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
#22=MANBEAST
May 30th, 2010
4:12 pm
McOut moves ahead of Chipper with a 4th SB.
"Chef" Tim Dix
May 30th, 2010
4:12 pm
Send him again?
#22=MANBEAST
May 30th, 2010
4:13 pm
Don Sutton makes a good point that a pitch-out with a guy who has trouble throwing strikes is a poor decision.
Mark Bradley
May 30th, 2010
4:14 pm
Although McCann does draw the BB.
Prado up, Chipper in the on-deck circle.
todd grantham
May 30th, 2010
4:14 pm
Dont get your hopes up Mark. the rain is coming and the score is tied.
Mark Bradley
May 30th, 2010
4:15 pm
I wouldn’t send McLouth to third, Chef. You’ve already got what you want.
Mark Bradley
May 30th, 2010
4:16 pm
Prado called out by the first-base umpire on a check. I thought he held it.
Mark Bradley
May 30th, 2010
4:16 pm
On replay he swung. On replay they always swing.
Marty
May 30th, 2010
4:17 pm
Why not run Mclouth again?
Mark Bradley
May 30th, 2010
4:17 pm
Chipper dunks an RBI single into left. Braves lead.
nola braves fan
May 30th, 2010
4:18 pm
cmon chipper
#22=MANBEAST
May 30th, 2010
4:18 pm
Attaboy Hoss, Chipper owns the bloop single lately.
nola braves fan
May 30th, 2010
4:18 pm
thank you Hoss… the greatest sigles hitting switch hitter in braves history
Mark Bradley
May 30th, 2010
4:18 pm
I wouldn’t have sent McLouth to third because you don’t want to run yourself out of an inning in which you’ve got the National League’s second-leading hitter and a first-ballot Hall of Famer due up.
"Chef" Tim Dix
May 30th, 2010
4:19 pm
A Ric Flair to left. Joe getting in on my act.
#22=MANBEAST
May 30th, 2010
4:19 pm
John Russell going lefty/lefty for MANBEAST.
Marty
May 30th, 2010
4:19 pm
Ok I was wrong. Great hit Chipper.
todd grantham
May 30th, 2010
4:19 pm
a hit is a hit, but Chipper was totally overmatched in that at bat
nola braves fan
May 30th, 2010
4:20 pm
actually hate giving chipper grief. been a great brave for a long time. just hate that he has lost the power stroke. watching him post up on a fast ball hitting lefty was one of the best sights in baseball. have we seen that all year? nevermind, atta boy w/ the RBI
Mark Bradley
May 30th, 2010
4:20 pm
The key in the inning was getting McLouth to second, not third.
And a pretty nice job of hitting by Chipper. Swung through the first pitch, put the next one in play. Didn’t hit it hard or far. Just went with it.
"Chef" Tim Dix
May 30th, 2010
4:21 pm
Mark, understand why you would not send him but with control issues and a potentail sac fly to score him, passed ball, wild pitch etc…Not Bobby ball but…
Mark Bradley
May 30th, 2010
4:21 pm
A pitcher from Japan is in line to win the game, but not Kenshin Kawakami.
Mark Bradley
May 30th, 2010
4:22 pm
Heyward with another double. Game’s over. (Figuratively, if not officially.)
nola braves fan
May 30th, 2010
4:22 pm
still pouring along the east side of 285, but rain avoiding the Ted for now. Get Wags out there fast
Sonny Clusters
May 30th, 2010
4:22 pm
The torch has been passed.
#22=MANBEAST
May 30th, 2010
4:23 pm
MANBEAST, “I gotcha Lefty right here John Russell!”
"Chef" Tim Dix
May 30th, 2010
4:23 pm
something tells me this kid from “Mac Donna” might just stick.
Mark Bradley
May 30th, 2010
4:23 pm
Yes, we need a quick out from Glaus. Tell him to remember what he was doing last month.
Senor24
May 30th, 2010
4:24 pm
I’m feeling a lot better about this game right now. Maybe the baseball gods were resting on Sunday.
Pirate's Catcher
May 30th, 2010
4:24 pm
!@#$%^&*()(*&^%$$#@!
Mark Bradley
May 30th, 2010
4:25 pm
The Braves gave themselves a chance to blow this one, Senor24, but they didn’t quite. (At least not yet.)
nola braves fan
May 30th, 2010
4:25 pm
updated stats – Prado leading NL in hitting and J-Hey now 3rd in RBI. who would have guessed that in March?
David C
May 30th, 2010
4:25 pm
that hit put Heywards obps+ to over 1000
Today's first bad pun
May 30th, 2010
4:26 pm
A Ric Flair to left? And I thought I was bad.
#22=MANBEAST
May 30th, 2010
4:26 pm
How many live last at bat wins will this be for you now, Mark?
"Chef" Tim Dix
May 30th, 2010
4:26 pm
bringeth on Wags.
Mark Bradley
May 30th, 2010
4:26 pm
So you’re saying Heyward is hitting 1.000, David C? I was just saying a while earlier that he never seems to make an out.
todd grantham
May 30th, 2010
4:27 pm
Mark, huge thunderstorm cell is almost at the stadium.
Mark Bradley
May 30th, 2010
4:27 pm
I am aware of the climate.
Mark Bradley
May 30th, 2010
4:28 pm
I think four this season, if this holds. Thanks for asking, #22.
nola braves fan
May 30th, 2010
4:28 pm
way ahead of yourself stat of the day – if the braves hold on they will be tied for the wild card lead.
"Chef" Tim Dix
May 30th, 2010
4:28 pm
TFBP: when an infielder “Ole’s” a ball is that a ‘Tito Santana’?
nola braves fan
May 30th, 2010
4:29 pm
am i the only one that misses bob wickman?
Mark Bradley
May 30th, 2010
4:30 pm
Yes, you are.
#22=MANBEAST
May 30th, 2010
4:30 pm
What are the odds on three consecutive 9th inning rain delays?
Climate vs. Weather
May 30th, 2010
4:30 pm
Climate is long term Mark; weather is day to day conditions.
"Chef" Tim Dix
May 30th, 2010
4:30 pm
Wags with the get out of here move…NICE!
Mark Bradley
May 30th, 2010
4:30 pm
There’s a scoring notation not often seen: Pop foul to 1.
nola braves fan
May 30th, 2010
4:31 pm
ok, good. such a good feeling w/ wagner in the game. was racking my brain for worst braves closer in the past 5ish years. That fatso came to mind…
Mark Bradley
May 30th, 2010
4:31 pm
Sorry. Climate vs. Weather. But I’m pulling for both.