Home > Mark Bradley > Archives > 2008 > May > 26 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USBraves on road to greatness
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Memorial Day arrived with the Braves in second place. They’ll be in first by the Fourth of July, and come Labor Day they’ll be pulling away.
Only a team of playoff caliber could have handled all the Braves have been forced to handle, and eventually some of these pitchers will get healthy. (Though let’s resolve here and now never to count on Mike Hampton for anything. Our motto: We won’t get fooled again.)
Baseball’s regular season is the great revealer. Any team can get hot for a week or a month, but over 162 games luck flattens out, leaving depth and endurance to prevail. The Braves have already demonstrated the former: With half the staff on the disabled list, they entered play Monday second in the league in ERA; with Mark Teixeira and Jeff Francoeur hitting below .270, the Braves still stood second in batting average.
“We thought we had as good a team as anybody in spring training,” Bobby Cox said. “And we still do.”
We can forget the curious home/road discrepancy. That will flatten out, too. What will ultimately propel this team to the top of the NL East is its professionalism and attention to detail. The Braves have been good for a long time now, but they haven’t always been this meticulous. No matter what mix-and-match lineup Cox has deployed this season, the effect has usually been precision itself.
Consider Monday’s game. Facing Brandon Webb, the league’s best pitcher, they put the ball in play early and often. Good things kept happening. “We didn’t hit him hard,” said Cox, in a rare admission, but they had five runs before they made their sixth out.
The key blows, such as they were: An infield hit by Yunel Escobar; a Chipper Jones single so meek Escobar couldn’t advance; Teixeira’s polite double down the line; a solid single by Gregor Blanco, and a broken-bat flare by Teixeira. Not for nothing did the Braves report for work having struck out fewer times than any other National League team. (See what happens without the whiffmaster Andruw Jones?)
Teixeira finished with four RBIs, yet another sunny sign. “I expect more out of myself,” he said, and it would be a shock if July dawns and this craftsman is still hitting .267. Even so, no Brave — not Teixeira, not Francoeur, not Matt Diaz — has been a complete washout. “Chipper [Jones] and Mac [Brian McCann] have been carrying us, along with Yunel and [Mark] Kotsay,” Teixeira said. “But we’ve all been contributing.”
This isn’t a lineup that rises and falls with one man, and if two months have taught us anything it’s that the same can be said of the pitching staff. Teixeira again: “If you’d have told us all the names we’d be missing in the rotation and the bullpen and that we’d be two games out of first place, I think we’d have taken it.”
Said Cox: “We’ve played exceptionally great. The defense has been great. The bullpen has been great.”
Even if Hampton never starts another big-league game and John Smoltz can’t find a place to pitch that will accommodate his aging arm, there’s enough here to take the East. Florida won’t hold up. The Mets announced Monday they’re keeping Willie Randolph, which is a colossal mistake. That leaves Philadelphia, and the Phils aren’t apt to win a second consecutive division title with so few arms.
These two months haven’t followed the script, but by ad-libbing so glibly the Braves have proved that their Plans B and C are as potent as most teams’ grand designs. Imagine how good this team will be when/if it ever gets to rely on Plan A.
Permalink | Comments (73) | Post your comment | Categories: Braves/MLB
Comments
By Bravesfan79
May 26, 2008 8:07 PM | Link to this
We need another frontline starter for the postseason. And You cant tell me Corky is a someone ud wanna send up in a postseason crucial at bat. So we need a backup catcher as well. I still hold my ground that letting Pena go was the wrong thing to do. Both from the stand point of Escobars wishes, to just flat out production.
Im glad im one of the fans here that always believed this team was playoff, and possibly world series worthy.
GO BRAVES!
By JEB
May 26, 2008 8:10 PM | Link to this
Hampton?? When in the heck did we get Hampton?? Did I miss something?? We have Mike Hampton?? O’ my god!! (lol!!!!)
