AJC > Blog > Archives > 2008 > July > 09 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USBraves’ big win offers hope for second half
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I hate West Coast trips.
Because I have to be at work at 7 a.m., I fell asleep with the game on while the Braves were still being no-hit by Chad Billingsley. Boy, was I surprised this morning to see what I missed.
After enduring all the recent frustration at the plate (they’d been shut out in their previous 23 innings on the road), it would have been nice to enjoy last night’s offensive explosion. Even Jeff Francoeur got in on the fun with a well-timed single — not to mention the great throw that doubled up Andre Ethier at first base in the third.
If you missed the fireworks, too, here’s Dave O’Brien’s game story and the highlights from the boxscore:
• Brian McCann went 2-for-4, blasting two home runs.
• Mark Kotsay went 3-for-4 and scored twice.
• Kelly Johnson went 2-for-5 and scored three times.
• Gregor Blanco went 1-for-3 with two walks. By the way, the leadoff man’s OBP is .369, third on the team behind Chipper Jones and Mark Teixeira.
Strangely enough, Chipper’s bat was quiet during all this — he took an 0-for-4 collar, striking out three times.
Judging from some of yesterday’s posts to this blog, a lot of you have given up on this season, and I can understand why. But McCann, for one, thinks last night’s 9-3 win is a sign of good things to come.
He told O’Brien, “I think we’re in a good state right now. Everybody’s back healthy. This is our lineup, this is the lineup we broke spring training with. So we’re all excited.”
I was trying to stop scoreboard-watching until they got back to .500, but that’s not going to happen. So now they’re five games out of first (and 3 1/2 behind the Mets and Marlins) with four games left before the All-Star break — tonight’s rubber game in L.A., followed by three in San Diego.
If this is an indication of what the lineup is capable of when it’s healthy — and the pitching continues to hold up — there’s good reason to have hope for the second half of the season. So I’m not giving up on them. Call me a delusional fan, but I think we might yet get to see what this Braves team can really do.
Upcoming TV Schedule
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
Permalink | Comments (27) | Post your comment | Categories: Chop Chick
Comments
By geekboy
July 9, 2008 10:23 AM | Link to this
It is not how many games back you are, it is how many teams are ahead of you. Right now there are three.
I don’t see the Phillies, Mets or Marlins playing any worse than they are now, and I predict the Braves will finish 3rd at best … and that Tex will be traded before July 31. I think that is realistic.
It is disheartening to see the Cubs and Brewers trade for stud starting pitching, and the Braves trade for a clown like Tavares. Even worse, the Braves actually used him!
Whichever team’s front office does the best job at the trade deadline will win the East, but I don’t think Frank Wren is going to impress us.
By Blue Magic
July 9, 2008 10:24 AM | Link to this
Here’s to hoping Huddy throws a gem tonight! Let’s go Huddy
By Give it up!!
July 9, 2008 10:50 AM | Link to this
The Braves have been snakebit all year. The lack of fundamentals is killing them. The inability of almost every player on the team, especially the pitchers, to lay down a successful bunt to move the runner over is going to kill me. So in order to shake things up, I say we should get rid of the no talent hack known as the Chop Chick. Give it up, lady. The Braves are sucking it harder than your whiny columns every day. You’re not a talented writer, you provide no insight or knowledge on the Braves, and you taking a paycheck for it is like stealing. Quit. Please.
By T Money
July 9, 2008 10:54 AM | Link to this
The best case scenario has the Braves 1 game out at the break. More realistically, they’ll be 3-6 games back, the same place they’ve been for about a month now.
I’ll be the first to admit that I have given up hope on the Braves this season, but looking at the standings, I’m hopeful of a turn-around. Consider this, the team is starting to wake up on the road (2-3 in their last five, outscoring their opponents 18-16 in that time), and they continue to do well at home (though the 2-4 home stand hurt).
Our first three series after the break are 3 vs. Washington, 3 @ Florida, and 3 @ Philadelphia. If we do 3-1 before the break and 7-2 immediately after, the Braves might just have a hold of first. And with this team, I think that is something that won’t easily let go of.
By VaBravesfan
July 9, 2008 10:58 AM | Link to this
Chick, I am with you. I may be a dillusional fan, too, but I think they will play better in the second half. The only thing is they will play 2 or 3 good games and and get your hopes up, and then lay an egg. Need to stop that.
By Kashi
July 9, 2008 11:04 AM | Link to this
I have a hope we might win World Series . We have young pitchers who are doing great. We have Glavin, Huddy, Hampton and JJ to get 3/5 games. Smoltz might be our postseason closer. Soriano is going to be ready. Mike Gonzalez is healthy. All we need is OFFENSE OFFENSE OFFENSE. Guys need to swing bat well. Do NOT trade Texiera but instead acquire power left fielder.
