Why, these Braves might be playing in October after all
I’m starting, again, to think this is going to happen. I thought the Braves were a playoff team when they left Lake Buena Vista, and then I watched the first 80 games and thought, “Wrong again, Brad.” (Bobby Cox, as you know, calls me “Brad.”) But now they’ve won six of seven and they just beat Tim Lincecum and I’m back to where I was in the spring.
The 2009 Atlanta Braves. A wild-card team.
Only three back in the WC standings, if you’d care to check.
What Frank Wren and I thought would happen all along is happening now: The pitching would keep them in every game, and they’d hit enough to win most of those games. The hitting took a while to come around — to be honest, I’d convinced myself it never would — but here it is. And this looks like a real team, a good team, a team that wouldn’t be out of its depth in October.
This isn’t the same team we saw in May, both figuratively and literally. Jordan Schafer and Kelly Johnson are in Class AAA and Jeff Francoeur is a Met. Those were, as a multitude of you pointed out, the biggest holes in an unassuming batting order. But now Martin Prado is hitting like Pete Rose and Francoeur isn’t killing innings and Nate McLouth is providing professional, as opposed to amateurish, at-bats. And did I mention that the pitching is still great?
And did I mention that Yunel Escobar is playing like the All-Star shortstop Chipper Jones believes he can be? The National League player of the week last week, and now a threejack off the San Francisco Freak.
Loading ...And you know how you can tell something has changed? No, by not the hitting. (Sometimes that’s a function of lousy pitching by the other side.) By the defense. Every member of the infield made a splendid play in Tuesday’s game, and even Garret Anderson kept a ball down the line from reaching the corner and becoming a double.
Defense, see, is infectious. Defense is a clear sign a team is believing. And so, after 3 1/2 months of doubting myself and these Braves, am I.
Now watch them go lose Thursday afternoon.
(But if they do, you can, via the magic of the Internet, yell at me for jinxing them. I’ll be doing a live chat from the ballpark starting about 12:30 p.m. and going throughout the day. I look forward to your patronage.)
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136 comments Add your comment
PMC
July 23rd, 2009
10:45 am
The 680 thing will be good for us Mark. It is quite difficult to pull of the Flagship duties and when 750 had it I know it was kind of annoying for them because it was tough to make back all thier money… but as a fan… anytime your team can be on a 50,000 watt station that is allowed to operate as such at nighttime… it’s a good thing for those of us who want to listen. I do hope maybe they upgrade to HD Radio to further improve the signal quality.
Mark Bradley
July 23rd, 2009
10:47 am
I used to live just off Nicholasville Road. My wife worked at the Shillito’s — remember Shillito’s? — at Fayette Mall.
Gnashers
July 23rd, 2009
10:47 am
There once was a man called Ennis…
PMC
July 23rd, 2009
10:47 am
It just isn’t going to be as fantastic as it was on one of the grandfather stations like WSB you can hear clearly halfway across Alabama.
Blackberry Cobbler
July 23rd, 2009
10:48 am
I like the way the Braves have been playing lately.
I’d feel even better if D. Lowe could ever find a way to make it beyond the 5th or 6th inning. I little better out of him would help this team.
The differences in this team recently have been the emergence of Escobar, Prado at 2B rather than KJ, a better hitting from Anderson, and better bullpen relief especially Soriano.
Think how much better our record would be if Booby Cox hadn’t waited so damn long to ship Schafer and KJ to the minors and if he hadn’t kept putting Jeff Bennett out there in relief.
Jeremiah
July 23rd, 2009
10:52 am
The only issue is that I don’t think 680 has a very good signal OTP (Outside the Perimeter
) Maybe we can pickup 100.5FM though? Honestly, I have never tried that station….I thought it was hip-hop or something!
Dr. Warren
July 23rd, 2009
10:55 am
What are the chances the Braves go after Roy Halladay so they can approach their 90’s pitching dominance? 0%? Guess they need some hitters instead…
chemdawg
July 23rd, 2009
10:55 am
As for this year Mark: I think the statistical chances of chasing down the Phillies by 5 1/2 games is better than the chances of playing 3 games better than 4 or more teams in a wild card race.
DawginLex
July 23rd, 2009
10:55 am
I know Shillito Park but that’s it. I’ve only been here 10 years.
Nick C
July 23rd, 2009
11:01 am
I think for the braves to go after Roy Halladay would be the stupidest thing Frankie could do. I would hope he wouldn’t pull off another John Schuerholz blunder (i.e. Mark Texeira). That was the dumbest thing ever, and cost us big (see Rangers pointing and laughing now). We have starting pitching depth and are good there. Maybe get a solid middle relief guy, and that’s it. Our bench is solid, and lineup is also pretty good. Let’s for once work with what we have and hope they play out to their potential. As a big braves fan from Philadelphia, it would be so wonderful to see the braves knock off the phillies hopes of another division title.
