A year after an epic collapse, the Braves offer an epic clinch
A night of deliverance, as delivered by that man Freddie. (AP photo by David Goldman)
They were characterized as choking dogs a year ago and, truth being the ultimate defense, they had no cause to sue for libel. They’d gone 9-18 in September and wasted an 8 1/2-game lead, finally losing the wild card in the 13th inning of the 162nd game. In the bitter days that followed, some among us wondered if this team could ever recover from a collapse so egregious.
Three hundred sixty-three days later, we got our answer. Yes, it could. Yes, it has.
The man who made the final out — the final two outs, having hit into a 3-6-3 double play — of September 2011 hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth to put the 2012 Atlanta Braves in the playoffs. “Probably the coolest thing ever,” Freddie Freeman said of his climactic blast to dead center field, and nobody felt moved to dispute the point.
Champagne flew afterward in the Braves’ clubhouse, and if you’re saying, “Champagne for a wild card?” … well, you’re a raging killjoy and you’re hereby dismissed from class. Because we just saw, in this redemptive season and on this clinching night, a team that refused to yield to the doubts and fears spawned by September 2011.
“Last year we were a great team that had a bad month,” said Brian McCann, a beer in his hand and a Postseason 2012 cap on his noggin. “But we kept the core together and we kept believing.”
Said the great Chipper Jones, rarely greater (one huge hit, two runs scored, one driven in) than on the first night of his final homestand: “This is huge. There’s a lot of vindication, a lot of relief.”
Well, yes. As Tom Verducci of SI.com has noted, teams that fall apart so completely at the end of one season tend not to fare well the next year. Of the nine previous authors of collapses Verducci defined as epic , not one made the next year’s playoffs. (And the 2011 Red Sox, the Braves’ partner in fizzle, won’t do it, either.) This one just did, and it did it in grand style.
The setting seemed ripe for clinching. Kris Medlen was starting, and the Braves hadn’t lost a Medlen start since May 23, 2010. The opponent was Miami, which gave up on the season a while back and is now sitting around deciding whom to fire. Give the Marlins credit, though. On this night they looked like a real team.
Nathan Eovaldi, who entered with a 4-12 record and a 4.36 ERA, essentially matched the lately untouchable Medlen, and the rookie second baseman Donovan Solano hit his first career home run to hand the Fish an early lead. Then he hit his second career home run to give them a late lead. And then it was the bottom of the ninth and the Braves entered having had one hit since the third, and then …well, let’s let Frank Wren tell it:
“Chipper came up and got the double, and then Freddie was trying to do his job and get him in [from third, where Jones had advanced on a Mike Dunn wild pitch], and he hit it out.”
On this night of celebration, let’s spare a thought for Wren, the general manager who refused to destroy what he regarded as a good team after its epic collapse. (Contrast this with the Red Sox’s kneejerk behavior, which has resulted in a full season of wretchedness.) As the champagne splashed around him, Wren was asked if he felt vindicated.
“This team is very resilient, very driven,” Wren said. “We saw the culmination of that tonight … This speaks to the quality and character of the guys on this team.”
Translated, that was a proud GM’s way of saying yes. And Wren also said something else: “They’re not done.”
We know these Braves will play beyond the 162nd game. Perhaps it will be for only a day — that infernal play-in looms — but even if it is, just getting beyond the regular season is a major accomplishment for a team that failed in such a major way the last time around.
“These guys have played their hearts out all year long,” Wren said, and in their clinching moment there was on display all the heart and skill anyone could want. After losses, manager Fredi Gonzalez is fond of saying you have to tip your hat to the winning side. Here’s where we, meaning all of us, should tip our hats to Gonzalez and Wren and the team they held together. Here’s we give three cheers for these rather remarkable Braves.
By Mark Bradley
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133 comments Add your comment
Delbert D.
September 26th, 2012
12:02 am
This 1 game play-in thing to be the wildcard team. 1 game do or die is a tough one, but I really have never liked wildcard teams on equal footing with division winners. I guess I would prefer 2 of 3. Anyway, the Cards will have clinched the other spot, so I imagine it will be Lohse-Medlen. The Cards have all of those big hitters, but it looks like a lot has to do with their park.
rlinaug
September 26th, 2012
12:21 am
I’m so happy of the Braves, proud to have followed Chipper’s career since day one, and hope to have as much fun watching Heyward, Freeman, Simmons, Medlen, Kimbrel, Prado as I have had watching number 10.
