The Braves are in a playoff race, but does anybody care?

I’ll be there Wednesday but I’ll be late because of work and traffic and family duties. One hopes in a city and or area of 5 Million+ that people will come out and buy seats and that the corporations would use them or give them away… but honestly Mark. It’s unimportant. Plenty of people will watch on TV and the folks that come will cheer. The only people it really matters too are Liberty Media… and they could care less about Atlanta. They’ll probably cut payroll next year too. This team is vastly more interesting now than they were when they had our attention in the dog days of summer. People just aren’t passionate about baseball here… that’s not really a crime.

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MB:

TWELFTH!!!

Yes, we care, but no one wants to go to the stadium during the week when it’s important for us to keep our jobs in this horrible recession. Let’s get some fans this weekend, but unlike New York, we don’t have 10 million people to spread over 60,000 seats on Tuesday night game at a stadium that is nowhere near our offices or homes.

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RESIST the darkside Luke…they will not make it to the postseason. Stay home, watch the Falcons, pay attention to the Hawks and Thrashers, the DREAM if you must, but this band of posers will PULL YOU IN, only to once again, dissapoint. This team is doing what they do…tease you, fill you with hope, fill you with once again, “just maybe, just maybe”???
Then DASH your dreams, and vanquish all of your heart as they once again, reminding you of why they exist…to take YOUR hard earned entertainment dollar and put it in John Schuerholz pocket. (Then go play golf with it in October).
This is Lucy pulling back the football on Charlie Brown ONCE AGAIN in Atlanta!

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An even better question Mark… we probably won’t win it outright – but who would start for us in a 1 game tiebreaker against the Rockies?

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Why watch the same ol’ Bobby Cox show- get close and figure out a way to lose the important ones? Been doing that for over 20 years. Watching Cox manage is like having constipation.

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If the Braves don’t pull it off, and the odds still say they won’t, you can look back to losing 5 of 6 at home to the padres and reds a month ago.

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pretty funny the first commenter with the same name feels pretty much the same I do. I want to get enthused, and am gradually getting more excited, but over the last couple of months it’s felt like they just didn’t quite have enough. or they didn’t want it bad enough, but I almost hate to think that’s the case. like you said MB, it’s been a different kind of playoff push since they haven’t really seriously threatened for the lead since right now. still pulling for em, just hate to once again get excited then have them disappoint.

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Atlanta is not a baseball town. It is a football town (like every other city in the south). As a baseball fan, I find it unfortunate, but that is the way it is. In ‘91, the entire southern region was captured by Braves Fever. It was a special time. It was never the same after that. Even toward the end of their magical run of division titles, the Braves were having trouble selling out playoff games. By this time of the year, most of the south has moved on to football and they no longer care about baseball. It is sad, but true.

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Its fun thats all I know and will be there on Friday. I’ve said from the start to be patient we would come around. I thought next year for sure, but w/ Hudson back and some timely hitting and Bobby letting his starters FINISH we’ll be choppin in October again.Enter your comments here

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Some of the people on this post repulse me. A true fan is a fan in good times and bad. We are 16 games over .500. It is good times. Ride the wave, enjoy this strech run. For the first time in a few years we are playing meaningful games in September. This is not a make the playoffs or bust scenario. The core of this team will be back next year and the things they learn this year will be valuable in the future. Please support your team. You never know when we will be this close to the playoffs again.

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Has anyone bothered to look at the ratings of Sport South? I bet they’re through the roof. Just because the Ted’s attendance figures are mediocre during this playoff push, does NOT mean people aren’t paying attention and cheering on their beloved Braves. On weekdays, it’s difficult to attend a game because of work, traffic, and other duties people are obligated to (not to mention the horrible location of the stadium, maybe Atlanta should’ve kept Pounce De Leon Park back in the 60’s and had the future Braves play there).

I, for one, will be attending Wednesday’s game, Friday’s game, and Sunday’s game (can’t wait for CCR!). I’ve been watching the Braves this ENTIRE season, win or lose. Attendance will get a boost for the weekend, just watch. GO BRAVES!!

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soxman, how can you say Bobby is losing the “important ones”? You know every game for the last week has pretty much been an elimination game, and he’s won every one?

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Bradley,

Are you that ignorant to the fact that the Braves are VERY popular across the country? Do you realize people live MANY hours away from Atlanta to even consider attending a game? Living in Pennsylvania, it seems kind of difficult to make it. I think ALOT of people are stuck in the same spot. So to answer your question, YES alot of people care about this playoff push. Maybe not enough in the immediate area, but certainly around this country!!!

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Still a Braves fan here. Funny how the national media paints Atlanta as the worst fan city in America when the Braves are still in the upper half of attendance of all baseball teams, not at the bottom. Got the stats from MLB just a few minutes ago. I have watched many away Braves games this year with few in the stands.

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I like to know the Braves are out there. It is nice to see that they are winning and I hope they make the playoffs. But go to a game? Not likely – I have a pegnant wife and a 2 year old. I only get so much time off – I stockpile it for college football. I have a feeling I am not alone in doing so.

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I’m getting kind of tired of defending “the Braves fan” out there. We all have a lot going on, and far too many demands on the few dollars we have left over in our paychecks every week or two. This is rent week for me (i.e., rent is due, payday is Thursday). I have NOT allowed my enthusiasm for the Braves to diminish one bit. And, I’m watching them every night that I’m home. If I’m not home and I can be near a radio, I’m listening in. Or, I’m checking the scoreboard on my cell phone. I’m VERY interested. But, I do have a life….

If I can squeeze it, I plan to be at Turner Field Saturday and maybe Sunday (or flip it). I’ll just have to see what I still have in the wallet after I pay rent this week. GO, BRAVES!

You know….they have a slightly more plausible chance at the NL East title, by the way. Has anyone noticed? Of course, the Wild Card could be more of a realistic goal. At any rate, the Braves are making the Rockies & the Phillies VERY nervous. And, no division winner/leader wants to face them in a short series either. I LOVE IT!

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There really is no excuse for this terrible attendance. Who says that the Braves fans are only in the metro area? I am from the most northern part of Georgia. Its a two hour drive to Turner Field for me and I have made it to at least one game per series this year at Turner Field, meaning I have seen every team that has came to the Ted this year (still came during the 0-5 run too, yes I was at the Padres and the Reds finale) and I work 8:00-4:00 too. Yes, I understand there are flood victims, but they do not account for the 35,000 empty seats last night. I’m not saying that I didn’t throw in the towel after the Red’s series and ESPICALLY after Cox pulled Hanson because NO, I didn’t predict this 15-2 run and no one else did either, but the Bravos have done it and now the pressure is on Colorado. So lets turn out to these last 6 games Braves fans and get loud and Chop. Fall is in the air and I can’t wait to be at the Ted tonight.
Could my clock go any slower? I feel like a kid waiting on Christmas!

I BELIEVE!!!

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I miss the Braves and I can’t watch them since I am deployed. I would love to be able to go to a Braves game. Unlike most people from the south I can’t stand football, as it is a sport of mostly thugs and convicts. Baseball is the game of smart men. It would be nice to get a football championship from the Falcons, but I personally don’t like ‘em much.

