Live from the ballpark: Braves put Bradley mojo to test!
I’m here at the ballyard to conduct a grand experiment. I’m here to see if the El Marko mojo still works. (”El Marko” was what Max Baker, who was so addled he nominated me for president of our senior class at Maysville High, occasionally called me.) And my mojo is mighty. From the AJC of Oct. 22, 1996:
“That the Braves are going to win this World Series is apparent. It is also, in the grand scheme, secondary. No longer is this team playing against the overmatched Yankees. The Braves are playing against history … This is the greatest team of the post-free agency era, among the best ever. You can trot out any of baseball’s storied assemblages – the 1927 Yankees, the Gas House Gang, the Big Red Machine – and wonder how these Braves would have fared, but that sword cuts two ways: Would those clubs have seemed so majestic if they’d had to hit against the Braves?”
That was, alas, the zenith — or the nadir — of El Marko’s so-called career. The Braves led that World Series 2-nil. They would lose it 4-2. The team I likened to the 1927 Yankees lost four straight to the 1996 Yankees. Talk radio in New York (and there’s a lot of it up there) had great fun with me for months.
I 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 of the wild-card lead. They’re playing well. And I’m here today to watch them lose 15-2 and make me look silly for, oh, the 797th time this calendar year.
I’ll be happy to entertain any and all questions as we put my powers of hexation to the test, and I’ll begin with a couple of notes: The Braves announced today they’ll be moving to 680 The Fan and its FM affiliate Rock 100.5 next season, which affects me not one whit. (I’ve got Sirius XM.)
Loading ...And according to esteemed colleague David O’Brien, the Braves have recalled Kelly Johnson and sent Brooks Conrad to Gwinnett. And Bobby Cox has named Johnson his starting second baseman for every game the rest of this century. (Kidding about that last part.)
Oh, and one thing more: In the moments before we get going here — it’s overcast, by the way — you might take a look at another El Marko post from this morning, this one posing the musical question: Is Tommy Hanson the best Braves’ rookie pitcher ever? As ever, I thank you for your patronage.
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509 comments Add your comment
Juan
July 23rd, 2009
1:18 pm
Why did it take so long to get to that ball?
Juan
July 23rd, 2009
1:19 pm
Silly ball boy.
JL Burke
July 23rd, 2009
1:20 pm
Jeremiah,
Last year Norton hit .262 with 7 homers in 187 at-bats. That was okay, but not “one of the best” PH in the majors. He’s had enough chances this year and it’s not working.
The_Superhoo
July 23rd, 2009
1:20 pm
Not a great start for KK….
Craig "Speedy" Ehlo
July 23rd, 2009
1:20 pm
4 batters and 1 swinging strike…that’s not a good sign.
Bama Aaron
July 23rd, 2009
1:20 pm
well Kenshin is not off to the greatest start eh?
Scott
July 23rd, 2009
1:21 pm
Mark,
stop making bombastic predictions after good/bad 8 game stretches plz k thx
Mark Bradley
July 23rd, 2009
1:22 pm
I still have it, ladies and gentlemen. Giants lead 1-0 on a RBI double by Pablo Sandoval that crossed the third-base bag and bounced funny off the jutting-out part of the seats beyond third base. Almost nailed the ball boy, but he jumped out of the way, pulling his chair with him.
A little like some of those Fenway Park doubles you see down the left-field line.
The bigger story: My mojo is in prime form.
Jeremiah
July 23rd, 2009
1:22 pm
45 ab’s but how far spaced out? have you ever tried to hit Major League pitching Jorge? And he is a proven vet, who was great PH for Seattle and us last year…His numbers when he had everyday AB’s in AAA were awesome! 5 hits in 45 ML ab’s does not mean you are not a capable ML player…If that were the case how come the BoSox did not release Ortiz a couple of months ago…Some people really have no idea how hard it is to actually play this game at the ML level…Norton has not had enough frequent ab’s to be considered a dud..plain and simple…BC and his staff obviously know this, although there are also a lot of armchair managers who also think they know more than BC does…WHICH IS RIDICULOUS!!!
Greg Norton
July 23rd, 2009
1:22 pm
Last year, Norton lead the ML with 3 pinch-hit homers, 18 pinch-hit RBIs, and 17 pinch-hit walks. Take that you Greg-haters.
SanFranFan
July 23rd, 2009
1:23 pm
yes! thanks for the update marko keep ‘em coming!
The_Superhoo
July 23rd, 2009
1:23 pm
On espn gametracker his control seems to be lacking
Bama Aaron
July 23rd, 2009
1:24 pm
At least he held them to one, but Mark your Mojo is seriously scary!
Jeremiah
July 23rd, 2009
1:24 pm
JL…As far as Pinch Hitters coming off the bench…Norton was indeed one of the best, if not THE BEST in the majors last year…Look it up GENIUS!!! You do realize that 7 dingers off the bench is PRETTY DARN GOOD don’t you? Oh wait, you really don’t know what you are talking about, so I guess not!
Marc
July 23rd, 2009
1:24 pm
Bad first half of an inning! That’s in! Quickly, someone call Frank Wren and tell him to run down to the dugout, take his shirt off, and start challenging the players to a fist fight!
Scott
July 23rd, 2009
1:25 pm
SF Fan- if you can be on this website, you can also follow the game live on mlb.com
Greg Norton
July 23rd, 2009
1:25 pm
On the replay, it looked like sandoval’s hit did hit the batboy.
Sting 'em Buzz
July 23rd, 2009
1:25 pm
KK walks way too many to be a setup man.