Now, if the Braves fail to catch the Nationals, they will likely play the Cardinals in that play in game, and the play in game is so unfair. Medlen will pitch for the Braves while Wainwright or Carpenter is likely for the Cards…. Regardless of the outcome, the winner will head into a five game series versus the Nats with its best pitcher unavailable until game 4. The series could be decided by then. It’s a joke.
Vic Mackey
September 26th, 2012
12:47 am
Frank Wren does not deserve “credit” for the Braves turnaround this season. The Braves got extremely LUCKY with Medlen’s emergence. If Braves management had their way, Medlen would still be fulfilling the mysterously important “long relief bullpen” role (at the end of Spring Training, Braves management said that Medlen was needed in the long relief role).
Yet even after Randal Delgado stunk up the place (the Braves were 5-12 in his starts), even after Julio Teheran stunk up the place in his only start (the Braves lost that one), even after Jair Jurrjens got ripped after returning from the Minors (his only good start was his first one against the Red Sox)…..it wasnt until Tommy Hanson had to go on the DL……until Medlen finally got his shot.
People said that Medlen came from nowhere. Please! The Braves had won Medlen’s previous 11 starts BEFORE he hurt his arm. He pitched a few innings at the end of 2011……had all winter to build up arm strength.
If Medlen had be in the rotation at the beginning of the season….we’d be in first place right now…and the Nationals would be battling the Cardinals in the one game playoff.
Bad luck (really good luck for us..because it forced the Braves to finally start Medlen) with injuries…forced the Braves hand and gave Medlen a chance to dominate.
Instead of going 11-0 in Medlen’s 11 starts since July 31st (the Braves have gone 21-21 in the non-Medlen started games since July 31st)…..I feel that it is reasonable to believe that we could have very well gone 3-8 or 4-7 (the Braves record in Delgado’s starts was 5-12)…meaning that we’d be tied battling it out with Milwaukee, Philly and the Dodgers for that last playoff spot.
The reality is that Braves management got lucky…DESPITE ITSELF.
Rowsdower
September 26th, 2012
4:00 am
You really don’t think the Braves made the right move by holding Medlen back knowing that he would be on an innings count? The only way management got lucky was that Medlen was better than any of us could possibly imagine. He’s an absolute beast and you should be happy that he’s still available for the postseason while Strausburg is shut down..
Stinger 2
September 26th, 2012
4:51 am
Braves fans who have been positive all year despite some losses thay really hurt
should stand up and be given the kudos they deserve. Those fans (?) who continiously ranted and complained should lead the cheers. All the Fredi, Chipper,Uggla bashers should apologize and be thankful they have a team that has come back from a very disappointing season to have a good one. Those fans (?)
who try to be funny and make jokes about the players, Fredi and Wren should feel especially contrite and offer extra kudos.
dean
September 26th, 2012
5:35 am
Congratulations Braves! Good luck the rest of the way.
JS
September 26th, 2012
6:06 am
Great column, Mr. Bradley, and great year. Go Braves!
LOL
September 26th, 2012
6:14 am
Too big of a celebration too soon. They;ll be done in the first round.
Berry Berry Good
September 26th, 2012
6:25 am
Dont forget about the Replacement Umpires – they called a good game tonight. Oh, wait…..
Wrecker
September 26th, 2012
6:48 am
I know LOL, right? Teams that play loose and confidently always are done in the first round.
longtimefan
September 26th, 2012
7:03 am
The Reality and the Truth are that the Braves are tied for the third best record in baseball beginning the season with the 16th highest payroll. I’d say that puts FG in the running for Manager of the Year despite what some stubborn hating bloggers continue to post. To state that the Braves “should have won” x # of games more than they did is ludicrous. You can point to ANY manager or coach in any sport over the course of a season and say in hindsight that “if they had done such and such we would have won that game”. You bloggers coaching from your armchairs with a retrospectroscope should try making the right call on the fly, in the heat of battle and get it right every single time. NOT. And for the dude above ranting about FW and not having Medlen in the starting rotation from day one-haw many times does this have to be explained? Do a little homework before you spout off. Medlen was coming off TJ surgery. He has barely pitched more than 100 innings in any professional season(minors or majors). If he had been in the starting rotation all year his innings total would likely now exceed 200. No competent GM, manager or physician is going to allow this(see Strasberg). So actually Frank Wren should get accolades for his handling of Medlen as he is now able to pitch the entire post season. FW should also get kudos for assembling this team-thru the draft and free agency. It also is interesting to see many of the negative “fans” missing from the blog over the past few weeks as the Braves are playing great ball. MY take?-not really Braves fans; just like to moan and groan about something or see their name. What ever happened to all the “Fire FW and FG” experts? Hard to fire management in the running for post season awards.
