8 reasons why these Braves will NOT squander this lead
This young man is about to get going again. Just watch. (AJC photo by Johnny Crawford)
They’d suffered a bad loss late Wednesday, and now the Braves had to play an afternoon game against the team with the National League’s best record on a sweltering day. (Heat index: 106.) They won so easily as to make you believe there’s no way the final 10 1/2 weeks of this regular season hold any danger for this dauntless band. The reasons why:
1. They can pitch. It never changes. As long as you can pitch, you can win. The Braves won breezing Thursday — actually, they did some sweating, too — because Tim Hudson never gave the Padres a chance. He worked seven innings and yielded six baserunners, one of whom was erased by a double play. This isn’t a team apt to lose five in a row because the rotation won’t let that happen. Jair Jurrjens looks hale and hearty, and even if Tommy Hanson and Derek Lowe haven’t been dominant they’re fine as Nos. 3 and 4 starters.
2. They’re buoyant. Not 15 hours after a sobering loss, the Braves had taken a lasting lead in the decisive game of a three-game set against an opponent they might well see in October. Said Billy Wagner, who blew a save Wednesday night: “Good teams are resilient. The heat out there today was awful; I guarantee you the Padres had never felt anything like that. We jumped on them early and kept them out there a long time.”
3. They’re daring. The key play of the first inning was the rookie Jason Heyward going first-to-third on Chipper Jones’ single to left field, which isn’t easy to do. (Heyward scored the only run the Braves would need on Troy Glaus’ sacrifice fly.) Said Bobby Cox of Heyward: “His instincts are off the chart, and he’s got some larceny in him. He’s not afraid to take a base.”
4. They’re clever. The 20-year-old right fielder is wise in the ways of older men, and there are a bunch of older guys to backstop him. Back to Heyward taking third: “You’d be surprised how many [left fielders] at this level can’t make that throw,” Jones said. “We’re a smart team. We steal bases at a very high percentage [69.5 percent, to be precise]. We’re very good at taking the extra base.” Then this: “We’ve got ballplayers. We’ve got guys with great instincts.”
5. They have a dependable shortstop. Alex Gonzalez, nicknamed Sea Bass, had four hits Thursday and made another series of deft defensive swoops. Said Cox: “Watching him play shortstop these past few days has really been special.” Jones likened A-Gonz to Ozzie Smith and Omar Vizquel, saying: “It’s great that he’s having a great offensive year, but what I want out of a shortstop is defense — to know that 99 percent of the time he gets his mitt on something he’s going to make the play.”
6. They have a healthier Heyward. He was hitting .251 at the All-Star break, but this is in no way a .251 hitter. He carried this team when nobody else could do a thing in April, and he’s capable of more heavy lifting. He hit .321 over the seven-game homestand. He will do even better very soon.
7. They have a working lead but they’re not impressed by it. Said Wagner: “We play as a team. Chipper has said it a million times, but it’s not one person keeping us going. It’s someone new, a new face in the bullpen, helping us win a game. And we worry about one game at a time, and that comes from the manager.”
8. They have it going in a way that makes you believe they’ll keep it going. They didn’t panic when they lost nine consecutive games in April. They didn’t wring their hands over the lost lead Wednesday night. They press on. They’ve won or halved 20 of their past 21 series. Said Gonzalez, on board only a week: “When you watch the way they play ball every day, you think, ‘This is a great team.’ ”
“Great” overstates. This is a good team that has come to maximize every resource. It isn’t without flaws, but after 95 games it holds the best record in its league. Gonzalez again: “We play hard. We do the little things you have to do. We want to put ourselves in position and see what happens at the end of the year.”
What will happen: The Braves will play beyond the 162nd game for the first time since 2005.
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247 comments Add your comment
jonnycash
July 23rd, 2010
9:07 pm
God himself could not sink this ship….famous last words. Lets hope it doesn’t happen to our Braves!!
John
July 23rd, 2010
9:23 pm
Bradley, do you have the balls to question St. Bobby for continuing to leave Lowe in when the sixth inning comes along. Again he blew it. Bases loaded, left hander up and Bobby leaves him in. No wonder everyone wants to play for him; gives the guy a chance to win, but makes it difficult for the Braves. Was 2-1, now 4-1. Should not have been if the manager was aware of Lowe’s track record, plus the heat. Great managing – not! Dare you comment about it, homey?
Katherine
July 23rd, 2010
10:55 pm
I agree…he always leaves pitchers in too long and then we lose grrrrrr
bravesfan37
July 23rd, 2010
11:06 pm
Billy Wagner sucks!!! Venters needs to be our new closer.
The Titanic is unsinkable
July 23rd, 2010
11:08 pm
Things were looking pretty good for the Braves. But for some reason god likes to say not so fast sometimes. Tonight the braves loss one they should of won. Mr. closer billy wagner blows another save in the same week. thanks for the Jinx AJC.
jeffrey d
July 23rd, 2010
11:09 pm
Wagner has been nasty all season….he has 2 bad outings and all of a sudden he sucks? Yeah okay.
