AJC > Sports > Braves > Blog > Archives > 2007 > September > 04
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Some what-ifs and second-guessing
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Ok, ok, yes it’s time for a new blog. Just tried to scroll down the old one and my computer locked up a couple times. A thousand some-odd posts. Did something happen over the weekend?
Uh-hum.
Yes we’re giving DOB a day to recoup, because I had three lovely ones in God’s country, Carolina Lady, and the most unfortunate part was that I didn’t get over to Boone to celebrate with fans who actually got to be overjoyed this weekend.
I did have brunch in Chapel Hill yesterday morning and saw a kid driving around with ASU flags flying from his car - probably a grad student at UNC — and people were honking at him and cheering with him. (And no, I don’t mean Arizona State.)
Oh, yeah, anyway. Back to the doldrums. It would seem some of the blogging masses are ready to look ahead to the offseason and next year. If so, skip on down. Me? I’m a dweller. And I have a little more dwelling to do.
Entering tonight’s game against the Phillies, the Braves are 7-1/2 games down in the NL East, (They’re 5-1/2 back in the wild card but with four teams ahead of them that probably looks even more bleak, if my mind isn’t playing tricks on me.)
These are the times for some what-ifs and second-guessing, sure. So I’m going to play a little what-could-so-easily-have been. Here’s how easy you make up those 7 ½ games. Think of ALL the games the Braves should have and could have so easily won:
— Tim Hudson Part I: Hudson pitched eight shutout innings against the Marlins on April 25 and took a 3-0 lead into the ninth. He gave up three consecutive singles to load the bases with nobody out and it was too much for Wickman, who couldn’t stop the bleeding. Braves lost 4-3.
— Hudson Part II: Hudson had a 2-0 lead on the Twins through 7-1/3 innings on June 14. Wickman gave up three runs in the bottom of the ninth. Braves lose 3-2.
— What about July 1 in Florida? The Braves had just rallied for four runs to go up 5-4 in the top of the ninth on a clutch hit by Yunel Escobar. Then Wickman surrenders a homer to Miguel Olivo homer in the bottom of the ninth inning and the Marlins go on to win 6-5 in 10 innings.
— Then there was my personal tipping point: Braves vs. the Houston Astros on Aug. 2. The Braves lost 12-11 in 14 innings on the base hit by pitcher Jason Jennings. Remember the pinch hit grand slam off Rafael Soriano by Mike Lamb?
— Or Escobar’s error vs. Philadelphia on Aug. 12 that would have been a double play and became a Ryan Howard three-run homer.
— How about that game John Smoltz pitched against the Nationals on April 12? Pitched eight innings of two-run ball and the Braves got shutout, one-hit by Jason Bergmann for six innings. Can’t somebody get a hit?
— Or what about the one where Smoltz faced Bergmann on May 14 in Washington and lost 2-1? He yanked his pinky finger out of joint making a tag but had pitched beautifully, and still the Braves could score only one run on Bergmann -on two hits in eight innings. That was good for Bergmann’s first major league win in 15 career starts.
Ok, that’s seven right there. Seven the Braves could have easily won. And I wasn’t even trying very hard to research them. And you guys probably have others in mind. Eh?
Not trying to apologize for anybody or make excuses. What’s done, is very much almost done, unless something miraculous happens in the next couple of days. And then it has to keep being miraculous for weeks.
I’m just trying to point out how very easily this September could have been a fun month and October something to consider. Little things add up.
Oh, and do we still think it’s bad luck with me on the clock? Not so sure bout that anymore.
And a couple of random thoughts: sending a shout-out to my colleague Mark Bradley, who gets bonus points in my book for his Music Man reference in his weekend column…. Oh Thththista! (That’s ‘Oh Sister!” for the Music-Man challenged.)
And I see the M-dog finally won a game in Arizona. And at such an important time — it moved the Padres a game up in the West. Never could really figure out why he didn’t pitch well there. Fluky is my answer.
And he hasn’t walked anybody for 49-1/3 innings, stretching over seven starts and 191 batters. Not since July 28. He’s got a ways to go to catch his 72-1/3 inning streak he had with the Braves in 2001. Remember how it ended with an intentional walk? Anyway. Gamer.
Just thought I’d throw that out there. For those feeling nostalgic. Off to the yard.