Wrecker
September 26th, 2012
7:18 am
Longtimefan, you are completely right, but the critrics will still pick at every tiny mistake. I am not a blindly loyal fan, but you cannot be considered a fan when you never have anything positive to say. Twenty-nine teams fail to win a championship every year. Measuring your team’s worth in terms of championships alone will leave you bitter and unsatisfied. The Braves’ season has been fantastic, despite some downturns and poor personal performances. Anyone who pretends otherwise is sad.
sabra
September 26th, 2012
7:34 am
Pizz on the wild card …lets get the Division crown.
Good Luck always Braves!!
Laughing out Loud
September 26th, 2012
7:42 am
“How can some people be so naive?” The same way some people can be such “Dum-Basses.” Fredi didn’t play one game, he managed and did it outstandingly. He should be Manager of the Year, Dum-Bass.
Laughing out Loud
September 26th, 2012
7:48 am
Haters go suck your lemon! Braves are just fine! It’s baseball. They are fun to watch and both management and players have given there all and have been paid well for it! They are enjoying the fruit of their labors and rightly so for however long it lasts. Go Braves allllllllllllllllll the way to the top! Let the darkhorse win the division and the series. Miracles do happen! Go Braves!
Louie
September 26th, 2012
8:07 am
If they win the Wild Card game and face the Nationals it should be an even match-up since neither team will have their best pitcher available.
BTW, who is that Vic Mackey troll? Dude, Medlen has an innings cap just like Strasburg did. The Braves just held his innings down early so he could finish the year. The team made that clear on the caravan tour last winter. Get out much?
HUH?????
September 26th, 2012
8:18 am
I watched ESPN this morning and the first story was about the Braves. ESPN dorks couldn’t stop talking about last year as if that had anything to do with this year. What separates this year from last is players being healthy, hitting and playing like a team. This Braves team can win it all simply because they are just as hot as any of the other teams out there. It’s great to see the Phillies fall apart and I really do hope the Nats get swept.
HUH?????
September 26th, 2012
8:19 am
“They;ll be done in the first round.”
Doubt that. This team can take on ANY team in the NL.
Larry
September 26th, 2012
8:23 am
I’m man enough to get on here as I have certainly been one of the more vocal participants at hammering Fredi Gonzalez.
I stand by my assertions that he is a nice guy, would probably be a good friend and neighbor, but an absolute dolt when it comes to in-game, strategic management and line-up that has cost this talented team several games this season and likely a division title. While true a baseball manager doesn’t play the game and has far less impact than, say, an NFL or College Head Coach (see the New Orleans Saints or Arkansas Razorbacks this season), they do impact a few games during the course of a season but their greatest value comes in short series, do or die, postseason management…and Bobby Cox, Fredi’s mentor, was the worst ever at this. We’ll learn soon about Fredi Gonzalez.
Regardless, I’ll put aside my personal feelings and opinions now and congratulate my team I have followed since AM Transistor Radios. I am excited an anyone for them and let’s all hope that Chipper and Prado will keep on doing what they’re doing and that Freddie, Brian, Jayson, Michael and Dan can most or all get hot during the balance of September and throughout October.
And as I have recommended on other occasions to those who are talented and hardworking but feel their manager, supervisor or owner may be difficult to deal with, overly micro-managing, or holding them back…sometimes in life you have to manage your manager!
Go Braves!
Maxwell the chihuahua hunter
September 26th, 2012
8:25 am
yall know the end of this story…Braves knocked out early, Falcons play poorly in first playoff game and gone, UGA loses a couple they shouldn’t, then lose the bowl game against an inferior opponent…the circle of life in Georgia sports.
Larry
September 26th, 2012
8:26 am
*line-up logic
Maxwell the chihuahua hunter
September 26th, 2012
8:27 am
Vic Mackey is/was one of the greatest characters in TV history…Bring back the Shield!
JROLL1
September 26th, 2012
8:29 am
CONGRATS BOYZ! GREAT, GREAT WIN!
A year after an epic collapse, the Braves offer an epic clinch | Y'all Sports
September 26th, 2012
8:30 am
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goski99
September 26th, 2012
8:31 am
I grew up in StL, I am a HUGE Cards fan. I’m pulling for the Braves to make a deep run (even at the expense of my boys). We had our run last year and I hope the Braves have theirs this year. GOOD LUCK, BRAVES!
goski99
September 26th, 2012
8:35 am
Actually, Lohse is set up to pitch the play in game for StL. He has, hands down, been their best starter this year.
Larry
September 26th, 2012
8:35 am
Maxwell the chihuahua hunter,
That a negative, pessimistic, loser mentatilty…I’m grateful I don’t live with, by, or emply you!
