AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2005 > October > 07 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USBatterymates give Braves a charge
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
If there was a going to be a moment when the course of a playoff series would change, it had to go like this.
It had to have bizarre story lines. It had to have a 38-year-old pitcher throwing to a 21-year-old catcher. It had to have rookies looking out to the mound and thinking, “Hey, that’s Roger Clemens. Cool! OK, now I’ll get a hit.”
It had to have a manager — slammed for a lineup decision the day before — treat Game 2 like do-or-die-yet-again by asking his No. 5 hitter to lay down a sacrifice bunt in the second inning.
Most of all, it had to have John Smoltz. Six years after his last postseason start — six years that saw injuries, reconstructive elbow surgery, a spectacular career rebirth as a closer and a re-rebirth as a starter — Smoltz was back in his comfort zone Thursday: On the mound as a playoff starter.
One day after the Braves looked comatose in another playoff game, Smoltz and Brian McCann acted like two electric paddles in an operating room. Smoltz didn’t look anything like a guy who had been having shoulder problems of late. He yielded a run in the first inning, then shut down Houston in the next six. McCann, his rookie batterymate, clubbed a three-run homer off a future Hall of Famer in his first postseason at-bat.
The Braves dumped the Astros 7-1 to even their divisional playoff series at a game apiece. So much for how this team would react in yet another postseason survival test.
At this point, maybe the atypical recipe for success shouldn’t be considered so atypical anymore.
“I’ve got a thousand emotions going through my head right now,” Smoltz said. “Just the teeter-totter of all the things that were being said about this team. But now we go on for another day.”
It was Smoltz’s 40th postseason appearance, but his first start since the 1999 World Series (he lost to Clemens and the Yankees). McCann was making his postseason debut. He was 7 in 1991 when Smoltz started his first playoff game.
So how’s this for a story for McCann to tell his grandkids: “Yeah, back in 2005, when gas was only $3.05 a gallon, I caught John Smoltz, and on my first swing in my first at-bat in my first playoff game against Roger Clemens, I hit a three-run homer.”
The Braves trailed 1-0 in the second. Bobby Cox (criticized for starting Brian Jordan in left field in Game 1) clearly was thinking: any run, any way possible, against the dominating Clemens.
After Andruw Jones singled, Adam LaRoche sacrificed him to second. A walk and a strikeout later, McCann stepped up with two on and two out.
The first two pitches from Clemens were balls. The third was a dream: a fastball over the plate that McCann clocked 409 feet into the right-center field stands.
The reaction from Houston manager Phil Garner to Clemens giving up a playoff homer to a rookie: “It’s a surprise.” (So where’s he been?)
Suddenly, the Braves had a 3-1 lead. Suddenly, they had life.
Suddenly, it was up to Smoltz.
He had waited a long time for this. His last October start was six Octobers ago. The spring of 2000 brought elbow problems and elbow surgery. He missed a year, came back briefly as a starter, the elbow rebelled and eventually he was moved to the bullpen.
Smoltz might have remained a closer, but this time it was the Braves’ run of postseason futility that interceded. The team needed a power pitcher back in the rotation.
The staff’s restructuring was built around his return to starter. It all pointed to these playoffs.
Recent shoulder problems threatened to wreck this moment. Cox slid him back to Game 2 and moved up Tim Hudson to the opener. More waiting.
But it was worth it. He threw 25 pitches in the first, then settled down. Houston managed just four hits in the next six innings.
“The first inning was going to be my biggest inning,” he said. “I waited a long time to start a playoff game of this magnitude.”
The shoulder wasn’t a problem for Smoltz. The stage wasn’t a problem for McCann.
Given this season, what else would you expect?
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By Matt
October 7, 2005 02:18 AM | Link to this
The Braves actually looked alive tonight. Hopefully they can carry this momentum into Saturday and not let Oswalt dominate them. Keep hackin’ rookies.
By geechee
October 7, 2005 02:22 AM | Link to this
Jeff great column. See you can do it when you apply yourself. But elsewhere on the page:McCann’s crack evens it up! What kind of headline is that for a family newspaper?
