The newly patient Braves are closing in on first-place Philly
Chipper Jones hit this one where the Pirates weren't. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
We’re seeing a different sort of Braves, and the difference isn’t just between bad and good. It’s the difference between professional and amateurish. It’s the difference between a guy who’ll take a pitch and one whose aim every plate appearance is to air-condition the ballpark.
“We seem like we’re a patient team,” Jason Heyward said Sunday. “We don’t give any at-bats away.”
The Braves … a patient team. When last could we say that?
Said Chipper Jones, drafted by this organization in 1990: “I never thought I’d see it here. Bobby Cox’s way is to sit back and wait for the three-run homer. This team is more suited to my liking — .300 hitters, .400 on-base percentages.”
The men who batted first, second and third in Sunday’s lineup — Martin Prado, Omar Infante and Heyward — finished the game hitting above .300. The man who delivered the tiebreaking single in the eighth — Jones, appearing as a pinch-hitter — has an on-base percentage of .399. The man who drove in the clinching runs with a triple off a lefthander submariner — Heyward, hitting against Pittsburgh’s Javier Lopez — has an OBP of .421.
Jones again: “It started to click when we got the best on-base percentage guys [meaning Prado, Heyward and himself] at the top of the lineup. [Brian McCann's RBI] numbers are going up. Troy Glaus’ numbers are going up.”
Even as we lament the miseries of Nate McLouth and wonder when Yunel Escobar will find himself, we must credit the Braves for this: They’ve taken a flawed batting order and turned it into something worthwhile, and they’ve done it in a way unlike any band of Braves in memory.
Jones: “We’re leading the league in walks by a pretty fair margin … In the past, we’ve swung ourselves out of innings. But now we’re giving the opposing pitcher a chance to beat himself, and sometimes he will if you let him.”
Said Terry Pendleton, the batting coach: “When you’re patient, you get to see more pitches, and it gives you the opportunity to hit the pitch we want to see.”
And this has been the time-honored Braves method? Said Pendleton, laughing: “I can honestly say we’ve been a team that swings first and thinks about it later.”
No longer. Maybe it’s because these Braves don’t possess megatons of power. (They’ve hit 40 home runs in 50 games.) Maybe it’s because recent imports — Troy Glaus, Eric Hinske, even Melky Cabrera — have American League backgrounds, and the AL way is to work the count for all it’s worth. Or maybe the patience of the 20-year-old Heyward has rubbed off on his elders. But something has taken hold.
Sunday’s victory marked the Braves’ ninth in their final at-bat this season. It was closer than necessary — they left 10 men aboard in the first six innings — but in the end it felt inevitable in this newfangled way. McLouth walked leading off the eighth and stole second. McCann walked as a pinch-hitter. Jones fought off a fastball and dunked it into left field.
“It got me pretty good,” Jones said, speaking of Joel Hanrahan’s delivery, but he put it in play. It’s uncanny how much can happen if you manage that simple act.
And now the Braves, who trailed the Phillies by 6 1/2 games on May 17, have a chance to lead the National League East by the close of business Memorial Day. “We haven’t been this close to the top in a long time,” Jones said, “and now we’ve got a chance to be in first place [Monday] after the April we had.”
This from a team that has a center fielder batting .184 and a gifted shortstop needing a 3-for-5 afternoon to nose above .200. This from a team that hasn’t yet gotten a win from two starting pitchers — Kenshin Kawakami, who yielded a tying homer in the seventh inning Sunday, and Jair Jurrjens, who’s on the disabled list. This from a team that was 8-14 a month ago.
These aren’t the Braves we’d come when they were taking those 14 division titles, but the 2010 Braves have started to win. Once you start, it gets harder and harder to stop.
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98 comments Add your comment
Formul8or
May 30th, 2010
9:08 pm
“As constituted, these Braves aren’t going to win anything”
peckinpah
May 30th, 2010
9:08 pm
I dunno if what Chipper said is an attack on Cox at all, Mitchell. The sit back and wait for the tree run homer is what the Phillies (by their own admission) are built to do, and it seems to have worked out pretty well for them. I think Chipper is referring to in the past, when the Braves lineup had the Justice’s, the McGriff’s, the Klesko’s, Lopez’s, and Galaraga’s they would sit back and wait for one of the aforementioned power hitters to get one. It was a sound strategy then, but now the lineup doesn’t have those kinds of hitters with the exception of Heyward.
Expert commentary
May 30th, 2010
9:29 pm
Today’s installment of “I’m going to try so hard to set myself up as an expert I end up looking like a jack@ss.” Winner: Inside Edge Scouting Service, who in its infinite wisdom gave Roy Halladay a B+ for his last start.
