The Braves are in a playoff race, but does anybody care?
See? Some folks were in the house Monday. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
The announced crowd at Turner Field on Monday was 25,046. I’d guessed the actual attendance as 15,000 and thought I was being kind. But no matter the number, the image was clear.
Another big baseball game in the A-T-L.
Another unpacked house.
And here I’m supposed to get all righteously indignant and say something like, “It just goes to show what a lousy sports town this is. If this game had been in Boston or Chicago or New York, you couldn’t have gotten a ticket.”
But you know what? I’m not going to say anything like that. Because I don’t really care about the folks in Boston and Chicago and New York. (And anyway, I just came from a Patriots game in Foxborough, where Gillette Stadium was officially sold out but empty seats were apparent.) Besides, this time I feel no call for indignation, righteous or otherwise.
As I tried to note last night, this is a weird sort of stretch drive. It crept up on all of us, the Braves included. It wasn’t until last week that things got interesting, and when the Braves returned home only 2 1/2 games behind Colorado they were facing some powerful mitigating circumstances.
School’s in session. The economy’s adrift. Lots of locals are still bailing out basements after last week’s rain. And let’s be honest: The Braves haven’t been flavor the month for more than a months of Sundays. Lately we’d gotten in the habit of keeping one eye — one only — on the Braves and saving our real enthusiasm for the Falcons or the Dawgs or Tech or even the Hawks.
But now the Braves are in a race we never saw coming, and we’re only just catching on. I’d imagine the crowds will increase as the week unfolds, and if the Braves keep winning I’d expect 40,000 on Friday night and that many again on Saturday afternoon. And Sunday afternoon, if the game is meaningful, could well be sold out. (The Falcons are off this week, FYI.)
And I’ve long since stopped associating raw attendance numbers with depth of fan interest. We didn’t ever tune the Braves out; we just followed them a bit less closely. These hadn’t become the dark days of the ’80s, when, as the joke went, you could leave two Braves tickets on your windshield and come back and find four. Most of us will have no trouble finding our way to the ballpark this weekend. We’ve all been there before, many times.
And even if there were only 25,000 (or 15,000) on hand Monday, it wasn’t a bored corporate gathering. These were folks who knew what was going on and who’d come to see baseball. “The crowd was into it,” Bobby Cox said afterward, and it was. It didn’t feel like just another night at the ballyard. It felt like a night at the races.
And, on another Braves-related matter: Getting way ahead of ourselves, we wonder how the playoff rotation might look. Maddux, Glavine, Smoltz? Vazquez, Jurrjens, Hanson? And what happens to Derek Lowe?
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310 comments Add your comment
linzo
September 29th, 2009
11:55 am
Hope is a dangerous thing.
Elliot Garcia
September 29th, 2009
11:58 am
Not distracted Mark, just unemployed at the moment. I would like to take my family to the Braves games but I must cover my mortgage first.
slow roller
September 29th, 2009
11:58 am
I wish I did care more….NFL football kinda has me distracted…..as well as all the local sportstalk radio guys who really don’t care about the Braves either…..
Bobby has been doing this so long….and screwing up 5-10 games a year. It just seems impossible at this point. Rockies would really have to stink it up to blow it now even if the Braves could win out.
MightyQuinn
September 29th, 2009
11:58 am
Baseball is such a streaky game. I remember in ‘96 we fell behind St. Louis 3 games to 1, and then exploded, destroying the Cards three straight and taking the first two easily in Yankee Stadium. We all know what happened next. But I remember that as being the greatest five game win streak the Braves ever put together. How different would things be if they had added two more and gotten back to back World Series titles? Relating this to now, a lot of us are scared to get excited because we believe the other cleat is going to drop. That said, I’m going to try to get to a game this week! Go Braves!
brent a.
September 29th, 2009
11:59 am
Just had an idea . . .
if the economy is the excuse (and it’s a valid one – I had to leave Atlanta due to the economy), perhaps the Braves should offer 5,000 to 10,000 tickets to people who bring proof of unemployment from the Georgia Department of Labor.
