Update: The Braves lose another game but hold their ground
Chipper Jones got the Braves started with a homer. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
A lead once bulbous had been reduced to a pimple in the time it takes to say the words, “A lead once bulbous.” But, being a professional athlete, Chipper Jones broke out the usual brave bromide Monday afternoon. “We still control our own destiny,” he said, blithely ignoring the cold truth that these Braves have controlled nothing this past month.
They’d led the wild-card chase by 8 1/2 games on Sept. 1, the day they posted their 81st victory. It’s nearly October, and there’s no guarantee these Braves will ever win a 90th game. They’ve lost six of the past eight series, and one of the two exceptions wasn’t really a series but a rescheduled doubleheader in New York.
They’ve watched the Cardinals draw ever closer, and now the regular season had been reduced to three games. Win two and the Braves would assure themselves of no worse than a tie for the wild card and a Thursday play-in game; win three and the Braves would qualify for the playoffs, no strings attached. But their collapse has forced us to reassess possibilities, and a more realistic question seemed: Can they even win one?
Monday’s game offered hope — for three innings. Jones hoisted a first-inning homer that took us back to 1999, to a time when this player was capable of turning a playoff race by himself. But then, as happens in life as well as baseball, reality descended. The Phillies scored four runs and washed away a 2-0 deficit, and by game’s end Chipper was limping after appearing to hurt himself legging out a double, and in his final at-bat he hit into a double play.
On paper, this seemed the biggest mismatch of the series: Cliff Lee, who’ll probably finish second in the Cy Young voting, against Randall Delgado, who had started six big-league games. Which only goes to show that, in baseball as in Hollywood, nobody knows anything. Four of the first eight Braves to face Lee managed extra-base hits, and Delgado made it through three innings having yielded only an against-the-shift single to Ryan Howard, who surely didn’t intend to put the ball where he did.
Then the Braves stopped hitting, which they can do against pretty much any pitcher any time, and the Phillies started. Placido Polanco’s two-out single off Delgado — are two-out RBI’s even allowed? — and halved the Braves’ lead in the fourth, and Jimmy Rollins’ homer tied it in the fifth. Delgado was gone after that inning, replaced by Cristhian Martinez, who lasted two batters.
Shane Victorino’s triple into the corner forced Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez to summon Eric O’Flaherty for a lefty-against-lefty parlay at a moment when a strikeout was warranted. But Raul Ibanez, who’d failed with the bases loaded and one out two innings earlier, drove O’Flaherty’s first pitch, a slider, through the infield.
About here, the only consolation came via the scoreboard above left field. The Cardinals, who’d led 1-0, had fallen behind the Astros. The only comic amusement stemmed from the Braves’ announcement of the game’s attendance. (Autumn attendance is a sore subject with this franchise, as you know.) Monday’s gathering was assessed as 42,597, which seemed the biggest baseball inflation since Mark McGwire’s biceps.
There were moments when this crowd of uncertain number sounded loud and proud, but as the night unfolded the pride gave way to resignation. These Braves are perilously close to a failure of epic dimensions. At least some infamous September flops — the ‘69 Cubs, the ‘78 Red Sox, the ‘64 Phillies — had to win either their division or league; these Braves have only to finish first among runners-up. And with two games left, nothing is assured.
“We’ve had more than enough opportunities,” Jones had said, “to walk off the field with wins that would have put this away long ago.” But instead the Braves have been forced to race against time, and time keeps running both ways. The regular season’s end hasn’t arrived soon enough, and this time can’t retrace its steps to June or August and remember how easy winning seemed then.
And at the end Monday, the proud man who’d opened the scoring with a massive drive off the estimable Lee was reduced to looking every bit of his 39 years. The Braves are dancing on the lip of the volcano, and Chipper no longer seems capable of riding to the rescue.
Then again, the Braves mightn’t need rescuing. The Cardinals rallied to tie the Astros but flubbed a go-ahead chance in the 10th and lost in the bottom of the inning on a bloop double and two bunts. As catchable as these Braves appear, the chasing Cards still haven’t caught them. After another long day at the races, the shaky lead held. Still one game up, and now only two to play.
