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
Reno
September 29th, 2010
8:55 pm
great game, great past few days. I’m going to be there on Saturday & Sunday, & hopefully those aren’t Bobby’s last!
sugarpikegange
September 29th, 2010
8:58 pm
go BRAVOS!
Doug
September 29th, 2010
9:00 pm
Got to give Bobby a lot of credit for holding things together, and Frank Wren for building up so much quality depth.
rupert
September 29th, 2010
9:00 pm
love it
3 games left!
September 29th, 2010
9:03 pm
“kids and retreads”
…. didn’t exactly ready that line like it says seeing as how it closely resembles another word and I was thinking “Did Bradley really just call this group …. that word? WOW!!!!”
thankfully I reread it and made the mental corrections and spelled it right.
ramblinman
September 29th, 2010
9:05 pm
Nice article Mark. Go Braves!
SpiritBen
September 29th, 2010
9:05 pm
Fantastic stuff, Bradley. Well done.
HitaSingle
September 29th, 2010
9:06 pm
It is great to see a player like Brooks Conrad. He is a great example to kids of the team player. Alot of parents could learn from him. Little league, high school and college players need to learn from him. Great job Brooks! Not just for you homerun today, but for your attitude and doing it the old fashion American way!
JoshTown
September 29th, 2010
9:07 pm
Bring it on baby!
Mechabradzilla
September 29th, 2010
9:08 pm
So what happens if we only win 1? What about 0 this weekend.
Brian
September 29th, 2010
9:10 pm
These guys have really stuck it out through thick and thin. At this point I don’t care if we do anything in the playoffs. This was a great season full of all kinds of mishaps and hurdles, but they stuck it out and just when we thought it was over they stuck it out some more and grinded it out against the Marlins for the sweep. I grew up with these Braves in the 90’s and I think this might be my favorite team so far. I mean who would have thought we would be sitting here talking about Brooks Conrad or David Ross in the last week of the season as intricate parts of this team. It just shows how much love these guys have for Bobby, they want him to go out like the winner he is. Great article and I am excited for the Phillies to come to town.
Kevin
September 29th, 2010
9:12 pm
Nobody and I mean nobody knew it or predicted it at the time, but given Javier Vazquez’s year it looks like Wren traded the right pitcher. Although you can’t give Wren too much credit since it was only because nobody was willing to take Lowe. Derek Lowe hasn’t been the greatest pitcher, but he has definitely had a more productive season than Vazquez.
Steve
September 29th, 2010
9:14 pm
Mechabradzilla, don’t be negative. No way that happens with our aces going Saturday and Sunday and Philly resting everyone. We are in.
dg03
September 29th, 2010
9:14 pm
Enter your comments here
HitaSingle
September 29th, 2010
9:16 pm
It has been a great season. In today’s world of all these prima donas, it is great to see the focus on Infante, Prado, Ross, Conrad, Venters, and don’t forget Boscan who has been in the minors forever and the Braves brought him up for as a reward for sticking it out. That is why I will always admire Bobby Cox and the job he has done.
dg03
September 29th, 2010
9:16 pm
Captain Clutch does it again! He might be Popeye after a spinich meal! I am glad we have him with all the injuries!
BravesFan
September 29th, 2010
9:17 pm
Uh, there’s no one game playoff in baseball. It’s a regular season game that decides who makes the playoffs.
kaminari
September 29th, 2010
9:17 pm
Great win tonight. If we sweep the Phils, we’re in. If we win two, the Pads have to win all five of their remaining games. If we win one game, we need the Pads to lose at least one of the five. If we get swept (Gawd forbid), we need the Pads to go no better than 3-2. That will force a one game Playoff in ATL.
I think that’s right. Anyway, great write-up Mark & GO BRAVES!!
The Grinch
September 29th, 2010
9:17 pm
They haven’t always played well, but they’ve certainly played hard. They’ve earned every win. Nice to see Lowe finally bouncing back.