Falconsforlife
September 29th, 2009
12:00 pm
I’d go to the game if Turner Field was in a better spot. For someone who lives and works on the north side, getting to the Ted is next to impossible during the week.
Hopefully 20 years from now when the Falcons and Braves have new stadiums, they do the smart thing and put them on the north side. Better areas (significantly less crim, no pan handlers, not as dirty), more wealth, and a large chunk of ATL sports fans who just can’t deal with traffic during the week.
johnnyboy
September 29th, 2009
12:00 pm
Maybe they believed the AJC reporters saying the season was over weeks ago.
fieldofdreams
September 29th, 2009
12:02 pm
To the blowhards who say they don’t care about attendance in other cities: I bet the Braves’ players disagree. I bet the players wish they had the home field advantage that the Red Sox, Yankees, and Rockies have. The players can’t help but notice the apathy here, and the enthusiasm in other towns.
Doug
September 29th, 2009
12:06 pm
It’s simple. Atlanta “fans” are not fans. They’re entertainment consumers. Many professional sports came late to the south — 1966, only 2-3 generations, for the Braves. You don’t have the core interest that there is in the older cities in the north. In Southern Ohio opening day for the Reds is an unofficial day off. Yankees/Red Sox/Mets. Cubs/White Sox/Cards. Those teams and rivalries have lifelong fans that care about them. In Atlanta, add millions of transplants, transient workers on their way up the ladder, and this is what you get. Ho-hum interest.
timthebrave
September 29th, 2009
12:06 pm
I support them all year long. I support and go even when they are horrible. I go to about 15 games a year. 8-6 on the year so far and 1 more to go to. It’s just more fun to be a Braves fan when they are playing so well. I got tickets a month ago to Sunday’s game and told my brother that it would be to clinch a playoff shot. My crazy prediction might just come through. Go to a dawgs game if you want to see die hard fans. It would be nice to see a sellout(for the players) but it’s also fun to pay for $5 seats and go sit real close in the empty corporate seats. Go Braves!
brent a.
September 29th, 2009
12:07 pm
I hope Atlanta NEVER moves its stadiums to the northside.
The crime argument is waaaayyyyy over-rated.
Nobody in the city would want to go north and go the games, either. There is no perfect spot; but at least downtown provides some synergies.
Use Marta.
Jimmy
September 29th, 2009
12:08 pm
No one cares about baseball it is football season.
Falconsforlife
September 29th, 2009
12:08 pm
Also Atlanta is a football town. College first, NFL distant second. The Braves probably fall into 4th place as far as how much this city cares about them.
UGA first, Tech second, DIRTY BIRDS third.
As much as I love baseball, and the Braves, the sport just isn’t as exciting. The fanfare isn’t the same. We’re spending the small amount of extra money we have these days on football. Sorry other sports. Football is king in the south and that won’t change.
STOP IT
September 29th, 2009
12:08 pm
Listen the Yankees and BoSox are not selling out they are a tourist spot. Atlanta is a great town for sports and we always show up. We just don’t always sell out the venues. Just stop with this topic and go if you and don’t if you can’t. Let the players decide if they are going to get the fans into it by making the playoffs. Just FYI the Yanks don’t sell out. If the Braves make the playoffs it still might not be sold out big whoop. Just focus on making the playoffs.
brent a.
September 29th, 2009
12:08 pm
Doug,
excellent point.
timthebrave,
I hope you get to see the clincher on Sunday
Go Braves!
retired scout
September 29th, 2009
12:11 pm
Why does anyone care how many people show up for the game? The quality of the team is in no way related to how many people are in the stands, and most players don’t notice and don’t care. This is reminiscent of the uga bloggers who constantly brag about their “crowd size” as if that somehow makes them a better team. A better parralel for the crowd size people to think about might be the guy who buys a big SUV or fancy “muscle” car as a substitute for actually being “manly”, if you get my drift. A word for the Cox basher’s….so the guy who is fourth in wins all-time, and set a never to be equaled run of 14 straight division titles is “incompetent”? So Don, and all of the other Cox bashing baseball geniuses, when he is a being inducted as a first ballot Hall of Famer perhaps you can take consolation by polishing up your old little league trophy and remembering the big play you made in right field.
