Even with loss, Braves show they’re not going away
The scoreboard tells the story as Philadelphia's Roy Halladay tamed the Braves' lineup the night after Tuesday's comeback win by Atlanta. (Curtis Compton/AJC)
We’ve seen in sports how one athlete can seem to plug an entire franchise into a light socket.
One such occurrence came in 1979. The Los Angeles Lakers drafted Magic Johnson. There’s a great story about Johnson’s first game that set the tone for his career and that first season. The Lakers won their opening game on a hook shot by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at the buzzer. They beat the San Diego Clippers, which generally doesn’t arouse thoughts of a postgame parade. But Magic was so taken by the moment that he ran and jumped into the arms of a stunned Abdul-Jabbar.
The story goes that Abdul-Jabbar — not the most excitable player in league history — then told Johnson, “You do realize we have 81 more games, don’t you?” But that moment set the tone for the Lakers’ season. They won the NBA title that year.
The Braves are only two weeks into the season. But what we’ve seen in recent days — notwithstanding Wednesday’s 2-0 loss to the occasionally mortal Roy Halladay and the Philadelphia Phillies — says something about what may lie ahead.
If Jason Heyward doesn’t have the career resume of Magic Johnson, he at least has accomplished something out of the box: He has plugged the Braves into a light socket. When a team wins games like Tuesday’s come-from-behind, 4-3 win over the Phillies (punctuated by a three-run rally in the ninth that included a game-tying blast by Heyward) and Sunday’s 4-3 win over Colorado (similarly punctuated by Heyward’s two-run hit in the ninth) it becomes infectious. Everybody starts believing.
“Oh, we can hang with them, there’s no doubt about that,” Chipper Jones said Wednesday night after the loss to Philadelphia, the National League’s best team over the past three seasons. “We know we can play with them on a day-in, day-out basis. We just have to play as consistently as they do against teams that, on paper, we should beat.
“Even though we got beat, there was a lot of intensity. There was no quit in anybody. We were always in the game. We had our chances. We just got beat by a pretty good pitcher.”
It was set up for another comeback. They trailed 2-0 in the seventh and had only two hits through six innings when it appeared they would finally get to Halladay (4-0, 0.82). Jones and Brian McCann started with singles. Glaus, who had a two-run homer Tuesday night, struck out. (Back to normal.)
That brought up Heyward. Everybody in the stadium seemed to collectively inhale. Alas, he only walked to load the bases. Remember when a walk to load the bases used to be enough?
Yunel Escobar then drove a pitch off the mound and up the middle that appeared ticketed for a game-tying, two-run single. But Chase Utley dove to his right and flipped the ball to Juan Castro at second to start an inning-ending double play.
Still, the Braves are proving something early. Even with their early offensive deficiencies, they’re not going away. They don’t view this season as a mere chase for the wild card.
“We know we’re a good team,” Brian McCann said. “We left spring training thinking we can win a World Series. A series this early in the season isn’t going to determine whether we’re going to go deep in the playoffs or even if we’re going make the playoffs. But we can play good baseball and see where we are when it’s over.”
Is it possible a team with so many holes in the lineup can make a race of it?
Philadelphia has won three consecutive division titles, two consecutive pennants and a World Series in 2008. The Braves have missed the postseason four consecutive years and last won a playoff series in 2001. Over the past three seasons, the Phillies are 274-212, the Braves 242-244.
“The fact is,” Bobby Cox said, “you don’t worry about the other teams. You worry about your own house. You play the schedule and find out where you stand in October.”
And what of projections that this is the Phillies’ division to lose?
“I think we’re competitive,” Cox said. “… All we’re doing is going out and playing as good as we can every night. That’s it. That’s been my philosophy forever.”
Early reviews: This could be a race.
♦
Earlier posts
♦ Live blog: Braves go for two over Phillies (and maybe a sign)
♦Goodell had no choice but to suspend Roethlisberger
♦ When Josh Smith is on, the Hawks can’t be stopped
♦
Follow me on Twitter @JeffSchultzAJC and on Facebook.com/JeffSchultzAJC
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
99 comments Add your comment
DamYankee
April 21st, 2010
10:09 pm
Swore I’d never do this – first?
JSS
April 21st, 2010
10:13 pm
Couldn’t beat Cliff Lee and can’t touch Roy Halladay!
HANGMAN
April 21st, 2010
10:17 pm
why? WHY? Why don’t the braves give the coach that taught J-Hey how to hit a job as their hitting coach? Also how about considering Leo Mazzone as the next head coach?
Eric C.
April 21st, 2010
10:19 pm
How is Glaus still in the middle of the lineup? I mean, he must be getting some decent pitches to hit with Heyward batting behind him, but he still can’t hit with RISP. Glaus hits about like Bruce Bennedict…he should be in the 8 hole if at all… a poor singles hitter who occasionally will pop a long one.
willy
April 21st, 2010
10:23 pm
47 year old Jaime Moyer tomorrow night…….WOOOO HOOOO
Hello
April 21st, 2010
10:32 pm
Braves = .500 team at best. Got lucky last night. Anybody remember at the end of last season when they had a chance ? CHOKE CHOKE CHOKE.
Stratman
April 21st, 2010
10:34 pm
“Compete with the best team in the National League?” The Phillies have all sorts of injury problems right now. But keep on drinking the kool-aid.
Eric C.
April 21st, 2010
10:40 pm
“Hello,” if the Braves finally get some production at the top and 5th spot in the order…they will finish well above .500. Heck, they are above .500 anyway and that is playing SF, Colorado, and Phi…not too shabby.
Mitchell
April 21st, 2010
10:42 pm
But given what we’ve seen, there’s no reason to believe the Braves are going away in this division.
Yes, but were they not just no-hit on Saturday for God’s sake?! If not for Jason Heyward they would have just lost four games in a row to two rather unworthy opponents.
At this point perhaps I suppose we should expect to get no-hit by a team’s ace pitcher at least one or two more times this year?
Why do the AJC columnists give Bobby Cox a free pass every time while people like Paul Hewitt get absolutely eviscerated?
There are problems with the Braves. We shouldn’t have to come back three runs down with two out in the 9th inning. We have three aces and two other pretty good pitchers and the best bullpen I may have ever seen in my life.
