Live from the Braves’ game, not long after a really tough loss
Jerry Hairston Jr. slides home with the equalizer last night. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
A few words about, er, me: For nearly two decades I expected the Braves to win every game — even though I knew they wouldn’t, I still expected it — because for nearly two decades they did nothing but win. Then they stopped winning, and gradually I came to expect less.
But over the past two months I’ve been geeting that feeling once more: That a Braves’ victory is something close to inevitable, that they’re going to figure out a way to win even if you’re never sure just how they’re managing it. And I operated, as you blog and Twitter folks well know, on that assumption last night. And the Braves …
Well, they didn’t win.
They blew a ninth-inning lead for only the second time this season. Billy Wagner failed to close a game for only the second time in almost two months. They messed around a while longer before losing in the 12th inning. It didn’t hurt the Braves in the standings — the Mets and Phils both lost again — but it served as a nice little reminder. (At least for me.)
This is baseball. Nothing is inevitable.
And on that semi-sobering note, I open the floor again for questions, comments and other metaphysical garbage. And yes, before you even ask, it’s hot at the ol’ ballyard today. Too hot. We need a roof. Somebody get Arthur Blank on it, will you?
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540 comments Add your comment
urm
July 22nd, 2010
3:30 pm
no such thing Steve
jeff becker
July 22nd, 2010
3:30 pm
lol
Aaron
July 22nd, 2010
3:30 pm
@ Steve…Up 7 with 6 to play and I’ll feel comfortable.
Mark Bradley
July 22nd, 2010
3:30 pm
Getting close, Steve.
Rule of thumb: It’s hard to gain more than a game a week. And there are nine or 10 weeks left.
Katherine
July 22nd, 2010
3:30 pm
I thought Chipper got hurt too…he looked like it.
SG10
July 22nd, 2010
3:30 pm
Does this Braves team have highest OBP among all Braves teams in past 10 years? I don’t ever recall seeing Braves team which was as frequently on base as this one is.
bruce
July 22nd, 2010
3:30 pm
Mark, not sure I got my message through days ago…you may remember I committed to you on the blog to check out the strasburger… I was headed to the burger place in arlington va on July 1 based on your blog, but got into accident on interstate 66, hit from behind while stopped, doing ok now, chiropractor fixed me up (several trips), driving a beater now til the $6300 repairs are done. Anyway, I tried again about two weeks later and they were no longer offering it. I also got a red wagner braves tshirt to wear in Philly series during 8th-9th innings but ended up not going up to philly for both heat and back/neck issues. Will save the tshirt for Sept. The burger place was really good even without 12 pickles.
Ashley
July 22nd, 2010
3:30 pm
What do they mean Chipper is dizzy? I mean, I know it’s hot, but it’s just as hot for the other players on the field too!
Heisenberg
July 22nd, 2010
3:31 pm
Prado went through a mild slump earlier after his fast start and his average almost dipped below 300. Then he got hot again and ran his average up to around 340. His OBP is still good. Not to worry. He will get hot again.
ReddJonn68
July 22nd, 2010
3:31 pm
What is up with Chipper how do you get dizzy running to first ???
Katherine
July 22nd, 2010
3:32 pm
Well its really hot out there redd…..get the man some gatorade.
jeff becker
July 22nd, 2010
3:33 pm
infante prolly coming in anyway, just run for him
ReddJonn68
July 22nd, 2010
3:34 pm
Yeah & a sundress to match the color of the gatorade.
deb
July 22nd, 2010
3:34 pm
Some Gatorade and a church fan
Mitchell
July 22nd, 2010
3:34 pm
We can’t blow this one can we?
Let’s see what Mikey can do.
Mark Bradley
July 22nd, 2010
3:35 pm
Dunne in to hurl. And I mean that in a good way.
GTSteve
July 22nd, 2010
3:35 pm
Shane
July 22nd, 2010
3:26 pm
nobody will get mad if you jinx the mets and phillies
Javy Was Juiced
July 22nd, 2010
3:36 pm
If the Mets win the divison, I’m committing ritual Hari-Kari.
Mark Bradley
July 22nd, 2010
3:36 pm
Holy smokes, Bruce. I’m sorry to hear about your run-in.
DawginLex
July 22nd, 2010
3:36 pm
Is huddy in a zone or what?
