Live from Philly: Cox’s ‘hardest-working team’ faces Halladay
Matt Diaz was in a tripping mood Monday night, if you get my drift. (AP photo)
Philadelphia — The most optimistic man in the world all but admitted Tuesday what has become increasingly obvious: That these Atlanta Braves have come close to maximizing a modest set of assets. Asked how he would remember his final club, Bobby Cox said: “This is the hardest-working team I’ve ever had.”
Not the best. Not the most talented. The hardest-working. And it has had to be. Because talent-wise this team at peak capacity was never a colossus, and the Braves haven’t been at peak capacity since Chipper Jones hurt himself in Houston. They’ve been making do, plugging leaks, fashioning a semblance of a lineup with retreads and duct tape. And you know what?
They entered play Tuesday with the second-best record in the National League.
We Atlantans have noted and bemoaned the slide from seven games ahead in the NL East to four games back, but we can’t have been totally shocked. A lot had to go right to get the Braves into first place, and a lot more was going to have to go right to keep them there. And it’s not as if this team has collapsed: For all its recent wobbles, it would still be leading either of the other two divisions.
The Phillies, who have talent to burn and money to spend, have showed their class. They’ve gone 16-3 in September, and on Monday one of their three aces (Cole Hamels) beat a Braves’ rookie (Brandon Beachy) pressed into service because Jair Jurrjens turned up sore. On Tuesday the matchup was only slightly more encouraging for the visiting nine: Another rookie (Mike Minor) against maybe the best in the game (Roy Halladay).
There are times this season when to look at the standings was to think, “Has this team really won that many games?” Because a list of the things the Braves don’t do well — hit for power, hit with runners in scoring position, steal bases, catch the ball — is longer than a recitation of their strengths, which have been starting pitching, relief pitching and pugnacity. And now the starting pitcher has buckled, which is why the Braves are 9-10 in September.
At such a time, the response is to ask what has gone wrong. In this case, it’s the incorrect question. We’re seeing a team that has spent nearly $60 million more for its roster assume control of a division it has won three seasons running, and we’re seeing a team that hasn’t reached the postseason since 2005 position itself to qualify as a wild card.
The lost division lead represents failure of a kind, but to harp on that would mask the bigger success. Even if these Braves lose every game from here out, they will have overachieved. Let’s return to Cox, who earlier this season described his mindset thusly: “You can’t win them all. But I keep thinking we’re going to, even though it hasn’t worked out like that in 51 years.”
Of this team, Cox said Tuesday: “The ball has bounced our way a good deal this year. You win that many late games and things are going right for you.”
Let’s note that this is the manager whose postgame briefings routinely include a recitation of all the balls the Braves hit hard that were caught (and all the bloops authored by the opponent that weren’t). Let’s note that this is a manager who expects the best no matter what. Let’s note that for Bobby Cox even to hint that his final team has gotten good value for its resources is close to a revelation.
And with that, the figurative phone lines are open yet again for your disagreement. (I know a lot of you blame Cox — or Frank Wren — for everything that has gone awry. I respectfully disagree.) I’ll be here to chronicle and annotate the events of Game 2 in this series, and I’d be honored to have you as company. And, as ever, I thank you in advance.
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580 comments Add your comment
CSpin
September 21st, 2010
5:39 pm
It’s like deja vu all over again.
Nick Purdy
September 21st, 2010
5:41 pm
Good analysis, Mark. Let’s be happy and hopeful.
CSpin
September 21st, 2010
5:42 pm
Great blog and well said btw, MB.
kbrab
September 21st, 2010
5:50 pm
No argument here. If they get to the post-season, this year is a huge success.
bvillebaron
September 21st, 2010
5:52 pm
You are right, Mark. Some of the critics of the Braves should consider the following:
(1) they had the 7th worst team in MLB 2 years ago and as of today have the 5th best record in MLB;
(2) this is a still rebuilding franchise with a number of quality young players and/or prospects (i.e. Heyward, Venters, Kimbrel, Minor, Freeman, Teheran and possibly Beachy and Delgado as well);
(3) during the past offseason, the Phils, with a large budget now that Pennsylvania taxpayers, including yours truly, provided them with substantial financial assistance to build their new stadium, added Roy Halladay and Roy Oswalt to a basically still in their prime roster which won the World Series 2 years ago and lost to the Yankees last year;
(4) the Braves still hold a 2 game lead in the wild card with only 11 games to play.
Peter
September 21st, 2010
5:55 pm
Silly stuff Mark… “IF” they looses EVERY GAME the Rest of the way ….THEY CHOKED !
What is Tampa’s payroll Mark ?
What was the Marlin’s payroll when they won 2 World Series Titles ?
Yes Bobby explained they have been VERY LUCKY to even be in it with the roster they put together…..Zero speed, little to no bats, and ERRORS galore 112 and counting…..Frank Wren’s mess.
24 Miracle wins so far in the 9th inning……so they are still in it, and can still hold on for a playoff spot.
Please also explain the Money to burn part …..cause in my mind with KK, Lowe, Nate, and Melky…….we burned a heck of allot of MONEY ourselves !
Hardest working ?
Come on Mark…..is that why they throw to the wrong base, miss the cut off guy, made 112 errors, and can’t Bunt….because of HARD WORK ?
Brent
September 21st, 2010
5:56 pm
Bobby is a great manager. All of you who disagree, that’s probably why you don’t have a Hall of Fame vote. Mark is being nice by “respectfully” disagreeing. I just think you are a bunch of morons.
Beeeeg Boy
September 21st, 2010
5:58 pm
Kinda reminds me of the Felix Milan-Felipe Alou teams many moons ago.
dawg4u
September 21st, 2010
5:59 pm
I am really surprised that the Braves have the second best NL record especially considering the lack of consistency in our regular lineup. I think it is important that the Braves win at least one game here in Philly if only for psychological reasons. Tonight should be our best shot to beat the Phils because lately Oswalt has been their best pitcher. Their top three starters are better than our top three and their lineup is head and shoulders above ours so I can see how Bobby can say that this has been our hardest working club under his management. Look at our lineup and some of the injuries we’ve been hit with and you have to be impressed with the record and effort of this team and our never say die attitude.
bvillebaron
September 21st, 2010
5:59 pm
Peter:
Do yourself a favor, re-read my points 1 and 2 above before you criticize Wren. For the record, the “no at bats” team was 4th in the NL in runs scored as of last Sunday. Sorry to ruin your negative comments with facts.
dawg4u
September 21st, 2010
5:59 pm
Enter your comments here
Darryl Blackberry
September 21st, 2010
6:00 pm
Outside of first base, our defense has been terrible. How can we expect to win even the wild card if we keep giving away runs?
It would be a shame if San Diego and Atlanta — the overachieving teams — were to miss out on the postseason, but that’s what may very well happen, what with Colorado and San Francisco surging (and playing easy teams this week, it should be noted).
Peter
September 21st, 2010
6:03 pm
bvillebaron…… I would go look at the games…….. Yes we blew a bunch of teams out in a single game…….but how about in Pittsburgh this last go round……… 1 run in two games then we won 12-3 ?
We have lost close low scoring games all year, then blew a team out……If we could manufacture a run for a change, and not have to wait for a 3 run blast, I could agree with you.
dawg4u
September 21st, 2010
6:06 pm
When you look at our lineup as compared to the Phillies lineup I can see how Bobby can say that this is the hardest working team he’s had because top to bottom the Phillies are much more talented and their top three starters are better than our top three. Regardless of what happens the rest of the way the Braves have over-achieved this season. I think it’s important pyschologically to win at least one game in Philly and tonight would be the best chance because Oswalt has been the Phil’s best pitcher lately.
"Chef" Tim Dix
September 21st, 2010
6:06 pm
How ya feeling today Mark?
Reid Adair
September 21st, 2010
6:07 pm
“The most optimistic man in the world all but admitted Tuesday what has become increasingly obvious: That these Atlanta Braves have come close to maximizing a modest set of assets. Asked how he would remember his final club, Bobby Cox said: ‘This is the hardest-working team I’ve ever had.’”
Bobby Cox is a class act. To call this roster a “modest set of assets” is being kind. And, yes, Mark, I blame Frank Wren entirely for the roster Cox has had to work with.
However, I wholeheartedly agree with Cox that they have worked hard. The harsh reality is that with this lineup, even being in contention right now is an amazing accomplishment.
brad
September 21st, 2010
6:07 pm
i agree brent! morons! they are. we are having a great year and bobby cox is showing how truley talented he is by managing this so so team to a respectful record. we have once again gained respect in this league. for those of you who dont believe that your ignorant and a hater
"Chef" Tim Dix
September 21st, 2010
6:08 pm
BTW, the west will beat themselves to a pulp and it will be the Braves saving grace,
bruce
September 21st, 2010
6:18 pm
Mark, Classy and good perspective-giving. Thanks. Bruce
CSpin
September 21st, 2010
6:23 pm
I almost said something about the probability of another first round exit if they were to win the WC, but I’ll refrain.
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
6:24 pm
Much better, Chef Tim. Thanks for asking.
Lobosolo
September 21st, 2010
6:28 pm
Great post, Mark… Too bad the thread will be inundated by the armchair experts when the game gets under way… I’ve been watching the Braves since they moved here in ‘66, and this team definitely has as much heart as any of the previous ones and Cox has done one of his best jobs to date… They are by far the biggest over-achievers in the majors this year… Too bad the nofans can’t realize that…
Reverand Optimistic
September 21st, 2010
6:28 pm
Yeah though we walk through the valley of shadow and death (CITIZENS BANK PARK) we will fear no evil, for our bats and our gloves will comfort thee…..
Mudge
September 21st, 2010
6:31 pm
Darryl: I beg to differ about the surging Giants. They play a Cubs team at home that has won 8 of 9 and the Rockies in Denver. These are not easy teams. The Giants could easily lose 4 of 6.
P Rose
September 21st, 2010
6:34 pm
JJ is hurt (again) and doesn’t want to pitch.
KK is god-awful and (thankfully) won’t be allowed to pitch. He belongs in
LL (Little League).
MM is all we have available and (unfortunately) HAS to pitch. Can he beat Halladay?
NN-OO
jfreak13713
September 21st, 2010
6:35 pm
I don’t blame Cox or Wren but I give credit to the players who in spite of injuries and payroll limitations have put themselves in position to make the playoffs. Cox is cox but we won’t have him to kick around anymore and Wren has made some decision that haven’t worked out, YET. Lets not forget how well Lowe has pitched in the playoffs in his career, and McLouth seems to be hitting much better. With all that being said its the players that decide who wins or looses. They Braves Players have decided to win much more often than they have lost this year and we would all do well to remember that!
The Braves shouldn’t even be here! Instead of complaining about what they are not try to grateful for what they are, a playoff contender!
Cox I’m not a huge fan of your style but I fear what we will be once you are gone. Be careful what you wish for because the grass is rarely greener on the otherside of the fence!
DCBravosFan
September 21st, 2010
6:36 pm
Let’s grab the next two and get the heck on down to DC!!!
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
6:39 pm
Thanks, Lobosolo.
JIMMY
September 21st, 2010
6:43 pm
if this bobbys hardest working team !!! wonder where they are all at when bunting practice comes aro und ?????
