TV CHATTER
If the Braves can force a Game 4 in the NLDS, Monday will be a very late night for Atlanta sports fans. The Falcons play at 8:30 p.m. against the New York Jets, and that’s early compared with the time set for a potential Game 4 in the Braves series — 9:37 p.m. at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. If the Braves-Dodgers series reaches Game 5 at Turner Field, gametime Wednesday will be at 8:37 p.m.
DAILY POSTERS
The AJC is offering poster pages during the NLDS:
Thursday: Freddie Freeman
Friday: Jason Heyward
Sunday: Craig Kimbrel
Monday: Justin Upton
END OF AN ERA?
Driving from his home in Duluth on Friday, Brian McCann knew there was a chance it could be his last trip to Turner Field as a member of the Braves after nine seasons. If the Braves lose two of the next three games, including Games 3 and 4 (if necessary) in Los Angeles, the series is over and so potentially is his career with the Braves. McCann is eligible for free agency, and with the likelihood that he’ll command $15 million to $18 million annually, he’s expected to be offered more lucrative contracts by American League teams. “What we’re doing here today is way more important than what’s going to happen to me after this season,” he said.
COX’S RETURN
To every person who asked Bobby Cox in the dugout if his right arm was loose for the ceremonial first pitch, the former Braves manager laughed and said “no, not really.” Club president John Schuerholz, who helped build the Braves perennial division-winning teams of the 1990s with Cox as his manager, had just walked by and heard Cox lament the way his arm was feeling. He offered, “you need a cutoff man?” Schuerholz is coming off recent shoulder surgery, and Cox said he’s headed for surgery on his left arm in the coming year.
LAST WORDS
Chipper Jones voiced his displeasure from his Twitter account Thursday about his ceremonial pitch at Game 1, saying sarcastically: “Wanna thank the Braves organization for having me throw out the first pitch to the mascot tonite. Quite sure that’s never been done before!” Later, Jones also tweeted: “Nor will it EVER happen again.” Jones predicted on 680 The Fan on Thursday that the Dodgers would win the division series in four games.