Bruce Mac
July 23rd, 2010
11:10 pm
Eight reasons my azz. Thanks for the jinx Mark. Anybody with half a brain knows you keep your stupid mouth shut with 70 games to play. Idiot.
jeffrey d
July 23rd, 2010
11:16 pm
I love how the anonymity of the internet makes people brave enough to type stuff so rude that they would never say to someone’s face.
I also love how everybody overreacts after a loss.
frank james
July 23rd, 2010
11:33 pm
Boy some of you fans are unbelievable. I am frustrated by the loss, but I am smart enough to know that these are the same players that gave us this 6 game lead. Man I woud hate to coach your kids, oh never mind you people probably won’t let anybody coach your kid. Sounds like daddy ball to me!
ben
July 23rd, 2010
11:47 pm
Always liked Escobar, always will. People rip him, yet nobody can provide a single quote or real source of Escobar’s issues…just useless rumor. When Furcal dissed Atlanta, I was down, but then I thought we got a pretty good shortstop as it is (in Escobar).
BTW, Wagner blew a second save tonight…no biggie…but I wonder how Soriano would be doing in Atlanta if we kept him (Soriano is younger and is not far behind in movement/velocity).
Just maybe (be probably not) the season is making Wagner a little tired…
The Titanic is unsinkable
July 24th, 2010
12:11 am
You just had to go and say it didn’t you!
DedicatedDawg
July 24th, 2010
1:39 am
The one reason the Braves will squander their lead: Mark Bradley believes they won’t! ‘Nuff said!!
Yuels Frosted Tips
July 24th, 2010
6:37 am
Way to go Mark….you bozo.That was such a nothing article,tose reasons you gave are why the Braves are an accomplished team. Those are not the reasons that they’ll win the division,and if you just look at the scedule, they could EASILY lose this lead in a three week lead time. I hope that isn’t th case but Wagner has had stretches where he is very unreliable and losing a couple of games like we have in the last few days starts to eat at a teams psyche. Just like the late inning wins at the beginning of the season gave them hope and confidence, losing late breeds doubt and lack of confidence in your ability to win. This team lost 9 in a row and won 10 in row, nothing would surprise me less than them collapsing.
Seymour
July 24th, 2010
9:30 am
as long as Wagner is closing every team in the division is still alive
GAKnight
July 24th, 2010
10:05 am
There’s one way the Braves can squander the lead, play McLouth. Why would you continue to play a guy who hits below 200 from both sides of the plate instead of Melky Cabrera or Blanco, for that matter. There are NO circumstances where Nate McLouth would be on my active roster. I would release him immediately. There are two guys (mentioned above) who can play CF as well as MCLouth and have better arms. Bobby will trip on his stubborness with this one!
jeffrey d
July 24th, 2010
10:11 am
In an unfortunate ordering of articles, “Wagner can’t hold lead” is right above “8 reasons why the Braves won’t squander this leave.”
I still like you, Mark
jeffrey d
July 24th, 2010
10:12 am
whoops, *lead
Nativebird
July 24th, 2010
10:24 am
I love the Braves, but if you think our bullpen is not weak weak weak, the washed-up Wagner included, then you’re crazy.
john
July 24th, 2010
11:07 am
Don’t want to sound Braves “Negative” and while I was delighted with Alex G. coming to replace Yunel BUT Bradley Point 5 – has anyone noticed how many Runners he has LOB since coming here (6 last night alone) ?
Maybe that is something he “caught” from the too many of the Braves Batters.
Anyway, Braves have to get better at gettting those RISP to cross the Plate or here comes Philadelphia AND MARLINS (Mets, too even though stumbling right now as they will “BUY” pitching to win).National East VERY TOUGH DIVISION.
Alpha
July 24th, 2010
11:52 am
One reason the Braves will squander lead and season, Bradley says they won’t…
JT
July 24th, 2010
12:24 pm
John,
You are right on the money about our failure to advance RISP. Last night we had runners on first and second and no outs. They never moved.. Even Little Leaguers are taught to hit BEHIND runners. Until we get more SITUATIONAL hitting from these guys, we are going to lose a lot more close games.
With the exception of Hudson and hopefully Jurrgens, this team is having to go to it’s bullpen way too soon. It’s only July and those guys are going to be done by the end of August.
October
July 24th, 2010
1:03 pm
Here’s to Wagner recovering. Making the playoffs is great and all, but here’s to Wagner’s magic coming back and staying through October. The nosedive that we’ve experienced 2 of the past 4 games is eerily reminiscent of what to experience if we can make it to October. Get it back Billy.
jeffrey d
July 24th, 2010
3:18 pm
I love the Braves, but if you think our bullpen is not weak weak weak, the washed-up Wagner included, then you’re crazy.
