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
Alex
July 23rd, 2009
1:40 pm
Escobar is a beast!
Sting 'em Buzz
July 23rd, 2009
1:40 pm
50 homers, he isn’t going to hit 20 homers.
K.Street
July 23rd, 2009
1:41 pm
Please Braves, don’t trade Escobar and sign him to a long term deal before he becomes a free agent. SS is such a skill position and we really need his bat and arm for the long term
Noah
July 23rd, 2009
1:41 pm
I have NEVER Before heard a writer say a team that is 5.5 games back in JULY can’t makeup the ground. Come on. And your most worried about the starting pitching because of strikeouts, what is that about. They have been automatic.
troutbum4439
July 23rd, 2009
1:42 pm
ESKY BABY!!! Mark, if you have a sec can you give a brief rundown of your career path to writing on the Braves beat. A lot of guys grow up wanting to be ball players (I realized that would never happen after HS) but i have always dreamt of sitting in the press box.
BamaBrave
July 23rd, 2009
1:43 pm
Any radio station out there with the game?
Sting 'em Buzz
July 23rd, 2009
1:43 pm
Noah, high strikeout totals mean high pitch counts and thus more wear on the bullpen.
Greg Norton
July 23rd, 2009
1:43 pm
Jfreak, I don’t think anyone would take me and my bat.
phar71
July 23rd, 2009
1:43 pm
Is there anywhere to watch the game online?
Sting 'em Buzz
July 23rd, 2009
1:43 pm
96.1 FM
JL Burke
July 23rd, 2009
1:43 pm
Jeremiah,
I don’t think everyone who wants Norton off the team has “no understanding of baseball.” Can’t reasonable people who know baseball disagree about Norton? Do you think every manager and GM would keep him on the team?
And to answer your question, 7 homers off the bench is good. This year, it’s just not working. He’s 37 years old. Maybe time has caught up to him.
Greg Norton
July 23rd, 2009
1:43 pm
Only Bobby because I feel the love with him.
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
July 23rd, 2009
1:43 pm
I think we should trade Yunel while he has value
Tad
July 23rd, 2009
1:43 pm
Perhaps we should send the entire team to Children’s Hospital! Way to go, Yunel!
T-Town Dawg
July 23rd, 2009
1:44 pm
Well, Kelly’s back with the big club. Bobby will have him starting at 2nd base by Monday, if not sooner. Prado goes 0-4 and he is back to a platoon player. I bet Kelly starts against the next right hander we face because Cox loves to play the lefty vs righty game. Thing is, Kelly hits lefties better than righties.
Mrs. Chanandler Bong
July 23rd, 2009
1:44 pm
MB, do you know where David Ross went to high school? I ask simply because he was born in a SMALL Georgia town (one I unfortunately have experience with) and there’s no way he couldn’t played competitive ball there. I’m guessing he went somewhere in Tallahassee? I know he finished up college a Gator.
JEZ
July 23rd, 2009
1:44 pm
I’m going to affectionately refer to ESCO now as the FREAK…cause that’s the way he’s playing!!!
Greg Norton
July 23rd, 2009
1:45 pm
Diaz was safe.
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
July 23rd, 2009
1:45 pm
Bobby never runs but steals Diaz, are you kiddin me
Brooks Conrad | All Days Long
July 23rd, 2009
1:46 pm
[...] Live from the ballpark: The Braves test Bradley's mojo! | Mark Bradley By Mark Bradley 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. … Mark Bradley – http://blogs.ajc.com/mark-bradley-blog/ [...]
Scott
July 23rd, 2009
1:46 pm
Greg Norton is hitting .111 in 45 ab’s with a .286 obp.
your arguments are indefensible.
Alex
July 23rd, 2009
1:46 pm
Escobar and Prado… tell me a better middle infield of late… lets go!
Doug B
July 23rd, 2009
1:46 pm
What does Kelly Johnson have that Conrad does not? I don’t get it. Trade KJ for some used warm up balls so we can use the money on another reliever. BRING BACK CONRAD!!!!
Greg Norton
July 23rd, 2009
1:48 pm
Scott – you try hitting .111 in the majors off the bench.
Jeremiah
July 23rd, 2009
1:48 pm
Wait to go Esky…I’m at work and relying on the blog and mlb.com for game highlights..Thanks all for the updates…
JL…Maybe I’m too harsh..I should not get sooo irritated when people don’t agree with me..but I do.. LMAO
BamaBrave
July 23rd, 2009
1:48 pm
Bank Walker, trading Yunel is absolutely crazy!!!!!