By Mark Bradley
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351 comments Add your comment
George Washington
September 27th, 2011
1:38 pm
How does one “lose another one” yet still “hold their ground?” The Braves held nothing. They have the one game lead because the Cards faultered. Come on MB! Wake up!
man and dog
September 27th, 2011
1:41 pm
Julie – I wish I could share your enthusiasm. Now, follow the piped piper and the other rats off the side of the ship.
George Washington
September 27th, 2011
1:42 pm
Where’s Morganna when you need her? Someone needs to jolt these Braves jocks back into action. She may be the breast chance we’ve got!
Tommy
September 27th, 2011
1:43 pm
If all of you fair weather fans want to know why Atlanta is called “loserville”:
go look in a mirror
George Washington
September 27th, 2011
1:47 pm
I’m looking in a mirror.
I’m good enough. I’m smart enough. And gost darnit, people like me!
(Okay, going to check the standings again). Dang.
George Washington
September 27th, 2011
1:48 pm
Maybe because I typed “gost” instead of “gosh?”
Skip Would Say
September 27th, 2011
1:48 pm
“As long as patronize our fine sponsers, it’s ok to walk your dog now.”
Skip Would Say
September 27th, 2011
1:49 pm
As long as you patronize our fine sponsors, it’s ok to walk your dog now.”
Pete
September 27th, 2011
1:50 pm
Do the Braves honestly believe they can win a game with Lowe on the mound Tuesday ?
Are they serious ??
This is an insult to every fan who has ever supported this franchise, from day one.
It just doesn’t get any more pathetic than this.
GoBraves!
September 27th, 2011
1:53 pm
Anyone who says the Braves don’t deserve to go to playoffs because they’ve been playing worse lately should just shut up. It’s simple. If they win more games than St. Louis, they deserve to go period. It’s 162 game season. What were Cardinals doing when Braves were playing a lot better in July and August? Were they choking then? Every team plays 162 games. Whoever gets the better record advances.
BaseballBuff
September 27th, 2011
1:54 pm
A high BA with RISP in the 7th or later is what it’s all about. A few hitters live for those moments. They quickly identify and embrace those game-changing opportunities.
BaseballBuff
September 27th, 2011
1:58 pm
Constanza should be playing instead of Heyward. I am beginning to suspect what is going on with that, but I hope I’m wrong.
kent
September 27th, 2011
1:58 pm
The GM did his job. The fat f-ck of a manager didn’t.
GoBraves!
September 27th, 2011
2:00 pm
The worst case scenario tonight is Lowe implodes and they lose while Cards win one. At least Braves will have Hudson, their best starting pitcher at the moment going tomorrow. Phillies will throw several pitchers including a couple of innings by Hamel to tune up. If both team win tomorrow, Beachy will be pitching in a play in game. I’m okay with that.
George Washington
September 27th, 2011
2:00 pm
Open letter to Shane Victorino:
Dear Shane,
Quit it.
Sincerely,
-George
Joe Simpson Would Say
September 27th, 2011
2:01 pm
“Even though he missed that ground ball and allowed 2 runs to score,Chipper looked good doing it.”
Braves Fan in Beantown
September 27th, 2011
2:15 pm
The Atlanta Braves’ fans have become a Disney World version of themselves. Maybe I have been out of the south for too long, but back in the 90s the Braves were “America’s Team.” Fulton County was jammed packed. People believed in Bobby Cox. Even with the Red Sox collapsing, Bostonians are still rallying around their team. I’m ashamed of you all. Ashamed. By the way, the Red Sox are collapsing WITH ALL OF THEIR PITCHING. We’re starting rookies. Have a little pride for crist sake.