They have to score runs. This can’t continue. If we do somehow make it to the playoffs and Terry Pendleton is still wearing a Braves jersey and still getting a paycheck we’ll surely get swept.
And Shirley, it won’t be the first time.
Mitchell
April 21st, 2010
10:44 pm
Hello
April 21st, 2010
10:32 pm
Braves = .500 team at best. Got lucky last night. Anybody remember at the end of last season when they had a chance ? CHOKE CHOKE CHOKE.
Stratman
April 21st, 2010
10:34 pm
“Compete with the best team in the National League?” The Phillies have all sorts of injury problems right now. But keep on drinking the kool-aid.
Thank you. You guys are my new best friends.
Hello
April 21st, 2010
10:58 pm
Eric C , IF,IF,IF That will be story of these Braves ALL YEAR. If all the IF’s happens, Maybe the Braves will still be in the hunt come September. If not you can always say WAIT ‘Til Next YEAR !
kurula
April 21st, 2010
10:59 pm
bottom line is, if the braves get below .200 production from first base and from 2/3 of the outfield…they are not going to win consistently.
GT3O
April 21st, 2010
11:01 pm
Tough loss, but the Braves will take the series tomorrow night and that’s good enough for me. Roy Halladay is a great pitcher and he got the best of the Braves tonight. The Braves got some hits, but just couldn’t do much with them. That’s fine. We’ll tie up the NL East tomorrow night and roll on.
Remember Halladay cannot pitch every game and the Phils have a injury ridden pen making it atrocious. Halladay will not be able to pitch an entire game as the season wears on.
The Braves have the upper hand.
macfleetwood
April 21st, 2010
11:14 pm
Several reasons the Braves Are NOTHING More Than A Mediocre Team:
B. Cox..Worn Out
C. Jones..Too Old..Over The Hill
N. Mclouth..Seen Better Days
T. Glaus..Lost His Stroke
Y.Escobar..Never Has Been Much
M.Cabrera..Who??
T. Hudson..Not Much Of A Starter
I KNOW its early..BUT..you can not carry 4 players on your roster who bat 200 or below!!
You Can NOT carry a bunch of mediocre pitchers..who cant pitch their way out of a paper bag!
GT3O
April 21st, 2010
11:18 pm
“You Can NOT carry a bunch of mediocre pitchers..who cant pitch their way out of a paper bag!”
Yep, just like the Braves bull pen who handled the last half of the game last night against the prolific bats of Philly.
You sir are a fool.
The Big Day! | Atlanta Falcons: Bird Cage
April 21st, 2010
11:22 pm
[...] Jeff Schultz on the Braves New Attitude [...]
MacFleetWoodIsAnIdiot
April 21st, 2010
11:37 pm
T. Hudson..Not Much Of A Starter
Y.Escobar..Never Has Been Much
———————————————————-
Are you serious? You must be a Mets fan.
thunderbull56
April 21st, 2010
11:37 pm
Jeff, you stir out the best/worst with your observations.If every team has a couple of Roys, we lose a hundred.I can deal with losing to arguably the best pitcher in MLB.What I can’t is the late call up, fill in fifth starter doing the same to us the last few years.When the Braves start stringing together some consistent offense against great,good,suspect pitching,then maybe.
Eric C.
April 21st, 2010
11:41 pm
“Hello,” don’t lose hope with over week left in April. Once Glaus is removed from the middle of the line-up, things will really take off. M.Cabrera just needs to get going. Heyward will pick up Chipper’s slack.
Hello
April 21st, 2010
11:42 pm
Another reason the Braves will be a .500 + team. DEFENSE. Y’all talk about the Braves pitching(starting & bullben) None of that matters with our mediocore at best defense. Did anyone see the D by Phila. tonight? Last year Y’all were saying Howard was a liability at firstbase. (unlike guys like Chipper, Howard has worked on his D for the last two off-seasons and the result have paid off) Did Y’all see the awsome stab at first to kill any chance for a rally? I guess Chipper was busy with deer,dove, rabbit or any other hunting season. I’ve never heard of Chipper hurting an oblique or pulling a rib while hunting. Gee, Iwonder why that is ? Because he Never has or will NEVER be a leader. Delicate Flower more like it. Hall of Famer? yes. On of the best that would play while hurt to help the team? NEVER!
Tdawg
April 21st, 2010
11:58 pm
14 games, 3 shutouts another shut out the night before for 8 innings and one of the shut outs a no-hitter. You have 3, maybe 4 decent hitters on the whole team, the rest are a joke. I’m looking for that silver lining but all I see is a pathetic bunch of hitters and that is as nice as I can put it. Sorry Bobby but your swan song is going to the crapper with this bunch of losers.
Herschel Talker
April 22nd, 2010
12:10 am
The Phillies have one HUGE advantage…they don’t have Bobby Cox manning their ship. The man is an imbecile, and he displayed more of his idiocy this evening. We should all look forward to 2011 when this idiot is no longer manning the ship.
Hello
April 22nd, 2010
12:10 am
Tdawg, you hit the nail on the head. You know how all Cox’s players say he’s the best to play for?
The reason is he makes NONE of his guys accountable for thier lack of heart or hustle. When was the last time Bobby pulled or sat someone for being lazy? All my friends point out when he pulled Escobar(P.S. one of the most laziest guys I’ve seen in 30+ years as a Braves fan.) after not running out a ground ball last year. The ONLY reason cox did this is because the media called Cox out on this since it was about the 50th time Escargo (snail) had done this. Of course the players LOVE Cox because not having to answer for sloppy and lazy attitudes.
KakNiqueTree
April 22nd, 2010
12:39 am
So if Heyward’s Magic, is Chipper Kareem?