Thomas
May 30th, 2010
9:30 pm
I watched Friday and Saturday at the Ted, It is remarkable to watch the RAW talent of a rookie and Jason Heyward is the real deal. Soaking wet from the rain did not make me leave the ballpark because there is a chemistry that this team has that makes you want to watch it till the last strike is called. I am glad that I got to see this GREAT player play his first year in the bigs. This guy is a fans best friend. GO BRAVES!
mike
May 30th, 2010
9:31 pm
I love it that mark was wrong about a month ago…..weren’t most of us slightly pessimistic then? We should really all be appreciating this Braves’ rally, instead of bashing mb. Keep up the great writing Mark; I think you’re just staying current. If these Braves keep it up, they’ll be surprising a lot of people, after the way this season started. All you mb haters…..quit reading, retards…..Let’s enjoy our town, our team, and our writers….Go Braves!
JO
May 30th, 2010
9:37 pm
still not convinced they are going anywhere (highly doubt it) at least they dont stink anymore and that is OK
Reid Adair
May 30th, 2010
9:37 pm
Let’s not forget Chipper Jones also admitted that the bulk of their May success was against the “bottom feeders” (his own words) of the National League. If they can continue this against the likes of the Phillies and top teams, we will see.
Hank Still The King
May 30th, 2010
9:47 pm
“as constituted, these braves aren’t going to win anything….”
MB: Their constitution is still the same. Egg anyone?
Rafael
May 30th, 2010
9:48 pm
Mark? What the heck still doing in this team? Where is Blanco?
Rafael
May 30th, 2010
9:49 pm
I mean Maclouth! sorry!
country boy
May 30th, 2010
9:58 pm
Kudos to you Marky boy for writing this article and not mentioning the name Jeff Francour. I know it was tempting to interject that past issue somewhere in your piece.
hoho
May 30th, 2010
9:59 pm
instead of posting twice (some of y’all), why not just proofread before hitting “submit”?
it takes the same amount of time to proofread as it does to post again correcting your error.
i know, i know…it’s a blog, there ain’t no stinkin’ editing!
Hank Still The King
May 30th, 2010
10:11 pm
FYI: To date, Braves opponents winning pct is .492, Phillies opponents winning pct is .489.
Braves have handled the season pretty well don’t you think?
Tami
May 30th, 2010
10:11 pm
I love it. I did get upset with Bobby in the top of the 7th today when he left Kenshin in after it became apparent while facing the first batter in the inning that he’d run out of gas. He was getting upset on the mound with his pitches missing wide. Prior to that at-bat and with Kenshin’s history thus far this season, Bobby should have had pitchers up in the bullpen warming up just in case. Then, when Kenshin gave up the walk to the 1st batter, that would have at least warranted a visit by Roger. Instead, no twitches, reactions or moves of any kind took place. Second batter, first pitch and the Braves were no longer leading the game. So, Kenshin’s got to start winning, McLouth has got to start hitting & remaining consistent, and Escobar has got to stop with the “field with flair” attempts and just field solidly as if he was fighting for a place on this team. Then I would say that we have a team that can not only manage to fight to get in first place, but can stay there. I do like the potential of our team thus far, though. And, I like the Braves’ position going into this very crucial series with the Phillies.
frank james
May 30th, 2010
10:15 pm
Man it has been fun watching the Braves in May. It kills me when all these people get on here and bash the players and especially Bobby Cox and Frank Wren. I remember the 70’s and 80’s and I enjoyed Jerry Royster, Bob Horner, Dale Murphy, Glenn Hubbard, Rod Gilbreath, Biff Pocoroba, Rowland Office, Sonny Jackson, Phil Niekro, Ron Reed, and many others even when they didn’t win much. But all you bashers just think if you were a Pirates, Orioles, or Astros fan this year. I really fee for the Pirates. They were such a great franchise in the 60’s and 70’s. I will always pull for the Braves whether they are on top or bottom.
Stargazer
May 30th, 2010
10:29 pm
Honestly, Mark is at least showing a little restraint. The Braves have a little success against the “bottom feeders” and Chip and Dip (Joe Simpson) slobber all over themselves to paint this team out as the 1927 Yankees. I finally had to turn the sound down today they were laying it on so thick. C’mon guys, you are announcers, not cheerleaders.