By D-man
October 7, 2005 02:52 AM | Link to this
Ah, yes….Bobby Cox CAN do it too when he wants to. THIS is the kind of lineup we should have had the first game when Bobby chose to go age over youth. Yes, I know he likes to use his players like a revolving door - this guy against this guy, gotta match this guy with this guy…blah, blah…I think he sometimes OVER thinks the game. Bobby, ya gotta play with who brought ya to the dance…gotta go with the HOT players. Anyway…GREAT victory, a nice mix of vets AND young players that are on a roll. Lets all hold our breath and hope the skipper stays with the young guys through the rest of the postseason!
By Zach
October 7, 2005 02:57 AM | Link to this
He’s the best for a reason, and so is this team. John Smoltz got himself in a jam on Thursday night and he got himself out, The Atlanta Braves got themselves in a jam on Wednesday and they got themselves out. It’s been ten years to long for the Atlanta Braves and the city of Atlanta to give themselves some credit. It took a player who lived through it and some kids who cryed through it to realize that.
As a city we made it through that first inning, trusting in the one athlete who would never once let us down, and so did his teamates. Then we liced vicariously, through Jeff we walked through pitches that we have watched him swing at excitably since July 6th, and then thorough Brian who wailed at a pitch that a true hall of famer would never have thrown in a first place. Ten years later, we are back where Marquis, Fred, Dave, Tommy, and the Lemer left us, a team we would never fall asleap on.
He sat there and he watched, and realized that it was his turn. The man upstairs was never given enough credit, until Saturday. Jorge uill change all that. A year ago we were turning to a Byrd, now we turn to the man who is cooler then the other side of the pillow. You may not know him but his teamates do…
Ten years, worth the wait
By geechee
October 7, 2005 04:04 AM | Link to this
Blauser was in the game? Where was I?
By Kiko
October 7, 2005 08:46 AM | Link to this
Awesome game!!! Aside from Smoltz and Mc Cann’s great day, credit should be given to the rest of the team. Chipper and his defensive plays at 7th, Andrew going 3 for 4, La Roche for that double, Frankie for taking 20 pitches tonight and that special walk in the 2nd inning. Reistma and Farnsworth worked great in 8th and 9th. Everyone contributed to lift our team and this could be the spark we are all waiting for…I’m pumped up for Game 3!!! Go Braves!!!
By Juan Carlos
October 7, 2005 09:18 AM | Link to this
If BC does not get it now then he will never get it…..LET THE YOUNG ROOKIES START!!!!!!!!! that is if you wanna win the WS!!!!!! go braves!!!!
By Dave Norris
October 7, 2005 09:51 AM | Link to this
Mr. Cox, pretty please let the kids play. I don’t care if we go down hard in the next two games. I don’t want to lose this series with Jordan and Franco starting (please forgive me the personal slight in this circumstance gentlemen). I’m not sure Estrada should be starting. He looks lost up there right now.
So please, let’s have the kids.
Couple of other points to remember as being much bigger than they will probably get credit for. McCann would have been leading off the 3rd inning instead of hitting that 3 run monster in the 2nd if not for Frankie’s magnificent at-bat earlier against Clemens. That was the most professional AB I’ve ever seen him execute. May have been the 2nd biggest play of the game. Made the first possible.
Chipper came up big in the 7th. I know we still had a big lead and all even if it goes through. But it was big. What if Smoltz comes out there and the bullpen struggles and Houston scratches back into it? That was a reinforcement play of the Brave’s momentum and slammed the door on Houston’s last, best chance.
And finally Reitsma. I know this won’t be a popular sentiment but I felt sorry for the guy when the fans were riding him hard in the eighth. But the fans really did seperate his behavior from the person. When he threw strikes, they cheered. And when he threw balls, they jeered. Rightly so. If Chris will work to maintain his control and just throw strikes he will prosper. He really can be a good major league pitcher.
That was a good game and I enjoyed it for John Smoltz more than anybody. I think he is simply one of the best players of his generation.
Congratulations John. I appreciate you.
