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.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
424 comments Add your comment
Cornfuzed
May 30th, 2010
2:41 pm
I would even rather have Infante play LF and let Conrad play 3B on days Chipper needs an off day.
Mark Bradley
May 30th, 2010
2:41 pm
One reason, Cornfuzed, is that the Pirates started a lefthander. I haven’t seen Cox start Hinske against many of those.
Mark Bradley
May 30th, 2010
2:42 pm
Generally it’s not a good sign if a hitter is unclear on the zone.
Today's first bad pun
May 30th, 2010
2:43 pm
What the heck is Bobby reading on the bench? Field and Stream?
Mark Bradley
May 30th, 2010
2:43 pm
“War and Peace.”
Joey
May 30th, 2010
2:44 pm
What’s the ETA for the rain heading that way?
Cornfuzed
May 30th, 2010
2:44 pm
Mark- I’m just saying- McOut is a lefty too, and he is an automatic out no matter which arm the opposing pitcher uses.
#22=MANBEAST
May 30th, 2010
2:45 pm
What can Ross and KK possibly be talking about, lol?
Today's first bad pun
May 30th, 2010
2:45 pm
Whatever it was, he was really into it, as they showed two separate camera shots of him reading it.
Mark Bradley
May 30th, 2010
2:47 pm
Maybe that’s the solution: McLouth should try batting righty.
#22=MANBEAST
May 30th, 2010
2:47 pm
The Pirates are in town, so Bobby is getting a head start on his Summer reading list. Chipper walked out the lineup card, so maybe he’s spot managing today.
Adam
May 30th, 2010
2:47 pm
KK is forcing the pitch count up!
nola braves fan
May 30th, 2010
2:47 pm
glad to have the bloggin fool back, hope you are well MB.
if Glaus keeps hitting and driving in runs Mark, are you going to retire the greatest picture of all time (the one of Wren.Bobby, Glaus)?
Mark Bradley
May 30th, 2010
2:48 pm
I might have to retire it, nola. But it would be a real loss, don’t you believe?
Mark Bradley
May 30th, 2010
2:49 pm
Three more outs and it’s official.
gabuldawg
May 30th, 2010
2:50 pm
Just like I said when the Braves were playing awful during that 9 game losing streak, we need to be patient. It’s a long season. Mclouth will break out of it soon. It wasn’t long ago that everyone wanted to hang Glaus too…
nola braves fan
May 30th, 2010
2:50 pm
the expression on Bobby’s face. Absolute classic moment in ATL sports. seems like bobby is thinking… “i have to run this guy out there every day at 1st. does he still play. and this idiot Wren already traded away my #1 starter”
Mark Bradley
May 30th, 2010
2:51 pm
A strange thing just happened: Joe Simpson and Chip Caray just yelled at me and waved. I have no clue why.
"Chef" Tim Dix
May 30th, 2010
2:51 pm
BTW, thanks for your service, VETS.
nola braves fan
May 30th, 2010
2:51 pm
not sure of the order of events actually, had Wren pulled off the Melky for Javier caper yet?
Mark Bradley
May 30th, 2010
2:51 pm
And the expression on Wren’s face was classic, I must confess.
"Chef" Tim Dix
May 30th, 2010
2:52 pm
Do you owe them money Mark?
nola braves fan
May 30th, 2010
2:52 pm
Ditto “Chef”
Mark Bradley
May 30th, 2010
2:54 pm
I don’t believe so, Chef. And TV guys are fabulously wealthy, as we know.
kurula
May 30th, 2010
2:54 pm
what’d i miss everyone? is mclouth 3-3 with 2 homers and a triple?
Nick Esasky
May 30th, 2010
2:54 pm
Can Bobby possibly think that McLouth is better against lefties than Hinske? He couldn’t think that, could he? Oh, wait, this is the same man who kept Prado on the bench for the first half of the year while Kelly Johnson did…about as good as McLouth is doing. Amazing.