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Lame lame lame excuses…I just paid $7.5 a beer for Nats/Braves Saturday!!! You can get a flask in…pay for nose bleed seats…find a baby sitter…

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Mark: What a difference 2 and 1/2 weeks can make in baseball. This has been an awesome run and, yes, I care! This pitching staff has been amazing. J.J., Javy, and the two Tommie Guns are the best in the NL right now, hands down. We knew we had the pitching but now the offense has finally started to show some life and timely hitting. Chipper has awoken. It will be the most exciting time in years for Braves fans if they do run down the Rockies. Don’t forget the Phils are playing awful right now–but still 4 up and we only have 6 games left–…the NL East is unlikely, but still possible.

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all the non-believers out there trying to convince us that the braves are done:
you remind me of teamates who would show up to the field and try to convince us all we were wasting our time before the game even began. Any time it got hard they would give up instead of pushing through it, ready to quit at any point. Instead of this give-up, “what can i get outta this?” mentality, let’s get out there and at least give it our best shot! If it doesn’t happen then we will be a little heart broken but atleast we will know we gave it everything we had and weren’t gonna give up before it started.
THE BRAVES NEED US NOW! IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, MAKE IT TO THE STADIUM

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Paul H- Throw out the sweep by the Reds that lost weekend as cause for missing the playoffs (if they do) I say this because they followed that with a sweep of the Cards on the road. So they went 3-3 in that segment. Probably what we would have hoped for anyway.
They need HELP, but there’s a (getting stronger) pulse. The pitching is carrying this team on this run. Javy, JJ and Hanson have been lights out and Huddy has stepped in and made us even stronger.
Still, no run, no way without the trade for LaRoche. I think he is the reason they have took off. Just so much more run production from that position and the continued production from Prado, Diaz and Yunel made the run happen.

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I love how the Cox-haters still come out of the woodwork…

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Most people DONT CARE because they dont believe the Braves will finish the drill and overtake the Rockies to win the wild card. I mean, literally from the time the Braves had about 25 games left, the Braves had to win virtually all of their remainding games to even have a remote shot. The Braves have done that and if the Braves win out the last 6 to close out the season, assuming the Braves overtake the Rockies; the Braves will have had to win 23 out of their last 25 in order to get the job done. THAT IS A DIFFICULT TASK AND MOST PEOPLE DONT BELIEVE THE BRAVES WILL FINISH OFF THE ROCKIES; MYSELF INCLUDED, I AM A BIT SKEPTICAL. If it happens I will be proud of the Braves, heck Im proud of them for at least making it back into the wild card race. Most folks in the sports media wont acknowledge the Braves are in a penant race. In fact, it wasnt until the Braves pulled to within 2 1/2 games this past weekend that the Braves even got national exposure for being in a penant race. I watched ESPN and saw how excited Peter Gammons was about the Braves. Of course, Peter is a baseball purist and a heck of a talent; and he is just amazed at what the Braves are currently doing. John Kruk also had some wonderful thinkgs to say about the Braves. But before this past weekend, everybody kept saying the Braves are out of it and alot of the media outlets even today wont acknowledge the Braves greatness. In fact, even when the Braves overtake the Rockies and are given the wildcard berth, most people still wont say the Braves have a chance to win the world series. The Braves are the best team and baseball and they will be proving it to the world real soon the minute they get into the playoffs.

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eric the elder

You need to change your name. You certainly don’t sound like an elder. You sound like an idiot.

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Enter your comments here
Atlanta is my hometown of 24 yrs, though I haven’t lived there in 18. Atlanta fans have been indifferent for most of that time except for a few key time periods, of which we all can recall.

The transient element of ATL does not help. Everybody here is from somewhere else, with existing allegiances. But, Still…there HAS to be local Atlantans who love the Braves the way I do (I live in Nashville, now) or have a kid who only knows the Braves as his local team, despite what dad/mom grew up with, who could get behind this team…?

Seeing the Braves in the playoffs on TV and thousands of empty seats is pathetic. Prove the rest of the country wrong! Go see the Braves!!

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It always tickles me to have a sportswriter-type criticize fans for not attending games. These a people that not only haven’t had to pay for a ticket to a sporting event in their professional lives, they get paid to go and make crap up about it. Face it, most Atlantans go out to games when they have a reasonable expectation of having fun – I mean winning. This team spent the majority of the season fiddle-fa*tin’ around…to the point that the cost, and trouble, of going to games finally got the best of us. And don’t forget that a lot of Atlanta sports franchise ticket sales are from businesses – at least the season ticket folks – wanting to use them to entertain clients. If clients don’t have good time then just how smart is it to keep asking ‘em…and don’t even get me started about the economy.

Regardless, we make the playoffs and folks will turn out, and Mr. Bradley will have to find something else to use to get the fight started.

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eric the elder: ????, Why bother when you have nothing to contribute.

Go Braves, the crowds are small because the odds have been so against the Braves. Keep winning and the crowds will return.

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The ownership is not serious. Hell, with McGuirk at the helm… I’ll stay at home as well. Why are the good seats always empty for the most part? They represents the corporate ownership (read Liberty Colorado: keeping inept butt kissers who are incompetent and talk a good game McGuirk) that America Hates. I hope they lose their shirts on their tax write-offs! They write off the fans as well with their scheming. Get gone… ALL OF THEM!

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Mark: Bobby Cox, the “Chess Master” deserves a lot of credit here for keeping the guys from giving up – after some really bad losses and a host of injuries – and finally piecing together a line up that works offensively. This offense has learned some patience at the plate and it is helping- TP should get some credit here. Wetill need a power hitter, but with this stingy pitching staff, this bunch of singles/doubles hitters may be enough.

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“And even if there were only 25,000 (or 15,000) on hand Monday, it wasn’t a bored corporate gathering.”

Good call Mark. I was pleasantly surprised with the crowd last night. You could tell that they (we) were there for the game.

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There is ALWAYS an excuse as to why Braves fans don’t come to the park. Now, its the recession/floods. Ten years ago, it was 9/11. Before that, the internet bubble burst. Before that, the excuse was Monica Lewinski. And before that, Aliens were waiting for you at the park.

Face it…Atlanta is THE WORST sports town in the entire country. The country knows it. The sooner the Braves know that, they can move to an actual city who gives a dookey.

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Me and some friends bought $1 tickets to the game last night and had great seats in the upper deck down the right field line. $1 for tickets!!!!! it’s hard to bitch about the price when it’s a buck. head down to the stadium and support the team!!!

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Some of us don’t go to MLB games because, frankly, it just costs too damn much. As long as they have the corporate seasin ticket buyers (who can write off the costs), they don’t care about the average working class fan.

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THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU …. this is what I keep telling stupid people who keep saying “The Braves have crummy fans”. No, they don’t. They just don’t have as many fans who come to the ballpark. They have lots of fans, and a lot of great fans. I love the people who whine when the park’s not full, then whine about “bandwagon” fans when it is. We do baseball different in Atlanta. That doesn’t make it bad.

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You guys who complain about ticket costs are deluding yourselves. Cheap tickets are available to every game and also season ticket holders sell of their tickets cheap on stubhub.

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Are you all ready for the world’s biggest stretch!? Here it is, but hear me out. I think there is a correlation between the lack of interest in the Braves and the negative political climate in the country, particularly in the conservative South. It’s almost in Vogue to tear people down these days. Most of the comments on this blog are about how the team will just let us down, so why come out to support them? Have we all given up on Hope? Yes, I’m referring to the Braves and Obama. If Limbaugh, Hannity or Beck were a baseball fans, they too would give up on this team, throw in the towel and say the Braves administration is evil and needs to be overthrown. I say we give these Braves a chance. I think Wren has built a pretty good ball club, and if we are patient we will see some great things happen. Maybe they won’t make the playoffs this year, but I can’t wait for next year. I still have hope, do you? GO BRAVES!