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
July 23rd, 2009
1:49 pm
KK is all over the place, could be a long day except for the fact that SF has a .192 team batting average
Chris
July 23rd, 2009
1:49 pm
The strike zone must be HUGE in Japan. In KKs defense though, the strike zone this year has been the size of a postage stamp more often than not.
Scott
July 23rd, 2009
1:49 pm
there are many, many other ballplayers who could achieve better, Greg
JL Burke
July 23rd, 2009
1:50 pm
Jeremiah, Fair enough.
Greg Norton
July 23rd, 2009
1:50 pm
Frank Wren looks so cool in his candy stripper shirt.
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
July 23rd, 2009
1:50 pm
Bama, here in Georgia we call that sarcasm
Jeremiah
July 23rd, 2009
1:51 pm
Defending Norton is in “indefensible” that is ridiculous…Again, those opptys were few and far between…He is a veteran, with proven PH success…If he gets more opptys and continues to stink it up, then I will be convinced…But I agree with BC..it is way to early to give up on him…It is only JULY 23!!
MatthewH
July 23rd, 2009
1:51 pm
MB- Are you trying to see how closely we read your blog? “Photo courtesy of Rowland’s Office”? Is that serious or just an attempt to get us to think about Braves of the ’80’s?
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
July 23rd, 2009
1:52 pm
Finally, I think that took his pitch count above 70
Mark Bradley
July 23rd, 2009
1:53 pm
My career path, such as it was: Started at the Lexington Herald-Leader covering high schools in 1978, covered the University of Kentucky from 1980 through 1982, became a columnist in 1983, left the Herald for the AJC in 1984. Started off writing features here, became a full-time columnist in 1987, been doing that ever since.
And David Ross, according to the Braves’ media guide, went to Florida High in Tallahassee.
Stephen
July 23rd, 2009
1:53 pm
Anyone have a link where I can listen to the game online?
Noah
July 23rd, 2009
1:54 pm
Sting ‘em Buzz –Exactly, then why would he complain they don’t strike out enough hitters, who cares when your starters are giving up 1 run, 2 runs a game.
Greg Norton
July 23rd, 2009
1:54 pm
Another walk for KK.
Jeremiah
July 23rd, 2009
1:54 pm
Scott…You are wrong about Norton…he needs more opptys…those 45 ab’s were few and far between…he is proven vet…There is still plenty of time to see if he can find his groove…
Mark Bradley
July 23rd, 2009
1:54 pm
I just looked over at Frank Wren. He’s on the phone. Asking about Pujols.
Kawakami pitch count is at 60. Just walked Sandoval with two out in the third.
Jeremiah
July 23rd, 2009
1:55 pm
Right Mark…If St. Louis got rid of Pujols the fans would burn down their stadium!
Mrs. Chanandler Bong
July 23rd, 2009
1:55 pm
Thanks, MB. You are once again in good standing with me.
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
July 23rd, 2009
1:55 pm
Rowland Office 72,74-79
troutbum4439
July 23rd, 2009
1:56 pm
Thanks MB, you may not agree but i’d rank y’all and the play-by-play guys at the top of my “fantasy jobs” list. I will do my best not to date you too much but i was born the year you started writing for the AJC.
On a different note do you guys think Bobby will hang around after this year. I know there are a good few of you out there that doubt his abilities but I personally see him as a perennial MVP for the Bravos.
Noah
July 23rd, 2009
1:56 pm
Stephan…you can no longer listen to MLB games online without paying..I think its $15/yr for radio. It sucks for those of us who relocated here and want to listen to our favorite hall of fame announcers..in my case Dave Niehaus in Seattle. The ones we grow up with just are better then the rest, just like it was here with Skip Carey.
The_Superhoo
July 23rd, 2009
1:56 pm
~60 pitches thru 3 innings…
Greg Norton
July 23rd, 2009
1:56 pm
If you going to walk someone, Sandoval’s not a bad choice. I think he’s underrated – kind of like me.
Mark Bradley
July 23rd, 2009
1:57 pm
Doing the Kiss Cam thing between innings. Playing “Kiss You All Over” by Exile. Believe it or not, when I started at the Herald-Leader that song was huge in Lexington — the band, of whom you’ve since never heard, was from Lexington, Ky.
phar71
July 23rd, 2009
1:57 pm
I heard one of the annoucers say yesterday that Bobby wanted to get Medlen in some more meaningful situations…Should have a shot here pretty soon.