The first-place Braves have come to believe in Santa Glaus
Chipper Jones gives Troy Glaus some RBI-inspired love. (AJC photo by Jason Getz)
From worst to first — in two weeks. Even the legendary worst-to-first Braves of 1991 didn’t manage that.
“That’s true,” Tom Glavine said, then the National League’s best pitcher, now an interested observer with two children in tow on Memorial Day. “We were slow and methodical.”
From worst to first in two weeks. From being the team that couldn’t manage an earned run against a Philadelphia starter during a three-game set here in April to the one that led 2-0 after three batters this star-spangled holiday. From being Frank Wren’s rent-a-wreck to wresting the division lead from the league’s flagship team.
The reversal has transpired, as reversals do, for many reasons, among them Jason Heyward and a lockdown bullpen and the continuing excellence of Martin Prado. But the biggest reason the Braves will greet June in first place is because of a general manager’s offseason reach.
Worst to first? Well, yeah. Troy Glaus was the worst player you’ve ever seen in April; he’ll surely be the National League’s player of the month for May.
Said Brian McCann: “He’s been unbelievable.”
Said Chipper Jones: “Twenty-eight RBIs in a month — I’ve never had a month like that.”
On May 1 Troy Glaus was hitting .194 with more strikeouts (21) than hits (14). On May 31 Glaus hit a three-run homer to clinch the game that lifted the Braves to the top of the NL East. The guy we couldn’t wait to bench — I described the Glaus of April as having undergone Greg Norton surgery — has become one of the two men (Heyward being the other) these Braves can’t do without.
Obvious question: What changed? Glaus’ answer: “It didn’t feel any different in April. It’s the results that are different.”
Glaus has been around. As an Angel, he was the MVP of the Rally Monkey World Series in 2002. Last December he became Wren’s greatest reach: A 33-year-old coming off shoulder surgery who was being asked to play first base, a position mostly foreign to him. So how did it feel, coming to a new city and playing on the other side of the diamond and hearing boos from the first week on?
“It wasn’t a whole lot of fun,” Glaus said. “I thought I was having good at-bats — obviously some bad ones, too — but this is a result-oriented business. At some point you’ve got to say, ‘I need to get a hit now.’ ”
In April he couldn’t buy a hit with American Express. In May he batted .330. And the reconfigured first baseman who’s making $1.175 million has driven in more runs in 2010 than the Phillies’ first baseman, and Ryan Howard just signed a contract extension for $125 million. Funny old world, huh?
“I’m not here for numbers,” Glaus said. “I’m here to help the team win. That’s been the goal from Day 1. For the first 3 1/2 or four weeks, it didn’t work out that way.”
But now it is. The Braves’ much-derided first baseman has become the run-producing engine on a first-place club. Said Jones: “That’s what happens when you get a hitter whose confidence is up and you get runners on base in front of him.”
The Braves were reborn when Prado became the leadoff hitter and Heyward moved into the No. 2 hole. Even though Jones and McCann haven’t had great hitting seasons, they’re still among the league’s top 10 in on-base percentage. And the guy who seemed to strike out in every key at-bat in April was recast as Old Reliable in May.
Glaus: “It’s about having opportunities. The guys at the top [of the order] have been on base a bunch.”
But the Glaus of April had RBI chances, too. He just didn’t avail himself of them. Now he is. And now his team is in first place. You wouldn’t have bet on either thing occurring, but here we are. A team has gone from worst to first. A player has gone from pitiful to potent. And the man who brought him here? He’s not doing so bad himself.
Said Chipper Jones: “Troy Glaus is making Frank Wren look pretty good right now.”
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211 comments Add your comment
Bobby Cox
May 31st, 2010
6:04 pm
First!? Nah prob. not. I’ll just go back to sittin in my mom’s basement waiting for a new article to be posted….tis’ the life
Don B
May 31st, 2010
6:06 pm
He has been unbelieveable in May. And not bad with the glove at first base. What a steal!!!!
Overspray
May 31st, 2010
6:07 pm
First…place for the Braves !
Marcel Marceau
May 31st, 2010
6:12 pm
I’m speechless.
UGA ALL THE WAY
May 31st, 2010
6:15 pm
Mark, thanks for being the only writer who seems to be able to write a story. Seems like your the only one who is still giving us readers something to read. Thanks again.
#22=MANBEAST
May 31st, 2010
6:15 pm
That was a nice read MB. Thanks. Go Braves!
Gman
May 31st, 2010
6:23 pm
Astonishing turnaround. The collapse of the Phillies and the great play of the Braves seemed impossible 3 weeks ago. It’s been like old times watching this team-good baseball is a lot of fun to watch.
Need to kick Philly while they are down and win this series. June is a pretty brutal schedule as the Braves play the Tigers, Twins, Dodgers and Devil Rays. They start with 11 straight on the road after the Phils. If they are in first place (or close) on July 1st, this season could be a lot of fun.
NCBravesFan
May 31st, 2010
6:23 pm
Nicely done, Mark! Good to see a guy who some of us (including me) wrote off after that horrible April. It will be interesting to see how the Braves follow up in June.
wxwax
May 31st, 2010
6:26 pm
“Santa Glaus”
Excellent!
I was just thinking the same thing, the man is starting to come alive and justify Cox’s faith in him. This is why players love to play for Cox.
Herschel Talker
May 31st, 2010
6:27 pm
Kudos to Glaus for turning it around. Let’s enjoy this while we can. As we all know that Bobby’s idiocy will doom us at some point.
Nikola Tesla
May 31st, 2010
6:29 pm
I’m shocked.
Geezer
May 31st, 2010
6:31 pm
Promote Medlin and get rid of Kawakami and we might have a decent rotation.
Let's Go
May 31st, 2010
6:34 pm
I have to admit I wanted Bobby to bench him and start Hinske at 1st base in April because it wasn’t that he wasn’t hitting he was striking out almost every at bat. Whatever was wrong he got it fix’d and I want to know how long before Bobby moves Troy to the 3 spot and hits Chipper 5th. Also, Bobby can’t go with Nate too much longer in CF if he doesn’t get out of this funk he is in. Melky is hitting the ball much better now and you got to get him in there more.
AKT163
May 31st, 2010
6:40 pm
Santa Glaus. Genius.
paw paw
May 31st, 2010
6:42 pm
All we need is to hit THE BALL. A little help on the picting would be nice. Braves CAN compete.Chipper needs to pick it up a notch.Brave haters need to root for another team!!
Mark Bradley
May 31st, 2010
6:52 pm
Thanks, UGA All The Way. And also to you, #22=Manbeast. We missed you on today’s little live chat.
Mark Bradley
May 31st, 2010
6:53 pm
Kudos to Bobby Cox, who has been ejected from 153 games but never first in this space.
Mark Bradley
May 31st, 2010
6:59 pm
And Don B is correct: Glaus has become an OK first sacker. The 3-6-3 DP he started on Ryan Howard’s grounder in the first inning was a big play in this game.
Rocky Balboa's Jock Strap
May 31st, 2010
6:59 pm
Get Nate McLouth out of the line up!! Are they only playing him cause he makes $5 mil a year?
"Chef" Tim Dix
May 31st, 2010
7:00 pm
You should have listened to me in April about Troy.