Chaz
September 29th, 2009
12:11 pm
Look, I’m unemployed. Not gonna pay good money to watch millionaires play games. $7 beers don’t make it any easier, either.
OLD CHOPPER
September 29th, 2009
12:11 pm
Fact is, the Braves haven’t given us much to get excited about all season. Now football season is here and Braves attendance competes with that in a state where football is king. We sit here and wait……is it the real thing? “Build it and they will come. We need to see a little more. A seven game winning streak and a “shot” at the playoffs is not going to make me get the tomahawk out of the closet and knock the dust off of it just yet.
Go Braves
September 29th, 2009
12:11 pm
I’ve been to around 20 games already this season, and I’ll be there tomorrow. Go Braves!
timthebrave
September 29th, 2009
12:12 pm
My friend just called and I got free tickets for tommorrow. Whoohooo. Go Braves!
Falconsforlife
September 29th, 2009
12:13 pm
Crime argument overrated? Sure. How many people feel completely safe leaving the Ted at night? If you do you’re delusional.
Marta isn’t convienient either. It’s almost as much of a pain as it is driving to the stadium, especially leaving games.
I guarantee that if the stadium was north of downtown atlanta proper there would be more people at the games on average, especially during the week.
KMP
September 29th, 2009
12:13 pm
I will be there tonight and possibly tomorrow night! Nothing better than fall baseball at the Ted and the Braves playing meaningful games late in the season! Go Braves!!
sidslidkid
September 29th, 2009
12:17 pm
Nice article. And no I haven’t given up. I’ll be there every night until we are eliminated. Come on guys you can make it to at least one of the last 6 games!
P. W. Hjort
September 29th, 2009
12:18 pm
Good article: http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/the-best-defensive-team-of-the-decade
Robbie G.
September 29th, 2009
12:18 pm
My wife is a school teacher and this is the paycheck that got hit with the furlough money. It’s just bad timing for us right now but I would like to go.
BlueEdwards
September 29th, 2009
12:18 pm
As I mentioned before, most people feel that the incessant winning by the Braves will eventually end and the winning by the Braves will eventually collapse and fall short in their quest for the wild card. What people dont realize is that when you watch the Braves you are watching this years world series champion. Yes, I said it, I BELIEVE THE BRAVES WILL WIN THE WORLD SERIES THIS SEASON. I said it when I found out that Bobby Cox was managing one more season. At that time I knew the Braves would win the whole thing; plus Bobby would come back for another season and win another championship to conclude his illustrious career with BACK-TO-BACK TITLES. I KNOW IT WILL HAPPEN BECAUSE OF ALL THE WINNING THE BRAVES HAD TO DO JUST TO CLIMB TO WITHIN TWO GAMES OF THE ROCKIES. Bobby Cox will retire by having won two world championships; its not a fantasy, it will become a reality real soon. Stay tuned!
Braves Fan in Purgatory
September 29th, 2009
12:18 pm
I live in South Florida…official home to the worst fans in baseball. The Marlins routinely draw A FEW HUNDRED to games…and they’re building a new ballpark? But I digress…I’ve been down here carrying the flag for my Braves for 17 years now…fighting with the migrant Phillies and Mets fans, the biggest jackasses in all of sports.
I do believe we WILL make it to the postseason again finally. We are the hottest team in the NL since the end of June and hotter now than we have EVER been. No team has a better starting rotation or consistent bullpen than us. Not since 1991 have I seen this team play with more enthusiasm. I just hope we have an opportunity to get in and avenge our loss at the hands of the Evil Empire in 1996.
Chris
September 29th, 2009
12:19 pm
Use Marta? Seriously? That’s your solution?
I live in Kennesaw. Getting to the park and a Marta station takes almost the same amount of time. Factor in slow trains and an absolutely HORRIBLE shuttle service that still makes you trapse around Underground to get to it, and I’d rather pass. Not to mention the extreme overcrowding on the NB platform going home. It’s the worst mass-transit solution I’ve ever seen. At least with Phillips, you don’t have to get on a bus.
