Still another sunny Braves forecast? ‘Bah, humbug,’ I say
I'm sorry to keep using this, but it's my favorite picture ever. (AJC photo by Phil Skinner)
Comes now another in our daily series of the-Braves-look-great articles. This is from Phil Sheridan of the Philadelphia Inquirer, and he sees the Braves as the team that could dislodge the Phillies from the National League East summit. And here I sit, starting to wonder if I underrated these guys and undervalued the offseason work of Frank Wren.
But let me say a couple of things: First, I haven’t been to Lake Buena Vista to see the team firsthand, so I’m having to rely on dispatches; second, I remember the first time I really covered a team up close and personal. It was the 1980 Kentucky Wildcats, and standing at practice every day for a month convinced me a breakthrough football season was at hand.
Impressed by what I’d beheld, I told Russell Rice, the UK publicist, “There’s no way you’ll be as bad as 3-8.” (That being the consensus on how the Big Blue would do.)
Long story short: The 1980 Wildcats wound up 3-8.
I was young and foolish then. I’m much older and still foolish, but one thing I have learned: Practice doesn’t count. Practice games don’t count. Sometimes they’re an indication, but not always. It’s entirely possible the Braves will come north and tear off another 13-0 “Torre! Torre! Torre!” start — that’s a reference to 1982, for you youngsters — but spring success is no guarantee of future results.
Me, I’m still skeptical. I eagerly await the coming of Jason Heyward, but I also wonder if the age on this team — and there’s a ton of it — will show over 162 games. I wonder about the offense. I wonder about the defense. I wonder about the zen of Wren. I’d be more than happy to be proved wrong in my doubting, but as of now I’m still saying what I said back in February.
Third place.
Amid all this sunshine, somebody’s got to be the grouch. Besides, who am I to deprive y’all of the chance to say, not for this first time and surely not for the last, “Hey, Bradley — you were wrong!”
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266 comments Add your comment
Johnny Crunch
April 5th, 2010
4:23 pm
3-0 Cubs on Marlon Byrd’s 3 run jack.
Yet many Braves fans (including David “The Mad Fluffer” O’Brien) felt that I was off my rocker for suggesting in the offseason that there was NO WAY that the Braves could trade Derek Lowe without eating a SIGNIFICANT part of his salary.
Lowe’s sinker isnt sinking anymore. He’s simply a very hittable pitcher at this point in his career.
It’s always good to be right. David O’Brien can keep on fluffing Bobby Cox. The logic of having Derek Lowe be our Opening Day starter defies logic. Why not have Jair or Tommy or even Tim Hudson make the Opening Day start? At best, Lowe should be our #4 starter. Yet old Bobby just cant resist using the “ANTI-MIDAS TOUCH”.
Johnny Crunch
April 5th, 2010
4:31 pm
I must say, right now it’s better to be lucky than good. 3 flairs in a row, bases loaded no outs. 3-1 Cubs.
Johnny Crunch
April 5th, 2010
4:35 pm
Heyward FREAKING TURNED on that fastball down the middle. 3 run JACK to begin his career.
Johnny Crunch
April 5th, 2010
4:37 pm
Talk about being given new life, lol. Derek Lowe is one lucky SOB.
Johnny Crunch
April 5th, 2010
4:40 pm
In all fairness, the only hard hit ball hit off Zambrano was the homer by Heyward. The Braves were pretty fortunate that inning with those 3 flairs and seeing eye grounder by Escobar.
Still, I’ll take it. 6-3 Bravos. Now it’s up to Derek Lowe to show that he has it in him to bear down and go at least 6 innings today.
Johnny Crunch
April 5th, 2010
4:48 pm
There are a significant number of empty seats (especially in the expensive, field level sections) at the park today. Doesnt bode too well for attendance this year.
Johnny Crunch
April 5th, 2010
4:52 pm
Braves are taking batting practice right now…………wait……….the game’s already started? WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Johnny Crunch
April 5th, 2010
5:34 pm
Lowe has simply not pitched well today. 5 innings, 5 runs, 2 homers allowed, 4 hits, 3 walks, only1 strikeout. He isnt fooling anyone. There have been a number of hard hit balls that have been run down by some good defense.
Looks like this year may be a carry over from last season where Lowe is the beneficiary of some great run support.
Johnny Crunch
April 5th, 2010
5:50 pm
Well, at least Lowe gave us 6 innings. Still, the offense bailed his A$$ out.
Johnny Crunch
April 5th, 2010
6:17 pm
If Yunel has a big year this year, the Braves will have to pay his A$$ in arbitration this offseason.
Johnny Crunch
April 5th, 2010
6:20 pm
That pinch hit triple there by Eric Hinske pretty much equaled Greg Norton’s 2009 production as a pinch hitter, lol.
Mark Bradley
April 5th, 2010
6:22 pm
Greg Norton in 2009: Two extra-base hits in 76 ABs.
Eric Hinske in 2010: One extra-base hit in one AB.
Johnny Crunch
April 5th, 2010
6:34 pm
Mark Bradley……..my bad. How thoughtless of me to short change Greg “The only way I can get on base is hope that the pitcher forgets to throw strikes” Norton.
Johnny Crunch
April 5th, 2010
6:36 pm
ESPN just said that there were over 53,000 fans at the ballpark today. The Braves must have sold a gang of standing room cheap tickets because there were a noticable number of empty seats in the field level section all around the park. Behind home plate (you know, where the expensive seats are) had gaps of empty seats.
Johnny Crunch
April 5th, 2010
6:38 pm
I know that it’s only 1 game, but the bullpen so far looks good.
After 1 start, Derek Lowe will be 1-0 despite having an ERA of 7.50, lol.
Meanwhile, I predict that Kenshin Kawakami will lose next Sunday in San Francisco despite giving up 1 run in 6 innings.
Johnny Crunch
April 5th, 2010
9:46 pm
Nice putting the hammer on the Cubs at the end. Looks like the offense is improved….as well as the bullpen. Hopefully Jurrjens and Hanson can complete the sweep to open the season.