By Ringo
May 26, 2008 8:24 PM | Link to this
Dear Mark,
Why is it whenever a local team shows even the slightest uptick, you come up with one of your “they could go all the way” stories?
Doesn’t being wrong so many times make you think twice about writing such drivel?
By prattvillenolzfan
May 26, 2008 8:31 PM | Link to this
BRAVESFAN79
For the most part I agree with you about pitching. As sentimental as it might be, MADDUX IS NOT THE ANSWER we do need a starter, but someone that can last more than 5 innings for 1 more year. (Greinke from KC maybe?????????).
Not trying to sound like N8, but I’ve got a bad feeling about the health of Glavine and Smoltz. I just think age has caught up with 1 or both of them.
For all of the ramblings about Corky as McCann’s back-up (rightfully so in my opinion), have you noticed that Greg Norton is also batting under .150…….
I hope when Prado gets back, Norton is the one to go…..I’ve got a feeling though that it will be Gotay…
This road trip will, I think, make or break our season. Milwaukee and Cincy. on paper are not as good as we are, (but then again, neither were Pittsburgh and Washingon earlier this year). If we play .500 ball or better, then I think we’ve turned the corner…If not, then who knows….
By Mike Hampton
May 26, 2008 8:48 PM | Link to this
quit picking on me!
By Johnny
May 26, 2008 9:03 PM | Link to this
I do believe we have World Series talent. We just need to put it all together. I will say the fact that we’re in second place after a plethora of injuries is highly encouraging. Like others have mentioned, a new back up catcher would be very nice.
By Nelson
May 26, 2008 9:31 PM | Link to this
Yes the Team is looking very good now and the guys are playing with enthusiasm, let’s pray for Chiper health.
By William F. Miller
May 26, 2008 9:36 PM | Link to this
I think you have got it right. But how did the Braves come up with all these arms and decent hitters? Got to credit Frank Wren somewhere along the way, and Bobby Cox continues to do an incredible job of managing. Bill Miller
By Bailer
May 26, 2008 10:41 PM | Link to this
I am a football person, with 14 yrs under the helment. I dont know much about BASEBALL , I love my BRAVES. Now, what does “keeping a batters hand inside the ball” mean?
By Bailer
May 26, 2008 10:45 PM | Link to this
what does keeping a batters hands inside the ball mean?
By JEB
May 26, 2008 10:48 PM | Link to this
MB I have to say I disagree with you on on the Marlins. This is already the end of May and they are STILL winning! They have also beaten some very good teams (including ours!). Winning is contagious - and they’ve got the bug. In the end - I think you will see them right in the thick of things.
What about them do you see breaking down?? Their starting pitching comes through, the bullpen is good and does it’s work, and they are definetly hitting. They are young and they’ve got durability. Their defence is touchy, but they keep overcoming their deficiencies. I just don’t see them breaking down somewhere. After 2 months you can usually see their achilles heel, theirs has not showed up!
By D'Andre Williams
May 26, 2008 10:49 PM | Link to this
www.braveselite.wordpress.com
The Braves just have to keep battling this road trip and put the pressure on the home team. Hopefully the additions of Soriano and Smoltz will give us a much needed bust on the road.
www.braveselite.ulmb.com
By dogmeat
May 26, 2008 10:51 PM | Link to this
After 50 games Bobby gets another year and the Red Sea opens up and BC and his troops go marching in to the play-offs and finally another World Series. Mark I thought you were smarter than that. Everyone will just roll over for the Great Cox and his players? Get a real life. Fla want hold up! How do you know? Fla has more World Series rings than Braves last 10 years.Put your money were your mouth is.