I would offer $20M/year for 6 years guranteed and 20+incentive for next 2 years for Mark Texiera. If you don’t have this sort of package then get ready to kiss him bye in winter. Saying that I would NOT trade him right now. Our division is so weak and anything could happen.
By fieldofdreams
July 9, 2008 11:16 AM | Link to this
As the “Fab 14” taught us Braves fans so well, consistent victory goes to the winner of the Arms Race. In case you missed it, the Wrigleyphiles and Brew Crew just made quantuum leaps forward, in said race. Rather than hope our sub-.500 team (in an inferior league) can somehow overcome it’s inherent mediocrity and win the division, why not rebuild the foundation - great arms - with a view to being dominant again? The Jurrgens coup is Wren’s claim to fame, here’s hoping he’s got some more trade magic up his sleeve.
By VaBravesfan
July 9, 2008 11:19 AM | Link to this
Hey “give it up”: Ease up a little, geez.
By CommunistAJC
July 9, 2008 11:23 AM | Link to this
Kashi, Have just woken up from a coma? Smoltz ain’t coming back this year.
By Milton Jeff
July 9, 2008 11:39 AM | Link to this
We need to win tonight and then sweep the Padres..If we can end the first half being 4 or 5 games out of first..then we have a chance. BUT..pitchers are too stay healthy..im not relying on Glavine or Hampton. OFFENSE NEEDS TO STEP IT UP!!! Last night looked good but the Braves problem is that they do not know how to carry momentum.
By No Dawgs Here
July 9, 2008 12:05 PM | Link to this
Come on! Where are those loyal fans at? I have seen nothing byt band wagon people on here the last month. When they do go, you’re the biggest fan, when they lose, they suck and you want nothing to do with them. I mean WTF?? I agree they are struggling and their fundamentals need to worked on. However; they are OUR home team and we should support them thick or thin. Geez!!
By No Dawgs Here
July 9, 2008 12:05 PM | Link to this
Come on! Where are those loyal fans at? I have seen nothing but band wagon people on here the last month. When they do go, you’re the biggest fan, when they lose, they suck and you want nothing to do with them. I mean WTF?? I agree they are struggling and their fundamentals need to worked on. However; they are OUR home team and we should support them thick or thin. Geez!!
By Gman
July 9, 2008 12:09 PM | Link to this
Wake me when the Braves get to .500
By johnnyd
July 9, 2008 12:11 PM | Link to this
Any nay sayers need to realize that there are two halfs to a season….the fact that we are six games under .500 without our ace, glavine, or hampton. AND with diaz, frenchy underperforming AND kotsay, diaz, infante, chipper missing time AND moylan, soriano, gonzo (i know he was recovering from surgury from last year) all being out either for the season of has missed substantial time just amazes me..ill take 5 and a half back and about to play the lowly padres ANY DAY under those conditions.
By johnnyd
July 9, 2008 12:14 PM | Link to this
No Dawgs Here….THANK YOU
By Will
July 9, 2008 12:44 PM | Link to this
I like the positiviity in that Mccann quote and i would expect nothing less, but the problem is that its the same BS these guys have been claiming for nearly 3 years now. Every single time they get a convincing win that is the game that is gonna get them going. I have heard a different variation of that quote repeatedly the past 3 years.
By Chris
July 9, 2008 12:45 PM | Link to this
Nice win last night. Even Jeff looked good and comfortable at the plate. I expect a 2-4 night tonight.
Let’s win 3 out of 4 and see where we are. Maybe we can pick up Mad Dog when we get done in SD. I don’t care if he never pitches for us, it would be worth a small-time prospect for him to help tutor JoJo, JJ and the lot. Plus with the loss of Bennett, you could move JoJo to long relief.
Really liking Gonzo in the closer’s role. Perhaps his fire can spread to the other players.
By Will
July 9, 2008 1:05 PM | Link to this
NoDawgshere, Why do so many people on here mistake realistic fans for non-loyal fans. I know the Braves are a .500 team, but it doesnt mean i will ever quit watching this season.
By The Truth
July 9, 2008 1:08 PM | Link to this
I will say that the win last night was good and hopefully it can be something to build on going into the second half. I said this in a blog earlier this week about the Tex trade talk. If the Braves make a move it will be after the break…deadline is the 31st so the Braves may wait to who knows 3 days before to make their move. This road trip should be a .500 or above road trip which means the Braves in no way should be any further behind after this road trip which I believe was 6 games at the start of the road trip.
