Glaus! Heyward! McLouth! Folks, this is really getting good
How's that for your first extra-base hit of 2010, Mr. McLouth? Pretty sweet, you say? (AJC photo by Jason Getz)
An amazing thing has happened. A 20-year-old has become the rising tide that is lifting all boats. The Braves beat the reigning National League champs 4-3 on Tuesday on a night when they had no runs and surely no hope after 26 outs.
To recap: They were one out from being blanked on a night when the Phillies’ starting pitcher was Kyle Kendrick, he of the 17.47 ERA. But Kendrick had done as bad pitchers too often have done to the Braves: He made them look timid. He worked eight scoreless innings and left the game to Ryan Madson, who’s not really a closer but who’s trying to bridge the gap until Brad Lidge gets healthy.
Madson walked Chipper Jones with one out. Then he retired Brian McCann, and then you saw who was coming up next and you thought, “Good night, Irene.” Because it was Troy Glaus, the latest incarnation of the All-American out. Put it this way: When last did you hear a guy coming up with two out in the ninth being booed by the home crowd?
It had been, sorry to say, a Glaussian night. He had misplayed a grounder by Ryan Howard into an RBI single in the top of the fourth inning, and in the bottom he had hit into a 5-4-3 double play. Some pitchers have Tommy John surgery. Was it possible the operation Troy Glaus underwent last summer was Greg Norton surgery?
But then, just as you were about to throw a shoe at the TV, Glaus did the darnedest thing. He hit a home run. And suddenly the Braves had hope. They were still down a run, but the No. 6 hitter was due to bat. And it wasn’t the usual No. 6 hitter. No, on this night Bobby Cox had bumped up Jason Heyward, who had been batting in the 7-hole, ahead of Yunel Escobar. Talk about genius managing.
So: Here was Joltin’ Jason with a chance to tie it. And just as you were thinking, “Nah — he can’t do it again,” he did it again.
Home run. Tie game. Unbelievable.
We pause here to note that Heyward’s game-winning single against the Rockies on Sunday mirrored a fairly famous precedent: Bases loaded, two out, the Braves a run down and then walk-off winners. Anybody recall Francisco Cabrera, Game 7, 1992 NLCS?
These are the sort of touchstone wonders Heyward has already wrought, and Tuesday’s astonishment was the most astonishing yet. Because he was the middle man in a most unlikely group of homer heroes: Glaus you didn’t expect; Heyward maybe you did, but then …
Nate McLouth? Who hadn’t had an extra-base hit this season? Whose flailings had prompted this typist to note during Tuesday’s live online chat: “You can’t spell McLouth without O-U-T”? That Nate McLouth?
Yep. Led off the 10th. Hit a home run. Won the wildest game we had seen since … well, since Sunday afternoon.
I’ve said it before, and I say it again: Something’s happening here. The Braves are believing in a way they haven’t believed since the run of division titles was broken in 2006. They’re believing because they’ve got a difference-maker on their side now, a difference-maker who isn’t yet old enough to take a legal sip of champagne. But he will be come October. You might want to file that away.
There was no reason for the Braves to win Sunday, but they did because the rookie took four pitches before finding one to his liking. There was less reason for them to prevail Tuesday, but they did because Glaus, of all people, kept it going for Heyward and because McLouth, of all people, caught the contagion.
Before the game, Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel was asked if a transcendent young player — like the Phillies’ Howard was back in 2005, or like Heyward is today — can energize an entire franchise. “A guy like that can bring excitement and bring energy,” Manuel said. “He can bring a whole lot to a team and to a clubhouse.”
We Atlantans are seeing it on a daily basis. Barely two weeks on the job, Jason Heyward hasn’t just stamped himself as the Next Big Thing. He’s making a big thing out of the team around him. He’s making us think it’s 1991 all over again. And maybe it is.
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239 comments Add your comment
mary
April 21st, 2010
10:17 am
I live in Appleton WI….used to live in Milwaukee, where we attended many Braves games, until
they left town ! I used to get a lot of the games on TBS..but since the changes, I don’t get to see them a lot..but….I will see them tonight..on espn and again on Sunday ! and yes…I do recall that
game in 1992…and the hit by Cabrera.We were watching !! Go Braves !!!!!