By dogmeat
May 26, 2008 10:55 PM | Link to this
won’t not want
By KB
May 26, 2008 11:58 PM | Link to this
The biggest key to the Braves early success this season is that Cox is has finally learned how to manage a bullpen. I love how he brings in lefthander specialists Ohman and Ring to get key outs and it is really helping this team. In the past, one of my of my biggest complaints was that Bobbie would leave in a releif pitcher too long, and the Bravos would always find a way to blow the lead wasting a starter’s good effort. Having pitchers come in for a 1/2 or full inning just to get an out is helping this team win games by getting them to their 8th and 9th inning guys, who are lights out (Especially when Smoltzie comes back). The key to the Braves success this year will be the one or two guys at the end of the rotation that make up for the loss of Smoltz and Hampton. Hopefully, Hampton can come back and contribute and Glavine will start throwing strikes again!
By Happy Marlins Fan
May 27, 2008 12:48 AM | Link to this
Not only will the Braves not win the NL East, they will not even finish third or fourth. The Marlins will not fold as you predict. The depleted Braves starting pitching(just like last year) will soon take its toll and the Braves will start tumbling toward the bottom of the NL East. Hampton will never pitch another game for the Braves. Smoltz will be done by the All Star break. Aging Glavine, Tim Hudson or the rookie starting pitcher will not be able to carry the Braves. Braves fans,in spite of what Mark B. says, your BRaves are doomed to three straight years of not winning the NL East.
By captain Midnight
May 27, 2008 1:51 AM | Link to this
There you go again. Anytime a team around here wins a couple of games you declare them world champions. Just stick yo trying to make your wife happy.
By justin
May 27, 2008 1:57 AM | Link to this
People need to stop saying the Marlins are gonna fold. The fact of the matter is the Marlins have owned the NL East so far this year, whats to keep them from doing it the rest of the season? Also it’s the end of May and almost June, there is no more the season is young. The real contenders and pretenders are being exposed and guess what, the fish aren’t going anywhere. It’s gonna be close.
By Mitchell
May 27, 2008 2:25 AM | Link to this
The thing this team doesn’t have and hasn’t had for some time is a tenth man. If they make it to the playoffs and the stereotypical Braves fan gets there in the 2nd or 3rd inning and doesn’t make any noise, it doesn’t matter how good the team is, they will not win in October. This team has not had this kind of confidence playing at home in many years but if they can’t fill up Turner Field in the playoffs, mark my words, they will not win. But let’s just see if they can finally win on the road before we get ahead of ourselves.
By Jeff R
May 27, 2008 6:05 AM | Link to this
Need to replace Smoltz in the rotation with a quaility arm. Have questions about Glavine getting his act together. Management counted on those two for 30 wins and 400 innings. If they’re not going to do that, who will?
By R1U
May 27, 2008 6:17 AM | Link to this
The Marlins are going to fold The Marlins are going to fold The Marlins are going to fold The Marlins are going to fold The Marlins are going to fold The Marlins are going to fold The Marlins are going to fold The Marlins are going to fold…There I said it. The only thing they have going for them is their manager and he learned from the BRAVES===GO BRAVES
By LivininAL
May 27, 2008 7:17 AM | Link to this
Glavine was acquired as a 3-4 starter in the rotation. I think he has and will provided enough quality starts in that position. Hudson and Jair have settled into the roles needed, Campillo, Benentt are cpable as the 5th man. The Smotlz injury is painful in many ways. From the numbers in the bullpen, I think we have a potential starter that will match anyone we could trade for. When Smotlz, Sorianto, and Gonzalaz return, the pen is gonna be overloaded let’s strech out Boyer,I think he could be the other starter we need.
By LivininAL
May 27, 2008 7:23 AM | Link to this
There are several former Marlins, wearing World Championships Rings, won by a team that was suppose to fold. Go Braves!
By Mark Bradley
May 27, 2008 7:28 AM | Link to this
I don’t believe I said the Braves are going to win the World Series. I said they’re going to win the NL East. Which they will.
By Maniac is accurate
May 27, 2008 7:34 AM | Link to this
Dang you’re up early Bradley. I agree with you. I think this Braves team has some mettle and the injury bug is going to be cured at some point. But, if they can win the East, they’ve got a shot at the whole thing.