Monger
April 22nd, 2010
12:40 am
You guys are exactly right on Bobby Cox’s inability to manage a major league ball club, let alone a pee-wee league team. He routinely leaves the most knowledgable and astute baseball fans, broadcasters, players, and coaches scratching their heads in collective disbelief at the stupidity of his decisions. I am tired as its past midnight, so I dont have the time to list the 674 stupid moves he made last year alone, but I’ll sum it up like this…
1. He overuses his bullpen worse than any manager Ive ever seen in my life, we usually have 3 or 4 guys leading the league in appearances, and its insane numbers. Moylan, O’Flaherty, etc. better get ready for another year of 80-100 relief appearances, so by the end of the year our entire bullpen is worn out and ineffective. Thanks Bobby…
2. His loyalty to ineffective and terrible players never ceases to amaze me, and it cost us time and time again, loss after loss. How many games did we lose last year because Bobby played Kelly and Francouer for half a season, while they were hitting about .200 combined?? How did Bobby continually put Norton at the plate when he clearly could not hit a major league pitch to save his life?? He is doing it all over again this year…Continuing to hit Glaus 5th while he is hitting .200, and he keeps playing Melky, while not even giving Omar and Hinske a fair chance. Terrible, and costing us games.
3. His love affair with Chipper. Similar to point 2, about playing players struggling. How long is Chipper going to be in the 3rd hole hitting .230?? Thanks Bobby, and once again costing us games.
4. His terrible decisions regarding his love affair with lefty/lefty righty/righty. No matter that O’Flaherty has gotten the last 4 men, with 4 straight K’s…a right handed hitter is coming up, so he must come out. Same with the hitters…He doesnt seem to notice Diaz is on a major tear last year, getting hits in 11 of 12 straight at bats…still sits him against righties. Thanks Bobby more losses…
The point is I could go on and on, but Im tired, and most knowledgable fans know he is an idiot and terrible manager, Im really trying to convince these blind homers that are delusional…
Monger
April 22nd, 2010
12:47 am
Oh thanks for reminding me Hello. The laziness and lack of hustle comes from the attitude of the manager. Teams like Tampa Bay and Minnesota have teams that hustle from first pitch to the last, down the line, on routine plays, on and off the field. Colorado shows this hustle. And this is because they have managers that set the rules that this kind of hustle is absolutely demanded of a major league ball player. Cox loves seeing how many lazy guys (Garret Anderson, Melky Cabrera, Chipper Jones), he can trot out there. I dont think he cares that nobody out there (excluding Diaz) hustles….Terrible leadership by a terrible coach…
Legend of Len Barker
April 22nd, 2010
12:49 am
With the exception of Jason Heyward, this team is playing exactly like they were last year. A glimmer of hope sandwiched in between days of being frustrated with their lack of hitting.
A few more days of this and Chipper will decide that he’s hurt again.
The only highlight of this game was Pete Van Wieren’s appearance. He had talked about a book two years ago, but I hadn’t realized he had gone through with it. It should arrive at my doorstep within a few days.
Mitchell
April 22nd, 2010
12:56 am
Monger, I’d love it if you kept posting. You’re hitting it out of the park, unlike every Braves player other than Heyward.
Coach (I Believe)
April 22nd, 2010
1:24 am
Herschel Talker obviously didn’t watch last nights game, or he would have seen Bobby Cox’s intentional walk of Ryan Howard pay dividend’s when the Braves got out of the 3rd inning unscathed.
Cox made the correct call that inning but then contributed to the loss in the seventh inning.
Get the picture. Chipper on 2nd, McCann on 1st with nobody out. Glaus should have at least been told to try and hit the ball behind the runners, advancing both even if Glaus didn’t reach base. but no, Cox always plays for the big inning. Never mind the fact that that it’s Roy Halliday on the mound.
Glaus struck out, Heyward walked and Ecobar rapped right into an inning ending double play because the Phillies were playing back, fully knowing the Braves would never attempt a squeeze play with the bases loaded and one out. The Braves did not score, obviously.
However, Cox did have the brains to stick with Hudson on the mound through six innings despite the fact that Huddy struggled with his control all night and obviously didn’t have his best stuff. But Huddy being the Ace that he is gutted it out through six and kept the game close, while giving up just two runs.
Simply put, we all know and understand the three run bomb mind set of Bobby Cox. He always plays for the big inning regardless of the opposing pitcher and team. Meanwhile this Braves squad is quit possibly the slowest in the N.L and dependent on bunching hits or bashing the ball over the fence. I don’t necessarily disagree with this but it’s an offense handicapped by a lack of fundamentals.
The good news is, Glaus is starting to swing the bat evidenced by last night’s HR and bomb he hit tonight in the 2nd inning that Victorino made a circus catch on. Robbing Troy of what would have been his second HR of the season.
The starting pitching has been steady and the bullpen outstanding, even the defense and bench is improved from last season. But our two lead off guys in McLouth and Cabrera are not getting on base. McCann, Heyward and Prado can’t carry the offense by themselves. The rest of the team has to start hitting or we will be seeing more great pitching going to waste, just like last season.
carlchamblee
April 22nd, 2010
5:00 am
This isn’t a championship team, all the blather from Chipper and McCann notwithstanding. You’d think they wouldn’t talk so big given zero playoff appearances in the last 4 seasons. Ooh wow Chipper you “stayed in the game tonight”. Big whoop. If it weren’t for a couple of miracle rallies and Heyward’s magic this team would have a losing record and be stuck at the bottom of the division w the Mets. They have a very solid pitching staff top to bottom and thus will stay in the hunt more than likely. But the offense is anemic and not put together well by mgmt and the so-called strategist in the dugout. The best hitter is in the bottom part of the order, no leadoff, no 5 spot, an over the hill guy in the 3 hole, and the weakest LF and CF bats in the league. Chipper you stay in games because of the pitching and you will lose too many of those games because of the lousy offense.
BravesFan79
April 22nd, 2010
5:40 am
Good lord, we loose to the Best pitcher in the game and there is nothing but btching on here!?? Ive been telling everyone for years that Holliday was the best pitcher in the AL hands down! When he pitches…. we should probably expect to lose. But good news it, the other 4 starters for the Phillies arent nearly as dominant! This will be a race, Glaus will start hitting more singles like he did in spring training, and Escobar will definitly get it together! Escobar is a pure 330 hitter… players that good dont just fall off 1 year while that young. I do agree tho, dude needs a new hair do.
NCBravesFan
April 22nd, 2010
5:59 am
Good summary, Jeff! We had a crack at the best pitcher in baseball in the seventh and came up a little short. It happens. Back at ‘em tomorrow.
