Live from the ballpark: Are we believing this playoff run?
Even now, an hourly check of the standings is required. Because the first five times you look, you don’t really believe what you find. Two and a half games back with a week to play? The Braves? The Atlanta Braves? The 2009 Atlanta Braves? Pull the other leg, pal.
The 2009 Atlanta Braves are in a playoff drive. We around here had grown accustomed to playoff drives, so the sensation shouldn’t feel new. But this one definitely feels funny. It’s the chase from nowhere. It’s the finish we didn’t see coming and still in many ways refuse to acknowledge. Here’s a team that was 23-21 on Memorial Day, 39-41 on the Fourth and 70-67 on Labor Day, and still it has a real chance.
On the morning of Sept. 10 the Braves were 8 1/2 games back of Colorado in the wild card standings. They also trailed San Francisco, Florida and Chicago. They have lost two games since. They’ve gone 14-2 since Bobby Cox pulled Tommy Hanson after eight shutout innings in Houston and Rafael Soriano lost the game in the ninth. If anybody among us says he saw this coming, that person is a big fat liar.
The old Braves — by old, we mean the teams of last decade — could summon up such streaks on cue. They were never out of any chase. They trailed the Dodgers by 9 1/2 games at the 1991 All-Star break and clinched the West on the season’s penultimate day. They trailed the Giants by 10 games in July 1993 and clinched three hours after beating Colorado in the season’s 162nd game. But the 2009 Braves, as we’ve lamented at high decibel and impassioned length, were not those Braves.
And yet here they are. On Monday night they were to play Florida in a game that could well tip the odds in this final sprint from “possible” to “probable.” Colorado had the day off, which meant the Braves would awake Tuesday either two or three games behind with six to play. You can see the Rockies losing twice. (They lost three times last week, giving the Braves an opening. And the Braves didn’t lose at all.) But three times?
The figure filberts on ESPN.com still afford the Braves only a 15 percent chance of making the playoffs. (Up from 6.4 percent 10 days ago.) But Colorado has to be feeling the hot breath from Hotlanta. If any team knows how hot a team can get in the final furlong, it’s the Rockies. Two years ago they won 13 of their final 14 games to force a one-game playoff with San Diego, in which they trailed by two runs in the bottom of the 13th. Next thing you knew, the Rocks were playing the (Red) Sox in the Series.
At this stage, it’s hard to see the Braves losing even once in four games to Washington, against which the regular season concludes. Granted, this is baseball, and any pitcher is liable to shut down somebody without warning, but still … would you bet against any of the Braves’ pitchers in any game against the worst team in baseball?
The Rockies, by way of contrast, close with three games at Dodger Stadium, and an even better Braves foil was undone there 16 years ago. The 1993 Giants won 103 games but lost on the season’s final day to their nemesis in blue, and the Braves, watching on TV having polished off Colorado — Glavine pitched and Justice hit a homer, a parlay we would see again to dramatic effect in October 1995 — celebrated the most of improbable runs.
Or so we thought. If they pull this off, they’d trump even that wonder. If they pull this off … well, we’d all look a little silly, wouldn’t we? Silly but giddy.
And with that: I conclude my part of the writing for the time being and invite your comments, predictions, movie recommendations. I’m at the ballpark and will be happy to chat until the cows come home, as we say in cow country.
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277 comments Add your comment
Mark Bradley
September 28th, 2009
9:00 pm
Baker singles. Uggla has to stop at third. Carroll up, runners on first and third, no outs. Pinch-hitter is on deck.
gcs
September 28th, 2009
9:01 pm
MB, anyone working in the bullpen?
Mark Bradley
September 28th, 2009
9:02 pm
Both the Braves’ and the Marlins’ notes say VanderHurk.
But Chip Caray tells me it’s Johnson. So much for reading the notes.
Suenah
September 28th, 2009
9:02 pm
8 more outs!
Marc from FL
September 28th, 2009
9:02 pm
Lol, Matt Francour
96,sc
September 28th, 2009
9:02 pm
BILL HELLER, I would probably change the line up myself but this one is winning. Why change?
Mark Bradley
September 28th, 2009
9:03 pm
Carroll flies to right but Uggla still doesn’t score. One out, Hermida hitting.
Suenah
September 28th, 2009
9:04 pm
Make that 7 outs
Mark Bradley
September 28th, 2009
9:04 pm
Hermida strikes out. Actually Jurrjens struck him out twice but didn’t get the call on the first one. (Do I sound like the Braves’ manager?)
Braves theme song
September 28th, 2009
9:06 pm
The Chi Sox had-”Don’t Stop Believing”
The Bravos could be “Heroes” by David Bowie. Very emotional song
Sports teams can relieve the pain in life
WE CAN BE HEROES JUST FOR ONE DAY!!