Can you believe the Ashley Harkleroad to be in Playboy story is the most read for two days in a row? I mean, I’m going to check her out, but it’s not like the AJC has posted some advance pix.
By Coach (Braves to the playoffs in 2008)
May 27, 2008 7:36 AM | Link to this
Yes, the Braves are well on their way to the best month of baseball since May of 2006 (18-11). But Greatness? hold on there fella.
I do and have believed for many months that this team is playoff caliber. But, they still have holes in the offense(no running game) and flaws(left handed pitching).
Hudson and Glavine are the only two starters with playoff experience and savvy. Although, I think the Braves will probably make a run at Greg Maddux sooner or later.
Then we have Chipper Jones, the absolute heart and soul of this team. When he is in the lineup, they win. Without Larry Wayne Jr., they lose. Suffice to say, Chippers health is critical to the success of the Braves.
The bullpen will only get better and that bench has transformed from the weak link into the backbone behind the starters.
So, the moral of this story is, don’t count your chickens until they hatch.
By destin
May 27, 2008 8:27 AM | Link to this
Hey Mark — I’m ready to jump on your bandwagon if we could just sign a front-line starter. Who are some pitchers that might become available as their teams fade? Quality only!
By kudzu
May 27, 2008 8:41 AM | Link to this
Under any circumstances I would love to see Hampton (go out and TRY and pitch). What could it hurt? I believe it’s a mental thing now with him.
Give back to the Braves anything…that would be nice…if not DUMP the guy, we’re paying him anyway…
Honestly, I forget that he is still on the team until i happen to see his name pop up in an article, like this one.
Go Braves, Let’s start some 500 ball on the road. That would be great.
By Greg
May 27, 2008 9:05 AM | Link to this
If you look at Expected Wins and Loses, according to Bill James’ formula, you can get a good idea of who is underperforming and who is overperforming their record.
The Marlins are overperforming. They should be a .500 team, but they’ve been “lucky”. Philly and Atlanta have won at about the clip they should. So too, hilariously have the Mets.
We need to show we can beat Philly before we can start printing tickets to October.
By Random
May 27, 2008 9:06 AM | Link to this
Ringo, captain Midnight —
How ‘bout comin’ across with some specific examples?
Thanks.
By ADDMedia
May 27, 2008 9:15 AM | Link to this
Mark are you high? Sure the Braves split wit the D-Backs, at home BTW, and swept the woeful Mets, but these Braves are as apt to lose 6 in a row as win 4 in a row. They stink on the road and are just of couple of tweaked Hammy’s by Chipper and Hudson from totally falling out of the bed.
Can they win the East? Sure, I’ve seen them win with less. But every team in the East is just as much if not more capable. Just because Florida isn’t sexy doesn’t mean they aren’t solid from top to bottom. Ramirez and Ugla are just playing sick. Both the Phillies and Mets are certainly capable of blowing our doors off if our injury situation in the rotation doesn’t get better soon.
Don’t get me wrong, Bobby and the boys need a pat on the back for performing well under bad circumstances but we all know that the “just play’em one at a time until we get healthy” mentality can only last so long. They may actually play worse when the Smoltz, Soriano and Gonzolez come off the DL because it will destroy that “unity under adverse circumstances” vibe they have going on. In any event, I hope you are right Mark but the Braves just have too many question marks to actually believe they can win the division. But we can hope, can’t we?
BTW is Andruw “Chicken and Wiffles” Jones still in the show?
By Kelley
May 27, 2008 9:53 AM | Link to this
Great article.
Can you imagine our bullpen with Gonzalez, Soriano, and Smoltz? You gotta feel good about your chances if the starter can get through 6 or 7.
I still would like to have one more consistent starter.
Hudson really needs to become the ace on the team. He has shown moments of greatness, but, has never stepped into the ace role on the club. He needs to earn what he makes this season with a Cy Young type remainder of the season.