Jeff
September 29th, 2010
9:17 pm
Correction Mark. If Braves win 2 out of 3, they are in. No need for 1 game playoff. They would have 92 wins. Only way Padres get to 92 is by winning last 5 but to do that they’d have to beat SF 3 times which means the Giants can only win 91.
milton dad
September 29th, 2010
9:20 pm
3 games left: you’re a retread. sorry, couldn’t stop myself… Go Bravos Go Bobby
HitaSingle
September 29th, 2010
9:21 pm
Lowe is a good example of a player playing hurt. He is a gamer.
matt r
September 29th, 2010
9:21 pm
Jeff is right, Braves have lost 69, SF 68, SD 70. One of the West teams is going to lose 71 games. If we win 2 we are in, 1 clinches the tie. The magic # over SD is 3, SF is 5 (and one of those teams teams is going to lose 3 days in a row)
bruce mac
September 29th, 2010
9:23 pm
Mark, Paaaleeeese. SHUT UP WITH THE PLAYOFF TALK. They have not won anything.
Conrad backs Lowe in Braves’ sweep – MLB.com | SportsZrr.com
September 29th, 2010
9:23 pm
[...] Marlins (77-80) at Atlanta Braves (89-69), 4:35 pmMiamiHerald.comTalking Chop -USA Today -Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog)all 1,292 news [...]
Trey
September 29th, 2010
9:25 pm
3 games left!, I made the same mental error when reading that. I guess we can say we are what we thought we read.
matt r
September 29th, 2010
9:27 pm
And if all three are tied, SD plays SF for div title 1 game, we play the loser for the WC 1 game.
Tyler Langmeyer
September 29th, 2010
9:27 pm
@bruce mac: They just swept a series and shaved their magic number to 3. Didn’t win anything? Are you kidding me? Do you really think the Padres are capable of overtaking us based on how we’ve played and how they’ve played this week?
Get off the blog man, you obviously know nothing.
T-Rex
September 29th, 2010
9:27 pm
Wow, you people are so excited about beating a putrid Marlins team–with Hanley Ramirez sitting it out to preserve his .300 season-and are all fired up about whupping the Phillies junior varisty. Get a life.
JacketFan
September 29th, 2010
9:27 pm
SD playing at SF in the middle of a pennant race bodes well for us … SF is playing lights out and SD is imploding. Go Braves!
Tweets that mention These ragtag Braves: They're very close to the playoffs now | Mark Bradley -- Topsy.com
September 29th, 2010
9:29 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Mark Bradley, The Grit Tree, tyler75, hobnasty, Ben Garrett and others. Ben Garrett said: Damn, Bradley. Chills-inducing stuff. RT @MarkBradleyAJC: These ragtag #Braves are very close to a playoff berth now. http://bit.ly/9zgjUl [...]
tardawg
September 29th, 2010
9:29 pm
The never say die Braves of 2010 what a year!
These ragtag Braves: They’re very close to playoffs now – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) « Furniture Store USA
September 29th, 2010
9:30 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
Tyler Langmeyer
September 29th, 2010
9:30 pm
@T-Rex: I’m pretty sure most of us are excited because we’re about to clinch a spot in the playoffs. Learn the facts, then get a life.
Ghost of Gil Garrido
September 29th, 2010
9:31 pm
THIS is why Baseball is the greatest of all sports. Whatever the outcome, what a great, fun, ragtag team and long season of surprises it has been. As Bobby said, NEVER has he had a team work harder for what they have. A great “Bobby Cox-like” team for his last season.
HitaSingle
September 29th, 2010
9:31 pm
T-Rex – We are excited to watch a team that probably shouldn’t even be fighting for a playoff spot. That is all. It is great to see a team rewarded for playing so hard and unselfishly. Oh yea, you wouldn’t know what that means. I can see why you went extinct.
Steve
September 29th, 2010
9:32 pm
T-Rex = L O S E R who does not understand baseball apparently.
PTC DAWG
September 29th, 2010
9:33 pm
Trex……you act like the Phils have been in the playoff 14 straight years….
If you don’t care, why are you on this blog?