Phoot
April 21st, 2010
10:17 am
Mark, I want a bean burrito with extra jalapenos if you are running to the Border.
If Glaus and McLouth start hitting then WOW!
Roto Rooter
April 21st, 2010
10:19 am
Braves Magic Number – 146!
Buzzed
April 21st, 2010
10:21 am
Me loves the “empty dugout treatment”. . . .
Phoot
April 21st, 2010
10:26 am
Yes Linzo J-Hey needs a nickname.
By the way – what is a Linzo?
W/E
April 21st, 2010
10:28 am
Is it me, or have we seen more late-inning success already this year, than the last 2 combined? That was ridiculous last night. Glaus salvaged his job for another week and how ridiculous is it that when you see Heyward step-up in a pressure situation, we already expect this kid to deliver and he has in almost every pressure spot so far. Nate also impressed me. I feel like Nate will be alright, I’m still waiting to pass judgement on Troy, but last night definitely made me go WOW.
Iceman
April 21st, 2010
10:30 am
“Hello Phillies, my name is Jason Heyward.”
Go Braves!
Kenny J
April 21st, 2010
10:30 am
No cred as a reporter/blogger Bradley. All winter you avoided it, and you’re still avoiding it. Our number 3 hitter is hitting .242 with 4 RBIs. You arrogantly pick on everyone but Chipper because your lips are firmly attached to his buttocks. If he’s that kind of multi million dollar number 3 hitter – this team is severely restricted. Why don’t you write with the same dour nastiness about him that you do the others you’re so pejorative about? At least then you’d be an honest reporter we might come to believe in.
JEZ
April 21st, 2010
10:31 am
Yea after the bottom of hte 8th I turned the tv off and said to my wife, I can’t watch anymore of this horrible game! Then first thing I see when I come in is another come from behind win! What an awesome way to start the morning! Aside from having to be at work and all…
The Truth
April 21st, 2010
10:33 am
And how about those fans! Wow! 18,000 (announced) shoe-horned into Turner Field! They love these guys!
Paddy O
April 21st, 2010
10:34 am
Mitchell: I am a Red Sox fan, since 1975. As a rep of Bosox Nation, after game 4, we were all saying, we got 1, we have a chance for 2. Now, after game 3, I was mad as hell – we had a great team in 04, much better than the 03 team, and we didn’t have Grady Little, so we had a good chance of winning. But if we had gotten swept by the Yanks, that would have been a disaster. As it is, after two extra inning games, we kicked those crummy dam Yankee butts. I have never been happier.
coach joe
April 21st, 2010
10:36 am
what a great win…man.. you haters try to enjoy it.
go braves…
Paddy O
April 21st, 2010
10:36 am
Kenny – you have no connection to loyalty, do you? Chipper his over 350 2 years ago – you let him do his thing. Also, if you are Braves fan, and still think the Jeff Francoer trade was a good move, I don’t feel any hesitancy at all to call those Braves fans that think that MORONS!
Paddy O
April 21st, 2010
10:39 am
MikeB – I agree with you. If Glaus is healthy, he should hit 20 HR & maybe 85-95 RBI. But McLouth & Cabrera, you could trade them off. However, if I was the Braves, I would have resigned LaRoche.
Algenis
April 21st, 2010
10:39 am
Loved the article but I think we are getting a little bit ahead of ourselfs. October baseball? Not so fast.
Yesterday was a great win. Just as I was planning my plot for this Friday as the Braves visit the Mets, I was planning to some how steal Troy Glaus’s bats, gloves and maybe arrange a pick up and have the driver drive him to all the way to Canada! As far away from the field but after the two run shot I hung up the phone,.
JRW7
April 21st, 2010
10:47 am
GO BRAVES!! But I do not like the no on field celebration, it robs the fans of some of the excitment of a walkoff homr run win celebration. That was stupid.
Glaus Rally Cap
April 21st, 2010
10:48 am
Kenny, you don’t understand baseball. Chipper makes things happen no matter what his average is. He walked to setup the Glaus two run HR, Heyward is the difference THIS year though.
I was at the game and made a cameo in the Glaus HR, in 25+ years of going to Braves games, the greatest ending I’ve ever witnessed. Heyward is something very rare and special in baseball, I can’t wait for tonight!
