Live from Braves-Phils: First place – wouldn’t it be nice?
"Got to keep those lovin' good vibrations happenin'." (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
The Braves haven’t been in first place this late in a season since Oct. 2, 2005. They’ll be in first place if they win today.
How’s that for a snappy lead?
Memorial Day at the ballyard. Phils in the house.Big crowd assembling. Traffic a mess. Clouds overhead. Beach Boys to perform afterward.
(And here I pause for a Beach Boys digression. I saw Brian Wilson perform at the Daytona 500 a few years ago, and I thought to myself: Here’s an individual who couldn’t bring himself to leave his house — the one with the sandbox in the living room — for years at a time, and now he’s standing up there in front of a couple hundred thousand other individuals.)
Chipper Jones said it Sunday: “We’d like to win two of three. When we’ve played these guys the last few years, we went in knowing we had to sweep.”
True enough. Since 2005, which ended the run of excellence, the latest the Braves have been in first was May 15, 2007. So you could say there’s something at stake today. Then again …
It’s baseball. This is Game No. 51. There will be 111 games remaining after this. You don’t clinch pennants on Memorial Day, and the Phillies, who have been hurting — Jimmy Rollins is on the disabled list and Placido Polanco has been hurt — and who haven’t been scoring (six runs in the past eight games, three in the past six). And the Braves won’t face either Roy Halladay, who just worked a perfect game, or Jamie Moyer, who’s 2-0 against the Braves this season without yielding an earned run.
In sum, you have to think the Braves have a splendid chance to win this series, which would not only put them in first place on Memorial Day but would leave them there on June 2. Which would be big news ’round here.
And I’ll be here to witness the doings, and I invite you to join me. And if Brian Wilson and Mike Love get into a fistfight afterward — Love famously thought Wilson’s shelved masterpiece “Smile” was gobbedlygook — I’ll tell you who prevails.
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513 comments Add your comment
OldTimer
May 31st, 2010
2:58 pm
I might actually buy me a ticket. Been a while.
frank james
May 31st, 2010
2:59 pm
Prado needs to know better than throw his helmet. He better enjoy the momment! Have more class than that.
"Chef" Tim Dix
May 31st, 2010
3:00 pm
Gotta believe Nate’s woes equal Jordan S. underperformance at Gwinett.
Mike PA
May 31st, 2010
3:00 pm
Hey mark any chance Medlen stays in the rotation and KK goes to the bullpen when JJ gets back.
"Chef" Tim Dix
May 31st, 2010
3:01 pm
If this doesn’t give you chills and a reason to pause…
kurula
May 31st, 2010
3:01 pm
prado hates not getting a hit every time.
Elliptical Logician
May 31st, 2010
3:01 pm
When did we call up Blanco?
JTH
May 31st, 2010
3:01 pm
Even though McLouth can’t hit his defense has been great. Just leave him in the 8 hole. Prado leading off just makes sense, and I like Heyward hitting second. The results have been great so far.
Ashley
May 31st, 2010
3:01 pm
Why is Chipper constantly being referred to as “the old gray mare?” I know he’s old by MLB standards (late 30s), but he’s not gray. And he’s not a mare. Isn’t a mare a female horse?
Mark Bradley
May 31st, 2010
3:02 pm
Sure, Mike PA. There’s a chance.
ATL FAN363
May 31st, 2010
3:02 pm
Yea were stuck with nate
Bravissimo
May 31st, 2010
3:02 pm
They should give those honors at every game.
Mark Bradley
May 31st, 2010
3:02 pm
I believe it is, Ashley.
"Chef" Tim Dix
May 31st, 2010
3:03 pm
Chef approves uni’s.
Mark Bradley
May 31st, 2010
3:04 pm
Blanco was recalled on May 25. He took Brett Clevlen’s roster spot. Clevlen’s on the disabled list.
"Chef" Tim Dix
May 31st, 2010
3:04 pm
Uni’s look like Lamar Co. road crew uni’s.
.
May 31st, 2010
3:06 pm
Elliptical…Schafer is hitting 173 and has 11 hits in 57 abs. Not good news, maybe he needs to go down to Mississippie AA.
