We’re LIVE, as Braves try for something new — an early win
Melky Cabrera, the Braves' latest hero, is somewhere in the middle of the mob. (Curtis Compton/AJC)
I’ve made it to Turner Field for the start of tonight’s Braves’ game. But I figure I could’ve waited out the traffic for a few hours.
True story: I turned on Monday night’s game just in time for the ninth inning rally against Los Angeles, which ended with Melky Cabrera’s two-run single to give the Braves a 4-3 win. So I’m thinking: What was the rush to get here?
This team’s resolve and flare for the dramatic has been well-chronicled. The win over the Dodgers was their majors-leading 20th win of the season in their final at-bat. How significant is that? Well, Philadelphia is second overall with 18 final at-bat victories. The Braves lead the Phillies by only 2 1/2 games in the National League East. Do the math: Two fewer late-game rallies and the lead is a half-game.
The Braves’ good news doesn’t end there: Martin Prado is back. The Braves’ unofficial MVP will be activated off the disabled list (fractured small finger) for tonight’s game, and his return answers two questions: Who will start at third base (Prado) and who will bat third in the order (Prado). Manager Bobby Cox decided not to mess with Omar Infante, who is playing solid at second base and is hitting .372 over the last 18 games. Infante also will bat lead off.
This is a good chance for the Braves to go on a little run. They’ll be facing two teams (Washington and Chicago) with losing records in the next two series. At least, that’s the way it’s supposed to work. The Braves have losing records against only four teams this season, and the Nationals (4-5) are one of them. Offense has been the biggest issue, with only 12 runs scored in the last five meetings.
Last thing: You probably know this by now but a rumor has been floating around that the Braves might be interested in acquiring Chicago Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez in a waiver trade. David O’Brien did a fine job shooting this down for all of the obvious reasons: Ramirez is hitting .229 and will be owed a ridiculous amount of money — $31.6 million for two more seasons — if the Cubs deal him. He has a player option (sure to be exercised) for next year and a 2012 team option that automatically triggers in case of a trade.
These are the kind of trade rumors that generally get started either by someone with an agenda or someone under the influence of hallucinogens. Or possibly both.
OK, that’s it’s for now. Mike Minor makes his second start against Washington’s Scott Olson, who is 1-0 with a 2.03 ERA in two starts against the Braves this season.
I’ll check back shortly. Or in the ninth.
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495 comments Add your comment
Darryl Blackberry
August 17th, 2010
9:40 pm
If the Giants come back off the Philly bullpen, be sure to check in again with us, Don.
Katherine
August 17th, 2010
9:40 pm
braves aren’t going away either…
bucky oneil
August 17th, 2010
9:40 pm
Not saying that I agree with it, just Cox’s style. I seen it for for 20 years. He will waltz with the ones that brought him, to the point of self destruction sometimes. He’s had a fair measure of success with that formula, though.
We are looking at the best team this city has seen in the last 5 years. Yeah, there are 50 guys that I think of that I had rather see playing 1st base and a couple are sitting on our bench.
Pitching will always keep you in the ballgame.
not so sure
August 17th, 2010
9:40 pm
Bases loaded, one out. Let’s see what we can do with it.
Katherine
August 17th, 2010
9:41 pm
Jeff…once school starts the week night games are not as well attended
kurula
August 17th, 2010
9:41 pm
the nationals are so terrible that they failed to turn two on glaus.
Sonny Clusters
August 17th, 2010
9:42 pm
Melky!
Katherine
August 17th, 2010
9:42 pm
woo hoo!
not so sure
August 17th, 2010
9:42 pm
Melky-YES!!!
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater
August 17th, 2010
9:42 pm
that a boy Gonzo!!
B.Packenwood
August 17th, 2010
9:42 pm
We are scoring in spite of Glaus…and he is our 1st baseman
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater
August 17th, 2010
9:42 pm
sorry, Melky
John
August 17th, 2010
9:42 pm
OK, OK, OK…even if all you dullards get exactly what we want and keep Glaus in the line-up til the bitter end, can we at least hit him 8th and hit Melky 5th? Melky makes contact and gets hits sometimes.
NCBravesFan
August 17th, 2010
9:42 pm
Hey Don: BRAVES 8
Washington 2
Crack open another bag of Cheetohs!
KornDawg
August 17th, 2010
9:43 pm
It must be required of all sportscasters to say “nowhere to put ‘im” every time the bases are loaded and there’s a 3-ball count.
BravesFAN
August 17th, 2010
9:43 pm
The stats shot it this month I mean in august hes 6-44 batting less than .145 for the month…and his obp is at a god awful .250 for the month…I hope he gets it going bc with chipper out for the year we NEED the Heyward playing how he was in May when he hit .337 for the month…but he is not getting hits at all lately..And if this is a slump then his stretch of hitting at the end of july did not last long at all…We need him I hope he steps up and plays like the sure shot star everybody declared him to be since we drafted him…I love watching the kid play and im a huge fan I just hope he gets it going…We need him now more than ever….
Katherine
August 17th, 2010
9:44 pm
dullards? john john john……..don’t be a d bag
not so sure
August 17th, 2010
9:44 pm
I just hope the bullpen can preserve this one! If only for Minor!