Let’s Go Braves!
DamYankee
April 22nd, 2010
6:39 am
Gee, the Bravo’s are 1 game behind the “dominant” Phillies & ahead of the Marlins & lost to the best pitcher in baseball who still needed a couple of career defensive plays and some luck to hold on. The season’s over, they’re DOOMED!
JacketFan
April 22nd, 2010
6:58 am
Jeez, the sky is falling! The sky is falling! I cannot believe the vitriol on this blog from so-called fans. Folks, where the he!! would we be without Bobby Cox? Get some perspective. I love how everyone here is such an “expert” on game management. Maybe some of you should send in your applications for Cox’s position.
It’s the third week of the season. Braves are keeping up with the best teams in baseball. They’re trading spots with the Phillies in the NL East standings. We lost last night to one of THE best pitchers in baseball today. No team can win them all (ask Philly two nights ago). I’ve been watching this team my entire life and I haven’t felt this good about Braves baseball since the mid-90s. I think we have a good team that is working out some of the bugs. Time will tell.
In the meantime, if you can’t support your team, go pull for the Mets. Atlanta doesn’t need you.
O'Brien
April 22nd, 2010
7:11 am
The good thing is the Braves were able to come from behind on Tuesday. So if we can win today, we will have taken 2 out of 3 from the Phills. And that is the goal of every series. Win 2 out of 3.
However, our offense has been bad, and inconsistent, so as the season continues, hopefully they will get it going, to help our pitchers out.
O'Neill
April 22nd, 2010
7:38 am
The Braves lost to the best pitcher in the game last night. They can hang with the Phils this year! The Phils have no bullpen and the Braves have a great starting staff and bullpen. And if Glaus doesn’t start hitting, put Henskie at First Base. He has been tearing it up!
Saint DAWG>>>
April 22nd, 2010
7:39 am
Are you ppl really braves Fans?? Yall must not be watching the games i am!!!!Troy C. was robbed of a HR by the center fielder,an he has been hitting the ball hard as of late,so have alot of Braves….Hell Esky should have tied the game with the bases loaded,with an up the middle ball that was smoked but hit the side of the pithchers mound..an took a bounce too the 2nd basemen who still had too dive to get the ball!!!!SO GIVE ME BREAK !!! I see no real Braves Fans on here or any of the blogs,,oh yeah when they win you guys come out of the wood works with high fives!!!but if they loose OMG they are the sorriest team in the world!!!get a life you so called fans and stay off the blogs,the Braves don’t need YA!!!! nuff said an have a good day….
GT
April 22nd, 2010
7:44 am
This is the only team in Atlanta pro sports history that has won a world championship. This is really the only pro team that names are mentioned for any hall of frame. Poor Dale Murphy couldn’t be placed in the hall because he played on a loser here, like most of our teams in Atlanta. This town owes Cox and the whole Braves front office. When they retire an old worn out pitcher be it a hall of framer, we howl like we want Hanson to stay in Mississippi so Glavine can pitch. I think that is kind of fun, because we actually are supporting winners, and showing our appreciation. Now show some respect for Cox one of the greatest managers of our times.
oldmike
April 22nd, 2010
7:48 am
Glaus seemed to be getting his stroke back until the at bat in the 7th. He looked like he had shortened his swing and the results were well hit balls. Except for Victorino and Ryan Howard’s checked swing hit to left the game should have been 1-all in the 7th. Even with “the best pitcher in the majors” (what crap) on the mound. They need production out of McLouth and Cabrera or the season is in the toilet. And Bobby does overuse his bullpen; Relies on situational moves; doesn’t steal; etc. But the players do love him. One BIG positive. Watching the J-Hay kid at bat and in the filed. He’s really something special isn’t he…
IN THE KNOW
April 22nd, 2010
7:57 am
Jeff, i don’t understand how you talk this braves team up? Your setting yourself up for failure my friend. The phillies have out pitched, hit and coached the braves in the two games, we got lucky to win tuesday night. The phillies will be up 8-10 games at the all-star break and bust this thing wide open in the second half for one reason… They are the champs!! They braves are not to be confused with the world champs, who have 300 hitters up and down the lineup and tons of power to hit the long ball. The braves lack hr ability and Glaus is a joke. Chipper should retire and the braves will finish behind the marlins and phillies in this division. Top to bottom in our lineup, it’s no match for the champs… and this team is good for about 85-90 wins, and miss the playoffs again by a few. Don’t wet your pants this early jeff over a miracle win tuesday. These braves will show you as time closes in, they are nothing more than a tease. Flashes of good, but will continue to lack the overall offense and timely hitting it takes, to be a real threat or what it takes to even be the wildcard.
OldDog
April 22nd, 2010
8:19 am
Will someone please tell the Braves that Terry Pendleton is a lousy hitting coach…I mean, Andruw Jones was supposedly no good any more and over priced…thru today he’s hitting .323 and least we forget poor Jeff Francoeur who was foolish enough to listen to Pendleton is hitting .302. No wonder Chumper Jones and Brian McCann won’t take any advice from him…neither want their careers shortened by this hitting Guru.
jay
April 22nd, 2010
8:34 am
I thought glaus had some really good hit ball last night he’ll come around he’s starting to get good hits then all you haters will be on here talking about how good he is doing give the man a break its been 2 weeks
Scott Eisenlohr
April 22nd, 2010
8:43 am
It would nake a great story if Heyward were to lead the Braves to the division crown and the playoffs.
But Philly is not going quietly. Although early in the season, their bullpen has been erractic at best, the Phillies traded Cliff Lee and got Roy Halladay in for payroll reasons, but also to get a horse who will pitch on three days rest if needed.
Starting pitching will keep Atlanta in the hunt.
Whern the Philliers got toi be a good team, I though the Mets would challenge them. The Marlins have a good young teram. But if it the Braves, with a phenom like Heyward wee
to challange the Phillies, bring it on.
I respect the Braves 14 consecutive playoff appearbaces. The Phillies are tryng to establish a streak of their own,.
Fair story frion a Braves perspective., Bribg it on!
SRF
April 22nd, 2010
8:44 am
This has to be an April Fool’s column. They were no-hit, won on a few fluke hits and then got shut out AGAIN.