And who wants to drive to the games at rush hour, and have another mini-rush hour trying to leave the stadium? I’d rather put that money to watching it in HD at home, with cheap beer. Don’t have to hire a babysitter, either. And I can get a decent amount of sleep for when I leave the house at 5am.
The Braves are my favorite sports team, regardless of sport. I try to make it down there occasionally, but for the rigors of everyday life, going to a baseball game with the nation’s 4th worst commute and worst mass transit system isn’t a pleasant experience.
Strangers waiting, up and down the boulevard
September 29th, 2009
12:21 pm
*****BEST IDEA ON THIS BLOG*******
is….. hire about 189 heavy duty construction helicopters, airlift Turner Field and drop it right on the forever-empty lot located right by 14th Street and Peachtree Street, where the new “Symphony Hall” has been suppose to go for the last umpteen years.
Wouldn’t it be GREAT to have a stadium located intown, as opposed to one sitting right smack in the middle of Crackheadtown, Atlanta. Wouldn’t it be nice to have public transit take you to the stadium without annoying bus transfers. Wouldn’t it be nice if those of us living intown could easily walk or bike to the stadium without risking our lives walking through the ghetto-hoods surrounding The Ted. Wouldn’t it be nice to feel like the Braves are truly part of our city and not something sitting out in “District 9″ that we inconcenience ourselves to go to.
Until this happens, expect no more than 15,000 in attendance ANY weeknight when school is in session. Atlantans would much rather watch from home in their safe suburbs or intown condos as opposed to going to no-man’s-land Atlanta to watch the game.
Thoughts???
Reid in EAV
September 29th, 2009
12:21 pm
It’s hard to re-heat a soufflé. I had given up on the Braves when they lost five straight and plummeted right out of the race, right when when they had a chance to close the gap with some time to spare. (It also had to do a bit with marital harmony: after watching at least 120 games live or on TV, my spouse was ready to stick a Tomahawk in the Bravos.)
So last night was the first time I’d actually watched a full game on TV since then. I expect to be watching every one from here on out — and will be there on Friday night. Go Braves! My apologies for ever giving up on you!
Marc in FL
September 29th, 2009
12:21 pm
People complaining about their chances of winning their division do deserve the “bandwagon” label.
Sporting events are fun, they’re whole purpose is to entertain, and for just a little more than a movie would cost, you can see a live baseball game. It sounds to me like the problem is people focus too much on the wins and losses and not enough on the fun factor that is sports in general.
Unless you’re betting money on the games, just try to enjoy yourself, you’ll be less stressed out and this team will be better for it with fans that just want to be part of the ride.
Legend of Len Barker
September 29th, 2009
12:22 pm
Mark, be careful of saying no one is paying attention to Braves games. Do you remember what happened to Jesse Outlar?
You know, I’d support the Braves more at the end if they supported the fans more in the middle. There were games in there where no one was giving much of an effort. If the Braves played anywhere but right smack dab in the middle of Atlanta, I might go watch a game. But I don’t feel like fighting Atlanta traffic or MARTA and dropping a ton of money on a ticket.
For $7, I can get the same amount of entertainment from a high school football game. It lasts about the same time, I can lean against the fence, and watch a bunch of kids without agents play their hearts out.
LSWho?
September 29th, 2009
12:23 pm
All of my friends are scared to watch…the Bravos have done all this while we weren’t watching. If they can somehow do it, we’ll be there for the postseason.
OLD CHOPPER
September 29th, 2009
12:24 pm
Did I mention it’s not as easy to pick up a braves game on the TV anymore?
Pete
September 29th, 2009
12:24 pm
Brent A, what synergies are you referring to re: stadium being downtown? Do you hang out after the game at some hidden restaurants/bars that I havent found yet, or do you head home right away (like everyne else)? And taking MARTA is a royal pain. Unlike most other sports cities, for some strange reason MARTA does not go directly to the TED, and transferring is a real hassle.
rhynster
September 29th, 2009
12:24 pm
Driving down to Braves games during the week is not worth the hassle when the game is on TV.
