Braves-Phillies: A fair fight that might last deep into October
A good start: Martin Prado leads off with a home run. (AP photo)
They’ve played eight times, each winning four. They’re scheduled to meet 10 times more, and there’s a chance they’ll face off in the National League Championship Series. And what might happen then?
Said Chipper Jones: “In a seven-game series against them in October, I’ll take my guys over their guys. Meaning no disrespect.”
Moments earlier, Jones had offered this: “I have no doubt in my mind we’re as good a ball club as the Phillies.”
Then this: “My worry is not about Philadelphia — it’s about everybody else. [The Phillies] bring it every night, no matter who they’re playing. We don’t do that as often.”
We saw as much this week. The Braves needed a come-from-behind walk-off victory to keep from being swept by the Washington Nationals. Two days later they’re positioned to take a series from the team with baseball’s best record.
Jones again: “The thing that bothered me about that Washington series is that we looked like we were sleepwalking. That’s the difference between the two teams. The Phillies don’t come into a series wanting to take two of three — they want to sweep.”
The Braves have put together a nice team. The Phillies have spent nearly twice as much to build what they hope will be another world champion, but this is no mismatch. These Braves could do as San Francisco did last October and derail the Phillies, with this caveat. Said Jones: “We’ve got to get there.”
Without Chase Utley, who’s due back soon, the Phillies still got the start they needed. The Braves didn’t, but they’ve spent the past three weeks making amends. By winning Saturday, they drew within 4 1/2 games of Philly, which is close enough for now. They still haven’t hit the way they should, but they’ve manage to outpitch the world’s finest rotation.
Said Brian McCann: “We feel like we have a great team. … We can hang with them.”
While waiting for the offense to arrive, the Braves have done as they needed: Help their pitchers by playing defense (which wasn’t a given) and by scratching out just enough runs. They’ve won 14 of their past 21, and at no time in that run have they appeared to functioning at peak capacity. And that’s a good sign.
Take Saturday’s game: “A lot of good things out there today,” said Fredi Gonzalez, the manager, and there were. Jair Jurrjens won his fifth game and went 17 outs before yielding a base runner. The Braves led 2-0 before making an out, Martin Prado and Nate McLouth greeting Joe Blanton with homers. (Said Jones, the third-place hitter: “I’ve had that happen two or three times before, and every time I’ve struck out.”)
David Ross, in for McCann, dropped a deft safety squeeze — it was Ross’ idea, not Gonzalez’s — to score an important third run, and that run was made possible by Dan Uggla, who can’t buy a hit, but who hasn’t stopped playing. On a day when his average slid from .199 to .196, Uggla had nonetheless beaten a force at second base by a hair and would score on Ross’ bunt.
Gonzalez: “Those are things as a manager you like to see. It’s easy to play when you’re getting three hits, but Dan is scuffling and still playing hard. That’s great to see.”
For the Braves, the good news is that Uggla won’t always be hitting .196. (Although we were saying that a month ago, were we not?) The better news is that the Braves have managed to ride out the Phillies’ flying start and hang close enough for it to matter. The Rockies and the Giants and the Cardinals and the Marlins are good, too, but the teams with the best rotations should bear up as the NL’s best.
Jones pronounced Saturday’s victory “the biggest of the year so far,” but Sunday brings another test. The Braves must face Roy Halladay, the best in the business. He’ll be opposed by Tim Hudson, who’s pretty good himself. There’s not much difference between these teams, and it might be until mid-October before we sort this out.
Provided the Braves can bring themselves to beat the Washington Nationals.
By Mark Bradley
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96 comments Add your comment
wait
May 14th, 2011
5:34 pm
wait till uggla gets hot.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 14th, 2011
5:35 pm
Who the hell is Dan Ross?
extremus
May 14th, 2011
5:37 pm
It’s good to hear Chipper jones acknowledging that the Braves’ attitude can still use some adjusting; they do usually play up to the likes of the Phillies, but then frustratingly let down against the teams they’re supposed to beat (Washington, Pittsburgh, etc). That’s something the Phillies don’t allow themselves to do as often, and I’m very glad to see our team’s captain realize it. Chipper Jones has matured into more than a player for the Braves (you can see it on the field when he’s taken guys aside as he did to calm McCann after the blown call last night); he’s become a true leader, and I can definitely see him continuing with the team after his playing days are over in a coaching or player advisory role.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 14th, 2011
5:37 pm
“[The Phillies] bring it every night, no matter who they’re playing. We don’t do that as often.””
