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
Cheese
July 23rd, 2009
2:13 pm
MLB Trade Rumors put a little article up saying the Pirates had another offer for LaRoche, from a team willing to trade a major league player, and mediocre minor league player as long as the pirates took on the salary…Maybe braves…Kotchman and someone???
The_Superhoo
July 23rd, 2009
2:13 pm
Marteeeeen with the BB in front of the meat!
Lars Taint
July 23rd, 2009
2:13 pm
Does everyone seriously not understand why Conrad was sent down over Norton? You need back ups for every position. If Norton is sent down, we have no back up at 1B. Why have Prado, KJ, and Conrad all competing for time at 2B? You are just wasting roster spots. I would imagine that Norton will get sent down when Infante comes back since he can also play 1B if needed. It really drives me crazy when people call Wren and Bobby stupid when they have no clue what they are talking about.
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
July 23rd, 2009
2:14 pm
SF needs Kelly Johnson. They would improve by .050 points over Downs
Scott
July 23rd, 2009
2:14 pm
well, i know that a 37 year old with little speed, power, or defensive ability who’s currently hitting .111 isn’t a very valuable asset.
you can’t use the fact that he’s been on the bench as an excuse for his horrendous batting avg. but, THAT’S HIS ROLE : HITTING FROM THE BENCH!!! if he can’t do that, then what’s his value?
BamaBrave
July 23rd, 2009
2:14 pm
GA is doing better and he is helping us but Kubel is a good hitter that could be around for more than this year.
Mark Bradley
July 23rd, 2009
2:15 pm
Not so sudden burst of inspiration: Know how the right-field pole in Fenway is called the Pesky Pole? After Escobar’s second-inning home run, we should call the RF foul pole here the Esky Pole.
He’s up now, by the way. Prado, whom I maliciously accused of hitting into a DP last inning, walked to lead off the fourth. Chipper struck out looking and wasn’t happy.
Mark Bradley
July 23rd, 2009
2:17 pm
I can’t imagine the Braves having a heated interest in Adam LaRoche.
Esky walks. Two on, one out. Braves are going to score here.
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
July 23rd, 2009
2:17 pm
Bama, yea, taking a jab at those folks
jay
July 23rd, 2009
2:17 pm
You are right – it was a slider. The point was, it was an off-speed pitch.
Greg Norton
July 23rd, 2009
2:17 pm
Lars, no offense – but Prado can move over and cover 1st as needed, so that’s no reason to keep me around. Guess it’s just my singing voice.
BamaBrave
July 23rd, 2009
2:17 pm
Lars, Prado obviously plays first also, and better than norton at that. That solves that issue. Should’ve kept Conrad I agree.
Mark Bradley
July 23rd, 2009
2:18 pm
I really am a jinx. Diaz hits a ball that would have been a double but just misses the line.
Scott
July 23rd, 2009
2:18 pm
Norton is this year’s Corky Miller
Mark Bradley
July 23rd, 2009
2:19 pm
Diaz whiffs. Actually, he stands and looks. Two out, Ross at the dish.
Sting 'em Buzz
July 23rd, 2009
2:19 pm
I’m betting Bobby gets tossed today.
The_Superhoo
July 23rd, 2009
2:19 pm
The K strike for diaz looked rather inside on gametracker…
Greg Norton
July 23rd, 2009
2:20 pm
Frankly, I’m just not a very competent fielder, Lars. But wish Bradley would quit jinxing us. Diaz struck out with the bat on his shoulders after his bold prediction.
MiltonDawg
July 23rd, 2009
2:20 pm
Scott- Norton is this year’s Corky Miller- exactly but 85lbs lighter!!
Tim Tebow
July 23rd, 2009
2:20 pm
“I am saving myself for marriage” – from SEC media days in Birmingham.
MiltonDawg
July 23rd, 2009
2:21 pm
should we try the reverse psychology thing? Ok..Kotchman will strikeout
The_Superhoo
July 23rd, 2009
2:21 pm
Right Tebow. You’re worshipped like the second coming and you’re not gettin tail at Florida? Sure.
Greg Norton
July 23rd, 2009
2:23 pm
hey Corky is batting almost 100 points higher than me with the ChiSox.