Jeremiah
July 23rd, 2009
1:26 pm
LOL Marc…
The_Superhoo
July 23rd, 2009
1:26 pm
Geez Nate. Get a hit :-/
Greg Norton
July 23rd, 2009
1:27 pm
Joe Simpson sounds like he wants to get rid of me and keep Conrad.
Juan
July 23rd, 2009
1:28 pm
9 pitches.
Bama Aaron
July 23rd, 2009
1:28 pm
well that was quick….3 outs in about 10 pitches
Jeremiah
July 23rd, 2009
1:29 pm
Maybe it’s because you are blogging Greg! You should be paying attention to the game!
You aren’t getting hits because your fingers hurt from so much blogging!
SanFranFan
July 23rd, 2009
1:29 pm
Scott- i can’t get on mlb.com at work
Mrs. Chanandler Bong
July 23rd, 2009
1:30 pm
Mark, I think I speak for everyone here when I say “Leave the Ted NOW.”
Greg Norton
July 23rd, 2009
1:30 pm
Blogging keeps me occupied while I’m waiting for my one possible at bat per game.
Scott
July 23rd, 2009
1:31 pm
SiriusXM is only good for the home games. I wish they’d figure out the value of being able to listen to the same announcers even for games on the road. You get used to a certain style of an announcer and frankly its tough to follow a game called by a stranger.
G Man
July 23rd, 2009
1:31 pm
Hi Mark – long time listener, first time writer (except the time I wrote you years ago at your AOL account = way, way before AJC Digital).
I’m curious about your relationship with Casey Kotchman. Is there a bit of a “Smoltz Situation” going on there?
I only bring this up because, up until a couple of weeks ago, you seemed generally ok with Casey and noted that the Braves had much bigger issues. Recently, though, it seems you get a barb in on the guy whenever you can = even going as far as to say he probably belongs on the bench.
Anyway, just curious. I personally think the guy is a decent player – flawless d, slightly above average doubles hitter – but wondered where the newfound Mark Bradley CKotch knocks were flowing from. Ha ha. Of course, it’s possible you just don’t think he’s very good.
Mark Bradley
July 23rd, 2009
1:31 pm
I looked at the replay and couldn’t tell. Maybe it did hit the ballboy. Not his fault, though. He took evasive action.
Travisi Ishikawa leads off the second inning with a single to left. A soft single, though.
Jeremiah
July 23rd, 2009
1:32 pm
Let’s hope it comes with the bases juiced and you can prove all the naysayers wrong!
Greg Norton
July 23rd, 2009
1:34 pm
I might be hitting for KK soon, if he keeps throwing so many pitches.
Panties in a wad
July 23rd, 2009
1:34 pm
KK is out of his league in the MLB. Braves were stupid to sign him for that amount of money. Here’s hoping it doesnt take Hudson too long to get in midseason form.
JL Burke
July 23rd, 2009
1:35 pm
Jeremiah,
I don’t claim to be a “GENIUS,” just a fan with an opinion. Sorry I seem to have upset you.
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
July 23rd, 2009
1:35 pm
just found a place for KJ, San Fran’s 2B hitting .185
Panties in a wad
July 23rd, 2009
1:36 pm
And LOL @ DHD for acting like he’s a “insider.”
Jeremiah
July 23rd, 2009
1:36 pm
I don’t understand the Kotchman haters either…Admittedly, I at first called him Casey Crotchman..( I was huge Tex fan, I know, not Casey’s fault)…But…Casey has proven himself to be a good hitter with excellent D…So he does not hit 50 homers a year..He is still a very good player…IMHO..
The_Superhoo
July 23rd, 2009
1:37 pm
Geez, ESPN Gametracker still doesn’t have a pic of D Ross with a Braves hat on…
Greg Norton
July 23rd, 2009
1:37 pm
JL, I forgive you for the error of your ways and I urge Jeremiah to do the same.
Mark Bradley
July 23rd, 2009
1:37 pm
Kawakami gets out of the second without further ado.
david
July 23rd, 2009
1:38 pm
Should have cut Norton and Bradley and kept Conrad!
Jeremiah
July 23rd, 2009
1:38 pm
JL…I’m not upset…I just find it comical some of the suggestions on this board are obviously based on very little understanding of baseball…
Mark Bradley
July 23rd, 2009
1:39 pm
I’m thinking Barry Zito isn’t going to win 1-0.
And just as I typed those words, Esky curls one around the right-field foul pole. Tied.
Sting 'em Buzz
July 23rd, 2009
1:39 pm
way to go Escobar, homer off the pole
The_Superhoo
July 23rd, 2009
1:39 pm
ESCO!!!
Greg Norton
July 23rd, 2009
1:40 pm
David, I feel the love… perhaps we could trade Chip Caray and Bradley for a player to be named later.
G Man
July 23rd, 2009
1:40 pm
Jeremiah – glad to see I’m not the only one who has used the “Crotchman” moniker before. My buddy tried to get a Casey “Klutchman” nickname going earlier in the year but I think he’ll have to get some big playoff hits before we go that far.
Steven
July 23rd, 2009
1:40 pm
Trade WHO?
Bama Aaron
July 23rd, 2009
1:40 pm
Atta boy Yunel… he’s shown alot more power here recently….
Jfreak
July 23rd, 2009
1:40 pm
The Braves are positioning themselves for some kind of trade. Probably include Gonzo, Johnson, and maybe Norton. I don’t think they are looking for a blockbuster trade but maybe a couple of prospects and a reliever to help sure up the bullpen. Gonzo is really the odd man out right now and Johnson really doesn’t have a place to play. All these guys have had good seasons in the recent past and retain some level of value to other contenders.