By Tami
October 7, 2005 09:57 AM | Link to this
What a game last night! I was just thrilled that I could be there at Turner Field last night. I’m extremely tired this morning at work typing this blog, but it was sooo worth it! The fans were AWESOME, and I think it helped the team tremendously. It was an honor for me to see Clemens vs. Smoltz in a postseason game. I cannot describe the roar of the crowd when McCann hit the 3-run homer. For as loud a reaction we gave, I only wonder what it would be like in the LCS and WS. I hope that all the dreaming and hoping we’re doing that the Braves go deep in the playoffs this season becomes a reality for us. Now…let’s hope that the Braves win at least ONE game in Houston. GO, BRAVES!
By rich
October 7, 2005 10:04 AM | Link to this
just in case BC is reading these posts (i’m sure he’s not) i want to reinforce what the other have written, KEEP THE ROOKIES IN THE LINEUP!!!!!!!!
Also I can’t get enough of how patient Franceour was last night. I wonder if one of the great masters of drawing the walk, Chipper Jones, finally had a couple words with Frankie.
GO BRAVES!!!!! GO ROOKIES!!!!!!
By Carroll
October 7, 2005 10:10 AM | Link to this
Tammy: thanks for letting us get the game in last night ;)~
I agree with all the sentiments about francy and his outstanding AB’s against Clemens. I can picture him being our version of the Derek Jeter of the late 90’s—patient, work the pitchers, come through in the cluch almost like clockwork. I can also picture Sosy being our version of the 1997 Livan Hernandez.
I don’t wanna get overly excited/positive, but I think we may have turned a corner last night. Perhaps we went form the same ole Braves to the fightin’, never say die Braves. I hope so…for, even if we don’t win a championship, I at least want to see a team that shows the heart of a champion (a la the 91 Braves).
By Rhonda
October 7, 2005 10:47 AM | Link to this
GO BRAVES!!!!! GO ROOKIES!!!!! Bobby, keep the rookies in the game. I smell a WS championship!!!!!!!!!
By BB FAN
October 7, 2005 10:51 AM | Link to this
That was the best blowout game I have ever seen. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. And it was a blowout. Those guys played great.
Chipper made a few awesome plays in the field. The announcers were saying that his play on the Taveras bunt was typical for a MLB player, but with wet grass and the speed of Tavares, I think it was a great play. And the other play was awesome.
All of them had good at bats too. They were all taking pitches and not overswinging. Francoeur has really impressed me these first two games. I know he was a little eager in the 1st game, but he really looked good in the 2nd game. And even though Furcal was a little impatient with swinging at first pitches the whole night, he fouled enough off to work the counts.
I think Reitsma had a little bad luck in game one. At least one of the hits was a blooper and then the play that Franco srewed up by not stretching. I was a little scared when Cox brought him into game 2. Thank god he got through the 8th w/o giving up more than the 1 hit. And that was a little blooper as well.
I hope to hell Cox realizes that he srewed up in game 1. The 3 guys that should have started game 1 went 4 for 9 with 5 RBIs, a SF bunt and 2 walks. And it was against Clemens, Lidge and Qualls; who was a very good pitcher this year.
By Bill Stringfellow
October 7, 2005 10:57 AM | Link to this
I didn’t see last night’s game. Could someone tell me about Francoeur’s 2nd inning walk & his taking 20 pitches? Sounds like he is developing more discipline at the plate.
I agree with other posters that BC should play the kids & that (as Dave Norris pointed out) that Estrada looked lost in Game 1 at the plate, even if he did manage a weak single to right in his last AB. I’m not criticizing BC for using Estrada against Pettite (since Estrada can bat from the right side), but I’d love to see McCann against Oswalt in Game 3 & against any RHP.
Julio didn’t look good either, I hate to say, in Game 1. He seemmed very reluctent to swing at anything. I don’t know if there are lingering effects from his (wrist?) injury, but he doesn’t look right. I don’t know how LaRoche fares against LHPs, but he seems to be hot now. (I must admit that I was very down on LaRoche less than a month ago, as it seemed like he was hitting into a lot of DPs.) I was very impressed that he was able to make the SAC bunet when he was called upon to do so in the 2nd inn.
As for Jordan, he made a great catch in Game 1 which appeared to save 2 runs. But he didn’t hit at all well & that DP when the Braves had closed to 4-3 & seemed Pettite in trouble with runners on 1st & 2nd was a killer. Langerhans is swinging a hot bat, so let’s keep using him.