M10
September 27th, 2011
2:21 pm
I wished we would fire Freddie and bring in Ozzie someone who would tell it like it is and stop sugur coating like this team always does, thats why they suck and have no since of urgency at all.
julie07
September 27th, 2011
2:36 pm
I agree Braves fan in Beantown, these people are an embarrassment for our city. It would be nice if the Braves had real fans!
man and dog
September 27th, 2011
2:37 pm
Hey Beanhead – It isn’t the fact the Braves are losing. It’s the way they are losing. No passion, no excitement, all moping around with slack-jaw looks. Stay in Boston. They deserve you.
BaseballBuff
September 27th, 2011
2:46 pm
Screw all of you high-falutin’ “true fans.” This is a product. We pay for it and expect something for our money. If we didn’t care, we wouldn’t complain. I have never seen bitching and whining anywhere like I’ve seen in D.C. and NY. You are either naive idiots or hypocrites.
oldtractorguy
September 27th, 2011
2:46 pm
Derek Lowe – the biggest loser on the team. Just bite the bullet for the obscene, overpriced salary you are paying for him and GET RID OF HIM. Now we have to watch his miserable performance again tonight. Doesn’t give us much hope for a “W” tonight.
cristianlobo
September 27th, 2011
2:49 pm
I’d go to church if I thought It might help.
George Washington
September 27th, 2011
3:34 pm
Cristianlobo: LOL.
George Washington
September 27th, 2011
3:57 pm
Potential headlines for tomorrow: NEGATIVE: “A New Lowe for Derek, Braves”…………..”Braves Lose, Dag Gummit” (Chipper strains quad, oblique, hamstrings, calves, neck and head) POSITIVE: “Braves get Lowe Down and Dirty in Victory” “A Star is Bourne – Michael Delivers Walk Off Hit” “Winning Uggla – Dan’s the Man with Walk Off Home Run” NEUTRAL: “One-Legged Boy, Very Hungry, Eats Own Foot (ask for another)
I’m hoping for the POSITIVE!
It's Ok
September 27th, 2011
4:06 pm
Just win tonite.
Ozzie Guillen
September 27th, 2011
4:12 pm
Braves clinch tonight. I sent Freddie Gonzalez my blow up dolls to put in the locker room. This should end the slump.
@GoBraves!
September 27th, 2011
4:39 pm
You are an example of why Atlanta is a hapless professional sports town…
It is ALL about what a team or athlete does at the end of the season / playoffs…
The Braves are chokers {even if they back end} IMO, and it seems they ALWAYS limp into the post-season or forget to show up ~ at least since the Leyland HR in ‘96…
Period.
Runnin With The Dawgs
September 27th, 2011
5:09 pm
MB….. Thanks for giving us the oppurtunity to vent on your blog. I don’t think all these people who slam you for every word you print realize that you’re one of the biggest fans the Braves have. That said I still think FG is not thinking in the team’s best interest by starting Lowe tonight.
Iremember96
September 27th, 2011
5:41 pm
Mark,
Intellectually, I can’t blame you for the Braves’ incredible swoon, but I feared it as soon as I read your column about a month ago declaring without reservation or qualification that the Braves would win the wild card. It sounded so familiar…like when you declared the Braves would beat the Yankees in 1996. Please, stop predicting and start reporting.
BaseballBuff
September 27th, 2011
5:49 pm
That’s Leyritz, Jim Leyritz, @ @GoBraves! Mark Wohlers was never again the same pitcher after that. Regardless, I agree with you and your points are well taken. Paul O’Neill was an awesome clutch hitter/game changer for the Yankees. Where is our Paul O’Neill, now or then? There is absolutely no substitute for getting it done when it counts the most.
JoeMac
September 27th, 2011
5:54 pm
When Mark wrote that column, I posted that no one should count out the St. Louis Cardinals, brcause I knew the Braves were living on borrowed time, and that the Redbirds were going to catch them. Mark commented back saying that he did not see any way for that to happen. The really sad thing is that The Braves might lose their way into the playoffs, if St. Louis does not beat Houston, and if that happens, it will be so tragic. St. Louis is a better team than the Braves, overall, having won 5 of 6 from the Braves, and 6 of 9 from the Phillies, and also 5 of the last 6 from Milwaukee, but might be sitting at home. Quite honestly, the Atlanta Braves DO NOT deserve to play on. Any team that folds up in September like a cheap suit, should not have an opportunity to advance. If they do get in, who will come watch them play?? Everyone knows they are not able to beat Philly or Milwaukee, and probably not the D’backs. If they somehow squeak by and get in, I for one will not watch another inning of baseball this season, because it will be a fraud.