Missing : SS from the Blue Jays
August 17th, 2010
9:44 pm
Wanted: An offensive player traded to the braves for his offense.
Reward: A real MLB SS, not just a body.
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater
August 17th, 2010
9:44 pm
damn phillies!!! this will go down to the wire with them
Mr Charlie
August 17th, 2010
9:44 pm
Bucky, you are right. It is Cox’s way, and looking at his record, it seems to work out pretty well for him. The annals of baseball managers is littered with coaches who put in the johnny-come-lately player. Cox shows loyalty, and players reward it by playing hard, last night was an example.
Don
August 17th, 2010
9:45 pm
Phillies EIGHT
giants 3
Jeff Schultz
August 17th, 2010
9:46 pm
FYI, 3 of the 4 runs that inning were unearned, if you’re scoring at home, or even if you’re alone. (old line. never gets old).
Katherine
August 17th, 2010
9:46 pm
lol jeff
Jeff Schultz
August 17th, 2010
9:47 pm
Katherine — Yeah, I know, and Nats not a big draw. Fulton County schools haven’t gone back yet though.
NRBQ
August 17th, 2010
9:47 pm
Yes, Bobby’s way works perfectly if you want to be booted from 14 of 15 postseasons.
NRBQ
August 17th, 2010
9:48 pm
Jeff,
That’s Skip’s line , may he RIP.
Katherine
August 17th, 2010
9:48 pm
I know..but all the other schools have. Fulton is a slacker this year
TM
August 17th, 2010
9:49 pm
Missing- what part of these stats are you missing?
BA HR RBI OBP SLG
.258 3 29 .339 .326
And those are after a red hot start for his first two weeks w/ the Jays.
GET OVER IT!
Mr Charlie
August 17th, 2010
9:49 pm
I know a way to fill the seats, just say Straus is pitching every night, the pull him just before the game like they did the last time. It worked then.
Jeff Schultz
August 17th, 2010
9:50 pm
NRBQ — All I knew was it wasn’t my line (I actually thought it might’ve been Keith Olbermann’s from old Sportscenter days — back before everybody hated him.
Joel
August 17th, 2010
9:50 pm
maybe the crowd is so low because the security will ask you to leave for being too loud and not sitting down in the bottom of the 9th?
John
August 17th, 2010
9:51 pm
Yes, but we kicked McLouth to the curb. Ditto for Kawakami. We have discarded tons of players over the years. I’m all for patience, but there’s a limit.
Remember when Stanton had 27 saves in 1993? He had a bad month, so we relieved him of his job for the rest of the year. That was more saves than anyone on our staff had in the WS years of ‘91 and ‘92. He was huge for 3 months but then he sucked, so we had to let someone else do the job.
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater
August 17th, 2010
9:51 pm
saito is looking good, can’t wait to have o’flarretty (sp) back
Naf Sevarb
August 17th, 2010
9:52 pm
Who cares what the Phillies do? The only number to know Mr. Don is 2 1/2 games. LMAO
Mr Charlie
August 17th, 2010
9:53 pm
NRBQ, but he got to 15, and he has this team play so over their heads I am suprised thier noses are not bleeding.
He will go down as one of the best to ever have managed, and your criticism is just, and the only thing that keeps him from being the BEST ever.
Naf Sevarb
August 17th, 2010
9:53 pm
Before everybody hated him???
BravesFAN
August 17th, 2010
9:53 pm
SCHULTZ do you have any insight as to why Heyward hasnt been hitting the ball well at all lately? 6-44 is a pretty rough stretch..Are we not gonna see the Heyward that showed so much promise before his thumb again until next season? is it the thumb or what??
Joel
August 17th, 2010
9:53 pm
Wont our magic number be down to 42 after this game?
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater
August 17th, 2010
9:53 pm
i just wish the phillies would go on a 5 game losing streak or something. they have to be the hottest team since the break
Hillbilly Deluxe
August 17th, 2010
9:54 pm
I didn’t like Olbermann when he was on ESPN either.
Don
August 17th, 2010
9:54 pm
Phillies NINE
giants 3
NRBQ
August 17th, 2010
9:55 pm
Olbermann and Dan Patrick on Sports Center every night. ESPN at its maverick best, never to be seen again.
Naf Sevarb
August 17th, 2010
9:55 pm
Braves 2 1/2 game lead
Sonny Clusters
August 17th, 2010
9:55 pm
We caught a foul ball once and Skip Carey said we was from South Carolina but we was really from Gwinnett County. We tried to tell him the difference but he told us to get lost.
John
August 17th, 2010
9:55 pm
Kenneth, don’t forget the Phillies got a free game in the standings courtesy of Bob Davidson’s worst call of all time.
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater
August 17th, 2010
9:56 pm
personally, i can’t stand colin cowturd on espn now, or his radio show for that matter.
Katherine
August 17th, 2010
9:56 pm
Don…i think you are a little slow…ill type slowly…it doesnt matter how much the phillies win by, as long as we win too. Are you with me?
Naf Sevarb
August 17th, 2010
9:56 pm
Olbermann is a hack
Joel
August 17th, 2010
9:56 pm
John, they got 2 games, the other was againt the rockies I believe.