By Steve
October 7, 2005 11:13 AM | Link to this
Hey Dave Norris,
You took all the words out of my mouth. They will take it all the way!! GO BRAVES!!!!!
BY THE WAY …. WHERES HAHAHAH, just like i predicted he has no balls and won’t show………..
By Kenny
October 7, 2005 11:13 AM | Link to this
Needless to say:
5 RBIs last night came from those who didn’t start in Game 1.
Forget the righty/lefty match-up crap and the platoons.
1.Furcal 2.Giles 3. C.Jones 4.A.Jones 5. LaRoche 6. Francoer 7. Langerhans 8.McCann. That’s a Series winning lineup.
If Sosa can be Sosa in Game 3 and Hudson can get his crap together for game 4. (and the rooks and laroche play) I think we may be able to celebrate on THEIR field. That would mean John would be ready for Game 1 against the Cards. Let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves here though.
If after what happened last night Booby Cox doesn’t go with the same line-up he deserves to be booted without severence.
Last night reminded me of the old days. And it felt good! I rounded the bases (dining table, end tables and coffee table) when McCann hit his blast. My Jack Russell even got excited and barked as I ran in circles(three times to account for all three runs) the same way I did back in ‘95 when Justice went deep in Game 6 of the Series.
Our time is now. Let’s GIT-R-DONEEEEE!
By derek
October 7, 2005 11:14 AM | Link to this
boy, i do love reading the ajc after the braves are fortunate enough to win a playoff game. yeah jeff, lets pencil the braves in as world series champions shall we. you never learn do you? oh well, i guess you’ll have to go through another rude awakening about your beloved and OVERRATED braves. i look forward to your column, laced with excuses, when the mighty braves fall in these playoffs.
By Steve
October 7, 2005 11:22 AM | Link to this
People like Derek…..
Why do you even bother to go through the registration process and reading all of these columns then talking trash about the Braves??? Are you that pathetic that you have nothing else to do with your time then be bitter because your Mets, Marlins, Phils, Royals or whoever you love didn’t make it to the playoffs AGAIN???? Save your time get the hell off of here and get back to your mothers basement and continue to develop that carpel tunnel syndrome of yours due to excessive use of your right hand. Thanks … GOO BRAVES GOOOOOOOOOO BRAVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By Neil
October 7, 2005 11:32 AM | Link to this
Great Article Jeff—-
Seems like Bobby goin with the kids at least last night did what we all hoped it would do— injected some life into a club that sometimes makes you wonder if it has it in October… I was a 13 yr old at the time— but how much did last night remind some of ya’ll of Lemmer or Avery or the ice-water in his veins Smoltzie back in 91… we usually hit Oswalt hard—- maybe there’s reason for hope this year….
By Bravesbacker
October 7, 2005 11:40 AM | Link to this
Where is HAHAHA this morning? Would like see his thoughts on last nights game. Fantastic win last night. Crowd was electric. Hopefully this momentum carries us through.
By Gritz Blitz
October 7, 2005 11:45 AM | Link to this
I agree with bloggers here. We need to win with the rookies or lose with them. The excitement created last night simply could not be matched by Jordan, Franco, and Estrada. The rookies make the Braves a team again versus the zombie clubs of the past three years. Bobby, throw all of your “matchup” stats out the window as you have found the lineup that has the best chance of taking you the distance.
I must also congratulate Chipper & Andruw. Each has shown leadership this postseason. Andruw has been patient at the plate and has come up huge with some big hits. I have never seen him so outward with his emotions as he has shown the last two days. Chipper’s HR in game 1 was huge at the time but his glovework last night made up for any performance at the plate. It really appears that Chipper & Andruw do better when the rookies are in the lineup. It could be the mentor factor but whatever it is it should not be disrupted.
By Lee
October 7, 2005 11:57 AM | Link to this
Well said Steve!
I wish there was a way to keep guys, like Derek and HaHa… off of here. They all most often post only after a Braves loss. Hey, there’s the solution! The Bravos MUST win every game from here on out! GO ALL THE WAY, please end our suffering!