Seems to be a recurring problem for all Atlanta sports teams.
Jeff
May 14th, 2011
5:43 pm
Mark, you’re right, Uggla won’t keep hitting sub .200, but then again, the Phillies will have Utley and Oswalt back, and at some point Lidge and Contreras as well. The Braves have a good team, but I think they’re a wild card team at best.
Mark Bradley
May 14th, 2011
5:44 pm
I don’t know that the Braves can finish ahead of the Phillies over 162 games, either.
Jeff
May 14th, 2011
5:47 pm
Doubtful. The Phillies have better hitting and more pitching depth unfortunately.
John10:10
May 14th, 2011
6:01 pm
Heyward drops back to 6 hole when he returns. Nate’s playing like he did in Pittsburgh. Praying for Uggla.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
May 14th, 2011
6:01 pm
Keep Chipper healthy. Big key to the offensive production. Uggla will heat up, Heyward needs to get some continued rest. Prado is a beast. The offense has some huge potential if a few things can come together. Anything McClouth gives us like today is plus. The 2nd K he had was a really tough 3rd strike. Just keep playing the game Bravos!
LakeDawg
May 14th, 2011
6:37 pm
Uggla hasn’t started hitting and you know he will eventually. The key to the season is the productivity of Heyward and Freeman. Everybody thinks they are can’t miss types, but Heyward is a quarter into his second season and is frankly not a very good hitter so far and Freeman looks like Heyward. I still think they are going to come around, but I’m starting to squirm a bit. BTW Chipper has become a leader. It has taken him most of his career to become one, but better late than never. It has certainly increased my admiration for him.
Hillbilly Deluxe
May 14th, 2011
6:44 pm
The Braves are giving them a run, so far, but they’re without Chase Utley. It’s a credit to the Phillies that they are doing as well as they are, without him.
marseilles mutt
May 14th, 2011
6:46 pm
The Braves CAN stay with the Phillies- and anyone else for that matter!
Youth and inexperience can offset age and experience and vice versa. However, this year the Baves can play the ‘trade/rent-a-player game with anybody BECAUSE of the pitching/arm depth that they have at every level, from single A through the major league roster.
Considering a new manager, set up guy, closer, ‘pressing’ second basman- and some might say a ‘new’ third baseman as well- they have done pretty darn well. If they falter no w and then, it should come as no shock, but if they should start hitting on all cylinders- look out world.
Putting all ‘if’s and’s or but’s’ aside, this is a GOOD and fairly deep team!
fla dawg
May 14th, 2011
6:47 pm
najeh davenpoop…. you tell us, who is dan ross?
NorCalBrave
May 14th, 2011
7:06 pm
I wonder if Uggla’s frustrations may in part be due to his not measuring up to the fat contract he signed.
Chipper’s right on the money when he says Braves don’t bring it every game; be interesting to see how they play when the mediocre Astros come in after the Phils.
FSUBraves
May 14th, 2011
7:07 pm
bradley, man, lay down the drugs…lol…..the braves have no speed….no base stealers, and that will hurt the braves later on…you will see
Billy Jack's Barbecue & Shrimp Co.
May 14th, 2011
7:07 pm
Fung game to watch today; fun article to read tonight. Thanks MB.
Billy Jack's Barbecue & Shrimp Co.
May 14th, 2011
7:19 pm
Fun game to watch today; nice article to read. Thank you MB.
Chopper to Chipper
May 14th, 2011
7:35 pm
Does Uggla have any type of game plan when he comes to bat? Swing like hell and hopes he makes contact………..reminds me alot of Rick Ankiel.
Grantdawg
May 14th, 2011
7:36 pm
Are we sure Uggla(ly) will ever start hitting? It sure would be nice to “know” that, but I am begining to wonder. And worry about Heyward as well. I want that kid to succeed so bad, but was he pushed to soon?
