"Defense Wins Championships"

Well going into today's Braves game I was rather excited because of their thrilling win on friday and the fact that they were playing at home. Early on in the game Brooks Conrad bobbled a potential double play ball but Tim Hudson was able to pitch around that. The next inning with a runner at third base a routine pop up was hit by a Giant's hitter and Brooks Conrad who has been very problematic in the field lately called off Jason Heyward only to turn his glove the wrong way and have it fall to the ground thus allowing a run to score. I'm not saying it was the easiest play in the world but if you call off the other guy you should be positive that you have the play made, with how bad Conrad's defense has been lately I have no idea why he would call of Heyward, seeking redemption maybe? I don't know but his error came down to fundamentals: the basic skills of playing baseball. He simply turned his glove the wrong way this is an extremely basic skill that you learn when you are in little league he cant master that and he is playing for the Atlanta Braves? Yes sadly. From that point on the game was a pitchers duel for the most part. Some action arose in the 8^th inning when Alex Gonzalez landed a single for the Braves Brooks Conrad followed him with a poor bunt attempt that was popped up and caught promptly (more poor fundamentals by Conrad). Next Eric Hinske would pinch hit against a new pitcher and with two strikes hit a great home run drive to the right field corner off the foul pole to give the Braves a 2-1 lead and making him a hero of the moment. Then the impressive young Greg Kimbrel would come into the 9nth inning to close the game and he would get an out,give up a single and then get another out, then with two strikes on what would be the game winning out rather than throw his unhitable 98 mph fastball he threw a high eighties breaking pitch that was hit thus keeping the Giants alive. I really don't know why he threw a slower breaking pitch when the guy hitting couldn't hit his fastball. He basically sped up the hitters bat so he was kind of asking for it but nonetheless I think Kimbrel should have been left in the game Mike Dunn who appeared next does not get very good movement on his pitches and he gave up a big hit that allowed the Giants to tie the game.Then Peter Moylan came in to finish things off but yet another error by none other than Brooks Conrad on a basic ground ball he backed up on it and it went between his legs (more poor fundamentals!) allowed the Giants to reclaim the lead. Kyle Farnsworth then got the Braves out of an ugly top 9nth and in the bottom half of the inning the Braves momentum was dead and despite a hit by Brian McCann they failed, giving the Giants a victory and a 2-1 series lead.