7/18 Reds(5) @ Braves(4)

這場15局的比賽雙方共派出13名投手，Braves 在最後半局的反攻，在所有板凳出清的清況下，連 Kyle Davies 都被派上來代打。這裡引用 FanGraphs 的資料，試著以 WPA 的角度來看這場比賽 (Recap)。



Braves WPA leader: John Smoltz .453
Goat: Rafael Soriano -.426
Most decisive play: Chipper's 0 out, 1 RBI game tying double in the 10th inning. After Chipper stole 3B, Andruw lined out to center.
Most decisive pitch: Soriano allows a 2 out, 2 run homer of Adam Dunn to give Reds a 2-1 lead in the 8th inning.(*)
Total contribution by the hitters: -.549.
Total contribution by the pitchers: .049.
(*) Actually, according to the graph, Jose Ascanio allowed Brandon Phillips' 2 outs, 2 RBI single in the 15th inning and Tyler Yates allowed Scott Hatteberg to hit a 2 outs, 1 RBI game leading single in the 10th inning are both decisive pitches.

三連勝 Pirates 後又連敗給 Reds 三場，比較 WPA 自明星賽前到目前的變化，

	ex-AllStar	Now	diff
Batter	2.37	-0.19	-2.56
Starter	-1.38	-0.33	1.05
Reliever	3.69	3.02	-0.67

經過明星賽後的這六場比賽，打擊的貢獻度下降很多、牛棚也退步了，先發群的表現，扣掉 Davies 一個人貢獻了 -.30 (-1.35 / -1.65)，倒是進步不少。三連敗也懶得多寫什麼，Wish Braves could put it together soon.

BTW, 即將滿 49 歲的 Julio Franco 回來了，I respect Julio, but 對一個已經當阿公的老先生能期待什麼，實在有點哭笑不得。也許老胡真的對球隊的「Chemistry」有點幫助，或者對年輕的 Braves 在經驗上能有點助益。反正也花不了多少錢，勇士只要依大聯盟最低年薪 $38M 的比例支付，最多也就是十幾萬美金，算買個資深板凳顧問吧 (The Mets still have to pay him his entire $1.15 million salary)。

731 快到了，不知道 John Schuerholz 會不會變點魔法出來。