Steve
September 21st, 2010
6:43 pm
Great article Mark! It’s nice to hear positives! Just win that Wild Card. I like our chances of winning, tomorrow. They have overachieved for sure. Hope they take care of business this weekend and next week. Should be amazing at Turner Field next week/weekend. I hear there should be big crowds for every remaining home game.
joejoe
September 21st, 2010
6:43 pm
It seemed to me last night we didn’t have our first string in the game.
Tmac
September 21st, 2010
6:44 pm
Great article Mark!! This is a team, that looking at it by the stats you reference should be at best a .500 club, but here it is 11 games left and we’re battling the mighty Phillies with 3 rookie pitchers, 2 of which were in the minors just a few months ago. Win or lose it’s been an exciting 6 months of baseball. Can’t wait to see how it all plays out
flyboy
September 21st, 2010
6:47 pm
The great thing about a 162 game season is that it generally winds up sorting out the better teams…and that’s what is happening with the Braves. They have been over-achieving all year and getting the most they can from everyone at critical times…what is happening in the last two weeks is simply a reflection of the thin margin for error with which the Braves have has to deal with all year finally coming into play…the loss of Chipper, the fatigue of the starters, a couple of ill-timed injuries, the less than average defense – the real killer in my humble opinion – and an average offensive lineup…it’s going to be a question of whether these guys have just one more burst to the finish line – I hope they do, but will not be surprised if they’ve simply run out of luck and timing…they’ve done far more than any one realistically could have expected looking at the 25-man roster.
CardsfaninATL
September 21st, 2010
6:50 pm
it sure is more fun to watch the Braves than the Cards right now…I think a little perspective is in order here. The Braves are a team fighting for a playoff spot, that’s more than about 20 other teams can say.
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
6:52 pm
Throwing out the ceremonial first pitch: Temple basketball coach Fran Dunphy.
bravesfan
September 21st, 2010
6:53 pm
Until the upper management decides to start spending more money, we will always be looking up to the Phillies. Because they have money, they were able to trade for Cliff Lee, sign Halladay, re-sign Ryan Howard for way more than he’s worth, and make a trade for Roy Oswalt and his huge salary. Teams that can take on higher salaries can bolster their team with high-end season-changing players without money being an issue. With the Braves, every move they make has to take into consideration their payroll limits set by Liberty Media. Yes you can look at the Rays and Reds, for example, but they are not perennial contenders like the big-spending Yankees and Phillies.
If we do not win tonight it is over folks
September 21st, 2010
6:55 pm
What a meaningful race to capture the wild card or miserable send off for ‘ole Bobby. We have to play like a team “on fire” tonight or it is essentially over.
Ashley
September 21st, 2010
7:06 pm
Bobby Cox is not to blame at all. We are facing tough pitching right now and the guys haven’t played the greatest defense lately. Too many errors. They need to go out there swinging today. Cuz this pitcher doesn’t walk people thats for darn sure lol.
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
7:07 pm
Here we go. Halladay’s first pitch is grounded to short. One out.
SilentCC
September 21st, 2010
7:08 pm
Any good (great) manager, whether in sports, in the corporate scene or families or any organization that has a leader, has the uncanny knack of getting the most out of his people. The best aren’t usually those who possess the highest skills themselves, but because of their own struggles to excel and their keen sense of what motivates people, are patient enough to lift others up — maybe way past their normal expectations, if even for a little while, or just for a special moment.
Optimism isn’t truly believing that all things WILL turn out for the best — that would be silly. It’s giving yourself and others a chance to excel if possible, and if not, not to wish you were dead because of the failure.
clay
September 21st, 2010
7:08 pm
hey mark the crowd doesnt look as into the game as last night. whats up with them?
CSpin
September 21st, 2010
7:09 pm
We did this last time we faced him and he went 8 or 9 innings—why does bobby make em swing at the first pitch w/ halladay??
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
7:09 pm
Hallday requires five pitches to retire the Braves
"Chef" Tim Dix
September 21st, 2010
7:09 pm
Remember when our pitchers were that economical?
clay
September 21st, 2010
7:10 pm
this is not looking good for the bravos starting off
Ashley
September 21st, 2010
7:10 pm
Dang that first half of the inning was quick….ok they can take one pitch at least lol. Don’t be too aggresive boys.
Trey
September 21st, 2010
7:10 pm
It will be tough tonight.
clay
September 21st, 2010
7:10 pm
whats the crowd like out there mark? as crazy as last night?
Ghost of Jeff Treadway
September 21st, 2010
7:11 pm
I might be alone in this thinking, but I believe it’s smarter to stack our rotation to sweep the Nationals rather than go toe-to-toe with the Phillies’ trio. You’d hate to have our aces get beat by theirs and have nothing left for a crucial series in Washington. Mark, what do you think?
clay
September 21st, 2010
7:11 pm
whats the crowd like there tonight mark? crazy as last night?
todd grantham
September 21st, 2010
7:11 pm
Mark, I just don’t believe the Braves can match up with the Phillies and will be lucky to take 1 game in this series.
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
7:12 pm
I hear you, Ghost, and halfway agree.
"Chef" Tim Dix
September 21st, 2010
7:13 pm
Jayson Werth’s workout regiment?
Showering in an open fire hydrant then killing a couple of strangers for their pocket change.
TTTT-Thumbody Thed Thats Thupid!
September 21st, 2010
7:14 pm
I am O.K. with the Braves losing last night…………………………….that is, as long as they win tonight and tomorrow night. Want to see it down to one game when the Phils come to Atlanta. That would be some kind of three game series! Baseball is so unpredictable anything can happen between now and then. BTW, Phils have Phickle Phans!
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
7:14 pm
Crowd is a bit more subdued.
chattadawg
September 21st, 2010
7:15 pm
He showers?
"Chef" Tim Dix
September 21st, 2010
7:15 pm
Treadway still a friend on mine. Grew up together in Griffin.
"Chef" Tim Dix
September 21st, 2010
7:15 pm
Quite alive BTW.
Steve
September 21st, 2010
7:16 pm
CSpin do you really think Bobby “makes” them swing at the first pitch? Come on.
Sonny Clusters
September 21st, 2010
7:17 pm
If we had to pick one thing that makes us sick about these Braves . . . it’s the nose picking. Bobby is always picking on camera and they just showed TP doing the same thing. When we was playing ball nobody associated with the team was a known nose picker. There was a guy in study hall that did some picking but he was in the band. We aren’t sure about Charlie Manuel but we are betting he is a scratcher instead of a picker. Go Braves.
"Chef" Tim Dix
September 21st, 2010
7:18 pm
Ever wonder why the trade of Werth to Houston didn’t go through?
Houston’s Mayor put it best: “We’d met our quota of unsolved slayings.”
TTTT-Thumbody Thed Thats Thupid!
September 21st, 2010
7:18 pm
MB just proved my point. Phils have Phickle Phans. One Phillie was complaining the other night after that 9th inning comeback that so many had left early. Don’t let them put one over on you. They are way below a Yankee fan, or a Red Sox fan.
Ghost of Jeff Treadway
September 21st, 2010
7:19 pm
Question: If Chase Utley and Jayson Werth get into fisticuffs, who does Jennifer Utley root for: her husband or her boyfriend?
Don
September 21st, 2010
7:19 pm
Gonna get ugly in a hurry tonight.
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
7:19 pm
Charlie Manuel and Joe Simpson are old buddies, by the way. They were talking earlier today.
"Chef" Tim Dix
September 21st, 2010
7:21 pm
At the Plate: Every Post Office’s oldest photo.
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
7:21 pm
Two hits by the lefties off Minor. And now a righthander.
clay
September 21st, 2010
7:21 pm
come on minor dont give up anything. the braves seem like they cant come back anymore
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
7:21 pm
Seeing the Braves head to head with this team is a fairly compelling contrast.
Ghost of Jeff Treadway
September 21st, 2010
7:22 pm
Jayson Werth stole my car. Fact.
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
7:23 pm
Minor escapes.
clay
September 21st, 2010
7:23 pm
nice job minor
"Chef" Tim Dix
September 21st, 2010
7:23 pm
21-5, Minor leads wrong category.
"Chef" Tim Dix
September 21st, 2010
7:25 pm
It’s widely held belief Werth frequents National Parks.
clay
September 21st, 2010
7:25 pm
has the media around there been killing the braves?
Sonny Clusters
September 21st, 2010
7:25 pm
Charlie Manuel didn’t know Prado’s name at the All-Star game. Maybe Martin will do something tonight to make him remember. We are a little under the weather tonight – just plain sore. We took a fall last night and haven’t been right all day. We went out for Dairy Queen, though, and that helped some. We’re sitting along the third base line tonight. Look for us.
Chip Caray
September 21st, 2010
7:26 pm
I have a thousand ways to play on the name “Halladay”. And you will listen to every single one of them; like it or not.
clay
September 21st, 2010
7:26 pm
hahaha that was halarious
Ghost of Jeff Treadway
September 21st, 2010
7:27 pm
Chooch = stupid
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
7:27 pm
Ruiz just messed up. Thought he had McCann struck out and threw to third. Umpire hates being made to look silly.
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
7:28 pm
Derrek Lee. Another hit.
CSpin
September 21st, 2010
7:28 pm
Steve you’re not very smart—i’m speaking in a managerial/strategic sense. Don’t read into my comment.
Sonny Clusters
September 21st, 2010
7:29 pm
We’ve been filtered.
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
7:29 pm
Halladay overmatched Nate McLouth
CSpin
September 21st, 2010
7:30 pm
Here we go, scattering singles again
"Chef" Tim Dix
September 21st, 2010
7:30 pm
I once reported a panhandler on exit 69 on I-75 south.
The Police sketch artist drew Jayson Werth.
J CHen
September 21st, 2010
7:30 pm
Hallady will be back in slump after facing this guy.
J CHen
September 21st, 2010
7:31 pm
Mean to say mclouth back slump
Sonny Clusters
September 21st, 2010
7:31 pm
Does anybody think the Braves could take a pitch and make Halladay work a little and do better against him? We would take a pitch and then we’d smoke one.
clay
September 21st, 2010
7:32 pm
well atleast the braves made him pitch that inning.
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
7:32 pm
Halladay: 17 pitches that inning.
Don
September 21st, 2010
7:32 pm
Here come the fireworks
welikebaseball2
September 21st, 2010
7:34 pm
Still waiting to see the gain from the Gonzalez trade. And before anyone starts screaming how much better the “locker room” is (as if any of us are in there w/ the guys), please know that I’m talking on-the-field.
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
7:36 pm
Martin slowed up on that.
Andy
September 21st, 2010
7:37 pm
I think all these games are catching up with Prado. As DOB has documented, he has not been playing very well the last 3 weeks.
clay
September 21st, 2010
7:37 pm
minor will be out by the fifth if he keeps this up
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
7:37 pm
Doesn’t cost. Ibanez grounds out.
Andy
September 21st, 2010
7:39 pm
Halladay is a beast. He can easily go 110 or 115 pitches. Giving him a short inning is a good way to insure a complete game.
"Chef" Tim Dix
September 21st, 2010
7:39 pm
Having cleared waivers, the Atlanta Braves have signed Philidephia’s third favorite son, Spider Rico to a minor league contract.
clay
September 21st, 2010
7:39 pm
i would like to see conrad get a start or two and give prado some rest
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
7:40 pm
Valdez again gets aboard with two out. Clears the No. 9 spot for the next inning
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
7:41 pm
Forget about next inning — this is still brewing
clay
September 21st, 2010
7:41 pm
omg. here we go
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
7:41 pm
Victorino’s at-bat song: “Buffalo Soldier,” by Bob Marley.