More importantly, than anything else, NEVER COUNT OUT A BOBBY COX TEAM! Most other teams with all the injuries would have already dropped out of the race by now, but, that’s what so great about Bobby, his consistency always keeps his clubs in the race.
Who is this Mike Hampton that you speak of???????
By KyleH
May 27, 2008 10:05 AM | Link to this
I am always faithful in the braves. They had always seemed to have a bad april and then began to heat up in may in the 14 year stretch. If you think about it the marlins may not collapse, but they are not going to play this spectacularly all year long. Dan Uggla is not going to hit 15 HR a month, and their SP is always a questionmark. The Phillies rotation is shaky and they arent going to score 20 runs a night. The Mets… I’ll let the entire New York media tell you exactly how rough its been for them lately. The Braves have been pretty impressive themselves this year. Imagine if I told you before the season started this year that Smoltz would not start, moylan would have TJ surgery, Soriano would be in and out, and Hampton would never start(ok that wouldnt surprie everyone). Sounds like the Mets would be ahead of the braves by doube digets doesnt it? but you also wouldnt guess the mets would struggle like this after signing Santana; you wouldnt know the awesomeness of jair jurrjens, the effectiveness of a noname bullpen, nor would you know chipper would be batting .400+. So i guess we can say the braves are hot and frank wren made some good trades(renteria). However, the braves continue their subtleness as even chipper jones, the man batting .400, wont even admit the braves are in good shape until they prove themselves on the road. This is a good chance against the brewers and reds. The braves have a shot at the nl east. It is very winnable.
By Explain Please
May 27, 2008 10:08 AM | Link to this
Why does Bobby pull JJ with one more out to go to get the victory? That’s twice he has done this to the Kid and it certainly makes me think two thoughts: One - he doesn’t want JJ’s head to swell or Two - he doesn’t want his record to be TOO good for fear they will have to pay too much $$$ to keep him…
He would be 7-3 and on his way to Rookie of the Year if he kept pitching the way he has…Any thoughts?
By Oneiron
May 27, 2008 10:22 AM | Link to this
Mitchell talks about the “tenth man.” Florida keeps winning w/o anyone attending their games. I can’t believe they are trying to get a new stadium when they have no fan support. All sports teams are having a rough go right now with the high gas prices. Why go to a game if you can watch it on TV. On the same token, I haven’t gone to a Braves game in a few years, since the parking is bad, the food prices are too high (for the crap you get), and it takes until midnight or better to get to Marietta after a weeknight game.
By dogmeat
May 27, 2008 10:46 AM | Link to this
kelly” NEVER COUNT OUT A BOBBY COX TEAM.” Bull! 1-14 …. Get’m there and go home Bobby. Thats my man. Mark You said NL East? Which they will? Well that would make everyone happy because thats all we can expect. Win the East and Go home. Put another sign up in OF and Braves Management is happy. Same old BS.
By webhead
May 27, 2008 10:58 AM | Link to this
I would rather have Maddux for 5 innings than jo jo reyes for 3
By webhead
May 27, 2008 10:59 AM | Link to this
I would rather have Maddux for 5 innings than jo jo reyes for 3
By Keeping It Real
May 27, 2008 12:02 PM | Link to this
You must be kidding if you think the Braves will be any better than they are now.They are too old and slow. Injuries and old bodies cannot survive the dog days of August and September. Trade Tex ASAP for some young pitching because they will never resign him. Too much money. Play for the future and not this year.
By Mark Bradley
May 27, 2008 12:09 PM | Link to this
Cox pulled Jurrjens because he had a blister, had already thrown 97 pitches and had been hit hard in the fifth inning — Orlando Hudson had homered — and because, as Cox said afterward, “I’ve got to protect the kid.” We all know what can happen over the second half of a season to a young pitcher who has exceeded his accustomed workload. (His maximum to date has been 142 innings, and he’s at 66 with two-thirds of a season left.)
