AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2006 > August > 08 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USThe Tuesday Countdown
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
10: They had a showdown with the division-leading Mets and got swept. They had a showdown with the wildcard-leading Reds and lost two out of three. They started another homestand with a loss, and entering Tuesday had the second-worst home record in the majors (behind only Kansas City). So when does the last Braves’ fan yell, “Uncle!”?
9: Seriously, we’ve seen flawed Braves teams in these past 14 seasons. What we haven’t seen is a team fail miserably so often when its proverbial backs were against the wall. So if you still expect this team to make the playoffs, I’d like to know why. Please blog below, although I’m not sure how strong the wireless signal is on Neptune.
8: Barry Bonds: A despised liar. Mark McGwire: A dumb liar. Floyd Landis: A liar who really, really, wants you to like him. But, still a liar.
7: My daughter: Not a liar (usually) but capable of wonderful rationalizations. She sent out 222 text messages in the first seven days she had her cellphone. Her explanation: “I had to get the word out I had a phone.”
6: Maybe a liar, maybe not, but either way really, really dumb: Paul Lo Duca, whose wife - a former Playboy model! - has filed for divorce. Lo Duca’s infidelity and gambling issues have been cited. Dolt.
5: Viagra is sponsoring the Major League Baseball’s comeback player award. When you think about it, could any product be more associated with great comebacks?
4: I know. Another performance-enhancing drug in baseball. I get it.
3: The Falcons play their first exhibition game Friday: Three lucky fans will be chosen to attempt a field goal.
2: I’ll be shocked if the Falcons don’t eventually pick up Paul Edinger or another free agent kicker. But two questions: 1) Why would a team with playoff aspirations even wait this long? 2) Whose bright idea was it to dump the consistent Todd Peterson without a backup plan?
1: Went to a garage sale last week and saw Billy Knight sitting with Al Harrington.
Permalink | Comments (17) | Post your comment | Categories: Jeff Schultz
Comments
By Michael
August 8, 2006 01:35 PM | Link to this
Perhaps Lo Duca and Kris Benson can form a support group. Or does Hugh Grant already lead one?
Reason Nos. 1 and 2 the Braves won’t win: only two starters are hitting over .280 (Renteria and McCann) and the starting pitchers have an ERA that shows a great resemblance of the number on Michael Vick’s jersey.
On another note, Chelsea FC has outdone the Yankees. You have a $200 million roster of the world’s best soccer players, most of ‘em play half the game just a month after the World Cup and…they weren’t fit. That’s almost a Fulmeresque excuse there. Go MLS (thanks for DeRo, Canada).
By Ben
August 8, 2006 01:44 PM | Link to this
Everyone pointed to the bullpen as the problem in the beginning of this downturn. The current bullpen has an ERA of 3.21. What’s the next excuse?
By Dell
August 8, 2006 01:48 PM | Link to this
I see the flaws in our team, however I believe we CAN still win this. Why give up? We were down 7-1 last night and didn’t give up. ANYTHING can happen. I am a realist and I know that it’s probably not gonna happen, but as a true Braves fan, I will believe in my team until they are eliminated.
By maya lucia
August 8, 2006 01:57 PM | Link to this
anything is possible with the new wild card system in baseball…..even the braves have a chance…..and if they hit a winning streak at the right time, it may happen….but, you gotta wonder if atlanta deserves it…….i mean, what if they came on strong at the end and somehow picked up the wildcard slot…..the spoiled atlanta fans & media probably wouldn’t support & come out to the ballpark for the playoffs…..or maybe they would….and it’s the reason they are waiting so long to put together their playoff run……but, maybe….and just maybe….it could be that they are not going to make it this year due to lack of consistent play from their starters…..up & down relief…..no serious threat in their bats….blah blah blah…..but, until they are out of it…..i’ll still be watching & cheering them on and hoping for the moment when it all clicks……..maybe they should bring back those ugly a*s bob horner light blue uniforms…..and make them wear them until they make a legitimate run for a playoff spot…..i’m just sayin.
By Reality
August 8, 2006 02:39 PM | Link to this
Many good reasons the Braves won’t make the playoffs …. 1 The starting pitching SUCKS 2 The everyday lineup SUCKS 3 The bullpen SUCKS 4 The bench SUCKS 5 The manager SUCKS 6 The GM SUCKS 7 The fans SUCK
Do the dumb fans in this town see a pattern here??? Here is a suggestion then ….. 1 Buy a cold beer 2 Go cry in your beer 3 Then just go soak your head in your beer
By Brad
August 8, 2006 03:00 PM | Link to this
Michael
Batting average is a pretty sorry indicator of how the Braves’ ave performed offensively. A better way to look at this is runs scored vs runs allowed. The Braves have scored 580 runs this season (through Aug 7), second in the NL to the Mets (593 runs) and 8th overall in baseball. That tells me that offensive production, despite the batting averages, has been there for the Braves (even apart from their explosive 7 game streak around the All-Star break).
On the other hand, they’ve given up 573 runs, 12th in the NL (the Rockies have given up the fewest! 492!). Their, in a nutshell is your problem: Pitching. Starting pitching, relief pitching, it doesn’t matter. They’ve all stunk.
By the way, you’d expect the Braves to be closer to .500 given that they’ve scored 580 and allowed 573…but I bet if you factor the streak they had immediately after the All Star Game out the numbers would look about right for what they are: a team almost 10 games below .500.
