LIVE: It’s time for the Braves (or is that the Black Knight?)
Do Omar Infante and the Braves have enough healthy bodies left to win the wild card? (AP photo)
Welcome back to Turner Field for a game involving what remains of your Atlanta Braves.
To all of the injury issues the team has had in the season — not the least of which were losing Chipper Jones and pitcher Kris Medlen for the year and pitchers Jair Jurrjens and Takashi Saito for extended periods, we add this: Martin Prado is “definitely going to be out for a while” with a hip-pointer, manager Bobby Cox said after Monday’s game.
The biggest problem with that: There’s not “a while” left in the season. In fact, there are more letters in “a while” (six) than there are games left on the Braves’ schedule (five).
Prado might be toast, but the Braves aren’t, yet. They enter tonight’s game against Florida with a one-half game lead over San Diego and 4 1/2 over all-but-dead Colorado in the National League wild card race.
Prado is having an MRI and was not available for comment before the game. Cox said he was “feeling better” today. But, even though we’re talking about one of the toughest players on the team, it would be surprising to see him back in the lineup this season. A hip-pointer is an extremely painful injury, one that prevents a player from pivoting — which eliminates pretty much every movement in a baseball game (fielding, throwing, hitting).
How are the Braves still here? They’re like Monty Python’s “Black Knight,” who kept fighting on despite severed limbs. (”It’s only a flesh wound!” … I am invincible! The Black Knight always triumphs!”)
In fact, since everybody can use a laugh these days . . .
On a related note, the “Black Knight” is batting third and playing center field for the Braves tonight.
OK, seriously. The lineup includes these changes: Catcher Brian McCann is batting third to replace Prado; the struggling Melky Cabrera (hitting only .229 with one homer in his last 49 games) is hitting fifth; Brooks Conrad starts at third base and hits seventh.
Pitching tonight on only three days rest (in place of the injured Jurrjens) is Tim Hudson. He’s only 1-4 with a 6.10 earned run average in five September starts after going 6-0 with a 1.43 ERA in his previous eight outings. One positive omen: Hudson has pitched on three days rest three times before in the regular season, going 2-0 with a 2.61 ERA.
That’s it for now. I’ll be back to live blog at game time. Can the Braves hang on?
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636 comments Add your comment
96,sc
September 28th, 2010
7:54 pm
My internet here at work will let me read the blog but will not let me see scores. WHATS THE SCORE?
One bourbon one scotch and one beer
September 28th, 2010
7:55 pm
I still say Uggla would look much better in a Braves uniform.
96,sc
September 28th, 2010
7:55 pm
sorry, just saw your score.
"Chef" Tim Dix
September 28th, 2010
7:55 pm
Anyone think that 47 yr old minor league lifer catcher we called up could play center?
Aaron
September 28th, 2010
7:57 pm
No McClouth? No Diaz?
Is Cox trying to end the season early?
Jesse Stone
September 28th, 2010
7:58 pm
Melky hitting 4 for 7 against Sanchez.
Jason
September 28th, 2010
7:58 pm
Our outfield defense is so bad. Some on here talk like it is good. They obviously know nothing about baseball
Russ, the Temporary Mascot
September 28th, 2010
7:58 pm
Jeff, are any of the Braves in jail or on suspension tonight?
jl
September 28th, 2010
7:59 pm
Milky must have been grazing in the outfield and not paying attention! Guess Grazing on outfield is better than eating off your bat?
Jesse Stone
September 28th, 2010
7:59 pm
Prado is done. torn oblique
Jeff Schultz
September 28th, 2010
8:00 pm
PRADO UPDATE: Braves just announced he has a torn oblique he’s out for the year.
Black Knight
September 28th, 2010
8:00 pm
91 was outstanding. Your right. Probably the best because they were so bad for so long and they turned it around so quickly (also a product of Cox when he was GM) but if you think about who was on the 91 team I would have to argue that they had more talented everyday players than we do now yet we still have great shot to get in. I have never seen a mgr take such a collection of utility players and juggle it enough everyday to make it work. It’s just unbelieveable how we have won 87 games with virtually no power.
And now, he will prove it again because Prado is done.
JH
September 28th, 2010
8:00 pm
Sucks for Martin. Out for 2 months
One bourbon one scotch and one beer
September 28th, 2010
8:00 pm
Man is that bad news or what?
Naboo the Enigma
September 28th, 2010
8:01 pm
Prado out for the remainder?? Stick a fork in em…
Rick
September 28th, 2010
8:02 pm
Would it make any difference re Martin? I mean I know he’s playing hurt. But he’s done nothing over the past 40 games. I mean come on. Not having him in there doesn’t make any difference.
cheese
September 28th, 2010
8:02 pm
Prado done for the year, torn external oblique
Grownin Samoan
September 28th, 2010
8:02 pm
let’s make the playoffs and be the only team ever to score ZERO in a post season series.
Aaron
September 28th, 2010
8:02 pm
Prado out for season…
"Chef" Tim Dix
September 28th, 2010
8:02 pm
Prado availible for the first roadtrip of December.