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First, the point about the Rockies’ 2007 run and the attendance comparison. I lived in Denver back then, and assure you that attendance did not spike until the final few days of the season. Their run began and blossomed first in front of empty seats at home, then on the road. Only when they came home for the final weekend — when fans finally started believing that it wasn’t just some meaningless late-season run, that there was a legitimate playoff chance — did attendance reflect a team in a pennant race. If the Braves are within a game of the wild-card spot by Thursday or Friday, then we’ll see a truer comparison.

Bigger picture: I have lived in Seattle, Miami, Denver, St. Louis, Tampa and Charlotte. I’ve spent extensive time in Boston, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Houston and Dallas. And I can say without question that Atlanta is a harder city to navigate between 4 and 7 p.m. than all but Miami. Going to Turner Field on a weeknight after a day of work isn’t something that can be done on a whim; it must be planned — get out of work early, fight traffic or take unwieldy public transportation, which, to get to the ballpark, relies on a transfer to a shuttle bus. Getting to the stadium on a weeknight isn’t an outing; it feels more like an undertaking. Getting to the park for millions of New Yorkers or Bostonians isn’t nearly as rough; the cities have tighter urban/suburban cores, and for much of the fan base, it requires getting on a train, making a quick transfer to another train, and being dropped at the ballpark. It could scarcely be easier. These are also populations that are accustomed to public transportation; much of the Braves’ fanbase is suburban, averse to non-SUV transportation and wouldn’t know a light rail from a light fixture. This, too, hurts the attendance.

I mentioned Miami as the only city worse than Atlanta. It is not a coincidence that their attendance problems make the Braves look like the perpetually sold-out Red Sox by comparison. Getting to Land Shark Stadium by first pitch from Miami or Ft. Lauderdale is next to impossible after a day at the office.

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@ LAdawg uhhh a playoff race? what more do you want?

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Seats are available for 1 dollar and 10 to 15 easily every single night. You don’t have to eat or drink at the ball park. Expense is not an issue. You can get a shuttle from 5 pts if you do take marta even though it takes forever to get to the game. Expense… not really a good argument. People go when they are interested or they go to have something fun to do… generally that happens on the weekends.

Technically a family of 4 can go for lets say 12 to park. You could technically go for 16 bucks. Eat at home, get skyline seats… that family of 4 is just unmotivated because it’s easier to stay home and watch it on TV.

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Nice…apparently my post of nearly an hour ago didn’t make it on, so here it is in a nutshell once again:

My thought is that I’m tired of defending myself as a Braves’ fan. Mondays are horrible days to go into Atlanta. If you already live in Atlanta, you should try to go to the game. Also, I’m coming down with a cold or something. Felt like crap yesterday; only slightly better today. At any rate, I do have a life and can’t always do what I’d like to do when I want to do it. Either time or money always factors in and changes the plan.

If I can’t be at the game, I’m watching the games faithfully if I can be at home and at a TV. If not, I’m listening on the radio or following via my cell if and whenever possible. I’ve not jumped off and on the bandwagon this season — I’m part of what makes up the bandwagon. I can’t always make it to a game or afford it.

That being said, even though this week is rent week, once I get paid, I plan to try to come this weekend. That is assuming I have the money. Whether I’m there or not, I’m extremely proud of this team for not caving in and giving up. True…the Rockies have to keep losing and the Braves have to keep winning. No room for error is left. But, I love the fact that they are officially the hottest team in MLB. No one, and I mean NO ONE wants to play them right now. The Rockies & the Phillies are very nervous — they have to be. The Braves are putting a lot of pressure on both teams. Hopefully, that’s making them up their game. And, no one wants to face the “hottest team in MLB” in a short series. I LOVE IT…keep going guys. And, whether I can be there at Turner Field or not — GO, BRAVES!

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I’m an out of town fan. If I could be there I would. I will be there this weekend. But yes, the Braves are playing great and yes I do care.

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I’d say people are still fans but don’t want to fool with battling downtown traffic, beggars, expensive parking and surly police.

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The first post (Todd) says “Every time I get interested in this stupid team they let me down”. The team’s not stupid. The reply is.

Unfortunately many other posts echo the same stupid idea. Four of five teams in the division will let their fans down. Thirteen of fourteen teams in the league will let their fans down.

If the Rockies win 14 of 16, do you think only 15,000 fans show up at their next game?

There’s something seriously wrong with a lot of Atlanta’s baseball fans.

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I went last night and though the crowd was embarrasingly small, the ones that showed up were really in to it. And at the right times if that makes any sense.

Hopefully all the bandwagon fans will hop on this weekend and give the Braves what they deserve.
Loud support

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We just bought tickets for Wednesday. Usually, we only go to games for Bark in the Park and watch the rest on TV, but this run is kind of exciting – Let give them some support!

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Tough to beat the vantage you get on TV, where you see the expected location of the pitch, movement on the pitch and can feel the pitcher’s confidence rise and fall. Rarely will I find a companion who knows baseball as well as Joe and Boog, who have developed an interesting rapport in the booth over the last year and one half. I love being able to see the facial expressions on the players as they step out of the box, and the team reaction to hits, sacrifices and teammates scoring. The psychology of this team has been steadily improving all year and is presently at its highest level of the year. Whether it works out or not, this has actually been one of the best ever for the Atlanta Braves and the genius of Bobby Cox has been on display each night, as he has allowed this team to come together and believe in itself.
Hockey and football should be seen live, baseball — I’m not so sure.

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The problem with the Atlanta Attendance is much of the Good seat are Corporate owned…Also remember the Stadium seat almost 50,096…they have to reduce this to about 43,000 and bring the Fence back little big and reduce the Cost of the Ticket.

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To be truthful, I’m afraid to watch the games, because when I watch — like I did in that dooming, three game stretch against the Reds — they lose. So I’m keeping up with them on ESPN and following this chase closely. That said, I’m much too nervous to tune in. Once we get in the playoffs, I’m there; but I’ll wait to jinx them until then.

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So, explain to me why I should blow $100 (tickets, parking, food, beer, gasoline) to go to Turner field and get home at midnight when I can sit at home and watch the game on TV. The Braves give it away for free; why should I buy it?

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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.

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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!

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No one cares about baseball it is football season.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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My friend just called and I got free tickets for tommorrow. Whoohooo. Go Braves!

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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!!

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Good article: http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/the-best-defensive-team-of-the-decade

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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!

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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.

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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!

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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.

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Did I mention it’s not as easy to pick up a braves game on the TV anymore?

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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.

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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!

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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?

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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!

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I haven’t forgotten about how much my Braves Season Tickets cost me.

I’ll be there.

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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…

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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!

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South Georgia is rooting for you Atlanta. I think South Georgia cares more about the Braves than the city of Atlanta does!

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Airlift Turner Field from the “District 9″ location it sits now, drop it off at 14th Street and Peachtree Street (where the new Symphony Hall is “suppose” to go), and THEN you may see sellouts in a playoff race!!!!!! GO BRAVES!!! (and Go Brewers for the next 3 nights!!!)