Bama Aaron
July 23rd, 2009
2:23 pm
Yeah Britney saved herself for marriage too…..keep that story up Tim
Wally Butts
July 23rd, 2009
2:23 pm
Wohlers had 2 pitches…fastball and slider that he threw at different speeds more of a slurve…no changeup…
Sting 'em Buzz
July 23rd, 2009
2:24 pm
come on Kotchman, crank one
BamaBrave
July 23rd, 2009
2:24 pm
C’mon Kotch slap one in the hole!
Bobby Cox
July 23rd, 2009
2:25 pm
Nordy get off the internet and get your tail down to the cage, we’re gonna need you shortly
Jeremiah
July 23rd, 2009
2:25 pm
Lars is right, Scott is WAY WRONG…Scott obviously thinks it’s easy to hiy major league pitching..
Sting 'em Buzz
July 23rd, 2009
2:26 pm
just great, can’t capitalize on three walks in an inning
Greg Norton
July 23rd, 2009
2:26 pm
Thanks, Bobby… see folks, I’m not the only one who strikes out the bases loaded! Thanks, Casey!!
Mark Bradley
July 23rd, 2009
2:26 pm
Pretty strange inning. No runs, six men up, nobody put the ball in play. Kotchman indeed struck out with the sacks jammed, as we say.
The_Superhoo
July 23rd, 2009
2:26 pm
Ugh bases walked loaded, 2 questionable Ks looking and we don’t get a run
Bama Aaron
July 23rd, 2009
2:27 pm
that was ugly…3 walks and 3 strike outs…. somebody just put the ball in play…
Sting 'em Buzz
July 23rd, 2009
2:27 pm
making contact would have worked too
Scott
July 23rd, 2009
2:27 pm
i never said it was easy, i never said that i could do it myself. i only said to that others could probably do it much better than greg norton
Greg Norton
July 23rd, 2009
2:28 pm
and for the record, Corky had 60 ABs last year to prove himself. I have at least 15 more coming to me.
A. Teesman
July 23rd, 2009
2:28 pm
Please, please, please Braves, break the Bradley jinx.
The_Superhoo
July 23rd, 2009
2:29 pm
Ughhhh a hit to the pitcher??
osama
July 23rd, 2009
2:30 pm
i luv the high center-field camera view from directly over the pitcher’s head on Sportssouth. Baseball broadcasts in general should try to make that the standard camera view.
ATCparrot9
July 23rd, 2009
2:30 pm
shocker.
The_Superhoo
July 23rd, 2009
2:31 pm
No outs, a hit to the pitcher, and a walk. Come ON locate!
Geoff
July 23rd, 2009
2:32 pm
Once again, Kenshin showing he cant put away batters with his pitch count now at 90 with 2 men on base now.
Mark Bradley
July 23rd, 2009
2:33 pm
That was the 18th hit of Zito’s career. All singles. And now Randy Winn walks. Kenshin at 87 pitches with nobody down in the fifth. Though somebody just got up in the Braves bullpen. Boone Logan.
Chris
July 23rd, 2009
2:33 pm
Joke
Scott
July 23rd, 2009
2:33 pm
the point of a bench player is to come in and provide some value– there aren’t many “opportunities” because the player comes off the bench (what is so hard to understand with this?) — now, whether it’s getting on base, providing good defense, or speed on the basepaths, i think a reserve should be able to provide the team some form of late-inning relief. Norton does neither of these things well.
Noah
July 23rd, 2009
2:33 pm
Geoff…but once again KK is in the 5th and has given up only 1 run. I know alot of teams that will take that out of what is essentially your 5th starter. Heck, on the Phillies that would make him a #2 or #3 guy.
Mark Bradley
July 23rd, 2009
2:34 pm
Just showing it’s not only the Braves who have lousy at-bats … Fred Lewis flies to center (breaks his bat) with two on and nobody out. Way not to move those runners into scoring position.
Mark Bradley
July 23rd, 2009
2:35 pm
Big at-bat here. Sandoval against Kawakami.
Greg Norton
July 23rd, 2009
2:35 pm
I appreciate your confidence, Scott. Fortunately, Bobby loves me, so I’m not going anywhere.
Sandoval… scary guy to have up with 2 on.