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
7:42 pm
And now a stolen base
todd grantham
September 21st, 2010
7:43 pm
you keep up this double blogging and you wont have a thing left for the finale tomorrow.
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
7:43 pm
I don’t have much left as it is.
"Chef" Tim Dix
September 21st, 2010
7:43 pm
Love Bob hate Vic.
clay
September 21st, 2010
7:44 pm
man you cant keep playing with fire like that, eventually you know what happens
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
7:44 pm
Two more stranded. Phils again leave a man in scoring position.
todd grantham
September 21st, 2010
7:45 pm
2 bad Braves characteristics: slow afoot and shakey defense at critical junctures.
Andy
September 21st, 2010
7:45 pm
welikebaseball2
Going into play today Gonzalez has hit .268 with 5 homers and 35 RBI in 61 games with the Braves. Yunel hit .238 with 0 homers and 19 RBI in 75 games with the Braves. Gonzalez’s offensive production has been solid. I agree that he is streaky and his defense seems to be either terrible or spectacular depending on the game but I don’t think there is any question that he is an improvement over Yunel.
Don
September 21st, 2010
7:45 pm
Those were some chinese duds. Next inning we break out the american stuff.
"Chef" Tim Dix
September 21st, 2010
7:45 pm
Let Sonny C. ghost write your next column Mark.
todd grantham
September 21st, 2010
7:45 pm
looks like we all picked a bad week to quit smoking.
clay
September 21st, 2010
7:46 pm
how many pitches in minor up to now?
satanas
September 21st, 2010
7:46 pm
Good one Todd…
Don
September 21st, 2010
7:46 pm
Over under pitches this inning for roy
11
for minor 28
welikebaseball2
September 21st, 2010
7:47 pm
MB: What’s your opinion on McCann’s ability/inability to throw out runners? He doesn’t seem to excel in that area. Not sure where he ranks among catchers in terms of runners thrown out or throwing errors. Maybe he just looks bad to me.
"Chef" Tim Dix
September 21st, 2010
7:47 pm
smoking was easy, sniffing glue, hard.
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
7:47 pm
Ankiel draws a five-pitch walk.
SG10
September 21st, 2010
7:47 pm
Mark,
Which of the following players will return next year: Glaus, Hinske, Lee, Gonzo, Ankiel, Saito ? I am assuming Mclouth and Diaz will return.
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
7:48 pm
How do you NOT BUNT?
satanas
September 21st, 2010
7:48 pm
WTF!!!!!!
Ghost of Jeff Treadway
September 21st, 2010
7:48 pm
What the….?
clay
September 21st, 2010
7:48 pm
wtf was that?
CSpin
September 21st, 2010
7:49 pm
Why the—I just—-what the——….?
"Chef" Tim Dix
September 21st, 2010
7:49 pm
SG10 : Gonzo fo sho.
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
7:50 pm
Gonzalez, McLouth and Diaz — SG10.
Steve
September 21st, 2010
7:50 pm
Errors (last night) and missing signs, that’s not going to cut it!
clay
September 21st, 2010
7:50 pm
see this is why you cant pitch rookies in these type of situations and this is the difference between the two teams.
Pluto
September 21st, 2010
7:50 pm
Dang. What was that? Fool them with a soft grounder, hoping they’d bobble it because they were expecting a bunt?
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
7:50 pm
Bunt him to second and you’re ahead 1-0.
Ghost of Jeff Treadway
September 21st, 2010
7:50 pm
That hurts even worse
GT Alum
September 21st, 2010
7:50 pm
I was watching on GameCast and thought that had to be a really bad bunt. Was it a hit and run even? Or did the kid miss a sign?
Andy
September 21st, 2010
7:50 pm
Minor seems to be improved over his last couple of outings. He has a 5 inning scoreless streak going. Hitting into the DP was NOT good.
satanas
September 21st, 2010
7:51 pm
If the Phillies play their cards right the Braves will sweep themselves!
Brandon from Warner Robins
September 21st, 2010
7:51 pm
Another good read, Mark. Nicely Done.
mjn
September 21st, 2010
7:51 pm
How do you not have your pitcher sac, we could of had a possible run. Can’t stand this crap already with the managing
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
7:51 pm
It wasn’t a bunt, GT Alum. He swung and hit into a double play. Maybe a missed sign.
Pluto
September 21st, 2010
7:51 pm
Do they still fine players for doing stupid things on the field, like NOT BUNTING?
welikebaseball2
September 21st, 2010
7:51 pm
Andy: Your homer stat makes a good case. Gonzalez has indeed provided a little more pop. He just seems to hit the bad part of his streakiness at times when we could really use a hot bat. I must say, also, that I don’t see him as a defensive upgrade.
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
7:51 pm
Almost a single. Werth grabs it.
Steve
September 21st, 2010
7:52 pm
MJN he missed the sign. That was not the managing.
Ghost of Jeff Treadway
September 21st, 2010
7:53 pm
Just kicked the computer chair. My heel is going to bruise.
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
7:53 pm
Thanks very much, BFWR.
Headley Lamar
September 21st, 2010
7:54 pm
Falcons cut Norwood yet?
G
September 21st, 2010
7:54 pm
That a boy Bobby way to have your guys ready to play, may want to go over signs with a rookie pitcher.
SG10
September 21st, 2010
7:54 pm
Mark,
Another question; if Chipper returns, what will happen to Infante, Prado? Only way we can have all three in the lineup is with Prado or someone else moving to first..
mjn
September 21st, 2010
7:54 pm
ok then I stand corrected
GT Alum
September 21st, 2010
7:55 pm
welikebaseball2 -
Gotta agree with you on the defense. Broadcasters seem to love to harp on his defense, but he’s had a bit of the great play followed by a bad play inconsistency that we got from Yunel.
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
7:55 pm
That’s 48 pitches.
Ghost of Jeff Treadway
September 21st, 2010
7:55 pm
*braces himself for bad inning*
Steve
September 21st, 2010
7:56 pm
Minor should not have even needed a sign though and should have known. OBVIOUS bunt situation.
clay
September 21st, 2010
7:57 pm
double play. come on.
CSpin
September 21st, 2010
7:57 pm
Gulp.
mjn
September 21st, 2010
7:57 pm
Since I live in Pa Direct tv blacks out the Philly games so I’m stuck watching a 4 X 2 little screen on their mix sports channel. Don’t get it, they black out the main channel but leave it on the mix channel
todd grantham
September 21st, 2010
7:58 pm
Minor is playing with fire and is gonna get burned
GT Alum
September 21st, 2010
7:59 pm
SG10 -
That’s the million dollar question. Right now, I would think Infante is the insurance plan in case Chipper can’t come back. If he does, maybe Infante goes back to the OF, or maybe he goes back to super-sub. Honestly, Infante could still play almost every day just giving guys a day off. Chipper will probably need at least 1 day a week off. He could rest AGon one day, Prado one day, maybe mix in the OF, maybe give Freeman a break every now and again.
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
8:00 pm
Two on for the big guy
clay
September 21st, 2010
8:00 pm
here we go again. 3 run homer
mjn
September 21st, 2010
8:00 pm
uh oh
Steve
September 21st, 2010
8:00 pm
Don’t worry MJN, it’s about to get very ugly it seems. Must win tomorrow!
Headley Lamar
September 21st, 2010
8:00 pm
Forgot about the division. Phillies are going to knock us right out of the WC.
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
8:01 pm
Another whiff on a foul
GT Alum
September 21st, 2010
8:01 pm
Steve –
That was why I was somewhat skeptical that it was a missed sign and thought it might’ve at least been a hit and run, although hit and run with a pitcher is pretty risky too. But you would think a pitcher who has a runner at 1B with none out would take a long look down at the 3B coach if he thought he saw the sign to swing away.
Ghost of Jeff Treadway
September 21st, 2010
8:01 pm
We’re not making the plays right now.
Headley Lamar
September 21st, 2010
8:01 pm
Almost as if the Ghost of Richie Ashburn was pushing it
mjn
September 21st, 2010
8:01 pm
oh god now comes the 3 run homer after that miss
clay
September 21st, 2010
8:02 pm
are we playing little league baseball now. thats 2. i think the 12 year olds from columbus are playing for us tonight
SG10
September 21st, 2010
8:02 pm
GT Alum,
I see the problem with perennial platoon is that we will continue to remain at the bottom of the league in errors when the guys don’t play the same position for longer periods..Defense is the biggest issue with the Braves, in my opinion…I don’t know how that can be fixed with the same group of guys next year…unless may be they play a fixed position every time out..
Worst Fundamentals Ever!
September 21st, 2010
8:02 pm
The Braves not having as good of a line-up or pitching staff as Philadelphia is a result of economics. The Braves biggest problem, however, has nothing to do with economics. The Braves biggest problem is a lack of fundamentals. I am typing this immediately following Minor’s DP. You get a gift walk to start the inning with your 8th place hitter. Now the pitcher is up. The bunt attempt should be second nature by this point in the season. No hit and run, so steals, nothing but the bunt. The fielding on this team is atrocious. Heyward’s play in right opened the floodgates last night. This team is simply not good enough fundamentally to make the playoffs.
clay
September 21st, 2010
8:03 pm
the ump is giving it to them now forcing him to pitch right down the middle
Ghost of Jeff Treadway
September 21st, 2010
8:03 pm
That should be strike three.
clay
September 21st, 2010
8:04 pm
minor will have a 100 pitches in the fifth if he ever gets there
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
8:05 pm
One out.
todd grantham
September 21st, 2010
8:06 pm
Sutton speculated Bobby had no confidence in Minor’s bunting ability.
Ghost of Jeff Treadway
September 21st, 2010
8:06 pm
Need a ground ball here
clay
September 21st, 2010
8:06 pm
man how big would the momentum shift if we could get outta this inning
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
8:08 pm
Could feel it coming
clay
September 21st, 2010
8:08 pm
ball game
todd grantham
September 21st, 2010
8:08 pm
you could feel that homer coming
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
8:08 pm
Minor: Seven outs, 67 pitches
CSpin
September 21st, 2010
8:08 pm
mommy
Andy
September 21st, 2010
8:08 pm
OK. I jinxed him. BALLGAME.
todd grantham
September 21st, 2010
8:08 pm
Great minds Mark…
Heath
September 21st, 2010
8:09 pm
Well, honestly, no need in wasting our good pitchers in this series when we aren’t going to score anyway.
dong kumong
September 21st, 2010
8:09 pm
ouch!!!
mjn
September 21st, 2010
8:09 pm
I guess I was off by one batter. This sucks. I feel like I’m watching a little league team, (Braves) play a high school team (Phillies) It’s not even fair
MSS
September 21st, 2010
8:09 pm
Question to MB: if at the end of the regular season the Phils and Braves are tied, but it is clear that mathematically they will both go to the playoffs, whether by being the divisional champ or wild card winner, would they still bother to have a playoff game to establish the winner of the division?
Thanks in advance. Love your blogs.
Ghost of Jeff Treadway
September 21st, 2010
8:09 pm
Think I’ll go walk the dog now
Ron Hyatt
September 21st, 2010
8:09 pm
aaaaaannnd Ballgame.
