AJC > Blog > Archives > 2008 > July > 07 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USWill Braves’ marathon game spark a turnaround?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Show of hands: Who waited through the rain delay and watched all of yesterday’s marathon game? (If you want to prove you saw the whole thing, take this quiz about the game.)
We listened to the first half on the car radio on the way home from some weekend festivities and then watched the second half. (I’m glad we got to see the end, but there’s just something very cool about listening to Skip and Pete on the radio.)
There are so many positive things to take away from that game (Manny Acosta’s pulled hamstring and Omar Infante’s re-injured one notwithstanding), primarily that they finally managed to produce with the bases loaded and that the bullpen was simply spectacular. Buddy Carlyle pitched three shutout innings after throwing two on Saturday, and Mike Gonzalez has been lights-out since giving up two runs in a June 22 appearance.
You have to think that this might be the turning point the Braves have needed, like the game in late June 2004 against the Orioles when they stormed back with seven runs in the eighth inning to win 8-7 and sparked a comeback from 4 1/2 games out to win the division for the 14th consecutive year. Granted, they have further to go this time, but the way the rest of the NL East is playing, anything is possible.
If you saw the end of the game and the way the players reacted, even veterans like Mark Teixeira and Chipper Jones, you know there’s some fire left in this team. Let’s just hope they have the energy to keep it going after flying to L.A. in the wee hours of the morning — and that Jorge Campillo can regain his control and give the bullpen some rest tonight.
Speaking of starters, here are the pitching matchups for the Dodgers series:
Monday: Hiroki Kuroda vs. Campillo. Kuroda was out three weeks with tendinitis in his right shoulder before returning to throw seven shutout innings against the Astros. Meanwhile, Campillo is hoping to bounce back after being roughed up by the Phillies last week.
Tuesday: Chad Billingsley vs. Jair Jurrjens. Billingsley is in the midst of a four-game winning streak, while Jurrjens (who was snubbed for the All-Star Game, by the way) had his scoreless innings streak snapped at 21 2/3 in a loss to the Phillies.
Wednesday: Derek Lowe vs. Tim Hudson. Lowe gave up four earned runs on eight hits in five innings in his last start but was let off the hook when the Dodgers rallied against the Giants. Hudson earned his ninth of the win of the season Friday, when he threw seven strong innings against the Astros.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t note how well Jeff Francoeur is doing in Mississippi (check out Thomas Stinson’s story on his relationship with Double-A manager Phillip Wellman). He enjoyed a four-hit day yesterday and looks to be getting his swing and confidence back.
So do you agree this might be a turning point for the Braves? And how do you handle West Coast trips? Do you turn off the game at your usual bedtime or go dragging into work the next day? Or are you like me and just fall asleep with the TV on in the bedroom?
Upcoming TV Schedule
Monday: vs. Dodgers, 10:10, SportSouth
Tuesday: vs. Dodgers, 10:10, SportSouth
Wednesday: vs. Dodgers, 10:10, FSN South
Thursday: Off-day
Friday: vs. Padres, 10:05, SportSouth
Saturday: vs. Padres, 10:05, SportSouth
Sunday: vs. Padres, 4:05, SportSouth
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By geekboy
July 7, 2008 10:33 AM | Link to this
I don’t think there will be a turnaround because of a marathon game.
The Braves need healthy bodies, and losing Acosta and Infante is not going to help in that regard.
If the Braves are going to make a run at the Phillies they will need a healthy and productive Diaz, Francoeur, Hampton and whoever else the front office can trade for. The current lineup is not capable of a sustained run in my opinion.
The Brewers got Sabathia, which should guarantee they win the Central. What are the Braves doing to improve their chances? I hope they are looking for a quality outfielders. I said it at the beginning of the year, and I will say it again … it was a mistake to get Kotsay. The Braves needed an everyday player, not a banged up outfielder on a downward spiral.
With a HUGE bat in left field, we could win many 1-run baseball games.
By Mike S
July 7, 2008 11:14 AM | Link to this
I was actually posing the same question over on the Braves forum last night. This game is just the type of shot in the arm that can get a team started.
but, this week is the key - the Braves can do no worse than 3-3 this week, and truly need to win both series. But, if they can stay 6 back or even pick up a game going into the AS break they will be in a good position for the second half.
As Yogi said, “half of this game is 90% mental” — The braves are on a high after yesterday, if they go into the break in shooting distance of Philly and see Frenchy, Diaz, Soriano, possibly Glavine and yes EVEN MIKE HAMPTON coming back on the other side of the AS Break it may just be the Mental shot in the arm they need to go on a run.
By Stephen
July 7, 2008 11:18 AM | Link to this
I hear that Cleveland is dangling Casey Blake. He would make sense. Experience in the corner outfield and corner infield positions.
By Maniac is accurate
July 7, 2008 11:49 AM | Link to this
Y’know, I hope it’ll breathe some good into them. But what I really want to know is, this. Your husband does Madonna, then the revenge move is Lenny Kravitz? What if he had done, say, Alanis Morrisette or Gretchen Wilson, who would be the appropriate revenge do in those instances? These are important questions … questions that need answering.