PTC DAWG
September 28th, 2010
8:03 pm
Prado out for the year…
Stick a Fork
September 28th, 2010
8:03 pm
Are we going to get the same column from Mark Bradley about how this team can still get to the playoffs? Not with this patch job of a team and Bobby’s managing. You got a middle infielder (Conrad) playing third, a center fielder (Cabrera) who is also obese playing left, people in and out of the lineup at different spots, and no one is hitting. I just turned off the game after that infield hit mess. You got a runner on third, PLAY IN.
Thanks for all the great years Bobby. Sad to see you go out like this. Next year I would love for the Braves organization to give someone like Joe Maddon an offer he can’t refuse…and have a regular center fielder (and first baseman, third baseman, left fielder).
Aaron
September 28th, 2010
8:03 pm
Why would that be announced in the middle of a game?
Jared
September 28th, 2010
8:04 pm
I can’t watch anymore of this dreadful team. Even if they do somehow make the playoffs–likely from the padres offense being just as bad, they will get swept in 3.
Which would be a fitting end for Cox being the choke artist he is.
Jesse Stone
September 28th, 2010
8:04 pm
Marlins TV trivia- Who has managed the most games against BC? My guess is Larussa
"Chef" Tim Dix
September 28th, 2010
8:04 pm
Collective roster looking at Bobby Cox and saying, “Cut me Mick.”
G
September 28th, 2010
8:04 pm
With Prado out it will give Frank Wren another excuse of why the Braves didn’t make the playoffs… He will fail to mention, Cabrerra, Ankiel, KK, Gonzalez and Glaus have all been busts.
native_braves_fan
September 28th, 2010
8:05 pm
Jared, how games have you won as a coach? They don’t need losers like you for fans.
SG10
September 28th, 2010
8:05 pm
and I thought Anibal Sanchez was struggling coming into this game…he has thrown 1-hitter so far through the 3rd inning…
Grownin Samoan
September 28th, 2010
8:06 pm
in all seriousness…can anyone remember if the Braves have hit a ball over an outfielders head in the past 4 games besides McCann Hr last night? We don’t even have warning track power on this team
SG10
September 28th, 2010
8:06 pm
Mark, How many pitches/innings do you think Hudson will go today?
Jesse Stone
September 28th, 2010
8:06 pm
3 innings SG10. maybe after 5 or 6
Rambunz
September 28th, 2010
8:07 pm
Down here in the sticks of Valdosta we can’t even get the Bravos on the radio anymore. And we can’t buy the AJC either via delivery or in the racks. This is like a third world country. Jeff, use your clout and do something about this.
Jared
September 28th, 2010
8:07 pm
Enter your comments here
Grownin Samoan
September 28th, 2010
8:08 pm
Maybe Jeb Bush will annex you into FL Rambunz
Jesse Stone
September 28th, 2010
8:08 pm
Huddie looks great tonight. Marlins pounding the ball into the dirt
"Chef" Tim Dix
September 28th, 2010
8:08 pm
Well, that was nice.
Naboo the Enigma
September 28th, 2010
8:08 pm
Man… I sure miss listenin’ to Skip
Jared
September 28th, 2010
8:09 pm
Native you are the typical ass kisser myrmidon. Don’t say anything bad about booby.
The loser is you and booby who cheer and drink the kool aid for utter incompetence.
david s
September 28th, 2010
8:09 pm
So what does it say that with the Marlins leading 1 to 0 I’m already chalking it up as a loss?
Jesse Stone
September 28th, 2010
8:09 pm
Naboo…there should be a Best of Skip DVD
Rambunz
September 28th, 2010
8:09 pm
How could we leave a state with a governor named “Sonny”? On the up side, no state income tax.
"Chef" Tim Dix
September 28th, 2010
8:10 pm
More Thrasher games than ever before.
Thanks for the warning.
Pasco
September 28th, 2010
8:11 pm
native
you are one of those stupid people who shouldn’t even be allowed to vote.
how many games have you wo..what an inane comment.
how many games has cox lost he should have won? hundreds.
Hit A Single
September 28th, 2010
8:12 pm
I agree, this may be Bobby Cox’s best job. When you look at all the stat leaders, the Braves have very few players listed. Bobby got this group to play as a team. It is really sad to see that his time will end soon. My favorite TV show is Andy Griffith. I feel that he is a part of the family. I feel the same way about Bobby Cox.
Naboo the Enigma
September 28th, 2010
8:12 pm
No joke. Where you watching the day it was Clark Howard day in the upper deck and he made the crack how Clark was on his hands and knees looking for spare change in between innings? Priceless…
david s
September 28th, 2010
8:12 pm
Again, a struggling pitcher finds his form against the Braves!
GT Alum
September 28th, 2010
8:12 pm
Grownin Samoan -
Ankiel hit a HR in the last game of the Washington series.
Grownin Samoan
September 28th, 2010
8:12 pm
another Lee gem…on that first strike
david s
September 28th, 2010
8:13 pm
And now for the power that is Derrek!