Kimbrel is undone by Infante, and this believer says, ‘Uh, oh’
Is the former skipper waving goodbye to the postseason? (AJC photo by Hyosub Shin)
I had my lecture notes ready, and the subject was, “Patience, children.” The Braves had overridden a 4-1 deficit through much help from the opponent and were one out from victory, and victory would mean a 3 1/1-game lead with eight remaining. And Craig Kimbrel, Mr. Automatic for the People, was on to do what Craig Kimbrel does, and after a nervous couple of days — heck, a nervous couple of weeks — order was set to be restored.
Then Craig Kimbrel, who had yielded one home run in his first 97 big-league appearances, was touched for his second in two days. Doing the deed: Omar Infante, former Brave and author of five homers this season. And the lead’s down to 2 1/2 games with eight left, the Cardinals somehow having gained ground on a night when they faced Roy Halladay and the Braves were one out from victory.
And now I say, “Patience? It can be overrated.”
As of Sunday afternoon, I was convinced the Braves were still in fine shape. They were 4 1/2 up and had a one-run lead on the Mets, and the Braves with a one-run lead this season have been safe as houses. But Jonny Venters started walking people, which Jonny Venters sometimes does, and this time he couldn’t tiptoe out of it. One blown save, one game lost on the field, one game lost (after St. Louis beat Cole Hamels on Sunday night) in the standings. And now this reversal in Miami. And now …
My faith is, shall we say, undergoing a test.
Even in a season where Dan Uggla stopped hitting for three months and 40 percent of the rotation has gotten hurt, these Braves have been able to bank on their bullpen. It’s why they were 8 1/2 games in front the morning after Labor Day. It’s why they figure — figured? — to be a tough out in the postseason. But now the bullpen is showing the strain, and if that goes then what’s left?
I don’t know the answer. I’m not sure I want to know the answer. All I know for certain is this: I no longer consider the Braves a postseason certainty.
On paper, they still should make it. But some games are so galling they make you wad up that paper and toss it in the trashcan.
By Mark Bradley
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222 comments Add your comment
Bradley's Foggy Crystal Ball
September 19th, 2011
11:40 pm
MitchC
That is because Mark Bradley knows nothing about baseball.
P Rose
September 19th, 2011
11:40 pm
Did you even watch this game? Why blame Kimbrell? He did his job – he got three outs. The problem is he needed four. You did not even mention that it was Chipper’s error with two out and nobody on that undid the Braves.
SG10
September 19th, 2011
11:42 pm
As hot as Cards are these days, Giants have won 8 (or 9?) in a row and only half game behind Cards…crazy to think but Cards and Giants could be battling out for WC in the last week! I know mathematically, Braves might still be in it but another week of futility would just keep that as a mathematical possibility
glacialspeed
September 19th, 2011
11:47 pm
[Will Ferrell voice] [running around in circles] EVERYBODY PANIC! If you have a small child, use it as a shield!
Oregon Brave
September 19th, 2011
11:50 pm
Everybody likes to say baseball is boring. So how come everybody is jumping off the bandwagon now? It aint ever going to be as exciting as what we are about to witness in the next 9 days. Tonight was certainly a punch to the gut. So was yesterday’s game, but perhaps tomorrow the Marlins take the punch. I can hardly wait. Go Braves.
DB
September 19th, 2011
11:58 pm
I have been a fan for 20 years. And failure to take advantage of scoring opportunities continues to haunt the Braves.In my opinion the way the Braves need to approach the remaining games is play each one as though it is the last game of a 7th game in the world series.
bean bag
September 19th, 2011
11:59 pm
The Braves sound just like the Jaws song “Oh how I want to go home, I’m tired and I want to go to bed.
NorCalBrave
September 20th, 2011
12:11 am
Quit it with the Leo overworked his bullpen stuff. We had Cy Young winners in the rotation, who regularly went deep into games. Fredi hasn’t done everything right, but when you have starters who put up 100 pitches by the 6th inning, and a light hitting team that never extends a lead, you have to lean on the horses in the ‘pen. Would have helped tremendously if Moylan wasn’t on DL, and Linebrink and Proctor had done their jobs.
I remember
September 20th, 2011
12:21 am
Braves kicked away large leads in ‘82 & 83. Joe Morgan homered them into the playoffs only to be easily swept by St L in ‘82. Can you smell the smoldering ashes of the burnout.?