Sorry – do not see any reason to plan for playoff tickets.
meh
April 22nd, 2010
8:51 am
I think Glaus will come around. I just don’t know if McLouth or Melky will ever get it going. Not having a lead off hitter that can hit is going make it a tough road to the top.
Jesse Stone
April 22nd, 2010
8:53 am
Hilarious!! Some a$$clown says that Glaus should’ve hit behind the runners THE NIGHT AFTER HE HIT A 2-RUN BOMB in the 9th inning.
PMC
April 22nd, 2010
9:00 am
This may be the best team they have fielded since 1999.
Smack
April 22nd, 2010
9:09 am
Not bad Jeff. Usually I cringe when you write about baseball (mostly becasue of the hating/doubting). You actually wrote of hope (like you eluded you would probably feel better about the 2010 team then you did the 2009 team) this time around. Cuddos to you and hopefully this will keep a war of words t-wenxt us at bay.
Furman Bitcher
April 22nd, 2010
9:22 am
WTF is going on with this board?? We are 14 games into the season and some of you are already writing off hitters like they are going to hit .200 all year. The only real prolem is how the batting line up is set. Prado needs to lead off with Escobar hitting second. Whovever is playing left needs to hit 8th and rest stay the same. This team will hit just fine to win the division. The Phils have major pitching problems. I am far more worried about the Marlins than the Phils. The Phils are one bad shoulder or elbow to Holliday from 3rd place. They got a bunch of number 4 starters behind him.
Bizzle Mizzle
April 22nd, 2010
9:24 am
Here’s the deal… It’s very early. We have some really positive things going for us and we have some serious areas of opportunity. Heyward us un*******believable. The real deal. He’s a difference maker. He’s not Jeff Francouer, he’s not Jordan Schafer. He is a BASEBALL PLAYER. It’s all he’s ever done. It’s his job and he plays like it is. He will be, in the end, one of the greatest to ever play the game, and I say that, along with a lot of other people right now, for the first time in my life about a player with fewer that 200 at bats above A ball. He will slump too, but not for long. Jason Heywards’ attitude is our teams attitude this year. He hauled a** around the bases Tuesday when he went yard to tie it up… Because the job was not done. There was work to do, and so we did work.
Aside from Heyward and Prado no one else has been consistent. That’s baseball, and when you find yourself 1 game out of division lead when two guys on the team are hitting consistently, that’s a good thing. Every batter in the lineup is capable of coming up big at any time. Every player will have good stints and bad stints, but if we can compete right now WE WILL compete for the division title this year and should win it. Our bullpen is deep, talented and one of the best in the league. Our starting 5, as a whole, is the best in the NL East and most of baseball. They too will have ups and downs… It’s Baseball.
As they say every team will win 54 and lose 54. It’s the 54 in between that make the difference, and we’ve already won a few of those.
Last night was one of the ones you’re going to lose. Not that anyone went out there wanting to or expecting to lose, but the guy is the best pitcher in baseball. He will beat teams 20 – 26 times this year. He will beat us again. He’s a machine and there’s no one like him in baseball right now. Yet off the bat of slumping Yunel Escobar with the bases loaded we were a tiny bounce away from tying or going ahead.
Tonights’ game is one we’re supposed to win, and so we will. It might not he Heyward, it might not be Prado, it might not be Chipper, but it doesn’t have to be. It might f*****’* be bullpen catcher Eddie Perez. It will be somebody. This year is not the same as other years or other teams. The attitude in the clubhouse and the dugout we’ve never seen. These players are winners. All the intangibles are there. The desire to win is there. EVERY player on the roster believes we will win. Every player WANTS to win. They’re having the time of their life, they’re playing like little kids, and when we lose or get shutout, they turn the page. This city (despite poor turnouts the last two days) BELIEVES WE WILL WIN. As everybody and their brother have said, this is early 90’s chemistry. This is aggressive, no excuses, win or die baseball. And so we will win.
The bats will come around, all of them. The pitching staff will be consistently really good, all of them. And in this, Bobby’s last year, maybe Chipper’s, hell maybe anybody’s, we will continue to find ways to win those 54 in the middle that define you as a team.
The naysayers will naysay. They will go on and on when Bobby makes a mistake; they will say people are old. They will say people are washed up. They will talk about the lack of WS titles. They will correct grammar on blogs. They will… HEY. SHUT UP. THE BASEBALL FANS ARE TRYING TO WATCH BASEBALL. SHUT. UP. Live in your negative world, just think it in your small mind, or say it when you’re in your car, by yourself, wondering why no one likes you. Keep that stuff, we don’t want any. Talk trash about the optimists being optimistic. Try to rile us up, try to rile me up. You can’t. Go watch Lifetime or TLC. You’re not baseball fans. You’re miserable. Baseball fans are optimistic. Baseball fans like watching every inning of every loss just like every win. Baseball fans watch players make mistakes and have bad runs and get excited about the breakout they’re inevitably due for. Like Jason Heyward and the other 39 guys on our roster I LOVE BASEBALL. And I love this team. We may win it all and we may not. But it will be really, really fun. If you can’t have fun go home.
DR
April 22nd, 2010
9:33 am
Last night’s game is a perfect example of what happens when a story (in this case a baseball game) is analyzed through highlights and soundbites. ESPN went on and on about Halladay being brilliant and Hudson being good. Not really fair. Both pitchers were brilliant. After ESPN finishes over-analyzing the line score then they show the Web Gems and Philly had 4 plays that made the highlight reel. Great defense won the game as much as the pitching. Hudson matched Halladay pitch-for-pitch. Halladay had some outstanding plays behind him that saved the game.
Great baseball all around.
WreckinBall
April 22nd, 2010
9:33 am
The world champions of baseball had to play a brilliant game of defense behind their best pitcher(and one of the best pitchers in baseball) to win 2-0 over the Braves. The Braves had a winning record over the Phils in 2009, and their is no reason they can’t have one in 2010.
Where were all the Phils fans and the belly-aching so-called Braves fans on this thread at yesterday, after the Braves jumped the Phils a$$’s for a win in 9th and 10th inning?
