LIVE BLOG: Braves hope they’ve reached turning point
Flags aren't quite in the order of the standings, which read: Phillies-Braves-Marlins-Mets-Nationals.
So. Is it soup yet?
For those younger than, well, me, there was a Lipton instant soup commercial back in the 1970s in which a son kept asking his mother that question. That’s sort of what we’ve been asking about the Braves most of the season. Are they the Braves yet?
Finally, maybe yes. After a bumpy first 60 games, the Braves won six straight at Florida and Houston before closing the road trip with an 8-3 loss to the Astros. They’re nine games over. 500 (38-29) and start the night 2½ games behind Philadelphia despite injuries and all of their offensive problems this season.
“You’re like, ‘OK, we’ve taken off a little — and now we have a chance to really take off,’” manager Fredi Gonzalez said.
The Braves open a nine-game home stand tonight against the New York Mets, but their home record (17-13, .567) isn’t any better than their road mark (21-16, .568).
There also are signs that Dan Uggla is starting to come around, and Jason Heyward may return this week following a rehab stint for shoulder surgery. Uggla’s average is at only .180 but he had consecutive two-hit games against the Astros for the first time this season.
Tonight’s pitcher (and the likely subject of the game column) is Jair Jurrjens. He is 8-2 with a 1.82 ERA and has been one of baseball’s best pitchers. He) lost to the Mets 5-0 on June 4 but even that wasn’t a horrible outing (three earned runs and six hits allowed in 6 1/3 innings). It was the only time in 11 starts he has allowed more than two earned runs.
Tonight’s lineup: Jordan Schafer (8), Uggla (4), Chipper Jones (5), Freddie Freeman (3), Alex Gonzalez (6), David Ross (2), Joe Mather (9), Matt Young (7), Jurrjens (1).
That’s it for now. As always, I am here to serve you. So, you think the Braves have finally reached the turning point, or is it too early to know?
By Jeff Schultz
♦
Earlier: Countdown: Vote for LeBron, someone else in Count’s first hate poll
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204 comments Add your comment
Jeff Schultz
June 14th, 2011
9:53 pm
Kimbrel coming in.
the truth...
June 14th, 2011
9:54 pm
…Chipper’s ball seemed to run out of gas…..I thought it was gone too…..
Looked like the classic back-to-back…..
todd grantham
June 14th, 2011
9:54 pm
Philly Fan, i agree with you. maybe Braves and Phillies thought.
the truth...
June 14th, 2011
9:55 pm
Hey Jeff…did you see my question about Freddie’s picture on the front of AJC.com…..?
….he’s going face to face with an ump…..
…tell me it isn’t photo shopped?
todd grantham
June 14th, 2011
9:56 pm
truth< that pic was from early in this game
Jonah
June 14th, 2011
9:57 pm
Is there some reason Kimbrel can’t throw a strike and must aways walk the lead off man?
G
June 14th, 2011
9:58 pm
Wow Kimbrel walked the leadoff man… Amazing
Philly Fan
June 14th, 2011
9:58 pm
Todd Grantham, maybe your order maybe mine but I would love an NLCS between us. I was 16 in 1993 and it was great atmosphere us being the big underdog at the time. Quick question how is your attendance doing this year? Why don’t you think you draw as well as you should? It’s crazy in Philly that the Phils are actually ahead of the Eagles with the fans love and attention. We are such a football town. Me being much more of a baseball guy I love it.
todd grantham
June 14th, 2011
9:59 pm
dont know that id toss too many to diori at first
todd grantham
June 14th, 2011
10:00 pm
Philly, no i dont think the Braves draw like they should. Maybe its always the heat and traffic.
the truth...
June 14th, 2011
10:00 pm
Todd….
….I must have blinked…. I missed it…..
Jonah
June 14th, 2011
10:00 pm
Really…another walk…come on!
the truth...
June 14th, 2011
10:01 pm
Kimbrel is a nightmare come true….