Anyone who doesn’t recognize that’s the biggest problem has their blinders on.
It seems inevitable that the pro sports teams will eventually have to move north of the city.
Will I drive PAST downtown to go to a game on a Monday night? No way.
But drive to Cumming or Alpharetta? Hell yeah.
Does that make me a bad fan?
I don’t know, but it makes me a more productive employee in the morning.
Felix Millan
September 29th, 2009
12:24 pm
Until you have managed and won as many games as Bobby Cox has, please direct yhe negative management comments to someone who deserves them, such as the Nats manager, Thanks Felix , SS
mount18
September 29th, 2009
12:25 pm
I was there last night. Great game guys! I can tell they are playing with a carefree ease and have a solid chance making it into October. You’ll see and/or hear me till Sunday!
Angus
September 29th, 2009
12:25 pm
Stubhub has a slew of tix available for less than $10 – some as low as $0.70 each. Parking was $5 in the gypsy lots last night.
OLD CHOPPER
September 29th, 2009
12:26 pm
By the way Mark……Shut your Yap before you curse them. please refrain from saying the words “Atlanta Braves” for the next few days will ya?
BIG DAWG
September 29th, 2009
12:27 pm
Fair Weather…..That is the only kind of fans in Atlanta. always has been. Gooo Braves!
lets_believe
September 29th, 2009
12:28 pm
I know what the main problem is. EVERY single time Braves fans get excited about a big game, the stadium is sold out, and the Braves lose right in front of our faces! How many years in a row did that happen?? People are fragile and scared…I’m sure everyone is watching on TV and catching on to this. I bet if it gets any more exciting by Thursday, we won’t be having this conversation
I have already heard lots of people hoping to make it this weekend!
ChippersLoveChild
September 29th, 2009
12:28 pm
Damn you Bradley… you could mention “even the Hawks,” but no love for the Thrashers. My eyes and my mind are on the season opener on Saturday! You don’t speak for everyone in this town!
Brave$ Fan
September 29th, 2009
12:29 pm
I haven’t forgotten about how much my Braves Season Tickets cost me.
I’ll be there.
Universal Heartthrob
September 29th, 2009
12:30 pm
I stopped following the Braves once NCAA and NFL football started. I think that has a lot to do with recent attendance as well as the other reasons listed in the article. My opinion has always been that if you want more consistent attendance move the location of Turner Field.
KP
September 29th, 2009
12:32 pm
I, like most other Braves fans, thought it was over during the 1-6 skid around the beginning of the month, but the Braves have started winning because they are finally scoring runs and the bullpen is finally holding leads. As for the playoff rotation, you know what I think of when you say “Vasquez?Jurrjens?Hanson?”? Championship…
Claudel Washington
September 29th, 2009
12:33 pm
Paul H said all that needs to be said at 1022am. Braves beat the good teams and lose to the crappy ones which just cancels each other out. They haven’t done a damn thing all year worth mentioning and now they want us to fill up the seats. As another poster mentioned, the stadium is too far away from the mainstream population. If Turner Field was on the north side of town, every game would be a sell out.
Tomahawk Holmes
September 29th, 2009
12:33 pm
There are obviously a bunch of idiots in Atlanta. When I say idiots I mean these people who say the Braves are terrible, Bobby Cox is terrible, the team is horrible etc.. yet you same people find time to read articles about the Braves’ success, post a blog and bash them by saying the Braves stink and you don’t care what they do. IF YOU DON’T CARE ABOUT THE “LOSER” BRAVES – WHY ARE YOU READING AND POSTING HERE? You freakin morons.
BRAVES WIN!
BRAVES WIN!
BRAVES WIN!
Paul A
September 29th, 2009
12:33 pm
The boss gave me some great tickets for this friday’s game about a month ago. I laughed them off and thought maybe I’ll use these or maybe I’ll give them away to some poor dreamer….
Not any more lads. See ‘ya friday night from the expensive seats and VIP parking lot. Go Braves!!
Brad
September 29th, 2009
12:34 pm
South Georgia is rooting for you Atlanta. I think South Georgia cares more about the Braves than the city of Atlanta does!