BRAVES WIN!!! Big Tiime Tonight.
saychuck
April 22nd, 2010
9:37 am
First change should be Terry Pendleton gone and a new hitting coach. Who has Terry helped come out of slump? Look what a new hitting coach has done for Jeff Francouer, Andrew Jones. Cut down on therir strike outs, added to their walks and improved their average. Nat McCouthjust the opposit he was a good hitter in Pitt.
My vote Terry first to go.
Dawgdad
April 22nd, 2010
9:42 am
Give Wren and Cox some credit for putting Heyward on the roster. Where would the Braves be if they had followed the logical process of starting Heyward in the minors to save a year of service before he becomes a free agent. We figured up, yesterday that without Heyward and Prado, the rest of the team is hitting below .200. Even with the awsome numbers of Hey and Prado they are like 3 from the bottom in batting average in the league. Way to go TP, for about the fourth year in a row. Too bad we do not have a Milt Thompson or Don Baylor, to name two of many better hitting coaches. I am afraid the miracles will even out and the Braves maybe better than last year, due to Heyward, but they can’t hang with the fighting Fills, unless they improve production in left, center, and first base, and slip Chipper some HGH.
Too tough 44
April 22nd, 2010
9:52 am
Glaus……come on man! Get with it!
Too tough 44
April 22nd, 2010
10:00 am
Ya, the Braves weakness is hitting, has been for the past few yrs. HOw many games have the Braves lost due to lack of run support? TP is good for the team in some capacity, but, unfortunately, the hitting is is feeble. Move TP to fielding coach, bring in chippers dad!
WreckinBall
April 22nd, 2010
10:02 am
I guess Glaus is destined to be the hero one night the next for some folks like Shultz.
It would be great to have Baylor back as hitting coach again.
Skeezix
April 22nd, 2010
10:04 am
The Phillies beat us last night the way the 90s Braves use to win—great pitching and great defense. Halladay was “Maddux like”. C’mon Braves and win the series tonight.
WreckinBall
April 22nd, 2010
10:04 am
Meant to say Glaus hero one night, dog the next night.
WreckinBall
April 22nd, 2010
10:08 am
The Braves stood up against them good last yr. and can do the same this yr. They just need to beat the bad teams that they suppose to win against this yr.
TheAntiMe
April 22nd, 2010
10:10 am
1 loss and the haters are back. Where did you haters go when the Braves just reeled off 5 out of 6 in the win column? Go play with yourselves.
Mitchell
April 22nd, 2010
10:24 am
BravesFan79
April 22nd, 2010
5:40 am
Good lord, we loose to the Best pitcher in the game and there is nothing but btching on here!?? Ive been telling everyone for years that Holliday was the best pitcher in the AL hands down! When he pitches…. we should probably expect to lose.
Seriously, does anybody have any respect for our pitchers? Expect to lose?! Good god. If it’s 1968 and Bob Gibson is pitching then maybe I would expect to lose.
For close to ten years we had three of the greatest pitchers in the history of baseball at the peak of their careers and lost three World Series. Forget ‘91 and ‘92. We didn’t have Maddux then, just Smoltz and Glavine, oh, and Steve Avery who was just okay.
If only the Yankees, Phillies, Marlins, Padres and Yankees had gotten the memo. They forgot that they were supposed to lose.
Hello! You play to win the game!
It’s fine to have respect for Halladay, but did we not beat him last year? Shouldn’t that give us a pretty good reason to think we can beat him again even if he’s wearing a Phillies jersey? Didn’t Tim Hudson pitch well enough to get a win?
O’Neill
April 22nd, 2010
7:38 am
The Braves lost to the best pitcher in the game last night. They can hang with the Phils this year!
They can hang with the Phils?! We swept the Phils at home last year. We won the first 7 of 9 games. Do you not remember that? We have to do more than hang with them.
The Phillies don’t even have their best line-up out there and they could still blow us away but Tim Hudson shut them down. Two runs in six innings is better than a quality start. He deserved to win just as much as Halladay. He gave his team a chance and they gave him nothing.
Yes, it’s April but at some point it would be nice if some people would realize how important these games are. We basically blew our chance to make the playoffs this time last year, losing to the Pirates 1-0 in a JJ start. 3-2 to the Nationals. So on and so forth.
Having said that, the Braves probably would have exceeded expectations by making the playoffs. In some ways you could say it was a successful season… (of course, they never exceed expectations. That was foolish.)
This year, with this pitching staff and bullpen, you better make the playoffs or this season will be a complete failure. I would expect Bobby Cox to be fired if it doesn’t happen.
Oh wait.
Joshhh...
April 22nd, 2010
10:26 am
This whole board is now a joke…
gobravos
April 22nd, 2010
10:37 am
Lowe’s pitching tonight: Over/Under 6 runs for Bravos tonight? I’m thinking over. Jamie Moyer is pitching tonight. Lowe will be 4-0 with a 5.75 ERA and Tommy Hanson will be 1-1 with a 2.81 ERA.
Matt the Brave
April 22nd, 2010
10:37 am
Oh man, you had to know when Halladay went into the 9th we were toast. But I’m sort of glad that we got this game against him out of the way. I think each game against him is going to be hard, but the next one we’ll have a better gameplan and will have seen all of his stuff.
Blackberry Cobbler
April 22nd, 2010
10:49 am
Diaz .194
Glaus .184
McLouth .147
Cabrera .133
Until the Braves do something about this, they’re a 500 team at best. Why does Booby Cox trot a 147 hitting McLouth out there in the leadoff spot? Why is Glaus even starting– play Hinske!
extremus
April 22nd, 2010
11:05 am
I agree that so far this Braves team looks and feels special, and with continued timely hitting they could overcome a lot of deficiencies. But the fact is that so far this lineup has an awful lot of sub-.250 hitters and guys who are repeatedly killing rallies with double-play outs. The pitching staff, which overall has been excellent, is being asked to hard extremely hard just to limit opponents’ run totals enough to have a chance each night. We need more than that. We need offense. Consistency throughout the lineup.