DawgDad
April 21st, 2010
10:51 am
Last night was like a lighting strike on a sunny day. About as unexpected as it could possibly be. You have to think watching a bullpen meltdown like that will take a toll in the Phillie clubhouse; they really don’t have anyone they can count on. My only caution would be it might be easier for the Phillies to plug a gap in their bullpen than it will be for the Braves to plug gaps left by aging and underproducing players in their lineup. In the long run Chipper, Glaus, and McCann have to stay healthy and produce, and we need a leadoff hitter.
Jesse Stone
April 21st, 2010
10:52 am
What kind of pitch did Glaus hit?
How2fish
April 21st, 2010
10:52 am
Very nice article MB its early and we will have some rough patches but so far I have to say..this is FUN!
BuckheadBrave
April 21st, 2010
10:53 am
well Paddy O given the fact Jason Heyward now mans Right Field, and Francoeur did go 0-7 two nights ago, plenty, if not all of us think the Francoeur trade was good. Jeff has given us no reason to think he will come back to haunt the Braves and if you are using a 2 week sample size against the entirety of a FIVE YEAR career to say he is back then you obviously don’t know how stats work. Its like the Vazquez trade why on gods green earth with all the data he has provided over t he years would you EVER the Javy could pitch like that 2 years in a row, it defies logic, as does thinking Francoeur won’t at some point go two or three months swinging at ever curveball within a mile of him.
Lt Col
April 21st, 2010
10:53 am
Think a whole lot of people in Atlanta owe Troy Glaus one Hell of a public apology and Jason Heyward and Nate McClouth a loud round of applause!
And it should all start with YOU—Mark Bradley.
Too tough 44
April 21st, 2010
10:54 am
THE BRAVES SHOULD BRING ON THE STEREOMONSTER ( COLUMBUS GA ) SONG BLOOD AS THEIR NEW RALLY SONG GO BRAVES!!!! GO BRAVES !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11
cleve
April 21st, 2010
10:54 am
great win yesterday i just wish more people showed up to see it
Jesse Stone
April 21st, 2010
10:55 am
Apologize to Glaus for what? I still think he’s a sub-par power hitter. Sure he came through last night but he has a long way to go to be average.
NC Braves Fan
April 21st, 2010
10:57 am
Jesse Stone: the pitch to Glaus looked like a fastball with too much plate and not enough movement. The pitch to Heyward was a bit better location wise, but had too much plate and didn’t tail away enough to miss Jason’s bat.
Phils are missing Lidge about now.
lazydawg
April 21st, 2010
10:58 am
Get on the bandwagon Mark!!! This could be special….
Gary
April 21st, 2010
10:58 am
Just traded Madson in my fantasy league for Jeff Niemann
BuckheadBrave
April 21st, 2010
10:59 am
Paddy O,
Plenty if not most Braves fans still think the Francoeur trade was a good one. Thanks for the insult but if you are using a two week sampling against a FIVE YEAR career to say he is better, than you are a moron who doesn’t understand statistics. Its just like the Javy Vazquez trade, given the huge sample size you have to look at there is no logical reasoning in saying he can have that type of year or even close to it consistently, where as Derek Lowe has shown he can, sure age comes into play but you have to play the numbers, you cant be a rogue GM wheelin and dealin on gut feeling. Its the same thing with Jeff if you go back to 2006 especially starting the end of 2006 there is no reason that doesnt defy logic to think he won’t go through a two or three month stretch swinging at every curveball thrown within a mile of him.
BuckheadBrave
April 21st, 2010
10:59 am
sorry thought the first one didnt post
Mark Bradley
April 21st, 2010
11:01 am
Madson reminds me of Kyle Farnsworth, FWIW. Throws hard but never works a clean inning.
BuckheadBrave
April 21st, 2010
11:02 am
I just can’t stand people trying to defend Francoeur baseball skills. He is a local guy and a good person, but don’t confuse that with being a good ball player. I agree with Heyward bringing back flashes of the 1992 Fransisco Cabrera single, but up until the HR Glaus was giving me scary flashbacks to Jeff Francoeur with all the bases loaded double plays he was hitting into.
