Live from Braves-Bucs: There’s good and better news
Good news: The Braves are playing really, really well. They’ve won 14 of 18. They’re a whisker out of first place, and not long ago they were last. They’ve raised their team batting average to .253, and a month ago they were under .230.
Better news: They’ve still got one game remaining against Pittsburgh, which isn’t the worst team in baseball but is looking like it.
Best news: They don’t have to face Roy Halladay when Philadelphia arrives this week.
It being (almost) Memorial Day, I’m tempted to make of the (in)famous Bradley milepost predictions: You know, like the one from two years ago where I said the Braves would be in first place by the Fourth and pulling away by Labor Day. I’m not going to do it this time, for a basic reason: I’m not yet sure how good these Braves are.
They had a rugged schedule in April. They had a soft slate for most of May. They look good at the moment. I’d like to wait and see how they look a few weeks hence. In other words, I’m resisting the urge — for maybe the first time ever — to pass judgment.
But certainly you’re free to express your sentiments as we proceed through the day, and I suspect we’ll be here awhile. Rain is surely coming, though the field is uncovered as of 12:55 p.m. (The ground grew is standing in the outfield. Ominous sign.) Still, that’s the beauty of baseball: You can tell me how wrong I am about the Braves — even though I’m kind of fence-sitting at the moment — at length.
As ever, I welcome your company. As ever, I say thanks in advance.
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424 comments Add your comment
Mark Bradley
May 30th, 2010
1:54 pm
In Madrid, I believe.
#22=MANBEAST
May 30th, 2010
1:55 pm
“Chef” Tim Dix, when I first saw Esky’s frosted tips, I thought it was an awful style decision on his part, and maybe his teammates, the Spanish-speaking ones, would razz him enough to make him shave it off. I was wrong…
Mark Bradley
May 30th, 2010
1:55 pm
The Pirates have a hit. I mention this because they don’t get many. They’re next-to-last in the league in team batting.
Mark Bradley
May 30th, 2010
1:55 pm
They are, however, good at hitting into double plays. Like that.
Today's first bad pun
May 30th, 2010
1:56 pm
In Madrid indeed Mark
Mark Bradley
May 30th, 2010
1:56 pm
I believe this is the day Kawakami gets his W.
Greg
May 30th, 2010
1:57 pm
Yeah, I can see how playing 3 afternoon games in four days would tax the older players. Getting up by 10AM, sitting on a bench and running the equivalent of 200 yards in intermittent sprints over the course of a 3 hour game puts an incredible strain on the human body. It’s particularly difficult when you’re only making tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of dollars per game. Poor guys…oh well, they can always go back in the clubhouse and take a nap during the game….
Real UT
May 30th, 2010
1:57 pm
I live in TB and have to listen to radio online for Braves games. I listen to a Montgomery station, and they still rip Kiffin in their sound bit advertising, lol. Worst. Hire. Ever. If it weren’t Bruce Pearl, then Mike Hamilton would be out of a job.
Real UT
May 30th, 2010
1:57 pm
Greg, AWESOME!
Mark Bradley
May 30th, 2010
1:58 pm
Lane Kiffin is kind of yesterday’s news in this part of the country, isn’t he?
Today's first bad pun
May 30th, 2010
1:58 pm
Maybe the Pirates need to remove the eye patch. Whatever they gain in intimidation, doesn’t seem worth the trade off of trying to bat with one eye on the ball.
Mark Bradley
May 30th, 2010
1:59 pm
That’s another good one, today’s fbp.
"Chef" Tim Dix
May 30th, 2010
2:00 pm
BEAST: up close and personal to his bone-headed plays I’ll bet Chipper has said a thing or to…”
That said, nice BH by El Frosto.
Real UT
May 30th, 2010
2:00 pm
That’s what I thought too Mark, but apparently he’s not in Alabama. Some of the guys who write for Knoxville News Sentinel are still bitter and depressed, too. I don’t see why, but they are.
Bluedawg
May 30th, 2010
2:00 pm
I think that when Jurrjens comes back that Kawakami should go into the bullpen and give that 5th rotation spot to Medlen. Medlen has been consistently better than Kawakami.
Mark Bradley
May 30th, 2010
2:01 pm
Even Melky Cabrera is hitting. Is it possible Frank Wren actually knows what he’s doing?
"Chef" Tim Dix
May 30th, 2010
2:01 pm
Could Ross be “Hoss” ver.2.0?
