These ragtag Braves: They’re very close to the playoffs now
We ask again: Who ARE these guys? (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
They’re very close now. In three days these Braves have gone from a half-game behind San Diego to assuring themselves of being no worse than a full game ahead when next they play. They’re very close to securing a playoff spot with a roster of kids and retreads and no-names who had no position until everybody started getting hurt.
On Wednesday they won their 90th game behind a pitcher the general manager tried to trade over the winter, a pitcher who has gone 5-0 in a month that began with cries for him to be sent to the bullpen. And Derek Lowe, believe it or not, has been a relative constant amid shifting sand. Of the nine players in the Braves’ lineup for the season’s 159th game, only three — Lowe, Melky Cabrera and Jason Heyward — started on Opening Day.
“It’s been awesome,” Lowe said. “When we left spring training, we knew one of the strengths of our team was our bench, but nobody knew for sure how things would turn out. The bench has turned out to be our savior.”
Said David Ross, the backup catcher who started Wednesday and who had three hits and drove in the first run: “Guys like Brooks Conrad and Omar Infante … they’ve been the MVP of this team.”
The Braves lost one third baseman in August when Chipper Jones tore up his knee and another Monday night when Martin Prado hurt his hip. Naturally, the third-string third sacker (the aformementioned Conrad) had a key triple Tuesday and an emphatic three-run homer Wednesday.
“[Prado's] injury just emphasized how amazing this team is,” said Jones, in attendance as counselor/cheerleader. “How many times can a team come back after losing an integral part?”
The answer: As often as is necessary. These Braves haven’t always had what they wanted, but they continue to find what they need. Troy Glaus has had only 14 at-bats in September, but his May changed the season. Lowe had spent one full season and five-sixths of another becoming the caricature of the overpriced free agent, but his September has washed away all transgressions.
Said Jones: “[Lowe] might have had one start all year that matched these last five.”
A manager who’s supposed to be ready for the rocking chair has juggled lineups like crazy — Wednesday’s was the 106th different combination deployed in 159 games and marked the first time Matt Diaz had batted third — and yes, the strain is showing. Said Bobby Cox, who turned 69 in May: “I wish we had clinched it a month ago.”
But this team was never going to do anything nice and easy. A dreadful road trip put a sweet season in peril, and what did these Braves do? Came home and put the Fish to the sword. “This series we really took it to the Marlins,” Ross said. “Our energy, our aggressiveness, our pitching staff setting the tone …”
Three games remain. Win twice over the weekend and the Braves will play beyond Sunday. The team that has appeared to have nothing left at least a half-dozen times keeps showing us it’s too stubborn to fall down. The team of 25 final at-bat victories and 45 comeback wins has amazed us all summer, and it amazes us even as the first chill of autumn descends.
Said Lowe: “The times I’ve been to the playoffs [with the Red Sox and the Dodgers], we never had anything like this. We never had a starter or a key pitcher out. This has been a very unique season, and not necessarily in the best way.”
Then again, who’s to say this isn’t the best way? Who’s to say this club of 106 different lineups hasn’t proved to us that there’s more to professional sports than big money and charter flights? For all the winning the Braves did during their 14-year run of excellence, they’ve never been so inspiring as this.
Said Jones: “There were times [this season] where I didn’t know if we had enough bodies in the organization.”
There has, however, been no doubting the heart. With three games to go, that fighting heart is pounding like a kettledrum.
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152 comments Add your comment
Jay
September 30th, 2010
12:39 am
Hey man phils fan if braves don’t make it they dnt deserve it Kendrick worely and hamels going 4 innings Sunday
Mitchell
September 30th, 2010
12:43 am
Wow, the blog really isn’t in the mood for my incredulous comments about the Braves chances of winning the wild card.
When’s the victory parade?
News flash: Padres win.
If they win tomorrow, we’re only up one with three to play against the team we let roll over us a week ago.
This is anything but a lock. There’s still chance they can blow it yet.
Wouldn’t be the first time now would it?
Not so much.
Mitchell
September 30th, 2010
12:48 am
Ragtag?
Are you kidding me Bradley?
No, you’re right. I mean, only six All Stars this year. Good luck trying to win with that.
No really. What a marvelous web Bobby Cox has woven in 2010 with this bunch.
I mean it’s not like he has the Rookie of the Year in the NL playing right field.
Or a could-have-been Cy Young winner at the top of his starting rotation.
You know, some managers have to make do with All Stars like Brian Wilson and Heath Bell as their closers. Bobby on the other hand is stuck with a Hall of Famer.