Should Abraham Be at OTA’s? | Atlanta Falcons: Bird Cage
May 30th, 2010
10:37 pm
[...] Mark Bradley on the Patient, Winning Braves [...]
mudcat
May 30th, 2010
10:41 pm
Where are all the doomsday guys at? Must have gone back to their dorm rooms at Tech to study up on what to do during summer break.
extremus
May 30th, 2010
10:53 pm
The Braves have done very well and gotten hot at a very convenient time the past few weeks. In so doing they may have saved their season and are now neck-and-neck with the Phillies, who for the time being appear to have caught whatever bug the Braves had in April offensively.
But now comes the hard part; they have to play a lot of high-caliber teams, including the Phillies, directly. As nice as it’s been to see the Braves on this winning surge, most of it has come with a combination of crazy luck (as in that huge 9th inning comeback) as well as against what Jeff Schultz refers to as “bottom feeders”. Now we’re about to face some higher-level fare. We know the Phillies are going to break out of their offensive woes sooner or later; I just hope they wait until after they leave Atlanta to do so. But regardless, the true character of this year’s Braves team may well be told by how they perform in some tough-looking next several series. After the Phillies, the Braves are at the Dodgers, at the Diamondbacks, at the Twins, and finally at the Rays before coming home again to play Kansas City. If they can even manage a .500 record over that span, they are probably legitimate. If the wheels suddenly fall off, we’ll know they don’t have the makeup to win against the better teams,
In short, it’s gut check time. Hope the Braves are up to the challenge, and then some.
Herschel Talker
May 30th, 2010
11:01 pm
No doubt this team is on a roll. There is also no doubt that Booby will find a way to blow it. He is a moron.
ReddJonn68
May 31st, 2010
12:33 am
I say J-Hey Kid for MLB ROY & MVP ! He’s currently third in RBIs in the NL. No other player in the league as been more valuable to his team. Even before the bats in the lineup got hot, his so-called slump was not a slump he was just striking out alot. Even Bobby & Terry can’t screw his mindset up if they tried. He is just plain patient at the plate. Like I said early in the season we should bat him in the 3 spot, period end of story. The 2nd spot is debatable. If Yunel comes close to returning to form we should make the post season. We are on a decent run against some subpar comp (we broke out of the funk in Milwaukee). I do see another rough period, because no matter what the talent level Cox will coach it down instead of up. We have had some decent patience at the plate, so play those guys who are producing..
MitchC
May 31st, 2010
12:49 am
My friend Mark Bradley writing a postive article about the Braves? Am I reading this blog correctly, sir?
All kidding aside, I’m very proud of the Braves play of late. Making up 6 1-2 games in the standings in two weeks is a lot of ground. That having been said, the Braves really need to take two of three from the Phillies this week, to make a statement.
It will only be early June when the Phillies leave town Wednesday night, but, I still fear that Philly may be the better team over a 162 game schedule. They haven’t hit nearly as much as they should so far this year.
That having been said, if the Braves continue to play up to their capabilties, there is no reason why the NL East shouldn’t be close, and why the Braves should not win the wild card. That would be so nice to see in Bobby’s last year.
Hopefully we can do well against Philly this week.
Go Braves!
MitchC
May 31st, 2010
1:16 am
My comments dont seem to be going on your blog, so I’ll try again.
The Braves are playing very well lately. I’m proud of them. six games is a lot of ground to make up in two weeks.
That being said, it is all for naught if they dont play well this week against Philly. They need to win two out of three.
My feeling remains the same. I dont know if the Braves will win the East, but there is no reason they should not win the wild card, if they continue to play as they are.
SeATLite
May 31st, 2010
3:11 am
Gotta side with those who are confronting you with your words of a few weeks ago, Mark — you know, the ones that were 180 degrees the opposite of what you’re saying now.
I want to like your work. I grew up reading you, and Jeff Schultz. You guys were the voice of the AJC sports section for me.
But if this is the level of effort we can expect from you — if the best we can expect is that you will lazily slap together a column full of whatever unsubstantiated thought happens to be passing through your head that morning, no matter if there’s any data to support the thesis or if it happens to directly contradict the corresponding thought that passed through your head twenty days ago — then my question to you (and to Jeff) is:
Why on earth should we read you? What of value can you possibly be contributing?
I know the demise of the dead-tree paper is threatening your livelihood. I do not celebrate it. But the upside of the digital media revolution is that the wheat is more clearly separable from the chaff, if only because the facts needed to prove or disprove any assertion are so readily attainable. But apparently you, Mark, haven’t gotten that memo.
It gives me no pleasure to say this, truly it does not. But the plain fact is that, if you’re going to approach your work as if it’s still 1987 and no one will be able or willing to check your facts, or cross-reference you words today with the ones you wrote last month and thus notice that you’re happy to phone in a column, collect a progressively smaller check and insult the intelligence of your readers… then you will have no ground on which to protest when the internet comes for your job, as it almost surely shall sometime within the next few years.