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This blog does nothing but make me angry. Reading these posts with these paper bag weak blanket statements bashing the Braves.

GO SOMEWHERE ELSE IF YOU ARE SOOOO CLUELESS TO THE REALITY OF BASEBALL – IDIOTS!

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Moving the Braves and Falcons to the Northside would probably make a huge difference in attendance. There are NO “synergies” Downtown unless you define synergy as ridiculous traffic and crime. The rude, surly cops and street punks ruin the experience around Turner and the Dome. MARTA just flat out sux. The majority of fans come from the Northside. I still, however, go to Braves, Falcons, and Hawks games.

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Since all the usual knee-jerk comments have come up here from the northsiders, (Waaaah, traffic! Waaaah, bad transit! Waaaah, people who don’t look like me — aka “crime”), allow me a moment to gloat. East Atlanta is a fantastic place for a Braves fan to live. I can get to a free parking spot (shhh) in Grant Park or thereabouts in just a two-minute drive from my home, then it’s a nice walk to the gate. I can watch the first inning on TV and be ticketed and seated by the bottom of the third if I decide to go all of a sudden. Then the traffic heading east toward home is nonexistent. I’m usually walking in the front door as people are still trying to escape the Gold Lot.

So for those of you driving your obnoxious SUVs to your ugly houses on cul-de-sacs dumping out to congested collector roads containing ugly character-less strip malls, then complaining about the difficulty of getting to events in the city that you decided to settle so far away from, allow me to play a moving tune on the world’s smallest violin. You made your bed. Now lie in it.

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Quite frankly i don’t care who’s laughing at us or whats being said about the fan turnout at this point. I couldnt write article like this or be like Joe Simpson was during last night broadcast after what some folks have suffered through the past couple of weeks. Im like this, if the Braves care so much about fan turnout and its about the fans why not invite all of the ones who were effected by flooding and now have nowhere to live out to the ballpark for free.

As has been said in this blog, if the Braves were winning and in the hunt earlier (going back to when they got swept by the REDS!) then the stadium would have continued to see a good fan turnout. If the Braves are a game back going into Friday night or tied for that matter im sure the fans will be there, but there’s just to much going on outside of entertainment and sports right now. A lot of folks have things to deal with. It wasn’t just homes affected by the flooding. There were a lot of businesses affected so we’ll see…I’ve definitely continued to watch the Braves and i’m still believing a rooting for them.

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Reid – You’re the exact reason I don’t live in ATL, well that as well as crime, congestion and over priced housing. I’ve been to Cabbagetown many times on the weekend and it’s full of pierced, tattooed and dyed haired hippies. You probably HAVE to walk to the games because your car and/or flatscreen has been stolen. No one envys you. Most people that live in E. Atl could care less about sports, muchless the Braves. You are the exception.

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Ya do know that were only 4 back of the Phils, and the Rockies are only 4 1/2 behind the Dodgers. Wouldnt it be funny if the Phils didnt make it and the dodgers were the wildcard???
Ive been unemployed since April and live in South GA. Id love to go to the games but alas…

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200 mile drive and $200 expense. Nuff said.

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If you want to build interest, dont publish stories about five reasons the Braves wont make the playoffs……Believe folks.

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how bout if the braves really want us in there, they REALLY bring down ticket prices…. The braves, like every other franchise gouge it’s fans into submission. We are suppose to keep giving no matter what… How bout do something more on their end beside printing a sign!!!!!!

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Also a point about the stadium location. “Crime” is such a weak excuse and for that matter traffic is too. So they say, “lets put the stadium on the north side”. Where at exactly? The new stadium would still end up in Atlanta, not Gwinnett, so either way if you live north of Atlanta you’ll end up having to drive south. If they put a stadium on the north side of town there be just as much traffic and folks on the south side would then make the same complaints

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Yes, Inman Park and Candler Park are just chock full of tattoeed, pierced hippies. And terrible places to live!

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Like many others have stated, pricing is a big concern. Times are tough financially for most. Millions of people are without jobs. Many have lost their homes to foreclosure, and many others are on the verge of losing their homes too. Health care is bleeding wallets dry. The stock market depleted the retirement savings of most and many would rather sock away those few extra dollars for retirement in lieu of attending some baseball game that they can watch on television.
Most major sports associations are struggling. They are even having problems selling out professional football stadiums. If you have the money and would like to go to the game, then go. Leave the others alone and let them decide for themselves. Just because they choose to watch the game on television doesn’t make them any less of a fan than you.
Go Braves!

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I wondered how long it would take, in the midst of an amazing comeback, for some writer to start harping on the attendance. Atlanta isn’t New York where 40K people will wander into a venue just because the lights were turned on. Atlanta has always counted on fans from outlying areas to bulk up the crowds. And in case you missed it, Mark, the there is a recession on and the ticket prices are outrageous. But why couldn’t your main focus be on how the Braves have played and the chase for a playoff spot? It’s like some of you writers can’t stand it; you’ll find the negative in anything.

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I am a true Braves fan and I watch them on tv every chance I get, and just because the stadium is located in the hood and the people that pay to see the games are not in this location does not mean they do not have true fans. It is just a recession and people cannot afford to attend or have their things stolen while at a game.

I will be in attendance this weekend, however!

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Stub hub 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.

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I have been watching this team from the beginning of this year and I am excited and rooting them on. I have never lost hope that this was a team to cheer for.

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I am a die-hard Braves fan! I am dying to go to a game. I hope to make it out to the field on Friday night. I have never given up on them. I keep on watching. I BELIEVE!!

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I’d be happy fi it just had rail access. It’s currently impossible to get to the stadium via Marta. Yes having it on the northside would be nice, but it probably won’t happen. Just move it to a spot that you can get to via rails and the attendance will increase.

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The only weeknight I can make games is Thursday nights. Very hard to make a game on a monday night. I’ll be watching on TV though. If they win tonight and Wednesday I’ll def be there Friday night. Go Bravos!!

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Just saw on yahoo that the catch made by colorado last sunday to end the game wasn’t a catch. this is why replay is needed for certain instances like this in baseball. this is huge

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/About-that-Clint-Barmes-catch-on-Sunday-Was-?urn=mlb,192799

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For the record, I saw this coming and having been defending my belief the Braves were going to the post season for some time on all kinds of internet forums.

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Atlanta’s not a bad sports town. It’s a good sports town. You can go to games any time you want. Tickets are available for all teams.

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It seems that several times during their long run of success, the Braves coasted to a division title and then were beaten in the playoffs by an inferior team that got hot at the right time (Marlins, Padres, Astros in their last trip). In fact, the Marlins were never the best team in baseball, but they won 2 WS championships.

Maybe this year we’re that team.

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If they want people at their games, they should cut the price of beers in half, hire some people that aren’t AWFUL at customer service and did I say cut the price of beers in half? I’m not paying $7.50 for a 16 ounce beer anywhere and i’m not going to a game without drinking beer. DO YOU SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS?

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I’ve been a fan since they came to Atlanta, but I don’t want to see this team in the playoffs. Bobby Cox has so mismanaged the club this year, that if they had had any other manager, they’d probably be leading the division right now. I’m sick and tired of Bobby’s boys getting bounced out of October ball. Better that they just don’t make it to the playoffs at all. Maybe after Cox is gone, I’ll be able to find interest in the team again.

