We’re live, and Braves are alive: Do you think it’s for real?
Jason Heyward has a team leading 29 RBI after a game-winning double against Cincinnati Wednesday night. (Curtis Compton/AJC)
So are you feeling a little more comfortable today, or are you still nervous about this Braves’ team?
I’ll be heading out to the stadium later for the finale of a seven-game home stand that has seen the Braves go 4-2. They are back to .500 (20-20) after a nine-game losing streak had dropped them to 8-14 and general manager Frank Wren had angry torch-carrying villagers climbing the hill to his front gates.
If we divide the season into 10-game increments — and yes, I know the season is 162 games, not 160 — here’s how things break down:
♦ Games 1-10: 6-4 record, 56 runs scored, 47 against (plus-9)
♦ Games 11-20: 2-8 record, 21 scored, 38 against (minus-17)
♦ Games 21-30: 5-5 record, 41 scored, 43 against (minus-2)
♦ Games 30-40: 7-3 record, 61 scored, 38 against (plus-23)
What jumps out obviously are the runs scored. The Braves scored 40 more runs in the last 10 games than they did in the second 10. That’s pretty remarkable when you consider three key members of their lineup — Chipper Jones (.234), Yunel Escobar (.198) and Brian McCann (.261) — are still miles from their average levels of production. Nobody expected the top four RBI men in the lineup to this point of the season would be Jason Heyward (29), Troy Glaus (27), Martin Prado (18) and Eric Hinske (18).
Heyward (29) has driven in nearly as many runs as Jones (11), Escobar (8) and McCann (14) combined (33).
About Prado. I love stories like this. Kid spends most of seven years in the minors and developmental leagues (going back to 2001) and he eventually wins the starting second base job because he just keeps getting better — and also Kelly Johnson implodes. He’s hitting .321 this season and his career major league average is now .309.
It doesn’t matter where Bobby Cox sticks him in the order: Prado is hitting .381 (8 for 21) as a leadoff hitter, .309 (42 for 136) second and .400 (2 for 5) third.
Prado vs. lefthanders: .313.
Prado vs. righthanders: .325.
OK, I’m going to hit the road here. When I get to the park, I’ll check back in and then blog live during the game against Cincinnati. Are you feeling comfortable, nervous or somewhere in between?
♦
Earlier post
Fredi Gonzalez should top Braves’ list to replace Cox
♦
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
354 comments Add your comment
Steve
May 20th, 2010
3:59 pm
This is crazy!!! Can’t believe how bad the Reds defense is.
Shawn
May 20th, 2010
3:59 pm
How awesome would it be for Jason to call his shot and end the game. Make your legacy right here Jason. Point to center and hit it out!
Nick
May 20th, 2010
4:00 pm
unintentional intentional walk to get to Chipper…are you serious? How much respect does that show for Heyward?
Steve
May 20th, 2010
4:00 pm
This needs to be on the front page of the AJC if the Braves win. I bet this has never happened before in the 9th down by this many.
Kashi
May 20th, 2010
4:01 pm
Dam…J-Hay!
Jeff Schultz
May 20th, 2010
4:02 pm
Cordero to face Brooks Conrad.
Kashi
May 20th, 2010
4:03 pm
This is it. We had our chance but slipped away!
Colin
May 20th, 2010
4:03 pm
awesome, Brooks Conrad.
Kashi
May 20th, 2010
4:06 pm
Gone Gone Gone…walk of grand SLAM.
DawgDad
May 20th, 2010
4:06 pm
Unbelievable
Kashi
May 20th, 2010
4:07 pm
Lets go party! dammmmmmit
Jeff Schultz
May 20th, 2010
4:07 pm
OK… I can retire now.
NC Braves Fan
May 20th, 2010
4:07 pm
OMGWTFLOL!!!!!!!
Kashi
May 20th, 2010
4:08 pm
I can’t believe this. I wish I was in tuner field.
Hollywould
May 20th, 2010
4:09 pm
Holy Cow!!!!
um
May 20th, 2010
4:09 pm
Are u kidding me!
Mike
May 20th, 2010
4:09 pm
Speechless…..
Angus
May 20th, 2010
4:10 pm
“awesome, Brooks Conrad” – best quote of the day?
Kashi
May 20th, 2010
4:10 pm
Now…Bobby haterrrrr. Do you blame him for double switch? It would be Chipper not Brooks Conrad batting, hitting walk off grand slam. Braves win Braves win 10-9
Colin
May 20th, 2010
4:10 pm
OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 7 IN THE 9TH
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am sorry for saying Brooks Conrad, awesome.
bravedav
May 20th, 2010
4:10 pm
BOOM! The kind of win to get it rolling!!! Go Bravos!!!!!!