The bullpen has the 3rd best ERA in the NL, and the 4th fewest Blown Saves…
Chief pitchanono
July 24th, 2010
3:18 pm
Great article Mark, I agree I don’t see this team letting it slip away either. They want it too bad and they believe that are a playoff team. Sure their will be a few bumps in the road, like last night, but in the end they will pull it out. Go Braves!
Bobby Dicks (eye is the manager)
July 24th, 2010
5:22 pm
8 Reasons why the Braves will falter down the stretch!
1. Billy Wagners 39 year old arm is already tiring.
2. Chippers injuries
3. Tommy Hanson (sophmore slump, especiallly the second half)
4. Bobby Dicks arrest for beating his wife
5. ?
6. ?
7. ?
8. That should do it.
JCH
July 24th, 2010
6:51 pm
Yep, Excellent Potential for Braves there Mark, Your Crystal ball is polished up well…. my only request….. Somebody Lock up Cox in a Closet come September/October !!!!!!
Ralph
July 24th, 2010
8:32 pm
MB gave us eight reason why we will not squander this lead. I’ll give you one reason they will : BOBBY COX.
Bradley Curse
July 24th, 2010
9:04 pm
Maybe writers should believe in the jinx more.
DOB calls Wagner “perfect” and he blows two straight saves, Bradley says they won’t squander the lead and they’re about to lose two games to the Phils in two days.
E Joiner
July 24th, 2010
10:32 pm
Why is McClout still on the Braves much less in the lineup. One reason BOBBY COX.
Franklin
July 25th, 2010
6:19 pm
Mark what kind of DRUGS are you on. They keep playing MCClout and you have the main reason they will loses. My daddy can hit better then nate.and he’s 91.
bravesball
July 25th, 2010
6:25 pm
Eight reasons the braves wont hold the lead..
1.Nate McLouth
2. Jesse Chavez
3. Kenshin Kawakami
4. Derek Lowe
5. Melky Cabrera
6. Nate McLouth
7. Lack of a CFer
8. Bobby Cox
those are actual reasons, yours were basically heyward, heyward, heyward, heyward, you get the idea.
Christopher Chance
July 25th, 2010
10:49 pm
Jesse Chavez should immediately be demoted to Triple A. I have absolutely no confidence in him.
Nate McLouth just quit hitting. Frank Wren needs to find a way to address his presence on the roster immediately.
I have a feeling that Kris Medlen will end up being traded as part of a package for a right handed bat soon. Sure, Medlen would be tough to give up. However, Kawakami is available to pitch as the 5th starter……..and the Minor kid, especially being left handed, will probably be our 5th starter next year.
Bradley Curse
July 27th, 2010
8:53 pm
shutout by Nats, Philly winning
3.5 game lead after tonight … shrinking daily now
Bradley's Curse
July 27th, 2010
8:53 pm
about to be 3.5 games, shrinking daily now
tipster
July 27th, 2010
8:55 pm
The Bradley Curse – now in full effect!
Don
July 27th, 2010
9:10 pm
Nice call moron
Is it time for Braves' fans to panic? Nah, I bravely aver | Mark Bradley
July 28th, 2010
7:56 am
[...] recall that a certain correspondent with a penchant for being wrong last week offered eight reasons the Braves wouldn’t blow their lead. You’ll note that I didn’t say they’d win by 15 games; I just said they’d [...]
Alex Gonzalez: He's a great fielder, except when he isn't | Mark Bradley
August 10th, 2010
11:21 am
[...] No. 5 among the already-legendary “8 Reasons These Braves Will NOT Squander This Lead” post was this: They have a dependable shortstop. As reason for Reason No. 5, this correspondent [...]
Phillies, Class of the NL
September 7th, 2010
9:07 pm
9/7/10 — lead about to be squandered.
Don
September 7th, 2010
9:26 pm
Hahaha you idiot. When will you admit you really have no clue what you write about.
Don
September 7th, 2010
10:26 pm
Done! Lead is gone. And MB is a worthless slug.
The Braves’ lead has been squandered. What happens now? | Mark Bradley
September 7th, 2010
10:43 pm
[...] You know the lead? The one I insisted they wouldn’t squander? [...]
Philadelphia Phan
September 8th, 2010
9:24 am
Guess that arrogance didn’t really work out for you, huh Braves Fans? You can’t even beat the Pirates! Haha!!!
Root em' in
September 8th, 2010
10:01 am
LEAD SQUANDERED! what a nerd…
woops
September 15th, 2010
1:11 pm
numbers 1 through 8, What’d you really mean?
woops
September 15th, 2010
1:21 pm
and why is the word “NOT” capitalized? To whom was he making a statement? What else does Mark Bradley know?
wooooops
woops
September 16th, 2010
9:32 am
2 Reasons the Phillies wont squander the lead
1. They’re not the Mets
2. They’re not the Braves