Atlanta Braves 2007 Season in Review

Atlanta Braves

Atlanta Braves 2007 Season in Review

Braves season in review. The pitching, the batting, the Bobby Cox ejections.

The season began with such promise on April 2 with the Braves defeating the Phillies 5-3 in the season opener at Philadelphia. Edgar Renteria (right) was congratulated in the dugout after hitting a two-run homer. After eight games, the Braves were 7-1.

On May 24, 2007, Braves veteran John Smoltz notched his 200th victory, made sweeter since it came with former teammate Tom Glavine on the mound for the Mets.

Tim Hudson, right, embracing catcher Brian McCann, left, pitched the Braves' only complete game of the year on Sept. 16 when the Braves defeated the Nationals 3-0 at RFK Stadium.

For the 2007 Braves, this was "The Catch." Left fielder Willie Harris makes a leaping catch at the wall in Shea Stadium to deny New York Mets batter Carlos Delgado a home run in the ninth inning. The Braves won 7-6.

Chipper Jones lies on the ground at third base after being shaken up on a slide around Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Jose Bautista during the third inning of the game on May 11, 2007. Jones remained in the game, but took heat from fans for sitting out later in the year with injuries.

When he was healthy, Chipper found success at the plate, contending for the National League batting title. It would be the first of his career and the first for the Braves since Terry Pendleton won in 1991.

On Aug. 1, 2007, Mark Teixeira, acquired the day before in a seven-player trade, became the first player to homer in his Braves debut since Jeff Francoeur in 2005. Tex hit a home run in his next game, too.

Bobby Cox has the distinction of being the most-ejected manager in major league history. On Aug. 14, 2007, in a home game against the Giants, Cox broke John McGraw's record of 131 ejections. Cox was ejected by plate umpire Ted Barrett after arguing a called third strike on Chipper Jones to end the fifth inning.

He got thrown out the next night, too. Cox is shown here arguing with umpire Angel Hernandez after his ejection.

To make matters worse, Barry Bonds was in town that night, too. The San Francisco Giants' slugger passes the Braves' Chipper Jones as he rounds the bases on home run No. 759. Bonds hit the homer, his 25th of the season, off Tim Hudson, who had not given up a home run in more than 60 innings. The Braves, however, still won 6-3.

The Braves spent all season looking for starting pitchers in the bottom of the rotation to go along with aces John Smoltz and Tim Hudson. Kyle Davies wasn't the answer, however. Manager Bobby Cox, pulled Davies during the first inning of a game against the Cincinnati Reds at Turner Field. He was later traded to the Kansas City Royals for Octavio Dotel.

Lance Cormier, plagued by a right shoulder injury, wasn't the answer, either. He gave up three home runs to the Chicago Cubs, two to Alfonso Soriano at Turner Field on June 8. The first Soriano home run came on the very first pitch of the game.

Jo-Jo Reyes also didn't pan out. Here, Braves manager Bobby Cox pulls Reyes after he gave up two runs in the 7th inning to the Cincinnati Reds. The Reds scored four runs in the inning, all charged to Reyes.

And Mark Redman didn't last long. Redman was 0-4 in five starts with an ERA of 11.63 when the Braves released him.

Buddy Carlyle, signing autographs, for fans before a game, had his moments, but not enough of them to help carry the Braves into the playoffs.

It was no picnic being the closer, either. Bob Wickman, right, had a tough time in a Braves uniform this season. He posted a 3.92 ERA in 49 appearances and converted 20 of his 26 save opportunities. But Wickman was not popular in the clubhouse, where he was thought to be selfish. The Braves designated him for assignment on Aug. 24 and he signed with the Diamondbacks on Sept. 7.

Well, at least the catcher position was solid. Brian McCann, with beard (here) and without, was a standout for the Braves and excelled despite finger and ankle injuries.

"What are the playoffs?" Some spectators at Turner Field were non-judgmental. Mack (left), owned by Stacey Bonner of Decatur, and Sophie, owned by Jennifer Grier of Riverdale, took in the Braves game on "Bark in the Park" day in September.

The Braves recorded a win in their last home game of the season. Andruw Jones, center, and Matt Diaz, right, make their way down the line to congratulate teammates on their 7-4 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Sept. 23.

And then it was over. Even though three games remained, the Braves' playoff hopes were dashed on Sept. 27, 2007, by a 6-4 loss at Philadelphia. First baseman Mark Teixeira couldn't handle a wild throw from pitcher John Smoltz on a bunt by the Phillies' Shane Victorino in the first inning -- and it got worse. Smoltz allowed four runs in the first before getting an out. "I've never been part of a game where after two pitches it's 1-nothing, man on third," Smoltz said. It was that kind of year.

1/20

The season began with such promise on April 2 with the Braves defeating the Phillies 5-3 in the season opener at Philadelphia. Edgar Renteria (right) was congratulated in the dugout after hitting a two-run homer. After eight games, the Braves were 7-1.

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