Clay
July 23rd, 2009
11:14 am
My ideal scenario would see Tim Hudson back in his old form, and would displace Kawakami to the bullpen. Our rotation would be sick! And having someone like Kawakami in the bullpen would do wonders for them. I’d love for the Braves to be able and make a play for a big bat, but we may not need one afterall
philly fan doc
July 23rd, 2009
11:26 am
Why they won’t. The SF Giants. Better pitching, timely hitting. You guys are just dreaming. This is our Division now. Its not the 90’s and early 2000’s. Wake up Braves fans!!!!!!!
RHR
July 23rd, 2009
11:26 am
Hey, who is that using Coach’s name?
I love this team, I loved them when they sucked and I loved them when they won it all. I don’t want to get my hopes up, they’ve had a couple hot streaks this season already but this one feels different…maybe because it looks like the players have bought in this time.
Braves Fan
July 23rd, 2009
11:37 am
Im sorry Philly fan, but have we not just taken the first 3 games from the Giants for those exact reasons you said they would win? Go F#@% off and boo Santa
Nick C
July 23rd, 2009
11:42 am
Hey “filthy fan doc”, being from Philly I understand full-well how fans in that city work. You boast big time when your team is up and shut-up when they suck. Please understand that the phillies are one ryan howard, or chase utley injury, or slump for that matter away from losing this division. This is not your division now, this is the battle of pitching, which the phillies lack “quality” depth at. You’re best pitcher is a guy who is 46, and gets rocked by the braves every time he faces them. I would love nothing more than the braves or another team to un-seat the phils and another kick them out of the postseason race. I’m sure next year there will be some batteries thrown Chipper’s way (as phillies fans like to do, see JD Drew). Go cry back to Pat Gillick and tell him you need him to come back to the GM seat and find a way to get Roy Halladay. That is the only way your starting staff can survive down the stretch. I def wouldn’t bank on Brett Myers to be the savior once he returns.
Braves Mom
July 23rd, 2009
11:47 am
SO, SO glad the Braves didn’t trade Escobar.
I think they have a great shot if they keep hitting.
It has been fun to watch as of late.
What will they do w/ Kelly Johnson? I heard they have to make a decision by Friday. Notice how well they have played w/o him?
Fat Matt
July 23rd, 2009
11:54 am
The best thing for the Braves this year might be NOT to win the division, but rather to make the playoffs as a WC.
Let’s pull a Florida Marlins on someone else for a change.
Alex
July 23rd, 2009
11:54 am
My goal is to never heard Kelly Johnson’s name ever again now that Prado is a beast.
Alex
July 23rd, 2009
11:55 am
I think Josh Willingham would be the best fit for a trade if they do make one. I agree that Kotchman at 1b is fine. Willingham shouldn’t cost too much and can provide some power as a corner OF.
Steven L
July 23rd, 2009
11:59 am
Alex, why would you prefer Willingham over Dunn? Dunn has more power, a better on base percentage, and a much better OPS (which I think is the best measure of a hitter). I think Dunn is the more feared hitter.
As far as it moving to 680 the fan it really makes no difference. What we should care about is the signal strength of the FM station that is actually the one playing the games. I forget their name but it’s the one that has the Regular Guys.
louisville slugger
July 23rd, 2009
12:06 pm
I’m just not sold on Dunn; yes, when he hits the ball, he can hit it a long way, but so many strikeouts can kill rallies (by not moving runners over, no sac flies, etc.). I’m becoming convinced the Braves should stand pat offensively, given that the (probable) available players are not really an upgrade over the current squad (particularly the way they’re hitting now).
JMac12203
July 23rd, 2009
12:06 pm
Ilove it. The Braves play a few good games, and we are already scheduling playoff rotations. The Braves ARE NOT PLAYOFF CALIBER, and if by some chance the Marlins, Mets, Brewers, Cubs, Cardinals, Giants, and Rockies all fall flat on their faces (which is what would have to happen for the Bravos to play game 163), they would get embarrassed just as they have done each playoff season this century. They are not a playoff team, and I think that in a couple of weeks reality will set in. They are playing so far over their head and above their talent level, that when they fall, it will be a very loud THUD!!!
taxman kenneth
July 23rd, 2009
12:07 pm
Why in the world would the braves keep Norton and send Conrad back down? That makes no sense at all.Norton cannot hit his weight. Stupid move!