CSpin
September 21st, 2010
8:10 pm
And this is where that $60 million dollar more payroll comes into play…
dong kumong
September 21st, 2010
8:10 pm
time to turn off the lights atlanta and go to bed!!! dont forget to WASH YOUR HANDS!!!
JASon
September 21st, 2010
8:10 pm
Prado has been an enormous liability as of late. He’s 5 for his last 33. Its clear that he is hurt. When he gets up, he is an automatic ground ball to third. He shouldn’t even be playing, period. But because we got this old doofus managing this team, he’s not only playing but he’s hitting third in the lineup.
clay
September 21st, 2010
8:10 pm
you mine as well thorw KK out there
clay
September 21st, 2010
8:10 pm
you mine as well throw KK out there
Steve
September 21st, 2010
8:10 pm
Geee, didn’t see that coming. Will be nice to not have a rookie on the mound tomorrow.
kaminari
September 21st, 2010
8:10 pm
at least the bases are clear.
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
8:10 pm
Scored a double. That’s it for Minor, I think
CSpin
September 21st, 2010
8:11 pm
GREAT play nate. Those are hard to hang on to.
Aaaaaaand time to tire out the already tired bullpen.
Ghost of Jeff Treadway
September 21st, 2010
8:12 pm
“We’re not making the plays right now” – Ghost of Jeff Treadway
GT Alum
September 21st, 2010
8:12 pm
SG10, I’m not really talking about platoon. I’m talking about regular starters. But every player could use a break now and then. And every team needs a sub who can play multiple positions. I’m just saying Infante could still get very regular ABs without being a starter at any one position per se. Assuming everyone stays healthy, he would be the only one getting bounced around regularly. If his defense becomes particularly bad, we might have to re-think that approach. But I think he’s actually been one of the more consistent Braves when it comes to defense.
J-Hey
September 21st, 2010
8:12 pm
if you did not think they would lose this game, raise your hand so you can be properly called out
CSpin
September 21st, 2010
8:12 pm
GREAT *effort, I should probably say.
kaminari
September 21st, 2010
8:12 pm
of course that wouldn’t last. another great try. close. if only the Braves played horseshoes & hand-grenades.
clay
September 21st, 2010
8:12 pm
why waste moylan and all them for a game they arent going to win. just throw martinez and KK the rest of the game
mjn
September 21st, 2010
8:12 pm
This isn’t even close. They look like they don’t deserve to be on the same field as the Phillies
clay
September 21st, 2010
8:12 pm
maybe dunn too
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
8:13 pm
Martinez in. Minor: 72 pitches, seven outs, seven hits.
SG10
September 21st, 2010
8:14 pm
Mark,
Do you feel Braves coming back too?…or may be I will just switch off the channel and avoid slow torture…:)
clay
September 21st, 2010
8:14 pm
Joe simpson”lets restore order and see if we can get the braves offense going” hahahahaha. when did he become the new john smoltz
G
September 21st, 2010
8:14 pm
Why would you bring in a relief pitcher to intentionally walk a batter. Is Cox awake tonight?
welikebaseball2
September 21st, 2010
8:15 pm
Oh boy, here’s where the 2010 Braves worry me. When we’re up against premier pitchers & we give up 3 or more runs, it rarely turns out well. True, the same could be said for lots of teams, but our offense is simply par…at best. Our pitching has, hands down, been our strength. Our offense (or lack thereof) just puts so much pressure on the pitching staff to be stellar night in, night out. Here’s hoping tonight’s different!
Reid Adair
September 21st, 2010
8:15 pm
I just love the people who want to blame Bobby Cox for the fact that they’re starting two rookies in a critical September series. These same people probably blame Cox for Nate McLouth being on the team – along with Troy Glaus, Kenshin Kawakami, Rick Ankiel, Melky Cabrera and Derrek Lee.
Fortunately, many folks realize there is one person to blame for the roster Cox has to work with – and that is Frank Wren.
jbones from PCB
September 21st, 2010
8:15 pm
Good call on throwing 2 rookies against Phillies’ studs. Braves should start playing for the Wild Card.
todd grantham
September 21st, 2010
8:15 pm
floodgates have collapsed
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
8:15 pm
Wow.
G
September 21st, 2010
8:16 pm
Man that Prado is a human vacuum cleaner.
Don
September 21st, 2010
8:16 pm
Did I call it or what?
Ugghh...
September 21st, 2010
8:16 pm
Sick of this team doing stupid stuff like not bunting with a man on first and 2 outs. We are absolutely choking and the cause hasn’t been the hitting or the defense. Both have been the same all year. No, it’s the starting pitching that has let us down. This team was built around solid pitching, and it has started to choke. Hudson, JJ, Minor, and Hanson have all been inconsistent. Only Lowe is pitching well as of late. AND… with that blast by Werth, it looks like we might lose another series.
clay
September 21st, 2010
8:16 pm
the sad think is that the braves even know that this game is over. see there thats why conrad needs to be playing. but we all know bobby will be trotting him back out there day in and out even thoughhe is not contributing anything. damn this sux
SG10
September 21st, 2010
8:16 pm
wow..Prado not having good September will be an understatement…not many hits and now 2 errors in 2 games..
welikebaseball2
September 21st, 2010
8:17 pm
LOL…Mark…I was just about to type the same thing…”wow”
GT Alum
September 21st, 2010
8:17 pm
Sutton speculated Bobby had no confidence in Minor’s bunting ability.
What could Minor have done trying to bunt that’s worse than that? If he’s that worried about his bunting ability, he should’ve just told him not to take the bat off his shoulder and let Halladay either strike him out or walk him. Worst case scenario you have 1 out and a runner at 1st.
Jimmy Baron
September 21st, 2010
8:17 pm
Braves are embarrassing.
G
September 21st, 2010
8:18 pm
Man the trade of Vasquez looks better and better every day.
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
8:18 pm
Ugghh… you really think it’s good baseball to bunt with two outs?
CSpin
September 21st, 2010
8:18 pm
Prado, prado, wherefore art thou Prado?
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
8:18 pm
Some damage control by Martinez.
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
8:19 pm
Good news: Still only 3-0. Bad news: Halladay.
clay
September 21st, 2010
8:19 pm
so mark should i just go ahead and turn the ball game off? is it over?
jbones from PCB
September 21st, 2010
8:19 pm
The braves can’t even play fundamental baseball.
mjn
September 21st, 2010
8:19 pm
why are we worrying about making it in to the playoffs, …….we’re going to get killed even if we do.
Lobosolo
September 21st, 2010
8:20 pm
Time for the girly fans to turn off the game and watch “Dancing with the Stars”…
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
8:20 pm
Not over.
Matt k
September 21st, 2010
8:20 pm
Obviously Halladay is a good pitcher, but give me a break even the good ones give up runs. For us to never even get a run off this guy is pretty pathetic. I mean 1 run in 3 starts against us in the last 2 years? That is pitiful.
satanas
September 21st, 2010
8:20 pm
Worse news: Braves.
SG10
September 21st, 2010
8:20 pm
C. Martinez looked good there..wonder why Bobby didn’t start him instead of Bleechy or Minor.. At least Cox pulled a quick plug on Minor here.. In past I have seen him wait till the starter bleeds 6-7 runs..
Heath
September 21st, 2010
8:21 pm
Phillies think they’re so smart putting their best three pitchers out there. The Braves can go scoreless against ANY pitcher!
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
8:21 pm
Minor threw 73 pitches. Not 72.
kaminari
September 21st, 2010
8:21 pm
Lets win this game Braves!
todd grantham
September 21st, 2010
8:21 pm
could have been much, much worse. but bad enough to lose the game.
welikebaseball2
September 21st, 2010
8:21 pm
Good damage control indeed
Phillies, Class of The NL
September 21st, 2010
8:22 pm
boom…play with fire long enough, get burned.
Jamie
September 21st, 2010
8:22 pm
Mark – need to educate Atlanta fans that the Phillies’ payroll is paying home grown talent and talent acquired by trading home grown talent. Ruiz, Howard, Utley, Rollins, Hamels. Halladay via trade for a heap of minor league talent, and Oswalt via trade for homegrown Happ. Oh yeah – and picking up Victorino and Werth off the scrap heap when stupid teams cast them off. The only true free agent “purchases” are Polanco and Ibanez. The Phillie organization is one of the tops in baseball. Tired of reading these jealous Braves crybabies on the blog. Braves used to be the class of the NL, now Philly is.
Sons of Rick Matula
September 21st, 2010
8:22 pm
I do blame Frank Wren for leaving this team shorthanded at crunch time. You can’t predict JJ’s injury but KK has been an unmitigated disaster. medlen went out weeks ago. You can’t go into the biggest series of the season with two kids with zero September experience. How does that happen?
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
8:22 pm
Nice at-bat by Prado. Leadoff walk.
satanas
September 21st, 2010
8:22 pm
And now for the double play..
kaminari
September 21st, 2010
8:22 pm
that’s a good start. That’s the kind of at-bats that are gonna get us into the PostSeason.
SG10
September 21st, 2010
8:23 pm
Mark,
Which one was the bigger injury for the Braves…Chipper or Medlen? Despite Chipper’s career, I would like to think it was Medlen and the calmness & the stability he brought to the rotation with quality starts..
mjn
September 21st, 2010
8:24 pm
Lobosolo..
I’ve been a brave fan since I was nine , and I’m 50 this year. I’ve been with this team when they were out of it at the end of April. There just something that is with this team, they seem lost all of a sudden. It is almost like they know they are out classed and have no chance of winning.
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
8:24 pm
McCann works Halladay but flies out
dong kumong
September 21st, 2010
8:24 pm
hey calamari, which postseason are you talking about… golfing?
satanas
September 21st, 2010
8:25 pm
Of course he missed it, he’s not a phillie for gods sake..
kaminari
September 21st, 2010
8:25 pm
and that was the kind of at-bat that won’t get us there.
Phillies, Class of The NL
September 21st, 2010
8:25 pm
Crushing dinner by my main man j werth
Sons of Rick Matula
September 21st, 2010
8:25 pm
I agree – Medlen’s exit was a big hurt. He had some moxie (there’s a dated word for you). But for the 40 man rosters, Minor would have been sent out two weeks ago. What are they thinking putting him out there tonight?
kaminari
September 21st, 2010
8:25 pm
hey dong.. if the season ended today, then …
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
8:25 pm
Halladay missing this inning.
satanas
September 21st, 2010
8:26 pm
Where’s Halladays control?
GT Alum
September 21st, 2010
8:26 pm
SG10 –
I think there’s 2 reasons you don’t start Martinez.
1) Martinez has pitched 3 innings this month. His longest outing this season is 4 innings. If you start him, you basically are committed to burning through your bullpen tonight. Which brings me to point 2.
2) If he flames out, who do you bring in then? You’ve lost your long reliever. Then you really have to run through every pitcher in your bullpen just to try to get through the game.
