AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2007 > September > 08 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USWitnesses to something ‘magical’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mark Bradley
Even when it was over, Jeff Francoeur wasn’t quite willing to concede. Ronnie Belliard’s liner had dropped cleanly into right field, and by all rights that should have quashed John Smoltz’s masterwork six outs shy of culmination.
But the right fielder Francoeur, being young and indomitable, took the ball on one hop and thought for a long instant about trying to throw Belliard out at first base. “If Tex [first baseman Mark Teixeira] had been on the bag, I’d have probably tried it,” Francoeur said. “But I’d have probably thrown it into the dugout.”
Imagine how that would have been. A no-hitter preserved on a 9-3 groundout. In the history of baseball, had such a thing ever happened?
It didn’t happen Friday night, either. Overriding his impulses, Francoeur simply returned the ball to the infield. But that’s how it is when history is at hand: Nobody wants to see it slip away.
“That’s what I told these three knuckleheads,” said paying customer Jon Nalepa of Walton, pointing to his 12-year-old son and his son’s two friends after the 7-1 win. “They didn’t realize what they were watching. I told them, ‘Watch this — you may not ever see something like it again.’ “
And his reaction when Belliard messed everything up? “I was disappointed,” Nalepa said.
Pretty much everybody was. Said Smoltz: “It had a chance to be a magical night … Unfortunately I ran out of gas.”
Seeing Belliard’s single, vacationing Matthew Will of Biloxi, Miss., said, “I groaned for a second.”
Only an inning before, Will and the other Turner Field patrons had cheered when Austin Kearns’ grounder in the hole was ruled an error on rookie shortstop Yunel Escobar. “I’d never heard people cheer an error before,” Will said.
For the record, the 40-year-old Smoltz wouldn’t have been the oldest man to work a no-hitter. (Nolan Ryan did it at 45.) Smoltz wouldn’t have even been the oldest to throw a no-hitter at Turner Field. (Randy Johnson was 40 years, eight months and eight days old on the night of his 2004 perfect game against the Braves.) Still, it would have been something to see, and not just for the customers.
“There’s disappointment [when it doesn’t happen],” Francoeur said. “To do something like that at his age — not saying he’s old — would have been unbelievable.”
Here Francoeur laughed. “OK, I’ll say it. He is old.”
Did Smoltz have no-hit stuff? “He has no-hit stuff every night,” said pitching coach Roger McDowell. Was McDowell deflated that Smoltz came so close? “It would have been a great thing for him. [A no-hitter] is something that doesn’t come along very often.”
Will had never seen a no-hitter, he said, and his girlfriend, Samantha Newman, hadn’t even seen a big-league game in person before Friday night. The two will try again to witness something extraordinary tonight.
“We’ll be here [for Saturday’s game],” Will said. “I think Chuck James is pitching then.”
Permalink | Comments (20) | Post your comment | Categories: Braves / MLB, Mark Bradley
Comments
By LudaChris
September 8, 2007 12:42 AM | Link to this
First? Probably not.
By Eli
September 8, 2007 2:09 AM | Link to this
The “something extraordinary” that I hope Will witnesses Saturday night is Chuck James lasting past the 5th inning.
By gobirds42
September 8, 2007 2:46 AM | Link to this
lol@eli…..my thoughts exactly. just go 6 with less than 4 given up and we will cheer just as loud….
By Peerless' Mama
September 8, 2007 2:53 AM | Link to this
Go Braves.
By Larry
September 8, 2007 4:33 AM | Link to this
That’s how Bobby Cox wins - no hit pitching with lots of runs scored!
Fortunately the team wasn’t victimized last night by Bobby’s greatest weakness: thinking.
By Braves Fan 79
September 8, 2007 4:52 AM | Link to this
ask Bobby this!: WHY IS WOODCRAP STILL on the team!?? Why did we wait so long to bring escobar up!??