Yeah right.
Mark Bradley
May 31st, 2010
7:02 pm
I think the reason Cox sticks with McLouth is that the team is winning and that he’s the best defensive center fielder. And those are two pretty good reasons.
"Chef" Tim Dix
May 31st, 2010
7:03 pm
I’m waiting on the bench clearing brawl (probably from a Prado beaning) to see what Troy can really do.
BKP
May 31st, 2010
7:03 pm
Mark, why don’t they bench McClouth, put Cabrerra in center and Hinske in LF?
Brave New World
May 31st, 2010
7:04 pm
For all of us (me included) who were ready to write Bobby Cox off for his stubborn loyalty to his players, I’ve got just 2 words: “Troy Glaus.”
"Chef" Tim Dix
May 31st, 2010
7:04 pm
Better defensive CF than Jordan S., Mark?
Mark Bradley
May 31st, 2010
7:04 pm
You know, Chef Tim, I was wondering if the Philly pitchers might plunk somebody after Glaus hit the homer and the game was out of reach. Just to stir things up.
Mark Bradley
May 31st, 2010
7:05 pm
I think it would be hard to take a guy who was demoted last season, who has been injured and who’s hitting .171 in Class AAA and make him the everyday center fielder on a first-place team.
Michael
May 31st, 2010
7:06 pm
Mark Bradley, about the ejection thing: Every time Bobby gets ejected now someone in the national media mentions it and cites it as the all-time record, tells us how many, etc. But I’ve NEVER had a problem with Bobby’s ejections, because too often I’ve seen them fire up the team, or keep a player IN the game, or at demonstrate his support for a player. But it seems that is very seldom mentioned. It’s not like he’s one of the clowns who’s kicking dirt and spittle all around the field. I don’t think his ejection record receives the respect that it should..
"Chef" Tim Dix
May 31st, 2010
7:07 pm
Had their Mgr.not already been shown the door you might be right.
Mark Bradley
May 31st, 2010
7:07 pm
I give the ejection total the utmost respect, Michael. Indeed, I hope Cox gets tossed from nine more so he can make the claim that he was tossed from a full season’s worth of games.
And you’re right about the method of his thumbings: He doesn’t do it to show the umpires up. He does it because he’s fighting for every call.
Rocky Balboa's Jock Strap
May 31st, 2010
7:09 pm
Mark, do you ever think some of these people who live to be “FIRST!” need to get a hobby or get a girl friend? Enough with the first stuff already…….
aswingruber
May 31st, 2010
7:10 pm
Go back and read comments from the denizens about Troy Glaus in DOB’s April blogs to get a good idea of why you should never put stock in what fickle bloggers have to say.
J-Man
May 31st, 2010
7:12 pm
I want to be the first to say I WAS WRONG!!!!!! And I’m glad the Braves proved me wrong after that 9 game losing streak and being in last place I thought the season was over. Glaus has turned it around, but I thought he still was recovering and I think he is now full strength. His bat speed earlier is the season was “snail-slow” but he seems to have recovered and got his bat to 2002 levels. I’m impressed especially considering we have had no offensive play from CF, LF, 3B mostly and SS. Glaus is a true #4 hitter now and hopefully Escobar and Chipper will tear it up and McCann will get back to form if that happens then we will be super dangerious
IlliniBrave
May 31st, 2010
7:12 pm
I’m actually in the minority in wanting to stick with McLouth – he is by far the best glove in the OF. Melky scares me to death sometimes. I kinda like the Milk-toast platooning with Hinske. Like you said, MB, It’s working and we may not want to change anything.
Money Ball Is For Losers
May 31st, 2010
7:14 pm
Bradley, McClouth doesn’t suck in CF but did you see the route he took Saturday when he played a double into a triple? If you’re not hitting…. you have to play FLAWLESS defense. McClouth doesn’t.
Mark Bradley
May 31st, 2010
7:17 pm
McLouth isn’t great at going back on the ball. I didn’t see Saturday’s game but I remember him misplaying a ball earlier in the month — against the Mets, maybe.
JTH
May 31st, 2010
7:19 pm
“I’m not here for numbers,” Glaus said. “I’m here to help the team win. ”
-Troy Glaus
I like his attitude.
BKP
May 31st, 2010
7:22 pm
Well, numbers help the team. He wasn’t getting the numbers in April, and he is in May and we’re winning. Kind of a dumb thing for Glaus to say IMO.
Herschel Talker
May 31st, 2010
7:23 pm
MB:
The funny thing about McLouth is that if you look at his numbers over his first 6 seasons, they are undeniably better than Francoeur’s. Not that Frenchy is lighting it up with the Mets, but that is still pretty surprising. In all seriousness, what do you think has happened here? How could it be anything other than TP’s inability to get him straightened out after falling into a slump. Curious to your thoughts.
HT
GTSteve
May 31st, 2010
7:24 pm
I was actually afraid today that the Phillies would come alive when Manual got ejected….wasn’t it last summer when the Braves had won the first game against the Yankees and had them down in the 2nd game when Girardi (sp) got ejected and they came back to win and went on a roll…
Mark Bradley
May 31st, 2010
7:25 pm
I’ve heard it suggested, Herschel, that the Pirates believed McLouth was in decline and were therefore eager to move him. Don’t know if that’s true.
Erik in Carolina
May 31st, 2010
7:28 pm
Mark – love your writing, but you wrote several columns earlier in the season — including at least one trashing Glaus — that I think you need to do a mea culpa on. I think you were the leader of the charge at the AJC to deride the current Braves roster (or at least a number of its key ingredients) and, most importantly, whether the sum of its parts would enable the Braves to win this year. Let me know when you’ll be posting that story admitting you were too quick to judge. Thanks and keep up the good work.
"Chef" Tim Dix
May 31st, 2010
7:29 pm
Nate’s biggest problem? The Braves have an effective #1 and two. His speed is not complementary in the 8 spot.
Mathman
May 31st, 2010
7:29 pm
Update from Myrtle Beach. Julio Teheran pitched 8 innings today in a victory: 8 IP- 6 hits-0 ER– 0 BB’s– 14 K’s. Teheran is on the fast track, 20 years old and has already been in Rome this year. Look for Teheran to finish the season at Miss, go to the Arizona Dev League, and be in the ML camp next March with a chance to make the team in 2012.
Stats: MB– 21 IP– 14 hits– 1 ER– 4BB’s– 28 K’s– W 2 L 0.
Rome: 39 1/3 IP– 23 hits-5 ER– 14 BB’s– 73 K’s–W 2 L 2
Totals: 60 1/3 IP– 37 hits– 6 ER– 18 BB’s– 101 K’s–Won 4 lost 2.
As for KK, he is not as good a pitcher as Medlin period. Doesn’t matter if it is the bullpen or starter. Medlin is better period. I have said it before and I will say it again. If you get KK a one run lead, he will lose it. If he gets a 2 run lead, he loses it. He cann’t keep his team the lead. He also leads the staff in homers allowed. Very expensive mistake for Wrenn. Resop could do much better NOW.