‘Duk’s Dozen: Jair Jurrjens continues march into our conscious
July 23rd, 2009
12:07 pm
[...] 2. Tell you what. With all the young stars Atlanta has been developing and the wild card race Mark Bradley were still alive, it really makes me wish that the Bravos were still on the Superstation and that Skip Caray were still alive. [AJC] [...]
taxman kenneth
July 23rd, 2009
12:11 pm
The General Manager of the Texas Rangers was on the ESPN game last night talking about the players the braves gave them for a rental Tex. I don’t think he could beleive the braves would be that stupid. The best player in the deal is still in the minors and 3 are on the major league roster for Texas. He had high praises for Salty, Andrus, and Harrison also who is on the disabled list but is a good pitcher and the best pitcher is in the wings waiting for his callup.
Scott B
July 23rd, 2009
12:13 pm
It’s impossible for me to evaluate the Braves post-season hopes in an objective fashion. I cannot watch the games with a clinical detachment because emotion over takes me and, in the end, I’m just another biased fan. It would be foolish of me to say that this Braves team will make the playoffs.
Having said that, THIS TEAM WILL MAKE THE PLAYOFFS!!! Turner field, this October, will bring back to mind that old tomahawk choppin’ nostalgia. GO BRAVES!!!
Marc
July 23rd, 2009
12:25 pm
I heard KK was going “balls deep” today for the sweep.
Live from the ballpark: The Braves test Bradley's mojo! | Mark Bradley
July 23rd, 2009
12:27 pm
[...] mention this because I just posted a little something about how I’m thinking the 2009 Braves will be playing in October. The 2009 Braves have won six of seven since the All-Star break and have closed within three games [...]
fieldofdreams
July 23rd, 2009
12:33 pm
Wren deserves a war hoop. Right now he’s Executive of the Year, given the way he’s tinkered with and massaged this lineup. He had to buy pitching, granted, but JJ, Anderson, Church, and McLouth were great pickups that came cheap. Let’s not settle for a playoff berth; if the bats keep thumping, our starting rotation makes us a threat to win any series, regular, or playoff.
‘Duk’s Dozen: Jair Jurrjens continues march into our conscious | ReadSports.com - Your primary source for all sporting news
July 23rd, 2009
1:01 pm
[...] 2. Tell you what. With all the young stars Atlanta has been developing and the wild card race Mark Bradley were still alive, it really makes me wish that the Bravos were still on the Superstation and that Skip Caray were still alive. [AJC] [...]
‘Duk’s Dozen: Jair Jurrjens continues march into our conscious | Lancilo USA
July 23rd, 2009
1:04 pm
[...] 2. Tell you what. With all the young stars Atlanta has been developing and the wild card race Mark Bradley were still alive, it really makes me wish that the Bravos were still on the Superstation and that Skip Caray were still alive. [AJC] [...]
‘Duk’s Dozen: Jair Jurrjens continues march into our conscious | Newstion.com
July 23rd, 2009
3:00 pm
[...] 2. Tell you what. With all the young stars Atlanta has been developing and the wild card race Mark Bradley thinks the team has entered, it really makes me wish that the Bravos were still on the Superstation and that Skip Caray were still alive. [AJC] [...]
Antonio Gramsci
July 23rd, 2009
5:08 pm
Drugs are bad, mmmkay? So stop taking them before writing your blog.
falcon4life
July 24th, 2009
12:51 am
Mr. Bradley, wild thought here…one more big bat, maybe 2. Austin Kearns and/or Adam Dunn from the Nats. I agree w/one more reliever. Wildest thought…we’ve won 7 of nine so far against the Phillies. 7 of 9 again; if it doesn’t tie for 1st, it’s darn close. As long as injuries don’t kill em, at least the wild card
falcon4life
July 24th, 2009
12:54 am
oh yeah or Willingham
TSmiley7
July 26th, 2009
11:48 am
Why don’t the Braves get in the trade mix for Doc? He would improve our already fantastic rotation and we wouldn’t lose much, if any, money if Vasquez was a part of the deal. The Jays want to replenish with talented youth. Our FS is among the top systems in baseball and can afford to lose a top prospect or 2 alongside Javy as long as Heyward isn’t sent to Canada. Schafer could be a good part of the trade as well now that we made the McLouth trade and won’t need another CF for at least 4 years. The Doc trade would also eliminate our overuse of Moylan and possibly Gonzalez as well because Halladay can go 8 or 9 every 5 days plus Doc would be the TRUE ace our staff needs because Lowe just isn’t it. Why don’t we get in the mix for the most consistent starter in baseball over the past 6 years?