This year’s team is drawing a lot of comparisons to those magical early 90s Braves teams, but in those years something happened that I’m not sure we’re likely to see under Liberty Media’s ownership: in 1991 we landed Alejandro Pena during mid-season to help close out games, and his effectiveness sealed the awesome run to the World Series. In 1993 we got Fred McGriff to add beef to the lineup, and after that the Braves were on fire, coming from 10 games behind to win over 100 games and beat the Giants for the division title. Will the 2010 Braves be able to go out and land the missing piece (or pieces) they need before the trade deadline to truly seal the deal on making this year magical? It took doing so back in the 90s; it may well take such an investment on ownership’s part this year as well, and how likely is that when it’s a corporate entity which bought the Braves just to have a tax write-off several years ago?
Not to rain on the parade; I’m just saying that there is a lot of baseball left to play and it’s asking an awful lot to expect a divisional win or World Series title from a team with so many obvious current needs. And like last year, they may well have to just make do with what they have already.
ryan
April 22nd, 2010
11:06 am
Let’s get back to the no-hitter, please.
Of the last 5 no-hitters in the NL, TWO of them are against the Braves!!!
When is the last time the Cardinals or Dodgers or Cubs were no-hit? I bet it’s been 20 years.
But we have had TWO against us just in the last 6 years???
Come on. We aren’t talking about simple shut-outs. NO-HITTERS!!! 2 of them!!!
I loved TP as a player, but given our futilties at the plate something isn’t right.
Furman Bitcher
April 22nd, 2010
11:12 am
Ryan, who gives a flip about a no hitter. I bet the Rockies would have rather won the series than get a no hitter. You dont get two wins for so who cares!!!!
JASon
April 22nd, 2010
11:18 am
“Glaus, who had a two-run homer Tuesday night, struck out. (Back to normal).”
If you watched the game, you also saw him hit one over the wall which Victorino stole from being a home run.
ShortBravesFan
April 22nd, 2010
11:38 am
Everyone is so hilarious on here! Lets win the series Braves! Whoot Whoot!
carlchamblee
April 22nd, 2010
11:49 am
Cobbler says – “Why does Booby Cox trot a 147 hitting McLouth out there in the leadoff spot? Why is Glaus even starting”
Well, Cobb, it’s because he is Bobby Cox. He doesn’t fill out a lineup card for maximum offensive potential. He “rewards” players for a good swing the day/week before or their years of past service, or just because he likes them. McLouth hits his first extra base hit all season but hey let’s say thanks to him by putting a .150 hitter (who didn’t even swing well in the spring and doesn’t take walks) in the leadoff spot against the best pitcher in baseball. Let’s keep a guy in the 3 hole who stunk the year before and is off to a sizzling .230 start and can’t get through a homestand without pulling his vag. Let’s put softball-body Glaus in the 5 hole and keep him there behind your allstar McCann because occasionally he hits a mistake pitch a mile but otherwise hits .160 and doesn’t work a count. Let’s keep your best hitter in the 6 or 7 hole so he can get on base half the time and be stranded there like the professor and maryanne by the dregs of the order. Let’s keep guys like Infante and Hinske rotting on the bench without even seeing if they could possibly be an upgrade to the free swinging, no discipline collection of hacks that currently is lowering the collective ERA of the National League.
That’s Bobby Cox
Don
April 22nd, 2010
11:55 am
Not Going Away!!!!????
In 14 games, the Braves have already been SHUT OUT 3 times and no hit once.
In their 6 losses, the Braves are averaging 1.5 runs per game.
In 9 of their 14 games, the Braves are averaging 2.2 runs per game.
And don’t forget, Bobby Cox is still the manager.
And they do not have a single proven major league quality outfielder (although hopefull Heyward is going to be great), they have a low BA, low OBA, high K hitting 3rd baseman playing first – who may no longer be able to produce effectively, and they have a poor defensive 3rd baseman who may or may not still be able to hit effectively.
shane
April 22nd, 2010
11:55 am
This is why Braves fans have such a bad reputation. Read some of the posts of fans on here. You wonder if they have ever watched a game at all.
All I can say is thank god Bobby Cox is running the show. He will get the most out of this team just like he has his whole career.
Scott
April 22nd, 2010
11:57 am
JEFF – how can you argue he’s plugged the braves into a light socket? half the lineup is hitting under .200. just because Heyward is awesome and energetic doesn’t mean it’s rubbed off on the rest of the team, which is fun to argue if you ignore, you know, stats and stuff
ron
April 22nd, 2010
11:59 am
I dont know what it is with the Braves, year after year, not hitting. They have had some great hitters in their lineup but they go for stretches where they just, as a team, do not hit a lick. The other night’s comeback against the Phils was a really exceptional case. Usually you can tell by the 4th inning if the Braves are just taking the night off. Damned shame, too, they have really good pitching.
saychuck
April 22nd, 2010
12:34 pm
My take on hitting coach TP is this is a job to keep him around. Ibelieve he will be Bobbie Cox replacement and has been in slated for that job for a number of years. I believe that is what got TP to take the hitting coach job, just waiting for Bobbie to retire.
Carl Spackler
April 22nd, 2010
12:39 pm
Jeff had obviously made up his mind to write a “feel good” story and was too lazy or stupid to change it after his pre-game press buffet.
allATL
April 22nd, 2010
12:48 pm
@All you negative fans… I swear to god you guys are so annoying. I mean you’re acting like the Braves are 6 games back. With the schedule and teams they’ve played I’d say they’ve done ok. It’s only 2 n a half weeks into the season. Everybody in this line up has had an positive effect on the 8 games we’ve won so far. We have really good pitching, starters/bullpen. When this team starts hitting its gonna be scary for the NL… I’m not a bandwagon fan. I’m with this team thru the thick n thin…GO BRAVES
BraveFalconHawk
April 22nd, 2010
12:52 pm
Agree BFH,
Funny how when the Braves are hitting no one says “great job TP” but when they’re not it’s “fire TP”
ryan
April 22nd, 2010
12:55 pm
Furman Bitcher…
Who cares about being no-hit??? Seriously?
There’s a problem with hitting on this team, as it has been for several years now. The reason that is a concern is because the poor hitting is costing you games.
When you are getting no-hit with frequency, imagine how many games are you losing by 1 or 2 runs that any other lineup would have won?
And wasn’t that a problem with the Braves two seasons ago? Losing so many 1 run games in 2008?
It matters.