On life support, and the plug is being pulled. Boston and Atl would embarrass themselves if they were to make it. Great season, mostly, now let’s enjoy seeing some GOOD baseball teams in the post season
bart
September 20th, 2011
12:22 am
I’ve told you before that the Braves were capable of losing their WC lead but even I thought they had a big enough lead to limp thru.
But now? They are on the verge of an epic collapse. They are in a race with Boston to see who can pull off the biggest choke-job of this decade.
CC
September 20th, 2011
12:28 am
Someone asked about Constanza — something happened. Lost his spark, started sitting on the bench. He was a firecracker every time he stepped on the field in August, but it seem he’s been infected by the same hang-dog body language this team always seems to take on each September.
And do all teams have their pitchers vacate the mound with injuries at the rate the Braves do? Seems all the Phillies starters are still answering the bell with a couple weeks remaining.
Mitchell
September 20th, 2011
12:36 am
Mark Bradley, there aren’t words to describe what a hack you are.
Your career is an embarrassment.
wild'n
September 20th, 2011
1:08 am
I think we still get in, but by the skin of our teeth. nonetheless, it could be a quick exit. everything is going wrong for the braves. mccann and prado and some other guys have stopped hitting, our starting pitching is either on the DL or just not very good all of a sudden (save huddy), and venters to an extent and kimbrel more so have had rough outings. What worries me the most is kimbrel. what all of a sudden has happened? is it fatigue? I’m not sure, but the combination of all these factors signals an early exit in the postseason if we make it there. such a shame, because this braves team had and has the potential for greatness (yes, WORLD SERIES greatness).
wild'n
September 20th, 2011
1:10 am
unfortunately, this team just does not look a shred like the team that built up the huge lead and was considered one of baseball’s top 4 teams most of the year. I try to be an optimist, I am just frustrated now.
GO BRAVOS
Ted M
September 20th, 2011
2:08 am
The Braves bullpen is great. They probably have been over worked but thats not it. No bullpen in the history of baseball is perfect. Its the offense, games early in the season count just as much as these and our offense blew so many games this season when we had both great starting pitching & relief pitching.
The Braves pitching, starting & relief, even w/all the rookies is the best part of the Braves. The offense not so much.
Lets go w/Delgado instead of Lowe.
Mr. Enigma
September 20th, 2011
2:18 am
The Braves lose 6-5 when they were one strike away from victory. The same night, the Cardinals beat Cy Young-candidate Roy Halladay.
Time to smash the panic button. With a hammer.
Free Constanza
September 20th, 2011
3:42 am
Mac called the only pitch slap hitting bonifacio could of hit on 0-2. A FB on the outside corner where all he did was stuck his bat out. Terrible 0-2 call by Mac.
Stinger2
September 20th, 2011
4:04 am
2011 Braves: Pitiful and sad.
Miranda
September 20th, 2011
5:00 am
The braves are getting what they deserve since Chipper has the nerve to say Atl can beat the Phils!! What world that clown live in.. Phils are the best team in baseball
June Cleaver
September 20th, 2011
5:48 am
Ward, I’m worried about the Braves!!!!
drew
September 20th, 2011
6:00 am
Bloggers are funny! Braves lose a couple of tough ones and all of sudden the blogs are full of “I told you so’s…” and “they don’t deserve to be in the playoffs”, along with a host finger pointers (Fredi ruined the BP; Chipper needs to sit; McCann calls a terrible game; Castanza needs to play;…”, yada, yada, yada. Some even shoot the messenger. It just tickles me that so many “fans” think they’re so freakin smart. They need to take a deep breath and take a nice cool drink of STFU.
To read some of these posts. you’d think the Braves are in the midst of a 100 loss season! We’re in the driver’s seat people. We’re not chasing anyone. We’re not the team that’s 2-1/2 games out. The post-season is a fresh start (just look at SF last year!). And if the Braves do make it to the post season, there’s no reason they can’t get hot and win it all.
ChasZee
September 20th, 2011
6:27 am
Even if the Braves hang on and make the playoffs — and it’s going to take at least 3 days for somebody to dislodge them — this is not the same Braves team that built the lead and appeared to be one of the top four teams in the playoffs. I’m just wondering, maybe starting pitchers shouldn’t be allowed to throw more than 160 innings or so until they are 25, 26?
SimpleDawg
September 20th, 2011
6:52 am
Reason the Braves make he Playoffs……
“The Cardinals have to depend on someone else to beat the Braves.”