I like McLouth…I think he’s a good guy. But enough is enough.
LF – Hinske CF- Cabrera RF – J Hey
We’ll see how long it takes Bobby.
"Chef" Tim Dix
May 30th, 2010
2:55 pm
Quick story: Next door neighbor is a WWII vet, served in the Pacific. Told me a story one time of intercepting scores from the 44 WS and then making correct wagers. I smiled, remembering that happening on an episode of MASH.
Nick Esasky
May 30th, 2010
2:55 pm
* I meant to say kept Prado on the bench for the 1st half of LAST year…
Go Braves!
Adam
May 30th, 2010
2:56 pm
Screw you CEDENO! Strike out already!
Mark Bradley
May 30th, 2010
2:57 pm
One out to go. To official status.
Mark Bradley
May 30th, 2010
2:57 pm
Philly is trailing, FYI.
kurula
May 30th, 2010
2:57 pm
nick-maybe bobby saw the untapped power potential that he brought to arizona?
Mark Bradley
May 30th, 2010
2:57 pm
OK, we’re official.
nola braves fan
May 30th, 2010
2:57 pm
for the few on here who might be bradley novices, here is a blog featuring the aforementioned “great photo in ATL sports history”. Look at that grin on Wren’s face… maybe he knew all along, “ok, this guy will strike out 10 times in April with the bases loaded, but will rake in May folks”
http://blogs.ajc.com/mark-bradley-blog/2010/03/30/still-another-sunny-braves-forecast-bah-humbug-i-say/
Adam
May 30th, 2010
2:58 pm
That will work too. Thank You! Jeez!
"Chef" Tim Dix
May 30th, 2010
2:58 pm
Put it in the books.
gabuldawg
May 30th, 2010
2:58 pm
Mark, I’m over in Iraq right now. What’s the latest on JJ on when he’s coming back?
Mark Bradley
May 30th, 2010
2:59 pm
Thanks, nola. I should have done a link myself, but I’m getting lazy.
#22=MANBEAST
May 30th, 2010
3:00 pm
Bobby looks like he’s thinking, “You called me in for this?”
"Chef" Tim Dix
May 30th, 2010
3:00 pm
gabuldawg: You my friend are the MAN!
nola braves fan
May 30th, 2010
3:01 pm
must say it was like a walk down memory lane to find that post. flipped past Hawks debacle, G-day, NFL draft, Hayword mania begginning, etc…. “like sands through an hourglass….”
gabuldawg
May 30th, 2010
3:01 pm
Thanks Chef. Do you know the status on JJ and when he’s coming back?
Mark Bradley
May 30th, 2010
3:01 pm
Not for a while, gabuldawg. The Braves want him to go through a series of rehab starts. I wouldn’t think we’d see him before the end of June.
Best wishes to you over there.
"Chef" Tim Dix
May 30th, 2010
3:02 pm
Can’t wait for the rhubarb Troy is involved in.
Nick Esasky
May 30th, 2010
3:02 pm
kurula – Good point. But how long do you wait to discover the untapped potential in McLouth? He’s been here since last summer, and hasn’t done much yet.
#22=MANBEAST
May 30th, 2010
3:03 pm
gabudawg, God bless and be careful. You’re a brave soul.
nola braves fan
May 30th, 2010
3:03 pm
get hayward back in the #2 hole quick… maybe there is something about hitting 3rd (seeing how well Larry is doing this year)
gabuldawg
May 30th, 2010
3:03 pm
Thanks for the update. Hard to get info over here sometimes.
Mark Bradley
May 30th, 2010
3:03 pm
Though I must say that esteemed colleague Chris Vivlamore reported yesterday that Jair Jurrjens had a nice bullpen session. So he’s again throwing off the mound.
"Chef" Tim Dix
May 30th, 2010
3:04 pm
Even less than…Nick Esasky.