Cox would have been delighted to have seen Jurrjens make it through five innings Monday, but he was clearly tiring and was about to face the tying run. The manager had to make a choice, and he, in this instance, chose correctly. And surely one or two of you would have harrumphed, had Jurrjens been left in and yielded the tying run, would have said: “Why does Cox stick with his starting pitcher so long?”
By Will
May 27, 2008 12:38 PM | Link to this
Keeping it Real, I agree with most of your post. There are two ways too look at the Braves. There is the author of this articles way which is fair enough, everyboyd is subject to their own opinion. I have chosen early and often this year to just accept that the Braves are a .500 baseball team. Its not the end of the world, teams cant be great every year. This team looks exactly like they have the past 2 seasons and i have yet to see on thing that is changing my opinion on that.
By Kelley
May 27, 2008 1:00 PM | Link to this
DOGMEAT: I stand by what I said, Never count out a Bobby Cox team.
It’s absolutely absurd that conversations about how great Bobby is actually still occur anywhere in Georgia.
Bobby gets more from his players than any other manager in baseball.
Give him the talent on the Mets, and he is EASILY in first place. I think that Willie Randolph and company are proving how it is not so easy to win year after year, with all their talent; they’ve only done it one year, not even mentioning their HUGE payroll.
Bobby gets his team to the playoffs, it’s not his fault when players fail to perform in postseason (Sheffield, A. Jones, etc.). Bobby can’t go in get the big hit, or strike out the hitter in big spots when needed.
Would you rather be say, a Florida Marlins fan? Yes, they’ve won two World Series in recent years compared to the Braves one, but look at some of the crappy teams they have put on the field in the years between. The Braves put a consistently good team on the field each year that has a shot to make it to October. When was the last time we had a “rebuilding” year?
Bobby is a Hall of Famer. Ask anyone actually IN baseball. His record speaks for itself, 4th all time in wins, 4 manager of the year awards, etc.
It’s a shame people in Georgia don’t appreciate him as they should. Let’s see after he retires how much we appreciate him when the Braves return back to the team they were in the 70’s.
By fieldofdreams
May 27, 2008 1:21 PM | Link to this
With all the holes in the rotation, the Braves will be lucky to finish .500. Campillo is a journeyman band aid that will lose adhesion when the league sees him the second time around. Reyes reminds of Chuck James (Mableton’s finest), and at $8 million Mr. Glavine might actually make - not earn- $1 million per win. Sounds like great work, if you can get it, but the Braves would have been so much better off with $8 million in crude oil futures, and a young pitcher learning on the job.
By SRF
May 27, 2008 1:28 PM | Link to this
Can someone tell me why 75% of the Braves pitchers have blisters ? Haven’t they ever pitched before ? How did they get this far in their careers with tender fingers ? Why so many now ? How can other teams keep their pitchers healthy ???
By PAPA 10
May 27, 2008 2:02 PM | Link to this
MY TAKE ON PITCHING INJURIES It all started a few years ago with a fella by the name of uhhhhh HAMPTON!!!
By numero-uno fan
May 27, 2008 2:44 PM | Link to this
i pitched from the time I was 11-18. I threw cutters and curveballs,etc. I never got a blister on my fingers. I don’t know what’s going on with our guys. Maybe Roger has taught them all the “sinker” and they are really putting pressure on the seams of the baseball in an extreme effort for the ball to move. I guess they could try to develop callouses on the affected fingers but that limits your “touch” and pitching is all about touch. Maybe they could do a Moises Alou number!
By Bama
May 27, 2008 3:29 PM | Link to this
Mark you must know something that we don’t. The Braves have not proved anything yet.
Heard Fred Gonzalez on ESPN and he said Marlins are for real.
Go Braves and prove Mark right. I pray.
By BA
May 27, 2008 3:31 PM | Link to this
Braves are for real.