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
8:26 pm
Lee hits it hard. But at the RF.
miranda0007
September 21st, 2010
8:26 pm
GREAT DAY!!! PHILS KICKIN BUTT AS USUAL!!! AND VICK IS THE STARTER FOR THE WHOLE YEAR!!!! RIGHT WHERE HE BLONGS!! GO VICK!!
todd grantham
September 21st, 2010
8:27 pm
Braves simply outclassed by this team.
welikebaseball2
September 21st, 2010
8:27 pm
Man, we’ve got to start doing something to get guys into scoring position…well, then we’ve got to do something to get them in…oy vey…
clay
September 21st, 2010
8:27 pm
ok so whats the strike zone? im really starting to get mad this is starting to turn into bull… he hasnt been calling that all night and now all the sudden because its hallady he is going to get the call. it should be bases loaded with no outs
Sonny Clusters
September 21st, 2010
8:27 pm
McLouth is getting beat up this game. He’s due for something good. Or not.
todd grantham
September 21st, 2010
8:27 pm
and are ducking and dodging like a hurt fighter.
Sons of Rick Matula
September 21st, 2010
8:27 pm
The Medlin injury was the doomsday event but we didn’t know it at the time. We had to go out and get a veteran arm – Oswalt? No, we couldn’t afford him. So let’s throw out back to back teenagers in a pennant race.
Ugghh...
September 21st, 2010
8:28 pm
my bad, meant less than 2 outs
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
8:28 pm
Halladay at 59 pitches. This one: Not yet decided.
miranda0007
September 21st, 2010
8:28 pm
another easy inning for doc
Tyler
September 21st, 2010
8:29 pm
This is basically like watching Hickory play South Bend Central, except in this story Jimmy Chitwood is dead and Ollie has no more granny shots left to help put Hickory over the top. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go get drunker than Shooter.
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
8:29 pm
OK, Ugghh… Thanks for clarifying.
todd grantham
September 21st, 2010
8:29 pm
this game’s over unless Halliday gets hit in the elbow by a line drive.
clay
September 21st, 2010
8:29 pm
im turning it off. the umps are even starting to piss me off. Braves get shut out. loose 6-0. put that in your pipe mark, i bet ya it happens.
Sons of Rick Matula
September 21st, 2010
8:29 pm
Mike Minor had about as much business starting this game as Frank Wren does being a big league GM.
satanas
September 21st, 2010
8:29 pm
Wow, lead off runner and nothing, but Derrrek made a pretty out.
kaminari
September 21st, 2010
8:29 pm
You can’t beat good pitching by putting a good at-bat in front of a bad one, & then repeating that.
G
September 21st, 2010
8:29 pm
I love Mark’s sarcasm….
todd grantham
September 21st, 2010
8:30 pm
now Halliday vs a long reliever. i like the phil’s chances.
todd grantham
September 21st, 2010
8:30 pm
kaminari, huh?
Heath
September 21st, 2010
8:31 pm
Lol, ugghh, maybe bunting with two outs would work. Nothing else seems to.
Sonny Clusters
September 21st, 2010
8:31 pm
We was noticing the inability of this team to move runners over. We was also noticing the difficulty catching the ball and throwing to the right base. We was wondering if any of that will be addressed in spring training? FSS knows the games are not very interesting right now so they are promoting Red Man getting clocked by Diaz.
miranda0007
September 21st, 2010
8:31 pm
GO PHILS!!! GO VICK!!! start the inning off right poly!!
welikebaseball2
September 21st, 2010
8:31 pm
Sons of…: I feel your frustration, but we can’t expect to beat the defending champs scoring 1 run…or no runs. Beachy wasn’t the problem last night, the offense was. Minor looked bad tonight, but we’ve got to score to have a chance no matter who we put on the mound. 3-0 shouldn’t feel this insurmountable…but it goes.
todd grantham
September 21st, 2010
8:31 pm
Utley might take it to the house in this ab.
Heath
September 21st, 2010
8:32 pm
Funny that the angry folks on the blog seem to be Philthie fans. They’re ahead!
GT Alum
September 21st, 2010
8:32 pm
Sons of Rick Matula -
Hmmmm, Oswalt was already in Philly when Medlen came out of that game. And the trading deadline was passed. Not saying we couldn’t have gotten anyone, but Wren’s options were limited, especially if he didn’t want to take on a big long term contract.
satanas
September 21st, 2010
8:32 pm
God, I can’t believe I’m saying this but I really hope we don’t make the playoffs, we’ll just be embarressed on a bigger stage.
Ugghh...
September 21st, 2010
8:32 pm
Hitting with RISP has also been dreadful. Even the games we score 5+ runs in, we normally have extra base hits with rbi’s.
todd grantham
September 21st, 2010
8:33 pm
well Mark, I hope at least its decent weather in Philadelphia.
Bradley Curse
September 21st, 2010
8:33 pm
“This one: Not yet decided.”
this is: wishful thinking
miranda0007
September 21st, 2010
8:33 pm
mARK IS OBVIOUSLY BEING PAID BY THE braves to be the teams mascot
Heath
September 21st, 2010
8:33 pm
You know who could move some people over Sonny? Claudell Washington. Wonder what ever happened to him?
Sonny Clusters
September 21st, 2010
8:36 pm
We was thinking every player on this team could move runners over if the manager insisted on it.
Sons of Rick Matula
September 21st, 2010
8:36 pm
Here’s the truth. The Braves were hoping Bobby would go quietly, the Braves finishing 12 back. But, for no reason other than God’s whimsy, the crypt opened and Troy Glaus emerged. Frank Wren was befuddled. What do we do? We can’t afford to compete anymore. Let’s get a few more expansion players and hang in there. They are embarrassed now that Bobby’s hope have been gotten up, the national media got interested and it’s all going to crash and burn short of the finish. Liberty media will hire Freddie G not because he’s a Bobby guy but because he understands how to manage scrubs & prospects. The Braves have no money. We cannot compete. We are the uber-Nationals. Enjoy.
Wanted:high school pitcher.
September 21st, 2010
8:37 pm
Are we bringing up a high school pitcher for the next game?
Phillies Phan
September 21st, 2010
8:37 pm
Anyone want to talk NFL because this team of yours may just be done
miranda0007
September 21st, 2010
8:37 pm
bradley is delusional man
satanas
September 21st, 2010
8:38 pm
Just off the corner…
SG10
September 21st, 2010
8:38 pm
When you are watching from the other side and Phillies do all the fundamentals right, it surely makes you appreciate how good the Braves were in 1990s when they did those things…I am wondering if due to their superior offense, this Phillies team is better than the Braves were in 90s.
GT Alum
September 21st, 2010
8:39 pm
Sons of Rick Matula –
If that’s really what you believe, why don’t you do yourself and the rest of us a favor and forget about the Braves and find another team to root for, or something else to do with your time?
Lobosolo
September 21st, 2010
8:39 pm
MJN, I’m there with you… watching them for the 44th season… They moved to ATL when I was a rabid ten-year old baseball fan… That part hasn’t changed a bit… Used to walk up to the old stadium when going to Ga. State, when they REALLY sucked and still played twilight double headers… Attended one game with less than 1000 people in the seats, but those -1000 and I rooted for them every minute… They do seem to be unnerved a bit… I’m hoping they catch fire NOW, but, as I did when they were the perennial doormat of the NL West way back when, I’ll still root for them… If they don’t make the play-offs this year, they still have far exceeded any realistic expectations I’ve had this year… They still are #2 in the NL, surprisingly to me, and they have shown the capability to burn it up on occasion… It ain’t over yet…
C’mon, Bravos, time to make tracks…
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
8:40 pm
Philly: 9 LOB through four innings. That’s why I think this one is still possible for the visiting team.
Phillies Phan
September 21st, 2010
8:41 pm
There is no shame with being outclassed by the Top Team in the NL. I have to agree with the fundamentals on the Braves part though. Did you notice Minor’s holding lefties to a .194 batting average and our Lefties went 4 for 6 and Howard smoked one of the outs.
Sonny Clusters
September 21st, 2010
8:41 pm
On the Bright Side . . . Mark, you are only 2.6 miles from the nearest Dairy Queen.
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
8:42 pm
Gonzalez with a double in front of Werth.
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
8:42 pm
Have to score here.
Phillies, Class of The NL
September 21st, 2010
8:43 pm
Did you get a schmitter yet MB?
SRF
September 21st, 2010
8:43 pm
This is PAINFUL – like watching a wounded animal – can they just go home and stop the suffering ?
Heath
September 21st, 2010
8:44 pm
Hot diggity.
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
8:44 pm
First and third. Snitker stopped Gonzo at third. Hinske to PH
satanas
September 21st, 2010
8:44 pm
Nice Ankiel!!
Sonny Clusters
September 21st, 2010
8:44 pm
Don’t leave for the DQ just yet, Mark. A rally may be taking place.
satanas
September 21st, 2010
8:45 pm
What the hell?
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
8:45 pm
There’s one run. And the double play is broken up by Ankiel’s head.
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
8:45 pm
No. Ankiel’s wrist
kaminari
September 21st, 2010
8:46 pm
that was cool.
Ghost of Jeff Treadway
September 21st, 2010
8:46 pm
Rick Ankiel is a manly man.
Phillies, Class of The NL
September 21st, 2010
8:47 pm
Out of basepath – bogus
kaminari
September 21st, 2010
8:48 pm
heyward needs to come through here.
Phillies Phan
September 21st, 2010
8:48 pm
It was a good no call on base runner interference. Unless it’s blatant it shouldn’t be called and Ankiel was just making a hustle play. That’s just good baseball
SG10
September 21st, 2010
8:48 pm
It’s about time for Heyward..he hasn’t done much damage since that 3-run HR against the Mets in the first game
Phillies, Class of The NL
September 21st, 2010
8:48 pm
Cheap run – phils pissed now
mjn
September 21st, 2010
8:49 pm
Phillies have two on no outs and they score 3, Braves have two on no outs and get lucky to get one.
satanas
September 21st, 2010
8:49 pm
Well guys, we just got our one run.
Lobosolo
September 21st, 2010
8:49 pm
Comeback beginning…
Ghost of Jeff Treadway
September 21st, 2010
8:50 pm
Bats are made for swinging, J-Hey. Just sayin’.
miranda0007
September 21st, 2010
8:50 pm
Vick is destined for superstardom again!!! go vick!!!
Phillies, Class of The NL
September 21st, 2010
8:50 pm
Rookie needs to learn to take the bat off his shoulder
satanas
September 21st, 2010
8:51 pm
Way to make nothing out of something, in pretty short order too. Wouldn’t want to waste the fans time.
CSpin
September 21st, 2010
8:51 pm
Going back to THE FIRST post of this entire thread by yours truly (to which I never received the coveted kudos). “It’s like deja vu all over again.”
Eh? Eh?? 3-1? C’monnnnn
miranda0007
September 21st, 2010
8:51 pm
Ankiel is a dirty player…and the umpires stink
mjn
September 21st, 2010
8:51 pm
I hear you lobosolo but it’s like they played with me this year. Wasn’t expecting that much but they came around and now that they are going backwards it’s worst than if they jsut played sub 500 ball all year.
SRF
September 21st, 2010
8:52 pm
We may have squeaked out a run there but I think the Phillies are going to score about 10.
satanas
September 21st, 2010
8:52 pm
Well there’s Kyle, even Bobby’s throwing in the towel.
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
8:52 pm
The Phils should have had 10 by now, SRF.
Lobosolo
September 21st, 2010
8:53 pm
SRF, Bristol Palin should be dancing soon… If you haven’t the stomach to watch the Braves in tense situations like these, you can always switch over…
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
8:53 pm
Well … that was … odd.
satanas
September 21st, 2010
8:53 pm
Just sad..