HitaSingle
September 29th, 2010
9:34 pm
Hey T-rex – you need to be in Miami with Lebron and those other two selfish guys. That is your kind of team.
rlinaug
September 29th, 2010
9:34 pm
T-Rex, let me speak to you of anatomical improbabilities….
Jughead Obama
September 29th, 2010
9:34 pm
These ragtag Braves: They’re very close to wasting another week of my life with 3 postseason losses. FTFY.
GT Trumpet
September 29th, 2010
9:35 pm
It’s almost like no matter how many times adversity rears it’s head for these Braves we find some way around it. Lose our best all around player for the past decade plus? Throw in this guy. Lose him? This guy will be just as clutch. Maybe this is the season we get all the breaks. Yanks-Bravos World Series!
HitaSingle
September 29th, 2010
9:36 pm
Hey! Has anybody seen my dad, Chief Noc-A-Homa? Mama said he has been dancing since Brooks hit the 3 run homer. That’s my dad!!
MSS
September 29th, 2010
9:36 pm
Our bench is a wrecking crew. Brooks F. Conrad for MVP!
OoltewahDawg
September 29th, 2010
9:36 pm
BravesFan, if two teams end up after game 162 tied for the wild card berth, they have a 1 game playoff to determine who goes to the Division Series playoffs.
bruce mac, you’re such a pessimist!
Lowe is peaking at the right time. He pitched lights out today.
It’s been a fun run to watch.
Tyler Langmeyer
September 29th, 2010
9:36 pm
Jughead Obama: Why do you think they’re going to lose the first round? They can and have beat all of the teams they could possibly be matched up with. Your name says it all..
rc35
September 29th, 2010
9:42 pm
Braves, thanks for picking it up again. I had my doubts about y’all, but you came through. No matter what, I appreciate your effort this season.
HitaSingle
September 29th, 2010
9:48 pm
Billy Wagner – Thank you for spending your last season with us. It has been fun watching you and the way you handle yourself. I hope I get to watch you next week, but no matter what happens Thanks!
sidslid
September 29th, 2010
9:51 pm
Conrad reminds me of Lemke in the 91 series. Part time bench player takes off in the clutch. Which reminds me…
All-time World Series RBI:
Jerry Willard 1
Ernie Banks 0
JRW7
September 29th, 2010
9:59 pm
Way to go BRAVES, if PADRES lose tonight, that will put BRAVES up 2 1/2 games, BRAVES can clinch wildcard with a win Friday night, GO BRAVES!!!!
JRW7
September 29th, 2010
10:00 pm
Way to go BRAVES!!!
Mark Bradley
September 29th, 2010
10:01 pm
You folks are correct. Win twice and this team is in the playoffs no matter what. Thanks for correcting me.
JRW7
September 29th, 2010
10:02 pm
If PADRES lose tonight, BRAVES will be up 2 1/2 games, then BRAVES can clinch with a win Friday night!! GO BRAVES!!!
bostonbravo
September 29th, 2010
10:13 pm
just keep McLoser out of the picture & we will equal ‘69 Mets for UNLIKELY champs!
bostonbravo
September 29th, 2010
10:16 pm
can we please send Bobby the message: keep McLouth out of the lineup???!!!
Mike Honcho
September 29th, 2010
10:20 pm
I gotta hand it to ya MB, I love your attitude in this article. Nice job.
Headley Lamar
September 29th, 2010
10:24 pm
Other than Adrian Gonzalez the Padres have no one who scares you either.
ATLfan15
September 29th, 2010
10:24 pm
What a CLUTCH performance by D. Lowe. This team is showing heart at the right time….and Raw Dog strikes again!
I’m lovin’ it! Can’t wait till Sat afternoon…oh, and go Cubs!
Gene
September 29th, 2010
10:24 pm
I can’t give Wren credit for anything, except maybe dumping Escobar. But, this is a great bunch of competitors, and they are sending Cox out with some class. Who knows what will happen next week. Go Braves. We love ya, man.
ATLfan15
September 29th, 2010
10:25 pm
Gotta give props to David Ross too. He is such an important part of this team.