TimSz
September 28th, 2009
9:06 pm
Anyone else experiencing slow blog loads and mlb.tv skipping? i think braves nation is overloading the servers tonight! Go Braves
BravesFan79
September 28th, 2009
9:07 pm
Lets hope after the Braves win tonight that Florida realizes their season is over and kinda goes into a funk. If we sweep the Marlins… NO WAY we dont at least force a 1 game playoff.
Suenah
September 28th, 2009
9:07 pm
That’s 6
Mark Bradley
September 28th, 2009
9:07 pm
Coughlan grounds out to end the seventh. Uggla still hasn’t scored. And won’t.
Marc from FL
September 28th, 2009
9:08 pm
JJ is like Superman and Spider-man balled up together. Superman’s stamina plus Spider-man’s instincts!
BravesFan79
September 28th, 2009
9:10 pm
lets hope if the Marlins loose tonight that they realize their season is over and stop giving full effort….aka… start playing defense like the Nationals.
Tomahawkin
September 28th, 2009
9:11 pm
Mark
You need to blog during the games more often…At least you call the team out when they miss chances to blow the game open…
Everyone else (other than Boog and Sometimes Joe) who reports on the braves sugarcoats everything
DW
September 28th, 2009
9:13 pm
Just because I want to speculate about it and I’m not sure if I’ll get the chance after the next couple of days–
So, who would be the starting pitchers in the playoffs for the Bravos? Here are my selections (not taking into account who started which game at the end of the season, because I just don’t want to get too detailed about it right now):
1. Javier Vasquez. The guy has been the clear ace of the staff over the last month or so of the season. He also has hard and dominating stuff, the kind of stuff that can make a postseason hero.
2. Jair Jurjens. A close second to Vasquez and having a terrific year. I still can’t believe the Braves got him in a trade.
3. Tommy Hanson. The rookie has been right up there with Vasquez and Jurjens over the last couple of months. He has dominating stuff– could deliver some Smoltz-like performances.
That leaves Tim Hudson and Derek Lowe in the bullpen in a 5 game series– and immediately makes it a seriously good one. If the Braves were lucky enough to play in a 7 games series… who wants to put Lowe out there right now the way he’s pitched recently? I think it would be Hudson.
And, while I am not a Bobby hater, as some are on this blog, I have to admit I get a bit of a chill thinking that Bobby might stick Hanson in the bullpen and go with either Hudson or Lowe. I have to think he wouldn’t but… I’m just not sure.
Okay, that’s probably the only time I get to do that– although here’s hoping the Braves take it to the Marlins!
NCBravesFan
September 28th, 2009
9:14 pm
Houston now 6-2 over the Phils in the 7th.
Mark Bradley
September 28th, 2009
9:15 pm
Two guys are up in the bullpen. I’m assuming Gonzalez is one.
Mark Bradley
September 28th, 2009
9:16 pm
Peter Moylan to pitch.
Attendance announced as 25,000 and change. I stand by my 15,000.
Pete
September 28th, 2009
9:16 pm
Mark: “They’ve gone 14-2 since Bobby Cox pulled Tommy Hanson after eight shutout innings in Houston and Rafael Soriano lost the game in the ninth.”
Glad you mentioned that Mark, cause without that boneheaded move by your hero Cox, we’d probably be 1.5 games back right now.
Mark Bradley
September 28th, 2009
9:18 pm
You know, the Braves will be within four games of the Phils if these scores hold. With six left.
Mark Bradley
September 28th, 2009
9:18 pm
Get your second-guesses prepared: Jurrjens leaves after 92 pitches.
Mark Bradley
September 28th, 2009
9:19 pm
You won’t be surprised to learn that Moylan has established a record for appearances in a Braves season. He now has 85.
Joseph Allen McWhorter
September 28th, 2009
9:20 pm
Enter your comments here
I really think the Braves can overtake Colorado for the wild card. The Braves schedule is easier than the rockies this week. I think the Braves have to run the table on their final seven games to have a real chance. One loss right now could seal the deal for the Rockies. It will be an exciting week. I hope it will come down to the final game. That would be cool!
BravesFan86
September 28th, 2009
9:21 pm
Peter Moylan has been a work-a-holic. man just keeps comin out and givin his best and is just amazing since break…4-0, .55 ERA in 33 innings! amazing, and leads MLB in appearances! GO Bravos hope ‘pen keeps doin what its been doin!!
SA
September 28th, 2009
9:24 pm
3 more outs!
Mark Bradley
September 28th, 2009
9:24 pm
Another nice touch by the stadium organist: “Can’t You See” by Marshall Tucker Band as Jorge Cantu steps in to hit. And a Don Henley song — “End of the Innocence” — for Hanley Ramirez.
Double play gets Moylan out of the eighth. The Braves have two hits and are leading 3-0.
NRBQ
September 28th, 2009
9:24 pm
Second-guesser here, Mark!
Guy’s got a .261 ERA, 7 shut-out innings. Bobby yanks him.
Moylan, Soriano, etc may get it done, but why tempt the Baseball Gods?