BRAVESFAN
May 14th, 2011
7:44 pm
I think Frank Wren asked for the wrong Uggla with all the hits.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAu1jNaPI_o
You get what you pay for at IKEA!
Madmike
May 14th, 2011
7:54 pm
Uggla may have a problem with handling the pressure. Its one thing to hit in front of 4000 with no expectations vs. 35000 expecting you to produce. Remember his all-star debacle!
Who Cares
May 14th, 2011
8:07 pm
The braves can play o.k. against the Phils, but the problem is the Phils play good against everybody, and the braves don’t. The Braves have a losing record against the Eastern division teams, and the Phils have a 700 winning percentage against the East. The braves will be lucky to beat out the Marlins for second in the East, or the Nationals for 3rd in the East. The Phils, and Marlins have better everyday players, that are more consistent than the braves everyday players, and that includes Larry Jones, and McCan’t. The Phils and Marlins have just as good starting pitching as the braves also. And the braves have alot of holes in there everyday lineup. Unless Freeman, Heyward, and UGGLY become more consistent, there is no way this team will finish above .500 in the East.
Dr. Phil
May 14th, 2011
8:12 pm
If all of the Braves played like Prado, we would have no trouble with the Phillies or anyone else. I will reserve judgment on Uggla for a while, until after I check Infante’s stats.
BRAVESFAN
May 14th, 2011
8:12 pm
Get some confidence stupid!
http://www.baseballconfidence.com/
puff
May 14th, 2011
8:21 pm
Glad to hear Chipper calling out the sleepwalking
scottbravesfan
May 14th, 2011
8:43 pm
Seems like the Braves always struggle against the Nats even when they were the Expos.
Error Maniacs
May 14th, 2011
8:54 pm
Uggla played a good game today . . . actually got on base a couple times even if it was on a walk and being hit by pitch. At least he cut down the automatic out swing! Good job, man! Now try and copy Prado . . . you know, like quit trying to pull everything and jack it. Just put the bat on the ball where it’s pitched . . . like go with the pitch! You’ll see the fans will love you a lot better. Homers will come later . . . Got it???? We like your energy and appreciate your effort . . . just take it like Prado and you’ll be a star!!!!!!!!!
ArkyTech
May 14th, 2011
8:55 pm
Mark, no safety squeezes with 2 outs. That was a try for a cheap 2 out RBI and it worked.
ArkyTech
May 14th, 2011
8:58 pm
Dr. Phil, Infante hitting .232 with 0 home runs and 14 RBI. And he’s a nice utility player, but I think Uggla is a better defensive 2nd baseman. Certainly turns the double play better.
phillies 2008
May 14th, 2011
9:03 pm
The amazing fact is that the phillies are where they are with injuries to Lidge, Utley, Contreras, Oswalt, Ruiz, Blanton, and now Victorino. On and on and on come the injuries, yet the Phillies continue to win. I would not count on the Phillies getting complacent. That is why they are the fightin Phils.
Texas Pete
May 14th, 2011
9:47 pm
We sure have been giving Uggla the benefit of the doubt. It’s always, “He’s going to start hitting!” Well, until he starts, why is he hitting cleanup or in the fifth spot? Watching him strikeout twice the other night with runners in scoring position was painful. Not making any contact at all is unacceptable. Uggla has just been downright Ugly!
Braves 2011
May 14th, 2011
10:46 pm
The Amazing fact is that the Braves are where they are with key players not hitting(Uggla), injuries to other key players, and even losing late inning leads. Yet the Braves keep finding a way to win. I would not count on the Braves getting complacent though. That is why they are the Tomahawking Braves!
Fan
May 14th, 2011
10:51 pm
How can you write an article comparing the 2 teams and not mention that the Phillies payroll is 172 million to the Braves 87?