If the Braves are say 4 games behind at the end of the break we all need to face fact that no matter how ugly the first half of this season has been the Braves are in the race. Again I will say that I have been one of the ones saying for us to trade Tex because we can get good prospects for him but if we are in contention I see the Braves making no such move to trade which is the right move. That being said the Braves will have to do whatever it takes to sign him to an extension because we can’t suffer from not getting anything from Tex. I still don’t see this team winning the world series and more than likely just missing the wild card. So if we’re not going to trade Tex the Braves better do whatever it takes to make sure he stays in an Atlanta uniform.
Then there’s the scenario of us being under .500 at the end of the road trip. We’ll definitely be behind the eight ball and I personally would have to trade Tex.
By Jack G
July 9, 2008 1:54 PM | Link to this
The Braves are doomed for 3 reasons.
1—Cox 2—Hitting Coach 3—Pitching Coach
There are some other problems, but they are mostly related to the 3 listed.
The only reason they are still hanging in there, is the weakness of the entire division.
Watch San Diego eat them alive
By Jack G
July 9, 2008 1:54 PM | Link to this
The Braves are doomed for 3 reasons.
1—Cox 2—Hitting Coach 3—Pitching Coach
There are some other problems, but they are mostly related to the 3 listed.
The only reason they are still hanging in there, is the weakness of the entire division.
Watch San Diego eat them alive
By C from Marietta
July 9, 2008 1:59 PM | Link to this
Frank Wren is horrible.
By Ron H
July 9, 2008 3:03 PM | Link to this
Not saying this is the best option, but what about Holliday? He’s rumored to be on the trade block and he could have an immediate impact on the Braves roster.
Maybe we don’t need him, but LF (or CF, or RF) doesn’t seem to produce like we need them to!
It would be a half season rental, so giving up a bunch of prospects wouldn’t be worth it..
Just a thought…
By John
July 10, 2008 9:54 PM | Link to this
BSS—Braves simply suck. Chipper admits this and it is not the player’s’fault. OMSS- owner and management simply suck.
By santa3247
July 11, 2008 3:55 AM | Link to this
Hi, I’m Seong-Ho,Yoon borned in Sea of Glass southkorea now.
Reid Gorecki hit greatly well at AAA, AVG.538 ^*^ what’s the problem? defense? SLG? he hit 5HR in 30Game in AA.
Just contact hitter can’t help team greatly. Low sluging means that the player couldn’t sense the essential of hitting. I insist this type of hitter must be minor league.
May the force of Messiah be with you
P.S: To Mr.Obama, this is urgent. Whole freemason have to send this message to Mr.Obama and whole Illuminati member. What? This message from Yerusalem(Laputa=Asgard)
[To Mr.Obama. Don’t visit many nation, Babylon try to implant when president visit foreign country, especially Royal families saying “You have to visit there” You have to NEGLECT You have to keep in mind.]
From santa-clause ^*^
By richbrave
July 11, 2008 5:15 PM | Link to this
CHOP CHICK:
R-Brave updates another month or so away. Not that your readers have missed much. BARBARO CANIZARES made the IL All-Star team.
By santa3247
July 14, 2008 4:43 AM | Link to this
Hi, I’m Seong-Ho,Yoon living in Jinhae City southkorea now.
Yunel Escobar injured? Natural healing power you can trust. But, if you are not implanted in ear hole now, check your palm, and tiniest red hole would exist, somebody might do I think. And whole kind of implant in your body can make sense of pain to electrical signal only.^*^
If you need fastest cure, contact me directly,Nobody was.^^ People you could make appointment with, that must be fake me.^^
Now AAA’s TV broadcasting disappeared by the request of Babylon’s friens player. And Jason Perry and Phillip Stockman couldn’t play at all in AAA after returning from Major.^*^
And Look!! Just after article about PT&GM&Manager in MLB.COM, braves won streak.^^ What a poor SanDiego, I’m so sorry.^^
May the force of Messiah be with you
P.S: Do you remember the habit of children, scribbling. This is not bad habit, but the continuous one from when the baby lived in Yerusalem(Laputa).
This scribbling of people on heaven, mean that
[SOUL CONNECTION BETWEEN WRITER AND THE OBJECT]
the number of word isn’t important, returned David(OKADA) made this type of pendant containing word written by David(OKADA) for protecting member, but their member couldn’t win over neutron, the power of Dark Lord Seth, the emperor of Babylon.
You might need a pendant made by me. That might be the white stone.
Did you see the picture of Laputa, which was appeared in the sky of Tsuchan China just before the big earthquake? ^*^
That is one of Solomon’s fleet. Their simbol and mark of flag and crest is Lion. ^*^
God exist, your ancestor wasn’t monkey. Your ancestor was created by the light of God on Yerusalem.^*^
Egg is first? Hen is first? ^*^
Answer is Rooster and Hen was first.^*^ By the light of God Elohim on Yerusalem.
People who believe in my word would be happy soon.^*^