Don’t think you can blame TP for McLouse’s performance unless you are going to give credit to him for Escobar coming out of his slump, Glaus, Melke hitting better, etc. Do you also give credit to TP for Hinske having 20 Rbi’s and hitting over .300 in limited at bats and hitting much better than he has in years? Do you credit TP for Ross’ big weekend? Why not just admit the truth? McLouse simply can’t hit and is not going to hit. He probably should just try to drag bunt at least once a game and hope for a walk in the other at bats.
In Attendance on April 8, 1974
May 31st, 2010
7:30 pm
If McLousy has not turned it around by the all-star break, they’ve got to let him go. The guy is an automatic out at this point. And his defense is mediocre at best. 4 more weeks to turn it around or he’s gone, and he only gets that much time because they’re paying him 5M this year.
GTSteve
May 31st, 2010
7:30 pm
I think the reason that they parted ways with Mclouth, is because of McCutchen
"Chef" Tim Dix
May 31st, 2010
7:32 pm
I’m still riding the horse that says Jordan S. D, overrides Nates’ right to be at the show.
I was right about Troy wasn’t I?
Tweets that mention The first-place Braves have come to believe in Santa Glaus | Mark Bradley -- Topsy.com
May 31st, 2010
7:35 pm
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"Chef" Tim Dix
May 31st, 2010
7:35 pm
McCloud rode a horse didn’t he? On the streets of NYC?
Bobbi Dud
May 31st, 2010
7:36 pm
Won’t last!! Frenchy was a had to trade battin 200 but McLouth must have pictures of TP and Bobbi or something!
Elliptical Logician
May 31st, 2010
7:40 pm
Dammit, I expected a run-down of the Beach Boys concert, and all you can muster Mr. Bradley is some lame fawning over the NL Player of the Month?
Seriously disappointed, I am.
MitchC
May 31st, 2010
7:42 pm
Mark, I told you when you kept writing “Third place” before the season, and in the early going to give this team time. What do you think now?
I’m well aware that its only May 31st, and we cant get giddy. We need to win one more game in this series, and then we have a killer road trip coming up. All we have to do is keep playing as we are, and I believe this team will make the playoffs, either as the wild card, or maybe, just maybe, as the NL East champs. Wouldnt that be nice in Mr Cox’s last year?
tom
May 31st, 2010
7:42 pm
My prediction for Troy as camp broke, and written here, was 26 HR, 95 RBI and .285 BA……looks like I underestimated a little!
"Chef" Tim Dix
May 31st, 2010
7:42 pm
Oh and since now we can rewrite prior blog statements let me say that i was the first to say Nate was damage goods when he ran into our statue in left field last August.
GTSteve
May 31st, 2010
7:43 pm
Mark are you still here??
"Chef" Tim Dix
May 31st, 2010
7:44 pm
I also correctly predicted the gulf oil spill.
IlliniBrave
May 31st, 2010
7:44 pm
Maybe we all should just chill and suspend judgment for now on McLouth.
I’ll admit, I was all over Glaus (Guy-Like-Andruw—Usually-Strikesout) and Milk-toast and wanted them both, along with McLouth and Yunel, gone. Well, the first two have turned it around, Glaus in a big way, and maybe the other two will as well. We do have some breathing room now. We can wait on these guys to resemble even half of their normal selves, and have Chipper and B-Mac start clicking. If all that happens, we may be the team to beat in the NL.
"Chef" Tim Dix
May 31st, 2010
7:44 pm
And tonights Cash 3 numbers.
Mark Bradley
May 31st, 2010
7:45 pm
I’m pretty good at mea culpas, Erik in Carolina. But let’s wait just a little longer on this one. I’m not eager to be wrong twice on the same subject.
Mark Bradley
May 31st, 2010
7:46 pm
I’m here, GTSteve.
Bob in SF
May 31st, 2010
7:47 pm
If you are into fielding metrics McLouth was never a great CF to begin with; his range numbers and put outs were average even the season he won a Gold Glove. We also got used to Andruw who in 2007 had one of the greatest defensive metric seasons in recent baseball history by a CF which makes his sudden drop off even more tragic. In other words McLouth’s D is simply not enough to keep hi weak bat in the line up. Blanco is a better replacement value player at his point because he has more range and isn’t quite the out machine McLouth has become.
"Chef" Tim Dix
May 31st, 2010
7:50 pm
Bob in SF: A Jones greatest defensive CF EVER. Even the dead will agree.
GTSteve
May 31st, 2010
7:50 pm
I sent you an email of my plan to fix baseball, have you had a chance to read it…..and if so, what do you think…I know it would never happen…but…I think it creates a good conversation
Mark Bradley
May 31st, 2010
7:50 pm
The Beach Boys were OK. They did all the usuals: “Fun, Fun, Fun,” “Barbara Ann,” “Help Me Rhonda,” “Surfin’ USA,” “Surfer Girl,” “Do It Again,” “God Only Knows,” “Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” “Sloop John B,” “Don’t Worry Baby.” But they also did the song I hate. Any guesses what that might be?
Bob Horner had a sweet compact swing
May 31st, 2010
7:51 pm
Surfin Safari..???
"Chef" Tim Dix
May 31st, 2010
7:52 pm
Good Vibrations, Mark? Maybe Coco Mo?
Mark Bradley
May 31st, 2010
7:53 pm
No. “Surfin’ Safari” I like. “Catch A Wave” I like. Also “California Girls” and “Good Vibrations.”
A hint: Tom Cruise.
"Chef" Tim Dix
May 31st, 2010
7:53 pm
Sloop John B…At their apex!
Mark Bradley
May 31st, 2010
7:53 pm
That’s it, Chef Tim. “Kokomo.”
There aren’t many songs I utterly loathe, but that’s one.
Bob Horner had a sweet compact swing
May 31st, 2010
7:54 pm
My $$ is on Chef Good Vibrations was super CHEESY…..
mitchgt
May 31st, 2010
7:54 pm
You’re the best writer at the ajc Mark. Thanks for another great post.
George
May 31st, 2010
7:54 pm
Barbara Ann; repeated over and over.
Encore
May 31st, 2010
7:55 pm
Freebird!
Mark Bradley
May 31st, 2010
7:55 pm
Thanks, mitchgt.
"Chef" Tim Dix
May 31st, 2010
7:55 pm
Yeh but you gotta admit when John and Paul say Pet Sounds was the best ever…yur good.
Encore
May 31st, 2010
7:56 pm
They did the Mission Impossible theme song as an encore?
"Chef" Tim Dix
May 31st, 2010
7:56 pm
Bob Horner: Always dug your curls, man. Thanks for the props.
Mark Bradley
May 31st, 2010
7:56 pm
Oh yes. “Pet Sounds” is a great album. One of the greatest. And “God Only Knows” b/w “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” ranks with “Penny Lane” b/w “Strawberry Fields Forever” as the greatest two-sided single ever.
Mark Bradley
May 31st, 2010
7:58 pm
I did get your proposal, GTSteve. You expanded to 32 teams and juggled teams between leagues, did you not? And did you not get a response from me?
kreedham
May 31st, 2010
7:58 pm
Kokomo?
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater
May 31st, 2010
7:58 pm
i’m believin. i was on the “Glaus Stinks” boat last month- but now, he’s changed my opinion of him. hopefully Braves can hold onto 1st. need to win 1 more or possible sweep the phills.