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For of all you “football is king is the south” and “baseball is too boring” blowhards, just shut up already. Back in the 90s the Braves sold out all of their games. The apathy is from expecting the franchise to win year after year and then being brought back to reality in the past couple of seasons. We were spoiled by success and the Braves suffer for it now. Had they won another series or two I believe everything would be different. But believe me as it gets more and more likely the Braves will overcome the Rockies, the stadium will sell out. The Braves needed a dramatic finish to a season like this to revitalize fan interest.

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Mark,

Thanx again for another insightful column. I am one of those bailing water and rebuilding a wall. I’m a huge fan of the Braves, but the economy, rain and attendant cost have left me a little light. I’ve been reading your column for as long as I can remember and it’s always been entertaining. Thank You

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Enter your comments hereI’ve been a Braves’s since birth. While I live in Wisconsin i still catch a few games on the road. i get the baseball package on my TV. Atlanta always complains the brave’s aren’t worth watching. Now that they are they still don’t show up. Hard to figure. I know that that there are some die hard fans down there. Hope they show.

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Brent, I agree there are some good places to live in Atlanta (Va Highlands + the 2 you mention etc.). I live very near Brookhaven MARTA, and no way will I take the train to a Braves game (Falcons yes); not gonna have the hassle of the transfer to a bus. Also, many of us dont want to live in Atlanta city limits due to the corrupt and incompetent city government, as I assume youre well aware of (just yesterday came the news of another $1Mil+ fine for late pension payments; the list goes on and on).
Say HI! to Bill Campbell for me if you ever see him again lol

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As baseball is a game of superstition, all of you posters that are afraid that the Braves will stop winning if you start watching again are excused. Keep up the good work.

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There was a certain electricity at the stadium last night. Crowd was into it the entire time. I woke up with a sore throat. Not the type of crowd that only cheers when “make some noise” appears on scoreboard either. I live in town, but the guy next to me drove in from Greenville with his family. Granted, he had to dip out of work early but said, “These games mean too much”. He’s right too.

Those of you who say, “I’m too scared to watch or they are only going to let you down” are missing some amazing baseball right now. Isn’t that part of being a fan too? There is nothing more exciting in baseball than a race to the finish!! Losing in ‘93 to the Phils in NLCS was my hardest loss to swallow ever as a sports fan only because we fought so very hard to win our divison over the Giants. The second half of that season was magic, luck, guts, drive, determination… Every day down the stretch we had to make up ground and we got them on the last day of the season thanks to help from LA and our win over expansion Rockies. Tommy LaSorda said after the game, “Now you know how it feels Giants fans”.

I am proud of our team win or lose. We are fighting to the end. TV, even glorious HD TV, doesn’t not do it justice when it comes to being there when every pitch is huge. Even knowing it is difficult to run the table, I am taking it night by night (as far as buying tickets) and dragging different friends along the way. Tonight will be a great match-up. Braves need your support! No one hears you cheering behind the keyboard. We know you’re watching, come on out and do it in person if you can make it out to the park. Crowds will improve each night, don’t worry about that….who cares how we compare to other cities?? It is a dumb argument. Is it even relevant? Do we need to make excuses…..just keep winning. Real fans are there, they were there last night and screming their heads off and Cox was right- it was a different feel. Keep up it Braves!!!!

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Ross gets my vote for the best blog.

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my theory is that the atlanta braves are actually the georgia braves. the fans who really care are located outside of the perimeter but when summer is over and school starts back up it is more difficult for these fans to attend games. in years past when the braves have made the playoffs (other than ‘91 because of the novelty of it) the stands have not been full. if they were truly the “atlanta” braves then the atlanta fans would care enough to show up. if i lived closer i would be there as much as i could.

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I am going and I live in Savannah… bunch of pansies on here with made up excuses……

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Short answer to your question Bradley- “No. No one cares.” And why such apathy among Atlanta Braves fans? I’ll tell you why. It’s because we the fans are tired of being disappointed. We are tired of October underachieving and we know that the pattern will continue to be repeated, ad infinitum, ad nauseum, as long as Bobby Cox is the manager. If someone else were at the helm, we would go and pay money to see what happens. But as long as he is the manager, we know what’s going to happen; just more of the same losing that has soured our taste for October baseball in Atlanta.

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I really don’t understand why some of you can’t go to a game without drinking a beer. If you can’t enjoy something without being intoxicated you have an issue on some level.

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Phils fans aren’t nervous baby! A littled annoyed maybe, but ceraintly not nervous. The Rockies should be. Inexcuseable Card’s baserunning was the only reason they won on Sunday. 3 with the Brew-Crew and 3 with a Dodgers team that has owned them this year. Yeah, their definitely bleeping in their pants right now. Solids and liquids… Nice thought for the lunch you’re eating right now! Right? I’m actually kind of proud of your team. I still hate your guts, don’t get wrong, but the Braves deserve to get in. Here’s to some future Champagne spraying for both the Braves and the Phillies. They’re both getting in. Book it folks! And go show some more support for your team…

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Braves on Friday. Dawgs on Saturday. Falcons on Sunday. That, my friends, is a perfect sports weekend.

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Distracted no, I know whats going on. I also know that they will find a way to blow it right at then end. Cox will put in the pen and they will load the bases up while he sits and scratches his head. Then they will all go home.

If by chance they make it, I will be at every home game they play. But not until they make it. Im sick of watching them blow a good thing.

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I would love to see the Braves playing in a sold out stadium. HOWEVER, I’m just too worn out between Saturday’s in Athens to go during the week, with work and all.

Sorry guys. I do love the Braves, and will be VERY EXCITED to watch almost every game of the post season on TV if they make it. But my trips to Turner Field occur in the Spring/Summer. Short of somehow ending up with NLCS/WS tickets, the DAWGS get me during the fall…

Win consistantly and THROUGHOUT the season and you won’t be begging fans to drop everything and come see you – let’s be honest – probably let them down when the season is almost over. Not only do you guys gotta win, but Colorado has to lose at the same time. While I really want to see it happen, I know it probably will not – even if you win out…

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Reid…, please. Let’s not generalize. I do not live on a cul de sac nor do I drive a SUV, nor do I go to Pottery Barn. But I do think your comment is funny. It is obvious that living in the city has its pros and cons. I, however, am not a city guy and choose to live in the burbs. You obviously feel different whch is fine. I find it strange however that you, like most of the folks in east Atlanta HATE everyone who does not live in the city. I would rather dodge SUV’s and soccer moms than dodge criminals, traffic and freaks. I like going to bed every night not having to worry about my truck or my personal belongings.

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Get the stadium out of one of the worst ghettos in the nation and you’ll see more people at the games. Some punk threw a hunk of concrete through my passenger-side window as I traveled home from a night game in April. I was two blocks from Turner Field. You take your life in your hands down there. No amount of money or the lure of playoffs will get me back down there. Go Braves!

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Let’s see 2 games left to play against a depressed Fish Club… 1-11 w/risp last nite…. And then 4 at home with the Nats? Are u kidding me? That was a major reason the Phillies squeaked pass the Mets in 07/08. We played the Nats at home to close it out. You not only get the Nats, but you get them for 4 games? Come on…. The Rockies will loose 2….At min the Braves get a 1 game play-off for the WC.