Joseph
May 14th, 2011
11:32 pm
if the Marlins stay healthy, they will finish 2nd. If they can get a good SP before the deadline, watch out, Philly!
brave53
May 14th, 2011
11:44 pm
Uggla … gotta give credit for the hustle. However, he has been worse than zero, he kills just about every rally that starts. We would be better off so far this year with a .230 weak hitter batting at the end of the lineup than Uggla in the center. He is killing our run production with his anemic at bats — he is the opposite of protection for McCann — pitchers pitch around the hitter in front of Uggla so they can strike him out. If he does not start hitting a little then they should move him to 8th in the lineup. If Fredi won’t do this then he is sacrificing the Braves so Uggla feels good.
SawThat1nce
May 14th, 2011
11:52 pm
The Fish will fade. They always do.
Dr. Warren
May 15th, 2011
12:42 am
I wish one of the Hawks had been as direct as C. Jones about sleepwalking through games. I wish all of them had. That’s the difference between hall of famers and also rans, I guess.
J Clay
May 15th, 2011
1:12 am
Not sure I have seen anything from the Bravos that suggests they will even make the wild card. Have issues when Nate McOut is not the worst hitter on the team (strikeout king Uggla). Good ole Chipper always good for some quotes though right. This team to me is not much different than the past 10 years teams, play pretty well against good teams and pretty bad against bad teams.
J Clay
May 15th, 2011
1:15 am
Um, 35000? Haven’t the Braves had 3 of 4 worst attended games at Turner Field already this season?
Larry
May 15th, 2011
3:36 am
Mark,
I trust you have a prescription for the hydrocodone. It does tend to make you a bit more positive and optimistic, doesn’t it?
Many of the reason have bees stated already as to why the Braves will not pass the Phillies this season (No speed, too many free swingers, not nearly enough situational contact hitters, and grossly dependent upon the HR for runs) however, along with roster inadequacies I’m beginning to believe–not suspect–that we lack the instincts, intuition and aptitude at manager. I can think of 3 or 4 games already this season where Fredi’s decisions have led to a Braves defeat and 2 or 3 more that could have had not the players bailed him out.
I said after watching the first 15-20 games that this roster and bench he selected, the lineups he picks, and utterly dumb decisions like the 2 strike Hanson suicide squeeze in the 2nd inning with the fleet afoot Hinske at 3rd against the Mets, that this is an 80-85 win team and this will be a managerial failure with this starting pitching and bullpen. It is just a shame this pitching is not complimented with station to station baseball to win the close games and saddled with Bobby Cox, Jr. in the pilot’s seat.
The Braves will finish somewhere between 10-15 games behind the Phillies and will barely contend for a wild card. They will only take the wild card should somehow Fredi Cox get a little smarter as the season progresses (unlikely) or somehow they make a big trade or two by swapping a bopper or two for some speed and contact hitters to compliment this lineup.
And for all you goobers clamoring for Heyward to bat 2nd, please just zip it and leave the suggestions to those who have played the game and understand the strategic advantages of each slot in the batting order. Our manager is bad enough at this already without listening to you! Just observe the Phillies batting order to get a clue. Charlie Manuel would have his fastest guy and best base stealing threat (McLouth) leading off and the perfect #2 hitter in Prado; Fredi Cox has yet to try just once the obvious!
Save this article, Mark, and we’ll see who’s right at the end of September?
Larry
May 15th, 2011
3:48 am
J Clay,
The reason for the attendance spiraling down is simple: Bobby and Fredi Cox offensive baseball is boring and predictable. Fans love watching their pitching dominate; they also love having this complimented with station to station baseball.
The NFL has evolved from three yards and a cloud of dust to “the greatest show on turf.” since the early 90’s when we incorporated some speed in Otis Nixon, Deion Sanders, Lonnie Smith,Ron Gant, and Marquis Grissom, the Braves for the past 10 years or so have regressed to a lineup dominated with hot or cold free swingers. Too many nights they are just boring to watch strike out 10-15 times in a game and people no longer want to endure this and then get home somewhere close to midnight.
This is why I gave up my seat after 21 seasons…I couldn’t stay awake the whole nine innings!
Mark Bradley`s Booster
May 15th, 2011
3:54 am
The Braves need to play every game like it is the game they must win in order to stay in the playoff race. If they continue to lose series against the Nationals and Dodgers (lost 3 of 4) they will not make the playoffs.