Tucker T
May 20th, 2010
4:10 pm
Good thing you didn’t leave Jeff!
Peter
May 20th, 2010
4:10 pm
Ok folks who called IT !
Bryan G.
May 20th, 2010
4:10 pm
No freaking way.
Steve
May 20th, 2010
4:11 pm
DID THAT JUST HAPPEN???????????/ FRONT PAGE OF THE AJC TOMORROW JEFF! Happy retirement!
Matt
May 20th, 2010
4:11 pm
Are they going to replay the game on TV tonight? At work and missed one of the biggest comebacks of all time! Thanks
Casey
May 20th, 2010
4:11 pm
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, I love it. Braves pulling it out yet again. Guess Bobby Cox knew who he wanted up there to hit. Lucky comeback, but I am so glad to throw it in the faces of the naysaying losers who were running their mouths earlier.
docsbro
May 20th, 2010
4:11 pm
WOW what a finish!!
Walk Off Crew
May 20th, 2010
4:11 pm
The Cardiac Bravos do it again!
Tom
May 20th, 2010
4:11 pm
That was amazing. A Walk Off Grand Slam off the outfielders glove.
Traver
May 20th, 2010
4:11 pm
OMG!!!! OMG!!!! This is 1991 again. I think the BRaves did this against San Diego in May that year. I think Justice tied it at 10 and they wond 11-10. Something like that. Sweet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nick
May 20th, 2010
4:11 pm
Guess your print story is going to change a little bit for tomorrow…
DanWoods
May 20th, 2010
4:12 pm
‘Its 9-3 and for those looking ahead to the ninth…”
(INSERT EDIT HERE)
Southern Football
May 20th, 2010
4:12 pm
Walk off grandslam…. simply stunning.
jackets77
May 20th, 2010
4:13 pm
you know your season is headed in the right direction when Brooks f’n Conrad hits a walk off grand slam!
Smoltzie Fan
May 20th, 2010
4:13 pm
WALK OFF GRAND SALAMMMMIII!!!!
Get your official J-Hey Fever shirts at http://www.thejheykid.com
http://jasonheywardfacts.com
Southern Football
May 20th, 2010
4:13 pm
Also, Jeff… Need a replacement?? I would be glad to cover the Heyward era…
Heyward Bound
May 20th, 2010
4:13 pm
Walk-off Grand Slam! Congrats Conrad!
Ph.D.
May 20th, 2010
4:13 pm
You better believe NOW in them Bravos!
WarEagleBrave
May 20th, 2010
4:14 pm
That was the most amazing ninth inning I have ever seen! I am so glad that I was one of the probably lucky few to change the channel back just in time to see Brooks Conrad round the bases!!!
tampadawg86
May 20th, 2010
4:16 pm
WALK OFF HOMER WALK OFF HOMER BRAVES WIN! BRAVES WIN!! BRAVES WINNN!!!!!! Boy what a ball club we have. Never know what to expect!!! Can’t score any runs the whole game and put up 7 in the bottom of the 9th to win the Game!! How bout them Bravos baby!
steve whitmire
May 20th, 2010
4:17 pm
IT’S FOR REAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Now, let’s start Conrad at third and give Chipper some bench time, also, Infante at shortstop
mountain_jim
May 20th, 2010
4:17 pm
I came in after mowing and saw the score, glad I had not watched this game, but I saw the 9th!
KornDawg
May 20th, 2010
4:18 pm
I’ve seen a lot of stuff in my life but….that…was…AWESOME!!!!!
Phil
May 20th, 2010
4:19 pm
Casey,
The Braves win in spite of that buffoon getting us in a 8 run hole. This win belongs to the players not giving up, Cox should not take credit for this win. My hats off to the players.
Boner Brad
May 20th, 2010
4:19 pm
I have a boner, go braves!
nolarw
May 20th, 2010
4:19 pm
Bobby Cox owes Conrad a steak dinner now !!!
daBraves860
May 20th, 2010
4:19 pm
OMG unreal!!! i’m at work and i’m trying not to yell! lol love this game! love this team! 2010 baby!
majorpayne
May 20th, 2010
4:20 pm
Simply stunned!!!!!!!! Brooks is the Natural!
NY Frenchy
May 20th, 2010
4:21 pm
OK, How bout them Bravos! Listen up Booby, bench Larry & start Brooksie at 3rd, bench Escobar & start Infante at short, leave Hinske in left to play everyday,that is our best lineup like it or not!