R2D2
September 27th, 2011
6:16 pm
Teheran should pitch tonight not Lowe. You know this man!
Runnin With The Dawgs
September 27th, 2011
6:23 pm
JoeMac — If the Cards are as good as you say then they shouldn’t have any problems with Houston.
usnavyvolfaninva
September 27th, 2011
7:56 pm
So far, nothing new from Lowe. Definitely time to cut ties with him at the end of the season. Bravos got lucky last night, but I think they’re luck is about to run out.
M Byrd
September 27th, 2011
8:35 pm
When you finish the last month of the season that way you DON’T deserve to back into the playoffs. Put them out of their misery already.
MR
September 27th, 2011
8:40 pm
Just lose Braves. Just lose. Make it end already. Forfeit the final game. Please. You stink from the end of the bench to the top of Liberty Media.
UGAKev
September 27th, 2011
9:51 pm
FIRE FREDDIE NOW!WHAT A CHOKE JOB!I WOULD RATHER HAVE OZZIE GULLEN KICK THERE BUTTS!YOU CHOKED CHIPPER !NO EXCUSES!
Bro. Jay
September 27th, 2011
10:02 pm
Thank God for the Atl. Dream……….WNBA Finals !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Runnin With The Dawgs
September 27th, 2011
10:06 pm
Astros are leading the Cards 6–5 in the top of the 7th.
Runnin With The Dawgs
September 27th, 2011
10:07 pm
No Runs! No Runs! No Runs!
Bro. Jay
September 27th, 2011
10:23 pm
Our only chance @ a ring are the DREAM!!!!!! BRAVES/FALCONS/HAWKS = DISAPOINTMENT
Michael M.
September 27th, 2011
10:35 pm
Every Fan would “Choke” if the Braves somehow slip into that Wildcard Spot ,and then get ” Hot” , and run the tables against the other Playoff Teams and go to the World Series and Win it too !…………lol
ugafan13
September 27th, 2011
10:53 pm
Michael M. Yea, it could happen…when pigs fly.
ugafan13
September 27th, 2011
10:54 pm
This is without a foubt one of the greatest choke acts I have ever witnessed.
alex
September 27th, 2011
10:57 pm
Tear this team down and start over. You have to wonder about a GM that goes out and brings the same, lame hitting Matt Diaz back to the team. Was watching this team “not hit” last year not enough for Einstein Dean?
Tipper Jones
September 28th, 2011
12:27 am
Mark, remember this:
http://blogs.ajc.com/mark-bradley-blog/2011/04/10/you-say-the-braves-stink-i-say-hold-those-horses-folks/
??
MitchC
September 28th, 2011
12:52 am
Mark, you know I have always told you that you are too negative and too harsh on the Braves, but, if they dont make the NLDS, PLEASE write the most critical article you can think of about them. I’ve been a Braves fan through thick and thin, and I dont think I’ve ever been angrier with them, or more ashamed, then I am now. I want to have faith, but, my gut tells me we are going home by Thursday at latest. I think the best case would be that the Braves and Cards will both lose tomorrow, and then the Braves will lose the one game playoff on Thursday.
I cant be positive with how this team has played, and with as big a lead as they have blown. They should have won the Wild Card in a walk.
Buzz 2011
September 28th, 2011
5:12 am
Straight choke!!
NoBravesForOldMen
September 28th, 2011
7:02 am
Much better to have the Bravo’s lose and St. Louis in the play offs. Everyone knows any team in NL will clean Atlanta’s clock in the play offs. Why watch losers who shouldn’t be there?