Joey
May 15th, 2011
7:28 am
Jair for Cy Young!
Michael
May 15th, 2011
8:17 am
Meet the new Braves, same as the old Braves. Injuries, injuries, injuries. And still consistently losing to the teams they should be walking over.
007
May 15th, 2011
8:21 am
Despite the presence of Jones, Hinske and a few others, this is a young team. Loss of focus is to be expected. Good on Chipper for dressing them down.
Hey Marcel
May 15th, 2011
8:42 am
Calling it out in the media and calling it out in the dugout are two different things.
Will
May 15th, 2011
8:53 am
With the season one-fourth completed, its a good point to access the results.
Coming out of Spring Training, I had these concerns: Will McLouth ever recover his hitting touch? Is Freeman ready to hit major league pitching and play every day? Is Kimbrell ready to close based on very limited numbers from last year? Will Gonzalez be a better skipper in Atlanta than in Florida? Will Chipper recover and not get injurged again?
I was confident that Uggla and Heyward would be big time hitters and Prado, McCann and the starting pitching would be well above average.
So…..what have we learned? I over estimated Uggla and am beginning to reacess my thoughts regarding Heyward – is he too injury prone and really just a good, not great, player when not injured? Freeman has not performed up to expectations. I think we put too much weight on Kimbrell’s good, but very limited, performance last year.
The good news – the starting pitching has been even better than I guessed – Chipper is playing better than I thought and McLouth is doing better than expected. Prado is emerging as a reliable All Star pick year in and year out. Hinske and Ross are great bench players. Conrad probably will be released before the season ends.
Gonzalez has been a wash – neither helped nor hurt too much but may share some of the blame in not getting the club ready to play lesser teams.
The bottom line – the Braves will not play playoff basebal with Uggla, Heyward and Freeman hitting less than .250 and driving in a limited number of runs – no matter how well the pitching holds up.
Its good that we’ve played Philly even up so far but bad that we have struggled with Washington and other teams that we are clearer the better team.
Let’s all agree to gather again after 80 games and see where we are. Uggla cannot possibly be any worse than he is today. Hopefully Freeman will become more comfortable as a big league player and maybe Heyward can play 25-30 games without getting injured (an interesting aside – a source close to the Braves has told me that Jason’s reported “injuries” are really a combination of legit injury and head games as the Braves try to salvage the younster’s confidence).
After 80 games, I am guessing we will be 6-10 games behind Philly and playing for the Wild Card. I think we will contend for the Wild Card for the remainder of the season but, again, cannot play playoff ball without better things to come from Freeman, Kimbrell (or his replacement), Uggla and Heyward.
reckingball
May 15th, 2011
9:04 am
Some of these commentators on this blog are highlarious.
Some think, that because they have participated in peewee and little league baseball when they were children, that they are now, experts on the game, and actually believe, that they are capable of managing a MLB club, haha.
Some of these people are under the delusion, that the manager and GM, of the Braves, actually read these blogs, to get suggestions from them, on how to run the team.
Some believe that people reading their rants, take them seriously and care about what they are saying.
I’m sure that no one really cares about what I just typed in. Haha.
bbkorbel
May 15th, 2011
9:06 am
reckingball..you just hit it out of the park!
Ash Richburn
May 15th, 2011
9:52 am
All real Phils fans tip their caps to Jair J.
bbkorbel
May 15th, 2011
10:03 am
Who knew? A civil Phils fan! “Tanks” Ash!
bbkorbel
May 15th, 2011
10:06 am
BTW…Tanks! Spanky & Our Gang talk for Thanks!
reckingball
May 15th, 2011
10:18 am
Hey Marcel @8;42am…………….Hey Marcel !!!!!
Will you please look at, whatever it is, that all of those people want you to see?
Maybe then, they will stop showing that darn commercial, over and over and over again.
It must air at least 25 times per broadcast.
reckingball
May 15th, 2011
10:21 am
But I guess it is still better than watching Coach Richt’s wife try to sell furniture, or that gang of lawyers, from Johnny Cochrane’s law firm, trying to get someone to sue somebody else.