Even though I doubt Fredi Gonzalez I hope the Braves win the world series and he is a vital reason they do.
Even though the Falcons have lost three playoff games I understand the were beaton by three hot teams come postseason, all three of whom went to the Super Bowl, two winning it and the other should have.
Even though UGA has underperformed a few times just two years ago they started the season 0-4 and with a new year anything is possible. Who prior to the season predicted the Buldogs would go undefeated in 1980, the Braves would reach the world series in 1991, the Auburn Tigers would g undefeated in 2010? No one!
Grow up, quit your whining, bitch.ing and moaning or take your negativity elsewhere!
Banned Poster
September 26th, 2012
8:37 am
Great win last night and woo hoo on the clinch. I really think this team can win in the post season with it’s use of speed at the top and lights out pitching in the back of the bullpen. I feel much better than this time last year. I still want the NL East, but even with winning the play in game, the Braves will still likely face Washington in the NLDS with the first two games in Atlanta. After that sweep two weekends ago, I like the Braves chances.
As for Fredi G. I have been very critical of him all season and last season. However, he does deserve some credit. He changed up a bit this season with how he managed the bullpen. It didn’t hurt that Medlen was a reliever and Chad Durbin became that middle reliever that the Braves have been missing for several seasons now, but all in all, Fredi changed his approach to the bullpen and it’s paid off. Another aspect is you don’t see him sticking with the same failed lineups over and over like he did last September. He has played Johnson, Constanza, and at times, used Prado at 2nd and SS, just to keep him in the lineup and take out someone who was hurting the team (Uggla). Leveling off on the stubborness has allowed the team to play better this September and score a few more runs while having a better pitching staff up and down. All in all, while this team did lose a few winnable games this year because of his on the spot decision making, Fredi does deserve a good deal of credit for keeping them loose and focused. Oh, and for you Red Sox fans out there….your year might have been the same had you not become irrational and fired a good manager and let the inmates run the asylum. Plus it doesn’t hurt having a veteran leader like Chipper Jones in the clubhouse. That is the biggest difference between the two choking clubs from last September.
Tami
September 26th, 2012
8:37 am
Still teary-eyed and grinning ear-to-ear 11-1/2 hours later. Congrats to our Braves on getting that playoff slot. Now….the NL East division title is still within realistic sights and achievable. Regain the focus needed for tonight’s game….and, GO, BRAVOS!!!!
Maxwell the chihuahua hunter
September 26th, 2012
8:48 am
Hey Larry…shut your piehole boy…you are pizzed because what I said was historically correct…get over your pixie dust overdose and face facts…
ramblingbuzz
September 26th, 2012
8:56 am
Gotta admit, I was critical of the team and Wren after the first 2 weeks of the season. But I was totally wrong; they hung in there all year, refusing to go away. Hope they bring that same never-say-die attitude to the WC game. Congrats Braves!!!!
MitchC
September 26th, 2012
9:12 am
Congrats to the Braves. It’s nice to see them play beyond number 162. In my mind, though, we will really be in the playoffs if we win Game 163. As I’ve stated before, I detest this play in game. My belief is that the two wild cards should play a three game series, at the home field of the wild card with the best record, and then that series should determine the wild card team that goes further.
Hopefully the Braves will win the dreaded play in game, and then it can start to feel like a normal postseason.
Don
September 26th, 2012
9:15 am
Why do players who the Braves trade for/sign keep going in the tank as hitters after they join the Braves?????? Uggla and Bourn being the current examples.
dc74
September 26th, 2012
9:20 am
An EPIC clinch…of a wild card…funny
Don
September 26th, 2012
9:22 am
Any chance that the Braves have in Post Season is probably dependent on the pitching being so dominant as to overcome Fredi’s managing and the poor hitting – With very weak hitting now from second base, catcher, and center field – and who knows about shortstop – not to mention the pitchers spot. That makes up to 5 weak spots in the order – not to even count another position if Chipper is out – making 6. It is difficult to gnerate consistant offense under those conditions.
Go Jackets
September 26th, 2012
9:27 am
Love it when EVERY team in Ga including the Dawggies is rockin except my beloved Jackets…….and listening to CPJ speak is like goin to an allnite dentist. No wonder the dude cant recruit. Anyhooo Go Braves…..time for Bourn and uggla to get out of their slumps.
Mr. Dawgs
September 26th, 2012
9:28 am
This is a fantastic win and there is reason to celebrate it. But I for one think the post season celebration was a bit premature. The play in game is more or less the equivalent of a tie breaker to get into the legitimate post season. I don’t recall in the past teams celebrating after they qualified for a tie breaker game. In any event, I’m a big fan of this team and hope they can win it all especially for Chipper’s sake. So I don’t mean to be a party pooper. But the celebration took me a little bit by surprise.