Headley Lamar
September 29th, 2010
10:28 pm
Wren made the right call Hudson v Vazquez.
gcs
September 29th, 2010
10:30 pm
Who is this Derek Lowe guy? After tanking a big “something-to-prove” start, he has come back with five straight wins in five starts. Lowe is suddenly looking like the 2002 version.
.
friedyardbird
September 29th, 2010
10:31 pm
JRW7- Padres have 4 games left, Braves have 3. Padres have to lose tonight and lose tomorrow to fall a full 3 games back in order for the Braves to win and clinch on Friday. If the Padres split their remaining two games with the Cubs, then the Braves will need 2 wins against the Phillies to clinch.
bucky oneil
September 29th, 2010
10:33 pm
“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.”
Mark “FM” Bradley at his finest, folks.
“There has, however, been no doubting the heart. With three games to go, that fighting heart is pounding like a kettledrum.”
My exact feeling about this team is playing out to the finish. They are a gritty team full of “kids and retreads and no-names” that have given me, as a Braves fan, another memorable season; a lot of stress and elation. Most of the time there were equal parts with in the same game. They are full of character and have been an overall joy to follow this season. Mark, you do a great job and enjoy you r articles and the blog very much. Great article. One of your best.
aswingruber
September 29th, 2010
10:36 pm
I actually prefer this column with the mental reading mistake several have made when reading the phrase “kids and retreads.” Makes it funnier and this team that much more inspiring.
bucky oneil
September 29th, 2010
10:41 pm
I actually prefer this column with the mental reading mistake several have made when reading the phrase “kids and retreads.” Makes it funnier and this team that much more inspiring.
What’s mental about it?
Chief
September 29th, 2010
10:43 pm
Brooksy, you sandbagging son of a ……. thank-you.
Brooks Conrad
September 29th, 2010
10:44 pm
Anybody seen my batting gloves???
aswingruber
September 29th, 2010
10:45 pm
@bucky oneil
3 games left!
September 29th, 2010
9:03 pm
“kids and retreads”
…. didn’t exactly ready that line like it says seeing as how it closely resembles another word and I was thinking “Did Bradley really just call this group …. that word? WOW!!!!”
thankfully I reread it and made the mental corrections and spelled it right.
____________________________________
Trey
September 29th, 2010
9:25 pm
3 games left!, I made the same mental error when reading that. I guess we can say we are what we thought we read.
Brooks Conrad
September 29th, 2010
10:45 pm
Chief – it’s RAW DOG to you…
aswingruber
September 29th, 2010
10:47 pm
3 games left!
September 29th, 2010
9:03 pm
“kids and retreads”
…. didn’t exactly ready that line like it says seeing as how it closely resembles another word and I was thinking “Did Bradley really just call this group …. that word? WOW!!!!”
thankfully I reread it and made the mental corrections and spelled it right.
____________________________________________
Trey
September 29th, 2010
9:25 pm
3 games left!, I made the same mental error when reading that. I guess we can say we are what we thought we read.
Mark Bradley
September 29th, 2010
10:47 pm
Thanks, bucky. Thanks to all who’ve offered a kind word. This one I enjoyed writing, I must say.
Stanley Crowe
September 29th, 2010
10:48 pm
Before the Marlins series, I suggested that the Braves had better sweep because the Padres probably would. Well, lo and behold, the Padres have helped us out (or the Cubs have!) beyond my wildest dreams. We’re not quite there yet, but we’re in a much better position than I thought we would be in going into the Phillies series. I hear that Turner Field is Standing Room Only for that series — that’s great news, and it will make a difference. I think one more win might do it. It’s hard to believe that the Padres can turn it round against a Giants team that’s playing well right now. I guess it’s too much to hope that the Cubbies can do it again tonight in SD, but no matter what, we’re still one game up on the loss side.
What I’ld like to see going forward: (i) Jason Heyward needs to pick it back up. He’d had a great rookie year, and I hope he’s got another hot streak in him; (ii) I’ld like to see Brian McCann be a bit more productive. He’s worn down, but he’s a great competitor and I don’t count him out; (iii) Likewise Alex G. He hasn’t looked comfortable at the plate lately. And for sentimental reasons, I’ld like to see Troy get some ABs — we wouldn’t be where we are without him and Prado, but Matin will have to wait until next season unfortunately, at which point I hope he comes back strong and stays healthy. Great season — good luck to them all from here on in!
bucky oneil
September 29th, 2010
10:48 pm
aswingruber – Hey that is funny!