Ric Flair
May 15th, 2011
10:26 am
Dan Uggla has constantly killed the Braves, even when he was at Florida. Now he is killing them because he can’t hit!
joe
May 15th, 2011
10:33 am
I know he is pitching pretty well at this point, but does it bother anyone else that Hanson can’t locate his fastball and is always at 90 pitches thru 4 innings ( it seems )? Be nice to get 7+ innings out of him eventually………
Mike (Philly)
May 15th, 2011
10:48 am
The Braves have a solid, balanced young club – probably the 2nd best team in the NL, actually. But “only 4 1/2 games out” pro-rates to 20 games back by the end of September. The Braves don’t have the horses to run with the Phillies for 162 games. A 7 game series in October, though? Anything can happen in a short series.
reckingball
May 15th, 2011
11:09 am
Looking for the Braves to win today.
GO BRAVES!!!!!
DickyDick
May 15th, 2011
11:59 am
Imagine the Braves playing most of the year without Prado,McCann,Lowe,Jurjen,Kimbrell,Venters? Thats what the Phils are dealing with on the injury front and they still have the best record in baseball.
Domonic brown #1 prospect in baseball last year is rehabbing/lurking in the minors .385 ba.. Utley should be back by the end of the month. OZ,Blanton,Contreras,Lidge all getting healthy. If
the corner outfielders (Francisco+ Ibanez) keep hitting .220 then the Phils GM will get some help at the trade deadline.
reckingball
May 15th, 2011
12:05 pm
I have to agree, the Phillies have one of the best teams, that money can buy.
reckingball
May 15th, 2011
12:08 pm
Imagine the Braves having the money to spend of FAs(that the Phillies spend), to go along with the talent, that the Braves have in their farm system.
reckingball
May 15th, 2011
12:10 pm
to be clear,…….. having the money to spend on free-agents.
Pauli
May 15th, 2011
12:18 pm
The people crying about the Phillies payroll are funny. I guess you don’t remember the 90’s when Turner spent everyone into the ground.I didn’t see any crying from Braves fans back then. Maybe if some Braves fans showed up to the park they would be able to spend a little more money? Just a thought.
Pauli
May 15th, 2011
12:22 pm
The roles were reversed in the ’90s when Billionaire Ted and his bottomless pockets owned the Braves, while the Phils still played in the Vet (where they shared revenues with the city) and couldn’t compete financially. Where were these whiners back then? Probably rubbing our nose in it.
The Phillies sell out every game, the Braves don’t even come close. The Braves don’t have Billionaire Ted to bail them out anymore. Their payroll is tied to their revenues now. If they sold out every game, their revenues would be higher and they could afford a higher payroll. But they don’t, so no tears for the Braves. The tides have turned in now it’s the Phillies turn on top
reckingball
May 15th, 2011
12:27 pm
Paulie………..No whining, just an opinion.
If the Braves sold out every night, the extra revenue would go to the stock holders, of Liberty Media.
Dr. Cool
May 15th, 2011
12:27 pm
I assume that those of you Braves fans complaining about the Phillies payroll are too young to remember the ’90s, when Billionaire Ted Turner and his bottomless pockets owned the team and the Braves outspent the Phillies (who still played in The Vet and shared revenues with the city of Philadelphia) by a wide margin. Now the Phillies have a great ballpark and they sell out every game. They built the team through the farm, and augmented it through trades and free agency. They have done everything the right way. Too bad for you that Billionaire Ted no longer owns the team and that your payroll is now tied to your revenues. If you sold out every game like they do in Philly, then your payroll would be higher. As a 30+ year Phillies fan who witnessed the ’90s, I have absolutely no sympathy for the Braves. There was never any sympathy for Phillies fans when we played in The Vet and suffered through a stretch of 19 losing seasons in 20 years. Nobody cried for us. No, they rubbed our nose in it and made fun of it. So, I am really enjoying be on the other side of it for a change. The Phils are on top now, and should be for a long time. Deal with it, Atlanta.
reckingball
May 15th, 2011
12:29 pm
Dr. Cool and/or Pauli, you don’t need to use different monikers.
reckingball
May 15th, 2011
12:35 pm
Yeah the Phillies are the defending World Champions, and they have a grea………..um,,, wait a minute, that’s right, they were beaten out by the Giants, last year, I remember now. HaHa.