It’s not fair, man. It’s not fair.
I mean, Brian McCann? Five time All Star? 2010 All Star game MVP? Give me a break. That was a fluke.
He’s average.
I’m embarrassed that you used that term. That’s utterly ridiculous.
Mitchell
September 30th, 2010
1:18 am
Okay, now that I’ve actually read the whole thing I can properly comment.
BS, just as I expected.
Ragtag? Are you kidding me?
Six All Stars: one the possible Rookie of the Year, one a could have been Cy Young winner, another the All Star game MVP.
Definitely. Ragtag.
Totally nailed it Bradley.
Who else makes up this ragtag bunch? Oh, nobody. A World Series MVP I guess.
Maybe a guy who won the clinching game of the first World Series in 86 years for the Boston Red Sox.
A guy who’s name goes down with the likes of Bill Mazeroski, Joe Carter and, uh, Chad Curtis for hitting a walk-off home run in yet another World Series.
I mean, where did we find these guys? It’s a miracle we’ve won a single game.
Of course, had we just won half of our road games this year we could have done something truly remarkable. Or should I say, “insipiring.”
I’m curious, since when has winning the wild card, which we have yet to even do, been something that could be described as “Inspiring?”
Inspiring would be not blowing that oh so fleeting seven game lead that seems like a distant memory at this point.
You wanna know a team that didn’t inspire people? The ‘91 Dodgers.
You don’t build a Hall of Fame career on winning wild cards.
Don’t sell me this crap Bradley. I’m not buying.
Mitchell
September 30th, 2010
1:24 am
Wednesday’s was the 106th different combination deployed in 159 games and marked the first time Matt Diaz had batted third.
Wrong. Matt Diaz batted third earlier this year.
For all the winning the Braves did during their 14-year run of excellence, they’ve never been so inspiring as this.
That’s just embarrassing. I can’t believe somebody actually wrote out that sentence.
That’s incredible.
I’ll tell you, nothing inspires me more than watching Melky turn a single into a double or a double into an inside the park home run.
In the outfield that is.
No really, the way they continually fail to advance runners never ceases to enchant me fully.
Don
September 30th, 2010
1:58 am
I love the way cox is managing but wren is a idiot.We could have Laroche.K.Johnson and Soriano
Darryl Blackberry
September 30th, 2010
2:23 am
Good stuff, Mark.
Mitchell: If this team doesn’t personify “ragtag” right now with all the injuries that have taken place, then I don’t know what would. Compared to teams like Cincy and Philly, they’re downright motley, workaday, and piecemeal. Now, if you’ll excuse me, my thesaurus and I are needed elsewhere. Good day.
Bill
September 30th, 2010
2:26 am
Cox should be the manager of the year for the job he has done.
Chief
September 30th, 2010
2:56 am
Good read but you could’ve thought a little deeper than to call this club a group of ‘ragtags’ or ‘retread’s. Maybe ‘resilient’ would be more accurate considering what they have overcome this year.
Nothing but regret letting philly catch us during the stretch run but hats off to them, they got healthy and we we got hurt.
Rockdale Braves Fan
September 30th, 2010
5:10 am
Mark: If the Braves do pull out a wild card, you should be off the hook
about your article entitled “eight reasons why the Braves will not lose”.
Maybe that will not be technically correct since they did not win the division
but a WC berth is good enough for me. Go Braves!!
RonnieD
September 30th, 2010
5:42 am
Rag-Tag team? Not enough bodies? Did they have as many injuries as the Phillies this year?
George
September 30th, 2010
6:12 am
Come on Mark! Look at the title of this article. I know you have a colon separating the two parts, but you are encouraging that which is ruining broadcast journalism – the dreaded double subject!
suprise me braves fans
September 30th, 2010
7:25 am
Grear win where was u Fans for yesterday did the mayor close the gates did a fat lady get stuck in door…..Man if this been in phillies land other way there park be 46,400 plus here just 33,000 are so..and no think phillies will lay down and let us win do u we have to win by out thinkin there best mamanger in Game..But i read we sold out all 3 games for friday n sat n sun now standin room only lets see 54,200 for tonight and 53,893 sat and 54,393 sunday….and next wildcard remember San diego has play a make up game so if they lose we 2 game up….with 3 left they lose magic number is 1 to clinch we win friday we in….if be one game with padres are SF…if we win we play SF n phillies the reds…in best of 5 which is fair n should not but i believe 2 more teams be in wild card to same way best of five to….what u all think of that idea Mark Bradley and i bet iget the words from some clown..can you type english and i say duh yes i not from Mexico and illegal also…I a american thank god…
just facts
September 30th, 2010
7:27 am
I know a lot of people are excited because the phillies may not bring their “A” game this weekend but….. just look way out west. if SD loses tonite and SF wins then SF will be 3 up with 3 to play so a very similar situation could take place for most of the weekend series between SD and SF.