"Chef" Tim Dix
May 31st, 2010
7:58 pm
In My Room…another BB summer anthem
Mark Bradley
May 31st, 2010
7:58 pm
Ms. Carroll Rogers agrees with me that “Kokomo” is a dog.
Bob Horner had a sweet compact swing
May 31st, 2010
7:58 pm
Thanks “Chef”…there have been bloggers that have made fun of my “perm”..and my gut..I’m glad you’re above that……GO BRAVES..!!!!
luvthosedawgs68
May 31st, 2010
7:59 pm
The thing I was most excited to see is Glaus hitting the ball to right-center with authority. If he hits the ball to all fields like that, he’ll keep driving in the runs.
Mark Bradley
May 31st, 2010
7:59 pm
I can’t say I listen much to the Beach Boys at my advanced age, but I still enjoy hearing all their songs. Except that darn “Kokomo.” How exactly did that become a hit?
"Chef" Tim Dix
May 31st, 2010
7:59 pm
Mark you are on point with your 45 knowledge.
GTSteve
May 31st, 2010
8:00 pm
Yes Mark that was me, I haven’t checked my work email in a few days, so maybe I did…like I said i dont think it will ever happen, but it would make for good blogging on an off day…
Mark Bradley
May 31st, 2010
8:00 pm
Cox said that might have been the hardest-hit ball of the season, luvthosedawgs68.
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater
May 31st, 2010
8:00 pm
MB- really Kokomo gets under your skin??? It doesn’t remind you of some tropical beach vacation?
PMC
May 31st, 2010
8:01 pm
It seems like everyone on the team is just trying to help the team win. This team had a different feel prior to the season, then the dreadful April took the shine off and now we’re seeing some of the results of that effort. These guys can win even when they aren’t getting production from everyone… that’s what we were all hoping for before the season. I’ve been my share of negative… but it was premature. 1st place means nothing right now on paper… but the fact that they can wound the team that has been by far the best hitting in the NL and the most healthy over the last few means something I think.
Mark Bradley
May 31st, 2010
8:01 pm
It doesn’t, Dr. Kenneth. It reminds me of “The Candy Man,” by Sammy Davis Jr. Another song I couldn’t abide.
PMC
May 31st, 2010
8:01 pm
On Kokomo… well Mark… it was the 80’s…. I mean… Huey Lewis and the News had hits….
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater
May 31st, 2010
8:01 pm
It because of the movie Cocktails i think MB?? that’s why it was a so-called “hit”
Mark Bradley
May 31st, 2010
8:02 pm
Good point, PMC. Music-wise, that was the low point.
Bob Horner had a sweet compact swing
May 31st, 2010
8:02 pm
Cox was wrong….Heyward hits it harder than Glaus…..IMO
Cornfuzed
May 31st, 2010
8:03 pm
Anybody noticed that the Braves are 3rd in the NL in runs scored? They trail only the Reds and Brewers. A pretty amazing stat to me given how poorly they started and how they still haven’t gotten much from Chipper, McCann, or Escobar and that McClouth has been an automatic out all season.
If those guys get it going, watch out for this team.
Mark Bradley
May 31st, 2010
8:03 pm
I never saw “Cocktail.” The song was enough to scare me away.
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater
May 31st, 2010
8:03 pm
correct me if i’m wrong, but wasn’t Kokomo a theme song to the movie Cocktails w/ Tom Cruise- maybe that’s where your animosity MB is coming from??
luvthosedawgs68
May 31st, 2010
8:03 pm
It shows you that staying back on the ball, and gettin’ good wood on it no matter where the swing is, are pretty important in driving it hard and far.
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater
May 31st, 2010
8:04 pm
i may have posted the same question twice bc/ it wasn’t posting…sorry
Mark Bradley
May 31st, 2010
8:05 pm
Even when the Braves were hitting .230 as a team, Cornfuzed, their on-base percentage wasn’t terrible. And they weren’t striking out a lot. They kept putting the ball in play, but they didn’t hit for any effect. That’s why I’m surprised. I just thought this was a lineup without pop. (And I’m not talking about Willie Stargell.)
Gil in Mechanicsville
May 31st, 2010
8:13 pm
Except that darn “Kokomo.” How exactly did that become a hit?
The old fashion way… Payola…
Dubious
May 31st, 2010
8:15 pm
Mark—excellent post.
Question: In the history of baseball, has a team ever had a 9 game losing streak(as the Braves did) and still been in first place on June 1? I’ll bet not.
Gil in Mechanicsville
May 31st, 2010
8:20 pm
I’ve noticed that since the air has heated up, so has the Braves’ bats. Some of those long outs Troy was hitting in April now have some carry to them.
McLouth has contracted Andruwites. That is a condition by which you bat for low average because you are trying to pull every ball you swing at without regard to where it is pitched. If he would cut down on his swing and start hitting those outside pitches to the opposite field, he might actually become an asset to the team. Unfortunately, he sees himself as a homerun hitter, a condition caused by the short porch in right field at PNC Park.
IlliniBrave
May 31st, 2010
8:23 pm
Any logical reason for hating “Kokomo”? Kind of the same syrupy harmonies about idealistic love and surfing all day and all that Beach Boys crap. Can’t see the difference b/w that and any of their others.
Give me Led Zeppelin or AC/DC or Allman Bros any day!
Mark Bradley
May 31st, 2010
8:24 pm
That’s a great question, Dubious. It would seem pretty hard to do, wouldn’t it?
Maybe we need to ask the Elias folks about that one.
Michael
May 31st, 2010
8:25 pm
I would enjoy baseball if they didn’t always mention how many millions they make. Especially those 32 games per year pitchers.
In Attendance on April 8, 1974
May 31st, 2010
8:26 pm
I was at the game today and even though I grew up when the Beach Boys were putting out hits, I left as soon as the game was over. The Beach Boys were one of cheesiest wuss bands of all time. To compare “God Only Knows” b/w “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” with “Penny Lane” b/w “Strawberry Fields Forever” is ludicrous. And I say that admitting that the Beatles are not my top band of all band. 2nd behind Zeppelin.
nola braves fan
May 31st, 2010
8:29 pm
sorry I missed the live chat MB – enjoyed it yesterday. I think it might be time for a Bradley Buzz on what Phily (and maybe some nat’t guys too) must be saying about their slumping home town team… and if the 1st place Glausians are getting any nat’l love??
J-Man
May 31st, 2010
8:29 pm
I’m gonna start the Alex Rios Trade rumor, right here, right now! Alex Rios is hitting .312 11 HR 27 RBIs. He makes 10 mil this season and the White Sox aren’t out of it yet but their 6 games under .500 and if we swing a package where we give them McClouth, Julio Tehan, and Jordan Schafer maybe they might bite for that, maybe not.
IlliniBrave
May 31st, 2010
8:30 pm
Pretty much agree “In attendance” – except for one thing – I can’t stand the Beatles anymore! OMG – whenever one of their songs comes on the radio I have to switch the dial. I actually loved them bac in HS, but I must have O-D-ed on them in the 70s, because I seriously cannot listen to any of their songs now.
AlabamaRamblinwreck
May 31st, 2010
8:31 pm
Just need a centerfielder, and things are looking great….My vote is take this guy off the Pirate’s hands:
Avg .313 HR 6 RBI 14 Runs 29 SB 12 Andrew McCutchen #22 Center Field Pittsburgh Pirates
Wouldn’t mind adding this guy to the lineup….ideal leadoff hitter and great defense in centerfield.