Real UT
May 30th, 2010
2:02 pm
Way to go Melky!
Ross
May 30th, 2010
2:03 pm
After Schultzie’s last blog bummer I was going to hang myself. Now I think I will just act out.
Real UT
May 30th, 2010
2:03 pm
Bluedawg, the Braves might have to make a KK/Medlen decision soon because they have to call Resop up.
Mark Bradley
May 30th, 2010
2:03 pm
It will be a tough call with Kawakami and Medlen. To his credit, Kenshin isn’t walking as many guys this season, which means he might have value as a reliever.
Real UT
May 30th, 2010
2:04 pm
The radio guys are acting as if we need a hit from Ross because we essentially have 2 pitchers at the bottom of the order. They might be onto something.
"Chef" Tim Dix
May 30th, 2010
2:05 pm
In April, Braves wouldn’t score in this situation.
Today's first bad pun
May 30th, 2010
2:05 pm
Mark I wasn’t sure I had my A game today, so I went with Today’s fbp
Meanwhile…the game continues
Real UT
May 30th, 2010
2:06 pm
Wasn’t KK pretty good out of the pen towards the end of last year?
"Chef" Tim Dix
May 30th, 2010
2:08 pm
Jordan S. could have struck out there to in my line up.
Mark Bradley
May 30th, 2010
2:10 pm
McLouth strikes out swinging.
Mark Bradley
May 30th, 2010
2:11 pm
KK strikes out. But Prado will hang a masterpiece on the wall. (Still doing the museum bit.)
"Chef" Tim Dix
May 30th, 2010
2:11 pm
Here’s that guy again…
Mark Bradley
May 30th, 2010
2:12 pm
Well, I stand corrected. And I have seen Prado make an actual out.
Greg
May 30th, 2010
2:12 pm
Typical Braves. Bases loaded, no outs. No runs
SRF
May 30th, 2010
2:12 pm
WASTE !
"Chef" Tim Dix
May 30th, 2010
2:12 pm
Hopefully Prado doesn’t cut his ear off, but KK might.
Real UT
May 30th, 2010
2:13 pm
Bases loaded. No Outs. No Runs. Unacceptable.
Adam Hose
May 30th, 2010
2:13 pm
McClouth is BRUTAL
Mark Bradley
May 30th, 2010
2:14 pm
Ha. I laughed, Chef.
Mark Bradley
May 30th, 2010
2:15 pm
You know, watching McLouth and watching the Bucs, I can almost see why he stood out on that club.
"Chef" Tim Dix
May 30th, 2010
2:15 pm
Just staying with the theme, boss.
Adam
May 30th, 2010
2:16 pm
No surprise that the Bucs let him go.
barryrules99
May 30th, 2010
2:16 pm
How, on God’s green earth, is McLouth still playing in the major leagues, much less for the Braves?
tell it like it is
May 30th, 2010
2:16 pm
gotta do something with McClOUTt!
Real UT
May 30th, 2010
2:17 pm
I can see why they traded McLouth, all 3 of their current outfielders are better. Even at the time of the trade, when Morgan was still on the Pirates, that was probably true.
Mark Bradley
May 30th, 2010
2:17 pm
More good news: The Braves’ No. 8 hitter is outhitting Pittsburgh’s No. 8 man.
Mark Bradley
May 30th, 2010
2:17 pm
Should have been a double play. Escobar couldn’t get the ball out of his glove.
"Chef" Tim Dix
May 30th, 2010
2:18 pm
Bobby’s last act as manager, kicking Esco’s ass.
Dayman
May 30th, 2010
2:18 pm
@22=Manbeast
Indeed it is.
Joey
May 30th, 2010
2:18 pm
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE sit McLouth’s butt on the bench and keep it there. We can’t have two automatic outs in the lineup at the same time. Inning killer, rally killer, insert your favorite perjorative here….
Mark Bradley
May 30th, 2010
2:19 pm
The Braves misplayed that bunt but Prado managed to get the out.
Marty
May 30th, 2010
2:19 pm
McLouth is a piece of crap. In mhy opinion, we really need to trade for an upgrade in center. I think left will be fine but McLouth is becoming an automatic out these days. If they are wanting to send Bobby out on a bang, then they need to act like it and complete our team. Mark, have you heard of any trade rumors for the Braves?
#22=MANBEAST
May 30th, 2010
2:20 pm
Dayman, I’ve had that song stuck in my head since that post, lol.