B
September 26th, 2012
9:33 am
Vic: If Medlen had been in the starting rotation since the start of the year, he would be at home now like Strasburg. Medlen was on the same innings limit as Strasburg, the Braves wanted the innings out of him at the end of the year, not the start.
Taxi Smith
September 26th, 2012
9:47 am
A great night for Freddie Freeman, Chipper and the whole Braves team. Well done guys.
Nacho Cheese Sauce
September 26th, 2012
9:56 am
I have to admit that I am happy the Braves got it done! I hope we go to the World Series but I think the majority of the fans are worried. Here are some points I am curious about with what happens next.
1. Do we hang a flag on the outfield wall again?
2. What happens if we lose the play in game, was the season a waste of time?
3. I think alot of fans are still concered I have noticed the last few blogs only a few pages have comments, and only 25K at the ballpark last night : (
4. Does Fredi lose his job if we lose the play in game?
These are just some of my wonders…All in all go braves!
Sonny Clusters
September 26th, 2012
10:01 am
Congratulations to the Atlanta Braves on clinching an opportunity to compete for the wild card. That’s what happened last night, right? It was exciting and the last inning was clutch. We hope that this champagne pouring dirt rubbing celebration is only the beginning this year. Sometimes, celebrating too quickly can come back and bite you but we hope that will not be the case with these Braves. Our buddy, Phlegm Lattimore is already at work on a new little sign for the outfield and we are hoping it will be for a NL pennant or even better. We was humbled to see that Frank Wren mentioned us in his post game comments and thanked us for pushing the team to greater achievement this season. Well, that remains to be seen because we are not your basic golly, gee, pajama wearing, real, true, blinded, Braves fan with tiny little tattoos on tiny little biceps. We still want to see our home team win a series top to bottom and let somebody else give them a pennant instead of painting one of their own. Go Braves – on to the next level and the next. Next time the Yankees come to Turner Field let them admire a real championship banner and not make fun of the little signs already up there.
Mike S.
September 26th, 2012
10:04 am
This might not just be champagne for a wild card. The Braves are only 4 back, and play a much easier schedule with 10 games left. Washington has Philly in two series and St Louis. The Braves have Marlins, Mets, Pirates. Its somewhat of a long shot, but not unheard of. Not with how good Philly has played of late, and St Louis being in position for the second wild card.
Sonny Clusters
September 26th, 2012
10:05 am
We was filtered or sanitized or whatever. We was trying to say good job Braves. Now, they do realize they haven’t won anything yet, right? They clinched an opportunity to play for the wild card, right? Let’s just be sure getting to the playoffs isn’t the goal . . . but they still have to do that. We are hoping to see a real NL pennant this year. It has been a long time no matter what those little outfield signs say.
afan
September 26th, 2012
10:06 am
Thank God Wren hired Greg Walker as hitting coach and his asst. Both need alot of credit which they never get. Best deal Wren made.
Now win the stupid one game play-off!
Nacho Cheese Sauce
September 26th, 2012
10:07 am
Personally I do not consider “play in game” the real playoffs, still happy for the braves but until that series goes best of 3 its not the real thing.
JB
September 26th, 2012
10:31 am
they will be 1 and done in the playoffs. it is the braves, the buffalo bills of baseball.
GO BRAVOS...TOMAHAWKING AGAIN...
September 26th, 2012
10:39 am
WAY TO GO BRAVOS….KEEP UP THE GREAT PLAY AND LET’S SEE Y’ALL WIN IT ALL!
morning whiskey
September 26th, 2012
10:47 am
Did Clusters do the Russ temp mascot character? similar humor…play in sux, but back in the day it was first or nothin.Pure baseball. But we do have wildcards now ….teams that for the first hundred or so years of the game would have stayed home anyway. TV money I guess. GO BRAVES…
Smokey
September 26th, 2012
10:51 am
longtimefan ====> cool story bro. Word! Go Braves!
Abernish
September 26th, 2012
10:58 am
I hope they don’t press on the brakes because the Nats are running out of gas. They may not be able to catch them, but it would be nice to make the Nats EARN the Division. Their magic number is 5. Let’s make them win 5 of the last 8 to win it. They have to face the Phillies 5 times and the Cards for 3 when the Cards will still be trying to clinch a wild card. This is far from over. Now that we’ve secured a wild card, the Braves can play relaxed and go put some pressure on the Nats. Should be fun to watch.