Chris
May 31st, 2010
8:32 pm
Mark…I still have my doubts that the Braves can beat out the Phillies in the East but at least they are going to make baseball fun this summer. I may even have to buy tickets to a game or two this year which I didn’t do at all last year.
Question: Right now I think Prado, Heyward and Hudson should be on the All-Star team. After 28 RBI’s in May…Do you think Glaus deserves consideration??? We know Pujols will get the fan vote but there has to be a backup.
AlabamaRamblinwreck
May 31st, 2010
8:32 pm
Maybe we could give them McLouth back in a trade & $$ for McCutchen.
Chris from the Rock
May 31st, 2010
8:33 pm
Here’s a crazy trade proposal: Prince Fielder for Freddie Freeman, Randall Delgado and Kris Medlen.
Chris from the Rock
May 31st, 2010
8:33 pm
In the offseason, of course.
nola braves fan
May 31st, 2010
8:34 pm
Chris – barring a huge slump, Hayward makes it too
nola braves fan
May 31st, 2010
8:34 pm
Oops – saw where you had him on your list.. my bad
mitchgt
May 31st, 2010
8:35 pm
Patience Alabama et al: McLouth is the next Glaus. And McCuthchen would never agree to the hair cut.
AlabamaRamblinwreck
May 31st, 2010
8:36 pm
Don’t care about the hair!!
And McLouth cannot hit the ball the other way, and without that, pitchers are going to continue to dominate the little guy.
Also In Attendance on April 8, 1974
May 31st, 2010
8:36 pm
All hail the mighty Zep!
Poor Al Downing; he couldn’t have looked sadder on the mound if he had been forced to attend a Beach Boys concert.
GT
May 31st, 2010
8:37 pm
I liked Kokomo.
AlabamaRamblinwreck
May 31st, 2010
8:39 pm
Glaus can hit the ball to all fields. He has proven that going to right field for the round-tripper today, and the other day taking a single to right field to drive in 2 big runs. McLouth tries to pull every pitch. A major leaguer who cannot go with the pitch is going to hang around or below the Mendoza line forever.
Matt the Brave
May 31st, 2010
8:40 pm
MB, if Chipper retires, you think that Glaus would resign here and move back over to 3rd? Love to see what your take is on that.
GTSteve
May 31st, 2010
8:43 pm
Alabama wreck…McCutchen us the reason that the Pirates parted with Mclouth…no take backs…I even posted about a month after that trade that it looked like the Braves got the wrong outfielder starting with Mc
AlabamaRamblinwreck
May 31st, 2010
8:43 pm
I agree, GTSteve, but the Pirates will be in the selloff mood soon, and we could try to get the right Mc this time!
BraveFalconHawk
May 31st, 2010
8:46 pm
I live waaay in Vancouver B.C. , But I’m from Georgia. I have to admit, in April I text my dad that Troy Glaus would be the “Death of the Braves”. The words taste very good when I spoke to dad today.
AlabamaRamblinwreck
May 31st, 2010
8:46 pm
If not McCutchen, then maybe another centerfielder from a team going nowhere.
Kenny J
May 31st, 2010
8:53 pm
I still really like Wren’s winter work. The pitching staff he put together is a good one top to bottom by MLB standards, the SS-2B combo should be exceptional (no way he’d expect Escobar to lose it), an all star catcher and center fielder (both of whom are early season mysteries but good GM pieces in the off-season), and a phenom worth betting on in right field. A left field platoon (Diaz and Cabrera) that would predictably produce .280, 18 and 85 numbers combined, and the best bullpen we’ve seen here in awhile. An excellent backup catcher in Ross and reserve infielder-outfielders in Infante and Hinske that can step in as major leaguers at 4 positions each. Missing: SB speed and a load of power, although with Jones, McCann, Glaus, McLouth and Hayward all capable of 25 plus HRs. All this without giving away any of the organization’s top minor league talent and picking up one of Baseball America’s top 50 prospects in the Vazquez trade. Lastly, the Glaus gamble at first. RH power hitter for the short term, waiting for Freddie. The 1B RH Power-Hitting market wasn’t exactly easy pickings, and Adam wanted 2-3 years, big money, and signing him would block Freeman’s arrival which makes no big-picture sense. The team was built to win 85-86 games as a default, and if truly performing, win 92-95. With those arms, a post-season challenger to the end if it gets there. And then there’s the little bit of remaining salary money he stashed for July 31. We’ll see what Frank has up his sleeve then. I thank Chipper for all he’s given us and wish him a great turnaround going forward, but it would have been nice if Wren were free publicity-wise to make a true baseball decision there like he did with Glavine and Smoltz. The team badly needs a #3 hitter who can take them to a higher level, especially for that kind of money. In the business of the game, he’s not paying off. But all in all, nice job putting this together, Frank. Even with the slumping bats fo Chipper, McCann, Escobar and Jones you’re in first place on Memorial Day. Looking forward to the rest of the story.
kreedham
May 31st, 2010
8:53 pm
More music trivia…the Cocktail soundtrack included a cover version of the Swinging Blue Jeans hit Hippy Hippy Shake. Done by our own Georgia Satellites. Hit the record books for shortest Top 40 hit at about a minute 37 seconds give or take!
Ralph
May 31st, 2010
8:54 pm
Mark I think Glaus is just trying to make you eat some words you wrote about him a couple weeks ago, don’t you think so.
cdog
May 31st, 2010
9:02 pm
there’s no rule anywhere that says the braves are suppose to lose to the phillies.the braves if they have any pride will bury the phillies now during this home stand and take command of the east.all of the routine fly balls shane victorino use to dive, flip and roll over on when they should have been routinely caught should end this series and season.the braves are the beast of the east and should remain that way for the rest of the season.
My apologies to Frank Wren from less than a month ago
May 31st, 2010
9:03 pm
MB
My apologies to Frank Wren from less than a month ago
May 31st, 2010
9:05 pm
I still think the Texiera and Francouer trades were bad ones though
GTSteve
May 31st, 2010
9:05 pm
I just hope the team plays to the potential like they are now, and the fans start attending again, I know we are already making plans for a couple of games in June….had plans cancelled in May because of a death in the family…..lets support this team and maybe ownership will respond with a big bat in July
Mr. Turnip-Green Jeans
May 31st, 2010
9:05 pm
I utterly loathe The Beachboys.
rbraves fan
May 31st, 2010
9:16 pm
Nate needs to take a lesson from the women college softball players. Chop the ball to the left side of the infield and run like hell. I swear, with his speed he’d raise his average by 100 points. Instead, he constantly pulls the ball to the right side of the infield for easy outs.
GTSteve
May 31st, 2010
9:22 pm
i agree cdog
john
May 31st, 2010
9:23 pm
McClouth needs to turn himself into a line-drive hitter and use his speed. For some reason he thinks of himself as a power hitter and it kills his average. His flyball swing and his love for high pitches do not mesh.