By skeezix
May 27, 2008 4:02 PM | Link to this
World Series here we come!
By Scott from Fairburn
May 27, 2008 4:34 PM | Link to this
Just say no to HO-HO Reyes … I will take Maddux and his five innings
By jeff
May 27, 2008 4:55 PM | Link to this
If I had to guess BA and Chase are the same. Skeezix save your money till Oct.
By Cooper
May 27, 2008 6:02 PM | Link to this
In order to win the NL East and go anywhere beyond that the Braves will need a 2 & 5 starter.
Hudson is looking solid, JJ is also a machine but at 22 and given the need to bring him along properly he cannot be slotted in to the 2 or 3 spot.
Glavine is a 5 inning pitcher and should be a 4 or 5 if he continues this trend.
So today you have:
Camp, Bennett, Carlyle are likley decoys and Morton needs a full year in the minors.
The team is two trades away from being a WS contender but both those trades need to be for starting pitching for this year and going forward.
By JD
May 27, 2008 6:39 PM | Link to this
Anyone know where I can find the walk-up music list for the Bravos?
By Andy Jacksonville
May 27, 2008 7:53 PM | Link to this
The Braves would be sitting pretty in first place right now if they were playing 500 ball on the road. They need to get their act together when they leave Atlanta.
By gary
May 27, 2008 10:56 PM | Link to this
If nothing else, Bobby Cox has proven two things during his years of managing. He’s quite good during the regular season (presumming he’s got lots of good players), and nothing more than average in the post season when he’s playing teams of equal caliber. There’s no getting past his record of only 1 WS out of 15 trips (Braves and Blue Jays) to the playoffs. That is not the mark of a really great manager.
By gary
May 27, 2008 10:57 PM | Link to this
If nothing else, Bobby Cox has proven two things during his years of managing. He’s quite good during the regular season (presumming he’s got lots of good players), and nothing more than average in the post season when he’s playing teams of equal caliber. There’s no getting past his record of only 1 WS out of 15 trips (Braves and Blue Jays) to the playoffs. That is not the mark of a really great manager.
By Robert
May 27, 2008 11:26 PM | Link to this
If the Braves are on the road to greatness you better call Bobby and tell him. Braves just lost again on the road Mark.
By sports report
May 27, 2008 11:37 PM | Link to this
Time for a New Post
By Charlie
May 28, 2008 8:41 AM | Link to this
Guess the road to greatness includes a few detours.
By Bill D.
May 28, 2008 10:24 AM | Link to this
Dont blame the pitching for the Braves road woes. I have never seen a more pitiful bunch of hitters on road trips.Too much pressure on a pitcher when he always has to protect a one or two run lead. Frenchy is beginning to look more like Andruw Jones every day.I agree with the bloggers who say this is a five hundred club at best.
By Bill D.
May 28, 2008 10:26 AM | Link to this
Dont blame the pitching for the Braves road woes. I have never seen a more pitiful bunch of hitters on road trips.Too much pressure on a pitcher when he always has to protect a one or two run lead. Frenchy is beginning to look more like Andruw Jones every day.I agree with the bloggers who say this is a five hundred club at best.
By John
May 28, 2008 11:15 AM | Link to this
Are you crazy??!! There is no reliable pitching. Look at last night where Hudson went one too many innings and lost the game. And Hudson may be the best. Out of five roatation spots the Braves are semi- reliable in only two.Yes, you are crazy.
By Mark Bradley
May 28, 2008 11:27 AM | Link to this
No reliable pitching? The Braves have the second-best ERA in the National League. And I’d say Hudson, Glavine and Jurrjens are 60 percent of a mighty strong rotation. The key is whether a capable No. 4 man comes off the disabled list or arises from somewhere else on the staff. (Campillo, say.) If that happens, the Braves will be fine.