I’ve watched one paper in Seattle die, not because it couldn’t compete but because it couldn’t adjust to the reality that the rules had changed and it could no longer coast. The other in this town is in dire shape. You know better than I that the AJC’s days, and the days of your employment therein, are numbered.
Don’t just go out with such a bloody whimper, Mark. Do something about it. Be good, for crying out loud. At least try. We’ll respect you if you try.
enz
May 31st, 2010
4:01 am
kenshin kawakami might be the worst pitcher in the big leagues…
glad we can pick him up…PLEASE bump him to the pen! Jee
SeATLite
May 31st, 2010
4:11 am
RE Enz: To play devil’s advocate, Mark, your readers aren’t doing much better. So at least you’ve got that going for you. Which is nice.
News and Notes from Around the Atlanta Braves Organization | Tomahawk Take | An Atlanta Braves Blog
May 31st, 2010
7:37 am
[...] Mark Bradley sites that a much more patient at the plate Braves team has quietly moved up the standi… We’re seeing a different sort of Braves, and the difference isn’t just between bad and good. It’s the difference between professional and amateurish. It’s the difference between a guy who’ll take a pitch and one whose aim every plate appearance is to air-condition the ballpark. [...]
Let's Go
May 31st, 2010
7:52 am
Finally a positive article from the crack AJC staff on the Braves. I think it’s time to look at these Braves as maybe a glass half full instead of half empty because like you said “Once you start, it gets harder and harder to stop”. Remember a couple of years ago when Tampa Bay started winning everyone said “it’s just a matter of time and they will crack and start losing again”. Well guess what, they won the AL east and went to the World Series and if the Braves continue to play the way they are I think come July you will see the front office start to look for trades to fill the holes that are in the line-up. Win anyway you can because you don’t get style points in the standings.
DHD
May 31st, 2010
8:17 am
No mention of what a good job Terry Pendleton is doing?” He is a bad coach when the team is not hitting. When they are….crickets.
Nice job, TP!!
Morrus
May 31st, 2010
8:17 am
Curiously, in a supposed anti-incumbent year, most of the departing are not retiring but seeking higher office. We may recycle more than we replace. The bad news is that a frustrating 114 seats still have but one contestant. Two of them aren’t even incumbents, meaning they will affect state policy without being vetted by voters. And I have to think that we’d be better off if many had run instead for the Legislature — and cut down on the number running unopposed. Georgia’s problems are numerous. They aren’t going away. There’s too much stale thinking at the Capitol, on both sides of the aisle. New voices would be welcome.
frank james
May 31st, 2010
8:23 am
Morrus- Go get the key to the bullpen and don’t comeback until you get it. I agree DHD, TP is used as a scapegoat many times.
Clay
May 31st, 2010
8:32 am
The Grinch: ” I think it’s safe to conclude the Nate McClouth experiment has failed, though.”
Yeah, and a month ago you were yapping about Glaus and Melky being terrible. It’s baseball. Players (and teams) have hitting sumps. Just ask Chipper. Or just ask the Phillies. They’ve been shut out 4 or 5 times in the last week. Is it safe to conclude the Phillies are a light-hitting team? I think not.
Be patient. Jeez.
frank james
May 31st, 2010
8:34 am
Clay – I agree it is a tough game. You judge it over a period of time. Go Braves and keep up the good work coaches, players, staff and some of the best fans in the game.
Flowery Branch Yellow Jacket
May 31st, 2010
8:39 am
Born and raised in north GA, I’ve been a Braves fan since they moved here in the 60’s. For the life of me, I can’t understand all these people who seem to hate Bobby Cox. The guy has the 4th-highest number of wins in MLB history, and his winning percentage is higher than any of his current competitors (La Russa, Torre, or Piniella). Bobby managed this team to 14 consecutive playoff trips, more than any other team in ANY professional sport. Who in their right mind thinks that Bobby doesn’t know and understand the game of baseball?
One other thing I’ve observed about Bobby Cox over the years … it seems that virtually EVERY major league player would welcome the opportunity to play for him. He maintains a peaceful locker room, a positive attitude, and a level of patience and professionalism that are practically unrivaled in professional sports. While the Braves have lost some great players to other organizations over the years, those losses have primarily been due to financial considerations. I don’t remember any players who wanted out of Atlanta because of Cox. (I’m not saying there are none … but I don’t remember them, so there couldn’t have been many.)