Kenny J
May 31st, 2010
9:31 pm
The costly Texiera trade was Scheurholz’s, giving Texas all those good prospects. Wren was stuck with a Boras client in the final year of his contract on July 31. Did all he could do there given the circumstances. Frenchy needed a new home, was not going to be tendered a contract here at the end of the season anywan, and is still no ball of fire (as much as we love the guy). His numbers are slightly better than Chipper’s: JF – .243, 5 HR, 27 RBI; CJ – .243, 2 HR, 19 RBI. Neither is going to help a team get to the World Series producing at those levels. Besides, moving Jeff opened up RF for Heyward. Seems good.
The Most Intresting Man In The World
May 31st, 2010
9:41 pm
I may not watch baseball, but when I do,”Its the Atlanta Braves”. Stay thirsty my friend
Herschel Talker
May 31st, 2010
9:43 pm
“I’ve heard it suggested, Herschel, that the Pirates believed McLouth was in decline and were therefore eager to move him.”
MB – this may indeed be true. But we’re not talking about a player being in decline. We’re talking about a player that has fallen off of a cliff. Look at his stats from his first 6 years. There is no way Pittsburgh foresaw this, unless they knew he was taking roids or the like, which I don’t believe was the case. So I’m not buying that answer. There’s something else going on here. McLouth is a complete, unadulterated train wreck.
bruce
May 31st, 2010
9:44 pm
Mark, Regarding ejections…
Have you done the analysis or seen someone else do the analysis on the top managers in ejections divided by some number of games managed say 162? It may make for some interesting questions and comparisons in this final season. My guess is that his “average” is not so high, and that it is his duration that makes his count a first place winner. Thanks, Bruce
Atlanta sportswriters are idiots
May 31st, 2010
9:56 pm
It shows that all you know it all sports writers don’t know sh*t. You all took shots at him and made fun of him. Meanwhile the people who actually know about baseball were telling you he would come out of it, he just needed a little time. If I were Troy I wouldn’t do an interview with any of you jacka$$es
NRBQ
May 31st, 2010
9:56 pm
It’s a real shame that Brian Wilson wasn’t a sophisticated songwriter like the Van Zandts.
Woo-oo that smell!
Bigstack19
May 31st, 2010
9:57 pm
June is a brutal month so hopefully the Braves keep it going. Since 2006 June is when the team goes in the tank and with teams like the Tigers, Twins, Dodgers, and Rays along with Philly it will be a tough month. By the way, if Glaus continues playing like this it will be hard to keep him off the All-Star team. That would be great with the game being played in Anaheim where Glaus won a World Series. Prado, Heyward, and Hudson should also be there. Maybe that will happen too.
sc ace
May 31st, 2010
10:01 pm
My first “concert” experience was going with my family to a braves game to see an oldie group in concert after the game. That was the beach boys. I could not have been more than ten or eleven. Now I’m 34. They must all be on Medicare by now…
Alaska Braves Fan
May 31st, 2010
10:09 pm
Someone may recall that during spring training the one Braves player about whom I was concerned was McClouth. He is a nice person, a good man, but he’s lost his ability to hit. I suspect it’s his eyes, but who knows for sure. He may come around yet, but I’m not optimistic. Fortunately, the Braves have some options. Cabrera is hitting better now and can play center at a good level. Hinske can handle left and then platoon with Diaz when he gets back. It won’t hurt a bit if Jurrgens comes back and is effective.
All in all, I like our chances to win the division. The Series is not out of the question! Still, we’ll have our ups and downs. The only stats that matter come at the end.
ABF
BobDawg
May 31st, 2010
10:09 pm
Chef Tim/ MB, You mentioned the Phils might have thrown at a Braves player after the “Santa Glaus” homer and hope it doesn’t happen of course… I remember years ago when Mike Schmidt of the Phils was on one of his famouse hot homer streaks when Kent Tekulve of the Pirates plunked him and Schmidt charged the mound and broke his “pinky” finger during the brawl….Was out for weeks and combo that with the Angels player that broke his leg and no more brawls or Home Plate shenanigans, Puleeze!
Tweets that mention The first-place Braves have come to believe in Santa Glaus | Mark Bradley -- Topsy.com
May 31st, 2010
10:22 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Jack W Bruce Jr., Philly News+Biz. Philly News+Biz said: The first-place Braves have come to believe in Santa Glaus – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) http://ht.ly/17zdda [...]
Kentavo
May 31st, 2010
10:23 pm
You guys blathering on about The Beach Boys are missing a central point: The band’s heart and soul, and architech of sound, Brian Wilson, does not tour with them. It’d be like seeing Pink Floyd without Roger Waters…wait, I’ve done that…
Oh No...
May 31st, 2010
10:29 pm
Anyone care to print Javier Vazquez’s current stats for all the naysayers??
Big Bear
May 31st, 2010
10:49 pm
I agree with an earlier post- thanks for the good article. Too many other “reporters” put silly song lyrics or use slang in their reports. You’re not trying to be cool…you’re just writing a good story. Well done and keep it up.
The Grinch
May 31st, 2010
10:52 pm
I know he looked bad in April, but I am one of the few who isn’t surprised he came around. The guy’s a four time All Star and a WS MVP. He’s only 33, and not being a pitcher the shoulder surgery is hardly career-ending. I’m amazed we got him for what we did. He was making Chipper money (and earning it) prior to the injury.
The Grinch
May 31st, 2010
10:54 pm
Wow, I thought I posted that hours ago. Now the subject’s changed. I was referring to Glaus.
Mitchell
May 31st, 2010
10:55 pm
You can see the clouds in his helmet.
Yaaay.
jake
May 31st, 2010
11:03 pm
Correction: Glaus is one of THREE men the Braves can’t do without. Heyward, of course, Mark, but how could you forget Prado? He’s been the Braves’ MVP for the past two seasons.
Born to be Mild
May 31st, 2010
11:07 pm
I once saw Steppenwolf live. Well it wasn’t the original Steppenwolf; it was billed as The Original Roadies of Steppenwolf with the Sonny and Cher band.
It wasn’t quite the same.
JRW7
May 31st, 2010
11:10 pm
Way to go Braves, GO BRAVES!!!!!!
Die Hard
May 31st, 2010
11:14 pm
Where are all those Troy Glaus Haters Now? I hope you like eating crow for dinner every night. 28 RBI in 1 month. Good thing Braves Brass didnt listen to the fair weather fans.
linzomatic
May 31st, 2010
11:15 pm
Great game, but where was the 10-plane flyover???
Die Hard
May 31st, 2010
11:16 pm
Go Braves!! Lets keep it going.
Die Hard
May 31st, 2010
11:17 pm
Where is all the Troy Glaus haters now. Eating Crow
Fire Frank Wren
May 31st, 2010
11:23 pm
“something horrible about the Braves here” Let’s not change anything now.
DaveinNEPA
May 31st, 2010
11:24 pm
Guys, I hate to drizzle on everybody’s parade here but I should remind everyone of an old baseball axiom; “No team is as bad as they look when they are on a losing streak nor are they as good as they look when they are on a winning streak.
Yes, Troy Glaus has made many of us (myself included) eat our words AND more important, the Braves are winning on a daily basis.
The Braves aren’t nearly as bad as they looked in April, BUT, I still am not convinced that they are as good as they’ve looked in the last couple of weeks, either. This is a decent team but there are still some holes in it that cause some concern. We still get no production from CF and not much from the SS and a power outage from our #3 hitter.