Too tough 44
April 21st, 2010
11:03 am
MARK CK THAT SONG OUT ! IT HAS A A FUN PART WHERE THE CROWD GETS INVOLVED…….
papadawg
April 21st, 2010
11:11 am
I’m still trying to hold excitement down on Heyward but he keeps doing it against two weeks of pretty good pitching. Love his patience, doesn’t mimnd two strikes waiting on His pitch.
74 Dawg
April 21st, 2010
11:15 am
Make mine 4 original crunchy,Mark. And a couple early runs tonite to put the wind at Huddy’s back.
is30303
April 21st, 2010
11:23 am
looked the typical braves lost last night. around the seventh i had that sick feeling in my gut as usual. watching the braves loss to a sub-par pitcher (no disrespect but look at the career record). Kendrick was making the point that any pitcher in the majors has the ability to shut down any team on any night, regardless of records and stats.
its wins like this that make baseball great. thanks guys.
BuckheadBrave
April 21st, 2010
11:24 am
If Freeman continues to hit below .200 for a good period of time, and Glaus can’t prove he can do this consistently what do you think odds are the Braves will be looking for a Major League first baseman at the deadline, that they can keep around for awhile. Maybe Adrian Gonzalez? Wishful thinking I know.
Paddy O
April 21st, 2010
11:46 am
Buckhead – as indicated, MORON. Either Heyward or Frenchy would play a outfield position called LEFT. Or, don’t you want two great corner OF’s with cannon arms? Watch Francoer throw a guy out at home, the throw never touched the ground. Saved the Mets a run. In your GM world, one 0-7 gets a guy traded who is hitting over 350? BRILLIANT!
Paddy O
April 21st, 2010
11:47 am
It’s called coaching – constantly reminding him to lay off the late count breaking ball – something the Mets coaching staff seems to be able to do. If the insult shoe fits, wear it.
ShortBravesFan
April 21st, 2010
11:48 am
Although I did go to the Hawks playoff game last night, (and it was incredible-Go Hawks!) I heard about the end to the Braves game last night. I hope this gives Braves more confidence because really thats all they need right now.
If they keep hacking away, I think we will do fine. Again, its still just April. Lets just focus on one series at at a time! Lets win another one BRAVES!!!!
Paddy O
April 21st, 2010
11:48 am
Also, if the guy go thru 3 months bad, but still drive in 100 and hits 280, that makes you trade him for a guy you release less than a year later? MORE BRILLIANCE!
Paddy O
April 21st, 2010
11:52 am
Buckhead – you the personification of bad Atlanta sports fan. Local guys you support till they retire – especially if they are charismatic, excited to play, perform well – hit 25+ HR, 100 RBI, play good defense and have a cannon arm. I don’t think you can more accurately depict “fair weather” than what you just stated.
Dog The Man
April 21st, 2010
12:03 pm
WHEN WILL BOBBY COX MOVE HEYWARD UP IN THE BATTING ORDER???????
J-Hey Fever
April 21st, 2010
12:07 pm
Best investment advice this season is to buy one of these J-Hey shirts now at http://jasonheywardfacts.com
Go Bravos!
Blewitt agian
April 21st, 2010
12:12 pm
Greg Norton surgery is the line of the year! That was great.
Chip Shot
April 21st, 2010
12:15 pm
hey Mark, im sure you’ve heard this before…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8NzrySCcVE
Chip Shot
April 21st, 2010
12:16 pm
woops its this one lol
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5M_Ttstbgs
Mark Bradley
April 21st, 2010
12:19 pm
I actually thought of “For What It’s Worth” when I wrote that “something’s happening here” line a couple of weeks ago, Chip Shot. Check out the first two lines of that little submission.
ShortBravesFan
April 21st, 2010
12:20 pm
Thought I went to the Hawks game last night, (incredible game might I add-Go HAWKS) I heard about the end of the Braves game and I hope this gives them more confidence. Everyone is coming around on that team so we will do just fine!
Again, its still just April. Lets just take it one game at a time. Lets kick some more Philly butt! Go Braves!
Atlanta: Come show your support!!!
Phil
April 21st, 2010
12:24 pm
“But he will be come October. You might want to file that away.”
Ok, I will file that away along side “The Braves will be be in first place by July 4th and pulling away in September”.
I do agree that Heyward is special, but on the other hand we have Cox
who generally blows 10-20 games per year based on poor decisions. Just getting to October will be a challenge.