Phillies Phan
September 21st, 2010
8:54 pm
These Braves of yours field like a beer league softball team.
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
8:54 pm
Oh, and kudos, Cspin — belated though they might be.
CSpin
September 21st, 2010
8:55 pm
Farnsy acted like the runner was 10 ft tall and Lee was 12 ft—wow
Innocent Bystander
September 21st, 2010
8:55 pm
I’m following on gametracker (stuck in the engineering computer lab, boo). Is the strikezone really as outrageous as it appears? It’s shown pitches that were right down the middle called balls, and pitches much lower and off the plate called strikes.
Don't care
September 21st, 2010
8:55 pm
There’s a street corner with your name all over it, Miranda. Go get ‘em!
SRF
September 21st, 2010
8:55 pm
Lobosolo – the Braves stink, plain and simple no amount of childish insults will change that
CSpin
September 21st, 2010
8:55 pm
Gracias MB
inferiority complex
September 21st, 2010
8:56 pm
boohoo, mjn. you had to enjoy baseball all summer. you deserve better.
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
8:56 pm
Attendance: 45,264. The 119th sellout in succession
jack
September 21st, 2010
8:56 pm
well,,the way things are looking we won’t have to go through the Braves playoff/series heartbreak this year,,,they looked really good for a while there
mjn
September 21st, 2010
8:57 pm
Hey Inferiority,
what are you 7 years old?
Don't care
September 21st, 2010
8:57 pm
Sixers suck. That’ll show ‘em!
satanas
September 21st, 2010
8:57 pm
Kyle is actually pitching good!
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
8:58 pm
10 men LOB for the Phillies.
CSpin
September 21st, 2010
8:58 pm
Ooo even better: Thanks for kindly giving your fellow Kentuckian the kudos MB. Just hit me. Yay alliteration.
Lobosolo
September 21st, 2010
8:59 pm
Way to go, Kyle!
Innocent Bystander
September 21st, 2010
9:00 pm
Victorino 0-for-4 with 6 LOB. Not sure which part says more… The fact that he’s 0-for-4, or the fact that their leadoff hitter has come up w/ 6 men on base.
satanas
September 21st, 2010
9:00 pm
Well this proves how important a good bullpen is but also highlights the trouble your team is in when the bullpen is the star. Kinda like the punter being the best player on your team.
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
9:00 pm
Leadoff hit for Prado.
Dwayne
September 21st, 2010
9:00 pm
Mark
Braves have 4 errors and 2 runs in 2 games not going to get it done
CSpin
September 21st, 2010
9:01 pm
If there is another DP here, I’m going to rip a phone book in half.
Heath
September 21st, 2010
9:01 pm
Was that a UGA crack satanas? If not, it should have been.
Innocent Bystander
September 21st, 2010
9:01 pm
Here comes the big rally inning….
Lobosolo
September 21st, 2010
9:02 pm
So why you watching, SRF? Seriously…
Even the dumbest of the dumb don’t watch teams they hate…
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
9:02 pm
Almost tied. As it is, the Braves have runners at second and third.
CSpin
September 21st, 2010
9:02 pm
……so. close.
Lobosolo
September 21st, 2010
9:03 pm
Allright, McCann!!!!
count_schemula
September 21st, 2010
9:03 pm
What could possibly happen here?
SG10
September 21st, 2010
9:03 pm
In the years past, McCann would have taken this out of the ballpark…
Doug
September 21st, 2010
9:03 pm
If Braves win this game it’s a huge momentum shift
satanas
September 21st, 2010
9:03 pm
WHY BRIAN???????????????????????????????
mjn
September 21st, 2010
9:03 pm
wow, just wow
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
9:03 pm
Awful out by McCann. Thrown out trying to get to third on a sac fly. Run scores, but that blows the inning.
count_schemula
September 21st, 2010
9:03 pm
A double play could happen.
Phillies Phan
September 21st, 2010
9:04 pm
It’s Official you guys are a beer league softball team. McCann was out by 15 feet
Heath
September 21st, 2010
9:04 pm
“Yes We McCann!”
mjn
September 21st, 2010
9:04 pm
count_schemula
did that answer your question
SG10
September 21st, 2010
9:04 pm
That was ridiculous..wonder what McCann was thinking…had no chance there
miranda0007
September 21st, 2010
9:04 pm
ha
Doug
September 21st, 2010
9:04 pm
Catcher speed = stay at 2nd. At least they are being aggressive.
Innocent Bystander
September 21st, 2010
9:04 pm
A very creative double play, if nothing else
Phillies Phan
September 21st, 2010
9:04 pm
Will Bobby Cox finally admit that the team is pressing
satanas
September 21st, 2010
9:05 pm
They keep fu&*ing beating themselves!!!
G
September 21st, 2010
9:05 pm
McCann may be one of the dumbest players I have ever seen play form base running to behind the plate.
Lobosolo
September 21st, 2010
9:05 pm
Bad move at third, but they’ve cut it to one…
Heath
September 21st, 2010
9:05 pm
It was impressive!
miranda0007
September 21st, 2010
9:06 pm
great job mcCan!!!
Pluto
September 21st, 2010
9:06 pm
Even when something good happens, you aren’t allowed to feel good about it. I wish red man or green man or whatever would challenge one of the Braves outfielders just so I’d have a chuckle.
Dwayne
September 21st, 2010
9:06 pm
3 runs scored in two games. 4 errors in two games = 5 games back
mjn
September 21st, 2010
9:06 pm
Again, two on no outs and only one run scores.
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
9:07 pm
Mike Dunn time
Phillies, Class of The NL
September 21st, 2010
9:07 pm
Chooch better than mccann
Pluto
September 21st, 2010
9:08 pm
Phillies Phan, Bobby Cox will never ever say his team’s pressing, unless it’s after the fact and about a situation from which they eventually prevailed. Actually, I kind of like that about him. He won’t throw anyone or anything under the bus, publically at least.
Traver
September 21st, 2010
9:08 pm
Where is Claudell Washington when you need him.
inferiority complex
September 21st, 2010
9:08 pm
no, i’m a grown ass man. are you?
satanas
September 21st, 2010
9:09 pm
I really don’t think the offense will get anything going again tonight, that was their second crack at it and that sounds about right.
SG10
September 21st, 2010
9:10 pm
In past two seasons, Braves have made so many baserunning mistakes..it is ridiculous..I am guessing it probably comes from lack of confidence in their offense that they try to manufacture some runs out of nowhere..
Innocent Bystander
September 21st, 2010
9:10 pm
As long as Philly is gonna leave these runs on base, then alas we have a chance
Rmyklo
September 21st, 2010
9:10 pm
Mark … As GM, all things being equal, whom do you take? McCann or Ruiz?
Charlie Manuel's Colon
September 21st, 2010
9:10 pm
Wow, your team stinks!
At this rate, they’ll be flushed right out of the playoff race.
Phillies Phan
September 21st, 2010
9:10 pm
Pluto, I know exactly what you mean and I agree not throwing someone under the bus is a good thing. Andy Reid never does it. But he could say something like “they might be trying to hard and need to relax” it would be truthful and no one would be under the bus
Traver
September 21st, 2010
9:11 pm
Mike Dunn has nasty stuff. Trade O’Flaherty
Heath
September 21st, 2010
9:11 pm
It actually isn’t ours Charlie, Liberty Media owns it.
satanas
September 21st, 2010
9:12 pm
I wish I could get excited about their being in the game by one run but I can only imagine what new way they’ll have for efing up any other chances they might get.
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
9:16 pm
McLouth holds Jayson Werth to a single off the wall.
satanas
September 21st, 2010
9:16 pm
At least it stayed in…I guess..
Doug
September 21st, 2010
9:16 pm
Bullet dodged
Pluto
September 21st, 2010
9:17 pm
I think that’s the longest single I’ve ever seen.
mjn
September 21st, 2010
9:18 pm
got to get out of this inning
Sons of Rick Matula
September 21st, 2010
9:19 pm
GT Alum … I do care about the Braves and want them to succeed but management’s financial limitations coupled with Frank Wren’s shortcomings, will consign us to mediocrity. And that pisses me off. With your permission, I will continue to follow them avidly.
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
9:19 pm
Killer. Two-out walk to Howard starts two-run inning.
miranda0007
September 21st, 2010
9:20 pm
RAUUUUULLLLLLLLLL!!!!!
mjn
September 21st, 2010
9:20 pm
unbelievable
satanas
September 21st, 2010
9:20 pm
Well that should do it folks, I’m done with these guys.
Innocent Bystander
September 21st, 2010
9:20 pm
That hurts
Lobosolo
September 21st, 2010
9:20 pm
Ouch!!!!!!
Traver
September 21st, 2010
9:20 pm
GAME OVER. Strike the Dunn praise from the record. Should have pitched to Howard. Got himself in trouble.
CSpin
September 21st, 2010
9:20 pm
Let’s all say it together: this sucks.
jack
September 21st, 2010
9:21 pm
they just suck,,,, no heart,,,no drive,,,, nothing
count_schemula
September 21st, 2010
9:21 pm
And order is restored.
Pluto
September 21st, 2010
9:21 pm
Well, at least the HD war is over. I was worried about that.
miranda0007
September 21st, 2010
9:21 pm
PHILS ARE JUST A MUCH BETTER TEAM!!! GO VICK!!!
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
9:22 pm
I really thought they were going to win this one until Ibanez hit the ball into the corner.
Phillies, Class of The NL
September 21st, 2010
9:23 pm
Trouble always lurking in phils lineup
Pluto
September 21st, 2010
9:23 pm
I’m just now starting to really worry about the wild card.
welikebaseball2
September 21st, 2010
9:23 pm
Oh well. Simply outclassed by the Phillies. They’ve proven to be the better defensive team, the better hitting team, &, tonight, the better pitching team. Thank goodness for the wild card. I’d like to believe we can manage 3 runs in 3 innings. I’ve just got no confidence in our offense these days.
miranda0007
September 21st, 2010
9:24 pm
braves have no heart
Bradley Curse
September 21st, 2010
9:24 pm
“The Phils should have had 10 by now, SRF”
they’re 5 runs away from that
count_schemula
September 21st, 2010
9:24 pm
Braves should go old school and put Vick in CF like Deeoieienn Sanders.
mjn
September 21st, 2010
9:25 pm
Pluto
no need to worry, what you see is what you are going to get
Pluto
September 21st, 2010
9:26 pm
Miranda, I would contest your assertion that the Braves have no heart. The Braves have run out of gas. There’s a difference, and a good fan such as yourself should be able to recognize that.
Jamie
September 21st, 2010
9:27 pm
The Braves have been playing .500 baseball for a month and still have three more games against Halladay, Hamels and Oswalt. The Wild Card is no lock for the Braves.
Traver
September 21st, 2010
9:27 pm
Face it. We are overmatched. Can’t afford to give up any runs to that pitching staff. Halliday, Oswalt, and Hamels is like Glavine, Maddux, and Smoltz. Just about unbeatable with our light offense and overachieving young starting staff. Maybe we can figure out a way to hold onto the Wild Card but agree with Sons of Rick Matula. The economics of baseball and the mediocrity of our GM will do nothing more than build us up for disappointment every year. We will seemingly always be one or two bats and/or pitchers short of being a serious contender becasue the ownership won’t spend the money we need to win.