Tomahawkin
September 28th, 2009
9:25 pm
People stating that the attendance is low
Well….
1) This team is done. Most fans in Atlanta gave up on Atlanta when they got owned by Philly in the second half. What makes people think that the braves can advance past the first round with the mananger and offense that they have…People said years ago (After the 2005 Carlos Blow-tran upset) that they would never be fooled again into thinking that this team can win another W.S. with the Cheap owners of Liberty Media and many have protested
2)It’s The Marlins who have the second worse fanbase next to Atlanta, Nuff said. No one wants to pay to see the Marlins other than Hanley
3) The braves have no star power, in other words they have no one that braves fans would apy money to see other than McCann. Within the last 5 years or so Chipper has mellowed out a lot, Gawd I miss the Young Cocky Chipper
4) The Tooner Field experience is putrid! If it was like goning to a college Football game then The Ted would be off the Chain! Instead The Corporate crowd that attends a majority of the games care more about being seen on TV while on their Blackberry’s than being supportive
5) Falcons are Wayyy Better than they were at the start of this decade, They have an owner who actually cares what the fans think which is a rarity in sports…
Atlanta is purely a football Town
Feel Free to elaborate
Everyone on here knows that Tooner Field will never be the Chop Shop in terms of attendance goes…
I think I’ve seen better better braves crowds down in Disney during the S. Training games
TimSz
September 28th, 2009
9:26 pm
Moylan has given up 2ER in over 2 months of relief now. over 25IP in that span. And lets not forget just yesterday he gave up a lead off TRIPLE and then left him stranded. If he scores, we lose that game.
Mark Bradley
September 28th, 2009
9:26 pm
I would have left Jurrjens in. But Moylan got three outs.
Mark Bradley
September 28th, 2009
9:27 pm
Three hits now. Anderson tops one down the third-base line. Gorecki pinch-runs.
BravesFan79
September 28th, 2009
9:27 pm
Go Braves, Go Brewers!
Tomahawkin
September 28th, 2009
9:27 pm
Yeah Petey-Pablo has been an unsung hero in our pen this year despite Bobby running him out there 2 weeks earlier than he should’ve been on the team in April
My, how that game 3 of the season meltwon loss to the Phillies where they came back from being down 8-3 is really hurting us now….
JASon
September 28th, 2009
9:28 pm
Already got tickets to Wednesday’s game. If not for that great play yesterday by rockies 2nd basemen to end the game (St. Louis would have won the game if that ball would have dropped), we would be about to make it one game out. No big deal though, we can do it.
Mark Bradley
September 28th, 2009
9:31 pm
Matt Diaz up with one out and two on.
jg
September 28th, 2009
9:32 pm
Go Braves!!!
If we can continue to score runs we can make a real impact.
nmdpa3
September 28th, 2009
9:34 pm
Tomahawki –they didn’t get owned by the Phillies…they got owned by Howard and he should have been intentionally walked several times (especially in August when he was on fire) but was not. But hey…if the Bravos can make the playoffs after that…it will rate right up there on my memory list with the press box fire that started the comeback in the 19?? season? I thought they had no chance that year as well.
Denver Braves
September 28th, 2009
9:34 pm
I live in Denver and flew out to the ATL for a couple of games last week. I Was able to see a victory over the Mets and one over the Phillies. While dodging rainstorms. Like the Rockies too, but was rooting for the Cards this weekend. Go Braves!
Mark Bradley
September 28th, 2009
9:35 pm
Bases loaded after Diaz walks. One out.
Mark Bradley
September 28th, 2009
9:36 pm
Infante pops out foul. McLouth up with two down.
TimSz
September 28th, 2009
9:37 pm
i dont want to see Gonzalez or Soriano come in this game tonight. I vote Kawakami!
nmdpa3
September 28th, 2009
9:38 pm
Tomahawkin –with regard to star power, you have to now put Hanson in that category. And as for attendance, did you attend any games in t;he 1989 and 1990 season? The ole Chop shop wasn’t exactly chopping in those years.
TimSz
September 28th, 2009
9:38 pm
I vote kawakami to pitch the 8th and 9th. our closers scare the crap out of me against the marlins
Pete
September 28th, 2009
9:39 pm
Tomahawkin, the Phillies came back from down 10-3 in the 7th, not 8-3. Cox watched it all unfold while never calling on his 2 best relievers, Gonzo and Soriano, with a day off next day. Go figure…..I cant.
Mark Bradley
September 28th, 2009
9:39 pm
McLouth walks. Run scores. 4-0.
Eleven BBs for the Fish pitchers.
Kelly Johnson Fan Club
September 28th, 2009
9:39 pm
Mark Bradley -
Josh Johnson missed his start Sunday with the Flu and will now pitch Tuesday against the Braves. Doesn’t bother me. As well as the Braves are playing right now, I don’t care who pitches. They’ll win.
toga
September 28th, 2009
9:39 pm
big big run 4-0