By Jay
August 8, 2006 03:02 PM | Link to this
I said “Uncle!” in June.
Our Bullpen sucked, then we got new guys and its been good. Our starters, all leftovers from last year except Chucker James, have been pretty average…on a very good day. When can we blame our pitching “coach”?
By Brad
August 8, 2006 03:29 PM | Link to this
Jay I can tell that the conclusion of your comment is supposed to be that Roger McDowell (Braves’ pitching coach) should be blamed for the pitching problems. The only problem is that it doesn’t seem to follow from your premises.
You’re right that the bullpen hasn’t been very good but that it has improved since Wickman and Baez arrived. But you’re also understating how poor the starting pitching has been. It’s been worse than “pretty average”. With the exception of Smoltz and the few starts that James has made, everyone else (especially Hudson and Thomson) has been awful (or injured. or both).
Does it follow that the pitching coach is to blame? I say no…
Both the starting pitching and the bullpen weren’t much to write home about last year under Mazzone. Plus, it’s hard to see how Hudson and Thomson could be pitching so poorly because of their pitching coach. And McDowell can’t be blamed for Reitsma’s wierdness with his nerve and Davie’s leg and Hampton’s elbow. Plus, I submit that Mazzone would’ve had a tough time with a bulpen consisting of Paronto, Yates, McBride, Ray, etc. Reitsma was pretty bad last year also - that’s why we traded for Farnsworth. The issue is one of skill and talent. Some of our pitchers just aren’t very talented. Others are talented but haven’t had the time to develop their skill. Of course, look at Yates’ and Paronto’s numbers now. Not so bad over the last month or two…
By CharlotteDave
August 8, 2006 03:55 PM | Link to this
Sometimes it seems as if people, including some AJC sports writers, would like the Braves to have an official public announcement that they’re giving up. Obviously, their chances are looking very slim right now, but when you’re 5 and a half behind with over 50 games to play you have to try to keep believing and give it your best shot. It might be a deceptive 5 and a half, but it’s still 5 and a half. To have any chance the Braves have to get real hot, real quick, but it isn’t impossible. After all, even the worst team in baseball has hot streaks now and then.
By Dean
August 8, 2006 04:06 PM | Link to this
I hate wildcard “races”. Win or go home.
By CP
August 8, 2006 04:08 PM | Link to this
Who cares ! They don’t do SH&T when they get there anyhow. What makes you think winning the wild card will make any difference ? Thank God football is starting !
By Brendan
August 8, 2006 10:28 PM | Link to this
The last Braves fan will say “uncle” when it’s official. Which sadly, might take all the way ‘til September. Giving up the ghost is tough for a die-hard, Jeff.
But stick a fork in ‘em, the Braves are done, barring a miraculour turn-around and a total collapse by the Mets and the wildcard teams ahead of the Braves.
By mart
August 9, 2006 08:15 AM | Link to this
I too said “uncle” in June. I still enjoy watching them play though. Wonder what they’ll be like next year. I’m not particularly confident they’ll be in better.
By steve in virginia
August 9, 2006 09:10 AM | Link to this
I’ve never seen anyone sit at a garage sale…
By braves fan
August 9, 2006 10:06 AM | Link to this
Where’s the fun in crying Uncle? Part of the fun of being a fan is “believing.” Otherwise, we’d all just root for the best team.
Right now it is bleak. If the Braves had a healthy Horacio, Kyle Davies, Thomson and the Hudson we saw last night, coupled with the rebuilt bullpen, I’d say “why don’t they have a chance?” But we don’t have those things, except maybe Hudson coming around. But the National League is still weak. Any team that gets hot could rise to the top pretty easily. So it’s not impossible, just improbable.
Has anyone considered that maybe Floyd Landis had a higher testosterone level because the tests were setup to monitor Lance Armstrong, who was riding one testicle short of a set? Maybe their test equipment needs to be recalibrated. LOL
Since when is typing a message quicker than saying it over the phone?
When are these moron athletes going to learn that marriage is a waste of money and time for a millionaire? Why guarantee that one of these bimbos gets half, when you could just date them all? They always stray. Why not keep their money and ability to stray?
I’m curious what the trophy for the Viagra Comeback Player of the Year will look like. Hehe.
At least this performance enhancing drug use will be easy to spot. “Dude, you just knocked over the cooler. Put that thing away.”
I got nothing here. (So did Schultz.)
Why don’t they just call Peterson back? I know they were concerned about his ability to hit longer field goals. But they have Koenen who hit the longest field goal in the NFL last year, 58 yards. And they should really be more focused on the OFFENSE gaining a few more yards so that long field goal attempts are not that frequent.
Dude it’s the Hawks. Dysfunction is expected.
By Gene
August 9, 2006 10:27 AM | Link to this
Jeff, The chances of the Braves are slim and none, but stranger things have happened, such as 1991. They still have a geat farm system and one of the best managers in baseball. If the choke continues, at least Joe Simpson and Skip will have to shut up about their “unprecedented success.” That may be posiitive for future seasons, provided they get a rational owner.
By Rick
August 9, 2006 10:33 AM | Link to this
I’m not ready to bury the Braves at this point. I’m ready to bury Schultz though. Baseball is a quirky game, and Schultz is just an a*****e.