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C’mon guys…..it’s football season. Baseball season ended at the beginning of September. It’s like this every year. Doesn’t matter if the Braves are in the cellar or the penthouse, baseball season ends when football season begins. Think about it, baseball is the only game you can follow without paying attention. Football is the 800 lb gorilla that sets the tone. Now sit down, shut up and pass me a beer. The game is about to start.

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The Braves are an entertainment product and as such compete for the time and disposable income of people. Really the outcome of the game is meaningless in the overall scheme of things. Plus, television has made it so much easier to watch a game without paying for tickets, parking and food. Plus on a work day a “fan” can get in bed well before midnight. Also, don’t forget when comparing the attendance in Atlanta to NY, or Boston there is a bigger fan base from which to draw in those cities. Look at seasonal attendance and I bet you find that Braves total attendace represnts a larger percenatge of the surrounding population than does NY or Boston. Further, columnists and others don’t need to judge how teams in Atlanta are supported. Quit telling people they are our teams when they really aren’t “our” teams until we have a financial interest in how they perform.

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Braves fans are spoiled from the hay day in the 90’s and are tired of being let down over and over and over………..14 division titles doesn’t mean squat. 1 WS title in that run is awful…Bottom Line: Fans aren’t going to come out because they know, in their heart of hearts, that what ever Braves team is on the field, they will always let them down. No fire! No killer instinct! No flash! Just the same ole thing “Business like”. This is a sport! A battle of the will! Fans want a team to show some emotion! Some get in your team mate’s face when he makes a mistake! Not “He had a bad day today, we’ll get ‘em next time.” Where were they when the division was wide open for the taking. Complete domination from start to finish is what ATL fans want from their team.

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……….and ther’s no excuse for not dominating from start to finish with a pitching staff that most teams would sell their first born to have!

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I live in the Dominican Republic, I wish i live in Atlanta, Im still supporting the team From here, Go Bravess

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This is just me but I don’t go to more than 2 or 3 games a year because I literally can’t handle the stress. When I went to the Marlins series here last month, I had to keep leaving my seat & going to the restroom. And not because I needed the facilities but because I was too nervous to keep watching & I wanted to listen to Don Sutton instead (he’s broadcast over the speakers in the women’s restroom. LOL. )

But the Braves have a huge fan in me….my friends think I am a Braves nut. I just don’t go to the game.

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The Braves are an entertainment product and as such compete with other entities for a fan’s disposable income. Plus, television has made it so much easier to view a game than fighting traffic, paying for tickets, gas, parking and food. Sporting events are being produced to fill television time / sell advertising. No where are fans really the top consideration.

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Why don’t I come to ball games??? I don’t come because I don’t want to see Bobby Cox take out a pitcher who’s thrown eight innings,of shutout ball, for a hack reliever who promptly gives the game away. I don’t come because I don’t want to see Ryan Howard continue to be pitched to, even though he smokes the ball over the wall and wins game after game. I don’t come because I know that these kinds of things are going to continue to happen as long as Bobby Cox is the manager.

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All these guys spouting that it’s too expensive are full of shizz. The Braves offer the cheapest sports tickets in the city. If you don’t want to buy a $4 hotdog, bring your own from home, they’ll let you. I had season tickets before and would always buy a 20oz coke or a bag of peanuts on the outside before coming in. There are ALWAYS cheap tickets on stubhub for nearly every game. There’s somebody selling tickets for .70 a piece

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From what I’ve read in this blog, Braves if you want fans to come out to your games, it’s simple. Lower ticket, parking and food prices, train your ushers to be friendly, get a convenient MARTA connection to the Ted and dump Bobby Cox.

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Fair weathered fans, you can find them anywhere. I will be cheering and screaming until the last game has been played.

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I AM 110% excited about the run. I live in El Paso now, Army moved me here but I lived in Atlanta for over 28 years of my life. I watch the Braves the few times they are on TV, if Im in my car I log onto mlb.com on my phone daily and just keep hitting refresh button. If I am at home Im on yahoo watching the game live. I watched the Braves lose a 100 games a year. I watched them win all division championships. I am watching them now. I am even more excited about this team, they don’t quit. They are awesome. Great pitching staff, and consistent hitters. Prado coming up big , McCann on hot streak, Laroche is usual big 2nd half, Chipper gonna come up big now too!!! Go Braves!! I would do anything for a chance to still go to their games!!! Way to far West Texas, no games even close. GO BRAVES!!! Back them up ATL
We have a chance for all three major sports programs to make playoffs!!!

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@JEZ…not airing dirty laundry..LOL. I’m just irritated with people who think things are the same around here as it was 10/15 years ago. It’s not. If I had a choice, I’d be at every home game. But, unfortunately LIFE gets in the way.

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http://www.stubhub.com/atlanta-braves-tickets/braves-vs-marlins-9-29-2009-719699/

There are 53 tickets on stubhub for less than $11; THERE ARE FOUR FOR LESS THAN A DOLLAR!!! If you don’t get the stubhub tickets, you can get there after the game started and get tickets for a severly reduced rate, $3-5 or so. Most ballparks allow you to pack a picnic and bring it in. Bring a flask in and you’re good to go!

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That’s okay, Braves. Everything’s gonna be Pickrick!

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Amen, Eric….and thank you for your service to our country.

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Todd said it the best. I have no idea, but every time I watch a game they seem to lose in heartbreaking fashion. When I tune them out for a week, they win six straight, including one or two in extra innings. Go figure.

Man I can’t believe the Cards lost that last one to the Rockies. They had it in the bag… I’ve been dreaming of only being down 1 game with six to go. But we are officially in the hunt.

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Regardless of how this turns out, it has been a great run and has given all Braves fans a reason to be optimstic next year. Also, to those out there who don’t think the Braves can be competitive if we sneak in, we were 4-3 against the Dodgers, 4-2 against the Cardinals, and 10-8 against the Phillies. Case closed there. Furthermore, a couple of idiots stated this team will tease you and then choke. That’s happened in the past, but would you rather be in last place? Grow up. Enough with the superstitions and just believe the best team will be left standing.

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all of you are idiots – quit bitching

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I am still having trouble getting over the Barmes play against the Cardinals…that really pisses me off.

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Enter your comments hereMark Bradley The Braves are in a playoff race, but does anybody care?
10:01 am September 29, 2009, by Mark Bradley

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..241 comments Add your commentSanford Drive

September 29th, 2009
1:23 pm
Braves on Friday. Dawgs on Saturday. Falcons on Sunday. That, my friends, is a perfect sports weekend.

LinkReport this comment.Inspector G

September 29th, 2009
1:24 pm
Inspector G wonders if Mark Bradley has become so distracted with wanting to fire Willie Martinez that he has overlooked that the Braves are in a playoff hunt?

LinkReport this comment.Facts Please

September 29th, 2009
1:25 pm
Distracted no, I know whats going on. I also know that they will find a way to blow it right at then end. Cox will put in the pen and they will load the bases up while he sits and scratches his head. Then they will all go home.

If by chance they make it, I will be at every home game they play. But not until they make it. Im sick of watching them blow a good thing.

LinkReport this comment.Pete

September 29th, 2009
1:27 pm
Mr Me the Marlins arent even in Miami is one reason they dont draw much; about 20-30 miles north in Hollywood. Thats why theyre called the Florida (not Miami) Marlins.

