings of work, Lincecum only allowed 4 hits, 2 walks, and the 2 runs coming from the sac fly's. Kris Medlen however was the story of the game as the Braves received another quality start and more from their ace. Medlen improved to 5-1 on the season as he turned in 8.1 innings of work allowing only 4 hits and 2 walks while striking out 6. The Braves will prepare to head out to Arizona next after winning 3 of the 4 in San Francisco. The expected pitching matchups are Mike Minor (4-0) vs. Wade Miley (2-1) in game one. Brandon Beachy (4-2) vs Patrick Corbin (0-5) in game two, and Tim Hudson (3-2) vs. Brandon McCarthy (3-3) in the final game three. The Diamondbacks are one of the best teams in baseball and will look to improve their 22-16 record against the Braves as they try to close the 1 game gap they have behind the Giants in the NL West. Atlanta Braves at San Francisco Giants May 12, 2013 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Atlanta (27-11) 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 3 7 2 San Francisco (23-15) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 2 W: Kris Medlen (5-1) L: Tim Lincecum (5-2) S: Craig Kimbrel (17) Atlanta Braves HITTERS AB R H RBI BB SO HR AVG B.Upton 4 0 0 0 1 1 0 .291 J.Heyward 3 1 1 0 1 1 0 .256 J.Upton 5 1 1 0 0 0 0 .294 F.Freeman 4 0 2 1 0 1 0 .317 B.McCann 4 0 0 1 0 1 0 .411 D.Uggla 4 0 0 0 0 1 0 .236 B.DeWitt 4 1 2 0 0 1 0 .340 A.Simmons 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 .238 K.Medlen 3 0 1 1 0 0 0 .187 San Francisco Giants HITTERS AB R H RBI BB SO HR AVG Pagan 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 .250 Blanco 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 .278 Posey 4 0 0 0 0 1 0 .335 Sadoval 4 0 0 0 0 1 0 .217 Pence 2 0 0 0 2 1 0 .384 Scutaro 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 .264 Belt 4 0 2 0 0 1 0 .254 Crawford 4 0 0 0 0 2 0 .269 Lincecum 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .363 Sanchez 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .189 Arias 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .238 Atlanta Braves PITCHERS IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA K.Medlen 8.1 4 0 0 2 6 0 2.89 C.Kimbrel 0.2 0 0 0 0 2 0 1.83 San Francisco Giants PITCHERS IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Lincecum 6.0 4 2 2 2 4 0 2.96 Kontos 0.2 1 1 0 0 1 0 7.36 Affeldt 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.17 Casilla 1.0 1 0 0 1 0 0 6.00 Lopez 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 4.11

Medlen definetely pitching nice man, thats a nice win.

[IXI DECAY IXI]

ATLANTA, GEORGIA: With an injury to Evan Gattis in the Braves finale against the Giants, the Braves placed Gattis on the 15 day disabled list.

The move forced the Braves to call up their young catching prospect Christian Bethancourt. Bethancourt receives the call up after simply tearing the cover off the ball for the AAA Gwinett Braves.

It will be no walk in the park though for Bethancourt as he quickly has some big shoes to fill. Gattis has been phenomenal in the chances he has had to play this season thus far.

Filling in at 1B while Freeman served his tenure on the DL and getting games here and there at C and LF, he has made himself a quick improvement to this Braves lineup.

Gattis entered the DL batting .362 in 16 games along with 8 RBI's and 2 HR's.

Bethancourt was no active in the Braves opening game with the Diamondbacks but he did get the start against the left handed Patrick Corbin. It wasn't a debut he had in mind though.

Bethancourt struggled at the plate all game as he went 0 for 4 with a walk in his major league debut. It's expected that McCann will be back behind the plate for the final game against the Diamondbacks and it isn't clear yet how much playing time he will receive.

We don't expect at this point his stay in the big leagues will be for long but only time will tell.

[IXI DECAY IXI]

Atlanta Braves (28-13) AT. Los Angeles Dodgers (17-22) | May 17, 2013

Atlanta --- Paul Maholm was nothing less than stellar in the Braves opening game of a three game series with the Dodgers of Los Angeles. Maholm held the Dodgers scoreless in 9.0 innings of work allowing only 2 hits, and striking out 7 while only allowing 1 walk.

This makes two consecutive outings in which Paul Maholm has pitched a complete game shutout.

In his last start against San Francisco, Maholm worked all 9.0 innings allowing 0 runs on 6 hits. He struck out 7 and only allowed 1 walk in that game as well.

Maholm still finds himself perfect with a 4-0 record following the Dodgers game and with the two consecutive complete game shutouts, his ERA now sits at 3.52 with a WHIP of 1.11.

Maholm performance may have overshadowed a dominant performance from the hands of Hyun-Jin Ryu who worked 7.0 innings allowing only 1 run on 2 hits and, striking out 8 while allowing 0 walks.

The only bright spot offensively for both teams came in the bottom of the 4th inning when Justin Upton sent a ball sailing over the right field fence to give the Braves a 1-0 advantage.

That would eventually be all it took at the Braves were only able to muster up 3 hits in the game.

Game two will feature two aces in Kris Medlen (5-1) against Clayton Kershaw (2-3).

Manager Fredie Gonzalez said it's possible we may see Bethancourt behind the plate with Kershaw on the mound so it will be interesting to see if Christian can bounce back from his bad MLB debut if he is indeed behind the plate.