By Gene
May 28, 2008 12:27 PM | Link to this
Potentially the Braves can do as Mark predicts with Smoltz, Gonzoles, and Soriano healthy, but they can’t keep dropping games like they did Tuesday night. I would like to see Josh Anderson called up as well.
By Phil
May 28, 2008 4:46 PM | Link to this
First place by July 4th? That’s the funniest thing I’ve read all year. I’ve got 50 bucks that says that will not happen. Are you game Bradley?
By dcp
May 28, 2008 5:24 PM | Link to this
Mark
Neither the Braves nor any team is going to run away with this division. Beating Brandon Webb is an accomplishment, but following it up the next night with a bad loss against a Brewers team that underperformed all year is not the sign of great things to come. Every team in this division is capable of going on a run, so I’ll give you that anything is possible, but the Phillies are who you need to worry about. They went through the first month without their top 2 hitters and Ryan Howard in a monster slump and are starting to pick it up. They match up well with the Braves and Florida should not be tossed aside either. The Phils bullpen is #1 in ERA and much deeper than in prior years where they just had to outhit you to have any chance at a game. Everyone in this division has 2 decent starters and 3 question marks - Glavine folded last year for the Mets and I would not count on him anymore than I am counting on Moyer to be a rock solid dependable #3 for the Phils. Time will tell, but my read is that it will come down to health, whether it be Chipper, Pedro, or Flash Gordon - who is able to sustain the most injuries and press on. And, it will all be irrelevant until the Braves find a way to win some games on the road - you cannot count on winning the division by winning just a majority of your home games.
By gary
May 28, 2008 5:39 PM | Link to this
You can have the best era in Majors but if you don’t score you LOSE.
Glavine’s not good for more than 5 innings. If you depend on him your in trouble. I’ll go along with Hudson (should have won last night)and JJ. The rest stink without Smoltz. Diaz is a joke? Bobby has Alzheimer’s disease. Need more power hitters in out field. Blanco is the best by far. Kotsay and his back???? Enough! Take the $50 bet with Phil if you really believe what you preach.
By dogmeat
May 28, 2008 11:06 PM | Link to this
Mark, You put the Kiss on death on braves with your Greatness BS. Another lost game tonight. Best era but no hitters.
By dogmeat
May 28, 2008 11:07 PM | Link to this
Mark, You put the Kiss of death on braves with your Greatness BS. Another lost game tonight. Best era but no hitters.
By GMagFan24
May 30, 2008 1:24 AM | Link to this
I hear very little discussion of the Braves promoting from within. What are the odds of seeing Charlie Morton up in Atlanta soon?
By old gold
May 30, 2008 10:37 PM | Link to this
Whether we like it or not this season is dependent upon Jurgens, Campillo, and Boyer. Whatever Glavine and Smoltz contribute will be occasional and appreciated. We fans need to get past the Glavine-Smoltz era.
By Ralph
May 31, 2008 12:40 PM | Link to this
Before, they go into so called greatness, they first need to figure out, which league they are in, the minor or mayor leagues, when they on the road, they play like a little league team. Like last year Braves, this year Braves, are making the same old mistakes. Coxs should know his players and where to play them, Johnson doesn’t belong in the No.2 spot in the line-up, no more than Escobar belongs in the first spot. Chipper, when o for 5 and made an errand, the human Chipper made an errand, so far he is the one carry his dead weight team, it wasn’t his night, that’s it. Teixeira, and Francoeur, need to be bench more. It’s been three years that Francoeur, has been playing in the major league and he still making the same stupid mistakes when he bats, the solution to his reaching over the plate, and hitting the ball is a 4 foot long bat or stand in the middle of the plate. The Brave just don’t seem to learn from their mistake, Cox needs to stop making the same old replay mistakes.
By Mark Bradley
June 1, 2008 10:11 PM | Link to this
I’ll admit that, in terms of timing, this is looking like a pretty silly column. I will, however, stand by my convictions a while longer. Stupid but stubborn — that’s my credo.