things look 100% better for the braves than they did at the beginning of this week. I am just saying, let’s don’t start the celebration yet.
suprise me braves fans
September 30th, 2010
7:32 am
I see me words no make it….Braves will win wild card playoffs n since been awhile in Post season This time we be standin room only at the Ted for wild card best of five…the two games here are three who knows which way be…But lets hope we have all braves at park no have half Phillies fans there weekend i bet we be On Fox sat afternoon now.So go braves suprise us get in World series vs Tampa n win it all…i bet since cox will return to nose pickin his butt area and next wife beatin we let Rays win there first ring as he do cementin cox great bad manager ever in braves History…He great in reg season but when playoffs are W,S. its oops we had a accident!
dap01
September 30th, 2010
8:02 am
Great timely article. Good job MB.
Rob
September 30th, 2010
8:10 am
After last night, the Giants have 68 losses, the Braves have 69 losses, and the Padres have 70 losses.
One win against Philly assures at least a one game playoff. (The Braves would have 71 losses and the only way the Padres avoid at least 71 losses is by sweeping the Giants.)
One thing to watch – if the Giants clinch Friday (which they do with today and Friday), you figure they basically field the Triple-A team on Saturday and Sunday to rest starters.
Joshua
September 30th, 2010
8:10 am
I believe…Help my unbelief. This team is not good for the heart. We all just wanted this season to go smoothly. We want a hungry bunch of heros that played galantly throughout the season. We wanted our stars to shine and set high standards for their skippers last hoorah. We wanted textbook execution and storybook wins. But the stars didn’t align to make that happen.
So what do we have? We have a team that has been broken and bruise. A team that has been battered and beaten. A team that has had the greatest of success and the greatest of failure. But more than anything, we have a team that is unwilling to give up. I see the fire in their collective eyes and I know that the goal is simple. We must make it to the playoffs. The playoffs are not certain for this team but their tenacity is. They will not quit. If it’s the nineth inning and they are down…They will not quit. So even if the braves don’t make it to the playoffs I will applaud their tenacity. Because even when I have given up on them they haven’t given up on themselves. I believe…Help my unbelief…
RGP
September 30th, 2010
8:20 am
Phils starting pitchers according to paper are Kendrick, Hamels, and Halliday. The Braves need to play their A game to win. Go Braves.
Jesse Stone
September 30th, 2010
8:21 am
Mitchell- Don’t have time to disect your entire post, but one falsehood is your ststement that Wagner is a HOFer. Great closer, but not a HOFer.
Navigator
September 30th, 2010
8:25 am
It will take 2 of 3 to win it, but we also know that if Philly wants ensure the Braves don’t make, they can.
Tami
September 30th, 2010
8:26 am
What an awesome, special season this has been. I’m sure if the Braves clinch the WC on Saturday — Bobby’s Day, emotions will flow wide and deep. This team has been more frustrating to watch than any other Braves team I’ve ever rooted for. And yet, they keep finding ways to win, and keep us shaking our heads in awe. GO BRAVES!
bwash21
September 30th, 2010
8:39 am
Jesse Stone – I don’t know what planet you’ve been on but Billy Wagner is a LOCK for the Hall of Fame.
Here Comes Bream
September 30th, 2010
8:40 am
Hey Mark,
Is Beachy available for post season play or did he join the roster too late?
Mark Bradley
September 30th, 2010
8:46 am
He’s available, Here Comes Bream.
SadDawg
September 30th, 2010
8:52 am
Can’t say enough about Lowe’s performance this month.
Mike S
September 30th, 2010
8:57 am
RGP – that may be the Phillies rotation on paper, but I will bet you any amount of money in the world that Halladay WILL NOT PLAY Sunday.
If manuel starts Halladay Sunday he should be shot on sight, it would be the biggest managing blunder in the history of baseball. Halladay will start Game 1 of the NLDS – end of Story. If he starts Sunday he is out until at least game 3 of their series.
No way in hades Roy Halladay or Roy Oswalt see the field at all this weekend.