By paulie
October 7, 2005 11:58 AM | Link to this
its amazing what an offense can do,when its not down by 3 or 4 runs all the time.lets go sosa—-lets go braves.
By dere
October 7, 2005 12:21 PM | Link to this
steve and lee, are you guys always this stupid or is today a special occasion? first off i root for the yankees. if you’ve forgotten who they are let me remind you. they are the most storied team in history, not just baseball but sports in general. a team that beat your sorry asses twice in the world series, the last time being a 4 games to 0 beat down. in other words, i root for a team that wins championships, not one that wins one of the weakest divisions in baseball every year. Clearly, you spend way too much time in darkened rooms in front of your seven-year-old computer turning a whiter shade of pale. Go outside once in a while and breathe, before your brain starts to rot from all that festering stagnation and cognitive dysfunction.
By steve
October 7, 2005 12:54 PM | Link to this
DERE,
First of all chief if your a yankee fan why you b*** on the Braves site???? What the hell does the Braves gotta do with you, obviously somethin got you bad to the point where you REGISTERED got a LOGIN name and PASSWORD on AJC…..your the loser with too much time…I work for the Knicks bud, in SHI**Y NYC…..Yanks are chumps…THEY are in the CHEAPEST division in baseball….. Your a homo…208 million made the playoffs in a TIE with the SOX…HAHHAAH LOSER!!
By derek
October 7, 2005 01:04 PM | Link to this
steve, i post here so i can give gay men like you who are trying to learn about sports for the first time a little perspective. living in atlanta and reading the sports page mean i have to read how ‘great’ the braves are. they are like you; average at best. but keep talking. I always yawn when I’m interested. I’ve seen people like you, but I had to pay admission. And there he was: reigning supreme at number two.
By Braves for life
October 7, 2005 01:05 PM | Link to this
I think derek is just mad because his team is watching the Braves play along with him, to bad. Better luck next year dummy. GO BRAVES
By Tom Narang
October 7, 2005 01:09 PM | Link to this
Oh, I see a Yankee fan….. So, you root for a team with a 180 million dollar payroll, who buys championships, who has two steroid cheating players, and who has underachieved all year. Get off this site and go support your over-paid team as they try to BUY another championship.
By andy
October 7, 2005 01:10 PM | Link to this
Evryone can wish all they want, but we all should know by now that you can guarantee that we will see julio, estrada, and jordan in the lineup when petitte starts again. I just hope its not a decisive game 5, because that will spell trouble. Bobby would platoon Barry Bonds if he played for us, which begs the question,how can a left hander develop the skill to hit against left handers in the braves organization? the answer is he won’t, because to get experience you have to be allowed to attempt things.
By Wendy
October 7, 2005 01:31 PM | Link to this
andy-
The crazy thing is, look at all the rookie lefties (Betemit doesn’t count as a switch). Every single one of the rookie lefties has hit LHP for higher average than RHP this year, and for McCann and Orr, the splits are quite dramatic. All the more reason I was irritated with Jordan starting over Langerhans: Langy hits .293 against LHP, Jordan hits .263 against LHP. Same with McCann - Johnny’s a much better hitter against RHP since he hits better from the left side, but he was in against the LHP? Johnny hit .214 against LHP this year!!
LaRoche does look bad against LHP, though…
Someone in the minors must be teaching these lefties to hit LHP, Bobby’s just not taking advantage.
By derek
October 7, 2005 01:35 PM | Link to this
brave for life, thanks for chiming in dipstick. change your handle to loser for life. Let’s play horse. I’ll be the front end and you be yourself.
By Ricky
October 7, 2005 01:35 PM | Link to this
The braves played old school ball last night. They looked like the same team from the early 90’s, when the braves were actually a team to be feared in the playoffs.
I think the most important pitcher last night (not to take anything away from Smoltz) was Reitsma. He needed that inning. In the first game he got a blooper and an unfortunate play by Furcal and over the last couple of months he has begun to get down on himself. I think that last night was a major booster for him. It looks like we might have gotten our 8th and 9th innings secure with Farnsy. If anyone happened to see the excitement on Reitmsa’s face as he ran off the mound at the end of the 8th that, inning might have been the most important of his career. Maybe now we can have a little confidence going into the pen. Go Sosa give us 6 or 7 strong innings and we have a chance. Tomorrow is a make or break game.
