Live from the ballyard: The skidding Braves need a win (duh)
The NL's pitcher of the month for May needs to halt a June swoon. (AJC photo by Jason Getz)
The Braves had a chance to consolidate the gains made on their road trip, on which they went 7-3. They’ve since gone 1-4, their only victory coming on a walk-off balk. They lost a series to the Mets and have lost this one to the Rangers, and now they’re just trying to exercise damage control.
Jair Jurrjens is pitching today, and that’s usually a good thing. He’s 8-3 with an ERA of 2.13. But Alexi Ogando is working for Texas, and he’s 7-1 with an ERA of 2.71. And the Braves, as you know, have a way of making ordinary pitchers look like Walter Johnson. Imagine what they might do against a good one.
The Braves trailed the Phillies by two games a week ago. They’re six behind now, Philadelphia having beaten Felix Hernandez in Seattle last night. They’re still in good shape for the wild card — tied with St. Louis and Arizona for the lead in that category — but that six-game spread between first and second in the National League East is the widest in baseball.
A cheery note: Dan Uggla had two doubles Saturday, lifting his average to .176 and his RBI total to 21. (He’s sixth on the team in ribbies.) He’s batting second today in a strange lineup that has Jason Heyward hitting third, Freddie Freeman fifth and Nate McLouth — back from the DL — seventh. Diory Hernandez plays third base and hits eighth.
Of the Braves’ starting nine, only Brian McCann is hitting above .264. Only four are above .240. I’ve been saying for a while now that this time is going to hit, but I have to confess even the famous Bradley patience is eroding. Six games back on Father’s Day — time to get going.
And with that, the figurative floor is again open for questions, comments and Father’s Day greetings. I’ll be here all day, and I’d love your company. Thanks, as ever, in advance.
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179 comments Add your comment
Born To Run
June 19th, 2011
4:19 pm
RIP…Big Man
MitchC
June 19th, 2011
4:20 pm
Mark, Happy Father’s Day, first of all. Good to talk to you again,. my friend.
Yes, we know the Braves are struggling now. Hopefully, they will pull this one out today.
That having been said, the six game spread between the Phillies and Braves, while large, and much larger than we would like, or hope, isn’t totally surprising.
Realistically, look at that team, Mark. They have the best pitching staff since the Maddux-Glavine-Smoltz heyday of the primes of all of their careers, when they were starters. When any of them had the ball, the team , and the fans, felt like we could win every night. Most of the time, they did, which is why all of them will likely be in the Hall in the next few years.
The Phillies current rotation, while it might not be.. Maddux-Glavine-Smoltz, is pretty good. Halliday-Hamels-Oswalt. Not to mention that their lineup, is probably better than we were in our prime.
Before the season, I felt that the Phillies might well run away with the division, and that the Braves have a realistic shot for the wild card. I still feel the same, even before the Braves current cold week.
We have to do our best, of course, but.. if the Phillies do in fact turn the division into a runaway, we now thankfully have the wild card, to get into the playoffs, and, as we know, (While I;m not saying this will happen to us) there have been plenty of wild card World Champs. The teams that have won World Championships as Wild Card teams, dont give the championships back, just because they won them as the wild card, and not as division champs.
curiosity
June 19th, 2011
4:20 pm
we’ll just call this the todd grantham blog today. it’s quality becuase he didn’t know who curtis granderson was until today.
Mark Bradley
June 19th, 2011
4:21 pm
Sometimes Wren travels. Other times not. It depends.
Mark Bradley
June 19th, 2011
4:22 pm
Thanks, Sonny. Glad you’re here.
Mark Bradley
June 19th, 2011
4:23 pm
Braves have used five pitchers to reach the bottom of the seventh.
dean
June 19th, 2011
4:23 pm
Anyone else get the sneaky feeling they are going to blow this one?
Mark Bradley
June 19th, 2011
4:24 pm
Attendance: 34,599.
G
June 19th, 2011
4:29 pm
Uggla is worthless…. I agree with Simpson, why bat Uggla second he can’t move runners over because he refuses to go the other way with the ball.
Sonny Clusters
June 19th, 2011
4:31 pm
We thought National League teams played small ball and American League teams was sluggers. The Braves play like sluggers without sluggers except for McCann.
Born To Run
June 19th, 2011
4:33 pm
Clarence Clemons was 69 yrs old. He & Bruce were were a show. Much like Nascar, which I do not follow…some things are amazing sights to behold. Talladega…Bruce & the E Street Band.Uggla gettin a hit…
Mark Bradley
June 19th, 2011
4:33 pm
That’s exactly right, Sonny. They depend on the home run without a true homer-hitter.
Mark Bradley
June 19th, 2011
4:34 pm
I’ve seen all of those things, Born to Run.
"Chef" Tim Dix
June 19th, 2011
4:37 pm
FF and J-Hey still rooming together in the ATL, Mark?
Mark Bradley
June 19th, 2011
4:38 pm
I don’t believe they are, Tim.
Mark Bradley
June 19th, 2011
4:38 pm
Freeman doubles in a run.
"Chef" Tim Dix
June 19th, 2011
4:41 pm
Saw Bruce an the E at the Omni on the River album tour. Paid 100 bucks when it was still 100 bucks.
Don’t regret it, fo sho.
Mark Bradley
June 19th, 2011
4:42 pm
I saw Springsteen in Cleveland the week before “The River” came out.
"Chef" Tim Dix
June 19th, 2011
4:45 pm
“al bum”…What KK translates into english.
"Chef" Tim Dix
June 19th, 2011
4:46 pm
Rory marching like Sherman folks.
"Chef" Tim Dix
June 19th, 2011
4:47 pm
Imagine what Venters could get you.
"Chef" Tim Dix
June 19th, 2011
4:48 pm
Not to say you would, every body.
Hillbilly D
June 19th, 2011
4:51 pm
Nice catch, Nate.
Born To Run
June 19th, 2011
4:52 pm
Yea..Born In The USA tour he pulled a fat old lady out of the front row for the Dancing in the Dark routine. Omni I guess. They gave you ur moneys worth…almost 4 hour shows as I recall. Hope Clarence did not preform on Outlaw Pete. He was too good for that.
Mark Bradley
June 19th, 2011
4:53 pm
That was a nice catch by McLouth. And it was needed.
"Chef" Tim Dix
June 19th, 2011
5:01 pm
BTW, Johnny 99 off of the Nebraska, my fav song. Next, Candi’s Room.
Born To Run
June 19th, 2011
5:11 pm
The drums & guitar in Candiesroom sound so good loud. Ol Bruce has lost a few friends in recent years. Wrote a couple good songs in remembrence ….bet he outdoes himself 4 the big man. hope so. go braves.
matt
June 19th, 2011
5:18 pm
Hi Mark
I have a question that I have been pondering for awhile, but have not seen anyone tackle from a historical standpoint. Does this Braves team compare at all to 1993 team before McGriff. The reason why I say this, is that year you had the pitching, bullpen and capable hitters, but they were pressing much like this year’s team is doing. I still think Braves will be in the postseason, on strength of the pitching. Your thoughts
Mark Bradley
June 19th, 2011
5:37 pm
Braves win, by the way. (Sorry. Forgot in all the excitement of a 3 1/2-hour game.)