Jesse Stone
September 30th, 2010
8:59 am
no bwash. He has no championships and there are closers with more saves than BW that are on the outside looking in.
SadDawg
September 30th, 2010
9:00 am
Dang Mitchell, who peed on your cornflakes?
Yeah, the Phillies swept us last week, but . . .two 2-run lossses and a 1-0 loss, with their 3 best pitchers vs two rookies, and with multiple Braves errors?
You can hardly call that getting “rolled over.”
Quicherbichin
September 30th, 2010
9:01 am
bwash21- Where Jesse watches baseball, closers start the game and pitch one inning since the most runs are scored in the first there. Starters finish the game.
Mitchell- more negative drivel spewed forth by a Jim Rome fan.
Intersting how Christopher Chase and his band of negative guys are nowhere here after a Braves win. no, they wait until we lose and bring up all the mistakes of the last 20 years. I’m surprised Mitchell doesn’t hang out with them. But then… He could never be a cringing syncophant.
ijudgenot
September 30th, 2010
9:02 am
After all is said and done I think the Phills would rather face either west coast team than the Braves because of the starters and the lefthanders in the bullpen. They swept the Braves but each game was a nail biter. I say this because I think the Phills will not be resting their players unless SD loses today.
Jesse Stone
September 30th, 2010
9:03 am
Quicherbichin- that’s cute, but Wagner if he retires this year is not a HOFer. I’m a Wagner fan, but he doesn’t get in.
a-la Gibson/Boggs
September 30th, 2010
9:05 am
set the stage: The Fall Classic- bases loaded pivotal game 7/ or game 5 (whatever) Chipper hasn’t played, he is hobbled and comes off the bench, limping and Turner Field goes crazy………..history repeats Braves Win..Braves Win..
Appalachia Brave
September 30th, 2010
9:11 am
Before we start kissin each other on the butt lets not forget…There is still WORK to do! I guess I have a better memory than most Braves fans….This team blew a big lead and hanging on by a thread is not my idea of a great year…..Still WORK to do…So lets get the job done and put this to rest! GO BRAVES!
bwash21
September 30th, 2010
9:14 am
Wagner has played less years than Franco and Lee Smith while dominating during his tenure with a tremendous K rate and save percentage. That’s why I think he’s a lock. We’ll see.
SadDawg
September 30th, 2010
9:14 am
Wagner not in the HOF?
He’s got 31 more saves than Eckersley
” ” 80 ” ” ” Fingers
” ” 111 ” ” ” Gossage
” ” 121 ” ” ” Sutter
Those guys are all in the HOF.
MSS
September 30th, 2010
9:16 am
Mark – What are the chances that J.C. Boscan gets in a game? Slim to none?
Mark Bradley
September 30th, 2010
9:17 am
If they clinch Saturday, J.C. starts Sunday, MSS.
NCBravesFan
September 30th, 2010
9:24 am
Mark: kudos to you for remaining optimistic through a challenging September. The Braves haven’t clinched anything, but I bet the Padres would gladly trade places with them in the standings right about now.
I wonder if all the people who called you moron and criticized you the past couple of months will man up and admit they were wrong if the Braves get it? Probably not – they’ll either move the goal posts on their “talking points” in an effort to save face (I’m looking at you, Don) … or they’ll just slither back under the rocks they climbed out from under?
DC Brave
September 30th, 2010
9:41 am
Well Done Mark. Perhaps your best work on the Braves this year. Great piece.
DC Brave
September 30th, 2010
9:42 am
Does it seem to anyone else like Bobby Cox has been wearing mirrored sunglasses alot lately? Nice Top Gun look he’s got going…
Jesse Stone
September 30th, 2010
9:42 am
SadDawg, those guys pitched in a different era for closers. Nowadays, closers RARELY go more than one inning at a time. Lee Smith has over 50 more saves than Wagner and Franco has 3 more. Neither are in the HOF
Jesse Stone
September 30th, 2010
9:47 am
Eckersley won the CY and MVP in the same year and is an eyelash short of 200 career wins. Wags is no Eck. Don’t think I dislike Wagner, because I’ve said all along that I wish he came here instead of going to NY when he left Philly. This era of closers will be judged differently than those of 30-40 years ago
BaseballBuff
September 30th, 2010
10:25 am
Mark, when the Braves were sliding you said that baseball is not like football, that a player or team cannot simply will itself to “step up.” Yet in your last article, you label Derek Lowe as a big-game pitcher. Seems like a contradiction to me. That fact is that certain baseball players, as in other sports, have an ability to elevate themselves when it counts most, whereas others can stay on an even keel and not let the pressure affect them, whereas others choke and forget how to do what they have spent years teaching themselves. Many of Cox’s previous players and teams are guilty of the latter.