LinkReport this comment.Villa Rica DAWG

September 29th, 2009
1:28 pm
I would love to see the Braves playing in a sold out stadium. HOWEVER, I’m just too worn out between Saturday’s in Athens to go during the week, with work and all.

Sorry guys. I do love the Braves, and will be VERY EXCITED to watch almost every game of the post season on TV if they make it. But my trips to Turner Field occur in the Spring/Summer. Short of somehow ending up with NLCS/WS tickets, the DAWGS get me during the fall…

Win consistantly and THROUGHOUT the season and you won’t be begging fans to drop everything and come see you – let’s be honest – probably let them down when the season is almost over. Not only do you guys gotta win, but Colorado has to lose at the same time. While I really want to see it happen, I know it probably will not – even if you win out…

LinkReport this comment.Nolerick

September 29th, 2009
1:29 pm
I share the same sentiments as others that I am afraid to start watching. Everytime I started to pay attention and really get my hopes up, they get swept by the likes of San Diego(totally unacceptable), and for God sakes please stop pitching to Ryan Howard.

I will pay attention to the score, but after having your heart broken (at least 5 times I can recall), its like doing the same action and expecting a different result. I wont watch and they will win, If I watch, they will get blown out, and then wonder “why did I even get my hopes up?”

LinkReport this comment.Pete

September 29th, 2009
1:31 pm
SANFORD, only 1 problem with your perfect weekend……Falcons dont play Sunday lol

LinkReport this comment.Ross

September 29th, 2009
1:32 pm
Honestly, I am just scared to say anything because I am afraid to jinx it.

LinkReport this comment.otisnixonsmokescrack

September 29th, 2009
1:34 pm
Let’s see 2 games left to play against a depressed Fish Club… 1-11 w/risp last nite…. And then 4 at home with the Nats? Are u kidding me? That was a major reason the Phillies squeaked pass the Mets in 07/08. We played the Nats at home to close it out. You not only get the Nats, but you get them for 4 games? Come on…. The Rockies will loose 2….At min the Braves get a 1 game play-off for the WC.

LinkReport this comment.Villa Rica DAWG

September 29th, 2009
1:34 pm
Also, do something about the traffic… If you want games sold out during the week you’re gonna have to figure out a way for fans to get from the office to the house to the ball park with their families without it taking 4 hours.

LinkReport this comment.Dave

September 29th, 2009
1:35 pm
C’mon guys…..it’s football season. Baseball season ended at the beginning of September. It’s like this every year. Doesn’t matter if the Braves are in the cellar or the penthouse, baseball season ends when football season begins. Think about it, baseball is the only game you can follow without paying attention. Football is the 800 lb gorilla that sets the tone. Now sit down, shut up and pass me a beer. The game is about to start.

LinkReport this comment.edward

September 29th, 2009
1:36 pm
If I could I would be there. Unfortunately I live in PITTSburgh where they just set a record of another kind. As a native Georgian, I understand the fan base. I’ve been a fan since 1978…That’s a lot of losing years. The run was amazing and i went as much as possible when I lived back home. The best thing for me was to watch them on tv. Now even that is taken away from me. All ESPN shows are the stupid Yanks-Sox games like everyone in the world cares about them. TBS is a joke now and I obviously don’t get peachtv. When i can, I listen to the radio show from Macon on the computer.
Not everyone is ignoring the Braves on this improbable late run!! GO BRAVES!!

LinkReport this comment.Northern Songs, Ltd.

September 29th, 2009
1:38 pm
Worst. Baseball. Fans. In. America.

LinkReport this comment.submariner

September 29th, 2009
1:38 pm
Braves fans are spoiled from the hay day in the 90’s and are tired of being let down over and over and over………..14 division titles doesn’t mean squat. 1 WS title in that run is awful…Bottom Line: Fans aren’t going to come out because they know, in their heart of hearts, that what ever Braves team is on the field, they will always let them down. No fire! No killer instinct! No flash! Just the same ole thing “Business like”. This is a sport! A battle of the will! Fans want a team to show some emotion! Some get in your team mate’s face when he makes a mistake! Not “He had a bad day today, we’ll get ‘em next time.” Where were they when the division was wide open for the taking. Complete domination from start to finish is what ATL fans want from their team.

LinkReport this comment.Chris

September 29th, 2009
1:40 pm
We just wanted the Marlin to fell right at home…you know playing with no one watching.

LinkReport this comment.submariner

September 29th, 2009
1:43 pm
……….and ther’s no excuse for not dominating from start to finish with a pitching staff that most teams would sell their first born to have!

LinkReport this comment.Bob

September 29th, 2009
1:43 pm
Enter your comments here

Go Braves… You CAN do it! Right now… the best team in baseball

LinkReport this comment.Randy J.

September 29th, 2009
1:43 pm
I live in the Dominican Republic, I wish i live in Atlanta, Im still supporting the team From here, Go Bravess

LinkReport this comment.southern hope

September 29th, 2009
1:47 pm
This is just me but I don’t go to more than 2 or 3 games a year because I literally can’t handle the stress. When I went to the Marlins series here last month, I had to keep leaving my seat & going to the restroom. And not because I needed the facilities but because I was too nervous to keep watching & I wanted to listen to Don Sutton instead (he’s broadcast over the speakers in the women’s restroom. LOL. )

But the Braves have a huge fan in me….my friends think I am a Braves nut. I just don’t go to the game.

LinkReport this comment.otisnixonsmokescrack

September 29th, 2009
1:49 pm
So…15/17, which is 2007 Rockies-like(made the WS) is not showing any fire? Really???? The Marlins should change their stadium name to “Life after People.”

LinkReport this comment.Joe Fan

September 29th, 2009
1:49 pm
The Braves are an entertainment product and as such compete with other entities for a fan’s disposable income. Plus, television has made it so much easier to view a game than fighting traffic, paying for tickets, gas, parking and food. Sporting events are being produced to fill television time / sell advertising. No where are fans really the top consideration.

LinkReport this comment.Born2Buzz

September 29th, 2009
1:49 pm
I will agree with all the folks who say it is really difficult to get to the stadium. Atlanta is the worst city for traffic management I have ever experienced. If the Braves want to increase attendance maybe they could work with the State DOT to build a light rail spur that connects to a few Marta rail stations. As noted above, taking Marta to the stadium is a joke. And driving and getting home to the Northside is troublesome as well.
Fortunately I live on the soutside and getting into and out of the stadium is much easier going that way.

I hope there are more people showing up for the last 5 games. This has been a remarkable run that should have some folks fired up to see good baseball.

If I wasnt leaving town on Friday I’d be there Sat and Sun.

Oh, and one more thing about the game day experience…the food is just awful and way overpriced.

LinkReport this comment.MadFan

September 29th, 2009
1:50 pm
Why don’t I come to ball games??? I don’t come because I don’t want to see Bobby Cox take out a pitcher who’s thrown eight innings,of shutout ball, for a hack reliever who promptly gives the game away. I don’t come because I don’t want to see Ryan Howard continue to be pitched to, even though he smokes the ball over the wall and wins game after game. I don’t come because I know that these kinds of things are going to continue to happen as long as Bobby Cox is the manager.

LinkReport this comment.Patricia Templeton

September 29th, 2009
1:50 pm
Enter your comments hereDon’t think that because we’re not at the park we don’t care. I’d love to be there, but just can’t this week. But I’m watching or listening to every play. And the rotation should be Vazquez, Jurrjens, Hanson. Lowe in the bullpen, and Hudson there, too, unless we need a fourth starter. Lowe and Hudson haven’t gotten us this far, the other three guys have.