We have to improve our record against division rivals and against the top teams in the other divisions or what we’ve accomplished against the bottom feeders won’t matter much. We also are going to have to play much better against AL teams this month than we have in the last few years. I think by the end of June, we will have a much better handle on how good the 2010 Braves are.
I live in an area where I see the Phillies nearly every day and they are not nearly as bad as they have looked the last 10 days or so. I’m still not convinced that the Braves are in their class yet.
I’m just trying to be realistic here and not get too hopeful yet.
Brave New World
May 31st, 2010
11:29 pm
Since most Braves fans thought Glaus was “toast” in April, it’s only fitting that he’s now the “toast of the town” in May.
moldavite
May 31st, 2010
11:55 pm
years ago the braves traded away dale murphy to philly for a first baseman named brian hunter that opened the door for a right fielder named david justice and the rest was history.
Anthony
June 1st, 2010
12:24 am
The one difference I see in this team is the “fire”. It’s nice to actually see some emotion from these new guys and it’s rubbing off on the older ones. It also fires up the fans when we see it. Go Braves!!
DawgDad
June 1st, 2010
12:30 am
So, I leave town for a few days and the Braves win every game. Nice. I was one that did not see much hope for this team at the end of April. The Braves proved they deserved additional patience coming out of April, but conversely we can’t get too high on their potential coming out of May. Some of the key individual performances in May are not at all likely to be replicated in the coming months; i.e., Glaus and Hinske. The team still lacks overall power, especially in the outfield, and the defense has looked better lately than it really is. Chipper hit his first lefthanded homerun today; is this a sign of resurging power or just one of a handful he will hit this season? McCann, McLouth, Escobar, and Cabrera still need to step up and perform to expectation with consistency. Will the league ever catch up with Heyward? Is Prado really a 200-hit batsman? Can the bullpen continue to be this good over the long haul, running multiple pitchers out there game after game? Will Hudson continue to pitch like an all-star? Other teams are playing through injuries and slumps right now.
May was a great month, and it’s great to be back in first, but it’s a long season and there will probably be more ups and downs for this team.
met hater
June 1st, 2010
1:11 am
schaffer hitting .193 at triple a
CaptainMudderland
June 1st, 2010
1:32 am
Many times the acne subsides and the face is clear as a bell…only to return one day down the road–ok…analogy is weak, but if these Bravos stay in the top three in the division standings this month…you have to believe most of the ugly of April has been eradicated. And Melky? Oh I guess I’ll get off his case a bit–still, he is my least favorite LFer of all time…Troy got a new blender and has been off the charts….Hinske=baseknock lifer…Chipper…well…n/a. And lastly, I am impressed that Bobby is letting the guys air their underwear on the bases…good stuff…carry on my Heyward sons!
UcantCLA
June 1st, 2010
1:44 am
U forgot to mention that Troy is a UCLA Bruin first. All I have to add is go Bruins, Lakers and Braves!!! FYI I never watched baseball when I lived in LA, thus Im not a dodger fan.
Joshua
June 1st, 2010
2:13 am
So Mark Bradley, what you are trying to say in a round-about way, is that you are choking on some serious crow right now? Don’t even bother jumping on the bandwagon now. All you people who spouted off your doubt need to keep being doubters, because some of us recognized the talent level and the potential of the team right from the start. Some of us recognized the superb job Frank Wren has done at bridging the gap from from the end of an unbelievable era into the start of a new and promising future. Some of you are simply fair-weather fans, who can’t think for yourselves and rely upon ESPN to spoon feed you your opinions. Well since you were all obviously wrong, at least be big enough to stick with it. Don’t come around talking about how awesome we are now. It is a discredit to all of us who have known all along what this team was capable of and that we would be serious contenders. And I think it is safe to say that Frank Wren has made you all look pretty stupid. Have a nice season, chumps.
STRAIGHT G
June 1st, 2010
3:26 am
Gman, we need to do more than kick Philly while they’re down and win the series. We need to curb stomp them and SWEEP the series. It’s time that this team ran through the league like a freight train and didn’t hit the brakes until the World Series was won.
Fried chicken skin is greasy and delicious
June 1st, 2010
6:39 am
You know, if Glaus proves consistent over the next couple of month, the Braves might want to talk to him about a two-year contract. There’s no guarantee Chipper is coming back, or that Freeman will be ready next spring.
Raul Ibanez Promises Phillies Are About To Get Cat-Like | That Balls Outta Here | A Philadelphia Phillies Blog
June 1st, 2010
6:47 am
[...] first of all, we’re in second place behind a time who’s city thought this was a good headline. So that feels [...]
Glaus-is-half-full-kind-of-guy
June 1st, 2010
7:15 am
I think Bobby Cox might know what he’s doing, at least during the regular season. He gives his players time to work through their issues, and he’s constantly ridiculed for his decisions. I think that works great for the regular season. Thanks for the article Mark – it’s nice for you to call it like you see it, even if it’s different than what you wrote in April about Glaus – which was right on the money at the time.
NikkiFree
June 1st, 2010
7:43 am
“Frank Wren’s rent-a-wreck” . That’s funny!!! . I gotta file that one away.
hmmmm Nate
June 1st, 2010
8:07 am
Most of the people on these blogs gave up on the Braves during their 9 game losing streak. Now you guys want to come back.
Drew
June 1st, 2010
8:25 am
GLAUS-OME!
hmmmm Nate
June 1st, 2010
8:36 am
Mark Bradley is a front runner like most of the bloggers on here.
Can you link the articles that you wrote during their 9 game losing streak?
ViningsDawg
June 1st, 2010
8:37 am
A lot of people owe Troy Glaus an apology!
George
June 1st, 2010
8:41 am
Are the same fans that were bemoaning Troy one month ago now the ones shouting his praises? Will they they still support him when he has a slump as all baseball players do? Fickle fans, we sure have our share of them in Brave’s nation. With more than 100 games to go anything can happen but I am very optimistic about this club. Regardless of the outcome however, I wont’ miss a game and will pull for them till the end.
meh
June 1st, 2010
8:46 am
Glaus is on fire. Yunel and Melky are starting to hit. Now we just need McLouth to get it going. The Braves look real good. Let’s keep it going.
1st place!!
BobtheBlogger
June 1st, 2010
8:47 am
Maybe The Beach Boys should change their name to “The Beach Geezers” or “Old Men on the Block”.
Tami
June 1st, 2010
8:47 am
I’m deliriously happy to be wrong about Glaus. I don’t mind Braves players who are underperforming to prove us bloggers wrong about them, especially when they turn their under-performances around. And, they sure can continue to do that for the rest of the season for all I care.
I’m ecstatic to see the boys in 1st place, but it’s a precarious lead — only 1/2 game up. They must win one more game against the Phillies in this series to ensure that they’re still in 1st place when the Phillies leave town. And, the biggest hurdle of all: STAYING in 1st place. Maybe the clubhouse folks should do the team a favor: Keep the month of May displayed, and don’t flip the calendar up to June. Shhhhh…..
rekingball
June 1st, 2010
8:51 am
McLouth needs to get his mojo a risin’.
moldavite
June 1st, 2010
8:56 am
pitching wins division titles these braves have the pitching to do it
KennyP
June 1st, 2010
9:02 am
Great story Mark, thank you. Pretty sure my wife was not alone out there asking me if that is the same guy i was screaming at a month ago when i was cheering him on yesterday!
