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DEL.ICIO.USA dose of fear may go long way
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
Just so there is no misunderstanding, division-lead shrinkage is not being taken lightly by the Braves. The door to the clubhouse was closed before Sunday night’s game for a players-only meeting. Anybody entering was certain to be grabbed by a security guard and escorted to either the nearest tub of leeches or the Braves’ bullpen (both of which have been outlawed in 37 states).
Once the doors swung open, however, there were few signs of bloodshed.
“Just the court,” said pitcher Tim Hudson, who keeps the books for the team’s kangaroo court. “Having some fun.” (Hey, it doesn’t get any more serious than fining John Smoltz for a wimpy ring tone on his cell.) So there is no panic in Bravesville. They broke from the courtroom and then salvaged the last game of the San Diego series with a 6-2 win, ending a three-game skid. They are 9-10 in August. That’s not great but it’s also not worth chugging a Prozac smoothie over.
You go 9-10 in the National League West, you get sprayed with Moet. But there is a problem with going 9-10 in the East. It obliterates all of those preconceived notions that when the Braves passed the Washington Nationals into first place last month, it secured much beyond a pulse in August.
Even with Sunday’s win, the Braves’ division lead stands at 3 1/2 and their magic number for clinching over Philadelphia or Florida is 35. The fact you’re not hearing much about a magic number illustrates the absurdity of foregone conclusions. (For the record, the magic number over New York is 33. But we can reasonably count out the Mets because, well, they’re the Mets.)
“I don’t pay attention until it’s something like 15,” Bobby Cox said.
“Maybe 10,” said coach Terry Pendleton.
“I don’t pay attention to anything until I see the plastic,” said Marcus Giles.
The plastic?
“To cover the lockers.”
Of late, the only things you have wanted to cover is your eyes. The Marlins are 9-1-1 in their last 11 series. The Phillies are 5-1-1 in their last seven. The Braves are 2-3 in their last five.
Here we are in August and there’s only one thing scarier than hearing, “The Braves trail going into the ninth.” That is, of course, “The Braves lead going into the ninth and coming in to close …”
But maybe this isn’t so bad. Locking up division titles early hasn’t exactly been a winning formula for October. There are still nine naked fingers.
“To be honest with you, I think that’s been our problem,” Giles said. “We clinch it too early and then we relax and try to play with our hands in our pockets. We play tentatively and try not to get hurt. We try to save everybody - save arms, save legs. The next thing you know we’re sitting on the couch after the first week of the playoffs. I think we need to quit being so excited about making the playoffs so often and be a little bit more worried about getting further in the playoffs and closer to a World Series.”
There have been thoughts that this Braves team will succeed where others have failed. That stems from the roster’s youth, enthusiasm and, it follows, blind stupidity. As in: “Nobody told us a team that plays 16 rookies is not supposed to be here.
There have been endless comparisons to this team and the one in 1991 team. That year, never more than 2 1/2 games separated the Braves and Dodgers after Aug. 10 in the West Division. They reached game seven of the World Series.
“I don’t want to clinch,” Giles said. “I mean, I do want to clinch. But not now. That’s just been our problem in the past. We get lackadaisical. This game is the opposite of football. In football you can flip a switch and get mad. This game is about momentum and getting into a groove. We’re just not doing that.”
No, this is not your basic groove. But if they don’t find one soon, clinching too early will be the least of their concerns. And somebody else will be counting down a magic number.
Permalink | Comments (8) | Categories: Braves / MLB, Jeff Schultz
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By Greg
August 22, 2005 12:13 AM | Link to this
Of course, the saving grace is that we will get to play the East in September, and we tend to beat up on our own.
But it makes you wonder if we really want to see the Padres in the first round anymore…
By AZBravoFan
August 22, 2005 02:33 AM | Link to this
The scary thing about the Padres is we didn’t even see Peavy and Eaton in this series.
By l
August 22, 2005 02:50 PM | Link to this
?
By Jeff Schultz
August 22, 2005 03:21 PM | Link to this
To: I Nice economy of words. JS
By doc
August 23, 2005 12:08 AM | Link to this
the fear i have is this spring training for hampton and thompson is going to cost them in the long run. doing it with one is problematic but with two requires a quicker hook and relievers ready to go in the third inning like it was a spring game. look at how they have used schilling in boston though with awkward results and what they have had to do in chicago with wood. the term long reliever needs to come into play here and hope both guys dont have to be bailed out every time as they get their arms back. trying to rehab to arms in the dog days at the same time may be our undoing and i sure hope they get sosa ready for this role and have davies up to do the same in a few days. they really may have to try starter by committee as well after all it is a team game and this idea of single roles only can be done when you have the types of people for it which hasnt been born out yet. it seems to me reitsma’s arm goes dead if he is used aggressively and he loses the life on his pitches. you cant ride him hard and put him up wet.
another fear is that of devine’s arm. i know and hope they are taking into consideration that the college season began essentially late february with throwing starting early january so his season has been extended by two months. as fans we need to remember this and not get carried away with the short term and blow his arm out as he really does show promise in spite of the temptation.though he wasnt in college the pirates have the same delemna with duke right now and are considering shutting him down in spite of his great roll. lets not go overboard and mess up what he can bring for the next few years.
By Jim
August 23, 2005 09:51 AM | Link to this
The scary thing is that Hampton and Thompson have interrupted the momentum that the rookies had created… give me Davies and Sosa and their “make it happen” over rehabbing two “older” guys at the expense of winning… The thought that we have to have Hampton and Thompson to win in the post season is ludicrous… period.
What we have to have is pitchers who are winning…. so last time I checked it looked like Davies and Sosa were doing that much better….
By dannycardwell
August 23, 2005 10:40 AM | Link to this
doc is right. bobby admitted using reitsma and alfonseca too much last year and paid for it in the playoffs. devine should be used sparingly keeping him fresh. im very surprised hampton and thompsondidnt spend 2-3 weeks in the minors getting back in pitching shape. we still have a couple in the minors that should get a shot, even if only for a couple weeks. all that said, i still believe i will be in the right field bleachers in october, grinnin like a possum.
By jst
August 23, 2005 12:32 PM | Link to this
The one thing the Braves have been very successful in doing over the past 14 years is avoiding the long losing streak and they won’t let that happen this time either. Hence, although they aren’t and won’t be complacent, they won’t suffer poor performances by anyone on the pitching staff for long. If it means brining back Davies I think they’ll do it. Luckily, there are quite a few options and my bet is that even though this race is and will be a close one, the Braves will prevail because of the excellent skills of Cox, Mazzone and company.