Well, isn’t that what has been happening?
McDawg
September 20th, 2011
7:10 am
het Freddie-this is where you earn your paycheck
O'Brien
September 20th, 2011
7:10 am
Mark,
The difference with the Giants from last year is that they had the pitchers to shut down an offense. The Braves have no such pitchers (although Huddy has the potential to come close).
Besides Huddy, do we have one pitcher that you feel confident can end a losing streak?
McDawg
September 20th, 2011
7:11 am
drew we are the team tanking cards are surging
October Hunting Trip
September 20th, 2011
7:13 am
Nothing wrong with the starting pitching. Our fill-ins have been perfectly adequate. JJ and Hanson never went more than 6 innings, and that is what our rookies have been doing. Our “best in baseball” bullpen has imploded 4 times in about 2 weeks. That’s 4 of 12 games. We should have won, had maybe we had some starting pitchers that could handle going 7 or 8 innings consistently throughout the season.
Braves need some work in their instructional leagues to help pop the teet out of these kids mouths, help them to sack up, and throw 125 pitches. This mentality of “all I need is 6 innings” is BS, and subsequently the primary reason our bullpen is faltering right now.
I hope these boys have made reservations for their October vacations.
Erty
September 20th, 2011
7:17 am
If Chipper is going to carry us to the playoffs, I hope he has lots of money for tickets. Losing a chopper to Chipper in the lights, I have seen it all now. Good grief.
Doctor C
September 20th, 2011
7:23 am
There is a curse on the Braves. A Georgia Tech friend of mine stated the Braves had the wild card already won about 4 weeks ago. I tried to warn him about how Tech people always count contests over long before the finish and how things can change. He would have none of it and insisted there was no possible way the Braves could lose the wild card. I will call him this morning and see if he will admit he was wrong so the curse can be removed. Sadly, he will still insist the Braves have it locked up (he could never change his mind due to his Tech pride) and the curse will continue and the Cardinals will win the wild card. Only then will he reluctantly admit he was wrong about counting things over when they are far from done. What a vicious repetitive cycle! If he will swallow his pride and admit it was not over and remove the curse, then the Braves can still win this thing.
alex
September 20th, 2011
7:31 am
Not difficult to figure the problem:We have NO genuine star on the team and other than Freeman and mabye Bourne,there is no one that plays all aspects of the game well.The entire season many have been saying that this team has too many holes, ex. chipper fielding,gonzo hitting , uggla hitting, mac catching, heyward hitting, etc. Since all star break the starting pitching has been ,at best,6 innings…
drew
September 20th, 2011
7:32 am
What does it really matter???
IF they get in the playoffs they will get swept.
They really are not a good team – plain and simple.
It started when bobby cox came
September 20th, 2011
7:34 am
This started when we had cox show up at ted and look what has happen we lose chipper mouth runs over sayin we better then Philly ha ha who won east again sure not us what be more u folks sayin Phiilies are lettin cards get in ha should be sayin of Boston lettin Rays in wildcard race no differents is Redsox have people hurt in pitchin n outfielders we do not..Just chipper mouth n freddie G ego is all….As for tampa they playin well to tie for wildcard at end u have a One game playoff for it either in Tampa where fans can’t find the trop are in fenway Park the oldest but well kept stadiums beside dodger stadium too Wrigley field is last for there toilets overflow in streets! And u folks look sad when phillies swept us here n knock us out..And chipper runs cryin to Dave O’Brien sayin hey we made it we goin watch someone else now! And Tampa fans u day comin when u team is in Montreal in 2014!
Yankees’ Mariano Rivera sets mark with 602nd save – Atlanta Journal Constitution | CgPage
September 20th, 2011
7:38 am
[...] Kimbrel is undone by Infante, and this believer says, ‘Uh, oh’ [...]
It started when bobby cox came
September 20th, 2011
7:41 am
Hey nice see me comments not allowed its as fix as shultz football picks no way any persons can get all every pick unless they work for ajc n can change when done……..Now back to the chokin braves new plan ..How we choke the east n wildcard by chipper jones co wrote by Bobby cox…simple run mouth we better then Phillies next invite the cox who only won One ring choke the other 6 away! Goin look bad if Philles manager charlie Manuel wins another ring ….and then u see clearly who better….