Marc in FL
April 22nd, 2010
12:56 pm
As some posters have eluded to already… The Phillies needed once-a-season type defensive gems behind the best pitcher in baseball to beat us last night… It was much closer than it looks on the line score. On a typical night with typical defense we win that game 4-2.
Kudos to the Phils though for showing some slick leather. We win the series tonight.
DawgDad
April 22nd, 2010
1:38 pm
I went to the game last night. Real treat to watch Halladay pitch. The Braves fought hard and had some good at bats, but Halladay was just too much.
Glaus seems to be locking in. Good sign.
Heyward’s AB where he drew the walk was an incredible AB for anyone, let alone a 20-year old rookie. Keep in mind it’s just as hard to draw a walk off Halladay as it is to hit a HR off a typical pitcher.
Escobar’s DP at bat was actually a pretty good piece of hitting on his part. He really battled Halladay through the count and hit the ball very hard up the middle, just unlucky on the bounce. That was the end of any real chance the Braves had.
Melky made a nice catch. I don’t dislike him as a player, but it’s a major oversell of his ability to cast him as an everyday answer in the outfield. Left field is an offensive position; you either need a power hitter or a leadoff hitter out there and Melky/Diaz are neither (Diaz is fine vs. LHP). I haven’t given up on McLouth.
Hudson was very deliberate in his pitch preparation and delivery, almost to the point of looking like he was fighting something. I don’t recollect him appearing that “mechanical” vs. a looser, free-throwing appearance.
Draft day: Falcon options; Berry rips Deion; Tebow to Vikes? | Jeff Schultz
April 22nd, 2010
1:48 pm
[...] ♦ Even with loss, Braves show they’re not going away [...]
DawgDad
April 22nd, 2010
1:55 pm
Don: Braves DO have a single proven major league outfielder, Nate McLouth. Unfortunately, he’s been in a major slump. They also have good platoon value of another outfielder (Diaz vs. LHP), and as you say a rookie with great promise. Assuming McLouth comes around, which I believe will happen, the Braves are short one legitimate left fielder vs. RHP. I’m convinced the only thing holding back Heyward from making a major contribution as a #3 or #4 hitter is reluctance to overexpose him. All-around, he’s outperforming everybody else on the team including Prado, who is no power hitter.
MitchC
April 22nd, 2010
2:03 pm
Jeff, I hope what you’re saying is right. I was more excited about Tuesday’s win then I was angry about last night’s loss. Halliday just pitched great. When a top notch pitcher has a game like that, you just have to tip your hat, and get them the next night.
Psychologically, although it’s only April, I think it’s important for the Braves to win tonight. Hopefully, the team will get it’s usual large amount of runs for Lowe.
It’s only two weeks into the season, but so far, the Braves have played fairly well. Hopefully, that pattern can continue, and we can stay with the Phillies
gobravos
April 22nd, 2010
2:07 pm
DawgDad I agree about Melky. There is no way the Yankees, who it seems are always looking for another outfielder, let a guy going on 26 leave in a trade unless they don’t think he has much more to build on.
gobravos
April 22nd, 2010
2:09 pm
Ryan, didn’t the Braves win 2 one run games in a row before running into Halladay last night?
rebman76
April 22nd, 2010
2:25 pm
What did you expect. They were going against Roy freaking Halladay. Halladay was on top of his game and the Braves couldn’t do anything with him. Hudson pitched very well and was effective. They had a chance in the 7th but Escobar hit the ball hard and it hitthe pitcher’s mound allowing Utley to turn the double play. Things will get better. You just have to have faith.
rebman76
April 22nd, 2010
2:38 pm
And, also, let’s not forger the Braves started off playing the Cubs, Giants, Rockies and Phillies – 3 of the four teams started off hot, especially the Giants and Phillies. They had to face Lincecum (NL CY Young Winner) and Halladay (AL CY Young runner-up)during that stretch. as well.
athdog
April 22nd, 2010
3:10 pm
Troy and Melky have got to step up. Nate, also. And, with Diaz lighting it up as leadoff guy, why is Melky in the game? Give Glaus’ another week or so to start to find his timing, and if not the hue and cry for Hinske, Freeman or someone is going to start full blast…of course, based on last year with Frenchy, hue and cry don’t make it into the clubhouse until July
rebman76
April 22nd, 2010
3:51 pm
Glaus will get it going. I mean, come on, he hasn’t played for over a year. There is a lot of rust that needs to be shaken off. Don’t write him off yet.
Joe Fan
April 22nd, 2010
4:55 pm
Halladay can only pitch every fifth day and while he is certainly a top level pitcher without two sterling plays on defense the Braves would have tied the game or been ahead. Overall, the Braves have better pitching top to bottom and with a touch of offense thrown in, they will compete with the Phillies all summer.
Draft day: Falcon options; Berry rips Deion; Tebow to Vikes … | Current Events | Twitter Trends | Google Trends
April 22nd, 2010
8:16 pm
[...] ♦ Even with loss, Braves show they’re not going away [...]
Draft day (Part II): Tebow top 15, Morgan to Falcons? | Jeff Schultz
April 22nd, 2010
10:11 pm
[...] ♦ Even with loss, Braves show they’re not going away [...]
Garett Anderson
April 23rd, 2010
5:06 pm
What will every one complain about next year when Bobby Cox has retired?
macfleetwood
April 23rd, 2010
11:58 pm
The Braves suck..BIG TIME!! How in the hell does c.jones miss a fly ball on the infield?? And on top
of that..he does not call on? or off the other player!!!! Another glaring reason he should have retired 3 years ago!!
Pit a mediocre team against another mediocre team and what do you get?? Another Braves Loss!
Seenitall
April 24th, 2010
4:58 pm
“This could be a race”? Come on now. Early review succumbs to Cox self-esteem standard. The Braves we’ve seen over the last four games are the Braves we’ll see all season. They’ll win with improbable heroics just enough to give us hope. But when good teams, and a few bad ones, play sound baseball over the course of the season, the Braves won’t have an answer. Seeing what we’ve seen so far, how could it be different?
Bird Dog'n
April 25th, 2010
10:10 am
The Braves announcers say this is a great team? HOOoo WEEee how bout them apples!