As this is Bobby’s last year, I wish him and the Braves the greatest of success … another World Series title.
MitchC
May 31st, 2010
8:45 am
Mark, Happy Memorial Day. Hope you have a good one.
I do have one question that you didnt address in your article. All season long you’ve consistently said: “Third place, this team isnt going anywhere”. Do you now recant that prediction, and admit the Braves have a chance to at least win the wild card, even if not catch Philly, or will it take a while longer for you to become a “believer” in what this 2010 Braves team will do?
frank james
May 31st, 2010
8:59 am
There is one thing about it. Every year that Bobby has been the manager I have felt like we had a chance coming out of Spring Training. I don’t care what business you are in you want stability and Bobby has provided that.
collegeballfan
May 31st, 2010
9:18 am
I have been saying for 2 months do not judge the Braves until June. It is still May, but I will give you the one day. So here goes.
I will stick with my prediction – 86 to 88 wins. Out of the playoffs.
Phillies are slumping at the plate at this time. But slumps always seem to end don’t they? And they have solid pitching. And I still like the Marlins.
Do not worry about Escobar – he is a career .293 batter with a OBP of .368. He will be OK as the season progresses.
The big concern is the health of the pitchers. If Hudson keeps this up he gets my vote for team MVP & National League comeback player of the year.
——————
Remember what Memorial Day is all about guys. Keep it clean and honorable in memory of those who have fallen.
SHO-NUFF
May 31st, 2010
9:21 am
First off, Morrus, why do you keep posting this same comment?
McLouth is a great defensive centerfielder. Surely(as Chip would say) TP is telling him to hit it where it is pitched. That uppercut and trying to pull every pitch isn’t working. He has come up to bat in too many game changing situations and failed to produce, this year.
SHO-NUFF
May 31st, 2010
9:24 am
Have some of the Braves hitters started listening to TP’s advice?
TommyJack
May 31st, 2010
9:31 am
Way too many negative nannies on here. Boring.
freshd
May 31st, 2010
9:41 am
TP for manager in 2011. LOL
Brock
May 31st, 2010
9:47 am
Braves really haven’t played anyone. Pirates? They should sweep the Pirates. Marlins have always had their number in the past but they should win that series and did. Let’s see how they do against the phils and then we’ll discuss. Phillies have been in a slump and they would love nothing more than to break out in atlanta. Beat the big boys and beat them consistently. Good luck bravos and happy memorial day to you all and especially to the soldiers.
If you see anyone that has served our country please tell them thank you.
BG
May 31st, 2010
9:54 am
I bet you Mark the phils break out of their off slump today.
8-4 phils and a series sweep. Which makes these stupid articles even more stupid.
Ed
May 31st, 2010
10:45 am
I just think Bobby should have let Kenshin pitch to one more batter to satisfy the 5 inning rule for a win.
Marc in FL
May 31st, 2010
10:59 am
Roy’s perfect game would be been waisted if not for the unearned run scored of Maybin’s error. He would have gotten a no-decision and the Phils could have still lost that game.
Their offense, their only realy strength, is ice cold right now. Our pitching this series is better then theirs, and right now our offense is their polar oppisite. We’re hot and they’re freezing. This has “sweep” written all over it.
goski99
May 31st, 2010
11:47 am
@ed…it was the 7th inning, he’d satisfied the “5 inning rule”, he hadn’t “satisfied” the give up fewer than your team scores rule. However, he pitched great and deserved a win, but as another poster pointed out, wins do not indicate how well you pitched neccessarily, just how well you pitched that day relative to your offense. KK is getting almost no run support. He has pitched just as good, if not better than Lowe and has 7 fewer wins. Just bad luck. BTW…I was about the only on pointing out that Glaus is ALWAYS a slow starter and would come around when everyone was calling for his release. Sometimes, patience is rewarded!
Chief pitchanono
May 31st, 2010
12:11 pm
Don’t know about the sweep, but 2 outa 3 will do just fine. I like Heyward and Chippers comments going into this series. Just another series, try your best to win it- no more, no less. They need to keep this relaxed attitude and just keep doing what they have been doing. Be patient at the plate, play good defense and good small ball and rely on their pitching. They have already done the hard part, overcame a six game deficit it two weeks. The Philly’s already know that its “game on” probably for the rest of the season. They may be slumping right now, but we know they will come out of it and it will be a dog fight untill the end. I think Philly expects to come in here and sweep us and quickly restore order in the division, as long as we can avoid that then we will be fine no matter what happens.
ATL FAN363
May 31st, 2010
1:03 pm
Let’s GO BRAVES