Sons of Rick Matula
September 21st, 2010
9:27 pm
5th and 6th – braves have 2 on, none out and can only score once. Phillies – bottom 6th – 2 outs, none on, they get a walk & 2 hits and score 2. Numbers don’t lie, even in the 215.
Maximus Decimus Meridius
September 21st, 2010
9:27 pm
Are you Braves fans not entertained ?
GSU_Alum
September 21st, 2010
9:27 pm
The Braves have gotten soft lately on defense, baserunning (what was McCann thinking???), hitting, and pitching. There’s not much left to playing the game. They are in BIG trouble. You can only rely on dramatics for so long, then you get caught in a buzzsaw.
Phillies Phan
September 21st, 2010
9:27 pm
God the Phil’s are clutch
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
9:28 pm
Two hard outs for the Braves.
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
9:29 pm
Freddie Freeman’s first homer as a big-leaguer. And he crushed it.
count_schemula
September 21st, 2010
9:29 pm
To be fair, there was not a lot mid-season they could have done. I was not overly excited by any of the available OFs and the loss of Chipper, even old Chipper, destabilizes the lineup. Nice HR Freeman.
CSpin
September 21st, 2010
9:30 pm
FF!!!! Congrats big boy—-way to find the silver lining.
SG10
September 21st, 2010
9:30 pm
That looked really impressive from Freeman…we need couple more balls to go out like that..
Doug
September 21st, 2010
9:30 pm
Way to go kid! Ibanez double really hurts now
miranda0007
September 21st, 2010
9:30 pm
1 MORE OUT DOC
welikebaseball2
September 21st, 2010
9:30 pm
Good stuff Freeman! But uh oh, here we go w/ the “we should hand the keys to 1st base over to the rookie in the middle of a penant race” talk…
Yahoo
September 21st, 2010
9:31 pm
Awkward hug during the celebration in the dug out.
Traver
September 21st, 2010
9:33 pm
Nice shot Freeman. Never thought I would say this. Wish you were right handed.
Sons of Rick Matula
September 21st, 2010
9:33 pm
Good for Freddy – it’s the kids who will have to lead us out of the wilderness.
Doug
September 21st, 2010
9:33 pm
Next inning would be a good time for Freddie’s roommate to get his first Citizens Bank Park HR
miranda0007
September 21st, 2010
9:34 pm
pluto, i disagree…everyone is tired this time of the year…the attribute that has seperated the phils the last three years has been HEART
count_schemula
September 21st, 2010
9:34 pm
5-3 we just need to get to their bullpen. Braves fans if we win this, we have Hanson tomorrow. Think about it. It ain’t over until it’s over.
mane
September 21st, 2010
9:34 pm
you guys who say this team has no heart are CRAZY!!!!!! This team plays way above its level!!!
ijudgenot
September 21st, 2010
9:34 pm
As I watch these Braves you can’t help but see that there are no leaders on this team just players. They have started 2 rookies in a row and had a pressure situation with Dunn , 2out and runners on first and 3rd and no one on the Braves in field ever comes to the mound and tries to give the rookie confidence, no one. McCann doesn’t even come out and talks to the rookies to calm them down. Just pathetic.
Dirk Digler
September 21st, 2010
9:35 pm
..Well, these braves will not recover from the epic flop that has been september people. On our way to 9-11 in september with the division on the line and a wildcard on the line and this is what we get? 9-11? Say goodnight and errors and poor hitting will do you in every time. Mark, i don’t know why you have faith in this team? Do you watch them field or hit? My son’s little league team has a better fielding percentage than the braves.
Hell, you could throw a pair of airforce one tennis shoes out there on the field and they have a better chance to make a play by just their presence alone than a braves player. The wildcard lead will be 0 after tonight and the braves will get swept tommorrow and this crap will continue in washington where the nats look like the NY yankees against the braves. Pathetic and this team will have a long winter to think about what has happened and why. Stick a fork in them mark, and let’s hear all you unrealistic fans who think the braves have a shot still? You don’t have a losing record in september and expect to do anything but WATCH THE PLAYOFFS at home!! Enough said!!
miranda0007
September 21st, 2010
9:35 pm
Valdez is balllin!!! J-roll go home ya whining chump!! oooo my hammy hurt
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
9:36 pm
Halladay is out.
CSpin
September 21st, 2010
9:36 pm
Aw c’mon why was my post deleted—worst things have been said on here.
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
9:36 pm
Passed ball. Youch
Doug
September 21st, 2010
9:37 pm
How many of those this year? Come on Brian!
Ghost of Jeff Treadway
September 21st, 2010
9:37 pm
Dirk, pessimistic much?
CSpin
September 21st, 2010
9:38 pm
What’s up w/ mccann’s D lately—–wait, I guess that’s like pointing out a wrinkle on an elephant
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
9:38 pm
Double play. Still not over
welikebaseball2
September 21st, 2010
9:38 pm
Ugh, McCann’s becoming slightly less than functional behind the plate…
Doug
September 21st, 2010
9:38 pm
Good break…now get some runs!
count_schemula
September 21st, 2010
9:39 pm
Phillies are solid. It’s the Pirates and Nationals that haunt me. Nice DP Braves. Now get a run, or two or three.
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
9:39 pm
Ryan Madson in. The Braves hit him
Rmyklo
September 21st, 2010
9:40 pm
Mark, What’s the crowd like tonight?
Sons of Rick Matula
September 21st, 2010
9:40 pm
Heart isn’t the issue. The Braves have played way over their heads all year and won a bunch of games because they weren’t willing to lose. Over 162 games, the best team will win. It’s TALENT. The loss of Chipper & Medlin were huge but the Phillies lost Utley/Howard/Rollins for long stretches. The Braves are short-handed and I don’t see the fan support & $$$ commitment to turn that around.
ijudgenot
September 21st, 2010
9:40 pm
The Brave should be glad that they don’t have a knuckle baller pitching on their staff, because McCann would lose 10 pounds a game running back to backstop to retrieve balls missed.
ATLiens
September 21st, 2010
9:41 pm
why do ppl like Dirk Digler even comment on these blogs? No one is forcing you to watch, read or comment on what’s going on. And check your math bc even if the braves lose tonight their wildcard lead would be down to 1
Sons of Rick Matula
September 21st, 2010
9:41 pm
Havinf said that, Madsen is weak. Let’s beat his ass.
miranda0007
September 21st, 2010
9:41 pm
here comes the shutdown bullpen
count_schemula
September 21st, 2010
9:43 pm
one hit at a time guys, DO IT!
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
9:43 pm
Heyward guides a single into center. Leadoff man on.
Doug
September 21st, 2010
9:43 pm
Good start
Sons of Rick Matula
September 21st, 2010
9:43 pm
McCann is tired … why isn’t Ross playing more? I’m asking.
miranda0007
September 21st, 2010
9:43 pm
mark bradley is a chump who deletes any post HE doesnt like
ss
September 21st, 2010
9:44 pm
this idiot on the mound hurt himself kicking a chair? wow
CSpin
September 21st, 2010
9:44 pm
“Up the MIDDAHHLLLL” hahaha did anyone else hear how Carey said that
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
9:44 pm
Prado misses a change
count_schemula
September 21st, 2010
9:45 pm
Mark, I don’t have TV. Is Prado hurting us by being in there? On radio, he’s sounds pretty banged up.
miranda0007
September 21st, 2010
9:46 pm
these umps are awful
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
9:46 pm
DP.
count_schemula
September 21st, 2010
9:46 pm
O.M.G.
Doug
September 21st, 2010
9:46 pm
Shoulda known a DP was in the works
CSpin
September 21st, 2010
9:46 pm
Wow wow wow wow wow. Time to rip a phone book. And a hernia.
ss
September 21st, 2010
9:47 pm
Prado banged up or not, these guys should be able to play through the pain unless its something un controllable.
Rmyklo
September 21st, 2010
9:47 pm
Raise the white flag …
miranda0007
September 21st, 2010
9:47 pm
valdez knows that DP
Sons of Rick Matula
September 21st, 2010
9:48 pm
Prado — good player. NOT a #3 hitter.
GSU_Alum
September 21st, 2010
9:49 pm
Agree with the previous posters… McCann is tired and weak right now. Mentally and physically. He’s making poor decisions and his defense is below average lately. Definitely not what we are used to from him. And his clutch hitting is non-existent lately.
Doug
September 21st, 2010
9:49 pm
Guess Bobby doesn’t want Venters to get rusty
miranda0007
September 21st, 2010
9:50 pm
polanco is just a pro!!
count_schemula
September 21st, 2010
9:50 pm
But if his groin keeps him from having spring in his step, hurting his range at second, killing his awesome doubles power and he can’t score from second… maybe I’d rather see Conrad at 3rd and Infante at 2nd for a day or two. I understand the need to be in there, but…
CSpin
September 21st, 2010
9:50 pm
Time to pay the piper
Sons of Rick Matula
September 21st, 2010
9:51 pm
You know what — we swept the Mets. Screw the Phillies, they are a worthy team with superior personnel. The Mets talked about being spoilers after all the years the Braves beat them down. Well, the Mets flopped again.
Pluto
September 21st, 2010
9:52 pm
You may be very well correct on all of your points, Dirk, but that begs the question of why you’re even here.
"Get to the bullpen"
September 21st, 2010
9:54 pm
that’s what they keep saying but the Braves are playing the pen just like they’re playing the starters.
Take advantage of Hamels being out of the game? nope. Lidge mows em down.
Halladay out of the game! Madson takes care of the top of the order rather easily.
Tim
September 21st, 2010
9:54 pm
This was the game we HAD to win. Win tonight and tomorrow, we are back to 2 games out. Lose this game tonight, and the best we can do is leave Philly 4 games out, which means we will need some help to win the division. Not looking good. I’m sure we will see Lidge next.
Sons of Rick Matula
September 21st, 2010
9:54 pm
Braves got the leadoff man on 5 times in 8 innings – only 2 scored.
count_schemula
September 21st, 2010
9:55 pm
Well I was hoping to see some Lidge.
Pluto
September 21st, 2010
9:56 pm
Win or lose, wild card or not, I’ve got my tickets to the Braves vs. Phillies October 2 and 3, and I’m going to celebrate Bobby Cox’s career with the Braves and have a wonderful time whether or not the games are meaningful. I might even buy a #6 T-shirt.
kaminari
September 21st, 2010
9:56 pm
We just need one game in Philly. That means tomorrow unless the Bravos do some magic in the late innings like the used to do.
miranda0007
September 21st, 2010
9:57 pm
LIGHTS OUT LIDGE TIME!!!
Lobosolo
September 21st, 2010
9:57 pm
I have never seen such lousy ball/strike umpiring as a whole as I’ve seen this year…
ss
September 21st, 2010
9:57 pm
werth is a free agent in the winter this year and hired scott boras to represent him. Theres a good chance he wont be playing for the phillies next year.
count_schemula
September 21st, 2010
9:57 pm
Ah, Lidge. Hope remains eternal.
Sons of Rick Matula
September 21st, 2010
9:57 pm
Enter your comments here
Jamie
September 21st, 2010
9:58 pm
Well here comes the wildcard Lidge. He’s cover-your-eyes great. Im going to the bathroom for the next ten minutes.
Michael C
September 21st, 2010
9:58 pm
Mark Bradley, do you remember the largest number of entries there has ever been for one of the Braves live blogs?