Wow, the best team in the NL(that money can buy, and keep together), but they still choked in the big games, just like the Braves used to do, when Billionare Ted, was the man.
Philly (Mike)
May 15th, 2011
12:35 pm
reckingball – it’s cyclical. in 5 years the braves will have a much higher payroll, even though it will be spent mostly on the same players they have now. utley, rollins, and howard and were much cheaper (and better) when they were in their 20s and the phillies won the world series.
reckingball
May 15th, 2011
12:42 pm
Sometimes, it looks like the Phillies have enough extra money, to pay off some of the umps(i.e. game one of this series).
reckingball
May 15th, 2011
12:43 pm
I’m just trying to get a little response, from the Phillies fans.
The Phillies are the team to beat in the NL, everyone knows that.
But nothing is a lock, in MLB.
Mike (Philly)
May 15th, 2011
12:43 pm
The Braves had a million chances to win game 1 and they choked on it. Just like the Phillies had chances to win game 2 after the umpire called a ball on the 3rd strike to jurjens that would have ended the 7th inning last night.
Mike (Philly)
May 15th, 2011
12:48 pm
lol it’s cool. and i agree. i’m just glad the phillies wouldn’t have to play the braves until the NLCS. the five game divisional round is even more of a crap shoot than a seven game series.
reckingball
May 15th, 2011
12:49 pm
I don’t think that the Braves are going to increase their payroll that much.
They will spend enough to keep a couple of star players. That’s my opinion.
Hey Marcel
May 15th, 2011
12:57 pm
Did anyone see this vid of Ortiz from the Red Sox asking for hugs on the streets of New York City….? Good for a laugh!
http://tinyurl.com/3n3gowy
Mike (Philly)
May 15th, 2011
1:07 pm
I would have said the same thing about the Phillies ownership group 5 years ago. Consistent winning generates a lot of revenue, though.
DickyDick
May 15th, 2011
1:40 pm
Hope Chipper is paying a little lip service here. He is a nitwit if he actually would rather have Hudson,Lowe,Hanson,Jurrjens over halladay,Lee,Oswalt,and Hamels. Hamels is statistically the best LH pitcher in baseball over the last calendar year and Halladay,Oswalt, and Lee finished 2-3-4 last year in WHIP.
Cliff Lee’s K/BB ratio was otherwordly at 11/1 Halladay was second in baseball at 7.7 k/bb last year.
Dawgs Man
May 15th, 2011
2:19 pm
Ugla and Freeman. Back to back stinking.
Skeezix
May 15th, 2011
4:59 pm
Despite the disappointing slow start, I still think over the course of the season the Braves will end up on top. Most positive factor to date has been the terrific pitching. Also, the last two series against the Phils, we won 4 out of six.
Once the offense finally kicks in, we will eventually catch the Phils. Don’t forget about the Marlins though — they are proving to be a solid team also.
MitchC
May 15th, 2011
5:54 pm
Mark, winning two of three on two consecutive weekends from the Phillies is nice, but.. we have to remember that it’s only May. Last year, we blew a seven game division lead against them, and then had to fight for the wild card until the last weekend.
Over the course of 162 games, I still think Philly is the better team until we prove otherwise. However, there is no reason we should not win 90 plus games, and the Wild Card.
Overall, except for the Nationals lapse, the Braves have played well. Hopefully, they can continue to do so, so we will be able to snag the Wild Card, even if we cant win the division.
Phils Flogged
May 15th, 2011
6:29 pm
Good job, Braves! Flat out WHUPPED the Phillies in two series in 10 days!
wreckmaniac
May 15th, 2011
7:24 pm
Over 162 games many things will happen. We will have pitcher injuries and other DL situations to occur as will all teams. Uggla will pick it up. It is very impt to keep Chip healthy. The keys for ATL are for Heyward, Freeman, and McClouth to get it together and for the bullpen to hold up to the level that it has so far.
no freedom
May 15th, 2011
7:38 pm
am I allowed to comment again or does dol still have me banned for no reason?
