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DEL.ICIO.USFor Devine a day of surprise, frustration
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Furman Bisher
Well, look at it this way: The Kansas City Royals have lost 19 straight. This was only three for the Braves.
Yeah, but it was the way it was lost. This was the third in a row to one of those teams from that “weak” West Division that some of the Braves are hoping they’ll draw in the postseason playoffs, so I read in the paper. It took ‘em 13 innings to lose to San Diego, but that isn’t the saddest part.
You probably hadn’t even heard of Joey Devine before. He was the pitcher the Braves chose first in the draft. It’s not that long a trip from N.C. State University to the National League, even if you detour through Pearl, Miss., but with Joey, it was so sudden. He had just gotten in from the Braves’ farm at Pearl and drawn a crowd at his locker, which didn’t even have his name tag yet.
Frank Wren, John Schuerholz’s assistant, brought Leo Mazzone over to meet him. “This is Leo Mazzone, the pitching coach,” Frank said.
“I’m Joey Devine,” Joey said, as if Leo didn’t already know. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“When did you pitch last?” Leo asked.
“Two days ago.”
“Be ready,” Leo said, and as it turned out, he wasn’t kidding.
By the time it was done, Devine had absorbed a full dose of that old introductory phrase, “Welcome to the big leagues, kid.” He had heard boos. He had failed to get a bunt down and it was turned into a double play. He had served up a bases-loaded homer to a guy whose name begins with an “X,” Xavier Nady. That turned a 13-inning marathon into a loss, and the losing pitcher was Devine.
To err is human, to forgive is divine, so the old axiom goes, though not as Joey spells it. That’s the message that goes out to the lusty patrons of Turner Field. How more horrible a way for a 21-year-old lad to break into the big leagues, and on top of that, to hear boos. Shame on you, people.
There were highly paid senior Braves who had their chances to end the agony earlier. Horacio Ramirez, rescued from the bullpen and returned to the rotation, gave his employers eight solid innings. Rafael Furcal had given the Braves a 2-1 lead with a home run that struck the netting on the fair pole. Then an uncelebrated catcher named Miguel Olivo delivered a home run that tied the game, and from the seventh to the 13th inning, the score sat there, 2-2. Then the “X” factor struck.
By that time, Bobby Cox had just about ransacked his bullpen. He had a couple of options, including the roundly jeered Dan Kolb with his obese ERA, but he played the Devine hunch. The holidaying Andruw Jones had come close to pulling it out in the 10th when he pinch-hit, swung mightily and gave it a charge, arousing one brief moment of hope, which died in the glove of Brian Giles. Ryan Langerhans, in relief for Andruw, had his shot in the 11th with the other two members of the all-rookie outfield on base, Jeff Francoeur and Kelly Johnson, and sadly raised a soft fly to right.
Then the 13th, two men on, an intentional walk, followed by an unintentional one, and the boos, when Nady struck. This was a game of a thousand plots, all heartbreakers for the Braves, who are beginning to show some chinks in their armor, some weariness under the heavy load of caring for a lead under constant challenge.
While the tenderfoot Devine was suffering defeat, the victory went to an old warhorse who has hung his clothes in the Braves clubhouse at least twice. Rudy Seanez, a man of many surgeries, the Padres winner, is now pitching for the 26th team in his career, approaching 20 seasons, pockmarked by injury. Two extremes, a kid suffering his first indignity, and an old warrior trudging ahead like a guy on a treadmill of a career.
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By HAROLD LEE SCOTT
August 20, 2005 11:05 PM | Link to this
GIVE A LOT OF CREDIT TO THE KID DIVINE! he gave it a great try, and almost did the job! AND IF ANYONE ELSE HAD STEPPED UP AND PROVIDED THAT NEEDED HIT, HE WOULD HAVE BEEN GREAT! but he did great anyway having to go deep into self to keep producing strikes after being worn thin. BUT THE BIG POINT I THINK IS,BOBBY HAS FOUND SOMEONE WHO WILL GIVE IT HIS ALL WITH CONFIDENCE IF NEEDED ALTHOUGHT HE MIGHT BE WORN OUT. I THINK HE DID HIS BEST! THAT IS ALL YOU CAN ASK. GIVE A PERSON WITH HEART ANY DAY.
By tyyosh
August 20, 2005 11:33 PM | Link to this
I think Furman has it wrong. If the fans were booing on the walk, it was because the ump forgot his strike zone. Two pitches in a row, right in the same spot, strikes all day long, now balls. It should have easily been 2-2 not a walk.
By Brian
August 21, 2005 03:57 AM | Link to this
At least one of those balls were right down the middle of the plate. Even guys on ESPN commented on it.
By Jim
August 21, 2005 07:02 AM | Link to this
The kid might have escaped had the catcher thrown to the right side of second base. The braves executed a perfect pitch out and would have had the runner if the throw had been on target.
By George
August 21, 2005 09:50 AM | Link to this
Mr. Bisher,
Thank you for your usual insightful words.
I believe there may be light at the end of the tunnel with this young man on board. He trows strikes. Hopefully he will put this start behind him.
Now, prehaps the Braves (and some media) will refocus on winning the division and not looking toward the playoffs. With only a 3 1/2 lead nothing is certain yet.
By Joe Roman
August 21, 2005 07:19 PM | Link to this
Wasn’t it great to read how the other players came up to Devine after he gave up the slam and told him to keep his head up? What a classy bunch!
By Edwin Odom
August 22, 2005 11:46 AM | Link to this
I think this kid has a bright promise. But he probably needs to master/use another pitch or two to go with his heat.
By Travis
August 22, 2005 12:21 PM | Link to this
Happy Birthday tomorrow to Julio Franco. The High Court of Sports celebrates Julio’s 47th birthday with a piece connecting him to the 1869 Cincinnati Red Stockings. Eight Degrees of Julio Franco is an interesting read. http://www.thehighcourtofsports.com
By Jim
August 23, 2005 09:45 AM | Link to this
The big mistake here was NOT pinch hitting for Devine… unless Bobby had already used them all and he might have by then… Devine struck out… he didn’t cause the base running snafu. The game should have been over before it could be blamed on the kid… Jim