Except for that late inning meltdown against the Brewers, he has been tremendous. His surgeon should really milk that for all it is worth.
Katherine
July 22nd, 2010
3:36 pm
Not good walking the first batter
Mitchell
July 22nd, 2010
3:36 pm
Good Lord.
What are you doing walking the first GD batter?
Ball five.
Mark Bradley
July 22nd, 2010
3:37 pm
Dunne walks the first man. Then throws Ball One to Hairston Jr. Then hears from Roger McDowell.
Pierson Brave
July 22nd, 2010
3:37 pm
I think the Philthies and Mutts are on the schedule late this year with like 9 games each. So in relation to the magic number it’s a long way to go.
Shane
July 22nd, 2010
3:37 pm
Rule of thumb: It’s hard to gain more than a game a week. And there are nine or 10 weeks left.
Unless your the Mets but these Braves are definitely not the Mets.
Mitchell
July 22nd, 2010
3:38 pm
Ball six.
Mitchell
July 22nd, 2010
3:38 pm
Ball seven.
Katherine
July 22nd, 2010
3:38 pm
Good lord…get him out of there
deb
July 22nd, 2010
3:39 pm
oh no! I hate when I’m at work and I can’t watch the game. 2 walks?
Aaron
July 22nd, 2010
3:39 pm
THIS IS WHO WE TRADED VAZQUEZ FOR?!?
Aaron
July 22nd, 2010
3:39 pm
Ive never heard a bigger cheer for a strike before.
Mitchell
July 22nd, 2010
3:39 pm
Ball eight.
I guess I didn’t have to write “Ball eight.”
Kind of goes without saying. But does it go without writing? Apparently not.
Mark Bradley
July 22nd, 2010
3:40 pm
GET HIM OUT OF THERE.
jeff becker
July 22nd, 2010
3:40 pm
viscayino was ranked higher or lower than dunn in trade?
Ashley
July 22nd, 2010
3:40 pm
Chip Caray to Dunn after the 7th ball thrown: “Try something else.”
So true!
GT Alum
July 22nd, 2010
3:41 pm
Well, I was hoping with an 8 run lead it would be safe for Bobby to make his defensive changes. Of course, if the pitcher won’t throw strikes, maybe it’s not.
Heisenberg
July 22nd, 2010
3:41 pm
Was he the guy the Braves are offering to the Marlins for C Ross? Make the deal!
GTSteve
July 22nd, 2010
3:41 pm
Glaus made 2 outs in the same inning…somebody tell him it is May 22nd
Mark Bradley
July 22nd, 2010
3:42 pm
Attendance: 26,450.
DC Fan
July 22nd, 2010
3:42 pm
What burger place in Arlington is Bruce talking about Mark. Is it Ray’s Hell Burger? Anyway, can’t wait to see Straus pitch against the Braves. I’ll be one of the few cheering for the Braves!
Ashley
July 22nd, 2010
3:42 pm
Dunn is.
ReddJonn68
July 22nd, 2010
3:42 pm
Hey Deb I know its not the same, but try ESPN Gamecast
Aaron
July 22nd, 2010
3:43 pm
Yunel finished the game 1-4 while looking at 10 pitches…looks like a Frenchy stat.
Mark Bradley
July 22nd, 2010
3:44 pm
Three walks later … the manager removes Dunn.
deb
July 22nd, 2010
3:44 pm
Redd, I paid for the MLB game day audio which I listen to but the visual never works and when it does it’s several batters behind. I’ll try the ESPN. Thanks.
GT Alum
July 22nd, 2010
3:44 pm
Vizcaino was supposed to be the main asset in that trade. Dunn basically just lived up to the scouting report on him. Live arm, but doesn’t seem to be able to get it to go where he wants it to most of the time.
jeff becker
July 22nd, 2010
3:45 pm
cbssportsline is showing these first three pitches to gonzalez as just up against the zone line… is he getting squeezed or is he all over the place?
Katherine
July 22nd, 2010
3:45 pm
A little late…why do we do this to ourselves…One swing of the bat and its only a 4 run game arrrrrh
Kentavo
July 22nd, 2010
3:45 pm
I think Dunn done himself in.
The Doktor
July 22nd, 2010
3:46 pm
This Mike Dunn character sux… he couldn’t find the plate with a periscope. Him and the Dingo Boy from Oz should go bowling together…