But that is all behind us, hopefully. Let’s make the postseason, where magic can happen. Go Bravos!
sportsmandh
September 30th, 2010
10:41 am
Someone mentioned about Bobby winning manager of the year. If he does, I would agree he deserves it. I’ll also say though, even if they miss the playoffs it would be hard for me not to look very hard at Bub Black as manager of the year. Like I’ve posted a few times lately, we think the Braves offense is bad, yet it’s significantly better than the Padres. With the exception of several very strong pitchers, Black has really made chicken salad out of well you know.
With that said, Bobby has done an outstanding job managing the roster and navigating the injury situations this year. I give Baker some pretty good props too, but he’s been in a terrible division, and the Cards weren’t what they probably should have been. Head to head the Cards ripped the Reds pretty good, I know at least the second half of the season. So I’d have to go Cox or Black.
Pete In Philly
September 30th, 2010
10:48 am
Kyle Kendrick has been announced as the pitcher for tomorrow’s game against the Braves’ Beachy. Kyle has been every shade from very good to very bad, so his performance tomorrow is unknown. My guess is he’ll do fine.
For Saturday’s game, the Phillies pitcher is yet to be announced, but I think you guys are probably correct that Worley will get a start against Hanson. He looked good on his only other start. How will he do? *shrug* Who knows. He’s the new kid. He showed excellent composure in his only start, a loss to the Marlins on Labor Day.
Sunday’s Phillies pitcher against your Tim Hudsun is also yet to be announced, but it won’t be Halladay for certain; Charlie’s already said Roy Halladay will not be pitching before the playoffs. It probably won’t be Joe Blanton either, since he pitched last night. Had a good outing, too, with 7innings and only 3 hits and one unearned run. And Blanton’s always been the beneficiary of Phillies hitting, so it’s probably just as well the Braves aren’t seeing him. (Blanton’s in the top five pitchers for run support.)
So who do we put on the pitcher’s mound Sunday? My guess is Cole Hamels for five or so. His last outing wasn’t that good, and this will tune him up for the playoffs. And it won’t hurt his rotation in the first round since Halladay is pitching Game 1 on Wednesday and Game 2 isn’t until Friday, which is five days rest if Hamels goes. (And a week’s rest if Hamels pitches Game 3 on Sunday.)
As for position players; only a couple of certainties: Count on seeing Jimmy Rollins and Greg Dobbs in the lineup for sure; they need their at-bats before we go into the playoffs. Jimmy is obvious; but Greg Dobbs has been Charlie’s choice for pinch hitter the past couple years, as long as Greg has gotten enough ABs in advance. Ben Fransisco and John Mayberry both hit homers last night, so Charlie will probably keep them out there to see if they stay hot. Mike Sweeney, too, who also popped one last night and is an important piece to the clubhouse atmosphere. And while we probably won’t see Dominic Brown too much in the playoffs, I bet we see him in Atlanta. He’s one of the stars in the Phillies future, hopefully.
My prediction for the weekend is that the Braves will be playing mostly the “JV” Phillies, but our guys will be out to prove something to themselves and to the coaches and Charlie. And some of our “JV” guys are pretty good players in their own right. I’m hoping we’ll take two of three from the Braves, and would be surprised if either team swept.
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para brave
September 30th, 2010
2:15 pm
Do you think the Phillies will sit some of their starters or play to blow us out?
Down w/ the phillies
September 30th, 2010
4:57 pm
MB-
Two wins from the Braves guarantees they make the playoffs WITHOUT a tiebreak game.
If the Braves win 2 they’re 92-70. SD must win remaining 4 to pull to 92-70, but that means SF loses 3 and end up 91-71.
griff
October 1st, 2010
2:35 am
Who is this fair weather philly fan leaving comments on a bravos web site. The braves and tampa bay are two of the only teams with heart. Everybody else like the phillies can just buy who ever they need to win. It’s all good though, it’s these type of haters make these playoffs even sweeter. This team doesn’t need to prove anything. With all the bad fortune they have gone through this season, to be this close is like winning the series to me. So go back to philly and boo your own team when they get beat. Plus u should be on thanking the best catcher in the league for bringing the NL homefield advantage.