Sonny Clusters
June 1st, 2010
9:05 am
When we was playing ball and we was in first place we always would walk with a swagger. Swagger is an old pirate word for lots rum and pieces of eight and more where that came from. We was watching McLouth bat yesterday and looking to see the change in his stance and we was almost able to detect it when “whoosh” he would swing and miss and we was thinking if he controlled that swing a little maybe he would make contact and get a hit every now and then. Uppercut swings are trouble just ask Andruw and Jeff. We was texting with Jeff yesterday and he had a big game where he was 4 for 5 and now he thinks he knows what he was doing wrong. He was always cerebral like that.
wawel78
June 1st, 2010
9:15 am
FIRE FRANK WREN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Billball
June 1st, 2010
9:18 am
McLouth tries to pull everything, one hit to left and two to center all year. Of course Terry Pendleton can’t see this or help him.
mowreck
June 1st, 2010
9:19 am
Only reason I saw “Cocktail” was Cruise’s gf in the movie. Anyone see her w/Woody Harlson (sp) in the “Palmetto” movie? Never paid ANY attention to the music in “Palmetto” either. Don’t know about you guys who go to movies and debate the music.
Billball
June 1st, 2010
9:21 am
Joy in Mudville! Be interesting to read the comments from the same bloggers a month ago about firing Wren and Cox. Be more interesting to read them in a month and when the Braves tumble form first.
mowreck
June 1st, 2010
9:23 am
p.s. Only soundtrack I have is from the movie “Tin Cup” … really great music.
wawel78
June 1st, 2010
9:24 am
I believe the braves are 2nd in the NL in runs scored.
FIRE TERRY PENDLETON!!!!!!!
Don
June 1st, 2010
9:31 am
There is nothing amazing about the Braves being in first place. PITCHING is the name of the game. And with by far the BEST PITCHING in the Division, first place is where they should be. The only amazing thing is that they do not have AT LEAST a four game lead. Winning just 4 games in the 9 game losign streak (alone) would have done this. With the Braves PITCHING, it is amazing that a Manager could lose 9 straight games. Remember: that when Melky (at that point) had produced almost nothing during the entire season, Cox continued to use him throughout the 9 game losing streak instead of giving Hinske a chance; that when McLouth (at that point) had produced almost nothing during the entire season, Cox continued to use him throughout the 9 game streak instead trying Infante; and that when Chipper (at that point) was hitting in the low .200s with less than 10 RBI for the entire season, Cox continued to leave him in the Third spot in the batting order throughout the 9 game losing streak. – to mention only some of his blunders during these 9 games. Pretend all you want that Cox did not do these things and that those 9 games were not important — But each one of those none losses count just as much in the final standings as any loss in September. As many have said over and over – for the Braves to win with Cox managing, you have to be at least 10 games better than the other teams.
merculf
June 1st, 2010
9:44 am
As a Life long Braves fan……This season feels different from some of the other resent seasons. Although they have always been entertaining, this year there is a purpose (Bobby’s last season). The team seems to be more focused and the fans are definately more into it. I would love to see the city really start to get into it like back in 91.
Beach Boys music is great when you’re actually near a beach………Forest Gump has to be a top 5 soundtrack along with The Big Chill……
BamaBill
June 1st, 2010
9:47 am
The Braves showed in spring training that they could could hit, get on base, and score runs. The first month of the season had many wondering what happened. We are now seeing what this team is capable of from an offensive standpoint.
The BIG difference was changing the batting order.
Remember though…..this is only May…there is a long way to go BUT now that the bats have come alive we should be in the thick of it through September. Our pitching staff is key, and if we can keep injuries to a minimum and Jair comes back strong then teams are going to be very scared to play us.
Mark Bradley
June 1st, 2010
9:58 am
Anybody remember what we said about Glaus in April? Here’s a tiny reminder.
Don
June 1st, 2010
10:01 am
Bobby Cox is unbelievable. The season is about 1/3 over and he continues to play McLouth hitting .179 instead of giving Infante (who is hitting over .300) an opportunity to produce.
It is not like continuing to play Escobar when he is not hitting or Glaus when he was not hitting – because these guys have been good hitters in the past – and there is thus a basis for assuming they will come out of it.
Whereas, Mclouth has hit in the .250s or below in every one of his major league seasons except one. – Exactly what is Cox expecting him to come back to – even if he does start hitting above .179.
Go Braves!!!
June 1st, 2010
10:01 am
I LOVE this article and I LOVE the Braves!
Melky way
June 1st, 2010
10:01 am
I predict that by the end of the year Glaus will be the come back player of the year!
Dr. Phil
June 1st, 2010
10:29 am
When you pay the Pirates at Ticketmaster $140 for four tickets, four cokes, and four leathery hotdogs, and you have to pick up your “free” parking pass from will call (after you have parked your car), you have earned the right to criticize Glaus, Pendleton, McLouth, Wren, Jones, and anyone else associated with the Braves. I have to admit that Saturday’s win and fireworks were worth the cost, except for the green lot parking pass, which remains unused in my wallet. Anyway, a major-league player who bats in the .190’s deserves rebuke, whether his name is Glaus or Jones. I am delighted to see Glaus hitting and playing well, but his recent success has nothing to do with Wren’s ability to make good decisions. There was nothing in Glaus’ recent past that indicated he would be successful. In the grand scheme of things, Wren is batting about .125, provided Glaus continues to perform. If future success resides with Wren’s ability to pick’em, we are in for a bad run.
lazydawg
June 1st, 2010
10:33 am
Mark,maybe you should give Frank Wren some major kudo’s for the job he has done.
Troy from Tarzana
June 1st, 2010
10:51 am
You think our June is bad? The Phillies have:
San Diego (31-20),
@ Boston (29-23),
@ NY Yankees (31-20),
Minnesota (31-20),
@ Toronto (31-22),
@ Cincinnati (30-22).
george8661
June 1st, 2010
11:04 am
DOB has the greatest sweetheart deal and baseball writer has ever had with a newspaper, off as much as he works, dont know if he ever covers winter sports. just saying.
george8661
June 1st, 2010
11:05 am
any
wawel78
June 1st, 2010
11:47 am
For the guy who said that pitching has the braves leading the division, I just thought you should know the phillies have given up less runs. The braves have the 3rd highest run total in the NL.
joemoedee
June 1st, 2010
12:12 pm
Glaus was the ultimate low-risk signing, and its showing now. The guy has been too good over his career to not be a decent hitter when healthy.
McLouth has been down, but if you dig deep into his stats you’ll see he’s been very unlucky when he puts the ball in play. (Nerd stat alert, BABIP of .229) Typically he ends up somewhere around .280, which would bring his AVG in line with the normal .260 or so he should be. Give him time, he’ll turn around and be that .260/20/20 guy that he is.
Cabrera and Escobar seem to be turning the corner, and hopefully Diaz and Jurrjens will come back and do what they normally do. McCann and Chipper also seem to be waking from their slumber. You HAVE to like their chances in the division if they’ve been this good of late without a large group of the lineup at their normal levels.