JRW7
September 29th, 2010
10:50 pm
Friedyardbird, You are correct, sorry for the error!
Big Braves Fan
September 29th, 2010
10:50 pm
This has been the best braves season since 1993 when no one thought we could catch the Giants after being 13 1/2 games back in July! What a great summer of fun. If Hudson, Lowe and Hanson can keep on a roll it could be a story book season. GO BRAVES!!!!
Chopping and scratching
September 29th, 2010
10:51 pm
Bradley – what about Keith Law comments on Braves-Giants series as a pick’em?
According to Law:
Starting pitching – slight edge to Giants
Bullpen – clear advantage Braves
Offense – slight edge to Braves
bucky oneil
September 29th, 2010
10:52 pm
Big Braves Fan – Was that the year we sat last Sunday of the season and watched the final game out west to clinch?
I was thinking about that today.
juice sourcer
September 29th, 2010
11:01 pm
Amen Mark Amen
Kevin
September 29th, 2010
11:04 pm
This may be off topic, but did anyone else thoroughly enjoy watching Freeman hit that rocket?
BRAVE HEART
September 29th, 2010
11:16 pm
@chopping and scratching….i agree with your law…the braves also have more heart than the reds,giants,and padres….but i think we want to play the reds…the giants pitching might be able to mess with the phils.
ER Steve
September 29th, 2010
11:17 pm
if SD and SF both lose their next two games, braves clinch the WC
Jim Ragan
September 29th, 2010
11:17 pm
Mark, hats off to your faith in this team to make the playoffs when it seemed very adverse for the Braves. If the Braves get on a roll during the playoffs and get into the Fall Classic, this could be Bobby’s best managerial job, even better than what he did in 1999 despite all of the injuries to the Braves that year.
Johnny be good
September 29th, 2010
11:23 pm
I am so impressed with D. Lowe. He signed the big contract so of course the pressure is on; and most fans have been very tough on him. However, what most people don’t realize is that he is a gamer; out there every fourth day missing only one start in two years. He has won 30 games in two years as a Brave. He is well liked by his teammates, never a probelm in the clubhouse/mdeia/etc, and when it mattered most, this September, he has been absolutely lights out carrying this team at times when nobody else was (for a two week stretch, the only wins we got was when he was pitching). He is 5-0 in September with a 1.04 ERA. Incredible. For me, no matter what Lowe does for the remainder of his Braves career, he has earned every penny of his contract this year and particularly this September.
bruce mac
September 29th, 2010
11:29 pm
yea, the Braves are 4 a
bruce mac
September 29th, 2010
11:30 pm
and 6 in the last 10 games. Best team in baseball now. You folks apparently have never followed baseball or just moved to Atlanta. DUH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
is30303
September 29th, 2010
11:35 pm
great article. great season. amazing – this is why we watch all 9 innings of all 162 games. . . .
man, this season had severe ups and downs – from the McLouth walk off homerun that emptied the dugout to the Conrad grandslam against the Reds. Omar being an all star BEFORE being a starter (much respect to Charlie Manuel for seeing that). All the injuries . . . and it comes down to winning two of three from the Philies.
Go Braves!
SwampFox in South Ga.
September 29th, 2010
11:35 pm
11:26 PM == just read your fine article Mark and listening to Padres and Cubs on XM— it doesn’t get any better than this. Can’t wait to this weekend and scoreboard watching.GO BRAVES!!
SwampFox in South Ga.
September 29th, 2010
11:37 pm
11:36 3-0 Padres. Yikes!
Paul in RDU
September 29th, 2010
11:46 pm
Mark – Loved your Stones reference.
Yep – you can’t always find what you want, but if you try some time, you just might find, you get what you need.
Who do you think is going to introduce himself in the next 3 games?
