Braves fans may finally be able to take a breath and enjoy the rest of the season thanks to the guy that ended a horrific September and in return the season in 2011. Freddie Freeman not only clinched at least one playoff game for the Braves with his two run walk off home run, he also brought a glimmer of hope of a division title.

That’s right folks the team that had the most colossal collapse in team history, could make just as shocking of a come the next year. With eight games remaining, Atlanta finds itself only four games back of the NL East leading Washington Nationals, a team that has shut down their ace when they need him most. More than the loss of Starburg’s arm, Washington misses the continuity in the clubhouse. The message sent to the Nationals and their fans is that winning is not important. On top of the fact they they have proven to the world their inability to manage a pitching staff.

Freeman’s moment of glory may have taken away from two milestones: Chipper Jones tied Robbie Alomar in career hits, and Kris Medlen tied Whitey Ford for the longest games started team winning streak. In the 22 games Kris Medlen has started, even if he has gotten a no decision, the Braves have won. You cannot really blame Freddie though, it could have more to do with the fact that we are just accustomed to Medlen and Chipper carrying the team.

He knows his teammates will miss him, but I am sure he wasn’t expecting THIS type of outpouring.

Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman and second baseman Dan Uggla TRIED to get some sugar on the kiss cam. It did not go well.

» Continue reading “Chipper (Almost) Gets Smooch on Kiss Cam in Miami”

Kris Medlen is indeed strong medicine for the Braves, and can even be credited for keeping Atlanta together when the team hit the skids. Medlen also had Tommy John surgery at the exact same time as Stephen Strasberg, and like it or not, you have to give Fredi Gonzalez and Roger McDowell credit for how they have managed his innings this season.

When Braves country was screaming for Medlen to get back to the rotation, Gonzalez and McDowell were making sure the young pitcher was ready for the role. Had he started the year as a starter, who knows how his arm would have held up. Managing innings wisely is the key, not shutting down your number one at playoff time.

The Braves are sitting with the Wild Card lead and the hottest starter in MLB, instead of embroiled in controversy because your star in on the bench. It is this management that just may earn Fredi Gonzalez Manager of the Year.

As you might imagine, I am the Arkansas fan Bob Fiscella provided grief counseling to. I thank him for the care and concern, but mostly for not disclosing the the language that was used. Bob proved to me that there is at least one Texas fan with a heart!

Runners left on base, multiple TOOTBLANs (Prado out at third twice, multiple caught stealing, etc.), and hot hands not coming through in a pinch. That about sums up the Braves 4-1 loss to the Brewers. Let’s move on… Excuse my abruptness, but I have no flowery words left. So, let’s get it back together and start a new streak!

Seth Everett stopped by The Opening Drive to discuss how insane the Nationals shutdown of Stephen Strasburg, but to a Braves fan, it could seem pretty brilliant!

I will admit I chalked up yesterday’s game versus the Phillies as another loss. Seriously, five runs in the first given up by Paul Maholm, and Cole Hamels dealing? I had about all I could take. I had no explanation other than the Braves look out of gas. Let’s not forget that Fredi Gonzalez choose to bench Brian McCann and Dan Uggla due to their lack of production. A move that Uggla had no problem voicing his displeasure about. Being strongly against leaving early, I decided to seek shelter from the heat and humidity in the 755 Club with friends old and new.

As we attempted to solve the Braves problems to no avail, the crowd got smaller and smaller. All the sudden there seemed to be a bright spot, Peter Moylan had made his way back to Turner Field. 11 months removed from shoulder surgery, many fans did not realize the Aussie had been called up. Seeing Moylan on the mound seemed to be our reward for having waited it out, but not so fast my friend!

Let’s fast forward to the bottom of the ninth, two outs, bases loaded, and Martin Prado up to bat. (Well, maybe I should mention Dan Uggla was to pinch hit, but was pulled when Jonathan Pappelbon entered the game in favor of Lyle Overbay. Overbay was called out on strikes, but I digress.) As he has done all year Prado delivered with a bases loaded double that set the table for none other the @RealCJ10 Chipper Jones to get the GW #mammo. For those of you who do not follow him on Twitter, Chipper hit a game winning three run homer.

There are very few times I am able to show emotion at the ballpark, but last night standing in left field in a spot honoring the achievement of the great Hank Aaron, I jumped up and down like a little kid. It was something I a cannot adequately describe, but it was one of those times that I just felt something special was about to happen, and it did. As @RealCJ10 put it, Shame on fans that left game-kudos to those that stayed! Never kno when somethin cool gonna happen, like GW #mammo!Yessir!

Imagine the unbelievable.

Braves one inning away from being swept by the Phillies at home a month removed from sweeping the Phillies in their home park. Down five runs, fans looking back to one year ago, as the Braves lost a huge Wild Card lead to miss the playoffs.

Then they rally. Then here comes our hero.

» Continue reading “Saved From Sweep, Braves Rally w/ Chipper Walk Off in 9th”