Here it is, Opening Day! The new Braves take the field versus National League East nemesis Philadelphia. Ready or not, Braves fans will have an infield without Chipper Jones, someone other than Brian McCann behind the plate, and no daily game of “Where on the Field is Martin Prado”.
What is the same is the old reliable Tim Hudson on the mound. At 37 years old, you can count on Hudson commanding the cutter, just as you can count on the “War Eagle” for the former Auburn star. Hudson has lead by example since joining the Braves in 2005. Do not mistake his laid back nature and often comical interviews for lack of killer instinct. Anyone that has watched the veteran compete knows that while he may have us laughing of the field, on the field there are no laughing matters. (Well, there was that time he fell off the mound versus Baltimore. As someone who frequently embarrasses myself in similar manners, if you cannot laugh at yourself, you are the only one not laughing.) » Continue reading “Braves Opening Day- Something Old, Something New”
Braves kick off a 10 game home stand with division rivals and NL East bottom feeders Phillies.
Braves begin another long home stand, 10 games, against the Philadelphia Phillies in Atlanta. We will review facts, statistics, story lines and more after the break.
Thursday night I was fortunate enough to be the guest of Dan Schlossberg and Chris Mascaro on Braves Banter. This episode is a bit longer than as I served as the opening act for Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez. Listen to our thoughts on the upcoming Atlanta Braves season. You can catch Braves Banter every Thursday at 7:00 PM ET.
Atlanta Braves
Miami Marlins
New York Mets
Philadelphia Phillies
Washington Nationals
Predictions
1. Phillies
2. Braves (Have one of the two new Wild Card Spots)
3. Marlins
4. Nationals
5. Mets
Brief Divisional Overview:
With the Marlins doing some rebranding, don’t sit on them to be quiet, especially with what they did in the off season. Their new stadium, mascot, uniforms, and Ozzie Guillen as their manager, they might be a sight to see. » Continue reading “A Look Into the Crystal Ball”
Spring is here! The Braves held the first workout of Spring Training this morning, and back in Atlanta Zaid Hakim and James Palmer join me to discuss their arch rivals the Philadelphia Phillies. Oh, Happy Day!
Tonight’s game was snapshot of the entire Braves season- great performances by some and maddening by others. Tim Hudson showed us all who leads this team, but mistakes erased it all. Most importantly, Atlanta showed their inability to go for the kill. Jason Heyward stood 90 feet from St Louis, but that is as close as he would come because the Phillies came back to put the game away in the unlucky 13th. Atlanta had exactly who they wanted coming to the plate in Chipper Jones, Dan Uggla and Freddie Freeman, but even they could not keep it going. Uggla’s homerun was the reason the Braves were even in the position tho win in the first place, so he gets a small break. Michael Bourn just his fair share going 3 for 5 with two stolen bases. » Continue reading “Colossal Collapse”
When I wrote in April that the season would come down to this series, I was referring to the division. As it is the Braves have fallen apart and have a mere 1 game lead over St Louis with three to play. Those three games happen to be against the Phillies, aka the Man.
Injuries and the Braves inability to hit with runners on base has caught up to them with a vengeance, and has left the city of Atlanta saying, “Here we go again.” Let’s face it, if a team drops two of three to the Nationals in a must win situation, they probably are not in the best shape for the playoffs. It was not until Sunday’s loss that not making the playoffs even seemed possible, but bases loaded no outs and coming away with a big fat 0, does not look good for the home team.
I have contended that the hitting would come, and it did, but it also went. That was fine when your pitching staff was in did the best in baseball from top to bottom, but now they are held together with bailing wire and bubble gum. (I wish I could remember Pop’s exact quote on that one. Although I know he is grinning that the Cardinals are surging, I can hear him say, “I’m done with them, they don’t deserve to win.”)
Based on St Louis playing Houston, Atlanta must win 2-3 to tie. They will have to find what’s left of some arms and bats to do that, but if they do, who knows! This is fall ball, and anything can happen! Besides, there is nothing better than meaningful baseball until the end…if you get in that is.