Bravissimo
May 31st, 2010
3:06 pm
I bet the Phil’s blogs are *hot* right now…lol
TONE
May 31st, 2010
3:06 pm
just comparing chipper to the song .
” the old gray mare ain’t what she used to be “
JTH
May 31st, 2010
3:07 pm
“Schafer is hitting 173 and has 11 hits in 57 abs”
Way too soon to judge that imo.
Mark Bradley
May 31st, 2010
3:07 pm
Here’s the thing: If you add McLouth’s .180 to Schafer’s .171, you get a platoon that’s hitting .351. Isn’t that correct?
Elliptical Logician
May 31st, 2010
3:08 pm
Looks like Jordo needs the summer to work the kinks out. September call up at the earliest. Darn it. Pick it up, Nate!!
ATL FAN363
May 31st, 2010
3:08 pm
Hanson’s pitch count is getting a little high
Bo Diddley
May 31st, 2010
3:08 pm
Take a bow, Tommy. You done good.
Mark Bradley
May 31st, 2010
3:08 pm
Hanson gives up a double. Cox has seen enough.
Actually, it’s because Hanson has thrown 109 pitches. Cox wanted to get him through the inning. But Ibanez hit one off the Budweiser sign.
"Chef" Tim Dix
May 31st, 2010
3:09 pm
In the American League Mark.
Elliptical Logician
May 31st, 2010
3:10 pm
How are we going to replace Hanson’s bat in the late innings?
"Chef" Tim Dix
May 31st, 2010
3:11 pm
Haven’t seen them all but Timmy Hudson is the best spitter in the dugout.
Mark Bradley
May 31st, 2010
3:11 pm
Still have Hudson to grab a bat, Elliptical Logician.
Mathematician
May 31st, 2010
3:11 pm
No, that’s a platoon hitting .176.
frank james
May 31st, 2010
3:12 pm
Hey Mark, are you any kin to Milton?
Mark Bradley
May 31st, 2010
3:12 pm
You sure, Mathematician?
Ah, well. I’m kind of a word guy.
Mark Bradley
May 31st, 2010
3:13 pm
The Phillies have scored!
Mathematician
May 31st, 2010
3:13 pm
Well, it might be .175523.
Mark Bradley
May 31st, 2010
3:13 pm
I am, frank. Uncle Miltie plays for the Mariners now.
ATL FAN363
May 31st, 2010
3:13 pm
contgrats phil you got one
Elliptical Logician
May 31st, 2010
3:13 pm
Kicked up chalk on that hit.
Marty
May 31st, 2010
3:14 pm
Why put Blanco in for Hinske and not McLouth?
kurula
May 31st, 2010
3:14 pm
uh oh…
"Chef" Tim Dix
May 31st, 2010
3:15 pm
Could be the uni but Moylan doesn’t appear to have missed any meals…Bobby get the hook!
JTH
May 31st, 2010
3:15 pm
Uh-oh?
.
May 31st, 2010
3:15 pm
Oh shI! here we go!
Mark Bradley
May 31st, 2010
3:15 pm
The Phillies have two runs!
Bo Diddley
May 31st, 2010
3:15 pm
Claudell Washington would’ve gotten to that all if he’d played 3rd.
Ashley
May 31st, 2010
3:15 pm
Come on Moylan, don’t blow this for us!
DC Braves Fan
May 31st, 2010
3:15 pm
Belliard, Ramirez, Royster . . All Hall of Famers in comparison to Andres Thomas.
And, fyi, not a bad word about Belliard. He very well could have saved Game 6 of the ‘95 World Series–the clincher. He made a nice running catch of a Kenny Lofton pop up for out number 1 in the 9th. Keeping that guy off base with the head case Wohlers on the mound protecting a one-run lead was not insignificant.
Mark Bradley
May 31st, 2010
3:15 pm
Three.
Michael
May 31st, 2010
3:16 pm
Three runs is too close.
Brock
May 31st, 2010
3:16 pm
Yep, don’t let Tommy try and get out of the inning. Bring in the bullpen and let them lose it. I’ve seen this happen too many times. Booby, you suck!!!
JTH
May 31st, 2010
3:16 pm
Thet’re just trying to set-up Wagner for the save.