Steve
September 21st, 2010
9:59 pm
The bottom line is this: the Braves have not been to the playoffs under Frank Wren. Bobby Cox is a Hall of Fame manager stuck with a minor league GM in Fumbling Frank.
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
10:00 pm
Leadoff hit by Derrek Lee.
count_schemula
September 21st, 2010
10:00 pm
Basehit…
kaminari
September 21st, 2010
10:00 pm
Hit. Thats a start!
Traver
September 21st, 2010
10:00 pm
Atta boy Derek
SG10
September 21st, 2010
10:01 pm
Never really seen Lidge struggle against the Braves…may be tonight is the night when the law of averages catches up with him!
count_schemula
September 21st, 2010
10:01 pm
I’m still pissed at Escobar for forcing that trade by being such a pouty jackbutt.
Traver
September 21st, 2010
10:01 pm
We owe Lidge.
kaminari
September 21st, 2010
10:02 pm
Butterflies
count_schemula
September 21st, 2010
10:02 pm
e and n is a big typo… I’m guessing… 5 Bud Lights…
welikebaseball2
September 21st, 2010
10:02 pm
Uh oh, can’t afford to strand another runner at first this inning…
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
10:02 pm
McLouth fans on a breaking ball
Traver
September 21st, 2010
10:03 pm
That slider is unhittable
kaminari
September 21st, 2010
10:03 pm
Nate was completely fooled on that. If you aren’t guessing right, you aren’t hitting this guy.
welikebaseball2
September 21st, 2010
10:03 pm
Swing the bat fellas!!!
count_schemula
September 21st, 2010
10:03 pm
We should send Farnsworth in to charge first base and take Ryan Howard out.
Sons of Rick Matula
September 21st, 2010
10:03 pm
I agree, Steve. The Mets are looking for a new GM – the best thing for the Braves would be for FW to head for Flushing.
miranda0007
September 21st, 2010
10:04 pm
BRAVES ARE GONNA LOSE THE WILD CARD TO!!! HA HA COURTESY OF THE CHAMPS
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
10:04 pm
Two out
count_schemula
September 21st, 2010
10:04 pm
Ankiel, you could win some fans here.
Traver
September 21st, 2010
10:05 pm
Not only are the Phillies embarassing the Braves but their fans are embarassing us too. Would never see that atmosphere in the ATL for a game like this.
Michael C
September 21st, 2010
10:05 pm
I think the TV booth people have the crowd microphone turned WAY DOWN.
ss
September 21st, 2010
10:06 pm
they did the chop for about 5 seconds
count_schemula
September 21st, 2010
10:06 pm
I go to as many games as I can. I get nice seats, I drink a few beers. It’s way over $100 a person.
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
10:07 pm
Game over. Division all but gone
count_schemula
September 21st, 2010
10:07 pm
Ok. Well. Tomorrow is crazy important.
kaminari
September 21st, 2010
10:07 pm
Phillies are the best. Let’s try to steal a game from them tomorrow.
Jamie
September 21st, 2010
10:07 pm
exhale. Braves – wild card is slipping away
Lobosolo
September 21st, 2010
10:07 pm
Daggum… Got to get’em tomorrow…
SWEEP!!!!
September 21st, 2010
10:07 pm
sorry, can’t play with the big boys Braves!!!
G
September 21st, 2010
10:07 pm
Man that Ankiel was a clutch pick up huh?
Innocent Bystander
September 21st, 2010
10:08 pm
Go Cubs, D’Backs and Dodgers!
Sons of Rick Matula
September 21st, 2010
10:08 pm
Braves had 6 leadoff men on tonight … get’m on, get’m over, get’m in — basic baseball.
jack
September 21st, 2010
10:08 pm
Turn out the lights,,,,the party’s over !!!!!
mason
September 21st, 2010
10:08 pm
Same ole braves – choke boys
SG10
September 21st, 2010
10:08 pm
To my surprise, our pitching has been decent but our main hitters Heyward, Prado and McCann have not done much…
miranda0007
September 21st, 2010
10:09 pm
SWEEPING YA OUT 2MRW!!
G
September 21st, 2010
10:09 pm
Bradley I can’t believe you got sucked in and said these Braves would win the division
Traver
September 21st, 2010
10:09 pm
Just plain overmatched. The guys we got battled but that isn’t enough.
Innocent Bystander
September 21st, 2010
10:09 pm
Get Prado the heck outta the 3 hole.
Sons of Rick Matula
September 21st, 2010
10:10 pm
You went into this game with a minor league pitcher and Ankiel & McLouth as 2/3 of our outfield. Thanks, Frank.
Evo
September 21st, 2010
10:10 pm
Game. I’ll admit, Braves made me nervous, congrats. Thankfully, Halladay has been the weakest of H2O lately, and we still got the win. Ready to bust the broom out one more time tomorrow. Well played. @Travers — that was my biggest disappointment living down in Athens, no professional sports love in GA at all.
Randle Patrick McMurphy
September 21st, 2010
10:11 pm
Major Leaguers 5 – Little Leaguers 3… imagine that. Say good-nite, Gracie…
Bradley Curse
September 21st, 2010
10:11 pm
“Bradley I can’t believe you got sucked in and said these Braves would win the division”
lol he also said they wouldn’t blow their 7 game lead though right now I’m guessing he meant the Phillies because after tomorrow they’ll be close to a 7 game lead.
miranda0007
September 21st, 2010
10:11 pm
thats y i dont want the braves to make the playoffs so I wont have to see playoff gms that arent sold out…atl fans are a disgrace
Bob in Pennsylvania
September 21st, 2010
10:12 pm
From 7 games down to 5 games up, the Phillies are just the best team in the National League. I give the Braves all the credit in the world for hanging on as long as they did. They played tough all season.
Tomorrow you get our hottest pitcher, Roy Oswalt.
Bradley Curse
September 21st, 2010
10:12 pm
“8 reasons why these Braves will NOT squander this lead”
lol it’s never going away
MitchC
September 21st, 2010
10:13 pm
Well, Mark, another loss tonight. I watched some of the game, but admittedly not all of it, because I’m exhausted after a long day trip for business.
You said last night that its imperative the Braves are not swept in this series. Do you still believe that? I hate to say, based on what I’ve seen in this series so far, a sweep is possible. Jekyll/Hyde. So good in NY, so bad so far in Philly.
I want to believe we will still hang on to the wild card, and that even if we lose tomorrow night, and the NL East is gone, that we will find ways to win in DC, go home, play well, and get the wild card. If we dont do that, this season will be a failure.
What do you think: Will we get the wild card?
SG10
September 21st, 2010
10:13 pm
Yes, may be it is time to either give a day off to Prado and play Conrad..he has hurt Braves in offense and defense…I don’t know why we would play Ankiel in such important games..Cabrera despite his limitations would be an upgrade
Randle Patrick McMurphy
September 21st, 2010
10:13 pm
Hey Bradley… how do you like your Crow served up?
miranda0007
September 21st, 2010
10:13 pm
ha ha torre said he wont manage the mets!! phils win again!!
Marc in FL
September 21st, 2010
10:15 pm
So far the Phillies have made us their Beaxh. But I have to wonder, was anyone expecting anything sny different? Especially when you’re starting Minor and Beachy against Halladay and Hamels. Just poor match-up in a park we would struggle in anyway.
Phillies, Class of the NL
September 21st, 2010
10:15 pm
I am now in position to win my bet that the Phillies would win the division by 5 or more games.
Phillies Phan
September 21st, 2010
10:17 pm
Bobby Cox is the greatest regular season manager ever. This series shows his short comings. He somehow decided that this was just another series and not attempt to jungle his rotation at all. He pitches 2 minor leaguers and is lost both. Charlie went for it by pitching his big 3 and it paid off.
Ray
September 21st, 2010
10:21 pm
I’m worried about Halliday for the post season. He’s really had to scrap his last several starts – not even close to dominant like the first two thirds of the season. Hamels and Oswalt have been dominant lately – Halliday’s just hanging on. We’re gonna need him strong in the playoffs.
You guys shouldn’t be getting on your hitters so much. Good pitching beats good hitting – always has and always will. The Phils have great pitching right now, Halliday’s relative weakness aside. And you guys have had to send a couple of kids out there these first two games. Oswalt gives us a good chance of a sweep, but Bobby has a real pitcher available for tomorrow night too, so I’m not making any bets on it.
Ben
September 21st, 2010
10:26 pm
GOT FAIL?
h moore
September 21st, 2010
10:31 pm
Bradley, quit your whining. When Turner was in charge and funneling gobs of cash from TBS to the Braves so that your small market team could afford to win its 13 division titles you weren’t carping about spending too much. Your fans are true front runners take a look at your park capacity figures for half the season you were in front and the best Atlantans could do was 64% of capacity. Geez, the team draws better on the road! that’s a sad statement
J.C.
September 21st, 2010
10:34 pm
Compare the rosters. Phillies are the far superior team and are the favorite for the World Series given their top three starting pitchers. The Braves are as mediocre as their fan base and if they make the playoffs at all should feel fortunate.
September to Remember
September 21st, 2010
10:37 pm
2-time defending NL Champions:
17-3 in September
Wow.
Charlie Manuel's Colon
September 21st, 2010
10:37 pm
BRAVES LOSE!!! BRAVES LOSE!!!
Pat's Rockett
September 21st, 2010
10:38 pm
Will Someone go to Brian McCann and tell him to get his head in the game. Bad pitch selection to Howard got the 6th inning started with 2 outs. Also , he kept going outside to alot of their hitters when even Joe Simpson stated that they needed to jam them inside. And, finally trying to go to second on a sac fly to center and he was out by 5 feet. Maybe he hurt his head too much when he fell by the pool.
Pat's Rockett
September 21st, 2010
10:39 pm
And i loved that shot that Freeman hit. WOW!!!!!
Trey
September 21st, 2010
10:44 pm
Aww miss Miranda is back on the blog.
Jon w
September 21st, 2010
10:53 pm
Here is my take. The Braves were predicted to finish 2nd behind the Phillies. It should not come down to us chasing the Phillies with less than 10 games to play. If we had taken care of the Pirates, The Nats, St louis and the Rockies in the last 20 games when we were Two up.. None of these games we have matter. We will not make the wild card now and that sux…
kwajbraves
September 21st, 2010
10:59 pm
This season is bittersweet because we over achieved but at end the true Braves showed up. This is team put together to compete not to win it all. We will compete most of the time because our pitching is good enough to keep games close but then when the game is on the line the talent takes over and we don’t have the firepower to slug it out with the champs. The Phils are the better team and that is the ugly truth.
Mark Bradley
September 21st, 2010
11:04 pm
Here’s the game column, if you’re inclined. If not, thanks for hanging with me.
Aero
September 21st, 2010
11:05 pm
Looks like the fanny-kissers for Cox better start puckering up.
Now, you watch. You’re gonna see for the umpteenth time why Cox has won only one championship as he utilizes the same approach for tomorrow’s game.
The man is the poster-child for Groundhog Day.
His reputation among his critics and the annals of history is well-deserved.
No matter how much his fanny gets kissed.
Tweets that mention Live from Philly: Cox's 'hardest-working team' faces Halladay | Mark Bradley -- Topsy.com
September 23rd, 2010
3:20 pm
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