DamntheButcher
May 15th, 2011
10:34 pm
Carlos Santana you can kiss my legal American Citizen Ass.
A Free Man
May 15th, 2011
11:39 pm
Are we watching the same games? Freeman may be the best defensive 1st baseman I’ve ever seen in my life! As one commentor finally got around to saying today, “he’s saved at least 10 runs this year, and probably at least 20 throwing errors”. Amen. Great 1st baseman! He’s just getting started, guys. The Adcock-esque batting average will come in time. Maybe even the Adcock four home runs in one game!! We have a great, young, and developing All-Star 1st baseman in town. Can I hear an Amen?
Keith
May 16th, 2011
12:19 am
Great win for the Braves against a usually unbeatable Halladay.
GO BRAVES! Now beat the Astros, please.
phil
May 16th, 2011
8:02 am
When Mark Bradley begins talking about one of our teams in ernest, look out….The man has been the kiss of doom for decades now…
Everyone keeps saying WHEN Uggly begins to hit…what if he doesn’t? Remember our buddy McOut from last year? When he begins to hit, blah, blah, blah….never happened last year….so let’s reserve judgment on Uggly until he actually DOES hit something other than once a week….same with FF….forget about Hurtward since he won’t even take the field anymore….
ChillyMutt
May 16th, 2011
9:02 am
Nice article Mark. This really could be shaping up to be a classic race.
With some of our young guys getting some major league experience – Heyward is only getting better and boy I LOVE Freeman’s glove at 1st base … Uggla (crossing my fingers) coming around and Prado starting to look like the future team captain after Chipper …. this is getting interesting.
ChillyMutt
May 16th, 2011
9:06 am
Gonzalez: “Those are things as a manager you like to see. It’s easy to play when you’re getting three hits, but Dan is scuffling and still playing hard. That’s great to see.”
Yes it is. And his at bats don’t seem to affect his defense.
Sure that’s why we signed him to an extension.
MLB Power Rankings: Philadelphia Phillies fight to defend top spot - Eugene OR DIRECTV Service
May 16th, 2011
9:48 am
[...] 6. Atlanta (23-19) … NL’s third best team is also third best in its division — but if confidence determined the standings, Atlanta already would have clinched. [...]
bvillebaron
May 16th, 2011
10:00 am
Dr. Cool:
As a Braves fan for almost 50 years living here in Central Pennsylvania you conveniently forgot one small detail in your smug post which is that it was my tax dollars that built Citizens Bank park which turned one of the cheapest and worst franchises into the NL versio of the Yankees. Yeah, they sure did everything the “right way”.
Keith Strawn
May 16th, 2011
10:59 am
Mark, You are improving with age.
Mark Bradley
May 16th, 2011
11:01 am
And you’re nice to say so, Mr. Strawn, but you’re wrong.
Felix Herny
May 16th, 2011
11:05 am
Hey Mark, it’s May. A good win for the Braves no doubt, but lets not get crazy. When the Phils actually start hitting and barring any additional injuries (that they haven’t already faced) this race should not even be close.
fefe
May 16th, 2011
11:09 am
@bvillebaron your tax dollars did not pay for CBP anymore than the Penguins new rink.
Chief pitchanono
May 17th, 2011
11:54 am
Yeah its the middle of may and fist place doesn’t normally mean much right now, but for the Braves and Marlins or any team who has to chase down and beat a team with philly’s rotation to win their division, its pretty important to get out in front and put as much distance between yourself and philly whenever you have the chance. It looks like this week the Braves and Marlins have their chance. Philly’s not playing well and the schedule has turned against them, while Braves/Marlins has gotten easier. If the these two teams are for real now is the time to show it. I think their will be a new 1st place team in the NL east by the end of the week and that is the first step if they want to take the division fromt the champs. I’m sure the phills will come roaring back at some point, but if a team can get on top and build a little lead, if phillies problems continue they could be there a while. Go Braves!!