By Charlie
September 8, 2007 5:30 AM | Link to this
Too bad for John. He is so competetive, and has had a hall of fame career. As a 50 year Braves fan, I will surely miss not seeing him much next year (as TBS bows out). John is the “money” guy on the squad. He steps up when it’s on the line. With even average run support, and better closing, he’d have many wins, especially in the past 2 seasons. As I watched ESPN News,from the 6th inning on last night, I kept hoping that the no hit bid would play itself out for John. I was disappointed for John. He deserves all the good things in baseball.
By Turtsnap
September 8, 2007 7:37 AM | Link to this
Smoltzie is the best. I have admired him for quite some time. Best pitcher the Atlanta Braves have ever had IMHO
By Roswell Ed
September 8, 2007 7:42 AM | Link to this
Prediction:
Chuck James will carry a no-no into the 1st.
He will not carry it into the 2nd.
He’ll be in the shower by the 5th.
Mr Smoltz you are the man.
Doyle Alexander for John Smoltz- have the Braves ever made a better trade?
Fact of the day:
Doyles middle name is Lafayette.
Thanks MOM
By Dawgs2007
September 8, 2007 8:49 AM | Link to this
Chuck James could not throw a no-hitter in the first inning. He is the biggest stiff on the pitching staff. He has ruined our season almost by himself.
By SavannahBrave
September 8, 2007 10:00 AM | Link to this
Smoltz is the man. I totally agree Ed. I remember when we made that trade, and I was p** because Aleander was having such a good year. I was like who the he!! is John Smoltz!? At least they have not ALWAYS screwed up on trades.
By Jeff R
September 8, 2007 10:16 AM | Link to this
Smoltz could have had a shot at the Cy Young this season but for the lack of run or bullpen support in a lot of his games. Tough break. But the guy is headed to the Hall. How many teams in major league history can boost of having three starting pitchers as part of the same rotation making it to the Hall (Smoltz, Maddox and Glavine)?
By yellowblood
September 8, 2007 10:19 AM | Link to this
There’s no reason to say “poor John”. This was an awesome performance from an awesome competitor. We will never see his equal and we had better show up at the park now because we will not have many more chances. What if he is traded this off-season ? Smoltz is rare because he does it right. Examples: Refused to go to the Yankees because he is a life-long Brave. 2. Plays the full season instead of the Martinez/Clemens schedule. I can go on and on.
By Gene
September 8, 2007 10:55 AM | Link to this
Smoltz is a great baseball player and an outstanding individual. I hope he stays around Atlanta. He would be an excellent announcer when his playing days are over.
By Amber
September 8, 2007 11:40 AM | Link to this
What can I say? Smoltz is the man!!!
Let’s not forget our other top Brave - Chipper! Way to go, guys.
By Coach (Lets Go Braves in 2008)
September 8, 2007 11:58 AM | Link to this
It was vintage John Smoltz. Thank you Bobby Cox , if it wasn’t for your genius trade of Doyle Alexander for Smoltzy we would never have been able to witness the nineteen years of brilliance from this Hall of Fame pitcher to be.
By Braves Fan 79
September 8, 2007 1:01 PM | Link to this
how was the magical night shattered? We still won the game. You sound like a woman mark with your overreacting!!
By RickH
September 8, 2007 1:52 PM | Link to this
I was at the game last night, and John Smoltz, let me say…for all these years, it has been an absolute honor and pleasure witnessing your class, your decency and your leadership. We of the old school crowd know that things must change, but in my mind you are, and will always be, the standard. Enough said.
By Ken Stallings
September 8, 2007 4:44 PM | Link to this
To answer the question, yes I recall that play did happen at least once. I cannot recall the details other than it was a light hitting pitcher at the plate and he hit a sharp grounder to right field where the fielder was playing very shallow.
He picked it clean and threw a strike to first for the out. It was a monumental humiliation for the pitcher/hitter.
Ken
By tc
September 9, 2007 5:43 AM | Link to this
john smoltz is one of the classiest, most geniune guys you could ever meet for a sports star. Working for the north fulton chamber of commerce, he was when I worked there and still is so ivolved with the community in north fulton. You can’t dislike a guy like Smoltz, there is just nothing to dislike about him.