By Pat
July 7, 2008 11:55 AM | Link to this
Why do people mention Mike Hampton as even having a remote chance of returning to the hill? I hate it for the guy but he is and has been done for years now. Wake up folks, he will not be pitching again. Ever.
By Milton Jeff
July 7, 2008 12:22 PM | Link to this
Could be a spark…who knows. They need something to go off of. They need a rally and it has to start tonight!! On a side note..anybody know the record of the Braves since KJ dropped the foul ball for an out in the 9th against the Phillies?? I’d be curious to see how the Braves have performed since..all mental.
By T
July 7, 2008 12:46 PM | Link to this
I have NEVER seen a team with the amount of injuries this Braves team has. I understand they have some elderly players, but a lot of the younger players are getting injured too. I wonder if the “Bobby Cox Country Club” in spring training has anything to do with this? Seems to me it’s worth discussions. And with the amount of injuries, this team has a very slim chance at the post season.
By STRETCH
July 7, 2008 1:18 PM | Link to this
I really dont see how that one game could turn around this team around with all those injuries and underachievers in that batting order.
They lost 3 more to the DL yesterday and then to pour more salt in the wound, they call Frenchy back up cause he has miraculously found his “swing” against Double A pitching. Wow!
This organization reminds me of those people who own cars you see (come on now, we’ve all seen them) on the street with the shattered windows…they just put a piece of plastic over it and everythings fine!
The Braves have been trying to cover bullet wounds with band aids for years and its finally caught up with them.
By eduardo
July 7, 2008 1:20 PM | Link to this
Unfortunately, this team is just not good enough. Too many veterans, no cluth hitting - we never had a Jeter - unreliable pitching - Hudson is unreliable - are a mix for disaster. I predicted both sweeps at Turner by the Phillies, which means we do not stand a chance. Every time they need wins againts first place teams, they lose miserably. Get real, this season is over.
By jc_dawg
July 8, 2008 6:14 AM | Link to this
The Braves are a station to station type of offense. And…other than Chipper…there are no clutch hitters.
The above combination is not a good one. Throw in our pitcher injuries and you go from a 85 win team to a 75 win team.
What makes it even worse is the trade talk of Texeira….it has to be a distraction.
I just keep thinkiing about what ifs.
What if we kept Renteria(now thats a clutch hitter) and moved Escobar to 2nd? What if A Jones stuck with his career numbers and power and we still had him?
What if Smoltz and Glavine were still healthy? Then…my friends you can tack on 10-15 wins to our current record……1st place by at least 4 games. Of course anyone can ask “what if” questions all day long.
I am a spoiled Braves fan and I don’t like losing. But…bottom line…this current Braves team is just not that good.
By santa3247
July 8, 2008 8:59 AM | Link to this
Hi, I’m Seong-Ho,Yoon living in Jinhae City southkorea now.
Malevolent PT&GM&their bosses called B.Nunez?^^ Neglecting 2consecutive year 11Wins pitcher Chuck James?^^ Neutron not batter but toucher B.Lilibridge?^*^
Losing temper at unfair movement of player making player’s heart unstable status, so Braves couldn’t make any run yesterday to Kuroda.
Losing temper must make player’s heart world’s particle to unstable status. And their swing speed and pitching arm’s swing speed would reduce and they would have to use more power of muscle.
[This is real culprit of away game’s worst record]
[Therefore Babylon always trying to make good player lose temper]
*Look, If Doll Cox would have made Chuck James and Buddy Charyle starter pitcher, Chuck James would get 5~6Win and Charyle would get 4~5Win. And now Brave’s rec would be over .500.
Joseph Reyes and Jorge Campilo’s starting is major reason of Brave’s weakness this year.
May the force of Messiah be with you
P.S: Do you remember the doom of people pray for beast(Seth-Jacob-Joseph-Jesus) and people received mark of beast(Implant-resonance schumann) and people worshiped idol of beast(Schumann Internet-light speed cable) if they would not die in underground?
Not Dog, why dog? ^*^ but real answer is reptilian.
They don’t like sun, and they betrayed God, Conscience, Justice Sense.
So God will deprive them of living-god’s shape human-body, and Solomon will snatch organ heart’s function siphoning sun-energy from them, after all they must be like reptile.
No more love, happiness, marriage, shape of human-being, childbirth.
After 1,290day’s last judgment, new heaven and earth, new law of nature would be made by God’s light from whole Laputa.
And no electricity meaning friction between good and bad exist in Messianic Era.
Theseday the destruction(neutron made) of geomagnetic field protecting earth from strong solar-energy, made sun calm. Because the amount of sun’s energy falling on earth important.
But, this geomagnetic field’s destruction is major factor of climate change. Culprit is Babylonian and their friends again.^*^
By Gerald Barnes
July 8, 2008 10:28 AM | Link to this
Thanks to all the Braves fans for taking the time to order (and read) The Road to the Big’s. It has been overwhelming! In case you missed it, Google: roadtothebigs.
The game Sunday wore them out, and last night was not really a surprise. The second half of the season starts tonight.