By derek
October 7, 2005 01:46 PM | Link to this
tom narang, you morons wrote the book on OVERachieving. you’re probably too stupid to know what that means so let me explain; in a nutshell,the braves are never as good as you think they are. by the way, are your parents siblings?
By Tom
October 7, 2005 01:55 PM | Link to this
Thanks Derek, You proved my point: We overachieve, and you guys underachieve. You’re too stupid to realize you’re making my point. And by the way, you’re cracks abour being married to your siblings is very mature and original.
Now, to the normal people in this chat room: The biggest problem I see with the Braves in winning this series is not whether to start the rookies or not…it’s about how to close the gap between the starters and getting to Farnsworth. The middle relief is by far the weakest link on this team and I think the remaining games are going to be decided late in the game. Especially tomorrow since Sosa has not been economical with his pitches and probably won’t last until the 7th.
By BB FAN
October 7, 2005 01:56 PM | Link to this
derek, I can not believe you are bragging about the Yankees and their 4 WS rings since ‘96! You can brag about the one in ‘96. They earned that one. They came back to beat a great team. Just like the Braves beat a great team in Cleveland the year before.
HOWEVER, the other 3 WS rings were bought. They have had the highest payroll in baseball since the early 90’s. It started out the highest by 5-20 million, but that did work. Therefore, they raised it to 152+ mill in ‘02, 185+ mill in ‘03 and 208+ million payroll this year which is double of any other team. That is a very pathetic attempt at buying more WS rings. So don’t be bragging about your Yankees’ last 3 WS rings. Any team can win a ring with an unlimited payroll.
By Don A.
October 7, 2005 02:10 PM | Link to this
No matter who gets the rookie of the year award, I’ll never forget 5 things about Jeff Francoeur’s year: 1) Beating out a single to first base (was that Florida or Philly?) that kept it to two outs and was followed by an avalanche of runs. Probably the biggest single of our year 2) Throwing out Gonzales (Arizona) at the plate. 3) Throwing out Gonzales (Arizona) at the plate for the second time. 4) Taking a homerun away with an over the fence catch. 5) Earning a walk after going 0-2 against Clemens in his first playoff game. I’m pretty certain Howard with St. Louis will get the honors, but for this Brave’s die-hard fan, Francoeur will always be in my mind the most exciting rookie I’ve ever seen.
By dannycardwell
October 7, 2005 02:23 PM | Link to this
out of fairness, i have to say brian jordan should be on the playoff roster, but strictly as a pince hitter. just as bobby brought in a kid who gave up 2 grand slams in the regular season to pitch the last inning of the regular season to give him confidence for next season, he should stick with langerhans for the same reason. what does it say to a kid who was one of the 4 hottest hitters the last 3 weeks to have to sit in a play off game giving way to any body that hasnt played in several months. jordan is a jewel on and off the field. i hope he goes into coaching. if freddy gonzalas takes one of the 2 managerial jobs he will interview for, i look for eddie perez to get the third base coaching job, and brian should fit somewhere as well. he and eddie have done well for the braves over their careers and i for one would love to see both as coaches next year. also in fairness to estrada, he is playing in serious pain. he is also better with runners in scoring position than brian at this point in time. he was quoted as saying he thought mccann was the mvp for the braves after he went down, showing class as well. franco is as good a pinch hitter as any. as long as laroach stays hot he should play. if he starts to cool off, somebody hit him in the head with another ball. he has been hot as a firecracker since the last time. john smoltz has the heart of a lion.
By D-man
October 7, 2005 03:38 PM | Link to this
I must say, I dont think I have seen a funnier headline than the one on the AJC sports homepage…the one that describes last night’s Braves action. It says: “McCann’s Crack Evens It Up!” (Now THATS funny!!)
By DCBravesFan
October 7, 2005 08:23 PM | Link to this
What an incredible Game 2! A team effort, led by Smoltz. Don’t get too down on Bobby, all the rookies who didn’t start Game 1 are left-handed batters, and would have been going against the toughest lefty in the league down the stretch. That said - Play the Kids!