Hope they get to playoffs
September 20th, 2011
7:43 am
Glad they are even in a wildcard race—-although its a bit like fighting sloppy seconds
Realist
September 20th, 2011
7:46 am
The Braves can get in the postseason all they want, but the fact is that theyre not going to do jack in the postseason with their current rotation. Beachy is a rookie with zero postseason experience and i dont want to even talk about derek lowe. The braves may be able to squeak by in the first round if hudson and beachy come out strong, but if the phillies are waiting in the NLCS then it’s over folks..
10-1 Lead After 3
September 20th, 2011
7:57 am
Mr. Bradley, aren’t you the guy who wrote a few days ago that the Braves have an 89% chance of making the playoffs.
I would someone explain to me why there are those who think Chipper Jones belongs in the Hall of Fame.
Ghostrider
September 20th, 2011
7:58 am
I think you can put a fork in them….if they cant beat the mets or the marlins how are they gonna beat the brewers or d’backs….there not
Shug
September 20th, 2011
8:00 am
Last night’s game was a Chipper standard– 0 for 4 and a boneheaded fielding play in a clutch situation. The only thing missing was him doing something stupid on the basepath, which is another thing he’s known for.
Boy, I sure hope he comes back next year, what with all he’s meant to the franchise. . . blah, blah, blah.
Chris
September 20th, 2011
8:00 am
The bullpen had been over used all year. The innings have finally caught up to it. Other than Hudson, our starters haven’t been pitching well. This happens when you lose your 2 of your best 3 starters to injury. The hitters feel like they have to press because they start the game in a 2 or 3 run hole every night. Not to mention our two most (usually) consistent hitters, Prado and McCann, are slumping big time. Even if we somehow hold on and make the playoffs, I don’t see us making it out of the first round.
rico carty
September 20th, 2011
8:04 am
Epic choke!
T-Town Dawgs
September 20th, 2011
8:06 am
As the saying goes, stick a fork in em’, they’re DONE!
Chris
September 20th, 2011
8:09 am
Why should they make it on paper? The way I see it, they will lose at least 2 against the marlins. And you know how they play against Wash. That will be 2 losses. And the phils! Well, I guess the phils can control who they want to play. If they beat us, which is likely 2/3 then they will almost certainly play st louis. If they let up against us, then it’s probably against Az, who I believe they dominated this year. If your philly, do you want to play a team that just beat you 3/4 to end the season at your place? Interesting things indeed. And St louis? 3 against the mets. They will win at least 2 and probably all 3. The cubs is a rivalry but it’s at home so I see 2/3 there and the strohs. Oh that’s a sweep. So the braves really need to go 5/8 to make the wild card and who thinks they can do that? Not me.
Chris
September 20th, 2011
8:10 am
10-1 lead
No it was a 96% chance they would make it. He got that from some morons at some website who don’t take into account the braves knack for choking and playing lousy every september
Double Zero Eight
September 20th, 2011
8:12 am
I think the Braves will make it……barely!
They have to remain focused. No one is going
to hand them the Wild Card on a platter.
They have to earn the right to go to the playoffs.
Let’s hope they get hot now, and continue playing well
in the playoffs. Timing is everything.
Mr. Obvious
September 20th, 2011
8:13 am
Even if the Braves do actually make the post-season, Michael Vick will still have Herpes for the rest of its life.
FSUFalcon
September 20th, 2011
8:15 am
and Bradley said this team will coast in sept..hahaha..i told ya man..this team is choking just like last year…it used be choke in the first round, now it’s choke 2 weeks before the first round
meh
September 20th, 2011
8:15 am
just a run of bad luck. just when the Braves want Philly to win, they lose 3 of 4. And then the Braves are one out from a come from behind win and Chipper loses a chopper in the lights. In all my thirty years I’ve never seen a ground ball lost in the lights. And then a dude with 5 homers on the season cranks one off of one the best closers in the game. It’s some bad luck, flukie, craziness. I got a feeling the Braves are gonna snap out of it though. GO BRAVES!
Dontavius Supremo
September 20th, 2011
8:16 am
The players aren’t hungry, they don’t care. It is obvious by their play on the field. Having said that, why sholuld I care if they fall out of the wild card? If these guys making millions don’t care, there’s nothing more to motivate them except pride, and they even lack that.
Tall Cool one
September 20th, 2011
8:19 am
For all you morons who point to SF last year. Idiots, this is NOTHING like them. They went 18-8 in September last year. What are the braves doing? They have a LOSING record this month. They are 6-12 this month! How dumb can you be to not get that? This team is DONE. They are worse than last years at this time.