I think it must be those stupid haircuts….
todd grantham
June 14th, 2011
10:01 pm
and until the arrival of Mike Smith, the Braves used to average more than the Falcons
todd grantham
June 14th, 2011
10:01 pm
it was the first argument ive seen fredi in
Bill
June 14th, 2011
10:02 pm
I’m really trying to like Fredi but its getting harder to do…..
todd grantham
June 14th, 2011
10:02 pm
Bobby would have gotten tossed in that argument
Bill
June 14th, 2011
10:03 pm
u bet
Bill
June 14th, 2011
10:04 pm
so much for Mc getting night off..
Philly Fan
June 14th, 2011
10:05 pm
I love a good pennant race. Hopefully this goes down to the wire and YOU guys get the wildcard. I really think we are meeting in the NLCS though no matter who wins the East
Bill
June 14th, 2011
10:05 pm
98 mph ball hits his leg..o-my…bases loaded
Jonah
June 14th, 2011
10:05 pm
WOW! Maybe Kimbrell needs to get some glasses like Charlie Sheen in Major League.
the truth...
June 14th, 2011
10:06 pm
Kimbrel is right on target to implode completely…….
….love to be wrong here…..
the truth...
June 14th, 2011
10:06 pm
yes Kimbrel……one more….
…yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bill
June 14th, 2011
10:07 pm
got a break on that call
Jonah
June 14th, 2011
10:07 pm
Finally….
Philly Fan
June 14th, 2011
10:07 pm
Got to love that kids live arm
the truth...
June 14th, 2011
10:07 pm
….the Dude is a heart attack…..loads the bases to get three outs…..
…that is NOT a closer you can live with……very long anyway…
Bill
June 14th, 2011
10:08 pm
Bella Vita !
the truth...
June 14th, 2011
10:08 pm
OK….can we say baserunner…..base hit…..walk…..?
PMC
June 14th, 2011
10:09 pm
Solamente Fastballs por favor. Curveballs… No MAS!
Philly Fan
June 14th, 2011
10:09 pm
The Truth – your statement is not true about living with a wild closer. We had Mitch Williams and it worked all year…Well almost all year
Jeff Schultz
June 14th, 2011
10:09 pm
Brooks Conrad on deck.
the truth...
June 14th, 2011
10:11 pm
gotta have a base runner to bring McCann up……or Raw Dog can take him deep…..
that works too….
the truth...
June 14th, 2011
10:12 pm
take a walk if we can….
Jeff Schultz
June 14th, 2011
10:12 pm
No Freeman on deck so clearly he’s too hurt to pinch hit.
Bill
June 14th, 2011
10:13 pm
3 pitch hits bite the dust……….K’s
Bill
June 14th, 2011
10:14 pm
come on Mather..its been your night so-far
the truth...
June 14th, 2011
10:16 pm
too little ….too late…..
Bill
June 14th, 2011
10:16 pm
Thats the truth.
Bill
June 14th, 2011
10:17 pm
Why so gloomy? Phillies are up 8-1!!
Philly Fan
June 14th, 2011
10:18 pm
Bill, I am far from gloomy
the truth...
June 14th, 2011
10:23 pm
Long way to go folks….for the Phillies too….
….see we’ve got a report that the oblique virus is already in the Philadelphia club house…..
You think it is hard to bat with that bug…..wait till Halladay and Lee come down with it…..
bias
June 14th, 2011
10:23 pm
games over braves choke again
bias
June 14th, 2011
10:24 pm
b mac already came up AND CHOKED
Philly Fan
June 14th, 2011
10:25 pm
Who on the Phils has an oblique strain?
Philly Fan
June 14th, 2011
10:27 pm
I totally agree with the long year statement though. Baseball is such a marathon sport
the truth...
June 14th, 2011
10:29 pm
….the OS…. (oblique strain)…. virus is in the clubhouse….you’ll see soon enough….
Philly Fan
June 14th, 2011
10:30 pm
Truth.. care to explain?
the truth...
June 14th, 2011
10:30 pm
Hey to all us “Wishers”
Heyward was 0-3 with a strikeout in AAA Gwinnett…..I’m doubting he will turn it around overnight….