After a 9-0 route on Labor Day, Atlanta was hoping there ace Tim Hudson could turn things around, or at least the weather would cooperate and give them a day off. The Braves did not catch break on either. After the two hour rain delay and constant rain, they game played out, but Hudson was not the sharp pitcher he would like to be.
The most maddening part of the game is the same thing that followers of the Braves have been pulling their hair out about all season, runners left on base! Atlanta out hit Philadelphia 10-9, but lost 6-3. In case you are new to the program, I tend to get annoyed by LEAVING DUCKS ON THE POND! At this point in the season, my only suggestion is to drink more, maybe it will ease the frustration! » Continue reading “Another Nasty Night in Philly….and It Rained A Lot Too”
If I told you that Atlanta lost 3-0 with Randell Delgado starting, Martin Prado at first, Jack Wilson at third, Jose Constanza in left, Matt Diaz in right, and David Ross behind the plate, you would believe it before a come from behind win from the patchwork boys. Looking at yesterday’s line up, it was clear that the Braves wanted to be fresh against the Phillies and Cardinals. Onlookers may have thought Fredi Gonzalez was conceding to be swept by the Dodgers, but maybe he is just that confident in Braves depth.
Matt Kemp bounced back after Delgado struck him out in the first with a three run home run in the third. The AAA call up went on to two pitch two more scoreless innings, but considering he was facing Clayton Kershaw, three runs seemed a bit daunting- for spectators anyway. » Continue reading “No Seriously, Atlanta Won with THAT Lineup!”
No, this is not a Cardinals vs Brewers recap- it is about a team that finally has speed. Fredi Gonzalez is trying to make the most of his newly acquired assets in Michael Bourn and Jose Constanza. By batting Constanza ninth, he is takes some pressure off the young speedster, and his pitcher for that matter. It would have worked too, if the Braves had not continued their habit of hitting into double plays. Dan Uggla did his part, but he did not have the luxury of runners on base during his at bats. Atlanta also found themselves in unfamiliar territory with Jair Jurrjens giving up early runs.
Tony Larussa has been often criticized for batting his pitchers eighth. Many have called it a stunt, but Fredi Gonzalez finally has a line up that makes him realize that this may just work. Think about it, you have Constanza in the line up, but the pitcher is up next. If Constanza gets on base, you are relying on your pitcher to make something happen offensively. If you bat him after the pitcher, you have back to back speed in the line up.
Michael Bourn did his part and quickly showed his ability to get on base, but Prado hitting into a fluke double play ended what could have been early scoring for the Braves. Instead, Livan Hernandez got out of the inning unscathed.  It is new to Atlanta, but if they can master the small ball, Uggla may actually have someone on base when hits a bomb like he did two times last night to extend his hitting streak to 23 games. David Ross also hit a long shot, but struck out and hit into a double play with runners on base.
This is not a new problem for the Braves, but they are not used to Jair Jurrjens carrying them through offensive woes. Since returning from the All-Star break, Jurrjens has not been the dominate pitcher he was in the first half. He is definitely having trouble hitting his spots, it could be a result of timing or mechanics. It is something to keep an eye on, but if the offense can start to gel from top to bottom, it will be less of an issue.
The same to teams go again tonight with Derek Lowe facing John Lannon. The Braves are hoping for a change of fortunes. Derek Lowe has struggled this season, while Lannon has seven wins versus Atlanta. The Braves have to take advantage of lesser teams such as the Nationals if they want to stay in the race. After wins by both the Phillies and Diamondback, Atlanta is seven back in the NL East and only two up in the Wild Card.
Here it is, Opening Day! The new Braves take the field versus National League East nemesis Philadelphia. Ready or not, Braves fans will have an infield without Chipper Jones, someone other than Brian McCann behind the plate, and no daily game of “Where on the Field is Martin Prado”. 
2012 Atlanta Braves Preview
When I wrote in April that the season would come down to this series, I was referring to the division. As it is the Braves have fallen apart and have a mere 1 game lead over St Louis with three to play. Those three games happen to be against the Phillies, aka the Man.