Suxy Attitude
September 30th, 2010
12:03 am
Listen here folks,
If it weren’f for Booby winning against this Marlins team in the final outstretch I wouldnt normally care! My only care in it and should be everyones care is why in the world did we lose the Division? We had a 7 game lead over the Phils. We lost to the lowly bottom of the barrel cellar Pirates.Come on Folks…
anybody awake
September 30th, 2010
12:05 am
Just wanted to ask =
What u think Braves will do about LF next year?
The only free agents that are real offensive juggernauts are carl crawford and jason werth. And we know we aint getting them. So who’s it gonna be?
Ive read on other blogs that several fans want magglio ordonez(?) I mean can a 37 year old be the answer? I dont get that at all.
Wreckmaniac
September 30th, 2010
12:11 am
Fine coverage here Mark. Please stay with this team over the weekend. Its major drama.
Satchmo
September 30th, 2010
12:19 am
It’s been a fun season, will the best be yet to come?
Whopper Dawg
September 30th, 2010
12:20 am
Way to go guys, you refuse to get counted out. I have enjoyed watching you play this year and hope to continue for, oh, let’s say for about another month.
NCDawg
September 30th, 2010
12:21 am
Hopefully , the Braces will win 2 of 3 against the Phillies, and they’ll be in. I hope they do…if any of Cox’s efforts deserve it, it’s this one. If he’s not NL Manager of the Year it’s a crime.
ward
September 30th, 2010
12:26 am
BROOKS IS AWSOME WHAT DID I TELL YOU.LOWE PITCHED AWSOME TOO. OFF DAY SOME REST, SOME HOPE AND FAITH. THE BRAVES CAN DO IT! GO!!!! BRAVES!!!!! COME ON….. 3 MORE LEFT…… WIN…… FOR …….BOBBY!!!!!!!!
ward
September 30th, 2010
12:28 am
LET;S TAKE CARE OF PHILLIES IN ATLANTA WE JUST NEED TWO GAMES.GO………..BRAVES!!!!!!
ward
September 30th, 2010
12:32 am
I WOULD GO,BUT I LIVE IN MONTANA. BRAVES NEED ALL FAN SUPPORT THEY CAN GET. BRING I BELIEVE SIGNS AND YOUR TOMA HAWCKS WITH YOU. GO!!!!BRAVES!!!!!
Mitchell
September 30th, 2010
12:38 am
These ragtag Braves: They’re very close to the playoffs now
Oh my God. Are you kidding me?
Ragtag?!
No, you’re right Bradley. 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.
News flash folks: If the Padres win tonight and tomorrow, the playoffs are anything but a lock.
The Braves are just as close to the playoffs as the Pittsburg Pirates at this point. Both teams are assured of playing within one week of the start of post-season play.
That’s it. They could also both be at home watching from their couch.
If the Padres win their next two games, we enter the weekend with a one game lead in the wild card race with three regular season games to play.
And who are those games against but the great, grand and almighty Phillies?
Who the hell do we think we’re kidding by thinking they’re going to take it easy on us? Why would they want us to make the playoffs anyway?
I mean, Charlie Manuel could roll his C team out there and we could still get beat. We’re not that far removed from getting handed four defeats out of six by the Washington Nationals in the last two weeks.
They playoffs are not as likely as Mark Bradley or Jeff Schultz would have us believe.
But no. Let’s start planning that victory parade.
It’s gonna happen man.
Give me a freaking break.
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.
Phillies, Class of the NL
October 1st, 2010
1:42 pm
you know, its a darn shame we wrapped up the division so long ago – nothing like getting into the playoffs cheaply. The team the Phillies put on the field, which will not be starters, will play their best, and will still probably win 2 of 3.
If I was a braves fan I would not be happy about cheaply backing into the playoffs, IF you make it at all
The braves and their fans are so lame.
Peter
October 2nd, 2010
9:04 am
121 ERRORS and counting Mark……. Wren has the Braves quite the exciting outfield……..once a pop up happens it does get exciting out there with most of the group.
How are those Wren trades working out for you Mark ?