LinkReport this comment.smitty

September 29th, 2009
1:51 pm
All these guys spouting that it’s too expensive are full of shizz. The Braves offer the cheapest sports tickets in the city. If you don’t want to buy a $4 hotdog, bring your own from home, they’ll let you. I had season tickets before and would always buy a 20oz coke or a bag of peanuts on the outside before coming in. There are ALWAYS cheap tickets on stubhub for nearly every game. There’s somebody selling tickets for .70 a piece

LinkReport this comment.Tomas

September 29th, 2009
1:54 pm
Go to the game, who cares about the NFL, the Falcons suck anyway. If I lived in Atlanta I’d be like the guy in Fever Pitch that doesn’t miss a game in Fenway.

LinkReport this comment.MadFan

September 29th, 2009
1:56 pm
From what I’ve read in this blog, Braves if you want fans to come out to your games, it’s simple. Lower ticket, parking and food prices, train your ushers to be friendly, get a convenient MARTA connection to the Ted and dump Bobby Cox.

thats the worst comment i have ever heard….buy yourself a 3 dollar seat that nobody in the league offers…ushers? what kind of stupid comment is that…marta goes right there parking is 12 bucks most places its 15 plus guess what there are free places to park…food prices are the same everywhere eat before you go im sure u can last 2 hours without food…or can u?

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I believe we can win 2 more games than the rockies right now. im going tonite

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Why does no one mention the poor location of the stadium? Or the absolute worse transportation system in the country as reasons people do not attend games. Chicago, for example, is great. I went last year with my Braves jersey and watched us play at Wrigley field. There are tons of fun bars, a safe atmosphere, and good food within walking distance of the stadium. Then you just hop right on the train and head home. If you go to the Ted, you have to park in the ghetto. There is NO fun bars walking distance for college and young professionals to hang out. Maybe you live near a Marta but what are the chances of that? Create some jobs Atlanta. Talk to your politicians, improve public transportation and clean up the slums around the stadium and contribute to restoring the economy in the state of Georgia!!!!!! I hate ATL. I left there for Charleston SC years ago and I will NEVER come back to the concrete city of ATL.

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2 little, 2 late. 2 bad Cox isn’t retiring b4 next year. Without a bullpen the starters should have been going 8 or 9 innings within the first 6-8 weeks of the season. Looking forward to next year, but even more so, the year after that.

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Suburbanites bitching about being too far away from the stadium because they chose to live in the Federal Witness Protection program neighborhoods of Gwinett County have no gripe. You are subjecting your family to cultureless suburban hell and you need to get out more.

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Atlanta is a weak sports market, but thanks to years on TBS, the Braves have a large regional fan base in the southeast. I live in TN and have been following all season long, but making it down to ATL for a game is tough, although I just might make the drive this weekend if they are within a game.

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If the Braves come up one game short, we can all look back to August 21, against the Marlins. I particularly made note of it for future reference. After that game is when I completely gave up on the Braves. I have not watched since then, and live out of state so cannot attend. After a long 2 1/2 hr. rain delay the Braves were losing 5-3 and it had been stopped in the middle of the ninth. When it was finally restarted and the Braves came up to bat it was very obvious what they were doing. It was in the 2AM area and they knew if they tied it up they could be there a long time. All they wanted to do was to go home. First batter up was CJ and he did not take any pitches even after a long delay to see if their pitcher had his control. He swung at a pitch way outside and softly lined it to third. Next Brian McCann who normally takes pitches and fouls a lot off, took none, and stuck out on a pitch way outside. Next LaRoche did take a pitch but then lined a hit to right and for some unknown reason tried to stretch it into a 2B, even though his run did not matter being 2 behind at that juncture. He would have been just as well off at first. He was thrown out by a mile. It was very obvious they only wanted to go home. Two comments by Joe Simpson verified my opinion. I have direct feed with no commercials and after the cut away he said, “well how do you like that”. I knew exactly what he was thinking. He even commented after CJ’s tap out, “I don’t know what his hurry is”. After staying up that late and seeing them give up like that turned me off, and I have not watched since. I predict they will come up one game short, and I hope they will all think back to that game. If they do get lucky and make the playoffs, being an avid Braves fan, I will watch but only because of my sincere allegiance. They really broke my heart that night.

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I think this is awesome. I just moved to Virginia or you better believe I would be at every single one of these last games. I am so happy the Braves decided they were a good team and at least trying to make this interesting. I will also admit that 3 weeks ago I was so mad a disappointed in the team that I had completely given up. I hope people come out for these next couple of games. With the way our staff is pitching this late in the season I think anything is possible if you hit the playoffs as hot as the Braves are. Go Braves!!!!

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I also agree with people above, complaining about traffic and location. I believe that their are plenty of Braves fans in Atlanta but who wants to drive and pay $12 to park… They should be paying me to drive to the game! And Marta is a joke even after you get off at Underground you still have to walk way out of the way to get on a bus. Poor planning by the city council years ago. The fans are here there is just no way to get to Turner Field.

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http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=123753825241&ref=ts

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Enter your comments here Dearest Mark, I retired back in 92 from the Air Force and moved here to Atlanta because I am a die hard Braves fan. I wasn’t there last night because we have nine homes in our neighbor who were 8 feet under water. So I love my braves and I watch them every night around 8 or 9 because I’m helping my neighbors. Why should we care what you guys think, a month ago all you could do is call for Bobby Cox’s head. That why I don’t listen to you media types. My Braves don’t quit they play it out to the last game. Go Braves win it ALL. Wes

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The Braves have a ton of fans outside Atlanta. We can’t make the games, obviously, but we’re no less excited about the current playoff chase. Go Braves!

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I’m writing this a few hours before tonight’s game. In a few hours the Braves may be 3 games back, with 5 to play, or they may be 1 game back, or they could still be at 2.

The fans who say “don’t get your hopes up because the Braves will only disappoint you as they have in the past” don’t understand that “getting your hopes up” is PART of the JOY of baseball. Part of the collective consciousness of Red Sox and Cubs Nations is their shared suffering over decades of getting close… but not winning the big one.

Fans who became dulled by the 14 consecutive post-seasons for the Braves, and soured by only one World Series win, don’t remember the good old days when less than 1,000 people would “pack” old Atlanta-Fulton County, only to watch Darrel Chaney and company lose 100 games a year.

The Braves fans of that era are hyperventilating that the Braves are a mere 2 games out with 5 to go.

The chase is part of the fun. If we’re let down, eh, we’re let down. The Braves didn’t help or hurt my salary one dime (or one yen as I’m an American Serviceman on Okinawa right now). But if the Braves win – I will rejoice! And my joy will be all the sweeter because it joy was preceded by anticipation – which was preceded by hope.

I Believe.

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Enter your comments here talk about compelling and then mention the nfl// i thought a sighn at the colts game summed up the nfl pretyy well national felons league maybe that what the braves need a roger clemons or an otis nixon so the people can relate lol

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Well there’s your answer – as if it weren’t already obvious. Jones and Huddy, failures of Braves past – and not Prado and Diaz, who look forward, not backward into failure.

One should limit the number of southerners in critical positions. They always lose the same war.

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I prefer a decent school system over ‘culture,’ thanks.

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